Beadle's Pocket Library (no. 147) (1886 11 03)
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= (ma iis r B Copyrighted, , by Beanie anp Apans, Entered at the Po: . N. ¥., as Second Class Mail Matter, Nov. 3, 1886. a Year. No. 98 WILLIAM St., NEw York, Five 0 . Vol. RTT. $2.50 Published Weekly by Beadle and Adams, Brice, | No, 147, — RO ae BY Epw. LWHEELes NOBBY NICK, BY THE WONDERFUL POWER OF HIS KNOTTED ARMS, BEGAN TO SWING THE RUBVIAN.
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; i [ Fz Nobby Nick of Nevada; - THE SCAMPS OF THE SIERRAS, BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF “* DEADWOOD DICK ” NOVELS, ‘‘ ROSE- BUD ROB” NOVELS, CHAPTER I. THE OLD HUT AMONG THE ORAGS. Nie@ur has spread its wintry mantle over the Sierras. From the crest of the highest peak to the bottom of the deepest chasm the co.d gray gloom prevailed, while the bleak north wind bore on its icy breath fine flaky particles of purest white, that alighted with ease on every obstacle, covering it with a feathery coat of snow. It was the first snow of winter in the Sierra Nevadas, and coming late in November, as it did, when all nature seemed housed and pre- gee for winter, it presaged the winter at and. In a remote part of the north range of the snow-capped hills, and far up the craggy moun- tain-side, securely hidden in a shelving plateau dell, fringed by weird, gaunt-looking pines and ponderous rocks, was an old, tumble-down hut. [t had evidently been built years ago by some venturesome miner, as decay and moss were everywhere visible about the black logs and thatzhed roof. It was built against the face of a huge cliff that formed one side of the plateau, and boasted of but a single slab door and a small window, up near the eaves, from which a bar of white light streamed out upon the bleak, wintry night. The door was opened, and the bushy head of a man appeared; the eyes took a hasty glance around, then the head was withdrawn, and the door slammed to with a vengeance. “Ugh! et’s a cussed tough night outside,” the man said, as he strode to the fireplace where a bright fire was burning, and around which sev- eral men were seated on camp-stools, engaged in smoking grimy pipes. ‘‘A cussed tough night, an’ [ reckon the capt’in’ll find it out, fore he rises the mountain. Et’s a-snowin’ and a- blowin’ like thunder, outside, and ten tew one the gulch Il be full to-morrow.” The five men on the camp-stools nodded with- out looking up from the cheery blaze, and went on smoking in utter disregard of what had been said, A strange collection was the inmates of the hut, at the best. All were attired in red flannel shirts, mud-splashed pantaloons thrust in knee- boots, with slouched wool hats, and waist belts containing weapons, No masks, but immense black beards concealed all of their faces except the tip of the nose and the eyes, their hair being banged down over their foreheads so as to con- ceal even that feature. There was another inmate to the cabin besides the bearded men, in the person of a woman, or at least some one clothed in female attire—for as she was closely masked, it was impossible to dis- Nobby Nick of Nevada. rrr tinguish whether her face was masculine or feminine. Nor did the Bearded Brothers know for cer- tain, although they ullowed she was a ‘woman, judging by her voice, and she had given the name of Marie the Unknown. She was seated at a rude table in one corner, engaged in writing, and occasionally lookin over a ag of manuscript in front of her. Aj her right, upon the table, was a telegraph in- strument, to which was connected a wire that ran through a chink between the logs of the wall, proving that these strange beings in this lone mountain retreat had electric communica- tion with the outside world, Another noticeable thing about the Bearded Brothers was, that each man was numbered al- phabetically with a brass letter pinned upon the shirt-front. The man who had commented upon the weather, wore the letter B, and the other five respectfully C, D, E, F and G. Letter A was absent. The drear shrieks of the wind outside caused a gloomy silence to pervade the hut, and the six men puffed away at their pipes until the thatched ceiling was lost from view in a dense cloud of smoke. **T don’t see why A doos not come,” Letter B growled, as he knocked the ashes from his old brierwood, preparatory to refilling. ‘‘ Don’t *pear ter me as ef thar’s enny great attraction dowel tew Deviltry, to-night.” ‘““Mebbe trouble,” G suggested, ominously. “Ye know H hasn’t showed up fer two days. Mebbe Grim Goblin hes come down heera- bouts.” As of one accord there was a general exchange of glances, and shrugging of shoulders. The name of Grim Goblin seemed to have a startling effect upon the gang. “No; the cussed scourge has not struck this district yet,” and Letter B gave a nervous glance toward the door, ‘He's been workin’ the mischief up around Hard Pan, and down at Blue Canyon. Any new reports, Marie?” “None since yesterday,” the Unknown re- eee ‘“‘There were then but four of the league eft at Hard Pan, and six at Blue Canyon. All the rest have fallen prey to the vengeance of the mysterious Grim Goblin, as he styles himself.” A sullen murmur passed among the Bearded Brothers, and Letter B smote his knee heavily with his clinched fist. : “Pm cusse’d ef I don’t believe it’s our only salvation to shut up shop and scatter. This un- known, unseen foe is a-pickin’ off the gang one by one, day by day, an’ ye can bet yer its we won't escape, no more’n the rest o’ the boys. I fer one ain’t favorable ter havin’ my heart cut out by this bloodthirsty avenger.” “ You are cowardly, B,” the Unknown said, sternly. ‘If the captain was to hear you say that, he’d settle with you in short order. if “T didn’t mean. I'd a notion to desert,” B growled. “TI only meant we'd all better throw — up ther sponge and shift, ruther’n ter git our death warrant.” ‘ z “That is impossible,” Marie said, stamping her foot emphatically. ‘‘Too much is at stake to entertain that idea. Our motto is ‘Gain without scruple or fear.’”
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**'Yes; but I'll be blamed ef we've seen much above our venison an’ whisky, awhile back, hev we, boys?” The five men shook their heads in the nega- tive. ‘* That is because business has been at a stand- still. The travel has been small, and the paper has been watched narrowly. I reckon L will negotiate a fat document soon, and the result will set every man on his taps. Ab! hark!” The Brothers sprung to their feet, and stood in an attitude of listening, with their hands upon their weapons. Out in the night, above the howl of the wind came the muffled sound of horses’ feet upon a rocky road, and a moment later the sound be- came hushed. “Tt’s A,” Letter B declared, whereupon all hands dropped back upon their stools again. “ He’s in bad temper, for he rode up the trail at a mad gallop.” A few moments later there were heavy foot- steps without, and the door was flung open, ad- mitting a tall, brawny man to the hut—another of the Brotherhood evidently, for he was beard- ed the same, and attired the same, with the ex- reba of a heavy cloak worn about the shoul- ers. With a keen glance about the hut, he shut the door, threw his gloves upon the floor, and strid- ing to the fire-place warmed his hands over the dancing blaze. “Well, what’s the news at Deviltry?’ Letter B inquired, drawing slowly at his pipe. The captain grunted some unintelligible sen- tence before replying, which might or might not have been a curse. “No news at all,” he finally said, brushing the snow from his whiskers, ‘‘Summed up in a | nutshell—snow, poker and whisky the three rul- ing elements.” * No news of H, I, or J, yet?” “None. They are doubtless laying low. The town is stirred up considerable because of a check old Porcupine paid out of the Miners’ Club fund. They say it’s a forgery, and bave withdrawn their sand from the bank.” A peculiar Jaugh escaped the Bearded Broth- erhood, in which even the Unknown partici- pated, “This is the seventh thing of the kind that has happened within two months, and the min- ers and citizens generally are mad as hornets. To make matters worse, a miner came over from Hard Pan to-day, with a like report. So it has become generally surmised that a gang of forgers are in the vicinity, and every one is on the alert, watching his or her neighbor with suspicion. It would not be healthy for one of the ‘ shovers’ to be caught just now.” And the captain laughed. A silence of a few minutes followed, within the hut, while the wintry blasts without made weird music among the mountain crags. Then a sudden click of the telegraph instru- ment, brought every man to his feet. “Sit down!” the Unknown said, sharply, and her command was obeyed, although every man bent forward in his seat, as if over eager to ~ grasp the every meaning of the electric clicks, Nobby Nick of Nevada. Then, turning, Marie seized a paper and pen- cil, and waited. Soon there came more clicks of the instru- ment, now slow and measured—then a perfect tattoo of sounds. It was all Greek to the bearded men who sat in eager waiting, but it was apparently plain enough to the Unknown, for her pencil moved upon the paper nearly as fast as came the sounds, Finally there was a cessation of the clicks and the message lay upon the table. “Read it!” Letter A said, huskily. ‘ Let's know the best or worst, at once.” “The news is a mixture of good and bad,” Marie said, taking up the paper. ‘‘ Here it is; so judge for yourself.” “Harp Pan, November 20th:—Look out for old gent coming to Deviltry—Name Gen Arlngton— Lot’s of money—Look out for Grim Goblin—Also for the Sharp, Nobby Nick—suspicious character— Look out for spy in employ of Government, hunt- ing for us—Trouble brewing your way—Tap man Arlington.” Captain A uttered a fierce curse. “We must be on our guard, now, if ever. This Nobby Nick, I have heard of before. He bears the repute of a thoroughbred, but will find that he’s struck the wrong nest, in Deviltry. As for the Grim Goblin, our only salvation is to lay him out. In order to do this we must knife every suspicious new-comer, As to this man Arlington, he’s our pie!” “And good pie, too,” Marie added with a light laugh. ““T chance to know this General Arlington, and his signature is as familiar to me as my own. ; “Tt is well. We will have no difficulty then in drawing on him. And, now, since the rece tion of this news. I shall go back to town. B, C, D and E may follow at a later or rather an earlier hour of the morning. While you, fair Unknown, will of course remain the guardian angel of our mountain aerie?” the captain said, gallantly raising his bat. “Didst ever miss me from my post?” the Un- known demanded. “Truthfully I can say no!” Captain A_re- plied, raising her gloved hand to his lips. You came among us unknown, as a sort of queen, and have ruled right royally to our pecuniary interests, May you long continue in the same way. And now, my hearties, au revoir! Bo careful in leaving the nest that there are no ob- servers around.” : Then, taking a long pull at a brown jug which occupied a chimney corner, the leader of the Bearded Brothers wrapped bis cloak well around him, and set forth into the wild November night Captain A was uot the only storm-traveler abroad that night. At the base of the range, among whose gaunt pines was pitched the hut of the Bearded Broth- erhood, ran a deep, wide gulch between two continuous chains of mountains, whose tower- ing peaks shut out all but a limited view of the cold, gray sky. : Snow had falien to considerable depth, render-
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Nobby Nick of Nevada. ing everything white, and lessening the gloom of the wild, blustering night. Plodding industriously through the snow came a horse, or rather a superannuated little donkey, bestriding which was a snow-covered figure of stalwart proportions. The donkey was evidently the least tired of the two, for it shied at every suspicious obstacle, while the rider dozed and nodded in his saddle, regardless of the capers of his long-eared charger. He was finally aroused by curses fierce and loud, which came from around a bend just ahead of him. A sharp chirrup to the donkey caused it to canter ahzad at a live.y rate, soon bringing the storm-traveler to the spot whence cams the curses. And an exciting scene it was. With his back planted firmly against a rocky cliff stood a single stalwart Indian, fighting off a half-dozen able bodied men, with the simple aid of his clubbed rifle, while the whites in ques- tion were trying to get at him with their hunt- ing-knives. This, however, was hard to accomplish, as was amply evidenced by a glance at three bleed- ing figures that lay outstretched upon the white snow. A fourth assailant received a tremendous blow beside the head, from the rifle of the In- dian, just as the storm-traveler rode into view, and took a place not too gracefully beside those who had gone before him, Tie man on the donkey drew rein at once, and took a glance at the situation, as if “sizing” the crowd before taking a hand. “One Injun—five whites,” he mused, drawin a pair of gleaming revolvers from his belt, an cocking them. ‘Good-looking Injun—whites, tough-lookin’ customers. Dll drop my lines on the red spot, an’ give the whites a chance to er a free passage to the next station after ifs.” His arrival had been unnoticed, but he sprung to the ground, and took his steed by the left ear in a manner. ‘Now, see here, Doxy,” he said, solemnly, “Pm goin’ fer to help clean out the white gang, and I want you to takea hand also. Mind, if you earn ’em, it’s a bushel of corn for you, when we strike Deviltry.” The donkey was capable of understanding, evidently, for he shot away into the midst of the fight, with a vicious squeal, and such biting and kicking as he did was a caution for the hu- man race never to despise a donkey. Taken utterly by surprise, the whites were thrown into a state of consternation, and what of their number did not get a dig from Doxy’s heels, took leg bail for security, nearly fright- ened out of their wits. And of these there were but two, Doxy having made short work of the remaining threes. The storm-traveler sent a couple of random bullets after the fleeing roughs, then, with a chuckle, sauntered up to where his donkey was standing meekly before the Indian, wiggling its huge ears as if in pride over the victory of the ttle. “ Well, well, Doxy, you did right well, or my handle is not Nobby ‘Nick. A full bushel of corn shall you have the next moment after we set foot in the estimable town of Deviltry, wherever that may be, Hello, Injun! I opine they was crowdin’ on you ruther close about the time I arriv’, weren’t they, now? Canaan exe Jerusalem didn’t seem more’n a mile off, eh? “Stern Face was not frightened,” the Indian replied, with stoical calmness. ‘‘ Old age has frosted his hair and caused his hand to tremble, but his arm is yet strong and heart brave.” “Good fer you, Injun! I like your grit. Ww ho was them chaps who were tryin’ to knife ye? ‘““Wagh! bad miners. Jealous of Stern Face because he has gold. "Tack him once, twice, three times, Git lick ebbery time.” ‘“‘That’s business! Glad my old donkey took sides with you. She’s a snorter, i; my oa an’ kin clean out ary crowd she tackles. So give us yer pavv, Injun, an’ we'll be joggin’ on toward oe wherever that may be. y name’s Nobby Nick, right down from Nevada.” The old Indian put out his hand, warmly. ‘Pale-face good,” he said. ‘Stern Face re- member Nick. Tell Wild Flower about him. Good-by.” + ea hh Injun! Hang onto yer hair,” Nobby Nick replied, in his jolly way. Then he threw himself into the saddle, and Doxy cantered away down the stormy gulch. “White pale-face—true heart,” Stern Face said, watching after the eccentric couple as they died from view. ‘‘Stern Face like, Tell Wild Flower; Wild Flower like him too. Make him presents, Watch over him—ugh! Nick heap good pale-face.” And thus the man from Nevada had formed one fast friend, CHAPTER Il, DEVILTRY—BIJE GREEN’S TAVERN. Drvintry! What a name fora place, and yet such was the portentous appellation of the little mining town down in the heart of the Sierra Nevadas, be- tween two ranges of snow ca»ped mountains. The postal station, I believe, is called Surrey, but among the inhabitants, and for miles around, the town itself was called Deviltry. Why the title nobody seemed to know, unless it sprung from the fact that plenty of deviltry was always in session in the town. Tn a broad, deep gulch bottom nestled the scat- tering shanties upon a sandy and rocky surface, some two hundred all told, only about two- thirds of which were used for dwelling pur- poses, and some of these were but mere huts and tents. Still, they answered the purpose of habitations better than none at all. A swift running stream, some twenty yards in width, rushed through its channel in the center of the gulch, dividing the village into two parts. On the eastern shore was the main street where the stores, saloons, and business houses were located, together with a few dwellings; across the creck were more shanties and an ore- mill for refining quartz.
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Nobby Nick of Nevada. 5 On ee ee ee ee Sea Of the business places, there were several stores, a half-dozen saloons, and Bije Green’s Tavern. This large two-story log edifice was one of the landmarks of that particular region, having been built long before the discovery of gold caused a few sanguine mortals to start what was now the prosperous town of Deviltry. Abijah Green had been the landlord from the start, and often remarked that it was his in- tention to continue as long as the auriferous was found within the lonesome precincts of Hard Pan Gulch, The tavern of which Bijah was the host was a monstrous affair for the far Western mining- towns, having no end of rooms, and queer out- of-the-way closets up-stairs, while the whole of the one floor below was one great apartment, wherein was kept a bar, a post-office—which by the way was partitioned off by itself, having a wicket opening into the main apartment; a dining-counter ranged along one side of the room, and the center was occupied by chairs and tables. Mr. Bijah Green was a little man of only medium stature, with remarkably thin legs and wrinkled face, and wore a perpetnally hungry expression about his mouth. Moreover, the end of his nose was very red, his head was totally barren of hirsute vegetation, and he wore goggles. These facts, taken together with his peculiar attire, which consisted of a long swallow-tailed coat, and a broad-brim battered plug hat, so large that it rested upon his ears, gave him a most eccentric appearance. Bijah Green generally presided at the post- office, and but little could ever be seen of him except his superannuated vissge through the postal window. One reason for this lay in the fact that Bijah was a most pitiable coward, and dare not circulate about the town, for the rougher class of the residents having learned of his weak ness, took every opportunity to annoy him in all sorts of ridiculous ways. Mrs. Bijah, however, was the man of the house, literally speaking, for what she didn’t oversee and boss did not need bossing. Leaving Bijah to attend to the few duties devolving ona postmaster at Deviltry, she ran the rest of the establishment herself, with the assistance of a couple of Chinamen, she generally attending to the bar in person. a A big strapping woman was Mrs. Bijah Green, of some two hundred and fifty pounds’ weight, with a superabundance of grit and muscle, a squarely molded red face, and red hair to match, and there were those who avowed that she could clean out any two men in the town in a square stand-up fight. The day following the scenes last described, was but a continuation of the wild November mm Tne wind had fallen a little at sunrise, but the snow came down ceaselessly all day, until, when darkness once more hovered over the little settle- ment, several feet of pure snow lay upon the surface of Mother Earth. It was a quiet day in the place. _ Placer mining was out of question, and only those who had as, ar in the quartz drifts made bold to crawl forth to their work. Such holidays were not every day, and the majority of the idle hands and citizens made ees Green’s tavern their objective point, for Mrs. Bijah always kept a roaring fire in cold weather, and something else of an excellent quality he- hind the counter to warm the inner man. And the amount of beverage consumed on that snowy day was astonishing, yet the motley crowd kept very good-natured, although it was noticeable that they began to grow more boisterous as the night drew on. Mrs, Bijah looked grim, took a pair of service- able revolvers from a drawer, and laid them upon a shelf behind the bar. The crowd noted the movement, and the noise decreased for a time, but soon began to increase again. One of the leading spirits of the gang’, and one upon whom the liquid spirits seemed to be hay- ing considerable effect, was a burly, broad- shouldered ruffian, who bore the title of Evil Eph—and an appropriate handle it was, for he was a swarthy, evil looking pilgrim, with long, unkempt black hair, and full beerd to match, while his face was literally a mass of scars. His attire, too, was greasy and rough, and he was an unsavory appearing customer at the best. “T tell ye, b’yees, thar’s no cussed use 0’ hev- in’ a'spree *thout ye hev a spree, in dead earn- est,” he yelled, clambering on top of a deal table and swinging his cold hat above his head. “*So fetch along scme more msane asylum ter drink, ole elerfant! It’s my treat this time, fer I feel’sef I eould smash all creation inter pumice in a red-hot seckont.” “See hyar!” Mrs. Bijah cried, in a peremp- tory manner. ‘Jest you get down off that table, or I'll cum over there an’ pitch ye right je out ov deors, Eph Saunders! Ef ye want icker, what I want is to see the tin afore I lose Whisky is whisky, now- sight o’ the beverage. adays.” ‘Yas, what ain’t water,” growled Evil Eph. “Ef it hadn’t bin fer ther water ye put in our tonick, old woman, me an’ ther boys’d bin fat- tened up, ready fer congressmen or senators, long ere this. Ef ye want money, I’m yer huckleberry! Hyar’s a brick weighin’ twenty ounces—wu’th three hundred an’ twenty dollars, ef acent. Give ther hoyees sumthin’ to drink, and be sure en’ give me back ther change.” _ And taking a gold “brick” from bis inner pocket, the ruffian hurled it at Mrs. Bijah’s head, regardicss of what the consequences: a have been, had it’reached its intended mark, But it did not, for thesstrong-armed_ proprie- tress caught it gracefully, and slipped it quite as gracefully into a strong-box, before she pro- ceeded to serve the drinks. “JT say hurra fer ther old woman, Green,” Evil Eph cried as he received his liquor. ‘‘ Ef ye wasn’t quite so old an’ ugly, Mrs. Bijah cuss my boots ef I wouldn’t break my neck bu’ what I'd kiss ye ” “Oh! ye would, would ye, you disgusting brute!” Mrs. Bijah answered, putting her arms akimbo, and glaring at Saunders. ‘Oh! you buman far Ef it wasn’t fer leavin’ ther unprotected, ’d jump right over thar and mop the floor with you, so I would!”
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==" i eA Sa ga em Nobby Nick of Nevada. Evil Eph well knew she never said the word she couldn’t sustain, so he backed off, with a muttered curse. Whereat a general laugh ensued which cut him to the quick. © Hurra! Evil Eph’s bluffed down,” cried one. “*Dursen’t kiss Bije’s old woman.” ‘““Pshow! He’s no sand,” another rough re- marked. ‘‘ Tl bet a ten-ounce brick he dursen’t step up an’ kiss any female in town.” You lie; Idurst,” Eph roared, in a rage. ** Pll go ye another brick ye dursen’t,” a second miner cried. ‘‘So ef you’ve got any sand, put up, aud we'll have some fun.” he ruffian took a glance around him, and saw that he either had to bet or flunk, in which latter case he forever forfeited the regard of his rough companions, So, drawing a wallet from his pocket he counted out three hun red and twenty dollars, in bills, and planked them on the table. ‘‘ Here’s the worth o’ two ten-ounce bricks, w’ot says I kiss the first female who axes fer mail at the ost-office ter-night!” he cried, determimation in stone, ‘‘ Who holds ther stakes?” *T will!” Mrs. Bijah cried. ‘It allus hes bin my privelege since I run this shanty!” “Tf ye please, ma’am, you failed to mention thet ’'m the proprietor,” interposed Bijah, thrust- ing his head through the postal window. “Pll show you who owns the place if you don’t get out of sight,” retorted Mrs. Bijah, seizing an empty bottle and hurling it at his head. ‘‘ You kin prepare yourself for a good sound spankin’, tonighe Bijah Green!” At this the crowd cheered, and Bijah became immediately invisible. ‘ From the earliest days of Deviltry Mrs. Bijah Green had been the ‘‘man” who held the stakes of all bets, because she was square in dealing, no matter whom she had to settle with. The stakes were accordingly deposited in her keeping, and Evil Eph sauntered about the room with the villainous smile of anticipation upon his face. The crowd, too, became less noisy, and kept a close watch lest they should miss the impend- ing sport. Very few women ever entered the tavern, and the few who did were such as had no one to send for their mail, which necessitated their coming for it in person, It was seldom, how- ever, that they were offered insult by the rough gang who frequented the tavern, for, rough though those men were, they seemed to have some respect for unprotected femininity. To-night, howeverythe case was destined to be an exception. Hfaif an hour had not elapsed ere the door was opened, and a young maiden, with a shawl thrown partly over her head and shoulders, enterei the tavern, and made her way toward the postal window, without noticing any of the men who were lounging about, awaiting the denouement. - The young woman was somewhere about seventeen years of age. In stature she was a trifle below the medium hight of women, but round and plump as a peach, yet light and graceful of movement. In face she was remarkably bright and pretty, with a fair, health-tinted complexion, dancing blue eyes and golden hair, which flowed in fine glossy ripples down over her shoulders, She was clad, however, in a plain calico dress, white apron, and the shawl which covered the head and shoulders, A murmur ran through the crowd as she passed across the floor to the postal-window, and the interpretation of that murmur was the name— “Sandy Sue!” : All Seg were instantly turned toward Evil - Eph, who was conversing with a miner, e saw the look, and well knew what was expected of him; accordingly strode up to the : postal wicket, where Sandy Sue was in the act of inquiring for mail. ‘No, thar ain’t nothin’ fer ye, Miss Sandy i Sue,” the ruffian said, laying a hand familiarly i upon her shoulder. ‘‘ But ye see as how I’ve got i} suthin’ fer ye.” “You got something for me, sir?” the girl { said, turning about, and casting his hand quick- ly from her shoulder, ‘‘ Pray how comies it that anything of mine should be in your ; care?” | “Waal, ye see, gal, it ain’t, exactly—not yet, t but it’s goin’ to be. Ye see as how ther boys j mad» a bet with me aboutsuthin’. Thatsuthin’ was to ther effect that I, Evil Eph, ther Bold Lion o’ the mines, dursen’t kiss ther first female woman who entered ther post-offis ter-night. I tuk ther bet and put up three hundred dollars an’ over thet I could and would do it, an’ you bein’ ther first gal who’s come in since ther Pet, it naterally falls ter yer lot ter be kissed. So on course, yowll submit, an’ not force me ter steal, when I kin git a thing in an honest way.” ** Ruffian!” She cried, indignantly, pushin him back, ‘don’t dare to touch me or aT cal for assistance!” “But, thet won’t dono good. Ther’s durned few in this town as will take yer part ag’in’ Evil Eph, an’ you know it. So the purtiest thing you kin do is ter pucker up yer lips an’ let me kiss em, an’ earn my money. Then ye kin go, an’ not tillthen. Come, now, give me the smack, little one. It'll be all over in a jiffy.” ** Never! you miserable Joafer—never! Stand back, and don’t dare to lay ahand on me, Gen- tlemen! I xg tna to you. Will you :it there and see this bully insult a respectable woman?” “You bet your boots they will!” Evil Eph declared with a horrible grin. ‘‘ They’re all a- laffin’ up their shirt-sleeves, a-thinkin’ I dursen’s: kiss you. But they shall durned quick find out. Ef ye won't give me a kiss, my little brick-top, then by thunder I’m the lad that’s going to take it, *thout leave or license, So here goes—one, two, three, and a kiss, you see!” And with a wild chuckle the rough leaped for- ward and seized her in his strong embrace, hold- ing her arms so she could not resist. But, for all this, the plucky girl struggled like a young tigress, and Saunders found the job of getting the kiss was not so easy as he an- titipated, as it required all his efforts to keep her from breaking away. The’crowd cheered vociferously and Evil, Eph swore roundly. ‘*Help! help!” Sandy Sue shrieked.
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i ESI “Curse you!” the bully gritted; ‘some one eg her for me.” ut no one seemed to proffer this assistance, “ Help! help! help!” screamed Sue, again. ‘* Help! will no one save met” ‘No, thar won’t, an’ I'll cut yer cussed weas- and, soon’s I kin git hold o’ my knife,” the ruffian raved. A wild shout and a clatter of hoofs was at this instant heard without the tavern, while the inmates of the bar-room sprung to their feet, with startled glances. Then th.re came a tremendous crash, and a donkey and its venturesome rider came through one of the front windows and landed half-way in the middle of the bar-room. It all occurred in an instant, as it were, and when the astonished spectators had time to col- lect their scattered senses, they saw a young man astride a scrawny donkey, with a pair of cocked six-shooters leveled straight upon Evil Eph. “That's quite sufficient, my presuming friend,” the new-comer spoke, in a slow but re- solute tone. ‘‘Tll bother you to release that young woman, whoever she may be, and let her go her way.” “Tl be cussed ef I will,” Evil Eph growled, holding his victim tightly. ‘I’ve got a wager up that I’d kiss the first gal who kum to ther post-offis to-night, an’ I’m goin’ ter do it.” ‘*No, you are not. If you dare to pollute that young lady’s lips against her will, [ll agree you won't be able to munch your buffalo-meat to- morrow—not if I’m any judge. Release her in- stantly, or, as sure as my name is Nobby Nick of Nevada, Pl let candle-light through your cowardly carcass!” Eph looked the young stranger straight in the eye, and saw that he meant business; then he released Sue, with a baffled oath. Glad to escape, the terrified girl turned and fled from the tavern. After she had gone, Nobby Nick dismounted. And, now, by the way,” he said, brushing the snow from his long wolfskin overcoat, ‘if have ruffled any one’s feelings by this little pro- ceeding, I am ready to render satisfaction by the car-load!” CHAPTER ITI. A NEVADIAN’S PROWESS, Hap a meteor fallen down in the bar-room of Bije Green’s tavern it probably would not have caused a ater state of confusion than did the arrival of Nobby Nick of Nevada. Not but what as cool and daring men as he appeared to be bad walked the planks in the floor of the old_tavern—not that these rude and lawless men of Deviltry were inclined to be bluffed by a single man, but there was an inex- plicable ‘something in the appearance of the young stranger, added to the reports of his dar- i deeds, which had reached the town long be- fore him, which caused the crowd to gaze on him in some awe. Nobby Nick was a stalwart young fellow, of handsome limb and well-developed body, and was lithe and agile as a panther in his moye- ments. In years he did not appear to be over twenty, * Nobby Nick of Nevada. for his face was fresh and youthful in its ex- pression, though indicating much firmness,’ Eyes of midnight black, hair of the color of the ra- ven’s wing, in close-clinging curls about his head, and a smooth, handsome face, and you had the photograph of Nobby Nick, except his costume, which consisted of a pair of buckskin breeches and a fringed hunting-shirt, top boots, slouch hat pinned up on the left side, and a heavy wolf-skin overcoat, with the furry side out, A light sporting rifle slung at his back, and the pair of reyolvers, constituted his weapons, A murmur of astonishment escaped the crowd at the Nevadian’s bold challenge, and hands were laid upon the hilts of weapons by a majori- ty of the spectators, “Oh! that’s right,” Nick said, noting the movement; ‘I mean business, and am glad to see that you are not inclined to be facetious. Perhaps my precipitate entrance into this Bacchanalian sanctuary has given offense to somebody, and if so, I’m ready to fight, drink, or gamble with the offended one, as to whichever direction his inclinations may lead, Fight can I from sunrise to sunset, on an empty stomach, when occasion demands; drink ean I all the prime old liquid of nature you will furnish—pure and sparkling water; gamble will I with any pilgrim here, in any way, shape, or manner, for any amount from a nickel to fifty or a hundred thousand dollars. “And that’s my lay-out, right fresh from old Nevada, I’m a prize package, I am, and if any one wants to in- vest, fet him amble forward at once, or forever afterward hold his peace,” And with an air of utter unconcern, the young stranger folded his arms across his breast an stood gazing around, A hush pervaded the room; then one by one the miners dropped into chairs, or formed into little knots, and conversed in smothered tones. Full five minutes Nobby Nick maintained his attitude; then seeing no motion was made to- ward hostilities, he took off his coat and hung it up on a nail in the wall. Acting upon this as a fact that they were to remain, the donkey betook himself to a com- fortable position near the fire-place, and squat- ted upon his haunches dog-fashion, and closed his eyes wearily. The move elicited a laugh from several of the bystanders, but not from Mrs, Bijah Green, who sailed out from behind her bar, in high dud- geon, ‘See heer, young feller, d'ye know what I want ye to do?’ she exclaimed, striding up to Nobby Nick, and shaking her formidable fist under his nose. ‘‘D’ye know what you've got te do, or git lickee by a puppy?” “Well, no, grandmother,” replied Nick, gaz- ing at her with a smile; ‘‘I can’t say as i do.” “ Well, ’ll inform you then,” Mrs. Bijah de- clared, with arms akimbo. ‘‘ You kin jest fork over a fifty-dollar note for breakin’ thet windy, yonder—ten dollars for cleanin’ up ther muss, an’ fifteen dollars fer disgracin’ my place by bringin’ a mule into it. An’ what’s more, ye jest lead that animal right straight out-doors, or 1] mighty quick do it for ye.” “ Pshaw! you wouldn’t be so cruel as that?”
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Nobby Nick Wick said, coaxingly. ‘‘Doxy he enjoys a fire just as well as you or I.” “Can’t help that. I won't have no nasty mule in my botel—no, sir-ee!” “* Oh! so this is a hotel, is it?” “On course it is.” ‘How much d’ye charge a day, then?” “ Five dollars—cash in advance, afore ye git a mouthful.” * Allright. Here’s ten dollars for myself and my donkey, A loaf of bread, a pie, a few po- tatoes and some cheese will answer for Doxy, while a little rare antelope steak will answer me, “But I won’t have no mule in my establish- ment, I say!” vociferated.Mrs, Bijah. ‘But, I say yes,” Nick persisted. ‘‘ Where I stay that donkey always stays, too, and I’m going to put up here to-night. So if you don’t want Doxy to remain, you'll have to speak to him about it.” “See here, old woman, ef ye want thet mule put out, I'll do it fer ye,” interposed Evil Eph, coming forward, ‘‘an’ all I’ll ax ye is a drink o’ beenzeen.” “You put the critter out, and I'll give ye the whisky,” Mrs. Bijah assented. “Tl treat the crowd if the bummer is success- ful,” called out Nobby Nick, vaulting to a seat on one end of the bar, and lighting a cigar. Ee allow he'll earn his bitters, for once in his‘ ife, 4 Evil Eph evidently did not think so. Doxy still squatted dog-fashion, near the fire apparently fast asleep, for his ears no longer vibrated back and forth—and a truly laughable Bicsure he made, and one not encountered every Pesiiing a strong lariat, Evil Eph formed one end into a noose, and then, rope in band, he crept stealthily toward the seemingly unsuspect- ing donkey. e had gained a position within ten feet of the animal when, all of a sudden, Doxy sprun upon all four feet, opened his mouth wide, an gave vent to an ear-splitting scream—that startled Evil Eph and frightened him nearly out of his wits, The next instant Doxy made for him, with pat eyes and distended jaws, the very pic- ure of fury incarnate. The spectators sprung from their seats and rushed k with cries of consternation, while, with a horrified yell, Evil Eph bounded toward the broken window. Luckily for him, he gained the opening first, and lea out into the snowy night, a frenzied howl of terror pean feet his lips, for he ex- pected the infuriated beast to follow him. But in this he was agreeably mistaken. Doxy only gave chase to the broken window, evident- ly content with mechan the ruffian from the tavern; and giving two loud, triumphant brays through the open casement, he returned de- murely to the position he had first occupied, and apparently went off into a doze again. obby Nick sat upon the bar, nearly con- vulsed with laughter, while the larger portion of the crowd seemed disposed to regard the af- fair good-naturedly. ““ Well, granny, what d’ye think about put- of Nevada, q a ting the mule out?” he inquired, dryly. ‘‘ Looks as ef the donk knew his biz a leetle better’n any of you, don’t it?” “Oh! you miserable blackleg—you scamp!” Mrs. Bijah cried, stamping her foot, in a rage. “Tl get even with you yet, mark my word! T'll skin you the first chance I get.” “Be mild, my dear, be mild,” came the sepul- chral voice of Bijah, from the postal window. “Oh yes! I'll be mild with you when I catch you,” Mrs, Bijah screeched. ‘‘ Now, lookee eer young feller, my name is Abbical Green, an’ I’m the proprietress and boss o’ this tavern, as every one knows, an’—” “Tain’t so—I’m the proprietor,” squeaked Bijah from the office. * Will you shut up!” yelled Mrs, Bijah, hurl- ing a poker toward the window of the U. 8. de- artment, ‘I'll see who’s boss, As I was say- in’, young fellow, either you remove that long- eared critter from my establishment, or you don’t get nary a mouthful o’ vittles. Now take yer choice.” ‘‘Well, as I had supper down at a miner’s cabin below here, I’m not at all hungry, and so choose to let the donkey remain undisturbed,” Nick answered with provoking calniness. He then dismounted from his perch on the bar, and ensconced himself in a comfortable chair beside the cpr and began the pre of a newspaper which he pulled from a breast- pocket. The crowd finding the “fun” over resumed their various games and even Mrs, Bijah seemed unwilling to disturb the peace. And by and by the Nevadian’s chin dropped forward upon his breast, and then heavy breathing pronounced him to be asleep. Evil Eph now rejoined the crowd, but took care to keep at a safe distance from the donkey. Eph and some of his boon companions cast grum glances at the sleeper as he reposed com- posedly in his chair. Wearied by long and. tedious rides Nobby Nick did not find it much trouble to sleep, even in so noisy a place as Bije Green’s tavern, and he was in the midst of a pleasant dream when a loud bray from the donkey brought him to his feet quick as a flash, his revolvers in his grasp. And the cause of Doxy’s signal of alarm be- came apparent to him at a glance. A score or more of the most rufflanly-looking inmates of the bar-room, headed by Evil Eph, were drawn up in line before him, and the man Eph was armed with a grappling hook fastened to the end of a pole, some ten feet in length. It at once became plain to Nick, that Saun- ders was about attempting to hook him with the grapple when Doxy gave the alarm. “ Hal ha! So that’s your game is it,” said, leveling his revolvers, “ Afraid of the lion awake you propose to take him asleep, eh? Well! that’s about your style. Cowards to a man! “We'll cussed soon show ye, ef we be or not,” Evil Eph snarled. ‘‘ We’vebin hevin’ a confab, me an’ ther boys, an’ we’ve about cum ter ther conclusion that you're our man.” «Your man!” Nick ejaculated. ‘* Waal, now, that depends considerably. . Ef you kia w: richt in an’ take me, mebbe I am.” ;
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7 fe iv ie ' * But ye don’t understand,” Saunders replied, fly. “Ye see, some of the mining dee- stricts hyar in ther Sierras o’ late hev been hevin’ heaps o’ trouble wi’ a skulkin’ assassin who claims to be an avenger, and calls hisself Grim Goblin. He spots out a town an’ ef it suits his notion, he goes ter pickin’ off ther citi- gens one at a time, like as ef it was no more ac- count than shutin’ buzzards. “The thing’s run along more’n a year now, an’ is gittin’ high time suthin’ was did. Al) sorts o’ traps has been set fer him, an’ yet he ain't never bin caught, till now, an’ now we reckon Nobby Nick of Nevada. as how we've got him.” “Pshaw, you don’t mean to tell me you've really caught the wretch?” “That's jest what we allow, pardner, an’ yowre the man.” “ What! I the cut-throat, Grim Goblin?” “Perzactly, Me an’ ther boys hes put this an’ that cont Sora an’ them’s ther facts we’ve riv’ at, you bet.” “Well, well, you’ve made a most positive blunder, that’s certain. Why, old man, I never even heard of this Avenger, until I struck the mining-camp called Hard Pan, a couple of weeks b) 0. “(et out! It won't be no use fer you ter lie, fer we’re convinced that you’re our man, an’ won't cut out any more white men’s hearts.” ‘“When I surrender as Grim Goblin the Avenger, which I swear I am not, it will be when my weapons have lost their powers of ready speech!” Nobby Nick retorted, in ringing tones. ‘So if you want me, come along, and Tll make more than one dog of you bite the dust before you get me.” Tuvoluntarily the men fell back a pace, and exchanged glances. “T allow we better wait till we can nab him, unawares,” one of the gang su ested, ‘ or else give uP takin’ him alive, an’ shoot bim on the spot. Pe No. We want him alive or not at all,” Saunders snorted. ‘* We'll cut out his durned heart like he did Jim Granger’s up at Hard Pan. Ef ye're all afeard, I ain’t, not by a long shot. Providin’ he'll agree not to use no weapons, wa patteral ones, I’m the very lad as can sail right in an’ capter him, an’ hev him bound hand an’ foot inside o’ five minits.” ; “That hits me right away,” Nobby Nick re- sponded with a smiling face. ‘‘ Providin’ it’s a istinct and honorable understandin’ that I use no weopons, you use no weapons, nor the crowd offer any interference, Ill give you all the chance you can get to take me a prisoner or lick me—you to take whatever knocks you get, all in good part. If you succeed in capturing me, you can take me out to the nearest tree, and string me up. If you get worsted, I'll extend a standing invitation for the rest of the crowd to step in and fill your place, one at a time, Is this a fair offer?” “ Waal, I opine it'll do—eh, boys?” Evil Eph chuckled.) “Ef I can’t take the cuss thar’s enuff of us to tire him out. But Pm the bold bully o’ the mines wot kin lay him on his back before ye kin count a hundred. fair an’ squar’ ter yer proposition, young feller. Eh, hoye—ain’t it so?” So we all e e oa ay!” was the response, to a man, “‘-You hear, Doxy,” Nick said, turning to the donkey. ‘“‘ I’m oin’ ter clean out this un ealthy crowd, So ef ye see ’em pitch onto me f than that, or see any pil im draw a weapon, jest you sail in and make the fur fly. D’ye mind, now? The sagacious anitnal actually nodded his head, and gave vent to an affirmative bray, as Nick began to strip. With a pleasant expression upon his face, and the utmost apparent unconcern, the young pil- grim from Neyada threw off his jacket and shirt, removed his boots, and stood ready for the struggle. More than one murmur of astonishment es- caped the crowd as they gazed upon his broad knotted trunk, with its deep chest, and upon his trim clean arms and their tremendous muscular development. No man was there in the crowd who could boast of such a pair of arms. Evil Eph did not strip, but spat upon his hands, and gave vent to a gruff laugh. ‘* Now, ef ye ever did see any fun, an’ wanter see sumthin® ter dubble discount it, jest watch me sail in an’ gobble up ther Grim Goblin. Oh! I'll show ye sumthin’ great!” he cried, with a ugly grin of anticipation. hen, in a half-squatting posture, he stole stealthily forward toward Nevada Nick, with a cat-like tread, and a sinister glitter in his blood- shot eye which well befitted his evil name. Nearer and nearer he crept, and Nobby Nick stood with coolly folded arms, watching him sharply with his eagle eyes. Never a move he made until Evil Eph was but little more than an arm’s ala away— when, with lightning quickness, he ae on his knees, seized the ruffian by the ankles and jerked him down to the floor. As Evil Eph went down the young athlete regained his feet, still grasping his adversary’s ankles, and then, by the wonderful power of his knotted arms, he began to swing the ruffian around and around, above his own head. Around and around the bully was swung by the heels, then the athlete suddenly let go his grasp, and Saunders went flying to the further end of the bar-room, where he struck against the wall with crushing force, CHAPTER IV. GRIM GOBLIN’S NOTICE. A witp shout of consternation went up from the crowd, for Evil Eph rolled out on the floor, a senseless mass of crushed and bleeding humanity. While with folded arms, the young gladiator stood firmly erect, with his right foot apace, a faint flush upon his cheeks, a steadfast unwaver- ing gleam in his dark eyes. “One!” he said, calmly. ‘ What rare old sport the ruffian made by her gah me! there a substitute for me to play with?” “ Hurrah!” one of the miners shouted. ‘ Heer comes Colonel Bill Travers, the famous fightin’ cockolorum of the Sierras! He’ll cut yer spurs fer ye, you young bantam,”
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Nobby Nick of Nevada. “ Allright; trot forward your royal rooster, and ad me get a squint at him,” Nick replied, erly. Gy cutraiina of a broad-shouldered, well- proportioned six-footer had occasioned the shout of the miner, and the new-comer came quickly forward. Rather a bandsome man was the colonel, as eompared with his rough comrades, for he boasted of a full, round face, a clear, deadly eye, and long black hair which fell below his shoul- ders. is mustache, too, fairly touched his breast, and gave him a decidedly brigandish ap- pearance. “Well, what’s the row here?” he demanded, pausing and surveying the scene with a flashing eye. ‘' Who's burt?” “* Bvil Eph has got the first dose,” a rough by namo of Alaska Joe replied. ‘* Ye see, the chap yonder he’s ready ter lick ther hull crowd ef they come fer him without weapons, one ata time. So Eph sailed in, an’ yonder he lays, tee- totally smashed up. _The Grim Goblin jest slung him up ag’in’ the wall, like as ef he wasn’t noth- in’ more’n a muskrat, by thunder!” “The Grim Goblin!” Colonel Bill ejaculated, with a black scowl. “Yas—that’s him, yonder, wi’out any shirt on. He sailed in heer ter-night, a-callin’ his jags Nobby Nick, or somethin’ o’ the kind, an’ the boys put thisan’ that tergether, an’ we made up our minds that he was ther Avenger. So we jest told him ter surrender, an’ he showed fight. but sed if ary man in ther town could take him single-handed, without usin’ weapons, he was willin’ ter be tuk.” “Oho! So this bold assassin has come down to dare us, eh?” Travers growled. ‘‘ By my soul, he has a hanged sight of assurance. But he must not escape, now that we have him!” ‘When you get him, I wouldn’t let him escape, if I were you,” suggested Nick, with a sarcastic laugh. ‘For if you are in search of Grim Gob- lin, you will have to look further, as I am not your man.” “That's not for me to say,” Travers replied. ‘* The boys here have been the jury, and render- eda verdict. All being sensible fellows, I dare say it is as they, have decided.” “Oh! well; have it tosuit you,” the man from Nevada replied. ‘Grim Goblin, or no Grim Goblin, if you want me your chance is open to come and take me, and Ill venture to agree that you'll earn all of me that you can get, if you come for me fairly, one at a time.” Travers uttered an oath. “*Cuss me ef you ain’t got plenty of gall,” he muttered, ‘‘Ef ye meant that fer a challenge, young man, I accept. Ef ye have cleaned out one o’ the best fightin’-men in the town, you ain’t eleaned out the best, by a long shot.” Off came the coat of the fighting man of the Sierras, and up went his sleeves, exposing a finely contoured pair of arms. “Ready,” the colonel cried, promptly, a mo- ment later. And stepping closer, he aimed a sudden well- directed blow at Nick’s face. But, well aimed though it was, it was as neat- ly ied; at the same instant the Nevadian got in a slap upon the fighting man’s jaw which 3 ai i made his teeth chatter, and elicited a giggle from not a few of the spectators. ** Box one!” called out Nick, fanning. Travers uttered a smothered curse, but stood his ground and aimed his blows thick and fast, and in a way which showed that this was not his first fight. But it was his first attempt at boxing with such a man as this from the unclassic districts of Nevada, for, while Nobby Nick received not the first bruise, the colonel’s face began to assume many of the different shades of the ag a and blood was visible in more than one place. Nor was the young gladiator in the least con- cerned, apparently, seeming to put in his blows in a mechanical sort of way, with the utmost sang froid. Not so with the Fighting Man of the Sierras, Infuriated over his defeat at every move, he looked more like an enraged wild beast than a human, as he made lunge after lunge only to his further personal injury. ‘*Cuss ye! cuss ye!” he howled, spitting blood from between his swollen lips. “Give me a knife, somebody—a knife, I say!” ‘The one who draws a knife might as well go speak for bis coffin!” Nick said, sternly, ‘‘ And as for you, my friend, a knife would not avail you! Even as he spoke, the Nevadian leaped for- ward, and seizing his antagonist by the throat and-belt, raised him high above his head by the marvelous strength of his iron-like arm., Then, stepping forward to the front of the building, he hurled the colonel from him with all his strength, and he went crashing through a window, carrying sash and-all out into the stormy November night. Turning, this wondrous native of Nevada walked back to his first position and folded his arms serenely across his breast, not betrayin the least excitement or fatigue even in iis breathing. “Next!” he called, glancing at the clock above the bar. ‘‘ Don’t keep the audience waiting,” But the next man did not appear. Evident it was that courage was the thing lacking at this precise moment, “T reckon none of us want a bite, pilgrim,” Alaska Joe responded, scratching his head, *leastwise them’s my sentiments, and I allow the rest 0’ the crowd is about the same way 0’ my thinkin’, You’re ther toughest meat w’ot ever struck this town, or I’m a fu'st-class liar.” “Well, if you are all of a disposition to mind your own business, why all right. If, however, any of you has got anitching to sail in and wipe me out, I’m still open for business,” was Nick’s satisfactory assurance. “No one anxious, eh? Well, then, if the land- lady can accommodate me with a room, I think T'll retire, as ’'m most deucedly drowsy from riding all day in the wind. By the way, if your feelings are humane toward those fellows who attempted to play with me to-night, I you to scrape together what’s worth saving of them, and carry it toa doctor, Hemay be able to use it in behalf of science, if nothing more, Ha! ba! ha!”. : j
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Nobby Nick of Nevada. Then, donning his apparel which he had re- moved at the commencement of the struggle, he followed Mrs. Bijah Green up-stairs—for the ‘00d hostess had come to the wise -conclusion at the gent from Nevada was a customer who was in the babit of having his own way, and the likeliest thing she could do was humor him, When they arrived at the head of the stairs, however, she turned, facing him, and shook a long bony finger admonishingly in his face, _ “See heer, young feller, et’s all very plain. You're right pert, an’ as good as yer ekal, enny day,” she said grimly, ‘‘ but you jest take the advice of an old woman who knows a few things, and keep yer watch eye open. Ef ye don’t, thar’s them hyar in Deviltry who'll make it snug fer you, when ye ain’t on yer guard. Sh! mum’s the word. ‘Life’s cheap, heerabouts, sometimes!” About this same hour, the weekly mail was nearing Deviltry. Once a week was as often as the citizens of the little min ng towns in the Sierras had communi- cation with the outside, and in all probability this would not have been afforded them, had not pious Pete Travers started a Pony Express and mail route, charging a smart per cent. on all matter to pay him for his trouble. A slow, easy-going mortal was Pete, who had never been known to swear, lie, drink or steal, nor to harm even a fly, and be had the entire confidence of every one, and jogged along into Deviltry every Thursday, as regular as Thurs- day came, and jogged out again on Friday, bringing in mail and taking cut mail for ten cents apiece, each letter or package. To-night he rode down through the snowy gulch upon his stout, able-bodied horse, not in the best of spirits, despite the fact that he was considered extremly pious. The snow had delayed him badly, and where he should have reached Deviltry in the morning. he found himself still a round dozen miles from his destination at eleven o’clock at night. “Drat the snow! G lang, Dobbin' he growl- ed occasionally, casting an eye at his surround- ings suspiciously. ‘ Et’s high time we was ter town, for these mountings have a pesky bad reputation, they say. More’n one man’s bin robbed heer, Goodness knows how many rob- bers may be layin’ for me, anywhere’s along heer.” r The thought seemed to make him nervous, for he urged his steed into a gallop, something, by the way, quite unusual with him. ‘«S posin’ some o’ the pesky rascals should git it into their heads that I’ve got money aboard, to-night?” was his next thought. ‘‘I s’pose I’d be killed and scalped right here.” The words in thought had scarcely occurred to him when he dashed into a dark shadow cast by overhanging rocks, and the next instant his horse was hurled back upon bis haunches so sud- denly that Pious Peter found himself keeling backward into the snow. : Frightened nearly out of his wits, he made no attempt to arise, but lay upon his back in the snow and yelled at the top of his lungs for as- sistance, until— f y Until he. felt something of icy coldness touch his cheek, and opened his eyes to behold a tall form standing beside him, entirely wrapped in a black gown, which covered the face and head as well as the body, with the exception of a slit to breathe through, and a pair of eye-holes. This uncanny object held a rifle m its grasp, and it was the muzzle of this which touched Pious Peter’s cheek, and sent chill after chill of terror coursing down his spinal column, “Stop your yelling,” the figure said, ‘* or you shall die hike a dog!” **Oh! yes, yes, yes—I'll stop—I’ll beg—Vl beg,” Peter declared, with chattering teeth. “Don’t shoot, an’ I'll do anything you ask.” ‘“You are wise. Iam one who always am obeyed. I am Grim Goblin, the Avenger,” ae} good Heavings!” Peter gasped—‘' oh! oh! ‘ “Silence!” the Avenger ordered, sternly. ‘You need have no fear that I shall hurt you if you do as I direct. See, here is a roll of papers,” and as he spoke he drew a roll from beneath his cloak, and cast them upon Peter's breast, “They are posters or placards, printed in blood of mine enemics, Take them; mount your horse, and pursue your journey. You will ar- rive in the town of Deviltry at the dead of night. When you get there I want you to post one of these posters upon the door of every salcon in the place. You can do this without being ob- served, and at the same time oblige me, Prom- ise me faithfully to do this, and I will let you go. Refuse, and Ill blow your brains out where you “Oh! Lordy a’mighty, yes—I promise—I promise anything,” Peter gasped, wildly. “Very well; ['ll learn if you bave done my bidding,” Grim Goblin said, *‘and if you have not it won’t be many days before you'll bea ripe subject for a funeral.” “Then, with a wild laugh, he bounded away, and ere Peter had regained his feet had disap- peared from view. It is unnecessary to add that the pious mail man did not pause to make any particular search for his visitor. Instead, he gained hissaddle as quickly as pos- sible, put spurs to his animal, and tore madly away down the gulch. Neither right nor left did he look until the lit- tle camp hove in sight, and then he uttered a prayer of thanksgiving for his escape. When the town awoke the following morning, upon the door of every saloon and gam*ling house, Bijah Green’s tavern included, was tack- ed a sheet of pe per, inscribed in red ink or blood, of which the ollowing is a fac-simile: “NOTICE. “Take warning, all ye sinners of the camp called Deviltry, for Grim Goblin, the Avenger. is in your midst, and death sball follow where this notice is posted—death to all whose hends are dyed in blood of innocent humans, * (Signed) Grim Gost, “ Arenger.” Such was the notice that was read and re-read by startled groups, and sent a thrill of terror to many a miner’s heart, It wasn’t an hour before the town was thor,
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~ Nobby Nick of Nevada. oughly aroused, and the street filled with an ex- cited populace who came to read for themselves the terrible warning of the Avenger, a being whose very name was an ill-omen in more than one of the Sierra Nevada mining districts. Nobby Nick came down from his room, look- ing fresh and wide-awaky after his night’s re- pose, and took a look at the posters, while he smoked a cigar. ; * T must see if I can’t trap this Grim Goblin,” he muttered, more to himself than for other ears. ‘He'd be sire a prize to capture. I wonder if a reward has been offered for him?” “You bet thar has, young feller,” a voice at his elbow said, and he turned to bebold standing near him a little dried-up specimen of bumani- ty, bow-legged and humpbacked, and positively ugly of countenance—a buckskin-clad being, with stubby beard, long iron-gray hair and a game eye, who might or might not have been pr ynounced a human, according to the peculiar ideas of the observer. ‘‘ You bet thar has, m larky,” this shriveled-up individual continued, with a grimace, ‘‘an’ you kin bet also thet ‘spicion ain’t cl’ar from yer shoulders, yet, They've got an eye on ye, hev ther poople, watchin’ fer somethin’ ter confirm the ’spicion. Why, you didn’t know et, my bor but, ’bwixt you an’ [ yer room was guarded all last. night,” ‘¢ Pshaw, you don’t mean it?” Nick exclaimed, regarding the old man with a smile. *Yas I do, sure’s my name’s Old Porcupine, an’ ’m a sinner. Oh! ye'd better keep yer peepers on ’em, fer they’re bitter toward ye— that is, the tougher class. Another thing while I’m tellin’ ye, ye’d better not venture out o’ sight till they are convinced who ye be.” ‘And why not?’ * Because I’ve hearn it sed thet ye couldn’t leave the village alive, till et was fairly proven you weren’t Grim Goblin.” “Oho! so this is the lay, eh?’ Nick said scratching his head. ‘‘ Well, ’m much obliged for the warning, uncle. What’s yer handle?” ‘* Old Porcupine at yer sarvice,” the old man said, doffing his hat. ‘‘ Ye see as how I keeps the bank across the bridge on ’tother side the stream—me an’ my ‘dopted darter, Sue. Et was Sue ye reskied from the miserable rough, Evil Eph.” “Oh! it was? with a stare of surpriss. “Yas, an’ she sed as how I should tell ye she was mighty thankful to ye. I must be goin’ now, or the folks ’cuse me 0’ connivin’ wi’ ye. Good-day to ye! Keep yer eye out. Ef ye hap en ’cross stream, drap in.” t dare say I shall,” Nick muttered, as the little old man limped away. ‘“ But I shall keep my eyes about me, all the same, accordin’ to our advice. If this is a nest of hornets they'll nd they have the addition of a bumble-bee, maybe. CHAPTER V. DOGGED FOOTSTEPS, As the day progressed, and he sauntered about the little mining town, Nobby Nick be- came more fully aware that he was the center of observation for all eyes—and another thing did not escape his keen notice; One or more men of the town never lost sight of him, as he eould see them following, whenever he looked back. They were bardly ever the same men when he looked, but this did not deceive him in the fact that he was watched. But Nick did not take the matter to heart as many would have done under the circumstances, Instead, he sauntered leisurely about the settle- ment, — away at a cigar and inspecting everything of interest as he went. In the early part of morn, just. before dawn, one of those sudden changes had taken place which are peculiar to this particular region. The mercury had risen rapidly, and the snow- storm turned into a drenching rain, which by day-dawn had cleared the valley of its winding- sheet of white. Then the sun rose warmly above the moun- tain-tops, and tke air was balmy like an Indian summer day, The miners went to work on the placer claims, and a scene of general activity was everywhere. One thing rather puzzled Nobby Nick. He could neither hear nor see anything of the two men he had disposed of so effectually the pre- vious evening. They were not abroad, that was certain, nor did any one seem to know of their whereabouts, for inquires were general. During the course of his rambles he crossed the narrow foot-bridge that had been built over the stream from bank to bank, and was strolling along the opposite shore when he heard a foot- = and felt a hand laid softly upon his arm. urning, he beheld the maiden to whose rescue he had come the previous evening at the tavern, She was attired in a pretty pink calico dress, with beaded slippers upon her feet, and wore her hair in a rippling wave down over her shoulders, : And very pretty she looked with the sunlight resting warmly upon her pretty face. **T was told that you were the gentleman who came so bravely to my rescue last night,” she said, flushing with hesitation, ‘‘and 1 came to thank you for your brave act. I trust I am not bold for so presuming to address you.” “Most assuredly not,” Nick replied, doffing his hat gallantly. ‘Indeed, I was just medi- tating on calling on you, and thanking you for the opportunity afforded me to save so pretty a young lady from insult.” ‘*Pshaw! youare inclined to flattery,” Sandy Sue said. ‘‘ That is out of place, as I am not even good looking; and I should think you would hate me for getting you into trouble,” “Ha! ha! that’s nothing. I’m always in trouble with some one,” Nick replied, smilingly. ‘“*Ten to one if I hadn’t heard your appeal for assistance, I should have made my entree to the tavern in the same way I did, as I have a pecu- liar idea that dashing and independent first im- pressions rule the day.” ‘* Perhaps; but, even though you may deem yourself safe, you had best look out,” Sue warn- ed, candidly. ‘‘ You are feared by the majority of the citizens of the camp as a bold bravo. while the suspicion that you are the drea scourge, Grim Goblin, causes the people to re- gard you with aversion, You are watched at every turn, and should the least thing arise to confirm this suspicion, it would not be an hour
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ere the whole populace would be turned into a mob,” ‘“‘ With yourself included?” he queried. “No, indeed! I'll stick by you. When others are bitter against you, I sball defend you!” “Then you do not believe me to be the aven- er?” a No. You have tuo honest a face,” ‘T thank you for your confidence,” Nick said, warmly. ‘Things do begin to look rather squally for me, but I allow Pll wriggle out some- how. One thing is certain—if they take Nobby Nick alive, they'll have to do it when he don’t know anything about it.” ‘Sh! Talk lower,” Sue said, looking straight in his face. ‘*Don’t look around yet. By and by glance carelessly toward the bridge. You will see two men there leaning on the railing.” “ee Well—?” “They have been shaking their fists at me as a warning that I have no business to talk with you. If 1 provoke them it may be the worse for us both, so I will bid you good-day.” **Good-day! Accept my sincere thanks for your interest in my behalf, for I feel I have in you at least one friend among a host of foes, Shall I see you again?” ‘* When ppperanihy comes, and I can do so safely, I will find you,” Sandy Sue replied. Then, with a nod, she crossed tbe street and entered a well-built log cabin, over the door of which there was a little sign bearing the inscrip- tion: * JoHN FALCONER, BANKER AND BROKER,” ** Falconer,” Nick muttered, reading the sign, and then turning and retracing his steps toward the bridge. ‘‘ That must be the name of my young friend.” Tho two red-shirted, stogy-booted miners who had been lounging on the bridge also turned toward the other side of the stream, when they saw Nick coming, but he hailed them in an authoritative tone. “ Hello! slow up there a bit,” he said, com- mantingly, whereat they paused, hesitatingly. “* What’s your hurry? I want to see you!” “Waal, what d’ye want?’ one of the pair demanded, gruffly. ‘‘Reckon ye don’t know us!” * An’ [reckon I haven’t any particular hank- erin’ after yer acquaintance, either,” the Neva- dian retorted, with a provoking laugh. * But Td like to inquire what satisfaction you get from dogging my footsteps!” ‘¢ We ain’t bin doin’ nothin’ o’ the sort.” “You lie! My movements are under con- stant surveillance, and you were watching me while I conversed with the young lady back yonder.” “Bt don’t matter. Them’s our orders, an’ we've got ter stick by ’em,” the second man ad- mitted, “an? ef you don’t like ’em, why ye can chaw ’em.” “Tl chaw you, if you give me much of your tongue,” the’ champion replied. ‘‘ Who gave the orders to have me dogged? “$pect it was Colonel Bill Travers.” “ Oh! so he’s alive, eh? What business has he _ to order me watched?” = -“Humph! W’at the colonel says is law, hyar- ! <~ Nobby Nick of Nevada. abouts, an’ thar ain’t no man, woman or child as'll say he ain’t boss, You'll find it out, too, when he gits ready to square up accounts with you. ‘* So he hasn’t got enough yet, eh?” “Guess not. A broken arm an’ a smashed head won't bother ther colonel much, an’ ef ye want any letterin’ done on yer tombstone, ye’d better let out ther job, ter oncet.” ““Many thanks for your unselfish advice,” Nick retorted. ‘‘When I need a tombstone I'll have time to import one from the Hast. March along, now, before I am seized with a notion to _ tumble you over into the river.” The men obeyed without urging, for neither, after what they bad seen of the Nevadian’s prowess, cared to court a scrimmage with him, Nick followed them back to the tavern, which he entered, and sought bis room. To his surprise, he found the door unlocked, and on entering found that his apartment had another occupant than himself. Not aman, but a woman, young and pretty, dressed in men’s clothing—top boots, breeches, vest, white shirtand tie; jaunty jacket, plumed slouch hat, all complete. She was seated com- fortably in a rocking-chair, smoking a cigarette, and apparently enjoying herself. Nobby Nick paused upon the threshold, and surveyed her with a stare of astonishment, not knowing whether to feel angry or amused at the intrusion. Remarkably pretty was the intruder, both of face and of form, with well-rounded features, sparkling brown eyes, and hair to match, which flowed down over ber shoulders, Her costume was of expensive material, and fitted a well-contoured figure of medium hight most charmingly. Seeing that she did not offer to speak, and being in rather an awkward position, Nobby Nick finally broke the ice by dofling hjs hat, gallantly. ‘* Excuse me, lady,” he said, glancing at the interior of the apartment to make sure that he was right, ‘‘but haven’t you made a mistake and got into the wrong room?” “Not a bit of it,” the girl-boy replied, in- dependently. ‘I reckon know what I’m about, young feller.” “Not doubting that,” Nick replied, his as- tonishment increasing, ‘ I beg to state that this was my apartment, if Iam not very much mis- taken!” “You are notin the least mistaken,” was the answer. ‘This is your room, so come in, shut the door, sit down, and be sensible.” _Nick obeyed the first three orders with alac- rity, resolved to see the thing through. “* As to the sensible part,” he said, his compo- sure returning to him, ‘‘I don’t know about that. Perhaps if you would be kind enough to give your name, and explain in what way I am indebted for your unexpected visit, my senses may come to a more settled state.” ‘Oh! we'll get to that directly,” the girl re- plied, coolly. ‘* This world wasn’t made in one day, and yet it isa success, But, to begin with, how are you feeling, to-day?” ‘Never felt better, I assure you.” “Glad to hear it. If you have a cigar, join
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Nobby Nick of Nevada. me in a smoke, I haven’t an extra one myself, I see you’ve got yourself in an unenviable situa- tion since your arrival here.” “Tf so, I am quite able to get myself out,” Nick retorted, not altogether pleased with the ‘** freshness ” of his visitor. ** Don’t be so sure about that. I have reason to have serious doubts of your ever getting out of the place. You barked up the wrong tree when you took hold of Colonel Bill Travers. He’s a bad man.” “So am I when you fool around me too much, So you area friend of this border ruf- fian, eh?” ‘* By no means. But, who, or what I am to you, it matters not. To youl would be afriend —more, a benefactor. possess the power to get you out of town and to a place of safety.” * But, ain’t you a little fast? I am not half- ready to shake hands with Deviltry, yet, if I recollect myself.” * But stop! If you do not take advantage the of opportunity and escape, ere five suns have cone and gone, there will not be somuchasa bone of you left to tell you were ever here.” “Ha! ha! ha! Your imagination would do credit to a novel writer,” Nick laughed. ‘I fancy I shall know something in regard to this wholosale dissecting business about the time it is transpiring.” “Humph! you may be facetious now, but I fancy you will know more than you want to, of it, later,” she returned with a faint sneer, ** Still, if you desire to take the consequences of your fool-hardiness, it is not my lookout.” ‘*Decidedly. Supposing, however, I were to engage your service, to conduct me to a place of safety—what remuneration would you ex- ect? Pe Three species, namely; five hundred dollars which you carry in a belt beneath your hunting- shirt; your hand joined with mine in marriage; and last but not least, the secret of the exact lozation and entrance to the old Indian mine !” As she spoke the woman leaned forward and gazed searchingly into the Nevadian’s face, ex- pecting eviden ly to note some great change or startin his manner, and her countenance fell when she noted none. Perfectly composed was this man of strength, no surprise even depicted upon his countenance. ‘““Asto the money, no. As to marrying an unknown adventuress, emphatically no. And, as to the secret connected with some old Indian mine, you’ve tackled the wrong dictionary for a solution, I can tell you.” “You are lying to me. You and you alone, Ralph Arlington, hold the secret!” the woman cried, rising to her feet, a wild glare in her eyes. “Deny it you dare not.” Stall no expression of surprise upon the face of the pilgrim from Nevada. af can deny it with the greatest of ease,” was Nick’s calm answer. ‘I know not who or what you are, madame, nordol care. Yourattempt to pump me of any knowledge P he may wish to possess, is utterly without avail, and the sooner ou take your leave, the greater will be my ob- igation to you. Your name I would, however, ike to know.” “You may call me Moll McGregor, but that ce is not my name!” and she rose todepart. ‘* What- ever my true name is, it does not matter to you; suffice to say that I am one who knows you well, and your past, and shall never lose sight of you, until I get possession of the key to the old In- dian mine.” “Tf you wait that long, your hair will be snowy white!” ‘““By nomeans. If you will not have me as a friend, you shall have me as an enemy. I will plan to get you in my power, and then tear the secret from you, or tear out your heart.” “Very well. That will do for the present, and I'll excuse you now!” Nick said, pointing toward the door. ‘Go, now, and do not make yourself quite so forward henceforth.” She did go, but shook her fist at him as she vanished through the doorway. ‘*Remember!” she said, savagely, ‘* this is not our last meeting.” After she had gone, Nick lit a cigar, and sat meditatively eying the clouds of smoke which rolled ceilingward from his lips. “‘T reckon I might better have stayed awa from this place,” he confessed, scratching his head, ‘‘as it appears that I am between several fires—one the populace who have set me down as an assassin—the other that eccentric female who apparently knows more about me than I know myself. Iam fogged about her, for [ cannot remember that I have ever met her.” He sat for over an hour, buried in deep thought, his brow wrinkled in a half-scowl as though the nature of his meditations were not pleasant. Finally his eyes closed, wearily, and he slept. It was some hours ere he awoke—at least the light in his room was dull and gloomy, and he concluded that it was nightfall. He awoke with a start, caused by a hubbub of noises without—the sound of voices and barks of dogs prevailing. Rising and going to the window, he gazed down into the street below. And here his eyes fell upon a sight which thrill- ed him in spite of himself, The street was filled with the townspeople, who were talking clamorously, and pointing to- ward an object upon the extreme top of a pole carried by a burly miner. This object, horrible to relate, was a man’s head, detached from the body—a ghastly, bloody trophy, with distended jaws and protruding eyes—yet Nick knew he had seen the bearded face before, in the hotel disturbance. Straight toward the hotel the trophy-bearer came, closely followed by the yelling crowd, with weapons drawn. What did it mean, the young Nevadian asked himself? Was this a victim of Grim Goblin’s vengeance? And were they coming for him, Nick, to an- swer for the crime? It was a horrible thought. CHAPTER VI. UPRISING OF A POPULACE, _ “Tam in a position that necessitates my do- ing something for my country, I should opine, if that crowd is any prognostication of coming
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| a rc ———— NM events,” he said, grimly. “I would like to know for certain if they are coming for me. If 80, they’ll not find me—that’s certain. Their hand is decidedly too flush for me to attempt to raise it, and so I'll pass. The next important question is—where will I pass to?” It was an important question with him to know how he was to get out of the dilemma that stared him ominously in the face. Outside was the hooting, howling crowd, and he did not want any firmer conviction than that of his own senses, that they sought for him. He took another glance from the window. The fun had gone down behind the hills, and a coer gloom was creeping rapidly through the valley, A look at the ghastly head perched on top of the pole—then Nobby Nick shut his teeth to- gether with a snap, his eyes flashed resolutely, and he buckled his belt a notch tighter. “J wonder where Doxy is?” he mused, glanc- ing at his revolvers, to see that they were all right and slinging his rifle to his back. ‘Tf she was down there I’d set her on the mob. Tll bet a cracker she’d make some of ’em dust their leather.” He was now ready for escape, as soon as he should find the avenue thereto. Going to the door of his room he listened in- tently, but could hear no one in the hall outside. This hall ran the whole length of the upper story of the great cabin, and was intersected by numerous smaller passageways leading to side rooms. The stairway leading to the bar-room below was located at the eastern end of the hall, while at the western end was a window looking out upon the gulch stream. Leaving his room Nick stood for a moment agg undecided which direction to go. Final- , however, he resolved to creep to the head of the stairs and listen to what was going on be- low. He therefore stole stealthily along for a few steps—then suddenly paused and retraced his steps rapidly, and went to the western end of the hall. A thought bad occurred to him in which there was reason. He would remove the window sash from its frame—then, in case of necessity, he could make arun along the hall and jump from the window into the guich stream, which only ran about ten feet from that end of the tavern. The work of removing the window only occu- ied a couple of minutes; then, drawing one of fis revolvers and cocking it, he crept cautiously toward the opposite end of the hall. Without incident he reached the head of the stairs, and stood silently in the dark in a listen- ing attitude. 7 from the bar below came angry voices. profane shouts and the clinking of glasses, an if he had had any doubts before as to the mission of the aroused populace, he had none now, for more than once he heard the name of Nobby Nick and Grim Goblin mentioned in connection, and gathered from snatches of conversation, that the murdered man was one Hank Long, and had been killed by the Avenger, lin, as was known by a familiar cross slashed with a knife upon the forehead. The body had not yet been found—the head had been discov- Nobby Nick of Nevada. Grim Gob- | | ered mounted on top of the pole, just out of the village in the center of the gulch. | All this was, of course, interesting to Nick, and he was resolved to learn pranrtning 2 - Lle before he was forced to “light out” for lib- erty. Ror half an hour or more the hubbub contin- ued, and during that time it was evident that considerable whisky changed hands, judging by the rattle of glasses. Finally there was a fearful racket made by pceunding upon a tin pan, and all became quiet, proclaiming that a meeting was called. With all attention, Nobby Nick leaned for- ward to hear what was said. From his position he commanded a view of a portion of the scene below, and could see the speaker, who proved to be Colonel Bill Travers, mounted upon an empty flour barrel. A sorry-looking orator he made, however. His left leg was bandaged, his left arm was in a sling, his right eye was tied uP, and his face was bruised and raw in a dozen places. He took the stand, and gazed around with Pe ere of a hungry wolf in his eyes ere he spoke. ‘ Fellow-citizens,” he finally said, savagely, “JT don’t reckon I’m called on to say much, “You all know thet Grim Goblin, the cussed cut- throat, is among us, an’ thet we've jest found one bloody evidence of the fact to-night. You are all well satisfied, too, that the young puppy who calls himself Nobby Nick is none other than the veritable Grim Goblin, and so what remains for us to do but capture the cuss an’ make him suffer for bis crimes?” “ Hurreh! that’s ther ticket’ to vote!” shouted Alaska Joe, who now calculated he was second thoroughbred ef the town since Evil Eph was sick. ‘Ef Nobby Nick is ther ae Grim Gob- lin, why, et’s our saintly duty ter clean him out. An’ ef he ain’t, I opine as how he ain’t no pil- grim as will do any purtickler credit to our moral town, an’ et would not do any hurt ter use his bone-dust fer fertilizin’ purposes.” “See heer, Alaska, you’d better shet yer yawp!” Colonel Bill growled. Ef ye ever stick in yer blab when I’m addressin’ a meetin’ like this ag’in, I'll be cussed ef I don’t slip my knife inter yer juggler vein. I say, Nobby Nick is the self-same Grim Goblin, or else an emissary of him, an’ I fer one propose we don’t parley any longer, but sail right in and capture him, Arter that, we kin hold a meetin’ an’ devise a plan o’ puttin’ him to death. All in favor of this motion make manifest by saying I!” ° A general yell of ‘‘I!” was the answer. ‘* As I expected,” Colonel Bill said with a grin of approbation. ‘You all like this chap about as much asI do. Now the next thing is to get him. Ef I'm elected captain of the thing, Pu give ye plans by which ye kin take the cuss! “Hurrah! hurrah!” shouted the crowd. ‘‘ Col- onel Bull is ter be ther boss.” : “Then, first of all, let twenty able-bodied men surround the building on all sides with weapons ready for use,” Travers said. ‘Tf our man isin the shebang and makes an attempt to escape, fire upon him; do not let him get away if you have to kill him.”
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The order was executed, some two-score of the crowd swarming to the outside of the building. “ Next, let two men creep cautiously up-stairs, and to the door of the Avenger’s room and listen there. eh hin hear anything of him, come and report. If not, give the alarm, and there shall be a general search of the premises,” Two burly miners immediately signified their readiness to make the reconnoissance, and put fresh cartridges in their revolvers, preparatory for battle, if necessary. Then they came to the foot of the stairs, and began to ascend them in a stealthy manner. rouching behind a back-set in the wall, at the head of the stairs, Nobby Nick waited for them, his eyes gleaming desperately. He was resolved to hold his own as long as practicable, and then make a bold leap for liberty. One of the men paused upon the steps, half- way up, to tighten his belt—the other came steadily on and gained the landing. The next instant be found himself in the iron grasp of the modern Hercules, and ere he could lefend himself, was raised in the air above his opponent’s head, like a helpless child. Then, without warning, he suddenly hurled the vic- tim of his surprise down the stairway against the second miner, and the two went crashing headlong to the bottom, mid cries of consterna- tion from the crowd in the bar-room. Uttering a yell of defiance, and without wait- ing to note the effect of his bold deed, Nobby Nick turned and ran swiftly through the hall toward the western end of the building, intent upon leaping through the open casemant into the gulch stream. But this plan was suddenly foiled, for he had only gone about half the distance to the win- dow when he tripped upon a wire or rope strung across the floor, and fell with stunning severity, and, before he could even make the attempt to regain his feet, a figure darted forward, sprung upon him and bore him back, and ere he fully regained his wits his wrists were handcuffed and a bandage tied over his eyes. “Now rise to your feet, quickly,” a voice spoke, close to his ear—a feminine voice at that. “Do notattempt to run, but come with me, and Tl get you away from the mob. Listen! they are coming. This way, now, lively!” She grasped him by the arm and led the way, rapidly; and he followed, not too willingly, for he knew not whether he was going out of the fire or deeper into it. She led the way for perhaps fifteen paces through the main hall—then made a sharp turn, and he knew that the route lay through one of the several narrower passages. Another turn was soon made, this time into a room, evidently, for he heard her close a door behind them, “Stop here a moment,” she said, ‘‘ while I procure a light. ‘* We will be safe until I take you to a safer place.” He obeyed, while he listened to her as she moved about the apartment. Her step was light, soft, cat-like, Who was she? he asked himself. Moll McGregor perpepe: No, not she, he deliberated, for the voice was of a different tone—softer and more gentle. Nobby Nick of Nevada. ee She soon succeeded in striking a light, and then came forward and removed the bandage from his eyes. It was a decided relief, for he was eager to know whom he had to thank for his res- cue from the mob. And he saw standing before him, not a white girl—not Sandy Sue, as he had half hoped—but an Indian girl of some sixteen or seventeen sum- mers—a well-formed maiden, of medium hight of women, with a face nearly as white as a na- tive pale-face, regular and remarkably attract- ive features, dark eyes whose power of expres- sion was dazzling, and hair lack as a raven’s wing, and worn down her back in two braids. She was attired in buckskin leggings reaching above the knee, and met by a neat-fitting hunt- ing-shirt belted at the waist, which was also of buckskin, and all of which was fringed with the down of the eagle, colored or painted in the many shades of the rainbow. Beaded moc- easins upon her feet, and a jaunty round fur cap upon her head completed a very tasty costume, bs contributed to make her a very pretty girl. But for the dusky expression of her eyes, and the faint tinge of brown to her skin, one would not have suspected that she was an In- dian, for her features were of an Anglo Saxon type. As he gazed at her in mute surprise and ad- miration, a thought flashed across the Nevadi- an’s mind, Of the three pretty females he had met since coming to Deviltry, which was the prettiest?— this Indian maiden, Sandy Sue, or Moll Mc- Gregor. And he was not prepared to answer, for all three were pretty to a fault. “T am Wild Flower, the daughter of Stern Face, the banished Sioux,” she said, breaking the silence. ‘‘ You saved my father from the vengeance of the gulch miners, and he liked you, He dreamt you were in trouble and sent me to help you escape.” “For which I thank you heartily,” Nick said, extending hishand. ‘I did give the old chief a lift, or rather my old uncle, Doxy, did, but I didn’t reckon there’d be any chance o’ returning the favor so soon.” Wild Flower hesitated a moment, and then seized his left hand and examined the palm closely. As suddenly then did she drop it and reel back, a shadeof pallor crossing her countenance, and her own shapely white hand dropping to the butt of a revolver which she carried in her belt. ‘“* Hold on! what’s the matter now?” Nick d manded, in surprise. ‘‘ What’s the matter wit! my fist that you are so affected?” ‘Sh! Your life is in deadly peril, if Stern Face sees that hand,” she gasped. ‘Not even the favor you did him would save your life.” “ And why not? I'll be shot if I ain’t fagged, for once in my life.” , “Perhaps. Maybe you are ignorant of the secret that envelops your life, but I am not, Did you ever sHsy. the veins of your left hand —not veins that blood circulates through, but marks that seem to have been seared there by the hand of nature and which look like a laby- viath of trails on a prairie?” Ring
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“In truth I have studied my marked palm, many times, in curiosity, but never allowed there was any particular meaning connected therewith,” Nick replied, ~ “There is a meaning, however,” Wild Flower assured, ‘‘and one which I can well understand. By that marked,hand I know who you are, your whole antecedents, and that you are the last of a race of people who know the secret of the old Indian mine.” “You are mistaken. I know nothing con- cerning any Indian mine.” ; “Maybe not, but the trail leading to that mine is engraven upon your band, and there are hundreds who would give their mght hands to gain possession of the secret!” _ Then she stopped short and listened intently. Sharp though were the ears of the Nevadian, he could hear no outside sound, for the room was apparently without doors or windows, none being visible. Wild Flower heard hostile sounds, howeyer, for her big eyes grew duskier, and she repro- duced the bandage which had previously served as a blindfold. “We must escape further, lest they scent us out,” she announced. ‘‘ We are safe unless they think of one thing. Colonel Travers has a blood- hound, and if he were to set it on our trail it would be bad. Come!” “Where?” ‘Tt matters not, to you, just yet. I will blind- fold you and lead the way—a long and tedious one, it will seem, By ant by we will pause to rest, and Wild Flower will sell 0 something of the story concerning the mystery that surrounds you. Come!” She bandaged his eyes, and taking him by the arm led him forward, A few paces thus; then they began to descend what he concluded was a narrow and winding staircase. It proved to be of extreme length ere they came to the end of the steps, the lower portion of which proved to be stone. They were now in a damp, musty-smelling place which his senses of smelling and feeling told him was a subterranean passage. CHAPTER VII. THE BANK BESIEGED, IMMEDIATELY after the two miners came head-foremost down into the bar-room, ae lied thither by the mighty power of Nobby Rick's terrible arms, there was a loud yell of vengeance and fully a hundred rough and lawless men sprung up the staircase, armed with drawn revolvers, and lighted by burning fagots which they had grabbed from the fire- place. : Colonel Bill Travers was too lame to lead the van, ut brought up the rear, urging on the gang whose ruling spirit he was, A swift and sthorough search of the upper story was made—in every room, hallway and niche, and the result was nothing! - Nowhere could anything of the Nevadian be found, but the open window at the end of the hall pointed out ai avenue of his escape. Disappointed howls and curses escaped the searching miners, and a rush was made for thi Nobby Nick of Nevada, outer air, some descending the stairs, and others leaping recklessly from the window, n being sharply questioned none of those who had formed the guard surrounding the cabin, bad seen anything of the supposed aven- ger, and declared emphatically that he had not escaped through the window by leaping over their heads. Loth to believe this were the larger share of the populace;—even Colonel Bill raved and swore around like a madman, and ordered every house and building of any description ran- sacked. And his order was obeyed. The mob divided up into several companies, and, armed with torches began to search the town, Colonel Bill hobbled and limped along at the head of one gang, ard led the way across the river to the cabin bank of Porcupine Pete, for- merly owned by John Falconer. Here he paused and rapped smartly upon the door, which was partly opened by Sandy Sue, whose pretty face and figure filled the gap. “Come, gal, open up an’ let us s’arch the place,” Travers said, gruffly, pushing on the door. But Sue held it firmly. “No you don’t,” she said, ‘till I know what you want.” ’ “Durn ye, open the door! We're s’archin’ fer that infernal cuss, Nobby Nick,” he replied, savagely. ‘‘He’s slipped away, like a greased eel, an’ we wanter see ef ye ain’t got him hid away somewheres,” “He ain’t here, and you can’t come in, The bank is closed for to-day.” “Oh! but we'll cussed soon open it, tho’, ef ye don’t let us in.” “Then blaze away, and you'll get your fill, mighty quick!” Sue retorted spiritedly. She was a resolute girl, one not easily frightened, and she slammed the door in Colonel Bill’s face, with a will, after which she barred it heavily, “There! now stay out!” she cried, in a deter- mined tone, ‘* Nobby Nick is not here, aud you can save time by searching for him elsewhere,” “Tl be cussed ef ye will,” Travers roared, enraged at his defeat. ‘* Boys, go cut and trim a good tree, for a battering-ram, an’ we'll devilish soon make splinters of the door.” A dozen sprung to do his bidding, while the rest stood guard around this strong cabin, “Oh! but Pll spoil yer purty face, when I get in thar,” the valiant colonel yelled, limping about. ‘I'll cut yer head off an’ stick it a-top of a pole like Hank Long’s,” She did not reply. She was alone in the cabin, Porcupine Pete having been absent on a hunt in the mountains since noon, and she did not feel that it was policy for her to provoke these rude citizens too much—yet was determined they should not enter the cabin at any hazard. For, though she knew nothing of the where- : abouts of Nobby Nick, she did know that there was wealth enough in the iron safe to tempt more honest men than Travers and his gaug. ““Ye’d better let us in,” Travers growled, from a position near the door, »‘* The boys aire cutting. a tree, over yonder, an’ we'll batter tliunder out of yer door ef ye don’t open it,”
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Nobby Nick of Nevada. “Batter away!” Sue replied, firmly. ‘I guess if will require a deal of pains for you to get in here, and even when successful in so doing, you'll fail to find the object of your search, I warn you fairly not to attack this cabin. If you do, I'll shoot every man I get a glimpse of sure as I am Sandy Sue.” “Oh! we ain’t afeard o’ ye! We've heerd squaws talk, before.” Presently the tramp of feet announced that the bearers of the battering-ram were returning, as did a Babel of discordant voices. “Come, now,” the hoarse voice of Colonel Bill shouted, “ef ye’re goin’ to open up, do so— ef ye ain’t say so, and we'll make pudding of yer old cabin.” ‘*T have told you repeatedly I shall not open the door,” Sue returned. ‘‘ If you resort to vio- lence you do so at your peril.” A yell of defiance came from the outside; then there was a tremendousthump against the stout oaken door, which shook the cabin from roof to foundation, But the door did not yield. Taking down a light repeating rifle, of the Winchester pattern, Sue stationed herself at a loop-hole 1n the wall, and waited, resolved that as the cabin was attacked, she would show fight, in dead earnest. The cabin was admirably adapted for standing a siege, the walls being built of three thicknesses of logs, and the roof doubly boarded and very steep, making it impossible for any one to stand upon it. Within, it was divided into two rooms below the door by wh‘ch entrance could be gained opening into the bank, while from that a door opened into a side room which was used for kitchen and dining-room, Sleeping apartments were up-stairs, under the roof. The windows of the cabin were well protected by stout iron ~eoreciag and altogether it was a snug little ort. Surrounded as she was by these formidable barriers, Sandy Sue felt little or no fear as to what the final result would be, for with her father she had settled here when a mere child, and when Indians were hostile, and she could remember more than one occasion when the stanch little edifice had withstood the ingenious attack of the wily savages, for days. Cocking the rifle she leveled the weapon through the loop-hole. The next instant there was a flash, a sharp report—and a yell. The yell told that the shot had taken effect, and howls of rage among the self-styled Regu- lators proved it. “Open ther door, you she-wildcat!” Colonel Bill demanded. “Never!” came the response from the inside, followed by a shot which dropped another miner. Then the battering-ram was applied with a will. At first the door withs'ood the shocks brave- ty, but the continued attack finalty began to make it clatter noisily and show signs of giving n Encouraged by this the men with battering- ram lent renewed efforts, and made the night hideous with their yells, Shot after shot came from within the cabin with telling effect, which increased the fury of the Regulators, for they could not handle their clumsy weapon of assault. Thump! bang! crash!—the door shook visibly. the bars burst in twain. Another thump, an the door went in with a loud crash: Cheer after cheer rent the aifas the men dropped the log and poured into the cabin. Later that same night, when the moon was soaring down toward its western bed, a stage came dashing down through Hard Pan Gulch; not a public conveyance, evidently, but a pri- vate hack drawn by four handsome white horses, and driven by a liveried darky who sat upon the box. Who was inside could not be seen from the exterior, both doors being closed and the cur- tains drawn, The moonlight fell dimly in the gulch, but it was still light enough for the coachman to see, and he drove rapidly and seemingly recklessly. His constant glances about him bespoke the nervousness he felt, probably owing to the hour and his lonely surroundings, and his left hand ever hovered near his belt, The trail through the gulch lay all the way down hill toward Deviltry, and this fact accele- rated the speed of the horses until the convey- ance tore along at a furious speed, Yet this fact did not seem to alarm five beard- ed men who were drawn up in a line across the trail a few hundred yards further down the gulch—dark, rough-looking fellows, with great brass letters upon their hunting shirts, and cocked revolvers in their grasp, Sternly the leader called out the challenge word ‘‘ Halt!” as the turnout came nearer, and the darky, on seeing them, promptly drew rein, and allowed them to approach. ‘See yar now, you fellows, w’at youh want, a-stoppin’ folkses dis yar way?’ he demanded, leveling his big navy revolver at the foremost of the outlaws, ‘Jes’ you ’splain, sah, or I’se goin’ to bore a hole right away froo youh, fo’ suah!” ‘““Git ont, you infernal nigger!” the chief re- plied, savagely. ‘“Drop that weapon, or we'll blow ye so fur you never’ll find even the color of yer black hide. As to what we want, we're the Bearded Brothers, and we want thet bloated old aristocrat, General Arlington, who is aboard this stage.” “Oh! de good Lor’ bress you, but you’s too late, fo’ suah,” Pompey replied, throwing up his hands. ‘ Dis yar hack has been attacked by robbers free miles up de gulch, sure’s I’se a live nigger, and de general an’ all bis gold jes’ taken right away off into de mountings, fo’ suah! An’ de general he say, ‘ Pomp, fer heaven’s sake go on to de town, an’ send some one to my ’sist- ance,’ Yes, sah, de general is done gone fo’ fact.” 3 An exclamation of dismay escaped the Beard- ed Brothers, and Captain A uttered a frightful string of curses. “Tm cussed ef I don’t believe you're lying, you infernal black skunk. Open the carriage door, bovs, an’see ef the ol’ chap ain’t in thar!” Several of the men sprung to obey his bidding,
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ee ee ee and as a result, both doors were flung wide open. “Gone, sure enough!” the captain growled, flashing the light of a bull’s-eye lantern within the vehicle. Cuss the luck, the nigger is right.” ‘Done tole you so,” Pompey declared, tri- umphantly. ‘ Guessdis nigger knows when he’s tellin’ de gospel trufe or not.” ‘What's ter be did?” one of the men demand- ed, whose arms ached from holding the snorting horses by the bits. ‘‘Shall we let him go on or not?” “Yes, cuss him, let loose the horses and leave him go on!” Captain A growled. ‘t We've got in our bid too Jate to-night.” The horses were accordingly released, and the carriage rolled away toward Deviltry. And then it was that a panel in the front part ef the interior of the cab was shot aside, and a tall white-whiskered man stepped forth from a secret compartment wherein Bs had been hiding with a satisfied smile upon his face. At the rush of the Regulators into the bank or cabn home of Sandy Sue, the brave girl brought the steel barrel down upon the heads of those who darted forward to secure her, but a score of hands seized her as in a grasp of iron. Resistance was out of the question, nil nothing was left fr her but to submit. ‘*Bind her securely and take her to the jail cabin,” Colonel Bill crdered, slapping her rough- ly beside the head. ‘Ef we don’t stretch her purty tbroat in the mornin’ I’m a liar!” The order was obeyed, and Sue taken to a strong cabin on the opposite side of the stream, where she was locked up in a cheerless room with gratings over the window and left alone. At the bank part of the crowd busied them- selves in caring for those who had been wounded by the prowess of the brave girl, while the others made a thorough search of the premises, with- de course, discovering anything of Nobby ick. Nor was he found elsewhere by the other searchers, and it had to be given up that he had made good his escape. About midnight Colonel Bill and five of his comrades left the town on horseback, declaring their intention to search the mountains, but they returned about daylight without their man. ; The settlement was thoroughly aroused again by sunrise, for it was understood that Sandy Sue was to have a hasty trial, and that in all probability she would be lynched for the crime of killing two of the citizens who had joined in the attack upon the cabin. A large crowd assembled upon a square near the river, where all public trials were usually held, and about two hours after sunrise, the maiden was placed upon the stand, along with a lawver and Colonel Bill Travers. This lawver was a ruffian as well as Travers, and things looked dark for the girl, for not a friendly expression was there upon the sea of faces that surrounded her, and she could not see even the rough visage of her guardian and pro- ctor, Porcupine Pete. _ Colonel Bill arose pompously. V Nobby Nick of Nevada, a ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I have the honor of opening this court,” he said. ‘*The case is one of murder, committed upon two of our most re- spectable citizens by a mere chit of a girl, here. We are assembled here to try her for the crime. No particular trial is required. She openly re- fused us admittance to her cabin, when in the name of the law we sought for a notorious crim- inal, and boldly killed two of our men when we took measures for obeying the mandates of the law. Now if there is any law to protect ber, let us hear it!” ° ‘“‘There is no law on the side of the prisoner in such a case,” Deviltry’s disciple of Blackstone declared, ‘‘and I make no hesitation in pro- nouncing her guilty of murder in the first de- gree, and sentencing her to such death as may suit the people. ‘I propose she be put up as a target, an’ be shot at by every one as wants to,” Travers said. * Allin favor of this motion make manifest by saying I!” < ‘There was a general shout of acclamation, on all hands. Such a thing would be a novelty. “Hold on. I protest!” a well-dressed stranger with long white beard said, stepping forward. “T want to purchase this prisoner |” CHAPTER VIII. WILD FLOWER NARRATES. To return to Nobby Nick, whom we left some- where beneath the earth, as be judged by the danksome smell and feeling of what little air circulated through the place, : A halt was made, and Wild Flower pushed him gently backward toa seat upon a square rock at one side of the passage. ? “Be seated,” she said, ae herself beside him, ‘‘and we will rest awhile, while I talk with you. I like-you very much.” f “T thank you for it,” Nick replied, ‘* without knowing why you should.” “Because Ido. You are the only white man 1 ever fancied, because you are strong, fearless, handsome, noble. Then, too, the mark upon your hand draws you nearer to me. Presently, I will explain all this which seems to be a mys- tery to you. But first, let me inquire what brings you here to the mines? You surely must have had an object in coming.” “Certainly. I am here fora purpose. But, how do I know tbat you are one whom I can safely intrust with my secret?” pS When the Indiau girl offers her hand it is in undying friendship and faith. Here—I offer you my hand, swearing that I am ever to be trusted by you.” ; Nick received the hand in his and pressed it warmly. It was soft, shapely and warm, and he felt a magnetic influence from its contact with his own. ‘Tam proud to earn you as a friend, Wild Flower,” he said, raising the hand to his lips and then releasing it, ‘Sand wiil tell you what brings me here. I am sent by the U. S. Mar- shal of this territory to spy out and find the rendezvous of a certain band of forgers who are known to be quartered somewhere in this sec- tion. I have followed the business of Govern- ment spy for some time, and came here sup-
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posing I should be able to pursue my calling without trouble.” ** You come on a good mission, and I am glad. These forgers do exist in this section, and [ can give you considerable information concerning them. They unioubtedly exist in a party of outlaws known as the Bearded Brothers, and whose ruling spirit is a woman, unknown by real name to them, who always keeps her face masked. She, I believe, is the author of the forgeries, and these Bearded Brothers pursue a double calling of disposing of the forgeries and attacking lone mountain wayfarers for the pur- pose of robbing them.” “Hal! this is good news to me. Where are they located? here is their retreat?” “That I do not care to tell. I stumbled upon it one night, and saw enough to convince me of what I have told you. They caught me, how- ever, and would have cut my throat had I not promised never to reveal the whereabouts of their den to any human being. They made the clause, and I agreed to it.” “Then, in order to get possession of the knowl- edge I have to commit matrimony, eh?” ‘It would seem so, if you hoped to get your news of me,” ‘‘ Well! well! I shall have to think this mat- ter over seriously. It may not be a bad plan anyhow, providing the party of the second part is willing. But now, tell me what is the secret of my branded hand, and why would your father be angry were he to see it?” Wild Flower was silent a few moments—then she went on to relate: “Years ago, sir, to begin with, my father Stern Face, a half-breed, and your father, John Falconer, became acquainted in Texas, and formed a partnership to come to this section of country and explore for gold. They came hither and explored and foand gold, sure enough. They built a cabin and lived together, mined together, hunted together, and were the best of friends, Finally, Stern Face signified his intention of building him a cabin and bringing his wife and child hither. And his decision proved identical with one Falconer had formed, and so both the ards journeye? hence and brought back their families Stern Face, his pale-face wife and little daughter, and John Falconer, a little son and daughter—their_ mother having died while en route from the East. “A year passed by. The two pards were grow- ing rich, and settlers began to string in, one by one, forming the bezinning of a little mining city, when one day Stern Face discovered some writings upon the stone that lay over an Indian mound, which disclosed to him the secret of an ancient subterranean Indian gold-mine, which secret had been written on the stone in signs and had remained unknown since the Indian’s death, My father unearthed the mine, explored it, and found it to be one of the richest this country ever had known, “Tn the spirit of his loyalty to John Falconer, he took him into the secret and as a partner in the new fortune, * It was then they took an oath that the seéret of the whereabouts of the mine should never go beyond their present family, and sealed that oat wth a taste of blood. They then branded Nobby Nick of Nevada. il lal a their left hands and those of their family with a die made by Stern Face, which marked out the topography of the surrounding country, and the secret entrance to the Indian mine. This was done as a sort of link binding the two fami- lies together. “Well, in the due course of time they had taken out really more wealth than they cared to have lying around loose, lest it arouse sus- picion; so, as the town began to increase, John Falconer built a bank and started a general banking business—more as an object te sécrete the gold of the Indian mine than anything else, until he and Stern Face should come to some decision how to invest their wealth; and while Falconer attended the bank and guarded the gold, Stern Face ecretly mined it. ‘One day John Falconer took a trip to an Eastern town, and when he returned rought back a wife—a mere girl of sixteen, with a pretty, babyish face and snaky, bead-like eyes. Stern Face did not like her, as he read treachery in her eyes, and so he warned John Falconer not to let her into the secret of the mine, and a prom- ise was given, “They did not agree together, Stern Face says—that is, John and his new wife, and his home knew not the peace it did before. John was often despondent and moody and strange, One night Stern Face returned to his cabin, to find his little girl crying bitterly, saying ‘mam- ma had gone.’ In surprise he went over to Fal- coner’s, and there found his little girl in the same condition, she, too, saying that her mam- ma had gone. Search revealed that John Fal- coner had left that afternoon for the East, ac- companied by his young son, and that his wife and Stern Face’s wife had not long after taken the same trail on horseback. Searching the bank, Stern Face found all gone—his own gold John Falconer’s gold and the gold that had been deposited by miners—gone! and who had taken it? “He could form but one conclusion. John Falconer had sloped with the gold, accompanied. by his wife and my mother, as accessories to the crime. It maddened the honest old chief be- yond comparison, He did not take the trail in pursuit, but registered an oath to have the life’s blood of every one whose left hand bore the branded key to the secret mine. He, however, excepted me, his own child, and the innocen little one John Falconer had left behind. Over her he appointed Old Porcupine, a scout, as guardian; then took me and our household into the Indian mine. Here he has since lived, watching and waiting for the time when some of the guilty ones should return to this vicin- it “‘Then my name is Falconer, and not Arling- ton, and I am the brother of the young lady they call Sandy Sue?’ Nick exclaimed, excit- edly. “You are, Did you suppose your name was Arlington?” ““Yes—or rather I was called Nobby Nick over at the fort in Nevada, where my first re- collections date back to, when I was aged ten years. From that time on, to the present, I shifted for myself around through territories, knowing little or nothing as to my antecedents,
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Nobby Nick of Nevada. 21 ee g less, That’s my history in a nut- ell, “You are Nick Falconer; I knew that the minute I saw your hand,” Wild Flower de- clared, * And so when we were little shavers we used toplay together? Well, well! stranger things have happened, to be sure. So you think your stern old father would be likely to feel scalpish- ly disposed toward me were he to find out my identity?” “Tn truth he would, His anger even I could not stay.” ‘“* Well, then, I’ve got to keep this left fist out of his reach.” “You have. But I think I can manage it. He thinks the world of you, as Nobby Nick his rescuer, and bade me secure you and make you a guest of the Indian mine, first sealing your lips with a terrible oath binding yourself to secrecy. This oath I have not demanded of you, because I trusted in you implicitly.” And you can bet your life that your trust shall not be misplaced!” Nick assured, warnily. The sin of the parent shall not follow the son!” “ Bravely spoken—words that fill Wild Flow- er’s heart: with gladness and love for you. Stern Face shall not harm you. Wild Flower will fix ae hand in a sling for the present, and Stern ace will see that it has been kurt, and ask no questions. Let Nick remain here a few min- utes, till I return with some bandages.” She then skipped lightly away, and was absent a few minutes, when she returned with some strips of cloth and bound up bis left hand in a ary g as if it had been wounded. “Thave just been wondering,” Nick remark- ed, when she had finished, ‘‘where you get all your education and refined manners, living as you always have in the wilds here, away from schools and society.” “Stern Face is a man of some culture. Though a half-breed, he received an excellent education, and then bis wife, my mother, was an American lady of intelligence and good breeding. My father has been my instructor, and to him I owe such knowledge as I have not learned from_experience and reading. Though the taint of Indian blood is in my veins, my heart is as white and my education nearly as perfect as that of my white sister.” “So I perceive. But tell me one thing:—do you know who is this Avenger who styles bim- self Grim Goblin, and for whom I have been mistaken in this mining town?” _ “TI often have suspicions, but sometimes be- lieve them wrong. I neither give them credence nor publicity. ho Grim Goblin is, is destined remain unknown. He is undoubtedly some person who has been oe wronged by the Tuffian element upon whom he ever preys. He never been known to attack any of our peaceably-disposed citizens of the mines. It has Ways been that class whom dissipation or evil natures had transformed into wretches of the Worst order, But come now, and we will go on the end of our journey.” She linked her‘arm in his, and led the way . oe the strange subterranean fame, eh, by its formation, Nick judged had one al Whi day been an underground water-course. She had removed the bandage from his eyes, yet the darkness was so intense that he could not see his hand before his face. ‘One entrance to this mine is then through the tavern?” he inquired, as sat went along. “Yes, One of the queer gables, supposed to be solid, is in reality hollow, and contains a room and spiral staircase, descending to this old water-course, which connects with Phosphorus Cave, which is the main chamber of the old Indian mine.” They soon emerged into what was evidently the very cave. It was a huge subterranean chamber, with high rocky walls and vaulted ceiling, with rugged, uneven bottom, and these rocky walls seemed to emit a peculiar bluish- white glow, which had the effect of lighting the eavern throughout. The center of the bottom sloped off into a narrow ravine, through which a little rivulet of water gurgled along, entering through a black tunnel-like fissure at one side of the cave, an disappearing through a similar one on the opposite side, There was fall enough in the stream so that an admirable system of sluice- boxes and cradles had been arranged in its course, making the washing of minerals an easy matter, On the opposite side of the ravine was a por- table engine and an ore mill or crusher, all in working order. On the side of the ravine where they had aused there was little but rock and sand. own in the ravine three Indian lodges had been built, not over half a dozen yards apart, and before one of these a fire of pine cones was. burning, and an Indian was engaged in roasting some meat. One thing puzzled Nobby Nick; how had the engine and crusher ever been conveyed to this secret avenue? He asked the question of Wild Flower, and she laughed gayly. *‘Oh! they had it here at Deviltry before the Indian mine was discovered, and after discovery made pretense of selling it, but in reality re- moved it hither, by another route. Come; Stern Face is yonder preparing supper.” She led the way down a rocky path into the ravine, and Nick followed, watching her grace- ful figure, admiringly. He was beginning to feel a keen interest in her, short though had been their acquaintance. Stern Face strode forward when he saw them approaching, and put out his hand, which Nick accepted. ‘Stern Face is glad to see pale-fece brave,” be said, motioning Nick to a seat on a camp-stool, ‘“* He is glad to see Nick come with Wild Flower. Nick brave man—Wild Flower good Injun girl. Nick and Wild Flower make good match—then Stern Face give ’em all his gold—big heap like mountain. Go East den— lih like nabobs. Stern Face like that—like to live in Washington an’ be big man like Presi- dent!” And Nick’s spoken thoughts were; ‘I would- n’t mind that, myself.” CHAPTER IX. THE MAN FROM DENVER. Apoour the same hour in the morning that the :
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CSL SpE E aT ee Nobby Nick trial of Susie Falconer was occurring in the town of Deviltry, Evil Eph had a visitor. The ruffian made his home in an old tumble- down cabin, down the gulch, where the pines rew dark and gloomy, and to this cabin he had ept closely since his rough usage at the hands of Nobby Nick. In his terrible fall that night he had sustained such injuries as a fractured shoul- der-blade, a broken rib, a badly bruised head, and a dislocated knee, and was now yet unable to more than crawl about his cabin and get what food and medicine he actually needed. He had partly risen, this morning, upon his elbow on the couch, and was puffing away at his pipe when there came a rude knock on the door that made it rattle. He started upright with an oath, but sunk quickly back with pain. The knock was immediately repeated with a peremptoriness that spoke of tho knocker’s im- patience, ‘Come in, cuss ye!” Saunders growled, reach- ing for his revolver, but, failing to find it in its accustomed place. The door opened, and a man entered, Or at least a person of rather small stature, with an immense beard that fell down over the breast, and which hid a view of all of the face except the nose and eyes and forehead. His belt fairly bristled with weapons, too. and, taken as a whole, he was not a person of prepossessing appearance. Evil Eph did not sem to recognize him, either, for he gave vent to a snort of rage at sight of him. ‘‘ Who ’re you an’ what the devil d’ye want?” he demand- ed. “Tam Grim Goblin, the Avenger, and I seek your money and your life,” was the stranger’s matter-of fact reply. Saunders uttered a gasp of alarm, “You lie!” he gritted. ‘‘ You are not the bloody Avenger.” “ He, and none other!” the man replied, seat- ing himself near the door, with a drawn revol- ver. ‘‘I rejoice in the honor of being that noted person who seldom appears in public, yet quite often makes his presence felt. ou being one of the alloted few in this town, who happen to be entered upon my Death Register, I thought [’d call around and settle up with you. Where is your gold concealed?” “All Ive got’s in my pocket, an’ thar ain’t but cussed little o’ that,” Evil Eph growled, “Oh! it won’t avail you to lie to me,” Grim Goblin assured. ‘'I know you have upward of ten thousand in greenbacks and gold, else I should not bave asked you.” The next instant, without any warning what- ever, he raised the revolver and fired upon the border ruffian. One bullet—that was enough. It had pierced the forehead of Evil Eph, and he sunk back upon the couch with only a gasp— dead. With a horrible laugh the Avenger restored the revolver to his belt; then he began a search of the cabin, overhauling such things and ran- sacking such places as were likely to contain hidden wealth. In one corner a huge stuffed wolf stood with distended jaws and glassy eyes, It had been of Nevada, Eph’s pride, this animal. Gazing at the brute a moment, a thought seemed to strike Grim Goblin, and he thrust his hand down the wolf’s throat. He then uttered a cry of joy, and throwing the stuffed animal upon the floor, slashed open its hide with his knife. Then through the aperture, he hauled out handful after handful of bank-notes and coin and dust, and transferred the same to his own pockets, yee ell was secured’ he hurried from the cabin. To return to the village and the scene therein, in which Sandy Sue was a prominent figure, A murmur of surprise escaped the crowd at the words of the stranger, whose fine garments, silk hat and jewelry seemed to indicate that he was well able to buy several prisoners. A black scowl came upon the face of Colonel Bill Travers, for be scented in the new-comer a powerful adversary. ‘“ Who are you?” be growled, gruffly. ‘‘ Evi- dently some snob or ye’d know we don’t turn trials into auctions up in this hyar country.” “My name is General Joseph Arlingion at your service, a noted Denver finaucier!” was the reply, whereat there was more than one in the crowd who started. ‘I just arrived, and finding the young lady yonder in trouble, I pro- pose to extricate her by pu ropasine her liberty, and making her a present of it. hat price do you set upon her head?” ‘A cussed sight more’n you kin pay, Pil al- low,” Travers replied, with a sneer. ‘The price upon her head is the lives of two men whom she shot last night, when we was tryin’ ter git inter her cabin to search it.” ‘“Humph!” the Easterner said, shifting a pair of gold-rimmed glasses to his nose, and taking out a note-book and pencil. ‘‘I s’pose these ont, like you, were worth their weight in gold. ‘On course they were!” Colonel Bill replied, gruffly. ‘‘They was bully fellows, an’ we don’t purpose to let ary female or hemale mor- tal stan’ up an’ decrease ther population of this hyar town, like Sandy Sue has been doin’.” ‘““What was the aggregate weight of these two ruffians?” the general demanded, poising his pencil. “Cuss you, what’s it your business?” Travers roared, getting mad. ‘‘S’pose they weighed *bout three fifty, but I don’t reckon you'd better stick in yer blab around here if you don’t want to git knifed.” “T shall take care of myself, never your fear,” the general replied, calmly, and at the same time figured with his pencil. ‘The SeaToRats weight of these men you say Was three hundred and fifty pounds, i a, _s Let me see: gold is sixteen dollars a Troy ounce, or one hundred and ninety-two dollars a Troy pound. These men’s lives, counting them worth their weight in gold would be in the region of thirty-six thousan dollars each, or seventy odd thousand, all told. — I have a fifty thousand dollar draft in my pocket onan Eastern bank, which I will give for the young lady’s release.” y “Oh! no! no! sir, do not do this, I beg of — sae you!” she cried, imploringly, “Keep your
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— ae ‘eee | ween 1 oa ore a > gitetin Wa ras cael we” Sh eee eee ee — - 25> “ew. ee ee ee ee Pee ee Se ee oe ea ent Em | Nobby Nick of Nevada. 23 Money and let them do their worst. worth so much money.” “No, ner ye wouldn’t esca was ter offer a hundred thousand for you!” Colonel Bill growled. ‘‘ Ye may as well shet up, old white whiskers, fer yer stamps is out of ince in this crowd,” “Not so!” General Arlington replied, “It appears evident that you have run the town heretofore, my friend, but I'll allow your days are over. Y1 divide ten thousand dollars among the first fifty able-bodied men who will step forward and back me, and help me clean out this domineering, ruffianly, one side element, and release the girl, who it appears was but act- ing on the natural principles of self-defense. These men are to also back me in making this an orderly and respectable town—not a den for eut-throats and robbers.” _ The fifty men asked for were forthcoming in a twinkling—honest, well-thinking fellows who longed to see the town ruled by a better ebb than Colonel Bill Travers. Immediately the women and children, and another parcel of miners crossed over, and but a few roughs were left on the side of Travers. “There, you see that your power is only in your insolence, don’t you?” the general said, mockingly. Where money goes, it must always wins the day. Boys, draw your weapons and fire upon the rufflans, if they offer molestation, while I assist the young lady to the ground. He then strode forward to the stand where Susie and Travers were, and assisted her to the ground. “Cuss ye, I'll have your heart out for this!” Colonel Bill roared. ‘‘ You'll have a chance to pay me a debt of gratitude soon—ye’ll hev ter fight or flunk.” “Though I am not a fighting character, I dare to presume I could master you,” the general re- turned, with a s'iff bow. ‘‘Come, my dear ehild, and I wlll conduct you to the hotel.” “Oh! no! no! I do not want to go there,” Sue cried. ‘I will go back to my own cabin.” “ Very well,” the old man said, kindly. ‘TI will have a watch kept to see that you are not further molested by those ruffians.” They crossed the bridge and paused before the battered door of the bank. General Arlington started as he saw the sign above the door, but Sue did not notice the fact. “So, this is your home, eh?’ he said. ‘‘ Well! well! they have been giving the place a pretty rough usage, I declare. When John Falconer used to keep here, that door was mighty strong.” “Did you ever know him?” Sue demanded, turning her great lustrous eyes upon him. “ Ay, quite well, It’s been many years, how- ever, since I looked upon his face.” “How long?—where was he when you saw I am not death, gal, ef he -him last? Pray excuse my eagerness, but he was my father.” “Indeed! Well, I lastsaw Falconer at Omaha, a matter of fourteen years ago. He was bound for the East, to settle up the matter of a herit- age which had come to him.” 5 ““Were there two ladies with him?” “No. He was alone. He was very much troubled by a report that had reached him, from here, to the effect that he had carried off the bank proceeds. I am ready to swear in his Lead a he was guiltless of any such mis- ong, ‘Thank God for that!” Susie said, fervently. “Though every one in Deviltry except me be- lieved him guilty, I never could, but laid the deed to my step-mother, and the wife of Stern Face, who disappeared the same day.” “Undoubtedly they were the culprits,” the general declared, ‘Then you think it would not be advisable for John Falconer ever to come back here?” : “No, I hope he may never come—not but what I should dearly love to see him, but be- cause his life would not be safe were his identity known. The miners are very bitter against him, and have never really trusted me. Then there is an old Indian called Stern Face, who has sworn to kill him if he ever returned to this country. Thus you see his life would be in double peril.” “So it appears. Well, he will probably never return, as the heritage in the East netted him a ~ matter of about a million dollars, which sum he has more than doubled in successful specula- tions. Good-day to you, child, If you need as- sistance, send for me. When you get your bank in running order again, I wish tomake a deposit in it.” Then, tipping his hat, the old gent turned away and sauntered back toward the hotel. “What a nice old man,” Sve commented watching him from the doorway. ‘He is just nice, and I owe him an everlasting debt of grati- tude for saving me from so horrible a fate. Oh! I wonder if the money is all right yet?” : She hurriedly turned and entered the cabin and approached the safe which stood in a niche behind the counter. A brief examination proved to her that, al- though it had been tampered with, it had not been opened. non This was ove relief, at least, and her spirits rose accordingly. Securing the services of a carpenter, she soon had the demolished door of the cabin replaced with a more substantial new one, and things put in order generally. General Arlington returned about noon, with a package in hand, which he placed upon the counter. “There is a hundred thousand dollars in that package, in thousand-dollar notes,” he said. ‘I will leave it in your care for a few days. I may give out checks on some of it, so I will order you to pay such orders as bear my signature.” Seizing a pen and piece of paper, he wrote out his name in a full, graceful hand, enhanced by well-arranged flourishes. ~ “There, Every check bearing an exact sem- blance of that signature is mine,” he added, ‘‘I do not believe there is a penman in America who can counterfeit it without a deal of prac- tice.” He then took his departure and returned to Bije Green’s tavern. Some of the men who had taken sides with him were there, and also a crowd of Colonel Bill’s confederates, Bill himself being the center of the group, and the cause of considerable noise and blasphemy. “Yas, I'm goin’ to make mince-meat out of
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Nobby Nick of Nevada. that ’ar old white-whiskered galoot, an’ don’t hb ferget it!” he cried, flourishing a long-necked ottle over his head and occasionally taking a drink of its contents, ‘ ve got about six inches uy old red-eyedown my throat, an’ by ther time I git six more I kin lick ary man from Joner down to Methusler’s time.” “You better leave the Easterner alone, colo- nel,” Wolverine Mike said. ‘* You know ye got orfully fooled on the Nevada chap, an’ this white-whiskers may be ono of the same style.” “ Bah! PU risk it,” the ruffian replied, glaring at the general, who was now eating his supper at the lunch counter. “TI ain’t afeard o’ ary Eastern snoozer, no matter ef he does sling on more style than a country peacock, I’m not a-goin’ ter let et be said thet enny pilgrim ever eum hyar to Deviltry an’ clipped off the spurs of Colonel Bill Travers. Ner I ain’t a-coin’ ter play mop for ary floor ag’in; I’m goin’ ter make the Easterner fight or flunk!” ** Pll bet a cent he don’t flunk at all,” a miner rotested. ‘‘He don’t look like that style of a airpin.” “Oho! Ye think he’s game ’causo he’s got money and style, do ye?” the ruffian snarled. ‘No, I don’t; but Pil allow still waters giner- ally run deep,” the miner retorted. ** Yes, an’ so does whisky!” the colonel snort- ed, taking another lonz swig from the bottle, “Whisky is what sets a pilgrim on his taps, every day in a week, ow then, ye chicken- hearted duffers, I’m a-goin’ ter sail in an’ show e I'm high-cockolorum uv this pious burg yet, am! I’m jest goin’ ter challenge that hizh- toned cuss ter fight a duel, ef he dare.” ‘Well, I dare, you bet!” the general said, ad- vancing from the counter with a buge piece of custard pie in his hands, lenge you, first, to meet me in a duel to the death, and I make this a seal tio the challenge!” As he spoke he stepped quickly up to the bul- iy, and slapped the piece of soft pie full in his ace. A howl of laughter escaped the crowd, while Travers spat, sputtered, swore and dug the stuff from his eyes, in a terrible rage. “Come!” the /general cried, promptly. “‘There’s no time for a waste of words, If you want my life, name your tools and the condi- tions, and we'll get to work. I never like to put a duel off, but like to see one or the other get killed.” CHAPTER X. A STRANGE DUEL, “THEN, cuss ye, you shall git all you want,” Travers cried. ‘‘I’ll chooso rifles as the weap- ons, an’ show yer ther position outside.” Ho accordingly led the way into the street, and was followed by the crowd, including the old general, who seemed possessed of ali the vigor of a man twenty years younger, “Thora! You see the twin cliffs?” Travers said; ‘‘they are the relative positions.” The cliffs, or crags, in question were down where the gulch was narrower, one being on either side, and rising with a perpendicular face to the hight of a hundred feet or more, while “T accordingly chal- f the tate separating them was not over forty ards, Once upon a time in the history of Deviltry, two miners had stood upon the top of there cliffs and fought a duel with rifles, and since then they had been regarded with superstition by a majority of the citizens, Hence there was an exclamation of surprise at the words of Col- onel Bill. “Oh, I mean it,” he said, with a vicious look, “T purpose this: We cach take a position ona cliff, with our backs to each other, level our rifles across our right shoulder, sight by aid of a piece of looking-glass, and then blaze away until one or the other dies in his boots, Ha, ha, ha! How d’ye like the flavor of that, you old crow-bait!” ‘““ Tf you address that query to me, I respond, bully!” the general answered. ‘It is an excel- lent plan. Only neither is to fire until one man here below gives the signal by firing a pis- tol. An equal number of men on either side 1s to sea fair play. If either of us try to use foul play, we are to be shot down like dogs.” A. cheer followed this speech. It was evident that the general was gainin; friends in the town, by his bluff and independent ways. ce. Ye’r’ cussed purticler?” Colonel Bill declared, -“ But ef you're satisfied, I am. Git yer shootin’- iron and piece o’ lookin’-glass, an’ git up on one cliff or the other, where I can blaze away at 6,” “Yes, hurry up with yer shoot, fer you're keepin’ the boys away from their toddy!” Mrs, Bijah Green cried, with an eye to business, “ Ef you want any one to give the signal, ’'m the one fer the biz, every day in a week!” General Arlington soon succeeded in borrow- ing a handsome Winchester rifle from one of the miners, and also a piece of mirror, after which he clambered up the mountain-side to the right-hand cliff, Travers having set out for the left one. In five minutes both men had assumed their relative positions upon the cliff, with backs to- ward each other, rifles over right shoulders, and gaze fixed upon the mirror by whose reflection they were to obtain their aim; then they awaited the signal to fire. Below in the gulch the men, women and chil- dren of the mining-camp waited in suspense. ‘* God save the old gentleman,” Susie Falconer murmured, as she nervously watched from the door of the bank. “The old cuss is doomed!” was the general tone of the comments among thecrowd. * Colo- nel Bill understands his biz, you bet, an’ the old ’un is goin’ to git scooped!” To the. two antagonists awaiting the signal, this was of course all side-talk, to which they were not listeners. The colonel was nervous and inclined to blas- phemy, as he grew angry with impatience, The general, by far the cooler of the two, did not appear the least alarmed as to his personal afety. 4 “*Cum, old woman, ef ye’re a-goin’ to shoot, go ahead,” some of the miners exclaimed, impa- tiently. ‘‘ We want to see the fun.” Bang went the old horse-pistol in the hands of
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oo Mrs. Bijah, the next minute, causing a report Joud enough for a small-sized cannon. Bang! Bang! This time it was from the twin cliffs that two reports echoed, and little wreaths of smoke curled up toward the sunlit sky, Neither man stirred, and the inference was that neither was burt. “Once, an’ nary a thing done!” Mrs, Bijah announced. ‘‘ Here she goes ag’in!” The pistol went off a second time, and bang! bang! again from the cliffs. This time there was a manifest result. Colonel Bill uttered a frightful yell, threw up his arms and fell over the edge of the cliff. A shuider passed through the crowd of spec- tators. He would be killed, aie thought. But, luckily for him, the gulch stream ran at the base of the cliff, and he struck in the water. Ready hands soon pulled him out, and found that he yet lived. He had only received a flesh- wound, The wound to his bullying pride was evident- ly the greatest, for soon afterward he mounted his mustang and rode away down the gulch, The following morning saw crowds of people athered around two posters which had, during the night, been tacked up against one side of Bijah Green’s tavern. am Peterson, a Chinese laundryman, had first discovered them, and called the attention of the crowd to them, after which they were read and re-read by every one in the mining- mp. One of them was printed in crimson letters with a marking-brush and bore the insignia of the Grim Goblin—a skull and cross-bones. The following message was conveyed by means of the poster: “ Norice.—It having come to my hearing that you, the people of Deviltry. have accused a man calling himself Nobby Nick of being Grim Goblin, the Aven- ger, I wish to émphatically deny the charge. I will allow no mortal to bear my noble name and noto- or If you want further evidence of my work, go to the cabin of Evil Eph, But never again accuse Nobby Nick of being Grim Goblin. Until I get in an- other vote on you lam ss accented “Grim Gosiin.” And this explanation should have convinced the most stubborn that they had wronged Nob- by Nick, but it was evidence which those stub- born ones would not admit, — The other poster was printed with a brush, but in black ink, and read as follows: “Noricr.—It having come to my notice that I was suspected of having stolen and absconded with the money in my bank, fourteen years ago. I hereby deny the charge, and lav the crime upon my wife, who left shortly after my departure. Having pros- ered in the East, and not wishing any one to suffer rough the misdoings of my family, I shall to-night ride down the gulch into the town, and bring 9 pack- age of money. If I am not molested. I will give this money over to mv daughter, who has a record of what money was missing vears ago, and who it belonged to. She will pay off such rightful claim- ants as are living. or as have heirs living, with prin- pal and interest. If I am molested I will turn and ride away, and you will see no more of me. P+ rm Nobby Nick of Nevada. member, I am but asp‘rit, having died four years ago. You may try to capture me, but your grasp will rest upon—nothing. Joun FauconzR.” We will return to the old Indian mine. While Nobby Nick became seated, Wild Flower bustled around and assisted Stern Face in pre- paring the evening meal, her every movement watched by the admiring eyes of the young Nevadian, She brought a little rude table and placed it before Nick, and then served him with some rare bits of antelope steak, with accompanying dishes of corn-bread and coffee, which tasted very relishable to him. ““Why don’t ,you sit by and eat in company with me?’ Nick asked, seeing that Wild Flower remained standing near his elbow, and Stern Face squatted on a log on the opposite side of the fire, and puffed away at his pipe. “Wild Flower rather wait upon the pale-face brave,” the girl replied, with shming eyes. ‘She likes to serve him very much.” “ Well, Ican at least remark that I have no pal ta objections to that,” Nick replied, with a smile. He finished his supper, finally, and signified his willingness to turn in, for he was in truth fatigued. “White brave sleep in three wigwam,” Stern Face grunted, designating the third one from the camp-fire. ‘‘ Skins there, and tobacco.” Nick accordingly sought the wigwam, and found it carpeted with bear-skins, ann furnished with a bear-skin couch, and a rude stand con- taining a lantern and box of tobacco. Not car- ing to smoke, Nick threw himself upon the couch and was soon asleep, feeling a sense of security in this subterranean abode that he would scarcely have acknowledged in the town just above it, in the outer world. After his retirement, it was not long ere Wild Flower arose from the camp-fire to seek her own wigwam. “The face of Wild Flower is bright,” Stern Face said, in the Sioux tongue. ‘‘ Her thoughts must be of a pleasant nature.” , ‘“* Wild Flower is happier than ever before in her life,” the maiden admitted, gazing down- ward, with a flush upon her cheek. ** Because she loves the pale-face brave,” Stern Face suggested. ‘‘The eyes of the old chief are sharp, and they can read. It is well. Let the Wild Flower seck her couch and dream. Her choice is wise—unless—” He added the “‘ unless” just after she had van- ished within the wigwam, and there came to his cold gray eyes a glitter that was terrible in its uninterpreted meaning. For hours he sat before the blazing camp-fire, with a gloomy expression of countenance, and smoked pipeful after pipeful of tobacco, until a great mantle of smoke hovered cloud-like above him, Then like a noiseless shadow he rose to his feet and craned his neck forward as though he were listening. Several minutes he stood thus, never a musclo moving. Then he circled cautiously around the camp- ay
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Nobby Nick of Nevada. fire, and erept in a half-crouching position toward thewigwams, Instead of pausing at his own, he glided by it, and also past the one oc- cupied by Wild Flower. n front uf the third wigwam he paused! Like a grim statue he stood erect, his every sense on the alert. From within the wigwam came heavy breath- ing, which bespoke the fact that Nobby Nick slept. This sound did not seem to satisfy the old chief, entirely, for, stepping to the opening, he softly parted the skins and peered within. Nick was lying outstretched upon the couch, with eyes closed. There could be no doubt that he was slumbering. For several minutes the old chief stood as if in hesitation—then parting the curtains still fur- ther, he ene within thewigwam. Withcat- like tread he then approached the sleeper, his eyes fixed searchingly upon the young Nevadi- an’s features, When he had reached the bed or couch side, he knelt upon his knees, and studied the face of the sleeper intently. “The face is that of John Falconer, fifteen summers ago,” he mused, with darkening brow. “The mouth, the forehead, the expression are nearly thesame, Ugh! the hand is bandaged. It may only be to conceal the brand that tells who Nick is.” The gleam deepened in the eyes of tho old chief, which indicated that his passion was ris- ing. ® stern Face no fool!” he continued to him- self. ‘‘ He see straight like hawk; he must look at the bandaged hand.” He arose softly and glided from the wigwam, but returned in a few moments with a tiny vial of liquid, which he uncorked and held under Nobby Nick’s nose several seconds, allowing him to inhale the strong fumes arising therefrom. ‘He sleep sound now,” the chief muttered, * Devil no wake him for an hour. Stern Face see that hand now.” A cautious red-skin was the Sioux miner— that was plain in all his actions, Before leaping he always looked. Arising from the Nevadian’s side he left the wigwam and carefully approached that of Wild Flower. Parting the skins, he peered within and saw her lying upon her couch of skins, appa- rently asleep. With a grunt of approval he returned to the other wigwam, and drawing a keen-edged hunt- ing-knife from his beit, bogan to cut away ths bandages thut covered Nobby Nick’s scarred hand, using great caution not to prick the flesh. It was but the work of a few seconds ere the hand was bare. A growl of rage escaped the chief. _ His suspicions had not been without verifica- tion, for there was the peculiar brand upon the palm of the Nevadian’s hand. ‘* Nobby Nick is Falconer’s son!” the old chief said, rising to his fest and folding his arms across his breast. ‘‘ Hs come here with gloved hand to steal Stern Face’s gold, like his father. He snake in ths grass. Stern Face will remem- ber his oath. He kill him!” He stepped nearer to the couch and raised the knife, ready to strike the deadly blew, whi-’ would score his first link of vengeance against John Falconer. But the blow remained unstruck. There was a quick, wild cry, and Stern Face found his arm in a vise-like grasp. “Stop! What would Stern Face do?” the voice of Wild Flower exclaimed, sharply. ‘““What would Stern Face kill the pale-face brave for?” ‘““Wagh! He snake in the grass!” Stern Face replied. ‘‘See scar-brand on his hand. He John Falconer’s son. He come here to steal gold of Sioux same like his treacherous father. Stern Face kill him,” “No! nol lover.” “ Stern Face care not. He snake. He come with covered hand, fearing the vengeance of Stern Face. Stern Face no fool—he smell rat. He know him. He prove him—now he kill him.” “*No, no, I say!” Wild Flower cried, stamp- ing her foot impetuously. ‘Stern Face is wild. He is not wise. Nick did not come here for mischief. He knew not the secret of the scarred hand, or anything of his own or his parents’ history, until told by Wild Flower, He came to this country to break up the forgers, He did not bind his hand—Wild Flower bound it, fearing to have Stern Face see it lest he get Pale-face brave is Wild Flower’s a5 “Wild Flower lic!” the chief cried, angrily. * She snake, like Nick!” He wrested his arm from her grasp and struck her across the face. With a faint cry, she fell back insensible upon the bear-skins. Then, again grasping his gleaming knife, the revengeful chief turned toward the helpless Nevadian, CHAPTER XI, A ROUGH RECEPTION. Tue date of John Falconer’s coming drew nigh at hand. People swarmed in the streets of Deviltry in expectancy—men, women and children. The poster had literally set the town wild, and yet, it would have taken a sharp guesser to tell what the reception of the long- absent miner would be. Little or nothing was said to indicate whether they were in favor of reclaiming John Falconer as a free and loyal citizen or driving him forth again an outcast. Sandy Sue was behind the counter in her little bank, engaged in figuring up some deposits for the day, and entering them upon the ledger, when a burly, mud-svattered pilgrim, in slouch hat, red shirt, overalls and stogy boots, came striding into the bank—a seedy-looking indi- vidual, with heavy reddish beard and hair, and eyes that were deep and black, “ Hello!” he saluted, taking a huge chew of tobacco from a pouch and thrusting it into his mouth, even as he spoke. ‘Is ther boss of this ranch in?” ‘Yes, I’m the boss,” Sue responded, not too nlersantly, for she ‘ sized” the chap up as a »rofessional rough. .
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“Oh, ye aire, aire ye? Waal, neow, I'll be eussed ef ye ain’t ruther a good-lookin’ boss, too. But, I say, neow, hev ye seen a feller round this town, a-callin’ hisself General Arling- ton—a gallus sort o’ galoot with stove-pipe hat and white whiskers?’ ‘General Arlington was in town this morn- ing,” Sue replied. ‘‘ You will find him at Bije Green’s tavern, undoubtedly.” “Oh! Lain’t purticular "bout seein’ him,” the man replied, ‘It’s his cash I’m arter, you bet! My handle is Jim Tucker, by gum, an’ I’m jist down from Painter Flats. The Genril he guy me a leetle paper hyar, and sed as how when I presented it heer, I’d git my cash fer ther Poker mine w’ot he bought of me.” And Tucker pro- ceeded to fish out a soiled slip of paper from his pockets, and an ts it down upon the counter with a business-like emphasis. Sue took the order and examined it closely— then went to a desk and compared it with the chirography of General Arlington. When she again approached the counter it was with a shake of her pretty head. ** You will have to furnish re iable identifica- tion before I can pay that order,” she said. ‘‘So many forgeries have been presented lately, that I require all persons not personally known to me, to be identified.” “The devil you say!” the miner grunted. ‘‘So ye don’t know me, eh, an’ won’t pay that order for five thousand dollars, till P’m indenterfied afore ye? Well, [’m blasted. Spect how you'll bein’ callin’ the order bogus, directly.” **T have my doubts as to its validity,” Sue re- lied. ‘‘Sit down a moment—my tea-kettle is iling over,” she added, darting into the kitchen. She did not lie in this respect, for the kettle was doing that very thing. But another mission also was a cause of part of her hurry, Quickly leaning out of the kitchen window, she beckoned toa small boy who was playing near, and when he came up she said: “Go to the tavern, find General Arlington, and tell him to come quickly, and I will give you a dollar, The boy nodded and sprung away; then she returned to the banking-room, and stood behind the counter. “Seems to me you’re a mighty long time a- fixin’ yer tea kittle,” Tucker growled, *'That’s none of your business,” Sue retorted, * Tet’s see that note again.” He produced it with a grow], and she occu- pied several minutes in scrutinizing it. “Come, dang you, ef ye'r’ going ter pay it, fork over the cash. Ef ye ain’t say so.” _ Well, Pll admit that I am not,” Sue declar- ed, as the form of General Arlington loomed up in the doorway. ‘General, please close and bar the door. Jim Tucker, you are my prisoner.” And, even as she spoke. a cocked revolver gleamed in the brave girl’s hand, leveled full upon the miner. Tucker leaned back with a horrible oath and his hands flew toward his belt, but he drew no weapons, the ee Agi in the hands of Sandy Sue warned him what the consequences would ra j Nobby Nick of Nevada. ‘“What tho devil does this mean?’ he de- manded, savagely. “Tt means that you are my prisoner until General Arlington says he gave you this order for five thousand dollars,” Sue replied, coolly. “Tt is a base forgery,” the general said, em- phatically. ‘‘I have given no der, whatever. Let’s see the order.” He received it and examined it with a strange smile, ‘*Tt is a clever imitation of my chirography,” he said; ‘‘ nevertheless, it is a counterfeit. But one person within my knowledge could imitate that hand. This fellow is undoubtedly connect- ed with the same gang of forgers which exists in this vicinity, and Ill venture to bind him if you kee» him covered, Miss Falconer. If ho offers resistance, shoot him!” And the general proceeded to bind the mi- ner’s hands with a strap he found hanging upon the wall. Tucker did not resist, physically—he dared not, for Sandy Sue’s hand held the weapon ley- eled with unflinching firmness, and he knew by the snap of her eyes that she would as soon shoot as not, if provoked. Accordingly he suffered the general to bind him, contenting himself with resorting to the utterance of all the curses he could think of. “There you are,” Arlington announced, as he secured his arms behind his back. “We'll see if you can be made to disclose some knowledge about this nest of forgers; now, Miss Falconer, if you will hold your aim upen this man, I'll soon bring a man to take charge of him. The U. 8. Marshal of this section has camped up the south gulch, I understand, with a posse of men, and will be only too glad to take possession of this gentleman.” Sue nodded, and the general departed. “You're a cussed sharp ’un, my gal,” Tucker snarled, fiercely, ‘‘ but, you mark me, you'll git your throat cut for this job. If I don’t have pleasure 0’ doin’ the job, thar’s them as will.” “Tm not at-all alarmed,” Sue replied. ‘* Your capture is but the signal for the whole gang’s defeat.” “Bah! you will find out better.” ‘“We shall see. If I am not mistaken I know who you are, under that evident disguise of red whiskers,” “Who?” the ruffian deraanded, savagely. A: You'll find ye ain’t so smart as ye think ye are. “You are Blue Bill Groton—that’s patent,” Sue declared, and as she spoke, she reached quickly over the counter, and caught his lon tangled beard, The next moment she ha jerked it off. “There! you see!” she said, ‘I was right.” ‘Devils take you!” the disguised decoy cried. ‘Tf T had the drop on you, I’d make you wilt.” “But you haven't, you see,’ Sue retorted, laughing at his chagrin, “I’ve got you ina tight place, for sure.” The general soon returned, accompanied by the U. 8. Marshal, who at once swore in the es and Sue, and then took Tucker away te is camp. A portion of the crowd followed the unfortu- erson any or- *
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Nobby Nick of Nevada. nate ‘*shover” of the Bearded Brothers, to the marshal’s headquarters, but, they were the re- cipients of no particular satisfaction, for Blue Bill was put in a marquee, and a strong guard posted around his prison. The marshal was reticent as to what disposal he proposed to make of his prisoner, Before Bije Green’s tavern the crowd grew steadily more dense and black. The sun went down, so that even the top- most peaks reflected none of its radiating beams, and in the valley below the dusk, of evening crept on apace. Facing the northern opening of the gulch the crowd stood with silent bearing; weapons be- an to appear in more than one band, and they d their own significance. No friendly aspect, at least for the man they were all waiting for, and that man was John Falconer. He haisaid he would come at dusk, and the hour was at band for his arrival. Colonel Bill Travers was at the front of the crowd, pacing to and fro with the impatience of an animalat bay. Nota word he uttered, but the baleful glitter in his eyes spoke the same meaning as toe grim silence among the crowd. Ha! a faint murmur passes among thejwait- ers—a general stir is visible. Aman has just hove in sight up the gloom gulch, on horseback—a man clad in citizen’s garb, except a steel cap with visor, which sur- mounts his head. Hoe comes riding nearer at a canter, seeming to have no fear, and carries in front of him upon the saddle pommel a package several inches in dimension. Nearer—nearer he approaches, until opposite the Falconer cabin, across the stream—then draws rein. Susie is standing in the doorway, and starts to rush forth in greetinz, but he waves ber back, peremptorily. He sees a movement anong ths crowd that arouses his suspicion of foul pla y: itis the aiming of two-sco-e or more of rifles and revolvers at his person, A laugh of defiance escapes him, and he throws bis arms and hands behind him, “Surrenjer!” Colonel Bill yells, at the top of his voice, at the same time advancing toward tho bridge, followed by the citizens, with wea- pons leveled. ‘‘ You are our prisoner.” ‘You are mistaken!” a cloar, deep voice re- plied. ‘‘I came here expecting no molestation. Am I to understand you propose to take and treat me as a prisoner?” “You can bet we’re a-going to take ye, and make ye hump fer what ye did fourteen years a7,” Travers shouted. ‘ Ef ye bulge a hair’s- breadth we'll riddle ye fer certain.” “Then riddle away!” Falconer cried. ‘I’ve offered to do more than a fair thing by you, and now that you spurn that offer, you must. lose your gam», Ta! ta!” Hoe wheeled his horse like a flash, and ‘dashed away up the gul*h, “Fire!” howled the colonel; “shoot the thief through the back!” And a deafening explosion of powder answer- ed the command, “Hal hal your bullets are but little hail stones!” Falconer shouted back. ‘ You had best save your ammunition, while I will save aie era you have scorned to receive. Hal al “*Stop! stop!” Traversshouted, infuriated at the apparent defeat, for no part of the bullets fired at the ex-miner had seemed to take effect, “Shoot him, I tell you, somebody.” Another volley was accordingly fired, but . without effect, for Falconer dashed on, waving his hand back, occasionally, in defiance. Once more the enraged citizens fired, and this time scored a hit. The horse that Falconer rode uttered an almost human scream, and fell for- ward to the ground heavily. Falconer had landed upon his feet first, how- ever, and darted on at a greater speed than when on horseback, soon disappearing from view up the gulch, A figure stood upon one of the Twin Cliffs viewing the scene below. The person was garb- ed as a man, but the face and form were unmis- takably feminine. And upon the face there was a strange, exultant expression, as she saw Fal- coner escape. “Good! He is_now left for me,” she said, turning away. ‘‘ What Travers has lost, I have won!” The defeated citizens of Deviltry, generally, adjourned to Bije Green’s tavern for refresh- ments after watching their contemplated victim escape. All except Colonel Bill. He lounged around until he thought he was not observed and then crossed the bridge and hurried up the gulch to where Falconer’s horse had fallen. The neighborhood was deserted. The poor animal was quite dead, having been riddled by a dozen bullets. Travers uttered an exclamation of delight as he noted that the package was still strapped to the pommel of the saddle. ‘*Mine!” he said, as he cut it loose and hefted it. ‘* This is what Falconer offered to give to the ones he robbed. But for my influence, the cussed fools would have been foolish enough to have accepted it. Ha! ba! it’s mine now.” He did not pause to open it, but hurried on up the gulch. Once or twice he halted, nervously, fancying he heard footsteps, but could see no signs of human presence through the gloom that surrounded him. In the course of half an hour he came to a halt in the depths of a heavy Boon forest that enveloped the gulch bottom, and listened again. Not a sound could he hear denoting human pre- sence in that vicinity. ‘“*Tt will be as good a place as any to examine my prize,” he muttered. “Hal ha! you’ve struck a bonanza, Bill Tray- ers, and you'll be a fool if you ever whack up with your brethren.” He scraped together some Jeaves and dry twigs, and soon had a bright fire blazing be- . neath the forest cover, : Then, seating himself upon a fallen log, he proceeded to untie the package. “Thar must be a fat stake in here,” he chuck- fad - iJ ca A) a ee ee
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led, ‘‘and if thar is, East I go ter set up asa - first-class nabob.” ‘Your ill-gotten gains will avail you not, _ Bill Travers, for you are another of Grim Gob- lin’s marked men!” a sharp, deep voice cried, and the following instant there was the vivid flash and ringing report of a rifle. Travers gasped, and attempted to gain his feet, but fell forward upon his face, and expired after a few short struggles. ‘ The moment after, Grim Goblin stepped forth | into the firelight. Scarcely noticing the body of Travers, he picked up the packet and tore it open, Instead of money, he found it stuffed full of bits of valueless paper. Falconer had been too sharp for the sharpers; instead of putting his money in the package, he had put it in his pocket, and used the package as a blind. Grim Goblin seemed to comprehend this fact, for, dropping the package with a curse, he hur- ried away into the woodland. About three hours later General Arlington sat _ in an easy-chair in his room at the tavern, with his head resting upon his hand, buried m deep meditation, when there came a light rap upon the door. _ ‘Come in,” he said, rousing up, and suppos- ing it was the landlady who knocked, for he had ordered a cup of coffee to be fetched to his room. The door See and instead of the landlady, there entered no less a person than the same female who had visited Nobby Nick—Moll Mc- Gregor! At sight of her, General Arlington staggered to his feet in astonishment. “ You /” he managed to gasp, though it cost him aneffort. ‘ You?” “Exactly. I!’ the woman replied, coming forward. ‘‘ Aro you surprised that I should _ still be on the hunt for you?” aS “On the hunt for me?” to . ‘On the hunt for you, precisely! You basely | deserted me, and is it anything surprising that od should wish to find you and clasp you once to more tomy bosom?” ce he |‘! Fool!” the general cried, rising—“ idiot! Whom do you take me for?” _ Moll McGregor laughed. “Well, when I saw you skinning out of the “a Sulch to-night, about the best you knew how, I no Yery naturally concluded that you were none at than John Falconer, Ha! ha!” a = vat CHAPTER XII. ae f CONCLUSION. ‘You lie!” the general cried. “1 am General ine ington.” “No, I do not lie,” the woman replied. ‘T av- yw you—knew you were coming ere you ame, I am your wife that was, fourteen years uP | go. You ran away and deserted me. I also dry oe out with what money I could lay my be- on, Stern Face’s squaw suspected me, /nd I lured her into the mountains and shot x, Since then, I have been drifting about, anting for you. [long for a different sort of Nobby Nick of Nevada. 29 life than I have been leading, and want you to take me back. I have money, by the million, and will share it equally with yo: .” “Bah! Td die of starvation before I'd take a cent of it, and cheerfully accept a life of im- prisonment in some foul dungeon, rather than for a moment take you back. Go, woman—go! You were always the curse of my life, and have been the means of bringing disgrace upon my head.” “Oh! you needn’t apprise me of my short- comings; I am well aware that I’m no saint,” was the sarcastic reply, ‘t Nevertheless I am tired of a harum-scarum life, and want to settle down. You must receive me back with open arms, or it will be the worse for you.” “What! you dare to threaten me! insane, woman!” “Nota bit of it,” the runaway wife replied. ‘IT know what I’m about, every day in the week. Below in the bar-room, vou doubtless hear a noisy crowd, who are drinking and ca- rousing, to drown their grief and disappoint- ment at losing you. Were I to inform them that John Falconer could be found in this room, your life would not be worth the bits of paper you had, to-night, in the budget attached to your saddle-bow.” ‘“ Bah! we shall see!” the general cried, fierce- ly, and with agility not becoming his apparent age, he leaped upon her, and bore her to the oor. Smothering her screams with a cushion, he managed to bind her hands; then he gagged her; after which he secured her feet, thus a ing her a sate prisoner. Opening a closet door, he thrust her into the dark recess, and closed the door, again. “There! lie there till I make up my mind what to do with you,” he muttered. ‘Ill see which plays the trump hand, this deal.” He then went back and resumed his former Layee and turied himself in a deep reverie. So deep in fact that it turned into a sound slum- You are ber from which he did not awaken until aroused by a heavy jar. He awoke to find himself slung over a man’s shoulder, and being carried along out of his room into the hallway of the hotel. He tried to shout for assistance, but could not. A gag in his mouth prevented him. He tried to struggle to release himself, but also found that impossible. He had been tightly bound, hand and foot, and could only submit to he carried along upon the shoulders of his capturer, whose face he could not see. Out into the main hall they went, and then along to a narrower passage, which was entered and followed until at last the general’s captor came to a pause for a moment, during which space of time there was a creaking sound, after which the man entered a rcom off from the hall, when there was another creaking sound similar to the first. : In this room the general was lowered to his feet, and he beheld his captor’s face. “Stern Face!” was bis exclamation, beneath s gag, and the old chief seemed to comprehend s meaning, for he said, calmly: “Yes, Iam Stern Face, once the brother bi a jee a an te a Fe Ee ee
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Nobby Nick of Nevada. miner of John Falconer. You are John Falcon- er, beneath your long beard—same thief whoran away, fourteen yearsago. Stern Face know you —never forget you! He swore to kill you and yours, for treacherous snakes, He no kill Sunny Hair. He fe you and your boy. He kill you both, if Wild Flower no bring proof of your innocence.” Then, not waiting to note the effect of his words, he threw a blanket over the head and face of John Falconer, as we shall continue to call him hereafter, and again lifting him in his arms, descended through the trap that had serv- ed as a mode of escape for Nick and Wild Flow- er not many hours before. Moll McGregor, otherwise the faithless second wife of John Falconer, lay for hours in the closet unable to rid herself of the gag and bonds that bound her limbs. Desperately and determinedly, however, did she writhe and struggle, until, after several hours of effort, she succeeded in getting her hands free. The remaining work of liberating herself was but short, and she soon stood out in the upper hall. Here she disguised herself with a sandy wig, and beard, and went boldly down into the bar- room and out into the street. Two men immediately left their position at the bar, where they had been drinking, and fol- lowed her out into the night. Both were roughly-dressed, common-looking miners, but were armed to the teeth. Sandy Sue was seated that same evening in her cabin, engaged in sewing, when there came a knock at the door. Dropping her work she sprung hastily to open it, for she expected that it was her father’s knock. Shoe had been watching and waiting with all eazerness for him to come back, and her heart beat fast as she turned the knob and open- ed the door. But disappointment flew into her face as she beheld standing without—not John Falconer, but Wild Flower! “Tet me come in,” the half-breed girl said, quickly. ‘I have bad news for Sandy Sue, and we must work.” “What is it—tell me, quickly,” Sue cried, ad- mitting her, and handiag her a stool. * Pil tell you if you listen,” Wild Flower said. “ Your father, John Falconer, and. your brother, Nobby Nick, are both captives in the power of Stern Face. Sue uttered a horrified exclamation. She well knew of Stern Face’s vengeful oath, and the peril of those who were dear to her instant- ly flashed across her mind. “My brother, you say—is Nobby Nick my brother?” she asked. “Yes, he is your brother. He and John Fal- coner are both in Stern Face’s power, and it de- mds on us whether they live or die. Wild Flower is in love with Sandy Sue’s brother; she would fight through fire for hissake. She plead- ed with Stern Face, and he consented not to kill them until two sunrises, and if in that time we can prove that John Falconer did not steal the money, Stern Face will release them.” ‘Oh! Wild Flower, you area brave, noble girl. But it will be impossible for us to produce the required proof. y mother, or rather step- mother, was undoubtedly the culprit, and she only could furnish the desired proof by confess- ing. “ Pixactly. confession.” ‘* But, how? Where can we find her?” Wild Flower will find her, in a few hours, She has long suspected who she was, and if Sandy Sue will arm herself, and follow the In- dian girl’s lead, the game will be cornered ere another sunrise.” “Then you can rely on me,” Sue said, brave- ly. ‘I am no coward, and will help you all I can to trail this woman down and extort from her a confession of her misdeeds.” “Then prepare at once. Arm yourself with revolvers, and dress in men’s clothing,as it will facilitate our speed in getting through among the rocks.” : Sue hastened. to obey, and ere many minutes elapsed they were both en route, like sleuths of the night, on the searca for the faithless wife of John Falconer. They were not the only ones, The two men who had followed the tigress from the tavern gained on her, as she hurried away up the gulch, and made their pursuit as noiseless as possible. Two more miners might have been seen bring-. ing up their rear in the same cautious manner, making it altogether a night chase of a very in- teresting nature. The first pursuers were soon near enough to make aim certain, and halting, they leveled their revolvers at the figure ahead, and cried: “Halt! Face about, or you are a dead man!” And there was no mistaking the meaning of their order—it was life or death. Moll McGregor seemed to recognize their voices, for she wheeled about abruptly, and ad- vanced toward them. ‘‘There! there! Put up your tools, and don’t try to play highway tricks on me,” she said, with a grim laugh. ‘ It’s I—Marie |” “Oh, Yes, 80 we are aware, one of the men re- plied. ‘' And you are the very one we want.” “Oh!” the woman said, shoving her hands down into her jacket pockets, and giving vent to a whistle of surprise. ‘' What, may I inquire, do you want of me?” ‘“We want you for your funny little pranks of late, mum—in fact, we’ve found out that you are the one who has been playing up Grim Gob- lin, the Avenger. Ho! ho! You start, you she- wolf, but not so hard as you will when you’re yanked up to a limb.” “Yes, I start, for I thought my secret safe in my own keeping,” she replied. ‘ But you shall not take me—oh! no!” Even as she finished speaking she whipped a pair of revolvers from her jacket pockets, and fired upon them, dropping both of them as though by 74 Then she And she must be made to give a magic. turned and fled. 5 Ve 6 ig it Od eae ey
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Nobby Nick of Nevada. Loud yells came from the rear, and the sound ef rapid footfalls, She was pursued by others of the desperate ang of Bearded Brothers, whose queen and iteral leader’she had been for a years; they trusted her implicitly, when, all the while, she had abused their trust, and now that they had learned of her treachery and were pursuing her, she knew too surely that her escape wasa matter of skill and nerve. Summoning all her strength she sped along up the gulch as fast: as she could arms uke try her best, she could not get out of the sound of the pursuing footfalls. To follow her through the tortuous windings and over the crooks and turns of the route she chose would necessitate a description of an al- most unflagging run. For hours she sped on, her strength fa:t leav- ing her, and her footsteps slower and more un- certain, from sheer fatigue. At last she entered a long, narrow chasm or fissure between two mountains, into which the light of early dawn was just creeping. “Tf I can get through this, 1am safe among the caves beyond,” she muttered, a wild, hag- gard expression in her eyes, If! Itisa word that interposes between full many a success of this world, and brings death and disaster to the front. Ifshe could get through the chasm unmolested, Lo way lay open for her escape! But she did not. She had not gone fifty yards into the chasm when she heard the Bearded Brothers in her rear, near the mouth of the pass, yelling and cursing, and saw step out across her path, in front, two persons, who leveled cocked revolvers full upon her, “Stop!” cried the voice of Wild Flowor, for it was she and Sandy Sue who had lain in wait for the female figure, on not finding her at the rendezvous. ‘‘ You are our prisoner. Throw up your hands, or I’ll fire!” So exhausted was the fugitive that she did not try to disobey, and the girls bound her in a iffy. “Quick! Take me out of this place, or they will get me,” the forgeress said, with a nervous glance. “We will rescue you only on one condition,” Wild Flower said, in a stern, ringing tone. ‘¢ What is that?” Marie demanded, eagerly. ‘Tt is this,” Wild Flower replied. ‘‘ When we take you before my father, Stern Face, you are to confess to him that it was you heh | of John Falconer who robbed the bank fourteen ee ago. Swear that you will do this, and hen take your departure from this section of the country, and we will take you direct to Stern Face.” “ And if I refuse?” “We will bind your feet and leave you ly- ing here at the mercy of the Bearded Bro- thers.” Marie shuddered. Too well she knew the rough men who were seeking her life, not to know that her fate would be a horrible one. “T swear by my hope of redemption in the next world, to do as you wish,” she cried. “I will do anything rather than fall into the hands of those human wolves on my trail.” “We shall be doing according as you have done by others, did we leave you to their tender mercy!” Wild Flower declared. ‘* Come!” She blindfolded the captive with a scarf—then she and Sue seized her, each by an arm, and hurried on through the passage. As soon as they were able to find a secure hiding-place they came to a stop and waited for darkness to again fall. The remainder may be briefly told in a few words, When night once more fell, the two brave girls set out for the old Indian mine, where they arrived in safety, and, true to her promise, Marie confessed before Stern Face that it was she who had stolen the money fourteen years previous. When questioned as to what she had done with the wife of Stern Face, she said she had gone back to the South. She was reticent on all other points; but Stern Face’s doubts were satisfied, and he instructed Wild Flower to con- duct her from the mine and set her at liberty. John Falconer and his son were then released, and a joyous reunion and reconciliation took place within the mine. Marie, released, disappeared; none could tell where or whence. A woman in sex, yet in heart and hand a devil incarnate, she had lived a wilder life than many a hardened rene- gade and ruffian. But never, in all those years of vicious indulgence in the frenzy of excite- ment bad she permitted any intimacy that could taint her woman’s honor! She was, in- deed, a strange compound of evil, and good, the explanation of whose career was to be meas- urably found in the humane he ier 48 of a species of insanity that goaded her to do and dare the very worst that a human arm and will could do—as if in revenge for the first rash act that made her a thief and outcast. Even John Falconer, while he could only shudder at the thought that she had been and still was his wife, yet had not the heart to wish her punish- ed for her crimes, and so, with his full assent she passed into the world again to be known no more as the thing she had been, but with the millions at her command which her crime- stained hands had won—what part was it not possible for her to play in a new sphere or in another continent? Most of the Brothers were later captured by the U. 8. Marshal, assisted by Nevada Nick, and taken to the fort for trial and condemna- tion. Having amassed the equivalent of a dozen fortunes, the friends abandoned the hidden mine and separated, Nick and Wild Flower going to Denver where they were married. John Falconer and Susie to Chicago, where they now live, but Stern Face true to his love for the wilderness passed into the Northwest to the bunting region of his people, the see Ty whom he reigns as Peacemaker, Father Great Medicine, THE END.
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82 OCTAVO PAGES. se PRICE, FIVE cee ‘POCKET LIBRARY, RRR RHRHHDD HRRRRHAHHDHHARAKRHD © Cae 1 Deadwood Dick. By Edward L. Wheeler, 2 Kans « Kin, By Buffa.o Bill. The Flying Yaw tol. Prentiss Ingraham. The Double Dagge iw ward L. Wheeler. The Two Detectives, By W. Aiken, The Prairie Pilot. By Buti fal h The Buffalo D By Edy Antelope Abe, | By O11 Coomes. Ned Wylde, the Boy § By “Texas Jack”? Butfalo Ben, Prince of the Pistol. “By E. L. Wheeler. Ralph. Roy. the Boy Buccaneer. Ky © 1, Ingraham. Nick o' the Night. By T. C. Harbaugh. Yellowstone Jack. by Jia yph £. Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. I Wheeler. Diamond Dirk. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham, Knife, Prince of the Prairies, By Oll Coomes, pl. By Capt. J. F, C. Adama CG, the Detective. By E. L. Wheeler. Laxso Jack, By Oll Coumes. Roaring Ralph Rockwood By Il, The Boy Clown. By Frank 5. Finn, The Phantom Miner. By iL. Wheeler, The Bea Cats sy Captain Frederick Whittaker, The Dumb Spy. By Ol! Cov mes. Rattling Ru a By Hurry St. George. Old Avalanche, the Great Annihilator, By Wheeler. Gla s-Eye, Great Shot of the West. By Capt, Adams, The Boy Captain. _) Roger Starh Dick Darling. By Capt. F Bob Woolf, the Borde Nightingale Nat. By . Harbat Black John, the Road Ate By J Badger, Jr. Omaha OW, the Mask d Terror. By L. Wheeler. urt Bunker, the Trapper. By George E. Lasalle, The Boy Rifles, By A. C. Irons. The White B ffalo. By George E. Lasalle. Jim Bludsoe, Jr. By Edward b Wheeler. Ned Huzel, the Boy Trapper. By Capt. Adams. Deadly Eye, the Unknown Seont. “By Buffaly Bill, Nick Whitiles’ C . C, Adams. Deadwood Dick’s Eagles. L. Wheeler. The Border King. . By Ol) Ce Old Hickory. By Harry St. Ge ‘The White Indian. 3 F.C. Adama, Buckhorn Bill. By E L. Wheeler. The Shadow Ship. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, The Red Brotherhood. By W. J. Hamilton, lal Jack. By T. C, Harbaugh. Hurricane Bill. Jeph BE. Badger, Jr. Single Hand. By W. J Hamilton, Patent-leather Joe. By Philip & Warne. The Border Robin Hood. Butfalo Bill. Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter. Ed, t.. Wheeler, Old Zip’s Cabin. — By Capt fF. C. Adams. Delaware Dick. By Ol Mad Tom Western, By W. J. Deadwood Dick on Deck. fF Hawkeye Marry. liy Ol ‘Coomes. The Bey Duclia By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, Abe Colt, the Grow-K Iler. By Albert W. Aiken. J y Charlie. By Edward L.Wheeler. era, the Boy Detective. By er, the Giant Trapver. By A- Rob, By Edward L. W fanlor y . Adams, . Harbaugh. * By OM Coomes. ay Edward L. Wheeler. harles Morris. tie {hie Rifleman. - By O1l Coomes. Alexander Patten. By Albert W. Aiken. SRSRO So Or St. George. HPWWVC CW CVS Re eee RR Re evans changechenoe aker. » Wheeler. milton. L. Wheeler, « Aiken. in Roxsebu Lightning Joc. Kit Harcfoot. Rollo, the Boy. Ranger, Idyl, the Girl a bhi Detective Dick. Sure Shot Ses) pee a Sam. ‘The Lion of t het yy Photograph Phil, joy Slenth, By E. L, Wheeler, Picayune Pete. — By Charles Morr 5. Island Jim; or. The Pet of the Family. bridge Hemyng (Jack Harkaway), Wateh- ey the Shadow, By Edward L. Wheeler. Dick Dead Eye. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham, Deadwood Dick’« Device. By L. Wheeler. The Black Mustanger. By Capt. Mayne Reid. Old Frosty, the Guide By T.-C. Harbaugh, The Sea Viper. By Col. P ina Ingraham. By Brace: S82 Scth Jones. By Edward S. E 88 Canada Chet, the Counterfeiter) rf. 84 The Dumb Page. By Capt. Frederick Whitts } 107 Jack uioy leis Lead. | Le Morris. | 85 The Boy Miners. By Edwird S. Ellis, 86 Jack Harkaway in New York, By bridge Hemyng. 87 The Hussar Captain, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 88 Deadwood Dick in Leadville. By E.L, Wheeler. 89 Bill Biddon, Trapper. By Edward §. Ellis. 90 Tippy, the ‘Texan, sy George Gleason. 91 Mustang Sam. By Joe. Badger, Jr. 92 The Occan Bloodhound. y Samuel W. Ce 98 Phil Mardy, the Boss B ; 94 Deadwood Dick as Detec 95 Buck Buckram, By Captuin J, F. C, Adams. 96 Gilt-Edged Dick. Sy Edward L. Wheeler. 97 The Black Steed of the Prairies, J.L. Bowen. 98 ‘Lhe Sea Serpent. By Juan Lewis, 99 Bonanza BIH, the Man Tr: By E. L. Wheeler. } Todd, By Edward 101 Daring Davy. By Ha 102 The Yellow o ‘hiet. 108 Chip, the Girl S se 104 ‘tlhe Black on 105 Handsome 106 Night-Hawk Kit. Brace t. George. pt. Mayne Reid. L. Wheeler. Starbuck. Morris. Badger, Jr. ward L, Wheeler. By T. C. Harbaugh. rank Dumont. ay 108 Rocky Mountain Kit. 109 ‘Lhe Branded liand. | 110 The Dread Rider. By ree W. Browne. sit Boas Bob, the King of Boothlucks. By E. L. Whee'er. 1 d. By Cupt. Mayne Rei & Sear-F a s 4 Piney Paul, the Mounteir Be 5 Deadw ood Dick’s Doub} Jabez Coffin, Sipper. By ¢ nyt. "F. Whittaker: Fancy Frank, of Calerado. By Buffulo Bill. W il Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. By Chas. Morria, 9 Blonde Bills or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Bae. By Edward L. Wheeler. 120 Gopher Gid, the Boy Trapper. By T. C. Harbaugh, 121 Marry trong, the Captain of the Club. By 3 ¢ Hemyng, (Jack Harkaway, 2 122 The Hunted Hunter. By F hye 1S, Ellis. 128 Solid Sam, the Boy Road- Agent. c. L. Whee! 124 Judge Lynch. Jr. By 't. C. Hi iihaileh: 125 The Land Pirat By (i vel Mayne Reid. 126 pige Blazes. by Frank Dumont. 127 T Fox, the Ferret. By Edward L, Wheeler. 128 Wi i Wildfire’s Racer. By Charles Morris. 129 Engle Kit, the ‘oy Demon. By ON Coomes. Gold Trigger. the Bent By T. ©. Harbaugh. A Game of Gold iward L. Wheeler, Painty Lance, tie B e Wild-fire, the Hors of the Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. By C. Morris. Deadwood Dick of Deadwood. By Wheeler. Old Rube, the Hunter. By Capt. Hamilton Holmes. 7 Dandy Rock. By G. Wuido Browne. Rob Rockett, the Boy Dodger. By Chas, M: rris, The Black Giant. By Joseph EB. Badger, Jr. Captain Arizona, By. Philip 8. wae " New York Nell. fy Edward r, Little Texas, the Youny Mustanger. it 1 Coomes. Deadly Dash. By Jos. E. badger, Jr. Little Grit, the Wild iti By Col. Ingriham, The Tiger of Taos, By Geo. Waldo Browne, The Cattio. Bis . By Frank Dumont. Nobby Nick evada. by L. Wheeler. Thumierbolt Tom. By St. George, Ready Nov, 10. the Bank Runner. By 11. durry 49 Rob Rockett. Charles Morris. Renidy vs 150 The Mad Miner, Noy. 24 151 The Sea Hopi SN Rendy Der, 152 Brandy ene By William R. Eyster.” F 8 By Edward By G. Waldo Browne. Ready By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. Rendy dec. 8. 158 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo. L. Wheeler. Ready Dec, 15. Iasued Every Wednesday. BRendle’s Pocket Library t's for sale by all News- denlers, five cents per copy, or seut by mail on receipb of six conta each. BEADLE & ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York.