‘- 9 DON’T WAIT. BY VIOLET. Don‘t wait for the ideal, girls, don‘t wait. But marry the lover who is kind and true; Oh. yes. he ll come, but it Wlll be too laie. Say 3 es lo the one who loves but you. Don‘t wait for the heart’s ideal. my dear, Just marry the one who is honest and true, For the world is a tangle, the world is do. er, Say yes to the hirer who loves but you. When youth is gay. and the heart is light, ’Tis easy to scorn the lover so true. And any with a toss of the head. “ All right. I’ll marry my darling, I’ll wait for you." This world is a place of toil and strife, And things are neven what they seem. The lover will seek another Wife, No time for romance, no place to dream. God never intended such bliss below, Too much like heaven to last, I fear, Take my advice, be wise, and so, Marry the lover who is true, my dear. He’ll cross your pathway some ti me. dear, You will know that one from all other men; Perhaps in a crowd his face will appear Sooner or later, God help you then. You may meet him face to face and gaze « Into the eyes so strangely sweet, You may think—as y on turn away in a daze— " This world ,is all wrong, this world is a cheat.” You will know the depths of joy and woe A heart may suffer. a heart can enjoy. But say not: “ I wish I had waited.” for lo! There's never a blessing without alloy. The truth is, dear, our lives are not A pathway of roses. There must be. tears; We must leavl- the joys for another lot, We must sulfer the sorrow. doubts and fears. The angels all, both good and bad, Conspire to separate lovers true, Don’t wait till you re aged, and lonely, and sad, But marry the lover who loves but you. When this you read just cut it it out, And when years of peace shall come to you, You’ll say: " She knew what she was talking about, I’m glad I married the 10ver so true." ‘ High-Water Mark, THE MOUNTAIN SPORT; on, The Phantom Inheritance. BY J08. E. BADGER, Jn., AUTHOR or “OLD ’49," “MONTE mt,” “Ken’- WEST NICK,” “RIATA ROB,” ETO., ETC. CHAPTER XXXV II I. ALL PATHS LEAD To THE GRAVE] 'DOWN the narrow valley charged an armed 'force of horsemen, cheering and firing as they med, but not a bullet was directed toward that little fortress! “ Look! God of mercy—Silver-tip!” Mark Bywater dropped his rifle gripping the arm of his companion with terrible force as he inted down and outward to where—— “ The little lady, by the ’tarnali” Not until he received this confirmation of the glad yet incredible truth told him by the first swift glance, did High-water Mark allow him- self to believe that it w reality, not a phantom conjured up by his disordered brain. But now, even as the glad truth burst upon \ his bewildered brain in its full force, he saw those . arms outstretched, he caught the sweet music of that dear voice— “Go fer her, pard l” cried Silver-tip, over- leaping the breastwork and plunging down the slope. “ I’m gwine fer drink an’ chuck—J be!” Neither one of the couple took part in that brief fight and hot pursuit; Mark was too busy sipping renewed life from those red, Willin lips, and Silver~tip was laying in a bountifu supply of provisions against another possible eie e. The Imps made but a slight resistance, for Oran Solander was lying delirious from his wound, and Andrew Merrydew hid his bald head in the nearest cover the instant powder be— gun to burn and lead to fly. \ One or two of the outlaws were slain, others were wounded, and a few were taken prisoners. Among the latter was An irew Merrydew, who vainly tried to convince his captors that he was innocent of aught worse than being a poor pris- oner, held for ransom by the roadagents! Una Freestone, noting how terribly Mark had suffered from starvation and lack of sleep, firm- ly refused to tell him why and what had brought her on the scene so opportunely ; and now that he felt his past faults were wholly forgiven, Mark was willing enough to wait a little longer for that information. IVith her own fair hands U na prepared food and hot drink for her lover, and then, as over- tasked nature began to yield, it was her gentle eyes that watched over the heavily sleeping treasure-seeker. It was bright dawn before either Mark or Sil- ver-tip awoke again, fresh and strong as ever, but— “Hongry ’nongh fer to eat a hull critter; buffs, horns. hide an’ taller!” as the veteran gravely declared. Then it was that Una, her beautiful face all aglow with love and joy and womanly triumph divulged her secret. For secret it was; or he been! The secret of those baffling figures, and those puzzling holes burnt through each crypto- ram! g She had made the discovery through pure ac- cident. She had been puzzling over the crypto- grams, and was about to put teem away for the night. In 'so doing. she inadvertently placed them face to face, but with one_cryptogram covered by the end of the other in which the holes were burnt, when she saw that, instead of words showing through the holes, as was the case when each cryptogram was doubled back 11 on itself, figures could be seen. And then, like a flush of light, the truth burst upon her whirling brain. ' -Swiftly as possible she drew out the alphabet, utting a letter which corresponded to the num- ber in eaih square, calling A number one. and thus running d0wn to Z, or number twenty-six. Then looking through the holes and reading from left to right, she found the secret clewl “The holes on one read ‘Mark South for East,’ and on the other, ‘ For North read West,’ ” she hurriedly explained, illustrating with the papers brought along for that pur- ose. p Then she told how the Parkers set to work, raising a goodlypforce of armed men while awaiting the scout whom they had sent out to the neighborhood of Satan’s Ear, and how, when he returned to report the presence in that vicinity of a strong force of armed des- peradoes, she insisted on at once starting to the rescue. I Much more was laid on both sides. but this is enough to shadow forth the _whole truth, which is all that is needed in this connection. While Mark and Silver-tip were sleeping, Una had completed all necessary arrangements for the coming day’s work. Andrew Merrydew was left to care for his wounded feIIOw-scbemer, with a guard to watch them both, and to guard against possible rescue by such of the Imps as had made their escape by flight. Then Una, Mark, Silver-tip Sid and the two Parker brothers rode briskly away to- ward Satan’s Ear. bent on thoroughly testing that last-discovered clew. . ‘ . “ I more than half believe it Willend in much the same stern reproof as that,” With a nod of her head toward the stone which Oran Solnnder had discovered at the bottom of the old shaft. “ But you will never rest content—” “Until I can lay the whole treasure at your feet, Una, and then renew my former suit—a beggar l” earnestly whispered High-water Mark. . There was no reply——in words. But if Mark was not satisfied that his suit, be be beggar or be he millionaire, would prove entirely success- ful. then he had lost the power of reading an- other’s eyes. Shortly before noon the little company reached Satan’s Ear, and though Silver~tip Sid did mumble something about dinner, the rest 'of the party were too eager to set that long— puzzling question at rest for all time to pay any attention to the hint. And making the best of the cold meat which he had brought along, the veteran “ held up his end ” of the task with fairly good will. Laying their course by compass, only taking a line directly west instead of north, the party pressed on in quest of “ a long valley ” as their next proof that the last clew was something bet- ter than another “ blind lead.” ‘The valley was found, at about the proper distance, and as on an earlier occasion. Silver- tip Sid was the one to first discover a “ big flat rock, with a cross carved on top.” “ But—durn it all!” he splattered, frantically scratching his head the while as he noted the direction in which the right arm pointed. “ It p’ints plum South, an’ the paper reads East!” f‘ Not the revised edition I” laughed Una, but With her lovely face turning a shade paler as her eyes met those of Mark B ywater. Was it possible that, after all, the Golden Phantom was about to be proven a substantial reality? Mark drew her alittle apart from the rest, hisl own face very grave as he spoke, earn- est y: “ This is wearing on you, Una, and I fear the results if we go on. Say the word, and I’ll drop the matter forever I” “ If you do, I’ll insist on picking it up, Mark,” was the swift reply, but then her eyes drooped, her face blushed most divinely as she nestled a little nearer his strong arm to murmur: “ For I’ve determined to find and place this fortune at your feet—as part amends for my cruelly unjust words of—you know, dear!” Only Silver-tip Sid saw what followed: and he turned his eyes away so quickly that it gave him “a crick in the neck ” from which he did not entirely recover for at least an hour! Together the now acknowledged lovers deter- mined to follow thaclew to the end, and forevvr settle that long-vexed question as to the reality of the “ Golden Phantom.” “ That goes, as a matter of course,"said genial Fred Parker, when this decision was made known to all; “ but, that’s no reason why Miss Freestone should actually take part in the search, now it has narrowed down to this valley. What’s the matter with her getting up a bit to eat, against our coming back?” “ An’ the boas kin tote the wood an’ ’tend the fire,” nodded Silver-tip Sid, innocently. Both Mark and Una raised some faint Objec- tions, but none of these were listened to or heed- ed. So, leaving the lovers to cook and other- wise enjoy themselves. the three men laid their course by compass and resumed the search for the Golden Phantom. With their departure the lovers almost forgot their existence, and never gave that long—covet- ? fortune another thought. For~—well, they ere true hearts; they had loved each other ai'dently in the long ago, before a malicious tongue built up a barrier between them; they had lived and suffered before being brought to- gether once more, so strangely. Even 'then they had fought against yielding to their love, to part a ain, to meet once more under hardly less exciting circumstances. And so—and so— Mark gathered wood and kindled a fire. He filled their little coffee-pot with water from the brook flowing down one side of the valley placing it on the fire to come to a boil. And then, while waiting for this to come to pass, the lovers sat down in the shadow of that gnarled cedar hard by and— a I Well, that aged tree may have heard much, but be sure it gave no sign. And what it heard it kept forever a secret. . Only when Silver-tip Sid gave a tremendous cough to announce his coming did the lovers re— member where they were and what they had been eXpected to perform. ,. The water was boiling furiously, but it gave out no fragrant scent in answer to Silver—tip’s eager snifl'; and this fact may have lent his homely face a deeper look of dejection, though his words would seem sufficient to account for that lack of elation. , “Not a smell—nary 9. Ole shaft kin we find, nuther!" he said, busying himself about the packages of cold fOod brought along. “ Nothing but an Old grave,” confirmed Fred Parker, removing his hat and wiping his healed brow. “ No doubt that Of some luckiess devil of the gold fever. Ugh! it gavo me a shiver as I stumbled across it, and noted the inscription carved on the broken headstone.” “ An inscription?" asked Mark, as his eyes met thoseof Una, b‘bth recurring to that engraved stone now- marked by the blood of Calvin So- lander. “ Of what nature?” “Grim enough.” with a fleeting frown. “ It tells of one brother having been murdered by another.” ,. Silence fell over the little group, which was hardly broken until that hasty meal was fin- ished. Then the three men declared that they meant to resume their quest as long as light last- ed, and as they set forth, Mark and Una bore them company. -. Only as far as the grave which the searchers had stumbled upon, almost hidden from Sight by the grass and woods which had sprung up all about it. And while they moved on down the valley, Mark knelt and broke, away the grass and weeds that covered that inscription from View. The stone was a rough slab, and some accident had probably broken off one corner from the top. as it stood upright at the head of a lOng. narrow mound, for the name which began that inscription was incomplete, and a bit of stone had fallen out from its face, leaving a blank where one letter should have shown. Ranged in irregular lines, the inscription read as follows: “ A NOLD SHAFT—, " Killed by his brother, “ ABEL SHAFTER.” “ Poor fellow!” muttered Mark, strongly affected by that grim memento of a bloody tragedy. “ No doubt he came to this lonely val— ley in search of gold—that precious curse, which has, as in this case, so often turned the hand of brother against brother! And we—”_ 7 A faint, gasping cry from Una’s lips startled him, and taming. he gavo an exclamation of anxious solicitude as he saw how very pale her lovely face had turned. She was pointing with a finger that trembled visibly—pointing at that rude tombstone and its rou hl -cut inscri tion. “gllnya—my lovg—what is it?” c'ried Mai-k, catching her in his arms and drawing her back, fancying that a venomous snake had frightened her, if indeed she had not actually felt its fangs. “ Look—the words—AN OLD SHAFT!” Una gasped, then adding: “ This is no grave, Mark! It is the lost clew we look for! See! below that seeming grave lies the fortune of Paul So- lander!" CHAPTER XXXIX. HOW THE GOLDEN PHANTOM MATERIALIZED. MARK BYWATER lifted Una in his arms and bore her rapidly awe from the grave, for the time being convinc that long brooding over the buried treasure. added to the recent exciting scenes, had temporarily unsettled her brain. The maiden made no effort to resist him, but lav in his stron arms, much as a little child might, half-lung ing. half-sobbing. But it was hardly as a little child that she received or re- turned his passionate kisses. _ Mark persistently turned the subject every time Una tried to speak of the pretended grave and its cunning inscriptio and finally she gave over the attempt, content wait until the little party was once more united. I Even then she held her busy reasons in check until the late evening meal was dispatched, Mark watched her face and noted her slightest actions, ready to interfere should her poor brain again show signs of giving way. That frugal meal over, the men lighting their pipes and leaning back in the grateful glow of the fire to take the rest they had so Well earned that day, Una abruptly changed her location to one fairly beneath the friendly yving of Silver- tip Sid, begging his protection against Mark By- water. And then, wh the little company were sorely puzzled, she go ckly made known the be- lief which had flashed into her mind while gaz- ing at that mutilated inscription. The Parker brothers listened with perplexed faces. Mark turned pale. his eyes showing deep anxiety and pain. But Silver-tip Sid, after one keen look into those glowmg eyes and animated face, leaped to his feet, tossing his hat high into the air, giving a wild yell and breaking into a clumsy dance such as would have put to blush each and every one of his long~haired name- sakes. “ Good Lawd! An’ us plum’ crazy idjits never did I An’ the weenty bit 0’ angel—she got thar an’ never ha'e tried! She see’d a hole clean through 'the millstun! She— Holy smoke! ef Moses was only hyar, right now, I’d hev a dance or go bu’st wide open—l jest would, now 1” Perhaps it was this sudden and complete con- fidence placed in women’s intuition by the vete« ran that caused it, or possibly the longer they reflected on that seemingly wild explanation of the mutilated inscription the more reasonable it appeared, but be that as it may, the Parker bro. thcrs joined hands and smiled heartily as they joined in the cheer raised by Silver. tip Sid. Only Mark held out, and he was thinking wholly, solely of the girl who was worth to his hearhfar more than a score such fabulous treas- ures as old Paul Solander had amassed to bury them again from all human ken. Silver-tip Sid saw this, and acting with his usual shrewd good sense he drew the brothers 9. little apart, leaving the lovers together. “ Ef vou knowed all I knowed, pards, you wouldn’t think it sech a mighty qu’ar streak fer the young fellerto bit into. An’ then it does sound jest a weenty bit too mighty like a storyl paper—now, don’t it, pards, when ye come for to look it squar’ into the face 0’ it all?" “ Yet I believe Miss Freestone has hit the blunt facts!” declared Fred Parker, in which Opinion he was promptly backed up by John. “ It’s a. mighty curious affair from start to flu- ish, and this would just round out the case to perfection.” “ To be c’ose it would,” with a vigorous nod. “ But whar’s the use in keepin’ all two both on ’em on nettles? What’s the matter with us playin’ off a bit, jest fer tha’r good sakes? Why cain’t we make b’lieve that mornin’ ’ll be plenty soon for to tackle that grave, an’ then— Eh? Wh not? Don’t ye reckon?” Silver-tip Sid was growing just a bit incohe- rent in his owlish attempt at‘mystery, but his present companions readily comprehended his meaning, and for several reasons they were only too willing to join in with his humor. While they more than half believed Una had hit upon the full and true solution of Paul So- lander’s intricate cryptogram, it was possible that she had made an error; that grave might indeed be a silent witness raised to blacken the memory of a crime-stained brother; that nar- row mound might cover a mass of moldering bones instead of the Golden Phantom for which so many had longed and searched. Returning to the camp-fire, they quietly dis- decided to put the matter to a test with the coming of a new day. And then, after Una re- tired to the little tent which had been brought along for her nightly use, Mark was also in- duced to lie down to await his proper turn for guard duty. . N o sooner had he fallen asleep than Silver- tip Sid and Fred Parker stole silently away from camp, bearing tools and a lantern, bent on put- ting all doubts at rest concerning the grave of Arnold Shafter. John remained on guard, and to hold Mark in check should he awaken too early for their schemes. 'When his eyes did open they were startled by the gray dawn, and with a sharp cryof wonder- ing irritation he gained his feet. “ What was the use, Old mans” laughed John Parker; “That coffee was so blessed strong. and I swallowed so much of it, that I couldn’t have caught a single wink even if 1 had turned in. So.— Grub is ready, and only waiting for the belle~ May you be the only lucky man who ever has the right to ‘ ring’ it, Mark!” “ Thank you, Mr. John!” blushingly yet laugh- ing! y cried Una, as she Stepped out of the tent, just in time to catch and cmnprehend the full meaning of that earnestly-jesting speech. “\Vho said grub—bell?” spluttercd Silver-tip Sid, leaping to his feet, with a wildly exaggerat- ed yawn. “ Hope may grow thin of I don’t feel jest as hongry as of l’d bin diggin’ graves the hull blessed night clean through—l jest do, new!” Una’s purple eyes opened a bit wider as they roved swiftly from face to face. Mark frowned just a trifle, and his face grew graver. But Silver-tip Sid was bustling off to take a bath in the brook hard by. and the Parker brothers were busy arranging their frugal breakfast. Not once while that meal was being dis cussed was the treasure mentioned, though it surely must have nearly filled the minds of all there present. Not until the meal was ended. Then—— “ Ef you’d stoop so low’s to condescend for to be so kind as to ketch the arm 0’ me fer a ween- ty bit 0’ walk, ma’am. honey bird. why—weal, of you jest would, now!” gravely uttered Silver- tip Sid. bewing until one involuntarily listened to hear the joints of his back creak. “ And if you’d just consider yourself our pris- oner for a bit, Mark Bywaterl” cried the Park- er brothers, each one catching an arm and lead- ing the bewildered young man away in the direction of the gi‘ave. Una gave a start and a little gasp, then panted: “ Oh! you did—you found it all out, last night i" “ Hope may die of ’tain’t jest so. ma’nm!" chuckled Silver-tip Sid, unable to longer keep up the little criinedy. And then he felt as though a deserted bee- hive had suddenly closed 0"8!‘ his head! Fur white. plump arms were about his neck—red- ripe lips were kissin his stuhhly faCa—- “ Good Lawd! oly sm )kel Ef I only knowed how to ’spress it!" And as Una released him to run lightly after her captive lover, the veteran's legs gave wav beneath him, and he dropped in a bewildered but entirely blissful heap on the ground! Gathered about that grave, which was but a grave in semblance, the story of that cunning night’s work was told, and the proof that the Golden Phantom was indeed a glorious reality made clear. For, lying deep down beneath that cunninglv- mutilated headstone, the diggers had come up- on a mass of hide wrapped about a thick cover- ing of oil-skin, inside of which lay the “ Golden Phantom,” which they had after so many long yea rs tracked to its last resting-place! A great mass Of gold in dust, flakes, beans, nuggets, with a quantity of coined pieces. But by far the greater portion of Paul Solander’s millions was represented by bank-notes and cer- tificates of depoait, all of which were recorded in a little notebook, together with evidence amply sufficient to insure their recovery by his chosen heirs when they could prove their right to make application. With the rest was a letter which fully de- tailed his reasomi for disinheriting all of hismvn name: reasons which brought grave looks to those interested faces and caused Una to shiver and hide her pale face on Mark’s shoulder as she reflected how wholly she had fallen into the hands: of the Solanders, father, son and daughter! W hen this was read, Mark lifted Una’s head, gazing into her eves as he held up the letter. Unfinodded. and Mark arose to strike a match and touch it to the paper. smiling in secret as she saw how very closely_1 cussed the matter for a short time, seemingly ' _Not until the last spark died out—not until his foot had forever scattered those ashes—did any one speak again. Silver~tip Sid remained behind to drop that now useless “ headstone ” into the empty grave, then shovel in the loose dirt and stones which had been removed to uncover that valuable se- cret. “ I don’t reckon they’s so mighty much need 0’ doin’ of it, but when all them that’s ’titled fer to know the secrut hes got it pinned down tight into the minds of ’em, what’s the use tan- talizin’ other pore critters? Dust to dust en’— Stay putt, Arnold Shaffer!” The treasure was safely packed, Mark taking charge of the papers and books; then the little tent was struck and stowed away, the camp was broken for the last time, and our friends turned their faces once more toward the point where Oran Solapder had found his “ Golden Phan~ tom.” They were met near Satan’s Ear by one of the men whom they had left on guard over the wounded Prince Lucifer and the captive Andrew Merrydeiv. His face told of ugly tidings, and the Parker brothers quickly led him aside where they could receive his report without the words being caught by Una. From the very first she knew that something had gone wrong. and her face grew paler. But not for very long. ‘ You are with‘ me, dear Mark!” she mur- mured, and in those words she told all. The clouds of misunderstanding had passed away, never more to return. They were to- gether. They loved, and were beloved. That was enough. And neither one of the pair gave even a thought to the vast treasure which they had so recently brought to light. The Parker brothers received the report brought by that messenger in grave silence. Oran Solander had revived from the shock following his wound and the sight of his last child falling dead before his very eyes. He had recognized Andrew Merrydew, and before a band could be lifted to interfere, he had shot the old lawyer, the bullet passing directly through his scheming brain. Death was instantaneous. He never uttered sound or word. It may be doubted whether he ever knew what was the fate which had so sud— denly overtaken him. Oran Solander fell into a fit of frantic raving immediately after firing that death-shot, and though efforts were made to quiet him, Without using actual force, they failed. Then—the madman caught up the body of his son, and with it in his arms, either fell while trying to escape, or else jumped directly down the Old shaft where he had unearthed that grim re roof. 9 was dead when they brought him back to the surface, and now—what was to be done? Fred Parker took charge of Una. for the time bailiff, while John hurriedly explained matters to bin-water Mark and Silver-tip Sid, put- ting t t same question to them. “ They’re dead, an’ it’s hard luck for to talk black words ag’inst all sech,” gravely said Sidney Rocket. “ Yit -—they don’t deserve all the time an’ trouble it’d cost fer to tole ’em to whar they could hev a reg’lar plantin’ and a sermon spoke over ’em. So—bury ’em in the hole whar they tried to do murder in playin’ fer the big stake; bury ’em in the old shaft wharthe ole man found his death!” And so it was decided, at length. John Parker took charge of that part of the ugly business, while Mark, Una, Fred and half a dozen of the citizens,enlisted at Paragon City struck out in a direct line for the stage road. “ Fer ye don’t want to fergit that tbar’s Moses waitin’ fer his master to git back. An’ then—” Silver-tip Sid cut himself short, his ace groiiing very sober as his mind flew ba . to Dan Dickman, whom he had left in bonds that eventful night, on the hill opposite the retreat of Lucifer and his Imps. , But his face cleared at length, after he had hurried on in advance to look for the outlaw. He found only some bonds, severed b a keen knife, and that told him Dan Dickman ad been set free by his fellows, no doubt discovering him while searching for the fugitives. Moses, too, was discovered to be all right. He had eaten his halter in two, then placidiy grazed in that vicinity, awaiting the return of his mas- ter. Only stopping to unearth the package which he had lidden away on that evening, Silver-tip Sid mounted his steed and pressed on to rejoin his friends. Mark took the package with a faint smile, for now that the Golden Phantom had materialized, that cryptogram held no further value, save as a curious memento. / Paragon City was reached in safety, and after a few days given to rest‘, Una, Mark, Silver~tip Sid and Fred Parker took the stage for the near— est point where the railroad could be struck. In company they Went back to the old home, there to unite in celebrating a happy wedding. Silver-tip, we are sorry to record, got up- roariously drunk after he witneSsed the knot tied, and had been set fairly wild by a half dozen kisses from the bride’s red lips. “ An’ who wouldn’t? Show him to me, an" I’ll show you a double—geared idjit jist fit fer to —Waal, jest fit fer nothin’.’” The marriage notice was published and given wide circulation. mainly for the purpose— which it effected inside of a week—of bringing to light the one who held charge of the last proofs necessary to settle Paul Solander’s millions on his chosen heirs. Investigation proved beyond a doubt that Paul Solandcr had died in the asylum to which his unnatural relatives had consigned him. Who the “ King of the Mountains” really was, or what disposition was made of that poor unfortur-ate by Oran Solander, forever remained a-mVstcry. IVhy linger longer? The chase of the Golden Phantom has ended in complete success: true love has beeh fltlv rewarded ; the time has come for putting out the lights and ringing down the curtain. THE END. A Wyoming Exterminator. THERE lives to—day in Wyoming Territory a man who enjoys the proud distinction of hav- ing, in the course of his career on the frontier, killed over 100 hostile Indians. slaughtered fully 10.000 antelope. and about 5,000 bnfl'alo. His name is Joe Hurt. and he is at present engaged in the business of sheep raising near Rawlins, and makes that town his head uartcrs. Hurt is an ordinary-appearing man, but one whom a student of human nature would at once select as possessed of courage and endurance. He never sought nor achieved the character or name of a desperado, and no one can truthfully s that Joe Hurt, or Ute Joe. as he is dubbed b his admiring associates, ever became engaged in dispute or quarrel except to protect his own life or property. He is a magnificent horse- man, an unerring shot, and is endowed with re- markable eyesight and memory for faces and looalities. He can discern objects with the naked eye at a greater distance than an or- dinary man can sight them with a pOWerful telescope, and is able to recognize and minutely describe either white man or Indian after a lapse of years. In the ’flfties Hurt was employed as a miss- sional hunter by the Overland Express Com- pany. He was stationed at a place called Sul- phur Springs. Game was plenty, and Joe, with the aid of an enormously heavy three-barreled rifle which he had manufactured according to his own ideas of a useful and effective firearm, in a half-day’s hunt often secured enough meat to supply the station for a week. Between business trips the daring rider explored the country in the vicinity of Sulphur Springs, and often came riding into the stntion at a breakneck pace with a band of Indians at his hEels. One day while Hurt was hunting several miles from his home, a band of Utes happened along and murdered the station—agent and his family, a. couple of hostlers and the store- keepers. By way of dessert they burned a con- signment of hay, an old stage-coach and all the buildings about the place. Upon returning, Joe observed the Indians and knew that they were awaiting his advent, as the red—skins had a custom of exterminating the inhabitants of a station when they attacked it. He rightly rea- soned that it was a battle to the death, and made for a high knoll with all possible speed. Reaching it, he hastily constructed a barricade with loose bowlders and killed the horse which he had been riding. The red-skins heard the shot and hastened toward the improvised fortress, little thinking that the man with whom they had to cope was, as they afterward declared, “ a great medicine-man.” The fight lasted ten hours. The band which dashed toward Hurt, with the confidence that a mountain lion leaps upon the back of a timid antelope, numbered twenty—one gayly painted warriors. After the fortieth charge upon the impregnable barricade four cowed and terrified bucks rode off, driving before them the ponies formerly mounted by seventeen savages, who had fallen victims to Hui't’s three—barreled rifle. Joe scalped every mother’s son of the dead braves and cured the trophies. He only reported the OCl'UI‘I‘GDCO be- cause in duty bound to do so, and mentioned one of the greatest battles eVer fought and his own brave and desperate action in a modest manner. On another occasion a thieving band of Utes stole a bunch of forty horses from Burt’s ranch, on the Platte. He sent a man to warn the citi- zens of Rawlins and started after his horses. A party was soon formed in Rawlins to hasten to his assistance. They met Hurt returning with the stolen horses, and packed upon the back of one of the animals was a bloody bundle which was found to contain fourteen fresh scalps. The nerve of the man is simply wonderful, and his hatred of Indians a mystery. He hunted them for months at a time, and though often wounded, was never seriously injured. As late as 1872 Hurt was acting as scout, guide and hunter. In 1875 he took a contract to sup- ply a Chicago house with 5,000 antelope car- casses in one month. He earned the stipulated consideration easily. It is an actual fact that Hurt slaughtered and shipped 1,300 antelope in four days! Diptain Mayne Reid’s Willi IN Beadle’s Dime Library. 8 The Headless Horseman; A Strange Story of Texas. 12 The Death-Shot: or, Tracked to Death. 55 The Scalp Hunters. A Romance of the Plains. 66 The Specter Bar ue. A Tale of the Pacific. 74 The Eaptain of t ie Rifles; or, The Queen of the La es. _200 The Rlfle Rangers; or. Adventures in Mexico. 208 The White Chief. A RomanCe of Northern Mex- ico. 213 The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse. 218 The Wild Huntress; or, The Squatter’s Ven- geance. 228 The Maroon. A Tale of Voodoo and Obeah. 234 The Hunter's‘Feast. 267 The White Squaw. BEADLE’S DIME LIBRARY is for sale by all News- dealers ten cents per copy, or sent by mail on re- ceipt in twelve cents each. In Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. 4 The Wild Horse Hunters. 7 Blue Dick; or. The Yellow Chief‘s Vengeance. 87 TlIieI LGd Pirates; or, The League of Devil‘s 5 an . 137 The Helpless Hand; or. Backwoods Retribution. 239 The Gold-seeker Guide; or, The Lost Mountain. BEADLE’S HALF-DIME LIBRARY is for sale by all Newsdealers. five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS. Publishers. 98 William St . N Y. Dialogues, Dramas and Recitalions FOR School Exhibitions and Parlor Theatricall. BEADLE AND ADAMS have now on their list the following highly desirable and attractive text- books. prepared expressly for schools. families. etc. Each volume contains 100 large pages, printed from clear. open typ«-, comprisuig the best collection of Dialogues, Dramas and Recltations. (burlesque, comic and otherwise.) The Dime Speakers for the season of 1890—as far as now issued. embrace twenty-five volumes, viz. : 1 American Speaker. i 13 School Speaker. 2 National Speaker. 14 Lulicrous Speaker. 3 Patriotic Speaker. 15 K-imikal Speaker. 4 Comic Speaker. - 16 Youth‘s S eaker. 5 Elocutionist. 17 Elo uent peaker. 6 Humorous Speaker. 18 Hai Columbia. Speak’r 7 Standard Speaker. 10 Serio-Comic Speaker. 8 Stump Speaker '20 Select Speaker. 9 Juvenile Speaker. ,21 Funny Speaker. 10 Spreadeagle Speaker. 22 Jolly Speaker. 11 Dime Debater. 23 Dialect Speaker. 12 Exhibition Speaker. ’24 RecilationsdtReadings 25 Burlesque Speaker. . DIME DIALOGUES, Numbers 1 to 37 inclusive. The above books are for sale by all newsdealers, or sent, post-paid. on receipt of price—ten cents each BEADLE AND ADAMS. PUBLisnims. 98 WlLLIAM STREET. NEW YORK, The Dime Dialogues No. 31. CONTENTS: The Falries’ Prisoner. A Midsummer Day’s Festival A Scenic and Dress Piece for a Young Ladies‘ School, or Garden Party, or Parlor Entertainment. By Alice Cary Victor The Mch‘lackertys and McDoozlers: or, Too much Motherin Law. A Domestic Solution For two males and three females. By H. Elliot McBride. The Children of the Week. A Rhymed Recitation. For seven little girls. By Frances Feriilvigh. Uncle Rasov’s Ruso; or, H 1w He Was Not Dcceived. A Family Campaign. For one male and four fe- males. By Mignon Estes. author of “Florence Elton s Mist - ke." (No. 35). “ Mrs. Podberry's Views on Education.” (No The Land of “Once—on-a-Time." A Rhymed Recita- tion. For seven littleboys. By Frank Spelling. Jupiter Johnsum’s Affairs. A “Colored” Catas- trophe. For one male and one female and one Outsider. By John Cutler. The Bores of a Day' or. A Mistake in the Permit. A Village Misund- rstanding. For four males and SIX females. By Mrs. M L. Lee. Rather Mixed. A School Snow-off. For a number Of small girls. By Cousin Alice. The Gold Oirish Tav; or, Tim Rafferty‘s Guests. An Euievald “ Raciption.” For schral males and two fv males By John Cutler. - Cherubino and Seraphina' or The Webb in a Web. A Case of Similarities. ‘or one male and one fe- male. By Elward Willett. The Comic Valentine; or, Think Before You Act. A Joke that Failed. For four boys and teacher, By H. Frank Cnshman. The Two Roberts: or. The Unwelcomc Reception. A Field Dav Outb'eak. For five males and one l'e- male. Ry Mis. Eugene Schuyler. Keeping Bachelor‘s Hall; or, Mr. Bly’s Disaster. A Rash Man‘s Exw riment. For several males and Oil" female. ly Mrs M. L. Lee. Four Wishes. For four little girls. By Miss A. E. Things Are Seldom What They Seem: or, Be Sure You Are Right Before You Go Ahead. A Parlor or Exhibition Comediotla. For two males and two females. By Maria M. Norris. The Chari'y Sludent; or, A Good Way Not To Do. A Very Useful Mishap. For several girls. By H. Frank Cusliman. A Catch at Lost: or, Miss Punkerton’s Conquest. Tne Com‘ng Method. For three males and one. fe- male. By H Elliot. McBr‘de. The Bogus Doctor. A Burlesque lll Color. For four males and a ghost. By (Eel-i1 Arthur. Preparing for an Exhibition. For teacher and three children. By Llle Stiirdevant. For sale by all newsdealcrs. or sent post paid to any address on receipt of price fen cents. BE iDl.E AND ADAMS. PUBLISHERS. 98 William st.. New York. was,“ 6:" "- \ 'Ngfi’lh."‘i“’\~“)flgu,um y. “a. v . n- v o- «N.- u-uwunau » \—