Beadle's New York Dime Library (no. 1099) (1905 08)
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——_— Copyricut, 1888, BY BEADLE & ADAMS. © se Weeee cece ccc cceeaceeccenes cetts'sh vated bast saat biicxe debbie teas 3 ERS oede tas oe Cis ONES os AG ee eta ae AvausT, 1905. M, J. KVERS & €O., Publishers, No 195 a Every (JAMES SULLIVAN, PROPRI£TOR), 10 . ay oes Vol XXXVI “ . onth. 379 Pearl Street, New York. $1.00 a Year. ° . The Escobedo Millions, A Romance of the Great Ranch, BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, AUTHOR OF “‘ THE FRESH OF FRISCO,” “ BRONZE JACK,” ‘‘CAPTAIN VOLCANO,” ‘ CALI- FORNIA JOHN,” “THE STRANGER SHARP,” ETO., ETC. CHAPTER I. THE STRANGERS. In the alcalde’s office in the old Mexican town of El Paso sat the chief magistrate of the city and the captain of police, Own brothers were these two men, Parral b name. Miguel, the elder, was the Alcalde of El Paso, and paar’ the younger, held the position of chief of the police. Rather below the medium hight, but stout, well-built men were the brothers; not young, nor yet old, good-looking, although there was something about their faces which suggested the bulldog. THE FRESH LIFTED BIS ASSAILANT FAIRLY FROM THE GROUND AND, TURNING HIM They were dressed richly, as befitted men who IN THE AIR, THREW HIM OVER HIS SHOULDER, =
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2 ) held important positions, and at the time we in- | troduce them to the reader’s notice had just be- gun an important conversation, the captain of | police having just entered the office. ‘“ Well, how goes it?” quoth the alcalde. * Badly,” responded the other, ‘* How much have you succeeded in getting?” ‘* A little short of a hundred ounces,” * Ah, caramba! what is that when a man needs a thousand?” exclaimed the alcalde. “Did you call upon our friends, the gam- | blers?” ‘Yes, upon every man.” oe And they were not willing to contribute, eh? ‘©Only a trifle.” “Did you not tell them that I was sorely ressed for money, and hint that if they did not elp we in my need, I might be obliged in the interest of morality to put a stop to their games?” “Oh, yes, 1 put it to them as strongly as I could,” “* And they were not inclined to come d@wn?” | ““No, they all declared they had come down | pretty well already.” The alcalde shrugged his shoulders like a Frenchman. ** Well, well, there is some truth in. that,” he | admitted, ‘But still the scamps ought not to grumble, for if I did not wink at their open gambling dens they would not be able to make any money at all, * Now, Doc Moses is rich—his faro-bank makes a fortune every week, Did you see him and ex- plain how I was situated?” thee ‘* Yes, Moses contributed fifty ounces, all he said he could spare,” the captain of police an- swered, ; ‘* Moses declares that his place has made very little money during tue past month, andwhen [ attempted to put the screws on, he replied, promptly, that if you wanted to kill the goose who was | ying the golden eggs, yon were perfectly welcome to do it, as far as he was con- cerneds “* He said; first I pay a tax to the town fora license to carry on my business, and then I pay as much more to you and the alcalde, that is on the quiet, but if [I am going to be struck for a stake every time either you or your brother run short.of cash, why I might as well give up, for I cannot stand the press, ‘True, very true, the man is right,” the al- . ealde remarked. ‘‘A free horse must not be ridden to death.” ' ‘‘ How long have you got before this demand of the governor must be met?” the chief of po- lice asked. ‘“Ob, I have another month, but a thourand ounces is no small sum, and so I have begun tu get it together, That is the price of my position ere, you understand. A thousand ounces a year is what Pedro Cosala, Governor of _Chibu- ahna, considers the office of Alealde of El Paso to be worth, and if I do not pay the money I will very quickly be removed,” “Oh, yes, undoubtedly, and it is richly worth that sum.” ** Certainly, but I have had bad luck, and that is why Lam short of money. The infernal cards have run against me constantly for the last month, and if my luck does shall have to stop playing.” - “I can sympathize with you, for my luck has been atrocious too for the last fewdays,” the captain of police remarked with a melancholy ‘shake of the bead, = fis “ Yes, it 1s strange bow luck will run some- times, By the way did you call upon the Jew pawnbroker Hadad Solomons?” / ; ‘Oh, yes; he was one of tho first men J visi- ted, beeause [ thouglt he would be— fora | couple of hundred ounces at the least. The alealde shook his head, “It is about as easy to get blood from a stone | i not change soon, I LL eens tonnes ne as to get money from a Jew,” be declared. — “ Well, it was so in this case, He declared he had recently suffe through the rascality of some of bis rong who had absconded with his funds that he hi bardly a cent to bless himself with, and had | been really obliged. to borrow money so as_to | be able to get along.” yf. a “The old liar!” exclaimed the alcalde, “and | after all the money I have thrown in-his way | ! he Soar ‘*He contributed twenty ounces, but it was like ting with his heart’s blood.” _ “1 do not doubt that in the least,” the alcalde remarked. ese Og it is about as bad to d such severe losses | | ‘To a man like the Jew part with bis gold as with bis bloo “Yes, yes, the old Jew fairly groan counted out the ounces.” Renee, a8 “Well, lei me see,” observed the alcalde, re- flectively. ‘‘ The money must be raised'in some | as he | way. If my luck was running all right [ could |_ take this sum whicb you bave raised and easily | swell it into a thousand at the card-table—ay, into two for that matter, but I do not dare to risk it,” *2 ae 5; sf “True, it is a great risk,” remarked*the-cap- ie of police with a doubtful shake of the “+ Now if that devil of an Escobedo was only . A len,” the alealde said, eh hee The Fresh in Texas. a the money might be raised,” the alcalde said. “Yes, he was a valuable fellow. With his band of cut-throats he could be depended upon in a pinch like this.” * You are right, he could always be depended upon to gather wealth. It was an evil day for us when this American—this, Jackson Blake, who calls himself the Fresh of Frisco, made his appearance in this section!” the alcalde de- clared. ‘**Let me see; that was nearly two years ago.” * Yes, and inside of twelve months cf the time he came here, he succeeded in breaking up Es- cobedo’s band; if you remember, they called themselves the Red Riders of Rayon,” The chief of police nodded. “* And Manuel Escobedo was fairly driven out of the country by bim.” ** Yes, if my recollection serves me right, he and his sister departed together; but where did they go?” “To the island of Cuba, where Escobedo bad rich kindred, He called uyon me after this ras- cal of a Fresh got his clamps upon him and said that he had come to the determination to seek for fortuve elsewhere. ‘* His band was destroyed and this demon of a North American had sworn to kill bimif he ever encountered him on Texan soil, and so, under the circumstances, be had determined to go to Cuba, but he swore to me that if fortune ever smiled upon bim he would return and make this Jackson Blake pay dearly for bis triumph,” ‘1 do not doubt that he wilt keep his word,” the chief observed. ‘ ‘* Manuel Escobedo was a fine, daring fellow, and until he bad the ill-luck to meet this North American, carried matters with a high hand in this region, ‘* Many is the silver ounce that you and I have fingered, Miguel, through Manuel Escobedo and his Red Riders of Rayon.” “True, and [ wish the band was in existence now to help me out of my present scrape, for where to get this thousand ounces I know not.” ** The governor will not be apt to grant more time?” ““Oh, no, he cannot, for he has to pay his as- sessment to the party at the capital through whose favor he holds the governorship. His tax is ten thousand ounces, I believe.”. “Tt isa large sum; still, when you consider what pretty pickings the governor of sucha province as Chihuahua has, the position is richly worth it,” At this moment the door opened and two strangers made their appearance. ; They were well-dressed and were evidently foreigners, One was a tall, well-formed man with long jet-black hair which curled in ringlets almost down to his shoulders; all the lower part of his face was covered with a short, crispy-curling beard, of the same ebun hue as his bair, and his complexion was almost as dark as that of a negro, - ie far as could be seen, for the beard covered fully one-half of bis face, his features wero strongly marked, and indicated that he was a man of great determination. The second stranger strongly resembled the first, only he was much younger, hardly more than a boy, but possessed a well-built figure, which gave promise of unusual strength. . His face was smooth, no trace of a beard, ex- cepting a dark line upon his upper lip. nd upon his face too, like his companion’s were written the signs which, to an experienced eye, toll of dauntless courage and firm deter- iniuation, The complexion also of the young man was extremely dark, but not the reddish, copper colorof the half-breed, and from the contour of their faces it was plain that neither one of the two hd ary Indiun blood in his veins, * Have | the pleasure of addressing Don Mig- uel Parral, Alcalde of El Paso?” the elder stran- ger asked, bowing to the official, “That is my name, sir; what can Ido for you?” responded the alcalde, “We are strangers herein E] Paso, having but-lately srrived from tie island of Cuba,” Ses, the tall gentleman, — @ alcalde and the chief of police exchanged glances at the mention ,of the® * ever-faithful isle,”’as the Spanien: delight to call it, The coincidence seemed ‘odd to them, as they had jattee speaking of Cuba. “T am es to weer to El Paso, - “Have the kindness to beseated, and make yourselves perfectly at home. I-have many ac- quaintances in Cuba and am always pleased to see. any oné from there.” Se ; The strangers seated themselves, > we 4S > a “y=. | OMWAPTER II. THE FATE OF MANUEL ESCOBEDO. “ PERMIT me to introduce my brother, Jose, captain® of “police bere in El) Paso,” said the alealde. ene Sk : ae secu Leki their pie at mak- ing the acquaintance of so important a person- age, and the elder said: pa ‘* Since introductions are in order, permit me to make known to you who we are,” : The others bowed. ‘“‘My name is Fernando Gomes, and this gentleman is called Sebastian Esparto, and though we are Cuban born and bred, yet we do not feelasif we were entirely strangers to this section, for our mothers originally came from here,” ** Ah, is that so?” the alealde remarked, ‘* Yes, they were of the Escobedo line, cousins to Estevan Escobedo, the once famous cattle king of the Rio Grande.” ‘*’Yes, yes, both my brother and myself were well-acquainted with that gentleman,” the alcalde remarked. * And you were aiso on familiar terms with a relative of the old cattle king who was at one time an inmate of his household, Manuel Eszo- bedo,” said Fernando Gomes, This was nob entirely unexpected, for when thé stranger had explained that he and his com- panion claimed kindred with the Escobedos the thought had come to both the brothers that there was a probability they were about to hear news of the man whose absence they had been regretting when the strangers entered, **Oh, yes, my brother and I were just speak- ing of bim,” the alcalde remarked. ‘* He was a man whom we thought a deal of, and we were wishing be was back again with us bere in El Paso,” ‘Then you are not aware of Manuel Esco- bedo’s fate?’ said the Cuban ina tone of sur- prise, and then he added: “ But that is not. strange Seong for the island of Cuba is a long way from Ej] Paso, and I suppose it is nota common thing for you to hear news of what transpires in the ieland here,” ‘No, it is but seldom that we are so favored,” the aleslie replied. ‘*But the way in which you speak of Manuel Escobedo alarms me, Is it possible that aught amiss has come to him?” ‘Here is the full account from one of the Havana newspapers,” responded Fernando Gomes, taking a newspaper clipping trom his pocket-book and giving it into the hands of the official, : : The alcalde read it aloud, : It was a brief account of the loss of a trading schooner plying between Havana and the porte on the south side of the island. In a storm it had been forced ashore and all on board bad perished, with the exception of a single saiior who had escaped to tell the tale of the disaster, The schooner carried two passengers in ad- dition to her crew, a Mexican gentleman and his sister, Manuel and Isabel Hscobedo, both of whom had met a watery grave. “ This is indeed bad news!” the captain ef police observed, with a grave shake of thehead, ‘‘ EKs- cobedo was a man who would have made his mark in the world if be had lived, Iam sure of it, He was a bold and daring fellow and could be depended upon.” ; “That is true! every word of it!” the alcalde exclaimed. ‘‘He was a man after my own heart, and many is the good stake of business we haye done together.” - “Yes, so be informed me; Manuel and I were: quite intimate,” the Cuban remarked, The speech was simple enough but it made the’ Parrals exchange wondering glances. 3 ‘* Manuel confided to me the reason which ob- liged him to. leave this section,” Fernando Gomes continued. ‘* And from the hour that he quitted El Paso he Jooked forward to the time when be should return and take a bloody “om ag upon the man who had been instrumental in driving. him away.” ‘Did he tell you the name of the man?” the: alcalde asked, evidently possessed with the an — the Cuban was possibly exaggerating a little. “Oh, yes, thé Fresh of Frisco as he callsshim- Eo BE the man whose right name is Jackson ae . Oo Ww es ’. Again the brothers exchanged glances. The: Coben evidently knew what he was, talking: about. / rb th “The desire, for vengeance upon this North. American desperado was an overpowering one, and the sole purpose of his exile from his native ‘land was. tbat ‘he might acquire wealth enough to enable him to come back and crush the man who had triumphed over. bim.” iad, “Yes, that was like Escobedo,” the alcalde observed. ‘* He was a true Mexican, and never forgot or forgave an injury. It is a pity that he met his fate so ‘soon, for ] would have given. much to have seen him return: and take-ven- *geance upon this boasting Fresb of ’Frisco, who, although undoubtedly a man who can fight Jike a demon, yet talks as carelessly asa school boy. : If he had lived he would. have bad a bloody “ vengeance upon this interloper!” the Cuban de- clared, impressively, 7 é tee ‘ He bad ieleade = obs, epg F ss she arrived there, and. bis sister, Isabel, made a 4 brilliant. match, hay wedced ou the Rireten yy —— on the is cae: e was an. ' mar and only, survived the unicn & months, and when he died an oe his ot to came to his widow, and as Isabel was devoted to her brother, thanks to this fortune, be had ‘i
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Ss. 8 ! money enough to enabie him to carry out his{ “ We will not underrate him and will not en- | severe!” exclaimed the Fresh, laughing at the plans of vengeance.” ‘¢ What a misfortune that death should have cut him off thus untimely!" the alealde cried, ‘Yes, but this heritage of vengeance has de- scended tomy cousin Sebastian here and my- self,” the Cuban explained. ‘‘ We are the heirs | of Manuel and Isabel Escobedo, “ Manuel, before he set out on this fatal trip | had.a.presentiment that some accident might ) happen to him and so he confided all his plans to | us, together with some of the secrets of his life | here in El Paso, and we'agreed that if anything | eceurred to him we would come to Mexico and execute his vengeance. ‘¢Manuel did perish, as he feared, and we are here to keep our pledge, We have plenty of | money and think we have the courage and | ability to pull down and crush this boaster who | calls himself the Fresh of ’Frisco,” . And the fierce light which shone in the eyes of | both the Cubans convinced the brothers that the | strangers~would do all in their power to fulfill | the task’which they had taken upon themselves, | “You say that Manuel Escobedo confided his | secrets to you?” the alcalde remarked, with the intention of ascertaining how much of the Mexi- can’s past life the stranger really knew. ' ‘Ves, all that apperfained to this quarrel or | could be of use to us in prosecuting it,” the Cu- | Lan replied, without.a moment’s hesitation. ge in a contest until all the advantage is on ga our side,” Gomes declared. ‘‘We stop at the | “The man is not to blame he cannot help that, you know; old man’s conceit. for his name; Hotel Mexico and shall be glad to have you call | besides, the name is all right, although it is when convenient, ‘*T shall be charmed,” the alcalde replied, and then the Cubans withdrew, CHAPTER ITI. AN HONEST CONFESSION, ALONG the trail l ading from the Rio Grande to the Escobedo Plantation rode two men, mounted on mostexcellent steeds, not the under- sized small-limbed Texan mustangs, but two horses whose size and appearance, to the prac- ticed eye, would have denoted that *they came of Kentucky racing blood—the blue-grass strain, famous for its four-milers, its bottom and en- durance. One horseman was young, the other a man well in years, The young man was a little above the medium size, with a figure so well developed that he might have passed as a model for one of the ancient sculptors who desired to form a figure, Apollo and Hercules combined, he frank, open face, the keen, gray-blue eyes, and the yellow hair, curling in little crispy ring- lets close to his well-shaped head, together with }"a certain peculiar careless air, so difficult to de- scribe, would reveal to any one who had ever “ And knowing these secrets is why we came | encountered the man, or beard a gond descrip- to you, for we felt sure we could count on your | tion of him, that this was the famous Fresh of assistance, for we could afford to make it worth | Frisco, who was really better known by-that your. while to act with us as you formerly acted | title than by bis own rightful appellation of with Manuel Escobedo in this Red Riders of | Rayon business.” , “I do not exactly understand,” said the al- | calde, endeavoring to assume an innocent air. ‘* Oh, yes you do, alcalde,” the Cuban replied, witha smile, ‘ Y and so does your brother here, the chief of po- | lice. j “Come, it is no use for us to beat about the | bush. Let us come to an understanding at once. | We need your aid in this fight, and are prepared | tu make it worth your while to gointoit. You shared the plunder gained by the Red Riders of Xayon and winked at their deeds, ‘Now, in order to fight this Fresh of ’Frisco we are going to revive the Red Rider band, and we want you two for confederates as before, and . in order to show you that we are in earnest, ! here is a draft for five hundred ounces on Ban- ker Weinholdt, which I will indorse to your | order.” | And taking the draft from his pocket-book he wrote the indorsement upon it. ‘*In another month there will be as much more for you,” the Cuban continued. ‘ And if we strike any big game after the band is organ- ized, we will not forget your share, ‘“My cousin and I understand this sort of work, for we have both led insurgent bands in Cuba,” ; | The alcalde took the draft with an eagerness which ne did not attempt to conceal, “It is a pleasure to do business with gentle- men hke yourselves,” he declared, “ All [ require is that you manage the matter so that I will not be implicated, no matter what happens, and you can rely upon both Jose and myself doing all in our power to aid you.” ‘It isa bargain, and you can depend upon - our discretion, * And now, how stands matters? Has this Fresh married the heiress, Margaret yet?” ** No, although it has been rumored for some time that Miss Escobedo—who inherited all the old cattle king’s property, you know—” The otbers nodd “Tt has been rumored for over a year that | she and this Blake would marry, but they have | not. ‘Nor will they, now that we have come!” exclaimed the younger Cuban, in a voice full of menace. ‘* How does El Paso and the Fresh get along? There was a time when be was hunted ont of the town in a lively manner?’ Gomes asked. ‘Oh, that is all blowu over now,” tho alealde replied. “Neither my brother nor myself thought that it was wise to keep up the quarrel, hen you come down to the truth of the matter, the American acted in self-defense, We jumped on him and he whipped us, and af- ter the Red Rider band was dispersed and Man-. uel Escobedo departed, we concluded thot it would be foolish for us toattemptto keep up the quarrel so we sent him word that we bore no malice.” ** And he comes ene gfe in El Paso freely?” Ternando Gomes asked. “Oh, yes, as freely as any one, and as he is a great gambler, he spends considerable of his time in the town.” “So muth the better, for then we will be able to get at him,” Gomes observed, “* Have you ever met the man?” the chief of police asked. ‘Ave we not strangers just arrived. in El Paso?’ the Cuban replied. ws. ‘* Well, then, take ay. advice and do not hold him too wry 843 He is as dangerous a man as ever struck the banks of the Rio Grande!” Jose Parral observed, earnestly. Jackson Blake. It was plain from the way that the Fresh was ee that the world had gone well with him tely. His suit of buckskin—not cut after the Indian ou_understand well enough, | fashion, in hunting-shirt and leggings, but as coat and pantaloons—was new, and showed no sigus of hard wéar. The long riding-boots, coming to is knees, were of untanned leather, after the Mexican fashion, and fitted him like a glove. The elaborately-frilled shirt, upon which Jackson Blake prided himself, and which he was never seen without, uvless he had had an un- usual run of bad luck and was elean down to the “‘ bed-rock,” so as to be absolutely unable to afford the luxury, was composed of the finest of linen, and amid the frills blazed three costly diamond studs. His broad-brimmed, soft felt hat, cream-white in color, was as handsome a bead-covering asa man would care to wear, and, to take him all in all, the Fresh of ’Frisco was in splendid feather. The man who rode by the Fresh’s side was a most decided contrast to him, being well on in years, rather undersized, though extremely stockily built; had a thin face, the chin covered with a scrubby beard, but his small, gray eyes were wonderfully keen. He was dressed in a complete suit of buck- skin, and a good judge of men, as they are found on the frontiers of civilization, would have at once pronounced him to be an old moun- tain man. This was Old California Joe, a man who has won a name which will never die while the his- tory of the wild life of the West is told. he Fresh had a ranch a few miles down the Rio Grande, and was on bis oot Bog pay a visit to the ranch of Margaret Escobedo, the heiress of the old cattle king, Estevan Escobedo, and reputed to be the richest landholder in that part of Texas. The two had ridden along at a brisk pace, and now had pulled their borses into a walk, in order to breathe the animals, and thus were afforded an opportunity for conversation. *“We are -bound for the Escobedo Ranch, I reckon,” said California Joe. ** Yes, that is our objective point,” “ But, you said when we started out that you didn’t know ‘zactly_where you was going.” “‘No more did I: the fact is, 1 want to get some young cows, and I had not determined whether to try the Escobedo Ranch, or the one above, for them.” “Sho! is thatso? Wa-al, now reckoned that ou were going to call on the heiress of Esco- og the old man remarked, with a knowing smile, The Fresh laughed. “Well, it is likely that IT shall see Miss Mar- garet before I quit the ranch,” he replied. “ Yes, [ reckon it wouldn't he perlite to go to the ranch without calling on the mistress.” “ That is true, althongh all. my business can be transacted with the superintendent.” “You mean Houma?” , ‘** Yes, he is the man.” “Say! wot do you think of that cuss, any- |} lucky in love,’ and a more luc y way?’ asked the old mountain man, abruptly. “Well, I don’t exactly know; I cannot say that I have made much of a study of him,” the Fresh replied, carelessly. **T don’t like the feller for a cent!” California Joe declared: “I think he is a rascal! “And jest see w’ot an outlandish handle the galoot has got. Lycurgus Houma! ‘Thar'sa healthy name or a Christian to carry ’rownd!” “Oh, come now, California, you are too rather an odd one, Lycurgus was oneof tha wisest of the Greeks, a man whom it was safe jo tie to every time, to use our modern vernacn- lar; and it strikes me that Houma is a Frevca Creole name. In fact, I believe the man claims to come from Louisiana,” _ “Treckon he does, but I don’t take any stock in him, no matter whar he comes from!” the old mountain-man declared, S Ww ell, I can’t say that I admire the man my- self. “T think he is a rascal!” California Joe de- clared, **Ob, come now, ain’t you a little harsh in your pedgrentt Remember this Houma was one of the old cattle king’s trusted men, and when he died, and the estate came under Judge Bullifant’s management, before Margaret. Esco- bedo arrived from her home in the East, the judge fully trusted Houma, and the old judge new buman nature like a book and was not likely to make a mistake.” **'That’s so, but you ain’t calculating that thar’s a heap of difference between doing busi- ness with a man like old Estevan Escobedo, who was as keen as a rogue when it came toa trade, or with Judge Bullifant, another keen customer, and with a gal like Miss Margaret, who ain’t used to figyres and is not on the watch for ras- cals, ‘* Ob, yes, it would make a heap of difference, of course. A man who was disposed to play the rascal would be much more apt to try the game when he only bad an unsuspecting woman to deal with than if he was acting with men,” the sport declared. “* That is my say-so to a hair!” California Joe declared. ‘Then thar’s that a oe of Judge Bullifant’s who has succeeded to his business, Dick Bulli- faut—I don’t take any stock in bim, either,” ** Well, to tell the truth, I haven’t much ad- miration to waste on that gentleman,” Jackson Blake remarked. ‘*Reports say that he led a pretty wild life before the judge’s death, although he was shrewd enough to keep it from the knowledge of the judge, in whose office he was, but I tancy the Sater did not fully trust him, for when the old man died he left al) bis property to Margaret Escobedo, only bequeathing bis busisess to his nephew, although that was a fortune in itself, ‘As far as I know thongh, the man is all right, and I sincerely hope be is, for he has full control of all Miss garet’s affairs, and if he had the mind to play the scoundrel he could rob ber of half her fortune, and perhaps be able to get away with the plunder before his rascality could be discovered.” ** Waal, I reckon thatif anything of that kind was going on you would be apt to have a finger in the pie, bey?’ old California Joe observed, shrewdly. * Yes, I should waht to, if I knew of it; but there’s the trouble,” the Fresh observed, thought- fully. “Tt this lawyer is up to any rascality, he will be apt to cover his tracks, so it will not be pos- sible for an outsider to discover there is any- thing wrong until the-miscbief is done.” “Tt is the talk ’round, too, that he is trying to shine up to Miss Margaret, and a good many folks think he stands a mighty good chance to git the gal, although everybody reckoned you and she would hitch teams, “Yes, I know that was the talk,” the Fresh remarked, a cloud upon his usually bright face, “ And. I will admit to you, California, that I had a strong notion that way myself; circum- stances brought the lady and myself together, and I was able to be of service to her. ‘‘She is a beautiful girl, one worthy the love of any man. and just at this print is where comes my difficulty. - ‘* from the way the lady acts, Iam sure Fam not disagreeable to her, but whether the feeling which inspires her is love or gratitude is a ques- tion. P ‘+ Wa-al, pears to me it would be mighty easy - for you to find out... Ax the gal!” the old moun- | tain-man suggested. . ‘Yes, the solution of tbe riddle is easily ar- rived at, and then comes another trouble,” the Fresh remarked, with a doubtful shake of his handsome head. “Ts such a man as I am worthy the love of a girl like Margaret Escobedo? : “If you could look back over my past life as T can, you would be dubious on this point, I am sure, “There is an old adage, ‘ Lueky at cards, un- man than my- self with the painted pasteboa s exists not on the earth, I verily believe; but Lam a firm be- liever in the truth of the, saying, for in love affairs I am not lucky. " ‘**] have won some peerless women in my time, and though for a while all went well, yet some fell stroke bas been sure to separate me tron them, Death snatched some of them from my arms; in otber cases, I have been to blame, for I could not remain quiet, my roving dispo-
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oe The Fresh in ‘Texas. sition leading me away in search of adven- | tares, like a knight errant of old, and while | I was gone the flower of love withered and died. ‘And that is the reason why I hesitate to | press my suit with this beautiful heiress, I | really fear to succeed, Of course, as a man I desire to win her, for she is a girl well worth | ary one’s wooing, but the thought of what the | future may bring forth holds me bactr. ‘In fact, as the boys say, I think I had better do the brother act; J will be a brother to her, fight her battles, protect her from her enemies, but resolutely keep from loving her.” “Darn me, if you ain’t the queerest coot I | ever struck!” the old mountain-man exclaimed. | ** Now, if I stood in your shoes, I would. go for the gal red-hot, and let the future take care of | itself.” **Oh, no; if you were in my place, and felt as | Ido, you would act exactly as I intend to act —but here is the ranch.” It was true, the Escobedo estate was now in sight. CHAPTER IV. A BRACE OF RASCALS, Tux first house on the Hscobedo place was | occupied by the superintendent, Lycurgus Houma, the man to whom Old California Joe had taken such a dislike, The superintendent was a notable fellow, and , one who, ence seen, would not be apt to be | easily forgotten. He was a big fellow, standing nearly six feet high, broad-shouldered and muscular, a man of forty or thereabouts, with a dark, sterm face and a forbidding look, He had been on the ranch for over ten years, seis 3 come as a cowboy and risen to the posi- tion of superintendent. The old cattle king bad found him to be a val- uable man, ; From his size and resolute ways he had been able to keep the cow-punchers in order, and bore the reputation of being an ugly man in a skirmish, . And now, sinco the property had descended to | the old cattle king’s daughter, he had had abso- | lute control of the ranch, tor, of course, Miss | Margaret was not abie to direct the business, In the principal room of his house the superin- tendent sat, and with him was the young law- yer, Judge Bullifant’s nephew, who bad suc- ceeded to the judge’s business, Richard King Bullifant, as the gentleman was named, was a man of eight and twenty, a | ratuer dashing-looking fellow, who seem to.| bave considerable “sporting plood” about him, as the saying is. Really, he looked more like a card-sharp than a lawyer, And, in fact, all up and down the Rio Grande | Dick Bullifant was known and recognized as a sport of the first water, although it was only recently that he had taken up his residence in the neighborhood, for before the judge’s death | he had been in charge of a branch ce up in | New Mexico. | Since bis advent in El Paso—bis office and residence was in/the American town on the Texan side of the Rio Grande—he had paid more attention to amusing himself than be had to attending to bis business; Old, long-headed citizens, friends of the late judge, shook their heads, gravely, when the doings of the young lawyer were discussed, and the prediction was made that if the young man did not attend to matters a little more carefully the vast business the judge had built up would sobn vanish, In fact, after making the acquaintance of the heiress of Escobedo he had spent more time | on the Escobedo Ranch than in bis office or in attending to his business, He had become infatuated with the beautiful Margaret at the first glance, and, thanks to “having charge of her legal matters, was able to enjoy her society a great deal, by pretending to consult her on subjects connected with the estate, At the time that we introduce the two men to our readers’ notice—the men who had more todo with Margaret Escobedo’s fortune than all the rest of the world put together—the law- yer had just entered the ranch and taken a chair at the superititendent’s invitation. “Well, how do you find yourself, Mr. Hou- | ma?” Dick Bullifant asked. ** Oh, pretty well, and bow are you?” ** Oh, fine as silk!” the other answered. ‘' By | the way, I have dropped in to see you on a lit- tle matter of business as [ have been examining | ‘the accounts.” | The lawyer made this remark in a careless way, just as if it did not amount to anything, | buta dark look came over the face of the super- intendent. ‘* Ah, yes, is that so?” Houma observed. “Yes, and 1 find some little things which I cannot account for, and 1 thought I would see if you could explain them, so I could straighten the account out in the books,” . “Well, I don’t know;’ Houma remarked, slowly, ‘I was not aware that there was any- bein, Sdn. in my department.” i “Yes, it is in your department The cattle ” Y | seems to be unusually large. don’t agree with the number set down—there is about a hundred short and the feed amount Altogether I reck- on there is over a thousand dollars involved.” ‘*T don’t understand it,” the superintendent remarked, apparently very much perplexed, yet stealing an odd glance out of the corners of his eyes at the other, * Of course I have kept this matter strictly to myself,” the lawyer explained, ‘‘I have not said anything to Miss Margaret, or to any one else, for that matter, in regard to it, for I thought you and I could straighten the matter out. “The fact is, Houma,” continued Dick Bulli- fant dropping bis voice a little, ‘‘ I didn’t know but you needed a little cash and bad used some of the estate money. “Tt is all right, of course; I know you are perfectly good for it, and I should not kick up any row. I understand that you had been in- vesting in\town lots up at El Paso, and there is no question but what you are in for a big thing, if you can only contrive to bold on until the rise comes, And in regard to using the money, I know how that is; 1 have been in the same boat myself.” . ‘t Mebbe you are there now, eb?’ observed the superinten ent with a grin, ‘Ob, no, Miss Margaret is quite a business woman and keeps too strict a watch over me,” the lawyer replied, ‘* Ah, yes, of course! I believe that you know,” and Houma shook his head. ‘ Just as if you couldn’t fix the books so as to conceal a shortage of ten or fifteen thousand—ay, twenty thousand, without any trouble. ‘*Not that it makes any great amount of dif- ference as long as you are going to marry the girl,” the superintendent added reflectively. ‘Yes, but am I going to marry her?” Dick Bullifant asked, “‘That is an important ques- tion, you know, and I am not sure in regard to the answer.” ‘* Well, you have the field almost entirely to yourself, and the fact that you have the control of all the. legal affairs appertaining to the estate gives you a chance to have frequent consulta- tions with the girl, and if you do not win her it wil) oot be for want of opportunities.” ‘*¥es, I know that, but I do not seem to make much headway,” the lawyer observed with a doubtful shake of the head. “The girl looks upon me in the light of friend, I know, but I sometimes fear I will never be able to execute any deeper sentiment.” ** Well, you ought to be able todo so, although I think there is an obstaclein the way.” **T think I understand what you mean and I was going to speak of that when you said I had a clear field; but the field is not clear as long as this Jackson Blake is in the neighborhood.” ** Well, I don’t exactly know what to make of the fellow,” Houma observed, ‘You are aware that there has been a report that he and Miss Margaret were engaged to -be married?” the lawyer said. Oh, yes, that bas been floating around ever since the time when this Blake succeeded in res- cuing her from an outlaw gang who had cap- tured her.” “Was it not. whispered at the time that Manuel Escobedo had something to do with the matter?” Bullifant asked. ‘* Yes, there was a rumor to that effect, but how much truth there was in it I am unable to say,” Houma replied, ‘‘One thing is certain though; about the time of that event Manuel and his sister, Isabel, left the ranch and soon after it was reported they had gone to Cuba.” ‘* Manuel was in love with the heiress, 1 be- lieve?” ** Yes, and he did hisbestto win her. It wasa wonder that be did not succeed, too, for his sis- ter, Isabel, was the bosom friend of the heiress, and, being ber constant companion, had fre- quent if opportunities to plead her brother’s cause. “Do you suppose it was because the girl was in love with this Jackson Blake?” the lawyer asked arty: = Oh, no, [ think not, yet it is a hard matter to decide,” Houma replied. *« Does Blake come here frequently?” ‘+ Yes, entirely too often to suit me,” the super- esis observed, with a frown upon his dark ‘ace. ‘Why, what difference does it make to you?” ‘ST do not admire the way in which he looks around him,” the superintendent replied, ** Ah, does it seem asif he was kind of keeping a watch to see if everything was going on all right?” asked Bullifant, immediately guess- ing at the idea that had entered the mind of the other, _ “ ¥es, that is it, exactly; he is-too infernal rae a omg and one of these days I shall quietly tell him that he better mind his own business and confine his attention to his own ranch an not come nosing around this one. “You will be apt to get yourself in trouble, for this Blake has quite a reputation as a war- rior,” the lawyer warned. Yes, I have heard that he got the best of some fellows in a row in the Mexican town of El Paso when he first made his appearance in this section, but I can understand how he worked the game. He has six or eight desperadoes with him, and the probabilities are that they did the fighting.” “Very likely. Well, I tell you what it is, Houma, if you choose to aid me all you can to win the heiress I will do my best to help you along. If I see fit to wink, it will be mone in your pocket, you know,” Bullifant remarked, meaningly. **Oh, yes, I comprehend that, and I suppose when you spoke about there being some few errors that you wanted to come to an under- standing with me.” ‘‘ Bxactly, that was my idea. ‘You and I, b pulling together, can be of a deal of help to eac other. ‘* Undoubtedly !” ‘Well, Iam willing to go into the thing if you are,” ‘*T am agreeable, and there is big money in it for both of us, but the first point is to keep this Fresh of Frisco from prying around the ranch, fur heis just the kind of man to interfere if he thought there was anything wrong,” ‘Yes, he is inclined that way, and that I sup- pose is where he gets his nickname; most cer- tainly he is exceedingly fresh,” ‘*T will take some of the freshness out of him at the first convenient opportunity!” the super- intendent exclaimed. “Well, you certainly ought to be a match for him,” the lawyer remarked, surveying the mus- cular developments of the other with an admir- ing eye. ‘‘ But he will be apt to go for his wea- pons, for he will never dare to face you with- out.” ‘Tt will be my game to banter him into a contest with fists, and then I will bammer him so that. he will not be able to show bimself around this ranch for some time,” ‘‘ Hello, there he comes now!” Bullifant ex- claimed, catching sight of Blake through the window. CHAPTER V. THE FRESH EXPLAINS. Tux superintendent jumped to his feet.and a dark frown gathered on his brow, “Sure enough!” he exclaimed. ‘* You are right; it is the hand that lying old mcun- tain-man, California Joe, is with him,” ; The two were quite a distance away, coming on slowly, their horses walking, the riders en- gaged in conversation and apparently discussing the appearance of things around them, At all events this was the conclusion that the superintendent arrived at, and he said as much to the lawyer. 6 “Well, i¢ really does look like it,” Bullifant remarked. : ‘*T reckon I shall have to put a to this sort of thing,” Houma averred. “TI think I have stood this fellow nosing around this ranch just about as long as I ought to, and I may as well give him a piece of my mind to-day as any other time.” “Oh, yes, I do not see why you should put it off so long as you have made up your mind to go for him, I reckon you will have a fight on your hands instanter; that is, if there is any truth in the stories they tell about this fellow’s claim to be a big chief.” “Tam not so sure that there is any truth in the yarn,” the superintendent replied, ‘‘ One thing is certain—since he bas lived in this sec-~ tion he bas not had a difficulty with anybody.” ‘Yes, so I understand; and I remember that my uncle, the judge, before his death, was puz- zled to account for it, for when the man settled in this section it was his belief, from what he had heard of the fellow’s going on in El Paso, that he was a gambler and a desperado of the first water,” “ Most certainly such was his reputation.” - “Yes, I have heard the judge speak of the matter, and it was his impression that this Blake would be a very undesirable neighbor, but as time on and the fellow did not mishehave himself, he was at a loss to account for it, for it did not seem ble that such a man as he was reported to be should be satisfied to settle’ down and be content with a rancher’s quiet life.” “Tt doesn’t seem reasonable,” the superinten- dent remarked. ‘‘ And that is the reason why I do not take any stock in these yarns which re- late what a desperate fighter he is.” ‘Yes: but there is no doubt that he did have two or three fights in El Paso about two years ago, when he first came to the banks of the Rio Grande, and that he succeeded in whipping his men,” Bullifant remarked. “J know his reputation in that line is well- established in El Paso, and there are not man vp there who would care to pick a quarrel wit him, but to my thinking it isas I said; these desperadoes whom he enlisted in his service veal did the fighting, and he got the credit for ” it. ‘+ Possibly your supposition is true, and if it is, he will not be the first man on the frontier who has acquired the reputation of being a dam- gerous fellow without being entitled to it.” ‘* That is true enough,” Houma assented,; 4 Wy Sih Geka __ RR RE
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ed LAE Dir ige Aes 2 panne Va, od INE A ‘* My uncle, the judge, had an idea that he was p aying a well-planned game,” the lawyer observed. ‘* A game, eh?” ** Yes, he had got his eyes on Miss Margaret; she was one of the richest heiresses along the Rio Grande, and would be well worth the win- ning. The fellow knew that if shown. out in his true colors he stood no chance at all of get- ting her, and so he sobered down into a quiet rancher and proved himself to be one of the best of neighbors.” ‘Well, maybe that is the game he has been playing,” the superintendent observed. ‘** My uncle thought so, and JI, having a high opinion of his shrewdness in guessing, reckoned that he had hit on the truth, but I must Confess that since [ have taken up my residence in this section, I have grown a little doubtful about the matter, for, as far as I can see, he is not a par- ticvlarly ardent wooer.” “That is a fact!” Houma exclaimed. “If he was hot after theiiress he ought to be here twice as much as he is, although I must say he comes too often now to suit me. I should not mind his visits, only I don’t like the way he looks around him. He is too infernal inqyisi- tive.” “He certainly is on his good behavior,” the lawyer observed. “I have met him onceina while both in my own town and in the Mexican FE] Paso, and though he takes a flyer now and then at the various ie which are running, yet no more than [ do myself, or any of the men who gamble a little just to pass the time away. “*T know it, and that is what makes me think that these yarns about his being such a great gambler and desperate fighter are all bosh!” Houma declared, ‘t If he was any such man as he has been represented to be, he would never have been able to keep quiet all this time.” ‘Well, here he is, and as be is pulling up his horse it is evident he wants to speak to you.” The Fresh and his companion upon arriv- ing 2 front of the superintendent’s house had ialted. ‘*T reckon that if I have any chance at all I will speak to him in a way that he will not like,” the superintendent remarked, grimly, as he ad- vanced to the door, ‘* Yes, since you have made up your mind to it you might as well take the bull by the horns now as at any other time,” Bullifant asserted. The two passed through the door, The Fresh had “one dismounted and given his reins to Old California Joe, for the beast he rode was a spirited animal who could not be trusted to stand without restraint. ** Good-morning, Mr. Houma,” said Blake in his easy, pleasant way, and then, perceiving the lawyer in the rear of the superintendent, ho greeted him also. “Morning,” replied Houma, shortly. ‘*How are you off for cows—young ones— have you any to spare, for if you have I would like a bunch?” “Don’t think I have any that I care to sell,” the superintendent replied. “Ts that sof’ and an expression of astonish- ment appeared on Bluke’s face. ‘‘ Well, I don’t comprehend that at all, for I understood that you offered to let Jim Cassidy, whose ranch is — this side of FE) Paso on the river, bave fifty ead at eight dollars apiece, all young ones too, and as that is two dollars a head under the market price I thought I would like to take them, as Cassidy was not in a condition to make the trade for lack of cash.” The face of the superinterdent grew dark; he was both astonished and angry, for his talk with Cassidy had been a confidential one—he had pledged the man to keep the matter quiet, and he could not understand how the thing be- came known. **T reckon some one has been fooling you with a ghost story!” Houma exclaimed. ‘Is that so?’ the Fresh inquired with the most innocent air imaginable, ‘You betit is!” the superintendent exclaim- ** And then, if there had been any truth in the matter I reckon the thing would not have fallen through on account of Jim Cassidy not having the cash; to my certain knowledge he had over five hundred dollars when he was up to El Paso yesterday for I was with him when he réceived the money.” ** Yes, Tunderatood you were with him in El Paso yesterday ; I was up there myself, and when I beard about this cattle deal, I reckoned that it was all straight, knowing that you been with Jim.” 4 “Tt is not so, and, as I said, if Jim had-wanted the cows—if they had been offered to him—he had the cash to pay for them, so the thing would have gone through all right.” ** Oh, no,” responded the Fresh, shaking his head decidedly. ““ What do you mean?” demanded the superin- tendent, bis face dark and a touch of anger in his tone. “You don’t seem to understand, Mr, Houma, that this is a mighty uncertain climate along the Rio Grande, and that because a man has money on Monday it is not safe to bet that he The Fresh in Texas. can show his roll on Tuesday,” the Fresh ex- plained. ‘That Jim Cassidy bad five hundred yester- day in El Paso there is not any doubt, but he couldn’t put up that-five hundred to-day if his ranch depended upon it.” The superintendent and the lawyer. looked at each other; the positive tone of the other amazed them. “Well, Mr. Blake, I confess I don’t under- stand bow it is that you bappen to beso well- inarked, ‘*The explanation is just as simple as can be,” the Fresh answered. myself, and I went to work to devise some plan to eucher Jim out of them.” able to refrain from uttering the exclamation, so surprised and angry was he at the frank avowal, won a the matter a most excellent joke, besides, although, as a rule, I don’t care to lay for notes, you know,” the Fresh added in a reflective sort of way. ‘‘ My principle is to play until my cash is gone and then stop, unless indeed I have got the fever very bad, then I might put up whatever collateral I could raise, but I never gamble on notes, I wouldn’t this time if Cassidy had not been hot for me to give him his revenge and insisted that I ought to allow him another show to get square, so I yield* ed and tackled him again, and the resuit was that he went into the hole for a hundred more, and that kinder cooled him off so he was willing to re. ‘* He gave me a message to bring to you. He said, ‘ You will be apt to see Mr. Houma to- morrow? I said, ‘ Yes;’ he said, ‘ Tell him I reckon I will not. be able to make that trade we were talking about.’ I said, ‘All right, not letting on, you know, that I had any suspicion what it was about, but I understood that it re- ferred to the cow trade. So 1 came up this morning to tell you what Jim said, and to say to you, on my own book, that I will. take the cows. You will get just the same money, you ose only I will pay it to you instead of Cassidy.” CHAPTER VI. A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE OF OPINION. For a moment the lawyer and the superin- tendent stared at the Fresh in amazement, while that gentleman smiled in a good-natured way, just as if he considered the matter to be an excellent joke. Houma's rage was none the less intense be- cause he was trying to suppress it in order to imi- tate the coolness of the other. “This is a pretty good story of yours, Mr. Blake,” he remarked in a decidedly sarcastic way. “Yes, I think it is pretty fair myself. It is quite a joke to not only eucher a man out of.a trade, but also get hold of his money to carry the deal through. ‘““Of course, I wouldn’t like Jim to know it, for he hasn’t any idea that I wanted any cows and it might make him feel bad to find out that he bas been left so badly,” the Fresh-remarked. **From this story I should reckon that you play a pretty sharp game sometimes,” the super- intendent observed, ** Well, once in a while I tumble into a thing of this sort,” Blake toe in a modest way. “You will excuse the question, I know, when I ask how can I be certain that you are not playing some sharp game on me ?” the superin- tendent said with elaborate politeness. ‘** Oh, yes, of course; there is nothing like be- ing certain in a little matter of this kind,” the Fresh replied, “ Here is Jim’s I O U, which will show that I stuck him for a hundred yesterday,” avd as Blake spoke he produced the note, and as both the others were well acquainted with Cassidy’s writing and signature, they were able to decide at a glance that the note was a genuine one. ‘*Then for further proof,” remarked the Fresh as he returned the note to his pockethook, ‘““when you were with Jim yesterday did you notice his roll—five hundred and twenty-five dollars exactly ?” “Yes, that was the amount,” Houma remark- ed. ‘‘I saw the sum paid to him.” “Did you take. any notice of the particular bills—would you be apt to know them if you saw them again?” ** Yes; Tam certain I would,” thesuperintend- ent replied. ‘‘ There were five one bundred-dol- lar bills, two tens, and a five. The hundred-dol- lar bills were almost brarm new, one of the tens was tn good condition, but the other ten and the five was torn and ragged, the five particularly “T reckon you would make a good detective, 5 ee informed in regard to this matter,” Houma re- | ‘** When I got wind of this cow deal and heard | that Jim Cassidy had the stamps to put up, it | kinder set me to thinking, for I wanted the cows | ‘*The deuce you did!” exclaimed Houma, un- | “Yes, and the result of my cogitations was | the Fresh replied that T Bot Jim into a little game of poker, and 1 | them for Jim; but as the money he had as easily as rolling off | will, a log,” and the Fresh laughed as if he thought money. pays for them,” “ ou “Yes, I got all the cash he had,” Blake»! tendeut replied, shortly. continued, ‘‘and his note for a hundred more | sell to either you, Cassidy, or any other man.” Pp Mr. Houma,” the Fresh remarked; then he Bt duced a roll of bills from an inside pocket of his cout, and separating some from the others showed the superintendent. five hundred an twenty-five doilars which Houma inimediately declared was the money he had seen Cassidy re- ceive on the day before, “* You see, ] am giving it to you as straight as a string,” the Fresh remarked, returning the money to bis pocket, ** Of course I played it on Jim in a way which no doubt: he will despise when he comes to find out all about it,” Blake continued. ** Still, no one can say that the game was not a square one,” he went on. ‘‘ Jim had just as good a chance to skin me as I had to skin bim, and there is an old saying, you know, that all is fair in love and war, and I reckon that can be stretched to cover trade, too, so if you haven't any objection I will take the cows,” fe Didw't I tell you right at the beginning that I hadn’t any cows to sell?” exclaimed the super- © intendent, rather roughly. ‘*Ob, yes: but I understand that, of course,” Placally. “You were savin im can’t take them, It is all the same, you know; Cassidy’s ave been misinformed,” the superin- “JT have no cows to A peculiar look came into the eyes of the Fresh; but the smile did not depart from his lips, and the others had no suspicion that the dangerous mood of Jackson Blake was approach- ing. - “TI don’t exactly understand this,” the Fresh remarked, slowly. ‘If you were willing to sell the cows to Cassidy yesterday, why not to me to-day?” ‘*Bat you are.barking up the wrong tree!” the superintendent asserted. ‘‘ Whoever told you that I made a bargain with Cassidy yester- day, and agreed to let him have fifty cows, did not know what they were talking about! And then the price is absurd; young cows are worth ten dollars a head,” ‘*Yes, I know that, and thaf was why I was anxious to secure a bargain,” the Fresh re- sponded, “T am just as hag es pick up a bundred dollars, when it comes my way, as the next man, ‘* Well, you will not make any hundred dol- lars out of me!” Houma asserted. ‘‘ And I would like to get hold of the man who told you this cock-and-bull story.” ‘* About the cows?” ae Yes.” “You will be astonished when I tell you how Icame to know about the matter,” the Fresh remarked, with a peculiar, dry laugh. “Don’t I tell you that there isn’t any truth in the yarn!” the superintendent exclaimed, an- ily, ar I wouldn’t say any more if I were you,” the Fresh remarked. ‘' You will be over your head pretty soon and will bave to swim out.” ‘* What do you mean?” cried Houma, roughly. “‘The conversation between you and Cassidy in regard to the cows took placein the bar-room of Big Jake’s United States Hotel in El Paso, You were standing at the end of the counter and talked loud enough for me to hear every word you said; I was in the back room oe a newspaper. You were rather off your guard, I suppose, thinking that as there were only Mexi- cans In the place no one would understand what oe: were saying, but just by accident, as it uppened 1] heard the whole of it, and as I wanted some cows, I made up my mind to clean out Jim Cassidy and get in ahead.” The face of the superintendent grew dark with rage as he listened to the explanation, It wasas the Fresh had supposed: as there were only Mexicans in the bar-room, Houma had spoken more freely:than he would other- wise have done, Now, too late, he saw bis mistake, * You played the spy upon me then!” the superintendent exclaimed in an extremely ugly way. oes, as if. happened, I did, but without in- tending so to do though,” the Fresh rejoined, coolly. ‘“ But if. men will talk recklessly in public places, they ought not tocomplain if their conversation is overhea “‘ Maybe I should not have paid much atten- tion to it if I hadn’t heard you pledge score A to be quiet ahout the matter, for you didn wantany one to know of the deal. : * Now, Jim, 7 know, don’t bear the best of characters, and has been mixed up in some rather crooked transactions, and there has been talk in this neighborhood that if Jim did not mind his eye, Judge Lynch would get after him some day, and bis neck anda long rope would become intimately acquainted. “So when 1 heard you tell Cassidy that he must keep the matter quiet, the thonght imme- diately came up in my mind that if you were a man who indulged in any crooked business. Jim Cassidy would be just about the sort of a fellow that you would be apt to pick out for a pard.” . “ Why, you infernal scoundrel!” cried Houma, and he made a rush for the Fresh, his game
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6 The Fresh in Texas. ! being to clasp him in his strong arms, bear |! though, “but I reckon that in the long run him to the earth and there, kneeling on his prostrate body, pound him at his leisure. But the Fresh was not taken by surprise by the attack, for he had been watching the super- intendent while he had been speaking, as the trained swordsman watches his opponent, and by the glitter of the eyes anticipates the thrust before itis mado, . So when Houma rushed upon him he was ready for him. In an adroit manner he evaded the outstretch- ed arms, and in place of Houma seizing him, he seized the other. And then, in some really marvelous way—the superintendent was never able to understand or explain how it was done—the sport got his right arm around the brawny neck of his opponent, forced his head under his arm, resting it on his hip; then, with the aid of the other hand, and a werful swing, the Fresh lifted bis assailant airly from the ground and, turning him in the air, threw him over his shoulder, Houma landing on the flat of his back on the ground witha force that for a moment seemed to knock all the breath out of him. To use the language of the ‘‘ Fancy,” the Fresh had “ cross-buttocked” the superintendent, Bullifant beheld this performance, a prey to unbounded amazement; being fully as much | astonished as the man upon whom the operation had been performed. For a few moments Houma remained quiet; | tha shock had been so great that he was unable | to rise, but when his breath returned to him he | rose slowly to his feet, terribly shaken by the | violence of his fall. - The superintendent was big and fat, in no con- dition for a contest of this kind, and therefore the shock had terribly rattled him. Hoe was game, though he now understood that when he attacked the Fresh he bad caught a T..rtar; still, though the idea‘had come to him that the Fresh knew a thing or two about the wrestler’s art which he had not learned, he had hones that owing to his superior weight and strength he might be able to whip his antago- nish, This time he did not attempt to closo in with | th. Fresh, but essayed to bear him down with a scvies of massive blows, One, two! out went his muscular arms, but Jackson Blake parried the blows with tho great- esi ease, for he was an experienced boxer while | the other man was not, and then, with wonder- ful quickness, he put in two blows, the first, with the left, ‘steading his man,” to use the sporting terin, and the second, the powerful Tight, catching Houma on the front of the jaw. The superintendent threw up his hands, gasp- ed, and down he went all in a heap. To use the language of the ‘“‘ring,” he was ‘* knocked out.” : CHAPTER VII. THE FRUSH MAKES THE TRADE, BULLIFANT had been surprised at the result of the superintendent’s first attack, but he was still more surprised when he bebeld the massive superintendent disposad of thus easily. ‘ Great heaven!” he cried, ‘‘ have you killed the man?” ‘*Oh, no, bless you he is worth a dozen dead men,” the Fresh replied, ‘‘ He has only got a lesson in boxing which will bo: apt to open his eyes a little. en he gets over this little tap he will understand that be is not so terrible a fighter as he thought he was, “Tf you have 5 some water handy a dose might do him good.” ullifant was quick to improve the hint and the superintendent soon revived. With the lawyer’s assistance he rose slowly to his feet, and then, leaning on Bullifant’s arm glared at Blake. **T will have your heart’s blood for this!” the superintendent exclaimed. **Oh, no, you will not! nothing of the sort!” the Fresh replied briskly. ‘‘I have not got any more blood than I want myself and, most de- cidedly, hav’n’t any to spare. But if you are not satisfied—and some men are very hard to suit—we can settle the matter now for good and all!” the Fresh exclaimed, “T reckon you are heeled—few men in this region who are not. Iam, and if you are eager for blood, out with your revolver, and we will get to work as soon as you like.” Bullifant at this point felt called upon to in- terfere, for he saw that the superintendent had been so shaken up by the punishment which he had received, that he was not in a fit state to go into a revolver duel. “Of course it is none of my business,” he said, ‘‘ but, really, I think that this affair had better not proceed any further at present. Mr. Houma bas acted a little rashly, and, when he comes to think the matter over, I am sure he will see that he has been in the wrong.” ' I will be able to turn the tables on you.” | “All right, 1am agreeable, and hold myself in readiness to give you satisfaction im any way | that you may desire, and at any time,” Blake | remarked. ** But, one thing I should like to know: how : do you propose to proceed in this matter?” he asked. ‘'Is it understood that this fight is to be renewed the next time we meet—is either one of us at liberty to shoot on sight?” ‘Most certainly not, I should say! the law- | yer declared, ‘Mr. Houma, I am sure, is no | desperado of that kind. Among gentlemen | such a thing is unknown. If, upon considera- | tion, Mr. Houma does not feel satisfied, he will proceed to seek satisfaction as is usual among gentlemen,” ** Yes, that is the way 1 like to do business!” the superintendent declared. Houma was not particularly quiek-witted, | but he had sense enough to see that: tbe course the lawyer bad mapped out for him was the true one for him to follow. From the experience that he already had of the Fresh’s quality, it was apparent that if open war was declared, his opponent would be pretty certain to get the best of the fight; but, if he bided his time, the opportunity might come for | him to catch his men in such a way as to give | him a decided advantage. : “Mr. Bullifant expresses my sentiments,” he remarked, ‘For the present we will consider this thing settled.” ‘ All right, that suits me,” the Fresh replied. | **T am not going around kicking up rows, In | fact, since I have taken up my residence here on | the Rio Grande, I have tried to keep out of all the difficulties I could, but if war comes, then, of course, I do my level best.” ‘* That is only natural,” Builifant remarked in his smooth way, The lawyer had made up his mind that the | Fresh was a dangerous. fellow, and that the best way to get an advantage over him was by the | use of craft and trickery. “* These little misunderstandings will happen,” he coutinued, ‘and aman cannot help. getting into a difficulty sometimes.” “Well, since this matter is settled, how about the cows?” Blake remarked, ‘As you were willing to sell them to Cassidy, I do not see why you sliould object to sell them to me,” The superintendent comprehended that he was in a corner, and there was no way for him to crawl out, as far as he could see, As tie reader has probably suspected, Houma had been indulging in a little “ crookedness ” when he made the bargain with Cassidy for the cows. The Fresh had spoken correctly in regard to Jim Cassidy when he had asserted that the man did not bear a good reputation. Cassidy had been detected in some very ques- tionaole transactions since-he had dwelt by the Rio Grande, and if he had not begged off, and succeeded in settling with the men whom he had wrongec, he undoubtedly would have been driven out of the country. And so, when Blake overheard the conversa- tion between the two relative to the stock, he suspected at once that there was something wrong about the transaction, particularly when the superintendent offered to let Cassidy have | the cows for two dollars a head less than the going price, on condition that he kept the mat- | tera profound secret and paid the cash at once, It was Jackson Blake’s idea that Houma in- tended to play the rascal. He thought the su- perintendent purposed to keep the transaction a | Secret and pocket the money, and that was the | reason why he had inveigled Jim Cassidy into a game and despoiled him of his wealth, / ; ; | | ; ; ' | If tho transaction wasall open and above board, of course it did not make any difference to Houma who bought the cows, for one man’s money was as good as another's, but if tbe superintendent intended to put the cash in his own pocket, then he could not dispose of the cows except to some one who would keep the transaction a secret, The manner in which Houma had acted, showed the Fresh that his suspicion was correct, The superintendent was a rascal. Then, as Houma puzzled bis brain for an ex- lanation that would appear reasonable, a right idea came to him, ‘* Well, Mr, Blake, 1 would like to oblige you in this matter,” he said, ‘‘but I don’t really feel like standing the lots of a hundred dollars, for bm know the cows are worth ten dollars a head.” “*But you were going to sell them to Cassidy for eight,” the Fresh urged. “That was — a little taffy to lead Jim on,” Houma explained. “I don’t-know as you have ever had any dealings with Jim—” **No, I baven’t.” ** Well, then, of course, you don’t understand This speech gave the superintendent time for | what a migbty Sn eet man he is to do business reflection, and, despite the wrath which in- with, If I had asked him ten dollars a head, flamed his blood, he was able to see that it | the regular going price, he wouldn’t bave want- would not be wise for him to carry the quarrel | ed to trade at all, but further at present. You have got the best of it,” he admitted, spoken most unwillingly, the speech being I led bim on with the offer of two dollars a head less than the cows are worth; then, when be came to close the deal, I should have told bim that I bad made a mis- take, that the cows were worth ten dollars a head, and that 1 could not let them go under that figure, and this is where Jim’s peculiari comes in, When he came with his money in bis fist to close the deal and found the price had ad- vanced, he would stand the ante and close the trade.” ** Ab, yes, I see,” exclaimed the Fresh, with a beaming smile. ‘I wouldn't have had it, but after he got into the thing he would give the figure?” “* Yes, exactly.” ‘* Well, it takes all sorts of men to make a world,” Blake ohserved, philosophically. ‘“'Phatis so; as I said,a man must be well acquainted with Jim Cassidy to know hew to take him.” ‘“'Phen the price is ten a head?” “That is the figure.” “T will go it, for I want the cows,” the Fresh remarked. ‘‘ Where are they? I should like to take a look at them.” “Certainly. I’ve got them shut up in the correl in expectation of Cassidy’s combi: and if you will walk over you can see them.” “ Allright. Iam your man,” The party proceeded to the corral, which was not the regular one attached to the superintend- ent’s house, but a rude affair on the edge of the ranch next to the road. Blake comprehended at once how the scheme would have been worked had he not won Cassi- dy’s money and so prevented the deal. The corral being on the road and remote from the rest of the ranch, the cattle could be driven away with very little probability of any one on the place knowing anything about it. The cows were good ones, well worth the money, and the Fresh concluded the trade at once, ** Tl send over for them this afternoon,” Blake said, as he mounted his horse, ‘By the way, is Miss Margaret at home?” ** No, she is off for a ride,” ' f It is no use for me to call then. Well, sa ong! And then the Fresh and Old California Joe departed, ontis and the lawyer watched the pair until they disappeared around the bend of the road, and then they took their way back to the super- intendent’s quarters, ** Well, the reports in regard to this fellow’s skill as a fighter are correct,” Bullifant re- marked. “Yes, curse the luck! I stood no chance at all, although I look to be more than a match for him,” the superintendent replied gloomily, “Oh, he is a regular prize-fighter!” the law- yer declared, ‘‘ Any one could see that from the way he handled bimself.” ‘'T don’t know whether be is as expert with his firearms as ke is with his fists, but I mean to find out!” Houma declared, ‘Look out that you don’t give him a fair chance, or else he may lay you out,” Bullifant warned, ‘Oh, I will hatch some scheme to catch him at a disadvantage, be sure of that!” the other exclaimed. ‘' You may be satisfied that I will not rest until I have full measure of revenge, and if I cannot wipe him out myself, then I will call others to my aid.” ‘That is the safest game, and I will do all I can to help you!” the lawyer declared. CHAPTER VIII. THE FRIENDS. ALonG by the bank of the yellow Rio Grande, following what was known as the river trail, rode two as fair maidens as the bright Texan sun bad ever shone on, One was Margaret Escobedo, the heiress of the old cattle king, the richest girl by far in all that section of country, and the other was her bosom friend, Pauline Melville... The two girls were a most decided contrast to each other, for Margaret was tall and slender and queenly in her carriage, with a wealth of golden hair and the clearest, deepest blne eyes that mortal woman ever possessed, while her friend was short in stature, extremely plump, with dark-drown eyes and hair. Tbe position in life oecupied by the two were as different as their looks, although both were orphans, but while Margaret was as wealthy a girl as could be found all along the line of the Rio Grande, thanks to the old cattle king’s money, Pauline was entirely dependent upon her own exertions. She and apes ey: bad been chums at schoot in the East, and at that time, owing to the. fact that Margaret’s mother had fled from the old cattle king, carrying ber child with ber, the two not being able to agree, Margaret had no more expectations than her friend. And when their school days were over, and the two went out into the world to earn their living—for although Margaret’s mother held a good position, yet she preferred that her child should be able to take care of herself, for at that time neither one ever expected to receive a single Loar dl from Estevan bedo—the two ree 5 ons together, and so the friendship continued. Then came the sudden death of the} old cattlo f you said. ten at first, Fim - se
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king and the news that Margaret was his heir; the death of Margaret’s mother followed shortly afterward, and Margaret’s journey to the West to take possession of her inheritance separated her from Pauline, The two corresponded regularly though and rwhen Owing to the misconduct of Manuel and Isabel Escobedo, her cousins, and who had been -her companions. on the. ravch, they were com- pelled to zo away, aud Margaret was left alone, he sent for Pauline to come to her, and the girl gladly obeyed the summons, As Margaret said in her appeal to her friend: ‘* Why should you toil as bard as you have to for a bare living while I have everything that the heart of a women can desire? Come and share my fortune with me!” Miss Pauline bad now been an inmate of the Escobedo Ranch for some two months and had ) is become pretty well accustomed to the peculiar life, so different to what she had been used to in the East. a The two girls had been indulging in a brisk ‘ gallop and. bad now pulled their steeds into a ‘walk so as to breathe the animals, and this af- forded an opportunity for conversation. * That isa nice ranch over yonder,” Pauline temas as they rode past a thrifty-looking ace, z Ps Yes, itis a well-kept estate.” . i > “* Let me see; I do not remember to have ever ; noticed that. rauch before, although this is not the first time I have been along this road,” feeaoo A t- as r x n » . ‘ ~ Sabie ees ; = Pauline remarked, reflectively. ‘‘ Who lives a. there?” Be * Mr. Blake,” P “ Oh, the Fresh, as they call him!” tho other : exclaimed. ; ** Yes, but I really think it is utterly absurd - to bestow such a title upon him!” Margaret re- om marked, spiviledly, a tinge of color in ber cheeks a and her eyes flashing. “So it seems tome, but then they have sucha =: = Strange habit in this country of bestowing all 3 sorts of nick-names upon people. Sometimes a ee a fit very snugly, but in this case, I confess, — oe I do not see anything fresh about Mr. Blako, excepting that he bas a cool, easy way with him, a: = uite a contrast to the rough boisterousness of ea the inost of these Texans.” = “‘Mr, Blake is nut a Texan, you know; he is a from California.” : an? ‘Oh, yes, I_ know that; his nick-name gives ai on that information—the Fresh of ’Friscu, you —.. Imow; isn’t.it utterly ridiculous?” : 2 ‘** Yes, so it. seems to me, and I confess that since { bave been aé@quainted with the gentle- ‘man J have not seen anything in his bearing, or ; : conduct, that would suggest such a name. <3 “ As you say he is cool and quiet, but not at at : all forward, as this ridiculous nick-name would Ses imply.” ERIE ““That.is true enough!” Pauline assented. aes. “Now the majority of young men living in Pp «Soe close proximity to-such a pretty girl as you are i ae —tosay nothing of myself—would be sure to -have found some excuse to call in every day or . Se ~ two, but since I have been here I do not believe ae he has called once a week.” on “Tt was the same wa 1; a Margaret remarked. don oftener,” before you came,” “About once a week, sel- _ oe “But be was welcome, wasn’t he, Margaret?” p} Pauline asked, with ashy glance at the es of _—— her friend. “Welcome!” Margaret exclaimed, in deep, earnest tones, ‘*‘ Why, Pauline, Mr. Blake is as welcome to my house as the sun! ‘‘That man saved me from a position of the greatest peril, and while I live [ will never fer- get the service he rendered me—repay it I can never bope to,” . “You -might, by giving him your precious self, eh?” Pauline exclaimed, mischievously. The heiress of Escobedo crimssed from her meck to her temples, and her confusion was most a. manifest, ste “Oh, forgive me, Margaret, I did not mean to wound you!” the other exclaimed, deeply re- protting her careless speech, and then she passed er «St caressingly, around»'the waist of Mar- garet, ; “T only said it to tease you, and J did not think you would care,” ' “Oh, it does not matter,” the heiress replied, forcing a smile, although there were tears iv * : hay, oem “f am foolish to allow fo to tease me, but a then I know that Mr. Blake’s name and mine thave been coupled together, and I am sensitive in regard to. the matter.” “That is true, for during my brief stay here Ihave beard many a siy hint that the Fresh, as they all call him, would, probably, one day be the master of the Escobedo Ranch,” “Yes, the gossip has come to my ears.” “Well, I really wonder at the talk, for, as @arasican see, the gentleman does not act at @il like « lover,” “Ob, no, no one could with justice accuse him of paying me any particular attention,” ‘‘ He seemed to me like a devoted friend—a brother as it were, whom you might depend up- on in hour of need.” ‘And such be has been to me ever since we first met!” Margaret exclaimed, . -The Fresh in Texas. “T came to this far southwestern land alone and friendless and fell immediately into the. power of enemies whom I firmly believed to be my friends; in my trusting innocence I was an easy dupe.” “That I can readily believe,” Pauline re- marked, ‘‘for you are unsuspicious by nature and would not be apt to think evil of any one.” “*T inherited the fortune which others covet- ed,” Margaret explained. ‘ But my death was not desired, for in that case there were a hun- dred heirs and even my father’s vast estate would be divided into so many parts that none of the heirs would be satisfied with their share, so these pretended friends arranged a plot of which I was to be the victim. : **The scheme was to place me in a position of ril from which 1 could only escape by marry- ing one of these pretended friends, and it would, probably, have succeeded too, for in my inno- cence I did not dream of the trap into which I had fallen, bad it not been for Mr. Blake who came to my rescue in the very nick of time,” “* How extremely romantic!” “Tt was extremely fortunate for me, for his timely arrival saved me from becoming the prey of as base a villain as there isin all this wide world,” ** And how was it that Mr. Blake happened to know of the matter?” Pauline asked with all the natural curiosity of her sex. “Just by accident he got a hint that there was something wrong, and with the persever- ance of a bloodhound he followed on the track until be succeeded in baffling the plans of the conspirators and saved me from becoming their victim.” . ‘That is where bis freshness comes in, I sup- pose,” remarked Pauline with a laugh. ‘Yes, [ presume so, for I was a stranger to him, and he braved the enmity of a powerful band of desperadoes by interfering, but be did not count th? cost and in the end succeeded in defeating the plans of the villains.” “T have beard a little gossip in regard to this matter since I have been here,” Pauline ob- server, ‘* The principal actors in the affair were your cousin, Manuel, and Isabel Escobedo?” ‘* Yes, the two whom I believed to be my firm friends,” “Tt must have been a dreadful blow to you when you discovered their treachery?” “Tt was, for I never suspected it.” ‘*Did you have any little tender feeling for Manuel?’ ““Oh, no, although he professed to be my: devoted admirer, but as a lover I never cared for him,” ‘**And the other, Mr. Blake, he has never sought to woo you? You see I am awfully anxious! You don’t mind my asking, do you, dear?” “No; in our school-girl days we had no secrets from each other, and I will be as frank with you now,” Margaret replied. “Mr, Blake likes me, I know; his eyes have told me so many a time—his lips never! He is always just the same as you have seen him, pleasant, perfectly polite and respectful, but Bever attempts t6 woo me in a lover-like fash- on, “Oh, Margaret, confess now, if he did you would not be angry!” Pauline exclaimed, archly, ‘* Well, 1 must wait until that happens, you know, before I shall be sure,” Margaret replied, demurely, “One thing is certain,” she added, ‘I am not likely to woo him,” ‘*Perhaps he hasn’t curage to try to win such a great heiress as you are,” Pauline suggested. ‘Of course I don’t know about that, but as far as regular courage goes I believe from what I have seen of him that be would not hesitate to fight a lion, for badoes not seem to know what fear is.” “Yes, I have heard people say too that he is a gambler and a desperado, and all that, but I don’t believe it!” ‘** Neither do I; he may not be any better, but he certainly is no worse than the other gentle- men of the neighborhood as far as I am able to discover.” And after this the conversation passed to other subjects, but the lively Pauline, with all a woman’s shrewdness, made up her mind to have a talk with the Fresh and see what he really thought about the matter. CHAPTER IX. A WOMAN’S WIT, - PAULINE pondered over the conversation all the way homé, and the more she thought upon the subject the greater me her determina- tion to seek an interview with Jackson Blake and see what he bad to say about the matter. In the solitude of ber apartment, after her arrival at the ranch, she discussed the question with herself, for there was not a soul in the orgie tae sue dared to speak on tke sub- “It is a shame, so it is!” she declared. ‘ Mar- gare loves the man, although she is not willing’ acknowledge it; but ldo not blame her for 4 ne that, for it is not maidenly for a girl to admit she cares for a man who does not take the trouble to woo her. ‘* And what is the reason that he doesn’t?” Pauline asked, abrupthyr ‘There is some reason for it, of course, Mar- garet admits that he, with his eyes, has betrayed that he likes her; and if that is true, and there is no cause to doubt it, for a girl like Margaret is too sensible to be deceived, then it is ve strange he does not strive to secure the prize all the rest of the gentlemen in the neighborhood are so anxious to win. ** As T said before, there must be some good reason for it, and [am no true Yankee girl if I don’t find out what it is. ‘* Margaret is unhappy over the matter; I can see that clearly; and if I can discover what obstacle there is in the way, perhaps I may be able to remove it. “ Anyway, as Margaret’s friend, I ought to do all in my power to promote her happiness, and I feel sure from what she has said—or not so much from what she said as the way in which she said it—that she would gladly be wooed and won by the Fresh of ’Frisco.” The chapter of accidents favored Miss Paulive in her design, for, ashort time after she formed this resolution, she overheard a couple of the berdsmen speaking in regard to the Fresh com- ing for the cows that afternoon which he had purchased. ~ “ Aha!” exclaimed the girl, delighted at the opportunity; ‘‘ now I will have a chance to meet r. Blake, just by accident, and if I don’t find out ju‘t what he thinks about the matter, then I am not as smart as 1 think I am.” So, Miss Pauline found it convenient to take a walk down by the corral that afternoon at about the time that Jackson Blake and bis men were expected to come for the cows, She arrived just in season to see the cattle de- part, and when the operation was completed and the cows were on the road, Pauline said, with her sweetest smile: “ Are you not coming up to the house, Mr. Blake? It is quite a time since you favored us with a call and [ rather guess you think we are not good company or else you would come oftener.” Of course the Fresh could not refuse such an invitation and so he-accompanied Miss Melville to the house. But upon arriving there, after Pauline had es- corted tbe gentleman into the parlor, and sum- moned a servant to announce Mr. Blake’s ar- rival, to Miss Escohedo, the discovery was made that the ladies of the next ranch above on the river had carried the heiress off for a visit. Of course the sly young woman knew that Margaret was absent when she invited the gen- tleman to the house, for otherwise she could not have secured the i getngmncad of enjoying a pri- vate interview with him. ‘Well, now, 1 am so sorry you are disappoint- ed,” she said, “for of course I cannot enter- tain you as well as Miss Escobedo!” , “Ob, I don’t know about that!” the Fresh replied, gallantly. ‘I am afraid you are not doing justice to yourself, for [ am sure that you can be fully as entertaining as Miss Es- bedo. ' “Yes, that may be, but if she was here there would be two to entertain you instead of one— double attraction you see,” - ** Ah, but Fe do not consider that I may be like the gentleman who declared, how happy he could be with either, if the other dear charmer were away!” Blake rejoined. *T do not doubt that thatis true, but I think you are real mean to say so, for of course I un- derstand that you would a great deal rather that Mise Escobedo were here to entertain you — poor me,” Pauline declared, with an affect- pout. : ‘ **Oh, now you have got it all wrong,” the Fresh answered. ‘It is your charming self who is the attractive one. am positive that any gentleman who has the good luck to spend an hour in-your agreeable company will not have cause to complain that he has not been pleasant- ly entertained.” ‘Tam afraid that ae area sad flatterer, Mr. Blake!” Pauline exclaimed, shaking ber finger at him, warningly. : “Oh, no, nothing but the truth comes from me I assure you.” is not so attractive as Miss Escobedo’s!”’ Pauline exclaimed, with a laugh, I presume, a many men in this worl would really prefer a handsome bank-account to a handsome woman,” the Fresh remarked. ‘*T don’t believe that your tastes run in that way,” the girl observed. ‘ You are right there; there isn’t anything of the fortune-bunter about me.” £5 ose feel sure of that!” ‘5 y you compliment me!” and the Fresh bowed politely. win “Ob, your actions show that you are not mer- ae ‘* How do you make that 4 “ Well, one thing is certain, my bank account - i ** Yes, there isn’t any mistake about age ee f 3 Why, the way in which you act toward Mise. ee Vo PN 2 NS fe. es
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““T don’t ‘think I get your meaning exactly.” ‘¢ Miss Escobedo is the richest girl in all this section—that is true, isn’t it?” ‘*She has that reputation.” ‘And as a consequence almost every gentle- man for miles around is a suitor for her hand.” ‘Yes, but I do not think it is hardly fair for ou to assume that all her suitors are attracted by the fact that she is the wealthiest girl in the district,” the Fresh observed... ‘t For you must remember that Miss Escobedo is a very beauti- ful woman, and then being a blonde too, her style of beauty is in direct contrast to the type usually seen along the Rio Grande, and that renders her more attractive. “So I think itis hardly fair to assume that-all her admirers are attracted by her wealth and none by her beauty.” ‘Well, I guess my statement isn’t exactly correct,” Pauline admitted, ‘t but you are leading me away from the point which [ desired to make, and that is that neither Miss Escobedo’s wealth nor beauty seemed to be potent enough to attract you.” ‘* Ah, now you are putting a leading question to me, as a lawyer would say,” the Fresh re- plied, laughing. “Well, I am not a judge to compel you to an- swer it if you do not want to, you know,” the girl replied, archly. ‘* But you are anxious to learn, though?” ** Am I not a woman?” “ And therefore curious, eli?” ““T will have to admit the fact, I suppose.” “Well, it is a subject about which I should not care to converse in public,” Blake observed, slowly. ‘But Ithink I can afford to make an exception in your favor, for I feel sure you are a devoted friend to Miss Escobedo, and ;would do all in your power to insure her happiness.” ‘Yes, indeed 1 would,” Pauline exclaimed, romptly. ‘Why, Mr. Blake, we have been Priends eyer since we were children, and if we were sisters I do not belicve we could love each other any better than we do,” “Ob, I have noticed that you seem to be de- votedly attached.” “Yes, I would do almost anything for Mar- garet, and I am/sure she would do as much for me,” Pauline declared. ‘*And I will admit, without beating around the bush, that Iam puz- zled to account for your indifference, particular- ly as I understand that you have.a most decided claim to Margaret’s gratitude.” ‘*1 presume she has informed you, then, of the rather strange way in which we became ac- quainted,” ** Yes, she told me the really romantic story,” Pauline replied. ‘‘Why, Mr. Blake, it is just like a chapter out of a novel.” “Tt was rather odd, there is no mistake about it; but this is a wild country along the Rio Grande, and events happen here that could uot possibly occur in a more civilized community.” “You acted like a hero, Mr. Blake, and_if there is any man in the world who deserves to win Margaret Escobedo you are the man,” Pauline declared, in her emphatic way. "Tam very much obliged to you for the com- pliment,” the Fresh remarked, * Ah, but it is not an empty compliment,” the girl rejoined. ‘It is the truth. You saved her Toons a dreadful fate, for what can be worse for a woman than to be forced into a marriage with aman whom she cannot love?” That is very true, and I suppose to carry out the romance, I ought to lay vigorous siege to Miss Margaret.” ““Yes, most decidedly, and I confess my curi- osity is excited. There is some good reason for it, of course. Possibly you are already in love, and so are not heart-frge.”’ **Oh, no, there isn’t anything of that kind to interfere,” the Fresh replied. * Of course I will not attempt to deny that I have met girls whom I have fancied, and they in return bave looked with favorable eyes upon me, but all these are in the long ago; none of them recent enough to interfere with my pay- nes to Miss Escobedo if I was disposed so to “And why don't yeu?’ asked Pauline with true feminine bluntnes-. Blake laughed at the di‘ectness of ‘the ques- tion. d “You must really forgive me!” Pauline has- -tened to exclaim. ‘I know that it is perfectly awful for me to be so inquisitive, but I cannot help it.” Oh, no, of course were born that way.” ** Yes, T suppose I was.” “Well, as Tam always glad to gratify a lady, I am disposed to satisfy your curiosity,” the Fresh remarked. “Of course I should not care to go around and proclaim this from the house-tops,” he added. mi Certainly not, but you can rely upon my discretion. “Of that I feel assured, or else I should not converse at all with you in regard to the mat- ter,” Blake remarked gravely. __ “Now then, I will freely admit to you that | . Part at all olind to Miss Escobedo she is as lovely a girl as | have ever had you are not to blame, you charms. | The Fresh in Texas. the pleasure of encountering, and fully believe that she is as good as she is beautiful.” ‘** Oh, yes, there isn’t a doubt of that!” Pauline exclaimed, ‘‘ And any man, no matter what may be his station in life, peasant or prince, might esteem | himself fortunate to win the love of such a peer- less girl, ‘You are certainly right in that statement! | Margaret is worthy the love of any man, no matter who or what he is!” Pauline declared. ‘* And that is one of the reasons why I hesi- tate to enter the lists with the rest of her suit- ors,” the Fresh remarked. ‘* Now, Miss Melville, i am going to be honest ith you, and honest with myself,” be added, ‘* T presume you have been long enough in this section to have heard plenty of stories about me?” ** Oh, yes; and I have been here long enough, too, to. understand that gossip here is just like gossip every where else; one must not believe all they hear.’ ‘That is true enough; there isan old saying that a good story never loses anything in the telling, and I think it is a very true one. I sup- pose you know that though Jackson Blake ismy name, yet another appellation bas been affixed to me by which I am as often called as by my baptismal name.” “Oh, yes, the Fresh of ’Frisco,” Pauline re- plied, smiling at the odd conceit. ** And I supposs you have heard, too, that my character is none of the best?” ‘Yes, but I do not pay any attention to these idle stories, nor does Miss Escobedo,” the girl re- | plied immediately. ‘* Margaret and myself were conversing about the matter recently, and she said that during all the time you bave lived here you had conducted yourself in the most proper manner, and no one could, with truth, say a word against you,” ‘.“T am very glad indeed to learn that Miss Escobedo has such a good opinion of me,” the Fresh remarked, “Then she does not believe that I am a des- perado and a card-sharp, going about like a raging lion seeking whom Ek may devour?” ¥ No, indeed!” Pauline declared, emphatically, ‘¢ Your life during the time that you have lived here is a complete answer to that accusation.” ‘" Yes, that is true enough. I have behaved myself pretty well since I settled here by the banks of the Rio Grande, but I will make the honest confession that I have led a pretty wild life. A desperado, in the true sense of the word I have never been, although I have never hesi- tated to defend myself when attacked, and, to speak the exact truth, have been involved in quarrels which Leculd bave kept out of if I had so chosen: that is where the Fresh comes in,-you know. My peculiar disposition causes me to interfere in matters which do not concern me, like this case of the conspiring against Miss Es- cobedo; if it had not been for my freshness I should never have been mixed up in that,” ‘Tt was a most fortunate thing for her that pou did take an interest in the matter though,” auline observed. * Yes, as it happened it was, and now another ints fam accused of being a gambler, and must acknowledge that I have seen the time when I depended upon cards for a living. Of course I can come the old game and swear that 1 always played fairly and all that, but that doesn’t wipe out the fact that I depended on cards for my bread and butter,” ‘Of course, to look at the matter fn the light in which it would be regarded in the East, it seems to be a dreadful thing,” the girl observed. ** But out-in this country everybody seems to play cards, and although it may be that I am not a competent judge, yet to me there does not seem to be such a great difference between the man who plays cards for amusement, as Jong as he ventures money on the result of the game, and the one who makes a living by card-play- ing. One thing to my mind is certain: if the gentlemen who only play for amusement would stop amusing themselves in that way, the aking gamblers would be apt to starve to eath, ; wa The Fresh laughed, for to his mind the girl's words were not only true but ae rgd “Well, I think you are right, although the world at Jarge will not be apt to agree with you, but that isa mere matter of opinion, of course, But now, just look atthe matter: my past life has not been a particnlarly, creditable one; the woman who marries me will be apt to hear some ugly stories once in a while, and a good many {pac will be apt to hold up their hands.in holy orror at the union. “*Then, as I am odd and peculiar by nature, it may be possible that I will not be content to settle down into a quiet, hum-drum life. Iam not certain of myself, maybe; and now then, } don’t you think there are good reasons why I do. not strive with the rest of the gentlemen of this neighborhood to win the heiress of Escobedo?” Pauline smiled and shook her head. ie “These reasonsof yours would ook agra like chaff before the wind if, you really loved Margaret!” she declared, the rest!” the Se as ee ee ee ea { |. “ What is that, pray?” | ‘*¥ may be so doubtful in fy to my chance of winning the heiress that I am afraid to risk | it. | “Tf you are troubled about that, then de- cidedly you haven’tany right to your nick-name!” | the girl exclaimed. Blake laughed, and after a few more words took his departure. “Fortune is pushing me along whether I wilk or no,” he soliloquized, as he rode away from the ranch, ; “Ts it fated then that Iam to win this peer- Jess beauty?” | | | CHAPTER X, SREKING THE OLD JEW. Tax two Cubans sat together in the office of the Hotel Mexico. in El Paso. | They were ina corner remote from the rest, | and so were_able to converse without danger of being overheard, ** Now, then, what should be our first move in this game?” the elder, Gomes, asked of the | younger, Esparto, “That is difficult to say at present, for we are not yet thoroughly posted in regard to the ground,” the other replied. ‘We have secured the alcalde and the chief of police, and they will aid us to the extent of their power; but, according to the tall of the landlord, and the loungers in the hotel with whom I have conversed, the Fresh has become an extremely popular man in El Paso during the last year, and we must be careful how we attack him.” ‘*T suppcse he is popular because the bullies of the town are afraid of him,” observed Gomes with a sneer, “That’s about the truth, I think, and yet, as. far as I can learn, he has not been concerned in any quarrels for a long time,” z **'The town made the discovery that he was a dangerous man right after his arrival in this sectiou, and he has been given a wide berth ever since,” * That is pecbally the truth, and any attack which we make on him must be planned in the: most careful manner; and now, before we begin to scheme, I would suggest a visit to old Hadad Solomons,” Esparto remarked. “That is not a bad idea,” Gomes observed, approvingly. ‘‘The oid Jew is a sbrewd fellow, 4 “And there is another point stronger than all Fresh resumed, and is usually able to give good counsel.” “ He will know exectly bow the land lays, and undoubtedly his advice will be valuable.” “Let us g0 at once, then,” Gomes suggested. So the two left the hotel and made their way to the Jew’s house, which was on a side street, vey: 8 from the plaza, as the readers who made the acquaintance of the Hebrew pawn- broker in the tale entitled ‘‘The Fresh on the Rio Grande,” will remember, Gomes rapped on the Jew’s door when he reached it, and after a brief either bers ae el in the upper ro of the door opened an he yellow, weasel-like face of the eminent He- brew appeared. This was the regular custom of the pawn- broker. : No one gained admission to his premises until he had made a careful] examination of them by means of the small window in the door. “This is Mr. Solomons?” said Gomes, “'Yesh, yesh, dot ish mine name,” ‘This gentleman and myself would like to see you on a little matter of business,” Gomes ex- plained. ‘‘We are strangers bere in El Paso, and come from the Island of Cuba,” ‘“We bring you news of an old friend of yours,” Esparto added, “‘ Manuel Escobedo.” “Ah, yesh—mine gootness!” exclaimed the old Jew. ‘I hafe not heard from mine fr’en’, Escobedo, for many a long day. “Shust wait a moment, mine fr’en’s, and I will let you in.” The pawnbroker then closed the panel, and the sound of moving bolts and bars was hearc, “Tbe man has his house guarded like a fort,” rto remarked, 5 ** Yes, the old fellow is rolling in wealth and he is afraid of being robbed by some desperate fellow, and so be bas fortified his mansion in a manner fit to resist, anything but artillery,” — Gomes answered. Then the door opened, and the tall, lean figure of the Jew appeared. e was clad in a rusty suit of black, so shabby | that it is doubtful if he, or any of his tribe, would bave been willing to advance a dollar on it.- He cast a piercing glance at the Cubans, and the eyes of the old man, ——— ginko in bi head, were as keen as the orbsof an eagle. | Then, the scrutiny having fs agehy 2 dace ' satisfactory, he opened the door widely and bade them enter; and after they were within ae eae pe, claves wie door and carefully ad~ 1e fastenin n. This operation performed, he turned to the. , Cubans and inquired: ‘eee , .‘ Mine fr’en’s, do you vant to raiseany money — on anyt’ing?” and he rubbed his skinny, talon- _ like hands together, and showed his yellow teeth — ' in what was ed to be an agreeable smile,
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‘“No, we do not desire a loan,” Gomes an- are determined to compass the death of this swered, ‘* All we seek is advice,” Esparto added. ** Advice, eb?” and the old, Jew favored his | visitors with another searching — as though be wished to read their very souls, : ‘‘ Yes, and we have an idea, too, that it may The Fresh in Texas. ‘ accursed Fresh of *Frisco! Gomes said, with firm determination. ‘“*Oh, it will be a difficult job!” the old pawn- broker declared. ‘That man is a devil! Yesh, mine fr’en’s, dat ish it exactly! Dot Fresh of *Fri-co ish a devil, and dere ish not money be possible we can put some money in your . wpe in dis worid to hire me to fight mit him. “ way.” ‘© Aha, dat ish goot—monish ish goot; he, he!” ‘chuckled the old man. iT > ‘ eh om a “Times are hard now—I cannot much make, and I shall be glad if you gifes me a chance to do somet’ings.” hy, mine fr’en’s, v’ot you t’ink? When he first to El Paso did come, he raised monish from me on a loan—then he cleaned out some of der gamblers, and der next day when he come back to pay up, so help me, Moses! if he did not rope me into a game and beat me out of three And then the pawnbroker produced chairs , hundred tollars!” and invited his visitors to be seated. ‘* How may I call your names, mine fr’en’s, if you gery asked, as he seated himself, fac- ing the Cubans. a My name is Gomes,” said the elder. ** And mine is Esparto,” added the other. “ And you said you brought me news of Man- uel 0,” mused the old man. ‘* Vell, vell, rh eed — for: he vas a goot fr’en’ of mine, Is ve ** He is dead,” was the reply. CHAPTER XI, SOLOMONS ADVICE, : “Dgap, eh, Manuel Escobedo ish dead, eh?” the old man murmured im a reflective way, rub- bing his hands softly together, but he did not seem: to be particularly astonished. * Yes,” and then Gomes related how the Es- cobedos, brother and sister, had perished when the trading schooner went down. ** Vell, vell, dot ish bad,” the Jew remarked, ** Ts it possible?” Gomes exclaimed. “Tt is,” the old man replied, with a deep sigh. ** He fixed der thing so dot it looked asif I could skin him out of three hundred dollars, and I vas fool enough to t’ink dot I could beat a sport like he ish at his own game.” ‘** And he beat you, eh?’ Gomes observed. “ 'Yesh, mine tness! as slick as der whistle! I tell you, mine fr’en’, I want no more to do mit dot mans!” ““He has bad a good run of luck since he struck E] Paso, but it is about time for it to change,” Esparto observed. *T for one do not care to buck against bim,” the Jew replied, decidedly. ‘' And, if you will take my advice, when you go for him you will have der ting fixed socot he will have nochance at all, or else he will beat you.” ‘Ob, we will make the trap so strong that when he is once in, there will not be much chance to get out,” Gomes declared, The old pawnbroker shook bis head in an and all the time that Gomos had been speaking | extremely doubtful way. he had been closely studying the faces of his visitors, "°° y “Yes, the account of Manuel Escobedo was abruptly closed,” Gomes remarked. ‘ And just at_a time too when he was preparing to return to El Paso and strike a blow at the foe who had driven him fron his native land.” And then thé Cuban told the story of Isabel Escabedo’s wealthy marriage, and the death of rect busband, which had brought all the money ‘to her. ‘ s “Owing to this fortunate circumstance, you seo, Manuel Escobedo was in a condition tocome back to Et Paso and wage effective war against the man who drove him away.” ““Yesh, yesh, I see; you speak of dis Jackson Blake, der Fresh of Frisco?” said the old pawn- broker. ‘‘ Ho ish a bold fellow, dot Fresh!” ‘‘That is the man,” the Cuban replied. *“Manuel Eseobedo bore him a deadly hatred and swore when he was driven away from El Paso that he would never rest until he was avenged, “Manuel is deal, this gentlemen and myself were his bosom friends, and to us has come the f.rtune that Isabel acquired by her marriage, and to us too has descended this legacy of ven- geance, and we have come to El Paso express to square t' @ account of Manuel Escobedo wit this Fresh of ’Frisco,” “Yeen, yesh, I see,” and all the while the old Hebrew was studying the faces of his visitors th the utmost attention, “Manuel had completed all his arran, ts for ated) to El ) when he met his death on this ill-fated voyage,” Gomes explained. “*Myself and cousin here,” and he nodded to Hsparto, ‘were to accompany him and aid in crit Ane | out his ‘scheme of vengeance, so we his plans, baving fully discussed and arranged the matter; and when the news of bis untimely death reached us, we determined that as soon as we could settle affairs we would come and carry out the plans as originally ar- rang ” oy WE yesh, I see,” the Jew observed, with an FET tate pots, Sate "ite planati ve gone in ex on sO you will unctgtend how matetrs stand,” Gena continued. p Rte: all toe pertitgiars sepsrding tae fas we know all the particulars nD life here in El Paso, and understand ie were his friends and confederates in the old time, We have aneery seen the alcalde and his bro- ther, the chief of police, and arranged with them for their assistance, so we will have strong back- OE et that hed yesh, doti the Jew exclaimed. “The Parrals’ are fine men and they always stick to their frien’s.” ‘** And now we have come to enlist you in our enterprise,” Gomes remarked, “Mine gootness, vot can I do? cried the as you Ltda } apparently much surprised. sn ( to help as exactly aoe o in the old time,” the he first ring ve intend to do is to ve the band of the Riders of Rayon, ed we will ba an organized force to cope with Fresh of ’Frisco and the desperadoes whom he has at his back; and when the band is formed ects a put ey in your pocket just the same eourea; thine trrear "eae “We are in dead earnest in this matter and E * Ab, mine fr’en’, you will find that to bea very difficult matter, I wink. The Fresb has goot men with him, and unless you hafe a big band of Red Riders he will be certain to beat ‘*We arein no hurry, but can afford to wait untila favorable opportunity arrives,” the Cuban remarked. , ‘““We have not allowed the grass to grow under our feet,” Espirto observed. ‘* Although we have not been long in El Paso we have al- ready commenced to enlist men for our band. Thanks to Manuel Escobedo’s instructions we have been able to put our hands right on the men we need—good, trusty fellows who were in the old band, and a couple of them are the ten who used to attend to the business with “Dot ish goot! I do not new men like, fur until they are tried you cannot tell anything about them.” ‘* That is our idea, and we are securing all the old men we can get at,” **So0, Manvel Escobedo is dead,” the old He- brew remarked, gazing at the Cubans in a curi- ous way as he spoke. * Vell, I am sorry for dot. IL liked Manuel; he vasa goot feller; and den, too, dere vas a leetle balance of a hundred tol- lars due me—” “Oh, that is all right!” Gomes exclaimed, immediately. ‘*I wiJl settle that. Bring me en and ink, and I will give you an order on anker Weinholdt for the cash. ' The Jew hastened to comply with the ro pip and was greatly delighted upon receiving the er ter And then the Cubans departed, the old Hebrew escorting them out with many profes- sions of how glad he would be to serve them. But after they were gone, and Solomons had securely locked, bol and barred his castle again, he shook his head in an extremely doubt- ful wr: ‘““When the game was played der last time, der Fresh won mitout any troubles,” the old Jew muttered. ‘* Mebbe he vill nos be able to do der trick dis time, but I vould not be villing to bet much monish on dot, for ke ish a devil, and der mans dot fights mit der devil must get up in der morning early, All der same, I am glad dot der Red Rider band is to go again. ** A goot bit of monish did dot bring to me, but if dey go for der Fresh dey must keep et" eyes peeled, or dot mans will clean dem on The Cubans retraced their steps toward the Hotel Mexico. ‘The old Jew is as cautious as ever,” Gomes remarked. “Yes; he was never willing to take any risks,” Esparto observed. ‘“‘ It was always his me to get all the money he could without put- ng bimself in a position so he could possibly be implicated.” “Well, I suppose the old fellow is not to blame for wanting to play a safe ” Gomes replied. ‘That is characteristic of bis 1:ace the world over.” “That is true enough.” At this point the two turned from the side- street into the plaza, and, as they did so, they came face to face with a rather shabbily- dressed man, @ little under the medium hight, with a dark, olive face, and a decidedly foreign k, ' m alvays ready for a trade, of, A single glance at his countenance, though, to n "Tee remarked, ar judge of nationalities would have Noveniea Wb af 1 | OE Se SI eee an a ace Rn Te ee en RN DOE ee ae Pe ee aE The high cheek-bones, peculiar thin face, pointed mustache and imperial, jet-black in hue, as was the aair which curled almost as tight as a negro’s wool to his head, told that he was a Frenchman, Under his arm he carried a long, slender bune e. Upon meeting so abruptly with the Cubans the Frenchman lifted his hat with all the polite- ness of bis race, ‘“*I beg your pardon, gentlemen,” he said, speaking English quite fluently, and with only a slight accent, ‘‘ but I am a stranger here in zis city, and crave information.” “Certainly, sir, we will be happy to accom- modate youif it is in our power,” Gomes re- plied, as he and his companion returned the man’s salutation. ‘*] am in search of a Hebrew gentleman—one Solomons—although for the life of me I cannot think of his first name, which is an odd, bar- barous ope, I was told to take the second street, and this I think is ze one.” resus Solomons, the pawnbroker?” Gomes said. . “The same! Alas, gentlemen, you behold an unhappy adventurer, reduced by dire misfor- tune to the necessity of pawning the tools by means of which he lives. ‘‘Tam a fencing-master, by name, Louis de Charny; by reputation, second Europe, stranded in this accursed wilderness on account of a little trouble in the City of Mexico, where | had the misfortune to sev wound & relative of the President who presumed to doubt my skill as a swordsman. ‘T was compelled to fly, on the road was robbed of my purse, and am now reduced to seeking a miserable Jew in order to raise a loan on a pair of rapiers which have not their equal in America.” The Cubans looked at each other, for the same brilliant idea Lad oecurred to both, “Here was a man to fight the Fresh of *Frisco!” hog CHAPTER XII. THE ADVENTURER, to no man in “Yes, my dear sirs,” continued the French- man, “by a most unfortunate combination of circumstances 1 was forced to fly from the City of Mexico, where, thanks to my skill as a swordsman, I bad established myself in first- class style, ‘“*T have led a life of adventure, gentlemen, and in my time have met with many misfor- tunes. but this last was the crowning blow. You are true geutlemen, I can see that with half ay eye, and therefore you can appreciate my posi, tion, otherwise I should not bave troubled you with my story.” As we have said, the same idea had occurred to both the Cubans the moment they made the discovery as to who and what the stranger was. man had told his story to arrive at a true uncer- Standing of the fellow’s character. In theisland of Cuba they had encountered just such another maw, only he was an Italian master of the sword instead of a Gaul, He was a quarrelsome wretch who took ad- vantage of the fact that he was a superb fencer to treat all with whom he came in contact—that he did not hope to make a profit from—with annoyance and disdain, If any gentleman took offense at his conduct this polite cut-throat was quick to declare that if he had given offense he was ready to receive a challenge and give the challenger full satisfac- iD. : Before the man’s true character became well- known, some few bot-headed young men were fools enough to allow themselves to be drawn in- to a quarrel with the bully, and this was exactly what the fellow wanted, for it afforded him an opportunity to advertise himself in the most effective wy The man being an expert fencer easily suc- ceeded in getting the best of his opponents, and after his victories was able to carry matters with a high band. In two or three cases it was suspected too that the swordsman had allowed himself to be- come the tool of another and had taken pay to fight the battles of men who did not possess courage enough to face in open fight the men . they hated. For a good round sum in money the adve turer espoused the quarrels of these pene occasion to insult the foes whom they dared not face, and so provoked them to an encounter in which his skil) enabled him to achieve a victory, And the idea had come to the Cubans that with the Frenchman some seresecenes might be made whereby he could be induced to Bie voke the Fresh of ’Frisco into a quarrel, and if such a scheme could be carried out- -and it seem- ed feasible, for the Fresh was not the kind of man to stand any nonsense from any one— was very little doubt that the adventurer would not bave Fewer difficulty in disposing of the Cali- fornian, for although Blake might be an expert with revolver and rifle, it was not likely that was a master of the sw It had not taken them long after the French- — he PHOTE NS i ee ne A The only difficulty that appeared to the Ou a ae
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a TF * a +e OTe mR ere ie 10 bans was te get tha stranger to consent to play the role of a bravo. The first point was to prevent the man from obtaining any money from the pawnbroker and so force him to rely upon them for assist- ance. This idea likewise came to the minds of both | of the Cubans, and immediately succeeded the inspiration of using the stranger as a bravo, Esparto was the first to speak. ‘* My dear Mr. De Coarny, J can assure you that I fully appreciate your position!” he ex- claimed, “and 1 feel sure that this gentleman, my cousin, Fernando Gomes, has the same thought as myself—my name, by the way, is Sebastian Esparvo.” ““T am charmed to meet you. gentlemen,” and the Frenchman shook hands with the pair in the warmest manner. ‘‘ Of course, as I said before, it was easy for me to see that you aré men whom any gentleman might be proud to know.” ** Now, in regard to this Hadad Solomons, the old Jew pawnbroker,” the youngest Cuban re- .marked, ‘‘ let me warn you not to place much tle business with you. He isa stranger in El Pawo and has been directed to you, and it has confidence in getting any assistance from bim, for he is the greatest miser in business that was ever seen,” “Yes, I was informed that I would not find | | of the moving bolts and bars were heard.’ | Frenchman The Fresh in Texas. aS ee 2 eee eee t given us great pleasure to assure him that you | will do as well by him as any man he can find in | the town.” ‘*Oh, yesh, yesh!” the old Jew exclaimed. ‘I am always glad to be able to accommodate the fr’en’ of my fr’en’s! ‘* Shust vait a moment, gentlemen, and I vill | der door open for you,” Then the Jew closed the panel and a“ sounds ‘“*He speaks fairly enough,” observed the in a low tone to his new-made friends, ‘‘but that is where the craft of these cunning Jews comesin, They are always smooth and soft in speech, even when they bave made up their mind to strike you a deadly blow.” “ Yes, that is true,” Gomes remarked. ‘A man is never safe in building upon their words.” * And this old rascal is the biggest fox of his race,” Esparto added. The opening of the door at this point ended the conversation. With the greatest civility the old Jew escort- ed the three into bis house, taking care as usual, to securely fasten the door after the visitors entered. “This gentleman isa friend of ours,” Gomes clared. man can always put money in his whether he wins or loses.” ‘* Yesh, yesh, the scheme is.a good one!” the y; pawnbroker declared. & ‘** By Jove! 1 have a splendid idea!” Esparto Bs declared. ae ‘** Let us hear it!” Gomes exclaimed, ae ‘Why could not our friend play such a game i. right here in El Paso with our help?” the young . Cuban asked. | The others shook their heads. ‘But { think it can be dene!” Esparto pro- — §. tested, 4 | ‘Ob, no; where in stch a town as this—a 4 miserable hole—will you find a man who could encounter a swordsman. like myself?’ the | Frenchman asked. ‘a ‘*Tt is not possible!” Gomes exclaimed. M4 ‘*He exists not in the town!” cried the old - * And then by betting judiciously, pocket Jew. | “‘T see’ you do not catch my idea,” Esparto remarked, ‘*Explain it then, my dear sir, and you can rest assured I will jump gladly at any chance to get out of ze scrape in which I now find my- yy self,” De Charny declared. ; Rs! ‘*There is no swordsman here, of course, for ey him an easy man to do business with, but what | explained, ‘‘and as you have often said that , this is not a country favorable to the develop- cana man do under such circumstances?” the | adventurer asked, skrugging bis shoulders like a | true Frenchman. *“*T want money, and I know no one in this place; who can I go to but to some wretch like this old Jew, who thrives upon the distress of his fellow men?” ‘*Very true!” exclaimed Gomes, and his com- panion nodded assent. “And I presume as it is, that I will only be able to raise a trifle upon as elegant a pair of swords as the cunning hands of the artisan ever forged.” **T doubt if the Jew will be willing to nego- tiate at all,” Esparto remarked with a doubtful shake of the head. “ Asa rule be will not ad- | vance more than the tenth of the value of any- thing, and then the article must be one that he can readily dispose of if it is not redeemed.” ** And you understand, of course, that there is not much of a market for dueling-swords ina town like El Paso,” Gomes added, * Vory little indeed,” Esparto remarked. “I presume you have been long enough in this | country to understand that the favorite weapon here is the revolver.” “Yes, yes, I understand that,” the French- man replied, ‘‘ Why, not one man out of a hun- dred knows anything of the use of the sword!” ‘It would be nearer the mark, I think, to say one out of a thousand!” Esparto exclaimed. “Most decidedly that comes nearer to the truth,” Gomes added, ** Ah, yes, gentlemen, I have no doubt you are right, and I feel that I'am in a most unhappy situation,” the Frenchman observed. “The sword is the only tool of which I am the master, and how in the world I am ever go- ing to get out of this miserable plight in which I find myself is more than I can tell, as I am with-' out money and without friends,” “You are wrong there, My dear Mr. De Charny, you are not without friends as Jong as my cousin and myself are in E) Paso!” Esparto declared. “Sebastian voices my sentiments!” Gomes hastened to add. ** Ah, Sg deyrgs it was a fortunate thing which led me to accost you.” and the French- man, with true Gallic impulsiveness again shook hands with the others, “ But come! let us hasten to this old Jew and see if he will do anything for you!” Esparto ex- claimed, ‘““We will go with you. Although we bave never had occasion to do much business with the, old Hebrew, yet we are well acquainted with him, and he bas always professed a great desire to oblige us, and now there will be a good op- portunity to put bis words to the test,” the young Cuban continned. “ By aiding you he will be serving us,” ‘Yes, we will talk strongly to the old skin- flint,” Gomes added, ‘But I assure you that I place little reliance upon what be says, For all that he bas ever professed a desire to be able to serve us, I have an idea that he would drive just - hard a bargain with us as with anybody else. : * Well, well, we can’put his professions to the test!” Esparto exclaimed. “Our intercession can do our friend bere no harm, if it be not pro- ductive of good.” ** And 1 assure you, gentlemen, I shall appre- ciate it all the same!” the adventrrer declared. ** Come, then, let us hasten!” Gomes said, In company then with the Frenchman; the Cubans retraced their way to the abode of the Jew pawnbroker, As before, they rapped on the door and the Jew surveyed them through the little eveeee ates in the portal, and the moment that his appeared; Gomes said: “My dear Mr. Solomons, we have come to, introduce a gentleman who desires to transact a you would he glad of a chance to oblige us if we ever needed ms accommodation in your line, we hope you will treat this gentleman well and we will consider it a favor done to us.” ‘**'Yesh, yesh, I shall be delighted!” Solomons declared. ‘I will be sure to do all I can for the gentlemans.” “Mr, De Charny, Mr. Solomons,” and as the Cuban introduced the Frenchmen be fell a little in bis rear and by so doing was able to warn the Jew of the game that was to be played by shaking his head in a decided manner. ‘* Yesh, yefh, glad to. meet you mine fr’en’!” exclaimed the J ew, rubbing his hands and duck- ing his head in the most servile manner. “T find myself a little short of money, unex- pectedly,” the Frenchman explained, and I de- sire to raise a loan on a elegant pair of French dueling swords which | bave here.” And the adventurer made 4 movement as if to remove the wrappings around the swords, but the pawabroker ect dew him. ‘* My tear sir, I would be glad to let you hafe some monish, but’ swords are worth not’ing to me, I could not on der best of them afford to ad- ' vance a single t’ollar!” CHAPTER XIIL HIRING THE BRAVO. Tur Frenchman looked disgusted. “But you have not seen the swords!” he said, in protest. “Will you not take a look at them?” “ Oh, no, it is no use!” ““But they are beautiful tools, and you may change your mind when you see how good they are. I assure you that no duke, prince or king in the whole of Europe possesses a finer pair!” “My tear sir, I do not doubt dot,” the old | Jew replied. ‘ But be they goot or bad it is all the same; no one in El Paso vants any such tings. If dey vas pistols or now, wecould do business; but swords,” and the old man sbook his head in an extremely emphatic way—‘t my ootness, no! Dere is no chance for me to get ine monish out of such things. You shust ask these gentlemen,” and the pawnbroker appealed to the Cubans, ‘They will tell you that nobody in this part of the country has any use for swords,” “JT am afraid that Mr. Solomons is right about that,” Gomes observed. ‘© Yes, when men quarrel in this region they always settle the matter with knives, pistols, or, in rare cases, rifles,” Esparto remarked. ‘© Ah, gentlemen, ib is a barbarous land, and my évil star was in the ascendant when I set foot on*these shores!” the Frenchman. declared, in a melo-dramatie way. ; ray ‘Of course we are.on the very frontier of civilization,” Gomes remarked. “Yes, yes, that is true enough, and it was an unlucky hour for me when I was persuaded to come to Mexico,” De Charny remarked, “ But the tale. which was told to me was a glowing one; it was ze land of flowers and of gold, they seid; and a man like myself, with carte and tierce’ at his fingers’ ends could not je to win a fortune in a woaderfully short ime. , ‘True, for a while I did fairly, but not as well as I would have done in any European capital, and then, when misfortune came, there was no escape.” | : “In Europe, no doubt, it would have been different,” Esparto remarked. +1 acer **Oh, yes!” the Frenchman exclaimed, ‘for in the old country there is not. a city of any size without fencing-masters; and, if a gentleman in my line finds himself short of funds, all he has to dois to seek out the principal swordsman and challenge him to an encounter.” i ** Yos, yes, see! A capital idea!” Gomes ex- claimed, and Esparto nodded assent, ‘“A man with a reputation, like myself, can always find plenty of backing,” De ny de- | Man, arr tly. ‘f Rey “Ob, I ao not think there is any danger of | ment of sword fighters, but. we have men bere ee 7 who pose as bullies—men who are expert with weapons, and so are quick to give and take ; Yi offense, trusting to their -reputation and skill to . bring them out victors,” Esparto-explained. — | “Yes, that is the very truth—this Jackson ah: / Blake. the Fresh of ’Frisco as he is called, is just ‘= such a man,” Gomes observed, 5 aes ieee: ‘* Dot ish so!” exclaimed the old Jew. ‘“* Dot man would mid der lion fight, if der beast wag~ ged his ears mit him.” * A fire-eater, eh” and the Frenchman rub- bed his hands, gleefully, together while his face lighted up as though he was anxious. to en- counter just such a man. ; ‘Yes, such is the reputation he bears,” Es- Ro ee parto replied. ° : 5 oe ‘He has managed to come out the victor in ing povan-y wang Orgad im which he - ne en- since be made his appearance ip K] Paso and these affairs bave given him sucha good : opinion of himself that it would not_be a diffi- . a cult matter to draw bim intoa quarrel.” _. ee Sa ‘*Oh, no, I know ‘the breed well, andit is the ee same in all lands!” De Charny declared. Be ‘* A man of that kind is always on the lookout “8 a chance to show the kind of metal that is in him. : Bey l 4 “ Exactly! Well now my idea ais for you to meet this Fresh of ’Frisco and contrive to quar- rel with him. As I have said, that will not be a difficult matter.” + Bath dete ase ‘* Not at all!” the Frenchman exclaimed, '“ The Fresh has always been ready enough to main with any one who came in his way,” omes remarked. 32, ‘* Mine gootness! dot mans is as quick to fight | as Ve sparks to fly up mit demselves!” the old | Jew declared. ' Arrange the affair in such a way that he | will be compelled to challenge you,” Espario game, always,” the i A a ' 2 | Of course—tbat is the | Frenchman replied. 4 ; | “Then you can say that in all such affairs of honor in which you have been engaged. the challenged party bas the choice of weapons,” rto continued. r “ Undoubtedly, that is the code: in all lands where the duello is known,” the swordsman re- marked. ‘' And as the challenged party, bav- | ing the right to a choice of weapons, I s choose swords,” aad * Aha, but. de Fresh of ’Frisco ish no man’s fool!” the old Jew exclairned. ‘When you say saeco erilk he not smell der mouse and refuse : zg t ’ t | .*Oh, be will not dare to do that if he sets himself up for a cock of the walk, for if he did, I sboule make no bones of accusirg him of show- ing the white feather!” declared the French- the Fresh declining to fight with swords!” Es- ie oe arto exclaimed. ‘He bas such an overween- P ‘¢ | ing confidence in his own abilities that he pres | be likely toagree to fight with any kind of a b { weapon, no matter how strange or unaccus- hans tome,’ ry : "Se ? é 4 3 “That is also my idea,” Gomes remarked. er “He isa man with a wonderfull j opinion “A ‘e of his own talent, and in the blindness of bic = = | conceit he will be apt to think he will he ableto 8 =] handle a sword, although he is not accustomed i to the weapon, ac well as though it was a revok aes, ver or rifle.” eps “Oh, since I have come to this country I ee, ae have met bundreds of such men the Frenchman . declared. ’ smite ceo Sthaba 2 ook .: ‘‘The fools had no idea that. there was. any Ry :: | art in sword-play,” he continued. -** According : ics to their notion ‘all that a man hastodoisto. — athe cS) take the sword in his handandpokeawayat = ={ his opponent. | peek big] ri dine bi i 3: Sa “ve had little affairs with a dozen or two 7s a such idiots in my time, and have succeededin teaching the —_ of th *;
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The Fresh in Texas. | at i ‘will not be apt to forget while life remains,” the Frenchman added with great complacency, ' “/Phere is no need to worry ourselves in re- gard to whether the Fresh will fight or notin my opinion, for from what I know of the man [ do not think there is the slightest doubt about the matter!” Esparto remarked in an extremely sitive way. “He will fight upon slight provocation and | will not be apt to grumble in regard to the weapons; and as it is hardly possible that he can be an expert swordsman, our friend here ought not to have any trouble in overcoming him,” ‘Rest easy in regurd to that!” the French- man exclaimed in a tone full of confidence, ‘‘ Be the man an expert, or the greatest .ig- noramus whoever took a blade in hand, I will engage to give him his quietus in a workmap- like manner. ‘* You must not think. I am_ boasting; gentle- men, when I tell you there are but three swords- men in the known world whom I will, admit to be my masters, and before those three men all Europe bows in admiration of their genius,” ‘Phere is no doubt in my mind that you will beable to finish this Fresh of ’Frisco without any trouble!” Esparto asserted... “ That is, if he - foolish enough to dare to face you, sword in and. ** He will doit,” Gomes declared. ‘*The man isrash and foolbardy in the extreme, and in a case like this his overweening faith in his prowess will be certain to him into the p. “ Yesh, he ish a devils, and I believe would rather fight dan eat,” the Jew exclaimed. “tf? I can only get him to confront me, sword to sword, I will engage to take a little of the devil out of him,” the Frenchman observed, pera *« All the sporting men of El Paso have a high’ opinion of this Fresh of ’Frisco as a fighter, sim- ply because he has been luciry enough to’ be suc- cessful in few encounters in which he ‘has been’ engaged,” Gomes explained. . ‘‘ And after you arrange the details of the fight, and the news spreads that a stranger had dared to en- gage to fight the Fresh of ’Frisco, all these cun- ning sporting men will be certain to be eager to bet all the money they can raise upon the Cali- fornian, My vousin and myself will not hesitate to take all the bets that we can raise money to meet, and as we, luckily, happen to be flush just at this time, we will be able to back you to a, , jargs amount. ' “Then, too, as you are a stranger, and no one here has any idea of what kind of a fighter you are, the chances are great that about all the betting men will be anxious to back the Fresh of ’Frisco; and so we will beable to get good odds, for there will not be likely to be many: be- sides us two who will dare to venture their money on you; so if yoa succeed in beating your antagonist we will make a small fortune, and of all our bets you will receive half.” “That is a bargain,” the Frenchman ex- claimed; ‘‘and within ten minutes after I cross swords-with the Fresh of ‘Frisco I will engage to lay him out as stiff as ared herring, for I ai- ways fight to kill” — ‘We will provide you with what money you require, and to-night you will be apt to meet your man.” ; The Jew was pledged to secrecy and then the rest departed. CHAPTER XIV. SPRINGING THE TRAP. Tar two Cubans and the Frenchman pro- ceeded ‘directly to the Hotel Mexico, On the way, Gomes counted out fifty dollars and gave them to the Frenchman. “Thanks!” exclaimed the adventurer, all his good spirits returning now that he saw a chance to get out of the hole, as he termed it, into which evil fortune had cast him. ‘* You may rest assured, gentlemen, I will not long remain our debtor!” he declared. “That is, if the h of *Frisco has blood in his veins and not water. : “Tf the fellow will quarrel, and dares to meet me with swords, and the gamblers of El Paso have sufficient sand-—-as you say in this country —to back their man I will engage to win a sum ae? sufficient to carry me back to France, and 1 can assure you, gentlemen, that if I once again cross the seas and set foot on the Conti- nent of Europe no inducement will ever tempt me to this New World again.” Page ‘The Cubans replied that they did not think there was any doubt about the scheme succeed- pg; lp gee 3 after they arrived at the hotel and De paper sn? eetee a poe er te his pte an Poe to show the n how expert was in their use, Gomes had taken lessons and so knew some- thing about the matter, but Esparto was com- ignorant, so the elder Cuban ard the pletely : Prenebman had a fenciny-match while the | uri Foster man looked on, displaying great inter- Re e ; ; ee ‘s ‘ pe Charny was indeed a master of the sword. a bout of ten minutes he touched his oppo- : of it. nent.a dozen times, and each one of the thrusts would have been a deadly one if the encounter had been in earnest, while Gomes was not able to gain a single point, although the Frenchman was pleased to remark, in a patrouvizing way, that he did not handle the sword badly, and that eo, of practice under the direction of a good teacher there was little doubt that in time he would make more than an average fencer. “J do not believe this American can be as expert with the sword as I am,” Gomes re- marked, after the bout was ended, *‘ for men of his race are not much given to sword exercise, their tastes running to knives, pistols and guns, and I am unable. to see that the fellow has a chance for his life if he once faces you, sword in hand.” “Oh, I will force him to that when I once get a chance at him!” the, Frenchman . exclaimed, with a fiendish grin. ‘** He will be apt ‘o be in the hotel to-night, for the landlord tcld me this morning that he was expected by some party whom he has see on cattle business,” Gomes remarked. ‘The Fresh bas a ranch a short distance down the Rio Grande.” . ‘“‘} wonder if he will have a presentiment, when he quits his place for his visit to El Paso this eveniag, that he’bas taken his final leave of it?’ the Frenchman remarked, with his demon- like smile, **T fancy not,” Esparto replied. ‘‘ The chances are that Dame Fortune will not trouble herself to warn him that he is.coming to his fate when be rides up the river trail this evening.” ** And thus it is in life—how many men walk blindly on to their graves!” De Charny observed with the air of a philosopher. ‘* How do you propose to bring on a quarrel?” Gomes asked. ‘* Ah, my dear friend, do not ask me, for I do not know,” the Frenchman replied. ‘“‘Tn all such matters I trust to the impulse of the moment. But do not fear; if the opportu- nity, does not come, then I will make one, satisfied that. if this Fresh of ’Frisco enters the walls of the Hotel Mexico to-night, he will not leave them until I bave fastened such an insult upen him that, if he has any blood in his, veins, he will be obliged to take notice i 2 ‘If the Fresh of Frisco has not altered won- derfully since [ saw him, you will not find it a difficult matter to provoke him to a quurrel,” rto remarked, ‘Well, that is what I like,” De Charny re- plied. “‘I am quick: myself, and I like men who are prompt in action. A slow fellow is my aversion.” ** By the way, I should think that it would be a ‘idea ‘for Sebastian and myself to conceal the fact that we are friends of yours until after the-row takes place,” Gomes observed. .‘‘ For if the Californian gets the impression that you are a stranger, and entirely without friends, he will be apt to quarrel and fight with you according ON tho thought i good one!” th @ tho sa one! e adventurer declared. br ‘“'Yes, so it seems to me,” Esparto remarked. “ Decidedly so!” De Charny exclaimed. ‘“ By working the pare in that way no one can possi- bly suspect that we three arran a nice little trap wherein to catch this bold Fresh of ’Frisco and ali the gamblers of the town. lt will bean excellent joke to beat these wolves at their own game, ba, ha, ba!” and the Frenchman laughed long and merrily, and the others joined‘in the glee, for they thought that this cunningly- evised plan would surely compass the death of the man whom they bated, and so feared that they were loth.to expose their own precious per-, son in an open contest with him, ‘The way we must work ‘the trick is, after the row eae ig Aid everything goes on well, and I suee in arranging the duel—I will appeal to the crowd: ‘Iam astranger; are there any gentlemen present who will oblige me by acting as my seconds? ” ‘*T see; and that will be our cue to step for-. ward and offer our services,” said Gomes. “It is well planned,” remarked Esparto, thoughtfully. ‘Noone will be apt to suspect that the Fresh is the victim of. a carefully- devised plot.” And the betting men!” cried the French- man; ‘think how we will fleece them of their gold! No one here knows aught of me but you two; no one knows but what I may be the greatest blunderer that ever took a sword in hand!” And again the. adventurer laughed lond and Jong, The plan being all arranged, the three judged it, sho to separate sp that no suspicion might be excited, Time passed on—slowly enough te the conspi- rators, who were anxious for the shades of iene to descend, so that the plot might be exe-. Nigut came st last, and the plaza of El Paso to be brilliant with lights, nine o’clock all the places of public resort were well filled, and at five minutes past nine the Fresh of ’Friseo, accompanied by Old Cali- fornia Joe and Dave Ringwood, Blake's ranch superintendent, entered the bar-room of the’ Hotel Mexico, The Frenchman occupied a seat near the door; and a few paces from him sat the two Cubans, and the moment that Jackson Blake made, his appearance Gomes quietly made a sign to De Charny. Tbe Frenchman rose to his feet and sauntered across the room. He was not quite sure which was the for Dave Ringwood was a daching-looking fel- low, the once shabby gambler having improved wonderfally,in his personal appearance since he took service with Jackson Blake, so in order to be sure, the Frenchman said to one of the loung- ers, whom he chanced to meet as he approached the bar, before which the Fresh’s party had halted: ‘“‘Isn’t one of those gentlemen named Blake?’ ‘* Yes, the tallest one on this side; most folks call kim the. Fresh of ’Frisco, though.” ‘* Ah, yes, I thought I had seen the gentleman somewhere.” Then De Charny sauntered up to the bar and took a position by the side of Jackson Blake, All of the Fresh’s party had ordered ale and the glasses of the foaming beverage were being placed.on the counter when the Frenchman took up a position by it, , De Charny stood at Jackson Blake’s right half sideways side, the Fresh was standin to the counter, so that his back was to the ad- venturer. ‘* Well, gentlemen, here we go,” he said, and he took up his.glass as he spoke. Then the Frenchman deliberately joggled his elbow so as to spill some of the liquor in the tumbler. : The action was performed in such a way, rye could not bea doubt that it was no acci- ent... ., ; : Blake turned and surveyed the adventurer, “Hello, what did you dothat for?” he asked, a slight trace of surprise in his tone, but no trace of excitement... : “What is the matter with you?’ demanded _ the Frenchman, in a loud and arrogant tone, which ,immediately attracted the attention of . one in the room to the sport. id I tread on you?” he continued. . “Oh, vo, not to my knowledge, but you jog- gled my elbow and so caused me to a my as ever “ ale,” the Fresh said, in his quiet way, an spoke he was attentively studying the face of the other, for be understood well enough that. strangex had touched his elbow on purpose to draw him into a quarrel, and he was wonder- ing why the man had taken the notion into his head, for at the first glance he ized that the other was a foreigner, and one whom he had never met before. . The question of course immeniately atyey in his mind as to why the man wished have a ‘difficulty with him. He was no common fellow, filled up with ch whisky, and anxious to make a name as a chief by “climbing” one of the ‘good men” of _ the district.” . The stranger was not one of this kind, but a man who bad evidently been 1 _ good so- ciety, although his attire showed that at pres- ent he and good fortune were not on the best of terms, “x No drunken ruffian, no frontier desperado— what then was this man, and what was the mo- tive that inspired his action? ** You cannot ; to occupy the whole of the bar!” cried the Frenchman, and he made a movement as if to shove rudely against the Fresh, but the movement was not made, for Blake concluded there had been talki pe pe so, promptly, he dashed the ale in the fa of the Frenchman, a movement which took that gentiecan completely by surprise, for the liquor or a moment almost took his breath away and half-blinded him, and before he could recover from the effect the Fresh of "Frisco caught him by the nose and it until the other yelled with pain, dancing about like a turkey on a hot late. ¢ The Cubans were right—the Fresh of *Frisco was not a difficult man to quarrel with, as the adventurer had discovered to his cost. CHAPTER XV. THE CHALLENGE. Tue Frenchman was almost crazy with rage; in all his life he had never been treated in such an outrageous manner, and the assault had been committed so quickly that he was powerless to resist. yee When he was released he fell back a step or two, and then, in his blind exasperation, forget- ting. all about his carefully arranged n, thinking only of taking immediate vengeance on the man who bad insulted bim so grossly, he rushed upon the Fresb of *Frisco, But the Frenchman, for all bis expertness with the sword, was as innocent as a child of any knowledge of the boxer’s art, and as he rushed at Jackson Blake he struck “ reund arm” nome an the otber parried without the least trouble, The Fresh gave ground before the atte treating slowly, and, much te be ebrationeds of the bystanders, he made no efforts to return ‘
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12 the blows which the other was showering upon him so liberally. it was plain to all the bystanders that it was not because he did not know how, for from the easy way in which be was “ handling” himself, it was plain, even to the lookers-on who w:re | not. posted in regard to the boxer’s art, that ho | was an an expert in that science. The reason for his forbearance was soon made | manifest though. | To defend bimself from the attacks of such a | complete tyro in the any. art of self-defense as | the Frenchman was but child’s play, and with a | single blow of his iron-like fists he could have routed his attacker right in the beginning, but | the Fresh of Frisco was annoyed at the unpro- voked insult, and had determined to give this bold and arrogant foreigner a lesson which | would be apt to teach him caution in the future, | So he retreated before the assault, contenting himself with parrying the blows without at- tempting to return any, until the Frenchman was forced to pause for sheer want of breath, Striking violent blows which fell only on the empty air is about as fatiguing an exercise as can be found, Then when De Charny halted, completely tired out, Jackson Blake, with wonderf quickness, began an attack, but he used only the palms of his hands as weapons, slapping the Frenchman in the face, but with such force that the slaps | resounded through the room like pistol-cracks, and the pain fairly brought the tears to the eyes of the ‘adventurer. Infuriated by this treatment, with a last des: | rate effort De Charny essayed to close in with | Pid tofinentos, but with a single blow, delivered | right between the eyes, Jackson Blake stretched his antagonist on the floor, and the man went over as if he had been shot, The moment he struck the floor it was plain to all in the room that the contest was ended, for the Frenchman bad had all the fight in the fisticuff line knocked out of a Blake took a single look at the prostrate man, saw that he bad got his fill, then he turned to the ‘barkeeper and said: ‘Will you have the kindness to give moe an- other glass of ale? mine got spilt, but these little accidents will happen, you know, in the best ted families, he spéctators looked at each other in amaze- ment, for the Fresh was as cool and uncon- cerned as though “knocking out” an arrogant stranger was a common, every-day occurrence, The bartender hastened to draw the ale, and as he placed the glass upon the counter, he could not help paying a slight tribute to the hero of the hour. “Thirty years have I juggled tumblers bebind a counter!” he exclaimed. He was a middle- aged man with iron-gray hair, yet as spry and active as any vey fellow, “* Yes, sir, thirty ears have 1 h’isted benzine over a bar, and in bat time I have seen some pretty lively skir- mishes, but I neyer saw a man laid out ina nicer way in my life. ** Gentlemen, I want you to take a ‘ ball’ with me on the strength of this.” ~ This was something remarkable, for the bar- keeper was known to be a close-fisted fellow. bearing the nickname of Stingy Jake, and had never been known tostand treat during all the time he had been behind the bar of the Hotel | Mexico, so the effect of his tribute to the genius of the Fresh produced a Ye impression. By this time the two Cubans, who were terribl disgusted at the miserable display that the ad- venturer had made, thought it worth while to | come to his aid, “* Lhope the man isn’t killed!” Gomes exclaim- “ It looks like it,” Esparto remarked, “Ob, no, he will not‘mind a little thing like that,” the Fresh bl asia in his careless way, but as he spoke he fixed his keen eyes in a searching glance upon the two strangers. **T only put him to sleep for a while; he will soon recover, and although he may not be as grok cking as he was before he got into this ittle scrape bi he will know a deal more. “Ts he a friend of yours?” **Oh, no!” Gomes hastened to exclaim. “I only spoke in the interest of humanity.” “If the m@fi is badly burt he ought to receive attention,” Esparto remarked, ‘Get a little water, sprinkle it in his face ‘and that will be apt to fetch him to his senses ain,” Blake advised. be barkeeper filled out the water, Gomes ‘took it and bastened to the side of the prostrate Frenchman, Esporto following, while the rest gathered around, the only ones in the room who retained their positions being the Fresh’s party at the bar, ‘* What will you take, gentlomen, this round, which is on me, you understand!” the barkeeper vasked, All called for ale as before, and while the man was drawing the liquor, Blake said to his com- panions; “Did either of P BS ever see those two foreign- looking chaps before!” **Nary time,” replied Old California Joe. “* Never ran across them to the best of my re- woembrance,” Ringwood remarked. | end to the conversation. The Fresh in Texas. ‘Well, their faces are not familiar to me,” the Fresh observed, ‘‘but their voices are, and I would be willing to bet all I have in the world, or ever expect to get, that I have met the two, although for the moment I cannot place them. I have a pretty good mem- ory for faces, and a really wonderful one for voices, A face though may pass out of my re- collection, for time often makes great changes, but when I once become familiar with a man’s voice I am certain never to forget it, although as in this case I cannot always decide where i encountered the man to whom the voice belongs, or identify him by name.” ‘*That is a mighty valuable gift, sure as you ar’ born!” the old plainsman remarked. ‘No doubt bout that,” Ringwood assented, * Another odd thing about this matter is that the impression has come to me that these voices belonged to people who were no friends of mine. ‘Ts that so?” exclaimed Old California Joe in wonder, “Well, that really goes a leetle ahead of my time,” Ringwood declared, ** It is rather odd, but that is my impression,” Jackson Blake remarked, ; The placing of the ale upon the counter put an ‘*Here’s luck, gentlemen,” remarked the bar- keeper, who had also filled out a glass for him- self. ‘‘ And the next time, Mr, Blake, that you knock a man out in this really wonderful way we be there to see.” © Fresh bowed his acknovwJedgments, the ale was drank, and then all turned to see how the Frenchman was getting along. He had fallen in such a clumsy way and hit his head with so much violence against tho floor that the shock, even more than the blow he had received, stunned him. But when Esparto’ knelt by his side and sprinkled the water upon his face, at the same time loosening his neck-tie, his senses soon re- turned to him, Esparto bad treated the stunned man with all the deft tenderness of a woman, and more than one of the bystanders remarked that the stranger was as good as a doctor, The Frenchman rose to'a sitting posture, and “ he did so the Fresh observed to his compan- ons: ‘““T knew the fellow was all right. A little clip like that never killed a man, or was even good for a long fit of sickness,” “Great Scott! I reckon it wasn’t,” the old mountain-man declared. “‘A leetie tap like that don’t amount to nothing. If he had been laid out with a club, or knocked down with the butt-end of a gun, asI have been half a dozen times in my life, then he might talk.” ‘Yes, I was laid out myself witha “weg oak chair,” Ringwood remarked: “‘And when a man gets a lick of that sort it is worth remem- bering.” ‘Aided by the Cuban, De Charny rose to his eet. He had not suffered ony material injury, al- though his head felt a little queer, and the bruises on his face, disfigured by the Fresh of ’Frisco’s iron-like knuckles, gave him considera- ble pain. As tie adventurer assumed a standing pos- ture, and glared iv sullen rage upon the man who had won such an easy triumph over him, the bystanders, who had crowded around, eager to watch the return of the Frenchman’s senses, discreetly fell back, getting close to the walla so as to leave the center of the room open, According to the usual custom in all such cases as this, now that the adventurer was on his feet again, it was his place to ‘‘ go” for a weapon, and the crowd fell back, none of them being anxious to stop a bullet. But the Frenchman had no intention of doing anything of the kind. ecould not have done soif he had wished, ei he was not ‘ heeled,” to use the frontier par- nce, The Fresh was on the watch for such a move- ment, and fully prepared for it, but when the adventurer faced him he guessed that his oppo- nent had all the fight he wanted at present, “Tam no fisticuff man,” De Charny declared, ** No English Jobn Bull to fight like a ruffian! I am a gentleman, and if you are one you will not refuse to give me full satisfaction.” “Now you hit me where I live,” the Fresh remarked. “Tam a gentleman from Gentle- manville, and I hold myself in readiness to give you all the satisfaction you can possibly desire,” CHAPTER XVI, THE ADVINTURER’S DEMAND, Tue crowd listened with, eagar attention, for they saw there was a good chance for some more ‘* fun,” The Ciibans looked at cach other, and there was a decided expression of satisfaction in their dark eyes, but they were careful to school their faces so that no one could perecive that they were bie ap with the way that matters were pro ng. ‘That is what I want, ze satisfaction due from one gentleman to another!” the French- man exclaimed, as **T am your man,” the Fresh of "Frisco re- plied. **And if you are not satisfied, I am ready to go on with you until you think you pete! se: your money’s worth.” ** You will give me satisfaction, then?” “That is what I said, and when you come to get well acquainted with me you will find that am aman of my word.” ‘* What weapons do you desire?’ De Charny asked, : ‘**Tt doesn’t make a bit of difference to me,” the Fresh replied, ** Do you dare to meet me with small-swords?” the Frenchman inquired, with an eagerness which could not be concealed. ‘*Small-swords, eh? and Jackson Blake sur- veyed the other, a peculiar smile upon his lips, “That is what I said—small-swords—ze gen- tleman’s weapon!” exclaimed the adventurer in a lofty way. ‘*f{ reckon you will not find many men in this Poor who are posted in that line,” said the ‘Here, when we go into a little picnic of this kind, we usually choose fire-arms, revolvers or rifles, and once in a while, if the parties are very desperate, they go in to carve each other with bowie-knives.” **To my thinking, these are barbarous wea- pons!” the adventurer exclaimed in disgust, **T am not a native of this land. I ama European,” ‘*So I suspected,” Jackson Blake observed. **'You are a Frenchman, if I mistake not,” “You are right. Iamasonof the Repub- lic!” the other declared in a grandiloquent way. “You are a lon Hon from home, and if you should have the ill-luck to get ‘planted’ here, your folks would never be apt to know what be- came of you,” the Fresh remarked. “Tama soldier of fortune, and all lands are alike to me,” the adventurer replied. ‘‘I am the last of my race; and whether I meet my fate here or elsewhere, it matters not.” ** Well, that is a good thing,” Jackson Blake remarked in a reflective sort of way, ‘‘ for it kinder takes a weight from a fellow’s mind. If you bad a large family, now, and a numerous circle of relatives, who would be apt to be in- consolable at your loss, then a man like myself, who is apt to be a little tender-hearted, might fee] rather queer about going for you in a regu- lar red-hot manner.” This bantering speech, although uttered in a perfectly sober and serious manner, excited the smiles of the listeners, and angered the man **Bah! I ask no mercy from you!” he ex- claimed. ‘‘ Neither will I give any, and if you have the courage to meet me, sword in hand, I have no doubt you will have ail you can do to defend yourself, although I do not profess to be an expert swordsman; but-it isa gentleman’s weapon, and as I ama gentleman, I am sure I will be able to give a good account of myself; that is, if you dare to meet me with the sword; but it may be that you are “ew & fisti fighter, and that you will be afraid to ye ro your precious person to the naked steel,” added the adventurer with a sneer, **Oho!” cried the Fresh of ’Frisco, “ I reckon you are trying to banter me into this fight! I suppose you think you have struck a soft thing! I reckon you must be a great chief in the sword line, or else you would not be so anxious for an encounter of this kind,” **Tn France every gentleman learns the use of the sword: it is part of a polite education,” re- plied De Charny, proudly. “T am afraid that my education has been rather neglected in that line; but lam wi to go you, all the same, for that is the kind o man I amt” “You will meet moe with swords, then?’ De Charny asked? ** You bet!” é “Remember! it will be a duel to ze death?” ‘“‘ That suits me, and just keep the fact in mind too, so that if I get you in a tight place you will not wy i beg off.” ““T beg!” cried the adventurer in mingled con- tempt and rage. “That is what [ said,” replied the Fresh, in bis cool, serious way. ‘‘And I give you fair warning that it will not do you any good, for since you have got me into this sword business [ shall go for you in an extremely lively way. I stall do my best to make it interesting.” ‘¢ You are far more likely to be the one to beg for mercy than I!” exclaimed the adventurer. ** But 1 warn you in advance that J have made up my mind to kill you.” ** You will let me know when you perform the operation, of course?” the Fresh su AES would be awfully awkward for a man tobe killed without knowing it.” This banter inflamed the Frenchman’s rage still more, particularly as he saw that the by- standers were grinning at the pleasantry, “ Wait until you see the shining blades twist together like two silver snakes and you will not feel then in a jesting mood!” De Charny eried. ‘** Maybe not, but we can tell better when we come to that,” Jackson Blake replied. “* The only thing that worries me now though, is as to Stee Seen ee
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gE IO A, The Fresh in Texas. 18 where we are going to get the aforesaid shining | blades of which you speak, for I reckon that | small-swords are .a scarce article in these dig- sings." ‘Do not let that trouble you. I will under- take to find a pair,” De Charny replied. “All right, I am satisfied; and now, how about the time?” \ ** To-morrow.” . ** The place?” “ Any convenient one will suit me. I ama stranger and so not informed in regard to the neighborhood,” The landlord of the Hotel Mexico hastened to | put in a word at this pomt. ‘There is the nn where the bull-fights | take place,” he said. “lam the manager and | shall be pleased to arrange with you gentlemen for the use of it. This affair is so public that it will not be possible for you to have your fight come off without a crowd being in attendance, and the: rabble will be sure to be there, of course, and some annoyance may be caused by them. Now, by having your duel take place in the bull- | ring, a small sum for admittance may be charg- | ed, and I would be willing to make a good arrangement with poe gentlemen, say, sliow you fifty per cent. of the receipts.” ‘‘A capital idea!” exclaimed the Fresh. ‘*Turn the whole thing into a show, and fight | for the gate-money—fight in an arena like the | gladiators of ancient Rome, and let the victor pocket the gate-money after the fashion of the modern gladiators.” This scheme at once appealed to the merce- nary instincts of the Frenchman, and as he was in great need of money, being certain that his eet stood no chance, opposed to a master- of-arms like himself in a sword fight, he gave his approval to the scheme. “T think it is an excellent idea, gentlemen!” the landlord declared. The proprietor of the Hotel Mexico was a thrifty German Jew, Moses Goldberg by name, who had contrived to feather his nest pretty well since his advent in El! Paso, for the hotel and MpeNPir Pint a at regular intervals bull- fights took place—were both paying institutions. ““You could not find a better spot for a con- test of this kind if you were to search all through Mexico,” the landlord continued. ‘The spec- tators will be confined to the galleries and you will have all the arena for the fight, and you can both rest assured that there can be no in- terference with the contest, for our police ar- rapgements for the purpose of keeping order are excellent.” “Tt will answer admirably, I am sure!” the adventurer declared, ‘“ And I for one am quite satisfied.” “T have no fault to find with the arrange- ment,” the Fresh remarked. ‘ And since the en- counter has been arranged I suppose one might as well give the citizens of El Paso a treat as to allow the thing to waste its sweetness an the desert air.” “By the way,” observed the Frenchman, ab- ruptly. ‘I had forgotten one thing. We have not proceeded in this matter according to rule at all, for the principals, we have made the ar- rangements, when it should have been left to our seconds,” “Well, we have got there, all the same, so what difference does it make?’ Jackson Blake inquired in his eminently i gome way. “Yes, but we must have seconds for the fe we the adventurer observed. “It is ab- solutely necessary, and as I am an entire stranger in E] Paso, I shall have to ask two of you gentlemen to favor me by acting as my seconds,” The bystanders looked at each other, the two Cubans, in particular, exchanging inquiring glances and then, Gomes said: “T for one am happy to place myself at your service, sir, if you care to avail yourself of my poor assistance,” ‘*T shall be delighted,” the Frenchman replied with a courtly bow. “I will be giad to serve you also,” said Es- parto, “although I cannot boast of much ex- perience in this line.” “fam charmed, I assure you, sir,” and the adventurer made another bow. “How about your seconds, Mr. Blake?” the landlord taguired. ““T reckon that I shall have to call upon Mr. Ringwood here, and California Joe to look after me,” the Fresh replied. “ wen immediately expressed their willing- ness to take part in the matter. And then, at the landlord’s adagpetion, the time for the contest was fixed for three in the afternoon; that being the hour when the people i to visit the bull-ring to see the ull- , Moses Goldberg, with true Jewish thrift was looking after the gate-money. ‘To-morrow then I will see you,” the French- man remarked, and then he Witiedrow, He’s gone for arnica and court-plaster,” Old California Joe ,as he with the Fresh and Ringwood also took their departure. Within an hour the news of the coming fight was widely known and El Pasco was excited as it bad not been for many a day, CHAPTER XVII. GETTING AT THE TRUTH. JACKSON BLAKE and his pards mounted their | steeds and set out for home, The moon was shining brightly, and the ride down along the bank of the yellow Rio Grande | was an extremely pleasant one, After the three crossed the river and got well | | along on their homeward road, they fell into | conversation regarding the events of the night. | Dave Ringwood was the first to refer to the | subject. ) “T say, pards, I have been thinking over this | little matter to-night, and am considerably puz- | zlec about it,” he observed. ** What puzzles you?” the Fresh asked. ‘Why, you and this Frenchman acted as if you were strangers to each other.” ““ ; * ” That is correct; we ware * And you never ran across him before?” / ** Never!” “What the deuce made him pick a quarrel | with you then in such an outrageous way?” Ringwood exclainied, ** That is a mystery.” ‘*Durned if it ain’t!” the old mountain-man exclaimed. ‘‘ When the feller joggled yer elbow I reckoned he was some galoot that you ha had trouble with somewhar, and was trying to | pick a fuss with you so as to git squar’; I reck- oned, you see, that you had kinder upset his apple-cart onto the furst heat.” —- “That was my idea, too,” Ringwood ob- served, ‘For the affront he put upon you was so deliberately executed that it looked as if the man had planned the thing befurehand ” **Oh, you kin bet yer gizzard on that!” Old California Joe declared. “The whole affair is a mighty odd one,” Jackson Blake remarked, reflectively. ‘* And | the more I think about tke matter the greater | becomes the difficulty in deciding why the man | acted as he did. **Of course, the moment my elbow was jog- gled, I jumped at once to the conclusion that it ad been pu ly done, for there was plent: of room at the bar. If there had been a crowd, then there might have been some excuse for the par Aad oe not as it was; and when wen : | expec to see some stranger—possibly wit rs nt liquor on board than was good for him— | who had come to El Paso with the idea of run- ning the town, and pitched upon me as a good man with whom to commence operations.” ‘* Oh, no, this fellow was not on that game,” said Ringwood. ** So I discovered the moment I got a look at him, but he was eager for a fight all the same ee. ** An’ reckon he got it, too, red-hot!” chuckled the old scout. ‘*- Yes, I do not think he anticipated boa 5 climbed quite so quickly,” the Fresh remarked. ‘¢ And most certainly he was astonished at the way the job was performed.” “He hadn’t any reason to complain that be did not get his money’s worth,” Dave Ringwvod observed, dryly. ‘* Yes, yes, he got full. measure, heaped full an’ a-runnin’ over, and you would be safe in betting a heap of money on it too,” Old California Joe declared. ‘As you say, Ringwood, it looked as if 4 was a put-up job, and as the man was a stran- ger, the inference seems plain that somebody set him on to attack me.” * Yes, that seems probable, for the man was not drunk, neither was he one of the gay and festive roosters who delight to pick a quarrel witb any stranger they run across for the pur- e of proving that they are big chiefs, but if e was set on to attack you who is the party en- gineering the job?” ** Now you are asking a question which is not easily answered,” the Fresh rejoined. ‘Jn my mind there is no doubt thet the fel- | low was instigated to attack me by some one, | but as to who that party is I am completely in the dark,” | **- You hain’t had a mite of trouble for some time, cept with that superintendent, Houma,” the old scout remark “ That.is true, and the moment I saw that | this Frenchman was bent upon making an at- tack upon me FE thought of him, but now that T come to think of the matter I can sept A bring | myself to believe that he can be at the bottom of the affair.” ‘* No, it seems to me that it is a cut above him,” Dave Ringwood remarked, “Oh, yes, decidedly,” the Fresh asssented ‘Tf he bad hired a man to attack me, he would | have been apt to pick out some common ruffiar, | who would have gone in to lay me out in the lar way.” ‘ How "bout these Parrals?” inquired Old Cali- fornia Joe shrewdly. ‘‘Do you s’pose they had any finger in the pie? You kinder worried them when you fu’st came to El Paso, and, | — they have been laying the thing up ag’in’ | er ** No, I do not think that either the alcalde or | his brother, the captain of police, are interested in this matter,” Jackson Blake replied. “They took pains to send me word some time ago that they bore no malice, and were willing: to call the thing square.” “* The fact is, you got so much the best of the fight when they attacked you, they were not anxious to have another taste of your quality,” Dave Ringwood remarked. ‘* That is about the size of it,” the Fresh re- plied. ‘‘ Now then, who is the party at the back of the Frenchman? [fI bad not heard toda that Manuel Escobedo and his sister were dead, I should immediately jump to the conclusion that C4 of them had something todo with the attack.” ‘“T heard that they were dead too—died in Cuba,” Ringwood remarked. ** Yes, so the story goes.” ‘* Mebbe it is all a yarn got 7 to throw you off yer guard,” Old California Joe suggested, ‘*T thought of that,” the Fresh answered. **Such a game has been played many a time, The report of their deaths would be apt to ren- der me careless, so they would reason, and then they would have a better chance to get at me. **Tt looks as if there might be something in by idea,” Dave Ringw observed thought- ully. “Bure as you’re born!” declared the old scout. ‘‘ Well, as far as I can see, whoever planned the job has used considerable headwork,” the Fresh remarked. ‘‘ That is, if I am correct in my assumption that there is a scheme on foot to damage me.” r “Tt certainly looks like it,” Ringwood ob- served, . ‘*No mistake "bout that!” exclaimed Old Cali- fornia Joe, ‘‘’cos that French galoot went clear out of his way to pick a fuss with you.” “ That is certain,” Jackson Blake assented, ‘* Now to figure the thing right out. The man icked a quarrel with me without any reason. Fe was not a bully spoiling for a fight, and I do not think he contemplated having a personal encounter with me, but the prompt way in which I resented his affront provoked him into. .an attack, But that was not his e, though. The point for which he was working was to get me to meet him in a duel with swords.” ** Yes, that seems likely, for that is what he came to as soon as he could,” Ringwood ob- served. ‘* And that is where the headwork of the scheme comes in,” the Fresh remarked, ‘* Whoever put up the job knew that I wasa handy man with ordinary weapons, such as are in use along the Rio Grande, and that they would have to look a long time before they would be apt to find a man whocould get the best of me with either knives, revolvers or rifles, but with an odd —- like a sword the chances were big that I might be taken at a disad- vantage.” The others nodded, “T have met men like this Frenchman be- fore,” the Fresh continued, ‘‘so the breed is not unknown to me. I remember just such a fellow —— to a mining-camp in Southern California, where I hung out fora while. It wasa mystery to everybody how such a man ever happened to come up in the foot-hills, for he was about the last man in the world who would be apt to get along, being a little, slender fellow, not fit for hard work, and all he could do was to teach French and dancing.” ““T should reckon that there was not many men in the average mining-camp who would care to go in for either of those things,” Dave Ringwood remarked. ‘Well, it must be a very sma!’ camp indeed, not to hold some eccentric individuals,” the Fresh replied. And even in this place of which I speak, the Professor, as we all called him, managed to get enough pupils to enable him to keep body and soul together. In fact, I myself went three dollars a week on him for quite a time, for a man mixing in the society that I did needed the polish that a knowledge of the French tongue and the art of dancing gave.” ‘*Oh, yes, thar must have been a. heap of good ety in sich a mining-camp as you tell us!” the old mountain-man exclaimed. ‘* Well, the people there were all blue-blooded ducks if you could believed their yarns of how well fixed they bad once been. Anybow, there were three of us that chipped and kept the Frenchman alive, and after a while we found out what bad brought him down that way; it was the old story of the secret mine; but, as it usual- ly s out, the mine was so durned secret that nobody was ever able to find it. “The Frenchman was half-starved when he struck the camp, and so was quite weak and humble, but after he began to pick up, he grew uarrelsome. He had a pair of swords with him and said he was a terror as a swordsman, so one of the smart Alecks of the camp took him up one night, and the result was that when the fight took place next day the Frenchman layed with his man for a while and tben laid im out without any trouble. ‘Now this gave me an idea; I was a card- sharp, just then, and time used to bang heavy on my hands during the day, as there was no business until night, so I got the Frenchman te give me fencing lessons, and as both of us had nothing to do, we used to practice two or three
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14 The Fresh in Toxas, hours a day, and I got so I could handle asword _ very well,” ‘* Aha, you will be able to beat this fellow at his own game then?” Dave Ring wood exclaimed. “Oh, no, that was some fifteen years ago and Iam all out of practice—regularly rusty, you know; and if I should attempt to put my skill against the Frenchman’s, he would settle me sure; but thanks to the lessons I received [ | know enough to understand that I cannot hope to-get the best’ of the fight unless I come some : os upon’ my man, and that is just the ripple am going to try.” ** How abont those two foreign-looking- chaps ‘who are to second the Frenchman?” Raymond inquired, “T reckon that both of them will bear watch- ing, for I think they are in league with the fel- low,” Blake answered. ‘ But deep as the game is I think I can beat it!” The Fresh was confident as usual. CHAPTER XVIII. IN THE BULL-RING. THe announcement of the duel between the stranger andthe Fresh of ‘Frisco created. more talk than anything which had happened in the old town of E} Paso for many a day, and, as the Cubans had anticipated, the sports of the city were decidedly inclined to favor Jackson Blake in the betting. They knew what the Fresh could do, and | though they had never seen him encounter a foe | with the sword, yet they felt sure he was a mas- | ter-hand with the weapon or else be would not have consented to fight with it. “There are no flies on the Fresh of ’Frisco,, you bet!” was the emphatic declaration of one of the leading sharps of the,town. So, when it came to betting upon the result the Fresh was the favorite at the odds of two to one, The Cubans called upon the alcalde and found him busily engaged in discussing with the chief of police the chances of the coming duel, “ Nha!” exclaimed the alcalde, as the visitors entered, “you are jusb the men we wanted to | see, We have heen tatking about this fight, and since you are mixed up in it, you can post us in regard to the chances.” } “Oh, yes, the Frenchman is our too! and this is our first blow at Jackson Blake,” Gomes re- marked, as be and his companion helped them- selves to seats, The Mexicans were amazed at this intel- | ligence, and so expressed themselves, hen Gomes explained how they bad hap- pened to meet with the adventurer; related all , the particulars of their interview with him and ' the agreement to which they had come. The alealde and the captain of police listened with the utmost attention, and at the close of the recital expressed their satisfaction, “ from ‘such a trap it does not appear pos- sible that the American can escape,” the alcalde remarked, ‘* And the best of the matter is that neither he nor his friends seemed to have any suspicion that he has been tricked into a foolish agree- ment,” the chief of police observed. “Tho man’s overweening confidence will be his ruin,” Gomes declared, ** Most certainly he does not seom to know what he is doing,” the alealde remarked. ‘* But these Americans are a foolbardy race, Of course he knows nothing of the sword, although undoubtedly expert with the weapons in com- mon use in this section, but. he’ has no fears in regard to the result; that is because he knows | nothing about it, and, in fact, there are few Americans who are skilled swordsmen, Itis a weapon with which they are not familiar, and that is the reason why this madman of a Blake is ready to rush so heedlessly into this contest, If he had any knowledge of the subject it would!) neither one would have dreamed of going. teach bim that it is a dangerous thing to face a Frenchman ina sword encounter, for it isa well-known fact that the French are a.race of swordsmen,” ‘“My brother and myself are posted in regard to this matter,” the captain of police explained, ** At one time we, were officers in the Mexican army, aud of course learned how to use a sword, pea neither one of us can boast of bein skillful enough to meet a regular professiona fencer like this Frenchman, and, most certain- ly, for my part, I would not bold a man to be a coward if he avoided such a contest, for it would simply be throwing one’s life away.” ‘That is my opinion also,” the alcalde re- marked. ‘tA man would be a fool to engage in a contest where all the advantage is on his oppo- nent's side.” That goes without saying,” Gomes observed. “This mau Blake is undoubtedly a shrewd fel- low, and prided bimself upon his sharpness, but in this ease he has fallen intoa trap which will undoubtedly cost him his life.” ‘*There is a chance for a speculation,” the alcalde remarked; ‘for about all the sports of the town are betting heavily upon the Ameri- can, *“Yag: it is the common belief that he isinvin- | cible,” the chief of police added. ' © “YT understand that he has been remarkably successful in all the encounters in which he has | been engaged since he eame to El Paso,” Esparto | remarked. *That is undoubtedly a fact, and that is the reason why the sports have made him a favorite in the betting,” the alealde observed, ‘‘ You see, the majority of them know nothing at all about a sword-fight, and so are not competent | to calculate the chances, Now. we, being well- , have the inside track, so to speak, and if we invest our money carefully we ought to be able to make a good thing out of this fight.” The rest agreed to this, and after a few more | unimportant words were exchanged, the party | sallied forth, intent wpon picking up a good | round sum by betting upon the coming fight. The four bad no difficulty, whatever, in bet- ting all the money that they eared to wager, for the sporting men of El Paso, having perfect, faith that the Fresh would prove the victor in the sword-fight, were eager and anxious to back their opinions with the “ solid stuff,” as a Wes- terner would say. The old town of El Paso could boast of as many sports as any other in Mexico, in propor- | tion to its population, the people generally de- lighted in amusements, and the bull-ring was | always well-patronized whenever it was opened, | but on this particular afternoon of which we write the place was crowded. A bull-fight, when it was known that the bulls were wild, suvage beasts, and there was a chance that some of the performers might come to ief, was sure to attract a crowd, and what ull-fight could compare with a duel to the death between humans? The attraction appealed powerfully to the | citizens of the old. Mexican town, and when the hour for the.contest arrived, the auditorium of the bull-ring was crowded. | El Paso had turned out en masse to witness | the rare show. | And not only the inhabitants of the town | were present, but people had come in from the surrounding country, twenty or. thirty miles away even, to wituess the fight, for the news of | the encounter spread like wild-fire. | It had been carried down the Rio Grande to the neighborhood where the Fresb had his ranch, and a large delegation of bis neighbors had | come up to sea the contest. | In Mexico, asin Spain, it is considered per- fectly proper for ladies to grace the) bull-ring | with their presenes, and in the party who came i up the Rio Grande were balf a dozen ladies, and among them mere the heiress of Escobedo, Mar- | ¢garet, and her companion, the lively Pauline. Margaret had been persuaded to take the trip | by the ladies who resided on the next ranch. | “These being members.of one of the old fami- | lies, who prided themselves upon their pure | Spanish descent, were in the habit of going to the bull-fights, just as their ancestors had al- | ways done, and did not think there was any- | thing out of the way in their attending this ; modern gladiatorial encounter. But Margaret Escobedo had not been brought up to look st the matter in this light, and most certainly she would not have yielded to the pressing solicitation of her Mexiean friends if Jackson Blake had not been interested in the matter. When she learned, though, that the Fresh was to be one of the principals in the affair, she felt | as if she could not stay away, and so she ac- | cepted the invitation. n this course she was encouraged by her ' friend, for though Miss Melville, when she first heard of the affair, bad protested that it was * nerfectly horrid” to think of going to see two | men try to kill each other, yet her morbid curi- | osity was soon excited and she really became ' eager to make one of the party. Of course, had it not been for the interest which the girls took in the Fresh of ’Frisco, H | | | | The two Cubans were standing near the en- trance when the’party from down the piver en- | tered the inclosure, and they immediately | noticed the presence of Margaret Escobedo, The heiress was pale, and seemed ill at ease, and as sbe entered Gomes called the attention of his companions to her, saying: | “There is Margaret Escobedo; I am rather astonished at it, for she has a horror of bull- fights and kindred sports, which she considers to be barbarous and bloody.” =» “The Fresh of ’Frisco is the attraction which draws her here,” Esparto answered. ‘‘ Other- | wise you may be sure she would not come.” ‘Ts she in love with the fellow, then?’ Gomes asked, a scow] darkening his face. *“*No doubt of it! Do you not see that she looks pale and anxious?” the other renlied. “That is true. Well, unless the Frenchman | is a braggart, and boasts a skill which be does ‘ not; possess, she comes to see the American die!” ; Gomes exclaimed with a fierce accent. | “There is little doubt in regard to the result, | L think,” the other remarked. ‘‘ Although all | El Paso appears to consider that the Frenchman stands no chance at all, but that is because they | know what Blake can do while the other man a stranger.” “Yes, but they will probably be considerabl astonished within five minutes after the affair ’ begins.” a gt ‘Then Gomes consulted his watch and finding that it was near the appointed time he, with his companion, repaired to oue of the dressing- rooms, where they found the Frenehman enjoy- a cigar, ‘Aha, my friends, is it near the hour?’ he asked. “It wants but ten minutes to: the time,” Gomes replied. “T am fat of it forlam getting tired of waiting. Lam anxious to get a’, my man and finish as soon as possible.” “You feel certain that you will be able to eonquer him?’ Esparto asked, ~ The adventurer smiled disdainfully and shrugged his shoulders like a true Gaul. **It would be very strange indeed if a man like myself, one of the first swordsmen in Europe, should come to an obscure hole like Ei Paso, in the wilds of the New World, and there meet a master,” he rerearked, “Well, this Blake is a good man and it would be well not to hold him too. cheaply,” Gomes continued. ** Rest content, my brave,.I shall not throw any opportunities sa a t this peint the landlord of the Hotel Mexico, Moses Goldberg, who acted as master of cere- monies, ent: the room, “It lacks buta few minutes of the appointed time,” be said, ‘‘and the seconds of the Ameri- can are already in the ring.” CHAPTER XEX. SWORD IN HAND. “Wer are all ready and will not keep them waiting!’ the adventurer exclaimed, “There are the weapons,” and the Frenchman pointed to a table upon. which were two pair of swords. They were the regulation ‘‘ small-swords,” such as are used by the duelists of the Old World, “As you will perceive, gentlemen, they are all as alike as two peas, and a mau would be safe in choosing one of them with his eyes blinded,” De Charny continued, This was true enough, for the swords were exactly alike, as far as any one could see, ** Let us get on with the business as soon as ) possible,” said Goldberg, ‘‘for the audience is | growing impatient.” The party then proceeded to the ring, the Cubans bearing the swords, and the adventurer | strutted along with the air of a man who | thought himself to be of great importance, Ringwood: and old California Joe stood in the center of the bull-ring, and the Fresh was seated ina chair on one side near the entrance where the bulls were wont to make their entree into the ring. : On the other side of the ring near the door of the dressing-room from which the Frenchman and bis party came, was another chair, and this De Charny took, while his seconds advanced to the middle of the ring to confer with the Amer- icans, the master of ceremonies keeping them company. The audience had been busily engaged in dis- cussing the ehances of the coming fight; many of them wondering why the Frenchman was not visible, and quite a number had openly ex- pressed the apprehension thet it might be pos- sible the adventurer had shown the white feather at the last moment and they were to be cheated outof their amusement. Therefore, when the Frenchman made his appearance, a loud hum of satisfaction rose on the air, and then the audi- torium became still, each spectator anxious not to allow any of the exhibilion to escape notice, just as in a theater the audience settle down in their seats and become quiet upon the rising of the curtain, The Cubans saluted the Americans. politely, and Dave Ringwood and Old California Joe were particular to return the salutation with equal ceremony. ‘‘ Here are the swords,” said Gomes, ‘ As you will observe they are all alike; there is nota particle of difference between them as far as I can see.” And he held out the swords for inspection. Dave Ringwood was a suspicious mam by nature and his experience, too, had taught bim that it was not safe to put trust in tbe areren’ man in a case of this kind, so he examined the swords ip the most careful manner. He was not an expert in regard to swords; yet, as far as he could see, no one of the weapons was better than the others. “This will answer, I reckon,” he said, select- ing one of the swords. ‘‘ And now in regard to the terms of the fight?” “Tt is to be a duel to the death,” Gomes re- plied. ‘‘My principal bas been insulted and outraged in so gross a manner that the death of the man who has been guilty of the offense alone can satisfy him.” “That is all right,” Ringwood rejoined. “I ae that our side is satisfied to let it go at at. ‘Oh, yes, you kin bet yer bottom dollar that we are not kicking!” Old California Joe cried. “The bout is to continue until blood is drawn, then a wait of five minutes will be allowed.” ‘‘ Kinder divided up into heats, so to speak,” the old mountain-man remarked, “ More like the rounds of a prize-fight,” Ring a
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The Fresh in Texas. 15 -wood suggested. ‘‘ Well, thatisallright. Fight until blood is drawn, then five minutes’ rest be- fore the contest is renewed. That is understood, Anything else?” E “That is all,” the Cuban replied. ‘«T suppose I had better make known the con- ditions of the fight to the audience,” the hotel- | keeper remarked. " The seconds nodded assent to this, “Te [ did not there might be some dissatisfac- tion,” Goldberg added. ‘« How bout the gate-money?” asked Old Cali- fornia Joe, with a keen eye to business. * Fifty per cent. of that [ take for the use of the building, and the rest goes to the victor in the fight,” the landlord answered. * That is all squar’!” the old scout exclaimed. ‘* Go ahead with your explanation, so we can get down to business, Goldberg,” said Ring- wood. The hotel-keeper faced the audience, held up his hand to attract their attention—which was , | : | needless, for every eye was fixed upon him— then made known the terms of the fight. There was a bum. of be een when the ex- | planation was concluded, not that the amuse- ment-seekers cared a jot about the rules of the | contest, but they were eager for the fight to be- gin, and understood that their appetite would soon be gratified. As soon as the applause died away, a stalwart man, with a long, brown beard, who occupied | a front seat in tue center of the semicircle arose, | Being of a commanding figure, and occupying a | prominent position, all eyes were attracted to | him. ’ The gentleman was as well-known as any | citizen who dwelt in El Paso, being the owner of | the largest gaming establishment that the town had ever known. The readers of the romance relating the ad- ventures of Jackson Blake in the neighborhood of the old Mexican city, entitled, ‘‘ The Fresh on the Rio Grande,” will probably remember Doe Moses, the faro king, and it was this promi- | nent sharp who, by rising in his place, had at- | tracted the attention of all the audience. ‘*Gentlemen, I rise to remark that I believe Jackson Blake, the Fresh of Frisco, is going-to | win this game!" heexclaimed., ‘* And as money talks in a case of this kind a heap sight louder than words, I will announce that T am pre- pared to back my opinions with the solid stuff!” At this point Doc Moses drew a big roll of bills from his pocket, and flourished them in the air. ‘** Now then, gentlemen, any of you that are | anxious to bet against the Fresh of ’Frisco, will have a chanice. , ‘¢ Just step up to the captain’s office as soon | as possible, please!” tne sport continued. ‘ am prepared to give odds—I will go two to one on Jackson Blake!” The members of the audience looked at each other, but no one stirred to accept the banter, The brown-bearded sport waited for a few moments, looking around bim in an inquiring way, and then said: “T have made a few small bets on this con- test, but I have not invested anything like the | monsy that [ should like to have on _ it, and so | I take this public method of making known my wants.” ; Then the sport glanced around again, but not aman inthe audience evinced any idea of tak- ing up the defiance. j ‘Oh, come, fellow-citizens!” cried Doe Moses; “don’t be so backward in coming forward! Hyer lam, and hyer’s my money—and money talks every time, you bet! And if two to one is not a big enough inducement for you, hang me if I don’s raise the ante! I will make it three to one, and go avy man in hundreds, too. Three bundred to one hundred that Jackson Blake, the Fresh of ’Frisco, wins this game! Now, don’t all speak at once!” But though inany of the men present nodded their heads as much as to say that they con- sidered the offer a tempting one, yet no one accepted it. : There had been considerable betting on the result of the contest, for when such large odds as two to one were offered there were quite a number of reckless sports who were willing to | risk small sums, for:even though they believed | that the Fresh was the best man, yet they : argued that the chapter of accidents might give the victory to the stranger, and so they in- vested, But these men had bet all the money that they cared to risk, and Doe Moses’s offer met with no response, “Well, well, Iam sorry that none of the gen- tiemen present have the sand to accept my chal- lenge,” the old sport remarked. ‘‘And yet, since this match was on, I have heard some pretty loud ‘talk, but ‘evidently the men who were so free with their chin-music are not dis- sed to be equally so with their cash.” Vand with this a tobetie remark, Doc Moses took his seat, The episode excited the Frenchman’s anger; the idea that the cool’ sport should think so meanly cf his abilities as to be willing to bet | was no response to his first offer, expressed his | willingness to bet three to one, De Charny could : hardly restrain himself. | “Ts the man a fool?’ he exclaimed, to the | two Cubans who at the moment were helping | him to prepare for the encounter. ‘* What does he take me for?’ he continued, | full of wrath, “Ama boy who has never had ' a sword in his hand that he is so certain I will | | be vanquisbed in the fight?” ‘* Oh, he is trying the favorite game of these | Americans,” Gomes remarked. ‘‘He is only : bluffing, as they call it, and if any one should be | bold enough to take him up the chances are | | great that he would not be inclined to risk much | | money, if he did not find some way to creep out | of the wager altogether.” ‘* Why do you not take him up?’ the French- | man asked. “Because I have already invested all the money I can spare,” Gomes replied. ‘‘ Both Es- parto and myself have put out every dollar that we could rake together on you.” ‘* Three to one!” exclaimed the adventurer, red with rage. ‘“‘ Aha! wait until we cross swords and [ will soon show this sport who is so free with his money that he never made a big- ger mistake in his ife than when he dared to lay odds against me!” By this time the duelists were prepared for the encounter. They bad removed their outer garments, their breasts only being covered by their shirts. Each had rolled up the right-hand shirt- sleeve and knotted a handkerchief tightly around i | their waists, Sword in band the pair advanced to the center of the ring and confronted each other. The audience became as still as death. CHAPTER XX. THE CONTEST. ALTHOUGH the Frenchman was a well-made fellow, yet he was not to be compared in mus- cular development with Jackson Blake, and he was evidently astonished by the appearance | of the sport when he saw him stripped for the ay ut in a sword contest muscular develop- ment and superior strength are not so impor- tant as in a boxing match, and therefore, though the adventurer was amazed by the discovery that his opponent was as well-made a man as his eyes had ever looked upon, yet be was not impressed with the slightest fear in regard to the result of the duel. He was nettled by the contemptuous manner in which the sports of E] Paso had treated him. The idea that he, one of the first swordsmen | in Europe, opposed to a dull brute of an Ameri- can, who in all probability never had a sword in his hand before, should go a-begging in the bet- ting, no one being willing to venture one dollar against three on him. was, in his opinion, simply outrageous, Confident then in his own skill—feeling sure that his adversary stood no chance whatever, he resolved to show these men of El Paso, who bad so poor an opinion of him, a display of swords- aa such as they had never witnessed be- ore, He determined to play with his antagonist for a while as a cat plays with a mouse, Under ordinary circumstances it was his cus- tom in an affair of this kind to ‘ finish” his man as soon as ible—a ‘‘ parade” and then a fatal thrust as quickly as the opportunity came, If his opponent had been a man with a fair knowledge of the fencer’s art the Frenchman would have hesitated about trying any nonsense with him, but as it was, De Charny did not have any fear of the ‘‘ brute American,” as he con- temptuously termed the Fresh of ’Frisco. The adventurer bad his plan of operations all formed as he advanced to cross swords with his opponent, ith a brilliant “ flourish” he intended toron- fuse his antagonist, then he pro’ to “pink” him in the shoulder, just enough to draw blood, but not so severely as to disable the American. After this he would woant iain in the sword- arm—just scratch the skin with the point of his — as though it was the claw of a gigautic By this time he calculated that his antagonist would either be wrought up to a state of fury, or else plunged into despair, realizing that stood no chance to win, then he would bring the affair to an end with a thrust, which would send the American to his long home without ceremony. ‘* These savages, who are afraid to bet on me, have paid their money to witness the exhibition and I will see that they get the worth of their cash,” the Frenchman muttered between his teeth as he advanced to the center of the bull- -The pair paused when they were within six feet of each other and bowed ceremoniously, ‘*Sir American, you have insulted me in the grossest manner!” exclaimed the adventurer in tones so loud that every word could be distinct- two to one upon his antagonist was extremely / ly heard by all the audience, galling, and when the sport, finding that there ‘“* Never in all my life have I suffered so gross an outrage, and [ give you fair warning that I intend to have your heart’s blood to wipe out the disgrace!” ‘That is your say-so, but it is not mine!” the Fresh of ’Frisco retorted. ‘‘ Now, as you area stranger to this section I don’t want you to make any mistake about this matter. You | may think you are going to have a walk-over, but in such a picnic as this ‘‘ it is never safe to count your chickens until they are batched.” That is an old saying, and a mighty true one, Before we get through with this little affair you may discover that ‘Jack is as good as his mas- ter,’and I want you to distinctly understand that you have not got sosure a thing as you seem to think.” This bold defiance angered the Frenchman still more. ‘“*Be warned!” De Charny cried in a voice | full of rage, ‘‘I do not intend to show you any mercy!” ‘““Oh, come down to business and talk no more!” Jackson Blake exclaimed. ‘‘ You are not going to win this fight with words, and you are just wasting your breath, $F B garde !” cried the adventurer, throwing / | nm himself into position. The shining blades crossed, twined around each otber like a pair of silver serpents, and every eye in the audience was fixed upon the ir. . Just for a moment the steels twined around each other, and then, before the Frenchman had a chance to make the movement which he had in anticipation, the Californian played a trick upon him, the like of which no fencer was ever taught. The Fresh, with a powerful movement, closed with his antagonist, and pressing his blade firm- ly against the adventurer’s steel, forced the other’s sword against his body, and with the point of hisown blade ripped open the cheek of the Frenchman, then jum back out of dis- tance, laughing in the face of his antagonist. ‘First blood!” sung out Old California Joe, delighted at the successful accomplishment of the trick. j ‘‘Sive minutes’ breathing time, gentlemen!” proclaimed the master of ceremonies, The Frenchman was furious—he fairly turned white with rage as he put his hand to his cheek | and pressed it upon the ugly scratch which the | blade of the Californian bad made, while a long- | drawn ‘‘ Ah!” ascended on the air from the lips of the audience. ‘* What kind of sword-play do you call that?” the adventurer cried, really trembling with as he spoke. “That is called the ‘Git thar stroke,’” the | Fresh replied in his cool way. “Tt is barbarous!” cried De Charny indig- nantly. ‘Exactly, considerable of the barber about it, if it cannot lay claim to the ous,” rejoined the other. ** Such a way to fight was never heard of!” the Frenchman declared. ‘* What do you know about it, anyway?’ Jack- son Blake questioned. ‘¢ What do I know about it? Am I not one of the first swordsmen in Europe?” ‘You are?” ‘* Yes, there are not three men in the world whom Lam willing to acknowledge as my mas- ters! ** The deuce you say?” “Tt is the truth!” ‘* Well, you have roped me into a nice trap then!” the Fresh declared. ‘‘ What sort of a chance then do I stand against you, I should like to know?” *“ None at all!” hissed the Frenchman savage- ly. ‘‘AndI am going to kill you with as little mercy as though you werea snake crawling in the grass at my feet!” “Tf you can!” cried the Fresh of ‘Frisco. ‘Don’t forget to put that in, always! If you can, because sometimes it is not as easy to do these tricks as it is at others, ' “Now, then, gentle stranger, it strikes me that you have put up the worst kind of a job on me, You are, according to your own state- ment, a master of the sword while it is a wea- pon which I know but little about, and so, un- der the circumstances, I think I am justified in going at you any way 1 can; so just mf on the lookout and you have no right to growl if I don’t fight according to the rules of a fencing- school,” ‘*Time!” exclaimed the master of ceremonies at this point. F in the antagonists advanced, sword in and, This time the Frenchman, furious with rage at the advantage which his opponent had patted in the first bout, made up his mind to ring the affair to an end as soon as possible. He would kill the American at the first op- portunity. | The neahiaike thought no more of ‘showing off”—no longer was be anxious to display bis skill as a swordsman, all he cared for now was to slay his antagonist. Again the shining blades crossed, but hardly had they turned when the Fresh ome back, ig at his NE e eS 2 ee ae oe ee ee a ee Sener ee ee ee eee ee en and then rushed at his opponent,
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16 The Fresh in Texas. head, using the small-sword as though it wasa saber. With the cavalry’ weapons the Californian was familiar, although he could not boast of much skill with the foil, and in this he possessed a decided advantage over his antagonist, who knew nothing at all about the saber, So fierce was the attack, that De Charny had all he could do to parry the blows, and found no opportunity to thrust, irst on one side and then on the other the | Fresh of ’Frisco pressed him. Twice the agile-footed Californian broke through the guard of the Frenchman, and his steel wounded the adventurer. De Uharny’s breath began to come quick and ard, In all his experience as a swordsman, he had never been so fiercely attacked, or had his strength aud endurance put to so rude a test. He felt that his strength was beginning to fail | him, and, in desperation, endeavored to get a chance. to thrust at bis foe. The attempt cost him dear, for Jackson Blake parried the stroke so vigorously that the,adven- , turer’s blade was beaten to one side—the muscle of his sword-arm being tired from the unusual efforts which they had been forced to make— the Fresh saw bis opportunity, and quickly lunging, sent his blade through the shoulder of the Frenchman, By this time, about all the audience was on their feet, wildly excited over the contest, and a tremendous shout went up when the Fresh made his successful thrust. The Frenchman staggered back, threw up his arms and then sunk to the ground. The fight was ended, Again the audience yelled, and, to add to the excitement, some half a dozen ladies in the au- | dience fainted, the heiress of Escobedo being among them, thus making a scene of wild con- fusion. The ladies were removed by their friends, the wounded man carried to one of the dressing- ~ooms, and the audience dispersed, satisfied that they bad got their money’s worth. It was equal to a first-class bull-fight, all de- clared. CHAPTER XXI. AFTER THE BATTLE, Ir was the two Cubans and the master of cere- monies who bore the wounded Frenchman to the dressing-room, and the doctor that was usually employed to care for the bull-fighters who hap- pened to be injured in the games, hastened to see what he could do for the discomfited duelist, After an examination the medical gentleman announced that though the wound was a severe | one, yet it was not mortal, and in his opinion there was no doubt the Frenchman would re- ver. And then, having a keen 5 for business, the dector inquired who would be responsible fur the bill in case he took charge of the case, “ Well, the gentleman is an entire stranger to me,” the landlord remarked. ‘* He is sto ping at = hotel, but I know very little about ee * He isa stranger to us also,” Gomes remarked as the landlord and the doctor turned an inquir- ing eye _— him and his companion. ‘‘ I should imagine though, from what little I know of bim that he is not over-flush with wealth, but as far as your bill goes, doctor, do not allow that to trouble you, for I will attend to it, and, land- lord, see that he wants for nothing and I will stand the expense, “Upon my word, sir, you are extremely lib- eral!” the doctor exclaimed, with a low bow, profoundly impressed by the generous offer. ‘*T will see that he has everything he wants!” Goldberg declared. The wounded man had been placed upon a rude couch in the room which had been express-, ly provided for use in cases of this kind, and he was do ga ackoay in a swoon; in reality, though, he had come out of the stupor into which he had tallen immediately after receiving his wound, and so was able to overhear the conversation. Now, the sdventurer was a man of the world —had traveled much in his time, and seen a deal of life, and the generos:'y of the Cuban, instead of arousing his gratitude, pwakened bis sus- picion, “Too generous—too generous by half,” he muttered between his teeth, ‘‘What game is the man up to—what service does he desire at my hands after I get over this cursed sword- thrust?” By this speech it will be seen that the Frencb- man was an extre.nely suspicious gentleman. As the doctor and the landlord now felt easy in regard to their bilis they hastened to get the wounded man to more comfortable quarters than he now enjoyed. Four of the bull-ring attendants were sum- moned, and the Frenchman, couch and all was transported to the Hotel Mexico, There the landlord had a comfortable room prepared for him, and after the wounded man was put to dress his wound, the Cubans and the landlord standing by and watching the operation with great in “Upon my life, my friend, you have had an | extremely narrow escape!” the doctor ex- | Claimed, after he had made a careful examina- tion of the Frenchman’s burt. ‘Oh, yes. I know that as well as you,” growled the adventurer, evidently in an ex- tremely bad humor. “Tf his blade had gone two inches more to the left and an inch lower down, all the doctors in this world would not have been able to do you | any good,” the medical man observed, with a solemn wag of the head, | ‘Yes, yes! You must tell me something that | I don’t know, if you want to astonish me,” the wounded man exclaimed, testily. ‘**You must not make the mistake of taking me for a novice,” he continued. ‘This is not the first time that I have stood, sword in hand, before an opponent, and not the first time, ' either, that I have been stretched on my back by a dextrous sword-thrust, so I am about as good a judge in regard to such matters as any doctor | in Christendom,” ‘* Now, my dear sir, you must be patient and restrain yourself from giving way to any fits of tempery or I will not be answerable for the con- | sequences,” the doctor protested. “Oh, that is all right,” returned the wounded |man. ‘Don’t fear that I will hurt myself by growling. That is all I can do—the only conso- | lation left me after my miserable display to- | day.” And the tone in which the adventurer | spoke showed how deeply his defeat had sunk | into bis heart, | ** Well, well, my dear sir, you are not the first | man that in this city of El Paso has attempted | to cut the comb of this American fighting-cock and lived to regret the trial,” the doctor re- marked. ‘“*That is true enough,” the landlord added, ‘*Tt is no disgrace for any man to be conquered | by this American, for since he came to the banks of the Rio Grande be has met some of the best | men in this section, and has succeeded in getting amet with all of them,” | **Oh, be is a regular North American devil! | There is no doubt about that!” the doctor ex- claimed. ** Yes, I understood that he was looked upon as being an extra good man,” the Frenchman remarked. ‘‘But I had no fears in regard to meeting him for I knew that it could not be pos- sible that he was any such swordsman as I am | and therefore I anticipated an easy victory.” | ‘* Ah, my dear sir, experience bas taught me | that a man never knows how to take these wild | North Americans!” the doctor exclaimed. ** Why | I have had them under my care when there was | not one chance in a hundred that they would re- | cover, and yet they have managed to pull through. One casein particular I remember; | this old mountain-man—old California Joe as he | Is ealled—he was sick with the break-bone fever —not a hope for his life to my thinking, but I | prescribed for him—he recovered; I told him | that I knew my medicines would save him if anything would; then the North American brnte laughed in my face and said that he hadn’t taken a drop of my nasty stuff, but had dosed himself with whisky in which pine burrs had | been steeped ; a barbarous decoction which would | have killed anybody but one of these savages,” “Tt is true; I have known of just such cases,” the landlord assented. During the conversation the doctor had been attending to the wound, and it did not take him | long to do all that could be done under the cir- | cumstances; then, when the task was completed, the doctor and landlord withdrew, ‘¢ Well, our carefully-planned scheme came to naught,” Gomes remarked. He had taken a seat by the side of the bed upon which the Frenchman reclined, Esparto being seated a yard or so away. * ‘Yes, the fellow beat me, but such a duel was never seen before in this world!” the ad- venturer exclaimed. ‘‘ I was made a complete laughing-stock of—the butt for the crowd! If such a thing had happened jn Eurepe I would never have dared show my head — Like the ancient Roman, I should have n tempted to have fallen on my own sword!” ** Undoubtedly the peculiar manner in which this American fought perplexed you,” Esparto | remarked, ** Undoubtedly it did!” cried the Frenchman. “By my soul! I never saw anything like it be- | fore, and I doubt if anybody else ever did. The fellow by his mode of attack set at defiance all the rules of fence,” “But now that you are acquainted with the peculiar way in which he fights, do you not think that ina second encounter ‘you would be able to get the best of him?’ Gomes asked. ‘“*T should surely think that you would suc- ceed in turning the tables, and thus secure am- ple revenge for your defeat to-day,” Esparto u 6 Frenchman half-closed his eyes, a device on bis part to conceal the uliar look which he knew was peo into them. ‘ Well, well, | itis hard to tell,” he said, slowly, king as bed in it, the doctor proceeded to though he was affected by the pain of his wound, | “ Now that I am acquainted with the man, and understand bow he fights, there is no doubt that I could do better than I did to-day, but whether I could conquer him or not is a question.” ‘* By all the fiends!” cried Gomes, ‘if I were you and had been triumphed over to-day as ou have been by this American, I could find it in my heart to compass his death by foul means if I could not do so fairly.” “That is my mind too!” Esparto declared. ‘We Cubans are hot-blooded about such mat- ters, and when we are wronged we care not how we get revenge so long as we obtain it!” “That is right; I agree with you there,” the Frenchman replied. ‘‘ This scoundrel has tri- umphed over and disgraced me before a multi- tude and I should not be worthy the name of man if I did not bunger for revenge.” “* Bxactly! that is the way I should feel about the matter,” Gomes declared with an approving “It is the way that every man should feel if he has blood and not water in his veins!” Esparto exclaimed. ‘*Oh, I will call him to an account, be sure of that,” the adventurer remarked, “ But I wil? own to you that he achieved so easy a victory over me that it has rendered me timid of meet- ing him with the sword again.” ‘You would be on your guard now against his tricks,” Gomes suggested. ‘And being on your guard, possibly, you would be able to give him a thrust which would close his account with this world,” Esparto ob- served, “I fear that with the sword I cannot hope to cope with him,” the wounded man replied with a doubtful shake of the head. “Select some other weapon then!” Gomes ex- claimed. ‘‘And if you do not think Sy can secure revenge by a fair and open fight, why then make a secret attack upon him, e are — friends and will stand by you. You have n injured and we are anxious to see you avenge yourself.” ‘Yes, count on us to the death!” Esparto de- clared, The Frenchman thanked the Cubans, and as he seemed to be growing tired, after a few more words, they withdrew. The Frenchman looked after them with a peculiar expression upon‘his face, **Oho!” he exclaimed, ‘‘am I selected for the role of the cat then to pull the chestnuts out of the fire? Upon my word I think I have burnt. my fingers once already.” CHAPTER XXII. ; AN UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT, For quite a time the wounded adventurer re- mained silent, busy in meditation. ow that his wound was dressed he felt de- cidedly better; in reality his hurt was not as. severe as the doctor imagined, and as the French- man was a man with a fine constitution, and one who had always taken care of himself, the shock had not prostrated him as completely as it otherwise might have done. ‘Yes, yes,” he said at last, ‘I think I see the game now. 1 was a fool to allow these sharpers to deceive me so cleverly. It is odd too that I should have fallen into the trap in such a blind, stupid way, a man like myself, who has met cunning rogues of all degrees, These fellows. though deceived me ee pg They planned the matter so cleverly that I had no suspicion they were making a cat’spaw out of me, and that I was being used as a tool to wreak private vengeance, They have a grudge against this American, and not daring to face bim them- selves got me into this scheme, hoping that I would be able to do the work which they dared not attempt themselves. ‘These Cubans are extremely generous gen- tlemen!” the Frenchman exclaimed, with a ** They will pay my bills, although I am a stranger to them; but though I have not been of service to them in the past they hope I wilh be in the future. In fine, they desire me to play the part of a bravo—a hired assassin—and they think I will be base enough to murder the man whom I was not able to master in a fair and open fight, ‘* But they have made a mistake! I am .no such man as that. I am bad enough, Heaver knows! but I have never yet descended so, low as to play the role of an assassin, No, sooner than d ce ee in that way I would beg my bread from door to door! ‘*T hate these men of Spanish descent!” he exclaimed, with a sudden outbreak. ‘‘ They are ‘like the Italians, prone to strike at a man’s back when they dare not face him! s* Another thought comes in here; will not this precious pair seek to take vengeance upon me when they find that Iam not w ling to act the part which they have assigned me ‘Yes, yes, not a doubt of it,” the wounded man declared, after a few moments of medita- on, “They will turn against mein a moment, and piareng seek to deal me some terrible blow. must look out for niyself.” Again the Frenchman fell into — med- itation, which continued until interrupted by the hotel servants, who sneer. the entrance of one of been instructed to look in upon the the pur- had wounded man every now and then for pose of seeing if he wished anything, a ae
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The man was a negro with a sly, cunning face, and after the Frenchman took a good look at him he decided that he was just the kind of fellow who could be depended upon to do an job where craft and keenness were required, provided he was well paid for it. ‘Ts dar anything you want, sah?’ the negro inquired. Vith the forethought which is so necessary to the man who leads the life of an adventurer, the Frenchman had taken care to have his wallet placed under his pillow, so that he was not with- out funds, for the sum which he had received from the Cuban had not been all expended; in | The Fresh in Texas. up to de handle!” the black remarked, as he departed. ** Be seated, Mr. Blake,” requested the French- man, weving his hand to a chair by the side of the bed, when the door closed behind the negro. } The Fresh sat down. ‘Probably you are at a loss to know why I wished to have an interview with you,” the ad- venturer remarked, “Yes, I confess I cannot guess the reason.” “* Well, I wanted to set myself right, in the first place,” De Charny said. “‘I do not claim to be any better than I ought to be, but I have fact he had barely touched it, although be had | always tried to act like a gentleman, although been strongly tempted to risk it in betting on the result of the fight. ‘* Well, let me see,” replied De Charny, fixing his keen eyes full on the face of the black. * What is your name?” he asked, abruptly. “Domingo, sah.” ** Are you a man who can be trusted, provided you are paid enough?” The negro displayed his ivories in a prodigious n. =u Yes, sah, I reckon Lis!” he replied, ‘‘ When Ae say dat, sah, I reckon you hit me whar I ib!” “Well, I want a little service performed, and if you will undertake the task, I wil) give you a couple of ounces,” ¥ All right, sah; I reckon I will be glad to do it. “You know this Mr. Blake—the gentleman with whom I fought to-day?” ** Yes, sah; I was dar and seen de skirmish.” **f want to see Mr, Blake, and I don’t want to have anybody know anything about it, Do you think you could contrive to see Mr. Blake and et him to come to my room here and arrange it so that his visit will not be known?” “Oh, yes, sah!” the black declared, full of confidence, ‘‘I kin work dat trick jest as easy as rolling off a log!” “Tf you suec in arranging the matter I will give you a couple of ounces.” “ All right, sah, I will be glad todoit. De gemman 1s down-stairs now and I reckon I kin git him up ch *fore long.” “Very well, proceed. I want.to have a talk with Mr. Blake, and I have reasons for wanting the matter kept quiet.” ‘*Oh, you kin trust me, sah; I won’t say nothing to nobody "bout it,” And with this assurance the negro withdrew. It was true, as the black said, that the Fresh of ’Frisco was in the saloon of the Hotel Mexico. After his triumph over the Frenchman the enthusiastic citizens of El Paso insisted upon tendering him a reception, which he felt con- strained to accept for it appeared ungracious to refuse the compliment. Of course if was the Americans of El Paso who thus designed to honor the Fresh of ’Frisco, for the Mexican residents of the town had no love for Jackson Blake, and all the sports of that nationality who had courage enough to back their opinions that the Frenchman would win, being, at the end of the contest, cleaned out and disgusted, felt much more like giving the victor a ducking in the Rio Grande thana reception at the Hotel Mexico. The “levee” had just ended when the negro entered the saloon. The Fresh had succeeded in tearing himself away from his joyous friends when the servant entered, | Watching his opportunity the black followed Blake and on the way to the corral, whither the Fresh and his pards were going in quest of their horses, succeeded in getting a chance to speak to Blake without being seen by any one connected with the hotel, He delivered his message, not forgetting to state that the Frenchman desired the matter should be managed so that no one would know of it, and adding that, by means of the rear er- trance to the hotel, he could undoubtedly con- duct the visitur to the room where the wounded man was, without any one in the house being the wiser. The Fresh reflected over the matter for a mo- sr then said to his two pards: “Well, I don’t see any reason why [ should not oblige the man by complying with his re- quest. Both Ringwood and Old California Joe re- marked that they knew of no objection, so while they proceeded to the corral to attend to their horses, Jackson Blake was conducted by the negro to the room occupied by the man, “* Aha, my brave friend, you have succeeded, I see!” arny exclaimed in a_tone of satis- faction, bowing politely to the Fresh, who re- turned the salutation. ““Here are your ounces,” . And he chinked the two pieces of silver into the hands of the black, who grinned with satis- faction, “ Now then,” continued the adventurer, “ just you keep watch outside in the entry, so as to giye me timely warning of the epproach of any one likely to enter my room, and there will be another ounce for you.” - t, sab; I will do dat job right in this quarrel with you I was tricked into act- ing a roie which, now that I Jook back upon the rformance, seems to me more like that of a tired bravo than anything else. I am going to make a fnit confession, though, of all the cir- cumstances connected with the affair, and allow you to judge.” And then, briefly, the Frenchman detailed the unfortunate circumstances which had Jed his wandering footsteps to El Paso, and related all the particulars of his meeting with the Cubans. af can see now that they made a cat’s-paw out of me, although I had no suspicion of it at the time. I presume they are enemies of yours, anxious for vengeance upon you,” De Charny said, in conclusion. ‘**Upon my word, the whole affair is the big- gest kind of a mystery!” the Fresh declared. “T do not know either one of the Cubans, and so, consequently, never had any trouble with them.” “It is a mystery, indeed!” and then the wounded man related the particulars of bis last interview with the pair. “Well, well, they are anxious to have me wiped out!” the Fresh commented. “Tf they are not acting for themselves—if they have no grudge against you, possibly they are acting for some one who has—some bitter foe of yours,” the adventurer sugested. “So it would seem,” the Fresh remarked. ‘*But the joke of the thing is that I am not aware of having any foe who feels bitter enough toward me to go to such trouble.” “The foe exists though, evidently.” ‘* Yes, so it seems, and I must make it my bus- iness to discover him as soon as possible,” “That is a good idea, or otherwise he may get in a blow which will be apt to hurt.” ‘*“Well, [am much obliged to you for your warning, and [ say, as you do not intend to act as the tool of this pair of precious villains, they will be apt to cut off the supplies the moment they discover the truth.” ‘* Yes, and then IJ shall be helpless, but it is the fortune of war,” the adventurer remarked, shrugging his shoulders like a true Frenchman, ‘**] will raise a subscription for you,” Blake exclaimed, .‘‘ There are plenty of sports in El Paso whose pocketbooks are always open in a case of this kind. Just you wait! Inside of an hour I’]l have you on your legs again!” And then the Fresh departed, ‘ CHAPTER XXIII. CHIPPING IN. JACKSON BLAKE hurried at once to his pards in the corral. ‘* Put the horses up, boys,” he said. ‘I have struck a little business which I must attend to before I go.” Then he related the particulars of bis inter- view with the wounded Frenchman, ““Wa-al, I reckon that this aris a-migh mixed-up affair,” Old California Joe reeaite . ‘**As sure as you are born!” Dave Ringwood exclaimed. “You know it was my opinion, boys, that neither one of these. two Cubans bore me any love, though why a couple of-strangers, whom I never run across before, should be anxious to do me harm was a mystery to me,” the Fresh re- marked, “°Tarnel strange!” the old mountain-man ex- claimed, ** As queer a case, I reckon, as I ever struck,” eg woms observed, with a wise shake of the ead. “Of course there is a reason for it,” Jackson Blake remarked, ‘“ Men do not go into a game of this kind without a motive,” ‘You kin bet all you are wortb on that!” Old California Joe declared, ** Oh, yes, that would be a safe bet; these two Cubans put up a job on you; and they roped the mchman into the trick in au extremely nest manner, but what are they driving at—what is the motive?” Ringwood asked, “T reckon it is the old war re-opened,” the Fresh answered. ‘‘These fellows come from Cuba; in Cuba Manuel Escobedo and his sister, Isabel, found refuge when I made the neighbor- hood ef the Rio Grande too hot to hold them. Rumor says that both of them are dead, but I reckon that is a cute device to throw me off the track.” “To kinder throw dust in yer eyes so as to be able to git a good Jick at yer without you being on the lookont for it,” the Id scout suggested. “Yes, I reckon that is about the size of it,” said the Fresh. ‘ As you will probably remem- 17 ber, boys, I have not taken any stock in these Cubans and got the idea, rigbt at the beginning that they were no friends of mine, alti ough t really bad no good reason for the belief, but now that I know the game they are playing I shall try to give them an opportunity to show their hand as soon as possible.” “That is the right idee!” Old California Joe declared. **'You bet it is!” Ringwood exclaimed. ‘Itis not pleasant to be subject to attacks from secret enemies. If a man hes got anything against me I want him to square the account as soon as pos- sible, If there is anything in the world that I despise it isa sneak who skulks about waiting for a chance to stab a man in the back.” “Ob, you can bet your hfe that now I have got hold of the tail of the rat, I will force him to come out of his hole!” the Fresh of ’Frisco de~ clared. ** No one ever yet accused me of being back- ward in coming forward when there was any chance for a row, no matter whether I had any business in the skirmish or not, and I can assure you that I will give these Cubans a chance to walk up to the captain’s office and settle before they are a day older. “In my mind there is very little doubt now in regard to the game. The bedos are alive —or at any rate one of them is—and since the attempt to beat me in a fair and open fight was not successful, the tactics are changed, end the trial is to be made of secret cunning.” ‘““You are right for a thousand dollars!” Old California Joe cried, ‘And such a game just suits the Greasers to death. They are a pesk mean lot, and their best holt is trickery. Ob, 1 hate ’em like p’ison!” “Joe puts the case pretty strongly,” Dave Ringwood observed, ‘‘but from my experience with these Mexicans, I am not prepared to de- cide that he is far out of the war There are good Mexicans of course, men who are gentle- men, and who would scorn to do a mean action, but for every one such man that you run across, you will find a dozen who cannot be trusted as far as you can see them, particularly such men as hang ’round a frontier town like El Paso.” ‘**T will make them show their hand and de- clare their game the very first chance I get at them!” the Fresh declared. ‘‘ And I reckon I will get an ve a Nae soon, for I am going to raise a subscription for this Frenchman, The man is helpless here without either money or friends, but I reckon when I let the boys know bow the fellow is fixed, enough of them wil] chip in to raise a good-sized stake so he will be inde- pendent of this pair of sharpers.” “They played a very-fine geme,” Dave Ring- wood observed, with an goa sbake of the head. ‘‘ They calculated that the Frenchman would be just crazy to avenge his defeat, and since be could not hope to get the best of you ina fair fight he would be glad to assassinate you. “That was the game!” the Fresh asserted. ‘* But the Frenchman is nobody’s fool, although he was rather rash in pitching on me, but he relied upon the fact that be was an expert swordsman, and never suspected that he would run across anybody in this far-off corner of the world who would be able to get away with him in a sword-fight. “But we are wasting time, boys, chinnin here!” the Fresh exclaimed, abruptly. ‘ If am going todo anytbing for the ncbman I must get at it before the sharps get out of town.’ The others agreed that this was true and the three started for the plaza. * Dave, see if you can’t hunt up a barrel ora box—something I can stand on, while I give the crowd a bit of a speech,” the Fresh said, as the party entered the square, There was an empty barrel—stending in front of an adjoining store and when Dave Ringwood roceeded to roll this into the middle of the street the attention of the men who happened to be in the neighborhood was at once attracted. And when Jackscn Blake got on the barrel all within sight of bim came hurrying to the spot. Phen an idea occurred to the Fresh, “T sav, Ringwood, it wouldn’t be a bad ides. to get the gang from the hotel,” besaid. ‘* With the aid of that instrument of torture I will be able to attract a crowd in no time.” ‘That is jest a bully idee!” Old California Joe declared. “You bet it is,” Ringwood assented. “IN hist it out instanter.” he started for the hotel forthwith. ““W'ot’s up, hey? inquired a curious by- stander, acting as spokesman for the rest, ‘Well, fellow-citizens, lam going to try my hand at a little fsa § ee. the Fresh re- plied. ‘And I would like to bave you gentle- men just scatter yourselves around town and drum up as many as you can to attend the meet- ing. Go into all the shebangs and tell the boys that the Fresh of "Frisco is going to makea stump jpoch to the public on the » Wen in front of the Hotel Mexico, and by so doing you will greatly oblige your humble servant to con mand, “Sart’in, sart’in—you bet we will!” exclaimed
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18 one of the crowd, andthe rest echoed the words. ~ A dozen or so hastened to comply with the re- uest. - And then came Dave Ringwood from the ho- tel, bearing the gong, followed by all the men who had been in the hotel saloon, including the two Cubans, a ““ Say, gi’n me the gong, and I will jest march up and down the plaza from one end. to the other, and play town-crier,” Old California Joe exclaime.. ‘* That will.draw the crowd,.you bet,” The Fresh thought the idea was a good one, 30 the gong was given to the old scout, and he roceeded to wake the echoes of the town with it, stopping whenever he came to any place of commou resort.to proclaim that the Fresh of Trisco was going to make a stump speech in front of the Hotel Mexico, And the result of this performance was-that within ten minutes a goodly number of peonle collected around the rel upon which the Fresh .stood, all curious to. know what he was going to say. To the Americans in the assemblage there was nothing novel about a man delivering an ad- dress from tha topof a;barrel in a public square, but the Mexicans. were, greatly amazed, for they were not accustomed to such a proceeding. When the Fresh saw that his audience had ‘become as large as it was likely to be, he waved his hand to command their, attention, and be- an: yes? FBellow-citizens of El Paso, I am_ not, much accustomed to public speaking, and I do not doubt that there are mee men within the sound of my voice who would be able to give mo points in regard to a game of this kind, but, under the circumstances, I have been forced to take a hand. “‘T do not think I will be far out of the way if-I jump to the conclusion that the majority of you gentlemen here were present in tho bull- ring to-day, and witnessed the performance that took place there.” At this point a dozen or so of the listeners took it upon themselves to ned in, the affirma- tive, and cry, ‘* Yes, yes!’ ‘* Well, fellow-citizons, itis on behalf of my late opponent that L now address you,” Jackson Blake continued. This announcement caused the majority of the crowd to look amazed, and the two Cubans, who formed a group with the alcalde and the chief of police, exchanged glances, and a dark look came oyer their faces. ‘The Frenchman is in a pretty tight place, fellow-citizens!” Blake exclaimed. ‘* Hoe is a tong way from home, badly wounded, and with- out either friends or money, ‘Now, my dear pards, just put yourselves in the place of this unfortunate fellow, and see how you would like it!” A Jarge number of the crowd shook their heads in an extremely decided way, as much as to say that they oid not enjoy the prospect, **T propose to raise a subserirtion, so that this Frenchman will have money to pay his bills, and be able to go fo his own home across the sea, and Iam willing to chip in to the tune of fifty dollars, and that is the kind of man I am!” CHAPTER XXIV. THE FRESH SCORES A SUCCESS, Tue spectators looked at each other for they were not accustomed to such liberality. “ Yes, fellow-citizens, I will chip in fifty dol- lars, and I want you all to give every cent that you think that you can spare,” the Fresh ; continued. ** Asi said before, pet yourself in this man’s place. Here he is many miles away from his mative land, so far that it will cost him a small fortune to get home. In this country he is help- less, but when he strikes his own land again he will be all right, aud I propose to help him to get home again, and I hope thai all of you will put your shoulder to the wheel too. “My pard here, Dave Ringwood, will go round with the hat, Now show whas you are made of, you men of El Paso, Chip in and chip in liberally! **T do not expect that uh of you are going to see my bluff of fifty dollars and ante up as much, but.don’t let. that scare you out of the game. If you can’t go that, give what you can; ‘the smallest favors will be thankfully received and large ones in proportion. Don’t be scared even if you have nothing better than a two bit piece, put that in and thank Heaven that you have got that much to give!” Binge took off bis hat and began to move around amid the crowd. Nearly all the Americans contributed, the few ‘that did not expressing their regret that the were not flush just at that time, but the Mexi- cans, as a rule, allowed the hat to pass them without putting anything in it, only a few of tho sports contributing. The Fresh kept his eyes upon Ringwood and whew he approached the host of the Hotel Mexico, Blake exclaimed: ** Now then, Goldberg! lock alive! Go down into your pocket and Gring up the solid stuff! The Fresh in Texas. What kind of stuff are you made of, anyway, Moses?” “ Oh, my goodness! T am not a sport like you, Mr. Blake!” the landlord declared, decidedly put out at having the attention of the public thus drawn to him. “Oh, come now, you can afford to shell out | right handsomely!” the Fresh declared. ‘* You made a good thing out of the show and you | ought to be willing to help the man along, par- ticularly since you will profit by his sickness, for by tho time he gets well you will have a big bill against him.” The hotel-keeper made a grimace, ‘*Oh, I made very little out of the show!” he protested. ‘* My expenses are very heavy and I shall make my bill to him very light too, but [ will go a dollar—” **Oh, only a dollar!” exclaimed Blake pre- tending to be deeply disgusted. And the Americans in the crowd took up the cry. % A dollar, oh!” Goldberg became red in the face; he did not | relish being jeered at and so ue exclaimed: ‘* Well, well, I will make it five!” and he hast- ened to drop a five-dollar gold-piece into the t. “‘Goldberg, old boy, it ought to be ten at the least!” the Fresh declared. ‘“ But I suppose this time I will have to let his off with five, but I want you to understand that you are not com- ing up to the scratch in the way that you ought todo. What is five dollars to a man like you who has just been coining money in this town of El Paso for the last year or two?” By this time Dave Ringwood had reached the spot where the two Parrals and the Cubans | stood. The Fresh had.bis eye upon the party, for it was his intention to utter a few pointed remarks | in case the Cubans refused to contribute. But the opportunity was not afforded him, for while the alcalde and the chief of police only dropped a dollar into the hat, each of the Cubans put in a five-dollar gold-piece. ‘Half a saw-buck apiece!” exclaimed the Fresh, as his quick eyes caught the flash of the gold. ‘That is right! Much obliged to you, gentlemen; that is the right way to chip intoa game of this kind!” “Oh, I say, Goldberg, these gentlemen are making you look awful small! They have come right up to your ante, yet you have made money St of the man while they are strangers to im! The hotel-keeper was shamed by this declara- tion, and so he made haste to produce another five-dollar piece, ‘* There, that makes ten for me!” he exclaimed as he tossed it into the hat. ‘' You ought to be satisfied with that.” ‘Yes, that will do pretty well, although, really, Goldberg, considering that you made a good thing out of the show you ought to have sand enough to pony up fifty as I did.” “Oh, my goodness!” cried the wily host, ‘* you want to ride a free horse to death!” hen the collection was completed Ring- wood returned to the Fresh and he counted the money. “Two hundred and six dollars!” Jackson Blake announced. ‘ Fellow-citizens, this is some- thing like, and I really feel proud of El Paso, This sum will put the Frenchman on bis feet again and he will be able to get back to his home, Mr. Weinholdt!” the Fresh continued, | addressing the banker, who stood a short dis- tance away. ‘‘ Will you have the kindness to take charge of this money and hold it subject to Mr. De Charny’s orders? “Certainly,” said the banker, coming for- ward, “ And although I have already con- tributed, yet in order to make the sum an even one I will go four dollars more.” **Much obliged, Mr. Weinboldt!” the Fresh exclaimed, with a polite bow to the banker. ‘You are a white man all the way through—all wool and a yard wide, Here’s the cash.” Then after delivering the money to the banker | Blake again addressed the crowd: **Gentlemen, Iam very much obliged to you | all for the liberal manner in which you have re- sponded to my call,” be said. ‘‘One of the old | book sharps once wrote something about one | touch of kindness making the whole world akin, and I reckon there ig a good deal of truth in the saying. You have helped an unfortunate man out of a hole. Now, while I am not hoping that | any of you will beso unlucky as to get into a similar scrape, yet if such a thing should happen, I trust vou will be fortunate enough to strike men who will be willing to help you along as you have helped this stranger.” ““Tbree cheers for the Fresh!” cried one of the Americans in the crowd. The cheers were given with a will, Blake | howed his acknowledgments, got down from | the barrel, and the crowd began to disperse. ' With his two pards the Fresh proceeded to the apartment of the wounded man and related to | him how successful the endeavor had been to | raise a purse. De Charny was extremely grateful. | way **T shall not tarry bere long,” he said. ‘' This wound, although painful, is not one that will | be able to use me fora tool, they wi | apt to give up their design to injure you, so you prevent me from traveling soon. Within a week, at the latest, I shall be able to set out. I shall go straight from here to New Orleans and there take a steamer for France, and I assure ou I shall not be sorry to shake the dust of this ew World from my feet,” ** The Cubans will be rather astonished at this move, I think,’ the Fresh remarked. ‘Yes, undoubtedly, but though they will not not be must be on your guard,” **Oh, I shall, rest assured of that.” Then, after wishing the Frenchman a pleas- | ant journey to his own land, the Fresh and his | pards withdrew. The Cubans were on the watch and, after the Americans had gone, they entered the room. De Charny, a complete master of the art of dissimulation, received them as though he be- lieved them to be the dearest friends he had in the world. “Ah, I am glad you have come!” he ex- claimed, ‘‘ You are justin time to congratu- late me. You have heard of my windfall of fortune, I presume?” ** Ob, yes,” Gomes replied, ‘‘ both myself and my friend here contri uted, Of course, - this American was not aware that you had friends, like heed and Esparto here, who would see that all your wants were supplied.” “Yes, yes, you have been friends indeed!” the adventurer exclaimed, ‘‘ Never while I live will I forget your kindness; I was not atall worried about the future, knowing I could de- pend upon you. At the same time 1 am glad to get this cash, for now I will be able to return to France.” “Do you not think that the raising of this sub- scription was a cunning trick on the part of thé American to get you out of the way?’ Gomes suggested, ‘* Perhaps—it may be,” the Frenchman re- onded, with a wise shake of the head, ‘*He feared that when you recovered from your wound you might endeavor to revenge ourself upon him,” Gomes remarked. “Possibly so; but it is hard to tell; these Americans are a strange people,” fhe adventurer replied, thoughtfully. ‘‘ The more I see of them the more I am amazed. They are like their kin- dred, the English John Bulls. A man can never tell what they willdo. They commit the wild- est and most incomprehensible acts, ‘* But as these Americans say, a man would be a fool to look a gift horse in the mouth, and so I take the money without troubling myself to ask why it was given me,” ‘*Oh, undoubtedly the American fears your vengeance, and has raised this money so as to enable you to depart, and thus he hopes to es- cape meeting you again,” Esparto observed with a sneer. “Tf that is his game, the man has calculated admirably,” the Frenchman replied. ‘‘ For, most assuredly, now that [have the money to leave this country, where I have met with noth- ing but misfortune, I shall get away as soon as I “Without attempting to seek for revenge upon the man who bumbled you?’ Gomes ob- served, “T am satisfied; I was beaten in a fair fight, and so badly beaten that I am not anxious for another trial,” De Charny rejoined. The Cubans saw that it was useless for them to attempt to change the Frenchman’s resolu- tion, and so after a few more words they took their departure. “We must try some new device,” Gomes re- marked, as the pair proceeded along the entry. “Yes; open force seems to be useleed with this American demon, so we must try secret cun- ning,” the other rejoined. CHAPTER XXV. DOC MOSES SUGGESTS A GAME, **Now we will go for our horses again. and make another attempt to get home,” the Fresh remarked, as he and bis pards quitted the botel. But he was destined to be sy interrupted, for as the party came to the lane which led to the corral they encountered Doc Moses, the lead- ing sporting man of the town, “* Hello, Blake! I want to have a little private conversation with you, if you can spare the time,” the veteran sport remarked. ‘Certainly; yours to command,” replied the Fresh, ‘‘Get out the horses, boys, so as to be all ready to start after I get through.” “We will turn up the Jane, then we will have a chance to talk withuut interruption,” said the veteran sport. “ All right,” So, while Dave Ringwood and Old California Joe proceeded to the corral, the Fresh and Doc Moses went slowly up the lane. * Blake, I don’t know but what I am going to take a little bit of liberty with you, but, as an old acquaintance, I hope you will not mind it,” the sport began. : ‘*Oh, no; T reckon not. You are too old a band, I take it, to do anything out of the “ Did ze ever watch a game of chess or checkers?” lS ACR wt ON I tS = ayia ars sind, — limes bes : et es Le eee
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The Fresh in Texas. 19 Can't you see my fifty and go me ten better? ‘SOF course.” “And did you ever remark that the lookers- on generally see lots of good moves that the players don’t?” ‘* On, ves.” ‘“ Well, sometimes in this game of life which we are playing, it is that way. Men who are not concerned see moves which the men who are interested do not.” ** T reckon I understand what you are driving at,” the Fresh remarked. ‘‘ You see some move which you think I ought to make, and you have a suspicion that I am not aware of it.” *““ That is the idea to a hair!” ** Well, Iam not generally very short-sighted, and, as a rule, I manage to see about all the good moves on the board; still, it is possible that some such move may\have escaped me,” the Fresh replied, in a reflective sort of way. ‘It is nove of my business, of course,” the sport admitted. ‘‘ But as the move is a right good one I thought you ought to be in re- gard toit,for I kinder have an idea that you don’t see it.” “Go ahead! you are too solid and square a man to go into a thing without there was some- thing in it,” Blake remarked. ‘* Did you notice to-day that at the end of your aght with the Frenchman—just as you laid him out, one of the ladies in the cirele fainted?” ‘*] knew there was'a commotion in front, but I dicin’t know what caused it.” ‘*The lacy sat only a few seats from me so I had a chance to see what the trouble was, It was Miss Margaret Escobedo who fainted.” A slight shade came over the face of the Fresh of Prisco. “I was not aware that she was present, and I wonder at her being there too, for I know she does not believe in attending aay of these bar- barous affairs, as Eastern people would be apt to term such a slow.” *“* Yes, I have heard that she objected to at- tending bullfights and sports of a like nature, but. she was there to-day, and I can tell you, Blake, she did not enjoy it a bit; she was as pale as death and trembled like a leaf; she had a friend with her—that Eastern girl who is paying a visit to her ranch, but though she too was iil at ease, yet she did not betray the emotion that the heiress of Escobedo did.” ** And I suppose you jumped to the conclusion that the girl was anxious aboutme!”? “That was what [ thought. She was. afraid you would, get hurt in the fight, and yet, with that morbidness which seems to be so strong in some natures, she could not resist the impulse which bade her come and see the figbt, but when it ended with your triumph, the strained nerves could stand it no longer and she fainted.” “I reckon, Doc, that you have got this thing down as fine as any medical sharp in the coun- try. could bring it.” ‘Yes, I rather pride myself on the fact that I ama protty good judge of human nature,” the sport replied, ‘** Well, from these facts what do you reckon?” ‘To put it plainly, I reckon that the girl is ‘dead in love with ‘you, and if you choose. to enter for the race, Margaret Escobedo, the richest girl in all this part cf the country, and finest and handsomest one that I know of all along the line of the Rio Grande, can be won by you_with very little trouble,” ‘Kind of a walk-over for me, eh?” “* That is. about the size of it.” ‘That is a mighty fine prospect.” ‘I never run across a finer!” Doc Moses de- clared pen : The girl is well worth the winning if she did not havea single ducat at her back.” ‘True, every word of it!” Blake admitted. _ “But when you consider that she is jest roll- ing in wealth—can put up the dollars with any manor woman in ahundred square miles—why, she is a prize worth any man’s while. And she is yours, Blake, if you want her!” Doc. Moses dewiared. ‘I feel a8 certain. of it as though the se had told me so with her own lips. All you ave to dois to enter the game and the stake is ours, % ’ ‘That isa remarkably fine o ‘‘ You bet!” cried the vid w pe ; “Well, as I told Fon I am generally far- sighted enough, and this move has not escaped rag. I have selé sure for quite a while now that j stood a good chiauce to win the ledy if I chose to enter the lists, but there are two or three reasons which have prevented me from going into the game,” the Fresh remarked slowly, Of course it is not possible for me to look at the matter from your standpoint,” the veteran sport remarked, “and therefore Iam complete- ly in the dark as to your reasons, but as far.as I can see, you are just the man to go into the scheme.” “Toe, as a rule Tam aa in the habit of show- / ingmy.| and, to any one,” the Fresh observed earl] all m y life I have been so situated that T have had to play a py mtg but in this ens, as I feelsure youarea friend of mine, and oe nhave taken the trouble to put me ou the have scent of a good thing, I will explain why i : * At} arr rom nel ory , Blake, I don’t want you to think that | marked, I spoke about this matter with any idea of pry- ing into your affairs!” the aE exclaimed. **Oh, [I understand that. ou are not the kind of man to worry yourself about what does not concern you,” the H'resh remarked. ‘And I have perfect confidence, too, that anything I say to you will be strictly confidential.” “*T will give you my word as to that,” the other replied. ‘Well, then, to come down to business, just put gene in my place—” ‘“*T wish i could!” Doc Moses exclaimed. ** You can bet all the ducats you can raise that I would go for that girl so quick that it would make my head swim!” “Ob, no! Just think of the difference that there is between a man such as I am, and a wo- man such as she is,” ‘* Well, you are not as well-fixed, of course, but for that matter, there isn’t any other man round here that is, either, and simply because the girl is worth a few millions ought not to make any difference.” “That is true enough, but Iam not referring to money.” “ What are you driving at, then?” “The wide difference that there is in our social positions,” the Fresh replied. “This girl, you must remember, is a well- educated Easterner; one brought up where civi- lization reigns; not a child of the wild and woolly West.” .“*On, I understand that, of course,” the old sport observed, ‘‘ She is a first-class lady, nar discount on that—as fine a one as ever struck the Rio Grande,” ‘s Well, now, do Noe think I could pass muster as a first-class gentleman?” Blake asked, “Why not?’ the veteran demanded. ‘TI reckon you will fill the bill as well as any man that can be scared up in this region, and I am not flattering you a bit, either, when I say it. I reckon Lam a judge of the article, too, seeing as how [ have run a faro-game in almost every ble city clear from New York to the Golden sxate, *“¥oes, you ought to know what you are talk- ing about,” the Fresh observed. “T think myself that if I chose to brace up, and have some style about me, to use our West- ern saying, that I would be able to pass muster in pretty decent society, but that don’t alter the fact:that in my time I have been a sharp of the first water; in fact, at one period in my career, on the Pacific Slope, I was so successful in win- ning the cash of the men who dared to wager their ducats against mine that I have been waited upon by deputations of the leading citi- zens and politely requested to make it con- venient to bonor some other camp with my pre- sence.” ‘*Oh, that is nothing,” Doc Moses rejoined. **T have been run out of a dozen camps by tlie Vigilantes myself, and Iam sure I am none the worse forit. Mighty few lucky sports will a man strike in this Western country who can boast that they haven't run afoul of the Vigi- lantes at some time in their careers, It is a penalty that-a man is obliged to pay for being anexpert in his business. If you look atit in the right light it is really a compliment,” ‘*No doubt, no doubt, but the world at large hardly considers it so,” the Fresh observed. ** But to come back to our mutitcn. One rea- son why [.do not go in for the heiress of Esco- bedo is because of the bad record that I have, and another—which may seem absurd to you— is that I am not sure whether I can content my- self to settle down to a quiet, bum-drum life. I have been quiet for two years now, and once in a while the fever in my blood is so strong that it seems as if I must resume my old life of ad- venture again,” “I know how that is; I was like you when I was your age, but time will alter that,” Doc Moses observed, with the air of a sage. “Now, if you take my advice. you will not al- low these things to trouble you, but goin and win the heiress. There isn’t any society along the Rio Grande that you can’t held your own in, particularly when you have the Escobedo wealth at ew ee : ‘ elieve you are right, and [ will try the riffle!” the Fresh exclaimed’ ¥ ‘Good luck go with your game!” Dock Moses cried, and they shook bands and parted. CHAPTER XXVI. THE FRESH TELLS HIS SOFT TALE, Just as the two men parted, Dave Ringwood and Old California Joe came down the alley with the horses, ‘* Pards, I am a little puzzled about one thing,” the Fresh observed when the others came up to him, “What is it?” Ringwood asked. ee mi her out, Cap!” Old California Joe ex- claimed. “Tt is in regard to these two Cubans.” “What of then?” Ringwood questioned. “JT am rather bothered in regard to how I ought to act toward them,” the Fresh re- Fg Fire ca ee cee me—and there is no doubt in my min f be did not speak a word outside of the truth—the inference seems strong that these two fellows sought to have me killed, and after their first attempt resulted in a failure, they did their level best to work the Frenchman ‘up so that he would be led to assassinate me when he got well enough to attend to a job of that kind.” ‘* T reckon there isn’t any mistake about'that,” Ringwood remarked, ‘* Mistake about it—nary time!” the old moun- tain-man exclaimed. ‘‘ Why, it is as plain as the nese on your face!” ** As far as I know'there is no reason why they should want to go for me, for I have not trod- den on the toes of either one of them to my knowledge,” the Fresh remarked. ‘‘ But, as I told you, Ihave a suspicion that they are the agents of my old-time enemies, the brother and sister whom J drove away.” ‘That seems to be the only reasonable ex- planation,” Dave Ringwood observed. “It is jest like these ’tarnel Greasers!” Old California Joe exclaimed. ‘I never met one of ’em yit that wasn’t up to all sorts of tricl-~ They are as mean as all git out! The most . ’em would a heap sight rather strike a man in the back, or give him a lick in the dark, thaa go in for a fair fight.” ** Joe, you are ene it a little strong, yet there is no doubt that a great number of the Mexicans are both treacherous and cowardly,” Blake remarked. That is my experience with them,” Dav Ringwood otserved. ‘Of course you will find good and bad men in every race, but as far as my acquaintance with the Mexicans goes, I have been unlucky enough to meet a deuced sight more bad men than good.” “To my notion the Greasers are a heap sigbt like the Injuns,” Old California Joe declared. ‘The only good Ihjun is a dead Injun, and the only good Mexican is a dead one.” “Ah, Joe, you are putting it a little too strongly now,” the Fresh objected. ** Not a mite!” the old mountain-man replied. ‘*T reckon you don’t know the tribe as well es I do, Oh, you bet I know the Greasers from *way-back!” ' ‘ “Well, to return to what I was saying,” ob- served the Fresh, ‘*I do not relish the idea that there are a couple of fellows in this town of El Paso who are ready to take a crack at mie whenever .they get a chance, without being obliged to show their hands.” ‘* Tt is not pleasant,” Ringwood remarked, ‘You kin bet yer bottom dolar it ain’t!” Old California Joe declared, : “*Tf the pair would come out openly, so as to give me a chance at them, I would not mind,” Blake observed. ‘‘It is this work in the dark that I object to, Of course, the only proof I have that the pair did strike at me is the French- man’s statement, so that I am rather in a quan- dary. If I should attempt to bring them toa reckoning by openly charging them with at- tacking me, bringing forward the Frenchman’s statement as proof, they undoubtedly would de- clare that it was not true, and they would crawl out of the matter by pretending that the only reason they backed the Frenchman was because they were anxious to see some sport.” ‘Well, the statement would appear probable, for they would back it up by saying, ‘Why stovld we attack you? You are a stranger to us, and we hav’n’t anything against you,’” Dave Ringwood remarked. ‘* Exactly, that would be their game beyond a doubt, and I could not prove that they were actuated by any malice against me,” the Fresh responded. ‘“Wa-al. I dunno,” said the old mountein- man, slowly; ‘‘ but it seems to me thatif 1 had a thing of this kind to work, that I would go right at it and take the bull by the horns, so to speak, you know. If Is’picioned that this byer pair of Cubans were a-trying to play roots on meé, I would jest make it my business to pick a fuss with them—g’in’em a chance, you know, to come up to the captain’s office to settle,” ‘« Yes, that idea occurred to me, and if I were differently situated from the way I am J sbould lose no time in forcing e quarrel upon them,” the , Fresh rejoined, thoughtfully. ‘But there are good reasons for my not goinz abead in that way,” he continued. ‘In the first place, I am on my good behavior now, and I do not want to have it said that I forced a uarrel upon any one, Then again there is the eo that these Cubans would not be forced into a fight, no matter how much I provoked them. “That is true!” Dave Ringwood exclaimed. “T thought of that,” ‘* That is so, sure as yer. born!” the old scout . admitted. ‘‘ They might let on that you wasso big a chief that they wouldn’t stand no show th you, nohow, and allow that they would bea couple of fools for to go into a skirmish when it ‘phase a dead certainty that they would come out TS. “ Joe has figured it up about right, I reckon,” the Fresh said. ‘* At present.I don’t see as there is a chance for me to do thing. If the Cubans don’t want to fight I cannot very well make them come up to the scratch, and any at- peta on my pert to oe Senate a fight would make me seem like a desperado, and I
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a ie ahs i ’ + Fae IT ee a 7 , oh pe tin rh ya Perl et — 2 eT ee 20 The Fresh in Texas. have mighty good reasons just now for wanting to appear at my best,” ‘As far as I can see, the only thing you can do is to keep on the watch, and if the Cubans try any more ganies you may be able to catch them in such a way that they cannot get out of it, and then you will be able either to make them give you satisfaction or else force them to dust out of El Paso,” Dave Ringwvod remark- ** Yes, I must ride a waiting race this time,” the Fresh coincided. ‘‘ And now let us be off for home.” Five minutes later the party were across the Rio Grande, and well on their way. There were few words spoken during the homeward trip, for the Fresh.was strangely re- served, seemingly involved in meditation. He contemplated taking a step which would materially change the current of his life, His mind was almost made up in regard to the matter, but he resolved to take no step until the morrow, “TI will sleep on it to-night, and then, if my mind is still the same, in the morning I will try my luck with the heiress of Escobedo,” be mur- mured, When the morning came the Fresh was up ey and early. is mind had not changed during the night, excepting that the resolution to woo, and if pos- sible, win the beautiful heiress was stronger than when he retired to rest, After breakfast there were some matters ap- pertaining to the ranch which required bis at- tention, and then he mounted his horse and rode over to the Escobedo Ranch, Fortune favored the Fresh, for he was lucky enough to find Margaret alone; as arule, the heiress and her friend, Miss Melvile, were sel- dom apart, That the heiress of Escobedo was pleased to see her visitor, was apparent from the glad light which shone in ber eyes, and the bright color comin m3 in her cheeks, The Fresh of Frisco was as abrupt and pe- culiar in bis Jove-making as he was in many other respects, He came at once to the errand upon which he had ridden forth, __‘‘ Miss Escobedo, I have come over this morn- sae ask your opinion of me,” he said. “ ee of amazement appeared on the face of e girl. ‘* My opinion of you?” she asked. “Yes, I want to know what kind of a fellow you think I am, anyway?” ‘What an odd question!” “Tt isa very important one to me, I assure you, or else I would not trouble you with it. rom the way you have always treated me, I have been led to believe that when I come to your ranch I am not an unwelcome guest.” ‘‘Indeed you are not unwelcome! Are you not the man who once saved me from a fate which to me would have heen worse than death?” Margaret exclaimed, with a sudden out- burst. ‘‘ And while I live I shall never be able to pay you for that service!” “Oh, yes, you will; you can settle that ac- count very easily if you wish so to do.” ‘‘ How?” exclaimed Margaret, her face full of astonishment. ‘* By giving me the right to protect you for the rest of your life.” Up came the red blushes into the girl’s face and down swept the lids over the glorious eyes. She understood now what the Fresh of ’Frisco rat _ “Margaret, I love you, will you be my wife?” the suitor asked. His strong arm was around her slender waist and he clasped her hand in his. ‘* Yes,” came the whispered reply. And then, Blake drew the not unwilling mai- den to bis breast and imprinted upon her ripe, red lips the seal of love, It was not the first time that Jackson Blake had won the affection of a young girl’s heart and been made happy by her soft confession, but this girl was so different from the rest that he felt as he had never felt before, ** You will be mine then?” he said. Yes, but do not let us stay here,” she re- plied. ‘I cannot bear this wild Western land; carry me back to the quiet East where I can live in peace,” * All right, I will do so,” the Fresh declared, the idea striking him as being an exceedingly ood one, - ; In the East, far from the scenes wherein he had played so prominent a part, be could carve out a now life; there would be nothing in the East to remind him of the turbulent past. And now we will leave the lovers to whisper those soft nothings which are so much to them and so little to others, and turn our attention elsewhere, CHAPTER XXVII. MORE PLOTTING. Two more disgusted and disappointed men than the Cubans, as they made their way from the Frenchman’s room to the saloon of the Hotel estes -f. ee hyd: feos it a eee ‘ Mexico, could hardly have been found in the | town of El Paso. After entering the saloon they made their | way to a couple of chairs at the extreme end of | the room, remote from the door, and sat down, In this position they could converse freely, for they were some distance from the bar, near pion, the loungers in the saloon usually gath- ered, ‘Well, what do you think of the outlook now?” Gomes asked, after they were seated, ‘* Very bad, indeed,” Esparto replied, with a shake of the head. ** Yes, no doubt about that. We need not ex- pect anything more from the Frenchman.” ** That is true,” Esparto coincided. ‘* Thanks | to. the money that this American has raised for him he is independent. He would be a fool in- deed to remain bere for the purpose of killing the:man who has provided him with the money to pay bis bilis and inke wins to his home.” ‘And. this Frenchman is no fool, although we did sneceed in getting him to do our work,” | Gomes remarked, with a wise shake of the | head, ** Ah, but that was because he had no idea he could find any man in an out of-the-way corner | of the world like this who would be able tostand against him in a sword-fight. “Tt was a very natural mistake fora man to make,” Esparto. continued. ‘And I do not | wonder that the Frenchman jumped to the con- | clusion that he had an easy task before him, particularly as he knew nothing about the man | whom he was to encounter, ‘* Pray take into consideration that you, who | knew what the Fresh of Frisco is, thought the Frenchman would succeed in killing him,” “Very true,” Gomes admitted. ‘“ But it was because I thought that in a sword fight he would | be takén at a decided disadvantage, although I | knew he was skillful enough with ordinary | weapons.” ‘Some of these Americans are regular de- mons!” Esparto declared. ‘This Fresh of ’Frisco certainly seems to | have more luck than usually falls to the lot of a human,” Gomes remarked. ‘*He is both shrewd and daring, and that has as much to do with his success as luck, I think,” | Esparto answered. “Possibly, but he is lucky, too,” the other | persisted, ‘* Now, see in this case: Tf he had not taken it into bis head to collect this money, the Frenchman would have been forced to rely upon | us, and there is no doubt that when he recov- | ered from his wound, we could have persuaded him to play the bravo and assassinate the Fresh.” ‘* Yes, I think myself there was a chance that | we could have worked the game in that way,” | Esparto observed, reflectively. ‘‘ But that is all | knocked in the head now.” “Oh, yes, we cannot calculate upon the | Frenchman to do anything more,” Gomes re- marked. ‘* What do you think about this matter?” ex- | claimed Hsparto, abruptly. ‘‘ What induced | Blake to bother himself about raising the money?” ‘“Satan knows!” Gomes declared, with a | shake of the bead. ‘It was merely one of those wild ideas that these Americans are apt to get. They are a nation of mariacs, and it is almost impossible for any one to guess in advance what mad things they will do, next.” ‘*T do not agree with you there—not inregard | to this case.” Esparto observed, slowly. | **No? You do not?” Esparto sbook bis head. ‘What do you think, then?’ “« The suspicion has come into my head that it | is no wild freak—no act done on the spur of the | moment,” “ What then?” “Tt was carefully calculated,” ‘* But I do not understand.” **T think that Blake has a suspicion that we are interested in the matter,” Esparto replied, ‘* Well, we certainly volunteered to second the Frenchman, but there wasn’t anything out of the way in that,” Gomes urged, ‘Certainly not! If we were in truth total | strangers to the man, as we were supposed to | be, we might, under the circumstances, have voluntee to assist him, he being a stranger | to El Paso like ourselves, but from the manner | in which Blake watched us when the man went around with the hat the idea came to me that he ; suspected us.” ‘“* Of what—suspected of what—that we set the | Frenebman on him?” Gomes inquired. “ Yes,” “But I do not see how he could suspett us!” the other exclaimed. ‘‘I am sure we'planned | the scheme with wonderful skill. Even the Frenchman bimself could not say that we u him or hired him to make the attack; we merely suggested that as the Fresh was 9 man with a great reputation as a fighter there was'a chance for him to make some money by engaging ina contest with Blake.” “Ah, yes, that_is all true enough!” Esparto exclaimed, impatiently, ‘but now you are not giving Blake credit for possessing the shrewd- ness with which undoubtedly he is gifted. In some way—how, of course, I know not—he has | sme't out the trap, and his collecting the money for the Frenchman was a cunning device to ‘get him out of the way, so that we would not be a to use him for a tool any more.” Gomes pondered over the matter for a mo- ment, ‘“*Upon my word! I don’t know but what you are right,” he said at last, ‘‘ Your wits were always keener than mine and I should not be surprised if you have bit upon the truth,” “*T am satisfied of it; although beyond the fact of the Fresh interesting himself in collect- ing this money, and the peculiar way in which be kept his eyes upon us when bis pard came around with the hat, I have not anything to go upon, ‘Tn some way the suspicion came to the Fresh that we were the instigators cf the attack, and he reasoned that when the Frenchman recover- ed he would be bere without friends or money, entirely dependent upon us, and in such a con- dition would be apt to be ready to go into any desperate scheme, and so he quietly said to him- self, ‘{ will act upon the old Spanish proverb and build a bridge of silver for a flying enemy,’ therefore he raised the money so the French- man could depart.” “ Yes, yes, I think you are right!” Gomes ex- claimed. ‘‘ And now we must be on our guard,” “ Against an attack from the Fresh?” ‘* Yes, you know him of old; be is not the man to keep quiet if he thinks any one is trying to injure him. Heis one of the kind who be- lieves in carrying the war into an enemy’s ter- pie” “That used to be true of him, but, according to the reports, he has been remarkably quiet during this last year,” Esparto remarked. * From what hey say it would seem that he has taken particular care to keep out of all quarrels, in place of rushing into them as he used to do,” “Degenerated down into a respectable citi- zen!” exclaimed Gomes, with a sneer. ‘* And can you not comprehend the reason?” Esparto remarked. ‘Oh, yes, it isa part of bis game to win the heiress of Escobedo!” Gomes replied, an angry frown darkening his face. ‘‘ But I swear he shall never do that while I live! I would sooner kill the girl with my own hand!” “Tt may come to that yet,” Esparto remark- ed. ‘ But time will tell.’ “Yes; it is our game, cf course, to remove the Fresh, but sooner than see him in possession | of the Escobedo property I would kill the heir- ess herself.” “*T hope it will not be as bad as that; but now let us look ahead a little. Suppose my suspicion is correct that Blake looks upon us as the in- stigators of the attack upon him and endeavors to call us to an account?” ‘* Oh, we will not allow ourselves to he drawn into a quarrel!” Gomes replied, with a crafty smile, ‘‘ And even a wild and reckless fellow like the Fresh will find it hard to have a diffi- culty with men who will not resent affronts.” ‘Yes, that is our game,” Esparto observed, after reflecting about the matter for a few mo- ments. “It is useless for us to think of getting the best of a dare devil like this Fresh of ’Frisco in an open fight. He would conquer us beyond a doubt. Our only hope is to encompass his death by some secret means.” ‘“ There is an old saying that when a man has evil work on band, Satan always sends some tool to do the job,” Gomes observed. ‘ But in this matter, his sable Highness is not favoring us, for though we have murder in our hearts, yet no proper instrument appears,” ** Oh; he will come in time,” Esparto assented, ‘In such a town as El Paso there must be plenty of men who would be glad to do our work, if we could only find them.” Hardly had the words becn uttered when the door of the saloon was thrown open with a bang, and into the place came a big, brawny fellow, with long, black hair and a matted beard of the same hue. He was dressed like a cowboy, and carried a fine array of weapons in his belt. Stalking up to the bar, he threw a gold- piece on the counter, following it up with a bang of bis fist on the board which made the glasses rattle, ‘““Tbhar’s a gold sawbuck for you, an’ I wanta pint of blood!” This astonishing announcement drew the at- tention of everybody in the place. “Ten good solid dollars in this byer bit of gold,” the stranger continued, ‘‘ and 1 don’t set no more value onto’em than if they were so many bits of copper!” And after this declaration the speaker plared aronnd him, as if for the purpose of seeing if there was anybody in the room who had any idea of disputing this statement. “Ym the king of the cowboys, and you kin bet all your solid wealth on it, tco! I ride on the lightnmg, turn my cows with a thunder- clap, and drink fire! ‘* Set ’em up now, barkeep’; a pint of blood for Jim Bull—Wild Bull of the Pecos, the big- est man ther is to-day in this hyer State of ‘exas, bar none!”
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‘Satan has answered your prayer!” Esparto exclaimed, in the ear of Gomes, ‘‘ Here is the man who can be got to fight the Fresh of | *Frisco!” CHAPTER XXVIII. THE WILD BULL OF THE PEOOS. *“*T am very sorry, but we are outof gore just now,” remarked Billy Long, the affable bartender of the Hotel Mexico Salvon, betray- ing no more surprise at the odd demand than | if it was a common thing for strangers to stalk | into the saloon and call for a drink of the human life-current, ‘*What do you mean by gore?’ the burly | fellow demanded, with a scowl. ‘‘It was a pint | of blood that I axed you for,” ‘*Oh, yes, exactly; we have jest run out of : that too, although in a first-class bar-room like this hyer we generally calculate to keep on hand about everything that a customer is likely to ask for.” “Do you call this a first-class bar?” exclaimed the stranger, with a snarl like a wild beast, The experienced bartender saw the fellow was inclined to be ugly and that it was necessary to handle him with caution, ‘‘ Well, what I mean, is first class for this sec- tion of country, you know,” Billy Long hastened toexplain. ‘ Along the Rio Grande, of course, we can’t hold a candle to the saloons in the big cities.” ““Wa-al, I reckon you kin not, and that is the sort of thing that I have been used to, you bet yer boots!” the stranger exclaimed, “Of course, anybody could see that with half an eye!” the barkeeper replied. ‘‘ Now, if you wanted whisky, or brandy or gin, or any of the common drinks, I reckon we can accommodate you to the queen’s taste.” ‘* How’s yer whisky?! growled the big fellow. ‘“ Tt is jest big!” ejaculated the bartender, “I will back it ag’in’ any bug-juice that kin be scared up along the hull line of the Rio Grande!” ‘Will it burn all the way down?” the cow- boy demanded, with a fearful scowl, “ Well, now, you kin bet it will!” the genial Billy replied. “It is the kind of stuff war- ranted to warm up the cockles of a man’s heart. ‘‘ Why, I have known a man to get drunk in byer on Monday and not git sobered up for jthree days!” ‘* That is it,” the stranger exclaimed. ‘* That is the kind of stuff lam looking for. Give me abont a quart of it.” Witha Soueiyy Oe bartender set a bottle and glass on the counter, The cowhoy filled the glass to the very brim with the whisky, then drank it at a single swal- low. ‘Aha!’ he exclaimed, smacking his lips, ‘‘that is pretty fair stuff, bat I have drank a heap sight better. It don’t take hold and twist a man’s innards the way hone to. Hain’tyou something with a heap is t more liquid fire is weak stuff?” T understand what you want,” the barkeeper exclaimed, affecting to be very much interested in the matter. ‘‘ You want a drink which will kinder give you the idee that it is a torch-light procession going down,” “That's it! that’s it!” the big fellow ex- claimed, ‘‘ Now you hit me where I live when you say that!” ‘Well, stranger, I am jest the man that kin fix upadrink of that kind for you,” the bar- keeper exclaimed, ‘‘ Jest lemme mix you a red- hot cocktail, and if it don’t suit, then I'll stand treat for the hull gang.” “ Wa-al, I don’t go much on mixed drinks,” the cowboy said, But seeing as how you seem to know what youare talking about, I will let you wade in,” The barkeeper was an old hand at the busi- ness; years of experience on the frontier had taught kind. **T see, I see! him how to deal with customers of this He proceeded to compound a drink, using all the liquors at his command, first putting at the bottom of the glass a good dash o cayenne pep- Pert was a douse well calculated to blister the throat of an ordinary man, and although it was the cowboy’s boast that his throat was lined with copper, yet the flery mixture made him wince, and caused the tears tocome into his eyes as he swallowed it. In a bravado spirit he had downed the glass at 1 * one Flow is that, pard! Does that go to the right spot?” inquired the bartender with a grin, as he noticed the effect produced by the potent at cna kin bet yer life that ar’ cocktail is red hot, and no Ant oh !” the stranger declared, “But I am jest the man who kin get away with sich stuff as that and don’t oa Foran it! Iam achief, lam! The biggest chief that ever struck this town of El Paso! I chew meat and live on b’ar! If you have got any fighting men around this burg, I would jest like to have you ed em vat, sol kin have a chance to size them up! And as he made the declaration the big fellow canned bis back to the bar, threw out his mas- The Fresh in Texas. 21 pasar vores eee sive chest, stretched his long arms, and cast a | and when he gits into a difficulty allers goes in look of defiance around him. “Do you hear me, you’Ei Paso men, it is my horn w’at is a-blowin’!”’ he continued. ‘fam a warrior and a bad man from way- back, and I am jest hungry for a chance to chaw some one up! It don’t matter the wag of a goat’s tail to me who it is, white or black, red or yaller; I am auybody’s antelope w’at wants to go inter this hyer cowtillion!” t was a bold defiance—as bold a oneas had been given in the old town of El Paso for manya day, and yet, although there were in the room a half-a-dozen men who were renowned as fighters none of them manifested any idea of coming forward, and taking up the stranger’s challenge and thus maintaining the bonor of the town, It was not strange though, for the cowboy had all the appearances of being an extremely ugly customer, @ was an unusually big fellow, and, not withstanding his size, seemed to be as active and quick as au ordinary man. Then, too, although this was his first appear- ance in the town of El Paso, yet he was not un- known, for his reputation had preceded him, and there wasn’t a man in the room who did not understand that a challenge from such a warrior as this meant a combat to the death, It would be no ordi boxing match, but 4 bloody contest where the lives of both the actors would be put in peril, Therefore the bullies of El Paso shrunk from the encounter, Perceiving that no one moved to accept his challenge the cowboy proceeded to express his opinion in regard to the E] Paso men. **Wa-al, wa-al, durn meif this don’t beat my time!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ Why, what sort of a town have you got hyer anyway? Is this El Paso or ain't it? Imnever was hyer before, but Ihave allers heard that El Paso was a right smart town and that if a man wanted fun he could find as much of it to the square inch as in any other town along the Rio Grande! “Say, pard, w’ot has got inter yer burg?” he addressed the question directly to the bar- keeper. Well, El Paso is pretty sige as a rule,” Billy Long replied. “‘ And-men who come hyer arter fun generally succeed in getting all they want, but, really, the town seems to be kinder quiet just now.’ “ Hope I ain’t scared them clean out of thar boots!” the cowboy exclaimed with a grin. “T reckon you have kinder bluffed the town though,” the barkeeper admitted. “Wa-al, I am sorry for it,’ the stranger re- marked with a solemn wag of the head, “ for bluffing is not my best halt. Thar ain’t any brag about me. I am the good, old, solid holdfast, and you won’t find any better man than me to tie to clear from the Mexican Gulf to the Rocky Mountains. I am the clear white article and no mistake! “ Sorry I ain't able to skeer up a little fun in er rauch, but I will be in to see you ag’in afore leave town; so-long!” Then the cowboy gathered up the change which the bartender had placed upon the counter and stalked from the saloon, all within the place gazing after him, The Cubans approached the bar. “That fellow is a decided character,” Gomes remarked, “Gentlemen, you would be safe in betting bed Rb, are worth onto it!” Billy Long de- c h “I rather think he would be a troublesome customer in a fight,” Esparto observed. a Tess you bet he would!” the barkeeper declared, emphatically, “Thar is not a man that I know of along the Rio Grande whom I would not rather see come into any place that I was running than that same cowboy, for when an pA a tear he is jest as ugly as they make e ‘““ Ah, you know the man then?” Gomes in- quired, _“* Ob, yes, I bave heern tell oa him a hundred times, a hen Fp I never saw him before!” the barkeeper replied. “Why, por, do you s’pose I would have stood any sich chin music as he gave me from any or- dinary man? Well, now, you had better believe T wouldn’t! No, siree, hoss-fly, nohow! T would have pulled m non bim and made him slip away from this byer bar!” And in order to give due emphasis to the declaration the barkeeper produced a big re- volver which was on a smajJl shelf, underneath the bar, convenient to his hand. “You were all ready for war, I see,” Gomes remarked. “* Yes, sir, you bet your sweet lifel am! And this is the way Iam fixed all the time too!” oy Long declared. ‘I haven’t joggled glasses behind a counter for twenty roars for nothing! I knew the man the moment he showed his nose in the doorway, and a worse galoot than he is when he goes in to paint a town red don’t exist. And that is the reason why I was mild and easy with bim. He isa terror! I heerd of a fuss he Sag down at Laredo once and he laid out ree men, single-handed, He is a Llcodthirsty rooster, don’t you see, ~ for to kill his man!” ** A dangerous custorner!” Gomes remarked. ‘*-Yes, he is jest the man to keep clear of when he is on the rampage!” the barkeeper declared. st i supppose as the man is eager for a fight that he will be able to find some one to accom- modate him in E] Paso.” ‘*T dunno,” Billy Long responded with a du- bious shake of the head. ‘‘ Unless he strikes a stranger w’ot rever heerd onto him I reckon he won't.” “‘T must take a look and see how he gets on,” Gomes remarked and then the two Cu fol- lowed the big cowboy, CHAPTER X XIX. ARRANGING THE TRAP. you think of this fellow?’ Gomes e@and his companion had reavhed Wuart do asked, after the street. ‘** Just the man, I should imagine, to do the work which we want done,” replied. ‘So it appears to me; he is a bully and a des- perado of the first water,” ‘** Oh, yes, undoubtedly; an entirely different man from the Frenchman,” ‘This fellow will not be apt to be troubled with any foolish notions in regard to fair play. If we approach him in the right way and make it an object for him to attack the Fresh, he will do his best in the matter without troubling his head as to whether he gives his man a fair chance for his life or not.’ ‘‘ Yes, and that is the kind of fellow we want, bt such aman as m Raparte Fresh, it is = wise to stand upon ceremony, remar 3) Decidedly not.” The pair were p down the plaza in the direction of the United States Hotel, the cowboy pps J gone in that direction, and in the saloon of the hote] they found the stranger. He had gone through the same performance as at the Hotel Mexico, and Big Jake, the proprie- tor of the saloon, who happened to be presiding over the bar, bad been perfectly astounded whan the rough fellow called for blood with as little ceremony as though the crimson fluid was on 2c at every bar in El Paso. he jolly Dutchman soon com nded, though, what kind of a customer he , and so exerted himself to be le, as he did not want any trouble in his place, But the cowboy was bent on war, and speedily expressed his opinion that there was not a man es oy town of El Paso with *‘ sand” enough to ght him. But it was as the genial Billy Long of the Hotel Mexico had said the cowboy was known, and if few of the “rounders” in the town had met him, nearly all knew by reputation of the Wild Bull of the Pecos, and the men who had neither met or heard of him, and who might have felt disposed to accept his challenge for the honor of the town, were deterred by the appear- ‘ance of the boasting stranger, Therefore the cowboy was no more successful in getting a man to quarrel with bim in the second saloon than he had been in the first. His d was great, and he did not hesitate to express it in the most emphatic The Cubans remained in tbe ba nd, lis- tening intently to the cowboy’s blustering, and when he left the saloon they followed him into the street, being right on his heels. After gaining the street, the cowboy hesi- tated for a moment, as though uncertain where to go, and Gomes improved the opportunity to address him. “T think, stran the town,” the Cuban remarked. The cowboy took a look at the two, and when, peapal ine that they were gentlemen, and loo like foreigners, indulged in a good- natured grin. “ Wa-al now, durn my cats! ef it don’t look that way!” he exclaimed. “Tt certainly ap so,” Gomes remarked. ‘* And I must confess I am rather astonished at it, too, for 1 bad an idea that El Paso boasted about its fighting men, but hig certainly have backed them all down to-nig! t.” “ Wa-al, I reckon I did chip in pretty strong, and it is sart’?in that I hain’t run across any one yet with sand enuff to take up my bluff, and [ am mighty sorry "bout it too, for I am jest ng Tans for a little fun. I ain’t had a skirmish or bout a week and I am afeard I will git rusty if I don’t scare up a fight with some one soon.” ‘IT do not believe that you are likely to be accommodated,” Esparto remarked, ‘‘ The fact is the people of this town know you, and they are not anxious to run up against a cyclone.” br pe the cowboy grinned, his vanity tickled by the compliment, **T don’t see how that kin be,” he said. “‘ How kin the sports of El Paso know me, seeing as how this is the fu’st time I ever struck the town?” Me They know you by reputation well enough,” mes “ Oh, yes, I see, and the moment I spit out my handle, the bull town dropped onto me, ree of the Pecos, r, that you are going to bluif had all heered of the Wild were a leetle skeered to tackle him.
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22 “ pe *\ Ob, by long odds Ne is the Biggest chief that a El Paso can beast!” Esparto. declared. ‘ Ask Me het anybody youJike and they will tell you_so; the g ee champion of the town 1s this ape Jackson * ; Blake, the Fresh of ‘Frisco, as he is called.” , y “Sho! is that his handle?” ‘vm 4 q J aye bans nodded, ~ ote Mt , “Weral, I must say it isa right smart name ' exclaimed, with a solemn shake of his bi The Fresh in Texas. —a durned funny one too, the Fresh of ’Frisco,” and the big cowboy repeated the name over, slowly. ‘ Did you say this cuss had a ranch down the river? ‘But that’ar handle sounds a mighty sight more like a sport than a rancher.” ‘**That is what this man used to be, a regular gambling sharp, but now he is running a rancb.” **?Tain’t a good outlook, pards,” the big or ead, ‘* Some of these gambler sports are the hardest kind of nuts to crack, but he is my mutton when | I run across him. **T reckon I will hang out at the Hotel Mexico myself, and then I will be sure to meet him; *sides I am kinder hankering for another one of those dandy drinks. So-long, Pll see you ag’in!” And the cowboy started up the plaza, toward the Hotel Mexico, | CHAPTER XXX. THE JEW’S WARNING. THe Cubans strolled slowly along up the plaza, following in the footsteps of the cowboy, and watched him until he entered the saloon of the Hotel Mexico, ‘So far so good ;” exclaimed Gomes, exulting- ly. ‘*He has taken the bait, and now his soul will know no peace until he has tested the prow- ess of the Fresh of ’Frisco.” ** Yes; the train is laid, and all that is needed to fire it is the appearance of Jackson Blake in El Paso,” Esparto observed. ‘* But how ts that mutter to be arranged? The Fresh may not come to town for a week,” ‘“*T have thought of a plan; it came to me while I was talking with the cowboy, and that was why I assured him that Blake would be pretty certain to come to El Paso to-morrow,” “*T see; you havé a scheme in your mind to bring him here,” “Yes: and it will work, too, undoubtedly, if we can only get the old Jew pawnbroket to aid us.” “You can arrange that all right, if there isn’t any risk and you pay the old rascal a good price for his trouble,” Esparto remarked. “We will see him at once and arrange the matter!” Gomes exclaimed. ; Then the two proceeded to the abode of the old Jew. ‘ They gained an entrance, after Solomons went through the usual ceremony of ascertain- ing SPY it was that applied for admission at his portal. i: ‘* Ab, my tear fr’ents, I am glad to see you,” the pawnbroker’ remarked, as he ushered the visitors into his reception-room. “T say, dot leetle job did not work to-day, eh?” he continued, wagging his head in a know- ing way. ‘What job?” Gomesasked. — “Dot one you put up on der Fresh,” replied the ancient Hebrew, with a wink. ‘‘ Ab, it was a nice job, but it did not work. Ob, my tears, did oi tell you dot der Fresh ish a devil of a man . “* Why should you think that we had anything to do with the matter?” Esparto asked. “Oho, mine goot fr’ents, you must not think I have lived mid der world all this time for nothing!” the old Jew exclaimed. ‘Oh, no; I can sme! der rat as far as the next man. Der moment I heard dot der Fresh was to fight mit swords in der bull-ring mit a stranger, I said to mineself: ‘ Aha, mine Cuban fr’ents are at der bottom of dot!” Suey vy “You are good at guessing,” Gomes re- marked. “Ob, yesh; I am nobody’s fool; all der boys will tell you dot,” old Solomons replied, com- placently. ‘ “The Fresh certainly proved the victor,” Gomes admitted, “*T tell you it ish no use for you to try to burt dot man?” exclaimed the pawnb oker, shaking his head in a decided manner. ‘‘ He isha lucky mans; exer riting goes well mit him, and man years.ago I found out that it ish not wise to a tack one of dose mete men: a man caunot make anything by a game like dot,” +S get * Some so-called lucky men meet with-terrible por a once in a while,” Esparto observed, y- The old Jew took a good look from under his bushy yeurewe at the speaker, and then shook his head. “Yosh, yesh, dot ish so,” he replied. “ Dot ish true, every word of it, but when dose lucky men meet mit a fall it is because their time has come; the men who hate them have nothing to do mit it.” “Then you think that this Jackson Blake is such a lucky man that we cannot possibly harm, him, no matter how carefully we arrange the scheme?” Gomes said, The old Jew shrugged his shoulders. * Oh, well, perhaps I ouzht not to put der case as_ strong as that,” the pawnbroker replied. “* But if I was a betting mans, my goot fr’en’s— which Tam not—I would bet all mine monish on der resh,” ‘You are overrating the man!” Esparto ex- | claimed. ‘He certainly has been quite success- | ful since he has taken up his quarters in this ; section, but circumstances have favored bim; it | is the chance of fortune more than his own abilities he has to thank.” ‘**'Yesh, vesh, maybe,” replied the Jew, again shrugging his shoulders as much as to say that he did not believe it. ‘Itis hard work in such a matter to decide shust, how. der trick is done, but there is no mistake dot der Fresh has come out on der top of der heap, every time! Maybe | it was all lu k, maybe not, but I can tell you one thing, mine good fr’en’s, I’ will not buck ne er Fresh of ’Frisco if I know mine- self. Gomes laughed outright at this declaration. ‘*Why you laugh?” inquired the old Jew. ‘You vant to make game of me, eh?” **Oh, no, but the idea came into my mind that, if reports do not do you injustice, you are not the kind of man who bucks agaiust any-: body,” the Cuban replied. ‘“‘ You aiways pla a safe game; you remain in the background, and allow some one else to do the bucking,” The pawnbroker gave utterance to a low, cun- ning laugh. ‘** Vell, vell, my tear, I guess dot is der safest kind of game to play!” he exclaimed. . “You evidently believe so, for that is your | rule always,” Gomes remarked. ‘ But now to | come to business: there is a little service which | we want you to do for us,” “Of course, mine goot fr’en’s, Ishall be glad to accommonaate you.” ‘‘1t is necessary for a certain purpose of ours to have the Fresh of ’Frisco come to El Paso to- morrow.” ds ** To-morrow?” “ Yes, and as there is no prospect that be will come of his own adecrd, he must be brought here in some way.” “You got some nice leetle trap to him when he does come, eh?” inquit Jew, in an extremely suspicious manner. “There isn’t any trap, as far as we are con- cerned,” Gomes replied. ‘‘ We have never taken any open stand against the Fresh, and we do not propose to beginnow. The fact is, my dear Solomons, we are playing your game, We keep in the background, and allow some one else to do the work. , “Tf the Fresh comes to El Paso to-morrow, he will be apt to meet a man wbo thinks he can et away with him; it will all be just by acci- Tait you understand.” The old Jew nodded sagely, and then chuckled, for a trick of this kind was exactly to his hu- mor, , ; : “Yesh, yesh, I sec, and neither of you two will have anything to do mit it?” * Certainly not!” Gomes declared. ‘* We will probably be in thé neighborbood, though, when the thing occurs, so as to see the fun.” * Ah, yesh, yesh, if.der Fresh is in it there will be fun, bad i shust bet your life on dot!” the old Jew declared, ~ “The man of whom I speak is a stranger to Ki Paso, and has taken up his quarters at the the old Hotel Mexico; he is a cowboy, and flatters him=_ self that he is a big chief; he has been informed that Jackson Blake is the best fighting man that this section can boast—the acknowledged cham- a of all this coun adjacent to the Rio rande—and he is eager to see if the Fresh is as good a man as rumor reports.” ‘** Aly, yesh, dot is a nicescheme, and you have worked it beautifully,” and the old Jew wagged his head in an approving manner. , “Tt ish mans has: heard of der Fresh, but, my fren’s, you mark my words, dot devil of a Blake will get away miti him.” ‘He may and he may not, for this stranger is a wane customer,” Gomes replied. ‘i ‘He has been trying to have a fight ever since he struck the town,” Esparto observed; “ but his ft ald is such that no one is willitig to face him.” assy. ; “Oho, dot vas strange,” the pawnbroker com- mented. ‘‘Who yashe?” _ “He is a cowhoy, and ke calls himself the Wild Bull of the Pecos,” Gomes replied. ~ “Oh, yesh, yesh, I have heard of dot mans!” Solomons exclaimed, a tough customer, but if I vas a betting man 4 would bet on der Fresb.” “You are like the rest of the town,” Gomes remarked, ‘‘hecause the Fresh bas succeeded in coming out ahead two or three times, you have get the idea into your head that he is invinci- e, | ‘‘De proof of der pudding is in der eating,” | old. Solomons replied with the air of a sage, | Der Fresh has not been whipped yet.” “True, but that does not prove that he never will be,” Gomes urged, , : The pawnbroker was obliged to admit that this was true. ' “But we are only wasting time in discussing the matter.” Gomes continued. ‘ The point we | want to get at is this: Jackson Blake must be | induced to come to El Paso to-morrow so that | this cowboy will have a chance to get at him, | and the affair must be so arrange that Blake will not suspect he has been led intoa trap.” “* Yesh, yesh, I see,” sect | “Now if you can think of some plan to get ring'on all by accident, of course, dot a “ You are right; he vas’ 7a See
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The Fresh in Texas. the Fresh here I will give you fifty dollars for | “TY yeckon California is talking good sound the service.” The eyes of the old Jew sparkled, for it was not often that he hada chance to make fifty dollars so easily. “Oh, yesh, 1 think I can do it—not so much for de monish as to oblige you, mine fr’en’s,” he remarked, rubbing his hands gleefully together and grinning at his visitors. ** You understand, mine goot sirs, dot in a tusiness like this, I must be careful,” he con- tinued. *** Not for ten times fifty dollars would I have the Fresh know dot I had gone into any game | against hini—oh, mine gootmess, no! He is siust der kind of fellow dot would lay a thing like dot up against a man.” ** Yes, no doubt about that, but can’t you fix the matter so it will’ seem to be all right?” Gomes inquired. “Let me see!” and the ancient Hebrew cogi- ' tated for a few moments. Then his face lit up with a cunning smile, ** Ah, yesh, yesh, I bave it!” he exclaimed. ‘*There is a fr’en’ of mine that has some cat- tle to sell -sheap; I will send word to der Fresh to come right away to-morrow and meet me at the Hotel Mexico on important business,” ‘‘ That will do if you select a good messenger, one who will make Blake believe that the busi- ness is important.” “Oh, leave me alone for dot; I will fix der trick right up to der handle?” the Jew declared. And so’ the trap was laid which the conspira- tors confidently expected would catch Jackson Blake, the Fresh of Frisco, | © CHAPTER XXXI. . THE FRESH WALKS INTO THE SNARE. . ‘Tr was about eight o’clock in the morning; the Fresh had had his breakfast and bad just returned froin the corral where he had been to look at some new horses which had just come in, a r-cent purchase, when a youth whose features plainly betrayed that he was of the race of Jacob and Abraham, rofie up. Biatte recognized the new-comer at a glance; it was the young Jew who acted as’ clerk to Tadad Solomons, and whom he had treated to sach a fight on the occasion of bis first visit to the pawnbroker’s establishment as detailed in the story entitied ‘“‘The’ Fresh on the Rio Grande.” sree ; ‘Hallo, what brings you down this way?” Blaka asked. : mii The youth assumed a mysterious air and craved the favor of a private interview with the, Fresh,’ This bein granted he proceeded to unfold his business, which was that his uncle, the pawn ‘| broker, desired to see Mr, Blake in Kl] Paso at the Hotel Mexico that morning, if possible, up- on important business, “Whet is the nature of the business?” the Fresa inquired. ae The youth answered that he did not know, his uncle had not told him that, but he had been instructed to say it was most important, and thut his uncle hoped Mr. Biake would be able to make if converient to come, The Fresh thought Over the matter for a moment; he had not had any business dealings with the old Jew since his transaction ‘with him just. after his arrival in Bl Paso, and he was a ittle puzzled by the message, fur he could not gues3 why the Jew wished to see him. He concluded to go though and so informed “You can tell Mr. Solomons that I will be at the Hotel Mexico about noon,” he said. “Yes, sir,” said the youth, ‘I will tell him,” and then he rode away. — ~ Old California Joe and Dave Ringwood happened to come up just at that moment and so overheard the pea “Did you hear what he wanted?” the Fresh asked of the pair, after the messenger took his | eparture. ‘ * Yes, the old Jew is anxious to see you,” Ringwood replied. ** And w’ot do you s’pose the durned old galoot is arter?” California Joe exclaimed, “That is just what lam puzzling my brains abont,” Blake replied. “It is mighty queer now, you bet,” the old mountain man observed. “I reckon the Jew ain’t no great friend of yourn,” the scout re- marked, ~~ “No, T reckon not, I succeeded in getting him into a trap, and skinned him once in a wa he ees and I faucy Solomons is a man wit an extremely memory, and if he ever got a good chance at ine he would be apt to endeavor to get square.” On, f reckon you are kinder barking up the wronz tree thar,” Old California Joe observed, wit a wise shake of the head, ‘ You_ain’t so well Ncquainted with the old cuss asIam. I ain’s a-disputing, mind yon, that if he bad a chance to git squar’ with ‘you, without showing his hind—vwithout letting’ on, you know, that he was inter the thing at all, [don’t doubt he would sail i for to skin yet as quick asa wink, but be is too durned skeered t 'to go for you openly. He would be afraid you would git back at him rgoenentene PES SES es) ick ‘ +e 7 sense,” Dave Ringwood remarked. ° “Yes, he is about right, I think; the Fresh | coincided, ‘I do not believe the Jew has pluck | enough to go for me openly, but if-he got a | chance to give me a dig without my being able | to tell where it came from, the odds are big that | he would be quick to improve the opportunity.” **On, yes, you bet!” Old California’ Joe ex- | claimed. |“ The old Jew is the worst kind of @ fraud,” | Dave Ringwood remarked. “Any one that | knows him understands that. He hates you, of course, for you got the'best of him, and-in the | deal succeeded in carrying off: some’ of his | shekels, and from what I know of the old scoun- drel, he would as soon ‘part with his flesh and. blood as with his cash.” “Yes, yes, thar ain’t no*mistake ’bout that!” Old California Joe assented. ‘*Tt would only be natural under the circum- stances, for the Jew'to want to get square with you and so the moment I heard what was want- | ed, the idea immediately came to me that there | might be some truth about the thing,” Ring- | wood remarked, 1 ‘Yes, that notion came’ to me,” the Fresh | ' mine business tomineself,” theold man remarked. said. ‘And that was why I hesitated for a mo- ment before I told the messenger that I would come. But, really, when you come ‘to think over the matter it appears a little absurd to jump to such a éonelusion, just because'l kuow | that the old Jew is no friend of mine, « “Tf ‘Solomons had ‘sent me a message that he wanted to see me in some lonely and ou!-of-the- way place the suspicion’ might be reasonable | that he was acting as theagent of some other party, and there was a re on foot to get meat | a disadvantage so that I might be attacked, but as the meéting-place is in the town of Ei Paso, that theory is not reasonable.” “The Jew is up to some game now; you kin | bet your life!” Old California Joe deciared, em- phatically. ‘‘He is a prison galoot and I wouldn’é trust him for a cent!” The others laughed, for it was plain that the | aged scout was decidedly prejudiced, ~ | “Well, as far as I can see it does not matte | much whether there is a game back of it or not,” Blake remarked. ‘‘If-there is one I reckon I will be strong enough to beat it. But I hardly ; Tun away with ws because we haven’t a good | Opinion of the pawnbroker. To mv mind the ' most probable solution of the Mystery is that | think itis protable. Weallow our suspicions fo ° 23 ** Ah, yesh, mine goot sir, I must work all der vhile or else I vould not be able‘ to live, fur times ish’ very hard,” and the old Jew heaved a deep sigh, doing bis best to look disconsolate. ** Nonsense! the times don’t trouble you much!” the Fresh retorted. ‘‘The harder. the times, the more money &@ man makes in a business like: yours.” *“ No, no, no, dot ish not so!” the old Jew de- clared. ‘*I know dot ish what peoples think and say, but my tear fr’en’, they Enows nothing about it.at all.” “Yes, of course you will swear to that. Men | of your race are never willing to acknowledge that they make anything. But what do you | want to see me about?” ‘“You have a-ranch?” andvas he put the ques- | tion the old“ Jew looked around him in.a mys- | terious way as though he was afraid that there | might be some one near, playing the’spy upon | | i / 1 | / ' Solomons has struck some epectilation which he: _ is unable to handle for sum reason, and he : Fstop that he might beable to rope me into tit. : i |, “I guess that is it,* Dave Ringwood re- ; marked. Y | But Old California Joe shook his bead. them. “Yes, I have: a ranch,” the Fresh replied, “ but. what are you looking around: you in that queer way for? Everybody that knows any- thing about me knows that I have a ranch, There isn’t any secret about it.” ““Yesh,. yesh, of course, but I likes to kee On dot ranch you hafe cattle?” and Solomons dropped his voice almost to a whisper as he: put the questiom © ‘** Of course, that'is what ranches are for.” + ‘““How would you’ like to buy some: nice: cows, shéap? inquired: the. pawnbroker in the | most_cautious manner. “Where aré they?” ‘*Ou der Mexican side of the Rio Grande.” . “ Do they belong to you?” “Ob; no, I am shbust offering them for a fr’en,” : - - . - ‘ “Why didn’t you ‘have them brought up to. the town and offered at‘open'sale?”’ “* No, no, my fr’en’ would rather sell them to some rancher down der river.” “* Something crooked about the matter, eh?” ““Oh, T guess not, my fr’en’ isan honest man, but when der beeves are on der American side of der Rio Grande it will. be wll rigkt, and you can buy them for about half what they are really worth.” FESS wt Ts CHAPTER XXXIL THE COWBOY AGAIN.» By this time the Fresh’ fancied that he’fully understood the game. : The cows were stolen: ones; ‘they had been , “litted ” from the Mexican ranches in “the in- terior and driven to the bank of the Rio Grande | with the idea of selling. them to the ranchers on ' the Anierican side\and once the beevesiwere on | Texan soi, it woukl be a diffiealt matter for the: **{ will allow that 1 am prejudiced as thun- | _ der ag’ the meastey cuss!” be exclaimed. ' heap of reason for being in that ar’ way; and, ' feehng as I do bout the ornery galoot, £ can’t | get it out of my mind that thar ain’c some gum | game into the business,” : “Well, speculation is ile,” the Fresh re- ; marked. ‘ At noon F will know all about it, | [hardly think the Jew would dare to do any- thing openly against me, but for fear there may be some game afoot, you two had better come with me.” ’ The others thought this was a good idea, and so, in due time, the three started for the old Mexican city. ‘ It lacked about ten minutes of noon when the party rode into the corral of the Hotel Mexico, and dismounted from their steeds. © Hadad Solomons was standing in front of the hotel as he rode by, and he nodded*in the most friendly manner, ‘* Did you see the old galoot grin and rub his | hands?’ the old mountain-man asked. ‘* Now I tell you w'ot it is—when that ar’ old son of a | gun goes oh in that way it means that thar is | mischief afoot.” ' “Oh, come now, California, you are putting it on a little too thick!” Blake exclaimed, laugh- ing. ““You are going on the old saying of give | & dog a bad name'and hang him.” i “Durned if I wouldn’t like to hang this old rogue of a Jew,” the plainsman exclaimed. *I will go on ahead, boys, and after TI enter the hotel, you can saunter in,” the Fresh re- marked, PY i others nodded, and Blake proceeded to the 3 Solomons was inside, and met hit at the ; door. \ “Ah, my tear fr’en’, I vas delighted to see you,” the Jew exclaimed, shaking hands with pegs as though he had not seen him for an “Come, in a quiet corner we vill have some leetle business tall together,” the old Jew con- . tinued, leading the way to the end of the saloon, remote from the bar, where there were no loungers, nF ) “Sit down, mine fren’, sit down, and we vill seo if we cannot some leetle trade make.” Ab, you are full of business, eh, as usual?” | _ Fresh remarked, as he accepted the proffered v ’ the attention of every one in the room, and as Bev 95 § as te oy 2° RNS Seat 5 Tr: rightful owners to trace them.’ Nowy although Jackson’ Blake, the Fresh of 3 | Frisco, was by no means a seint, yet be’ was not’ ; * And {kin jest tell you, boys, 7 have gut a.' the man to allow himself to be mixed up in any affair of this kind, and he lost no iime*in letting _ the old Jew pnderstand as much. ! } i $ ‘““My dear» Mr. Solomons,” he said; “ this speculatjon which you propose 1s. not one that FE care to go into.” ; ' “Why not?’ exclaimed tho —:pawnbroker, pre- tending tobe much astonished. ‘You can much monish make out of der trade. 'These cows cam be bought for cash for one-half of what they are worth, You see my fren’ isin a burry to sell, and he wants bis monish right down so he can go away, and J-thought of you, for 1 knew dot you would be likely to bafe der hard cash.” ‘Oh, no, I don’t care to trade,” Blake replied decidedly. ‘There is something crooked about this transaction, of course, or else your man would not be eeger to get rid of the cows at a sacrifie. I reckon your man did not come ty them honestly.” = Re “Oh, I think be ish a goot man!” the Jew per- sisted. ‘“‘ Many years ‘have I: known him, and never did I hear-dot be was in trouble.” “Yes, I suppose be bas always been emart enough to keep in the background and get others to do the work for bim: but be that as it may, I do not care to trade,” and the Fresh rose to his feet in order to signify that the interview was at an end. wt ¥ ; The Jew rose also. : * Vell, vell, m (foot fr’en’, I am sorry dot: you vill not trade,” and then be continued in his: smootb, insinuating way: *‘I a Mister Blake, dot you vill keep thismatter quiet—dot you vill not speak about it? atte “ Ob, that is all right; don’t le your head. about that, I am not in the babit of betraying any confidence that is reposed in me,” the Fresh answored. m ‘*T am so much obliged,” bowed the Jew. “Be sure, Mister Blake, dot I vill'doas much: for you some time. Vill you hafe a drink mit. me, Mister Blake?” + a bo I don’t mind a glass of ale,” the Fresh The two advanced to the bar: the Jew called for two glasses of ale, and as the ing filled, the door of the saloon was thrown open and into the saloon stalked the cowboy who called himself the Wild Bull of My ae ‘ ‘The manner of the man’s entrance: act
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Pa > is Se 2. Hee ago tS 24 the Jew and Blake tured to see who it was they encountered the of the new-comer, who The Fresh in Texas. will bave plenty of room while here there is not. You can have the bull-ring and welcome! I will = halted half-way between the door and the | not charge you anything for it.” r. The moment the cowboy saw that he had at- tracted the attentlon of the Fresh, he cried out in a loud voice: “Hyer am I, the king of the cowboys, the etarnal, lightning terror of the airth, the cavort- ing, snorting Wild Bull of the Pecos, the best man to-day hat thar is in this town of El Paso, bar none!’ As the reader who has followed the fortunes of the Fresh of ’Frisco knows, Jackson Blake was remarkably quick-witted; he was no man’s fool, and when he heard the oe words of the stranger—saw the fellow glare at bim, and com- prehended that the speech was addressed more to him than to any one else in the room, the thought instantly came to him that it was for the purpose of giving this big stranger a chance at him that he had been brought to El Paso. * Aha, you have put up a job on me, eh?” he said in an undertone to the Jew, much to the latter’s astonishment and disgust. “*So help me Moses, I did not,” the pawn- broker protested, with trembling accents, ‘*I assure you, Mister Blake, 1 know nothing about it. ‘Pm the best man in this town, I say!” re- peated the cowboy, finding that the Fresh did not take any notice of his speech, “The best man in KE] Paso, you bet! and the man who says I am not will have to peel and wade in! I am the cowboy fighter and I kin | chaw up and drag out every thing from a griz- aly b’ar downwards, and if thar is any man in this: shebang who thinks he is a chief, you kin jest bet all you air worth that I will take his ne mighty quick order. y This idea struck the cowboy favorably. ‘Fight into the bull-ring, hey?” he cried. ““Wa-al, I reckon that is a mighty good notion, although arter we git at it you kin jest be. safe in betting yer bottom dollar that thar won’t be much of a fight, for it won’t take long for a man of my size, a reg lar, ranting, snorting big chief, to lay out any Jack-a-dandy chap!” “It is a good idea for you to go ahead and blow now!” Blake remarked, “‘for after the sae may not feel like it,” s y, I won’t make more’n a mouthful of you!” the cowboy declared. ‘*Come along, if you mean _ business, ’cos I am in a burry to hammer a leetle sense into you! ‘*Go ahead, Godlberg, and’ open the bull-ring!” the Fresh exclaimed. ‘‘I am a little anxious myself to come to the hammering part so as to understand how it feels,” ** Yes, yes, come on, I am glad. to be able to oblige you, gentlemen,” Goldberg declared, And then all within the saloon filed out into the street with the exception of the barkeeper, genial Billy Long, who was obliged to stay, in order to look after the place, much to his dis- st. ‘“*T would give a five-dollar gold-piece to see the fight!” he declared. “That big galoot thinks he has got a soft thing, but i was betting ducats on the fight, I would back the Fresh of ’Frisco every time!’ Goldberg led the way: to the bull-ring, the big cowboy marching by his side as proudly as though he owned the whole town. Behind him came the Fresh and his pards, Dave Ringwood and Old California Joe, then » mebbe you would like to have a leetle | the Jew, and the men who had happened to be fun with me?” he continued addressing his con- versation directly to Blake, ‘* Well, maybe I would,” the Fresh replied. ‘Perhaps I am the man you are looking for.” ‘*T reckon you ar’ if you are game for a fight!” the big fellow replied. ‘I am arter the best man in this hyér town of El Paso, and I calculate to take his hide!” “Tf you can, stranger; always put that in, because sometimes these leetle things don’t always work as smoothly as they might.” ‘*T reckon I kin take the shine out of you and not half try!” cried the cowboy in contempt, for he, like many another who had been led to at- tack the. made the mistake of thinking that the ih of *Frisco was not up to the champion form, Blake being one of those de- ceptive men who did not look when dressed in the garb of civilization to be anywhere near as —— he really was, e was so well-proportioned that his real size was disguised. At this point Goldberg, the landlord of the Hotel Mexico, came rushing into the room; he had been warned by one of the hotel attendants that the big cowboy was in the saloon on the rampage and there was a prospect of a row. The moment he heard this intelligence the hotel-keeper immediately became alarmed for the safety of his property and at once burried to the scene of action. i *‘ What is the matter, my friends? don’t have _ any trouble in here!” he cried, Bitter experience had taught tbe proprietor of the Hotel Mexico that a personal quarrel in a saloon usually wound up in a free fight, and generally resulted in much damage to the per- sonal property of the saloon-keeper. “ Oh, no, we ain’t going to have the least bit of trouble!” the cowboy res led. ‘IT am just a smash this hyer of ’Frisco duck or all 1 am worth!” **Oho! you know whol am, and yet I don’t remember ever being introduced to you!” Blake exclaimed. ** Gentlemen, I that you will not fight here!” peroesgee cri ‘* Go out into the street —there you will have plenty of room, while here you will not.” ; ‘Don’t you worry now!” the cowboy replied. “T don’t need much room to finish upsich a whipper-snapper as this galoot!” And the big — brandished his huge arms in the air as he spoke. ; He was such a big, overgrown piece of hu- manity that it did not really seem as if the Fresh stood much. ein a contest with bim. ‘** You don’t understand this riffle, Goldberg,” ae Swe remarked, ‘This fight is all over now excepting the shouting—tbat is what this big cbief thinks,” 4 * Wa-al, now, you kin bet bout all you ar’ worth that that is about the size of it!” the cowboy cried. ‘ You hain’t got conceit enuff now, bave ye, to reckon that you kin stand u *in’ me more’n a minit? Sho! one good crac will settle you, and I don’t believe I will have to more than half-try either.” ‘Oh, my dear friends, let me of you not to fight honey Goldberg cried. a chen S bait, lian me to him ant idea cam c “T tell you what it is!” he continued, “As im, conf tate lace isthe balling! here yo in the saloon at the time when the cowboy made his entrance, At the tail end of the procession were the two Cubans, They had been on the street, gazing through one of the side windows into the saloon, watch- ing the progress of the affair, and though they were rather disappointed because the cowboy had not brought on the conflict immediately, yet they consoled themselves with the thought that in the bull-ring no one was likely to interfere with the fight, The people who chanced to be on the street were attracted by the procession, and upon learning what was going on, immediately fol- lowed, so by the time the bull-ring was reached there was quite a crowd. CHAPTER XXXII. A BATTLE ROYAL. GOLDBERG unlocked the small door which led into the bull-ring, admitted the crowd, and then securely fastened it again, for, as he remarked it was not necessary that the whole town should be present to witness the performance, It really grieved the soul of the thrifty botel- keeper when he reflected that quite a nice little sum of money could be gathered from the ‘crowd if he could change them for going into the bull-ring, and he had half a mind to declare that he could not afford to allow the crowd to come in without paying; but when he came to take a look at the ‘‘ gang,” the conclusion was forced upon him that they would not stand it; some of the toughest customers in El Paso were present, and as they never were known to have any more money than they knew what to do with, any attempt to make them pay for the privilege of mais, They fight would undoubtedly raise the biggest kind of a row, The landlord was determined, though, that no more should get in, and so be was careful to lock the door. ; The cowboy strode out to the middle of the bull-ring, and, wheeling around, threw himself. in a fighting position. ‘“* Hyer Lam, all of me!” he exclaimed, defi- antly. “The best man that you kin scare up pi in this byer old town, or, for that matter, I will throw in np and down the Rio Grande, all along for a hundred «miles; yes, and the hull durned State of Texas! I am the best man in the Southwest, and I don’t keer who knows it!” “Stranger, you blow the loudest horn that has been Can for many a.day in El Paso, and I really hope you_do amount to; something as a fighter, for it would bea dreadful mp ge ment to allof usif you should turn out to be only a gas-bag,” the h observed, ‘Come up to the scratch and I will soon show you what kind of a gas-bag Iam,” the cowboy exclaimed, brandishing his Jong arms and be- ginning to prance around, ‘““What sort of a Sent do you want—a good square fisticuff match ‘Yes, sir-ee, that is wiot I am arter!” ex- claimed the cowboy, and he dashed the big, fawn-colored slouch hat which he wore to the to prepare for the contest was to remove his hat and roll up his sleeves. The Fresh was obliged to remove his coa which he immediately proceeded to do, an then he took off his hat and rolled up his sleeves, The cowboy was watching him, and an ex- pression of astonishment appeared on his face when he saw the unusual muscular development of his antagonist. During the forenoon he had made some in- quiries about the Fresh, and all with whom he had spoken had assured him that Jackson Blake was as good a man as had ever struck El Paso; but when he came face to face with the Fresh, because he did not find him to be a great, over- grown fellow, he fell into the error 6f thinking El Paso overrated the man. Then the idea occurred to him that the quiet- looking, gentlemanly-appearing fellow was a sharp, who had won his renown by bis skill with ere gua and this was why he desired a fist- fight. But now that the Fresh had ‘ peeled” off his coat, to the surprise of his opponent, be appear- ed to be bigger than when he had it on. ‘He is a better man than I reckoned he ar the big fellow muttered to himself, ‘‘ but I wi smash him into bits though, all the same.” ‘** Now then, stranger, | am ready for you!” the Fresh observed, as he finished his prepara- tions and advanced toward hisopponent. ‘ Sail in as. soon as you like!” ‘* Look out for yourself, for thar’s a cyclone coming!” the cowboy howled, and then he made a ferocious rush at the Fresh, striking wickedly. with both right and left. The blows were ferocious ones, and most sure- ly would have damaged the bandsome face of the Fresh of Frisco materially if they had fallen where the cowboy intended, but Jackson Blake was too good a boxer to be made a chop- ping tock, by any such clumsy fellow as the ild Bull of the Pecos, He gore way as the other advanced—dod some blows, parried others, and then, watch ng bis opportunity, slipped under the right arm his opponent. The cowboy wheeled about to renew the at- tack, and as he did so the Fresh caught him under the ear with a terrific blow, which sent him reeling to the ground. The big fellow came down heavily, but al- though he was dazed by the shock he was on his feet again in a second, and made another rush at his nimble foe. The Fresh of ’Frisco did not give an inch this time, but met the onset with a yee wi right- hander, which landed between the cowboy’s eyes and brought bim to a dead balt, Then, almost before the cowboy could realize what had happened, the Fresh ‘‘ measured ” his man and sept in a left-hander, which caught the cowboy on the throat, full on the jugular vein, and over again went the big fellow. A shout went up on the air from the lips of the crowd; it wes impossible for them to keep quiet, for it was not once a year that sucha rare show as this could be seen in the town of El Paso. The cowboy was completely exhausted, as much by the exertion which he had made as by the punishment he bad received, while the : eg showed few signs of the efforts he had put orth. “*T reckon that this may be called the end of round number one,” he remarked. ‘t We kinder rushed into this thing without making the usual arrangements; but we onght to have seconds to attend to us, and if a couple of you gentlemen will look atter this stranger, my pards, Dave Ringwood and Old California Joe, will attend to me, Although the stranger bad made no friends by his actions, yet a couple of the lookers-on volunteered to act as his seconds in the interest of fair play. The two were new men in El Paso, being a couple of cowboys whe had come up from the Rio Grande, Tom Bunker and Ben Rockford by name. ‘Me and my pard hyer will look arter him, seeing that he is in the same line of business that we foller for a living!” Tom Bunker, the elder of the two explained, . ‘*- Yes, we are cow-punchers, and af will do what we kin for him,” the other added ‘Yes, and I reckon, Goldberg, you had bet- ter act as referee, for we need some one to en- | gineer the picnic,” the Fresh suggested. ‘* Certainly, I shall be glad to assist,” respond- ed the landlord, whose “sporting blood” had been heated by the contest, Then the seconds hurried to bring chairs for their rioginal. Blake seated himself and the two cowboys as- sisted the big fellow into his chair. Tom Bunker had acted as a second before ond so he took it upon himself to give the Wild ull of the Pecos some advice. acd “You have gota tough customer to handle in this hyer jig,” he remarked, ‘‘ and you don’t want to go to work to throw no chances away. You want to kinder and keep awa. and counter him, for if you once ge fair aa Fou cuight 40 be Wie $n Aatneas tim,” SU er SE ‘*T have been in a heap of hts in my time e, tah
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The Fresh in Texas. 25 but I never ran across sich a galoot as this hyer before,” the cowboy complained. “The cuss dodges ’round like a dancing Jack, and I don’t git no chance ut him. If he would only stand up, fair and square, s@I could smash him, I reckon that two or three good hits would settle his hash,” “Yes, but he is a reg’lar scientific boxer,” the other remarked. ‘‘ And though I have seen a mighty big heap of good men in my time, I reckon this fellow is tup of them all, You mustn't sapere yourself by rushing at him, ’cos that gives him a chance to get in his fine work. You want to kinder hold off and not give no points away.” 2 “The galoot hits "bout as hard as a mule kin kick,” the cowboy growled. ‘‘Durn_ me if I ever run up ag’in such a fighter afore!” During the wait the Fresh improyed the op- portunity to exchange a few words with his rds. ~ “The Cubans are here, I see,” Blake re- marked, : “Yes, I spotted them,” Dave Ringwood re- plied. a You kin bet all your ducats that them two ‘isoned yaller cusses ar’ atthe bottom of this yer business,” the old mountain-man asserted, ** California war right about the Jew’s re- quest,” the Fresh ovserved. “It wasa trick to lure me to El Paso so that this big ruffian could pick a quarrel with me.” ‘* Yes, there isn’t any doubt in my mind-about that,” Daye Ringwood. observed. ‘‘And we must give Old Joe credit for being sharper than we were.” “Wa-al, boyees, I have lived in this hyer world a few years longer than either of you, and I have. dealt so much with these Greasers that [ have got to know'em like a book,” the old fellow.replied. ‘‘ Trickery is their best holt, and I reckon if they hated a man and hada chance to wipe him out, and could strike him either in the back or front, that they would go for his back every time!” “The little scheme will not work though,” Dave Ringwood remarked. ‘‘ You are going to punish this fellow without any trouble,” “‘ Yes, but I fancy that after I hammer him a little more be will get sick of it and go for bis shooting-irons.” ‘* Wa-al, if he does, { reckon he won’t ketch you napping,’ the old secut observed with a dry chuckle. ; ‘“T fancy not,” Blake replied. The Cubans had also seized upon this oppor- tunity to hold a brief conversation, “That fellow is making a fine show of him- self!” Gomes exclaimed, his face dark afd his voice hoarse with suppressed rage. ** He is about as fit to contend with this Fresh of ’Frisco as a hawk would be to wage war with an eagle,” Esparto replied, contemptuously. “Yes, that is the truth, but when this cow- boy finds that he stands no chance to fight Blake with his fists he, may resort to his wea- ns,” “And in that case I fancy he will find that Jack is as good as his master!” Esparto rejoined, * Ah, my dear fellow, we are wasting time and the quicker we organize the Red Rides of Rayon again the better. : “Time, gentlemen!” exclaimed the hotel- keeper at this point, CHAPTER XXXIV. THE END OF THE STRUGGLE. GOLDBERG was not well posted in regard to the rules of a contest of this sort, and was not sure as to how long a time should be allowed between the rounds, and when he appealed to some of the bystanders in regard to this point he found that there was a decided difference of opinion about it. : Some thought five minutes was the proper time, others maintained that it was only two, and a few declared that it was neither two nor five, but three; and then there was as great a difference of opinion in regard to whose rules should regulate the fight, the ‘* London prize ring” or the ‘Marquis of Queensberry,” and the discussion became so heated that it pretty nearly resulted in a free fight. ; Goldberg settled the matter though, by declar- ing that in his opinion five minutes was a short enough time for men to be allowed to recover from such vigorous exercise; at the same time remarking that he did not pretend to settle the dispute by assuming that if was correct and ac- cording to the rules. The rising of the men to renew the battle put an end to the dispute. Although owing to the wrangle the wait had been nearly seven mivutes, yet the big cowboy had rot recovered from the effects of the last round, but was still decidedly short of breath when he faced bis opponent, The Wild Bull of the Pecos could not be set down for a good-looking man at any time, and now that his features were discolored and bruis- ed, the result of the awful “ facer” he had re- ceived, he was about as ugly-looking as any man that had ever trodden the ts of El Paso, “Say, why don’t you stand still and fight like a man?” the big fellow growled, as he squared off at his opponent. “*Oh, you don’t like my style of fighting?’ the Fresh inquired, with a sarcastic smile, * No, I don’t!” “Well, that isn’t anything remarkable. I never fought a man yet who did.” “*T don’t believe in no hopping ‘round like a b’ar with a sore ear.” ** You want me to stand quietly, eh?” ‘Yes, thatis the way to fight—no dancing- Jack business.” **T am quiet now—go for me!” The cowboy accepted the invitation and dimed a terrific blow at the head of the Fresh, Blake parried the stroke without any trouble, then ‘‘feinted”” with his left at the cowboy’s | face. Up went the arms of the big fellow toward off the blow, thus leaving his chest unguarded, which was exactly what the Fresh of ‘Frisco was after, for out shot his powerful right arm, landing on the breast of the cowboy directly over his heart, and down to the ground again tumbled the Wild Bull of the Pecos, Again the bystanders yelled, but one disgusted citizen, who had been foolish enough before ‘the fight to bet five dollars on the cowboy, pinning his faith on the stranger being so much‘the bigger man‘of the two, and who, after the first round, had been vainly endeavoring to save bis money by offering to bet heavy odds on the Fresb, now could not help roaring the discon- tent which filled his soul. ‘Oh, take that big stuff away and plant him somewhar! He is only fit for dog meat!” This exclamation was fullowed by a shout of laughter, which galled the cowboy to the soul. His seconds had run to his assistance and helped bim to his feet. e was now thoroughly enraged and perfectly satisfied that in a boxing contest be stood no chance at all with bis opponent. “*T don’t want no more of this infernal box- ing !” he roared at the top of bis lungs, ‘I am a ghter, I am, a man who ain’t afeard to wade in blood! ‘““Say, you ornery galoot, do you dare to pull out yer revolver and fight me ike aman?” And as he spoke the cowboy clapped his hand on his weapon. : ‘““[am your man, sir, in any way you choose to take me!” the Fresh replied, “* Hold on, gentlemen, give us a chance to get out of the way!” the landlord cried. ‘ I want you to understand that there 1s no one here who is anxious to stop a bullet!” ‘We will back to the edge of the ring so as to have a fair field and you gentlemen can get into the seats where you will be out of: harm’s way,” the Fresh suggested. ‘That's the ticket!” cried the cowboy. ‘ All T ask is a fair show for my money!” **Oh, you will get that, stranger!” Goldberg declared, ‘*‘ We men of El Paso pride ourselves upon giving a fair shake to everybody, and it don’t make a bit of difference whether they be- long to the town or not.” ** Yes, yes, that’s so!” cried half a dozen Voices, ‘Back to your placés, gentlemen, and I will give the word for the thing to begin!” the land- ord exclaimed, ** All right! that suits me!” the cowboy cried. “And I want you to understand, you Mister Fresh of ’Frisco, that I am going for your scalp this time, red-hot! and you had better believe that I am going to get it, too!” “Tf you can, don’t forget that!” responded Jackson Blake. ‘“ Always put that in, and then you will be sure not to make a bad break.” “You may be a dandy boxer, but you will find that I'am the champion revolver shot!” the cowboy boasted. “You will be able to give me a few points, then, in the shooting line,” Blake remarked. “You won’t need any points arter this fight is ended, for you will be dead!” the big cowboy snarled. “Say! don’t bury me alive, you know,” the Fresh retorted. ‘“ Be quite sure that 1 am dead before you go to plant me,” “Ob, don’t you worry "bout that!” the other exclaimed, ‘You will be dead enough when I get through with you, dead for keeps, too! You ad the best on it in this hyer fist fight, but when it comes to guns, xu kin jest bet all the rocks you kin scare up that I am the boss, and no mistake!” “Tbe boss blower, and no mistake abont that!” the Fresh exclaimed. “There has been some big braggarts in El Paso before you struck the town, but you lay overall of them—you take the wake, beyond a doubt!” ‘You won't talk so tig arter we git through with this skirmish!” the cowhioy dectared. . ** And most assuredly you will not!” Jackson Blake replied, his voice deepening and a stern look appearing on his face. As a rule, when I get into an affair of this sort I do not care to badly hurt my man, be- cause I am not naturally bloodchirsty, but in fesson thet will be apt tr last goo for coawe tho,” ; at w apt to ou for some time the Fresh continued. c “Oh, yes, I reckon you will if you kin!” sneered the cowboy. ‘“ You oughter think of w’ot you said a spell ago, if you kin, you know!” “That question will soon be settled,” Blake replied: ‘* And I reckon’ tbat you will not admire the settlement vither. But there is one point that [ want to touch on, You are a stranger here, and yet you bave picked a quar- rel with me witbout any reason whatever, for I never bad any trouble with you in any way—” ‘““Wa-al, ’m a big chief, I am,and when I struck E] Paso, I calculated to run the town!” exclaimed the cowboy, “ but I heered that you were the biggest warrior in the burg, and as I didn’t think the. town was big enough to bold both on us, I made up my mind to find out to one’t which was the best man of us two,” “Oh, yes, I understand all about that!” the | Fresh exclaimed, ‘*I know the game that is | being played justas well as though I had a | hand ie forming the scheme myscli,. You were put up to atiaus me, and the men behind yon are cowardly curs who do not dare to come out and face me openly, but as lam getting sick of this sort of thing, I will hunt them out of their holes before long and make them show then colors,” This speech made the bystanders: cast inquir- ing glances at each other. By this time all the ple in the inclosure, with the exception of the duelists, had got out of the bull-ring, and were bunched together on the seats at one side of the circle. The Cubans were in the background, rather keeping behind the others so as to escape obser- vation, and when: this speech of the Fresh, sc unexpectedly delivered, reached their ears, they exchanged meaning glances, ** The fellow has smelt out the trap,” Gomes whispered in Esparto’s ear. ‘“Yes: Tam not surprised at it, either, for he is wonderfully quick-witted.” “We must look out for ourselves, for now that his suspicions are aroused he will be apt to try to find the principals whose agents are at- tacking him—tbat is, if the cowboy dces not succeed in laying him out.” “It is a hundred ounces to one that ke will get the best of this big braggart as easily with the weapous as with his fist,” Esparto replied in a tone of conviction. ‘* Now, gentlemen, are you all ready?’ Gold- berg asked. The duelists were at the extreme edge of the ring, on cpposite sides, facing each other, their backs being against the railing which was in- tended to beep the bulls from leaving the ring. ‘* All ready,” replied the Fresh of Frisco, - **Oh, yes, you bet!” cried the cowboy. “How are you going to run this thing?” the landlord asked. * Why, I am going to kill this ornery galoot as dead as a door-nail!” the cowboy exclaimed. “The gentleman means, I presume, that it is to be a duel to the death,” Blake remarked, hat is it! Now you hit me whar I live!” cried the other. “ Ali right; I will count three and then you go it!” said the landlord. The duelists nodded. Their revolvers were vut—their eyes intently fixed upon each other, * One, two, three, go!” cried Goldberg. Hardly bad the last word escaped his lips when up came the revolvers, but the Fresh being the quicker shot anticipated the fire of the other. Witb a how! of pain the cowboy dropped his aE S EEL Le 8S SP ES PTS eee) eee a RS SL Se See SS Orn oe ee NY Se > SO ee Oe POE Oe ET Se an EE weapon. : Blake had put a ball through his right shoulder. “T kin shoot with my left hand!” the cowboy yelled, and be plucked out another pistol. Again tbe Fresh’s revolver spoke and another yeli of pain came from the rough fellow. Jackson Blake bad shot him through the left shoulder, I reckon you will not trouble anybody now for some time!” the Fresh remarked. CHAPTER XXXV. AN UNSUCCESSFUL QUEST. THe fight was over, and as nearly all the spectators had anticipated, the Fresh of *Frisco had proven an easy winner. One of the doctors of the town happened to be among the spectators and he hurried to the assistance of the cowboy. The Wild Bull of the Pecos was completely disgusted; the fight was taken out of bim, and all he desired was to get out of El Paso as soon as possible. And, as it bappened, there was a teamster present who was bound down the river and he volunteered to give the cowhoy a passage, and so the Wild Bull of the Pecos took his de- parture. He bad come for wool and returned shorn, ' After the duel, Dave Ringwood and Old Cali- | fornia Joe hastened to congratulate Blake on bis pevictory: “This second trap did not succeed in catchin you any better than the first,” Dave Ringw remarked. “This fellow was not as dangerous as the other,” the Fresb replied: “You didn't gi’n tbe galoot much chance in
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this town of El Paso wil 26 The Fresh in Texas. ~ this hyer fight to show whether he could do any- thing with a pistol or not,” the old mountain- man observed with a chuckle. **T did not intend to take any chances,” Blake replied. ‘Of course I had no knowledge of whether he was a dead-sbot or not, but from the way he carried himself I got the idea that he , might bea pretty fair marksman, The cowboys pride themselves upon their shooting abilities, and the most of them are good shots, but my ex- perience with all these big men is that they are siow on the trigger—apt to putter over their aim— And again the Fresh banged away at the | knocker, and this time he raised such a racket | that he alarmed all the neighborhood. Men, women and children appeared at various ' doors and windows, peering cautiously out into the street, and many of them were armed with various things in the shape of weapons, in the | alarm of fear caught up, more or less offensive, } ranging from fire-arms down to brooms, pokers, : and big sticks, “Kinder looks from this display as if the in- | habitants of this hyer street imagined the wild. Injuns bad made a raid on El Paso,” the old ‘* That is so, sure as ye’r’ born!” cried Old Cali- | mountain-man remarked. fornia Joe, ‘I have noticed it a hundred times!” “* Yes, itis true,” Dave Ringwood assented, ‘Yes, and I hope that these good people will not take into their cicada tc sally out and attack us,” Dave Ringwood observed. ‘I will be “(So I made up my mind not to give bim any | hanged if I want to fight a Mexican mob!” / ebance to show whether he could shoot or not, ) but to plug him before he could fire.” By this time the Fresh had attired himself for | fons Po it would be rather ugly,” Blake re- joined. But the ferocious attack on the knocker pro- the street again, and the conversation was inter- , duced the desired result. 2 rupted by the spectators who came to congratu- | Again the panel opened, and the face of the late the Fresh upon his victory. | boy appeared, this time pale with fright. Blake was on the watch for the Cubans and | the Jew, but neither one of the three was visible. in company with the others the Fresh. return- eltothe Hotel Mexico, but under pretense of . having some busmess to which he must give bis , attention, Blake and bis pards got away from the enthusiastic crowd. ‘“ Where now?” asked Dave Ringwood, when | the three were on the plaza. “To the old Jew’s,” was Blake’s reply. ‘‘ The | old rascal was a party to this scheme and I in- | tend to bring him to book for it.” ‘** Yos, and it will serve him right too, the | meusley galoot!” Old California Joe declared, ‘* Old Solomons is as tough a cuss as ever walk- ed in shoe leather. I have met with many a | Jew in my time, and when they get inter the | frontiers of civilization and go inter the pawn- | broker business they are wolves, all of them, but this aged cuss is the boss wolf of the, crowd!” ! “Well, [am going to find out who was at the | beck of this ‘business to-day?’ the Fresh de- | clared, ‘* For in my mind there isn’t any doubt | that Solomons: was hired to get me to come to Tt Paso so this cowboy would have a chance to attack me. Is ct the Cubans are at the | bottom. of it, and if so I intend to call them to a | speedy reckoning.” *“S'pose the old. Jew will not give the snap away?” Dave Ringwood asked. ‘*Oh, I shall adopt such a persuasive way | that I do not think he will he able to refuse,” Blake replied with a smile. Tho old mountain-man grinned. “Treckon that if I had the working of the trick I would make the old galoot spit out w’ot he knows bout the affair, or [ would put him through a course of sprouts w’ot would be apt to take the curl out of his bair!” Old California Joe declared, : “Well, it is about time that you found out something about it,” Dave Ringwood remarked, ‘Tt is not pleasant fora man to reflect that ho has some secret foe who is ready to strike Aim at any convenient opportunity.” ‘*7 will wring the truth out of the old Jew as sure as my name is Jackson Blake!” the Fresh declared. ‘I think that the Cubans are at the bottom of the mischief, as 1 said before, and.if the Jew implicates them, as I believe he will, 1 not be big enough to hold-the pair and a man about my size.” By this time the three had arrived at the dom- icile of Hadad Solomons, The house was tightly closed as usual, but in answer to Blake’s loud rap the panel in the door opened, but instead of the Jew, the face of his assistant 5 heme . ‘Open locks! I want to see Mr, Solomons!” Blake declared. ‘** He is not here,” the youth answered. ‘* Not in the house?” ** No, sir.” ** When will he be in?” **T do not know; he has been called out of town on business.” **Ob, well, you will do. my business all right.” ““T do no business until] Mister Solomons re- — Good-by!” and then the youth shut the wicket, ; “ Euchered, by thunder!” cried the old moun- tain-man, “Tsay, you didn’t get much satisfaction out of him!” Dave Ringwood exclaimed, “Oh, but I am not going to be put off in this way!” the sport rejoined. And then with the knocker he awoke the echoes of the street. No answer was made to the sumn.ons though, ‘‘ He knows who it is, and he don’t calculate to ‘hold no more talk with you,” Old California Joe remarked, “Oh, I tell yer it is just as I said—this hyer Jew 13 a p’ison galoot!” ‘* Whether he is in or not, he is determined I suppose you can fix a ee LL nw ‘“*My good sir, do you want to tear the house down?” the youth exclaimed. ‘Oh, no! no idea of doing anything of that kind,” the Fresh answered. “ But 1 do not like to be treated in a shabby manner, Here we are come to do business with you, and you will not let us in.” “ Did I not tell you that Mister Solomons was not at home?” the youth exclaimed, ‘‘ It would | not be of any use to let youin; I could not do any business with you.” ** Have you not made some mistake about the sinuating way. ** No, no; no mistake!” **Oh, but it may be possible, you know, that your master is in the house somewbere aud you not know it,” the Fresh persisted, ** My good sir, I assure you he is not in,” the youth answered. ‘* Butit would not do any harm if you were to 'in pursuit, so as to deceive che old *‘Of course! As he only has fifteen minutes’ start, we can do it easily enough, if we only have the luck to strike the right road.” ** But I say, Blake, aon don’t take any stock in this boy’s yarn, do you?” Dave Ringwood inquired. , * Don’t you?” > ** No, I don’t believe a word of it!” * Neither do I!” Old California Joe declared. “Well, well, if you are not two of the big- gest doubting Tbomases that I ever ran across!” ! ee — exclaimed, with a grave shake of the ead, ‘You don’t really think that that*guileless youth would lie?” ‘** Lie!” cried the old plainsman. “‘ Consarn his pictur’! I don’t believe he could tell the truth if be wanted to ever so bad!” **Oh, no, he wouldn’t do such a thing—the old Jew wouldn’t attempt to throw me off the track in such a way!” Blake declared. ‘‘ No, pards; we will go to the corral and get our horses, inquire anxiously if any one has seen the aged Hebrew take the road leading to Chihuahua, and then we will set out to over- take him—” ““Oh, yes; I see your game now!” Dave Ring- wooed exclaimed. ‘* Yon will apparently start Jew and make him think you believe this yarn about his having left El Paso on a journey.” ' ‘“* Kinder throw the old galoot off his guard,” California Joe suggested. ‘*Yes: and then to-night I will be back in El Paso, and if I don’t find a way to get into the Jew’s castle, then I am not so smart as I | matter?” Blake asked, in his softest and most in- | think Iam.” ‘““Wa-al, now, it will jest do me to see you play roots on that ’ar Jew!” the plainsman declared. “J will try the riffle to-night; I may not be able to make it, but I reckon I will, unless the old man is a mighty sight smarter than I think e is, ** He is in the house, I feel sure of that!” the go and take another look,” Blake said, persua- | Fresh continued. “‘ He is not the kind of man sively. ‘* And just tell him, very good friend, Jackson Frisco, is here, and is anxious to transact a lit- tle business with him. And if he is in the house I feel sure he will see me; he might as well, you know, first as last, for he will have to see me some time, for if 1 make up my mind to .that, there is no corner of this earth, far enough off, or so obscure, in which he can hide, that I will not find him,” and the tone of the Fresh deep- ened, while bis eyes flashed in such a way that the Jewish youth fairly shook in his shoes, “You just hunt him up, and tell him this, and Iam sure he will see me—just try now,” continued Jackson Blake, with an abrupt change in his tone to the soft, wheedling manner again. ‘“Oh, my good sir, I am telling you the truth!” the youth protested, ‘‘ Mister Solomons is not here; he left the house about a quarter of an hour ago, and he will not be hack for two or three weeks. : ‘* Ah, indeed?” the Fresh exclaimed. "Yes, yes, it is the truth. He has gone on a journey.’ ** Not on foot?” ‘*Oh, no, sir, on horseback. He has business at —— and some other towns in that direction and he expected when he left to be away for some time,” ‘* Has he taken the direct road to ——?” Blake asked, carelessly, ‘“* Indeed, sir, I do vot know. He has busi- ness up the river and down the river, and whe- ther he intends to go up or down the Rio Grande before he goes to —— or after he comes back is more than I can tell.” “*So, he is likely to have gone in any one of the three directions?” the Fresh remarked, mus- ingly. t Yes, sir, but for the life of me I couldn’t tell you which one of the three is the most likely one, ’ ¢ Blake appeared to be buried in meditation for amoment just as though he was debating the matter over in his mind, then observed, abrupt- ly: ** The odds are big that he has gone straight to —— for he would be apt to attend to his business in the river towns on his return, and as he bas only a few minutes’ start, if we set out at once we may overtake him, Much obliged for the information; so-long!” And then the Americans took their departure, greatly to the relief of the inbabitants of the street, the most of whom had recognized the Fresh of ’Frisco, whom in their heart of hearts they believed to be a lunatic. CHAPTER XXXVI, BRINGING THE JEW TO AN ACCOUNT. Nor a word was said by any of the three until they turned into the plaza; then Old California t the question: ‘““ Whar are we bound?” not to see you,” Dave Ringwood observed, ** Arter our hosses * Conscious guilt s, that. is what it is! | ‘ Exactly.” Blake declared, “Tf he hadn’t something on his |“ And do you reckon to make an attempt to mind he would not hesitate to see me, but I am | overtake this ,’izen galoot of a Jew?’ the old going to get in if I can!” ; mountain-man asked, evidently a ore MaKe 5 ‘ f LY . 4 . es ; w. my ‘ Ss re a eres eit ae PLR STONE The RES PMS ES PENT SPRL ECE Es STUART TR pote ae oF Ley Oe Se VRE mec SS EOE. YE I NONE LP enw A EonCOn Senet, SRY SENSE SEW Sune Ss ou know, that his | to start off ona journey at a moment’s warn- lake, the Fresh of | ing. And then, if he was going to Chihuahua, he would be sure to take the stage; a man of bis years and cbaracter would never make the journey on horseback. I feel quite sure that tho old fellow would never be able to ride so far.” s pate as yer’ born!” Old California Joe de- clared. ‘*No. it is a trick to throw me off the track!” Blake declared. ‘'He fears that an interview with me will not be pleasant, and so has made up his mind not to see me. Of course he is too shrewd not to know that in time I will surely see him, but he reckons that if he can push the in- terview off I may not be so hot after him; and then there is the chance, too, that thése parties who are going for me may succeed in laying me out before I can get a chance at him.” ‘* Like as not the old fellow has calculated just that way,” Dave Ringwood remarked, ““Oh, didn’t I allers tell yer, pards, that he was‘a pison galoot?” Old California Joe ex- claimed, ‘‘I kin jest tell you what it is, boyees, you kin s’arch all this country through, cl’ar from the Gulf of Mexico up to the big pine woods of the North, and nowhat’ will you find a bigger rascal than this same measley Jew. “Thar ar’ good Jews and bad Jews, and when you come to bad Jews, this here old Hadad Solomons is the king-pin, and no mistake.” By this time the three were at the entrance of the lane which led to the corral, and as there were loungers around, the conversation ended, The pards got their horses, spoke about trying to overtake old Solomons, whom they believed tobe on the road to Chihuabua, and then de- arted. ‘““Ten to one that the old Jew has put spies on us, so keep your eyes about you, pards, and see if you can spot the men,” the Fresh observed to his companions as they rode out of the corral, The pards rode at a slow canter threugh the town, and then struck into the road which led to the old Mexican city. Mics As they passed the last group of -houses, Blake’s attention was attracted by a peon—as the tame Indians who act as servants to the Mexicans are called. The man’ was ane by the side of the Jast one of the houses, with his ragged serape drawn over his shoulders, puffing awa bome-made cigars so common to his race, A ragged peon, smoking a cigarMy the rcad- — side, is such a common sight in ‘ico, that the circumstance would not have excited the American’s attention, hed not Blake noticed a peculiar gleam in the fellow’s eyes as the three rode peat. : aes “There's a spy for a thousand ounces!” Blake exclaimed to his companions, when they were | well out of ear shot of the man. = ‘Yes, I noticed that he regarded us intently — as we rode past, Ringwood remarked.” __ **One of those darned tame Injuns!” Old Cali- — fornia Joe exclaimed. ‘The meanest critter *bout that kin be scared up, with the exception and as sneaky as snakes!” “California, you are pretty far-sighted,” She Blake observed When we get on a piece, : e - wi Ge ~ Som thy + aati ts ay oe. Wee = a ae ooks a = aa at one ofthe of a Digger Injun; they ar’ as cunning as fo. ces : ; 8
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see, it is as ‘money or not, but [ will see,” an just take a look back and see what the fellow is up to. Manage, if you can, so the peon will not be able to detect that you are taking a look at him.’ _“ All right, I kin do the trick slick as kin be, by jest bending for’d, asif I were a-fixing my saddle, and so git a squint at him under my arm,” the old scout rephed. Soon he performed the maneuver, and then, when he assumed an upright position again, an- nounced; “The galoot is a spy, sure enuff! his feet now, watching us.” ** Well, that is all right,” the Fresh responded. “He will carry the intelligence to the old Jew that we are on the road to Chihuahua, which is exactly what I want him to do.” ** How far do you calculate to ride?” “Only to the first cross-road, then we will turn off,” Blake replied. ‘‘There is a ranch about half a mile down the road where we can get something to eat, and remain quiet until nightfall; then we will return to El Paso, and on the outskirts of the town—which, by the way, we will approach frcm the open country for fear that tne old Jew may have spies on the different roads. Well, as I was saying, on the edge of the town. we will dismount and leave our’ horses in charge of California, while you and I, Dave, go to interview the Jew. I have thought of a scheme which I thiuk will gain us admission to the house.” : This plan was carried out without any trouble, and at eight o’clock in the evening, Jackson Blake and Dave Ringwood were again in tue streets of El Paso. They avoided the main thoroughfares, partic- ularly the Plaza, and kept in the by-streets. ‘““T want to run across a smart, lower-class Mexican,” Blake explained. ‘‘Oneof the kind that bang around the Mexican gambling- houses.” The wish of the Fresh was soon granted, and luckily the man was one with whom the Fresh was slightly acquainted, The fellow was called Sancho Peralt and bore the reputation of being one of the most unlucky gamestersin the town. Mexican Mike’s shebang was his headquarters. | The man was sioucbing along with bis head droo unon bis breast, and the moment Blake caught sight of him he exclaimed to his com- panion: . * Here is the very man I want, and from his appearance I would be willing to bet.a fortune that he has just been cleaned out in some of the Mexican dives. Ifso, I can undoubtedly drive a bargain with him.” The man came up and Blake accosted him. The speculations of the Fresh were true; the fellow had just lost his last coin in Mexican Miike’s place, and so he readily agreed to per- form the service which Blake required for ten silver ounces. Then, too, the man bad a grudge against the old pawnbroker, for on several occasions the Jew had driven a hard bargain with him, The plan being all arranged, the three set out, the Mexican going on ahead and the Americans following about a hundred feet behind. When tvey came to the Jew’s abode, the Mex- ican went to the doorand the Americans stole along the shadow of the wall and concealed themselves behind the corner of the house about a yard from the door. he Mexican knocked gently, like a man who was not desirous of attracting attention, and He is on ~ goon the panel opened, the face of the Jewish routh appearing. me Whois it?” ’ xa When they oe the street, gears essing to- ward the plaza, Dave Ringwood put the ques- Y
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‘ 28 ““T> call these Cubans to an account!” the Fresh replied, ‘‘I am going to hunt them - and put the screws on them in a way they will not like,” ‘* Suppose they will not fight?” “They will have to, or else come down and make a full confession. I mean business, and they will find that I do the moment I get hold of them.” But the Fresh of ’Friseo was not destined to vet hold ” of either of the Cubans. hey had settled their bill at the hotel, de- parted, and the closest search failed to discover aclew to their whereabouts. Toe Fresh of ’Frisco was completely baffled. CHAPTER XXXVII. A BOLD DEFIANCE. For fully a week Jackson Bake and his pards kept up the search for the Cubans, for the Fresh could not get rid of the idea that they were in the neighborhood somewhere, No trace of them was discovered, though, and the search was at last given up. The Fresh was annoyed by his want of success. “] do not admire this at all,” he remarked, in confidence to Dave Ringwood, in whose judg- ment he had great faith. ‘‘ From the fact that we are not able to gét on their trail lam in- clined to think they are hiding right in El Paso, and if that is so, just as soon aS they think I am off my ‘guard, they will be hatching some new scheme. ‘Yes, that seems probable, and the only way for you to beat the game is to be on the watch until you are satisfied that the Cubans are not * this part of the country,” Dave Ringwood re- ied. ar Oh, you can rest assured that I will not be caught napping,” the Fresh declared. And from that time forth, Blake and all his men were as watchful as though they were in- truders in an enemy’s country. A month went by without any discovery be- ing made to show that the Cubans had not given up their designs against the Fresh, and about all the pards bad made up their minds that they had heard the last of the pair, The only two who had not come to this con- clusion were the Fresh of Frisco and Old Cali- fornia Joe. ** Oh, no, not a bit of it,” the wily old plains- man declared. ‘‘Them galoots haven't given the thing up! Itis the natur’ of cusses of their kind to hang on until the last man is strung up. “They are jest a-laying low—jest waiting for a good chance to give you a lick that will be apt to hurt, you bet!’ The Fresh was also of the opinion that the Cu- bans would yet be heard from, and so did not relax his precautions. The fact of his engagement to the heiress of Escobedo was made public, and for a time created considerable talk all along the Rio Grande, and great was the envy the news excit- ed in the breasts of the men who had hoped to win, not only the handsomest, but the richest girl for a bundred square miles around, The young lawyer, Richard Bullifant, was furious, for fre had set his heart on winning the heiress, and if he bad been a man of war, un- doubtedly he would have challenged the success- ful suitor to mortal combat. In his rage he had an idea of doing something of this kind, and he hegan to practice with a re- voiver, but, in a short time, he saw that nature never intended him for a crack-shot and that to encounter such a man as the Fresh of ’Frisco upon the battle-field would be the hight of folly, for he would surely be killed. The superintendent of the Escobedo Ranch, Houma, who, as the reader will remember, was handled so roughly once by Jackson Blake, when the man rasbly forced a quarrel upon him, was fully as angry as any man along the Rio Grande. In secret, the superintendent had cherished nopes of one day winning the heiress of Esco- ty) bedo. Like many another dull-witted man he had mistaken the girl’s kind politeness for interest, and as she always trea him well, he fancied he had made an impression upon her. Therefore, when the news of the engagement was made public, Houma’s rage knew no bounds, He hated the Fresh, anyway, for thelesson which Jackson Blake had given hi as a severe one. Many a mighty oath had Houma sworn that he would never rest satisfied until he bad secured ample revenge. 3 And now, to add insult to injury, the Fresh of *Frisco had won the peerless Margaret and was soon to become his master, Houma registered a mighty oath that the wedding should never take place, and imme- diately began to practice with rifle and re- volver. The superintendent was a good shot with both weapons, and after sceady practice for a by of weeks he felt safe in challenging the res . ~ The hat lawyer bore the message, _Bullifant, when he found that Houma was so en eee . FS ay, ee The Fresh in Texas.. { bitterly incensed against Jackson Blake, did all | in his power to urge the superintendent to defy | the sharp to mortal combat. Of course, the young lawyer had no idea that | Houma aspired to the band of the heiress, but | thought the superintendent hated Blake because | the Frest had thrashed him. | Bullifant waited upon the sport and made | known his errand in the courteous manner usual in such cases, ‘““Mr, Houma desires satisfaction, eh?” the Fresh remarked, with a quizzical glance av Dave Ringwood who chanced to be present. “Yes, sir, the satisfaction due from one gen- tleman to another.” ** And is it on account of that little misunder- | standing that we had?” | “Yes, sir: of course, you are aware that you handled my friend pretty roughly.” “Well, come to think of it, I reckon that he was not treated as if he was made of glass,” the Fresh remarked, ‘“Egad! when you flung him to the ground I | was afraid you had broken every bone in bis body!” the lawyer exclaimed. ‘Oh, no, a little tumble like that does not ee to anythiug,” Blake observed, care- essly. ‘But I say, your man has waited quite a | time; how is it that he did not attend to this | matter sconer?” | “T—really—I do not know,” Bullifant an- | swered, a trifle confused, for be was knowing to | the fact that the superintendent had been busily engaged in rifle and pistol practice.” “T bave been expecting something of this | kind from Houma,” the Fresh remarked, in a | reflective sort-of-way. ‘*Ob, have you?” Bullifant asked, not know- ing exactly what to say. “Yes, 1 have been expecting a challenge ever | since I heard that the sup°rintendent was wast- | ing a deal of powder and Jead in endeavoring to make himself a dead-shov.” | The young lawyer coughed, decidedly con- | sed Well, really, I was not aware—” “Oh, that is all right! I don’t lay it up| against bim!” Blake exclaimed. ‘There is | nothing like being on the safe side, if a man can only manage to get there,” “You have the choice of weapons, of course, | as the challenged party,” Bullifant remarked, | eager to change the subject. ““Yes, I am aware of that.” ** What do you prefer?” ** Bowie-knives!” the sport replied, in his cool way. The lawyer was aghast at the answer. ‘* Bowie-knives?” he cried, ‘That is what I said.” ‘* But such a weapon is unusual!” ** Exactly, and that is the reason I choose it.” | ‘Such a duel would result in the death of both parties!” Bullifant exclaimed, ** Nota bit of it} Iam so expert with a knife that I will engage to carve your friend into mincemeat before he can get a chance to carve me,” the Fresh replied. he lawyer was in a quandary; he did not know what to say, for he felt sure that Houma would stand no chance to win in such a fight. ** You do not seem to be eager to go in on this riffle,” Blake observed, ‘The weapon is such an unusual one,” Bulli- fant explained. ‘‘ I am sure Mr. Houma knows nothing whatever about it.” “That is the reason I selected it,” the Fresh | rejoined. ‘*As he has been practicing with | both rifles and revolvers, I presume be has got to be a dead-shot by this time, or else he would | not challenge me; but, as I am a dead-shot | with a bowie-knife, I will have the deadwood | on bim.” ‘* T guess we will have to call the thing off, | then,” the young lawyer remarked. ‘ For there isn’t any sense in my letting my man go | into a fight when he doesn’t stand any show to | win. ‘‘Then you object to bowie-knives?” ** Ob, yes; it would be madness for me to agree | to such weanone® “Well, [ll tell you what it is; I bate to balk | any man when he is anxious for me to give bim | satisfaction, so I will say repeating-rifles at five hundred yards, each man at liberty to advance , after the word is given, and fire as many shots as he likes.” gash The distance did not suit Bullifant at all, for three hundred yards was the greatest. distance that Houma bad tried; but as the Fresh was firm, he was obliged to accept, and consoled himself with the thought that after the word was given, his’ principal, by advancing, could speedily reduce the distance, The hour for the duel was fixed at six on the following morning and the location a spot mid- way between the Fresh’s ranch and the Escobedo place by the Rio Grande, Then, after the arrangements were completed, | the lawyer took his departure. When he made known to Houma the condi- tions, the superintendent did not like the dis- tance, but set out immediately to practice, so as to get used to it. 4 “Five hundred yards is a pretty long shot,” Dave Ringwood remarked, after Bullifant had departed, *“'Yes, but I am used to it and the chances are that my opponent is not,” the Fresh replied. “You see in view of the fact that I am soon to become a married man, I am beginning to take care of myself and ina picnic of this kind 1 want as sure a thing as I can get,” CHAPTER XXXTX. A SURPRISE, On the following morning the Fresh and his men were up bright and early, ll of the army were aware that there was going to be a fight, for Blake had not thought it necessary to keep them in the dark in regard to the affair, although they had been cautioned not to allow the servants of the ranch to know any- thing-about it; for, as Blake remarked, there was no need of having any more talk about th affair than was absclutely necessary. ‘* If he plugs me or I plug him, there will be plenty of cbances for chin-music,” the Fresh ob- served. Breakfast was served at five, and at balf-past the party expected to be in the saddle, although fifteen minutes at the outside, would take them to the meeting-place. All of the men were eager to be present at the figbt, and Blake declared: “* Considering that the boys don’t have many chances for fun, it seems a shame to ask any of them not to go; yet, on the other hand, I don’t want it to look asif { had come with a crowd for the purpose of intimidating the gentleman who has done me the honor to ask me to stand. up and be shot at.” “Yes, but is it not likely that he will hayea gang of his friends along too?’ Dave Ringwood asked. ‘‘ There are half-a-dozen fellows up the river who are his chums.” ‘*T hardly think he will have them there,” the Fresh remarked. ‘‘ There wasn’t anything said about our having any witnesses. But I will tell ou how to fix the thing, boys,” he continued, ‘It is a broken, undulating country, with plenty of small timber for cover. Daveand I will start, and you follow about half a mile in the rear, and when you get near the ground, tie your horses in some grove, and scout in on foot, near enough to be able to get a view of the skirmish. **- You will be able to work the trick so that if the superintendent has any friends with bim, neither he nor they will have any notion that there is anybody in the neighborbood.” They all thought the idea was a capital one and Old California Joe; the crafty, long-headed scout remarked: “IT reckon that is about as good a deal as you kin scare up! I have kinder been puzzling the inside of my old figure-head over this hyer matter, and the idee has kinder come to me that mebbe thar is some traps inter this duel.” This announcement interested the others at once, for none of them—not even the Fresh of *Frisco himself—had thought of such a thing, ‘* What put that idea into your head?” Blake asked. **We-al, now, you have got me foul!” the old mountain-man declared. ‘* I couldn’t answer that question to save my life! : ‘*The idee is thar, I will swar’ to that, but how it got thar is more than I know, **] s’pose the explanation is that I am a kivder of a suspicious old cuss, anyway, and somehow, the notion came to me that, mebbe, this war a trap to git you out whar a gang could git at yer.” ‘* You are thinking of the Cubans!” Blake ob- served, “Treckon my mind is a kinder running on them tanned galoots,” the old mountain-man admitted, “This hyer is what botbers me. Why has the superintendent gone for you all of a sudden?” “Oh, there are good reasons for tbat,” the Fresh replied. ‘In the first place, I thrashed him, in the second I know he is a rogue, and he feels rfectly sure thet when I take command of the obedo Ranch he will get his walking papers. And then the third and strongest reason of all is that he has an idea he could win the heiress, for he bas been paying especial attention to the lady for quite a while, ‘Ts that so?” exclaimed the old mountain-man in wonder. ‘Yes, my information came from one of the herdsmen on the place, a smart fellow, with a pair of sharp eyes in. his head, and who had sense to detect the game that Houma was try- ing to play. The man. wanted to stand well with me. and so put me on my guard. Now ou see the superintendent bas reasons enough for wishing to lay me out,” the Fresh said, in conclusion, ‘Yes, yes, it is as plain as the nose on a man’s face,” Old California Joe observed. ““Wa-al, it won’t do any harm for the boyees to be around handy, and they want to see the skirmish er The Fresh agreed to this, and the programme was carried out. Blake and Dave Ringwood started on ahead, and the rest followed some ten minutes after; eee
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; dismounting when they came near the battle- ey : round, tying their horses in a clump of timber, F : hen cautiously approaching the scene of action on foot, 3 When Blake and Dave Ringwood arrived on ~~ the field, they found the others on the ground. With Houma and the young lawyer was the doctor from El Paso and a friend of his. The Fresh and Honma exchanged bows, and | then withdrew in opposite direciions, while the seconds arranged the details, ; “There wasn’t anything said about a sur- | P geon,” Bullifant observed, ‘“butasI knew you | would not be likely to get one in this section, I | took the liberty of bringing ‘one from E) Paso, | a and this gentleman is one of the doctor’s stu- | > dents, and I presume you will not object to his : presence?” ; “Oh, no, that is all right,” Dave Ringwood | replied. ‘* Now, suppose we get right to work and pace off the ground—about two hundred | and fifty paces will be near enongh,” ; The lawyer assented to this, and the distance | was soon measured. ‘* Now, how about the positions? If you think | there is any choice, we will toss a coin to decide | the matter,” Dave Ringwood remarked... But as it was a cloudy day, the rising sun | being hidden by heavy banks of dark vapor, . there really was not the slightest difference be- tween the two ends of the line. ‘* No, I donot think that is necessary,” Bulli- | fant replied. ‘‘Let my principal take the position nearest to him and yours can do the | same, ) ‘‘How about the signal for the fight to begin? | 1 suppose the doctor had better give that?” Dave | Ringwood suggested. Tais was approved by the lawyer, and so it | was arranged that the signal was to be a shot | from the doctor’s revolver, preceded by a warn- gy, tie him to be ready, | he duelists got into position; the seconds re- | treated to one side, and the doctor and his | friend took their station midway the two points | occupied by the fighters—well to one side, of course, so as to be out of the range of fire, ‘\Now, then, gentlemen, look out for your- selves—prepare!” exclaimed the doctor in a loud voice, The rifles came up to the shoulders of the duelists and their eyes glanced along the shining tubes of death. | The doctor counted, one, two, three, to bim- | ot self, and then discharged bis revolver in the air, | ae Like an echo came the report of the Fresh of | &, *Frisco’s rifle. With a gasp the superintendent dropped his weapon, wall as it struck the ground the piece was discharged, the ball whistling harmlessly up toward the clouds, Houma’s right arm hung helplessly by his side. The doctor and his assistant, also the lawyer, hurried to him. ‘A most wonderful shot, if it was not an ac- cident!” the surgeon declared, as he examined the wound. : The ball had entered the right arm at the wrist and shattered the bone of the forearm. ‘* By Jove!” Bullifant exclaimed, ‘* you have had a lucky escape; that man is evidently a dead shot and could just as well have put his ball through your heart instead of shooting to disable you.” The superintendent was deadly His wound was a severe one, but, as Bullifant had remarked, he felt that he owed his life to the mercy of his antagonist, and the knowledge took from him all desire to brave the power of the Fresh of 'Frisco. Dave Ringwood approached; Blake had drop- the gh a7 rifle upon the ground and stood leaning upon 1 “ Are yoursatisfied—is another shot desired?” Ringwood asked. “No, I am disabled,” le. Houma ha ay before e his second could speak. “‘ Tell Mr. I am to measure strength with him.” Ringwood bowed, expressed the hope that the wound was not a severe one, and as the doctor began to dress the hurt, returned to report to Blake that the affair was ended. ‘“‘T didn’t want to kill the fellow,” Blake re- marked as he and bis pard mounted horses, “and I bad to give hima lesson,” Away rode the two at a slow canter, and by the time they got a thousand yards away a sur- ‘i rung upon them, Lah a a an of timber rode a dozen horseman, all brandishing revolvers, and they harged directly for the pair. | ° The pel pon ons ‘asked, the red hair and | | | ) content, and that I feel I was a fool to attempt beards showed that the strangers were the Red Riders of Rayon, the famous brigand band which the Fresh of ’Frisco had once di ; The pards prepared for fight, but before the i Raiders got within range they were eated to a surprise which: they little antici- | aes ay = aig pay of a clump | at point-blank ri j of timber Doan vicb ommptied © sad and with a yell, Old California Joo and the the Fresh of ’Frisco’s men sprung from their was § gece into then ° The Fresh in Texas. The Red Riders wheeled toward the right, and fled to the river in wild confusion. The pards chased them, blazing away as they ran, Three of the riders only gained the opposite bank of the Rio Grande, the rest were carried away by the river, now quite high and turbu- | lent, : The victors gathered the dead and wounded ! brigands, The red mask, false hair and beard had fallen from the face of one of the wounded men, and the features of the Cuban, Gomes, were revealed. ** Aha, Blake exclaimed. ger, attacked me?” ‘*Do you not know me, you accursed Ameri- can?” cried the dying man. ‘‘f am Manuel Escobedo! You have succeeded in killing me, but my sister, Isabel, who has escaped you, will avenge me!” And then the death-rattle sound- ed iu his throat. At last Blake comprebended; the two Cubans were the brother and the sister, in male attire. An eager search was made for the disguised Isabel, but as she could not be found—she was not one of the three who gained the bank, as was afterward diseovered—it was concluded she had found a watery grave in the Rio Grande’s yellow flood. Our tale is told; a few more words only, Jackson Blake, the Fresh of Frisco, wedded the peerless Margaret Escobedo, and after the wedding, in obedience to Margaret’s wish, the ranch was sold, all ths Western property turned into ready cash, and the pair departed to seek a home in the far East, amid the civilization where the heiress of Escobedo had been reared, And there in their palace-like howe, on the noble Hudson’s banks, we will leave the happy pair, but-at some future time we may again take the pen in band to relate the adventures which in the “effete East” befell the restless, irrepressible son of the Orient, Jackson Blake, the Fresh of ’Frisco, THE END. caught at last in your own trap?” ‘* But why bave you, a stran- Beatle's Half-Dime Library. BY PHILIP 8. WARNE. St Patent-Leather Joe}; or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. 175 Caprain Arizona ; or, Patent-Lenther Joe's Big Game. 198 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Defeat, 219 Despard, the Duelist; or, The Mountain Vempires. 838 AT ough Boy ; or, The Dwari’s Revenge. 863 Little Tornado; or, The Outcasts of the Glen. ittie Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. 885 Little ema, or, Caught in His Own Trap. 401 Little Shoo-F ly; or, A Race for « Ranch. 408 Little Leather-BRreeches; or, Old Jumbo’s Curse. 481 Little Ah Sing or, The Curse of Blood, 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the alinés. 450 -Pardsa, ; Jolly 517 Jim Gladden’s Depes 527 The Jolly Pards to the Rescue. BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE. Dandy Rock the Man from Texas. The Drend Rider; or, The Texan Duelist. The Tiger of Taos; or, Dandy Rock’s Angel. The Mad Miner}; or, Dandy Kock’s Doom, The Golden Hand; or, Dandy Rock to the Rescue, Dandy Rock’s Pl 6% or, Hunted to Death. Dandy Rock’s Rival; or, The taunted Maid of Taos 8 9 15 1 181 164 178 BY BUCKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8. Hall.) 284 Ola Recky’s * Boyees;” or, Benito, the Young Horse- Aker, " 246 Giant Georges or, The Ang’! of the Range. 275 Arizona Zack or, Giant George's Purd. - 297 The Tarantula of Taos; or, Giant George’s Revenge. 807 The Strange Pard; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. . 818 ried meng he, 3 or, The Tarantula of Taos. ny B27 Cree the Caddo; or, The Red and White Pards. $82 Frio Fred; or, The Tonkaw An ‘Trust. oye 844 The hting Trio: or, Rattleanske, the Tonkaway. 849 Wild If or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front. 857 The Ranch Raiders: or, The Slege of Fort Purgatory. 864 Snap-Shot, the Boy Ranger. 875 Ohiota, the Creek or, The Three Thunderbolts. 881 Bandera Bill; or. Frio Frank to the Front, 892 Bomoe and the Reds; or, The Beleaguered Ranch. 404 Little Lartat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. 14 The Daisy from Denver. 427 The Three Tratlers; or, Old Rocky on the Rampage. 442 Bluff Bill; or, The Lynx of the Leona. 455 Little Lone Star; or, The Belle of the Cibolo. BY CAPT. MARK WILTON. oe8 yoane Kentuek; ot, ~~ ge ay znard nj or, The Riot at Keno Camp, 286 Josh, the Boy Tenderfoot. BY J. W. OSBON, 469 The Rival Glant« har’. 498 Cactus Burr, the elt te 587 Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. BY MAJOR HENRY B. STODDARD, Ex-Scout. 806 Neck-Tie Ned; or, The Du: Pards. 846 papter Ra : $ or, The Swordsman of Zacatecas, B91 Kid-Glove Kit, the Dandy of the Rockies. : BOR Sonia Ag t and Pard; or, The Gold King. 406 F te nd an-Iunter; or, The Mystery of Golden Guich. 505 Powell’s Pardy; or, The One-Armed Giant. BY JACK FARRAGUT. 815 N: the Cabin Boy. 820 The Sen Sorceress; or, The Boy Skipper. BY COL. A. F. HOLT, 4 899 k Buckekin; or, The Masked Death $18 Rennethy te kntesigr rte, hve Crewe Conon & Little Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods. : : BY JAMES L. BOWEN 1S Saas WesaTies Te na | on receipt of six cents each. 29 BY BRACEBRIDGE HEMYNG. 89 Ialand Jim; or, The Pet of the Family. - 91 The Captain of the Club; or. The Rival Athletes, 101 Jack liarkaway in New York, BY HARRY HAZARD, 828 Arkanaaw Jack; or, The Scourge of the Mines. 29 Red-Skin Tomy? or, The Demon's Trall, 842 The Mountain Devil; or, Yellow Jack, the Outlaw. BY WILLIAM *. EYSTER, 190 Dandy Darke; or, The Tigers of High Pine, 210 Faro Frank ; or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Pardes. BY COLONEL DELLE SARA, 108 The Lion of the Sca;z or, The Vailed Lady. 186 Oool Desmond; or, The Gambler's Big Game} BY MAJOR LEWIS W. CARSON, 278 The Three Trappers; or, The Mountvin Monster, 288 Indian Joe: or, The White Spirit of the HIlls. BY JOUN J. MARSHALL. 40 Roving Ben. A Story of a Young Ameritan. V7 The Outlaw Brothers; or, The Captive of the Harpes. BY WM. G, PATTEN. 489 The Diamond Sport; or, The Double Face of Bed Rock, 519 Captain Mystery ; or, Five in One. 581 Daisy Dare, the Sport from Denver. BY FREDERICK DEWEY. 818 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Rifle-Shots. 478 Tangemund, the Desert Detective. 542 The Canyon Parda. BY LIEUT. HH. D. PERRY, U. 8. N. 176 The Boy Runaway; or, The Buccaneer of the Bay. 180 The Sea Trafier; or, A Vow Well Kept. 192 Captain Kit; or, The Mystery of Montauk Point. BY GEORGE C, JENKS. 485 Git Thar Owney, the Unknown. 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 518 The Demon Doctor. BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR, U. 8S. A. 191 + rwme Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker; or, The Doomod rteen. 194 Buffalo BIl’s Bet; or, The Gambler Guide. BY W. J. HAMILTON, 68 The Red Brotherhood; or, The Twelve Avengers, 66 Sings Hand; or, A Life fora Life, 72 Mad Tom W eastern, the Texan Ranger, 887 Ben Bird, the Cave King; or, Big Pete’s Scoop. BY ROGER STARBUCK. 25 The Boy Captain; or, The Pirate's Daughter, 114 The Black Schooner; or, Jib Junk, the Old Tae, 259 The Golden Har n ¢ or, Lost Among the Floes, Fire-Heels; or, Old Skinflivt, the Death-Shadow. Rig Horn Ike, the Hill Tramp; or, The Odd Pards. 861 The Phantom Light-house, 870 Breaker Ben, the Reef-Runner. BY HARRY 8&T. GEORGE. 80 Roaring Ralph Rockwood, the pees. 44 Rattling Rube; or, The Nighthawks of Kentucky. 59 Old Hickory ; or, Pandy Ellia’s Scalp. 108 During Davy ; or, The Trail of the Border Wolf. 166 Hickory Harry ; or, The Trapper-Brigade’s Spy, 172 Thunderbolt Tom; or, the Wolf-Herder. BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER. 15 The Sea-Cat; or, The Witch of Darien. 29 The Dumb Page $n The Doge’s Daughter, 48 Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. 150 Lance und 3 or, The Children of the Chaco. 1 he Sword Munters; or, The Land of the Ele it Riders, 159 The my captates or Skipper Jabez Coffin’s to the nm Poinr . . 200 e Boy Bedoulins; or, The Brothers of the Plamed Lance, 214 Wo ng, the Robber of the Rhine. or, The Round the World 249 Milo Romer, the Animal King; 265 The Tia vr Tamer ; or, The League of the Jungle. lek, the Demon Rider. B95 California Joc’ War Trafl. BY JO PIERCE. 897 o’ the Bowery ; or, The Prince of Mul Street, 415 Ree Vagabond ive} oF, Bowery Dove Boome ‘ rT] © Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. wyer’s Shadow} or, Luke’s Legacy. 472 Jaunty Joe, the Youn Horse-King. 494 Rurly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective. 504 Five Points Phil. ern, the Butcher Boy im; or, Five Points Phil's ive, Rex, the Pride of the Sixth Ward. er, the Stable Boy Detective. 58 541 Jeff Fli BY FRANK DUMONT. 120 The Branded Hand}; or, The Man of Mystery. 127 Wild-Fire, the Boss of the Road. 140 Blue Blazes; or, The Break o’ Day Boys of Rotky Bar 171 Ebony Dan; or, The Rival Leagues. 185 Evil Eye; or, The Vultures of the Rio Grande, BY CAP. J. F, 0. ADAMS. regon Sol} or, Nick Whiffies’ i Gla Be fae rons Shot of the wane p Rick Whites Bet a Zip of Death. ast or, The Unde = The Scalp King; ér, The Human Thundersolt, s BY EDWARD S. ELLIS. 6 Bill Jon, T: 5 8 ah ren or, The Captives of the Frontier, at Nat Todd: or, The Fate of the Sioux Captive. er . B tnera; or, The Enchanted Island. The Hunted Hunter T he - A new issue every Tuesday. ‘The Half-Dime Library is for sale by all Newsdealers, five eents per copy, or sent by mail, Publishers, 98 William street, New York. — acai . t 3 ‘ . *
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READLE'S*[ )IME*]IBRARY. : Published Every Wednesday. Hach Issue Complete a ~ BUFFALO BILL NOVELS. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham, 924 Buffalo Bill’s Lone Hand. 98 Buifalo Liil’s Marked Bullet, . 984 Buffalo Bill’s Life Raffle. ,979 Buffalo Bill’s Relentless Trail. 964 Buffa'o Bil’s Invincibles. \960 Buffalo Biil’s Ulue Belt Brigade. l956 Buffale Bill’s Volunteer Vigilantes. 1950 Buffalo Bill at Bay. Buffalo Bill’s Block Game. Buffalo Bills Black Parad, 927 Buffalo Bill’s Biuaff; or, covigg & Dick the Sport. | gat Buffalo Bill’s Quandary: or, Velvet Bill’s Vow. 15 Buffalo Billand the Surgeon-Scout, Buffalo Bills League; or, Red Butterfly. Buffalo Bills Tangled Trail. Buffalo Bill’s Rough Riders, 895 Buffalo Bill’s Secret Ally. 890 Buffalo Bill’s Life-Stake, 882 The Three Bills: Buffalo Pill Wild Bill and Band- box Bill; or, The Bravo in Broadcloth, 874 Buffalo ; or, Joe Phenix mt re E828 g838 Silver Swe 799 Joe Phenix’s Great Blue Diamend Case; or, The New York Sport at Long Branch. 793 Joe Phenix’s Decoy; or, The Man of Three, 760 Joe Phenix’s Lone Hand, 749 Joe Ph ‘nix's Big Bulge, | 745 Joe Phenix’s Mad Case. 708 Joe Phenix's Siren; or, The Woman Hawkshaw, 700 Joe Phenix’s Unknown; or, Crushing the Crookw 681 Joe Phenix’s Specials; or, The Actress Detective 637 Joe Phenix in Crazy Camp. 632 Joe Phenix’s Master Search, 628 Joe Phenix's Combin. ;. r,the Dandy Conspirator 620 Joe Phenix’s Silent Six, 601 Joe Phenix’s Shadow; or,the Detective’s Monitor 419 Joe Phenix,, the King of Detectives. 161 Joe Phenix’s Great Man Hunt, | 112 Joe Phenix, Private Detective; or, The League, 79 Joe Phenix, the Police Spy. Aikea’s MiscelNancous Novels, 980 The All-Around Athlete. | 940 Captain Jack, the Scalper 935 The Hawks and \\ olves of New York 932 Detective Gordon’s Grip. 926 Old Sunflower, the Silent Smiter. apa 923 Old Sunflower, the Hayseed Detective, ¢ 901 The Hotel Swell-Sharp; cr, The Siren Shadogr 892 The Country man Detective. 876 Gold Bu'ton Sport; or, The Miner Sharps, , 842 Teton Tom. the Half-} ; 835 The King Pin Detective. 814 The New Yorker Among Texas Sports, 75 King Dandy, the Silver Sport. 753 Gideon's Grip at Pabylon | ar. 717 Captain Pat_ MceGowen, t] e Greencoat Detective, 674 Uncle Sun Up, the Born Detective. 670 The Lightw eight Detective, ; 665 Tne Frisco Detective; or, The Golden Gyte Find, 613 Keen Billy, the Sport. 607 Old Benzine, the * Hard Case’ Detective, 594 Fire Face, the Silver King’s Foe. 686 The Silver Sh arp Detective. 577 Tom, of Calif crnia; or, Detective’s Shadow 570 The Actress Detective; or, The Invisible Han 662 Lone Hand, the Shadow. 620 The Lone Hand on the Caddo, 490 The Lone Hand in Texas. 475 Chin Chin, the Chinese Detective, 465 The Actor Detective. 440 The High Hor e of the Pacific, 423 The Lone Hand; or, The Red River Recreants, 408 Doc Grip, the Vendetta of Death. 881 The Gypsy Gen tleman: cr. Nick Fox, Detective 876 Black Sackla! o. The Rio Grende Bigh Horse 370 The Dusky Detective: or. Fursued to the Ena, 863 Crowningshield, the Detective | $20 The Genteel Spotter: or The N. Y. Night Hawk, 252 The '‘\ ali Street | lood; or, The Telegrat bh Girk 208 The Double Detective; or,The Micnight Mystery, | 196 La Marmoset, the Letective Queen, | 101 The Man from New York. | 91 The Winning Oar: or, The Innkeeper's Daughter, 84 Hunted Down: or, The League of Three 81 The Human Tiger: or, A Heart of Fire, | % Gentleman George; or, Parlor. Prison and Street, |. 72 The Phantom Hand; or, The 5th Avenue Heiress, ' | 56 The Indian Mazeppa; or, Madmen of the Plains, 49 Ths Wolf Demon; or, The Kanawha Quéen 42 The California Detective: or, The Witches of N.Y, 81 The New York Sharp; or, The Flash cf Lightning 27 The Spotter Detective: or, Girls of New York. | ) ) NEW ISSUES. } t. 1000: Buffelo Rill’s Grim Guard. By Col. Ingraham,| ij The Brand-Burnersof Cimarron. By John W. \ Osbon, 1002 Silver City Sam. By Jos H. Badger. 1003 Gold Dan; or, Diek Talbot in Utah. By Albert | W. Afken | 1004 Buffalo Bill’s Death Deal. By Col. Ingraham. ' 4605 Woot-Hills Frank. . By Jos. Hi. Badger. } 1006 The Sea Cadet. By Col. P. Tagrabar . JUST ISSUED. 996 Injon Dick, the Shasta Dead Shot, mE Aiken, . 997 Hotsnur Hal, the Sport from Hard.Luck, By Jos. BE. Badg: r. Jr. 998 Captai Seawalf, Privateer. By Ned Buntline. 999 The Velvet Hand: or, The Tron Grip of Injun | ‘Dick. By Albert W. Aiken, . A new tssue every Weinesday- | ‘EWE DIME LIBRARY is for sale by al. Newsdealers. tom cants ve Copy or sent by mall or receipt of price. 2a. tS ee ja. weg
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‘BY WILLIAM R. EYSTER. 916 Two Dead-Square Sports. 902 Soft Velvet, the Man from Sandrock, 891 Genteel Jim, Sport-at-Large, 881 The Clubman-Crook’s Cat’s-paw. 867 The Frisco Sport. 852 The Stranger Sport’s Shake-up. 828 Kirk King, the Man from Kirby. 818 Gentleman Dave, the Dead Game Sport 783 The King-Pin Tramp. 767 The Sport of Silver Bend. 718 Uncte Bedrock’s Big Bounce. 707 The Rival Rovers. 687 Double Cinch Dan, the Sport With a Charm. 677 Mr. Jackson, the Gent from Jaybird. 659 Gilt-Edge econ f or, Roldau and His Rovers, 650 Luck ster’s Lone Hand. : 634 Old Handcart‘s Big Dump. 622 The All Around Sports. 603 Desert Alf, the Man With the Cougar. 590 Gentle Jack, the High Roller from’ Humbug. 4 578 Seven Shot Steve, the Sport with a Smile. 568 The Dude Detective. 558 Hurrah Harry, the High Horse from Halcyon, 549 Belshazzar Brick, the Bailiff of Blue Blazes. 533 Oregon, the Sport Witha Scar. 503 The Dude from Denver. 478 Pinnacle Pete; or, The Fool from Way Back, 459 Maiop Sunshine, the Man of Three Lives. 429 Hair Trigger Tom of Red Bend. 402 Snapshot Sam; or, The Angels’ Fiat Racket. 396 The Piper Detective; or, The Gilt Edge Gang. BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR. Old Sobersides, the Detective of St, Louis. White-Horse Wheeler, the Revenue Detective. W8 The Double Edged Detective. 07 Maverick Mark. the Man from Nowhere, iN 98 Silky Steele, the Stay-in Sport. vg 814 Tae Spotter-Sport’s Neck-Tie Party, Ae WO High-Water Mark; or, Silver-Tip Sid. 62 Riata Rob, the Range Champion. ‘ a The C boy Chief’s Sure-Shot. ™~ 8 The Rival Red-Hat Sports. = ‘887 Curly Kid, the Cheyenne Sport. a $824 The Sofs Hand Detective, - 615 The Soft Hund’s Clutch. ; 809 Dan Dunn the Soft-Mland Sport. : 796 The Frisco Detective’s Thug-Tangle. “ 489 Sam Cary, the River'Sport. , . £80 The Dead Sport's Double. _-- 71 Prince John, Detective Special. ~~ %63 Dandy Don, the Denver Detective. %4%he Man from Texas; or, Dangerfield, the Doctor Detective. 744 pe yee | Sam, the Silver Sport, i 720 The Secret Six; or, Old Halcyon. ; 712 The Man of Siik. Ss. S: %% Bantam Bob, the ae from Butte. x @98 Kent Kasson, the Preacher Sport, a r 683 Bob Breeze, the Rounder Detective, : @75 Steel Surry, the Sport from Sunrise; x 668 Solemn Saul’s.Luck Streak 661 The Get-There Sharp. _ 651 Silvexrtip St-ve, the Sky Scraper from Siskiyou. 645 Gopher Gabe, the Unseen Detective. a as ig) 375 Royal Ge the Three iv One. Dandy Darling, Detective. 356 Thr 6 Fa, ees Sports; or, The Combination Moss) Most, the Mountaineer. 883 Derringer Dick, the Man with the Drop. 617 The Sack Sbarp’s Even up. 597 Big eas: the Brigadier of Brimstone Butte, $88 Sandy sands, the Sharp from Snap City. ex 576 Silver-Toagued Sid; or, Grip Sack Sharp’s Sweep. i 664 The Grip-Sack Sharp; or, The Seraphsof Sodom. B55 Grip-Sack Sid, the Sample Sport. M7 The Bugied PRetective; or, Sa:]’s Six Sensations. 2 268 Magic Mike, “he Man of Frills. 229 Captain Cutsiceve; or, The Little Sport. 214 The Two Cool Sports; or, Gertie of the Gulch. 182 Hands Up; or, The Knights of the Canyon. 160 Soft Hand, Sharp; or, The Man with the Sand. 145 Pistol Pards; or, The Bilent Sport from Cinnabar | Bl Major Magnet he MAR Ot NerS ree BY NED BUNTLINE. > Py’ y uteh, ; 0 - . = wi Dandy Andy, the Diamond Detective, = Long toe, ihe Privateer. Ne f14 Gabe Gun. , the Grizzly from Ginseng. 621 The Rea Privateer; or, The Midshipman Rover. 604 Solemn Saul. the Sad Man from san Saba, 495 Ratt'epate Rob; cr, The Roundhead’s Reprisal _ 488 The Thor ugnbred Sport. 474 Daddy Dead-Eye, the Desvot of Dew Drop. aa 466 O'd Roueh and Ready, the Sage of Sundown ag "458 Duteb Dan the Pilgrim from Spitzenberg, an 443 A Cool Hand: or, Pistol Johnuy’s Pienic, $458 G iahoma Nick i a 4833 Laughing Leo; or, Sam’s Davdy Pard, Ss 6 The Ghost Detective: or. The Secret Service Spy. nee 18 Monte vim. the Biack Sbeep of Bismarck. ‘ ‘~ Bob Roy Ranch; or, The imps of Pan Handle. “) oe Nameless Sport. . 5 Deediy Arm, tire Duke of Derringers. Ss @ Dark Durg. the Ishmael of the Hiils. f2 Captain Orisp, the Man with a Record, 740 Capt-in Clew, the Fighting Detective, oe 67 A Royal Fius.1: or, Dan Brown's i.ig Game. 732 The Hurricane Detective. : 280 Jumping Jerry, the Gamecock from Sundown, 643 Cas'lemaine, the Silent Sifter. 855 Stormy Steve, the Mad Athlete. 616 Magnus, the Weird Detective. $51 Nor’ West Nick, the Border Detective. », 606 The Drop Detective. 245 Weskea Mark, the Mownted Detective. 595 Wellbasn, the Upper Crust Detective, "Bs spread Eagle Sam, the Hercules Hide slunter, 582 Jorara, the Detective Expert. 584 Fire Feather, the Buecaneer King. 517 Buffalo Bill’s First Trail. 861 Tombstone Dick, the Train Pilot. 122 Saul Sabberday, the Idiot § y. 11 The Smuzgg'ier Captain; or, The Skipper's Crime, 18 The Sea Bandit; or, The Quéen of the Isle. 16 The White Wizard; or, The Seminole Prophet. BY JACKSON KNOX—‘' Old Hawk.” 838 Gli Grips Still Hunt. 827 Detective Walden’s Web. 778 Tne Butler Detective; or, Ola Grip’s Grip 779 The Showman Dete tive. 762 Old Grip, the De’ ective. #31 Cuispa Charley. the Gold Nugget Sport, 574 Old Pnicon’s Double. 1817 Krank Lightfoot, the Miner Detective. 561 The Tuug King; or, The Falcon Detective’s Foe, £992 Moke Horner, the Boss Roustabout. 48 Falconbridge. the &phinx Detective. 936 Pistol Johnny; cr. One Man in a Thousand, 536 Old Falcon's Foe; or, The Detective’s Swell Job, $33 Sieak Sam, the Devil of the Mines. | -. . | 515 Short-Stop Maje, the Diamond Field Detéctive, 257 Death Trap Diggings: or, A Man ’Way Back | 599 O11 Fal-on, the Thunderbolt Detective, £19 Klephant Tore. of Durango. 501 Spriagsteel Steve, the Retired Detective 241 Spitfire Saul. King of the Rustlers. : 494 The Detective's Spy. ‘ 233 The Old ov of Tombstone. a 485 Rowlock. the Harbor Detective, %)) Pirate of the Placers; or, Joaquin’s Death Hunt | 477 Dead-arm Brandt. 180 Old ‘49; or. The Amazon of Arizona. 487 Mainwaring. the Salamander. 170 Sweet William, the Trapper Detective, 462 The Cixcus Detective. 165 Joaquin, the Terrible 451 Griplock, the Rocket Detective, 154 Joaquin, the Saddie ae Red-Rock 444 The Magic Detective; or, The Hidden Hand, 141 Equinox Tom, the Bully o Man Han 424 Hawk Heron’s Deputy. 419 Alabama Joe; or, The Yazoo Man- — 886 Hawk Heron, the Falcon Detective. — 205 Dan Brown of Deamers Se Dee iy * OFr.- ° . ’ 88 Biz George; oF pe Or oi isopl Man Shaxk. BY 5. ©. COWDRICK, 67 The oy Jockey; or, Honesty vs, Crookedness. | 752 The Suspect Sport of Daisy Drift. peace eens O12 Sheri Suvood, the Reptiator of Raspberry y er’ tillwood, ulator . cee moepetere Mick ay epee 0 Fire-Eye, the : e Daniels, the ety Detective, i Old Neht-Hawk, ihe Crook Shadower, 580 Shadowing a Shadow. - 768 The Prin e of New York Crooks, ‘acti N65 Prince Paul, the Postman Detective 766 Old Burke, the Madison Square Detective, WAT Doubie-voice Ban's Dost Disguise. 519 Old. Riddles. the Boek er “T15 Double-Voice Dan on oe. / wilight arlie, the ad Sport. 2 Double- Voices Dan, the Always-on-Deck Detective | 472 Gilbert of Gotham, the Stecl-arm Detective. 306 Double-Voiea Dan, the Go-it Alone Detective, | 452 Rainbow Rub, the Tulip from Texas, - 0 The Sparkler Sharp. 436 Kentucky Jean, the Sport from Yellow Pine. 669 Hurricane Hal, the Cowboy Hotspur. 422 Blue Grass Burt, the Gold Star Detective. , id True Blue, the ea satan: 390 The Giant Cupid; or Cibuta John’s Jubilee. OF OnE Plog Uniy the Rough and BY EDWARD WILLETT, 488 Flush Fred, the River Sharp. 645 Geld Glove Gid, the Man of Grit. : 368 The Canyon King; or. a Price on his Head, 641 Aztec Jack, the Desert Nomad. 631 Coionel Cool, the Santa Fe Sharp, 348 Dan Dillon, King of Crosscut. $87 Old pring et Mountain Tramp. 602 Captain Nameless. the Mountain Mystery. oH olf $27 Terrapin Dick, the Wildwood Detective, 815 Flush Fred’s Double; or, The Squatters’ League 308 Hemlock Hank. Tough and True. = 298 Logger Lem; or, Lif+ in the Pine Woods. 289 Flush Fred’s Full Hand. en 274 Flush Fred, the Mississippi Sport. . 248 Montana Net, the Lion of Last Chance Camp, 222 Bill the Blizzard; or. Red Jack’s Crime. 209 Buck Farley, the Bonanza Prinee. “ he Twister Detective : o- Buster Detective. 7om)inetion Detective, ive, sekey Detectives the Rustler a oo BREADLE’S*] )IME*|IBRARY. = ' ¥wblished Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cengs. No Double Numbers 557 The Mountain Graybeards; or. Riddles’ Riddle, »| 850'The Planter Detecti 129 Mississippi Mose; or, a Strong’ Man 's Sacrifice. . ih. tecti ' _| 200 The Rifle Rangers; or. Adventures in Mexico. ; + “fs s got Ta etme wal “id The Capiain of the Rifles; HS ae mae Giant Horseman : 66 The Specter Barqus, A ‘Tile af the Pa pai Yeh wong _] 88 The Scalp Hunters * Romance of the Plains. ~ BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM. |; 911 The Blue Bloeckader; or, The Coast Grayhound 906 The Cuban Cruiser. 854 Tne Ocean Gipsy. 834 The Wild Steer Riders; or, Texas Jack's Terrorg, 839 The Rival Monte Cristos. 805 The Last of the Pirates; or, Docm Driven. 801 The Water Woives’ Detective; or, Trapving thé Grave Ghouls. 791 The Coast-Raider’s Death-Chase. 748 Arizona Chariie, the Crack-sot Detective. 704 Invisinle Ivan, the Wizard Detective, 685 The Red-skin Sea Rover. 679 Revello, the Pirate Cruiser; or, The Rival Rovers: 672 The Red Rapier; or, The Sea Rover’s Bride. 662 The Jew D+tective: or, The Beautiful Convict. 640 The Rov -r’s Ret ibution, 635 The Ex Buecanerr: cr, The Stigma of Sin. 625 Red Wings; or, The Gold Seekers of the Bahamas, 615 The Three uccaneers. : 610 The Red Flag Rover; or, White Wings of the Deep, 605 The Shadow Silver Ship. : 600 The Silver Ship; or, The Sea Scouts of °76. 593 The Sea Rebel: or. Red Rovers of the Revolution, 587 Conrad, the Sailor Spy; or. True Hearts of ‘76, 581 The Outlawed Skipper; or, The Gantlet Runner, 560 The Man from Mexico. 553 Ma. k Monte, the Mutineer; or, The Branded Brig. 546 TF Doomed Whaler: or, The Life Wreck. « 530 The Savages of the Sea, 524 The Sea Chaser; or, The Pirate Noble, } 510 El Moro, th» Corsair Commodore, 493 The Scouts of the Sea. ; 457 The Sea Insurgent: or, The Conspirator Son, 446 Ucean Ogre, the Outcast Corsair. 425 The One-Armed Buccaneer. 430 The Fatal Frizate; or, Rivals in Love and Wag. 899 The New Monte Cristo. 393 The Convict Captian, 877 Afioat and Ashore; or. The Corsair Conspirator. 369 The Coast Corsair: or, The Siren of the Sea. 864 The Sea Fugitive: or, The Queen of tne Coast. 341 The Ssa Desperado, ; 336 Tbe Magic Snip; or, Sandy Hook Freebooters. 325 The Genticman Pirate ; or. The Casco. Hermits, 318 The Indian ‘ uccaneer; or, The Red Rovers. 807 The Phantom Pirate; or, The Water Wolves. 255 The Pirate Priest; or, Tho Gampler’s Daughter. 246 Queen Helen, the Amazon of the Over 235 Red Ligntning the Man of Chance. 224 Black Beard, the Buccaneer, 220 The Specter Yacht; or, A Brother's Crime, 210 Buceaneer Bess. the Lioness of the Sea, 205 The Gambl>r Pirate; or, Lady of the Lagoot, 193 ‘Tbe Skeleton Schooner; or, The Skimmer ‘ 184 The Scarlet Schooner: or, The Sea Neme~- -. 104 Montezuma. the Merciless. ~ 10% Merle, the Mutineer; or, The Red Anchow ~~~", EY PHILIP S&S. WARNE, $9? Dan Dirk, King of No Man’s Land. 583 Captain Adair. the Cattle King, 567 Cap'ain Midnight, the Man of Craft, i44 ‘The Back to Back Pards. 422 The Champion Three, 502 Bareback Isuck, the Ceataur of the Plains, 472 Six Foot Si; or, The Man to “ Tie To.” 431 California Kit, the Always on Hand. 101 Silver Sid; or, A “ Daisy * Bluff, 380 Tirer Dicx’s Pledge: or, Tne Golden Serpent, 339 Yellow Jack, the Mestizo. 333 Jack Sands, the Boss of the Tewn. 299 Tnree of a Kind; or, Dick, Despard and thie 251 Tieer Dic« vs. [ron Drspard. ite tp 207 Old Hard Bead; or Whirlwind abd his Mare. 171 Tiger Dick, the Mau of the fron Heart. 114 The Gentleman from Pike - 80 A Man of Nerve; or, Caliban the Dwarf. 54 Always on Hand; or, The Foot-Hiils Sport, 29 Tiger Dick, Faro King; or, The Cashier’s Crime, 4 The Kidnapper; or, The Northwest Shanghai, BY CAPTAIN MARK WILTON. $23 Hotspur Hugh; or, The Banded Brothers, $11 Heavy Hand; or, The Marked Men. 205 Silver-Plated Sol, the Montana Rover. 291 Horseshoe Hank, the Man of Big Luck, 285 Lichtning Bolt, the Canyon Terror. 276 Texa Chick the Southwest Detective. 271 Stonefist, of Big Nugget Bend. 266 Leopard Luke the King of Horse-Thieves 262 Iron-Armed Abe, the Hunchback Destroyer 258 Builet Head, the Colora:!o. Bravo. 237 Long-Hairei Max; or, The Dlack 27 Buckshot Ben, the Man-Hunter of Idaho, 223 Canyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain. 219 The Scorpion Brothers; or, Mad Tom's Missic 202 Cactus Jack, the Giant Guide. 194 Don Sombrero the California Road Gent, 176 Lady Jaguar, the Robber Queen. ~ BY OLL COOMES. | 619 Kit Bandy & Co ; the Border Detectiver. 148 One-Armed A!f. the Giant Hunter. __ 3 99 The Giant Rifieman: or, Wild Camp Life, 43 Dakota Dan. the Reckless Ranger, RY COL. THOMAS H, MONSTERS, ~ 236 Charapion Sam; or, The Monarchs of the Show 150 El Rubio Bravo, King of the Swordsmen, BY PR. NOEL PUNBAR. 919 ‘The Sea Scout; or. The Patriot Privateen 886 The King of Crooks. 2 ‘B58 Nuniher Ontee the Dead-set Detective, . Inte Decpatd, tee Gambler Duelist. {it 730 Duke ‘ Ga eli S .; 604 The ive in Rags; or, The Grim Shadewer, ‘800 The True-Heart Pards. BES F2 a new issue every Wednesday eT Berdic’s Dime Library p44 sale Ke Newsdeatlers, ten cents per copy, or sent by receipt of-tweive cents ea~ , - a SOO oe me
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Me 2 ‘979 Buffalo Bill's Relentless Trail. BILL NOvEIS By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham, 973 The Dread Shot Four; Gee” Pards of the Cc Plains. By Col W. F. 964 Buffalo Bill’s Invincibles; or; The Sable Shad- ower's Sublime Sacrifice. By Col. P. Ingra- ham, 960 Buffalo Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade; or, Sun- flower Sam of Shasta, By Col. P. Ingraham. 956 Buffalo Bill’s Volunteer Vigilantes; or, The Mysterious Man in.Blue. By Col. P. Ingra- ham. 950 Buffalo Bill at Bay; or, The Gola Seeker's Doom. By Col. BP. Ingraham, 943 Buffalo Bill’s Block Game; or, The Mounted Miners of the Overland. By Col. P. Ingra- ham. 936 Buffalo Bill’s Black Pard; or, The Gold Boomers of the Big Hern. By Col. P, Ingra- ham. 927 Buffalo Bill’s Bluff; or, Dusky Dick, the Sport. By Col. P. Ingraham. 921 Buffalo Bill’s Quandary; or, Velvet Bill's Vow. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 915 Buffalo Bill and the Surgeon Scout: or, Go- Wan-go, the Redskin Rider. By Col. P. In- graham. 909 Buffalo Bill’a League; or, Red Butterfly. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 904 Buffalo Bill's Tangled Trail; or, Gentleman * Jack, the Man of Many Masks, By Col. P. Ingraham. 900 Buffalo Bill's Rough Riders; or, Texas Jack’s Sharp-Shooters, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 895 Buffalo Bill's Secret Ally; or, The Texan's Double. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. ; 880 Buffalo Bill's Life-Stake; or, The Pledged Three.+By Col. P, Ingraham. 882 The Three Bills; Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill and Band-Box. Bill; or, The Brayo in Broadcloth. ‘By Col. P. Ingraham. 874 Buffalo Bill’s Buckskin Braves; or, The Card Queen's Last Game. By Col. P. Ingraham. 869 Buffalo Bill's Road Agent Round-Up; or, The Mysterious Masked Man in Black. By Col. P. Ingraham. by 863 Buffalo Bill's Death-Charm; or, The Man With the Scar. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 857 Buffalo Bill’s Royal Flush; or, The Pony Ri-. der’s Death-Run. By Col. Prentiss Ingra- ham. * 851 Buffalo Bill's Double Dilemma; or, The Great Scout’s Big Three: By Col. P. Ingraham. 845 Buffalo Bill's Redskin Ruse; or, Texas Jack’s Death Shot. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 889 The Ranch King Dead-Shot; or, Texas Jack’s Proxy. By Buffalo Bill. 830 Buffalo Bill's Boys in Blue; or, The Brimstone Band's Blot-out. By Col. P. Ingraham. 826 Buffalo Bill's Sharp-Shooters; or, The Surgeon Scout to the Rescue. By Col. P. Ingraham, | Bower; or, Montebello the 1. Prentiss Ingraham, T# 822 Buffalo Bil’s Bes } Goid King. By > 000000000 000000080 000000000 000000000 a a 820 White Beaver’s Still» Hunt; or, The Miner Marauder’s Death-Track. By Buffalo Bill. Buffalo Bill's Red Trail; Renogade's Run Down. By Col. P. Ingraham, But Riders of the Rockies, By Col. 07 Wild Bil, the Wiid Wes: Dueli-t Mascot of Moonlight Mine. By Luttalo Bill. 807 Wild Bill, the Wild West Duelist; or, an Girl Grande Ralph, the Cowboy Chief. By Buf- falo Bill. Buffalo Bill’s Winning Hand; or, The Masked Woman of the Colorado Canyon. By Col, Ingraham, Buffalo Bill's Dead Shot; or, The Skeleton Scout of the Colorado, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, Buffalo Bill's Brand; or, The Brimstone Brotherhood. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. Buffalo. Bill's Spy-Shadower; or, The Masked Men at Grand Canyon. By Col. P: Ingraham. Buffalo Bill’s Ban; or, Cody to the Rescue, By Leon Lewis. Buffalo Bill’s Sweepstake; or, The Wipe-out at Last Chance. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. Buffalo Bill’s Dozen; or, Silk Ribbon Sam. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 761 Buffalo Bill’s Mascot; or, The Death Valley Victim No. 13, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. Buffalo Bill’s Double; or, The Desperado De- teetive. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, Buffalo Bills Big Four; or, Custer’s Shadow. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. Buffalo Bill's Flush Hand; or, Texas Jack’s Bravos. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. Buffalo Bill’s Blind; or, The Masked Driver of Death’s Canyon. By Col. Prentiss Ingra- ham. Buffalo Bill and His Merry Men; or, The ip cag Hood Rivals. By Col, Ereutisn Ingra- am 731 a Bill’s Bears: or, ‘sik Lasso Sam. By Col. Prentiss ngraham. 727 Buffalo Bill’s Body Guard; or, The Still mica of the Hills. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham 722 Buffalo Bill on the War Path; or, Silk een 816 812 i’. Ingraham. 794 787 781 717 773 769 765 TST 750 743 Sam, the Will-o’-the-Wisp. By Col, P. In- graham. 716 Buffalo Bill’s Scout eee or, Emer- ald. Ed of Devil’s Acre. By Col. P. Ingraham. 710 Ruffalo Bill. Baffled; or, The Deserter. Des- perado’s Defiance. By Col, P. Ingraham. 697 Buffalo Bill's Buckskin Brotherhood; or, Opening Up # Lost Trail. y Col. P. In- graham. . 691 Buffalo Bill’s Blind Trail; or, The Daughter of the Regiment, By Col, Prentiss Ingraham, 682 Buffalo Bill's Secret Service Trail. By Major Dangerfield Burr. 667 Buffalo Bill’s* Swoop; or, the King of the Mines. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 658 The Cowboy Clan; or, The Tigress of Texas, By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. or, The Road-Rider alo Bill’s Death-Knell; or, The Red Hand | 644 Buffalo Bill's Bonanza; or, The Knights of : «pr, The Girl’ 689 The Gold King; or, Montebello, the Magnifi- EK DIME ‘LIBRARY is for sale by all Newsdealers, ten cents per copy, or sent by mail, ‘pre-paid, on re- -ceipt of price, ME tay 653 The Lasso King's League; or, The tsa of Texas. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. 649 Buck Taylor, the Saddle King. Buffalo Bill's Chief of Scouts. By Col. P. Ingraham. the Silver Circle. By Col. P. Ingraham. cent. By Buffalo Bill, 629 Buffalo Bill's Daring Role; or, Daredeath / Dick, King of the Cowboys. By Leon Lewis. 599 The Dead Shot Nine; pr My Pards of the( Plains.» By Buffalo Bil 517 Buffalo Bill's First Pace or, Will Cody, the Pony Express Rider. By Ned Buntline, 414 Red Renard, the Indian Detective; or, The Gold Buzzards of Colorado. By Buffalo Bill. 401 The One-Armed Pard; or, Red Retribution in Borderland, By Buffalo Bill. 397 The. Wizard Brothers; of, Trail. By Buffalo Bill. 394 White Beaver, the Dxile of the Platte; or, Edd spogi Man’s Red Trail. By Buffalo 362 Buffalo Bill's Grip; or, Oath-bound to Custer. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. ; 329 Buffalo Bill's Pledge; or, The League of } Three. By Col. P, Ingraham. 319 Wild Bill, the Whirlwind of the West. By Buffalo Bill. 804 Texas Jack, the Prairie Rattler; or, The Queen of the Wild Riders. By Buffalo Bill. 243 The Pilgrim Sharp; or, The Soldier's Sweet- heart. By Buffalo Bil, Government Scout ( g° and Guide, ‘ 189 Wild Bill's Gold Trail; or, The Desperate Dozen. By Col. P. Ingraham. 175 Wild Bill’s Trump Card; or, The Indian / Heiress. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 168 Wild Bill, the Pistol Dead Shot; or, Dagger Don’s Double. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 158 Buffalo Bill, Chief of Scouts; or, The Doomed | White Beaver’s ode Dozen. By Dr. Frank Powell. 117 Buffaio Bill’s Strange Pard; or, Dashing Dandy, the Hotspur of the Hills. By Major 'D. Burr. 92 Buffalo Bill, the Buckskin King;, or, The Amazon of the West. By Major Dangerfield ( Burr, 83 Gold Bullet Sport; or; The Knights of the § 4 Overland. By Buffalo Bill. 52 Death Trailer, the Chief of Scouts; cr, Life Love a Frontier Fort, By Buffalo ( NEW ISSUES TO COME. 981 The Gold Lace Sport; or, The Texan gam- son’s Wide Swath. By Jos. E. Badger, ; 982 Chris Crewley’s Winning Hand; or, The{ + note gd Valet’s Double Game. "By ‘A. P. , orris, 983 Kid Glove Kris, the Sport. By J. C. Cow- (ft - drick. Ready August '@ 984 Buffalo Bill's Life Raffle; or, Three. By Coh P. Ingraham. | Rendy ‘Sept. : Ss ° Ss ° ° Sy jo i Ss 000e000000 009000000