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“ Is that so?” .

“ You bet all yer ducats onto it! I’ve got a
message for you that will be worth a heap of
money to you. Jest put yer car down so 1 km
whi or it to on.” _

TEE unsuspzacting Irishman complied, and as
he bent his head the stranger improved the op—
portunity to deal him a blow With the butt-end
of a revolvur which laid him out as fiat as a pan—
cake, knocked at once into insensibility.

CHAPTER XIII.
THE CAPTURE.

'l‘iii: movement was so adroitly performed
and so entirely unexpected by the watchman
that it succeeded to perfection. I

“ So far. so good!” exclaimed the assailant,
surve 'ing the prostrate figure of his Victim With

lea of satisfaction. .

a (All appearance of drunkenness had vanished,
so it was plain it had only been simulated to
deceive the Irishman so as to throw him off his
guard. ,

Then from the capacious pockets of the pea—
jacket which the stranger wore he produced a
lariat and a cloth bandage with a pear-shaped
lump in its middle. _

“'ith the lariat he bound the nnconscmus
Flynn hand and foot, trussiug him up so neatly
tliai he had no more use of his hands and feet
than if he did not possess those members.

Then the new-comer bound the bandage
around the watchman’s head, placmg the pear—
shaped luinp in his mouth, thus gagging him so
that it was not possible for the man to utter a
word.

The object of this was to prevent the Irishman
from giving an alarm when he recovered his
senses. _

“ Now then, i reckon you are all right!” the
assailant exclaimed. when the job was com-
pleted. _

The reader. of course, has long ere this
guessed that the supposed drunken stranger was
the ex marshal Of No Man’s Camp, Black Mac,
dis uised. .

'hen he had completed his task of rendering
the watchman of no more use to himself or any-
body else than a dead man, Black Mac proceed-
ed to search for the key~of the gate which gave
admission to the mining property.

It was in the Irishman’s pocket, as he expect-
ed, and When Black Mac’s fingers closed upon
it, a smile of exultation appeared on his dark
face.

“ This gives me the mine!” he exclaimed.

Then, rising to his feet, he strode down the
road in the direction of the mining-town.

After going a couple of hundred yards he
sto ped and gave utterance to a shrill whistle.

he effect produced by the whistle was as
though the utterer of it had been an enchanter
weaving a magic spell. _

The surrounding country was quiet and deso-
late, giving no sign of life, but the moment the
Sound» of the whistle died away on the air, it
fairly seemed to teem with men.

From behind each rock and bush and tree, a
muscular man started up, and each and every
one fairly bristle l with weapons.

’Frisco Nell’s suspicions were correct; her
woman’s instinct had discerned that there was
something wrong, and this mysterious power
had not deceived her.

The rough characters, the toughs of the town
and the strangers who had excited her curiOSity
by wandering around the town, spending their
money so freely, were members of the “ army ”
which Black Mac had raised to seize the Heather
Bell property.

There were just thirty—one of the men, all
told.

The ex-marshal, it will be seen, did not hold
his enemy. bold Dick Talbot, too lightly: he
knew that the sharp would make a desperate
fight, and so he raised a strong force.

In a fight of this kind ten or a dozen men are
all that is usually gathered on either side, so it
will be perceived that Black Mac counted Dick
Talbot to be worth alone fifteen or twenty
men.

He knew what the sport had done, and he did
not intend to peril his chance of success by hold-
ing his foe too cheaply.

The fighting—men gathered in the road, around
their chief.

A reader of the tale which related Dick Tal-
bot’s first experiences in the town of No Man’s
Camp would recognize some old acquaintances,
men who had braved the power of the daring
sport, and greatly to their discomfiture.

There was the burly Tiger of Tucson. swa -
gering, blustering Johnny Sands, and at the e -
bows of the bully were Leadville Mat and Bow-
legged Billy, while in the rear was Doc Reddy
——Redmond O‘Donohue—well steeped in liquor
as usual. '

The doctor was the thirty-first man, a non-
combatant, though, who had come along to look
after the wounded. ,

For secretly as the force had been raised. each
man being pledged to keep quiet about his en-
gagement, the doctor had got wind of the mat—
ter and had followed in the rear.

“Then the signal was given and the members
of the "‘ army” came from their hidingplaces
and flocked around their chief, Doc Reddy came
also.

He gazed at the stranger with curiosity, won—
dering who he was and what he was up to.

The doctor was immediately spotted though,
and to his intense surprise the stranger called
him by name.

“ Well, Doc Reddy, what are you doing here?
I reckon you don‘t belong to this outfit?”

The Irishman was a keen fellow whether in or
out of liquor, and now that the fighting—men
had massed to ether in the immediate neighbor-
hood of the Heather Bell property, he quickly
came to the conclusion that the movement was
directed against that mine.

“ Oh, I was only out for a walk, do ye mind,
jist like all the rest of these gintlemen, but if it
is a private party 1 will retire, though if there is
going to be any fuss to the fore, it is a b‘ye like
meself that would like to take it in, if ye hav’n’t
any objection."

Black Mac reflected upon the matter for a
moment.

After all What difference did it make whether
the Doc saw the attack on the mine or not?

And if any one should happen to get hurt in
the affair then his professional'skill would come
in play.

“ All right, Doc, you might as well stay now
you are here, but if there should be any trouble
you will be expected to know nothing about it
if the matter comes up hereafter.”

“ Upon me wourd, I will be deaf, dumb and
blind!” the doctor protested.

“ Don’t ye be afeard about that, I am a medi~
cal man and know me business. A docthor like
a lawyer iiiver tells tales out of school."

“ See that you keep to that,” Black Mac
warned.

And then he proceeded to arrange his force
for the attack.

The army was divided into three sections, ten
men in each division. Johnny Sands, the Tiger
of Tucson, was at the head of one bod , Lead-
ville Mat commanded the second, and ow-leg-
ged Billy the third.

Calling the leaders to one side Black Mac im-
parted to them the plan of the campaign.

" You thoroughly understand it now?” the ex-
niarshal queried in conclusion.

“ Oh, yes,” the three answered in a chorus.

“ Get your men ready then.”

The three rejoined their commands.

“ Now mind. boys. not a word as we advance!”
Black Mac continued.

“ “'e must come the Indian dodge and make
a complete surprise of it, and the least noise as
we move on might upset the whole thing.

“ See that your weapons are all in working
order now. before we start.”

The command was immediately obeyed, and
the click of the revolvers rung out shrilly on the
still night air as the desperadoes tested their
weapons by revolving the cylinders.

“ Ready now—forward, march l” commanded
Black Mac when the operation was finished.

On went the attacking force, and as the
“ host ” swept past the clump of pines by which

 

the gagged and bound watchman lay, Flynn’s
eyes grew big as he noted the array. _

The Irishman had recovered his senses by this
time, and althou h he could neither move nor
speak, yet he he the use of his eyes, and much
he marveled at the unexpected sight.

He had lived too long in the West, though,not
to understand what it meant, and now he knew
why he had been attacked.

’ hc Heather Bell claim was going to he
“jumped.” .

The watchman cursed his unlucky stars which
had permitted him to be so easily OVercome, for
if he had not been surprised and had been able
to give an alarm, the men within the. works
would have had some chance of protecting the
property.

But as this blow had descended so suddenly,
and with as little warning as thunder out of a
clear sky, there was no chance to put the defend-
ers of the property upon their uard.

Thanks to the key which Blac Mac had taken
from the Irish man‘s pocket an easyentrance was
gained to the mine.

The ex-marshal was familiar with the ground,
and so, after getting his force within the gate
knew exactly what to do.

The four men who lived on the property occu-
pied the shanty nearest to the gate.

The other houso, larger and more elaborate,
and some hundred feet from the gate was occu-
pied by Talbot and his wife. .

Johnny Sands and his band had the job of
capturing the workmen, which operation was
performed Without any trouble, for, as the door
of the house was not locked, the intruders gain-
ed admission without rousing the inmates, and
the first intimation that the miners had that
anything was amiss was when they were rudely
wakened from their slunibers to find themselves
surrounded byarmed men who bade them get up
and get out as soon as possible.

When the astonished miners asked the reason
for this treatment the were informed that the
mine had been jumpe by a party who thought
he had a better claim to it than the man who
was now running it.

In utter amazement they asked who it was,
but to this question the only answer vouchsafed
was that if they held their breath, in time they
might find out.

To the second squad—Leadville Mat’s detach—
ment — was assigned the task of putting the
works in condition to stand a siege. The third,
Bow-legged Billy’s party, accompanied Black
Mac to the main house, and there the ex-mar-
shal thumping loudly on the door cried:

“ Open in the name of the law!”

( To be continued—omnmenced in No. 267.)

 

THE OLD AND THE NEW.

iiv FRANK M. IMBRIE.

 

 

Almost twelve. Time, the sentinel.
“ Who goes there through darkness drear
With stealthy fleeting footste 7 Halt!
Countersizn ‘2” “ Passinz." “ ame?" “Old Year.’
“What burden. friend?“ “ Events!
' Packages of memory; bales of thought:
Gleams of Beulah: Marah-draughts;
Life‘s sun ;Death‘s shade;joy With grief fraught.

“ Pictures of want: paintings of wear:
Signs. heart-born for direst woes;
Smiles, heartfelt for wealth of bliss;
Regret of friends; revenge of foes;
Crime conquered; keenest, dee remorse
For deathless acts. scorned. t ien performed;
Grand temptations overcome,
The heart by Love’s vast legions stormed.

*‘ Wailin s of life. faint, new-born:
Shrie ing of souls. never to cease:
Prayers for pardon: mercy dealt;
Boughs of cypress, palms of peace."
“ Art leaving naught, o d sire. for us?”
" Hist! look ye down this sunlit slo e:
Dost see that brightly glimmering lig t?
I leave this dower: the Star of Hope 

Twelve o'clock. The Old Year‘s gone!

Like some sweet wandering waif from Heaven,
The oung New Year is ushered in;

Li 8 born of death; links formed then riven.
Welcome! Thou bringest pages blank!

Lot names and deeds be perfect there;
Accept the Old Year’s legacy

With thankful, earnest. constant prayer.

 

___._._,4

tax,

THE INFANT GIANT;

on,
KIT DANDY OUTWITTED.

BY OLL GOODIES,

AUTHOR or “DAUNTLESS nxx.” “HIGHLAND
HARRY,” “ VAGABOND JOE,” mo, ETC.

 

 

CHAPTER XIV.
A STARTLING SHRIEK.

AT a point in Bickwaurth Canypn there is a
low, wide cavity in the mountain-side over
which projects from the almost perpendicular
bights a mighty archway or awning of rock.
The opening was two rods wide, but extended
only about twenty feet into the hill. There
were, however, a dozen little chambers, or al-
coves, from one to fifteen feet deep opening into
the main entrance, and from this fact the place
had become known among the hunters and
others as Alcove Grotto.

It was a splendid place of defense. being pro-
tected from above by the drooping awning of
rock and flanked on each side by high, rocky
ridges. The mouth of the grotto opened on a
level with the canyon. A little stream of water,
creeping from the crevices of the rocks, found
its way across the area in front of the otto
and dropped with a musical, tiny voice into a
deep, yet iiarr0w channel running parallel with
the canyon. This channel, above where the lit-
tle sprin from Alcove Grotto emptied into it,
was dry. It had been the course of a. rapid
mountain-stream which months before had cut
a new channel and was then running near the
center of the Canyon. Beyond this dry ditch
from the grotto was a body of pine timber,
and through this only could the cavern be
reached.

In this place Kit Bandy and his party took up
their quarters after a long and tedious journey
from the scene of their late exploits. It was
past noon when they reached there,tired and
hungry; and as food was scarce the first thing
to be done was to secure some game, and Ajax
and Bob B0scobel at once went in quest of it.

As deer and other game were coming down
from their summer haunts in the mountains the
hunters had no difficulty in securing an abun-
dance of venison, and that evening the party
had a royal feast in the grotto.

Nothing had yet been heard of Tom Rattler.
Edith Dustan was still with the part , feelin

rfectly secure in the care of the ga lant an

ind-hearted mountaineers.

Ichabod Flea had laid aside his female garb
for the time being and appeared in buckskin—a
dapper, little, old borderman. whose brusque
ways and whimsical observations afforded the
party much amusement and had a cheering ef-

ect upon the spirits of all.

The first night at the grotto was a quiet one
alnd the party secured much—needed rest and
s cc .

The next morning Ajax and Ichabod Flea ut
in a few hours reconnoitering the surroundin
hills. Along about noon the latter return
having discovered no signs Of enemies in the
direction he had been. ,Ajax, however, did not
return when expected. The day passed away
and another night closed in, finding the Infant
Giant still absent. His friends grew uneasy.
The fear of having met some danger was forced
upon them. and anxiety and suspense now reign-
ed in'the grotto.

Men were posted in the timber to watch the
approach to the cave and guard against sur«

l'l‘e.

The fire by which their supper had been cook-
ed was permitted to burn awhile after nightfall

 

 

in hopes its light might in some way aid the re-

turn of the abuent Ajax.

An hour or two went by. Kit Bandy was un—

easy and restleSS. He paced to and fro within
the grotto in silence—something unusual With
him.
“ Kit,” said Dick Randall, “ it seems peculiar-
ly still outside tonight, as Well as in this grotto.
( )ld friend, I’m afraid you’re not feelin‘ the very
best.”

“ I‘m not, Dick,” returned the old detective:
“the silence is oppressive, and I never felt so
bad but what somethin' happened. It are the
calm before the storm, as the say.”

' “ Pard,” said Dick. “ I‘m a card you’re a little
superstitious.”

“ Well, I think I’ll put out the fire, supersti-
tion, or not,” said the old man, and as he turned
to extinguish the light a wild, unearthly shriek
pierced through the iii ht. I came from the
hi hts overhanging the rotto.

n a moment every man was upon his feet.
A shower of dirt and gravel came pouring over
the archway to the ground before them, raising
a little cloud of dust.

“ By the born 0’ Joshua!” exclaimed Old Kit,
“ soniebody’s in trouble on the hights! Can it
be our big friend?” A

Before any one could reply another unearthly
cry came trailing down from above, and then a
human form shot across the opening and fell
with a sickening crash upon the earth at the

‘ mouth of the grotto, a bleeding, broken, lifeless

mass!

 

CHAPTER XV.
AJAX’S DARING DEED.

A SH UDDER of horror passed over the old de-
tective and his friends as they gazed upon the
lifeless form that lay within plain si ht of them.
Their first thought was of Ajax, an that it was
his body that had fallen from the hights, but a
second glance told them it was the body of an
Indian warrior that lay quivering before them.

But how bad he come there? Had he been re-
connoitering the whites’ position, slipped and
fallen from the steep and dizzy hights? or had
his fall been the result of an encounter with an
enemy?

These were the questions the mountaineers
asked each other; but no one could answer.
The only thing of which they were sure was of
their whereabouts being known to the Indians,
for there was no doubt of the dead warrior hav-
ing been a scout.

“ You see,” said Old Kit, “ that calm I spoke
of brought the storm, and now for fear o’a hur-
ricane we’d better glit ourselves into good fight-
in’trim. If Ajax ’ only get around now and
the red varmints did come, they’d find Alcove
Grotto a wild-e ed tempest’s nest.”

In“ I am here, it 1” exclaimed a voice from be-
'nd.

“ Horn 0’ Joshua!” exclaimed Kit in surprise,
his face lightin up with joy, “it’s the Infant—
all 0’ him soun and well!”

“ You bet it is, Bandy,” responded the young
Giant glancing at the lifeless form of the red—
skin, a grim smile upon his big, freckled face;
“ but did you folks hear something drop?”

“ You big rascal! do you think we’re deaf
and dumb? did you do that?" pointing to the

bod .

“I rather think I thumbed that varmint’s
dew-lap a few minutes 'ago,”.was the response.

" You great scamp! what’d ye want to chuck
the varlet down there for and muss up our door-
yard? You scart my friends ’most outen their
boots, an’ bu’sted up my superstition.”

“Well, it was easier,” Ajax explained, “ to
bounce him over the cliff into the happy hunt-
ing-grounds than by any othcr'route. I got
sight of the coyote long in the afternoon and
I’ve been shadowing him ever since. I knew he
was an In jin scout. I watched him crawl out up-
on the narrow ledge above and endeavor to get
a pee into our retreat, and when he started
back met him and fired him into the atmos-
phere. “Oh! how he did split the air when I
grappled him!"

“ You’re a darlin’, Ajax,” Kit declared; “ I

- don’t s’pose I could ’a’ done the job much heater

and superbumfustic. But say, kid, are there
any other red-skins about?”

" Plenty of them.”

“Horn 0’ Joshua! where?"

“'Bout two miles east of here, north of the
Chalk Bluffs.”

“ Outlaws with them 3”

“ That’s what I propose to find out next—this
very night.”

“See or hear anything 0’ Tommy Rattler or
the Mysterious Ga 0’ the Hills?”

“ Nothin’ whatever.”

“ Poor Rattler!” sighed Kit, “ I’m afeard, I’m
afeard somethin’ has happened the old bucca-
neer.”

Having eaten some cold broiled venison and
conversed awhile with his friends, Ajax again
took his departure from camp.

“A brave and gallant youth,” declared Old
Kit as he watched the young Giant disappear in
the gloom, “ but he’s in love surer than death.”

“lVith whom?” asked Dick Randall, with a
significant glance at Miss Dnstan.

‘ ‘ “'ith that outlaw’s darter,”answered Bandy:
“ I’ve see’d, in my time, haydooeins o’ love-sick
lads and lassies, and know how they act—ay!
and know jist how they feel, for, by the Horn 0’
Joshua! I’ve been in love a thousand times my-
self with as many different feminines, but not a
consarned sin 10 fem. has ever reciprocated. I
don‘t know w y, either—can’t understand it.
I‘d make a lendid match.”

Bandy ha spoken truer than he really knew
in regard to Ajax’s feelings; but the young
mountaineer hardly knew himself what strange
power was taking possession of him, and lead-
ing him on to deeds of daring and perilous ad-
ventures.

The young Giant was not long in reaching a
«not from whence he could see the light of the
ndian camp-fire which burned upon a broad,

sparsely-timbered ledge or terrace high up on
the mountain-side. But to reach a point from
whence he could obtain the information he
sought—whether the Bonnet—Monday outlaws-—
also, Judith Bonnet.were with the Indians—was
a task that would require all his skill as a scout
and hunter. He was satisfied that the red-skins
would doubly-guard their camp after the sur-
prises they had met with a few nights before.
.Ioreover, they had selected a spot for camp
where the natural advantages would afford
them a strong defense.

Nothing daunted. the young mountaineer
moved forward. He soon reached the foot of
the acclivity and be an toiling slowly and care—
fully up its rocky, rush-covered aide, guided
somewhat in his course by the bars of li ht that
shot out from the camp-fire into the arkness
overhead. Inch by inch, and foot by foot, he
approached the camp. Finally he found himself
upon a narrow ledge about twenty feet below
that on which the foe were located. It was a
dangerous place—much like that over Alcove
Grotto, where he had entrapped the Indian scout
a few hours before.

Facin the Indian camp the wall rose up per-
pendic ' or before him, while behind him there
was an unbroken fall of a thousand feet. He
knew not how much further he could proceed
along the ledge, and hesitated to advance through
fear of being cut off entirely should his presence
be discovered.

He had, however, gained the nearest point
possible to the enemy. He could hear them talk—
ing on the plateau above, but the high embank-
ment shut out all view.

After waitin there a few minutes he conclud-
ed to retrace is steps from the ledge and en-
deavor to approach the camp from another
direction, but he had scarcely come tothis con—
clusion when his ears Were greeted by the sound

of a female voice coming from the top of the '
It sent a wild thrill ‘

rock directly Overhead.
through his great heart, for he instantly recog-
nized it as the voice of Judith, the daughter of
Seth Bonnet: but he instantly realized that
something was wrong, for she spoke in an excit-
ed tone.

Listening, he heard another voice—that of a
white man—speaking in a low tone. His words
were inaudible to the big scout, but he had no

 

 

sooner ceased speaking than the girl cried out in
a frantic v0ice:

“ Back! go back! do not come near me or I
will hurl iggmlt‘ over this precipice!”

u  6} z ‘
Ajax, the cold sweat starting from his brow, is
hand clutching nervously at his belt, his eyes
strained upward.

By leaning back slightly the young moun-
taineer caught sight of the girl, her form boldly
outlined in the light of the camp-fire on the
ledge before her. She stood on the very edge of
the preci ice, her face to the vile wretch who
menaced er, her hands clinched, her form erect
—her whole being the very picture of a tragic
queen.

To her excited command that was accom-
panied with a threat of self-destruction, Ajax
heard the reply in a calm, pleading tone:

“Judith, wh be so foolish? You misjudge
my motives. ou had ought to know that I
seek to promote your happiness as well as mine;
and you do know it was your father’s expressed
wish that I look after and care for you should
anything hap n him. He’s now dead. You’re
alone, and I esire to be your friend.”

“ My friend you may be.” the girl responded,
her words being quite audible to Ajax, “ but
your wife I will never. newr be, Blll Monday!”

“ Ah!” thought the Infant Giant, as the blood
began leaping through his veins, “ so her perse-
cutor is that lunk-headed outlaw, Bill Monday,
and he is tryin’to compel her to be his wife!
Gods! what a cruel world this is! Man, as well
as the beasts of the field, the birds of the air,
and inhabitants of the deep preys upon the
weaker of his kind. Bill Monday has got to die,
or else—”

His thoughts were here interrupted by the
gruff voice of the Outlaw saying:

“ Judith, as my wife I can protect you against
all harm and insults. No man’d dare insult or
harm the wife of Bill Monday any more than
the daughter of Seth Bonnet.”

“ You can be my friend and protect me,” re-
torted the fearless girl, “ without my becoming
your wife. But you would wreck my whole
life.” You are not my friend—you are my ene-
m !

“ Tut! tut! irl, you know better than that,”
the outlaw sai . “You know that I have al—
ways admired—loved you. Moreover, 'you
should remember you are an outlaw’s daughter,
and could never expect to be the wife of any
one else than an outlaw. Who but an outlaw
would marry an outlaw’s girl?”

These words, calculated to humble the spirit
of the proud, defiant girl, caused the blood to
fairly sur 0 through the veins of the Infant
Giant, an there was nothing on earth, had he
possessed it, but what he would have ven
Sheri, to have been within reach of Bill on-

ay.

" I may be an outlaw’s daughter—in fact, I
am,” Judith responded, “ but I am not respon-
sible for that. And you know I never approved
of the life my father led, and that I daily im-
portuned him to give. up his wrong-doing and
turn to an honest calling. As for myself, I call
on Heaven to witness that I have never sinned
in deed or thought, and I would rather—ten
thousand times rather—die than be forced into
a marriage against which my very soul re-
volts l”

“ Oh, come! come! don’t be so silly. Judith,”
Monday said, half vexed, half coaxing: “go
back to your tent and think this matter over
calmly. Seehow you and I are situated, and
how much better it’ll be for me to guard you as
my wife.”

‘ I can quickly relieve you of all responsibili—
ties On my account,” returned the girl, “by
leaving our presence. There are others be-
sides out aws whose friendship and protection I
am not afraid nor ashamed to seek.’

“ Ha !"’sneered the baffled outlaw, “ I presume

you have reference to that elephant, Ajax, who,
after killin’ your father, befriended you Simply
to gain a point—an excuse to get into our
camp”
“ believe that Ajax is a brave and gallant
man!” responded Judith, her voice strong with
emotion, “ and wouid not claim my soul simply
for protecting my body from insult and in-
jury! ’

“ Well, Judith,” Monday declared, in a deter-
mined tone, “ I see there is no use talkin’ to you
——you wilI not listen to reason or argument.
You will have to accept the consequence, and
that consequence is myself. I do not propose to
be dallied and trifled with longer.. Come, you
will 0 at once to your tent!”

“ ever! go back l—back, Bill Monday!”
shrieked the maiden, her slender form swaying
likeka reed in the wind upon the edge of the
rec .

Ajax now saw that the most important mo-
ment of his eventful life had come. He must
act if he would save the girl. Quickly he plant-
ed his feet firmly on the ledge, his arms raised
and his shoulders thrown back until they actu-
ally hung over the awful precipice behind. With
hands and eyes uplifted he was about to call
out to the girl to jump, when, with a despairing
cry, she lost her balance, fell backward over the
clifi and shot downward into the abysmal
gloom.

 

CHAPTER XVI.
SAVED AND LOST.

FIRMLY planted upon the ledge, with every
nerve strung to its utmost tension, his mind
wrought with a desperate intensity, Ajax caught
the falling body of Judith in his strong arms.
But her weight striking with violence caused
him to reel, and for a moment he tottcred on
the brink of the precipice, and a brief and des-
perate struggle ensued—a struggle to regain his
balance—a struggle in which his very bones and
the chords and muscles of his stalwart frame
seemed to snap and creak under the mighty
strain.

Ajax knew from the first that the chance of
saving the girl’s life and his own was but one in
a thousand, but he took that chance and—mm.
By his superhuman eflort—an effort that seemed
to defy the very law of gravitation, he succeed-
ed in throwing himself forward, falling u n his
knees with his fame to the wall above him and
the maiden in his arms.

It was several moments before the darin hun-
ter could realize that he was really safe an that
he had saved the girl from death. And now he
grew almost dizzy and faint on realizing what
he had dared to undemke—diimfounded by the
daring of his own deed.

Kneeling he held the form of the unconscious
girl in his arms, gazing at the black well before
him until he could compose his mind and steady
his nerve. He could feel the beating of her
heart against his own breast, and with every
pulsation there was a responsive throb in his
own great, gallant heart.

The murmur of exCited voices on the terrace
above at once fell upon his ears, but he heeded
them not. He remained kneeling in the shad-
gws. He knew that silence was now his only

ope.

Bill Monday, hearing no sound come up from
the black gulf. laid down upon his stomach and
craned his neck over the edge of the rock as if to
search the darkness below.

As if actuated by some invisible power Ajax
looked up at this moment. He saw and recog-
nized the bullet-head of the outlaw against the
red banner of light flung out into the darkness
by the cam -fire, and the very sight of the vi]—
lain arouse within him a spirit of blind rage.
Drawing his revolver he fired a shot upward at
the black head; but no sooner had he done so
than he regretted the indiscreet act,for no differ-
ence what had been the result of the shot. it
told the savages of his presence and they herald-
ed the discovery with a frightful yell.

Quickly rising to his feet, the young moun-
taineer began hastily retracing his steps along
the ledge with the still unconscith girl in his
arms. The path grew wideras he advanced,and
finally he passed out upon broader grounds with
a sloping hillside on his right. Here he made
better speed. and having eluded the foe he made
his way due south and finally entered what was
known to the mountain-men as Chalk Hills, a
great expanse of white, chalky rocks and peaks

what does that mean?" thou ht

bursting out on the side of the mountain like
ugly blisters.

'lhe Chalk Hills extended over an arm of a
thousand acres. Scrubb pine and hemlock—
trees and bushes grew in the narrow vales.
Deer-paths ran in every direction among the
hills. A Stream of water dashing dowu from
the mountains swept half-across the place,
plunged into a great opening in the earth w ith a
hollow, choking gurgle and passing away
through a subterranean channel appeared a
mile below.

By this stream. and near where it plungr d in—
to the cavern, Ajax stopped. Di ping water in
his hand he bathed the feveris brow of tilt‘
unconscious girl, and this with the magnetic
touch Of his big hand soon revived her.

But in the darkness of the hills, with her brain
in a fever, and the noisy, brawliiig stream fill-
ing her ears with strange sounds, it was some
time before her rescuer could convince her that
she had not passed into another world flilid with
darkness and horror, but was still in the world
that had been so full of pain and sorrow to her.

However, when she came to understand that
Ajax had saved her. and that she was even then
supported by his arm, an expression of joy «'5‘
caped her lips, and a moment of rapturous
silence followed. But soon a. bitter thOught
seemed to force its hateful self into her mind,
and with a pang of returning pain she asked:

“ Ajax, why ( id you not let me die? why risk
your life to save mine when—"

“ I considered your life worth the savin',“
Ajax mildly interrupted. .
“But this is not the first time nor even the
second," the girl went on. " that you have taken

great risks on my behalf.”

“ Nor it won’t be the last, either, if you need
my help. I made up my mindthe night I wrung
that Ingin’s neck that you were a girl worth
fightin’ for.”

“ Do you forget that I am an outlaw’s daugh-
ter, Ajax?”

” Yes—no;” was the contradictory answer:
“ I heard that chuckle~head Monda remind you
of the fact: but, Miss Bonnet, I remember
nothin’—~care nothin’ as to who you are; I knew
what you are and that’s enough for me: and
now your wish ’ll be law with me—whei‘ever
you desire to go, there will I conduct you.”

“ Oh, Ajax!" the girl cried, “ you are so kind
and brave, but ”——and a bitter thought seemed
to send a pang to her heart—“ I have no place
on earth to go to—no fr—”

“ Don’t say that, little woman,” inte .ed
Ajax, “don’t; I am your friend until eath.
Let me take you to our camp over at Alcove
Grotto. Miss Dustan is still with us, and she’s
an awful fine girl, and has been distressed half
to death about you. She think! you’re an an-
gel, and so there you have another friend. Be-
sides there are several brave men there that ‘11
die in your defense if you place yourself under
their protection. Will you go with me, Miss
Bonnet?"

“I cannot go back to my father‘s friends.
Ajax, I accept your kind invitation and (your
protection, trusting in Heaven that some ay I
may be able to repay you.”

“ The knowledge of havin‘ done a good deed,
and havin’ it appreciated, always fuPIIy repays
me for the doing of it " the youn Giant replied,
as he assisted the maiden to her eet.

Taking her by the hand he led her alon
dark and narrow way among the Chalk ills;
but he had one but a short distance when he
heard somet ing wliizz past his ears and strike
a rock beyond with a sharp, metallic click
knockin sparks of fire from the stone.

Quick y Ajax, drew his revolver and turned
around to meet a skulking foe. A savage yell
burst upon his ears and was answered by a shot
from his revolver.

At the same moment, almost, be felt J udith’s
arm snatched from his own, while a cry of ter—
ror burst from her lips.

“ Help! help, Ajax!” she cried, her voice re-
ceding into the hills, as she was being rapidly
borne away by an unseen and unknown foe!

(To be continued—commenced in No. 266.!

the

 

 

 

l The Sons 9; Thunder;

THE RIVALS OF RUBY VALLEY.

A Romance of Nevada.

BY LEON LEWIS,

AUTHOR or “rm: “'ATER onocn,” “DARE-
nnx’rn Diox,” “ THE cownov cocmnas,”
“ THE axxcnnn’s rooa MILLIONS,” n'rc.

CHAPTER XXXV.
THE DESCENT OF THE CREEK.

CONN drew rein at this moment, raising his
hand warningly.

" There they go—or at least a portion of
them,” he w ' .

A brief interval of listening was sufficient to
verify the declaration.

A number of horsemen, which Bert estimated
to be half of his late pursuers, were heard riding
southward at a gallop.

B “ How far away are they, Conn?”interrogated
ert.

" About a hundred rods, sir.”

“ They’ll naturally conclude that we have
gone in that direction,” said Bert. “ but they’ll
be as squarely mistaken as they can be. I re~
sunie there are a hundred ‘ Sons of Thun er ’
between us and our camp, and I have no doubt
they’ll scour to and fro, as lively as a nest of
hornets, for several h urs to come l”

“ Will it not be wi , then, to remain in the
background until the pursuit is considerably
slackened, sir i” asked Conn.

“ That’s just what I intend to do." declared
Bert, “if we can find a hiding—place that re.
sponds to my wishes.”

“ As to that, Mr. Tabor,”said Conn, “ I know
where is situated just such a retreat as we need
at this moment.”

“Describe it.” -

“ It’s a deserted sawmill on this very stream,
or rather on a branch of it, and about ten miles
nearer to Franan Lake than we are at this

 

 

moment,” explained Conn. “It is, in fact, in
the very neighborhood where I spent a. couple
of winters when I was quite a small boy, as I
have explained to Miss Hutton since we took
leave of Mr. Crippitt.”

“ Is the lace Wholly deserted?” asked Bert,
thoughtful y—“ wholly out of the world !”

“ Yes, sir. I do not believe it is visited from
one year’s end toanotber. One reason of this
total abandonment is that the old mill is said to
be haunted. It is a fact that one lumberman
killed another there the winter after I nit
work in the neighborhood, and I have ed
with quite a number of people who believe that
the ghost of the murdered man haunts the spot
tothis day.”

“ Bravo!” commented Bert. “ Ride on, lease.
We’ll certainl take a look at the old mil . even
if we do not ecide to pass our days there, or
even buy it!" ‘

Conn led the way again, riding a few rods in
advance, and continuing to maintain a sharp
lookout on all his surroundings.

“How did you leave papa to-day, Mr. Ta-
bor?” suddenly asked Effie. “ He continues to
recover his strength, I hope?”

A shadow came over Bert’s face. .

“Yes—as much as could be expected under
the anxieties he is forced to endure,” he an-
swered.

"‘ You must answer a few questions about
him as all Smith Ruddle said to me under this
head may be false,’*pursued the girl, with some
wonder at Bert’s gloomy aspect. “ \Vhat is
papa doing to-day ?”

" Your question 0 us an abyss I had intend-
ed to leave closed or the present,” responded
our hero, with tender sympathy. “ But I sup-
pose it is my dut to answer it. The colonel
has one into the iamond Valley—to the west-
war of the Humboldt Range, you know—to
search for your mother."

 

 

 

 

 

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