Deadwood Dick Library (v. 5) (1900 04 11)

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Copyright 1881-1859, wy Beadle & Adaiis. Entered at Post Office. New York, N. Y., us second class matter. Mar. 15, 189% ; M. 3. IVERS & CO., Publishers, Pie No. 57. ee i cy (James Sullivan, Proprietor,) Price v Cents. Vol. Y, Apr. 11, 1900. 329 Pearl Street, New York. $2.50 a Year. ——— _ mae = —— —— ~ — — —= SESTICTLATE WILDLY. 3

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EDWARD L. WHEELER'S DEADWOOD DICK, JR, NOVELS IN THE HALF-DIME LIBRARY.) Price 5 Cents per Copy. 443 Deadwood Dick, Jrv.; or, The Crimson 716 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt. Crescent Sign. 722 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dominoes. 44s Deadwood Dick, Jr’s, Defiance. 728 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguise. 453 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Full Hand. 734 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Deal. 459 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Big Round-Up. 740 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death-Watch. 465 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Racket at Claim 10. 747 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Doublet. 71 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Corral. 752 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death-Blow. 476 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dog Detective. 758 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Strait. 481 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Deadwood. 764 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Lone Hand. 491 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Compact. 770 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Defeat. 496 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Inheritance. 776 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Resurrection. 500 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Diggings. 782 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dark Days. 508 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deliverance. 787 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Defied. 515 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Protege. 792 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Device. 522 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Three. 797 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Venture. 529 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Danger Ducks. 802 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Diamond. Dice. 5384 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death Hunt. 807 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Royal Flush. 5389 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Texas. 812 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Heac-Off. 544 Deadwood Dick, Jr., the Wild West Vidocq. 816 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Rival. 549 Deadwood Dick, Jr , on His Mettle. 822 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Boom. 554 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in-Gotham. 828 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Scoop. 561 ‘(Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Boston. 834 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s,,Proxy. 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Philadelphia. . 840 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Clutch. 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chicago. 845 Deadwood Dick, Jr,’s, High Horse. 578 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Afloat. 852 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Devil’s Gulch. 584 Deadwood Dick, Jr.; in Denver. * 858 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death-Hole Hustle. 590 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Decree. 863 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Bombshell. 595 Deadwood Dick, Jr.; in Beelzebub’s Basin. 870 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Mexico. 600 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Coney, Island. 876 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Decoy Duck. 606 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Leadville Lay. 882 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Silver Pocket. 612 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Detroit. 891 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dead-Sure Game. 618 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Cincinnati. 898 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Drive. 624 Deadwood ‘Dick, Jr., in Nevada. 904 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Trade-Mark. 630 Deadwood Dick, Jr-, in.No Man’s Land. 910 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Tip-Top. 636 Deadwood Dick, Jr., After the Queer. 916 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double-Decker. 642 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Buffalo. 928 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Dollarville. 648 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Chase Across the} 934 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Flush Flats. Continent. 940 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Shake-Up. 654 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Among the Smug-|. 946 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Drop. glers. 951 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Right Bower. 660 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Insurance Case. 957 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Ten-Strike. 666 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Back in the Mines. 965 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Gold Dust. 672 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Durango. 971 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Oath. 678 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Discovery. 77 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death-Doom. 684. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dazzle. 980 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Best Card. 690 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dollars. 992 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Gold Dust. 695 Deadwood -Dick, Jr., at Danger Divide. 998 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Big Play. 700 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Drop. 1005 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Branded. 704 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Jack-Pot. 1011 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dutch Pard. 710 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at San Francisco. 1018 Deadwood Dick, 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., 379 Prart Street, New York Crry.

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AGEN Oo. % RRA RSS VERS eS MARCA? + oye tess CASA ao Sf oepgotrns oA : SEARS Uopyright 1881-1889, by Beadle & Adams. Entered at Port Office, New York, N. Y., as second class matter, Mar. 15, 1898, a r =} a > 1 te ’ | Tested svectiy, M. J. IV ERS & CO:, Pp ublisher Ss Pitas Conta: 0, 7 , (James Sullivan, Proprietor,) 3 = 0 ‘ Apr. 11, 1900. 879 Pearl Street, New York. $2.50 a Year. 2 [| eters ce ye OUNTED AN OLD BARREL AND COMMENCED TO. YELL AND GHSTICULATE WILDLY.

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Deadwood Dick Trapped: ROXEY RALPH’S RUSE. \ BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, ' @UTHOR OF “DEADWOOD DICK” NOVELS, ETC, CHAPTER If. RICHARD GOLD-DUST. PISTOLVILLE! Though not a bonanza town, or subject to any particular ‘‘boom,” was, withal, in its own opinion quite “‘ fly,” and considered itself a hun- dred-fold greater place of importance than Devil’s Nugget, up the gulch, or Skeleton Flats, an equal distance down the gulch. Pistolville was situated on the narrow, sandy bottom of a rugged mountain gulch, which latter was a sort of golden belt running from Devil's Nugget to Skeleton Flats, rewarding de- votees of the pick and shovel, wheresoever in- clination might lead them to dig. There was a general supply-store, a couple of saloons, a banking or trust office, a smithy, saw-mill and. smelting and crushing mill com- bined, and a rude log structure on the door of which was lettered, ‘School No, 1.” Perhaps Pistolville had never had such a thing as a school, but then, not to be beaten by Skeleton Flats, they had erected the edifice, and all that was wanting was a teacher. To meet this requirement Big Hank Haddon had posted a placard on the building, in a con- spicuous place, so that passers-by might have the benefit of it. Tt read as follows: “NOTISS! ‘“WANTED:—A fu’st-class tutor to take hold an’ run this shebang, in gud style, cheap fer chips. No feller w’ot ain’t acquaint wi’ ther higher branches 0’ studies an’ cluss shutin’, needn’t apply. “ Hank Happon, Mayor.” The “* Mayor” was of course a superfluity on the part of Henry, for Pistolville had no estab- lished ruler or government further than indi- vidual “blow” went, and heing a_ typical “bad” man, such as are sure to be found in every place, Haddon considered himself ‘* boss.” September is always a delightful month in the Sierras, and it was on one pleasant September evening that a man finished a sketch of the falls, at which he had been working several hours, and putting his book under bis arm, sauntered down toward Pistolville, which was bathed in tha last rays of the dying sunset, A man of four or five-and-twenty, gracefully built and eminently good-looking, with his clear-cut features, dark-brown eyes and some- what darker hair, and mustache, he was unlike the citizens of Pistolville. When the artist came to the untenanted school-building he paused and read the sotice attentively, then read it over again, as if it had sume especial intérest to him. i H : # . Deadwood Dick Trapped. Seeing which, Haunted Hank, as the self- styled ‘‘ mayor” was nick-named, and a few of his pards made bold to cross over. ‘© Halloo, daisy!” the mayor saluted, taking a quid of tobacco from his mouth and hurling it against the placard, so that it to some extent obliterated the word ‘* Notiss.” ‘*I say, halloo, stranger.” ‘« Hello, sir!” the artist responded, raising his hat and looking the surprise he may or may not have felt. I see the town wants a school master?” ‘“ Waal, I’spect that’s about the dimensions of it, beauty. Interlect ar’ sought fer by ther byees an’ gals o’ Pistolville.” ‘* Ah, indeed? That is good. You could di- rect me to the mayor, perhaps?” ‘‘Presumedly, stranger, fer I’m ther honor- able party, you bet,” “Oh, you are?” : And a peculiar expression crept into the ar- tist’s face. ‘Yas, I aire!” Henry asseverated, boldly. “‘T’'m the high-cockolorum who controls tber des- tiny o’ this hyar town, an’ I runs it, you bet, an’ loot wot sez nay gits his ear chawed off.” “Ah, Isee! And so you want a competent a to instruct the young idea how to shoot, e “Not much! I allow ther boys knows how ter do that. What we want is simply a chap ter Parn ther boys how ter write, read, spell an’ cipher; an’, mind ye, I don’t hold myself re- sponserble fer funeral expenses.” ‘*Oh! I don’t avticipate the need of an under- taker, as I have had some success in getting on the right side of children, How old do the scholars average?” Haunted Hank laughed outright, and his com- panions grinned bugely. “Their age, beauty? Waal, now, I don’t know so much about that, but ye can see the size of *°em—these hyar be a fair sample,” ae the bystanders were indicated as the ex- ample. The artist looked surprised, and gave vent to a whistle. : ‘Ob! then it is to be a school of adults? Are there no children?” * Nary a kid.” * And no girls?” “Waal, I dunno, Roxie—that’s Bill Ralph’s gal—ar’ a harum-scarum, an’ I reckon ye wouldn’t want her, ’ca’se ef she tuk a notion to giggle, and you objected, she’d pop ye over like she would a prairie chicken, Then there’s old Datch Joe’s darter, Dora Dare, a stuck-up litile piece, who reads hymns an’ novels an’ sech —1 reckon she’d not bother A bi an’ Starlight, the Ponea gal, who occasionally comes to town, she don’t need tew git any smarter than she is now. Thet composes our female population.” ‘Indeed! Jam sorry for that, as ladies are great civilizers,” the artist declared, and some- how his auditors took it as a broad hint that they needed civilizing. And, accordingly, they exchanged glances. “See hyar, my fine feller! Haunted Hank said, gruffly, ‘‘et won’t do fer ye tew tackle us thet way. We kin be as mild as a streak 0? sunshine, or we kip oe like a blizzard, We're inte sae ie at

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Deadwood Dick Trapped. 3 game, we aire, an’ ye’re ther very kind o’ a young lamb fit tew eat, when ye rile us.” ‘* Of course, No doubt you, all put together, could get away with mein short order,” assented the artist, with a gracious smile. ‘* Neverthe- less, notwithstanding, howsomever, plural, we will not discuss the point at present, but I will bid you adieu, with the notice that if you should want me to undertake the government of your school, you will find me somewhere about the city. Tal ta! tra! la! lee!” And, waving his hand, the sketcher sauntered on down the street. Pistolville boasted of a hotel and saloon com- bined, where, for four ‘‘ bits,” a rather narrow meal could be had, and to this the artist wended his way. ; After engaging accommodations for a few days, a book was shoved toward him by the blear-eyed clerk, and in a graceful band he re- ade himself as ‘‘ Richard Gold-dust, New ork. Then, lighting a cigar, he was shown to his room, and was seen no more until later in the evening. But that mattered not, Tn less than half an hour after his arrival every person in Pistolville knew that a genuine ‘‘skule- master” had come to town, and that he was a very ‘‘toney” chap; so, as a matter of course, avery one who had not seen him was on the qui vive to have ‘‘ a squint at ther sport.” During the evening, Mr. Richard Gold-dust sauntered down into the crowded saloon for a fresh cigar, and asa result became the target for many glances. To his surprise, as he stood at the bar, a girl, attired in pants, top-boots, long hunting blouse and jaunty slouch hat, and mounted on a super- annuated-looking donkey, rode from a rear por- tion of the room straight up to a position along- side the bar next to the artist. And the donkey gave vent to a bray that caused Mr. Gold-dust a violent start, whereat the rider burst into a hearty laugh, a musical, ringing laugh that was pleasant to hear, he rider was not a woman yet—probably at the most she was not over seventeen, with a petite, well-rounded figure, and a fresh, rosy face, laughing and lovable in expression, and eyes that sparkled with youthful spirit—eyes that could gleam with stern or friendly light— and hair brown and wavy, tossing in unrestrain- ed wealth upon her shoulders, Gold-dust watched her curiously; then was about to turn away, but she laid her hand on his shoulder. “Stop! hold up a bit, cap’n! Tve got some- thin’ more to say to you. I heer you’re to be the new schulemaster. Now, d’ye calculate ye kin tame your scholars?” __ ‘¢Tf [ take yonder school and undertake to in- struct those who may apply for instruction, I shall naturally have a code of discipline, and expect every scholar to follow it. If they re- fuse, I shall give them the choice of behavior or leaving.” ‘© And if they refuse to do either?” ‘Oh, well, if it comes to that, it will remain to be seen who will be master of the situation.” “Oh! yes; he'll make a fine school-teacher,” a voice at this instant cried from another part of the room, ‘Just imagine, for instance, what a great amount of brains may be contained in that pate, or what powerful strokes of lightning the hardness of that cheek could resist!” Gold-dust spotted the speaker, even as he was giving utterance to the words, and walked straight over to where be was standing. He was rather a dashing-looking fellow, both in face, figure and attire, and was somewhere near the artist’s own age, but there was an expres- sion about bis black eyes and mustache-shaded mouth which was sinister and evil. ‘“*T presume you were referring to me,” Gold- dust said, with calmness, ‘‘ Evidently my pres- ence here in Pistolville is offensive, and again perhaps you have some other remark to offer?” “Yes, You’re a swell-head and a snide, and there is no room here for you!” the insulter retorted, “Pl show you,” and out went his arm, and down went the offender! CHAPTER II. DAUGHTER AND FATHER, IMMEDIATE excitement succeeded the knock- down, making the aspect of affairs decidedly unhealthy looking for the artist, “Hurral Look ye, pilgrims o’ Pistolville— thet’s ther style o’ a hairpin as wants ter set himself up as our schoo)-teacher! How d’ye like him, b’yees? What caliber d’ye put him at, fu’st glance?” Not aman ventured a reply. Evidently they did not propose to make too personal remarks about Gold-dust Dick, ashe had already been nicknamed, until they knew the man better. And as for Richard, himself, he stood calmly waiting for a return attack from the man he had knocked down. . * But when that individual scrambled to his feet with a bleeding nose, and pair of bruised eyes, he simply shook his fist at the artist, with a muttered execration. **Look out forme! I'll have revenge for this, or my name is not Tra-la-lee Charley!” he growled, and then went*out to wash the blood from his face. “Tra-la-lee Who-ever-you-may-be, you'll find that I run my school,” the artist retorted, and turned to make his way up-stairs, when he was intercepted by Haunted Hank and Cow- hide Sam. “Hold up, beauty!” the mayor said, extend- ing his hand. ‘‘Afore ye go, give us yer flip- _ per, an’ allow us ter congratulate ye! Thar’s nothin’ slow about you, except yer feet, an’ they’ll outgrow criticism, in due time. In ther mean time, we, ther representative pillers o’ this city, have put our craniums together, and come to the conclusion that no fitter man than you can be selected to manage our school. Tharfore, do we beg an’ beseech you to accept ther persish, at twenty dollarsa week, and break the head of the first rascal who refuses to mind you.” | “Ts this the verdict of the crowd?” Gold-dust dernanded in a loud enough tone, so that all could hear, i _‘* Yas, you bet! What saith I, Heneri, the sixty-fifth apostle, hez ter beso, Allinfavoro’ — syst ; » eS re ae ee Ee a ee

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4 Deadwood Dick Trapped. seein’? Gold-dust Dick our skulemaster, please make manerfest by sayin’ I!” “71 «*7) came a vigorous.response from the majority of the crowd, while to Haddon’s “Contrary, no!” there came only a few au- swers, “Thank yeu, gentlemen!” Gold-dust said, with a bow. ‘To-morrow I will drawup a code of rules and regulations, and on the fol- lowing day will begin school, sincerely trusting I shall have an obedient and exemplary roll of pupils. Good-evening!” Then, with another bow, he took his leave, while there was a grim silence among the rude audience. There were no audible expressions uttered against him, but it was pretty evident that Gold-dust Dick had not yet secured any particu-: larly firm hold upon the affections of these Pis- tolvillians, and that was not good. Gold-dust Dick was not seen until the next day, when he left the hotel, aud sauntered down to his future place of business, the ‘‘ school-us.” Approaching the cabin, he entered it, and found to his surprise that it had an occupant, and that, too, in the person of a pretty young lady, who might have been in the last year of her teens, and who was plainly buf neatly dressed, and very comely of face and figure. “Oh! excuse me,” she said, rising with a flushed countenance—‘‘ I—I—” “Oh! do not disturb yourself, pray,” he said doffing his hat, ‘‘as lam going right away. t just dropped in to post up a notice, concerning the school—that’s all.” And drawing forth a sheet of paper he pro- ceeded to tack it up on one corner of the black- hoard. “Oh! you are the new schoolmaster, then?” the young lady said, resuming her seat, with a book before her. ‘‘I am so glad we are to have ' aschool! Education isone of the things most needed here, in Pistolville,” “T agree with you, and I dare say I shall have my hands full in trying to civilize the fel- lows who are to be my scholars. Will I have you for a pupil, Miss Dare?” ‘Ah! you know my name, then?” “T heard of you as being one of the three ladies in the district, and inferred that you were Miss Dare.” “ Ah, yes! Well, I don’t think you need to enroll me as a pupil, as I would scarcely wish to be your only lady pupil, among so rough a crowd. If you could give me private instruc- tions at my home, when papa is there—” : bs yoy certainly. Is Mr. Dare home’ even- dings eAtas! no—{ would that he were,” she said, sadly, and turned her head away. She had a trouble then? Gold-dust realized that much, but he finished tacking up the paper before he spoke again. as ook hse is a business man, I presume?” he nally. Yes, sir. He is unfortunately a partner in the Voleano, the best mine in Pistolville, with ‘the man Tra-la-lee Charley, whom I have heard _you knocked down last evening.” said uy oe “Hal yes. He made some personal remarks that ‘riled me,’ as they say here in the mines, and I so far forgot myself as toknock him down, So your father is in partnership with him?” ‘“ Yes, sir. My father formerly owned the whole of the Voleano, but this man Tra-la-lee Charley got him to drinking, and next to gam- bling, and all that I can tell you is that the vil- lain now owns a half ‘interest in the Voleano— owns it through cheating my poor misguided father, who is but a wreck of bis former self. Ob! sir, what would I not give to see my father the brave, upright, noble man he was!” 2 moe is own daughter’s love lure him ac! & ‘Ob! I fear not. Ihave entreated him, and pleaded with him, and used every effort, but he seems to have lost all sense of shame or affec- tion, ia **T am very sorry for you, miss,” Gold-dust said, “and if ever I encounter the old gentle- man, I will exert my influence on him, for his good, mayhap.” Then, raising his hat, the new schoolmaster took his departure. ‘* What a strange fellow! It would seem that he has no desire to cultivate my acquaintance,” Miss Dare said to herself after he had gone. It was late that night when, in the window of a little room over the hotel saloon where Gold-dust Dick had put up, there shone a flick- ering light that madea yellow shadow across the street in the blank darkness of the night. In the little room sat two men on either side of a round deal table with a pack of cards be- tween them, supplemented by a bottle of liquor and some glasses. The more attractive appearing of the two was the young man—Tra-la-lee Charley. He was attired ina red smoking-cap and gay dressing-gown, and his mustache was waxed out to a needle’s point, giving him a decidedly dandified appearance. His companion was a typical “bum.” He was red-faced, with an extra tinge on the end of his nose; his hair was long and matted; his attire was greasy and slouchy; his eyes were dull and vacant in expression. This was Joe Dare—Dutch Joe—the father of ‘the girl Gold-dust Dick had met at-the school- house, and it needed no shrewd observer to draw the conclusion thet it would not take many more bottles of poison to use the poor wretch up. As we look in upon thescene, he was dozin; in his chair, while Tra-la-lee Charley was fold- ing up some papers and placing them in his pocket. ‘Come! come! bler cried, when he had placed the book in his pocket, and he reached over and shook the sleeper by the arm. ; ; “ Bh! vot ish dot?” Dare sleepily ; “‘ vot you vant, Sharley ‘“T want you to wake up, and have some style about you. What in blazes ails you?” “Vell, I dells you. I tink I vas Rip Van Winkle, in my dream, v’ot_sleeb twenty years, ateedsh, maesy ame duyfel Dora, und raise der 7 Wake up, Joe!” The gam- tiers looking up, und wen I wake up, I find you sdeal all mine —

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Aolermee he Cr a acer ne SE NE in sheneral. I dell you vot, Sharley, I tink I shwear off.” “ Like Rip did, eh? Ha! ha! ha! good joke, for a man of your intellect, Joe. By the way, it’s a long time between drinks, and so let’s smile, to your good luck,” “My goot luck! How vasdot? Haf I not lost efery game?’ “By no means. You must be boozy indeed. ‘You have won the last six straight games.” “Ish dot so? Vell, I didn’t remember dot, Vos we blaying for somedings?” “To be sure not. Why, bless you, for the last week you have refused to play for stakes and have won ’most every game. If you'd a} ‘chipped’ you’d have long ago won back all I ever won of you.” ‘Vell, dot vas foolishness mit me, den, How much ofer half der mine do I owe you, Sharley?” “Ob! a trifling sum, I have your note for four thousand dollars, and that covers every- thing. ‘CA note, you delis me, Sharley?” “To be sure—a note to secure me, you see.” “Vell, I[don’d know, Did Lefer sign a note to you?” . “Well, no—not exactly; that is, you see, I drew it up for the amount you owe me, and some time when you get ready, why you can sign it. I know you’re honest, and consequently am in no hurry.” ““Yas, I vas honest—dot vas der drubbles—I vas too honest. V’ot you say der mine is vorth now?” “Oh! probably a trifle over a half a million, though if wouldn’t sell for that, as the yield is not so large as a month ago.” “Und [ vas gamble avay all dot money? Vell, I vasa pig fool!” ““ What—you’re not getting pious?” ‘“Nix. I vas not so sleeby, dough, ash usual. I play you cards no more, Dra-la-loo Sharley!” | “ Well, Iam right sorry for that, Joe, We've spent some jolly ee together, and although ou’ve lost a thimbleful, you’ve gained, in the ong run, by learning how to play a fine game. I think if you play your half of the Volcano against my balf, you would win.” “Humph! you dink I vasa fool again? You vould like to get hold off der whole pizness, now, vouldn’t you?” “Indeed, no. You wrong me. To prove to you that I do not seek to enrich myself at your expense I will play you a game for a thousand dollars, and if you do not win Pll give you back iy half interest in the Volcano.” “Vel, Sharley, dot vas goot. I allus ink you vas square, and so vill be, Ve drink, den play. If I win, 1 come around to-morrow night und play my half for your half of der Voleano,” “Good!” the gambler said, producing a fresh pack of cards. ‘‘ That is liberal of you.” ‘* And may I beg leave to watch this interest- ing game?” They looked around. Just within the room stood Gold-dust Dick. CHAPTER IIT, A LIVELY SCHOOL AND MAD STAGING, ScHOOL commenced the next day at the usual hour, and the fact caused something akin toa | Buta bullet from Gold-dust’s revolver over & Geadwood Diek Trapped. Scent 5 mare celebration in Pistolville, for business was liter- ally suspended on the part of a number of miners, who were anxious to see how the “ thing worked,” So that, while some twenty odd roughs walked into the rude school-house when the bell rung, as many burly bewhiskered and bewhiskied non-attendants were grouped on the outside, peering in at the door and windows, They were anxious to see what school was ana how it pierce et) and then they rather expected to see the new educator ‘‘ cleaned out.” But Gold-dust Dick had not taken the school for any such a purpose; he had come there with a determination to run it, and, judging by his appearance this morning, he intended to do it, As soon as the rude delegation of would-be scholars were seated, pretty much wherever they pleased about the house, Dick et tig smartly on the table with his ferule and said: * Order!” And there was order instanter. You could have heard a pin drop, * Children,” announced the new pedagogue, sternly, ‘‘Iam here for the purpose of teach- ing you several branches of studies, which it has not been your privilege heretofore to learn, and { hope and trust you will be obedient to the rules of the s@hool, a primer, which two of you ean study for the first half-hour, How many of you know how to read?” Every man present held up his band. “Very well, Writing and spelling will be the first course of studies, Henry, can you gal hae care “Not by a durned sight, boss. D’ye take me fer a reg’lar organized dictionary? Give me sumthin’ easier.” ‘¢ Not so many remarks, please. For the first On each desk you will find. lesson, you can all learn to spell the words upon — the first and second pages. Remember, no talk- ing aloud, whispering, smoking or laughing will be tolerated.” ‘* Now, ef a feller wants to snicker, he can, can’t he?” Cowhide Sam grunted, “No, sir! Strict silence and order during study-hours must be observed, or I shall bave to punish, the offender, Go peaceably about your studies now, and all will be well.” And as fey all obeyed, the watchers on the outside turn “racket” they had epee Butas Gold-dust had anticipated, the day was destined not to pass by without a disturbance with the scholars, : away in Sia not seeing the Shovtly before it was time to dismiss school for noon, Cowhide Sam rose from his seat, put on his hat, and then his coat, as if to leave. ‘““Take your seat, sir! School has not yet, been dismissed,” Dick ordered, dropping his ferule and picking up a revolver, *Can’t help thet!” Samuel retorted, dogged- ‘Ys Sob ‘* Make another move to leavethe room before 1 dismiss you, and 11] drop you!” “Drop and be hanged! Hyar goes for bug- leap through a window. nice!” the ruffian cried, and instantly hemadea

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6 took him, quick as he was, and he tumbled out of the window with a painful wound in his thigh. c **Come on, if any more of you want the same,” the schoolmaster cried, turning upon the crowd with flashing eyes, ‘** fT opine we ain’t so green as ter buck ag’in’ a snag!” Haunted Hank growled, with a glance at his companions, ‘* But, arter school’s out, stranger, I go ye one that about the healthiest thing ye kin do is to lock up the school-us’, and git /” “Thank you for the suggestion, which I pre- sume will not be adopted,” the artist replied, calmly. ‘* When I conclude to leave, ’ll do so, unadvised, I will now dismiss school one hour, for noon, and you may pass quiotly out,” They obeyed, Gold-dust bringing up the rear, and striding fearlessly toward the hotel, with no apparent thought of danger, but he was not unmindful of the fact that he was ox- posing himself openly to a treacherous attack in the rear, and that his life bung, as it were, by a thread. The mutinous gang stood near the school- house, and watched him stride away, without making an effort to stop him, But there was no more school that day. Although the teacher was on deck, noscholars came, What would be the result of the forenoon’s fracas, he did nof know, but he had a pretty good idea that the majority of the population would be down on him, as it seemed to be main- ly made up of the Haunted Hank type. That night was a wild one—and only those who have ‘‘been thar” can have much of an idea what a wild plane in the mining country means, as oompared with the “ wild night” storms in the East. It was such a night, succeeding the day of Gold-Dust Dick’s first attempt at keeping school in Pistolville, and the storm was at its hight, when the stage from Skeleton Flats rolled down on its way through a mountain dugway, to- ward Pistolville, whence trains of that imme- diate mining district went eastward, every other oer at sunset. t was usual for the stage to connect with this Overland train of white-roofed prairie schooners, but to-day there had been a land- slide along the route, which had delayed them into the night, Consequently the evening was well advanced toward midnight, when the pon- derous coach came tearing down over the rough mountain trail, drawn by four fractious spans of horses, which were dexterously handled by a burly, good-natured looking Jehu, in whose eyes gleamed a spirit of deviltry, and around whose mouth was ever an expression of humor, Jim Jordan was a veteran of the reins, and féar of accident, or care therefor, was some- thing he never stopped to consider: Freighted with an even score of humans was the stage—men of rough bearded visage and ' dirty dress, with only one woman within the coach and one outside, The woman inside was wrapped in a linen duster, wore a modestly-trimmed walking-hat, _ and kept her face closely vailed. / Deadwood Dick Trapped. The female on the outside was harum-scarum Roxie Kalph, who, with all the wildness and abandon of some wild untamed savage, sat her seat beside Jordan, and seemed to enjoy the fearful nocturnal ride, as she held ber little chip bat in her hand, and Jet the rvaring storm blow ber hair in confusion about her shoulders. “Ob! this is just scrumptious, Jim,” she yelled, in the fearless Jenu's ear, as they dashed down through the black rugged dugway. ‘“* Let ?em out fer all they’re worth.” f ‘“* Whoa!” screeched Jordan, loud above the storm, and he settled the horses back upon their haunches with a sudden movement of seeming superhuman strength, he cause was obvious, Roxie saw it and comprebended. Clinging to one side of the coach as it thun- dered along into an abrupt halt, was a masked man, who held the muzzle of a large cocked re- volver close to the side of Jordan’s head, and the consciousness of this same fact was what had caused the Jebu to halt, He knew what he meant. And so did Roxie, when she took a second peering glance about, and saw a couple more of masked men at either carriage door and another clinging to the bits of the fore leaders. For the first time in the history of the Pistol- ville stage, it had been halted by those ‘‘ opera- tors” known as road-agents, CHAPTER IV. ROXIE’S ACT. ROapD-AGENTS had from time to time haunt- ed near. ‘fhe man who clung to the side of the stage and covered Jim Jordan, was a wiry, athletic fellow, who looked as if he might be a hard one to handle in a tussle. His attire was dark, and the mask which covered his face to his chin was met at the forehead by a wide rimmed som- brero, looped up on one side, and ornamented with a feather. : “Lucky thing you’re late to-night!” he said, to Jordan. ‘‘ Most auspicious time for our busi- ness, Got anything in the treasure-box? If so, I'll thank you for the keys.” “Oh, yes. You are perfectly welcome to them!” Jordan gritted, grimly. “I never felt in a more accommodating mood in my life.” And, reaching into his pocket, he drew forth a bunch of keys and handed them over to the road-agent, after which that gent for a second lowered his aim, as he jumped to the ground. It was a fatal action on his part. Roxie Ralph had been watching matters, narrowly, and when he leaped to the ground, she pulled a revolver from her own belt, and fired upon him. And, at the same instant, it seemed, she snatched the reins from Jordan’s hands and gave vent toa shrill yell that sent the trained animals flying down the trail. The captain of the road-agents fell backward to the ground—two others and the man at the horses’ heads were knocked down and run over, owing to the suddenness of tae action. The other two who escaped uninjured were bold enough to send a couple of flying shots after the departing stage, none of which did

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Deadwood Dick Trapped. a... any damage, except that one passed through re upper portion of the ‘‘plug” hat worn by the pious-appearing individual who clung to the top of the stage. And the stage rolled on down into Pistolville without further incident to check its progress, and, as may be sup poeet: after arriving there, the stage-coach robbery, or rather the attempt thereat, which had been frustrated by Roxie Ralph, had a thorough discussion. And after every man had had his say abou@it, and expressed opinions as various as could be, Haunted Hank scratched his head, closed one eye, spat at a fly on the rugged wall of the saloon, and remarked: ‘Yas, boyees, et’s a new wrinkle on ther hor- rorscope, an’, twixt you, myself an’ ther nut- meg grater, [reckon ther head-gearin’ o’ that gang gets his grub pretty nigh ter bum. With- out further palaver, I'll leave ye to draw your own inferences. Ta! ta—tra-la-lee!” Several days passed without further event of importance, until about a week had elapsed, when several little incidents occurred to divert the people’s minds from ordinary topics. Gold-dust Dick, since his ill-suecess at start- ing an ‘‘education factory” in Pistolville, as the denizens termed it, had leased a small, .un- paying claim of a disgusted ‘‘ tenderfoot,” put up a little shanty on it, and made it his head- quarters and the scene of his labors. What yield rewarded his efforts no one knew, but it was surmised by would-be wise ones that he was not getting rich. One night, just as the Bourbon was about to put out lights and dismiss its rather ‘‘ boozy ” pxtrons, a miner entered the place, strode up to the bar, and smote it heavily with his fist, The action aroused the attention of those as- | sembled. : ‘* Feller-citizens!” the miner started, with a look of profound mystery, ‘‘I would recall to yer minds aremark made some time since by our venerable brother Henery, the Ha’nted. Is thar a galoot present who can recall to mem’ry ther oxpression referred to?” “ Waal, now, you bet!” Haddon cried, start- ing up from his seat at a card table, where he. had been dozing, ‘‘ At that pecooliar period aforesaid I did beg to asseverate thet et were my opine thet the captain o’ ther gang o’ road- agents war quartered purty nigh to hum, or words tew that effect!” “ An’ ye kin bet yer boots ye weren’t fur from right! I hev reason ter know et, D’ye know whar ther shanty o’ Gold-dust Dick is located?” : A sort of grunt was the answer. ;‘‘ Yas, I reckon ye all know,” the miner con- tinued, whose name was. Briggs, ‘ Waal, ye see, suspectin’ things weren’t exactly diagonal, I’ve been Jurkin’ around ther skulemaster’s place oncet and awhile o’ late, and, when I war in ther vicinity last’ night, who d’ye suppose I see’d lurkin’ around the shanty?” ‘A road-agent!” suggested Rattlesnake John, brilliantly, John was noted for brilliancy, by the way. : “Oh! not by a long shot! It was Silver Fox, _the Lone Ponca, all in war-paint, too, I reckon | tery \ i Ct TS Aah ee ? by his actions he was figgerin’ slyly around fer a confab wi’ his nibs, Gold-dust Dick.” A scowl of displeasure went over the faces of those within the saloon. Silver Fox the Ponca was a person more feared by the Pistolvillians than all the road- agents, for he was a stern old war-chief of the once strong Ponca race, who had his quarters up in an invulnerable part of the mountains, and with a band of renegade reds from many different tribes bade defiance to those pale-faces who tried to capture him. Occasionally a scalpless miner or a robbed treasury came to light—all of which were pre- sumed tokens of his vengeance. Therefore the sullen looks with which the miners received the news. ““An’ mind ye, thet ain’t all—no sir!” Briggs went on, “‘ To-night 1 antied around to see how things lay, an’ awhile ago I see’d five masked men come down out o’ the mountains an’ go to Gold-dust Dick’s shanty an’ enter thé place. They were thar about five minnits, then they cum out, an’ thar waz six of ’em, lookin’ asnigh alike as two peas. Now, how do that strike ye?” A growl of anger escaped the listeners, to whom there could only be one meaning, and that was that Gold-dust Dick was not only con- nected with the road-agents, but also was al- lied to their mortal’ enemy, Silver Fox the Ponca, =e ry ** An’ now what's to be did? Yedon’t need any further proof that Gold-dust Dick is a ras- call!” Haunted Hank remarked, ‘‘I propose we lay for bim when he comes back and show bim a trick learnt us by Father Lynch.” “Yes! string him up—shoot him—snatch him bsld-headed!” responded a dozen. ‘“No, poys, dot don’d vas fair pizess,” Dutch Joe said, from his perch on the top ofa table, where he sat smoking, several degrees less intoxicated than was usual with him. ‘‘I say,. giff every man a show, if id vas no more und a circus or pigeon-shoot, I don’d tink dot Gold- dust Dick vas such a man ash dot.” “Ob! now, ye never think as others do,” Haunted Hank snarled. ‘‘ When ye see that gal o’ yourn hitched up wi? thet cut-throat, mebbe ye'll change yer polyticks.” “Mine Dora marry, nix; she neffer marry nobodys,” Dare said, proudly. ‘She alvays stay single, mit me.” “Oho! hen my eyes are durned bias ef I didn’t see her huggin’ an’ kissin’ ther skule- master t’other night.” ‘Wot you tell me, Haddon? You seen mir Dora kiss der schoolmaster?’ Joe demanded, _ fiercely. “ Waal, I should shudder ef I didn’t.” . EE T don't p’lieve it—you vas a liar, Hank Hat ou! For a second a pinfall could have been beard, within the old Bourbon, Haunted Hank turn- ed and glared at Dare a moment asif dum-— founded. What did it mean? Did his senses deceiva him? Had Dutch Joe dared to insult him— Joe Dare, of all men, who had ever manifested a desire to run from a fight rather than totake part in one? Tt did not seem probable nor possible to ti RSE

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Deadwood Dick Trapped. bully of Pistolville of whom most men stood in abject fear. et there was no denying that Joe had ut- tered the words, and now stood tipsily on his fot, looking the haunted man square in the ‘ace, ‘Waal, durn my boots!” the rough finally. ejaculated, when he could command his speech, ‘ef I didn’t b’lieeve ye. sed thet as a joke, Jim- jam Joe, I—I—why l’d mount ye an’ chew off yer ear!” “Ish dot so?” Dare retorted, with a stagger anda leer. ‘‘I mean tbat vot I say—you vas a loafer und a liar, and off you come near me I plack both your eyes mid blueness.” “Yo wull, wull ye?’ Haunted Hank bellowed, rd on te hisarms and fairly dancing with rage, ** Oh! feller-citizers, d’ye hear thet? D'ye want to see me pulverize thet Dutchman inter pow- dered sassingers?” A er was the answer, and taking it as a signal of approval Haunted Hank leaped for- ward upon the mine-owner. But Joe gota clip at him under the left ear, and with a ain blow knocked him half- way across the room. Spriuging immediately to his feet with a roar like some infuriated wild beast, the bullwhacker hurled bimself once more upon the tipsy Dutch- man, and they clinched, after which they per- formed rather an impromptu waltz around the room, and finally tumbled to the floor. Here they rolled over and over, in a bear-like | hug, biting and battering heads, until both groaned with pain. Finally Haunted Hank got one of his hands loose, and was intently engaged in choking the life out of Joe, when a-door was dashed open Gold-dust Dick leaped in across the room, an seized the bullwhacker abont his windpipe. “Let up!” the rough roared, ‘*‘ or Pl murder e! : ** No, you won't,” Gold-dust said, calmly, It’s your place to let up, and I'll give you just about the jerk of a lamb’s tail to do it, or Pll shut your throttle!” “First, my friend, alow me to arrest you, in the name of the law!” a voice cried—that of Tra-la-lee Charley, the gambler, and as he clapped his hand upon the schoolmaster’s shoul- ders, a dozen other, did similarly with leveled revolvers, , CHAPTER V. ROXIE TAKES A HAND IN, “WHat do you mean?” Richard asked, his faeo anes 4 noalarm. ‘One would think I were a horse-thief the way you come for me—or worse!” * And so you are—worse!” Tra-la-lee Charley declared, triumphantly. ‘ You’re a rascal, a robber, and a blackleg, and you're going ter git yer neck stretched, ter oncet. Out wi’ him, ys * But, hold on hyar, boyees!” a voice cried, and Roxie Ralph burst in upon the scene, ‘What's the matter, heeyar? Who sez ther skulemaster must hang? I say he sha’n’t!” And the mountain waif bounded upon the top of a table, with a pair of revolvers in her 1 tance of such a party The crowd stared, and several who had been disposed to see Gold-dust Dick hanged, went back and took their seats, _. Roxie, though a mere child in point of size, held a powerful influence over the average Pis- tolvillian, for they all respected her, down to the most brutal of the roughs, and knew that she was their ‘‘ child of the mines,” When danger threatened the town—when messages were to be sent—when any act requir- ing skill, safety, and honesty was to be per- formed, Roxie was ever chosen, and she had done so many daring and praiseworthy things in favor of Pistolville and her citizens, that she had come to be looked upon as a sort of guardian angel, and every one was willing to humor her whims, as a general thing. : But one man had ever shown a disposition to gainsay ber right of being a general pet, and he was the sport gambler, Tra-la-lee Charley. He had ever had a dark look for her, and when she | sprung upon the table in the saloon, with the light of brave resolution in her glancing orbs, an ugly expression crept into his villainous coun- tenance, “Td like to know what lip you’ve got in this © matter?” he cried, savagely. ‘' We’ve found out that this schoolmaster, so-called, is a traitor to the interests of every honest, peaceably disposed citizen, and we're goin’ to hang him, afore he has a chance to do any more mischief,” ‘* Bah! I know better! Ye ain’t agoin’ ter do nothin’ o’ the kind!” Roxie declared, independ- ently. ‘‘I reckon I know what's the matter wi’ your pie. But ye needn’t sweat. Miss Dora Dare is too sensible a girl to take a second thought of a galoot of your class, and, sides, she despises you, an’ you know it. Now, then, w’at’s | Dick Gold-dust done, so horrible?” i ‘““Bnough!” the gambler replied. ‘It was found thet he’s been holdin’ clandestine meetin’s wi’ our enemy, Silver Fox, the Ponca; he has also been caught lettin’? masked road-agents into his shanty, an’ holdin’ secret confabs wi’ jem, which is clear enough that he’s one on em! A grunt of approval went up from the audi- ence. It was evident that their views coincided with those of the gambler in this respect, and they were not backward in expressing the fact, despite their respect for Roxie, And Roxie, when she heard the murmur, look. ed them all over, with a steady, unflinching gaze, her face flushed with a little surprise. Then she turned and looked at the school-mas- ter. He, standing in the firm grasp of six sturdy miners, was, to all outward appearance, un- | mindful that any immediate danger threat- eae: him, He was literally as cool as a cucum- er. Roxie saw it, and in the warmth of her ardor, could have gone over and hugged bim, because he was so brave. “Mr, Gold-dust, these charges are all false, are they not?” she asked, looking him straight in the face. ‘' These accusations are not true of you?” “Not to my knowledge,” Gold-dust replied, — quietly. ‘‘I have not the honor of the acquain- as Silver Fox, ani diet a 2 iris eae t wats

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— Deadwood Dick Trapped. ei for the other matter, it is even more a delibe- rate lie than the first, on the part of the man who told it!” ‘‘Ha!l you durst give me the lie!” the miner, Briggs yelled, springing forward, ‘* Yes, an’ ye’r’ a son-of-a-gun of a liar!” Roxie cried, leveling one of her pistols at him. ‘See hyar, Briggs, you’ve got a squaw and a pap- poose, over in Chesly, an’ I’d advise ye to put on yer brakes, ef ye ever wanter see’em, I say thet et’s alla put-up job, to git up a fuss wi’ Gold-dust Dick, who's just as square.a galoot as any 0’ you. What say, boys—did Rox Ralph ever lead ye afoul a snag since she’s been yer pilot? Waal, I reckon not; an’ now, what aire ye goin’ to do—take my word thet Gold-dust is all straight an’ keerect, or aire ye goin’ ter pedestrianize off on yer ear?” Cea ws we'll waltz off on our oracular mem- per!” Tra-la-lee Charley remarked, with a re- pulsive laugh. “Nobody addressed you, so shut up!” Roxie retorted. ‘‘I was speaking to those whom [’ye occasionally stood by an’ did a good turn for.” There was no answer, further than that given by severa) of the miners going and taking their seats, as much as to say that they would have nothing to do in the matter. The large majority stood firm, however, and looked sullen. ‘*} puess ther boyees knows their biz, fer oll ther influence o” petticoats!” miner Briggs cried. ‘* Ht cropps permiscuss right out, thet we won't accept 0’ nothin’ less’n a lynch picnic, wi’ sponge- cake an’ bug-~juice fer desserts, Still, ef et ll let er feelin’s be any better, I opine we choose aunted Hank ter decide ther case. Ef he sez bang—up goes ther skulemaster ter a place whar eddication never gits a grip, an’ spellin’-books go ter kindle fires with. Ef he sez Jet him free, so be it, Eh, larkies?” A grunt of approval came from the majority. “Hold! I object to this! Haunted Hank iis Gold-dust’s enemy!” Roxie cried, ‘and will, of course, decide against him.” “T don’t know about that!” Gold-dust said, speaking up. “Tye a sort o’ a notion that the Haunted is not so bad on me as that. I am perfectly willing he shall make the decision, providing he thinks of—3—of—3—of 10, and shudders,” The last words were uttered with peculiar emphasis, and the speaker’s yoice was altered to a deep base. The bystanders exchanged glances—Roxie was surprised—Haunted Hank’s face became ghastly in its pallor. i He looked hard at Gold-dust Dick through his bleared eyes, then shook his head strangely, and aS oe Hy hvet Hie door, s all right, boys!” he uttered, hoarsely, “You'd better set hin free!” , 3 Then he left the saloon, and the crowd turnéd ~ to gaze in wonderment at the dandy school- proposition,” sek ey master, miner and sport, who had had such an unmistakable influence over the proverbial “bad man” of Pistolville. “You heard, gents,” Gold-dust said, bowing. ‘Even my worst foe knew me, and recommend- ed me, I dare say you will honor your own ae ‘4 eorn-br ead and molasses, and *“Yes—hoys, let him go,” Tra-Ja-lee Charley said, groffly. ‘You got off well now, you devil —but you'll get your deserts yet!” ‘**T have no reason to doubt your word in that respect—we shall ail get our deserts, soon enough,” Dick replied, ‘‘ And as for you, young lady, accept of my thanks for your interest in my behalf.” : And, with a gallant bow, the young man walked out of the saloon, In the wee sma’ hours of that same night, when the darkness was even more intense than during the storm, a camp-fire gleamed upon the bottom of a tributary gulch opening into the main gulch, westwardly, and not more than five miles from Pistolville, Around this camp-fire three oe figures were lounging—figures of the shape of men, but clad to the eyes in cne undivided costume, each of the furry part of buffalo-skins, giving them a shaggy and frightful appearance, hat of the features above the eyes was not covered by the singular gown, was hidden by the frontis- iece of fur caps. For some time these strange belie lounged ‘upon the ground and smoked in supreme silence, the weird whistle of the wind through the ravine being thé only sound to break the monotony. : Finally footatees brought a fourth individual to the light of the camp-fire, and this in turn brought the lounging nondescripts to their feet, and they gathered around him. The new-comer in dress differed from the others, in that’ the shaggy hair was of much Spat thickness and length, and of a jetty lack color. He was also slightly shorter, and heavier set, and evidently a person of gieat strength. ‘*“ Well!” he said, in a hoarse voice; ‘I see thou art back to the picket camp-fire of Black Hand the White Aztec, What didst learn in the camp of the pale-face miner, concerning thy errand thither?” “Thy Excellency will not ‘be pleased, I fear, for we were able to learn little or nothing,” one of the nondescripts broke in. ‘The pale-face bravo is an Eastern man, and not the one thou aa expected. fis sobriquet is Gold-dust ick. ‘A bravo he is then?” : “ Ay, even so. He can at will hold a dozen ruffians at bay, if so he chooseth, and the power of his arm hath fury.” ; “Perhaps he would serve me as well. Thou didst not tell me his vocation, Emanuel?” ; “No—he is an enigma, thy Excellency. He came unto Pistolville a schoolmaster, but latter- ly has taken to mining. That he had some un- derlying motive in coming to Pistolville, is evi- dent, but what it was or is, I am not prepared to declare to thee.” : “Then, we will not away to our silent city, — at once, for thy words impress me with a belief that the handsome sport may be of use to us,” When day again dawned over oe ae Gold-dust Dick was up ahead of the sun, and after dispatching a breakfast of venison and anging his atti aa arg x x

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iO Deadwood Dick Trapped. tire to his rough working garments, he set forth to his placer diggin’s, a few rods distant. A system of sluice-boxes ran through his claim, of which he had the first advantages for “wash,” being near the falls, and getting clear water in suitable quantities. And then, too, he did not have a strong yield, requiring much power. The dirt of his claim was a soft sandy sur- face, and not hard to dig, and on an average - yielded about fifteen cents to the pan, and therefore; though not getting rich, he managed to pan out three to five dollars per day, with- oub much trouble. It was a splendid sunny morning, after the storm of the preceding night, and the birds were singing merrily from perches upon the neighboring bushes and projecting crags, as if overjoyed at the victory of the miner-bravo, of the previous night. . And he had put in a couple of hours of _ Steady work, and was just engaged in ‘‘ wash- ing” a pan of dirt, when he heard light foot- Steps, and turned to find Roxie standing near by, leaning upon @ rifle she carried. *’Mornin’!” she saluted with a roguish grin. “‘How strives the busy little bee, to improve each shinin’ ‘pan’? How goes it—rich dirt?” “Nothing to brag of, you may rest, assured,” Dick replied, pausing in his work. ‘‘Just about enough to live and kill time, you see.” ““Humph! what’s yer object? I don’t work an’ I’ve got lots o’ rocks, too. Now an’ then i ‘buck the tiger,’ an’ make a raise, an’ then I’m heeled, for a time.” a “Indeed! Well, I seldom gamble, myself, unless dared, or I see a worthy object. Pleas: ant morning.” “Bet yer life, an’ I’m off after a few birds. By the way, aire ye goin’ to marry Dora Dare?” “Marry Dora Dare? What put that into your head?” / “Oh, I reckoned you'd get struck on her purty face and refined manners, that’s all, an’ thought ef the circus war booked immegetly, ’d invite myself ter bé present.” * “Hal ha! Well, ’m sorry to disappoint you, for I’ve made no calculations upon such a thing, and there is just as much prospect of my mar ak lee as thereis of my wedding Miss Dare.” fs aw! you wouldn’t have such a harum- searum little wild-cat as I am, would You?” and the wait’s eyes fairly glistened in their earnest- ness. ‘“Well, if I were matrimonially inclined, I don’t know why you wouldn’t fill the bill. But what do you think is the influence working against me here?” “Before answerin’ that question let me ask ' you another: were you wanted to come here to Pistolville—that is, were you sent for?” Gold-dust Dick looked surprised. “ Why?” he asked, toying with his mustache and eying her sharply. SS “No matter; l’ve axed you a square ques- _ tion—answer it or not, just as you choose.” “Well, yes. Iwassent for, I was down at Chicopee, near Shasta, when I received an un- _ signed letter, telling me that if I would come to Pistolville I would learn something peculiayly ad pecuniarily to my interest, Being of a dis- = position to corral in all the shekels available, 1 at once set out for this st not knowing for what particular parker was wanted, nor am I ie ee apprised now. Do you know?” “ Well, I ain’t able to tell you nothin’, fer J ain’t figgered et thr’w’ my head, but by little mites ’ve picked up an’ consolidated now an’ then, I hey arriv’ at ther conclusion thet ther owerful bad element, thet holds a full hand ereabouts, wanted a man, and wanted him purty bad, at that, and you seem to be ther man.” “Think so?” “‘T do! Moreover, I’ve just found out who you are. Yow’re ther feller as many a miner up North has heard of—you are the famous road-agent, Deadwood Dich.” CHAPTER VI. A MUCH SOUGHT-FOR MAN. Tr a thunderbolt had fallen at the feet of the miner-schoolmaster, he could hardly have shown a greater expression of surprise than he did at the declaration ot Roxie. 2 “YT Deadwood Dick?” he articulated, takin; off his sombrero and scratching his head. “Well, well—you seem to be off your reckon- ing for once. hat makes you think that?” ‘Oh! I surmised it from things I’ve seen and heard. Besides, you bear a striking resem- blance to the famous outlaw.” “Pshaw! Resemblances often get one into a deuce of a scrape. saat f too, I can’t agree with you about my being Deadwood Dick. He was a man, who, in the flush of his wild career, I had quite a liking for, because of many of his manly qualities. Latterly he has passed out of notice, 1 think, or at least I have seldom heard his name made a topic of public conversation. So you think Deadwood Dick was the called man, eh?” ‘Tallow. I don’t know just the reason,neither. But good-day. Vil bring you back a partridge for your snpper, maybe.’ And then she turned away and walked up the gulch beyond the falls, finally disappearing from view. Gold-dust Dick finished bis day’s work with- out again seeing her, and panned out quite a little handful of the shining flakes. Putting this “dust” into a little peuch, he shouldered his pick and shovel and trudged away toward his shanty, glad the hard fay s labor was over. When he arrived at bis unpretentious resi- dence he found Miss Dare sitting on the door- step, “ Excuse me,” she said, rising with a smile— a very winning smile, too, it struck Richard— ‘but have you seen anything of my father? He has not been home since late in the afternoon esterday, and I am very much worried about im. “T saw him last night,” Dick replied; ‘‘in truth, saved him from a choking at the bands of Haunted Hank. Perhaps he has got full and is taking a snooze in some out-of-the-way place?” “Oh! no, ro! I fear some harm has come to him. Are you sure you have not seen bim since last a ea . “Quite sure, lady. 1 wouldn’t be alarmed if

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Deadwood Dick Trapped. et a ot I were you, because in all probability he will turn up all safe when you are least expecting him. If you desire I will make some inquiries for him.” ; “T£ you will beso kind I shall feel é ful, sir. Iam already under many obligatians to you, for pacts dora a Same tween him and Tra-la-lee Charley a few Rights ago.” “You know I promised to do what I could for you, and I happened in upon the game just in time to adjourn it by inducing Mr. Dare to come with me, much to the rage and chagrin of the patent rascal whom you call Tra-la-lee Charley, who already has a pretty large share of your father’s wealth gambled away from him, But how did you find it out?” 3 “ Father told me, and, as usual, promised that he would straighten up and do better—but alas! when he gets where there is liquor his promises are all forgotten.” 3 “T am sorry such is the case. True, he is strongly wedded to drink, and it will probably take a strong shock of some kind to brace him up. I will search for him, however, this even- ing and talk seriously to him if I find him.” ‘Thank you. You are a good man and take a load of sorrow from my mind,” Miss Dare said, and then, bowing, turned away—to hide tearful eyes, Richard Gold-dust half suspected, as he watched her till other shanties bid her from view. é According to his promise, that night, after partaking of his supper, Gold-dust betook bim- self into the town to look for old Joe Dare. What had become of the old vagabond he of course had no idea, but for the young lady’s sake he resolved to make some inquiries. It was just dark when he left his shanty, and _ lighting a pipe he sauntered along, not thinking of danger, and without fear of it should it be ambushed all around him. . He reached the main business part of the camp without incident, and seeinga crowd around the poo dropped in, out of dy age for he ad no es “art os of getting any mail. *Most all of the miners and roughs who had been at the saloon the previous night were also lounging about now, and the glances they sent at the handsome schoolmaster were not of the most friendly character, Paying no attention to this, Richard passed on and took his place in file behind a number of men ahead of bim, inquiring for mail, As before stated, he had no reason to suppose he would receive any mail, but resolved to in- quire, more by way of killing time than any- thing else. ; And to bis great surprise, when he asked for mail for Richard Gold-dust, the little shriveled- up oll postmaster gezed at him sharply through his blue goggles, and handed out three ordinary- Jooking letters. A glance atthe directions showed that two of them were directed to Richard Gold-cust, Esq, while the third was addressed to Dead- very grate- enood Dick. : as to. it Deadwood Dick, and belongs to that party, whoever he may be!” : And then he walked haughtily away from the window, to a quiet part of the room, to read his letters. On the way, he passed Tra-la-lee Charley, on whose face was a malicious smile, althongh hoe refrained from speaking out his evil thoughts, whatever they might have been. “That fellow is a rascal and a scoundrel!” was the thought that immediately popped into Gold-dust’s mind, only to pep out again, as he opened his letters. The first one he opened he found to his aston- ishment, was in a feminine style of cuiroe rae and a glance at the appended signature st! more astonished him. Tae missive was signed “ Dora Dare.” : Of the letter itself there were but a few words, as follows: “Dear Mr. Gonp-pust:— : “Tam almost sorry I ever met you, for I—I— but, no, I will not be so foolish! Yours, Dora Darn.” If this man Richard Gold-dust—this combina- tion of bravo, sport, miner and gentleman— gave vent to a prolonged whistle of surprise, as e finished the note, and returned it to its en- velope, he was pardonable. The colorin his cheeks had become hightened, and the expression upon his whole face and in his eyes was such as no person well could de- fine or unravel. ‘* Poor fool—poor silly, passion-ruled child!” ne muttered, the kindly light in his eyes harden= ing alittle, ‘‘She might have as well written all that prompted her to write those few words, The deuce! I’m ina confounded fine predica- ment now! do I don’t know, unless I repulse her, and that would be worse, no doubt, than were I to strike. her a blow in the face. But, first of all, let’s see from whom this other letter comes!” He tore it open impatiently, wondering the while if it would bring as much undesirable news as the first had done. No! not exactly hie, Yl be shot if Iain’t; and what to bad news, did it bring, but it was a strange hon? something like a romance it seemed to mi: ; “Srrmnr Crry, ——, 18—. *Ricnarp GoLp-pusT:— a “Thou must have read of the tribe of Aztec, who, though now nearly extinct, were once power- ful, and whose great achievements left eternal em- blems of their former existence in the wild regions of the great West—upon the picture rocks in the deep canyons—in the buried subterranean cities which the paic-face explorers are year by year un- earthing? “And yet the lest of the Aztecs is not! In Silent’ City there yet dwell a few-of the once power- ful race of savages, alone in their solitude and boundless wealth, with Black Hand, the White Aztec, at thew head. ‘Their days however are not many, nor are those of their chief, And in their last days, when their ability for warfare is gone— when peace and guiet are all they seek, a b1lé0d- thirsty red brother threatens an invasion, in order to — get*possession of their mines and their gold—tne accumulations of untold generations. x “In fear and trembling they appeal to Black Hand he warns them of the worst to expect, and © iat, whe cozy sturdy, them to take a new and you bring with him not to exceed a pate rae a ens 5 <a for the protecticahe is not able to give them, and — .

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oe £3 Deadwood Dick Trapped. aud honest pale-faces, and’ protect the Aztecs and their otherwise doomed city from the attack of the red scourge of the Sierras, Silver Fox the Ponca— they to eventually inherit the last life-camps of the Aztecs, and all they leave behind. “To this the Aztec braves unanimously agreed, and left it for Black Hand to choose their new chief, Black Hand set to work to recall the trusty } »rder- men he had met and heard of when a brother pale- face, and after thinking of them all, considerin, their faults, and weighing the balance, he chose 0: all men to fill the chieftainey, yourself—Deadwood Dick, alias Richard Gold-dust, and sent for you. Thou hast come—thou knowest thy offered fortune —thou hast no choice in life but to accept, Emissaries of mine even now lurk within thy vision, didst thou but know it, and if thou wilt honor the offer of a people, go forth into the night, barehead- ed, and thou wilt be met, and guided to my camp. “Brack Hanp, the White Aztec!” That was all, but was enough. As much as Gold-dust Dick had been sur- pated at the receipt of Dora Dare’s strange let- r, it was nothing compared with the astonish- ment which assailed him, at reading the strange communication of the Aztec chief. “Tm blowed if I ain’t tangled up, and fog- ed, for once!” he muttered, as he turned to eave the store, in which the post-office was situated, As he was passing where Tra-la-lee Charley was idly leaning against a box, the same mock- ing smile was upon the villain’s face, and gleam- ing, evil light in his eyes. Ha! ha! Did you get a letter from some forsaken wife?” he demanded, sneeringly. ‘I thought your expression seemed to indicate that you were brooding over family troubles!” “Presumedly you were wrong, and it will be well for you to mind your own business!” Gold- dust retorted. He would have passed on then, only that the gambler again opened fire: “Oh! you needn’t be so pert and saucy, bo- cause no one is afraid of you, my suspected Adonis!" he said fiercely. “I dare say if you was to show up them letters, we’d all be a peg ' wiser as to your past an’ present.” “Then maybe you'd like to undertake the job of possessing them?” Gold-dust cried, turn- ing upon him so suddenly, that, rough and used to rough life as he was, the gamester flinched. “Pye a notion to give you a thrashing, you low-lived cur!” Not a word said Tra-la-lee Charley back. He knew that the schoolmaster was immeasurably his superior both in strength and quickness, and he was wise enough to play quiet. ‘Your wisdom saves you, as far as it goes!” Dick said, turning away in contempt; and leav- ing the place he went at once to his shanty, Where to have quiet to ponder over the sub- » stance of the communications he had received; - but to his eel ope Naly arriving there he found a candle lit, upon the table, and two persons sit- ting on either side of it. A belt about his waisu contained a revolver, tomahawk and scalping-knife, while his scalp« lock was stuck full of nodding plumes. . It needed but a glance to tell that he was a stern old sinner, while in the face of his com- panion there was nothing of the stern or brutal expression, : She was a maiden of some seventeen sum- mers, with a finely molded figure, indicative of agility and strength, while her features were round and of Anglo-Saxon cast, instead of the flat sha) estore to the Poncas, and her eyes large, dusky and lustrous. Her hair was of great abundance, and fell below her waist in « a sheeny, ae wave. She was attired in a modern-style suit made of buckskin, the skirt reaching to within a few inches of her ankles, and the whole costume being the most elaborately braided and beaded affair Gold-dust had ever seen, many of the but- tons and ornaments being gold. c Indeed, all in all, she was the prettiest Indian maiden he had ever seen. As they saw Gold-dust standing upon the threshold, both the chief and the maiden arose. “Pear not to enter your own wigwam, pale face brave!” the red-skin said. ‘Silver Fox, the Ponca, and his princess, Starlight, seek you not except in friendsbip. We found pale-face absent, and so miade bold to enter and await his return,” ; “So I perceive, and presumedly the Silver Fox and bis daughter are welcome, as long as their motives are good,” Richard replied, enter- ing and closing the door, after which he seated himself near the fire-place and lit his pipe. “* And now, red-skin, what might you want? “ Silver Fox comes at the instance of his pet and only child, Starlight!” the old chief said, gravely. ‘Starlight berry smart girl—well ed- ucated, and know heap about pale-faces and their eke Starlight want pale-face husband, and tell Silver Fox that no red-man ebber do her. So she see Gold-dust Dick and choose him for her great brave to succeed Silver Fox as chief of the Poncas, when he@ie. What bas the pale-face to say?” “Well, nothing to aoe of, more than that I don’t calculate to hitch to any female propert just at present; and, besides that, Indian girls ain’t in my line, allowin’ yours is pretty and _ good enough for any man!” was the reply Rich- ard Gold-dust vouchsafed. ; CHAPTER VII... i CARDS VS. THE VOLCANO. Nor every man of Pistolville would have ae the Ponea chief the answer that Gold- ust Dick did—it is doubtful if they would have dared, for Silver Fox never forgot a slight or an injury, but cherisbed and nurtured it until — his mind’s eye magnified it large enough to be worthy of bis vengeance. ‘Pale-face brave great fool!” he said, in a © | tone that was by no means pleasant. Stare light is the pride of her nation, and at war-- riors bow at her feet. Chiefs of all the red _ tribes of the West have sought her, but she bt efused them all, and never met. hoi 4

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Deadwood Dick Trapped. her 7 a few days since, rested upon Gold- dust Dick. Then she told Silver Fox of the great vein wkere the hopes of her life were lo- cated, and willed it that Silver Fox should come to the pale-face Bravo and intercede in her be- half, and Silver Fox came. The heart of Star- light, Princess of the Poncas, belongs to the pale-face, and to him alone. Let the pale-face therefore, refieet before refusing ber. The marriage will make him second chief, The Poncas are about to attack another weak-hand- ed nation, the remnant of the Aztecs, who have heaps of gold stored up in their silent lodges in the depths of the wilderness, Many scalps and much riches will reward the Poncas, If Gold- dust Dick becomes the husband of Starlight, be shall lead the attack!” “*Thanks for ie magnanimous offers, my noble chief, but [ am in duty bound to refuse them,” the miner said, calmly. ‘1 appreciate your compliment, but have reasons for not wishing to accede to your proposition,” ‘* What reasons?” ‘Reasons of my own, which I prefer to keep to myself.” “Ugh! Then the pale-face refuses to do honor to the Poncas?” ‘“Yes, I reckon that’s about the size of it,” Dick answered. “Then pale-face Dick shall live to ‘et it, same as other dogs in Pistolville,” the chief cried, fiercely, as he arose todepart, ‘‘ Silver Fox has sworn vengeance upon the pale-face miners, and his curse rests on you also, : “* Much obliged—come again!” Dick replied, as the two departed. After a minute he broke into a hearty laugh: ** A good chance, that, for a man who wants a lift, but the gee, 2 are that I sball never be adopted in a -skin family, at least while there is a chance for me to do anything else.” Later that night Tra-la-lee Charley left the Bourbon Saloon, and went forth into the dark- ness, still smarting under the effect of the re- buff of Gold-dust Dick. “Curses on the fellow!” he muttered, ‘* His devilish coolness and impudence fire me *most to madness, If I don’t in some i manage to ving in a cold deal on him before long it’s retty certain he'll do me harm, for it’s plain he has no love for me, and, what’s more, I’ve a ‘half of a notion that he—” He did not conclude his muttered soliloquy, for at this same instant there was a collision be- tween him and some other person, going in the opposite direction, and both sat unceremoniously back upon the ground. **Hold on! hello! what the—-” the gambler began, ** Yes, v’ot rele pa vas der matter mit you?” roared the voice of Dutch Joe, through the dark- n ‘© Who you vas? V’at you take me vor, all der v’ile?” ; “Tl show you, you whisky-soaked sour- krout!” Tra-la-lee Charley growled, rising dole- fallen. ‘‘Why don’t you git outof a fellow’s path, instead of lumbering up like a great griz- zly bear? You've ruined the seat of my panta- ea oe ee loons, you souker,” — Ob! dot. fully from a puddle of water, into which he had | Voleano was good for more as one pair pritches,” Joe returned, good-naturedly, ‘Vere you go- in’, Dra-la-loo Sharley?” “Where you'd better be going—home,” the gambler growled, “Oh! ish dot so? Vel, den I vil go home mit you, too. I haff got pizness mit you, Sharley.” “ What business!” “Vel, I tole you. You vin haff der Volcano avay mit.me, und got me drinking like a fish. Somedings vas got to be done mit me. I play you von game. Uff I lose der rest off der mine, I make oud der papers for you, und go commit suicide, Uff I vin pack vot you vin off me, avile ago, I brace up, not drink or gamble some more, und pe mineself again.” “ Pshaw! don’t be a fool, Dare. I don’t want the rest of your mine, and you'd better keep what interest you've got, rather than to venture losing the rest,” “Und {£ don’d vant you to haff no pizness around the mine, Dra-la-loo Sharley, und so I a own der whok, or nothing,” ““Well, bave it your own way. I'll step back and get Lawyer Javil, so that if you lose, he can draw up a deed at once, for you to si 7 Rot is ee Uff I got beat, I sign. Uff you got beat, I giff you swi’’ours to gid oud off der town. Go git der lawyer, und I vait for you here.” : With a repressed chuckle the gambler hurried back toward the Bourbon saloon, but soon re- turned, accompanied by a. villainous-locking miner, who looked better prepared to cut throats than to do legal work. The three men then set out for the gambler’s | little shanty, which had been hastily put to gether inside of a week, and was tenanted by its owner when he was not elsewhere, manipulating the pasteboards. ; They soon arrived, and entered, and Tra-la- lee Charley fastened the door after him, so that no one need intrude, There was but one lower apartment to the shanty, and the furniture consisted of a couple of ordinary deal-tables, four chairs, a cot bed, and a’cumbersome old chest, in one corner, Light was furnished by a lantern suspended from the ceiling. ‘As soon as the trio were seated, the gambler — said: “Mr. Javil, you may draw up a legal deed, wherein Joseph Dare, for the consideration «f_ half a million dollars already received, deeds to b. s a “2 3 43 i 7 es: thai Y wi < a in thé*Voleano Mine. eucher, and if he wins, the deed is to be torn up, unsigned, and Tam no longer to claim an in- terest in the mine. On the contrary, if he | Tam, by his signing the deed, to become sol owner of the mine. You understand”? “ Perfectly!” the lawyer answered, and oe paper, pen and ink, proceeded to write. n and read it aloud, : “Yaw, dot ish right!” Dutch Joe asserted, ho hat: inibod * Und, now, misder I me, Charles Guthrie, all right, title and interest 3 “Mr. Dare and I will then play a game of ~ e course of twenty minutes be had com- — pleted the form of the. deed, ready for signing, —

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14 fair ey. mit der game, Shuffle up der cards, Tra-la-lee Sharley!” The cards were shuffled, cut and dealt, and the game began, each player fully alive to the play instead of Joe’s being sleepy, as was usu- ally the case. ut alas! the fates were against him, and a roan fairly burst from his lips, as Tra-la-lee Charly finally brought bis fist down upon the tabla with terrific force, with a significant chuckle, as a signal that he bad won. “The Volcano is mine, Dutchy,” he said, leer- ing across the table, into Dare’s face. ‘ You wore a fool that you did not take my advice and keep it, when you could. Sign tkat deed!” Dare stared at the document that was shoved in front of him, a strange gleam in his eyes. **} don’d vas know better I do dot, or no,” he returned. ‘‘ Uff you say I must, dot’s der very time you makes a misdake. I vas like a hog— Idon’d vas drive vorth a cent: und den der is no compulsory law regarding paying gambling debts.” “There is a law of death here in the mines for those who flunk!” the gambler hissed, draw- ing a revolver; ‘“‘and you're too shrewd a man to trifle with me, Joe Dare. And then, you are too honorable to go back on your word.” “ Yas, dot vas true. I nefer go pack mit v’ot I say—dot’s all v’ot makes me sign dot deed.” He seized the pen and drew the document toward him, but the gambler checked him with an oath, ** Hold on! your signature must be witnessed, What the deuce bas become of Javil!” For some reason unexplainable, just then the lawyer had suddenly made himself scarce, that is to say, be had unlocked the door, and left the shanty without being noticed. by either gambler or Dare. ‘* Cursed queer where he went to, so sudden- ly,” the former growled, going to the door, and peering out into the night. ‘I say, hello, Javil!” But Javil evidently did not see fit to hallon Pack, for there was no response to the gambler’s shout, “* Dot's all righd. Idis yoost der same uff I sign it, as dough he see me,” he said, ‘ You frightened him off mit der pistol. . Now, yoost you giff me a receipt in full for all I owe you— say ten dollars! und den I sign dis deed!” “If you don’t sign it Pl murder you!” was the savage answer, as Tra-Ja-lee Charley once more sat down at the table, and seizing a pen, ink and paper, hastily wrote out the required receipt and mae it to Dare, “But I don’d giff you der chance. See! I sign my nam ossph Dare. There! It vas ' all gone now, my broperty, und to-morrow I go to work at miner’s wages, a wiser fool den I haff been heretofore.” And, finishing his signature as he spoke, the taisguided man rose from the table, ani stagger- ei out of the shanty, Tva-la-lee Charley closed and barred the door after him; then sat down once more at tho ta- ble, bis face triumphant in its expression. ‘“Tt’s mine now, fair and square, and Vil take - the first opportunity to have this deed recorded, ONE EO A ree OP AE ARE Shei hs = thereby makiag things safe, beyond peradven- | dark with passion, — ie Deadwood Dick Trapped. ture. Ha! ba! I have not profited so badly by coming to Pistolville, after all, The Voleano Mine isn’t picked up in value every day!” *“*No, nor it won’t profit you to any great ex- ioe for many a day to come!” a voice suddenly cried, The gambler uttered an oath, and looked in the direction whence came the sound, The lid ef the old chest was thrown open, and standing upright and erect, within the odd re- ceptacle, was Gold-dust Dick, a cool, dangerous glitter in his handsome eyes, and a pair of cock- ed ** five ”-shooters in his grasp. “ You?” Tra-la-lee Charley gasped, flushing and palin eral ‘Wxactly! Individually and collectively, I!” the miner said, with emphasis. ‘‘I overheard the proposed game, and took it into my head to be present. The Volcano Mine is not yours, Charles Guthrie. “You lie! It is mine!” the gambler retort- ed, seizing the deed, and thrusting it into bis pocket, “TI insist that it is not, and I will proceed to explain why. I came here, well knowing that you never would let Dare win back that which you bad gambled away from him. Again, I came here to play you a game for that Volcano Mine myself!” “By no means. I'll not play with you,” Tra- la-lee Charley growled. **Oh, yes, you will!” the other reassured, tri- umphantly. ‘‘ You dare’ not refuse, for you know I’d just as lieve shoot you as look at you— and shoot you I should, if you did not play with me, ‘*But what have you to stake against the Vol- cano?” was the gruff demand. “Something I know you covet—my life!” Gold-dust replied. ‘* Between us, it is no secret that we cordially dislike each other, Ere long one or the other of us will probably drop, So Pll give you a chance to win the drop on me, or I win the mine,” ; ** Pshaw, man, You are mad!” “Oh, no—not a bit of it. I know my busi- ness, It’s either your life or mine; you must play for mine, or Pll take yours. Gov to work, now, and write a transfer assignment of the deed to me. Then we will play. No mulish- ness, now, or it will prove fatal to you, let me assure you!” . _Tra-la-lee Charley hesitated several minutes, his gaze riveted sullenly upon the floor. But he finally seized the pen and proceeded to obey Gold-dust’s stern command. It took him but afew moments to complete the work, being a rapid writer. Gold-dust. Dick looked on, as he wrote, and when he had finished, took a seat on the oppo- site side of the table. “* Now, then, fetch out a fresh pack, and we'll lay!” he said, sternly. ‘‘If I lose, you shall ave one of my pistols, and shoot me, If I win, you shall sign that deed, and also give me the one Dare signed, or you’re a dead man. Remembering that I am watching you, narrow- ly, it will pay you not to make any sly moves, as Pll drop you, if you do!” The gambler did not answer, but his face was

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Deadwood Dick Trapped. _ a a, The cards were produced, shuffled, cut, and dealt, and the game began, in just seven minutes by the clock, which hung over the fire-place, the game was played and won, And Gold-dust Dick was the winner! “ Curse on you,” Guthrie hissed. ‘t You'll pay for this!” ‘Not this evening!” the imperturbable miner sport replied. ‘* Have the goodness to a 3a that assigument, and hand it over, No monkeying now !--for the enraged rascal evidently wanted to draw a pistol from his belt, He desisted, however, and signed the assign- ment of the deed, and handed it to Gold-dust. “Thank you!” Dick said, ‘‘When I get to working the Volcano, come around and maybe you can hire out to buck your head against quartz, as a erusher.” Then, with his revolvers in hand, and a vic- torious smile on his face, he backed out of the shanty, and was gone! After his departure, Tra-la-lee Cuarley spent an hour in drinking and swearing, as relief for his injured“feelings, and was just preparing to turn in, for the nigbt, when Haunted Hank thrust bis head in at the door. “Come!” he said, sententiously. ‘“* Why?” the gambler demanded. * Because, the fruit can be plucked, now, in good condition!” ; Tra-la-lee’s face brightened, and arming him- self, thoroughly, he followed the bullwhacker toward the post-office. CHAPTER VIII. TRAPPING DICK. THROUGH the darkness of the night, the two men of similar brutish natures, hurried toward the village store, which also constituted the post-office, ; It was a large, long, log structure, with a rear and front entrance, and a couple of win- dows in one side, wnich were now closed in by heavy shutters. Haunted Hank led the way to the rear en- trance, with cautious footsteps, which Tra-la- lee Charley imitated, as best he knew how, for despite his cumbersome size, the elder ruffian was the better trailer. Kneeling upon the door-sill, Hadden peered in through the keyhole a few seconds—then mo- tioned for Tra-la-lee Charley to do the same. The apartment within the door was used as the inner part of the post-office, where mails were assorted and distributed into the number ns pigeon-holes facing into the front part of the store, ; : The only other furniture was a table, stool, stove and lamp, the latter now being lighted, At the table, upon which were many letters spread out, stood a man of erect figure, clad in black garments, with a similar colored cloak flung around bis sboulders, and a black som- brero pinned up on one side, upon his head. Gis face from forehead to chin, was hidden behind a black mask. He was actively engaged in examining the directions upon the envelopes, as if searching _ tor some particular address. ; AN ST 7 eae Te ae ee SE nw CPR ee | Deadwood Dick is not known, 16 “ See!” Haunted Hank grunted, ‘ He’ss'urch- in’ fer a letter w’at gc to bim, an’ he’s Deadwood Dick, w’at the letter cum for, ter- night, “Yes, and I fancy I recoguize the figure!” Tra-la-lee Charley replied, in an undertone, ‘‘Be it Deadwood Dick, or whoever, it is also Gold-dust Dick.” ‘**On course, an’ they’re one an’ the same—I know’d that, quite a bit ago.” ‘Curse the fellow, how I hate him; and now for my revenge. Go geta half a dozen of the boys while I stay on guard—quickly and can- tiously now.” ; ‘All right!” Haddon replied; ‘and ye kin bet yer boots [ll stay away till arter Deadwood Dick is caged.” This latter conclusion, however, was uttered ~ after he was well out of the hearing of Tra-la- lee Charley. i After he was gone, the gambler crouched upon the doorstep, atid watched his intended victim narrowly through the keyhole. ‘“ He’s mine now, and he'll never get a deal in on me again!” he hissed between his clinched teeth. ‘‘ When he comes out, we'll nab him, and he’ll get lynch Jaw, if Pve got anything to say about the matter, Sd Deadwood Dick (whom the reader has prob- ably already detected in his alias of Gold-dust Dick) soon after found the letter he was looking for, and tore it open eagerly, unaware that he was watched; for he had calculated that the Pistolvillians were all in bed when he effected his entrance to the post-office for the purpose of getting possession of the letter which he had re- used earlier in the evening. The letter ran as follows: *Deapwoop Dick:— 3 “Tt is known that you are in Pistolville, and the sheriff has received orders from the authorities to arrest you and bring you to the nearest military post for trial for your many depredations, years since. ‘Take the advice of a friend, and lose yourself in some out-of-the-way place, where the name of Joun Dunn, ” “ Humph! circumstances are coming along faster than I anticipated,” Dick muttered to himse/f, as he tore the letter into fragments. “Let me see? John Dunn was formerly a mem- ber of one of my Deadwood bands. Well, Vil think over his proffered advice at leisure.” Then, turning out the lamp, he unlocked the rear door and stepped outside. Me All was utter blackness, at this, the darkest hour before the dawn. The rear door of the post-office opened into an alley between two buildings, which had to be_ traversed several rods before reaching the street. : Though he did not have any idea that danger menaced him, Gold-dust (as we shall still call him) was cautious enough to take a sbarp glance at his surroundings before leaving the door- step. { Seeing nothing, he started on his way out of the alley, at a rapid gait, when to his conster- nation be suddenly tripped over a rope which was drawn across the alley, and fell flat upom the ground. : ag Bre he could make a move to rise, half a — ey ee

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16 Deadwood Dick Trapped. dozen burly men had pounced upon him, and | The “polls” was a cigar-box with the lid though he struggled with superhuman power to rise and overthrow them, they at last succeeded in binding him hand and foot, He was then carried out of the alley into the main street, and laid upon the ground again, while his captors crowded around him’ and gazed down upon him in triumph. “Hal hal” Tra-la-lee Charley cried, sarcas- tically. “‘ Who has won the game, finally, my gay schoolmaster? I told you I’d pay you off, and here you see yourself, your mask of deceit torn off, and you a helpless prisoner.” “Oh, I’m very comfortable!” Dick replied, with ironic composure. ‘* When I get other- wise I'll inform you.” “Will you, though? Well, I opine, about the most immediate relief you'll get, will be when you're swingin’ to a rope, Say, boys, shall we boost him?” “*T reckon thet ain’t fer us to say,” a miner declared. ‘ Ha’nted Hank is our ‘ mayor, jedge an’ court,’ an’ we ginerally go as he sez,” : “You bet we do,” added a chorus of by- standers, of whom there were by this time a score, and more coming, “But, see here!” Tra-la-lee Charley protested —‘‘this is all nonsense, This fellow is a mail- robber, a road-agent, and a cut-throat; and, moreover, he holds a clinch onto Haunted Hank, so that your noble commander dare not say his soul’s his own! You all saw how he weakened the other night? Now, ef you're goin’ to depend on him for justice, you ain’t a-goin’ to do a thing wi’ this outlaw, but let bim go.an’ do as he pleases.” ‘*Mebbe ye’d like ter step in an’ fill Haunted Hank’s boots,” one digger growled, with a sneer. Zz “OF course he would,” added another. ‘ He’s , got an idea he owns the town, beca’se he’s in- terested in the Volcano.” _ “And he is no longer even interested, in that,” Gold-dust said, ®as T hold'a deed from ee to him, and an assignment from him to me “Then, wat ye so big-feelin’, fer?” another miner chipped in, ‘We allow ef ye keep yer snoot out, we kin run ther town, ourselves, wi’ Ha’nted Hank’s help. Ef Hank sez et ain’t fair ter send ther prisoner up ter Ingersolville, I aa) the majority o’ ther b’yees ll stick by im, And the murmur of assent that followed, seemed to indicate that the speaker was not “of” in his reckoning, “ve got an ijeer,” said still another miner, ** Let's call a meetin’ tew order, an’ take a vote whether we try Gold-dust Dick immegetly on our own hooks, an’ give him, the benefit o’ ther jury’s verdict, or put him in a lock-up, an’ send fer ther sheriff or marshal to cum an? hand him over ter ther reg’lar courts. What d’ye say?” A shout of approval went up, So Haunted Hank was sent for, and prepara- tions were made to hold the election there and then, by building campfires, and providing torches, Haunted Hank was forthcoming, soon after, eae vas elected poll-tender, by unanimous con- “sen! | should come forward but Dora Dare. — nailed down, and aslit cut in the top, so that’ slips of paper could be put in through it. The men were then told to each prepare-a slip of paper, and to write either ** At Onee” or “ Reprieve,” upon each slip, according as to whether they: wanted Gold-dust Dick tried at once, or banded over to the U. 8, deputy mar- shal, when he should arrive, ‘*Recollect, gentlemen,” cried Charley, “ your best way is to have the trial, conviction and lynch pic-nic, at once, fer ef yer lock up sech a slippery cuss as this hyar Deadwood Dick, in a tight cast-iron cage, ten to'one he'll crawl out through a flaw-hole in the iron, an’ escape. Ther best way is to make sure of him while you’ve got him.” 2 But it was plainly not the intention of the crowd to profit largely by the directions of the gambler, for he had ‘‘ bitten” too many of them at cards to be popular among them, aside from his highly officious every-day demeanor. ~ And therefore they prepared their slips of paper pretty much as pleased themselves, ome hesitated and deliberated on the matter, while others took no time for decison. In order to have a square vote, men were dis- patched for such of the miners as had not been aroused from their slumbers, not knowing any- thing of the nocturnal demonstration out in the street. And inside of an hour every man had voted except two, and they were Tra-la-lee Charley and old Joe Dare. The former insisted on polling the last vote. Dare soon came reeling along, at an unsteady gait, his hands thrust in his pockets, and his mouthed wreathed in a tipsy grin. “Vel, poys, v’ot isder matter?” he asked with a biccough. “You got somedings import- ant? “Ves, we have, Joe,” Tra-la-lee Charley pro- posed. ‘* We've just arrested Gold-dust Dick, alias Deadwood Dick, the ruffian who has been insulting your daughter. We caught him rob- bing the mails, and we're takin’ a vote to see whether we shall give’ him a hasty trial and string him up at once, or hold him a prisoner, until a deputy marshal can come and take charge of his nibs; and we want your vote,” | “Ish dot so? Und you vant me to vote so dot Gold-dust Dick got hung right avay off?” “Ves, If you are in favor of a speedy trial write upon a blank slip of paper ‘ At Once.’ it you wish the marshal to have the prisoner, write upon the paper, ‘ Reprieve,’ and put it, in either case, in yonder box.” ‘* Vel, T vote for ‘ Reprieve’, den,” Dutch Joo said. ‘‘Gold-dust Dick don’d vas do me some injury, und I vote for him.” Accordingly he penciled ‘Reprieve’ upon a slip of paper that was given him, and deposited it in the box. *‘Now, then, you vote, and that is all,” Haunted Hank said, addressing Tra-la-lee Char- — ley. ; “Yes, I'll vote, and I fancy my vote will bring on an immediate trial!” the villain replied with - significant laugh, as he stepped toward the polls. : : ‘¢ Stop!” cried a clear, ringing voice, and who “Stop, £

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Deadwood Dick Trapped. 17 say! Gentlemen, if aoe will take pains to examine, yeu will find out that Tra-la-lee Charley has a number of ‘ At Once’ tickets in . his bands, which be intends to drop into the box!” Instantly the gambler was pounced upon, and his clinched hands foreed open. It was as Dora had said. In his right hand he clutched a package of papers, so placed to- gether as to look like one, and in number there were ten. A cry of indignation escaped the crowd at this attempted act of treachery, and the miners who held ap gambler of one accord hurled him tothe ground, For a moment he lay like one dead, but he soon recovered from the shock, and with diffi- culty regained his feet. “Now, you git!” Haunted Hank yelled, whip- ping out a revolyer—" git, I say, right out o’ this hyar town, as fast as yeou kuow how. opine I don’t allow no sich’ varmints ter play ebeat around hyar, ’long’s I’m ‘boss, an’ ef I ever ketch ye in this valley again, darn me fera dragon ef I ain’t goin’ ter fill yer carcass so full o lead ye’ll answer fer a block o’ sodder. Git!” *“You mean it?” Tra-la-lee Charley cried, his face flaming with rage. ‘“‘ Jest linger hyarabouts an’ see fer yerself!” was Haunted Hank’s reply, with emphasis of significance, ‘Tben I will go—but my curses rest on you girl, and you'll feel the effects of them!” he crie shaking his fist at Dora. Then he walked away with curses upon his lips, and a look of incarnate hatred upon his face, “Here! hold on vonce in avile! Don’d you vas make threats apoud mine gal, Dora, or so helb me, I smash your skull inside out!” Dutch Joe yelled after him, doubling up his fists in great bravado. But if Tra-la-lee Charley heard, he heeded not, and was quickly hidden from view in the dark- ness, Afier he was gone, Haunted Hank restored his revolver to its usual place, and looked the crowd over, ‘“ Waal, gents, aire all ther votes in?” he de- manded, ‘Fer, if so, we'll proceed to count them!” “No!” Dora cried, advancing. “J claim a right to cast a vote in this matter, and here itis, Are you all willing I should, gentlemen?” ~ For a second all was still as death, Then there was a murmur in the affirmative, and a few growls in the negative, “The majority _allus rules, an’ the gal can vote!” Haunted Hank decided, ‘Come for- ‘ward, siss, an’ cast yer vote, an’ then we'll count ’em,” Dora obeyed, willingly. She had overheard the men who came for her father explain what was wanted of him, and made up her mind to attempt to vote, in hope of getting a temporary reprieve for Gold-dust ck, As soon as she dropped the vote into the box the lid was pried open, and the miners crowded around to see that Haunted Hank counted the votes right. One by one they were selected and deposited | upon the top of a barrel in two piles—one pile “for” and the other “against.” — “Dll bet all vot I don’t know dot Gold-dust Dick don’d come in for der quick trial!” old Joe shouted, But it looked, as the votes were singled out, as if the prisoner was as liable to get the benefit of a quick trial as any other way, for the votes “for” and “against” seemed to pan out in equal numbers, t was an exciting moment. Everybody had their heads craned forward to hear the result. Finally the last vote but one was counted—the tickets ran even in count. With a cry Haddon held the last one up. On it was inscribed—* Reprieve |” Dora’s turn it was to utter a thankful ery then, It had been her vote that had won for Gold-dust Dick a respite. CHAPTER IX, CONSOLIDATING FOROES, As far as capacity for villainy was concerned Tra-la-lee Carley had few equals. He had sprung from an aristocratic and wealthy New ngland family, not many miles from Plymouth Rock, but, despite this fact, his early boyhood seemed to augur that he was cut out for no par- ticular good purpose in life, although every moral and educational influence had been exert- ed over him. But he hud drifted away into dissipation and fast habits, until he had finally brought up in Western mining haunts as a gambler and sharp, Being ordered out of town was something he had never counted on, and it filled him with rage and chagrin to think that it was necessary to his personal safety to leave. He hurried away into the mountains, and — sought a place beneath a shelving ledge to pass the remainder of the nigkt, Assoon as it came” daylight he arose and sat down on a rock to de- liberate, > “It’s useless to think of going back to Pistol- ville, single-handed, for ve got my ticket-of- leave, in dead earnest,” he muttered, with a scowl, ? “But, Dil yet run that town, and I'll swear to it! The ones who sent me forth, shalllearn that Tra-la-lee Charley is not the lad to tamely : submit to insult. And, as for that vagabond’s — proud daughter—ob! but Pll yet humble her, and break her into meek submission to my will a Soon after, the gambler arose, and plunged deeper into the mountain wilderness, by way of a narrow ravine, which, for over a mile, grew still narrower and darker, until it suddenly de- — bouched into a traverse canyon of considerable width, and great natural beauty. But for the narrow ravine, this canyon could not have been reached, except by a long tour over the range of mountains, which this ravine split in twain. % 1+ As soon as he entered the canyon, Tra-latee _ Charley directed his footsteps to the north- ward. In the course of an hour he crossed the canyon, and entered a sort of break, or niche in the foot-hills, and here, presently) emerged into a sort of basin, wherein were built the lodges of a little Indian village. — ey ‘3

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f Without apparent fear be walked boldly down into this village, despite the fact that a motley crowd of the painted denizens huddled about him, jabbering and gesticulating, wildly. Putting them to one side, he approached the paacipal, or largest lodge, and would probably ave entered, only that the chief made his ap- pearance in the doorway. The chief, in question, was none other than Silver Fox the Ponca, and it was his village eee the gambler had so unceremoniously en- tered. A frown came over the face of Silver Fox as he saw the pale-face intruder, for it was very seldom that a white man ever entered the In: dian village. } “Ugh! what brings the pale-face dog to the village of the Poncas?” he criod sternly, with a wave of his hand for his braves to gather near, and cut off the chances of the stranger’s escape. “Does he not know that it means death for those of his race to come here to the lair of the Silver Fox?” “Yes, I knew that before coming, and yet hesitated not, because I have something for the Silver Fox to hear that concerns him greatly.” “Then let the pale-face enter the lodge of Silver Fox, be seated, and explaia himself. If 4 comes as a friend, the Poncas will spare his life.” . “ Tra-la-lee Charley comes as a friend, as the great chief will learn,” the gambler replied, as he followed the chief into the lodge, Once inside, Silver Fox motioned him to a seat on a pile of skins, while he stood near at hand, with a stoic sternness of demeanor habitual with him. ‘‘TLet the pale-face speak,” he ordered. ‘The ears of Silver Fox are open.” “Well, lam glad, and I will first speak of myself,” Tra-la-lee Charley said. ‘Until the past night I have been a citizen of Pistolvillo—a omer by profession. A few bours ago I was riven from the town because I took sides against one rascal and outlaw, Gold-dust Dick—the same who refused the hand of the beautiful queen of the Poncas,” The chief uttered a grunt and lookel sur- prised, but did not speak. “In my trouble [ have come to Silver Fox to seek the position that was offered the man, Gold-dust. Has the chief heard of the masked road-agents?” Silver Fox nodded. “T thought so!” Guthrie said. ‘There is a well-organized and disciplined band of them, nof many miles from here, who look upon me as their leader. My will is their law. There- fore, smarting under insult and tbirsting for revenge, I have come to Silver Fox to propose for the hand of his daughter and the consolida- tion of both our forces into one formidable band and the inauguration of warfare against the j faces of Pistolville!” Peli ver F'ox’s eyes gleamed with enthusiasm as he listened. ‘‘ The pale-face Card-man plots well,” he said. ** How many men has he at his command?” ey able-bodied fellows who know how to figh .e Tet That would make the Poncas but | hii Deadw od Dick Trapped. seventy-five strong. The white dogs number many more,” “That matters not! One sudden attack would surprise them, and wipe out a goodl number, after which wecould retreat and wate for auother opportunity. In this way we could soon own the village and mines, and after that sail tm and oe the Aztecs, as you proposed to Gold-dust Dick. Tell me, now—what think you of the matter?” : ‘*The plan of the pale-face is in accordance with the will of Silver Fox, but it is not all for him tosay. Starlight must choose her hus- band for herself. But, bow does the Card-man know so much about Silver Fox’s interview with Gold-dust Dick?” “From playing eavesdropper. But, call forth your lovely daughter, Silver Fox, and consult her in regard to this matter.” The chief stepped into an inner division of the lodge, and presently returned, accompanied by Starlight, who looked Tra-la-lee Charley over with a keen, unflinching gaze. “The daughter of Silver Fox has overheard the pale-face chief’s propusal,” the old warrior said, ‘‘and is willing todoas ber father bids, on one condition, Starlight loved Gold-dust Dick, and his refusal of her made a deep wound in her heart. Her love bas now all turned to hatred, and nothing but revenge can ever effect ber acceptation of his hand, The con- solidation can take place at once, but Star- light will only become Tra-la-lee Charley’s aie when he brings her the scalp of Gold-dust ick. “Then it shall be my aim henoeforth to possess myself of that trophy, to win my beau- tiful bride with,” the gambler declared, CHAPTER X. DEADWOOD DICK STANDS REVEALED. Ir bad been pretty even voting that was to de- cide the present fate of Goli-dust, and but for Dora Dare’s vote, and her timely interception of Tra-la-lee Charley’s rascally attempt, the famous ex-road agent would undoubtedly have got an immediate trial and sentence, As it was, the one vote that decided the mat- ter made ita fact to be followed, that Gold- dust was to kave a respite, until a deputy U. 8. marshal should have time toarrive and take charge of him, The result when it became known was receiv- ed with a loud cheer by those who had voted for a respite; while the opposite party looked decidedly dissatisfied over the result. But, there was a silencein the crowd, when Haunted Hank rose among them and waved his hand as a signal for them to stop. “Et’s all fair, gents,” he declared, with em- hasis, ‘‘ Ye’ kin bet yer boots. I’d jusi as ieve_’a’ see’d Gold-dust Dick stretched up itn- mejetly, as not; but ther majority rules, an’ all we kin do wi’ Richard, are to put him in a tight cage, an’ see’t he stays thar until the deputy U.S. comes to pull him under his wing.” 4nd as Haunted Hank was still law for the Pistovillians, it was settled that Gold-dust¢ Dick should become a guest of the public, until sheuld come to claim the higher a m 3

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Deadwood Dick Trapped. ro 19 He was accordingly placed, bound hand and Yoot, in a strong cabin, without windows, which had been purposely built to accomodate such [Pistovillians as did not keep witbin the bounds of order. Around the jail thus tenanted, a guard of six wturdy miners was placed, to prevent the pris- oner from escaping—men chosen, too, from that poe of the ier 2 who had voted to eep Gold-dust Dick until the sheriff came, And so it was not highly probable that Rich- ard could gain his freedom very soon again, The news soon spread beyond the limits of Pistolville, that the notorious Deadwood Dick was at last captured, and in jail for good, and curious ones came from the adjacent camps in hopes of getting a glimpse of the famous outlaw whose name was familiar from North to South along the golden slopes of the rocky West. But Haunted Hank, who bad constituted himself chief of the jail guard, took good care that no person except those of his posse should et a glimpse at the prisoner, and he even ‘enied fimecif that privilege, for reasons best known to bimself, ‘ On the day following his arrest, at night, Dick sent for the ruffian, and after considerable delay he made his appearance, and was locked ‘in the cabin with his prisoner. His face wore a sullen, dogged expression, as he set eyes upon Gold-dust, and he stood with folded arms, waiting for him to speak. ‘¢ Hank Haddon!” the prisoner said, surveying him sternly, ‘‘ I have called you here to ask you uestion, once and for the last time, Where ‘alamity Jane?” “‘T have been asked that by you before, by letter, and sent the reply back that I knew noth- ing of such a party,” was the grim reply. * And upon receipt of the communication, I sent you notice that, unless-you delivered her 9 to me, I would kill you, upon a certain jay? “ You did.” * And I presume you believe T’'ll do it, do you oy a 1s ot 11] weaken thet I did ruther fear ye’d give me a dig in the back, when I wasn’t lookin’, but now Lain’t so much afeard,” the ruffian ad- ena d ed, I ” * Because I am caged, I suppose “Yas, I reckon ye won't act hull families, arter this.” “*No, maybe not; but you can rest assured that [ll keep my word with you, unless you come to time,” **T ain’t much skeert,” the Haunted answered, with bravado. ‘‘Ef you was slingin’ yerself loosely around, I opine I should feel kind o’ skittish—but as she am, I feel jest as safe as ye please.” ** Its a good thing you’ve got so much assur- ance, But there is the one thing you must tell me—where is Calamity Jane?” “ Again I repeat, I do not know. I ain’t so ‘bad a man as some go fer ter make me out, an’ ef ye'll agree ter break up yer promise o’ venge- ance, I don’t know but I'll tell ye wat I know about the gal.” ’ . ; “Tf you explain to my satisfaction, you will have no cause to fear me. On the other hand, I will accept of no trumped-up story. fo go ~ ahead, if you can do so without falsifying.’ “Waal, I reckon I kin do thet, an’ hyar’s all I know about et. Shortly before ye lost track o’ Calamity Jane, we war up in that region whar you were located, engaged in the legitermate pursuit of stealin’ horses an’ sech, By we, I mean a parcel of us rough cusses, headed by Tra- la-lee Charley, who was the boss, *“Waal, one day, et appears, Tra-la-lee sot eyes upon Calamity Jane, and was smutten wi’ her from the word go, Anyhow, when he rid inter camp that night, he told us boys he’d seen ther prittiest woman in the hills, an’ was goin ter hev her. ‘*T don’t allow we paid much notice to this. ontil one day he fotched her inter camp; then reckernized her as Calamity Jane, who I used to see we Deadwood country. ‘““Waal, she was bound band an’ fut, and looked mighty indignant and pitiful by turns, but Tra-la lee Charley only chuckled at her an’ called her his wild canary bird, and as bow he would have tew take her away to his cage. Once, durin’ “the three days she war kept jn camp, I gotasly chance tew speak to her, an’ when she peaged me to rescue her, by the grim Moses, I told her I’d try, ef et cost Tra-la-lee’s life an’ mine, too, “So, when Tra-la-lee started tew take the gal tew an isolated old ranch up in the mountains, I war layin’ fer him, calkylatin’ tew trail bim an’ recapture Calamity; but ’twar no use. had only got fairly into bis rear when the rest 0’ tbe boys pounced down onter me, an’ that’s the last I saw 0’ Calamity Jane. “'Tra-la-lee come back ter camp a couple o’ weeks later ’thout her, but none o’ the boys durst question him. I reckon, tho’, et explained matters when he hung up a peantiful strip o’ woman’s soft brown hair to the roe ia ee et satisfied me that he had done for her in this life, _ by jingo!” Deadwood, or Gold-dust Dick, listened with clouded face and flashing eyes; but, when the haunted man paused, he bowed his head and groaned, ‘* And then it is Tra-la-lee Charley I have to kill instead of you, eh?” he said. ‘‘ Fool you were for not telling me this long ago. Fool I was for not killing that devil when [ had a chance, Oh, that I were free—bow I would hunt bim down to earth! You may go, sir. My vow of vengeance against you is now revoked!” f One day later, just at sunset, Roxie Ralph re-_ turned to Pistolville to find somewhat of a change since she had left. And the most won- derful of all was that Gold-dust Dick was the famous ex-road-agoat, Deadwood Dick, and now imprisoned, awaiting the arrival of the U. 8. marshal or his deputy. ~ “Ts a downright shame, that’s what it is,” the mountain waif expostulated. ‘I say Gold- dust Dick war the best sort of a galoot that ever Jit down in Pistolville, an’ Pl bet my rifle that he’ll never die by hangin’.’ If I don’t mis. take, there’ll be need o’ considerin’ his might afore long.” “ 2 And, when Roxie went to the jail and made : z ,

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20 application to see the prisoner, Haunted Hank shook his head. ** Not much, my lassie! You’ve nothin’ to do wi’ sech acbap as Deadwood Dick, take my word fer it.” “Oh! ain’t 1? Well, that remains to be seen. -T’'m of the opinion that I can see Gold-dust Dick if I choose.” Then she turned away in the stiffest kind of {ndignation, leaving Haunted Hank to wonder what scheme she had for gaining an interview with the imprisoned Richard of the road. True to his declaration, Old Joe Dare had sworn off, on losing his interest in the Volcano Mine, and accepted work on another claim, at regular wages, ; When he went home that night, after the last disastrous game, and told Dora that all was gone, the poor child received the news in a sort of frozen calmness. Her face was ashen white, her lips rigidly compressed, and in her eyes not one spark of compassion, “T expected it, and it is but another link toward making me wilder than Iam, There is the door, sir—go! You are henceforth no father of mine!” “Wot? Gott in Himmel—vas you crazy mit yourself, my shild?” Dare ejaculated, not know- ing what to make of it. ‘Yes, I am crazy—mad !” Dora cried fiercely, clinching her hands together until the nails cut into the flesh—‘‘ mad, and growing more wild, all the time. Tell me! tell me! did you put Gold Dick in prison?” And she arose to her fullest hight, and glared down upon him, with the fierceness of that the word “‘ mad” implied, causing Joe to shrink back in alarm, “No! no! I haff nothing to do mit dot, my shild. I don’d vas know somedings all apoud ‘* Well, perhaps not. Nevertheless, you are a base ingrate—an unnatural father, and I will never more have aught to do with you. Go, sir—go! or I will kill you. And aboveall, keep wide out of my path, hereafter.” And as she spoke, she exposed a dagger, clinched in her hand, and flourished it, fiercely. ‘* Gol” she fairly screamed, ‘‘and never re- turn.” ‘Yas, I vill do yoost v’ot you say,” Joe re- lay and with his bead bowed upon his breast, e left the house, going out into the night. What afterward transpired—the capture of Deadwood Dick, and the strange nocturnal election, is already known to the reader. The next day, Dare procured a job, and labor- ed, industriously, but the scenein his own shanty haunted him, constantly, “Tdon’d vas understood all apout dot,” he muttered, dubiously. ‘‘She act yoost a good deal somewhat like me, ven I vas full, but Tam ~ sure she never drank a drop, Off I don’d vas misdaken der vas some screws loose somewhere, an” I vil keep vel oud of der reach of dot. ' butcher-knife; I dinks I vil keep a eye oud, to see v’ot vas going on. Id vas somehow a mixed- up case, anyhow.” E And since he had formed this second resolve, he thought there could be no harm in break- Fates = a : “ ie ae et Deadwood Dick Trapped. ing the first, and accordingly, that night, cele- brated the event by getting extra drunk—which effectually settled any detective inclinations he may have had. And while he slept in blissful unconscious- ness of what was going on, the serpent was en- tering his own. home, and snatching away its last prize. ; About half-past two in the morning, half-a- dozen horsemen silently entered the town from the south, or rather, paused upon the outskirts, in a line abreast. ; They were all attired in black, hats, masks and all, and even the horses wore somber trap- pings, while their feet were carefully muffled. At the right end of the line sat Tra-la-lee Charley, and it was at his word that they had come to a halt, “There!” he said, pointing through the dim darkness of the night to the Dare shanty. That is the place I wish to visit, and therein lies my prize. Four of us will dismount here, and steal softly forward, while the others re- main here, on guard. “Tf a pistol-shot greets your hearing, ride forward swiftly to our rescue, firing and mak- ing as much noise as possible. Then four left their saddles and crept stealth- ily forward toward the shanty, They soon gained a position close beside the walls of the dwelling, All was quiet about it. ‘“*T reckon she’s gone to sleep,” Tra-la-lee Charley said, “‘and in that event it will be an easy matter to take her, Women are generally sound sleepers.” ** Don’t you fool yourself about that,” one of the outlaws chuckled, ‘‘Ef I know anything about the plaguey critters, they’re allus awake, or sleepin’ wi’ one eye open, I used to hev a better-balf, thet laid fer me behind the door, all times o’ night, when I cum home, an’ thar wasn't no more use a-tryin’ ter shet her eye up than thar is tryin’ tew make a dorg sing psalms, you bet your boots!” A grunt from several others seemed to ap- prove of this view. -“* Well, be that as it may, I don’t believe we shall have merch trouble in taking this bird,” the captain replied. And he was right, No difficulty was experi- enced in forcing the door, and entering the shanty: then, to snatch Dora Dare from where she sat asleep in a chair, and bind and gag ker, was but the work of a moment. ‘Away with her, now, to my mountain cage!” at once ordered the vile leader, They left the cabin and bore her to the horses. Soon after, all hands had left Pistolville far behind, and were speeding through the moun- tains like the grim night-hawks they were. CHAPTER XI. 4 NEW WAY OF GOING TO JAIL, Ir was not discovered until the next morning — that Dora Dare had been abducted; then, when — some chance caller did make the discovery, the following notice writte was found pinned to the wall, pen print: -

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, Deadwood Dick Trapped. *Deem yourselves not safe or secure, even in your own homes, for Tra la-lee Charley knows no mercy for his enemies.” The discoverer quickly communicated the in- telligence to others, and in half an hour not a parson in Pistolville but had beard of Miss are’s mysterious disappearance, and was naturally anxious over the strange warning of Tra-la-lee Charley. When old Joe was hunted up, he was found in an out-of-the-way place in a state of semi- intoxication. ‘*Mine gal Dora gone!” he ejaculated, doubt- ingly, when told of the abduction, “Vel I oust t?ought she’d got mad, and run away mit erself, V’ot haff pecome of her? Did she take der house and furniture mit her?” **No! no! you don’t understand, Joe,” one of the miners volunteered to explain, ‘ Your daughter has been carried off by a ruffian, into captivity—by your partner that was, in fact.” “Wot? Tra-la-lee Sharley?” ‘Ay! Tra-la-lee Charley.” : ‘Und he run avay off, und take mine shild mit bim?” “T reckon that’s about the size of it, old man,” ‘Then, so helb me gracious, I vas a pig fool! Vy didn’t I muzzle mine bung-hole und stop der visky, ’fore I lost all mine broperty, und finally mine girl? Oh! shimminy blazes! I feel yoost like go drownin’ myself.” “You've tried that on, long enough, without making a success out of it; you absorb it too fast. Why don’t you try some other tack?” Dare looked sheepish, and turned away toward his shanty, which to him had now lost its fairest ornament; for, cespite his failings, he dearly loved his only child. And while the notice left by Tra-la-lee Charley created no alarm, it still excited a feeling of un- easiness, for the supposition was that he was now allied with some lawless band, And if such were the case, and knowing his villainous disposition, as they did, they were par- donable if their belief was that he would attempt to wreak vengeance on those who had driven him forth from the mining town, As if to corroborate this theory, the stage came thundering into town, that night, pretty well riddled with bullets, and with one wounded horse in the lead, and several dead and wounded passenger's on the inside, ; ‘Road-agents, half-breeds, Injuns!” was the significant reply of the driver, in answer to the questions put to him. ‘‘Yecan bet yer uncle never draws reins over that air trail again, nuther! She am emphatically too hot fer me!” Then, after he got sufficient breath, ha went on to relate that a large band of mixed Indians and whites had attacked the stage, not four miles from Pistolville, and that it was only after a terrible struggle he had been able to break away, at the peril of his own life, by shooting down the four men who held the horses. Jack Mahone had driven the stage to and from many different mining-camps, and was not the man to ‘skeer’ at moderate distur'b- ances, But he avowed this was the worst toward tho grim | @ bad ever bad a perees call| ‘Kind of looks dangerous, gat ree went. - iA RO nT guess w he would never pick up a rein over that route again, so long as it was infested with road- ageuts, as ‘““T tell ye,” he averred—“ an’ yell allow et requires a powerful dose to skeer me—I tell ye, I wouldn’t kerry a load over thet trail ag'in, et present, fer the best mine in Pistolville, fer my carcass would likely be scattered so fur, thet it would cost a mine ter get a search-warrant lon enough to find all the pieces, "Tain’t because lack the grit, but because I'd like to live a little while longer. That ain’t all, nuther. Ef I ain’t off my kerbase, this here town will geta blast from the cusses.” A : “Pooch! They’d not stand_a ghost of a show a-fightin’ wi? us—you bet,” Hank Haddon de- clared. ‘Thar ain’t no tribe o’ humans equal ter handlin’ us royal pards o’ Pistolville,” ‘¢ Mebbe not,” Mahone retorted, ‘* onless the grab at you when your belt’s not tight, whic they'll do, most likely. .Ef I war goin’ to bet — at all, ’'d bet that there won’t be much left o’ Pistolville inside of six weeks, But the majority of the townspeople did not ‘feel disposed to see matters in this light—so Mahone said ne more. He was a rough but handsome and goodly sort of fellow, as fearless as a lion, at most times, and with a heart as true as steel to those he hked. And out of all, his heart was the truest to pretty Roxie Ralph, on whom his fancy had first fixed, when she was a smaller gin only to increase; as she grew: toward the udding of womanhood, But wild, hoydenish, roving Roxie had never eared a fig for Jack, evidently, and what few advances he had summoned up courage to make had been the same as wasted on desert air. That night Roxie rode into town, astride her donkey, looking as demure and independent asa _ rosy peach—perhaps from the fact that a num- . ber of mountain fowls were fastened to her sad- dle-bow, As usual, a lot of the miners, with whom she was a favorite, crowded about as she drew rein, with expressions of anxiety upon their faces. At which the elf of the mountains laughed, “Well! well! what. is the matter?” she de. manded. ‘You all look as if you’d seen a. ghost, or su‘thin’ of the kind, What ails ye?” “Oh! not much; only we've bin feelin’ the least bit dubious,” was a miner’s reply, ‘* Hey ye seen any signs—any troubulous signs, gal?” ‘“‘Well, yes. I see’d two grizzlies fight to-day. an’ enjoyed the sport amazin’. An’ the joke of it all was that the littlest griz licked blazes out of the biggest one.” * But, gal, thet ain’t the any Injuns?” Tnjuns?” ““-Ves—Tra-la-lee Charley an’ his gang o’ red an’ white cut-throats?” 5 “Nary an Injun, tho’? Tl allow I hev seen sum tracks, w’at savored suspiciously 0’ the red heathepv, Thar’s tracks, too, not fur from town,” ia A murmur of consternation passed through the audience at this news, ~ ee pint. Hev ye seen | Well, et: struck me so, an’ I guess w

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ae hear from some quarter, afore many days. Reckon, too, that the Injuns an’ road agents have consolidated—that is, in plain English, ‘ gone in snucks,’ an’ if that’s so, et wouldn’t be a bad idea fer us all ter get our hair shaved off, down close to our scalps.” ‘¢Pshaw! We can down ’em—we can down ’em!” Haddon cried. ‘*T should hate to risk much on et. Tra-la-lee Charley, if he’s at the helm, is a keen-edged chap, and he don’t make many moves what ain’t safe, ef I remember his topographical constitu- tion. The Pistolvillians needed not to be told of this fact, for on more than one occasion had the wily ' gambler and sport roped them in, in various ways. i. I for one think it is no more than right that we should prepare ourselves for an anticipated attack, and thus prevent the possibility of de- feat,” a sensible miner suggested. “And, still better than that, if you fo’kes w'at’s got property, want tew work it, hence- forth, ye can’t do a likelier thing than to give Gold-dust Dick his liberty, an’ let him have com- mand, Mark yer darter’s word, boys—ef any man can bring about order out of chaos, he’s the man,” A murmur of dissent went up at this from the large majority. . *T ruther allow not!” a lesser rough than Horrible Hank bimself, exclaimed. ‘* We've got Dead wood Dick caged where he'll keep without saltin’, an’ that’s the end of him till the deputy marshal arrives to claim him.” “Well; do as ye please, my independent huckleberries; but I’ve a faint idea that you'll be glad of bis services before you get out of the threatened danger. You needn’t take my word for it, ueither, if you don’t want to!” And she rode on, = Roxie Ralph was credited with being keen and smart, despite the fact that her father was a sluggish, listless sort of an every-day laboring man; but Roxie was sharper, in truth, than she was given credit for being. At any rate, she was too much for the watch- ful guard, who patrolled the immediate vicinity of Deadwood Dick’s prison, and while they were ignorant of the fact, she bad, a few hours succeeding the events last narrated, eet a position on the roof of the shanty it- self. Fortunately for her, the night was darker than usual, and, once she had gained her ele vated position, there was little danger that she would be discovered, Careful always, she had formed her plans be- forehand, and there was consequently no delay when she reached the roof, Armed with a long stout lariat, she crept along the ridze board to the wide, old-fashioned chimney, which yawned down into an open fire- place, within the primitive jail. Fastening one end of the rope securely around tae chimney itself, she dropped the other down into the dark aperture, In a moment more, regardless of soot, she was gliding down the rope, and in less time that it a ne ae ae Deadwood Dick Trapped. bie to tell it, stood within the cell of Dead-wood ick, That personage was partly reclining on a pile of skins, with a paper in hand, which be was reading by aid of the light afforded by a flicker- ing candle, and, as may be imagined, he looked up, considerably surprised, when be saw a very dark specimen of the human race standing be- fore hin—for Roxie was about as black as avy Mga wench could reasonably expect to be. “Well,” he exclaimed, rising to a sitting pos- ture, “what does this mean? Who are you, my dusky friend?” ** Rollicking Roxie, you bet!” was the com- posed reply, as the daring girl proceeded to mop off her face with the lower end of her jacket, ‘Did you think it was the Old Nick, Mr. Dead- wood Dick?” “Tn truth, I did,” the prisoner answered, ‘* How came you here, young lady?” “Oh! down through the chimney! I was playin’ up Santa Claus on the half-shell, Them aloots outside said I couldn’t come in, an’ so I jist made up my mind I would ef it took all win- ter, At? here I am.” ‘“ But why? It was very rash of you. You might be discovered and subjected to much in- dignity.” “Oh! they dassent hurt me, not much, Be- sides, I wanted to see you an’ talk out my mind. ‘You see, 1 made up my mind that you’re a nice fellow.” Dick did not smile. The remembrance of other days when more than one unsophisticated girl had thought the same flashed across his mind. : ** You are foolish to think of such a thing,” he said. ‘‘T am a bold, bad, wicked man, and you sin to waste a thought on such as I.” “Oh! git out! I ain’t no fool, you bet, an’ I know when a feller’s good an’ when he ain’t, just by instinct. I know you’ve been bad, an’ that every one’s hand, nigh about, bas been raised against you. But that ain’t to say that you can t be good if you try. Have you gota a **T did bave a wife—may have one now, though I am inclined to believe that she is dead, She suddenly disappeared, and I have since learned that she was stolen by the wretch, Tra- la-lee Charley, whom you know probably better than T.” ** Yas, I reckon I’ve hearn tell on him. An’ so you reckon you wouldn’t darst, even if in- clined, take a rough but honest little nugget like me, fer better or wuss, till ye found for sure that Mrs. Deadwood Dick, number one, was actually departed this life?” “No, £ would not,” “Too bad. I’d hitch up with you in & minute, if I had the chance. But if it ain’t possible, Pi live and die an old maid, Is’pose you’re ready to leave this place?” “When released by the proper authorities, yes,” “But Pve gota better way. Climb up that Ab py rope— ! She uttered a startled cry, as she turned and glanced in the direction of the chimney. The rope had been drawn up out of sight. Dick discovered the fact almost as soon ag "

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; and dieappeared within the Bourbon, Deadwood Dick Trapped. sbe, and an expression of anxiety mantled his features. “You are discovered,” he said. ‘It is too bad. Iam afraid it will go hard with you.” “Don’t fear forme. I am not afeard. My only regret is that Iam not able to rescue you now. Never mind, however. If I have failed this time, that does not signify that I will the next.” ‘But will they not harm you?” ‘No. Iam regarded as of too much value to the interests of the camp, for them to do that. Ah, here come the guards!” True enough, the door was unlocked and cpen- 3d, and four men, with Haunted Hank, entered the prison, if such it could be termed. ‘Ab, my dear Miss Ralph, excuse me if I in- trude!” the king-pin of the Pistolvilleroughs ex- claimed, ‘‘ but do you not find it rather an em- barrassing position to be closeted with a young nan insech er manner? Thort I’d come ter yer tesky, ye see, an’ let yer out.” ‘* You are ever so kind,” Roxie replied, com- sedly. “‘I am ready to go. Good-by, Mr. ick. Icouldn’t rest tilll came and tendered you spiritual consolation, seeing as you are so near the end.” Then the strange girl suffered herself to be led from the prison. ‘‘ A brave girl,” Deadwood Dick muttered— ‘undoubtedly a noble one, Something in her prompt and confident manner puts mein mind of my poor lost Calamity Jane!” The next evening at sunset, a ragged, blear- eyed, sandy-whiskered being of the tramp per- suasion, rode into Pistolville on the stage, and, soon after, mounted an empty barrel im front >f the Old Bourbon saloon, whereat he com- menced to yell and gesticulate wildly. As might be expected, there was an immedi- ate collecting of a crowd. And when the crowd had assembled to some considerable numbers, the tramp ceased his Comanche-like yells, smiled blandly, rubbed his hands together, and exclaimed: ‘*Gents, I am the Honorable Eurastus Eph- riam Leatherhead!” And this announcement was greeted with a loud cheer, CHAPTER XII. TRAPPED. Ir was not so much the words of the tram that had agitated the risibilities of the roug audience, as the adaptation of the individual to his name. é #* Yes, gentlemen, Eurastus Ephriam Leather- head am I!” the eccentric stranger repeated, with a benign grin, ‘‘ with Reverend bitched to the fore part. I ama divine, ob! my hearers, sent down here by the Apostles, to snort and exhort to you—not about comin’ sin, but about ther project of raising the price o’ labor, so that the workingman can live. And now, feller- hearers, hevin’ told ye what I’m heer fer, Pll ‘step into the saloon hyar, an’ take a ‘ seal-skin’ to enliven my solar system, after which I'll be with you again, in the jerk of alamb’s tail.” __ So saying the tramp leaped from the barrel, ders that she should be kept shut up. Si ar si erst Doubting not his word, and anxious to “get on to” what be was up to the crowd outside waited for his return with lamb-like docility. Waited fully ten minutes and still the divine came not--and there was not a man in the erowd who could not have taken atleast a dozen ‘‘ seal-skins” in that length of time. What was the matter? Had the lecturer for- saken his calling in favor of the ‘‘ bug-juice” bottle, cr had he perpetrated a big sell on them? They were beginning to grow restless, when there came a pandemonium of yells, accompa- nied by a volley of shots, They had been tricked and Le tog They fees tee victims of a surprise attack by the oute ws And with what result? Only one volley had been fired, but that had been destructive to more than a dozen lives! while hardly a man of the lot escaped being wounded in some manner. . : No sooner did the outlaws score this victory than they made a Berto seers retreat out of the camp, from behind the different shanties which had held them in ambush. Being well mounted they had no difficulty in so doing, without loss to their number, for few shots were sent after them. : The surprise, bad been so sudden and so ef- fective, that the victors were well away, ere the victims could recover from their consterna- tion, When, however, they finally did, the dead and dying were carried to their different homes and boarding-houses, and those whose curiosity had not prompted them to listen to the divine Leatherhead, acted in the capacity of surgeons and nurses. The next day the excitement was greater then during the night, for all work was sus- pended, and the uninjured part of the popula- tion clustered about in knots to discuss the matter. Among those who had been killed was the local ringleader, Haunted Hank, and_ several others of his kind, so the town was left in reality without a leader or boss. And this, too, when the people most needed a commander, who could circumvent any further attack from the marauders. z Deadwood Dick heard of the trouble, when his breakfast of corn bread and water was brought in. eX “T am sorry,” he said, ‘‘and if I were per- mitted to have my liberty, I should lend a help- ing hand, so far as lies in my power.” This news was comrounicated to the outsiders, and while a few of them were in favor of put- ting Deadwood Dick in command, the majority loudly disapproved, and the minority, of course, had to weaken. : “T perpose thet we don’t hey no leader, on- less she ‘be Roxie Ralph!” one miner advocated. “Op course, she’s stuck on the outlaw, an’ she won’t want harm to come to the place, as long as he’s bere,” But Roxie wasn’t to be found. After being taken from the jail, she had been handed over to the care of her father, with or- the good it But that was all ‘

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24 Deadwood Dick Trapped. looked for, she was missing, and Mr. Ralph could not tell where, when or how she had es- eaped. 0 another day passed without Pistolville having a head man, as’most every rough min- ing-town generally does. Early the third day, a posse of horsemen rode into the town and drew up at the Bourbon. The leader’s attire pronounced him to be a U. S. marshal, while his company were soldiers, evidently of the regulam army. The marshal himself was not a large person, and was clad in loose-fitting garments, while his features were for the most part hidden beneath a@ bushy beard, His belt bristled with weapons, however, which were at contrast with the small, shapely gloved hand, supposed to use them. “ Well, gentlemen,” he said, pleasantly, to the men who were lounging about the door, ‘I hear you’ve been successful in taking and holding a noted criminal for me to bag?” ‘“Vas, I reckon we've got Deadwood Dick down fine,” one of the miners said. “Be you the marshal?” : ‘‘T have that honor, yes, sir. I was informed that you held the ex-outlaw for me to take charge of.” _ “Yas, we have. He’s there in yonder jail, and the quicker you make away with him, the better et? suit us. But thar’s more work heer fer ye to do, I reckon, aside from swingin’ off the Gold-dust galoot.. Our town war night afore last set upom by a gang o’ Injuns, road-agents, an’. the like, an’ thar’s severial stiffs a-layin’ around ready fer plantin’ to show fer it. Thar- fore, ye see, we want protection.” ** And you shall have it, as soon as I go back to headquarters. [f I had not other important business to attend to, I would remain now and - lend you what assistance I could in hunting down the party. As it is, however, I cannot stay with you any longer than is required to take charge of the prisoner, and prepare him for the journey.” - Accordingly, a dismount was made, the mar- shal was conducted to the jail, and introduced to Gold-dust Dick, alias Deadwood Dick—rath- er a mock introduction, too, it might have seemed, for it was hardly probable that either the officer or the captive could bear much love for each other, under the circumstances. “Mr, Edward Harris, I am extrémely well Picasa to meet you,” the marshal greeted, owing, “for the reason that I consider it an honor to hold such a notorious character as you, in durance vile.” _ *Presumedly,” Dick responded, with com- posure, ‘‘and I fancy I shall be equally pleased to see you doit, my friend!” * Ab! then you still retain your old relf-reli- ance in outwitting the shrewdest of the ser- vants of the law, do you?” “T dare say [ retain what ability T have shown heretofore in that line, sir. The law has ~ never been so kindly toward me that I should any longer seek to court its favor,” _ Nor have you been so law-abiding that the Jaw will think of fayoring you,” was the retort. ‘You will get your d this time without My et +6 fail, and deservingly so, We shall now take you to headquarters for trial and execution.” “Very well. While you have the power it is your duty to exercise it,” Dick replied, and permitted them to bind him, for there were too many armed men present for it to be possible for him to escape had he been so inclined. As soon as he was bound to the satisfaction of the marshal, he was led from the jail and mounted upon a horse, his feet so fastened he could not slip from the saddle, Three of the soldiers then also mounted, and two rode beside Dick to the elge of the town, while the third brought up the rear with a cocked rifle, and ready for use, At the edge of the town a halt and wait was made for the remainder of the party to join them, which was done about an hour later, when all hands set out toward the southeast at an easy gallop. Dick was kept in the same position as that in which he started, the majority of the company following behind. Not a word was spoken nor a halt made until the noonday sun burst from behind banks of clouds just as they reached a a ford on a small, deep stream. ere the others dismounted, and the horses were rut out to graze, but Deadwood Dick was kept in his saddle and fed a few mouthfuls of jerked venison by the marshal, After an hour the stream was crossed and the journey resumed in the same order as before. Dick made sundry little observations as they jogged along which convinced him that, instead of going away from Pistolville, they were in. reality circling back toward it. What reason there could be for doing this he could not for the life of him imagine. They were now once more among the foot- hills of the same range wherein Pistolville was located, and night coming on—what possible object could there have been in making the wide detour that was bringing them back within no great distance of the original starting-point? Night soon began to deepen, and, owing to their route through the depths of a mountain, it was dark there sooner than in the outer world. ; When it was almost too dark to longer travel, the party drew rein and dismounted, and Dick was also taken from the saddle and allowed the use of his feet, while a lariat was noosed about his neck and tied to an overhanging limb, se- curing him much the same as a horse would 4 have been, The soldiers then proceeded to build camp- fires, and prepare an evening repast, while the marshal unstrapped a bundle from his saddle- bow, and set off up the gulch on foot. This began to give Dick a suspicion that all was not exactly as it appeared, and he waited with eagerness for the official’s return. But, instead of the officer, he soon after saw Roxie Ralph saunter leisurely into camp, with a bundle under his arm, Ho then understood it all, Tt had been Roxie who had released him from captivity in Pistolville, she assuming the dis- — ofe hal. re nett al she bad succeed ded, for it

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_ every other day, to sup Deadwood Dick Trapped. 265 make-up,” she betrayed no femininity what- ever. But, who were her companions? As if she interpréted his thoughts, and wished to answer them, she came toward him, a peculiar smile upon her face, ‘Well, I suppose you’ve tumbled to the game, by this time, haven’t you?” she said, unloosen- ing the noose from his neck, and cutting the thongs that bound him. ‘I am the marshal.” ‘Thad just arrivéd at that conclusion betore you spoke. Why did you do such a thing?” * Because I chose. I[f I hadn’t, the real mar- shal would have soon popped along, popped you before a judge and jury, and off would went our spirit to some other clime. If ye don’t ike bein’ set free, I opine thet you can hoof et back to Pistolville, and surrender yerself,” “Thank you, I don’t believe PN hardly do that since you’ve taken so much pains to liberate me. But, who are these men who have been working with you?” ‘* A party of secret miners in soldiers’ disguise, who are making for the heart of Indian Terri- tory, on the sly, to explore for gold. I met ’em, laid my case before them and finally succeeded in hiring them to give you a lift,” * For which service Lam very grateful toward. them, as well as yourself,” Dick said, bowing. ‘* Waal, I dunno as et was hardly a legal purceeding,” a big strapping fellow averred, ‘who appeared to stand in as a sort of leader of the gang, as well as a spokesman for them, * But ye see it war kinder a hard thing to re- fuse a little gal like this; an’ thes, when she told me who ye was, I remembered: that & brother 0? mine used to be with yer party up in Deadwood country, and as how I heerd him say w’at you was a sguare sort 0’ galoot. So I sez. to the boys, we'll give him his ubeys “Again I thank you, Although liberty can- not be the same to me as it is to othar men, I none the less appreciate it, all the more so be- cause I have a mission to fulfill.” ** What is that?” Roxie asked. ‘Hunt down the rascal who boasts of the name of Tra-la-lee Charley. I have a settle- ment to effect with him.” ‘Then we will remain here till morning, when Pll go with you if you will allow.” “Thanking you, I would per to go alone,” Deadwood Dick responded, gloomily. \ ; CHAPTER XIil. STARLIGHT’S JEALOUSY—AND OLD JOE’S ADVEN- TURE, » Ivhad been a bad move for Tra-la-lee Charley, when he captured and carried off Dora Dare, for be soon found out that she was demented and that fact made her no longer an object of peace sion to him, but rather, one of fear and isgust. e dare not let her go free, for he knew she was so violently crazy that it would not augur to his good health for ber to be roaming around; therefore he kept her locked up ina lone cabin, in the mountains, where she could do nobody any harm but herself, and sent one of his men, ply her with food, ; 2. was to kee 3 iy But, careful though thing away from Starlight, the Ponca princess, _ she in some way found out enough to arouse all the jealousy in her natuye; and asa consequence, Tra-la-lee Charley was one evening summoned to the lodge of Silver Fox, Not dreaming that anything had gone wrong, he answered the summons, immediately, and found the old chief and his daughter seated” within the former’s wigwam, Silver Fox smok- ing his long pipe. “The great chief of the Poncas sent for me, did he not?’ the villain asked, as he entered, and threw himself carelessly upon a pile of skins. “ Ay, Silver Fox sent for white dog,” was the grim response. ‘Silver Fox feel great anger in his heart, and want white dog to take his braves and go,” “What the deuce is the matter? What haye'l done to merit this sudden dismissal, pray?” Tra- ‘la-lee Charley demanded, not knowing what to make of it, for since allying himself and band with the Poncas, everything had worked bar- pares we ‘‘Has the pale-face traitor any cause to-ask that? Can he think of no deed he has commit- ted, which would give Starlight great anger?” the Indian girl broke forth, fiercely. “ Not that I call to mind, just now,” the out- law replied, although he had already guessed what she was getting at. ‘““Wagh! pale-face lies!” Silver Fox cried. - * Pale-face pee not bis word. Pale-face ask Site Fox for his daughter--now, he got white wite, ‘* Ah! how know you this?” ; ; _ “ By the way in which the red-man finds out where hides the enemy,” was the reply. ‘! The pale-face was watched, and his secret squaw was discovered! Ugh!” “Well, lam sorry about that,” the gambler said, with unruffled composure—‘sorry that ou had such a tramp, for discovering so little. nstead of being my wife, the poor creature you found me visiting is no less a personage than my own sister—my poor sister!” { ‘ Pale-face lie /” Silver Fox growled. F “Tra-la-lee Charley cannot fool Starlight!” the girl exclaimed. ‘‘Why does he keep pale- face squaw hidden in the mountain, if she not his wife?” ‘*Hasily enough explained. The poor girl is a mad-woman—crazy, and it is necessary to keep her shut up in a safe place, where she cannot get at anybody to do them injury.” ‘* And you swear this is true?’ “Ay, a hundred times if necessary.” “Then let me tell you that you are a dog and aliar, ‘he girl is not your sister, nor your wife, even, She belongs at the settlement, and her name is Dora Dare!” : Tra-la-lee wilted at this. He bad been delib, erately caught in his own lie, after supposing he wassafe in telling it, and as a consequence, did not know hardly what to say fora few min- utes thereafter. ; : «Well, since you seem to know somuch about it, I don’t know as there is any use in denial, and perhaps you can inform me for what pur- pose [ hold her a captive?” ‘ aod ~‘*For no good purpose, The warrior whe makes war on women is 9 dog soldi 7

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than a snake,” Silver Fox said. ‘‘ The pale-face squaw may go; Starlight can never be his.” “Allright! I ain’t very particular on thet score, I assure you,” was the reply, as the rene- gade left the lodge. Once outside, his seeming composure van- ished, and a dark scowl came over his face. “THs a cussed bad piece of luck, Between the two fires, I’m in danger of getting scorched. If I had known when I was well off, I’d have let the Dare girl alone.” Joe Dare could not rest. The knowledge that his daughter was in the wer of his former villainous associate gave im great uneasiness, knowing that Tra-la-lee Charley was a very devil, when angered, who took pleasure in his acts of wickedness. Therefore unable to remain longer in Pistol- ville without making an effort to find her, he sot forth irtto the mountains the morning after Deadwood Dick’s rescue. **T vill dry und vind her, und uff I don’d vas do id, nopody can’t blame me,” was his uttered reflection. All day long he wandered through the rug- ged mountainous country, aud when night be- gan to fall, he was some twenty miles from any abitation, the nearest being at Pistolville. This fact began to occur to him as the dark- ness came creeping on, for be it said, Dutch Joe was not the bravest man in the world, especially when it was a dark night and he was alone. ‘*T don’d vas like dis so mooch as I might. I vish I don’d come so far away vrom home, all de vile. Id vas mighty lonelysome v’en id got dark.” \ Tais fact was not alleviated any by another one particularly noticeable, which was that a heavy rain-storm was impending. Dark clouds were beginning to roll up on the horizon threateningly, and the thunder began to mutter ominously. Dare well knew that a thunder-storm in the mountains at that particular time of year, was a thing not pleasant'to encounter, as if usvally raged with fierceness, to say nothing akout the danger from lightning, which had left the mark of its blast upon more than one tree or rock, “Td vas goin’ to dunder und lightning, too, und PH bet a dollar dot I got struck, yoost vor not knowin’ enough to stay to home. Oh! gra- cious, vot a vool I vas! I don’d know v’ot to do. Uff I stay oud in de rain I get wet—if I got un- der some shelter, I get struck mit lightning all der vile, und melted all oop into a chunk of gravy. Oh! shimminy! uff [ had dot girl bere, Vd preak her eye yoost for gettin’ me into such a scrape.” And the poor fellow nearly cried, so desperate did the situation seem tohim. Toremain where he was in darkness and storm seemed horrible, He began to cast about him for a place of shalter. : He was at the bottom of a narrow ravine, and hurried on up its course. In a few minutes he came to a black opening in the walls of the pas- sage, like to the mouth of a cave. “Ah! dot vas goot,” was the decision, ‘I crawl in there, and get avay from der dunder, Deadwood Dick Trapped. lightning and the storm. I vonder if der’ yna some snakes or other animals in dere?” Inclined to be sure before venturing in, how- ever, he gathered a number of rocks, and began to hurl them into the black place, which had anything but an inviting appearance, Ne wild animals made their appearanca, and. satisfied that the hole was uninhabited by then., he crept doubtfully in. The opening was just about nee enough ty admit of his entrance, and ran back into the rock for a considerable distance. After he got in a couple of lengths of his body he found the passage growing wider, which in duced him to go on further, his fear somewhat abated. : Tn this way he creptalong through the strange subterranean flue, until he at length debouched upon a level sort of plateau, hemmed in on every side by towering walls of rock. The flue had probably at some remote age been a water-course or outlet, and the strange basina mountain lake, Across the plateau was a similar opening in another wall of rock. ‘Vell, I hope to die uff dose ain’d der funniest thing I effer see,” Joe exclaimed in wonder- ment. ‘A veller could lif here a whole life, mitoud being visited py his mudder-in-law und relations, I vonder where der odder hole goes to. I dink I von’t explore id to-night!” . It was raining down into the basin, and 80 he turned and crept into the flue, which afforded good shelter, Here he stretched himself for a good snooze, but on second thought he crept on still further into the passage, so that he could not hear the thunder. He had not lain there long ere be heard a sound as though some one or something was ereepiug toward him, Quickly raising his head—and it is unneces- sary to state that his hairraised even sooner than his head—he listened attentively, but heard no repetition of the sound. **} guess dot vas a freak mit my imagina- tion,” Joe muttered. ‘If id vas somepody, I vould heer ’em now.” Nevertheless he felt very nervous, and kept a watch in the direction whence came the sound. Ten minutes passed and still he heard nothing, but suddenly his gaze became riveted upon a couple of small fiery objects in the distance, like two tiny balls of fire. ‘Hello, v’ot ish dot?” he muttered, a chill of terror creeping down his spine. ‘Ill bet a half a dollar dot vas two vellers smokin’ cigars. Oh! dunder! uff I vas only back in Pistolville!” A steady glance at the two sparks, soon satis- fied him that they were approaehing nearer and nearer. ; What was he to do? There was nothing but retreat into the basin. Starlight the Ponca was even more jealous than Tra-la-lee Charley had supposed, and her jealousy was of a revengeful nature, Not long after her interview with her faith- less suitor, she stole out of the village to the cor- x

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Deadwood Dick Trapped. 2 ra! just beyond, and selecting out a fine pony, mounted it, and rode away. Early nightfall saw her draw rein before a rude old log cabin among the mountains, miles from ber own village. She dismounted, Leaving her horse to graze, she approached the door, and tried it. It opened without difficulty and she entered. There was but one room and this was now un- tenanted! ““She has escaped!” the girl hissed, in a pas- sion, ‘‘This is the place where she was con- fined, and she is not here, Itis lucky for her! If Starlight bad found her, she would have taker her scalp, and worn it at her belt as a trophy to show Tra-la-lee Charley.” ‘“Were you making those remarks about me ?” Starlight started and looked toward the door at sound of the voice, Dora Dare stood there, a terrible picture to look at. CHAPTER XIX. IN THE SILENT CITY—A TERRIBLE ACT—DICK ON THE TRAIL AGAIN. To return to Joe Dare, the frightened Dutch- man had not gone more than fifty feet, on his retreat, when a yell of horror escaped his lips. Some person had seized firmly hold of his lower extremities, at the ankles, and held them . as though in a gripe of iron. “Hello! let up dere! Vot you vas mean by - all dese foolishness?” he yelled, attempting to vent to a lusty yell. ~ release himself. 3 Vhen some one else grabbed him around the throat, and Joe was able to discern an Indian, hanging over him, whose fiery eyeballs it was he had seen approaching. His heart pow sunk within him, and he gave “Stop! Murder! Murder!” he yelled, ‘Oh! spare me, Mr. Injun, und I neffer come here again, Oh, please don’d vas take my scalb, for I vant to use him yet awhile!” For answer, the terrified Dutchman was drag- ged along through the subterranean passage untilthe basin was reached, when he was place: upon his feet, still in the grasp of his two ca) tors, both of whom were as savage-looking red- men as he had ever seen. “Now, see heer—stop avile,” he said, as the two captors began to peer into his face, and make queer grimaces. ‘‘I don’d vas vant you vellers to tink dot Iam afraid of you, vor I ain’d. I’m von off der baddest pale-faces, v’en I got r‘iled, vot \on neffer see, und I pet you yoost swei dol- Jar ther healthiest thing you can do, vas let me of This expostulation, however, did not appear to frighten the brawny savages, for they only giggled, and proceeded to march him across the bottom of the basin, to the other aperture. This was larger, and they could walk in it, in a half-bent way, instead of crawling, as they had throngh the other one. After following it a few seconds, they de- bouched into a large subterranean cavern or room, whose high rocky ceiling was studded with pendants of rock, as though hung and har- dened there, by ages of formation. 4 Witiin the cavern were perhaps a dozen skin lodges, in front of the most of which fires were burning, the smoke of which ascended in crevices in the ceiling, About in the center of the cavern was a fix- ture resembling a well-curb, around a shaft which descended into the earth or rock. To the right of thisa body of Indians were drawn ae four abreast, facing the cavern’s entrance, all armed with tomahawks and long spears. Like Dare’s two captors, they were very gaunt and unnatural specimens of the human red race, although evidently essed of a great amount of brute strength, if not skill, in warfare; while, ethecepttor of breech-cloth, they were quite naked, As Joe and his capedls entered the cavern, there was a roll like the beating of a drum; the warriors held their spears forward, in a warlike attitude, and a man came forward from one of the lodges, and stood at the head of the Indians, with a saber in his grasp. He was none other than Black Hand, the White Aztec, and as the reader has probably surmised, this was the Silent City of the Az- tees, which Gold-dust bad been invited to pre- side over. 5 Joe’s two guards marched bim firmly forward,* until he stood a few feet from the White Aztec, who regarded him sternly. “You are a white man?” he said, rather in- terrogatively. “Vel, if [know anydings apoud it, I dink asn how I am,” Joe replied, not knowing whether to be afraid, or no, ‘‘ Anyhow, I don’d neffer vas Called a nager.” : ‘* But what brings you here to the Silent City of the Aztecs?” “Two big Injines v’ot you see here, I crawl mit a hole inside, und yoost ven I yant to sleeb, von ketch me py der heels, and der udder one py der head, and make me coome alorg mit dem. ‘* Where did you come from, sir?” : ‘** Pistolville, py gracious, und I only vish I vas peck there again.” “ What is your name?” * Joe Dare.” “Ah! I have heard-of you. Now, Mr. Dare, Tam rather sorry you ventured here, for it will be'necessary for you to take up your permanent residence with us, as those who discover our secret city, we never permit to go forth to be- tray its existence to others,” ‘But, yoost let me go pack to Pistolville, und so helb me gracious, I nefer say a vord about der blace, or you, or der Tnjines,” “That is impossible. You must remain here with us, and become one of us.” “Wot? me pecome von injine? Vel, now, I jest reckon nixy.” “You do not necessarily become an Indian but you remain with us, and work with us, it. you do that, eventually you become owner of all this vast domain—this golden subterranvan city, which contains the yield of years of min- ing, and whose veins are exhaustless.” “Vel, if dot ish so, Pll tink about it,” Joe re- plied, rather liking the picture. ; Once pretty’and good tolook upon, Dora Dare no longer those features, as seen by thi __ Poncas girl, : ee a Si rie Ret es ed cee > 9 ae a ee Saal SiS Nee

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28 Deadwood Dick Trapped.* Her face was scratched, bleeding and hag- gard, her eyes wild and unnatyral in their glare, er hair disheveled, Her dress was torn into shreds, and no shoes were upon ber feet, She looked like some crazy witch of forty, more than like her former young blithe self. The glance that she sent at Starlight was that of a savage maniac, and the Ponca girl inwardly wished that she had undertaken an easier job, “You were speaking of me!” the demented girl repeated—this time positively. ‘I over- heard you. You came here to kill me.” “Yes, and that’s my intention yet!” was ‘the flerce response. ‘‘You lover of Tra-la-lee Charley, and [ take your scalp.” ‘Ha! ha! ba! You talk of taking my scalp! Why, you can’t touch a hair of my head. Vl kill you, instead, because you tried to get my lover, Gold-dust Dick, away from me,” Then the two girls stood for an instant, glar- ing at each other with all the hatred ct two tigresses, : ut for an instant, only; then, with a simul- taneous cry they sprung toward each other, with uplifted blades; there was a clash of steel against steel—then ashriek of mortal agony, and a fall, It ‘was not Starlight who fell; it was poor Dora Dare. _ On the morning following his release, Dead- wood Dick bade adieu to his rescuers, including Roxie, whom he advised to return to Pistolville, and set out on foot, as be said, to hunt down Tra-la-lee Charley. : He had to go on foot because he had no horse, nor any wherewithal to purchase a horse with, “You'd better let me go along with ye,” Roxie said, as he was about to leave. ‘ Why, I won't be the least trouble to you, whatever, and you may need a helping hand.” “Pil take chances on that, anyhow. I could not for a moment think of allowing you to ven- ture into furthcr danger than you have already risked for my sake. You have friends and relatives—I have none, IfI should go under no one would be to blame for it—no one to mourn for me,” : “Well, I guess thar’d be about one mourner, atleast. But if you will go, and won't let me go with you, here’s my revolvers and rifle; take them, so that you, will have something to pro- tect yourself with.” “Thank you. I will accept one of your re- volvers—no more, The first road-agent or red- ees happen to down, [ will deprive of bis rifle Accordingly he accepted one of Roxie’s re- aia) and once more bidding all adieu, he set orth, It took him until about noon to get out from among the foot-hills; then, shaping his course aceording to Roxie’s directions, he set out for the Indian village of the Poncas, where he ex- pected to find Tra-la-lee Charley, traveling steadily until nightfall, when he paused by a little, stream of clear running water, lighted a fire, ate the et venison and buffalo-meat which the soldiers had kindly given him, and ‘seritching himself out by his fire succeeded in putting ina good night’s sleep, not awakening until broad daylight the next morning, As near as he could judge he still had nearly a day’s journey to reach the Pouca village, but set out with good spiritand at sunset had gained an elevation which overlooked the Indian vil- lage, as it nestled in its little natural basin, A few braves were moving among the lodges, and a number of dogs barking, “ T reckon I'd better wait till it gets dark, be- fore I make any move, as it is going to rain and thunder, and that will be favorable, t must manage to capture the ruffian, and force him to tell me what he knows concerning the fate of Calamity, If he has harmed a hair of ber head he’ll find that the old maxim still holds trne—that Deadwood Dick never forgets an enemy or a friend, More than one miserable wretch has found this out, I fancy.” So he waited ata safe distance from the vil- lage, until the fury of the storm was about at its hight; then with revolver in hand, he crept toward the little valley and the Ponca ledges, The wind was blowing fiercely, and drivin; torrents of rain before it; the lipheoing flashe viciously and the thunder crashed until the very earth trembled. Deadwood Dick safely reached the vicinity of the lodges and paused, to make such reconnois- sance as he was able in the Stygian darkness, **T shall have to hunt for my man, in each lodge, till I find him,” Dick concluded. He crept toward the nearest tent, and had nearly reached it, when suddenly there was a whizzing sound, and before he could leap to one side a lasso settled around bis waist, pinioning his arms to his side and jerked him to the ground, Ere he could rise or extricate himself a foot was planted firmly upon his breast and a pair of revolvers shoved close to his face. 1-7 And the person who held them was Starlight, the Ponca. : CHAPTER XV. CONCLUSION. \ ** Ha! ha!” she cried, her voice audible to him, but not to others. ‘You thought to steal a surprise on the Poncas, didn’t you? But it is my privilege to prevent that. You are m prisoner, and your scalp shall hang at the belt of Starlight.” ‘* Presume so,” was Dick’s terse reply. ‘What eae Wy the pale-face here?” the prin- cess asked. ‘‘Did he regret bis decision and come to take Starlight as his bride?” “ Well, no—not that I am aware of,” was Dick’s unequivocal answer. “Then you will not have Starlight, eb?” “Not under any consideration. If roe are - particularly eager to secure a better-balf while you are young and pretty, you’d better select one of the bucks from your own tribe.” Without a word of answer sbe turned and ut- tered a war-cry high above the shriek of the storm, and almost seen a Bang of red-skins poured from the lodges, headed by Tra-la-lee Charley, and approached the spot where Star- light held her prisoner, . wie? ; ‘Hello! what have we here?” the outlaw — cried, ‘‘ As I live, itis Deadwood Dick?“ ot rk ¢ ~

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* Deadwood Dick Trapg< d. De Se a A ee ‘Nol itis Gold-dust Dick!” Starlight cried, “Sand he is the prisoner of Starlight. He re- fused the love of the princess of the Poncas, and to-morrow he shall be bound to the stake and burned, and his scalp torn off. Starlight has said it!” “Hurrah! That’s the ticket!” Tra-la-lee Charley yelled. ‘‘ There’ll be no marshal to wait for in this case. Bring along the captured cur!” Although outlandish in talk, and decidedly clumsy in appearance, Joe Dare was capable of 7 few good ideas, when he had any reason to use them. He saw that he could not, in all igeome lity escape just at present, and so decided to pretend to wed bimself to the life of the Poncas in order to disarm their vigilance, when there would be better show for him to escape. Therefore he expressed himself as willing to join, and was forced to swear never to leave the cavern, except in company with the Aztecs, after which he was assigned a lodge, Black Hand at the same time warning him that any attempt to escape would be punishable with death, So he spent the balance of the night in his tent in sleep. The next morning he sauntered forth once more into the great cavern, which still had the appearance of night, as torches and fires had to be burned at day as well as night, to supply the subterranean city with ligbt, none coming in from the outer world, and not very much air. The strange-looking savages were mostly busied in cooking their morning meals of coffee und bear-steak, and as Joe would pass along in- specting their methods, they would bob their heads respectfully, and some of them would tender him a piece of meat, “Dot vas a purty goot vay—I %em all a visit—den I no haff to get some preak- fast mineself. Dose vellers are purdy goot In- jines, after all.” Pik So be passed from one camp-fire to another, and by the time he had made a visit to them all, his appetite was quite satisfied. To his astonishment, when he came to the last camp-fire, over which Black Hand was cocking, he found a white girl sitting near at hand, on pone skins, with her hands bound behind her ack, ‘Hello! v’ot ish dot? Got some odder white person here, besides myself, eh?” Joe said, paus- ing, and noting that she was very pretty, al- though her attire was plain and somewhat tat- tered and torn. “Yes,” Black Hand replied, gruffly. ‘Weare fatting the girl up on oily meats, for sacrifice to the Great Spirit, you see. ~ “Every fourth full moon, it is the custom of the Aztecs to make a sacrifice to the Great Spirit, end the fair captive you see, is the next 2ne to come.” “Und you vas goin’ to scalb her?’ Joe de- manded in horror. : “Ob, no! When fat enough so she will burn Weill, we roast her at the stake, so that her spirit can pass up in smoke to the Great Spirit.” dinks I pay “Und fursd you know, you vil pe roastin’ me der same vay, eh?” “Tf you sjuld commit a misdemeancr, yes.” Joe fairly groaned as he turned to another part of the cavern to meditate. “ By shimminy, dot vas grueller den anydings vot I neffer bearn tellof!* he muttered. ‘But, Tl just bet dot dey don’d vas roast dis Dutch- man. [ll vatch my chance all der while, an’ der fursd oppordunity I get, I vill dake der gal und skip der Dra-la-loo,’ But it looked as if he was not destined to get an opportunity toeven speak to the intended victim of sacrifice, for she was soon after taken back into the lodge, and a guard stationed on the outside, ** Dot settles dot !” Joe muttered. But that night, when in his lodge, there came stealthy footsteps, and the captive girl entered, and burst into tears almcst immediately after- ward, Sh, ou sir! you are a friend to me, are you Ob “Vel, Edon’d got some pig grudges egainst you dot I know anyt’ing apoud,” Joe replicd. ‘‘Oh, then, come; let us_try to escape from this place. If I stay here, I will be killed, and you, too, it is likely,” ; ** Who you vas, anyhow? V’ot’s your name, an’ vare you er “T belong far from here. I am the wife of Deadwood Dick—perhaps you may have heard of him, One time I was known as Calamity Jane.” : . <= “Ish dot so? Vy, Deadwood Dick vas in Pistolville the other day, in jail, but some vellers come along an’ let him out.’ “Thank heaven for that! Do you suppose we could find him if we get away from bere?” Jondid nataall her th he supposed, th oe did not fell her that, as he sup , the st mili marshal bad taken Dick to the neare: tary post for trial. : Poor Calamity! She looked worn and hag- gard—enough—but a shadow of ber old self. Joe released her of her bonds, so that she could steal forth and make reconnoissance, for the cavern was densely dark, now, the fires with one or two exceptions, baving all died out, and the Indians had generally retired to their lodges. : x Calamity soon returned, with a pair of car- bines, and some ammunition. ‘It’s all right, if we go as sly aseats, The reds in the lodges are all asleep, and the one at- the entrance is too, and we can get by him, if we're mighty sly at it.” “Vel, den you bet I'll be just as light asa musgeeter,” Joe declared, eagerly, ‘Shall T lead off, or you?” ““T will lead—you follow. I fancy I know a little better than you do about dodgin’.” She accordingly stole from the lodge, with him close behind her, and toward the flue-entrance to the cavern. i z By great stealth they succeeded in passing the slumbering guard, and half an hour later, stood out in the gulch, free—if so be they wer: not pursued and recaptured. The last scene of Ponca village. i our story changes to the — In the center of the Plaza, which wasencircled

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‘80 by the lodges, was a stout post planted in the ground, and to this Deadwood Dick was securely bound with strong lariats. It was almost sunset hour, of the afternoon following the night of bis capture, It indeed looked as if he was soon to pay the penalty of death that had been imposed upon him, Dry leaves and fagots had been piled up around the prisoner ready for the torch, Just as the sun touched the horizon, the In- dians and white ruffians began to bowl and screech, and perform the scalp or death-dance around the stake, When they had yelled themselves hoarse, Starlight cams from her lodge, with knife in hand, and approached the stake, her eyes gleam- ing with wicked triumph. ; *Gold-dust Dick, you refused to marry Star- light, and Starlight will wear your scalp!” she said, ‘All who wrong me [ hate—all who steal what is mine I kill and scalp. I wedded Tra-la- lee Charley under his promise to help me be revenged on you, but he played me false, for he brought the mad girl Dora here as his sister! Ha! I killed her and her long hair scalp is in my Andee. Now your scalp-lock shall be tied to hers ‘or— She said no more, for with a wonderful bound Joe Dare was at her side, livid with rage at the revelation she had made, “You accursed hell-cat! Killed my child did you?” he yelled, at the same moment shooting her through the heart as she turned to confront him, while, as if answering his shot there came a volley from the hill, and ten awe-stricken sav- ages dropped deal in their tracks, Amid the sudden shrieks and yells, into the Plaza bounded two women on horseback, firing right and left. They were followed by a band of soldiery, who with their revolvers soon consummated the work of slaughter, for, seemingly not a red devil of all the savags horde escaped. The soldiers were the band of miners who had once before rescued Deadwood Dick, and the two women, of course, were Roxie Ralph and Calamity Jane, Roxie had followed Dick and learned of his capture, and going in pursuit of the miners had overtaken them, and induced them to return to Dick’s rescue, Ou their way to the village they had met Ca- lamity and Joe Dare, and cautiously BEE Hears ing the Indian village had witnessed all that transpired and stood with ready rifles to make the dash when the Ponca princess came forth. Joe Dare, recognizing Tra-la-lee Charley, had approached near enough to overhear tbe words of tne red vixen, and infuriated to madness had opened the attack as described. His first shot killel Starlight, his second, as Charley leaped _ at bim with a horrible oath, was delivered right in that villain’s face, and the very oath on his lips sgemed_to be forced down his throat, as the ball struck his open mouth. **T)as much vor mine poor gal!” he screamed _ as‘he plunged immediatly into the bloody fray, ' He seemed like a demon let loose, and made an awful record on that bloody day. _ & word in closing. Deadwood Dick Trapped. The meeting between Dick and Calamity was of course joyful, after her having passed through many trying ordeals, first as the pris- oner of Tra-la-lee Charley, by whom she had been whipped nearly to death for her bravado and defiance to him and left to die, only to be picked up by the Aztecs. She and Dick at once set out for amore re- mote and inaccessible part of the West, wherein to hide their identity, Dick first delivering to Joe Dare the deed he had received from Tra-la- lee Charley. . . Dare then returned to Pistolville, to lead a lonely but better lifa, while Roxie Ralph went also, and soon after me the wife of the stage-driver, Jack Mahone. THE END. BEADLE AND ADAMS’ STANDARD DIME PUBLICATIONS Speakers. The Dime Speakers embrace twenty-five volumes 4 5 N 1. American Speaker 15. Komikal Speaker. 2. National Speaker, 16. Youth’s Speaker. 3. Patriotic Speaker. 17. Eloquent er. 4. Comic Speaker. 18. Hail Columbia Speake 5, Elocutionist. er. 6. Humorous Speaker. | 19. Serio-Comie Speaker, 7. Standard Speaker. 20. Select Speaker. 8. Stump Speaker. 21. Funny Speaker. 9, Juvenile Speaker, 22. Jolly Speaker. 10. Spread-Eagle Speaker 11. Dime Debater. 12. Exhibition Speaker. , 13, School Speaker, 14, Tudicrous Speaker. These books are replete with choice pieces for the School-room, the Exhibition, for Homes, ete, 75 te 100 Declamations and Recitations in each book, 23. Dialect Speaker. 24. Recitations and Read- ings. 25. Burlesque Speaker Dialogues. The Dime Dialogues, each volume 100 pages, ero. brace thirty-six books, viz.: Dialogues No, One. Dialogues No. Nineteen. Dialogues No, Two. Dialogues No. Twenty. Dialogues No. Three. /|Dialogues No. Twenty-one. Dialogues No, Four. Dialogues No, Twenty-two. Dialogues No. Five, Dialogues No. Twenty-three, Dialogues No, Six. ‘Dialogues No. Twenty-four, Dialogues No. Seven. (|Dialogues No Twenty-five, Dialogues No, Hight. {Dialogues No. Twenty-six. Dialogues No, Dialogues No. Dialogues No. Dialogues No. ialogues No. Nine. Dialogues No. Twenty-seven, Ten, _ {Dialogues No. Twenty-eigh’, Eleven, _ Dialogues No. Twenty-nine. Twelve. Dialogues No, Thirty. Di Thirteen, Dialogues No. Thirty-one. Dislogues No. Fourteen. Dialogues No. Thirty-two, Dialogues No. Fifteen. Dialogues No. Thirty-three, Dialogues No. Sixteen. Dialozues No. Thirty-four, Dialogues No.Seventeen Dialogues No. Thirty-five. Dialogues No. Eighteen Dialogues No. Thirty-six. 15 to 25 Dialogues and Dramas in each hook, For sale by all newsdeéaiers, or sent, post-paid, ©: receipt of price—ten cents. - 4 BEADLE AND ADAMS, PustisHERa, ( 98 William Street, Now ¥

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IVERS & Co.'s Standard Recitations FOR SCHOOL, LYCEUM, AND PARLOR ENTERTAINMENTS. “« The Best Collection of Recitations Issued. FORTY-SEVEN NUMBERS NOW READY. Price, 10 Cents per Copy. NUMBERS %, 14, 21, 28, 35 AND 42 ARE COMICS, 4 9) a Ses Maar rari CRMC R RR RoR NAD Te” NEWS COMPANY. Please: send: Vidi i.6.iccs 0 tions cok cc lew ate ORR eNO Ee TIM CR eS I a See Copies of Ivers’ “ STANDARD RECITATIONS’ assorted. Name fr) aikiccaeescumtuge na eae atin tae aes Date Rtetenetard Nie arenas Addresgicsicssioure LEN REPEC CEM eS stb | fe gh ek ES ae Oe Oa Gopmetares deen ger. BRS et

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3 e BUFFALO BILL Novels in the DIME LIBRARY 32 Death Trailer, the Chief of Scouts; or, Life and Govein a Frontier Fort, By Buffalo Bil. re tt 5 ar | Ue ay ce ; eae hae 08 “6 The Doomed Dozen; or, Buffalo Bill, Chief of Scouts. By Dr. Frank Powell. 4$.> Wild Bill, the Pistol Dead-Shot. A Romance of Buffalo Bill’s Old Pard. By Col. P.Ingraham, 45 Wi'd Bill's Trump Card; or, The indian Heiress, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. }89 Wild Bill’s Gold Trail; or, The Desperate Dozen, By Ool. Prentiss Ingraham, p 43 The Pilgrim Sharp; or, The Soldier’s Sweetheart, By Buffalo Bill, Government Scout and Guide. 9 Wild Bill, the Whirlwina of the West, By Buf. falo Bill. '2¥ The League of Three; or, Buffalo Bill’s Pledge. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, “7 The Wizara Brothers; or, White Beuver’s Trail, By buffalo Bill. 5 1 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, 19 The Dead Shot Nine; or, My Pards of the Plains. By Buffalo Bill. ‘29 Daredeath Dick, King of the Cowboys; or, Buf- falo Bill’s Daring Réle. By Leon Lewis. 149 The Gold King; or, Montebello, the Magnificent, By Buffalo Bill. ‘4 Buffalo Bill’s’ Bonanza; or, The Knights of the ‘Silver Circle, By Col P. Ingraham. #9 Buck Taylor, the Saddle K ng. By Col. P. In. graham, 8 @2 Buffalo Bill’s Secret Setvice Trail; or, The Mys terious foe. By Maj. Dangerfield Burr. 391 Buffalo Bill’s Blind Trail; or, Mustang Madge, the Daughter of the Regiment. By Ingraham. 197 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 Buffalo Bill’s Scout Shadowers; or, Emerald Hd of Devil's Acre. By Col. P. Ingraham. #22 Buffalo Bill on the War-Path, By Col, Ingraham 27 Buffalo Bill’s Body-zuard By Col, P, lugraham, & Buffalo Bill’s Beagles. a Col. P. Ingraham. . Buffalo Bill and His Merry Men, By Col. P, ' {ngraham, f ~ <duffalo Biil’s Blind, Ry Col. P. Ingraham. w3 Buffalo Bill’s Flush Hand; or, Texas Jack’s Bravos, By Col. P. Ingraham, ; 150 baffalo Bill’s Big our, By Col. P. Ingraham. 257 Buffalo Bill’s Double; or, The Desperado Detec- tive. By Col. Prentiss [ngrabam. “61 Buffalo Bill's Mascot, or, Death Valley Victim 0.13. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, '86 Buffalo Bill’s Dozen; or, Silk-Ribbon Sam. By Col Prentiss Ingraham, 69 Buffalo Bill’s Sweepstake. By Col. Ingraham. 7 Buffald Bill’s Spy-bhadower, By Col. Ingraham Buffalo Bili's Dead Shot. wy Gol. Prontige a buicit ee iran tas 6 f LP ae — 800 Wild Binh, the D»ad-Center Sho_ or, Rio Grande Ralph _the Cowboy Chief. By Buffalo Bil). 807 Wild Bill, the Wild West Duelist; ur, The Giri Mascot of Moonlight Mine, - By Buffalo Bill. 812 Buffalo Bill’s Death-Knell; or, The 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 Ril. 822 Buffalo Bill’s Best Bower; or, Montebeilo, the | Gold King. By Col. P. Ingraham. 826 Buffalo Bill’s Sharp-Shoosers; or, The Surgeon Scout to the Rescue, By Col, P, Ingraham. 830 Buffalo Bill’s Boys in Bine; or, The Brimsicne Bind’s Blot-out. By Col. Prentiss lugranai. 839 The Ranch King Dead Shot; or, Texas Jack’s Proxy, By Buffalo Bill. 845 Buffalo Bill’s Redskin Ruse; or, Texas Jack's Death Shot, By Col, Prentiss Ingraham, 851 Buffalo Bill’s Double Dilemma; or, The Greae Scout’s Big Three, By Col. Prentiss Irgrabam) 857 Buffalo Bill’s Royal Flush; or. The Pony Rider’s Death-Ruo. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 863 Buffalo Bill’s Death-Charm; or, The Man Wiib aScar. By ©), Prentiss Ingraham, 869 Buffalo Bil’s Road-Agent‘Ronad up; or’The Mys- terious Masked Manin Black. By Ingrahom. 874 Buffalo Bill’s Buckskin B-aves; or, The Card neen’s Last Game_ By Col, P. Ingraham. 882 The Threc Bilis: Buffalo Bill, ild Billand Band box Bill; or, Tha Bravoin Broadcloth, Ingrabam 890 Buffalo Bill’s Life-Stake; or, The Piedged Tnree, by Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 895 Buffalo Bill’s Secret ays or, The Texan” Double, By Cal. Prentiss Ingraham, 900 Buffalo Bill’s Rough Riders; or, Texas Jack’ - Snarp-Shooters. By Cc) P. Ingraham. 004 Buffalo Bills Tanglhd Tray]; or, Gentleman Jack, tbe Man of Many Masks. By Ingraham, 909 Boffalo Bill’s League; or. Red Butterfly, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 915 B ffalo Bili and the Surgeon Scout; or Go wan. 0, the Redskin Rider. By Col. P. Ingraham. 921 Buffalo Bill’s Quandary; or, Velvet Bill's Vow By Col, Prenitss Ingraham, 927 Buffalo Bil’s Biuff; or, Dusky Dick, the Sport By Col. P, ingraham, 936 Buffalo Bill’s Black Pard; or, The Gold Boomer; of the Big Horn. By Col. P. Ingraham. 948 Buffalo Bill’s Block Game, By Colonel B, Ingraham. 950 Buffalo Bill at Bay. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. 956 By Col, Buffalo Bill's Volunteer Vigilantes, Prentiss Ingraham, 960 Buffalo Bill's Blue Belt Brigade. By Colonel! Prentiss Ingraham. 964 Buffalo Bill's Invincibles. By Col. Prentiss Q Ingraham. 869 Texas Jack, the Lasso King; or, The Rob- nae Rangers of the Rio Grande. By (\3uffalr 973 The Dread-Shot Four. By Buffalo Bill. 978 Buffalo Bill’s Relentless Trail. By Coi. Prentiss Ingraham, ‘84 Buffalo Bill's “Life Raffle; or, The Doomed Three. Ready Sept. 1. . \89 Buffalo Bill's Rr pei e (Cone Ingraham. Ready Oct. 6. 94 Buffalo Bill's Lone Hand. By. Col. P. In graham, ' 000 Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard. By Col. P. In- graham, F The above Dime Librarfes are For Sale Oy , NEWSDE 1". ERS, ten cents per oy, 9 ent by mailan’ tof ries $

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SMART TOASTS ROR THE SMART NBT, Vest Pocket Size. 64 Pages. Sewed Book. Up-to-Date. By Mail, Postpaid, 12c. per Copy. BEST LINE OF HAND BOOKS PUBLISHED. “YIDDISH” YARNS.—A Collection of Hebrew Jokes, Stories, etc. GENTS’ LETTER WRITER.—A Perfect Guide to all kinds of Correspondence. FAMILY PHYSICIAN.—Family Diseases and Their Treatment; Rules of Health, ete, BOOK OF DREAMS. —Their Romance and Mystery, with a Complete Interpretation Dictionary. HOUSEWIFE’S MANUAL.—How to Keep House; How to Dye, Cleanse, ete. VAUDEVILLE JOKER.—Best Jokes by Eminent Vau- deville Artists. BOOK OF ETIQUETTE.—Society, Visits, Introduc- tions, Dress, Balls, ete. FORTUNE TELLER.—Fortune Telling by Cards, Tea or Coffee Grounds, Eggs; Palmistry, etc. 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. The above books are bound in handsomely Price by mail, postpaid, 12 cents per copy. RECIPE BOOK.—For the Parlor, Nursery, Sick-room, Toilet, 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” 'eams on the Stage. “HAYSEED ” JOKER.—The Doings of ‘Our Country Cousins ” in a Humorous Way. 5 “TRAMP” JOKER.—Good “ Handouts” in this Book for Professional and Amateur Entertainers. “GOON” YARNS.—Best Jokes Relating to Our “ Dark- er-Skinned Brothers.” “IRISH” Joker No. 1.—The Wittiness and Whimsicali- ties of “ Pat” at His Best. “VARIETY ” JOKER.—Good Things from all the Na- tionalities: ‘t Pat,” ‘‘Alphouse,” ** Hans,” ** Jona- than,” ‘* Moses,” and ‘‘ Ebenezer.” illustrated lithographed covers. M. J. IVERS & CO., Publishers, 379 Pearl Street, New York City. BEADLE’S BOYS’ 56 CENTS PRICE 1 Dandy Rill’s Doom. By Oll Coomes. 3 Kit Carson, 4 Lillie, the Reckless Rider, 5 Old Grizzly in the Rockies. By Ingraham, Deadwood Dick asa Boy. By E. L. Wheeler. Wild Bill. By Ingraham. The Prairie Ranch. Wy J. B. Badger. Roving Joe. By A. H. Post, ‘exas Jack. By Ingraham. Charley Skylark, the Sport. By H. B. Stoddard. 12 Brimstone Bits Boowy : Br: tu Badger, Jr. 13 Roving Ben. By J. J. Marshal. i4 The Tieket-of-Leave's Trick. By J. E. Badger, Jr. +5 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. 38 The Boy Crusader. By Capt. F. Whittaker. By A. W. Aiken, By Stoddard. LIBRARY. PER COPY. 34 The Chase of the Great White Stag. By C. D. Clark, 35 Old Tar Knuckle. By Ro er Starbuck. 36 The Dashing Dragoon. By F. Whittaker. 37 Night-Hawk George. By Ingraham. 38 The Boy Exiles of Siberia. By 'l’. 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 Kdward §. Ellis. 42 Walt Ferguson's Cruise. By C. D. Clark. 43 Rifle and Revolver. By F. Whittaker. 44 The Lost Boy Whalers. By 'l. C. Harbaugt. 45 Bronco Billy. By Ingraham. 46 Dick, the Stowaway. By Charles Morris. 47 The Colorado Boys. By J. E. Badger, Jr. 48 The Pampas Hunters, By T. C. Harbaugh. 49 Nebraska Charlie. By Ingraham. 50 Jack, Harry, and Tom. By F. Whittaker, 51 ‘om Stone, the Old Sea Dog. By C. D. Clark, 52 The Boy Detectives. By T. C. Harbaugh. Sr HeEy: the 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. 5Y Harry Somers, the Magician. By 8S. W. Pearce. 58 Captain Jack in Rocky Roost. By Ingraham, 59 Tim, the Mule Bov of the Mines. By Charles Morris, 60 The Young Trail Hunters. By T. C. Harbaugh. 61 The Tiger Hunters. By J. E. Badger, Jr. 62 Doctor Carver, the Champion Shot. By Ingraham. 63 Black Horse Bill, the Bandit Wrecker. By Roger Starbuek. 64 Young Dick Talbot. By A. W. Aiken.

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e2ee THE Deadwood Dick : @ Library e 4e@ QOSO82000 LATEST AND BEST. HANDSOME TRI-COLORED COVERS. 82 Pages. Issued Every Wednesday. Price 5 Cents. Buy One and You Will Buy the Rest! tartacts from the New York Evening Sun. TWO REMARKABLE im only one sense of the word can it be regarded as a aovel statement when the fact Is here recorded that litera- jure has given many heroes to the world, and perhaps more than one reader will have to think a moment over this remark before the subtle delicacy of its genial wit strikes home, But it is most essentially a half dime novel statement shat will be news to many when it is added that litera- gure, if traced from the dimly distant days when Adam was a mere child down to the present day, would show at few heroes that in the eyes of boyhood would be: even judged worthy of comparison with the two greatest fmeroes known to American literature, or, to promptly 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 away the palm of popularity, and suchas * * * be left far behind In the race. It ean be easily believed, therefore, that the two Dicks so firmly engrafted on the tree of popular literature fe beys and young men, that their position is assured * * and that they stand to-day head and shoulders HEROKLS, above all rivals in the eyes of the public for which they have lived, and for which one of them has died, American boyhood, and that is a tremendous factor im the land, now knows Deadwood Dick, Jr., a good beal bet- ter than it knows its catechism, and millions of young minds absorb the thrilling incidents of his career in his everlasting warfare against crime and his never-ending solving of impenetrable mysteries. Millions of boys follow nis stealthy footsteps as he tracks his vicious 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 On CON FAA thrills go thrilling away from Maine to Call- ornla, There are the volumes each so crowded with thrills and heart-tugs that it were madness to hope to do justice to them collectively and rank injustice to discriminate be- tween them, To abandon the idea of giving a few extracts causes in- finite pain, but if once a start were made in that diree- tion, it would be cruel to The Evening Sun's readers te stop, and it is therefore better not to relate one single adventure, Suffice it to say that the stories are cleau and well written. DEADWOOD DICK LIBRARY. Beadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Deflance The Buffalo Demon; or, The Border Vultures Buffalo Ben, Prince of the Pistol Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval Death-Face, the Detective The Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick's Bonanza $ Old Avalanche, the Great Annihilator; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand Bob Woolf, the Border Ruffian Omaha Oll, the Masked Terror; er, Deadwood Dick in Danger + « = Ewe Jr., the Boy Phenix; or, Through to eat) @ Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar # Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Teana 14 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter % Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane 16 Oorduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo icf sige cs Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight of the Guleh 8 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand ‘® Photograph Phil: or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance Watch-Eye, the Shadow 1 ar be Dick's Device; or, The Sign of the Double ross = Canada Chet, the Counterfeiter Chief %% Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke for Liberty % Deadwood Dick as Detective % Gilt-ldge Dick %6 Bonanza Bill, the Man-Tracker; or, The Secret Twelve #7 Chip, the Girl Sport % Jack Hoyle’s Lead; or, The Road to Fortune Boss Bob, the King of Bootblacks iar ea Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s ule %i Bionde Bill; or. Deadwood Dick’s Home Base # Solia’Sam, the Boy Road-Agent 33 Tony Fox, the Ferret; or, Bosa Bob's Boss Jee 84 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick's Big Stmike 85 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party 386 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective 87 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Scamps of the Sierrae 88 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo 89 Deadwood Dick's Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Leet Adventure 40 Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivals of the Read 41 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hills Jemebet 42 The Arab Detective; or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp 48 The Ventriloquist Detective. A Romance of Roga 44 ae om Josh Grim; or, The Young Gladiators ame 45 The Frontier Detective; or, Sierra Sam’s Scheme 46 The Jimtown Sport; or, Gypsy Jack in Colorade 47 The Miner Sport; or, Sugar-Coated Sam's Claims 48 Dick Drew, the Miner’s Son; or, Apollo Bill, wee Road-Agent 49 Sierra Sam, the Detective 50 Sierra Sam’s Double; or, The Three Female Detees- ives 51 pees anus Sentence; or, Little Luck at Reughk anch 52 The Girl Sport: or, Jumbo Joe’s Disguise 58 Denver Doll’s Device; or, The Detective Quees 54 Denver Doll as Detective 55 Denver Doll’s Partner; or, Big Buckskin the Sport 56 Denver Doll’s Mine; or, Little Bill’s Big Loss 57 Deadwood Dick Trapped 58 Buck Hawk, Detective; or, ‘he Messenger Boy’e 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 Decoy 63 The Detective Rond-Agent; or, The Miners of Sassa fras City : 64 Colorado Charlie’s Detective Dash; or, The Cattle Kings M. J. IVERS & CO., Publishers (James Sullivan, Proprietor). 379 Pearl Street, NEW YORK.

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‘Cee, NGCe, 0 He £5 SULLIVAN: « 55. SEIT op BG OF Lopyright 1881-1889, by Beadle & Adams. Entered at Post Office, New York, N. Y., as second class matter. Mar. 15, 1899 taf THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK CO, ig No. of Cleveland, Ohio V ol. ve THE Y-WHISKERED TRAMP MUUNTED »N OLD BARREL AND COMMENCED TO YELL AND JESTICULATE WILDLY

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lopyright 1881-1839, by Beadle & Adams, Entered at Port Office, New York, N. W., as second class No. 57 ° . . 3 r ae Say Sat ene SES wii dore eee TA haa t SF) THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK CO, Cleveland, Ohio SS > SS = INS QS SSS WAVES RRS TRAMP MOUNTED AN OLD BARREL AND COMMEN GESTICULATE WILDIY. : ay s) matter. Mar, 15, 189% Vol. Vi.

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Deadwood Dick e Library e ADWOOD DICK. LIBRA 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince guess © The Double Daggers; or, Deadwi ick’s ce 8 The Buffalo Demon; or, The Border tures 4 Buffalo Ben, Prince of the Pistgl 4 5 Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval 6 Death- -Face, the Detective 7 The Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dicx’s Bonanza : 8 Old Avalanche, the Great Annihilator; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand 9 Bob Woolf, the Border Ruffian 10 pralee Ol’, the Masked Terror; or, Deadwood Dick n Danger 11 Jim iudsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix; or, Through to Death 12 Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood ar 13 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team 14 Gold Rifle, the’ harpshooter 15 Deadwood Dick’on Deck; or, Calamity Jane 16 Corduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo 17 een Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight of the ule. ,8 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand 19 Photograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance 20 Watch-Hye, 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 Diek as Detective > 25 Gilt-Mdged 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 30 Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s Gulch Hy Bolld Ban, Bill; it’ poy Wouden Dick's Home © tim Bey Read: Aneat LATEST AND BEST. HANDSOME TRI-COLORED COVERS. 82 Pages. ‘Bay One and You Will Buy the Rest! For Sample Cover See Other Side 83° Tony Fox, the Ferret; or, CO B yt 34 A Game of Gold; or, Densiwood Dick 85 Deadwood Dick of Deadwoo a Party 86 New York Nell, the Boy-Gir! 1D ective 87 Nobby Nick of Nevada: or, ie Scamps Ft Sierras 88 Wild Fr: the Backskin Bravo 89 Deadwood Adventure 40 Deadwood Dick’s 41 Deadwood Dick's W; <’s Doom; or, Calamity m; or, The Rivals of the Re ad rd; ‘or, The Black Hills Jezebel joozer, the Boy Shar A Romance of Rogues oung sedate Gan 45 The Frontier Detective; or, Sierra Sam's hem me 46 The Jimtown Sport; or, Gy psy 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 gain the Detective 50 cs Sam’s Double; or, The Three Yemale Detect 51 Sierra Sam's Sentence; or, Little Luck at Rough < Ane 52 The Girl Sport: or, Jumbo Joe’s Disguise 53 Denver Doll’s Device; or, The Detective Queen 54 Denver Doll as Detective 55 Denver Doll's Partner; or,"Big Buckskin the Sport 56 Denver Doll’s eine or, Little Bill’s Big Loss 57 Deadwood Dick Trap pp 58 sia Baye Detective; or, The Messenger Boy's ortune 59 Deadwood Dick’s Disguise; or, Wild Walt, the Sport 60 Dumb Dick's Pard; or, Eliza Jane, the Gold Miner 1 Deadwood Dick’s Mission 14 2 Spotter Fritz: or, The Store-Detective’s Deco 63 T = yn Road-Agent; or, The Miners of Sassa- 64 Colorado cl narite's Detective Dash; or, The Cattle ings 43 The Ventriloquist Detee 44 ah Poni Josh Grim; or, Ps : we