Deadwood Dick Library (v. 3) (1899 12 06)

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PISA FE Copyright 1881-1887, by Beadle & Adams. Ent red at Post Office. New York. N. Y., as second class matter. Mar. 15, 1800. < Cie J. IVER s & CO., Publishers é Issued Weekly. alli i Price 5 Cents 0, 39, an A eieriass ‘James Sullivan, Proprietor,) ACO ENE, Dee: 6, 1899. 379 Pearl Street, New York. $2.50 a Year, Vol. Ill. ™ HOW DEADWOOD DICK CAME TO THE RESCUE, (

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EDWARD L. WHEELER'S DEADWOOD DICK, JR. NOVELS IN Deadwood Dick, Crescent Sign. Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, J Deadwood Dick, Jr., 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., 578 Deadwood Dick, Jr, 584 Deadwood Dick, J 595 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 600 Deadwaod Dick, Jr.. 606 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ 612 Deadwood Dick, Jr., 618 Deadwood Dick, Jr: Deadwood Dick, Jr. Deadwood Dick, Jr. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ Deadwood Dick, Jr. Deadwood Dick, Jr., Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ Deadwood lick, Jr. Deadwood Dick, Jr. Deadwood Dick, Jr. 5 Deadwood Dick, Jr. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deadwood Dick, Jr. Deadwood Dick, Jr. Deadwood Dick, Jr., r., the Wild West Vidocq. Deadwood Dick, Jr, Deadwood Dick, Jr., Deadwood Dick, Jr., Jr., 624 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 630 Deadwood Dick, Jr., 636 Deadwood Dick, Jr., 642 Deadwood Dick, Jr., THE HALF-DIME LIBRARY. Price 5 Cents per Copy. or, The Crimson Jr’s, Defiance: ’s, Full Hand. ’s, Big Round-Up. s, Racket at Clainy 10. s, Corral. *s, Dog Detective. in Deadwood. s, Compact. *s, Inheritance. s, Diggings. ’s, Deliverance. ’s, Protege. Three. ‘s, Danger Ducks. *s, Death Hunt. in Texas. on His Mettle. in Gotham. in Boston. in Philadelphia. in Chicago. Afloat. r., in Denver, 590 Deadwood Dick, Jr. s, Decree. , in Beelzebub’s Basin. at Coney Island. s, Leadville Lay. in Detroit. in Cincinnati. , in Nevada. in No Man’s Land. After the Queer. in Buffalo. 648 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Chase Across the Continent. 654 Deadwood Dick, Jr., glers. 660 Deadwood Dick, ey 666 Deadwood Dick, 672 Deadwood Dick, as 678 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ 684 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 690 Deadwood Dick, Jro 695 Deadwood Dick, Jr.. 700 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ 704 Deadwood Dick, Jr.. 710 Deadwood Dick, Jr. For sale by all newsdealers or sent, postpaid, on receipt of price, 5c. per copy, by the publisial ers, M. J. IVERS & CO., 379 Peart Street, New York Crry. Among the Smug- s, Insurance Case. , Back in the Mines, , in Durango. s, Discovery. s, Dazzle. s, Dollars. at Danger Divide. s, Drop. at Jack-Pot. , at San Francisco. 716 Deadwood Dick, 722 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dominoes. 728 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguise. 734 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Deal. 40 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death-Watch. 47 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Doublet. ) 5 6 Jr.’s, Still Hunt. 52 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death-Blow. 8 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Strait. 4 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Lone Hand. 770 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Defeat. 776 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Resurrection. 782 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dark Days. 787 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Defied. 792 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Device. 797 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Venture, 802 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Diamond Dice. 807 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Royal Flush. 812 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Head-Off. 816 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Rival. 822 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Boom. 828 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Scoop. 834 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Proxy. 840 Deadwood Dick, J r.’s, Clutch. 845 Deadwood Dick, Jr,’s, High Horse. 852 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Devil’s Gulch. 858 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death-Hole be 863 Deadwood Dick. Jr.°s, Bombshell. 870 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Mexico. 876 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Decoy Duck. 882 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Siiver Pocket. 891 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dead-Sure Game. 898 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Double Drive. 904 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Trade-Mark. 910 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Tip-Top. 916 Deadwood Dick, Jr.°s, Double-Decker. 928 Deadwood Dick, Jr , at Dollarville. 934 Deadwood Dick, Jr, at Flush Flats. 940 Deadwood Dick, Jr.°s, Shake-Up. 946 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Double Drop. 951 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Right Bower. 957 Deadwood Dick, Jr.‘s, Ten-Strike. 965 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Gold Dust. 971 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Oath. 977 Deadwood Dick, Jr.” _ Death: Doom. 980 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Best Card. 992 Deadwood Dick, Jr. : ot Gold Dust, 998 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Big Play. 1005 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Branded. 1011 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ 's, Dutch Pard. 1018 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Big Four. ee ee ene See, ay ee r ¥

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10) “7 Ps Q a. ‘ 7 . vopvright 1881-1887, by Beadle & Adams. Entered at Post Office, New York, N. Y., as second class matter, Mar, 15, 189% { 3 erinn ace a Tem er rar! ag Ta Weels M. J. IVERS & CO., Publishers ~ \ No, 39, ig aac (James Sullivan, Proprietor,) é Price F Cents. Miz | iH] ear See . 379 Pearl Street, New York. $2.50 a Year. vOl, Ws =— : = aE SS I} i

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Deadwood Dick’s Doom; Calamity Jane’s Last Adventure. A TALE OF DEATH NOTCH. BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF “ DEADWOOD DICK” NOVELS, ‘‘ ROSE- BUD ROB” NOVELS, ‘! WILD FRANK,” HIC., ETC., ETC. CHAPTER I. TOO LATE FOR THE STAGE, Drara Norcen! Did you ever hear of a more uninviting name for a place, dear reader? If so, you eould not well find a harder hole, where dwelt humanity than Death Notch, along the whole golden slope of the West. It was said that nobody but rascals and roughs could exist in that lone mining-camp, which was confirmed by the fact that it was seldom the weekly stage brought ax one there, who had come to settle, Even the Government officials, cognizant of the lawlessness within the borders of Death Notch, hesitated to interfere, because of the desperate character of the resi- dents—bardest of the hard. The town ed ina sort of mountain-surround- ed basin, on the route from Pioche, Nevada, to Helena, Montana, and had formerly been an In- |, dian camp, until a ‘ well-heeled” but notorious young gambler named Piute Dave had come along and driven the reds away, as he was able to do, having a backing of some forty rufflans of hisown stamp. .. There being but a comparative handful of the reds, they had been scattered, when Piute Dave and his gang went to prospecting, and in a short time discovered paying-dirt. Since that the population had gradually in- ereased to a hundred and fifty people, nearly alk of the ruffian type, and all under the order of the man, Piute Dave, wko ruled as a king over the others. In the days when the Indians had held posses- sion, the town had been called Sequoy; after- ward it had been named Golden Eagle, until a few months past, when, by vote, it had been re-christened Death Notch. Of course there was a reason for this—a rea- son both peculiar and striking. When the Indians had been driven forth, their chief, Red Hatchet, had declared ven- geance upon the pale-face intruders, and cursed the town, vowing to kill off every pale-face who should enter it, and to mark each death by a notch upon the council-pole. This pole was a tall young pine that grew stat the edge of the town, and around which it had been the custom of the tribe to hold council. . Nor had the chief lied. For several years he and the members of his tribe had waged warfare Hon the usurpers, and a score or more had bit the dust, and a notch ~ upon the council-treo had recorded each stroke __ of vengeance, Deadwood Dick’s Doom. ern NR ET But, as Piute Dave constantly added new roughs to his gang, the Indians also gradually diminished, until no more death notches had ap- peared upon the tree, : This state of affairs had continued until about three weeks before our story opens, when a placard had been found tacked to the council- tree, bearing the following message: “Beware! Red Hatchet is not yet gove the way of his forefathers, but lives to wreak vengeance pon the town of Death Notch. In tha interval of u silence be has only been a a ee fury. “Rep Hatorer,” With the name, ‘‘ Death Notch,” Piute Dave seemed strangely impressed, and at once ordered that the town of Golden Hagle be henceforth known as Death Notch. Death Notch gloried in one important fact— that it was the midway stage station between Helena and Pioche, and the terminus of two stage lines. All traffic from Pioche to Helena, or vice versa, had to be transferred at Death - Bie from, one stage or freight line to an- other, As a result, the arrivals and departures of stages being very irregular, it was a common thing for passengers or freight to be laid off at Death Notch for a number of days. It was a delay that very few relished, who knew the bad repute of the place, but there was no help for it, except for passengers to go on afoot through a howling wilderness. The Wednesday’s stage of the second week of September whirled down into Death Notch about noon, from the mountiin trail, and drew up before the ‘‘ Poker House,” with a noisy rumble—for the Poker House was the only hos telry afforded transient patronage at Death Notch, ‘Change kee s fer Helena!” yelled out Buck Piper, the driver, and then he threw the ribbons to one of the several blear-eyed-looking pilgrims who were standing in front of the tavern sun- ie eee: and made for the ‘‘licker” de- partment, to moisten his throat, leaving his “fares” to take care of themselves, There were but two passengers to-day, and they at once disembarked from the stage, upon the plank walk in front of the Poker House. They were widely at contrast, in appearance, though evidently traveling companions, the one being a pretty young lady, while the other wasa long-geared, loosely constructed colored man, of the ‘‘ darkest ray serene.” The yourg lady evidently was not over seven- teen or eighteen years of age, but was the pos- sessor of a fine figure, and prettily chiseled features, set off by starry black eyes, and wavy brown hair, duster over her, dress, a silk scarf about her throat, and a vailed hat upon her head, and was by all odds the trimmest little craft that had anchored in Death Notch in many a day. The darky was a very sable individual, with a genuine negro physique from the thick-lipped. mouth of huge dimensions, to the rolling ludi- crous eyes, and light curling hair. His feet, too, - were of extraordinary size, while the rest of his person seemed hastily constructed and loose jointed in the extreme, > She was attired with a long ulster aa

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i: Deadwood Dick’s Doom, _—-- ae | He was attired in wide-legged plaid panta- loons, too short at the waist and feet by half a foot; a white vest and white shirt, with wide cuffs and collar, a swallow-tailed coat cut tight at the waist, and a white silk hat somewhat the worse for bad usage. In his hand he carried a bag containing an instrument shaped very much like a banjo, while the young lady carried a small hand sachel. On leaving the stage-coach, the reseed contrasted pair paused a moment as if in doubt which way to go, and the young lady turned to one of the low-browed, villainous-looking pil- grims lounging on a bench before the tavern. “Can ae tell- me, sir, how long before the stage will pleasant voice. “No, mum, [ reckon not,” the addressed arty said, ‘‘’ca’se how I don’t kno’. Thar comes ank Shakespeare, the poet, however—mebbe he kin put ye onter what yer wanter know.” And he ‘indicated a tall, raw-boned individ- ual who was approaching—a man who looked as though he might be the possessor of a great deal of brute strength and dogged courage, especially the latter, for he was swarthy and ugly of countenance, wearing a stubble of beard and long matted hair, while his brows were shaggy and his eyes evil and bloodshot. e@ was attired in stogy boots, dirty patched - overalls and overshirt, a battered, shapeless “plug” hat, minus the rim, while in a belt about his waist he wore four large-sized reyol- vers and a bowie. Anything but a poet, looked the big bull- whacker, and the young lady was discussing, no doubt, this when he came up, and paused to take a survey of her and the coon. “ Hello! a nigger anda gal, hey! Wasl, *Let’s all shout an’ rejoice! We heer a female’s voice.’ Howdy do, mum? Goin’ ter settle here? We're just needin’ a woman, in this hyar camp, ’ca’se how, ye see, when ther b’yees wanter go courtin’ they’ve got ter court one another.” ‘“No, I am not going to settle here,” the young woman replied, ‘quite promptly. ‘I wish to find out what time the stage leaves for Helena?” ‘““Hell—ener! Why, bless ye, mum, ther next stage won't go fer a week, I allow, ’ca’se how she started six hours ago. No stage ‘fore next Wednesday, sure.” An exclamation of disappointment escaped the young lady. ‘Oh! that is too bad! I wouldn’t have missed reaching Helena for a good deal. Is there no way I can overtake the stage, sir?” : “Reckon not, miss, onless ye hoof et, an’ I opine ye wouldn’t ketch et, then. Ef yer feet war as large as ther nigger’s I reckon ye might do it, for— *E’en Dexter could not compete Wi’ thet fragrant coon’s feet ’— and stand any show o' winnin’ ther heat. No, mum, I allow yer/best holt is ter stop right hyar in Death Notch, till next stage.” : : “T cannot afford to—it seems I must reach leave for Helena?’ she asked, in a. Helena one way or another. Cannot we hire saddle-horses—or purchase them, even—in order that we ma. oyettake the stage?” ““Nary a hoss. Ther only thing wi’ four legs, Bed Piper’s team, is a pair 0’ oxen.” t this juncture the thirsty Piper appeared upon the scene, wiping his mouth from a recent lubrication in the s ae of a bootleg. ‘Oh! sir, cannot I prevail upon you to take us on until we overtake the Helena stage?” the girl said, turning to him, appealingly. ‘‘We have an engagement to fulfill, and must bein Helena by Saturday night, or throw it up!” “Sorry, mum, but my route don’t go no. further than heer, an’ I can’t accommodate ye!” the worthy Piper piped, taking a chew of tobacco. “But I will iP, you for it—I’ll give you twenty dollars, if you will put us on board the Helena stage.” ““Couldn’t tech me wi’ a hundred dollars, mum, fer I ain’tin need’ tin. Ye kin git ’com- mydations at Poker Jack’s ranch, till next week, an’ I allow ef ye kin flip ther boards bee purty wi’out hidin’ ther ace up yer sleeve, ther boys won't let ye git lonesum.” “T don’t thank you for your assurance, sir!” was the haughty reply. ‘ Come, Nic, let’s see if we can get a room.” And they entered the office, which also served the perpose of bar and gambling-room. A score or more of ruffianly-looking fellows were lounging about, but one among the lot, more prepossessing than the rest, arose and came forward, as the two travelers entered, He was dressed in white woolen garments, ~ with white shirt and collar, slippers upon his feet,-and a round red np ae his head. In form he was of grace: uild, while he was not bad-looking in face, except for a habitual wicked glitter of his black eyes, and a faint cynical expression which lurked under his graceful mustache. _ * Hixcuse me, but did you wish to see me?” he said, on approaching. “ie you are the proprietor, yes, sir,” the girl replied, a little timidly. ‘Yas, if youh be de boss, we’se gwine ter ax ye, hab youh proper ’commodations for two fust~_ class gusts?” the darky put in, with a consider- able amount of airiness. ‘No! no! not gusts—you mean guests, Nic,” the girl interrupted. “Yas, guests—dat’s it. Without purpoten- tial precontemplation, I accidently absented one bowel from de syllable. "You see, boss, as de stage done went off an’ left us, we wants to en- gaged apartments an’ superlative substance whereon to subsist for sebberal days hencefore- most until de next vehicle de perigrinates dis yar way.” ‘Ah! yes, I understand. You wish first- class accommodations, which Ican furnish, My nameis Poker Jack, at your service, and if you will register, I will show you to a couple of rooms.” They accordingly went to a desk and regis- - tered their names in a book kept for that pur- pose—the darky as— AoW = “Nicodemus Jobnsing, Star Comediam;” the — voung lady as— ,

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% Deadwood Dick’s Doom. /. «i “ Miss Virgie Verner, of New York.” _ Then Poker Jack escorted them to a suite of rudely-furnished rooms, up-stairs, just over the large bar and gambling-room. “Tf you would be so kind, we would prefer our meéals sent to our rooms,” Miss Verner said, “As you like, miss. gage?” 3 My baggage will be along on the freight- wagon, sir.” _ Then Poker Jack bowed himself out. After he had gone the girl called in the darky from the adjoining room. “Nic,” she said, ‘‘we shall have trouble in this place, mark my word, All are men here, - and the most evil, repulsive-looking lot I ever came across.” ; ‘Spect you’se right, Miss Virgie, but youh jes’ bet youh life ee doesn’t want to come foolin’ around dis chile, or Pll carve’ ’em—cut T’se sum an’ a half, when I’se Have you any bag- ’em up, bad! mad!” ‘But, allowing that we are both brave, what could we do against such overwhelming odds, should they offer to harm us? Oh, why did we venture here? We shall surely be followed by the human bloodhound, my enemy, and God only knows what evil he can do in this place, where the people look capable of any terrible crime. Oh! I am so tired, so weary of this hunted life.” " The freight-wagon arrived soon after the stage, and unloaded two trunks in front of the Poker House. Upon the end of one was pasted part of a theater bill, which read, ‘‘ Miss Vergie Verner, the charming vocalist and musician.” On the other trunk was the other part of the pro- gramme, reading: “ Nicodemus Johnsing, ban- joist and dancer.” A crowd of bystanders stood, read, and_pon- dered over these little announcements, Hank Shakespeare among the rest. » “Yas, sir-ee, bobtail hoss, b’yees, them’s a pair o’ show people, goin’ ter Hell-ener, an’ they reckon they kin slight us cusses hyar at Death Notch, by not hevin’ their sarcus_heer.. But they ken’t, not fer Jim. Itell ye what! I purpose we trot ’em.down inter ther bar-room 0 Poker ‘Jack’s crib, ter-night, an’ make ’em give us a show, as well as ther fellers at Hell- ener. What d’ye say?” 5 te, “ Bulldog Ben barks yes,” a little, disgusting- Toping ruffian cried, and the whole gang chimed in assent. : Therefore, it was as good as settled that something was to occur. CHAPTER II. A COMPACT WITH THE DEVIL’S OWN. _ApouT sunset of that same day, in a lonely _ gulch leading off from Death Notch, a young girl was prendering along with a basket upon er arm, now and then plucking a wild flower, and singing the while in spirit with the merry hirds that warbled among the branches of the - trees around her. She was at a glance an Indian, but lighter, -complexioned than the average of ag ‘ “. her nation, | betraying a mixture of white blood in’ her veins, Attired in the picturesque garb of an Indian princess, she looked decidedly pretty, with her dusky skin, her hag of midnight color, and long sweeping wealth of wavy raven hair, which fell back below her waist. | In keeping with the wild scene around her, was she, and yet happy and free from care as the merry little chipmunk that darted across her path and disappeared in the shrubbery. ‘Pretty mountain doves a-cooing, ~ Sturdy robins gone a-wooing— Wonder what all birds are dohig, So happy, all, they seem,” she sung; as she stoppéd to pluck a pretty bios- som from its stalk. iy : “ And, by the way, little bird, suppose you tell us what you are doing,” a voice exclaimed, and the owner, a tall, well-dressed man, of pre- possessing countenance, and the owner of a monstrous mustache, stepped from a clump of bushes where he had hitherto been concealed. The Indian girl started violently, at sight of him, and would have run away, but he stepped quickly forward and seized her by the ar j ™., “Hold on! pretty bird! Don’t be scared, I will not harm you!” he said, laughingly. ‘I simply want to have a talk with you,” “Nol! no! Siska does not know pale-face; he must let her go.” . But 2: can’t do that just yet. Come to this og and sit down and answer some questions w ich I shall ask you, and then I will let you oO. And still retaining a hold of her hand and ary Be forced her to a seat upon a fallen tree, close by. “There,” he said, when they were both seated. ‘‘Now we are all prepared for a nice little chat,” , e The girl did not reply. She was evidently greatly frightened, for she was trembling like a leaf. ‘ The stranger noted the fact. “Don’t be afraid, my girl,” he repeated, ‘‘ 1’ll not hurt you. Now, to begin with, I want you to_ tell me how far it is from here to a place called Death Notch?” \ ‘* A couple of miles, or so.” “Ah! so near, Well, ’'m in luck. Now,; what is your name?” { “Siska, sir, Please let me go. Red Hatchet would be very angry if he knew I spoke to a pale-face.” it “Oh, he would, eh? So he’s one of those ret old bucks, who is dead set on the white race “Red Hatchet is a great warrior, and his en- ger is to be feared.” ‘Well, then, when you see him next, tell him to slice me a chunk of it, Preighing about | half a pound, and send it down to Death Notch, Now, Siska, you seem to be a pretty nice girl —how’d you like to go along with me to Death Notch, an’ keep house fer me in a snug little ten by twenty?” ; “No, no! Siska not like it. She must re “Ob, don’t be in a hurry. ‘Til give you Jo to the wigwam of her father.”

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Deadwood Dick’s Doom. ‘ : 5 of gold rings and other trinkets with me—and plenty of money.” “No, no!” the girl repeated, impatiently. **Siska not like pale-face—no go with pale-face. Let the Indian girl loose, so that she can return to her father’s lodge.” »** Well, then you must give me a kiss, my bird of the wilderness, and you can go.” “No, no! Siska not kiss pale-face,” she an- swered, struggling to release herself. ‘‘ Pale- sae ae man, and Red Hatchet be angry at im. “That don’t matter tome. A kiss I’m going to have before you go, or my name's not Carrol Carner. So pucker up those pretty lips, my beauty, and submit to the inevitable.” ‘*No, no! Helj—help!” she screamed, strug- gling so violently that he found it impossible to accomplish his design. “Curse you! you are as strong as a young if you will go bear,” he gritted, savagely. ‘‘ Aha! I have you now, though, and now for my kiss!” Not by a jugful, stranger!” a stern voice cried, accompanied by rapidly approaching foot- steps, and the next instant Carrol Carner found himself lying at full length upon the ground, while over him stood a handsome fellow in sportish-dress—valiant Deadwood Dick. “Hal ha!” he laughed, sarcastically—t what a figure you cut now, don’t you, ele presumin; pilgrim? ‘You reckoned you had this little girl dead to rights, didn’t you, you infernal skunk, beeause she was alone and unprotected? But, you see, all signs fail, when the wind blows me down!” ‘The devil taka you,” Carrol Carner cried, arising to a sitting posture and rubbing bis cheek where the imprint 6f Deadwood Dick’s knuckles were yet to be seen. ‘‘ Who are you, that you have this audacity?” ‘A cuss from Custer—a bulldog from Boze- man—a diabolical devil from Deadwood,” Dick replied, dryly. ‘I don’t carry any visiting cards with me, as [ generally: have a sheriff or mar- shal after me who carries them and posts ’em up in every convenient place, viz. :—‘ Five Hundred Dollars reward for the capture of the‘notorious outlaw, Deadwood Dick, dead or alive.’ Seen any of them gentle little reminders up in this section?” Seat “Tf I had, I should use my own judgment about imparting the information to you,” Car- rol.growled, arising to a standing position. ‘I seeath to know what business you had to strike me? . , “The business of being a consolidated protec- tive association for the protection of widders and orphans an’ weak humans generally. I found ou, an ca spel eae knave, attempting to kiss tis’ against; her will, and I very naturally lost control of my pugilistic members to that ex- tent that you immediately let her alone and set down.” ead at “You shall answer for the insult, sir. I am going to Death Notch. If you take pains to come there also, I’ll punish you severely.” _ * Karect!” Deadwood Dick assented, with a taunting bow. ‘‘ You may look for me to-night, Senator. Be kind enough to precipitate’ strianize hence = is doubtless very disagreeable to this young ady. : ““Yes, Dll go, but remember, you shall yet repent your insult to me!” Carner replied fiercely: “For fear I may forget the admonition, per- haps I'd best write it down in my diary,” was the sport’s parting shot, as the stranger turned and stalked down the gulch, When he had gone from view, Dick turned to the Indian girl, who stood a few paces away, regarding him with surprise in her big black eyes. : ‘ “There, miss, I’ve banished the snake, and you need have no fear of his harming you,” he said, gallantly. ‘‘ Luck always lets me happen along to lay out such reptiles ashe.” - “Pale-face brave very good, and Siska is grateful to him for driving off the bad pale- face,” the girl replied, her eyes rr alg up, won- derfully. ‘Red Hatchet be very glad, when Siska tells him.” “Ah! so you are the daughter of the stern- _ handed chief, Red Hatchet, are you?” ‘Lam. Whet does Deadwood Dick know of Red Hatchet?” “Oh! So you infer that I am Deadwood Dick, eh? You are sharp! I heard the history of Red Hatchet and Death Notch, beforeI came fae way, I allow Death Notch is a pretty tough wn. : ‘* Its lodges are filled with bad men, and Red — Hatchet has placed a curse upon their heads, _ and all who enter the town to stay. Surely you are not going there?” “Well, reckon so. Thought. I'd drop down that way, see if any one was in trouble, and if 80, help ’em out.” ‘*Then, let Siska give you a token, to always shield. you from the vengeance of Red Hatchet or his agents,” and she tooka large tinstarfrom — her pocket, with a ribbor attached to it, and inned it to Dick’s vest; then, turning, she waved — er hand at him, and darted into the forest with the speed of a young antelope. Far up the mountain-side, not noticeable from Death Notch, yet from where the town was plainly visible, nestling in the basin, was a great projecting crag, the top of which was a plateau as level asa floor. From the outer edge of the crag to the yawning abyssamong themountains — bes a sheer descent of mayhap five hundred — eet. mountain from which the crag projected, a low range of hills intervening, but was plainly yjsible from the plateau with the naked eye, be- i pnt over a mile distant on a hee-line. ~ eated upon a camp-stool on this plateau, on the afternoon of the day which opens our story, engaged in a survey of the town through a pow- - ae erful field-glass, was an old Indian of bent form and wrinkled features—the wreck of a once great warrior, now almost in his second child- hood from old age. eee. This was the father of the girl Siska~Red | Hatchet. , : nite For hours he had sat there and studied the town through his glass, the varying ressions f his countenance, and the glitter of Death Notch was not at the foot of the | =

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of his own blood and color. baleful eyes proving that'a revengeful spirit yet rankled in his breast. “Tho stage brings two new-comers,” he mut- tered, in good English, proving that he was not untutored, like many of his race, young pale-face squaw—the other a son of the South. I wonder what brings them? It cannot be that they know of the curse that rests upon the place and all who enter it.” Then for a long time the outcast chief was si- lent, but watchful, until a man sauntered along down the street whom he recognized through the glass, though to the naked eye the man looked but a pigmy from the cliff. : “ Thav is Piute Dave—devil pale-face!” the ebief gritted, florcely, ‘ Red Hatchet hates him more than all the rest, and yet he lives and en- joys Red Hatchet’s possessions, heedless of warn- ings of death and destruction, He knows Red Hatchet is too old and feeble to take the war- path—therefore he defies me. —they all shall die, for Red Hatchet has sworn to ald new notches to the council-pole—records of the daath of those who drove him and his tribe forth from Sequoy, even if he has to hire it dos. Oh! how Red Hatchet hates yonder sebtlement of pale-faces!” ; ‘And why this hatred, red-man? Why this desire to exterminate the people in yonder town?” a voice asked, so near to the old chief, et he turned with a startled growl, and be- 2. — Not what might have been correctly termed a man, buf more Sop bORHpiely ahuman wild beast, for if; had all the appearance of a wild animal, with the dwarfed shape of man. The face was entirely covered with hair, the head was hatless, the dwarfed, hump-backed figure was clad in ragged dirty garments; the nails up- on the fingers were long and like the talons of some wild bird. ? In the eyes there burnt a wild unnatural fire, and the hair upon the head stood in all directions, making the head appear double its real size. F Red Hatchet gave vent to a startled grunt at sight of this strange being; indeed, who ‘would- n’t, for it was not an ohject calculated to inspire any one with the bravest feelings. ‘Ugh! debbil!” the chief uttered, for that was the nearest thing he could compare the in- truder to; : Vos, devil!” the hairy being replied—' Old Scavenger, the devil-avenger—the devil dwarf. ae the red chief need not fear. Scavenger arms none but the treacherous whites—those The red chief also hates the pale-faces?” f Uh! y drove the Deadwood Dick’s Doom. “One is a: But he shall die |” a concert human flesh—a human heart, indeed—and held it aloft with a demoniac peal of laughter. “That is the heart of the false woman who wedded me for my gold, and deserted me and my kit, when she had secured it. Oho! but I hunted her down to death, though, and after they had buried her, thinking to cheat me out of my vengeance, I oom her up and secured my trophy. Ha! ha! the Dwarf’s enough for ’em-- the Dwarf’s enough for ’em!” Red Hatchet’s eyes sparkled with enthusi- am, ‘“Dwarf big heap brave,” he said. ‘Red Hat- chet once great brave, but his limbs no longer strong for war-path. He can only meditate voneraer upon his enemies, instead of perform- ing it. “Red Hatchet should get Old Scavenger to strike for him. When he strikes he strikes to avenge.” “Rad Hatchet has no gold, or he would read- ily pay the Dwarf Avenger to add notches to his ‘council-pole in yonder town.” “Ha! ba! it is not money I want. [have gold in plenty. ButIsaw a jewel belonging to Red Hatchet that I would wade through fire or blood to possess—ay! Pd depopulate yonder town un- til not a pale-face dog remained to usurp Red Hatchet’s rignts!” : “Tf the Devil Dwarf will do this, Red Hatchet will give him his daughter—if it is to her the pale-face refers.” ‘*To her and none other. Swear to give the girl to me to do with as I please, and I will agree that for every person now in yonder town, a death notch shall be made.” ‘““Red Hatchet agrees. When he can count the death notches of all his sworn enemies, and is free to go back to his once pretty village,he will deliver Siska to the Devil Dwarf to do with — as he pleases.” 2 “Then call the girl. We will tap a vein in her arm, and seal this compact with a draught- of her blood!” the avenger said. apart a! as P And an hour later the act was carried out to © the letter. na eee Death Notch was doomed! ce CHAPTER Il. s THE STRANGERS SING. oF HANK SHAKESPEARE was one of the ruling — spirits of“Death Notch, inasmuch as he was the bully over all, and always ripe for a quarrel or a spree. ; ae ne by one he had worsted each of the resi- — Neg dents of the town, down to the captain, Piuto Dave, in a fair and square fight, and that fact had by no means lessened his esteem of his own prowess, so that he was never backward about =~ waltzing right into a oe ioc oh igs His word, next to that of Piute Dave, was regarded as law, and the majority of the roughs would have followed him in case of a split. rather than the captain, who was of even a worse disposition than his bull-dog compan- ion, for he was ever too ready to draw a wea- pan and shoot down a fellow at little or no of- ense, f : Favs: Therefore when Shakespeare proposed to have from the newly-arrived songsters,no ffered demur thereat, toarouse tha » EN ny

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: __ in distress. Deadwood Dick’s Doom. ite of the burly bullwhacker, was to give the | aire all on the squi vive ter heer ye vocalize, an’ signal for a fight, ‘‘ from the word go.” berefore after supper, a gang headed by the festive Shakespeare, who had imbibed. more “bootlegs” than was good for accurate locomo- tion, made a precipitate descent into the Poker House, and ordered up the drinks, while the poet witu his “smile” in hand, mounted the deal table nearest the bar, and addressed the ‘ uncouth assemblage around him: ‘‘Feller-citizens! Noble representatives of the moral town o’ Death Notch! It becomes my duty ter rise in front o’ ye like a bellowin’ buff’ler bull ter make an announcement. Ay, my noble guzzlers, I’ve a great bit o’ news fer ye. We're on ther eve o’a great event. We ave in our midst a human phenomenon—as Shakespeare, Sr., sed: ee ‘A maiden fair wi’ voice like a dream-er, She sings an’ she plays—she’s a reg’ lar screamer.’ Yes, ye long-eared pilgrims, yer ‘umble sar- vint has jest made the diskivery that Sara Bernhardt Nillson, the famous singer is hyer in Death Notch—she who has appeared afore all -ther crowned heads o’ Europe an’ Ethiopia. An" what d’ye think, my noble council- men and tax-payers?) What d’ye surmise this distinguished singist perposes ter do? Why! _ thunderation, sirs! she calculates ter give our critical city o’ Death Notch ther death shake, _ an’ not open her vocal bugle short o’ Hell-ener. Now, then, my prickly pears o’ ther desert, I riso to promulgate ther extemporancous aues- tion—aire we ter be snubbed like this? Aire we to be cheated out o’ heerin ther singist vocalize in our own aristocratic sphere? I say no!--in clarion notes I scream nay! Sum im- mortal poet in past ages hez sed ywerry skien- tifically— * It pleases mortal man ter feast— Musick alone ter soothe ther savage beast;’ an’ byar’s ‘ther very beast as requires music ter annoint ther maggod yeleanic edge ©’ his errupted buzzom. hat @ye say, galoots— shall we invite ther gal ter favor us wi’ some 0’ her fu’st class tunes?” ; A cheer was the answer. The idea was favored by all that rough assem- blage. ‘ ‘Phen will I fotch forth ther’ great warbler from her conservatory!” the bullwhacker cried, and leaping from the table, and drawing a pair of revolvers, he left the room. Up the stairs two steps at a time, he went and rapped at the door of Miss Verner’s room, peremptorily. ; . The young woman opened it in great surprise, her face paling as she saw the great gaunt bull- whacker, hz “Scuse me, mum,” he said, bowing, * but ye see ther b’vees hev found out thet ye’re a singist; an’ they allow thet ther likeliest thing ye kin do is ter come down an’ sing fer’em, They’re dead fer music, an’ tho, they’re ruther a rough lot,- ef ye sing yer purtiest, an’ ther nigger too, I opine you'll be all right.” _ Vase. “Oh! sir, you must excuse me,” Virgie cried, ‘ cannot.” Re But ye must, mum, Yes ay “J cannot sing, tonight—really I Le ‘app’inted me as a delegate ter represent ’em an’? say ef ye don’t waltze down an’ sing fer ’em, I am ter shoet ye on ther spot. Ye perseeve we're old business, we daisies o’ Death Notch; when a - mule gits balky we allus drap him, wrout any prelim’ary parley; tharfore, we allow thet ef ye edify us wi’ a few songs, an’ the nigger, too, yer safety will be an assured fact, an’ ef Yo ss don’t, we'll hey ter speek fer a parson ter preech yer funeral sermon, ter-morrer.” “Oh! Nic, what shall we do?” Miss Verner said, turning to the darky, pale and trembling, “What shall we do?” ; ‘Spee’s de bestest ting we can do is to gub ’em some music, rather dan git de top of our _ heads blowed off. Bress dis yar chileef he’s ine to git in trouble, when de Vanle will git imout. Jes’ you ee youh gittar, Miss Virgie, an’ I’se a raccoon if we can’t stir ’em up.” “Perhaps you are right, Nic, but I wish we had never come here!” the girl said, as she pro- cured a handsomg guitar from her trunk, and then she and the darky, who wasvarmed With a banjo, followed the buliwhacker down the stairs into the crowded bar-room. A Joud cheer greeted their. advent, from the ruffian assemblage, among whom were many of © the most bold- and lawless desperadoes on the ~ border—men who had waded in crime and ruf- — ~ fianism all their lives, and had lost all sense of manliness or feeling, further than for theirown _ gratification. <e. “‘Hyar’s ther stage, mum!” Shakespeare said, indice. the bar counter. “Shall I help ye. = z : “You need not trouble yourself,” Virgie re= plied, stepping upon a chair, thence upon a table, and then to the bar, where three chairs had been placed. ; : Nicodemus followed, and likewise the bull- — whacker, Shakespeare, who had evidently as-— sumed the self-appointed position of master of — ceremonies, for he arose when the two singers — were seated, and glanced his audience over, — with an important ‘‘ahem!” as if to call atten- tion to the fact that he was the central figure of ~ the forthcoming entertainment. ir ‘ Feller-citerzens,” he began, “ this isan awe- inspiring and sublime occasion, when with — swelling bosom of pride, I am enabled to pre- sent for your approval ther stars of two coun- tries, Europe and Africa, consolerdated inter ~ one stupendous aggravation, Et does me proud, my noble pack o’ guzzlers, ter represent this — great phalanx o’ talent, and in cémmemoratien — o’ this great occasion my poetical brain aath conceived a versical dffering, which I beg leave ter precipitate at ye, as a prelude 0’ ther caf- — wauling immediately ter foller. Et is entitled, — ‘Ther Biled Shirt,’ an’ was founded on true in- cerdents.” as Then clearing his throat, the bullwhacker laid oe hand dramatically across his breast and ~~ egan s er Ke { ltt rm “Tit war six years ago ter-day Be When Deadwood, furst: thar struck, __ : A tender-fut from Jarsey Cit’, wae noeeod out in spotless duck, —_ ; _ Ohl ye Sec he wara gallus pill! _ But ov mone: nin a-muel

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8& Deadwoot Dick’s Doon. e waltzed inter ther ‘Flush,’ ker-slap— Ther ‘Flush’ war squar’ fer deal, Tho’ thar war sum who sed that Pete s War up ter sundry steal. But I could never quite believe, © Thet Pete would stoop ter ‘ feel.’ Down by their board ther ‘tender’ sat; T see’d *twer desprit in his eye, As on his snow-flake kids he spat, An’ sed—! Wi’ me it’s rocks or—die!” An’ tho’ no pig-tail cuss war he I thort 0’ poor Bill Nye. Sez he ter Pete—his words war low— “Old Pards, I’m broke—I hev no “ dirt;” But I’m so dry—give me a show— Jest go a V. ag’in’ my shirt— : Et’s b’iled an’ clean, so don’t be mean; - Ter lose et, would my feelin’s hurt.’ The keerds was split upon ther ‘ put’ An’ dealt—the tender he war low, Fer Pete he held an orful hand, An’ scooped his jags 0’ ev’ry show, He raked a trick Fer every throw. We laid the tender-fut ter rest; O’ arsenic he’d tuck a bowl; a He lost ther b’iled shirt from his breast, An’ then hed sought another goal, We did ther ‘ white,’ ye see, at best— We chucked him in a ‘prospect hole!’” A tremendous. cheer greeted the conclusion of the bullwhacker’s recitation, for the sentiment of the rude effusion hit the rough audience in a tender spot. Any man guilty of wearing a biiled shirt, had no sympathy from them, no matter what his troubles. ; “Now we'll hear from the nigger!” Shake- speare said, jumping down from his counter, among the crowd. ‘“ After ther nigger, the al,” ” % “Pse no niggah, sah!” Nicodemus retorted, arising and glaring down at his audience, ‘ T’se Nicodemus iy ohnsing a cullud gentleman.” This elicited a roar of laughter, but when the darky took hold of the banjo and began to ‘pound? it ina wonderfully scientific manner, accompanying the music with burlesque songs, he held. his audience spellbound. No such banjo playing had they ever heard or seen, for he would toss the homely instru- ment and catch it again without interrupting the current of his playing, and besides his songs were laughable and original absurdities, “well rendered. ; . Encore.after encore greeted his artistic ef- forts, and each time he responded with some- thing a little bétter. : It was during the darky’s playing that the door opened and a new-comer strode into the room, A-murmur of ‘The Captain” and ‘“ Piute Dave” passed among those who noticed his en- trance, and several nodded to him, and then toward Miss Vernon, who sat beside her sable ’ companion, with a pale face, and eyes that flashed with indignation at being thus forced to serve as a staring-block for a crowd of ruf- _fians, who had neither pity nor respect for wo- mankind, ; 4 Piute Dave was fully on a par wlth his ‘townsmen, as far as being villainous-looking was -gonecerned, He was a tall, heavy-set man of | ji some apt genre is years, and looked like one whom it would be hard to handle, in a struggle. In face he was dark, bloated and sinister, with shaggy brows, cold gray epee of evil expression, a sensual mouth shaded by a bristling black mustache, and a thiek neck and chin, the latter ernamented with a slight goatee, He was attired in knee-boots,” light-colored trowsers, red shirt open at the throat, corduroy jacket, and wide-rimmed hat, while a belt about ‘ his waist contained a brace of handsomel trimmed revolvers, ; He paused not far from the door, and with his hands thrust in his pockets, fixed his gaze upon P the girl upon the bar—a gaze intense in its evil si, cance, irgie felt it, by some instinct, and turned to lance at the man—met the gaze and then shud- eringly averted her eyes. Though terrible. to her were the glances of the others, the eyes of this man sent a thrill of horror through her being. She felt that in him she had a designing villain to cope with—and she was not wrong. Piute Dave was a villain—a fierce, self-willed ruffian, who hesitated at no dark and terrible deed that would further his purpose. More than one of those who had come to Death Notch to avoid Judge Lynch’s noose, had fallen by his hand, for a trivial offense, and there was not a man in the town who did not stand in fear of him, even including the poetical Shakespeare, After his singing nearly a dozen different comic songs, the audience seemed to grow tired ee herein anda call was made for the girl sin > “Yes, gal, let’s heer frum you,” the bull- whacker ordered, rubbing his hands together, greedily. You're ther very nightingale w’at our ears acheth to hear. Give us a sorter o’ Metho- dist tune—suthin’ what’ll make us feel solemn- colly, like. As my late lamented namesake, Shakespeare, has been known on several occa- sions to remark: Ketch a bird on ther wing, And force it ter sing, An’ all in gud time, You’ll hey music sublime,’ ” : Virgie saw that there was nothing left for her to do but to comply with the demand of her rough audience, asshe was alone, with the exception of Nick, among strangers, and with- out defense, % She had already made up her mind to get through the concert as best she could, and af- terward attempt to escape from the town. Therefore, tuning her guitar, which was a fine-toned instrument, she selected a ballad from her repertory, entitled—‘tMy Dear Old Mo- ther’s Face,” and sung it through in a mae pathetic voice, : ’ , Every man in the room stood in utter silence as though spellbound, until she had fin- ished, when there was a tremendous outburst of applause. Rude and uncouth apoae ee auditors, they could but appreciate the uti- ful song, heartily. 3 ‘Hip! hip! hooray! three cheers for ther bar schangled spanner! bow! wow! wow!” at this re bellowed Bulldo; ‘Ibowing fo:

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* Deadwood Dick’s Doom. ward from the vicinity of a temporary bar, where he had been imbibing numerous * boot- legs.” ‘“‘Thet war splendiferous, old gal thet war—a reg lar old hymm right -frum alifax, barketh I; Bulldog Benjamin, ther majestic: mastiff o’? Death Notch. Sweeter by far than ary essence o’ eslysium war thet old song about my old mother. I can now see her s’archin’ fer her inebriate son, along ther shady banks o’ ther Mississippi, you bet, an’ ef evyer Tt dida noble act in my life I’m goin’ ter kiss yer fer remindin’ ther Bulldog of his old mam —bow! wow! wow! barketh I!” And the ruffian bounded nimbly upon the bar. Virgie sprung to her feet with a cry of hor- ror, but before the wretch could lay a hand upon her there was the sharp crack of a revolver, and he fell, bleeding, at her feet.. CHAPTER IV. ; DEADWOOD DICK’S DOOM. Iv had taken less time to end the life of the ruffian than it has to relate the occurrence, for the bullet entering his heart, he had expired al- most as soon as he dropped. For a moment afterward you could have heard a pin drop in the great bar-room of the Poker House, so great was the intensity of the silence caused by the shooting. Then came words to the hearing of all—words in a strange, shrill voice, whose significance was ay to all within the room, except Virgie and ick: “Oho! Death Notch 47, and still the spirit of Red Hatchet calls for vengeance. Piute Dave . shall count seventy, and Deadwood Dick five more. ._Ha! ha!” Then there was a strange. wild peal of laugh- ter without the tavern, that chilled the blood of every one who heard it, so fearfully sugges- tive of a demon’s triumph it was. Not a man within the tavern made a move to discover the author of the laugh-infernal and of Bulldog Ben’s death. . Even Piute Dave’s®swarthy visage assumed a grayish pallor as he heard the words of the avenger, and-he moved not from his tracks, Shakespeare, the poetical bullwhacker, was the coolest man in the house, and that amon men who were habitually hard-hearted an possessed of a sort of brute courage on such occasions. : ‘* Pop goes ther weasel, an’ thar'll be another notch on the council-pole!” he observed, drag- zing the body of Bulldog Ben upon his shoulder and dumping it in an obscure corner of the room. y ‘ Bulldog’s gone on ‘his last long canine cir- cuit, an’ I allow I'll hey ter compose a doggeral on his kerflumex, or an epidemic for his tomb-, stone. How’d this be, fer instance: Poor Bulldog Ben, he barked, and then— He jumped the bar, accordin’; Thar waz a shot—Ben tu’k ther pot, And anteed over Jordan.’ ” But the poet did not get an encore on this effusion, inasmuch as his auditors were in no humor for anything but strong prose. es Hooagh of this: nonsense,” Piute Dave said, striding orward, ‘‘Don’t you see that you are all offering yourselves as targets for this secret avenger, whoever he may be? I'll take charge of the girl myself, cn’ ye can do as ye want with the nigger. Come, young woman—there’s roorm fer sech a purty one as you at my cabin, an’ you’re mine.” “Oh, no, no! I cannot, will not go with you!” Virgie cried, clinging to Nick, in tears and de- spar. ‘‘ Please let us alone, sir! Weare two strangers to all of you, and all we ask is to leave this place unmolested.” . ‘“‘Can’t help that, girl. Piute Dave don’t often take a second look at a gal, but when he does, he invariably has her, ef he wants her. So you mnie as well tumble down from that bar and waltz along wi’ me at once, fer I allow I’m boss of this town—an’ things hes allus got ter go to suit my notion!” “But jes’ youh look a-yar now, sah!” cried” Nicodemus, drawing himself to full hight and striking a dramatic pose, with uplifted arm, ‘“Youh surely forget de culimnating fact dat dis yar lady am my protegee, an’ l’se swear’d by de plan’ts in de heabens to purtect her wid de las’ drop ob may royal blood—yas, sah—dem’s mighty trufes, sah, an’ if you Jay afumb on dis ” Pll dr yar young Jady’s: pussom, aw de razzor from my bootleg an’ cut youh wide open—yas, I will, fo’ suah! Dees I’se a wade—an,’—~butcher barber, sah! ; ‘Ho! ho!” Piute Dave laughed, hoarsely. “Tf it wasn’t fer frescoin’ Poker Jack’s floor wi? yer black gore, ’d blow your brains,out, you black cuss. Come, girl! aire ye goin’ ter somer- sault down from that bar, or shall I come an help ae ” 6 : ‘“* Oh, spare me—spare me, sir! Oh, my God! is ey no one here to help me?” the j oor girl sobbed. “ Nary a durned galoot, my gal!” Piute Dave ~ declared, with a triumphant chuckle. ‘“ As I allowed, before, I’m boss 0’ this burg, an’ thar’s not a man hyar as durst lift a hand to help ye, when I’m around.” : “You lie, you brute! and if you but lay a hand Ly eee girl Dll bore a hole in your thick — skull!” & voice suddenly cried. The owner of the voice was Deadwood Dick! While Piute Dave was speaking, he had quiet- ly slipped into the room, and now stood mount- ed upona chair, but a few paces in the former’s rear, with a pair of cocked 32’s in his grasp, Piute Dave wheeled with a frightful oath, as he heard the words, with his hands upon the butts of his own revolvers, but he desisted from drawing them when he saw that his new oppo- nent had the drop. 2 “Who ure you?” he demanded, savagely, ‘Cand what dye mean by meddling in my busi- ness?” “JT mean that if you offer that girl the least molestation, Pll make you up into a perforated s 5 porous plaster quicker than a Dutchman can say beer!” the sportive Dick announced, with the utmost assurance and sang-froid. “As to my dramatis-person~, you may re- — cognize me by the gentle and psalm-like title of Richard Harris, or Edward Harris, or Dead- wood Dick, or any other name you like—Dead- wood Dick being my pet titular appurtenance, - : ap) es? Oh, Vse bad when [se sham- — ‘

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re 10 when I’m wanted by the sheriff, and so-forth and so-forth.” “You Deadwood Dick?” Piute Dave ex- claimed, in surprise; and he was not the only one to whom the noted title was apparently familiar. “Yes, T am Deadwood Dick, the celebrated cuss from Custer clime—the diabolical devil-may- care devotee of road-agency, from Deadwood— the hunted hurricane, Harris, just as you see me. And according to a recentact of Congress, it you or any other ales ed individual at- ean fo harm yonder girl, whoever she may be, Pl-agree to furnish him witha free pass over Jordan by the most,direct ethereal line. I mean business, so let some pilgrim of enterprising dis- position open the market, Young lady, you may descend from the bar, and go to your room, orhome, I'll agree to take care of any num- ber of these cusses who may attempt t) prevent you! “Go at your peril, girl!” Piute Dave growled, in a rage, watching a chance to draw a weapon. “Curses on you, boys, why don’t you pull yer tools, and kill this devil’s gente e ““Reeckon we know our biz, s,” the bull- whacker, Shakespeare, declared, knowingly. ‘* We allow our pelt is wu’th jest as much per e-w-t. as yourn, an’ we ain’t in noways disposed fer venture a cruise in unknown regions, jest j on account o’ one ghal. _ As Brother Byron uster “say: < Hang on ter terra firmer; Tho’ incumber’d bad wi’ tax, Et’s cool an’ very comfertable As compared wi’ Halerfax; An’ tho’ beseeged at ev’ry turn Wi’ mother-’n-laws an’ maids, Ye'll find et enough sight better Than a good warm berth in Hades.’ ” “Vouwre cowardly dogs, every one 0’ you! - Will you let one man bluff ye, when thar’s ~~ forty 0’ ye to his one? Look, the girl is going to escape! A hundred dollars to the man who stops her!” “Til take it!” a ruffian shouted, and he leaped toward the bar, from which Virgie was about - descending, to stop her. . 3 “And yowll get it! Dick cried, as he fired, then instantly returned theaim of his weapon to _ the crowd. With scarcely a groan, the ruffian fell head- long tothe floor—not dead, as was afterward aren but stunned by the bullet grazing his skull. : _ A imurmur of protest ran through the crowd, ~ but not another hand was raised in opposition to the Dakotan’s will. Piute Dave alone uttered a fearful oath, ‘* You see [hold the spotter that trumpsat every flop,” Harris remarked. ‘‘ When I peregrinate into a town I always try to impress upon the minds of the citizens, first of all, the fact, that I _ am able to clean out the hull town, single-hand- ed, and able to stand up in defense of the weak and unprotected every day in a week, and as many times on Sunday as the hymn-book orders. There! the young ladv has gone. Now, gents, what's the damage?’ I’m willing to settle. One | tough laid out, and a broken window glass, be- sides a ruffle upon the personal pride of our “sight Deadwood Dick’s Doom. friend here, Piute David. What's the expense’ David? - ~ : ‘Your life!” the captain cried, his rage in no wise diminished. ‘I'll cut your heart out.” “Oh! now, really, David, you would-not re-_ hearse the tragedy of David and Goliah, would you? You wouldn’t amputate my pulsometer would you, just to satisfy your revengeful spirit?” * Yes, curse you! But give me advantage of the ‘drop’ you’ve got, and I’ll show you what kind of a man Piute Dave is,” “‘Tndeed! I am to infer; then, that you are something Jike a concentrated voleano, done u in a dynamite to: o, and when you’re touche: off you scatter death and destruction in the forty directions of a blizzard! I had no idea you were so ferocious, or I should have fainted, hours ago, Tell you what Pll do, though, David. If your thermometer indicates that your steam has attained such momentum that there is danger of your exploding, Pll give you a chance to work off a little of your superfluous wrath, You ap- pear to be a pretty muscular chap and I flatter myself I have sufficient for usual cases of emer- gency. Therefore, we will clear the center of the room; you take a position at one end—I at the other. Then we will each start for each other, weaponless, and have a rough and tumble scuffle for the mastery—the winner to take the position as boss of the town—the loser to be given one hour to leave it, never to return, ex- cept under penalty of death by shooting, at — sight. Now, then, how does that strike you?” “<TH accept the prepeet on Plute Dave said, with a horrid laug break your neck.” : ‘““Well, for your sake, I hope not,” Dick re- torted, with a smile, ‘First, however, [ want to know that there will be no interference from the crowd—” “Til ttend ter thet, young feller,” Shakes. peare declared. “Tl see thet everything goes squar’. : “T have a plan as fair for.oneas for the other!” Plute Dave said, a villainous glitter in his evil eyes, ‘‘ A few rods up the gulch is a bottomless bed of quicksand. The weight of a man will sink him there in five minutes, forever_out of and nothing he can do can help him when once he is in it; it has gulped down many a dead body. an’ some live ones, too, so it’s jest the hole for a death-struggle. I propose that we go to the edge of this treacherous pocket, and the man who is strong enough to throw his ap- ponent into it shall.be the victor, while the vic- tim shall be left to sink in the sand to his death.” “That suits me, exactly,” Deadwood Dick responded. ‘‘As soon as the man is thrown into the pocket, the spectators shall march away, chanting his death requiem. Is this per- _ as fectly understood?” “T understand. I allow ther boys does,” * Piute Dave grunted. ““On course we do!” declared the loquacious ~ bullwhacker poet. ‘Jest as soon as one or .. ‘Itwon't take me long to i oie Pother o’ yer is kerfloppod-inter thet death’s: hole, we’re ter start pell-mell fer ther Poker House an’ moisten our ‘bugles, perparatory ter singin’ ther Death Marcho’ Solomon!” Cate.

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_ doom. the individual once before deseribed as Carrol Deadwood Dick's Doom, “Correct! Let’s adjourn to the field of ac- tion,” Deadwood Dick said. ‘I came here expecting to run into difficulty, and I’m not the chap to turn tail and back out because of a slight unpleasantness. By the way,if any of you fellows know- any thing favorable of this big loafer I'd suggest that now will be a good time to recall them before we plant him; after he is dead and gone you'll not care to re- member him.” Piute Dave made a move to draw a weapon, but saw that Deadwood’s dauntless representa- tive was still on guard, and so desisted. “Come, no Aer business now,” Dick or- dered, ‘‘but lead the way if you want to fur- nish me a sepulcher of quicksand. I’m anxious to know who is going to draw the prizein this lottery.” Piute Dave led the way from the tavern. Deadwood Dick went next; then the bullwhack- er poet and his uncouth associates brought up the rear, in single file. A strange-looking procession they made as they thus marched down the street, under the light of a soaring full moon. irgie Verner saw them from the window of her room, and wondered what was going to hap- pen. . “They are going to hang the brave fellow who came to my rescue!” she gasped, in horror. ** God forbid!” Down the street to the western terminus of the _ town Piute Dave piloted the way, and they soon came to a dark-looking verdureless spot that every experienced eye knew to be a quicksand puck that if was sure and inevitable death to touch, ap This was the place of struggle. Deadwoed Dick threw off his jacket to one side, and deposited his weapon upon it. ‘Piute Dave: gave his revolvers to the bull- whacker, but did not remove his coat, evidently . not deeming it necessary. The two men then walked ten paces in oppo- site directions, turned, and at the word ‘* Go!” ;ziven by. one of the bystanders, rushed to meet each other. It was not until they were within arm’s reach, that Deadwood Dick discovered that the ruffian - had a small dagger in his grasp. Too late! They clinched and struggled, and the blade entered Dick’s left arm rendering it perfectly . powerless. ~ “With the advantage thus gained, it was quick work for Piute Dave to raise his adver- sary and hurl him forward into the mire of the bottomless bed of quicksand! Then, with victorious shouts, the rough crowd strode away, and Deadwood Dick sunk grad- nally into the yielding sand, to his horrible ‘CHAPTER V. Y $500 REWARD; AND ‘‘ CALAMITY ” ON DECK. Ow returning tothe Poker House from their moonlight excursion to the remarkable duel, these wild. men of Death Notch found that they bad another stranger, still, in their midst— rs Corner, y= au | Ee He had ridden into the place, registered and — put up at the Poker, and was que en) tacking up a placard against the wall, as the crowd swarmed in, headed by victorious Piute Dave, and his right-hand man, the bull- whacker, : Poker Jack’s face bore rather a disappointed expression, when he saw that Piute had come back in place of Deadwood Dick. He had hoped and expected it would be the other way, for though there was no declared warfare between them, they hated each other cordially, and cal-_, culated that the quickest man at pulling a.“ pop”: would eventually be the death! of the other. Which one it reniained to be told. The man, Carner, went on tacking up his F placard, and when he had finished, stepped back to inspect his work, , en The placard was a press-printed poster; in big. type, and bore the following announcement: . “$500 REWARD! “The above reward will be ae for the capture — and delivery to the undersigned, of 2 wandering girl calling herself Virginia Verner, but whose real name is Myrtle M She is accompanied by a negro ged in ‘orris. companion, ayd is want«d for the crime of murder, “Carrot Carner, Guardian.” : Piute Dave read the notice over and over, and — pre took a good look at the man who had post- it. : os ws “<I allow ye won't be apt tet find yer gal hyar, RF Cap,” he said, gruffly. *‘Wedon’t allow of no — petticoaters in ths hyar town.” i ‘Oh, you don’t,” Carner said/ with impertur- —— bable composure. ‘‘ Well, it won’t do no harm to advertise and make sure. Indeed, lam pret- ty positive the girl is in this town.” Fae? “Dye mean thet?” Piute demanded, angrily, drawing a pistol. “Et ain’t healthy for any pilgrim to doubt the word o’ Piute Dave,” , “Experience has taught me not to believe any man till I have tested him,” was the unflinching answer, ‘‘My sentiment applies no more to — you than to the rest. If you gents ever indulge, you'll find I have an open account atthe bar. “Drink, stranger? Waal, I should cough up a cat!” exclaimed the disciple of Shakespeare, executing a bop-skip-and-jump. ‘‘ Ef evyer a thirsty throng o’ theologians tbrived in this ter- Sr =e peas rible kentry, we’re ther ones. Drink? On course we will: bootlegs and eye-openers by ther dozen we will dispense in honor of meetin’ ye, at yer expense, an? don't ye fergit it, nuther. Waltz up, thirsty pilgrimis, an’ inundate yer desert — waists wi’ prime old ‘rib-tickler.’ Irrigate your _ parched an’ arid systems wi? ther ambrosia! “5 tar o's, d. f. r.—sure death at forty rods. As ther immortoil Shakespeare used ter remark: — “*A ‘gilt-edge’ jest before breakfast, “A ‘sealskin’ yer dinner ter settle, A horn-an’-a-‘alf before supper, 5 An’ a ‘uight-cap’ ter put on yer mettle.” _ “Drink, stranger? On course we will, : take a good straight ‘ coffin-nail’? fer mine, wi — a bumble-bee or a wassup in it, to give et life? oe And they did drink, to a man, with the excep- tion of Piute Dave, who gruffly refused. Watching bis opportunity, he left the bar- room unnoticed, and went up-stairs, At the door of Virgie's room he knocked. softly, more like” woman’s knock it was, than that of a man, — re

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12 z ‘Who is there?” Virgie asked, from within, in a tone whose accents betokened alarm. “Sh! Tam a stranger to you, but if you value your personal safety, open the door!” the villain answered in a feigned voice; then, as he heard her unlock the door, he chuckled to pee to see how cleverly he had suzceeded, until— The door partly opened and he found Virgie standing in the aperture with a cocked revolver in her hand. 4 ; “T thought iti was you,” she said with more composure thanshe had yet manifested. ‘‘ Now that you are here, you villain, what do you want?” “You're devilish independent, all at once!” Piute Dave said, in surprise. “ Because Pve got the drop on you!” Virgie retorted. ‘I find that he’s best who gets aim first, in this delectable country, and according- iy, I’m ready for you, sly as you were. What 0 you want, I say?” “T want to come in. I’ve important news for you. There’s a man down-stairs who wants ye, at about five dollars a pound!” Virgie gave a gasp, and her face turned pale. “Who?” she demanded, though she could have told without ree. : “Let me come in, if you want to know,” Piute Dave said, grimly. ‘‘ Awhile ago ye spurned the friendship of yours truly; now, mebbe, with a wolf howling upon yer scent, ye’ll be glad ter accept of it.” “Between the bite of a wolf anda rattle- snake, [ have no choice!” Virgie retorted, de- cisively, ‘‘ and therefore, if you bave anything to communicate, you can do it from where you are, or not at’all.” **Curss you! .Then you prefer surrendering to the man down-stairs, rather than accept of my protection, eh? ? “T shall not surrender, nor accept your pro- tection!” Virgie responded. ‘“‘If I am attack- ed, I shall fight till I see there is no hope, and then kill myself!” > “Pooh! words are cheap! Listen, and I'll tell you what is the most likely thing fer ye to do, as things now stand. This enemy o’ yourn, who calls himself Carrol Carner, don’t know, yet, thet you’re heer, an’ ther boys knows their biz, an’ won't give it away, as long as I say ane Now, jest you marry me, an’ Pll go dowh an’ slit your enemy’s weazand, an}that'll put an end ter the matter. See?” **T comprehend your magnanimous offer, but emphatically‘decline. When in need of a hus- band, I shall select a man—not a wolf in the guise ofa man. You may inform Carrol Car- ner of my presence here, if you like, and tell him, alsq, that I have been taking daily practice with the revolver, lately, and I shall take advantage of the first opportunity to blow his brains out. Go, now, or I'll open up practice on you. Go! I say; I mean biz!” And judging by the flash of her eyes, he con- eluded she was 1 dead earnest, and took as few Steps as possible to carry him out of range of her Deadwood Dick’s Doom, ee a a Villain that he was he had set his heart on capturing the girl and making ‘her his wife, and the failure just uow but strengthened his determination. Carrol Carner, although he failed to obtain any information from Piute Dave concerning the object of his search, was in no wise discour- aged, and made it his business, during the even- ing, to ‘‘pump” nearly all the roughs in the sa- loon, who, taking the cue from Dave, all denied any knowledge of the girl. This very unarimity strengthened his suspicions. “Excuse me, please, if [ refuse to believe you,” he said, coolly. ‘So positive has been the declaration that the girl is not here, that I am sure she is here. I demand-to see your reg- ister. When I registered to-night, I neglected to look it over to see if there had been any previ- ous arrivals.” ‘“T refuse to let you see the register,” Poker’ Jack replied, an ugly flash in his eyes as he went on: “ll own up that the girl ts here, and when you attempt to take ’er away, you’re — a dead man—-you, or any other two-legged cuss in the town. Ive been watchin’ the way things aire shapin’, ter-night, an’ I allow that the gal is pure, an’ good, an’ tho’ I ain’t any- thing to brag on about bein’ a saint, I allow thar’s enough man left in me,ter shove for’a’d a six, ef ary galoot tries any gum games about that gal. An’ my name’s Poker Jack, from »Pioche.” And the landlord of the Poker House brought his fist down hard, on the bar. : That night, when Death Notch slumbered, a horseman rode stealthily into the town. His form was well wrap in a long black eloak, a wide-rimmed black hat was slouched down over his forehead to the eyes, which were covered with the exception of a pair of peep-holes, by a black mask, which was in turn met by an immense black beard that touched to the man’s waist, all giving him a dark and sinister appearance, That his mission was a secret one, was evi- dent, for his animal’s hoofs were carefully — muffled, and made little or no noise as they struck the hardpan bottom of the gulch. _The strange dark man rode slowly along un- til he came opposite the Poker House, when he reined his horse close up to the front of the building and halted. a Rising in the stirrups, and thence to his * horse’s back, he was able to climb upon the cap of the front door frame, which he acecrdingly did, and then creptinto the open window, which’ Jed into the upper hall. = Pausing a few moments and listening intent- ly, he stole from one door to another along the hall, and repeated the precaution of listening, nor did he conclude until he had visited every door that opened off from the hall. Then he came back to the door of the apart- pas occupied by Virgie, and softly turned the nob, The door being locked, refused to open, rae Weapon. : _. Baffled and savage, he descended the stairs to | which he did not appear to be much surprised, _ _ the street, to cool off his passion—and consider, fee for he drew a long slender pair of “‘nippers ee mate ee 2a

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Deadwood Dick’s Doom. -_—— from his pocket and quickly had the door un- locked and open. Then, stealing softly into the room, he closed it behind him as quietly as he had opened it. The next morning when Poker Jack took the meals up-stairs for Miss Virgie Verner, before any customers were about the establishment to watch him, he found the door wide open and Miss Verner gone, Not a little surprised he opened the communi- eating door of the darky’s apartment, and found the gent of color lying upon his bed, bound hand and foot and gagged, with a quilt thrown baer his head to shut out any sound he might make. Poker Jack immediately went to his rescue, and found the poor ‘‘ coon” nearly suffocated. As soon as he could gain his breath, he gave vent to a sigh of relief, and gazed about him with ludicrously rolling eyes, to make sure that he was really once more liberated. “Oh! de good Lor’ a’mighty! I s’pected I’se a gone clam, fo’ suah!” was his exclamation. “Wat's de matter, boss—w’at’s de reason dis inoffegsive chile is tied: up like a lump ob dry- oods an’ a quilt frowed ober his head fo’ to eep him from breafin’—dat’s what I’se anxious to know?” “Well, being somewhat in the dark myself, I naturally looked to you for an explanation,” the host of the Poker House replied. ‘' Don’t you know how you came in that plight?” ‘Deed I don’t know nuffin’ ’bout it, boss, All I know is dat when I awoke, dar I was fast. like de leg ob a clam in a shell, and wid a grea scarcity o’ breathin’ stuff. Dun’no nuffin’ else about it—’deed don’t, fo’ suah,.” “ Well, this is kind o’ funnysome,” Poker Jack declared, scratching his head. ‘Some one’s been hyar durin’ the night, and waltzed off with . ther gal—that’s certain.” “What, Miss Virgie gon’, d’ye say?” Nicode- mus cried in alarm, springing to his feet, his dark visage growing a shade paler, if, indeed, such a thing is possible. “I allow she is,” Jack replied. ‘‘ Leastwise she ain’t in her room.” . . ‘Oh! de good Lor’ a’mighty. W’at’s to be- come of me, den! I’se a dead gone niggar, fo’ snah! Say, boss, mayhe she’s got skeered an’ do egon! id under de bed, or in de wash-stand, or— “Not a bit of it, She’s bin smuggled off dur- ing the night, but the next thing is, who’s the smuggler? I allow et won’t be healthy for him, sai learn who.” Had Jack had any inclination to keep the mat- ter hushed, he could not well have done so, for it wasn’t ten minutes before Nicodemus had spread the news all over the town. Both Carrol Carner and Piute Dave swore roundly when they heard the news, but Poker Jack eyed them searchingly. “ One or the other of you know where that al is,” he said to himself, ‘‘ and if no one else is interested in her welfare, it shall not be said that Poker Jack left her to the mercy o’ two worse brutes than himself.” - That day a horseman, or rather a girl, dressed in- male attire, drew rein befoye the Poker iy ‘the same 13. House, and slipping from the saddle, she strode into the bar-room, and took a glance over the crowd therein. The woman was the notorious free-and-easy, reckless waif of the rocky Western country— Calamity Jane. CHAPTER VI. A VERY SINGULAR PERFORMANCE. Frew there were in Death Notch who had not heard of the notorious girl, and several among the lot had seen, and now ee her, Poker Jack among the rest, for Poker had formerly thrived in Deadwood, before taking in Pioche and Death Notch, Calamity had changed but little since the time when this pen last introduced her: she was raceful, pretty girl-in-breeches that she had always been, but if there was any change it was in the sterner expression of her sad eyes, , A murmur of ‘‘Calamity Jane,” ran finan’ the bar-room as she entered, proving that sho was recognized by more than one, ‘“‘Yes, Calamity Jane!” she retorted. ‘I see IT am not unknown even in this strange | place. Better peers, is it so, for you'll have a clearer idea of whom you have to deal with. Se ee aes I want to know where Deadwood Dick is— that’s what I want. 1 allow ye’ll say he ain’t here, but I won’t swallow that. He told me he’d be here, over a week ago, an’ he allus keeps his dates,” ‘“An’ so you are wantin’ him, eh? Piute Dave grunted, from his perch on one end of sete ““S’pose likely you’re a pard 0” his’n, “T allow I’ve been his truest pard for many a year,” Calamity replied, ‘‘ but) that’s not what I was asking. ere is Deadwood Dick?” ‘Well, gal, ef my memory serves me ri ht, I allow the last I see’d o’ him he was a-sinkin’ in a bed of quicksand, where I throwed him, We had a tussel, an’ ther best man was ter chuck t’other *un in the quicksand, an’ ther « honor fell onto me. He weakened, and I give — him a boost, an’ I persume ef he’s kept right on sinkin’, ever since he’s arriv’ down ter ther maiden kentry o’ the washee washee, by this — time.” Calami claration, but outwardly she was very calm. She had met Deadwood Dick in the lower mining districts, a few weeks before, and he had , said, ashe took her hand in his, in arting: “Tm going up to Death Notch, anie, on my last adventuresome trail, and after that I’m going to settle down for good, in some lonely spot, and see if the remainder of my life cannot _be passed in more peace and quiet than bee oo t am has been. Come to me, at Death Notch, C: ity, and the hand you bave'so long sought shall | E be yours, We will go hence down the avenue of life, hand in hand together as man and wife.” *s heart sunk within her at this de~ — 7, ‘ ; : And then he had kissed her good-by, and she had Jooked forward eagerly for the appointed time to epme when she should go to clatin the love and worshiped. “JT don’t believe a word that said, in reply to. Piute’s brag, “ rotection of the only man she had ever :

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14 Devawood Dick’s Doom, that what you have said is true, look out for yourself, for, girl though I am, I'll make you. pay a bitter penalty for your deed.” Then she turned and left she Poker House, a feeling of sadness stealing over her, She soon by inquiry learned the location of the fatal quicksand, and the incidents of the strange struggle between Piute Dave and Dead- wood Dick; then, leaving her horse to graze, she walxed out to the ace where the pool of stag- se water covered the treacherous bogmire of eath, “Ob! Dick! E ets she mane: area upon the ground, and peering into the as if t to penetrate into the untold depths; ry can- not—will not believe that you have met your death in this awful place. Somebody, perhaps, may have come along and rescued you, at the last moment. God knows I wish I could credit that supposition. Dead—you dead, my brave, true friend? No! no! no! I will never believe it—never, until when my own life shall have ebbed out, and I find that my search for you has ‘been fruitless,” “Tears were strange things in the eyes of, Calamity Jane; it was more in her nature to laugh at trouble than cry; but, now, everything was changed. She had never quite given up the hope that Dick would, at some distant day, recognize her devotion to him, and take her as a wife. When he had told her to come to Death Notch to become his wife, all the bitterness of her strange young life had seemingly melted into glorious sunshine, and she was happy. Little wonder, then, that bitter grief now re- turned to torture her, when they told her that the famous bravo-knight had met so terrible a fate, after so many years of safe passage through constant peril. For an hour she knelt by the dark 1. Her tears. were now dried, and a deadly glitter in her eyes, while a stern expression mantled her fea- tures, “No! I*will not be rash enough to kill my- _ self,” she murmured, rising to her feet, ** but will live on—live to hope that he is not dead— live to wreak vengeance on those who, as a people, aimed to tread upon and crush him, be- cause--because he was Deadwood Dick!” “Ha! ha! ho! ho!” a voice laughed, just be- hind her, and she wheeled to behold the dwarf avenger, Old Scavenger, standing near. Dick had described him to her, and therefore she had no difficulty in recognizing him—for surely there were no two persons in the West whom nature had made so hideous. “Ho! ho!” the dwarf chuckled, when she turned to gaze at him. ‘So you came to look for the devilish road-agent in that pool, eh? You don’t find him, though—neither do I: Ho! ho! no; he cheated me out of my sweetest morsel of vengeance, curse him!” “*How so?” Calamity asked, in surprise. ‘‘ Was not Deadwood Dick a friend to you and your daughter, Scavenger?” = _ “Nol no! He was a traitor—a devilish trai- tor—the murderer of my child, and when I found that, pinned to her dress as she Jay in _ death where he left her, I pronounced his doom, Tee of every other white traitor. D’ye see — And he held up the note that he had found on sone y Kit’sbody. (See Hatr-Dime Lisrary 0. 201). Calamity took it from his hands, and read it carefully. “This is not Deadwood Dick’s writing, nor hie signature, ” she said decidedly. ‘‘ It is old man a forgery, trumped Deadwood Dick.” ‘Bah! you lie!” Scavenger roared, becoming suddenly furious. ‘You lie like all the rest. They all lie, steal and murder,.and I hate *em— hate you—hate every man or woman whose face is white. Ha! ha! [ kill ’em, too. Each day have I sworn to add one new death notch to Red Hatchet’s council-pole, and you shall be.my vic- tim for Mere ee ou! Ha! ha! it will be sweet vengeance kill the girl who loved the devil road-agent!” And, even while speaking, he drew a long, keen-bladed butcher-knife from his belt, and bounded toward her, like some ferocious wild beast, rather than a human being. Calamity sprung back a pace, and drew a re- volver, for she saw that the insane Dwarf was bent on her destruction. ¢ “Stand back or Dll fire!” she cried, but he heeded her not, and she was as good as her word —fired, once! twice! thrice! ful] at Old Scaven- ger’s breast. But without appearing to mind the shots, he came on, madly, with upraised knife, and noth- — ing was left for her to do but turn and run for her life, as her strange foe was evidently bullet proof, She didn’t run toward the town, but up the gulch, and as fast as her feet could carry her, for she was aware that it was now a matter of life or death to her. 2 “Once, and again, she turned half about, while running, and sent an unerring shot at the Aven- ger, but they checked not his chase, and he up to throw the suspicion on laughed in defiance, brandishing his knife threat- eningly. tee And, too, he was a remarkably swift runner, and the Girl Sport soon became aware that he was slowly but surely gaining on her, In the start-off, she had go several rods awa from him, but it promised to be no great puet of time ere he should overtake her. Realizing this, Calamity began to wonder what she must do to escape. Could it be that she, too, had come to this unlucky town, only to meet her fate as Deadwood Dick had done? Faster—faster grew the chase, both pursuer and pursued straining every nerve to win; nearer and nearer to his victim did the Avenger gain, a demoniac grin of triumph upon his fea- ures, f Suddenly, however, there was a change—a_ break in the monotony of the race. é A man stepped suddenly from behind a point of rock into the gulch, just after Calamity had passed, and s with folded arms facing the oncoming dwarf.: Not a weapon did he have in hand, nor seemed he prepared for battle, yet faced the pursuing Avenger composedly. Wrapt from head to foot in a long black cloak, and wearing a tremendous black beard, | which, with the addition of a mask, and wide:

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: the top of his speed. Deadwood Dick's Doom. rimmeq black hat slouched down over his forehead, completely hid his features from view, he was a dark and rather sinister indi- vidual to behold—the same strange person who had ridden somysteriously into Death Notch the night previous. Nearer and nearer Old Scavenger ap- proached, flourishing his knife, and making strange contortions, but not an inch did the Black Unknown move, further than to raise his black hes hand, and point one finger at the Dwarf. Had the stranger shown fight, there would have undoubtedly been an immediate struggle, but his queer action seemed to puzzle the crazed creature, and he came to a halt, a dozen” yards away, seeming undecided whether to ad- vance further toward the cloaked customer or not, . Calamity had halted on the other side of bit, not a little surprised and curious. : The Black Unknown now turned toward her, and motioned her with his outstretched hand to approach. The gill obeyed, keeping her weapon ready for instant use. When within a few feet of him he motioned her to stop. Then turning to the Dwarf, he motioned him to’pass by on the lefe- hand side of the gulch. At first Scavenger made no move to obey, but when the stranger stamped his foot imperative- ly, the girl’s pursuer did as he had been motioned to do, nor paused until he stood where Calamity had first halted. Now turning to Calamity, the dark stranger pointed toward the Death Notch, and said, in a deep tone of voice, the simple word: “a Go QY . ‘* Kerect!” the Girl Sport replied, with a laugh, “Tm much obliged to you, and don’t n a second invitation.” _ And she went down the gulch, wondering who was this black individual with the voice like a roll of midsummer thunder, She looked around just before turning a slight bend that would hide them from view, and saw that both the Black Unknown and the Dwarf yet retained their same relative positions, except that the arm of the Unknown was leveled at the Avenger soy yemegnan ek As she looked, too, she saw the hand and arm fail to the Unknown’s side, while Scavenger staggered back, turned and fled up the gulch at Calamity went back to the town, and regis- tered at the Poker House, and was assigned the room from which Virgie Verner had nh abducted. 3 : “Jack,” she said to Poker Jack, who had shown her to it—‘ Jack, you were a hard fel- low when I used to see you up in Deadwood, and, judging by a surroundings, I don’t allow youre much saintlier now. But thet won't hinder you from answering me a ques- tion,” “ Certainly not, Calamity. Ask anything you choose.” : “Well, I want to know whether or not you really believe that Deadwood Dick sunk in that quicksand?” - = ~ : é “Why, I haven't any reason to believe that. he did not, Piute Dave threw him in, they say, and then he and the gang cum back here an’ leit the poor cuss to sink.” ; ‘* May the Almighty inflict some terrible pen- alty upon them if this is true! But, try though I do to become resigned to this conclusion, I do not believe that Deadwood Dick lies at the bot- — tom of that bed of quicksand!” Toward dusk that evening a woman on horse- back, attended by two mounted scouts, rode into Death Notch, and dismounted before the Poker House. She was an elderly lady, say of fifty-five or sixty, well dressed, and yet one whose face spoke of a life that had not been all sunshine. On dismounting she immediately entered the bar-room, and after a searching glance around, approached Carrol Carner, who was engaged in playing » game of cards with a miner. Carner arose, with a flushed face, as he saw her approach,as if it was his intention to at- tempt to escape, but he caught the gleam of something concealed in the woman’s hand as it hung by her side, and desisted from any such action. ‘*T expected to find you, if I persevered,” the woman said, with sarcasm, as he arose and tipped his hat, ‘‘ Please order a private apart- ment where I can see you and talk business.” CHAPTER VII. A VILLAIN UNMASKED. CARNER seemed to deem it advisable to hu- mor her, for he immediately led the way up- stairs to his own apartment, and when there hande@ her a chair. ; “Be seated,” he said, curtly. unexpected to me. . Why do you come here?” “To effect a settlement with you. villain that you are, if such a thing is possible,” the woman retorted, evant “Carrol Carner, have you not one spark of tenderness or merey in your cruel heart?” ‘‘ Not that lam aware of,” the man replied, — seating himself, with his heels elevated upon a table and lighting a cigar. ‘‘I never was over- burdened with a reproving conscience, and when it is likely to interfere with any of my ee I do away with it entirely, If you come ere thinking that wholesale tears and supplica- tious for mercy will move me, you’ve greatly missed your reckoning.” 5 th “Carrol Carner, take care!” ‘*Bah! don’t be so foolish as to threaten me, old woman! You can’t do anything with me.” “T can. I can have you arreste mist!” ‘“Humph! How are you to prove it? How think you a court would decide it? They would pronounce me an adventurer, oF rhaps, and there the matter would end. Why, cannot see that there’s any great cause for trouble! It’s a simple little story. I, Carrol Carner, an adventurer, go down to California for a little recreation, and meet and marry the — step-daughter of a rich speculator known as — Morris. Both the girl’s mother and step-father approve of the match, when I accommodate them with a little ready-made information that — I am a popular mine-owner in the Nor’west— . “¥our visit is” for a biga-— rimand me, 15 Wk BU aha Seah ake Sas re bs

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asserted. 18 Deadwood Dick’s Doom, a LT and the wedding goes off as merry as a mar- riage bell should go. Next in order develops a little item of family news that Morris has a deal | of property and an equal number of debts, and in order to save his property he must deed it to some one, and thereby defraud his creditors of all that-he owes. In this extremity, Morris pro- poses to deed me two-thirds of all his property, and his step-daughter the other third, all of which is done, legally, and thus things stand, when comes the news from Utah that Carrol Carner isa Mormon, and has no less than eight * fair aud buxom wives, to whose loving company he is respectfully invited back. “There is a small-sized tornado in the Mor ris camp then, and Carner is commanded to clear out, but first deed back the property. This he kindly refuses to do; and about this time two other sensations arise. News comes that Myrtle, his wife, has inherited an im- mense fortune by death of a relative—next Carrol Carner, in company with a pair 0 neighbors, finds Myrtle kneeling over the life- less body of her step-father, wita a bloody knife in her pire What do you suppose is the result? suppose you are full well aware. Caught in the act as it were, and realizing the consequences, Myrtle fled, not only from the scene of her strange crime, but from California, accompanied by a family servant. Smarting under the blow of dishonor she had put upon my fair name and reputation, I vowed to hunt her down and hand her over to the law!” “Villain! monster!” Mrs. Morris gasped, who had been listening with blanched face and flash- ‘ing eyes, ‘Your villainy is without parallel. You know my poor child never committed that murder. You know more about how Mr, Morris died than she;” “That you will find it a hard thing to prove,” Carner replied, coolly. “It’s easier to surmise a thing than to prove it. I can prove that I found the girl in a suspiciously murderous posi- tion, with a bloody knife in her grasp, and that is all-sufficient in the eyes of thelaw. When I . succeed in capturing her, the law will take “What! what is this—have you not found her yet?’ the mother demanded, excitedly. *“ Yes—on two occasions, but she has given me the slip both times,” the scoundrel declared eomposedly. ‘I found her at first, fulfilling an engagement in a Leadville theater as Virgie Verner, where her musical accomplishments, gether with those of the negro, bad secured her a situation, Shé saw me, however, before I had ferreted her out, and fled. I was soon upon her trail, however, and followed her here to this beautiful burg. She was here when I came, but during last night was eae from her room and the darky left behind, bound hand and ‘oot. * And you were the kidnapper!” Mrs. Morris “ Carrol Carner, for God’s sake—for the hope of the hereafter, tell me where is my child?’ ‘* Dead, I hope,” the Mormon, said, decidedly, “but even that isa delusion. I know nothing more than I have told you. I did not abduct “her. I do not know where she is.” “You are lying to me!” ‘Have it that way # you choose. I would it were so myself.” ““Why have you thus turned against her, = villain, after you married her—deceiv er and wronged her?” ‘* Because—well, for several reasons. One in particular—I don’t need any more wives, having a pretty good stock up at Salt Lake. I only married the girl in the first place because I found life rather monotonous in California, Secondly, 1 find that with your demise and her demise, there are no more immediate heirs ex~ tant, and I would come in and inherit the last third of your property, and her recént inher- itance too. Consequently, you see it is aon natural that the law should deal promptly wit her, while as for you—oh, well, it wouldn’t puzzle one much to get rid of you!” 4 Exasperating in the extreme was the man’s composure and sang froid as he spoke; it but gave evidence of his depravity. : ‘* Tt is as I supposed,” she said, rising. are Lag ope to win your little game, no inatter what the risk, You will find, however, that a mother’s love for her child is an insurmountable barrier to battle with.” ‘Ha! ha! then you will show your teeth, eh?” he said, with a light laugh. “Ay! and you shall feel their bite if you further attempt to harm one hair of her head who is dearer to me than hfe.” Then she swept haughtily from the room. ‘“‘Humph! matters are getting a little more business-like,” the Mormon muttered. ‘If 1 mistake not I couldn't have chosen a better loca~ tion to terminate the business,” Back from the plateau which had been the scene of the strange compact between Red! Hatchet and Old Scavenger, stood a fu sized, strong-built log cabin, surrounded by a fringe of pine trees whose foliage reached to the ground. So admirably arranged was this natural screen, it was only on close approach that the cabin could be seen, About the same hour that Carrol Carner and Mrs. Morris were holding an interview, a scene was occurring in the mountain cabin, which has a bearing upon our romance. : Red Hatchet sat before a fire on the hearth engaged in smoking his pipe, while he watched the flames leap upward, and at. the same time listened to the words of Old Scavenger, who stood to one side, leaning upon a rude staff. Does Red Hatchet not remember what he promised?” the dwarf demanded angrily a mad fire burning in his terrible eyes, ‘* Have ye for- gotten that ye gave her to me?” r : “Red Hatchet gave not his child to the Dwarf Devil to butcher!” the chief replied, in a stern tone; “ not till Scavenger has completed _ the destruction of the pale-faces’ town, shall he lay hand upon Siska, and then, it shall not be to harm her. Siska has become the wife of Devil-Dwarf, but he must not harm her.” “ Bah! I vengeance!” the Avenger replied, with a wild laugh. _ “To-day has passed without my add- ing a death notch to the record. Every time I fail to secure a victim, I will cut off a finger “You want not a wife—I want sweet

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Deadwood Dick’s Doom. ~ or toe, so that they'll not have it to say I failed to athe vengeance. Siska shall furnish me that trophy |” oF No! no!” Red Hatchet gasped—‘* you shall not do this, Iwill not P Sete it. “Then does not Red Hatchet respect the vow he sealed with a draught of blood, that Siska should belong to me, to do with as I pleased? If he does not, I will kill him, and then torture the girl!” the mamniac.hissed ven- omously, ‘I will not be cheated of ven- geance!” The old chief bowed his head in his hands, afew moments. Then he said: “Red Hatchet is the chief of a great tribe, and his word is good, whenever he gives it. The Devil-Dwarf shall have one of the fingers of Siska,” He arose and hobbled to the door of the cabin, which stood open, and taking a whistle from his pocket, blew a shrill blast upon it. ; A moment later Siska came bounding mer- rily through the trees into the cabin, her dusky face flushed, from her mountain ramble, . She grew pale as she saw the Dwarf, and turned to her father. P “What is it Red Hatchet wants?” she asked, laying a hand upon his arm. he chief gazed at her a moment irresolutely, then his face hardened, as he led her to a seat. ‘‘Siska isa brave girl. Does she remember who it was that drove her people from Sequoy, and killed her brothers and mother?” for ‘The pale-faces, father, who have ever been the enemies of the red race. But, why does'Red Hatchet ask?” ‘Does Siska remember being told that Scav- enger, the Dwarf, had consented to fight the pale-faces for Red Hatchet, and that Siska was to be his? Did not Siska consent to this?” “T consented, because I knew it was Red Hatchet’s wish.” “True. Red Hatchet promised you to Scav- enger; and now he asks for one of Siska’s fingers because he has not been successful in Seay pale-face. What has Siska to say? Will she refuse the sacrifice, or will she fulfill Red’ Hatchet’s word of honor to the Dwarf!” A. horrified shudder traversed the Indian girl’s frame, as she listened, and fixed her gaze ‘upon the horrible hairy visage of the Avenger. ‘Can Red Hatchet ask Siska to do this?” she demanded, turning her reproachful eyes upon his stern unpitying face. : “lt pains Red Hatchet to ask for this sacri- fice, and yet Siska knows that he has always kept his promises as good as the gold in these _ mountains. And, then, the Devil-Dwarf is car- rying out the vengeance upon the pale-faces, san Hatchet’s old age will not allow him to do. “And if you refuse, I'l] kill your father and torture you, afterward,” Scavenger said, with a diabolical grin. ‘Oh! father, I cannot!” Siska cried, covering her eyes witb. her hands, to shut out sight of the erazy cut-throat. ‘Id rather. you would take your tomahawk, hae matte me, yourself!” “Waugh! Siska is but a pe now—not like her brave self. Lay one finger upon the table in scorn, as becomes a fearless ace girl, 1% and tell yonder bloodthirsty pale-face devil to cut it off. Red Hatchet has spoken!” And this time the tones of the old warrior were proud and filled with stern rebuke. Fired by his coldness, Siska advanced to a rude table near by, and laying her left fore- finger upon the board, she turned fiercely to Scavenger, her eyes flashing fire, and said: ‘“‘ There! monster, take your coveted prize!” ‘* Ho! ho! this is vengeance!” the madman cried, striding toward the table, his long, terri- ble knife in hand. ‘t When I have cut that off, my thirst shall be satisfied, until a pale-face dog shall;come within reach, to-morrow.” He reached the table and caught hold of her wrist, and— Did not execute his hellish purpose! for at the instant he was about to sever the member from the hand, a man bounded quickly into the room, and seizing the Dwarf by the leg and shirt collar, raised him by the strength of his arms above his head—then hurled him forward into the capacious fire-place, wheré a hot fire was burning, for the mountain air was chill. . The next instant the stranger had drawn a sword from a scabbard which hung at his hip, and stood on guard. It was none other than the Stranger in Black, who had come to the rescue of Calamity Jane, a few hours before. With a howl of rage the Dwarf scrambled from the fire-place, but not before the flames had severely scorched his hands and face aud burned some of the hair therefrom. “You—you!” he gasped on gaining his feet, and eee who his assailant was. ‘Yes, I!” the Unknown replied, in his deep thundering voice. ‘‘Once more wé have met, and your little murderous game is foiled. Go! ¥ give you yet until the 10th of September to ive Fora moment the Avenger gazed in almost speechless fury at the man in black—then with a howl, he fled from the cabin. CHAPTER VIII. WHO KILLED PIUTE DAVE? WueEN the Dwarf was out of sight, the Un- _ known turned to Red Hatchet, and gazed at him a moment, silently. ““You are like the rest of your red race—a demon!” he said, finally, with biting sarcasm, “Td be ee: your child an act of merey, you old snake, if lowed you to burn to a crisp!” “Oh! no! no!” Siska cried, pleadingly. ‘‘ Don’t do that, sir. He is my father, and getting old. Please spare him for my sake.” Recs ee ies ets Calle Ly |) aly ys a att bf threw you into that fire, and al- — 7 ee “For your sake, then, be it, for I can but ree” member that I am under deep obligations to — you,” the Unknown said, bowing. Siska looked surprised. “The daughter of Red Hatchet is grateful to the dark stranger,” she said, ‘‘but does not un- — derstand why he feels under obligations to her.” ‘ “‘Nor is there need that she should,” the Un- ; a known replied. the mad rf you, shoot him on the spot!” . “In the mean time, ware of warf, and if he again offers to trouble _

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18 - With this parting injunction, the man of mys- tery turned, and strode from the cabin, out into the early gloaming of the night. Calamity Jane had overheard the conver- sation between Mrs. Morris and Carrol Car- ner, for it so chanced that her room ad- joined that of the Mormon schemer, and there bein only a thin board partition, every word that had been spoken came distinctly to her, - **T will enlist with this woman against the Mormon villain,” she said, ‘‘and I allow. he'll find his hands full.” _. She went down-stairs into the bar-room, to ' see if the California lady was there, but found that she was not. There was a big crowd of the miners and roughs present, however, among whom was Piute Dave, and the ballwhacker poet, Shakespeare, ef The latter bad evidently been indulging in a goodly number of ‘‘ bootlegs,” for he was cater- ing to the tastes of the crowd by some very qier antics in the terpsichorean line. “Dance?” he roared, with an extra shuffle; “why, galoots, ye nevyer see’d yer uncle wiggle his number thirteen. I’m a reg’lar old ballet, when I get a goin’, on single bizness, an? when ye guv me a feminine gal o’ good luks, why, old Chesterfield was nowhar wi’ bisideers 0’ exquisut race, Jest ter show ye, fer instances, my fest- ive royal old kids, hyar’s ther Calam from Calamityville; she won’t mind tryin’ a mazzur- key wi’ me, I know.” And he waltzed toward where Calamity had paused, bent on forcing her into a dance with im. But, just before he reached her, his eyes became glued upon a little instrument she held in her grasp, which mildly suggested trouble, ' did he advance further. So he halted. ‘Why don’t you come on?” Calamity asked, dryly. ‘‘Surely you are not afraid of such a little tool as this?” “But, great Jerusalem, yowd let me have, right in the buzzom—T see’d et in yer eye.” ‘Well, [ allow you’re a purty fair guesser, for I shall shoot you, kerslap, if you lay one o’ _ yer greasy paws on me!” “ But you'd git yanked fer that.” “Not vruile I kin handle a ‘six’!” - Then ye calkylate you’re a shootist, do ye, right from Shootin’ville?” “do, thatsame. I presume I am most gene- - rally able to look out for number one.” ‘“But ye can’t shoot—no siree, bobtail hoss! Thar ain’t no mortal thet kin shoot, compared - wi’ yer uncle, ther playful poet o’ ther plains. Why, w’u’d you believe et, gal, I’m ther furst _ patentee o’ revolvyers, am I, an’? I kin outshoot ary pilgrim from Carver, down to the days o’ Davy Crockett.” ~ “Yl bet -ye can’t,” Calamity retorted. She saw tiiat to gain the admiration and respect of - these rude men she must surprise them by some _ extraordinary proceeding, and there is no accom- _ plishment that tickles a Western man so much as an exhibition of perfect marksmanship. __ In this Calamity was not to be despised, for she had handled weapons too many years not to be well acquainted with their use, . Deadwood Dick’s Doom. ‘Pll bet you can’t knock the neck off a bottle, thirty yards off.” “Oh! Danyel in the liors’ den! what foolish< ness, Why, gal, *** Yor shutin’ cluss, I’m noted— I’m ther ’ristocratic, bloated— Ther purty sugar-coated Pop-gun puller o’ ther West.” ‘“‘ Why, I kin toss a likker glass inter ther air, an’ plunk a hoel through the bottom afore et cums down.” y “You can’t do it,” Calamity declared Paling out her purse, ‘and I'll bet just a ol eagle ag’in’ it. Then, [ll turn around and bet that if you can do thet, can takea revolver and put ‘the bullet down the tube o’ a narrow necked bot- tle, while it is in the air.” A cheer of enthusiasm came from the'’crowd at this assertion of the Girl Sport, while the poet looked rather nonplused, as he surveyed his op- ponent. “ Well, dog my cats, ef ye kin do thet thar’s a heap more narve in ye then ye luk fer. Ill jest bet ye a squar fifty gold-bar thet ye ken’t do nothin’ 0’ the kind.” “Taken, first dose. Put up yer collateral. Poker Jack will hold the stakes.” The bullwhacker was in earnest, and pe up his ‘three ouncer” in Jack’s hands, forthwith, while Calamity handed him five eagles, and the bet was made, “Now then go ahead and prove yer brag,” Shakespeare cried with a grin, “‘an’ when I git yer fifty, cuss my golden slippers ef I don’t treat ther boyees ter ther best ther house affords! Oh! I’m aliberal cuss.” “So I perceive, and when you win a wager | on my shootin’, youll need to bet the other way!” Calamity laughed. ‘‘ You pilgrims git to either side now, and leave the center of the room clear for its whole length, so that nobody: shall git hurt—it would be a great pity to harm so respectable an assemblage. I could siever forgive myself were I to kill half a dozen of you. Now, then, gon bullwhacker, procure an empty bottle, and stand half-way down the room, to the right side, and when I give the word, toss the bottle up into the air, the neck toward me. I will take my position at the upper end of the room here, and if you toss the bottle as I order, V’ll a to put a bullet down the neck so that it will come out the bottom, Get ready now!” Her orders were promptly obeyed. The crowd moved to one side, and she and Shake- speare took their respective positions. “Gentlemen, you want ter peel yer eyes now,” the bullwhacker said, feeling considera- ble uneasiness as to the result of his wager. “A galio’ starling qualities this gal Calam, may be, but et won’t do nary harm ter watch her very close, ye see. Ther’fore peel yer eyes, and peel ’em good, an’ watch her leetle game, ’ca’se fer me ter lose my ducats, b’yees, %d be a beastly shame. Selah! -Cum, gal, be yer ready?” “Not yet!” Calamity answered, taking her position, ‘‘ The light in the room is so bright that it dazzles my eyes. ill some one tie. a Lec ee over one of my eyes—you, Poker - ’

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Beadwood Dick’s Boom. The host of the Poker House assented, and ac- cording to directions, effectually blindfolded the left eye of the eccentric girl dare devil. ‘Now, then—one—two—three!” she cried cocking and raising her revolver before she had uttered ‘‘ three,” y The instant she uttered the momentcus word, the bullwhacker tossed a long-necked bottle into the air, as directed, with a ‘ki! yi!” The next instant there was a loud report—a smashing of glass—a yell of human pain. Down to the floor fell the bottle with the bot- tom knocked out; down to the floor fell Piute Dave, grasping at his side, from which a stream of blood was oozing, dyeing the floor. Calamity had won her wager! And Piute Dave had lost his life. Had one bullet done it all? That was a question unanswerable by any resent, as all eyes had been riveted upon the ttle as it whirled through the air. It had all oceurred in an instant, and brought Fe to every one—even Calamity, who heard all. “T am killed—the cursed girl in breeches did it!” Piute Dave gasped, blood spurting from his mouth, as he spoke.” ‘‘ Kill her, some one—cut her heart out!” “Back!” Calamity cried, tearing the handker- ehief from before her eyes, and leveling her re- cocked weapon at the crowd. ‘‘ Thisisa lie! I did not shoot that man. Look at the bottle— there is a hole through it! You will at once see that I could not have done both jobs with one bullet.” , “You lie—you lie!” Piute Dave yelled, raising frantically upon his elbow, and attempting to draw his revolver, but the exertion was more than he was capable of, and he dropped back upon the floor—dead! : For a moment thereafter the silence in the room was so intense that a pin-fall could have bven heard: : Tben, Poker Jack spoke: “The gal is right, boys,” he said, decidedly, She could not hev bored that hole through the aad of the’bottle, an’ killed Dave, too.” “A gal who’s clever enuff ter even chuck cold lead inter ther throat o’ a bottle when et was tumblin’ somersets in mid-air, ar’ enuff possessed o’ ther devil ter do’most anything, I allow,” declared an old miner, with a grunt of disapproval, and this view of the matter also seemed to meet a favorable response from his companions. “Tt's a big thing to do, of course,” Poker Jack assented; ‘* but, look! yonder isa splinter in the door at the other end of the room, that shows where the bullet went, after goin’ through the bottle.” An exclamation confirmed his declaration. A bullet was lodged in the door, in plain view, in a spot where the door had hitherto been un- ‘uarred. “That don’t settle the question, however,” a voice cried, and Carrol Carner, who had been standing since the shooting in the doorway that opened into the hall, now advanced into the bar- room. ‘Tye got a little finger to intrude into ange demanded, turning fiercely upon him, for from his voice she knew he was the same man who was dealing so villainously with Mrs. Morris, ““T have this to say,” he replied, with a tri- umphant smile—‘‘ that while all other eyes were turned upon the bottle, mine were upon you, and I saw you fire two revolvers, instead of one; one was leveled at the dead man here, the other at the bottle, and both exploded simultaneously, making one report.” ““My God! whata lie!” Calamity Jano gasped ; then—‘‘ Back! back, you devils—” as the crond rushed at her, and she opened rapid fire w them with two revolvers, resolved to sell her life and liberty dearly. But they were a hundred to one—what could be the result? 3 { They had secured her in the hard, unyielding © grasp of a dozen pairs of hands, in almost a mo- ment, but not until her unerring aim had sent four strong men upon their backs, and several others wounded. “Out with her! String her up!” roared the Bullwhacker Poet, who had been one of those to soeate a ca in ue inte Rae iP es, give the murderous hussy a rope e Carrol Garner; ‘she deserved it long ago!” “Hold! Pause before you do this outrage!” a deep, stern voice cried, and there entered the room the same strange, black-bearded stranger _ whom we have known as the Unknown, + a He had no weapons in hand to stay the mob that had Calamity Jane in their power; it was the commanding tone of voice, and his dark, forbidding appearance that caused the rude crowd to pause and await an explantion of his anvent. - ‘Stop! he repeated. me to kill. Ihave a mortgage upon the life you would take, and I propose to attend to the fore- closure myself; still, realizing your revengeful — spirit toward her, I win her for your own disposal, Select someman from your crowd who is expert at knife-throw- _ ing, and we will throw six knives apiece at a round chalk-mark, the size of a silver dollar, on onder door, while standing twenty paces from he aforesaid door. aes nearest the chalk center irl. es “That's me, every day in the week, you bet!” criel the poet, executing a ludicrous caper. ‘Right on my muscle aire I at tossin’ knives, way up ter ther shoulder; ther b’yees knows who I am, and thet my specialty is thet, an’ compii- _ in’ beautiful gems o’ poetry. Eb! boyees—shall we hey a leetle o* ther blady amusement?” Plute Dave By of Death Notch sent. “Tt is well,” the Unknown said, “for had you refused you would never have escaped from this — place alive, as it isin my power to strike every — one of you dead at a single blow.” Tt was a bold declaration, but had its effect, | The erowd cowered in superstition from the — | gaze of this dark, forbidding stranger. . “‘Go ahead, and collect a dozen bowie knives, : what have you got to say?” Calamity | and alse mark a ‘ dollar-sized Ss circle on yonder 7 “This girl belongs to E ae 3 # : a will give you achance to The man whoputs the most 1 have the — dead upon the floor—thesemen __ ooked next after him to Shakes- peare as their Jeader, and gave a growl of as- _ S, rai nm

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20 door, belt high. Then pace off twenty steps, and lead off, the peraiier commanded, Shakespeare followed the instructions promptly, and then, armed with his allowance of knives, took’his position. It was now to be a test of skill for the life of Calamity Jane, who was still held a prisoner. CHAPTER IX. _ THE UNKNOWN WINS—AND LOSES. fr was the Black Unknown who gave the word ‘ go,’ and the ballwhacker hurled his knife directly toward the chalk mark upon the door. Hurled it well, too, for it struck within a couple of inches of the hastily-prepared bull’s- eye. A cheer went up from the crowd who had hitherto had no particular amount of faith in the bullwhacker’s aim, and it tickled the poet hugely, for he executed a grotesque breakdown in celebrations of his first good throw. “ Ho! ho! who sayeth thet ther great Peru- vian Poet ain’t on his muscle?” he roared, with a broad grin. ‘‘ Did ye see how purty thet no- ble blade went quivering cluss ter the eye of the bull? This time Pll put out the bovime’s sight entirely, you bet!” But he didn’t. The knife went further from the bull’s-eye than the first one. ‘* Kerwhoop! I got nervous thet time, an’ put on too much elbow,” he cried, a little chagrined. “. Knife-throwin’ is about as uncertain as life, I tell ye. A fellar, can’t tell when he’s goin’ ter make a miss-go!” The next throw was more successful, for the knife went quivering into the center of the bull’s-sye, proalsely. “Thar! feast yer eyes on that, will ye, an’ tremble in yer boots!” the bullwhacker shouted, turning to the Unknown. ‘Ob, I’m a colt, I am!—I’m a snortin’, cavortin’ war-hoss, right from ther histrionic battle-field o’ Waterloo, where water was first invented. Here goes _ag’in fer another bull’s-eye!” And, sure enough, he did succeed in putting the blade-point of his fourth knife in the circle close beside its predecessor, Another round of applause came from the friends of the bullwhacker. . *T guess that surprises our black-bearded friend!” Carrol Carner ejaculated, sarcastic- ally, “Not nearly so much as an early death will ‘surprisa you, sir?’ the Unknown retorted. ‘In- deed, I am pleased to see your man exhibit so much skill in the use of the knife, and presume he will win.” “You may hope so for your own good, you Mormon devil!” Calamity cried, turning her glittering eyes upon the Salt Lake ruffian, ‘for if I get free, you can bet I'll make mince meat of ou. This, too, elicited quite a cheer, for the Mor- _ mon was no favorite among; the roughs, despite ‘his effort to establish himself in their confi- dence, Altogether, the audience was getting very enthusiastic. “T have no fear of serious consequences!” a Deadwood Dick’s Doom. “Nor need you,” the Unknown replied grimly, ‘* for even if the girl escapes your vengeance, she is ee through with me, I fancy. Ha! hal no ‘Tn what way have I deserved your enmity?” Calamity replied, more surprised than ever, for she had believed she would gain her liberty at the hands of the strange dark individual, whose voice was like the sullen grow] of thunder, “ That remains to be told,” he replied. ‘‘ Suf- fice to say that I hold a meres against your life, which I shall foreclose. don’t win, you are still the prisoner of these gents you see around you. Go ahead, sir bullwhacker—you have yet two knives to throw!” “An hyar they go. Jest feast yer eyes-on ther Shakespearean wind-up o’ this exciting dramyer.” Whiz! away sped the fifth knife from the poet’s hand, and buried its keen point deep in the door a half a foot from the bull’s eye. “Bah! thet don’t look as if you were going to win!” Carrol Carner growled. ‘‘ You'll lose the girl, you fool, and cheat us out of our ven- geance!” ‘* Bf he loses her, et’s his loose, pilgrim!” one of the miners said, ‘‘ an’ ef Black Beard wins her fair, he shall hev her ’ca’se we’re square, we aire—eh! ain’t that so, boys?” : bing men of Death Notch gave a nod of as- sent. Carrol Carner rose up. He had hoped to find no mutiny among the men so that Calamity would not be given to the unknown, under any’ circumstances. Whiz! Shakespeare’s last knife hurtled through the air, and entered the bull’s eye— making just half of it’s allotted number which had entered the circle. ‘Very good, indeed,” the Unknown said, “but I think I can put the whole six in the cir- Pull out your knives and I will try, at least.” Shakespeare obeyed, not nearly so well-pleased as he might have been. “J orter ’a’ put ’em all hum, myself,” he said, ‘but every time I’d git jist ready to let fly, somo consarned line o’ poetry would pop inter my nod: dle, an’ discombobberate my aim. Hyar’s one that popped in just as I heaved the last knife: ‘Mary had a little lamb; At her et uster kick, She pulled the wool all off its back An’ made a feather tick.”” “Well, please don’t give us any more of the same style, or it may injure my aim also,” the Unknown added, satirically, ashe equipped him- self with his knives preparatory to the_ test. “Watch me now, to see that I do it fairly.” He then burled one of the bowies toward the door. Thud! it entered the circle exactly in the center, the blade passing through the door up to - the hilt, illustrating, strikingly, with what force the missile had been thrown. “ Pull that knife out; I want to put another in the same place,” he said, with a faint smile. It was done, and he was as good as his word— he hurled another knife into the same spot. One after another was pulled out, and one after another he buried in the same hole, until -Carner responded, with provoxing composure, | he had not only exhausted his own half-dozen 3

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Deadwood Dick’s Doom. a cert but had also buried the poet’s knives there, too, without making a miscalculation in his aim! When he had finished he turned to the specta- -tors, with a bit of triumph gleaming in his eyes. “Have I won, gentlemen?” he demanded, with a smile. The cheer that fotlowed spoke better than words of their decision. ‘‘On course you’ve gone an’ won, an’ I be dratted ef ye didn’t do et fair an’ squar’, an’ ther gal is yourn, declareth I, William He Shakespeare, mayor 0’ this hyar town 0’ Death Notch. Give us yer’and, you galoot!—yer ’and, oe your ’and, ter squeeze jest fer good luck!’ **No, I thank you! I do not care to shake the hand of a greater rogue than myself,” the Unknown replied, dryly. Then he turned to Calamity: “Girl, I have won you fairly, and now you are doubly mine. But Ido not want you just yet, and so will give you your liberty for a few days, well knowing that you will not dare torun away. Gents, give her her liberty, and see that she is offered no molestation until I get ready to claim my revenge. Ha! hal! it shall be sweet revenge—the revenge of years’ maturing!” Then, with a grim laugh, the dark stranger wrapped his cloak closer about him, and stalked from the tavern. One or two of the miners went to the door after him, and saw him stride swiftly away up one of the gloomy guiches which centered into the basin like the spokes of a wheel to the hub. Wis Calamity was then released, but Carner had taken the precaution to escape to his room to save trouble. Just outside of the basin, in the moonlight that streamed into the gulch, the Unknown came unexpectedly upon a woman who was seated upon a fallen tree, and engaged in a good old-fashioned cry, The new-fashioned cry of to-day is a combina- tion of sighs and snuffles; consequently it oecur- red to the Unknown that this woman’s hea‘ out-and-out ery might safely be pronounced old- fashioned. He was considerably surprised at his dis- covery, and hesitated about disturbing her. But, resolved to learn her trouble, he finally stepped forward and touched her upon the Shoulder, ‘ “ Txcuse me, madam, but is your trouble of a nature that needs assistance from a strong and willing band of one whose whole life has been one of trouble?” Mrs. Morris—for it was she—looked up with a start. “Who are you, sir?” she demanded in alarm, for his dark and forbidding appearance did not favorakly impress her. ‘One who is a gentleman, and a friend to the oppressed, ma’am, e’en tho’ dark my aspect. Coming accidentally upon you, and noting your evident grief, I was prompted to ask if a strong hand could be of assistance in alleviating the trouble, No offense, T trust?” _ * Nop necessarily, if you are smcere in what | you say,” Mrs, Morris replied, a little more as- sured. “TI am in deep trouble, and fear I can obtain no relief. I have lost my only daughter, and cannot find her. I tracked her to this bad wicked town of Death Notch, but only to find’ that she had suddenly disappeared.” “ Ah! then youare Mrs. Morris, a California lady?” the Unknown said, his surprise doubling, for at first he could form no idea of her identity. “Yes, Tam Mrs. Morris, but how could vou know that?” ** Because the circumstances of your daughter's _ flight to this country areknown to me! Your daughter is a ped in my solitary ba in the mountains, and she told me her story. It was I who abducted her from the tavern, that she might not become the victim of ber enemy, the Mormon villain.” . ““God be praised!” the relieved mother cried, clasping ber hands joyfully. “You are sure she is there, safe and well?” ; ; “She was, this morning, when 1 left. her there, in the care of her negro companion, Come with me, and you shall soon see her.” : ‘* How can I ever repay you for this kindnes;? You have éaken a great load from my heart. How far is it to the place where I can see my — daughter?” ‘*Not over a mile, and we can soon walk it, Ee ee take my arm?” ; “No, am quite strong and love to . and I will follow. Oh}, sir, my daughter is of good cheer, is she?” ‘*Quite brave considering the trials she hus passed through, I judge. Her negro compan- ion is lively enoug to cheer her up, were she gloomily disposed,” the Unknown he led the way. up the pk . id she tell you why she fled from home?” es. Icame near being caught in such a trap once, ~ myself,” was the gloomy answer. ‘‘ This being found standing over dead persons does not always signify that the one so discovered is eclared, as - I could well understand her case, fur — guilty. The guilty one glides away when tke — unwary and thoughtless approaches.” ae remainder of the journey was finished 1a silence. Mrs, Morris was busied with her own though —congratulating herself on baving her child in spite of Carrol Carner, and wondering if they would be lucky enough to escape from the mouni- tains before be could find and offer them fux- ther molestation as he had promised. She felt that he was capable of any villainy no matter how base. Tn the course of a half-hour they came tO aa abrupt termination of the gulch, in the face ef — a mighty, towering wall of rock, at the foot of whichwas a hut of boughs and poles, and in front of that a crane upon which a kettle hung over a temporary fire-place. pass, There was no visible stir about the place a3~ Hey. approached, and the Unknown quickenedt is pace. 5 ‘They must have gone inside,” he said, but his words belied his belief; he scented trouble! a A few steps further, and they came upon an — appalling spectacle! oe eated upon the ground, with his back leaning — against the tree was Nicodemus Jobusing, with —

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his banjo in his hands, as if preparatory to play- ing. But he was stone dead! ‘By Heaven! there’s bad work here!” the fg hie cried, bounding forward into the ut. : ‘ He came out, an instant later, but unaccom- panied. “Your daughter is gone, madam!” he said. ‘‘Some human demon has been here and killed the darky, and carried her off, as she is not in the hut. I believe the cursed crazy Dwarf is the author of this outrage!” Z CHAPTER X. A THWARTED DESIGN, Poor Mrs. Morris again burst into tears on Jearning her daughter’s fate from the Un- known’s lips. “Oh! what shall I do—what can I do toward rescuing my poor child?” she cried, nearly fran- tic with her loss, “You can do literally nothing, my dear madam, at present,” the Unknown answered. “Tt will require a strong, shrewd man to pick the cuiprit’s trail and discover his hiding- lace, ar But, it may not have been this Dwarf you speak of, who has done this torrible work. ight not Carrol Carner have discovered this lace, and carried off poor Myrtie, after killing ick?” *T judge not. Come! I will show you the way back to the town.” : ‘What! not without my making an attempt to discover my poor lost child?” **Humph! you’d have poor success, as I be- * fore intimated. The best thing for you is to return to town and get accommodations at the tavern, All that can be done toward finding and rescuing your daughter [ will attend to in person, with as much interest as though she ‘were my own child.” “On! thank you, sir, thank you! You are a good and noble man!” The Unknown laughed, darkly. ‘Par from that, Iam afraid,” he said, with a grim smile. Still] am not so bad a man as I might be, you see. Come! let us go.” They accordingly left the solitary camp and + es back to Death Notch, through the moon- ight. The Unknown accompanied Mrs, Morris - nearly to the tavern and then took leave of her, promising that he would devote his earnest __ @fforts to the recovery of her daughter. Mrs. Morris then returned to the hotel, and to her room, which she had engaged earlier in the evening. ~ It was a severa blow, this second disappear-: ance of Myrtle, to the poor mother, whose ex- peetancy had been so wrought up by the words ofthe Unknown, concerning her safety. The following day was a gloomy one. The sky was black with ominous banks of clouds, and a steady unceasing rain poured down, from early dawn till dark. . Yet within the cabin of the old chief, Red ' Hatchet, a cheery fire burned upon the hearth, and the chief and his daughter sat before 16, the latter engaged on some fancy b Deadweed Dick’s Doom, ipe, and the -work, “Tt isa wild day,” the chief grunted gloom- ily; ‘“‘such a day it was that Red Hatchet was driven from his town, and nearly all bis braves slaughtered. The thought causes the blood to boil in Red Hatchet’s veins, and his spirit thirsts for revenge upon the pale-face usurpers, more than ever before!” ' “Then why does not Red Hatchet go forward and claim his property? Wasit not deeded to him by the Government, in exchange for lands in the Colorado valley, which the Government wanted, because of their golden value?” : “True! who speaks?” and the <ld warrior turned about in surprise, for it was not Siska who had spoken. A young Indian, in full paint and regalia of a war-chief, stood upon the threshold—a strong, stalwart brave of straight build, and great mus- cular beauty, but whose every feature and style of dress proclaimed him to be of a different race of red-men than Red Hatchet, who was of a tribe fast becoming extinct—the Pawnees, ‘ The stranger was further from the south and his features Indicated him to be an Apache. “Who is the brave whose face is covered with pile See Red Hatchet repeated, rising to his ect. former seeking solace from his ‘* Dancing Plume isno common brave but a great chief of the Apache nation,” was the haughty reply. ‘‘He comes from the arid lands of Arizona into the north, with his band of braves, to seek a home in the land of game and gold, and also a wife for bis wigwam, He hears of the wrongs that the pale-faces have in- flicted upon Red Hatchet, and comes to offer consolation. “The Apaehe and the Pawneés have ever been enemies; why does Dancing: Plume then come and seek conciliation.with Red Hatchet?” ‘Because Red Hatchet is alone and unprotec- ted; because his spirit cries for revenge upon the ale-face usurpers of his rights, and Dancing lume ‘can avenge the Pawnee’s wrongs. His warriors are all young, brave and strong; they would call it but a play-spell, to clear away the pale-faces.” ** Your words sound well, but Red Hatchet is not blind. The Apache had an object in thus coming to the aid of a foe of his race.” “Which Dancing Plume does not deny. Red Hatchet has a pretty daughter, whose beauty and goodness, is known widely. Dancing Plume — needs a princess for his wigwam, Red Hatchet is getting old and needs some one to hunt his game. Dancing Plume would take the Pawnee maiden as his wife, win back the town of Se- quoy, and with Red Hatchet dwell therein peace and prosperity.” Red Hatchet was silent ~ few moments; then he turned to Siska, ‘* What does my child say to the proposition of the Apache chief?” he asked, his eyes gleam-*— ing at the satisfaction afforded him by the younger chief’s prospectus. ~ i “Siska, has nothiny to .- It was Red Hatchet who gave her to the Dwarf; it is for him to say whether he will break his treafy with the Dwarf,‘and give Siska to Dancing Plume,” was the reply. : eee eee

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. Deadwood Dick’s Doom. ese aes Vath cen a Se at eA SRST ent Nee ee ent Res Myles stele ae AW! then another claims the Pawnee maid- en,” the Apache said, ‘A pale-face Dwarf, to whom Red Hatchet romised Siska, if he would carry out Red atchet’s vengeance, as Dancing Plume has offered to do,” the old chief explained. ‘Show him to me and it shall be a struggle for the victory!”. was the young chief's de- mand. “If Dancing Plume falls, his braves shall win back the town and present it to Red Hatchet, Shall it be as the Apache has pro- posed? Let the Pawnee speak!” “Red Hatchet agrees, but Dancing Plume must settle the difference with his rival!” “Wagh! Dancing Plume courts battle! Why should he fear a pale-face dog, when from boy- hood he has led at the head of his tribe! The tomahawk shall be dug up; Dancing Plume will go for his braves, and ere another sunrise after the morrow, the war-whoop of the Apache shall echo through these valleys and mountains. Dancing Plime has said it, and he never lies!” Then, kissing his hand to Siska, he turned and left the cabin, with a firm, stately stride. A bad outlook was there for the town of Death Notch—a worse fate was promised those who had driven the Pawnees from their village, which an unscrupulous Indian agent had illegal- ly assigned to them! Carrol Carner prided himself on being a vil- lain, and he had often said it, that the man who could conceive more efficient and novel schemes of rascality than he, was hard to find. The following day—the same that witnessed Dancing Plume’s visit-to Red Hatchet—in the hight of the storm, the Mormon left the town, carrying with him in a bundle a few articles which he calculated he would need, No one paid any attention to his departure excopt Calamity Jane, and she concluded that be had decided to quit the place before any trouble occurred, About the middle of the afternoon a stranger rode into the settlement, through the pouring rain,.on the back of a scrawny looking mule, and dismounting in front of the Poker House entered the bar-room. He was a medium sized man with bushy red beard and hair, and decidedly seedy-looking. He’d not recently visited a clothier, evidently, for his-lower limbs were clad in dirty, patched overalls, thrust into*the tops of a stogy pair of boots. The trowsers were in turn met by a greasy red shirt, open at the throat, with ac- companiment of a beltful of revolvers at the waist, and a slouch hat crammed down onto the head, until it almost hid from view the eyes. { oe dripping with the rain through which he had come, this sandy-complexioned gent walked into the bar-room and up to the bar, and gasped out ‘t whisky,” in a wheezy tone, as if he had not lubricated his internal machinery very re- cently. Nor did he begin to stop at a mere glass, for no socner-had Poker Jack set the bottle upon the counter, than he grabbed it up and allowed the contents to gurgle down his throat! When jhe had drained it to the last drop, he _ xeturned the empty bottle to the astonished bar- tender with a grateful sigh, at the same time planking a. ten-dollar gold piece upon the bar. “Stranger, thet war powerful bad ile—thar warn’t a hornet nor even a wassup in et, ter give et life,” he said, in the same wheezy voice. “but when a feller’s machinery ain’t ‘led e ae an’ so Lhad to submit to the inevit- able ‘Well, I should allow et didn’t cost you much of an effort,” Jack grinned, “ fer ye did it right gracefully, and et’ll cost ye jest a v 4 : - “Take ther saw-buck, pard—take et freely, fer I should hey given old a twenty ef thar hed only been jest one good hornets’ mest in et.” ~ Then, wiping his mouth, he turned gravely to survey the crowd which the pouring rain had driven into the house. : It was a motley assemblage of rough-shod hu- manity, evil, simster, and not pleasant to cons template, = - : For several moments he et hoes them, as if making an inventory of their different natures; then he mounted a table, cleared his throat, and struck an attitude, as if about to deliver a stump oration. =. ie phils oy ae Seog in general, I want ter ask ye, do I luk like a cuss who would tell a lie?” he began, inoratoricaltones, ‘“DoIlukary . a bit less than a second George Washington?” * A silence among the crowa was bis answer, ~ They had not yet got an inkling of what he was driving at, and Baca to keep mum. ' “ Brethren,” the brick-bearded bullwhacker continued, after a pause, ‘‘ et doeth me dolorous to note thet ye hev yet received no inspiration from the honest reflection of my countenance. But sech is fate. Bear et in mind ever hence, beauties benign, thet a man who kin juggle down a quart 0’ Death Notch petroleum wi'out ary a bumblebee in et, isan honest man. More- over, feller-citizens, never look adversely upon one 0’ yer sex because he is han’sum’, Etairea phetonen pecooliartew the male race o’ whites. was once jest as humbly as ary galoot p but alas! P’ve hed trouble, b’yees—dire trouble, and my benign and saintly resignation ter ther inevitable hes added luster and glorious angelic beauty to my physiognomy, despite all efforts of” mine to the contrary. But I’m no saint, pil- grims; not a golden ha’r ner ther sprout uv a — wing is thar about me. Nosir-ee! I'm awar- rior. 1 am—on ther war-path, yearnin’ fer gore! Shell I tell you why, my disciples? Ay! I will, tho’ et shall wring tears from this heart o’ mine as large as watermelons, ~ 5 ‘Ter begin wi’, picter yerself a pleasant home of e, well-ter-do merchant—who never took over seven drinks a day—in which war a wife and a sunny-hdired child. ‘Ther devil comes inter thet house, in ther figger of a man, His oily tongue — tempts ther wife; she attempts ter flee with her — tempter, but her child clings ter her skirts an’ begs her not ter go. In a passion the woman smites her own fiesh an’ blood to the floor, and fiies with ther devil. The child is found by ther — fond father, ina dying condishun, an’ with ber departin’ breath, hesw’ars for vengeance, Years — pe but at last itdraweth near. Pards,hyar efore ye stands thet merchant; do ye wonder — he yearns fer bug-juice ter satiate his thirst fer revenge?” pore

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_ ter rest on yer Own oars—you bet! 24 “Go’r almighty, no!” declared Shakespeare. * Bilin’ full cl’ar ter my larynx would I be, ef Td been thru sech trouble.” “On course ye would, an’ ef I war ter assert tér ye thet, after years of search I’ve trailed my faithless wife hyar ter this very house, ou’d all be willin’ ter lend a helpin’ hand ter st her up ter a limb o’ ther furst convenient tres, wouldn’t ye?” . “Ef evyer fabled monster Did perch upon er roost—_ 4 Then we're ther very pilgrims W’at?ll lend our hands—to boost!’? quoth the poet, withacaper. ‘‘ For lordy’ssake, man, ef thar’s ary show fer a neck-tie party, issue yer invitations to us, ter.oncet.” “Then know thet ther murderess is in this hyar house, in the guise of a Mrs. Morris, an’ I her desarted hushand seek revenge,” the stran- ger cried, fiercely. ‘* Hurrah! let’s give her the rope wi’out parley.” i ‘ Don’t!” a voice cried, ‘ don’t dare to disturb that innocent woman, See! this man is an im- ostor!” and while speaking, Calamity Jane ounded forward from the hall where she had been listening, and tore a false beard from the “honest” man’s face. And there, exposed to the gaze of those he had cleverly deceived stood Carrol Carner, the Mormon! ; CHAPTER XI. THE POET PLOTS, | For a moment after his strange unmasking, Carrel] Carner stood confronting the Girl Sport, almost speechless. with rage; then he drew a knife and rushed fiercely at her, but stopped when he perceived that she held a cocked “six” in hand. «Stack up yer lokermotive, ef ye please!” she ordered, peremptorily, ‘‘or I shall perforate you. Don’t spect I see’d you leave the tavern, did ye, and that I tumbled ter yer leetle game the minute I see’d you?” ‘‘Hiverlasting curses seize you!” the baffled schemer hissed. ‘If you put up that pistol Vl kill you!” ; “Tt would be rather kind of me to give you ‘that advantage, but I can’t hardly see ther point!” Calamity returned, drily. ‘* And, T al- low thet, fer yer own personal safety, et would’ be your likeliest move to make yourself scarce about this burg. In other words, I'll give you five minutes to git! If I see enough of your anatomy after that to get a decent aim at, Dll more you higher than dynamite blowed Hell ate. ; “But I protest! Gentlemen, I appeal to you for protection!” the scoundrel cried, turning to the rough-shod audience he had just been ad- dressing. ‘‘ Will you see me thus bulldozed by this young tigress in breeches?” ST allow ye'll hev ter fight yer own battle, Pugtim,” poetical Shakespeare asserted, with a road grin. ‘‘Ye war superfine at pullin’ sheepskin over our eyes, an’ we opine ye’ll hey Af the gal ez git, I allow thet is about the healthiest thing ou kin do,” ' “Yes, you bet, and you'll need to be expedi- _ tious in order to get out of range of my pop-gun Deadwood Dick’s Doom, in the four minutes that yet remain,” Calamity added, glancing at her watch. ‘‘ Come, be moy- ing, or you’re a cadaver, sure! And recollect, if Lever catch you in this town hereafter, I shall pop you over without ceremony.” Carner gazed at her a few seconds with a face that was livid with rage, and then turned and strode to the door. ‘Remember!’ he cried, turning and shaking his clinched fist at her; then he hurried forth into the pou ing rain. Calamity followed him to the door, and kept her revolver leveled at him until he had left the basin; then she returned to the bar-room, from whence she went to her own apartment up- stairs, Z The poet bullwhacker’ wasa shrewder man than many gave him credit for being. While outwardly blatant afd boastful, he was capable of putiiie this and’ that together and forming some pretty correct conclusions, Among others he had lately conceived a little money-making plan of his own, from things that had come to his notice. In the first place, he had, by figuring and guessing, concluded that the girl, Virgie Verner —or more correctly Myrtle Morris—was of more pecuniary value than ordinary girls, for the rea- son that she was wanted by two parties—first by Carrol Carner, who had offered five hundred dollars reward for her, and secondly by Mrs. Morris. . How much could be extorted from her the bullwhacker’ had no idea, but he had con- ceived the notion that she would be glad to pay still more handsomely. : In the second place, he had formed another idea that he could find the girl. He had twice pee a glimpse of Old Scavenger, the Mad warf—he had seen the terrible face of the Avenger atthe tavern window the night of Piute Dave's death, and knew the Dwarf had been the one who had fired the fatal bullet simultaneous with the report of Calamity Jane’s weapon. Something argued to him that Virgie was in Scavenger’s Ua Thus concluding, the poet formed a detéermi- nation to obtain possession of the girl himself, if possible, and surrender her to the one who would pay the most for her. On the day following, which was a pleasant, sunny one, he left the town, and spent his time in the mountains and forests that surrounded Death Notch on every hand, : His object in this was to obtain a glimpse of the Dwarf. One glimpse was all he wanted—he eould then strike the maniac’s trail and follow it, no matter where it led—for not many years before the bullwhacker had been a scout upon the plains, and had acquired great skill in picking and following trails. ‘* Ter solve this hyar enigma Must see his nibs contig’ me, Then may Satan all unrig me An’ b’ars an’ wildeats dig me, Ef I do not find ther pigmy!’ he said, smiting his brow. It was well along in the day ere he caught & — glimpse of Old Scavenger, descending a moun- tain path. The Dwarf had a haunch of a re- cently killed deer enon his shoulder, and was evidently making for is camp,

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. der ei Deadwood Dick’s Doom. No sooner did he spy him than the poet secret- ed himself hastily in a clump of chaparral, and waited to learn which course the maniac would take after reaching the gulch. “ Oh! now I’ve struck a lead; His trail Pll quickly read; Pl next thing git him treed, ; An’ waltz off wi’ ther gal—indeed!” was the poetical thought of the bullwhacker. Scavenger continued to descend the rug peat, until he reached the gulch bottom, when e paused and glared around him, as ifto assure himself that no one was ia the vicinity. His eyes gleamed with a wild, unnatural fire, and altogether he was a horrible object to see. That he was utterly insane no one could doubt, who beheld him. After a moment's survey of his surroundings, he turned and strode up the western course of the gulch, which led into the heart of the wooded mountains. Allowing him to get fairly out of sight, the bullwhacker then emerged from concealment, and took up the trail and followed it step for step. Ping I shouldn’t find ther gal, I'll be madder’n ther hornet who out 0’ spite bit off his own ear,” he soliloquize!. _‘* I allow, however, thet I’m on ther right trail.” / The Dwarf led him a long walk ere the desti- nation came into view, and caution required the trailer to stop. ; The Avenger’s camp was in the gulch bottom in a little forest glade, A rude camp-lodge of boughs had been constructed for shelter. Near this, upon a log, sat none other than Virgie Ver- ner—or Myrtle Morris, the Mormon’s bride and victim. ; : She was not “free, however. A strong small- linked chain was locked about her waist, and then fastened to the strong limb of a tree over- head which shaded the spot where she sat, From his position, which was several rods dis- tant from the camp, Shakespeare could not hear anything that was said by either the fair prisoner or her captor, tut he saw’ the Dwarf shake his fist at the former, as he laid down his haunch of meat. ‘The cussed leetle skunk is ugly ter her, I opine,” the poet grunted disapprovingly. ‘‘ Won- fI hadn't better pop him over and done with it? Guess, however, et would be best ter tackle him when he’s asleep, and secure him in the real flesh an’ blood. Ef I war ter put ’im in a cage, I expect I could hire him out ter Barnum as a curiosity.” at was getting dark, and not being particular- ly desirous of shedding human bl the poet ecided to postpone action until the Dwarf se : : the mean time, Scavenger built a fire, and slicing off some meat from the haunch with his keen knife, spitted it upon a stick, and pro- ‘ceeded to roast it, When he had a sufficient quuntity prepared, he laid several pieces upon a chip, and handed the food to Myrtle, who tad been watching him with a grave, anxious ace. “Phere! eat, you girl!, that will bring the said with a horrible grip, 3, { Nape back to your cheek for me to kiss away!” ie pushed the meat away, in disgust. ““T do not want anything to "eat, you human Mw beast!" she gasped, in horror, { want of you is to releaseme, and let me go my way.” On! ho! that would be kinder nice, wouldn’t it?” he grunted, ‘‘ But, you’re in too much of a hurry, my rosebud, I wouldn’t send you off at night. ou must waittill morning!” . ‘Ah! then, will you release me? Oh? please say that you will!” the young woman said, pleadingly. - “Yes! yes! I'll release you—to be sure 1 will —from eyery earthly care, trial and temptation. Pll send you where Deadwood Dick sent my child—oh, yes I will! Pll cut yer pretty throat, an’ ye'll die easy, an’ go straight to “ordan’s golden shores, on ther broad route!” : Myrtle uttered a scream, as she comprehend- ed his purpose. ‘ “Oh! surely—surely you will not harm me, sir? Only promise me that you won’t! What ey Lever done that you should wish to kill . e “Nothing! nothing at all! but [have sworn to kill every white hellion I could get a hold of, and I shall fulfill my oath, To-morrow, just at sunrise, you shall die, and there will be another notch upon Red Hatchet’s tally-pole, put there by me. Ha! ha! ha!” And he laughed like a demon incarnate, as he — was. Poor Myrtle! sue _ What else could she do more pe Ua than indulge in a good hearty cry?—which sho did, It did not affect the Avenger, however for he _ ate ravenously of raw meat, after which he smoked his pipe, and rolled himself up in his — blanket near the fire, preparatory to going to sleep. Myrtle’s chain was of considerable length, so that she could enter the hut and recline upon = bed of boughs which had been provided for — er, 4 ‘ Outside the camp, the buliwhacker poet — waited impatiently for the Beeye hour to | arrive, having decided that it would be his best time to act. = It came, at last, and he stole stealthily for- — ward, with cat-like tread, into the glade, a — cocked revolver in his hand ready for use in case necessity compelled him to fight for his TiZe. Leite ug He soon reached the Dwart’s side withou arousing him, Then, armed with a rope hi sprung upon the unsuspecting Avenger, and cured his hands in almost a twinkling; then. his feet; so that Scavenger was utterly powerless move by the time he had fully awakened to a sense of what was going on. “ Curses on you!” he gasped, struggling to free, ‘“Who are you?—what do you mean what d’ye want?” . ‘“My name is William Henry Shakespeare, ther poet o’ ther West, an’ philosophical prote 7

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26 — ing her over his shoulder, strode away out of the glade, followed by terrible curses from the lips of Old Scavenger. CHAPTER XII. OLD SCAVENGER’S SCALP. Nor long after the departure of the bull- whacker, Old Scavenger had quite exhausted his vocabulary of epithets, and relapsed into a more quiet state. ; ‘* Curse the bullwhacker,” he hissed, “he has robbed me of my vengeance, and tied me here at the mercy of the wild beasts, or any passer- a4 who might be of a disposition te torment me, 0! who comes here?” In the earl moonlight, he saw a man enter the glade, and stride directly toward him, Nearer he appre and the Avenger was enabled to make him out as an Indian in full war-paint. It was Dancing Plume the Apache. A shiver of dread and doubt went over the ‘Dwarf’s figure, when he perceived if was not old Red Hatchet, as he had at first believed. What would the Indian do to him? Perhaps take advantage of his helplessness, and scalp and torture him! J Not so demented was Scavenger as not to re- - alize the doubtful comfort of such a proceeding. -- But, Dancing Plume was not that kind of a warrior. He was willing and not afraid to meet an enemy face to face, weapon to weapon, - He had accidentally discovered the captive - Dwarf, from the edge of the glade, and recog- nizing him as his rival in the suit for the hand of Siska, he resolved to take advantage of the opportunity thus afforded to come to a settle- ment. “Wagh! what is the little poodle pale-face doing, in, this shape?” he demanded, pausing be- fore the Avenger, and surveying him, sternly. _ “Why is he bound toa tree?” “A cussed bullwhacker took me a prisoner when I was asleep, and left me in this condi- tion,” Old Scavenger replied, ‘‘ You’re good In- jun—you will set me free,” : ‘Dancing Plume will set the pale-face free, _. but he must draw his knife and fight_for his sealp and his life,”-the Apache chief responded, gruffly. “But, why? What have I ever done that you should wish to force me into a fight?” Scavenger demanded, in alarm, for, though of great prow- e33, himself, he was aware that the Soastbe are wonderfully accomplished in the use of the nife, _ “Poodle pale-face is Dancing Plume’s rival,” _ the young warrior answered. ‘He holds a _ claim upon Siska, the mountain flower, and — Dancing Plume also claims hor, Therefore, the poodle. pale-face must win her by killing aanalns Plume, or lose her by losing his own ee e. . As he concluded speaking, the young war-chief — cut Scavenger’s bonds, and then stood on guard, ~~ his keen blade ready for use. . “Draw your knife and strike,” he said, firmly. “Ttneed not take long to find out who wins the panels iden!” : Rah et aie measured, his oppo ent with é YE PES 2 Te * ed gentle and tings, Deadwood Dick’s Doom. wild eyes, for a moment, and then shook his head, doubtingly. ac The Indian is too skilled with the knife for e skip And, even as he spoke, he dodged to one side, and ran for dear life. But in this he had counted without his host. His first leap had not taken him so far that he could miss a terrible blow in the back from Dancing Plume’s knife—a blow that promised to weaken him beyond the power of flight. ' We will pass over the scene.that followed as something too horrible to deseribe. Suffice to say, when he presented himself at the cabin of Red Hatchet, thatevening, Dancing =~ Plume were dangling from his belt the reeking scalp of the Dwarf Avenger. : eres to hope to win. Therefore—I’ll CHAPTER XIII. TWO SENSATIONS, ‘SEVERAL days passed, thereafter, without any incident worthy of mention. Mrs. Morris remained at the Poker House, in Death Notch, anxiously awaiting, from the Unknown, tidings of her lost daughter, Cal- amity kept her company most of the time, and did. much to cheer and comfort her, Not a glimpse had been caught of Carrol Carner since his departure at the order of the_ girl sport, and it was hoped that he had cleared out for good. On the fourth morning after the night of Old Scavenger’s death, the town of Death Notch was ‘‘billed like a sarcus,” as one miner re- marked. Posters, hand-printed, were stuck up. . in Snes conspicuous place; and, what was — more, they were the proclamations of two separate parties, each having a different subject to unfold to the gaping assemblage that swarm- ed forth to read them. : First and most important to the average: citizen, was a poster concerning themselves, which read thus: ‘* NoTicr. ‘To the pale-face dogs who drove Red Hatchet and his tribe from the town of Sequoy, which the Government had given him, warning is given that unless they fly at once to their own pale-face coun- tiy, their scalps shall hang upon the lodge-pole of ‘**Danoine Piume, Chief of the Apaches,¥ r The meaning was plain enough, but the rough men of Death Notch did not take any ‘ stock? in it. ; More then one threat had been thus hurled at ~ them by Red Hatchet, but had not_been ex- ecuted; what reason had they to believe that this one would bed, : i The other poster wasframed in languagemore familiar, and ran: ° = ; f ; “Notice! \ _"'To every man, female an’ cherub wi’in ther clas: sie precincts of Death Notch: “On ther morrow, at sunrise, T, William Henery — Shakespeare, shall expose at public auction, from on top of Picter Rock, nigh yer town, ther following property, ter wit:— “One Purty Piece o’ Humanity, o’ ther femernine— gender, aged abourtwenty; good sound teeth; travels purty good joz; sired by a Californy chap; warrent- — good lukin’. Found (aay , an’ will be sold ther highest |

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A Deadwood Dick’s Doom. SR eS a eee eee ter defray expenses of keepin’ an’ transpertation’ Pog-goned gud barg’in. =~ “Purty as a new wax figger; Jes’ like a angel—but SEone bigger; Sweet as blazes—bet yer life— Chance fer pilgrims ter git a wife. ** A! big attendance is desired. * WinLIAM H. SHAKESPEARE, Auctioneer.” ‘his created more of a sensation than Dancing Plume’s proclamation, Calamity read it, and at once communicated the news to Mrs. Morris. : ‘“‘ Bt’s your boss chance to git back yer gall” ed said. “The one who bids the most gets er! “But, [candonothing. I have but a hundred dollars with me, and it ismore than probable that some ruffian would bid above that sum, to get my poor child in his power,” Mrs. Morris answered, in deep distress. ‘‘Ob! dear, what can I do?” “ Well, we'll see,” Calamity said, hae ree *““There’s allus more than one way out of the woods, and we'll work it, somehow. I don’t hap- pen to be over-flush with ‘bits’ myself, or I might add a Jittle to your pile. Tl go out and skirmish, and see what I can find, for we must be prepared to bid smart, to-morrow.” : he went down-stairs, and for a wonder found Poker Jack the only inmate of the bar-room. He was seated. tip) back in an easy-chair, engaged in reading, but looked up with a nod, Pleasant morning, Calamity!” he saluted. “‘Quite a sensation stirred up again, eh? to break the monotony?” ' “ So it seems, Jack. I allow I did youa squar’ deal, when you were in trouble once, up in Dead- wood, didn’t I?” ; «You bet ye did, Calamity, and I have always remembered it, because I’d been subject to a funeral expense, but for you.” ‘Well, J was handy to help you, and consid- ered you deserved it. And, now, if I was to ask a favor of you, what would you say?” “Tq grant it, in a minute, old friend. You have but to name it.” “ Well, Vil tell ee what I want; I want money to bid off Mrs. Morris’s daughter to- morrow |” Then she went on and explained the circum- stances already known to the reader. Jack listened a few moments, and then scratch- ed his curly head. 2 “Well, Tallow I can do a little toward rem- edying the difficulty,” he announced. ‘‘ Let the girl go fer what she will, Vl get her. Mrs. se ie can bid as high as her pile goes, and Pll take care of all above it.” CHAPTER XIV. DEATH NOTCH NO MORE—A CLOSING ACT. — THE next morning dawned brightly, and by snnrise nearly every man, woman and child of Death Notch had forsaken the camp for the scene of Shakespeare’s auction. Picture Rock was a high mass of rocks depos- ited in the gulch, a few hundred rods beyond the town. The sides were almost perpendicular, up and down, rendering it impossible to reach the top of the pile except by use of a rude stone staircase which Indians of past ages had hewn voice cried—the voice of 27 out, and these were so arranged that a person at the top could easily defend himself from the ~ attack of a small regiment. y The sides of these rocks were covered by gro- — ~ tesque pictures of Indians, animals and reptiles, which had been chiseled there by rude and sav~ age sculptors. ‘ Upon the top of the rock two blocks of stone answered the purpose of chairs, and on these the poet and his prisoner were seated. nS Fe: Poor Myrtile’s face was tear-stained and wore a sorrowful expression, but it lighted up and she gave a cry of joy when she saw the familiar face of her mother. “Oh, mamma—mamma!” she cried, putting forth her hands, “‘save me!” ‘Yes, my child!” Mrs. Morris cried, tears hor eas in her eyes. ‘‘Have courage, dear- es When he saw that his audience had gained about as large proportions as it was likely to, the bullwhacker arose, a pair of cocked revol- vers in his hands. : “ Peller-citerzens!” he cried, ‘‘etdoesme proud ter see ye all here, I knew you'd cum, because ye all wanter bid fer my prize. She’s mine; I — captured ber, an’ I’m goin’ ter sell ’er. fer ther highest market price, an’ I'll shute ther furst one who tries to take her, afore I’m paid. Now, — how much do I hear fer ther gal—how much fer — her, jest as she is? Recollect—terms ax’ cash, on delivery 0’ goods,” : “Two bits!” cried a miner. “ Rifty dollars!” cried another. : _ “One bundred!” shouted still another, “Thats et! a the ball in motion, boys!” the poet cried, with enthusiasm. ‘Put all the vallue on her ye can, fer ye know I allus invite _ ther crowd to drink when ther state o’ my finan- ces will admit!” a “Tl give a hundred more!” Poker Jack said, oe : “'Two—two, hundred dollars I hayve—who'll make it three?” ‘ “Five hundred—Pll = * * “ ive five hundred!” a arrol Carner, but just “where he stood among the crowd no one could see, . - ‘¢T}] make it a thousand!” Poker Jack cried, “Tm going to have the girl, gentlemen; so the ~ rest of you might as well give up.” = Se “Twelve hundred! ell see who has the — girl!” the voice of Carrol Carner again cried, and this time Calamity was on the watch, and saw whence the voice emanated. F The Mormon was rigged out with long black — beard and hair, and accoutered with miner’s ha- pee and was also armed witha pick, shoy- el an Wise “Tf I keep my word, I'll have to go over and» lug him,” she mused. ‘‘ I'll wait and see, first, how this turns out.” 2 ‘“D]] raise it to fifteen hundred!” Poker Jack said, promptly, ‘‘ and I’ve got the ducats to pay it! were turned down the gulch, : Coming toward them, mounted upon a fi. feast: horse, was the Unknown, yelling and waving his _ hat above his head. ‘ i 2 Behind him, not hardly out of rifle mauges “Look! look!” some one shouted,-and all eyes:

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28 ne fame a dark mass of horsemen, whose horrible sereeches and nodding plumes proclaimed them to be Indians! Tn an instant all was eonsternation and con- fusion, and flight was made in every direction. No one thought of aught but their own safety, except Poker Jack. fiven he was alarmed, but saw that action was necessary. He saw the bullwhacker desert ‘his prize by leaping from the rocks and seeking flight; he saw one black-whiskered man make for the staircase, and knew it was the Mormon, Drawing a revolver he fired at his legs, and brought him down to the ground, howling with rage. a Quick! quick!” he cried to Myrtle, runnin; to the foot of the cliff; ‘‘ jump off and I’ll cate ‘ou Though bound and helpless, she contrived to fall over the edge, and he caught her neatly in his arms. Then, still carrying her thus, he bade Mrs, Morris follow him, and dashed up a narrow ravine, which none of the others had taken. Nor did he pause until he had, with the pre- cautions of a veteran scout, covered their trail, and reached a place of safety in a mountain cleft, several miles from the Picture Rocks. Here for the present they were in no danger of molestation from foes, either red or white, The same could not be said of the others. _ Like a hurricane of wrath the warriors under the lead of Dancing Plume swept down in pur- - suit of the late residents of Death Notch, and te rays RS | ae ptele Bi 7 E shot down and scalped them without mercy. Some may have escaped, but. it is doubtful if ‘many did so. Among the fortunate ones was the Unknown, whose horse was fleet enough to carry him beyond the reach of the savages. Only one prisoner was taken back to the ill- fated town of Death Notch, and that one was Calamity Jane. eS ; After remaining several days in the moun- tains, Mrs. Morris and Myrtle, escorted by Poker Jack, started on foot for the nearest railway station, which they reached after about two week’s travel afoot. From there they returned to California, Jack still accompanying them and poeeaving their expenses. ‘ And he having decided to live a more hg ble existence, it is not: impossible that Myrtle will reward him with her hand at no far distant day. { For several days ey was kept locked ap in a cabin, which was guarded by savages, an left to herself excepi when some food was brought her. One evening she was greatly surprised to see the Unknown enter the cabin. “Come!” he said. ‘‘ Your imprisonment is at anend. Ihave, through the kindness of Red Hatchet’s daughter, secured your freedom, with the proviso that' we both leave this place for- ever!” _ She at once consented. If she went with him her fate could be little if any worse than if she remained with the Deadwood Dick's Doom. 4 Therefore they both mounted horses, outsidsa the cabin, and rode forever away from Death Notch!’ e Two days later they arrived in sight of Eeenes here the Unknown drew rein and said : “Calamity! Is it possible my deception has been so clever as to deceive your shrewd eyesall this time? I am Deadw Dick, who holds a mortgage of betrothal against you!” And he removed the disguise that had served him since being rescued from the quicksand— which rescue, he explained, was performed by Siska, the Pawnee, just as it was almost too late. Doomed he #had heen; but for her he would have perished from the face of the earth by a terrible death, and he willed that it should be so, ever after, in the minds of the people of Death Notch, and had therefore adopted and maintained the disguise of the Unknown. That night, in a private parist at Pioche, Dick and the poor, sore-hearted, but brave and true Calamity were married, and the author joins in the wishes of his readers that they may ‘live long and prosper;” they, the two wild spirits who had learned each other’s faults and each other’s worth in lives branded with commingled shame and honor, THE END, DIME DIALOGUES AND SPEAKERS FOR SCHOOL EXHIBITIONS AND HOME ENTERTAINMENTS. Dialogues, Nos. 1 to 33 inclusive, 15 to 25 popue ar dialogues and dramas in each book. Each vols ume 100 pages 12mo. Speakers, Nos. 1 to 25 inclusive. Each speaker 100 pages 12mo, containing from 50 to 75 pieces, YOUNG PEOPLE'S SERIES, Dime Book of Winter Sports. Dime Book of Summer Athletic Sports, Dime Gents’ Letter Writer. Dime Book of Etiquette. Dime Book of Verses. Dime Book of Dreams. : Dime Fortune Teller. Dime Ladies’ Letter Writer. Dime Lovers’ Casket. Dime Ball-Room Companion, \ 7 Dime Book of 100 Games, Dime Chess Instructor,’ Dime Book of Beauty. 28> The above books are sold by newsdealers everywhere, or will be sent, post-paid, to any ad- dress, on receipt of price, ten cents each, Brapuy Apams, Publishers, 98 William st., N. ¥, es a res,

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EDWARD L. WHEELERt JJeapwooD DICK NOVELS In The Half-Dime Library. Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 624 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Nevada. : Deadwood Dick's Defiance; or, Double ‘Dag- | 630. Deadwood Dick, Jr., in No Man’s.Land@ gers. 636 Deadwood Dick, Jr., After the Queer, Deadwood Dick in Disguise; or, Buffalo Ben. | 642 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Buffalo, Deadwood Dick in His Castle. 648 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’8, Chase Across the %.. Deadwood Dick’s Bonahza; or, The Phantom tinent. Miner. 654 Deadwood Dick, Jr. , Among the Smugglt Deadwood Dick in Danger; or, Omaha OIL 6%0 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Insurance Case, ; Deadwood Dick’s Eagles, 666 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Back in the Mints, Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane. | @#& Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Durango. Deadwood Dick’s Last Act; or, Corduroy | 678 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Discovery. eS Charlie. 684 Deadwpod Dick, Jr.’s, Dazzle. Deadwood Dick in Leadville, 690 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dollars. Deadwood Dick"s Device. 695 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, at Danger Divide, Deadwood Dick as Detective, 70G Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Drop. Deadwood Dick’s Double. 70% Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Jack-Pot. fi Deadwood Dick’s Home Base; vc, Blonde | 710 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at San Francisco, Bill. 716 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt. Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike; or, A-Game | 722 Deadwood Dick, Pee Dominoes. of Gold. 728 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguise. Deadwood Dick of Deadwood. %24 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ s, Double Deal. Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivals of | 740 Deadwood Dick, dr.’ s, Déathwatch. the Road. 747 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ ’s, Doublet. Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hill’s | 752 Deadwood Dick, Jr.” Ss, Deathblow. Jezebel. 758 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ Ss, Desperate Strait.} _ Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s | 764 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ s, Lone Hand. Adventure. 70 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Defeat: Deadwood Dick’s Dead Deal. 776 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Resurrection. Deadwood Dick's Death-Plant, 782 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Dark Days. Deadwood Dick at Pistolville, 787 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Defied. Deadwood Dick’s Divide. 792 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Double Device. Deadwood Dick’s Death Trail- 797 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Vert Deadwood Dick’s Deal. 802 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Diamond Dice., % ¢ Deadwood Dick's Dozen. 807 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Royal Plush. Deadwood Dick’s Ducats. 812 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Head-off. Deadwood Dick Sentenced. 816 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Rival. Deadwood Dick’s Claim. 822 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Boom. Deadwood Dick in Dead City, 828 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Scoop. Deadwood Dick’s Diamonds. 8384 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Proxy. Deadwocd Dick in New York; or, A ‘Cute | 840 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Clutch. Case.’’ 845 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, High Horse. Deadwood Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained | 852 Deadwood Dick, Jr,, at Devil's Gulch, Hand. 858 Deadwood Dick, Jr” 8, Death-Hole Hust? Deadwo . Dick, Jr.; or, The Crimson Cres. | 868 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Bombshell. cent Sign. 870 Deadwood Dick, Jr, in Mexico. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Defiance. 876 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Decoy Duck. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Full Hand. 882 Deadwood Dick, Jr, in. Silver Pocket, Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Big Round-Up. 891 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ 'S, Dead-Sure Game, 5 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Racket at Claim 10, 898 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ s, Double Drive. + mie Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Corral. 904 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, ‘Trade-Mark. : eadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dog Detective 910 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Tip-Top. eadwood a ., in Deadwood 4916 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double-Decker,. Deadwood *s, Compact. } 928 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Dollarville. Deadwood .’s, Inheritanee 934 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 3 at Flush Flats. Deadwood Dic .’8, Diggings. ; 940 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Shake-up. Deadwood Dick, iS it Deliverance, 4946 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ ‘8, Double Drop. Deadwooa S Protege. , 951 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Right Bower, | Deadwood "Three. 957 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Ten-Strike, Deadwood Jr.’s, Danger Ducks, 965 Deacwoed Dick, Jr.’s Gold-Dust. Deadvnod Dick, Jr.’s, Death Hunt, 971 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Oath. Deady 09d Diek, Jr., in Texas. 977 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death-Doom Deadwood Diek, Jr., the Wild West Vilceq. 986 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Best Card. Deadwoo’ Dick, Jr., on His Mettle. 992 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Gold Dust. Deadwood Dick, Jr. , in Gotham 998 Deadwoe4, Dick, Jr.’s, Big Play. Deadwoodl Dick, Jr., in Boston. 1005 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Branded. Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Philadelphia. 1011. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dutch Pard. Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chicago. eadwood Dick, Jr., Afloat. eadwood Dick, Jr., in Denver. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Decree. Beadwood Dick, Jr., in Beelzebub’s Baal, Déadwood Dick, Jr.. at Coney Island, eadwood Dick. Jv.’s, Leadville Lay. De wood Dick, Jr., in*Detroit. e: woo? Dick, Jr. in Clacinna® 7948 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Big Four, The above Half-Dime Librariés are For Sate by ALL NEWSDEALERS, five cents pe 4 copy, 9» sant by m?\ an veamimt C8 melee ee

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Swart Toasts FOR THE SMART SBT. Vest Pocket Size. 64 Pages. Sewed Book. Up-to-Date. By Mail, Postpaid, Il2c. per Copy. BEST LINE OF HAND BOOKS PUBLISHED. “YIDDISH” YARNS.—A Collection of Hebrew Jokes, Stories, etc. GENTS’ LETTER WRITER.—A Perfect Guide to all kinds of Correspondence, FAMILY PHYSICIAN.—Family Diseases and Their ‘Treatment; Rules of Health, ete. BOOK OF DREAMS.—Their Romance and Mystery, with a Complete Interpretation Dictionary. HOUSEWIFE’S MANUAL.—How to Keep House; How to Dye, Cleanse, etc. VAUDEVILLE JOKER.—Best Jokes by Eminent Vau- deville Artists. BOOK OF ETIQUETTE.—Society, Visits, Introduc- tions, Dress, Balls, ete. 1 FORTUNE TELLER.—Fortune Telling by Cards, Tea or Coffee Grounds, Eggs; Palmistry, ete. BOOK OF 100 GAMES.—One Hundred Games for Social Parties and Home Amusements. COOK BOOK.—Economiceal, Practical, Excellent. LADIES’ LETTER WRITER.—How to Write; When to Write; What to Write. RECIPE BOOK.—For the Parlor, Nursery, Sick-room, Toiiet, Kitchen, Larder, ete. BOOK OF BEAUTY.—Beauty of Form, Color, Head, Hair, Complexion, Skin, ete., with chapters on Perfumes, Cosmetics, ete. BOOK OF VERSES.—Comprising Rhymes, Lines, and Mottoes for Lovers and Friends. THE LOVERS’ CASKET.—A Treatise on and Guide to Friendship, Love, Courtship, and Marriage. “GERMAN ” JOKER.—* Dutch” Jokes and “Gags” by best ‘“‘ Dutch * Teams on the Stage. “ HAYSEED” JOKER.—The Doings of ‘‘ Our Country Cousins * in a Humorous Way. “TRAMP” JOKER.—Good “Handouts” in this Book for Professional and Amateur Entertainers. “COON ” YARNS.—Best Jokes Relating to Our * Dark- er-Skinned Brothers.” g “TRISH *’ Joker No. 1.—The Wittiness and Whimsieali- ties of “Pat” at His Best» “VARIETY ” JOKER.—Good Things from all the Na- tionalities: ‘* Pat,’ ‘**Alphonse,” “* Haus,” ** Jona- than,” ‘* Moses,” and “ Ebenezer.” The above books are bound in handsomely illustrated lithographed covers. Price by mail, postpaid, 12 cents per copy. M. J. IVERS & CO., Publishers, 379 Pearl Street, New York City. BEADLE’S BOYS’ 5 CENTS PRICE 1 Dandy Bill’s Doom. By Oll Coomes. By A. W. Aiken. By Stoddard. 83 Kit Carson. 4 Villie, the Reckless Rider. 5 Old Grizzly in the Rockies. By Ingraham, 6 Deadwood Dick asa Boy. By E. L. Wheeler. 7 Wild Bill. By Ingraham. 8 The Prairie Ranch. By J. E. Badger. 9 Roving Joe. By A. H. Post, 10 Texas Jack. By Ingraham. 11 Charley Skylark, the Sport. By H. B. Stoddard. 12 Brimstone Bill’s Booty. By J. E. Badger, Jr. 1P Moving Ben, By J. J. Marshall. 14 The Ticket-of-Leave’s Trick. By J. E. Badger, Jr. 35 Wide-Awake George. By E. Willett. 16 Wide-Awake Ned. By B. Ringgold. 17 Peter, the Dandy Greenhorn. By Noah Nuff. 18 Adrift on the Prairie. By Oll Coomes. 19 Joe, the Rover Sport. By A. H. Post. 20 Giant Pete and his Pards. By Harbaugh, 21 Yellow Hair. By Ingraham. 22 The Snow-Trail. By Harbaugh. 283 Old Grizzly Adams. By Dr. Powell. 24 Woods and Waters. By Whittaker. 25 A Rolling Stone. By W. R. Eyster. 26 Red River Rovers. By C. D. Clark. 27 Buckskin Sam’s Wild Ride. By Ingraham. 28 The Sword Prince, By F. Whittaker. 23 Snow-Shoe Tom. By T. C. Harbaugh. 30 Paul De Lacy. By C. D, Clark. 31 Round the Camp-Fire. By J. E. Badger, Jr. 22 Fancy Frank's Drop. By Ingraham. v2 The Boy Crusader, By Capt. F, Whittaker, LIBRARY. PER COPY. 84 The Chase of the Great White Stag. By C. D. Clark, 35 Old Tar Knuckle. By Rover Starbuck 36 The Dashing Dragoon. By F. Whittaker. 37 Night-Hawk George. By Ingraham. 88 The Boy Exiles of Siberia. By I’. C. Harbaugh. 39 The Young Bear Hunters. By Morris Redwing 40 New York Bill, the Dodger. By Edward Willett 41 The Setiler’s Son. By Edward §&. Ellis. 42 Walt Ferguson's Cruise. By C. D, Clark, 43 Rifle and Revolver. By F. Whittaker. 44 The Lost Boy Whalers. By 'T. C. Harbaug’ 45 Bronco Billy. By Ingraham, 46 Dick, the Stowaway. By Charles Morris. 47 The Colorado Boys. By J. EK. Badger, Jr. 48 The Pampas Hunters. By I. C. Harbaugh. 49 Nebraska Charlie. By Ingraham, 50 Jack, Harry, ana Tom, By F. Whittaker, 51 ‘om Stone, the Old Sea Dog. By C. D. Clark. 52 The Boy Detectives. By T. C. Harbaugh. 53 ri the Country Boy, in New York. By Charles forris. eS 54 California Joe. By Ingraham. 55 Tip Tressel, the Flatboat Boy. By Edward Willett, 56 The Snow Hunters. By Harry De Forrest. 57 Harry Somers, the Magician. hy 8S. W. Pearce. 58 Captain Jack in Rocky Roost, By Ingraham, 59 Tim, the Mule Boy of the Mines, By Charles Morris, 60 The Young Trail Hunters. By 'T. C. Harbaugh. 61 The Tiger Hunters. By J. E. Badger, Jr. 62 Doctor Carver, the Champion Shot. By Ingraham, 63 Black Horse Bill, the Bandit Wrecker, By Roger Starbuck. 64 Young Dick Talbot, By A, W, Aiken,

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THE Deadwood Dick ; @ Library e HANDSOME TRLSOLONED COVERS. 82 Pages. Issued Every Wednesday. Price 5 Cents. Buy One and You Wili Buy the Rest | &xtracts from the New York Evening Sun. TWO REMARKABLE HEROES. fn only one sense of the word can it be regarded as a, aovel statement when the fact is here recorded that litera- jure has given many heroes to the world, and perhaps more than one reader will have to think a moment over this remark before the subtle delicacy of its genial wit strikes home. But it is most essentially a half dime novel statement shat will be news to many when it is added that litera- sure, if traced from the dimly distant days when Adam was & mere child down to the present day, would show ‘but few heroes that in the eyes of boyhood would be gven judged worthy of comparison with the two greatest ‘seroes known to American literature, or, to promptly re- yeal them, Deadwood Dick and Deadwood Dick, Jr. * * * The medern heroes of fiction for young America, who are now as countless as the sands of the sea, and of whom the Deadwood Dicks are much the most important > * * it is but natural that their * * * should bear age the palm of popularity, and suchas * * * be left r behind in the race, It can be easily believed, therefore, that the two Dicks © 80 firmly ¢ :grafted on the tree of popular literature ~« boys and 3 ung men, that thele position is assured * * and thac they stand to-day head and shoulders above all rivals in the eyes of the public for which they have lived, and for which one of them has died, American boyhood, and that is a tremendous factor in the land, now knows Deadwood Dick, Jr., a good beal bet- ter than it knows its catechism, and millions of young minds absorb the thrilling incidents of his career in hig everlasting warfare against crime and his never-ending solving of impenetrable mysteries, Millions of boys follow his stealthy footsteps as he tracks his vicious victims to their undoing, and then, when the victims are thoroughly undone, the millions wait hungrily for the next volume, which on every Wednesday appears with the certainty of the Wednesday itself, and a new set on gelientiat thrills go thrilling away trom Maine to Calt ornia. There are the volumes each so crowded with thrills and heart-tugs that it were madness to hope to do justice to them collectively and rank injustice to discriminate be tween them, To abandon the idea of giving a few extracts causes In- finite pain, but if once a start were made in that direc: tion, it would be cruel to The Evening Sun's readers to stop, and it is therefore better not to relate one single adventure, Suffice it to say that the stories are clean and well written, DEADWOOD DICK LIBRARY. Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road 3 The D le Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick's Defiance 4 The Buffalo Demon; or, The Border Vultures 4 Buffalo Ben, Prince of the Pistol 3 Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval 4 Death-Face, the Detective 7 The Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza 3 Old Avalanche, the Great Annihilator; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand 9 Bob Woolf, the Border Ruffian % Omaha Oll, the Masked Terror; or, Deadwood Dick in Danger ad oa Bea Jr., the Boy Phenix; or, Through to ea 43 on te Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood ar 18 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team i4 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter % Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane ii} uroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo wv ae Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight of the ule’ 8 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand ® Photograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance ® Watch-Eye, the Shadow v1 spelen Dick’s Device; or, The Sign of the Double ross ® Canada Chet, the Counterfeiter Chief % Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke for Liberty % Deadwood Dick as Detective ® Gilt-dge Dick % Bonanza Bill the Man-Tracker ; or, The Secret Twelve % Chip, the Gir? Sport z Jack Hoyle’s Lead; or, The Road to Fortune Boss Bob, the King of Bootblacks » aon ea Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon . Gulc' 4 Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Bage #@ Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent 83 Tony Fox, the Ferret; or, Boss Bob’s Boss Job 84 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike 5 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, “he Picked Pavey 86 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective 87 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Scamps of the Sierras 88 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo 89 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last Adventure 40 Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivals of the Road 41 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hills Jezebel 42 The Arab Detective; or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp 48 The Ventriloquist Detective. A Romance of Rogues “4 Deters Josh Grim; or, The Young Gladiator's ame 45 The Frontier Detective; or, Sierra Sam’s Scheme 46 The Jimtown Sport; or, Gypsy Jack in Colorado 47 The Miner Sport; or, Sugar-Coated Sam's Claim 48 Dick Drew, the Miner’s Son; or, Apollo Bill, the Road-Agent 49 Sierra Sam, the Detective | 50 Sierra Sam’s Double; or, The Three Female Detect- ives 51 pate pars Sentence; or, Little Luck at Rougk anc 52 The Girl Sport; or, Jumbo Joe’s Disguise 58 Denver Doll’s Device; or, The Detective Queen * 54 Denver Doll as Detective 55 Denver Doll’s Partner; or, Big Buckskin the Sport 56 Denver Doll’s Mine; or, Little Bill’s Big Loss 57 Deadwood Dick Trapped 58 Buck Hawk, Detective; or, The Messenger Boy's Fortune 59 Deadwood Dick’s Disguise; or, Wild Walt, the Sport 60 Dumb Dick’s Pard; or, Eliza Jane, the Gold Miner 61 Deadwood Dick’s Mission 62° Spotter Fritz; or, The Store-Detective’s Deco: 638 T ¢ sHaeonah Road-Agent; or, The Miners of Sasea ras City 64 oeereae Charlie’s Detective Dash; or, The Cattle ings M. J. IVERS & CO., Publishers (James Sullivan, Proprietor), 879 Pearl Street, NEW YORK.

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Co. vr glit 188}-1887, by Beadle & Adams. Entered at Post Office, New York, N. Y., as second class matter. Mar. 15, 1899 + THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK CO. Vol No. 39 Cleveland, Ohio ol. TIT HOW DEADWOOD DICK CAME TO THE RESCUE. {

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oprright 1881-1887, by Readle & Adams. Entered at Post Office, New York, N. Y., as second class matter. Mar. 35,3 1895 THE ARTHUR WESTER ney No. 39 Cine Cus Vol. II HOW DEADWOOD DESH GAME TO THE RESCUE, @

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——— BEADLE’S. FRONTIER SERIES i3c. Per Copy. : 1. The Shawnee'’s Foe. 50. Harry Hardskull. 2. The Young Mountaineer. 51, Madman of the Oconto. 3. Wild Jim. 52. Slim Jim, 4. Hawk-Eye, the Hunter. y. 53. Tiger-Eye. ' 5, The Boy Guide. ’ “y 54. The Red Star of the ne 6. War Tiger of the Modoes ?\ Seminzoles. 7. The Red Modoes. “55. Trapper Joe. ' 8. Iron Hand. , 56. The Indian’ Queen’s ‘9, Shadow Bill, the Scout. Revenge. 10. Wapawkaneta, or the 57, Eagle-Eyed Zeke. Rangers of the Oneida. 58. Sear-Cheek, the Wild 11. Davy Crockett’s B oy Half-Breed. Hunter, 59, Red Men of the Woods. 12. The Forest Avenger. 60. Tuscaloosa Sam. 13. Old Jack’s Frontier 61. The Bully of the Woods. Cabin. 62. The Trapper’s Bride. 14, On the Deep. 63. Red Rattlesnake, The 15. Sharp Snout. Pawnee. 16. The Mountain Demon. 64, The Scout of Tippecanoe 17. Wild Tom of Wyoming. 65, Old Kit, The Scout. 18. The Brave Boy Hunters 66. The Boy Scouts. of Kentucky. 67. Hiding Tom. 19. The Fearless Ranger. 68. Roving Dick, Hunter, a 20. The Hiuanted Trapper. 69. Hickory Jack, 21, Madman of the Colorado, 170. Mad Mike, 4 22. The Panther Demon. 71, Snake-Eye, 23, Slashaway, the Fearless, 72. Big-Hearted Joe. 24. Pine Tree Jack, 3. The Blazing Arrow. 25. Indian Jim. 4, The Hunter Scouts. '26, Navaio Nick, 5. The Scout of Long Island. 27, The Tuscarora’s Vow. §. Turkey-Foot. 28. Deadwood Diek, Jr. zi 7 a 7 a . The Death Rangers. 29. A New York Boy Among 7 8 8 8 8 . Bullet Head. - 8 the Indians. a The Indian Spirit. 1 2 30. Dendwood Dick’s Big Deal. 81. Hank, the Guide. 32. Deadwood Dick’s Dozen. . Lhe Twin Trappers. . Lightfoot the Scout. » Grim Dick. 83. The Wooden-Legged Spy. 4, The Silent Trapper. 33. Squatty Dick. : 34. The Hunter’s Secret. He Usly Choe 35. The Woman Trapper. 87. Hank Jasper. 3 36. The Chief of the Miami. 8" The Scout of the Sciota. 37. Gunpowder Jim. 89. Black Samson. 38. Mad Anthony’s Captain. 90. Billy Bowlegs. 39. The Ranger Boy’s Career. The Bloody Footprint. i] pare . 40. Old Nick ©f the Swamp. 99 Marksman the Hunter. , 41. The Shadow Scout. 98. The Demon Cruiser. wr 42, Lantern-Jawed Bob. 94, Hunters and Redskins. r 43, The Masked Hunter. 95. Panther Jack. ; 44, Brimstone Jake. 96. Old Zeke, H a 45. The Irish Frunter. 97. The Panther Paleface, x 46, Dave Bunker. ge aS cha ts phen St. Lawrence, F - he Shawnee Witch, 6 oody Brook, 48. Bie Brave. 100, Long Bob of Kentucky. 49. Spider-Legs. BEADLE’S FRONTIER SERIES are always in print and for sale by all Newsdezlers; or will be sent postpaid to any address: Single copies, ise. ARTHUR WESTBROOK CO. — GLEVELAND, OHIC |

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Deadwood Dick e Library e 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road # The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick's Deflaace | 8 The Buffalo Demon; or, The Border Vultures 4 Buffalo Ben, Prince of the Pistol /§ Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval Death-Face, the Detective 7 The Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza 8 Old Avalanche, the Great Annihilator; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand 9 Bob Woolf, the Border Ruffian 10 Omaha Oli, the Masked Terror; or, Deadwood Dick : in Danger 11 Jim Le ets Jr., the Boy Phenix; or, Through to ea 12 Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood ar 8 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team 14 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter 5 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane 6 Corduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo « 17 Rosebud Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight of the Gulch 18 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand 19 Photograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob's Reappearance 20 Watch-Eye, the Shadow 21 Deadwood Dick's Device; or, The Sign of the Double ; Cross 22 Canada Chet, the Counterfeiter Chief 283 Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke . for Liberty 24 Deadwood Dick as Detective 25 Gilt-ldged Dick 26 Bonanza Bill, the Man-Tracker ; or, The Secret Twelve Chip, the Girl Sport 28 Jack Hoyle’s Lead; or, The Road to Fortune 29 Boss Bob, the King of Bootblacks 30 ge Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s Gule 81 Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base 82 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent eo DEADWOOD DICK LIBRARY. LATEST AND BEST. HANDSOME TRI-GOLORED COVERS, 82 Pages. Bay One and You Will Buy the Rest! For Sample Cover See @ther Side. 83 Tony Fox, the Ferret; or, Boss Bob's Boss Job =» 84 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick's Big Strike 85 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party 36 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective 37 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Scamps of theSierras 88 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo ft « 89 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last Adventure ¥ 40 Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivals of the Road 41 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hills Jezebel 42 The Arab Detective; or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp 43 The Ventriloquist Detective. A Romance of Rogues 44 Ree Josh Grim; or, The Young Gladiator's ‘ ame 45 ‘The Frontier Detective; or, Sierra Sam’s Scheme f 46 The Jimtown Sport; or, Gypsy Jack in Colorado 47 The Miner Sport; or, Sugar-Coated Sam’s Claim 48 Dick Drew, the Miner’s Son; or, Apollo Bill, the Road-Agent 49 Sierra Sam, the Detective 2 eee 50 Sierra Sam’s Double; or, The Three Female De! | ives : ne 51 Sierra pars Sentence; or, Little Luck at Boutiit ne o ~ 52 The Girl Sport; or, Jumbo Joe’s Disguise : ; 53 Denver Doll’s Device; or, The Detective Queen : 54 Denver Doll as Detective 55 Denver Doll’s Partner; or, Big Buckskin the Sport 56 Denver Doll’s Mine; or, Little Bill’s Big Loss 57 Deadwood Dick Trapped 58 Buck Hawk, Detective; or, The Messenger Boy's Fortune ~ 59 Deadwood Dick’s Disguise; or, Wild Walt, t 60 Dumb Dick’s Pard; or, Eliza Jane, the Gold 61 Deadwood Dick’s Mission 62 Spotter Fritz; or, The Store-Detective’s Deco: 63 The Detective Road-Agent; or, The Miners of Sas*a fras City 64 sie Charlie’s Detective Dash; or, The Cattle. ings Sport iner