Beadle's Pocket Library (no. 123) (1886 05 19)
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“iS | P xf i 2 | |e) 1 a, Kis ig SS Prien wae tod, 1896, by BrADLE AND ADAMS. Post Office at New York, N. Y., as Second Class Mail Matter. May 19, 1886. 82.50 Published Weekly by Beadle and Adams, Price a Year. No, 93 WILLIAM St., New YorK, Fivedents, No, 123, WZEDINEL . = eA. “WELL! WELL!” THE OLD MAN DEMANDED, AS Hé SURVEYED THE LINE OF HORSEMEN, WITH EVIDENT DISPLEASURE, ‘‘ WHAT BRINGS YOU UPON THE LAND OF WHITE BEARD?”
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2 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. Solid Sam, The Boy Road-Agent; OR, THE BRANDED BROWS. A TALE OF WILD WYOMING. BY EDWARD L, WHEELER, AUTHOR OF ‘‘ DEADWOOD DICK” NOVELS, “(ROSEBUD ROB” NOVELS, ETC., ETO, PROLOGUE. A DASTARDLY DEED. . THe tine was in the spring of the year—an eventful one, too, for all winter long the mount- ains and prairies had been wrapped in deep, silent sheets of pure white snow, now to be melted by an incessant three days’ rain, until the dun of the prairies and the gray of the mountains were’exposed to the sight. The result of the precipitate rain and thaw had been to fill the streams to overflowing, and strike terror to the hearts of the squatters along their courses, for many a cabin or shanty was swept away by the stubborn and resistles3 ele- ment. For miles and miles the Missouri of the North, the Yellowstone and both branches of the Platte were more than bank full, and raying and rampaging as only a thoroughbred freshet can, while the lesser streams were proportion- ately high and dangerous, ’Way up along the Yellowstone stood a little squatters’ town upon the immediate banks of the river, where dwelt trappers, hunters and settlers to the number of some two-score. One, day during the hight of the flood, a ‘prairie schooner” cams across the northern plains and entered the settlement, and the occu- pants, a couple of ruftianly-looking fellows, en- accommodations at the little tavern. ‘hey claimed to be trappers going south of the Yellowstone, and would have to wait until’ the flood abated ere they could ford that now turbulent stream. But little attention was paid to them, and they wandered about the settle- ment during the day. About are Sa following the day, they had stealthily left the settlement behind, and in their ** schooner,” drawn by aspanking pair of horses, were making rope time in a southerly direc- tion, following the course of the noisy and tur- bulent Yellowstone. The sky was clear, and the moon looked down upon the prairie with spectral effect. At last, when several miles from the settle- ment, the wagon came to a halt upon the bank of the river. A raft lay partly launched, near by—being several logs fastened together with lariats, and also secured toa stake upon the shore. This raft had been some distance from the water, origin- ally, but the flood had gradually crept up until the rude craft was nearly afloat. The two men disembarked from the vehicle, and going to the rear end, opened a gap in the canvas, and hauled forth, first a woman, young and pretty, and then two children, a boy and girl, in the neighborhood of six yearsof age, and ga ebay twins. oth the woman and the children had their arms secured behind their backs, and terrified expressions upon their faces told but too plainly that they feared the ruffianly pair, in whose power they were. “Tn the name of Heaven, sir, I pray you to tell me what you intend to do with me and my children?” the mother cried, as the larger and fiercer of the two ruffians placed her upon her feet. ‘“‘ What evil motive prompted you to snatch me from my home at the settlement, and bring me hither?” ‘* Waal, mum, we had orders ter do it, ye see, an’ we allus obey orders,” the giant replied. “Orders!” the young mother cried, in conster- nation—“‘ orders? By whom did you receive orders to bring me here, pray?” The two men sedieheed glances, after which the larger one replied. ‘*T dunno’s thar’s enny harm in tellin’ ye, mum, sence ye ain’t got long to live. We aire respectively Black Epn and Bosting Bill, prac- tical.cut-throats, an’ soch like, an’ we war hired ter do ther job by your own affectionate hus- band, whom we met up in the mines. Et ap- pears thet he left ye ter seek his fortune, an’ hevin’ struck it rich, an’ found anuther damsel he likes better’n you, he has a desire ter git rid of you. So he hires me an’ Bosting Bill ter put ye aboard a ragin’ raft on ther ragin’ Yellow- stone, an’ let ye go, trustin’ ter luck thet ye never turn up ag’in, ter bother him!” During this rude recital the woman had stood in the grasp of the ruffian’s powerful hand, whiter than the blocks of ice rushing by upon the surface of the-angry stream. Evident it was that the revelation of the ruf- fian came to her with stunning effect. ‘““My God! this cannot be true,” she gasped, trembling from head to foot. ‘ You are lying to me—Guy Hathaway would never be guilty of such an infamous scheme!” ‘ “Thet’s jest where ye make a_ mistake, mum,” Black Eph replied, confidently. ‘‘ Ye tho’t ye know’d yer man, but got fooled. We war hired ter set: ye adrift, by Guy Hathaway, and no one else,” “ But you will not do it—oh! you will not do such a terrible wrong, I know!” the wronged wife pleaded, piteously. ‘‘ For the love of God, spare me from this horrible fate, and I will give you all I have in the wide world—all—every- thing!” “Humph! how much swag ye got?’ Black Eph demanded, a cunning glitter in his terrible eyes. “Ef ye can go above ther gineral’s pile, mebbe we're ter be bought. We allus work fer ther party w’ot pays best.” “T have but a hundred dollars in the wide world, but oh! I will cheerfully give it to you, if you will but spare me and my children!” orry, mum, but ther gineral goes ye nine hundred’ better’n that, an’ considerin’ thet a thousand ain’t picked up every day, ther gin- eral gits onr vote, you bet!” “Then you will not spare me?—yon will force a poor defenseless mother with her children to
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Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 3 court death upon that awful sheet of water?” Mrs, Hathaway demanded, wildly. “Sorry mum, but thet’s ther orders, an’ we allus obey orders, So ye'll hev ter take a ride on ther raft, an’ as et’s moonshiny, et ain’t a-goin’ ter be so bai, arter all. Bosting, bind ther kids’ feet, an’ I'll secure the leddy’s.” “Villain! monster!” Mrs. Hathaway cried, scornfully. ‘I defy you to do your worst, for your accursed master. I am not a coward, and will face my fate, trusting >in the One who never deserts his children—God!” *That’s bizness!” Black Eph commented, coolly, as he secured her feet. ‘* Ye hev got good grit, an’ I admire ye fer it, I do. Shell I lash ther young kids to ye?” “Yes! yes! it was kind of you to think of it. T want them by my side.” The little boy and girl, both pretty children, were accordingly bound to the mother with lariets in such a way that they could not be washed overboard unless she was, too. Both were speechless with affright, but pluckily kept from crying. £ } The trio were now placed upon the raft, and Boston Bill undid the fastenings which held it to the shore. The moment it was freed from the land, the heavy float swept out into the roaring, moonlit stream, with Mrs. Hathaway crouching upon it, and her two children lashed to her sides; and away they were borne by the rushing waters, at a frightful velocity, soon } assing from view of the two ruffians upon the shore. We shall not attempt to picture the feelings of the horrified mother, as she was borne onward by the unconquerable freshet. With wild eyes, and deathly face, she kept in the center of the raft, speechless with the hor- ror of her perilous situation. For hours the raft rushed on, threatening every minutes to go to pieces, in the surface of crushing ice, water and floodwood, while the roar of the turbulent river was deafening. In silent prayer the mother was swept on, the children now sobbing with terror. “Mamma, where we doin’?’ the boy_de- manded, between his sobs, ‘Nellie an’ I so raid, mamma!” ‘Sh! dear!” was the faint reply of the mo- ther, meant to be cheerful. ‘We are going down the river—to Our Father!” “Oh! oh!” the little fellow exclaimed, joy- fully. ‘‘ Cheer up, Sis, we see papa, byme-by, maybe!” Maybe! How that single word chilled the heart of Mrs. Hathaway, and caused a blinding rush of tears to dim her eyes. She felt that her inno- cent children would never live tio see the realiza- tion of that hopeful “‘ maybe.” The river seemed now to run faster and faster, and the raft kept pace. The velocity at which it was borne on was truly alarming. This fact was intensified when Mrs. Hathaway made the discovery that they-were approaching a rapids, Ahead loomed up a rocky point, against and partially over which the waters tumbled with a sullen roar. Down upon this bar the raft was dashed, and the occupants hurled high and dry upon the sandy shore, while with a groaning sound the clumsy craft went to pieces, and its timbers were washed away with the flood, On the following forenoon the flood had abat- ed considerably, and the river had shrunk to its usual proportions, when a horseman came from over the eastern plain and halted upon the shore of the Yellowstone, just opposite the bar that stretched its peninsular neck out into the stream, and against which the raft had been wrecked the night before. A dashing young fellow of eighteen years, handsome of face and form, was the horseman, and his garb of buckskin and well-selected wea- pons betokened him a hunter. “Ugh! Prince, the river is rather a cool bath, isn’t it?’ he murmured, as he patted his horse upon the neck; ‘‘nevertheless, we shall have to cross it in order to reach our destination. The flood has gone down, and I reckon this is about the shallowest ford we are likely to find; so, go ahead, old boy, and see if we cannot make the bar, yonder.’ The current was still swift, but seeming to understand the words of the young hunter, the horse plunged into the stream and swam it oe until he finally emerged upon the ar, Scarcely had the young horseman gained the bar ere he discovered the bodies of the previous night’s wreck, lying where they bad been cast, in an insensible condition. astily dismount- ing, he approached them, and made an exam- ination. ‘““A mother and her children, evidently,” he muttered, sadly, ‘‘ But, how came they bound in this shape? Some band of red-skins must have left them here to be washed away. Ha! the little girl’s heart still beats! The others are dead.” With his knife he severed the lariat that bound the trio together, and raised the littie girl from the ground. There was no mistakin that her heart still beat, although she was ye insensible. **Poor little waif,” the young hunter mur- mured, tenderly laying her upona blanket, ‘T have found her, and I would be a brute to leave her here to die. No;I will take her with me. and care for her. But first, I must be sure that the others are dead,” A closer examination failed to discover any sign of life in the mother or the boy, and having no implements the hunter was forced to leave them lying there unburied, while, with the little girl in his arms, he mounted his horse, and galloped away to the southwestward. Not over two hours after the departure of the hunter, a second horseman forded the Yellow- stone to the peninsula, and discovered the bodies, with considerable surprise. He was a large-framed man, clad throughout in buffalo-skin, with the furry side out, and in face looked to be about fifty years of age. His hair and huge beard of great length, however, were as white as snow, and there was a dull, sorrowful expression to his eyes, that told of some great sorrow which had wrecked his mind, and caused it at times to wander, He was well-
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armed with rifle, pistols and knife, and the horse he bestrode- was no common brute. Immediately upon discovering the bodies, he drew rein, dismounted and approached them. A strange cry escaped him as he bent over the woman—a cry of anguish and remorse, “« Bethel! Bethel! Oh! my God have mercy!” he moaned, bowing his head upon the cold in- animate form, and sobbing cdnvulsively. “Dead—my child, dead, and here in this wild spot? Ah! by Heaven! she has been bound, but her bonds have been severed by a keen-edged blade.” The Whi'e Beard had now leaped to his feet with a terrible expression of rage in his eyes, **T see! I see!” he hissed, his hands clinched, and muscles standing out in bold relief. ‘“‘ Foul work has been done here, and L know at whose door to lay the crime of murder. Bethel, my child, hear me swear in the presence of God, that your wrongs shall be avenged. Ah!” The old man started, for he saw the limbs of the boy stir. A hasty examination revealed that he was alive, but insensible. A gleam of joy flushed over the cld man’s face at this discovery, as if he had already planned some future course of action. Carrying the body of poor Mrs. Hathaway into a natural niche in a huge mass of rocks near by, he Jeft it there, and rolled a bowlder before the entrance. Then returning to tho boy, he raised him tenderly in his arms, and vaulted into the saddle as spryly as any younger person could have done. x The next instant he dashed away, in nearly the same course taken by the younger scout but a few hours ahead of him. Just six years afterward. The night again was moonlight, and a balmy one in early springtime, with an earthly smell that had only come since the snow had gone. Down a sort of a dug-way trail, or wagon road, that descended from a mountain of the southern Wind River Range, into a deep canyon below, rode, in double file, a body of horsemen, some sixty or more, in number, well mounted and armed, but roughly dressed and bewhisker- ed, to a man : And the fact that they carried, attached to their saddles and horses, implements commonly used by miners and some of the paraphernalia of camping-life, indicated the fact that they were what is known in all the gold-mining dis- tricts as ** stampeders.” Dissatisfied with the remuneration of one min- ing locality, this class of characters, invariably made up of adventurers, ruffians and hard citi- zens, make no bones, literally, of depopulating their former “city,” and stampeding to some other and “fatter” streak they have heard of, and if they chance to be strongest in numbers, woe be to the citizens of the place invaded, as they have the choice of only two things, either to “ bounce,” or fight. This party of horsemen was such a gang, which had stampeded from the quartz mines of the Sweetwater Mountains—men who recked little the value of life, and feared neither man or death. Solid Sam, the Boy Read-Agent. Down the moonlit road they guided their horses, preserving a grim silence, as the moon- light dwelt upon their ranks with picturesque effect, Below, in the depths of the deep black canyon, a single starlike gleam of light located some hu- man habitation, and the stampeders, as if by universal consent, gave vent to a grunt of recog- nition as they saw it. Half an hour of descent by the tortuous dug- way brought them to the canyon bottom, which was several acres wide, and of a sandy and rocky nature, and also watered by a small creek, which, though narrow, was very deep, On reaching the bottom, the stampeders turned and rode in the ‘same direction they had come, only along through the canyon, until they came to where there stood a large two-story log cabin, from one of the windows of which there streamed a light. p to the cabin door they rode, and then came toa halt, the leader rapping smartly upon the door with the butt of his rifle. The door was opened after a few minutes by an old man with a sweeping white beard. Ho was dres ed throughout in untanned buffalo-skin, and, as he made his appearance, clutched a heavy rifle in his grasp. Following him to the open doorway, came an old wrinkled and toothless hag of the most hide- ous aspect, and a bright) young lad of twelve years, whose features snd form were markediy handsome, inasmuch as he bore no trace of re- semblance to the strange pair with whom ho kept company. *Well! welll” the old man demanded, quer- ulously, as he surveyed the line cf horsemen with evident displeasure, ‘‘what brings you upon the land of White Beard?” “Waal, old man, we’ve cum hyar ter take persession uv ther placer mines ye’ve bin work- in’ so long on ther sly!” one of the stampeders announced grimly. ‘‘ You an’ yer old woman hev played yer witch game about as long as et’ll work, an’? now we're goin’ ter see ef thar’s any gold in Buekskin Canyon, or not. So pack up yer duds, an’ prepare ter skin out ter one’t!” “No! no! you shall not drive me from my possessions!” the White Beard cried, fiercely and resolutely. ““f came here first, ere other foot of mortal man had ever trodden here, and staked off this gulch, an’ et’s mine, as it is Government land, and I have tenanted it longer than the time ex- acted.’ “*Ken’t help thet, old hoss!” the spokesman of the stampeders exclaimed, roughly. ‘ Ye'’ye either got to vamoose, or we'll plant ve richt poe, in under ther shadder of your cabin, you t! “Hurrah!” shouted the stampeders, toa man. “Bounce out, old White Whiskers, or we'll plant ye, immegetly.” *T will not, leave my rightful possessions without a struggle!” the hermit cried, sternly, ane raising, his rifle with amazing quickness, he ed. There came a cry from the spokesman of the party, and he dropped from his sa:ldle. Then, before the White Beard could slam shut the door, there was a rifle report, and he
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Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 5 clasped his hands to his heart, with a groan— staggered back, and fell into the arms of the * youth! With a scream of rage the old hag snatched a pair of revolvers from his belt, and turning, opened a deadly fire upon the stampeders, her example being followed by the boy, as soon es he found that White Beard was dead, and could lay him upon a rude couch in the room. But, in this case resistance was useless. The stampeders leaped from their horses with hoarse cries of vengeance, and poured into the cabin by the way of the Coor aud the windows, in overwhelming numbers, and in short order the hag and the boy found themselves prisoners mm tho hands of the minc ie “Curse you! curse you!” the hag cried, with fierce efforts to free Lerself. ‘You have killed my husband, and usurped the rights of our home, but I will have revenge! Hear me swear it, that, though people may invade Buck- skin Canyon in thousands, ard hcuses and spires may be erceted here, the place shall never prosper. Devastation and ruin shall attack it— road-agents. shall plunder it—death shall reach every man that attempts to carry an cunce of gold ont of this canyon! Iswear it! I curse you, all!” Some of the men looked a little startled. Throughout all the Wind River region of Wyoming was Wild Meg known and feared as a strange, mysterious creature, whom many be- lieved to be a veritable witch or leagued with the devil. Yor years she and White Beard had been known to live in Buckskin Canyon, but the superstitious dread of them, had heretofore caused the miners and prospectors to steer wide of the place. Therefore, her curso was not a thing particularly desirable, and most of the miners looked disturbed and afraid. One, however, appeared reckless of fear, and he was Black Eph, a notorious ruffian, who had visited nearly every mining strike in the West. “* We don’t keer a durned fer yer curses, old woman!” he declared, rudely. ‘'We ain’t afeard uv ye, ef ye be a witch, an’ all we want 0’ ye is ter clear out an’ leave us in persession. Boys, tie her an’ ther b’yee onter two hosses, an put a thorn or sage stalk under their tails ter wake’emup. Bet a cooky we won’t see no more o’ ther Witch, fer a dog’s age!” The old hag began to shriek and curse so ter- ribly now, that she was gagged. Horses were then produced, and both she and the boy were tied into the saddles; after which thornapple brush was fastened in under the tail of each horse, and they were turned loose. With almost human shrieks, they dashed off down the canyon at break-neck speed, wild with pain, and bearing the woman and the youth into unseen perils, and leaving the stampeders masters of the situation, CHAPTER I. THE SUNSET CHASE OF THE BRANDED BROWS. ANOTHER lapse of six years, and we once more take up the thread of ourromance, | The sun was going down the horizon, and bathing the mountains in a farewell glory of golden light, one balmy June day; the perfumed western breeze was lulling nature into a sweet repose; even the dark recesses of Buckskin Can- yon seemed pregnant with the balmy peace of the approaching night, until the drowsy echces were startled by the rapidly approaching clatter of hoofs, Nearer and nearer they came, accompanied alternately by yells of triumph, and yells of de- fiance, Finally, from around a, bend in the canyon, | swept a band of horsemen at full tilt—a wild- looking set of fellows, attired in tanned buck- skin, and armed to the teeth. One startling peculiarity about their appear- ance was a branded mga upon their faces—a black, scar-like belt that ran across each man’s countenance, beginning just below the bridge of the nose, and ending half-way in the middle of the forehead, just above the brows. It was no mask, but a brand of black, upon the skin itself, and gave the party a most strange appearance, Most of the men wore beards, but the single horseman who led the advance, was yet a mere youth, evidently, for he wore no beard of any kind, and was smaller in frame than the others, There were some eight or ten in the party, and they were urging their animals to their greatest speed, which fact was accounted for when shortly after the appearance of the Brand- ed Brows, another body of horsemen swept into view, around the bend, in hot pursuit. Four times as many were there in the numerical count of the pursuers, as in the pursued, and their at- tire proclaimed them to be miners, The Branded Brows, however, were in no im- mediate danger, unless their horses gave out, for they were out of easy rifle range, and gaining ground, if anything. “Halt, there! tis useless for you to seek to escape,” shouted the leader of the miners, a large, broad-shouldered man, with silvered beard and hair. ‘*We will Pate you to the end of the earth, but what we'll have you ” “But you won't get me, nor my men!” the young captain of the Branded Brows retorted, coolly. “You had better take your miner dogs back to Placer City, General Hathaway, and by so doing save their lives!” “Hal ha! Dll risk their lives. When you and your black-browed evils surrender, we will go back. On! boys—on! Five hundred dollars to the man who captures Solid Sam, alive!” “Hal ba!” the young outlaw laughed back. “Tl give five hundred additional, myself, to the lucky man! On, pards, on!” Fiercely then did the pursuers and the pursu- ed urge on their already foaming horses, through the long, level canyon, which stretched for miles away, into the heart of the Wind Riv- er Mountains, the clatter of the iron-shod hoofs arousing echoes that mayhap had never been aroused before. " On—on—on they dashed, silence reigning in the stead of the previous cries—the miners who had taken upon themselves to do Vigilante ser- vice, resolutely determined not to let the noto- rious gang of road-agents escape. For six months this unknown band of branded browed men had ay ba the road-agent in Buck- skin Canyon, in the most bold and daring man-
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6 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. ner, and with a success that no amount of vigi- lance or precaution appeared to baffle. Not a stage or a miner left the canyon in any direction, without being halted, summarily. Hordes of these same Branded Brows were scattered through the mountains and canyons, and the leading spirit of them all was a bold, reckless person of youthful years, whom nobody knew except by his reputed “ handle” of Solid Sam, On—on—on sped the chase, the speed gradual- ly lessening instead of increasing, for the horses of either party were hard blown by the long race, and were flagging out. Solid Sam noticed this witha fierce glitter in his eagle eye, and also noted the fact that the pursuers were slowly gaining on them. ‘““On, boys—urge on your horses, or they will ‘get into short rifle-range yet!” he cried. “If they do, our jig is up, fer they’re four to our one, The Branded Brows seemed fully aware of this, but there was no help forit, for, urge their jaded steeds though they did, they could not close their eyes to the fact that the enemy was slowly but surely gaining on them. Solid Sam saw this too, and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like a curse. “Tt’s no use o’ torturin’ the horses, boys,” he said, ay “ We're losin’, and the first we know we'll get a dose of round lead in our backs. We may as well make a stand and fight it out!” “You go on, captain, and we'll stay and fight it out!” one of the men suggested—a young man, nearer the young chief's age. Solid Sam flushed indignantly. * Lieutenant Breeze, you do me a great in- on he replied, chidingly. ‘‘ While 1 have led the tela a Brows have you ever known me to desert my men, no matter what scrape we've got into? No, sir! Pll stick to the gang till the last. Ha! what did I tell you?” Even as he spoke the towering canyon walls echoed the report of ascore of rifles, and a yell of victory came from the pursuers, Four of the Branded Brows threw up their arms and dropped forward upon their horses’ necks, and even with the shadow of death creap- ing over them, they had the presence of mind to lock their arms about the necks of the animals, and were accordingly not dismounted. Instantly Solid Sam and the other remain- ing outlaws wheeled their horses toward the Vigilantes, and opened fire, with their deadly Winchester rifles. Six of the miners were hit, more or less seri- ously, and dropped behind, while the remain- der came on, firing and yelling like a pack of bloodthirsty Comanches, Bravely the Branded Brows stood their ground, and returned the fire with telling effect. for the number of the Vigilante band diminishec rapidly. But not without company, for one by one the road-agents dropped off, until only Solid Sam and Lieutenant Breeze alone faced the enemy, wounded, but still able to attend to business. *“Ti’s no use of standing longer!” the young captain said. ‘Make another spurt, and see if we can’t get away!” Accordingly they once more wheeled their horses, and applied the spurs vigorously, and the noble animals responded with a brave effort. Fortunately for the two fugitives, the Vigi- lantes were not supplied with breech-loading or magazine rifles, and, after each shot was fired, it was several moments ere they could reload. Having discharged their weapons, to a man, upon the instant before Sam and Breeze re- sumed their flight, the interval required for re- loading gave the fugitives a chance to get once more out of range, “Ha! ha! ha!” Solid Sam yelled, shaking his fist back at the pursuing Vi_ilantes, trium- phantly. ‘‘ We're ahead again, my noble Gen- eral Hathaway, and ence more we defy you, as we've got it all our Own way now.” “How do you mean?” Breeze demanded, anx- cig “Pll soon show you. Below here is the deer trail that leads up through the Hedge Pine slope onto the hog-back, It’s a road I was over once, and is our nearest route to the peak.” The lieutenant nodded, and they dashed on. Soon they rounded another bend in the canyon, and here the walls retreated into gradually steep slopes, which were covered with pines, grown close together. Wheeling his horse from the canyon, Solid Sam led the way over a path that penetrated the pine jungle; Lieutenant Breeze followed. The path was a deer trail, and was narrow and tortuous, but the animal of Solid Sam followed it with as much ease as would an old trailer. The route now lay up-hill, and it was impossi- ble for horses to go faster than a walk; accord- ingly the two fugitives allowed their fagged-out steeds to take it leisurely, for the young chief well understood that the pursuers would not be apt to indulge in any random racing through the thick forest. ‘Maybe they'll conclude it ain’t healthiest for them to follow us now,” Breeze remarked. ‘Don’t fear that. They'll follow us until we get to the Devil’s Abyss, at least,” Solid Sam xopniee “Then, I reckon, some of ’em will alt. “You're .right; they will,” the lieutenant agreed, with a nod. ‘J don’t believe they’ve got a horse that can leap across.” “Tf they had, there’s not a man among them with pluck enough to attempt it.” Lond yells in the rear now announced that the Vigilantes had discovered the fugitives’ escape, if not the direction in which they had gone, But the fact did not materially alarm Solid Sam, for he kept on, steadily, a quiet smile lin- gering about his handsome mouth. For an hour or more, both he and Breeze fol- lowed the tortuous ascending trail through the pine wood, and like vengeful sleuths, the Vigi- lantes were heard dogging’ behind. Night closed in, but an early moon, nearly at its full, soon arose, and shot strangely gro- tesque bars of light down through the pine branches. P Finally, the fugitives emerged from the for- est upon a stretch of mountainous table-land, hundreds of feet above the canyon bottom. Once out of the gloomy woodland, the night
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assumed a more brilliant aspect, with a horizon of ethereal haziness, a soft blue sky, and a soar- ing moon which diffused a flood of mellow light upon the wild but picturesque landscape. Before the fugitives stretched a line or chain of mountains, on the right and left of which awned frightful abysses. This natural hog- rol was smooth and level, and of considerable length, stretching away toward the north- west. ** Ah! I see where we are now,” Breeze ejacu- lated, as they emerged from the pines. “We can indeed laugh at the Vigilantes. “T shculd feel somewhat like laughing my- self, were it not that we’ve lost so many of the band,” Solid Sam replied, sadly. ‘‘ But, the poor fellows shall not go unavenged. I am just be- ginning ‘to wake up to the fact that I have not given the miners of Buckskin Gulch a strong enough deal, They shall have cause to fear me and my vengeance even more in the future, than they have in the past!” “Bravo, Captain Sam! As usurpers of your rights, they have no right to expect that you will submit to their invasion. By right of the testament of old White Beard, the canyon is ours.” me Ay! mine and Wild Meg’s—the whole tract covered by Placer City, and the mines. Curse them! They drove us from the claim, six years ago, but it has not been a very profitable nee Ten of those who drove us off have gone up Salt River by the usual boat—five more have died with their boots on, and seven have got their pass through the kindness of the Black Brows. A large number yet remain, but Placer City will be an unlucky town fer ’em. “Why is it that General Hathaway bears you so great an enmity, captain?” Breeze de- manded, as they spurred along, side by side. ‘*Perhaps because I bear his rame. I know of no other reason,” the young outlaw replied. Then, too, as you know, I’ve made it a prac- tice of late to toll his interests, he being one of the wealthiest of the Placer Cityites, Six years ago, when Wild Meg and I were driven from the placer mines, that we had worked for a number of years, we jointly took an oath, that we should have a portion of what was rightfully our own, by tolling every miner or grist of gold, at each and every opportunity. That’s how I became a road-agent,” Tt was evident, from his tone and expression, that he felt bitter toward those miners and ad- venturers who had turned their quiet canyon claim of six years before, into a noisy, bustling shanty mining city of the present. Further conversation was now cut short, for the Vigilantes at this juncture emerged from the forest in their rear, and with fierce yells struck spurs to their animals, in bot pursuit. Solid Sam and the lieutenant also increased the speed of their pnimals, and the pursuers and ed again dashed rapidly through the moon- ight. e Half an hour went by; then the Branded Brows suddenly lashed their animals forward, and were seen to leap forward seemingly through mid-air, but what was in reality a yowning gulf—a mighty seam that split the og-back in twain! Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. a A good fifteen feet did the trained steeds of the ee, pe leap, to a safe footing upon the further side, and then dashed on, while Solid Sam and Bill Breeze gave vent to a triumphant yell of victory. When safely out of rifle range upon the fur- ther side, Solid Sam drew rein, and waited for the Vigilantes to arrive at the opposite edge of the abyss, which they did, with cries and curses of rage. “Hal ha! gents! I thought you were going to carry Solid Sam back with you to Placer City, to-night, as a special guest of a little neck- tie party!” the young chief of the Branded Brows cried, mockingly. ‘Rather made a miscalculation, didn’t yet—or are you going to follow me still?” ‘Curses on you, boy!” General Hathaway cried. fiercely, ‘‘I order you to surrender at once!” “Oh, ye do, eh? Well, I can’t sce the point of that little joke. If you’re going to order ’em, Vl pass, and you can take the trick. Ha! ha! see the point of that, don’t ye? I’m going to pass out of your reach jest as nice as a slippery eel. Hate to tear myself away from such eligible company, but I must bid oe good-evening— that is, au revoir. Tra! la! la! till I come down asa City the next time after my customary oll. And with a laugh, he wheeled his horse and rode leisurely away, accompanied by Breeze, leaving the miner Vigilantes in a state of rage bordering on frenzy. CHAPTER. II. THE CAVE RETREAT—THE PLACER CITY SENSA- TION, Sonim Sam and Lieutenant Breeze, after leay- ing the baffled Vigilantes, rode on along the hog-back for perbaps half an hour, when they came to its termination in the form of a round mountain, three sides of which sloped nearly perpendicularly downward into a frightful yawning gulch, while the fourth side connected with the mountain table-land, or hog-back. At the point of connection there was a large black hole in the face of the mountain, from which gleamed a cheery light, and into which Solid Sam and the lieutenant rede. The interior proved to be a high cavern of considerable size, and was the retreat of the Branded Brows. One portion was used as stabling for the horses ef the band, while the other part was oc- cupied by the outlaws themselves, A fire burn- edin the center of this section, to keep off the chill and damp of the cold rocks, and around this a half-dozen fellows and an old, repulsive hag of a.woman, were sitting upon camp-stools, engaged in smoking pipes, as Solid Sam and the lieutenant entered. I They arose with grunts of surprise when they noted that the two returned alone. “How is this?’ the hag demanded—who, by the way, was Wild Meg, the Witch. ‘Why is it you come back alone, Sam? why is it, I say?’ Solid Sam slipped from the saddle and gave his horse over into the charge of one of the out- laws, ere he vouchsafed a reply.
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‘Because we got chased by a gang of the Placer City miners, and lost every man but Breeze and I,” he said, finally. “It’s partly your fault, too, for I shouldn’t have gone yet for a week, if it hadn’t been for ou. **Pooh! the loss of the men is trifling, when we can easily get more. Did you make a raise from the outward bound stage this morning?” the Witch asked, eagerly. ‘No; the usual stage did not leave the town.” ‘Why did it not?” “T don’t know, exactly, There’s a pile of gold scattered about the camp among the mine- owners, and they’re trying for a chance to work its panes out of the place without my knowing it.” “Ha! curse them!” the Witch exclaimed, darkening with rage. ‘‘ They have usurped our claim and driven us from it, and now they would beat us out of the revenue we have ex- acted. Curse them, I say!” **Curses won’t hurt them no more than the bite of a mosquito,” Solid Sam replied, with a smile. ‘They think that the mines of Buck- skin Canyon are rightfully theirs, and that we ere committing a gross sin by ‘robbing the stage,’ as they call it, and tolling the bank of such pilgrims as have made their pile and start- ed for other parts. So they’ve organized a Vigilance gang, and as a result, I got started out of town to-day, and the whole of us got chased up the canyon, All the band went down with their boots on, facing the music, except me an’ Breeze, an’ we esca’ Wild Meg paced about the cavern for several moments in silence, but the picture of consum- ing fury. She was an uncanny looking creature, at the best, with ber wrinkled, ugly countenance, and thin, angular form, and her manner of dress in no way enhanced her beauty, for she wore a flaring red skirt, tattered and ragged, and a dirty green waist, belted, and the belt contain- ing a half-dozen heavy cavalry pistols. No cov- ering she wore upon her wild, disheveled hair, that the frosts of many years had streaked with silver, and her feet were also bare. Six of the toes were gone—cut off close to the body of the foot, and the most remarkable rt of the matter was that she had cut them off [orielf—one on each yearly anniversary of the death of her former husband, White Beard—and strung them upon a wire about her shriveled neck! Her motive no one could ascertain—not even Solid Sam, who had been cared for by her from early years up to an age when he was able to take care of himself; but she had been heard to grimly declare, that she should continue the dis- memberment, as long as she lived, finally wind- ing up by cutting her head off. ‘or some time she continued to pace to and fro, as if to work off her passion, the eyes of Solid Sam and the Branded Brows following her with doubting glances, “Genera] Hathaway is at the bottom of this movement?” she finally demanded, stopping short, and gazing at Solid Sam, inquiringly. ¥ i “Yes,” he replied, ‘‘or rather at the head of it, for he led the chase to-day.” =, Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. “Humph! did you hear anything more con- cerning him?’ “Yes, He’s going to be married, as you have expected, The woman he is to marry came in on the morning stage, accompanied by a young lady she calls her daughter, and a man reporte to be General Hathaway’s brother.” The Witch started with surprise at this, “Ha! what is this brother’s first name, did you hear?” “Yes, The general met them at the stage, and welcomed them—the man, as Colonel Car- rol Hathaway—the others, the ladies, as Mrs, and Miss Miner.” ‘¢-Yes, yes, I believe he did have a brother,” Wild Meg muttered thoughtfully, as if unmind- ful that she had auditors, “T heard tell of the fellow, Carrol, as a wild, reckless devil, such as the army produces. But you have not told me, boy, when this roposed marriage of the general takes place? Be spry, now, for I am much concerned. Ha! ha! yes, very much concerned!” “The wedding comes off to-morrow in mid- forenoon, I believe, at the general’s shanty.” “Good! I will be on hand! ha! ha! yes—on hand!” the witch hissed, glaring at tho ruddy fire, which burned in the center of the cavern. Then she turned and opened a large wooden chest near by, and proceeded to haul out dresses of the costliest materials; jewelry, and the nu-* merous articles of a lady’s toilet, laughing strangely, the meanwhile. “Tll go down to the weddin’ in style,” she chuckled, glaring wildly around. ‘It’s a lon time since I dressed up gay, an’ painted ani puffed, But, I haven’t yet forgot the art, an’ *}1 show ’em how to put on style! Ha! ha! Pll oer ’em, and there’ll be blood on the altar, 00! Armed with a rich assortment of fominine paraphernalia, the old woman then retired into a sort of inner cavern, to make her preparations. Where six years before had stood a rude log eabin in Buckskin Canyon, now rose a miniature mining city—a collection of shanties, tenanted for a variety of purposes, as dwellings, stores, offices, saloons, gambling-hells and dance-houses —quite a respectable-sized young city, too, and called Placer, or Placer City, Some two thousand souls claimed this city of the gulch as its spear and average floating population, and the fact of its constant growth and the addition to its people was mainly owing to the richness and seemingly inexhaustible sup- ply of its mineral resources, Since six years before, when the stampeders had taken possession of the canyon, by killing the hermit, White Beard, and driving off the Witch, it had panned out Jargely, and slowly buf surely grown better. The sandy formation of the bottom was strong- ly “salted” with gold, and for a mile and a half up and down the gulch, from the former site of the hermit’s cabin, claims innumerable were lo- cated, the larger share of them in the control of monopolist speculators, with a few belonging to single individuals. General Guy Hathaway was the big man of Placer City. Every place has to have a sort of ‘ ‘
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Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 9 leading citizen, and such a person the aged gen- eral was to the little mining strike in Buckskin Gulch. He owned five different mines in com- pany with a man whose name was Sydney Ath- erton, or Santa Fe Syd, and a large interest in the shanties of the town belonged to him, His incomé from the five placer claims was estimated at a thousand dollars a day, and be- sides this, he and Atherton had a drift drilled into the rocky wall of the canyon, with good prospects for another rich strike. Being a man of commanding figure and dig- nity, and one of the original stampeders, he had been universally looked up to as a sort of lead- ing citizen. f a dispute occurred, or any advice was needed, the general was always looked to to, de- cide the matter, His wealth he spread about with a liberal hand, and he grew to be the most roe man in the gulch, lacer City, perhaps, you cannot find upon the maps, for, Lae hidden away in the wild fast- nesses of the still wilder Wind River Mountains, with only two stages daily communicating with the outside world, it has not gained any noto- riety as a mining center, more than has a hun- dred other similar strikes. Some two hundred rude shanties and cabins were scattered about in the vicinity of the hermit’s old cabin, two of which served the purpose of gambling dens, fourteen as saloons where ‘‘ tanglefoot” was dis- pensed to thirsty pilgrims, one as a smithy, and another as a combined grocery, dry-goods store and post-office, Then, there were a couple of dance-houses nightly in full blast, a newspaper office, from which was issued the Daily Progress, a cabin used for a church, and the old hermuit’s a now turned into the only hotel in the ace. The citizens were, as a rule, the same class found in all mining towns—a mixed mass of hu- manity of many different nations and natures. the adventurous class and the ruffianly element largely predominating. On the day following the night that had wit- nessed the race between the Vigilantes and the Branded Brows, Placer City was alive with excitement, for in mid-forenoon, General Hath- away was to take to himself a wife in the person of a charming lady of Chicago, who had already arrived, This fact, together with an- other, which was that this was the first matri- monial event on the Placer City records, creat- ed an extraordinary sensation, and the miners to a man, laid aside the pan and shovel, to in- dulge in a holiday, in honor to the general. And when the hour came for the consummation of the nuptials every man, woman and child that could, crowded into the rude church. The general and the bridal y had luckily taken refuge in the “church” ahead of the crowd, and consisted of the general in. person, a portly man, well dressed, and somewhat digni- fied in his bearing, with silvered brown hair and beard, and eyes of the same hue. Next came the bride-to be, a richly-attired lady of five-or-six-and-thirty years—comely in face and form, with dark hair and eyes, the latter pierc- ing in their glances, The groomsman, Colonel Hathaway ; a brother of the general, was a tall well-formed man, with immense fiery red side-whiskers, and a counte- nance inclined to be rather prepossessing, but for the sensual expression about his mouth. He was richly and flashily attired, and appeared rather disdainful in his rte The bridemaid, Miss May Miner, who was said to be the bride’s daughter by a former mar- riage, was a very pretty and modest-lookin maiden of seventeen or eighteen, richly attired, and looking very charming, with her fair coun- tenance, soft golden hair, and eyes of bie vere | blue. And the rough audience at once decid be she was the one best fitted for the general’s wife. CHAPTER II, SHOT AT THE ALTAR—THE WILL, AFTER the patience of the crowd had become nearly exhausted at the long wait before the “splicing ” took place, the general led his lady forward to a space that had been reserved by the groomsman and bridemaid. The minister, Jim Byles, by name, then read the customary marriage service, in a loud voice, concluding with the following deviation: “Do you, General Hathaway, take this hyar woman fer yer legally wedded wife, an’ sw’ar by the pin’t o’ yer bowie knife, ter hang tew her, in ther journey thru this weary vale o’ tears?” “T do!” the general replied, with a faint smile. ‘An’ do you, marm, promise ter hang ter ther general, ditto, an’ pervide his repasts, an’ be a luvin’ wife, wi’out lookin’ bias at uther pil- Ss “*T do,” Mrs. Miner said, a trifle haughtily, for this uncouth fashion of ma aw of Placer City, did not impress her very favorably, she being a city bred lady, and not a litte proud and su ilious. “Then in ther name o’ ther preat and only Jehova, I, Jim Byles, minister o’ ther Gospel, do turn ther key in ther padlock, an’ prononnce ye man and wife. Whom God hath joined ter- gether, let no man put asunder.” ‘Ha! ha! whom God hath joined together, I will put asunder!” shrieked a wild voice, and the next instant a pistol report rung loudly through the room, With a groan General Hathaway clutched his garments in the neighborhood of his heart, and staggered back into Colonel Carrol Hathaway's arms. With a wild shout from the crowd, all eyes were turned toward one of the windows of the cabin, where the repulsive face of Wild Meg, the Witch, was seen glaring into the church. It was quickly withdrawn, however, and the = ra ah the swift clatter of horse’s feet was heard. While some of the spectators rushed out of the church to give chase, others crowded forward, to get a peep at the wounded man, “M dod, brother Guy, are you killed?’ Col- onel Carrol cried, anxiously, as he supported the general to a seat, while the new Mrs. Hath- aya drew near, with a whitening face, “Where did the bullet strike you?”
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"In the region of my heart,” was the faint reply. ‘I’m done for, so carry me home, for there is much I must attend to, ere I die!” ** Will some one assist in carrying the general to the shanty he occupies?” the colonel demand- ed, glancing around, ' A half-dozen of able-bodied men instantly volunteered their services, and the general was raised and borne from the church up the street to his rude but commodious shanty, where he was laid upon a bed, in a neatly-furnished bed- chamber. He was pretty well exhausted, by this time, but a doctor soon came, and admin- istered remedies that revived him, in a measure. An examination of the wound proved that there was no help for the big citizen of Placer City, for, while it did not bleed outwardly, it did in- wardly, and he was rapidly filling up. ; When apprised of this fact by the surgeon, he smiled, faintly. “Yes Lam going to die, and by the hand of a creature I don’t know—a wild roving lunatic, who has often threatened me with her babble, but whom I have never paid the least attention to. Doctor, how long have I to live?” “It is hard to determine,” was the grave re- ply. ‘You may survive twenty-four hours, and, again, may not live over an hour. If you have anything to attend to, you had better do it at once.” The mine-owner was silent a few moments, as he lay back on his pillow, as if in meditation. The colonel, the new bride, and_her daughter, together with the parson, Jim Byles, and the surgeon ‘* Doc” Les, constituted the five who were gathered about tho death-bed. **Tam very rich,” General Hathaway finally said, as if talking aloud to himself. “T havea million dollars saved up, in pure gold coin and greenbacks, besides my mines, worth at least a million more. This wealth I cannot take with me, and shall have to leave it to some of you, I suppose.” There was rather a regretful expression to his tone, as much as if he was loth to leave his riches behind, and his eyes wandered over the faces of those around him, critically. Despite any efforts they may have made to conceal it, there was an eager, hopeful expres- sion upon the faces of Colonel Carrol, and the new Mrs, Hathaway, which seemed to suggest plainly that they were ready and over-willing to step into the dead man’s shoes. The general seemed to notice this, and a gleam of cunning shot into his eyes. ‘You two need not look so hopeful,” he said, decidedly, ‘for I perceive the drift of your thoughts, and shall baffle you by cutting you off, short of your expectations, Wouldn’t you be pleased to have mo leave the wholo of the roperty and cash to one or the other of you? Fa! ha! undoubtedly you would. ‘Your feet are probably itching to pull on my _ shoes. Ha! hat chet would be nice, but I shall baffle you! . “Guy, my dear brother, you do both your wife and me a great injustice!” the colonel said, evidently chagrined at the pointed accusation. “Neither of us have the least hope or desire of becoming your heirs. Indeed, we wish you to use your own judgment in making your devise, Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. believing that we shall be perfectly satisfied with it.” “ Of course, dear husband,” Mrs. Hathaway said, bending over and touching the forehead of the dying man with her lips. ‘‘ You must not carry such an unjust suspicion, that we have any mercenary motives. e all dearly love you, alone for your own sake,and not for what you are worth.” “Humph! maybe,” the general replied, gruff- ly, ** but, I shall take care you do not deceive me. Byles, will you gosummon Lawyer Green, and Santa Fe Syd to appear pp mo?” The yarson nodded, and donning his slouch hat took is departure, ‘*Who is this Santa Fe Syd, brother?” Colo- nel Hathaway asked. ‘(His real name is Atherton, and I shall ap- point him my executor. He has a half-interest with me in each of my gold-mines, and is per- fectly trustworthy,” the general replied. Tho lawyer and Santa Fe Syd soon arrived. The former was a ‘‘ skinny,” shrunken, shriv- eled little man, with beardless face, sharp, twinkling little eyes, and reddish hair, while his attire seemed to indicate that he had not as yet amassed a large fortune at the pursuit of his profession, The miner, Sydney Atherton, was a stalwart, handsome fellow of thirty years, although he looked five years younger, with a fresh, good- natured countenance, lit up by a pair of reso- lute blue eyes; blonde bair and mustache, and a well-proportioned form clad in miner’s reee ments, from the inevitable top-boots to the slouch hat upon his head. ‘General Hathaway, they tell me you are badly wounded,” he said, approaching the bed, and taking the dying mine-owner’s hand. “Is there not something that can be done for you?” ** No—I’m past human aid, for I am filling up with the blood that only flows internally,” was the reply. ‘‘I sent for you, Atherton, because I know you are honest. I know you are honest, because you have ever dealt so with me. want to make a will, and appoint you executor of my estate, and have you see that everything is done asI want it. By the way, I will make you acquainted with Mrs. Hathaway. my wife of a few moments, Colonel Carrol Hathaway, my brother, and Miss May Miner, my step- daughter!” Santa Fe Syd turned and bowed to the trio in acknowledgment of the introduction, giving a surprised start, as his eyes rested upon Mrs, Hathaway, and her daughter. But, quickly concealing the surprise he prob- ably experienced, he turned to the mine-owner. “T am happy to meet your friends, general.” he said, ‘“‘and think that it would probably be better to intrust the settlement of your affairs to your brother.” ‘“No! no! I wil! have no relative of mine con- trolling my business. You are the man I want, if you will accept.” “To accommodate you, sir, T will act for you to the best of my ability,” Santa Fe Syd re- plied, bowing. “Very well. Lawyer Green, prepare the form of a will, and get ready to jot down my be-
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Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 11 uests. Sydney, you remember that, several days ago, you made me an offer for my inter- ests in the mining claims, which [ promised to consider,” ‘*T did, sir.” “T have thought the matter over, and con- cluded to accept the offer. You have the cash at your command, I suppose, when it is wanted?” “T have, sir, The offer I made you wasseven hundred thousand dollars, I believe?” “It was,” the general replied. “But, sce here!” the colonel interposed, ‘I do not believe you can sell this property without your wife’s consent.” “Aha! I thought you’d show your cloven foot,” the dying man said, fiercely. **T think I see through the intricacies of a whole accursed game, 1 think I can see why you invited me, a year ago, to your home in Chicago, and entertained me like a prince, and constently sung in my cars uibotinded praises of yonder woman until I grew blind and prom- ised to marry her. You foresaw that I would marry her, and God only knows how much more. You plotted anyhow so that you caleu- lated you would get possession of a share of my weaith—if not by actual gift, or devise from me, from that woman I have just made my wife, and whom I havé suspected of being in league with you. But, curse you, Til block that little game! The mines were literally bar- gained for before this marriage; all that was left for me to do being to close the bargain by refusal or acceptance. That puts me without property, and no wife can attach money that nas been accumulated or disposed of by agree- ment previous to a marriage. Lawyer Green, is this not the law in Wyoming?” “T believe it is.” the pettifogger replied. “The general has a legal right to act as it has pleased him in this matter, as if it were per- sonal property.” “Tt must be a devilish queer law they have up here in Wyoming, then,” the colonel replied, sullenly, ‘Queer enough to thwart all your schemes, Carrol!” the general retorted. ‘‘Mr, Atherton, please note my bequests. Lawyer Green, are you ready?” “Quite ready, sir.” + “Then, listen: I, Guy C. Hathaway, being in full possession of all my mental faculties, do, upon my death-bed, make the following last will and testamentary bequests of my personal wealth, with a prayer that God may pardon all my sins, and prevent all wrangling and ill- feeling on the part of my remembered and dis- remembered heirs. To Sydney Atherton, my former business and confidential partner, I do hereby bequeath the whole of my moneyed possessions, consisting of one millien and seven hundred thousand dollars in gold and green- backs, on the following conditions: That he shall court end if possible wed my step-daugh- ter, May Miner, daughter of my wife at the time of my decease. Should such an alliance be effected, within a proper length of time—say a month—said Sydney Atherton, who is to keep the money in execution of my will, up to that period, is to divide the amount with his bride, upon the altar, after the marriage. Should such an alliance not be effected, said Sydney Atherton forfeits all claim to the fortune, and simply retains it in his keeping subject to the second clause, which is, if Colonel Carrol Hath- away and May Miner become man and wife, on favorable and happy conditions, each is to be de- livered a portion, consisting of half of the whole fortune.” “That is perfectly satisfactory,” Colonel Hath- away said, blandly. ‘It places me out of the embarrassing position of being suspected of having a mercenary interest in the making of the will.” “T also am satisfied,” Mrs. Hathaway said, taking the cue from the colonel. “I have some money of my own, and May will be as good an heiress as you could have chosen, dear hus- band.” : “Supposing the conditions of the second clause are not fulfilled?” Santa le Syd asked. “Then, you are to pay the whole amount General Hathaway did not finish the sentence os away, but when he did, he said—‘* Nobby yell! CHAPTER IV. WILD MEG NARRATES. THE will was made, and Lawyer Green pre- sented it and received the general’s signature, and alsothat of Santa Fe Syd and Jim Byles, as witnesses, after which he stored it away in his capacious pocket, and took his departure, By this time, the dying mine-owner was con- siderably exhausted, and the physicians ordered that the room be cleared in order that he might have a few moments of quiet. As Santa Fe Syd was about leaving the shanty, he was overtaken in the kitchen by the new Mrs. Hathaway, who had stealthily followed him, and now introduced her shapely form be- tween him and the door. “Stop!” she said, authoritatively. ‘‘I know ou! “Oh! you do? he replied, coolly. ‘‘ Well?” “You are not Sydney Atherton—you are Sydney Miner.” “*T never give the lie to a lady,” the hand- some mine-owner said, with a faintsmile. ‘You are undoubtedly mistaken, my dear madam.” “Tam not mistaken at all,” she replied, in a vexed tone, ‘I knew you the minute my eyes: rested upon you, and you also knew me,” “Tt is not impossible. A face, or a foe of your magnitude one cannot easily forget. I did recognize you, but kept the recognition a secret. I was not surprised to find you at your old pro- fession of scheming. Do you remember the resolution we adopted at our last meeting, ma- dam?” “oe No thd ‘“Humph! 1 believe you lie!” the miner said, bluntly. ‘‘ We passed a resolution, then, that forever hence we were strangers, yet foes, and while we knew each other not to the world, we were to have the privilege of balking each other’s interests whenever we so chose.” Mrs, Hathaway scowled. “J believe there was something said to that effect,” she admitted, looking displeased; “ but
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I, for my part, am truly repentant. I would like to have a iong talk with you, Sydney, if you have time,” ** Which I have not,” he said, decidedly. “* As I said before, we do not: know each other. I bid you good-day, madam.” “But, hold! you must not go until you have told me whether you mean to fight against me?” she said, hissingly, her face whitening, and eyes blazing dangerously. *'T'o the bitter end!” he replied, sternly. ‘‘ You may count strong on me, too!” He then brushed past her, and left the shanty. Standing in the doorway, she gazed after him as he strode down the street, an unreadable ex- . pression upon her face. As she stood thus she was joined by Colonel Carrol Hathaway, who had just come down- stairs. *“ Ah! so you’re watching the executor, are you?” he said with a disguised spice of jealousy in his tone. “If suppose you have already fallen in love with him?” She wheeled upon him, fiereely. “No, I hate him, even as much as I love you. You know how much that is,” and she laughed a little wildly. “You might better have said as much to the dying brother up-stairs,” he retorted, stroking his huge side-whiskers. ‘‘ By the way, the doc- tor thinks he will not live lonzer than sunrise, to-morrow.” **T hope not!” she said, coldly. “Then, you are not pleased with the result, so far, eh?—that is, the making of the will?’ “ No, Iam not!” was tiie reply. ‘It was not as either you or I had expected, The old fool suspected too much of the true state of affairs.” “We will cheerfully admit that. Guy was alwaysa hard, grasping, avaricious man, who suspected that everybody was trying to bleed him, Yet of late years, I have always been his sincere admirer, on account of his money. Ha! ha! money is a truly great magnet! But, the will is not so bad, after all. May must marry me, which fixes it all right.” “You forget. The sottlament of the matter is in the hands of this Sydnoy Atherton, who T may as well tell you is my enemy. He will try to marry the girl anl thereby shove us out in the cold.” “Curse him! he shall not sueceed!” “You do not know that. Heisa stubborn, immovable foe, when he chooses, and is influen- tial, here. Besides, May has a will of her own, and there is no telling when to depend on her.” “Tf coaxing and persuasion don’t fill the bill, there are other ways of bringing a refractory spirit into’ subjection,” the colonel suggested, significantly. ‘‘ By the way, who is the ‘ Nob- by Nell,’ referred to by Guy?” “1 have no idea. You must make inquiries, and find out. Also, it will be well enough to keep on the right side of that lawyer Green!” The Witch, Wild Meg, after firing the deadly bullet at General Hathaway, paused only long enough to note that it had taken ef- fect, when she wheeled her spirited horse, and eg away up the gulch main street of the vn, Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. Instant pursuit was given by those who had seen the fatal shot fired, and by others who poured from the church, but all to no purpose, The horse of the Witch was a rapid runner, and she soon left the town behind, laughing wildly at the bullets that hailed around her. In an hour she was back to the retreat of the Branded Brows, which being her home had been christened Cave Inferno. None of the Branded Brows were present, when the Witch rode into the strange rendezvous, except Solid Sam, who was seated at a table in a distant corner, en- gaged in smoking a cigar, while he listened to a elick! click! of an instrument, which was noth- ing more or less than a complete telegraph ap- paratus, in working order, It was connected with four wires, two of which came in through the entrance to the cave, while the other two made their exit through a crevice in the rocky roof, This telegraph contrivance was a bit of the young road-agent’s ingenuity, by which he had succeeded in having news brought to him from ae outside world, and of the movements there- of. The stage and telegraph line running from Green River City, on the line of the Union Pacific Railway, to Camps Brown and Stam- baugh, and other places in the Wind River region, passed over another range of peaks, not over a half-mile from that in which the cavern of the Branded Brows was located. With wire had Solid Sam first supplied himself, and then made his connection and return to the line, pass- ing the wire through the cave, where it was at- tached to his instrument. This line connected Placer City with the out- side world, and his machine being equipped with a dumb receiver, Solid Sam knew of every message that passed over the wires, whether at his table, or away. The other wires connected the Sweetwater mines with those at Atlantic City, and also were in circuit with his battery. “Well, I am back, you see,” she said, dis- mounting. ‘‘ Where are the band?” “Ont hunting, I guess, Any news from the mines?” “Yes, General Hathaway is lying at the point of death. He was shot, at the altar, and I am proud of my marksmanship!” ’ “You shot him?’ Solid Sam cried with a shuddering start. “ Yes, and I'll tell you why, directly. How is it you are sitting there? Any news?” “Yes, The gold-producers of the Buckskin City are plotting to get off a cargo of our right- ful gold, without our knowledge. They have telegraphed to Camp Stambaugh their plans as follows: An unsuspecting German, named Fritz Steinburger, will be induced to come over to Placer City with a peddling wagon, and vend his wares. He will find ready sale through the liberality of those in the secret, and will go back to Stambaugh for a new lot of goods. When he goes he will carry with him in his cov- ered wagon the gold of said producers, and de- liver it toa banker at Stambaugh, subject to orders I have not yet learned.” Wild Meg stam her foot, with a fierce malediction—then laughed wildly,
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Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 18 *€ Fools! do they not know that it will be im- possible to cheat you?” she exclaimed. “They do not know anything of the advan- tage I have over them, through this,” Solid Sam replied, indicating his telegraph instrument, ‘But, tell me about the assassination of Gen- eral Hathaway. Murder is a crime I did not think you capable of,” “Hal ha! You do not know me—you do not know the rancor and hate of an imbittered life. If you did you would not marvel that the sight of Guy Hathaway at the altar frenzied me, and caused me to doa sinful deed. But, you shall hear the story, which I have always kept from you. Listen attentively, without interruption, and I will tell it all to you.” There was a greenish, fiery glitter in the old woman’s eyes, and a perceptible tremor to her person, as she seated herself near the Boy Road- Agent and fixed her gaze upon the floor, It was evident that’ the memories caused by the proposed rehearsal were of anything but a pleasant or attractive nature. “To begin with,” she said, ‘*I will go back into the far past—nearly half a century ago. At the time of which I speak there lived in the city of New York, a young married couple by the name of Vance, who, being blessed with an infant daughter, were as happy as the day was long. John Vance held a position of trust in one of the city offices, at a goodly salary, and with the love of a then amiable wife, had noth- ing to yearn for or crave, in his happy exist- ence, ** Little Bethel, their child, was a sweet fairy, and as she grew in years she increased in beauty of both face, form and womanly qualities, until, at the age of seventeen, she stepped upon the threshold of fashionable society, the acknowledg- ed bello of the season. “ Her smiles and society were.courted by many a rich and accomplished, gallant, much to the anxiety of ber parents, who knew the dangers of fashionable associations, but she passed the best of them by in a pleasant, firm way, that could not be misunderstood, and at the same time inspired the deepest admiration of her many suitors, ‘*This, until she arrived at the age of eighteen when her parents sent her to Paris and Italy, Here she was to finish her musical education in a two years’ course of study, “To her parents Bethel was a loving and obe- dient daughter, and in their blind affection for her they indulged her in everything she desir- ed. To such an extent, that when she returned to America, after two years’ absence, John Vance found that his bank-account was ex- hausted. “About a month after Bethel’s return, shoe once more entered metropolitan society, and in a short time became este with a young military officer, Guy Hathaway by name, who was of a good family, and had won a general- ship for service in the war. “The acquaintance soon ripened to infatuation on the part of Bethel, and she wanted to marry young Hathaway on his own terms, which were, that she must deliver to him a sum of fifty thousand dollars, upon the marriage Gay, whic he would invest for her so that it would be cer- tain to provide a good livelihood for her as long as she lived. “This proposition she broached at once to her parents, but they promptly refused, agreeing that it was an unmanly scheme on Hathaway's part to swindle her out of the money. ‘* Moreover, they forbade her to have any fur- ther acquaintance with him. * Bethel was not only disappointed at her fail- ure, but greatly incensed toward her parents and in anger declared nothing should prevent her from having the young general. ** About this same time, John Vance mortgaged his house and lot and personal property, for a limited number of days, for thirty thousand dol- lars, seeing an opportunity for a paying invest- ment. As he would not use it in a few days, he deposited it in his desk, at home, in preference to putting it in the bank. “Well, to make a long story short, the money turned up missing, and the day after this, Bethel was married to Guy Hathaway. ‘Knowing, of course, that she had taken it her father immediately sent a search-warran after her and the young general, but all to no pe ose. No trace of the missing money could e foun: and both she and Hathaway denied having any knowledge or possession of it, what- ever. “Shortly afterward, Hathaway received the command of a small fort on the Western fron- tier, and with Bethel left New York fcrever. “The parents of Bethel, having no money to redeem the mortgage, were eventually turned out of house and home, and the friends that once knew them, knew them no more. ‘*The shock of the great blow which had swept away both child and fortune, was great, and had the same effect on both—to affect their minds with a species of insanity which was a strange mixture of madness and reason, “They wandered from the city, making their way westward. They grew wild through ill- treatment and privation; folks avoided them be- cause of their shabby appearance—feared them, because of a belief that they were in some way connected or leagued with evil-doers,” CHAPTER V. SOLID SAM AND HIS FATHER, “You, then, are the mother of her that was Bethel Vance?” Solid Sam asked. “T am. White Beard, who was killed six years ago in Buckskin Canyon by the stam- peders, was her father, By slow stages we wan- dered into the mining and trapping sections of the West, subsisting mainly upon what we could beg from the campers, or the game we killed. , “Six years after leaving New York, during which time we had heard but onee or twice from Bethel, found us located in a wild district in the Yellowstone region. At times reports eame back to inquiries we sent to strangers, that Bethel did not live happily with Guy, and the same reports told that, though he often abused her and her two twin children—a little boy and girl—she still bore patiently with him, seeming to be as much infatuated with him as at first. ‘One spring—the first of our stay in the Yel-
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14 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. lowstone country—there came a terrible flood, {nat brought us back our Bethel—but God knows, as a terrible gift. “White Beard found her, one day after the flood had subsided, somewhat—her and her little son, both washed upon a bleak point of the river, where the freshet had cast her. “ He recognized her, and brought you home to our humble abode, for he supposed her to be dead. But, unwilling to believe it, he at last went back, and, truly enough, found her alive, but so injure’, that she died shortly afterward. Before she did die, however, she told a tale of bitter wrong that had been done her by Guy Hathaway, the culmination of which was his causing a couple of ruffians to kidnap her, and, with her children, send her afloat on the flooded ‘Yellowstone, upon a log-raft. She was wrecked upon the bar, and for many hours lay stunned and bleeding. She remembered, however, of having her two six-year old children bound to her at her last recollection, and as White Beard found her bonds cut, on first discovering her, it was evident some one had arrived ahead of him, and appropriated the little girl. ‘“Before she died, Bethel also begged forgive- ness from her father, which was freely given, and White Beard soothed her in her last mo- ments, promising that he would care for her eer the boy, and make all efforts to find the irl, ‘Then, I am the son of Bethel and General Hathaway!” Solid Sam cried, springing to his feet, with a start of surprise. “You are!” the Witch replied, ‘Sand I am your grandmother. You cau now see why I shot the human monster, your father, for there has not been a day since Bethel died, that I have not registered an oath before high Heaven that Guy Hathaway should never live to treat an- other wife, as he treated my child.” Solid Sam was silent a few minutes, before he spoke, his gaze riveted upon the floor, “You did right in speeding that fatal bullet, perhaps,” he said, with a voice tremulous with feeling, ‘‘ for you saved me doing the same awful deed, if you are telling me the truth about him. T already hate him because he was instrumental in the death of my mothe*!” ‘‘T am telling you the truth, so help me God!” the Witch said, earnestly. ‘Before the flood, we used to send with trusty trappers who visited the various places of residence of the Hathaways, and have them make inquiries, As a result, we always received the same reply, literally—Hathaway seemed to hate his wife and children, and abused them shamefully, in addition to letting them suffer for want of the necessaries of life, and courting the society of other women!” “ Brute—monster, then, he is, and I have no -sympathy for him!” Solid Sam said, fiercely. “Did you kill him outright?” “No, I didn’t. Tam no fool. I meant that he -should live long enough to make his will. You are his heir—the only rightful one I know of. He must leave his property to you, and if your sister is ever found, we will share it with her. Go at once, lest you be too late, and make known to him your identity. Tell him all T have told you, and lying at the point of death as he is, he will not dare disown you or refuse to do what is right.” “True. If I have a right to his property I am to have it, for I shall never get what I don’t fight for, it appears. I will drop in upon him to-night, when matters are quiet, in Placer City, and if you do not see me back in several days, do not be surprised.” “ You will need to be careful!” Wild Meg said, with a shake of her head, ‘‘for the miners and roughs down there are bilter against you, and T saw a half a dozen reward papers posted up about the town, offering five hundred dollars for your capture.” “Ha! ha! let them paste the whole town with such papers, and Pll yct snap my fingers at them and whistle at their curses in defiance, But, to prepare against trouble, I'll take Fleet- wind with me.” One of the pockets of Solid Sam’s jacket was curiously constructed, being lined with sieve wire, and protected by a buttoned lapel. Going to a little cage in one portion of the cave, he took forth a small but plump carrier pigeon, around whose downy throat was fastened a tiny blue ribbon, that in turn was tied to a bit of paper. Opening his pocket, he shoved the bird gently into it, and then fastened the lapel to its place with a button. The cause of the wire pocket now became obvious. While the outer view of the coat re- mained unchanged, the inside was left so that air could circulate freely through thisnovel, but excellent bird-cage. Arming himself well, Solid Sam then mounted a large, gray horse, and took his departure. Pursuing a short route across the mountains he was not long in reaching the Buckskin Canyon, where he dismounted, and continued on his way toward Placer City on foot, first having secreted his horse from the view of the trail. Wild Meg had never to his knowledge lied to him, and therefore the young outlaw had no reason to believe that she had deceived him in narrating the wrongs instigated by the leading citizen of Placer City. That night, General Hathaway lay upon his bed, alone in hisroom, the doctor having retired for a short nap. Unable to sleep, the mine-owner lay there with probably anything but pleasant thoughts, for there was a troubled expression upon his face. It was about this time that a door softly opened, to admit a dark figure, wrapped in a blanket—a man, with his slouch hat pulled down over his eyes. The hat was raised as the new-comer approach- ed the bedside, however, and the general gave vent to a gasp of surprise and horror, “Solid Sam! the road-agent!” he uttered, huskily. » ‘The same, sir,” Solid Sam replied, coolly, as he covered the invalid with his revolver. “Don’t be at all noisy in your demonstrations, or I shall have to silence you. Do you know me, Guy Hathaway?’ ‘“No—no more than as the accursed outlaw of the canyon!” was the fierce reply.
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Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. “Then it is time that you did know me,” Solid Sam replied. ‘‘I am your son, rightfully, lawfully—the only son resulting from your union with Bethel Vance!” General Hathaway uttered a smothered curse. “You lie!” he gasped, paling before the stern gaze of the Boy Road-Agent. ‘‘I have no son living. My first wife and children died years ago, and you are a scheming impostor!” , ‘How did your wife and children die?” Solid Sam asked, fiercely. ‘ Dare you own the truth, sir, lying as you are at the point of death?” The mine-owner groaned and averted his face. upon which there was a ghastly expression of terror. **Goon!” he gasped. ‘*If you have anything to say, I will hear you wish. “You are my father, although I am in no way or manner proud of the fact. Because of our crimes and villainy, it is not strange that do not bear you either the love or good-will of ason. How long have I wondered what mys- tery surrounded my early life, but was unable to learn or conceive until to-day, when Wild Meg came to the front and granted the infor- mation—the whole strange story of how you had wedded her daughter, Bethel Vance—how ou had caused Bethel, my mother, to steal a arge sum of money from her parents, which caused their financial ruin; how you had emi- grated to the West; how they had learned of our constant abuse of your wife and children; ow they found Bethel and one child—the little boy—wrecked upon the blood-stained shore of the Yellowstone, one spring, and received from her a confession of your wrongs against her, the culmination of which was your causing ber to be set adrift on the flood, with her children, calculating, of course, that you would never be troubled by them again. Ah! Guy Hathaway, even though you are my father, I can but bate you for your black, brutal, villainous past!” ‘“You are not to blame for hating me, boy, if you are indeed my son. I was a brute in those days—inspired by an evil, reckless nature, over which I had not the mastery. I don’t ask you to forgive me, or even regard me with re- spect, for I do not deserve it. But, go on—tell me if Bethel escaped alive, and what became of the other child?” “My voor mother only lived long enough, the Witch says, to confess her woes to White Beard, who found her; then she died. 1 was the only child that White Beard. found when he discovered her, but.some other person had been upon the spot ahead of him, and without doubt, carried away my little sister, of whom no trace has ever been found since.” 3 General Hathaway was silent for several min- utes, his face covered by his hands, ‘All I: can now do is to be penitent, and pray to God for forgiveness and pardon,” he said, slowly. ‘I am sorry—have been sorry for years, but could not recall the dead to life. I will not crave your forgiveness, for you would probably not accord it.” ‘““You are right. The story I heard from Wild Meg was enough to set me against you, Besides, as a citizen of Placer City, you have not particularly endeared yourself to me, by the unselfish interest you have manifested in 16 your attempts to make me die by the Vigilantes, My ponapel reason in coming here, on learn- ing that you are my father, is to induce you to make your will in my favor.” “No, That is impossible. The will is already made, and I cannot change it.” ‘Will not, you mean?’ “Yes, if you like. Idonot owe youanything. Indeed, I have no conclusive proof that you are not an impostor?’ “Dare you doubt me? Lying at the point of death, can you not see that I am the only one who would come forward, and give such strong roof? You know I am your son, sir—have nown it, or suspected it, maybe, all along, which accounted for your enmity against me!” ‘““Whether I have, or not, I decline to say!” the miner-owner replied, stolidly. “At any rate, I shall not leave you a penny. My pros- pects for the future are dark, and I may as well continue as I did before, as I have no faith that a chenge for the better would help me, now. Kill me, if you choose, as it will not make much difference whether I die now, or a few hours hence.” ‘*Nol” Solid Sam replied, rising. ‘‘ There is One who will give you your just deserts more effectually than I can do. will, however, have a share of the wealth you refuse to be- queath to me—to that I swear! I now bid you good-by, forever; may God have more mercy upon your soul than I could have!” Then the Boy Road-Agent took his departure, as silently as he came, The next morning Placer City was acquaint- = thay the fact that General Hathaway was ead. CHAPTER VI. THE POST-OFFICE AND THE POSTMISTRESS. THE night following the one on which Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent, had visited the gen- eral—now lying a corpse at his shanty, up the ich—was a beautiful one, with a balmy reath of radiant nature blowing up from the south, and a gloriously bright moon soar through the heavens’ blue dome, with its bril- liant settings of starry diamonds. Notwithstanding the great beauty of the night, and the fact that crowds of people were out upon the Rialto of Placer City, as the sim- ple gulch street had been christened by some one, more out of sarcasm than admiration, other crowds of humanity were congregated in sa- loons and places of amusement, but the most characteristic representation of Placer City cit- izens was to be found at the “ fice.” This was the principal bang-out of that class who did not as a rule frequent the saloons and Gaote-Leaers and also of many of those who id. ‘Mail-time” was the ripe time to find the crowd there, and to-night was no exception to the usual gathering. The ‘ post-offis,” as an establishment, occu- pied a large cabin, some fifty feet wide by sev- . enty long, and answered, in addition to its offi- cial calling, that of a general stpply store, a news and cigar stand. ay The office in question was a partitioned apart-
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16 ment in the rear end of the building, with a pigeon-hole of moderate size opening out into the store-room, into which each pilgrim was obliged to shout his name, and if any mail awaited them, he received it back through this aperture. A door opened from this office behind each of . two counters, which flanked either side of the cabin, and admitted of one person attending to the several businesses connected with the estab- lishment. Placer City was proud of its postmaster, or rather postmistress, for it was a woman who superintended the ‘business—a dashing, viva- cious, irrepressible young woman, whom every- admired, and yet feared to “rile.” Miss Nell Nugent was said to be her name, but uni- versally she was known simply as Nobby Nell. Who she was, or where she had come from, was among the uncertainties. Once upon a time, in the early existence of Placer City as a mining-camp, Bill Simpson, who had been deputized P. M., was invited toa ‘*neck-tie party” by the citizens, for fingering the contents of the mails, and when the question was put who was to fill §impson’s boots, Nobby Nell had put in an appearance, and begged the “city fathers” to turn the position over to her, A little fifteen-year-old midget she was, at the time, attired in a hunting-suit of elaborately- decorated buckskin, with the inevitable slouch haf; and top boots, and a mining outfit strapped to her back; and, impressed with her frank, in- dependent appearance, the “city” dignitaries had installed her ‘‘ boss” of the post-office. Little by little she had saved up money from her salary, and by what she made at weighing auriferous, until, at the time we enter the post- office, she owned the building and the whole stock of merchandise in addition to retaining her position of postmistress. Few women in Placer City were there who did not have some cause to have some envy of Miss Nobby Nell Nugent, for the miners and men generally admired her, and then, she was pretty, which was a secret, perhaps, why the crowd always managed to saunter into the post- office, hours before each mail was due. Let us take a peep into ths aforesaid office. Some thirty or forty men are collected within, ranged along the counters—a strangely con- trasted array of humanity, both in face and attire. The red-shirted, stogy-booted miner, and his more villainous resemblee, the professional ruf- fian; the well-dressed speculator or mine-owner; the flashily dressed exquisite (card sharp) an his prototype the sport, bullwhackers, pros- tors, gamblers, and jockeys, in large num- ers, with no two alike in feature, dress or ex- pression. Behind the counter stood Miss Nobby Nell, who, as the evening mail-stage had not yet ar- rived, was busying herself in weighing out groceries for a big bewhiskered miner, and making a very pretty picture in the light re- flected from her well-cleaned lamps. She had worn “‘ the breeches” on her first ap- rance, and she wore them still, in con- jimetion with a dainty jacket, vest and spotless inen bosom, with a tie at the throat, jaunty, Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. eel broad-brimmed hat upon her head, and neat boots upon her feet, into the tops of which her loose trowers were thrust. Manly though was her attire, it well became her, and was not “‘ loud” or flashy ; it was really very cute. In face and form, she was remarkably at- tractive. Her figure was below the medium hight of women,.a trifle, yet gracefully and symmetrically developed and rounded to a de- gree of perfection at once noticeable, owing to her neatly-fitting attire. Her face was fair and prettily chiseled, the features being faultless in their outline and charming in expression, es- pa the mouth, inclined to be the least bit arge, but bewitchingly tempting, which the ner to a man, voted was “too killing for any- thing. And who shall say they were not right? Her bright brown eyes always were aglow with the feeling of a warm, impulsive nature, yet betokened an independent spirit, that could be aroused to stern wrath. Her hair had some day been shorn close to her head, and now grew ina confusion of short auburn curls, infinitely be- coming to her, In fact, with her eighteen years of life left behind, Nobby Nell stood at the threshold of a glorious womanhsod, without a peer as to beauty and powers of fascination, in the Wind River Mines. Another attraction about her was the fact that she was “‘all on ther squar’,” as the miners expressed it. From the time of her coming, she had manifested a sturdy willand disposition to guard and protect herself from insult, and it was said that at least a half-dozen precious pil- grims had ‘‘ chawed plumbago,” as a sequel to offering her insult. Anyhow, while she was universally admired and respected above other unmarried women in the camp, even the boldest, or those upon friend- liest terms with her, knew better than to crowd intimacy beyond a certain point, having no fancy for a voice from one of the polished” six- shooters she ever wore in her belt, Among those congregated within the post- office, to-night, were the better class of Placer City’s citizens, with of course a sprinkling of the rougher and more adventurous element, Lawyer Green was a center of attraction, of course, and in answer to innumerable inquiries, he related all about how General Hathaway’s will had been made, as many innumerable times. ‘*So thet Colonel or Santa Fe Syd is goin’ ter be heir, eh?” a miner observed—Jem Jinks, by the way, who held the important office of con- stable in the town, ‘Waal, Syd’s one o’ our own sort o’ pards, an’ durn my boots ef he ain't entitled ter hev ther sha‘ce. Don’t you say so, Miss Nell?” “On course I do!” Placer City’s pretty post- mistress averred, with a pretty nod of her curly head. ‘Santa Fe Syd’s one of our citizens an’ the Easterner ain’t, which same one can tell by the cut of his coat!” “That's so, by thunder!” the constable ac- cepted. “He ain’t no rough nugget, like Syd, nohow, an’ I propose thet we assist ther boyee ther best we know how, ter git ther fortin’.” ‘* Mebbe some one else will hey something ter
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Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 1% say about that,” Lawyer Green observed, dryly. “‘)her gal, Miss Miner, hez sumthin’ ter say about thet,” “ An’ Santa Fe Syd he’s soft on Nobby Nell, heer, an’ dursen’t go ag’in’ her wishes, for fear o’ gittin’ planted, which quashes thet little indict- ment!” declared Black Eph, who was voted by all to be the ugliest rough customer in the mines, when the ‘ snakes” were tickling the bottoms of his feet, which was not seldom. “Hello! who lipped in for me, then?’ the pretty postmistress demanded, looking up from the figuring-up of a bill of groceries. ‘‘ Was that you what made thet remark, Black Eph?” “TL allow I’m the man,” the border ruffian answered, emphatically and coolly, “I inti- mated thet, bein’ tied ter yer skirts, Santa I'e Syd wouldn’t durst take on no other craft, wich I opine is a complerment ter ye, right from ther shoulder.” ‘* Well, look out you don’t make too free wi’ yer compliments,” Nell replied, a little flush of indignation dyeing her fair check. ‘‘ Mr. Syd- ney Atherton is in no way bound to me, nor have I any claim upon him whatever.” ‘* On course she ain’t, Black ole interposed Jem, who always took the verbal defense of the pretty postmistress. ‘‘Y’u’re a leetle too free wi’ yer chin-music 0’ late, an’ need sum good chap ter dress ye out, you do.” ‘* Mebbe you'd like ter take ther job?” the ruf- fian growled. ‘“‘I’ve got an open date fer ary pilgrim as wants ter grab ther leetle persition of dressin’-maid.” But Jem shook his head, with a sad smile. Constable though he was of the town, he had no particular hankering after rough-and-tumble scrimmagers. For Black Eph held undisputed sway as the bully of the town, and was feared far more than he was respected, for a great many dark deeds had been Jaid at his door, and he was rough and revengeful at the least provo- cation. Without, in the balmy moonlight night, was now heard tho jolting rumble of stage-wheels, which cut short further argument, that might have resulted in bloodshed, for he was a poor stick who couldn’t drop his man in a quarrel in the moral city of Buckskin Gulch. Out into the street poured the inmates of the post-office, as the creaking stage rolled up, to add to the crowd already collected, Tt was not an uncommon occurrence for a large delegation of new citizens to arrive in the “ coffin-cage,” as the stage had been affection- ately christened, and these Placer City-ites were always on deck, ready to give the new- comers a critical inspection, To-night, however, there were but four pas- sengers; but four though there were they were most singularly contrasted. The first was one of that class of Westerners easily distinguishad in their profession as cattle- drovers, by the fact of their constently carry- ing a bull-whip—a young man in years, witha slight mustache, brown eyes, and long wavy hair that touched below his shoulders, while in face he was particularly good-looking, wearing a fearless and independent, yet genial expres- sion. He was attired in the usual costume of the prairie cattle-drover, with a pair of serviceable revolvers stuck in his belt—slouch hat, knee- boots, and homespun, the woolen shirt which opened with a collar at the neck, being fanci- fully embroidered. oung in years appeared this young drover, yet the “grip” of his eagle eye betrayed the fact that he was no coward in a big crowd, and the way he pushed through the assemblage of citizens into the post-oflice, was a guarantee that he was in the habit of going whither ho pleased, regardless of hindrance. The other passengers who followed him, were a China- man, and a man and woman of the most strik- ing appearance—the man _ being every inch a six-footer, if not taller, and one of the lankest, most gaunt-looking specimens of humanity that it had ever been the fortune of these Placer City-ites to behold. Evidently there was not a spare pound of flesh in his composition, his skin appearing to be drawn tightly over the bones, and the loose- ly fitting garfments he wore over the skin. His features were gaunt and sunken, his eyes large and of a yellowish shade, while his mouth and feet were extremely large. His head was totall bald, and as shiny as the appearance of a full moon, not even so much as a few hairs vegeta- ting there. Upon his face a sickly stubble of hirsute coy- ering had collected—that was all. His attire was ridiculously ragged and dirty, with worn-out shoes upon his feet, and a clown- mae hat upon his head, His companion was precisely his opposite, in appearance, She was a coarse-featured, red-faced woman of four feet six, and nearly as big around as she was tall; a person, who, at the least calculation, — must bave weighed three hundred pounds, She was dressed in a stylish traveling costume of costly silk, and, as compared with the “skinny” man, to whose arm she clung tight- ly as if afraid that the stiff mountain breeze would blow him away, she was a remarkable contrast, The Chinaman, a flat-visaged, almond-eyed. greasily-attired pig-tail, was evidently attached either to the drover or to the two extremes, CHAPTER VII. WYOMING WALT ENTERS THE ARENA. BrinG the first son of Confucius who had ever set foot. in Placer City, he was naturally regarded with anything but welcome glances— for where is the miner, old or young, from Washington Territory down to the Gulf, who _ bears any particular affection for the average Celestial? ; ; Evident it was that this precise pig-tail was the forerunner of more that were to follow, and a murmur of disgust and demur went the rounds of the crowd. “A gol-durned Chinerman!” grunted one miner. ‘‘I say, boys, who imported im ‘ere? We doan’t want none o’ thet breed.” “On course we doan’t,” assented several others, in a voice. ‘Wages is low enuff, as it is, wi’out any of them p’izen cusses,” “ Hurra! that’s ther talk!” chipped in Black Eph, who now formed one of the crowd that
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~ is Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. had partially surrounded the Celestial. ‘“‘Say, see hyar, you John Chinaman, don’t ye know youre invadin’ a Paradise thet warn’t nevyer intended fer pig-tails, an’ sech like? You've got to bounce.” ‘“Nixy! Chee Fee Ching-go no bounces. *Meli- can man no makee Chee I"ee Ching-go bouncee!” the son of Confucius declared, independently. “’Melica free land—Chineeman he heapee likee *Melica—go wheree pleasec.” “Waal, Dll be cussed ef we won't jest erbout see ter thet, ye durned almond-cyed, flat-snooted sucker!” Black Eph cried savagely. And he sprung forward and seized the unoffending Chee Fee Ching-go by the collar, and yanked him around epee “ Bring a rope, boyees, an’ we'll hev er leetle pick-nick, jest as nice as ye please, all by ther light o’ ther moon,” A dozen miners hurried away in quest of the desired halter, for it was down in their rough code that a Chinaman was not fitefor anything else but to hang. The young herder had heard the disturbance, and now came out of the post-office to learn the cause, “Hello!” he ejaculated, as his flashing eyes took in the scene, ‘‘ What's the matter? What are you a-goin’ to do wi’ thet Chinaman, old man?” “Hang im, by thunder!” Black Eph chuckled, y ps? Mebbe you've got some lip to chip in ag’in’ ‘‘ Mebbe I have,” the herder declared coolly. “‘T generally mix in my gab, when I see fit. What's the Celestial bin doin’, that ye want to send him up?” “ Nothin’—positively and precisely nothin’,” Black Eph replied, with a leer. ‘tSo what are you going to do about it, my young gobbler?” “Tm going ter persuade you to abandon all notion o’ strinzin’ uy the Cuinaman, I opine!” the young herder replied, quickly whipping a air of revolvers from his belt and cocking hem, ‘Take your hands off from that China- man, and let him go, or I'll put a semi-colon right between your eyes quicker than a kitten can say its catechisms!” ‘* Cuss ye, d’ye mean it, you young popinjay?” the ruffian demandod penpely ‘‘T don’t mean nothing else,” was the reply. ‘The Celestial hasn’t harmed any one, and don’t deserve to be hung, or even molested. This is a free country, and everybody has a right to go where they please, except when the law interferes, and therefore you’ve no business to lay a hand on that fellow.” A murmur of disapproval came from the erowd. It was not to their liking, this inter- ference, The young cattle-drover still stood with his revolvers leveled in a way that seemed to indi- -eate that Black Eph’s prospects for a funeral were large, unless he speedily obeyed. “See hyar, young feller, this ain’t no fair shake,” he growled, uneasily. ‘‘ Ill allow ye’ve got ther drop, but I want to argy ther p’int, in ther behalf o’ our citerzens, to whom I’m a re- presentative. Et’s an established fact that ther cussed Chimamen hev did more to’rd fetchin’ down wages than ary other race on ther earth, an’ et ain’t nateral fer us laborin’ class ter love ’em for it, overmuch. Up ter date, we've kept our town free frum ther pesky devils, an’ I'll be cuss blamed ef we aire a-goin’ ter let ’em swarm in an’ cut us out o’ our jobs. Ain’t this so, boys?” A grunt of assent from the miners, was the answer. “On course et’s so!” Black Eph averred, warming up, in an oratorical way, to the sub- ject. ‘* We ken’t be blamed fer pertectin’ our mutual interests, an’ w’en a pig-tail galoot cums a-waltzin’ inter our town—w’ich same be a foretaste o’ more thet’s ter cum—I opine et’s our moral an’ religyus duty ter treat ther cuss ter a private hempen celebration, an’ thereby encourage ther rope manufacturin’ interests o’ ther land. Hain’t et so, boyees—hain’t thet logick right frum ther foundation? On course et is, an’ ev’ry mother’s son o’ ye in favor 0’ givin’ ther pig-tail a boost, will make manifest by sayin’ I!” “Tl” was the ringing response, from many a throat, “I!” “Contrary no!” cried the young herder, “Tf you are all in favor of hanging this China- man, J am not, and (ll drop the first_man who attempts to boost him! That’s me, Wyomin Walt, right down frum ther cattle regions, an chock full o pure beef an’ blood, in the bar- gain. Remember! I give you fair warning. The first man who offers to invest in this lot- tery, will get a grand prize of a two-by-six pine box, providing the town authorities sees fit to supply it.” The crowd were waiting on Black Eph, for the decision, for one and all had long known him as a lawless leader in scrapes of this sort. The ruffian knew that he was left judge, and glared around him, as if in doubt what to do. “Waal, boys, ye’ll hev ter give me a minute ter decide ther case,” he said, ‘* but ye kin draw yer pop-guns, so thet ther cowboy don’t get too frisky.” “Stop!” Wyoming Walt yelled, ere sit and uickly, a stern ring to his voice. ‘1’ll blow the s'rull off of the galoot that draws a pistol!” « And so will I!” All eyes were turned toward the door of the post-office at the sound of the ringing voice, and all eyes beheld Nobby Nell, the pretty post- mistress, standing there, a pair of silver-mount- ed revolvers in her hands, leveled at the crowd. ‘‘Oh! it’s me!” she ouserved, “and I guess I'm pretty rg hd known. I just remarked ‘ And so will I, the translation of which means T’ll blow the head off of the pilgrim who offers to harm the pig-tail or the herder!” ‘© Boyees, et’s ‘Our Gal,’ w’ot speaks,” said Jim Byles, stepping forward. ‘Be we a-goin’ ter hang by the luv we've allus hed fer Nobby Nell, or be we goin’ ter hang ther pig-tail? Wich?” “Hang ther pig-tail,” growled Black Eph, fiercely. ‘*‘ Nobby Nell don’t run this yere town, ner she ain’t got ther say in this matter.” “Ther gal is trump!” a half-dozen different miners replied. ‘* What shesays we'll make our vets Pos she says don’t hang ther Chinaman, so it ‘Well, I do say it and I mean it,” Nobby Nell replied, decidedly. ‘‘The young stranger
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Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 19 is right. “You citizens an’ landmarks of Placer City haven’t no more right to lay hanas on the Celestial than Solid Sam has to rob the stage. Let ther pig-tail go, boys, an’ you'll sleep better fer not hangin’ him to-night.” The words seemed to have an immediate ef- fect, for the men mostly_restored their weapons to their belts, and Chee Fee Ching-go was per- mitted to go his way. The cattle-herder, Wyoming Walt, then turned back into the post-office, from which he had emerged on hearing the disturbance, and came face to face with Nobby Nell, who had evidently been waiting for him, as ske was not behind the counter, 5 “See here,” she said, motioning him aside from the immediate hearing of any chance by- standers. ‘* Maybe it isn’t any of my business, but I'd like to know your name, if you have no objections.” ‘“None at all,” the young herder replied, Pleasanuty. ““T gave my handle to the crowd as Vyoming Walt—Ill give it to you in the same fashion.” “But, that is only an assumed name.” “ How do you know that, pray?” “Because I guessed so. There is a young eattle-drover named Wyoming Walt, but you are not him?” ** How do you know that, pray?” was the re- joinder, interrogatively. “Because I have seen this Wyoming Walt, and he is not at all like you--is cowardly, and ruffianly, and ugly-looking, while you are quite the reverse,” Nobby Nell said, gazing at him, unflinchingly. “Oh! as to that, there could easily be two ersons by the same name, in such an extensive Territory as Wyoming,” the young herder re- plied ‘Indeed, I know of a good many per- sons who go under one nom de plume.” “But you, are not Wyoming Walt,” Placer City’s pretty young postmistress persisted, with asmile. “It is not likely there would be two by that peculiar name. - You are some one else, who have hit upon the expedient of disguising yourself. Tell me, is this not so?” “Possibly! Everything you know is possible, nowadays. But, whether I am the person I claim to be, or not, what does it matter to you?” “Well, PU tell you. My name is Nobby Nell, or Nell Nugent, for short, and Tam a great admirer of bravery. You showed good grit, a bit ago, but it occurred to me that you were some one else than Wyoming Walt, and were running a great risk in com‘ng here,” ‘Thanks for your kind anxiety in my behalf, but I am not at all in danger I opine, and were I, it does not matter so much. You are the postmistress, I believe?” “ Yes. ” “Tsn’t there a letter here, for Wyoming Walt?” “No, but there is one for Solid Sam,” and Miss Nell lowered her voice as she spoke. ‘Oh, there is?? Wyoming Walt said, without any apparent interest. ‘‘ A friend of yours, I dare say?” “No; I am not acquainted with him, but nevertheless admire his grit, and approve of his cause, But here comes the mail, and I must change it.” The coach-driver now entered, burdened with a well-filled mail-bag. ‘ And that very fact caused many a miner's eyes to sparkle with anticipations of the recep-- tion of letters from home. Nobby Nell nodded to Wyoming Walt pleas- antly, and then vaulting lightly over the com- . ter, she received the mail-bag and disappeare¢| behind the partition. A faint gleam of admiration entered Wyoming Walt’s eyes, as he watch d her leave. ‘* She’s as sharp as a razor, literally speaking,” he muttered, under his breath. ‘She is pretty, too, and of a lovable nature, I allow. I won- der who were her parent>, and what are her antecedents?” Quick of sight and quick of touch, it did not take Nobby Nell long to assort her mail. No boxes did Placer City’s postal system boast of, but behind the partition Nell had con- structed a sort of trough, containmg twenty-. ix compartments numbered alphabetically, so that A’s mail was put into Division A, and so on, which enabled her to know just where to look for each party’s mail without treuble. The little wicket-door soon flew open, and a crowd surged forward to receive their install- ment of letters and papers. Many were the recipients of both, but some there were who received none, as was’ eas i tell by the gloomy expression upon their aces, Then there was another class who inquired at the delivery as regularly as the mails arrived, who had no idea or hope of receiving even as much as a postalcard. No friends or relatives nad they who cared enough about their welfare to inquire about it, and their main reason for asking for mail seemed to be because the wished to hear Nobby Nell’s pleasant, musica ‘*'No,”—terse, but a treat when vouchsafed by Miss Nell. More out of curiosity than anything else, probably, Wyoming Walt joined in the line of inquirers, and when it came his turn, put forth his call, and to his surprise a letter was placed in his hand. . Not glancing at it, he stepped from the line, and allowed the next man to take his place, who. chanced to be the ! ullying ruffian of the town, Black Eph, upon whose face there was suddenly seen a strange, triumphant leer. Stepping to one side, Wyoming Walt glanced at the direction upon the envelope of his letter, and gave a surprised start. It was addressed to ‘‘ Solid Sam—the Bo se st aN in a bold, graceful style of chi- rography. A faint scowl of annoyance rose to the herd- er’s brow, and he glanced sharply around to see if any one besides himself had seen the direc- tions. As he did so he caught the leering gaze of Black Eph, and at once decided that he, if no one else, had seen them. But, with a coolness that evidently came na- tural to him, he tore open the letter and glanced over it, his senses, however, so much on the alert, that he was well aware of what was going on around him, ~
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20 He was also aware that the ruffian was ap- proaching him, and accordingly, without appa- rent design, he put the letter into his pocket just _as Black Eph came within arm’s reach. ‘Hello! got a letter, did ye?’ the bully de- manded, pausing, with a cunning grin. “Well, what if I did?’ Wyoming Walt re- lied. ‘Any one got a better right, I should ike to know?” * Luk out, ye young bantam; don’t go to sas- ‘sin’ me, or Vil suddenly chaw ye up, I will. Let’s see yer letter.” : ‘“ Well, I guess not,” the herder declined, cool- ly. ‘‘ What for?” ‘*Ca’so I wanter see it, that’s all,” Eph an- swered, blusteringly. ‘‘Cum, pass et erlong, will ye, or shell I takeitaway frum ye? ‘Maybe you'd better try to take it away, if you imagine it would be healtby amusement for you!” was the calm suggestion, and the young man folded his arms complacently across his breast. “Oh! ye defy me, do ye?” the ruffian growl- ed. ‘Hp, ho! maybe [ hold the game card jest about now. I see’d ther directions uv thet ences, I did. What d’ye say to “Nothing of particular moment. The letter was given me through mistake, evidently, and not meant for me.” “Oho! thet won’t work, me boy. 1 know all about et. Jest let me see thet ’ar epistel, or Pll tell who ye aire, an’ then thar’ll be fun!” “You will?” ** Bet yer stogiest boots I will!” “ What’ll you make by it?’ “Tl make you fill ther same noose ye got ther Chinaman’s neck out of, cuss ye!” ** You will?” “May I be shot fer & pigeon, ef I don’t!” “Then, go ahead! defy you to do your very worst!” was the young herder’s answer. With an oath, Black Eph stepped back a few aces, and pointing his finger at Wyoming Walt, he cried, in a loud voice: ** Boyees, we've got ’im, now! That feller’s Solid Sam, the road-agent!” CHAPTER VIII. SOLID SAM STEPS OUT—FREE ADVERTISING. Tue effect of the raffian’s words was magical. Out came a great number of revolvers from different belts, to be grasped by sturdy hands, and the miners and citizons and adventurers who filled the room advanced a step, with dark scowls, that were threatening in the extreme. *“ Yas, sir-ee! that feller’s Solid Sam, an’ I know it!” Black Eph declared, with triumph. *T smelt a durned big rat, did I, ther furst min- nit I see’d him, an’ so when he went u» yander ter ther mail delivery, I peeped over his shoul- der, and see’d him get a letter addressed ter * Solid Sam,’” “Ts this so, young man?’ asked Bill Bolivar, who aspired to be Mayor of Placer City some day, should the place ever attain sufficient di- mensions to need a mayor. ‘Is Eph a-tellin’ the truth erbout this yere letter?” “He is, undoubtedly,” Wyoming Walt re- nee not at all disconcerted, still standing fac- Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. the scowling crowd, his arms folded across | needn’t argue the case any longer. his breast. ‘‘I received such a letter from the post-office, but it evidently was handed mo through mistake.” “Oh! no it wassent!” Black Eph chuckled. “ Nobby Nell she knows her biz, you bet, an’ she wouldn't be apt ter make a mistake like that.” ““Of course she wouldn’t.” Bolivar agreed; ‘an’ so, Mr. Road-agent, you may as well sur- render, ter oncet, Thar’s fifty on us ter one o’ you, an’ escape is impossible.” “Tt is, eh?’ the young herder cried. ‘ Then you are perfectly well satisfied that I am the genuine Solid Sam Hathaway?” “We are,” Bolivar assented. ‘ All the differ- ence *twixt ye is thet ye hain’t got no black streak across yer brow.” ** Which ought to be conclusive evidence that I am not Solid Sam,” was the calm reply, a faint expression of amusement lurking about his mouth. ‘If, however, you will have it that T am the notorious outlaw, I do not see in what way I can help it.” *“ What’s the matter here?’ Nobby Nell de- manded, emerging behind the counter from back of the postal partition. “Ah! are they trying to get you into trouble again, stranger?” “ft would seem so,” Wyoming Walt replied. ‘You gave me a letter through mistake, evi- dently, which was addressed to Solid Sam, the road-agent, and this man they call Black Eph saw it, and now accuses me of being the party himself!” “And so they propose to introduce you to Judge Lynch, eh?” ““That’s about the size of it, I reckon,” was Wyoming Walt’s response, “Well, if I can help it, they won’t. Gentle- men, you’ve made a mistake here, I allow,” the pretty postmistress said, “This pilgrim, Wyo- ming Walt, is a herder from up in the cattle regions. Solid Sam, indeed! Why. Solid Sam hes got a scar across his brow, an’ this pilgrim ain’t.” “See hyar, Nobby Nell, nobody axed you fer yer lip-in, in this case. Ef you're a’ pardner ter this galoot, that ye back his case so strong, why, we'll boost you too, mebbe!” Black Eph snarled, savagely. ‘‘I’ve been in Wyoming Territory fer a dorg’s age, an’ never heerd o’ sech a chap as Wyoming Walt, afore, Ef he ain’t Solid Sam, why in blazes did ye give him the letter?” “The letter has been lying here in the office for several days, and so I thought T’d give it to some one in order ter git rid of it, and Wyoming Walt happened to be the one that got it. I didn’t *spect any such harm as this or I shouldn’t have let i go out of the office. That’s what's about ther letter, old man!” “But mebbe we won’t take yer word fer thet!” Black Eph replied. ‘I opine you’ve hed yer way, hyar in Placer City, about long enough, an’ et’s time we hed a change, This galoot’s Solid Sam, an’ we're goin’ ter hang him. What d’ye say, boys?” ‘We say _yes, on course, ef he’s really Solid Sam,” Bill Bolivar proclaimed. ‘ But, Nobby Nell orter know, mebbe, for she knows ’most everybody.” “Gentlemen!” Wyoming Walt cried, ‘you Miss Nobby : : : : =
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pe e— Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 21 SS Nell evidently made a mistake in giving me the | Make way to the door, please, and don’t stir letter, and believes me to be Wyoming Walt. Nevertheless, she is mistaken, for Tam the very individual you have been trying to make me out —-Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent!” A murmur of astonishment escaped the crowd, for this was certainly startling information, boldly delivered. Even though many had at first believed him to be the notorious young out- law, they had hardly been expecting his bold declaration of the fact. A Coolly stood he there, after vouchsafing the fact, with arms folded across his breast, and his eyes flashing a dangerous light. “Ves, I am Solid Sam,” he repeated, ‘the road-agent of Buckskin Canyon, the boy whom you drove out of this gulch six years ago. Do you wonder I am Yorced to take matters intomy own hands, gentlemen, when you look around you and realize how much you are usurping my rights?” “We ain’t usurpin’ nothin’? Black Eph growled, “You lie, you are!” Solid Sam declared, un- dauntedly. ‘‘ All this gulch had been staked off, and rightfully secured: by John Vance, alias White Beard, previous to the time when a party of invaders, you included, came into the gulch, killed my grandfather, and drove my grand- mother and myself away from our home. We both swore then that not much of our rightful gold should ever leave the canyon, and I allow there hasn’t much left.” ° “Oho! ye brag o’ yer robberies, do ye?” Black Eph shouted. ‘Waal, ye may’s well play game while your courage is up, fer we're goin’ ter boost ye to glory, d’rectly. Cum, ye may’s well surrender, and save us ther pleasure o salivatin’ ye!” “T rather reckon not,” Solid Sam retorted, coolly. ‘‘ Nor will you make the least attempt to take me. While you were intent upon catch- ing your game, you were being captured your- selves. Ha! ha! if you look at the windows, my loving pilgrims, you will undoubtedly see what I mean,” They did look with a start of surprise, and what they saw, carried significant weight to the words of the Boy Road-Agent. * Three windows there were upon each side of the building, looking into the store-room, and through these were leveled a glittering array of rifle-barrels, some score or more in number, in such a shape that nearly every person in the room was covered. A murmur of rage went the rounds, while Solid Sam laughed, tauntingly. “ You see how it is, boys!” he said, smilingly. “My hand happens to be ‘flush,’ and T take the game. Hal ha! Iam sorry torob you of your anticipated pleasure of hunging me, but Pm not ready to cross over the river yet, which makes the difference. You see you are covered, and of course you will be wise. You will make no attempt to hinder my departure, for each of the rifles you now see gazing at you, is manned by a Branded Brow, who will shoot the first man who offers to raise a murmur of dissent, Sorry to have to tear myself away from your affec- tionate society, but, such is nevertheless the case, and so I bid you all a pleasant adieu? from your tracks to follow me, under penalty of instant death!” He was obeyed. Loth, though these citizens of Placer City were, to let him escape, who had abstracted so much from their pecuniary possessions, they werein no way desirous of losing their wind, as they were liable to do, if they offered to prevent his departure. Therefore, a passageway was cleared to the door, with grim scowls, and Solid Sam walked through it with as much indifference as though he were a monarch marching through a body- guard of his admirers, When he reached the door, he turned and raised h’s hat triumphantly, a pleasant smile pe his face; then turning, be quickly left the office. At the same instant the rifles were withdrawn from the windows, and when those within tho eco gained the open air, nothing was to 90 seen either of Solid Sam or his Branded Brows. Had the earth opened up and swallowed them? On the following morning, Placer City’s daily newspaper contained a ‘‘ boom” in news, and had a ready sale. Among its local items of interest were the ap- pended, which the editor had evidently labored. hard to present to his patrons: , “Sorm Sam Aaam.—The notorious Boy Road- Agent, Solid Sam, again came to light last night, but as usual made his escape, not to the credit of our’ citizens. This young ouJaw is constantly growing bolder and bolder, and some certain measures should be taken for] is eradication. If our citizens—all of them bardened and mauly nuggets of the old school —cannot effectually put a stop to the fellow’s wild, lawless career, why not send to New York for Cap- tain Williams, the champion eclubber of the “finest police in the world? He probably could fix our youthful road agent, “Tt is hinted by some, that Solid Sam is aided and abetted by the strange od hag, Wild Meg. who is credited with being pessersed ef witel craft, also that thre is Gang rto cvyery citizen of our town, from this unnatural pair. It seems that in the first history of this town, the hag and her husband, together with the boy, lived here, but were driven away by the settlers, The man was killed for re- fusing to go, claiming that he and his wife owned this canyon by right of actual compliance with the rules of the Government. Whether this be true or not, the Wifch and the young road-agent still claim to be the owners of the canyon, and give this as their son for their constant depredations upon our citizens. Prompt measures shculd be taken for the early ‘planting’ of this precious yet dangerous erop of human thistles.” : Tn another place was: “The funeral of our esteemed citizen, General Hathaway, of whose assassination by the Witch, we spoke in yesterday’ ue, occurred before day- break this morning, as his early decomposition ren- dered quick interment necessary. But acertain few were present to witness the last sad rites. Tn still another place, was another item: “Tr appears, according to a statement made by our eminent barrister, Lawyer Green, that Solid Sam, the road-arent, is the son, by a first marriage, of the deceased General Hathaway, and consequent- ly the rightful or legal heir to the deceased’s wealth,
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The lawyer tells a singular story which he claims the general confessed to him, before he breathed his Jast, and as the lawyer is a man noted _ for his vera- city, we are in duty bound to believe him, although the story seems incredible, and we refrain from pub- lishing it. In case, however, that it is true, lively times are impending, for Solid Sam is not remem- bered in the general's will, The will is as follows: If our townsman, Syd Atherton, can effect an ami- cable matrimonial alliance with Miss Min r, the gen- eral’s pretty step-daughter, the property goes to him and her, jointly, If not, in case the same ar- rangement can be effected between Miss Miner and Colonel Carrol, the general’s brother, the property goes to them, respectively and equally If neither of these alliances can be effected, the whole wealth, of which Atherton is trustee, is to be handed over to our petty postm'stress, Nobby Nell Nugent. Itisa novel case in the ex'reme, and its setrlement sug- gests a fair chance for six-shooters and gunpowder.” The reading of these extracts caused quite a sensation among all conditions of Placer City’s citizenship. It did look, indeed, as if there was a big chance for a grand struggle, and the matter een discussed by every man and woman in the own, Colonel Hathaway and Santa Fe Syd were chief centers of notice, but neither spoke to the other, and both were rather quiet. Several days passed by—days of feverish an- ticipation to the gossip-mongers and excitement lovers of the town, who were eagerly awaiting ‘developments that did not come. Nothing had been seen or heard from Solid Sam since his escape from the post-office; never- theless he was expected to be heard from, again, at any moment. The notice he had received in tho newspaper had but served to increase his notoriety, and also the dread of him that was generally preva- lent, and those who had any quantity of golden treasure in the town, held fast to it, hardly dar- ing to risk sending it out of the gulch, for fear it would fall into the hands of the watchful young outlaw. One stormy, windy night, about a week later, the publisher of the daily paper, while sitting in his sanctum, received a caller, No unusual occurrence was it for somo pil- grim to drop in, for the purpose of soliciting a uff, or to examine the latest papers and smoke the editor’s pipe; and, therefore, the aforesaid editor, a lean, hungry-looking man, did not look up from his writing, until the cold contact of something hard was pressed against his temple, sending a shiver down his sensitive spine, and he made the horrifying discovery that the muz- zle of a formidable six-shooter was indeed threatening his head, held in the unwavering gripe of an individual of some eighteen years, across whoss brow was a black streak, as if painted there by a searing instrument, No man of mighty courage was this weak re- presentative of the newspaper fraternity, whose name was Bloffs; indeed, he had a mortal terror of warlike instruments, and the fact that one of these dangerous tools was pressed against his head caused him literally to wilt in his chair, and tremble all over. “Heavens! don’t—don’t kill me!” he gasped, his teeth chattering. W-who are you?” “Well, my Christian friend, I happen to bo that notorious ‘thistle’ you deem easy to re- move from this moral sphere,” was the response. “ Otherwise I’m Solid Sam, and I mean bizness!” CHAPTER IX. MAY AND SANTA FE SYD—SOLID SAM’S POSTERS. ApovrT this same minute, when the Boy Road Agent had the newspaper man covered wit’, revolver, Santa Fe Syd left the post-o../¢, equipped with an armful of groceries, and hur- ried down the street, through the wind and rain toward his bachelor’s shanty abode. It was a wild night in the extreme, with a fierce gale blowing down over the mountains, driving before it a continuous sheet of rain, and there were but few persons abroad on the main street of the little mining-camp. Yet when in the neighborhood of his shanty, the handsome mine-owner met a cloaked female figure, whom the strong wind was seemingly trying to pre- vent from going upthe street. A second glance discovered who it was. “Why, can it be possible that is you, Miss Miner?” he exclaimed, crossing over to her. “What in the world ever brought you out in the storm—or isn’t if any of my business?” “Yes, it’s your business, for you are the per- son I started forth to find,” was the gasping reply, for the huge rain-drops beat tattoo in the maiden’s pretty face. “‘ I had no idea it stormed so “T beg—don’t shoot! “Tt’s a wild night,” Syd replied. ‘ But come —you must get in out of the storm. Yonder is my shanty, if you will accept of its friendly shelter.” “Until I have had a short talk with you, yes,” and Miss Miner timidly took the s‘alwart gold-digger’s arm, until they were safely at the shanty, and she was seated by a cosey fire. “Tt’s a rough night—the roughesi Pve seen for some years,” Santa Fe Syd said, as he de- posited his purchases upon a table, which form- ed one of the appointments of a neat room, “Something of unusual moment, I take it, must have occurred, to bring you out in such a storm, Miss Miner?” “No. I only came to talk with you concerning the will of General Hathaway and other matters, sir,” was the answer. ‘ But, first, I want to know if the woman I have been led to suppose was my mother, is my mother?” Tho ming-owner looked surprised. ““Why, do you come to me to ask this?” he demanded, turning upon her with a searching glance, ‘** Because IT know that you know something about me!” May replied, firmly. ‘The glances exchanged between you and Mrs. Hathaway, on your meeting, did not escape me, and then, she has often hinted to me that I was nothing to her. Tell mo, Mr. Atherton, I beg of you, if I am in any way related to that woman? You know—you can tell me that which I most want to know—who Iam!” Santa Fe Syd paced a turn about the room, before he answered. _“Do you have any recollection ‘of a former life?” he finally asked, stopping before her, L_— et 2
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Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 23 “Does your memory date back to—say twelve years ago?” “No, I cannot r2member back as far as that, Iremember when I was eight years of age, I lived with the woman I now call mother, and that one day when I played truant, she threw me upon the floor, and pounded me so badly that I was sick a great while, and in under the care of a doctor: Further back than this all seems to be a blank to me. Yet Ihave some- times thought that I haveseen your face, a good while ago, for itissingularly familiar in feature. Where or when, I have no idea, but yet I am almost positive that I have seen it,” “Tt is not impossible,” the miner said, slowly, azing at the blaze upon the hearth, ‘‘ But, be- ‘ore I answer any ot the questions, I want to ask you a few. at do you think of General Hathaway’s will?” “T think it is the strangest affair I have ever heard of. Did you read the piece in the news- paper about another who is a rightful heir?” “Yes, and believe it. The Boy Road-Agent, as he is called, has borne the name of Solid Sam Hathaway ever since I knew anything about him, and I have often heard General Hathaway speak of him in a bitter way that caused me to believe that he knew something more about him than he pretended. Lawyer Green claims that the general sent for him, just before he died, and made a confession of his sins, and owned that Solid Sam was his only lawful son, but the will being made, he refused to change it. He told Green that it was his strongest hope that you and [I could form an alliance as man and wife, and thus inherit the money, accord- ing to the stipulations of his will. Of course, I have no designs upon his property, being in my own right moderately wealthy, and would of a choice wish myself well clear of the whole mat- ter. Still, 1am heart and hand free, and may marry when [I find some person I dearly care for. Ido not believe you would care to bind yourself to a person for life whom you have never know or even had reason to give a mo- ment’s consideration.” **No, I should not. But there seems for me only two choices, Either I must marry you, and get the fortune in that way, or I must marry the colonel, which I would rather be a beggar for life than do.” “Why, must you marry him if you do not choose?” the miner demanded, with flashing eyes. “They would make me. Oh, sir, you do not know them—the colonel and Mrs, Hathaway. They only came kere intent upon getting pos- session of the general’s property, and if the Witch bad not taken his life, I candidly be- lieve that they would have done so. And now, they have tried to persuade me to wed the colonel, and when I refused, have threatened violence.” “Tf this is true, they'll find me on deck and to the front, and don’t you fo get it! The woman is not your mother, miss, nor is she in any way related to you. Years ago, when you were a seven-year-old child, I gave you over into the hands of that woman, who was then my bride— unfortunately so, perhaps, for I only lived with her a short three months when she deserted me and fled to Chicago, where I found her, on giv- ing chase, in company with this man, Colonel Carrol Hathaway. ‘““T immediately se ae for and received an absolute divorce, and also tried to get you from her, but as I had given you to her, lawfully, I could not: take you from her, aking her first promise to treat you well, I then left for this part of the country, and never have seen aaa of you since, until you came here to Placer ity. “Thank Heaven she is nothing to me!” the girl said, fervently. ‘But still, you have not told me who I am—whose child I was, before I was given into her care,” “No, and cannot, just now, for I do not even know myself. I will make efforts to find out, however, and report at another time.” “Very well. What information you have vouchsafed to me is of greatest value to me, andI will be content to let you use your own judg- ment as to when to answer me the rest. But, there is another thing to settle ere I go. What is to be done in regard to the will?” ‘There is no hurry to decide that, Tet it go awhile; in the mean time utterly refuse all pro- posals on the part of Carrol Hathaway and the other, keeping me posted occasionally as to their conduct. If they go to showing too much of the cloven hoof, I will soon dispossess them cf shelter, for the shanty belongs to me.” “Then you have the upper band, eh? Well, I am glad of it. But I must now be going, as the storm has somewhat abated,” Tt had not entirely ceascd raining, but Santa Fe Syd produced an umbrella, and accompanied her to the door of the Hathaway shanty, where he bade her adieu, and turned his steps back to- ward his own humble habitation. No one with an eye to business could have doubted, by the way he spoke, that Solid Sam did mean just what he said, and even the frightened editor had no doubts upon the sub- ect. ‘ Wild stories of the bold deeds of the hand- some young outlaw had caused many a shiver to touch his spine, even as he wrote of said deeds for the edification of the readers of his paper, and, now that he was literally a prisoner of the notorious boy, he felt that he could al- most hear the carpenters driving the nails into his coffin. . “Yes, I am Solid Sam, and [ mean business,” the chief of the Branded Brows said, signifi- cantly. ‘Ye needn’t be skeared, however, old honeysuckle, for I don’t intend to swallow you whole unless you give me due offense, and then it’s hard tellin’ what I won’t do. They say I’m awfully bad when | ain’t obeyed. By the way, I suppose you're the proprietor and prime factor of this roost, ain’t ye?” “T am, sir—Timothy Bloffs by name, ye see,” the editor declared, with a trifle more of assur- ance. “Karect. You're the precise man I want to see, then. I want you to dust around lively, now, and print me half a dozen posters quick- erin’ a cat ever swallowed a mouse, Dye hear?” “Yes! yes! I hear. I can get you out some
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Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent, very fine poster-work at very short notice for ten dollars a hundred, cash in advance—war- ranted to give satisfaction.” * But I am not going to pay you a cent for it,” Solid Sam assured, with a laugh. ‘I own this hyar gulch, and everything in it, having never received any rent, and consequently I don’t pay for any little jobs I may want done. So just you climb fer yer stick lively, and set up ther form, or ’ll make your ideas scarcer than the teeth in a Centennial mule,” “‘Ton’t shoot! don’t shoot,” Bloffs protested. bn Pil do just as you say, if you only don’t shoot me “Well, get to your work, then. Haul out your biggest type, and form a head-line of Notice.’ ’ With perceptibly trembling limbs, Bloffs left his chair to do as requested, and Solid Sam seated himself and lit a cigar, not forgetting, however, to keep the lean publisher covered. Soon the type form” was begun, headed in big letters by the word ‘‘ notice,” ‘So far, so good,” Solid Sam said. ‘“‘ Now, if von please, set the form after this copy,” and he id a piece of paper upon the table. Bloffs obeyed withalacrity. No desire had he to get the contents of the young road-agent’s re- volvers, and consequently worked away as earnestly as though big money was in the job. Long into the wee small hours of the night was it ere Solid Sam left the office, armed with an armful of posters, and took his way boldly through the now deserted streets of the infant metropolis pitched down in the depths of Buck- skin Canyon. On the following morning, when the natives crawled out, each and every one experienced a thrill of alarm, for, pasted conspicuously to the fronts and sides of various buildings, was the following: “NOTICE! “To Aut Waom Ir May Concern:— “ Know ye, one and all of ye, who do reside within that mountain inclosed gulch, known as Buckskin Canyon, that I, Sam Hathaway, sole heir and owner to said canyon, do hereby warn ye to raise a sum of one hundred thousand dollars in eurrency, and re itat aay, disposal, being the purchase money of he deed, which I will promptly hand over on the receipt of said money. In case said sum of money is no eat at my disposal, within the next ten days after the appearance of this notice, I swesr to cause the certain destruction of the town as it now Stands, and turn the inhabitants from their abodes, without any shelter, whatever. This is final, and I shall keep my promise. “Signed, Sori Sam HArHaway, “The Boy Road-Agent,”” That was all, but it set the ball of excitement once more in motion, with renewed vigor. The two queer people who arrived on the stage the night of the disturbance at the post- office, were characters, in themselves. Evidently neither were gifted with an extra- ordinary allowance of brains, and they were unconsciously the butt of much ridicule by the loafers and adventurers. According to their own “tell,” thoy were in no way related to each other. The lean individual claimed to be Bill Romeo Shakespeare, a modern poet, engaged upon some Hastern literary paper, and stated that the woman was a love-sick admirer of his poetical gems, who persisted in tagging after him, in ined that he would make ber his wife, he woman’s name was Juliet Clawhammer, she said, and also declared that ‘ B. R. Shake- speare had promised to marry her, and she was ‘a-goin’ to make him do it, if forced to follow him to the ends of the earth,” These declarations on the part of the eccen- tric pair furnished a fund of amusement for the miners and usual street loungers, day after day. for the poet and his Juliet were here, there an every where. Where went the poet, followed his feminine admirer; if he laughed, she laughed; if he smoked, she smoked; if he drank, she drank. The lank man ever carried with him a bundle of manuscripts, and his chief aim seemed to be to dispose of them, at exorbitant figures. On the night after Solid Sam had billed the town with his posters, Colonel Carrol Hathaway was among those who lounged in the post-office awaiting the arrival of the evening mail. But instead of mingling freely among the different, classes, which had been a popular characteristic of his brother, he held himself haughtily aloof, and busied himself in airily stroking his luxuri- ant side-whiskers. It was while thus engaged that he felt. a tap upon his shoulder, and turned to find standing in his presence, the lean, long, hungry-looking poet, Bill Romeo Shakespeare, whose compan- ion, the faithful Juliet, was not far away, keep- ing an eye on the aforesaid poet, in a way that elicited a titter of amusement from the specta- tors, “Well, what do you want?’ the colonel de- manded, gruffly, surveying the would-be master of the Muses, with displeasure. “Ef ye please, capt’in, I’ve a little verse o’ poetical logic to read you,” the poet replied, with a bow. CHAPTER X. CORNERED. Anp from his pocket the second Shakespeare took a roll of writing paper and proceeded to untie it, a bland expression upon his strange face. “Stop! You need not trouble yourself, for I do not want to see or hear any of your non- sense,” the colonel replied, savagely. ‘‘I will not be bored!” “Oh! Ido not intend to bore you, as T have no auger, handy,” Bill Romeo replied, calmly. ‘*Nor is the verse I would read you, nonsense. It is a grand masterpiece, equal to any of those old-time effusions, credited to the immortal bard. Just listen, I pray thee: “ Prom down behind the mighty hills Where all mankind attains the chills, A scoundrel came in guise of man, Who leagued is with the devil’s band; A man of keen, design’ng mind, A single ace—no two ’f a kind; He flees from where the eastern sun Along the morning’s horizon run, Close at his trail. a shadow tags, Like a bloodhound on the trail of stags, Bur, see! a cloud is on the sky, Which signifies that Iam dry!” r
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} M! ao *¢ Come! shall we go have something at your ex- mse?’ The crowd tittered again. The colonel bit his lip with rage. ‘Curse you! get out with your nonsense. I want none of your poetry, nor am I in the habit of drink- ing with lunatics!” And with mighty dignity he turned and strode from the office, Down the street he went, for several blocks; then paused abruptly and gazed back in the direction of the post-office, ** No, Iam not blind,” he muttered, a danger- ous glitter to his eyes and hoarseness to his tone that betrayed his emotion. ‘There was a mean- ing for me in that rude composition—perhaps ‘there is also a similar meaning in the fact of that cursed fellow’s presence here. I must have another look at him,” He retraced his steps toward the post-office, a dark scow! upon his face, Instead of entering he positioned himself at a window, and gazed eagerly within. The poet was still there, attacking others with rehearsals of his compositions, the fat Juliet now keeping a close hold to his arm, seemingly with fear lest he should escape her, or get within speaking distance of the pretty postmistress, who was an amused looker-on. ¥or several minutes Colonel Hathaway watch- ed the strange pair narrowly; then, with an oath, he left his position and walked rapidly to the Hathaway shanty, where he found the late general’s wife seated in the sitting-room, en- gaged in perusing a novel. ‘Where is May?” he demanded, as he laid his hat upon the ta’ le and bit the end from a fresh cigar. ‘Is she in her room yet?” Mrs. Hathaway looked up with a vicious ex- pression. “'Yes—under lock and key, She declared she will die before she will marry you; moreover, she claims to know that I am not her mother, Santa Fe Syd has been putting her up to this!” “Undoubtedly,” the colonel assented with a frown. ‘He is altogether too much mixed up in our affairs. Besides, something has got to be done!” “ How do you mean?” “Oh! in various ways. If we hope to get a bite out of the money, we’ve got to make new and rapid calculations. I saw a couple of queer people in town, to-night, whom I am infernally suspicious of!” rs. Hathaway’s book dropped from her hand, and she grew suddenly pale. “Ts it possible? You are joking?” she gasped. * Devilish poor plan it would be'to joke about that,” he growled. ‘‘I may be mistaken, but don’t believe lam. One of the parties is a man —the other a woman, to all appearances. The man claims to be a poet, and attacks every- body that comes in his way, with an appeal for them to listen, and buy his mongrel composi- tion.” . A wild glitter took possession of Mrs, Hath- away’s eyes, as she heard. “T believe you are right. _ ent necessity for lively action, propose?” If so, there is urg- What do you Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 26 “T searcely know. Can the girl not be per- suaded to marry me?” “No, I do not believe she can, She has plent; of grit in her composition, and I candidly think she would suffer death before she would marry you. “Curse her.- Providing that she is in posses- sion of some of our secrets, 2s we have suspect- ed, from time to time, she would be better dead than alive, anyhow!” “No! no! Harm must not come to her—I promised Syd that!” ‘“Humph!” and the colonel sneered, fiercely. “Then you regard your promises to him, eh?” “*In this case, yes, ad I staid with him, IT should to-day be the better for it. But, let that pass. Laying aside May, what other plan have you? “There is but a narrow path left, Hither we must put Santa Fe out of the way, and take possession—or, we must make a raise of all we can, and skin out. It’s our only chance of sal- vation, to leave this town behind us, as quickly as possible. Did the ruffian, Black Eph, come, to-night?” ‘Yes, and I sent him into the kitchen to await your arrival.” “Then I must see him and consult with him, He is probably the very party I want.” Several days passed by. Days of anxious suspense, they were, to the poorer Class of the citizens of Placer City, who looked eagerly to the monopolist mine-owners to raise the one hundred thousand dollars de- manded by Solid Sam, and thus save the town from an unknown peril. But, no sign of any such a move was made among the wealthy ones, except in the case of Santa Fe Syd, who offered to donate one-tenth of the amount if others would come to the front with the other nine-tenths, This they positively refused to do, believin that it was only a scare on the part of Soli Sam, and consequently putting no faith in the warning he had placed before their eyes, The same night after the occurrence of the events last narrated, a muffled figure stole into the town from down Buckskin Canyon, when the golden camp was wrapped in slumber, and to oo rear of the cabin used as the post-office building, : Here he paused, and cautiously removed his boots; after which he carefully fitted a key into the lock of the rear door, and in a moment it was open, Stepping within the building, he found him- self in the small apartment, sacred to the uses of the postal service, There was a table on which were spread a number of letters and packages destined to go upon the morrow’s mail; a lamp furnished a dim illumination, being turned down; in one corner, upon a rude couch, Nobby Nell had thrown herself at the conclusion of a weary day’s labor, to seek rest in repose, With a sharp glance at her, as if to assure himself that she was asleep, Solid Sam—for it vas he—stole quietly to the table, and assorted the letters spread out upon it, with cool auda- | city.
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26 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. Not finding any to his liking, evidently, he next proceeded to pS over those in the delivery- trough where they had been placed, subject to the morrow’s inquiry. He was thus busily engaged when he felt a tap upon his shoulder, and turned to meet the unflinching gaze of a polished revolver muzzle— the same deadly instrument being held in the grasp of Miss Nobby Nell. “Oh! it’s you, is it?” the young outlaw inter- rogated, coolly, proceeding to assort the letters over with the greatest nonchalance, ‘I didn’t know but some of Judge Lynch’s pardners might have got the droponme. Nice evening out of doors, isn’t it?” Probably!” Nell retorted, tersely. ‘‘ But, if you ever hope or expect to enjoy another one, you'd better keep your hands off from that mail. Come! who are you, and what do you want?” ‘Oh! I’m Solid Sam, you see,” and the night- hawk unbuttoned his huge cloak collar and raised his hat enough so that she could see his face, with its Branded Brow. ‘I had a desire to learn if these Placer Cityites have been at- tempting to smuggle any of my rightful prop- erty through the mails.” obby Nell lowered her revolver and restored it to her belt. ‘No, they have not,” she said. ‘Did you read that letter I gave you, when you were per- sonating Wyoming Walt?” “T did,” the Boy Road-Agent replied. ‘It was from you, and stated that you had inter- cepted moneys that had been sont from here, in my behalf. For that I am sorry, as I want no person to sin for me.” “T did not sin,” the girl said, with flashing eyes. ‘The money is all rightfully yours, and IT don’t think I did wrong in holding it for you.” “ Nevertheless, I want you to forward it to its destination,” Solid Sam returned. ‘T pre- fer to deduct my own toll, and if there is any future penalty to pay, Pll stand the blunt. Why, may I inquire, do you manifest so much interest in my behalf?” “No, you need not ask, because I will not tell you. I like you—that is all I can explain,” the oung postmistress said, gazing confidingly into is eyes. ‘‘ Like myself, you seem to be a waif of the world, and perhaps this is the reason my interest has been aroused for you. Besides, I am ever a friend to the weakest side, and I al- low that your side is right. If these mines be- long to you, why, it’s your right to have pos- session of them.” “That, I fear, I will never get, until Placer City is level to the ground to rise no more!” the young man replied, bitterly. ‘‘ ve offered to surrender the deed to these miners, for a mere nominal figure, and if my order is not ac- cepted, I will not be to blame if I wage a stronger and more effective warfare than I have done, heretofore. They can either purchase my friendship, and secure my retirement from road- agency—or they can gratuitously receive my enmity.” “Good. I admire you for your grit,” Nobby Nell said, with an enthusiastic nod, “If you cannot deal fairly with them, you are not cen- surable for reversing things. At all events, count strongly on my friendship, for you can have it free gratis, and if you ever want any of my assistance, don’t be afraid to ask for it. B the i it happens by chance that you and are inclined to be rivals in this will business. You are the real heir—yet I’ve better prospects of winning than you!” ‘* So it would seem, unless the girl, May Miner marries either the man Atherton, or Colonel Hathaway,” “She wont do either,” Miss Nell declared, firmly. ‘Santa Fe Syd is not the man to mar- ry his hand where his heart cannot go. And, as for the colonel, I do not believe the young lady eould be hired to link her fate with his. eisa thoroughbred scoundrel, if I’m a judge of human nature, and the young lady appears to be a lady in every sense of the word.” ‘* Perhaps!” Solid Sam replied, thoughtfully. “ Ags for the fortune, my sire refused to give me even honorable mention, and I am out. I shall not interfere in the settlement of the case, un- til it is decided who is to have the gold—then, it is not unlikely that I shall put in a bill, for my share.” “Of course, and if I am lucky enough to get the heritage, you can have tho lion’s share of it, or the whole of it if you insist. When I take a notion to a person—” ‘OSh!” Solid Sam whispered, with a start. ** Listen!” They did listen, and heard the faint murmur of human voices, outside the building. ‘*T’'m cornered!” the young outlaw whispered. ‘“*T was impressed with a sense of danger, to- night, and once or twice thought I was follow- ed, but could see no one. But, those voices tell the tale, there are Vigilantes outside waiting for me!’ Nobby Nell laid her soft white hand upon his shoulder, a strange, wild expression in her eyes. ‘They shall not get you, if I can help it,” sho said, resolutely. ‘Stay here. I will see what the chances of escape are, in front.” Then she glided away, leaving Solid Sam to gaze curiously after her. She was an enigma to him—graceful, pretty, cool and voluble, and he already greatly admired her, In three minutes she returned, with no sign of encouragement in her face. “No show in that direction,” she said, shak- ing her head, ‘‘The Vigilantes are thicker’n flies on a carcass, and more are coming. It looks pretty dubious for you now. Are any of your men in town?” “Not to my knowledge. I left them at the stronghold, as I did not anticipate gettiug cor- nered. But Ill fix em!” ““Who—the Vigilantes?” “ Yes.” o How? “Tl show you. You'd better get back to your bed and feign sleep; or, better still, Pll bind Pcl which will prevent your being suspected of be- ing in league with me.” “Nixy! I won’t do that. I don’t care if they know I’m your friend—I ain’t afraid to tell ’em so.” “But that would be foolish, as long as you have a chance to save yourself and your posi- tion. Besides, if it is your desire to aid me, you ———
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can perhaps help me better as a silent friend than as an open one,” “Maybe you are right, and I'll do as you wish.” She accordingly once more laid down upon her couch, and permitted him to bind her hands and feet and tie a handkerchief over her mouth, “The night is light as day, the moon shines so brightly, and I am going to set my carrier pigeon loose,” he whispered, ‘* then surrender, upon conditions.” He seated himself at a table, and hastily pen- ciled a few lines; then taking the pigeon from his pocket, he fastened the note under his wing. A cnimney hole in one side of the cabin served as a means of exit for the bird, which was soon sailing away through the moonlit night, toward the stronghold of the Branded Brows. Thén drawing and cocking his revolvers, Solid Sam approached the rear door and rap- ped upon it smartly. CHAPTER XI. SURRENDER. In the mean time, let us return to the shanty of the Hathaways. Colonel Carrol hastened from the presence of Mrs, Hathaway, to the kitchen where he found the ruffian, Black Eph, seated, engaged in smoking a grimy pipe, and sampling a bottle of old wine, which latter he had found in a close . He looked up with a nod, as the colonel en- tered, his eyes bloodshot from excess of drink. “Well, I got yer card, an’ so I cum,” he said, as the Chicagoan seated himself. ‘Ye sed ye wanted ter engage me in bizness?” “Wxactly!” the colonel assented. ‘I want a man who is not afraid to do a nasty job, so long as there is a straight hundred dollars be- hind it.” “Then I am your huckleberry,” the ruffian assured. ‘* Where ther’s cash, I’m allus ready. Main’t particular what ther job is, neither; an’ w’at’s more, I can allus be depended on ter work fer ther interests o’ ther man w’at pays highest. Want me to give some galoot ther send-off?” “Yes. You've hit it exactly. Now, first, Tl give you a few points of explanation, and the directions, afterward. ‘You see, by the will of my brother, his wife was almost totally ignored, and I, his brother, left with no hope of coming in for a share of his fortune, except I marry his step-daughter, which I do not find it convenient to do. This leaves the fortune to outside par- ties, and we, the rightful heirs, have come to the conclusion to make a struggle for our share. As there does not seem to be much of a chance for getting possession of it by fair means, I propose to resort to foul. ‘To-morrow night, you and I will pay a visit to the shanty of Santa Fe Syd, and while you take care of him in an effectual way, I will take care of his fortune, and slide out. To-morrow morning, perhaps, I will dis- patch Mrs, Hathaway to Camp Stambaugh, and on the following morning, I'll send her by the stage, a sachel, containing the swag. I will remain a few days, to avert suspicion, and then will join her, first having paid you your hun- dred. See?” ' Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 29 “You bet! I ain’t blind,” Black Eph replied. “How do ye want Santa ie Syd sent off—by lead or steel?” ‘Steel is the safest,” the colonel replied, sig- nificantly. ‘‘ That will do for the present. You can go, now, and come around to-morrow night about this time, ready for business,” Dark shadows hovered about the Hathaway shanty; from out of them the form of Santa Ke Syd glided a few minutes after the termination of Biae« Eph’s interview with the colonel. if he had overheard the import of the inter- view, he did not betray it in his appearance, Standing upon the steps, he listened, and heard Colonel Hathaway leave the kitchen and enter the sitting-room. He then softly opened the door and entered the kitchen, which was wrapt in deep gloom. This did not matter to him, however, for he thoroughly knew the house. Removing his boots, he crept cautiously from the kitchen into the hall, and up the stairs to the floor above. Here he paused and listened. Voices came from the room below which told him that Colonel Hathaway bad joined the late general’s wife in the sitting-room; whereat a grim smile came across the miner’s face, “So far, so good,” he muttered. “It was a lucky omen that caused me to play eavesdrop- per, and overhear Mrs, Hathaway make the re- mark that May was locked in her room, They say love laughs at locksmiths, and although Iam not in loye, I shall nevertheless laugh at the locksmith.” Creeping along the hall, he soon came to the door of the room in which he believed May to be confined, and rapped softly on the door. Instantly there was a stir within, and a voice demanded: ** Who is there?” 5s aa the mine-owner cautioned, ‘‘ It isme— De me ‘Solid Sam?’ the voice interrogated, in evi- dent surprise. “No—Santa Fe Syd. “Sh! don’t make a noise, and I will try and get you out of this.” A bunch of keys had the miner in his posses- sion, but none out of the lot fitted the lock. The next best thing was to remove the lock itself, which was fastened on the door outside, This was soon accomplished by eid of the miner's strong sheath-knife, and the door swung open, revealing May Miner standing inside, all ready cloaked and hatted for the street, ; “Tam so glad you have come,” she said, in a low tone as she put her band frankly into his, “T have been suffering many apprehensions that they would offer me some harm.” “They'll not get the chance, now,” Santa Fe Syd assured, “for I shall take your guardian- ship upon myself. Come! let us get out of here as quickly and quietly as possible.” Solid Sam’s rap on the door, was answered by an oath, without. “ Well?” a voice demanded, interrogatively— “What's wanted?” “T want to know why this building is sur-
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28 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. rounded?” the Boy Road-Agent demanded. “Seems tome you're crowdin’ things a little.” ‘Waal, we opine not,” the voice responded. “ff you're Solid Sam w’at’s speakin’, an’ I reckon ye aire, we've got ye cornered, now, where thar ain’t no hope fer ye. Thar’s only two ways ter ther casc—one’s thet ye’ve got ter cum out and surrender yerself{—t’other thet ye’ve either got ter surrender yerself, or stay cooped up in thar, ontil you're so lean ye ken’t make ’er res: yecterble sbailder.” “Which I allow I sha’n’t do,” Solid Sam as- serted. ‘*When I am cornered square, and don’t see no opening, I am one of the most manageable persons in the whole world, and don’t you forget it. Now, in case I surrender, what's ter be done with my anatomy?” There was a low murmur of voices for a few minutes; then the first speaker replied: “Ther best ye can expect is a good clean rope, and a stout limb,” was his comforting assur- ance, ‘But, don’t you intend to give a fellow a lit- tle breathin’ spell—a short reprieve, during which he can say his prayers, and make new re- solutions for the future?’ Solid Sam demanded. “Tf not, a surrender would have no advan- tages.” ‘See hyar! aire ye chaffin’?” savagely; ‘fer ef ye aire et won’t do you no good.” “No: honest Injun, I ain’t giving you a rack- et. IfI can have from now till day after to- morrow, *thout bein’ lynched, I'll surrender. If not, I won’t. That’s the long and short of that matter.” There was a protracted silence. Evidently those who surrounded the post- office were holding a consultation. “T guess they’re deliberatin’,” the Boy Road- Agent said, approaching Nobby Nell. “If I can get a reprieve of about forty hours or less, it will give the Branded Brows a chance to ring in a deal.” “But are you not afraid they'll promise you, till they get you in their power, and then go back on their word?’ the young postmistress breathed, through ber gag. “T hardly believe they’ll do that; anyhow, I'll run the risk. Ah! here comes the answer,” as a rap thundered upon the door. * Hello, there!” came from th» outside. ** Well, hello yourself,” Solid Sam returned. “Tf you've got anything to say, say it.” “ Waal, open ther door an’ surrender. We've tuk a vote on et, an’ ye kin hev till Thursday, at sunrise, in ther jail, afore ye’re boosted. What do ye say now?” Solid Sam took out his watch and gazed at it, moeditatively. It lacked fifteen minutes of being Wednesday. He would have a little over twenty-four hours’ chance for escape, if he sur- rendered. That, he argued, woud be a sufficiently long period of time, providing the carrier-pigeon safely reached the stronghold. ** Ts this all a square deal. now?” he demanded. “Tf I give myself up, can I depend upon what you have said?” “On course,” was the reply. ‘‘Mebbe you ain’t luved enny too much, but we'll keep up our side o’ ther trace, all right.” “Correct. Tl take you at your word,” Solid Sam declared. “If you go back on it, the crime will be on your own beads. I will surrender on the conditions proposed.” And unbarring the door, he threw it open, and stepped out into the night. Instantly he was surrounded by a scowling crowd of town-people, and his arms made fast behind his back. Not a few curses were leveled at him, and the aspect of affairs seemed to threaten that ho would be strung up without regard to the prom- ised reprieve, but such did not prove to be the case, for he was marched along to a strong cabin near the northern outskirts of the town, which had been especially constructed to serve the purpose of a jail. Into this he was thrust, and the door locked after him, while a guard was placed outside. The crowd then dispersed. Excitement reigned supreme, in Placer City, and the night was suddenly filled with cries of triumph. The news that the hitherto invincible young outlaw, Solid Sam, was captured and in custody, naturally created a big noise in the little mining- camp, and men, women, and children crawled out of their nocturnal abiding-places, to have a talk over the event. Santa Fe Syd and May Miner had just ar- rived at the former’s shanty, when the crowd came along that was marching Solid Sam to the town jail, which boasted of the somewhat sug- gestive name of the *‘ Tomb.” They had just arrived from their flight from the Hathaway shanty, and paused in the door- way, to gaze upon the crowd that surged by. “Ah! they’ve captured Solid Sam, at last,” Atherton said, as he saw the Boy Road-Agent being hurried along. ‘I wonderif they’re going to string him up, at once? I hopenot, for I can- not see that he is so much to blame for his wild career.. The people are in reality usurping his rights.” Lawyer Green stepped up, at this juncture, from among the crowd. “They've got the true heir to the Hathaway millions, at last,” he said. ‘‘They caught him up at the post-office, and the aspect looks dark for him.” “ Going to lynch him?” “Yes. Not now, however. He's got a short reprieve. ‘Tm sorry for him,” “Atherton said. ‘ But it may be lucky for the town, that they’ve been able to nab him, before his threatened destruc- tion of this place.” Green shook his head. “Tt is my firm belief that his capture will only hasten the promised event,” he replied. ‘*The Branded Brows will soon hear of his cap- ture, and we may expect lively developments. It seems strange, too, that he should be the late gereral’s only son, and rightful heir.” ‘*Yes; but_is there any conclusive proof that he is such?” Santa Fe Syd queried. ‘*Oh! yes—plenty of it. The general himself told me the whole strangestory. It seems that ke, the general, becoming dissatisfied with life, with his first wife, left her up at a village along the Yellowstone, and came on into the in- — =x
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Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 29 terior. In the spring, twelve years ago, he hired two roughs called Black Eph and Boston Bill, to go up to the village on the Yellowstone, and put his wife and children out of the way. They followed his instructions by capturing the mother and her two six-year-old twin children, a little boy and girl, and placed them, afloat, upon the raging river, on a frailraft, the mother bound hand and foot, so vhat she was helpless, and the children in turn bound to her, “Tt was the calculation of the ruffians that they would all be washed or spilled from the raft and drowned, but in this they would have been doomed to disappointment, had they taken pains to follow the raft, for it was tossed high upon # projecting bar in the river, and neither the mother or her little boy wasdrowned. What became of the little girl is not known. The mother and her boy were Jater found by old White Beard, the hermit, who it ‘turned out was the father of General Hathaway’s discarded wife. “Mrs. Hathaway was too much injured to live, and died shortly afterward, but not until she had placed her boy in White Beard’s charge, and made known to him her pitiful story. White Beard took Sam—which was the boy’s name—and he was reared in a hermit’s home, until the latter was killed by the stampeders, in this canyon, six years ago, since when young Hathaway and his ndmother have lived to- gether somewhere in the surrounding moun- tains.” “But was nothing learned in regard to what became of the little girl?” Santa Fe Syd asked, with sudden eagerness, “No, not so far as the general knew. I saw the old Witch to-day, lurking near the town, and ‘collared’ her, on the subject. She cor- roborated the late general’s story, with the ad- ditional charge that he was one of the greatest villains at heart that ever lived. I asked her in regard to whatever became of Solid Sam’s sister, and she did not appear to know. She stated that when White Beard found the waifs of the wreck, there were cnly Mrs, Hathaway and her boy, lying upon the shore, in an appar- ently lifeless state. Near by, however, were bonds that it seemed had once bound them, but had been severed by a sharp blade. Horses’ tracks also led from the spot, and White Beard had surmised that some horseman had previons- ly crossed the river at this point, and finding the little girl alive, and the other two appar- ently dead, had mercifully taken charge of the female child, and proceeded on his journey. Wild Meg says they made every effort to trace the party, but all tono avail. The man had as surely disappeared with Solid Sam’s sister, as though the earth had opened up and swallowed him.” “And from your story. I am, no doubt, the identical man.” Santa Fe Syd said, witha mean- ing smile, ‘‘ Twelve years ago, in the spring- time, I found this same shipwrecked party, up- on the Yellowstone shore. The woman and the boy were, to all appearance dead, and as the little girl-was still alive, I took her in charge, and continued on my southward journey, never dreaming that any romance would come out of the case.” “Then—oh! Mr. Atherton, am I the waif you found?” May Miner gasped, excitedly. “Yes, you are the same,” Sante Fe Syd re- plied; ‘‘moreover, according to Mr, Green, you are the daughter of the Jate General Hathaway, and are Solid Sam’s sister!” e CHAPTER XII. THE END OF PLACER CITY—CONCLUSION. “Can all this be true?’ Lawyer Green ex- claimed. ‘‘ Well, well. It is altogether a most romantic romance in real life. So it turns out him. Lawyer Green, if you can get en oppor- tunity, I would like you to make this new dis- covery known to him; and, also, you may as- sure him that I will look to his rights, and his sister's. The Hathaway wealth is all in my possession, and I have made up my mind that no one shall ever finger itahead of the legitimate heirs of my late partner.”’ “Very well. I will try and get the message to him,” the lawyer replied, as he bade them adieu, and hurried on fa n the street, while Santa Fe Syd and his ward entered the mincr’s shanty. At the same time a strange figure stole from the shadows near the dcor, and dodged away among the crowd, The attire of this party was that of a man, but in the ugly repulsive features it was not hard to discover the identity of Wild Meg, the Witch, although there were peababiy: none among the surging crowd in the gulch street who noticed the fact. She had evidently been an eavesdropper to the conversation between Santa Fe Syd and the lawyer, and there was a peculiarly unreadable expression rpon her face as she hurried away. A noisy night it was in the town of Placer City; nevertheless it quieted down to some ex- tent before morning. Shortly after the departure of Green, Santa Fe Syd conducted May Hathaway to the hotel, which nearly adjoined his shanty, and left, her in the care of the hostess for the night, while he returned to his own abode ond “ turned in,” __ It was, he judged, well on teward morning, when he was aroused to the conscious fact that he was bound hand and foot, securely gagged, and in the power of two men, who were d- ing over him. 2 Who they were he could only infer\by the black, sear-like banus across the lower portions of their foreheads. and their eyes. Being unable to speak, he could only look daggers at them and wonder what was their purpose. After carefully inspecting the bonds, evident- ly to see that they were secure, the two night- hawks laughed, and taking the miner by the head and heels, bore him from the shanty into the little canyon street. Here they were joimed
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20 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. by two other Branded Brows, who bore between them no less a person than May Hathaway, also securely bound! The street was at this hour deserted; the saloons had closed their doors: no longer the eracked music and sounds of drunken revelry came from the neighboring dance-houses. In fact, the camp was wrapped in repose, which accounted for the boldness of Solid Sam’s agents, Two horsemen now rode out from the shadow of a building, and were handed the two prison- ers before them in the saddle. Then, with the utmost caution, they guided their horses down the street and out of the lim- its of the golden camp. When morning once more dawned upon the little city, the former posters of Solid Sam were replaced with fresh ones, which read as follows: “Tas? Cau! “Tose citizens of Placer City who are wealthy and influential, having made no move toward pay- ing for the rights they are usurping, I hereby warn them that unless Solid Sam is set free, by noon to- day, and the money demanded previously, is paid over to him, the town of Placer City might better have never existed; and I warn those who desire to escape without injury, to take their everlasting leave of this place at once, if the prisoner and money are not forthcoming, by the above stated hour, * This is fair and final, and should be heeded. “LIEUTENANT BREEZE. * Acting-commander Branded Brows.” No matter what had been the previous excite- ment, in the mining-camp of Buckskin Gulch, this capped the climax. Business was quite suspended, and through- out the day the street presented a crowded, ex- cited aspect. At times it looked as if mob-law would pre- vail, and the speedy lynching of Solid Sam seemed inevitable; but the influence of a few sturdy miners as peacemakers, prevented any open rupture. All day long a restless set of humanity surged in the street, and sentinels were posted at every approach to the town, by those capitalists and speculators who would not pay tlie money de- manded by the Boy Road-Agent, to preventany of the Branded Brows from gaining access to the town. The discovery was made during the day that several miners and their families had taken leave, and this fact only servel to add to the fears of those remaining, that the proposed vengeance of the Branded Brows would come, as promised. Noon arrived and passed, but Solid Sam was not set at liberty, nor paid the money. That fact sealed the fate of Placer City, as a mining town. : Aboyt dusk Colonel Hathaway left the street, where he had been promenading, the most of the day, and entered the shanty that had had formerly been the abode of his brother. In the kitchen he found Black Eph and Mrs. Hathaway, evidently waiting for him. The latter was arrayed in male attire as well as the former and both were armed to the teeth. “Everything is ready, and success promises to greet us,” the colonel announced. “Santa Fe Syd and the girl are missing, and unless they took the gold with them, which is not likely, itis ours. Eph, you may accompany us, until we get safely out of the gulch, for there may be trouble, yet.” They left the shanty, and hurried rapidly to that of Atherton. .The door was unlocked, and they had no difficulty in effecting an en- trance, In ten minutes they emerged again onto the street, the colonel armed with two hand sachels, which were crammed full of something bulky and heavy. As they left the shanty, there was a mighty thundering roar that made the very earth tremble—a vivid flash that illumined the sky, and the air seemed full of sparks, and particles of burning things. “By Heaven, Myers’s supply store has blown up!” a miner cried, rushing by. A geen aera of yells followed the report, and the vast crowds surged eagerly toward the scene of the disaster, leaving the other parts of the town fairly deserted. “The Branded Brows have begun operations, evidently,” the colonel had to confess. ** And now is our time to bid good-by. Heir by craft is fully as good as heir by law, and having the Hathaway and some of the Atherton wealth in our possession, we need not complain. Come. We will find saddle-horses waiting just beyond the town.” ‘Yes, an’ et ll be healthy ter get out o’ ther place as soon as we can,’ Black Eph added, with an oath. ‘Look, will ye. The Branded Brows are keeping their promise!” He pointed, as he spoke, in the several direc- tions of the compass, The blowing u — of the supply-store, evidently, had been but a signal of what was to follow. Here, there, yonder—every where, sheets of lurid flame began to creep up in the night, all over the village, from the sides of shanties that incen- diary hands had fired. A cirele of fire sur- rounded the doomed town, seemingly in a single instant, and the lurid reflection upon the sky grew brighter and brighter each minute. * Come!” Colonel Hathaway cried; ‘‘ there is no time to be lost. Let’s escape while there is a chance.” And with fear-blanched faces, they hurried away toward the northern part of the camp, falling in with the yelling, frightened mass of women and children that were also endeavoring to escape beyond the fiery limits of their former abodes, A pandemonium of yells and curses rung upon the night. Every person seemed only intent on saving as many of their personal effects as possible, for it needed no second glance to tell that the town was doomed by the destroying element. A fierce breeze was blowing through the canyon, and it was not in the power of mortal hand to check the conflagration. In five minutes after the blowing up of the supply store, there did not seem to be a building in th» town except it was wrapt in flame. Nor were any of the Brand d Brows caught in the act of setting fire to the shanties, so 47 te —
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Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 31 stealthily did they plan and execute their work, Nor in the panic of the fire did any one seem to think of the impri-oned Boy Road-Agent, Solid Sam, except one person, and she the pretty postmistress, Nobby Nell. As soon as Myers’s Supply had blown up, she left the post-office, and hurried in the direction of the cabin-jail as fast as her feet could carry her. A brawny guard stood before the door as she ran up, an expression of impatience upon i face, which declared his desire to be at the e, “For Heaven’s sake, go help to put out the fire!” Nobby Nell cried, as she ran up. ‘‘ The Branded Brows are trying to destroy the town, and unless prompt measures are taken theyll succeed, Go! you can help better than I. sar take your place here!” A nod from the miner expressed how agree- able this was to him, and the next minute he had surrendered the keys to Nobby Ne 1, and hurried away, To unlock the door rnd liber te Solid Sam was but the work of a few seconds, on he part of the young girl; then the young road-agent grasped her hand warmly. “T thank you,” he said. thought ul of me.” Then he went to the door and gazed out into the night, “The town is doomed!” he muttered, bis eyes flashing, ‘‘ and its own supporters are to blame. Before morning it will be in ashes!” And he was right. When day came again, where once had stood the mining-camp of Placer City, was now but a series of heaps of smoking ashes and charred embers, to tell of the vengeance of Solid Sam. While, toiling through the gulch, away from the desolate scene, a caravan of vehicles and horses bore those who had peopled the camp in “You were very Buckskin Gulch. Later, a rude wooden cross might have heen seen upon the ashen site, on which was inscribed the words— ‘“Trespassers beware!” Later, there was a reunion in the cave of the Branded Brows, between Solid Sam, and May Hathaway, his long-lost sister, whom, with Sydney Atherton, the instrumentality of old Wild Meg had caused to be removed from Placer City, previous to the conflagration. Unneces- sary to state the meeting was a joyful one. And when Santa Fe Syd made the announce- ment of his fears that all his own and the Hatha- way fortune had gone with his cabin in the fire, Solid Sam shook his head. “No, not so bad as that. It is, however, in the possession of Colonel Hathaway and the late general’s wife, who are wandering somewhere inthe fastnesses of the mountains, They stole it from your cabin where I was_confined, they told me this, and mocked at me. Unfortunately I did not gain my liberty in time to over- take them, but Lieutenant Breeze and a dozen of the boys are after them and their capture is only a matter of time.” And so it proved. The fugitives were overhauled, a few days later by Lieutenant Breeze and hismen, and the stolen fortune retaken, At the same time two horsemen rode up who sroved to be Romeo Bill Shakespeare and his ouncing Juliet. “Colonel Hathaway,” the poet observed, quietly, ‘“allow me to introduce you to Messrs. Peterson and Pratt, detectives, from Chicago, where you and your fefnale companion, here, are wanted upon the charge of forgery and bank robbery. After having so extended a tour for your health, I dare say you will be ready to go yack with us. Have you any objections to parting with the precious pair, Sir Road-Agent?” “None whatever,” Breeze replied, as he and his men rode away with the treasure, leaving the unfortunates in the charge of the clever pair of tracers. Down in Buckskin Canyon no second city rose, phenix-like, upon the site of the former mining- camp, for shortly after the fire, Leadville’s fame became heralded to the world, and proved-a magnet for the mining-class. Yet a couple of cabins there are in the gulch, and in one of them Santa Fe Syd and she that was May Hathaway live happily as man and.wife. The other cabin is tenanted by Wild Meg; for to her and his sis- ter, jointly, Solid Sam gave over all his interest in the mines, and in the Hathaway fortune pre- vious to his disbanding of the Branded Brows and departure to other parts of the golden West, where a love for excitement led him as by a powerful hand. Nobby Nell also left for parts unknown, al- though it was surmised by the Athertons that she would eventually bring up wherever did the strange youth—for whom she seemed to cherish more than a girlish fancy—Solid Sam. THE END.
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By Edward | ‘a : tw ele 7 rd BH De adv ood Pick's, Device. By Ed, L. Wheeler. Ralph Roy. the Boy Buccaneer. By C yraham. Blac ustanger, By Captain Mayr Nick o’ the Night. By T. Cc. Hath etal 80 Reid. and Vrederick Whittaker, 7 Pes Yellowstone Sed By Joseph £. Badger, Jr. B14 old Frosty, the Guide. By T. C. Harbaugh. Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. LeWheeler. | $9 5 » Sea Viper. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, Diamond Dirk. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. Sen 5 OGR 3 0r, The Captives of the Frontier. By KeonsKnife, Prince of the Prairies, By Oll Coomes. | gg Ona & Ellis. Oregon Sol; or, Nick Whiffles’s Boy Spy. By Capt. Leeigiee et, the Counterfeiter Chief. By Edward aams ¥ br Death-Face, the Detective. By E. L. Wheeler. 84 The Dumb Page. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker. Lasso Jack. By Oll Coomes. 85 The Boy Miners. By Edw: rd S. Ellis. Roaring Ralph Rockwood, the Reckless Ranger. 86 Jack Harkaway in New York. By Brace- By Ilarry St. George. sy bridge Hemyng. The Boy Clown, By Frank S. Finn. ae Phe. Hussar Captain, By Col. Prentiss In¢raham, The Pinatorwe Miner. By Edward L. Wheeler, : Denk dwood Dick in Leadville. By E. L.Wheeler. The Sca-Cate By Captain Fre 4 9 Bill Biddon, Trapper. By Eaiward S. Ellis. The Dumb Spy. By Oll Coomes. 90 ‘Tippy, the Texan, | By Gaorce Gleason. ae RDS By Hany , OL Pianta ng F Sam, tho King of the Plains. By Jos. E. d Avalanche, the Great nalbilator By Edw L. Wheeler. ly Edward | 99 The ce an Bloodhound. By Samuel W. Pearce. Gla s-Eye, the Great Shot of the West, By Capt. J. 98 Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy, By Charles Morris. Adams, 94 Bendwood Dick as Detective. By B. L. Wheeler, The ‘Boy Captain. By Roger Starbuck. 95 Rock Buckram. By Captain J. F, C, Adams. Dick Darling; the Pony Express Rider. By Capt. 96 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective. By E. L. brederick Whittaker. ; Wheeler, Bob Woolf, the Border Ruffian. By E. L. Wheeler. | 9% The Blnck Steed of the Prairics, “By James 1 Nightingale Nat. By T. C. Harbaugh J.B Black Joha, the Road ‘Agout. By J. E. Badger, Jr. ATReuh By Juan Lewis, Omaha OL, the Mask d Terror. By Wheeler. 4 Man Tracker. By E. L. Wheeler. Burt Bunker, the Trapper. By George E. Lasalle. “oF » The Fate of the Sioux Captive. By The Boy Rifles. By A. C. Irons. Ki cl The White B ffalo. By George E. Lasalle. " Davy, the Young Bear Killer, By Harry Jim Bludsoc, Jr. B rd L. Wheeler. Ls pia ahd - s Ned Hazel, ‘the Boy Trapper. By Capt. J. F.C. ag Fehrs: mes or, The Half-bloods Vengeance. Adams, Pratap Deadly Eye, the Unknown Seont. By fuffalo Bill. 108 Chip, the Sports By Edward L, Wheeler. Nick Whiffles’s Pet. By Cupt. J. F.C. 104 the Black Schooner. By Roger Stariuck. Deadwood Dick’s Eagles. By E. L. W heeler. 105 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective. By The Border King. By Ol Con Clintlvs Motrise. Old Hickory. By Harry St. George. 106 Night-Hawk Kit, By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. The White Indian, _liy Capt. 3. F.C. Adama, 1.2% dack Hoyle’s Lend. By Edward L, Wheeler. % Buckhorn Bill. By Edward L. Wheeler. 108 Rocky Mountain Kit. By T.C. Harbaugh, The Shadow Ship. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 109 4 he Branded Hand, By Frank Dumont. The Red Brotherhood. By W. J. Hamilton, 110 The Dread Rider, _ By George W. Browne. 48 Dandy Jack. By T.C. Harbaugh. Boss Bob, the King of Bootblacks. By E. L.Whee‘er. 9 Murricane Bill. By Tone ph FE. Badger, Jr. ake Helpless H . By Capt. Mayne Reid. Single Hand. By W. J. Hamilton, Scar-Face Saul, t lent Hunter, By Ol Coomes, Patent-leather Joe. By Philip S. Warne. Piney Paul, the Mount in Boy. By . Harbaugh. The Border Robin Hood, By Batfalo Bill. Deadwood Dick’s Double, By KL. Wheeler, 8 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter. By Ed. 1. Wheeler. Jabez Coffin, Skipper. By Capt. F. Whittaker, 54 Old Zip’s ‘Cabin. By Capt. J. F.C, Adams. Fancy Frank, of Colorado. By Buffalo Biil, % Delaware Dick. By Ol! Coomes. . WH Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. By Chas. Morrta, Mad Tom W we psy By W. J. Hamilton. Blonde Bilt, or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base. Deadwood Dick on Dec By E. L. Wheeler, By Edward L. Wheeler. Mawkeye Harry. ly Ol! Coomes. 0 Gopher Gid, the Boy Trapper. By T. C. Harbaugh, The Boy Duelist. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. 2 strong, the Captain of the Club, By Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. By Albert W. Aiken. rebridge Hemyng, (Jack Hark ) Rend May 5, Corduroy Charlie. By Edward L. Wheeler. Tunted Hunter. By Eiward 5. Ellie. WIIL Somers, the Boy Detective. By Chas, Morris. | R May 12. Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. By A. W.A - 128 Salld Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. By E. L. Whee'er, Rosebud Rob, By Edward L. W Ready Mey 19. Lightning Joe, the Terror of the Prairie. By Capt. 124 Judge Lynch, Jr. By T. C. Harbaugh, . C. Adains. ; Ready May 26. Kit Marefoot, the Wood-Hawk. By T. C. Har- : Dama * Pocket Library is for sale by all News- anh. dealers, five cents per copy, or sent b pttion of theta ret atl Sos By Oll Coomes. cents each, ; : Ss am dl od yl, the Gir By Edward L. Wheeler. BEADLE & ADAMS, Publishe Detective Dick. By Charles Morris. Da William Street, New York, ~ SC 'Eertaaae © Sled led cirelaiedanl ASTRO eS —.—? ) 2 2 2 2 2 26 27 care teat 8 RD lah ek rk kh nd ck ke, é eek kk fk fh ek kk hk,