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Copyrighted In 1881 by Bum; nu) Anus. August 2. 1881.

  

Single PUBLISH 19D \VICl‘IKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, Price.
VOL  Number. N0. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 Cents- NO‘ 2 1 0'

 

 
      
     

Elinor-RANK 0F HIGH PINE; or, DANDY DARKE’S an-nanms:

BY WILLIAM R- EYSTER,
AV'J‘HOR OF “DANDY DARKE,” 111330., 14.1'1‘C., JGTG.

 

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“NOW GI‘VE 15‘ To ’my. Ax’ Dow’r \\',-\$L'FE A SHOT. THEY’LL LEARN A nuva on TWO, YGU BET!" (mn'mn GEYSER JOE.

  

 

  

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L..."m_ ,J. LII—$11". 3:. 'T.’.IT.""""  " " "‘“MIITI’w” I ,.

F Frank of High Pine:
Dandy Darke’soao-Down Pards.

BY WILLIAM R. EYSTER,
AUTHOR or “ DANDY DARKE,” ETC., arc.

 

CHAPTER I.
JOHN DUKE, or DENMARK. ,

MOUNTED upon a sorry-looking mustang, a
man was making his way slow along a trail
that, leading art through a ch,a proached
the camp of gh ine from t e nort ~east.

The man was every whit as dilapidated
looking as the beast' and from appearances
they had been traveling long without rest or
refreshment.

As they emer ed from the gulch to the level
of the plain the der saw, with a smile of satis-
faction, thatttbey were heading straight for the
gash in the mountains through which lay the
trail Rom which the had wandered. _

"Go it, old lady ” said the traveler, in a
thick, rumbling whisper, as the mustang quick-
ened its pace. “ You’z ez nigh tuckered out ez
I he, an’ that’s sayin’ a dog—gonad sight. Hole
{or old head up or ye’ll turn a summerset, an’

reak a legfur some one. Thar! I told yer so;
but ’taiu’t no use. Er yer hain’t no backbone

er can’t hold er head u , an thar’s an end on
A clean diff mile an no water. Et’s ro h

on ther funer persesh. Ef yer stumble ag '11
I’ll take it as a warnin’ to reverse. I’ll stick to

er, ele , of I hev to yer myself all
ner we. . m hyer to High ine. Sanctified
sole lea erl what a thet? Whoa I”

r was no necessity for the' exclama-
tion, tor the mustang had just stopped perma-
nalt . From somewhere to the rear there
came rt of a ride, the whack of a bullet
strum flea and the s -looking steed sunk
to the gem with a ball itsheart.

Thain-lie hadps-edso near to thelegofthe
rider that he felt t go by.

The mustang went down; but the rider re-
fined unharmed. With more agility than
one who jud from his looks would have

it for, he fiung himself out of the
old saddle, and dropped at full length
on ground. making a sort of barricade of
the I , which, after a few convulsive kicks,
lay ttonless.

‘ ‘I's a tramp an’ 1’: a terror; but I ain’t
anxious fur a wictim,” muttered the man,

the

huggin the ad. “ All winds is rough furs
rotten p, an’ ?m ther center ov a dimkibihty,
as usual ”

Then raising his voice, he continued:
“ I call, pard; show yer hand l”
one answered. Except the last faint
giver of the dying mustang not a sound was
he heard.

Waiting amcment or two, and receiving no
red anxiously around the body
orse, scanninghthe ground in the
direction from whence the s at had come.
Nothing rewarded his scrutiny. For all he
eonldseeor hear he might be so e upon the

“Summat cur’us, that, [t mout be a fallin’
star, er a stroke or lightniu’, only them giner-
ally comes down: an I kin sw’ar that were a
line shot, on ther level. Hev ter try it a ’in.
Bay, pardl Let’s call it a new deal. I’ll old
theredge an’ you chip or bunch ther keerds.
It's our say so an’ I’m a-watchin’ 0v yer;
wha yer goin’ ter do?”

This time the ragged hero waited a full five
minutes. Then he picked up the old blanket
that had been loose y strapped to his saddle,
and placing his hat on the end of the roll, care-
fully elevated it just above the back of the

mustang. _
“ rate that With yer ole radiator,” he
chuckled.

But whoever the man in ambush might be he
was endengly up to such Indian wiles, and the
but remain unperforated.

Then the man of rags seemed to grew tired
of inaction, and after a cautious surve of the
field he crawled away from his barri .

Straight on he went, for perhaps a hundred

». and fifty yards, until he came to a gulch-like
depression in the plain, the existence of which
be had not even suspected. Upon the sloping,
opposite bank, perhaps ten feet from the top,
lay a dark heap, that could not be mistaken.
Ewes the body of a man. In front of him,
wuss ill mm e pointing directly toward the
MM, laya carbine.

O A \

 

Faro I rank of H1gh Pine.

The explorer gave vent to a hissing sound,
indicative of good - humored surprise. He
scented a probable explanation of the mystery,
and'crawled on, down into the ravine, and up
to the body, which 19. head downward just as
it had fallen. A trai 10d away from the body,
over the bank, toward the mountains.

“That’s it! Thar were two on ’em fired to-
gether, an’ this ’un’s bullet went wide enough to
come nigh slaughterin’ yours truly. Sich is
life; They’ve left his canteen, fur which bless-
in’ make us truly, et cetery.”

He carelessly undid the canteen from the
body, shook it, and then placing it to his lips
took a lo draught. V

“ It’s on y water; but on sich an emergency I
kin risk it. Ef I don’t drop within a’minute,
I’ll consider ther i’ison won’t take efleclr.”

The rough, uu empt mustache curled into
something of a smile, and the deep-set little
gra eyes twinkled as he stood there, ’ ap ar-
ent y waiting to see what would be the res t of
the beverage.

Yet, in reality, he was watching the supposed
corpse with conSIderable interest, for it seemed
to him that he had cau ht a glimpse of aslight
chan e of color in the c eek that was partly ex-

to his view.

“Not dead, ehl Thet’s my luck. Yere I’m
come, to be a Good Samaritan, all ready fur a
funeral, an’ ther co hes gone back on me.
About than time I’m oin’ my purtiest some one
allers mounts me. Men is soongratelul. Think
I’ll let him lay.”

Nevertheless he had no such idea, forihe knelt
down, moistened the white lips with water, and
then examined the wound, that seemed to be
right in the center of the forehead.

‘ Ther : shot war fired from ther bottom of
ther ra one, an’ it filmed right ’round ther
bone. t’s better to born lucky than rich,
an’ a thick skull’s better than either. Stout
legs ain’t so bad moreover when there‘s a tramp
aheard fur High Pine. What’ll I do with him,
anyhow?”

‘ You villain! what have you done to him 1”

CHAPTER II.
a marron IN om.

HIGH Pm, nestling among the hills, was a
town that looked to the fu ure. More than
once in the past had it been the center of a
“boom,” and as often had it been raided out of
existence, or along continued drouth had ren-
dered valueless the tolerany rich pa gravel of
the lacers in the valle s and ches, while
capial had not yet come n to furnish the need-
ed machinery to work the somewhat intracta-

ble rock.

But High Pine, Phenix-like, as often grew
again. Men (plied pick, shovel and rocker in the

ulches; an the Gr-Down shaft, and one or
we other mines, had the reputation of being
embryo bonanzas.

Unfortunately the people of the lace had an
evil reputation, no worse, either, t an the fact
and this, as much as anything else; deterred
capital from venturing there. The men who
di the business of the town went about like
walking arsenals, and every citizen interpreted
law through the medium of his own revolver
and bowie-knife. In addition the cam was
tributary to marauders, who had their visi-
ble, but powerful little empire, in the neighbor-
ing mountains, where the were supposed to
know of rich placers, wh chthe worked in
conjunction with the trails lead ng out from
Hi h Pine. .

or the most part immigrants appigached the
camp from the north, though the ii was ar-
duous and full of dangers because to the south
the way swarmed with Apache who had
taken in more than one outfit, and ad sworn
that no white man should pass through unless
he cut his way with ball or steel. One would
have an ed that none would have cared to
enter one a place; but with gold as a bait what
izrapd is there into which victims cannot be
ure . '

Besides; it was necessary to keep up connec-
tion with the outside world, and to the trains
that occasionally went and came, in force, those
seeking this land of promise, of which such
vague, hazy reports could be heard, renerally
attached themselvss.

Such a train was due at High Pine now.

Joseph Burke, better known as Geyser Joe,
was on the way, bringing supplies for the Go-
Down shaft, though under his wing journeved a

 

few who thus hoped safely to run the gantlet of ‘

redskins and outlaws. Reckless sports, or
rough-handed miners were they, for the most
part; but there were two upon whom the keen,
discriminating eyes of Geyser Joe looked with

 

more disfavor than the wildest of these blades,
since one was the pantherish, wild-eyed, treach—
erous-lookin Mexican, Alan Argado, of whom
he had hear no good re rt; and the other was
a darkly handsome girl, aquel by name whom
the Mexican claimed as his daughter. The one
mi ht mean mischief, and the other trouble.

f Burke could have fallen behind a few
hundred yards, and loitercd unseen near to
this pair, a little before sunset he would havo
hear something that would have confirmed
‘him in his instinctive suspicions, though it
might, besides, have changed in some little his
views in regard to Raquel.

The two were conversing earnestly, and
apparently in no very amicable mood, for more
fiber; once Alan Argado lifted a threatening

an .

“ Sancta Maria 1” he growled. “ Girl, do you
want to bring death to both of us! What is
this man to you that you should come between
me and him? And, why have you thrust
yourself in here to make my work harder than
ever? Satan himself could neVer have supposvd
that you would, at the last moment swear
that on would go to High Pine.”

“ here are many things, Alan Argado. that
on do not know until they come about. From

he moment I knew that you were going thither

I vowed to go, too, for there is one there that i
must meet. And from the time I knew that
you were seeking to slay this man upon the
way I have sought to save him."

‘ And done so. But for you my knife would
have found him before this.”

“ Yes, bacause he must live, though I do hate
him because he is one of those who have taken
the blood of the Argados. But you shall not
kill him and then leave me to the mercy of the
camp or the wilderness. They would sla me
without a thought. Wait until we reach igh
Pine and then strike him “(your will.”

“ But I cannot wait. I have vowed that even
’ere this I would have his life. The money,
even, is in my band. He must go no further or
one who never forgives failure will call me to
account.”

“When?”

The (westion brought a look of trouble to his
face 1th a little esitation he answered:

“ When we reach High Pine.”

“ Yes, if tyou ever reach it. But something
tells me the if your plan is successful this train
will never reach 111 h' Pine. With its captain
and leader one it w 1 fall an easy prey to the
gang of on we whose tool you are. You may
choose to fall into their hands, but I don’t and
won’tl Geyser Joe is my protection and I will

retest him; yes, if I have to tell him to watch
or an assassin in the train.”

“ What, and betrai me?” ’
“ Yes, even that, i on drive me to i I, too,

have my revenges an myhates, and gold nor
threat can move me. ”

“ Then hear me. How you divined my plans
I know not; but you know them now. will
carry them out and ifagain you interfere, I'll
slay you, too. It will be my lie or yours, and
mine comes first with me. I came hereto do
my work and I shall not fail.”

‘ Go on thenl’ There is war between us. If
on win or lose the end will be your death.
ass up now, I have nothing more to say.”
She spoke these words With gloom impres-

siveness and then is into silence.
time they had caug t up with the train.

Tliat night Geyser Joe seemed to have a pre-
monition of danger. Perhaps he scented danger
in the air perhaps he was not entirely satisfied
with the location of his cam . He ave strict
orders to the three men W cm he (1 told to
act as sentinels durin the first relief and then
stole quietly awa
lost from sight in be long grass through which
he snake-er made his way.

His absence created no alarm and but little
discussion in the camp. No one else scen'ed
danger, and the group by the camp-fire still
keptu their careless conversation, in a tone
little ' any subdued. .

Argado, indeed, had watched his departure
with a fierce glitter in his eye, though soon
after he had retired to his wagon, Whitln":
Raquel had already withdrawn. Even had lllf'
men at the camp-fire suspected his intention.
unless they had drawn nearer it would him-
taken a sharp eye to have noted just when he.
slipped down from the wagon, and wox med his"
way out of camp, following in the direction
which Ge ser J 00 had taken.

Certain y he too was well skilled in plain»
graft, for bled tap? the trial:) without much
, esitation, a ore very ng was doggm' 2
his footsteps at no gmat distance.

 

nashort '

m the camp, being soon ‘

 

 

Mp“...

 

 

. . ‘

But Burke, who was looking only for the, .‘
danger that might be in front, gave no thought '
It a

t which might lurk behind.

His instincts had not deceived him. Before
he had one a mile he came upon what he knew
was unfindian trail, not many hours old; and
even in the uncertain light. of the crescent moon
he could so» that the red~skins had been heading
for a small clump of trees, that stood near the
wream, and a mile or two further down the
narrow valley.

He paused for a moment or two, debatin
within himself whether he should go on an
follow the trail until it reached the motto, or
whether he should go back to camp and
warn the men of the discovery he had made.
He would have sworn that he had plenty of
time for either course, and perhaps for both.

While he crouched there, with his e es fixed
upon the dim outlines of the clump o timber,
there came a sudden and startling interruption
to his train of thought.

Like a tiger Alan Ar ado sprung upon his
back, with one hand 39' ng him by the throat,
while with the other he held high above him a
gleaming knife. .

“ One, for revenge l" exrelaimed the Mexican;
anthe struck fiercely at the broad back of Gey-
ser oe. '

 

CHAPTER III.

enrsna JOE’S nun) ensues.

Tan attack was so sudden, and so powerful was
the gripe upon his throat, that for a moment,
Ge ser Joe was in the most deadly danger.

ut he was one who never could be taken al-
together off his guard; and in any emergency
be was as quick as li htning to act. At the first
touch of the fingers, 0 had instinctively gath-
ered his muscles to ether for action, and before
they had fairly tig toned he had flung himself
around, face upward. With his left hand be
seized the wrist at his throat, with his right
hand the descending arm, which, missing its
stroke through his sudden motion, sent the graz-
ing blade into the ground by his side. Then he
drew his feet under the Mexican and suddenly
thrustinglthem out again, pitched Argado fairly
over his cad.

Had he been willin to use his revolver Burke
would have had the exican at his mercy; but
the ludian cam was too near. If there was
any way of avouling an alarm he wished to do
80

Drawing his own knife, he sprung forward

a as Argado with cat-like activity, leaped

m the groun , ready to renew the conflict.

The knives met together with an angry clang,
and quick thrusts and quicker parries were
made, though more than once Geyser Joe felt a
slight tench, as his antagonist’s blade barely
missed a decisive stroke, so closely matched
were the two men. . -

At length chance seemed to decide the contest.
Parrying a blow, Burke threw his whole wei ht
forward in a sudden return stroke, that ha it
taken effect, would have settled Argado then
and there. I

But instinct, or the quiver of steel. as the
blades grated, told him what was comm , and
be leaped lightly backward. Then the pot of
Geyser Joe slip in the grass where it was
fighter! and be all at length upon the ground,

tin front of his antagonist.

With a cry of delight the Mexican was about
to hurl himself upon the prostrate man when a
shadow form dartin from the darkness,
bound over Burke an planted itself immedi-
ately in the way of the Mexican, while the
voice of Raquel hissed in his ear:

“ Fool, take this man last of all. Now, with.
out him, we stand a good chance of being lost.
Make your peacel” _

She spoke in low, but thrillinfily earnest tones
and to enforce her words in or outstretched
hand she held a revolver. _

Argado shrunk back. He knew something of
Raquel. When she was in her moods it was
dan arena to cm her. It would not be well
to isregard her command, and she saw that,
for the moment at least, he was cowed into
obedience. -

From the ground Geyser Joe sprung up, red-
hot with rage; but to him Raquel turned, and
the click of the lock sounded harshly on the
night air as she forced back the hammer.

‘ Hold, therel” she exclaimed. “l have just
saved your life. This thing must go, no further
here. Isay it, and I mean it. I know that
there is danger for yonder cam , and on
cam“ boa lezbe it?! I toow’ é
fiat curl 0 ma yo use me, an
,- fins five e for W When we

r.

 

Faro Frank of High Pine.

lmvn reached High l’ine you can take this light
up where you have loft oil'.”

“ What! And leave this cowardly kioio the
chance to slink awuy.’ Never! lie dies byl-r,
1111’ now.”

“He is no coward, for he will meet you at
any time, and it' this be dropped until our jour-
ney’s end is reached, there will be no reason for
him to slink away. Promise, or die! No, no!
Hands u )! Make amove to draw that reVolvor
and I pull trigger.”

The Mexican stood a few paces back, licking
his thin lips nervously. In his hand he still
grasped his knife: and it was plain that he felt
a Ireat uncertainty what was to be the end.

ut, Raquel stood between the two with her
eyes fixed steadily upon the American, and
seemingly with little doubt but that her com—
mands would be obeyed. She mount eVery
syllable she uttered, and beyond a doubt she
held in her hand the life of the man who seldom
before this had been taken at advantage.

" Let it be so; leetle woman. You’ve got
ther drop on me an’I knock under. i dunno
what that sliukin’ greaser hez ag’in’ me; but of
this quarrel kin he took up whar we leave oil‘,
when we’ve tracked out this trail, I ain’t ther
big-head too much to knock under, now. But,
I’ kee a watch on him, though; an’ ther first
showo foul play I’ll drill him. You under-
stand that!”

“ Yes, yesl There must, there shall be a
truce between us until we reach High Pine.
Come, lAlan. Go back with me to camp.”

The three, as if b mutual consent, lowered
their wea ons; and quel, turning, caught the
Mexican y the arm, as though about to lead
him away.

Just then there came to their ears the dull
thunder of many muffled hoofs, close at hand.
Without a second’s hesitation the three flung
themselves at full length upon the ground, for
no ver shrewd head id it take to uess that
the re —skius had wrapped their horse 5 feet—in
pieces of old blanket and buffalo-hide, and were
charging straight in for camp, and that they
were about to sweep over that very ground.

There were half a dozen reasons why Burke,
and the others, should not attempt to flee—the
principal one being that, as they would undoubt-
edly be overtaken, the chances were a hundred
toone that they would be shot down in their

fii ht. . .

The chances seemed almost as great that they
would be tram led under the hoofs of the
mustangs thong it was possible that they
would, 0 themselves, avoid the dark'forms
that their riders might not see, since their eyes
were fixed on the camp beyond.

But a few minutes were givan for considera-
tion. Like a troop of phantoms, noiseless and
grim, two score of shadow riders swept on, in
straggling order, passing, or the most art, but
a few yards from the spot where t e three
crouched.

In the camp beyond all was now silence. Bo
earl in the hi ht vigilance was relaxed, espe-
cial y as little anger was apprehended. If no
warning was given the men of the train might
be ridden down before they could form to re-
sit the attack.

80 seemed to think Raquel Argado and she
decided tonsk her own chances, for she raised
the revolver she still held, and took careful aim.

As she did so an arm reached over her shoul-
der and ressed her hand downward, while a
voice whispered in her ear:

“Wait a minute, leetle woman. You are the
true grit but don’t yer crowd ther mourners.
Wait till I give ther word an’ then you kin
rustle ’em out a-howlin’. Lay low.”

She sunk back without a word. and the rea-
son of Geyser Joe’s advice was made. plain.

At some little distance behind there came a
single warrior, who had evidently started later
than his comrades, and was now heading di-
rectly for them, on a course that would bring
him within a yard or two of Burke. For him
the latter was prepared. In his pathway he
sprung up, caught the bridle of his mustang,
and wrenching the animal back upon its
haunches, bounded at the throat of the savage
who had bowed in his saddle at the shock of
the sudden stoppage.

The fin era 0 Geyser Joe seldom missed their
gripe. T ey sunk into the yielding flesh of the
red—man, steady and strong, like the closing
jaws of a vise.
of strength, Burke dragged him from his seat,
twisted him under his knee, caught from his
belt his knife and sent it hissing, hilt-home.

Throughout the short, sharp lo not a
wm‘doa'am'yhadbeenlt gandvthc

2

Then, with one ponderous wave‘

 

 

.. H”... .0... W. ._._...__..._.___. .. ._.

 

have reached a dozen yards from the spot.
And through it all Geyser Joe bad, with his

li-l'i. howl, l‘cld on to the ill'itiit‘ U'l' l'- istangl
Now he turned. Raquel was u. on. nider.
llo muubt. lu-r up and llung her o. - mus-
tung. 'l‘ln-n lu- vaulted up behiiu‘ or, an
sin l'l'ii lounrd (':llll[) in tho wake ol‘ the indiuns,

who had :dw'kcnud their pace somewhat as
lhcv rough! sight of the glinnner 01’ a still dis-
tant camp fire.

Double weighted 1124 he was the mustang bore
Burke and the Mexican girl onward like a whirl-
\Vlll( .

“ New give it to ’em, an’ d0n’t waste a shot.
They’ll learn a thing or two. you bet!” .

It was for a time no fight, but a hideous
slaughter. 'l‘hrec revolvers, at point-Hunk
range, opened upon the backs of the unsuspect-
ingr red-men, at the very instant that the head
of the mustang was level with the rear line:

One thing was certain; no surprise of the
camp beyond could be made now, for at the
first report, ovary man, without doubt, had
grasped his weapons and prepared for the human
avalanche.

Crack! crack! Again and again sounded
those deadly tubes, report chasing report, while
the flashes lit up the scene with what seeined
almost one continuous flame. .

Taken by surprise, which was made doabl
intense from the attack being from
rear, the red-men slackened their pace, turned
from every side toward the focus of destructiOn,
and yet hesitated. An indiscriminate discharge
of firearms would be more apt to damage friend
than fee.

The momentary irresolution had been counted
on by Gevser Joe when he planned his mad-
charge. While the foe drew in he drove on.
Ten times his revolvers had spoken, scarch
ever in vain; and the girl before him
shown herself almost as expert.

Then as three warriors in their front sunk to
their shots, they burst through the line, and
stored directly for the camp.

It seemed as if success was almost withintbch'
gra , when there was the rin ing (finches-fig
a ri e, the mustang leaped big in air, and .
fell, flingin far his double burden, the man to-
the right, t e woman to the left.

In an instant Burke was upon his foot looking
keenly around. Since he had but two charges
more in his revolvers, he was, for the
almost unarmed; but he had no intention of do-
serting the girl who had stood by him so bravely.

Where was she now?

Perhaps the fall had somewhat dared biasst
could not answer. He could not even gas- in
what direction to look; and his keen, um
glance revealed nothing.

He could not remain there. to be um
slaughtered, and perhaps he might at least
draw the red-skins on further in pursuit and
give her some slim chance to escape. dic-
chai'ged the two remaining chambers of his “I.”
tols and then bounded away. As he went be
coolly  an rechargin the cylinders.

Certain y he seemed o bear a chai mod
A perfect hailstorm of missiles swept at
him, and he was touched more than once, bubs
never i'altered.

Camp was not far distant now, and Ibo”
there seemed to understand the case at, is".

A ain the rattle of fire-arms began, but now- the,

ri es of a dozen sharpshooters were in the

and under their cow-r Geyser Joe darted into
camp, breathless and bleeding, but all the more
a dangerous foe. ‘

Yet he had done his work already. All that
was needed now was a vigorous front; the spirits
of the assailants were broke-n by their losses,
and within fifty yards of the little band of
whites they wheeled and lied.

There was no Sit‘l p that night for the whites.
though the Indians did not again approach.
Toward morning there wuss momentar) alarm;
but it was caused by Alan Argudo, who, in
safety, crawled within the lines.

But he came alone. Raquel was missing, and
when morning dawned, no trace Could be found
of her on the plain, while the red-men, who had
gathered in ) their dead aim Wounded, had also
disappeared.

Yet there was a possibility that the girl lid
escaped. Argado (lid not give u l hope. tho ‘
search proved vain. N it her in: nor Bin
alluded to their quiu rel oi‘ the night bolero.

CHAPTER 1V.
rm: nawss or mun PINE.
NORTH-EAST of High Pine, at some little I
tame dewn the trail, four men stood, engag I
lowmarnmtconversa‘ -- -' > '

\

 

.,_. .,“.....~._i

4

a
I

Faro Frank of High Pine.

 

.me, and scarcely merited particular descrip-
. The fourth, the ruling spirit of the party,
we. young man, whose face was intelligent,
and handsome, with a dark, cruel, crafty been-
up, that attracted perhaps, and yet warned. He
was Lstening to a report, with a savage sneer
on his t'vviu, tightly set li s.

“I to: yer, captain, e ‘ yer think we’re foolin’
away our time, jist you him up an’ try it yerself.
'Hzer Red Sport ain’t no slouc l. We might lay
hr him down at ther shaft, perhaps; but yer
Seem to , fight shy of thet, fur fear of alarmin’
Sher rest.” ‘

“ No, no! That would not ansWer. The job
must be done right here in High Pine. What
are you worth, it in a whole month you could

. find no chance to drop this man I’”

“ It ain’t so easy when he hes his hand allers
fin erin’ ’round his revolver, au’ yer know he
pa 3 quick, an’ shoots plumb center. An’when

thort I’d fix up a little ume to prove thet he
was cheatin’, this cussed andy Darke, az they
call him, kept his eye on me all ther time Red

B’ur wasn’t lookin’. Oh, they’re a boss outfit,
they are; an’ two pards sich ez yer read about.
That young cuss is certain death: an’ you ought
to know thet, captain.” ~

“ Thank you. He is a solid man; but I’m not
paying you to find out what’s no secret. 1f
Argado don’t do his work any better I’ll slaugh-
ter him.”

“ Et’ he kin git away with Geyser Joe, he
earns his money. Ef you take my advice you’ll
begin, at the t’other end. Dandy Darkc is the
brains of ther gang. Clear him outer ther road,
pick oif ther Rm! Sport an’ Joe, an’ finish n p with
ther calico. 'J'hen you kin hop into ther Go—
T)own lively. Er git the boys to Tether an’ wade
right inter ther fort at onst. I igh Pine Won’t
keer shucks.”

“No! His, friends first the vomen next and’
then Dave Doriand; and he must come into my
hands alive. There’s a debt of vengeance that
bisdeath alone cannot pay. Curse him, when
he does dieit shall be by inches.” ‘

“All right! You take yer revenge, an’ we’ll
take ther ducats. But we can’t Worry til ng
this way much longer, ther boys won’t stand t.”

“They will not have long to wait, they and
the red-skins will get a fair booty out of the
train; and whether they succeed in that or not
tbeplans are being laid that will put the shaft
into our hands, I have a man inside there that
does work. The only dilfercnce is, the fighting
may be a little harder.”

‘ Thet’s m the bargain. But, why don’t yer
come inter High Pine? Fixed up thet way
who’s goin’ to know you? And, somehow, you
could pick out ther game a heap sight better
than we kin. How did yer nose it out?”

“By keeping my ears open you plug yoms
up. with benaine. and-then grumble because you
hear nothing. But go back and do the best you
can. 1 have reasons for remaining in the dark.
The end is not far ofl’!” ‘

“ Bull fer ther end, ‘thct’s all! But ther
sooner Baro Frank kims to life ag’in ther better
fur the Hawks ov High Pine.” ' '

- M’ith a few parting injunctions the ouilaw,
whose name had just been revealed, turned
away, and strode down the mountain side,
while the three men shouldered the miles they

carried, and turned their faces toward High

Pine.

Once there they adjourned for an hour to the
shanty m which they lived and then started
for “The Glory” saloon. dust as they were
about entering, a horse and rider dashed by,
and the three halted.

"‘ 'l‘har’s a chance now, an’ dog-gone our fool
luck, hyar we are, all afoot, she’s dril‘tiu’ right
flu“)? ther trail, an’ a blind 1L!!!) could scoop

cr.

“It’s Lalaree, ther Injun gal, sure enough, an’
she’s worth a cool hundred un’ fifty; but she
hez ther tools about her to make a funeral, an’
don’t you l'v-rgit she. knows how to use ’cm. Sillfi’s
twice the» sand ther yaller haired one LLZ, an‘
I’ll bet rocks she won‘t he alone lorg.”

“Ito; ’cuuse we’s goin’ to be with her,” inter-
posed the third. “Quit yer chin music, shut
yer grub-traps, an’ him on. To git one of ther
gals brings ez much cz to drop thcl‘ Red Sport.”

VVitnout delay the three tu'rned aside, and
mane a circuit, at length coming out upon the
trail of the, young girl, who had long since
yissed out of sight. ’

fitruightdown the rugged road had the dashed,
and though one» or 1.“ n3.» :-‘lw looked back; there
was no hesitation upon iu-l' purl) until she. had
throw: behind her a numln-r of units, and had

, reached a point wl‘crc, for quilc a distance, the

' vimv was comparativa unobstructed.

Here sac ruined in Lcr horse and cast a long,

a

 

searching look at the rolling plain that stretched
out and away from her feet.

Nothing rewarded he; sight, and she shook
her head with a gesture of impatience.

"No signs of them yet. f they had met
with no misfortune they should have been here
at least three davs ago. Wh do they not
come! Is it possible that father—that he whom
I have. for so many years,callcd father—can
have learned something that seemed to verif
my half formed sus icions? If he has he w'l
never leave until he news for a certaint that
Bruce Arden is either living or dead. nd if
he lives, though he may know not and dream
not whither have drifted, he is still true to
me. If he lives, not even Maud can keep me
here. Ah !”

She ceased her soliloquy, and peered more
anxiously than ever along the trail. She had a
marvelously clear vision, and now, away out
upon the plain, she saw the fl re ofaman,
who suddenly emerged froma idden ravine
and halted amomeut after he had come into
view. Following him was another figure,
that of a woman, who ran lightly to him,
caught him by the shoulder with one hand,
while, with the other uplifted, she seemed to
menace him.

Lalaree, as the desperado had named her,
shaded her eyes with her hand, and watched the
scene with strange interest. The distance was
too great to catch more than a blurred view of
the figures; but it was not hard to guess the
nature of the interview from the gestures of the
two.

The woman implored; the ‘mun repelled. The
woman threatened, the man responded by
drawing himself up into an attitude of proud
contempt. Then she shook her fist once more,
and turning, glided into the ravine from which
they had emerged.

The man seemed angered, at last. Hc
'wheeled and threw up his arms as though aim-
ing a mile. There was a pull" of smoke, the echo
of a distant report, and then the man pitched
heavily forward. ‘

 

CHAPTER V.
THE ROAD‘VAGABOND’S LITTLE DODGE.

“YOU villa in! What have you done to him?”

A clear, ringing vorce asked the question,
and the vagabond of the opening episode of our
story, saw, standing upon the brow of the bank
Est above him, a girl woman of wonderful

.auty, who held pointed straight for his heart
a cocked revolver. It was Lalaree‘s finger that
lay on the trigger, and several days subsequent
to the night attack on Geyser J Oe’s train.

He understood the necessities of the case upon
the instant, and extended his ragged arms with
what was intended to be a graceful flourish,
showing that either hand was weaponless.

“ My rincess, I ain’t done nothin’; though
this nob e duke in disguise, lcttin’ off his fire-
arms permiscus like, salted me noble steed,
an’ come within an inch 0v boring your lumblc
servant. Some one else did the business for
him, an’ yonder goes ther trail ov thcr critter.
El? yer hev an eye fur sich ycr kin see et plain
£2 a wagon-road.” ,

The girl involuntarily followed the direction
indicated by the gcsiure, and the man took the
cpporrunity to drop one hand behind his back.

“And who are you?” continued the new-
conlcr, once more piercing the rugged man with
her littering eyes.

“ m John Duke ov Denmark, may it please
yer grace, hyer incog. 1 war travchn’ in state,
on ther back ov a quadripcd 0v royal perpcr-
tions, but ther carelcssncss ov this wictini h.
redoosed me to a foot-passenger. Ef yer can't
do better nor ax questions pass ’round on t’otl.u
sidc. You mout be too much ov a shock when
he comes to. 1 sec. he’sgettia’ ready to rise.”

'lhe girl, who had stood aloof with a natural
camiousness, took a step or two forward, and
looked downwm-d with a. curious glance, while
the eccentric individual, who had styled himself
the Duke of Denmark, seemed fully as much in-
tcri-stcd in her.

He was both puzzled and astonished. Who
she was and what she was doing there, “0.11.!
questions not easy to answer.

She Was dressed in a costume of semi-savage
style, though the materials spoke loudly ot' civi-
lization. Her magnilicem hair was bound up
in a great ebon, coiled braid, under a soft white
sombrero. Around herxwaist was the belt from
which she had drawn the revolver, and on her
back was strapped a light carbine. Her face
had a wonderful beauty of color and contour;
and her ey'es, black as midnight, had a brave,

' \

 

honest look. A beautiful girl, out upon the
High Pine trail alone; no wonder that the man
was astonished.

But there was more to come from this chance
meeting. The black-eyed beauty gave a glance,
and then, suddenly, with a cry of teriible run
prise, she covered her face with her hands, and
bounded aimlessly forward, into the vuy aims
of the ragged man.

At the same time the hitherto n~oti<mlcss
body moved, the hands stretched out spmnxidi-
cally, and from the white lips there 05(1ch a
low hollow groan.

“ hunder au’ blood! what’sthcrmatlu now ?”
exclaimed the Duke, more amazed ihan (m. r.

“ This!” exclaimed a harsh voice. " You and
that girl are our prisoners. Up With your
hands, and surrender l” ,

Three men, armed with rifles, appcarcd at the
stings spot on the bank where the girl had first
sto

“ Up they are; an’ cf yer move hand or foot
I’ll plug or all. I hold ther drop.”

And t 0 hands of the Duke shot out; in tech
a leveled revolver.

The vagabcnd had the advantage in mm»
ways than one. The girl protected l in: 1rqu
anything but very close shooting, an-a Lt had
his revolvers cocked and lcvcled, wliih- ll e .hree
men simpl rrasped their rifles. 11' he “as the
expert wit is weapons that the manner of
their production seemed to promise, i.. was no
vain boast when he said that if they novcd he
would “plug” them all. Two could almost
certainly be put past praying for, and tltc
chances of the third would harle be as L; .od as
those of the “ Duke of Denmark.”

The spokesman of the three realized all this,
and )romptly came down.

“ Told on, hold on I” he hurriedly cx<-l:.i:ucd.
“ We haven’t any quarrel Milli you. You can
just travel on out of this. That will suvo 1i ouble
all ’round.- The. girl is our pris’ner, tlr ugh, an’
we mean to have her.”

“ “Talk much. lie much.’ I just {ll'lmr‘hl not.
Ef ycr 'want pris’ners go up to lligh line an'
snake em out; this ouc’s enuil‘ i'ur nu ."

“ liutI tell you she is ours! Conic 1o rvrscn.
The Hawks of High Pine claim hir; end )ou
can be sure they never dro their prey. ‘

“ Thor Hawks ov High I’mol” said 1ch Luke.
i‘eflectively. . “Yes, l’ve hearn on ’cin; Lllh i
can’t help it, cf I hev to fight ihcr 1.1;ll con»
demned b’iliu’. Alice samee l-‘ve got the: little,
gal in tow, an’ I’m goin’ to waltz her imcr liigh
Pine if she wants to go. How is it, lcetle
woman?” .

Lalaree had recovered her self-possess ‘on reinc—
what, and had stepped alittle to one tint, leav—
ing her protector uncovered and Civic, v lsilc
the scanned the faces of the three. The (pa s1 Lon
recalled her more and more to her-sch. the
turned around quickly, and pointed (l«_,\-.'i.wui'd
at the man who again lay nunionlm, and
Whom the outlaws had not yet noticed.

“What! And leave him to thi‘il'
mercies?” .

“ ’i‘het‘s about the sizeov it. I ain’tcertcln fur
more than two ov ’cm. El it comes to a clinica-
bility the third may run me through Il'l r: Larch.
make up yer mind quick, {tr 11‘s tune to be
inovin’.’

“Then I stay here with him. alone. Lick,
villains, back! Touch him rot on your LVLH
Oh, Bruce Arden, if it to ino'ccd-you, 1 Will
protect you with life itself l"

She stooped suddenly, and caught up. the
revolver which had been droppm in Mr sun-
price, and then sprung to the side of the wounded
i...an. Unon one arm she reisid his neck, tilliiJ r--
in; his L ceding head to hu‘ bosom, “'iull‘ the
other hand, outstrcuzhed, mehaccd the 11.41; of
ilic outlaws.

“ That's the game, is if? ‘Allee li; hm ,’ HA )1.
l'll play the hand right along. llgur. you
hawks, str-p ,down ther bank, anglin’ 1n. lbtl‘
left, an’ let us see the breadth ov yer h: «. lgs un’
thcr length 0v yer steps. ’ihe u an I! a: lr. nits
backl’ll drop. lt’s biz, 1’m talliin‘. (L. 3 '

There was a momentary hesitation, mu} lien
the strong will of the vapnboid triumpa . o.

“Give it up, boys,” said the loada- m ilo
Hawks. “I think I know the bloke, 2.1m ho
puts them just where he cams them. Ls #3 r
the girl, we can wait fora b. tLer chance. Good—
morning! we’re going now.”

The last sentence was addressed to tho Duke
of Denmark, and was spoken With a guru. in ul
of mock-politeness. Then the three Sltl'].‘;’(i.\fl
11] the direction indicated, while the vagalmid
still stood, covering the two, and tie girl
menaced the third. ‘

“ Now, leetl: woman, li ht out 0v hv¢ 2- More
they git outer range of t ese barker... When

tender

 

 

r........,.. a m... "fin—I‘-

 

i.
I
l
l

 

,‘ r ..__._. """".‘.'_'.T :1:  _ .:
they git a, leetle furder you’ll see ’em wheel an’

open lire. ’

“I understand. Hold them'amomontlonger.”

She thrust her pistol in her belt, and gather—
ing the wounded man, whom she had called
Bruce Arden, in her arms, she carried him
quietly up the bank. - Just before disappearing
she turned with a whisper:

“ A thousand thanks! In another minute we
Will be safe; then look to yourself.”

Then she was gone, leavingr her late defender
to hold his own with the three, who were al—
ready at long pistol range. Alittlo later the
hoof-strokes of a gallopingr horse, heading for
High i’ine, could be faintly board.

As the girl and her burden disappeared, the
Duke changed his tactics somewhat, and stepped
noiselessly out after the retreating outlaws; yet
by slanting a little, he ascended the bank, so
that, still keeping them in range, he gradually
assumed a eonnnanding‘ position.

As he had expected. they suddenly wheeled
and threw up their rifles, pointing them toward
the S'mt where, a short time before, he had been
stain ing.

He was not there now; and a mocking lan h
from above echoed through the little gulc ,
pointing out where he stoo .

instantly there was asudden change in the
direction of the barrels, and a. sharp fusilade, as
three rifles were dischar ed at the man who
was s‘en suddenly to f forward, and almost
disappear from sight as he lay along the bank.

" He’s a dead goat, surel’ exclaimed one of
the outlaws.

“Ha, ha, ha!” came back from the bank.
“Look out for his horns. I’ve got you sure,
slick as butter!” Then came the report of two
revolvers, and two men sunk, bowling with

ain, each bored through the leg, just above the
(nee. The third dropped his rifle and threw up
his hands: “Hold on, mister, I cave! You
wouldn’t plug a poor orphan, would you?”

“I’d plug an orphan’s great grandfather of
he Tried to trump on my toes' but if you mean
it square, I’ve no quarrel wit you. You look
artc-r yer pards an I’ll go to High Pine.” ,

“ Go, in the lignd’s name l” shouted one of the
fallen men. " at look out for the future. I’ll
kill 'ou yet, for that shot.”

“ 'here’s noomerous galloots remarked that
afore; but I’m a-livin’ yet. By-byl Glad to
see you up yonder. l’ll slide out fur fear or
part " may come. I reckon there’s more 0’ t er
kiote than hawk about yer crowd, an’ yer hunts
in packs. Don’t get excited. lve come hver
to stay; an’ of ther Hawks hunt me they kin
ringinme. No nonsense, now, or I’ll finish my
30 .

.With his eyes fixed upon the little knot of
outlaws he fell back for a short distance, until
another depression offered him a cover, when
he immediately disap' poured from view.

He did not lnger n the vicinity. It was a
dangerous neighborhood just now. With face
turned toward High Pine he got over the

round with 8 ion , swinging stride that bade-

air to rapidly do ur the half-de miles that
lay between him and his goal.
As for the girl, he caught but one distant
limpse of her. She wasymounted now and in
grant of her she mans ed to sup rt a burden.

To the last she seemed efermin tohold to the

‘ .yeoung man who had come so near to death, if

was not, even now booked for a pamge
through the dark port .

Yet if he had caught a glimpse of her face he
would have known that the s endid self-posses-
sion with which she had rst looked at the
v. ounded man and the courage with which she
had afterward defended him, w re both gone.
h in: a white face and treme ng frame she
pushed on and up never once daring to look
downward at her burden, which rested so still
and motionless in her arms. .

For several miles she urged on her steed.

Then the man stirred uneasily, and moaned.

She shuddered at the sound and motion; her
grasp relaxed a little, and he slid to the ground.

She looked around.

There ,was no sign of pursuit; as furas she
«wound see in every direction there was no living
“1118- She dismounted and threw the reins
over her horse’s head, so that they hung in front
ol him. She had not the strength to again place
the wounded man upon her mustang, so she
dinggod him aside to what seemed an easier
resting-place, pillowed his head carefully on a
bunch of moss and ave him a long, Searching,
wondering look, be ore she turned away. She
was not leaving him without a mental struggle;
but he needed aid, at once; and it was her in-
tention to go and bring it.

She caught her Innstang by the bridle and

 

 

 

swung herself into the saddle, yet still it seemed
as though she could not bear to leave the spot,
but checking the anxiety of her steed she rode
slowly awa .

After a little she turned in her saddle and
looked backward, and then uttered a scream of
surprise, for as she gazed she saw the wounded
man stagger to his feet, turn around once. or
twice in a dazed, blind sort of way and then
plunge staggering forward into a thick under-
growth of young pines.

Having uttered that one cry, which the young
man seemed neither to hear nor to heed, Lalm co
wheeled her mustang, and striking him sharply
with her hand and urging him with her von-c,
darted back in )ursuit. Into the fines she
forced her wav orashortdistnnco: )ut it was
a vain quest. The undergrowth had swallowed
him up, and before she had gone many yards
she found her way so impenetrany barred that
she was forced to desist. She listened but could
hear no sound of footsteps be 'ond.

“Ah, I can never follow“ lam here; and if I
could it would be to no urposo. I mast have
Mato Luta. He can trai him: but it will be a
terrible waste of time to go for him. Still, I
will go.” .

Muttering thus she turned and forced her way
out from the bushes.

And as she came out into the clearer ground
of the trail a hand of iron was suddenly laid
upon her bridle rein, and looking up she saw
herself confronted by half a dozen great,
brawny-looking fiends, in the full war-paint and
feathers of Apache warriors.

“Ugh!” said the one at her bridle, in a gut-
tural tone. “ Good! Squaw heap good pi'is’narl
Come ’longi No stop here! No shoot neither,
or Apaches take brown squaw’s scalp.”

As Lalaree’s hand was dropping toward her
belt a brawny hand seized her wrist he swung
her out of the saddle.

CHAPTER VI.
A DEAL FOR. THE Go-DOWN.

SOMETHING over twenty- four hours had
elapsed since the vagabondishlooking,r man,
who was so ready wit his revolvers, had met
with his adventures just without High Pine, and
now he was seated in one corner of the ram in

which the questionable liquors of “The Glor ” ‘

saloon Were handed out over the rough sab
counter. Ile had come in rather early in the
evening and quietly mingled “ith the throng
that had already gathere , and as he was ac-
companied by a well-known denizen, whose
acquaintance 6 had somehow made, was soon
Very much at home. V , '

T are was one rather talkative individual at
whom be cast several inquisitive glances, and
after a time, by a careless invitation to join him
at the bar, he succeeded in opening up a. con-
versation, which naturally turned upon the
mines and miners of the neighborhood. He
asked a few questions that might haVe led a
suspicious bearer to believe that Mr. Duke, as
he was at led, might not be as much of a stran-
ger as he dseemed.

“Y es,” answered the High Piner, at
length. ‘ It must be tber GoDown shaft you’re

ing of. It’s an old hole, an’ no mistake.

n worked for a hundred your; mebbe more.

There’s been a heap of rock taken out, from

ther bigness of the driftrbut somehow it’s pow-

erful onlucky. No one works it more than
months.” ,

“Why sol” asked the Duke, with every ap—
pearance of a lively interest.

“They allers dies—trough 'I must say it’s
pa often just after they’ve got rid of it.

’ve nerd, when the strike war made hyer, ten
year ago, tbfirfound a shaft there, chuck full
of bones. a long time they tovk it fur a

ve—yard, an’ no one tackled it; but at last
hey scooped it out, and it’s been oing party
much ever since, off and on. No makes
a fortune, but there’s been more than a uudred
just a-going to.”

“But who has it now?”

“Now it’s doing better. Sacramento Sam
an’ a young chap, Charley Blake, got in an’give
it a good send—off ; but just as things got in good
shape Faro Frank sa ivatcd them. Didn’t do
him much good though, as half a dozen parties
struck for it, an’ boosted him clean out in the
cold on the first bounce. In the end Charley
Blake’s sister came out ahead, fer a chap that
they called Dandy Darke, a tough named Gey-
ser Joe and an Injun known as ther lied Sport
backed her hand heavy. They) sa they’re all
married or related and that an y Darke has
an old Mexican land grant that covers about
all the land in the valley, though that last don‘t
count much, nonow. 19f Faro Frank don’t

.. _,..... ..._.._.._-. .. _ .. M”... _....... -,

 

VYT

make trouble, there’s no one in High Pine
wants to 'ump that layout!”

“Faro frank! Oh, yes! He’s ther one that
opened ther last riot, yer say. How did they
come to freeze him oul l”

“ [In an’ Dandy Dul‘ko locked horns right hyer
in lllgh l’lne, about (Jharley Blake’s sister.
There’sdill’erent stories about it; but I reckon
a red galool, that helps to run the town chipped
in; they (9.1“ him the lied Sport, nn’ between
’em they just mashed lber card sharp. lie was
cut up bad about ther head, an’ they stove his
ribs right in. lle’s a bad Iitllcninn, though,
you bet: an’ l’.l gamble. money on it, that he
makes another lay l'ur tlwr (to Down.” ‘

“ ll‘lll‘o Frank, chi l’vc hoord ov him. Is
be ’round hyarl” ‘

“ Haven‘t seen him since the riu-tion. l-le laid
up at Mendez, the Mexican’s, an’l did hear that
alter he’d pulled together again [in swore he’d
hnv ther Lip—Down, an’ square accounts with the
crowd that 5 running it. Ef you’d Sl‘O Mendez,
he’s a side partner ov Frank‘s, he might post
you up a bit.”

“Thankee. thaukco. El“ he waits fur me to
ask him he’ll never tell. It’s none of my lay-out,
an’ I don‘t keer how thergame runs. I was only
askin’. I’ve heered ov this place, an’ they said
it war lively, chuck full ov fun. clear up to ther
nozzle; but from what I’ve seen its nothin’-to
brag on. The crowd at ther Go Down seems to
be full ov sand; but ez fur ther rest: tho'r ha’dly
middlin’. Think they‘d give me a show? I’d
ask ’em of I could find ’mn. Whar moat I be
like] to kim across this Geyser Joel Eh i’.’
~ “ 9’s out on that trail 'ist now, since I kim .
to think on it; but Dandy vrko, he’s the main
boss, an’ tlier Injun sport is ’ronnd. an’ ’11 do on
well. But they’re mighty pnrtickler, pard; an’
hain’t much use fur winders. They wont
take yer on if you war uillin’ to swing a pick
right livelyt but it’s on’y a charco.” ,

‘Thankee, allcc sainco', I guess I’ll bristle:
’round a bit. Thcr G ory‘s ruthyer slow. I
count on havin’ some fun, but thcr don’t seem
to be much show fur it hyer.”

“ Keep) yer eye open, pard. I’m a quiet duck
lIlPSPlf; ut there’s boys in High Pine that kin
show ez much pressure to the square inch as
machine ever invented. Eyes open, an’ h
down. Thet’s ther way to walk in this camp.
You hear me, pard‘i”

Not caring to remain longer, at that time,
Duke passed out into the straggling main stmet.

For a few moments he looked first up and then
down the town, with the air of a man that had
in vi‘w some course of action; but could not
entire y make up his mind. 

The camp Seemed buried in silence. Hero.
and there a light flickered in some shanty; and
now and then he could catch a gimme of a
flitting form; but for once High he seemed
on its good behavior.

“I’ll resk it,” said thevagaboud. at lon'
“There’s not much to be made, but it a
Epin’ to hurt to take a squint at the way the

nd lays. Hye-r goes fur ther Go-Down.’

At a brisk pace-be started 03, andrwithont
and sign of hesitation made his way th h
the town and on down the slope which 10d
“1? 'I'ili‘e’h ’ ' ’

' a ers about the t.“ he muttered,
“an’ a pee little nest thwve made or it
fileg’lf’lr fort; take a small sizedhrmy to git in

or

The spot indicated by the direction of Mo
glances was indeed a fort in miniature. That.
is, 'thergwas a stockade, such as in Western par- .
lance, is called a fort, strong enough to enable:
resolute little band 0‘ sharpshooters to-beat of
aforce very much greater than their own, «if
armed only with ordinary firearms; of commit
would not have afforded much protection
against artillery. On three sides was the I
stockade, rough y uilt, with its walls pierced
with loop-holes; on the fourth rose the moon

‘tain, overhan ing and almost inaccessible. It,

was a spotwe 1 calculated for defense; and
experience of the different owners of the shaft
had convinced them that the probabilities were
that they could not be too securely fortified. .

One thing was, to a certain extent in their
favor, there were no immediate neighbors. B v
daylight it was not likely that any attack wou
be made; after dark any one found in the vi-
cinity could be considered an enemy, for no
outsider had any business there.

The Duke seemed to understand this, for, as
he drew nearer, he began to act with the ut-
most caution. He chan ed his course so that

his form would not be imnedagainst the sky; ' ‘

and glided up to the suckade with the noise-
lem step of a panther, stealing upon its ray.
As he was peering curiously through a cop-

 

    

  

  

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r I 5 .I: w‘: .._.. $4.11 843;?
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, their hands and

u ,o c ear , us in nne, 1e rea o a co

olmost as light as his own, and without an in»

stant’s hesitation he threw himself down at

‘ full length against the stockade, with face to-

ward the approaching man, who turned out
to be a regu ar sentinel.

He came along without suspicion, his track
being but a few yards from the man who lay
upon the ground, though not once did his eyes

. wander that way. Evidently his attmtion was

directed elsewhere, for when he had passed

‘some little distance be halted, and first giving

a nervous glance at the top of the wall, as
though to assure himself that there was no one
observing him, he crouched down into a half-
kneeling position, and waited in silence.

He did not have long to wait, for hardly had
he settled himself into position when there
mine, from the darkness without, a low, hiss-
ing sound, that might have been made bya
serpent but was not. The sentinel at once re~
sponded in the same way, and waited.

“Hello!” thought the Duke. “ Hycr’s some-
thin' in ther wind wuth lookin’ arter. Ther’s
eyes on ther (lo-Down, besides mine: may as
well hev ther tools ready to take ’em both in.”

He had a revolver in his right hand already;
be carefully drew its mate with his left, and
awaited to see what was to come of the meet-
ing. Right 11 from the. ground, not a dozen
yards away, 1'. ere suddenly rose a dark form,
causing a ow expression of surprisc from the
con rv.

“Hush,” said a warning whisper, and
the dark form dropped again to the ground,
but advanced until immediately in front of the

'sentinel who held outhis hand to be warmly

gras .1.

“ its; risky, Tom Brace, but I thought I’d try
it, fer there’s not much chance any other way of
getting a talk, and it is time that we had things
arranged. You got the note I left for you over
in the hollow stump?”

“ Yes, but it is not safe, and I was glad you
did not trust anything there that might have
made trouble if found. How are things work-

.ing? Is the prospect going to be worth hard

knocks, and a risk of life?”

“ Oh, there’s no discount on it.
found the lead, and it just ans out heav .
There’s millions in it. There ain’t no such stri '6
this side of‘the Comstock. It’s a big thing, I
tell you. It runs five hundred to the ten straight
along, and they say they struck a chimbl y to-
day where you can add one aught anyhow, and
then not get the figures high enough.”

“ But what’s this about their going up to
Highfine‘to bunk’lL We mustn’t make any mis-
lake.

-“ That’s all right. There was some fool no—
t70n about the Apaches’ coming in: and they
were afraid fur the women. That’s about over
now. I can’t see how it makes any difference
either. The more of ’em that’s out. the easier it
will he to take in the rest.”

‘i Yes; but that is where you are wron . It’s
easier to let some one else do your digging for
vou, and then gobble it up at your leisure.
Sooner or later the will all have to pay tribute.

They have

. Just for the mine t a Hawks wouldn’t move an
inch 99 ‘

“ For what, then, would you move?”

“ For rev e I”

Breech
uess that was full of dire meaning.

“ For raven el This Geyser Joe betrayed us
once. He :1) 9 his old comrades suffer because

a of them attempted his life. And this Dave

orland, who is the head man now, has been

,- the first man who could head off the Hawks of

High Pine. \ Between him and us there isWar to

. the knife. He has blood on his- hands that can

never be washed oil.”

-“Weil, well; there’s more than one of us
hates him. He knocked me endways, just be-
cause I spoke kind of pleasant like to the half-
breed squawthat they’ve t in tow. Curse
her, she cames more style an all the belles of
’Fnsco.”

“And you won’t forgive him. Well, never
mind that. We must come to an understand-
ing. How many of the men can we rely on ’I”

‘ Have them all sounded exce t Joe Beams.
No usetrying him. The rest are a 1 ready to drop
jump the game on the fast
blufl. The last fight sickened them. This time
sou must make no mistakes, though. Shoot
' rat; and look after the woman when there’s
nothing else left to attend to. If 1 use the chlo-
fitiformnand let you in that’s all you can expect
in me.

“That is all we ask. When you are ready,
hck a piece of red flannel on the post-omce
stump, and when you have your work done

the words out with a «311ng-

x

 

   
 

sowa ’ ta 9 owercornero tee - as
outside. ~ 9 willbealong half an hour later,
at the furthest. ”

“ That’s all understood; but what time do you
want ,all this done? I want a chance to lay my
pipes.

“So do we, for that matter. We’ll ‘say
Sunday night. If there’s any alteration I’ll let
you know. ’ -

“ How? I don’t want any risks run.”

“No danger. If 'we cant do any better we
will start a fire on, or near, Black Top in the
afternoon. That will show you the thing is

“ I’ll look for it. Now go. If any one should
find us here together there wouldn’t be any fire
started on Black Top; but they’d be a. stirring
up of another fire, that you nor I ain’t anxious
to reach for a score or more of ears.”

The stranger chuckled soft y, and turning,
glided away. Then the sentinel went on his
way; and the minute he turned the corner of
the stockade Duke began eautiousl to worm
his way backward, toward the ot er corner,
around which he finally disappeared. Then he
rose to his feet and hurried away, until he had
reached a fair offing, outside of rifle range.
Here be halted and looked back.

As he stood there, with his eyes fixed upon
the stockade there came to his ears the sound
of ra )id hoofstrokes, and a single horseman
darte out of the gloom. '

CHAPTER VII.
BRUCE ARDEN BEACHES THE LAND OF PROMISE;
FUN AT HIGH PINE.

THE approach of the liOiserxiaii did not seem
to give uke much uneasiness. From his ap-
pearance robbers would scarcely care to pick
him up for booty, and the onl personal foes he
could have near or in High IXine would be the
Hawks, to whom it was not likely that the rider
belonged. Nevertheless he dropped his hand
circumspectly to his belt, so as to be ready for
any emergency; and waited.

The horseman seemed to be as wary as him-
self, for though he stood so motionless, and
almost invisible in the gloom, there was a sud—
den halt. . .

“Hello, there, stranger! How far is it to
High Piueé’

‘ Five minutes, more er less accordin’ ez er
put ther steam on. Consider’ble more goin in

 

ef yer don’t know how ther ti ers up thar is'

goin’ to receive er; consider’ 16' less of or
comin’ out, an’ t \er tigers a-growlin’ behind
ytfr. n’l‘ake my advice, stranger, an’ don’t go
t ar.

The horseman laughed a careless, reckless
sort of laugh.

“Thank you, my friend, you are not the first
that has given that advice; but all the same
I’m on the road, and hard] feel like taming
back now. I’ve got vary] tt’le to live fer in
this world, unless it is revenge; and if they’ve
told me the truth back in ’Frisco that’s some-
thing I’ll find there.” .

“ istez yer like jist ez yer like! — I’m goin’
up that wa , an’ I’ll walk along. I’m a stranger
in High ine, without pard er backer; but I
ain’t a'bad man to tie to.” ' .

,“A stranger? Then on can hardly tell me
whether-I will find one t ere whom I seek.”

“ That ’ nds on his handle.
say it’s Jo nvDuke spit out his name, an’ mebbe
I kin give ‘er satisfaction. I’ve heerd considerr
able since struck ther camp.” .

“And have you heard the name of Murray
Brant mentioned?” , ‘

“Oh, he’s dead! Now I’ve given yer a hint
of how they call me to supper; s’pose yer confide
ther name yer to go by hye .’ ‘ ,

But the man gave no answer, for the first
words of Duke had up ntly unmanned him.
He started violently, rew in his horse with a
nervous gesture, and then sat silent.

“ Don’t faint, mister; it’s a. Gospel truth. He
tried to jam 9. claim for some sharps here, and
they went t rough him on wheels.”

d ‘ dWghat, dead? No! You don’t tell me he is
es l ‘

“ You talk as tho’ you’d lost yer best friend.
Can’t say ther news was very shockin to me.
Did he owe yer money, er 'was he on y a side
partner?"

“Neither. It is the thought of the regret
that I will have for a lifetime that he did not
die by my hand, which breaks my heart.
Curse him, dead or livingl' I followed his trail
all the wa from ’Frisc‘o just to get my fingers
on his to throat.”

“Take some other man, then; an’ make be-
lieve it’s him. Don’t sorrow over it, stranger,
there’ll be lots ov chances in High Pine.

Come,

  
 

J ist so you don’t ,

 

  

give us yer handle, stranger, an’ then we og—
gle along.” '

" My name! Oh, es. It’s One I’m not
ashamed of—Bruce Ar en.”

At that John Duke started as much as the
stran er had done, and uttered a long-drawn
whiste that seemed involuntary with him,
whenever taken by surprise.

“Bruce Arden, eh? And just through from
’Frisco. . You weren’t frolicing round
north of town a couple days ago, and didn’t get
drilled plumb through the forehead, eh?”

“No; what do you mean? Two days ago I
was a hundred miles south-east of this. ’

The stranger spoke as though full of some
illy defined suspicmn. Did he tell the iruthll

‘ Um! More of a mystery. All right. We’ll
see better in the mornin’. I’m going to High
Pine; if yer anxious fur meditashun an’ prayer
I’ll leave yer hyer fur ther Hawks to gob Ie up;
but I’ve been out in ther damp most long
enou b.”

As e spoke Duke turned away and strode
along foratime slow] ,but aftera ew moments
the stranger, who ha given his name as Bruce
Arden, ranged up to his side. and the two jour—
ne ed on without interruption, and with con-
si erable conversation, until the camp was
reached.

As they came in front of the “Star” saloon
they halted; for, from the opposite direction,
they heard the sound of horses’ feet, and, the
noise of an approaching train.

It was Geyser Joe and his party, just in.

As Burke swung himself from his mustang he
looked sharply around at a lowerin dark-
faced man, in a broad sombrero. file was:
mindful of the fact that there were certain
scores to settle with Alan Argudo, and it might
be that the reckoning would begin at once,
though, since the night of the Indian attack, no
reference had been made to the duel which had
been interrupted. Nor, from that night, had
they heard or seen anything of the missing Ila--
quel. It seemed as though she must have fallen
into the’hands of the Apaches since, under any
other supposition, there would have been at
least some trail left behind to reward the dili-
gent scarch which was made the day after the
attack upon their camp.

It seemed possible that the Mexican had re-
considered his intentions, and that his heart
had been somewhat softened by the good of—
fices of Ge ser Joe. At anzmrate he did not
linger long ut almost imme ' tely entered the
saloon.

~As he vanished from sight Geyser Joe. turned
around; and found himself face to face with
Bruce Arden and John Duke. ‘

Although it was night there was a flood of
light from the open doorway of the “Star,”
sufliciently bright to serve to some good pur-
pose a pair of s erg e es; and here seemed to be
two pair for on t e stant each man ave a
start. Then Burke strode a step forwar .

“ Are you man or ghost?” he muttered. “ If
you are man, then how in the name of Heaven
do grer come hyer?”

den seemed not less agitated at the sudden
meeting. At first sight he dropped his hands
cautiously to his belt; and then, as suddenly he

 

opened his fingers wide and raised his empty,

hands. - ,

“I am no ghost, but simeg flesh and blood;
no thanks to you, though. came. here on the
trail of reven e. If he I sought isdead, it is a
lucky chance but I found you, his Willing tool. I
have never murdered a man in cold blood; but.
I will murder you if you tell me not the truth.”

“ Hold on, hold-on,»young man !”

A flush of anger began to show itself in Gey-

ser Joe’s face.

“Don’t threaten me. I’m not ther kind to
take such talk. I don’t want to hush you; but
Geyser Joe was never used to hear that kind ov
clatter without answerin’ it with fist er revol-
ver. Sa out what you want, but draw it a
shade an der.”

“You don’t want to hurt me now because the
foul patron that paid you is cold in death. If
Murray Brant was living you would have a
different story to tell. But, on your life, a hat
have you done?”

Burke interrupted him sternly.

“Is the boymad? I mashed him once. «nd-
ways; no thanks, though, to Murray Brant. and
his gang, for I was only paddlin’ my own
canoe.”

“ Liar!” exclaimed the young man, his l'ra me
guiverin with intense passion, while his flushed

ace gra ually grew white with lage.

For a women after that one word, fairly
howled forth, th to was intense silence. John.
Duke stood with his arms folded across his

     
  

 

.- “a... . A

 

 

 

\ fortunate meeting with

treast, looking on in amused wonder, but be-
hind and around him were, b this time, a score
of the men of High Pine. ' here was nothin

of amusement in their faces, for one and a]

knew Geyser Joe, and expected to see him drop
his man without further parley. What was
their surprise, then, when he turned quietly as
if about tepass away? That he woud do so
after so open an insult seemed a wonderful
thing.

But just as he turned, Bruce Arden sprung
forward, with outstretched fingers, that ti ht-
ened like a vise on the throat of Geyser 0e.
Like steel seemed the muscles of the young
man, as he tore his burly anta onist from his
feet, flung him to the ground an knelt upon his
shoulders.

“Now, will you tell me?” he growled with
his hand still upon Geyser J oc’s throat. It was
the most utter sur rise to every one there and
to no one more tian to Burke, who had not
thought of a personal assault, and knew intui-
tively that Arden did not intend to draw a
Weapon.

But the man was somethin of the nature of
a foot-ball. He had becn 'nocked about so
often and come out unhurt, that he was not
alarmed, even now. In fact, he was rather
accustomed to-getting the worst of it in the
send-off, and he knew exactly what to do
When he happened to find himself the under
do in a fight.

or a moment he was down 11 n his back,
with Bruce Arden kneeling on is shoulders;
in another moment he was upon his feet, seizing
the young man as he rose. There scarcely
seemed to be a struggle even, but just a single
great wave of strength, that sent Arden flying
through the air, straight into the door of the
Star.

And then, after the body of the flyin youth,
rushed (lcyser J on, with a score of fig Pincrs
in his wake. There was an intermingling of
forms, a confusion of voices, and the spiteful,
angry crack of two revolvers, followed by the
heavy fall of a body.

At that John Duke, who had contented him-
self with a sim lc glance through theo en door,
manifested a ( isposition to go in. 1 e pushed,
and struggled, and at last made good his en-
trance into the room.

It was just as he had expected. In one cor-
ncr of the room lay ‘Bruce Arden, while Go -
scr .l'»e stOod with his back against the wa l,
holding at bay a dozen mvening men.

CHAPTER. VIII.
DANDY DARKE srnrs mro COURT.

Wm»: hcyscr Joe and Argado dismounted in
front of the Star, that part of the train that
belonged to the Go—Down mine passed along
through the town, thus leaving Burke alone in
the midst of his enemies.

But Argado, did not linger, or seek to renew
his quarrel, andif it had not been for the un-

. Bruce Arden there
inlgélll have been no trouble, for that time, at
CBS .

The Mexican entered the large room that was
the saloon proper; but he did not linger there.
Passing through the door upon the opposite
side, he found himself in a er, room. It
was simply a shed, built against the main
building and apparently for the storage of
odds and ends; at in one corner, hidden from
the eye of a passer through by a pile of em(pty
boxes, was an opening descended b alad 61',
down which Alan Argado went, e a man
who well knew the way. - ‘

It would have been a surprise to the greater
part of the inhabitants of High Pine 1 they
could have followed the Mem’can, for the room
underneath the Star was nearly as large was
better furnished, and nearly as well filled.
Lights were burning upon the walls, and upon
a rough counter in one corner of the room which
was a fac-simile of the bar in the room below.

“ Well, Alan Argado, what have you to re—

rt?” was the query of a tall burly man,

reesed in a mug l costume of Velveteen panta-
loons red flanne shirt, broad-brimmed hat that
once. ad been white, and hcav boots.
. “'Not much, Captain Dick, oe Burke lives;
is up yonder now. He bears a charmed life,
and bullet nor steel will kill him.”

“Then yer orter know’d it afore yer took
out ther contract. We kin kill him in High
Pine any day, but that don’t suit our hand.
Ei’ ther cam gits too hard they’ll run in the
sojers; an’ on ess we make a clean sweep of the
hull crowd at the Go-Down ther balanoe will
hold on an’ whar will we be? Curses on your
cowardl Mexican heart, you haven’t got ther

 

. sand. het’s what’s ther matter.”

 

.. nae. - and
\

w w. ..,

l .

 

 

“ I’ve all ther sand for such a job that any ‘l judge, an’ I ain‘t no pris’ner. I say er setlh’

other arm has; and I have sworn to have my
revenge on them all for my brothers that they
slew, among them; but once my pistol missed
fire, and then again, when my knife was just at
his threat, a woman saved him.”

“ A woman?”

“ Yes. Raquel, my daughter.” _

“What busmcss had she chipping in?
did you mean bringing her along!”

“ Ask her. She s a wild-oat when she starts;
and for some reason of her own she vowed to
come to High Pine. I couldn’t sto her. then;
she would have come through, if a the Hawks
stood in line to bar her out. What she wants I
don’t know, but most likely she wants to be
revenged.”

“ You’d better take her out of the way if you
don’t want her hurt. We don’t want any wo—
man foolin’ round b er. That’s your look out;
we want to know w at you’re goin’ to do about
the 'ob.”

“ ’m going to run the thing through. Ho’s
up—stairs now, and I’ll show you if I have sand
or not.” -

As he spoke Argado touched the revolver in
his belt with a menacing gesture and turned

What

awa . ,

“ The fool means business, boys, we’ll hev to
see he don’t git himself inter a hole. He’s quick
on ther trigger, but it takes a mighty spry man
to git away with Geyser Joe, un‘ there’s men in
High Pine that’s ready to back Burke, er any
of ther Go<Down crowd of they happen to be
’round. But mebbe our chance hes come.”

The crowd turned toward the low door, when
suddenly, above, they heard the muflled report
of two revolvers, and with one aCcord all
rushed out and up.

Meantime John Duke had forced his way into
the saloon, and chipped into the fray, there
going on, with ready, careless coolness. The
first thing he saw was a man, cocking a revol-
ver and dropping it toward an aim over the
shoulder of one who stood in front of him.
This man was Alan Argado, at last about to
get in his work.

With a quick bound the vagabond was upon
him, throwing up his arm with one hand,
while, with the ot ier, he swung him over his
knco. and then tore the pistol from his rclnximr
fingers, though not before one shot had waste
itscll', driving through the roof overhead.

“Down in front, thar!” he shouted, and
gathering up the Mexican, with a firm gripe on
his collar and the slack of his unmentionables,
he slung him around and discharged him like a
catapult at a squad of men who seemed about to
throw themselves upon Burke.

The living proj:ctile cleared the way most
effectually, besides creating a diversion. As
the fig‘ht had not yet begun peop.'e still had time
to 100 around and see what new factor it was
that was entering into the game. 'While they
leoked Duke ranged up alongside of Geyser Joe.

“Go fur ’em, pard, they mean biz. Ef yer
dro yer hackles now you’s a dead rooster.”

“ ’m not a-keerin’ fur any sich crowd, meself,
er any two sich crowds; but I don’t want to set
High Pine to buckin’ ag’in’ m’y pards. Ezfm-
thet boy, I never tetched him.’

At this latter declaration John Duke whistled
softly, and raised his e ebrows; but he had no
time to pursue the su ject further. His ani-
mated ten-pins were up and shouting,‘ and
though no direct attack was made, for a minute
there was some lively talk. At the very mo—
ment that Duke imagined the excitement was
going to culminate in an attack, the floor im-
mediately in their front was swept clear as if
by magic, leaving an open space, while a harsh,
stern voice exclaimed: ,

“Joe Burke,'drop those muzzles. It’s time

we found out in High Pine who’s running this

town. If it’s Ge ser Joe we want to know if
he’s doin it on t 0 square; and if it’s the peo-

le, they haves. word or two to say about
killing a man in cold blood.”

“ And who are you that wants to take ther
deal? I’m not running this town; but I reckon
you ain’t running me. Ef ary galOnt hyer
wants to ask questions let him put up his shoot-
in’ irons, an’ hyer’s ther pair to answer ’em.”

“Never mind who I am; >erha is I’ll} Judge
Lynch. There‘s been not ‘ng ut riot and
murder, and men for breakfast, until there’s
scarcely enough left to weep in the grave-
yard. We say this thing has got to be sto ped,
and we may as well begin it with you. ou’re

charged with murder, Joe Burke: with shoot-
ing a man down because of an old grudge
egalinsg’him. What do you say, guilty or not
gui t .

“ say, this ain’t no court, au’ you ain’t no

 

up a game ag‘in’ me. Now go on wit yer deal.
As fer "on, stl‘ungcr, mwa you’d better hold
out. l'Vhen this ruclion begins, me or my
friends might fur-git which side yer on, an‘
salivate yer by mistake.”

“ Thankee fur nothin’, but of you don't begin
this ain’t goin’ to be much of a row, anyhow.
Why, these fellows in High Pine are .lambs;
they are regular lambs.”

“ And who are you l” said the man who had.
suggested that he might be Judge Lynch, turn-
ing quickly to the Vagabond, and eying him
With a stern thou 'h suspicious look.

“John Duke of cnmaik; cf it’s any satisfac-
tion to know. I’m backing up my old side
pardner byer fur all I’m worth. Now, of this1
fnn’s to go on, rustle ’round a hit; an’ of it‘s all
chin-chin, simmer down. You hear me!”

At this bold defiance on the part of a perfect
stranger there was an ominous silence. Two
resolute men, brave enou h to hold their fire
until the last minute, an then read to walk
straight into work, were to be han ed with
some care, since this riot was being stirred up
in cold blood.

The fact that Captain Dick and his followers
seemed inclined tomake Burke stand the farce
of a trial made the affair all the more awkward.
The crowd hesitated; and while it hesitated
through the open door there quietly glided a
young man with a soft, ntherish step, who
gaVe a keen glance aroun ' , first at the two men,
and then at the down ranged against them.

He was a youn man, but it did not take
more then one 100; into his handsome face to
know that he was a determined one, that had
lived his life and learned his lessons in a rough
school. . He contrasted strangely with his ear-
roundings, since he alone madoan ' pretension
to dress. Clad in black, with a ong feather
wreathed around his sombrero, and his long

hair floating down over his shoulders in an ebon ,

wavo, he looked little like the leading spirit and
prime worker in the Go-Down shaft. Yet it
was Dave Dorland, better known in High Pine
as Dandy Darke of Angels.

So quiet had been his entrance thatthe first
intimatidn had of his presence was theirsring
of his question, shortl and sharply .v okcn:

“ Got you corrnle , have they, oe'g what
does this mean!"

Captain Dick turned like a thle at the un-
welcome sound: but the sight of Dandy Dar-kc,
cool and smiling, with his hands resting on his
hips, and just ready to gras 1 his Weapons, was
by no means reassuring. here were six reé
volvers to face, now, instead of two, with a pos-

sibility‘ of. the whole Go—Down crowd being "

within striking distance.

Still mnncrical strength, was with Dick: and ‘

the men behind him were as rough and reckless
and well tried as any in the town, so he an-
swered with some show of coolness: r

" It means this. Some of us have been talkin’
matters up an’ made out that it’s time High
Pine was better regulated. There‘s been abun-
dred man shot an knived in this camp an’ no-
bod said a word. We just said that hereafter
we’ look sich things up, an’ if anytody war to
blame go fur ’em, er if not say so an’ theue'd be
no more bather. Geyser Joe ain’t no better nor
any other man. He’s killed- a young tender-
foot, an’ we want to know what he did 'it fur;
If he ain’t got a good square reason we'll bang
him as soon as any one else.”

you the chance; but J
rope this evening. I want lm. Besides. he
don’t shoot around promiscuous. Where's this

man hekilled; and what started the tronblel" ‘

As Dandy Darke asked the question he looked
around; and so di the rest. Where was the
man that was killed? Bruce Arden had disap-

peared.

“He was right ther,” answered (‘a tain
Dick, with some hesitation.
on the floor. Some one must have Carried ther
corpus out. What we want to know is if Gey-
ser Joe, hyer is goin’ to stand his trial like a
man, er whether we’ve got to drop him in his
tracks an’ hold an inquest.”

“Geyser Joe ain’t takin’any stock in High
Pine justice; he’s bin ther. Ef yer want to go
through the motions sail on with yer trial au’
when yer through I’ll let yer know of I a rove
ther findin’s of ther court. Er that den 8 suit,
as I tole yer afore, wade in.”

. But as Burke closed his speech than was an
inteiilmpltéiondfrom wilthout:

‘ un v unk , t iet's m name we i
I’m ther Red Spoil't. an’ uglyyon ther’shooZ”up

And just before these words there was a crack
of a revolver.

17..-".

“mm you’d hang him a little menu -
h‘won’t stretch a '

“Than’s his lood . ‘

 

 z. -. I.
. ...... ..-4‘l.;s..-a» 0...- gala-u. -a he}-..

 

....:-‘-.-'«...L$ “ngmvxwawk; A

-k‘-;.v
.._.........

l
'notbear: but after a momenta

‘ leetle ma

8

 

 

 

Faro Frank of High Pine.

 

r

- CHAPTER IX.
LOST LALAREln—A DOUBT IN THE CASE.

It is time to go back to Lalaree and her cap-
tors. She had been so thoroughly surprised,
that there was no opportunity for resistancl» un-
til it Would have been simply throwing her life
away to have made even a hostile gesture.
Hardly had her feet touched the groun , when
her brawin captor removed her revolvers from
her bolt, and thrust them into his own, and then
deftly bound her wrists together.

“ New Brown Bird come with Winnemakma,
great Apache chief. Maybe he let :T’l' go; may-
be he take her scalp. Dunno. See, bi’mby,
soon. Walk!”

It seemed a sin lar. thing to Lalaree, who
knew somethin 0 Indian habits, that all these
warriors shoull be on foot, and that they
should turn the head of her mustang northward
and then start him off at a rattling pace down
the mountain side, but in a few minutes she
learned something more of their inteiltiohs.
Without doubt they had a lurking-place some-
where near High Pine, and had no intention of
making a hasty or a. distant retreat. 0n the
contrary they moved away quite at their leisure,
plunging at once into the very thicket from
which she had so lately emerged. _

Lalaree was in doubt what to do. Though
b a stern gesture she had been warned to keep

lence, she questioned herself whether it would
be better to put the Indians upon the trail of
the wounded man or whether he would be
safer if left to his own devices. While she
doubted, she saw one of the red men halt sud-
denly, and point downward. There was a
little splotch of blood upon the ground, and his
quick e a had seen it.

The and at once divided, half remainin
with Lalaree, the other half following the trafi
that had been thus indicated. Though the traces
of footsteps were but faint they could be seen,
and in a few minutes .the two parties had di-
vorged so far as to be invisible to each other.

It was along and tiresome march for a girl to
take, weakened as she was by the excitement of
the past hour and the suspense she endured,
not only as to her own fate but concerning that
of the young man for whom she had vainly
risked so much.

Night was near at band, also, and the gashes
and gulcbes in the mountain side were growing
darker and colder. Where was this journey
to end?

The answer came at last.

From some concealed spot among the bushes
at the mouth of a narrow ravine or canyon,
that was cut cleanl and deep, there came a

- sudden shout of “ ti”

At that the A hes stood stock still, save
that the leader at a low cry, that sounded
someth like the booming note of _a night
hawk. on he moved forward, with his hands
held in the air above his head. ‘
posed between the two Lalaree could
delay the
much wasagain resumed, though not for much
further. Into the ravine they turned, and be-
fore going man yards the flare of a. small camp-
drocouldheé, ands dozen darkforms flit-
about. Then the girl knew that she was in

. when of the Hawks of High Pine. What was

to be the next discovery!
Al she came up toward the fire the noise of
the ing. foot iteps attracted the atten-

.ticno the men, who red anxiously down

the ravine and one of ir number stopped for-
ward, with his hand on his revolver.

11 lanes however. measured him, and be
halted, w ' n the loading brave went for-
ward alone a the two held a whispered con-
versation, In which there was evidently some
reference made to the prisoner, as well as to the
wounded man who was wandering somewhere

 upon the mountain side. ‘

Forwardstepped the man, a burly, rough-and-
ready looking villain, and with an over-strained
ceremony that was almost ludicrous, full of
mockery as it was, he dofled his bat and bowed
low before Lalaree. -

“ Make yourself at home h ar, miss. We’re
glad to see any one from the ‘PDOWD. Fact is
we ruthyer expect a visit from Tier friends,
store we 1: through with ’em. ere’s some
rs fun, settlement, as maybe you may
be rememberin’; an’ ther Hawks hes a straigh

forward, honest way 0v payin’ the’r de ts.
Sorry we didn’t know you was a-eomin’ er we’d
Wided more comfortable quarters; but we’ll
. ther best we kin, an’ I think you’ll like ’em
I0 well you won’t want to leave soon. An’ ef
‘ yer do I can’t see it’ll make much difference.”
. “ I can give you fair warning,” qpaietly re-
Ipondcd Lalaree. “ 80 far you out

 

ws that ~

call yourselves the Hawks have had it all your
own way because High Pine men are too nearly
on your own grade to care to ferret you out;
but if you choose to quarrel with the men of the
Go—Down shaft you will find out what it is to
have an enemy on your trail. I make no threats
nor promises, only I warn you that strict jus-
tice will he meted out to you for your deeds.
Harm me if you dare!”

She drew herself up proudly and looked the
outlaw firmly in the face.

Even he seemed a little abashed.

“ I’m not the boss of this thing, miss, though
the men do call me Captain Dick. Lf I hed
my choice I don’t say that I’d meddle with you,
but we’ve agreed to run the thing through, an’
I guess we kin carry the contract. Till the
boss does come in I’ll see that you’re treated es
squar’ es we know how, pervided yer don’t put
on too many airs. Make yerself at home over
yonder. I’ll see that you hev some grub. I
reckon yer hungry.”

The man pointed with his hand toward a rude
shelter built against the rock, in front of which
was blazing a small fire. ‘

“ But, see! You will unbind my hands?
And the Indianswho captured me, certainly
you do not mean that you will leave me as their
priscner‘l” . _

“ Yer hands may as well sta that way a
leetle while longer. I’ve heerd t at you was a
trifle handy with wee us, an’ it’s best not to
make mistakes. Es ur ther A inches; they’s
very handy pards 0v earn, an’ t ey ain’t gom’
to give yer any more trouble, so you kin rest
easy about them. What the boss will say when
he comes in, is somethin’ else. But I’ll give yer
fair war-nin , too. Thor first move to git away,
an’ or a dead damsel. You hear me?

e motioned a ain, this time with an impa-
tient gesture and aluree turned away. VVhat-
ever might be the chances of this captivity she
would meet them with dignity and courage.

Half an hour later she started up at hearing
a scntinel’s challenge, and the cry of the night
hawk. Watching with eager interest she saw,
coming into camp, the missing Apaches, and
between them they su ) orted the drooping form
of the wounded man, ruce Arden.

At sight of him she gave a little cry. When
she would have gone to her own death in si-
lence she could not hide her concern for him.

Yet she noted, even at the distanCe, that there
was still a good deal of stren th in his step, and
a g’lad hope sprung up in or heart that he
mi ht not be seriously injured.

hether he was or was not, however, it was
at least certain that he was a. prisoner like her-
self, and in den r, and from the moment she
saw that he fallen into the hands of the
enemy she began puzzling her woman’s wits
how to save him.

Thoplgh twenty-five or thirty yards awa ,
she co (1 see that he was by no means bad i
treated, and that the outlaws seemed to thin
of him more as a human being in distress than
asa prisoner out of whom some pomble profit
was to be made.

The fact that he was neither bound, nor placed
under guard had a dampenin eflect upon the
spirits of Lalaree for a time; at she reassured
herself when she thought that the prisoner
might have the wit to eign a worse condition
.than really existed. If such were the case it
would be a gemat advantage in the game that
she had deci d to attempt to play.

She ave no alga of what was passing in her
mind, at wai her chance patiently, and for
a long time. ' The hours were on. Darkness at
last reigned in the camp; and silence; .

Then, at lastz she began to act; the Indian
blood in her veins served her well. She was as
sinuous as a serpent; as cautious as the A ches,
who lay sound asleep at the further on of the
 Already she had succeeded in unfasten-
ing er hands, and havin decided that the
time had come, she glided like a shadow'alon
the rocky wall of the canyon, and onl halt .
when she stood by the side of her fel ow pri-
soner. .

He seemed to be sleeping both soundly and
sweetly.

She gazed down into his face long and ear-
nestly, with clasped hands and earnest . look.
The flickerin light of the distant fire enabled
her to catch at faint and occasional glances,
but it seemed to her that now there could be no
mistake, though the bandage across his forehead
concealed so much of his features.

She caught him by the shoulder and shook
him ently.

“ rucel” she whispered. “ Bruce Arden l”

In an instant he awakened with astart.

“ What is it!”

'

 

...._.. . ..,.._._.. "um.-. .4.V~... -.. —...__......- ..... . .-._

 

The question was given in a fine, clear voice,
distinctly audible, and with little trace of con-
fusion 01 weakness. As she heard it Lularee
cowered back, crouching to the ground with
her hands covering her face.

“That Voice! My been .115, it is not Bruce
Arden!"

“ Mv darling,” came the answer.

, “ Can you
doubt meé”

 

CHAPTER X.
RED sronr ON THE TRAIL.

LALAREE, 0r Maud Burke as she was called,
after Joseph Burke, who had been, for years,
her father by adoption, lived at tl e (in-Down
shaft with the beautiful Marion, wife of Dave
Dorland. How the Go-Down company came to
be formed is too longa story to tell here. Sulfice
it to say that the two girls had swung togelhm
in a. time of danger and trial, and had been
knit to other in closest friendship. Both had
suffer much, but new, spite of their lonely
location in the midst of savage lawlessless, they
had begun to be reasonably hap )y; and would
perhaps have been more so ha all communi-
cation with the outside world been cut 011’.

The enemies around them had lain quiescent
solong, and High Pine, had defied its but so
respectfully to the trio of men who were run-
ning the Go Down, that they no longer thought
of serious danger, and eVen Dave Dorland was
somewhat oli’ of his uard. '

The Red Sport, it is true, seemed to acquiesce
in this order of things, but he moved around
none the less silently, with his sharp black eyes
glowin with suspicion, and his ears Open to
catch t e slightest hint of trouble ahead. Once
or twice he whispered a. caution to Lalaree. for
she was his granddau hter, the daughter of
Scarlet Dove and a w its chief of the Sioux,
though she had fallen into the hands of the man
now known as Geyser Joe at the time of a
massacre of a camp, where as a child, she had
been temporarily left by Scarlet Bear. In that
massacre the father and mother of Dave Dor-
land had been slain, and on the slayers he had
taken a terrible revenge, which, however, em-
goiled him with the outlaws around High

no.

The absence of Lalareo was not noticed for
some hours until the shades of night were drop-
ping down over the mountliu. She was ab-
sent so often in her long rides though enerally
in company with Burke or Scarlet ear, that
this afternoon no one had paid any attention to
the fact that she had slipped away.

Near dark d Sport came g iding in; and
before long he was making inquiries concerning
her. When he found that she had not been
seen in or around the stockade for some hours
he said nothin , but. taking his rifle, lariat, and
revolvers wen away.-

Though-it was now after sundown he made
sommgress that night. A few questions
on ly worded, elicited information that sen
him through High Pine; but tfhen ho was at
fault, and all he could dqfor the present was to
wander down the mountain trail. .

Even that chanced to be of some use, since,
some miles down, he came upon the mustang
that Maud usually rode, wandering idly it! out.

He caught the animal without much tr uble,
recogn‘ it, and, mounting, threw the wins

over its neck, spoke to it gently, and alloued it

to choose its own course.

It carried him straight toward Iliin Pine, for
a time, and then quie y turned aside for a few
yards and halted.

This action of the sagacious brute was not
thrown away upon the rider. He iruerscd at
once that this was the ' t where L'ilnrce had
dismounted, and though t was too dark to ob-
tain itive evidence he felt that he rad
reached one end of the trail that he would take
up at theflrst gleam of the morning, i: p l-f' ..
time nothing was heard from the missing ;;:ri.

Probabl any other man would hire 1-0::3
back and noted up assistance; but R. d l‘..--m~
had his-own way of doing basiness, and pre-
ferred to rely upon himself, at bar) nail; to
found out just how the land lay. From the
moment that he had found the l‘idel'less‘ mus-
tan he believed that the girl had fallen into
the Sands of an enemy. If such was the case
one an was better than a dozen. The one
man might slip along unperceived; but‘a dozen
would surely be seen, and if the men he was
after once got to running it was hard to say
whether they would ever be overtaken.

There was a great deal of sense in this idea;
and the result fully justified Red Sport’s course.
After a long and toilsome tracking of the faint
trail that he discovered he finally found himself

 

 

Faro Fran of High Pine."

w

 

 

lying on a ledge of rocks just above the outlaws’
camp in the canyon.

“ Waung Red Sport got Hawks on a string
now, sure. lh‘g thing hyer. Much diggin’s up
kenyon; :m’ nenp chance to scoop ’em on ther
trail. chp eyes open now, mcbbe sce chance
take ‘cm in. Younder Lularcc all hunky
dunk)". You bet. Waugh!"

Sin-I- enough, below him he could see Lulurcc.
She was standing silently looking toward a
young man who, was propped up against the
rock. at a spot immediately below whore the
Indiv" was peering from between two bowldcrs.
By or. side stool SuVGl‘Lll men, and they con~
versed together in a tolerably lo w tonc.

Rod Sport had eyes and cars that were sharp
to 3m and to hear. Another man in his placi-
might h-ive received only a blurred and faint
iiiipi'msiniii of what was going on below; but he
was exceptionally keen; and perhaps he guessed
$1. ;.',")I:'l deal.

One of the men talking was dreSSerl in the
garb of an Apache, and who else but Red Benr
woul-l, at the first glimpse have pronounced
him a fraud? Yet even before he caught
snub-hos of his conversation the Red Sport had
mutinml:

“ llum! Him got red Ipaint and feathers, but
him no got red skin. yer’s ther game ther
Hawks set up on High Pine. Reckon I’ll chip
in, blufi’ big game, bime—by, soon.”

So he listened without much surprise to hear
snatches of their talk.

“Yo‘r’ right, Cap. Ther’ never war’n’t a
biggvr failure; an’ it wer’n’t our fault neither.
They jist snatched us bald-headed,” the mock
Apache was sayin . “It wa’n’t jedgment,
but blind luck that ghe hull of our b0 3 didn’t
waltz right in out 0v ther wet. It appened
they struck ther real red-skins fust; an’ by ther
time they were slaughtered we’d sense enough
to git ban-k outer range.”

“ But how did it happen that the surprised
you so completely ?” queried the rec] ning man,
who had a bands 9 over his forehead. He
spoke in a low, wea tone, and yet the sibilant
words reached the sharp ears above.

“ I‘ll never tell. They jist riz up behind us,
an’ want through like a roarin’ thunder ov de-

struction. We shot, an’ yelled, an’ then run
away. Ef we’d run away fast ther might ’a'

bin enough on us left to hev tried another hitch
at ’oiu, but we didn’t, an’ thet’s the way Geyser
goo an’ his train is comin’ safe inter High

lll'u "

What answer was made to this, the Red
Sportldid not hear; but the mock Apache con-
tinue: :

“ El‘ yer gathi red the boys all together, an’
rustled ’round lively, you might head ’em off
somewheres among the gulches in ther ten-mile
cut-off. I seen yer Mexican, but he hadn’t ot
in his work yit, an’ I reckon that’s what 3' ed
the mrle; but he said ther war a fortune in
ther train.”

“ Thar’s biz in that ” here into the dee
voice of Captain Dick. “Say he word an
I’ll git ther crowd together. an of you want to
run this little game of yours through I’ll try
my hand at him. Curse this Geyser Joel One
or the, other of us two W111 have to hop the twig
soo .

“ 0;” said the recumbent man, thoughtfully;
“ He has his eyes 0 n now, and can’t
taken of! his ard. at couldn’t be done
with a couple oxen red-skins to back us, can’t
be done without them. And it is bagspolicy to
throw yerSelfil. r adesperam game j use
you hate the nun on the other side. Wait!
wait a. few days and on shall have all the
chance in the world to revenged on Burke.”

“All right; but it seems to me to be prett

much tallies-talk. If it wa’n’t far that litt e.

black-eyed. thing over onder, that was goin’ to
kerry you awe. last n gli whether on want-
ed it er not, I t ink you in ht look a it differ
ent. We won’t umble, t ough. Even Faro
Frank wants his little amusement.’

A: be ceased speaking he uttered a hoarse
laugh, and then walked away. '

“He’smistakenl” said the other, in a reas-
suring tone. “I know yer better than _that;
but I would like to know when ou’re om’ to
act. Weall know yer head’s jis level; nt fur
all that some on us get mighty tired wmtmfi”

“That is jest what I wan you to go and
arrange. Wash ofl that paint and clear away
that toggery. I want you to be at the Go-Down
shaft to—night about nine, so as to fix it all up.
I’ll give you the signals and points.”

“ And'whnt er you oin’ to do? I allow you
ain’t goin’ to lie ’roun hyer loose, fur nothm.”

“Oh, I’m going in, to High Pine. In this
Mggery theres no one going to recognize me,

 

and Dick and I will meet Some of the boys there.
Iwon’t go till a little late, though. If I can
draw the wool over the girl’s eyes it will be a
point made.”

Here the (mnl’cl'cm‘l‘ broke up; but the Red
Sport hull ill‘lll'(i(‘llnll“;‘ll to give him several

ideas about how the land lny, and he shrunk ‘
back into a ('onvcnicni. hiding-place to ponder

over his plan ~ for the future.

 

(‘ll;\l"l‘l‘lli .‘Il.
'l‘lll-Z 1:141) sron'l‘ (Yllli'H IN.

IT hud C(‘l‘lilllllv not ln-on the inn iition of tho
Hawk»: to allow Lulnrco arm-s" to [lie mun with
the bninlngvd hood; and though she lmd not
boon able to dntcct the fact she had all along
bccu undcr survcillmn'c. And whether or no
she had Yukon the young man oil} of his guard

she had no further Chance to judge, since, at the ‘
vcrayr time he was muttering, “Can you doubt .
me.” two dark forms darted upon them, one ‘

placing his hand npon the mouth of him she
still more than half believed Wit} Bruce Arden,
while the other flung a )oweri'ul arm around
her waist, and carried er, without a. word,
back to her former quarters.

Then he deliberately produced his revolver,
and, in an undertone, rrowled out:

“That one time. ou’t wont shoot leetle

squaw till boss come, but next time shoot sure; v

squaw keep still or die. Promi»e quick eh?”
The threat was not to be disregardet ; and it

|
l
l
l
i

seemed to her that for the present, she had lost f

her chance for escape. She could not climb the
solid, straight wall of rock, on the sides; and
both above and below her, in the canyon, were
the watchful Hawks. She saw, now, that
escape was something to be carefully planned,
with a more thorough knowledge of t e ground;
and perhaps the chance of rescue by her friends
was better.

“For tonight I promise to make no more
eflort to change my quarters. And I did not
think to escape. 1 saw one that I believed I
knew, woiuided and sufferin , and I tried to go
to him,to aid him if he nee ed aid. I shall not
attempt it again. I will sleep and gather strength
who knows 10W soon I may need it?”

She flung herself down somewhat sullenly;
still under the belief that the man who menaccd
her was an A ache. I’lc withdrew (tightly; and
in a little whi e the girl seemed to in a deep
slumber.

The next da came and passed with horrible
monotony. mm a distance she contemplated
her fellow prisoner, if such he was; and doubted
and hoped. Once when she was looking straight
at him, he glanced warily around, and then

ve her a gesture which was at once a warn-
in and an assurance. After that he made but
lit 16 sign of curiosity or sympathy.

Meantime she was treate w th a careless
good-nature that began insensibly to reassure

er; and that probably removed the induce-
ment to risk desperate chances. The night
drew near, and as yet she had done nothing.

As she stood alone, just under the wall 0 the
canyon, something dro ped at her feet with a.
light thud. She looks around and saw no one

near. Then her quick eye Searched the ground. ‘

She found what had startled her. It was a.

little fragment of stone, that did not weigh:

more than half an ounce, envelo d in a; frag-
ment of gany flowered calico t at she recog-
nized in an instant.

At sight of that she knew that Mate Luta was
somewhere near, and was more ho ful than
ever, though none the less keenly on he watch.
Something would hap n before very long].

But the darkness eepened, and the ours
wore on. and her friends gave no further sign.
Several times she thought she made. out dark
forms movin away; but she could not be cer-
tain. She dlt not even know how many were
left around her, thou h, without doubt there
was a stronger ard t an she could overcome.
At sundown a ideous looking old squnw that
had been detailed to act as her es in] bod
guard, came and tied her hands an ankles as a

recaution against any such movement as had

en made the night before, and then went‘

away. ,

Lalaree waited until she was tired of waiting
and tried to force herself to go to sleep. She
closed her eyes, breathed handy, and had al-
most succeeded, when she heard a slight rust-
ling near her. In an instant she was wide
awake. _

“ Maud!"

She heard some one call her name in a low
tone; and the voice was unfamiliar. Whether
it was friend or foe she preferred to keep silent;
only she C(iutinued her long-drawn breathing.

hen a man came crawling to her side. He

touched her shoulder lightl ; and now, as she
no longer had an excuse, s e gave a start.

With a lmifc 1c quietly cut the cords that
bound her.

“It is l, Arden; do not be afraid. I only
haw~ n inomnnt that [dare spend with younow.
I am living and [ will save you. Therein some
kind ol'u. mystery here, and I have taken ad-
vantage of it. I will explain all when we are
out of this gang’s clutches. For the pie-out we
nrc H‘i'lll'tl from any harm, and in the i'ulure we
will yct be happy. You might have brought
me linrm lust night, but that is all right now.
\Ve must run no risks until the linn- oomvs to
net. We must pnrt now. Good-by."

.Whilc he spoke this maudrow ln-r toward
lmn,und she imw, in thedini light M'I'lm'd to
see a familiar form, and his hasty Whl't’i ~ “HO
filling hrr soul with hope; yct shew)“ I'H‘Ii away
from him, full of doubt and suspicion.

“ Let me go. Youurr not a living limo. You
al‘cu corpse, brought to life with ulmliwi' soul.
I risked all to snvc you; and now I doubt. you.
Go away. You are not—you are nol. l mice
Arden!”

“But I am, come here to avenge you not
knowing that you lived. Listen. sought
Murray Brant’s life. He it was that strnck me
down, and, as I thought. spirited you away. 1
sou *ht ion and eagerly for you, and when I

. con (1 not nd rou I took up his trail.’ That, by

chance led to

igh Pine and to you.’
H 

that woman! what was she to you?

! Who was she? I saw you aim a shot at her,

and upon your forehead the mark of her bullet.
Are you false to her and to me, Bruce Arden,
or not? Are you a villain?”

“ For the woman, I know her not. She seems

to be a wild, mad Mexican girl, who tried to‘

fasten herself upon me. Vthther she mistook
me for some one else, or whether her brniu is al-

. together crazed I know not; but it is plain that

 

she must be thanked not only for my danger,
but for yours. Surely you would not doubt me
on her account? And et, gracious Heaven!
you must; or else why t is coolness?”

Words and tone lcnded' strongly for him.
When he cowered ack with his face in his
hands Lalaree was ready to blow her doubts
and fears to the winds. Her heart be u to
speak in his favor and she no longer is mink
away. Perhaps he was ri ht. Pcrhap it was
the remembrance of the exican girl, rankling
in her breast that destro ed what shou'd have
been the perfect bliss of his meeting.
other moment she would have been conquered.
She even moved a step toward him.

Just then the man was sudden)
his feet, and cast to the ground.

torn from

was on his throat, and he knew that he was in
the hands of a master, who, unless his apparent
design was speedily altered, would choke him
to death, than and there. -

It was not the intention of the Red Sport
however, to go to such extremes. When an - died
that the man was sufliciently impressed with

his war and purpose be refined the g) of
histolngers a little, and placed at his laha:
P‘i. '

Scarlet Bear play this game out now. ' Yen
Lust whisper once, an‘ of! yer goes to
tinting-ground. You hear me, e i”
The answer was a faint little nod. ~
Still in his course whisper the Bed Sport con-

“Me slin down lei-lat and stand behind.
Hear all ta . Mtbbe square sport, mebbe not.
Dunno, an’ don‘t care. Take yer both ht
inter High Pine. Ef yer square, all hon y
dunky. Ef bad man, waughi Cut um throat
an’ raise um hair. You hear me, eh?”

There was little doubt on that mm. As he
Spoke Scarlet Bear involuntaril ti htened
his gri )e again, and the man shud .(‘l‘i‘ under
at as t ough he felt a spasm of approaching

eath.

" Ef you move, er whisper, or any one corms,
kill yer right away. just iur fun. Come, little
red girl, we git out now, mighty quick, soon.
Rope jist little ’long ther rock. alaree find it
an’ waltz up. Mate Lute come ’long then, and
bring white galoot. She find out who he is
then, mebbe.” "

Through it all the girl had not spoken a word,
She had confidencein Red Sport, and just now,
very little in herself. She dared not interfere.
She followed his orders. without hesitation,
found the lariat down which he had so silently
come, and began its ascent with all the ease of
a practiced gymnast, though the task was one
to try the strongest mimics,

' tinned:

Through the camp everything was strangely "

silent. Had she known that the majorityot

.\

In an- v

e could not '
even call out. for a gripe of prodigious power-

the happy

 

 

 

  
 

\

' prisoner together, and makin

! it A,. an .. ll
theHawks could have been found in or near
High Pine, she might have understood it better.

4...” mo.

. my,

Once or twice she looked downward, half-ex»

pectin that Red Sport would be dimly seen
with 13s back to the wall facing a host of foes.

But no interruption came, and at last, tired,
breathless, and with blistered hands, she swung
herself over the edge of the rock, and lay safe
on the flat floor above.

When Red Sport saw that IAlaree was safely
over the rock-be turned to his prisoner with a

' dubious grin on his marked features.

“ Ugly climb there, heap ugly drop, you bet.
Kill Ion lalilust soon es not, an’ drop afterwards.
Min . 'rst cheep, in, go white man’s checks.
Fixyou now so carry you n .”

For once the man attempted speech, but from
his throat there came on! a low, gurgling sound,
for Scarlet Bear had de lg gagged im as soon
as he had fairly taken is ngers from his
throat. But at the sound, low though it was,
up came a knife.

“ Don’t do so some more; heap danger, don’t I
told yer, eh?”

Then he corded the hands and feet of his
a. loop of ro
slung him over his shoulder an laid hold of t e
lariat. With all this burden on his back he was
goin to try the ascent.

“ f ary thin drops, Scarlet Bear there, too.
Ump! Big pull: ut bifi Injun at ther rope. ’

It was a big pu , a terrible pull; but
the brawny arms of the Red Sport were equal
to the task. In the descent he had carefully
felt the face of the rock, and on the return
journey he found man places where he could
obtain a foothold an so relieve the prodig-
ious strain u n his muscles.

Whatevsr he feelin of the captive may
have been he had no c ance to express them;
but it was without doubt a relief when at last
Lalaree, having reached out a hand to help
them over the perilous ending of their ascent,
the two were once more on term. firma.

“Now Red Sport takes outfit to High Pine.

’ Come along. See what’s up. Lalarce hunky

‘ much longer route,

~ death? Never!

ring of this? I must

dunky; an’ ef you don’t like Scarlet Bear, go
fur him. eh ?” ‘

He loosened the bandages upon the ankles of
hisifizisoner and started the procession.

. e knew his objective point well enou h,
now; and so, by taking a direct route saved is—
tance and found an easier path. As a result,
he struck High Pine, prisoner and all, just at
the time that Captain Dick was-getting ready

for a difficulty with Geyser Joe and his pards.

If it had been possible to have done so he
would probably have flanked Hi h Pine alto-
glffiher, and gone direct to the o-Down; but
t t- was impracticable, unless he had taken a
from the canyon of the
Hawks; and he was desirous of saving Lalaree
as much as possible.

He did not. do bt but that he could run the

mtlet of the to I» successfully, and probably

‘ e would have done so had it not been for the

excitement at the “Star” which was just be-
ginnin to draw a crow thither. Even then
he mig t have pasSed through had it not been
for Lelaree, whose gulck eye saw something
that Red. 8 rt woul not have cared to notice.
From the ‘Star” a little group was coming
quietly away. First a woman, leading the
way; and then two men, bearing between them
the‘oody'of a third. As they passed the light

,that streamed from a window something famil-
 iar in the movements of this woman struck

Lalaree. She halted a moment and gazed
with a troubled look at the crowd; then
darted ferward, as her glance fell upon the

' lIidmp form of the man who was being carried.

kea flash she seemed to recognize thetwo
whom "shelled seen the previous afternoon on
the phin below High Pine. Here was another
of the mystery that she was so anxious

to ve, and bounding in front of the four she
be] up her hands, With a gesture summoning

' them to halt.

Who are cu? What is the mean-

“Stopl
now more before you go

another ” .
I Raquel, t a Mexican girl, faced her With a
scowl upon her handsome features, '

“Stand aside. Who are you to interfere?
Would you have him murdered, here and now?”

“ Woman, I am Bruce Arden’s friend. I
saw on tryto slay him but yesterday. Do
yout ink I would see ou drag him OR to his
Give im tome; he is mine!”

A's-she spoke she sprung past Ra uel, and

threw her arms about the neck of t e man
p who, even at her touch, seemed to be electrified
again into being. .
“Ha!” exclaimed Raquel. “ It is your hand-
J V

—_.,'—-. .

— ‘F'UV is“ I m _, *
.. ._.... .x. . ..
' ' " .._I.

i_._.._.. . 4

some face, isit, that has won him from me?
But you shall not triumph over me. He is
mine, again; and sooner than see him yours I
would put a bullet through his brain as I mad-
ly tried to do vesterday. No, I wil save him
from death an you. Come away, and leave
us pass before his foes find us and he is lost.”

‘ His foes! Who are his fees? He is a stran-
ger here.” ‘

“ You are false. Geyser Joe is his mortal
enemy; so are they all that train with him.
Awa l ’

Maud looked from One to the other in amaze-
ment.

“ It is ou that are false. Geyser Joe shall be
his friend to the death.”

But Raquel would reason no longer. She
sprun upon the Indian girl, with an unex-
pecte bound, and hurled her aside.

“Quick! Run with him! Hide him as I told
you, while I hold these at bay!”

And so aking she whipped out a revolver
and faced d Sport, Lalaree, and the crowd
beyond, that had alread begun to gather.

As she held her pisto poised there came a
strange and unexpected interruption. Like a
tiger a strange figure sprung upon her. It was
a man, mowing and jabbering, with a gag in
his mouth, a bandage around his head, his ace
fairly, livid with rage. From her hand he
snatched her weapon, as an an ry man might
snatch a plaything from a chi] , and wheeling
he dropped the muzzle straight for the breast of
the Red Sport, raising thelhammer of the pistol
as it fell into line.

Yet just as he ulled the trigger Lalaree gave
a. lightning .stro e at his arm, and the bullet
went wide of its mark, while the Red Sport, 9.
second later, held the drop on his almost es-
caped risoner, shouting the words with which
a prev1ous chapter was closed.

shout and shot pretty thoroughly
emptied the Star saloon. ‘

 

CHAPTER XII.
WHICH IS WHICH?

DANDY DARKE had recognized the voice of
the Red Sport, and leaped with the rest of the
crowd. In fact he outran it, and was the first
to see the strange tableau outside.

But by this time there had been another
change in affairs, for Laluree scarcely had seen
that the bullet intended for Scarlet Bear had

one wide of its mark and that it was about to

e returned with deadly effect, when, utter]
reckless of her own dan er, she flung horse f
into the range of the Red port‘s weapon, catch-
ing with one hand the wrist of the late prisoner,
while the other was raised in a warning gesture.

“Oh! wait, wait!” she exclaimed. ‘Some—
where there is a horrible mistake, or horrible
treachery. We must know the truth before it
is too late. One form, one face, one dress; but
two hearts. Which is which?” ' _

And then she turned suddenly to the man
whose arm she grasped. I

“ Who are you man or fiend; speak quickly?”

Without a doubt she had saved his life, for
the finger of the Indian was just ightening on
his trig er, and few indeed could ave so sud-
denly c anged the deadly thought, and held
their fire. He was one of the ow, however,
who could do it, and he did; although, as he
saw the rowd come pouringi out from the Star,
he had a idea that he woul have to fight the
whole of High Pine. He believed it until he
heard a harsh word or two, an oath, and the

Star. Giving a nick Side glance he saw Dandy
Darke and Joe urke leaping for his side' and
two men rawling on the ground behind them.

“We’re ere Red Bear! Say your say and
Go-Down is right behind ffyou.”

“That man’s playln’o on Lalaree. Had her
tied up in kenyun. Red Sport Ikerry both
away. Want for see who he is. Little squaw
tie to me every time an’ let me play hand, but
hyer’s another Jack, nn’ dunno which’s trum .
Take ’em both down to Go-Down an’ see.
this bad man, heap, hang urn. Ef that big
fraud, raise nim hair. Give Lalaree right man,
an’ everything he hunky dunky. Eh?”

“ All right then, that’s the lay-out. Go Down,
sail in 1”

From the crowd to the side of Darke and
Geyser Joe stepped Joe Beams, a. man of the
shaft and just in his wake came John Duke.

" yer, pards, let the chip in on your hand. Yer
can’t tell a boss by his harness, an’ ye’ll find me
chock full of sand. I used to run ther Go-Down
meself till Hi h Pine went back on me. an’ an
old dorg cant change his bark. Thet’s whar
I b’long.” I

 

noise of a solid blow, just at the door of the.

 

, M..- Wm»... _... .-a_._  f T  s ,_,. _ .. . ma... ..... ..

,Ats'he spoke Duke ranged Nasal! with the
I. .

ee .
, Meantime Lalaree had been waiting in breath-

less anxwty for that answer to her question
which it seemed her words must wring from the
man whose wrist she still clasped.

It came, in a low tone. ,

“ Has not your heart told you? But, no!
You have no heart. You too are in lea us with
the men that hunger for my life. W en you
step aside, as you will, my death -warrant will
be sealed. I who have suffered so much, who
thought you dead, and risked all to avenge ycu,
will die at last by your hand.”

“ If you are Bruce Arden, my Bruce Arden,
who then is this other; and what to on is this
Mexican girl, with her tigerish beau y?”

“ She is nothing to me, but she may be much
to him. And he lS--”

As he was speakin , as he was about, perhaps,
to reveal the secret is at was holding in check

the seething elements of war, there came a sud—

den interruption.

At his back appeared Captain Dick, who,
seizin him b the neck with one hand,
wrenc-ied him rom her grasp, while, with the
other hand he dashed the muzzle of n cocked re-
volver into his month. At the same time one
of his trusty men neatly performed the same
operation upon the other Bruce Arden.

The two men, whoevor and whatevor they
might he, were mostevidentl 'in the power, for
life or death, of the savage awks.

“ Now then, I reckon we hold the edge, an’ ef
you think twice I don’t guess there’s aryman
that won’t pass out an’ leave us ther pot!” ex-
claimed Cuptain Dick. '

“ It’s time to jump this game till we find out
who’s who; an’ ary way we’ve got him. One of
these chaps is this gal’s friend, an’ you can’t
get him away. Ei’ you tetch my arm, down

oes ther hammer, an’ off goes his brain-pan.

if any one thinks he can shoot Bob thew, so
dead his finger can’t pull ther trigger, try it.”

"‘ But see here,” interposed Dandy Darke,
quietly. “ I don’t know much about thispnme .
butIdo see you’re as apt to kill a i‘rimd 0
your own as a friend of ours. And disguised or
not, that man is Faro Frank. Short hair, a
smooth face and a boiled shirt can’t change the
man I whipped in a fair fight so that I can’t
tell him.”

“Which man are those? Look agin’, Mr.
Darke. Ef you kin pick Faro Frank outer this
)air you’ve got a shar er eye than ary man in

igh Pi: e. Ef on t ink ’ve got him, blaze
away an’ see. e’ll leave yer ther corpse to
examine at yer leisure.” -

“ He’s talkin’ right from ther bed rock, Ferd;
hole er hand,” interposed Duke. “ I {now
somet in’ about this hyer ame, but blessed of
I know them two apart. ‘ats in mittens can’t
ketch mice; an’ they’ve got ther gloves on you,

“Stran er, thet’s sense. Hyer’s ther deal.
You Go- wners ack yer kits an’ travel to-
ward home; an’ we 1 take these two galoms an’
draw off toward the other end 0v town. You
hold too many barrels fur us n0w to keer about
a stiff fight, but of that don’t suit say it out au’
We’ll begin.” ‘ '

“Yes. es, go!” exclaimed Lalaree. “ Some-
thing tel 5 me that these two will not harm
each other; and if you come not to their to! ma
it will be certain death. Yet, oh, if there was
more light for one searching glance that should
read not his face but his soul! ’ V.

As” she spoke she turned toward the window
of the Star, but at that moment the lights
within were suddenly extinguished and the
twilight Without changed to a sudden darkness,
in which Captain Dick led his captives away,
while Dandy Darke and his crowd cautiously
withdrew toward the Go—Down. Once more
they had faced the tigers of High Pine; but
this time the result was a drawn battle, and no
lives lost.

And the outsiders of High Pine were some-
what disgusted, for they had imagined that
when these two parties had so fairly faced each
other nothing could come but a deadly duel.
They did not entirely appreciate the fact that
while all of these men were as reckless as. and
~pierhaps more reckless than, any other men in

igh Pine, their verv courage enabled them to
view the chances coolly.

Captain Dick and his men knew thstif the
ball opened there would be a slaughter,
for they could find no chance for a vollev be
fore the Go~Dmvners could be ready for them.
And Dandy Darke and his friends knew as
well that they were overmatched as l'( golds
numbers, that a melee meant death to therea]
Bruce Arden, in whom Lalaree had so deep an

 

 

  
 

 

interest; and defeat meant the most terrible
danger to both Lalaree and Marion Doriand
who was now practically alone at the Stockade
at the Go—Down. Of course High Pine at large,
except as spectators, cared little about the fray;
and though more than one suspected that Cup-
tain Dick and his men Were connected with the
noted Hawks, no one thought it the correct thing
to take sides against them. .

But there was one thing that flashed
across Dave Dorland’s mind, so exciting him
that he ewu took no time to reason concerning
the return of the lately missing Lalaree.

“ Come, this is no place to linger. This may
be but a feint to hold us here, while the Go~
Down is left alone. A dozen of the Hawks may
be at work there now. Beams and I will ride
on. and you follow as fast as you can come.”

Dandy Darke’s excitement was natural: but
for once a foreboding brought no evil in its
train and it was with a feeling of hap y relief
that he found all quiet at home, an a little
lu tcr welcomed the arrival of INS friends.

In their wake, howchr, came John Duke.

" I don’t want to wring in,” was his cool re-
mark, “ but maybe ther climate ov High Pine is
unhealthy fur a man about my size an’ heft, an'
I want a talk at yer, soon as we git where we
kin lake it easy.’

“Take the risk, then, an’ come along,” an-
swered Burke; and he came.

It was just in front of the gate in the stockade
that be halted, and the partners were all there
together.

" You’ve stood by me to-night, stranger, an’
I reckon (lo-Down will stand by you so long cs
you act thcr clean thing; but you‘ilallow you’re
a mighty tough-lookinw casc.’

“That’s accordiu’. fit you shuts yer eyes a
white cow’s black. W'hen thcr’s a diilikibility
John Duke’s ullers around, an’ he takes one side
or the t’othcr. It ain’t hard to find him. To<
night he was on your side, an’ of you do the
square thing hc’ll stay thar.”

“ That sounds like a threat,” said Dave I)or-
land, suddenly stepping into the circle. “ You
are not us disinterested as you want to appear.
What is your little game? Out with it. Who
are you?”

“ I’m John Duke, of Denmark; an’ I’m the
man that oughter own ther Go-Down shaft. I
kim in yero when ther camp was young, an’ me
uu’ my purd put our muscle into the be e au’ sot
to cleaning out ther bones. It didn’t pan out
like we expected, but it war somethm’ ov a
strike, au’ we’d ’a’ done Well but High I’ine,
one day riz right at us. My pard they took
right in outer the wet; an’ they fired me out. I
wasn’t never Very handsome, but when Hi rh
Pine got through with me I war a
I didn’t die it warn’t their fault, they did their
best to give me a send-01!.”

“\Vell’i”

“When I got round aa’in I drifted about
some leetle consider’ble, an all ther time I thort
ov Hi h Pine, an’ how of I bed it to do over
ag’in, "(1 make it lively fur therbo 5. At last I
stood right in fur ther spot. Fur t er time I’ve
been hyer I’ve picked up a thunderin’ lot 0v

oints, an’ I’m a valyerb 9 man. Buy me, an’
’11 do yer good.”
“We’re coming to it at last. So you’re for

,sale- what’s your price?”

“ don’t want to tread on yer toes too hard
sence I’ve found out ther kinds of hair-pins you
be. I did think I’d clean that shaft out an’ set
up fur a millionaire, but I won’t 0 back on yer
now. Es I onderstood what heerd. ther’s
about five on on claims an interest. Make it
six an’ count ohn Duke in fur a full pard.” '

Doriand broke into a ringing laugh. ‘

“ That’s coolness! Why not take the whole
at once? You might as well.” v

“ Thet’s so, p’r’aps I oughter; but ther‘s noth-
in’ ov ther swine about me. I’d sooner bev
ever thing all smooth an’ a eeable, than twice
the ( ust, an’ no end 0v trou le.” -

“ You’re too generous, by half. I don’t thin
we need you. Uf coursewe’ll look after you
to—night, but in the morning you’d better boot
it back to High Pine, and look for some other
location.”

“ So you won’t dicker?”

“ Nary clicker.”

“ I kin give yer a p’int right now,,wortha
half interest.” ‘

“Hang your points, and you, too! Come m.
We can’t stand here talking nonsense.”

“ Ef you think John Duke goes ’rouud talking
nonsense, you don’t kno 'v much. I mean what

my, By work_an’ diskiv’ry ther UOgDown is
mine; I want a Sixth interest.”

"‘And you won’t get it.” -

“Then you’ll hear somethin’ drop. I give

pi ‘tur’. 4 f‘

 

MN

mm...

 

{oral} notice. I’m playin’ a lone hand right
yer, at Iii h Pine; but I’m goin’ to hold both
bowers an the ace. ’ve offered you our
chance fur a deal, an’ you threw it up. ow
I tell yer, I’ll take ther mine, an’ you can do yer
purtiest. You hear me! So long.”

\Vithout waiting for an answer he turned and
strode away, leaving the (lo-Downers much
puzzled at his strange assurance.

 

CHAPTER XIII.
THE srnsnorn or A woman's LOVE.

IT may seem strange that Alan Argndo, with
all his passionate Mexican blood, which had so
long been hot for revenge, and now was heated
to boiling-point by the rougl. handling of Gey-
ser Joe, should not have attem ited some despen
ate deed, then and there. sat, there were
other hands guiding him, and he was but a
simple tool, handled at will by the stern men
who were bent at once upon revenge, and the
possession of the Go-Down shaft, yet, at the
same time were ten'ibly anxious not to come
into a conflict with the citizens roper of High
Pine, who Were just us apt to ta 6 up one side
as the other, until it was clear who held the
winning,r hand.

Argado, indeed, would have precipitated a
fight in short order had he been allowed to
work his will, but at the very moment he was
about to s iring upon Burke one of Captain
Dick‘s menlhurlcd him back.

“ You fool!” he hissed. " Don’t you see that
High Pine is against us? When it, comes to
a light it’s got to be where there’s no witnesses.
Afwr it’s over, trust lligh Pine to take thin
as they find ’cm. I’ut up that knife or I’ll drill
you. You Wouldn‘t do your work where you
ought to have done it; you can’t make amass
of it here.”

The stern admonition was enforced by the
production of a pistol: and Argado cowcrcd
back. “’hatcvernligbt be his thirst for blend
he was not mad enough to face certain death.
'l‘lnnn-cforlh, even when Raquel so suddenly ro-
appem‘ed, he watched the procccdings in sullen
silence, and it was only after Captain Dick and
his 11 on bad suddenly swept away ilr-ir two
prisoners that be thought of the girl whom he
called his daughter, but who in reality was only
so by marriage, being the child of his wife.

At times she assod his comprehension: but
the events of this evening had somewhat opened
his eyes, both to her‘ plans, and to the actual
feclings of the Hawks toward himself.

“ Curse them l” he muttered. “’I‘hev mean
mischief to her and to me. The irl had had
some dealin s with Faro Frank in t e past, and
he is tired 0 her; while she loves him yet, but
is mad enough to take his life if he deserts her.
He knows it, and would put her out of the way.
He would send me along to kee her company,
now that he is done with me. t him beware,
thoughl I can hate him as well as these others;
and he is safer for me to strike.”

From his gloomy soliloquy he was aroused by
a li ht touch upon his shoulder. ' -

e looked around quickly, suspicious of dun.
ger: but it was
more silent and gloomy than himself.

“Come.” she said, Simply. “I have found a
lair and it is time We two trusted each other,
forI have seen enough to know that our lives
are in danger.”

Without stopping to in uire bow, upon such
short notice, he had foun a hiding-place, he
suffered himself to be led away.

A not very long walk brought them to a but
standing alone upon the brink of the canyon
to the west of the town. It w a small build-
ing not much ovor a dozen fee square, but so
solidly built of heavy slabs as to be almosta
fort in miniature. The one window was de-
fended by a heavy slab shutter, that was closed
and barred on the inside, and in the sides were
here and there loop-holes that Seemed to indi-
cate that the builder had considered the proba-
bility of having to stand a siege. -

The inside was to the full as rough as the out-
side, and the furniture was sparse and r,
but it was not so bad a “ lay-out” for Iigh
Pine, and Argado Could but admire the wit of
the woman in having established herself so
well; but he said nothing, while she lit a candle
and doubly barred the door. It was Raquel
who broke the silence.

“I deserve to be slain. Twice I have been

Raquel. who stood behind, still

  

.:__...*V._..:.... ..... .... .... ..

. they git a few hours’ start on us in these moun-

deceived; but no such resemblance can fool me 
' ,1

again.

“ One of nstperhaps both, may never have
the trial,” answered Alan, moodily.

“ Yes. Yet he loved me once, and his words
were sweetest just before he left me. He is a

 
  
  
  
   
   
  
   
    
  
  
  
  

. .. -......

 

a...“

‘

traitor that I dare not trust, and yet I cannot
forget.”

- “ Why did you come here thcn'l' Why do
you not go away i” .
“Wait, wait! There is something for stain.
the future; I feel it.”

As she spoke there came a faint tapping at»
the door.

“ Faro Frank’s knock ” she whispered.
“ Shall I slag! him or shall I save him i”

“ Uubar t e door, and see.”

She moved with nervous haste to the door,
and film it open.

“ We] , little one, I’ve found you out at last.
You had better come straight to me than go»
prospecting round on a blind trail. You know
me now i” 1'

She forget her doubts and fears, and bound—-
ing forward threw her arms about his neck.

“Oh, Frank, Frank, 'ou have beer so crucli‘ ,
and I waited in vain so ong for some token.”

“ That’s all right: but don’t you see I had to-
look after my neck“! A live lover is better than.
a dead husband; and n hen I saw you Come 1
was happy. I’ve got one deal to make here,
Ilatucl, and then we will go away together.
Wi you hclpmc‘l" ’

“ Will I live? Can you ask me? My doubte-
are all forgotten now that you are here. What. ,
is it that [can dot”

“Take care of a prisoner for me. You and.
Alan can guard him and nurse him for a few
days. I mean him no harm and as soon as I get.
through with the Go-Down I will turn him leose.
Argado, I will uy well; and you little one, will
ask nothing, I now, but my love, as a reward.”

“Anything you ask I will do. I trust you."
once more, and thoroughly: but oh, for your
life’s sake do not fail me again i”

And with her hate all gone, her love all awake,
Raquel resigned herself to do his bidding.

CHAPTER XIV.
THE weak or A 'ruAl'ron.
ON the morning after the trouble at the Star
.suloon the first man out of the stockade at Go-
I)own shaft was the Red Sport. Although just
returned from the successful trnil hunt of Lulu:
rec he was about sturtin V out again on Mother
({uest that promised to She nit-re diliirnn- and
collector He had not only to rcscm l"ruce.
Arden, but first he must identify him; and.
when even Lalarec, lwwildoéred as she i-mi been.
by darkness and treachery, was not too certain
Scarlet Bear was willing to admit that his task
was a hard one, though he did not shrink from:
I .

 

But as he was the first man out, he was the
one to discover that, some time in the night,
some one had approached the stockade and \\ ith
a bowieknife pinned a letter to the gate.

There it hung. a warnin and a menace, that
was disafizeeable enough, for its presence there
proved t t, spite of the watch that was snflered
to be kept, an enemy had been able, unper~
ceived to approach within striking distance.

Without showing any signs of his discomfort:
the Red Sport took down the missive, thrust
the weapon into his belt with as much ceclneas
as though it belonged there, and retraCed his
steps to find Lalaree. Anything in writing was
a touch above him.

“Not back!” exclaimed the girl. “Surel
you Will not break your ledge to me. 9
must be found if I go myself.” '

Reds ' rtflnd this-
um first, on chief go

“Goslow leetle red rl.
might? missivleawss tvgrittgn with a leadtpencil, '
owmg n on on a acre 0
torn from an old hote-bgok. 1“) paper

“I! Ple
“To ALL rr iur consumm—The manlgown as
Bruce Arden is in good hands, that will nurse him
up and let him go in due time. We have no use for
him, and there are reasons why hewill not be
harmed. Search for him will not only be useless.
but might cause a. catastrophe.

stuck up outside.
on trail.”

"CAPTAIN DICK."
This was the message read by Lalaree, and a.-
few moments later it was placed before Dave
Doriand, and the rest. -
“What does it mean, Joe?” wasDorlaml’s.

query, as be looked over the paper with a pnz~
zled eye. '
"To throw us off the scent some way. ‘l'lf‘

 

taius how long do yer s’pmse it would be More
any crowd the Go-Dowu kin turn out would.
find what become of him?”

“I’m not so sure. If he never comes back
they’ll know we’ve got it fine on ’em that the
Hawks killed him; but I don’t see how Hwy‘d
care for that when they’ve done enough to being
a regiment for. There’s something deeper be-

i.
,.
l ,
f.
l
.
I.
if
i.
f
:l
i
V
,
,
i:

 

, an’ take a fresh start Monday.

'ablet'oseo iswaytoan

.. .u '1). w 1 .w .. .v. in.

12. ,

Faro Frank of High Pine.

 

 

 

hind this; or else it means just what it says,
and if We let them alone he’ll turn u ) all right.
There’s more in this resemblance 0 these two
men than i saw at first. Who are they?”

Faro Frank had indeed more than one end to
serve in playing his card. Ho shrewdly rea—
soned that if the stayed at home one day they

i
l

 

i
!

would not only nd nothing, but on the next ‘-
y 1)

would certain 0 out on the search. In that
way on that day, which would be Sunday,
there might be a chance to pick them oil“ in de—
tail.

And then there was something in this resem- ‘-

lun'w. lie had his plot to utilize it if other

things failed, though it was the truth that,
irisoner though he might be, Bruce Arden’s
‘ "to was, for the present, safe.

La. aree cared nothing for these speculations.
It was diilicult enough to keep her in out of the
reach of danger. She cut the discussion short.

“ Whatever it may mean heed it not, but (go
at onee—-Mato Luta may tell the truth when 0
says that he can do best by himself; but if he
fails we must'not hesitate. We have wealth;
what is it good for? We will buy a little army
in' High Pine and follow the outlaws to their
mountain fastness. If we cannot rescue him

. we can aven 9 him.” ‘

“Ther gir talks sense; on’y it’s like as not
we’d it three Hawks out ov every four men we
pick up in High Pine. an’ I don t go much on

he trash you km ick up to fight fur money.
But we’ll make tie understanding that Red
Sport comes back Sunday ni ht at the latest.
Ef his hand is N. 0., why we’ I raise that army,
I made a mis-
take with ther chap in ’Frisco, an’ I’m ready to
make up far it hyar. Thet’s squar’. Ofl? ye go,
Scarlet Bear.”
b “ (’Jif it is, an’ Red Bear find him sure, you
cl: ’

With the disap earance of the Indian the
routine life of the o-Down began; and though
all tried to curb their impatience there was

’ speculation, excitement and some sorrow when

Sunday night came, and the Red Sport failed
to ut in an appearance.

t was near midnight when Si Camp, the
treacherous Go-Downer who had met Faro
Frank’s emissary in the unsuspected presence of
J can ane, a few nights before, began his work;
anda few minutes later as he came slinking away
from the hats that la in one corner of the in-
closure be halted sud enly and dropped motion-
less to the ground, while he cred cautiously
at a sin le ark shadow that ropped from the
wall 0 the stockade and flitted noiSelessly
alon the wall toward the‘mouth of the shaft.

" ‘an it be one of the Hawks? They may
have grown tired of waiting and sent a. man in
to prospect. Cursed reckless that would be.”

For an instant the figure of the stranger was
more clearly revealed as he darted across a nar-
row belt of light, and Camp saw the rugged
outlines of a perfect stranger to him. It was
John e, come with two revolvers and a hard
head to make his deal on the Go Down. _

But though Duke was a stranger to Camp it
was by no means sure that he was not one of
th Haw and while he hesitated, utterly un-

course of action, be
As Duke dispppeued do“ ttile gafliasti
, amp, on -
ly approached t e shaft. and was a. 10 to make
out that the intruder was descending hand
under hand, the thick rope that stretched away
into the black night of the pit.

"Dashed if I know what to do” muttered
Oomph) himself. “ If I 've an alarm it will

ii the game for the nig t. If I shake himofl
i would much hisbones; but then it might be
Frank himself, for- all I know. He’s struck
holttonti pnyhow, and blamed if he ain’t starting
a igh .

Bending over the edge of the shaft Camp
could see first the feeble splatter of a match,
away below him, and then the steady flame. of
a lantern, that revealed the intruder looking
around him like one that had got back to farml—
ia" quarters, for without hesitation he stepped
away from the spot, ‘and disappeared in a drift
that ran under the hill-side.

“ I‘ve got ou now,” chuckled Camp. “Friend
or foe we’ll eave you there till we see which
side to take you on.”

SJcntly he‘began winding up the ro until
the end was a dozen feet abovo the roe y floor
of the shaft. ,

“ If he gets out till we’re ready to let him
out." continued Ca mp, as be fastened the wind-
iass, “ you can just call me the boss liar of
High Pine. Now for thesignals to the Hawks.
If they do their work, all right. If they don’t,
8 young man of the sme of Si Camp will have to

i

saw the man plunge bol

slope] before morning. I wonder how Tom feels

' out thereon the beat, alone? Not too frisky,

yo et.”

He‘passed away from the spot; went through
the gate of tho stockade, which he left open; and
soon, for the second time since Dave Doriand
had come to the fore, the belcaguers were charg-
ing in, with full confidence that now, at last, re-
vlengo and the richest strike of High l'ino was
t lUll'h‘.

 

CHAPTER XV.
BURIED ALIVE.

WHEN Murray llrandt and the Hawks had
made their attack noon the (lo—Down, several
months before, they had won their way in at
the expense of the life of a careless sentinel.
This time the sentinel was neither careless nor
killed. He was so much on the alert that, with
his slugs 'ingling in his pockets, he had with-
drawn to igh Pine 8. quarter of an hour before
Si Camp came out to finish his preparations, as
laid out for him in the conversation that John
Duke had overheard.

Meantime the mine Seemed at last utterly de-
fenseless, for within not a moving form could
be seen, nor a sound heard save the long-drawn
breaths of the sleepers. 1f Faro Frank did not
wish to strike at high Pine until he could anni-
hilate the entire party, this seemed to be his
chance.

Yet just as Faro Frank and his Hawks came
rushing through the gate in blind confidence,
there was an alarm, given from a quarter
whence it was least expected.

John Duke was playing a lone hand at the
Go-Down, but he did not intend to throw away
any chancq, Hastin be explored the drift,
smiled to himself once or twice, and finally re-
turned to the shaft with a. satisfied look upon
his face. He knew now exactly how the land
lay below.

At the shaft a surprise awaited him. The
rope down which he had climbed had disap-
peared.

Duke uttered his usual so.” t whistle.

“Dog-gone my tail-feather of my bridges
ain’t burned! I‘ll hcv to hunch my hand on this
deal. Some cuss hes draw’d up ther repe.
Le’s see how fur it’s gone, though, afore we
howl. Mebbe we’ll be in time fur ther tea-
party arter all.” ‘

He raised his lantern high above his head and

red up the shaft. Dinin and indistinctly

8 saw the mouth and the shadowing Windlass
awa above. He thought, the, that he could
see e book of the rope floating in the air, at
some uncertain distance.

“Ha, ha! Ef me 010 eyes don’t deceive me
I’ve got ’em it. They mustn’t think they kin
fool John Du e ov Denmark.”

He set the lantern down and from his waist
uncalled a rope that be carried there. Trying
the runnin noose at the end to see that it
slipped free , he stepped back to one side of
the shaft an then flung the lasso upward. It
stgucgk the rope of the Windlass but did not
ca . . '

Twice more he made his casts, and then the
noose tightened on the hook, and Duke had
reestablished his line of communication With
the upper world. He.tried it careful] , and
then began an ascent, that showed that e was
wantin in neither nerve nor muscle. As he
emer from the shaft he glanced at the open
gate of the stockade and saw Faro Frank’s men
stealing through.

Without hesitation he drew a. revolver and
fired full at the advancing crowd.

A man went down, and‘seeing that silence
was now neeless the outlaws sprung forward
with a ell, though they expected no 0 position.

At 6 startling report Dave Dor and and
Geyser Joe sprun up with heavy eves, dazed
brains. and yet ful of the instinct of fight.

Half-dressed as the were, the caught up
their belts and slungt em around hem, as they
rushed out to see what was the matter.

The Hawks were coming. The moment the
two appeared there was a volley of firearms,
that sent a shower of lead sputtering spitefully
around them.

“He, there, boys! This way for the Go-
Down!” yelled Dorland, and out came their
read revolvers.

“ lick—click—click,” the useless hammers
fell. Si Camp had managed to do his work but
too well. The tamperedwith cartridges failed
to explode, while. to make more certain, the
workmen were lying in a drugged sleep. Only
Joe Beams answered to Dave Dorland’s call, and
on his revolver the same witchcraft seemed to

 

have been used.

 

Back into its holster Dorland flung his use,
less pistol, and from his breast drew a smaller
weapon that he always carried there.

No man could shoot faster, or with more
deadly aim. Like rattling hail sounded the
sharp patter oi? his shots. l-ut though each of
the live llullets struck a living mark, the rush
was not checked. If two or three men did drop,
and as many more wince sharply under the lit-
tle leaden pills, what was that among a score
of savage men, excited by wild report-s of tin-
weulih protected by the Clo—Ilowu smelmticl

“No Use, Dandy, they’ve. got us!" cxwluimcd
Geyser Joe. “ Sm alter Marion, and 1‘“ wok ‘
l'n' Maud. “fell out our way out sclimluw.
Come in, Joe.”

The, three men leaped within the door, which
they slammed to just in the faces of the Hawks,
anddrop Jed a bar behind it.

“They ll scatter ’round ther house and give a
better chance fur a rush.” was Burke’s thought,
als he dashed into the little room where L'Jhu‘ce
s e )t.

' he bed was vacant. Certainly her fonn
had not pressed the couch that night. as Burke
could see by the light that streamed in through
the 8pm door.

“ ood heavens! the girl’s not here.
with Marion?”

The exclamation of Geyser J oe was answered
by the appearance of Dave Dorland u; on the
threshold. carrying in his arms the motionless
form of his wife, who seemed to be in a deep,
unnatural slumber.

“No! The irl must have slipped out to try
and meet Red ear. If so without doubt she
has fallen into those outlaw hands again. There
is nothing we can do for her now; we must try
and save ourselves. Then we can think oi res-
cue and revenge.”

“ Which way then? They’ll smoke as ( at of
here in a minute: and some devil has tampered
with our revolVers so that we stand a peer
show for fight.”

“ Break for the shaft,” interposed Joe Beams.
“ Slide down the. rope an‘stand off in ther drift.

3y good luck I’ve got a box of cartridges thar
an’ fifteen sich gangs couldn’t get at us. We’ll
just fill that shaft up w ith stifle.”

“ And how will we get out!”

“ The Red Sport is somewhere on thcr trail:
an’ they won’t take him in so easy. Ile‘ll drop
along, easy like, see how the land lays, an’
bring High Pine down fur a row. High Pine
is hard; but it’s ready fur a brush when it sees
a good chance.”

“Good! I see no better chance, and we will
try it. Some traitor has been at work who has
drugged our camp, for I hear nothing of our
boys. Be ready to follow me, one on each side.
There l” .

As the door went down with a crash, the three
men, each with a knife in his hand, and Dave
Dorland with his wife, Marion, upon his shoul—
der, leaped thr h the suddenly opened win-
dow shutter a further end of the cabin, and
made a straight’dash for the shaft.

The distance to cover was buta few yards, and
they were half over it before a squad of their
enemies closed in on them. For a moment there
was a sound that resembled the snapping and
snarling of wild beasts; up and down went
three knives; on the air sounded more than one
pistol-shot; and just as Faro Frank, followed by'
the balance of the Hawks, reached the ot.
the three men burst through, andwith hood

uting from half a dozen wounds. gained the
s aft, and. one by one went sliding dawn the
rgpe, thetero the eager pursuers coul guess their
0 cc .

nd from the bottom of the shaft, a moment
later, as Tom Brace leaned eagerly over the
brink, there came a little shoot of flame,followod
by a muffled re rt.

Up into the air went Brace’s arms: for an in-
stant he trembled at the edge of the pit: and
then pitched heavily forward, rushing down
into the black depths below.

The unex ected shot caused a niomemary
panic, and t e men who were just poisii‘g their

istols to ur a volley down the shaft, cowered

ack and ooked around, uncertain wlmll m m;
waste be done. The delay allowed the fugi-
tives the chance that saved them, for Faro
Frank, as he dashed up, threw himself upon the
Windlass.

“Up with it, boys! we’ll bring ‘em to light!”

Two or three caught at the handles and
whirled them around: but they were too late,
for, at the first upward motion, Joe Beams. the
last man on the rope, suddenly IOoscned his
hold. and dropped, unhnrt, half a dozen feet to
the floor below.

“ All right, hyar!” he shouted, cheerfully.

Is she

"I
‘1

 

 

W..__.. .‘1 TIT‘-

 

“ Watch ’em a lectle an’ I’ll be back with ther
cartridges. Then we kin hold ’em level l”
“That’s good enough,” said Dave Dorland,
taming to Burke. "W'e’re all safe, and the
fresh air is beginning to revive Marion. Who
fired tlintshot? Some of the boys must be in

the mine; but I didn’t know there was one of ‘

them good for that distance and light.”

“ You can’t prove nothin’ by me. Hyar’s
ther corpse though; un‘ he hes it )lum through
ther nozzle. He kiiii mighty nigh
me off ther rope.”

“An’ hyar’s yer cartridges.
won’t miss fire. Load up.” ,

With Wea ns recharged the three men stood,
on the watc i; and once or twice flred shots up-
ward as they thought they caught glimpses of
the Hawks 'above. For a time at least they
could hold their own there; and if it had not
been for the uncertaint as to Lalaree the party
would have been full 0 hope.

Faro Frank was as well aware as themselves
that Maud Burke had not come from the cabin,
and at the head of a. squad he made a hasty
search to see if, by chanCe, she had been left he-
hind. But there were no traCcs of her, either
in the hats or the stockadc, and he was forced

Bet rocks them

to bclicVo that she had slipped through his iin— ,

gers. At once he dispatched three or four
trhstv men for further search, and then re-
turned to the mouth of the shaft.

‘ llo, below therc, Dave Dorlandl
will‘ug' to come to termcst”

“libero are no terms between us but those
XYI’HiH by the revolver. Mcii that jump claims
i iVo «-i' take no others. \Ve’re not whipped yet,
Faro It‘riink. You may have. the stockade; but
we hold the shaft; and M'c‘ll kccp it. Now,
stind back. The nextanswcr you get will be
from .'| muzzle that never has to speak twice.”

“ I reckon he’s got us, Cap. We don’t want
to frolic around hycr fur nuthin’, an’ it’s (li'tld
\“t- can‘t get at ’em in that hole scnce
Vt'hat

Are you

Slu'
the ‘w loaded upag’iu with cartridges.
yrr did ’ to do about its“

1‘: i: just then tho question was emphasized by
tun hots that struck two heads that had iii-
cull i dls‘lfi’ protruded over the brink, in what,
would have been a vain cffort to pierce
tlr- wept in; below.

’i‘;ia_n,n,yli, by a chance that was lucky for
than. the two men were only wounded. the
"hm ks Were maddened by the sight, and Faro
Rank knew that whatever (levilisb deed be
minor. propose they would second.

“ I’ll show you what I’ll do. Tear up one of
tIlilS:' snantics, and bring the trash here.”

15,» the side of the shaft there lay some
planks. and these were placed across the open-
ing. Upon them was gathered quickly a great
ll.{:t‘1)lxi materials. , A

'l.. n, through a crack between two of the
boom: , Faro Frank shouted down:

" windy Dnrkei you and your men, for the
lil‘i'. lilllcl \Vill you come to terms, or shall we
burn will out?" '

'l'wi“ illanVGr was a pistolshot that missed the
hem o: the speaker by only a few inches.

" Light her up, boys. I’ll keep my word.”

'1 t u there was the striking'o a match, and
tau n ugh in air rose the flaring flame; and when
thw .. m of combustibles had thoroughly ig-
iiinv- l. Faro Frank, witlia satanic smile on his
ion: ‘xp , thrust the boards asunder. aided by a.
doz l n-uilliuu, hands. Down tlie‘shatt poured
in; ll ml of flaming b nails, and on top of them
ll.“ .3  ks cast more of the debris of the wrecked
cam. , with planks, Windlass, and the scattered
v. ‘

"inure, if that don’t smoke them out draw
lid-n are; and at the first shot fill in the shaft.

l
ill. \ I"Iil .

We'll iignt tire With fire, and it we can’t succeed ’

that way we’ll bury them alive. I leave them
in your chargc, Dick. I and three, men have
business elsewhere.

CHAPTER XVI.
A 1H ENDISII DEED.

'i‘lm chict‘ oi the Hawks only knew that
IklIlil‘L‘i‘ had not fallen into his hands, and had
“(’1’ “Pen one of those who rest-calcd to the shaft.
HP Hlillmsrd that she had probably made her es-
carpi ncl'ore the attack, and the question now
“a: \ l ctwrshe had hidden somewhere in the
n‘ i..:hl:UI'lImxl: or none on up to the foul).

to knocking Q

 

Faro Frank of High Pine. '

been a slight influx of more enlightened inhubi- f
. had aided looked around in a troubled, wood.»

tilints, who might succeed in stirring up the peo-
) 0.

I But High Pine turned out to be quiet enough,
and Faro Frank was glad, for he was in haste
to execute plans of his own of which his men
knew next to nothing. He ad sworn to have
Lalaree. He had even hoped to make her his
wife; though his game was a desperate one,
which he had not yet relinquished. I'lcr disap-
pearance at the present moment was a check;
but he vowed that he would yet find her, though
just now he had to attend to other business.

The muffled noise of the firing below, hardly
audible chn to a. listening ear, seemed to have
attracted no attention, for not a. soul did he
meet; and he and his men strolled noiselessly to-
ward the cabin occupied by Ra uel Argado.
1t stood there upon the edge of tie canyon, a
darker spot in the darkness, and no sound nor
streak of light came from Within.

He crept cautious] y uptothe door, and knock-
ed lightly thrice, cach time giving three uick
taps. Then, through a crack, he whispere :

‘ Raquel I”

Almost instantl there was a sound within.
the bar was I‘lllSC( , and the woman’s voice re~
spondcd:

“ Is that you, Frank?”

“ Yes. My plans are succeeding better than
Iliad hoped for. I’ll take our visitor away
now; and when I Come bnc ' you will find me
all that you wish. You will never need to ac-
cuse me of coldness again.”

As he spoke she opened the door wider and he
entered.

There were two slee irs there. Upon a
blanket sure-ad upon the l oor lay Alan Argado,
in a drun en slumber; while upon a rude bunk
just beside him was the young man, the pris-
oner, with bound ankles and a bandaged arm.

Faro Frank raised from the floor a lantern,
and bending oVer, by its dubious light contem-
plated the taco ol’ the prisoner for a moment,
and ihcnawnkcnml him by a mac shake oi the
shoulder. ‘

lVith a start the youngr inan opcned his eyes.

" Come, you can tan in my hand no longer: 1
have changed my game and am going to let
you go. I’ve riggtvd ytu out in the togsthat
all High Pine knows, and if you choose to set
up for Faro Frank (lcvil a one of them can tell
the difference; and as Rn nel and I are going
away we’ll never s; lit. unt up your little
squaw, if you want to; but take care she don’t
shoot you on sight. Between Faro Frank and

' the (lo-Down crowd there. is war to the knife.”

 

[1‘ the iattcr should be the case it was rather ‘
important to know how High I’ine was going 7

to take the intelligence of his reckless attack
upon the mine. As a general thing such dith‘cul-
ties wrrc considered purely personal, aid the
panics wi-re allowed to' fight it out between
themsxlves. '

l

“ But I am not Faro Frank.”

The young man spoke coolly.
senses, though physmally weak.

“ Ha, ha! Prove it. I’m Bruce Arden; so
you must be his cousin Frank. Make Dandy
Ilnrke believe anything else when he looks
along his barrcls. Come, though! I’ve no time
for folly. Follow me like a man of sense, or
We’ll carry you like a corpse. Remember, I’ll
shoot at the first motion.”

“- I’ll do the best 1 can till I see your hand. I
may be Weak, but at can’t‘scare me.”

“Hush then, out come on!” '

With a quick stroke he cut. the cords and the
young man rolled from the bunk, ready to
obey orders. Before Faro Frank could lead
away Raquel caught him by the arm.

“1 have trusted you this once more: but if
you fail me now, beware. I will never trust
again. When will youcome back to me?”

“Soon. soonl But, Raquel, there is some
wild work going on, and I may yet want this
as a place of refuge. Bar your door, and watch
for me till morning. Gem by, little one ”

He spoke lightly, and as he ceased speaking
he stoo ed and as lightly dropped a kiss on her
lips, hen, with his one hand m'nsping the
collar of his captive and the other holding a re-
volVer, he went out into the night.

Could Raquel believe that h". would betray
her? No! Again she bad faith, and blindly
obo-yed his ordcis barring the door and wait-
in with hope in t 19 darkness.

filer wait was not for Jon r.

The men with Faro Frank hadremained with-
out, unnoticed. Now, at a whispered word
from him, they silcntly nppronchcd and ap-
plied their shouldch to the side of the cabin
that was furthest from the gulch. They
tugged and straii ed, and lifted. Then, with a
crash, the little but burst from its moorings,
trembled for a moment, poising in the air, and

He had all his

thcn, rolling chr and over, shot straight down I

OVcr the brink of the precipice.
An awful scream: a horrid muffled crash, tWO

l
This case was a little the I‘llOSt flagrant of any l hundred feet below. That was the way Faro
' thathad occurred, and in addition there had 1 Frank came back. ,

 

 

. ._.___~.__.

Now that the deed was done the men that
mg sort of way. They were shocked at their
own Work.

It was not Faro Frank’s policy to give then
much time to think. With the rage of murder:
Bn'them his own tigers might turn and rend

mi.

“(Some on now men. You’ve each a bum
dred in your pockets, and by mowing Iwill
pay you the 0: her hundred, besides your share
or the ore that is stacked up in the (io—bowu
shaft. Help me through and you have my
share of that too.”

The deed had stunned Arden. After ~ncli
diabolical work he knew not what to caplet
next. He let himself drift. As the gambler
outlaw ordered so he did; and new again to-
ward the Go—Down they steered their course.

On the hill—side, not far from the stowkade
they halted. The moon looked straight down
upon them; below they could catch a glimpse
of a wanin fire, and could hear a mutteicd
roar from ave Doriand’s camp. The Hawks
were there, in full iossession. and bad loand
some plunder, even i they had not yet reached
the shaft. ‘ '

“Goon boys, and leave me here with this
rooster. member what we have agrch on.
and wait for me at yonder turn.” -

At this order without question the men left
thc syxit, and captor and captive stoou facing
each other in the moonlight. ‘ '

“I‘m sorry for “on, Iliucc.” said the gambler,
quite coolly. “ V'hcn we first ran togdhtel‘l
Incant to let you down light; but I found that
you and I were both on the sairo grime. and.
couldn’t both win, so that set me to thinking,
and I’m ai'rnid'l’ve set it- u ) on you had. The
fact is, my dear coinin, I’ll have to kill _‘ no.”

“Kill me quickly, then. I’m too weak to
make much of a tight for it: and an Arden is
not the kind of man to beg for mercy.”

“Yes, I’m an Ardcn myself, and I know
therc’s not much of the cur abom, tin-m. I in-
tcnd to kill you- myself bcclun—e I vuml it: done
just so. and as you’re going" over the ranger I’ll
let _\ou know my little panic.” .

“ What care I for your game! Shoot- and be
done With it.” '

“ Oh, no. I’m not ready yet; and nus; bc if b
ex lain you can give me a point or two that
wi l help me along. You see. in the iiist place
I intend to have this Lularee, or Maud Burke.
If! can induce her to believe thatl am the
simon—pure Bruce Arden, so much Ul‘lv: Letter

for her. If I cannot then 1 must taken ems to
break hl‘l’ pmud spirit. I am fertile in ex-
pcdicnts.”

“Devill”

\

“ Yes, as much as they generally mslre them.
But that is the livhtest wt of thew/DUMBO.
Faro Frank, with this nig it, will permanently
disappear.J He will be found With a bullet
through his brain, having passed in his checks
during the riot when we sacked the (lo-Ilov 1.
I might Say) by the way, that we took the. slip”;
a few hours ago, and they’re all dead in! Ila-
larcc. Now if one cousin is dead the nun. timt
is lcft eliVe must be the other one: and I’m 1. but
some young sport. It seems you’ve been too du ll
to discover that, back East, our respected uncle
Henry is dead, and his hundred thouiano dcl—‘
lnrs is there, waitin r tor that scapegrnce, Bruce
Arden, to come bac . I’m coming. 'I he. :.’.~. the

ame. l’ni too had, even for High Pin1. and I
cave them without word or warning. how if
you have any prayers to sling, or dying, (n p ‘si-
tions to make, hustle around. I’ll give you just
three minutes more to live.” ,

“ And you think such a transparent plat will
win? chcr. 1 may die; but whether I (to or
not, you will fall into your own pit. (Innil-k-r
thief and murderer that you are, the sr crd of
'ustice will drop on you with a certain Llov.
It may even nci've my broken right min to
strike you. Work your will on me, if yrn c: n;
and then see how fate will laugh at}. or «hit
niug. Lalareo will rcver be yours: 5i" will
slay you first. Ilcnry Arden’s fortune Vilrl .
never be yours; the gallows will law y: at ‘
sooner. I have said my say; do “in! ye u w ill."

Over his broken arm ruce Arden h-ai his
sound mic, and after one reel from \\('7.'nl.t'$:¢,
looked his cousin firmly in the then.

“ You know I always liutcd you 9 Hut 3’
added Faro Frank, and from his side FLA-t" his
cocked dcrringer. ‘ ,

Then thcre was a rushing and a 111 up of fur.
ments, and a. the pistol came into line, Lnlurm,
unarmed and panting. ilun, herself bci'mc it,
with her arm around Arden s neck, exolniiniug:

“ You shall not! DeVil that you are, you
shall not take his life!” .

 

 
   

 

 

5:53; 3:. :...‘.~‘-. ,acL

‘ L' : T.:.,,:-. _

Y’

i gather air- tight.

I Dorks, with a strained

 _Woareinthe

CHAPTER XVII.
JOHN DUKE MAKES iiis DEAL.

It! the Go-Down shaft there was for a time
much suspense, but no one for an instant
thOu ht of a parley. Dandy Darke had égauged
his 0 d foe rett-y thoroughly, and the v y fact
that be h waited so long to strike was evi—
dence that he intended, when he did, to make
clean work of it. Even if he had been satisfied
that, upon giving up the fateful shaft, they
would all be allowed to depart in safety, Dor—
land would have steme refused any such
terms: but he felt convinced that no com act
would be kept by the tigers above, and reso ved
that it was better to meet eyen death, below,
than trust to the treacherous mercies of those
abovs. Above all, he had a strongly settled be-
lief that they could hold the place until the Red
Sport, who was both shrewd and desperate,
would devise some means to aid them.

Had Marion onlfi been in a place of safet
both Dorland and urke would have only fe t
aroused to a spirit of stern resistance; but her

resence, bravely though she bore her awful

anger, made them at times shiver with a dread
that was new to them.

When Faro Frank for the last' time challenged
them to surrender, Dave Dorland answe
with a pistol-shot; and then all awaited anx-
iouslthe next mOVe, knewing that it would
econ devel ped.

» ‘ heavens!” exclaimed Dave, as he caught
the g 'mmer of light above. “The are going
to try fire. They will make it ho for us yet
if we don’t get back.”

“ All right! , Can’t bemuch worse 03. That’s
the beaut of them doors I put in ther drift.
We’ll wai Van’ see of they mean it, an’ ef' they
do we’ll fall back an’ close up.” I

Geyser Joe, in view of just such a contin-

ncy. had put a frame in the slope, to which

6 had fitted doors that were almost if not alto-
These would keep out the
smoke «which would otherwise fill the drift and
stran le the occupants. _

It id not take ong to develop the intentions
of their foes. When the heap of materials
above had burst into a roaring flame, the leaks
which supported them were thrust asi e and
down came an avalanche of brands, that, heap

- ing up at the bottom of the shaft, glowed and

glared like a furnace seven times heated.

Back from the mouth of the drift rushed the

four, slamming to the doors behind them, and
then standing in that most trying of all posi-
tit’ms, an agony of waiting.
-' At the time that they first reached the bot-
tom of the shaft, Geyser Joe had imagined that
one of their men had gained the spot before
them; but in the confusion he had forgotten
him. Now the fall of a stone, or a clod of dirt
in the drift before .them suddenly recalled him
to his mind, and he called out:

“ Ho, tharl Is any one about? Ef you’re a
Go-Down come this way.”

“ I’m ’round, Geyser J 0e,” answered the cool,

uiet voice of John Duke. “I ain’t exactly a

Downer, ’causeyer won’t let me kim in;
but if yer mean biz I’m still hyer to dicker.
An’ of yer let me in on ther ground floor I’ll
kim fur all I’m wuth.” _

“ It’s that bummer again!” exclaimed Dandy
laugh. “You’ve want—
ed a. share in the Go-Down and now you’ve _ot
it; but you might as well have claimed six eet
of dirt up around High Pine, as come to roast
down here. You’re» in the wrong shop for
dicker, now.”

“When foxes is plenty don’t be a 0086.
What I want to know, pards, isef yer gom’ to
lemme in. I reckon that ain’t a fortune in this
h at hole jist now, an‘ of yer hangs off on a

xth now yer deserves to roast an’ blamed ef I
don’t leave yer to it. Geyser Joe’s doors ain’t
a-workin’. too well. I begins to smell brim-
stone a’rea y, an’ I ain’t gom’ to linger long.
Up an’ down, now, how is yer on ther trade?”

“Man, quit your nonsense. If you are a.
friend, come here and hel us fight the smoke
out; it you are a foe, dec are yourself, and we
will fight it out, here and now.”

“ 'I‘hankee, but when a man’s playin’ a lone
hand, he uses his trumps to suit hisself. I
ain’t a-trustin’ meself in yer fingers till we come
to a trade. Ef yer got a sudden crazy spell,
you’d send me up ther flume a-howlin’. ”

Marion so far had been silent. Thou h re-
vived, somewhat, b 'her journey througi the
open air, she had al along been borne on her
husband’s shoulder, and was but 'ust coming
fairly to her senses. She heard ohn‘ Duke’s
'tion with a thrill of hope. i

‘ 0h, Dave, do not throw awa%a chance!

mine, are we not! by handy

/

Faro Frank of High Pine.

 

words? If this man will stand by us to the end,
whyhesitate to promise him all that he asks?
If aid does not come from some direction, what
will the Go-Down be worth to us?"

“ That’s truth, from ther bottom of ther well.
They say foxes is all tail an weemen all tongue.
but that thar’s tongue that sez solid sense, every
time. J ist hear her shout. Say! Yer goin’ to
lemme in ?”

“ In Heaven’s name come in,” exclaimed Dave
Dorland, angered in spite of himself by the
strange ersistence of the man.

“ On a; ier ground floor, an ondevided sixth l”

“ Yes, yes! ’

“Give us yer hand, pard, for ninety days.
Ther deal’svmade. an’ now I’ll show yer a wrin-
kle thet I reckon thar’s no one but John Duke
could post yer on. Foller me.”

As he spoke, there was the flicker of a
match as Duke relighted his lantern, and they
saw their ragged-looking guide, with a look of
intense satisfaction on his face, ready to lead
the way.

There was no mistakin that look of confi-
dence. He knew of a met 0d of exit that the
Go-Downers, shargéeyed as they were, had
never found, and fore they be gone many

es, it was reached. On one side of the
drift, at a hight of half a dozen feet there was
a de reion that looked like a arti cave.

“ imme a boost, hyer, an’ 1’ 1 show yer ther
wrinkle that puts John Duke into a fortune.
Thar’s a leetle bit of a wall hyer that a child
could pull down, but it’s kept a heap of strong
men out.”

Sure enough! The opening was disclosed and
by dint of hard climbing the five found them-
selves in a crevice-likegassage that running at
right angles to the Go- own drift, led them .b
a somewhat tortuous passage to another we
which opened out upon what seemed a face of
solid roc . '

“Now, I dunno of my rope is lon enough to
totch bottom; but of it is I reckon t ere’ll be a
party of about our size on ther war-path shortl ;
an’ ther Hawks will jist it ther diflcabili
that’ll fill their gizzards. ou never seen me
shoot, eh? Well, I’m just lively on ther shoot;
plank rocks on that, eve time l”

Ashe spoke he fasten his rope, that he had
been careful to reclaim from the Windlass, to a
stout stick that he thrust into a crevice of the
rock. Then he glided, down, and was next
heard callin from below. '

“Come sow. There’s a drop of ’bout five
feet, an’ then yer on terry firmy.

Soon. all were gathered together on solid
gound._but, as they turned their faces toward

igh Pine, there came from close at hand a
woman’s shrill scream, followed quickly by the
crash of a revolver.

CHAPTER XVIII.
. ran PABDS’ noun DEAL.

Tan sudden comin of Lalaree flurried Faro
Frank a little and he recognition unnerved
him. For the flurry he fired; but, at the same
instant, for the reco ition he raised his hand,
and the bullet went issing over her head.

Nerved by the emergency Arden thrust the
girl aside, sprung forward ' e a panther and
with the hand of his unbroken arm seized ,Faro
Frank by ,the throat.

At the bend the Hawks, looking back, saw
the attack, and _came running to the assistance
of their mate, pistols in hands. .

But from the mountain side, just at their
flank, there flashed a sheet of flame, as the fugi-
tives from the Go-Down poured in their fire at
close quarters. and at the crash every man went
down. Then Dandy Burke and his pards came
rushing to the rescue.

V One arm against two—the chances of the
struggle were too unequal. Faro Frank, as
that nervous gripe tightened on his neck, in-
stinctively dropged his derri er and clinched
his cousin in a erce gripe of ate. Even yet
he did not understand his own desperate state,
or he might have made his esca . Just as the
volley was fired which droppe his friends, he
was turning Bruce Arden over his hip with a
savage oath, and the crash never reached his
ears.

.“ Ah, curse you, I have you now. Keep 01!,
girl or I will slay on, too.”

“ unky dunky, er! All down but nine.
Set ’em up on t’ot er alley! Wahoopl Red
Sport’s ’round!”

The Indian was on the trail at last! Dave
Dorland too, was only a few ards away, but
he would have been too late. t was the
giant who flyin down the trail, hurled him-

upon aro ank as he was drawing from
from his

 

his pockets twimderringer, tale him

' WOD

 

: prey, and lifting him high in air dashed him
i to the ground with a mighty crash. Then
Dandy Darke, Geyser Joe and the others came
up, and for the resent Lalaree and her lover
were safe. Wit rapid hands they bound and
gagged the gambler outlaw.

“ Now, strike kiver hyer, an’ hole on. You’ll
hear from ther rest ov ther tea-party afore long
an’ we may es well fight it out right hyer, ef
they’ll on’y conic.”

John Duke made no great mistake. for the
pistol-shots had been heard below, rind half a
dozen irien came creepin cautiously up the
trail. it might have been tter if all or none
had come, The blood of the Go-Down partners
was up, and they showed but little mercy.
Every bullet had its billet; and fortunately
Captain Dick was the first man that dropped to
their fire.

Then, after a hasty word of consultation, the
two girls and Bruce Arden were left in conceal-
ment, arding the prisoner, while the rest,
headed y Dave Dorland, sternly charged down
in an effort to regain the property from \Vhli‘i.)
they had just been ousted.

It was a. ruinous-looking scene within the
stockade, and the men there, trusting to luck
and their guards, were in little condition to face
the istol princes that now confronted them.
Besi es, the Hawks had lost their leaders, and
their strength had been frittered away in detail.
They were no longer overwhelmin in numbers,
and the appearance of Dandy Dar 9 and Gay-
ser Joe was much like the rising of ghosts at
midnight. The men they had thought roasting
at the bottom of the pit were, instead, aliVe,
comparatively unharmed, and bent on was
geanoe. Like fri'whtened sheep the little squad
of Hawks cowered together, and though they
fired an irregular volley, it did no dame. e and
the next minute ten revolvers covere them,
while Dorland’s voice rung out loud and clear.

“Hold, there! I’m tired of slaughter. and
there’s no law in High Pine to turn you over to.
We hold the drop and can slay you all where
you stand; but I’d sooner show mercy. Pied e
yourselves to leave these regions at once, by t in
southern trail, never to return on penalty of
being shot down whenever or wherever we meet
you. Do this or meet instant death. You have
one minute to decide.”

The Hawks stood like statues: but from one
to another muttered whispers passed along.
Then one spoke out:

“ Whar’s Faro Frank, Captain Dick, and ther
rest of ther boys?”

“Dead!” was the harsh, terse answer.

“ All ri ht, then, pard. ess you’s got us.
We was en. E! er coul take them inter
camp, we wouldn’t a mouthful. Ther Hawks
is jest dead gone bu’sted, an’ we puckachee ther
ranch but ihar’s a couple wounded pards up
ther hills, an’ a man er so. Give them ther
same terms. By~byl we’s a-movin’.”

Out went the little file of outlaws, guarded
b the GoDowners who watched them until
t 9 were lost in the shadows to the south.

ut the Hawks had no idea of treachery.
They were only too glad to escape the fate of
their' comrades, an High Pine was actually
and really rid of their presence.

Then Dandy Darke and his friends sought the
hidden party, and brought them, with the pris-
oner, again to the stockado.

Lalaree. She recognized Bruce Arden, beyond
a doubt in the young man with the broken
arm. He, despite the rough handling he had
received, was tter than a dozen dead men,
although half a dozen times that night he had
come near fainting from pain.

He told his story briefly but clearly. going
back to what ha pened in an Francisco.

Ge ser Joe ha \seen him following close be—
hind laree, one evenin , and steppingin front
of him, had quietly knoc ed him senseless A
few days later the hired tools of Murray Brant
had struck upon his track, and came near to
compassin his death. so near that for weeks it.
was thong t the had sueceeded. With them
. Bruce Arden be mixed Geyser Joe, and When,
months after, he was able to take the trail, and
heard of Lalaree in Company with him, and
Murray Brant on the way to High Pine, he
formed his own conclusions and set out 10
avenge if not tosaVe; for in his mind Geyser
Joe and Joseph Burke were two separate iden—
tities, and as he had only Seen the form er as a
shoulder-hitter, he never thought of. him as the
putative father of the dark-eyed Maud, n he had
his heart. R
In the lobes to the north he had come up!!!

 

the wan en'ng Raquel, who, deceived try the
strange resemblance, had them a M

There was no question now in the mind of.

 

\
wt

1

 

. for millions. He was rough, but he was ready,

, avail? Enough that when we leave them they

mu him which ended in the shot that brought .
down. Then she had glided away.

The next thing he knew clearly was his being
captured by the mock Apaches. Then. though
his brain was still dazed, he met Faro Frank in
the gulch below the camp of the Hawks; and
the outlaw, looking carefully at his cousin, and ‘
remembering the strangeness of the old—time
resemblance, and learning from the three
Hawks something of his feeling in regard to ‘
Lalaree, and her brave Ilet‘enseof him in the
gulch, hatche 1 out the plan that he followed to
the end. It could do no harm, he thou ht, and
might win. He took Bruce Arden’s c othin ,
supplying him with some of his own, and ma '—
ing some other alterations, entered the camp
proper as his own prisoner!

But, Bruce Arden, being loose] - guarded.
made his escape, with one of t Ie outlaw’s
horses, and flanking High Pine by a long and
circuitous path, entered the place from the
south to seek for Murray Brant, concerning
whom Faro Frank could give no information.
Then came the quarrel with Geyser Joe, his
own fruitless shot followed by one, not from
Burke but from Argado; and the rest of the
story, which the reader already understands.

As he told of the awful death of Raquel and
the sleeping Argado, even Geyser Joe was deep-
ly maved.

“ Ther man is a devil.
life once, but she saved it.
The man must hang.”

“ Amen!” responded Dave Dorland, with knit
brow and flaming eyes, and with those words
Faro Frank’s doom was sealed.

Ar ado tried fur my
I’ lavenge her new.

 

Shortly after daylight there was a stir in
High Pine. The rumor of the deadly work at
me Go—Down, spread over the town, and half
the population went to see what truth there
was in the story that Faro Frank had come
back with a desperate gang, and sacked the
mine.

Faro Frank was indeed back—hanging by the
neck to the limb of a tree and a great newly-
:made mound showed where the dead Haw 3
had been buried. The drug ed men were at
work already at the shaft, or, until he could
replace them with better, Dorland retained
them, though he had sugficions; and altogether
'it was evident that the o-Down was not going
to change hands yet.

. So once more we take leave of High Pine and
Its haunts, w1th Marion safe and happy, Lalaree
secure in the affection of her lover and the
Go-Down gards perfectly satisfied with the deal
that let JO 1: Duke in, though he might come

and he knew Hi h Pine om the ground up.
That was the nd 01 a manit took to run
things in that camp of refuge. Let us hope
that they held their own there; and p red;
but one may have doubts, for hold an steady
as the were, the fate of the sword generally
hovel-ta es the swordsman; and the tit e to the
Go, Dowu was red with blood. Perhaps then
there was a Nemesis already on foot for them.
Who could tell?

And, maybe, it was better that they should
not know. Why should the hope, and strength,
and skill of the present be bll hted by know-
ledge Of that future when 3.1 Will be of no

are prospercus and content.

 

 

THE END.
'1‘ H E

O
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l WAs Sm: liIs WIRE? By Mrs. Mary Reed (Trowoll.
:2 FLEEING FROM LOVE. iy Harriet Irving.
3 DID llE LOVE HER? By Hartley '1'. L'aIIIphcll.

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17—18 UNCLE SILAs. By J. S. Le Funu.

19-20 DEAD—SEA FRUIT. By Miss M. E. Braddon.
21-22 LITTLE KATE KIRIIY. By 1“. W. Robinson.

23 SOWING THE WIND. By Mrs. Mary Reed Crowell.
2.4-2.5 BIRDs or PREY. By Mrs. M. E. Braddou.

26 'l‘IIAT BOY or NORCOTT‘s. By Charles Lever.
 CHARLOTTE'S INIIERITANCE. By Miss Braddon.
29 A (iIRL‘s HEART. . By Rett Winwood. '

30-31 RED As A Boss Is SHE. B Rhoda Broughton.
82 THE LILY or ST. ERNE. By lrs. Crow.

33 STRANGELY WED. BV Mrs. Jenn ’ Davis Burton.
34 THE GlPSY BRIDE. B M. E. O. Olen.

35 ANNIE TEMPLE. By I ev. J. II. Ingraham.

36 Wi'l‘liOl'T MERCY. By Barth-y T. CaIIIpbell.

37 BLACK EYEs AND BLUE. By Corinne Cushman.

38 BRAVE BARDARA. By Corinne Cushman.

39 A DANGEROUS \VOMAN. By Margaret Blount.

40 OUIDA‘s LOVE. BK Henrietta E. De Condo

4! LOST: A WIFE. y Corinne Cushman.

42 WINNING WAYS. By Ma aret Blount.

43 A WOHAN’s HEART. By lrs. M. V. Victor.

44 THE DEAD LETTER. By Seeley Re 'ester.

45 LORD LISLE'S DAUGHTER. By C . Brae-me.

46 A WOMAN‘S HAND. By Author of “Dead Letter.“
47 VIALs or WRATH. By Mrs. Mary Reed Crowell.
48 A WILD GIRL. By Corinne Cushman.

49 THE MADDEST MARRIAGE EVER WAs. By Burton
50 LOVE IN A MAZE. By Mrs. E. F. Ellet.

51 CATHOLINA; or, WALLED Ur ALIVE. By Robinson.
52 A ROMANCE or A POOR YOUNG GIRL. By Mrs. Ellet.
53 THE LOCKED HEART. By Corinne Cushman.

54 THE PRIDE ON THE Downs. B‘yMargarct Blount.
55 A STRANGE GIRL. By Albert . Aiken.

56 THE PRETTY PURITAN. B Parson's Daughter.

57 DID SHE SIN? By Mrs. 11 Dry Reed Crowell.

58 DOUBLY DIVORCED. B Mrs. Jennie Davis Burton.
59 A WICKED WOMAN. Li lie Devereux Umsted Blake.
60 BLIND BARBAKA'S SECRET. By Mary G. Halplue.
61 AN AMERICAN gin“. By Grace Mortimer.

62 MARGOUN, THE RANGE. B Wm. M. Turner.

63 WINE OR WIDow. By Rett inwood.

64 THE CREOLE CousINs. B Philip S. Wame.

65 PURSUED TO THE ALI-AR. 3' Corinne Cushman.
66 THE TERRIBLE TRUTH. B ennle Davis Burton.
67 ELEGANT EGDERT. By P ilip S. Warne.

68 Y HELEN‘s Vow. By Mrs. E. F. Eliot.

69 Bowm, THE KNIGHTOE CHIVALRY. B P. 8.Warne.
70 DRIs'r’ING To RUIN. By Mary Reed ‘rowell.

71 THE PAHSON’s DAUGHTER. ByAParson's Daughter
72 THE MYsTERIous GUARDIAN. B Corinne Cushman.
73 WAs SHE A WIFE? By Rett inwood.

74 ADRIA. THE ADOPTED. B Mrs. Jennie D. Burton.
75 PREITY AND PROUD. By rinne Cushman.

76 THE BITTER FEUD. By Mrs. Jennie D. Burton.
77 A WOHAN’s WORK. By Mrs. E. F. Ellet.

78 THE BLACK RIDDLE. By Corinne Cushman.

79 CORAL AND RUDY. By Mrs. Jennie Davis Burton.
80 DIVORCED BUT NOT DIvIDED. A Parson‘s Daughter.
81 Anon MARRIED. By A Parson‘s Daughter.

82 Two FAIR WOHEN. By Wm. Mason Turner. MD.
88 THE INHERITANCE or HATE. By Mrs. Burton.

84 PEARL or PEARLs. By A. P. Morris. Jr.

85 FOR HONOR‘E SAEE. By Mrs. Mary Reed Crowell.
86 LANCE URQUHAHT'B Lovns. By Annie Thomas.
87 SAIELY MARRIED. By the author of “ Caste."

88 FLORETTE, CHILD or THE STREET. By Ingraham.
89 THREE TIMES DEAD. By Miss M. E. Braddon.

90 FOR A WOHAN's SAIIE. By Watts Phillips.

91 “ ‘HE COHETH NOT.‘ SHE SAID.” Annie Thomas.
92 THE NEw MAGDALEN. By Wilkie Collins.

93 AN OPEN VERDICT. By Miss M. E. Braddon.

94 SWORD AND GowN. By George A. Lawrence.

96 A BEOGAR ON HORSEBACK. By James Payn.

96 HER FACE WAs HER FORTUNE. F. W. Robinson.
92’ JANE EYRE. By Charlotte Bronte.

96 WRECRED IN PORT. By Edmund Yates.

99 THE COLLEEN BAWN. By Gerald Grim.

100 AN Aunmovs GIRL. By A Celebrated Actress,
101 FOUL PLAY. By Chas. Reade and Dion Boucicault,
102 CARITA. By Mrs. Oliphant.

103 A WOHAN HATER. By Charles Reade.

104 AFTER DARE. By Wilkie Collins,

105 HARD Tums. By Charles Dickens.

106 GRIE. By B. L. Farjeon.

1m FENTON‘s QUEST. By M. E. Braddon.

106 THREE FEATHERs. By William Black. ' _

109 JOHN HALIFAX, GENTLEHAN. By Miss Mulock.

110 MURPHY’s MASTER. By James Payn.
A new “we: wary nwk.
For sale by all newsdealers. price ten cents, or
sent. postage paid. on receipt of twelve cents.
BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers,
‘  William street, N. Y.

 

15

._.... .._._.

1 THE MAsIIICD BRIDE. By Mrs. Mary Reed Croweli.
:3 WAN l’l‘ LOVI-z'.‘ By Wm. Mason Turner.

3 Tim: (iIRI. \\ not. By Barth-y ’1‘. Campbell

4 A BRAVE llEAR'I‘. By Arabella Soulllwol'rh.

5 liIcssII-z RAYNou, 'rIIE WORK (iIRI. Wm. M. Turner '
6 THE SECRET MARRIAGE. By Sara Claxton.

7 A l)AI.'uII'I‘Ie;R or EVE. By Mrs. Mary Reed Crowell.
8 HEART To Ii EAR'I‘. By Arabella Soul-hworth.

9 ALoNE IN THE WoIILD. By Auihor of “Clifion.”
10 A PAIR or GRAY lavas. By Home Kennedy.

11 ENTANGLED. By Henrietta Thackeray.

1‘2 HIs LAWEUL WIFE. B Mrs. Ann S. Stephens.

13 MADUAP, TIIE LITTLE UAEEIIEss. By Cusbman
14 WIIY I MARRIED Hm. By Sara Claxton.

15 A FAIR FACE. By Hartley '1‘. Campbell.

16 'l‘stT HER Nor. By Margaret LeIcester.

17 ALOYAI. LOVER. By Arabella Southworth.

18 lbs 1001.. B Mrs. Mary Reed Crowell. -
I9 THE BROKEN ETROTHAL. By Mary Grace Halpine.
20 ORPHAN NELL,TIIE ORANGE GIRL. By Agile Penna.
21 Now AND FOREVER. By Henrietta Thackeray.
9.2 THE BRIDE or AN ACTOR. By Author of “Clifton.”
23 LEAP YEAR. B Sara Claxton.

24 HER FACE WAS Ea FORTUNE By Eleanor Blaine.
26 ONLY A SoaoowIsTaEss. Arabella Southworth.
26 WITHOUT A HEART. By Col. Prentiss Lagraham.
27 WAs SHE A C‘ am? By Henrietta Thackeray.
28 SYBIL CHASE. g Mrs. Ann S. Ste hens.

29.F0R HER DEAR An. By Sara E.

30 THE BOUQUET GIRL. BflAg-ile Penna. \
81 A MAD MARRIAGE. BS0 ary A. Dennison.

32 MIRIANNA, THE PRIHA NNA. BEA. Southworth. '
33 THE THREE SIsTEm. By Alice eming.

34 A MARRIAGE or CONVENIENCE. By Sara Claxton.
35 SINNED AGAINST. By Clare Augusta. .

36 SIR ARCHER‘s BRIDE. B Arabella Southmrth.
37 THE (‘OUNTRY COUBIN. Rose Kennedy.

38 His OWN AGAIN. By Ara lla Southworth.

39 FLIRTATION. By Ralph Royal. -

40 PLEDGED T0 HARRY. Byi Sara Claxton.

41 BLIN DEVOTION. By A ce Flemingb

42 BEA CE, THE Bumm. By A. uthworth.

43 THE BARON-H‘s SECRET. By Sara Claxtou.

44 THE ONLY DAUGHTER. By Alice Fleming.

45 HER HIDDEN FOE. By Arabella Southwortb.

46 THE LITTLE HEIREss. By Mrs. M. A. Denisou.
47 BECAI'SE SHE LOVED HIH. By Alice Fleming.

48 IN SrITE or Human. By S. R. Sherwood.

49 His Hl-IART'S MISTRms. B Arabella Southworth.
50 THE CUDAN HEIREss. By l'S. Mary A. Denisen.
51 Two YOUNG GIRLs. By Alice. Flem  ~

62 THE WINGED MEssENGER. By Mrs. .R.Crowell.
53 AGan Born, THE ACTREss. By Wm. MTurner.
64 ONE \VOHAN's HEART. B George s. Kaine.

55 SHE DID NOT LOVE Hm. y A. Southworth.

56 LOVE-MAD. By William Mason 'Iurner, M. D.

57 A BRAVE GIRL. Alice Fleming. '
58 THE EHON MADE. y Mrs. Mar Reed Grove“.
59 A WIDow’s WILEs. By Rachel rnhardt.

60 CECIL‘s DDCHIT. By Mrs. Jennie Davis Burton.
61 A WICKED HEART. By Sara Claxton. \.
62 THE MANIAc BRIDE. By Margaret Blount.

63 THE CREOLH SIsTERs. By Mrs. Anna E. Porter
64 WHAT JnALorsY DID. By Alice naming.

65 TH: WIr-E‘s Swan. By Col. Juan Lewis.

66 A BRo'anR's SIN. By Rachel Bernhardt.

67 FORDIDDEN BANE. By Arabella Bouthwonh.

68 WEAVIRS AND WIN. By Miss M. E. Broddon.
69 CAHILLE. By Alexander Dumas.

70 THE Two ORPHANS. By D‘Ennery. . . .

71 MY YOUNG WIrE. By My Young Wife'snulband.
753 THE Two Wmows. By Annie Thomas.

73 Rosa MICHEL. By Maude Hilton.

74 CECIL CAsTLEHAINE‘s GAGII. By Guide.

75 THE BLACK LADY or DUNA. By J. 8. Le Fun.
76 CHARLOTTE TEHrLE. By Mrs. Dawson.

77 CHRISTIAN OAIILIIY’s MIsTAHn. By number Of
“John Halifax. Gentleman."

78 MY YOUNG HUEHAND. By Myself.

79 A QUEEN AHONGsT WOHEN. By the author or
“Dora Theme."

80 HER LORD AND MAsm. By Florence Marryot.
81 Lucr Turn.

8: A LONG TIHE AGO. By Meta Orred.

83 PLAYING FOR HIGH STAEEs. By Annie Thomas.

84 THE LAUREL BUSH. By the author of “John
Halifax. Gentleman." ,

85 LED AsTRAY. By Octave Feuillet.
96 JANET's REPENTANCE. By George Eliot.
87 ROHANOE or A POOR YOUNG MAN. By Emma,
88 A TERRIDLE DEED. By Emma Garrison Jones
89 A GILDED SIN.
90 THE AUTHOR‘S DAUGHTER. By Mary m,
91 THE JILT. By Charles Reade.
92 EILEEN ALANNA. By Dennis O‘Sullivnn. '
93 Lovs's VICTORY. By B. L. Farjeon.
94 THE QUIET HEART. By Mrs. Oliphant.
A new issue every week.
For sale by all Nexisdealers, price five oems‘eaoh,
or sent, postage paid, on receipt of six cents
BEADLL‘ AND ADAMS, Publishers,

1

as William accent. I. Y." I

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—-+-l READERS I HALF-DiME

 

' LIBRARY.

 

 

1 Deadwood Dick, THE PRINCE OF THE ROAD.
1‘3; Edward L. Wheeler.
2 eilowstone Jack. By Jon. E. Badger, Jr.
3 Kansas Kin r; or, THE RED RIGHT HAND.
B Buflalo Bill( on. Wm. F. Cody).
4 he Wild-Horse Hunters. By Captain
Mayne Reid and Captain Frederick Whittaker.
1 5 Vagabond Joe, THE YOUNG WANDERING Jaw;
or PLOTTING FOR A LEGACY. By 011 Coomes.
6 Bin Biddon ' ‘rupper . By E. s. Ellis.
7 The Flying ankce; or, THE OCEAN OUT-
CAST. By Col. Prentiss Ingrahain.
Seth Jones . By Edward S. Ellis.
Adventures 01 Baron Munchausen.
Nat Todd. By E. S. Ellis.
, he Two Detectives. BijW. Aiken.
‘ulliver’u Travel-i. B ean Swift.
ByO COOInes.

o9!)

The Dumb Spy.

Aladdin; or, an WONDERFUL LAMP.

The Sea-Cat. By Captain Fred. Whittaker.

Robinson Crusoe. (27 Illustrations.)

17 Ralph Boy, THE BOY BUCCANEER; or, THE
FUGITIVE YACHT. B Col. Prentiss In raham.

18 Sindbad the Sal or. His Seven oyages.

19 The Phantom Spy. By Buflalo Bill.

20 The Double Daggers. By E. L. Wheeler.

21 The Frontier Angel. By Edward S. Ellis.

22 The Sea Serpent; or, THE BOY ROBINsoN
CRUBOE. By Juan Lewis.

23 Nick 0’ the Night. By T. C. Harbaugh.

24 Diamond Dirk. By Colonel P. Ingraham.

By Roger Starbuck.

25 The Bo Captain.
out, THE BUFFALO DEMON; or, THE

26 Cloven
BORDER VULTURES. By Edward L. Wheeler.

®m£tW6$~

" 27 Antelope A be, TIIE BOY GUIDE. Oll Coomes

28 Buffalo Ben, THE PRINCE on THE PISTOL;
or. DEADWOOD DICK IN DIsGUIsE. E. L. Wheeler.
29 The Dutnb Page. By‘Capt. F.Whittaker.
30 Roaring Ralph Hoc. \vood, THE BECK-
LEss RANGER. By Barry St. (icorge.
31 Keen-Knife, PRINCE or TILE l’RAIRIEs. By
. ()ll Coonies.
32 Bob Woolf, THE BORDER RUFFIAN; or, Tin:
GIRL DEAD-SHOT. By Edward L. \thclcr.
33 The occult Bloodhound. S. W. l‘icrcc.
3-1 iii-ego“ Sol; or, NIL-II \V’niri‘LEs’ BOY SPY
By Capt. J. F. L. Admins.
“’ild Ivan, ’l‘lll. lloY CLAUDE DUVAL‘JH‘. THE
BRO'I'IIEIIIIOOD 01" liiiA'l'H. By Ed. L. Wheeler.
The Boy Clown . By Frank S. Finn.
The Hidden Lodge. By T. C. liarhnngh.
Ned “’yidc, TR; BOY .‘SCO'L‘T. By Texas Jack.
Death-Face, TIIE l)i;TEcTIvE. icy Wheeler.
Roving Bcn. By J. J. Marshall.
Lasso Jack. Bytnl (,foornes.
The Phantotn Minor. By E. L. Wheelcr.
Dick Darling, ’l‘liE PONY ‘XI-REss km. N.
By Capt- Frederick Whittaker.
Hauling Rube. By liarry St. George.
01d A valanchc, Till-2 GREAT ANNIniIA'roR;
or, WILD EDNA, THE GIRL BRIGAND. B. l..Wheelur.
Glass I'ch, THE GREAT Sin/r or TIIE WEsT.
By Capt. J. F. C. Adains.
Nightingale Nat. By T. C. Harlmugh.
Black John, TIIE ROAD-AGENT. By Badger.
liniaha 0”. By Edward L. Wlicclcr.
Hurt Bu nker, THE TnArrEit. C. E. Lnsalle.
l The Ho Hiilcu. By Archie C. irons.

2 The “’11 to Bull'alo. By  E. Lasalle.
3 Jim Bludnoc, Jr., Tim BOY Pill-mix; or,
THROUGH TO DEATH. By Edward L. Wheeler.

4 Ned Hazel. By Ca it. J. F. 0. Adams.

55 Deadly-Eye, TiiE 'NKNOWN SCOUT: or, Tim
BRANDED BROTIIERIIOOD. By Buffalo Bill.

56 Nick \Vhilllcs’ Pct. Ca it. J. F. C. Adams.

57 Deadwood Dick’s Bug: on. By Wheeler.

58 The Border King. By 011 Coonics.

69 Old Hickory. By Barry St. George.

650 The “finite ndian. Capt. J. F. C. Adams.

61 lluckhorn Bill. By Edward L. Wheeler.

62. The Shadow Ship . By Col. P. lngraham.

63 The lied Brotherhood. W. J. Hamilton.

64 Dandy Jack. By '1‘. C. Iiarbaiigh.

65 Hurricane Bill. By Joe. E. Badger, Jr

66 Single Hand. By .J. Hamilton.

67 Patent-leather Joc. By l’hili l S. Wax-no.

68 Border Robin Hood. B' luti’alo Bill.

69 Gold Rifle. By Edward L. Vi Ieeler.

70 Did lip’u (fab l . By Capt. J. F. C. Adams.

71 Delaware Dick.

By 011 COOincs. ‘
72 Mad Tom “’cstcrn. By W. J. Hamilton.

C'.‘ CHE- WK“C:I~1$ i"

scam

73 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, CALAMITY ‘
fly Wheeler. ?

JANE, TEE HEROINE or \VBOOI‘~U1‘.
74 Hawk-eye Harry. By Oll Coomcs.
75 The Boy Duelist. By Col. P. liigraham.
76 Abe t'olt, 'I‘iiE CROW-KILLER. By A. W. Aikcll.
77 (lord uroy) Charlie, THE BOY BRAVO; or,
DEADWOOD icx's LAST Ac’r. By E. L. Wheeler.
78 Bill? Dick. By Captain Mayne Reid.
79 Sol Ginger, GIANT ’lRArrER. ByA.W. Aiken.
80 Rom-bud Hob; or, NI'GGET NED, Tiii: KNIGHT
OE 'I‘IIE (,ii'imii. By Edward L. W licclcr.
81, Lightning Jo. By Captain .1. F. C. Adams.
82 Kit I'larclnot. By T. C. Hui-baiigh.
83 llollo, thc lloy Ranger. By 011 Coomes.
8-1 Idyli‘lhc Hirl lllincr. By 11.. L. “'hcclcr.

8.? [inc Buck ram. By Capt. J. F‘. C. Adams.
86 I)» -(I Rock. lly (i. Waldo Browne.
87 The and Piratcs. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

88 Photorrii ill Phil, THE BOY SLBI'TH; or,
RosEIiUD {on s REAPPKAILANCE. By E. L.Vthclcr.

89 island Jim. By Braecbridgre Hciiiyng.

90 The Dread Rider. By C. Waldo Browne.

91 The (Iaptain ol'the ( lub: or, THE YOI‘NG
RIVAL ATEIEI‘Es. By Bracehrirlne Heinyng.

92 Canada Chet. By Edward L. Wheclvr.

93 The Boy Miner-i. By Edward S. Ellis.

94 Midnight Jack, THE ROAD-AGENT;

‘. Tm: BOY TRAPPED. By T. C. Harbaugh.

95 The Lieut. Col. Hazeltine.

0r,

Rival Rovers.

 

96 Watch-Eye, TEE SHADOW. By E. L. Wheeler.
97 The Outlaw Brothers. By J. J. Marshall.
98 Robin Hood, TIIE OUTLAWED EARL; or, TEE
MERRY MEN or GREENWOOD. Prof. Gilda-sleeve.
99 The. Tiger 0! Tam-s. By G. Waldo Browne.
100 Deadwood Dick in LeaJvillc; or, A
STRANGE STROKE EOR LIBERTY. B Wheeler.
101 Jack Harkaway in New ork. By
Bracebridge Hemyng.
2 Dick Dead-Eye. By Col. In raham.
The Lion oi the Sea. By CO . Delle Sara.
Deadwood Dick’s Device. B Wheeler.
01d Ru be, THE HUNTER. Capt. . Holmes.
01d Frost y, THE GUIDE. By '1‘. C. Harbaugh.
One-Eyed Siln. By James L. Bowen.
Daring Davyi By Harry St. George.
Deadwood ick as Detective. By
Edward L. Wheeler.
0 The Black Steed of the Prairies. A
Thrillin Story of Texan Adventure. By Bowen.
1 l 1 The Sea-Devil. By 001. P. Ingraham.
1 12 The Mad Hunter. By Burton Saxe.
13 Jack Hoyle, THE YOUNG SI'ECUIATOR; or,
THE ROAD To FORTUNE. By Ed. L. Wheeler.
4 The Black Schooner. Roger Starbuck.
The Mad Miner. By G. Waldo Browne“:
The Hiisuar (,‘a tain. Col. P. Ingraham.
Gilt-Ed ed Dic , THE SPORT DETECTIVE;
or, 'l‘iiE DAD-AGENTS DAUGHTER. Wheeler.
“1111 Soiners, TIIE BOY DETECTIVE. Morris.
Mustang Sam. By JOE. E. Badger, Jr.
The Branded Hand. ByFrank Dumont.
(‘innainon Chip, THE GIRL SPORT; or,
THE GOLDEN IDOL 013‘ MT. ROsA. hid. L.Wheeler.
Phil Hardy, TIIE Boss BOY. By C. Morris.
Kiowa Charley, TIIE ,‘VHITE MUSTANGER.
By T. C. Harbaugli.
Tippy, THE TEXAN. By George Gleason.
Bonanza nil], MINER. By Ed. L. Wheeler.
Picayune Pete. By Charles Morris. _
“’ild-Firc, Boss OF THE ROAD. By Duniont.
The Young- Privateer. ByH. Cavendish.
Dead u'ood Dick’s Double. By Wheeler.
Dclcctivc Dick. By Charles Morris.
The Golden Hand. By (100.117. Browne.
The lluntcd lluntcr. By Ed. S. Ellis.
Boss Bob, TIIE KING OF THE BOOTRLAOIIs:
or, ’l‘IIE l’AWNInIokER’s l’LOT. Ed. L. Wheeler.
Sure Shot Seth, Tm: BOY RIFLEMAN: or THE
YOUNG PATRIOTS OF THE NORTII. By 011 Coomes.
( 'ii itain Pa ul, THE KENTUCKY MOONEHINER;
or, l‘nn BOY SrY ON THE MOUNTAINs. By Clark.
Night-llau’k Kit. ByJos. E. Badger, Jr.
The Helpless Hand. Capt. Mayne Reid.
Blondc. Bill; or, DEADWOOD DICK‘s HOME
BASE. By Edward L. Wheeler. ~
Judge Lynch, Jr. By T. C. Harbough.
Blue Blazes; or, THE BREAK 0’ DAY BOYS
or ROch BAR. By Frank Duniont.
Solid Sam, THE BOY ROAD-AGENT; or, THE
BRANDED BRows. By Edward L Wheeler.
1-12 Ha nduorne Harr ,
TECTIVE. By Charles orris.
Scar-Face Saul. By Oll Coomes.
Dainty Lance, THE BOY SPORT. By Badger.
(‘aptaiin Ferret, THE NEW YORK. DETEC-
TIVE; or. Boss Bon’s Boss Jon. By Wheeler.
Silver Star, THE BOY KNIGHT. By Coomes.
“’ill \Vildnre, TIIE THOROUGIIDRED; 01',
THE WINNING HAND. By Charles Morris.
Sharp Sam. By J. AlexanderPatten.
A Game of Gold; or, DEADWOOD Dion's
BIG STRIKE. By Edward L. Wheeler.
Lance and Lasso. By Capt. F.Whittaker.
Panther Paul, THE PRAIRIE PIRATE~ or,
DAINTY LANCE To THE RESCUE. J. E. B or.
Black Bess, WILL WILDEIRE‘s RACER; or,
WINNING AGAINsT ODDS. By Charles Morris.
Eagle Kit, THE BOY DEMON. By 011 Coonies.
The Sword Hunters. By F. Whittaker.
Gold Trigger, TIIE SPORT. T. C. Harbaugh.
Deadwood Dick Ol‘ Dcmitvood; or,
THE PICKED PARTY. By Edward L. Wheeler.
Mike lllcrry, THE ITARDOR POLICE BOY;or,
Tun NIGHT-HAWKS 0F PHILADELPHIA. Morris.
Fancy Frank 01' Colorado. Buffalo Bill.
The Lost Captain. By Whittaker.
The Black Giant. By J. E. Badger, Jr.
Nou’ York Nell THE BOY-GIRL DETECTIVE;
or, OLD BIAIIII-IsLY‘s MONEY. By'E. L. Wheeler.
“'ill “’ildiire in the “'oods. Morris.
Little 'll‘cxas, TIIE YOI'NG NI‘STANGER. A
Tale of Texan Prairies. By 011 (bonus.
Dandy Rock’sPledge. By (AW. Browne.
Billy Baggage, Tim RAILROAD BOY; or,
RUN TO EARTH. By Charles Morris.
1 66 Hickory Harry. By Harry St. George.
1 67 A sa Scott, TIIE S’l‘EAMBOAT BOY. By Willett.
] 68 Deadly Dash. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
169 Tornado Tom, By T. C. Harbaugh.
1 70 A Trump f‘ard; or. WILL WIan WINS
AND Loans. By Charles Morris.

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"176

l 71‘ Ebony Dan. By Frank Dumont.

1 72 Thunderbolt Tom. By Harry St. George.
1 73 Dandy Rock’s Rival. By G.W. Browne.
1 7 4 Bob Rockett, THE BOY DODGER. By Morris.
1 75 (‘aptain Arizona. By Philip S.Wnrne.

The Boy Runaway' or, THE BUCCANEER
OF THE BAY. Lieut. H. DJLri-y, U.S.N.

Nobby Nick 01‘ Nevada. E. L. \Vliccler.
01d Solitary. By 011 Coomes.
Bob Rockett, THE BANK RUNNER. Morris.

The Sea Trailer; or A Vow WELL KEPT.
By Lieut. H. D. Perry, U. B. N.

“Wild Frank, TEE BUCKEKIN BRAVO; or,
LADY LiLv’s LOVE. By Edward L. Wheeler.

Little Hurricane, THE BOY CAPTAIN.
By 011 Coomes. .

The Hidden Hand. By Chas. Morris.
The Boy Trailers. By Badger.Jr.
Evil Eye, KING or CATTLE 'l‘iiiieVics; or, Tim.-
VULTUREs ON THE Rio GRANDE. By 1“. lliiinont.
Cool Desmond. By Col. Dclle Sara.

Fred Halyard, THE LIFE BOAT BOY: or.
TEE SMUGGLERS OF THE INLET. By C. Morris.

Ned Totnple, Tm: BORDER BOY. Harlnugh.
Bob Rockett, TIIE CRACKSMAN. By Morris.
Dandy Darke. By Wm. R. Eystei‘.

Bu [[1110 Bill , THE BOY BULLWllAl KER.

177
178
179
180

181
182

183
184
185

186
187

188
189
190
191

By Capt. A. B. ' aylor, U. S. A
Captain Kit. By Lieiit. II. D. Pcrryl'BN.
Captain Mask, 'l‘IiE LADY ROAD-AGENT; or.
PATENT-LEATHER JOE’S 1.)El“EAT. By Warne.
Bu il'alo Bill’s Bet. By Captain 'l‘ayl«.>i-.
Deadwood Dick’s Dream. By Which-r.
Shadotvcd; or, BOB ROI-kia'rr‘s FIGHT 1‘01!
LIFE. By Charles Morris.

Little (1 rit, TRE \VILDRIDER. By Iii-gralmin.

Arkansaw, THE MAN WITH TEE KNIFE.
By '1‘. C. Harbaiigh.

I92
193
19.1

195‘
196

197
198

199 Featherweight. By Edward Willett.
. 200 The Boy Bcdou‘ins. By Whittaker.

The Black llilis chchci; ni‘,'l)EAlr
WOOD DICR’s WARD. By Edward L. “'lntulcl‘.
Prospcct l’ctc, OF THE 1203' lininAri-i: ni'.
THE YOUNG OI'TLAW llUNTEIis. By 011 to. 1m :4.
The Boy Pards. By Jos. E. Badgct'. Jr.
Gold Plume, THE BOY BANDIT. Ill}.'l‘:lli;tlll.
Deadwood Dick’s Doom. By Wh-x-ler.
Dark Paul, THE TIGER KING. By C. lliorris.
Nava‘o Nick, THE BOY COLD HI'N'I’EB. A
Tale OI Arizona. By '1‘. C. llarhaugli.
The Boy Hercules. By OllCoomes.
Fritz, THE BOUND-BOY DETECTIVE. ‘v'licclcr.
Faro Frank of High Plnc. By Eysler.
Crooked (‘alc, THE CALIEAN 0F CELES-i'rlAL
CITY. By J 015. E. Badger, Jr.
Dashing Dave, TI-IE DANDY DETEC'i'lVE.
By Charles Morris. .
ll‘ritz to the Front. By E. L. thclci'.
\Voll‘g‘nng Tiii: ROEDER or TIIE RIIINE.
By Captain l< rcdoriek Whittaker. ‘
(1a itain Biillct, THE RAIDER KING. By
T. . I’Iarbaugli.
Bison Bill, THE PRINCE OR THE Rims,
By Col. Prentiss lngraham.
Captain Crack-Shot. By E. L. Wlmeler.
Tiger Tom, TEE TEXAN TERROR. By 01]
Coomes. \
Despard, the Duelist. By P. S. Warnc.
’l‘otn Tanner, SCALAWAG AND SCAl’liGliAt‘E.
By Charles Morris.
Sugar Coated Sam. By E. L. Wl-Icclci'.
Grit, the Bravo Sport. By lngruhani.
Ozark All‘, KING OF THE MOUNTAIN. By
Edward Willett.
Dashing Dick; or, TRAPPER Tom‘s CASTLE.
By Oll Coomes.
Salli Charcoal, the Prciniiun Dar-
ky. By Charles Morris.
Snoozer, THE BOY SHARP.
Wheeler.
Dusky Darrell, TRAPPER. By E. Emerson.
Little \Vildtire. By 011 Coouies.
(‘rimson Kate, THE GIRL TRAIIJZR.
Col. Prentiss Ingrahaui.
The Yankee Rajah. By C. D. Clark,
plucky Phil OF THE MOUNTAIN TRAIL. By
T. c. Harbaugh.’ Ready Dec. 27th.
Gold.Dust Dick. By E. L. \Vlim-lci‘.
Ready Jan. ad.

3119 9"" Sa’“ -' TUE MESSENGER BOY. B3
Char es Morris. Ready Jan. 10th.

291
202

203
204
205
206
207

208
209
210
211
212
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215
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217
218

219
220

221
222
223
224
225
226 By Edward L. .

227
228
229 By
230
231

232
233

A new ismw every week.

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Newsdealers, five cents per copy. or sent by mail on
receipt of six cents each. BEADLE & ADAMS,
Publishers, 98 William Street, New York.