We 8 surfer? was! Illllllumn L E so red, had now assumed a purple-like hue, portraying plainly the cause of his death—apoplexy! Mr. Bloodgood was first to speak. “ This is a deplorable and shocking af- fair, due, if you will permit me to say so, to an accident. I can but feel that this man’s death is attributable to the shock he sustained consequent upon hearing my avowal. It further confirms my belief that we are now, for the first time, standing by the dead body of Col- onel Rehy. Let me convince you of this, and then I have a plan to suggest which may spare others much disgrace and mis- ery. Colonel Rehy received two wounds during the Mexican War; a bullet hole in the left leg and a sabre cut in his sword arm. If the marks of these wounds are not found upon this man, I will agree that I have made a fatal mistake. Let us see.” Yes; there they were! Those scars which, when fresh and red, had brought him enviable laurels, but now, when white and old, are used as witness to bear testimony of such a different char- acter! “I am thoroughly perplexed; dum- founded! ” exclaimed Mr. Hepworth, who, as coroner, had viewed so many dead bodies that he was quite inVulnerable to the solemnity of the occasion. “How could this man have posed as Judge Rehy with the latter’s wife and daughter on hand to detect the counter- feit? ” “ You forget,” answered Mr. Bloodgodd, " that the resemblance between the two brothers was so strong that the very per- sons you mention mistook them frequent- ly. You may not know that Mrs. Rehy has for over a year been a great sufferer from spinal trouble, and never leaves her inclined couch; also, that an affec- tion of the eyes makes -it necessary to keep her room darkened the entire time. Certainly you and Dixon were sufficiently familiar with the judge, yet you were de- ceived.” ‘ Poor Holmes was in a state that baffles description. _ What a blow to his hepes! How different it was from what he had anticipated. ~ Instead of going to Miss Rehy proudly with the intelligence that he had found the assassin, she must be told by others that he was the cause of her uncle’s death, who, through him also, was re- vealed a murderer! It was too horrible. Tears were in his eyes; which looked wild and abnormally large; his face was ashen and he was trembling violently. Mr. Bloodgood, observing Dixon’s pit- iable condition, said: “ There are few catastrophes that are not attended with unforeseen blessings. Dreadful as this seems to us, horrible as it actually is, yet it might have been worse. Think of the disgrace and the misery that would have had to be borne by Mrs. and Miss Rehy had we handed this man, their relative, over to the au- thorities as the murderer of their father and husband! “ It would have been our duty to have done so had not a greater and more wise judge come to our relief. The pri- vacy surrounding us seems Providential. Nothing can now be gained by making public. the facts KNOWN TO OUR- SELVES ALONE. To the same im- partial judge, who spared us the distasteful duty, let us consign this man. By making this public we would succeed in killing that poor in- valid, and completely ruining the life of the beautiful young woman whom we all reverence. It would be useless, sel- fish, wicked, inhuman to do so! Let us keep the secret locked in our hearts, nev- er to be revealed until such time when we are summoned before the bar, so in- finitely higher than any of this sphere, where this man is now arraigned. Let him to the end pass, as JUDGE Rehy! Surely there need now be no fear of de- tection. It was fortunate we three were present. We may all bear witness to the stroke he sustained, and to the fact that he died without regaining conscious- ness.” This plan, suggested by Mr. Bloodgood, and readily accepted by the others, was not prompted by any selfish motive. There is a certain class who delight in tracing every humane, generous act to some selfish source. Persons of such calibre might doubtless find in Mr. Blood- good’s desire for secrecy a wish to extri- cate' himself from all participation in the affair. His dislike to Judge Rehy was well known, and to be implicated in the matter would ruin his political pros- pects. The same ones might argue that Mr. Hepworth wished the truth concealed because it would be such a blow to his reputation as coroner. He had publicly and consistently maintained that the col- onel, had committed suicide. Holmes had more reason than the others for wishing to keep the matter private. Should the facts become known it would be impossible for him to ac- cOmplish his purpose. But these three men were not actuated ’by any such contemptible motives; their one object was to lighten the burden to be borne by the two women who, uncon- sciously, for some weeks, had been with- out father and husband. The murder, like many another one, was never explained. The colonel was buried and mourned as Judge Rehy, and no suspicions of the real facts were ever entertained, so faithfully had the three kept their compact. A few months later Mrs. Rehy suc- cumbed to the malady which had made the later years of her life a cycle of suffering. and Ina was left mistress of “The Elms ”——an elegant and appropri- ate setting for so rare a jewel. But her reign as a solitary queen was of brief duration; “ The Elms” soon had a mas- ter in whom the reader may recognize a quondam acquaintance—the amateur detective. From letters, which fell into his hands later, Mr. Bloodgood discovered that Col- onel Rehy had been in love with the young woman whom the judge made his second wife. Might not jealousy have been the motive? THE END. THE WAGER. BY C. T. H. We played a careless, listless game, And both declared ’twas dull and tame, And hastened to get through it. “ And now,” said I, “I know a. way To add some interest to the play, If you’ll consent to do it.” “ Agreed,” said she; “ I’m willing quite, And e’en a bet I’d call all right, But I’ve no money handy.” ” Suppose," said I, “ we play like this, I’ll bet you ’gainst a single kiss, A five-pound box of candy." She blushed a. little, then she cried “ I'll do it—luck is on my side— I’ll win the wager squarely; We’ll play one hand of High-Low-Jack.” I cut, and then she took the pack, And dealt each nine cards fairly. " We’ll bid for trumps, then discard three.” “ Herer’ls two,” cried I; “ give three,” cried s e, “ And heart is What I make it.” The three cards that she laid aside Down in her lap I saw her hide, Then chose a card and played it. And now our interest was intense, Nor was the game long in suspense, For easily I won it.~ My queen was high, my four-spot low, She flushed—got angry—didn’t know “ How in the world I’d done it.” But when I tried to claim my bet She struggled hard, and somehow let Those three cards fall unguarded. The ace, deuce, ten-spot, at her feet; Dear girl, she didn’t want to beat, For these she had discarded. The Dead-Squareipnrl’s Double; Dare Deverell’s Life Hustle. BY JOS. E BADGER, JR., AUTHOR or “ SPARKLER SAM," um, ETC. CHAPTER XXXI. A DOUBLE SURPRISE FOR SIMON. Only an ear of exceptional keenness could have caught those sounds at all, much less located them so accurately, although no doubt past experience had something to do with this. Giving that hasty warning, the Dare- devil Sport silently sprung to the shaft tself, looking upward to where the mouth was fairly visible against the starry sky. Closely following came both Morgan- stern and Bassett, and as the three pair of keen eyes looked upward, one and all caught sight of a human head and shoul- ders at one edge of yonder opening. “ Whom do you suppose it is? ” asked the merchant, in guarded whispers, as they stood there taking eager notes. “Not sure, but big money it’s White- head! And if—look!” Another head became visible, and in- distinct mutterings came floating down the old shaft. “ Dodge back if you see ’em drop any dumplings!” warned the Dreadnaught Sport. “ It may be that—if they only would try it on!” “ What? Stone us out? ” “ No, but come down to learn for cer- tain—glory to the ram! I do really be- lieve that’s just what they’re going to try on! " Almost breathlessly this came, yet there appeared to be fair foundation for that belief, after all. Yonder heads disappeared for a short space; then louder sounds were heard by the .watchers below. A few seconds later those sounds materialized in the shape of a stout timber which the two men placed across the mouth of the shaft. This was enough to satisfy the keen- witted sport as to what was in contem- plation, and knowing as he did that Simon Whitehead had only the night be- fore paid that shaft a “business visit,” he felt fairly safe in concluding that one of yonder oddly acting fellows was the adroit little limb-of—the-law. Now that Knox Bassett had proven an alibi which could not be doubted, his sole hope of clearing away the chain of mysteries which had fairly wrapped him round of late days lay in capturing and forcing a full confession from Simon Whitehead. All this flashed through his brain, and his resolve was as quickly taken. Turning to his companions, Deverell drew them back into the tunnel, then speaking in whispers: - “One of yonder knaves is almost cer— tainly Simon Whitehead, and he surely knows how Bill Davis came by his death! Now, will you help me clear away all this nasty mix, gentlemen? ” “ Tell us how,” curtly suggested Mor- ganstern. “ One of those rascals will come down here to make sure about Davis, but it may not be my man; understand?” “ Yes. Go on.” “ Good! If you’ll wait for the oneOthat does come this way, and grip him tight; will you, though?” “Sure as death, pardner!” “ Thanks! I’ll hustle out and jump the one who stays up aloft; and between us—U v “If there should happen to be more than one? ” “ I’m good for an even half-dozen, far as that goes,” with grim resolut10n. “ But I don’t look for more. There were but a couple besides Davis, I know, and so— listen! ” Another look up the shaft showed them the men in busy preparation for that de- scent, and fearing to lose further time, Deverell swiftly added as all drew back: “ Take him without a row if you can, gentlemen, but take him! If you can shut off his wind so his mate up yonder can’t suspect too soon, I’ll come out rd! ” ‘ jaxlali‘hat’s what we’ll do if it lies in the cards!” declared the gambler; but Dare Deverell was no longer listening. v Satisfied that, as far as possible, his newly made friends and allies would act in his interests, the Dauntless Sport hur- ried off past yonder corpse, making all practical speed along that dark passage, hoping to clear the tunnel and speed up the hillside to the mouth of the old shaft in time to capture the fellow remaining above-ground. Now that Deverell had left them, Mor- ganstern and Bassett had nothing to di- vert their attention from what was going on above, and standing well within the mouth of the drift, so as to draw back in case anything dangerous to human life should take a tumble down the shaft, they waited and watched with burning curiosity. That stout timber was securely placed across the opening, and some little time was spent in making it secure, since the main weight of Simon Whitehead was to be placed upon it, “John Smith ” merely guiding the rope as it should slip over while the lawyer descended. “ Yonder he comes!” whispered Bas- sett, softly. They both saw a human figure carefully “ cooning” out on that timber, pausing for a brief space, then gingerly slipping over one side of that prop, feet thrust through a loop in the end of a rope, evi- dently intending to sit in that loop while being lowered away. ‘ “Looks like Simon, for a fact, pard‘ ner! ” muttered Morganstern, now strong— ly interested in this little drama. “ We’ve got to take him, Knox!” V “ Of course; but just how? ” , “ It ought to be easy enough, since he isn’t fetching any light with him,” came the answer as they beheld-the little coun- sellor swing fairly clear of that brace, slowly coming their way at the end of a rope. Morganstern slipped out of his coat, handing it to Bassett while whispering: “I’ll keep him from kicking, it you’ll muffle his head. Don’t mind choking him if he tries to squeal too loud! ” There was no time for further com- munications, for Simon was drawing nearer the bottom of the shaft, and his wakeful ears might take the alarm too soon—if not in time to save himself, at least soon enough to warn his accomplice above-ground. When yet a few feet above the bottom, Whitehead drew a match across one thigh, the light leaping up brilliantly and sending both Morganstern and Bas— sett scurrying away into the tunnel, for fear of premature discovery. “How is it?” called a voice from above, to which the lawyer made instant reply. “ All right, so far! A few feet more and—steady now! ” The match was still ablaze when Whitehead touched those rocks with his feet, and, _thanks to that totally unex- pected action, the men in waiting felt obliged to postpone their rush. Simon quickly slipped out of the noo'se, leaving the rope to dangle until he should require its services again. “What luck, confound you, man! ” came impatiently from the surface. “Wait, and let me have a chance to see for myself, can’t you?” called back the little law-sharp, striking another match and holding flame to the wick of a candle—end brought along in his pocket for just such an emergency as this. Still further discomfited, the two men on guard shrank back as they saw this action, fearing to make their assault now, lest they be seen by the lawyer’s pal above. Whitehead flashed his flickering light over the bottom of the shaft, giving a curious grunt as he failed to see aught of the corpse which he knew ought to be close at hand; but. ere he could take affright at its absence, he glimpsed the tunnel and started that way with a low ejaculation of surprise. He knew nothing of other workings than that single shaft; but, as he pushed on inside that drift, he made a discovery which gave him quite a shock: the body of Bill Davis, propped up against one side of the tunnel! Surely he had crushed that body under yonder rocks! Surely one so crushed could never move thus far, or assume such a curious position? Simon Whitehead stared in amazement at that ghastly vision, and thus he sealed his own doom, for in perfect Si- lence those two watchers leaped upon him, crushing him to earth like a broken reed! There was no outcry, and hardly the semblance of a struggle on his part, so complete was that surprise, and so surely . did those two men do their work in uni- son. Choked, blinded, pinioned arms and legs, Lawyer Whitehead was quickly placed beyond power of working further harm, for the time being at least. This done, Morganstern muttered in low tones to the gambler: " Sit on him, Bassett! Keep him from glilv'ing even a squeak while I—steady, a . ’1 From yonder shaft came sounds which told of growing impatience on the part of the man left on the surface, and the Paradise merchant hastened to win a view of what might be going on in that direction. ' Looking upward, he saw the torso of a man outlined against the stars, and heard a hoarse voice make the demand: “ Speak up, curse ye! What’s the word down yonder? ’ Morganstern hesitated for a moment or two, hardly knowing what to do, lest he should frighten away the knave before Dare Deverell could cover.the ground; but that fierce demand was repeated, while the r0pe was shaken violently. “ I say, you old fool! What have you found? How goes it? Talk white, or Satan burn me if you can’t stay there until—-” ‘ ‘ “ It’s all right, so far!” called back a voice so amazingly like that of Simon .Whitehead as to give Morganstern a great start, in spite of his strong nerves. It proved to be Bassett, who imitated that voice, and who added in a hurried whisper for the merchant’s benefit: “ I’ve choked Simon still enough! So —great glory !—-look out! ” For, just then, both men heard a sharp, angry cry above, and saw that leaning figure draw swiftly back, just as though he had discovered an enemy approaching. Then— ' With a wild, horrified yell a man top- pled over the edge of the old shaft, pitch- ing downward, headforemost! .%- CHAPTER XXXII. THE DOUBLE UNMASKED. Never man living used greater exer-. tions to “get there” in time, than did Dare Deverell; and it really seemed as, though perfect success was about to re- ' ward his efferts. He caught sight of a human shape kneeling at one side of the shaft-mouth, as he approached, and knew from this that all must have gone well, thus far. He was almost within leaping distance when his foot turned on a loose stone, and saving himself from an awkward fall made noise enough sufficient to alarm yonder Double. The schemer leaped erect with a fierce cry, and as he saw the Dare-devil Sport springing his way once more he drew a revolver, at the same time springing backward, forgetting what lay so close at his heels. ' - One wild, horrified yell; then he van- ished from view, leaving Deverell horror- stricken and helpless, for the moment. The sport rallied quickly, however, rushing forward and leaning far over that shaft-opening as he gave a hoarse cry to his friends below. a The answer was delayed for a time, and all seemed confusion on the lower level; then a candle shone forth, and presently Morganstern called up the shaft: “Dead! Mashed to a pulp—almost! ” “ Wait—I’ll come—by the drift! ” Dev- erell called back, turning away from the shaft, for once with iron-nerves shaken too greatly for a second thought of de- scending by means of that rope. Rapidly as he moved, it naturally took some little time to retrace his steps, and when the sport at length came to where Morganstern and Bassett were in wait- ing, he found them pale indeed, but in- tensely excited, the merchant hailing him with: “ We’ve got both ends of the mix-up, pardner! And, look!” The light was flashed upon the face of the one who had so cunningly duped all Paradise Park, and Dare Deverell stood like one petrified, so great was his amazement. For, still alive, though terribly injured by his fall, the Dare—devil Sport’s Double was propped up near where Simon Whitehead lay, and the arch-schemer was— Tracy Carroll! That awful fall had knocked off his wig of curly black hair, showing his own yellow hair close cut, the shorn looks (as was shown later on) having been cun- ningly fashioned into another wig which he wore when appearing as himself. As soon as Deverell could rally from his amazement, he begged Morganstern to coax or reason the whole truth out of the injured man, whom all felt could not live so very much longer; and keeping himself in the background, the sport lisfened eagerly to those broken yet readily comprehended sentences. For now the arch—schemer had lost all his nerve, and seemed only anxious to clear up everything ere death should claim himself. More than once Simon Whitehead strove to interrupt, t0 ViCiOUSIY deny, but Knox Bassett effectually silenced him by shoving a tight gag between hlS jaws. It took both time and patience to win a full'confession, for there was so much to explain, so many mysteries to clear away; but Morganstern proved himself equal to the task, and Tracy Carroll lived more than long enough to give all essential details of that intricate but devilish plot. Simon Whitehead was at the bottom of it all, for he brought word across the ocean that a wealthy relative of Pope Carroll had recently died, willing every— thing to him. Unfortunately for all concerned, White- head was the lawyer employed both to draw up that will and to keep it in charge; for he resolved to win at least a portion of those millions, and acted ac— cordingly. In days gone by. Pope Carroll had un- justly treated his hot-headed young step- son, Dare Deverell, and that stern judg- ment resulted in a run-away which near— ly broke the tender heart of the lads loving mother. Many efforts were made to find Dare, but all in vain, and his mother became a confirmed invalid, holding firm faith in her only son’s innocence through all. Then Pope Carroll discovered his sad mistake, and knew that Dare had been right from the first—that he never did the wrong with which he stood charged, and for which he had been so harshly punished. From that discovery Pope Carroll had but two ends in life: to keep his invalid wife alive and hoping to once again be blessed by sight of her idolized son, and to find that runaway if still living. He enlisted his own son, Tracy, in the search, and finally the young man re- ported that he had made that longed-for discovery. Meanwhile, Simon Whitehead had sought out the son, and together they schemed for full possession of all those millions, to say nothing of the large fort— une which Pope Carroll possessed, of his own gathering. , For Tracy believed~with good reason, too—that his father, morbid through re- morse for past injustice, intended to leave everything he possessed to that errant but not erring step-son. Through a bit of amateur safe—crack- ing, Tracy got hold of a will made direct- ly after that discovery, in which Dare Deverell was given all of which the tes— tator might die possessed, as a partial recompense for cruel injustice done him in days gone by. Keeping his own identity a secret, so far as Dare Deverell was concerned, Tracy made a close study of the Dare- devil Sport, then made his own arrange— ments accordingly, cutting his hair to form a“ wig, and copying that which adorned the Sport’s head and face. Then, when all was in readiness, he sent word for father to come at once to Paradise Park; and Simon Whitehead was given the oflice at the same time. Thus the dangerous game was fairly opened. Tracy really meant to kill his father on i that occasion, and in order to win a fair l excuse, and at the same time further fix !the double crime upon the entrapped sport, he made his mask fall, adroitly. Failing to slay, then, his nerve failed him when further attempts in that same direction were spoken of, and he bent all his powers toward so thoroughly black- ening the reputation of Deverell that Pope Carroll would never dare recognize him as heir, much less take him back to that invalid wife and mother. And, also, he calculated so surely on leading the mob to hang his Double! While ostensibly defending the accused, his every step was taken with an eye to still further convincing all Paradise Park of that criminality; and, but for circumstances wholly beyond his power of controlling, his diabolically ingenious schemes would surely have won the vast stakes he was playing for, in conjunction with the unprincipled little lawyer. This, in brief, covers the confession made by the terribly injured man, and when Simon Whitehead savagely de- nounced Carroll as a liar, pure and Sim— ple, Tracy spoke of the statement in writing which his confederate had left in other hands, begging them to look the matter up and from that see how truly he had spoken. This broke the lawyer down, and he proved himself a veritable cur; but no one listened to him, and when his whin- ings grew too offensive he was once more ngagged. That written statement was finally discovered at the express office, left for safe keeping, and when opened in the presence of a select committee of Para— dise citizens it told enough to wholly clear the Dare—devil Sport in the eyes of all, friends and enemies alike! The awful death and black sins of his son, neither of which could be kept from him, proved a heavy blow to Mr. Carroll, from which he never entirely recovered. Noreen and Dare nursed him tenderly, ing their long-ago acquaintance, which quickly ripened into something far more precious; and when Mr. Carroll declared his ability to return homeward, the young couple were betrothed! They were wedded not many weeks later, and two gentle-toned invalids smiled upon that union, two voices blessed the newly married couple; but only one of those two lived long enough to welcome the first-born. Pope Carroll gradually faded away, and when he was in his last earthly home his will was opened and read, to find that all that vast fortune was bequeathed to Dare and Noreen, in equal parts, while Mrs. Carroll held a life interest in the property. Simon Whitehead was never brought to trial for all the crimes in which he played so prominent a part, simply be- cause the lynchers rendered any such action a useless formality! The execrable rogue “went up a tree in fine shape! ” One of those who held the right end of the rope was Andrew Hammer, who after- ward pronounced it the finest possible cure for sore backs! THE END. BUFFALO BILL Novas” LAMPS DIME 213% By Colonel Prentiss lngrnhnm. 904 Buffalo Bill’s Tangled Trail. 900 Buffalo Bill’s Rough Riders. 895 Buffalo Bill's Secret Ally. 890 Buffalo Bill’s Life-Stake: or, The Pledged Three 882 The Three Bills: Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill and Band box Bill; or, The Bravo in Broadcloth. 374 Buffalo Bill‘s Buckskin Braves. 869 Buffalo Bill’s Road-Agent Round-up. 863 Buffalo Bill’s Death Charm. 857 Buffalo Bill’s Royal Flush. 851 Buffalo Bill’s Double Dilemma. 845 Bufialo Bill’s Redskin Ruse. 830 Buffalo Bill’s Boys in Blue. 826 Buffalo Bill’s Sharp-Shooters. 822 Buffalo Bill’s Best Bower. 816 Buffalo Bill’s Red Trail. 812 Buffalo Bill‘s Death-Knell. 794 Buffalo Bill’s Winning Hand. 787 Buffalo Bill’s Dead Shot. 781 Buffalo Bill’s Brand. 777 Buffalo Bill’s Spy-Shadower. 769 Buffalo Bill’s Sweepstake. 765 Buffalo Bill’s Dozen. 761 Buffalo Bill’s Mascot. 757 Buffalo Bill’s Double. 750 Buffalo Bill’s Big Four. 743 Buffalo Bill’s Flush Hand. 739 Buffalo Bill’s Blind. 735 Buffalo Bill and His Merry Men. 731 Buffalo Bill’s Beagles. 727 Buffalo Bill’s Body Guard. 722 Buffalo Bill on the War—Path. 716 Buffalo B ll’s Scout Shadowers. 710 Buffalo Bill Baffled. 697 Buffalo Bill‘s Buckskin Brotherhood. 691 Buffalo Bill's B ind Trail. 667 Buffalo Bill’s Swoop; or, the King of the Mines 649 Buffalo Bill’s Chief of Cowboys; or,Buck Taylor. 644 Buffalo Bill’s Bonanza. 362 Buffalo Bill’s Grip. 329 Buffalo Bill’s Pledge. 189 Wild Bill’s Gold Trail. 175 Wild Bill's Trump Card. 168 Wild Bin. the Pistol Dead Shot. 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