Beadle's Pocket Library (no. 293) (1889 08 21)
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es r] "j +) ) jalaToLt IL. © : 4 | > a R PTT NS » N. ¥., as Second Class Mail Matter. August 21, 1489. .50 “ Published Weekly by Beadle and Ad ree, No, 298, Apel nae 95 98 ja te fom ae PRs Five bente. Vol, XXIII, Lh ths COS yaw, FORCED TO CALL FOR HELP,
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Dwarf Jake, the Detective. Dwarf Jake, the Detective; KIT KENYON’S MAN-HUNT. BY EDWARD WILLETT, AUTHOR OF “THE BOY CHAMPION,” ‘' FEATHER- WEIGHT, THE BOY SPY,” ETO. ETO, CHAPTER I. A DESERTED CAMP. A HORSEMAN was riding alone down a moun tain pass over a road that led toa fair valley set deep among the hills. He was a middle-aged man with a shaven face, and brown hair slightly grizzled. In stat- ure he was short and dwartfisb, and between his shoulders was a slight hump that peep saeant ed to a deformity. But his broad back and spreading loins and long arms spoke of physical strength, and on his face determination and energy were plainly written. His attire was neat, though stout and service- able, and under his coat he wore a cartridge-belt and two revolvers, and a short repeating-rifle was carried over his saddle-bow. is capacious saddle-bags were fairly filled with either ward- robe or with provisions, probably with both. The horse that he rode was a strong and sure- footed animal, accustomed to all sorts of travel and all conditions of weather. As the rider descended the mountain pass he caught occasional glimpses of the valley below, and at the same time he could not fail to notice that the road he was following gave little evi- dence of having been recently traveled. “This is queer,” he muttered. “I wonder what is the matter with Cacheton.” Cacheton was still there, There could be no question of that. It was still down there in the valley; not far below and beyond him. The occasional glim he caught of that flourishing mining-camp showed him—not its spires and steeples, as there had never been anything of the sort—but the roofs of its houses and shanties and cabins, Yet the road that led to Cacheton showed scarcely any sign of travel, and that was what made the rider wonder what was the matter with the camp. Lately snow had fallen—one of the last snow flurries of the early spring—and it had melted, leaving the ground wet and muddy, so that tracks could easily be distinguished, but there were very few on the Cacheton road. The curiosity of the rider was excited, and he urged his horse to a more rapid walk down the incline until he reached the valley, and the camp ~ before him. t was then noon, bigh noon, and the sun was shining brightly in an unclouded sky; but there was no semblance of life visible in Cacheton, The houses and shanties and cabins slumbered in the sunlight; but where were those who had built and occupied them? ‘ Surely not in the camp, or anywhere about it; for there was nothing to indicate the presence of one human being. The rider pushed forward and entered the straggling street, along which luy the main por- tion of Cacheton; but not a human being did he see, The houses were all there, and some of them were closed, and some of them were open; but all were deserted. A few of the signs of the saloons remained, and here and there bar- rels and bottles could be seen within; butno living person, white or red, was anywhere in sight. What was the matter? What had become of the inbabitants? Had they all gone off on a picnic, or bad some fatal epidemic suddenly struck the camp, killing half the population and scaring away the others? Nothing of the kind, Although the rider had no personal experience of the Weat, he could easily guess what was the matter, Tidings had arrived of new and rich diggings further on, and the camp had been suddenly de- serted for a location that promised quicker and bigger fortunes. This was exactly the state of the case, The Cacheton ‘‘ pocket” had been gradually but pretty rapidly ‘‘ petering out,” until there was no longer any attraction to hold the people there, when the news came of splendid discoveries at Homestretch Gulch. The reports were so bril- liant and so well authenticated that there was no resisting their allurement, and everybody was so possessed by a wild desire to reach the land of promise, that in a very short time there was nothing left of Cacheton but the mostly empty tenements, “‘ T had hoped to find a few decent meals here and a fair bed,” muttered the rider. ‘‘I can easily find shelter, though, if not a bed, and there is no fear that I will starve.” As he was passing a.decent-looking white- washed tenement, his attention was arrested by a drumming on a window-pane, He looked in that direction, and the poise was increased, and he thought he saw through the window a man’s face; but he could not sure, as the sunshine was strong against the glass, ‘‘There is somebody or something here,” he said, ‘‘and I shall be glad to see it, if it is noth- ing more than a dog that has been left shut up in a house.” He dismounted in front of the white tene- ment, hitched his horse, and tried the door. It easily yielded, and he entered. The sight that met his gaze made him stop at the threshold and stare, and no wonder. A woman lay there on the floor almost at his feet—a woman who had been beautiful in life, and was lovely in death. For she was dead, quite dead, and had been dead at least twelve hours, As the stranger stood and stared at her he heard his name called faintly. ‘Jake! Jake Nemo!” He turned, and saw a bed against the wall next to the window at which he had heard the drumming. On the bed was stretched a young man whose haggard features and hectic cheeks and wild eyes told of the ravages of a devour- ing fever. te
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* Dwarf Jake, the Detective. 3 Changed as he was, Jake Nemo recognized the man, and stepped quickly to his bedside, “Kit Kenyon!” he exclaimed. ‘Is it really you? For Goa’s sake tell me what this means.” “Did you see her?” feebly responded the man on the bed, in a voice that scarcely rose above a whisper. ‘ Did you see my wife there?” “Yes, I saw her.” ** Ts she dead?” “Yes, Ki uite dead.” Tears stood in Kit Kenyon’s dark eyes, and his lips closed tightly, and a cloud gathered on his dark face, ‘What does it mean, Kit?” earnestly inquired the dwarf. ‘* How do you happen to be here in this fix, and why do I find her dead?” Kenyon touched bis hands to his lips, that were dry with fever. 4 “Tam so weak that I can hardly speak,” he answered, ‘There ought to be a little whisky somewhere about bere.” Jake Nemo had a flask, and he produced it and put it to his friend’s mouth, With difficulty Kenyon swallowed some of the strong liquor, a it oe his strength and partially restored is s F “Lift me up, Jake,” he said, ‘‘ and I will tell it as well as I can.” The dwarf propped him up in the bed, and sat at his side to listen. ‘““T had gone to the other side of the range, Jake—beyond the Notch, you know—to get pay for a drove of cattle that I had sold, and she went with me. As we were coming back afever struck me, and we turned aside to Cacheton, 1 knew that I could rest here, though the camp was played out, We got into this house, and she took care of me. It must be three days or more that we have been here. ‘“T grew worse, and last night was clean off my head—far off. It was hard lines for her, no doubt, all alone with me here. In the night somebody came in, It seems to me that there were two men; but I am not really sure of any- thing about it, 1 suppose they came to rob me of my money. She must have resisted them, and f am sure that I heard a shot. “Then all was dark with me until morning, when I saw her lying there, and I began to piece things together, and I believed that she was dead, though I was too weak to get up and see. Now I know it.” “ This is terribly hard on you, Kit,” said Jake Nemo, as he pressed the nerveless hand of his friend. “ Nothing was ever harder, and nothing ever can be. There is only one thing left—to hunt down the fiends that murdered my wife. ButI must get well first, and I bave nothing to trace them by. I have not the faintest recollection of them, I was so wild with fever.” ‘There must be a clew, Kit, Leave me to find it.’ S ‘** You must bury her, Jake—carefully—and T will take up the body when I can.” “Twill; but I must try to get you up from here. It is luck that I have some medicines.” “What medicines, Jake?” “Only quinine and calomel; but I know how to use them, and will begin at once.” * The dwarf put the dead woman under the ground carefully and reverently, wrapping her in the bed-clothing of the deserted house. Then he made a thorough examination, within the building and outside of it, and returned to report to his sick friend. ‘There were two of them, Kit,” he said, ‘‘ As they carried off your horses, there is something of aclew; What were the horses like?” ‘Hers was a bright bay with a white star cn the forehead.” ‘There are many such.” “ And one white forefoot.” “‘ That is a little better. And yours?” “ Mine was a heavy black horse. I will know him if ever I see him, and he will know my voice.” ‘“‘ Of course they will get rid of the horses; but I will remember those points. How much money did you have?” ‘About three thousand dollars.” ‘Where was it?” “Tn my saddle-bags. She took care of them,” The dwarf found the saddle-bags; but there was no money in them. “They got the money,” he said, ‘* Was there anything you could trace it by?” “Nothing at all. It was in gold and notes— quite a pile in gold.” “ Well, they bave left some signs about here, One of them was a short man, and he wore a buckskin coat—not a hunting-shirt—with brass buttons. The other was a tall man, and he rode a sorrel horse with a nearly white mane.” “‘ How do you know all that, Jake?” ‘‘T know that one of them was short, because he had to rise on his feet to mount his horse, and where he mounted I found a button of his coat with a bit of the buckskin attached toit, I know that the other was a tall man, because he had knelt down there in the mud, to examine his horse's foot, perhaps, and the distance from foot to knee-cap gave me a good idea of his hight. The horse bad rubbed against the tree it was hitched to, and had left a few bairs of its mane.” “Those are good points, Oh, Jake, if they had taken me and the money, they might be forgiven; but there will be no mercy for them if I ever find them,” “ T wonder why they didn’t kill you?” ‘““T don’t know. Perhaps they failed to see me. Perhaps they thought I was far enough gone without killing. Perbaps they were fright- ened at what they had done, and wanted to rk away. I only know that I must find them. ‘You sball find them, Kit. I will serve as detective. Their tracks are plain and the mud is drying. I will make a record of the gg of their faet, and with the points we have | am keen to bet that we shall find them.” ““ Which way did they go?” “ Westward: but you mustn’t worry about them now. You will not be able to get out for several days. As soon as you are well enough we will start.” CHAPTER IL A FLOODED GULCH, At the bottom of a deep and narrow valley between two lofty mountains—which might perhaps better be styled a rayine than a valley Sa Ne, he gt ee
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4 Dwarf Jake, the Detective. eS —a clear and sparkling stream ran toward the ea: Though already a little swollen by the early melting of the snow, it was then a quiet and well-behaved stream as it rippled and bubbled on its course, spreading here and there into dark and placid pools which might be si naa to eegg the beautiful spotted trout of the moun- ins. That trout were there was made probable by the presence of a young man who was fishing at the north side of the stream. He was quite a young man, with a new mus- tache, and his face had not yet taken on the bronzed hue that aks of long acquaintance with wind and weather. His newness to that region was further evi- denced by his attire, as he wore a derby hat and a cutaway coat, though he had condescended to brown corduroys that were stuffed into high boots. Quite incongruous, though the chilly weather demanded something of the sort, was a short and rather dirty coat of deerskin with brass buttons down the front, that he wore over his cutaway. It did not appear to belong to bim, and surely did not improve his appearance, This young man was fishing, but in an idle and listless way, as if that was not the business which had brought him to the stream. Though he had been there more than an hour, he had caught but one trout, and did not seem to care about catching any more. ; Instead of watcbing the water and attending to bis line, his glances were continually stray- ing to the other side of the stream and up the mountain, and bis face wore a look of eager an- ticipation, as if he were expecting nei at was clearly the employment that his heart was in, rather than the occupation of catching fish. It was not for nothing that he waited there, and what he sbortly saw was well worth look- aS for. own the mountain-side came a bright and fresh-faced girl, not yet out of her teens, plainly but neatly dressed in brown muslin with a cloth sacque, and witha trim little hat which the wind could not blow away. In her right hand she carried a stout staff, though her light and springy step did not seem to need its aid, and around her waist was a belt with a sheath hold- ing a silver-mounted revolver with a rifled bar- rel. As she came down to the stream she did not notice the young man who was fishing on the other side, unless she gave him a quick glance from under her eyelashes. He, however, at once dropped his fishing-rod and hastened toward her, smiling and raising his bat as he bid her good-morning. “You here?” she exclaimed, with a pretty air of surprise. ‘‘l am quite glad to meet you. It is so pleasant to see somebody in this solitude, How did you happen to come here?” “T happened to come down to try to catch a few fish,” he replied, as if that had really been his business there. ‘* What luck have you had?” “Very poor luck, I have only one trout, and that is a small one,” ! ‘Why, there are plenty of fish in the stream, Whenever my father comes down he brings home a fine mess of trout.” “Your father, no doubt, is a much better fisherman than I am.” “And now itis noon and you have but one fish.” ‘Is it noon? Time slips by so swiftly that I had not thought it was so late.” In making this assertion the young man did not adhere strictly to the truth, as the fact was that time had passed very slowly with bim un- til the person to whom he was speaking ap- peared. ““T was very glad to see you coming,” he went on to say. ‘* You surely live near here, and we must neighbors; but, though this is the second time I have met you, I do not even know your name.” ‘My name is Clara Wynne,” she frankly an- swered, ‘‘and my father is Adam Wynne, *Most everybody about here knows of him, though I suppose there are few people who know much about him. We live up yonder on the mountoin-side, and you can see our house from here if it wasn’t for a point of rock that hides it.” ‘*My name is Harry Poindexter,” said the young man, “ y brother, Arthur, and I came out here last fall to start a sheep farm. We came at a bad time of the year and were snowed in a good bit of the winter, and hada hard pull to get through, but I think we will do nicely now. We live about five miles from here, in the valley beyond the gap, and I am so glad that we are neighbors to you. Arthur and would be pleased to visit your father and to have him visit us,” “Tl am afraid that it can’t be managed,” re- plied the girl. ‘My father never goes apy- where, and he objects to visitors. He would be likely to give you a hard time if you should come there.” ‘A sort of hermit is he?” “ Something that way.” “It must be very lonesome for you?” “Sometimes I feel lonesome. ark! what is that?” That was a sudden sound like distant thun- der, increasing and coming nearer with fearful rapidity until the roar was tremendous, ‘What can it be?” replied Harry Poindexter, looking about in wonder. The stream between them was swelling and beginning to foam and brawl where it bub- bled so peacefully. “Tt is a flood!” exclaimed the girl, pointing at the water. ‘There has been a heavy rain to the west of us, and the snow bas melted down from the hills, and the water has broken through the ice-dam above here, and it will fill this gulch quicker than = can say Jack Robin- son, We must run up the mountain.” Hardly had she finished speaking when the truth of her words was fearfully apparent, Down the ravine rushed the flood—not a river, nor yet a torrent, but a huge wall of water, tow- ering oe bearing before it masses of ice and trees and great bowlders, and filling the valley with its thunderous roar, It did not seem to flow, or even to run, but to
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Dwarf Jake, the Detective. 5 fly forward as if it had been shot out of some gigantic cannon, The spectacle was terrible, and the peril was imminent. Harry Poindexter coul@ not help appreciating” the danger and perceiving that flight was pos- sible in only one direction. He sprung at once across the stream to the as- sistance of Clara Wynne. She did not need his help. She had only waited to see him take the right start and then she led the way up the mountain- side so swiftly that he had as much as he could do to overtake her, Rapily as they fled, the flood was yet’ more rapid, and in a period of time that could be counted only by seconds, it was roaring below them and howling after them. As the torrent rose and swelled they increased their exertions to climb the steep ascent. Suddenly a stop was put to their progress, The ait in her burry had diverged slightly from the right track at the start, and had been blindly followed by Harry Poindexter. The di- vergence had increased as they ascended, until they were “ brought up all standing” by a wall of rock that was higher than their heads. She looked about in bewilderment, and her surprise changed to terror as sbe saw the tor- rent still howling up the steep, The path was at the edge of the ledge, more than thirty vards away, and it would be impos- sible to reach it before the water should come up and sweep them off. The rock face was quite perpendicular and nearly smooth, offering no foothold and scarce- ly a clutch for the fingers. Above their heads was stretched forth the trunk of a fallen tree; but it was qe out of reach, and young Poin- dexter tried in vain to seize it. He looked at the girl, and her answering gaze was full of despair. The torrent was not roar- ing then as it bad roared at the first rush, but was rapidly rising and climbing the mountain- side, and had already reached above their knees, The look that each cast upon the other said that there was no hope; but help came when they had abandoned hope, A voice above caused them to look up quickly, | to go. and they saw a dwarfish but long-armed sitting astride the trunk of the fallen tree. “*Give me both of your hands,” he said, as he reached down his long arms, The gir] instinctively raised her hands, which were seized in a strong grasp, and the dwarf lifted her out of the reach of the torrent and placed her on the tree, whence she was taken by another man, who transferred her to firm ground, Only a brief space of time was consumed by this exploit; but every second increased the peril of Harry Poindexter. The water had already reached his waist, and was rapidly rising, Dearing on its swollen sur- face trees and i that rushed by as if in a mill-race, threatening to tear him from the face oe rock to which he was vainly striving to cling. But the dwarf wrapped his legs about the tree-trunk, and reached down, seizing him by man the collar just as he was about to be swept away. There he held him until his comrade came to his help, and by their united exertions they raised the young man to the top of the rock, and placed him on the plateau at the side 6f the girl, CHAPTER ITI. “iT IS THE COAT.” THE two young people were safe; but the tor- rent in the ravine swelled and boiled upward un- til pens reached the plateau on which they stooc “We must go up higher, Jake,” said one of the men who had saved them, : “J don’t think we need to, Kit,” replied Dwarf Jake. ‘See! the water now has a large space to cover over yonder, and I think we have had the worst of it.’ Kit Kenyon was looking closely at Harry Poindexter, but more particularly at the coat he wore, He started toward the young man, but was restrained by a sign from his com- panion. ‘You have saved my life,” said the girl, as she looked with a shudder at the roaring flood, “Tam very thankful to you, and my father—” *T know we!! enough what your father would say,” interrupted the dwarf. ‘‘ You are Adam Wynne’s Sengite, I take it. You were only a child when [saw you last; but I remember your face. Your name is Clara, [ believe,” “Yes, sir, and I think I remember you. Oh, yess you are Mr. Nemo, and you were at our ouse in —— before we came out here.” ** You have bit it, that time; but have seen am going to visit him now, ho is this young man?” “It is Harry Poindexter. He and bis brother have a sheep farm about five miles from here, across the valley. He was fishing in the stream when the flood came.” “Well, young sir, you will have to go with us, I suppose,” ‘*Perbaps Mr. Wynne may object to a stran- ger,” suggested Poindexter, “That is no matter, You havo nowhere else You can’t think of crossing the valley until the flood subsides. You may lead the wa with the young lady, and my friend and I will follow.” A half-hour’s walk brought them to Adam Wynne’s house, a stout and comfortuble but rudely-built cabin, situated on a plateau up the mountain-side, The bouse was set so that it was shielded from the heaviest winds and storms, and the plateau had been turned into a garden, where kitchen vegetables and flowering plants, carefully tend- ed, grew in luxuriance. Adam Wynne was standing out there, shad- ing his eyes from the sun with his hand, and gazing down into the valley, though from his position nothing unusual could be seen, He was a man past middle age, tall and stately, with grizzled hair and beard, and with a military air which was also expressed in his clothes, though they were common garments of stout woolen. There was something in tho I have not seen you since our father, and I
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Dwarf Jake, the Detective. ww _——EeE——— OO way he wore them, as well as in his general ap- pearance, that spoke of military trainine and habits. His face lighted up when he saw his daughter; but be frowned heavily as his gaze rested on her companion. The dwarf pressed forward, and offered his hand to the old man, who greeted him warmly. “Ts it really you, Jake Nemo? I am very Pe tosee you. But who are these with you? don’t understand it.” “You soon will,” replied the dwarf. ‘‘Do a aad what has happened down ix the val- ley? ““T heard a sort of roaring noise, and was wondering what it could be. Is it a flood?” “A sudden flood, and a big one.” “Why, that is very dangerous, and my ' daughter was down that way. Clara, you must never again go out alone, To think that you might have been caught by that flood!” “She was caught in it, Mr. Wynne. My friend and I came upon her and this young man as they were climbing out of its way. They had got to where they could go no further, and would have been swept away if we had not happened to be there in the nick of time to pick them up and put them out of barm’s reach,” “ Merciful Heaven! And youand your friend saved my child’s life. Iam more than grateful to you both. I owe you a debt that I can never ” pee Nothing of the kind. Don’t make so much of what was only a bit of good luck.” Nemo introduced Kit Kenyon and Harry Poindexter to the old man, who spoke to them politely, but was not at all gracious to Poin- dexter, whom he evidently regarded as an unpleasant necessity rather than a welcome guest. He invited them all into the cabin, which proved to be a roomy and pleasant abode, well supplied with books and articles of comfort, and a stalwart negro woman was set at work to prepare dinner for them. ‘Have you any news for me, Nemo?” he asked, when ee 4 were seated inside. The dwarf y shook his head. “You have not found him, then?” “T have not even found his trail. I don’t know what has become of him. Iam afraid be has left the country.” * We must ee it up, then, I suppose.” “No, indeed. Never give anything up! Itis a weary while to wait; but patient search must bring some result.” “Tt is very strange, friend Nemo. I thought that nobody ever baffled you.” “* Nobody ever has, except this man, who has baffled me so far. I can only ask you to have patience.” : : “TI will try to be patient,” replied the old man; ‘but, as you say, it is a weary while to wait. Ihad hoped that you might bring me some news,” me, This conversation was quite unintelligible to the others, and Kit Kenyon, who had been elosly eying young Poindexter, nudged the dwarf, and whispered to him: “T am crazy to get at that chap. Shall I tackle him now, Jake?” “No, Not yet.” _ “ But it 1s the coat,” “Thave no doubt of that. It must be the coat, But there is something queer about this. Wait tillafter dinner. He can’t get away.” The negro woman son served a plentiful and excellent dinner, to which all did ample justice, with the exception of young Poindexter, who was obviously embarrassed, After dinner pipes and tobacco were pro- duced, and a social smoke was in order, ‘“ Where were you on the 23d of May, Mr. Poindexter?” suddenly asked the dwarf. ‘“Where was [ on the 23d of May?” repeated the astonished young man. “ Yes, sir—the day and night of the 23d.” “Itisa strange question; but I suppose you have an object in asking it.” “Of course I bave. Iam not asking it out of idle curiosity.” ‘‘Let me think. 1 suppose I must have been at home then, as I have not been away but once ina month, when I went to Homestretch for supplies, When was that? Why, that was the 23d of May. Yes, | was in Homestretch the afternoon and night of the 23d.” “ Are you sure that you were not in Cache- ton?” “Cacheton? I know nothing about Cacheton. I was never there. That is what is called a played-out camp.” “Where did you get that coat?” Kit Kenyon was eying the young man close- ly, with a look of ravenous eagerness, but said nothing. Clara Wynne looked from one to tie other of the speakers with an air of astonish- ment, as if wondering what it was’all about. Her father fastened a suspicious gaze upon Poindexter, and shook his head as if he thought there was good reason for his disapproval of the young man, ‘‘'Where did I get this coat?” repeated Harry. “That is another strange question; but it is queer how I got tke coat. I suppose of course you mean this deerskin thing. never saw it until this morning, when I found it.” * Found it?” exclaimed Kenyon. ‘‘ Yes, sir. You would never expect to find a coat in these mountains, or anything of the kivd; but I found this, As I was coming down to the valley this morning, I saw it lying in a little gully, as if it bad been thrown there, Curiosity led me to go down and get it. As the air was chilly, and it was not a bad coat, though rather dirty, I put it on.” “* Was it near a road?” inquired Nemo, “ Not a road, but a path—what is called a trail, Now, sir, as I bave answered your strange questions politely and to the best of my ability, oe request you to tell me why you asked them. They surely have a meaning, and it looks to me as if I am under some sort of sus- picion.” “Well, young sir, I am not going to accuse you of being a murderer; but it is a fact that the man who wore that coat on the 28d of May committed a murder or helped to commit a murder.” Harry Poindexter cast a glance of horror at the coat, as if fearing that it might bear the stain of blood.
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4 Dwarf Jake, the Detective. ri | Clara Wynne looked at him, and her eyes were full of wonder and pity. The old man again shook bis head solemnly, convinced that his unwelcome guest was a bad and dangerous person. “Are you sure it is the same coat, Jake?” de- manded Kenyon, “Thave no doubt of it. You see that there is a button missing. Permit me, Mr. Poindex- ter. The dwarf took from an inner pocket of his coat the putton with a bit of buckskin attached which he had picked up at the scene of the tragedy in Cacheton, and fitted it to the place in the coat where a button was missing. ge conld be no doubt that it belonged ere, ‘Tt is the coat,” he said. ““ What a strange fatality!” exclaimed young Poindexter. ‘“‘I was away from home when the murder was committed, and now I am wearing the coat of the murderer!” CHAPTER IV. AN UNEXPECTED FIND. i HUSH fell upon the party in Adam Wynne’s cabin, : Harry Poindexter had put the case against himself in such a clear light. and at the same time in such a true light, that even Clara could not deny that _the evidence as far as it went, pointed directly toward him. ““What was the murder you speak of?” asked Mr, Wynne, at last. “On the night of the 23d,” replied the dwarf, ** two scoundrels murdered, in Cacheton, one of the loveliest, and brightest and best women I ever met. I will tell you the sud story, if my friend will permit me to.” There was no objection, and Jake proceeded to give such an account of the tragedy as his own observation and the few facts supplied by his friend enabled him to put together. Kit Kenyon sat silent, with his brows drawn down and his lips compressed, but_ keenly eying Poindexter, who listened with evident horror of the crime and pity for the man who had been so sorely bereaved. The tears came in Clara Wynne’s eyes, and her father’s face was dark and stern. ‘*T don’t wonder that you suspect me,” said Poindexter. ‘It is almiost enough to make me euapecs myself. I was away from home that night, and Iam wearing the murderer’s coat, Fortunately for myself I can easily prove that I passed the night at Homestretch.” “Tdon’t think that will be necessary,” re- plied the dwarf. “‘I am not suspecting you, and I don't suppose that my friend does, in spite of appearances; but everything ought to be made clear. If you have no objection we will go with you when you go home, and I wish you would wear that buckskin coat and say nothing about it.» Then, when you meet your brother, we will be able to judge for ourselves,” “That will suit me, Mr. Nemo, though I will hate to wear this horrible coat, It will attract Arthur’s attention at once, and he will be sure to speak about it.” ““ By the way, young sir, did you search that coat when you found it—examine the pockets, or anything of the kind?” “ T never thought of that.” *1t would do no harm to look through it, There might be evidence of some sort about it, Sball I attend to that matter?” *T wish you would, and I will be very glad to have the coat off my back, if not off my hands.” The dwarf took the coat and examined it carefully, turning every pocket inside out, while Kit Kenyon carefully watched the in- spection. There was no handkerchief found init, nor a knife, nor a bit of tobacco, nor anything of the slightest value. The man who threw it away had first made a clearance of its contents. The only find was a small piece of torn writing paper in a corner of an inner pocket. t was a mere scrap, discolored and rumpled; but there was a little bit of writing upon it— the letters annis, preceded by a portion of another letter that seemed to have been an and from the s the pen had been brought back under the rest of the writing, so as to make a tail or flourish. Only this bit of paper, apparently of no earth- ly consequence; but Jake Nemo fastened on it at once, and gazed at it eagerly, with such a wolfish expression on his face as made the others stare at him. ‘* What is it, Jake?” demanded Kit Kenyon. ‘“‘ Have you really found etre. there?” “ Ts it possible,” muttered the dwarf, ‘ that I am at last going to light on something that I bad never looked for, and could never bave expected to find?” * What is it, Jake?” “You don’t understand this, Kit. It has nothing to do with your affair. Mr, Wynne, do ou remember his handwriting—Dick Grannis’s Brac, 3 *““Remember it!” exclaimed the old man, **Could I ever forget it?” “Look at this scrap of paper, then, and tell me what you think of it.” Mr, Wynne took the paper, and was even more excited over it than the dwarf had been, His face was flushed, his teeth were clinched and the frown on his brow grew deeper and darker, “It is that scoundrel’s signature,” he said “ora part of it. Iam assure of it as I could be of my own. And you found it in that coat?” , “Yes, and I want to say right here that I don’t doubt this young man’s story about find- ing the coat. If I had any doubt, I have none now. Do you happen to know anybody named Grannis, Mr, Poindexter?” “JT don’t remember that I ever heard the name before to-day.” ‘“So I supposed. Now, Kit, it is clear to me that the wien who killed your wife came this way, probably taking a short cut to Home- stretch, The man who wore that buckskin coat must have got a notion in His head that they might be pursued, and it would tell on them. 55 he threw it away, after taking the precaution to clean out the pockets, But he missed this scrap of paper, whch seems to have
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Dwarf Jake, the Detective. come from the bottom of a torn letter, and which hints at a story, though it does not tell it. We will go home with Poindexter, Kit, and will pick up the trail where be found the coat.” Adam Wynne did not seem to be altogether pleased with the abandonment of the case against young Poindexter; but the scrap of paper interested bim more closely. ‘Will you find that scoundrel, then?” he asked. *‘T don’t know what we shall find,” answered Nemo. ‘We can only do our best. I don’t suppose that the man Lam looking for on your account is the man who murdered Kit Kenyon’s wife; but there must be some connection be- tween them, and when we find one of them we ard hope to find the other.” he torrent in the ravine did not fall as rapidly as it had risen; but it subsided very swiftly, and the next day the stream could be crossed. Jake Nemo promised Mr. Wynne to send him as soon as possible, any news he might get hold of, and set out with Kit Kenyon and Harry Poindexter. The departure of Harry Poindexter was wha reag’d pleasing to the old man, who did not vite him to call again; but Clara found a chance to favor him with a parting smile, which doubtless consoled him for her father’s disapproval, At Nemo’s request he wore the buckskin coat, though he shuddered when eps it on, and declared that he would be rejoiced when he could rid himself of the incumbrance. To reach the Poindexter Ranch they forded the stream, which had not yet fallen to its usual level, and took the path that Harry bad properly styled a trail, a through a gap in the mountains to a stretch of open country. As they approached the spot where Harry had found the coat he pointed it out, and under the direction of Nemo they passed around it, to avoid disturbing any tracks or signs that might have been left there. ““What is the use, Jake?’ inquired Kit Ken- yon. ‘Considerable rain has fallen lately, and ever og ond have been washed away.” “Don’t be too sure of that, Kit. Of course the rain makes a difference; but it will be queer if I don’t find something. Who would have thought that we would bave come across that coat or that scrap of oe oak 1 begin to believe that luck is on our side.” The Poindexter Ranch was pleasantly situated on a wooded slope, commanding a fine view of an extensive reach of rolling country, part of it timbered, and all well watered, forming an ad- mirable cattle-rage. A rude house had been erected, intended to be replaced by a better building when the ranch became prosperous, and the general appearance of things was new and incomplete. As it was about dinner time when they reached the ranch, Arthur Poindexter was at home, and he was so overjoyed by the safe re- turn of his brother that rry did not at once have a chance to introduce his companions, He appeared to be several years older than Harry, and was a tall and stalwart young man, ; fresh and bright in his face, with hearty and cheerful manners, and a frank and genial dispo- sition. It was at once evident that Harry was his pet and his pride. ‘* We were getting ready to go and look for ou, my boy,” said he. “‘ There came a report ere of a terrible flood in the valley, and I was afraid that something had happened to you.” ‘‘ Something did happen to me,” replied Harry, ‘““T was caught by the flood, and it would have made an end of me if it hadn’t been for my friends here, who fished me out and saved my life. He then introduced his companions and told the story of bis peril and rescue. “So there was a woman in the case,” re- marked Arthur, “and that accounts for the scrape. Lam deeply grateful to these gentle- men, and heartily glad to see them here, Strangers are always welcome, and those who have done you such a service are more than welcome. ut what a queer coat you are wear- ing, Harry! Where did you get the style, my boy, and who is your tailor?” : * I found it,” answered Harry, a little sheep- ishly. “Found it? You ought to have better sense than to pick up a thing like that, which some- body has probably thrown away. It might be loaded with vermin or infected with some dan- gerous disease.” “That is enough,” said Jake Nemo, ‘ That settles the question, if there was any question,” “Bnough? What do you mean? t ques- tion does it settle?” “ The fact is, Mr. Poindexter, that your bro- ther has been suspecting himself of being a mur- derer, and all on account of that coat.” “Indeed! That is strange. But our dinner is ready. Sit down, my friends, and you can tell me aJl about it at your leisure.” At the meal all needful explanations were made and well received, and Nemo also found it necessary to tell the sad tale of the tragedy at the deserted camp of Cacheton, by which Ar- thur Poindexter was visibly affected. **T could offer an alibi for Harry,” he said, ‘if any further proof were necessary. He could not possibly have been in Cacheton that night, and have got home as early as he did the next morning. Besides, he brought back a load of sonal which I know came from Home- stretch,” ‘There has really been no suspicion against him,” answered Kenyon—‘‘ nothing but some strange coincidences that may help to put us on the right track.” Tbe dwarf announced his intention of going immediately with Kit Kenyon to the spot where the coat was found, to pick up the trail of the man who threw it away, and Harry Poindexter proposed to accompany them. Arthur wanted to ge in place of his brother, as he did not wish Harry to expose himself to any more dangers; but Harry begged to be al- lowed to go, and in this his new friends sup- ported him. ‘He may be of use, as it was he who found the coat,” suggested the dwarf, ‘‘and we don’t expect to have a fight or to get into any sort of difficulty. We only want to find the trail now, so that we can follow it hereafter.”
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Dwarf Jake, the Detective. 9 re CHAPTER V. A STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE, No difficulty was expected, as Dwarf Jake de- clared, but Harry Poindexter, who had ‘‘ shed” the obnoxious coat, saw fit to provide himself with a rifle and a belt of cartridges, and sallied forth with his friends, followed by Arthur’s best wishes for their success, They went at once to the spot where the coat had been found, and Harry pointed it out with exactness. Nemo requested his companions to stand back, and went to the edge of the gully, from which point he carefully examined the ground in three directions. After a while he started off up the trail, at times on his hands and knees, and with his nose near the ground. “Ts he a hound?’ demanded Harry Poindex- ter, who was watching the dwarf’s proceedings with interest. ‘Is he following his nose? Can he really scent a trail?” “He is using his eyes, and he knows how to use them,” replied Kenyon, ‘‘A hound would scarcely find a scent there now, but Jake Nemo will strike a trail if there is the slightest sign left. He has found tracks, you may be sure, as I saw bim take a paper from his pocket and compare it with something on the ground. Just then the dwarf rose to his feet, after making u mark on the earth, and beckoned to them to come to him, “ve got it,” he said. ‘‘Two men passed here, and I don’t doubt that they were the men we are looking for. One of them dismounted near the edge of the gully. Probably he couldn’t et his horse up to it, So it must have been the ll man who wore the buckskin coat.” ** How do you make that out?” asked Kenyon, “7 made maps of their feet at Cacheton, as you remember, and the track of the tall one fits the faint track that was left here.” “Tf there are any tracks here I can’t begin to make them out,” remarked Harry Poindex- r. ‘No? Then you have much to learn before you follow the business of trailing. Your eyes are good enough, I suppose, but you don’t know how to use them. Here are the tracks of the horses, pointing up the path,” “Yes, I see those, but you spoke of a man’s tracks.” “Here, then, are the tracks you left when you went down to the valley.” “T can see them, since you have shown them to me, but they are quite recent.” “Step down to the gully with me, Here the man stood when he threw the coat away. You will have to look close to see the tracks, as they are very faint. Here is where he stepped down from his horse, making a heavier and better-de- — track, and that is the mark I knew him A Harry, after examining the ground closely and carefully, declared that he would never have suspected the existence of the tracks if they not been pointed out to him. “ That shows you, then, the sort of education you need, It is not enough to have eyes; you must learn how to use them, Now we will take up the trail and follow it while the day- a holds out, and you two must let me goin advance.” : The dwarf started up the path, and got over the ground pretty rapidly, as the traces of the horses’ feet were generally plain enough. casionally he was obliged to stop and study the trail, and he came to a halt where it abruptly turned off toward the left into a rough and wooded region. “They didn’t go far from here,” he said, “Their destination must have been somewhere in this neighborhood,” “Now you've got me again,” remarked Harry Poindexter. ‘Just put yourself in their place for a mo- ment, my young friend.” ‘*T put myself in the coat of one of them, and that’s as far as I want to go.” ** Pretty good for you. Youare bright enough in the way of talk, but you need to learn to think. ould you start off into the woods in that direction without knowing just where you wanted to go to? Would you leave this easy trail and break off among those hillsand gullies, unless it was a short cut to some place that you expected to reach pretty soon?” : “T don’t believe I would,” replied Harry. ** No more would they. Tt follows that they were well acquainted in this region, and that they were taking a short cut to some place that is not far from here—it may be a road, or it may be their real destination. If they know the country so well, we must suppose that the have an abiding-place somewhere in this Jati- tude, Anyhow, we will follow them on the short cut.’ The dwarf took up the trail again, and found it to be not a difficult one to follow, as the horses’ feet had left plain tracks where the ground was soft. But after passing a ravine, down and up the sides of which the horses had evidently scram- bled, he came out upon a rocky plateau where there was neither tree nor bush nor soil, and where there was not the slightest trace of the trail. He examined the stony surface carefully; but even where he knew the horses must have gone upon the plateau, he found not the slightest sign. te scratched his head, and admitted that he was puzzled, “If the trailhad been made within twenty- four hours,” he said, ‘* 1 think I could follow it over there; but it is too old, and I am stumped.” “We may pick it up in the timber on the other side,” suggested Kit Kenyon. ** Yes, that is what me must do, We have a little daylight left, and may as well use it in looking for the trail. But we had better divide, so as to cover more ground. If you will go to the right, Kit, and our young friend will go to the left, I will strike a line across, and it is likely that one of us will come upon it. We will meet here within an hour at the furthest.” The three men started across the rocky space, and were soon out of each other’s sight on the other side, Some time before the hour was up, Harry Poindexter found his way back to the rendez yous, and was soon joined by Kit Kenyon, j
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Dwarf Jake, the Detective. “ Have you found anything?” inquired Kit. “*No, indeed. Have you?” “Nota sign of anything. I am sure there was ho trail in the ground I covered. I hope that Jake Nemo has had better luck.” “ He has better skill, no doubt—much better than I have, at least.” “*T wish he would come back.” So did Harry, but they waited until the ap- aa hour had passed and he did not trrive. ‘he sun had then set and darkness was coming on so rapidly that any further attempt at trail- ing was out of the question, They waited half an hour longer, and then the sable mantle of night began to descend upon the scene, and their hearts were full of a heavier apprehension than they were willing to express in words. Kit Kenyon became so uneasy that he crossed the stony plateau, and looked in vain in the timber for his comrade, and in vain called him by name. He saw nothing of him, and got no mse. It was quite dark when he returned to Harry Poindexter, and reported his failure, It was clear that they could remain no longer there, and ou clear that it was useless to search for Jake Nemo. Sadly they picked their way back to the path, and returned to the Poindexter Ranch. Arthur Poindexter was bewildered by the news they brought, and Harry was quite over- come by the bad result of their expedition. He bad taken a great liking to the dwarf, and was sorely grieved by his strange disappear- an ce, “ What can have become of him?” was all that either of them could say. “‘T don’t know,” sadly answered Kenyon. ‘I am as ignorant in this matter as the greenest tenderfoot that ever lost his way in the wilder- ness. Some accident must have happened to him; he bas got into trouble in some way; but T can’t imagine how or what it is.” “Perhaps he found the men he was looking for, or was found by them,” suggested Harry. “You know, Mr. Kenyon, that he told us that they were not likely to be far from the place where they left the path. He thought they had a den somewhere about there, and perhaps he has run into it.” “That is possible,” replied Kit. “I only ' know that I am very uneasy about him, and that I won’t be able to rest until I find him. But there is no use in trying todo anything to- night, and we must wait until morning.” * Suppose,” said Arthur Poindexter, ‘‘ that he has merely been detained by going too far or losing bis way, would he be able to find his way back here at night?” “T believe he could find his way here, if he was able to walk and free to come.” “‘Then we can only wait until morning.” They waited, as there was nothing else they could do; but the morning came, and Jake Nemo had not put in his appearance, and the question still was, what had Facohie of him? CHAPTER VI. HUNG BY THE NECK. Tr is probable that Jake Nemo was quite as much surprised as his friends were by the man- ner of his disappearance, though he had the ad- vantage of them in knowing just bow it hap- en i Shortly after be entered the timber he found the missing trail, the tracks of the two horses being easily visible in the soft earth under the trees, and = followed it as rapidly as possible, being anxious to learn as much as he could be- fore the daylight left him, He made no attempt to communicate bis dis- covery to his friends, as that would have been a needless waste of time, and he did not require their assistance, His senses seemed to be unusually acute, and be found bimself able to follow the trail without an effort ashe passed through the timber ata rapid walk, he feeling of success was so strong upon him tbat he was sure he was upon the eve of sowe great discovery. It did not occur to him that he might be upon the verge of a great disaster. One discovery came to him quite suddenly, when he found his progress stopped by an abrupt wall of rock that seemed to bring the trail to an end. It did not bring it to an end, however, as he then saw where it ran into a well-trodden trail, proving that he had been right in his supposition that the men he was following knew the precise point they were aiming at. The plain trail came from the south along the foot of the wall of rock, and turned toward the wee through a narrow pass or crevice in the road. “Tam coming to something now,” muttered the dwarf. “* They must have aden in bere,” He did not hesitate, but pushed right on into the pass. It might be as well to go a little fur- ther—just a Jittle—so that he migbt have matter of consequence to report to his friends. It was quite dark in that crevice, and he soon came to the conclusion that it would not be ad- visable to press his investigation further at that hour and alone. But there was a place ahead of him where the rocky walls appeared to widen, leaving a broader space which it might be well to exam- ine. He stepped forward carefully, and found him- self in what looked, as he cast his eyes upward, like a large well-hole, beyond which the pass narrowed again. Suddenly there wasa rush from each side of this dark hole, and he was seized and over- powered before he fairly knew what was the matter. . He struggled furiously and desperately; but his assailants were too many for him, and his struggles only gained hima severe pounding. When they had conquered and disarmed him, they tied his hands behind his back, and pro- ceeded to blindfold him, though the darkness would seem to render such a precaution unveces- sary. Then he was led through the remainder of the pass, and onward and upward, his captors turn- ing and winding with him asif the intention was to bewilder him. He could not form the faintest idea of the direction he was taking, but
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Dwarf Jake, the Detective. 11 ————— was sure that he was going upward, and that his feet trod on nothing but rock. Finally he was brought toa halt, and by the coolness and dampness of the air he judged that he was in a cavern. A man was at each side of him, holding his arms, and a murmur of voices told him that he was in the presence of a number of others, Then one voice sounded loud and clear above all the others, and its accents fell upon the ear of the prisoner with startling distinctness, “There is the man, boys, That is the galoot who calls himself Jake Nemo. Some of you have cause to know him well, and all of you know who and what heis. We have got bim, and tbe question is, what shall we do with bim?” The dwarf gave no, heed to these utterances, momentous as they were, and bearing so direct- ly upon his fate. He was intensely occupied in wondering where be was and into whose hands he had fallen, and in listening, not to words, but to accents, in the hope of recognizing some tone with which he was familiar, In this he was not successful. All were strangers to him, as far as he could judge by using bis ears only. The man who had spoken again raised his voice, and the dwarf was sure that he would never forget those tones, though he did not re- member to have beard them before, “ What shall we do with him, boys? I ‘say that we ought to hang him, All in favor of hanging him will say ay. Those opposed will say no. emo strained his hearing to listen to the voices, but they were so bunched up and con- fused that be could not distinguish any of them from the others. But it was plain enough that the ayes had it by a large majority. In*fact, bis death was voted almost unanimously by the people there assembled, whoever they were, e awoke to the purpose and the peril of the situation, ‘Take him out and hang him!” ordered the leader, It was high time to be doing or saying some- thing for himself. Evidently there was nothing that he could do; but his tougue was still uncontrolled. ‘* What does this mean?” he demanded, rais- ing his voice. ‘* Who are you, and why have you brought me here? What have I ever done to you, that you want to hang me?’ “ No matter who we are,” sternly replied the leader. ‘It isenough that we know you and mean to put you out of our way. It has been voted that you shall hang, because it is thought best to get rid of you in that way. Take him out, boys, and hang him!” Jake Nemo was certain that he would never forget that voice while he lived; but he bad the best of reason for believing that he would not live long to remember it. The men at each side of him seized his arms and marched him away, and he was sensible of the fact that others went before and bebind m. They passed out of the cavern, as he knew by the change in the quality of the air and by the breeze that was blowing outside, and moved on, still over a rocky surface, a short distance, and halted again. There was nothing said by his conductors that be could distinguish. They had moved forward as silently and slowly as a funeral procession. But when they halted something happened that told him more plainly than speech the doom that surely awaited him. A noose was thrown around his neck and tightened there. Assuredly this was no joke—nothing but dead and dire earnest, Whoever and whatever his captors were, they had a deadly grudge against him and meant to satisfy it with his life, He’ was still blindfolded, and his sense of hearing conveved to him no information, as the silence about him was not broken by as much as a whisper. There was a suddenness about this thing, as well as a secrecy, that troubled even the strong nerves of Jake Nemo. For years he had carried his life in his hand, and had often been in deadly peril; but never before had he had any- thing like such an experience as this, To think that he must be put to death so silently and mysteriously and speedily and certainly, almost made a coward of bim for the moment, Hopeless as any effort of his own might be, he spoke again for his life. ‘“*Who are you? Why do you want to han me? What have I ever done to any of you? is a shame to send a man off in this style.” ** String him up!” was the only reply he got, in cold, incisive tones that sent a chill through all his veins, He was pushed forward a few steps, and he felt the noose tighten about bis neck again. He was then standing, though he did not know it, onthe edge of a rocky chasm, over which stretched the stout branch of a gnarled tree. The rope had been thrown over the branch, be- yond the edge of the chasm, and in another mo- ment it fastened there securely. His last hour had come, and there was nothing he could do or say to avert his doom, Not another word was spoken. Only a signal was given, and he was pushed over the edge, to swing by the rope in the empty air from the branch above him, CHAPTER VII. BLUE DICK’S MATINEE. HOMESTRETCH had a new sensation. It had had many sensations since the almost fabulous discoveries of placer-gold had suddenly transformed it from a wilderness into a busy and prosperous mining settlement, and some of its sensations had been strong enough to tear the camp up by the roots, as it were. But the advent of Blue Dick was not an every- day occurrence, and it created no little excite- ment, especially among the saloons and their frequenters. e was well known in Homestretch, person- ally as well as by reputation. He seldom vislit- ed the camp; but when he did there was a ‘*tearin’ down time,” and he always caused his resence to be known and his visit to be remem- Cied. Previous to this occasion fully a month had elapsed since he ‘‘ dropped in on the boys,”
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12 The excitement caused by his advent this time was largely due to the fact that he came with his pockets full of money, and that he has- tened to make that fact known in the readiest and most agreeable manner, He struck the Occidental Saloon, and gratified the oe by throwing a heavy gold-piece on the counter and inviting al) hancs to bave a drink, Again and again he ‘set them up,” and became the prince of the hour. The news of bis presence and of his liberality spread through the camp, and there was no lack of attendants at Blue Dick’s matinee, Among those whom his advent attracted to him was Frank Burrick, the Sheriff of Oro county, a wiry little man, not formidable to look at, but of undoubted courage and capacity, who possessed the confidence of his constituents to a remarkable degree, He was not drawn to the matinee by a desire to poison himself at the expense of the principal rformer, nor even by ordinary curiosity; but y a professional interest in that pilgrim from the upper regions, = Blue Dick was a person in whom the sheriff might at any time become suddenly and strong- ly interested, as his career was generally sup- ed to be a lawless one. It was known that he d his abiding-place high up in the hills, with a number of others of bis stripe, who were mis- cellaneously known as Blue Dick’s band, or Blue Dick’s gang, and who were not regarded as can- didates for Sunday school teachers or for admis- sion into select circles of Homestretch society. But Frank Burrick had never yet seen Blue Dick, and he came to.the Occidental to “ size him up.” The sheriff found him to bea tall and well- built young fellow, of twenty-five or there- about, with bronzed features, jet-black hair and mustache, brilliant black eyes when they were not dulled by too much drink, and a general ap- pearance of being ready and fit for any work the devil might cut out for him. He was dressed in the regulation ‘‘ mountain screamer ” style, with trowsers of stout cloth tucked in bigh boots, broad felt hat, blue flannel shirt, and the usual armory, over which he wore a short velvet coat with a large assortment of pockets. On his left cheek was a large purplish spot, apparently a birth-mark. a He was scattering his money lavishly and Loa and appeared to have plenty in his e On this subject the sheriff had a conversation with Tom Orcutt, one of the leading citizens of Homestretch, * Blue Dick isin town to-day, and he has loads of money,” said the sheriff. ‘‘ Where do you suppose he got it?” *“T haven’t the least idea,” replied the other. ‘They have been keeping right quiet up there in the hills for a long time. [have heard of no stage robbery, or bank robbery, or cattle rob- bery, or any other kind of robbery about here since last fall, more than six months ago.” “Just so; but when Blue Dick is flush it is reasonable to gaunoe that somebody has suf- fered. I suppose he has been operating at some distance from here, and we haven’t heard how he got his work in.” Dwarf Jake, the Detective. ‘““Who came to the camp with him to-day, Frank?” “A stumpy, red-headed Irishman,” “That is Paddy Whack, as they call him, Blue Dick’s most particular partner. Suppose you tackle him and pump him.” Frank Burrick did tackle the Irishman, but found bim very close-mouthed and so dry that the pamp brought up nothing but sand. “Sure an’ he’s got as gud aright to have money as anny av the rest av yez,” replied Paddy Whack. |“ An’ phwat do I know about it?) ’'m ownly his hoired man, sor, an’ I kem in to look afther him. If he gits dhronk, I’m to take him out in the wuds an’ watch him till he slapes it off, sor. alee don’t yez ax him some questions an’ git a quick answer, sor?” But the sheriff did not attempt to question Blue Dick, and tbat celebrity, finding the pas- time of “ setting them up” rather monotonous, went into a gambling-den near by. He stayed there but a little while, only long enough to feed a few of bis dollars to the tiger, and returned to the Occidental. As he entered the saloon he saw an erect old man, with a very handsome young woman at his side, pass slowly up the street, “ By the holy Satan!” exclaimed Blue Dick, as he struck a dramatic attitude, ‘ There is my destiny!” ‘* Where is it, Dick?” eagerly inquired a bum- mer at his elbow. ‘I didn’t’see you drop any- thin’.” “Tl drop on you for a fool if you don’t hold your tongue. and soak your head. Not an- other drink do you get here at my expense. Jimmy, my boy, who is that daisy?” “The young lady out there?” replied the bar- keeper. ‘She is a daisy, and no mistake, The old man is Adam Wynne, and she is his daugh- ter. This is the second time they have been seen in Homestretch. I reckon they have come to do a little buyin’.” ‘She can buy me cheap. Is she married?” ‘* No, but she can be, as quick as a wink. The. camp is full of capitalists who would be glad to invest in her.” “T am willing to go my last dollar on the show of the outcrop, without waiting for an as- oa Where does she live?” he barkeeper answered this question, and several others that his liberal customer pro- pounded, to the best of his ability. Tn the course of these inquiries Blue Dick had not absorbed a singledrink. At last he woke up to a sense of bis responsibilities in that line. “Talking is dry work. Set ’em up lively, Jimmy. Walk up, gentlemen all, and drink the health of old Satan’s favorite son! Does anybody know what has become of Paddy Whack?” “Sure an’ I’m here, sor,” replied that quiet and unobtrusive henchman, “ Come and take a parting drink, Paddy, and then we'll slide off.” ““T hope you ain’t really goin’ to leave us,” said the barkeeper. “Tam though. I’ve got business to attend to, and must leave while my head is level.” And he did leave immediately, He and the Irishman mounted their horses, and trotted -
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Dwarf Jake, the Detective. briskly out of Homestretch, followed by the wistful gaze of the Occidental’s barkeeper. “Blue Dick has gone crazy about Adam Wynne’s daughter,” mused Jimmy. “ He ain't the only one in that fix, but I reckon he is by long odds the wu’st, and she had better look out for berself.” Blue Dick and his companion struck off into the ‘hills, and soon entered a mountain trail, which they followed up and down, but mainly up. It was a very difficult trail, and its crooked course seemed likely to lead to nowhere in particular; but both they and their sure- footed beasts knew well whither they were going. After a few hours of hard travel, they came to a wall of rock along which the trail led, and this wall of rock was broken by a cleft just large enough to permit the pee of a horse, As they turned into the cleft Blue Dick sound- ed a whistle, which was answered from a little distance, and they rode on through the pass, coming out into a region of rocky cliffs and ravines that seemed to have been thrown to- gether by nature in an angry mood. Turning to the right, they rode up a stony slope, and entered a large hollow in the cliff be- fore them, where they dismounted and left the two horses in the charge of a man who was wait- ing there. ‘he broad hollow, which was rather too open to be called a cavern, proved to be but a vesti- bule to a series of similar apartments, not so open, one of which they entered, and found it lighted by a big fire, as well as by wicks swim- ming in vessels of fat. Several men were lounging in that apart- ment, and among them was an old man with gray hair and beard, who stepped forward to meet the new-comers, He wasa man whom Blue Dick usually ad- dressed as “Dad,” and spoke of to others as “the old man.” If he had any other name, it was not known to those with whom he associ- ated in that mountain den. “Hello, Dick, my boy!” he joyfully ex- claimed, ‘‘ Back already? Sober, too, as ’ma sinner!” ‘Yes, dad, straight asa shingle, thanks to old Satan!” “You didn’t spend all your money, then?” “Not much of it. I bad enough of Home- stretch after a short pull. The fact is, old man, I get something into my head that drove the whiky out.” ‘Tt must have been as big asa bear, then. _In the name of your old friend Satan, Dick, what was it?” “Let me sit down a bit, so that I can break it to you kinder easy, I have made up my mind, old man, to settle down and get married,” “Snakes and buzzards! hat in the name of allthe gracious demons has put that into your head?” X “Tsaw the girl that I mean to marry. She was walking in Homestretch with her father, and I was standing in front of the Occidental when l caught sight of her. Assoon as I saw her I was gone. Right then and there I deter- mined to take her on her own terms, and of course I shall marry her, You needn’t be 13 afraid of losing me, dad. I expect to settle down and go to housekeeping here, and both of us will take care of you.’ “Have you asked her?” inquired the old man. “Not yet.” ““T thought so. Do you know her?” “Never saw her before to-day, and haven't said a word to her yet.” “Perhaps you will slip up, then. What makes you think that she will marry you” “* Because she will have to. That's all, and it isenough, I know where she lives, alone with ber father, and it will be the easiest thing in the world torun over there, and pick her up, and bring her here, and then it won’t make any difference what she says.” “That is one way to get a wife. much as know her name, Dick?” *T know her father’s name.” “ What is that?” * Adam Wynne.” The old man, who was standing at the time, staggered backward until he almost fell, His face took on a ghastly hue, and he gasped as if he could hardly get his breath, “What is the matter, old man?” demanded Dick, in a tone that had in it more surprise than Ble gC “Not that man, Dick, Leave that man alone. Don’t take his daughter away from him!” “Why not? What have you todo with that man? hat do you know about him? “T will tell you some time—that is, I may tell ‘ou. There can be but one Adam Wynne. Whatever you do, Dick, don’t take his daughter away from him!” “That's rotten nonsense. I tell you, old man, Imean to get that girl and have ber for my own, and if the angels and all that business stood in the way they shouldn’t stop me. Now Lam going to look after the galoot we hung.” '* Never mind bim, Dick. e is safe enough.” “Tt is time to cut him down and give hima drop. Come, Paddy.” Blue Dick went out with the Irishman, but soon returned, and there was a puzzled look on his face, ‘Did you cut him down, Dick?” asked the old man. “There was nothing to cut down. He is gone!” Do you as CHAPTER VIII. A HARD STRUGGLE FOR LIFE, DwarF JAKE had been hun by the neck, but the job was not thoronghbly well done, though it may have equaled the efforts of some profes- sional hangmen. When he was swung off the noose loosened, and the knot slipped around under his jaw. As the drop was slight, this made quite a difference in his situation. It was painful enough, to be sure, as he swung there by the neck; but death was not in stantaneous, nor did it seem likely to come to him very quickly. Dark as it was, one of the men noticed the bungle that had been made, and called the at- tention of his chief to it. “Phe rope has slipped,” said this man. “TI believe the cuss has got it under his jaw.”
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“hat is right,” was the answer, in the same tone that had pronounced the doom of the dwarf. ‘He has got to hang there, anyhow, and if he has a hard time in dying it is no more than he deserves. The rope issure to strangle him.” ‘Sure to strangle him!” These words stuck in the dwarf’s ears, and their truth was pain- fully apparent. e was in full possession of all his senses. In fact, they were remarkably wike awake just then, and he knew precisely what he had to ex- t. He was not a heavy-weight, fortunately, and his neck was short and stout; but the down- ward pull of his body would increase the strain of the rope, which was becoming more unbear- able with every instant of time, and before long—not very long—he must surely die, The buzzards need not be expected before morning; but they would fiud their feast ready. His only chance for life lay in freeing bis hands from the cord that tied them behind _ his back, and it was no wonder that he listened in- tently to the departing foo steps of his execu- tioners, his heart throbbing as they died away in the rocky walk. As soon as he believed that the men who had just left him were out of sight and hearing, he an to struggle for his life. ressing bis jaw down against the fatal rope, with the object of preventing the knot from shifting its position, he wrenched desperately at the cord that tied his hands, in the hope that he ver pull them loose or break the hemp. reatly to his surprise he was successful. Though the effort cut his flesh to the bone, a strand of the cord burst, and he easily freed ‘himself from the remainder. Carefully raising his hands above his head, he grasped the rope, relieved his neck and jaw from the terrible strain, and, in spite of his lacerated wrists, drew himself up to the bough to which the rope wus fastened. There he paused to rest and to bless the rotten ‘cord. He soon descended the tree, carrying with him the rope, which he wound about his waist under his coat, as if he meant to keep it as a re- membrance of that night’s experience, The night was very dark, but the sharp- sighted dwarf was easily able to take his bear- in fie perceived that he stood on a shelf of rock, some ten yards in width, on one side of which was the cried unfathomable abyss over which he had swung by the neck, and on the other a perpendicular cliff reaching up to an unknown hight, which he need not fhink of at- tempting to climb. The shelf of rock sloped upward toward him, and he knew that he had been brought over an ascending grade from the place where he was doomed to death. Therefore he must descend the slope to reach the cleft in the roek by which he had made his way into that den of wolves. ‘e bouud up his bleeding wrists as well as_he could with strips of his handkerchief, using his teeth to tie the knots, and followed the down- Dwarf Jake, the Detective. ward grade of the shelf, walking slowly and | him, cautiously, lest he should lose his footing in the darkness, or run into a nest of his enemies. Soon he discovered that he had come to the end of the cliff, or that it made a bend to the left, and he followed around the bend, keeping close to the rock, as he was thus less liable to luse his way. His next discovery was of a faint light that came from the interior of the rock, and he crept forward until he found himself at the edge of a wide hollow in the cliff, Inside he heard the noise of horses echamping and stamping, and by the dim light he saw a man armed with a rifle, who seemed to be acting as sentry there, “This is the den of the wolves,” he muttered. There could be no doubt that it was a good lace to get away from, especially as his captors ad left him nosort of weapon, and he proceeded to get away. e knew that his route from the pass to the eavern, like that from the cavern to his place of execution, had been on an ascending grade, and that he must still go downward to find the pass, So he effaced himself in the darkness by creep- ing among the pieces of broken rock until he was out of sight of the mouth of the cavern, and made a bee-line in the direction in which he ho to find an exit, 7 is judgment was right, and he struck the pass sooner than he had expected to, But there was no escape for him in that quarter. A glance showed him that the pass was guarded by two armed sentries, and he was compelled to seek cover again to avoid their observation. Possibly there might be an opening further down, and he carefully picked his way in that direction; but, in spite of his utmost caution, he nearly lost. his life by falling into an abyss. It was doubtless the same that had been under him when he swung from the tree, and a brief period of perilons inquiry told him that it turned until it joined the wall of rock through which he had passed in the evening. He was forced to the conclusion that there was no passage outward for him anywhere about there—none, at least, that he would dare to at- tempt in the night-time, and there was but one course left him, That was to go back to the point from which, he had started. Then he would be out of the immediate vicin- ity of the men who had trapped him, and might hope to find a way of escape when daylight came to aid him, The return journey was difficult and weari- some, the more so as the sense of failure de- penne, his spirits and reduced his energy; but e safely got by the pass and the cavern, and then it was a comparatively easy task to strike the corner of the cliff and proceed along its uae to the tree that had been used as his gal- lows, : This was disheartening in the extreme, and the dwarf was tired and sore; but he had no inten-, tion of stopping there. He knew well enough-that if he should be caught there by his previous captors, they would use no ceremony in making an end of
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Dwarf Jake, the Detective. 15 Therefore it was necessary to find some way of escape or a biding-place, and his only chance was to ascend the shelf of rock toward the north, He did so, keeping close to the base of the cliff as before, but had gone only a little dis- tance when he found his progress in that direc- tion completely cut off by the high wall of rock, which made an abrupt turn toward the south, i joined the chasm over whose depths be had ung. Beaten at all points, the dwarf sat down to rest and consider the situation. He had found a den of wolves which appeared to be alisolutely impregnable. Although his investigations had been conducted at night, and under great disadvantages, he believed that he could make a nearly perfect map of that nat- ural fortification, shut in on one side by an im- passable ravine, and on the other by an impass- able wall of rock, through which the only en- trance was by a narrow cleft which could be easily defended by a few men against an army. What more eligible location could the most fas- tidious wolves desire? He also found himself a prisoner in that forti- fication, and this was the bitterest of his reflec- tions. There was no way of escape, as far as he had been able to discover, and no chances that he would ever get out to give the world the benefit of his survey. Groping about at the base of the cliff, he found a hole in the rock near the place where he had been seated, and at once crawled into it. It was large enough to admit his body, and might serve as a hiding-place in an emer- gency. As he went in he perceived that he did not come to the end of the bole, and he thought that he had better go further. It might lead to something, and at the worst he could find his way back. The hole was of course as dark as pitch, and so small that he was obliged to crawl on his bands and knees, but he was encouraged to go on by fancying that he saw a light ahead, Pretty soon the fancy became a certainty. anes was a faint light ahead, but he could not tell what made it or where it came from, As he groped bis way toward the light his hand fell upon something soft, and he withdrew it immediately. The touch was followed by a mumbling noise that surely came from a human throat, It was evident that be had reached the end of the hole, and that it terminated in the den of wolves. But his touch bad not aroused the sleeper, and he quietly moved backward, _ Feeling carefully about he was convinced that the hole branched off in another direction near the entrance of the cavern, and he deter- mined to follow the new lead, as he could not feel safe where he was. On he went into the total darkness, leaving behind him the faint light which had seemed so like a friend, but had only led him to his ene- mies, He was obliged to grope his way through the turnings and windings of this new passage, which was at times so small that be could scarcely squeeze by the points of rock and other obstructions that he found in his way, but he pressed on, believing that what had a beginning must have an end—that what led from some- where must lead to somewhere, A sense of suffocation came over him as be thought that he might get jammed in that hole and never be able to go forward or to retrace his course, and this, combined with his extreme exhaustion, caused him to sink down helplessly on the damp rock. / But he soon recovered enough of his strength and energy to enable him to take up his toil- some task again, and be pushed on until, after a long and wearisome struggle, he felt the breath of wind on his face. It was actually wind, almost a breeze, and he retained his senses sufficiently to know that it was nothing like the close and quiet air of the hole through which he had been passing. It was the free air of the mountains, clear, cool, and infinitely refreshing. From the bowels of the rock and out of that terrible hole he had emerged to the open and to safety, The joy of this discovery overcame him again, and he sunk upon the ground, uncon- scious of anything more. CHAPTER IX. AN ENCOUNTER WITH BLUE DICK, Ir was broad daylight when the dwarf awoke from the stupor that had served him for sleep, The sun was shining brightly, but he was damp and chilly. : Where was he? Surely not in the den of wolves, nor in the fortification from which he had not expected to escape, Behind him was a mountainous elevation, and there at its base was the hole from which he had emerged. But it did not face ‘the chasm which had wor- ried him in the night-time, nor was it at the foot of a perpendicular wall of rock, and it was not the end of the hole at which he had entered. There could be no doubt that he had not only escaped from the den of wolves, but had dis- covered a secret way of getting inside of it. Inwardly congratulating himself upon his good fortune, and at the same time feeling a strong inward craving for something to eat, he set out to rejoin his friends, But he had not yet finished his mental map of the place where he had fallen into the hands of unknown but deadly enemies, and the surest way to get back to the Poindexter Ranch would be to start from the pass where he had been cap- tured, So he started to find the pass, There was no trail near the mouth of the hole; but he soon struck what he believed to be the wall of rock, and after proceeding a little fur- ther south, be came to the pass. He was sure of it. “There was the cleft in the wall of rock, with a plain trail leading up to it, and be ventured to look inside, but saw no per- son there. Without attempting to make any further in- vestigations, he dashed through the woods and crossed the stony plateau which he so well re- membered.
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16 Dwarf Jake, the Detective. —————————————————————————————— —————E—E—E—E—E—E—EeEeEeeeEEe_ESS ! Hardly had he entered the timber on the other side, when he beard voices and footsteps ap- proaching him, and he hastened to conceal him- self behind a clump of bushes. In a few moments he emerged from that re- treat, because he recognized one of the voices as that of Kit Kenyon, and perceived that the Poindexter Brothers and two other men were with him, The meeting was a joyful one, and Harr Poindexter was absolutely ecstatic in the glad- ness with which he greeted his new friend, “ We wero just starting out to hunt for you,” said Kenyon. ‘‘ Where have you been, and what tas happened to you?” “It is a long story,” replied Nemo, ‘and I can only hope that none of you may ever have such an experience as I went through last night. I am hungry and worn out. When we get to the ranch will tell you all about it as soon as I can.” With the help of his friends he reached the Poindexter Ranch, where he was fed and cared for. While he satisfied his hunger and thirst he told his story, oi aero it by showing the noosed rope and his lacerated hands. All were intensely interested, and the question was who had been his captors, and why they had sought to kill him, «It must be Blue Dick’s gang,” remarked Ar- thur Poindexter. “I can’t think of any others ye a parts who would be likely to do such a “Who are they?” demanded the dwarf. “ T know nothing of them except what 1 have heard, and that is only a little, We might learn more of them at Homestretch.” “Very well. I will go to Homestretch to- morrow morning. Now L must rest and re- eruit.” The dwarf’s wounded wrists were bound up, and he devoted the rest’of the day and the night to rest, as he found himself exhausted by bis mental and physical trials. In the meeps he was quite himself again, and he and Kit Kenyon, provided with horses from the Poindexter Ranch, set out for Home- stretch, They did not go alone. Harry Poindexter in- sisted on accompanying them, and his brother — astrong desire to visit the camp just en, After Jake Nemo had completed his purchase of weapons and their La phoeme el to replace those which had been taken from him, the party “ brought up” at the Occidental for the purpose of rest and casual refreshments, They had been there but a little while when another party entered the saloon, headed by a tall and noticeable young mau, who had a large a spot on one side of his face. This personage stepped, to the bar and called “the crowd ” up to drink as if he was ordering them to chargé a battery. “ Comé up here, all of you, and take a drink with the favorite son of old Satan!” Jake Nemo started at the sound of that voice as if he had been shot. “That must be Blue Dick,” whispered Arthur Poindexter. The invitation, which amounted to a com- > -o mand, was cheerfully accepted by all the men in the saloon, with the exception of the party of four from the Poindexter Ranch, Blue Dick, perceiving that they held back, strode toward them, a beavy frown expressing his disapproval of their conduct, ‘“ Why don’t you come up and drink?” he de- manded. ‘* Because we don’t happen to be thirsty,” an- swered the dwarf, turning quickly so that he faced the questioner. Blue Dick started back suddenly, and his face became livid, the purple spot standing out from bis sallow cheek so that it was really horrible to look at. But he quickly recovered his self-possession, if not his usual color and demeanor, ‘« Why do you stare at me so?” he exclaimed, ‘* Did you ever see me before?” “ Never to my knowledge,” replied Nemo, “Do you think you will know me when you see me again?” **T am sure of it.” “Do you take me for a man who wants to be stared at, you wizen-faced baboon?” “T don’t take you for any sortofaman. I take you for a wolf.” “A wolf! Do you hear that, boys? This miserable abortion dares to call mea wolf, I will show him how much ofa wolf I am, He don’t seem to have any beauty to spare; but I will make a blackberry roll of his face in less than five minutes.” Kit Kenyon quietly rose from his seat and placed himself in front of his friend, Kit had quite recovered from his severe ill- ness, and was, as he had often been said to be, “a splendid figure of a man,” a fine contrast to the ay tall but loose-jointed and “ gang- ling” form of the mountain-man. ‘You are counting too fast,” said he, ‘‘ You won't lay a finger on this man.” ‘*How do you know I won't?” retorted Blue Dick. ‘* Who the deuce are you?” “Only a baby, one of this spring’s chickens; but I have cut my eye teeth and my spurs are grown. It was clear to Jake Nemo, as he looked at his friend, that Kit Kenyon was himself again. With all his old-time lightness and good-humor he appeared to welcome a fray as a young girl rejoices in the thought of going to a ball. lue Dick stared at his new antagonist, and the fiery red of passion flamed in his cheeks. “Satan kick me!” be exclaimed, ‘if I don’t ull your teeth and eut your comb, Come, ys, let’s clean out these airy galoots. They are putting on too many frills to suit the Home- stretch style.” Kit Kenyon smiled, probably thinking that the desperado was quicker to call on his friends than to carry out the contract he had pro) to undertake, : Two men, who had quietly step into the saloon during the wordy war, walked toward what seemed to be the weaker eo They were Frank Burrick, the sheriff of Oro county, and Tom Orcutt. Arthur Poindexter stepped forward, and be- came a conspicuous figure in the hee od Harry took his stand at his brother’s side, to
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Dwarf Jake, the Detective.” 17 “Tf there is en! fighting to be done,” re- marked Arthur, ‘*I propose to take a hand in the game.” ) “So do I,” said Frank Burrick. ‘‘ As sheriff of the county, [ command all present to keep the peace; but, if you will fight, you must count me in,” A short, stocky, red-haired Irishman, who had kept close to Blue Dick, touched him on the shoulder, and whispered to him, but ina tone that could be heard by most of those pres- ent, ““'Yez mus’n’t fool wid no fightin’ now, sir. It w’u’d play the divil wid business,” “You are right, Paddy,” answered his chief. ‘7 am not a man to be bluffed by a sheriff, or by any such crowd as I see here; but I have important matters to attend to, and must post- me the pleasure of cleaning out these galoots. he next time I meet them they won’t get off so easy.” “ T suppose we ought to be a great deal more thankful to you than we are,” remarked Kit. Blue Dick answered him only with a vindic- tive glance, and paid at the bar for the liquor he had ordered. Jake Nemo stepped forward, and claimed the floor for a brief speech. ‘*T have kept the rope that was knotted for me,” he said. ‘“ When it is used again, J will do the hanging.” The de: o turned and dashed toward the speaker; but the burly Irishman seized him and drew him away, and Blue Dick left the saloon, followed by the men who had come in with him. In a few moments Jake Nemo and his friends also left the saloon. They were followed by Frank Burrick and Tom Orcutt, and the former spoke to the dwarf. ‘“*T don’t want to be inquisitive,” said he; “but you know who I am, and I have a reason for asking what you meant when you spoke of a rope and of hanging.” *I am quite willing to tell you,” answered the dwarf; ‘‘ but I must first introduce myself. Did you ever hear of Jake Nemo?” “ Hear of him? IshouldsayI have, Are you the man? Of course you are. I might have known it. I am glad seas to meet you, sir, as I am sure to strike something interesting now. Please come to my office with your friends, and let us talk over matters,” In the shanty that did service as the sheriff's office, the six men were made acquainted with each other, and Frank Burrick impatiently awaited the revelations he expected. “Was that Blue Dick who tackled us in the saloon?” he asked. “Yes,” answered the sheriff.” ‘* What is the rest of his name?” “T don’t know. I never heard anything else, I rs wan you knew him.” * [never saw him before; but I have met him,” “* How is that?” ‘*T was blindfolded at the time. Night before last he and bis devils hung me.” Frank Burrick was astonished, and he opened his eyes yet wider as Nemo told his story, which of course included an account of the tragedy at the deserted camp of Cacheton, | ‘You must be on the right track,” said the sheriff. ‘* There is hardly a doubt of that in my mind. But 1 wonder why they wanted to hang you. ‘““There are plenty of scamps who have orudges against me, for that matter,” replied emo, ‘‘ Perhaps those men had heard that I was hunting the murderers of Mrs. Kenyon, I have made no secvet of it.” “That may be the reason, I have been want- ing to get a pull at Blue Dick since I took office here as sheriff, but haven’t been able to fasten anything on him. He has been flush of money lately, and I have wondered where he got it, as nobody about here knows of any strike he has made. If we could bring that murder a sree Dearee to him, I would be glad to go for m. ‘*He and his gang will be tough subjects to tackle,” remarked the dwarf. “ Like enough; but you have found their den, and that is a strong point, though it seems to be a hard place to get at.” “Thave also found a secret way to get into the den, and I doubt if the wolves themselves know of that.” “You have? That is glorious. I can almost see Blue Dick swinging at the end of a rope.” “ Not quite, though. There’s many a slip *twixt the neck and the slip-noose.” CHAPTER X, A DASTARDLY BLOW. AFTER her perilous adventure with the sud- den spring flood Clara Wynne was not again al- lowed by her father to go down into the valley, or even to wander out of sight of her home, This was a sad disappointment to her, not only because she liked to be out in the pleasant weather that the early days of June were bringing to the mountains, but because she missed the chances she might have had of meet- ing Harry Poindexter, She readily confessed to herself that she ad- mired the handsome and manly young fellow, and she had reason to believe that the admira- tion was reciprocal. She could not expect to see him at her fa- ther’s house, as he had not been invited to re- at his visit, and her only hope of meeting im was built upon a base af mere chance, So she stayed at home, and devoted herself to the entertainment of her go ot, like the good girl that she was, knowing that his life was b: no means a pleasant one, and that she was his only comfort and delight. It was near the close of day, and Adam Wynne and his daughter were seated in front of the cabin, enjoying a pleasant breeze, and gazing Spor at the splendid view of moun- tain and forest on which the setting sun was shedding its glory. The sound of footsteps caused them to turn their heads to the right, and they saw near them two men, who seemed to have been toil- ing up the mountain path, and who looked worn and weary. They were roughly dressed, and je have been supposed to be miners or ranchers, had not their .armament been rather heavier than seemed to be necessary, rue
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Si ae ae aS = oe SSS —— — = 18 . “Dwarf Jake, the Detective. “’Scuse me, colonel,” said one of them; “ but we've kinder lost our way in these hills.” ‘“*Where were you wanting to go to?” coldly asked the old man. “We wanted to strike a camp they call Homestretch, hearin’ that thar was work thar fur honest miners.” “You have got badly out of the way of any road or trail that leads to Homestretch. I don't see how you could have done it, wherever you came from.” “ We tried to take a short cut, and got tangled up in the hills. We’re powerful bungry, gin- eral—hain’t had a bite since last night, Cain’t you give us a taste o’ grub?” Wait bere, and I will see what there is in the house. Come, Clara.” The old man stepped inside; but his object in so doing was to get his pistol, as he did not like the looks of the strangers, He Spon that Clara was following him: but he had hardly entered the cabin when he heard her serean). He turned quickly, and saw her seized by a third person, a tall man with a mask on his face, The plot and A ales was plain, The two men af i pretended to have lost their way were a cover for the approach of a third, whose aim was Clara, Her father started to go to her assistance; but the two first comers were in his way, and they jumped upon bim, throwing him down on the oor of the cabin, - “Tie kim and leave him,” ordered the tall man, in whose arms the gir] was struggling. Clara could only struggle and scream; but her screams showed that her lungs were sound, and her struggles gave her captor no little trouble. There was no man within hearing, except her helpless father and her enemies; but there was a woman at band. Sally, Mr. Wynne’s stout negro servant, who had gone to the spring for water, beard the first scream of her young mistress, Nar hear both her yells and ran to her assistance. She flew at the ll man like a tigress, tore the mask from his face, and mauled and scratched him so that Clara nearly freed herself from his grasp, and he was forced to call for help, By this time his two comrades bad tied Mr. Ba securely, and they hastened to aid their chief. One of them struck Sally a savage blow with his fist, knocking her senseless, and the three vor nt Stl aa Clara away down the moun- n path. It was some time before Sally recovered her consciousness, and in the mean time Adam Wynne groaned and writhed in pain and im- potent anger. At last she got up, rubbing her head, and vowing that she felt as if she had been struck by lightning, and hobbled to the house, where the sight of her master, stretched on the floor, and bound hand and foot, dazed her again. “Lawful sakes!” she exclaimed. ‘ Dis yer’s de debbil’s own work, fur shuab, W’ots dey - been doin’ to you, sah?” ‘Hold your tongue, and come and untie me quick!” he ordered, : , Sally hastened to obey, and the old man rose to his feet, stretched his limbs, and stared about in a dazed way. ‘* Where is Clara?” he asked. “Dunno, sab, Dey done toted her off, pore lamb.” “Yes, I know. Oh, the infernal villains! Which way did they go, Sally?” ‘* Down de hill, sah.” ‘Where is my gun? I must goin pursuit of them at once.” ‘*No, sab. Dar ain’t no use in yo’ tryin’ to do dat. Dey’s got fur away, an’ it’s dark a’ready, an’ you’d vebber begin to ketch ’em.” r. Wynne sunk into a chair. The outrage was such a terrible one, and he felt himself to be so a ge that his heart gave way, and he was on the verge of fainting. Sally hastened to bring him some liquor from a precious demijohn that was reserved for emer- gencies, and it revived him so that he was able to look the facts in the face and determine what ought to be done, There was but one friend upon whom he could call for help in his time of sore trouble, and he felt that he had great cause to be thankful that Jake Nemo was near at hand, The dwarf’s friend, too, was a stalwart, ac- tive, daring young man, who could doubtless be pressed into service. Even with tbeir help he had little hope of be- ing able to snatch his daughter from her ruffianly abductors; but he could do nothing more than seek them and implore their assist- ee, and that must be done without any loss of time. He knew that they had gone to the Poindex- ter Ranch, and that he would be likely to find them there. This was an unpleasant fact, as he had taken a dislike to Harry Poindexter for no other reason than because he suspected that young man of a strong liking for Clara. Could, it ke that Harry had planned the ab- duction? No, that was impossible. However objection- able he might be, he was not that kind ofa man, and he could hardly have put sucha plot in execution without the knowledge of Jake Nemo, who would have stepped on it at once. The old man saw clearly that he must crush out bis prejudice, and seek the aid of Harry Poindexter, as well as of the others, ‘*Give me ny thick coat, Sally,” he said, as he rose from his seat. “W’ot’s dat fur, sah?” she replied, instead of obeying. . ‘‘ Whar’s ye gwine to try to go to?” “Tam going over to the Poindexter Ranch, some five miles from here, across the valley, to — them what has happened, and to ask their elp. “No, sah. You don’tdo nuffiu’ ob de sawt. It’s gwine to be dark asa stack ob black cats, an’ you'd be sbuah to lose yo’ way, ef you didn’t tumble down befo’ you got nigh dar, No, sab. You couldn’t begin to doit. Dis chile’s de one w’ot’s gwine ober dar, an’ I mean to start off dis berry minute. It’s jess wot Pd made up my min’ to do.” “Bless you, Sally! Ido believe you can do it better and quicker than I can.” “Ob coss I kin, Wouldo’t I run my head off
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Dwarf Jake, the Detective. fo’ de pore lamb? I kinsee inde dark likea coon dog, an’ I’se run ober dar like a streak ob greased lightnin’.” ; Sally had been putting on her hat and shawl, and was ready to start before she had finished talking. “* Jest you stay Bem pots sah, an’ lie down an’ try to git some sleep. se go right ober dar, an’ come back yar, an’ take you ober’arly in de mawnin’. Good-nigbt, sah, an’ de Lawd be wid you an’ help de pore lamb!” Sally did go, as she said she would, like a streak of greased lightning, At least, she made the trip more quickly than any woman could have been expected to—or any man, for that matter—making the best possible time “over flood and fell,” down the mountain, across the still swollen stream, and through hills and woods along a trail that was anything but plain even by daylight, until she reached the Poim- dexter Ranch. ; Her story was soon told, and great was the consternation it caused. Sally’s description of the principal abductor was sufficient, and was at once recognized by her hearers, “Blue Dick!” exclaimed thedwarf. ‘This is se, peri my friends.” is coat was on his back, and his pistol was in his belt, and he was ready to start. ““T will go with you,” said Kenyon. “No, Kit; I don’t want you, If anything can be done, I can do it bestalone, This young man may go with me, though.” e pointed to Harry Poindexter, who was already on his feet. CHAPTER XI. "CLARA AND HER CAPTORS, In spite of her screams and struggles Clara Wynne was dragged rapidly down the moun- tain-side by two of her abductors, while Blue Dick brought up the rear. He had no fear of pursuit, but was naturally anxious to make sure of his prize and spirit her away before there could be any attempt to fol- low him. They quickly reached the bottom of the val- ley where Clara, who was panting and almost exhausted, was allowed to rest a few moments, and Blue Dick improved the opportunity to en- lighten her as to her position and bis intentions, **You will have to keep quiet from this on,” he said, “‘ unless you want to be gagged, and that might worry you more than you would like, You are going where nobody would hear her if you should scream as loud as a wild-cat, ut we don’t mean to have any racket, and you must agree to be quiet or take the gag dose.” ‘Who are you?” she demanded. ‘“ Why have you torn me away from my home and my fa- ther? What right have you to treat me so shamefully?” : ‘No right in the world,” coolly replied Blue Dick, ‘‘I ama man who don’t make much ac- count of rights and wrongs, but do just what suits me, It is no matter whofam. You will be better noggainte with me before long. I saw you at Homestretch, and then I settled it with myself that you should be my wife.” ‘‘ Your wife!” exclaimed Clara, who was so s 19 astounded that she scarcely knew what she was gah “Yes, I will do the fair thing by you, and mean to make you my wife. That is my pur- pose, and I took the simplest and quickest way of working it out,” 4 Clara Wynne, who had recovered her breath and her nerves, looked at him closely for the first time. He was a tall man and well-built, but his face was by no means attractive. One of his cheeks was nearly covered by a purplish spot, which at times was almost hideous, and the good effect of his brilliant eyes and fine features was marred by their dare-devil expression. She shuddered as her impression of the man and his intentions became fixed, It was clear that she need not seek to move him by tears and entreaties, and that any at- tempts at resistance would be equally idle. * You will come right along with us,” he said. ‘I will treat you well if you are reason- able, but we can’t have any row. Shall I help you walk to the horses?” She repulsed his offer of assistance, and he led the way, his two assistants following her, It was but a short distance to where four horses were tethered, and one of them with a side-saddle, and Clara was compelled to mount this one. Blue Dick rode generally at her side, with one of his aids in advance, and the other in the rear. There was little said by any of them. Blue Dick was not a conversationalist, and was quite unaccustomed to ladies’ society, Besides, bis love-making was not of the kind that uses ten- der words and pleasing ways. He took what he wanted because he bad the power to take it, and that was all, He was simply carrying out a purpose, and in that he was fixed and reso- ute. - As for Clara, she knew well enough that words would be wasted in trying to melt that human iceberg, and there was nothing else that she wanted to say to him, She had enough to do in communing with her own thoughts, which were sad and bitter be- yond expression. But she was a girl of no little strength of character, and she had perceived the necessity of looking the situation fairly in the face, so that she might meet its present and expected difficulties bravely, even if she could do nothing to help herself. She rode quietly with her cap-: tors because there was nothing else for her to do, and she was silent in order that she might better keep ber own counsel, It was just possible that she might do some- thing to help herself, She could, at least, keep her senses wide awake, noticing the route by which she was taken, and watching for a chance to escape, But that was a hopeless hope. The night, as Sally predicted, was ‘“‘as dark as a stack of black cats,” and she wondered how these men could find their way.in the pathless wilderness, over ridges and through ravines, and among all the obstructions and intricacies of sucha diffeult mountain region. She was soon compelled to abandon all hope ~
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Sl eS JF aS ie a = Dwarf Jake, the Detective. eeu of being able to trace her course, and to admit that the most skillful pursuit would be un- availing, even if there had been a chance of such pursuit. When she looked back, from mere instinct, and not with any expectation of aid, she did not need the sneering remarks of Blue Dick to con- vince her that she need look for nothing in that direction. Her captors appeared to be in no danger of losing their way. Amid all their turnings and windings their general course was as direct,as if they knew exactly the point at which they were aiming, and before midnight they passed between high and narrow walls of stone, which made the girl feel as if she were entering a tomb, The challenge and reply at this place told her that they had reached their home, whatever that might be. She was led, past tramping horses and dimly- visible men, into a large and cavernous apart- meut, dimly lighted, where an old and gray- bearded man came forward to meet her con- ductors. He spoke to Blue Dick in a tone that showed strong agitation, if not terror, “Have you got her, Dick? Have you brought her here? Is she really Adam Wynne’s daughter?” “Yes, old man, I’ve got her, and _ have brought her here, and she is Adam Wynne’s daughter.” **God in heaven!” “ Well, old man, I never knew you to look in that quarter for sympathy before. You always squint in the other direction.” “‘ But this is terrible, Dick.” It was very strange, to be sure. Clara could easily perceive that she was in some way the cause of the old man’s agitation; but why he was so deeply moved she could not guess. “Perhaps he was sorry for her, and would be- friend and protect her. Impulsively she reached out her hands and appealed to him for sympathy. “For the sake of God in heaven,” she pleaded, “T pray you ha 2 me and take me away from here! I have been torn from my home, and brought here against my will, and it will break my poor father’s heart, and whav will become of me? Oh, my God! what will become of me?” The old man had started back a little when she began her impassioned appeal, and he stood looking at her strangely, glancing in a vacillat- ing way from her fair face to the disfigured countenance of Blue Dick. She was almost sure that there were tears in his eyes, and she made another effort to move him to mercy. “You asked if I were Adam Wynne’s daugh- ter, and I am. Oh, sir, if ba ever knew my father, or have ever heard of him, you must know that he is a broken man, ruined by a vil- lain, old before his time, and that my loss will kill him. For his sake, and for the sake of the dear God above us, be merciful to me, and let me go back to bim!” Blue Dick was’ heartless enough to laugh, and it seemed to Clara that his voice sounded like the grating of the key in the gave of death, “T can’t do anything,” nervously answered the old man. ‘TI would be glad to if I could; but I can’t. This is Dick’s business, and I never interfere with him, except to—to advise him.” “That's enough, old man,” harshly inter- rupted Blue Dick. ‘I don’t mean to have ar foolishness about this, Come, girl, and I will show you a place to rest.” “Twill not go with you!” shrieked Clara. ‘Is there no mercy here? Will no one help me and save me from this man? Don’t dare to touch me, you villain!” ‘‘ This is a little too silly,” replied Blue Dick, who had laid a heavy band upon her shoulder, and who kept it there in spite of her. ‘‘ All you’ve got to do is to be peaceable and obedient and nobody will hurt you. I am only going to show you a quiet place where you can rest and come to your senses, and if you don’t go along willingly, you will be made to go—that’s ali!” There was no help for it, and she was led away sobbing, through a narrow passage, and into a place some ten feet square, which was,one of the numerous compartments with which the rock was honeycombed. A dim hght was burning on a shelf of rock, sufficient to show a pile of blankets on a rude sort of cot in a corner, which saved the place from the appearance of a wild beast’s lair. “Tam going to do the fair thing by you,” said Blue Dick, ina tone somewhat softer than he had yet used, ‘Just asI told you I would, I mean to be fair andtrue. I am going to make you my wife—that is as sure as that Satan smiles on his favorite son, There is no getting out of that, and the sooner you make up your mind to it the better, I don’t mean ie any harm, unless you call that harm. Vhen you are my wife, you will get used to things, and we will settle down and take life easy. Iam going to take away this light now, so as to give you a good chance to sleep, There is nothing to be afraid of, and nothing shall come nigh you. Good-night, and pleasant dreams!” It was not in a mocking tone that he spoke his parting wish, though it seemed likea mockery to Clara, She answered not a word, and he took the light and went away, and she stood there in the darkness as he left her. CHAPTER XI. ‘“mMWIXT THE CUP AND THE LIP,” Buvur Drcx was silent as he walked back into the main apartment of the den of wolves, bear- ing the light. Perhaps he was thinking of the change in his life that would be produc d by his matrimonial alliance, Perhaps he was wondering whether he had employed the best, as well as the simplest fo82 winning a wife. hatever his a pk may have been, there was nothing by which they could be guessed, as he set the light in a crevice, and placed himself opposite the old man, who was seated there in a brown study, if not in a sort of stupor, his head sunk upon his hand, and his eyes fixed on the rocky floor. There was nobody present but those two, and
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Dwarf Jake, the Detective. 21 —__ the old man started as if out of sleep when Blue Dick’s voice broke the silence. ‘Well, old man,” said the head wolf, “I must say that you are a queer customer, The way you went on about that girl made me open my eyes. What does it all mean?” ‘‘Ror God's sake, Dick!” broke in the old man, “Oh, drop that! Don’t call on strangers, The individual you are speaking of is no friend of yours or mine, and_ has good reason to be down on both of us, Talk of somebody you know.” * The devil take it, Dick!” **That’s more natural, Goon.” ‘‘In the devil’s name, Dick, why couldn’t you leave that girl alone, as I begged and implored you to do?” ** Because I bad set my mind on her, and I meant to have her, as I told you, and when I ciergine to do a thing, I am always bound to ‘0 it.” ‘tanybody but that, Dick. Any girl on earth but that, There are plenty of girls. Anybody but his daughter.” ‘His daughter? Of course you mean =a rah Wynne’s daughter. Now, old man, I see that there is some sort of a story hangiog to that— something that you haven’t let me into yet. Give it to me now.” ‘But the girl, Dick—” ‘‘ The girl is allright. She is resting as well as she can rest here. I won’t bother her, and of course nobody else will dare to. Goon with your yarn, I don’t know when I have been so curious about anything.” “TJ will tell it you; Dick, though it is for me a tale of sorrow and remorse,” ‘¢Remorse? That’s good. Now I am sure that [am going to hear something. Remorse! Never supposed that you had the faintest idea of what the word meant. Go on, old man, and get me onto the remorse business,” “You know, Dick, that in my younger days I was what is called a sporting man, I always played a gentlemanly game, though, and acted as a gentleman, and moved among gentlemen, *+One summer I was hanging around old Fort Leavenworth, getting on the right side of the officers there. Itisa big thing when the right kind of a sporting mancan get in with army officers, as they are fond of a quiet game, and usually play it for all it is worth. “Adam Wynne was an officer of the army, with the rank of captain. The paymaster of the post had died suddenly, and Captain Wynne had been detailed to take care of the funds and perform the duties of paymaster, I suppose that made him a sort of major protem., as he was called Major Wynne. : “Tt was then that I became acquainted with him by playing with him and some other officers at their quarters. The play didn’t amount to much, and the army men won about as much as they lost; but I was looking out for something bigger, you see. “One night, when I knew that he had a large amount in army funds on bis person, I got him into my room, when I persuaded him to play with myself and one of my partners, and then I went for all he had, ‘We had liquor, of course, and I dosed his drinks, and when he was far enough gone I laid him down to sleep, and took possession of his money. ‘Then I skipped out, leaving a note for Major Wynne, saying that important business called me away, and that I hoped he would pay me the balance due me at his earliest con- venience, for which purpose I gave him my address. “Of course he was all torn up when he awoke and missed his money; but my partner, who was well paid to stay and fix things, told him that he had lost it at a game of poker with me, and that he owed me a few hundred dollars besides. ‘The business was well managed, and there was no chance for him to deny it, as I was such a gentlemanly fellow, and so was my partner, and there was my letter to clinch Bone my friend told him, But you may believe that it was ruin to him, when I tell you that I had got away with nearly thirty thousand dollars in Government funds for which he-was responsible, “He wrote to the address I gave him, telling me the fix he was in, and begging me to help him out; but my answer was that it had been a fair game, that I had risked my money against his, that 1 had no reason to suppose that he was betting on what did not belong to him, and that I would expect him to pay me what he owed me,” “That was a good game,” chuckled Blue Dick. “Tf he wanted to squeal, all you had to do was to let him squeal.” “J did just that, Well, Dick, Major Wynne was court-martialed, and dismissed from the army in disgrace, and perhaps you can guess how that sort of thing goes with such a man. “He gave up every cent he bad, though, and settled with the Government, and actually sent me the amount I claimed he owed me. But the disgrace and the trouble killed his wife, and he went away, as poor as Job’s turkey, with his little girl, and was lost to everybody who had ever known him, except me.” ‘‘ Where does the remorse come in, old man?” inquired Blue Dick. “Where don’t it come in? It is cropping out everywhere and all the time, What else do you suppose it was that forced me to keep track of him, in spite of myself? Nothing prospered with me after that, and I went from bad to worse until I brought up here in the hills, and—and— Dick, that girl is his daughter.” The old man bowed bis head in his two hands, and appeared to be quite overcome by emotion, Blue Wick stared at him a moment, and then burst into a roar of laughter. “Satan snatch me, if this ain’t too much!” he exclaimed. ‘*You played your game well, and you won, and what difference does it make to you what became of the sucker? What differ- ence does it make to you now what becomes of his girl?” ? The old man looked up, and gazed piteously at the chief of the wolves. Don’t take his daughter from him, Dick!” he leaded, ‘‘She is all he has left in the world, t her go free, and give hera chance to find her way home.”
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22 Dwarf Jake, the Detective. “T will do nothing of the kind. fool to ask it. her.” ** For pity’s sake, Dick! care for me at all! know.” ““Yes, I suppose you are responsible for my being in the world, and small thanks to you for that, i tell you, old man, I mean to do the fair thing by the girl and marry her; but my wife she shall be, as sure as Satan lives! I have given ber a chance to rest, and now I am going to stand guard at the pass for awhile. All you've “got to do is to mind your own business, and that is just what you will do, if you know what is healthy for you.” Blue Dick left the cavern, and was gone about an hour. When be returned he saw the old man seated there as he had left him, with his face buried in his hands, He looked up and groaned as his son came in, Blue Dick bestowed upon bim a smile of con- tempt, took thé dim lamp that he had brought from the interior apartment, and went back there to look after his fair captive, In a few minutes he came rushing back, his face red with rage, and his eyes nearly starting from their sockets, The old man looked at him in amazement, and had to face a storm of wrath, “ Where is that girl?’ demanded Blue Dick. “The girl?) Where you put her, I suppose, don't know anything about her,” “You lie! She has gone—vamosed—slid out, and it is your doing. You infernal old villain, you have been playing a game on me though [ warned you not to, and you will have to sutfer for it, What have you done with her? Trot her out!” “Why, Dick, I know nothing about her. Is oe really gone? She can’t have passed through ere, **She can’t have gone through the pass, and she can’t get out of the den by any way that I know of. Have you been nosing around and found out some secret way to send her off?” “Tt tell you, Dick, I have not seen the girl since you brought her in here,” Blue Dick’s answer was a brutal blow that stretched the old man on the rocky floor. Then he seized him by the collar, and dragged him into the place where Cora had been left, kicking bim as he dropped him there. “Lie there, you precious old scoundrel, until I come for you! Iam going to make a thorough search for that girl, and if I don’t find ber by daylight I will hang you, so help me Satan!” 1 You are a She is mine, and 1 mean to keep For my sake, if you I am your father, you CHAPTER XIIT, OUT OF THE FRYINGPAN, INTO THE FIRE, Ciara Wynne, shut up in the deepest and darkest hole of the den of the wolves, was left sobbing their by the captor; but she did not sob herself to sleep. Though her case seemed to be hopeless, she felt that she must keep all her senses alert and lose no chances, and she had never been more wide awake than she was at that trying time, She had hoped that§the old man who took an interest in her might interfere to protect her; but this hope had died away when she perceived how completely he was held in subjection by the younger man, It might be worth while to do something in the way of exploration, and she groped her way into the dark passage through which she had been brought. Soon she sawa light ahead, and heard the sound of voices, It would not do to go on. She would only bring severer troubles upon herself by pro- voking her enemies, So she turnod back with- out stopping to listen to what was said, and again sat down in her dark corner and sobbed. She could only wait and pray. But a whisper struck her ear. It was so unexpected and so close that it frightened her, At first she thought it was the hiss of a snake, and she jumped up, nearly startled out of her wits. Then she heard her name pronounced clear- ly. “Miss Wynne! Clara Wynne!” * Who is it?” she whispered. ‘‘-Your father’s friend, Jake Nemo.” ‘““ Where did you come from? How did you get here?” “ Don’t speak so loud. I have come to take you, home. Give me your hand, and follow me,” Sho knew the voice then, and knew that she could trust him, He had come to take her to her father, and he would surely do it, The great joy that so quickly sueceeded despair overcame her, and she nearly fainted, bravely as she had borne up when there seemed to be no ~_—_ for her. ut that was no time for fainting. She sum- moned back her strength, gave her hand in the darkness to Jake Nemo and suffered him to lead her away. ** You must stoop here,” he said, when he had led her but a few steps. “Stoop and crawl after me.” She obeyed him willingly enough, and crawl- ed forward into the hole, though its darkness and dampness and closeness were quite distress- ing. The dwarf encouraged her with his voice, assuring her that there was no danger, until they had penetrated the cliff a considerable dis- tance, Then he halted, and produced a small hand- lantern, whieh he lighted. “You are all right now,” he said, ‘‘ You will find it unpleasant traveling in here, but per- fectly safe, and all you have to do is to take this lantern and keep right on until you strike the open air.” z ; “But what are you going to do?” inquired Clara. “ T am not through with those rascals yet, and I am soing back to look after them a little.” “ How did you know that I was here, and how did you get here” y “Your black woman came over to the Poin- dexter Ranch and told us how you had been car- ried away. When I learned who had done the deed I knew where to look for you.”
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Dwarf Jake, the Detective. 23 “ But my father—why did he not come now? Had they harmed him?” ‘ “ No; he is all right, or will be when you get to him. Creep away, now. Go right ahead, and don’t be afraid. You will find Harry Poin- dexter at the end of this hole.” The dwarf’s last remark had an inspiriting ef- fect upon Clara, who turned and made the best time she could toward the end of the hole, the lantern lighting her way pretty fairly. Jake Nemo returned along the black tunnel, seeming to be able to find his way in darkness about as well asin daylight, though it must be admitted that he could not have got off the track if he had wanted to, It was when he neared the place from which he had taken Clara that his faculty of operating in the dark would have impressed itself upon a beholder, if any person had been there to see im. He found fragments of rock, with which he built a barricade there, closing the tunnel so that no entrance would be visible when the work was finished. But.he left for the present an opening sufficient to allow him to pass through, reserving two large stones to close it up when he should wish to do so, Then he lay there and awaited the develop- ments that must come when the disappearance of Clara should be discovered, He had not long to wait. <A faint light soon apirceched his hiding-place, and then the voice of Blue Dick burst upon his hearing pouring forth a torrent of rage and profanity. The dwarf could not be mistaken in that voice, It had sunk into bis memory when it sentenced him to death, and now he knew it in- stantly as it announced the loss of the fair pris- oner, ‘The old man has done this!” shouted Biue Dick, with another string of oaths. ‘‘ He has run her off or hid her, though I warned him to leave her alone, I will settle with him, so help me Satan!” _ Jake Nemo listened as the chief of the wolves dragged the old man forth and threw him down with a threat, Then he quickly completed the barricade, as a precaution against a search in that quarter. © ‘The search was soon made. Blue Dick and two of his gang came with lights, and of course he noticed the passage that led to the inner side of the cliff. “What rat-hole is that?” he asked. It was explained to bim by one of the mem who happened to bave explored it. ‘‘The old man may have stuffed her in there. If so, we will find her easy enough. Is there any other hole about bere?” “None that I know of.” A further search was made, but Jake Nemo’s barricade stood the test. ‘The old man is always nosing around,” re- marked Blue Dick; ‘but I doubt if he has found avy hiding-places that we don’t know about. You may crawl through that rat-hole, Sam, and we will go around and meet you. Then we will search the whole infernal busi- ness, and if we don’t find that girl the old man will have to swing, sure as Satan lives!” The men and the lights disappeared, and Jake Nemo removed a portion of his barricade, as there seemed to be an opening for some more effective action on his part. He crept into the den from which he hnd res- cued Clara, and there be found the old man, who was awake then, and who at once became aware of his presence, as was proved by his agonized entreaties. “Don’t kill me, Dick! Don’t kill your old father, my boy! As God is my judse, 1 don’t know what has become of that girl.” “This is not Dick,” answered the dwarf. “Dick has sworn to kill you unless he finds the girl, and he will not find her.” “‘Then he will hang me, sure as fate. Mercy on me, what shall I do?” * Are you really afraid of him?” “Deathly afraid of him now, I know he means to kill me, He has been working up to it for some time, and this gives him only too aon excuse. But perhaps he will find the irl, a He will not find her. by this time.” “Then I am a dead man.” “Not unless you want to be,” replied the dwarf;-‘but your only chance to save your life is to get away from here,” “ How can I get away?” “Come with me. I got the girl out of here, und I am willing to take you to a place of safety.” ** Who are you?” * A man who is able and willing to save your life. But there is no time to lose, You can go or stay, just as you please.” “Oh, 1 can’t stay. That would: be sure death, Ihave long been wanting to get away from here, I will trust you and go with you, and will forever bless you for the chance,” The dwarf persuaded the old man to pass througb the hole he had left in his barricade, and closed it up after him. Then he finall got him through the narrow and crooked hole a the rock to its entrance on the mountain- side, It was daylight when this point of safety was reached; but there was no stopping to rest, “Where are you going to take me to?” asked the old man, as Jake Nemo burried him over the rough ground in an easterly direction, Be, fhe ranch of some friends of mine,” ““ Who are they?” “Nobody you know. ‘You will be safe there, and that is enough.” “Who are you? I think I have seen you be- fore; but I can’t remember.” “T am nobody of any consequence. We must hurry, oldman. Blue Dick and bis gang may a, out through the pass and search about here, There was joy at the Poindexter Ranch that morning. Clara had arrived with Harry, and her father had been speedily brought over, and nothing was needed but the assurance of Jake Nemo’s safety. While they were wondering why he had stayed behind in the den of the wolves, he pre- sented himself before them with an unexpected ‘uest. : This guest: caused general surprise, She is far from here
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Dwarf Jake, the Detective. TT Clara Wynne recognized in him the old man who had been inclined to take her part. Her father recognized in bim somebody else. The recognition between the two old men was mutual, but not immediate. After they had stared at eaeh other a few seconds, Adam Wynne arose and stepped to- ward the other, bis face flushed and his voice mang? “Richard Grannis!” he exclaimed. “T was right, then,” muttered the dwarf. “T was pretty sure I had found the man I wanted,” CHAPTER XIV. “DEATH CAME TOO SOON.” Kir Kenyon had determined to ride over to his stock farm, to look after his interests in that quarter and to get a few necessaries and he set out directly after the rescue of Clara Wynne. His destination was about forty miles from the Poindexter Ranch as the crow flies; but the route he would be obliged to travel would make it a two days’ journey. Near the close of the first day’s journey he drew rein in front of a lone shanty in a very rough region, It was a very poor excuse for a habitation, and there was little about it to show that the occupant had any visible means of subsistence. But Kit knew tbe shanty and its owner, and had reason to believe that he could procure there some food for himself and his horse and shelter for the night. Near the shanty was a small corral in which there were three horses, and two of these looked familiar to Kit as he rode up. Before hailing the house, he inspected the cor- ral more closely, and was satisfied that he knew those two horses, One of them was a’ bright bay with a white star on his forehead, and one white forefoot. It was the horse that had been ridden by his wife on that fatal journey beyond the Notch, and his heart swelled as the beautiful animal re- minded him so forcibly of his great loss. The other was a tall black horse, that pricked up his ears at once when Kit spoke to him, “Hi, Nero! What are you doing here, old boy?” The borse “ nickered” a recognition, and raised his head over the top rail of the corral. There could be no doubt about the horses; but how did they happen to be there? Was it possible that Jim Eno, the owner of the shanty, had been concerned in that murder and robbery at Cacheton? Kit could not believe this, Though Jim Eno was a trifling fellow, and of little use in the world, he was harmless as well, and had never been suspected of any kind of misconduct. But the horses were there, and how did they get there? Until this question could be answered satisfac- torily, it was well to be wary and suspicious, Nero’s noisy recognition of his master brought out Jim Eno himself. He was looking very slouchy and shabby, but his face lighted up at the sight of Kit. “ Hello, Cap Kenyon!” he joyfully exclaimed. ** You're a sight wu’th comin’ out to look at. | Hope you find yourself hearty, gineral. "Light down an’ come in. I hain’t had a squar’ game o’ kyards fur a month o’ Sundays, and would be powerful glad to tackle you jest once,” “T thought that perhaps you had been play- ing a big game, and had won some horses,” re- marked Kit, watching him closely. ‘Lookin’ at them critturs, hey?” replied Eno, whose face was expressive of nothing but the most utter innocence. ‘They ain’t my hosses, Wish they was. The ole mar’ is mine, but she don’t count ‘longside the bay and the black.” ‘“Where did you get the bay and the black?” “A man left ‘em byar awhile ago.” “ When?” ‘‘T disremember just when. I’m a powerful bad band to keep the run o’ time. But ’twan’t long ago.” ‘““What sort of a man?” “A short, stampy, red-headed Irishman. He said that I was to git pay fur keepin’ ’em, and that he’d come back an’ git ’em, and by jimmin- etti joskins! this is the very day he was to come arter ’em.” ‘That suits me,” said Kit. ‘I will wait for the man, Jim, as those are my horses.” “Your hosses, Cap Kenyon? Then the red- headed galoot was a cussed hoss-thief.” “All of that, and something more. But I don’t wan’t you to tackle him, Jim. Leave him to me to attend to when he comes.” Kit Kenyon was then sure that he had got on the track of the murderers of bis wife, and it was with serene thankfulness and cold-blooded satisfaction that he awaited the arrival of the nian who was to come for the horses. — That man was signaled by Jim Eno just before dark, and Kenyon watched him through a chink in the cabin wall as he rode up. He recognized the man at once. It was the same burly Irishman, known as Paddy Whack, whom he had seen in the Occidental Saloon at Homestretch with Blue Dick. It sent a thrill through him to feel that he had been so close to at least one of the scoun- drels, and had not known him. But he would get him now, and would force him to confess his crime, and would be revenged in the name of justice. Jim Eno stepped out and greeted the Irishg mab. ‘Hey you come fur them hosses? Glad to see you. ‘Light down an’ come in.” But Paddy Whack was no fool. He had per- ceived indications about the premises that ‘aroused bis suspicions. ‘““Who is in there wid yez?” he demanded, “Nobody,” replied Eno, But his face could not tella lie, though he might force bis tongue to utter one, and the Irishman was not deceived. “Its a lie, ye thafeav the worruld! Phwat sort ay a game are yez tryin’ to play on me?” Kenyon was forced to disclose himself, lest he should lose his expected prey. His face was calm and almost smiling as he stepped outside, and his hands were crossed be- hind his back. But one of his hands held a revolver. Ae down and surrender!” was his quiet order,
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| Dwarf Jake, the Detective. 25 At the sight of Kenyon, the Irishman jerked a pistol from bis belt. ut Kit was not to be caught in that way. He was as cool as an iceberg, and as solid as a mountain, fixed in his determination to settle the question before hirn most effectively. He fired on the instant, and Paddy Whack’s pistol hand was shattered, Kenyon could neither afford to kill him nor to let him escape, The Irishman yelled with pain, and dug his spurs into his horse, intent only upon getting away. His effort was ineffectual. Kit leaped up and fastened upon him a grip that was sure to tear him from his seat. The next moment his burly form came lum- bering to the ground, with the tall avenger on top of him, and the frightened horse dashed away. The result was verte disa oe gt | to Kenyon. In his fall Paddy hack’s head struck against a stone so forcibly that the life was knocked out of him temporarily, if not forever. *“T hope he is not dead,” said Kit, as he gawd examined the fallen man for signs of 2. “*Reckon it wouldn’t be much of a loss,” re- plied Jim Eno. ‘Help me to carry him in, Jim, If there is any life in him, I must get hold of it,” hey carried the insensible Irishman inside, laid him on the best couch the shanty afforded, ahaa endeavored to bring back the spark of life. In this they were successful. After a while he opened his eyes, moaned, and was able to speak feebly; but he was in pain, and was evi- dently convinced that his end was near, ; ‘* Yes, you are going to die,” said Kit, though he was by no. means certain of that point, “If you want to go off easy, tell me about the mur- der of my wife at Cacheton, at night, when I was lying helpless there.” ‘* Was it yer wife, thin?” answered Paddy, in a ey esenan. whisper. ‘‘ And was P ge the dead man? How did yez iver find it out?” “] know that my wife was killed by you and another man, and I want to know who the other man was.” ‘Wetch a praste, fur the love o’ God, an’ I'll tell it all afore I die,” “There is no chance to get a priest. But, if you confess your crime you will have a better chance in the next world. Make a clean breast of it, or you will have a hard time.” j The Irishman begged for some liquor, which was given to him. as help me the howly Virgin an’ all the saints,” said he, ‘‘I niver had a bit av a band in it at all. It was Blue Dick.” “Blue Dick?’ replied Kenyon, who was not at all surprised at hearing that name. ‘‘ How did be do it, and esas “He had been folleyin’ yez, sor, beca’se he knowed yez bad a pile of money, an’ he sthruck ss at the played-ont camp, thinkin’ it w'w’d an aisy job. He lift me outside to mind the hosses while he wint in to git the money, The he tould me, sor, though [ looked in an’ saw her lyin’ there as if she was dead. Thin he tuk the money an’ the hosses, an’ we lit out.” Kenyon gave the Irishman some whisky in response to his entreaties, and began to believe that be would recover from his hurt, ‘* Why did you leave the horses here?” asked ‘Blue Dick got it intil his head, sor, that yez wasn’t dead at all, an’ w’u’d sthrike the thrail; so he made me ride up here an’ l’ave the crit- ters as a sort av a blind,” “Which one of you wore the buckskin coat?” ‘*Ts it the coat, thin? Sure an’ I wore it, sor, at Cacheton; but it was Dick’s coat, an’ he tuk it from me, an’ throwed it away afore we got home, An’ now, sor, for the love o’ God, give me another sup 0’ the whisky, so’s I ken die aisy. TDon't talk about dying,” replied Kit. ‘“* You are worth a dozen dead rascals yet, and will live to see yourself hanged,” : “Is it hanged I'll be? An’ phwat will yez bet on that?” ‘*Wifty dollars.” ee me now, sor—the money’s as good as— ab- The death-rattle came in the Irishman’s throat, bis jaws dropped, and his open eyes were set. The other knelt and examined him care- fully. “He is dead, sure enough,” said Jim Eno, “Death came too soon,” sorrowfully re- marked Kit Kenyon. ‘* Why do yon say that, Cap?” ‘*He has had an easier death than he de- served,” CHAPTER XV. A TRAP FOR A WOLF. THE arrival at the Poindexter Ranch of Rich- ard Grannis, Blue Dick’s unrespected parent, caused quite a flutter among the people who were collected there. It was doubtful whether it was to be regarded as a rescue or a capture, As a matter of fact it had both of those as- pects, depending upon the light in which it was viewed by the parties interested, To Clara Wynne, who sympathized with the old scoundrel because of the peril in which he had been placed on her account, it had the ap- pearance of a rescue, Jake Nemo, who had been vainly endeavoring for several years to get hold of the old man, considered it a valuable capture. Richard Grannis himself, who had escaped from the cruel clutches of his son only to fall into the power of the man he had so deeply in- jured, regarded it both as a’ rescue and asa capture, and was sorely worried by the predica- ment in which he found himself. — ; It was Clara who began to relieve his mind, by speaking of his conduct when she was brought into the den of the wolves, and thus giving him a chance to tell the story of his quar- rel with his son on her account. Having thus in a measurs softened the minds of his judges, he proceeded to make that sort of lady showed fight, and he shot to scare her as | a confession which is said to be good for the
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Dwarf Jake, the Detective. ET soul, and told how he had stolen the large amount of money which Major Wynne was sup- posed to have lost at cards, thus bringing upon that gentleman the great disgrace and affliction of his life, He declared his willingness to put his state- ment in proper form and verify it for the vindi- eation of Adam Wynne, and then to give him- self up to the authorities for such punishment as was due to his crime, “This will be of some advantage to you, Clara, my dear,” said Adam Wynne. ‘“ For your sake 1 will be glad to have my name cleared, so that we can hold up our heads again. It can never restore to me what I have lost; but a weight will be taken off my mind” Jake Nemo was looking beyond the capture of Richard Grannis for other results to which it might lead, and he examined the old sinner _ closely, with the object of discovering what he might know concerning the murder and robbery at Cacheton, But he proved to be quite ignorant of that af- fair, and there could be no doubt that his igno- rance was not feigned, If his son Dick was responsible for that deed, the old man said, he had carefully concealed it from his father; but there was nothing surpris- ing in that. He believed that Dick had been flush lately, as he had heard of bis spending money freely at Homestretch; but he did not know how he got it, and had not been told of any ‘‘ strike” he had made. he dwarf produced the scrap of paper that he had fished out of the buckskin coat. ‘Ts this your handwriting?” he asked. ‘‘ Why, yes,” replied the old man, “Tt seems to be the signature to a letter. When did you write that letter, and to whom did you write it?” ‘Tt must have been written to Dick, of course, as I never write to anybody else. My Jast letter to him was written early in the winter, when he was down to Deadwood. Where did you get that piece of paper?” “T found it. That is all I wanted to know, old man.” The news of the outrage at Adam Wynne's place had speedily become known at Home- stretch, Frank Burrick, the sheriff, who got his infor- mation direct from Sally, hastened to the Poin- dexter Ranch, hot with the desire of bringing Blue Dick to account, Before he got there Kit Kenyon had arrived with his two horses, and had told the story of his encounter with one of the murderers of his wife. This added fuel to the flame that was burning in the breast of Frank Burrick, who was eager to open the campaign against Blue Dick at once. ‘*1t has been an open secret for some time,” said he, ‘that Blue Dick and his gang were scoundrels of the largest caliber, though nothing could be fastened on them, and there was_no fair excuse for interfering with them. But now there is proof enough, and Iam just aching to get at them. We must hang the leader at least, and drive the rest of them out of the country.” ' ** Very well; but how do you propose to get at ‘them?” coldly replied the dwarf. ‘* Why you told me that you had found a way to sneak into the heart of their den!” **-Yes, but I doubt if it would serve the pur- pose of an attack. Only oue man could sneak in there at a time, and if the head of the column should be caught it would be a very serious busi- ness all around.” “T propose to chance it anyhow,” said Kit Kenyon. ‘Don’t be too sudden, Kit. Iam as keen for this hunt as you are; but there is more than one way to killa cat. I think we could make a bit of strategy work, but am afraid it might worry our friends, the Poindexter boys.” “* Worry us?” exclaimed Arthur Poindexter. ““T can’t imagine anything you could do that would worry us, if it gave a fair promise of suc- cess. You can use us and all we have, to any extent you see fit.” ‘“‘ What is your idea?” inquired the sheriff. “Simple enough. I suppose there is no doubt that the blue-faced scoundrel is a man who won't be likely to drop a thing that he has made up his mind todo. He has set his mind—if not his heart—on our friend Wynne’s daughter, and we must give bim a chance to get at her.” = at’s that?” demanded Adam Wynne, ‘A chance to get at my daughter? There has been too much of that already.” F ‘“‘T think we can stand a little more for the sake of the cause. We must let him know that Miss Wynne and her father are here, and [ am keen to bet that as soon as he gets hold of that fact he will come after them. It will be much cheaper, you perceive, to draw him out of his eo ype to try to get in there and tackle im. ‘¢ How shall we give him that information?” inquired the sheriff. ‘ Make no secret of it in Homestretch, and it will be sure to get to him quick enough.” “That's so, and we will be ready here to give him a warm reception when be comes. The only objection to the plan is that the ranch may suffer in the scrimmage.” Arthur and Harry Poindexter declared their willingness to run the risk of the raneh, and it by pe aan that the enemy should be drawn out f sible. he game worked pretty closely up to the idea that Jake Nemo entertained of it. Blue Dick searched all the secret recesses of the den of the wolves until daylight, without finding the slightest trace of Clara Wynne, Every possible hiding-place that he found empty increased his wrath, and his final failure drove him frantic. : The girl had either crawled out through the hole of which he knew, and had fallen or thrown herself from the edge of the inner chasm, or his father was responsible for her dis- appearance. He was sure that the old man was the guilty party, and he hurried to the place where he had left him, determined to extort the truth from . him or visit upon him the severest punishment, The old man had disappeared. He was not in the hole where be had been thrown down, nor in any part of the extensive
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Dwarf Jake, the Detective. 27 den with which Blue Dick or any of his gang were familiar. : His digappearance was as mysterious-and as utter as fiat of the girl had been. “T might have known it!” exclaimed Blue Dick, with a volley cof curses. ‘‘ There is some secret way out, or some secret hiding-place, and he bas sneaked that girl off, and then bas sneaked off after her. might have known it; but I did not really believe that he had got away with her. Now I know it, and I wish I had strangled him when I had my hands on him. To think that the old sinner should turn out to be a sentimenta) fool at his time of life! May Satan scorch him forever and ever!” A more thorough and careful search was made of the den in the hollows of the cliff, and of the entire stronghold, but no secret outlet was found, nor was any further hiding-place discovered, “She is here somewhere,” said Blue Dick. “Both of them are here somewhere. They can’t have got away. They will have to show up or starve. Oh, when I get my clutches on that old villain again, strangling will be too good for bim.” There was an abundance of whisky in the den, and to that Blue Dick resorted for conso- lation. If he could not drown his wrath, he might at least stupefy 1t to some extent. The more he drank the more frantic he be- came, and he was consumed by a desire to do something to accomplish the one great object of his life aud to prove that he could not be so easily beaten, But what could he do? He had done what he had hitherto carefully refrained from doing— set the people of Homestretch and the sur- rounding country against him, and given the home of the law good cause to open on his trac He could not doubt that his rash deed would turn them all loose upon him, and that it would not be healthy for him to go to Homestretch. In the den he was safe, as there he could defy attack, but it would be well not to venture abroad for a while. Some of his men, as well as his allies outside of the den, were not restrained by such con- siderations, and those who were not known to be connected with the gang were free to go and come as they pleased. One of them came in from Homestretch be- fore long with news of the excitement that pre- vailed there concerning the abduction of Clara he Lag Z lue Dick listened to this with a fair degree of equanimity, “ Did it seem asif they felt like making a fuss about it?” he asked, 3 “You may bet your dear life it did,” replied his informant. “For a while they had it hot and heavy, and you would have thought they meent to raise an army; but they kinder quieted down when the news came that the girl had got clear, How did she ever get out of this den? That is what beats me.” : “Tt beats me, too,” said Blue Dick. ‘It beats all of us. How did you learn that she had got away?” “ Everybody in Homestretch knew it. Every- net Anns that she was safe at Poindexter’s ranch, ‘*Those cursed Yankees! I’ve already got a bone to pick with them. ‘They squatted on land that I meant for myself. But they can’t have had anything to do with getting her away. “The queerest thing about it was that the old man should be there, too.” ‘* What?” exclaimed Blue Dick, starting up, and fairly boiling over with wrath, : “Oh, that’s all solid, Dick. The old man is there, and thick as three in a bed with Adam Wynne and the rest of them.” lue Dick poured out a perfect storm of oaths, and poured in cup after cup of whisky, before he could settle down to plain speech, “Get ready, boys!” he shouted, ‘ Blue Dick is on the war-path now! We will give those geese of Homestretch something to gabble about. Iam going after that girl and the old man, and may Satan shake the soul out of me if I don’t get them!” CHAPTER XVI. SPRINGING THE TRAP, FRANK BURRICK entered into the scheme for the capture of Blue Dick with all his heart and soul, and it was easy enough for him to find ad- herents in and about Homestretch who were glad to ‘ take a hand.” That part of the business, however, was con- ducted very quietly and secretly. The number of men to be “let in” was limited to as many as it was supposed would be sufficient for the purpose, and no others were given an inkling of what was intended, The Homestretch contingent, having been ledged strictly to secrecy, made their way to he Poindexter Ranch singly and in couples, and were concealed about the place so that they made scarcely any show. In fact, the greatest pains were taken to keep the business of the ranch going as usual, so that everything about it should present its customary appearance, When old man Grannis was made aware of what was in contemplation, he was thrown into a terrible fright, He had a mortal fear of his son, and was con- vinced that Blue Dick [could easily capture the ranch and overcome his enemies, and what would then be the fate of that old sinner, Ricbard Grannis? He begged piteously that he might be carried away, and shut up in jail, or taken to Home- stretch, or allowed to run off and hide, any- thing but remain and await the vengeance of Blue Dick. “ You are all right, old man,” replied Jake Nemo. ‘We will see you through. That young lady is in the same box, and do you think we would allow a hair of her bead to be touched? She is bait for the wolf, and so are you, and we must keep you both here; but you sha’n’t ke hurt.” E Adam Wynne, on the contrary, was fired with his old martial ardor, and seemed to have grown several years younger as he put his rifle in order, and gave advice for the defense of the ranch, It was an easy place to defend in respect of
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28 Dwarf Jake, the fact that it was not commanded by any neighboring elevation, but difficult because of the timber that surrounded it. The house was a low, square building of rough plank, with no outbuildings except a couple of cattle-shelters a little distance at the north and the south. The timber was not thick, but the scattered trees were large, forming good shelter for an attacking party. Of course it would not do to make any fortifi- cations outside, as that would disclose the nature of the game, and “‘ surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.” Whenever any stranger approached the ranch the guards were concealed, as the stranger might be a spy. Not that it was believed that Blue Dick would waste any time in that way, but it was thought proper to use all reasonable precautions, Blue Dick did not waste any time. He not only struck soouer than he was expect- ed to, but struck in an unexpected way. In spite of all the care and precaution—in spite of Jake Nemo’s sharpness and Adam ynne’s military experlence, his attack was a surprise, At the ‘“‘deadest” hour of a very dark night the sentries were startled by the blazing of the two cattile-shelters, both of which burst into flames at the same time, The garrison had hardly been aroused when the enemy came upon them, and those who had been sleeping found themselves in the thick of a Sghe before they could get their eyes open. lue Dick’s men had battered in the doors and the windows, and had got a foothold inside of the house before their opponents fairly knew what oe were about, Then there was a hand-to-hand struggle that was as hot as any of those present cared to be mixed up in. Then the discipline of the sheriff’s men, and the central position they occupied, saved them from being overwhelmed and wiped out. obi stood up to their work in splendid style, provoking the admiration of their opponents, who were as much surprised at being met by so strong and well-organized a force as the others had been by the sudden and impetuous attack. The house was divided into two rooms, in one of which were Clara Wynne and old man Gran- nis. } Into this room Blue Dick burst at the very beginning of the attack upon the house, The signt of the girl and his father inflamed his wrath and more than justified his suspicions of the old man, * You cursed old traitor!” he shouted. ‘ I’ve got you now.” The old man instinctively threw up his hands with a yell, tumbled off bis chair, and would have crawled under the bed if he had not been stopped by a bullet from his son’s revolver. lara Wynne screamed at the top of her voice, and the chief of the wolves immediately turned bis attention to her. ' _ But her father stood in his way with a leveled e. The old soldier pulled the trigger, and—the rifle missed fire. Blue Dick seized him, and dashed him vio- lently upon the floor. ‘ the Detective. Clara, overcome by the horror of the scene, fell down in a swoon, , Harry Poindexter ran in through the door that led into the other room, and fired as he came. His shot disabled the right arm of Blue Dick, who turned to face his new antagopist, drawing a pistol from his belt with his left hand. Before he could raise it that hand was shat- tered, and not by a random shot, but by the sure aim of Kit Kenyon, who had closely fol- lowed his young friend. ‘‘Leave him to me, Harry!” shouted Kit. ‘He is the man who murdered my wife.” As quick as thought Blue Dick turned, and darted out through the opening at which he had entered, followed by shot after shot from his two foes. They pursued him; but he had vanished in the darkness, and the bullets of his friends out- side compelled them to abandon the search, They hastened back into the house, where they discovered that all their exertions were needed by Frank Burrick and his party, who had driv- en out their enemies, and had in their turn be- come the assailants, It was not enough to repulse the attack; Blue Dick and his men must be thoroughly whipped, and if possible captured, This was no light undertaking, as the wolves had the advantage of the cover of the trees, and their antagonists could not show themselves outside of the house without being exposed to a deadly fire, When daylight came they might hope to do better; but such a flank movementas might then be successfully made could not be safely attempt- ed in the darkness, From their dilemma they were quickly re- lieved by their adversaries, whose fire became slower and fainter, and finally ceased altogether —a circumstance which was explained when Kit Kenyon got a chance to tell of the wounding and discomfiture of Blue Dick. ‘They have run away!” shouted the sheriff, “ Let's follow them, boys, and hunt them to their holes!” It was at once agreed that this was the thing to do, and the men hastily prepared to start. “T would be glad to go with you, Mr. Bur- rick,” said Harry Poindexter; ‘‘ But somebody ought to stay here and take care of Miss Wyniig” “And you ought to be the somebody, of course. But we will need you, my boy, as you know the way so well,” **Don’t one of you stop for my daughter!” or- dered Adam Wynne. “ She is all right now, and Ican take care of her, The best way to keep those scoundrels from coming back here is to follow them up and whip them,” ‘*That’s so,” replied the sheriff. “Arve you ready, boys? Where is—where’s Nemo?” Nobody knows. Nobody remembered to have seen the dwarf since Blue Dick’s gang were driven from the house, and two other men were missing. “Can they have run out and got themselves gobbled up?’ wondered the sheriff, “Tt’s all right!” exclaimed Kit Kenyon. ‘I know what it means, I can guess that without a
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Dwarf Jake, the Detective. 20 half trying. We have got those scoundrels now where we want them, Come on, my friends! We are losing too much time here.” They hurried off, Harry Poindexter leading them by as direct a ronte as possible to the gap in the cliff that led to the den of the wolves, and they reached it just as day was breaking. hough they made-.good time, they knew that they were some distance at the heels of the fugitives, and they were surprised, when they broke through the piece of timber beyond the stony platean that had been mentioned, to see the wolves huddled together at the base of the cliff. “What's the matter?” demanded the sheriff, as he halted his party. ‘‘ What keeps them there? Why don’t they go in?” “They can’t get in,” answered Kenyon. *Can’t get in? What do you mean?” ** Jake Nemo has the key!” CHAPTER XVII. THK END OF THE VENDETTA, Kit Kenyon had rightly conjectured the ob- ject of his friend, the dwarf. Not doubting that the wolves would be re- pulsed and driven back to their den, Jake Nemo had determined to do what be could to make the destruction of the band complete. As soon as the tide of attack turned he slipped out of the house with two men whom he had se- lected for his purpose. In this be was aided by the dense darkness, In spite of the darkness he kept as straight a course to his destination as the region would allow, and pressed forward so rapidly that his companions, who believed that he could see in the dark like a wild-cat, found it difficult to keep up with him. e went to the hole in the cliff asif he had a compass to guide him, and when he reached it dived in at once, telling the others to hurry after him; but he soon left them behind in the crawl through the narrow and difficult tunnel. The few minutes that he required to tear down his barricade enabled them to catch up, and then he led them into the main apartment of the cavern, where a dim light was burning, but no person was there. The dwarf had been blindfolded when he was inside of the den before, but when he got out into the open he knew where he was, as he had made a careful examination of that locality on the occasion of his compulsory visit. So he led his companions silently and swiftly toward the gap where he bad been captured, Soon they were greeted with a hail: ** Who goes there? Who are you?” Signs of coming day were beginning to be visi- ble in the sky overhead, though it was still dark |- enough at the base of the cliff. But two men could be seen standing near the inner end of the gap. “All right,” replied the dwarf, as he boldly advanced toward them, ‘* Who do you suppose we are?” ‘We thought everybody had gone.” ” But we have just come back.” “ How the deuce did you git in?” “Oh, that’s a new trick, will be here right away. out.” The guards were suspicious, and hesitated; but the three strangers were there within reach of them. The dwarf jumped upon one of them, tripping him so that he fell, and his companions seized the other. As soon as both were securely bound, tho dwarf led the way into the gap. He had accomplished his purpose none too soon. Day was breaking, and the voices of the returning pack of wolves could be plainly heard, He fell back and awaited their coming. As they pressed into the gap in single file, two reports and flasbes more than startled them. he first man fell dead in his tracks, and the second was knocked over, The others stampeded to the open. Their consternation was equaled only b their wrath. What had happened? Had their own comrades turned against them, or had the bse effected an entrance into their strong- hold? Neither of these events seemed to be possible; x they were fired upon and barred out of their den. Blue Dick was in a pitiable condition. A bul- let had passed through his right arm, and his left hand was shattered. The arm had been bound up; but be could not fight, and was thrown off his balance as badly as the others, So they huddled together at the mouth of the gap, astounded and panic-stricken,. hen it was that their pursuers from the Poin- dexter Ranch burst upon them. “Shoot them down!” shouted Kit Kenyon, “* Shoot down every one of them but that cursed villain, Blue Dick!” It was nota fight that followed, but a mas- sacre and a stampede, ' The wolves were so completely demoralized by the discovery that they were shut out from their stronghold, as well as the helpiessness of their leader, that they were quite unfitted for fighting, and their adversaries had it all their own way. Some of them scampered off along the base of the cliff, and others—especially those who were wounded—threw up their hands and sur- ant gl and there was anend of Blue Dick’s and, The chief of the wolves, unable to fight, and half-crazed by pain, dashed desperately into the gap, and was caught and secured by Jake Nemo and his companions. “ Here he is!” shouted the dwarf, as Kit Ken- yon and the others hurried through the gap to The rest of ’em Go through and look join him, ‘ What shall we do with him, Kit?” “ Hang him, of course.” } “Correct. You have the right tosay. No- body will object to it, and the sheriff is here to oversee the ceremony. Come on, boys! I know where to find their hanging-tree.” The chief of the wolves was dragged up to the tree that stretched an ominous arm over the chasm, and was halted there, It was then broad daylight. lainly see the faces of his execut ‘ound no sign of mercy there, and he could joners; but be ',
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Dwarf Jake, the Detective. Kit Kenyon and Jake Nemo, the dwarf, were among them, ** Here is the rope that he hung me with,” said the dwarf. ‘I have kept it for him,” He unwound from his waist the rope that he had saved, and its noose was fitted to the neck of Blue Dick, and the other end was made fast to the outreaching limb, slack enough being left _ for a drop. Frank Burrick attended to this part of the business as if he relished the job, *“* Are you sure that you know what you are doing?’ demanded Blue Dick with an oath, ‘Of course we do,” replied Kenyon, ‘ You murdered my wife at Cacheton,” ‘*Can you prove that?” *“Yes, I have the confession of your accom- plice, the Irishman who was with you.” * Well, I am — I got even with that old scoundrel who stole the girl from me.” “You deserve to be hung again for killing your father,” said the dwarf, *‘ But before you go off I wish you would tell me why you wanted to hang me.” “ve no objection. I knew that you were on my trail because of that Cacheton business. There were others here who hated you, too, That’s enough, now. Goon with your fuueral.” *“ Have you no word for anybody—no prayer?” Blue Dick answered with a storm of oaths, which were cut short by a shove over the chasm, and the curtain fell upon the last act of the des- perado's drama, Richard Grannis had not been killed by his son’s shot, but mortally wounded, and Adam Wynne did all that could be done for his succor and comfort, . **T wish I eould get back into that den in the rock before I die,” he said. ‘* I’ve got a pile of money hid there—as much as the sum I stole from you. Of course it would not pay you for what you have lost; but I could die easier if I knew you had it,” Adam Wynne reported this to bis friends when they returned to the ranch, and the old man was placed on a litter and carefully car- ried to the cavern. He died there, but was able before his death to disclose the hiding-place of his treasure, Adam Wynne’s reputation was cleared official- ly, and as far as possible it was cleared pub- licly; but he did not care to leave the region where he had found a refuge, and chose to set- tle on a ranch with Harry Poindexter, whom he readily agreed to accept as the husband of his daughter. Considerable ‘‘ plunder ” was found in the den of the wolves, and it was agreed that it ought to belong to Kit Kenyon; but he would bave nothing to do with it. The murderers of his wife had paid the pen- alty of their crime, and that ended the matter. Frank Burrick was regarded as having been such a success as sheriff, that his constituents ealied to him to ‘come up higher.” As for Dwarf Jake, he had served his friend, and that satisfied him. THE END, BEADLE AND ADAMS’ STANDARD DIME PUBLICATIONS Speakers. The Dime Speakers embrace twenty-five volumes viz.: 1, American Speaker. 15. Komikal Speaker. 2. National Speaker. 16, Youth’s ppenees 3. Patriotic Speaker. 17. Eloquent Speaker. 4. Comic Speaker. 18. Hail Columbia Speak- 5. Elocutionist. er. 6. Humorous Speaker, 19. Serio-Comic Speaker, 7. Standard Speaker. 20. Select Speaker, 8. Stump Speaker. 21. Funny Speaker. 9, Juvenile Speaker. 22. Jolly Speaker. 10, Spread-Eagle Speaker | 23. Dialect Speaker. 11, ites Debater. 2%. Recitations and Read- 12, Exhibition Speaker. | ings. 13. School Speaker, | 25. Burlesque Speaker 14. Ludicrous 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-six books, viz.: {Dialogues No, Nineteen. Dialogues No. Twenty. ‘Dialogues No. Twenty-one. |\Dialogues No. Twenty-two, Dialogues No. Five. Dialogues No. Twenty-three, Dialogues No. Six, Dialogues No. Twenty-four, Dialogues No, Seven. |Dialogues No Twenty-five. Dialogues No. Eight. Dialogues No. Twenty-six. Dialogues No. Nine. {Dialogues No. Twenty-seven. Dialogues No. Ten. Dialogues No. Twenty-eight, Dialogues No, Eleven. Dialogues No. Twenty-nine, Dialogues No. Twelve. Dialogues No. Thirty. Dialogues No. Thirteen. Dialogues No. Thirty-one Dialogues No. Fourteen. Dialogues No. Thirty-two, Dialogues No. Fifteen. Dialogues No. Thirty-three, Dialogues No. Sixteen. Dialogues No. Thirty-four, Dialogues No.Seventeen Dialogues No, Thirty-five, Dialogues No. Eighteen. Dialogues No. Thirty-six. 15 to 25 Dialogues and Dramas in each book. Dialogues No, One. Dialogues No. Two. Dialogues No. Three. Dialogues No, Four. Dramas and Readings. 164 12mo Pages. 20 Cents. For Schools, Parlors, Entertainments and the Am- ateur Stage, comprising Original Minor Dramas, Comedy, Farce, Dress Pieces, Humorous Dialogue and Burlesque, by noted writers; and Recitations and Readings, new and standard, of the greatest celebrity and interest. Edited by Prof, A. M. 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age BEADLE’S POCKET LIBRARY. Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, 1 Deadwood Dick, tho Prince of the Road. By EL. Wheeler. 2 Kans King; or, The Red Right Mand. By Buffalo Bill, 8 The Flyi ’ By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 4 The Do . By Edward L. Wheeler, 5 The Two De . By Albert W. Aiken, 6 The Prairie By Buttalo Bill, Z@ The Buffalo f By Edward L. Wheeler. . 8 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. By Ol] Coomes, Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By exas Jack,’ 40 Buflale se jogo AE REREIY By «Wheeler, alph Roy, the Boy Bu veer, By C 1. Prentias e 12 Nick o’the Night. By T. C, Harbaugh, sre 18 Yellowstone Jack. dger, Jr. 14 Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval, By Wheeler. 15 Diamond Dirk; or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone, By 14 of -rentias Ingraham, » Prince of the Prairies, By O1l Coomes, 17 Oregon Sol, Nick Whiftlva’s Boy Spy. vy J. ¥, C. Adama, 18 Death-Face, the Detective. By E. Ll. Wheeler. 19 Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. By Oll Coomes, « 20 Roaring Ralph Rockwood. By Larry St. George. 21 The Boy Clown, By Srank S. Finn 22 The Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza. By Edward L. Wheeler. 28 The Sea-Cat. By Oll Coomes. By Hurry St. George. he Annihilator, By By Capt. Frederick Whittaker. Wheeler. y J. F.C, Adama, 28 The Boy Captain. Starbuck. 29 Dick Darling, tho Pony Express Rider, By Capt, F. Whittaker. 80 Bob Woolf, the Border Ruftian, By Edward L, Wheeler. BL Nightingale Nat. By T. ©. Harbaugh B82 Black John, the Road Agent. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 88 Omaha OL, the Masked Terror. By a Wheeler. $4 Burt Bunker, the Trapper. By George E. Lasalle. 85 The Boy Rifles; or, The Underground Camp. By A. C, Irons. The White Buffalo. By George E. Lasalle. 87 Jim Bludsoe, Jr. By Edward L. Wheeler. 88 Ned Hazel, tie Boy Trapper. By Capt. J. F.C. Adams. 89 Deadly Eye, the Unknown Scout. By Buffalo Bill. ick Whitles’s Pet. 40 By Capt. J. F.C. Adama, 41 adwood Dick’s Eagles. By Edward L. Wheeler. 42 The Border King. By Ol] Comes. 48 Old Hickory ; or, Pandy Ellis’s Scalp. By Harry St. George. 44 The White Indian, By Capt. J. B.C. Adams. 2 45 Buckhorn Bill, By Edward L. Whieeler, 46 The Shadow Ship. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 47 The hed Brotherhood. By W. J. Hamilton. 48 Dandy Jack; or, The Outlaw of the Oregon Trail. By T, C, Harbaugh. e 49 Hurricane BULL By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 5O Single Hand; or, A Life fora Life. By W. J. Hamilton. 51 Patent-leather Joe. By Philip S. Warne. 562 The Border Robin Hood. By Butfulo Bill, 68 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter. By Edward L. Wheeler. 64 Old Zip’ Cabin; or, A Greenhorn in the Woods, By Capt. J. F.C, Adams. BS Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. By Oll Coomes. 56 Mad Tom Wester By W. J. Hamilton, 7 Deadwood Dick on Deck. By Edward L, Wheeler. wkeye Harry, the Young Trapper. By Oll Coomea, The Boy Duelist. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. 60 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. By Albert W. Aiken. 61 Corduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo, By Edward L. Wheeler. 62 Will Somers, the Boy Detective. By Chas. Morris, 68 Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. By A. W. Aiken. 64 Rosebud Rob, By Edward L. Wheeler, 65 Lightning Joe. By Captain J. F.C, Adams, 66 Kit Harcfoot, the Wood-Hawk. By T. C. Harbaugh, 67 Rollo, the Boy Ranger. By Oll Coomes, 6S Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand. By Edward L. Wheeler. 69 Detective Dicks or, The Heroin Rags. By Charles Morris, 70 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman. By Oll Coomes, 71 Sharp Sam; or, The Adventures of a Friendless Boy. By J. Alexander Patten. 72 The Lion ofthe Sen, By Albert W. Aiken. 78 Photograph Phil, the Boy Sleuth; or, Rosebud Rob's Reappenr- ance, By E. L. Wheeler. 74 Picayune Pete; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective. By Charles Morris. : 7 Island Jim; or, The Pet of the Family. By Bracebridge Hemyng (Jack Harkaway), 76 Watch-Eye, the Shadow. By Edward L. Wheeler, T? Dick Dead Eye. the Boy Smuggler. By Col. P. Ingraham, 78 Deadwood Dick’s Device, By Ed. 1. Wheeler. 79 The Black Mustanger. By Cupt. Mayne Reid. 80 Old Frosty, the Guide, By T. C. Harbaugh. 81 The Sea Viper. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. : 82 Seth Jones; or, Tho Captives of the Frontier. By B.S. Elis, 88 Canada Chet, the Counterfeiter Chief. By E. L. Wheeler, 84 The Dumb Page. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker. 85 The Boy Miners. By Edword S, Lillis. 86 Jack Harkaway In New York. By Bracebridge Hemyng. $7 The Hussar Captaing By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 88 Deadwood Dick in Lendyille, By Edward L. Wheeler. 89 BIL Biddon, Trapper. By Edward S, Ellis, 90 Tippy, the Texa By George Gleason. nung Sam, the King of the Plains. By Jos, BE. Badger, Jr, ke Ocean Bloodhound, By Samuel W. Cearce. 98 Phil Hardy, the Boss By Charles Morris. 9A Deadwood Dick as Detective. By E. L. Wheeler. 95 Buck Buckr: By Captain J. F. Adana. 96 Gilt-Edged Dick, By Edward L. Wheeler, 97 The Black Steed of the Prairies, By James L. Bowen, D8 'T Sea Serpent, By Juan Lewis, 99 Bonanza Bill, the Man Tracker. By E. L. Wheeler. 100 > odd or, The Fate of the Sioux Captive. By E. 8, Ellis, 101 Daring Young Bear Killer. By Harry St. George 102 ‘The Ye . By Capt. Mayne Reid. 108 Chip, the Girl S) By Edward L. Wheeler, 104 The Black oO r. By Roger Starbuck. n¢ Harry, tho Bootblack Detective, By C, Morris, awk Kit.’ By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. oyle’s Lead, ‘By Edward L, Wheeler, 108 Rocky Mountain Kit. B: C, Harbaugh. 109 The Branded Nand, By Frank Dumont. 110 The Drend Rider, By George W. Browne. 11 Boas Bob, the King of Bootblacks, By !.dward L, Wheeler. 187 Jack 1 Paul, the Mountain Be vood Dick’s Double. Coffin, Skipper. By Capt. F. Whittaker, Fa Frank, of Cnlorado. By “ Buffalo Bill.” WIL Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. By Chas, Morris, Pines: Bill; or, Deadwood Dick's Home Base. By Edward L. Wheeler. Us Harbaugh. By Kdward L. Wheeler. oS eee e eee ss SCENATSRS “ = = S 4 3 = > . <= “ g = = 2 ; nted Hunter. Ellis. the Boy Road-Agent. By Edward L. Wheeler. 124 Judge Lynch, Jr. By T. C. Harbaugh, 125 The Land Pirates. By Capt. Mayne Reid. 126 Blue Blazes; or, The Breuk o’ Day_Boys of Rocky Bar. By Frank Dumont, 127 Tony Fox, the Ferret. By Edward L. Wheeler. 128 Black Beas, Will Wildfire’s Racer. By Charles Morris. 129 Engle Kit, the toy Demon, By Olt Coomea, 180 Gold Trigger. the Sport. By T. C. Harbaugh, 181 A Game of Gold; or, © sdwood Dick’. Big Strike. By Edward L. Wheeler. 182 Dainty Lanee, the soy 5 By J, EB. Badger, Jr, 188 Wild-flre, the Boas ot che oad. By Frank Dumont. 184 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. By Charles Morris, 185 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood. By E. L. Wheeler, 186 Old Rube, the Hunter. By Capt. Hamilton Holmes. 187 Dandy Rock, the Man trom Texas, By G. Wado Browne, 188 Bob Rockett, the Boy Dodger, By Chas, Morris, 189 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. By Joa, KE Badger, Jr. sin Arizona. By Philip S. Warne, New York Nell, Hoy-Girl Detective. By E.L. Wheeler. 42 Little Texas, the Mustanger. By Oll Coomes, 48 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. By Jos. E, Badger, Jr. at Little Grit, the Wild Rider. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. 45 The Tiger of Taos. By Geo, Waldo Browne, 46 The Cattle King. By Frank Dumont. 47 N 7 Nobby Nick of Nevada. By Edward L. Wheeler, 48 Thunderbolt T By Harry St. George. 49 Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner. By Charles Morris, Waldo Browne, + Prentiss Ingraham, gers of High Pine, By W. R, Byater, 150 The Mad Miner. By 151 The Ben aren er 2 ndy Darkes or, The \ toa Wild Prank, the Buckskin Br By E. L. Wheeler. 154 The Boy Tratlers, By Joa, B. Badger, Jr, 155 Gold Plume, the Boy Bandit By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 156 Will Wildfire In the Woods, By C, Morris. 157 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. By P, ©. Harbaugh. 158 Dendwood Dick’s Doom, By E. L. Wheeler. 159 Patent-Leather Joe's Defeat, By Philip. S. Warne, 160 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker, By Col. P. Ingraham, 161 Rob Rockett, the Crackaman. By Charles Morris. 162 Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. By Ol Coomes, 168 Deadwood Bick’s Dream. By E. Le Wheeler. 164 Tornado Tom. By T.C Harbaugh. 165 Buffalo Bis Bet. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 166 Will Wildfire Wins and Loxes. By Charles Morais, 167 Dandy Reck’« Pledge. By Gvorge W. Browne. 168 Deadwood Dick’s Ward. By Edward L. Wheeler. 169 The Boy Champton. By Edward Willett, 170 Bob Rockett’s Fight for Life. By Charles Morria, Bendle’s Pocket Library 4s for sale by all Newsdenlers, five cents per copy, or sent by mall on receipt of six conts each, READLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 Willlam Street New York,
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BEADLE’S POCKET LIBRARY. Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, 171 Frank Morton, the Boy Hercules. By Ol] Coomes. 172 The Yankee Ranger. By Edwin Emerson, x awrle, Sec By Edward S. Ellis. y Rock’s Sc me, By G. W. Browne, & The Arab Detective. By Edward L, Wheeler, 6 Will Wildfire’s Pluck, By Charles Morns, 7 The Boy Commander, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. S The Maniac ter. By Burton Saxe, 179 Dainty Lance , The Mystic \arksman. By J. E. Badgers 180 The Boy Gold-Hunter. By T. C. Harbaugh. 181 The Scapegra By Char orrin. 182 The Dark-Skinned Lieut, Col. Hazeltine. 188 Jabez Dart, Detective. By Oll Coomes. 184 Featherweight, the Boy $ By Edward Willett, 185 Bison Bill, the Overland Py . By 186 Dainty Lance and His Pard. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 187 The Trapped Tiger King. By Charles Morris. 188 The Ventriloquist Detective. By Edward L. Wheeler, 189 Old Rocky’s Boys. By Maj. Sam. S. Hall. 190 Sim Simpkina, Scout, by James L. Bowen. 191 Dandy KRock’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 Oll Coomes. 195 The Tenderfoot Trailer. By T.C. Harbaugh. 196 The Dandy Detective. By Charles Morria, 197 Roy, the Young Cattle King. “By Col. Prentiss Ingraham 198 Ebony Dan’s Mask. By Frank Dumont. 199 Dictionary Nat, Detective. By T. C. Harbaugh. 200 The Twin Horsemen. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker, 201 Dandy Darke’s Pards, By Wm. R. Eyster. 202 Tom, the Texan Tiger. By Oli Coomes. 208 Sam_ the Office Boy. By Charles Morris. 204 The Young Cowboy. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 205 The Frontier Detective. By Edward L. Wheeler. 206 White Lightning; or, The Boy Ally. By T. C, Harbaugh. 207 Kentuck Talbot’« Band. Hy Capt. Mark Wilton, 208 Trapper Tom’s Castle Mystery. By Ol) Coomes, 209 The Messenger-Boy Detective. By Charles Morris, 210 The Hunchback of the Mines, By Joseph f. Baler, Jr. 1 Little Glant and His Band. By Philip S. Warne. 2 The Jimtown Sport. By Edward L. Wheeler, 8 The Pirate’s Prize. By C. Danning Clark. 4 Dandy Dave, of Shasta, By T. C. Harbaugh. + ‘hed Dan, the Ranger; or, The Denver Detective. COOTER. 1 1 1 1 18 The Cowboy Captain. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham 1 1 “ 4 oo _ = e - =_ = i out, By ‘ol. Prentiss Ingraham. By Oll 7 Bald Head of the Rockies. By Maj. Sam, S. Hall. % The Miner Sport. By Edward L. Wheeler. 9 Buck, the Detective. By Albert W. Aiken. 220 Crack-Shot Frank, By Charles Morris, 221 Merle the Middy. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 222 Rosebud Ben’s Boys. By Ol) Coomes. 228 Gold Conrad's Watch-Dogs. By T. C. Harbaugh, 224 Frisky Fergus, the New York Boy, By G. L. Aiken. 226 Dick Drew, the Miner’s Son. By Edward L. Wheeler, 226 Dakota Dick in Chicago, By Charles Morris. 227 Merle, the Boy Cruiser. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham, 228 The Preacher Detective. By Ol! Coomes. 229 Old Hickory’s Grit. By John J. Marshall. 280 Three Boy Sports. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker. 281 Sierra Sam, the Detective. By Edward L. Wheeler, 282 Merle Monte’s Treasure. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 288 Rocky Rover Kit. By Ensign C. D, Warren. 284 Baldy, the Miner Chief. By Capt. J. F.C. Adama, 285 Jack Stump’s Cruise, , By Roger Starbuck. 286 Sierra Sam’s Double. ' By Edward L. Wheeler. harles Morris. 2 21 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 242 The Denver Detective. 248 Dutch Jan’s Dilemma. By 244 Merle Monte’s Disguise. By Col. Prentirs Ingraham, 245 Baldy’s Boy Partner. By Edward S. Ellis, 246 Detective Keen’s Apprentice. By Charles Morris. 247 The Girl Sport. By Edward L. Wheeler. 248 Giant George's Pard. By Buckskin Sam. 249 Ranch Kob’s Wild Ride. by T. C. Harbangh. 250 Merle Monte’s Pardon. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 251 The Deaf Detective. by Edward Willett. 252 Denver Doll’s Device. By Edward L, Wheeler, 258 The Boy Tenderfoot, By Mark Wilton. 254 Black Hills Ben, By Maj. Lewis W. Carson, 255 Jolly Jim, Detective. “By Charles Morris. 256 Merle Monte’s Last Cruise. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 257 The Boy Chief of Rocky Pass. By Maj. E. L. St. Vrain, 258 Denver Doll as Detective. By E. L. Wheeler. 259 Little Foxeye, the Colorado Spy. By O% Coomes. 260 Skit, the Cabin Boy. By Edward Willett. 261 Blade, the Sport; or, The Giant of Clear Grit Camp, By T. C, Harbaugh, 262 Billy, the Boy Rover; or, Terror Tom of Texas. By Col. P, Ingraham. Buster Bob’s Buoys or, Lige, the Light-House Keeper, By Capi. J. F. C. Adame. 264 Denver Doll’s Partner; or, Big Buckskin, the Sport. By E. L. Wheeler. Billy, the Ba, cage Boy; or, The Young Ratlrond De- tective. By Charles Mortis. Guy’s Boy Chum; or, The Forest Waif's Mask. By Capt, Comstock. Gient George’a Revenge; or, The Boys of “Slip Up Mine.” By Buckskin Sam. Dead-Shot Dandy; or, The Rio Grande Marauders. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. The Quartzville Boss; or, Daring David Darke, By Edward Wijlett. Denver Doll’s Mine; or, Little Bill’s Big Loss, By E. L. Wheeler. 271 Ebony Jim’s Terror} or, Ranger Retnbolt’s Ruse. By Oll Coomes, 272 Kit, the Girl Detective; or, Dandy Dash in California, By T. C. Harbaugh. 278 The Girl Rider; or, Nimble Ned’s Surprise. By Jos. Ey Badger, Jr. 274 Dead Shot Dandy’s Double; or, Benito, the Boy Pard, By Col, P. Ingraham. Fred, the Ocean Waif; or, The Old Sailor’s Protege. By Charles Morris. 276 Deadwood Dick Trapped; or, Roxey Ralph’s Ruse. By Edward L, Wheeler. 277 The Idlot Boy Avenger; or, Captain Wild-Cat’s Big Game. By Albert W. Aiken. 278 Arizona Alf, the Miner; or, Little Snap Shot’s Luck. By T. C. Harbaugh. 279 Colorado “k, the Tiger; or, The Ghost of the Trailer. By Frederick Dewey. 280 Dead Shot Dandy’s Last Deal; or, Keno Kit’s New Role. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 281 Ned, the Boy Pilots or, The Pirate Lieutenant's Doom, By Jack Farragut. 282 Buck Hawk, Detective; or, The Messenger Boy’s Fortune, By Edward L. Wheeler. 288 Roving Sport Kits or, Th Ghost of Chuckaluck Camp. By Edward Willett. 284 The Showman’s Best Card; or, The Mad Animal Tamer. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker, 285 Old Rocky’s Pard; or, Little Ben’s Chase. By Buckskin Sam. 286 Dick, the Dakota Sport. By Charles Morris. 287 Ned, the Boy Skipper; or, The Sen Sorceress’ Cruise, By Jack Farragut. 288 Deadwood Dick’s Disguise; or, Wild Walt, the Sport. By Edward L. Wheeler. 289 Colorado Nick, the Lassoist. By Maj. H. B. Stoddard. 290 Rube, the Tenderfoot; or, The Boys of Torpedo Gulch, By Maj. E. L. St. Vrain, 291 Peacock Pete, the Leadville Sport; or, Hawk, the Boas Miner. By Albert W. Aiken. 292 Joe Morey, the Night Hawk; or, The Black Rider. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 298 Dwarf Jake, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon’s Man-Hunt. By Ed. Willett. 294 Dumb Dick’s Pard; or, Eliza Jane, the Girl Miner. By Edward L, Wheeler. 295 White Wing, the Ferret Flyer; or, Old Dirk, the Oyster Pirate. By Charles Morris. Ready Sept. 4. 296 Govinda, the Tiger Tamer; or, The American Horseman Abroad. By Capt. F. Whittaker. Ready Sept. 11. 297 Arizona Giant George; or, The Boyees of Sardine-Box City. By Buckakin Sa eady Sept. 18. 298 Dalay Doll's Dash; or, The Ten Colorado Pards. By T. C. Harbaugh. Ready Sept. 25. 299 Harry Brown, New York Detective; or, Jack Slasher’s Young Pard. By Harry Enton. Ready Oct. 2. Beadle’s Pocket Library is for sale by all Newsdeniers, five cents per copy. or sent by mail on receipt of six cente each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York. 268 275