makes that fact of little consequence. The guilty person would naturally seek to cover 11 his tracks and avert suspiCion: and may facili- ty was here oflered him. l’ll investigrate a little further, and then report to Colonel alkner, as l romised.” n less than five minutes after giving utter- ance to this soliloquy, the detective made a fresh discovery-one that completely ovor- - - , F Ik or 0 cold] : stranger said nothing more, and looked on as Joe managed to escape in the mélee. - were in the camps. m"in “gcfilfiepgmcigflgfgz :1: £18: :33. edit $33.53“ :Qplly tofilis’questi’uns, Dolores.” if he were the least interested person in the Two hours later a man and a woman wanton “ It is false.” s $31933“ " “WWW” swaths“ "so .... d .. a. . ‘Wsrlmui‘srt .. . .. fissurpm“ . ' . , - ' ' a hub as she w on me proce an e amusemen n uown 3 0 so e we thfhlgdifiéozgiagfipgfiagfim 1:31-12:12: gig: figfihggenltgredflgokling ’Very wil and’strange. of all 5.7. bettor won. ’He scraped in his win- camp the story of a ruined home, they bd “ Men, I want them as seen Dashing Charlie commonly called Canton crispe, clinging to a nail in the wooden casing of the Window that opened into Colonel Falkner’s chamber! The shutter had effectually concealed it when he ' ‘ ' - “ w .” on him, While the Mexican, strapped, was glar- When spring came some one found under a “ At Poker Paul’s Den 0' Dutiny,” cried a lI'mdetltihadaflrls)‘; :nd more superficml examma “ Isltlllemp‘lils! What could have occasioned itl” ing at him with the mien of a tiger. cliff two bodies locked in the last embrace, and number of voices. I : WWII. F8 r t] egg?“ bit of crape in his hands “ I think the proposed marriage was not to her “ When did you leave your dominionsl” sud- tender hands buried them side by side where the “ Does yer deny that testimony, Dashing 'e Ad lookildht it attentively It had evidently liking.” denlyvgrowled the Grosser: first flowers scented the air. Charlieln bu torn from a shawl for a single knot of “Did she retain the dagger in her posses- " hat do you take him for, Don?" asked On one of the headboards was carved the “I do." . I % fringe still adhered to it.’ His experienced eye sionl” some one. _ ’ name H Pen," and on the other: Buses and groans greeted this “sermon, {CL i told him at a glance that the texture could not “ No. I found it in the cabinet, the next day, “ For the deVil, of course!’ was the answer. ,, MORTIMER BLAIR" low“ by ohm have been exposed to the weather where he found it, many days. Hurrying into the house, he asked for Mrs. Falkner, and was at once conducted to her Sit- ting-room. “Madam,” he said, abruptly, “ I have come to you for needed information. Is the veranda roof ever used as a place of resort by any of the women—servants or others—belonging to your household?” Shareplied in the negative. I - I “ Have anv of them beenon the roof Since this miserable affair occurred ?" “ To my knowledge—certainly not. them would be likelyto go there.” Mr. Ferret now produced the scrap of crepe. “ Be good enough to tell me, madam, if there is a shawl in the house from which this frag- ment may have been torn." Mrs. Falkner bent to look, and a strange ex- pression stole slowly over her face. “ Yes,” she anSWered, in a faint voice. “ To whom does the shawl belong?” “ To my son’s ward, Miss Ethelind Erle.” “ Send for Miss Erie, if you please, and ask her to bring the shawl to this room." Mrs. Falkner immediately rung the bell, and gave the necessary message to the servant who anewered the summons. After a delay of about five minutes Ethelind entered, looking pale and anxious; but she brought nothing along. None of She looked up with a startled glance, her face turnin uite pale. I “ Tug (elvening when the wedding was to have come off.” _ “ Where was it?” “ In the cabinet in my chamber.” “ What called your attention to it at that par- ticular time?” She hesitated, looking frightened and distress- ] think she was slightly delirious. She caught up the dagger, all of a sudden, and threatehed her own life with it.” “ she must have been in a desperate mood.” and threw it out of the window.” _ “ Why did you do thatl’ Mr. Ferret asked, in a surprised tone. “ I felt afraid that Ethelind might come across it again, when I was not present, and do herself mischief.” At this point the detective attempted to catch Mrs. Falkner‘s eye, but she kept her face reso- lutely averted. “ Let the investigation be dropped for the present," she said, after a brief silence. “ I am not well this morning. You can come to me again by and by.” _ _ With a sweep of her arm she dismissed both the detective and Dolores, closing and bolting the door behind them the instant they had gone out. Raymond Challoner chanced to be crossing the hall. Mr. Ferret felt like running up to him and begging his pardon for the unjust suspiCions he had entertained. But struggling against the impulse, he walked straight on to Colonel Falk- ner’s room, and entered. Fortunately, the sick man was alone. Mr. Ferret ap reached the bed, saying, quietly: “ Here am, sir, obedient to your request.” On the colonel’s face came a look of pain and terror. He gasped once or twice as if his breath mire silo-’h mid,f i tl t' ‘ e a n y pan ing. “ I am certain that we both suspect the same eye of the little man who had come over from the bar, and was looking at the one who had of- fered to bet his head. “ Play,” said the new better. It was noticed that the hand of the dealer trembled for the first time in the history of Bob- tail when he took up the deck. There was something weird in a men belting his own head against the turn of a card; but the nlngs’with a half-chuckle'and played again. He won the second time, then increased his bets one after the other, winning at every turn of the card, until he had the eyes of every one fixed up- There was a laugh at this, but the man who had bet his head up ared not to have heard i for he did not turn gene to the spea er; en staked a pile which seriously threatened the bank. I At this juncture, Don Pedro, the Mexican, managed to borrow something, and came back into the game. He won for some time, until he became once more the stranger’s rival. The bank, on the vergeof bankruptcy, regain- ed its prestige and won again. By and by the Mexican found himself with his last dollar on the board. The tall stranger was in no better luck, for his fortune had turned, and the riches of both had been swept into the ravenous coffers of the Alkali Angel. “ My head ag ,” said the Unknown,with the game coolness which had characterized his first et. The dealer shook his head. “ N 0; we will have to refuse such ghostly bets,” he announced. “ You can‘t come back in- to the ame on that head of yours.” The exican showed his teeth, and would have laughed if he had not at that very moment re- ceived a look from the stranger. “ What. do you want a single handed game!" cried the Unknown, and aware turned to the Greaser and oflered him e on . . a . ' “ Pests! I have uoth .to bet.‘ You gnpapackof‘ arms. He looked once over the revolver in the woman’s hand, and saw behind it a pair of mer— cilfezs eyes which, deep in their depths, looked so The only antwer to the Unknowu’s words was the crack of a pistol, and the Alkali ngel, sink- in in a heap under the table, lay ‘ Pedro fell back, but the bend of the stranger found his throat and closed there. ad' ged his vengeance just. 7 few days later one of the first severe storms of winter came down the mountain and filled the passes with immense drifts of freezing white. The Man Who Bet His Head, Aim Won." “ G0 YE AND DO LIKEWISE.” BY VICTOR I. NIESON. of! in the land of the old Ben Ton here the grass was growing blue, And the trees had nothing but roots on top And the birds with one wing flew- There lived a iran with a wooden leg That grew like the trunk of a tree, And his head was adorned wllh a pompadour That waved most wondrously. He lived in a house all made of tar And lined with cakes of ice; It was Very hot in summer time, But in winter it was nice. But one dark day the sun got drunk And stood pkth still in the sky: And it stayed all day and it stayed all night Till the house began to fry. The dire eflect of the midnight sun And the terrible cold of the fire ~ Amused the wrath in his knucklejolntn, And raised his turbulent lire. ' He swore 'Bygum,“audr‘e swore ‘Oh;geel" Until he '58 bluo in the Wa “ How many days were you going to Texas!” “ Ten.” “ How long did you stay there!” “ Three days.” “ How many days was yer coming back i” l‘ Ten.” “ That’s twimty-three." “ According to my arithmetic. yes.” “And yet ten dadva ago and a week ago you in fine camps a week and ten days ago to step out in front here.” . Fully fifty men obeyed. “ Whar was it you seen himl” “Men, I know what Pete Parker is driving at, and he may be honest in it, and he may not, for he is not a man I would trust under any cir- cumstances. “ But i know, from a number I have talked with, the t. since I left, a man has appeared in the camps pretending to be me. “ Now, whoever he is. I pronounce him be a fraud, for I have not been here for over hree weeks,” and Dashing Charlie looked fearlessly into the faces of the crowd. CHAPTER XXX. THE TESTIMONY. WHEN Dashing Charlie heard the testimony of the miners that they had seen him within the past few days, when he had just said he had been gone over three weeks. he of course understand that some man was playing a bold game against him for some reason. Who this man was, he could not surmise. He was not one to be met with every day, and he knew that few men resembled him. This one, however, who was playing his Double, was certainly strangely like him in face, form and voice. or all those who had seen him spoke falsely for a reason of their own. If seen in the Den of Destiny then Poker Paul must know him. and so Dashing Charlie appeal- ed to the gambler and saloonkeeper “ Did you see this man, Poker Paul, who pro- ., '55}. /. .3 ‘ -/ ‘a\ I - ‘- -‘VI'. ‘ ) M .— mm mm...» Ma‘s”! W a, M‘Vmw.‘ ~»w~.fiw i 0.»..vec-J-«m e.- ..s .n. “my...” 1...... .cm:mWW—mwmwm www.mwy. “ k t here to find the shawl for " sinking his voice to a whisper. “ That funds are in the Angel’s. rower.” . . And he cursed all the m-nthat' had gone before famed to be me?” i V whi a , W 1 Mrs. Bates, the housekeeper, followed Mrs. Falkner in. “ Here is the shawl,” said the latter, speaking in a raised voice, the instant they crossed the stepping forward, and throwing the shawl over a chair. Ethelind raised her head. Even seemed startled. “ On the lawn?” he echoed. “ Yes. It lay half-under a rose-bush at one end of the veranda.” - “ At which end?" “ The north—near those iron steps.” He stepped form-rd and turned the shawl round and round. From one side asmallportion of the iabric had been turn away, leaving a rag- ged edge into which the fragment he held in his hand fitted perfectly. While he stood staring at it, a cold hand fell on his. Ethelind stood beside him, every drop of blood gone out of her ghastly face. “ This is not my shawl,” she said. “ W hose is it?” “ I cannot tell. 1 only know that it isn’t mine.” “ Were there two white crape shawls in the house?” “ N o—only one.” “ How, then, can you be sure this does not belong to you i" Ethelind clasped her hands. “ It is difficult to explain in what way it is dissimilar, and yet I can detect a difference. Not in color, not in texture, not even in the depth and knotting of the fringe, but rather in the general appearance of the shawl. This is not mine,” she repeated. “ I hope you may be able to prove it isn’t.” “ My shawl would be discolored—J had worn it out in the storm. There is nothing about this Mr. Ferret threshold. “ It was found the mornin subse- at an end but that shall make no diflerence the loss of ahuman head. I chem '1_ r 4-", K. , , “Wel he. come to my 8110 . Nubia m quent to the storm.” 8 with the Iiborality of the reward you have “.Ioe” had slipped back to hit .Behind himinfliecabiu shod.wl}ound' and told me to :3.“ it “puma ; “ W here?” inquired the detective. earnedz” station behind the bar and taken a drink which form of the miner. . 3nother time,” ., , _ . A I . Ml‘fl- Falkner waved her hand toward the She Was draWiDS 8 small Writing-(19811 inward had burned a new channel down his throat. . There at his side stood the ranchero, with Dr. “ Which you did!" _ . l ;: housekeeper, and said: her, when Mr. Ferret took from his purse the “ J ehosaphatl" he suddenly cried, spying the Quirk in the background. “1 did to; a 1m” _ _ y a; “ You may tell him;” check he had already received, and held it out woman in the doorway. “I wonder if they “ Men,” and Dashing Charlie’s voice was as is And this mqsm what arid of "I “L -r “ I picked it up on the lawn,” said Mrs. Bates, for her inspection came together?” clear as bugle-notcs-“ men, I believe that you ' did be rid“ a h , l the way.” at least of in making.” The interv ew heganand ended with these few words. Mr. Ferret wrote out the check as di- rected, took it to“ the colonel, and it was without another sentence being spoken on e that side. An hour later the detective was descending “ ill you please come in. Mr. Ferret?” “ 1 see now thug!“ mus mistake ti; :httemgt an investigation _ w «occurred, esai speaking in cold eelf- tones. ' , “I have decidedto abandon t. Your labors-here are “ Your son has forestalled you, madam. He has already paid and dismissed me.” She looked around with a suppressed cry. “ Then he knows—” “ All that you know, madam. nothing to fear. Good-by." He put out his hand, and Mrs. Falkner drop— ped hers into it, signing heavily. The next mo- ment he was gone. (To be continued—commenced in N . 476.) The Man Wh_o_§el His Head. BY T. C. BARBAUGH. WHEN Bobtail Flush was founded by the toughs who crossed the arid desert. no mush- room or mining town west of the Missouri was accounted complete without its monté dens. These places ran all night, and thousands of dollars changed hands over the boards. Every now and then some tough went from the tables to the little cemetery on the mountain-side, not With any ceremony, but “ as quiet as you please,” and never came back. Bobtail Flush had its complement of dens, and the most prominent one of all was presided over by a genius who went by the name of the Alkali Angel. He was a modest-looking man of perhaps forty, dressed efleminately, and was the last person one would have taken for an owner of a monté-trap. But there is I never yet betrayed a patron. A chorus of fan hufilowed the wager, and AW whispered to his assistant. . harkeeper nodded, but did not take his eyes from themanwhohedoffered tobet his "Hewillwin DonPedro’sheedand thenwill break the bank,” the dealer went on. maid nothing, but his eyes twinkled. TheAlksliAngelwatched the butall excitement, and she was leaning forward in . the thrill of the moment. ' ' ’ = Nobody had seen'her we" at... " '. oneelse was watching ' ' At that moment the first card of the last trick was thrown by the Mexican. The lips of Don Pedro were entirely white and not a sign of blood was to be seen in his face. A dead silence filled the room: even the Alkali Angel had ceased to jingle the winnings of the night and every eye was riveted on the game. All at once the hand of the Unkn0wn reached across the board and raked in the last cards. “ It is mine,” he said, speaking for the first . time since the opening of the game with the Greaser. “ He’s got your head, Don Pedro,” said some one at the Mexican’s elbow. There was a start on the Greaser's part and he seemed to take a full breath. At the same time he loosened the collar of gold braid at his throat and exposed a swan—like neck elfeminate enough to be beautiful. “ Take it!” he said, through blcodless lips. “ It is yours. I' might have known I could not have won against you.” “ But you played well,” was the retort. “ Of course I did my best, but when one plays against the devil—when he bets his head against an imp’s—he can‘t win; that's all i” A quiet smile rippled the face of the Unknown. and the Angel looking toward the door at that moment, saw that the woman was smiling, “ Now, Captain Alkali, I will play with you,” said the stranger, turning to the dealer. “I will bet two to two—my head and the Don’s against yours and Joe’s.” “ Why do you bring in Joe’s?” was the ques- And he flung out his arm: quite helplellly. 'DlSllllleClllllllES ran OLD mars Laaacr. 0‘ NOW r ‘ I did think so, Dashing Charlie; but if you lowed the wards. Poker Paul was a man of trance, if peace was t) be the game played. but those who had brou ht on a war with him had had reason to regre it, for he was a deadly hand at close quarters. “Did you think you saw me too. Bent Rem- inter my lay-out and made a few purchases, “Inns me to “3‘. Ia? “glint yer." I all here know me. :5 h “ At least you know' that I am called Dashing Charlie Emmett, that I am a scent and guide, and came to these camps to pick up an honest “mil?” “ 9 doesn’t know any good of you, Dashing Charlie,” cried a voice. bail! started, and hands dropped upon revolver- ts. , But, instead of showing resentment. Dashing Charlie asked, with a pleasant smile; " Do you know any bad of me, Pete Parker?” “I dues.” , “ Well, let me say just this to you, that I will give you a chance to prove your words, and if you” don‘t do it, then you have it out With me. “ I‘m agreeable.” “ New what do you know against mml’ete Parker ?' . “ I knows you has plotted to rob old~ Matt Markham of his gold.’ “ You lie, and you have to rove what you say; but it is just this charge, to d me by Doctor Quirk, that l have decided to refute." “ Yer can’t deny it!” cried several voices. “ Then I can for him, for I am Matt Mark- ham’s brother,” and Richard Markham stepped before the miners. “ It hain’t so!” “ You is a pard !” “ You is Dashing Charlie’s confed in ther leetle game 0’ rob l” “ Yer can’t bluff us, old Scar Face.” “ And Dashing Charlie can’t bluff as neither.” Such were the cries that arose from the crowd; “J “menaciamm , b I“ ‘ u_ 4 . 2 “.Ynussw him tool” I were very quiet now, for the roan stallion of Dashing Charlie was well I mania camp, the only horse he had with him. ' 1““if“'£“fi""t “93”” “333‘” ""‘°‘ ron e, e no son map “ What is just it, Iron Ike?” “ About that horse.” “ Was it my horse?” . _ ‘3 You), if he were he hev changed consider- a e. . “ What do you mean?” “ I means that when I have shod your horse you had to be right there to protect me all the time from him.” . “And this kernel” I . 1a" Was a roan stallion, too, but gentle as a mb. “ i asked you what had come over him, for he didn’t look quite that same.” “ You asked my Double, you mean!” “ W aal, yes." “ And what was the answer!” “ He said as how he had tamed him down.” “ The doctor ought to have his say,” said Pete Parker. “ Yas, give old Rhubarb a chance,” others called out. “ Doctor Quirk, may I ask if you too saw my Double some weeks ago in the cam l” The doctor seemed glad to be led upon for his testimony. He stepped quickly out of the cabin, and wheeling. faced Dashing Charlie, while he said in a measured tone: " I saw a man whom I believe was you—you, Dashing Charlie.” known ,to every way. #’~‘B‘YMyumMn.3-£Jn<~' >9 mm an: M... , . .. ,. .q. “A. "4-. r 311' w .. .‘ “ifs: . ,. to show that it has ever been Wet.” No one knew from whence the Angel had tion that met this novel proposition. but, though Richard Markham’s face paled, he “ When?" 3 The detective could discover nothing. He come; but then, it was not cus'omary in Bob- “ Because I want both of them.” remained perfectly calm. “ Ten days ago.” ’ turned to Mrs. Bates. tail Flush to inquire into any one’s antece- “ He can‘t have my head!” suddenly rung out As for Dashng Charlie he still faced the crowd “ W here?” ’ “ What was the coniition of this shawl, as to dents. He was to be found at a particular a voice. and said: . “ At the Den.” being wet or dry, when you found it?” table night after night, and somehow or other And the next second the figure of J 0e wasseen “ Men, be reasonable and hear What I haveto “ '1 on days ago?” I “ it was dry, except the dampness it would it came to be said that it was a dangerous coming down the aisle withasix-shooter gripped say. ' “ Yes. and a week ago too.” 9 ' naturally gather from lying on the grass, after table to tackle, as fortune always favored the in his right hand. ‘ Then judge according to facts.” " At Poker Paul’s?” ' V’ : a rain." dealer. There was “ shoot” in the eyes of the bar- “ Hear him!” came in a rumber of voices, and “ Yes.” ' “ And every fiber of mine was soaked with water when I came in out of the storm,” said Ethelind. in a low voice. Mr. Ferret knitted his brows. Was there ever a more aggravating case? He had shifted his theory of the crime once already—would he be compelled to do this a second time? “ Permit me to ask a question of another sort, Miss Erie,” he said, at length. looking as if he would read her through and through. “ Were you aware that Colonel Falkner would occupy the chamber he did that fatal night?” “ I was not.” she answered, trembling slight- ly, and dropping her eyes. “ Until the alarm was given, you believed that Mr. Ravmoud Challoner had been sleeping there as usual ?” it Yes." Mrs. Falkner now stepped forward, and said, in an unsteady voice: “ The arrangement was decided on ata late hour of the evening. and I am quite sure nobody knew of the change save myself, the parties concern- ed, and one of the servants.” Mr. Ferret uttered an expressive “ Humphl” “ You may dismiss Miss Erie as soon as you please,” be said. to Mrs. Falkner. in an under- tone, and then walked to the window. When Ethelind had gone, he to-ik up the ques- tion of the dagger that had been left sticking in the wound Colonel Falkner had received. Of course he had already informed himself that the ‘ weapon belonged in the house. “ Where was it usually kept?” he inquired. “ In a cabinet that stands in the room Miss Dolores Gloyne now occupies.” “ Send for Miss Glnyne.” then Dolores made her appearance, the de- tective abruptly confronted her with the dagger, and the stern demand: “ When was the first time you ever saw this weapon, Miss Gloyne?” One night, when the games were in full blast, there walked into the Alkali Angel’s place a man who was a study. He was taller by a head than the tallest tough in Bobtail Flush. He wore a poor suit of clonhes which had seen better days from their looks, and there was about him a certain de- cayed gentility that kept back the smears of those who eyed him. He was fifty if a day, and when~he came down the aisle and looked wistfully at the tables, with the eye of an old gambler, men nodded respectfully and even made way for him. . Singling out the owner’s table, where a game of monté was in full blast, the principal partici- pant of which was a Mexican against whom the whole gang had combined, he went over to it and looked on. Betting was running high, and for some time nothing was heard but the jingle of coin. “ Won’t you bet, sir?” queried the dealer, looking up presently and catching the new~ comer 8 eye. “ i would like to bet, but maybe you wouldn’t take my wager.” “ We take anything here,” was the reply. “ \Ve alloiv anything to be staked.” “ Very well," and the speaker leaned forward and fixed his strange gray eyes on the Angel. “ Then I bet my head.” A queer silence fell over the game, and the gamblers of Bobtail looked at the man as if they thought him mad. “ Oh, there’s nothing the matter with it,” he Went on: touching his forehead with a curious smile. “ It's a little old and has had some hard kn0cks in its time. but that’s all. What it knows is womb more than all i'ou’ve got on the board; but I stake it against fifty.” :: ghatl ag’in’ fifty dollars?” cried several. P8 The Alkali Angel looked away and caught the keeper of Bobtail, but he was not permitted to reach the table unmolested. “ Hands up i” cried a voice at the door. And those who looked in that direction saw the woman covering Joe with a weapon as dead— ly-looking as his own. Then the Alkali Angel said, with the deeper- ation of one driven to the wall: “ Two heads against one? Will you stake them on the turn of a card?” “ Yes!” came coolly from the UnknOWn. “ I bet on the last card in the deck as it lies on the table. It is a diamond l” “ All right," said the dealer, and his hand he- gan to remove the cards. Slowly the pasreboards fell away until but two remained. Those who had watched the turning noticed that a spade and a diamond were left. Captain Alkali’s fingers trembled as they touched the top card. The Unknown looked on'es'if nothing unusual was taking place. The first of the two cards was lifted and a spade came into View. “ J ehosaphat! We’ve lost!” said Joe, under his breath. With a curse Captain Alkali turned up the last card and threw it face upward on the board. it was the ten of diamondsl The Angel pushed back his chair and arose. “ knew you would come some time,” he said, locking squarely into the eyes across the table. “ Is that your daughter, yonder?” “That is Peri. My dear, we have won; the head of Captain Alkali is yours. The life of the man who broke up our home years ago with the assisgance of the fiend on my left belongs to you. Grating his teeth till they cracked behind his sweeping mustache, Captain Alkali folded his when silence was restored the scout said: “ Now, men, I have just this to say: “ I came to these camps and there are men who know me, and knew me before I came here, so I need no further proof than to say that I am a scout. guide and Indian-fighter, at present on the lookout to try and strike it rich in mining. “ The man Whose dead body lies behind me. I came to nurse one night, and he asked me to go upon a mission for him. “ I accepted the offer and went. “That mission was to go to Texas and bring back with me Richard Markham the brother of the dead-miner. . “ He runs a ranch in Texas, his daughter Was Matt Markham’s heir. and I want after him, be- ing successful where six others had failed, five of them losing their lives in the attempt. “ I found Captain Richard Markham upon his ranch. and he returned with me, we arriving last liliight a short while before Matt Markham‘s deat . ~ ‘ “ We dodged the Mountain Marauders under Murello the Mexican, who was lying in ambush for us, and arrived in safety. “Today I went tothe mines to call you to- gether to the burial, and now it is said that I have plotted to get Matt Mark ham’s money. “ It is false, and the man who says ’so is a liar and knoivs it. “ I have no more to say, except that, after the burial of Miner Markham, I am ready to hold myself responsible to any man who con- Siders himself insulted by my words.” There were a number who cheered the words of Dashing Charlie: but others hissed and groaned, and Pete Parker called out: “See here, Dashing Charlie, will you answer some questions to‘clear yourself!” “ Yes, if other than you desire it.” “ Answer i" came in a roar. ‘ “ What would _\ do know, Pete Parker?” “ Did you talk with him?” “ Yes, I talked with you.” “ With me?” “ So I take it.” “ W all?" “ We had a game together each time.” “ Indeed?” " Sure.” “ Who Won I” ‘ “ I believed that I did.” “ You believed that you did?” “ So I said." “ And did you not?" “I won the game. ” “ And got your money!” “ I got what I thought was money.” “How is that?” " Well, all I got is counterfeit." “ What do you mean by this, Doctor Quirk?” “ I mean that you paid me in counterfeith the amount of my winnings.” A perfect howl went up at, this from the min. ers, and seeing his advantage, Old Rhubarb drew from his pocket a roll of crisp benk-notsa, and said: ‘ “ Here isthe wad, and thoso as know good money can examine this for themselves, for I say it is no good." uily a hundred men rushed forward to ex- amine the bills. but the doctor quickly replaced them in his pocket with the cunning remark: “ No. i don’t wish it to get into circulation, pards, here in the camps. for it’s walnut the law, so go slow all of you.” The crowd looked disappointed, for many of the would-be examiners would have clung on to what they got their hands upon beyond all doubt. A " You know genuine money. Poker Paul, and so do you, Remeen, and Iron Ike, so just say if that which the doctor has is Dashing Charlie. counterfeit,” said .. '14,. .......v x. . "Novel-— v- mane—mm ~ nun...- ~. .-—- mmwmmm-w-ru N, . I . t 7.1, iv...» .. w“*’.-wv~ mm» Mr m but enur- x