Deadwood Dick Library (v. 4) (1900 01 24)

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Copyright 1881-1888, by Beadle & Adams, Entered at Post Office, New York, N. Y., as second class matter. Mar. 15, 1899. Shores M. J. 1VERS & CO., Publishers, Issued Weekly. a s Sullive See Price 5 Cents. No. 46, Jan. 24, 1900, (James Sullivan, Pro) rietor,) $2.50 a Year. Vol, lV, SSS ——SEESE——_—— = Ss “ GOOD DOG!"” WELCOMED THE SPORT FROM JIMTOWN. ‘DRAG THE BRUSH AWAY, SKIP] QUICK, sIR!”

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EDWARD L. WHEELER'S DEADWOOD DICK, JR. NOVELS IN THE HALF-DIME. LIBRARY. Price 5 Cents per Copy. ~ 443 Deadwood Dick, Jr.; or, The Crimson Crescent Sign. Deadwood Dick, Jr’s, Defiance. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Full Hand. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Big Round-Up. | Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Racket at Claim 10. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Corral. Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Dog Detective. Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Deadwood. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Compact. Deadwood ick, Jr.’s, Inheritance. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Diggings. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deliverance. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Protege. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Three. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Danger Ducks. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death Hunt. Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Texas. Deadwood Dick, Jr., the Wild West Vidoeq. Deadwood Dick, Jr , on His Mettle. Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Gotham. Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Boston. 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Philadelphia. 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chicago. 578 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Afloat. 584. Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Denver. 590 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Decree. 595 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Beelzebub’s Basin. 600 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Coney Island. 606 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Leadville Lay. 612 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Detroit. 618 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Cincinnati, 624 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Nevada. 630 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in No Man’s Land. 636 Deadwood ‘Dick, Jr., After the Queer. 642 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Buffalo. 648 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Chase Across the Continent. 654 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Among the Smug- lers. 660 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Insurance Case. 666 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Back in the Mines, 672 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Durango. 678 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Discovery. 684 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dazzle. 690 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dollars. 695 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Danger Divide. 700: Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Drop. 704 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Jack-Pot. 710 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at San Francisco. 448 453 459 465 471 476 481 491. 496 500 508 515 522 529 5384. 539 544. 549 554 561 For sale by all newsdealers or sent, postpaid, on receipt of price, 5c. per copy, 716 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 722 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 728 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 734 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 740 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 747 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 752 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 758 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 764. Deadwood Dick, Jr. 770 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 776 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 782 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 787 Deadwood Dick, Jr. *s, Still Hunt. ’s, Dominoes. ’s, Disguise. ’s, Double Deal. ’s, Death-Watch, ’s, Doublet. ’s, Death-Blow, *s, Desperate Strait, ’s, Lone Hand. ’s, Defeat. ‘s, Resurrection. ’s, Dark Days. , Detied. 792 Deadwood Dick, 797 Deadwood Dick, 802 Deadwood Dick, 807 Deadwood Dick, 812 Deadwood Dick, 816 Deadwood Dick, 822 Deadwood Dick, 828 Deadwood Dick, 884 Deadwood Dick, $40 Deadwood Dick, 845 Deadwood Dick, 852 Deadwood Dick, 858 Deadwood Dick, 863 Deadwood Dick, 870 Deadwood Dick, 876 Deadwood Dick, 882 Deadwood Dick, 891 Deadwood Dick, 898 Deadwood Dick, 904. Deadwood Dick, 910 Deadwood Dick, 916 Deadwood Dick, 928 Deadwood Dick, 934 Deadwood Dick, 940 Deadwood Dick, 946 Deadwood Dick, 951 Deadwood Dick, 957 Deadwood Dick, 965 Deadwood Dick, * 971 Deadwood Dick, 977 Deadwood Dick, 980 Deadwood Dick, 992 Deadwood Dick, 998 Deadwood Dick, 1005 Deadwood Dick, 1011 Deadwood Dick, 1018 Deadwood Dick, ers, M. J. IVERS & CO., 379 Peart Street, New York Crry. Jr.’s, Double Device, Jr.’s, Desperate Venture, Jr.’s, Diamond Dice. Jr.’s, Royal Flush. Jr.’s, Head-Off. Jr.’s,. Rival. Jr.’s, Boom, | Jr.’s, Scoop. - Jr.’s, Proxy. Jr.’s, Clutch, Jr,’s, High Horse. Jr., at Devil’s Gulch. Jr.’s, Death-Hole Hustle. Jr.’s, Bombshell. Jr., in Mexico. Jr.’s, Decoy Duck. Jr., in Siiver Pocket. Jr.’s, Dead-Sure Game, Jr.’s, Double Drive. Jr.’s, Trade-Mark, Jr., at Tip-Top. Jr.’s, Double-Decker. Jr., at Dollarville. Jr., at Flush Flats. Jr.’s, Shake-Up. Jr.’s, Double Drop. Jr.’s, Right Bower. Jr.’s, Ten-Strike. Jr.’s, Gold Dust. Jr.’s, Oath. Jr.’s, Death-Doom. Jr.’s, Best Card. Jr., at Gold Dust. Jr.’s, Big Play. Jr., Branded. Jr.’s, Dutch Pard. Jr.’s, Big Four. by the publish-

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%; apes p 8 ¢3 Sie ) Poa Ra AN Pine kee Sa PG \opyright 1881-1888, by Beadle & Adams. Entered at Post Office, New York, N. Y., as second class matter, Mur. 15 189% } ie M. J. iVERS & CO., Publishers, a oa, aoe | No, 46, nae oe eet (James Sullivan, Proprietor,) % ed 5 fous Vol. lV, sein a 379 Pearl Street, New York. see eee y 5 \ iu Wn q Y: “Goop DOG!’ WELCOMED THE SPORT FROM b oaabrece DRAG THE BRUSH AWAY, SKIP! QUICK, SIRI" -

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i The Jimtown Sport; GYPSY JACK IN COLORADO, A STORY OF DURANGO, £9 BX EDWARD L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF ‘‘DEADWOOD DICK,” ‘BOSS BOB,” ‘*ROSEBUD ROB,” “‘ GILT- EDGED DICK,” ETC, CHAPTER I THE DELEGATE FROM JIMTOWN. , Iv was not many months ago that the dis- covery of gold at Durango, Colorado, brought the usual influx of miners and ad- venturers to the then little town of fifty or sixty inhabitants, and it immediately began to ‘‘boom” toward the size and population of a small city. Miners, speculators, .gamblers and roughs flocked to the new Eldorado, shanties and business places were rapidly constructed; the streets, rude and irregular, presented a busy scene, as people rushed to and fro, as if in a great hurry lest some industrious mortal should get more of the ‘ dirt” than they. For gold there was upon the flats and in the hills that frmged them, and, it being mostly in placer washes, was easy to get. The flats which surrounded the town pre- sented a scene none the less busy. Every- where men were digging with pick and shovel in the sandy surface, and a system of sluice-boxes laid from the mountains, a mile away, furnished thé ‘‘ wash” for each min- er’s dirt. The surface in places did not produce “pay,” and in such instances a shaft had been sunk and a one-horse-power windlass provided for hauling up the dirt and rock and dumping it into a cart, from whence it was hauled away to the vicinity of the stamp-mills, yet uncompleted, and dump- ed in corded piles until it could be milled. Mining for quartz was also being carried on to some extent in the adjacent hills and gulches, but it formed only a small per- ceptum of the business done upon the flats. The claims were small and numerous, and it was not unusua! that the owner of a claim had stuck up his tent and lived where he worked, in order to guard against invasion , upon his rights. Consequently, with these little canvas habitations dotted about, it looked as if an army of troops had camped out upon the flats below the bustling young city. Here and there about the flats were staked 3 Tho Jimtown Sport. out claims that yet remained for sale in the hands of speculators, who, foreseeing a “spec,” had lumped off the territory pre- vious to the ery of ‘‘gold, ho!” and were now vealizing on their investment most hand- somely. : The more people there came, the higher was asked for leases, and in some cases thou- sands of dollars were paid for small pieces of the earth, which had good promise of yielding largely of the auriferous. ; And, remarkable to relate, there were, of all the humans who had flocked hence to populate Durango, only about half a dozen women, and these, with two exceptions, were wives or daughters of miners—the exceptions being a couple of girls from Leadville, who had set up a cigar and lunch stand down on the flats. These girls were known as Gertie and Josie Wood. They always attended strictly to their business, and repulsed any advances made toward familiarity; hence had earned the sobriquet among the miners of ‘‘ Spunk” and ‘‘ Hornet.” One day, when the streets of Durango were less crowded than usual, a cavalcade of three on horseback galloped leisurely into the town from the north. {n the lead was a flat-visaged, comical- looking Chinaman, dressed in the inevitable white frock, pants and sandals, with his pig- tail gayly ornamented with ribbons, and a shiny silk hat upon his head, slightly cocked to one side, He was mounted upon a fine gray horse, and was a good rider. ext bebind him came a beautiful white horse, of well-rounded wea and clean limbs, » astride of which rode a wild, Gypsyish-look- ing fellow, who was sure to attract more than a passing glance. His age ranged some- where between twenty-one and twenty-five years, though his face still possessed much of boyhood’s freshness. He wore a graceful black mustache, which was waxed to a point at the ends; his mouth was firm and habitually pleasant in expression;. his whole face, in fact, was “handsome,” with dark, magnetic eyes; his hair was dark and abundant, and fell in ® graceful wavy ripple over his shoulders. Upon his head he wore a round red cap, without any ‘‘seoop,” but ornamented with elaborate embroidery in blue, white and gold, with a cord and tassel behind. His attire otherwise consisted of fine boots with patent leather knee tops; white-tanned buckskin breeches, fringed; a ‘‘ biled” shirt with a broad open collar at the throat, and a cluster diamond pin upon the polished bosom, and a short red velvet jacket, trim-_ med with gold lace and silver buttons, i Then, too, he rode without saddle or bri- Gn

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The Jimtswn Sport. — ille, with the greatest apparent ease, a word or motion serving to guide his handsome steed. Z The third rider was a medium-sized, shag- by dog, also mounted, bare-back, upon a per- ect mate of the first white horse, and riding with as great apparent ease as his master. He was an intelligent-looking canine, with ‘an open countenance, and eyes that sparkled knowingly and with mischief. Such was the noticeable trio as they rode into town, attracting no little attention from the bystanders, : In front of asmail ‘‘office,” which stood midway up the main street, the three horses were halted; their riders dismounted and en- tered the office in question. It was a small affair, divided in the mid- dle by a counter, behind which a bald-headed party presided. He was a fat old chap, with a face habitu- ally sour in expression, sharp gray eyes, and a double chin. He wore no beard, and had put very little of the hirsute on his cranium,- A spotless shirt-front was ornamented by a single diamond of great size and_ brilliancy, and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses were bridged upon a very prominent and highly- eolored nose. - The Chinaman and the dog immediately ~ 400k seats on entering, while their master advanced to the counter. ‘You, I suppose, are the manager of this {nstitutiony eh?” he inquired. : ‘‘T am, sir,” was the jerky reply, and the fat party went on writing. ““Who are you, sir?” «Well, I am Gypsy Jack, from Jimtown, ou see. My other companions are Shy am, from Formosa, and Skip, my dorg. The latter, in particular, is a very extra- ordinary person.” ‘“Presumedly so, but as I am not cultivat- ing canine acquaintances, if you have any _ business, be kind enough to state it briefly,” the fat party said, tartly. ‘‘Oh! ye needn’t be afeard o’ my dorg,” Gypsy Jack assured, calmly. ‘He don’t ‘notice common folk, uniess they’re up to mischief. As to business, that’s what I’m here for, exactly. * ealf, isn’t it?” “That is my name, sir.” “And you own several ciaims on the flats, below?” “‘T do, sir. . Do you want to purchase?” “‘ Well, that depends. What do you ask for the claim No. 30?” ‘Ten thousand dollars. It is a double tract, and what with being alongside the creek which crosses the flats, and being in close proximity to several of the best claims, _ it is well worth double the amount.” Se oe imp ae Your name is John Met-’ ~ Ls oe. ‘‘Humph! yes, I s’pose,” Jack said, taking off his cap and giving his curly head a scratch. ‘‘ By the way, how much did you pay for this Claim 80 when you purchased it a? The broker did not answer immediately, but busied himself with his pen a few min- ube to conceal any agitation he may have ad. “That is a matter that hardly concerns , you,” he finally replied. “Oh, suit yourself about that. just how much you paid for it.” ‘How much, sir?” *““Nary a copper! The claim was left in your charge by an old so-called witch, Mexi- can Mag, until 1 should come forward to claim it. Therefore, appeareth I, Gypsy Jack, to take possession.” ‘<Impossible, sir! I purchased the claim from the Mexican woman, and shall not yield it to any one short of the sum I ask for. it!” “Oh! you won't, eh?” “Decidedly not, sir!” “ But, supposing I have the audacity to dispute your right, and go and take posses- sion in defiance?” : f ‘Then Ill have you put off in a hurry, sir. . “Sure of it?” : ** Absolutely certain. If you do not wish to get yourself into trouble, you’d best keep off from what is not yours.” * “But it is mine. Mexican Mag willed it to me! I can. prove it by Shy Sam, here, and my dorg, Skip!” “That does not matter, sir. I have a deed of the claim, and it is mine, and I shall hold it.” ‘“Who signed the deed?” Gypsy Jack de- manded calmly. ‘«The Mexican woman, of course.” ‘“That’s a lie. She couldn’t write!” Metcalf’s face flushed angrily. “Get out of my office, you insulting rowdy!” he cried, ‘‘ or I'l! put you out.” “No you won’t! You're no fool, not to know that you’ve too much avoirdupois to handle me. When I get ready, I'l] go. I shall take possession of Mexican Mag’s claim. If you offerto trouble me, I'll blow your brains out, and feed you to Skip! D’ye un- derstand?” “T'll see about it. Set foot on that claim, if you dare, and I'll give you cause to regret its? “Very well. Vil look out for you. If there’s a cemetery around here, I’d advise I know you to speak for a lot, in case you con- template instituting a sanguinary campaign against me. Skip, dorg, de you see the bald : headed delegate?” aS state ;

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man from Jimtown said. _ vol warlike and dangerous appearance. eee tee eee 4 The Jimtown Sport. The sagacious canine gave a bark, and a knowing nod of his head. He evidently fully understood what was askeé of him. “Well, what is your estimate of his char- acter?” Jack asked, lighting a cigar. The dog got down upon the floor, thrust his tail between his legs, hung his head, and looked decidedly sneakish. “Ha! hal! that’s just my idea, too,” the “Now, Skip, how would you like a good sirloin steak off from this bald-headed delegate?” The dog hung his head still lower and gagged, as if the idea were not to his liking. John Metcalf uttered a curse, and Gypsy Jack laughed. “* You see, even the dog can read you! 1 shall go down and take possession of the claim, now. If I see you over that way, look out you don’t get shot. Good-day!” Then the remarkable stranger strode from the office, accompanied by his dog, and fol- lowed by Shy Sam. When he had gone, the speculator uttered a curse, and paced to and fro within his office, in a great state of excitement. “Fool that I was not to get rid of that claim, before!” he growled, savagely. “‘Now, the deuce is to pay. This new- comer is no ordinary sport with whom I have to copa. He is fearless and cunning, but he shall find me equal to the emerg- ency!” - Taking a large brass star from a drawer in the counter, he went to the office door, and attached it to the outside knob, with a small screw, and then returned to his writing. What significance had the star? Was it a signal of distress, or of warning? tis probable that not one out of a hun- dred noticed it, in passing the. office, and yet it was not long ere one individual caught sight of it, crossed the street, and entered the speculator’s office. 7 He was a burly, six-foot ruffian, with black bristling hair and beard, and a face with an ugly, brutal expression. : He was roughly dressed, and a belt about his ent contained a formidable array of re- ers and knives, giving him at once a CHAPTER II. A Nifw PHASE—THE DOG AT CARDS. Tue Jmrown Sport and his companions _ did not return to the flats, after leaving the -speculator’s office, but rode on into the heart of the town, and drew up before the princi- : ' pal combined hotel, saloon, and gambling- place, known as the ‘Old Bourbon—Ken- ucky Bill, proprietor.” : ; yet, in his estimation, probably wort ~ dozen of the latter-day ‘new Here to the amazement of the crowd, the Gypsy and his dog began a free bit of circus, for the benefit of those who were disposed to take in all the free sights. He stood upon his hands, on top of the horse, with his feet in the air, and while poised in this position, the sagacious brute made a flying leap from the back of the other white horse, and landed upon Gypsy Jack’s elevated feet, only to stand erect upon his own hind feet, and give vent to a victo- rious bark, The feat was greeted with a wild shout of applause, and the bystanders gathered nearer as Skip leaped back to his own horse and turned a complete somerset in so doing—a wonderful act by the way, seldom to be seen under any circumstances. “‘T say, young feller, w’at’ll ye take fer ther dorg? Jumpin’ Jehosephat, thet ar’ ther cutest canine I evyer set eyes on, ef I war raised in a dorg country. Speak up, pilgrim! Ef ye want ter sell thet dorg, all ye’ve got ter dew is name a reasonable num- ber of shinin’ crowns, an’ they’re yours sure’s my handle’s Old Somerset, ther great con- solidated two-footed caravan an’ menagery o’ ther Nor’west!” “The dog is not for sale—noft for all tne money in Durango,” Gypsy Jack replied, himself turning a complete somerset on the back of his horse, and then pausing to take a squint at the purchaser-that-would-be. ‘TI and my dorg aire inseparable, stranger, an’ e might as well try to keep us apart, as ter Acer potato-bugs off'n vines. : Old Somerset, whom he was addressing, — was the very essence of a rough, time-worn, weather-beaten old mountain man, whose whole life had probably been mostly made’ up with scrimmages with wild animals and their equally savage neighbors, the red- skins. He was rather short in stature, but wiry and supple, a man not easy to handle, except taken at a disadvantage. He was also pos- sessed of a keen, shrewd eye, and his face, for the most part covered with a mixed brown and gray stubble of beard, was honest and good natured in expression. There was a Wwaggish contortion about the mouth, how- ever, that proclaimed him one of those mor- tals who are never so happy as when spin- ming some gigantic and improbable yarn. e was attired from head to foot in tight- fitting buckskin, with a belt around his waist containing a couple of revolvers which looked as though they had served a long war campaign; and the same could be said of the rifle which he leaned upon—a long, heavy instrument, unplated and unpretentious, and gled hatin’

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The Jimtown Sport. ~~ masheens,” as he would have expressed it mildly. “T allow thet « dundred Williams w’u’d tickle ye, eh?” he said, with a broad grin. ““No, nor a thousand of them,” Gypsy Jaek replied. ‘‘The dog can’t be bought at no price.” At this instant a man was passing by, car- rying a framed paper banner mounted upon a pole. The banner contained the advertise- ment of some local shindig which was to come off, and this means was adopted for heralding the news to those whose feet yearned for Terpischorean exercise. The dog, Skip, however, seemed to con- strue the banner for a different use, and making a spring from the top of his horse’s back, he went through it like a rocket, and landed upon the veranda of the Old Bour- bon. The half-breed delegate who had been car- rying the banner uttered a savage growl, and whipped a pistol from his belt, but, ere he could use it, Gypsy Jack had leaped to the ground and seized him by the collar. “Hold on, my friend!” he said, in his calm yet impressive way. ‘‘ That ’ar dorg belongs to me, and if you don’t want your neck broke, you'll do well to let him alone.” “T’ll shoot him; he spoil banner!” the offended carrier growled. ““No, you won’t kill him either!” Jack warned, and by a sudden effort, he raised the edad fellow and hurled him as neatly over his head as though he had been a mere stick. Then, bounding upon the back of his handsome horse, he uttered a wild laugh, and dashed back down the street toward the flats, followed by his two extraordinary com- pauions. Claim ;No. 80 was situated about in the center of the flats, and consisted of a square acre of surface ground, one side of which bordered upon a narrow, deep creek, which flowed silently across the golden bottom- lands. The main trail from the town across the flats also ran on the oppcsite side of the creek, making 30 one of the handiest situated claims on the flats. That afternoon, for the first time in the history of the mining excitement, a tent was reared upon this tract, and Gypsy Jack and parce took possession, as they had threat- ened. Posted upon a tree on the front side of the claim was a placard printed in a neat hand, which vouchsafed the following warning: “NOTICE! : : _ © Your humble servant, Jack, having taken i possessi awful } age begs leave ion of his own Te kas — annesnce that he proposes to ip Peat 3 as ‘pay-dirt’ is found. Auy galoot having ae to pro’ to the contrary not be dealt with ac- po tpt to Scrip:ure, but will get just the measure his conduct merits, Our motto is: ‘Watch your neighbor—mind your biz—hangto yerrights!’ Take notice: Sure death to old maids, speculators and missionaries, Yours, ete., “Gypsy JACK AND Parps.” The notice received due attention from nearly every passer. by, but none ventured to invade the domains of the eccentric stranger far enough to make his acquaintance. It was evidently not his forte to work, for he mounted a hummock upon some poles outside of the tent and deposited his anatomy | therein, engaging in a smoke, while Shy Sam — did the work. Thus the first day of his arrival passed, and no attempt was made to eject him from the claim. Ifit was John Metcalf’s inten- tion to have him vacate, he had evidently taken no steps in the matter as yet. When night came, or, rather, early dusk, Gypsy Jack sauntered up into the village, accompanied by his dog, leaving Shy Sam behind to look after things at the claim. As he passed along up the main street, he attracted more than ordinary notice, as did Skip, whose feats earlier in the day had won for him a wide repute. The first man the Sport from Jimtown met, to speak to, was Old Somerset, and it was the latter who blockaded his path, and spoke first. “«Good-evenin’,” he said. ‘‘I allow ye won’t offend ef I remark thet I’ve took an interest in ye, pard, all on account o’ your dorg.” “Certainly not,” the young man from Jimtown replied. ‘‘ Not pale dae: iE make acquaintance because of my dog.” ‘«He’s a wonderful dorg. turn a better somerset myself than he, ef do ei et. Yer name’s Gypsy Jack?” “eXe8:* ** And ye are a Gypsy?” “‘Not atall, The handle originated, ably, from my wild, roving disposition. “Oh! thet’s it, hey? Waal, I reckon ef prob- you're as gud as ye look, yell comeright ~ side up with care, tho’ I don’t mind tellin’ ye thet ye’d better keep your eyes peeled.” ‘‘Ah! and why? Is there danger threat ening me?” “T allow tharis. Ef you’ve a spare min nute, we'll squat on ther log over yonder, an’ I'll put ye onto something ye mebbe don't know.” “Very good. I am always ready to hear — anything of interest.” : They accordingly seated themselves upon a fallen log, in the shade of a cluster of trees, a few yards back from the street, and then e old scout proceeded; I ken skeercely Shr rere, Cpa

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** Ye see, thet aire claim ye've squatted on, is likely ter git ye inter trouble, ‘ca’se et ar’n’t the most desirable piece o’ property | imaginable. Thar’s ascore 0’ galoots w’ot claim et, an’, then thar’s John Metcalf, who sez he’s bought et, an’ so et goes.” ; “That don’t alarm me in the least, my friend,” Gypsy Jack replied, with a good- natured laugn. ‘‘I reckon possession is sev- eral points, and then I can prove that Mexi- can Mag, the witch, willed it to me, on her death-bed.” “The old skinflint’s dead, hey?” ‘Yes. Got killed by falling over a preci- pice, up North. I ran across her, just as she was going off the handle, and she de- clared me her heir to this piece of prope:ty.” ‘‘Humph! I don’t ealkylate ye’re in much luck, tho’ et aire mighty temptin’, thet claim 30. But, jest salt away ther testimony of Old Somerset—ye've a pile o’ fightin’ ter do, afore ye get thru. An’ ther worst o’ et _ is, ye’ve got a woman ter contend wi’. Con- sarn my old menagerie ef I wouldn’t ruther swaller an annerconda, an’ use an elerfant’s trunk fer a toothpick, than buck ag’in’ a wo- man.” “‘Humph!. I never have any trouble with them. ho is this one you refer to?” “A hummer! a reg’lar ourang outang dare-devil, wi’ no more regard fer law an’ persons than the wildest cat thet ever held a sae in ther Arcadian forests 0’ yore!” omerset said, impressively. “*Ye’ve heerd tell about Captain Crack- Shot, the girl outlaw, hey’n’t ye?” “No, I can’t say that I have!” “Waal, that's queer. She’s well known, hyarabouts, you bet, an’ she ain’t a bit afeard ter make herself acquainted, nuther, when she thinks she can get any ducats. She’s old Mexican Mag’s adopted daughter, they say— least-how, she claims that No. 30 is hern, an’ warne every galoot to keep off from it, who don't want to git shipped into thefuture!” “Dangerous, eh?” Gypsy Jack comment- ed idly. ‘Oh! well, 1 dare say she won't scare me a great deal. Asto the man, Met- ealf, probably he and these other chaps you speak of, will consolidate, eh?” ‘Like as not. They are roughs, every one of ’em, who have at times loaned Mexi- can Mag money to gamble with, and now eal an interest in the property she’s left.” “Well, let em come. If they want to dis- pute my rights, Dll hear their argument. As to the future of claim 30, 7#’s mine—and if I - don't have it, no one else will ever get rich off from et. Just remember that, in the face _ of future circumstances, will you?” * Hee ¢ yo a Later that evening Gypsy Jack and his dog ie i all SEE ae Ey The Jimtown Sport. | entered a gambling palace on the main street, and sauntered about, watching the various games In progtess. It was evidently not his purpose to play, but he was all the same possessed of a knowl- edge of the business, a8 was manifest by a faint smile when he would see a man make a bad ‘‘lay.” : The burly ruffian whd had. entered the office of John Metcalf earlier that same afternoon, was engaged in a game of poker with a professional sharp, and made a mis- move which lost him the game. Looking up, he caught sight of the stran- ger, and noted the faint smile upon his face. “Hello! what you grinnin’ at?” he growl- ed, with an oath, ‘“‘Mebbe ye think you could ’a’ played ther game better?” “*Presumedly, yes, were I a gambler, which I am not,” was the quiet answer. ““My dog here, however, I dare say, could learn you something about cards.” “Hurrah! Let’s see lim!” cried a num- ber. ‘‘ Put up your dorg, stranger!” ‘Tf you are anxious to put up the money, all right,” Jack replied. ‘‘V'll sect my dog on the table, and wee can let your best three- card monte man flip out his pasteboards, and my dorg will pick out the winning card every time.” ‘Here’s Black HiJl—he’s your man,” the proprietor of the place said, indicating the ruffian who had addressed our man from Jimtown. ‘‘ Bill, he takes the cake at throw- ing the keerds squar’.” “*T allow I kin do et!” Bill declared, ‘‘ an’ no livin’ dorg kin beat me. Hyar’s a pile o’ ten golden eagles, an’ ther ace o’ spades wins ’em. Heer I have ther ace o’ spades, three- spot of diamonds, and two-spot of clubs!” and as he spoke he gave them a dexterous flip upon the table, with the backs up. “Now, I'll bet ther ten eagles hyar, ag’in’ ther same amount, thet ther ain’t no dorg living who kin turn up ther ace o’ spades ther first time trying!” Tl take the bet; make it a thousand if you like!” Gypsy Jack said, taking a large roll of greenbacks from his pocket, witha — laugh. CHAPTER III. A GENERAL ‘‘ CIRCUS.” THERE was excitement within the Old Bourbon as the sport from Jimtown spoke a single word to his canine companion, and the sagacious animal leaped upon the table? “Good boy, Skip!” Gypsy Jack said, pat- ting the dog on its back. ‘‘You’re always on time. Now, these citizens around here have got an idea that you can’t play monte — as well as they, and in order to convince — > 3 ah e - ee yet ee ae 5 — ates

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~ me! The Jimtown Sport. : a them to the contrary, I want to blindfold you, and then want you to place your paw on the one of the three cards you see lying here which is in your estimation the ace of spades. Do you think the dealer yonder has any tricks hidden up his sleeve?” Skip shook his head in the negative, and wagged his tail, whence the crowd laughed heartily. : i Bets were made rapidly on the result, and large sums were wagered against the success of the dog. Allowing the bystanders plenty of time to make their bets, Jack bound a handkerchief in front of his dog’s eyes, and then turned to the man, Black Bill, with whom he had bet. : “Look sharp, now, man!” he said. ‘‘ Be sure there’s no trickery, before I proceed, or there'll be a growl afterwards. Is it all square now?” “Tt ’pears so,” Black Bill growled. ‘‘ Go ahead. Ef I lose, it won’t be the first time in my lifex’ “Allright, Skip, get ready now. Take a topographical claryvoyant survey of the country, and at the same time pick up the ace of spades.” The blindfolded dog obeyed by selecting one of the cards, and picking it up between his teeth. ~ Examination proved that the Jimwwwnite had won. : Skip had Ses up the ace of spades, sure enough, and at the first attempt. “Cuss yer dorg!” Black Bill snarled. “Tt was only by chance he did it, you bet. Ken’t chuck no humbug down me.” “Perhaps you are anxious to play again?” Gypsy Jack said, pocketing the result of his successful wager together with what he had invested. ‘‘Yas, 1am. I'll bet ther last o’ my pile ther dorg can’t do et a second time, ther first try, an’ you leave him blindfolded, just as he is now—a straight thousand on it!’ “That fits me!” the Jimtownite responded, counting out the sum in greenbacks. ‘A thousand it is. Any other gents want to be accommodated with a thousand bet?” No one, evidently; too many had. lost on the canine to be tempted again. The monte man, however, had the “sand,” and put up his ‘‘chips” to the extent of a thousand dolJars—probably the last of his money. Then, seizing a new pack of cards, he ex- pertly threw them upside down upon the table. “Are you sure there is an ace among them?” Gypsy Jack demanded, sternly. ‘I want no trickery in this matter, understand “Let your dog answer!” Black Bill sneered. ‘‘If there’s an ace on the board, he’ll find et, according to your theory.” “80 he will; and if there’s not an ace, you lose, the same.” Then, with a word to the dog, the animal walked over and about the cards, and nosin three aside from the rest, selected the mid- dle one of the trio, and held it up between his teeth go all could see. It was the ace of hearts! The crowd uttered a shout of sufprise, and - Black Bill uttered a cry of rage as he saw Guay Jack pocket his last dollar. *“Curses on yel” he cried. ‘‘ What ye win in money, you should lose indog—mark my word for it!” And before any one was aware of his in- tention he had drawn a pistol, and fired at eels P he poor animal gaye vent to a piteous howl, and bounded from the table to the floor, where he gave a few struggles and stretched out as if dead. The Jimtown Sport stood for a moment as if struck dumb with astonishment and sor- row; then turning, he leaped upon Black Bill with a fierce ery, and they began a rough- and-tumble struggle for the mastery. Several miners sprung forward to take the rnffian’s part, but as many more intercepted them, and in less than five minutes two parties were plainly formed—one for Gyps Jack and one for Black Bill, and soon all were fighting vigorously for the men who had their sympathy. : Be it said in his favor, Gypsy Jack had the best men on his side. : Black Bill’s party, however, was composed of the ruffian element, and was numerically larger than the other side, and as they fought without regard to life, it seemed evident that | they must eventually win. Crack! bang! crash! scream! were sounds that transformed the interior of the saloon into a literal pandemonium. Men were shot down ruthlessly, and knives flashed; shouts of agony, oaths and curses were uttered on every hand; it was a terrible hand-to-hand conflict between those knights of the border, which promised not to cease until the last man was ‘cleaned out.” . The struggle between Gypsy Jack and Black Bill was a stern, unyielding one, both men being possessed. of great determination — —for the man who lost would. be a fit sub- ject for the undertaker. They were pretty nearly matched in point ot strength, too, though -the gambler-ruf- fian was taller and heavier than his plucky opponent from Jimtown. They clinched in a viselike hug, and waltzed about without —

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8 The Jimtown Sport. doing each other any great amount of dam- age. Z ‘Curse ye, let me. go!” Black Bill cried, as Gypsy Jack froze to him like a postage stamp. ‘‘Ef ye don't, Pll stamp ye out of existence!” “Will ye?” the Jimtownite retorted, work- ing gradually toward the front door. ‘If ou get an advantage, it will not be m ault. You killed my dog, and your life shall answer for it!” “Tt will, hey?” the ruffian yelled, lunging forward and bumping his head severely against that of his antagonist. ‘‘Dog my cats ef I don’t stave in yer skull!” “Oho! come on! Perhaps two can play -at that game,” Jack responded, returning the ump, ‘ Aad then began the navel battle of heads, in dead earnest, to see which could stand the most. Bump! whack! bump! went the foreheads of the two men—crack! clash! was the ac- companiment kept by the other fighters. Steadily Jack worked his man back to- ward the door, and finally they were out in the open air. Here matters were no better. It appeared as if the whole town were un- dergoing a siege, for men were fighting alon the whole length of the street, using revol- vers, knives and any weapon they could get hold of. : Matters were the same on the flats as in the town, and it seemed as if Gypsy Jack’s turn against the gambler, had been instrumental in setting the whole town into a general state of warfare. Which went to show that there were two parties who wished to run the town, and a chance had been improved to test the matter of mastery. Outside the tavern Jack and his opponent had much more room to exercise in, yet could not trip or throw each other, and had nothing left to resort to but the battering- ram assault of their heads. This they continued with much regu- larity, pausing occasionally, as it were, to compare notes. ‘How do you like it?” Jack demanded, ei. “Like to play at ten-pins?” ~“Cuss yel” the gambler growled, gasp- ingly. “What kind of a head have you ‘ot?’ = “A cocoanut head, of course. Why it’s cast-iron, and you can’t bus’t et, if you “Then I want to cry quits, I’ve got enough!” _* What, so soon? But you must get more’n enough. I think a little more butting will wake you up!” eC And that the Jizatown delegate proceeded to administer, with renewed energy. But Black Bill had had enough and by a desperate effort he broke loose and dashed away down the street, at the top of his speed, At the same instant the dog, Skip, sprung forth from the tavern, and off in hot pursuit of the ruffian. He had not been killed, as Jack had supposed, but stunned by the bul- let, which had just grazed the top of his head, and had recovered and got out of the saloon just in time to see Black Bill make a run for it. Comprehending the situation with his na- tural sagacity, he uttered a bark of victory, and dashed after the gambler and soon both dog and man had vanished from view by dodging around a corner, Then Gypsy Jack turned and gazed about him, undecided what to do. The whole neighborhood was in a riot— which party should he side with? was his thought just as there was a sudden whiz; then a lasso settled over his head and tight- ened around his waist, and he was landed on the ground. He made a quick attempt to spring to his feet, but before he could do so three masked men had leaped upon him, and were not long in binding him hand and foot. e was then handed to another man, on horseback, who had ridden suddenly up to the spot, and the next thing he knew Gypsy Jack was being borne away across a corner of the flats, toward the distant rugged mountains. i His lone captor was a powerfully-built man, with gray hair and beard, which was met by a black mask, through which a pair of evil eyes occasionally peered into the face of the prisoner. His attire was buckskin from bvots to chin, dyed jetty black, with a belt full of re- volvers at his waist, and a plumed slouch hat upon his head. Seeing that he made no motion to speak, Jack opened the conversation. ‘““Where are you taking me?” he de- manded. ‘“To Crow’s Nest,” was the reply. «“ Where is Crow’s Nest?” “Tn the mountains,” ‘* What kind of a place is it?” “Bully place.” ““ Who runs it?” ‘ “ Captain Crack-Shot.” 3 ‘‘Humph! The female footpad, eh? Why are you taking me there?” eee ch “Because she ordered it.” ‘‘Well, that’s cheeky. Know what her ladyship proposes to do with me?” “Shoot you, I reckon.” -

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The Jimtown Sport. ““What for?” ““Dunno.” “Well, it’s queer. I hope, however, you are mistaken, How old is this noble road- agent?” “‘ Nineteen, or so.” ‘Got any relatives around here?” **Reckon not.” ** Good looking?” . ** Wait till ye see her.” “How long will that be?” ““Couple of hours.” “Hurry up, then! I’m not riding very comfortably, you know.” Half an hour found them entering a wild, craggy, mountainous district, ascending a rugged path toward the top of a wooded, bowlderous mountain. For a couple of hours they continued the monotonous ascent—then they emerged upon a natural level shelf upon the side of the mountain, from whence a good view could be had of the distant town of Durango. As they rode upon the plateau a gayly-at- tired girl in men’s clothing emerged from a niche in the face of the mountain, and this Gypsy Jack concluded must be Captain Crack-Shot, the girl road-agent! CHAPTER Iv. A SCOUNDREL UNMASKED. Tr was near midnight when the riot ceas- ed in an about Durango, without declaring victory for either party, although the ruf- fianly element had possession of the village, and. the more peaceably disposed citizens had been driven down to the flats. Here they could do little but wait for day- light, when they must either renew the at- tack, or give up the struggle and declare the ruffians their masters. Having possession of the business portion of the village, it might be surmised that they would not yield it without a bloody strug- le. From the beginning of the fight almost, Old Somerset had been here, there and ‘everywhere, in the oe as a sort of a captain in behalf of the citizens’ party. But owing to the overwhelming odds of numbers in favor of the roughs, he could finally see no better plan than a general retreat to the flats for consultation and repairs, which move ‘was made according to his orders. A good many persons had been wounded, and some killed among the defenders, but the other party had had the same luck, if not more so. A general camp, in body, was ordered by Old Somerset, near the center of the flats. Fires were built and pickets posted, the same precautions being observed by the old scout as if it was an Indian campaign. — epee ae ee ee ee John Metcalf, the speculator, was among the citizens’ party, but whether by choice or accident it is hard to tell. He claimed to be out a greatedeal of money by the riot, as he owned an interest in several business estab- lishments, and had several thousand dollars locked up in his office. “J propose that a party of you men ac- company me back and help me secure the money, at least,” he said. ‘‘ We can easily creep back, under the cover of darkness, and secure the money.” “Tf the captain says so, all right,” one of the miners suggested—“ otherwise, not a man shall leave camp, ef 1 can stop him.” “Twas not aware that we are subject to the orders of a captain,” Metcalf sneered. “‘But we are, though,” the miner re- plied, whcse name was Tiger. “« We're in ther midst of a consarned diffi- culty, an’ we want some one ter lead us. I purpose thet Old Somerset knows how ter do ther matter up brown, an’ we'd better let him take ther lead, an’ we go accordin’ ter his instructions. ‘ Eh, boys, what d’ye say?” “Hurrah! ~ Old Somerset, orever!” shouted the crowd. «‘Thankee, gents,” the scout said, ‘It does me proud ter represent ye, an’ ef my old menagerie ar’ wu’th a cent, ye kin bet yer pile this hyer old polar b’ar wull do his best. An’ ef l’m ter be boss, I'll begin ther ring performances by givin’ a few orders. Let no man leave camp, cept I say so, un- der penalty o’ gittin’ his skull blowed. Let no man go over ter ther t’other side, un- ~ g ; der penalty o’ death. Let no may try ter run this hyar concert privilege, without my permission, or hev nothin’ ter say in ther way 0’ bossin’.” “But I demand a guard of men to accom- pany me to my office, to rescue the money [ ee there,” Jobn Metcalf protested, impor- tantly. ‘*Can’t help what ye demand,” Old Somer- set said. ther boys, an’ et won’t do no noes fer ye ter be obstreperous. I forbid any man leavin’ camp till I know et’s safe—an’ as fer yer money, et ain’t no better any other folks’.” Metcalf didn’t appear to assent to this view, and moved about growling protests against the scout’s arbitrary rules, and en- deavoring to enlist the sympathies of some of the men on his side. But as he was no general favorite, he had no success, and had to content himself with his own opinion. About an hour after midnight Old Somer- set gave orders for everything to be kept quiet in the camp, and left on connoissance about the settlement, = “Youre no better’n ther rest o” a tour of re ta

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10 When he returned, he reported the town still in an uproar from the fact that the ruffi- ans had seized upon the liquors in the sa- loons, and were having a good, drunk and occasional fights among themselves. They had, however, thrown out a number of pickets, to prevent a surprise, and a third of their number patrolled the main street, prepared to repel any attack, while their ‘companions were enjoying the delights of Bacchus. Shortly after Somerset’s return to camp, a picket came in, and reported a single horseman outside the lines, who claimed to be a stranger, and wished to enter the camp. ‘« Show him in,” the old scout ordered. The horsemen soon came riding into camp, and drew rein in front of the principal fire, around which the majority of the defenders were clustered. He was a well-dressed person of some fifty-five or sixty years of age, and evidently aman above the common herd. He wore a long iron-gray beard, and a stylish Derby hat; his face was large, well cast and noble in expression; his eyes and hair were of a dark brown color. A large diamond pin shone upon his shirt front. ‘« Tg the sheriff or principal officer of this district to be found about here?” he inquired, as he reined in his horse. ‘* Well, I reckon we never had a sheriff et,” Old Somerset replied, ‘‘ but, as I’ve een chosen ter represent this hyar division o’’ ther townspeople, I presume ye -might term me an officer. Upin town, I allow, Arizona Mike calkylates he’s boss o’ ther roost. Ye see, we're split up now, an’ stan’ as two belligerent parties, an’ one or t’other of us intends ter run the shebang, ulti- mately. At present the roughs hev got the possession of the coops, but we don’t opine they’re goin’ ter hev et fer any length o’ time.” t “Ah! then there is but little hope of my getting assistance, I judge,” the stranger re- ' plied. ne ‘‘What assistance d’ye want?” Somerset asked. “Help from honest men to recover my Jost child, sir,” was the reply. ‘‘I will in- troduce myself to you as the Duke of Leigh, of Sussex, England. In company with my daughter, Lady Myra, I have been travelin through Western America for pleasure, an partly in the interests of English railway in- vestors. This afternoon, while myself and daughter, with our attendant, were riding toward this place, we were set upon in the mountains by a band of brigands, our atten- dant killed, myself robbed, and my daugh- ter carried off. I was then set at liberty, and Gya At tS ee Sie eee told that when I paid over the sum of five’ The Jimtown Sport. | thousand dollars my danghter woud he re- turned to me.” “Well, I allow ye refused?” Somerset said, with a chuckle. “‘Most assuredly I did. The demand is outrageous, and I do not propose tw yield to it,” the duke replied. ‘Then, I dare say, you'll not be very likely ter see yer progeny ag’in, ver soon,” Somerset declared. ‘The gai, Crack-Shot, does bizness on ther dead certain plan, an’ thar’s them as say she never fails. Ef she’s got yer gal, about ther likeliest thing you kin do is fork over ther cash, as she’s firmiy planted in the mountains, an’ ye might as et try ter trap ther American eggle as er.” ee I will call upon the government for aid.” “‘Waal, thet might do, but it’s hard stir- rin’ up these Uncle Samites, bet yer boots! They don’t enthuse wu’th a cent, when they’re out arter road-agents, an’ ten ter one e’d hev ter slip a heap o’ hundred dollar ifliams inter their hands afore they d wake ter any interest in yei case at all.” “My Heaven! Is there no law in this country, then?” *‘Dead loads of et, stranger, but it ain’t ginnerally observed up in this country. Homemade laws is ther thing, hvarabouts— every man fer hisself, and ther Old Boy fer femall. Ef Crack-Shot sez money, or no gal, ye kin calculate et’s gospel, an’ we ken t hinder et, ’ca’se I opine ther boys hey all hed a deal wi’ her, one way an’ another, an’ got the worst of it; hence, they consider et safe ter fight shy-of her ladyship.” : The duke slid from his saddle, with an ex- clamation of disappointment. “Tf it is as you say, 1 may as well stop here, for the present, with your permission, until I can find a way of rescuing her.” “Purty good plan, an’ you're welcome, so long’s you behave yourself,” the old scout assented, It was rather an odd invitation, perhaps, but it always was his rule never to make much of any one until he had made a study of them. 2 ' The duke accordingly rolled himself in a blanket and lay down a short distance from the fire, and a little in the rear of the other campers, apparently not over-anxious to mix with them. ieee Toward the latter part of the nignt the camp became silent, from the fact that all were evidently wrapt in slumber. It was about this time that the speculator, John Metcalf, arose from his position among the sleepers and stole softly toward the re- clining-place of the duke, who was reposing more serenely than one would have suppos-

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4 The Jimtown Sport. 48 ed him capable of doing, considering his re- cent loss. Stooping beside him, Metcalf shook him gently by the arm. With a start the duke opened his eyes and attempted to rise, but the speculator held him back. “Sh! Not a loud word, for your life,” he warned. ‘“‘ Youare in deadly peril, although you may not know it. Do you recognize me?” “No,” the nobleman replied. “Humph! Your memory must be mighty forgetful,” the other growled, evidently not pleased. ‘‘ Don’t you remember your con- fidential clerk, Metcalf, whom you made it warm for a dozen years ago, because he had not the audacity to steal a few of your many dollars?” The duke started. ‘Ab! true enough. I see the resemblance now. What are you doing here, sir?” “T’ve been getting rich, of late, and en- deavoring to heal up the wound you made in my affection for Lady Myra, by making it necessary for me to leave England,” “You are a scoundrel! Let me up ‘Of course I am a scoundrel,’”’ Metcalf re- plied, triumphantly, allowing the nobleman ie to rise, ‘‘But not so bad a one as not to be willing to help an old and esteemed friend when I find him in treuble.” ‘** Bah!” Leigh scoffed. I should expect from you.” “Nevertheless, you do me great injus- tice,” Metcalf replied. “‘ Just step this way out of earshot, and we will compare notes.” The Englishman did follow the speculator, although evidently distrustful of him. Beyond the camp both halted, and faced each other. ‘Now proceed with whatever you have to “Poor assistance ’ say!” the duke ordered. ‘* { will do so,” Metcalf replied. ‘‘In the first place, you are in a strange country, and in trouble. How much money have you?” “Nonel’ was the gloomy reply. ‘The brigands robbed me of what I had.” ““hen you have no money to redeem your child?” “ None whatever.” “That is bad. If you do not pay over the ransom in ten days, she will be sold to the Indians!” ‘‘Heavens! You don’t mean it.” “But Ido. There is an old Indian nabob a over in Indian Territory, who buys up female captives for his wigwam, and Crack- Shot gets paid a good price for stch as she don’t see fit to hand over to her men.” — «This is terrible. What can be done? It f ween tS would kill me to have my peerless child given up to such a fate.” “That is the part I am coming to,” Met- — calf assumed. ‘TI can agree with you that | it will be best to get possession of her at once. This you cannot do alone, and—” “JT can secure your services by paying for them,” the duke sneered, anticipating what was coming “Exactly. I am willing to let bygones be bygones, and look only into the future. I am the only man in Durango who has money and power enough to get the girl away from the brigands. Then, as a reward, I should want to marry her. One of these days she will inherit a grand English property from ~ her grandfather, and who wouldn’t consider that attractive? In the mean time, after we are married, we'll content ourselves by tour- ing this country, at my expense, which Iam willing to bear, for the sake of being the bus- band of aduchess, where formerly I was your lackey. Oh! I’m wide-awake, you see! Ac- cept and all will be lovely—refuse, and I'll uarantee you'll never see the lovely Lady yra again!” « CHAPTER V. , INTO THE JAWS OF DEATH. 5 Ler us return to the Sport from Jimtown, — and the girl road-agent. She was just the medium hight of women, — and possessed of the most perfectly graceful — ae Jack remembered ever to haye seen, Ww ich was displayed to advantage in a neat- fitting suit of pink and blue colored fabric, with a jaunty slouch hat upon her head, and — knee-boots upon her feet of a small light pattern. ; A belt about her waist contained a pair of silver-plated revolvers, and a knife-hilt pro- — truded from a sheath which hung upon*her — hip. a face she was decidedly fresh and fair, — with sweetly et ae features and expressive — dark eyes, while her hair fell in a mass of natural curls upon her shoulders. > She was far too pretty a person to occupy the position she did, and she was evidently conscious of her beauty, as she gave her hat ~ a somewhat jauntier pitch, and rearranged — her collar, as the brigand drew rein, and she — came up. : 4 An expression of admiration entered her eyes as she saw Gypsy Jack. Few finer- looking men than he in that wild countrys “Well, you got him, I see?” the Girl Brigand said. ““Yes, ma’am,” was the reply. : f “Well, you may release his feet, that I ‘may take him to my council-chamber to in- terview him,” she said. S The bandit obeyed, -

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_ then came the news that your wife had also 12 Tho Jimtown Sport. 2 4 a a a RE “You may follow me,” the young woman said, leading the way through the fissure in the rock to a large cavern, which seemed by its size as if the whole inside of the peak were hollow. In the center was a large raised dais, some ten feet im hight, with steps leading to the top. Upon the top of this was a rude easy-chair, while upon the ground in front, were a num- ber df bench-seats. ; Motioning Gypsy Jack to be seated upon one of these, the girl captain seated herself upon the second step of the platform, and faced him, with a searching glance. “ Well, Deadwood Dick, how does your sudden change of base agree with you?” she asked. Gypsy Jack started. ‘‘ What do you mean?” he asked. “Just what i asked—how do you fancy _ your change of base?” “Not at all, But you addressed me as Deadwood Dick!” ‘Because I thought it would be more: natural to you than Gypsy Jack. Oh! you needn’t deny that you're Deadwood Dick, for I happen to know better!” “How did you acquire your informa- tion?” : “Oh! quite easily enough. I saw you as Deadwood Dick about a month ago, and once seen, you are not to be mistaken for any other man.” ypsy Jack started, and his features grew somewhat sterner. lla that Iam, as you say, Dead- wood Dick,” he said, ‘‘ I begin to awaken to something I had not thought of before. You say you saw me a month ago. It was just that length of time ago, that I lost the dear- est treasure of my latter life—my wife, who was ruthlessly stolen from my very arms ag it were, and borne away to some place unknown to me, and for a purpose equally unknown. Perhaps vow can tell me where she is.” - “ “‘ Were I disposed to be merciless, I could --but as I would not break your heart, I prefer not to tell you.” ‘*What! do you mean. to insinuate that she was not true to me?” “Well, if you must know—yes, With my band of men, I was roaming in your vicinity, about a month ago, when one day my licutenaut suddenly came up missing. Careful inquiry failed to discover him, and turned up missing aud was not to be found, Remembering that while we were prowling “near your shanty, my lieutenant had seen} ‘youand your wife sitting in the doorway, and expressed a strong admiration for ber, I. naturally concluded that he had induced her to elope with him.” : z ‘‘Bah! I do not believe this,” Gysey Jack —as we shall still continue to call him —said sternly. ‘‘No amount of lies could ever serve to convince me that Calamity was faithless to me.”’ ‘‘Hal ha! You've a great deal of confi- dence in her, 1 see. I fancy you little un-' derstand a woman’s heart. It is a fickle piece of mechanism, and easily attracted from one point to another.” * ‘Perhaps that may be-the case with yours, but not so with Calamity Jane. I believe you have her in your power, as a prisoner!” «‘ Well, I suppose I may as well admit the truth of your charge,” she said, with an in- dulgent laugh. “I, Captain Crack-Shot, chief of the Knights of the Colorados, have the honor of holding as my. prisoner, the wife of the notorious ex-road-agent, Dead- wood Dick, subject to release on certain terms. I didn’t know but I could deaden your interest in her, and capture your af- fection, myself? Ha! ha! hal” “‘T comprehended your plan at the first Jack replied. ‘‘It failed from the fact that Icame only for one woman, and that wo- man the one who has been true to me, through thick and thin—Calamity Janei” ‘“And that very extraordinary affection you seem to cherish for her was the cause of my having her abducted and brought here, as I dared to presume you would be willing to pay quite a respectable sum for her re- lease!” the girl bandit replied, ‘‘I was upon the eve of writing you when I heard of your arrival in Durango, and concluded that I cotild best arrange with you by having you brought hither.” “Well, what do you propose to do?” “T propose to have you accede to my terms,’ she replied, decidedly. “You seem very confident,” he said, a faint smile playing over his face, ‘* You perhaps don’t fully know me.” “¢On the contrary, 1 know you better than most people. Do you remember the old Spaniard who used to run the Casino La Pierre, in Deadwood? If so, you will per- haps also recollect that he had a daughter who sometimes handled the paste-boards ex- pertly, and thereby tempted sundry dollars into the parental treasury.” “Ah! I see. I have been turning the thought over in my mind that I had seen you somewhere. You are old Carlo’s daugh- ter?” ‘The same, but lately transformed into Captain Crack-Shot—the title given me be- cause of certain ability in the line of straight shooting. Hence, you see, I have seen ot \” long ago, and heard so much of you that

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The Jimtown Sport. 18 have been ahle to make a gees accurate estimate of your character. am full well aware that you are considered a hard man to buck against, but I am not afraid but what I can bring you to terms in case you d‘ecome balky.” Gypsy Jack surveyed the woman in no little wonderment. His long experience in the golden West, as Deadwood Dick, had brought him into contact with many strange characters of the feminine sex, but he had seldom meta girl so young in years who was such a self-possessed villain and schemer, “T have serious doubts as to your success in tamiug me,” he replied. “I don’t gener- ally yield to any one, and I presume I shall not break my rule in vour favor.” “But I presume you will, as you can have but two alternatives tu select from, one of which is—death. Listen, however, and [I will tell you my plan, which I think you will embrace when you know it. ‘Since coming to this section I admitted an old witch to my band who owns a great share of the flats near Durango, and in par- ticular the claim you pitched your camp on. This witch having disappeared, and I be- lieving she is dead, 1 propose to claim the flats as my own by right of heritage. In or- der to get possession, I shall have to fight for it, and I want you to take a hand in the struggle as my first lieutenant. If we win you shall share equally with me in the profits; if we fail we will share such toll as can be obtained in the usual line of say busi- ness. Of course, when you take the oath of allegiance, your wife shall be returned to ou, and all will be well.” ‘And if I refuse?” ‘*Well, then that will be another thing. You'll get a just reward for your foolishness. Your wife, Calamity Jane, will be sold to Thunder Cloud, the red-skin nabob, for a thousand dollars. You will then be forced to pay five times that’ amount for your lib- erty, or be shot by my sergeant and thrown from the shelf outside into the gulch over three hundred feet below. How like you the prospectus?” “Tt is quite novel and entertaining; you should have a medal for your ready inven- fion,”’ was the defiant answer. ‘ You had better call your sergeant at once, as I shall furely refuse to accede to your plans,” “You do not mean it.” “Decidedly, yes. I am not inclined to re- enter the ranks of road-agency again, and, were I, I should do so on my own account, Iam no cut-throat.” Captain Crack-Shot evidently was not pleased at this decision, and rose and walked about upon the steps of the dais. Perhaps you think I am jesting ” she said; ‘‘ perhaps you do not believe I will do, or cause to be donc, a thing I have threat ened?” ; “No. On the contrary, I believe you will ~ do as you threaten,” “ And in face of this, you mean that you would rather have me fulfill my threats than to accede to my proposition?” “Exactly. Threaten evento bring the skies crashing down upon my head, and you could not budge me from my resolve.” “Then I'll give you the hospitality of the ‘den’ until I can send word to the Indian reservation for Thunder Cloud to come. ad purchase your wife, for whom he hasay at admiration. Thomas!” P At her call, a young Spaniard approached and stood in waiting. “Thomas, take the prisoner and lower him into the den with the others!” she said, “Go, Sir Gypsy, and consider yourself in luck that I don’t shoot you on the spot,” < ‘Yam eyer so much obliged,” Jack sar- castically retorted, as be suffered himself to. be led away. : From the main cave he was taken into a smaller one, divided by skin curtains from the larger one, and from this out upon a shelf on the mountain-side, which was an exact counterpart of the one upon the opposite side of the honeycomb peak. ; Just in frgnt of this ledge was a deep, cellar-like space, surrounded on the other three sides by perpendicular, smooth, rocky walls, up which no mortal could climb with- out a ladder or otber artificial aid. ee, The bottom of this natural hole was about forty feet in diameter, and in the center was — built a strong walled cage, or cell. 'This was about twenty by thirty in size, leaving an area running entirely around it. The walls of this cage or den were fully twenty feet high, and perfectly smooth. j The depth of the cellar from the ledge above was at least forty feet, and there was no apparent outlet to it, except by upward ascent. = A more effective or novel prison could scarcely be imagined, for in the area lurked — several wild animals, among which weretwo —~ or three wolves and a cinnamon bear. From the howls they sent up, it was only too evident they were purposely kept in a half-starved condition, and should a prisoner succeed in escaping from the den to theopen space, he would only fall into their ravenous — jaws. = A strong crane or derrick had been erected — upon the ledge, and provided with a rope and tackles, so that a person could be easily lowered or raised from the pit ; ee As they emerged ae the ledge, the Ji town port took in all these points in

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14 glances. Then he allowed the Spaniard to fasten a kind of strap harness to his shoul- ders and waist and hook the tackle into it, well knowing that did he resist there were those at hand who would shoot him down at asignal. His only hope was escape from the pit, wherein he surmised the other prison- ers were kept, for down in the den he saw three persons—two women and a man. “Ready!” the Spaniard said; then he swung him out from the ledge and began to Jower him. Dawn!—down he went, slowly at first, but soon the Spaniard gave a yell; the rope had par! 4, and down! down! went Gipsy Jack —nov into the den where the other prisoners were confined, but into the area, where the ferocious beasts were awaiting to receive him, with gleaming eyes and distended jaws. What fate could be his except a horrible death? CHAPTER VI. A BATTLE ROYAL, To John Metcalf’s infamous scheme the duke did not give immediate ‘answer, but paced to and fro like a lion in its cage. “You are the greatest villain I have ever met,” he finally said. ‘‘ You see me in trou- ble and take advantage cf my situation to propose a rascally piece of business, which none but an adept scoundrel could con- ceive!” “And yet Iam no more of a villain than ou!” Metcalf declared, triumphantly. “When I, your confidential clerk, had dared to fatl in love with your daughter, Lady Myra, who, like yourself, was over- proud of an unmoneyed title, you discharged me, threatened to horsewhip me if J persist- ed, and finding that was not likely to have the desired effect, you fixed my case by pur- porting to have.lost a couple of thousand pounds—which you know you were not worth—and accusing me of the theft. You were liberal enough, however, to offer me my liberty in case I forever left Great Brituin, and rather than vex my eyes by peering through iron grates, I skipped, leav- ing my love behind me, So you see you are not the most conscientious Christian living.” “Well, admitting that,” he said, ‘you could scarcely blame me. Lady Myra is of pes old English blood, allied to the royal ine, and no sane person could censure me for not hearing to her marriage with the son of a common laborer.” _ ‘Yet, just at present, Tam rich enough to buy up any amount of titles, while you'd probably be glad to dispense with yours for -@ few thousand pounds sterling, thaf you might redeem your daughter,” tee é The dimtown Sp ori. ee! “No, sit, my title is a proud one, and is not for sale!” the duke replied, haughtily. ‘True, lam temporarily poor, but I am still the Duke of Leigh, and 2 gentleman of posi- tion in my own country.” -““The dodge won't work here. Ye can’t sling on no mi-lord swag, nor refuse to allow every galoot is your equal, if you don’t want to get systematically smashed. But what do you say to my proposition?” ‘*T will not consent to it, for even if I were to give my child away to you, I have yet to know for certain that you can get her from the brigands.”’ “Oh! that would be an easy matter. I chance to know this Captain Crack-Shot quite intimately, and when I offer her a reasonable sum, she will for my sake, de- liver up the Lady Myra. But, were you to consent to this nothing can be done toward * it, just at present. The two elements in this place are at war, and one or the other must et whipped jbefore peace can be restored. he roughs have got the town, and under any other than a bad management, they would rule the guiches, and flats and town, hereabouts, for all time to come. “Under their present management, how. ever, they will soon be driven forth from the hold they have got, and these fellows you see here will have possession; I'd much rather that the ruffians have possession, as I can work myself into their graces, and ob- tain their captaincy—in fact, have about everything in my own hands, which would net me exceeding profit.” “But how do you know you can get in with this other party?” “Tam pretty certain that I can, from the fact that it would gratify them to obtain one of the citizens’ best men, which I may be considered, for I have been prominent m local affairs before.” ** And so you would desert the good cause forthe bad in order to obtain power?” the duke demanded, in astonishment, ‘‘Hiven so. And Iam going to make the trial to-night. If you value your future, and that of Lady Myra, you will do well to join me. Refuse, and when J get into power, I'll cause you to repent it.” “Then, lead ahead! in your own hands, it is probably useless me to resist your will.” ** Good! Iam glad to see you so sensible. Follow me as cautiously as in your power, and we will make our escape from the camp. Never mind your horse; that can be ob. tained some other time.” Then, the speculator led cautiously off through the darkness, followed by the duke, who could see no other way of regaining possession of Lady Myra, than to follow iy ris As you have it all for % Siete

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The Jimtown Sport. 7. 5 ite br 15° Metealf’s guidance, as the hopes of her res- cue as received from Old Somerset were anything but flattering. Let us return to Gypsy Jack. As he went downward, a cry of alarm burst from his lips. Fortunately, he was not over twenty feet . from the bottom when tke rope parted, and accordingly when he landed he was but slightly stunned. Almost at the instant of his reaching the bottom, a large, keen-edged knife dropped in front of him. It had been hurled down by the terrified Spaniard for his defense. This sudden fall into those quarters had caused the beasts to scamper away a short distance, where they stood regarding him in sullen surprise, and uttering angry growls. It would be but a moment ere they would pounce upon him. So, grasping the knife, he prepared for the strugele which he knew must come. And he was not an instant too socn. The next minute the bear reared upon its hind feet with a ferocious growl, and lum- bered forward, its front paws outstretched to encompass Jack in a deadly hug. Directly in its rear followed the wolves, ready to par- ticipate in the affray. : . Jack awaited, with a terrible expression of vesolve upon his face. On came the huge bear, with distended jaws and lolling tongue. Standing braced, ready for work, the Sport from Jimtown fastened his glance upon the gleaming orbs of the monster, and held the knife ready for use. -On came the bear, until his breath almost fanned Jack’s cheek; then he paused, and stood glaring down upon his human adver- sary, but not offering him harm. This stage in the exciting drama was just what Jack had been waiting for, and he felt sure it would come. With his all-powerful mind-gaze he had mesmerized the brute, whose muscular strength was a hundredfold more powerful than his mental power. The next instant he uttered a shout, and springing forward, he drove his stout blade with unerring aim and a strong blow into the bear’s eye. The brain was penetrated, and withan almost human cry, the great mon- ster of the mountain toppled backward to the round, dead. Frightened at this sudden turn of affairs, the wolves scampered back a few yards, with howls. : Securing his knife, Jack awaited the onset of the wolves, who he well knew would soon come for him in a sneaking way. -mals!” she cried. Giancing upward he saw several persons peering over the cliff, among whom was Crack-Shot. ‘*Stop! don’t kill any more of those ani- “We will get another rope, and lower it down to you.’ sae “‘Oh! you needn’t mind. I prefer to give these beasts dead away before I get through with them. You needn’t fret about me,” Jack retorted. ~ “But I command you not to harm them; I do not want them slaughtered, I tell you!” she replied, angrily. “‘That’s the very reason I prefer to clean ’em out,” Jack shouted back. ‘‘They’re too hungry to live!” : The words were scarcely. out, of his mouth however, when the biggest wolf crouched back with an angry snarl, and leaped to- ward him. Most men would have been appalled at the fearful attack, but Jack was not. Darting quickly out of the path of the animal, as the body shot past him, he reach-. ed forth that merciless knife, and the point entered the wolf’s neck; the keen blade al- most severed the head from the body, which summarily disposed of this case. “Hal! ha!” Jack shouted, waving his hand — up at the astounded brigands, triumphantly. «Send down some more wild tigers and ele- phants, if yeu have any?” Then he made for the other brutes, but terrified by the fate of their companions, — they all took to their heels, and there was — a lively race around the alley, with Jack now the assailant instead of the defender. __ . With that same skill in hurling a knife ~ which he had often before displayed, as Deadwood Dick, he now poised his blade _ and hurled fit after the fleeing beasts, and — thus soon finished off the menagerie. : To his surprise, on glancing up to the ledge, he perceived that none of the brigands _ were in view now. ; “‘Wonder what sent them away?” he mut- tered. ‘“‘It must be that something has scared them.” ; He accordingly began to cast about him — for some means of getting over into the yak den, where the prisoners were con- ned, After some study he hit upon a plan that promised success. toe The part of the rope that had accompanied _ him into the pit was some forty or fifty feet — long, and one end of it contained the tackle- hook which had been hooked to the harness — around his waist. ; If he could toss this hooked end up, so that it would catch on top of the inner den — wall, thirty feet above, he could pull himself up, so that he could look down upon the other prisoners. ;

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16 : | So he at once began experimenting in the matter. The first few times trying he missed, and the hook came back, but, at last, the hook caught upon the top of the wall and held; then he climbed hand over hand up the Tone, and finally landed upon the top of the wall, Gazing down into the dnngeon, he beheld Calamity Jane, another young woman of about her size and age, and a young man of rather dashing anpearance. “Oh! Dick! Dick!’ Calamity cried; as she saw her hero. ‘Have you come to rescue me?” ** Well, that depends upon how successful lam, Janie!” he replied. ‘lye just laid out the animals toward it,” * Oh! Dick—look out! look out!” she sud- denly screamed—but too late! A lasso noose suddenly settled and tighten- ed about his shoulders, and he was hauled swiftly upward to the ledge, where a dozen masked brigands were not slow in taking him into custody and binding his hands. ‘Ha! ha! [thought I'd not let you enjoy the society of your wife,” Captain Crack- Shot said, with triumph. ‘I’ve made up my mind you shall be mine, willing or un- willing.” “Bah! do you imagine you could ever be aught to me?” he sneered. “But I will force you to be. For the present you will be tied to a stake on the . other ledge, and plenty of combustible ma- terial piled around you. ‘To-night will expire by seeing the stuff lighted, and you will have a chance to swear allegiance to me forever—or burno, Boys, away with im!” The brigands accordingly marched him through the mountain cave to the other side, and out upon the plateau, where a heavy post had been fixed in place. To this he was securely lashed, and a heap of leaves, twigs and pine cones piled about his feet. Then the brigands marched away again, and he was left alone. : Just as the first streaks of dawn began fo appear in the horizon he saw Crack- Shot advance from the cave with a lighted torch in her hand, and he knew things were drawing to a focus. Hither he must _ humor her wishes, or there was a fair pros- pect of his being roasted. Which should he choose; the fire or the female brigand? CHAPTER VII. ‘THE OLD FOX IN A TRAP—JACK TRUE- souL. _ Wrrmovr difficulty Metcalf and the duke - Succeeded in escaping from the camp, and, qi wig ‘ The Jimtown Sport. once outside the picket lines, hurried across the flats swiftly until challeaged by the senti- nels of the opposing party. ‘‘Halt! who comes there?” the sentry cried, snapping his gur-lock. ‘‘ Who comes, an’ what d’ye want?” “Tt’s me, Metcalf, and a friend,” the speculator cried. _‘‘ We got away from Somerset’s gang and want to join you.” “Then, stan’ where ye are, ’til I send fer Arizona Abe. He’s boss o’ sech matters,” the man replied, and the deserters had no choice left buf to remain in the gloom un. tilthe aforesaid Abraham should appear. It was not long before the guard was heard coming back, however. ‘*Reckon et’s all right,” he cried. ‘‘ Ther captain is dead drunk, nigh-abouts—so I spoke ter some o’ ther other boys, an’ they allowed it was all right. So ye kin go on inter town.” ‘ Accordingly Metcalf made haste to accept of the invitation, such as it was, and he and the duke hurried up the slope into the town, where not the same quiet prevailed as there did down in the citizens’ camp on the flats. From each house and saloon came sounds that bespoke the power of ‘‘ ag ee angry shouts and oaths, shouts of laughter, or roars of Bacchanalian song, as the case might be. Men were staggering through the street, and in some cases fighting with each other, and tne whole place seemed in a state of de- moralization. Metcalf was ashrewd man. He knew the worth of the maxim, ‘‘ Strike while the iron is hot,” and accordingly he mounted an empty barrel in front of the Old Bourbon establishment, and began to yell at the top of his lungs and gesticulate wildly, which action had the desired effect, for he soon had quite an audience gathered around him, and more still coming. ‘Hurrah! hurrah! this way, fellow-citi- zens, if you want to hear something to your advantage!” he cried. ‘‘Iam here in your behalf, and I want you one and all to listen to me.” ‘* Waal, go ahead!” one of the more sober’ roughs retorted. ‘‘ Ef ye’ve got anything fer us ter know, jest speel et out, on short notice.” “ T have news!” Metcalf cried, ue to gesticulate. “ You are all in deadly peril, and I come to warn you, and take my place at your head and lead you on to victory, if you are willing. I know the plans of the Seeds Are you willing to adopt me as your leader, fellow-citizens? Let every man speak up!” ‘ ‘ There was a murmur of assent from a number, but the majority did not take t ax beet ~ the

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The Jimtown Sport. i? ————— eee idea. Metcalf had never been a favorite, because of his facility of getting hold of claims and then raising the price of them above the reach of the poorer class. “YT don’t allow we all tumble ter thet racket,” one chap asserted. ‘‘ Arizona Abe is my favorite, an’ I reckon most o’ the boys ar’ in my line o’ thinkin’.” ‘‘Bah! Arizona Abe is not fit to lead you!” the speculator declared. ‘‘I hear he is at present dead drunk. Supposing an attack should oecur just now—what kind of a leader would you have? I tell you Iam the proper man. My friend, here, an English duke, is a military man, and will act as my lieutenant. As 1 first stated, you are in im- minent danger, despite the fact that you have-possession of the town. The party on the flats have determined to have control of the surrounding district, and to that end, have sent a courier to the mountains to enlist Captain Crack-Shot and her bandits into their service. If they succeed, the sooner you pack up and leave, the safer it. will be for you, as they can easily clean you out when you have such a sucker of a leader as Arizona Abe would make. you.” ‘* Hillo! whar’s ther ornary galoot as durst call Arizona Abe a sucker? Whar is he?— let me luk at him!” shouted a big, strapping mountaineer, with an ugly-looking physiog- nomy, who came staggering up just in time to overhear a part of Metcalf’s harangue. ‘‘ Whar’s ther man as durst asseverate thet I, Abraham from Arizona, ain’t ther high-cock- o’-lorum 0’ this convention—ther hero 0’ Bull Run—ther sharp-spurred American Eagle o’ Liberty?” “It was I, friend Arizona, who was just remarkirg that a love of liquor incapacitated you for duty as the leader of the boys here, and I was willing to fill your place!” Metcalf said, moderating matters in order not to get into trouble with the ruffian, if it was to be avoided. ‘‘Of course you would then have more time to indulge, and—” “Thet ain’t ther question afore this hyar court!” Arizona declared, swinging himself as if ready for a fight. ‘‘Sum one called me a sucker, an’ thet’s the werry patient I’m arter. Whar is he? Show me ther two- legged reptile thet dared ter compare me, ther hero 0’ Bingen on ther Rhine ter a com- mon fish, no matter ef et be bull-head, mullet, or sucker. He's my meat—that man!” “Et was Metcalf who called ye a sucker!” one of the miners shouted. ‘‘Oho! so et was you, was it? You had ther audacity ter insult me, did ye?” Abra- ham from Arizona howled, waltzing neaier to the barrel whereon Metcalf was perched. “Oh! jest wait till I get hold of ye!” anes 1 Don’t get angry, friend Sy eos Saas ats Abra- y ham,” the,speculator said, beginning to get alarmed. ‘‘I meant not insult, sir—I simply meant to imply that of beer you were a sucker, as well as of sundry other kinds of drink, and it would be a pity to interrupt your right to imbibe on this occasion, so 1 offered to fill your place!” “Ye war mighty anxions, warn’t ye, ter help matters along in yer own favor? No, sir-ee, John Metcalf, ye can’t boss this hyar roost, wile Arizona Abe’s around. Eh, boys?” “Kerect! Arizona suits us!” was the cry ofa a ae, of the surrounding roughs. ‘Well, if this is the case, I pity you, and predict your ultimate destruction by the en- emy!” Metcalf said, both disappointed and chagrined at his failure. ‘‘ Therefore, not wishing to get killed, I will return to the flats, and act as a spy among the enemy in order to report to you when there is any danger.” ‘““Waal, I guess not,” Abraham of Ari- zona declared, drawing and cocking a re- volver. ‘Ye ain’t er-goin ter do nothin’ o’ ther kind. Now thet ye’ve paid us ther honor of a wizzet, we’re not goin’ ter let ye. go back ter other party till we've utilized yer ter our Own purpose as much as posser- bul. Don’t make no try ter escape, or I'll bore a drift thru yer head, w’at’ll let out any brains ye may hey stored up thar.” ‘“What haye I done, gentlemen, to merit this treatment?” Metcaif demanded, now more alarmed than before. ‘‘Am I not feta my services in your behalf—am I not willi eat ng to do anything and everything in behalf of your interests? Pray, what hayeI — g done to offend?” “Yas, you're too mighty willin’!” the Ari- zonian growled. ‘We kin read ye like a book, wi’ our spectickles off, pilgrim. Ye’d mighty like to be boss o’ ther roost hyar- abouts, so ye c’u’d shove in a speculative finger, but it ken’t be did. Et won’t work. Et won’t wash. You're a bloated aristocrat, and not uv our kind. You’ye got ter dis- gorge. Thar’s money up in yer office, ther boys say, an’ you’ve fer divvy among ther boys.” ‘By Heaven, no! You shall not rob me in this way!” “But we shall. bar’l, and march straight ter ther office, in front o’ my revolver, an’ get ther scrip and ‘hard cash, or off goes yer head, in less time than et takes ter count sixty-’leven!” No disputin hand, and as to Abraham’s order. t us ‘return to the pesca ets = ‘ot ter hand et over, — Get down off’m thet that ‘‘business” was on — etcalf gazed around him he — noted that nearly every one seemed to assent — mountain plateau,

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terms are unchanged. re oner replied, - around your feet, an alive. 18. The Jimtown Sport. a ‘ i just as day was beginning to break in the|TI am not eager to witness your torture. IT east. The face of Gypsy Jack, was stern and passive, as he saw Captain Crack-Shot ap- proaching, with the ignited torch. Unmovable resolve was expressed both up- on his handsome face, and in his eyes, which flashed fearlessly. The face of the Girl Brigand wore a pecu- liar triumphant smile, as she came up, and flashed the light of the torch before his face. “Hal hal the ex-road-agent has changed his mind, by thistime, has he not?” she said, with sarcasm. ‘‘ Oh! I thought you’d come around to time, Sir Gypsy Jack.” ‘Then you reckoned wrongly!” the pris- “‘T have not the least idea of changing my mind.” “ Possible? Well, really, your pluck is admirable—in fact, I see more and more reason, every minute, why you should fill a position as my lieutenant. Such men as you are not picked up every day.” Itis perhaps better for the country that they are not,” Jack replied, with a faint smile. ‘A few less of my class, and a few more of your artistic merit, would no doubt place the country on more solid footing.” “‘T appreciate your satire,” he said, flush- ing; ‘‘but business is business, and my When I decide upon accomplishing an object, I do it regardless of every obstacle. ‘I have set my heart upon uniting you with my band, and { will do it, or kill you, even if it brings down the wrath of the heavens upon my head, Tell me, now, ‘will you become a member of my band, and swear eternal allegiance to that band?” “‘Emphatieally, no!—decidedly, once and for all, no!” Jack replied, without hesita- tion, _ “But, consider what you are saying. If you refuse, I myself will light this material you will be’ roasted Do you comprehend what excrucia- ting agony such a death would bring you? Surely you are not foolish enough to endure it, when you can just as well have life and . liberty.” “I have given my decision; Gypsy Jack never chaws back his words!” was the com- posed answer. Even the merciless Spanish girl was as- ~ tounded. That any man could coolly face a death so horrible as she had promised, when liberty was offered, surpassed even her comprehen- sion. \ But her determination to conquer him be- came the stronger. P “Then shall your obstinacy recoil upon our own head,” she said. ‘‘I, shall now ht these fagots, and retire into the cave, as shall, however, be within hearing, and if you shout ‘Help!’ I will understand that you have decided to come to my terms, and. will then rescue you.” *“¥ou will listen in vain,” Jack retorted. “We shall see!” and with the words she ignited the rubbish in several places, and then turned and hurried away, into the cavern. CHAPTER VIII. SKIP TO THE RESCUE—WAITING FOR THE STRUGGLE. Tue blaze began to catch from one leaf and twig to another, and increase in volume. The expression of Jack’s countenance was stern and unyielding, : The flames spread and crept upward; soon they would singe his bootlegs and buckskin breeches; then would come the actual ,tor- ture of fire. Should he still resist and defy human agony? Or should he yield the day, admit- ting Crack-Shot the conqueror, and give him- . . self up to a wild life in her employ? Then, too, Calamity was a prisoner; should he perish in this awful manner, what would be her terrible fate? Sold to the Red Mor- mon, Thunder Cloud! The thought filled him with greater alarm than his own peril. But his heart gave a. great bound, for at this moment came to his ears a familiar whinny; he heard heavy foot- steps, and a moment later a horse trotted ou upon the plateau. : An irrepressible cry of joy escaped the prisoner. It was his sagacious dog, Skip, mounted upon his own faithful steed—come to his rescue. The dog leaped to the ground with a low whine of recognition. 2 “Good dog!” welcomed the Sport from Jimtown. ‘‘Drag the brush away, Skip! Quick, sir!” Skip seemed gifted with almost human sagacity and intelligence, for without hesita- tion he seized hold of thé underlying brush of the combustible pile and hauled it back from before Jack, taking with it the largest portion of the burning leaves and cones, and Jack was out of peril, so far as the fire was concerned, in a few moments, ‘*Good boy, Skip!” he said approvingly. “Now, if you can gnaw this rope which. binds me, Ill be all hunk. Can you do it?” The dog wagged his tail knowingly, and apparently understanding exactly what was required, set to work on the job.” _~ lt was no easy one, however, as might be supposed. The rope was of twisted: hide, but Skip’s teeth were sharp as knives, and the rope was bitten in twain in a moment } : :

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The Jimtown Sport. then, seizing the dangling end, he began to | ed the cave, first equipping himself with a trot around the stake and unwind it. Every second seemed an hour to Gypsy Jack, literally, for he momentarily expected to see Crack-Shot emerge from the cavern; but luck was in his favor, and, thanks to his canine companion, he stood freed from the stake in less than a minute’s time. His hands were not free, but that was a matter of little importance, as he could es- cape with them bound, A couple of bounds and a spring upward placed him on the back of the beautiful white horse; them the dog followed his exam- ple, and a single low-spoken word caused the horse to wheel and dash from the plateau, and as he disappeared, Jack gaye vent to a piercing war-whoop. ee Away down the winding, rugged moun- tain path his sure-footed steed bore him, at break-neck speed, until he uttered a peculiar cry, and the horse wheeled abruptly to the right into a pocket in the side of the moun- tain, and came to a halt in the midst of its thick verdure. “ Silence now, my faithful fricnds,” the fugitive said. ‘‘If pursuit is given, we must allow the brigands to pass us; then we must go back and see what can be done toward rescuing Calamity and the other prisoners.” © He had not long to wait, for quickly there came the sound of horses’ feet, approaching from up the trail, and a few moments later a large body of the brigands dashed past the mouth of the pocket at a gallop, like aveng- ing phantoms of the night. How many there were Jack could not count, but judged there were at least twenty, and, what was more, there were two women in the party. Was one of them Calamity? ; Possibly it was she and the other pris- oners; but the question was, how had they been hoisted from the pit and mounted in the short space of time that had intervened Wetween the discovery of Jack’s escape and that moment? “T must know the truth, before I leave this vicinity,” Jack said. ‘‘If they really were Calamity and the other prisoners, then Crack-Shot is up to some other deviltry. She either has some other hiding-place in view, or is going to join forces with the party in Durango!” ' * Waiting until the brigands were out of hearing, ue dismounted, left the horse in the concealment, and, accompanied by the dog, hurried up the trail toward the ledge. His hands were now free, thanks to Skip’s ability in picking knots, and Richard was himself again! ; Arriving upon the le = 2A dge, he boldly enter- 3 0h, + burning knot from his recent funeral pyre. - The bandits’ cave was dark and deserted, as he surmised it would be. zi But all their loose property was still there, and equipping himself with both revolvers — and a good knife for emergencies he passed uroues to the other side, and out upon the other ledge; then he cast the burning torch down into the den. It was empty of its former occupants! It was now apparent to him that the two women he had seen with the brigands, were — Calamity and the other young lady wlfom ke ~ had seen in the‘den, whoever she might be. __ **Tt puzzles me what’s the row—why the — brigands are leaving this admirable retreat?” he muttered, as he retraced his footsteps to where he had left his horse. “There must be some cause for the sudden evacuation. ~ Maybe on discovering my escape, Miss Crack-Shot concluded this wouldn't be a healthy hang-out with me at liberty, and so took French leave. If she had only been- thoughtful enough to have left Calamity be- hind, I shouldn’t be so much concerned.” ‘When he arrived where he had left the horse, he remounted, as did Skip, and set out down the trail, slowly, and looking out on either hand with the expectation of an — ambush and attack. aa = But, good luck willed it otherwise, andin due time he emerged from the mountains ~ upon the flats. Morning was well advanced, and the sun — was shining brightly over the golden dis- trict which the delegate from Jimtown had quitted in such a hurry. 9 i Halting his horse, he took a survey of the — : scene before him. 5 - It did not take him long to discover that — there had been a division of elements, since his leaving, and that one body held posses-. — sion of the village, and the other the flats, — Of Captain Crack-Shot and her band he — could see nothing, and concluded that they — had not yet put in an appearance. ' “Now, here is a query,” he muttered. ‘How am I to know which party of this revolution is the one for me toapproach? If Thad a glass, I might be better able to find — out. Eh! Skip? Are those the roughs up — in the town?” ; Fe The dog wagged his tail, and smiled, for a dog can smile. ue ‘“Well, I'll take your word for it,” Jack said. ‘‘ Mind, I shall expect to find friends on the flats.” ~ : He accordingly rode forward toward the latter encampment, hages ; When near to if, a man came forth to meet him; it was Old Somerset, the eccentric

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Sy a 20 The Jimtown Sport,: _ **Cuss my etarnal old elerfanticums an’ hyenas, ef I ain’t glad ter seé ye!” he cried, as he rode up, “‘tho’ [ ain’t much acquainted with you. Ye see, we're in a kinder warlike attertude, jist at present, an’ anxious like ter draft in all ther muscular animals ter our menagerie thet is poserbull.” But how comes it you've got pushed back from the village?” Jack asked. ‘‘ You ought to have hung to that.” “True ernuff, pardner, but yer see thar war consarned contingencies as woulda’t admit o’ ther great hippodrome performin’ thar any longer, sech as Jeaden hail stuns an’ powder-smoke—so we had ter dissemble, an’ cut stick fer low ground. Ye see they had ther dead open an’ shut on us, an’ et warn’t no use ter buck ag’in’ sech bizness, or thé hull teetotal sextupple expersition would hey stuck in ther mud, an’ ther etarnal ring performance ended.” “Humph! I should say you were of the nee kind,” Jack said, ‘‘judging by your ingo.” "80 Iam! I’m a hull circus myself, when I’m wound up an’ set a-goin’. But Tl be fired from a catapult, ef I ain’t got an undertakin’ on my shoulders w'ot makes me feel as if ther old boss elerfant hed trod on me and flattened me out like ern Ohio pan- kaik.”’ “Indeed! and what is that?” ‘* Waal, ye see, I’ve got ther ’sponserbility on my back o’ gittin’ my sheer o’ ther crowd out o’ ther deefickulty, an’ winnin’ back ther town fer’em, an’I reckon I grappled more than I kin git erway with, ter say ther least. I hed purty good grit, all along, ontil Crack-Shot an’ her gang j’ined ther enemy— since then I’m blowed ef my old menagerie ain’t all dubified.” ‘‘Ah! then she is over there, eh?” “Yas. She sailed across ther flats, not half an hour ago, with a dozen men at her back, jest as sassy like as ye pleased. At furst, I reckon ther roughs’ pickets weren’t inclined ter let her pass, but she showed ther white flag, an’ I reckon et’s about as good as sworn to thet thar’s a consolerdation taken place, an’ they’re gittin’ ready ter pitch in an’ lick blazes outen us.” “Tt savors that way,” Jack admitted, with a smile. ‘‘ But I reckon we’re good enough for ’em, no matter how large is their number. By the way, had they two prisoners with them?” “ Yas—three on ’em—two women an’ a feller. But tell us whar you've been?” This Jack proceeded to do, as he and the scout-walked into camp. ' Here he was warmly welcomed by the citi- ‘zens, who were not less alarmed than Somer- set, and therefore eager to add reinforce ments to their number, . About noon a general stir was noticed about the village—men were seen hurrying to and fro, some of them leading horses. “ Et’s comin’!? Old Somerset said; ‘‘they’re goin’ ter make an attack on us, and we're goin’ to git licked like blazes.” ““Don’t let yourself be fooled on that score!” Jack replied, the coolest man in the whole crowd. ‘‘ While it is evident they are meditating an attack, they won't be apt to make a bold charge in broad daylight. I construe the present stir as an old Indian dodge. They propose to mount.a few of their number, and set them scouring round the edge of the flats, for the purpose of wor- rying us, if possible, until night, when they may make an attack. In the mean time we must be preparing for them. Get a shovel, every man that can find one, and set to work throwing up a breastwork that will inclose a square of a couple hundred yards. If not enough shovels, take turns and it won’t take long to fix matters so that they can mow us down at pleasure.” ; His dauntlessness inspired the men, and witb. one accord they set to work to obey his advice, which was the same as an order, for all now seemed to defer to him. By mid-afternoon their camp was ixclosed by a breastwork of dirt about four feet high, laid up like a flattened wall, behind which they could fight with great advantage. CHAPTER IX. THROUGH BY DARK. Kyow1ne that his life was more precious to him even than gold, John Metcalf concluded it would be unwise as well as unhealthy for him to refuse to obey Arizona Abe’s order and therefore dismounted from his perch on the barrel, marched to the office, procured his cash, several thousand dollars ia amount, and handed it over to the ruffian chief. Abraham shoved it into the pockets of his trowsers with much evident satisfaction, re- marking to his disciples that there would be a ‘‘divvy ” later. Then, to his surprise, Metcalf was seized and tied to the tree in front of the old Bour- bon, while the duke was accommodated in a like manner at an adjoining tree. The Eng- lishman was yery much angered at the way matters had turned out, and laid the blame on the rascally speculator. “T was a fool for ever listening to you!” he said, when they were left to themselves; ‘and if I get free, I'll have reparation from you for this added outrage.” “¥ don’t fear you,” the speculator replied. ‘My money is gone just through you, and in all probability I shall never see it again, — . Meteo

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; The Jimtown Sport. # at J fancy it pleased you when the roughs failed to treat with me? “Tt amused me, certainly.” “Pm re enemy henceforth,” hissed the scoundrel; ‘‘and I’ll possess your haughty daughter, too, in spiteof you. Ha, ha! what a triumph it will be to humble the proud beauty!” ‘“You will first haye to oon your liberty,” the duke replied; ‘‘and I fancy my word will be taken here before yours. Even these roughs will be friendly to me when they know the truth,” declared the duke. The Jimtown Sport was a favorite, and when formally requested to assume the cap- taincy by Old Somerset, there was general enthusiasm; every man in camp seemed to approve of his judgment. s he had foreseen, a half-dozen horsemen dashed boldly out from the village and began scouring around the foot-hills which formed the sides of the natural basin. Jack, borrowing a rifle from one of the miners, walked about within the inclosure, eying them with a frown of displeasure on his face. “They act like fools,” he said, ‘‘and un- less I am mistaken, they'll get bitten.” After making the circle of the basin, they finally whee‘ed and dashed directly toward the barricades, yelling like madmen. To their astonishment they ventured a lit- tle too far; Gypsy Jack’s rifle cracked, and one of them toppled out of his saddle. He was not killed evidently, for soon after his comrades beat.a hasty retreat he followed their example on his bands and knees. “That settles that,” Jack announced. ‘We will have no further molestation until night, when I look for an attack. In the mean time, let’s be preparing for them, Get all the weapons together and see how many there isin the camp. They are an article we have much to depend on, and the more we have the better.” < “T’ve jest been thinkin’ thet same,” Old Somerset replied grimly. ‘‘’Thout plenty 0’ pop-guns, we might as well give up ther ghost, and disband ther hull consarned me- nagery, clown and all,” n investigation proved that there were fifty-three able-bodied men in the camp and two women—the sisters, before mentioned—_ and there were but a dozen rifles at com- mand. Most of the citizens had fought with re- volvers in the beginning of the affray, and when forced to retreat had not been allowed time to secure other weapons. "Most every person had one or more revol- vers, but even for these there was but a lim- - ited amount of ammunition, bad one is “This is bad,” Jack said gloomily. ‘‘We can’t do much without rifles, and they’re two to our one, and well armed. Somehow or other we must contrive toget some of their. weapons.” “‘T dunno how et can be did,” Somerset said. ‘‘T allow et ain’t no use tryin’ to get ‘| inter ther village in daylight, an’ ef we wait till dark et may be too late.” Jack paced about the camp for some mo- ments in deep thought. The miners watched him anxiously. “T reckon I’ve hit upon a plan,’ he said, finally. ‘‘As Somerset says, it would be rash to attempt to enter the enemy’s quarters at present, and sol will send my dog. He will not be apt to attract any particular at- tention, and by frequent trips, can accom- plish considerable. “Ef yer don’t want ter lose yer canine, jest take yer unkle’s advice and keep him ere within the menagerie,” Somerset ad- vised. ‘‘Ther dog can’t fetch no weepons, an’ he'd only git killed.” “That remains to be seen,” Jack replied. - “‘Y'd almost risk my life on the intelligence of Skip; in fact be’s saved my life already on two different occasions. His rescuing me from the roasting-stake this morning shows what he can do.” é No sooner did Skip hear his name men- tioned than he came trotting forward, wag- ging his tail understandingly. ‘*Ha!l ha! old boy, we were just talking: about you!” the man from Jimtown said, patting him affectionately. ‘Can you turn us a somerset, Skip?” The sagacious canine uttered an affirma- tive bark, and reared upon its hind feet— then bounding quickly to its front feet it shot up into the air and turned a complete evolution, landing safely again upon its feet. The crowd with one accord gave vent to a yell of approval, which evidently pleased the dog, for he lay down and rolled over, and barked with delight. - : ‘‘That was good, Skip. You'll command a hundred bebtnaaiea a week in any circus!” — Gypsy Jack laughed. ‘‘ Now can you show us which is, in your opinion, the prettiest man in the crowd by springing upon his shoulders?” Fora moment the canine-graduate gazed around him doubtfully, for the rank and file of beauty was rather limited in that camp. He finally, however, uttered a bark and sprung upon the shoulders of ‘‘ Spunk,” one of the sisters of the Junch stand, who was ~~ arrayed in semi-male attire. “Ha! ha! good choice! but a slight mis- take nevertheless,” Jack said. ‘‘ Now, come here, Skip. Can you tell a good gun from a s

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The Jimtown Sport. EN The dog wagged his tail and went and squatted in front of Olé Somerset’s hand- some rifle. - «Sure enough ther dorg knows his P’s an’ Q’s! the old scout ejaculated, well pleased at the compliment for his trusty old weapon. “T should smile,” Jack replied, raising his pet in his arms. ‘‘Now, Skip, up yonder,” and he ‘pointed to the village— “they have more rifles than they know what to do with—rifles, do you wnder- stand?” and he touched one. Skip evidently did understand. ‘‘ Go and get!” pointing to the village. An hour after his departure Skip was seen returning, dragging a rifle, the waist of the butt being grasped between his teeth. He was pretty well fagzed out by the time he reached the camp, and was relieved of his burden, which was a rifle of handsome ap- pearance. | Jack made him rest before returning for another, and the villagers flocked around him and fed him well of such edibles as pee possessed. ‘hen, he was allowed to go again, and returned in due time with another purloin- ed rifle. In this way did the faithful animal per- form the services required of him until he had succeeded in dragging seven rifles to the camp. The eighth time he seth forth, if was get- ting dark, and he did not return with his ac- customed promptness. An hour passed, and still he came not. Gypsy Jack was very anxious, now, as was evident by his impatient stride about the camp, and the rest were not less so, on his account. ‘*T reckon it’s all up wi’ ther poor dorg,” Somerset said... ‘‘ Ef not trapped, he’d be back before this.” “ Unless he has found Calamity Jane—my wi—” Jack was about to add, but suddenly checked himself, It might be known to these people whom Calamity Jane had married; he hac come near giving away his secret. “Calamity Jane is a great favorite with _ Skip,” he quickly added, ‘‘ and if he has chanced to discover her, I don’t believe he’d leave the camp until he made an effort to rescue her.” “Tm mighty glad ter heer thet, an’ hope er dog’ll cum out all right,” Old Somerset declared, ‘‘ fer when ye git ready ter pass in yer checks, I want yer ter will the animile ter ms.” : “When I do, V'll perhaps accommodate you,” Jack replied, with a smile. The movements of the tufians at the yil- lage seemed to indicate preparations for a nocturnal attack. ue ‘Do you think the astack will come early, or late, in the night?” one of the miners asked of Jack. “Tndications point to an attack before long. Let every man have his shooting-irons a the leader ordered. ‘‘ The moon is rising, and that will be in our favor.” ‘« Et ain’t a-goin’ ter save ther menagerie from goin’ ter pieces,” Old Somerset prophe- sied, dubiously. ‘ Mebbe I’m er consarned ant-eater, but blast me ef I don’t feel et in my bones that we can’t hold out ag’in’ two ter our one, ’an’ wi’ only a few weepons, too.” “Tt don’t look as if we were destined to achieve an easy victory,” Gypsy Jack con- fessed, ‘‘and while I don’t recommend flight, I don’t want to advise any one to remain here. I’ve been inventorying matters for an hour past, and I can’t see any chance beyond retreat to the foot-hills, except one.” ‘And what is that?” Somerset asked. ‘One chance in a thousand is often better’n none, darn my pet hippopotamusses ef et ain’t.” “«The only chance I see is to take advan- tage of this darkness, before the’moon rises, and creep from this place, in a roundabout way toward the village, and wait until the enemy makes an advance on our line. we are to rush in and take possession of the shanties, so that we shall be able to give them a reception on their return!” This plan was greeted with a cheer, ‘*Bit’s a good ijeer!” Somerset agreed, “‘ef we can only find ther way clear.” “T don’t believe we shall expérience much trouble, on that score,” Jack replied, ‘‘as it is likely that the majority of the enemy will join in the attack. If anything is to be done, let us act at once.” And they did. Leaving everything behind them, except their weapons, they cleared the barricades, and crept flat upon their faces toward the western side of the village, in a circuitous | way, the darkness perfectly screening their moyements. They had barely gained their Sie Godin point when a series of unearthly yells rent the night, from the other side of the town! CHAPTER X. TREACHERY—A MISERABLE SCOUNDREL. 5 By those selfsame yells Gypsy Jack knew Then, - that the ruffians had madeadash from the town, toward the barricades. ‘Hurrah! double-quick, now, and for- — Vat, Jase cried, springing up over the ward 14s

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The Jimtown Sport. Ween knoll behind which they had been hiding. “Tf we want to get to cover, now is our time, quickly and silently!” Up over the knoll the men dashed, and down info the village, like a pack of hostile Indians bent on a surprise, just as the bril- linnt full moon thrust her radiant face above the horizon. Not a rough was in view, as they has- tened down the single main street; to all ap- pearance the enemy had folded their tents and stolen silently away—which, for a time, was true. “Where shall. we quarter?” Old Somer- set asked, as they ran. ‘Divide into four bands, and get into the cover of an equal number of strong shanties —then, each band senda man out to skirmish for provender and weapons, before the roughs return. I will take possession of the Bour- bon place, with a part of the men!” was the ready decision. And so it was done. ‘With a dozen of the men Jack took pos- session of the tavern; Old Somerset and an- other dozen quartered in a shanty nearly. opposite, and the two other divisions under aman named Rogers, and one named Wel- aon, took possession of a couple of shanties further down the street toward the flats, at Jack’s direction, so as to give the enemy the opening salute when they returned from their bloodless victory. After securing this retreat somewhat by closing the oaken shutters, and affixing bars to the doors, Jack slipped from the tavern, and in company with Old Somerset, visited the neighboring shanties on a foraging expe- dition, and in quest of additional weapons and ammunition. But in this they were only moderately successful, as only nalf a dozen rifles and a few boxes of cartridges could be found, and but a very limited supply of jerked venison, and bread, Dividing these, they hurried back to their respective retreats, and prepared for the onslaught of the enemy, whom they could hear returning, with disappointed yells. “Ready, my lads,” Jack commanded, in his calm, authoritative way. ‘‘ When the gang comes within sight, give it to them without mercy—the same as they would have done to us, had they caught us in the pen on the flats. It’s to-night’s work that tells who bosses this town. 1f the boys be- low work in right, we can break the ranks of the enemy.” That the lower delegations were wide awake, soon became evident, by the report of two heavy volleys, fired upon the roughs, ‘as they came pouring back into the town. _ ‘Taken entirely by surprise, they ps Re Se broke in confusion, and scattered in every direction, such as were not mowed down. A dozen, headed by Crack-Shot, dashed up the street at break-neck speed. As they came opposite the tavern, two. more destructive volleys opened upon them, and in consternation they broke and scat- tered again, the girl road-agent and one or two others being the only ones to escape un- injured, “‘Ha! ha! I fancy we’ve rather put ‘em out, thus far,” Jack muttered. ‘‘ At least if will take them some time to collect their scattered senses and scattered dead, and I don’t imagine this surprise will serve to im- prove their confidence in their own abilities.” As might be supposed, the enemy, such as were lucky enough to escape, were carefulto keep out of sight and rifle range, and those who were only wounded were permitted to crawl off without further molestation. Shortly after the affray was over, Jack quitted his ‘‘fort,” and visited the other three shanties to compare notes, From all that he could learn, not over half a dozen had been killed, and a dozen or more injured, whieh still left the enemy stronger in numbers than he had supposed, *“T wonder what they’re up ter?” Old Somerset queried. ‘: First we know they'll work in some one-hoss act on us, an’ take us by surprise.” ‘ _‘*Thev’ve probably drawn off at a safe dis- tance, and are concocting schemes for our edification,” Jack replied. ‘‘I’m going to make a reconnoissance, and if they become troublesome before I get back, give them some of the same dose we did awhile ago.” He then loaded his belt weapons, and left the shanty by the rear way. Instead of returning to the tavern he skulk- ed cautiously along from one shanty to an- other, keeping well in their shadows, be- yond which the moonlight now radiated. In this way he continued to scout along, until he saw a glow of light at the north- western terminus of the town; accordingly he shaped his course toward it, still using the utmost caution. The last shanty was built upon a ridge-like eminence, somewhat higher than the other buildings, and from its site the ground slanted east and west. In alittle grove or motte at the foot of the western slope Jack could sce the glimmer of a camp-fire, and concluded that the enemy had takén refuge here. “T wonder if I can get down there and overhear their plans,” he muttered, tighten- ing his belt. ‘In the early days of Dead- wood I used to have considerable skill in Ee T ‘ Fs spying.” | eee - : ‘Droppitig on his hands and knees, © oregt Ste ey ay a

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24 The Jimtown Sport. softly down the slope, keeping in the shadow of a fringe of brier bushes, which bordered a channel worn out by the flood- water of heavy rains. In this way he succeeeded in getting into the cover of the timber without discovery. To reach the camp-fire, around which Crack-Shot and the men were collected in the midst of a seemingly interesting discus- sion, was another thing, as he could see figures among the trees, between him and the camp. There seemed no other way for him than to make a detour around the motte, and en- ter it upon the opposite side, which he pro- ceeded to do. ; Arrived on the other side, he made a dis- covery that he had not expected. Bound to atree at the edge af the motte were Metcalf, the speculator, and the duke. He ran suddenly upon them, and they saw him in turn, before he had time to re- treat. “ Hal help at last!” Metcalf said in a low tone. ‘‘Have you come to free us?” “‘Humph! I don’t know about that,” Jack replied. ‘‘ What are you doing here, after epee the other party? Pray explain that.” “‘ We did not desert,” the speculator bold- ly answered. ‘‘We were kidnapped from the other camp and brought here to be given the lead of the roughs, but as we positively refused to do a thing for them, they tied us up here, as you see. : “T have my doubts about this matter!” Jack said, scratching his head. ‘‘If I were to express an opinion, J should say that you deserted and came over to this party, think- _ ing to get in as head man, and they prompt- ly rejected you and put you where you’d keep safe.” “Indeed, you are wrong. My interest lies with the citizens—not with the roughs. So please release me.” “Tl have to think about that while I’m spying on yonder camp. I believe it would be quite as profitable to have you remain right where you are for all parties con- cerned.” “Curse you! you forget you are in my power.” ‘* How so, pray?” “‘In more ways than one. If you don’t release me, I'll bring the roughs down on you. Secondly, if you don’t release me, I'll - not tell you where Calamity Jane is.” ’ “ How do you know I care to be informed on that subject?” “Ha, ha! I knew you the moment you _ came to Durango. Once the face of Dead- _ wood Dick is seen it is rarely forgotten, and Soe shy Be eae ae Te Pg rom Ee ES opt Soe having heard of your marriage with Calamity ° Jane, I naturally concluded that you would like tosee her. I don’t want to be at swords’- points with a man of your caliber, but if you won’t doa human act in releasing me from the power of this ruffian gang, you can’t blame me if I feel revengeful.” “Perhaps not; but how am I to know you will put me on track of Calamity even after I free you?” ; “* My word of honor ought to be a guaran- tee, had it not?” “T hardly know. I will, however, release you, but I’d advise you not to cut up any act of treachery if you wish to survive.” “You needn't fear. I am vot treacherous. Release me, and I will remain here until you return, and then accompany you back to the village.” i Trusting the man would, in this case, if at no other time, be as good as his word, Gypsy Jack drew his knife and severed the bon that bound him. “See that you return your gratitude by perfect silence, while I spy upon the enemy,” he said; then turned and stole stealthily toward the camp-fire. When he was out of Hees a gloating expression of triumph disfigured John Met- calf’s face, and he strode over to where the duke was bound. i ‘* Ha! hal you see I am free first,” he sneered, shaking his fist in the nobleman’s face. ‘* Now maybe you'll admit that I am to come off victorious, in spite of you. I foresee the result already. I happen to know where the lovely Lady Myra is hidden, and I Pg embrace an early opportunity to visit er,” Then slapping the duke smartly on the cheek, with a brutal laugh, he turned toward the camp. Jack had gained a position a few yards in the rear of the band and was in a precarious situation, should they perchance discover im. Metcalf seemed to comprehend the fact, and turned and bounded out of the grove, at the same instant shouting at the top of his voice: “Spies! spies—look out for spies!” This was his gratitude. Half a mile northwest of the motte, in a wild rocky glen of the foot-hills, Captain Crack-Shot had hidden her three prisoners— Calamity Jane, the duke’s daughter, and the male prisoner, a penne mountaineer by the title of Wildcat Joe. It was a place seldom visited, as nothing was there except rugged rocks, deep forest and labyrinthian water gullies to attract, and obably as good a hi ce a pes

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_« The Jimtown Sport. — wily brigand queen could have found any- where in that region. Metcalf had seen the prisoners conducted in that direction, and knowing of the glen, had concluded that they were taken there. After basely betraying Jack’s presence to the roughs, he ran with all his might in the direction of the glen, and in due time reach- ed its concealment, and found as he had ex- pected, the prisoners bound to trees, close to each other. They were greatly surprised at sight of ae and he in turn appeared greatly ex- cited. “Which one of you ladies goes by the name of Calamity Jane?” he asked, gazing from one to the other, and not recognizing Lady Myra, who was a pretty, graceful maiden, approaching maturity. “JT am Calamity Jane,” that heroic wo- man answered. ‘‘ What do you want?” “‘T have been sent for you. Deadwood Dick is dying, in a cabin below here and I came to the ruffian’s camp to find you.” “Then for Heaven’s sake release me, and guide me to the place!” the girl cried ex- citedly. “‘Certainly. Shall these other people also accompany us?” “Yes. - They will be only too glad to gain their liberty, after a long and tedious im- prisonment.” Accordingly Metcalf released them, and led the way toward the north, along the foot- hills. An hour brought them in sight of a cabin, the door of which was open. Forward they went, Metcalf in the lead, until they reached the door, when he pushed them in ahead of him, quickly jerked the door shut, and locked it on the outside. © ‘‘Ha! ha! how the tables do turn some- times,” he muttered, as he hastened away from the spot. ‘‘I reckon they'll keep in that. windowless den until I get ready to dis- pose of them. Ha! ha!” But he was mistaken. Shortly after his departure, who should appear at this lone cabin but— Skip. CHAPTER XI. IN THE ENEMY’S POWER. Tuer base ingratitude of John Metcalf laced the Sport from Jimtown in danger ard to ss for he had ‘4 obtained a osition behind a tree not half a dozen yards rom the camp-fire when the treacherous warning pealed through the motte, causing every rufiian to leap to his feet and seize a weapon, while men began to rush in every direction in quest of the spy. pee Hearing the ery, Jack fully realized that 25 something desperate must be done if he would escape. Retreat was out of the question, and there was but one move to make, and he made it. _ Reaching up overhead, he caught hold of a limb and drew himself quickly up among the foliage. Quick as he was, however, he was too late to avoid discovery, and a half-dozen bullets whistled after him. Fortunately none of them hit-him, and he was not tardy in clambering up among the thickest of the branches, where he would not be so liable to be reached by the merci- less leaden messengers. But he knew well enough that it would not be healthy for him in that one particular tree, very long, in spite of the darkness, so he resolved to move into another, as he was able to do, as the limbs of the densely-grow- ing trees ran in among each other, forming a veritable jungle. To accomplish this, however, without be- traying his whereabouts, necessilated great caution. A pandemonium of shouts below warned him that some one was climbing the tree in pursuit. With the stealth of a cat, he crawled from one tree into another, and from that still an- other, continuing his strange journey, in hopes of reactiing the extremity of the motte. ut he was doomed to disappointment, for, anticipating lis object, the ruffians seemed to guess the trees he had selected, and followed underneath, with flaring torches, and savage yells and blasphemy. So that by the time he had reached the edge ~ of the tree growth, they were there, too, ready to nab him, should he leap to the ound, ‘* Ye'd better come down, as ye can’t git away!” Arizona Abe bawled, fiercely. ** We're bound ter have ye, an’ afew min- — utes’ parley ain’t a-goin’ to do ye any good!” “T don’t know about that,” Jack mut- tered, to himself. ‘‘ I’ve known a few min- utes’ parley to mean a very considerable vic- tory. It don’t look as if it can effect much, in this case, however. came.” This he proceeded to do, by clambering into a tree he had but recently left. The next minute he heard some one among the branches, just ahead of him, and also heard soe one climbing into the tree he had just eft. Thus, be was cornered. ; Ahead of him a foe, and behind him a foe —he must come in contact with one or the other, or else surrender to the human wolves who were waiting for him below, Pega Nothing seems for — : me to do but to go back the same wayI

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26 “Say! ain’t ye comin’ down?” Arizona yelled, impatiently. ‘‘ Et won’t do no good . be. offish, far we’ve got ye, foul, sure’s you ve.’ “ All right—when I drop, you'll be still more certain you've got mel” Jack re- torted. ‘Hello!’ I recognize the voice!” Captain Crack-Shot exclaimed. ‘‘ Boys, the chap in the tree is Deadwood Dick, alias Gypsy Jack. A hundred dollars to whoever cap- tures him alive.” ‘‘Humph! Vil bet some one will earn it, before I’m taken,” Dick muttered as he drew his revolvers, and cocked them ready for use, while he kept a close watch around him. Several, minutes passed without see- ing or hearing any one in the branches, but at last he caught a glimpse of the man in the tree just ahead of him, looking toward the center of the motte. Quickly leveling his revolver, Jack fired. There came, as an answer, a cry of pain and rage; then there was a crashing of twigs and branches as the ruffian went tumbling down to the ground, fcilowed by angry yells from his comrades. Supposing that Jack would then continue tarough the tree-tops, toward the further side of the motte, they surged that way, with fierce oaths. This was precisely what Jack had suppos- ed they would do, and wanted them todo while he remained right where he was, awaiting further developments. . The man from the outer tree came clam- bering over into the same tree Jack was in, but in the confusion, Jack had mounted in- to the topmost branches, and not seeing bis victim, the ruffian’ passed on, supposing that his nian had gone back toward the middle of the motte, “Waiting until they were out of eas Jack glided down from his perch, and dropped 4rom. the low branches to the ground. The instant he did so, Arizona Abe and three of his comrades sprung forward upon kim, and forced him to the ground ere he could use his weapons. “To! ho! we cotched ye at it, that time, didn’t we?” Abe roared, triumphantly. ‘‘ Ye thort ye’d fool me, but we war too fly fer ye, you bet!” Jack did not reply, but suffered himself to be bound. for strong and quick though he was, he was no match for the four ruffians. The victorious cries of the captors soon brought the rest of the gang to the spot, headed by Captain Crack-Shot. ‘*Ha! ha! so you’re once more in durance vile are you, my noble Richard of Dead- ” wood?” she exclaimed, triumphantly, when she saw him lying helplessly on his back on The Jimtown Sport. the ground. ‘‘I fancied your lease of liberty would soon expire.” “Did you?” Jack retorted. ‘I am not greatly surprised. But for the treachery of a human snake I should not be your pris- oner.” “Perhaps not,” the female brigand re- plied, ‘‘and but for your lead of the gang up in the village, things would be shaped differ- ent now, and we'd have a dozen more men. But for you, they’d never have thought of the move for possession.” “Then I’m please# to know I have been of so much service to them,” was the caim reply. “Curse ye—mebbe ye think et warn’t no harm ter kill off our men, ther way ye did!” Arizona Abe growled, while the other ruffi- ans looked decidedly savage and unruly. *‘T believe it’s an old saying that all is fair in love or war, and as you paid a-visit to our camp, with the intention of cleaning us out, it was no more than fair that we should salute your unsuccessful return,” said Jack. «Then, durn yer boots, I opine et ain’t no more’n fair thet we should hoist ye ter ther furst handy limb, an’ let ye swing a while!” the ruffian cried. ‘‘ What say, boys?—who’s got a rope?” ‘Stop! Iprotestagainst this. Deadwood Dick is my game, and I don’t want him harmed, just yet!” Captain Crack-Shot in- terposed. ‘*No mutiny, now—you agreed if I joined you to let me have command!” «So we did,” the Arizonian acknowledged, ‘‘an’ I opine we're ther boys w’at sticks ter our word, every time, tho’ i’d orfully like ter send off this chap, who did.et up fer our pards.” “ Thar’s time enough for that hereafter!” Crack-Shot replied. ‘‘In the mean time the darkness is our time to lay for the enemy, ac- cording to the plan I was proposing awhile ago. Tie the prisoner snugly to a tree, and Vu risk but what he'll keep until we get ready to dispose of him,” Jack was accordingly raised and bound to a tree, and moreover, gagged so effectually that he could not utter a word. Then, headed by the Girl Brigand, the ruf- fians moved eel and in single file from the motte toward the village, not so much as a word passing between them. Jack was left in a place where the moon: light did not penetrate, and darkness reigned almost supreme. f t And it was not in a very enviable frame he was left. He felt sure the roughs had some villain- ous scheme concocted for the destruction o the citizens, or mayhap, the town, and it an- gered him that he was not able to warn the unsuspecting victims in time for them to eg a ee ae

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The Jimtewn Sport. 27 CS errr manera repare to meet the blow, whatever shape t was to come in, This time he could hardly look for rescue from Skip! And where was the faithful brute? At the lone cabin,. where, at last mention, he had just arrived; that he arrived there by mere chance was evident, for he smelled about inquisitively, and wagged his tail as though he had made a discovery. Then he uttered a low bark. “Skip! Skip! is that you?” the voice of Calamity Jane cried, from the inside of the log prison. The dog gave another bark, and a whine of recognition of the voice of his mistress, “It is the dog, sure enough,” Calamity said to her two companions. ‘‘ We are not in such desperate straits as might be, for he is a sharp fellow, and if there is any show for it, he will get us free.” ‘‘J don’t see much of a chance for it; in fact, 1 can’t see anything till we have a light,” Wildcat Joe replied. ‘‘ This den ap- pears to be without windows, and has but one door, which the rascal locked. I don’t see what was his object in releasing us from one captivity to place us in another.” “He evidently hasgsome scheme afoot for personal advantage to be gained,” Calamity declared; ‘‘probably to extort money from my husband.” ‘*T think I recognized him as a former re- jected suitor, who was once in my father’s employ as amanuensis and clerk,” Lady Myra said. ‘I think he knew me, too, but for some reason pretended otherwise.” “Tf this is true, probably he has other de- signs,” Calamity replied. Wildcat Joe struck a match then, and set fire to some leaves that had some time sifted into the cabin. : By the light thus afforded he saw that the cabin was destitute of any stool or article that could in any way serve to assist them in escaping. } The leaves soon burned up, and they were once more left in total darkness. “Tm thinking we’ll wait a long while be- fore any dog can get us out,” he sald. “This cabin was evidently built for the purpose for which it is now used.” : “Skip! Skip! what are you doing!” Ca- lamity called. “Hark! I hear him digging, like as if in dirt!” Lady Myra said. ‘‘Perhaps he is really trying to dig us out.” : By listening they were uble to hear the same scratching sound, accompanied by growls and the noise of scattering dirt. _ “That is what he is doing, true enough,” Calamity admitted. using our hands.” There was no floor to the cabin except the ground, and that was not hard. : Closer attention apprised them that Skip had commenced proceedings so as to dig un- der the door, and they accordingly set to work so as to meet him half-way. Lady Myra’s hands had never been harden- ed to any work of this kind; and therefore she was excused, Calamity and Joe doing the digging. “This might seem more interesting if we were getting pay-dirt at the same time while digging for liberty,” Wildcat Joe remarked, jocosely. ‘*Gold is hardly to be compared to liberty, as I look at it,” Calamity replied. ~ They worked rapidly and faithfully, and soon had quite a hole dug. Skip, on the outside, was working as stur- dily as they, as they could judge by his heavy panting and the sound. of flying ditt, “We can help him by and he was evidently making nearly as great headway, too,“as were they. Liberty seemed near at hand, but just as they were thinking this, the sound of rapidly- approaching footsteps and a man’s savage curses were heard. Was Metcalf returning? ' Next came more curses—cries of ‘ Get out, you devilish pup!”—then several shots were fired in rapid succession, the bullets striking upon the stout oaken door like hail, but not penetrating through. — : Then Skip was heard to leave his work and leap away with savage growls—then came more oaths, more snarls and angry yelps of the dog—more excited cries of the man, and finally: “Help! help! my God! h-e-l-p!” “Mercy!” Calamity gasped, her face pal- ing. ‘‘If the poor wretch don’t get assist- ance he-will be torn to pieces, Skip is likea panther when he’s thoroughly aroused.” ~ Wildcat Joe sprung forward and hurled his body against the door with great foree, The old hinges loosened by the powerful shock, and Joe and the door went crashing outward to the ground, CHAPTER XII, CONCLUSION. Tux crash occasioned by the falling of the door frightened the dog, evidently, for he leaped from John Metcalf, whom he had ‘‘downed ” and was biting in a horrible manner, That was enough for the unlucky specula- tor. Biood-blinded, as it were, he needed — no urging, and springing to his feet, assoon as the dog drew olf, he ran with all hig” —

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28 The Jimtown Sp ri. pS PE tan ee no a Pe en DES aT ee ets abn WME ESRD HN Rataggg = SRL SS might toward the distant motte, howling and cursing with pain at every step. Skip would have renewed pursuit, but aap sprung from the cabin and called him. ; Skip was very much pleased to see his mistress, and received loud praise from both Lady Myra and Wildcat Joe, all of which he seemed to enjoy. “You weren’t going to be made a target of, were you, Skip?” Calamity said. ‘TI don’t blame you much for going for the ornery skunk.” Then she turned to Wildcat Joe. ** Well, we owe our freedom to you then, rather than, to Skip—and now that we are free, we must decide what is our next.best move. From what we saw and learned there is a sort of one-horse rebellion going on between the roughs and the citizens, so we must fight shy of the one, and join the other party with whom my husband must be. But, before we can do this, with safety, a reconnoissance must be made. Allowing you’re a good scout, and all that, I reckon you’d better stay somewhere in this neigh- borhood as protection for Lady Myra, while I go and see what show there is for our get- ting into the citizens’ camp.” “Don’t you think I had better go? If I get my skull broke, it isn't of so much ac- count as yours.” ‘‘Don’t fear about my getting hurt,” Cal- amity replied, nonchalantly, ‘‘ I’ve roughed it too long in the wild West, to be easil hurt, unless taken by surprise. Besides, want to scare up that husband of mine, if he is to be found, for the looking. Up yonder [ see the mouthof a dark ravine, You and Lady Myra go there and secrete yourselves, until I return, which will be as soon as pos- sible—or, at least, as soon as it is safe to tempt to reach the camp.” Leaving them Calamity crept toward the motte, accompanied by Skip, who was as good a guard as she need have, as his keen nostrils never failed to scent danger, when it was around. \ In due time she reached the grove, or motte, which looked dark and forbidding. She paused on the outskirts, to listen, but héaring nothing, she advanced stealthily, un- til a terrible sight just in front of her caused her to stop short, with an exclamation, A man was bound to a tree—a dead man, ‘at that, and a stranger to her—with a knife driven to the hilt in his breast. “Some one has done bad work here,” Calamity muttered, with a shiver—‘“ probably that wretch whom Skip chewed up. I won- der who did this? Lady Myra’s father, I'll ‘bet! Heaven forbid that it is so!” _ She had no time to ponder on the possi- i bilities of the case, and so passed on by the tree. Near the further end of the motte she paused again, Skip having sniffed the air and given vent to a whine. “Hello! what’s up—what do you scent, Skip?” she said, pausing and listening in- tently. The dog whined again, and wagged his tail. Then Calamity heard a sound, as if some one were groaning. ‘*Perhaps it is Dick in trouble,” she thought suddenly—‘‘ or else why does Skip whine?” Then to the dog she said: “ Who is it, Skip? is it Dick?” The dog waged his tail, and whined again, piteously. “Then, if it is your master, go find him at once.” This command seemed to please the intelli- gent creature, for putting his nose to the ground, he trotted away in the direction whence came the sound, and with eager foot. steps, Calamity followed. As a result they soon came to where Dead- wood Dick was lashed to the tree. : A joyful meeting it was between Dick and his lost bride, whose hands were not slow in Jiberating him from his captivity. “| was rather dubious abont getting free this time, with my accustomed good fuck,” Jack said, after hurried explanations had been given; ‘and, even though I am de- lighted to be reunited to you, I have work to do. The roughs set out to attack the vil- lage, and I cannot rest until I strike in de- fense of the citizens. I must go and see what the roughs are ny to, and if I cannot get in a blow in favor of the other party.” “Then ll go with you,” Calamity said, decidedly. ‘‘ I reckon I ain’t a-goin’ to let you venture into danger again, without hav- ing my share of it—and you know how I am when there’s any fighting to do” «I faney so,” the sport from Jimtown re- plied, with a light laugh. ‘Come on! we will again work together as a team in behalf of the right.” : Accompanied by their dog, they quitted the motte, and crawled stealthily toward the town. “‘T reckon they’re up to fire,” Jack said, as they crawled none pointing to the cloud- ing sky, where a reddish glow began to ap- ~ pear. ‘‘If they fire the buildings that the defenders are in, I’m afraid there will be dreadful work.” Creeping rapidly, they soon reached the top of the eminence, where stood the shanty before mentioned, and from where they could command a view of the main part of the camp. ;

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< The Jintown Sport, mee Here they paused to take observations. The ruffians had evidently not fired any buildings yet, but that they were preparing for some plan of attack was probable. They had built a big bonfire in the street, just out of easy rifle range from either of the shanties that sheltered the defenders, and were adding fresh fuel to it. Just what their future plan cf action was Dick of course could not. guess, but con- cluded that he could not get a sightlier. posi- tion than he at present occupied wherefrom to note the movements of the enemy. “ We cannot well reach the shanties with- ont making a wide detour, and yet if they make an attack I don’t see what aid we can give them from this point,” suggested Calamity. ‘*Not much, unless we can get weapons. You wait here, and I will explore this old shanty and see if we cannot have our needs supplied.” he door in front was locked, but he soon discovered a rear entrance open, and went into the apparently deserted building. “He was gone quite a ‘ime, and Calamit had about made up her mind to go in searc of bim, when she heard him returning. A moment tater h¢ appeared around the corner of the house, hauling after bim an old how- itzer. It was rusted and battered, yet looked capable of doing duty. ‘‘Hello! where did you jind that?” Cal- amity asked, running forward to help him uli it. ; ‘‘Oh! I found the wheels and the gun in the back shed,” Gypsy Jack replied, ‘and I didn’t know but what we might establish a little battery of our own, so contrived to remount the piece.” “Not a bad icea, for look! the roughs have really fired the tavern, and several are skulking in a roundabout way to fire the other buildings, while the rest are standing ready to make a rush upon the citizens when they shall be forced out by the fire!” ‘*T ll see if I can’t scatter ’em,”’ Jack said, grimly. ‘‘In theshed you'll find a small keg of coarse powder. Go fetch it, while I gather some coarse gravel for bullets.” Calamity obeyed, and Gypsy Jack collect- ‘ed a number of quartz hard-heads of the size of hens’ eggs, for the bright moon afford- ed plenty of light for their work. : W hen Calamity returned with the powder, he proceeded to load the gun as rapidly as possible, using dry grass for wadding, in lieu of anything better. He soon nad the gun well charged, then he carefully trained its mmzzle so that the load would carry about into the center of the vuffian’s temporary camp: j ‘Procuring a long pole, he wrappeG a paper aN : - Ei Pe upon one enn, set fire to it, and then, getting at a safe distance, touched off the piece. A thundering report followed that fairly made the earth tremble As soon as the smoke cleared, the eves of the two artillerists sought the ruffians’ cump. The volley had done no harm. Inexperience in training field-pieces had caused Gypsy Jack to level his weapon too high, and, as a result, the shot had riddled a shanty just in front of the ruffians, and be- tween them and the tavern, The attack had, however, been instrumen- tal in creatin and a score of them were setting out with hoarse shouts of vengeance toward the hight on a run, «We shall have to take leg bail for secur- ity now!” Calamity said excitedly. “Pooh! I don’t agree with you in that,” Jack replied, pouring some more powder into the elevated muzzle of the gun, and re. loading rapidly. ‘‘I reckon I can catch ’em ‘fore they catch us.” He finished loading in a jiffy, and then, springing fo the top of the gun, he waved his hat and shouted: “Back! back! or Dll sweep you! Fair warning!” But it was a warnin not see fit to heed, for they came swiftly on, firing as they ran, their bullets buzzing un- pleasantly around the spot where the two gunners stood.~ Springing down, Gypsy Jack once more’ carefully trained the gun to bear on the crowd, while the quick-handed Calamity confusion among the roughs, — they evidently did placed the long-handled torch ready in his hand. Bang! the report was terrible; but not less terrible than the destruction the volley made, as only three men escaped with their lives, and they, in dismay, retreated, with howls of terror. “That was a blizzard,” the sport from Jimtown muttered, with a little shiver, ashe noted what sad havoc he had wrought. ‘“T gave ’em fair warning, anyhow, and their rashness has met its reward, The deuce is to ‘Pay down yonder, however!” nd so it was. The reports of the. cannon had drawn the citizen’s party from cover, to see. what was the matter, and watching for something of this kind, the roughs had made an attack upon them, and a furious battle was begin. ning to rage in the street, the reports of weapons and shouts of men making a great din. ‘“No use trying to do anything with the — un, now!” Gypsy Jack said, grimly. ‘‘The Hkeliest thing we can do is to cut around, = ea tas ke and reach our party. If we are expeditious, —

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80 we may be able to ve of some service to them.” They accordingly made a run for it, in a roundabout away. Ten minutes’ run brought them up in the rear of the citizen party, who were bravel standing theic ground, and fighting like ti- ers. E Their number had been considerably less- ened already, but not more so than had that of the roughs, who were still headed by the female brigand and Arizona Abe, while the citizens had but one leader to look to, in the person of Old Somerset, and when he should fall, they promised to lose courage. But, just when the tide seemed near turn- ing in the favor of the ruffians, Gypsy Jack and Calamity pushed in to the front, well equipped with the revolvers which they had taken from the dead men. Their coming and Jack’s ringing shouts of encouragement seemed to inspire the citizens with new spirit, and they swept forward with increasing fire, forcing the ruffians back. Crack-Shot saw Jack, and knew it was his - coming that had reinspired the citizen ewe and also realized that her crowd was going to pieces, unless he could be dropped from the lead. “*Curse you,” she shouted, ‘I'll have my revenge now!” And she leveled a revolver straight at his heart. : But before she could pull trtgger, a shot struck her in the left side, that wilted her like a leaf to the ground. “Great hail-storm! we’re done fer, now!” Arizona Abe cried, as soon as he saw her fall, and with the’ purpose of deserting his comrades he made a leap to one side to es- cape. But, comprehending his intention, one of her men shot him down before he had gone half a dozen steps. _ The battle thereafter was short and deci- sive. With victorious shouts the citizens rushed at the ruffians, who began to retreat under the withering, ceaseless fire, until finally, ae if by mutual consent, they broke ranks and fled pell-mell for life and safety. Several, even then, bit the dust before they got out of rifle range, but about half of the brigands sueceeded in making their escape tothe mountains. And, as may be imagined, _ the escaped roughs did not return to renew the contest, but took themselves to other scenes of action, a safe distance from Du- age of bloody memory. hen morning dawned, which was not long after the conclusion of the battle, the wounded of both parties were picked up and ‘fact way. “ The Jimtown Sport. i carried to the tavern, and every care be- stowed upon them that could serve to relieve them of suffering. The killed were buried, and the scene about the town was once more, to outward view, calm and serene. Among the apparently wounded, John Metcalf was found, by Gypsy Jack and Old Somerset, lying flat upon his back, very composedly. Investigation proved that he was not hurt in the least, and that he was evidently try- ing to play off hurt until he coald get an opportunity to escape unnoticed. ‘J think we will take this worthy in charge!” Jack said grimly, and they bound him securely. ‘‘ Calamity ran across a man in the grove in the night, whom I think this wretch murdered—and besides I allow there numerous unhealthy charges against him.” “For God’s sake, let me go!” Metcalf pleaded, piteously. ‘‘I confess to killing Leigh, and other treachery, but let me have my liberty and I will forever leave this spot, and promise to be a better man!” “Nineteenth century promises are about as transparent as ethereal gauze, unless clinched by security,” Jack replied. _ ‘I will have nothing to say concerning your disposal. You must look to your enemies for mercy.” He was taken to the tavern and put under uard. . Dick sent for the body of the Duke of Leigh, and for Lady Myra and Wildcat Joe, in whom, on his arrival, he recognized 2 former member of his once famous road- agent band. Lady Myra’s great grief at her father’s death, aroused the citizens to extreme wrath against Metcalf, as he had confessed havin committed the crime. To such an extent di their anger get the better of them that the poor wretch was taken in charge by a num- ber of them, and dragged to the ‘tree where Leigh had been murdered, and there lynched! Captain Crack-Shot was among those wha had been picked up, more dead than alive, and conveyed to the tavern. About sunset she made a request to see Gypsy Jack, and that at once. Somewhat surprised on being informed of her desire, Jack made his way to her bedside, and found her sitting up, bolstered by a pillow. “ Did you wish to see me?” he asked, ap- proaching. ; “Yes, I have not long to live, and wanted to talk with you,” she said, in a matter-of- have pieved for forgiveness, and hope to receive it. Ae wasafooltothink

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~ The Jimtown Sport. fat nee aS Eee MR a ee Tcould ever get the best of aman of your caliber. And, now, that the end for me is near, I want to ask your forgiveness fur what injury, attempted and real, that I have done you.” “Your feeling is commendable, and I freely forgive you,” Jack said kindly. “Oh! Iamso glad! I know you are a brave, noble man, and my admiration is not less for your wife. .I am dying, and I must leave behind me immense wealth. Not the earnings of my lawless career, understand you, nor the earnings of my gambler father —but gold! gold that would enrich a dozen people. I found it once buried in a secret place, where some people of generations long past and gone evidently buried it. Lintended to enjoy it some day, but now that will be impossible, To tell you where to find it J have not strength nor long enough lease of life. Here is a golden cross, however, that holds the secret. It is hollow and a spring opens it. Inside you will find full direc- tions. Will you accept this from me asa present—as an atonement for what wrong I have done you?” “Tf you wish, I will not refuse,” Gypsy Jack replied in astonishment. «Then take it; it is yours forever. But don’t open it until I have been dead one month, You may go now, as I wish my last moments to be in prayer for God’s pity and forgiveness.” So Jack left her presence, bearing in his: hands the cross that was the key to a buried fortune. The next day Captain Crack-Shot died, «und thus ended the career of a noted Western adverturess. Gypsy Jack was requested by the citizens, ‘whom he had been largely the means of re- establishing in the town, to accept the posi- tion of mayor over the prospective young city, but respectfully declined. A few days later he quitted that vicinity, accompanied by Calamity, and they set out for scenes anew, wherein to figure in spite of themselves in a life of commingled peril @z@ adventure. THE END. cy ot y ee os oak Sa, ne ee a, ee pe) toe | Dialegues No. 3h Gi— BEADLE AND ADAMS’ STANDARD DIME PUBLICATIONS Speakers. Each volume contains 100 large pages, printed from clear, open type, comprising the best collee- tion of Dialogues, Dramas and Recitations, The Dime Speakers embrace twenty-five volumes ici v 1, American Speaker, 15, Komikal Speaker. 2. National Speaker, 16, Youth’s Speaker, 3. Patriotic Speaker. 17%. Eloquent Seong 4, Comic Speaker. 18. Hail Columbia Speak- 5." Elocutionist. er, ‘ 6, Humorous Speaker. 19. Serio-Comie Speaker, ay peandait Speaker, 20, Select Speaker. 8, Stump Speaker. 21. Funny Speaker. 9, Juvenile Speaker. 22, Jolly rs com 10. Spread-Eagle Speaker | 23. Dialect Speaker. i 11, Dime Debater. 24, Recitations and Read- 12, Exhibition Speaker, in 8." . School Speaker. 25, Bureaus Speaker . Ludicrous Speaker. These books are replete with choice pieces for the School-room, the Exhibition, for Homes, etc, 75 to 100 Declamations and Reeitations in each book. Dialogues. The Dime“Dialogués. each volume 100 pages, em~ ‘brace thirty-five books, viz.: Dialogues No. One. Dialogues No. Lighteen, Dialogues No. Two. Dialogues No. Nineteen. Dialogues No. Three. |Dialogues No. Twenty. Dialogues No, Four, Dialogues No. Twenty-one. Five. Six. Seven. Right. Nine, Dialogues No. Dialogues No, Twenty-two. Dialogues No, Twenty-three, Dialogues No. Twenty-four. Dialogues No. Twenty-five, Dialogues No, Twenty-six. Dialogues No. Dialogues No. Dialogues No. Dialogues No. Ten. Dialogues No. Twenty-seven. Dialogues No. Bleven, |Dialogues No, Twenty-eight. Dialogues No, Twelve. |Dialogues No. Twenty-nine, Dialogues No. Thirteen. |Dialogues No. Thirty. Dialogues No, Fourteen. Dialogues No. Thirty-one. Dialogues No, Fifteen. Dialogues No. Thirty-two, Dialogues No. Sixteen. |Dialogues No. Thirty-three, Dialogues No.Seventeen ey Hs. No. Thirty-four, : Dialogues No, Thirty-five, oe 15 to 25 Dialogues and Dramas in each book. Dramas and Readings. 164 12mo Pages. 20 Cents. For Schools, Parlors, Entertainments and the Am- ateur Stage, comprising Original Minor Dramas, Comedy, Farce, Dress Pieces, Humorous Dialogue and Burlesque, by noted writers: and Recitationg and Readings, new :nd standard, of the greatest celebrity and interest. Edited by Prof. A. M. Russell, ~ Hand-Books of Games. : Handbook ef Summer Sports. ~ ¥ Book of Crequet. Yachting and Rowing! a Chess Instructor. Riding and Driving. e Cricket and Football Book of Pedestrianism, Guide to Swimming. & Handbook of Winter Sports—Skating, ete, For sale by all newsdeaiers, or sent, post-paid, on — receipt of price—ten cents. : BEADLE AND ADAMS, PvsiisHers, 98 William Street, New York, o

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SMART TOASTS FOR THE SMART NBT, Vest Pocket Size. 64 Pages. > Sewed Book. Up-to-Date, By Mail, Postpaid, 12c. per Copy. * BEST LINE OF HAND BOOKS PUBLISHED. “YIDDISH” YARNS.—A Collection of Hebrew Jokes, Stories, ete. 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. FORTUNE TELLER.—Fortune Telling by Cards, Tea or Coffee Grounds, Eggs: Palmistry, ete. BOOK OF 100 GAMES.—One Hundred Games for 3 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, Toilet, Kitchen, Larder, ete. sa BOOK OF BEAUTY.—Beauty of Form, Color, Head, Hair, Complexion, Skin, ete., with chapters on Perfumes, Cosmeties, 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, aud Marriaze. “GERMAN” JOKER.—" Dutch” Jokes and * Gags” by best ‘t Dutch’’ ‘'eams 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.” ; “TRISH” Joker No. 1.—The Wittiness and Whimsicali- ties of “‘ Pat” at His Best. “VARIETY ” JOKER.—Good Things from all the Na- tionalities: ‘* Pat,” ‘‘Alphonse,” “‘ Hans,” ** 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’ PRICE 1 Dandy Bill’s Doom. By Oll Coomes. 8 Kit Carson. By A. W. Aiken. 4 Lillie, the Reckless Rider. By Stoddard. 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. ae J. E, Badger. 18 Roving Ben, ’ 14 The ‘Meket-of-Leave’s Trick. By J. E. Badger, Jr. 19 Joe, the Rover Sport. 20 Giant Pete and his Pards. 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. 28 Snow-Shoe Tom. By T. C. Harbaugh. 30 Pavl De Lacy. By C. D. Clark. 31 Round the Camp-Fire. By J. E. Badger, Jr. 32 Fancy Frank's Drop. By Ingraham, 33 The Boy Crusader. By Capt. F, Whittaker. 5 CENTS PER LIBRARY. COPY. 84 The Chase of the Great White Stag. By ©. D. Clarks, 35 Old Tar Knuckle. By Rover Starbuck. 36 The Dashing Dragoon. By F. Whittaker. 87 Night-Hawk George. By Ingraham, 38 The Boy Exiles of Siberia. By 'l. C. Harbaugh. 89 The Young Bear Hunters. By Morris Redwing. 40 New York Bill, the Dodger. By Edward Willett 41 The Settler's Son. By Edward §. Ellis. 42 Walt Ferguson’s Cruise. By ©. D. Clark, 43 Rifle and Revolver. By F. Whittaker. 44 The Lost Boy Whalers. By ‘I’. C. Harbaugk, 45 Bronco Billy. By Ingraham. 46 Dick, the Stowaway. By Charles Morris. 47 The Colorado Boys. By J. E. Badger, Jr. 48 The Pampas Hunters. By T. C. Harbaugh. 49 Nebraska Charlie. By Ingraham. 50 Jack, Harry, and Tom. By F. Whittaker. 51 ‘Tom Stone, the Old Sea Dog. By ©. D. Clark. 52 The Boy Detectives. By T. C. Harbaugh. 58 Harry, the Country Boy, in New York. By Charles Morris. 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. By 8. W. Pearce. 58 Captain Jack in Rocky Roost, By Ingraham. 59 Tim, the Mule Bov 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. Ky 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 e Library @ } HANDSOME. TR-GOLORED. GOVERS 82 Pages. Issued Every Wednesday. Price 5 Cents. Buy One and You Will Buy the Rest! naxtracts trom the New York Evening Sun, TWO REMARKABLE in only one sense of the word can it be regarded as a movel statement when the fact is here recorded that litera- ture has given many heroes to the world, and perhaps more than one reader will have to think a moment over Ghis remark before the subtle delicacy of its genial wit atrikes home, But it is most essentially a half dime novel statement shat will be news to many when it is added that litera- ture, if traced from the dimly distant days when Adam ‘Was a mere child down to the present day, would show ‘Sat few heroes that in the eyes of boyhood would be ven judged worthy of comparison with the two greatest geroes known to American literature, or, to prompely re- veal them, Deadwood Dick and Deadwood Dick, Jr. ® * * The modern heroes of fiction for young America, who are now as countless as the sands of the sea, and ot whom the Deadwood Dicks are much the most important * * * it is but natural that their * * * should bear ipway the palm of popularity, and suchas * * * be left behind In the race, ¢ can be easily believed, therefore, that the two Dicks ). 80 firmly engrafted on the tree of popular literature ‘boys and young men, that their position is assured " * and that they stand to-day head and shoulders HEROES, above all rivals in the eyes of the public tor which the) have lived, and for which one of them has died. American boyhood, and that is a tremendous factor im the land, now knows Deadwood Dick, Jr., a good beal bee ter than it knows its catechism, and millions of youn; minds absorb the thrilling incidents of his career In h everlasting warfare against crime and his never-enaing solving of impenetrable mysteries. Millions of boys follow his stealthy footsteps as he tracke 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 ses om Sellaueti thrills go thrilling away from Maine to Call- ‘ornia, There are the volumes each so crowded with thrills and heart-tugs that it were madness to hope to do justice te them collectively and rank injustice to discriminate be tween them. To abandon the idea of giving a few extracts causes fn- finite pain, but if once a start were made in that direo- 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 The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance % The Buffalo Demon; or. The Border Vultures uffalo Ben, Prince of the Pistol ild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval Death-Face, the Detective ¥ The Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza 8 Old Avalanche, the Great Annihilator; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand Bob Woolf, the Border Ruffian Omaha Oll, the Masked Terror; or, Deadwood Dick in Danger 1) ae. Le Jr., the Boy Phenix; or, Through to eat! a Poagyosd Dick's Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood ar 88 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team 44 Gold Rifle, the Bhat prbedier % Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane 6 Corduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo vd igre Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight of the Gule 8 Idyl, the Girl Miner; wr, Rosebud Rob on Hand (8 Photograph Phil: or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance 30 Watch-Eye, the Shadow A | ripe Dick's Device; or, The Sign of the Double TOSS *&3 Canada Chet, the Counterfeiter Chief %& Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke for Liberty + 4% Deadwood Dick as Detective " 35 Gilt-dge Dick A %6 Bonanza Bill, the Man-Tracker; or, The Secret Twelve BY Chip, the Girl Sport % Jack Hoyle’s Lead; or, The Road to Fortune 9 Boss Bob, the King of Bootblacks 30 peewee Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s ule #1 Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base ® Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent 83 Tony Fox, the Ferret; or, Boss Bob's Boss Job 34 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike 85 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party 86 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective 87 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Scamps of the Sierrae 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 43 The Ventriloquist Detective. A Romance of Rogues 44 arene 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 Sierra Sam’s Sentence; or, Little Luck at Rough Ranch 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, the Sport 60 Dumb Dick’s Parad; or, Eliza Jane, the Gold Miner 61 Deadwood Dick’s Mission ; 62 Spotter Fritz: or, The Store-Detective’s Deco: 63 a Poteelte Road-Agent; or, The Miners of Sassa- ras City 64 bi asl Charlie’s Detective Dash; or, The Cattle ings M. J. [VERS & CO., Pubiishers (James Sullivan, Proprietor), §?9 Pearl Street, NEW YORK.

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Copyright 1881-1888, by Beadle & Adams, Entered at Post Office, New York, N. Y., as second class matter. Mar. 15, 1899, 2 THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK CO. No. 46 Cleveland, Ohio Vol. IV “Goop DOG!) WELCOMED THE SPORT FROM smncr. ppag THB BRUSH AWAY, SKIP] QUICK, sTRI”.

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Tar, 15, 1898 Vol. IV. bi as second class matter, 7 ” N. New York, popyright 1881-1888, by Beadle & Adams. Entered at Post Orfice, - . Ohio is THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK CO Cleveland, No. 46 “ ORSG THE BRUSH sma SKIP! ‘oop Doi” QUICK, AWAX, WELCOMED THB SPORT FROM JIMTOWN. i ee 4

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Deadwood Dick e Library e LATEST AND BEST. HANDSOME TRI-COLORED COVERS, 82 Pages. Bay One and You Will Buy the Rest! Wor Sample Cover See Other Bide. DEADWOOD DICK LIBRARY. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road & The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance $8 The Buffalo Demon; or, The Border Vultures 4 Buffalo Ben, Prince of the Pistol § Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval 6 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 Oll, the Masked Terror; or, Deadwood Dick in Danger 11 oe es age Jr.,the Boy Phenix; or, Through to ea * 12 okey Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood ar 13 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team 14 Gold Rifle, the Suara 15 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane 16 Corduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo 1” eee Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight of the ule, 18 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand 419 Photograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance 20 Watch-Eye, the Shadow 21 peeavcod Dick’s Device; or, The Sign of the Double ross 22 Canada Chet, .the Counterfeiter Chief 28 Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke for Liberty 24 Deadwood Dick as Detective 25 Gilt-Edged Dick 26 Bonanza Bill, the Man-Tracker; or, The Secret Twelva 27 Chip, the Girl Sport 28 Jack Hoyle’s Lead; or, The Road to Fortune 29 Boss Bob, the King of Bootblacks 80 yi Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gergon’s ule 81 Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Zase 82 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent 83 Tony Fox, the Ferret; or, Boss Bob's Boss Job j 34 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike 85 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party 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 43 The Ventriloquist Detective. A Romance of Rogues © 44 gery 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 ae a Sentence; or, Little Luck at Rough anc 52 The Girl Sport; or, Jumbo Joe’s Disguise 53 Denver Doll’s Device; or, ‘'he Detective Queen 54 Denver Doll as Detective 55 Denver Doll’s Partner; or, Big Buckskin the Sport 56 Denver Doil’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: 63 The Detective Road-Agent; or, The Miners of Sassa- fras City 64 Colorado Charlie's Detective Dash; or, The Cattle I | n|