dead ter rights, boss, and this nigger is gwine
ter be shooted.

“ I does Wish I hed never left ther ole cotton
plantation in Alabama ter go ter sojerin’; but,
maybe he won’t recognize me, bein’ as ’most all
niggers looks alike, sah," and the man trembled
as the scout rode u ) and called out:

“ “'ell, parson, caught the phantom steed,
and he’s a good one too; but what have you got
there—a black ghost!”

“ It is a negro, Bill, and you may find some-
thing out by questioning him.”

The scout dismounted and approached the
prisoner. . I

“Hello, Toby, What are you domg here?”de-
manded Buffalo Bill, recognizing the negro as a
sergeant in colored regiment, who had deserted
some months before, to escape being shot for a
murder of which he pleaded his ignorance, and
which it was afterward proven he had not been
guilty of.

“ )Iassa Butf’ler, you knows me, sah?” and
the negro tried to turn his face away from the
moonlight.

“ I should think so, for how could I forget
any man who has done what you are guilty of 5”
and the scout looked sternly at the prisoner,
determined not to let him know that he was
aware of his innocence of the charge against
him, and with this held over him, to make him
useful to him, for be well knew Toby’s pluck
and endurance, and that he was noted as a
trailer, being called at the fort the Sable Scout.

“ Massa Buif’ler, I wasn‘t guilty, sah, and
that’s why I lit out, fer I didn’t want ter be
hanged up for nothin’, sah; so I desarted.”

“ And that is a shooting offense, Sergeant
Toby; but I wish you to give an account of
yourself, and if I am satisfied you tell the truth,
I will enlist you in my service and promise you
full pardon for your crimes when you get back,
if you serve me well.”

“ You kin do it, sah, yes you kin, and I’ll jist
sarve you from now until death day, sah.”

“ I believe you, Toby; but now, tell me what
you are doing here, all robed in white like a
ghost?”

“ Massa Buff’ler, I sneaked off from the fort
’cause matters was lookin’ dubious fer me, and I
tried to hide in ther mining-camps; but seemed
to me folks kinder knowed me, and as I hed
heerd thar was gold up in ther mountains, I
thought I’d come and find some.

“ But I hed also heerd as how thar was
ghosteses and sich, and I didn’t like thet much;
but then I hed either ter risk ther ghosteses or
hangin’ fer murder I didn’t do, and be tarned
inter a ghost myself, and I concluded I’d come.

“ Then ther idee struck me, Mama Buf’ler
Bill, thet rhaps I’d do well playin’ ghost my-
self, and jist goes inter ther camp, buys me a
full outfit o’ shrouds, or muslin ter make ’em,
buys a extra horse, with provisions, ammuni-
tion, a pick, ax and shovel, and comes into these
durned mountains.”

“ Where did *ou get your money?”

“ I were paid off, sah, afore I left ther fort,
you recomembers, and I made a little more in
ther mines. sah.”

“ All ri ht, you came into these mountains to
fight the evil with fire.”

“ No, sah, ter dig gold and ter play ghosteses
myself, so as ter skeer off t’others.”

‘ I see; but when did you get here?”

“ Two days ago, sah.”

“ Where is your camp?”

“ I goin’ thar now, sah, for I hed been out on
a. tramp this arternoon.”

“ Have you seen any ghosts?”

“ Massa Bill, I has.”

t‘ Well?”

“ And I jist laid low, sah, fer there was five
of ’em.”

“ Where did you see them?”

“ Up ther valley, sah, in broad daylight‘this

arternoon, and they was oing alon slow, rid-
in’ white ghost horses, an my! but was trem-
ulous at Sight of ’em, ssh.”

‘fYou could find the place where you saw
them?” '

“ Yes, ssh”.

“ Well, we will go there to-morrow; but now
understand that you are to serve me well, and
in return I am to get you a pardon?”

“ Yes, sah.”

“ No treachery.”

1 “,I hain’t no two-faced nigger, Massa Buf’-
er.

“ No, I have always found you a square fel-
low brave, and a good borderman, and a good
Indian—fighter, for you stood by me several
times when your men ran off, and it surprised
me to think you would kill a poor army settler
and rob him,” and Bill spoke with mock serious-

ness.

“ ’Fore de Lord, sah, I didn’t do it.”

“ Well, I’ll have to take your word for it, so
now we’ll look up your camp.”

“Yas, sah; but won’t de ole gem’man who I
tuk fer de debble ride m horse, sail?“

And Toby looked as ance at the Hermit
Parson, who had stood by in silence regarding
lll3lnll attentively during his talk with Buffalo

i1 .

“ N o, my man, thank you; I prefer to walk.”

“I got another animal at my camp, sah, so I
kin ride him,” urged the colored sergeant; but
the Hermit Parson still declined, and the three
set off together toward the camp.

It was found hidden away in a vale, and get—
ting his traps together Toby divided them up so
that the hermit should ride his pack-horse,
which was really a very fine animal.

Then the three set out for the camp of the old
man on the mountain ridge and were turning
into the trail leading up from the valley when,
suddenly, there came the rapid clatter of hoofs,
the ringing neigh of a horse and the loud bark
of a dog.

An instant more, and there dashed by in the
moonlight asnow-white horse, with some object
strapped upon his back, and running ahead of
him was a huge black dog.

“ Here, take these things and I will give
chase, while you follow me i”

And away Buffalo Bill dashed like the wind,
in chase of the mysterious Dumbfl’ards—the
white steed and the black dog.

CHAPTER XI.
THE DUMB PARDS.

WHEN the scout set off in hot pursuit of the
horse and dog that had dashed by them down
the valley he felt confident of soon solving that
mystery at least. ,

e knew the speed of his splendid horse and
his endurance, and he had yet to see the animal
that could hold the lead of him in a long run.

In chasing the white horse, from whose back
the negro, Toby, had been so rudely dragged by
the lariat, Buffalo Bill had run alongside of the
animal and grasped his bridle—rein before he had
gone the eighth of a mile.

Now he settled himself in his saddle and urged
Comrade on, and the noble horse fairly flew
along the trail.

But the white steed and the black dog held
their own, and, with a hundred yards start,
seemed resolved to keep it.

As the scout shot out into the bright moon-
light the dog gave a startled yelp, and the
horse a neigh, as a note of alarm, and their
speed increased greatly, for they had been go—
ing at the pace of a sweeping gallop.

“ Come, Comrade, you are not doing well,”
said the scout, urging on his horse, when he saw
that he was not gaining.

And the noble animal responded by warming
up to his work, and pushing ahead with greater

spec .

Still he did not gain.

" Why, Comrade, what are you about? On,
sir, on I” and Buffalo Bill just touched his flanks
with the spurs, and the noble beast fairly bound-
ed forward in tremendous leaps, as he felt that
his master was angry with him.

Still the Dumb Pards ahead gained slowly,
and the scout could see it.

“ I must have that horse, for Comrade, you
have at last more than met your match,” the
scout said, firmly.

Once or twice be half brought his rifle around,
as though to use it, but quickly checking the
intention, he said:

 

  

thought, with mystery at the bottom of all, a
seemingly unfathomable bottom, as he lay awake
in his blanket, while near him peacefully slum—
bered Toby, and the Hermit Trapper lay motion-
le6s, but also awake.

his repose was undisturbed until dawn was
stealing over the valley and paling the moon-
light.

ever alert even in sleep.

was also aroused.

were coming toward where they were.

Bill ordered.

know them well,” said the hermit.

possible, in the short time they had, the scout

for the horse with me, and, Toby, you take the

 

“ No, it would be sacrilege to kill either the
horse or the dog; but I must have them, and I
will, if I stay in these mountains for months."’

Then, to see if Comrade could really increase -
his pace, and noting that the home and dog had !
doubled the distance they had held, he spurred _
his own beast sharply. .

But though Comrade snorted With anger and
strained eVery nerve and muscle, the two
strange pards ahead held their own steadily.

“ Ah! my poor Comrade, I am drivmgyou
hard, and for no use— Ha! they have disap—
peared !”

It was true, for just as the scout was about to
draw rein and give up the chase, the Dumb
Pards disappeared.

So he rode hastily on to the spot where he had
last seen them flying along in the nioonlight._

Just here were piles of rock and scattering
clumps of trees, while the trail they had been
following reached the river and ran along its
banks.

But he could see for some distance along the
bank, and he knew they had not gone that way.

There was but one other way they could go,
unless they had dodged behind some of the
rocks and trees, and were hiding, and that was
into the river, which here dashed swiftly along.

To go into the river they must take a leap of
some ten feet, and the scout could not believe
they had done that intentionally, but perhaps
gone oVer by accident.

So he looked among the rocks and trees, that
could afford a shelter, and then returned to the
river—bank, just where the trail curved, and ar-
rived there as the Hermit Parson and Toby rode
u ).
1“'Well, they have gone?” he said in a disap—
pointed tone. ‘

“ Your horse could not overtake them, Buf—
falo Bill?” asked the hermit.

“ No, sah, in course he c’u’dn’t, though I
knows what Comrade kin do; but then them
animiles hain’t human,” urged Toby.

“ No, Toby, they are not human, but belong
to the brute creation,” the scout said, smiling at
Tob ’s remark.

“ ey hain’t real brutes nuther, Massa Buf’-
ler, but phantoms, and as Comrade didn’t cotch
’em it proves dat.”

“ \Vhere did they go?” asked the hermit with
interest.

“ I saw them last just about here, and, as they
had steadily gained on me, in spite of all I
could do, I determined not to worry my horse,
and was about“ reining up when they suddenly
disa peared.

“ hey did not go down the trail, for we can
see a long distance, and they are not hidden
among the bushes or rocks, for I have looked."

“Then they could only go over here into the
river?”

“ That’s it, parson.’

“ And are lost?”

“No, sah, them hain’t lost, I knows, for wa-
ter don’t drown, bullet don’t kill, and fire don’t
burn things like them.

“ No, Sah, them is spirit animiles!”

“ No more than were you a ghost, Toby, and
I will yet prove it to you; but, parson, suppose
we camp here on their trail for the balance of
the night, so as to be on hand at daybreak and
see what tracks they leave, thou h according to
Toby, their trails will not be visi 1e?”

“ As you please, Buffalo, for I think it would
be a good idea,”answered the Hermit Parson,
and the three sought a hiding-place for their
horses among the rocks and stunted pines, and
then threw themselves down upon their blankets,
only a few ards from the trail which the Dumb
Pards had ollowed in their rapid flight.

The scout lay awake for some time, and his
thoughts were busy with the discoveries he had
made in those mountains, which he had not be-

REAL WORTH.

BY EMILIE CLARE.

 

Mine be the real honest truth,
Unvarnished, pure, and free

From subtle fraud, or art, or guile,
Or fii-lsonie flattery;

A voice that‘s eloquent in praise—
In argumrni silicel‘:-,

All earnest mail for all that‘s good,
For others‘ woes a tear.

It matters little for the charms
That fascinate awhile—
Tlie thrill that follows after praise,
The sunshine of its smile——
The glory oi a world's applause
An echo scarce will bear,
Ere Fame will find more honored brows
Her laurel wreaths to wear!

The good that’s purchased with deceit
No blessing bears away;

As Spring-time sends no sickle forth,
But waits the summer day-

So deeds await a harvesting.
Through all the coming years:—

God gr uit my sheaves be golden grain,
And not the leaves and taresl

no Much Alike.

BY H. S. KELLER.

 

 

 

“ KILL him!”

“ String him up!”

“ Give him the bi‘and—”

“ Or the iicttlc rush !”broke in a voice harsher
than all the others.

If ever a man realized that the tenure of his
life was about drawing to a tragical close, it
was I.

What had I done?

I thought of all the little sins I had commit—
ted in my life; but there were none, I knew,
amenable to the law, let alone such a strange,
bloodthirsty law as had me now in its greedy
hands.

I was a stranger in Flush Deck. I was greet-
ed by a loud-mouthed crowd as I stepped down
from the stage door, and, in another instant, I
was lifted off my feet and carried some little
distance from the town.

A man don’t like to face death if he can help
it. He dislikes, especially, to face it in the
shape presented to me that eventful evening in
Flush Deck.

Above me the branches of a tree: beyond, the
twinkling stars and the pale moon: before my
eyes a noose dangling gave me such a horror of
hanging as I had never before experienced even
when reading the case of the most hardened
murderer condemned to the rope.

Not a single face among those of the crowd
had I ever met before.

Why was I, an entire stranger to the com-
munity and its habitants, dragged to this lone-
ly place and made to confront a noose, and,
mayhap, an ignominious death?

“ Men, you know not what you do. Give me
a chance for ex lanation—” ‘

“ Dry upl 0 e boss, I reckon you’ve run yer
last heat. Yer dead Corpus ’11 be the sort 0’ ex-
planation we want. Eh, boys?” blurted out a
hairy scoundrel of gigantic stature, as he
stepped nearer and bent down, sending a puff
of tobacco-smoke in my face.

The villains had fastened my hands securely
behind, but the had overlooked in feet.

I was mad. very drop of blood, within me
boiled with indi ation at the vile fellow’s in-
sult. I leaned ack so as to get the proper
range, and ,. while the fellow was still staring at
me mockingl with his owl-like eyes, I lifted my

 

lieved inhabited by mortal man.

He had looked upon the stories told by the
Hermit Personae ' ' ' of a diseased
brain, and yothe had malignanth
there were most unfathomable mystenesln that

He ad met there the old Mad Trailer, he had
disco ed the colored soldier Toby, and he had
seen for himself the mysterious Dumb Pards.

A grave marked the place where a man lay,
who had worn the bracelet, riveted on his
wrist, of the Knights of the Silver Circle, who-
ever or whatever they might be, and he had
seen the strange circle painted on the rocky
cliff, with the motto that death alone would
unrivet the bond of that Circle of Silver.

And so the scout lay awake and ponderedover
these mysteries.

He had come into the Montana mountains in
a spirit of adventure, and he was not one to
give up a trail until the end was reached, especi-
ally when there was a stern duty‘to perform in
rescuing the poor little lVild ose from the
power of the man who had kidnapped her, after
slaying her father and causing the death of her
mother.

The Trapper Parson had tracked them into
these mountains, and to a certain point, and
then the trail became a lost trail.

Buffalo Bill had tried his skill in ferreting out
the mystery, but he could go no further than
had the old hermit.

The trail had an ending surely, but that was
not it.

There were others certainly in these moun-
tains, but where were they?

Den, the Monté Man, had come there with
his captive, and yet he had not left there,
the Hermit Trapper felt certain.

Who was the man that had worn the silver
circle about his wrist, and who had been tornto
pieces by a pack of wolves, while his horse and
himself had both been bound?

' What cruel mystery was there in this?

And the Dumb Pards?

They certainly were not running wild in these
mountains, or how about the pack the horse
carried, the silver circle about the dog’s neck?

Then, too, who was the man who had lassoed
the horse and been slain by the dog?

Altogether the brave scout had a world of

Presently the scout dropped off to sleep, and

Then he awoke, for a sound broke on his ears,
He raised up and saw that the Hermit Trapper
It was the rapid clatter of hoofs, and they
“ Up, Toby, for some one is coming,” Buffalo
“ It is the hoof-falls of that wild horse, for I
To reach their horses and mount would be im—

new, so he said quickly:

“ lVe must lasso him then. You, parson, try

79

Buffalo Bill knew that the negro soldier was
noted as a lariat—thrower, while he was not so
sure of the Hermit Parson, never having seen
him throw a rope, so he asked him to try for
the horse.

Their lassoes were at hand with their saddles,
and quickly they seized them and sprung to
position behind the nearest rock or tree facing
toward the trail.

A moment more and the black dog appeared
in sight, and behind him came the white horse.

They were dashing swiftly along with the
wind, so the keen senses of the dog had not
caught the scent of their foes.

“ Golly! but dat am a big dog ter tackle!

“ I thinks he’s a grizzly,” said Toby, but he
had his lasso ready to throw.

A moment more and the Dumb Pards were in
range, and all was ready for the word from the
scout to cast the lariats.

“ Now throw and the Dumb Pards are ours!”
cried Buffalo Bill in thrilling tones, and the
three lasso coils went whirling through the air.

A man wifiih;  n
ed out of him is .
u I I

along-(210ml!!! A M

 

he’s jist done.” .

heavens! I have a friend among them
at least. The speaker stepped toward me, elect-
ed himself spokesman, and asked:

“ Are you from Denver?”

H Yes.”

“ How long have you been in these parts?”

“ Never was here before in all my life.”

“ Sure of that, boss?”

“ It is the truth, so help me Heaven! If this
is your method of treating strangers, I assure
you Flush Deck will not grow into a city.”

“ id you ever see a mule?”

(‘ Yes. 7’

“ Know the difference ’theen a mouse-colored
mule and a boss?”  ‘

“ Most assuredly. Why?’

“ And if you wanted to run off a nag you’d
take a good hoss before you would a mouse-col-
ored mule?” '

Notwithstanding my dangerous position, I
couldn’t help but laugh outright. I knew it was
like mocking fate for me to do suchathing with
the fatal noose before my eyes. But I was
amused even under the shadow of the death—
an el’s wing. Hence I laughed.

‘ You might laugh, stranger, if you was in
some other man’s boots. Say, do you know
what I’d do if I was in your place?” asked the
man, as he drew near examined my bonds and
—-cut them with a penknife.

“ No; what?" I asked in surprise.

“ Run for your life or you’ll be meat for buz-
zards in less than ten minutes,” he whispered.
I started suddenly. What did he mean? I was
guilty of no offense. Why should I run? If the
men would only give me time I could soon clear
myself. I was evidently taken for some one
who had run off a mule. Yet the man meant
to be my friend. He had severed my bonds,
urged me to fly and—I did.

ut before I could leap through the dense
growth of brush, the fellow who advised me to
run seized me, and, pushing, pulling and jerking
me, all the time crying out to the others not to
fire, be rushed me through the crowd and, giv-
ing me a last push whispered:

“ Now git!”

The bullets rattled about me as I sped like
the wind—figuratively, of course—where, I knew
not.

On, on and still on I sped. The footsteps be-
hind grew fainter and fainter, and finally when
their sound ceased entirely I halted for breath.

A strange, weird, uncanny sound fell upon
my ears. There is but one creature in the world
that can create such a devilish discord of un~
earthly noises. ~
A mule.

Perhaps it is a mouse-colored mule.
well-nigh met death for such a creature.
see that mule.

Judging from the sound, the animal must be
in the immediate Vicinity. I knew I was safe
for the time being from my former tormentors.
And so, I began the search for the mule. Af-
ter groping about among the bushes and trees
for a few minutes I was rewarded by the sight
of a small cabin with a light streaming from a
window. Near by was the mule. Ever and
anon the creature would stretch out its thin
neck, straighten its rat—like tail, lay back its
ugly ears, open its ungainly mouth and saw off
solid chunks of night air with its terrific bray.

The mule was mouse—colored. So far as it
was concerned I was satisfied. I was almost
afraid of the mule until I discovered that it was
fastened to a tree. I didn’t know but what the
mule might bear me animal enmity for the sake
of its former home, Flush Deck.

Approaching the small window of the cabin,
I looked in.

By heavens! No wonderl was mistaken for
the mule thief. Seated upon a cracker-box,
holding a tiny baby to his breast was a man
the exact counterpart of myself. Such pecu-
liar resemblances do occur I am well aware of :
but I had hitherto supposed my peculiar set of
features as distinct from all others. No won-
der my life had recently been in danger—pro—
vided of course this man had made himself
amenable to the law.

I had
I must

 

( To be continued—commenced in No. 184.)

As I had put my foot in the matter—nearly

    

my neck as well—I was determined to see the
bottom of the case. I went to the door, and
ta ped softly.

‘ Come in.”

It was my voice, or an exact echo of it, I
could have sworn. I pushed the door open, and
entered. The mun saw the resemblance at once,
and rose to his feet, still holding the baby in his
arms.

“You will excuse me for this intrusion," I
said: “ but the fact of the case is I have just
esca d death—”

“ eathl \Vhy—what do you mean?” he ask—
ed. He stepped to a small door, passed through,
Eng then reappeared, this time without the

a y.

“ I entered Flush Deck a short time ago, an
entire stranger to every man, woman and child
there. I was well cared for from the start. I
was introduced to a hangman’s noose—”

“ What for?”

Before I could reply the mule broke forth
without.

“ Your friend outside seems to be the central
point around which the interesting case re-
volves,” I answered.

A ray of light seemed to illumine his mind,
for he quickly explained in few words, as fol—

ows:

“ I just arrived from Denver a short time ago,
my wife and 1. Three nights ago we required
the services of a doctor. As there is nom- in
Flush Deck I was obliged to go to Hellbender,
about two miles beyond the Deck. As four legs
are better than two, I borrowed—forgetting to
ask the rightful owner—the mule. Since the
baby was born my time has been so taken up
with my family that I have not had time to re-
turn the mule to his proper stable. I assure you
I am very sorry for having caused you any dif—
ficulty by my act and—”

“ Our close resemblance,” I said.

“ Yes: it is a strange one. I never knew that
I had a twin-brother.”

“ No more have I," I said.

I liked him for his plain, straight-forward
manner. He was evidently a square man.

In the morning he returned the mouse-colored
mule to its rightful owner, following the same
with a good purse of money. My counterpart
was a writer. His book recently published was
the result of his quiet, hermit-like life in the
“Vest. He and I Were great friends and—the
baby was named after your devoted servant.

 

HE

Lightweight Detective;

OLD BLAZES,

THE SOVEREIGN OF THE ROCKS.

A 'l‘sle of New York Hovols sud Marble
Halls.

BY ALBERT W. AIKEN.
CHAPTER XXXV.
A SURPRISE.

THE amateur detective reflected upon the
matter for a moment.
“ Do iyou suppose that the old woman im-
agines t at she can make any money by keeping
you here?” he asked.

“ I am afraid so, for she hinted as much. She
said it would be money in both of our-pockets
if I would only be content to stay here.

 

 

right foot 5 denly and planted the toe of my
boot under his chin. * '
After-thet  ambled b ~ his»

   
   
 

a poorcritter wouldn‘t have mm do 1

“Ande Iasked hes-to explain howthat
'l ll  
2: ’thinglthuttnottobotdlkgi

’3 .
“more ~~ fl ‘“~“
eta ' this
terri le place for a little while, and then she
went away, and I listened and heard her move
the bolts which fasten the trap-door.”
“ Oh, the old woman has made you a prisoner
here, there isn’t any mistake about that,” Hugh

rved.

“ I have been through a little adventure in
that line myself, and it is only by an accident
that I find myself here.

“ When I opened this (1er sup it led
to a passage through which I con (1 gain the
street, and I had no idea that I-was going into
another cellar.”

“ Oh, you have not come from the street then?”

“No, am doing a little in the escaping line
myself.

” I got into a scrape, luck went against me,
and I was shut up in just such another cellar as
this one, but I managed to get out and was try-
ing to find my way to the open air again, but
the passa e conducted me here; but there must
be some oor along the passage somewhere, for
this underground way was never dug merely to
communicate from cellar to cellar.

“I must take a look at the other end of the
assage. I thought it ended in a dirt—wall hut,
ut that may be only a blind to hide the en-
trance.”

A close examination proved this surmise to be
correct.

The dirt-wall turned out to be a door, skill-
fully painted, and one of the keys of the bunch
fitting in the lock soon opened the portal.

Then a flight of small steps stood revealed,
and these led to a trap—door in the ceiling.

“ Aha! light at last!” the Lightweight ex-
claimed, after making this discovery.

“ Now then we will not have any difficulty in
making our escape!”

But hardly had the words quitted his lips
when he noticed that there was a key-hole in
the trap-door, and the question at once came up
would any one of his keys fit it?

If not, all the fat would be in the fire, for the
door was an extremely solid one, and if it could
not be unlocked it would surely be a terrible job
to force it open.

But one of the keys of the bunch did fit, as
Hugh had expected, and the Lightweight, lift-
ing up the tra p-door, made the discovery that
the trap was in the floor of an old shed, which
had evidently at one time been used for a
stable.

It was quite dark for there were no windows
in it and only one small door.

It was a one—story affair—a regular shanty,
like all the rest of the buildings in the settle-
ment, which did not boast of a single regularly-
built house.

“ We are all right now,” Hu h observed.
“ We can get out of this place eas' y enough for
it is only a shell, and even if I haven’t any key
to unlock the door, which seems to be securely
fastened, we can get out through the side of the
building.

“ But now I’ll go back and lock that door
again so that the dame who so kindly locked you
up will be at a loss to know what has become of
you when she goes to look for you and finds you
among the nnssing, and by so doing I will be
able to baffle pursuit.”

The girl thought that this was an excellent
idea, and so expressed herself.

It did not take the adventurer many minutes
to carry out the project, and then he returned
to the shed.

“ Now then,” he said, as he ascended the steps
and carefully closed the trap—door after it, “ the
first thing to be done is to take a look at the sur-
roundin and see what chance there is to get
out of t is place without attracting observa-
tion.

“ We must not be seen departin if we can
help it, for this settlement has t e ton hest
gang of roughs in it that exist in all New ork.

“ I have been told that it is as muchas the life
of a policeman is worth to attempt to make any
arrest, and that in fact any less force than half a
dozen officers don’t stand much chance against
the mob that the sight of a. blue-coat will raise
in this locality.”

“ What a dreadful place it mustbe!” exclaim-

 

ed the girl, with a shiver.

 

 

“ And how very stupid it was of me to seek
shelter in such a place."

“ Yes, you jumped out of the frying-pan into
the fire most decidedly when you came to this
miserach hole.”

There were cracks in all the walls of the shed,
the boards having been warped by the heat of
the sun, so that it was an easy matter for the
young man to command a view in all direc—
tions.

But before looking to ascertain if the coast
was clear Hugh tried to see if he had a key to
fit the lock.

The second one proved to be a fit and the
Lightweight laughed as be reflected how well
the bunch of ke s of whichhe had despoiled
Daddy Blazes ha served his purpose.

“The old rascal will be apt to die of strangu-
lation, for I‘ve. no doubt that by this time he
has cm‘sed his ill-luck until he is black in the
face,” Hugh mused to himself, as he tried the
keys in the lock.

“ Now then, I'll see the girl safely out of this
den of rattlesnakes, and after that is accom-
plished I will come back and ‘ go through ’ Dad-
dy Blazes’s house in the most scientific manner
——go through it in a way that the old man will
despise, and the chances are good, I think, that
I will be able to make important discoveries.”

A cautious cry of alarm from the girl at this
point interrupted the Lightweight’s calcula—
tions.

‘ ‘ that is the matter!” he asked.

\Vliile he had been busy with the lock, the
natural curiosity of the girl impelled her to look
through one of the cracks in the wall.

“There is a man outside seated upon a rock
about a hundred feet away, who seems to be
keeping a watch on this shed.

“ It is probably urely accidental, for it is
utterly impossible or any one to know that
there is anybody in it.”

The shed was isolated from the rest of the
settlement, the only house near it being the
shanty of Mrs. O’Flannigan, which was about
twenty feet distant.

The Lightweight hastened to the girl’s side,
and took a look through the crack at the
man.

He was an ugly, beetle-brewed fellow, a re—
gular tramp in appearance, and from the way
in which he sat, with his eyes fixed upon the
shed, it certainly looked as if he was engaged in
watching the premises.

Hugh glanced around him perplexed.

“ Well, upon my life, I don’t understand it,”
he remarked.

“The fellow is watching the shed, and there
isn’t any two ways about it, but what on earth
he is doing it for is a mystery, for there isn’t
anything in the shed or about it, as far as I can
see, to call for any watching.”

The girl nodded her head as much as to say
that she agreed with this 0 inion.

“ But as he is on] watc ing the back of the
shed, and we calcu ate to leave by the front
door I don’t think he will bother us much.”

“ hat is true,” the girl observed.

 

 

Then Hugh went to the front of the house and
took a look through one of the cracks, while the
girl pursued a similar course at the side of the
house.

A simultaneous cry of alarm came from both

of them.

“Oh, sir!” exclaimed the 'rl; “there is a

man watching on this side of t 6 house too!”

“ So there is on this side,” the Lightweight
responded.

And then he hastened to the side of the house
opposite to where the girl stood, and applied h'n
eye to one of the cracks.

She understood what he was about, and
watched his movements with intense interest.

  

    
   
    
  
 
   
   

Won use
companion at these last disoovc-i
she understood that he regarded their podn'on
as a critical one.

“Well, I don’t exactly know; I must admit
I am at a losstounderstand it,” the Lightweight
re lied slowly.

‘ These four men are keeping watch on this
shed, and they have posted themselves so that
it will be impossible for any one to leave the
place without their knowledge.”

“They seem just like sentries,” the girl ob—
served.

“ That is just what they are, put there to give
warning of any attempt on our part to escape
from this place.

“ And should we attempt to do it, their warn-
ing cries will instantly rouse the whole settle—
ment, just as the slogan of an enraged bee ex-

cites all the rest.”

“Oh, how dreadful!” cried the maid, with

clas hands.

“ 'es, and these miserable wretches would

think nothing of tearing us to pieces if the word
so to do was given by their leaders.” '

“ But how is it possible for any one to know

that there is anybody in this place?”

“ That is the mystery which puzzles me,” the
Lightweight replied, thoughtfully. '

‘ There is only one explanation as far as I
can see. My man from whom I escaped_must
have got rid of his bonds in some way and has
given the alarm.”

“ What is to be done?”

“ We can do nothing but wait.”

CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE OLD an’s PLAN.
“ WAIT—wait?” exclaimed the girl.
“ Yes, that is all we can do at present,” Hugh

rephed.

“ With these fellows on guard it will be clear-
ly impossible for us to escape from this place
without attracting attention, and from what I
know of this locality and its inhabitants I am
satisfied that the moment we were seen an

 

alarm would be given, and the wretches who

would come in obedience to the call would think
nothing of tearing us all to pieces.”

A shudder shook the frame of the girl as she
listened to the blunt avowal. but in such a case
as this the Lightweight did not believe it was
wise to conceal the truth.

“ By waiting without attempting to escape
our position does not become any worse, and
in time some chance may arise that will afford
us an opportunity to get out of this bobble.

“ As long as we are sheltered by this shed we
are tolerably safe, for I am well armed. have
plenty of ammunition. and am in a position to
make it pretty warm for the gang if they should
try to force an entrance into this place, for I
should not hesitate to use my weapons, knowing
as I do that I could not hope for any mercy at
their hands if they once succeeded in getting me
in their clutches.”

“ It does not seem possible that such a thing
as this could happen right in New York City
the girl observed.

“ It is more like a story of the lVild West—an
incident of the borders—~beyond the influence of
civilization.”

“ That is very true in the abstract, but not so
in realit ,” Hugh replied.

“Any ody who is well acquainted with the
great city as it really is, will tell you that there
are as great savages to be found within its
limits—men and women as barbarous in their
instincts and as merciless to foes within their
Wwer as any red-skins who ever roamed the

estern plains.

“ Upon my life I believe I would rather run
my chances with a lot of savages than en-
counter these wretches; they are just as barbar-
ous as the Indians, and decidedly more cunning
in their deviltry);

“Yes, yes, I lieve you are right,” the girl
observed.

“ I am pretty sure I am. I have traveled a
great deal in my time and come in contact with
quite a number of different races of wild men,
and I must say my experience has been that
wild men who are to be found in the ve heart

’
’

 

of all great cities are far more to be ded