Beadle's Pocket Library (no. 211) (1888 01 25)
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7 Lall all al = a Tire? (a it it ie tt ta f righted, 1988, by Reabice AND Apama, Entered at tho Poss Office at New York, N. x. as Second Class Mail Matter, Jan, 25, 1488, ¥ Published Weekly by Beadle an d y >, Vou: RVI Meee oe re ene See lee ee Ngee JOE SMEDLEY VENTURED TO LIFT THE FLAP AND ENTER. “ SQUATTED ¢ ON THE GROUND HE SAW AN OBJECT WHICH THRILLED EVEN HIS STOUT HEART WITH DREAD,
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2 Little Giant and His Band. Little Giant and His Band: DESPARD, THE DUELIST. A Sequel to ‘* Patent Leather } Joe's Defeat,” BY PHILIP 8S. WARNE, AUTHOR OF ‘“ PATENT LEATHER JOE,” ‘‘ CAPTAIN ARIZONA,” ‘CAPTAIN MASK, THE LADY ROAD-AGENT,” ‘“‘ALWAYS ON HAND,” ETC, CHAPTER I. THE SKELETON AVENGERS. ‘‘MusHA! musha! The saints betune us and hairrum! Faith, it’s the divil’s own band, just!” “ Cheese it, cully !—you’re off your base!” But the speaker's voice was husky and tremu- oes though he affected to scorn the other’s Calo, They were—Foxy, a little Irishman with fiery red hair and beard and a particolored com- lexion, the purple of whisky-bibbing dividing he field with great yellow freckles; and Tidy Tip, an Englishman, who owed his sobriquet to fae neatness, not of his person, but of his pugi- ism. Cowering behind a bowlder, Foxy hid his face in his hat, while Tidy Tip stared over the top of the rock with eyes that momentarily grew wider and wilder with superstitious dread. Around was a wild chaos of crags and chasms, detached bowlders, lightning-riven tree-trunks, tangled brushwood, vines and _ creepers—a wrecked world beneath, and overhead a lower- ing sky reverberating with wrathful mutterings of thunder. Amid these wild surroundings, made more terrible by ths S of night, appeared the strangest spectacle that ever thrilled the soul of man with icy fear. But, before we enter upon the action of our story, a word of introduction to the scene of the strange adventures I am about to relate, and to the men whose supo2rstition aud unbridled pas- sions made them possible. The discoverer having domiciled himself in a cave, the camp formed when the rush came was at first called ‘* Hole-in-the-hill,” soon to be transformed into a “ handle” better adapted to the Western grip, ani far more suitable, if we consider the social status of the place to wit:— ** Hell Hole.” Then the virtue of the place crystallized into a Vigilance Committee, with Joe Smedley at its head; some half-dozen of the “ worst pills” were “seni up a tree,” a score or sc were made to “ git;” and Hell Hole settled down to those “squar’” fights the propriety of which no man questioned. But recently had occurred several murders of unprecejented brutality, and shrouded in a mystery of perpetrator and motive, which threw the camp into a fever of apprehensive excitement, all of which was to be brought to the light of day through a series of events as strange as they were startling—to whicb let us proceed, our opening scene being a mile from the camp. The spectacle which filled Tidy Tip and Foxy with such freezing fear was a troop of what had all the appearance of being /leshless skeletons ! —their bones self-luminous, with a dull, white glare, like death-lights, while their sightless eyes were but black caverns in their horrible grinning skulls! From their shoulders, as they walked, de- pended the somber folds of trailing black man- tles, which, parting in front,formed backgrounds against which their strangely luminous anato- mies stood out in bold relief In bis left hand each skeleton bore a ghastly torch constructed of the inverted top of a skull sawn off on a line with the brows and’ mounted on the end of a thigh-bone. The bowl-shaped hollow seemed filled with a dead white light, though there was no flame. In his right hand each bore a luminous spear, or javelin, apparently formed of human bones spliced together. In the midst of this dread escort walked one whose humanity was unmistakable. No crea- ture of the air was he, but a real flesh-and-blood man, dressed in the ordinary garb of a miner, His face, seen in the unearthly glare diffused by the bones of those about him, and by their strange flameless torches, was awful in its white horror—enough of itself to chill the stoutest heart with fear. His eyes were fixed and staring, his mouth open, disclosing his glitter- s,s lting, the ghostly bund stood round the helpless and scarcely conscious wretch, holding their torches high above their heads and the oints of their lances almost in contact with his ody all round, on a line with his heart. Then one, who seemed to be the chief, spoke in hollow tones, with that peculiar liquid sound produced by the beating of an Indian drum: “ Rear ye!—hear ye!—hear ye! Oh, SKELETOY AVENGERS of crime! Shall the wicked go un- whipped of justice?” Like the tolling of a knell came the reply, in prolonged, dismal cadences, as if it were the wind moaning in their cavernous breasts: ‘* No-o-o! No-o-o! No-o-o!” ““ What requital is meet for the despoiler of purity, the slayer of innocence?” “ De-e-ath! De-e-ath! De-e-ath!” “James Kane, you have been weighed in the balance and found wanting! In vengeance for a woman's, blighted life and broken heart we exact the expiation of your crime! And may God have mercy on your guilty soul!” ** So-0-0 mo-o-ote it be-e-e!” Thereupon, the chief waved his strange torch to tha right and tc the left. One of the skeletons, evidently pre-instructed, threw a lasso with a noose at one end, over the limb of a tree near by; the noose was p around Jim Kane’s neck and in another mo- ment he was pulled clear of the ground. F Soon his writhing ceased, and he hung limp and motionless, his head drooping upon his breast. A sound of crackling twigs suddenly arrested
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Little Giant and His Band. 3 the attention of the Skeleton Avengers, and a deathlike hush fell upon them, Without warning to his companion, by word or sound, Tidy Tip had fainted and fallen to the ground, As if by magic, the skeleton band disappeared, leaving the spot, lately so weirdly illuminated, now wrapped in utter darkness; while Foxy heard a rvshing sound, like the rapid flight of monster birds, approaching him. Frightened out of his wits, the Irishman ut- tered a yell of dismay, and bounded away with the agility of a frightened hare, giving never a thought to the companion he left unconscious at the mercy of these horrid monsters, Down the glen he rushed, torn by briers, which, in his superstitious terror, he believed to be ghost-hands clutching at him; tumbling over rocks and fallen trees, but up and on, uncon- scious of the bruises; panting, staggering, grop- ing in the darkness, but on! on! before those pursuing phantoms, until, in accordance with the ghost-lore that the deyil and his imps cannot pass the middle of a stream, he plunged heels over head into the mountain ‘*run” whose waters further down washed the glittering dross of Hell Hole. CHAPTER II. THE CAPTAIN OF VIGILANTES, ‘* Hooray! hooray! hooray!” Down the mountain road rushed a brown- bearded and red-shirted miner, swinging his hat above bis head and cheering in wild enthusiasm. ‘The Leetle Giant’s a-comin’, boys! Hooray! Whoo-00-oop! Tiga-a-an!” Pick and pan were dropped, and the shout caught up and passed on from lip to lip, and echoed and re-echoed by the towering cliffs, until the balsamic air fairly quivered with the ringing ovation. Then from every direction set a tide of sturdy life toward a common center—The open space before Billy Williams's saloon. Such running !—such leaps over rock and bush and fallen tree-trunk!—such jolly rivalry! No dainty gentlemen they; but strong-limbed, rough-and-ready sons of nature, with the soil of mother earth on their garments, the bronze of the honest sun on bared arms and breasts, and tho sweat of rugged toil on their brows. ay mee eh ooray! Hooray! A-a-a-a-ah!” And, followed by a cloud of dust, a single. horseman dashed into their midst, and leaped from the saddle. Such hand-shaking!—such hearty slaps on the back—such boisterous salutations and questions, without particular significance, except as ex- pressions of good-will! And the object of this roistering welcome possessed the arms of a Brahman idol and the myriad tongues of rumor he would have found use for them all. This gallant young captain of Vigilantes, the idol of the camp which he ruled with almost despotic sway, had those qualities which most find favor in the eyes of rugged mountain men —anatbletic, muscular development; fair, wavy hair falling to his shoulders, after the Western fashion; finely-chiseled features, a skin as fresh, smooth, and pink-tinted at the cheeks as a girl’s; and blue eyes, looking dauntiless, defiant courage. After an ovation which made up in entbusi- asm what it mav have lacked in other respects Joe Smedley emerged from the saloon, when the first object that met his gaze was a queen-like equestrienne arrayed in a flowing green riding- habit, wearing a broad-brimmed felt hat with a long trailing green plume, and mounted on a superb milk-white filly. A moment the eyes of the bewilderingly beautiful creature rested upon him, as she recog- nized in him the hero of the hour. Then she rode on down the street, every motion of her graceful body conforming to the rhythmic play of her spirited steed. “ Good Heavens!” was the breathless ejacula- tion of the Little Giant. ‘‘ Who is that?” * That?” replied Hoss Johnson, who was at his elbow. ‘ That’s the Queen of the Green Cloth.” ‘The Queen of the Green Cloth?” * Tron Despard’s|woman.” ** And who is Iron Despard?” ‘Why, thunder an’ lightnin’, old man! I for- got that you was jest out o’ the dark ages, Sence you've been gone, this hyar town has taken a mighty big straddle in importance, We've got a new faro lay-out—nothin’ snide, but a slap-up ’Frisco outfit, Al; and this beauty is to slide the pasteboards. I seen it down at Nugget City; an’ it jist takes the cake over any- thing I ever see this side o’ the Golden Gate. It’s im-mense! And you're jist in time fur the openin’, which it takes place to-night.” Hoss Johnson did not notice that the Little Giant bad turned deathly pale at sight of the equestrienne, and that his voice sounded hoarse and constrained, nor that the lady was equally affected. Joe Smedley walked abruptly away, taking the direction opposite to that in which the Queen of the Green Cloth had gone. He did not notice a woman, who, while be was in the saloon, bad stood in the doorway of one of the cabins, flushed and trembling with eager expectancy, which turned into pale jeal- ousy as she saw the impression made upon him by the fair equestrienne. When he turned away, without so much as a glance in her direction, she clutched her breasts, with the nervous gesture and sharp inarticu- late cry of pain of an intense, passionate na- ture. “He does not deceive me; he is going to oy iat A glance, and I am forgotten! Ah! Ah! Again those cries, so like the utterances of an animal, as she follows his receding figure until it disappears from sight Then she rushes into the house and cowers on the floor, with her dress thrown over her head. Is this the beginning of a tragedy? She was right in her surmise as to the Little Giant’s destination. An bour later, having made a detour to secure this interview unsus- pected by any one in Hell Hole, he stood in the mountain road, directly in the path of the Queen of the Green Cloth. She was glorious in her perfect beanty of out- lines and coloring, and in her high courage,
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‘ Her eyes, of that gray which hold the expres- sion of all emotions within their scope, now flashed with proud questioning. '* Well?” said the Little Giant, “Well!” was the unyielding retort. “Hortense!” was his next appeal, in a voice somewhat shaken. The woman made a proud gesture of depreca- tion with her head. ‘*My name is Mrs. Despard Dangerfield!” she said, in icy tones, The man clinched his hand, set his teeth, and breathed bard through dilated nostrils. He | looked steadily into her cold, white, repellent face, while he slowly regained self-mastery. Then, while a wistful longing cir tignried will the proud resentment in his eyes, he asked: ** Whose hand did this?” The lady’s lip curled in a smile of quiet dis- dain, while she said, with supercilious indiffer- ence; “Gan you ask?” ‘““T do ask!” he replied, his voice deep with a pain he could not wholly hide, Tne lady’s sensitive ear caught the cadence. She flashed a searching glance into his eyes. Taen a cold, steely glitter came into hers, and a sneer to her Cupid’s-bow lips. ‘*No doubt the first fault lay in my own de- ficiency—-” “* Hortense!” ‘ “But the wearying of stale charms, the severing of distasteful ties, the perfidious deser- tion—these were surely—-” “No, by the Everlasting God!” cried the man, as he leaped forward, his strong emotion sending a wave of crimson to his brow, The horse shied at this sudden movement. The lady curbed the animal with a skillfui touch, and merely lifted the tremulous point of her whip between herself and the man who had just cried out to her from the depths of his soul, “You forget yourself, sir!” she said, slightly arching her delicately-penciled brows, That rebuff checked him as effectually as a stone wall, The pallor of a great dread drove the blood from his face again. He extended his hands to her, crying: ** Hortense, I swear to you—” A wild fluttering sprung up in the heart of the woman, but there was no external trace of it, as she ruthlessly interrupted his impassioned appeal: I beg your pardon, My husband must be awaiting my return, as Iam already somewhat delayed.” Then mounted to his brow the purple tide of wrath. “You do well to remind me of your hus- band !” he said, through his teeth. ‘I bad for- gotten him—and the debt Towe him! But from this moment it will live in. my brain in charac- ters of fire!” He stepped aside; the milk-white steed bound- ed past him; he turned and watched the flow- ing green skirt and the dancing plume, until they disappeared round a bend in the road; then he cast himself face downward on the rocky earth in an agony of commingled love, rage and despair, Little Giant and His Band. When the Little Giant roused himself and rose to return to the camp it was night. Be- fore he stirred from the spot his attention was attracted by a deep-drawn sigh, and at thesame instant an icy chill passed over him, With en heart he whirled round, and saw the light, ethereal form of a woman standing at a little distance, gazing at him with great, sad eyes. As he caught her eye, she smiled sweetly and beckoned to him, The effect on the man was startling. He turned as pale as death; his jaw dropped; his eyes protruded; an icy sweat started from every pore. To him, it seemed as if his hair rose on end. He was the picture of abject ter- ror. : Joe Smedley was fully convinced that he was gazing at a disembodied spirit; and with that apparition was associated a memory that froze his blood. The leaden weight uliar to a nightmare fell upon bis limbs, and he felt that his will was paralyzed. The phantom turned, and, looking over her shoulder, waved her hand for him to follow her. Powerless to resiss, he obeyed, though feeling that he was walking to his doom, Away froin the road she led him, along a rock-obstructed way, now bare, now carpeted with the decaying-needle-like foliage of the pines, until she stood on the verge of a preci- pice. His heart died within him. He had heard of men being thus lured to destruction. “ At last! at last! vou are avenged!” was the ery of his soul. But just as he expected to see the siren float out m mid-air over the chasm, she gt 8S and raised one hand on high, while with the other she pointed down into the yawning abyss. Then, like the sighing of the wind, came faint- ly to his ear, yet seeming to echo and re-echo through the hidden chambers of his soul, the words: “Not yet! Not yet!” ‘ The phantom vanished, and a sudden oblivion fell upon him. The unconsciousness of the Little Giant seemed but momentary. He rose with a dull pain in his head, and shudderingly drew back from the precipice, on the verge of which he had fallen, ‘“‘ It is a warning,” he said, aloud—“ the spirit of one woman whom my hand has destroyed come to save another.” ; . In reply, like the sighing of the wind through the pines, came, or seemed to come, the word: “ Beware !” . k Joe Smedley started as if electrified. Had he really heard it; or was it only his excited im- agination? Everything around looked commonplace— the rocks, the pines, the moonlight streaming through a break in the clouds—and_yet the Lit- tle Giant hastened from the spot wlth a chill of dread upon him. ; Returning to the camp, he entered a cabin, at the door of which he was received by a woman whose manner betrayed nothing of her keen disappointment of the afternoon. In reality
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Little Giant and His Band. 8 thirty years of age, even he did not suppose her to be more than twenty-five She was very slender in build, which, aided hy certain de- vices in dress that escaped the uninitiated eye, made her appear taller than she really was, Her face was perfectly colorless, her pure, white skin being in marked contrast with her jet-black hair. This, cut short, clustered about her head in rings, and gave a piquancy to her undeni- able beauty which was very ‘‘ taking” with che opposite sex, This woman received the Little Giant with a smile of gladness mingled with anxiety. “Oh, Joe!” was her salutation, ‘‘ where have you been? To think of your not coming to me for even a minute, if you were called away again,” She twined her arms about his neck and looked reproachfully into his eyes, between the kisses which she pressed upon bis lips, “There, there, Hally!” he said. ‘ To tell you the truth, I’m tired to death, and as hungry asa wolf, Let me off, now, and I’ll make it up as soon as I’ve had something to eat and a nap.” She noticed that far from greeting ber with a love made keen by days of separation, he scarcely returned her glowing caresses, But she did not jet him see the death of hope that fell like a blight upon her heart. 0; she wooed him with caressing words, while he ate in abstracted silence, broken only by monosyl- roe the tempting supper she placed beford im. But when he lay asleep, then the fires of her soul burst forth; then she wrung her hands, only with superhuman effort stifling the moans which might awaken him; or she clinched them in white rage, her eyes blazing, her nostrils dila- ting, while through her set teeth came the fierce words: “Tt is to be the old story over again! Never! never! I will kill him with my own hand first!” It was in this mood that the tortured woman drew his bowie-knife from his belt and held it poised above his heart, At that moment there rose out of the night a sound once heard, never to be forgotten—the voice of a great multitude stricken by abject terror. It roused the sleeper, as well it might. He saw the woman and the knife. With a cry of wonder and dismay, he sprung up and caught her wrist, “CHAPTER III. A BIG SCARE. “Pry from the wrath to come! Fly! Fly! Fry! The Day of Judgment is at hand! God’s vengeance is about to fall upon this abomina- tion of the mountain, as of old it fell upon the cities of the plain. Repent andbe saved! Turn from your wickedness ere it be too late! Eter- nal damnation to him that dieth in his iniquity! Everlasting bliss to the sinner that crieth unto the Lord! Awake! awake! oh, Sodom of the West!” “ What in God’s name is that?” “Bah! it’s thatinfernalcrazy preacher! He’s always shootin’ off his mouth about some tom- foolery or other. He’s never happy when he ain’t rakin’ over the brimstun, What's trumps?” ‘*No, no! Listen!” “Listen be blowed! Ef that blarsted fool has got to knock a quiet game o’ draw, just when Tuck has begun to run to my hand, Pu go out and ram bis infernal—” “Hark, Isay! Don’t you hear it? Not the preacher, but that dul, rumbling sound.” “Tt ain’t nothin’ but a storm, Tbunder an’ lightnin’! play away. Isee you and go youtwo better.” But Bullwhacker Ben’s opponent was already on his feet, disregarding his cards and even the money he had staked, and gazing about him with the pallor of sudden panic, ‘*Gents,” he cried, appealing to the other oc- cupants of the saloon, ‘is there any mountain reservoir among these hills to burst and wash out this gully? If there is, we’re scooped! DPve heard that sound before—l’ve been thar /—and I don’t want no more in mine, you bet!” The excited words of Hoss Jobnson, the stage- driver, commanded immediate and universal attention, and a hush fell upon the Babel of profane and querulous discussion in Billy Will- lams’s saloon, In the stillness, the canyon was heard to re- verberate with a dull, jarring sound. Then again rose the ringing voice of the crazy preacher, crying: “Fly! Fly! The Lord God that reigneth for- ever is come to judge the world! Oh, the wail-- ing and gnashing of teeth! Oh, the unavailing shrieks of anguish! Have mercy, oh, God! they know not what they do!” Thrilled with unreasoning panic, there was a simultaneous rush for the door, pell-mell into the street, where other saloons were disgorging their rough-bearded hordes. In the darkness they gazed around at the black cliffs, at the black sky, at each other. The street was filled with shadowy forms, A tall, gaunt man, dressed in a long frock coat, and with lank gray locks hanging to his sboul- ders, was rushing through the crowd, his eyes ablaze, his arms tossed wildly aloft, shouting his warning. For a moment his was the only voice heard. Then rose a wailing cry of terror, and every eye was turned up the ravine, while the crowd sured apart, leaving the middle of the street clear. Swooping down upon the camp like a rushing wind, and just at band, was discovered a troop of the strangest horsemen ever beheld by mortal sight. The steeds themselves were uncanny monsters, breathing fire. Their hoofs gave forth, not the ringing clatter of the hoofs of earth-born horses, but that dull, jarring thud that had puzzled Hoss Johnson, Their headlong rush was like the swoop of ill-omened birds. The riaers who bestrode these equine monsters were fleshless skeletons—the same who, half an hour later, filled Foxy and Tidy Tip with hor- ror and dread by the sight of their terrible ven~ geance, Now, as they rode, their black mantles floated out behind, flapping in the wind like vampire wings. Their weird torches were thrust forward, as if to light their way, while their javelins were
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a SS Eg EEE OE TERT TY CO TT A OO 6 Little Giant and His Band. carried at arm’s length above their heads, point- ing‘directly to the front. sing no bridles, they must have guided their horses with their knees, if, indeed, such animals needed direction like their fellows of earthly mold. No sound uttered these weird riders of the night, nor turned they their heads to the right nor to the left, but silently, swiftly, directly they rode, like unsubstantial phantoms. Clinging to his horse’s mane, with every muscle tense and rigid, in their midst rode Jim Kane! In an agony of fear bordering on insanity, he seemed beyond the power of taking cognizance of his surroundings. It is doubtful whether he Knew that he was passing through a camp where every one recognized him, As silent, as heedless as his ghostly companions he rode on with them, 3 Like the wind they swooped down upon the camp, passed through it, and were gone! A deathlike silence reigned. he miners stood staring breathlessly at each other, The crazy preacher lay where he had fallen ina swoon, Shivering with superstitious dread, the miners cowered close together in knots. ** Boys, that was Jim Kane!” said one, His spook!” suggested another. * He's done fur!” exclaimed a third, Then dead silence fell. After a while, a quivering voice said: “Boys, we haiuv’t never treated the psalm- singer very white. I reckon if we could git him to chin a prayer or two fur us, it wouldn’t go ad, Ef you come down to bed-rock, this hyar is a mighty likely place fur the devil to drop on- to; and don’t ye furgit it!” The general sentiment on this proposition was left in doubt, since, before expression could be had, a panic was started, by a movement to ex- change the darkness of the strest for the light and sense of greater security of the various saloons. In the Western idiom, the crowd ** stampeded for cover.” In a twinkling, a counter rush emptied the street and refilled the saloons, the laugh of some of the more reckless at the general scarce lack- ing the boisterous ring of genuine Western hilarity. Liquor was swallowed in abundance, to re- lieve a certain watery feeling in the stomach; but tho interrupted revelry was not resumed. The “tiger” found no pilgrim eager to “ clip his claws;” and the painted sirens who formed the attraction of that part of Billy William’s establishment called Terpsichorean Hall huddled together, mute and trembling, looking scared and miserable in their tawdry finery. In the midst of the all-absorbing discussion of the ‘‘ Death Riders,” the door of the saloon was thrown open, to give admittance to the Little Giant, whose coming seemed to send a wave of reli_ved feeling through the crowd, With a woman’s ready wit, Hally had per- suaded him that, his bowie having slipped part- ly from its sheath, she had drawn it forth, fear- ing that he might roll over upon it and be hurt, or at least awakened. Knowing no reason to suspect her, and called , 5) away by the excitement in the street, he gave the matter no further thought. “ Boys,” was his ringing salute, the moment he set foot within the saloon, ‘how many dare follow where [ dare lead?” For the first time in the history of Hell Hole, Joe Smedley’s appeal failed to call forth an en- thusiastic response. The men looked troubled, each waiting for some one else to speak. “What! Not one?’ cried the Little Giant, frowning slightly as he looked about on the downcast faces, ‘Ye see, Cap,” replied Bullwhacker Ben, a ponderous-limbed giant, with fists like sledge- hammers, and shaggy hair and bushy beard, and beetling eyebrows, and coarse black hair on arms and hands and bared_ breast—a veritable Hsau. “Yo see, Cap, ary humanI reckon we're all ready to mount. But spooks /—waal, I allow I kin bolt, hide and taller, ary galoot in shoe- leather what dast to stand up and call mea coward !—but spooks!—Cap, I don’t want none in mine, an’ that’s a fact!” “*T foller suit!” said Dan the Devil, a bullet- headed little rascal, stocky in build, and with a prize-fighter’s hair-cut, a black overhanging mustache, and restless little bead-like black eyes. No-likee-John, a man whose bent body, long arms, bony hands and wolfish face had earned him the reputation of having once eaten a China- man without salt, preserved a morose silence un- der his captain’s eye. “ And you, Gordon?” asked the Little Giant, turning toa youth who sat with his small and elegantly-booted feet cocked up on a table quiet- ly drawing at a cigarette, in pepecend indiffer- ence to the excitement around him. Certainly not more than one-or-two-and twenty, the pale, emaciated face and inflamed eyelids of ‘The Kid” proclaimed one old in de- bauchery. His shapely white hands were light on the trigger and deft in the manipulation of the ‘ devil’s bible” and in rolling the cigarettes which he smoked pata seres For the rest, he wore the unexceptionable broadcloth and the ruffled and embroidered. shirt-bosom and flash- ing diamond stud of the dandy sport. J “T have had a warning.” he replied, with lan- guid nonchalance, “If Igo with you, I shall probably never return alive.” “Then you are afraid to go?” Unruffled by the covert taunt, the Kid turned his slow eyes upon the captain’s face through the thin spirals of cigarette smoke, and replied, coolly: ed thei never backed down by anything on top of the earth, or under it.” ‘““T beg your pardon, Gordon, I might have known you better,” was the ready acknowledg- ment of the Little Giant. Then he harangued the crowd, trying to con- vince them that what they had seen was but a party of cleverly-masked men, seeking to strike terror by their weird appearance. But a story from Hoss Johnson overthrew his most forcible- arguments in the minds of that ignorant and superstitious crowd. ‘Pye heard o’ this thing before. Them thar was the Death Riders, s-takin’ of Jim Kane’s spook down below! Why, thar was the tough- est cuss you ever see, down at Flatbush, what
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“i Little Giant and His Band. y ] sold out to the old ’un; an’ when he chipped in, thar couldn’t a pine box be built what ‘u’d hold him—fact/ Thar was death-lights, an’ sich like, in his shanty fur six months; an’ the boys had to jest let him lay thar an’ rot!” nd so, like a lot of children, these men scared each other with ghost stories, until after mid- night, when they were suddenly electrified by the bursting open of the door, through which an excited voice shouted: ‘Boys, fur God’s sake, quick! Thar’s the devil to pay in Iron Despard’s place!” CHAPTER IV. THE FIRST DUEL, Iron Dzsparp had purchased the original Hole-in-the hill claim and erected against the face of the cliff the most pretentious structure of which the camp boasted. “None o’ yer one-hoss dives, with taller dips on wooden sconces,” had said Hoss Johnson, “but ginuine chandeliers, with slathers of glass fixin’s hangin’ down, ail the colors of the rain- bow. And the Queen— But, thar! I’m done, Jest you wait!” So the excitement waxed, no one but the workmen having been admitted to even a peep at the splendors of the hall, and Hoss Johnson’s surmises resting on what he had seen at Nugget City. With the gathering of dusk, the expectant crowd had already assembled before the saloon, when an almond-eyed son of the flowery king- dom emerged from the door with a gasoline lamp, such as is used by showmen and street venders, which he proceeded to bang from a pole to the delight of the miners, who swore that ‘*the shebang was to be run in style, and that’s a fact!” Behind Sam Lee came a man, tall and spare in build, with an erect, military bearing, and, indeed, a semi-military dress, for a long navy- blue cloak fell from his well-squared shoulders; his head was covered with a felt hat, with cord and tassels, after the cavalry fashion; and he wore spurs, as if always ready for the saddle. But the most striking feature was the con- trast between his jet-black hair and his pale face, in which his piercing black eyes burned like living coals, His brows met, and the effect of his long, i nose was intensified by a Srpgpin toustache, “Gentlemen,” he said, throwing wide the door, ‘I welcome you to the Palace Saloon. May good luck attend every one who crosses its threshold.” ‘**That’s the music!” shouted a brawny miner. ‘* Three cheers for Iron Despard!” While the air rung with their lusty salute, the crowd poured into the saloon, They found the chandelier Hoss Johnson had predicted, and a bar that wasa marvel. But in an adjoining room was the crowning attraction. There, as if enthroned, sat the Queen of the Green Cloth, attended on either hand by her croupiers, “Welcome, gentlemen!” she said with an en- gaging smile that won all hearts, ‘‘ Make up your game.” And instantly the cashier was besieged for chips. Who could grumble at the fate awarded by such fair hands? “Cleaned out!” shouted one before the even ing was far advanced. ‘ But great Golconda! it’s worth it!” The advent of the Death Riders had been a damper on the opening night; but the fascina- tions of the Queen of the Green Cloth had proved sufficient to win the miners back to her shrine, With slightly contracted eyes, as was his habit when well content, Iron Despard stood a little apart, and saw the golden tide setting to- ward his coffers, “A little longer,” he muttered, ‘then the grand transformation scene!” Ah! had he known the transformation scene that fate held in store! Not that cherished in his heart, where he pictured his wife amid far different scenes, a queen, as now, but over a far worthier domain. But suddenly the fairy towers and battle- ments of his air castle were shattered, like the bursting of a bubble. Let us see how. Failing to secure men to go in search of Jim Kane, the Little Giant left Bill Williams’s sa- loon, to meet, almost on its threshold an ex-pu- gilist of no mean prowess, who rejoiced in the name of Ten-strike Tom. “Tom,” was his abrupt salutation, ‘* what is your life worth to you?” “What's that, Cap?’ was the astonished re- ply. ““What will you take to risk your life in a fair fight?” “Tnjun-fastion, ur—” “Tn a square duel,” “Who with?” ** This new man—Iron Despard.” * Goed God!” Ten-strike Tom was profoundly impressed with the task set him. “ Look a-hyar, Cap,” he said in an altered tone, ‘‘ he’s a bad man to handle, by all ac- counts. Thunder an’ lightnin’!” “Td do it myself,” replied Little Giant, ‘ but if my hand appeared in it, I would lose all that Tam trying to gain. Next to myself, I thought I would give you the first chance—” “ Much tage Sel Cap, bein’s as how he’s a dead shot—so Hoss Johnson says, and I reckon he knows.” “Very well. If you are afraid—” ‘*Hold on, Cap! Whar’s the man that said I was afraid?” “What kin you stand? What is it worth to you? Tl give you a thousand dollars down,” “Eh? A what?” And Ten-strike Tom cocked his bead on one side, in grotesque affectation of doubting the evidence of his ears, ‘* A thousand dollars in hard money,” repeat- ed the Little Giant. “ Putter thar!” was the hearty acceptance of the ex-pugilist, and his horny palm seemed to swallow up the slighter band of the captain of the Vigilantes. Then they put their heads together over the details of a plot, the end of which they could not foresee, . In her place sat the Queen of the Grecn Cloth,
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ne a SS is as Se mae so haughtily self-possessed that she seemed of a sphere entirely apart from and above the rude men about her; yet, with a covert watchful- ness, she saw every one who entered the door, She was waiting! waiting! until at last that for which she waited came! The Little Giant sauntered in, and so potent _was his sway, that the men of Hell Hole showed their deference even in the heat of the game on , which their money was staked. The woman saw this instinctive homage, and through her frame crept a subtle sense of pleas- ure, She hated herself for it, but was, never- theless, powerless to preventit, or to deceive her- self as to its cause. Outwardly she betrayed no sign that she had seen this man. Indeed, after that first glance, in which his searching eye had set something within her to vibrating like a harp-string, she did not again look at him, but continued to draw the cards from the box and place them to the right and left with mechanical precision, forgetting everything but him; for that glance had told her again the story that she had the a before interrupted on his lips—a simple ale: *T love you!” And it awoke the old dreams and_ the old ecstasy; and the present fellaway. For what woman ever outlives her first passionate love/— that lesson so easily learned, so hard to un- learn. Like incense, a tranquilizing influence settled down upon her spirit—a sweet satisfaction and content. Then, out of that reverie came a rude awakening. “ Hold on, hyar! That don’t take my money! T’ve been watchin’ this hyar thing, and I sw’ar it’s a snide game! That nimble-fingered jade has hocus-pocused them keerds jist once too many!” Tt was Ten-strike Tom’s harsh voice. The first impulse of the Queen of the Green Cloth was a start of amazement. But some- thing drew her — from the face of the ruf- fian, to that of the man who had engrossed all her thoughts. Perhaps it was an involuntary, instinctive appeal to him to avenge this insult. Joe Smedley so read it. He flamed scarlet to the very roots of his hair; into his eyes leaped the fires of sudden rage; and he gathered him- self as if to spring upon his own tool. Somehow he had never thought of this—stand- ing quietly by while she was insulted; and the suddenness of the shock made him for an in- stant lose sight of the fact that this was an es- sential hood of his plan. But second thought followed at‘onco; and, with her eye upon him, his muscles relaxed; his glance sunk to the floor; he turned as pale as death, and stood trembling from head to foot. She saw it all, and—and—she felt no resent- ment ! But one there was whose fiery nature was to its veriest depths. Although forewarned, even Ten-strike Tom was not prepared for the whirlwind assault that was made upon him. He heard a hoarse, rasping cry, and turned to see a veritable de- mon hurl himself across the intervening space like a bolt from a catapult. Little Giant and His Band, Oo —_ rea — A grip of iron seized his wrist at the same time that bands of steel closed about his throat; ee he was pressed backward upon the faro e. With movements like lightning, Iron Despard inioned his adversary’s pistol-arm with his nee, The effect on the miners was overwhelming. They shrunk away with a terror never before inspired by anything in human form. Only one intervened between Ten-strike Tom and swift death. The Little Giant sprung forward and caught the descending arm. ** Hold!” he shouted. ‘* Gentlemen do not set- tle their difficulties in this way—not in this camp. Here every man has a fair show.” lron Despard did not relax the gripe on Ten- strike Tom’s throat, nor lift the knee that pin- ioned bis pistol-arm helplessly against his breast. He only turned his head, so as to glare over his shoulder into the face of the man who had dared to come between him and his revenge. Then between these two bigh-strung natures there was a silent battle of the eye, which the Queen of the Green Cloth watched with perfect outward composure, yet with an inward pertur- bation which a weaker nature could never know. In the.end Iron Despard asked in a low, hoarse voice: ‘© Who are you?” * Joe Smedley, captain of the Vigilantes of Hell Hole!” There was a significance in those words and in the undaunted directions with which the Little Giant looked into Lron Despard’s eyes, for he was on his mettle, feeling, without looking at her, that the eyes of the Queen of the Green Cloth were upon him, “T reckon you don’t deny the right of any man to satisfaction. Ill give this hound the use 2 ony weapon he chooses; but one of us must ie And instantly releasing Ten-strike Tom, he stood awaiting his selection. According to the laws and customs of the mines, no exception could be taken to this pro- posal, and, as we know, it was in a line with the Little Giant’s purpose; but, truth to tell, while he gasped for breath and swallowed spasmodi- cally to relieve the pain in his throat, which felt as if it had been crushed, the ex-pugilist looked as if he had no great stomach for the now una- voidable fight. But, as a savage walks unflinchingly to the stake, so in the breast of a man who has spent all his life in an atmosphere of violence, where cowardice is the last stigma that can attain to manhood, springs up reckless fdefiance of fate; and in this spirit Ten-strike Tom said: ‘P11 take pistols in mine.” ‘ Gentlemen, let us adjourn to a more suitable place than this,” proposed the Little Giant, in tacit deference to the Queen of the Green Cloth. But Iron Despard objected peremptorily. ‘SNo,” he said, in a deep, ringing voice, that bespoke a will with which no man present cared to cope. ‘ Across this table was the insult hurled —across this table shall it be settled! Take which end you choose; [ will take the other; and this gentleman, or any other you may pre- fer, will give the signal.”
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, Little Giant and His Bana. 9 ‘It’s all one to me. As well hyar as any- where,” said Ten-strike Tom, assuming that bravado which is known as ‘‘a stiff upper lip.” While the duelists were taking their places, the Little Giant glanced at the Queen of the Green Cloth. She sat with her eyes on the pack of cards before her, her hand restihg on the top one, as if only waiting the termination of this little affair, in which she had no interest, to resume her dealing. ** My God!” thought the captain of Vigilantes, “can she sit thus unmoved, and yet love him ?” Not upon the contestants, but upon her face, were his eyes fixed, when, standing opposite to her, with only the width of the table befween, he said: ; ‘*Gentlemen, are you ready?” There was a slight tremor of the lips, and ti haps a suspension of the breath—that was all. rom his end of the table, [ron Despard fixed his burning eyes upon his adversary, witha con- centration of deadly purpose that completely unmanned the burly ex-pugilist. There were two distinct pistol reports, one rhaps a quarter of a second after the other, hen came a heavy jarring fall. The Queen of the Green Cloth knew at which end of the table it was. She cast one quick glance in the other direction, where Iron Des- pard stood erect and as firm as a rock, smiling “pee her through the white smoke from his pis- to! There was a quick, tremulous inspiration through her pee lips. Then she said, ere yet the smoke of battle was cleared: “Gentlemen, make up your game!” But there came an unexpected interruption. Into the saloon staggered a man, breathless, be- draggled with mud, torn by briers, and bruised and bleeding from violent contact with jagged rocks, Then rose the ory * Jim Kane! Jim Kane!” CHAPTER V. THE VAMPIRE. Bur a second glance showed that the intruder was not Jim Kane, but Foxy, who was instantly surrounded by an exci crowd, the Little Giant crying: “Good Lord, man! is it you? What is the matter? Where have you been? What has hap- pened to you? Why, you're all broke up!” ** An’ faith, yer Honor,” replied Foxy, lugubri- ously, “‘it’s the Lord’s blessed mercy that I’m alive this day, at all, at all, to be tellin’ yez! I[ wish I could say that same o’ Jimmy Kane, saints ’ase ’um, i divil! And if Tidy Ti don’t wake up this blessed morning and fin *umsilf dead intirely, it’s no fault o’ thim mur- dtherin’ divils, bad luck till their h’athen shapes!” And Foxy told his kesh adventure to an au- dience whose open-mouthed credulity would have inspired a poet to eloquence. “Be me sowl!” he declared, ‘ they have no eyes and no stomachs an them; and it’s the rat- ing 0’ their hones you’re hearin’ whin the walk, and the whistling o’ the wind throug their ribs, so it is!’ That story was enough to keep Foxy in whis- ky and tobacco for the rest of his life—the first installment of which he took on the spot! But if Hell Hole didn’t get’ the worth of its money, it was because of the natural limitations of the Trishman’s fancy. In vain did the Little Giant urge his theory of masked outlaws. Before superstition, doubl intrenched in ignorance, even his power failed. The logic of Hell Hole ran: ‘*Talk’s all right in its place; but seein’s be- lievin’! The Cap’s as square as a die, a white man cl’ar down to his toe-nails—-we hain’t dis- countin’ that!—an’ the joker an’ both bowers in anything that consarns this byarairth, But spooks !—waal, seein’s believin’!” Not until broad daylight could they be induced to go out for Jim Kane's body; and while they gazed upon the hanging horror the a preacher’s voice struck an icy chill to every eart:— “Tt isthe wrath of an outraged God fallen upon the wickedness of this abandoned place!” Was heright? Did all Hell Hole rest under the curse? Who would be the next victim? “Cut him down, boys,” ordered Joe vies adding portentously :—‘‘I reckon these 9. id mountains will hear music before long!” In dead silence the men obeyed. The rock behind which Foxy had crouched was found, but no trace of Tidy Tip. A silent shake of the head showed the inter- pretation generally put upon this. “And now,” reflected the scheming captain of Vigilantes, ‘‘to turn all this to account—to lay one enemy off against another. My dear espard, I think I see you at the end of a some berg s crooked lane. Jl'm after you! Look ou Walking a little in advance of the rest with bis particular set—Bullwhacker Ben, Dan the Devil, Foxy, No-likee-John, and the Kid—Joe Smedley said, in that guarded tone which sug- gests a clique of rascals: ‘* Boys, whether or not you accept my ex- planation, that these are only men like our- selves, one thing ts certain—they are striking at us! Not at the Vigilance Committee, but at our little crowd. Tip—and depend upon it, they’ve got him!—makes the fifth. There are six of us left; and we're marked men! Now, shall we sit like a pack of shivering curs, each awaiting for his turn to be knocked over; or shall we strike back?” The reply came from a most unexpected quar- ter, in the muttering thunder of No-likee-John’s rumbling gutturals: ‘Bf they’re spooks, we’re elected, and nothin’ we kin do will make matters any worse; ef, they’re men, our only chance is kick like thunder! so, fur one, I vote that we feed ’em on their own mutton.” : ‘“‘ Johnny, my son,” laughed the Kid, ‘‘ you’re very economical of chin-music; but when you wag your jaw, solid chunks of wisdom drop therefrom. “Why, look here, fellers. When I was down in Canyon City I had the thunderin’est streak of luck you ever saw. I cleaned out everything in that section of the country; and, leaving Hank Sullivan’s shebang for the last, gave him a week’s notice to look out forme, The cuss got
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ae 10 scart out, and went to Washikitwa, a squaw a hundred and fifty years old, for a charm to knock my luck, She prescribed a lizard’s tongue fried in skunk’s grease, and Hank paid Colorado Kate an even hundred dollars to get me outside of that comfortable little dose. ‘A mighty fine article, Kate—A No, 1, and don’t you forget it! When she let that red bair of hers down, until it fell about her like a vail —a yard and a quarter long, if it was an inch! thar wasn’t a man in seven contiguous counties that wouldn’t swear it was the prettiest thing he ever saw in his life! “Well, the little witch worked me for all I was worth. But when the thing was done, she lost her grip and got scart. Besides, while she was playing her little racket, she got a trifle sweet on your humble servant. So, all of a sudden she flopped and blowed the whole busi- ness. “She took on woman fashiou—told me I might kill her, and all that sort of business. But you know how that is yourselves, boys, I reckon you’ve all been thar. So I needn't tell yon that I pinched her pretty cheek and swore that one of her tears was worth more than all the dust this side of ’lrisco. “Well, there was no back-down to me, spell orno spell, I bucked that tiger, and he clawed me until [ hadn’t a stiver to bless myself with. Hank raked the chips home and invited me to call again, whenever I was around that way breaking banks. I thoughta minute. Then I stripped to the buff, and piled my whole outfit in gents’ furnishing goods on the board. Hank said he wasn’t in the habitof turning men naked into the street from his shebang. I whispered to him that if he didn’t want me to blow the snide spell business he’d better turn the cards and _ stow his preaching. ** He wilted—the ae broke—my luck turned —I bu’sted him sky-high! To cap the climax, Colorado Kate stuck to me like a mother-in-law, until she passed in her checks the night Bob aoe crowd cleansd out the Fandango “So, gents, I gay with No-likee-John here— when you're in for anything—kick !” That was the kind of talk for that kind of men, Instead of opposing their superstition and thereby turning them into mules of obstinacy, it fell in with and directed it. If there was no help for it, they were ready to fight man or vil. “ Boys,” said the Little Giant, “ this thing will enable us to fix a man who has no love for any of us, even if he isn’t one of these mys- terious slayers.” “Spot him, Cap!” said Bullwhacker Ben. Tony Murray.” ee vay the matter wid him?” asked Dan the evil. But, instead of answering, the captain sud- denly uttered a low, warning: “ee ‘g-¢-st pn Tt would have surprised Hell Hole to learn that its Vigilance Committee was run by a “ring” of scoundrels, with the popular captain at their head, and that the approach of an out- sider suspended for a time the dicussion of a plot by which this power was to be used for Little Giant and His Band. bina of private feud; yet such was tho ac Causing the body of the murdered man to be laid on the ground before Billy Williams’s saloon, where the vengeful passions of the crowd could feed on the ghastly spectacle, he leaped upon a stump, the tree from which had been felled for the purpose of forming this truly Western rostrum, and began a harangue, in the course of which he said: “ But if you refuse to accpt this simple view of the case, let us admit, for the sake of argu- ment, that these are supernatural monsters, You have all heard of vampires?” “That we have!” interrupted, with the breezy freedom of the Western plains and mountains, Hoss Johnson, whose fund of ghost stories, and marvels generally, seemed iex- haustible, ‘Thar was Everybody’s Charley, down at Silver Riffle. The whitest man you ever see. He'd lend you his last dollar, and fight with you if you ever offered to pay it back, ‘“Charley had just one fault. When he had got gloriously corned, he always thought that his body was as big as his head had swelled to be. So he never looked at the size of his con- tract, but straddled anything that offered, “One day he went up to Taylor’s Bend, and swore he could put the hull infernal town in his breeches pocket. The Bandits kicked; and Charley tried to surround about a dozen of ’em in a lump, when he hadn’t a backer within ten mile. “Fur a few minutes thar was just one sweet time! Fur fbexley slung a bunch of fives that ’u’d make a mau think he carried a bass-drum on his shoulders, every time he reached fur ’em, But that day he seen two heads whar thar wa’n’t but one; and sometimes he struck at the wrong head. “Waal, they downed him, and sot on him about seven deep. Charley swears that they had mashed him thinner than a postage-stamp, when the load begun to lift, and he seen ’em flyin’ this way and that, as if a young tornader had broke loose among ’em., When he got on his pins he found himself shoulder to shoulder with a side-partner; and a mighty good man he was too; fur the pair of ’em cleaned out the hull gang, and then jumped the town before the reserves was called in, “ Charley and the new man struck hands on it; an] they made just the orneriest team you ever see. Charley kicked the beam ata huu- dred and ninety, and never sweata hair. He could talk you deaf, dumb and blind, and then toe the mark as fresh as a daisy and as rosy as a fallpippin. He could sing a nightingale out of breath, and jig the legs off a bull minstrel troupe, doorkeeper and ticket-agent throwed in ‘“‘ His partner went about like a coffin on legs. He always looked hungry and chilly, like them eold water teetotalers in the State, what goes around with a bymn book under their arm and their stummiks all caved in, He didn’t drink, nor chew, nor use bad language. Nobody knowed whar he come from; and he kept his mouth shut. But he had a bad eye; and you'd better believe thar didn’t nobody go oyt o’ their
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Little Giant amd His Band. “44 way to run up agin his shins, The boys called him the Undertaker, and let it go at that, ‘Wal, gents, if you'll b’lieve me, from the day he run in double harness with the Under- taker, Everybody’s Charley began to lose flesh and git white-livered. And as he got thin, his pardner got fat! Inside o’ six months, Charley was flat on his back, and the Undertaker was the healthiest-lookin’ man in the camp. ‘Silver Rifle was a mighty blue place, you bet yer boots! I reckon the boys would ’a’ swore off their licker fur another six mouths, to see Charley and his pard change places back ag’in. But nobody dropped to the racket, un- til one night Saphead Sam was hangin’ out about three o’clock in the morning, and he seen the leetlest mite of a blue light in the winder of Charley’s shanty. Heswore it wasn’t bigger’n a pin’s head, ‘Now that softy was more knowledgeable than the boys sot him down fur. So he shdes up on tiptoe, and finds that a buffaler-skin is hung before the winder, so that anybody, not seein’ no light, would think that Charley and his pard were snorin’ in their bunks, like honest men, But thar was the least mite of a hole in that skin; and what d’ye think that softy seen through that hole?” Hoss Johnson paused in his narrative, and looked about on the gaping crowd, to note the effect of his dramatic suspense, ‘‘ What in blazes didhe see?’ demanded Bull- whacker Ben, while the rest remained agog. “Wal, boys,” resumed the narrator, impres- sively, ‘‘Saphead Sam is a liar, if he didn’t see that room lighted up with a bluish-white light, which, you all know as well as I do, is the color of death-lights and spook-lights generally. Thar laid Everybody’s Charley on his back, breathin’ hard, like a drunken man, and on bis breast, cross-legged, sot the very devil himself—hoofs, horns and tail! He was fannin’ Charley with his wings—the shape of a bat’s, and six foot long, both of ’em—to keep him asleep while he sucked blood from his throat, ‘“* After he’d got his fill, the devil jumps down off o’ Charley’s breast, gives a whisk of his tail, and—hey, presto! he turns into the Undertaker, looking as fresh as if he’d jest had a square meal.” ** An’ by thunder, he had!” cried Bullwhacker Ben, excitedly, while the crowd murmured as- se nm “Waal,” pursued Hoss Johnson, “the light goes out, and leaves everything as dark as a pocket. Then he softly hears Charley wake up, and ask his pard fur_a drink of water, fur tne love o’ God. The Undertaker tumbles out of his bunk, barks his shins on a stool or two, and at last lights a bit of candle. He gives Charley his drink, and asks him how he feels, in a die- away voice, as if it broke his heart to see bis pard so nigh used up, Charley told him that a lime-kiln was a fool to the way he felt, as if he hadn’t had a drop of anything to drink fur a week, Ye see, the poor devil didn’t know that he hadn’t more’n about a whisky-glassful o’ blood in his hull pene Thet vampire had left him jest enough fur the first stake, so’s not to bu’st him entirely: an’ thar he was fillin’ up with water, until he could manufacture some more blood fur that skunk to suck out of him in a week’s time! That’s the way vampires does, Once a week is their rule.” At this monstrous thought, the men of Hell Hole swore roundly. “Waal,” continued Hoss Johnson; then he stopped abruptly, looking at the Little Giant, who still stood on the stump himself and bis in- terrupted speech for the time forgotten in the absorbing interest of the vampire story. ‘Beg your pardon, Cap; but I reckon you’ve got the floor. I didn’t look to makin’ this hyar yarn so long.” Bat the captain of Vigilantes was delighted with the effect being wrought, as it was in a divect line with his purpose, **Go on—go on!” he said,* “If [ had known the story, I would have told it myself. Boys, just cocsider this a part of my speech, better than I cold have put it.” “Go ott! go on!” urged the crowd; and, thus indorsed, Hows Johnson proceeded: “As I said before, that softy had an idee or two in his head, i£ it was cracked, He says no- thing to nobody, PUb goes and casts six silver bullets, loads up Ins svootin’ iron, lays fur Mr, Undertaker, and empties the hull round into his carcage, layin’ him out ag n.0 a8 a flounder! | “Tit had been only fur the Undertaker him- self, the boys might have run the softy out of town, and let him slide, But he ws Charley’s yard, and Charley had told the boys t..%t he was tter than he looked, and as how he hau’ *eat- ed him like a white man, waitin’ on bim m,"!%; and such like. So Saphead Sam stood « migh.’Y likely show fur gittin’ a taste of the longest rope this side o’ sundown. But he belches the bull business, and, says he: ‘Don’t take my word fur it, gents; but ef Everybody’s Charley don’t git well now, jisti hang me up <o dry—that’s all.’” ‘And he get well?” asked Bullwhacker Ben. ‘* Well 2” repeated Hoss Jobnson, ‘‘ iif he* didwt I'm a liar! But, gents, it was a bad speculation, after all, one way ©’ lookin’ at it,. fur Saphead Sam, The boys of Silver Riffle: kept him ‘9 pickled in free whisky, until he: got the Old Men with the Poker after him, and. jumped off a bluff. He got a boss send-off, though, and Everybody’s Charley chinned a funeral sermon that ’u’d jest knock the socks off from half o’ them that the white-necktie fellers sarves up, in the States, ‘‘And now, Cap, ef so be you kin begin whar ou left off when I chipped in with my limber aw whar it hadn’t no business to be, ll take a back seat fur a spell.” “Boys,” cried the Little Giant, ‘‘I move three cheers and a hummer fur Hoss Johnson and his stery!” That was a master-stroke of diplomacy, The cheers were given with a right good will, every one feeling the generosity of their captain, who could volunteer such a tribute to one who had for the time taken his audience out of his hands. From that moment his hearers were wax to his touch. : In a few forcible words he applied the story just heard to the casein hand. If Jim Kane’s murderers were not simply men; might the not be demons who, when noti employed in t
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es SS bloody work, assumed the form of men, and ae ed unsuspected with their intended vic- ms, Having by such subtle insinuations worked upon his audience, and viewing his neighbor askance with suspicion, he concluded, pointing a vibrant finger at the ghastly corpse which lay before him: “Look at him! Murder like this will not down! —it cannot be hid!—it cries to Heaven for vengeance! Depend upon it, we shall spot our man before long. When we do, I call upon all honest men to rise up and make swift and sure work of him.” * Yell upon yell of menacing assent went up from the crowd, amid which the orator, having produced the effect desired, got down from his backwoods rostrum, and was about to retreat into the saloon, when Bullwhacker Ben shouted: ‘Three cheers fur the Little Giant! Raise him, boys! Up he goes!” And with Dan the Devil on the other side, the idol of the camp was “chaired” on the shoul- ders of his admirers, Foxy yelling himself, while No-likea John seowled and the Kid smiled, each manifesting his cynicism according to his own peculiar temperament. That night Billy Williamson’s saloon was thronged, the candles on their wooden sconces struggling heroically with the heavy tobacco smoke. From the midst of all this suddenly shot up a stentorian voice: ** Nailed, by thunder.” The crowd rushed toward tho back end of the room, which was long and narrow. They saw Bullwhacker Ben in the act of rising to his feet, his hand grasping the haft of a huge bowie whose glittering blade pinned a buckskin bag of gold-dust to the table, its keen point sunk full aninch into the board by the tremendous blow. His eyes were fixed in savage accusa- tion on a man who also had risen on the oppo- site side of the table, his face expressing the bewilderment of one suddenly sobered by a powerful shock. : The man was Tony Murray! ** Nailed !” shouted Bullwhacker Ben, again, in a voice of thunder, ‘ That pouch belonged to Jim Kane! You see his totem—J. K.” Then from the crowd rose a blood-curdling groan of horror and rage. *Tt’s rough on you, Tony,” reflected the Lit- tle Giant; “‘ but it leads the way to Iron Des- pard!” CHAPTER VI. TREACHERY—THE SUMMONS. Ir was true, The bowie had pierced the bag just between the two initials rudely traced upon it with India ink. Tony Murray saw them in utter amazement. He did not realize then that he was the victim of a diabolical plot. He did not know that the tools of the Little Giant—the figure-head of law and order in Hell Hole—had got him drunk, so that, while he was gambling with Bullwhacker Bon, the nimble-fingered Kid could filch his bag of gold-dust and substitute this fatally mark one, Little Giant and His Band. ‘*Gents!” shouted Bullwhacker Ben, “ this is one of our men, at any rate! This hyar is the vampire what drinks men’s blood! This hyar—” But even his bull-like voice was drowned. “Down him! Down him! The VAMPIRE!” yelled Dan the Devil, No-likee-John and Foxy in a breath, the Kid having quietly ‘‘ slid ” when his work was accomplished. He was a skilled laborer, and left the ‘‘ cattle-trampling” to his ruder colleagues. A glance over his shoulder, a leap into the air and Tony Murray crashed through the window backward, carrying sash and glass, and rolled on the ground in the street. Blinded, stunned, bleeding from a score of wounds, the hunted man scrambled to his feet, tore free the hitching strap by which a horse was fastened before the saloon, and was in the act of mounting when the mob rushed pell-mell through the door. Luckily one stumbled, and several others fell over in a heap, forming a temporary blockade, which enabled Tony Mur- ray to gain the saddle, and dash away into the night. Then pandemonium reigned, until the voice of the Little Giant commanded attention, ‘*Give me balf a dozen men,” he declared, “and 1 will never return without the murderer or his scalp.” Wild were the cheers; and all Hell Hole con- tended for the honor of being numbered in this expedition. But the captain of Vigilantes se- lected those whom he wished—Bullwhacker Ben, Dan the Devil, Foxy, No-likee-John and the Kid —declaring that a greater number would be un- wieldy, and well-mounted, armed and pro- visioned for several days, they, on the following morning, set out in pursuit. Three days later Bullwhacker Ben shouted ex- ultantly: * Boys, we've got him! to this pocket.” And sure enough they came upon the fugitive far up in a narrow glen, kept in perpetual twi- light by the towering walls of granite and the evergreen pines. Gauut with hunger and e ure, and wild- eyed with the dread of death, Tony Murray re- alized that he was never to leave the glen alive, But he resolved to make a desperate fight, sell- a life as dearly as possible. is horse, of no further use to carry him, he shot through the head, that its body might serve asa barrier. Lying behind this, he chal- lenged his pursuers, ‘“Joe Smedley,” he cried, ‘I know you and your crowd. Some day the boys will find you out for the white-livered fraud that_you are: and they'll snatch you bald-headed! You think you’ve put up a neat thing on me; and maybe you'll rub me out. But you’ve got to come and here and fetch me first; and I’ll do my purtiest to score my mark on some o’ you, while you're a-doin’ of it. Now you can open the ball as soon as you get ready.” ‘* Surrender, and you will have a fair trial,” replied the Little Giant. ‘If you can tell the boys where you got that bag of Jim Kane’s, Pl be the first to let up on you.” ‘Too thin, cully! I know your leetle game!” ‘All right. I swore to fetch you or your Thar ain’t no outlet
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Little Giant and His Band. is scalp into town; and I'll do one or the other, as sure as my name is Joe Smedley!” The men began toclimb the sides of the ra- vine, in which they were soon stopped by a per- pendicular wall, but not before they had gained an elevation from which they could fire over the body of the horse, There, out of range of Tom Murray's revolvers, they ee fire. An hour later, the Vigilantes rode from the len, their chief carrying a fresh scalp at his elt. Into Hell Hole they dashed through a cheer- ing, yelling crowd, swung from the saddle, and entered Billy Williams’s saloon. Shout upon shout rose, until the rafters rung again. There was a dash about this young cap- tain which touched a chord in the breasts of those rough fellows. From their midst ke sought the solitude of the mountain road, to let the cool breeze that sweeps down the gulch fan his fevered temples, and to commune in the moonlight with his teeming thoughts, “Tt was a master stroke!” he cried, within himself, exultantly. ‘‘ They are ready to see a vampire in any man who is boldly accused, And this fellow’s devilish temper will make him easy game for my net. Only | must not make a false east. he first impression cost Ten- strike’s life; but it was worth it. It has been forgotten in this new sensation, but, trust me, T'll revive it! But there came a startling interruption—a whizzing sound, a puff of wind on his cheek, and a dull, sudden thud in the trunk of a tree close behind him, To drop to the ground as if shot, was the in- stinct of a man trained to meet all sorts of dan- ger. Aserpentlike movement carried him to the other side of the tree; then the perfect still- ness of the night was unbroken, save by an oc- casional yell from the direction of the camp. He knew what to look for, and where to find it—an arrow sticking in the tree-trunkpon a line with a man’s head. But a leaflike appen- dage to the shaft, close to his head, which swung and twirled in the passing breeze, was an foaelone puzzle, while he waited, watching and listening for the supposed foe, until the rotation of the earth solved the riddle with astray moon- beam, showing him a piece of buckskin traced with rude characters in vermilion, It wasa bit of Indian symbol writing—the figure of a man holding what might be taken for a revolver, a wigwam and a snake traced on it, and between them an arrow pointing to- ward the wigwam, By way of signature, as the Little Giant af- terward learned, to this primitive missive—for message it evidently was, of some purport— bo attached the button from a rattlesnake’s Ata loss to guess its significance, yet, it must be confessed, made somewhat uneasy by the mystery, Joe Smedley made his way back to Hell Hole. Here he was lucky enough to find an interpreter in the first man consulted, per- haps the only one in the place who could have thrown any light on the matter. hy, Cap,” said the Kid, “that button is the totem of Washikitwa, But what in the deuce is she doing up this way, and what did she send you this thing for?” ‘But what does it all mean, to begin with?” was the natural interrogatory of the captain of Vigilantes. ‘** Most noble captain, I'll have to leave you to be your own judge—out of considerution for your feelings,” replied the Kid, ‘‘ Meanwhile, this arrow plainly conveys a summons to her lodge.” “A summons!” ‘“‘Summons or invitation—it’s all the same to royalty, you know.” ** But where will I find ber?” “That I can’t say, But she must be some- where in this neighborhood—anywhere within ten miles. You'll have to bunt her up.” “ But what in the deuce doJ want with the old beldam? If she wants to see me let her come where I am.” “Yes, that’s the white way of looking at it. To you and me she is nothing but a maund:ring old hag; but with a red-skin, her hundred and fifty years commands the reverence due to a god, while he is more afraid of her than the average white man is of the devil—or than he would be if the old fellow were to suddenly ap- ar before him out of the ground, And per- aps it’s worth a white man’s while not to dis- regard that invitation.” * What will come of it if I do?” ** Well, your friends will probably be hunting around for your scalp one of these days.” “But may there not be treachery back of this?” “*T don’t believe there is.” “Well, curse me if I don’t follow it up, any- way! This resolve was scarcely taken, when the echoes of the gulch were awakened by a clatter of hoofs at a dead gallop. The rider, as he threw himself from the saddle and rushed into Billy Williams’s saloon, seemed half dead with fright. ** Boys,” he said, ** I’m a dead man!” ** Nonsense, Johnny! What are you tryin’ to git through ye?” * ve jest seen the devil!” ‘* Whar'd ye see him? What did he look like! What did he do? How in Cain did you git away? Give us all the p’ints, Johnny. Spit it out lively!” And the crowd gathered closer about the man who had cast himself upon a bench dejectedly. “Waal, ye see, it was up by the Mission Ridge”—a place where the castellated rocks suggested the ruins of the old Californian Mis- sions, ‘‘I was feelin’ a leetle shaky, I allow. what with Death Riders an’ vampires an’ sich, as every man hyar knows is mighty scaly critters to meet out alone nights. All of a sudden my hoss gives a shy that nigh set me on my head, an’ right up ont o’ the ground riz the old ‘un himself! I jist got a glimpse, an’ that hoss streaked it fur camp, an’I didn’t try to stop him, nuther, you bet!” ‘But what was he like?’ ‘Waal, sir, [reckon he wa’n’t an inch above three foot higb. He had horns jest like a buffa- ler, an’ long black ha’r what hung down all about him, cl’ar to the ees Ef he had any face on him it was underneath this h’ar, ‘cause
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N Ht I bei Wil nity i} i) lt fii il Nit | ‘ “were the bulfalo-horns, from which. fell coarse Little Giatt and His Band. I didn’t see nothin’ but the horns an’h’ar. He For a good two hours Joe Smedley’s patience jabbed a pitchfork at me, an’ said somethin’ | held out, though sorely tried. Then, as the what we'n’t human lingo. Boys, the spell’s on | figure before him had not once changed its po- me. 1 feel it in my bones, ‘I hain’t got nothin’ | sition, though he had moved restlessly and in ‘this hyar world to keer fur but a little | coughed to rouse the old witch, if she were crippled sister in Evansville, Ingianna, Ef I | sleeping, he asked: t rubbed out one o’ these dark nights, you'll “What would Washikitwa with the Little nd a mapofalead that I’ve been workin’ on | Giant? He is here. His ears are open.” the sly, an’ a little cache o’ dust that I’ve been Be might as well bave talked to a wooden layin’ by, sewed in my bed. I hope some o’ | image. “Washikitwa never so much as moved yell be honest enough to find it, an’ send her | an eyelid. what the thing’s worth.” After waiting perbens an hour longer, he got His faculties dulled by the decop dejection ; up and left the old hag just as he had found which he mistook fora spell, and for the time | her. thinking more of the sister he loved than of his The Kid laughed when appealed to for an ex- surroundings, Johnny Dabb_had been betrayed planation of his strange reception, out of his into a very foolish thing. While most of his Indian lore. auditors felt only dread of the supernatural in- ** Something amiss,” he said. ‘‘ You didn’t fluences that seemed to environ the camp, threat- | go to her in the right time, perhaps. Tho devil ening the safety of all, one resolved to constitute | himself couldu’t always tell what whims seize himself the agent for the fulfillment of the } his ineps. You'll hear from her again.” warning, by knocking Johnny on the head, or And he did. tucking a bowie up under his jacket, with a view On going to bis cabin, he found a piece of to possessing himself of that secret; mine and | bark lying on the doorstone, bearing the figure cache, of a crescent moon midway between two Having heard Johnny Dabb’s description of | stars. the devil, the Kid said to his superior: “Didn't I tell you? She wants you at mid- “That is Washikitwa. Seek her somewhere } night,” was the Kid’s interpretation, among the Mission Ridge crags.” “+The deuceshe does!” replied the Little Giant, On the following day the Little Giant repaired | reflecting, not without some secret misgivings, thither, and, after considerable search, found | on a midnight interview with that weird crea- the lodge of the Indian seeress, It was rudely | ture. . constructed of skins black with age, and hung But before midnight another matter claimed about with the bodies of snakes, lizards, bats, } his attention. ‘toads—all those reptiles whose repudsiveness has The superior attractiveness of Tron Despard’s inspired ignorance with superstitious fears ever } Palace § aloon made it the favorite place of ‘since the world began. resort. The other saloon-keepers being burt in As there was no external sign of life, Joo | that tenderest spot, the pocket, were disposed Smedley ventured to lift the flap and enter. to make common cause against him, At any Squatted on the ground he saw an cibject which | rate, they and their particular friends would be ‘thrilled even his stout heart with dr ead. likely to rally to the support of any one who 1n- curred the hostility of the new man. CHAPTER VII. Tt was early evening, yet both the drinking- THE SECOND DUEL. saloon and the gambling-hall of Iron Despard’s ‘As Johnny Dabb had described them, there | place were crowded, when the door opened, to give admittance to Bullwhacker Ben, followed horse-hair. It was light enough in (she wigwam, | Dy 2 man whose individuality had been made for Joe Smedley to distinzuish through this vail | so secondary to that of the woman in whose of hair the bent form of an old Indian hag, so | establishment he acted in the capacity of emaciated as to look like a parchment-covered | fighting-man, that he was known only as skeleton, The face was wrinkled. almost out of | ‘‘Moll Pritchard’s Right Bower,” which was human semblance, The eyes were «losed, Sho clipped to ‘‘ Bower” when he was directly ad sit clasping ber knees. She might have been | dressed. Three others, known collectively as asleep or dead. Only a slight motion of the | ‘“ Billy Williams's gang,” and representatives hair that fell before her face indicated that she | from the ‘Dew Drop Inn,” the ‘* Way Side,” breathed. the “ Miner’s Delight,” and ‘‘ Muldoon’s Elbow” Knowing the strange habits of these people, | (suggested by that descriptive bit of slang— the Little Giant sat down and waited patiently’ | ‘‘crooking one’s elbow”) accompanied thesa for the enchantress to notice his presence, | doughty warriors to see fair play. Meanwhile he amused himself by looking her) By all this, it will be seen that the matter had over. : been ‘‘cooked up” very nicely. The very meu She was hung all over with charms—oddly-- | who “took a hand” did not ‘‘drop” to the Lit- shaped bits of wood or crude metal, shells, | :tle Giant anywhere in the “deal,” pebbles ani bones. There were the fangs and Taking his stand in the middle of the bar- rattles of snakes, the teeth of animals, tufts of | room, Bullwhacker Ben demanded boldly: hair, and bits of dried hide, All these were: | “ Whar’s this new man, Iron Despard?” fashioned into ndants, which fringed the | Iron Despard “spotted” the army that had whole rims of her ears, and necklaces that: | dropped on him, | their interests, and run me out?” he reflected, as he stepped forward in his cool way. Ao Sa worked into grotesque figures that covered her garments, z _ hung upon her bare breast, besides being | “*So these fellows have concluded to pool
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Little Giant and His Band. 15 “Well, stranger, I reckon I’m the man you're looking for,” he said to the ex-buliwhacker. The latter eyed him insolently from head to foot, and then asked; “Ts this all thar is of ye?” “There is probably enough of me to answer your purpose,” replied the gambler prince. * What do you want?” _ “* Waal, boss,” said Bullwhacker Ben, assum- ing a blustering tone, ‘t you’ve come to this hyar town with yer new-fangled gimcracks, a-tryin’ fur to hold over better men than you be, any day, an’ men that the boys has knowed ever sence the place was opened up. Now, that thar’s all right, ef you've got the sand to back it, but you’ve got to ’arn yer footin’ in this hyar berg. So we’ve come to say that you’ve either got to git, or kick!” “ Is that all that you have to say?” asked Iron Despard, with perfect coolness, a pegs as how it is.” ell, this is my reply: To in with, you lie, when you say that you awe better man than I am in this town. In the second place, I have the sand, and shall most certainly kick.” Without a word further Bullwhacker Ben made a great parade of pulling off his hat and handing it to Moll Pritchard’s Right Bower, aud rolling the sleeves of his shirt up above the elbow. ‘* Boss,” he said, ‘* will you have it in hyar, or outside?” ‘* T will accommodate you outside, if it is the sanie to you,” was the cool rejoinder, ** Oh, you'll find me a mighty e: man to git along with,” affirmed Bullwhacker Ben. ‘*’Bout face, boys. This hyar meetin’s adjourned to the street.” Despard turned to the men in his saloon. ““Gentlemen,” he said, “I am a stranger among you; but I reckon there’s white men enough in this town to see fair play. You know the crowd that has raided me to-night, perhaps better thanI do, Now, I’m ready to take them all, one at a time, or, 1f that don’t suit, two at a time, provided they face me; but I don’t want any blows in the back—” “ And, by thunder, pardner, you sha’n’t have none!” cried Hoss Johnson. “‘ Ain’t that so, Joe?” he pursued, appealing to the Little Giant. ‘““Weare not murderers here. Every white man has a fair show,” replied the captain of Vigilantes, coldly. “Thar?” exclaimed Hoss Johnson, who had no fine ear for shades of tone. ‘‘ You hyar what the cap says, an’I reckon ef he don’t run this hyar camp, thar don’t nobody!” fron Despard looked from Hoss Johnson to Joe Smedley. The former he saw atonce was an honest fellow whom it would do to “tie” to. Although he knew nothing of the relations of the latter with the Queen of the Green Cloth, be had instinctively felt his hostility at first sight. Now he began to perceive dimly that the real fight was with this man. He concluded that Joe Smedley feared his rival popularity. “Thank you, gentlemen,” he said, making his address general. “If you will step outside I will try to show you some fun.” As we have already described it, the street in front of the Palace Saloon was brilliantly illu- minated bya large gasoline lamp, such as is used by showmen. The reader will remember that Iron Despard wore a long military cloak. This be removed together with his coat, taking somewhere from their folds, as he handed them to Hoss Johnson, a bowie-knife which fairly matched the huge weapon of Bullwhacker Ben, This was the first surprise, as few men carried so formidable an instrument of death. From the bosom of his ‘‘ b’iled” shirt flasheda dazzling cross of ten large diamonds—a king’s ransom in value—his possession of which no one would have suspected from his perfect freedom of display in dress. The miners began to perceive that this was a new manner of man, who wore thousands of dollars in gems concealed from the eye of the world, merely for his personal satisfaction. He next removed his spurs and hat, and then bound a fine silk handkerchief about his head to keep his long hair from falling before his eyes. Lastly, he rolled up the sleeves of his linen shirt and of a silk undershirt, disclosing an arm which called forth from the crowd a murmur of sur- prise and admiration. Beneath a skin as smooth and white as ala- baster, the muscles lay folded one upon the other like bands of steel. “Pardon me for keeping you so long waiting. I am ready,” he said, confronting Bullwbacker Ben in an attitude of perfect grace and strength, and fixing his glittering eyes upon those of his adversary with that fascinating intensity pecu- liar to them. Their knives clashed with a blood-curdling gvide. Then they began to circle slowly round each other—toe to toe, eye to eye! The spectators stood breathless, The crowd now saw that if the gambler’s wind held out, his adversary was a doomed man. They had to surge back and forth to make way before the constantly shifting con- testants. Yells of fear, shouts of encourage- ment, cries of direction or warning filled the air. Men came rushing from all directions to swell the crowd, until all Hell Hole was on the t. Bullwhacker Ben’s friends showed a disposi- tion to break up the fight; but there were dis- interested lovers of fair-play, who under the lead of Hoss Johnson, exerted themselves to keep the space about the duelists clear. Suddenly with a yell of terror, Bullwhacker es turned and ran, dodging this way and that. “Turn! turn! or I will strike you in the back!” cried Iron Despard, as he followed him with suspended knife, 9 “ Enough! enough! Ben’s got enough!” yelled his friend. ‘Stop him! Keep him off!” “Tt was to the death!” cried the Demon Duelist; for now he looked a veritable demon. “Turn! Turn!” As he spoke, he szized the fugitive by the hair. Bullwhacker Ben turned and tried to ward off the expected blow. But his guard was beaten down and the mur- derous bowie plunged into his side. At last Iron Despard dropped the lifeless
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Little Giant and His Band. corpse, and, once more tearing the bloody hair from before his madly-glaring eyes, addressed the crowd. ‘Men of Hell Hole, I don’t know the extent of the wound I have received—it may be my death, If it is, this may be my last chance to pet even with certain parties in this town who ave cliqued together for the purpose of running me out of it, ou know, as well as I do, that the fight with Ten-strike Tom, like this one, was forced upon me. Now, I accuse nobody in er ticular; but there is somebody back of these men who has hounded them on. That’s the man I want to meet! If there isa man who has a quarrel with me, let him come now, backed by all the curs that he has ready to set barking at my heels!” No one daring to accept this bold challenge, a dead silence reigned. The door of the Palace Saloon opened, and the Queen of the Green Cloth came forth. The crowd opened before her, and she passed through them, looking neither to the right nor to the left. Reaching Iron Despard’s side, she stooped so astoclasp him about the thighs, and so bring his weight upon her shoulder, as she lifted him. Seoing her purpose, Hoss Johnson sprung for- ward to relieve her of so disproportioned a bur- den; but staggering erect, she said, in a low, hoarse voice: ‘Don’t interfere with me!” Constrained to obedience by her imperious manner, he desisted. Joo Smedley suddenly set his teeth and clinched his hands, ina spasm of jealous fury that nearly forced a cry of furious protest from his lips; but the woman never looked his way. In dead silence the crowd saw her pass through their midst, and enter the saloon, when the door closed behind her, What manner of woman was this? CHAPTER VIII. THE WARNING, InsTEAD of dispersing, the crowd before the Palace Saloon gathered into knots, to discuss the tragedy that had just been enacted. Man thought that the gambler prince had got death-blow. Some observed an ominous silence, scowling gloomily. Having left directions for the burial of Bull- whacker Ben, the Little Giant went to his ap- pointment with the Indian seeress. He found the Medicine Lodge as before. Be- side it the Indian witch was stirring a kettle which was hung from three sticks. The fire, fed with resinous wood, gave forth a dense cloud of black smoke, which, after enveloping the con- jurer, so that with the play of the wind she was sometimes visible, framed in its edging folds, and sometimes completely hidden from sight, rose against the face of a cliff, the top of which was shadowed by overhanging pines. At sight of the Little Giant, Wasbikitwa raised her hand, interdicting a nearer approach. He stopped and waited. The medicine-woman began to chant a low wild monody. The steam that rose from er kettle gradually assumed a faint luminosity. The clouds, gathering thicker, wrapped all else in blackest night, At first the faint radiance from the pot showed the upper half of the old Indian’s body—her buffalo-horns, head-dress and her wrinkled face, seen through the vail of horse-hair. Gradually the figure became indistinct, until its outlines were lost. Then it reappeared, with an effect like that of dissolving views. But, behold a change most marvelous! No longer the Indian witch, but the beautiful siren who had so nearly lured the Little Giant over a precipice! Again was the man paralyzed by that abject terror. He felt rooted to the spot. A voice like the sighing of the winds came to him across the witch’s caldron: “ Forego your wicked purpose, Be warned ! Be warned |” Then the strange vision faded out, until a dense cloud of smoke arose enveloping all. When it cleared away again, the witch stood in her place, stirring the pot and mumbling her barbarous chant. With a blind impulse to do he knew not what, Joe Smedley took a step forward, But at that instant his senses were wrapped in oblivion, as before they had been on the verge of the cliff. The Little Giant recovered consciousness, to find the night transformed into day. In wonder he gazed about him, The Medicine Lodge and the Indian sorceress were gone, He might have thought it all a dream, but that a pile of ashes marked the spot of the fire from which had risen so marvelous a vision. here was a dull throbbing pain in his head, and his thoughts were confused, Slowly he left the spot. And now, what was the outcome of it all? Were the powers of the invisible world arrayed against his pet If so, should he yield to pe) or persist in his purpose in despite of them Thus far no malign fnfluence had fallen ee him personally; but the agents of his will had both been destroyed. Instead of returning directly to the camp, he made a semi-circuit among the crags, in order to be longer alone with his thoughts. Coming out into the road which approached the camp from below, his attention was attracted by the sound of a horse ridden at aneasy canter, which was arrested while he listened. Then came the sound of a woman’s voice. Creeping forward he came upon a surprise— not a pleasant ppe— Hee face to face with the Queen of the Green Cloth! “I beg your pardon for stqpDing, you,” she said, while her face was the ttle-ground of contending emotions’ ‘‘ but I have that which I must say to you.” ‘“* What is it, my good woman?” asked tho Queen of the Green Cloth, with lofty patronage. A flush of resentment came to Hally’s cheek, and a flash to her eye, which, however, she struggled to curb, “‘T hardly know how to begin,” she said, in a tremulous voice. “It is an appeal to your generosity—” The Queen of the Green Cloth at once made a move to draw forth her purse. “Not that! not that!” cried Hally, starting back, as proud as the haughty beauty before her,
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Little Giant and His Band. 1? “Tam not a beggar—at least not for money. AJL I ask is my proper due.” ‘T am at a loss to guess how I can serve you,” said the Queen of the Green Cloth, looking at the other curiously. * By not robbing me of that which is of more value to me than all else in the world—Joe Smedley’s love !” was the response, in a burst of pain, humiliation, and heart-wrung entreaty; and the speaker extended her clasped hands, while ber eyes filled with tears, and her lips quivered with sobs. “He is mine!” she went on, passionately. “Yow have no right to bim! Is it not enough—” ‘* Stop!” cried the Queen of the Green Cloth, raising ber hand imperiously. ‘I have nothing to do with Mr. Smedley, or any other. [am a stranger in this place, and am not on speaking terms with a single man here, except my hus- band and those in his employ, and with them only when business requires it. Your jealousy is absurd—” “Listen to me, and then I will leave it to your fairness whether it is or not. Ten years ago Joe Smedley won the love of #& girl who would have walked over burning plowshares to conduce in the slightest degree to his happiness. For him she sacrificed all that a woman can yield up—not grudgingly, but freely, gladly, without a trace of regret, more than repaid by bis smile. For afew short months she lived in a fool’s paradise. Then came the awakening. I will not go into the details of that terrible agony—that death in life! He saw another— omen For love of you he cast off one whose ife was bound up in his love, and so drove her to suicide, \ “A year ago I met him in San Francisco, I knew the story of the woman whose heart he had broken; but I came under his fascination, and for well or ill risked my happiness where she had wrecked hers. ; “* Of his past relations witb you, and what led to the rupture between you, I know nothing. I only know that he loves you still, and is seeking you again. If you reject him so decidedly as to leave no ground for hope, I may still be able to retain him, with at least the outward mani- festations of love. My God! it is so little that I ask! Don’t break my heart as you did the heart of that other!” Tears rained from her eyes; her voice was broken by sobs; in the abandonment of suppli- cation she clasped the skirt of Hortense Dan- gerfield’s riding-habit. The Queen of the Green Cloth was not moved to womanly compassion “by this piteous specta- cle. She said, coldly: ‘*T pass over the questionable compliment of such an appeal to a woman already married. But go home and free your mind of this foolish jealousy. Mr. Smedley is nothing to me, nor I tohim, And now, if you will excuse me—” She touched her horse with the whip and rode on. Hally looked after her with a dead despair in her face. “Oh, the marble heart!—the cruel tigress!” she moaned, and cast herself on the ground in an agony of weeping. She was aroused by a footfall, andstarted up, to find the Little Giant standing beside her with folded arms and a frown of anger on his brows. “Oh, Joe!—don’t! don’t!” she pleaded, clasp- ing his knees, “ How dared you?” he demanded, not offering to lift ber up. “Tlove you so! I love you so! Don’t kill me, Joe, by fcrsaking me for her! It will kill me if you do! Ilove you! I love you!” ‘* Get up!” he commanded, The woman obeyed, standing before him like one awaiting the death sentence, He took her chin in his hand and lifted her face to a penetrating scrutiny. Her tear-swimming eyes, ber pain-drawn face appealed to him. But be remained unmoved, “How did you come to know what you have just told?” he asked. “*T learned it when I was a girl from he,” was the tremulous reply. ‘* Who are you, anyway?” was the abrupt in- terrogatory. The woman caught her breath and her heart ceased beating, but, not noticing this, he kept n: ‘*T have always been haunted by a resem- blance in you to some one whom I must have known or seen in the past, Tell me—who were you?” ‘“No, Joe, you never saw me before,” replied the woman, having somewhat regained her self- possession, ‘* You may have heard her speak of me—her little cousin, Hatty.” “By Jove! I have. And Hally and Hatty are both from Harriet, of course.” “It is my family resemblance to her that has puzzled you, and I have often been afraid that you would find me out, You'll forgive me, Joe? i I didn’t want to pain you by recalling the past, : There was an absent look in his eyes, of replying directly to her, he said: “Go home. And, understand, there is to be no more of this,” ‘Yes, Joe.” She gazed at him as if hungering for some caress, even a look of softening—the slightest sign that she had not hopelessly offeaded him and alienated his love, He offered none. With a humility born of she utter abandon- ment of love, she lifted his hand and kissed it deprecatingly, then turned and walked silently Instead way. ‘ “So,” reflected the man, when he was alone, ‘it is to save her cousin from her own unhappy fate that she has come back!” But instead of softening him, this opposition made him more resolute, until he declared: “Pl put this thing through, or bu’st!” He had been walking with his eyes on the ground, in deep abstraction. ‘When he came to this resolution, he raised his head and stepped out boldly, but stopped with a sudden chill, He had nearly ran into a-body hung across the road—the body of Tidy Tip! It bore the bloody marks of the Skeleton Avengers. ‘‘My God! another?” he exclaimed with a shudder. ‘There are but three of us left! What is the connection between her coming and
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i these mysterious skeletons? Are they super- natural after ali? Am J reserved for the last? Bab! I will defy vhem all!” Into the camp he went and roused the Vigi- lantes. When the body of Tidy Tip was ex- hibited to the crowd, it wrought them to a ter- rible piteh of fury, All day long the worst element of Hell Hole had congregated in groups, talking in low, rumbling tones, and often turning glances of frowning hatred in the direction of the Palace Saloon—a feeling that was fostered by the rival saloon interests. When Iron Despard appeared upon the street, perhaps a little paler, but in no other way showing any trace of tho terrible affray of the night before, the fact was commented upon to this effect: ** Ye see, blood-lettin’ don’t hurt him none. He has ways an’ means o’ fillin’ up ag’in!”. And now the worst construction was put upon the death of Tidy Tip, just at this time. “Dido’t [ tell ye? Tidy Tip had to make good the blood that Bullwhacker Ben let out of him last night!” “ Boys,” declared Dan the Devil, ‘‘thar’s no two ways about it—he’s one of ’em! You seen the fix Ben was in arter he got through with him. I leave to any gent in the crowd, ef Tip’s caso hyar ain’t a chaw of the same plug. We might as well douse his glim first as last. I move that we go fur him instanter!” Growls of assent passed through the crowd, gradually swelling to yells, which to the end took the form of: Down with the vampires |” The crowd surged madly and was on tho point of breaking away to storm the Palace Saloon, when the kid made himself heard. “Hold on, gentlemen,” he said, in his cool, off-hand way, while he held his cigarette daintily between finger and thumb.’ “I’m with you, in this matter, heart and soul; bat let me suggest that what is done hastily is sel- dom done well. Admitting that Iron Despard is a vampire, doss it occur to you that vam- pires don’t passin their checks after ordinary mathods? Suppose this one chooses to vanish ina cloud of smoke, just when you think the ad are allup to give him the grand bounce? Vhat de you propose to do about it?” “ What, indeed? Here wasa dilemma which took everybody by surprise. The men stood agog, gazing blankly into one another’s faces. “Now,” pursued the Kid, as indifferently as if he were arranging the most trivial thing in the world, ‘‘I have a plan.” “Spit ’er out, boss!” cried a burly fellow. “Hf you sea a way cl’ar to flax him, we'll back ye, every man Jack of us!” “T have a fancy,” pursued the Kid, blowing a thin wreath of smoke into the air, “ to pitch my .luck agaiast his. You see, a vampire can always kill himself, when any other man couldn’t touch one side of him. Now I propose to stand him three hands of draw, the one who comes oul second best to pass in his checks in any way most agreeable to himself.” Those who heard this remarkable speech stood dumb with astonishment. Then con- sidering th. coolness with which it had been Little Giant and His Band. made, the Kid returning nonchalantly to the enjoyment of his cigarette, the man who had guaranteed the support of the crowd, in antici- pation of the Kid’s project, said: “That’s a purty good joke, as jokes go; but this hyar ain’t the time o’ day fur no doggone foolishness.” ‘* Joke!” replied the Kid. ‘‘ DoI ever joke?” ‘* But what in thunder’s the sense o’ this thing? What fur vould you pit your life ag’in’ his'n!” “Oh, a whim of mine. I’ve played for ail sorts of stakes in my time. Just now I’ve a notion to put up something that is worth while. If he’s a better man than Ein, T'll not squeal— you may bet on that,” “But, pardner, by all accounts, a vampire ought to be so’s he could stock the keerds ag’in’ the devil himself.” sine ‘Tf he can beat me at it he’s welcome to try,” replied the Kid. Although he = so carelessly, the men saw that he was really in earnest. There was some- thing wildly exhilarating in the idea of such a game; so they fell in with it. Instead of charging the Palace Saloon with 2 war-whoop, as they had proposed, they betook themselves thither in as orderly a manner as is usual with such men, the Kid modestly avoid- ing any conspicuousness of position, CHAPTER 1X. THE THIRD DUEL, Tron DESPARD’S wound was a comparatively slight one, in the arm, instead of in the side, as the spectators supposed. He had fainted from excessive excitement, his system being already taxed by illness. Early in the day following his encounter with Bullwhacker Ben, Hoss Johnson came to him and said: ‘‘ Look a-hyar, partner, I like you: an’ when I take stock ina man, I’m bound to give him pints, if Ikin. Now, I reckon you're calculated to hoe your own row, as a rule;- but a man that takes a contract to clean out a hull town is bound to git licked. Thar’s some purty tough cusses in this hyar town, an’ the hull gang is down on you. They’re talkin’ vampire; an’ you know what that means as well asIdo, The thing’ll come to a head by night, if you hain’t jumped the place. So I’ve come to say, if you and your lady wants places in the stage, I kin pick you up on the quiet a couple o’ miles down the road.” “You are very kind,” replied Iron Despard; ‘but I never yet was run out of any place. I propose to stand against all comers as long as I have 2 leg to stand on.” “ But I hate to see a good man bowled out in this hyar way; an’ they’re bound to do it.” “ Perhaps.’ * Then you won't go?” “Thanking you for your kindness—no.” Later in the day, after her meeting with Hally, Hortense Dangerfield sat; in the living room 2f her homs, while [ron Despard leaned with his elbow against the sash, looking dream- ily out of the window. —_ raising her eyes from her sewing, sho asked;
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| “ Despard, have [ contributed to your happi- ness during our association?” He started out of his reverie, and going over to where she sat, began to stroke her hair fond- ly. Under that silent caress the woman stopped her work, but did not look up. She sat rigid, not moving, scarcely breathing. “What is it, my queen?” he asked. Oh, nothing—nothing—a woman’s whim,” she replied. ‘* But—you haven’t answered me.” After a pause, he said, simply: “ Yes.” She went on with her sewing, very quietly, feeling that his eyes rested upon her specula- tively, though he did not question her further. Perhaps he believed that, as she said, it was merely a passing whim. When he left the room, she abruptly dropped ber work, leaned back in her chair with closed eyes, and sat perfectly still for a long time, while her face grew paler and paler, until sud- denly she started to her feet with a low, ‘intense cry: ** My God!” For a time she moved aimlessly about the rowm, alternately clinching her hands and dash- ing the hair back from herdamp forehead, Tbe fever, whatever its cause, finally burnt itself out; and her wonted baughty calm returned. She showed no trace of agitation when, that evening, the Kid presented himself, followed by men whose hostility to Iron Despard was well known. ** T have the honor of addressing Mr. Despard Dangerfield?” he asked, courteously, of the gam- bler prince. “That is my name, sir,” was tho cool reply, Tron Despard instinctively feeling that this waz preliminary to a challenge, ‘*fam George Gordon, perhaps better known as the Kid.” “] have heard of you. How can I serve , ” you? ‘*Thave come to serve you,” Ah!” “Tn this way. You know, of course, that your road, thus far, in this town, hasn’t heen a very smooth one,” “T have no reason to complain,” interposed the gambler prince, indifferently. . » “No,” smiled the Kid, ready enough to see the point. “ But things are getting no better fast. The fact is, this camp has made up its mind that it has no use for you. I don’t say that a compromise could. be effected. I take it that vou're not the man to be backed down—” * Hardly!” ** And then, perhaps, things have gone so far that the boys eatin’ listen to it. I needn’t tell you that you rather hold over some of our old citizens in the same line of trade; and a man’s pocket is his god, Then, Ten-strike Tom, and Bullwhacker Ben were good men in their way, and bound to have their crowd. I reckon these are the parties that are bound to get sqnare with you. They yell ‘ vampire,’ and in this camp, just now, it’s a deuced ugly cry. I tell you, frankly, I don’t take any stock in it; and that’s why I am here with the proposition I in- tend to make,” Little Giant and His Band. 19 ‘What proposition?” “T am trying to do youa friendly turn, as one gentleman serving another.” “But if you win, what do you gain?” “The satisfaction of knowing that I did not leave one of my own caste to be trampled in the mud—par la canaille,” he said, speaking in French, so that the men of Hell Hole might not know that he was calling them “ the rabble” to their face, ** And if you lose?” The kid shrugged his shoulders, ‘7 shall have done ths best I could for you.” * And do you mean to say that in that event you would take your own life?” ** Certainly.” ‘“*T thank you for your kind intentions; but T | decline to play w:th you on such unequal terms.” “Oh, but you must!” “Must?” “ft have told the boys that I meant to play you; and I never go back on my word.” ‘But do you suppose I would accept safety from any man, by exposing him to a gratuitous risk? ‘Don't misunderstand the situation, There is no safety for you any wa —only a choice of how you shall pass in your checks.’ “Tn any event, you are taking this hazard upon yourself without cause. I am ready to meet foes, without involving friends,” “Look here, my dear sir, don’t force me to insult you; for I assure you that I have held you in highest esteem, ever since 1 saw your metal. This is the way J look at the matter: the honor of gentlemen is assailed; we, as gen- tlemen, are equally bound to defend it; IT never shirked a responsibility in honor in my life. There you have it in a nutshell. That's the rea- son this thing must go through, even it I bave to insult you to bring it on.” A Tron Despard extended his hand cordially. “There shall be nothing but friendship be- tween us,” he said. ‘I wish that I could dis- suade you from this; but I think that I appre- ciate your feelings, which make it im stile. You will believe me when I say that, from the bottom of my heart I hope you will win.” “Tdo. But I trust to be honor to play your best against me, as I shall against you.” ‘* Certainly.” Then the strange contestants, the warmest friends, yet each playing against the other's life, placed themselves at a table, where they were surrounded by absorbed lookers-on. The deal fell to Iron Despard—a matter of no advantage in the game they were playing, After discarding and refilling their hands, the Kid showed a small pair. “Thar!” growled one of the spectators. “That’s fur playing a vampire. The Kid’s booked !” But, upon being shown, Iron Despard’s hand contained nothing. The Kid had won the first hand, “T congratulate you,” said the pee prince. ‘Your chance is now much better than” mine.” “ A game’s never played. out until the last card’s turned,” replied the Kid,
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} ee = Sa en 20 In the second hand Iron Despard showed three of a kind, the Kid two pairs, Now the interest centered in the last hand. The showing of the cards decided a life. f The Kid discarded two cards, Iron Despard our, A murmur of delight ran through the crowd. ‘** By Judas! we'll fotch the crittur’, vampire or no vampire! Thar’s three of a kind on our side, fur rocks!” Tron Despard did not look at the four cards he drew. Nothing was to be gained by it. He would know their value soon enough, Tbe Kid displayed his cards, A shout—a cheer—a yell! ‘** A full hand, by all that’s lovely!” * Three aces and two kings! Hooray!” ** Good boy, Gordon! The Kid forever!” * T can’t say I’m sorry for you,” said the Kid. “It gives you the gentlemanly opening that I came here to offer you—unless, indeed, you can make a better showing.” “Tt isn’t probable,” said Iron Despard with no show of emotion. Then, with a careless band, he proceeded to toss his cards over one at a time, The deuce of hearts came first. “A bad lead-off,” commented one of the on- lookers, The deuce of clubs. ** Blast his little pair!” The deuce of diamonds. ae an’ lightnin’! he’s got three of a king ‘** But he'll want ’em, an’ more.” The ace of hearts. * Hooray! Aces no more!” *- That settles her!” * Johnny, fork over my leetle ounce!” There was a confused Babelof comments. But suddenly a deathlike hush fell. _ The last curd turned by Iron Despard was the deuce of spades! It was the voice of the Kid that broke the stillness, — ‘Now I am sorry for you,” he said, tossin away his cigarette. ‘“ Your four of a kin plays the very deuce with my full hand.” And he laughed lightly, Buta groan of remonstrance went through the crowd, Tron Despard rose and held up his hand to si- Jence the crowd. * Men of Hell Hole,” he said, ‘‘ I want you to unite with me in absolving this brave gentleman from the stipulations of this unnatural game. You have nothing against him, nor have I. If any one is to die, [ am the man.” Ithough the crowd manifested their concur- rence in this, the Kid demurred. * Gentlemen, you don’t know me. for a certain stake, TI lost, anything that is square.” xpostulations were yain, though many of the Kid's friends joined with Iron Despard in a direct appeal. “A gentleman never goes back on his word,” was his ultimatum. ‘it’s the easiest way to step down and out.” ‘rack! I played I never back out of A convulsive shudder—the pistol fell from his Little Giant and His Band. a) nerveless grasp—his head sunk upon his breast. Propped in the angle formed by the back of his chair and the wall, the Kid sat, a corpse! A moment of deathlike stillness, Then began a Neca which swelled to a clamor, a shout, a yell: * Down with the vampire |” CHAPTER X, THE FOURTH DUEL, But there came an interruption, rian voice shouted: ‘* Hold on, boys! Give me a show.” No-likee-Johu interposed between Iron Des- pard and the enraged mob, When he could make himself heard, he ex- plained his purpose. “ Now I want to tackle him on cl’ar muscle! Ef he kin git away with me, I want to know it.” Here was a chance for more ‘‘ fun,” and of a novel sort. Feeling sure of their man in the end, the crowd was willing to defer their final A stento- disposition so as to make room for any little ** side mills.” Iron Despard smiled sardonically. ““ What conditions do you propose?” asked the gambler of No-likee John. ‘‘Nature’s weapons, and no rules to bother. Ketch as ketch kin.” “All right, gentlemen!” Iron Despard said, briskly ; and all passed into the street. Having thrown his hat on the ground and drawn his shirt over his head, No-likee John was ready for the contest, His great breadth of shoulders, depth of chest and length of arm, and the remarkable muscular development of the man, now showed to advantage. ‘* Be the powers!” declared Foxy. ‘* Wanst in his grip, and he has the hug of a grizzly in the two arms ay ’um!” Tron Despard did not remove his shirt, though every man in the crowd waited eagerly to com- pare him with his antagonist, It was understood that this fight was to be hampered by none of the rules of the prize- ring. Aside from the stipulation that no wea- pon or missile of any kind was to be used, the contestants were perfectly free. As they stood face to face, Iron Despard was the taller, No-likee-John the heavier. For a time they moved cautiously about each other, watching their chance, Presently Iron Despard began to advance, No-likee-John as guardedly retreating, but gathering himself for a spring. Allof a sudden he shot forward like a thun- derbolt, but was met by a buffet which sent him reeling back. Iron Despard did not seem to care about fol- lowing up his advantage. He smiled disdain- fully at the groan of hatred that went up from the crowd. E No-likee-John advanced again, cool, but with a look of determination in his eyes. “* Clinch him, Jack.” This suggestion was needless, since No-likee- John had thought of no other plan of fightIng from the start,
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Little Giant and His Band. He thought he saw his chance when Iron Despard dropped his guard. A rush; and he grasped the empty air. Instead of striking him as before, Iron Des- pard suddenly sunk, as if into the ground, But the next instant No-likee John felt a head thrust between his legs, and himself lifted and hurled through the air. Turning a complete somerset, he struck the ground on his back and shoulders, with a con- cussion that knocked the breath out of his body. The crowd ie, ay and yelled, glaring at Iron Despard vengefully. Again the gambler prince disdained to im- prove a just advantage, but stood with folded arms, waiting for his foe to “‘ toe the scratch ” once more. “Gentlemen,” he said, ‘‘ you see that this man is no match for me—” “Thrue fur the divil! Sure, nothing human will stand agen’ ’um!” declared an Irishman. “‘Thave no desire to take his life,” pursued Iron Despard, not heeding the muttered inter- ruption, “I therefore propose that we throw up this contest, before any more damage is done.” / . But No-likee-John was himself the first to op- se this, not waiting for an expression of opin- ion from his backers, “Never!” he cried, grinding the word between his teeth. ‘‘ Once let me git my paws on ye, an’ Tl show ye a trick!” Iron Despard knew that herein lay his dan- ea Those bony fingers were like, clamps of steel. No-likee-John advanced, champing his teeth and working his hands, as if they itched to clutch and tear his adversary. Now the fight was renewed in deadly earnest. In eluding the clutch of his foe, Iron Despard was as light on his feet asa pantber. Now and then, as opportunity offered, he stood his ground and delivered a lightning blow straight from the shoulder. The crowd was wild with excitement, many of No-likee-John’s friends showing a disposition to aid him by getting in the way of Iron Despard’s movements. The gambler prince saw that the fight must be brought to a close very soon, if he did not wish to become the victim of foul play. 4 aig swift blows hurled No-likee-John back, lazed. The next instant a universal wail of horror went up. In one of those unreasoning panics which seize a crowd, those nearest the spot rushed away in every direction, The space to_the door of his saloon was thus left free. Iron Despard availed himself of this opportunity; and the door closed upon his vanishing figure before the crowd recovered itself. Then rose’ yells of vengeance; and the mob hurled itself against the door en masse. What was the surprise to find that this was as firm as a rock! Now they discovered, moreover, that oak shutters had made their app-arance at the inside of the windows. Under their very noses the Palace Saloon had been suddenly con- yerted into a bullet-proof fortress, That then 21 was the secret of Iron Despard’s pretended leave- taking of the Queen of the Green Cloth! “ Begorra! the divil has outwitted us!” whis- pered Foxy, to the Little Giant. “On the contrary,” was the well-satisfied re- ply, as the speaker listened to the cry of ‘‘ vam- pire,” on every lip, ‘‘ if he had consulted me, he couldn’t have pleased me better. Now we've got him!” {t looked as if his words were not without foundation: for the furious mob was raining bullets against the house. Glass enough was pera; but the oak shutters defied pistol as- sault, “ But what air we standin’ hyar fur, doin’ nothin’?” cried Moll Pritchard’s Right Bower, ‘*What’s wantin’ is a batterin’-ram.” “A batterin’-ram! a batterin’-ram!” yelled the crowd. In that country such a requirement was not long in forthcoming. Sixty seconds after the demand was made a couple of axes were ring- ing in alternate blows; and soon there was a swish through the air, followed by the concus- sion of a tree striking the ground. Rapid blows severed the top with its few branches; and the engine of war was ready. * Hold on, boys; we don’t want the hull raft of ye!” shouted Moll Pritchard’s Right Bower, as the mob jostled each other in their eagerness to have a hand on the battering-ram, By a great deal of profanity and some back- ing of authority by physical force, he selected his men, “Now, charge !” he commanded. With a vell they set out. Crack ! crack! crack ! erack! crack ! crack! From somewhere within the house came tha ringing reports in rapid succession. They must have been fired through some aperture prepared for such an emergency. No smoke appeared on the outside to indicate the position of the marksman. The execution done, however, proved him a master. Six men tumbled headlong, and dropping the ram long before it reached the door the rest fled in every direction, with yells of terror, That was a protest which spoke louder then words. The six men, among whom the first to fall was the redoubtable Moll Pritchard’s Right Bower, lay as if dead. Hell Hole raged—out of pistol range! ‘‘ We'll have to wait until after dark, boys; and then we'll burn him out of his rat-hole,” cried one. But feeling the need of a new leader, he went on:—‘t Whar’s the Leetle Giant?” But Joe Smedley was nowhere to be found. The Queen of the Green Cloth must not see him an active participant in the measures against Tron Despard’s life, however much she might suspect that they were urged forward at his in- stigation. efore night all of the six shot from the battering-ram revived and crept away, when it was found that they had been ‘ creased,” the bullets having only grazed their skulls. But this evident willingness on the part of Iron Despard to spare their lives while protecting his own, did not prevent the piling of combustil les against his house, as soon as the darkness afforded a cover, ‘The match was then applied
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and the incendiary beat a hasty retreat; but not a sound was heard from those within the ouse, by the walls, along the eaves and over the roof crept the serpent-tongued flames, curling in eddying clouds of black smoke against the face of the cliff before which the house was built. Just beyond pistol-range, the mob formed a yelling, hooting semicircle, waiting with wea- pons, in readiness for the expected rush of the vampire from his burning house. But he did not come forth. *“T tell ye what it is, boys,” declared Moll Pritchard’s Right Bower, “‘ them vampires is all salamanders, Now, [ allow, he jest smiles at But at this moment a man came rushing toward the spot, with every mark of strong excitement. Joe Smedley had just been in- formed of the fire; but he was too late to save the Queen of the Green Cloth, if she was yet in that burning building. Before he could make inquiry, he heard a general cry of amazement, and beheld a spec- tacle which chained him to the spot. Behind the vail of smoke which rose from the burning building was seen the figure of a woman ascending the perpendicular face of the cliff— not by climbing, which would have been im- possible, but by floating, as if borne aloft by some supernatural agency. “Good God! it’s the yooss of the Queen of the Green Cloth!” cried Moll Pritchard’s Right Bower, in an awed voice, and this was the gen- erally accepted theory. But to the little Giant, staring like a man turned to stone, this strange spectacle had a dif- ferent significance. He recognized the siren who had twice before warned him to desist from his plot. Now her eyes were fixed upon him threateningly. Up the cliff she rose, to disappear over its verge. ‘he mob stood gazing at the spot where she had vanished, every man dumfounded. Then Dan the Devil i aaron with excited words of instruction and exhortation, as he rushed from point to point among the crowd, Every one who heard him set up a yell of rage. hen came hurried orders restraining the crowd from rushing off ina body. Some were directed to remain where they were, some de- tailed to follow leaders who rushed off into the night with every indication of pressing emer- - gency. CHAPTER XI. THE AVENGERS AT HOME, But fron Despard was not in the burning house, He had made a brave fight up to the point where further defiance would be mere foolhardi- ness. Then, knowing--none better than he— that one man cannot fight a whole community, he had retreated through an avenue prepared beforehand, Until nightfall he defended his beleaguered house, Then, having secured his valuables in Little Giant and His Band. a@ grip-sack, he went into a back room and reached up into what appeared {o be the chim- ney of an ordinary open fireplace. A moment later he slid the whole back of the fireplace up- ward, disclosing the black mouth of a cave. This he entered, followed by the Queen of the Green Cloth, lighting his way with a common lautern. When the back of the fireplace had been slid back to place, they found themselves in almost utter darkness, the faint rays of the lantern illuminating only a shorf: radius around them. The passage was tortuous, with irregular sides and roof, now narrowing toa mere crevice, now widening toa chamber. From these chambers ramified other corridors, among which Iron Despard seemed to have no difficulty in making choice. It was at the debouchure into one of these cav- erns that the Queen of the Green Cloth caught her guide’s arm with a startled whisper: “‘ Despard! some one is coming.” ‘One of our men coming to meet us, They’ve got anxious.” ** Teavens—look!” He did look, as greatly astonished, almost as much startled, as she. From a black opening, almost opposite them, issued a creature of unearthly guise. The strangeness of her aspect lay in the fact that she seemed self-luminous with a pale, ghostly radi- ance. This of itself lighted her path, since she car- ried no torch or lantern, She seemed to float rather than walk, her flow- ing draperies giving forth no rustle. She was very beautiful, with flowing blonde hair and great, sad eyes that took no notice of Tron Despard and the Queen of the Green Cloth. It was the being who had twice appalled Joe Smedley, and was once more to appear to him, rising out of the smoke of tron Despard’s burn- ing saloon. At sight of this strange apparition even the iron nerves of the gambler prince felt a shiver run through them. For the first time in his experience of her, the Queen of the Green Cloth betrayed fear. Entering from one corridor, the specter crossed the cavern and disappeared in another, “What was it?” asked the Queen of the Green Cloth, with a shiver. But, before Iron Despard could draw breath to answer, a slight crash of glass was followed by the extinction of his light. Instantly he dropped the now useless lantern and drew a revolver. The Queen of the Green Cloth seemed com- pletely unnerved. She, who never betrayed fear, now uttered a cry of alarm, and clung to her protector’s arm. The next instant an intense dazzling light sprang up directly in front of Tron Despard, Although it blinded him so that he could see no object, he fired, aiming directly below it ona line with a man’s breast. The light disappeared, not by reason of its own extinction, but because his head was envel- oped in the folds of some cloth thrown over it. The next instant, with the cries of the Queen . of the Green Cloth sounding muffled to his ears,
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Little Giant and His Band. . he was borne to the ground, struggling like a madman, Despite his efforts, however, he was overcome, bound and disarmed; but, though half suffocated by the enveloping blanket, he realized that no further violence had been offer- ed him, The muffler was removed, and he lay in deep darkness and silence, What was the meaning of this capture? Where was the Queen of the Green Cloth? Tron Despard was a man who never lost_ pres- ence of mind, nor wasted his energies. When he could not help himself, he was content to wait. He was not kept long in suspense, Asif by magic, out of the black darkness suddenly sprung a band of luminous skeletons—the same who had ridden through Hell Hole with Jim Kane in their midst, Like most if not all professional gamblers, Iron Despard was in a certain sense a fatalist, but his superior intelligence raised him above vulgar superstitions. He believed that these were masked men. At the same time, he be- lieved that he was to be their next victim. ‘Tron Despard,” said a hollow voice, “‘ arise and stand before the Skeleton Avengers of Crime!” The shadowy figures, dressed in deep black, saw that he had not discovered them before, though they stood on either side of him, now bent and lifted him to his feet. ‘Well, gentlemen,” said the undaunted gam- bler prince, ‘ if you will allow me a suggestion, it will be that the sooner you drop all mummery and come to the point, the sooner you will gain your object, whatever it is, You will.find mo a very accommodating man to deal with. But my time is valuable, and I presume yours is.” “Who or what we are—whether gentlemen or otherwise—it matters not,” replied the same solemn voice. But considering our grelative positions, it will be at least becoming in you to attend our pleasure, both as to time and methods.” “Yes; Pll admit that—you’ve got me fast enough. But now, what’ do you want with me?” “‘Unbind the prisoner,” commanded the chief of the Skeleton Avengers, ignoring his ques- tion, “Thank you for so much,” said Iron Despard, standing now at his ease. ‘Of course [’m not fool enough to attempt to escape, surrounded as I am—unless, indeed, you are fools enough to show me the ghost of a chance!” ‘Tron Despard, the Skeleton Avengers have no charge to prefer ugainst you personally—” “That's one comfort!” “But you hold a secret—” P : “Which you may bet’ high I will stick to, if it is of any importance. What secret?” “ After bis’ capture, the man known as Patent-leather Joe, afterwards as Captain Arizona, still later as Captain Mask, managed to convey to you the secret of a hidden cache of his ill-gotten gains.” “* How do you know he did?” ‘Listen! This was to remain undisturbed until you were assured of his death, either by process of law, which then hung oyer him, or otherwise, In that event, you were to unearth the treasure, and divide it into two equal parts; one part to go to his sister, Hortense, your wife, thus rewarding you indirectly for your dis- charge of the trust; and the other to be given to a person named by the testator.” “Well, now,” said Iron Despard, in a banter- ing tone, “‘where did you gain so much infor- mation?” “Tt matters not,” replied the chief of the Skeleton Avengers. ‘‘ Enough that it is true.” * But what are you going to do about it?” **Tn the interest of justice it is necessary that that treasure should be found—” ‘*'Then why don’t you go ahead and find it?” “One-half of it will suffice to right a wrong that lies at Patent-leather Joe’s door, We, therefore, offer you the half which was to go to your wife, in consideration—” “Hold on, you infernal coward! You have got far enough. Backed by your crowd of scoundrels, you have dared to insult an unarnied and unsupported man, Now pick cut your beet man, and let me meet the two of you in a fair fight. DTllram your bribe down your throat!” ron Despard’s eyes blazed, The Demon Duel- ist looked equal to his challenge. The chief of the Skeleten Avengers seemed wholly unmoved by this defiance. “In consideration,” he pursued, calinly, ‘of yor partion us in possession of the other alf. ‘ Which I swear never to do.” “Tt will be well for you to consider before making any rash resolve. What you are giving up is but money, at most. What we give you in return is life.” “Excuse me, What I would be giving up is honor, a thing which it is no doubt characteristic in you to entirely overlook,” “Tf you choose, you can give the half coming to your wife to the other legatee. Your life is certainly worth a ransom,” “But Patent-leather Joe not yet being dead, oe knowledge, I have no right to either alf," _ ‘T have no time or disposition to debate nice ints,” said the chief of the Skeleton Avengers, impatiently. ‘At any rate, you realize that you are entirely at our mercy; and you have seen our way of arguing with men whom we are forced to consider our enemies—instance the case of Jim Kane and Tidy Tip,” ** Yes,” replied Iron Despard; ‘*I know your devilishness, to my cost. I believe I have the honor to_be classed with you by the men of the Hell Hole, How true it is, you of course know.” “That is not to the purpose,” said the chief of the Skeleton Avengers. ‘‘ Do you refuse to tell yee money and dust is hidden?” ©) The chief waved his hand. Tron Despard was instantly seized and slip- knots passed over his wrists, ‘We give you an opportunity to reconsider your determination,” said the chief. “Such a scoundrel as you cannot understand that such a question presents no chance of ¢e- bate toa man of honor,” replied Iron Desparc, Again the chief waved his hand,
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Little Giant and His Band. The lariats were drawn taut, and Iron Des- ES lifted clear of the ground, Then the keleton Avengers closed in upon him in a circle, throwing the light of their ghostly torches upon him, and threatening him with their strange javelins, “Wor the third time,” said the chief, sternly, ** will you reveal the secret?” © Never !” ** On your life, I conjure you!” Do your worst.” A wave of the hand, and— Iron Despard, was lowered to the ground, the lumnous skeletons retreating to their places, His shadowy attendants then released his wrists from the lariats, the pressure of which had become somewhat painful; and he stood once more free, “Tron Despard,” said the chief, ‘you are a brave man.” “Because your mnmmeries had no effect upon me?” “Whatever you may think of the mum- meries, I believe that you did not fail to ap- preciate the death that threatened you; and you faced it without blenching. Moreover, you are trustworthy. Not every man would keep his word in another’s interests, at the cost of life. Now we want such men as you. What do you say to joining us?” "Nc, thanks.” ‘One suggestion before you decide, You are in trouble. We will make common cause against your enemies.” “Thank you; I can fight my own battle.” “T see that you are laboring under a misap- prehension,” said the chief of the Skeleton Avengers. ‘‘ At least let us part friends.” Dropping his black mantle from his shoulders, he advanced toward his prisoner. As he ee ie a change came over Tron Despard. He began to stare hard, betraying marked signs of astonishment, bewilderment, awe, He could see objects beyond, between the lu- mivous ribs, and close on either side of the spinal column! He had believed these but clever maskers, Now he knew that, unless he was asleep and dreaming, unless he was losing his senses, the object that was approaching him was a veritable skeleton! The wonderful being stopped before him, and extended its hand, saying: ‘* Will you not shake hands with me, Danger- field?” That hollow voico seemed to come from its cavernous chest. There was an unearthly grin on its fleshless face as it waited. Tror Despard rubbed his eyes and started. He was moved by a feeling that had never before tound place in his breast. As if fascinated he extended his hand. *“*He grasped unmistakable bones! skeleton! The touch of that hand sent an indescribable chill to the iron heart of the gambler prince, Sbuddering, he dropped it. : A skeleton retreated to its place in the weird circle, Tron Despard gazed round upon them, A sud- den desperation seized him, It wasa ‘*By Heaven! I will know whether this is a fraud!” he cried. And madly he rushed after the thing that, being but fleshless bones, walked and talked like a living man. But a_score of lances were opposed to his breast. He was forced to desist. “Go in peace!” said the chief, as one of his followers cast his mantle once more on his shoulders, : His shadowy attendants thrust Iron Despard’s revolvers into their holsters and his bowie into its sheath, and stepped back beyond the circle of skeletons, “Go in peace!” once more said the hollow voice of the chief; and from all round the circle came a dismal echo: “Go in peace!” At this moment a woman’s voice cried: “‘Despard! Despard!” The gambler prince turned, and saw a break in the circle of skeletons opposite the yawning mouth of a corridor, in which stood the Queen of the Green Cloth, wild-eyed and trembling. The skeletons all pointed their javelins in that direction. Iron Despard joined his frightened wife, and supported her down the corridor, As they came to the next chamber, they found all the corridors leading from it, save one, occupied b7z skeletons, who indicated this unobstructed corridor with their spears, stand- ing in perfect silence. 0 the way was pointed out until the gambler prince emer, from the cave in a valley cut off from Hell Hope by towering cliffs. Here he found saddle-horses and attendants, evidently prepared for flight. But just as he was about to mount, after a few hasty words of directioa, the crags rung with yells and a fusilade of pistol-shots; there was a short, flerce struggle; and Iron Despard was a prisoner in the hands of Moll Pritchard’s Right Bower and the men of Hell Hole. CHAPTER XII. NECK IN HALTER! Ir had struck the Little Giant that Iron Despard might have bad an object in buying the Hole-in-the-hill claim as a site for his sa- loon; and he had dispatched Dan the Devil and Foxy to reconnoiter the other side of the cliff, with the result of discovering the gambler rince’s back door. Having become separated rom his companion, Dan the Devil returned alone to report his success. We have seen that a detachment under Moll Pritchard’s Right Bower hurried to intercept the flight of the supposed vampire, But on their way they suddenly came to a standstill with cries of dismay. Over the road swung a ghastly object. ‘* My God! here’s moro work of them devils! Who is it, this time? Strike a match, some one; | and let’s get a squint at his face.” The match was struck. Its flickering blaze illumined the distorted face of Foxy. * Boys, it’s a warnin’! I move we go back,”
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Little Giant and His Band. _ 25 ‘* Thar’s no luck chasin’ after vampires, no- how.” ‘* Pard, that’s about the size of my divvy.” ** Hold on, hyar, boys!” shouted Moll riteh- ard’s Right Bower, seeing his men about to back out of the enterprise. ‘‘ We've made the mis- take of goin’ fur the galoot one at a time. Now, ef we jump on him all at once, we'll down him, sure. Ef we git him, we’ve got the king-pin. Ef we let him shake us now, he’ll prowl around until he runs us all out of town. Them that’s afraid kin stay. Them that’s got the sand fol- ler me. Forward march!” He dashed ahead, and catching the infection, the rest followed, Dan the Devil was struck speechless with fear at the sight of the fate of his late comrade. He could but stare, shivering. When the mob sud- denly leaped after their leader, his blunted fac- ulties did not take in all at once the fact that he was being left alone. It came upon him with az agonizing thrill of horror; and he was in the act of bounding after them, when he heard something whistling » through the air. The next instant he was thrown violently to the ground, feeling the noose of a lariat grip his arms and breast, Before he could regain the breath which was thus partially knocked out of him, to scream forth the frenzy of fear that was upon him, there came the rush of hurrying feet close at hand, and a blanket enveloped him in its smoth- ering folds, His late companions rushed off in the darkness, never missing him. They were just in time to catch Iron Despard in the act of making his escape. More than one of their number lay dead or wounded before they overpowered him, but at last he sat astride his horse, his legs tied under the animal’s belly and his hands securely bound behind his back, while a running noose at the end of along rope was about his neck, the other end being in the hands of the victorious mob. So was led captive the redoubtable Iron Des- rd, But in the way was an obstruction, Dan, the Devil, hung beside gi , That sight wrought the crowd to frenzy. “ Swing this devil here!” they yelled. And only some knock-down arguments on the art of the leaders prevented the enraged mob tet tearing their prisoner limb from limb, Dan the Devil and Foxy were taken down and borne in advance. As thus the procession approached the camp, making the night hideous with their vindictive yells, the uproar called others out to meet them, who fell into the jostling ranks and added their clamor to the rest. On through the camp they bore, to halt before the blazing ruins of the Palace Saloon, beneath a red-wi tree, over one of whose branches the rope was quickly run. And Iron Despard? Do you think that he trembled with fear, that his lips were livid, that his eyes were distended and rolling with that terror which the dread pesoence of death so often inspires? ‘0 Like a Grecian god he sat upon his restless steed—pale, I grant you, but not shaken in that iron courage which no vieissitude of his check~- cred life had ever yet daunted. Calmly he sat, with head proudly erect, lips firm, and. his clear, cold eye ranging with as indifference over that surging mob, Their rude dress and the murderous weapons which they flourished with such fierce reckless- ness—their harsh visages, brutalized with dis- sipation and inflamed with passion, and half- hidden amid their bushy, unkempt beards— their gleaming, bloodshot eyes, their menacing gestures, and their yells of rage, all conspired to make them seem like a horde of demons, “Down with him! Down with him!” went the cry, passing from lip to lip, Again was the iron-hearted gambler prince in danger of being torn to pieces. But at this point it suited the purposes of Joe Smedley to interfere, “Hold on, boys!” he shouted, elbowing his way through the crowd, “The Leetle Giant! the Leetle Giant] CVlar the way, thar!” went up the shout. And so potent was the influence of this man, that faces which had been distorted and black with hatred, lighted with a look of eager admi- ration. He sprung upon a stump, and waved his arms to enjoin silence, After one ringing cheer, the clamor of many tongues ceased, After this evidence of his power the Little Giant looked toward the Queen of the Green Cloth. From the time of her capture she had sat on her horse like a marble statue. Upon witness- ing the homage shown by the crowd to their captain of Vigilantes, her eyelids drooped, until the long lashes almost brushed her cold, white cheeks, So, avoiding his glance, she sat perfectly mo- tionless, passionless, uni eadable, Joe Smedley bit his lip, with a feeling very near akin to anger against this statuesque rere “She cares nothing for me—that’s plain!” he mused, savagely. ‘‘ But does she care for him, either? I believe she is utterly without a heart.” Turning, he addressed the crowd: “ Boys, this is no sight for that lady. Take her away.” He shot another burning glance toward her. She was led away without looking at him. Her last glance was toward Iron Despard. But such a glance! What did it signify? It puzzled Joe Smedley. It seemed remorseful in its tenderness, Tron Despard took leave of her with a glance, He did not seem to be disappointed that she be — trayed no ordinary womanly emotion, Indeed, he looked after her proudly. But she was gone. Then met the eyes of those two Titans, whose struggle had rent Hell Hole with strife and made her one street reek with human blood! - ; Tron Despard’s had a sullen light of intelli- gence in them, The Little Giant’s were sneeringly defiant,
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Little Giant and His Band. “Then you are at the bottom of this?” said the gambler prince, “You are keen at divining,” replied Joe Smedley, with a smile. *“And you have come forward now to let me know your enmity before I passed out.” “ Keno again, for you!” ‘Why did you set others upon me, instead of facing me like a man, unless, indeed, you are tae coward you appear to be?” Still the Little Giant smiled, unmoved? * That’s my affair,” he said, ‘* It is enough for you to know that I chose to remove you from my path without directly raising my hand against you. As for your taunt, it cannot reach me. The men of Heil Hole know whether I dare meet you, if I chose to,” ‘*One question more, if you please. How am Tin your way? I never saw you until a week ) The Little Giant hesitated. Then, quickly bending forward, he whispered into Iron Des- pard’s ear: ** You possess the woman I covet !” * Tnto that fierce whisper be threw all the sav- age disappointment of his failure to win a single Ee of encouragement from the Queen of the reen Cloth. Then, waving his hand to the mob, he shout- “ Boys, this is none of my funeral! Go ahead with your circus!” And he leaped from the stump. As he thus merged into the crowd, [ron Des- pard called after him; “My death will avail you nothing. By fair means or foul, the goal will be as inaccessible to you as before, The fortress can protect it- self,’ But at this point the speech, which was intel- ligible only to him to whom it was addressed, was drowned in tho yell with which the mob, with Moll Pritchard’s Right Bower at their head, again took possession. “Stand from in front, thar!” shouted the woull-be executioner, and the crowd parted, leaving a clear avenue before the horse, The splendid animal, Lron Despard’s own (the same that bad borne him and his bride from the death-trap which saw the annihilation of Cap- tain Mask’s band), trembled with excitement, pawed the ground, tossed his head and snorted, while his blood-red nostrils dilated, and his fiery eyes rolled in their sockets. 1t required three men—one on either side and one immediately in front—to keep him in place. “Stand ready!” shouted Moll Pritchard’s Right Bower. ‘Ready she am!” responded his assistants in one voice. But at this moment, when those holding the ‘horse were about to free it, and others at either flank were ready at the word of command to prod the animal with their bowies to goad it to that dash which would launch its master into eternity, the air was pierced by a succession of shrill screams, evidently from the throats of women. The mob turned from its bloody work, and . from lip to lip passed the ominous cry: “Fire! Fire! Fire! From a score of shanties in various parts of the camp rolled upward into the night dense volumes of black smoke, reddened by lurid flames. The whole town was on fire. Private interest coming uppermost, the crowd made a rush, each man toward his own shanty. Then rose a cifferent cry. Down the road, on the wings of the wind, came the Skeleton Avengers! CHAPTER XIII. THE LAST DUEL. So this was the retaliation of the vampire band—they had set fire to the town, to revenge the burning of Iron Despard’s saloon. And now they were making their descent, perhaps to wipe out at one fell swoop all the enemies of the ee ee prince. If they were all as terrible in battle as he, what earthly power could withstand them? None! In wild panic the miners rushed away into the darkness, leaving their cabins to burn; for was not life more precious? With scarcely a pause beneath the death-tree, the Skeleton Avengers swept through the burning camp. But Iron Despard was not the only one of mortal form who rode away with them, Beside him rode the Queen of the Green Cloth; and further back was the Little Giant, in bonds, As they rode onward, their shadows were east before by the lurid eae of the burning camp. That night Hell Hole was wiped from the face of the earth. The hoofs of the horses ridden by the three of undoubted humanity, gave forth a sharp, me- tallic ring as they struck sparks from the seat way. Those of the spirit-steeds sounded dull and muffled. Tron Despard, the Little Giant and the Queen of the Green Cloth, no doubt all experienced strange sensations, feeling themselves in very questionable company. This uneasiness was in nowise diminished, when in the depths of the mountains, the caval- cade suddenly came to a halt, and the Skeleton Band vanished, leaving the astonished mortals in black darkness, A moment later the Little Giant felt his bonds severed by invisible hands, While he was yet wondering at this strange proceeding, the canyon reverberated with a deaf- ening crash, that was echoed and re-echoed from crag to crag, like thunder; and, as if out of the very heavens, shot downward a ball of fire, until it struck the top of a pine where it burned stead- ily, iluminating the whole place with almost the brightness of noonday. A ery of astonishment and dismay escaped the Little Giant, as he mads haste to use his eyes and look about him. He, Iron Despard, and the Queen of the Green Clotu sat their horses near together; but there was no sign of the Skeleton Avengers who had brought them hither, But in their place was company not less ghastly. About in a circle hung the seven men whom the Skeleton Avengers had so terribly slain,
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Little Giant and His Band. 27 One and all were suspended by the wrists, their clothes sodden with blood, their heads hanging upon their breasts, and that look of horror frozen upon their faces, just as they had been found one after another; while at four oppo- site points in the circle stood against trees tho four men who had fallen in duel with Iron Despard. On the ground, ranged suggestively side by side, were a pair of revolvers, a pair of bowie- knives, and a pair of rapiers. The Little Giant shuddered, as he gazed around on his eleven dead companions. Of that band, linked by a deed far back in the past. he alone remained alive. Were these the actua bodies, disinterred, and brought to this place to confound him; or were they only apparitions conjured by some supernatural power? He felt his flesh creep! Turning, he looked upon Iron Despard. What manner of man was he? ‘*So this is your work?” he asked. “No,” replied the gambler prince. ‘I am as greatly surprised as you appeared to be.” “Then you or your agents did not kill these men, and then bring them here to unnerve me— if I understand the suggestion of these weapons?” —pointing to the revolvers, bowie-knives and rapiers. “Three of these men came to their death by my hand, having forced duels upon me, as you know. One staked his life against mine, lost, and shot himself. Further than this, I know no more of this strange proceeding than you do! “And you are not one of this Skeleton Band?” “* Decidedly not.” ** Then what does this all mean?” “T might ask you the same question.” “One thing is certain,” said the Little Giant, glaring about with a defiant frown. ‘“ These bodies were = here todaunt me, But I will rove that I have nerve equal to a severer test. hatever the power at work here, J defy it!” ‘Whether they be men or devils,” said Iron Despard, “‘is a question for future investigation. Meanwhile, let us avail ourselves of that which lies nearest at hand, Friendly or adverse, they have at least anticipated our most immediate want. For that, due thanks,” Leaping from his horse, he examined the weapons which lay side by side on the ground. “These are of unquestionable excellence, each of its kind,” he said. ‘There is nothing to do but to make a selection. Come, sir!—we are of one mind, I think.” Not to be tardy in accepting this challenge. the Little Giant swung his leg over the pommel of his saddle and leaped lightly to the ground. “The question how/these came here so op- portunely, will interest but one of us,” he said- significantly. hile examining the weapons in his turn he thought rapidly. Iron Despard had proved himself a dead shot with the revolver, and irre- sistible with the bowie-knife. He, Joe Smed- ley, had learned to fence in the Mexican service, whither his adventuresome life had carried him. He was somewhat out of practice; but Iron Despard might know next to nothing about the rapier. A slight familiarity with the foils is the most an American is likely to be able to boast, Here, then, was his chance, “Here is an opportunity to vary the mon- otony of Western dueling,” he said; “let us try the rapier.” He spoke in an off-hand, matter-of-course way, though he knew that he was outraging the spirit of the code as understood in the West, where the choice of weapons is practically limited to the revolver and bowie-knife, not one man in a thousand being supposed to know any- thing about the use of a sword, Iron Despard ‘‘ dropped to this little game,” but he smiled quietly. He had crossed swords with the students at Heidelberg, and had been pointed out in Paris as the man in whom the terrible Count Ugo had met his match, As the Little Giant presented the sword-hilts, he took one at random, Meanwhile the Queen of the Green Cloth sat her horse without a word or a sign of emotion. Iron Despard had avoided looking at her. The Little Giant, who had watched him like a hawk, knew why. “He does not suspect that she knows of my love,” he reflected. ‘‘He purposes to make no reference to the matter, when I am—” He stopped with a thrill at the ominous word, He glanced at the woman. So cold, so un- moved, would she care which of them lay dead when the morning sun awakened all the world else to a new life? Having thrown their coats aside, the Little Giant appeared in a dark-blue woolen sbirt, Tron Despard in a white muslin one, This was a disadvantage to the latter, as, by reason of it, his body presented a more conspicuous mark against the dark background of the shadowed woods that surrounded the space illuminated by the ball of fire which burned at the top of the pine-tree, And now, within the circle of those ghastly dead, they stood in position, holding their rapiers above their heads by hilt and point, “ Are you ready?’ * Ready!” A graceful sweep and the weapons clashed! As they rested against each other with a slight vibrating movement, they emitted a hissing sound, like serpents. Ah! their sting was death! Slowly, eye to eye, the contestants moved about each other, throwing their weight back- _ and forward, first on one foot, then on the other. Suddenly Iron Despard’s rapier described a lightning circle in the air to be caught with a ringing clash by that of bis opponent. Then came a series of rapid passes—clang ! clang ! clang ! clang! Then silence, save that ominous hissing sound. Into the Little Giant’s face had come a new expression. He had already discovered that Tron Despard was no novice, Turn whichever way he might, he could al- ways see, just beyond his adversary, the ghesy dead. Would he be added to their number to- night? Was that old crime to be thus expiated? But, more than this, he would lose her! Con- fusion! was he to be defeated before her eyes?
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Little Giant and His Band. after he had so proudly shown her his power among men! That thought moved him anew. He set his teeth with deadly desperation. He would win her by assault, like some queen of the olden time! Now he pressed the fighting, yet relaxing his vigilance not a whit, e knew that he could not afford to. Iron Despard slowly yielded ground. But bis eye should have told his opponent that now he was most dangerous, Suddenly he slipped, or seemed to! Joe Smedley saw—or thought he saw an open- ing in his guard, and made a fierce lunge at his heart. A smile—a terrible smile—came to Iron Des- pard’s lips! While, with a flexure as sinuous as that of a serpent, his body evaded the eager point of his adversary’s weapon, he caught the blade on his own, so that they glided by each other until the hilts struck. Then, with a wrench which no human grasp could withstand, be tore the sword from Joe Smedley’s hand, and sent it flying through the air over his head, And, as the Little Giant lost his equilibrium, and fell upon one knee and hand, [ron Despard towered above him like an avenge fate. His face was ghastly pale. Into his eyes had suddenly come that terrible light which had won him the name of the Demon Duelist. “ This—this for your presumption—dog !” he hissed between his teeth, and would have plung- ed the weapon to the hilt into the breast of the man who had dared to declare his love for the woman Iron Despard had set apart from all others. But at that moment there came a smothered, murmuring cry, a fluttering of skirts, and the Queen of the Green Cloth was upon her knees, with her arms about the neck of the fallen duelist, and her white face’ and her despairing, appealing, deprecating eyes turned toward the conqueror. To tron Despard the revelation came like a stroke of lightning. No need to recall a thou- sand and one incidents of the past week, at the time not understood. At a flash, he saw it all. Yet he stared in dumb incredulity. Brushed his hand across his eyes, and stared again. Then a look of awful agony came into his face—a despair beyond words, As he shrunk back step by step, the man began to pant and trem- ble, until the quivering rapier dropped from his nerveless grasp, Not taking his eyes off her face, he groped be- hind him with his hand, until the cold muzzle of his faithful steed was thrust affectionately into his palm, with a low whinny and caressing nib- 2. “ Then, without a word, without a sound, he turned like a madman, bounded into the saddle, ay reired away into the night, never looking The Queen of the Green Cloth fainted. But the Little Giant had her in his arms, clasped close over the heart she had saved from the deadly rapier of the Demon Duelist. “ Mine! mine!” he shouted in a frenzy of de- light, while he covered her white face with Y kisses. ‘‘Mine by her own confession! Ha! ha! ha! ha! Now I defy all the powers of Heaven or hell to snatch her from me! Mine!— mine!—mine!” But as if conjured by this wild challenge, a being appeared before him seemingly sprung from earth or air. It was the phantom who had so nearly lured him over the precipice, who had responded to the spell of the Indian sor- ceress, who had risen from the flames of Iron Despard’s burning saloon, each time warning him from his reckless pursuit of the woman whom he at last held on his heart. Now the phantom extended her arms to him, her eyes streaming tears, on her face an appeal of des- pairing love that must have moved any heart not steeled by selfish passion. But Joa Smedley laughed in almost demoniac exultation, as he hugged closer the form of his unconscious prize, and shouted: “Never! never! After all these years she is — at last—the only woman I ever loved! But with a cry like that of an enraged tigress the phantom sprung forward and buried a poniard to the hilt in the upturned breast of the yer ne Queen of the Green Cloth! The Little Giant was paralyzed. He could not realize what had been done. From the first he had believed that the phantom which haunt- ed him was a thing of impalpable air. But that was unquestionably an earthly weapon wielded by a.carnal arm, He could but staro dumbly from the motionless woman in his arms to that other who stood before him brandishing her’blood-reeking knife above her head while she laughed the shrill, eerie cachinnation of a maniac. He heard, as if far away, a cry of fear, rage and pain, in a man’s voice, and was dimly con- scious of the sudden appearance of the Skeleton Band beyond the circle of the ghastly hanging dead, who had witnessed all this tragedy as un- moved as the trees and rocks. But he saw something else which astonished him still, more, excluding all else from his thoughts. He saw the phantom tear the flowing blonde locks from her head, and the _close-crop- ped black ringlets of the ill-starred Hally stood revealed. Then he knew it all. Years ago, to rid himself of this woman of whose love he had tired, and leave himself free to. woo and win Hortense Ashurst, now the Queen of the Green Cloth, he had employed a gang of pliant tools to put her out of the way, the world supposing that she had committed suicide, Later, when he had won the new object of his desires, a misunderstanding during a tem- porary separation had led each to think the other false. Both had left the States and gone West—she to marry Iron Despard; he to meet a popular actress in San Francisco, Now he knew that this actress was his old love in dis- guise, who had escaped death somehow and won him over again. He knew that she had preserved her flowing blonde tresses in the form of a wig, so that she was able to appeer to him as a phantom of her old self but of the past, in the vain hope of
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Little Giant and His Band, 29 awakening remorse for the dead, and so pity for the living. Her hand, too, had struck this terrible vengeance on all who had assisted in the great wrong he had done her. But him she had spared, clinging to him to the last. Failing in all, she bad at last struck her rival to the heart. All this, which has required so many words to detail, came to Joe Smedley like a flash. Then he saw the bloody knife descend again, this time cleaving the heart that had loved so long and so sadly, and Hally fell without a groan. The next instant the Little Giant was sur- rounded by the Skeleton Avengers, and the Queen of the Green Cloth was snatched from his arms by their chief. “She is dead! she is dead! sister!” he groaned, It was Patent-leather Joe, whom Hally had helped to escape from prison; and, as repay- ment, he had assisted her in her revenge. A word will explain all mysteries. The men had been given the appearance of luminous skeletons by drawing the appropriate bones with damp phosphorus on black tights. Their black hooded cloaks enabled them to disappear at pleasure by simply covering themselves up. The hoofs of their horses were muffled. The skeleton with whom Iron Despard had clasped hands in the cave was a genuine one, strung on wires and manipulated after the man- ner of stage skeletons, while words were put in- to their mouths by a cunning ventriloquist. Hally, being an actress, had personated the Indian sorceress, changing her dress quickly be- hind the vail of smoke, Then, and on the verge of the cliff, the Little Giant had been knocked senseless. The ascent of the face of the cliff from Iron Despard’s burning saloon needs no explanation. The ball of fire was slid on a wire from the brow of a neighboring cliff to the top of the pine tree, Oh, Hortense, my Some days later the Little Giant was found hanging by the wrists in the midst of his eleven confederates. The Queen of the Green Cloth and ill-starred Hally were buried in unknown graves. Tho Skeleton Avengers disappeared, To this day old citizens of Hell Hole tell how the camp was wiped out and twelve of its Vigi- lantes hanged in most horrible fashion by a band of vampires, one of whom, taking upon himself the shape of man, ran for one short week the crack lay-out of the place. With his sore heart-burdon, where on the face of the wild earth wanders the Demon Duelist? Who can tell? THE END, BEADLE AND ADAMS’ STANDARD DIME PUBLICATIONS Speakers. Each volume contains 100 large pages. printed from clear, open type, comprising the best collec- tion of Dialogues, Dramas and Recitations. The Dime Speakers embrace twenty-five volumes viz.: 1, American Speaker, 15, Komikal Speaker. 2, National Speaker, 16, Youth’s Speaker. 3. Patriotic Speaker. 17. Bloquent Speaker, 4, Comic Speaker. 18, Hail Columbia Speak- 5, Hlocutionist. er. 6. Humorous Speaker, 19. Serio-Comie Speaker, 7. Standard Speaker, 20, Select Speaker, 8, Stump Speaker, 21, Funny Speaker. 9, Juvenile Speaker. 22. Jolly Speaker. 10, Spread-Kagle Speaker | 23. Dialect Speaker. 11, Dime Debater. 24. Recitations and Read- 12, Exhibition Speaker. ings. 13. School Speaker. 25. Burlesque Speaker 14. Tudicrous Speaker. These books are replete with choice pieces for the School-room, the Exhibition, for Homes, ete, 75 to 100 Declamations and Recitations in each book, Dialogues. The Dime Dialogues. each volume 100 pages, em- brace thirty-five books, viz.: Dialogues No, One, Dialogues No, Kighteen. Dialogues No, Two, Dialogues No, Nineteen. Dialogues No, Three, Dialogues No. Twenty. 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82 Octavo Pages. gah” <=\ 80 Kentucky Ben, the Long Rifle of the Cascades, Roger Starbuck, 81 The Kit Carson Club. By T. C. Harbaugh, 82 Little Buck, the Boy Guide. By Barry Ringgold, 88 Pony Bob, the f less Rider. By Col. P. Ingraham. 84 Captain Fly-by-Night. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 85 Captain Ralph, the Young Explorer. By C. D, Clark. 86 Little Dan Rocks. By Morris Redwing. 87 The Menagerle Hunters. by Maj. H, 88 The ee Tramps; or, Life Among the Gipates. J.M. Hoffman. 89 *Lo hore Lije. By C.D, Clark. 90 Roving Rifle, Custer’s Little Scout. By T. C, Harbaugh, PL Oregon Joshy the Wisard Rifle. By Roger Starbuck. 92 Hurricane Kit. By A. F. Holt. 98 Jumping Jake, the Colorado Circus Boy. By Bryant Bainbridge. : 94 Sam Spence, the Broadhorn Boy, By Ed. Willett. row to Siberia; or, A Yankee Boy to the Rescue. By Charles Morris. 96 Fighting Fred. 97 Cruise of the Flyaway. By C. Dunning Clark. 98 The Boy Vigilantes. | By Ma. H. 1. Stoddwd, 99 The White Tigers, By Capt. Charles Howard, 100 The Shoe Trail. By rge Rathbone, Ottawa Girl. By E Ellis. By C. Danning Clark. or, Silver Tongue pe? So, “ fg. 240) By By T. C, Harbaugh. ; the Dacotal Queen, By C. L. Edwar 104 The Boy Prospect By Roger Starbuck, 105 Minonee, the Wood Witch, By Edwin Emerson, 106 The Boy Cruisers, By Edward Willett, 107 The Border Rovers. By J. Milton Hoffman. 108 Alnska, the Wolf-Queen. By Capt. Howard Lincoln. 109 Christian Jim, the White Man’s Friend. By Edward 8. Ellis. 190 Pincky Joe, the Boy Avenger. By J. M. 1 i I 2 Let 1 order Gunmaker, By J 1 t-Handed Pete. 18 The River Rifles, By Capt. J. F.C, Adana, 14 Alone on the Plains. By Edward Willett. 15 Silver Horn, and His Rifle Firedeath. By Roger Starbuck. 6 Exploits of Hezekiah Smith, the Backwoodsman. By Emerson Rodman. 7 The Young Muatangers, s Traps; er, the Boy Rivals. By Barry Ringgold, bY ter Shot. the White Crow. By T. C. Harbaugh. 20 A t Tratls or, Clark Cloverly Among the Tartars. By Charles Morris. 1 1 i 1 1 1 1 By C. Dunning Clark. 1 1 1 By Roger Starbuck. 3y G. Waldo Browne. es Morris. 1. By Henry J. Thomas, 122 The Esquimaux 128 Tim, the Boy Acrobat. 124 Queen Beaste, the Border 125 ‘Tom Tabor, the Boy Fugitive. By Barry Ringgold. 126 M Coat, the Death-Shot. By Jos, E. Badger, Jr. 127 The Deer Hunters. By John J, Marshall. 128 Wolt-Cap; or, The Night-Hawks of the Fire-lands. By Capt. Chas, Howard. 129 Silverspur; or, The Mountain Heroine. By Edward Willett. 180 Keetsea, Queen ot the Plains. 181 Wistah, the Child Spy. By Georg 182 The Island Trapper. 185 The Forest Specter. 184 Wild Nat, the Trooper. By 185 The Silver Bugle. By Lieut. Co!. Hazelton, 18¢ The Prairie Trapper. By C. Donning Clark. 187 The Antelope Boy. by L, Aiken. 188 Long Shot; or, The Dwarf By Capt. Comstock. 189 Colonel Crockett, the B Lasalle. 14¢€ Old Pegs, the Mountainee 141 The Giant Munter. | 142 Black Panther, the Half.Blood. 148 Carson, the Guide. By Lieat J. H.R 144 Keng, the Ranger. By Eduard 8, E 145 Bill Robbins, Hunter. By 146 The Half-Breed Rival. By Jos. 147 The Masked Avenger. By Col. Pr 148 Nat, the Trapper and Indian Fighter. Prescott. 149 The Elk Demon; or, The Giant Brothers, By T. C, Harbaugh. By Percy B, St. John. Gleason. rles Howard. ui r King. By ¢ By Lewis V Harry Haga By J. E. Badger, dolph. . Badger, Jr. ties Inuraham. By Paul J. EVERY S$ bien — rice, Five Cents Res _ 150 The Boy Mustang-Hunter; or, E H Byciiot Amazone By itredariee Withers eae Yates, the Young or, Mountain Lynx-Cap; Puul Bibbs. The Champion Texan Rider and the Hercules Hunter. By Harry St Dusky Dick’s Doom. By Jos. Frank Bell, the Boy Spy. By O11 Coomes Nick Doyle, the Gold Hunter, By P. H. Myers Kidnapped Dicks or, The Fate of the Fire Fly. By . Stanley Henderson, Sax *« Long Trail; or, The Twin Scouts. By W, J. lton. Hank Triplet’s Vow. By Harry Hazard. The Mad Skipper. By R. Starbuck. gist The Trapper King.. By Maj. Max Martine. Simon Kent funter. By raon Rodman. The Boy Chief’; or, Frank Bell’s Compact, By Ol OME. The Trader Traitor. By J. Stanley Henderson, 3 Old Jupe’s Clew. By Mrs. Orrin James » 2 Trailer. By W cr Spy. By Maj @, the Old Colorad 3 or, Red Buflalo, ree. Badger, Jr. J, Hamilton. is W. Carson, Hunter. By E. W. By The Swamp Guide, ¥. The Yankee Peddler. The Scout and His Young Chum, St. John. Blacksmith Tom's Mask The Buckskin Rider. y Guy Greenw ce Squatter’s Surprise, By Mra, H. J Four Fellow Scouts. By J. Stanley Henderson, Old Kit and His Comrades. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Unele Grills Disguise, By Harry Hazard. The Marked Miner. By Lieut. Col, Hazeltine. 31 The Wild Huntress, By Capt. Bruin Adama, The Dwarf Decoy. By Maro O. Rolle. S88 Job Dean’s Tactics, By Ingoldsby North. 84 Vankee Epl’« Dilemma, By J. R. Worcester, 185 The Wily Witch's W By Edwin E. Ewing. 186 Frank, the Furrier. By J. Stanley Henderson. 187 Diana, the Fair Mountaineer. By Capt. F. Whittaker, 188 Jack’s Snare. By Mra, Ann E, Porter. 189 Sam, the Swamp Scout. By W. J. Hamilton, 190 The Dashing Trooper. By ederieck H. Dewey, 191 The Boy Brave. By James L. Bowen. 192 Sandy Bill, of Texas. By Edward Willett. 198 Harry Winkle’s Long Chase. By Wm. R. r. 194 Creeper Cato, the Shadow Swamp Trailer. By Frederick Dewey 195 The Ranger Detective. By Harry Hazard. 196 Gy pay Mag, the Mountain Witch, By C, Danning rk. e Branded Captain, By W. J. Hamilton. i By Capt. Charles Howard. By W. J. Hamilton, By George W. Robinson. Edward Willett. W. N. McNeil, By C. Dunning Clark, By Warren By Geo. D, Gilbert, homas. ELEM NAN 2 Sek hh Bk kf i ak dt c 197 ‘Th 198 Old Crossfire’s 199 Zebra Zack, the 200 The Nameless Hunter. Ready February 11. 201 The Yankee Captives, Ready ruary 15. 202 Teddy’s Long Trail. Ready February 25. 208 Old Hank, the Hermit. Reudy March 3. 204 Gooschead’s Best Shot, Ready March 10. 205 The Dutchman’s Dread, By Capt. Chas. Howard. Ready March 17, By Edward Willett. By Edward S. Ellis. By Edward W, Archer, By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Beadle’s Boy’s Library !s for sale by all Newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York. $$...
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82 OCTAVO PAGES, PRICE, FIVE CENTS, POCKET LIBRARY. | BGRRRBDHRREHRHHHAA RH HHDDHHDDRDDDHDHDHDADHHDHDHDADE 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. By Will Somers, the Boy Detective. By Chas. Morris. Edward L. Wheeler, Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapver. By A. W. Aiken, 2 Kansus King; or, The Red Right Hand. By Rosebud Rob, By Edward L. Wheeler. Buffalo Bill. Lightning Joe. By Captain J. F.C. Adams. The lying Yankee. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. ft Harefoot, the Wood-Hawk. By T. C, Har- The Double Daggers. By Edward L. Wheeler, baugh. The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes of a Rollo, the Boy Ranger. By Oll Coomes, Bowery Girl. By Albert W. Aiken. Idyl, the Girl’ Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand, By The Prairie Pilot. ay ‘Baffalo Bill. Edward L. Wheeler. The Butfalo Demon, By Edward L. Wheeler. Detective Dick ; or, The Heroin Rags. By Charles Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. By Ol) Coomes, Morris. Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By “Texas Jack.’ Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman, By O11 Coomes. Buffalo Ben, Prince of the Pistol. “By E. L. Wheeler. Sharp Sam; or, The Adventures ofa Friendless Boy. Ralph Roy. the Boy eeabomn er By C:1. Ingraham, By J. Alexander "Patten. Nick o’ the Night. By T. C. Harbangh. The Lion of the Sen. By Albert W. Aiken. Vellowstone Smock: By Spok £. Badger, Jr. Photograph Phil, the Boy Sleuth; or, Rosebud Rob's Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. By E. L.Wheeler. Reappearance. By E. L, Wheeler. Diamond Dirk 3 or, The Mystery of the Yellow- Pie: ayune Pete; or, Nicoden 8, the Dog Detective. stone. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham, By Charles Morris. Keen-Kaife, Prince of the Prairies, By O11 Coomes, if 3 or, The Pet of the Family. By Brace- oregon Sol; or, Nick Whifflea’s Boy Spy. By Capt. i e g (Jack Harkaway). C, Adams Watch-Eye, the Shadow. By Edward L. Wheeler. Death-Face, the Detective. By E. L. Whee 7 Dick Near Eye. the Boy Smuggler. By Col. P. Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. By Oll Ingraham. 0 Roaring Ktalph Rockwood, the Rackian Deadwood Dick’s Device. By Ed. L. Wheeler. ies te By Harry St. George. The Black Mustanger. y Capt. Mayne Reid. The B Clown, _ By Frank 8, Finn, Old Frosty » the Guid I . C. Harbaugh. The r antom Miner; Deadwood Dick's The Sea Viper. By Col. Prentiss Ingrahim. Bonanza. y Edward L, Wheeler. Seth Jones; or, The Captives of the Frontier. By The Sea-Cat; or, The Witch of Darien. By Capt, Edward 8. Ellis. Frederick Whittaker. Canada Chet, the Counterfeiter Chiof. By Edward The Dumb Spy. By 0}! Coomes. L. Wheeler, Rattling Rube. By Hurry St. George. 84 The Dumb Page} or. The Doge’s Daughter. By Old Avalanche, the Annihilator. By E. L. Wheeler. Capt. Frederick Whittaker, Glass-Eye, the Great Shot of the West. By Capt, J. | 86 The Boy Miners, By Edwerd S. Ellis, F. C, Adams. 86 Jack Harkaway in New York, By Braco. The Boy Captain. By Roger Starbuck. bridge Hemyng. Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. 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By Buffalo BUL | 96 Gilt-Edged Dick. y E Nick ea Pet. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams, 97 The Black Steed of the Prairies. By James Deadw seu Di %* Eagles; or, The Pards of L, Bowen. Flood Bar. By Edward L. Wheeler. 98 The Sen Serpent. By Joan Lewis, The Border King. By Ol] Coomes. 99 Bonanza Bll, the Man Tracker, By E. L. Wheeler. Old Hickory ; or, Pandy Ellis’s Sealp. By Harry | 100 wat a ead. ate The Vate of the Sioux Captive. By St. George. Edward 8. is. The White Indians or, The Scouts of the Yellow- | 101 Daring Davy; the Young Bear Killer. By Harry stone. By Cap F. ©. Adams. St. George. Buckhorn wil or, The Red Rifle Team. By | 102 The Yellow Chief. By Capt. Mayne Reid. Edward L. Wheeler. 108 Chip, the Girl Sport. By Edward L. Wheeler. The Shadow Ship. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. Black Schooner. By Roger Starbuck. The Red Brotherhood. By W. J. Hamilton. ee cate tho Bootblack Detective. By 4s Dandy « Jack; or, The Outlaw fot the Oregon Trail. By T. C. Harbaugh. Hurricane Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His“ Pard.”” BI eae sai ie'a Ul. By Wo 3 Kit. ; Harbaugh ndj or. fo for a Life. By W. J. y arbaugh. ae f J 109 The 1 eae Mand By Fravke Dumont. Patent-leather Joc. By Philip 5. Warne. 110 The Dread Rider, By George W. Browne. The Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover. | 111 Boas Bob, the King of Bootblacks, By E.L.V Buffalo Bill. 2 The Helpless Hand. By Capt, Mayne Gold Bites the Sharpshooter. By E. L. Wheeler. CE ND TRRWKSCeEIa Gao ra hp kk kk e © _ Sear-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter, By Ol! Coomen. Piney Paul, the Mountain Boy or, The Little Arrow of the Adirondacks. By T. C. Harbaugh, Staiz abin 3 or, A Greenhorn in the Woods. By EA . F.C. Adams. 1 118 114 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. By Oll : 5 Deadwood Dick’« Double. By E. L. Wheeler. 11g Jabez Coffin, Skipper. By Capt. Whittaker, F Coomes. Fancy Frank, of Salokada. By “ Buffalo Bill.” pat Tom RA tap Med fai b A Fanitlton. . 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Cay . 165 Buffalo Bill's Bet. 32 OCTAVO PAGES. POCKE Dam w * Ge & timed. By Chas, Morris, ie Base. 118 Will Wildfire, the Thor “ 119 Blonde Bill; or. By Edward L. W Gopher Gid, ti By T. C. Harbafgh. Marry Armatr 1 of the Club, Bracebridge Hemyng, (Jack Hurt away.) The Hanted Hunt By Edward S. Ellis, Solid San, the Boy F t. By E, L. Whe: Judge Lynch, J » Harbaugh, The Land Pirates, By Capt. Moyne Reid. Klue Blazes: or, The Brenk 0’ Day Boys of Rocky Bar. By Frank Dament. Tony Fox, the Ferret. tdward L. W ost Black Bess, Will Wildfire’s Racer. By lorris. By Oll Coomes. Engle Kit, the " )Sport. By T. C. Harbaugh. Gold Trigge A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick's Big ward L. Wheeler. Strike. By Dainty La » the Boy Sport. W ild-fire, the Bows of the Road, By Frank Dumor Mike Merry, the Harbor Poli v. By C. Me money od Dick of Deadwood. By Edward ae er. Old Rube, the Hunter. Dandy Rock the Man from Texas, Browne. Bob Rockett, the Boy Dodger. The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. Captain Arizona, By Philip S. Warne. New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. Edward 1. Wheeler. Little Texas,the Young Mustanger. By Oll Coomes. Deadly Dash; or, Fignting Fire with Fire. Jos, E. Badger, Jr. Little Grit, the Wild Riser; or, Beaste, the Stock Tender’s Daugi ter. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 5 The Tiger of Taos. By Geo. Waldo Browne. The Cattle King, -By Frank Dumont. Nobby Nick of Nevada, Py Edward L. Thunderbolt Tom. By Hurry St. George. Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner. By C. Morris. The Mad Miner. By G. Waldo Browne. 151 The Sea Trailer, Sy Col. Prevtiss Ingraham. 152 Dandy Darke; By William R. Eyater, Wild Frank, the Backskin Bravo. E. L. Whealer. The Boy Trailers. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Gold Plume, the Roy Bandit; or, The Ki Sport. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 156 Will Wildfire In the Woods, By C. Morris, 157 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. By T. C. Harbaugh. 158 Deadwood Dick's Doom, By E. L. Wheeler, 159 Patent-Leather Joe's Defeat. Warne. 160 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker. lugraham. 161 Bob Rockett, the Crackoman. 162 Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. Coomes. 168 Deadwood Dick’s Dream. By E. L. Wheeler, 164 Tornado Tom, By T. C. Harbaugh. oy Demon, By J. E. Badger, Jr. By G. Wa do By Chas. Morris, By Wheeler. or, The Tigers of High Pine. 158 154 155 Glove | By Col. P. By C. Morris, By Ol By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 166 Will Wildfire Wins and Loses, By C. Morris, 167 Dandy Rock's Pledge. By George W. Browne. 168 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hill. Jezebel, By Edward L. Wheeler. 169 The Boy Champion, Sy Edward Willett. 170 Bob Rockett’s Fight for Life, By C. Morris. 171 Frank Morton, the Boy Hercules. By Oll Coomes, 172 The Yankee Ranger. By Edwin Emerson. 178 Dick Dingle, Scout. By Edward S. Ellis. 174 Dandy Rock’s Scheme. By G. W y. Browne. 175 The Arab Detective. By Edward L, Wheeler. By | By Philip. S. | By By Capt. Hamilton Holmes. | 489 Old Rocky’« Boys. j LIBRARY. RREDSRSE 176 Will Wildfre’s Pluct 177 The Boy Commander. ByCol.!rontiee tmerahan. 178 The Maniac Hunter, By Borion Saxe. The Mystic By Charles Morne. 79 Dainty Lance; arkewan, Jos, E. Badger, Jr. 180 The Boy Gold-Hunter. By T. ¢ 181 The Scapegrace Son, By Charles Morris, 182 The Dark-Skinned Scout. By Lieut, Cc! Hazeltine. 188 Jabez Dart, Detective. By Ol] Coomes, 184 Featherweight, the Boy Spy. By Edward Willktu 185 Bison Bill, the Overland Prince, By Col. Ingraham. 186 Dainty Lance and His Pard. Badger, Jr. 187 The Trapped Tiger King. 188 The “y entestog miss Detective. heeler By > Harbaugh. Prentiss By Joseph E. By Charles Morris. By Edward L. By Maj. Sam. S. Hall, 190 Sim Simpkina, Scout. By James L. Bowen, 191 Dandy Rock's Rival. By Geo. Waldo Browne, 192 Hickory Harry. By Harry St. George. 198 Detective Josh Grim. By Edward L. Wheeler. 194 Prospect Pete, the Boy Miner. By O11 Coomes. 195 The Tenderfoot Trailer. By T. C. Harbaugh. 196 The Dandy Detective. By Charles Morris. 197 Roy, the Young Cattle King. By Col. P. Ingraham. 198 Ebony Dan’s Mask. By Frank Dumont. 199 Dictionary Nat, Detective. Py T. C, Harbaugh. 200 The Twin Horsemen. By Capt. F. Whittaker, 201 Dandy Parke’s Pards. By Wm. R, Eyster. 202 Tom, the Texan Tiger, By Ol) Coomes, 208 Sam, the Office Boy. By Charles Morris, 204 The Young Cowboy. By Col. P. Ingraham, 205 The Frontier Detective. By E. L. Whweler. 206 White Light Ing; or, The Boy Ally. By T. Cc, Harb sugh, | 207 Kentuck Talbot’s Band; By Capt. Mark Wilton. 208 Trapper Tom's Castle Mystery. Coomes. 209 The Messenger-Boy Detective. Morr s. or, The Red Lasao, By Ol By Charles 210 The Hunchback of the Mines, Badger, Jr. 211 Little Glant and His Band, By P.S. Warne. 212 The Jimtown Sport. By E. L. Wheeler, 218 The Pirate’« Prize. By C. Dunning Clark. Ready February 8. 214 Dandy Dave, of Shasta. Ready February 15. 215 The Denver Detective. Ready February 22. 216 he Coote y Onptatk: ay Fevur 217 Bald Head of the Rockies, Hall. Reaty Mareh 7, 218 The Miner Sport. Rewiy March 14. By Joseph E. By T. C. Harbaugh, By Oll Coomes, By Col. P. Ingraham, By Maj. Sam, S. By Edward L. Wheeler. Issued Every Wednesday. “we. Beadle’s Pocket Library is for sale by all N deslers, five cents per copy, or sent by inail on receipt of six ts each. BEADLE & ADAMS, Publishers, 95 Wilham Street, New York. mS sii PRICE, FIVE CENTS, ~ i RARRARER