Deadwood Dick Library (v. 5) (1900 03 21)

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Copyright 1882-1888, by Beadle & Adams. Entered at Post Ome, New Y« Week M. J. IVERS & CO., Publishers, 1400 4 ‘ m, Proprietor,) spat: { ri Street, New York. “5 oa ——— ER TORCH TO AND FRO ABOVE HER HEAD, AND SCREAMED A’ 2 ; i 1 : , SCREAMED AT ' > HER VOICE, FRANTIC WITH FEAR THAT NO HEED WOULD BE TAKEN OF eae ae

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EDWARD L. WHEELER'S Re: ci nee DEADWOOD DICK, JR., NOVELS IN’ THE HALF-DIME LIBRARY. Price 5 Cents per Copy. 443 Crescent Sign. 448 Deadwood Dick, 453 Deadwood Dick, 459 Deadwood Dick, 465 Deadwood Dick, A471 Deadwood Dick, 476 Deadwood Dick, 481 Deadwood Dick, 491 Deadwood Dick, 496. Deadwood ick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, 515 Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, 529 Deadwood Dick, 534 Deadwood Dick, 539 Deadwood Dick, 544 Deadwood Dick, 549 Deadwood Dick, 554 Deadwood Dick, Jr., 561 567 ya) Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, 572 Deadwood Dick, 578 Deadwood Dick, 584 Deadwood Dick, 590 Deadwood Dick, 595 Deadwood Dick, 600 Deadwood Dick, 606 Deadwood Dick, 612 Deadwood Dick, 618 Deadwood Dick, 624 Deadwood Dick, 630 Deadwood Dick, 636 Deadwood Dick, 642 Deadwood Dick, 648 Deadwood Dick, Continent. 654 Deadwood Dick, glers. 660 Deadwood Dick, 666 Deadwood Dick, 672 Deadwood Dick, 678 Deadwood Dick, 684 Deadwood Dick, 690 Deadwood Dick, 695 Deadwood Dick, 700 Deadwood Dick, 704. Deadwood Dick, 710 Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Ai Jr.; or, The Crimson Jr's, Defiance. Jr.’s, Full Hand. |. Jr.’s, Big Round: Up. Jr.’s, Racket at Claim 10. Jr.’s, Corral. Jr.'s, Dog Detective. Jr., in Deadwood. | Jr.’s, Compact. Jr.’s, Inheritance. Jr.’s, Diggings. Jr.’s, Deliverance. Jr.’s, Protege. Jr.’s, Three. Jr.’s, Danger Ducks. Jr.’s, Death Hunt. Jr., in Texas. the Wild West Vidocq. on His Mettle. in Gotham. in Boston. in Philadelphia. in Chicago. Jr., Afloat. Jr., in Denver. Jr.’s, Decree. Jr., in Beelzebub’s Basin. Jr., at Coney Island. Jr.’s, Leadville Lay. Jr., in Detroit. Jr., in Cincinnati. Jr., in Nevada. Jr., in No Man’s Land. Jr., After the Queer. Jr., in Buffalo. Jr.’s, Chase Across the IT, Jr., Jr., Jr., Jr., Among the Smug- Jr.’s, Insurance Case. Jr., Back in the Mines. Jr., in Durango. Jr.’s, Discovery. Jr.’s, Dazzle. Jr.’s, Dollars. Jr., at Danger Divide. Jr.’s, Drop. Jr., at Jack-Pot. Jr., at San Francisco. 716 Deadwood Dick, 722 Deadwood Dick, 28 Deadwood Dick, 34 Deadwood Dick, 40 Deadwood Dick, 7 Deadwood Dick, 2 Deadwood Dick, 758 Deadwood Dick, 64 Deadwood Dick, 70 Deadwood Dick, 776 Deadwood Dick, 782 Deadwood Dick, 787 Deadwood Dick, 792 Deadwood Dick, 797 Deadwood Dick, 802 Deadwood Dick, 807 Deadwood Dick, 812 Deadwood Dick, 816 Deadwood Dick, 822 Deadwood Dick, 828 Deadwood Dick, 834 Deadwood Dick, 840 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, « he Ia 3-3 3 +9 +3 tore wo te 1018 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt. Jr.’s, Dominoes. Jr.’s, Disguise. Jr.’s, Double Deal. Jr.’s, Death-Watch. Jr.’s, Doublet. Jr.’s, Death-Blow. Jr.’s, Desperate Strait. Jr.’s, Lone Hand. Jr.’s, Defeat. Jr.'s, Resurrection, Jr.’s, Dark Days. Jr., Defied. Jr.’s, Double Device. dr. ’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. 5 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. For sale by all newsdealers or sent, postpaid, on receipt of price, 5c. per copy, by the publish- ers, M. J. IVERS & CO,, ¢ 79 Pear STREET, New York Cry.

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im. J. TVERS & CO., Pabdlish Issued Weekly. ‘James Sullivan, Proprietor,) ar, 2 ) . r Mar, 21, 1900. 2°9 Pear! street, New York. as — eet DENVER DOLL WAVED HER TORCH TO AND FRO ABOVf HGR HEAD, AND SCREAMED AT THE TOP GER VOIOS, FRANTIO WITH FEAR THAT NO HEED WOULD BE TAKEN OF HER

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z . ; __ Denver Doll as Detective. Denver bol as Detective: LITTLE BILL’S BOLD RISK. BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF ‘‘ DEADWOOD DICK” NOVELS, ‘DENVER DOLL” NOVELS, ETC., ETC, CHAPTER 1. A WILD NIGHT AND A WILDER RIDE, Nieut wild and furious settled over mother earth, with the hot wind of summer blowing a literal hurricane through forest and gulch, The lightning, too, flashed in vivid zig- streaks, and the thunder jarred the earth with its loud rolling. Down ina dark ravine between the mountains, which was for the most part choked up by trees of sparse foliage, flickered a little camp-fire of pine cones, which every sudden gust of wind threatened to scatter to the different points of the compass, A short, stout Dutchman, of immense girth, but otherwise rather attractive appearance, was kept busied in replenishing the fire, while Den- ver Doll, well known through the mountains as an exceptionally pretty and expert detective, was seated upou the ground before the low stump of a tree, upon which a telegraph instrument was placed, which she was watching with eager, expectant eyes. irectly overhead, but a number of feat above her, ran two telegraph wires across the gulch. Two wires attached to her telegraph instrument also connected with the main wires overhead, thus enabling her to receive all the messages that passed over the line in either direction. “ Dunderation!” pealed from thelips of Yakie Strauss, Denver Doll’s companion, as a sudden gust of wind carried a stone against the side of his head, and toppled him over upon the ground, ‘*Sdop! sdop! dot ish no fair, shlingin’ sdones at a veller, und preakin’ his skull, Don’d like dot, Denver Doll; don’d vas like der situation nohow.” ‘Well, have patience, Yakie, and we will get out of here before long. When you sesa stick or stone coming at you, why all you've got to do is dodge it!” Doll said, with a musical laugh, which, however, was suddenly cut short by the click! click! of the telegraph instrument, to which she instantly gave her attention. Yakie, too, came forward, forgetting his trouble, and crouched by the stump, seeming to be fully as expectant as his young Sen ae whom he had served jn more than one thrilling detective i ed 4 he message came faster now, and there was a perfect tattoo of ticks, that caused Yakie to open his eyes in astonishment—but the eyes of the detective queen dilated with horror, as she jotted down the message. “Great guns! It is a fortunate thing I sus- - pected mischief,” she observed, finally. ‘‘ There is a horrible scheme afoot to wreck the eastward beund Union Pacific Express, at Devil’s Curve, around which she sails at a speed of forty miles ici, ip all CS re er 1g" ae ! an hour, down grade, FROGS Le ea Re Me een ere The instigators of the job belong to Nugget Notch and Big Pine Camps. he offices there are either in charge of the conspirators and their associates, or else con- nection has been made outside of each camp, for the furtherance of this diabolical scheme, Here’s the message, so far as it goes,” She handed bim a slip of paper, which he bore close to the firelight, and scanned critically to read as follows: ee yb: P.C. ... Midnight. . .. U.P., east. Devil’s Curve. .. . bigswag. .. . Be ready. “S, & C. B., N. N.” Not being much of a scholar, it took Yakie some time to make it out. “Vell, dot vas pad!” he grunted, finally. **Tt looks ash off somepody-vas goin’ to get hurt, don’d it?” “ Fixactly, unless we prevent it!” the brave girl cried, excitedly, “Und how vas dot goin’ done? Uff we go up ae Duyfel’s Curve, ve ketch der duyfel, not . . “ Likely. There will bea i on hand to plunder the wreck, from Nugget Notch, at least, and maybe another party from Big Fine; so that we could do no good there. The only. plan I see is for me to set the spurs to my horse, and to get to the other side of Nugget Notch in time to flag the train!” ** Dot vas foolishuess, Vat time sho vas?” Denver Doll nervously drew a handsome goid watch from her pocket and glanced at it, ‘*1t ic ten minutes of eleven.” “Una der train is due—?” “At ten minutes after twelve, at Devil’s Curve.” ‘«Shimminy plazes! How you tink you get to der odder side off Nugget Notch py dot time? _ It ish more ash dwenty miles{” “Yes, by the regular round-about stage trail, but not by the railroad track. I can do’ the proper distance in an hour, and I will do it, if I die trying! Bring Colonel at once!” “Vas? You ride mit der railroad track down? You preak your neck off!” “Bah! Colonel can leap any two culverts on the road. Bring him at once!” Yakie stumbled away, and soon returned, © leading a handsome roan steed, whose fiery eye, and proud step, and arching neck, proclaimed him a thoroughbred, Without delay, Denver Doll mounted and pre- pared for her journey. **Vot ish to pecoome of me?” Yakie asked, rather dubiously, as the thunder crashed louder, “Take the instrument, mount your horse, and set.out for Nugget Notch by the regular trail. I will join you there after I flag the train,” She then rode away down the ravine, and in ten minutes came to the track of the Union Pacific Railroad, which she proceeded to follow in a_ westward course. Ahead of her Jay Nug- get Notch, a rough mining-town; a couple of miles tothe right of the railroad, behind her, lay the Devil’s Curve, where the road ran abruptly ‘around the mountain over a dug-way bed, the sheer promontory arising on one side, and’a black abyss bordering the other side of the — track. A bain Vata railorapile,of rocks at this point could not help throwing a train off r ©,

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Denver Doll as Detective, ‘into the yawning gulf, and causing its utter destruction, upon the jagged rocks in the gloomy gorge below. She knew that she was liable to encounter danger by following the track, but that was of slight moment to her, if she could save the train, So she set the spurs into Colonel’s flanks, and the spirited charger dashed away ataspeed that showed him to be a racer of no mean quality, Over the culverts he dashed, with nimble leaps, the young Detective Queen sitting her sad- dle with perfect ease, and urging him, until they fairly flew over the ties between the rails. Mile after mile was passed. By a flash of lightning she caught a glimpse at the face of her watch, and saw that it was a quarter to twelve. A quarter mile more she made, when— Hark! The shriek of a locomotive whistle was heard above the roar of the storm. The Express, some minutes late, was almost upon her! With a yell she leaped Colonel into the ditch, beside the track, and brought him to a stand- still. Slipping to the ground, she procured a torch from her saddle-bag, and with difficulty ht it, and leaped up the embankment to the track, just as the Express came tearing around the bend at a speed of forty miles an hour! She.vaved her torch to ahd fro above her head, and screamed at the top of her voice, frantic with fear that no heed would be taken _ of her. But when the engine was within fifty feet of her, the engineer blew the whistle, asa signal for down brakes, The grade at this point was very steep, and the train was long and heavily laden, so that it was some distance from where Denver Do?* ae standing, ere it conld be brought to a stand~ still, But the cars had scarcely passed the brave girl, ere she was seized from behind, the torch dashed to the ground and extinguished, and a cloak thrown over her head and stuffed into her mouth, She was then raised in a strong pair of arms, which held her so tightly» that she could not move, and in a moment more she was con- scious of being borne swiftly away on horse- ack, The ride lasted about an hour, through a wild, ravenous pass of the mountains—ravenous, be- cause wolves were seen howling and skurrying on either side, while the jagged, precipitous ad arose in rugged grandeur to the right and eft. At last Denver Doll’s captor drew rein. It was in a-rugged glen, where a camp-fire waé burring in under a ledge of rock. Before this fire stood a number of figures, clad in long, somber gowns, belted at the waist. Masked was each face, while on every breast glowed spectrally the ghastly sign of a grin- ning skull and cross-bones! CHAPTER II. A QUEER CUSTOMER. DENVER DoLu was promptly taken from the ae _ arms of her captor, and bound to a sapling out- { proposed wreck of the tr stra! fi pervs aaa tae side of the camp-fire, where the rain beat down upon her mercilessly, The Black Gowns crept beneath the shelter of the ledge, and engaged in a low conversation that was not audible to Doll. No movement was made to approach ber un- til toward daybreak, when two horsemen, at- tired like the others, rode into the glen and dis- mounted. : The Black Gowns then emerged from under the ledge, and one of them said: “Well, captain, what success?” “* Just as we calculated. The train ran off the track and broke up. We secured what plunder was available and sloped. The Express car fetched a purty good load of swag, but the pas- sengers did not pan out much besides watches and rings,” and, as he spoke, the man took from his pocket a handful of finger-rings and jingled them before the eyes of his comrades, One, in particular, of very peculiar design, at- tracted the attention of Denver Doll—a massive diamond, in an odd, hand-shaped scnne It struck the Detective Queen that it had be- longed to some beautiful young lady—perhaps some newly-made bride, to whom it had been given as a wedding-ring. i ‘Were ther passengers killed?” one of the Black Gowns demanded, as the captain ceased speaking. “The majority of them were killed, a good many were fatally wounded, and a few made their escape, The only wonder is that all were not killed outright. However, the train went down on its broadside, Who is this girl you have he:e in bey’s clothing?” “Dunno her name, boss, Captured her a- flaggin’ the train over on the U. P. She kim ridin’ down the track like a streak of greased lightning from the direction of the Notch sta~ tion. . ‘Oho! What is your name, young woman?” “None of your business,” Doll replied, inde- pendently, and with a promptness that was char-— acteristic of her, ‘Look out! None of your sauce to me, or Pl learn you better. I’m Captain Crime, of the Terrible Tribunal,” “T.don’t care were you Satan himself,” wae the plucky girl’s rejoinder. ‘‘ You can’t scare me one whit, because I’ve met such characters before.” Captain Crime uttered a growl of disap- proval. ? “T’ve a good mind to cleft ..your tongue!” h said; ‘it’s entirely too sharp.” : ‘ Tt?s sharp enough to talk for the right, you bet!” Doll retorted, *«Bnough of this nonsense. Did you flag the Express to-night?” ! * Reckon I did.” “ What did you do it for?” ‘* Because I wanted to.” ‘ Answer me better than that,” said the chief of the Terribles, sternly. = ; ‘* Because I wanted to prevent the horrible © massacre of innocents at Devil’s Curve. I rode from twelye miles the other side of Nugget Noteb to prevent your erime.” } Sed “How did you find any ine out about the inf? = eee a4 eg te See WE eee aly fey te

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- » ingly. savagely. Seen ie 4 Denver Doll as Detective, “None of ‘pen business again!” * You shall learn. better. It has just dawned upon me who you are. You area detective, and I reckun I have heard of you. You are Denver Doll, and I suppose you have come here to wage war on us, eh?” **Pveno reply to make to anything that you muy surmise,” Doll retorted, “‘T reckon it will ba safest for the interests of the Tribunal to shoot you, Denver Doll, and get rid of you!” he said, drawing a_ revolver. ‘Dead men, or women, tell no tales.. Five minutes for prayer; so improve them!” * Hold up thar, Cross-Bones! Tech a hair of Doll’s head an’ I'll riddle ve like a Gatling!” The members of the Terrible Tribunal gazed around in great astonishment at the sound of the boyish voice, and beheld standing near a diminutive specimen of humanity whose age apparently could not have exceeded ten years, and his face not his figure was what gave him the appearance of being that old. + Ho was extremely ragged and dirty, and barefooted. in the bargain, but his sturdy, reso- lute face, with its,big mouth, pug nose, cunning black eyes, and fringe of unkempt hair made him a curious character, ; He stood in a defiant, half-pompous .vmtude, facing the desperadoes, and each hand leveled a cocked revolver, unwaveringly. Captain Crime took a good look at the lad, and then burst into a loud laugh. 2 ‘* Well, by the Rockies!” he ejaculated, ‘if that ain’tb the cutest thing I’ve seen in a year. I say, bub, who are you?” ‘I'm Bul Bethel, you bet, and ’m sum on my muscle, too, Sally. So, if you don’t want to get slugged, jest you untie thet aire gal, and hand her over to my protection.” Captain Crime looked at the boy again, “What do,you mean?” he demanded. “ Why Tve a notion to paralyze you where you stand!” Little Bill iaughed. ‘+Large trees from little acorns grow, but I don’t scare worth a cent,” he answered, unflinch- “Tf I hadn’t the drop on you and the power to watch it and nurse it, I'd stan’ no show. But I’ve got an eye that says that these ‘ere two death-dispensers is lookin’ at every ga- loot in the ganz!” Even though he langhed before ha spoke, his spsech was stern and meaning, and that of a man instead of a boy. | That he meant business, no one could doubt, and even Captain Crime could do no better than hesitate and consider, Seve men stood at bay, and one slender but determined boy held them there, ‘Tf you don’t get out of here mighty quick, TIL haye you skinned alive!” Crime growled, “We ain’t quite so green as to allow ourselves to be backed down by a boy.” “But you are, all the same, and I'm jest the sort of a rooster what was brought up to. keep my eye peeled for such sharps, and turn her over to me befcre I count three, or Pl let drive at you! One!” And up came the weapons to bear more fully, -and the’ flash in the little black eyes of the stranger might have been regarded as exceed- ingly dangerous. Ys Release the gal | Bill Bethel, =~ Captain Crime saw it, and so did his men, and of one accord they shrunk back, ‘Let up!” Crime called out. ‘* You’ve got the drop, youngster, and durned if you ain’t the esa kid Lever met. Therefore, you shall ave the girl and your liberty. But, beware, both of.you! The third time after receiving the notice of the skull and cross-bunes, your doom is sealed. So be prepared!” He stepped forward and severed the bonds that held Doll to the sapling, and motioned for her to depart. She walked over to the side of Little Bill, and together they backed down the gorge, Bill main- taining his cover with the pistols, until they were safe away from the outlaws’. camp, It was then Denver Doll seized Bill by the hand, and thanked bim waruily. “You are a brave boy,” she said, ‘and you will always have a friend in me. Who are you, and where do you belong?” ‘ “Oh! I’m Kate’s kid—Kate’s my old woman, you know, She cum down to a place called Deathly Ditch, or sum sech a place, hereabouts, an’ left me up in the mountings a-grubbin’ at a poor clain, with pick and pan, Sed she had portant bizness over beer, but I got lonesum, an’ so jest buckled on my armor, and dropped along after her, Know of sech a place as Mug- gins’s Notch, Death Ditcb, or sum sech a name, up in this section?” “You mean Nugget Notch, I guess. bound for there myself.” Then I’m with ye. I wanter find. Kate, as soon as possible, for thar’s no tellin’, now’days, what these gals fall into in the way of danger, if they ain’t got a purtecter like me.” Doll could but laugh at the boy’s remarkable self-conceit, though it was evident that he was nobody’s fool, in the way of worldly wisdom, Their journey to Nugget Notch occupied the best share of the day, as they were obliged to go on foot, A At last, however, the place was reached—a wild, rough mining-camp, like which a hun- dred could be found scattered through the mountains, There were the usual irregular clusters of shanties, cabins and tents, here and there being one more pretentious than the rest. Then thero was the inevitable grocery store, several saloons, dance-houses and gaming-dens, a shanty post- office, a theater, and a bank, The theater was a long one-story shed, which would have been much more appropriate asa barn than for its present calling. f However, it was the popular resort of the camp, for ‘* fun.” 4 When Denver Doll and Little Bill arrived in the town, however, the theater had no attrac- tions, for the denizens, who filled the gulch street, in knots, were engaged in the discussion of some important topic, which proved to bo concérning the train disaster, — Every one was terribly excited, and tho threats made against the perpetrators of the crime, were not few. Denver Doll’s appearance ifi the town at- — tracted considerable attention, but no one of- fered to molest her, por her ragged companion Enis: = op

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Denver Doll as Detective. a After about an hour's search, she found Yakie Strauss, her Teutonic comrade. He was com- fortably stowed away in one corner of a saloon, complacently making a meal on cheese and crackers, and a mug of whisky, for which latter article, he had an inordinate fondness, He looked up, with a comical expression, as Doll approached, as much as to say ‘‘I vas all right—bow you vas?” Doll looked carefully around her to see that she was not watched, then said: “ Well, what news?” “Loads!” Yakie grunted. drack—sbmash all mit duuder.” “So I am aware, I missed warning them, though I brought the train to a stop,” She ther. explained all about her adventure, which narration caused Yakie to’ open his eyes, in wonder, : “Shemminy blazes! dot vas noddinks, I haff swi’ times pigger adventure ash dot,” ‘Indeed! Let’s hear about it.” “Vell, I dells you. Afder you skin oud und leaf me alone mit mineself 1 don’d vas come straighd to dis blace, but takes a valse ofer toa blace vere I could vatch der Duyfel’s Curve, Purey soon, pyme-py, along comes der Exbress train und tumbles off into der gorge, yoost like rollin’ off a log. Den der vas sereechin’, und howlin’, und, shimminy gracious! der duyfel und his imps dey vas skootin’ aroundt like goot® fellers. Den purdy quick dey disappear, und I goes down miti der wreck. I finds von young mans, mit a hole in his head, und he say he giff me ein t’ousan’ dollars if 1 hide him ‘vere no- pody kould find him. So I put him ofer mine shoulder, und pring him someveres, git mine tousan’, und come right avay here.” ‘ But where did you leave the young man, Yakie?” Doll asked, with curiosity. “Dot ish my secret,” the Teuton answered, witb a broad grin. ‘*You und I vas pards, Saree fe but you have your little secrets, und so haff I.” : “Never mind, Dolly—just leave it to me, and 1’ll unwind the ball of yarn for youg” Little Bill now remarked, with a wink, ‘I ain’t very big, but I’m lots on the pry, and can cut around the worl, and take Germany, any day!” “Vas? you _can, hey?” Yakie blustered, in- dignantly. ‘‘ You vas a shmall fry!” “But you can’t cook me, though!” William retorted, putting his thumb comically to his nose. ‘i am a thoroughbred, I am, and since Kate’s skipped me, ’ve hitched up wi? Denver Doll. By the-way, Dolly, I’ve got 4 little im- ortant business about town, and will see you tater. Cucoo!” : And away the youngster strutted, with a pompous swagger that was decidedly amusing. Doll also turned away, leaving Yakie to finish his lunch; for she hardly knew how to regard _ his action concerning the man he claimed to have concealed. : She had never before had any reason to doubt him, as, with the exception of a few eccentrici- ties, bis actions bad always been loyal to her. “Pll leave it to Little Bill to look into the case,” she mused, as she left the place, and ‘sauntered down the street, ‘The kid is as sharp as a weasel, and would work up intoa “Train run off fa arte J5i6% — rattling detective, I fancy. He is as close as a steel-trap concerning Kate, whom he claims to be hunting for. There are many mysteries in life, and there’s one here, I’ll wager.” Half a block down the street, she met a well- dressed man, who took the liberty to blockade her pe, and tip his hat to her, Is ve aaa mé,” he said. ‘‘ Are you not Denver i) CHAPTER III. RIENZIO, Ler us follow Little Bill Bethel, Denver Doll had not gone wide of her mark in estimating him to be shrewd, keen and wily, and having the making in him of a thorough- bred detective. After leaving the presence of Denver Doll and Yakie, Little Bill sauntered apout town for some time, taking in such scenes as attracted his attention, until he final}y came to the ‘ theater,” which had opened its doors for the night, as the laborers’ day’s work was virtually closed, and they were flocking into the camp, to spend what dust they had earned that day. Before the theater, which was called the Globe, was a bulletin, upon which was mounted a. band-printed eee announcing that ‘the favorite and celebrated Viennese Nigktingale, Rienzio, would positively appeer every night, in choice operatic programme; also several dis- tinguished high-kickers, boxers, and nigger per- formers,” Little Bill read the announcement, and pon- dered over it for,some minutes, and then search- ed in the pockets of his ragged pants till he found a gold half-eagle. “Pll take in that racket, if I bu’st,” he mut- tered. ‘‘ Now, there was my old gal, Kate—she was a hopperatic sort o’ singer, and et would be Jjest one’r capers to change names an’ go on,the stage. So Bill paid bis entrance-fee, four bits, and found himself within Nugget Notch’s theater. As once before stated, it was a long building, only one story in hight, and the inside was fully as rough as the out. tee The floor was covered with tiers of tables, supplied with chairs, At the further end was a sort of stage across the end of the building, while in front of it was a piano, upon which a man was thumping out some tremendous music, the curtain being down and no performance having commenced. The bar was at the front end of the building, on che side of the door, and was presided over by a huge negro, as black as the ace of spades, who jooked able to handle any three or four or- dinary men, Ata number of the tables, men were engaged | at cards, and with a keen twinkle in hie eye, Little Bill sauntered about, first from one table to the other, and looked on at the games. 4 He finally came to one table where the game ~ an was of more than ordinary interest, for several men were assembled there besides the two who were seated at the board. . One of these was a young man, some twenty years of age, whose form was none too robust, and whose white complexion and haggard look about the eyes gave testimony, as well as a fre-

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28 5 Denver Doll as Detective. at ee ST quent hacking cough, that 42 was inclined 4o | .“ Well, if you're so anxious to lose your cash, consumption. Hs was nevartheless rather pre- poss3ssing of countenance, with deep blue eyes, a pleasa15 mouth, shaded by a light mustache, and close curling hair, His companion at the table was a decidedly sportish-looking individual, the glitter of whose brilliant black eyes was ample proof that he was of that order of human beings, who was confi- dent that he could suil easily through life with- out working hard to do it, He was attired in a blue suit, with an immac- ulate white vest, shirt and collar, while upon his head was a snow-white sombrero, pinned up at one side and ornamented with a colored plume, His feet were incased in slippers. Tn figure he was of ig Baers stature, while in face he was what most people would haye called handsome, Tne peering eyes of Little Bill Bethel took in all'the peculiarities of the scene as he pushed his way along to a position. The game, seven-up, had just ended, and the gambler sport had just raked in a number of gold-pieces and sli pose them into his pocket, ** You're out of luck, Ainsley!” he said, with one of his peculiar smiles, ‘ What’s got into you? You can’t play for shucks any more!” Ainsley’s white cheeks flushed, as he thrust his hand into his pocket, ? “Tm not broke yet!” hesaid, grimly, as he brought forth two twenty-dollar gold pieces and laid one of them upon the table. ‘‘ You’ve soaked away my money long enough, Beau Blonle, and it’s my turn to retrieve my losses. Waiter, bring moe a gin-and-whisky and a fresh pack of cards,” A. quiet smile of self-confidence flitted over Beau Blonde’s tace. “Sorry for you, Ned, but you must admit that I play a fair game. Better go light, till you get a run of luck.” “Don’t ye do it, Johnny!” piped in Little Bill, at this juncture. “Jest ye go yer forty— hull swine or no swag--an’ ef ye don’t win, I'll step in and tear the lining out of his nibs!” All eyes were turned upon the boy, who had until now been quite unnoticed. ** Hello! what you doing in here, you little rat?” Beau Blonde cried, roughly. ‘‘Get up and dust now, or ’ll wring your little neck.” “Dry up, will you?” Bill retorted, important- ly. “I paid to get inter this show, an’ I’m pia ter see her out. Ef ye beat his jags, here, ll jest go yea pop fer ,fifty a side, pervidin’ I ean get som» ’sponserble man to back me,” ““Never mind the kid, Come on, put up, and let’s play!” Ned Ainsley said, eagerly, ‘If I los2 this time, hanged if T don't match the little chap against you!” Beau Blonde laughed lou ily at the idea. Tha cards were produced, and Boau Blonde and Ned Ainsley played their game, the stakes being forty dollars.a side, eleven points game, It was a short and easily-won victory for the -Sport, he scoring four times, thrice in succes- sion, Ainsley getting no hands worth playing. “Now, then!” Blande chuckled, raking in the stake, ‘‘ are you done?” ie Ph no means!” Ainsley replied, rising. “Pll back the boy against you for fifty a side, we put up,” the gambler replied.- Ned Ainsley laid his last fifty on the table just a little doubtful as to whether he would ever see it again. ‘Now, boy, do your best!” he said, encour- agingly. ‘*But, see here—whar’s my spec comin’ in, fer exertin’ myself. Goin’ to aivy?” “Yes, if you win, ll divide, and give youa third. Fair?” “Kerect. Squar’ yourself, Beauty! Cut for deal!” : The cards were cub and dealt, and the game beeee Bill leading, and later scooping in three ‘imes, Beau Blonde spoke not, but the scowl upon his usually smiling face, indicated his’ annoyance and anger. Little Bill evidently knew perfectly well what he was about, for he played with cool confi- dence, whistling the while. Toward its closa the points stood tie, and there appeared but small chance for the boy to win. But, win he did, amid the cheers of the spec- tators, and to Beau Blonde’s intense chagrin, “ You infernal litcleskunk, ll kick you out of doors!” he roared. ‘‘What d’ye mean by stickin’ yourself in here, where you're not wanted?’ . “Oh! I jest kim in to see ther menagerie, an’ ‘whipped the tiger—that’s all,” Bill replied, with agrin, ‘Never did know much ’bout keerds, tho’ my old man used ter be ther boss, they say! Goin’ ter back me ag’in, Ainsley, old chub?” * With all my beart!” was the reply. ‘Tl put up a hundred!” ‘*Good! Pll go you two to one!” Beau Blonde cried, “If I don’t make the baby look sick, this time, you can call me chaff.” The money was staked—two hundred dollars against half the amount—and the game began, eau Blonde played slowly, carefully. Little Bill played quickly, and whistled. ‘Told ye I didn’t know much erbout keerds, Beau,” he remarked, as he made high, low, jack on the first deal. ** You've too much to say!” Blonde sharled, ““T know it; bin told’so befare,” Bill grunted, and the game proceeded, “High, jack, game,” Little Bill remarked, a- few minutes after, cial _ Beau Blonde gritted his teeth, but said noth- ing, ~ In the last deal Bill made three points, which put him out, and: he again raked in the stakes with a triumphant whistle, Beau Blonde arose, excited. His face was pale with the passion he was evi- dently trying to withhold. : ‘That will do for the prosent,” he said, ‘TI will play with you some other time, Ned Ainsley. The concert will soon begin now.” “Very well,” Ainsley assented, as the gam- bler walked away. * Hello! Chaffy, ain't goin’ ter take water, aire ye?” shouted Little Bill, - > - Beau Blonde looked back with an ugly scowl, but did not answer. : ‘Oh! he’s got it in for me, has Blondey!” the lad chuckled, “ First you know some one will find , 5 ti = pele

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Denver Doll as Detectix e. : 3. ‘ way cadaver lying in an out-of-the-way place, ready for the undertaker.” ‘Never mind,” Ned Ainsley replied. ‘* Beau Blonde is more bark than bite; still it will dono harm t6 keep a sharp outlook, How much do you want, Billy?” “‘BRifty will do me,” was the boy’s modest answer, and Ainsley handed it over without a murmur. Feeling as rich as a king, Billy then mado his way as far front as possible to get a position so that he could hear the prima donna, who was to vocalize. He finally succeeded in getting a perch up on a barrel, from where he could obtain a fair view of the stage, and there waited full as impatient- ly as the rough audience, Beau Blonde stood near the stage, leaning against the wall, his face clouded, and eyes gleaming with an ugly-light. Not far behind him was a man of about his own build, with a heavy brown mustache, and hair worn long over bis shoulders—a rather handsome fellow, who was attired in finely tanned buckskin, and wore a broad-brim hat set back upon his head. A couple of revolvers were in his belt, while he leaned carelessly upon bis rifle, with bis eyes fixed upon the stage cur- tain. Finally, after the room was packed full, and the audience began to get noisy with impatience, an overture was banged off upon the piano, and the curtain was rung up. A short pause—then Mile. Rienzio swept out upon the stage. : The next instant a pin could have been heard to drop upon the floor, Every eye was fastened upon the beauteous face and figure of the singer, as she stood for a moment with slightly flushed cheeks, before bursting forth into a sweet, plaintive melody, her voice as clear and pure as the chime of an Alpine bell, : Of graceful, symmetrical figure, which was clad in a flowing suit of white mulle, open slight- ly at the throat, her face was one of rare per- fectness of feature and refined beauty. __ With bated breath the rough audience listened to the beauteous song, it seeming to hold them spell-bound, Even after Rienzio had courtesied and retired behind the wings, there was a dead stlence for several minutes, Then the Babel of cheers and applause that burst forth shook the structure as though a tornado had struckit. Men yelled at the top of their voices, stamped on the floor, and even went so far as to hurl pouches of dust and golden coin in a storm upon the stage. ‘Two men seemed affected in a different way from the others. One was Beau Blonde, who had pushed excitedly forward to the stage, and eagerly awaiting the reappearance of the songstress, a wild expression upon his face. The other was the man clad in buckskin, His face had assumed a deathly pallor, and be had followed at the gambler’s heels, ° Across the room, Little Bill Bethel stood erect upor the barrel. ; “See heer, Beau, what yer goin’ ter do?’ he shouted above the din. ‘‘’Member I’ve got my heye on yer, That singer’s my old pard, Kate, | sure’s preachin’, an’ ye offer to tech her or in- sult her, I'll blow a bug through yer noddle!” Blonde flashed a withering glance at the Youngster, but did not answer, and. just then ienzio made her second appearance, In ar instant the applause ceased and quiet was restored, and as sbe was about to sing again the voice of Little Bill piped: Look out thar, Kate, old gal—the blonde ee on the rigbt means mischief!” The singer gave the boy a startled stare, then turned a half-frightened glance at Beau Blonde, ye at the same instant tossed a letter upon the stage. She picked it up, and with pallid faze turned and staggered behind the scenes. As she did so the man in buckskin seized Beau Blonde by the throat! ““'You infernal scoundrel!” he roared. in @ stentorian voice, ‘‘ what do you mean?” CHTAPTER IV. THE DUEL, THE man who stopped Denver Doll on the street was a genteel and prepossessing elderty gentleman, say about fifty years of age. He was rather portly, had a kindly expressioned face, with beard and hair streaked with gray and ot fe tbat beamed with honest light. Doll made this inventory of bim at a glance, and resolved to hear him, “Yes, 1 am Denver Doll,” she replied, in an- swer to his question. ‘‘ How came you to know?” “J did not know—I inerely suspected. I have heard you described, and judged by your manner of dress, in male attire, that this might be you. You afe a detective, I believe?” ‘* A sort of one, yes.” “Tam glad. You are the very person I want. Are your services to be secured?” ‘Well, that depends somewhat upon cireum- stances. What’s the nature of the job?” “You shall know, if you will just step down to ray office with me. My daughter Bessie is there, and I will introduce you to her.” “ Allright. Lead ahead.” ? The gentleman obeyed. : On the way, he said abruptly: ‘Ob! I quite forgot to introduce myself. My name is Harrison Ainsley.” ** Indeed?” Doll said, and relapsed into silence. The announcement evidently gave her con- siderable surprise, but as the gentleman did not appear to notice it, she kept her counsel, They soon arrived at a strongly-built log cabin, the windows of which were guarded by strong iron bars. Over the heavy oaken door was suspended a sign, which read: “HARRISON AINSLEY, BANKER.” Within, the walls were plastered, and tvery- thing was comfortable. A long counter, guarded by a stron grating, divided off part of the room, wire hind which was an iron safe, writing-desk, and chairs. The other portion of the room was supplied’ with a couple of settees and a stove.

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8 / Denver Doill:as Detective. A young lady of about Doll’s own age occu- ‘* Well,” she said, ‘“‘if suspicion points to ne pied a seat upon ove of the settees—a very | one, I don’t see much of a clew to work!” pretty, modest-looking young lady, too, neatly attired, and bearing evidences of refinement and good culture, She arose as Mr. Ainsley introduced Doll, and bowed courteously, then all hands became seated. ‘‘Woell, you see,” Mr. Ainsley began, after blowing his nose vigorously, ‘‘m in a much worked-up state over things that are happening tomar the peace and tranquillity of my life. You will observe that I am a banker and broker by profession, and I may add, that having been lucky in business transactions for several vears, I have amassed a fortune of no mean propor- tions, but for a couple of months past I have been <onstantly robbed.” “* Well?” ‘‘T have kept the facts hushed up in my own reciaged in hopes of being able to personally de- tect the robber or robbers at their game, but all to no avail. I have at last come to the conclu- sion that it needs a sharper person than I to take hold of the case.” ‘*Tn what manner has this robbery been per- petrated?” ° * Well, that I cannot exactly tell you. It is always done during the night, but how, or by whom, isa mystery to me. You will observe that the cabin is very strongly built for the pur- pose for which it is occupied. The door is of un- usual strength, and is nightly locked on the out- side with padlocks—a dozen of -them, no two alike, And I have never found any evidence of their having been picked or tampered with. The window bars are so fixed that they cannot be removed without cutting them, and the . money is nightly locked in the safe. Yet every few nights a sum of from fifty to two hundred dollars is taken.” ** Have you ever staid here over night?” ‘**On two occasions; but on both I fell asleep, and money was gone in the morning.” “ Humph! Have you ever kept watch on the outside?” “No. Itis hardly safe for a man of my cali- ber,to be abroad on the street all night.” “ How many persons, to your knowledge, are =e ea with the combination besides your- se * None, My nephew, Ned, attends to nothing but my books,” 3 ‘** Ts he temperate-and reliable?” “*T have the greatest confidence in bim.” ‘Confidence is often misplaced, you know. Who are the inmates of your household?” ‘My daughter, myself, and a Chinese ser- vant. Ned boards at a neighboring miner’s house.” “* Any other relatives?” ~ i A pained expression flitted over the banker’s ‘ace, ; ‘‘Ay, I have. A scapegrace son, whom I have no‘ seen for over two years, and never ex- pect to see again.” & “Have you any idea of his whereabouts?” ‘None whatever.” * } A silence followed. i ' _ Doll interpreted it that the Ainsleys did not desire to further divnlge their family secrets, ‘“ No, but you detectives ougkt to be able to Ee up threads to work on. [ would really ike you to undertake the case, ponne ay: as Ihave heard much of your ability. [am los- ing money too fast to suit me, and Ill tell you what Vil do, If you'll discover the parties, or party, of this case, and bring them to justice, 1] give you a thousand dollars,” ‘Very well. I will undertake the case, Are there any more points you have to offer?” ‘* Well, yes; there is one thing I haveneglect- . ed to mention. Once or twice a week, lately, I have received through the post-office a letter, containing one of these curious cards, the mean- ing of which I cannot interpret, except the meaning be a menace.” He took from his pocket a card, the size of an ordinary business card, but tinted a light blue, ov which was engraven a skull and cross-bones and coffin, and inscribed: “S$. D. ~ ‘ BewarE——Covunt tes Days——30.” Denver Doll looked at the strange card for a while, seeming to be in deep meditation. “You are right. The notice is evidently meant to convey to you the warning that you are doomed and will be killed in thirty days. The party of desperadoes (whom I am bere after), that wrecked the train last night, employ the skull and cross-bones as a symbol, and are undoubtedly the authors of this card. They also may be connected with the bank robbery. I will look into the matter, If there is nothing more of importance, at present, I will take leave and see you again.” She first gave the bank an examination, but could see nothing but what appeared permanent and solid, After bidding the banker and his daughter good-night, she went forth on the street again. “ There’s a nigger in the bush somewhere, and I will hunt a thousand’s worth for fhe same, you pate she mused. ‘‘I must see Mr. Ned Ains- ey To say that Beau Blonde was astounded by the sudden attack of the fierce but dashing stranger, would be drawing it mild. He jerked loose from the grasp upon his col- lar, and wheeled around, his face flaming with rage incarnate. “Curse youl what do you mean?” he gasped hoarsely. ‘‘ Who are you that durst lay a hand on me?” ‘ “Tam Pacific Phil, at. your service, and the man that dare call any ruffian to account for in- sulting a woman!” the stranger retorted, grina- ly. ‘What was in that note you threw upos the stage, sir?” ; J ‘* None of your business!” Beau Blonde roared, raising his clinched fist to strike his antagonist; but before he could do so, he received a terrible blow in the face from Pacific Phil’s fist that — knocked him back against the stage insensible. With a cool laugh, the scout turned to the gaping crowd, his eyes scintillating like dia- — monds, Ss. “Tell the puppy he'll fing me outside, if he’s _

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Denver Dell as Detective. 9 not satisfied,” he said, dryly, and then pushed bis way out through the crowd. A large part of the audience followed him, and some of them surronnded him, enthusiastically, while others stood aloof, with sullen faces, These were evidently the cronies of the dis- comfited gambler, Beau Blonde. “T say, boss, you are jest ther old creamery- de-la-butter, you aire!” cried Little Bill, as he burst into the circle. ‘Dog my cats, ef you didn’t sail in and save my old woman, Kate, like a storm o’ horse chestnuts. Pacific Phil gazed down at the lad, in won- dering surprise, ‘* Who are you?” he demanded, curiously. ‘¢ Billiam Bethel, at yerservice. Thet Rienzio w’at sung aire nothin’ but ther long an’ short o’ my old side-pardner, Kate, you bet! She jest slung aside her pick an’ pan, an’ skipped out an’ Jeft her young~ prodigy a-diggin’ away. I skip arter her, an’ ef ye hadn’t ’a’ punched Ben Blonde’s nose, ’'d hev done it fer ye.” Pacific Phil seemed extremely surprised at the boy’s words, and probably would haye ad- dressed him, had not at this instant a fierce yell emanated from the doorway of the theater. The next instant Beau Blonde came rushing out, with the mien of a sng Straight up to the buckskin scout he strode, his face flaming with rage, and eyes gleaming. “Look here, you black-hearted rascal, are you aware what ace have done?” he demanded. * Perfectly well!” Pacific Phil replied, not in the least disconcerted. ‘I thumped a puppy in the face, and will repeat the action, if you give ' me any provocation.” * **- You are a coward and a,craven. You dare not fight as gentlemen fight!” ‘‘There’s where you mistake. That’s just ’ where you fiad meat home, with weapons. If you want to fight, all you’ve got to do is say so, and you shall be accommodated. I doubtif I ever saw a perssn Vd like to fight more, than you, “Wight it shall be then!” Beau Blonde cried, fiercely. ‘‘ You have insulted me, and I de- mand satisfaction, Revolvers shall be the weapons, at twenty paces, and .we are to fire until one or the other falls!” “Olear the street!” Pacific Phil cried. will get down to business at once!” The crowd parted to either side, and the two enemies took positions in the middle of the street t twenty paces apart. ' ‘*Who will act as starter and referee?’ the buckskin sport asked, looking around. ‘tT will!” Denver Doll said, stepping forward. “Pm quite handy at the business, thanks to ex- perience!” 2 “ An’ Pll be ther buckshin’s seeond!” Little Bill shouted, dancing with delight. ‘‘ Reckop I’m-just ther pigeon fer that. If either party tries any shenannigan, I'll send a bullet-doux right through his pericranium.” “That's the ticket!” Pacific Phil said, admir- ingly. ‘‘ You’ve got an abundance of mouth, ‘youngster, but ['m dashed if I don’t believe you've got the sand to back it!” ‘Bet your boots I have!” Billy declared, pempanely, “I'm a skinner, I am, right from ‘idetown.” ¥ “te We: Tl second Beau Blonde!” a burly rufflan announced, stepping’ forward. ‘‘ This hyar has got to be a squar’ go.” ‘* Of course it has!” Denver Doll returned. Get ready, gents. Turn your backs to each other, At the word three, wheel and fire!” The opponents obeyed the order, in regard to position, turning their backs to each other. Pacific Phil held a fine revolver in his grasp— a self-cocker it was, silver-plated, with gold mountings, and diamond sights, As cool as a cucumber, figuratively speaking, was the buckskin scout, his every expression de- noting confidence that he would win. Beau Blonde did not look so confident, but there was a dangerous gleam in bis eye, Little Bill Bethel seemed the best pleased of any in the crowd, “* 'Yere’s «yer high cried. ‘‘Yere’s yer chance ter make a fortune bettin’ on ther right boss. Who wants to bet? Where's the feller? Go ye even up thet Blondey gits salivated fu’st lick. Whoopy! old buck- skin knows his alfybet, you bet! He stuck in a fiuke ter save my old gal, Kate, w’ot callers herself Rienzio, jest’ca’se it sounds secrumpscious an’ ]’]l bet Beau, hyar, gits plugged.” No one, apparently, had any desire to bet on an uncertainty; no one could tell just how things would turn out. j One was as likely to win as the other. “Ready!” cried Denver Doll. “One! Two! Three! Fire!” Then came two flashes—two falls. Both men had been hit, CHAPTER V. THE WOMAN, WHO FAINTED. THE two reports of the duelists’ weapons had not come simultaneously. The first report had come from the direction of the buckskin sport, while the second had ‘come from the pistol of the card-sharp. Beau Blonde had fallen first. Pacific Phil fell rather mechanically, soon afterward, and both men lay in a half-reclining position in the street, with the moonlight streaming down upon them from the arched vault of the skies above them. The rude andience stood for a moment speech- less and motionless, as if undecided what to do; but when Beau Blonde fell back, apparently dead, the deputy-marshal, who had been sent to Nugget Notch to investigate the train wreck, stepped first over to the gambler’s side, and.then approached the buckskin sport, followed by the excited crowd, / ‘ Pacific was bleeding from a wound in the side, and something of the ruddy brown of his cheeks had given way to a deathly pallor, Deputy Marshal King gazed at the stricken scout a moment curiously, then said: . ‘Well, sir, 1 am sorry to seéa man of your evident respectability in such a disgraceful row. It is my duty to arrest you for the crime of murder!” Pacific looked surprised. “How do you make that out?” he demanded, with an effort, : “In this wise,” King feplied. ‘“‘ Dueling is a reprehensible crime at best, and it ia our duty aa old pelka-dot pic-nic!” be °

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10 Denver Doli as Detective. to arrest all whom we find engaged in the prac- tice. Besides this, A hd have as good as killed your opponent, and I must hold you, at least to await the result of his injuries.” “ But I did not fire a shot!” Pacific Phil cried hotly. ‘‘Examine my revolver and you will seo that every chamber is loaded.” And he'flung the weapon upon the ground in front of Denver Doll, who hastily secured it. Kinz motioned to saveral of Beau Blonde’s cronies, who instantly seized hold of the buck- skin sport. ‘OF with him to the lock-up!” the deputy ordered. ‘* We'll have a little more law and order here while I’m in the town. Where's the gal as took the revolver?” All looked around, but Denver Doll had slipped away. She reappeared upon the street shortly after memeyes, and encouraged the stern-visaged eputy. “ Hello! what did you do with that revolver?” he demanded, confronting her, ‘*Put it where it is safe until wanted, my friend,” the girl retorted, coolly. “Then you go straight and get it, or ’m dashed if 1 don’t yank you into the jug!” “Oh! I ee not!” Doll retorted, pelling back the collar of her jaunty coat, and exposing a gleaming badze of gold. ‘* Kind o’ opine that carries me through, not?” The deputy started and stared. “Oho!” ho ejaculated. ‘*So you’re here after them train-robbers, in anticipation of a reward being offered, eh?” ** Perhaps, Perhaps not.” “Waal, now, wy maid in britches, jest let me tell you one thing: I’m here on that same lay myself, and I ain’t goin’ to hev no sekond party nosin’ around in my way. Hark to that, will ye! The healthiest thing you can do is to strike out fer some more congenial climate. Mind, I make no threats, but a word to the wise is suffi- cient.” s ‘ Tt’s useless to tr7 to bluff me!” Doll remarked. ‘‘ By the way, I am not aware that a deputy- marshal has authority to interfere in the pro- fessional duties of a regular detective. No doubt a letter to the chief marshal would cor- rect your freshness, Don’t you think so?” “You'll find out!” King gritted, turning and walking away. *Nica'man to have in a public office,” Denver Doll muttered, as she sauntered along. “If I mistake not, he has got as black a hearé as the rascals Who infest this camp. Pacific Phil did not wound the gaubler, for his revolver had not bien fired. Beau Blonde must have enemies as well as friends here,” Taere was no more theater that night. The fizht had, as a. pointof attraction, cast the beau- tiful Risnzio in the shade. : Immodiately after going behind the scenes, the beautiful songstress eater enveloped her- self in a waterproof cloak, and left the building by a rear door, In the dark shadows of the gulch she wit- nessed the result of the duel—saw Beau Blonde borne away to his shanty, and Pacific Paul to the strong cabin which served as a jail. i Tnen, with a stifled cry, she moved away | just as you want them.” through the darkness, without appearing to know or care whitner she went, ‘“Oh! God, why did I come here?” Again and again these words escaped her lips, and seemed to echo in the niches of the gulch wall and in the air above her. ; Her eyes burned with a wild, unnatural fire;. her face was deathly white, and she trembled violently. ‘ She grew dizzy, and a sort of mist came be- fore her eyes, still she reeled on for some dis- tance, as if determined not to give up. But it was no use. ? At last she uttered a wild, despairing ery, and sunk to the ground in a dead swoon directly in front of the Ainsley residence, Beau Blonde, although wounded, was not ere | so badly hurt as Deputy King had iuti- mated. He had received only a slight flesh wound, which did not disable him to any particular ex- tent, and his exhibition of fainting was only a ruse, so that Pacific Phil would not fire at him. After being borne to bis shanty, he was laid upon a rude couch and his wound dressed. Dismissing all, except one low-browed, vil- . lainous-looking fellow, whom he addressed as Niek, they held an inaudible conference. Soon there wasa rap at the door, and Nick admitted Deputy King. The eyes of the wounded gambler lit up witk a strange gleam at sight of the officer, “Well?” he interrogated, grimly, ‘‘ have you come to arrest me, too?” , “ Hardly,” King replied. ‘If I had wanted to do that, I should have done so at once. How are you feeling?” ° ‘*A little better, Is my enemy caged?” “ He is; and if I am any judge, he will remain so for some time.” ** Why did you prefer to arrest him?” “Because I believed I was nailing a noto- rious desperado, and am not convinced to the onary: Then, too, it looked as if he fired rst. “Well, did he?” “fT am not certain yet. As far as I have learned, attention was on you, mostly, an’ few if aoe saw any flash of his weapon. It may be that I cannot handle him as your would be mur- derer, but I reckon [ can bring him to Limerick as Captain Crime, the ringleader of the Terrible Tribunal that wrecked the U. P.” “You don’t say!” ; “ButIdo! I have become pretty well satis- fied that the nest of this beautiful flock of vul-_ tures is in this camp, and I’ve seen noone I'd sooner suspect of being Captain Crime than the fellow in buckskin,” ““Maybe you're right. The fellow is a thoroughbred, that’s evidert, and I don’t faacy” the idea of his occupying the same town asI. If you can manage to get a noose around his neck, Pll pay you well for it.” “Tt’s a bargain, As soon asa reward is offer- ed, of sufficient dimensions, I fancy it will be no hard matter to bring proof against him.” ‘Of coprse not. Come to meandI can fur- nish you a goodly number of men who will swear ©

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Denver Doll as Detective. Later, after an earnest consultation, the two eonspirators sealed the compact by indulging in several bumpers of ‘‘ bug-juice;” after which King took his departure. Denver Doll had not done wrong in estimat- ' fog him a rogue, ““Gimeracks and gum-fodder, but I’m glad to see you! Hain’t I had a boss old skewrup, tho’, | in the time I’ve been separated from yé! Bet I have! -Told ye J’d find the old gal here, I did! What ye think—I jest waltzed inter the theater, an’ who d’ye s’pose I found thar? Why, twig my nose, ef I didn’t see my old gal, Kate, a-paradin’ the stage, as natteral as life, with enuff duds and gew-gaws on, tew give a billy goat the consumpshing. Oh! but couldn’t she |” whoop~er-up inter ther key-west notes!” Thus rattled off Little Bill Bethel, as he and Denver Doll met, not long after the duel that had terminated in the arrest of Pacific Phil. The two had met each other within a_stone’s throw of the office of Harrison Ainsley, and they naturally paused—more to exchange confidences perhaps, than for any other reason. ‘©1f you could only master your tongue, Billy, it would be ever so much better,” Doll said re- provingly. ‘‘ You have in you some of the ele- ments of a detective, but I see I must curb you to the practice of not talking too loud, nor tell- ing too much of what you know, when there are chances for other ears in your vicinity.” “ Keerect, old gal! You’ve got more years nor I, and just you shove out the pints, and I'll rope ’em in.” ‘By the way,” Doll said, smiling at the boy’s assurance, ‘‘ I’ve undertaken a job, and since my partner, Yakie, has forsaken me, I will take you in, in his place. There’s a case of systematic robbery going on, and I’ve under- taken to ferret it out, and I may have a chance to work you in, to advantage.” “All right. Hyer’s with ye tooth and_ toe- nail, jest tell us what ye want and I'll tackle it with all my feet.” . “Well, come along back on this vacant lot, where that fallen tree is, and I will give you a few points relative to the case.” : The move was made, and a moment later they were seated upon the body of the tree mentioned, from where they conld have a view of the Ainsley dwelling and the street, without being observed, themselves. ‘You see that bouse,” Doll said, after they were seated, ‘ “Bet Ido! I’ve got my eyes on it.” “That’s where Ainsley, the banker, lives, It’s his case ’ve undertaken, in addition to that sf hunting down the outlaws.” “ Yes?” - *Well, you see that strong cabin, over yon- wer. That’s the bank. Healthy leoking bank, ain’t it, but, nevertheless, it is a bank, where Ainsley carries om his business, He claims he is being mysteriously robbed, all the time, and yet can gain no clew to the perpetrator of the crime, and wants me to take hold of the job.” ‘Got your skeleton to work on?” ; mechs Haven’t suspicioned any one Gdi- rect, but have got my eyes on Ainsley’s nephew, Ned, who works in the bank, as book-keeper.” ? , “Phew! ye don’t let on! Why, ve met that feller, a’ready, an’ got acquainted. He were gittin’ fleeced by that sharp Beau Blonde; so I est sailed in an’ won bis money back for him.” **Ha! ha! So he is addicted to cards, eh? If that’s the case, it may be no great trouble to find how the banker’s stamps disappear. Don’t you think so, William?” ‘“Nix-cum-a-rouse!” the boy replied. ‘‘ Tell ye that Ned Ainsley ain’t no thief, no more’n I am, He’s got a mug on him as honest-looking as the face of an eight-day cluck.” “Some faces are but natural masks to vil- lainy,” Doll observed, wisely. ‘‘ I must see ‘this fellow myself. By the way, have you kept an eye on the Dutchman?” . ‘Yes, He’s slid out from the saloon an’ evaporated. ae he’s gone whar he’s got the young feller bid.” “Likely, ora your eye ay rca if you get a glimpse of him again, shadow him until you find the ae lace. Got any money?” ““Swads of it! on’t play keerds fer nothin’. Went snucks with Ned Ainsley, ye see.” ‘Well, then, hunt yourself a a place to bunk, and I will do the same, To-morrow we will search deeper into this case.” : ‘Sh! look!” Little Bill suddenly whispered, excitedly. ‘‘ Who is that?” A figure in a dark cloak had approached the Ainsley dwelling, and even as they looked, sunk down upon the steps. “Tt’s a woman!” Doll observed. “* Yes, and she has fainted too!” Bill declared.. ‘Mebbe that’s Kate—luks like her figger, Come! let’s go over!” “Stop! Doll hissed, catching him-~ by the, arm, and detaming him. ‘‘ Look! we’d better not interfere, now. See, she is being cared for.” Two men had emerged from the Ainsley hac and raised the fainting woman and borne her within, whereupon the door was closed, and all was quiet in the vicinity. Little Bill looked anxiously into Denver Doll’s face. ‘“*Wasn’t thet kinder skewrious, them two galoots a-comin’ out and snatchin’the woman inter the house?” he asked. : “Well, I don’t know, She will probably come out again, after she is restored.” “ Maybe!” Bill assented, but there was a doubtfulness to his tone that told he didn’t be- lieve it. ‘Tell ye what I'm goin’ todo, {’m ‘coin’ to hang around till I see her come out. If hat’s my gal Kate, and ‘they keep her shut up in there, dash me if I don’t fire the shebang!” ‘* Well, do as id like about that. I’m goin’ to look out for a bite of sleep. If you need as- sistance, you'll find me at the Mountain View shebang.” = + “Keerect! Sail away, Doxy! I’m in fer a little detective business on my. own hook.” Denver Doll laughingly took her depart ‘leaving her young acquaintance to his proj nocturnal watch over the Ainsley mansion, A plucky piece of human mechanism was Lit- ~ tle Bill, aud you could no more scare him than you could intimidate a raging lion. ; “ So he stretched. himself out on the log, and kept bis eye upon the dwelling of Ainsley, “Bet a cookie that was Kate. She’s actin’ up 11-

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i2 Denver Doll as Detective. right strange, fer a sensible gal, o’ late. Them two. fellers, Beau Blonde and Pacific Phil, seemed to know her, an’ [ opine she know’d ’em, to», Then, hyer she comes along and faints on the banker’s titel and two men nearly snatch her bald-headed, a-gittin’ her inter the house. Hello!” ; Tho door of the Ainsley residence opened, and the banker himself came forth, and made his way to the jail. “Struck a lead! I’m a shad, ef I hain’t!” Little Bill chuckled. CHAPTER VI. BILLY’S FIRST CASE, AS before stated, Harrison Ainsley, on leay- ing his house, directed his footsteps toward the jail or strong cabin, where Pacific Phil had been incarcerated after the duel; bus before he could reach that edifice of justice, he suddenly discoy- sred that he was dogged, and turned sharply around to behold Little Bill Bethel but a few paces away. ‘Hello! you young imp, what do you mean v following me?” the banker demanded, an- zrily. “Reackon a feller has a right to walk in whichever direction he pleases,” Bill retorted, ‘Sides that, se spottin’ you, I aire.” : “Spotting me? hy, what nonsense is this? What are you spotting me for?” “*Ca’sa Iso a detective, I is, an’ you’re a 'spicious kerricter. ~Whar’s my gal, Kate?” Tho boy’s eyes keenly rested on the banker’s Jace, but failed to notice any particular effect oroduced by his words. “ What do you suppose I know about your Kate, sir? Bagone, now, or I'll give you the toe of my boot.” : ‘* Ba-a-al You can’t ketch me,” grinned Bill, “T can out-run a garter snake, or a streak of zreased lightning. Besides that, I can shuts a wart off’m the nose of a cricket,” “ Woll, I shall certainly shoot you, if you dog me any further,” the banker warned, as he turned away. Little Bill followed, however, althouga it was ‘at.a somewhat safe distance, where . Ainsley could not hear or see him, > The banker soon came to the front of the jail, where a couple of well-armed roughs had been stationed by Daputy King. : ‘* Well, boys, are-you keeping the fellow safe?” he asked. * Bot we aire! He’s got to tread over two dsad bodies, fore he kin pass hyer,” one de- clared, grimly. “That's the way to talk! I reckon he'll be lynchei to-morrow. Ill. go inside, and prepare hin to meet bis doom.” *“Oh! no ye don’t! Ther boss guv us orders aot to admit any one, under any pretext.” * “ Wao is the boss, pray?” **Taor deputy.” : ‘*Pshaw! he ain’t the earth. Come! open up, znd let me in!” i | “Nary, pard!” % **Sa3 here!” Ainsley exclaimed, after a mo- -aent of thoucht, ‘you fellows don’t find a ten- tollar gol1-piece hanging on every bush, Here Ye couple. Do you want them?” a 7 ———$——$ $$ The two guards exchanged glances, and then held a consultation, inaudible to the banker, Finally the spokesman turned and held out his batid, “Give us yer swag, You'll be responsible thet he don’t escape while we slip over and git a drink o’ bad habit?” - ** Of course!” The money exchanged hands, and the door was unlocked; then, while the banker entered the jail, the two roughs made off for the near- est _salvon. Knowing Pacific. was chained to the wall, Ainsley did not think it worth while to close the door after hin. In consequence, the liliputian figure of Little Bill was in the jail almost as soon as the banker himself, although the latter had no suspicion of his presence, as William took good care to se- a himself behind the door, which swung in- ward, A moment Jater Ainsley produced a bull’s-eye lantern and removed the cap, when a stream . ‘of light fell upon the prisoner, who was partly reciining upon the floor. He did not seem surprised when he saw the banker; his features did not change in expres- sion, but a steely glitter entered his eyes. ‘Well! well!” the banker said. ‘‘So you have come back, haye you, Philip?” “Perhaps!” the other replied, dryly. ‘‘ You have eyes, I dare say.” “So Ihave. What brings you back here?” “T do not asa rule make known my business to any one, You may infer, however, that I came for a purpose,” ‘‘Oh, very naturally I should presume that. Enmity to your father, if nothing more, would furnish an incentive for you to return,” Pacific Phil laughed sarcastically. “Why should I not be your evemy?” he de- manded. ‘A few years ago did you not forbid me to ever again set foot within your door— even refused to let me see my mother when she was dying? I was a boy then—I am a man now,” ‘ ‘‘Bat powerless all the same. You should know better than to rebel against me.” ‘*Who are you, pray? hat are you but an infamous rascal? Shall Istell you what you dis- owned me for, you accursed wretch of a father? Shall [ tell you?” **Oh, I cansave you the trouble. It was be- cause you wedded against my will the daughter of my greatest enemy.” ‘“Hxactly, you devil! It was because you had advice that she would, by possession of cer- tain papers, come into a handsome fortune on arriving of age. I never knew this till after- ward, My wife then informed me that you— my father and the husband of a faithful wife— had been paying her loverly attentions, and had used your utmost endeavors to persuade her to elope with you. My mother was rapidly ‘sinking away with consumption, and you, heart- — less wretch, were paving the way for another wife and a fortune!” J Harrison Ainsley’s face had grown whiter and his manner nervous, “Not satisfied with turning me out of bouse and home,” continued the prisoner, ‘you hired *

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Denver Doll as Detective. Oe an adventuress to enter our home, and, armed with a forged marriage-certificate, to charge me with bigamy. What was the result? The evi- dente was so conclusive against me that our happy home was broken up, and my wife left me to the wild, reckless life of a—well, not quite aruffian, A sport would perhaps be the better term. Do you wonder, Harrison Ainsley, that I am your enemy?” ‘“T neither wonder, nor am I concerned at the matter. A man is liable to make a mis-move, once in a while,” the banker chuckled. ‘ By the way, my son, did the child come into the fortune you bave reference to?” Pacific Bill fairly ground his teeth with rage. ‘*V’'d choke you for asking that, were I free!” he gritted. ‘* You know full well she did not, when you held the papers. But, it is not too late for reparation yet, perhaps. The adventur- ess is dead, I bave Jearned—” ‘“‘ But I hold the certificate. Ha! ha! you bad better have stayed away from Nugget Notch, Philip. You'll find poor sympathy here.” ‘It is something 1 do not live on. Once I get out of here, I think it will be my turn to do something retributive.” ‘When you get out—exactly. That is speak- ing rather uncertainly, By the way, where is your wife?” “That, of course, I would never tell you did I know,” The words.were spoken with intense bitter- ~ ness, ~ A faint glitter in the banker’s eyes seemed to indicate that he was not exceedingly disappoint- ed at the answer be had received, x ‘Well, we will not bandy words,” he said, ‘*T simply came to learn what your intentions were toward me, so I should know bow to act. You are doubtless aware that 1 married a second time, and ny wife is dead. Her beautiful daugh- ter resides with me, and if you care)to settle down and marry her, Pll get you out of this scrape; otherwise, it is not impossible that you may be taken for Captain Crime, the noted des- perado, and be lynched. They do say you look | wonderfully like him,” ‘Thanks for your offer, [ama man, not a tool. If Iam lynched, remember you bave an- other enemy to fear, more desperate. than J— Rudolf Conroy.” ‘*Bah! the man is dead,” ‘‘By no means, Although through abject fear of him, you had him walled up in a moun- tain. he still lives, a free man, with an oath* registered to get even with you.” ‘t do not believe you; nevertheless, let him come; I will be prepared for him, Good-by! I expect to see you dangling to a limb, when I arise to-morrow morning,” and he capped his lantern again as be turned to depart, Behind the door crouched Little Bill Ethel, in a quandary. " hould be scoot out, or be locked in, with the prisoner? : ‘*T'}l scoot, and run the'risk of results!” and he dodged out of the door, just in the nick of time to escape discovery, by the returning guards, “ Here’s a go,” he mused, skulking off into the darkness. ‘‘Collared a ease against the very nob w’ot Denver Doll is working for. ¥ aw a) 2 x Thar’s no use talkin’. I’ve got ter big a load o° knowledge on my stomache. I must transfer — sum of et fer Dollbaby to dissect.” With his young brain in a whirl of excite- ment, he hurried away.toward the Mountam View, the only place in Nugget Notch with any pretensions to being a hotel. i In the mean time Denver Doll had once more dropped into one of thé principal gamin saloons, before going to the hotel, in hepes o finding her Teutonic pard, Yakie Strauss. Tbe saloons of Nugget Notch kept open all night, and there was ever a large crowd of de- votees to the fascinating poker. The card tables were mostly full, sc she stroll- ed about the large apartment, taking an inven- tory of those present, : Among those who porien ary attracted ber attention, was a tall, biawny man of command- ing presence, who was probabiy some fifty years of age, for his heavy beard and busby hair were deeply streaked with gray. s e was not unprepossessing of countenance, had a keen, piercing black eye, and was well dressed, wearing a silk hat upon his bead. j ‘Doll gave bim.only a passing glance, but was conscious that his gaze followed her wherever — she went. : At one table she found a young man seated, with his head resting upon one end, and a dull, weary expression in his eyes. ‘ Quick’ to form opinions, she concluded that this was Mr, Edward Ainsley, the banker's nephew, > e- At first she hesitated to speak to him, But, after a few minutes she summoned up courage, — and paused by his table, ; “Excuse me,” she said, “buf am I not ad- dressing M#, Ned Ainsley?” He looked up at ber inquiringly. eS “That’s my name,” he answered, politely eeleine his hat, ‘‘Is there anything I can do for you ‘ 43 “Well, yes—that is, ’ve a few questions to~ ask in regard to a certain subject. Iam Denver Doll, detective.” W His surprise seemed to increase at this an-— nouncement. os “ Ah! Tam happy to meet you. “Your pro-~ fession is one I have always rather admired, It — there is anything I can do for you, comman be me fa You” Thank you. I won't detain you long, see it’s a little private matter I bave undertaken - Ween. c You work for Harrison Ainsley?» — ‘I do. i ‘©In what capacity?’ ‘* As bookkeeper and secretary.” “Do you have the handling of cash?” “None,” : “You reside with Mr, Ainsley?” Ser “T donot. I room at a miner's shanty, and take meals at the hotel bélow here.” “reine ‘How long have you worked here?” F ‘* Since I came—a year ago.” iss “« Acquainted ‘with Mr, Ainsley’s daugh Miss Bessie?” PS “His step-daughter, youxmean. Yes; J well acquainted with her.” “Has she other company?” any of ti ne

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14 Denver Doll as Detective. es / **Wone to my knowledge.” : **Do you understand the combination of Mr. Aiasley’s safe?” Ido not. Whatare you driving at, may I “T will answer by asking another question, Are you aware that from time to time, lately, sums of money of various amounts, have been removed from the bank, during the night- time?” ** Indeed I am not!” Ned exclaimed excitedly. * Uncle never said anything to me about it. Am I suspected, for Heaven’s sake?” ‘Not by your uncle, I fancy. He spoke in good terms of you, but appeared to be greatly mystified.” ‘Well, I should say so. He has been very mum, atleast, Do you suspect me ?” ‘Tt is my privilege to suspect every one until T hit on the right one,” Doll answered, with one of her pretty smiles, ‘‘It isn’t so nice to bea detective as it may seem. One has often to be rude or insolent. I hope you are not the cul- * prit, Mr. Ainsley; you seem like a nice young fellow!” ‘“Tbanks for the compliment, but [ assure you I am not the person you seek.” : “T hope not. By the way, what salary do you receive?” } ‘Forty dollars a week.” **Oh, well, that ought to keep you in change, nicely.” ; “It does, though I sometimes blow a large part of it in at the table; but I always manage’ to keeo my head above water.” “Well, Pll look.around and see who else to in- vestigate,” Doll said, with a pleasant laugh. | Then she left the place and went over to the hotel, on the steps of which she found her dimin- - utive protege, Little Bill Bethel, his eyes literal- ly as big a3 saucers. “Oh! Jemima Crima, Dollbaby!” he gasped. “ve struck a lead--a regular old bonanzer, or Pm an ant-eater.” CHAPTER VII. NAILING A NOTE, Serine that a considerable crowd of open- mouthed idlers were in the vicinity, Denver Doll hastily hurried Little Bill to her room, _ where he gave a remarkably clear and concise nurration of what he had seen and heard, to gether with his individual opinion on the matter. “The Detective Queen's surprise was great, and - she was silent for some time, ' “YT hardly took Harrison Ainsley to be a man cof this typ3,”she admitted, finally. ‘tHe ap- _ peared to me like a thorough gentleman.” “* Hedidn’t to me, tho’,” Bill retorted, doubling up his little fists. ‘‘ He threatened to set me u - in tho boot business, free gratis, That's why - snucked arter him, .Allus ’spicious 0? men who - aire afeard o’ kids like me. But, I tell ye, Doll- baby, suthin’s got ter bedone. The banker may feel uneasy ’bout hevin’ my gal Kate sbet up in his own house, and may be snuckin’ her off ter sum safer place, even now.” 7 — “ Possibly, unless Ainsley may wish to keep her here for a certain purpose, which I should infer, —if, indeed, he has her shut upat all, As for tbe prisoner in the jail, I do not apprehend any trouble in his direction during the night, as all seems quiet; So our best move is tosnatch amor~. sel of sleep during the remainder, so as to be fresh for duty in the morving. To-morrow is likely to bring about new events,” The idea was acted upon, and our two friends threw themselves upon the bed, and Little Bill’s hearty snores soon proclaimed him to be asleep. Denver Doll laid awake for some time, how~ ever, her active mind reviewing the situation. “There seems no two ways about it, but what Harrison Ainsley is an unparalleled villain,” she concluded. ‘‘If she, his son’s wife, is to come into a fortune, and he holds the necessary papers, that accounts for his housing her. He then intends to make a summary disposal of his own son, and inorder to do it, will undoubted- ly try to make him out Captain Crime, Chief of the Skull and Cross-bones League, known as the . Terribles. I fear he can do this unless sufficient testimony can be produced against him to make the charge a falsehood. That may be a hard matter. As for handsome Ned Ainsley’s being the robber in the bank case, I am satisfied he is not guilty. I must next suspect the banker’s step daughter, whom he introduced to me as his daughter.” Morning at last dawned, rainy, cold and dis- agreeable—such a day as suspended werk at the placer mines, though the quartz drifts were worked as usual. — After breakfast, Denver Doll left Little Bil) to look after himself, while she strolled down to the post-Office. Behind the counter she beheld the postmaster doing up some mails; so she confronted him, after the customer had gone, ‘¢ Mosby, I know you,” she said, positively, He started, and stared at her a moment, and then uttered a growl of recognition. 3 ‘* Well?” he hissed, his eyes gleaming. “Tt is well, Mosby,” the girl replied. not after yvou—there’s n® money in if. want some information!” His manner changed instantly. : ‘““Why on course, gal! Anything I kin do, ax of me. Jest come bebind here, and sit down.” And he led the way behind the tier of postal boxes into a small apartment where the mail was made up or distributed. - * Now, spiel out!” he said, lighting a pipe, and stroking his shaggy beard, ‘* What d’ye want?” “Oh! I’m working up a case, Want a pointer or so, you know. Does Miss Bessie Ainsley re- ceive letters through this office?” “She do. Every day or two.” * Are they from out of town?” : ee Nix! Allus pick ’em out o’ the drop letter- Ox. “The next letter that comes for her I want! Do you hear?” ; “ Kerrect! Can’t ‘ford to-go back on you!” “You bet you can’t! By the way, you are pretty well acquainted with the rogue element. Who is there about town who might be Captain Crime?” ; “ Dunno,” “ Have you ever seen him?” “You bet—to my sorrow!” ‘Ts the fellow down in the jail the man?” “ Tm But I .

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Vist ees , Moused. *“Humph! no /” “*Would you swear to it?” ** Bet yer boots!” ““Good! That's all. Don’t forget the letter.” ‘Nary time.” Doll then left the post-office, her brows slightly ee a habit with her when she was per- plexed.» ““T baven’t done so badly, anyhow,” she ‘*T may learn a bit by the letter.” Further along she met Harrison Ainsley, who approached excitedly. - “ By heaven, I have been robbed again!” he cried, angrily.’ ‘‘The bank was entered again last night, and a hundred dollars extracted from the safe, This is unbearable.” Doll was silent a moment, a more puzzled ex- pression upon her pretty face than before. F “Well, this beats me!” she averred. ‘* Did you leave everything ship-shape?” ** Ay! I took unusual precautions.” ** Was any of the money marked?” ‘One ten-dollar note had a little red x in the lower left-hand corner of the face side of the note.” ‘A mark often employed, therefore of little account. Didn’t take the numbers?” “Do so hereafter. I fancy I am hot upon the right trail, but can tell you nothing definite yet. Will see Pics again.” They parted. Doll rambling about town, with an eye open to business. In the course of her perambulations she came to the Ainsley mansion, Bessie was standing in the doorway, and instantly recognized the Detective Queen. “Why, good-morning,” she called out, smil- ing. ‘‘Won’t you come in? It’s so lonesome for poor me without company.” Secretly elated, Doll was not slow to accept the invitation, and the two girls were soon seated in the cosily-furnished parlor of the banker’s residence. Then followed an hour of purely feminine chatter. Then Doll was invited to take a look through the place, which she accepted, by saying: : : ‘Thank you! I do so like to look all through other people’s houses, for J expect to bave one of my own, and like to catch up ideas of how to arrange it.” To herself she said: ‘Now, I'll see for myself, if there is a pris- oner in the shebang.” . They did the ground floor first, in all depart- ments; then the cellar, where Bessie treated her guest to a sip of wine: then the up-stairs was visited, Denver Doll’s sharp eyes noting every point and peculiarity. And a feeling of disappointment came over her, after the last apartment had been visited, and no prisoner discovered. ‘‘Maybe it’s only a put-up job to throw me off track, though,” flashed across har mind. They returned to the-parlor, and resumed conversation, ** Have you many gentlemen acquaintances?” Doll asked, casually. . ‘None very intimate. It is papa’s wish that T do not form many here.” ' . st TER ne ee ae eT eG oH Se Pee ee Denver Doll as Detective. a teen lecting one from the lot, tore it into fragments, And as she spoke, she raised her left hand, and arranged her frizzes. Z At which Doll gave a violent start, unnoticed by the other, She saw upon the engagement finger of the banker’s step-daughter, a peculiar ring—the same that had attracted her attention, when she was a prisoner in the camp of Captuin Crime, For a moment she was undecided what to say or do, for the thought was flashing through her mind—‘‘ where did the banker’s daughter get » possession of the ring, ae through the agency of the chief of the Terrible. Tribunal, or one of his men?” After she had fully recovered from her sur- rise, which had caused an awkward lull in heir conversation, she said: “That is a very curious and pretty ring you’ wear?” “Tsn’t it?” Bessie replied, with rather a ner- vous glance at the inquirer. ‘I think ever so much of it!” ‘A present from a friend, T suppose?” ‘“« Yes—to my mother, many years ago. It is — a sort of heirloom in our family.” “That’s a lie!” Doll inwardly commented. * Ah! my treo muiden, you may be very demure and modest, but you are very sly and fox-like, nevertheless, I think I’ve stirred upa root of a subsequent development, in this visit. I'll tackle you ina new way, and then take leave, It’s not practicable to rush matters too fast.” After little more desultory conversation, Doll arose. ‘ - ; “Well, I guess I must _be going,” she an- nounced, with a smile. ‘By the way, do you happen to have change for a hundred-dollar — note with yeu? It isso hard to get a large bill — broken.” 5 “Indeed, I haven’t. Papa could surely ac- — commodate you, at the bank,” was the rep. “e : **Andso could you, Miss Minx, if you have not cae your money over to a confederate,” — was Doll's thought. as she took leave. ** You'll © bear watching.” : Dropping into the place where she had met — Ned Ainsley the vight previous, she was sur-— pes to find nim there still, instead of at the — bank. : His position was something the same as at their previous meeting, and his face wore rather a despondent expression. a neo } “ Hello!” Dollexclaimed, cheerfully, dropping — into a chair across thetable. ‘‘ What’s the mat- — ter? Why are you not at the bank?” Sb ana faintly. . ‘Ob I’m suspended, until this mystery is — solved. He thought it would be best.” ‘a ‘‘He should have consulted me, This action — may put the real culprits on guard, which would throw suspicion on you.” ; “1 see,” Ned nodded, dubiously. choice, you know, but to stay away.” ; ei “OF course. Let it pass. By the way, have you change for a hundred-dollar note?” af Without hesitation he took a roll of money from his pocket, and gave her ten ten-dollar notes, receiving in return a crisp bundred-dollar — greenback, ; a Doll examined the bills carefully; then, se- “T had no _

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18 Ned uttered an ejaculation of astonishment. ‘Why did you do that?” he demanded. “Because it was one of the notes stolen from the bank last night!” : He turned very white, ““My God. Then-you believe me the thief?” ‘Some would—I do not. But I want you to tell me where you got the money?” la outa roll of bills, and extracted a Pty. ‘“* The balance I won on faro,” he said, ‘* Af- ter leaving you, I played, and won, and lost, all night, at Red Mike’s. It would be hard to tell Where the bill came from, as the cashier held the money he took in, in his fist, all the time. Usually ten dollars’ worth of ivories were bought of him at a time by each of the five playing, and when a twenty note was given him, he of course handed back a ten.” “Tam glad you explain so frankly, and that IT tapped that note before it got further. Iam sitisfied of your honesty, and am going to snare the guilty person before long!” “Thank you! thank you for your confidence in me! the young man said, soning ber hand, and raising it to his lips. “‘ Honor [ hold sacred, _ and I now know they cannot steal it from me, __ with such an invincible advocate as you!” * Do not be too sure, Watch your actions, and don’t get tripped, Look at your money, ton! She then arose and departed, followed by his admiring glance, for he felt he had met the only woman he could ever afterward care for. On her way to the hotel, she stepped into the doorway of the post-office, but a shake of Mos- by’s head caused her to go on her way. As she was about entering the hotel, the gray- bearded man she had met before came out and tipped his bat politely. ‘*“ Wonder «who he is?’ Doll mused. ‘* Some- how it strikes me his business, here in Nugget Notch, is of some importance,’ She went up-stairs and traversed the hallway Jeading to her room, As she was passing the door of the room ad- joining her own, a slip of paper partly pro- eeudiine from under the door, attracted her at- tention. : At first she was about to pass it by, but on second tnought changed her mind, and procured it, ; _ Without pausing, she went on to her room, 2 \ where she examined it. : Ee It ran as follows: ete ...! meeting to night at M—’s, at usual Important business. Don’t fail to be harks s ; hour. : That was all, but its significance, to Doll, was eat. ___ Just then the door was burst open, and Little _ Bill came tumbling end over end into the room, shrieking with danger. : _, He landed upon his back on the floor, where _*” Denver Doll as Detective. eT he rolled and kicked and roared, until Dol] was forced to laugh, too. “Stop! stop, you: young rattlepate!. What are you raising such a racket about?’ she ae- manded, shaking him vigorously. But the more she shook him, the harder he laughed, until it seemed as if his puny frame could not withstand the strain upon it. * Finally he found relief in words: : ‘Oh! Jerusalem! Oh! Holy Moses in the bullrushes! stop me! choke me! I shall kersplode! Ob! Oh! Ouch—ab!” ; By this time the hall was filled with curious people, who crowded forward to see what was the matter. CHAPTER VILL PLOTTING, AxpovuT the same time that Little Bill was taken with bis paroxysm of laughter, Harrison Ainsley sat upon the settee in the public part of, his banking office, engaged in a deep reverie. “There are no two ways aboutit. I must send for Felice. She served me onee for money, and she would no doubt be glad to do the same. They live a sort of miserable existence, after squandering the other money—up in the mount- ains somewhere, [ believe. No doubt it suits the old man well enough, but the girl has an in- herent craving for money, to put her on an equal footing with some of her more fashionable sisters—that’s what has knocked in the head what- ever scruples may have been boru in her, I hardly know exactly what use I should put ber to were she here, still, I fancy I could utilize her, for something tells me I may need some one eminently trusty to work for me by and by. Somehow, I don’t put any too much confidence in that female ferret, Denver Doll. She has *most too sharp eyes and wits, and would just as quick work up a case against me as any one else. If Felice were here, I could trust her— that is, Lam pretty certain I could. If Philip should get free, 1 should need her more than ever, for [ think he knows that Kate aud the singer were one and the same, and should he escape and not find her, he would raise the earth but what he would discover her whereabouts! Ha! ha! I think she is safe, and am satisfied no one knows anything in regard to her disap- pearance.” : “Ye do, hey?” ‘ Ainsley looked up with a startled a The door was open, and a man stood upon the threshold—a burly, ragged, uncouth, bewhis~ — kered mountaineer, with bloodshot eyes, and an expression of countenance that was anything but pretty. ‘Ye do, hey?” he grunted, advancing into the Office. ‘f Well, mebbe ye do, but hyar is what _ would like to know whar she is—d’ye heer? Whar’s Felice?” ‘Oh! it’s you, is it, Falqueer? Didn’t know you at first.” ; “Thet hain’t w’ot I axed ye?” Falqueer growl- ed. ‘I cum down hyar arter Felice, wot run away ag’in, an’ I jest want her.” “Why, man, I haven’t seen her for several ears!” ; _ ‘Ye lie! I jest heerd ye mention her name,

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Denver Doll as Detective. : i? Better not fool wi’ me, Ainsley; ye know I never did hey a good name in church society.” ‘“*So\I am aware. But sit down; I was just wishing Felice here, as I have some more work for her. You know I paid her well before.” “Bah! dung it, ye got yer job done dirt cheap. Ye didn’t use her right. Ye orter married her, and sot me up in bizness,” The banker laughed. i “That would have been nice, wouldn’t it? ‘But I wasn't a fool,” he retorted. “Nuther was she, She never got over the slight, Ye couldn’t git her now, nohow, ’cause why, she’s ’sperienced religion |” Ainsley laughed aloud, * What nonsense!” “Nary! She got it bad. She sed she'd did “wrong, an’ was comin’ heer to make ies hump fer it. Thet’s ther kind o’ religion Felice hez.” “ A new species, I should say.” “ You'll think so. An’ now, I want you to pan ber out,” “T haven’t got her, nor even have seen her! Maybe she got smashed up in the accident on the U. P.?” “Don’t believe a word of it. too *feard o’ keers, war Felice,” ‘“ Well, be that as it may, [ reiterate once more, and for the last, that I baven’t the slight- est idea where your daughter is; so let that set- tle it, and botber me no more.” ‘* Won’t I?” Falqueer sneered doggedly. bee att jest kinder keep a watch on ye till I find whar elice is!” He might have added, ‘‘ Because I am aware that you have got a woman hidden away in captivity somewhere.” Then, with a hitch at his corduroy breeches, he turned and made his departure, ‘ May the deuce take that fellow!” the banker growled savagely when he was gone. ‘‘Some- ~ thing tells me that he will yet make me trouble. He is an ugly customer at best, and I could well wish him out of the way.” She’s was allus The dawn of the new day bad brought a re- vived interest throughout Nugget Notch con- cerning the late railroad accident. When the miners and citizens straggled forth upon the street in the-morning, placards were “found posted about, in conspicuous places, con- taining the following notice: ; : **1,000 REWARD! ! “The above sum will be paid by Detective Sin- clair, of the U. P. Railway, for thé detection and arrest of the noted desperado, Captain Crime, or his band of outlaws. “These men are known to have wrecked the U, P. trai, on the night of the — inst., hence the reward. A liberal reward, also, for information leading to the discovery of their rendezvous, “BH, H. Stncnarr, Detective. “Mountain View Hotel,” It chanced that Denver Doll had not seen any of these notices during her eines Soa But others had—among them, Beau Blonde gad Deputy Marshal King, who were out to- gether. ‘Ah! i what we've been waiting for,” King exclaimed, as he perused the notice. ‘TI now haye a chance to make a season’s salary by working up a case on this Pacific Phil, Are you - with me, Blonde?” “That depends upon. circumstances,” the gambler replied. ‘‘ Are you going to lynch him?” ‘“No; it wouldn’t hardly do—especially since there’s so much detective element in the town, This man Sinclair has a blamed sight of influ- ence with the marshal, you see, and I can’t very well act all my own way when he’s around. Therefore, I’ll see him payee and arrange a trial, to which you will send forward three wit- nesses to testify that they have seen Captain Crime, and that Pacific Phil is one and the same man. See?” “See? Ofcourse. I’m not blind or dumb.” ‘Well, then, it’s settled. After Pacific Phil is stretched, ae are to hand over to me one thousand doHars.” ** T. will be as good as my word,” was the reply. “Tt’s a bargain. I'll off to call on the U. P.’s man now, and see what can be done with him.” He found Detective Sinclair in a room of the Mountain View, engaged in writing a letter, which, bowever, was laid aside on the detec- tive’s entrance. “Mr, Sinclair, I believe,” King said, on enter- ing, and beholding a.little, pinched-up, sallow- skinned, ferret-eyed individual, of some fifty years of age. “Exactly, sir—Elias Sinclair, at your service, Who are you?” was the brusque answer, “Tam Deputy Marshal King,” the other re- plied, seating himself. ‘* Wh? is that so?” and the puny man adjusted his gold-rimmed spectacles and took a good look at his visitor. ‘Yes, I guess you are right, Believe I have seen you somewhere. What do you want, sir? I am very busy.” King scowled faintly. He had rather antici- ated a more cordial reception, and was nota ittle disappointed. : “ Well, Pll tell you,” he answered, after a m ment’s pause, ‘‘I see you have offered a reward for the arrest of Captain Crime, the desperado. Fork over your stamps, and I can produce your man within ten minutes, $ Sinclair looled at him doubtfully. : ‘* Ifyou have the power to produce the man, it is fis duty as a deputy marshal to do so,” “*T don't ane with you in such a case as this, In behalf of a pe ie you offer a reward for a culprit. If lam rere enough to discover him, the reward is mine, In the same respect, you get a reward for bringing the cul- prit to justice, through the instrumentality of another.” : : The eyes of the U. P, detective smiled gleam- ingly, ~ : f 8 You have evidently been waiting for this reward,” he observed. That is not yet proven. but a few hours.” “Well, where is your man?” : ‘‘Humph! Where is your cash?” “Where it is ltkely to remain until I have the genuine offender in my possession. I do not Picross to leave the vicinity until I am satisfied have the right man.” = ‘* You do not suppose I would trick you, Sin- — clair? — ‘ i I have been here :

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is Denver Doll as Detective, ‘ “T suppose nothing, I know nothing of you. A thousand dollars is a mountain to some men’s eyes. “Humph! Well, I can produce the genuine case if 1 choose. Now, if I bring the man to ponte trial, and prove to you that he is without ‘doubt the person you advertise for—” ‘The reward is yours, in hand,” “The hanging will then take place at once?” “* As soon as I can take the man to the nearest legal court and have him tried.” “* But one trial is sufficient. He must be tried and hung in Nugget Notch. The excited popu- Jaca would never allow him to be taken away.” “Bah! you surmise a great deal. And, too, you seem to manifest extraordinary interest in the man’s death.” “Why shouldn't I?” King demanded, tragi- cally. ‘‘ Hasn’t he robbéd me of money repeat- edly? I have no mercy for a robber.” “OF course, I cannot say about that,” the other replied, dryly. ‘‘If you can prove you have the genuine criminal I advertise for, so be it. If you cannot, you had better subdue your edzer desire for the money.” ‘“*T can prove it. I have the fellow in jail now. Within two hours I can produce plenty of witnesses to swear that Pacific Phil, as he ealls himself, is Captain Crime, the outlaw.” _ “* Very well,” Sinclair replied, quietly, draw- ing his unfinished letter in front of him. ‘‘ That will do. Order the trial for three o’clock this afternoon, in front of the jail.” As he began writing then, the deputy con- sidered himself dismissed, and took his de- parture, with an expression of triumph upon his face. Within an hour the camp was shaken to its center, as it were, with the report that Pacific Phil was accused of being Captain Crime, the desperado, and would be tried, for causing Ahe railway holocaust at Devil’s Curve, i As soon as possible Denver Doll cleared her room of the gaping crowd, and locked the door. Then, with another attempt, she finally suc- ceeded in bringing Little Bill out of his fit of laughter into a state of serenity. Partly opening the door, she perceived that the crowd had dispersed, then turned to Bill. “Now, Mr. William, f want you to explain yourself,” she said, sternly, ‘* Why, would you elieve it, you've actually had the whole house roused by your screeching.” “Couldn’t help it, sis—had ter laff—feel jest like ’splodin’ ag?in!” - “Don’t you do it for the life of you, but tell me what on earth ails you!” “Well, yo see, this was jes’ how it was,” Bill answered, squinting reflectively at the floor. “Weelin’ ther ’portance o’ my detective biz last night, an’ desirin’ an interview with Percific, to Parn ef ho was my parental dadfor not, I waltzed down to the jailand axed togoin. The guard instanter applied the countenance of his brogan to the rear of my rank-av’-file, and lifted me six feet six. Oh! but wasn’t I mad! I jest slunga piece o’ quartz down his throat and sloped. He slanted in the same direction. It was nip aud tuck, He nipped andI tucked. First I know’d I didn’t know nothin’—that is, I know’d more about it afterward than I did before. Yesee, f dodged into a lot o’ bushes, and went end over end down into a sort 0’ pit about ten feet deep, which had been chocked over with vines, sticks and leaves. Wonder I didn’t break my neck; ‘twould- - n’t been o’ much account, tho’. ell, to make a short story long, when that plagued guard peek- ed down, thar.I lay deader’n a bat—a reg’lar smilin’ seraph, you bet, not so much As an ear wrigglin’. S’posin’ I had swum across, he spit a cud o’ terbacker down inter my eye, an’ sloped, blame him! I then resurrected myself, and took a synopsis. What d’ye s'pose I see’d? Right in ther side o’ the pit, cluss to the bot- tom, was a hole runnin’ back inter teddy firma, more’n big enuff fer a man ter erawl through.” “Well?” ~ ‘ “ Well, ef I wasn’t excited, I don’t want to go to Congress. I allowed I’d found whar sum pirut had hid his nuggets, and inter that hoel I went after’em, I crawled, and I crawled, and finally cum to an end, when I liked ter cracked my skull on a stun overhead. Et was a big flat one, an’ I tried ter raise it, an’ got it part way up, and whar d’ye s’pose I found myself?” “In China!” Doll langhed. “Nary a time!” Bill chuckled. ‘That aire stone opens up inter the very jail where Percific is caged—ef it don’t, I’m a shad.” ““ You are fooling me!” “No, Lain’t. I jest got a glimpse 0’ Percific, an’ then let the stone back, an’ heer I am nat- teral as life. grasshopper laugh?” “Tt is certainly good news. If danger comes to the prisoner, we can release him,” ‘“* An’ danger is arter him, like chicken arter a worm, Everybody’s excited outside. Percific has been accused 0’ bein’ Captain Crime, an’ the’r’ a-goin’ ter try him this afternoon at three. King’s at the head.” “* Never mind; tho ‘ Queen’s’ in the deal,” Doll observed, grimly. ‘‘ You're a brick, Billy, and you can call me your pard, in truth, after this, Now just you sit down, mum, while I gather my witstogether. I hardly know where to be- gin first in this matter.” : She bowed her head in her bands in deep medi- tation, while Little Bill fished a stump of a cigar from his pockets, and settled back for a smoke. Denver Doll was usually quick. to think, but she took her time now. At last she arose, and donned her hat. “Tm off,” she announced, smiling. your peepers open.” dy San et! ill responded, CHAPTER IX. A CASE FOR BILLY. DENVER DOLL had examined the vicinity of the jail so closely that, after Little Bill’s narra- tion, she knew almost the exact location of the pit he had referred to. Leaving the hotel, and emerging into the street, she found that the boy’s words .were true in regard to the excitement connected with the approaching trial. Every one was abroad, and the neighborhood of the jail was swarming with people, eager to get another glimpse at the prisoner; but the window was so high up in the wall of the “Keep ™ “ea aed Now, ain’t that ernuff to make a-

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Denver Doll as Detective. that they could not look in, and the guards pos- itively refused any one admittance. It was in this vicinity of the jail that Doll met Harrison Ainsley again. He gazed at Doll keenly as she approached. ‘Looks rather dubious for the fellow who is locked up in that jail, don’t it?” he remarked. “You do not feel very sorry, it appears,” the girl returned. The words appeared to give him quite a start. “*Tndeed, may Iask why should 1? he de- manded, rather gruffly. : “Oh! there are natural reasons, I did not think you were the mn you are, Harrison Ainsley, or I should hardly have undertaken the job for you. As it is nowI will go through with it. You bave been altogether too hasty ee two ways. First, in dismissing’your nephew, ed.” *« Allow me to advise you that I manage my own business affairs, miss!” the banker inter- posed, flushing, “That's all right, when you can do so, but when you have to employ a detective to help, you should not spoil the whole matter through temper. Another thing you’vye made a bad move in is your attempt to prove your own son, Pacific Phil, a rascal and despera lo by making him out Captain Crime!” E ‘You lie! I have attempted nothing of the kind, nor is Pacific Phil my son!” the banker cried, ina rage. Denver Doll laughed. “It is useless to deny it, when my spy over- heard, word for word, your interview with Pacific Phil last night. is, you are an outright rascal, and you know it. Now, do you know what Im going to do?” Harrison Ainsley did not reply. Fear and rage had equal bold upon him, “T will tell you,” Doll wenton, ‘‘I am en- gaged to ferret, out the robbery, and bave the trap nearly ready tospring. 1 don’t like to mix in your other matters, buf if I see any agency of yours in the trial this afternoon, I'll expose you before everybody. Do you understand?” “Yes, But] did not start this movement!” “So I am aware. But you were mighty tickled, when it sprung into shape. As I have said, except to liberate Pacific Phil I shall take _ no personal hand in your family quarrel, unless employed to do soby the right. The more shady and quiet you keep yourself, the less liable you will be to get yourself into trouble.” With which consoling bit of advice she turned and strode away. The banker glared after her,;trembling with rage. font you she-vixen! curse you!” he hissed. “ You have sprung a surprise on me that I little suspected. And for thé time being I am in your power, aud at your mercy. Philip will escape ih spite of me, no doubt. but wait! Felice may gome, yet. Then, it will be my turn—ha! ha! es! Denver Doll had given her word that she per- sonally would not interfere in the family quar- rel unless employed to do 'so on the right side. be spoke thus for herself, but not for Little Bill thel, : She went back to-her room in the hotel, and : t ae nx t nf The whole matter of it_ anything before the trial,” Doll commanded, 19 found the lad there, fast asleep, and snoring like a full-fledged butcher; but his eyes were open - the moment she permitted, urposely, an incau- tious footfall upon the floor. : “ Another good sign!” the Detective Queen said, inwardly. ‘Hello! back a’ready, sis?” the lad yawned. ““Yes. By the way, Billy, ’ve got a case for you. How’d you like to walk about with a Gov- ete breast-pin upon your breast?—U. 8. D. Billy leaped to bis feet with sparkling eyes, and strutted about with his thumbs under his. armpits, “ Well, I should snicker ef that wouldn’t be gallus!” he cried, “Td jest rise from thar t> Con . A good long step and large fees will fetch it, ye know.” - . Weil, Bill, I’ve concluded not to pay much attention to anything but the robbery case, for the present; so if you think you can work Pacific Pin! in for a case, sail in. eae you heard?” i ike a book, Gulped it down like an alle~. ator. ‘© Well, now, Pacific Phil may need some per- sonal aid, and maybe you can by extreme care become of some use to him. Speen you get into the jail, and see what you can do for him in the detective iine. If you make a success of the case, a badge you shall have!” The boy’s eyes fairly danced with excitement and joy, and he executed a jig on the floor. ‘Forty fishhooks! what would my gal Kate say, ef she were to see me now?” ‘*By the way, I forgot to tell you, Billy, that Iwas through the Ainsley residence, in every part, but there’s no woman concealed there.” Billy put, his finger to bis nose, and winked, knowing]. ‘Git out!” he said. ‘ Did ye go into a sort 0’ wing on the nor’ side 0’ the shebang?” Denver Doll meditated a moment, “J think not,” she said finally. ‘AsT re- member, all the rooms were within the main house.” s / “Thort so. That jest settles it that my gal Kate is up-stairs in that wing. Guess I'll go, now. But, hold up. Maybe ye hetter fork over ‘a recommend ter bis nibs, Pacific. Slight- ly acquaint wi? him, but ye see these big chaps w’at calls ’emselves men, don’t piemie take much stock on little rats like me, an’ we're liable ter have ter swaller a lot o’ insults, ef we ain’t got backin’!? Doll smiled at her young disciple’s logic, for there was certainly some truth in it; so, seizing pencil and paper, she wrote: Do you remember * Paciric Pam:— t “ Anticipating. your need of the services of a de- tective, to help you out of your dilemma, which is known to me,I send you my aid, Billy Bethel, You can safely put confidencein bim, and trust to his keen judgment, for he’s as sharp as a razor, and has a detective’s skill far beyond his years, — He will be of undoubted servies to you. I willsce what can be done ae you at aes ery respectfully, : “DENVER Dou, U.S D.* “There! now scoot, and see if Pacific wants — ae

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20 Denver Doll as Detective, giving him the paper, which the boy pocketed, and was gone like a flash. Before seeking the secret passage to the jail, he sauntered about the prison for awhile, to see if anything of extra importance was going on; but there was not, the crowd being about all to be seen. Just as Billy was moving away, Ned Ainsley ye ye didn’t know shucks ye know the feller in the lager a , ye know h.’s Ainsley’s boy, Philip, “ve had a suspicion that way.” “Well, its so. Inter the family history?” “Not very deep. T’ve had it intimated that uncle and cousin were not exactly on friendly terms.” * Bes they ain’t! I got the case down fine, The old cuss wants to crush the young cuss flat - ter nor though an elerfant had stepped on him. To do this a job’s bin put up to prove that Per- cific is Capt?in Crime. Can’t ye give a lift, atthe trial, to prove different?” ‘You bet, if there is any need of it, is that Denver Doll your ma, Bill?” William snorted. “Nary a time! Hain’t got but one. Doll’s my partner, ye see—young, purty, unmarried, sharp as lightnin’, rich, amiable, and a reg’lar Cao Why don’t ye sail in, buddy, an’ capture er? % Ned smiled at the boy. “Tm afraid I’'d not make a hit,” he answered. ‘“Pshaw! She’s sweet on you. Kinder like Aer, too, don’t ye?” ’ ‘* Well, to tell the truth, she has rather taken me iu and done for me,” Ned admitted, blush- ingly. 2 He! he! he! so have I!” squealed Bill, with a malicious grin. ‘‘ Know’d I could draw ye out, like fetchin’ a bile to a head, wi’ fly-blister. Oh! but won’t I have a sweet toothful fer Doll- baby! But, never mind, Neddy; Vil fix it up all right fer ye with her, You'll have a reg’lar puddin’!” And away trotted the young ragamuffin, with a tantalizing laugh. ‘Blame that young rascal,” young Ainsley muttered. ‘‘ He’s worse than anyimp. Ten to one he’ll make a laughing-stock out of me in Denver Doll’s eyes,” I say, While Little Bill hurried away, rapidly. “This chinnin’ ain't allers bizness,” be so- liloquized. ‘‘ Hope I don’t meet another ’quaint- ance I know. I must git in a word wi’ Percific, afore they yank him out fer trial!” : CHAPTER X. PACIFIC'S FOES AND FRIENDS. Harrison AINSLEY went home, his rage un- vated, and raved about for awhile, but find- | ing no relief in this, returned once more to the street, where he saw Deputy King, who was superintending the erection of a sort of stand, upon which the trial of Pacific was to take place, As soon as he could, conveniently, the banker called him aside, ‘“ Excuse me,” he said. ‘‘I am Harrison Ainsley, the banker of this place, I understand that you have captured the desperate, Captain Crime?” er to Sin bus & er boots we have, boss, and we’re goin’ m, this afternoon,”- justice. He has robbed me repeatedly, of large sums of money. I suppose you will lynch him?” “That will be impossible. There are other detectives here, and for me to allow such a pro- ceeding would be to lose my position as deputy. Tl guarantee his conviction, after which Detec- tive Sinclair of the Union Pacific, will band him over to the courts, The only thing is to prove him the man, Are you greatly inter- ested?” ‘Well, to that extent,” the banker said, slip- ing a note of large denomination into his and. ‘I would prefer, quietly of course, that some sure and certain disposal be made of the fellow, at once,” “All right. Iwill see what can be done to accommodate you, sir.” ss ‘Perhaps I eae triumph yet!” the scheming banker muttered, exultantly, as he strode away. ‘One thing is certain:—if Philip gets free, I shall have to look sharp to save my life. So I may as well take advantage of first grip.” He went thence to his banking-office, near which he met Ned Ainsley. “Well, boy, I guess you might as well come back, and resume work,” he said, good-na- turedly. ‘‘Iam pretty well satisfied you are not the thief. By the way, Ned, [ wish you'd stay at the bank this afternoon. I have some important business, outside.” ' “So have I!” the nephew returned, signfi- cantly, and turned away, leaving the banker in a rage, “Can he know, and does he seek to revenge himself on me, at the trial?” was the thought that flashed across his mind, glad of that; don’t you let him escape ~ Tn the mean time let us look after Little Bill, and ascertain how his errand resulted. After leaving Ned Ainsley, he made his ap- poe to the pit, in a roundabout way, and aking a good look around him, to make sure that he was not observed, leaped into it. Entering the tunnel, he crept underground for some distance, until he came to an abrupt ending of the passage, Then reaching upward, he exerted all his puny strength, and managed to raise and displace a large flat stone overhead, which was one of many that formed the floor- ing of the jail, ; a a moment more he was standing in the apartment where Pacific Phil was imprisoned. Eis was half-reclining, now, his head resting upon his hand. There was a look of surprise upon his face as he saw Billy. “Hello! where in the name of all that’s won~ derful, did you come from?” be exclaimed,

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} Denver Doll as Detective, 21 “Sh! Compress your bugle!” Bill warned, with a nod toward the door. ‘*Mum’s the word! Ears out there sharper than a needle. Know me?” “ Well, I reckon I’ve seen you. Once seen, your mug is never to be forgotten!” Pacific said, dryly. “Dunno. Seen purtier, an’ hev seen wuss. I’m William Bethel, E-s-q., an’ heer’s my reckey- mend.” Pacific Phil received the message and read it, surprise beaming from his eyes. ‘* Denver Doll is extremely kind,” he remark- ed thoughtfully. “Hang it, soam I!” chipped in Bill, “‘ or else I wouldn’t ’a’ rooted through the dirt to reach you. So come down to biz, Percific. Aire ye goin’ ter employ me or no?” ‘¢ What to do?” the prisoner demanded, regard- ing the midget nmap E ‘Why, ter take hold o’ your case, straighten out all the kinks, and win the game fer ye, in short order.” ‘* Well, boy, your mistress seems to think you something of a phenomenon, so_I suppose I bet- ter employ you. What do you know relative to my affairs?” “*Heaps! Got a phonograpbic pate—scoo; in all it hears, and all ye’ve to do is to turn the crank, and out she comes. It was me who got the p’ints furst. Snuck in behind your royal dad, and roped in all the slack that passed 'twixt you. The old gent don’t exactly dote on you, does he?” — “No; norIonhim. A greater actual villain never lived than he.” “Right! He’s a reg’lar old sockdolager o’ Satan, and he’s goin’ to make it gosh-darned tropical fer you, too! D’ye know they’re goin’ .ter test yer neck this afternoon, to see if thar’s any injy-rubber in it, worth workin’ up inter galluses?” *© So bad as that?” : The buckskin sport was perfectly composed. “Yas, so bad as that. You’pears to take it mighty enol! - ‘Oh, yes. There’s little use getting excited over trifles.” ~ - Bill felt rather disconcerted at this. “Poor show for scarin’ a ten thousan’ dollar job out o’ this feller,” was his thought, But be went on: “ Well, let’s git down to biz. Ill do the axin’ and you the answerin’, Arter I’ve got all the necessary pints down, we'll compare opinions, There’s nothin’ like quizzin’ an’ une’rthin’ Yints. In the furst place,,thet aire singer at he theater war your wife w’ot bekim subtract- ed frum veo not?” : ‘ “Thort’s so. That was also my side pardner, Kate. We've bin workin’ a streak o’ pay dirt, _nor’west, since [ kin remember. Kate got a highfalutin’ notion she was tired, an’ sk Bped r an’ left me. Found her screechin’ down at the theater. Did you an’ Kate hey any childers?” “None.” “Then that cooks my goose. Tho’t ¥ could work in a claim 0’ relationship. Don’t matter, tho’, I kin look out for Willum, you bet! Now ; oar t r you've got kinder a notion you’d like to hitch in perodes ag’in ef things could be made all right zm ‘It would be the happiest day of my lifeif | I could again reclaim her as my own!” Pacific averred, with honest fervor. “That's the checker!” Little Bill asserted delightedly. ‘* When a feller talks lover-like t like to see him spit it out as if twere comin’ out 0 his boots, I reckon I can fix thin af for a ef I can git a word wi’ Kate. e’d break er neck to *commydate me any time, But ye see she’s disappeared!” “ Disa i) Pacific Phil uttered a groan. ‘Yas, she’s disa red, but yours truly knows whar she is, She’s locked up in yer old man’s house,” This announcement did not seem to appease the anxiety of the buckskin sport. His eyes gleamed angrily, and his face wore an expres- sion of sternness not habitual there. “There will yet bea day of reckoning if I am orient to get free!” he declared, grimly. “To purceed: What's the name o’ the woman wot kicked up the rumpus ’twixt you an’ my gal Kate?” < ‘* Felice Falqueer.” “Phew! That’s a possummy name, hired to do it by y* parent?” “OF course! never saw the woman—or, more correctly, girl—before.” “Know whar she lives” ‘Luckily, no, or I should have choked here ere this.” : ** You calkylate the old ’un has got the forged certificate?” ‘*He said so. Iam also satisfied that he has the papers relating to my wife’s fortune.” ei so ye want these, I reckon. purty bad, ike : “ Most assuredly. They are worth much to She was e. “‘ What’ll you give if I gather ’em in?” ‘“*- You ean command any reasonable price, my lad. Lam not poor, though I have been a rolling stone for some years. As I said, the papers are of utmost importance to me, and you can do me no greater service than to secure them for me, and also intercede in my behalf. with Kate.” “Bet I will! Anything else? I’ve gotto get back before I’m discovered.” 4 “T do not think of anything now, becauseIdo not know what the next few hours may bring _ forth. Isuppose you haven’t any idea of how the hearing will turn out?” ‘Not mucb. Lukskinder as if there might be a tight-rope dance. The deputy’s ag’in’ ye, an’ the old man’s ag’in’ ye, an’ ye know two sech chaps kin work a pileo’ mischief. My pard Doll, — though, is goin’ ter vote yer ticket, an’ sois yer — cousin Ned, too. if my nibs kin do anything, I’m thar,” fe ‘‘ Well, there’s some good prospects, then, — You'd better go now, fcr some one might pop in unexpectedly.” s right. Ef we can’t do nothin’ fur ye to- day, mebbe we can to-night. te ee os a And in a moment the young sleuth was gone. covering bis retreat with the large stone an

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22 Denver Doll as Detective. leaving‘no trace behind him to tell that he had been in the cell. He and Denver Doll were alone in the secret, _ barring Pacific Bill. CHAPTER XI. A BRACE OF ROGUES AND A PRIMITIVE COURT, BANKER AINSLEY was seated in his office look- ing over the stock exchange list of a Chicago paper, when Beau Blonde, the crack card-sharp of Nugget Notch, entered unceremoniously, and seated himself with all the sang froid peculiar to his species. The banker Jooked over his eye-glasses at the man with a stare of inquiry. “Well, sir, what.is your-errand?” Ainsley de- manded, as the gamester settled bimself comfort- ably into a chair, “Oh, I just dropped in to have a little chat. Haven’t seen you around at the rooms lately.” ‘tT donot belong to tha a ae is why, likely,” Ainsley answered, stiffly, ‘Indeed! Did one night of bucking the tiger weaken you?” Beau retorted, tauntingly. ‘* But let us drop that, I am out of money, through a bad run of luck, and want a lift!” The banker scowled. ‘* You are liable to get one, if you hang around here much longer! Iam sole agent for a very practicable lifting machine!” ** You should also start a comic newspaper ouare so facetious!” Blonde sneered. ‘ But et this parley drop. I want money, must have it, and you must give it to me!” se Tudeed? Where do you get so much author- ity? “Oh! that is easily answered. When I men- tion that I have your secret, what is the use for you to demur?” : Thisseemed to stagger the banker a little, and his eyes became fixed upon the handsome gam- bler in a stony sort of glare. : ** What do you mean?” he demanded. Beau Blonde smiled mockingly, “ Pshaw! what is your object in trying to bluff a man of my type?” hedemanded, ‘I have accidentally come into possession of all the data appertaining to one of the most important se- erets of your life. Ifyou desire, [ll startin and give you a full-dress rehearsal, tragedy and all!” ‘* That is unnecessary!” the banker demurred, nervously, his face of an ashen hue. ‘ How much can you get along with? Iam at low ebb to-day, owing to heavy shipments and local de- mands far above the usual rua.” “Well, seeing as this is the first time I have called on you, and you are not flush, just deal me out a thousand, and call it square for the present.” Ainsley looked angrily at the gambler for a moment; then going to his safe, unlocked it, ~ and returned with a package of crisp, new hun- dred-dollar notes, which he handed over to the man who claimed to know his secret, ‘Beau Blonde glanced at the package sharply, ae shoved it carelessly imto his vest- pocket. ; “Thank you,” he said, with an obsequious bow; ‘‘ your ready willingness ‘is duly appreci- ated. I presume you are interested in the des- _-perado trial, to-day?” ‘* What causes you to think so? “Oh! I merely surmised,” Beau Blonde an< swered with a laugh, ‘One is apt to form opinions, you know!” The banker was puzzled, but in this instance was too wily to show it. : ‘Well, suppose Iam interested—what of it?” “Oh! not much; only I thought that, as a business man, if you were particularly in- terested, I might be of some service to you— see? I have a grudge—merely a slight one— against this Pacific Phil. Now, if you are in- terested—and since I propose to do what I can for him, ha! ha4—why, you see, a few hundred, say five, might cause me to be doubly active.” ““Thank you, Mr. Blonde, but I am not in need of any assistance in the matter, as I have zeny secured all the help necessary, I be- ieve. Beau Blonde smiled again—one of those sinis- ter, confident smiles that years at the card-table had made peculiar tohim. He also brought his fist emphatically down on a table near at hand, “fT cannot help my own cause out without helping yours, Mr. Ainsley, so plank down an- other V hundred, if you please.” ‘ But I don’t please.” . **Then I am pleased to squeal. Did you ever witness a lynching, friend Ainsley, and notice how nice a noose adheres to a man’s gullet? ar ae Fa “Stop! say no more, you hell-hound, for you cannot get another dollar out of me to-day, Come some other time when I have money.” “Wery well, Pll not forget it,” and -the eard-sharp at once arose and quitted the bank. Once outside, he laughed softly to himself. “Pon honor, I had no idea of striking such a lead,” he mused. “I just ventured, blindly, to hint that he had a secret, and he tumbled imme- diately into my racket. Hal ha! ha!” The trial, or, more appropriately, the hearing of Pacific Phil, had been set for three o’clock, and long before that hour a large crowd was gathered in front of the platform which had been erected in front of the jail. This platform was built about four feet above ground, and was designed for the occupancy of all directly connected with the trial, When the appointed hour arrived, the dra- ae personceupon the platform was somewhat striking. In the center stood a sort-of judicial pulpit, in which presided the Union Pacific Railroad’s de- tective, Mr, Sinclair, To his right sat Deputy Marshal King, On the left, a little in front, Pacific Phil was stationed, his hands bound be- hind his back; but there was an expression of defiance upon his face that told he was not ill at ease. = On his left was a bench, whereon were seated several persons, Denver Doll was first. Next to her sat Bill Bethel, then came Ned Ainsley, the mountaineer Falqueer ava the man who had tipped his hat to Denver Doll at the Mountain View Hotel, but whose name was unknown, At all events he was a fine-looking man, and attracted much attention,

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Denver Doll as Detective. bee On the right of Deputy King was a similar bench, upon which was seated au Blonde, a companion gambler named Red Eye, followed by six other rough-looking pilgrims, who ap- peared to be better fitted to cut throats than serve the aims of justice. AX, ee Fronting the stand was the sea of faces, not one alike, and a photographer would have been delighted to catch the scene with a single glance of his camera, ~ Finally Detective Sinclair rapped upon h. desk for order, ‘The trial, or, more properly, the supplement- ary bearing of the case, will now commence,” he said, ‘and, in behalf of all concerned, I wish to request that perfect order and quiet be kept. For the benefit of those who may not know, I will make the following statement: ‘*Subsequent to the terrivle disaster on the Union Pacific road I was sent here in the inter- est of the company—to offer a reward for the capture of the man or men who caused the ac- cident, and who were said to be members of a band of desperadoes styling themselves the Ter- rible Tribunal. I came as directed, and offered a reward for the ringleader and his band of subordinates. In response to my notice, Deputy Marshal King, who came here some hours in advance, put in an appesiance and desired the reward, claiming to have the ce Captain Crime, of whom, probably, you all have heard. Allow me to say I was not quite satisfied, and to settle the matter, I, in behalf of my pei ers, and the Government as well, ordered the forthcoming hearing. The question to be de- cided is whether the prisoner at the baris or is not the so-called Captain Crime, the outlaw. First witness stand up and be sworn for the prosecution,” Deputy King responded, and the oath was ad- ministered. ‘‘Make your statement!” Sinclair ordered.’ The deputy cleared his throat: “T was sent here,” he began, ‘‘ by my supe- rior officer, immediately after the disaster, to ferret out the crime, if possible, and bring the offenders to justice. I arrived in time to wit- ness a street duel between the prisoner and a gambit named Beau Blonde, I arrested the ormer for the criminal offense of dueling. After I kad arrested him, I became convinced, from previous descriptions I had received, that I had the famous desperado. I set to work, hunted up men who had seen him, and have the honor of now presenting them for examina- tion.” ‘“Why did you not arrest Beau Blonde?” Sin- clair demanded, sharply. ‘For the reason that he did not provoke the quarrel.” ; “That is no excuse. Handcuff the man.” King dared not disobey, and Beau Blonde sub- mitted with poor grace, ‘Next witness,” ordered Sinclair. This man, Pete Smick, on being sworn, clum- sily testified that he had seen Crime once, when he stopped a stage, and ‘‘he allowed the pris- oner was the same chap.” It was a patched-up piece of testimony 4t the best, and Sinclair’s cross-questioning completely broke the fellow down, ~~ 3 : t £ i 23 The same result followed in the case of the other ruffians, except Beau Blonde, who stood up and coolly swore that he had been captured and robbed by Captain Crime several times, and. woula swear on a stack of Bibles that Pacific Philand Crime were one and the same person, ; At this juncture some one in the crowd shouted: “* He’s a liar and a thief, and ye can’t depend on a word he says.” enver Doll testified next. She related all her experience on the night of the train wreck, and stated. that Crime was much more diminu- five in stature than the prisoner, and she could detect no resemblance between the two. Little Bill then had his say, and a brilliant one it was, too, although somewhat illiterate. He corroborated Doll’s testimony, but, as privately agreed between them, neither ‘alluded to Pacific Phil as Harrison Ainsley’s son. poe next took the stand. : “Why, ye gol-darned fools,” he said, “ this monkeyin’ is preposterous! I know this Pacific Phil. He’s bin up nor’west for years. Bin around the vicinity o’ the Atlanta mines for past six months, till a day or two since. Why, be’s Harrison Ainsley’s son, and this is ther way the old man takes to get even with him.” : “Ts this true?” Sinclair asked, turning to Pa» cific Phil. : “Perfectly, although this testimony is unex-~ pected. Denver Doll can tell you as to the Jat ter reference,” ¥ **Tt is true,” Doll said. ; “ Bet it is!” chimed in Little Bill, ‘* Allow me to state the balance,” the unknown stranger said, rising. ‘‘ Tbe prisoner and my- self have been companions for several years as prospectors and miners, as I can produce ample roof, and we bave not been iv this vicinity over nm days.” “No further testimony is needed,” Sinclair said, rapping upon the box. ‘ Pacific Phil is pronounced guiltless of the charge preferred.” Then Little Bill Bethel «sprung to the front of the jatform, and yelled; of ’em all—hip! hip! hooray!” i Probably never in all the days of Nugget Notch was there ever such a hearty cheer given as in response to Little Bill’s toast. The crowd fairly howled themselves hoarse, and while the party of the prosecution slunk away, the victors left the platform, and made their way toward the hotel, Pacific Phil’s stal- wart, manly form in the Jead, and Denver Doll by_his side. It was an open defeat to villainy, and a strik- ing exemplification of a motto that every one should consider: ‘‘ Right is might, in the end.” urrah fer Percific Phil, the squarest pard Perhaps among those’ bitterly disappointed at — the termination of the trial was the banker, — Harrison Ainsley, and scarcely less so was. Deputy Marshal King, both beaten at their vil- lainous conspiracy. Some time after the conclusion of the hearing, A 'and a little before nightfall, the trio of villains, , and Ainsley, met by chance — Beau Blonde. King, near the bank, ee = es

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24 Denver Doll as Detective. Each wore a rather grim expression, and each stared hard at the other. The banker was the first to k, ‘ Well, it has turned out a fine kettle of fish, hasn’t it?” he growled. ‘* Mr, B., I thought sure ie could be depended on, at least. Your block- sbiaaag have been a disgrace to a peniten- tiary. “Sorry, very sorry, but I did my best, sir,” the gambler declared, obseqniously. ‘* Never mind,” King consoled. ‘‘ We've been beaten; I’m whipped! we all are! but [am not sonquered, Wiil you put up a thousand on that, Banker Ainsley?” CHAPTER XII. A WRONGED WIFE'S SCORN, Denver Dot, Pacific Phil, and Littie Bill went at once to the former’s room at the Mount- ain View Hotel, for the purpose of holding a con- ference, as it were, over what was their next best course of action, The stranger, who had been introuced to Den- ver Doll, by Pacific Phil, as Mr. Conroy, was also invited into the confab, as he was the father of Kathleen, Pacific Phil’s bride, who had been so wrongfully separated from him. ‘* We have had a good victory to start with,” Denver Doll said, ‘‘ but, juss mark my word— there’s trouble ahead yet. Three men were badly disappointed at the result of the hearing, and they were respectively Harrison Ainsley, Beau Blonde, and the deputy-marshal King, There you have a trio of as evil scamps as ever lived, and they have the power to do a pile of mischief in a camp like this.” : “T cordially agree with you,” Conroy said. * My identity is not known outside this circle; therefore I am in no danger. But you, Phil had best keep close to cover, as I should deem it unsafs for you to reappear on the street, where you would make a good target for a jurking assas3in. We know not what means the enemy will adopt to get the advantage, and it is best _ we should be careful.” - “Well, f gabe you are right,” Pacific assent- ed, ‘but I mightily hate to be shut Op It goes against my grain the worst kind. want re- venga on my inhuman and unnatural parent, and [’m bound to have it!” __ * Phere’s time ernuff fer that, Pacific,” put in Little Bill. ‘‘ Jest you leave ther whole caboodle to us detectives, an’ Dll save you a furst- ~ class slice of revenge, all fer yerself. Recom- ember I’ve taken yer case in tow, an’ it’s ’por- pare Saat ye should yield to my superior judg- men’ “Look out, Bill, you endanger your jaw by launching into such g torrent of choice words,” Doll averred. “Oh, that’s only the eddication I’m gittin’ thro’ ’sociatin’ wi’ you!” Bill flashed back. ‘* I’m in fer a snooze now, so I'll be fresh fer to-night. _ Got dead loads of bizness then.” TT have also much to look out for,” Doll de- _ elared. ‘So, Mr. Conroy, we will leave our charge, Pacific Phil, in your care, while we are oo duty endeavoring to put things to ~ The two men then retired to their room, after which Denver Doll and her young apprentice in- a i | dulged in a short nap, for it was hard to tell what the next few hours would bring forth, or what active work they would have to do. When they awakened, it was already early evening, and their room was quite dark. “Tt's time we were on the alert!” Denver i Mt acer “‘What are you going to do, 0; “Pm going to try and get my bread-hooks on them papers Wot Pacific wants,” Billy an- swered, ‘ Arter that, I reckon I'll try to inter- view my old gal, Kate.” : ‘Well, go ahead, you young rat, but look out that ye don’t get cane ina ri “Call me a shad if I do,” Billy replied. “I know I’ve got kinder a curious job »efore me, but I’ve got the pluck to tackle it, anyhow. Used ter live on trout plucks up in_ our camp. Oh! but I tell you they war boss, What's your lay-out fer ter-night?” ** Pm going to try and learn the import of the meeting to-night, which I spoke of as having been ordered by the Terrible Tribunal.” “ Guess it’s you what better look out!” was Bill’s opinion, ‘‘ Ef any of that gang gits their digits on ye ag’in, remember it will go hard with you, for Little Bill won’t be around to help ou.” “DIL and bear that in mind,” and Doll smiled. ‘* You had better start now, and see what you can root out, Here’s a duplicate key if you should return here before Ido, If I don't return; you will know I’m nailed.” About dusk, Harrison Ainsley entered his residence, in by no means the best of humor, _ and sought tbe parlor, where Miss Bessie was seated, engaged in reading a novel. She glanced up carelessly, and then resumed | reading. ‘* Well!’ the banker growled, throwing him- self into a chair, ‘‘ What secret of mine do you know, girl?” “Secret? Why, papa, I was not aware that you had a secret; indeed, I wasn't!” the girl ex- claimed, in apparent astonishment. * Bah! You cannot deceive me. up now.” 2 “ T cannot own that which is not true,” Bessie repled, firmly. “Tf you are ona: Sach girl, you shall repent it. Another thing I want to know! Where did you get that valuable ring you wear?” **T don't know, sir, as that matters particular- ly to you!” Bessie flashed back. : ‘* Refuse to tell me, and I will turn you from my house!” Bessie grew pale at this, and trembled. She knew that he meant all he said. “The ring was made a present to me, by an acquaintance.” “ Who is thisacquaintance? Iwantto know?” ‘A gentleman—a suitor for my hand! Beau eit ne ba ker leaped f his chi though be banker lea) rom his chair, as he had received an elecric shock. “Beau Blonde!—the infernal gambler and scamp! You entertaining his suit?” “Pxactly! He is a perfect getleman, and more than that, if you must know, my betrothed husband!” : : Come, own

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Denver Doll as Detective. The banker was evidently too astonished to speak, for he paced the floor likean enraged tiger. ““T presume very likely you sanction the match,” Bessie said, sweetly, ‘‘as it would be real cruel of you not to!” “* Very, very likely!” was the savage answer, as the banker strode from the room, and went up-stairs, Passing along the hall toward the front of the house, he presently came to a halt, and gave a sudden jerk upon a common nail which was in the northern wall. In response, a portion of the wall, which was but a partition, at that point, slid aside, and a small room wasreveaied, which Ainsley entered, closing the panel behird him, The room was neatly furnished with a couch, chairs and table and carpet. Upon the couch, attired in the same dress she had worn at the theater, partly reclined the beautiful singer, Rienzio, or as we shall hereafter know her, Kate, the wife of Pacific Phil. Her face was calm in expression, as the banker entered, but her eyes gleamed with a fire not usually there, : A movement of Ker arm discovered the fact that both wrists were secured separately with a band, to which were fastened long, slender chains which were connected with the wall, The banker seated himself with a suave smile, quite in contrast with the expression of coun- tenance he had worn, when down-stairs, “ Well, my fair Kathleen, how do I find you this evening?” ‘* Precisely as you see me—the prisoner of a villain!” Kate replied, coldly. “ Bravely—I may say dramatically—spoken, dear!” Ainsley returned, with a show of ap- arent entbusiasm, ‘‘ Do you know, when you re up that way you increase my adoration for you tenfold?” ‘“* And at each time I set eyes upon you, my loathing for you increases a hundred-fold, you monster!” “Tut! tut! you area little too barsh. You know you secretly love me, So I will pass your seeming rudeness by, as I am aware that you only use it as a feint, because you wish to tan- talize me. By the way, I told you that my scapegrace son had been arrested on the charge of being the notorious outlaw, Captain Crime. Well, they gave him a fair and square trial this ‘afternoon, What do you suppose the result of the trial was, dear Kathleen?’ ; “*T have not the slightest idea!” was the reply. of the wronged wife, ‘Well, I will tell you the result,” her tor- mentor went on. ‘‘ He was proven, fair and square, to be Captain Crime, whose deeds of terror are widely known, and was sentenced to be hung to-morrow at sunrise. It is not im- probable, however, that he will be taken from the ae lynched to-night.” e Calm as calm could be, not a tremor in her voice, or an expression of sorrow upon her face, bre! Scag at ber enemy sternly as she mie “Well,” the banker went on, ‘‘ poor Philip must die, and with his death, of course, per- ishes all your hopes of ever being reunited to him, bigamist and scoundrel that he is,” ‘*Not by any means. Do you know, Harrison Ainsley, that I bave long since given up the idea tbat poor Phil ever had another wife than me? Lit was who am to blame for our séparation, when I should have chins to my husband, though ten thousand women had claimed him.” ‘* But the certificate—the proof of the former marriage with Felice Falqueer—” ‘Was a cleverly trumped-up foiger'y designed to part us, and the young woman was an adven- turess, hired for the purpose. I believe this as I believe that I am living!” : * But, child! child! who could have had any desire to commit such a gross outrage and wrong? Ah! but you are fearfully in error.” “Tam not! You ask who could have done this wrong—who, indeed, but you ? Who turn- ed his son from his bouse, beeause he loved me? Who aspired to my hand in marriage, because he had in some mysterious manner come into possession of papers that would bring me a for- tune? Who, indeed, I ask, but you, scoundrel that you are? Is any further evidence necessary that it was you, too, who sent the adventuress to break up our happy home? Oh! Harrison Ainsley, there is a day of reckoning coming for you. ‘“Humpb! you are getting unduly excited over nothing,” the man growled, quailing under her glance, ‘‘ Your diseased imagination causes you to say things that are utterly ridicnlous.” ‘“Think whatever you choose.” ‘That is a privilege I shall improve, most as- suredly. We may as wellunderstand each other. To-morrow Philip pays the penalty of histmany crimes. Your disappearance has caused no re- mark whatever, as you were nothing more than a strolling mountebank. No one has, or will, take the pains to inquire about Sn In your. prison here you are snug and safe, and no one will ever suspect your presence. Therefore, here you remain until you go forth as my bride.” “Then here I wid remain till I die!” Kate re- sponded. ‘t While death would be preferable to remaining in this vile durance, it would be Gouay welcome to marrying you. Go, mon- ster ‘ He took his leave, much to the relief of the im- risoned woman, who could but loathe and hate im as one utterly devilish and villainous, - CHAPTER XIIL BILLY’S BOLD GAME, AFTER leaving the secret chamber, Ainsley quitted the house and made bis way to the bank, in the shadows of which Little Bill Bethel was lurking, like some imp of evil, as it were. “s “Tl seeif Lcan’t trap these robbers to-night,” he muttered aloud, as he unlocked the door. ‘It won't do for me to lose so much money, lest my — depositors get uneasy. They little suspect that if it wasn’t for their funds the bank could not — exist. Humph! I’m counted a rich man, but — I’m careful to keep my riches where they will not easily be found.” = He flung the door wide open and _ entered. Bare-footed, and like a shadow, Little Bill stole in behind him, not knowing what the next minute would bring forth, For severa) minutes ve

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) : ae Denver Doli as Detective. he could hear the banker stumbling about, then | of*silyer and gold coin, and dust, which made he uttered a curse, ‘*Not a match in the place to strike a light with, I'll swear,” he growled; ‘“‘so I shall have to let it pass, The drugged wine is on the safe, anyhow, and ten chances to one that will catch the thief, and there’ll be a corpse or two in the town to-morrow morning.” Little Bill closed one eye. “My, oh!” be mused. ‘* Lucky I’ve got on to that, Bet a shad I’d ’a’ soaked it all down. Wonder ef I’d better lodge in this coop ter-night or no? Old Ainsley is goin’ to leave an’ lock up, Ef I stay, ’m caged. Reckon a feller might dig out, tho’, as these boards of the floor are easily pulled up.” It was on making note of this fact that he formed a determination to remain in the bank over-night, and make a search for the papers that were wanted by Pacific Phil. After stumbling about for several minutes longer, the banker finally took his departure, taking good care to securely lock the door after hi m. Bill listened until be heard his footsteps die away, and then made free to move around. “I’m caged jest.as nice as amonkey,” he mut- tered; an’ ef { shouldn’t be able to git out 0’ heer, they’d stretch my neck fer burglary, like enuff. Sof must make the most o’ my time, Guess the coast is clear.” He struck a match, and by the light took-a view of the situation. “Dunno if I better light a lamp or not, Kinder reckon not. Ainsley were to pop around again. Hello! Thar’s a wardrobe purtitioned by a curtain, whar a feller could hide in, perwidin’ no one didn’t peep in thar. Can’t do much ’thouta lamp, nuther. Guess I'll light up.” He accordingly lit a lamp, but turned it down very low. He then put his coat along the crack of the door. His next move was to examine the interior of the desks, but found nothing that he wanted there. “The old nut has got his papers in the safe,” he muttered, ‘‘ Wonder what sort of a cracks- man I’d make?” ; Kneeling before the safe, he studied the figures and marks upon the combination plate. ‘4 feller wot don’t know the p’inters has to o it blind, an’ I judge that’s what I'll have to an. Allus was kinder lucky on lottery, seven- up. an’ sich.” He then began to turn the knob and experi- ment on the numbers. An hour dragged by, but he was apparently no nearer reaching the solution of the combina- tion than at first. “*Drat it! Pll bet the feller w’ot got up this contrivance was a burglar himself. Got sum’ brains myself, but not enuff fer this sort 0’ peogranhy. Hello! - I’mashad ef Lain’t fetched er! It wasso, By achance .he bad hit upon thie right number! The door was open, and thei terior of the safe was revealed to view. There were several compartments filled with buoks and papers, and » drawer which contained money in notes, There were also seyeral sacks Be dangerous if old man’ the young ferret’s eyes bulge out in wonder. ‘*My, oh! Ef I war a burglar, what a haul J could make,” he commeuted. ‘‘Thar’s enuff thar to buy a railroad, locomotive an’ all, I bet. a it were only mine! ’Tain’t no use o’ wishin’, tho’, stick ’em in his pocket. papers now,” ith quick, deft fingers be examined every- thing in the way of a document that the safe contained, but to his disappointment he found no trace of anything he wanted, “*Fool’s fishin’ fer fun, an’ nary a bite,” he muttered, closing and relocking-the safe. ‘‘ The old cove must have his papers hid away in his house. Now, the next thing is sumthin’ else, I must prospect fer a lead w’at’ll fetch me out o’ this trap. Be a joke’ ef I couldn’t get out, dashed ef it wouldn’t!” Placing the lamp in its bracket, he began to examine the flooring, which was of rough boards, and laid down with none too much pre- cision. I must s’arch fer them After trying several which were securely . nailed, he at last came toa short one that had not been nailed at all. Lifting it up, he saw that the distance he~ tween the floor and the ground was something over a foot, sufficient at least for him to squeeze his body in when it became necessary for him to conceal himself, He also made the discovery that there were several sacks of something stored there, where _ one, supposedly, would be apt to look for em. m “Hello! Bet a hornet that’s old Ainsley’s gold, w’ot he’s hid away fer fear as how some one would steal it!” Bill allowed. ‘‘ Keen old rooster he is, ef Ido say it. Wonder ef I better ockerpy the hoel or no? S’pect them robbers "Il be along sum time durin’ the night, an’ tho’ I could get out o’ heer wi’out half tryin’ I jest surmise as how I better hide in the curtained place yonder,” He replaced the board, and then, with the aid of the lamp, explored the curtained alcove, which he found contained a disused stove and some broken furniture. He then placed the lamp on a table, blew it f out, and groped his way into the alcove, where he perched himself comfortably on top of the stove and waited! The minutes dragged slowly away—tovo slow] to suit the young detective--for no harder tas’ could be imposed upon him than to keep still for any great length of time. eeing no prospect that he was likely to be disturbed yery soon, he settled back into a more comfortable position, with the view of taking a uap. But he had hardly closed his eyes when he heard some one at the door, and he was in- stanfly on the alert. He heard the key turn softly; then, after a moment, the door swun open, and two per- sons entered stea]thily and closed the door. They did not lock it, for the reason that there was no bolt upon the inside. j ‘* Well!” one of the party said, in a hoarse voice, which Billy instantly concluded was dis ea i When a feller’s hands itches he must .

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Denver Doil as Detective. guised, ‘‘here we are again, We must clean the place out, altogether, to-night, for it won't do for us to be caught here, which would likely be the result, were we to continue the raids,” “You are right. The soorer, the bettey, to suit me. First, you know, blame will be laid upon me,” ‘Pooh! you are nervous! But, I think, my- self, that it will be best to slack up for awhile, and allow matterstosimmer down. Did you bring anything along to leave here that would be apt to throw suspicion upon Ned?” “ Nothing but a handkerchief, with his name stamped on it. That was the only thing I could find,’ ‘Tt will serve all purposes, Now, I will strike a light, and we will see what Ainsley has left in the safe for us!” A moment later the lamp was lit, and the two night-hawks approached the safe. eering from between the curtains, Little Bill was able to make out that both wore to boots, long dark cloaks, slouch hats, and the face of each was securely concealed behind a heavy vail. : Nor could the young detective remember that he had ever heard their voices before, owing to their being changed purposely. The two nocturnal thieves knelt in front of yd safe, placing the lamp on the floor, between them. One of them began experimenting at opening the safe. ‘Some one’s been fooling with this safe!” he ‘owled. ‘“‘It isn’t the way it’s usually left. et I'll have to work half an hour before I can open it.” . “T hope so,” Little Bill soliloquized to him- self. ** While you're at it, I'll just try and skip out of this, Ortent to let ’em get away wi’ the old gent’s swag, I suppose, but dash me‘ef I don’t wanter track these skunks to their headquar- ters. That’s worth a heap sight more than nail- in’ ’em now, when I ain't got no backin’,” It was a ticklish undertaking to cross the room, open the door, get outside and close it again, without being discovered, and Bill was well aware of it, but with that pluck that was characteristic of him, he made up bis mind to try it, and run the risks. The two burglars seemed intently engaged at the safe, and he bad confidence that he could make his exit before they might look around: He tip-toed across the floor, with cat-like tread, toward the door, his every nerve strung to its utmost tension—his breath coming short and quick.” 4 He advanced sidewise, so that he could not be vurprised by any sudden turn of the enemy, and in this way succeeded in reaching the door. To raise the latch and open the door was the next iniportant thing, but he accomplished -it with the same degree of success that had mark- ed his movements across the floor. On second thought he resolved to leave the door slightly ajar, and so doing, he was not long in putting himself at a respectable distance from the ,bank, but yet not so far that he could not Ls te burglars leave it, without being seen se. - . / 24 Here he waited patiently, for he calculated he could afford to be patient, as it was beginning to rain bard, and he could accordingly follow his foes, with less danger of discovery. : About half an hour passed; then he saw them . leave the bank and lock the door after them, after which they hurried in the direction of the Ainsley residence, ; Like a shadow Billy followed in their wake, keeping just far enough behind them to feel safe from being seen. When within a hundred yards of_ the Ainsley dwelling, the burglars balted, and Billy stealthi- ly glide into hearing distance, ‘Well, Pll leave you bere,” the taller one said, ‘*T must hurry to headquarters, for I ordered a meeting there, to take place an hour hence, I reckon the handkerchief will throw the suspicion onto Ned Ainsley.” “YT should think so. When shall I see you again?” “To-morrow night, likely, at the usual place. So-long!” : ’ They shook hands then, and the shorter of the two moved away toward the house, while the other strode away up the guich atea rapid pace. Little Bill followed the latter. Though soak- ing wet, his ardor was not a bit dampened. ‘I’m a shad ef I ain’t beginuin’ to see into this hyer case,” he muttered, as he trotted along, which he was forced to do in order to keep anywhere near the object of pursuit. ‘Kinder gittin’ off my own job onter Doll- baby’s, but it’s all the same in Dutch, I reckon. This hyar fellow in front belongs to the des- perado gang, you bet, an’ ef he’s the captain o’ the hull caboodle 1 shouldn't be surprised, Then that t’other feller war’n’t no feller at all, but a gal in breeches, The bankér’s step-darter fer ducats! Phew! wot a rib-tickler! She's bin gittin’ the 2 in on the old gent, tho’, in bootiful shape. onder what he’ll say when he finds it out? Bet he'll kick his self all over Nugget Notch ftr a consarned burro!” urther soliloquy was not for Billy, for he had fully his match in trying to keep up with the outlaw, who was a quick-footed pedestrian. The route was through a rough and rock part of thé country, and the boy soon found his feet to be sore and bleeding, but he resolutely kept on, in spite of rain or pain. ‘ tseemed to him, however, that the journey would never end, nor the outlaw’s endurance ever tire, for soon he beard his footsteps dying out a good distance in advance. _ “Go it, lemons!” the plucky boy gritted. “Tl be along some time next week.” Further on he came to an abrupt bend in the gulch, and was just in the act of rounding it when he was suddenly pounced upon and seized by the man whom he bad been so persistently following. ; =. “Oho! you. young whelp eo Tye gotyouat last, have I?’ he roared. ‘ i goose, see if I don’t!” CHAPTER XIV. 5 UP IN A BALLOON, : : THE ruffian seized Little Bill by thenapeof — lee neck, and strode on, dragging the boy after im. rakes ; - ‘Il soon cook your

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Fay _ wind is blowing like fury, 28 Struggle as he would, the juvenile ferret could not get away. Just around the bend was a large shanty, where it had once been designed to start a town, but no pay streaks being found, the place was deserted in favor of nugget Notch, further down the gulch. Back of it a dismal, pine- wooded glen ran back into the mountains. Into this the outlaw dragged his victim, until they came to the mouth of a large cavern, which was entered, A bright fire was burning in the center of the subterranean chamber, and surrounding it, seated upon various-sized blocks and flre-logs, were some two-score of masked men—all be- whiskered, roughly dressed, and armed to the t eeth, To Billy’s horror he perceived that Denver Doll was also there! A stake had been driven into a crevice in the floor, and she was securely bound to it hand and foot, “ Hurrah!” yelled several of the outlaws, as Billy and his captor entered. ‘* Here comes the captain an’ another prisoner, ‘It’s the kid, too. Captain Crime turned Billy over to the care of a couple of the men, and then turned to Den- ver Doll. “Aha! so my gallant men have been lucky enough to catch a prize, have they?” be said, ex- ultantly. ‘“‘ Upon my word, I am highly elated at your capture, my fair detective. You came to the mountains to catch a tiger, and. got caught yourself, eh? Hal ha! ha!” “* Yas, boss,” exclaimed one of the men, who | was evidently lieutenant of the gang. ‘‘ She dogged Barker, whose room is next to hern, at the hotel, and we cotche! her sneakin’ around the edge of the cave, “Now, after we transact a little important business, we will start some sport. But, to the business first. As I stated last night, we have as the organization of the order of Skull and Cross-Bones, got to look out, or the first we know we shall find ourselves in hot water, and at the mercy of the law. Since the sad railway catastrophe, several dangerous persons ‘have come to Nugget Notch, who it is imperative we should remove; then the serenity of our existence is not likely to be soon disturbed again. The citi- zens of the camp in themselves have not the gumption to hunt us down, It is these out- siders we have to fear. Itis them we must-re- move, Luckily, we have two of the foremost ones in our power now, and if we let them es- cape it is our own fault. They are the only ones that know our camp is so near to Nugget Notch.” ‘*Goln’ to spill em?” the lieutenant growled, uffly. “No; I want no more murder on my hands than can be avoided. It is a wild night—the f Do you remember this night three months ago?” “Shouldn’t wonder ef I did. We sent Jem - Holden a-kitin’ that night, an’ he’s never turned up since, It’s a sure way 0’ gittin’ rid ov people *thout sinnin’, ; “ Well, now, the other cases that have got to be cornered is that galoot, Pacific Phil, the deputy sheriff, King, and the railroad sharper, Denver Doll as Detective. 4 Sinclair, Then it will be well enough to re- move the banker, Harrison Ainsley!” That's cause you r’ in snucks wi’ his darter,” put in Little Bill. ‘They’re the ones. what robs the bank, Dollbaby. I see’d ‘em!” '“Shut up, you cursed little whelp!” roared the captain, ‘‘Tll have you know there’s no back talk here.” ‘Guess a feller can shoot off his mouth, ef he wants to,” Bill muttered. ‘*Now, the way we'll work this thing,” the captain went on, ‘is this; We'll send this pre- cious pair off, to-night. To-morrow, we'll all go into camp in disguise, and hang around till wane Tl contrive to get all hands into the saloon, when in marches you fellers, in a body, all respectably dressed, and arrest the ones we want, as bein’ members o’ the Terrible Tribunal. You must have four noosed ropes ready, and the work o' yankin’ the men out and lynchin’ ’em, must be done quick, Bein’ unexpected thar’ll be a big excitement, an’ that’s what'll help you along, an’ give ye a chance to es- cape.” A Phat won't work—the hangin’ part,” the lieutenant grunted. ‘ Better oe. will be fer us to be dressed as miners, an’ let on to be drunk, While a couple o’ us is a-callin’ up an’ treatin’ the crowd, the remainder o’ the gan; kin run the men we want out.o’ doors, J leave it to us, Cap, an’ we'll fix it!” * All right, Melvin; you're trusty, an’ I’'ll-go a hundred that anything you undertake won’t go wrong.” The captain then turned his gaze in the direc- tion of the interior of the cave, and called: ** Rategan? Rategan?” In response, an old man with a hump back, and hair and beard as white as snow, came hob- bling forward, with the aid of a crooked staff. He was clothed in rags, and a filthy-looking ob- ject to belield, to say the least. ‘‘Rategan, have you that balloom completed?” the captain demanded, scowling at the man, as if be would like to kill bim, ‘* Yes, sir; yes, sir. It is all done and ready!” the old chap replied, in trembling tones. ‘* What is your pleasure, sir?” ’ “Take the balloon to the gas vein on the cliff, and inflate it, and fix the basket to it, D’ye hear$” “Yes, sir: yes, sir!” was the answer, and the miserable being hobbled away again into the in- terior of the cave, Crime then turned to Denver Doll: ‘And, now, my fairy detective, L have a little_ proposal to make to you. I am in want ofa squaw for my wigwam, as the red-skins say, and Iopine you’re just suited to my eye. TH give you a choice of two fates, You marry me, swear fidelity to my cause, and all will be serene, Otherwise, I shall send you and the young imp up in a balloon, and you will eventually come down in the Pacific Ocean!” ~ “Chance the Percific, Doll!” sung ous Little Bill. ‘‘Ther’s many a slip ’twixt the beer-mug an’ the tater-trap!” * “J will never marry you. Sodoas you like!” Doll replied with decision. Bees ‘‘Then up in a balloon you go. Helease the prisoners, boys, and conduct them to the cliff,” — ges Cag

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Denver Doll as Detective. The order was obeyed. Guarded by four men each, the two captives were led from the cave by the front entrance, and up the precipitous mountain-side to a large shelving ledge. Here a large balioon was already inflated and anchored, a basket large enough to hold several _persons being attached to it. On reaching the cliff, the hands and feet of both captives were unbound, ‘*] won’t be too hard on you!” Crime said, with a villainous chuckle. ‘‘ This balloon is in- flated with sufficient natura] gas to carry you ten thousand miles high. If you want to jump out when you reach the moon, do so. Boys, draw your revolvers. Prisoners, seat yourselves in the basket, If you attempt to leave it, you will be shot down.” Denver Doll entered first. pale, but it was resolute, ‘*Come on, Billy!” she said. and run our chances, anyway.” Billy looked decidedly dubious as be obeyed her request; but if they had to die, there could he little choice. By the balloon there might be a chance of escape, The rain had ceased and the wind seemed to be decreasing. : ‘* Now, then, good-by!” the captain called out, when they were seated. ‘‘Glad to see you take it so coolly. Rategan, cut the anchor-rope.” The order was promptly obeyed, aud the crowd gave a hoarse, exultant yell, as the air- ship rose gracefully into the blackness of the night, and was lost to view with its basket of human freight. For several minutes the air-ship shot almost (directly upward; then appeared to strike a counter current, and veered to the eastward, Little Bill had held out bravely, but now began to cry. Denver Doll, too, was greatly alarmed, but knew it could avail nothing to give way to grief. Her, heart beat faster,'as, a few minutes later, she thought she detected a slight descend- ing of the balloon. ‘Don’t ery, Billy,” she said, cheerfully, “for we're not ‘goners’ yet.” ‘* Dye think so?” Bill asked, brightening up. Sedh believe ther’s any chance for us, Doll- . baby?” “Loads of it,” Doll replied. ‘The balloon is slowly but surely descending, or else for once I’ve lost my reckoning. If the balloon only continues to descend at this rate, we will strike terra firma without damage, The balloon Her face was very “We'll try it, mnst have sprung a slight leak, which is gradu- | ally letting the gas out. Ff the leak should stuldenly grow larger, we would go down a-lkitin?!” But the leak did not grow larger, and little by little the balloon settled down between the rug- fed mountains, into a deep, dark ravine, where with no wind to drift it, the ground was soon reached in safety. As the two friends stepped from the basket they beheld a camp-fire burning in the mouth of- a little cavern, and heard an exclamation that sounded most pleasant to Denver Doll. “Shimminy gracious! dunder und plitzen! vot ish dot?” and following the words the rotund ra figure of Yakie Strauss appeared in the cave en- trance. “Don’t be scared, Yakie,” Doll called out. “It is only I, Denver Doll, and my new pard.” And the two adventurers advanced into the pes i The cave had a pleasant aspect in- eed, x Upon a pile of skins a very feminine-looking well-dressed young fellow, with a jet-black mus- tache, was lazily reclining, but arose sufficiently to tip his sombrero to the Detective Queen, Explanations at once ensued, Yakie listening open-mouthed to Doll’s thrilling recital, “Vel, y, dickens! dot vas a iuyfel of a schrape. I dinks tas: vas lie mit me,” he ejacu- lated, incredulously. oN 0, it’s all gospel truth. ~“‘ And now, if you will give us the proper directions, we must strike out at once for Nugget Notch, for we shall be needed there soon,” ‘We will all go,” the person on theskinssaid. “T am now thoroughly recovered, and- I have impertant business there.” oll pricked up her ears. ‘You are a woman!” she said, more positive- ly than inquiringly. The other uttered a laugh. “Yes, lam, Iam going to Nugget Notch to, if possible, an a great wrong I once did!” : ‘Vot! Vot ish dis? You vas a voomans?” Yakie éxclaimed in great astonishment. “Yes, my kind friend, although I played off the pay on you since you rescued me from the wr. ck. ‘Oh! Gott in himmel! Uff I had know’d dot I'd neffer haff stayed here, so help mel Py shimminy, I was fooled yoost like a Junatics!” “YT think I know who you are, although T have never seen you,” Denver Doll said, ‘‘ You are the woman who stepped in between See Ainsley and his wife, and by a forged’ certifi- cate, caused their separation.’ ’ ‘The same—Felice Falqueer. I did a ter- ribly unjust deed then. I was a_ wicked fool, but I am a woman now. I recently learned that Pacific Philand Kate were liable to meet in Nugget Noteb, by chance. 1 set forth to effect a reconciliation.” ; “They are there, and you can retrieve, in a measure, the wrong of the past. Yakie, you rascal, you kept your secret well, hut I found you out at last. Come, let’s all set out at once!” Tu a few moments the quartette were en route for the mining-camp, some ten miles distant. CHAPTER XV. A GRAND CIRCUS, Purr AINSLEY could not rest after Denver Doll’s departure. To know that he bimself was free, and his wife was a prisoner in the power of his villainous father, was worse than galland wormwood to him, and he so told his father-in- law, Conroy. ‘* What is the use of our remaining here idle, when others are working?” he said. ‘ Let us attempt the rescue of Kate, at least.” ‘‘T fear that, should we do this, we might in- terfere with the plans of our coadjutors, Phil,” Conroy demurred. i kes ene* jo Ga ee Sn ee

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te eT, Bid = SThctat: Sohal Eiri: = was the om J ao | “Pshaw! no. The boy’s not liable to accom- pith much, Wecan visit the house, taking my ether by surprise, and force him to give up Kate and the papers.” There was no mistaking that the buckskin sport was terribly in earnest. “Tm thinking he’d~submit to death before he’d yield!” “Because you don’t know him. He can use considerable braggadocio, but at heart he isa coward, We can rescue Kate at least, as the young rat told me where she is,” ad Well, I’m with you, if you think best, but we had better wait until the dead hours of night. We can work surer and with less pub- licity then.” Accordingly it was thus arranged. About an hour after midnight they leff the hotel, and made their way to the vicinity of the Ainsley mansion. , eit Just as they were trying the rear door, a man saddenly popped around the corner of the house and approached them. ‘© Who's there?” Pacific demanded. ‘Only me—Falqueer,” was the answer. ‘ Ef ye’re goin’ in thar, I wanter go, too, fer I reckon the old cuss has got my galstowed away in thar. *Scuse her, Philip, fer she means all right now, and set out ter cum hyar an’ tell ye ’twere all a ee job, thet certificut bizness, an’ she said as iow she couldn’t rest till she see’d you an’ yer wife reunited.” “Tam lad she is so sensible,” Pacific Phil re- plied, coldly. " Examination proved that the door was bolted on the inside, The only way, then, was to burst the fastenings; so the three men put their shoul- ders to the panels with a will. With very little effort,and no particular noise, the door was forced open; then taking off their boots, the trio entered the house. A lamp was found dimly burning in the kitchen, ‘ Pacific Phil took possession of this, and with revolvers drawn, the trio moved toward th front part of the house. < A glimmer of light came from under the par- lor door, and accordingly it was thrown open, and they entered. As they did so they were followed by four teed ‘persons, who had quietly entered the ouse. They were none others than Denver Doll, Lit- tle Bill, Felice Falqueer, and Yakie Strauss, who, in passing the house, had seen the trio burst open the door, and had followed their movements, eine parlor an unexpected sight met the gaze of all. Lying on the floor, partly raised upon one arm, was the banker, Harrison Ainsley. A pool of blood had oozed upon the carpet from a wound in his breast, and it was evident that his life was fast ebbing out, for he stared at the visitors wildly. . “Speak! whatdoes this mean, father?’ Pacific Phil demanded, quickly kneeling and supporting bis sinful parent. “Tt means that Ihave got my just deserts,” asping reply. ‘I have been a wicked have sinned against youall; but I ask ae be ————$—$—— Denver Doll as Detertive. your forgiveness, humbly. I was shot by my step-daughter, She came late, and I accused her of being the bank robber, fied. Oh!—ab! ah!” He fell back, then, and expired. She shot me and A few words should be sufficient to close this narrative. Kate was found and released, and Felice Falqueer joined the hands of the wronged hus- band and wife Soper and asked their forgive- ness, which was freely granted. A search of the premises discovered the papers relating to Kathleen’s fortune, and also the false marriage-certificate, which was destroyed. As soon as morning dawned, Denver Doil visited Detective Sinclair, and divulged the par- ticulars of the whereabouts of the desperadoes, A band of volunteers was at once organized, and a descent and attack made upon the rendez- vous. The outlaws showed fight, but the odds were against them, They would not surrender, how- ever, and were literally mown dcwn before the fire of the indignant citizens, But one arrest was made, and that was of the captain, who, as the readers have probably sur- mised, was discovered to be none other than Beau Blonde the gambler! 3 Despite Sinclair’s protestations, he was taken to the nearest tree, and lynched. Thus ended the career of the worst band of cules that ever infested the vicinity of Nugget otch. Harrison Ainsley was buried in Nugget Notch, Shas Pacific and his wife decided to settle own, By the latter, Little Bill was informed that he was not ber child, but a harmless waif whom she had found wandering in the mountaius. Both she and Pacific insisted, however, that the boy should remain with them, as their own, but Denver Doll forthwith objected. “You can’t have bim,” she decided, ‘I'd about as soon lose my right hand, as part with Billy.” : And William nodded approvingly. “You bet!” he said. ‘* Much obleeged to ye, Kate, but ye see me an’ my gal, Dollbaby, is the hossiest detective team o’ the day, an’ ye couldn’t separate us no more’n tho’ we war glue together wi? cement.” So, after receiving an ample and fitting re: ward, our two friends took their departure from Nugget Notch, ** — As Philip and Conroy were about to resume the bank, Ned was obliged to console himself with a clerkship. , The Falqueers soon left for their home in the Atlanta district, and, would you believe it, Yakie Strauss went along! And it is not im- probable that he and Felice will sooner or latgy link their fates together! Poti THE END, “ a

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DIME SPEAKERS. Each Speaker, 100 pages 12mo., containing from 50 to 75 pieces, tn eS Dime American Speaker, No. 1. | April. Lee ai Last reg ee of Stepha e 0! ; : America, J. Jeboom’s Oration, The Precious Heritage, Great Bell Roland, Birth y of Washin g A Dutch Cure, The Irish Element, The New Year and th Plea for the Maine Law, | The Weather, Train’s S) King Cotton; [Union Not on the Battlefield, The Heated Term, Ohristy’s Perea, Rattle Anthern, The Italian Struggle, yen ADRBETs Let Me Alone, The Ends of Peace, pode pentoues Old Brigand-ier-General, Freedom the Watchwort aur route? ru at Nba Rs Pound Fook e Draft, Crisis of Our Nation, e Equality of Man, 0. tian Character of the Gdn Sat’ ‘d’y Night’ Enjoys, ts, Ui Unie he % aan be es oe Las The Fruits of the W. “Tn a Just Cause, Our Counts Turkey Dan’s Oration, The Sewing- Machine, * No Peace with ‘Oppres- ed bya shen Oak Oak Tree, | A Fearless Plea, True Manhood, sion The Onus of Slavéry, e Mystery of Life, = Tale of a Mouse, History of Fie A Borel ner’s Tribute, he Ups and Downs, A Thanksgiving Sermon, | T. F, Meagher’s A dress, | Th le Zouave, ae Boling and Ris’g, | Great Li ed bi ches, habl oon Owe Beh the Union, Gatheite Cathedri “t ives Imperishable coln’s Message, “ A. Ward's Oration, The Frophecy fo orthe Y’r * ‘ te ees aa tc ; degen go Ss = . ‘ ur Na’ ay, onor to the Dea folferino, heen of Patriots, Dime Comic Speaker, a 4. Intelligence the Basis of | Webster’s Polit’l System, ss on the War, | A Song of The War, |Liberty, | A Vision in the Forum, Kee Considered, | Ward’s Trip. re Richm’a, Puare: 9 oF Light Brigade, |Win Er teh te, Aceh ay, rr the 6 oman’s The and the ak The Mounte e Glass Railroad, | ay of the Governed, Comic rammar Ni Goftipound at, Case of Mr. Macbeth, wy. Ladder, rms Not a Sin A Sermon on the Feet, Prof. ee Pironology, y boom ‘ard’s y 6 sat jo! ‘ock, nnabel Lee, Alone, uzfuz ashington's Name, | The Rebellion of 1861, Bustuz on Pete The Fis es Tote, The Sailor Boy’s Syren, | Disuni Happiness, i Se! toOffice-seekes, * . re 4 Wale ae ozs, Bt ek Lg arena * ~ Dim iow: ealx oliti ump ch, “ oe Natio P wet hing! A aeail Eulogium, Comic Grammar, bg eat Union and its Results, Ohio, How to be a Fireman, Farewell to the Botte” 7 Our Country's Future, Oliver Hazard Decey, The United States, The Cork Leg, ‘ The Statesman’s Labors, |Our Domain, - Puff’s Acc’t of Himself, The Smack i Schoo! True Immortality, gr of Belief, Practical Phrenology, Slick’s Definition of Wifg . Let the Childless Weep, e Indian Chief, Beautiful, Tale of a Hat, d Our Country’s Glory, The Independent” Farmer | Cabbage, The Dehating Club, " Union a Household; Mrs. Grammar’s Ball, Disagreeable P pl A Dutch Sermon, Like? How the Money Comes, What isa Bachelor ao on Locomotion, Future of the Fashions, | Funny Folks, Mrs. Caudle on Umbr'la Loyalty to Liberty, ¢ . Our Country First, Last, $ and Always, Dime Elecutionist, No. 5. = Pustegl Ta UCn ES: SEC. I. Prrncrpriés or ‘T'rue Enxuncration.. Faultg tl The One Great Nee: Deft f ) The Siig ip aaa the oh, National ate in Enunciation; How to Avoid Them. Special Ruleg Independence Bell, = Teeuwmseh'’s Speech, | Murder Will Out, The Scholar's Dignity, a ee les of tae nor A Chrisimas Chani Stability of Christianity, The Trve Higher Law, and Observations. 4: Territorial Expansion, Strive for the Best, re Tl. Tse Arr or Oratory, Sheridan's List of “2 Marthe Hopkins, fae oe . e Passions: _ Tranquillity, Cheerfuln Mirth, | The Bashful Man’s Story, of Kindness, illery, Buffoonery. dove Delight, Gravity. Tn. >4 The Matter-of-Fact Man, | Gates of Sleep, ‘ guny. Attention, Mode cosy Perplexity, Pit; , Grief, a nae and Poor, - The Bugle, elancholy, Despair, t ‘ear, Shame, emorse, the Eclipse, A Hoodish Gem, Courage, Boasting, Pride, Obstinacy, Authority, Beanborot is he Law, Purity of the Struggle, Commanding, Forbidding, Affirming, Denying, — Ge-lang! Git Up, Old Age. Difference, Agreeing, Exhortiog, Sudging, Approv: 3 The Rats,of Life, Beautiful and iP oae ing, Acquitting, Sra Teachin ‘nde 9 wning Glory of U.S., | The Worm of the Still, ing, Arguing, Bohustbe Gre, ‘De. Three Foo! Man and the oe 4, ro em tesine Desire, Surve, Re 5 Washington, Our Great‘Inheritance, Eulogy on Henry ‘ ay, Language of the ct, Giving, Wonder, Admiration, eee Cu Washington, osity, Persuasion, Tempting, Promisin Zz. Affect: The Deluge. = tion, Sloth, Intoxication, Anger, ete, SEC. 11. THe Component ELEMENTS Or an * - : i tTron.—Rules of Composition-as applied io'Words Dime Patriotic Speake. No. 3. and Phrases, viz? Pur rity, Prope aa Precision. America to the Wor A Kentnokian’ Sa As applied to Senten Love of ot Bae ie, | Kentucky $' sapped Gordian Unity, Strength. Right o Bava the Timidity is eit : oar: the Narratio _ Our a The Alarum, p nuation, the

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{82 Buffalo Bill's Dead Shot wer Vol, Prontig® 82 Death Trailer, the Chief of Scouts; or, Life and Hove in a Frontier Fort, By Buffalo Bill, pes ari , Wore} ie ; on vic dbcalWeyes =. "Hts The Doomed Dozen; or, Bues Bill, Chief of Scouts. By Dr. Frank Powell. 4c Wild Bill, the Pistol Dead-Shot, A Romance of Buffalo Bill’s Old Pard, By Col. P.\Ingraham, 45 Wi'd Biil's Trump Card; or, The indian Heiress, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 189 Wild Bill’s Gola Trail; or, The Desperate Dozen, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 43 The Pilgrim Sharp; or,The Soldier’s Sweetheart, By Buffalo Bill, Government Scout and Guide. - $19 Wild Bill, the Whirlwind of the West. By Buf- falo Bill, '®9 The League of Three: or, Buffalo Bill’s Pledge, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, x ‘” The Wizara Brothers; or, White Gouver’s Trail, By Buffalo Bill. Nn Tne One-Armed Pard; or, Red Retribution in Borderland, By Buffalo Bill. {7 Buffalo Bill’s First Trail; or, Will Cody, the Pony Express Rider. By Ned Buntline, #9 The Dead Shot Nine; or, My Pards of the Plaing, By Buffalo Bill, 49 Daredeath Dick, re of the Cowboys; or, Buf: falo Bill’s Daring Role. By Leon Lewis. 1% The Gold King; or, Montebello, the Magnificent, By Buffalo Bill. ‘4 Buffalo Bill’s Bonanza; or, The Knights of the « Silver Circle, Rv Col P. Ingraham, #9 Buck Tay.or, the Saddle K ng. By Col. P, In * graham @2 Buffalo Bill’s Secret Service Trail; or, The Mys terious Foe. 34 Maj. Dangerfield Burr. 391 Buffalo Bill’s Blind Trail; or, Mustang. Madge, the Daughter of the Regiment. By Ingraham. 497 Buffalo Bill’s Buckskin Brotherhood; or, Open- ing Up a Lost Trail. By Col P. Ingraham, #10 Buffalo Bill Baffled; or, The Deserter Desperado’s Defiance. By Col. P. Ingraham, #16 Buffa'o Bill’s Scout Shadowers; or. Emerald Ed of Devil's Acre, By Col. P. Ingraham. #742 Buffalo Bill on the War-Path, By Col. Ingraham (27 uffalo Bill’s Body-guard By Col. P, Ingraham, “s* Buffalo Bill’s Beagles. By Col. P. Ingraham. Buffalo Bill and His Merry Men. By Col, P. ' {ngraham, i > Juffalo-Biil’s Blind. Ry Col. P. Ingraham, «3 Buffalo Bill’s Flush Hand; or, Texas Jack’s Bravos, By Col. P, Ingraham, 150. baffalo Bill’s Big Wour, By Col, P. Ingraham. *67 Buffalo Bill's Double; or, The Desperado Detec- tive. By Gol Prentiss Ingraham, ‘61 Buffalo Bill's Mascot, or, Death Valley Victim No, 18. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, ‘85 Buffalo Bill’s Dozen; or, Silk-Ribb(n Sam, By Col Prentiss Ingraham, +69 Buffalo Bill’s Sweepstake,. By Col. Ingraham, ‘77 Buffalé Bill’s Spy-shadower, By Col. Ingraham - BURPALO BILL Novels in the DINE LIBRARY 800 Wild Bin, the Doad-Center Sho or, Rio Grande Ralph the Cowboy Chief. By Buffalo Bill, 807 Wilu Bill, the Wild West Duelist; or, The Girl Mascot of Moonlight Mine, By Buffalo Bill, 812 Buffalo Bill’s Death-Knell; or, Tne Red Hand Riders of the Rockies By Col. P Ingraham 820 White Beaver’s Still Hunt; cr, The Miner Marauder’s Death-Track, By Buffalo Rill. 822 Buffalo Bill’s Best Bower; or, Montebello, the Gold King, By Col. P. Ingraham, 826 Buffalo Bill’s Sharp-Shooters; or, The Surgeon Scout to the Rescue. By Col, P. Ingraham. 830-Buffalo Bill’s Boys in Biue; or, The Brimstcne B-nd's Blot-out, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. | 839° he Ranch King Dead Shot; or, Texas Jack’s Proxy. By Buffalo Bill, 845 Buffalo Bills Redskin Ruse; or, Texas Jack's Death Shot. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham, 851 Buffalo Bill’s Double Dilemma; or, The Grear . Seout’s Big Three. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham) 857 Buffalo Bill’s Royal Flvsn; or. The Pony Rider’s Dea'h-Run, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 863 Buffalo Bil’s Death-Charm; or, The Man Wiib aScar. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham, 869 Buffalo Bi I’s Road-Agent*‘Ronod up; or The Mys- terious Masked Manin Black. By Ingrahem. 874 Buffaio Bill’s Buckskin B,aves; or, The Card Que+n’s Las’ Game By Cl, P. Ingraham. 882 Tne Threx Bilis: Biffalo Bul, “ild Bill and Band box Bul: or, The Bravoin Broadcloth, Ingraham 890 Buffalo Bill's Life-Stake; or, The Pledged Tnree, by Col, Prevtiss Ingrabam, 895 Buffalo Bil’s Seeret Ally; or, The Texan* Double, By Col. Préntiss Ingraham. 900 Boffalo@Bill’s Rough Riders; or, Texas Jack’ Sosrp-Shooters. By Oc] P. Ingraham. > $04 Buffalo Bil’s fareld Trad; or, Gentlema Jack, the Man of Many Masks. By Ingraham, 909 Buffilo Bill's» League; or, Red Butterfly. Br Col. Prentiss ie aber 915 B f¥ito Bili and the Surgeon Scout;or Go wan: 0, the R dskin Rider. By Cul. P. lograham. 921 Buffaio Bill’s Quandary; or; Velvet Bill's Vow By Col, Prenth« Ipgrah+m, = 927 Buffalo Bil’s Buff; or, Dusky Dick, the Sport By Col. P. ingraham. 936 Buffalo Bill’s Black Pard; or, The Gold Be>rmen of the Big Horn. By Col. P. Ingrahum. 943 Buffalo Bill’s Block Game, By Colonel BP, Ingraham, 950 Buffalo Bill at Bay. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. 956 Buffalo Bill’s Volunteer Vigilantes. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham, 960 Buffalo Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade. By Colonet Prentiss Ingraham. 964 Buffalo Bill’s Invincibles. By Col. Prentise Ingraham. 869 Texas Jack, the Lasso King; or, The Rob- Bo Rangers of the Rio Grande, By ‘uffalr 9738 The Dread-Shot Four. By Buffalo Bill, 978 Buffalo Bill’s Relentless Trail. By Cot. Prentiss Ingraham. 484 Buffalo Bill's Life Raffle; or, The Doomed Three. Ready Sept. 1. ‘89 Buffalo. Biil’s Marked Bullet. By’ Col. L. Ingraham. Ready Oct. 6. 94 Buffalo Bill’s Lone Hand. By Col. P. Inx graham. - 000 Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard. By Col. P. Ine graham, The above Dimz L'braries are Mor Sale Wy » UL NEWSDES" ERS, ten cents per omtyp, o ent by mallan- at af nrica. é

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SwART TOASTS FOR THE SMART SBT, Vest Pocket Size. 64 Pages. By Mail, Postpaid, l2c. Sewed Book. Up-to-Date. 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, ete. VAUDEVILLE JOKER.—Best Jokes by Eminent Vau- deville Artists. BOOK OF ETIQUETTE.—Society, Visits, Introduc- tions, Dress, Balls, etc. FORTUNE TELLER.—Fortune Telling by Cards, Tea or Coffee Grounds, Eggs: Palmistry, ete. BOOK OF 100 GAMES.—One Hundred Games for Social Parties and Home Amusements, COOK BOOK.—Economical, Practical, Excellent. LADIES’ LETTER WRITER.—How to Write; };When to Write; What to Write. RECIPE BOOK.—For the Parlor, Nursery, Sick-room, Toiiet, Kitchen, Larder, ete. BOOK OF BEAUTY.—Beauty of Form, Color, Head, Hair, Complexion, Skin, ete., with chapters on Perfumes, 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, and Marriage. “GERMAN ” JOKER.—‘ Dutch” Jokes and “ Gags” by best.‘ Dutch ’’ Teams on the Stage. “HAYSEED” JOKER.—The Doings of ‘Our Country Cousins” in a Humorous Way. “TRAMP” JOKER.—Good ‘‘ Handouts” in this Book for Professional and Amateur Entertainers, “COON ” YARNS.—Best Jokes Relating to Our “ Dark- er-Skinned Brothers.” “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 ‘t 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 5 1 Dandy Bill’s Doom. By Oll Coomes. By A. W. Aiken. 4 Willie, 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. By J. E. Badger. 9 Roving Joe. By A. H. Post. 10 Texas Jack. By Ingraham. 11 Charley Skylark, the Sport. 12 Brimstone Bill’s Booty. By J. 13 Roving Ben. By J. J. Marshall. 14 The Ticket-of-Leave’s Trick. By J. E. Badger, Jr. 45 Wide-Awake George. By E. Willett. : 16 Wide-Awake Ned. By B. Ringgold. 17 Peter, the Dandy Greenhorn. By Noah Nuff. 18 Adrift on the Prairie. By Oll Coomes. 19 Joe, the Rover Sport. By A. H. Post. 20 Giant Pete and his Pards. By Harbaugh, 21 Yellow Hair. By Ingraham. 22 The Snow-Trail. By Harbaugh, 23 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. 25 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. 83 Kit Carson. By H. B. Stoddard. . Badger, Jr. ‘45 Bronco Billy. LIBRARY. CENTS PER COPY. 34 The Chase of the Great White Stag. By O. D. Olark, 35 Old Tar Knuckle. By Rover Starbuck. 36 The Dashing Dragoon. By F. Whittaker, 87 Night-HaW‘k George. By Ingraham. 38 The Boy Exiles of Siberia. By I. C. Harbaugh. 39 The Young Bear Hunters, By Morris Redwing, 40 New York Bill, the Dodger. By Edward Willett. 41 The Settler’s Son. By Edward §. Ellis. 42 Walt Ferguson’s Cruise. By C. D. Clark, 43 Rifle and Revolver. By F. Whittaker. 44 The Lost Boy Whalers. By ‘T. C. Harbaugt.. 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 ‘om Stone, the Old Sea Dog. By ©. D. Clark, 52 The Boy Detectives. By T. C. Harbaugh. 53 go Shae Country Boy, in New York. By Charles orris. 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, Ky 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 I’. C. Harbaugh. 61 The Tiger Hunters. By J. E. Badger, Jr. 62 Doctor Carver, the Champion Shot. By Ingraham, 63 Black Horse Bill, the Bandit Wrecker. By Roger Starbuek. 64 Young Dick Talbot. By A W. Aiken.

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ee THE Deadwood Dic e Library o § 4&xtracts trom the New York Evening Sun. in only one sense of the word can it be regarded asa novel 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 this remark before the subtle delicacy of its genial wit strikes liome, But it is most essentially a half dime novel statement that 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 but few heroes that in the eyes of boyhood would be even judged worthy of comparison with the two greatest Seroes known to American literature, or, to ProoEny 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 of whom the Deadwood Dicks are much the most important * * * it is but natural that their * * * should bear eway the palm of popularity, and suchas * * * be left far behind in the race. It can be easily believed, therefore, that the two Dicks are so 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 4 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road 2 The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance & The Buffalo Demon; or. The Border Vultures 4 Buffalo Ben, Prince of the Pistol §$ Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval $ Death-Face, the Detective 7 The Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza 4 Old Avalanche, the Great Annihilator; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand § Bob Woolf, the Border Ruffian y@ Omaha Oll, the Masked Terror; or, Deadwood Dick in Danger 11 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix; or, Through to Death f Rm er ge Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood ar 18 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team 14 Gold Rifle, the Puereercons 15 Deadwood Dick on Deck: or, Calamity Jane \ 6 Corduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo Vi Strela Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight of the uich 28 Idyl, the Girl Miner; ur, Rosebud Rob on Hand 29 Photograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance 20 Watchb-Bye. the Shadow s1 Deadwood Dick’s Device; or, The Sign of the Double Cross 22 Canada Chet, the Counterfeiter Chief 88 Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke for Liberty y, ‘%4 Deadwood Dick as Detective 25 Gilt-Wdge Dick 26 Bonanza Bill, the Man-Tracker; or, The Secret Twelve 387 Chip, the Girl Sport 98 Jack Hoyle’s Lead; or, The Road to Fortune 80 Boss Bob, the King of Bootblacks a0 bears nibd Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s nic #1 Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base & Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent TWO REMARKABLE LATEST AND BEST, HANDSOME TRI-COLORED COVERS. 82 Pages. Issued Every Wednesday. Price 5 Cents. Buy One and You Will Buy the Rest} HEROES. above all rivals in the eyes of the public for which the) have lived, and for which one of them has died, American boyhood, and that is a tremendous factor fm the land, now knows Deadwood Dick, Jr., a good beak bee ter than it knows its catechism, and millfons of young minds absorb the thrilling incidents of his career in hig everlasting warfare against crime and his vever-enaing solving of impenetrable mysteries. / Millions of boys follow his stealthy footsteps as he tracks his viclous victims to their undoing, and then, when the victims are thoroughly undone, the millions walt hungrily for the next volume, which on every Wednesday appears with the certainty of the Wednesday itself, and a new set oF delienta thrills go thrilling away from Maine to Calt- ornia, There are the volumes each so crowded with thrills and heart-tugs that It were madness to hope to do justice te them collectively and rank injustice to discriminate be- tween them, To abandon the idea of giving a few extracts causes In- finite pain, but if once a start were made in that 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. 33 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 36 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective 37 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 bee Josh Grim; or, The Young Gladiator's ame 45 The Frontier Detective; or, Sierra Sam's Scheme 48 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 63 Denver Doll’s Device; or, The Detective Queen 54 Denver Doll as Detective 55 Denver Doll’s Partner; or, Big Ruckskin the Sport 56 Denver Doll’s Mine; or, Little Bill’s Big Loss 57 Deadwood Dick Trapped 58 Buck Hawk, Detective; or, The Messenger Boy's Fortune 59 Deadwood Dick's Disguise; or, Wild Walt, the Sport 60 Dumb Dick's Pard; or, Eliza Jane, the Gold Miner 61 Deadwood Dick’s Mission 62 Spotter Fritz: or, The Store-Detective’s Deco 68 The Detective Road-Agent; or, The Miners of Sassa- fras City 64 mor pee Charlie’s Detective Dash; or, The Cattle ings M. J. [VERS & CO., Pubiishers (James Sullivan, Proprietor), 879 Pearl Street, NEW YORK.

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Copyright 1882-1888, by Beadle & Adams, Entered at Post Office, New York, N. Y., as second class matter. Mar. 15, 1899, THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK CO, Vol. V Cleveland, Ohio ’ DENVER DOLL WAVED HER TORCH TO AND FRO ABOY. Rei J voice. BRANTIC WITH FEAR THAT NOQ HEED “OnUD BE TAKEN OF HER, & HER HEAD, AND SCREAMED AT THE TOP oF

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THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK CO, Cleveland, Ohio PENVER DOLL W: HER TORCH TO AND FRO ABOVE HER HEAD, AND SCR 'D AT THE TOP OF SHR VOICE, FRANTIC WITH PEAR TEAT NO BHED WOULY BE T4REN UP BBR

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Deadwood Dick e Library e DEADWOOD DICK LIBRARY. j 2 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road 2 The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Deflance 8 The Buffalo Demon; or, The Border Vultures 4 Buffalo Ben, Prince of the Pistol 5 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 Ks 11 ae ct Ngai Jr., the Boy Phenix; or, Through to ea, 12 eecgs Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood ar ; 12 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red: Rifle Team 14 Gold Rifle, the praca octar 15 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane 16 Corduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo 1” caer ri Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight of the uleh . ,§ Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand 19 Photograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance 20 Watch-Eye, the Shadow 21 Deadwood Dick's Device; or, The Sign of the Double Cross 22 Canada Chet, the Counterfeiter Chief 23 Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke for Liberty 24 Deadwood Dick as Detective 25 Gilt-dged Dick 26 Bonanza Bill, the Man-Tracker ; or, The Secret Twelve 27 Chip, the Girl Sport . 28 Jack Hoyle’s Lead; or, The Road to Fortune 29 Boss Bob, the King of Bootblacks 80 nen Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s ule! 81 Blonde Bill; or. Deadwood Dick’s Home Base 82 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent “ —" j ; LATEST AND BEST. HANDSOME TRI-COLORED COVERS. 82 Pages. Bay One and You Will Buy the Rest! | Fer Sample Cover See Other Bide. ~ | 883 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 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 Jezebei 42 The Arab Detective; or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp 43 The Ventriloquist Detective. A Romance of Rogues 44 gh Josh Grim; or, The Young Gladiator's ame ; 45 The Frontier Detective; or, Sierra Sam's Scheme : ‘46 The Jimtown Sport; or, Gypsy Jac« 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 v 50 Sierra Sam’s Double; or, The Three Female Detect | ives 51 get te one Sentence; or, Little Luck at Rough ne 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 Ruckskin the Sport 656 Denver Doll’s Mine; or, Little Bill’s Big Loss 57 Deadwood Dick Trapped 58 Buck Hawk, Detective; or, The Messenger Boy's Fortune 59. Deadwood Dick’s Disguise; or, Wild Walt, the Sport — 60 Dumb Dick’s Pard; or, Eliza Jane, the Gold Miner 61 Deadwood Dick’s Mission q 63 The Detective Road-Agent; or, The Miners of Sassa ras City 64 Colorado Charlie’s Detective Dash; or, The Cattle 3 ¢ : 5 i 62 Spotter Fritz: or, The Store-Detective’s Deco j ‘ ings 4