Beadle's Pocket Library (no. 319) (1890 02 19)
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a Pest eat ) ra & S Copyrighted, 1890, by BaapL anp Apams. Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., as Second Class Mall Matter. Fob. 19, 1890. N 0 319 92.50 Published Weekly by Beadle and Adams, Price, Vol XXV ' ’ ‘ ‘ a Year. No, 98 WILLIAM St., New YorK. Five Cents. ——— “Joy WILL GO TO MR, DANTON, AND OWN TO HIM THAT WHAT YOU SAID WAS A LIE, OB, LL THRASH YOU.” poten ~
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2 Frisky Frank in Idaho. Frisky Frank in Idaho; OLD SKINFLINT, THE SHADOW. BY ROGER STARBUCK, AUTHOR OF ‘THE GOLDEN HARPOON,” ‘THE BLACK SCHOONER,” ETC., ETC, CHAPTER I. WAYLAID, “Ox, father, what a gloomy place! I be- lieve this is where a coach was attacked and robbed, two years ago.” “T think so, but you need not feel alarmed, If there are any robbers here, now, they would have shown themselves before this.” The first speaker was Bell Danton—a lovely irl of sixteen, with black eyes, a rosy, piquant ‘ace and a round supple form, Her father, who had replied to her, as shown, was an energetic-looking man, now on his way to establish a salmon factory, near the Salmon River mountains, Idaho Territory. The traveling-coach in which the girl and her parent were seated had just entered a gloomy gorge, the rocky walls of which were thickly covered with shrubbery, while below, on each side of the road, extended a dense thicket of willows, adding to the gloom of the locality. 7 The coach, containing gold-dust, taken in at Montana, was on its way to Salt Lake City. There were, besides the two passengers men- tioned, ten more, five of them, who wore slouch hats and heavy bvots, having the ap- pearance of miners. Three of the others were elderly women and the remaining two were heavy, sleepy-looking Germans. All the male occupants of the vehicle were armed—the miners, especially, being well previded with re- volvers and knives. Presently both Bell and her father leaned forward, peeping through a window, on seeing a young hunter balf-hidden by the willows, seated on a rocky ledge, apparently gazing at the coach. The brief, indistinct glimpse the two obtained of him showed him to be a mere youth of nineteen, of handsome, manly ap pearance. He wore a hunting-shirt of dressed deerskin, a catskin cap, leggins and moccasins. In his right hand he held a rifle, and in a broad belt about his waist were a pistol and a knife. “A trim-looking fellow, I should say,” re- marked Mr. Danton, ‘although I caught but a ‘flying’ glimpse of him,” “He looked well enough,” replied Bell, a blush suffusing her smooth cheeks, “I only glanced at him.” Her father laughed. “The glance was a long ono, at all events,” he remarked. The vehicle had nearly passed through the 6, when suddenly a couple of men sprung the shrubbery and seized the horses’ reins, roof of the coach and the driver tumbled sense- less to the ground, “There are only two robbers!” cried Mr, Danton, drawing a revolver from his pocket and addressing the miners, ‘‘ Come, we can easily drive them off!” As he spoke, he opened the window, but ere he could raise his weapon, two of the supposed miners held their, pistols at his head, while another struck his wrist with a force which caused his revolver to drop from his grasp. The other two miners, with the muzzles of their pistols jammed against the heads of the Ger- mans, threatened to blow out their brains if they attempted resistance, Bell, with a shriek of terror, clung to her pa- ra, when she was roughly ordered to let go of im. The coach-door was opened and three villain- ous-looking fellows, attired like the pretended miners, who it was now evident were their con- federates, rushed in, ** Come, gal,” said one, ‘‘ stop yer squawking, or we'll stick yer with this.” And, as he spoke, he pulled a formidable knife from his belt. ‘You had better keep silent, Bell,” said Mr. Danton. ‘ Your cries can do nogood. There is, evidently, no person in this wilderness at hand to help us.” ‘‘ Yer may think yerselves lucky to git off with yer lives!” exclaimed one of the gang. *¢ All we want is the dust, and what little val- lebles, in the shape of gold watches, jewelry, etce., you and the other passengers may hey about ’em.” “So, then, you took passage in this coach to rob it? said Mr. Danton, in order to gain time, for he fancied he heard approaching foot- ste “Yer might see that with one eye. Come, fork over—you and yer gal heer, or it’ll be the worse fur yer!” “T have not much money with me, and my daughter has no jewelry.” ‘As ef we hadn’t our eye on the gold watch she took out a moment sence.” “That watch was a present from her mother, before she died. Surely, you might let her keep it. At that instant the sharp ring of a rifle was heard, followed by a an near the coach, as one of the robbers holding the horses dropped dead, shot through the brain, “This way, pards, this way!” came a clear, trumpet-like voice, and, from the dense willows, rushed half a dozen sturdy fellows in buckskin, headed by the same youth who had been watch- ing the coach go past the ledge on which he sat. Both Mr, Danton and Bell could see him through the window as he dashed toward the vehicle, Cries of rage esca’ the robbers, The’ jumped from the coach, and in a moment all disappeared in the thick shrubbery on the side of the gorge opposite to that from which the hunter and his companions had advanced. ae youth already alluded to had entered the coach. He was, as stated, a fine, handsome fellow. At the same moment a noise was heard on the | His face, bronzed by sun and wind, glowed witb,
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q health, he had clear, blue eyes, long, brown hair, and a firm, handsome mouth, graced by a slight mustache. ising his catskin cap, he said: ** Ladies and gentlemen, I am glad to say that my pards and I hev driven off the robbers. It was fortunate that we were near enough to hear the crack of the varmint’s pistol. © sus- cted how things were, and came like white- ightning, at your sarvice!” Mr, Danton smiled and shook hands with the speaker. “ After I get settled near Logville, where I am building a salmon factory, I shall be happy to have you call on me.” “Thanks, I shall be happy to come,” said the youth. ‘But the place is a long way from hyar. You'll bev to foot it for at leasty twenty miles, and ef you like, I’d be pleased to be your escort,” “Oh, yes, sir; that is, if it woald not be too much trouble,” said Bell, blushing. ‘None at all, miss,” answered the youth, his blue eyes sparkling with pleasure. **] should be glad of your company,” said Mr, Danton. Meanwhile the coachman had persuaded the other hunters to go with him a short distance, as he was afraid of a renewal of the attack by the robbers further on, The six men were therefore in the coach when the driver, who bad recovered his senses, again started his horses. A ride of about thirty miles brought Bell and her father to the station where they would be obliged to leave the vehicle. They were fortu- nate enough to hire a wagon and team, when, in company with Frank Belton, they kept on for the new settlement, then called Logville, There they finally arrived, when Belton, po- litely declining an invitation from Mr. Danton to go to his house with bim, but promising to call upon him in a few days, took leave of father and daughter. “Do you know that young fellow?’ Danton inquired of some rugged-looking hunter-settlers, who were busy about their houses. “Oh, yes, sir; that’s Frisky Frank, or Fire- heels.” “ Why is he called Firebeels?” “Because once, when he was captured bi Snake Indians, he escaped by running throug a burning thicket, which they had set on fire. Since that the Indians have given bim that yere name.” A few minutes later she and her parent en- tered the new house which had been erected and prepared for their reception by one of Mr, Danton’s agents. CHAPTER II. THE QUARREL. Mr, DANTON had not been long in Logville, when he became tolerably well acquainted with his neighbors. Among those who called upon him, was a young man of twenty, named Luke Lorne. He appeared to be an intelligent per- son, although his manners were coarse, and be had a habit of using violent expletives, when provoked. : i _ He was rough in appearance, with large fea- Frisky Frank in Idaho. 3 tures, thick lips, and a constant twinkle in his blue eyes. His hair, of an auburn tint, curled closely about his round ‘ bullet head,’ and a heavy mustache of the same hue flourisbed on bis up- Ee up In stature he was about the middling eight, broad in the shoulders and otherwise powerfully built. It was of this person, who owned several houses and many plots of ground in Logville, that Mr, Danton had purchased the site for his salmon factory, now being erected. Lorne was said to have inherited much money from a rela- tive, who had died at a distant settlement and made him his heir, “A worthy young man, I should say,” re- marked Bell’s father to the girl, one day after Lorne had paid thema visit, ‘'He wants a wife —he hinted as much to me. ‘* Upon my word, I don’t think you could ‘do better.’” ‘“*T suppose you are jesting, father,” said Bell, ** but if you are not, 1 should let you know that Mr, Lorne is a man whom J never could wish fcr a husband. He is too coarse—too—” * Pooh!” said her parent, ‘‘you mistake his gruff_ backwoods air for coarseness, For my part I admire the manly bearing of our Western pioneers.” *SodoI,” said Bell. “I do not dislike the rough frankness of the trappers; but Mr. Lorne is different from the wild prairie-men. There is something vile—something mean and cunning in his way, which reminds me of the wolf and fox combined.” ‘*Upon my word you give him a good name,” remarked Mr, Danton, rising and leaving the room, For half an hour after he was gene Bell sat silent and thoughtful. ‘“Where have I seen his face before?’ she asked herself, as she had done several times since becoming acquainted with Mr, Lorne. “TI have certainly seen it somewhere before we came here.” All at once the truth flashed upon her mind, “Yes, the moreI think of it the more Iam convinced that it was there I saw that face,” she continued—“in the coach which was at- tacked, It was the face of one of the three rob- bers who rushed into the vehicle. Owing to the slouched hat and a high coat collar, I could not see the eyes; but the nose, the mustache, and the sneering smile were this Lorne’s.” Occasionally there was another caller—young Belton, or ‘ Fireheels,” as he was termed by most settlers and Indians, He always received a kind welcome from Bell, although her father had lately treated the youth with marked coldness. As Frisky Frank was approaching one day for the purpose of paying him another visit, he met Mr, Danton, who, contrary to his habit, scarcely replied to his greeting. * Are you going to my house?” he inquired. “Yes, sir; | was going thar,” answered the young hunter, ‘*T have to tell you, then, that I would prefer that you discontinue your visits.” _ Belton stared at the speaker in surprise. “Tt may seem rude for me to say this,” con- tinued Danton, ** but I haye a good reason.”
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& Frisky Frank in Idaho. rc ? ‘ Hf you'll speak more plainly, V'll thank you,’ said Fireheels. ‘* Well, then, I understand that you have boasted to some of your companions that you were going to marry an heiress—that she was ‘dead in love’ with you, and that you expected to make more money that way than you could by twenty years’ trapping and chee OF course, the heiress you alluded to was my daugh- ter! Belton’s eyes flashed fire. ; “‘ Whar did you hear such a base lie, sir? Some one, I see, has been plotting against me.” “*] heard it from a person in whom I have Peapdance enough to know that he would not ie. ‘‘ Who is the coon, and whar kin I find him?” said Fireheels. “Tt matters not. I wish to breed no quar- rels.” With these words, Mr. Danton turned on his heel, moving toward his factory. Belton stood for some moments looking after him like one dazed, Then he also turned and walked away. “‘Bf I could only find the varmint who has spoiled the sweetest part of my life, which bas been since I’ve avert going to Mr. Danton’s, and seeing the most utiful gal that ever lived—ef 3 could find the rascal, ’d drag him before the man that’s just spoken to me, and make him own that it was a falsehood he had told.” Thus muttered Belton to himself as he hurried on and entered a lonely valley a few miles from the settlement. As he was about to cross the valley to climb 3 the other side of it, he heard a girl’s voice, sing from behind a rock, afew yards in ad- vance of him. “Go away! Lona does not want the white man’s money. She has a heart which is better than money, even if her skin is red.” ‘‘ But,” came the voice of a man, ‘‘ Fireheels has shot and wounded one of your tribe, They should be glad to have their revenge.” “ Revenge is sweet to the red-man,” was the answer, ‘‘but Fireheels never shot one of our tribe. It was the Indian of another tribe, who wanted to join us, that he shot—and then only because the Indian was going to shoot him. Lona has heard enough; she will go.” Frank now saw the girl move rapidly away up the valley and disappear in the shrusbery beyond. At the same moment, from behind the rock emerged Luke Lorne, looking angry and disappointed. _The young hunter stole up toward him, so lightly that he did not see him until he raised his eyes, He started and turned pale, but, in a moment, he recovered his composure, “ Well?” he said, a little haughtily, as Frisky Frank stood gazing straight into his face. “ What do you want?” ‘“‘T overheard, by chance, what was said. You've been plotting against me, Luke Lorne.” ** Well, suppose I have. I cannot stop to bandy words with you.” “T hev a question to put to you before you Zo," said the hunter, as he brought the butt of is rifle to the ground, “I her to.ask you ef it was you who told that lie against me to Mr. Danton?” ‘Tt was no lie,” was the answer. ‘You own then you are the varmint who told the falsehood?” **T told him, but I don’t think it was a false- hood. Keep your distance,” added Lorne, pull- ing a revolver from his pocket as Belton stepped toward him, With one dexterous blow of his rifle the hunter knocked the pistol from the speaker’s grasp, and laid an iron hand on his collar. ‘* You will go to Mr. Danton, and own to him that what you said was an infarnal lie, or Pll thrash you.” “Never!” answered Lorne gruffly, as hestruck the other in the face, The two closed in a struggle. Both were equally strong, but Fireheels was the more active of the two. All at once he dexterously twisted his adver- sary across his hip and flung him headlong to the ground. At length he arose, but showed no disposition to renew the combat. ‘*T will yet be even with you for this,” he said, as he picked wd his revolver and moved off, Belton watched him scornfully as he left the valley, and then turning, walked away. CHAPTER III. A DARK DEED. On the afternoon of the day following the uarrel between Frisky Frank and Lorne, Miss anton went out for a walk. The bright, clear weather and the charming scenery tempted ber to go further than usual. Finally she found herself in the valley where the hunter and Lorne bad had their dispute. She sat down on a mossy rock to rest, when her attention was attracted by a sound behind her, which she at once knew to be that of a rattle- snake, The next moment it would have sprung upon her, but for a rifle which rung not far off, send- ing a bullet through its head and killing it al- niost instantly. The clear voice of Fireheels was now heard from the upper edge of the valley. “A plum-center shot, and it certainly was never more necessary than now!” He advanced and looked at the snake, while Bell thanked him for the timely rescue. “‘T happened to be passing and saw your situ- ation, miss,” said Belton, ‘‘ and I’m glad chance brought me this way.” Soon after sundown, Bell, eget him ~ day and bestowing on him a smiling yep from her large black eyes, moved off home- ward, He stood watching her until she entered a piece of aoe a hundred yards ahead, when all at once he hurried after her, Mr. Danton, learning from Bell’s aunt that the young girl was gone out for a walk, con- eluded to go to meet her on her return. He walked some distance when, just at dusk, gaziag ahead of bim, he saw Fi ently looking at something in a hollow. He hurried to the side of the youth, and a cry of eels appar- _
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Frisky Fravk in Idaho. _ ; - § — horror escaped him at the spectacle which met his gaze. In the hollow, lying upon her back, was the dead body of a female, who had evidently been throttled, as there were finger-marks upon the throat. “Good God! it is my daughter!” cried Mr. Danton. For a moment he stood like one transfixed gazing with grief and horror upon the dead orm. ‘* What does this mean?” he then said fiercely, shaking Belton by the shoulder, ‘“‘ Answer me, will you?” ag knows I would if I could,” the youth . ‘QOnly half an hour ago she was alive and well,” ‘Who killed her?” continued Mr. Danton, confronting the other and looking him straight im the face. Belton’s cheeks, which had already lost some of their ruddy color, became yet paler. “T do not know.” “Tn my opinion, you know more about this affair than you pretend!” said Danton, hoarsely. “How happens it that I find you, and you alone, by her body?” Belton commenced by explaining about the serpent. ‘“*T saw her reach the woods; then I noticed a form skulking about in the shadow, as if watch- ing her. As well as I could make out, when I got nearer, it seemed to be a woman. Thinking that one of her own sex could mean her no harm, I turned and kept upon my way, which was ina direction from the woods, I had not gone far, and had got behind a knoll, which hid them from my sight, when I thought I heard a scream from that way. I hurried to the woods as fast as I could go, and when I got thar I came upon this,” added Belton, shuddering as he A shag te to the body. . Danton looked darkly at the speaker; then he seized him Py the collar, and, at the same time drew a pistol from his pocket. “Come, sir, you are not going to escape me. You shall go with me before Mr. Bole, the jus- tice. “ Hands off, sir, hands off,” said Frisky Frank. “T am willing to go, of my own accord, with you to the justice.” ** Come, then, come at once!” Belton, like one walking in a dream, followed Mr. Danton to the settlement. They went before the justice of the place—a hard-featured man named Jobn Bole, who had been elected to his present position through Lorne’s influence. To him Frisky Frank and Mr. Danton told their story. The merchant then drew Mr. Bole to one side, and whispered to him, when the Jatter with- drew for a few minutes, to soon return with several stout, armed men. : “You will be put under arrest, Frank Belton, while the inquest is going on,” said the justice. “T hope that some new light may then. be thrown upon the affair, which will clear you from suspicion.” * And is it ible,” said Fireheels, seeming to commune with himself rather than to ad- dress the men before him, ‘that thar kin be any suspicion of my having killed that sweet, baby-faced gal?” e was led off to a stone building, which, serving the purpose of a temporary jail, stood out at the further extremity of the settlement. The room in which he was confined was in the upper part of the edifice, and had but two small windows, across which were fixed strong, iron An hour later an inquest was held over the remains of the murdered girl, but no new facts were brought to light. Lorne} who acted as foreman of the jury, wound up with the following remarks: “J will not say that Mr. Belton perpetrated this foul crime, but I will say, and in this all the gentlemen of the jury agree with me, that he alone being found near the body, coupled with his own statement that he was with the young fady. just before the tragedy, give strong grounds .for suspecting that he and none other was the Vi CHAPTER IV. THE INDIAN GIRL. SEVERAL days passed, during which prepara- tions were being made for Frisky Frank’s trial. It had been predicted by persons who had visit- ed him that circumstances were so strong against him tbat he would surely be hung for the crime of which he was supposed to be guilty. , On the fourth night after the murder, as he sat in the prison with his head bowed upon his hands, he imagined he heard a sort of scratch- ing noise above his head. elooked up. The noise was repeated, and then, slowly and gradually, the scuttle of the apartment was raised, and a human head was thrust through the opening. By the dim light of the candle in his room, Frisky Frank recognized the face, which was that of Lona, the Indian girl, who belonged toa tribe of Omahas, encamped some miles from the settlement. She made a motion with hér hand for him to keep silent; then she lowered into the room a slender rope-ladder, the upper end of which she had fastened to a hook, by means of which the scuttle had been secured on the outside. Next she descended into the room, revealing a face and form which were more than usually at- tractive. Her long, black hair, escaping from under a jaunty little cap, ornamented with a drooping red feather, hung below the hollow of her back. Her skin, although of dusky hue, glowed with health, her features were regular and noble, aud a sweeter mouth could hardly be imagined. Her eyes, large, black and soft, beamed with a blended expression*of gentleness and spirit, her hands were as small as a child’s, and her shape- ly feet_ were incased in mouse-colored mocca- sins. The robe of light deer-skin confined about the waist and ornamented with fringe, showed the grace and beauty of her shape to advantage, and nothing could bave been more easy and natural than her movements. “Listen,” she whispered, ‘The Fireheels knows that Lona is his friend. He must go away from here, or his death will be sure,”
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“You know not, gal, what you're talking about. In the first place, thar’sno prospects of death, for, ef I stay hyar, my innocence on trial must be proved.” “Tell me where you would look for justice?” said Lona, with dilating eyes. ‘‘There is one person who will do all he can to hurry the young hunter to his fate. I need not tell Fireheels who that 1s.” “‘T kin think of no one who could be mean enough for such a thing.” “Tt is the man, Luke Lorne, that Lona speaks of. He hates the hunter. If Fireheels does not leave this place that man will cause him to be pong! Lona has heard him say he would do at. “You've heard the rascal say that?” “Tt is true, Fireheels knows that Lona would not lie. Come, will the hunter go with Lona now?” “Yes, gal, I will. Ef thar’s to be any trick- ery on the trial by that mean coon, sooner than give him the satisfaction of hanging an innocent man, [ will go with you.” The dark eyes of the gid sparkled with joy. She pointed to the rope-ladder, which the pris- oner now nimbly ascended. After he had mounted it, Lona followed. She drew up the ladder and gently closed the scut- tle. Then, coiling the ropes about her neck, she pointed to a tree which stood about a foot from the edge of the roof. : Frisky Frank, descending the tree, was soon joined by his rescuer. The night was not very dark, and the girl went ahead to keep a lookout. In a few min- utes she returned hastily. “Down! down in the bushes!” she whispered. “Lorne coming this way with perty of men. He already has seen Lona!” Belton crouched behind a clump of shrubbery, and a moment later Lorne came up. “Halloa! Lona here at this time of the night,” he cried, suspiciously, “‘and so near the jail, too!” . “ Lona goes every where,” she answered, coolly. ‘€ That?s so,” spoke up one of the men, laugh- ing; “that galis like a ghost. Yer meet her everywhere, and at all times of the night.” “ But [ thought I saw some one with her just now,” continued Lorne. ‘*Come, Lona, peg up and tell us who was with you,” he added moving toward the clump of shrubbery behind which Belton was crouched. Fireheels perceived that discovery was inevi- table if he remained where he was, ‘ Shee was a hollow behind him, and into this © slid, “Tm going to look behind theso bushes,” said Lorne, turning to the two men with him. ‘‘ Re- member, with a murderer in yonder jail, it is necessary to be careful. Here we are on our way now to suggest to the justice that irons be put upon his wrists, and it would be strange enough if, while we are taking these precau- tions, be should succeed in escaping.” So saying, agi the shrubbery aside and hind it. Belton had trusted to his being concealed by the darkness in the hollow; but Lorne, stepping forward, stooped and looked down into it. Frisky Frank in Idaho. Enamel Fireheels remained so still in the pit that ae did not at first perceive that any one was ere, To the intense surprise of Frank, he now heard a low, hissing voice at his ear. * Jest change places with me, and yer’ll see him go off like a ghost. Quick! Heer ho comes!” The speaker—a long, gaunt shadow—had emerged from a mass of high grass in the hol- low on Frank’s right. The youth could not, of course, see him dis- tinctly—could discern little of him except his eyes, and these seemed fairly ablaze, like those of some wild beast. They looked like round balls of fire, girdled by two white rings; and as he met the steadfast gaze, he felt a hand, like the claws of a bear, clutch him by the arm. Mechanically, he shifted his position to the left of the stranger, who at once took his place. Lorne, thinking he saw a moving form, had vom about to creep down the side of the hol- ow, Then all at once the strange being elevating his head in the moonlight, as if it was that of a serpent, whispered in the young man’s ear four words, which caused him to start back with a Jow ery of terrcr, and draw quickly away from ‘the hollow. “What is it? What did yer see?” inquired Lorne’s companions, * Nothing,” he said. ‘Then there was no one there?” ‘No; but a spake rubbed against my hand, and it startled me.” CHAPTER V. THE COMBAT. Lorne and the men with him moved on. As soon as they were out of sight, Belton turned to thank the person who had so oppor- tunely saved him from being discovered. To his surprise, he then perceived that the stranger was gone, ‘‘Did you-see that man come out of the pit?” he inquired of Lona, “ Yes, he go off that way like a shadow,” and she pointed toward the eastward, “Tt was very strange,” said Frank. ‘He merely whispered something in Lorne’s ear, which sent him away at once.” “Tona is glad. She much afraid the white hunter be taken again.” Li Beane the other person in the pit, I reckon Lorne hadn’t any suspicion I was thar.” “No, but he soon find out now; you escape and we must go fast, Come, we bave far to go.” It was late ere the twain reached the camp of the Omahas, The chief—a tall, dignified say- age—came forward and welcomed Belton, “ Fireheels is safe with the Omahas,” he said. Belton was conducted to a tent, and he was soon partaking of a good repast. When he had finished it, Lona came in, and spread for him in one corner a comfortable coucb of skins, The hunter, soon after, was buried in a pro- found slumber, from which he was awakened, before midnight, by a hand upon his shoulder. He opened his eyes, to behold, by the light of the moon, which was now shining, the face and ; : : if
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Frisky Prank in Idaho. . ‘2 form of a youth of seventeen, who stood looking down upon him with a troubled aspect, Belton recognized him as Tamina, the son of one of the old Indian chiefs, “Well, why hey you waked me from a sound sleep?” : amina would ask the white hunter to leave the camp.” ‘To leave your camp? Whosent you on that errand? Was it Lona?” ‘Jt was not Lona. Lona is glad to have the hunter here.” “T understand—a case of jealousy; but you needn’t trouble yourself, Tamina; I’m not going to try to cut you out.” “That is why Tamina thinks the hunter should go away. If he wanted Lona for his squaw, then the Indian would not say a word. But he knows the heart of the Fireheels is away from the ‘Singing-Thrush,’ and he would not have throw hers away on him!” “Nonsense! The gal doesn’t care for me. She is friendly, for the little sarvice I did her tribe, That is all.” “Tt is notso, She will never be the squaw of Tamina while Fireheels is here.” Again the hunter told the young Indian, what he really believed to be the case—that he was mistaken. The other insisted he was not. * And so Fireheels must go.” “Tf I go, Pll be arrested.” “ Ts it better, then, that Fireheels should break the heart of Singing-Thrush?”’ ‘“Thar’s no danger of that. I'll not leave your camp, so long as Wono is willing I should stay byar.” “Then Tamina and he are no longer friends.” “Come, Injun, you'll not be so foolish as that,” said Belton. ‘“* What Tamina says he means,” “ You are not going to betray me?” said Bel- ton, sternly. : But the young Indian abruptly left the tent, making no reply. Belton turned oyer on his couch and again dropped to sleep. On the fol- lowing afternoon Tamina made his appearance before Fireheels, who was still in the tent which had been given up to him for his use. “The white hunter has refused to leave the Omaha camp!” “They. Why should I leave it?” “T have said why. Will Fireheels refuse to meet Tamina, too?” “To meet you?” “Yes, Tamina would meet Fireheels, knife in hand, that he and the Indian may fight out their quarrel!” “Come, now, Tamina, thar’s no use of your trying to force a fight on me, I’m friendly to your people, and don’t want to hurt you.” The young Indian curled his lip. ‘‘Tamina knows how to use his knife as well as the hunter.” 5 ‘¢ Perhaps you do, but I repeat I’m not going to fight you.” “Then Fireheels is afraid; he has the heart of a squaw—of a coward!” e quick temper of the youth was not proof against this taunt. re he himself was hardly aware of it, his hand flew out against the speaker’s tawny cheek. The other showed no emotion whatever, ex- cept a fierce glitter of the eyes, ‘‘FWireheels has struck Tamina, He cannot refuse him, now, what he asked?” “T suppose you're right,” said Belton, regret- fully. * Whar shall we meet?” ‘A mile from here there is a willow grove.” «1 know the place.” ‘Near the grove there are thick bushes, I will be there, waiting for Fireheels!” “ All right, Injun,” said the hunter, ‘Tl be thar with you, before the sun goes down.” Tamina strode out of the tent, and at once repuired to the spot he had mentioned. A man emerged from the clump of shrubbery, It was Luke Lorne. ‘“ Well, how did you make out?” he inquired. ‘‘Fireheels will soon be here, Has my white brother posted his men?” “Yes, there are eight of them, four being officers of the law.” : ‘It is well,” said Tamina, While he was speaking, Fireheels left the camp, and was soon on his way to the appointed rendezvous, The impatient young Indian went forward a_ short distance, and climbed up a tree to watch for his coming. A At that moment Lorne heard a low whistle, close behind him, He turned to behold a tall, lean figure he had never seen before, wearing a slouched hat and a teamster’s long, blue frock, “This way,” said the stranger, drawing the youth to one side, ‘‘ You are after Firefieels, are you not?” “ es.” “Well, if ao will wait for him heer, he'll escape yer. e has suspicions, and will come round this way, instead of taking the path you expected he would.” “Who are you, and how do you know?” ‘Po your first question I hev to say that I'm a person, who, heerin’ of the escape of that mur- derer, hev made up my mind to do what I could to help catch him. I hey been watching him, since he left the Omaha camp, and I know what I'm talking about. I saw him take the route which will lead to your rear. He will then see you and your men posted here, and will hev no trouble to avoid you.” “ What is your name?” “ John Henderson, sir.” “Well, Henderson, if what you say is true and we succeed in rearresting that fellow, Is! reward you.” “Thank you, sir. Follow me, and I will put yer in the way of capturin’ him. CHAPTER VI. BAFFLED. Hrapep by Henderson, Lorne and his men moved swiftly and stealthily through the grove. They kept on in silence. The shadows deep- ened as they proceeded, " “There,” said Henderson, pausing at last near asmall valley. ‘‘ Here, behind these bushes, we will wait for about five minutes, when we wi see Fireheels pass.” The five minutes went by, and thirty more,but no sign of Fireheels was to be seen.
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Frisky Frank in Idaho, ce = ee be ‘ Henderson, who had crept away from the rty, had not yet returned. Meanwhile Fireheels, having left the Omaha camp, hurried along toward the place where he had agreed to meet Tamina, who now, from his position in the tree, saw hira approaching. - “Ugh!” muttered the Indian. ‘ Tamina will have the white hunter in a trap, and this shall be his revenge. Hoe bas won the heart of Lona away from the Indian!” , He then descended from the tree, and took his position near the shrubbery, in which he sup- Lorne was still hidden with his men. “Tamina has waited long,” he said to the eae ashecameup. ‘ He began to think Fire- eels was not coming.” “T always keep my word,” the hunter quietly answered, “ but Pll own I’m sorry thar must be this knife-work between me and one of the tribe which are my friends!” « Wireheels can never be the friend of Tamina,” the Indian replied. ‘Come, let him draw, for the sun is down, and it is time we commenced the fight.” The youth pronounced the last word in a loud voice, as it was the signal agreed upon for Lorne to rush forth, and seize his prisoner, Not a sound, however, was to be heard in the bushes. Belton drew his knife, and said he was ready, Tamina pretended to be looking at his blade, as if to make sure it was in good condition, when, in reality, he was delaying the fight, in order to give Lorne time to come out of the shrubbery. Seeing no sign of him, he was enraged, and he now made a sudden rush at his opponent, aiming his knife at his heart. Belton avoided the thrust by twisting himself, and, at the same time, pricked the Indian in the right arm. Tamina, with flashing eyes, drew back, and perceiving he was no match for the skilled bun- ter in the use of the knife, he quickly loosened his tomahawk from his belt, and sent it flying with tremendous force, full at the head of his opponent. The latter dodged quickly enough to avoid the flying missile; then he ran at the Indian, aiming at his arm another blow, which, had it taken effect, would have disable! the limb fcr some time. Bnt the wily savage avoided the thrust by gliding behind a tree, and then, suddenly point- ing full at the youth a pistol, which he pulled from his pocket, he fired. ‘ The bullet would have passed through the hun- ter’s heart, had not a strong arm knocked aside the pistol ere it was discharged, causing the shot to take an upward direction. At the same moment, the young Indian fell senseless to the earth, as he received a blow from the butt of a revolver upon his head. “Thar, yer are—but the mean skunk hev not got his desarts, which would be a knife in his zzard!” was uttered by the person, who to orne had said bis name was Henderson. Belton saw before him, wearing a teamster’s frock, a tall, sinewy personage, so thin that he had the appearance of a gaunt shadow. Al- though, in reality, not more than f -two years of age, he looked as if many years older. His visage was half-concealed by a white beard, which descended to his chest, his nose was long and straight, his eyes, of a light gray color, looked almost white. “A timely interference,” said the young hun- ter. ‘That varmint asked to mest me here that we might fight out a little trouble of his own making, with knives. He broke his agreement by first using his tomahawk and then his pistol. To whom do I owe my rescue?” ‘“My real name is Skinflint. This red-skin byar did not mean to fight you at all, but to lead you in an ambush of Lorne and his men. They were to come out on you, ’fore the fight could begin, but I balked the raskil nicely, Forge ot his party are at least half a mile from yar He went on to explain. ‘How did you discover Tamina’s intentions?” inquired Belton, “T overheard what he said last night to Lorne, when he met him, I b'lieve in helpin’ them that’s in trouble, and,” he added, in a voice hoarse with passion, ‘‘ l’ve made one vow of revenge, which I’d go through coals of fire to keep. But, come, you are no longer safe in the Omaha or 0 Belton followed the speaker, who made his way toward the mountains, looming up in the distance. “T know a cave yonder, whar all the detec- tives in the universe couldn’t find yer.” By the time the two reached the mountains the moon had risen, and lighted the dark rocks wherever they were exposed to her rays. Skinflint, raising a small bowlder on the sum- mit of a cliff, revealed a hollow in which a rope was coiled. One end of this rope he fastened to a projecting rock; then he dropped the other, allowing it to dangle from the edge of the height. ‘Yer kin see aledge ten feet below us,” he said. ‘Climb down to that ledge and push aside the bushes thar, and yer’ll see an openin’ which will take yer into a cave.” “ Are you coming?” ‘Not now. In the cave yer'll find deer’s meat and other things which are useful.” “ Suppose I should want to come out before you join me?” “Yer'll find a sort o’ rope-ladder thar by which yer kin reach the rock twelve feet below the ledge. Come, yer better lose no time in git- tin’ to yer quarters, for Lorne and his men are by this arter yer like so many bloodhounds.” “Upon my word, I think you are very good to me!” said Belton. : “ft hey reason, fur I never furgit a kindness, Do yer remember a stormy night, one year ago, when yer saved a gal, which was lost, from be- ing captured by savages or froze to death, and went miles out o’ yer way to take her to her home?” “«T think I remember something of that kind,” answered Belton. “ Well, that gal war my little sister, Mary,” said Skinflint in a voice of emotion. ‘She war an angel upon the airth, and when I came home and my wife showed her to me, all safe and ‘sound, and said that a hunter, calling himself : Fireheels, had saved her and brought her thar,
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Frisky Frank in Idaho. 9 I blessed yer from the bottom o’ my heart, and made up my mind that, ef ever I could sarve you a good turn in any way, that I'd do it!” And, to the surprise of Belton, he saw a big tear trickling from the eyes of this fierce man. Without another word he seized the rope, descended to the ledge, and entered the cave, ed bs gare of which had been concealed by the shes, CHAPTER VII. THE MEETING. Next morning Henderson, or rather Skinflint, the latter being bis real name, emerged from a hut which he had made his habitation since com- ing to tbe settlement. e went straight to Lorne’s abode, and knock- ed at the door, An old woman, employed there as housekeep- er, answered the summons, and asking to see Mr. Lorne, Skinflint was shown into a hand- somely furnished parlor. His gray, whitish eyes gleamed fiercely as he glanced ’round him, yther bright—rayther bright, fur this part o’ the country,” he muttered. “Ther things I see must hev cost a heap o’ money.” Lorne soon came, * A fine trick you played me last night,” he said, angrily. ** Don’t understand yer.” ‘You didn’t return, after leading us off from the very place where it seems Belton did go, that evening. It looks to me as if you did it on jose.” . “No, I made a mistake. After I left you, I saw a man stealing along, whom J thought was this Belton, and not until I’'d tracked him a long distance, did I discover my mistake, When I came back to whar I had left yer, I found that yer was gone!” “We waited and waited for nothing,” said Lorne, ‘‘ and might have staid there longer but for Tamina, who came, at last, and told us that he and Belton had met and fought, and that the white hunter bad run away!” A scarcely perceptible smile hovered about the corners of Skinflint’s eyes. } “I repeat,” said Lorne, ‘that I believe you deceived me on purpose, and I mean to have you arrested.” “*T don’t think so. Hyar itis!” ~ ‘As be spoke, Skinflint pulled from his pocket a crumpled bit of paper. “My education hev been neglected, but I think that was writ by you, as yer name’s signed at the bottom!” Lorne took the note, at which he had no soon- er gazed than bis cheeks blanched and his hands treWhere did ere did you get this?” he gasped. “T found it near the filler: in the woods, whar they tell me the late murder was done !” **T dropped it, and the wind must have blown it to where you found it,” quietly answered Lorne, who had recovered his composure, “ll mention that, after you hey me ar- rested.” ‘Tt do not really mean to have you taken up. Tonly said so to frighten you a little,” I hey a little letter fur yer. ‘$Let me see, that note’s writ to a gal or woman, whose first name is Ellen, I b’lieve.” “Oh, so you read the note?’ “T read it—yes, as well as I could. It ap- ears to me that the person whom you writ to ad begged you to come to her, fur in the note yer refuse to go, and, worse than that, threaten to kill her.” ‘There is no such threat,” said Lorne, looking surprised, ‘* Besides, I did not send the letter after writing it,” “Yer say init that, ef sbe attempts to come to you, after you refusin’ to go to her, that one of you would vanish as if from the face of this arth!” “Whar is she, now?” inquired Skinflint, fixing the steady gaze of his piercing gray eyes full upon the face of Lorne. The latter, however, preserved bis composure, ‘What business, pray, is that of yours?” “ Nothing pertik’lar; only when I half know a thing I like to find out the rest.” “Tf I were you, I would not tell any one about finding this note.” “Tt’s queer though, that I should hev found it by the hollow, whar that gal, Miss Danton, was killed!” And, as he spoke, he again turned his white eyes upon the young man, “T have told you I dropped the note. M only reason for requesting you not to spea of finding that worthless old letter, is that it might provoke discussion, which would be annoying. * And again—” * Avain what? Goon!” ‘Queer suspicions sometimes spring up, yer know, from small foundation. Now you might say the wind blowed the letter whar it was found, when t’other folks would say it was sari roid ¥ Heaven!” laughed Lorne. ‘‘ What are you trying to make out?” “ Well, well,” responded Skinflint; ‘I won’t speak of it, then.” “You spoke of my doing something for you. What did you-mean?” “T thought yer might put me in the way of earnin’ an honest livin. Facts is, I hevn’t’ nothin’ to do at present, an’ ef I could only git hold of money enough to buy a ees jewel like this,” he added, suddenly pulling a diamond ring from Lorne’s vest pocket—‘“‘ I’d be a happy man. “ Give me that ring,” said Lorne, quickly. Skinflint, however, had stepped back, and was coolly examining the ring. “Here,” he then said, presenting it to Lorne, ‘“Yer kin hey it. I s’pose stolen property is more valleble than any other.” And as he spoke he turned his whitish-gray eyes full upon the face of the young man, “Sir! Rascal! What do you mean?” “Don’t yer go fur to git ina passion, That was a pooty ring, butef I war as rich as yer- self, I don’t think I’d hev taken the trouble to stop the carriage and threaten to shoot the young lady who owned that jewel ef she refused to give it to me.” Lorne turned pale, “ What are you talking about?” he inquired,
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‘Come, now, let’s understand each other,” said Skinflint, laughing. ‘‘ Isee’d the bull thing. The mask didn’t bide yer face enough for me not to git a good squint atit, It all happened four days ago, and, though no one was killed this time, the news of the robbery is all over the country.” ’ *t You talk like a madman,” said Lorne, with a surprise which perhaps was assumed, ‘ How could you know my face, even had I been there, at night, with a mask on it?” ** Don’t yer remember seving a chap rolled up in a great overcoat, in one corner of the coach? No one: molested me, fur you all thought I was asleep, but sech warn’t the case, Then you went on robbin’ the frightened young lady and her negro servant woman, ‘which was the only pas- sengers but me in the coach,” Lorne listened to these remarks with a wild, surprised look. “T had a good chance to see yer face when you was so clus to me,” continued Skinflint, ‘and it ain’t easy fur me to forgit faces.” The speaker now watched the agitated visage of the young man with an amused look. **You’s safe enough, fur all that,” he con- tinued, after a moment’s pause, “fur who do you suppose would believe a ragamuffin like me, ag’in’ sech gentlemen as you, even if I war to blabon yer, which I kin truly say I hey no in- tention of doin’. HadI been opposed to yer work, of course [’d hev’told on yer, ’fore now, so yer needn’t be so terrible down in the mouth about it. I don’t know as I blamed yer for rob- bin’, It’s an easy way to git a livin’.” The two men looked at each other. “T think you and I will agree,” said Lorne, ** You told me you wanted employment.” “ Anything fur an honest living!” and at the word * honest,’ Skinflint laughed. ‘* First of all, you must help me track that es- caped murderer, and arrest him,” said Lorne, ‘Tl do that,” was the emphatic reply. CHAPTER VIII, A REVELATION, ° \ Wuen Belton entered the cave to which Skin- flint had conducted him, he noticed that it was about fourteen feet square in area, and dimly lighted by crevices in the roeks above, On the wall hung a couple of good rifles, and, among other things he saw there, he noticed a variety of articles for male attire, such as blouses, jackets, hunting-suits, and different kinds of hats. In one corner a heap of soft skins seemed to invite repose, _ Before lying down the youth went to the open- ing of the eave and looked out. y the clear light of the moon he then beheld a spectacle which at once roused him to action. Seated on a cliff, not fifty paces off, was a slight, boyish form—evidently that of a travel- er, as a wallet was slung at his side, and he car- ried a stout stick. About twenty yards behind him, a large, ferocious wildcat was stealing toward him, with noiseless pace, evidently to spring upon him, Frisky Frank in Idaho. and make him its victim. The boy, apparently in a reverie, knew nothing of the presence of this foe, and Belton comprehended that he could not enlighten him on that point without revealing his secret retreat, Resolved to save the youth at all hazards, he descended, by means of his ropeladder, from the cave, and, rifle in hand, advanced until be reached a favorable position fora shot. Then he fired, and his unerring bullot passing through the head of the animal, killed it instantly. The person who bad thus been saved by the timely shot of the young hunter, presently ad- vancing to thank the young man, was fully re- vealed to the latter by the light of the moon. Apparently not more than seventeen years of age, e was of slight form, with a profusion of light-brown hair, falling in natural ringlets to his shoulders. A slouched hat which the stranger had worn, he had raised with one slender hand, while he extended the other toward his rescuer, ‘ Thanks,” he said, in a musical, boyish voice. ‘You have saved my life.” ‘And glad I am I came up in time to do it,” said Frank, zs ‘*T did not know there were such wild-cats in this part of the couvtry. I thought the only dangerous creatures hereabout were robbers,” “Not only robbers, but murderers, too,” re- sponded the hunter. ‘' Probably you have heard of the murder of Mr. Danton’s daughter —the sweetest gal in these parts?” The stranger answered in a hollow voice: “T have heard of it.” ; ‘“* Yes, and I believe, now, thar’s devils on the face o’ this earth, though [ used to doubt it, The man who murdered that gal must hev been one on ’em.” ** How do you know it was a man ?” inquired the other, in the same hollow voice as before, Belton was a little startled by the question. aie no woman could hev done it,” he said. ‘ Women have done such things,” replied the other, The hunter looked closely at the speaker. His dark eyes gleamed coldly and steadily—his ex- pression was very sad. ‘* How long hey you been in these parts?” in- quired Frank, “Not long. I would rather you would ask me no questions.” ‘* But—but—perhaps you’ve not heard that a certain young man—a hunter, was arrested on suspicion—that he escaped from prison, and that BS eens and others are now searching fur im “It is too bad, since he is not guilty! No, I had not heard of that.” “Tt is true; but you say you know he is not guilty! How do you know that?” “*T said I'd rather you would ask me no ques- tions.” “Yes, but when I tell you that Jam the per- son accused of the crime, perhaps you'll excuse me for not complying with your wishes,” The dark eyes of the stranger scintillated in the light of the moon, as he started and looked at the speaker. “ You, my rescuer, accused of that murder?”
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Frisky Frank in Idaho, _ 11 a“ “ Alas! that’s a fact—I am.” “The accusation is false! I know who killed the girl !” “Then, for the Lord’s sake! go and tell the justice, and free me from the imputation!” cried the other. At that moment half a dozen forms were seen approaching, with Lorne at their head. “Here he is, men! We have him, now!” shouted the leader. And, as he spoke, he leveled a pistol at Belton, who bad not yet thought of reloading bis piece, calling upon him to surrender, In a moment, however, the stranger, as quick asa flash, raised bis head from bebind the rock near which he had been seated, The position he occupied now was between Belton and the pistol, and as he stood with his hat off, his whole visage was distinctly revealed to Lorne, No sooner did the latter see the face thus pre- sented to his gaze, than he staggered back, his pistol dropping to the ground. The next moment, dodging Seng the rocks, the boy glided off, while Frank also bounded along in another direction, The hunter finally gained his retreat and drew up the rope-ladder, while the voices of his pur- suers yet sounded ih the distance, He thought more of the person whom he had saved from the wildcat than he did of Lorne and his people. The lad had said he knew who had committed the crime, and this declaration inspired him with a feeling of hope. The young stranger. knowing that Belton bad been falsely accused of the crime, would certainly goto the justice and make known the truth, But the conduct of the youth had been very strange. After Lorne, for some mysterious reason, had been startled by the face of this lad, the latter had run away, as though he, too, was anxious to conceal himself! “T must find him and have further conver- sation with him,” muttered the hunter, : After a restless night, he rose early and tried to partake of some of the provisions in the re- treat, While doing a0 he heerd the noise of a stone, thrown up among the bushes over the entrance of the cave, Peering cautiously forth, he was surprised to see Lona, the Indian girl, on the rock below. She looked carefully around her, as if to make sure that she was not observed; then sbe made a motion for Frank to lower his ladder. He did so, and the girl soon was in the cave, ** Glad see all safe,” she said, ‘* The Fireheels did wrong to leave the Omaha camp when he did. He should haye known that Tamina was laying a trap for bim.” : ; “ Had I known it, my good friend, you kin be shore I wouldn’t hey gone. But how did you find it all out, for I reckon you now know every- thing about it?” “The hunter is right. Lona met Skinflint, and he told her.” ‘‘ Did he send you hyar?” “Tt is true; with this.” And she presented a scrap of paper to Belton. lt was as follows; “Dear Frienp:—Things is goen on well. I’m shadowin’ a sart’in person, and hope ‘fore long to cl’ar yer from the accoosation of murder. Don't ou fret ef yer don’t see, fur sum time, yer best riend, 2 SEINFLINT.” “Whar is Skinflint now?” inquired Belton. “Lona cannot tell, She met him in the woods. yesterday, and he told her all about you, and gave her this note,” Belton now described to her the mysterious stranger he had seen the night before, and re- lated all that had happened on that occasion. ee listened eagerly. Her eyes shone like stars, “Lona very glad,” she said. allright. 'The white stranger will go to the justice and tell all. Lona will find him,” Without another word she quickly descended the ladder, and as Frisky Frank drew it up, he saw her eee anions the rocks on the other side of the valley beyond. **Fireheels soon CHAPTER IX, A SURPRISE. On the night following the visit of Lona to Frank’s cave, two persons wearing masks stood in a clump of shrubbery near the road then usually taken by the mail-coach from Virginia City to Salt Lake. ** A wagon, you say?’ remarked the taller of the two. “Yes, a wagon—a plain wagon, and yet with fifty thousand dollars in gold-dust hidden ina bag under the front seat.” * And no guard?” ‘Yes, half a dozen miners, but there’s more than a bullet for each of them as soon as the get to the turn of the road yonder, near whic our ten men are posted.” “Good; tell yer what, Lorne, the better I know yer, the greater’s my admiration of yer.” “Never mind your admiration, Henderson. Now that you bave become one of my band, your business is simply to obey me, and to help me in cases where pluck is required.” “ Well, then, after the miners hev all been shot what’s to be done with the bodies?” “A few sharp spades will soon dispose of a The ground is soft and holes are soon ug. ** But the wagon and horses?” ‘* We'll set fire to the prairie grass, and burn them up—horses and all.” ‘Why, thunder! yer’s a perfect genius!” said Skinflint. ‘‘ But we’ve been heer an hour, and 1 don’t yet heer the wagon comin’,” **T#ll be along soon.’ “T think I heer it now. S’posin’ [ go and see if I kin ‘ twig’ it?” *“ Allright, but be careful the miners don’t see you watching them, or they may suspect something.” Skinflint glided away as stealthily as a shadow, making no noise with his soft moccasins, He was soon out of Lorne’s sight, in the shrub- bery which skirted the road. Lorne listened, and, in a short time, he heard the wagon coming. It soon reached’ the turn of tho road, but the outlaw heard no shot fired, Puzzled to account for this, he crept toward the spot where he had posted his ten men,
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12 Frisky Frank in Idaho. Fe ea en a Eien He saw them peering through the bushes at the wagon, which had stopped, but which ap- parently, contained no riders, “Come, you fools, why don’t you rush out and see what’s the matter?” said the outlaw chief to his men. “We think ther’s some trick fur us!” an- swered one, “Them miners might be hid in the bottom of the wagin, in wait to surprise us.” “To surprise you? and what of it? Are there not ten of you? Come, now, let us see what the matter is,” continued Lorne, as he moved, pistols in hand, toward the wagon. His gang followed him. He got upon a wheel spoke and looked in. As he did so, a man thrust his head from un- der some canvas where he had been lying. It was Skinflint, ‘* Halloa!” cried Lorne in astonishment, *“ Falloa!” echoed Skinflint. ‘‘ What does this mean!” said the other, ‘What does what mean?” inquired Skinflint. “You being here and no miners,” “No miners?” ‘“-Yes, the miners we were going to rob, and the bag of gold-dust!” cried Lorne impatiently. ‘‘ Miners and bag of gold-dust?” said Skinflint, scratching his head in a puzzled fashion, Then, as his eyes lighted up, he said: “Tt seems to me 1 do remember somethin’ of the kind! I went to see ef the wagin was com- in’, didn’t I?” “ Yes,” “ Well, the miners must hev see’d me peerin’ at em, fur I remember somethin’ strikin’ me on the head, and then I knowed no more till I found myself in this yere wagin, jist before you looked in it.” “You don’t know what became of tho miners?” “No, but I reckin they’ve gone to git help from a huntin’-party not fur off, which I no- ticed in the moonlight fore I was hit, on one of the hills yonder. They must hev see’d your men Jurkin’ in the brush, and hey guessed what they were arter,” And so made off with the gold, first putting you in the wagon?” ‘Yes, fur safe-keepin’, I reckon,” said Skin- int, ‘Tt seems very strange,” cried Lorne, “Stranger things hey happened ’fore now, Ker-whoop! hyar they come, jand we'll all be hanged ef we don’t take leg-bail!” added Skin- flint, as a distant shout was heard, and a band of hunters, followed by the miners, were seen approaching from the direction of the hill he had pointed out, “Come, men, we'll have to streak it now!” said Lorne, Followed. by his companions, be hurried through a narrow gully, leading into the heart of a dense thicket. Finally the gang entered a rocky cave, which they often used for a temporary shelter, The opening they closed with a bowlder, which would prevent.any person near the place from guessing that a cave was tbere, kinflint accompanied the others to their place, whence the gang finally set out for their regular rendezvous among the mountains, CHAPTER X. THE MYSTERIOUS WITNESS. Arrmr leaving Frisky Frank, Lona repaired to her camp, 5 A few minutes later Tamina also made his ap- pearance, The girl looked at him closely. ‘‘ Why does Lona watch me?” he said, coming close to her side, ‘Lona would like to know where Tamina has been,” she answered, ‘Itis nothing to Lona where he has been,” was the sullen answer, She went to her tent, and soon was fast asleep. Tamina also repaired to his tent, but not to sleep. His eyes were flashing like coals of fire, and his mouth was set as if with some fierce purpose, “The time has at last come!” he mut- tered. “Tamina is no longer an Omaha, His mother was of the Snake tribe, The Snakes are now the foes of the Omahas, but they shall be the friends of Tamina. He will go to the Snakes, and there he will seek another squaw. But Lona shall never be the wife of the white hunter. I have said it. I will prove my words,” An hour later, when all the Indians in the camp except himself were asleep, he stole to Lona’s tent, Looking round him to make sure he was not observed, he glided into the shelter, ‘The girl was fast asleep, For a moment the young Indian gazed upon her; then he drew a long knife from his belt, and stealthily apptoached her. Kneeling down by her side, he raised his deadly weapon, holding it directly above her heart, so that the blow should be sure and fatal, The blade was about to be driven to the haft in Lona’s beautiful bosom, when the Indian felt a grasp like that of steel upon bis wrist, and his hand was pulled aside, causing the knife to de- scend into the ground, x Turning, the savage beheld the visage of Skin- int, “You war out of yer reckinin’, that time, In- jun!” cried the hunter. “Ugh! Knife go in you, first!” grunted Ta- mina, enraged, But, ere he could lift the weapon, he felt the cold muzzle of a revolver at his head, ‘1m not onprepared,” said Skinflint, quietly, The noise awoke Lona, who at once rose, star- ing, in surprise, at the two intruders, “ What means this?” she said. “Tt means that this chap war a-goin’ to kill yer by stickin’ yer, as ef yer war nothin’ more’n a pig. I hev bin follerin’ him to see which way he went, thinkin’ he might be tryin’ to cut up some shine I didn’t want him to,” He gave Lona a significant glance as he spoke and she understood him, knowing that he ha tracked Tamina, in order to see if he should de- tect the cave in which Belton was hidden. ‘Arter follerin’ him some time, I saw him fetch up in this camp. I hung about a little while, when, the fu’st thing I knowed, he comes out of bis own tent and makes fur yourn. I suspected he meant mischief, and it seems I ote Glad I came in time to purvent his wor. 7
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Frisky Frank in Idaho. 18 “So Tamina would kill Lona?” said the girl, addressing the youth. ** Why did he—” But, ere she could finish the sentence, the In- dian, by a quick movement, broke from Skin- flint’s grasp, which bad been a little relaxed, and rushed out of the tent. “Let him go,” said the hunter, carelessly, to the girl. ‘I reckin you'll find him good rid- dance, But yer better be keerful, as he may hang about hyar, tryin’ to git another blow at yer with his knife.” “ Lona is not afraid,” she answered, ‘‘ But sbe thanks the white man for saving her life.” Skinflint, having spoken a few more words, took his departure, when the brave Indian girl, again lying down, went to sleep as if nothing had happened to disturb her. At dawn she rose, and after breakfast started on a bunt for the mysterious youth, who had met Belton on the night before, and had said that he knew who had killed the young lady found murdered in the woods. Lona, after a long and diligent search, found certain tracks of small feet on the ground. She looked at them narrowly as she followed the trail, until at length she lost all trace of them where they terminated among the.rocks, She, however, kept on, but she had not pro- ceeded far when the ring of a rifle saluted her ears, not far off, and she heard a bullet pass over her head. Turning, she beheld Tamina, making off at full speed, holding a smoking rifle in his hand. “So he is determined to kill Lona,” muttered the girl. “We sball see. The Omaha braves shall soon be on his track!” As she spoke she saw a youthful stranger whom she had not} previously noticed, running in a direction opposite to that pursued by the Indian. That this was the person whom Belton had ken of, and wished her to see, she did not oubt, so, with the speed of a deer, she ran after, and soon overtook him. The lad, as she confronted him, pulled his slouched bat further down over his eyes. “Lona would speak with the white boy,” she said. “No need of thanks,’ was the answer. “I saw him aim the rifle at you, and, fortunately, I was near enough to run up behind him and knock up the piece, just as he was pulling the trigger, thus causing the bullet to pass over your head! Then I made off, and was glad to see "him go the other way, for I thought he would try to wreak vengeance on me for saving ou.” ee That is why he ran,” answered Lona, point- ing to a party of the Omahas, who were ap- proaching, “T am glad of it. I have seen enough of death!” ‘ a ‘“‘ Where has the white boy seen it?” inquired ona. ' : “Why do you ask?” he inquired. ‘tTLona would like to know. She believes that he means the murder of the white girl when he speaks of death. Is not that so?” “Yes, you are right,” the other answered, after a moment’s hesitation. * Did the white boy see who murdered the girl?” | ST aid.? ‘© Who was it?” ‘*You question me too closely,” he said, im- patiently. ¢ “The life of an innocent man is in danger,” replied Lona, ‘‘He has been accused of the crime. You know whom I mean, You saw him last night.” ‘That young hunter?” ‘* Yes, You know he did not do the deed?” “Oh, yes.” “Then, to clear him, and get him out of trouble, the white boy should gO before the jus- tice, and tell who killed the girl.” ‘* No, I cannot do that,” he said. “The white boy should do it. It would be right.” “* Still I cannot.” You shall do it!” cried Lona, with energy, stamping one little foot. **You cannot compel me against my will.” And he turned away, which, however, he had scarcely done, when taking a small willow whistle from her pocket, Lona blew upon it a shrill blast. In an instant the band of Omahas, who had started in pursuit of Tamina, turned and hast- ened toward the gir]. The boy, seeing them coming, guickened his pace along the inclined precipice which he was obliged to descend to reach an unobstructed path below. By the time he arrived there, however, the Omahas were only a few paces off. “Do not hurt the white boy!” shouted Lona, ‘but let him be made prisoner!” The youth, perceiving he could not escape, stood motionless. a ito came up as her people surrounded im, ‘‘ Why has Lona had the pale-face captured?” inquired Wono, the chief, ‘‘We are at peace with the whites.” She soon explained. ‘*He must be taken to the justice,” she said. ‘* He should be made to tell all he knows about the murder.” **Good!” said the chief, ‘‘The Omahas are glad if they can help their friend, Fireheels.” ‘* You may as well let me go,” said the boy. “T shall tell nothing.” The Indians, however, accompanied by Lona, conducted the boy to Logville. The appearance of the band with their pris- oner created some excitement among the in- habitants of the settlement, and a crowd of men ou boys followed them to the house of Justice le. The latter came to the door. ‘* What is this?” he inquired. Lona explained, and two of the Indians, fol- lowed by the girl, were permitted to lead the prisoner into one of the rooms. “What is your name?” inquired Bole. ‘* Charles Horner,” was the answer. ‘You saw the person who killed the young lady—saw him kill her?” “T did.” ‘*¢ And you know his name?” Sido ‘* What was it?”
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14 _ Prisky Frank in Idaho. “T refuse to answer that question.” “Was it Frank Belton?” o No.” “You refuse to tell me who it was?” “‘T do,” was the firm reply. “Do you know that such refusal is a crime?— that you can be locked up for it?” “Tam aware of that. The justice scratched his nose thoughtfully. **T have a suspicion,” said he, ‘‘ that this is all a trumped-up story to screen that hunter, Frank Belton, who, it is evident, is really the guilty party. Do you know where Belton ist” *T do not.” “Humph! I have another suspicion,” contin- . ued the justice, looking keenly at the youth, “and that is, that it was through your conniy- ance this Belton escaped from prison.” *T had nothing tc do with it,” was the reply. ‘tT must have my friend, Mr. Lorne, here, to see what he thinks of this affair,” said Bole, He turned to his clerk, a boy of about seven- teen, and told him to bring Lorne to the house, The clerk at once departed on his mission, Bole having first drawn him to one side and whispered to bim. A few moments later two stout men ap- “You will keep guard over this boy in the next room,” he said, ‘* You can withdraw,” be continued, addressing Lona and the two Indians, ‘* We have no further use for you.” The Indians left the room and went back to their camp. The windows of the apartment to which young Forner was now conducted, overlooked a path, bordered Yd shrubbery, leading through a garden to a small gate, in a high board fence. ach of the men placed himself by an open window, and looked out. “Here comes Mr, Lorne,” said one, a quarter of an hour later. Forner started, and turned deathly pale. He gazed at the figure of the youth who was ap- pedsohing, until it was hidden by a neighboring ‘ence. Then he bounded to one of the windows, lea ing through it ere the man stationed there could raise a hand to stop bim, The window was but nine feet above the ground, and the boy, unhurt by bis leap, sped rapidly along. * Stop, there, stop!” shouted one of the men, raising a pistol and pointing it toward the aheobben, , “or I'll fire. After him, Jack!” he added to his companion, } But ere Jack could go the door was quickly opened by the justice. ‘‘ What's the matter?” “That boy has escaped,” answered the man with the pistol. ‘Shall I fire at him?” Bole stopped him. “No use, It was alla trumped-up affair— that story of his, anyway. I will see about looking him up to-morrow.” The men withdrew, after which the Neath rather pleased than otherwise at Forner’s om returned to his room, rubbing his an Soon after Lorne appeared, and to bim Bole described what had lately taken place, . The face of the youth fairly turned blue, ** You say he declared that he saw the person who killed the girl?” “Just so,” and the justice laughed incredu- lously. ‘‘ Of course, it is a story invented to screen Belton—the really guilty party.” “Oh, of course,” said Lorne; ‘or else the witness you speak of must have been a little in- sane. ou have sent no one in pursuit of him?” “Certainly not. It was not necessary. Toa person of my penetration, the whole affair was plain enough. We donot want this boy. His testimony would be worthless—hey?” ““Of course it would. In my opinion, there can be no doubt that Belton is the guilty party. That Indian girl, Lona, was always friendly to the hunter, and she has got this boy to come and testify solely for the purpose of shielding Belton.” ‘* My own opinion, exactly.” A few moments later Lorne had left the house, CHAPTER XI. THE CHAINED CAPTIVE, THE youth moved on ‘until be reached his house. He remained there only a few minutes, when, haying whispered to the old woman who acted as his servant and housekeeper, he quitited the building. He bent his way toward the mountains, and as he hurried on, he was not aware that be was being followed, It was the boy, Forner, who, endeavoring to keep him in sight, glided along behind him, now and then dodging under a bush or a grocky rojection, when it chanced that the young out- aw turned his head. Finally, going into an old, dilapidated-lookin ne Lorne disappeared from the gaze of his fol- ower. The boy, however, kept on, and, at last, when close to the habitation, he peered into it. But he could discover nothing of the person who had entered it. Surprised at this, Forner looked around him, The light of the moon streamed into the hut, but the lad could see no place which could con- ceal the form of the outlaw. __ He looked at the ground, which was of hard ae perfectly smooth, apparently, without a “This is strange enough,” he thought. He was about to go out, and conceal himself behind a rock, in a position which would afford him a view of the interior of the hut, when he Fie he heard low voices directly beneath his ee Instantly the truth was made evident to bim, There was a trap-door, probably covered by the hard clay, in the floor. He waited until he could no longer hear the voices, when, stooping, he felt about the ground, At length, half-buried in the clay, he touched apiece of rope. — ulling upon this, he raised a small trap-door, which, as he had divined, had been hidden by the clay that covered it, The boy now beheld the floor of a pit, about four feet beneath him. He descended into it, to find himself in front of an opening, beyond which was a passage, slanting downward, A dim light showed
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Frisky Frank in Idaho. 16 that this passage was rocky, evidently leading into some chamber or vault below, where a lamp shed a faint light. oving along the passage, he soon came to this vault, and saw the lamp, which was placed in aniche in the rocky wall. The sound of voices fell upon his ear, He saw a door and, peering through a crevice, he beheld a large cavern in which were seated about twenty fierce-looking young men, with Lorne among them. ‘“* A robbers’ den,” thought Forner, He had noticed another door in the side of the ge he had traversed, and now, seein: Tore approaching, he darted toward it an tried to open it. But the door was locked, and finding he could not open it, the boy shrunk into an alcove in the wall, hoping he would thus escape the notice of the outlaw, in case he should come into the passage, In fact Lorne did come out, He walked as far as the door which the lad had found locked, and taking a key from his pocket, he opened it. Forner ivstantly emerging from the alcove, followed the youth, who was now moving downward along a rocky passage which was in total darkness. At length he paused in a small vault, and the boy also stopping, heard the clanking of a chain, He could just make out the dim outline of a female form in front of Lorne, who stood opposite a corner of the dungeon. “T hope it is a friend this time who has come to free me,” was uttered, in the piteous voice of a girl. “Yes, I am a friend to you, as you well know,” answered Lorne, ‘Consent to what I proposed and you shall be freed,” ‘Ah, Heaven help me; it is the same old story,” said the girl,“‘ but my answer is the same as before. You will never obtain from me any other!” “ You will die here.” “Be it so. -Welcome real death, rather than a living death with a man I detest.” “You shall have your wish. I will not loosen you from the chain—will not free you from the vault, unless you consent to go away with me and become my wife.” At these words Forner clutched a protuber- ance on the rock, as if to save himself from fall- ing. He felt dizzy, and pressed one hand tightly upon his breast, “*T will make you a good husband,” continued Lorne. ‘As you know, I am a man of means, and your every wisk shall be gratified.” “Away!” was the reply. ‘‘ Leave me, and never come pear me again. I accept death, rather than you!” Lorne turned away with a cry of anger, and so quick were his movements that Forner, stand- ing with his back pressed in a hollow of the wall, bad no time to make his escape, as he had intended to do ere the young man should start on his return, Owing to the gloom the boy was not seen, and the outlaw left the passage as he had come, lock- ing the door after him. Forner bowed his head upon his hands and shuddered- ‘Who is there?” came the faint voice of the chained girl, ‘It is J,” replied the youth, OU, are not one of the band?” 0. Then, for God’s sake—” Ere she could say more, the door at the end of the passage was cautiously opened, and some one entered, : Forner shrunk close to the wall until the per- son who had come in had passed him; then he glided to the door and made bis escape. He soon gained the hut, and leaving it, he hurried along. * Another, yes, there is another!” he muttered clinching his hands and speaking in a voice 0 intense anguish, ‘‘I care not what becomes of me now, Better to end this misery at once!” he added, as the noise of a rushing torrent ahead fell upon his ears. A few minutes later he gained the bank of the torrent. ‘* Now, then, farewell to life!” he cried, as he plunged into the stream, ; The swift waters bore him along toward the brink of a precipice, over which they flowed, and in another moment he must have been dashed to death upon the rocks below, had not his arms been seized by some one near the edge of the cataract. ; This person pulled him upon a flat rock, and the moon, which was now shiningyshowed him that his preserver was the Indian girl, Lona, ** Why did you save me? Why not let me meet the fate which was of my own seeking?” he inquired. - “The boy has a soft heart. One of his years should not be crushed by sorrow. It is very strange!” “Tell me if you can,” said Forner, clasping his hands tightly—‘“‘ tell me who she is /” ** Of whom does the young yee ie speak?’ The eyes of the boy gleamed wildly. “Of the girl! the girl! the one in that rocky dungeon!” he cried. “Lona knows of no dungeon. Has the white boy lost his mind?” ‘No, no! I tell you she is there!” repeated Forner, ‘‘and he wants her—he wants her to be his wife.” Then he went on raving incoherently, and Lona perceived that he was in a delirium, ** Come,” she said, gently. She grasped his hands, he staggered to his feet, and the Indian gir! conducted him to the camp of the Omahas, which had lately been moved nearer to the mountains, There be was ar peee on a couch of skins in a tent, and a skill ul doctor of the tribe attended him, For three days he was in a burning fever, but on the fourth he was much better, The remarks of the boy about a girl ina dun- geon had greatly impressed Lona. Although he had spoken while delirious, yet she could not help thinking that there might be some truth in his statements, and as he had more than once mentioned the name of Lorne, her curiosity and interest bad been aroused. On making a search, she discovered the hut which, among other things, the lad had men tioned during bis ravings, : %
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“ Lona always thought Lorne was a bad man, and now she is almost sure of it,” muttered the ea on the morning she saw the hut. “ The vy spoke of a band of men with him, in a rocky cave, Those cannot be good men. They must be robbers.” She entered the hut and looked abouther, but, as’ Forner had not mentioned the secret trap- door, she did not discover it. Leaving the hut, she mounted the high rock, ouaitet which it was built, and examined it eenly. Finally she saw a crevice or fissure in the top of it, large enough to admit a slender human y. She kneeled, and looked down into it, but all was darkness below, so that she could not see to the bottom of it. She went back to the camp, procured a long rope, and withit returned totherock, _ ‘astoning one end of the rope to a projection, she descended into the cavity. se going about thirty feet, she touched ground, Cautiously moving forward, she fancied she heard heavy breathing, as of some person in a profound sleep. ‘ She kept on, and finally took from her pocket a match, which she lighted, The brief gleam fell upon the face and form of a young girl, who, with a chain about her middie, lay fast asleep on a pallet of straw. A low cry of astonishment escaped Lona’s lips, ani the match dropping from her hand, was extinguished. , At the same moment, she heard adoor open and the outlaw, Lorne, with a lamp, entered the passage, the rays of the light falling full upon the person of the Indian girl, at once re- vealing her to his gaze. She sprung to the place where her ro but, ere she could commence, her ascent, was there pointing a pistol toward her. “Hah! you are nicely caged, and you shall not leave this place in a hurry,” hesaid. “* Come down, before I fire.” Lona dropped lightly to the ground. Lona was unarmed. The youth, with some cords, picked up from one side of {the vault, inade her hands fast behind her back. Then he pushed her into a pit, about seven feet deep, near the spot where the two stood, He next climbed by the rope the girl had used to the top of the rock. “T must stop up this place,” he muttered. ‘TI thought to leave the opening as it is, for the sake of the fresh air, but I think a less quantity of air will do.” He rollei a bowlder over the fissure, so that only two narrow crevices on each side of it were left; then he poreried By. way of the hut to the dungeon, which he had previously entered to convey some food to his girl captive. The food consisting of bread and water, he deposited by the slumberer, then he left the dungeon, locking, as usual, the heavy wooden door after him, CHAPTER XII. A RUSE. Iv was Skinflint whom Forner had noticed en- tering the passage leading to the dungeon, hung, rne Frisky Frank in Idaho. The darkness had prevented the youth from seeing his face, and had also hindered the man from detecting the boy as he crouched against the wall, Scarcely had the lad reached the hut, when Lorne returned to the passage, looking down as if searching for something. As he approached the door leading into the dungeon, he was startled to perceive that it was ajar. He at once entered, to distinguish the outlines of a man’s form ahead of him, In a moment he had pounced upon the man, seizing him by the collar, ** Who are you?” he cried, ‘‘ What, don’t yer know yer old friend?” said Skinflint. _‘* What are you doing here, Henderson? What right had you to come fo this place? You found ae key, which I dropped, and have been looking or. _ “Yes, I found yer key, and that’s how I got in heer,” was the answer, ‘‘ Let go my collar, ef yer please.” ‘ “Give me that key, or P'll throttle you!” said 40rne, “Hasy, thar, easy,” cried Skinflint, as he pressed the muzzle of a revolver against Lorne’s temple. ‘“* By the tarnal! ef yer don’t let go of me, yer’s a dead dog!” Lorne at once released the hunter. “‘Give me the key,” he repeated. “Tn good time,” answered Skinflint; but fu’st I want to hev a little talk with yer. Who is that gal I kin jest make out, ahead on us, tied to the wall, with a chain round her?” “ That’s none of your business, affair!” “Quick! light a lamp and let me see her, or ifll be the worse fur yer!” Lorne, who had left his pistols in the other cave, reluctantly complied... He lighted a small lamp in a bracket on the wall. The features of the girl now were plainly re- vealed to Skinflint. ‘* Who are you, miss?” he inquired, But the young woman, who stood leaning heavily against the wall, made no reply. “TI see; the poor gal, whoever she is, has fainted; her eyes are closed.” “She is my sister—a person who is subject to fits. I’m obliged to keep her chained in this way, for being insane, she is very violent, and would kill me if she were at liberty.” “Humph!” grunted Skinflint. ‘* That’s a strangs way to treat a sister. I wouldn’t treat mine so!” J Lorne was startled by the fierce expression of his companion’s eyes as he said this. “T think we'd better set the gal free,” con- tinued Skinflint, advancing toward her. “No, no,” said Lorne. “I tell you she would give us trouble.” “We'll see, at any rate,” was the answer, ‘€1¢ goes a’gin’ my nater to hey a poor thing like that chained to a wall.” As he spoke he gained the gifl’s side, and looked closely at ber face. “You say she’s yer sister, and she doesn't look a bit like yer,” cried the hunter. Something came whizzing through the air, It is my own
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Frisky Frank in Idaho. and the speaker dropped to the ground, sense- less. Lorne had picked up a stone, and had hurled it at Skinflint, with a force which would have caused it to crush bis skull, had not the missile struck his head slantingly. “Hah! hah! my fine fellow,” muttered Lorne, *¢ We'll see if you’ll have your own way here!” He looked down at the prostrate man, and wrenched from his grasp the revolver he still held. : Then he pointed the weapon at the -hunter’s head “One pull on the trigger would send him to eternity!” he muttered. ‘“‘I have had my doubts of the fellow’s good faith, from the first, He knows too much about me, and—” At that moment some one touched him on the arm, and, turning, the young outlaw beheld one of bis band. “You must not kill bim, captain,” said the man. ** How do you know I intended to, Jasper?” “You looked as if you was a-goin’ to, that’s all I know; but you mustn’t—ot least not until he pays me the debt he owes me.” “ & debt?” ‘*- Yes,” answered Jasper, “‘ he owes me a hun- dred dollars, which he lost at cards with me, this very day!” ~- Tas !do you think he ever meant to pay ou ‘Well, I must own that I bad thoughts of killing him, for, in my opinion, he’s a sort of traitor. We must shut him up somewhere, or the first thing we know he’ll be betraying us all, “Where shall we put bim?” ** We will lock him up, for the present, in one of the rooms of the cave. Goand bring some men to carry him there.” Jasper went away, to soon return with sey- eral stout fellows. They picked up Skinflint, and conyeyed him through the larger cave into one not much wider than a baker’s oven. It was provided with a wooden door, which was now shut upon the senseless man and locked. “There!” said Lorne, ‘‘ Now we will have a talk about the fellow, and I think I here have evidence enough to show that he is a traitor,” At these words allthe gang gathered about the speaker. They were fierce-looking fellows, most of them under twenty-two years of age. Lorne, who had rummaged Skinflint’s pockets ere be was carried to the rocky cell, bad found an old note-book, on one of the leaves of which was written: - “Things is workin’—reckin I will spot this cussid chap—’fore long!” When Lorne read this, he said that the “chap” stood for him, and that by spotting him <a man must have meant he would betray m. There were different opinions among the gang on this subject, but the majority thought their captain was right. * We'll talk the thing over until to-morrow,” said Lorne, “‘and I have no doubt you will all conclude that our best course will be to get bim out of the way!” 1% Fells, Skinflint still lay senseless in the cell, Some minutes elapsed ere he came to, Asthe gang spoke in loud voices outside, he could hear the proposition made to take his life, on the morrow, His light gray eyes flashed, and a scornful smile added_to the ugliness of his visage. ‘* We'll see about that,” he muttered, ** At any rate, thar’ll be some trouble "fore it’s done!” As he spoke he pulled from a concealed pocket another revolver, precisely like the one which had been taken from him, “I didn’t come into this *farnal den *thout takin’ a few precautions,” he continued, Late at nigbt be heard some one unlocking his door. The next moment the young rufflan, Jas- per, entered, He was armed with a pistol. “Halloa!” said Skinflint. ‘I.s’pose yer’ve come to kill me, I thought it was to be put off until to-morrow!” “ve not come fur that. I've come fur the pee of what you owe me. If they should ill you to-morrow, how am I to git my money ?” : he It's a wonder to me Lorne let yer come in ere. ““Mum’s the word, He’s gone out, and most of the gang is asleep, Fortunately [ had a key of my own to fit the lock of the door, as the room used to be mine for sleepin’ in,” ‘Suppose I give you your hundred dollars, Will you make no alarm ef I try to git away?” “Well, it’s ag’in’ my principles to let yer go. It wouldn’t do, Still, ef yer could hand over three hundred, or promise yer’d give it to me in the futur’, I might think over what yer say. “You ask too much, I hey yer hundred dol- lars snug enough, but jest please shet that door, while I count it out to yer. Jasper closed the door, when, plunging a hand into a secret pocket of his coat, Skinflint drew forth a roll of bills, He counted out a hundred dollars, “ Heer you are,” he said. ‘‘ Now I hope you'll let me go.” “No, none of that,” said Jasper, as he locked the door and put the key in his pocket. ‘ Yer seem flush of money, Henderson. Come, now, how much may yer hey about yer?” . “It’s none o’ yer bizness, but I don’t mind tellin’ an honest chap like yerself that I hey five hundred about me in all.” t ‘* And do yer mean to say yer life ain’t worth two hundred? Come, give me that, and Pll let yer go.” . As he spoke there was in his eyes a peculiar expression which did not escape the notice of Skinflint. It was a fierce, greedy look, like that of a wolf. ‘*Poor fool,” thought Skinflint, “the thinks I don’t see through him, Thar goes his hand now in bis breast-pocket, feelin’ fur the stiletto he carries thar.” The prisoner had guessed rightly. Jasper on seeing the money, had said to him- self, mentally: ‘““What is to hinder my saving Lorne the *-onble of killin’ this chap, by doin’ the bizness
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is frisky Frank in Idaho. i RL myself, now ? The captain will not be put out —he will only thank me fur it, and I shall git hold of ev’ry cent of Henderson’s money with- out any one bein’ the wiser. T’ll not use the reyolver—that would meke a noise and bring all the gang heer ’fore I could find the secret pocket where the money is kept.” As the idea crossed his mind, he walked round behind Skinflint, and drew his stiletto, intending to deal him the death-blow between the shoulders, Before he could give the blow, however, Skin- flint, suddenly turning around, brought his clinched fist against the side of Jasper’s head with a peculiar ‘ back-hand’ movement. As the man was falling senseless, the prisoner caught him in his arms, aud gently laid him on the floor. “‘ He’s not quite sech a shadow as me, but our clothes ‘ll go on each other,” thought tho hunter, Taking off his long blouse and wide-rimmed felt hat, he put them on the prostrate man as soon as he had removed the coat and hat of the outlaw. The latter’s hat was of a light color, considerably wider in the rim than his own, He put it on bis head, and also donned the graycoat. Then, having turned the fellow over on his side, and having pulled down the front of the hat, so as to conceal his face, he quietly left the cell, locking the door after him. Some of the outlaws, who were awake, saw him, but as he imitated the swaggering gait of Jasper, their suspicions were not aroused, aking his way through the passage to the wap doc, he raised it and came out into the u “Halloa! Jasper, where are you bound to, at this time of the night?” inquired one of several men, who were in the hut. sf Thought T’d come out to take the air,” an- swered Skinflint imitating the voice of Jasper; “ther’s not half enough in that cave.” “That's so. The captain ought to make im- provements, though we had trouble enough to shape the cave, in the fu’st place.” “Yer'll all bey trouble enough, ’fore long, I dare say,” answered Skinflint, as he quietly walked out of the hut. CHAPTER XIII A MISTAKE. ‘‘Wuart did Jasper mean by that?” said ono of the men to the other, “Don’t know, and don’t keer, He often speaks in riddles.” An hour later Lorne was seen to glide into the hut. t *T couldn’t rest,” he said, ‘‘ thinking of that eursed Henderson! Death to the rascal, at once! No use putting it off until to-morrow. I have just learned something, which convinces me that he is a mere spy—a traitor, come here to find out our concerns, and to betray us.” Pig is it, captain? What have you learn- “‘T hud not left the cave half an hour, when I mot with a party of hunters, who, it seems, to use their own words, are searching for ‘‘ those rascally outlaws,” who are causing so much trouble—robbing honest people, and making travel so unsafe. Of course I pretended to chime in with them, and, on inquiry, I learned that hundreds of people are now in search of the robbers,” ‘¢ We must be keerful!” remarked one of the men to Lorne, “Oh!” said the latter, “‘ (d risk their finding our quarters here, unless we were betrayed, and now I come.to the point. I hurried along to Logville as fast as I could go, and authorized Justice Bole to offer a reward, in my name, of $500 for the arrest of the robbers!” ** Good!” cried one of the men, * Then the justice told me that, on that very day, he had been visited by one of those miners we were going torob a few nights since. The man informed him that he had been warned, on that night, before the wagon could reach the turn of the road, that there was a gang lying in wait to rob himand hiscompanions. Now, who do you think was the person who thus gave no- tice, and balked our little game? Iwill tell you. It was Henderson !” “ Henderson?” echoed his hearers, ‘Yes, The miner described the person well —his dress, air and manner, He came out of the bush, hailed the wagon, and told all!” ‘“‘Then we have proof of his treason,” said one of the listeners, ‘* Death to the traitor!” “Yes, death to him! death at once!” echoed the others, fiercely flourishing their knives, Headed by Lorne, they entered the cave. The young outlaw unlocked the door of the small room in which their prisoner had been confined, and the party beheld, stretched out, with his back to the door, the occupant of the cell, whom they supposed was Henderson. ‘*He is asleep,” said Lorne, “‘bnt that does not matter. Shoot the rascal at once!” The report of several revolvers rung through the cave, waking such of the outlaws as were asleep, They came thronging to the cell, to learn why the prisoner had been shot. | “Away with the body ! said Lorne. “ Bury him outside of the hut!’ Several men advanced, and, turning the body over, his ghastly visage was revealed to all, * Jasper!” cried Lorne, in dismay, The others stared at the dead man in astonish- ment, “Strange enough!” cried one. *T don’t know as there is anything so very strange about it, considering what a set of dolts you all are!” cried Lorne. ‘* How you contrived to let Henderson outwit you in this manner, puzzles me.” : “Tt was natural enough,” said a man who had been one of those on guard in the hut, ‘*We thought it was Jasper who came and teri us, for he was dressed in Jasper’s coat and hat, with the rim of the hat pulled so far over his face that we could not see it.” ‘© Well,” said Lorne, “the mischief is done, and the sooner we bury our man and go to look for Henderson, the better! It will be ora enough if among us all we don’t succeed in tak- ing the life of that wretch!” F,
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Frisky Frank in Idaho. 419 “ae “Death to him—death to the traitor!” cried several, and the cry was caught up and echoed by the others. Jasper was soon buried not far from the hut, several of the gang having first been to recon- noiter and make sure that no spy was there to watch their proceedings, Meanwhile others of the band were looking for Skinflint. Finally, four of them who had reached the summit of a cliff, descried in the distance a figure, which they at once inferred was that of the fugitive, 2 Taking ® roundabout course to head him off, they posted themselves behind a clump of shrub- bery which he was approaching. Skinflint, unconscious of their presence, strode on toward the lurking-place of his foes. The latter resolved to kill him with their knives, as the noise of their pistols, if fired might attract the attention of some one of the gangs who were searching for robbers, and who might be in the vicinity of the place, 54 the hunter was about to pass the shrubbery the men sprung toward him, thinking they would be able to bury their knives in his body ere he would have a chance to defend himself, “Billo!” cried Skinflint, nimbly springing back and dropping into a hollow near the path, “‘Come on, ef yer want me to plug yer!” As he spoke he drew his revolver, and was about to pull trigger, when one of the gang, who had darted round to the other side of the hollow, sprung into the latter, and, knocking aside bis arm with his left hand, endeavored to plunge his knife in his back between his shoul- ders, The hunter, however, was too quick for the rascal, Whirling round, he avoided the blow, and ap- parently averse to taking life when it could be avoided, dealt him on_the head with his revol- ver, a blow which knocked him senseless, The three others of the gang were now in the hollow, but ere they could use their krives, Skin- flint nimbly swung himself out of the pit by means of the branch of ja tree which he had seized, “ Now, then, you raskils!” he cried gee his revolver down toward them, “T hev yer trapped! Don’t yer try fur to come out of that yere hole, or, sure as yer’s born, I'll plug yer!” The three outlaws looked at each other in dis- may. Skinflint was decidedly the master of the situation. There he stood, sheltered by the tree, and, ere they could draw their pistols or get out of the hollow, he could send a bullet through each of them. 2 eet “What are yer goin’ to do with us?” inquired one. “ Well, I'm not cg ohegieedl but I think hang- in’ would be a little too good for sech villains! I see some folks comin’ this way now, and I hope they may prove to be people who are bunt- in’ ine the robbers which hey done so much mis- chief, ‘For God’s sake, let us. go, Henderson!” cried one of the men, “and we swear to you that we will not try to molest you again.” “ f don’t think I kin trust yer,” said Skinflint. ** However,” he added, fora keen glance at the ‘approaching y had made him suspect that they belonged to the band of his enemies, “I mou’t let yer go, ef yer’ll promise to do all yer kin to hinder t’others from findin’ me.” ** We will! we will!” was the eager answer. “Go, then,” said Skinflint, “‘ but don’t forgit yer promise!” The outlaws, soreebiing out of the hollow, had Bier some yards ere their comrades were heard calling to them. ° ‘What fools we've been!” cried one. ‘‘ We might have had that cursed Henderson out of the way by this time, had he only waited, for, see, Our men have now reached the hollow, and yonder goes our ‘game,’ streaking it in the other direction!” In fact Skinflint had left many yards behind him and his foes, but, unfortunately, Lis course now led him toward an impassable marsh. The gang darted in pursuit of him, He reached the marsh, and could go no further, “ Hyar’s a diffikilty I didn’t expect,” he mut- tered—‘* not bein’ very well acquaint with this part of the country. Well, I must make the best on it!’ He coolly faced round, and aimed his revol- ver at the approaching Foote now not more than a hundred paces off, numbering a dozen men, They came to a halt behind a slight mound of earth, which would hinder Skinflint’s shots from taking effect, and pointed their pistols to- ward him, ‘“No use, Henderson, you're a dead dog!” cried one of them. As they fired, Skinflint dropped upon the ground, and the bullets passed over his head. Ere they could fire again, there was a yell, and a large party of Omahas were seen ap- proaching, on the right. Firing a few parting shots, the gang took to their heels, and a minute later Skinflint, un- harmed, was among the Indian braves, re Come just in time,” said Wono, the chief. ‘*We look for Tamina, but no can find, We have seen you with Lona, We know you to be a friend of the young white hunter.” “Thar yer’s right, I am his friend.” “We have seen you with Lorne, Belton’s enemy, too, You are not his friend?” ‘No, Injun, but I don’t mind tellin’ yer that I’ve purtended to be, fur a sart’in purpose.” ‘Tt is well. Come to the Omahas’ camp, The bad men who would take my white brother’s life cannot reach him there.” “T'll goto yer camp fur to-night,” answered Skinflint. He accompanied the Indians to their camp, which was not far off. “Now, then,” he muttered to himself, ** thar’s no use of going to the justice of Logville to tell him about Lorne’s true character. He wouldn’t b’lieve me, or would purtend that he did not, Fur the sake of that boy, however, that Belton, I must wring from him a ccnfession that he was the raskil who killed Mr, Danton’s darter, fur ther’s hardly a doubt in my mind that he did it, though I hev’n’t yet been able to git him to tell meso. He ought to be made to own that ’fore " go to an honest magistrate who'll see justice one,
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20 Frisky Frank in Idaho. rE CHAPTER XIV. THE CAPTURE, On the next morning Skinflint left the Omaha camp to pay a visit to Frisky Frank before going on to lie in wait for Lorne. He found the youth still in the cave, but he said nothing to him about the young captain of the robbers. To the questions of his friend he simply an- swered that things were working right, and that he hoped soon to obtain proof of Belton’s nocence, Fireheels now described his meeting with the boy, Forner, and related what he had said about the murder. “Thar’s the chap I must find, then,” said Skinflint. ‘ Yess, I must move heaven and yearth to find him, Yer’ve no idea whar he is now?” “No; but I doubt not Lona has found him be- fore this time.” **T must see Lona first, then.” An hour later Skinflint left the cave and went in search of the Indian girl. She was not at the Omaha camp, so the hunter went elsewhere to look for her. He was, however, unable to see her, although for several days he searched far and near, At last he concluded he would go back to the Omaha camp, hoping she had returned to it during his absence. The twilight hour was near when he found himself not far from the rock under which was the outlaws’ cave, Thinking he heard voices behind a clump of shrubbery near him, he cautiously approached, eh his revolver, and crouched behind a ush, Through openings among the twigs, he now saw Lorne and one of his gang, who were seated on a log conversing in a low voice, *“T don’t hardly think it would be safe to kill that Indian girl,” Lorne was saying, ‘‘ until we are ready to leave these parts, which'll be before long. That Henderson may betray us at any moment, Thegir! is safe enough where we have her—in the dungeon—and there is no danger of her being: found, as I’ve rolled a bowlder over the crevice on top of the rock which leads down into the cave. AsI said, we'll soon have to leave this country, which is pone too hot for us, as there are people now, far and near, looking for the robbers who have done so much mischief. When we are ready to go, it will be time enough for us to end the life of that troublesome girl.” Skinflint distinctly heard these words. **T'll soon hev that gal out of yer clutches,” he thought; ‘‘ and I reckin yer’ll not git away from heer quite so easily as yer seem to think!” Cau‘iously moving round to the other side of the rock, he ascended it, Then he pulled a coil of slender rope from the wallet he carried, and having rolled the bowlder away from the opening, over which it had been placed, he fastened one end of the rope to a rug- ged projection, allowing the other end to hang own into the dungeon. Rapidly descending, he wassoon in the gloomy cavern, at one side of which Lona was now fast- ened by a chain to the wall, At first he could not see her, but a moment. later, he heard her voice, ‘¢ Who is there?” “Tt’s me,” answered Skinflint, ‘“ and I’ve come to git yer out of this hole.” “That is good, Lona will be Ae to go away from here, for she much likes the sun and the fresh air.” ‘“¢ Of course yer does.” He advanced to her side, but he could not un- fasten the chain by which she was held. At length, however, he succeeded in knocking from the wall the staple to. which one end of it was secured. Then he tied the chain around her waist, so that it would make no noise during her ascent from the dungeon. ‘Now, then, yer kin climb the rope; but whar’s the other gal—the white gal, who was heer? I don’t see her.” ‘‘ They took her to another part of the cave: they say she die if she kept here.” “The mean varmints! Well, go on, Lona,” The Indian girl commenced to climb the rope, which she found it easy to do, as there were projections on the side of the rocky wall all the way up to the opening. Skinflint followed her, and when he had reached the summit of the rock, he returned his rope to his wallet, and rolled the bowlder back in its place, As the two hurried along in the direction of the Omaha camp, the hunter’ spoke about the boy, Forner. “Did yer find that young chap? Belton told me yer went to look fur him.” : ‘Yes, find him. We take to justice, but jus- tice would not believe. Boy getaway. After- ward he try kill bimself by drowning, but Lona save him and lead him to Omaha camp.” “ And is be thar now?” ‘* He was there when Lona left the camp, few days ago. Hope he is there yet.” They soon reached the camp, but Forner no longer was there. On the day before he had contrived to slip away, and the Indians did not know in what direction he had gone, “Too bad!” said Skinflint. ‘I wanted to hev a talk with that boy about the murder.” There was a peculiar expression on Lona’s face when Skinflint made this remark, but she said nothing. Next morning the hunter left the camp. He hovered on the outskirts of Logville, evidently watching for some person, r. Lorne finally passed that bi Skinflint followed him until he reached a lone- ly spot near a thicket, when he sprung forward and collared him. ‘No noise, or yer’ll git this!” cried the hunter, savagely, as he leveled his revolver at the head. of the young outlaw. “What are you going todo? What do you want?” inquired Lorne, coolly. ‘Confess that you murdered her—you mean varmint!” “Murdered who? What are you talking about? Have you lost your senses?” “*T mean that you are the coon that killed Mr, Danton’s darter! Come, own up at once!” “You know better,” was the quiet answer,
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oo Frisky Frank in Idaho. 21 ‘You know I had no hand in that affair. You know it was your friend Belton who did the deed!” “No! no! yer don’t git off with any of yer lies!” “You better let me go.” “No, I’m not goin’ tolet yer go, arter what T’velarned, Yer"ll jist go with me Sore a mag- istrate, and I'll hev yer locked up fur trial. I know enough about yer, now!” “You cannot harm me, Bole would not be- lieve you.” “Tm not goin’ to Bole, I’m goin’ to Justice Wentworth.” Lorne turned pale but quickly recovered bimself, : At that moment the noise of approaching footsteps was heard, not far off, ‘Here comes some of the men who are hunt- ing for the robbers,” said Lorne. ‘If you don’t let me go, it'll be the worse for you.” “T hey a few guestions to ask yer,” said Skinflint, fiercely. ** Questions?” “Vos, what hev yer done with Mary ?” At these words, Lorne looked confused. “Mary? he stammered. “Yes, the poor gal that yer married, and then desarted, after cursin’ her and beatin’ her, leavin’ her in a snow-drift to freeze to death!” **T don’t know as this is any of your business,” said Lorne, striving to speak calmly. ‘Tt is my business, and [ll tell yer why. That sweet little gal was my sister /” “You, her brother!” cried Lorne, startled. “Yes, and I swore to hunt yer down, and avenge the gal!” “You are not going to kill mef” said the out- law, alarmed at the fierce aspect of the man before him. "No, ’'m not goin’ to kill yer. I’m goin’ to let the law deal with you, as you desarve, It’s fur this ’'ve shadowed yer so long!” ‘Well, then, it is true I left my wife, but I hope she was not frozen to death,” *“‘She was not, It was that noble boy Bel- ton, who helped her, and may God bless him fur it. But what I want to find out from you is whar she is now! She left my house, and I tracked her as far as heer, after which I lost all trace of her. You must know what has be- come of her!” “Upon my word, I do not,” gasped Lorne. “Come with me, yer varmint—come!” said Skinflint, dragging him along with him. ‘You shall go with me to Justice Wentworth!” Lorne now made a desverate effort to free himself, but in vin, Skinflint’s grasp upon his collar was like iron. “T told yer I did not mean to kill yer,” he said, ‘but, by the ‘tarnal! ef yer try to git away from me, I’ll do it, in spite of conse- quences!” Lorne knew that Skinflint would keep his word, and he offered no further resistance, re- solving, however, to watch for a chance to es- cape. But mile after mile was traversed, and still no such chance presented itself. Skinflint’s whitish eyes were continually upon his prisoner, who had no opportunity to draw one of the pistols he had with him, He knew that the moment he should do so, his desperate captor would shoot bim dead on the spot! ‘ Yes,” said the hunter, as they moved on, “My little sister war an angel—she war a good gal, and she war happy until you saw her—you cussed viper! Ef I had been at home when you came to my house, yer’d never hev contrived to git her to marry you. It war all done while I war on a huntin’ and trappin’ tramp, but I heerd, when I came back, how yer beat and cussed her—then how you set out with her as you said, to go to another settlement, hundreds of miles away, and left her in the wilderness to die. She war never the same, aiter that, I think iti onsettled her reason a little, and when I saw her ag’in I couldn’t git a smile out o’ the gal, who always, fore that, had been so glad to see me, She ee a until one day, a few weeks ago, I found her gone. I'll arn what’s become of her, ef I hev to wring yer neck fur it!” To this Lorne made no reply, but his face became ghastly, and he trembled from héad to foot. Suddenly the sound of an epnronchit: party was heard, and the eyes of the young cutlaw lighted up, for he hoped he would now find a chance to escape. His disappointment was great when the chief Wono and some of his men came to view, “Ugh! good!” said the chief, ‘The hunter has his foe.” “Yes, and I’m goin’ to take him to Justice Wentworth, who lives ’bout thirty mile from heer.” “Tt is a long way. There are some of the tribe of the Snakes about, and they are the en- emies of the Omahas, Tamina has joined them, and so, if the hunter should fall in with them. they would take his prisoner from him.” ‘Bf they do, they’ll not take him alive!” cried Skinflint. “They will make the hunter prisoner, too, and, if Tamina sees him, he will tell them to take his scalp. "Wono will send some of his war- riors with the hunter.” “Good!” said Skinflint, ‘ that'll make things safer,” Six of the Omaha braves were detached to go with Skinflint, and Lorne now saw less chance than ever for his escape. CHAPTER XY, ALIVE, OR DEAD? CROUCHING in the shrubbery, one of Lorne’s gang bad seen his captain led off a prisoner by Skinflint. The man, whose name was John Jasper, was a cousin of the person who had »been killed through mistake by the outlaws, as already de- scribed, in the cave, This person, having with him a revolver, could easily have shot down the hunter and have thus freed his chief. But, on reflection, he concluded not to do so, for a reason which will soon be shown, Quietly seated on the ground, he watched
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through an opening in the bushes the two forms until they were out of sight. Then he rose, say- ing to himself: “ All the better that he should be taken out of the way. This wiil leave the coast clear for me.” He rubbed bis- hands and seemed much pleased. Then, after a few minutes’ reflection, he went straight to the house of Mr, Danton and asked to see that person. He was admitted tu his presence, and he stood surveying him for several moments, apparently with some satisfaction. “Pye come to see yer *bout somethin’ impor- tant,” said John Jasper. ‘You want work in my factory, I mapEcees. said Danton, glancin at the man’s rough team- ster’s garb, “I think I have seen you before. You were a juryman in that—thac—awful—” ‘Not so awful as yer seem to think, sir,” in- terrupted Jasper. “ What do you mean?” “Tt is not for work, but it is bout that affair T’ve come to see yer, sir,” was the reply. “Go on, for Heaven’s sake!” “Well, then, I'll begin by askin’ yer what yer’d ore me if I could bring back yer darter to yer Bring her back?” cried Mr. Danton, with a wild stare, ‘* Are you crazy?” “ Not a bit of it, sir.” “ Do you mean to tell me that she lives?” ** [ didn’t say so, sir!” “Wretch! get out of this house! You either have come here to torture me, or you have lost your senses, and don’t know what you are say- ing!’ a Come now, sir, keep cool. I didn’t say ‘ee darter is alive, but, supposin’ she ts—what would yer give for havin’ her restored to you?” Mr, Danton looked steadily at the speaker. There was, in the expression of the man’s face, nothing indicative of insanity. “Unfortunately,” said the merchant, ‘ my daughter does not live, and, therefore, I see no use of this senseless talk. Good God! did I not see her body myself? Did I not—” ‘‘ How do you know it was her body?” quietly interrupted Jasper. “How did I know it?’ gasped Mr. Danton. “Why, by her face—her dress—by her size.” “You cannot say by ber face !" ““What do you mean?” cried the merchant, shuddering. ‘‘ Rascal!” he continued. ‘* Leave me! Go! You have come here to torture me— to gratify your own curiosity!” “Well, then, P’ll come to the p'int. Yer darter is alive !” “ Alive? my daughter?” cried Mr. Danton in a wild voice, _* Yes, your daughter, Now, what will yer give me fur restorin’ her to you?” ‘Where is she? Come, tell me, where is my child? But no; you are imposing on me!” ‘+ As true as thar’s a sky above us,” answered Jasper solemnly, “ yer darter is alive! 1 have seen her. The body found was not hers! It was that of another person, who looked like her, and was dressed like her,” “ Impossible Y Frisky Frank in Idaho, _ ee ee “Tt is so. Yer darter, I’ve l’arned, is kept a pris’ner. I know where she is.” Mr, Danton sprung forward and collared the speaker. ‘*You know where she is?—you are keeping her a prisoner? This is unlawful, and you must be dealt with as you deserve, I will have you arrested.” ‘‘ Please let go of me, sir, Ihad no hand in er darter’s being made a pris’ner. It is the njuns who are responsible.” ** Indians?” “Yes, a wandering tribe, Your darter is in their hands, I alone can git her by bargain- in’ with the chief, who is under oblergations to me, “Take me, then, to the chief, and 1 will pay the ransom,” “That wouldn't do. They'll deal only with me, They would scalp me, and marry yer darter to one of the tribe, and clear out where yer’d never see ’em agin! Come, I'll tell yer what I'll do,” continued Jasper, as Mr, Danton now let zo of his collar. ‘‘Give me ten thou- sand dollars, and yer’ll see yer darter ’fore yer’s two days older.” ‘You're an impostor!” cried Mr, Danton— “ You—” “The money to be paid only when your darter is before you!” interrupted Jasper, “Oh! can this be true?’ cried the mer- chant. “T's the livin’ truth, sir. Does it look like imposition, my tellin’ yer that [ expect no money until I free your darter and bring her before ou? Facts is,” added Jasper, in a whining, ypocritical voice, “I'd do this fur nothin’ ex- ceptin’ the ransom asked by the chief, but fur my bein’ a poor man, with a famerly to keer for, and—” ‘Bnough!” interrupted Mr. Dayton. “I agree to your terms, You shall have the money the moment you restore to me my child.” And as he spoke his eyes gleamed with wild joy. ; % Ther’ must be no trick’ry in this bizness,” said Jasper—‘ no spies sent to track me or to ar- rest me, Ef ther’s enyming of that kind done, I'll know it, and then I'll have nothing more to do with the affair.” - “No, no, | promise you that there'll be noth- ing of the kind, Tell me how soon you can bring her to me! For God’s sake! speak quick- ly and make the time short!” ‘To-morrow morning I will come here to take you to yer darter—that is, previded yer show me the cash which you are to give me, But you must keep silent about it. You must not tell a livin’ soul until after our bizness is done, or the whole thing falls through.” ‘* Be it so! be it so!” cried Mr. Dayton, eager- ly, ready, under the circumstances, to promise *most rib ered ** You will not disappoint me!” he added, in so beseeching a tone that even the hard heart of the villain was touched. ‘t You are not deceiving me?” “ As true as I’m a livin’ man I am not,” an- swered Jasper, in a voice which carried convic- tion with it. “You will come to-morrow morning!” “*T will come—at eight o'clock,”
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Frisky Frank in Idaha, 23 eS As may be imagined, the merchant obtained no sleep that night, Never before had time seemed to him so long, He had great command over himself, however, and contrived to appear calm and self-possessed. The hour agreed upon came at last, and with it Jasper, true to his promise. * Come, let us lose no time!” said Mr, Danton. “You have my daughter at the place to which you attend to take me?” ‘Yes, she is there, but first, please let me see the money?” Mr. Danton took out his pocketbook and ex- hibited twenty $500 bills, which made the eyes of the young villain glisten. “ All right,” he said, “ I am ready.” They left the house, They had not proceeded far when a terrible thought—one which had not occurred to him before—crossed the merchant’s mind, Might not this bea trick torob him of the money in his posession? Might not the person with him be an outlaw—one of that gang which was now being hunted for all over the country? The more he thought of it, the stronger be- came his conviction that such was the case. However, he would be on his guard. He car- ried a small pistol in his pocket, and.upon this he kept his hand as the two walked on, The path taken by Jasper led toward the wild- est and most unfrequented parts of the coun- try. zs How much further will we have to go?” in- quired Mr. Danton, when they had walked sey- eral miles, and were out of sight of the settle- ment, “‘ Not much further,” answered the other, ‘¢ Where will I find my child?” ‘Seated on a rock in a small cave, where I’ve left her for security.” Some minutes later he pointed to a rock ahead of them. “The cave is in that rock,” he said. They soon reached tho place. Jasper pulled aside a bowlder there. “Here she is!” he cried. He peered into the hollow: then he drew back with a cry of surprise and disappointment, “(She is not there now !” he said. “Rascal!” exclaimed Mr, Danton. ‘You have tricked me, and I know why!” “Upon my word, have not, I left her in that cave to wait for you!” ‘Was there any one with her?” “Not a soul!” “Then she could not have got away. could not have moved that bowlder!” “That's so, she could not have moved it, but ~~ is gone for all that, as you can see for yer- self! Mr. Danton looked into the cave, to discover that it was Spe He saw something on the ground there, and picked it up. It wasa small coral breast-pin, which he at once recognized as having belonged to his daughter ! “My God! you were right!” he cried. ‘‘ She has really been here, for here is her breast-pin, which must have dropped! What can have be- come of her?” ‘An Indian has had something to do with it,” said Jasper, pointing to the print of a moc- She casin, on the soft ground, near the cave. The track was lost among the rocks, further be- yond, “We will look for her! We will find her!” cried Mr. Danton. ‘‘ Come, help me—come! she may not have gone far.” The merchant, now off his guard, suddenly felt the hand of Jasper grasping him like a vise by the back of the neck, while he raised a long kuife he had drawn, to stab him between the shoulders. The aim was sure and deadly, but, as the knife was descending, the arm of the villain was seized in an iron grasp, and the blow from the butt of a pistol laid him senseless on the ground. Danton turned to discover that his deliverer was Frank Belton, CHAPTER XVI. WHAT HAPPENED ON THE WAY. Sxrmvruint and the Indians kept on with Lorne toward the settlement where Justice Wentworth was to be found. The country traversed was wild and lonely. abounding with rugged peaks, deep weode glens, and dark thickets. All at once the Omaha braves paused. “ Helloa! What's up?” inquired Skinflint, “Snakes come,” said one of the Indians, ~ 4 Whar?” The Omaha pointed toward a distant thicket, Skinflint could see the shrubbery there gently moved, and, to a less practiced eye, it might have been thought that this was caused only by the wind. The Omahas at once prepared for battle, those who had rifles cocking them, and such of them as were provided only with spears, holding their weapons ready for service, They bad not long to wait. With a wild yell, a dozen Snakes, headed by Tamina, sud- denly broke from the shrubbery, and rushed to meet their enemies, discharging rifles as they came. A couple of the Omahas fell, shot through their hearts, so that there were now but four left. Meanwhile Skinflint’s piece, aimed with un- erring precision, brought down two of his foes, but, ere be could reload, the savage band came rushing up with spears and tomahawks, and a hand-to-hand combut ensued. This was of brief duration. Another of the Omabas having been killed, the rest took to their heels. Skinflint finding himself surround- ed, endeavored to use his knife and revolver, but Lorne caught one of his arms, and strove to hold it, while Tamina, with a blow of his rifle, knocked the pistol from his grasp, An Indian had been about to strike Lorne revious to this, with his tomahawk, but Tam- ina had said: ‘‘ No, white prisoner is our friend, He must not be hurt!” and the savage bad im- mediately lowered his weapon. Several tomahawks were flourished about the head of Skinflint, when Tamina again inter- posed. “Scalp now too good for white hunter. The torture for him!” A yell of fierce delight was given by the war- riors, as they crowded about the hunter, fast-
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ening his arms securely behind his back with thongs. These savage fellows, naked to the waist, with their hideously-painted faces and their head- dresses of black and red feathers, some of which drooped over their fiery eyes, were soon capering about their prisoner, performing a wild, trium- phant dance, while their yells and hoarse, gut- tural cries rung upon the air. ‘* Yer may as well stop yer dancin’,” remarked Skinflint, ‘“as it has no effect on me. I don’t keer shucks fur any one on yer!” ‘© Why help Omaha?” inquired one of the In- dians, “If not help Omaha, would not tor- ture.” “Td help ’em again, ef I had the chance,” was the reply. **Good! then like torture. Make dance and scream when fire burn. The pale-faces cannot stand fire.” “Well see ’bout that,” answered Skinflint coolly. Lorne now stepped in front of his late captor. ‘* The tables are turned,” he said triunphant- a “ How do you like it?’ he added, taunting- ly. Skinflint showed his teeth, and his eyes liter- ally blazed, but he said not a word. “T wish you would permit me to shoot down this fellow as he stands,” continued Lorne, turn- ing to Tamina, ‘“ He will make much mischief, if he should escape.” -. “The hunter will not escape,” replied Tam- ina. ‘‘If my white brother wishes, he can go with us, and see us burn the prisoner to death!” “*T will go with you to see that,” réplied ag: ‘even though I lose much precious time y it. Six of the savages started off in pursuit of the Omahas; the rest, with Tamina and Lorne, went on toward their camp. This was situated on the other side of the thicket, The fire was about to be made for the torture, when a furious storm of wind and rain came on and prevented it. Skinflint, bound hand and foot, was then | placed in one of the skin tents, When night came, a guard of two Indian youths was stationed near the prisoner’s tent. One of the boys seated himself under a tree, near the edge of a thicket, where he was partly sheltered from the rain. The night was so dark that even had any of the other warriors emerged from their tents, they conld not have seen him, All at once the youth received upon his head a blow which laid him senseless on the ground. An Indian girl glided from bebind the tree whence she had dealt the blow with a heavy stick, This girl was Lona, who now proceeded to put upon her head the mass of drooping feathers worn by the boy, and also the tattered blanket in which he had wrapped his form. Then, seating herself for a moment under the tree, she rose and walked leisurely toward the tent, armed with the spear which the boy had carried, The youth who had not left his post glanced at ber, and muttered something which she could Frishy Frank in Idaho. not hear, but it was evident that his suspicions were not aroused, Finally Lona started to creep into the tent. ‘‘ What are you doing there? Why are you going there?” inquired the youth, in his native tongue. “To see if our prisoner is all right,” answered Lona. «You take too much trouble, Of course he is well enough,” Lona, however, kept on. ‘** Hello!” whispered Skinflint, ‘‘ what are yer up to now, Injun?” “ Hist! it is Lona, friend.” ‘God bless yer, gal; yer’s an angel!” said the hunter, as with her knife she quickly severed his thongs. She put a pistol in his band. ‘* Come!” she added, ‘* you must make a rush! It is even now uncertain if we succeed in escap- ing!” “Give me the range of the woods, and I'll risk it,” was the answer. Followed by Lona, he dashed out of the tent. The youthful guard, shouting an alarm, sprung to thrust his spear into him, but Skinflint adroit- ly avoiding the weapon, knocked him senseless with the butt of his revolver, A moment later, as he darted into the woods, he heard the yells of the savages, who had been aroused, and were now in pursuit, He looked for Lona, but he could see nothin of the girl inthe gloom. Ahead of him he behel She come to rescue her the dark forms of the camp-guard, who stood . near the other side of the thicket. He could see the gleam of their fiery eyes like those of wild beasts as they leaned forward, and fearing that they might get a glimpse of his form, - glided off in another direction. Meanwhile the boy whom Lona had struck senseless, had come to and joined in the pur- suit, As he crept swiftly along the ground like a serpent, he saw the indistinct form of Lona crouched behind a tree, a few paces ahead of him, In a moment he was upon her, holding her fast in spite of her struggles, until Tamina came up with several of the warriors, The latter were about to bury their toma- hawks in her head, when the young Indian inter- ‘* No!” he cried. “‘ Tamina want the girl. He will make her his squaw, and his slave, At last Tamina has her in his clutches, and he will make her love and respect him!” The girl was then taken to the camp, and her ankles having been bound, she was placed in one of the tents. Next morning the savages who bad hunted for Skinflint came back to the camp, They had been unable to find this man, who had contrived e Ge them by dodging about, in the dark thicke CHAPTER XVII. STRATEGY, Mr. DANTON, saved as previously described, by Frisky Frank, who had struck John Jasper down at the moment when he was about to plunge his knifo into the back of his intended
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Prisky Frank in Idaho. a 26 victim, was at first, on recognizing his rescuer, too much a ee to speak, ‘ You, it is then you,” he cried, at last. ‘* Yes, sir, and it was lucky I came this way.” ‘“‘T would rather owe my life to any person than to you!” said Danton. “T know why, but you’re mistaken. God knows I had no hand in killing your daughter!” “Tt is too late for you to deny itnow. Sur- render yourself! You are my prisoner, I am not yet too old to arrest my daughter’s mur- derer.” And as he spoke, Mr. Danton pointed his pis- tol at Frank’s head, The youth, leaning on his rifle, looked at him, calmly, “Surrender, I say, or lll shoot!” “J will not surrender,” answered Belton, ‘‘ be- cause lam innocent, I hope before long that this may be proved.” “ What do mean by that?” “Thar’s a youth, now at large, who saw the person who did the deed. At present he can- not be found, but I hope he soon will be, and will be made to tell who the assassin was,” ‘Rascal, you speak of your accomplice, or friend, Forner, heard all about him from Lorne. You hired him to say what he did.” _ “Thar you mistake. Ihad never seen him before I met him, one night—” ; *¢ Never mind particulars, The question now is, will you or will you not surrender? The law will justify me in Be ee down, for there has been a reward offered for you, dead or alive.” At that moment something came whizzing through the air, It was a spear, which, striking the pistol beld by Mr, Danton, knocked it from bis grasp, and passed through the body of John Jasper, who still lay senseless, pinning him to the ground, A yell was heard at the same moment, and half a dozen fierce Indians of the Snake tribe were seen rushing toward the young hunter from a thicket not twenty paces off. ‘Run and save yourself!” said Frank to Mr, Danton, ‘‘The Snakes are on the war-path and will scalp you if you remain.” . Danton hurried off. He had seen in the dis- tance a party of hunters, whom he hoped to notify and bring up to the assistance of Belton, for he was determined to have the youth ar- rested if possible, Meanwhile, as he ran on, he reflected on the trick of which he believed he had been made the victim by John Jasper, But how came the breastpin in the cave? “T am sureitis the one which belonged to my daughter,” he muttered. ‘That rascal Jasper niust have stolen it from the body after death, and put it there on purpose, in order to carry out the deception, and not excite my sus- picions, so that he might have a chance _to kill me and possess himself of the $10,000, Well, be has met with bis deserts, at any rate, and now, if I can only get Belton in the hands of the au- thorities, it will at least be some satisfaction.” Belton by this time had fired two sbots from his rifle at the approaching savages, and each bullet bad wounded an Indian. The hunters in the distance heard the sound | of the weapon, and, seeing what was going on, they came to meet Mr. Danton, But they were too far off to render Fireheels any assistance. Ere he could reload the savages had surrounded and captured him. After securely binding their captive’s hands they hurried off with him, making good speed in order to escape the hunters, who, although still far off, were fast coming on, Night closed about them ere they halted. The violent storm previously alluded to now was raging, but a careful watch over the prisoner was kept. in the morning they continued on their way, and soon reached their camp, to hear of the events concerning the escape of Skinflint, the capture of Lona, etc., which have already been described, On seeing Frisky Frank, Lorne uttered a cry of triumph, “ A greater prize could not have dropped into my hands,” he said. ‘What does ny white brother mean?” in- quired an old chief. “7 mean that this mee has perpetrated a horrible murder, as not my red_ brother heard of the murder of Bell Danton—the white girl at Logville?” “Think hear of it; but why speak of prisoner as prize to my white brother? “You should know that that girl was a friend of mine, and that I want to avenge her death, ft was a terrible deed.” “You think Fireheels did it?” ‘Yes, I am certain of it.” “Ugh! my white brother make mistake, Fireheels would not kill a white squaw—he would not even kill an Indian squaw, is heart is too big and too brave. The Snakes know him to be their enemy, but they can see his heart, and they are not blind.” “There is pet Sb ening to believe he was the assassin,” said roe, impatiently, ‘and a brutal one at that.” Turning to the old Indian, Belton said: “The Snake tells the truth when he says I did not kill the girl, I would have rrotected her with my life.” “Chief,” cried Lorne, ‘you must give this man up to the white people, They are hunting for him. They want to bang him for the mur- der, as he deserves. A reward has been offered for him, and you will get it if you give him to the pale-faces,” “Tt is well, Samodi will have a talk with his warriors. If they agree to what my white brother asks, it shall be done.” A council was at once held. In this council Tamina had great influence. He advised the giving up of the prisoner, and the Snakes final- y resolved to surrender him to the whites, in- stead of putting him to the torture, as they had intended to do. Scarcely had they come to this conclusion when the erack of rifles was heard, and an In- dian brave came rushing into the camp, saying thatthe Snake scouts had been attacked by a party of pale-face hunters, who were comiug on toward the camp, “There must be no fighting to-day,” said Torne, ‘I will go forward, see those hunters,
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and propose to them not to attack you; but to arrange to pay you the reward and receive Fireheels.” **Good,” answered Samodi. ‘‘My brother speaks well,” Accompanied by one of the Indians, Lorne walked off and soon met the white hunters, to whom he explained the proposed arrangement. Now it chanced that these hunters wers one of the parries searching for the outlaws who had lately done so much mischief. They were the same men whom Mr. Danton had met on the day before, after his flight from the say- ages, and he had advised them to get possession, at all hazards, of Belton, dead or alive. - Great, therefore, was their satisfaction when they saw Lorne, and learned from him that there would be no difficulty in obtaining the prize, for which, in addition to the reward al- ready offered, Mr. Danton had declared he would pay five bundred dollars more. A few muskets and some powder would satis- fy the savages. The hunters would manage to retain the bulk of the reward. Among the party there was a person who had joined them that morning, on their way to the camp. He was a tall, sinewy man, as lean as a shadow, wearing leggings, a blanket, and an old felt hat with an enormous brim, which had nearly concealed his face, When hesaw Lorne coming, he bad withdrawn from the band, saying he was. going togeta drink of water from a spring, not far off. At length, after Lorne set out on his return to the camp to prepare the Snakes for the approach of the hunters, he rejoined the latter. “Thom Injuns is treach’rous,” he remarked, “and I tharfore think our best plan would be fur only one on us to go to the camp and return hyar with the pris’ner. Ef they mean to mas- sacre us, only one will then be killed, which are better than fur all to fall into the a “But who'll hev the pluck to go all alone in that way?” “Pil go, ef yer like,” answered the stranger, “The risk is worth runnin’, fur they may not mean to trap us, arter all.” This proposal was agreed to, The stranger went into the thicket, and he was soon in sight of the camp, Instead of going on, he crouched behind a tree and listened. Finally, hearing footsteps, he saw Lorne and Tamina passon their way back to the hunters to tell them that the Snakes were ready to sur- render Belton to them if they would agree to give them in return fifty rifles and as many pounds of powder. The concealed watcher waited until Lorne and the young Indian were out of sight. Then he moved rapidly forward and boldly stalked into the camp. The first person he met was the old chief, Samodi. **T come from the white hunters,” he said, ‘* for Fireheels! Iamtotakehimtothem, They sent me for him.” “Our white brother has gone to tell the hunters what we will charge for the prisoner and to bring them or their answer.” “T am the chief of the hunter-party,” was i Frisky Frank in Idaho, the response. ‘‘Tell me yer tarms, and we'll see ef we kin not close tha barg’in, so as to save oe stit fles—fi d 1 1 ‘Fifty rifles—fift unds of good powder Rifles must be ond ie = : “Lord! Injun, yer goes it pooty steep. Ef yer’d only lower yer tarms a bit.” “T have said it. Willtake no less,” ** Well then, I reckin I'll hev to close with yer. Give me the pris’ner, and yer better send an In- jun long with him; too! That white chap yer hev hyar—that Lorne, will sarve fur a hostage, fur the safe deliv’ry of yer goods, soon as we git the reward, which, yer see, will hey to be paid to us fore we kin pay it to you.” “Tt is well.” Samodi then said something to his men, who soon approached with the captive. Belton looked closely at the person who had come to conduct him from the camp, and recognized Skinflint, CHAPTER XVIIL STRANGE DISCLOSURES, THE moment he made this discovery, the young hunter comprehended his friend intended to effect bisrescue. Neither by look nor manner, however, did he show that he knew his con- ductor. An Indian named Gonok was summoned to go with the twain. As he was a large, powerful fellow, armed with knife, tomahawk and rifle, espe ye ie ie that he would have to make use of all his strength and agility to overcome such an opponent, When the three were out of sight of the camp he snatched from the hands of the sayage the rifle carried by the latter, and which was the one he had taken from Belton, at the time the youth was captured. Ere the Indian could draw his tomahawk, Skinflint made a blow at his head with the butt of the piece, but the wily Snake, adroitly dodging it, was about to give che alarm and use his knife, when his antagonist squeezing his throat with one hand, dealt him a tremendous stroke between the eyes with his huge, clinched fist, which laid Gonok senseless at his feet. “Thar ye are!” said Skinflint, as, with his knife, he severed Belton’s bonds, ‘* Now, off yer go, and make tracks that way,” pointing, as he spoke, in a direction where the fugitive would not meet with the party of hunters. As he spoke he put into the hands of his young friend the rifle he had taken from the Snake. d “You are not going with me?” said Belton, “No, I hey to go auother way,” was the reply, “But I hope to meet yer ’fore long, Come, streak it, pard, like white lightain’ fur the secret cave, Yer’ve no time to lose!” The youth darted off, and wassoon lost to view in the shadows of the forest. “Now, then, fur that poor Injun gal!” mut- tered Skinflint, as he made his way goth to- ward a mountain which loomed in the distance, In a valley at the base of this mountain, the Omaha warriors had all collected to prepare for an assault upon the Snakes, the news of the late conflict having been brought to them on the night before, by some of the fugitive braves,
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Wono had his men ready for the march, when Skinflint made his appearance, ‘** Thought the hunter prisoner,” said the chief. * How come here?” “T was saved by that noble gal of yourn— Lona,” he answered. Having described his rescue he went on. “Arter gittin’ off, 1 skulked about in the woods, an’ contrived to keep cl’ar of the Injuns, Finally, I came upon a dead Omaha, I tuk off his leggins and blanket, and put’em on. As these clothes war the same kind that’s worn by some hunter-tramps, I knowed no suspicion would be raised among the enemy by my dress. Well, all at once, I heerd voices, and going to whar they comed from, I hit upon a party o’ white hunters, making a fire for a night-lounge. Tsoon Varned that they war arter Belton, who, it seems, had been captured the night before, by some 0’ the Snakes scouts, I purtended to be as anxious to git persession of him fur the sake 0’ the reward offered fur him, as the rest war, so. in the mornin’ we all went on together, towar the Snakes, with my hat pulled so far down over my face that the Injuns would not see it enough to recognize me.” He went on torelate what has already been told, after which he marched with the Omahas toward the hostile camp, the exact locality of which he was now enabled to describe to his dusky companions. , By rapid movements the band reached the camp of the enemy an hour later, and, creeping close to it, unobserved, they suddenly rushed to the attack. Surprised by its suddenness, the Snakes made but a feeble resistance, ‘They fled in confusion, Tamina was killed, and many scalps were taken by the foes, Among those who escaped was Lorne, much to the regret of Skinflint, who had wanted to cap- ture him. Lona was found in one of the tents with her ‘hands tied. Her thongs were severed, and she was soon among her people, thanking Skinflint for helping to rescue her. “And do you s'pose, gal, that I would hev left yer, arter what you did fur me? No, it would not be nat’ral fur me to do that.” * But where is Firebeels?” inquired Lona, ‘I heard of his being take pris’ner. He not been opp she added, her dark eyes gleaming wildly. “No, he’s safe by this time in my cave, J reckin.” And the hunter went on to state how he had saved his young friend. A few hours later, Lona left the camp of the Omahas. “T must make sure he safe!” thought the girl, as she hurried on, Before night, she reached the base of the cliff, in which was tke secret cave, Having~made sure there was no spy about the place to hear her, she called Belton by name, At first he did not appear, and her heart sunk within her. Soon, however, she saw him at the opening above. ‘Ts it you, Lona?” he joyfully cried. Then he lowered the ladder and the girl was presently at his side, Frisky Frank in Idaho, “Safe now; Fireheels’s troubles are over!” said Lona, looking up at him with beaming eyes. “T have escaped the Injuns, it’s true,” an- swered Frank, ‘but I suppose I am still being hunted for by white people.” : ‘*While people cannot hnrt,” rejoined Lona, with a peculiar expression in her eyes. ‘What do youmean? Speak, my good friend; thar’s some meaning, I see, that you’ve not made car tome?” ‘THE WHITE GIRL IS ALIVE!” said Lona. “How? What white girl? You don’t mean—” “‘T mean the girl whose name is Bell Danton, and who was thought to be billed!” The young hunter staggered back, and stared wildly at the speaker, Lona, I hope you are not jesting with me Thar’s no use of waking hopes, ef they—” “Why should Lona jest? It is true what she says, ” interrupted his companion. ‘Where is she? Who, then, was the mur- dered girl? I saw her myself. The form was like that of Miss Danton, and it had on her shawl, The dress, too, was white—the same as hers. I tuck it all in ata glance.” “Tt is true. The dead girl have on white dress like that of Bell Danton, and she look, when dead, like Bell Danton. Her shaw] be- longed to Bell Danton, too, Some must have puton her, She in woods, at dusk, when she hear scream. She see Lorne strike down girl, and choke her! When Bell see this, it affect her so, she faint, After while she come to, and find herself in outlaws’ cave—in dungeon. Lorne had been take her there! He fasten her in there with chain!” “So this Lorne is an outlaw and a murderer!” cried Belton, in surprise. “I always thought he war a bad coon, but I’m shore of it now! Whar is Bell Danton—with her father?” ‘““No, me find her in little cave, Lona going past rock, and she hear voice call out, She pull bowlder away from entrance to cave, and there was the white girl. ““We will go there, instantly, and take her to her father!” cried Belton. Frisky Frank went with Lona to the cave in which she had left Bell Danton. The retreat was one which the Indian girl had used for her own quarters when the Omahas were encamped near the place, Screened by willows and thick shrubbery, it might have escaped the notice even of a detective. Entering the cave, Frank saw Miss Danton, still quite weak, seated on a log, which served for a chair in the rocky hollow. On beholding the a ope a bright blush suffused her cheeks, and her eyes gleamed with joy. “Belton!” she cried. ‘‘ Thank Heaven! you are safe—you are saved! Lorne’s plot to have you bung for murder has failed!” “Well, now, ie surprise me by what you say, miss, but ef ever thar was a happy man, I'm the one at seeing you alive—for your own sake—and rescued from the dungeon whar Lona says Lorne had put you.” ‘Yes, he had his reasons for putting me there,” said Bell, ‘“‘One was because I wasa witness to his crime,” she added with a shudder, ‘for I saw him strike down and and throttle the /
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28 Frisky Frank in Idaho. | girl who was found killed; another was because he wanted to have you executed for the crime; and the third was that he wanted to obtain from my father, through some one of his band, a large ransom for my restoration, after you should have perished on the gallows! Yester- day I wasfreed by one of the garg, a fellow they called John Jasper, and was by him con- ducted toa cave. He said he felt sorry for me, and was going to restore me to my father, who rem come to the cave, if I there waited for im. CHAPTER XIX, CONCLUSION, Scarcey had Lona concluded when ashadow darkened the cave, and Lorne sprung through the opening, “You have escaped me, wretch!” he shouted, pointing a pistol at Frisky Frank’s head, ‘‘ but you shall not live to boast of it!” He was about to pull the trigger when Lona sprung between the weapon and the youth. The report of the piece rung sharply, and the Indian girl fell, mortally wounded, Belton at once raised his rifle and leveled it at the young outlaw’s head. “Don’t you move from hyar, or you are a dead coon!” he cried. ‘The whole truth has now come out, and it’s been proved that you're one of the blackest villains on the face of the earth!” Lorne folded his arms. ‘Shoot, if you want to,” he said, “I am not afraid to die. The game is up, and I sup- pose I may as well own it. I have heard most everything that has been said here, for i was hidden in the shrubbery near the opening of the Cavey, waiting for a favorable moment to get at ou “Tt is not for me to take your life,” answered Frank, ‘Hf I should, ’d only cheat the scaf- fold, All I want of you, is to go with me to Logville and give yourself up.” ‘¢T will not go there,” said Lorne, ‘ We will see where I will go to!” As he spoke, he pulled a dirk from his breast- pocket and aimed the point toward his heart. Ere Frank could have hindered him he would have plunged the weapon into his breast, had not his knife been knocked from his hand by a blow from a rifle upon his wrist which was be- numbed by the stroke, The next moment the gaunt, shadow-like form of Skinflint, his whitish eyes blazing with a furi- ous expression, glided before the outlaw, “Speak!” roared the hunter, shaking bim vio- lently. ‘Speak, and tell me who the gal was you murdered !” Lorne became as pale as death, “You will never get that secret out of me!” he pasped. Miserable rat! Hyar I am—Skinflint—yer death-shadow—-come to make yer own it war my poor little sister Mary yer killed. She war the same complexion as Miss Danton, It war to find out what had become of my sister I’ve shadowed yer all along. I had a suspicion that you had a hand in her disappearance, but I didn’t think at first that you’d gone so far as to | kill her, though I suspected you had killed Miss Danton. Do yer remember what I whispered in yer ear that night in the hollow, jest arter Belton’s ’scape from prison? It war these words; ‘ You murdered Miss Danton!’ but now I know it war my Mary that was killed, and not the other gal.” To this Lorne made no reply, but he appeared to be much agitated. Again Skinflint shook him violently. . Well,” he cried, ‘‘ yer’ve got cornered at last, and yer’ll die with a rope about yer neck— that’s one consolation, I shall be thar to see yer —to shadow yer to the very scaffold.” With the assistance of Belton, Skinflint now fastened the hands and feet of the young vil- ain. Meanwhile Lona lay dying. Miss Danton bent over her, much distressed. * Good-by,” murmured the Indian girl faintly, Lona going to better place—to happy hunting- ground.” Belton now stooped down by her side, She took his hand and pressed it. ‘‘Marewell,” she gasped. ‘‘ Lona loved the young bunter, Fireheels, and she die happy, be- cause she saved his life with her own, and— She never finished the sentence, The seal of death was on her face, and with one last convulsive movement, she expired, Skinflint now started for Logville, which he reached in a few hours, He soon collected a party, among whom, in his carriage, was Mr, Danton, to go with him to the cave, The joy of the merchant when he beheld his daughter alive can hardly be expressed, Explanations were made, Then Bell and her father entered the carriage and soon reached Logville. Lorne was also taken to the settle- ment, some of the men following with the dead Reds. of the Indian girl on a rudely-constructed er. Next day the Omahas came and buried Lona, and Belton was present at the funeral cere- mony, Lorne’s trial took place a week later. He made no attempt to deny Miss Danton’s state- ment, It was also proved, not only by Skin- flint’s testimony, but also by that of some of Lorne’s gang lately arrested, that the youth was the chief of the band who had committed so Bian y robberies, and for whom so many hunters had been searching. The prisoner refused to tell the name of the girl whom he had choked to death in the woods, near Logville. Skinflint, however, felt con- vinced that it was his sister, Mary, and ever time he declared this to the outlaw, the latter’s visage showed an expression of fierce triumph, asif he exulted in the rage and grief of his enemy. Finally Lorne was brought to the gallows. The rope was put about his neck, and the fatal word was about to be given, when a piercing shriek was heard, and the boy, Forner, was seen rushing toward the scaffold, with wild eyes, and a visage as pale as death. ‘‘No! no! don’t hang him! He shall not die! See! Iam alive!” cried the lad, Skinflint looked toward the speaker. His
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Frisky Frank in Idaho. 29 ee words were unheeded, and, the next moment, Lorne dangled in the air, as the trap gave way beneath his feet. He expired in a few minutes, but Forner did not see his last struggles, for he had fainted. Ere the boy could drop to the ground, Skin- flint caught him in his arms, with a joyful shout. “ Hyar she is, after all!—my own little sister ! —the one I thought was killed!” “That boy?” cried Belton ; “* you don’t mean—” “Yes,” interrupted Skinflint, ‘ it is my Mary —my sister, dressed in boy’s clothes!” He pulled a flask from his pocket, and finally succeeded in bringing the disguised girl to her senses, He supported her to his lodging, and there, for days, he watched by her side, as she lay raving in delirium. At last, however, she re- covered, and, on learning what a monstrous villain Lorne had proved himself to be, she gradually ceased to mourn for him, She stated that she had disguised herself, and came here to watch the man who had treated her so badly, because she had heard that, after deserting her, he had married another person, his cousin, Ellen Boardman, and she wanted to ascertain if the report was true, Tracking Lorne, she saw him meet Ellen in the woods, near Logville, toward dusk. She heard the girl threaten to prosecute him for desertion. This enraging him, he knocked her down and throt- tled her. It was the remarkable resemblance in personal a oor’ between the young woman and Bell Danton, together with the fact that each wore a similar white summer dress, and that Ellen had round her Miss Danton’s shawl, which had caused her to be mistaken, in death, for the merchant’s daughter. Lorne, after killing the girl, had heard Miss Danton’sery of terror, and seen this witness fall senseless. He had then taken from her, her shawl, and put it round the corpse, after which he had conveyed the unconscious youpg woman (Miss Danton) to his secret retreat. Mary, the other witness, had not waited to see him do this, but had fled, horrified from the spot, x TA inokt driven mad by what she had seen, she had lingered about the outskirts of the settle- ment. hen she learned that Belton was sus- pected of having murdered the girl who was found in the woods, she had not declared the truth to the authorities, because she would not testify against her husband. Badly as he treat- ed her, she still loved him.” Be this as it might, it is certain that Mary finally regained her cheerfulness, and, again living with her brother, in their old home, made him happy with her pleasant companionship. It is only necessary to add that the noble young hunter, Firebeels, or Frisky Frank, was eventually rewarded for the persecutions and trials he had undergone, with the hand, in mar- riage, of Mr. Danton’s daughter, Bell, who had secretly loved him from the moment he hecame a visitor at her father’s house, THE BND, 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 Speaker. 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 11. Dime Debater. 12. Exhibition Speaker. ngs. 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, 23, Dialect Speaker. 24, Recitations and Read- Dialogues. The Dime Dialogues, each volume 100 pages, em- brace thirty-six books, viz.: Dialogues No, One. Dialogues No. Nineteen. Dialogues No. Two. Dialogues No. Twenty. Dialogues No. Three, |Dialogues No. Twenty-one. Dialogues No, Four. 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. |DialoguesNo. 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. Dialogues No, Thirty-seven. 15 to 25 Dialogues and Dramas in each book. Each volume contains 100 large pages, printed from clear, open type, comprising the best collee- tion of Dialogues, Dramas and Recitations, 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 Recitationg and Readings, new and standard, of the greatest celebrity and interest. Edited by Prof, A. M. Russel. Joke Books. Pocket Joke Book. Jim Crow Joke Book, Paddy Whack Joke Book. The Shove PH eatlons are for sale by all news- dealers or be sent, post-paid, om receipt of price, ten cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, PusiisHERs 98 Wiii1AM Stree, N, ¥. 1.
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Sa cn ee EN YS BEADLE’S POCKET LIBRARY. = | 125 The Land Pirates; or, The League of Devil’s 82 Seth Jones; or, The Captives of the Frontier. By E. 8. Ellis. 88 Canada Chet, the Counterfeiter Chief. By E. L. Wheeler. 84 The Dumb Page: or, The Doge’s Daughter. By Captaid Frederick Whittaker. 85 The Boy Miners; or, The Enchanted Island. By Edward S. Ellis. 86 Jack Harkaway in New York, By Bracebridge Hemyng. 87 The Hussar Captain; or, The Hermit of Hell Gate. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 88 Deadwood Dick in Leaclville; or, A Strange Stroke for Liberty. By Edward L, Wheeler. 89 bill Biddon, Trapper or, Life in the Northwest. oy, Edward §. Ellis. 90 Tippy, the Texan; or, The Young Champion. By George Gleason. 91 Mustang Sam, the King of the Plains. By Jos, E. Badger, Jr. 92 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, the Red Pirates of the Caribbees. By Samuel W, Pearce, 93 Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy; or, The Mystery of the Stronghold, By Charles Morris. 94 Deadwood Dick as Detective. By E. lL. Wheeler. 95 Buck Buckram; or, Bess the Female Trapper. rae Captain J. F. OC. Adams. 96 Gilt-Edged Dick. By Edward L. Wheeler. 97 The Black Steed of the Prairies. By James L. Bowen. 98 The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusoe, Juan Lewis. 99 Bonanza Bill, the Man Tracker; or, the Secret Twelve. By E. L. Wheeler. 4 100 eae or, The Fate of the Sioux Captive. y E. 8, Ellis, 101 Daring Davy, the Young Bear Killer; or, The Trail of the Border Wolf. By Harry St. George. 102 The Yellow Chief; or, The Half-Blood’s Ven- eance, By Capt. Mayne Reid. 108 Chip, the Girl Sport. By Edward L. Wheeler. 104 The Black Schooner; or, Jib Junk, the Old Tar. By Roger Starbuck. 105 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective. By Charles Morris. . 106 Night-Hawk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 107 Jack Hoyle’s Lead; or, The Road to Fortune. By Edward L. Wheeler. 108 Rocky Mountain Kit, the White Mustanger. By T. C. Harbaugh. 109 The Branded Hand; or, The Man of Mystery. By Frank Dumont. 110 The Dread Rider; or, The Texan Duelist. By George W. Browne. 111 Boss Bob, the King of Bootblacks, By Edward L. Wheeler. 112 The Helpless Hand. By Capt. Mayne Reid. 118 Scar-Faced Saul, the Silent Hunter. By Oll Coomes. 114 ewes Paul, the Mountain Boy. By T. CO. Har- baugh. 115 Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gor- gon’sGuich. By Edward L. Wheeler. 116 Jabez Coffin, Skipper: or, Lost in the Polar Regions. By Capt. Ff. Whittaker. 11? Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trappers Trust, By “ Buffalo Bill.” 118 Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred; or, The Win- ning Hand. By Chas. Morris. 119 Blonde Bill; or, Deatwood Dick’s Home Base. By Edward L. Wheeler. 120 Gopher Gid, the Boy Trapper. By T. C. Har- aug 121 Harry Armstrong, the Captain of the Club. By Bracebridge Hemyng, (Jack Harkaway). 122 The Huuted Hunter; or, The Strange Horseman of the Prairie. By Edward S, Ellis 123 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. By Edward L. 14 atc bys h, J: The Bo: udgs ch, Jr.; or, The Be te. By T. Hs Sidee Lynch, y Vigilan’ LY EE Ee EE CR a a ee Island. By Capt. Mayne Reid. 126 Blue Blazes; or, The Break o’ Day Boys of Rocky Bar. By Frank Dumont, 127 Tony Fox, the Ferret; or, Boss Bob’s Boss Job, By Edward L. Wheeler. 128 Will Wildfire’s Racer; or, Winning Against Odds. By Charles Morris. 129 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. By Oll Coomes, 130 Gold Trigger, the Sport; or, The Girl Avengers, By T. C. Harbaugh. 181 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike. By Edward L. Wheeler. 182 Dainty Lance, the Boy Sport. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 183 Wild-fire, the Boss of the Road. By Frank Du mont, 184 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. By Chas. Morris. 135 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party. By Edward L. Wheeler, 136 Old Rube, the Hunter. By Capt. Hamilton Holmes. 187 Dandy Rock, the Man from Texas. By G, Waldo Browne. 138 Bob Rockett, the Boy Dodger. By Chas. Morris, 139 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 140 Captain Arizona, the King Pin of Road-Agents. By Philip 5. Warne. 141 Now York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. By E. L. Wheeler. 142 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger. By Oll Coomes. 143 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. By Jos. EK. Badger, Jr. 144 Little Grit, the Wild Rider. By Col. Prentiss In- Soest i 145 The Tiger of Taos; or, Wild Kate, Dandy Rock’s Angel. By Geo, Waldo Browne. ; 146 The Cattle King; or, Cortina’s Right Bower, By Frank Dumont. 147 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, the Scamps of the Sierras. By Edward L, Wheeler, 148 Thunderbolt Tom; or, the Wolf-Herder of the Rockies. By Harry St. George. 149 Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner. By Charles Morris, 150 The Mad Miner; or, Dandy Rock’s Doom. By G. Waldo Browne. 151 The Sea Trailer; or, A Vow Well Kept. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 152 Dandy Darke; or, The Tigers of High Pine. Dy W. H. Eyster. 158 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo, Dy FE. L. Wheeler. 154 The Boy Trailers; or, Dainty Lance on the War- Path. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 155 Gold Plume, the Loy Bandit. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 156 Will Wildfire in the Woods. By C. Morris. 157 — eons the Dorder Boy. By T. C. Har- augh, 158 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane's Last Adventure. By E. L. Wheeler. 159 Patent-Leather Joe’s Def-at; or, The Lady~ Road-Agent. By Philip 8. Warne. 160 Buffalo Billy, the Boy_Bullwhacker; or, The Doomed Thirteen, By Col. P. Ingraham, 161 Bob Rockett, the Cracksman. By C. Morris. 162 Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. By Ol Coomes. 163 Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, the Rivals of the Road. By E. L. Wheeler. 164 Tornado Tom; or, Injun Jack from Red Core. By T. CO. sr ohg se e - 165 Buffalo Bill’s Bet; or, The Gambler Guide. By Col. P. Ingraham. 166 Will Wildfire Wins and Loses; or, “‘A Trinip Card,” _By Charles Morris. 167 Dandy Rock’s Pledge; or, Hunted to Death, sy George W, Browne. Z ~~. - he ere Ph
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| BEADLE’S POCKET LIBRARY. es 168 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hills Jezebel. By Edward L. eeler. - 169 The Boy Champion. By Edward Willett. 170 Bob Rockett's Fight for Life; or, Shadowed in New York. By Charles Morris. 171 Frank Morton, the Boy Hercules. By Oll Coomes. 172 The Yankee Ranger; or, Dusky Darrell. By Edwin Emerson. . 173 Dick Dingle, Scout; or, The Frontier Angel. By Edward §. Ellis. : 174 Dandy Rock’s Scheme; or, The Golden Hand. By G. W, Browne. 175 The Arab Detective; or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp By Edward L. Wheeler. 176 Will Wildfire’s Pluck; or, The Hidden Hand. By Charles Morris. ; 177 The Boy Commander; or, The Maid of Perth, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. g 178 The Maniac Hunter; or, The Mysteries of Night Island. By Burton Saxe. 179 Dainty Lance; or, The Mystic Marksman, By J E. Badger, Jr, 180 The Boy Gold-Hunter; or, Navajo Nick’s Scout. By T. C, Harbaugh. 181 The Seapegrace Son, By Charles Morris. 182 The Dark-Skinned Scout; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi. By Lieut. Col. Hazeltine. 183 Jabez Dart, Detective; or, The Hermit Trapper. By Oll Coomes. : 184 Beathewrce es the Boy Spy. By Edward Wil- ett. il 185 Bison Bill, the Overland Prince. By Col. Pren- tiss Ingraham. 186 Dainty Lance and His Pard. By Joseph H. Badger, Jr. 187 The ‘trapped Tiger King; or, Dark Paul’s Plot. By Charles Morris. 188 The Ventriloquist Detective. A Romance of Rogues. . By Edward L. Wheeler. 189 Old Rocky’s Boys; or, Bonito, the Young Mus- tang-Breaker. By Maj. Sam. S, Hall. 190 Sim Simpkins, Scout; or, The Faithful Mountain Mastiff. By James his Bowen. 191 Dandy Rock’s Rival; or, The Mysterious Wolf Rider. By Geo. Waldo Browne. 192 Hickory Harry; or, Roaring Ralph, the Ventrilo- uist, By Harry St. George, 193 Hotective Josh Grim; or, The Young Gladiator’s Game. By Edward L. Wheeler. 194 Prospect Pete, the Boy Miner. By Oll Coomes. 195 The Tenderfoot Trailer; or, Plucky Phil, of the Mountain. By T. C. Saati 196 The Dandy Detective; or, The Abducted Boy Mystery. By Charles Morris. 197 Roy, the Young Cattle King; or, The Texan Sport Untansked. By Col.. Prentiss Ingraham. ae Dan’s Mask; or, The Rival Leagues of the Mines. By Frank Dumont, 199 Dictionary Nat, Detective; or, Bill Bravo, the Bear Tamer. By T. C. Harbaugh. 200 The Twin Horsemen; or, The Brothers of the Plumed Lance. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker. 201 Dandy Darke’s Pards; or, The Hawks of High Pine. By Wm. R. Eyster. 202 Tom, the Texan Tiger; or, Old Luke's Luck. By Oll Coomes. 208 Sam, the Office Boy; or, The Tables Turned. By Charles Morris. 204 The Young Cowboy; or, The Girl Trailer’s Tri- umph. Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 205 The Frontier Detective; or, Sierra Sam’s Scheme, By E. L. Wheeler. 206 White Lightning; cr, the Boy Ally. By T. C. Harbaugh. 207 Keéntuck Talbot’s Band; or, The Red Lasso. By Captain Mark Wilton, 208 Trapper Tom’s Castle Mystery; or, Dashin: Dick's Disguise, By Oll Goomed, 2 = Turned. By Charles Morris. 209 The Messenger-Boy Detective; or, The Tables 210 The Hunchback of the Mines; or, Reckless Be E. L. Wheeler, 218 The Pirate’s Prize; or, The Mysterious Yankee Schooner. By C. Dunning Clark. 214 Dandy Dave, of Shasta; or, The "Frisco Flash o’ Lightning. By T. C. Harbaugh. 215 Daring Dan, the Ranger; or, The Denver Detec- tive. By Oll Coomes, 216 The Cowboy Captain; or, Ranger Ralph's Ruin. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. 217 Bald Head of the Rockies; or, The Ang’l of the Range. By mc ra Sam 8. Hall’ 218 The Miner Sport; or, Sugar-Coated Sam’s Claim, By Edward L. Wheeler. 219 Buck, the Detective; or, Paul, the Boy Pard. By Albert W. Aiken. 220 Orack-Shot Frank; or, Bill Bounce, the Moun- tain Bravo, By Charles Morris, 221 Merle the Middy; or, A Waif of the Waves. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. 222 Rosebud Ben’s Boys; or, The Young Prairie Rangers. By Oll Coomes. 228 Gold Conrad’s Watch-Dogs; or, The Two Pards of Vulture Bar. By T. C. Harbeugh. 224 Frisky Fergus, the New York Boy. By G. L. en, 225 Dick Drew, the Miner’s Son; or, Apollo Bill, the Road-Agent. By Edward L. Wheeler. 226 Dakota Dick in Chicago; or, Jack, the Old Tar. 8 Charles Morris. 227 Merle, the Boy Cruiser; or, Brandt, the Buc- caneer. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. 228 The Preacher Detective; or, The Boy Ventrilo- ist, By Oll Coomes, 229 Old Hickory’s Grit. By John J. Marshall. 230 The Three Boy Sports; or, The Sword Hunters, ch Captain Frederick Whittaker, 281 Sierra Sam, the Detective. By Edward L, Wheeler. 2832 Merle Monte’s Treasure; or, Buccaneer Brandt’s Threat. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 233 Rocky Rover Kit; or, Davy Crockett’s Crooked Trail. By Ensign C. D, Warren. 234 as the Miner Chief. By Capt. J. F. C. ams, 235 Jack Stump’s Cruise; or, The Montpelier’s Muti- neers. By Roger Starbuck. 236 Sierra Sam’s Double; or, The Three Female De- tectives. By Ed. L, Wheeler. e By Capt. Mark Wilton. | 240 Sharp Shot Mike; or, Columbia Jim on the War- Path. By Oll Coomes. 241 Sierra Sam’s Sentence; or, Little Luck at Rough Ranch, By Edward L. Wheeler. . 242 The Denver Detective; or, Dainty Dot at Gold Gulch. By T. C. Harbaugh. 243 Dutch San’s Dilemma; or, The Mysterious Mountain Monster. By Maj. L. W. Carson. 244 Merle Monte’s Disguise; or, The Capture of Brandt, the Buccaneer. By Col. P. Ingraham. 245 Bildy’s Boy Partner; or, Young Brainer .’s Steam Man, By Edward 8. Ellis. 6 Detective Keen’s Apprentice; or, James Jumper the New York Gamin. By Charles Morris. 7 The Girl Sport; or, Jumbo Joe’s Disguise. By Edward L. Wheeler. %8 Giant George’s Pard; or, Arizona Jack, the Tenderfoot. By Buckskin Sam. 249 Ranch Rob’s Wild Ride; or, Old Winch The Rifle King. By T. 0. Harbaugh. 250 Merle Monte’s Pardon; or, The Pirate Chief’s Doom. By Col. Prentiss ngrabam,
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BEADLE’S POCKET LIBRARY. eS SS SSS See 251 The Deaf Detective; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp. By Edward Willett. 252 Denver Doll’s Device; or, The Detective Queen, BN Edward L, Wheeler. 253 The Boy Tenderfoot; or, Roaring Ben Bundy of Colorado. By Capt, Mark Wilton. 254 Black Hills Ben; or, Dutch Jan on the War- Path. By Maj. Lewis W. Carson. 255 Jolly Jim, Detective; or, The Young Protege’s Victory. By Charles Morris. 256 Merle Monte’s Last Cruise; or, The Sea Robber at Bay: By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 257 The Boy Chief of Rocky Pass; or, 'The Young California Pards. By Maj. E. L, St. Vrain, 258 Denver Doll as Detective. By EB. L. Wheeler, 259 Little Foxeye, the Colorado Spy. By Oll 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, 263 Buster Bob’s Buoy; or, Lige, the Light-House Keeper. By Capt. J. F, C. Adams. 264 Denver Doll’s Partner; or, Big Buckskin the Sport, By E. L. Wheeler, 265 Billy, the Baggage Boy; or, The Young Railroad Detective. By Charles Morris, 266 Guy’s Boy Chum; or, The Forest Waif’s Mask. By Capt. Comstock, 267 Giant George’s Revenge; or, The Boys of “‘ Slip- up Mine.” By Buckskin Sam. 268 The Dead Shot Dandy; or, The Rio Grande Marauders. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 269 The Quartzville Boss; or, Daring David Darke. By Edward Willett. 270 Denver Doll’s Mine; or, Little Bill’s Big Loss By E. L. Wheeler. 271 Ebony Jim’s Terror; or, Ranger Rainbolt’s Ruse. By Oll Coomes. 272 Kit, the Girl Detective; or, Dandy Dash in Cali- fornia. By T. C. Harbaugh. 278 The Girl Rider; or, Nimble Ned’s Surprise. By Jos, E. Badger, Jr. 274 Dead Shot Dandy’s Double; or, Benito, the Boy Pard. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 275 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 Idiot Boy Avenger; or, Captain Wild-Cat’s Big Game. By Albert W. Aiken. 27% Arizona Alf, the Miner; or, Little Snap Shot’s Luck. By T. C. Harbaugh. 279 Colorado Jack, 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 Pilot; or, The Pirate Lieutenant’s Doom. By Jack Farragut. 282 Buck Hawk, Detective; or, The Messenger Boy’s Fortune. By Edward LL. Wheeler. 283 Roving Sport Kit; or, The Ghost of Chuckaluck Camp. By Edward Willett. 284 The Showman’s Best Card; or, The Mad Animal Tamer. By Capt. Fred. 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 ae or, The Sea Sorceress’ Cruise. By Jack Farragut. 288 Deadwood Dick’s Disguise; or, Wild Walt, the Sport, By Edward L, Wheeler, —— 289 Colorado Nick, the Lassoist; or, Old Si’s Protege, By Major H. B, Stoddard, 290 Rube, the Tenderfoot; or, The Boy’s of Torpedo Gulch. By Major E. L. St. Vrain. 291 Peacock Pete, the Leadville Sport; or, Hawk, the Boss Miner, By Albert W. Aiken. 292 Joe Morey, the Night-Hawk; or, The Black Rider. By Jos, E. Badger, Jr. 293 Dwarf Jake, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon’s Man Hunt, By Edward Willett. 294 Dumb Dick’s Pard; or, Eliza Jane, the Gold Miner. By Ed. L. Wheeler. 295 White Wing, the Ferret Flyer; or, Old Dirk, the Oyster Pirate. By Charles Morris. 296 Govinda, the Tiger-Tamer; or, The American Horsemar Abroad. By Captain F. Whittaker. 297 Arizona Giant George; or, The Boyees of Sardine- Box City. By Buckskin Sam. 298 Daisy Doll’s Dash; or, The Ten Colorado Pards, By T. C. Harbaugh. 299 The Balloon Detectives; or, Jack Slasher’s Young Pard. By Harry Enton. 300 Deadwood Dick’s Mission. Wheeler. 301 Dandy Duke; the Cowboy. By Major E. L. St. Vrain. By Edward L. 302 Big Benson’s Bet. By T. C. Harbaugh. 803 The Hotel Boy Detective; or, The Grand Central Robbery. By Charles Morris. 804 Bald Head’s Pard; or, Creeping Cat’s Cunning. * By Buckskin Sam. 305 Dusky Dick’s Duel; or, The Demon’s Trail. Harry Hazard. 806 Spotter Fritz; or, The Store-Detective’s Decoy. By E. L, Wheeler. 307 Nick, the Boy Sport; or, Three Plucky Pards. By Maj. E. L. St. Vrain. 308 Double-Fisted Mat; or, The Mystic California Giant. By Jos. KE, Badger, Jr. 809 Old Graybeard’s Boy; or, The Girl's Ruse. By C. Dunning Clark. 810 Kit, the Girl Captain; or, The Mad Sailor’s Legacy. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham, 311 Frio Fred in Texas. By Buckskin Sam. 312 The Detective Road-Agent; or, The Miners of Sassafras City. By Edward L Wheeler. 813 Honest Jack’s Protege; or, The Dwarf’s Scheme, By Philip 8. Warne. 314 Clip. the Boy Sheriff; or, The Two Crooks of Montana, By Edward Willet. 315 Tom, the Arizona Sport; or, Howling Hank from Hard Luck. By Major E. L. St. Vrain. 816 The Street-Arab Detective; or, Dick Dorgan’s Double Dealing. By Charles Morris. 817 Buckskin Ben of Texas; or, Single-Eye’s Plucky Pards. By Buckskin Sam. 818 Colorado Charlie’s Detective Dash; or, The Cattle Kings. By Edward L. Wheeler. 319 Frisky Frank in Idaho; or, Old Skinflint the et els By Roger Starbuck. Ready Feb, 19. 820 Cool Sam’s Girl Pard; or, Captain Dick and His Texans. By T. C. Harbaugh. Ready Feb. 26. $21 Billy, the Kid from Frisco; or, Silver Mask’s Clew. By J. C. Cowdrick. Ready March 5. Brapvuer’s Pocket Liprary is for sale by all News- dealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on re- ceipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ApAms, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York, : By