mmmlllllfllllflllfllllll’ f. A SHORT DEBATE 0N RUM. BY “ Tn’ POE’I‘ o’ ARTE-BAR.” Now, citizens o’ Ante-Bar, ther is no use in delay. Fer this question must be settled in th’ quickest sort 0’ way: I We must rouse th’ great dilemmer, an’ grasp it by th’ horns: When a man would gather roses he forsooth must brave th’ thorns. Heur our jail is overcrowded an’ will have to be en- larged, . Or we‘ll haveter hang some pris’ners to take in them that‘s charged; An’ th’ town is full 0’ beggars, hungry mouths we have ter fill: . So we’ll have ter build a bigger house, or all these paupers kill. But if We build a poorhouse an’ a new wing to th’ 3'8“, . . . . . An’ then try to keep ’em runnin', somethin else is bound ter fail. . I We can’t keep ’em all a-goin’; it won’t figger out by rule; If we undertake to do it we shall have ter close our schooL An’ 'tis rough ter kill th’ paupers. tho’some pris’ners might be strung, But th’ jail would soon hold others in th' place 0‘ them we‘d hung. , So th‘ question now before us is ter say what we shall do. An' if you will pay attention I’ll suggest a plan ter you. I’ve been talkin’ wi’ th’ sheriff, an’ th’ sherifl talked wi’ me. An’ thar‘s one p’int in th’ puzzle on which we both agree: We hev looked th' field all over, an’ hev figgered up sum An’ we’ve kein to th’ conclusion thet th‘ trouble heur is RUM. In this town thar’s seven rum-mills a-goin’ at full as . An’ they do a rattlin’ bus’ness—are makin’ money ast: An‘ ’tis {hem that’s played th’ devil wi’ this young an' thrivin’ town, An’ ter stop th’ growin’ evil ye must go an‘ pull 'em down! You must go an’ seize th’ likker an’pourit in th’ crick, Then give th’ dealers notice to git out o’ town right quick; _ _ An’ then pass a resolution, mighty plain an’ mighty cl’ar Not another drop 0’ likker to be sold at Ante- Bar. Then th‘ jail will soon be empty, fer its usefulness can’t last. An’ this question 0’ a poorhouse be a dragon 0’ th‘ ast: Th’ shlip 0’ state will right herself, an’ prosper’ty’s star will rise, An‘ you’ll see changes heurabouts thet will jest dilate yer eyes! Banner Ben, The Wildfire of the Prairie; ) Old Kit Bandy’s Compound Campaign. BY OLL COOMES. AUTHOR. OF “ WHIP kIXG JOE,“ ETC, ETc. CHAPTER VII. FA\\'.\'-EYES AND SINGING-BIRD. BY the time Jaguar Jim and Redtop George had reached the shore. and got their lungs suffi— ciently clear of Water to speak, the bateau was not only out of reach, but out of sight, also, in the darkness. “Fiends and furies!” gasped Jaguar J im; “ what does this mean, Redtop?” “ I s‘pose it means that I, Redtop George, am a heroic idiot!” was the other’s self-convicting answer, as he rubbed his half—broken jaw where Bandy had “tappe( ” him. “Do you know. Jim, that that last fellow I carried in from the woods was Kit Bandy, the Mountain Detective, instead of Long Tim 1" - “ Holy furies! you don’t say, Redtop!” “'Yes; I recognized his voice. for, after he’d upset me, he spoke in his natural voice. I‘ll never forgit his yawp, for Kit Bandy once got me an appointment for five years in the employ of the Government for lookin’ at some mail mat- ter once.” “Then Gwynn’s story of Bandy’s death was an uncolored lie. " “ It was a mistake, at any rate. I don’t be— lieve that old imp will ever die. I don’t believe he could die if he wanted to. I believe he‘s the original old devil himself." “If he was mistaken in Bandy being killed maybe he is, also, in Captain Blood being shot. But. George. to make sure you toted in that old purgatorian, let us hurry up the river and look for Long Tim." “ All right, J aguar: but I don’t expect to find poor Tim alive.” The two discomfited villains ar0se and started off up the stream. They finally came to the scene of the conflict, and after hunting about for an hour or so they not only found Long Tim’s body, but that of Yorky also. This discovery threw Redtop George into a perfect fit of rage. His eyes fairly lowed in the darkness with assionate fury. e cursed Bandy, himself an( the darkness. Turning to Jaguar, he hissed out: ' I “Jaguar Jim, knife me! I deserve to die, and you’re a coward if you don’t kill such a hopeless idiot as I am! Both of them bodies I Iugged to the boat were enemies’. though I am sure the first one was dead. Curses on this gloom! It’s the devil’s own friendly cover! I‘ll never hear the last of this.” “ Redtop, a most ridiculous and unfortunate blunder has been committed, but if you’ll keep quiet I’ll say nothin‘ ’bout it, for it will bring me in with you. Now, I'm heartily in favor of gittin‘ away from here. This placeis unhealthy —it’s cursed. “ VVhere shall we go 6”: “ To Standing Rock and join Bracelets and the other boys. There’s no use in our foolin‘ around here now. If it proves true that J ubal Blood is dead, I will take up his fallen mantle and carry out the scheme he has been working on of late. Then the “'hitc Wolves can share the proceeds equally. but we have first got to get the girl out of old Stooping Bear’s clutches, and that. too. without his knowing it. before we talk of proceeds. Come on, Redtop." Acting upon Jaguar‘s suggestion. the two at once set off toward the mountains. “ This would be a pretty spectickle to the eyes 0’ men and gmls," said Redtop, 1n evident mor- tification and disgust, “ to see we two great ‘ “'hitc “'olves ‘ sneaking away likc whipped and ducked curs, without an availablc firearm. with three friends left behind dcad, while all the satisfaction we have had is in scein‘ onc nimble-heeled runt of a ho drowned. Jaguar Jim. you and I both have t ie reputation of be— ing fcrtile—braincd liars, but can we both con— coct a story out of our adventures down licrc and the death of our three friends. that’ll add luster to our fame as “'liite Wolves r“ Thc two villains could talk of but little clsc than their inglorious dcfcnt as thcy trudged along through the darkness. \Vithoiit a moment‘s stop they journeyed on all night. mid about suiirisc next morning thcy came to Standing Rock in the mountains. whore they found a party of six friends cncamped iii a canyon. or rather in a densely-wooded pocket of the canyon proper. The leader of this party was known as Bracelets, who was the very pic- ture of a shrewd and cunning desperado. Around each of his wrists was an iron bracelet —-the remains of a pair of handcuffs with which he had, at some time. escaped from an officer of the law. The chain had been removed. but the bracelets he left on his wrists. taking as great pride in them as a maiden in her jewels. The party furnished the two tramp “ Wolves” some breakfast, and-after their repast they held a consultation. J a uar Jim and Redtop suc- ceeded in covering t emselves with glory in the lie they told of their adventures and loss down the river. The news of J ubal Blood’s death was confirmed by Bracelets’ party, one of whom had sien the captain after he had received the fatal s ot. Finally the next~ move was discussed. All agreed in doing their utmost to carry outa great scheme, whatever that was. that had been con- ceived by Jubal Blood. The outlaws were on friendly terms with Stooping Bear, the Sioux chief, and his followers, and yet it seemed neces- sary for the success of their plans, that they must invade, either stealthily or in the guise of friends, the precincts of the Indian village. And when there, the successful accomplishment of their plans was of such a character as to incur the savage vengeance of the Sioux, should they be detected in their villainy. To escape this dan- ger was the point most in discussion. and while it was still under consideration they discovered a party of fully three-score savages moving up the valley in the direction of the Sioux village. “ That‘s Panther Tail and his followers, by the saints!" exclaimed Jaguar Jim. “ As big a lot of red and white cut-throats as ever skulked in these ’ere mountains,” declared Bracelets. “ But while they are our friends they’re the Sioux’ mortal enemy,” observed the crafty Ja- guar, “ and can’t you see where we could make them useful? Having to operate against Stoop— ing Bear’s camp and confidence, we might throw all blame onto them renegades and outlaws. \Vhat say you all; shall I hail them 9” “ Yes,” was the answer of all. But they did not have to hail the red skins, for the lynx-eyed guide, a few paces in advance, discovered the presence of the outlaws in the “ pocket,” and at once called a halt and all joined their white, friends. Panther Tail was an outlawed Sioux Indian— as cruel and merciless a savage as ever went un— hung. His followers were mostly Indians made up of various tribes, and, like himself. outlawed. There were a few American outlaws and several Mexicans in the party. All were well-armed and mounted and the crafty Jaguar Jim had not talked with Panther Tail five minutes before he had wormed from the chief the admission that he—the chief—was then going on a horse and cattle stealing expedition to Stooping Bear’s cam . Tliiese outlaw red-skins remained in the can— yon until the middle of the afternoon, and when they moved on, Jaguar Jim and his friends ac— companied them. About an hour of sunset they encamped back in a wooded defile about three miles from Stoop— ing Bear’s village. This was to be their base of operations, and scouts were at once sent out to reconnoiter the situation, note the surroundings of the village. and ascertain the exact feeding- grounds of the Sioux’s horses and cattle, and their numberfi Jaguar Jim and Panther Tail, restless spirits that they were, could not remain idle, and so finally strolled off up the river in the gathering shadows of early evenin . They were all of a mi e and a half from the Sioux village when their ears were suddenly greeted by the low. plaintive notes of a female voice engaged in singing. Quickly the outlaw and savage crouched in the shadows with both eye and ear on the alert. The voice of the singer seemed to come from out on the river, and carefully parting the bushes the two listeners looked out over the wa— ter. Both gave a slight start as they did so. In the middle of the stream they beheld a bark canoe drifting at the will of the current. It contained two occu ants and both of them were females—dusky Int ian maidens,di‘essed out in all the quaint, barbaric finery and jewels of princesses of royal blood. Panther Tail noted this fact with manifest joy, while Jaguar Jim feasted his eyes upon them with the expression of one in doubt on his face. “ Ugh!” ejaculated the chief, in an undertone. his little suakish eyes littering like beads of fire, “must be Stooping car’s girls.” “ By murder! Panther Tail, that’s a splendid pair,” whispered Jaguar Jim, “but I do believe one o‘ thein‘s a white girl stained up like a red- skin. Look close, Panther, and tell me what you think ’bout it.” “ Guess you right— one sing like bird in tree white girl. Ingin girl Stooping Bear’s daughter ———me ruther have her than all the Sioux cattle, all Sioux ponies—break Stooping Bear’s heart—— then Panther Tail be happy—~me take her— white man take white girl.” “ I’ve got two wives now, Panther, but still I wouldn‘t mind takiii’ that gal a prisoner if we could et a hold of ’em. I think she is no other than t e very girl that we wanted to git away from Old Stooping Bear. VVhew! isn’t she a charmer on a sing?— Ah! b to )het! see there! they’re heading this way. Ir. ail”——and the outlaw nudged the barbarian in the side, “ your squaw is coming right over here into your arms, you old beauty.” True enough, the maiden, whom Panther Tail had said was an Indian, and who handled the paddle, turned the canoe toward the shore, wholly unconscious of the presence of those two human tigers lying in ambush on the bank. When they came nearer the shore Jaguar Jim could easily see that one of the girls was a white girl, though her skin had been colored to a nut-brown. Both were girls of exceeding beauty of form and face. Neither one could have been over eighteen years of age. Their dress, although in QIndian style, was of bright and artistic colors. In their dark hair and around their necks and arms were flashing jew— els and great strands of various colored beads and tiny shells. As they approached the shore and their charms, beauty and grace of form and feature became more erceptible to the outlaws, the villains’ eyes g owed with a covetous, sensuous fire. Panther Tail, standing upon his hands and knees, his long, black hair falling about his face in siiakisli locks, was the very picture Of a hu— man devil. In a very few moments the maiden’s boat touched the shore a few paces below the mn- bushcd outlaws. Then the girl’s singing ceased, and rising, she stood erect in the boat. Above and below them the bank was fringed with a dense growth of short willows that drooped over the water. A vine loaded with scarlet berries had run out over the tOps of the Willows and the red cluster hung temptineg before the eyes of the maidens. In fact. it was the sight of these scarlet berries that had drawn the girls ashore, and while the Indian girl steadied the canoe the other thrust her hand up among the foliage to pick the berries. As she did so her wrist was seized in a grip like that of a giant, and then she was lifted bodily from the boat and dragged up through the willows and vines to the bank where she found herself in the power of a brutal- looking outlaw—Jaguar Jim. . The girl gave a warning cry when first seized, but before the other could asocrtain the cause of her friend’s alarm-—for the outlaws were so effectually hidden among the bushes—Panther Tail sprung from his covcrt, lcupcd into the boat and seizing hcr dragged hcr ashore. _ Half-paralyzed with terror the first captive could offer but littlc resistance and in a few moments Jaguar Jim had ticd her hands and bound a handkerchief over her mouth. But the Indian girl did not submit so nicckly. ()ii the contrary. she fought like a wildcntT—with all the ferocity of an enraged young tigi‘css. But she could not overcome the brute strength of the powerful Panther Tail. and, womanlike. wlicn she saw she could do nothing by physical strength she had recourse to her tongue. With a look of scornful disdain she drew herself up, clinched her little fists and with her black eyes fairly burning, she said: “Go ’way! you insult me! I am Fawn-Eyes, the daughter of the great Snooping Bear, and she is Singing Bird, my White sister! You are cowards—you hide like the coyote in the bush and leap upon the fawn!” Her words, however, had no effect upon Pan- ther Tail and with the help of Jaguar Jim she was securely bound. ' whistle around the heads of the fugitives from The villains lost no time in getting away with the girls, and to hasten their retreat they car- ried their captives in their arms. Pushing their way through a fringe of un~ dergrowth a few paces back from the river they emerged into more open ground. Across thisthey were pressing forward with their writhing cap- tives when two men with drawn revolvers step— ped from behind a rock and confronted the vil- lains, one of them demanding: “Halt there, you grizzled pirates, and drop them feminines like hot ’taters, or, by the ram’s- horn o’ JOshua. we’ll tunnel your carcasses like a gopher—town! Don’t you forgit that I are Old Ka-ristopher KO—lumbus Bandy, and this little toy tempest at my side are Banner Ben, the Prairie \Vildfire l” CHAPTER VIII. A DESPERATE CONFLICT. THE two outlaws, Panther Tail and Jaguar Jim. quickly dropped their captives and grasped their weapons, but they had presence of mind enough left to desist from drawing them, for they saw they were covered by the revolvers of Ben Banner and Old Bandy. Jaguar Jim was almost dumfoundcd as well as horrified when he found himself confronted by Banner Ben, who he had no doubt was dead in the bottom of the river. Nor could he scarce— ly believe that such really was the case—that the boy stood before him—until Ben addressed him thus: “ Oh, I know you’re s’prised to see me, Jaguar James, on deck ag’in, but, by jeewhango, I’m on just the same, and now it’s my turn to take a deal. Say, won’t you please do somethin’ to provoke me to shoot you? 1 could put the pur- tiest forty-caliber hole through you as ever leak- ed out a villain’s life.” “ D’ye hear that, critters?” put in Old Kit; “ isn’t that kid got a whole sand dune in his crew? Isn’t he a multitude, though?—a toy tempest with volcanic symptoms? Say, gals, step ’round this way and consider yerselves the protégécs 0’ Kit Bandy and Banner Benjamin.” The half-terrified maidens advanced to the side of the old detective who at once released them while Ben, with a pistol in each hand, kept the outlaws covered. As soon as she could speak, Fawn-Eyes looked up into Bandy’s face and said, in good English: “ The pale-face man and boy are very brave. They have saved Fawn-Eyes and Singing Bird from the power of the bad Ingin and pale-face. Stoo ing Bear will honor you for it.” “ Igy the horn 0’ Joshua! that sounds musical, gal—like a hull band 0’ angels, and I’ve a notion to shoot them varmints just for the fun 0’ it. But, gals, it‘s gittin’ late, so you and your late escort, the magnificent Jaguar James, and the superb villain, Panther Tail, will accompany us to our rendezvous where suitable quarters ’ll be prepared for you until you be sent to whar you belong. Banner Ben, relieve them warriors 0’ their weepons.” This was a rather humiliating and trying thing for Jaguar Jim to submit to, but in the face of Old Bandy’s drawn revolver there was no other alternative but certain death. But the victory of Kit and Banner Ben was short—lived. Scarcer had they relieved the outlaws of their Weapons before Old Tom Rat— tler, followed by Harry Ashmore, Bob Burch and four other men-hunters—who had fallen in with the party as they came up the river—~came hurrying up the valley in search of them with the information that a number of red—skins— followers of Panther Tail—were in pursuit of them. And a savage yell close by confirmed it. A score of red-skins were but a few rods away. “Boys. let’s save these gals, Ingins tho’ they be, or die I” cried Old Kit Bandy. “ Harry, take the gals and escape to the river with ’em and we’ll cover your retreat. Go, Harry— quick! there’s a canoe there!” “Come, girls.” said young Ashmore, taking each by a hand, " I am your friend. Do not fear me.” Singing Bird, half—delirious, permitted herself to be led away. but Fawn-Eyes, stoopin , picked up Panther Tail’s tomahawk that Ben ad cast aside, and then darted away toward the river like a scared partridge. The next moment the outlaw-savages emerged from the woods and hurled themselves upon the old detective and his friends. The red-skins’ yell was answered by the crack of the whites’ revolvers and rifles. Bandy and his party could only act on the de— fensive against such odds, retreating toward the river so as to keep Harry and the two girls covered until they were out of harm’s way. Though unarmed, Jaguar Jim and Panther Tail’s voices were heard above the din of the battle urging on the warriors to the destruction of the whites. Poor Bob Burch and one of the hunters who had recently joined them, fell under the crush— in blows of tomahawks fighting for their lives. Back to the river’s very brink the overwhelm— ing horde of savages forced the little Spartan band. Panther Tail, dodging‘like a coyote through the dense brush, slipped up behind Old Kit and seizing him about the waist flung him to the earth where a desperate struggle ensued. Old Rattler, with Banner Ben at his side, dodged from tree to tree, and rock to rock, deal— ing out death to those who dared to approach them. Meanwhile Harry Ashmore, with the girls, had reached the canoe and boarded it. Taking up the paddle he drove the craft out into the stream, but before they were four lengths of the boat from the shore five savages leaped into the water and swam like beaver in pursuit. Harry saw that he must fight them ofi". He took the tomahawk from Fawn-Eyes’ hand and gave her the paddle. The foremost savage came within arm 5 reach of the canoe, and was in the act of gras ing hold Of it. when the hatchet in Harry’s han descended upon his tufted head with such force as to not only crush his skull but drive him under the water. Another savage came up on the other side and grasping the boat en- deavored to rOck its occupants overboard; but. again the deadly hatchet fell, but missing the red-skin’s head, owing to the motion of the boat, the weapon was driven to the eye in the wretch’s shoulder, severing arteries and tendons. Blood spurted from the wound in jets and dyed the water round and about the boat. A second blow finished him, and then Harry made ready for the third. The other red—skins. however, seeing the fate of their two friends, dropped back out of reach of the deadly tomahawk and set up a yelling to attract the attention of their friends on shore. Immediately afterward bullets began to the rifles of those on land, and cries of “ Halt l" and “ Stop!" rent the air. But heeding neither bullets nor calls, Harry AShmore again took the paddle and plied it with all his strength and skill. sending the craft fairly flying through the water.‘, Seeing the red-skins in the water were still following him, Harry finally handed the paddle to Fawn-Eyes and drew his revolver, deter- mined to stop them. But, divining his inten— tion. the red—skins dived under the water. The firing at the fugitives was still kept up. It was quitc evident that. at first. the foe had no intention of killing thcm, but fired over and around tbcm in hopes of bringing them to a halt. But whcii it was seen that the fugitives would escape. the bullets began to whistle closer, and. suddenly. a cry of pain burst from Harry’s lips and he started half from his seat, but im- mediately sunk back again, with a stifled groan. Singing Bird saw that he was growing pale. She saw blood ooze through his shirt and trickle down his breast. “ Oh, good friend!” the {maiden cried, “you are wounded!” Harry made no reply. His head fell slightly forward and with a gasp he sunk down lifeless in the boat. With a low cry of anguish Singing Bird lifta ed the young man’s head and pillowed it on her lap. She reached over the boat’s side and dip— ping water in her hand, bathed his pale brow and temples. A moment later the boat glided into the friendly shadows of the shore under great, frowning rocks; but as it did so a cry of the bit- terest anguish and sadness broke from Singing Bird’s lips, for she felt that she stood in the presence of death—that the spirit of the brave young stranger had passed into darker shadows beyond the river of life. CHAPTER IX. DOOMED TO DIE. IN his struggle with Panther Tail Kit Bandy was getting the best of it, and had they been alone the cunning red-skin would have been de- feated, but just at the moment of the old detec~ tive’s hard-won victory Jaguar Jim came to the chief’s rescue, and the tide was turned, and Bandy overpowered and taken prisoner. The joy of the chief and outlaw was un— bounded, notwithstanding the frightful slaugh- ter of their followers and the escape of the girls. They were determined at once that he should suffer torture of the most excruciating character their lorains could devise. Jaguar Jim reproached him for the trick he had played him and Redtop George the previous night, and gave him fair warning that he should suffer as many deaths as he and Panther Tail had lost men in the conflict just ended. Old Rattler, Banner Ben and the other hunters had all disappeared from the scene of action, but Whether they were dead or alive Old Kit knew not. He had every reason to think. how- ever. that all but Banner Ben had been slain, for this gallant youth was the only one inquired for by Jaguar Jim and the chief. But altogether the situation was a gloomy one for Old Kit. The Indians made great haste to depart from there. They were afraid that the sound of the battle might bringgdown upon them the war— riors of Stooping ear, and turn their victory into defeat. It was a sore defeat for Panther Tail to lose the fair princess, Fawn-Eyes. With her he would have been willing to retreat into the fast— ness of the mountain and there gloat over his victory over his hated enemy, Stooping Bear. The retreat from the battlefield finally began. Jaguar Jim and Panther Tail took Bandy in charge. The savages carried their dead off with them. Nearly every able~bodied warrior had a dead one to carry] It was quite dark when their bivouac was reached. The dead warriors were hastily buried, and then the whole party mounted their ponies and retreated back into the mountains, taking Old Kit with them a living captive still. In a deep defile, known as Meaning Canyon, they came to a halt. The place was about ten miles from the river, and possessed great natural ad— vantages as a place of defense. It was about twenty rods wide by about forty in length. ob— long in shape, walled in by towering rocks, and entered only at each end by passages so narrow that three horsemen could not ride abreast. Some grass and several pine trees grew in the defile. A little stream of waterrippled musically adown the pass. A fire was at once kindled under one of the frowning walls. Itslight shone out across the canyon and brought a hundred weird and gro- tesque forms and shadows. A council was at once called to sit in judg— ment upou the old detective‘s case. The outlaws took their seats in the circle with the Indians. Nearly every man suggested some mode of pun- ishment, and the fertilebrained Jaguar Jim and the spirited Bracelets as many as a dozen each. Each one vied with the others in suggesting the most cruel and atrocious punishment. For two hours they wrangled over the matter, and then were just as far from an agreementas when they began. Kit was kept under guard out of hearing. and the old man’s mental reflections were anything but pleasant. It is true, he had escaped death a hundred times, even when there seemed no hope. But this could not be so always. Had he been sure of Rattler being alive he might have had grounds for a faint hope even though the foe still numbered two-score and ten. But he could count upon nothing. The situation was. indeed, gloomy. Nearly another hour had passed when the counselors seemed to have come to some decision, for the old man was taken about four rods from the fire, thrown upon his back, his arms and legs extended and tied to iron picket-pins driven into the ground. In this position he was perfectly helpless, and from remarks that he overheard he formed an idea of What his fate was to be, and made up his mind that his time to die had come. To him it seemed that nothing but the interven- tion of Providence could save him, and so his mind, like that of every other person brought suddenly to death’s door, reverted to the past. Rapidly the events of his most eventful life were passing in review before him when suddenly his, as well as his captors’, attention was diverted to a sharp. shrill voice down the canyon evidently engaged in a war of words with the guard on duty there. J “ It sounds liketa woman’sfvoice,” said Jaguar im. And together he and Panther Tail hurried away to inquire into the matter. In a few minutes they returned leading a sor- ry-looking mule upon which was seated an old woman in a faded calico dress, a red shawl that must have seen ages of service, and an ancient— looking sun-bonnet. Every outlaw uttered an exclamation of sur— prise, and the facetious Bracelets stepping up to Jaguar Jim, asked: ‘ What under the heavens have you, Jim, a mountain fairy {” “She’s old enough to speak for herself,” said Jaguar, in evident disgust and disappointment. on seeing in the light the sharp and wrinkled face of a woman of fifty. “ I thank you, Mr. Importance," the woman broke forth, pitching her voice in a high key and speaking most defiantly, “ I’m no fairy. but a livin’ sufferin’ woman—-a wronged and desert— ed wife that seeks the author of this wrinkled brow and this broken heart-—the destroyer of my ha piness and youthful beauty.” “01 gal,”said Bracelets. “this seems to me to be a queer place to seek a balm for your wounded heart and a wrinkled-brow dispenser unless Jaguar Jim there, or one of these red- skins, or myself. for instance, could be your balm—of—Gilead—” “ Villain! monster! heartless wretch !” shriek- ed the old woman, in a voice that the echoes of Moaning Canyon mocked in elfin glee, “ I’m a married female woman. now! Soniewheres in the wide, wide world—yes, please gracious, in these very mountains roams the destroyer of my happiness and peace. But just to—day I heard of the monster in these parts.” “ If you say so, old gal, I’ll have these men all stand up in a line so’s you can look ‘em over, and if you find your balm-of—Gilcad in our ranks you shall have him. But what‘s his name?” “ Bandy—ChristopherfiC‘. Bandy,", answeral the woman. A groan was heard to issue from the lips of the prostrate Kit. “Great whaley! you Kit Bandy’s wife?" ask- ed JaguarJim. “ch, I am: and my_naine is Sabina Bandy, if you must know.” “Well. madam,” said Jaguar. “permit me to inform you that your recreant lord, Kit Bandy. lies right over there flat on his back.” Old Sabina glanced at the prostrate form. then with a mingled cry of sorrow and triumph she sprung from her saddle to the ground. and running to where Kit lay she bent over him, crying out “Oh, Christopher! Christopher! Is it thus that I find you? Is not my warnin’ comin’ too true to you? Didn’t I tell you that the judg— ment of Heaven’d fall upon you when I re- proached you gently and Wifelike for flirtin’ with Marindo Stoodt? I reckon you wish now you’d taken my advice and not caused my heart to break. Oh, you owdacious man! I never ought to forgive you, and yit I’ve a woman’s heart—a soft, gentle, bleedin’ heart.” Here the outlaws burst into a pea] of laughter. Turning upon them like a tigress at bay, Sabina screamed out: i “ Lafi", devils! hyenas! mock the woes of a poor old woman that‘s rid night and day—livin’ on a crust of bread and cup of water—for months to find her gallivantin‘ flirt o’ a bus- band.” “ Sabina, he‘s did ’bout his last flirt,” said Ja- guar Jim, “for we are goin’ to give you a di- vorce, and if you‘ll call around in the mornin’ with a box or bottle you can scrape up and save his ashes if you want them." “ Men—noble red-skins,” exclaimed Sabina, in an humble. pleading voice, “give me up my husband and I will take him far away to earth’s reniotest corner.” “ ll'e‘re sorry, but your request can’t be grante d. " Sabina hit her lip, evidently to keep back an outburst of grief, and turning, she walked away to where her mule stood, took from the saddle an old beaded reticule, returned to the fire, and seating herself produced pipe and to- bacco and began smoking, as she observed, to “ stiddy my narves." Her performances were a whole circus to the red-skins, who gave their attention to her en— tfirgly, thereby delaying the execution Of Old 1 After she‘d smoked a few minutes Sabina knocked the ashes from her pipe, and took from her reticule a bottle from which she drank a couple swallows, then rose and started back to her mule as if for something else, leaving her reticule on the ground by the fire. Scarcer was her back turned ere an officious little half—breed Mexican. named “ Tanza,” seized the old lady’s bag and proceeded to over- haul the efi‘ects therein. The contents of the bottle from which she had drank was rum, and Tanza finished it at a gulp, smacking his lips With a gusto. Then he drew from the reticule a dirty handkerchief or two, an old rusty dagger, some scraps of bread and meat, and, finally, a package wrapped in paper. In an instant the wrapping had been stripped off, leaving a curi- ous-looking box in the half-breed’s hand. He turned it over and over. He held it up and called the attention of every one to it. “ Reckin it's a box 0’ cosmetics,” observed Bracelets, facetiously. " Rip it open, Tanza,” shouted Jaguar Jim. Outlaw and savage curiosity had been aroused by Bracelets’s and Jim’s remarks, and all gath- ered around the smart half-breed, who soon be- gan tearing at the box to get it open. Sabina, who was watching him out of the corner of her eye, all of a sudden dropped down flat upon the earth. Scarcely had she done so when there occurred an awful,terrific explosion over by the fire. So terrible, indeed, was it that the very earth seemed rent into fragments and hurled into chaotic darkness, While down through the Egyptian blackness of space rained the dirt, dust and gravel of a shivered world. (T o be contimled—commenced in N0. 165.) NEW YEAR. BY EMILIE CLARE. Hail thee, New Year. glad I greet thee! Joyfully will tune each string, While the gay in smiles may meet thee, Welcome! I will strive to sing. Youthful hearts beat high in gladness; Pallid cheeks put on their bloom, While the spectral pall of sadness With the Old Year Seeks the tomb. Many a “ Happy New Year's " treasure For earth’s hopeful ores hast thou: Bright-eyed Mirth and smiling Pleasure Lend their aid to grace thy brow. Oh. there’s naught in the to-morrow For the youthful heart to fear; Not a shade of gloom or sorrow Clouds the brow of glad New Year! The Frisco Detective; THE GOLDEN GATE FIND. A Story of Five Millions of Dollars. BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, AUTHOR or “OVERLAND KIT,” “ THE FRESH or FRISCO,” “THE HIGH HORSE,” “ THE STRANGER SHARP,” ETC. CHAPTER XV. A CLEw. DE LORME had commenced to make his way toward the door, preparatory to taking his de— parture, when the announcement of the young man’s appellation fell upon his ears. “ Excuse me, miss, what did you say his name was?” he asked. “ Gwinnet—Harry Gwinnef.” Then believing that accident had given him the clew Which he had so vainly sought he essayed a bold stroke and said: “ Gwinnet! why that name is familiar to me. If I remember right a man named Abraham Gwinnet once kept a saloon here on Bush street not very far from from where we now stand.” “ Yes, sir, he did," responded the girl, speak- ing as though she was well acquainted with all the particulars connected with Abraham Gwinnet.” “ And is this young man the son of Abraham Gwinnet?” De Lorme questioned, hoping in his heart of hearts that it was not so, for if he was supposed to be Gwinnet’s son, who. according to all accounts was a bachelor, it would seem to iii- dicate that it might be possible he was the heir to the five millions. “ Oh, no, not that scoundrel!” De Lornie mut- tered as the thought came to his mind. “ No. no, La Belle Helene decidedly Ought to have the money in preference to that young brute. “ Oh, no. sir, Abraham Gwinnet was his uncle." the girl replied. “ His father was named Thomas, a good old man who was like a father to me. “And when 1 think how good the father was, I am amazed that the son should be so bad.” And now Do Lormc’s thoughts went off on an» other track. “ Who was this girl. reared evidently by the Gwinnet family!” “ I’Vas it possible that, just by accident, he had met the lost child in the person of this girl? “ Come. now, this wouldn’t be so bad,” he murmured to himself as be surveyed the girl, ladylike, decidedly In‘f‘pOSFC‘SSlIlg' and evidently a hard-working little woman. A girl who deserved a good turn of fortunc’s wheel if ever a mortal did. “ Yes. yes. between this girl and La. Belle Helene I should think. decidedly, that this one ought to have the moncy. “It is odd."hc rcnmrkcd aloud, replying to the girl’s speccli. “ But that is one of the strange things in this world. A good i'ntlicr often has a bad child and ricc rcrsa. “This young rascal is evidently a bad egg and I regard it as being very fortunate that I happened to be passing through the entry and heard his thrtats and so was enabled to inter— fere, although, bad as the young scoundrel is, I hardly think he would have dared to carry out his threats.” “ “Tell. sir, I don’t really know,” the girl ob— served. with a dubious shake of the head. “ He was very much incensed against me to-night and as he was slightly under the influence of liquor there is no telling what he would have done if you had not happened to come so timely to my aid. “ I don’t know how I shall ever be able to pay you for the service." “ Don’t worry your head about that. Just wait, you know, until I send in the bill.”