£5 Fireside Ballads. 0 THE OLD JUDGE. BY '1‘. C. HARBAUGH. What is the last gossip now, Margaret Brown? You sa that the judge, the 0le judge is, in town! 1 won er what brought him? You‘re laughing, I see, You think the old judge comes a—courtln‘ of me. They tell me that no is a widower now, And fifty odd winters have furrowed his brow; But he is yet handsome as when, long ago, Bet“ een you and I, he was often my beau. I’ve dgnccd with the judge, and I know he remem- crs The roseate Mays and the snowy Decembers, And the husklngs we had when the country was sere' How often I helped him to find the red car; And the girls, a bit jealous, would look at the men, For the judge, the old judge. was a favorite then, And a favorite yet I am told he is still. And laughs at a joke on the bench with a will. They sent him to College, his father had wealth, They curtailed his freedom and injured his health, And wncn he came back as a lawyer enroll‘d The learning he had made him haughty and cold. No more at the gay c. unty huskings We- met, The joys of his boyhood he seemed to foruet; He and stiff formal airs and BJIDG ways that were vain, And I was “ Miss Harris,” and not “ Hannah J ane." We laughed at the change, very oft to his face, He hung ou' his shingle, but got not a case: The people at large seemed to harbor a grudge ’Gainst tine boy that old Hopkins had raised for a u ge. He is t us one day said we all for the best, To hunt up some clients afar in the West; I remember the morning he left in the rain. For hJe called me once more, as of old, Hannah ane. I dreamt of the judge. Was it strange? for you see I fancied he once had a liking for me; It was bttt a fancy, for soon I was told, He had married a lass who had plenty of gold; And ghen twenty years with their summers had 0WD. I heard he was left with his children alone; And i unlike others had chosen t o mate, For something was constantly whispering, “ Wait l” And now do you tell me the judge has returned? I know that for home like a boy he has yearned; His children have homes of their own now. I hear, And he Wlll retire on two thousand a year! The friend of my outh I will welcome with glee. Do they say the o d judge comes a-courtin’of me? Well, hidden away is a rich satin gown, I may ride with the judge ere the sun goes down. Dodger Buys a Dog. BY THE CITY-ITEMS SCRIBE. “No, Dodger,” said Mrs. D., in a decided, the—last—straw—is-laid-on tone of voice that meant business, “ I will not stay at home here alone and unprotected any longer, while you go a-gallavantin’ off to lodges every night; I will not I” “ But, my dear—” “ You needn’t ‘ my dear ’ me, for you don’t mean a word of it.” “Of course I mean it. But these lodges are noble instiu utions, and must be kept up. Think of the benefit you will reap when I die, and—” “ Yes. but you won’t die. you to, but you know that I’ll die first, and—” H I don’t—3? “Yes you do know it, too. of how and~ ( h! boo—hoo—hooi” “There—there, now, don’t be a baby; you know I don’t leave you alone, for haven’t you the children with you?” “And are they any protection? Of course not; and I tell you I won‘t stay here alone any longer i” “ But there is no danger, dear.” “ No danger! Wasn’t the corner store robbed last week? and wasn’t Brown’s house broken into the other night? Dodger, we’ve got to have a w tch-dog!” “ The very thing!” cried Dodger, clapping his hand upon his knee: “I hadn’t thought of it. And then Dovey That’s just what we’ll have. won’t be afraid, will she?” “ I guess not.” “And Dovey shall have that black silk, and—” “ Bead trimmings!” cried Mrs. D., sitting up instantly and smiling through her tears. “ Yes; and—” “And I’ll have it made with a plain skirt, with deep box-pleats in front, left loose at the bottom; and then I’ll have a narrow knife- “And I’ll leave the back loose from top to bottom—I mean the pleats, and a. basque waist, with lace on the—” “ Yes; and I ’1! buy that dog. I’ll put an ad. in the paper this very day.” And Dodger did. Next day he realized the value of a two-line ad. in the Morning Glory newspaper. While he was at breakfast there came a ring at the bell, and on going to the door he found there a man with a dog—the most wretched, woeful, sad-eyed and hungry-looking brute he had ever seen. “ Good-mornin’,” said the man. dorg.” “ My dog!” gasped Dodger. “ Yes; didn’t ye adwertise fer one i” “ I did, but not for a brute like that. a first-class watch—dog.” “ That’s jest what he is, boss.” “ Yes. he looks like it; he’d watch his chance Take him away i” to rob the pantry, no doubt. And Dodger closed the door. Two minutes later came another ring, and on going to the door Dodger beheld no less than a. dozen men and boys with dogs—dogs of every age, size and color. “ Good heavens!” Dodger gasped; “ I didn’t advertise for all the dOgs in the city; I only want one.” “ Well, which one, boss?” a boy called out, holding up a “ yaller " cur—“ this one?” “ Good Lord! No! class watch—dog !” And then each man and boy present began to declaim in favor of his dog, all shouting at ODCP. “ Hold on i” cried Dodger, “ for heaven’s sake Just walk your dogs past the gate hold on! . there, and if I see one that suits me I’ll say so. If I don’t. that’ll settle it.” The dog—sellers ranged in line, and passed in review before the gate, but they had not a dog among them that was worth the powder to kill it he went back to finish his breakfast. In just two minutes more there was another pull at the bell, and with a muttered impreca- tion on dogs in general, Dodger dodged to the door again. “ Great Elijah!” he exclaimed, “ more dogs? Well,pass along and show what you’ve got, and if it suits I’ll nod.” This time there must have been tWenty-five or thirty, at least; but not one among them struck Dodger’s fancy, and again he closed the door. “ Th’old duffer don’t want no dog. after all. I guess,” some one cried out; and then the crowd began to boot and jeer like demons. And all the time new arrivals poured in until rescntly t'ere were more than a hundred dogs before the house. and such a din was never heard in that quiet neighborhood before. There were dogs of every sort. size and condition. All the neighbors looked out, Wondering what in the name of mystery could be the cause of all the excitement, and presently Dodger appeared again. and Mrs. D. with him. And then followed ten minutes of disorder and confusion that defy description. Not that I want Then you’ll think ou’ve neglected me night after night, “ Here’s yer I want I said I wanted a first- "‘ No use,” said Dodger, and closing the door pointing it out to Dodger, the right one was at ast brought to the front, and Dodger paid ten dollars for it. “ Care for him tenderly; he was reared a pet,” said the ex-owner, as he corraled the money and turned away, and Dodger and Mrs. D. hastened into the house, glad to escape from the crowd. But that did not settle it, for there came ring after ring at the bell, as new-comers appeared with dogs for sale, and it was not until Dodger had put up a notice that no dogs were wanted that be found any peace. The dog’s name was Bingo. He was a large dog, of the bulldog sort, and had an expression of face calculated to strike terror to the heart of a. robber at first glance. Dodger took him out and anchored him in the woodshed, and then went away to business, gelling Mrs. D. to be sure to feed and water 1m. . Dodger had not been gone an hour when a cat chanced to piss the woodshed door, and Bingo made a lungc and broke his chain. Into the house flew the cat, as quick as a flash, and after her rushed the dog, to the terror of Mrs. D. and all the little D9. Through the sitting-room, into the hall, up the stairs, Went the cat, and after her went 1Bingo, evidently determined to makea meal of er. . Mrs. D. screamed, the baby squalled, and the other children yelled, and the dog having forced the cat to retreat under a bed, where he could not get at her, barked loud enough to rattle the windows. A policeman happened to be passing the house just at that moment, and hearing Mrs. D. screaming for help, he rushed up and rung the bell. The dog having got up—stairs, Mrs. D. had the courage to go to the door. “ What’s de matther?” the quired. “ Oh !” exclaimed Mrs. D., “ our new dog has broke loose and chased the cat upstairs, and I’m so frightened! Won‘t you come in and tie him up for me?” “ To be sure I will ma’am,” the knight of the locust answered, and in he stepped. The dog was making a terrible fuss, and the cat was biasing and yowling, and guided by the noise, the officer went up. The instant he opened the door and stepped into the room, the dog turned and made a rush at him, and seeing another door near at hand, the policeman flung it open and put himself on the other side of it in an instant, to find himself in a closet. ‘ Had he known that Bingo hated policemen as much as he did cats, it is not likely that he would have acceded so readily to Mrs. D.’s re- quest. He was now in a sorry plight. “ Ma’am!”he called,‘ can’t ye call the dog off till I git out?” “ What?”asked Mrs. D. from the hall below. “ I say the dog has got me inthe closet! Can’t ye call him off til! I git out?” “ Good heavens!” gasped Mrs. D., “ and that gloaset closes with a spring lock! What am I to o. ‘ ‘ Wait a minute,” she called out, “ and I’ll go for help.” At that moment came a. ring at the bell. It proved to be an insurance agent. “ To him Mrs. D. quickly explained affairs, and asked him to help her out of her dilemma. “ Can you get a bone?” the agent asked, “ or something to entice him away with?” “ Yes, there’s a bone in the pantry,” Mrs. D. answered. and she quickly brought it. “ What’s the matter it” the policeman kept shouting. “ I can’t open the d00r! Can’t ye git help? Dast‘yer dog! If I . could git the door open an inch I’d shoot him!” “ Is there another room I can draw the dog intg?” inquired the agent, “and then shut him in? “ Yes,” Mrs. D. answered: “ come on, and I’ll show you.” And she led the way. Opening another door from the hall, she con- ducted the agent into a room that communicat- ed with the one the dog was in, and was about to retreat when out into the hall the dog sprung and showed his teeth. Instead of one prisoner, the brute now had three. “ What’s the matter wid ye ?”'the policeman demanded. “ Can’t ye open this door? Let me out 0’ here, an’ I’ll shoot the haste deader’n a herring!” “ Poor doggy! Good doggy! Doggy want a bone?” coaxed the agent; but “ doggy ” would not yield a single point. “ What can we do?” moaned Mrs. D. “ There is my baby crying, and the other children will be getting into mischief l” “ Call fer help!” cried the policeman. And they did. But the rooms they were in were in the middle of the house, and it was not likely they could be heard above the noise of the street. The policeman could not, that was certain. Opening the door leading into the other room the insurance-agent threw the bone in with force. striking the door of the closet and mak~ ing considerable noise, and in sprung the dog. Then the agent tried to dodge out into the hall and close the door, but before he could do so the dog turned and met him, and he had to re- treat. The dog was evidently in earnest, and anyhow he looked so ferocious that no one would have cared to brave him. Certainly poor Mrs. D. had not the courage to do so. “ Thunder an’ guns!” yelled the officer, “ will ez open this door? If ye don’t, be gob, I’ll 'ck the house down!” “ Help! help!” shouted the agent. “ Fire! fire !”screamed Mrs. D. “ Bow-wow-wow i” barked Bingo. And below the children were all screamiyg ready to split their lungs. . The neighbors were beginning to realize that something was wrong. and were about rushing in when Dodger appeared upon the scene. “ \Vhat’s wrong?" he inquired at once. He had returned to get some papers he had forgotten to take with him. . “ The Lord only knovvs,” responded a neigh- bor. “ We were just going in to see.” . Dodger had not stopped, but rushed on and into the house, followed by a gaping crowd. In the hall he met his oldest child, a boy of seven, who instantly exclaimed : ' “ Oh, papa! mamma and the policeman went upsta irs, and the dog is eating them up 3” Dodger turned green and blue and red and every other color. almost, and up the stairs he sprung. three steps at a time. ’ . “ Will —yez—open—thts——door?” _the police- man was yelling, striking a blow With his club after each word. . “ Stop your racket, you fool!” cried the agent. “Help! help! help!" “ Murder! murder!" screamed Mrs D. Up rushed Dodger, but he did not rush “clear” up, for the dog confronted him With bared teeth and he stopped. . . The dog was master of the Situation, by long 3 policeman in- d . “What in Sheol is going on here?” Dodger thundered. “Open ! this! door!” roared the officer. “ Secure that dog 1” directed the agent. “ Oh, Dodger! save me! save me!” Mrs. D. yelled. _ “Get me a gun, somebody!” cried Dodger, “and I’ll blow the blankety-blank dog to atoms! I won’t leave a. grease-spot of him! I’ll riddle him so he won’t know what ails him! Get me a gun. somebody. quick!” “ Holy Moses!” yelled the policeman, “ don’t shoot this way! I’m in the closet to the left, on the other side of the d0or an’ forninst the corner! Don’t shoot this way l” “ No, nor this way i” cried the agent. “ You might hit your wife." . Dodger‘s next-door neighbor happened to own a gun. and his boy ran out and brought it. “ Now, dast yer homely phiz!” Dodger cried, ‘ was reared a pet ;’ I’ll let dayli sudden ye’ll never know what “ Bang!” .. “Yow-yowi yow-yow! yow—” The deed was done, the dog was dead. Then Dodger demanded and received explanations all around. “ This is what comes of listening to an addle- pated woman!” he cried. “ Let anybody ever say watch-dog to me again, and I’ll be hanged for murder.” into you so ye__n SITTING WITH THE GIRLS. BY H. H. JOHNSON. My mind roams back through misty years— A score or more I we: n~ And Memory ytvidly unfolds Many a childhood scene: But ’mongst them all, no brighter ones Her mystic hand unfurls Than those when I, in schoolboy days, Was seated with the girls! How plainly Memory‘s fingers paint The school-room grim and dark — The paper wads which schoolboy hands Sent straight unto the mark. I See the master’s scowling face, Mark how his fertile whirls When, for some mischief have done. He seats me with the girls! I’ll own I was a naughty lad, The worst boy in the school; Tiring the master‘s patience out, Transgi essing every rule; He’d whip me till my tear drops fell . Like strings of sparkling earls, And then, to punis me stil more, He’d seat me With the girls! That used to be a punishment I dreaded most of all It hurt me worse than blows and made My tear-drops faster fall; Bu , as I grew in age and size, Like other youthful churls, I lost the dreal I used to have 0f sitting with the girls! E‘en now, when silvered hairs proclaim I'm past the days of youth, I My conscience prompts me urgently To speak nan: ht but the truth: And mix is truth: 'mongst- all the joys Which this poor lire unfurls. There’s none exceeds a oosey seat Between two pretty girls. Daunfless'flan, The Free-Lance of the Plains; OR, THE VAGABOND PABD’S DELIVERANCE. BY OLL COOMES, AUTHOR OF “WHIP KING JOE,” “STONEWALL BOB,” “ LARAMIE Jon,” ETC., ETC. CHAPTER IV. ARCADIA RANCH. IN the center of a lovely little valley, nearly surrounded by lofty and picturesque mountains, was located the horse-ranch of Dr. John Vance. Around the base of the hills was a fringe of tim— ber. A little stream roaring down from the mountains swept gayly through the valley and out into the open plain, finally mingled its wa- ters with those of the Lit 1e Colorado River. No more romantic Spot could have been found in all the land. The doctor’s daughter, India, had named it Arcadia Ranch; and not alone was the place noted for its natural beauty and scenery, but for the hospitality of its owner, lfiis dfair daughter and his niece, Charlotte ee . Dr. Vance was a man of fifty ears—a great, kind-hearted and generous sou who had been well-bred, and educated for the profession : but, bowed down with grief at the loss of his wife, he had sought the seclusion of the mountains and plains. At first he had no thought of exposing his daughter to the hardships and privations of this border life. but he soon found it impossible to live apart from her, and, at India’s urgent request, she wa ta’é en to his mountain home, accompanied by her cousin, Miss Reed, who, by the recent death of her father, had been left an orphan. At the time of which I write India Vance was a girl of seventeen. She was a dark-eyed, intelligent and vivacious little maiden—a per- fect model of health and beauty. She was a superb equestrienne, a capital shot with rifle and pistol, and, withal, a model housekeeper and a. most genial hostess. Her cousm. Lotta, as she was called, was one year her senior. She was a slender, graceful girl—less demonstrative than India, but a love- ly, gentle being with all the attributes of a pure womanhood. Many persons had protested against the doc- tor’s permitting the girls to live in the midst of the many dangers that surrounded Arcadia Ranch—dangers that the two maidens’ beauty and innocence would enhance. But. in travel- ing over the great Southwest, the doctor had found fair and lovely women at many of the most exposed ranches, and with extra precau- tions, he could see no reason why he could not protect his daughter and niece from dangers no greater than others. Naturally enough, the maidens had many ad- mirers among the ranchmen, not only of Ar- cadia, but of the many other horse and cattle— ranches in that region: and not a few were the rancheroes who came. and often, to stop over night at Arcadia. But the most regular of all comers was Colonel Jack Hermer, the “ weal- thy vagabond.” whom we have already met at Round Vale Ranch. It was noticed that he paid considerable attention to India. and it was also observed that the doctor looked upon his visits with much favor. But if India cared more for him than for any of her father’s guests she concealed the fact with woman’s cleverness. One bright September day Dr. Vance, his daughter and niece were seated upon the broad porch from which a fair view of the valley and its outlet could be commanded, engaged in conversation. Besides two ranchmen at work out about the stables. and Old Ham. the negro cook, not anothtr person was about. Most of the Arcadia’s men had been given eave—of—ab- sauce to attend the wild-horse contest at Round Vale, about thirty miles down the Colorado valley. The doctor fully realized the peril of the situation should an attack be made upon the ranch by Indians or outlaws. from whom there was, at all times, possible danger. He had al- ready suffered by the depredationsof the notori- ous Black Horse Bill in the loss of several fine horses: and while there were no Indians in the immediate vicinity, there was no telling what day or hour the ubiquitous old Geronimo or some of the “ bad Indians” from the Re erva- tion might sweep d0wn upon them. Even while the thr, e sat on the porch, talking about the absence of so many of the men. a horseman was seen to enter the valley from the plain and ride furiously toward them. “Who can that be?” the doctor exclaimed, knitting his br0ws, and gazing steadily at the approaching horseman. “I am sure it is not one of my men.” “ He rides a black horse, father,” announced India. whose keen sight enabled her to distin- guish the color of the animal. “ And so they say does Black Horse Bill.” “ Av, but he is alone.” “ The way the outlaw mostly rides,daughter; but whoever he may be, there is something wrong, else he would not ride so like a mad- man.” “ Unclc,”said Lotta, who had broughta field- glass from the house and scanned the horse than, “ he rides without either bridle or saddle. His head is bare, and his hair flying like banners— “ We will soon know who he is, for he is ap- proachin g fast.” Rapidxy'the unknown swept up the smooth valley. he clatter of h s horse’s hoof-strokes finally fell upon the ears of the eager watchers, and then he was near enough for all to see with the eye, unaided, that he rode without caparison ——-that his head was bare—his horse streaked with foam, and the hot breath coming like steam from the animal’s nostrils. Involuntarily the two girls shrunk nearer the doctor, in vague tear and suspense. Nearer and nearer came the unknown. As he approached the ranch he made no effort to— ward checking the speed of his horse, but startled the ductor and the ladies by suddenly throwing himself from the animal’s back to the ground, landing squarely upon his feet within twenty feet of the porch, while the horse ran on with a new burst of speed at being relieved of its rider, into the timber at the head of the valley. Hatless, and with his clothes covered with dust of the plains, his hair disheveled and his face streaked with perspiration, and splotched with drops of coagulated blood, the young stranger advanced, and bowing to the doctor and maidens, quickly said, addressing Vance: “ Sir, you are in danger!” At sound of his vowe India uttered a. little cry,and springing from the porch she ran to— ward the youtb, exclaimin : “ Oh, Dani Is it you indeed? that has hap- pened i” “India!” exclaimed the doctor, in a stern voice, following her up and grasping her arm, “ what do you mean? Who is this stranger you greet thus?” “ Father—” India began, but the youth inter— rupted her, saying: “Doctor Vance, my name is Daniel Darcy. Let that suffice for the present. You are in danger!” “ What do you mean, boy?” ;; I”need not tell you, sir ; you can see for your- se . As he spoke Dauntless Dan, for he the horse- man was, pointed down the valley whence he had come. where no less than ascore of mounted savages—real Apaches~ could now be seen rid- ing swiftly toward the ranch. “ My God i” cried the doctor, “ are they really savages?” A yell from the Apaches answered him, and at the same time sent a chill of horror through his very soul. Hearing the red-skins yell, the ranchmen at work at the stables hurried in. “We must barricade the house and defend ourselves,”said the doctor. coolly, like a man of nerve. “ But. sir, they wlll burn you out,” Dauntless Dan declared. “ If they fire the buildings we can cheat the flames. Will you join us, young man?” “ Most assuredly, sir, I will,” replied the boy, proudly. All hastened inside the house. The doors and windows were closed and barred. In building the house it had been provided with port-holes for just such an emergency,and now four of these were quickly opened for the first time. The doctor was well supplied with firearms of the most improved pattern. Dauntless Dan was furnished one of the best rifles, with a belt filled with cartridges; also with a pair of re- yolvers. Taking a position where he could watch the approaching foe, Dan waited, with cocked rifle, the opportunity for a shot. It soon came, and for the first time Arcadia Valley resounded with the report of a rifle fired with deadly intent at a human being. And as the gun rung out, Dr. Vance, who was watch- ing through a port-hole, exclaimed: “Ay, lad! you know how to handle a gun. You unhorsed a red-skin in fine style. You have fought Indians before, I dare say.” “ Yes, sir,” the boy answered, preparing for a second shot; but, warned of their danger by the death of their warrior, the Apaches swung off and took refuge behind the Stockade. ' “ The red imps are not going to risk their red carcasses any further,” decided Dan. “ That makes the situation worse than if they’d boldly attacked us here,”said Lasso Jim, an athletic young ranchman of about five~and- twenty. “ Yes, if they resort to fire,” replied the doc- tor, “ but in that case we have the tunnel.” “ Then youhave a secret passage from your house?” Dan asked. - “ A tunnel runs from the cellar hack five hundred feet to the base of the bluff.” “But, doctor, what if we should be discov- ered after we emerge from the passage?” asked Jake Nelson, the other ranchman, a man of fort years. “ that case it would be war to the knife, but then if we are permitted to remain here until we can have the cover of night under which to escape from the valley, I will have no fears of immediate discovery. But it looks now as though that Wild—horse contest at Round Vale would prove a serious affair for H “ Why so, Mr. Vance?” asked Dauntless Dan. “ Because it has taken most of my men awa .” “ But it brought you warning of danger, at least, in time to save you a surprise, and, also, what little help I may be able to give you," re— marked Dan. “I do not understand you,” the doctor re- plied. “I was at the Round Vale horse contest.” Dan explained, “and won the prize—the mad horse—and rode it away. From the moment it dashed out of the stockade I was never off its back until I alighted in front of your house. Straight from Round Vale I came here, or rather the horse, given his own course without bridle or saddle, came in this direction. Ten miles from here I detected the Apaches, also coming in this direction. I thought of you at once. I knew, or feared, at least, that they were coming to raid your ranch, and deter- mined to ride here and warn you of your dan- ger. But it was with difficulty I kept out of reach of the savages and guided my bridleless and untrained horse. It took such a wide cir- cuit that I was afraid the Indians would cut. me off from Arcadia Valley.” “ Then you knew exactly where my ranch was located ?” “ Yes, sir.” “ And how does it come, India,” demanded the father, turning to his daughter, “that you know this young man, and no one else here does?” A deep silence fell upon the little party. A crimson, tell-tale flush suffused the fair India’s face; she raised her dark eyes and was about to speak when Old Ham, the negro cook, came storming in from the kitchen where he had been left on guard, roaring out: _ “ Oh, Massa Vance! dem bloody, red niggahs have fired de stables and stacks, and de smoke and fire am jus’ climbin’ into de sky like de- struction! ’ “ True," said the doctor, glancing out through a port—hole, “ the stablesand sheds are in flames and now we must prepare to do or die 1" CHAPTER V. PALACE OF PLUTO. IT was generally known throughout Western New Mexico and Eastern Arizona that there was a band of outlaws known as “Pluto’s Gang ” located somewhere in the mountain fast- nesses, but for over two years. every effort to find the rendezvous of these freebooters had pr0ved a failure. Some believed that Captain Pluto and Black Horse Bill acted in concert— that the latter was Pluto’s scout and general skirmisher. with his headquarters in the saddle, and that saddle on a horse Whose speed had de- fied that of every animal ever ridden in pursuit of him. But in a deep, dark mountain gorge, its threshold swept by the rushing waters of the Little Colorado River, was the hiding—place 0f named by the robbers themselves. It was a great cavern in the hills which could be entered only from the river, and even to reach it, then, the stream must be entered half a mile above or below the cave, and the entire distance then traversed through swift-running waters beneath which there were thousands of dangerous pit- falls that only an experienced guide could avert. Into the Palace of Pluto I must, for a time, conduct the reader. It is day without, yet lamps are burning in the cavern to dispel the gloom that is there eternal. All of the band are not at home, yet seven men are sitting and re- clining within the radius of light, playing cards and cracking jokes. Captain Pluto is not pres— ent—in fact, it has been many months since he left the cave, but daily, almost, he communi- cates by messenger with his trusted men. The youngest of those present could not have been over thirty years of age, yet, judging by his talk and his features, he was the most hard- ened villain of the party, although there was an elderly man—a tall, angular and grotesque- lookmg fellow wearing green goggles that claim- ed the unholy honor of haying seen more years in the disreputable service than any one pres- ent. The young man was known among the “gen ” as Vampire Lutc, and the old man as Tom loater. The latter name had been suggested by the circumstance under which the old sinner had become a member of Pluto’s Gang. One stormy night the sentinel at the mouth of the cavern heard a cry of distress come from up the river. He gave the alarm, when two men were at once dispatched up the gorge to make an investiga- tion. In a few minutes they returned, bringing With them the limp and half—lifeless body of an old man whom they had found lashed to a log, floating d0wn the river. After liberal draughts of liquor, the stran— ger regained his senses, and after he had been as ured that he was safe Within the Palace of Pluto, whether friend or foe, he unlimbered his tongue and never did his auditors hear such a stream of twaddle fall from human lips. Out of it all they learned that he had been, most of his life a road-agent and horse-thief, that he had been pursued and caught by two men whom he supposed were Vigilantes, tied to a log and tossed into the river to be dashed to death in the gorge. The old fellow was at once dublzed Tom Floater, and by his request, and after ample proof of his having.been a member of the fra— tei nity in the days past, he was accepted into Pluto’s band, and soon proved himself a skillful and fertile brained old rcprobate, in a raid made on a Mexican ranch in the southern part of the Territory. As before stated, the outlaws were playing cards and telling stories, when I introduce the reader into Pluto’s Palace; but, in the midst of their sport they were interrupted by the guard, who announced the approach of a man lrom d0wn the river—one of their own number who had been absent. In a moment every outlaw was on his feet. The man proved to be a messenger from Cap— tain Pluto with a message to Vampire Lute, who was “boss” at the cave when the chief was away; “ ell, what word does the captain send, sefior?” questioned Vampire: “ where did you leave him?” “ Left him at Round Vale Ranch,” answered the messenger, “ waitin’ to see how that wild- hoss afi'air comes out.” ' “ Confound that wild horse! I wish they’d kill it,” declared one “ Clinker ” Pete; “ for if they break the brute, and then run Black Horse Bill down with it, “ it’ll be all the wuss for we fel- lows.” “ Why so, Clinker?” asked Vampire. “ ’Cause, while we’ve been doin’ the stealing of hosses an! robbing of stages, hasn’t Bill got all the blame? Hasn’t every raid we’ve made the last year or two been laid on him and his little gang 0’ rangers? I’d iye a section 0’ Old Mexico to know who that lack Horse Bill is, and jist what the varmint’s up to! But, go on, Sonora, and tell us what the captain wants.” “He wants Vampire and two men to meet him to—morrow, or next day, at Red Needle Rock, prepared to do some fancy work. I think he’s got his eye on Arcadia Ranch, .nd means to handle some calico, though I’m not sure 0’ that; it’s only my surmise. At an rate, he wants you to be within call of Red i eedle by to-mori'ow noon. And, another thing: he says for every mother’s imp of you to look sharp, for he ’s got wind of the wu’st old sleuth- hound on this mud-ball bein’ in these mountains, and maybe in search of the rendezvous of ‘ Pluto‘s Gang.’ ” “Who do you mean? Gineral Crook, or Old Geronimo?” “Wuss than them; it’s 01d Kit Bandy, the Mountain Detective." “ Great, roarin’ avalanches!” cried Old Tom Floater, ‘,‘ is it possible that ole leper has drift— ed in this direction?” “That’s the report, and they say he never quit a casein his life until he’d run her down to death,” replied Sonora. “ Mortify his picters!" snarled Floater; “ I know he’s wuss than a guilty conscience to hang on to a case, and wuss nor the black vomit when he gits his claws onto a feller. Oh! I know Kit Bandy, gents! I’m obleeged to him, I am, for three-years’ retirement in the State institution at Denver for takin’ advantage 0‘ the pokyness o’ the Government Mint to do a little coinin’ 0" silver myself, and he’p swell the resources 0’ the country. But, a man’s effort to serve his country is never ’preciat (1 ’less he be a Congresser or New York aldevman. Dod durn Kit Bandy, boys; he must be abolished. The very name makes me feel choky-sufl‘ocat- ish.” “ Then if you know Bandy, Floater,’ said Vampire, “ I’ll take you along with me to Red Needle—you and Clinker.” “ It’s a go, Vam!”cxclaimed the old outlaw; “ nothjn’ ‘1! please me better’n to git out whar I can kick over a mountain, or smash a dozen or two Vigilantes, or pound the puddin’ outen an acre 0’ grizzlies. Desperation’s been ’cumulatin’ in me the last month bigger’n a tropical hurri- cane, and when I git out whar thar’s room, and I onchain myself, boys, you’ll feel the old hills quake, and see the gravel dance down the slopes, and hear the mountain peaks clank to- gether." Early the next morning the three men left the cave and started for Red Needle Rock. They went on horseback, the band being well supplied with horses which they kept in the cave during the day and took out tofeed at night. They also went disguised. Besides his green goggles, Old Floater wore a wig and false whiskers, which gave him the appearance of a gorilla. It was many miles to Red Needle, yet the out— laws rode slowly along, keeping a sharp watch around them. They were a bout five miles from their destination when, on turning a sharp angle in the pass, they suddenly came face to face with an old man dressed in the garb of a. mountain hunter, and mounted upon a jaded- lookin g horse. “ Kit Bandy!" burst from Vampire’s lips the very instant his eyr s fell upon him. and scarcely had he uttered the name before Old Floater bad the horseman covered with two revolvers and shouted out: “Throw up your paddies, Kit Bandy, or by yonder eternal hills I’ll riddle your anatomy! Throw up or die. you old rotten—headed moun- tain rat!” I CHAPTER VI. THE VALOROI‘S OLD FLOATER L'NMASKED. THE old mountaineer was completely taken by surprise. and. readily seeing his predica— ment, drew min and threw up his hands, say- in gEasy there, strangers, for you've got the drop on the wrong pilgrim : I’m not Kit Bandy by along shot.” “ That’s too yapcry, old man,” I‘PtOI’It-d Vam— pire; “we know you, and you needn’t go back on your illustrious old name. We’ve bl en look- ,/\ as he gras ed the weapon, “ your‘time is come. I’ll ‘ care pfor you tenderly,’ being that you Finally Mrs. D. espied a dog that she thought suited her. and after some little difficulty in he isastranger—verily. amadman, indeed.” the outlaws—the Palace of Pluto, as it was in’for you." v “'-l , .- 54"; L13 . l u-‘ — -" |. I Y -)-‘v.-' U :‘l ‘L _ ‘3‘! " ’ Q4 My” ____ AAA .4, _“