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I' ‘ Sin 1e PUBLISHED WEEKLY RY “FAULT? A VT) ADAMS
VG‘I'  No. 98 WILLIAM STREET. NEW YORK. , 5 Centt- NO' 

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Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville,
BY LIEUT.  THOR '3.

“mummy “THE (,1 )1.»sz CHIEF," “THE BLACK BAND 0F mmmmu," ETC. 

 

 
 

Peacock

Peacock "Pete,
The. Lively Lad from Leadville.

A Romance of the Mining Camp of
Five Mile Crossing. ‘

BY LlFU’IL ALFRE ) THORNE,
Larson or " TIIE‘GOLDEN CHIEF,” “ THE BLACK
BAND or Qaswnau,” arc, are.

WEB I.
REDMOND mwx‘s LAY-OUT.

“ TEE man that dances with you to night dies,
and i care not if he be my own brother!”

Full of passion was the voice of the man as he
hiBl-le". out the words, and the beautiful girl to
whom the speech was addressed, could not but
believe that he meant every word he said.

It was a strange speech, a strange scene and
in a strange country.

It was in the bonanza. land—in the “ marvel-
ous country " so rich in its stores of precious
metals, of which the city of Leadville is the
center.

Colorado, the modern Elderado, where the
mining scenes so common to California in the
days of ’49 are being repeated.

e write of a little mining-camp, not our a
hundred souls all told, situated up in the moun-
tains almost due west of Leadville, on the little
stream known as the Roaring Fork of the Grand
river.

Five Mile Crossing was the name of the camp.

It was a. new place, had not been in existence
over six months, butas the adjacent country was
extremely rich in precious metals it was thriv-
ing wonderfully.

Alread it boasted a good-sized inn, known as
the Blac Bear Hotel, from the circumstance
that while the workmen were engaged in erect-
ing it, a large black bear came down one night
and endeavored to make a meal out of one of
the men, who had sampled too much fire-water
durin the day and had foolishly lain down un-
der a ush to sleep it off.

Bruin es ied the sleeping man, and if some of
his comra es had not chanced to pass that way
at that particular moment, no doubt the moun-
tain lord would havo made aspeedy end of the
intruder upon his domain.

But as it happened, the bear’s design was
frustrated, and in the battle which ensued, the
revolvers of the workmen made a finish of the
brute.

The owner of the hotel, an enter risin mid-
dle-aged Irishman, who had gra uate as a
whisky-seller in the big Eastern cities, but had
been forced to emigrate to the land of the set-
tin sun on account of numerous difficulties he
he - got into, from his summary method of
forcing his delinquent customers to settle their
bills b unching their heads, and who was
called a rick McMulligan, had been in a quan-
d arv in re ard to the name of the hotel.

He wan‘ied a new and novel title, for like
about all the rest of the settlers, he had an idea
that in two or three years, Five Mile Crossing
would be the metro lis of the region, com~
pletel distancing eadville and all other
woul -be rivals. .

The Black Bear Hotel had struck him as being
a s leudid name for his hostelry.

cMulligan wasoriginally from Philadelphia
and Eastern Pennsylvania, where such titles
are commonly agplied to houses of entertain-
ment for man an beast.

The hotel, like all its class in the mining-re-
gion, comprised also a restaurant and bar-room.

The town had started a little differently from
the usual run of mining-cam , there being

uite a number of the softer an fairer sex from
ilhe beginning, and so in order to make things
pleasant, every Saturday ni ht a hep was given
in the dining-room, the a ment being cleared
for that purpose.

McMu igan was a lolly, sociable sort of a
fellow anyway, and 1i ed to see fun going on,
and then in a business point of view the hop
brought custom to the house, for it made it the
general rendezvous for everybody in the camp
and the outlying districts tributary to it, and
of course the bar trade profited by this.

The hops were nicely conducted, for McMul-
ligan was a man of powerful build, very nick-
tempered and not at all particular what ad of
a Weapon he got hold of, when excited, to make
an attack upon a fee; so it was really as much
as any one’s life was worth to attend one of the
his urday night hops at the Black Bear and at-
tempt to kick up a disturbance.

 

Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville.

; Of course there are fools everywhere, and on
i the verge of civilization there are plenty of
‘ those pig-headed idiots who delight to kick up a
disturbance in any place of public re‘s‘ort, par-
‘ ticularly one where they imagine the lines are
not strictly drawn.
[ For the first two months that McMullignn
; carried on his hops, he had had considerable
i trouble, for some of these fools had imagined
] that because the hops took place in a mining-
: camp on the frontier they could do about as
i they pleased.
, “Phat do yees take this for?” he was wont
' to exclaim. “Yer murthering 'blaggardsl do
yees think that you’re in a Leadville shindig or
a Pueblo dance-house break-down? This is a
respectable ball-room and I’ll beafther breaking
the nose of the fast man that dares to misbehave
himself!”

And he was as good as his word.

The Irishman was as strong as an ox, toler-
ably scientific, and, being on his own ground,
but little difficulty in preserving order; there-
fore, in a very short time, indeed, it became
generally understood that the man who waltzed
into the Black Bear Hotel on a “ho night.”
with the idea of proclaiming that be was a
chief and capable of running the town, really
took his life in his hands, for the citizens present
were always ready to lend is helping hand in
assisting McMulligan to preservo order.

So it was that the best people in the camp at-
tended the hops and bad characters were strictly
forbidden entrance.

The man who uttered the words with which
our chapter begins was a good-looking fellow of
about t irty-five, tall, muscularly-built, with
dark eyes and hair and a shirt, brown beard.

He was dressed after the usual fashion com-
mon to the frontier, excepting that the flannel
shirt which he wore was a rather elaborate
affair with a rolling collar under which a black
silk neck-tie was passed.

He was called Redmond Hawk and he was
superintendent of the Gothic mine, the leading
concern in the valley.

Hawk was one of the prominent men of the
town—one of the active citizens who are always
up and doing.

Socially, too, he was considered to be a fine
fellow; he being quite a ladies‘ man and about
the best poker-player in the neighborhood.

The girl to whom he addressed the menacing
words was a tall, ueenly, brunette beauty, al-
most perfect both in face and figure, a modern
Cleopatra, a second siren destined to fascinate
about every man fortunate enough to cast eyes
upon her. _

She was a new-comer in the camp, having
on! resided there a couple of weeks.

er name was Evangeline Hopkins.

Her father, Clinton Hopkins, or Clint Hop-
kins as he was generally termed, was a portly,
middle-aged gentleman, with gray hair and a
. full gray beard, who had opened a general store
in the camp about six months before and had
prospered exceedin ly well.

He had a smoot , easy, plausible way with
him that impressed the average miner greatly.
The fellow who dropped in to buy a pint of
whisky, a dollar’s worth of powder, or an
other small article was waited u on with as muc

oliteness as though the store- eeper expected
0 corral a thousand dollars in the trade; and,
without exactly saying so in words, yet he

ve the customer to understand that e felt
mmensel honored because the other chose to
trade wit him. _

“ Old Soft-soap,” was the irreverent nick-name
that some of the prgudiced men of the camp
had bestowed upon opkins.

“He was too durned soft and sweet ” they
averred; but this is always the way w th the
world, the tongue of censure is neVer idle, and
tfie {gore shining the mark the oftener comes the
s a i

From the first day of her arrival in the camp
when the superintendent of the Gothic mine
been introduced to the queenl Evangeline, he
had acted like a man fascinated).y

Hawk and Hopkins were quite intimate, and
so it happened that the superintendent had been
lucky enough to secure the first introduc-
tion to the lady, thereby rendering himself the
envy of the town.

But from the beginnin the fir! seemed to
take a dislike to Hawk, alt ough t e latter tried
by all means in his power to make himself
agreeable.

On the previous Saturday night, her first
visit to the hop, Miss Ho kins had danced with
Redmond three times, at on the evenin of

which we write she had positively declin to

 

engage herself to him even forasingle dance.

 

,, _. __.__....‘

 

Hawk was not a patient man, and his blood
was in a flame in an instant.

“ Is it possible that you are engaged for allot
the evening?” he had asked, both face and vorco
betra ‘ing the anger he felt. I

“ on have no right to ask suede question
sathat,” the beauty had replied, in cold dis-

am.

“ Possibly not,” he said, striving with all his
pgwer to restrain his an er. “ I do not assume
t at I have any such rig t, but I think it 18 only
natural under the circumstances that I should
ask the question. If you are engaged for the
entire eVening, then, of course, it is not possible
that you can dance with me; but if you are not
engaged—”

I am not—I am not engaged for a single
dance," she interrupted, haughtily; “but that
has nothing to do with you.”

“ Excuse me, it has, as I will show you.”

CHAPTER II.
HAWK EXPLAINS.

THE lady tapped her taper i'oot upon the floor
in an uneasy, petulant way. .

“ I suppose you will think that I am very pre-
suming?” Hawk continued.

“ I do, most decidedly."

“ And yet, if you will look at the matter care-
fully, [do not believe that you wrlhtlnnk ’so;
you cannot, if you have any sense ol‘ Justice.

"Indeed!" and the lady’s lip curled.

“You have declined to dance With me, yet I
am not a stranger, but have been favored with
the pleasure of your acquaintanceship. If your
hand is engaged for the entire evening, that is
an ample reason for the refusal, and as a gentle-
man I must bow to it, although I should deeply
regret being so unfortunate. But if you are not
engaged, then I consider that. I should not be
doing justice to myself if I did not ask, why
should you refuae to dance with me? What is
the reason? Have I offended you in any wa ?
I am not conscious of it, and am ready to ma e
amends in any possible way."

“In the school of politeness in which_ I was
educated, a lady was not required to give her
reasons for declining to accept the seeiety of a
gentleman,” Miss Hopkins answered.

“ It was a very poor school, then, and such an
education is not at all fit ted for this region,” he
retorted. “ Here we live openly and speak
frankly. The hollow shame of the East are
swe taway as mere cobwebs that obscure c1v11-
ization.” '

“ I see that you are determined to force me to
explain myself whether I wish ' to or notl”
Evangeline exclaimed, a little hectic spot of red
beginning to burn in her cheeks and her dark
eyes flashing. . .

“I think that an explanation is most certain-
] due,” he replied. “ You danced with me last
gaturday night, and as I have not gwen you
any cause to become offended wnh me, it cer-
tainly seems'very strange that you should de-
cine to do me the honor to be my partner this
evening”. .

“ You must have a strange code of politeness
in this region, if a lady can .be forced _to give
her reasons for so simple a. thing as declining an
invitation to dance.” _

Evangeline was plainly annoyed—there could
be no mistaking the fact—but Hawk was per-
sistent. '

He, too. was angry, for he had taken a fancy
to the girl upon first eight, and had made up
his mind to win her, and ashe was by far the
most eligible man in the camp—in his own
opfiéiiopjhe did no? taink there would be much
di on y n accom is in his pu 9.

“You must argon megfor holginga diflereut
opinion but I hink I am entitled to an explan-
ation," he said.

" It will be unpleasant. possibly.” she return~

ed, coldl
that, and I must ask you to

 

y.

“ I cannot help
explain; why you will not dance with me to-
n ht

‘I do not like you, sit. and I do not wish to
dance with you,” the irl replied firmly. She
was no coward, and eved in the old adage
that when danger is to be faced it is always the
best policy to meet it boldly-to take the bull
by the horns. _

Hawk was terribly angered by the bold
avowal.

“ You do not like me?"

“ No, sir.”

“I do not understand what reason
possibly have to dislike me,” he 0
slowly. ,'

“ 0 reason at all, perhaps,” she replied, in
an indifferent way. I do not think Icould
give any; no more. at all events, than the

on can
ed,

 

 

Peacock

reason generally ascribed lo women—J beeause.‘
I do not like you because i do not like you, and
that is rll there is to it; and us for dancing with

on, I would far rather prefer to sit here quiet—
y all the evening and take no part in the pro-
cecdiugs.”

“ You would prefer to do that?” he uestioned,
a sneer curling his lip, and a fearful ight shin-
ing in his e es.

, "I would: most decidedly.”

“ Then you shall, if I can possibly arrange it
in that wa ; for the man that dances with you
to-night dies, and I care not if he be my own
brother.”

The lady gazed at the speaker in angry indig-
nation.

“You forget yourself, sir!” <l.o exclaimed.
“ You are not talking to a child! Such a threat
is utterly ridiculous.’

" is it?” he retorted, scornfully. “ W'ait and
{on may have reason to change your opinion.

'ou are not in the efl‘eminate East now, where
laos press so harshly upon an impulsive spirit,
but out here in the wilds of the West where
each man is, in a great measure, a law unto
himself.

“In the East if two men quarrel, resort to
weapons, and one falls by the hand or the other,
the law calls it murder, and with either jail or
gibbet punishes the victor.

“Here, in this section, untrammeled by the
restraining devices of civilization, we deem it a
fair fight, an easy way of settling personal dif—
ferences, and we respect the victor, instead of
attempting to punish him.

" Believe me, I am not boasting when I say I
have had a fair share of such encounters since it
has fallen to my lot to dwell in this iinirvclou»x
--onntry, and I have not bl'I'll b 'cliwnrd in tak-
im: up a quarrel when I saw that it could not
mmorably be avoided. and 1 have always had
the luck to prove the victor.

“Therefore, understand that it is no idle
‘rmmt when I say that the nun who dances
n l' n you to-night does so at the risk of his life.

“ And you will be doing great injustice to
anyone who asks you to dance if you do not
w- in him of the threat that i have made.”

Then, with a polite bow, Hawk sauntered
:i‘wuy.

iIopkins, at a distance, had noted the convor-
so! ion, and had uessed from the expressions
upon the faces 0 the speakers that it had not
been an amicable one.

He hurried at once to his daughter.

“ VVhat’s the matter, Eva?“ he asked. “ Have
you and Mr. HaWk been having any trouble?”

“ Yes, a little,” responded the girl, whose face
was in a flame.

“ What on earth is the matter?” cried the old
gentleman impatiently, for Hawk was about
the last man in the town whom he desired to
offend. '

The girl briefly explained.

“ He asked me to dance with him, and I de-
clined; he became angry, pressed me to give
my reasons, and 1 told lliln frankly that I did
not like him.”

“Oh!” and old Hopkins groaiied; “ what in
the name of all that is wonderful possessed you
to do that!”

“_It was the truth. He said he would not be
satisfied until I explained my reasons, and so,
of course, I spoke freely.”

“ 3119"“ WHS Perfectly awful; and Hawk is a
dangerous man to offend, too,” and the old gen-
tleman shook his head gravely. He was greatly
annoyed at the unexpected and unfortunate
affair.

“Of course, I do not know much about the
man; but from what little I hams ascertained, I
was satisfied he was not an acquaintance to be
d sired.”

"My dear child, you don’t know what you
are talking about!” Hopkins exclaimed. much
annoyed, and plainly betraying it. “ You must
not fall into the error of judging men in it wil-

 

, (Iigeriéess like this by the same standard as in the

as .

“A gentleman father, it seems to me, must {
be a. gentleman a ways, no matter where he m-w ,
be found,” the girl replied, evidently as'nnlslnul ;
that her father should be so affected about the
matter.

“ Hawk is a gentleman—a perfect gentleman; -
one of the best men in the town. too. Oh. i Mi
won, this notion of yours is absolutely absurd. ’
‘1 wish to Heaven that you had said something 
to me before you compromised yourself so fear- ‘
fully and you’ll get me into a scr-vpe, too."

“ at I do not see how that can be!” Evan-
geline exclaimed. still more amazed. "Surely
I am at liberty to, decline any acquaintance]
choose without bringing you into the matter?"

 

Pete, the Lively L id from Leadville.

“ 0f roarsM not. l mu \l-nr Loin-1'. .iihi i: is
only nmural that any one having muse oi l'iull-
plaiut against vou should III a measure hold im-
reSponsiole. You see, my dear child, you are
just fresh from boarding-school, and no matter
how com lete your education may be, you are
sad! lac ing in worldly knowledge, or else you
won (I never have made such a blunder as you
have been guilty of to—night.

“ Mr. Hawk, my dear, isa perfect gentleman,
and there isn’t a man in the camp whose good
will I more earnestly desire.”

“ A perfect gentleman!” cried Evangeline
amazed.

“ Yes, my dear, that is what I said and it is
quite true too.”

“ But father is he not a. gambler and a illii‘l
who has stained his hands in blood a dozen
times at least!”

" N onsensel he’s su erintendent of the largest
mine for miles aroum , and although I presume
he does play cards once in a while, it is only for
pastime—just for amusement, you know, and
as to his having any blood upon his hands, I
presume that he has been mixed in in some
aflrays, but you must understand, as said be-
fore, you cannot judge men and matters in such

a country as this by the same rules that Would .

apply in the East.
“This is a new country With new men, and
new customs and must be gauged by new rules.

There are no regular officers of the law in such l

a place as lhis, and if disputes arise bctWeen
men here, they cannot be settled as they Would
be settled in the East.

“If two men here quarrel and agree to go
out and settle the matter with deadly weapons,
if one. is killed in the encounter we hold the
other fellow blameless of all harm.

“Self-defense, you know—merely protected ,

his own life, that is all. I presume it is to some
affairs of this kind to which you allude.”

“I do not know, but I was told he was an in-
vetei‘nte gumbier and that a dozen men had fal-
lcn beneath his unerring aim. He is no gentle-
man father, but a bravo, for he has threatened
to kill any man that dances with me to night.”

CHAPTER III.
wnv SHE REFUSED.
THE old gentleman gave utterance to a. low
whistle oi’ astonishment.

" Well, upon my word 1” be exclaimed, “ you ‘

have got yourself into a nice scrape! Why, my
dear child, I wouldn’t have had this happen for
a thousand dollars, but luckily it is not too late
for me to repair the mischief. I will go to him
immediately and explain that there has been a.

mis1iiiderstandilig;~—but by the way, who took 7

the trouble to tell you about Mr. Ilawkll “’ho
said he was a gambler and had killed half a
dozen men 9"

“ Nearly all the ladies who have visited me,”
the girl replied.

“The infernal old cats!" Hopkins muttered
under his breath in indignation.

“Of course, as I was a stranger and wanted
to learn all I could of the place which was to be
my future home, I listened with interest to the
gossip of the town, and I was amazed to find
the opinion which prevailed in regard to Mr.
Hawk.”

“ No. no, my dear Eva, you must not put it as
strongly as that 1” Hopkins hastened to observe.
“ You must not believe all on hear.

“ A man like Redmond awk naturally has a

great many enemies, and these foolish old'

women ought to have better sense than to re-
peat to a stranger such idle, foolish talk!” the
old gentleman observed, testily. “But, as I
was going to say, I can go to Mr, Hawk and
explain that it is all a mistake; you can give
him the first dance and as man others as you
choose and eyerything will be a 1 right.”

The girl was amazed. She was not half as
well acquainted with her parent as a irl of her
age ought to be. but havnig the mis ortune to
lose her mother at an early age, she had been
reared by some of her father’s relatives in the
country and then when old enough had been
sent to a boarding-school.

She had never known anything of her father’s
afl’airs except that he was a merchant in New
York ‘doing business on a large scale, and was
only favored by a visit from him three or four
times a year, and on these occasions he only re-
mained for a few hours.

When she left school, which was immediately
after graduation, she had returned to her for-

% nwl‘ home in the country, expecting to meet her

father there, but she did not, and the welcome
she received was cold in the extreme.

Then it was revealed to her that her father
had failed in business and had been obliged to

3

 

I13” 1.» the West in orderto commence a new li'c,
.‘lml furthermore she was informed that as her
lather had not [nude any provision for her sup-
port it would be impossible for them to provide
for her. ,

But the father had not deserted his daughter
as the worldly-minded relatives coarsely sug-
gested.

On the very next da 9. letter arrivad contain-
ing a check drawn to vangeline’s order, with
instructions to join her father at oncein his new
home which was given as St Louis.

When she arrived at St. Louis though and
went to the hotel to which she had been directed,
instead of meeting her father as she expected,
she found another letter which directed her to
come to Denver.

At DenVer another letter gave her instructions
‘ how to reach the mining-camp of Five Mile

Crossing, where he stated he was permanently

located.

All this seemed Very odd to the girl, but in

i her ignorance of the world she did not trouble
her head much about the matter, although she
wondered why she had not been directed to
come to Five Mile Crossing in the first place,
particularly when from the gossiping neighbors
she learned that her father had been doing busi-
l nos-s there for some six months.
' Upon mentioning the subject to him though,
i he innnedintely assigned a plausible reason.

“ 1 expected to be able to meet on in St.
Louis,” he said, “ and then when l ound that
m y business en agenients would prevent me
from so doing, g] was sure I we“ be able to
come to Denver, but unfth mats made
it impossible.”

The ex lanation was perfectly reasonable
to the ir , and she was satisfied but if Hop-
kins ha been a man who had dod from the
East and was afraid that some one might trace
him b following his daughter, he could not
have eviscd a better plan of blinding the trail.

80 the reader will see Evangeline’s parent
Lvus alums-t the same as an at 'r stranger to

er.

The amazement which took possession of the
girl as she listened to her father’s words, was
wonderful.

“ Oh, no, no, I could not think of such a thing
for an instant!” she exclaimed. “Of course,
cannot with 'ustice retcnd to have much
knowledge of t e worl , ct, if I am uided by
I my womanly instinct, I 0 not think will go
I far wrong. I cannot hear the 51' ht of this man;
' a
l
l

 

instead 0 gentleman 1 think e is a rufllanl
desperudo, and I Would not dance with him if
neVer danced another step in my life.”

He kins had no idea that his daughter pos-
sessei such a spirit, and being a sink, irreso~
lute man, be naturally quailcd before it.

“ Well, I suppose you will have to go home,
then, and this affair shut you out from all such
innocent recreation as this while you stay in the
camp,” the old gentleman remarked with a
groan.

“ Go homel” and there was an angry him in
the great, dark e 'es of the girl.

“ Yes, what e se can you do? If you stay
here you will be asked to dance, of course, and
then I’ve no doubt that Hawk will be quite cap-
able of keeping his word to the letter. He’s a
«loud shot, they say, and I know that there
' are not many men in the camp who would like

to run the risk of excitin his anger.”

" And do you suppose orasing e instant that
I will permit this radian to.drive me from a
public assemblage such as this?” Evangeline de-
manded, with the air of a tragedy queen.

“ This is a strange country, knOW. and since
I have been obliged by circumstances to live
here, I may as we I be as strange as the people
among whom I am towed to live.

“I will not go home! I will sta here, and if
any gentleman asks me to dance, will tell him
of the threat that this rufl‘ian has made," the
girl replied spiritedly.

“But don’t you see you will on] be otting
some poor fellow into mischief?” t e olii man
exclaimed, who did not at all like the way af-
fairs ware tending. “ And it will be some
stranger too, for I on’t think that any of the
men of the camp would be a t to risk angeri
Hawk. for he’s a terrible ellow when be
routed to action.”

“Is he a king then, this contem tible bully,
that every one should fear him!’ the maiden
exclaimed in supreme contempt, her proud lips
curling and her dark eyes ties in .

“ He’s a sort of chief anlong t e rest, there‘s
no mistake about that,” her father re lied.
“He’saregular fire-eator—just as lief flg t as
eat—and that is the reagon why men who have
any regard for their hva are a little careful

 

 

  
 

.4,

 

about offending him. if I were you i would
smooth the matter over or else 0 home.”
“Father, 1 am not willing to 0 either. 1 am
not dis (1 to how the knee to this vile crea-
ms; all the rest of the camp is afraid of

“Ah, you’re like your mother. When you
once get your temper up, there’s no use in west
ing words upon ou.”

‘ When I am in the right I should be ashamed
to play the coward’s part!” Evangeline replied
with mud dignity.

“ ell, well; I .fraid that it will cost us
all dearly. but 1 wi see McMulligan; perhaps
he can arrd the matter in some way,” and

then Hopkins, terribly put out by his unfortu~
fit: accident, hurried away to find the land-
0 .

Briefl the store-keeper explained to McMul
ligan w at had occurred.

“ Bedadl it’s an ugly affair,” the landlord re-
marked.

“ Yes, and I am afraid it will breed trouble.”

“Serra a bit of trouble.”

“Don’t you think Hawk will live up to his
word?”

“Oh, he’ll do that same. He’s on the fight
from the worud go. No man iver axed him to
ates) up to the ca tain’s oflice and settle without
flu in [Mister awk to the fore iver time.”

.“ W at is to be done?” asked the o d man in

ismay.

“ Faixl I dunno. I tell yees phat it is, Ho -
kins, women are the divil for kicking u a ho -
ber . Hadn’t you better be after taking the
gur home and see if ye can’t talk her out of this
tantrum!”

“ She declares she won’t go,” replied the per-
lcxed father. “ She thinks she has been terri-
ly insulted, you know, by this threat of Hawk’s,

and looks upon going home in the light of a re-
treat.”

“ Share! the gurl’s head is level enough as far
as that is concerned. That is exactly phat it
is. Let her stick it out thin and face the music.
She might as well do it now as any other time.”

“Yes, but won’t that raise a row? Hawk,
you know2 swears that he will kill any man that
dances With her,” Hopkins remarked in great
agitation.

“There isn’t the laste taste of a doubt that
he’ll thry to be as good as his worud, for he’s a
broth of a b‘ye entirely whin he gets started,”
McMulligan replied. “But he knows me t00
well to raise any row here, besides that ain’t the
kind of a b’ye .that he is at all, at all! He’ll
quietly invite the gintlemaii to walk outside
and then he’ll pop him over hate and aisy as
you l’ase.”

“ h, it’s a most unfortunate affair!” the old
gentleman exclaimed, deeply affected.

“ Yis, but it’s wan of those things that a man
can’t help, you know. Afther your gnrl sees
phat a fo ne fellow Mister Hawk is, mebbe she’ll
change her mind and dance wid him. Shurel
phat more can any famale ax than a bold buck
willing and able to murther ivery fellow that
comes along for her sake? But there’s the music
and I must attind to the dancing.”

McMulligan hurried away and Hopkins re-
turned to Evangeline in a decidedly unhappy
state of mind.

CHAPTER IV.
THE STRANGEB.

“ I’VE spoken to the landlord, but he says he
cannot interfere in the matter,” the old entle-
man said, in a helpless sort of way. “ e evi-
dently thinks that you are acting queerly for he
has a good opinion of Mr. Hawk.”

“Oh, I’ve no doubt, for he and the man are
prohablv friends.”

“Don’t you think you had better go home
and take time to reflect upon the matter?”
Hopkins asked, in a persuasive way. “ Perhaps
in time on will come to see cause to change
the opinion that you now hold.”

Evan eline shook her head decidedly. This
beauty ad a will of her own and she was not
at all inclined to give way.

‘ “ Father, I reflected carefully upon the matter
before taking the step I did,” she replied. “ And
I am uite sure I shall not change the opinion I
have armed."

“ But if you stay here some one will be sure
t6 ask you to dance and then there will be trou-

e.

“Oh, no, that does not follow. I shall tell
all who accost me how the matter stands. No

entleman is obliged to risk his life by danc-
in with me unless he chooses so to do. There
isn tithe least bit of compulsion about the mat-
ter.’ '

‘ ‘ “ But surely you wouldn’t allow any man to

l

r put his life in peril b
' ing the threat that awk has made
the father in amazement.

“ Why not, if ,the gentleman chooses to dare
the peril after knowing all the particulars?
Father, I cannot understand how you can look
at the matter in the li ht that you do!” she
cried, impulsively. “ by, from the way you
speak one w0uld think that this man was a very
king and that everybody in the town stood in
awe of him.”

“ My dear, he is a resolute, determined man
and I assure you there are not many in the
t0wn who care to encounter him, for in all the
personal encounters in which he has been en-
gaged he has been wonderfully successful in
gettin the best of the struggle and therefore
men w oknow him are careful to keep from
angerin him in any way.”

“ 0h, understand!” and the proud lip of the
girl curled in scorn. “Every word I heard
about him was strictly true; he is a desperatio,
although he assumes to be a entleman, and
relies upon his murderous exp oits to secure
res ct.

‘ My dear child, this is not the East, and you
must not expect to find things here as the; are
there,” the old gentleman replied in despair.

At this moment the first note of the music
sounded through the apartment, and McMulli-
ganlgpened the festivities by exclaiininu:

“ 0w, gentlemen, select your partners for
the first dance, if you lease !”

The music was of t e primitive order, con-
sisting only of a single violin in the hands of an
aged negro; but he was an extra good player of
the simple melodies required, and no one had
ever yet been so fastidious as to complain that
they couldn’t dance to Black Jake‘s music.

Three or four of the gentlemen present had
had their eyes upon the stylish Eastern girl,
who was by long odds the prettiest woman in
the room; there was only about a dozen of the
fair sex present.

The first one to reach her side was a tall, raw.
boned youth, one John Michaels, a miner with
a
val ey.

And as the girl looked at him, the conclusion

exclaimed

not the man to brave Redmond Hawk.
\Vith his best how he asked for the honor of
the lady’s hand for the next dance.

as the youth persisted, she said:

with any one this evening. Mr. Hawk asked
me to dance, and I refused. Angered h my
refusal, he threatened that he would kil the
man that dared to dance with me to night.”

The under jaw of the youth dropped at once,
and the girl saw that she was ert‘ectly right in
coming to the conclusion that 6 would not dare
to brave Hawk.

“I guess there must be some mistake,” he
stammered. “I’ll see Mister Hawk—he’s a
friend of mine and—”

“If you have to obtain Mr. Hawk’s permis-
sion to dance with me, you may be sure I will
not be willing to accept. you as a partner under
such conditions!” Evangeline cried, quickly.

The youth stammered out a few words,
hardly knowing what he said, and then re-
treated. .

Three followed him in rapid succession, and
the same thing happened with every one.

1 looked amaze , glanced at Hawk and then
bac ed out. '

By this time the nature of the situation had
become bruited about the room and the girl
found herself the center of all eyes.

Her position was an extremely painful one.

“The cowards!” she murmured under her
breath, “is it possible that a single bravo can
lord it in this manner over a whole town!”

Hardly had the words escaped her lips when
a stranger made his ap nce in the room
who was so oddly dressed that be attracted
general attention.

He was a ood-lookin , well-built fellow,
with light ye ow hair t at curled in little
crispy rin lets all our his head; a slight mus-
tache an a small imperial of the same hue
decked his lip and chin. His features were
regular and clearly-cut; his eyes, a blue-gray,
Were large and full, with a clear, honest

immediately.

He was dressed in buckskin, but the upper
garment was cut like a coat instead of the
usual pattern of a hunting-shirt, and the lower
articles wore more like pantaloons than leg-

 

gings.
Long riding-boots of untanned leather came

<

expression—that sort of thing that wins friends ,

Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville.

 

rosperous claim a short distance up the ,

was quickly reached in her mind that he was -

Evangeline politely begged to be excused: but ;

“There is a reason why I should not dance I

 

dancing with on, know- l up high on the legs, and a high-crown soft hat,

white as the driven snow, protected his bend:
and in the hatrband was stuck a cluster of pea-
cock feathers.

He was fully armed and the weapons he wore.
were far superior to those usually carried by
the men of the region.

The new-comer was evidently a stranger and,
after he had surveyed the scene for a moment,
had inquired what was going on.

As it happened, the landlord. McMulligan, we -=
the y to whom he at the question.

“ t’sa sliizht taste oFa dance," respr'mded lllv'
Irishman, after surveying the other with a.
critical glance, as if to make sure he was a
proper person to be present, “if you would he
affil’ier shaking a leg, pick out yer gurl and hop
in

Now this was easier said than done, for the.
only lady in the room not engaged was Evan-
geline.

“ But, Jove! she’s a beauty 1” the oung man
exclaimed, when he caught sight of er match-
less face, “and she’s a cut too above the rest.
Maybe she’s a little proud and don‘t care to
join in one of these commo shindigs. There:
must be some such reason 0 else such a girl
would be snapped up right at the be innii g.
Anyhow, she can only Say no and it wi l not do
any harm to ask."

So, without l0§> of time, he walked to where
Evangeline sat, n'ade her a polite bow and
asked that he might be favored with her hand
for the next dance.

Every eye in the room was upon the Couple,
and Redmond Hawk, who stood apart with his
arms folded, lowered with gloomy eyes as he
looked upon t 9 scene.

The young man rig,ng out so ljauntily was a
stranger. Would he dare to « ance with the
girl despite the threat that had been made?

This was the question that the angry man put
to himself, and he could not help admitting that
it was more thrin likely the stronger would
brave the risk, for he looked like a resolute fel-
10w and one not easily scared.

“ Let him, if he dares!” Hawk muttered.
“ First. the dance. and then a settlement with
111" which will not he so pleasant.”

The girl surveyed the applicant with search-
ing eyes.

Here was a man who looked able to hold
his own with any one whom slll' had ever seen.

His face, too, was a good one, and de. ite the
roughness of his picturvsque diess, whic sceni-
ed to proclaim him to be as much hunter and
trapper as miner, she fell sure he was a gentle-
man.

It was an awkward explanation for a girl to
make to an utter stranger, and she was con-
scious, too, that every one in the room was
gazing at them, eager to see what would be

one.

But Evangeline was e ual to the. occasion, for
her spirits rose to meet t e emerguncy.

“i am not engaged. and I should be pleased
to dance with you, sir,” she said: " but fliers is
a circumstance which ou milst know.

“ Soon after I came l/iere this evening, [a en-
tleman asked me to dance with him. and re.
fused because I did not like him. He became
offended, and declared it I did not take him for
a partner I should not have. any one else, for he
would kill any man who dared to dance with
me this evenings”

Evangeline t on paused, and the new-comer
laughed outright. much to the wonder of the b -
stander: who were watching the progress of t- 9
interview.

None of them, of course, were near enough to
hear what was said, and therefore could not
understand why the stranger laughed.

“This fellow must be a regular meat-ax, just
hungry for blood,” he observed. “But, seri—
ously, the man who would Say such a thing as
that to a lady is a scamp, and ought to be
thrashed.”

“His name is Redmond Hawk. He stands

onder with his arms folded, and hears the repu-
tion of being a des rate man.”

“ Desperate with is mouth, no doubt,” the
other remarked with a slight sneer. “Well, my
name is Peter Peacock, but after the fashion of
this count , folks generiilly call me Peacock
Pete, and 1they sa I’m the livi-liest lad that
ever came for De ville; and if you’ll take my
arm, I’ll be our partner and settle with this
gentleman a terward.”

CHAPTER V.
THE RIVALS.
EVANGELINE rose and placed her hand upon
the offered arm.
Somehow she did not feel that she was expos-

 

 

 

 

 

Pewock Pets

 

-M-....._..-.. .

ing this man to any danger by ucceptin him
for a partner, despite the threat that awk
had m de. '

He seemed so fully capable of taking care of
himself that she felt sure he would prove more
(hill) a matchrfcr the (icspel'ado who had at—
Lsmpted to control her actions.

Perhaps if she had taken time to reflect upon
the matter she would have hesitated before
she aliowed the strange young man to enter
upon this quarrel, but she was mortally offend-
rd; n var before in all her life had any one pre-
sumed to dictate to her, and the idea that this
Hawk, a man whom she utterly despised, now
that she knew his true character, should at-
tempt to force her to accept his company by
depriving her of the society of all other gentle-
.men was perfectly monstrms.

It was only natural under the circumstances
that when a champion appeared, ready and
willing to do battle for her, she should accept
him.

He knew the conditions and if he was willing
to accept them she ought to be glad of the
chance.

Hawk glanced savagely at the girl as she rose
and took the arm of the young stranger and
then, as they moved to take their place with the
rest, as if unable to bear the sight, he turned
abruptly and left the room.

Nearly every one in the apartment by this
time understood what had transpired and was
on the lookout for new developments.

Therefore when they saw the girl accept the
stranger as a partner and watched Hawk re-
treat in anger they understood that there was
likel to be blood work, and they shook their
heat 9, significant y. They guessed what would
come after the dance. .

Hawk was well known and his reputation as
a fighter stood high, and not without reason for
in all the afl’rays in which 'he had been con-
cerned he had in every case succeeded in get-
ting the best of his antagonist.

The angry man had retreated to the saloon,
and the whisper went around the room.

“ He’s gone to have a lonk at his we‘pons and
brace up with a cocktail for the fight, ’cos he
sees that this hycr young cuss ls Well-heeled.”

The supposition was correct.

Hawk was too keen a fellow not totakea
careful survey of his man, and he had come to
the conclusion, from the stranger’s peculiar get-
up, that he was a cowboy, who, tiled of his

prairie work, had concluded to try mining for a

ll. ,

Now, from the nature of their business, the
cowboys are “no slouchvs,” to use the Western
expression, in the use of weapons, and as a gen-
eral rule the members of that class are bold and
desperate fl :hters.

All this Hawk understood, and he did not at

' all underrate the man Whom he proposed to

“lock horns ” with at the first convenient op-
portunitg.

He ha n’t the slightest doubt, though, that he
would be able to lay the stranger out, for he was
a much larger man in every way and prided
himself upon his skill in the use of all weapons;
and then, too, he was rather inclined to look
upon the young man as a conceited chap, who
thought more 'of a fancy dress and of his person-
al appearance than anything else.

“ l spoil his beauty for him!” Hawk mut-
tered, grimly to himself, as, after dis tching a
couple of cocktails,'he sat down by t 0 bar in
such a position that through the open door he
could see into the room where the dancing was
taking place. '

HaWk had decxded upon  programme_

It was the custom when the dance was ended
for the gentlemen .to partake of liquid refresh-
ments at the bar. light wines and lemonades be-
in carried in to the ladies who remained in the
be l-room. ,

For the general entree into the saloon Hawk
w itedv- he proposed to act-088 the young man
a (I call him to an account the moment he made
his ap _aranca.

He 1d not intend to take any unfair advan.
tags, for he believed in always keeping the right
on his Side, so as to stand well with the citizens,
who were prompt to frown upon any underhand
measures. -

Hawk’s position had not been unnoticed by the
men in the dancing apartment, and it waseasy
for them to gue~s what was about to take place.
The understood that Hawk was “lying low "
for be young stranger.

There were some men in the room who did
not bear Redmond Hawk any good will, and
one of these wok it upon himself to post the
stranger as to what was likely to happen, when

' "in the course of the dance he. got a chance to ex-

,l

 

 

change a few words with him without attracting 
notice. .

“ Say, do you see that galoot a~sittlngin thar, 1
’Ion Side of the bar, like a darned big spider?”
hall the miner, who was a young, elongated 3'
fellow with a hatchet-like face.

“Oh, yes, I see him,” Pete answered; he was
too wide awake not to have kept his eye upon '
the man who had made each a threat.

“He’s jlst old p‘ison, thatcu s is! His name’s :

Redmond Hawk, and he kimlcr thinks be Is a f _ , .
, is my handle, and I’m the Lively Lad from

boss ’round this low n. Ho don’t like it ’us that

, go] you air dancing with didn’tdnncc wit h him, '

and he has sw’arcd that he’s gomg to make it ‘
warm for the man that takn-s her for a purdncr
tonight; so keep your eye peeled for him; he'll
be up: to do you a. mischief if he kin.”

Pete thanked the well-meaning miner for his
caution, and said he would be on his guard.

When the dance was ended he conducted his
partner to a $9813, thanked her for the. pleasure
she had afforded him, and then followed the rest
of the gentlemen into the bar-room.

It was the stranger’s idea that if there was
going to be trouble it might as Well come first us
last.

As Pcte came into the saloon, Hawk rose and
accosted him.

“ See hyer, young man, I’ve got two or three
words to say to you?” he exclaimed, prutlly.

“All right, spit ’em out; that’s what I’m here
for,” Pete repli d ‘

“ My name is Redmond Hawk. and l'm an old .
citizm of this town, while you, I believe, are a l
stranger hyer."

“That is my misfortune, and not my fault
you know, and it; is somethingI that is soon got
over.” ‘

“What I was going to say was that it isn’t
possible for you to know exactly how the land
lies, but you’ve ot yourself in trouble by danc-
ing with that in y,” Hawk continued. ‘ Didn’t
she warn you that if you danced with her you
would be called to account!”

“Oh, yes; but I never pay any attention to
fool-talk of that kind.” Pete answered in the
most carelesa and indlfl’erent way.

' “You’ll find this is no fool-talk, you youn
cock-sparrow!” Hawk hissed, his anger rouse
by the careless speech.

“You don’t really mean to say that you are
going to quarrel with me about such a little
thing as that r" l" to demanded, as if utterly
astounded.

“ Yes, i do; I‘ll have your heart’s blood
pay for the ofl'r-nsl- 1” '

“ Why, what a bloodthirsty cuss you are!
Thunder! you Wouldn’t kill a man without giv-
ing him a chance for his life?”

The speech seemed to indicate that the stran-
ger was getting a lit'le afraid. and Hawk was
quick to improve. the opportunity.

If the stranger was so Weak in the backbone
that he could be run out of town without a
light, so mUch the better.

“No, I’ll give you fair warning to git up and
dust, but after that time if I meet you in the
tOWn I’ll kill you on sight.”

“ It won’t be pleasant for the lady to be mixed l

up in a matter of this kind,” Pete, suggested.

“What do I care for her? She has insulted
me, and must take the consequences!” -

“Yes. but I say, can’t we leave her out, and
fight about something else?” Pete asked. “I
will say something ugly to you, and you can
slap my face, and that will be a good cause for
a fight.”

“I don’t care how you fix it,” Hawk respond-
ed, somewhat astonished by this novol proposal.

“ Well, then, hyer goes: you‘reatarnel, mean,
pesky skunk!” cried the young man, in tones
so loud that they could be heard all over the
room.

Hawk was puzzled by this strange method of
procedure, but as every eye in the room was
fixed upon them, attracted by the sound of the
altercation, he saw that the best thing to be
done was to begin operations immediately, so
he raised his hand and gave the other a sound—
ing slap in the face. Then, his pu was to
draw his revolver and make aflnish of the oc-
centric young man us Soon as possible. .

But his antagonist was not to be caught nap-
ping in this primitive way.

Hardly had the. hand of Hawk touched his

the Li 9.1? Pa“; ‘i‘m Lita” 1.39:

1 goes round knocking chi .
' shoulder, but if I am assau ted I’m going today ‘

 

cheek when out shot the right, fist of Pete with
terrible force, and the blow catching Hawk be- i
tween the eyes, knocked him squarely of! his
pins. and he went owr like a log.

Wild with rage he recovered himself as soon I
as he was able. and rose to his feet, drawing l
one of his revolw-rs as hadid’ so.

But his antagonist had been quicker by far.

i cried. “ be aisy wid that pop runl”.

*5

:=

 

 

himself covered by a cocked and leveled ro-
volver in the band of the other. , v '

“ Hold on hold on, go slow!” Pete continued.
" [We got t e dr0p on you in the worst kind of
a way. I should hate like thunder to drive a
bullet right through you, but 1 shall have todo
it if you don't quit fooling with that popgun of
yours. , .

“ if you attempt to cock it I shall plug you
w bad that you’ll never know what hurt on,
and that’s the kind of man I am. Peacookfieto

Leadvllle, just come down in these
give you critters a taste of the. quality of the

' men that We turn out from the biggest camp in

Christendom!" , ,
Bv this time McMulligan was in the room. ' ,
“Ye can’t fight hyer, gintlemenl” he cried.

“Go out of dares and fight where ye like, but

not on my premises!" '.

CHAPTER Vl. . ‘ '
rm: Dunn. ' g ‘ _
“ On, I ain't particular where I fight,“ Pete. ‘
remarked. “ It sall the same to me, on] that ‘
according to all rules, having obtained an
advantage, I ought not to be required to give, it‘

up. , ,.
" This man struck me tint-you all saw that. ~

He’sa perfect stranger to me and I to'hlm.‘ ‘,-
"l‘here’s no earthly reason why he should wok ‘
to uarrel with me, except out of pureugllnou. , (r

" ow, pards. I’m not the kind of». man.
01! of any man’s

out the man that does it, if I can. .

“ Itnke it that this trick is mine! I've got
my man foul, and is it the square thing to “k
me to let up on him?" i l . -

This was putting the case pretty strongly,
and the bystanders shook their heads; 1 ey.
didn’t See exactly haw they could interfere, but
the Irishman,

Hawk, who was a color friend of his. {run '
the garage into wh ch be hgd 

“ e yer, young man . “levied, .‘
“ I’m the owner of this place, and, he thevpi .

that played before M0398! I do be either! g ’1

vees that I’ll have no flghtin in this.
at is it to me whether yeas.
the man or not?” ' -, v i 
“This is a kind ofa side pard of you"; and
you want to help him which?” queriod‘-Teta,'

'. vs the. dragon x \

,4

., a

.l A
3“!

I L

‘ .
.5.‘

who immediately jumped- to a correct  Z

sion. ' . ,-  '
“ You’re too fresh 1” responded the Irishman.“
angry to think his motiVes had been guessed”

easily, “and it you’re afther stayin ,7de 
you: 618$ ,‘

to  L

these parts long you’ll have to be null.
ye’ll not keep, do ye mlndi” ‘
“ Oh, I reckon l’ll manage 4
and anyway, I’m not asking advice 
on the subject.” l. ’ ,’ ’1" ,
“ I’m the man that kin give it toyed!  ‘
“ Not much you ain’t!” ‘ “

.x“

'1‘5.

i

simply to enable Hawk to neat
ta 9 gained by the othen.
ut Peacoc Pete was too
can ht napping. a l. .1 I _
a still kept Hawk “covered,” ’Il'ld did-not 
give him a chance to draw a weapon. He did not '
have the least idea of letting the Irishman, with ‘

McMulligan had been indulging hi  ~:



a little cheap talk, deprive him of the-mm "x

bich he had gained.

t8 0 W I  H ’ _'
EsUpon we saw! yo sha’n’t fight hygfl'luc,’ ‘ ‘

Mulligan declared. “ Drop ys we’pon or p", h, V
aftber laying ya head open and this club!” : ;;'- 
And seizing a club which he kept  ,

bar in readiness for just such emu-803M310 ,  

advanced toward Pets. 4

But our hero had expected some auch'lnon-gla “

meat as this from the beginnin and
he was fully prepared. 8'
Hardlyv
'“ihwihs l si m coat
coo er nger mm a de: et at '
and leveled it full at the breast of the 
“ Stop jest where you are, my. friend.  I
shall be under the disagreeable access!
plugging you in a manner that you: w

, . dc.- '7
spise 2” Pete exclaimed. - ' ‘

McMulligan’s face was a picture as he found ‘ I‘
- himself so suddenly halted, his purpose than u»  ' . ‘

expected! y defeated.

ad McMulli an meal» :
his left hand8 Peacock Patna”! n__~ V

of v 

“’l‘ake care what ye’r’ aboutl’itho  [ 

.l, ‘~

“ Oh, I’ll be aisy,” Pete re led, mimic
manner of the other, i‘or f I can'tbe‘, . ,’
I’ll be on clay as I can.” : '

McMulligan was 'no coward, yet he was '.

r

.F.

after the bulkheade mm or a 3
his race, was determined to interfere and Incas .Z‘ 

and Hawk, when he regained his feet, found at all ready to die, and most certainly  -‘  .

l - v

  

l
' I
l

l
,i'
.

“a w-u—wv

 

 

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i

 

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X11.

1
1 I
I

  \

 thefra ,allthedoorsand
'Werc

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l .by some one who

“5... a. » «4—H. .-.—‘.- —.._

6

 

 

-............ a v . ._

“.1, -. .._. -..._..

PeacockPete, the Lively, Lad from Ileadville.

 

 

about as near/to death now as a man could well i hai'mlessly. up through the air, as if bent on a g

the oung stranger that if he adv/anced Pete
won (1 not hesitate to drive a ball through him.

Some of the bystanders now felt called upon
tosa something. -

“ y!” cried an 'old and weather-beaten
,miner, “ McMulligan, this hyer ain’t exactly the
square thing. If this hyer man is a stranger,
that ain't any reason for the hull town to want
to climb him.

“I ain’t no enemy to you, Hawk,” be con-
tinned, “but seein as how you commenced
this little racket, reckon that it’s only the
square thing for you to stand up and take your
gruel like a man.

“ Fair lay is a jewel, and I reckon this hyer
camp ain t a-going back on fair play nary time,
if the court knows itself, and she thinks she

does.

“This hyer gintleman has got the dro on
you 0t it by fair means, and as far as kin
see, al that you kin do is to gi’n in whipped, or
give him a chance to wipe you out.”

- “Year yes,” exclaimed three or four of the
root, not sorry to see Hawk getting the worst
of the affair, for by his peculiar ways, he had
made himself anything but a favorite with his
fellow-townsmen. “ That’s the squar’ thing and
no mistake. .
' “ Own up whipped?” cried Hawk, white with
rage; “not n-uch. What do you take me for?
Because this fellow took the first trick is no sign
that the ggmeis his! Blaze away! but if you
don’t disa is me the first shot, I wouldn’t give
:two no for your life!” ‘
“ b, that ain’t the kind of man I am,” Pea-

cock Pete replied. “ If I had been going to go
'for you, I wouldn’t have wasted al this time
in talking

‘.‘ Although I’ve got the right to plug on ac-
oordiga. n tgalizthe rules of the game, yet ’m not
0 .

“ can down you in a fair fight, and not half

r-try, either, and as the boss of this bug-juice

ranch don’t like fighting inside of his doors, we
“3 'out'ideiood l t of ii ht

sa moon, p on y g out-

iaide and I’m willing to give you the fairest

,  of a show.

--' “You can just march out of that door and
down the street a hundred feet, then the mo-
ment 1 show my nose outside you can go for me
as‘quickl as you please.

, “Gent emen, what do you say? Isn’t this a

oqg‘u'e deal that I’m ofi‘eringl”
e bystanders were unanimously of the opin-
ion it was the squarest kind of a me, and

t
evan icMulligan was obliged to admit that no

’ I fault could be found with the groposition.

. The quarrel had put an an to the dancing,
and all the ladies were peeping into the room
with anxious faces.

\ The tide of symizthly ran strongly in favor of
the stranger, for w was not any more u-
lar with i the ladies than with the men of the

cam .
. Than too the cause of the difficult had been
whispered around for Hawk, upon ing joked
had noticed that the lady had
, red another partner had/bluntly declared
at he was going to kill the “ fresh young
rooster ” the momentthe dance ended.
Therefore when Hawk marched out into the
. "moonlit street and took up a ition some hun-
dred feet 03, his revolver c0c ed and ready for
windows of the hotel
led with anxious faces.
 I With his cool, jaunty, devil-may-care air,
Peacock Pete walked out into the middle of the
, “not” after his antagonist had selected his posi-

Every eye was strained in breathless atten-
The ma. walked slowly toward each other,

. each, apparently, having determined upon re-

his fire until he could make a sure thing

of itb -
l x “ y the way. I never thought to ask you, but

, “there any articular place where you would

refer to be it!” asked Pete, evidently n01: able
aim his ropensi for chafi‘lng.

. For answer, awk h ted, raised his revolver

and took deliberate aim at the speaker, but be-

" fore he could fire, Pete’s revolver s oke, and yet

the Lively Lad had not apparent y taken the
trouble to aim. l

It was one of those rapid, snap-shots, which
only the most experienced marksman can render

 his Spartan-like hardihood, a cry of
pain escaped from Hawk’s lips, and his revolver
 from his hand to the ground, the oonculsi‘on
mangle; a d;s:'...:';:~; but the bullet whistled

,l-

(“9.4.  ‘ '

 

-.—..s.» "1 . .._-

 

come, for be felt sure from what he had seen of ; trig to the moon.
8

acock Pete had put a bullet throu h the
fieshy under-part of Hawk’s right han , just
grazing the butt of the revolver, and coming
out at the wrist. 7

A trifling wound, not at all dangerous, and
yet for the moment very painful, and utterly
disabling the hand.

“ Are ye hit, Mister Hawk i” asked McMnlli-
gen, who could hardly believe that any result
could proceed from a shot fired so carelessly.

“My hand is gone for the present,” replied
Hawk, with a bitter oath; “ but thank fortune,
I can shoot almost as well with my left hand as
with the right.”

And as he spoke, he stooped, picked up the
revolver, and recocked it.

“You’re a hard man to satisfy,” Pete re-
marked. “I reckon I’ll haVe to quit fooling,
and lay you in earnest.”

“ hat was an accident; you couldn’t do it
again,” Hawk retorted, trying to draw a per-
fectl ac ate “ bead ” on his opponent.

“ h, w s it? I’ll give you another touch 1”

Again a rapid discharge; again a cry of sin
from Hawk’s lips, and the pistol dropped rom
his left hand.

Pete had put a ball through the left hand, in
exactly the same place as in the right one.

The duel was ovor, for Hawk was unable to
hold a weapon.

He departed, swearing vengeance, and Pete
returned to the ball, the hero of the hour.

 

CHAPTER VII.
nawx’s scannn.

TEIRE was a stormy scene that night between
old Hopkins and his daughter when they reach-
ed their home. ,

“I do not see what possessed you toact so
foolishly this evening,” the old man exclaimed,
testily. “Mr. Hawk is one of the best men in
the camp, a man possessed of a great deal of in-
fluence, and there isn’t one in the place whom I
would not sooner offend than Hawk.

“And now all the fat is in the fire. That
young ruflan has succeeded in disabling him
and as you were the cause of all the trouble of
course he will blame you.”

“ Father, I cannot understand why you should
act so mean-spiritedly in this matter!” the irl
exclaimed, in indignation. “Mr. Hawk as
no one to blame but himself, and if any one
has played the rufiian most surely it is he. As
for this young man the quarrel was forced upon
him and he ought not to be blamed because he
defended himself when attacked.”

“ Oh, it’s all very well to talk that waybut
you are lookin at the stair in the wrong llght
entirely,” Hop ins replied. “This fellow is a
nobody—a nameless ruman not worth two
cents. The woods are full of 'ust such fellows,
while Mr. Hawk is a man 0 standing in the
community; he amounts to something; his
friendship is worth having.”

“Father, I do not understand you at all
when you speak in this way 1” the girl ex-
claimed, impatiently. “I am satisfied from
what I haveseen to-night that every word I
have heard in regard to the badness of Mr.
Hawk's character is true, and why you should
be willinttbat I should be on friendly terms
with sue a man is a mystery that I cannot
fathom.”

“My dear child, you do not seem to under-
stand my position at all,” the father replied.
“I am just getting along—'ust getting my
head above water, but am stil in that critical
state when even a single blow wculd do much

damage. Mr. Hawk has been very friendly—-
has be] me materially, and now you hava
repaid is kindness by treatin him badly and

th{gugh you he became embroi ed in this quar;
re .

“Oh, no, father! How can you say soi’
Evangeline exclaimed, anno ed at the accusa-
tion. “Evon admitting t at I was in the
wrong in declinin to permit the acquaintance-
ship to continue, glare wasn’t any necessity for
all this trouble. . ’ .

“I have always understood that it was a
lad 's privilege to terminate her acquaintance
wi agentleman at her pleasure, and in this
case when he pr me for a reason, I game it
to him fully and frankly. I do not like the
man, and I told him so, and then, like a rufiian,
he vowed he would kill the men who dared to
dance with me.”

“And he will kill him, too, before he is
through with him l”,the old man dec

 

The lip of- the girl. curled in scorn.
“Judgingxby , what took place to-night, the

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«4‘- ' '4.-

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strtailger is amply able to take care of him-
sal

“ Oh you haven’t any idea of what killd of a
man edmond Hawk is ” Hopkins asserted.
“He has along purse and a long arm. and he
will not rest content until he has had ample
measure of revenge. If he, personally, is not a
match for this stranger, it will be an easy mat-
ter for him to call upon his friends, and with
their assistance he will be able to accomplish
his object.

“ But, Eva, my dear I wept you to patch up

this breach with Mr. awk.’

“ Oh, father, it is impossible!”

“No, it’s not: what utter foolishness to talk
in that wayl” Hopkins exclaimed, with more
anger in his face and voice than the girl had
ever before seen him display.

“You don’t seem to understand. I want Mr.
Hawk’s aid, and I must have it. I cannot allow
any little foolish girlish whims of yours to in-
terfere with my business.”

“ Father, what you ask isimpossible,” the girl
replied, greatly troubled, yet quite firm. “Af-
ter what has occurred 1 cannot bring myself to
ever again associate with this man on friendly
terms.”

Hopkins stared blankly at the wall for a few
minutes, and it was (plain he was greatly perv
plexed by this decide announcement.

“ Well, well,“ he said at last, after a lon
pause, “I guess you had better go to bed an
sleep on the matter. Perhaps in the morning
you may think differently.

“ Oh, no, father; I have fully decided in re-
gard to the matter, and I feel sure I shall not
chen e.” '

A ew more unimportant words passed be~
twelfn the two, and then they parted for the
ni t. l

t was along time before the old man closed
his eyes in slumber.

He had very little knowled e of his dau hter,
for since she was a child she ad spent 1 her
life, with the exception of a few ho iday visits,
at the boarding-school where she had been
placed at her mother’s death.

Hopkins’s idea had been that she was only a
child who could be easily molded to his will,
and this stubbornness of hers astounded him.

Hopkins was not a man who believed in bold
measures; his policy was always to gain the end
he sought by indirect and devious means, and
so when he found the girl so determined about
the matter he forbore to press her.

She had expected, from what he had said,
that when the morning came he would renew
the discussion; but Hopkins, having taken time
to reflect upon the matter, had determined to
ado tallother ‘olicy.

A l he said a out the affair was a few words,
when breakfast was over and he arose to de-
fiart, in regard to the necessity of calling upon

awk as soon as possible in order to see how he
was getting along. ‘

“I judged, from what the people said last
night, that he is not severely wounded,” Ivan-
geline remarked, perceiving that her father ex-
pected her to ca something. . .

“ The wound rom a pistol-shot is one of those
things which no one can all much about. I
have known a man to die from the inflictibn of
much less severe in times than Hawk has re-
ceived,” Hopkins rep ied, With a grave shake of
the head. ' ,

It was his game to magnify the hurts that his
friend had recoived.

“ Although I _do not like the man I sincerely
hope that he Will speedily recover from his in—
juries,” the girl replied. _ '

Her father’s words did not reduce the im-
pression upon her that be cleared, for all the

ople the ni ht before had made llght of the
njuries that t e assailant had received.

After the morning trade was ov r. in the
noon lull, Ho kins left the store in charge of
the shockhea ed b0 , who acted as his assist~
ant, and went up to t e Gothic mine to see how
Hawk was getting along.

Hawk occupiedn cabin on the mine premises"

and wasrecining upon his bunk when the
store-kee er entered.

He loo ed gloomy and ferocious and bare]
took the troub e to nod when Hopkins enters .
Both his hands were swathed in bandages and
he looked like a man who had been put y bad-

1 used.

y“ Well, how do you find yourself this morn-
ing?» the store-keeper asked, helping;ng to
a chair and assumin a s mpathetic k.

“Danced badly,” aw repliedw

“Dear me! how distremin l”

“ Yes, I do not find it at a l agreeable!"

“ I had an idea that as neither of the v. ounds

 

 

., _-.__(_._ . ,

 

were serious ones they would not trouble you
much.”

“ They are not as deep as a well nor as wide
as a church door, as the fellow says in the play,
but they are quite painful enough to give me
all the trouble that 1 on re to have at one time.
and it is all the fault of that infernal daughter
of yours too!” Hawk exclaimed, savagely.

“Yes, yes, I know, and 1 am distrossed be-

ond measure at the unfortunate occurrence.

talked with her about the matter last night
and tried to make her understand how repre-
hensible her conduct had been.”

“ I reckon from what I have seen of her that
you might about as well have talked to the
wind for all the gnod it did,” Hawk observed,
with a searCining glance at the old man.

“ Well, I must admit that my words did not
seem to produce much impression upon her.”
Hopkins admitted.

‘ Oh, she‘s a stubborn jade, I tell you i” Hawk
exclaimed. “ She is one of the kind whose will
ll likeriron, it will not bend, and therefore harsh
measures must be used. Her stubborn spirit
must be broken.”

“ I don’t hardly think, Hawk, that itis as bad
as that,” Hopkins replied, trying to smooth the
matter over. “ She is willful, I know, but then
you must take into consideration the fact that
sheis only a child, just fresh from boarding
school, you know, With all Sorts of foolish, ro-
mantic ideas in her head. It will take time, of
course, to get her out of her silly notions, but
I haven’t the least doubt but what 1 can do it.”

“ Well, I have a great deal of doubt abmt it,
unless you use harsh measures and make her un-
derstand right at the beginning that you don’t
intend to have any nonsense.”

“0h, I’ll be firm with her, but I’ll do it gent-
3. you know; the hand of iron in the glove of

III. But, Isay, who is this youngsport? Have
you found out anything about him?”

“You my friends Have not been idle if I am
laid up or repairs,” Hawk replied, significantly.
“ He’s been a cowboy, but has tired of punching
steers and so has come out here to try his hand
at mining.

"He’sa marvelous shot, as my wounds can
testify, but I’ll be even with him et; I/have
commenced to pull the wires alrea. y. Mister
Peacock Pete, of Leadville, will be interviewed
some time to-day by aboss rustler, and if he
don’t take water, will be beaten to a jelly.”

“Capital, capital!” cried Hopkins. And be-
fore he quitted the cabin he was in possession of
all the details of the scheme.

 

CHAPTER VIII.
Garzer JAKE.

NATURALLY all the dparticulars of the encoun-
ter between Hawk an the young stranger had
been the talk of the town and the easy victory
that Peacock Pete had achieved excited univer-
sal wonder. .

awk had always been so successful in his
encounters that the camp had come to look
uponhim as an invincible fights, and for this
Young chap with his dandy ways, to win such
an easy victory was an eye-opener to all.

But the wise men of the camp who knew what
kind of a man the vanquished foeman was,
shook their heads gravel and to their immedi-
ate associates predicted t t the end of the mat-
ter had not come.

As one old fellow remarked:

“ This yolmg 01188 is amazing quick, and
reg’lar chain ll htning on the shoot, but thar’s
other ways to fill}! out ’sides putting a bullet
through the‘anlmIIO. and You in jest bet yer
bottom dollar “353‘? HBWk, lest as soon as his
hands git well. Will flmi a way to salivate this
cuss; he’ll never be satisfied to let things rest as

the air now. Thor’s to? much of the game-
cock ’bou‘t him for that.’

This was the prevailing» Opinion of the camp
and so much talk was created by the altar;-
that the sporting sharps of the town got to beg.

.ting about it. ,

It’s an old saying that talk IS cheap and it
takes money to buy land and in this instance
the way the betting ranged was a better indi-
cation of the sentiment of the town than any-
thing else. .

Hawk’s friends were numerous and loud in
their talk, declaring that as soon 88 the Van-
quished man recovered from his hurts he would
make it lively for the conquering stranger. _

But when the sporting men, who were golded
by cool and close calculation and did not allow
friendship or sentiment to interfere with bus:-
ness, oflored to bet two to’ one that Bowl! 00"“
moths able to set the best of the dorm young

stranger, the loud-spoken advocates of e Five -

l

- W

 

Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from ,Leadvine.‘  I w ' . 7

 

Mile Crossingite, did not dare to accept the
wager to an extent.

A few ha faith enough in the powers of their
man to put up their money in alimited amount,
but the great majority preferred totalk rather
than bet. ‘

Now Peacock Pete, although abundantly able
to trike his own part, as he had amply proven
to the camp, was by no means of a. quarrelsomo
or vindictive nature and when he was warned
that he must be on his guard against Hawk’s

.malicc, he smiled at the idea.

“Oh, [guess that is all right,” he replied.
“ He was anxious to see what kind of a man I
was, so he took a crack at me, and now that he
has found out, I don‘t boliuve he will be likely
to trouble me a ain.”

“ But Hawk is an old citizen layer, you know,
with lots of friends,” said the miner who had
been kind enou h to go out of his W11) to advise
the stranger. t was John Michaels.

He felt sure over the fact that Hawk’s throat
to shoot the man who dared to dance with Eva
Hopkins had frightened him off, and being full
of admiration for Peacock Pete, therefore had
taken it upon himself to post him as to how the
land lay.

“ Lots of friends,” the young miner re ated.
“ Good many of them are desperate ellows,
too.

“ Hungry for blood and slaughter, I sup-
posel” Pete remarked, not at all disconcerte
by the intelligence. ‘

“ Oh, es, a terrible gang. You see, Hawk
runs the iggest mine in this neighborhood and
he has an opportunity to throw a dollar or two
in the way of these scamps once in a while, and
so a good many of them swear by him. And,
hetwm-n me and you and the bed post, I believe
nine out or m: of the cusses would be willing
to cut a my man‘s throat for a. ten-dollar bill.”

You think than that Hawk will try to get
square with me by means of some of these fel-
10ws?” Pete remarked.

“I reckon that will be about the size of it, for
I heered a good deal of talk round town this
morning among a certain gang, and though
they didn’t say it right out, et they as good as
hinted you would be fixed a ore long.” ,1

“Sometimes such talk don’t amount to any-
thing,” Pete suggested. “ It is very natural, of
course, that Hawk and his friends should be
sore over his defeat. and should let their
tongues wag pretty freely in regard to it, but
talk isn’t action, you know.”

“ Yes, I know that; but I feel pretty sure that
this gang mean business this time, so Jest be sure
and keep your eyes led.”

“Oh, PM he on the look-out! you can depend
upon that,” Peacock Pete replie . “ I’m not the
kind of a fellow to be caught napping. The
man that takes me asleep will have to get up

retty early in the morning, but I thank you
For the warning all the lame. ’

“ Don’t mention it; 1 hated to see a stranger
imposed upon,” the young miner responded. “ I.
know Hawk of old; he has trodden on my toes
two or three times since I’ve been in the town;
but I knew I wouldn’t have any show a ainst
such a man as he is, so I’Ve had to grin an bear
it. The case is different with you now; you’re
able to hold your own against him, and I’ll be
hanged if I want to see you jumped upon with-
out warning by any of his gang. So long!”

And then John Michaels Went on his way. sat-
isfied that he had put a Considerable spoke in
Redmond Hawk’s wheel.

“Now that he knows what to expect, [reckon
he’ll be able to fluxany ol‘ Hewlk pnrds out of
their boots, if too many of thmn don’t pile onto
him all to once,” the miner runarkell to himself
as he went on about his businoss.

Pete had brought quite a little capital with
him, and was looking for a good chance to in—
vest in some paying mine, so had arranged to
meet a. party who had a claim to sell that mom-
in at the Black Bear Hotel.

hen he arriwd at that point he found quite
a number of people congregated in the shade of
the hotel, engaged in discussing matters and
things in general. , , . .

Pete soon engaged in the conversation, and
three or four of the throng improved the oppor-
tun‘i‘tfi; to give him a gentle ‘ hint that he would
be etokeep his e es open after what had

_transpired between h mself and Hawk.

The leading spirit of the Gothic mine did not
ave as many friends in the town as be im-
agned for a great many of the quiet citizens,
0 d d not wish to become involved in any
quarrel. did not like the. overbearing we in
which Hawk indulged, yet refrained

 

openly “pressing their di ensure. \,
But now that a champiolglhad appeared. Who

\

._.- ...._......... ........

 

seemed likely to dispute Hawk’s firetensions.
they were ready to range themso yes on his
side. I
“Oh, well gentlemen, Icalculnteto has my-
self prepared or danger. that is the way was
raised, and the man who takes me at adio-
advantage will have to' at on his thinkingtcé?
and bustle about, right ively,” Pete respond .
Just at this point the attention of the group
was attracted to a man advancing up the street
whose appearance was decidedly peculiar.

He was a big fellow, a regular iant, standing ' '

about six feet high, and muscu or in prOpor-
tion. '

He was dressed in the usual fashion common
to the far West, big boots into which his penta-
loons were tucked, a dirty flannel shirt and A
huge, broud-brimmcd slouch hat. :

A. couple of revolvers and a ten-inch bowl»
knife Were belted to his waist.

Around his neck though, he wore a strange
ornament, and this instantly attracted the our
tention of the crowd.

It was a necklace composed of the teethand
claws ot’ the grizzly bear, such as is sometimes
worn by a savage Chieftain.

And in the cues of the red~man it is a trophy
of victory, and signifies that in single fight. the
dusky warrior has vanquished the , mountain
lord and despoiled him of his weapons.

“ Who is he!" asked one of the crowd. '

“ Some mighty hard case, I’ll bet a hat!” «I»
claimed another.

And the majority of the gathering nodded
assent to this. ‘ ’ .

In truth, the face of the man wasanything
but prepossessing, for his features were grass
and brutal, and the short, wiry black board
that covered his chin gave him a decidedly sinil-
ter expression. I

“I reckon from the looks of thocritter that
he’s the chap 1 heern tell on yesterday,” one Of,
the miners remarked. “ He’s a new man that
was taken on at the Gothic mine two or three
days ago- a reg’lar ’rustler, so I understand .,
some of th
kind of desperate galoots w’ot is on a flghtfi
bigger‘u a wolf—base man for breakfast. you,
know, two or three times a week.” ‘ ‘

u If he mes in on that game in thistomx  q  .

reckon he 1 have to starts. private v9) It'd.
of his own.” Peacock Pete remark ; “for in
won’t be able to find accommodations for his
stiffs in that little God’s acre up the valley.” 3

The bystanders lucked at each other signifl~
cantly, as the young man

spoke. . -- ~ ‘ .
From the particularly hostile and defiantmam' \

ner in which the stranger was approaching."
they got the idea that ‘
P8}? .
mine
Hawk, it was only natural to sung the
chances were about ten to one that

be halted opposite to the group, and surveyed
them with an insolent leer. « '

“I reckon you fellers ain’t over hadtho‘ "

pleasure of making my acquaintance, IndJO'
’11 have to introduce myself. ‘ “ l L
“ My name is Grime Jake, and I’m the great ‘
b’ar-eater from the Rockies 1” ’ E
CHAPTER I ‘
A mnv‘cosgsr. it, P, >

“ On, I mean it, ever wo ov pug-am *
the big fellow continue . “ I’m the o d orlg’nal .

b’ar-eater and no mistake. . -

 

“I reckon some of you critters must have 7 i  '.

heered ov me, if so be as how that I ain’t been
long in these hyer parts. - l -

“ I'm jest the toughest galoot that ever-struck. . '
this town and you kin bet all yer wealth ml, it ‘ ' '

£00

and as savage as a Rocky Monatai on. And
if you don’t believe it, est some oyzon critters
waltz up to the animile s den, pull in tail and.
ax if he’s to hum l” x ‘

And then shovin his well-worn but down
over his eyes in a re ish manner, he placed hill

hands on his hips and surveyed the crowd in irr- ‘ j 

solent deflanco.
There was a moment’s silence.

No one of the miners seemed anxionmto “it.” '

up the hunter. I . r
“Wal, it strikes me that I’ve'kmder run later

a quaker meeting hyer!” the new-connotes» ,  1"
cla med, his face and voice both fullyan  '

the disgust he felt. ,
“ 8o lain’t you got any men inter thisdnrnd, ,
old ho e of a town? Are you all children we;

1

9 boys up thar to say. One of the  t

e was on the'w-ap, _‘
and as he was connected with the Gothic 
at the head of which was I'x’ledlnom‘l= ‘ .

eocqck .
Pete was the man of whom the big follower” ‘ - ‘
insearch. ‘   «

“ Wal, pardners, how do you all and”  , \x 
selves this morning?" the stranger inqui ' ,u If. {32;

.,\‘

l v ,
“ I’m as hard as a pine-knot. ason u that ‘

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m ’4'

 

 
    

 -"That’s it exact .
‘ throu h with

.8,

.I' , ’
I

Peacock Pete, the‘Lively Lad from Leadville. '

 

 

 

 

!

hugot to run home and ax their mummies
anion; they kin dare to look a gen’leman in the

,z
“Thar’sa reg’lar gang of you galoots hyer.
Ain’t that a man in the crowd w’ot has got the
least bit of fun into him, heyl
' “.‘W’ot sort of a graveyard do you call this,
anyhow! You cuss don’t go for to flatter your-
self that this hyer is a cumg, do ye?
“ lf you do, you’re the iggest set of Jacks
that I’ve struck in a long time.
“ I thought you had some fighting men in.the
town-some men with sand and plenty of it

mi

"st this pesky galoot w’ot calls him-

, self Peacock Pete? He’s the man that I’m a-
hunting!”

And the speaker fixed his sinister eyes full on
the young stranger.

Peaooc Pete was so different both in dress
and ual appearance to the rest, that it was
not a dimcult matter for an one to recognize
him after being furnished wit a description.

The D standers were not astonished at the
deolarat on, for from the beginning they had
felt sure that the desperado had been egged on
by Hawk to attack the young man.

“ Stranger, I reckon you are barking up the
rl ht tree." Pete remarked. returning the
ot er’s stare with interest. “ If you are look-
ing for Peacock Pete, you can bet all your
wealth that I am the man.”

, ' “Man!” exclaimed the/big ruflian, with a
contemptuous snort, “you don’t mean to call
yoursel a man, do on?”

‘ “ Well. I reckon pass for one in a crowd.”

“It would have to be a mighty big crowd,
anal a mighty poor one, tool” retorted the
(it or. '

'“Whatdo you know about itll Who set on up
as a judge?” Pete demanded. “ What 0 you
know about men, anyway? You don’t call

' yourSelf a man, do you? you great overgrown,

op-eided ape ”

"W’ot’s that?” cried Grizzly Jake, fairly
gasping in amazement and rage at being thus
rudely accosted. “ Why, you whipper-snap 61‘!
do you dare for to go and call a gen’leman ike
I am an ape?”

‘ v ‘ .a‘880‘you are an a e. and t e biggest one that

I ever run acress, ’ Peacoc Pete answered.
.“You had just better keep your eyes peeled.
and look out where you go, or else the first
thingyou know some showman will get hold of
you, end then you will be toted ’round the

.  country in a cage as the great American ,ape.

' captured in the wilds of Colorado, the only
,' specimen ever taken alive, admittance tWenty-
fiVe cents, visitors must not poke the animal
with canes or umbrellas, and children are re-
wguested refrain from giving him candy or
.. gingerbread for fear of making him sick.”
Despite the fear which the man had inspired
with his savage and insolent wa 3, there was a'

neral snicker by the crowd a this speech of'

. ete’s. ,
1 But Jake became red with rage.
L- .He shook his brawny fist defiantly at the

~ 2 - . bung man. .
’ ,".  “‘"If it wasn’t kinder cutting it too fat for a

man like me to waste powder on sich a whip-
pet-snapper as you air, smash me into bash for
"Dl¥6l‘ Injun, if I wouldn’t jest pound ycr till
ltoo all that sass out of voul”

“ Oh, you would?” and Peacock Pete assumed
an air of amazement.

“Yes, I would, bu’st me if I wouldn’t!"
“ “Just because I 3 id you were an ape?”
I reckon arter I got
b to Iou, i Itslhould keer tpd tpkge he
(tron e tac eyou, at you won at so
dmed free with your names.”
‘ “ But you are an ape, you know.

Of course

', it’s no fault of yours, you can’t help it, because
., .you were born that way,” Peacock Pete re-

marked in the most innment manner possible.
,, I“. You on galqotl I’ll smash you into pan-
 "cakesW the fly cried in a rage, and he made
a rush at» Pete.
Hawk, when he had bought the services of
Inseam—for Grizzly Jake had come to the

f Vanni for the express urpose of pickin a er-
 ‘lfl'gith- the youn s ranger—had beeigi caggful

bum him that etc was a wonderful pistol—

?- , shot, and that it would not be wise to allow him
' . a chance to use his revolvers.

 Ii , , 80 Jake had made up his mind to bring on a

 

conflict. with nature’s weapon, and as he had

V .grim‘iv remarked to his employer: ‘

,u p1] Mme: him so that he won't be worth

  V? hing tonhlmself or anybody else for a month

And it was with the intention of carrying out

I  this threat that‘he‘ rushed upon the youth.  p

7

Really the odds did seem to be most decidedly
upon the side of the big n-llow, for be looked to
be nearly twice the size of his antagonist.

But in all encounters of this kind it is not the
mere Weight of bone and flesh that counts.

Grizzly J ake was a. flabby, over-grown mon-
ster.

d Hde was a man that weighed over two hun—
re .

He could easily have spared fifty pounds of
fat and been decidedl the better for it, while
Peacock Pete was in t e best possible condition,‘
not an ounce of useless flesh upon him.

He knew too how to use his fists, being expert
both as a boxer and wrestler, while Jake was a
clumsy, awkward animal who trusted simply to
brute force.

The bully’s idea was to hear his opponent
down by the more weight of his rush.

And when he galloped at Peacock Pete it did
not really seem to the bystanders, who were
watching the scene with eager eyes, as if the
young man stood any chance, for they thought
he most surely would be borne to the earth, so
uneVen appeared the contest.

But it was not the first time that Peacock Pete
had faced a foe who looked to be big enough‘ to
eat him.

He did not attempt to sto the rush of his an-
tagonist, bull-like in its c arecter, but gave
ground, and then, when Grizzly Jake, encour—
aged by the thought that his opponent did not
dare to stand up to the rack. renewed his efforts
to bear down his nimble adversary, Peacock
Pete, with the ease and grace of a dancing-mas-
ter, slipped under his antagonist’s arm and as
the other turned in a clumsy attempt to follow
him. he dealt Grizzly Jake a blow under the car,
so well delivered and with such stunning force
that it brought the giant to a halt immediately.

It was an ugly lick, and Grizzly Jake was as-
tounded. He would not have believmi that it
could be possible for such a slimly-built man
as his opponent to deliver such a blow.

The bystanders were fully as amazed at the
stroke as the man that had receiVed it, for they
all believed the contest to be a frightfully un-
even one, thinking that in the end the giant
would most surely succeed in getting the best
of his li hter antagonist.

But t e vicious blow dealt by Peacock Pete,
coupled with the peculiar manner in which it
had been delivered, as well as the decided effect
it had produced upon Grizzly J eke, caused them
to open their eyes.

“Gosh!” cried one of the miners in amaze-
ment to his neighbor. “did you see that air
lick? Durn me if it didn’t fetch the big teller
up all a-standing, as a sailor would say.”

“ It was as pretty a link as I ever sce’d struck,”
the other remarked. “ I tell you what it is. boss,
I reckon that this big galoot has run foul of the
wrong man. Right at the beginning I didn’t
think the little cuss had any chance at all, but
i’m beginning to reckon that if I had money to
bet on this fight. I should be apt for to put it on
the dandy chap.” ,

“You bet!” responded his companion with
decided em basis.

Grizzly she had been enraged at Peacock
Pete for daring to “save” him, but now that
he had felt the weight of his knuckles, and
found them decidedly harder than he had an-
ticipated his wrath was unbounded.

“ You durned jumping-jack!” he cried,
facing Peacock Pete, and panting for breath,
the result of his violent exertions, “ why don’t

on stand up to the rack and take your fodder
ike a man!’

 

CHAPTER X.
THE CONFESSION.

“ 03. you want me to stand up to the rack, do
you?” Peacock Pete asked. approaching his an-
tagonist slowly, his hand down at about the
level of his waist.

“Yes, sir-ee, hose-31y Bob! that’s the kind of
man I am,” respond » Grizzly J she. still pulling
fromtheeflects of his severe exertions. “W’ot
kind of fighting do you call it a skipping and
a-jumping round like a pea in a hot skillet?

“ The way for to fight is to stand up and take
a hammering like a man l"

“ But you‘re almost twice as big as I am. and
that ves you a most decided udVantage,” Pete
u

r . .
“ In course it does; any fool knows that,” the
big fellow replied, fend that’s the reason why
you hain’t got any, business to fool ’round any
h man as I am. You ought to take a back-

4 seat when you see a cuss ’bout my size come up
the street." , .
-..“ And if I don’t choose to take a back seat?”

 

p the other queried. 'V _ '

,z"’ I
.. ,- .

 

 

[such a sight. ,

“Then you ain’t got no call to growl if you
git hammered into a jelly.”

“You want me to stand upand face you!”

“ Now ou’re shoutingl That’s the kind of
born that ’m a-blowin’l’

“ Are you ready I” .

Peacock Pete was quite near to the bully as
he put the uestion, but just beyond arm’s
length, and With a great flourish Grizzly Jake
raised his hands into position and cried:

“ I’m the cuss that’s always ready! Come for
me as soon as you are able!”

Hardly had the taunt left his lips when his
antagonist did “come for him” in a way that
he deepised.

With the most wonderful quickness Peacock
Pete advanced upon the other.

“ Crack! crack l”

-It was like the re rt of a black-snake whip
cutting into the hit 0 of a refractory mule, but
it was only the iron~like knuckles of Peacock
Pete marking the ufl face of his opponent.

Nevar in all his ife ad Grizzly Jake received
two such terrible blows. and yet he had taken
part in many a brisk fight, where hard knocks
were freely given and received.

Straight from the shoulder came the two
strokes, one landing on the misshapen nose of
Grizzly Jake, and the other just under the left
eye, cutting a fearful gash.

Backward staggered the ruflian, almost
blinded and' demoralized by the two tremen-
dous blows.

For a moment, like a man dazed he stood
and panted. as if unable to comprehend what
had happened.

The spectators watched the scene with breath-
less interest. -

Never since Five Mile Crossing had had a local
habitation and a name had the camp witnessed
such a struggle.

\ And then, recovering glittle from the effects

of the blows, and with a determination to “do
or die.” realizing at last that When he had on-
gaged to face Peacock Pete he had picked out a
man fit to stand before any of the trained gladi-
ators of the ring that had cVer tossed their Caps
into the magic circle, with a hoarse growl or
re e be rushed upon his fee.

01: a single inch of ground did Peacock Pete
yield this time.

But as firmly as a rock he stood, and as Griz.
zly Jake rushed upon him be measured the dis-
tance with his eyes as coolly as though he was
in a sparring school. engaged in a friendly bout
with the 'loves, and when his antagonist came
within “ distance.” delivered a couple of bIOWs.
straight as a die. which most efi’ectually ut a
stop to the other’s advance and brought him to
a stand-still.

“'ildly Grizzly J n ke struck at his skillful
opponent, but Peacock Pete parried the blows
with the utmost cues; and then, as if determined
to show the bully that he was his master at all
points, be brushed the feeble guard of the other
aside and closed in with him.

A grunt of satisfaction escaped from Grizzl
.fTake’s lips, as he grappled with his nimb e

co

“Now then, I’ve got yer!” he
he grabbed Peacock Pete with a
strength. .

He made the mistake common to ignorant
men, who think there is nothing but. brute
strength in the wrestler’s art.

“on, you’ve got me. have you?” uoth Pete,
as he grappled with the bully. “ We I, I reckon
it remains to be seen whether you have got me
or I have got you l”

Exerting all his strength, Grizzly Jake en-
deavored to crush the life out of Pete; but the
other was like an eel. and seemed toslip out
of the giant’s grip with the greatest possible
ease.

A dozen times Grizzly Jake fancied he had
secured a hold which the other could neither
evade or break, but each time Pete escaped with
perfect ease.

d Jake tfelt that hit: stfiggtdh was hfailing. Big’
rops 0 er ira on 3 upon is brow and
his breatlfcasxgo hard and fast. '

This was the moment for which Peacock Pete
had been waiti. g, for hitherto in the terrible
wrestle he had not attempted to throw hisoppo.
nent, but had remained strictly on the defen~
sive; butnom percmvmg that Grizzly Jake was
completely wmded, he changed his tactics,
Secured an “under-grip” u n his man, and in
a twinkling the heels of he giant went up in
the air, and he was pitched upon the flat of his
broad back with a force that seemed to knock
every bit of breath out of his bod . '

Never before had the bystan ere witnessed

rowled, as
his vast

c
A.
l l.

,. _,.._ fl...”- ..’~«—— —, \.

 

 

 

s..-—— s-..—__.....-_. ,V

 

‘.., s

 

v!

 

The giant was as thoroughl y a. whipped man
as ever the camp had seen. '

One ’and all made up their minds. that the
young stranger was head and shoulders above
an pilgrim that had ever struck the town.

eacock Pete considering the amount of work
which he had done showed little sign of the
strain which he had undergone.

He folded his arms across his chest and wait-
ed for his opponent. to rise.

The giant was in no hurryeto get up.

It was fully five minutes fore he recovered
from the effects of the violent shock which the
15.1! had gian him and then he Only rose to a
sitting posture and looked about him in a dubi-
ous manner as if he didn’t exactly know what
had happened7

But when his eyes fell upon his antagonist the
clouds gassed from his brain and he rightly
compre ended what had occurred.

A look of amazement crept over'his dull face
and he carefully surveyed Pete fmm head to
heel, as if asking himself by what magiCal
means he had been defeated by a man apparent-
ly, so far as all outward Seeming went, not able
to stand up for five minutes against such a
briilscr as he was.

“ Timel” ejaculated one of the crowd, anxious
for more “ fun.”

A look of utter dis is a eared upon the
face of Grizzly Jake. gus pp

“I reckon if some of you gaIOOts had been
through w’ot I have, you wouldn’t be so durned
eager to yell out time,” he remarked, rising
slowly to his feet as he 5 k6.

Peacock Pete unfold his arms and put him-
self into position to assume offensive measures.

But Grizzly Jake had got all he wanted and
made haste to proclaim the fact.

“ Hol’ on, w’ot air ye ’boutl” he cried. “ None
of that! no more of it in mine if you please!
I ain’t a hog! I’ve got enufl’. I’m a wl: ipped
maz‘n’find I know it, so you kin jest count me
on .

“ gt you are satisfied then?” Peacock Pete
aske

“ You kin jest bet all the wealth thet thar is
in Colorado on that!” Grizzly Jake declared em-
phatically.

" §uppose I am not satisfied 1” the conqueror
queried.

“ "pose you ain’t satisfied!” cried the big
fellow repeating the words in utter amaze-
meat.

“ hat is what Isaid.”

“ I reckoned so; but what in thunder do you
mean?”

“ Who began this affair?” Pete demanded.

“ Wal, I reckon that it was a critter ’bout my
size, who came slashing ’round anxious for a
fight,” Grizzly Jake replied. “ And I got it,
too, stranger. I’ll own right up to that. I got
all I wanted and a. heap more. too; you can bet
your chips on that and you’ll beat the game

ever time!”
“ nd I was the man you were looking for,
too,” Pete cried sternly. “ I was the man you

Wanted lto picka quarrel with and now I want
to know who set you on—who paid you to as-
sault me.”

“No one,” replied the giant in a sulky

we .

‘y You are not telling the truth, but you must
own up or take another hammering!” and Pea-
cock ete took a step forward, his manner
threatening.

“ Hol’ 01}. I’ll s it out the hull thing!” ex-
claimed Grizzly Ja_ e, retreating in alarm. “ 0-
body hired me. I ain’t a-doing that sort of work,
but a party told me that you could flax me and
bet me a hundred dollars to five on it. I reck~
oned it would be an easy matter to lay you
out and so I went for the bet thar and then.

“ The man that made the hot was Redmond
Hawk, the superintendent of the Gothic mine l”
Peacock Pete cried. _ ,

“ Now you’re shouting! he 3 the man. So
10"8! I’ll see you later mebhe, and the giant
retreated. anxious to get away.

The battle was over. '

CHAPTER Xlér
A N 0 '1‘ K 1!: B P L . .
To say that Hawk was astounded when he
learned of the result of Grizzly Jake’s attem t
to conquer the young strain er, wouldbe to on
mildly characterize the sta of mind into whic
the knowled threw him.
Grinslhy J: o mgoue straighti trim the saloon
Joule all Y 0 esuperinten en
- And when, in answer to his knock. Hawk had
. magma who,“ was—for prudent men in:
. w western mining region do, not opeajheir

‘ doors until they have ascertained whether the

 

l

!

 

ifeweekfete: the __L_1ifrelz..led fi'oeLeedullie

applicant for admission he friend or foe-Jake
had answered: ‘

“ It’s me, boss—all thar is left of me.”

“ And who is me?" asked the su rintendent.

“Your old side-,pardner, Grizz y Jake; but
for the love of goodness! let me in and give me
some whisky, ’cos I’m ’bout dying with thirst;
mfi throat’s as dry as a sage-brush prairie!”

y this time Hawk had recognized the voice
and satisfied himself in regard to the identity
of his visitor, so, throwing open the door, he
bade him enter, and placing a bottle of whisky
and a glass upon the table, told him to help him-
self and not spare the liquor.

“ You kin jest bet all the w ealth that ever was
hoved out of the ground in Colorado that l
won'tl” the giant declared, and no immediately
proceeded to attack the potent fllllll in a manner
that plainly indicated he was going to do his
level best to be as good as his word.

Hawk he] ed himself to a chair, and by the
dim light 0 the solitary window that on! par-
tially illuminated the apartment, apxiou y ex-
amined the rson of his visitor.

Grizzly Ja 0 did not present a pleasant pic-
take to gaze u on.

To use the o d saying, he looked as if he had
been run through a thrashing-machine.

But from his appearance the arch plotter
gathered hope. He had evidently been engaged
in a fierce encounter, and from the fact that
Jake was not disabled he came to the conclusion
that he had probably finished his opponent.

“Ahalyou look as if you had succeeded in
finding Peacock Pete,” Hawk observed, after
the bully had disposed of two big drinks of
valiiEky and was engaged in helping himself to a.
t ir .

“Oh, yes, I found him, you better believe I
did,” the giant remarked, as be swallowed the
third glass of whisky, winked knowingly at his
em iloyer and then sunk into a. convenient chair
wit a grunt of satisfaction. .

“ You found him, you say?” cried the superin-
tendent, anxious for the particulars.

“ Oh, yes, I found him and he found me,” and
Jake grinned in what'he intended to be 8. humor«
one way, but the injuries his face had received
made the grimace a fiendish one.

“ Did you have a hard time of its”

“ You bet!”

“I warned you that for ii medium-sized man
you would find him to ha a tough customer.”

“ Medium-sized!” cried Grizzly J eke. as if.
much amazed. “W’otin thunder do you call
medium-sized? Artur he hit me a couple. of
cracks I Would huVe taken my oath that he was
the hi: est man that ever walked on tWo legs!”

“ We 1, you look as if you had been somewhat
damaged,” Hawk obserVed, after a critical in-
spection of the other.

" Damaged! well I should smile! See bverl
do you know I don‘t beIieVe that l’il ever be a
good-looking'cuss u’gin! Duriied if I don’t think
that he has sp‘ilt my beauty. 1 don’t know how
the blamed thing looks, but my nose feels as big
as a meetinghouse!”

“But he - Peacock Pete!”
superintendent. “ Is be dead?”

"Not much! I reckon it vou were to tackle
him you’d be apt to reckon 9 Was the liveliest
dead man that you had ever struck.” Grizzly
Jake responded, with another one of his prodi-
gious rins.

Haw was disappointed.

"I was in hepes that you would be able to
make an end of him.” , I

“ Yels. that’s just the racket that I was trying
to play.”

‘ oil, I suppose you havo laid him up, any-
way?” the superintendent remarked, ominously,
for a suspicion had ere t into his mind that the
rufiian had not suCCee ed in his attempt.

“ Not much I havon’t!”

“ You don’t mean to say that he got the best
of the fi ht?” _

“Par . ou never spit out a truer word In
your life,’ returned the bully, ravaly.

“ I wouldn’t have believe that such a
thing could be possible! Why, you _look as
if you pgssepsed twice the fellow’s weight and
strength.

“ That’s jest w’ot I thought, but inside of five
minutes arterI tackled him I came to the con-
clusion that be weighted ’bout a ton and bid
an arm that could hit as powerful a lick as the
hind leg of ary mule that ever haw“. haWEd!
Oh. I tell yer, I opened my eyes until they
struck out like two blamed sorcersl” responded

Izzly Jake, perfectly serious. ‘ ,

. wk did not disguise the disgust which in:
spifed him as he listened to this recital. , -

‘_ In plain English than you went for wool
and returned show.” ' _ _ .' , .

exclaimed the

 

.19

“ In plain English. I got the wont pounding ‘
that [ever had to take in my life. and youth
jest bet that I’ll never forget it either!” ‘ '
Hawk sunk back in his chair, utterly dil- ‘ _
gusted, and Grizzly Jake improved the op r~ '

 

tunity to help himself to another big dfiu o; - '1’

whisky. . J .
“The idea that a man of your inches should ;

not be able to hold your own with this dandy l" -, ..

Hawk exclaimed at last. .

“ Wal, boss, it’s a sul‘e-enllfl fact. and that’s
no gitting out of it.” Grizzly Jake, admitted.
“ And the cuss may look like a dandy, with his
peacock feathers, but I’m satisfiedd athe’s as
good a man as ever put up his hands. - I tried

im on two or three p’inte and he was right ‘ 
that and more too every time.” 7 ‘ ‘ '

“ But thar’s no need of my saying much ’bout . i
that, ou’ve been thar, and know how it is, j +
youise t', I reckon.” and Grizzly Jake cast a Sly '
glance at the wounded hands of the other. ,

“See here, Grizzly I must find some way to
beat this fellow. It 8 no use minoing the mat-
ter; both of us can’t live in this cam . the town" , 
ain’t bi enough to hold us!” cried wk in a ’
voice tn 1 of passion. . f" t’

The giant scratched his head reflectively. x. . i is.

“I tell you w’ot it is, boss." he curved. ~ .' 
after uitoa long pause. “self-praise I despise. » '
but ef couldn’t best the galoot, dun: me if;  ' .j__,
know any critter ’round these diggings 1' ~ ' _
kin. W’ot’s more, arter w’ot happened to me C 
reckon that you’ll find it a hard matter to Kit ’ , 
any of the rest of the boys to try the rifle. ‘ u I, 

“The miss knocked me out fair and squat”. 
’fore a hull crowd too, and when the thing git. 
talked ’round town it will he a t to scarefany‘
of the big chiefs who think t emselvee m,
pum kins on the war- th.” e ' V I. I '- I

“ ould not man got from some other 
camp?” Hawk suggested. “Men who have .. 
never seen this Peacock Pete nor heard anything \1  I
about himl” ‘ _ L. ‘

" That’s the idee!” cried Grizzly Jake full of  k“) '

 

 

enthusiasm at the happy thought. 

“ I think that can be worked.” " - “

“ I know it can, sure as shooting!” ;_' ‘\ ~:

“ Do you think you can put yourhands on ,,
the men?" 

“ I should blush to murmur!” cried the,
facetiously. . .. ,, ,  r,

“And I’ll-make the same terms with‘  »- {7
that I did with you. I’ll belt them ahundredtg  -’ 
five that they can’t lay out Peacock Pete i" 1 " - w

" A hundred to five with each of ’eml” ,  

“Yes, at that rate! Thatought to be an in-
ducement to good men. , '

“ You’re right thar, it ought to be. articu- 
larly if they don’t know the cuss,”.o rved ; ’ 
Grizzly Jake, thoughtfully. “But to union 
like myself’w’ot has boon introdu to  "
aaloot and felt the weight of his fist, reckon! 
that a thousand to fifty-live wouldn’t be such 3' _ '
heap of a. temptation.” . - ‘ " 

“ it’s lain that Peacock Pete has labeling“, ".
the stee out of you.” Hawk remarkeduwfih'o 3: .
sne r. I .‘ -.‘. ‘

"‘1 reckon you air’bout right that. I ain’t Io. \ . ..
bigu fool as I look. When I git hammered v 

i, {A '
"a.
y. .

   

\ _'

 

within an inch 0’ in life, my legs hambeen . :
too well brought up erto see my body ap’ilod ‘ .
ferevor.” ‘ 1' w -  
“ How soon can you get at these follower}de ‘ cf, ,3
Hawk, abruptly, takin no head of the other . '
musings, but pressing r ht OFWN‘d town“  
revenge. ‘ » ‘

“ Lemme no! two or three days. I reckon.” 
“ Where are the men, and how many do you .3 i
think on can more tip—how many will the ' 
need. for the job"  ‘ ‘l

" Wal, from the way I feel tonight, I should 
say that somewhar'l ’bout fifty would. hr "
enough.” ' . "L

“ Ball you are talking like a lunatiel" v. ' 

“ Thunder and lightning! I ought not won: 5 l .
that way. for flavor amen beam-shamans) :.  '
into him by the wholesale. then I’m flier » ‘ J i
I’- only talking ’bout the thing health!!!” .“7’ ,
I fool, you know. Why, I’m as some "Auk. "
all‘olvor me); a. »  

woort reenter oughtto, V enoug‘ ob- " M
served Huwk, reflectively. ‘ - ., -~ I _‘ 

“Tlmemen will he better than twoidon‘t 
go to weakening the outfit, or he’ll ‘be '
clean out the hull business.” ._ . ~

21%: are they good meal” . ’ "

 

better ones in Colorado." ' 1 ‘1, 
“ How soon can you get at them!" _ ,‘ 
"Wal, say thee days at the outside.” r- "
“All right; go to work and huntthomup
immediately; here’s fifty for your trouble."  I,
And Hawk placed the money in the new '_- ,~ , .
palmof the bruieer.‘ . ' v  '
“ Much obleegedl and now I‘ll be traveling?) xi

l i l i 5

l
.w,
-..

  

 

«. .u

"  ' .-,....- _.... ..  -' .. ,N ‘ .. -.  ..
, .
l .

 

10 ‘
Grizzly Jake arose with considerable diffi-
cult , for his hurts made him‘sore.
“ as , kasyou sen!"
“You bet; so long!”

The ant departed, leaving Hawk to his own
Meet us, which were anything but pleasant.

} , CHAPTER XII.
‘ ‘ THREE PRETTY MEN.
Tue plotter felt decidedly better after the de-
grture of his visitor.

 

   

 

At last there seemed to
g a chance for him to get even with the man
3 i. who had defeated him so easily.

‘ “ The scoundrel will do his best to hunt up
the proper men ” he murmured, communing
with himself, “ or not only has he the motive
,i of revenge to lug; him forward; but he knows
- 9' ' that I will pay li rally for the service.

i ‘ “That fifty dollars was a clincher. That
convinced him that I meant business from the

“ at are a few dollars in a case like this
when I am hungering for revsnge?

“The Jack—a—dandy, despite his looks, is the
best man that ever struck this town; I am satis-
fied in regard to that.

"He at away with me easily enough, and
though -thought Grizzly Jake would be able to
best him, for he is re uted to be a terrible
fighter, it is evident t at he received more
. , severe treatment than I. He is right about the
three men. It will take three men at least to
cope with this rascal; and if three men are not
Wigs, I will get six. .

“ a thin is sure: from this time forth it is

warts the oath, and if Ican’t wipe him out

by an open attack, then I will lay in wait for
‘ him some dark night, and See ‘ he is proof
against a revolver-ball.
“I will shoot him down like a dog, without
glv as him a chance for his life.”
4 1 Wk had wrought himself up to a perfect
' about the matter.

y day and night he thought and dreamed
if . only of one thing, revenge upon the man whom
,  he Lad provoked into a conflict, and’ who had
‘1 W- triumphed over him so completely.

‘ . '  Then, too, the beautiful Evangeline was con-

" , Itontly in his thoughts.
l f Item the moment that he had first beheld the
' l, he had been impressed by her beauty, and
ad made up his mind that she wasexactly the

,  I v ; woman for him.

: V .  He had a certain hold upon the old man, her
i   father, so he could surely count, not only that
‘ Hopkins would not oppose the match, but
would push it forward in every way in his

 

Ir

pagan“; . ....«.‘—.. . ,1“: ‘

aura-.1 ...'

.1.T.r:;.. ,‘.a.._..”...c‘_4.,..- r..-‘-.,-“.—, ,2 

' l

 

 

 

'» Im’.l.‘rue,‘the girl did not seem to be favorably
 disposodtoWard him, but Hawk did not thi

. ,y , her likes or dislikes amounted to anything.

 {  ‘ ; ‘ ,“There isn’t a doubt the does prefer this impu-

l \, dent woundrel tome; but I don t care two cents
for that,” he murmured.

, ,, ‘ “ When I come to put the screws u n the old
3" 5 man, it will be mighty apt to make or change

1 ' her tune.

ii . #4 She will be glad to do almost anything then
gt. y to the matter quiet, for an eXposure would
.fi' 96 a terrible blow to her pride.
1) l E" I “ If she onl knew what I know, I reckon she

_  wouldn’t be] her head quite so high, or put on

g ‘ . as many frills as she'does now.

. ' “ M course is all lain sailing after I run

59 this} ow out of the wn, and I will either do
that’pr else put him where the dogs can’t bite

" . 1h such gloomy meditations as these the
 . ‘ wounded man passed his time, anxious] y count-
’ ' sing the hours as they passed slowly away, Old
.' father Time being seemingly shed with lead.
Three days came and vanished, yet the big
fellow returned not with his hired bravos.
. The plotter began to t impatient.
‘ , ' , “ Can it be possible at t e scoundrel has
.' - ,gone back on me?" Hawk asked.
y , “Ens be taken my fifty dollars and made him‘
‘ . jelf scarce? .

 v  " Curse me if it don’t look like iti”
l  .. r l‘ " But he wronged Grizzly Jake, for on the even-
;‘1 . {2513! the fourth day. just after nightfall, the

 

made his appearance, laccompanied by

- three of the hardest-«looking rufians that the
g . ' ' v f ntendent had eVer set eyes upon.

. » ' . *m' a leetle ahind time,” Jake remarked as

' heentered. “ But it tooklongerthanlexpected

\ to 11th boysu . and I reckon the old saying

.. " will Ital-km in yer, ‘it’s better late than

’1 “That’s true,” responded Hawk, “and I’m

: . “gledtosee on. I looked for you all day yes-

;t.  tends an when didn’t put in en appear-
,   wanes yl began tamink that something‘was
~  _ 4;_wrong.”  . i

geaceck Pete, ,the Lively Lad

 

 to lyou how things are!”
. three ooked at each other end then Bill

“ That’s nat’ral, of course, but I tell you, Pin
the squarest kind of a cues and when I say to a
man that he kin depend on me, you’ll find me I
right thar every time.” i

“ Glad to hear it; but help yourselves to 5
chairs, gentlemen.”

Then Hawk brought out a bottle of whisky and
some glasses, a roceeding which caused the
e as 0 all the ru ans to s arkle with delight,
p need them upon the tab e, and in the most
hospitable manner invited his visitors to help
themSelves and not to spare the liquor, as there
was plenty more Where that came from.

This injunction the four obeyed to the letter.

And after they had taken three drinks apiece,
for it required three good horns to satisfy the
thirst of these chr thirsty-for-whisky men,
Grizzly Jake proceeded to introduce his com-
panions. 1

" Pard, I’ve picked you out the three best g
men that ever trod in shoe—leather in those hyer l
mountains,” he began, and his companions
grinned at the compliment.

“Yes, sir, ou Can’t make no misiake’bout
theso three ga cots when you are looking round
for three good men to tie to.

“This hyer lanky cuss is Gunnison Johnn ,
the best man that ever came out of that towu. ’

And Gunnison Johnny, who was a tall, raw- ;
boned fellow, with a. swarthy, evil-looking face, i
rose and ducked his head in acknowledgment
of the introduction. "

“ As good a man at either pistol or rifle as
ever pulled a trigger. They say down whar he
come from that he never went out yet that he
didn’t lay out the galoot that dared to stand up
ag’in’ him.”

“ That’s a fine reputation,” the superintendent
observed.

“ And he kin live up to it too, every time.”

The man from Gunnison sat down and Jake ,
motioned for number two to rise. 3
' He was also a six-footer and muscular in pro- ;
portion. i

“This gen’leman is from 010 Kentuck, the 1
State whar they raise the best men on this hyer ‘v
footstool.” i

“ Kentucky is a fine State " Hawk observad. 

“You kin bet high on that and you’ll win 3
everv time!” the giant asserted.

“Wei, it took this gen’leman so long to git ;
from Kentucky out hyer that he lost his name i
on the way and so for short he calls himself Bill I
Kentuek.”

“That is as good a name to take a drink
with as I have ever hear ,” the superintendent
observed.

“You bet: Wal, this gen’leman kin handle
all sorts of weapons, don’t matter what they
are, from harpoons down to pcnkniVes, and
he’s just as good with one as he is with t’other,
and when you come to take him with fists, he’s
a re ’lar bruiser and don’t you for it it!”

Bi 1 Kentuck sat down and the t ird man got

 

up.

.He was a short, thick-set fellow with a bull-
like appearance, having a short, thick neck set
upon a massive body, tremendous in its girth.

“Bowie-knife Sam,” said Grizzly J. k in in-
troduction. ‘

“The best man that ever took on Arkansaw
toothpick in his hand,” continued Jake. “and
the best wrestler that ever took an under-grip
onto a man and heaVed him 03 his pins.

“They do say that Sam h yer once run foul of
an old he b’ar and hugged the critter to death,
and that’s the kind of a hair-pin he is i”

“Don’t tie it on too thick, pard,” observed
the than 0 muscle as he resumed his seat, grin-
nin from ear to ear.

“ by, I ain’t-said half enough ’bout you!
Thunder in lightning! if I was to go on I could
spit out coal! for to make a brick-house hicck.”

“Gentlemen, I guess we’ll have to take an
other drink after that,” the superintendent re-
marked.

The atteek this time emptied the bottle, for
these heroes had cast—iron throats, and swallowed
the meet fiery liquor with as little trouble as
thou h it Was so much water.

A ,four looked and as they saw the laet of the
whisky disappear, but Hawk immediately put
new life into them by producing another bottle. ,

“ Thunder and lightning!” exolaimed Grizzly
Jalke, “” I reckon you must run a private dis-
t e .

“ 8h, no, but I always contrive to have a
little beneine on hand to accommodate my
friends,” Hawk replied.

“ And it’s as fine bug-juice as I ever tasted,
too,”'the giant alirmed. .

‘ league, gentlemen, that Jake has already

from Leadvilléf '

 

., g ,'
'x ’>‘, ' l

 N".\;VVV ' . 2‘4 >_

 

 

‘ Kmtuck and Bow iv knife Sum nodded to «1" n—
‘ [risen Johnny to go ahead and act as Spotes-

mun.
“ Yes. he sort of give, us a look at f' . 
out,” obscrvml the iuflian. “As We und r-

? stand it, tlmr’s a sharp come to town who is

putting on a heap of wills and kinder allows
that he kin run the placc.”

“ He’s a gowl mun, mind, too, boys,” inter--
posed Grizzly Jake. “ Don’t _\ ou t'ool yourself
bout that! “ iio‘s no flunk, and so far he has
got awa with every nan \\’-:t has (lured tackle
him. e‘s a rustler and no Il'llrl-akcl.’

“Jake is ri ht about it,” the Hlpvrintendent
coincided. “ t will not do for you to start in
with the idea that he’s no good, Licuuse he is
one of the best men that chr stiuck this
country, and he isn’t a big fellow either.

“ To look at him no one would take him to be
a fighter.”

“ Sure as you’re born! I picked him up for a
duller myself and got whale-ll like bluzves,” ob-
served Grizzly Jake with a wry face.

“ The way to work thi trick is for all three
of you to jump on him at one“. 111st Hi in”,- into
a quarrel. It will nct be a difficult m: in». for
he don‘t take any slack from anybody, ‘

“ We kin do it, easy as rolling elf a log, it 9
don’t take water when we go to chinning him,”
Gunnison Johnny remarked.

“ Well, you’ll find him at about this time at
the Black Bear saloon and as there’s no time
like the present, go for him at once.”

The ruflians assented. IA ok another drink and
then departed on their bloody mission.

CHAPTER XIII.
THREE TO ONE.

“ SAY, you fellows want to bekeeriul,” Gril-
zly Jake remarked to his companions as they
Walked toward the hotel.

“Keerful ‘bout wo’tl” asked the Gunnison
man.

“ Wal, this is the squarest kind of acamp.
you know, and if the three ov you go for to
jump on the man at once, the fellows standing
by will be mighty apt to take a hand in the
game, and if you succeed in wiping Peacock
Pete out, the town will probably provide a

I hempen neck-tie for every mother’s son of you,

free, gratis, for nothing!” ,, r

The bullies did not receiva this information
with a good grace.

“Durned particular camp this is, I reckon,”
growled Gunnison Johnny, “if the are goin
to kick up a fuss ’bout a leetle th ng of that
kind.”

“ Cuss me if I would live in sich a place!” Bill
Kentuck asserted.

“ Mighty low-down town now, and you kin
bet on itl‘ cried Bowie‘knife Sam.

“ Wal, it’s a sure enufi’ fact, pards, and I’m
giving it to you as straight as a string. That’s
the lay-out that you’va got to play at.”

“ I reckon it would take some good men to
run that 'ob through i” the Gunnison sharp ex-
claimed g-flantly.

“ They’ve got ’em, pard, they’ve got a heap
of them in this town, and thar ain’t a mite of
use of your getting the idea into ' our head
that you kin run this burg, ’cos 1 can’t be '
did.
“ Thar was fiVe good men came in one night
and calculated to make the camp how], but the
boys went for ’em. Jist like so many bees when
a stranger comes fooling around the hive, and
the result was the hull baud got laid out inside
ef five minute. It was a pooty fight while it
lasted but it didn’t last long.”

“ How kin We work the riffle then?” asked
Bill Kentuek. “I’m durned anxious to finger
the hundred dollars, ’cos I’m flat—broke, but I
ain’t willing to light a hull camp for it, particu-
lnriy if it’s a camp of good men like you say
this hyer one is.” _

“ I reckon that is ’bout the Size of it,” Bowie.-
knife Sam remarked.

With all their bravado the task of attempt-
ing to brow-beat the entire camp was not one
that they cared to undertake.

" We'll, pards. I have been n-cogitating ’hout
the matter, and I think the trick kin be worked
in this way,” Grizzly Jake remarked after re-

' fiecting for a moment.-

“Go into ‘the saloon sepsratel . est as if
vou didn’t know each other. You I new this

-Pear0ck Pete the memo-t you set eyes on him.

’cos he wears a leetle bunch of peacock feathers
in his hat. '

“ Then one on you mifl 1* a row with him.
The best way to k .at thing will be for one
of you to git upclose to him. and stand with
ya: back to the galoot, then turn round all of
e use» and h- w’ him. - '

 

 

 

, be.” Grizzly Jake observed.

declined to sell.

-.. U 3999C?

_~... «A r ,. .. -. _ _ .7.........

"That will give you a first-rate chance for to
pick a. fuse with him.

“ You kin git mad as thunder, you know,
and ax him w’ot he means by bumping ag’iu’ a
gen’leman in that ornery way.

“ He won’t take a bit of chin. you bet, and
he'll give it to you back as good as he knows
how.

“ Then rush in and (grub bim. “fill. Dflrds, you
want to put in the lli‘r't kiwi or ‘work at this

‘int, or if you don’t, the cuss will have your

eels in the air and your head on the floor, and
you a-spinning round like a domed top afore
you know it for he’s the bottlest man on a
Wrnstle that i ever see’d.

“ The game is for the feller to ketch hold on
him, and hold on so he can‘t use his We’ponq,
then the rest must rush in for to sepamte Pea-
cock Pete and our man, pretending to take the
galoot’s part.

“ You must sing out, you know, ‘ Let him
alone! Why don’t you take a man of your own
snzel’ so that the gang won’t have any idee that
you are pards of the man that picked the fuss.

“ Then, when you’re all mixed up in a heap,
a~pullin and a-hawling, one on you must have
a_kmfe andy, and give the cuss a good solid

1

d g.

“ It will be easy enufl for to do it, for thar’ll
be a heap of confusion; and arter Peacock Pete
finds that he has been out he won’t be able to
tell who did the job, for the cuss that tackles
him must be keerful not to have a knife, so
may can’t lay the blame of the thing onto him.”

be three immediate y expressed their warm
approval of this plan, or it seemed to them so
extremely simple that it could not possibly fail.

“ Which one of us will do the jamming!” Gun-
nison Johnny asked.

“ Wei, I reckon Bowie-knife Sam will be the
best one to work that trick,” Grizzly Jake
replied. “ He’s the best wrestler and the
strongest man in the gang.

“But .the int, mind you, pards, is not to
attempt/ to t row Peacock Pete, but only to
hold on tobim so as to givu the other two a
chance to come the knife business in a way that
he will despise.”

“ I understand, and I kin do it, I reckon.
ArterI once get my grip onto him, if he gits
awayjt will be ’cos he’s u. mun able. to hug a b’nr
to death, and don‘t you forget it!’ exclaimed
Bowie-knife Sam.

“ I reckon the trick will work as slick as can

 

The Ian of operations being settled, Bowie- ‘
knife m gave his knife to Jake, who stuck it
into his belt to keep his own ugly-looking 1
we n company.

e others IOOsened their knives In the Iheaths ,
in readiness for the conflict. ,

Then, one by One, they sauntered into the ,
Black Boar’s saloon, where a goodly company ‘
had already assombled.

The saloon was the common lounging-place
fornll the men in the camp when the tmls of
the day were oar, {or there all the current
news was to be had.

The stories of the rich strikes in the neighbor-
hood—tho ud record of discouraging failures—
tho Illw arrivals, and the departures from the
com were all retailed at length. ‘

In I“. “nap Couldn’tkeo wall-postedin what
was QOIDK on if he didn’t up into the saloon
onSeTi; abigbilelor in: "ionic.

- e ss p ace or swa in lies!" an irrev-
erent joker had declared. pp g

PeaCtlck P036 was leaning against one end of
the bar, the end nearest to the door, busily en-
gaged in conversation with three anxious men
W110 had " Domed the" Issues, ” With the idea. of
buying a share in the Eva mine.

But Peacock Pete firmly and most decidedly

“ What is the use, gentlemen?" he said. “ We
haveggot all the money we wont to run the
thing; we are not at all hampered for lack of
funds, and as we are sure that it IS 11ng thing,
what’s the use of letting anybody 0186 in to
share it with us?

“ It’s a big strike, gentlemen. and the deeper
we t into t the better it seems to be. _

“ 9 would be a set of, fools to sell an inter-
est, unless we were com lled so to do; but if
you wanted to buy the whole_thmg, out and
oultnnovx, why, then there might be mine use in

ne- .

The three jumped at the idea. _ ,,

“Mebbe we might arrange it in that way,
remarked one, thoughtfully. d

' “To be shurel why not?” cried the 060°“ 9
who was no other than McMulligan, the keep“
of the saloon.

 

The Irishman was a wily fellow, and when he ‘

4’-

.\' ' l

x.‘ ‘ " _

Pete, the Lively Lad from 

 

saw that Peacock Pete promised to become a
man of considerable importance in the town, he
hastened to ran e himwlf under his banner.

In fact he ha taken considerable pains to aa-
sure our hero that there wasn‘t a man in the
town for whom he had ..- high: 1‘ respect.

“ We was afther having a. little misundor‘
standing at our first n‘wrmg. do '0 mind,” he
said, in the oily, inslinnting way t at he Could
ns>unie when he so d: sired.
IIus nilhcr knowing you thin."

“ It w ill take big money to buy the Eve.
mine,” Peacock Pete declared.

“ How much, my b’ye’l" asked Bit-Mulligan.

“ About a hundred thousand dollars!"

A low whistle of astonishment came from the
lips of all three.

1

11

-W...» _....«.._._.—. ». ..-..,-... 4y. . . . -».i—..—-.
., . . .....-_—_-.~..........-..-.e...r...

i It was the ctmuiou opinion that Peacock Pete

v ql‘i’ll‘il‘rrlllll'i‘ inch. ii nus agreed to allow him‘

“But yc see 1 “as .
'nzine would be r-mui; as

' had had the luck to get. in with two of the boot

men that could possibly be selected.

When the diff»: lllL' to arrange matters,almost
the first quest ion that mine up was the name of
the mine, and as Pencnck I’cto possessed a halt—
inrcrosf, u'lilc hit: 1.5“! «'iatcs only boasted a'

lo mum- Lliv' chum.
“ Wei, gm 1:. mm. 1; strikes me that the Eve
ood a name as we

could pick 011;,” I’cucnck ote observed, after

, I'cVolviiig lb: Ill'.tl,ul‘ in his mind for a. few mo.
. ments.

The Irishman lurst into a loud laugh and hit

5 John Michan a“ violent slap on the back, for

“Oh, no more than that trifle? Bc,-obl I ‘ _
i out of compliment to old Hopkms’s daughter

thought you Would [)0 hither wanting a million
for itl
take a dhrink furst.”

0h, we‘ll take it, of course, but We‘ll -

with his native shrcwdness Murphy bud sur-

miwl that Poacm-k Pete had named the mine .

Evangeline, and it was no secret in the 'town
that the young miner had been diligent in his

And it was just at this oint of the conversa- I attontions to the lady ever since she had or-

tion that Bowie-knife

‘am bumped against
Peacock Pete.

J

rivrd at Five Mile Crossing, altbou h since the
night when Redmond Bank had t rown down

“ Say, young fellow, can‘t you see whar you  the gauntlet of defiance to the whole town by

go?” he cried.

Now Peacock Pete was one of those keen-cde
men who saw everything without appearing to
see anything.

He had noticed the three ruflluns enter the sa-
loon, and then after ashort interval, saw Grizzly
Jake Come lounging in behind them, and from
the expression upon the face of the ruflian, us
he glanced carelessly around with u. studied
endeavor to nppeu)‘ indifferent, be guessed that
the bully had entered the saloon for‘no good
purpose.

Tncn too, he fancied that be detected glances
of intellirrouce passing between Grizzly Jake
and the three strangers.

So, the moment that Bowie-knife Sam stum-
bled against him, he was satisfied that the man
had done it on purposo, and suspected a plot.

“ It was your own fault, partner,” he replied.

“ You’re a liar!” cried the oil]! r, attempting
to seize him, but Peacockl’ete was on the alert,
and s. ringing back he dean. the man a terrible
blow tween the eyes that sent him reeling
backward. 4

In their rage at seeing their pard thus roughly
handled, the other two drew their knives and
rushed upon the young man.

But his trusty revolvers were out in an in-
stant, cc (‘ked and fired as if by magic-

Both men fell badly wounded. and Bowie-
knife Sam, «assaying to draw his pistol, was also
served in the same way.

“ Hold on, don’t kill the cusses, they’re

1 friends of mine.” cried Jake, comirebending

that the battle was over almost be ore it had
begun.

“And tools of Redmond Hawk. of course!”
cried the victor with u sneer. “Well, let him
send a few more along.”

Again a. cunning scneme had miscarried.

 

CHAPTER XIV.
manure run mm

As was on‘. y nuturnlnmdor the circumotszw‘u,
on the next day the heroic conduct of Pen-
cock Pete was the talk of the town, and one and
all agreed that for real true cour the new-
Comrr could not be excelled, if oqaa ed, all along
the border.

For (lire or six days his gallant acts were the
common subj»-ct of conversation in all public

laces, and then, as nothing new wclrrcd to
i:er his name before the public, the recital of
his bold deeds was forced to give way to a
neWer sensation, a rich strike having been made
by some lucky souls right on ille outskirts of the
town.

l’cucock Pete was one of the first to invest in
the new mines, after he became satisfied that
the new discoveries were likely to prove profit-
able, for our hero was no greenhorn to be
SWlHdii d out of his hard-earned money by a
“s'ilted mine.”

It is a common thing in the mining re ons
for sharpers to bury rich bits of ore m wort less
mines and then dig them up with a great gour-
iSh. and on the strength of the “ dincow-ry ’ sell
the property ata handsome figure. then go else-
where and repeat the operation in some other
locality, and thusmanage to make a good thing
by “ b ceding” unsns acting greenhorns.

ere were two otiers interested With Pea-
cock Pete, John Michaela, whose acquaintance
the reader has already made, and an honest,
fore-handed Irishman. Dennis Murphy. by name.
universally acknowledged to be one 'of the
West men in the camp. '

duclariug that he Would kill the man

A.»

enough to dance. \\ ith the store-keeper’s dang!» '

ter against his will, Michaels’s lack of inclinin-

tion to take 11;.) the bully’s dare was thought to '

have put him c ut of the race for the lady’s at.
fectiOns.

“Aha, me luddybuck! _ I
will be hither suiting you, I’ll go balll”thp jolly
Irishman cried. ', I ,

Michaels got red in the face, for be was rather
a modest, bashful fellow, not really lackin in,
courage. yet with not enough of the
about him to make him anxious to face each .\
man as Redmond Hawk. "

“ I think it is a good pane,” he said, in con-

“ It’s an illigant name, and mebbe that spa!-
peen of a Hawk won’t be mad us hope whin he
Lea rs of it!" Murphy exclaimed.

“ I don’t supposc the lady will object,"
Michacls obserVed.

pliment,” Peacock Pete re lied. , 
“I 8’ use Hawk will be lnder riled when 
hears u out it,” Michaels remarked. ‘
“ Let him be mad, and be hanged to him
murtherin’ blaigarol” Murphy cried. “Phat
do we care for im? Not two wags of a math
tail, do ye moind’l” “
“Oh, I reckon he will be inclinedtocltup
nasty when he hears about it ” Peacock
observad. “But he don’t own the whole. oft it
camp yet, and if he has ever been of that way
of thinking. the events of the last week orlo

tion was not correct.” .
“I understand that he was
Michaels said. , , . .
“Oh, yes, Inw him metal! and he gave me
wan of his ugl looks wbin somebod spoke in
bi bearing 0 our rtnershicp,” orally r0.-
marked. “ But to t edevil P itch the lag-'

for either his friendship or his enem'lt ," ,

“I "thou we‘ll love some!“ (use ratio of
these days.” Peacock He observed reflectivdy,
“and I tell you what it is, entlrmen, the next
time I run foul of bill I don t intend that there
shall be any India; in “matter. I tethim
off the tint time when I could just “easily
have killol him as not.

“I held bill In: at my mercy, and it would
not have been an more trouble for me to have
wind him out ike a man winds outacundlo
as to merely wound him as I did." .

Peacock Pete's manner was seriouv audit was
plain so his companions that he had fully and.
up his mind about the matter. ' ‘

" I am getting sick of help
all the bullies that this scoun rel hires to attack
me,” Pete continued. ' '
miserable rascal anyway; no one but an utter
contempiible icoundrel would attempt to.
business in that way. ‘ ,‘

“If there was anything of the man about?
him, he would be content to wait until his
wounds healed and then go in to get square.”

“Oho, he’s not that kind of agintleman at
all, at all I” Murphy exclaimed. “You can
take yer oath that it’s a mi hty Ion
Mister Redmond Hawk has on is Shoal en. p

“ He has had a taste of your Timmy and, he's
not anxious for a. second tria ,
have ive thin hawn way, bad 'cees
the ‘cumb eh“ ad thief of the woruldl” ,

And this was how the claim belon . mg m the
three partners came to be called the

 

required to fight?

head . l

_ _ _ a mine,
and the lmhman was right in his surmise who!) ‘

there’s a name that

Sideru ble confusion. -‘ .‘ .-

“ Oh, no, I should say not. If she look! at it ‘_
the right way she \\ ill consnder that it is I. 0011? ,

the .

ought to have convinced him that the mpposi- ‘
out today's-'3

gard. Shore I wouldn’t give a Ve rent piece ‘

“The fellow in mean, ”

l

1,. PK ’

unless he can
tohim. 5

 

 

 

-V. ~.—.-— :A r--:

 

.,,,7

. man met his death wit

12

 

he said that Redmond Hawk would be enraged
when the fact came to his knowledp.

“ The infernal soonndrel has done it at rally
to aggravate mel” Hawk exclaimed to h s boon
companions, “ but i will be even with him one
of these days. [will strike him a blow when
be least expects it.”

The listeners took in the words but said
naught.

in their own minds there was considerable
{out in regard to the successful carrying out
sf this scheme, for Peacock Pete had been so ani—
t'ormly victorious in his battles that the impres-
sion had become general that he was invincible
o—his “medicine” was 00d, to use the jargon of
red~mcn, and it must e a mighty chief indeed
able to take his scalp.

There was another angry and disgusted man
In the camp too when the fact became generally
known that the three partners had named their
claim, the EVH mine, and that was the father of
the beautiful Evangeline, Clinton Hopkins.

It was the general impression that the old
man was rather more inclined to favor Hawk
than the new-comer, and so when the name of
the mine became noised around town, a couple
of the wags of the camp dropped into Hopkins's
store to chafl' the old man about it.

And they had their fun too, for Hopkins by
his manner showed that he was seriously an-
n edthe moment the news was made known
to im, although he strOVe to conceal it.

“It's a very good name, I should think," he
answered when one of the wags asked his opin-
ion in regard to it. “ I’m not much of a judge
of such things, of course, and as far as I can see,
it doesn’t matter much what the mine is called,
so long as it turns out pay-dirt in large quan-
titles."

“I s’pose you’ll kinder celebrate the thing,
eh?” said the second joker following his com-
panion’s lead.

“Celebrate!” exclaimed Hopkins pretending
to be astonished, “ why should I celebrate!
What interest do I take in the matter? It isn‘t
anything to me.”

“ Oh, come, Ho kins, don’t try for to play the
nnocent dodge! cried the first joker, “ you
can’t pull the wool over our eyes, you know.
We understand—we‘re fly—up to snuff, you but!
The mine is named arter your gal, and i say, I
s’pose she’ll be getting Spllcwl to Pete ’i'orn
long. You’ll gi‘n ’em a bang-up wedding of
course?”

" No, sir!” replied Hopkins, angrily, “it’s no
such thing. There’llbe no wedding! It is ut-
early ridiculous. The man may be fool enough
to name the mine after my daughter; that
not is neither improbable nor impossible, but
i: it. a matter which neither one of us can con«
li‘nl: but when you speak of the man as being a
suiml‘ for my daughter’s hand, it is almost too
absurd for- me to take the trouble to deny it.
i: isnno such thing, gentlemen, I deny it in
Tull).

The jokers eXpressed their sorrow at having
been misled by the false report, and then with—
drew chuckling over the fact that they had suc-
court-Ii in ma ing the generally genial store-
kewprvr lose his temper.

A» :~. result of the interview Hopkins went at
o-m- to his daughter and told her all about it.

“ Well, father, 1 should consider that the
gentlemen have paid me a compliment if it is a
valuable property, as I understand it is,” the
girl replied.

“But you don’t seem to comprehend, child,
this will enrage Hawk terribly. He is bitter
enough now as matters are, Iout when he hears
of thi< he will not leave any means untried to
h;m- l'r‘VPngt‘ upon this young man.

" ll' Peacock Pete desires to meet with a
speedy death he could not have gone to work
in a better way.

“Hawk will spend his money now like water
to get satisfaction. .

“ I should not be surprised if the rash young

in a. week.”

“ I do not think that is likely,” the girl re-
sponded in every quiet way,’much to Hopkius’s

 

.snr irise.

lainly she did not care for her champion as
much as he had thought.

CHAPTER XV.
A BRAVE RESOLVE.

CLINTON HOPKINS, leading store-keeper of
Five Mile Crossing, late of—no one knew where,
for the old man was as dumb as an oyster in
regard to his old abiding—places—rather prided
himself a on his skill and cunnin , but with all
his shrew ness he was no match or the appar—
entlv s Fvnple girl whom he called daughter.

H: l l. l tv-ltl her the story about the naming

Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad

 

of the mine and Hawk’s threats, thinking that
if she did have any sneaking regard for Pete,
fear for the safety of her lover would be apt to
make her speak plainly and he would be able
to get a eorrect idea of what she thought about
the matter.

The girl by her silence, howevvr, completely
killed this design, and when the interview was
over the storvkeeper was as much in the dark
as evor.

If she cared anything for the young stranger
she was not disposed to allow any one to know

it.

But Hopkins did not take this view of the
matter.

He was more disposed to believe that the girl
was indifferent as to what befell or became of
Peacock Pete.

“if she would only get over her dislike for
Hawk,” he murmured, as he returned to the
store.

The old man had apparently urgent reasons
why his daughter shoud favor the suit of the
superintendent of the Gothic mine, yet it would
have puzzled any one to guess them, for though
Ha Wk was a prosperous man, yet this new Ven-
ture that Peacock Pete had entered into seemed
likely to make him a far wealthier man in the
ion run than his rival.

T )0 girl too, followed her father’s example
and uttered words to the empty air, as if invisi-
ble spirits were hovering near, willing to render
aid and counsel.

“Heaven help me!” she cried with a des )air-
ing accent, “for I am utterly friendless. \ 'hat
a terrible thing it is that I cannot trust my
father in this dire extremity and must depend
upon myself alone.

“Why does he press the suit of this dark and
dangerous ruflian with so much firmness?

“ Why should he care aught about the matter?
Why does he think this man, above all others,
to be a fit mate for me?”

It was a weighty question, and one over which
she pondered for a long time.

But the more she thought about the matter,
the greater became her perplexity until at last
she gave up the attempt to amend the mystery
in despair. Her father’s words, though, had
made her determined to take an active part in
the matter.

She was satisfied from what her sire had soil
that Hawk had determined to attack Peacock
Pete, and she guessed the mischief would be
wrought by hired bravos, who would not give
their victim any chance for his life.

“ At all risks he must be warned!” she ex-
claimed, “and as I cannot trust any one to give
the warning. for the person whom I miuht
select would be far more apt to provea to:- than
a friend, I must contrive in some way to see
my gallant champion myself.”

The darkness came on that night thick and
muggy, for storm-clouds were in the air, and a
deluge of rain seemed probable.

It was an easy matter for the girl to wrap
herself in her watei proof cloak, draw a tiill
vail over her face, and make her exit from it a
house by the back Way.

She trusted to be able to speed ily find the man
she sought, so as to return to the house before
her absence was noticed.

A very favorable time had she chosen for the
execution of her scheme, for from seven to ten
her father was always extremel busy in his
store, for nine-tenths of the tra e of the day
was concentrated in those few hours, the miners
not being able to leave their employment until
the shades of night had descended upon the
town.

Evangeline had set forth with a well-defined
purpose.

She had penned a brief note, writing it on a
half- age of foolscap, in a large, round, school-
boy hand, and inclosed it in a common yellow
envelope. so that it looked as unlike a lady’s
missive as possible.

It was her idea to find some boy to carry the
note to Peacock Pete, for the irre ressible small
boy made things lively in the ittle camp of
Five Mile Crossmg, as well as in the towns and
villages within the confines of civilization.

The small boy was easily found. _

He knew Peacock Pete, and the gift of a
silver quarter induced him to gladly undertake
the delivery of the note.

Pete was at the hotel, as Evangeline had ex-
pected, and the note was safely given into his

and&

And when he had perused the mimive, he as-
sumed a careless air. so that it would have
been a sheer impossibility for any of the by-
standers to suspect that there was any message
of importance in the not», bade the boy follow

 

 

from Leadville.

 

 

 

him, and when he ot into the street, made
the heart of the urchin leap with delight by the
present of another quarter, when he pointed on:
where the lady was standing in the shade of a
building, a little removed from the main street,
and the lights from the gayly-illuminated
saloons cutting into the dashes.

“ Run along, sonny, you’re a good boy," said
Peacock Pete, after the lad had informed him
as to the whereabouts of the lady.

The boy obeyed the injunction, eager to dis-
play to his companions the prize that he had
gained.

“ I have something important to say to you,
sir," Evangeline said, just a. little nervoUs as
PMCock Pete approached, “and so I took this
nu thod of meeting you, for I could not think of
any better way.”

“ I am Very much obliged to you, I am sure,”
responded the yen: nan, dotting his but as
respectfully as though he was addressing a
queen.

“ I have only a few words to say, and I sup-
pose we can talk here without danger of inter-
ruption,” Evangeline remarked, with an inquir-
ing glance around her.

“ We had better walk along slowly,” Peacock
Pete replied, “for we would be apt to attract
attention if we remain stationary here.”

The girl perceived the wisdom of this ad-
vice and so the two strolled slowly along.

“ I felt it my duty to warn you that you have
a powerful and hecrnpalous foe who will not
stop at anything calculated to injure you,” she
said, coming at once to the point- for she felt
sl ranger embarrassed by the novelty of the
situation. \

“ I can guess to whom yen refer. This Red-
mond Hawk is the enemy who is so anxious to
do no harm.”

“ Yes, he is a bold, bad man.”

“There isn't the least doubt about that. It
was my fortune to run foul of him when I first
came into this camp, and I suppose the war will
be kept up until one of us is either killed or
driven from the town.

“The fellow is something of a coward too
for all of his pretensions; he has been around
town for a day or two now, amply well enough
to renew the quarrel if he so desired, but he has
not made a move, although I have been ex-
pecting it and have been on my guard, ready
for war.”

“ Ah, but I do not think that he intendsto at«
tack you openly!” Evangeline exclaimed, quick-
1 . ‘He has learned better than that. lie
dyoes not intend to trust to his own powers now,
but will hire desperate, blood stained men to
tight his ba tiles.”

“ Why. Miss Evangeline, that has been his
game right from the beginning," Peacock Pete
replied. “Ever since the night of our encoun-
ter, when I succeeded in whipping him so easi-
ly, he has scoured the country all around in
search of champions to carry on his quarrel.

“ But I think it is about time that that
game should come to an end.

“I am not a professional fighter; I do not
pose as a bully botore the town.

“ Of course when a qunrrel is forced upon me
I always try to do all 1 can to come out ahead.”

*‘ Oh, I feel sure that you do not desire trou-
ble,“ the girl exclaimed, earnestly, “ some-
times, when I reflect upon the matter, I {pal so
sorry that I was the cause of this man’s hatred
toward you.

~“ Perhaps it would have been better on that
dreadful night ifI had left the dance and re.
tired to my home, but then I was not used to
this strange country and the man angered me
so that I forgot the ictates of rudence and de-
termined that his menace sho d not drive me
home.”

“ You acted exactly right!” Peacolk Pete de-
clared warmly. “No one can blame n. It
was your privilege to refuse to dance th the
man if you did not like hm, and he showed that
he was nothing but a low-bred ruffian by act—
ing as he did.”

“ButI have been the cause of your being
involved in a quarrel with this man. If it had
not been for that unfortunate affair you would
not have been drawn into this dimculty," she
said, earnestly.

“ I’m not so sure about that,” he answered.
“ It is more than probable that we would have
had trouble about something else, for he is in-
clined teplay the bully and I am one of the
kind who wi l notsuhmit tamely to anything of
that sort.”

“ I had a brief conversation with my father
this evening and he told me that Hawk was de»
termined to have your life and that he intended
to hire rufiinns to attack you, and so i Uin

 

 

 

1' x . _. ._......__.._

not rest until I got an opportunity to warn you
of the danger that threatened.”

" Miss vangeline, believe me it Will be a
long time before I shall forget this schice!”

‘ Oh, no not 3 air of it; think of the danger
that on so free y risked for my .....l.-e!"

“ here’s one thing puzzles n)". Evangeline,
but perhaps you can explain it." [‘cncock Pete
observed, thoughtfully. “ Why dOes your father
seem to favor this man .3”

“ I cannot ex luin it.”

“ Are they 0 d acquaintances!"

II N n

o.

“ Yet I am told that he looks upon him as his
future son~in~law.”

“ Oh, no' that will never he!” cried the girl
in instant denial, and she felt she was blushing
furiously. ‘

“ Evangeline, I am almost a stranger to you,

t I have the Presumption to ask if I may
enter the lists as a suitor for your hand 1”

“Why not, if such a mo as this rufiian dares
to hope for favor?” answered the girl lowly and

ab 1 .

x I will see your father then and speak freely
to him. although I imagine my suit will not
meet with much favor in his eyes.”

“Time will tell; but it is I who am to be
married, not be.”

“You are willin that I should speak to him—
it is not disagreeab e to you?” he asked, passing
his arm caressineg around the slender waist of
the girl, for by her actions he believed he had
discovered she was well disposed to him.

“Yes,” she murmured, in almost inaudible
tones, and her shapely head sunk down upon
his manly shoulder.

Then he drew her OIOSPI‘ to him, and, lifting
her vail, imprinted upon her ripe, red lips, so
rich in their dewy sweetness, the first lover‘s
kiss that they had eVer reCcived.

But for a moment she nestled against his
broad breast, and then, as if alarmed by her
own weakness, shook hands with him and hur-
ried away.

Her home was only some fifty feet away, and
soon she disappeared within it.

 

CHAPTER XVI.
m corms FROM BUENA VISTA.

PEACOCK I’I-z'i'ic, after watching his lady-love
until the door. closing behind her, hid hcr al-
most perfect form from sight, took his way
slow! back to the hotel.

“ I ’s a deuced ueer thing,” he murmured, as
he walked along, ‘ that a man like mysvlf, who
has been a rolling stone for years, a regular
foot-ball for fortune. should, in this wild moun—
taip. camp, meet with such a perfect angel of a
g r

“Upon my life, she is the sweetest piece of
womanhood that my eyes have ever looked

upon.

“ And the idea of this Redmond Hawk, bully,
gambler and desperado as he is, daring to lift
his e es to such a maiden.

“ he thougpt is perfectly ridiculous.

. “ And Mr. awk must be brought to a reckon-
198 with me prett soon, too. I am getting
tired of fighting his ullies.

“He must come u to the scratch in person
and face the music ke a man.

“ There has baa!) uite enough of this beating
about the bush. 6 must meet me in single
fight, and stop this second-hand business. He
must either fight me_or leave the town.

“ The cam isn’t but enough to hold both of us.
I will push he matter to a conclusion tc-mor-
row, and Redmond HEW]! must either knuckle
or ‘ it!”’

By5 this time Peacock Pete had reached the
hotel, and he went into the saloon, the general
lounging-place for the town. ,

Eighteen or twenty men were “1 the place,
and as he found himself the Object 01' the gaze
of all eyes when he entered, he concluded but
he had interrupted some conversation l"warding
himself.

A stranger—a regular giant of a fellow, bi 8e,-
cven than the renowned Grizzly Janis” 03’
Pete had conquered with so little troubfi. was
leaning by the bar with his back a ainst inf b

He was dressed in the usual roug 011061;, 111.5,: '
ion, was well-armed, and altogether 100cht l )e
n man who would prove to be an ugly Gus 0m"
in a row.

The fellow had a lion-like head, long, 13:15:11};
yellow hair came out in tangled masses Iii W
uncle: his weather-beaten hat, and a long Y9 0
bearo swept down low on his breast.

His face had a sinister expressmn, and M

 

Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville. ‘

cock Pete, as he took a mental survey of the
fellow, came to the conclusion that in the event
of a difficulty he would be a tough pilgrim to
handle.

The stranger had evidently been addressing
the group, for his mouth was open as Peacoc
Pete entered, and he paused for a moment to
take. a look at him.

Then, when I’eacocl: Pete closed the door, he
went on:

“ I tell you wo’t it is, pardners, I’m jest a-
hungry to see this man !” he cried, in a rough,
hoarse voice, like the bellowing of a bull. “W y,
he must be a little tin son eta-gun on wheelsl

“ I’m a hefty man, myself! Oh, pards, you
had 'est better believe that!

“ ou might look far and see long afore you
could run across sich a rip-staying, ravmg,
snorting cuss as I am!

“You kin believe that, ’00:; I’m the critter
w’ot is a-telling on it to on!

“ My name is sudden eath, or else a long fit
of sickness!

” I‘m the Howlin Coyote from Buena Vista,
and l have. come a! the way to this hyer camp
of Five Mile Crossing expressly to see the dog-
goned galoot that calls himself Peacock Pete!”

Now our hero understood why all within the
room had surveyed him with such curious eyes
when he had entered.

The stranger had come into the camp for the
express purpose of trying conclusions with him,
and ha been bragging about it in the
saloon.

“ He’s a dandified chap, too I heard,” the
man continued; “ rigs himself out in good
clothes, puts ile on his ha’r, and washes himself
once a week.

“ Bah !” and the stranger, by this em hatic
exclamation, endeavored to show the isgust
which tilled his breast when he thought of any
such reprehflisible practices.

“I hain’t got no use for no sich galoots!’ ‘28
cried, loftily.

“ And sich a chap as this hycr milk-sop I ha". c
hcerrd held up as a fighter!” and he shook his
huge fists in the air.

“Hyer’s the shop whar he ought to come if
he wants mutton!” and then he "ounded his
chest with his brawny hands.

“ Say, some of you, for the love of goodness!
jest run out into t e town and scare this critter
up! Tell him that the finest gcn’lcman in the
country is a-waiting at the shebung, jcst tidying
for to make his acquaintance.

“ Peacock Pete! Oh, my !” and tho mun gave
vent to a snort of contempt. “ Won’t i make a
peacock out of him when Igit my two hands
onto him? Oh, no; not much! but on kin bet
your bottom dollar, you high—howling sinners.
that artcr I git through with the critter thar
won’t be aunt! of him left for (A i make a good-
sized grease-spot out of! That’s the kind of man
I am, and don’t you forget it!”

Peacock Pete comprehended at once how the
land lay.

Here was another bully who had been set on
to attack him by his unscru ulous foe.

It was not pleasant and 6 determined this
time to make such an example of the man that
it would deter any one else from trying the
same game.

“ I’m Peacock Pete!” he exclaimed stepping

forWard and confronting the stranger, “and if

you “mean business I’m ready to accommodate
on.

The Coyote from Buena Vista had guessed as
much, for the peacock feathers that the young
man were in his hat, were quite cnou h to dis-
tin ish him from the common run 0 men.

nd this was the reason why he had been so
profuse in his taunts.

He was not impressed by Peacock Pete’s looks
for he was one of those ignorant fellows, who
believe only in brute force, totally ignoring all
science and as Peacock Pete was not six feet
tall and built in proportion, he did not think he
stood the slightest chance in a contest with a
man like himself.

“ You don’t mean to ca that you’re Peacock
Pete, the galoot that I’Ve earn so much ’boutl”
the coyote cried in the most contemptuous man-
ner possible.

“ That’s my name.”

“Why, you don’t amount to a clump of sage-
brush!” the other exclaimed. “Thunder and
1iEmailing! ’tain’t hardly worth while to smack
3:16 I208 of sich a rat-like chap as you are an?

“Y

3 (lb. You’re going to smack my face.”

Yes sir-ee, boss-fly! that’s jest the identical
leeutle job that I propose to tackle."

But what are you going to do that for—what
bavs I ever done to you i”

 

 

  

13

.-_. -s. . ._.. -_. 4 _ .— n. W...
. --.—___.

“ Nothin at all, my festIVe rooster. I‘m jcst
a-doing it or fun.”

" No. you mean you are doing it for money,
and I know the man that put you up to it!
Peacock Pete retorted, sharply.

“ Oh, you talk too much with your mouth!"
cried the other, “ and that’s one reason wh you
ought to be smacked, anyway, jest to put a eetle
sense into you, sort of teach you to hold your
tongue when the boss is around.”

“ Your boss is Redmond Hawk.”

“ You’re a liar!” replied the big fellow, taking
a stc toward Pete.

“ on have been hired to pick a quarrel with
me; but I give you fair warning that I am-

etting tired of this sort of thing, and if you
orcc me into a fight I’ll kill you as sure as you’re
born 1”

“ Hey! you’re crowing pretty loud for sich a
bantaml I reckon l’ll bavo to wade in and take
some of the nonsense out of you i”

“ Come out into the center of the saloon then,
where there’ll be room for the circus !”

“ You don’t say that you really mean to toe
the mark and face the music?" the Coyote asked.

“ Try me and see,” Peacock Pete replied.

The bystanders drew back out of the way, so
as to afi’ord a clear field for the encounter.

They had an idea that inside a minute the
stranger would be about as amused a man as
the camp of Five Mile Crossin had ever seen.

Most of them in the room ha been witnesses
of Peacock Pete’s prowess on the occasion when
he had so easily po ished of! his opponents.

They remembered how, with his iron liku
fists, he had hammered Grizzly Jake until the:
nearest and dearest friend of the bully would
never have been able to recognize him.

And, although this fellow seemed to he a bet-
ter man than Jake, yet it was the general
opinion that he would not succeed in making a
much better show tlmn that worthy.

" How, then, are you ready for to be smashed
right up into pan-cakes?” the Coyote queried, as
he azsumed a fighting position.

“ Oh. yes, l‘m all ready; but if you don’t eat;
anything until that operation is performed.
you’ll be mighty apt to die of starvation," Pee
cock Pete replied.

_._—--s

CHAPTER XVII.
A amounsn rnomsmon.

AS the two faced each other it really seemed
as if it was a most um'qual contest, for the
rough-and-rcady pcrsonuge. who termed himself
the Coyote from Bucna Vista, appeared to be
nearly twice as big as Peacock Pete.

lirt so great was the confidence of the by-
standers in the young Champion‘s ability to co )0
with the stranger, thanks to the easy manner n
which he had overcome Grizzly Jake, that there
was hardly a man in the crowd who would
gait; have been willing to bet odds upon Peacock
- e 9.

“Look out for yourself now, for the ’airth-
quake is a-coming,” the big fellow exclaimed,
and then he rushed u n his antagonist.

There wasn’t any ad ing this time on the
part of Peacock Pete as t ere had been when he
encountered Griuly Jake.

But he stood like a rock and as the Co etc
attempted to close in u in him he met the am
with a blow between he eyes that made him.
see more stars than he had ever distinguished in-
the heavens.

His advance was checked upon the instant,
and no wonder, for when the report of the blow
rung tbrou h the agzrtment, it sounded as-
though a bu lock had an felled by a club»

It was a terrible stroke.

And Peacock Pete was quick to inprove the
advantage he had gained.

As the giant reeled under the forceof the
stroke, before he had time to recover himself,
Peacock Pete dealt him a blow in the stomach

ust over the “ mark,” that took the wind out of

im in an instant, and then, as the stroke had
brought the big fellow’s head forward, the
scientific boxer tOok him s nare in the throat
with another tremendous r ght-hander. which
had the effect of lifting the Coyote 08 his feet
and caused him to measure his length upon the
floor, 0mg down with a crash that shook the
whole ullding.

The Co etc from Buena Vista had been
“ knocks out” in the first round.

It was a fact; the terrible blows had stunned
the man so that it was fully five minutes Lefore
he recovered sufficiently to know what was go
infion around him.

one of the bystanders hastened to his assist-
ance for there wasn’t a man in the room who

 

L

 -  "fig-wasflrtrapmtm

1'};

you 11 our loins and tr
. “ ot ifpth

', claimed in’ contempt. “Y

, and fire. over the tops

the, .
fieep’intod
'- v: at attempts to turn ’round.”

I

1wasn’t glad to see the bully receive‘so terrible at

n. . .

When he recovered» from the streets of the
shock he sat up and looked around him, a look
of utter amazement upon his face.

And as he lanced at the man w ho had handled
3mm rough y, the expression in his eyes seemed

an i -

“ 8 this possible or is it all a dream i"

Peacook Pete’s blood was up though and he
an anxious to bring the matter to a conclu-

on.

“Come, ‘rise u . William Reilly’ and toe the
scratch l” he exc aimed. “ You set out to
smash me into pan-cakes, you know, and you
can’t do it sitting down there on the floor.”

“ Wei, I reckon you’re a bruiasr, you air!”
the (allow growled, rising slowly to his feet.

“Oh. I can do a little hammering once in a
while, particularly when I can run across such
unfit-alas: cho lug-block as you are to operate
upon.” Peacock etc rejoined.

“Gus: me! if you ain't the hardest hitter of
any man 1 ever struck,” the Coyote from Buena
Vista observed, examining the young man in the
most careful manner as if seeking to discover
(tom whence be derived his wonderful power.

“Oh, 1 can’t hit at all to speak of; the fact is
you're such a soft, pasty, putty-like man that
almost anvbody could lay you out Without any
trouble,” Peacock Pete replied. to the great (le-
light of the crowdwho “ haw-hawedl” outright
at the idea.

“, But come, we’re wasting time,” the young
man continued. “You’re to smash me imo

cakes. you know, and as you was mighty
anxious to wade in a few minutes ago, suppose
it on again.”

9 court kn0ws erselfl” cried the

, Coyote immediatel , “ and she reckons she do.

No, sir, you can’t p y that racket a second time

x “ I’m the keenest man that ever struck this
town and don’t you forget it.

“I know when I’ve got cunt! and that’s the
kind of a keno wheel I am !”

.“ What?” cried Peacock Pete in astonishment,
“ are you going to crawflsli—goin to take
water at this early stage of the game? by, the
fun hasn’t begun et.’

“ Wal you may call it fun for to be hammered
into a jelly but I m blessed if I do 1" the other

w
“ Why. you big booby!” Peacock Pete ex-
ou came into this
camp for the express purpose of laying me out

' and now you back out of the job, right at the

nning.”
. ‘ Narg back out, no sir-es; that ain’t the kind
01a mu -sc0w that I am,” the Coyote re lied.
“promptly. “ I am going todown you—I'l lay
youout aforeI get through with you, but not
Wish lists. No. pard, I pass on fists!”

“ ha, you’ve got enough at that gamel” Pea-

‘cock exdaimed in contempt.

,.-‘-‘ You bet, and now I want blood—I want
or scalp and I'm going to have it. You don’t

I g? to h ht me With revolvers!”

- “Oh, ’t I! Why you overgrown lunk-

head!” I can wipe you out anyway you take

me .

. “.Mebbe oukiu and mebbe you can’t!” the
,retor , . “ I heered that on was a dead-

tand' I reckon you don’tdar togiveachance

, to sit squsr’ with you I”

“ I’ll ve you any fair chance.”
: W y'ou fight a duel with revolvers?”

:. we mplvers to each man?”

“1) tauce. twent acesa art.”

‘-‘ llri ht.” y p p
‘*“ e tostand with our backs to each other
of our heads—fire first
theravolver in our right hand and then
volver in left hand. A judge to be

liberty toshoot dewn the cues

wi

,. 4'  'of, astclinishmenlt. went through the
spam. a is nove repose.

.-Peac<>ck Pete umflrstood the game instantly.
gin adversary had probably practiced this novel
a e of shooting. and felt satisfied that he could

man. _ .
But as Peacock Pete was really wonderfull
skilled with the pistol, and had often. with h

,‘companions, in the 173’ hours of a. cowboy’s

life, tried his hand at sorts of queer shootin ,'
these backward shots not being neglected, a-

im the marksman was enerall aided by“:
J fights held in the‘ r hand? he had
1 t that v to

wouldbeable hold hlsiown

.‘Pete,

 

.,Tua,mau who had set the, stranger on to at- '

tack him know thatfihe was an expert revolwr-

Ishot. and so had devised the odd conditions of

this dual on pUI‘nOsG (0 neutralize his skill.

“ It suits me first-rate, pardner; you have hit
me where I live, eyery time,” Peacock Pete de-
glaired." ” d am», who will you have as

u e?

“ at the crowd dec‘de that!” cried one of the
miners, determined that the stran'ger should not
gain an unfair advanta e.

“ We , I s’pose that Will be fair " the Coyote
observed, slowly, although from t e ex ression
upon his face it was plain that he won (1 have
preferred some other arrangement, buta glance
at the faces of the bystanders had reVealed to
him that they would not be apt to stand any
nonsense, and that if he roposed Redmond
Hawk, as he had' origna y intended, there
would be instant objection made.

“All I want is a fair shake,” he continued.
“ I’m the squarest kind of a man, and all I want
is a squar’ deal.”

“ That’s jest what you will get in this camp!”
exclaimed the miner who had before spoken.
“ We’re all squar’ men byer, and We don't pro-
pose to take nary bit of advantage of anybody,
nor allow anybody to come any rigs on us if we
know it. I nominate Tom Cofiin hyer for 1judge,
and you kin jest bet your bottom dollar t at he
is the man w’ot will see that everybody gits a
squai" show, and no mistake,” and as he finished
he hit a veteran, gray-headed miner who stood
by his side a hearty sln on the shoulder.

Tom Coffin was one o the original prospectors
who had located the camp, and his nomination
w 3 received with decided signs of approval by
the rest.

“ Yes, yes, Tom Coma!” cried a half a dozen
in a breath.

“Cofiin is a flrst~class name for the judge in
5 ch an affair as this,” Peacock Pete observed

and us far as I am conCerned Mr. Coffin will
answer as well as any man that you could pick
up in the wide world.”

“ Well, how does it suit your royal highnessl”
asked the spokesman of the Buena Vista Coyote,
who was looking askance at Coffin as if unde-
cided in regard to him.

“ Oh, I reckon he’ll do,” the giant replied.
“ Anybodv will do, I reckon, so long as I git a
squar’ deal; that’s w’ot I’m arter.”

“Me too, all the time,” Peacock Pete re-
marke . “ I can lay you out in a s uare fight,
and so I ain’t anxious or any funn siness.

“ I’ve got tired of this sort 0 a g -me. I
don’t set up for the boss fighting-man of the
camp, ready to be climbed by every worthless
galoot that ha pens to stray into it.

“Hawk he better step up to the captain’s
office in person, if he is so dreadfully eager to
have me scalped. .

“ But I can tell you and him, and all the
town as well, that from this time out I fight to

ill.

“If such fellows as you are anxious to risk
your life for money, I intend to make you earn
the ducats. . ‘

“So look out for yourself now, for I give
you”fair warning I’m going to kill you, if I
can.

The Coyote unted a defiance. and mm the
whole party a journed to the street.

-——

CHAPTER XVIII.
1'3! s'rnam'r FIGHT.

BY this time the storm-cloud which had
threatened to burst upon the town had passed
away, and the moon was shining bright! , so
the duelists had plenty of light for their con-

test.

The sudden irruption from the. saloon of such
a crowd attracted immediate attention, and
everybody Within eyesight hurried to the spot,
anxious to see what was going on. . '

It did not take many minutes for a crowd of
thirty or forty people to assemble.

The contestants examined their revolvers.
and Tom Collin. as udge, rehearsed the terms of
the light, so that t ere should not be any mis-
understanding.

“Now, gen lemon,” he said, “I reckon that
both on you are anxious for a uar’ fight—a
fair "field, no favor, and may t best man
me.

“That’s, me, every time i" Peacock Pete re-

marked. ' r

“ I that’s all I want, . though mebbe I
won’t t it, as how that I am stranger
in this ” the. cons Vista Coye observed
witha lglaneeatthataeesof the by-

I
, ,

“l

the LiveIr‘I‘e‘aikeeE

 

ewe:

_......___—-—————.. —.-.
, ,- a»...

“Stu-an or, you’re oing to git the squuro-st
kind oi’ a call." Tom oflln cried, impi'essiVely,
“and I don’t want you to forget it either.

" This is a uar’ cam ‘quar’ as a die every

 

_....-.._.  ..

on.

“ No man ever struck the c mp of Five Mile
Crossing yit and went out of t complaining
that he didn’t git a fair show for his money.”

“Wal, a fair show is all Iaxes,” the giant
replied doggedly. "But I’m a stranger hyer,
while this guloot—”

“Is a stran er, tool” Tom Coffin hastened to
exclaim. “ e hain’t been hyer but a mighty
few days, but that haiii’t really got anything to
do with it.

“The pilgrim sharp w’ot hasn’t got a friend
to back him up stands jest as good a chance for
a fair show in this hyer town as the oldest citi-
zen in the place.

“This town ought to be called Fair Play
Camp, fer we’re jest as squar’ as squar’ kin be
in sich things.

“ Now you’re to stand twenty aces a art—
John Mic eels, you’ve got a g pairo long
legs, supposa you aces off the distance.”_

“ All right, in agreeable; anything to
oblige,” responded the miner. _

Then, starting from a line which he made
with the heel of one of his boots in the dirt in
the middle of the street, John Michaela paced
off the distance, and at the other end- made a
similar mark. ‘

“ Thar you are, right as ninepeme!” Tom
Coma, exclaimed. “One man stands on one
line, and the other man on t’other.

“Each man to have two revolvers, one held‘
in each hand.

“You are to stand with your backs to each
other and fire over the top of your heads, and
no other way.

“ After one revolver is empty you are at
liberty to use the other.

“ I’ll act as umpire, with my cocked pistol, and
Igivo on fair warning that I’m the biggest old
(lead-s iot that you kin scare up in a thousand
miles, and the first man that attempts to break
the terms of the agreement, or to take any un-
fair advantage I’ll plug quicker’n a wink.”

time, and that s the sort of re?mition we travel

“That’s itl that’s the talk 1” the bystanders re-‘

marked.

And it is worthy of note that although the
sympathy of the crowd was most entirely With
Peacock Pete, and they firmly believed that in
this novel contest he would be successful in
whipping his antagoniht there wasn’t a man of
them who would not rather have Seen Peacock
Pete defeated than to win by unfair means.

“ S’pose we use up all our shots and neither
one. on us goes under?” the Coyote asked.

“Oh, you’re both of you too good men for
that to happen I reckon.” 'l‘om Coflin replied.

. ‘t‘lgut s’pose it does?” the big \fellow per-
sis e . -

“ Well, wait until it does, and then it will be
easy to arrange something else; that’s fair and
square for both on you, I reckon.”

As there was no gainsaying the truth of this
the Coyote held his peace.

“ Now, gen’lemen, if you will have the kind-
ness to toe the scratch. I ll give the Signal to be.
gin the fun ” Tom Cofiln remarked, drawin
one of the envy six-shooters buckle] to ha
waist and delibere tel y cocking it.

The duelists took their positions.

“ Put your heels onto the mm, 1! you
please,” said the Judge. ‘

The two obeye .

“ Now out with your WG’MB and git
ready.”

Each man drew his revolver and cocked it.

“ Hands ovor our heads!” sung out Coflin.

Up went their ands.

"Are on all ready for the fandangol”

“ Re y!” both answered in a breath.

y “ Now I’ll count one, two. three. and after
three you kin fire. ,You understand that all
rightl’

“ Yes,” responded the two in chorus.

“Keep your eyes peeled now—one, two, three !
Waltz in, you cripples l” yelled the judge.

As Peacock Pete_had surmised, the big fellow
had practiced at this dimcult backward shootin .
It was Redmond Hawk who had dev..=ed t a
scheme. ‘

He knew that no one but an , extraordinary
shot would stand anv chance at all against Pea.
cock Pete’s wonderful skill at irregular shoot-
ing-match, and so he had ‘punled cut this odd
backward shot. thinking by the novelty of the
thing to take Peacock Pete at a disadvantage.

The Buena Vista Coyote was a. good shot, but
hardly a match for such a master hand at tar
get practice as Peacock Pete.

r

I?

5"

 

 

.‘n

5"

I" 8

 

I  roommate, the Lives. Ps4: 

 

lie was in) old acquaintance of Hawk’s and
12m arch-plotter had sent for him and other he
had arrived, for three days he had kept himself
secluded, practicing diligently at the backward
shot. and when he had ot the thing “dowu
iliie’,’us he expressedit, 9 had set out to try
the game upon the man whom Hawk hated so
bitterl .

But if!) this matter the conSpirators had reck-
ouer “_ without the host,” ioi’the backward shot
was an old trick with Peacock Pete.

He had ex rimented at .it in all sorts of
ways. first ho ing a mirror in the left hand and
shooting over his shoulder with his right, tak-
ing aim at the target by the aid of the reflection
in the mirror, and then had tried it without the
glass, the trick being to get the target in a
direct line with some object in front of the
marksman.

This we. the dodge that the Coyote intended
to work; but accident on this OCCasion favored
Peacock Pete most decidedly, for right in front
of him was a tree which seemed toguide his
aim, while the other had nothing better than
5?; end of a house, which was some distance

0 .

And then too Peacock Pete had nerves of iron
and was just as cool when shooting at a human
target. With his own life put up as a forfeit for
a miscalcula-tion, as when practicing at a mark.

be Coyote on the contrary was nervous, and
then too the hammering which he had receiVed
was not calculated to steady his nehves.

Consequently he hesitated in arming while
Peacock Pete fired almost immediately after
the word was given.

And with so true an aim that the report of the
pistol was answered by a bowl of pain coming
from the lips of the Buena Vista Coyote.

He staggered for a moment and then went
down upon his face, the revolver dropping from
his nerveless hand.

Peacock Pete’s unerring aim sent a ball
through his right shoulder, making a Wound
which although not mortal ‘was suflicient to
keep the bully from being able to do damage to
any one for many along day.

“ i reckon the picnic is over,” the judge re-
marked; but hardl had the words leftlhis ii 3,
and just as Peacor Pete turned to look at is
l“ .ilen foe, when there was a sharp pistol-crack,
and the champion went down.

The pistol-shot came fromahorseman who
was partially concealed behind a house about a
hundred feet away. ,

And the moment the shot was fired, and he
saw that it had taken eflcct, he put spurs to his
horse and fled.

He would have escaped, too, had there not
been a hunter in the crowd with a repeating
rifle, who had just come in from a. hunt.

And it was not a difficult job for this expert
rifle-shot to draw a “ bend "on the fleeing man,
and put a ball right through him.

The rider threw up his hands and fell from his
horse, stone dead, upon the instant.

The well-aimed ball had cleft the heart of the
assassin in twain.

And when they came to examine him they
discovered that it was Redmond Hawk.

He had laid in ambush, determined to com-
pass the death of his fee by foul means, if his
hired bully tailed. ,

Justice had Quickly overtaken him, though,
and called him to a stern account,

And Peacock Pete. tOO, escaped with but a
slight wound, for the ball had been discharged
at such a distaiicethat it had lost its power to
do mortal harm when it reached him.

Reader, our story is told; for, with the death
0‘ Hawk, Peacock Pete’s persecution came to
an end. -

And new that Hawk was gone, the' store.
keeper; old Hopkins, made no objection to the

' young man when he came as a suitor for his
daughter.

Hawk held a rod over him, having discovered
that the old man had been engaged in crooked
transactions in the East, and Hopkins feared
exposure. -

And so, basking in the sunshine of prosperity,
we leave our hero, but at some future time we
W lath: follow the fortunes of :the Lively

Lad from landfills, Peacock Pete.
' m mm.

 

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Geiits‘ Letter-Writer. Fortune-Teller. , ' ‘
Book of Etiquette. Loveis' Guitar " “" \

Book of Verses. Bail-room 00m . . -.
BookorDreains. BookotBeau .. .-

i .

Hand-Books of om'.  
Handbook of Summer Sports. ‘

 

Book of Croquet. Yachting and owing. 
Chess Instructor. Riding and  _. . - ,
Cricket and Football. Book at Pedestrian!“ . V
Guide to Swimming. s - - - ‘1';
Handbook of Winter Sports—Skating. otc/ _' ; a»

Manual. for Housewives. 5

Hausa. : MW .5; 
8: Houspgkeeper‘s Guide, ' w? ‘ ‘

 

linery. t: , 4  ’
Lives of Great     T
L-Geo e Washington. VII... ' ) i
Il.- -JohlngPaul Jones. Vim—m
"CL—Mad AnthonyWayne x,..T
IV.-—Ethan Allen. A
V.—Marquls de Lafay-

. ette.
VL—Daniel Boone.

Song Books. bk

Bnnui's Dune BonaBoox Nos. Ito. ‘ It
the only popular collection 

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BEADLE’S

 

HALF-DIME I LIBRARY.

i.______

 

 

Deadwood Diek, the Prince of tho Road. By E. L. Wheeler.
ellowstone Jack. By Joseph E. Blsdgvr, .lr.
8 Kins-as Kin . By 11an 0 Bill. Hun. W. F. dey.)
c Wild-1 one liunters. y Captain M-tyuo Bold and
Captain Frederick Whittaker.
8 Vagabond Joe the Young Wandering Jew. By Oil Como".
Double number l0 rents.
. a BI“ Diddon Trapper. 8 Edward 5.21m.

7 he Flying all ee. ~ By lonel Prentiss lngraharn.
Seth Jonea; or Ths Captives oi thr Frontier. By E. 8. Ellis.
Adventures 0 Daron Mum-housen.

Todd} or, The Fate of the Sioux Captives. By E. 5. Ellis.
The Two Detectives. B ' Alimt W. Aiksn.
Gulliver'a Truvelss. A oyugo to Liiiput, and a Voyage to

Brohdinxnag. liy Dean Swift.

The I’IIIIID Egg. Hy Oil Gnomes.

Aladdin; or, e Wondsrtul Lamp.

'l‘he Ken-Cut. By Ca tnin Frodorlck Whittaker.
Roblnaon Crusoe. (7 lllllltrutinnng‘ B Defoe.

“Ill 11 Ho , tho liny Bun-cancer. lly ml.l’reutiu lngrahrun.
Blu bad i. e Hallor. From the Arabian Nights.

The Phantom pr. By Bufl’nlo lsill.

The Double Daggers. By Edwnrd L. “'lluellt‘f.

1 The Frontier Angel. By Edward 5. Ellis.

22 The Best rer ent; nr,'l‘he Boy Robinson Crusoe. By J. Lewis.
28 Nick 0‘ the Ifighta or The Boy Spy of'lfi. By T. C. llnrhaugh.
34 Diamond Dir . v éoionel l’rontins lngmimtn.

5 The lloy Onptnln. ll Roger Sturbuvk.

28 Clove-n loot, the Butla 0 Demon. By Edward L. “'hmlur.
27 Antelope A110, the Boy Guido. ByOlI Comm».

214 Dulqu lien, the Prince of the Pistol. By E L. Whoelrr
211 The Dnsnb 1 a e. B 'Cnptain Frvdvrirk Whittaker.

80 [touring ilulp Roe wood. By llnrr ' St. Gym-u,

81 keen-knife. 'rluro of the l’rairios. li Oil Comma.

82 Bob Wooll’. the Border ltutiinn. By Edward L. Whaler.
88 The (Menu Bloodhound. By S. W. l’iercs.

84 (Ire on tho]. isy (Tnpiuin J. F. C. Admm.
85 “Imam, tlm lioyguudo Duvnl. By E. L. “'lmelvr.
88 e o Chfim. , mai 3. Finn.

87 The Ill den Lod e. By T. C. liurbuugh.

11 Ned W Me. the l ny Scout. By Tuna Junk.
89 Depth- nee, the Detective. liy Edwurd i.. Whoslsr.
40 Roving Bess. By John J. Mnrnhnil.

11h“ 2‘9
2
D
o

puny-unsung was.
ems-0a

tu-k, tin: mung Dliifluillflt‘r. By Oil Coonlrs.

unto-n Miner. By Edwnrd L. “'hvelur.

48 Dick Darling, tho Pony Express liidrr. By Capt. Whittnllrr.
44 Iiuttlln Rube. liy llttrr) St. iieorfin.

4:. uld Avu nnelse, tl... an”: Annihilutnr. By 1:. L. “'lIm-ln-r.
‘16 Gill” Eye. tho (irrnt Shot. ol'ihu \l'enl. liy J. l". ('. Admin.
47 Nightingale Nut‘ or, Tho Forrnt 1‘1llllfllllii. lly llnrhnnKll. '
4H Illnek John. the Road-Agent. llt' Joseph E. [twirl-r, Jr.

49 0111111111 011. the Mmked ’l'urror. By 1" lwnrd l.. “'heulcr.
Ml iilll'i; lilillke , the Trn upur. liy (7. B. l..'|tlltll"-
51 The "0g ltillea n", ’l he Underground (Wimp.
52 The W Ite Ilu nlo.

 

ii) A. C. iron.
liy C. l‘). Lumsllr.

58 Jim llludnoe Jr., Iholiny l'hu-niy. iiy ii. i. thler.
D4 Ned Iluzel, t to Iioy Trnmmr. liy ('upt. J. F. C. Adonis.
r35 llestsilv-I‘Iye. Illr Unknown Scout. liy iiuilhlo Hill.
56 Niolfl W lliiflt‘n’ i’el. liv Cnplltin .l. l'. i,‘. Animus.
5? Deadwood Dick‘s Eumlea. Ii} l'Iduurd L. Win-eler.
55 The liorder King; or. 'l‘hu' Sm n-t Foe. liv ml (‘onnws
59 Old llloka‘yx or. immiy Ellis's Snip. My Hurry St. George.
80 The While illillflll. li\ i‘nl-inill .l. l‘. (7. .‘\tlit"‘-l.
ill Iillcklsuru Bill; or, Thu limi lilile Tt‘lllll. liy E. L. Wheeler.
82 The fihudow Filip. Hy ('olum-l l’runtisa lnumhnn.
68 The Red Brotherhood. liy W. J. Hamilton.
6-} Dund 'Juek. By '1‘. F». ihrimmh.
6» liurr enm- ltiil. M .meh i:. lindgur, Jr.
60 Mngle "and; or. A Life for it Life. liv W. J. Hamilton.
‘17 l’utent-lmuther Joe. lly Philip S. ii'lnnn.
(ill The Border ltubin lloml. liv llun'uio hill.
09 Gold llllle. tho Shur isllm-lur. llv Edward L. Whorler.

0 01d iilll't‘ ('llbltl. l\' ('upinin J. l". i '. Adams.
71 Delaware Dick, Ihw Young Hunger Spy. ll) (ill (700mm.
72 Mad 'l‘om \V enter". the Turn: it IIIKHI’. iiy W.J. llnmilion.
78 Deudwood Dick on Del-k. lly Edward L. Wheeler.
7-1 IIuwk-eye llurry. liy Uli Comm-s.
‘35 The Iloy Duell-‘t. liy i‘oloml l'remi-u lnr'nhnm.
7“ Abe Colt, tho- (‘ruw-Kiih-r. By Athert \\'. Aiken.
77 Corsiuroyl'f‘horllo, the lloy llrmu. Ii) E. L. Wheeler.

- ’. By i‘nptltln Mnyne Reid.

9 Hal Ginger. tho (hnnt’i‘mpper. By Allwrt W. Aiken.
80 Idolt‘bull Rob. B)‘ Ederd L. “ hos-ior.
1‘1 Lightning Jo. By (‘nptnln .l. l". (l. Adums.
82 Kit ilnrel'oot tho, Womi-lluwk. By T. (‘. llnrbnngh.
88 Rollo, the Boy lhtnger. By ()ii Comma.
24 ldyl. the Girl Miner. By Edwsrd l.. “'hm‘lrr.
.5 lluek Duekrnm. liy (Tnptuln J. F. C. Adonis.
K8 Dund Rook, the Mun from Texas. By G. “'lthlo Brown.
D? The and I’Irntel. B ' Cn tniu Mayne Reid.
88 Photo rupll I'hll. the oy .‘h-uth. iv E. L. Whooler.
29 inlan Jim. By the author ot“‘Jnck Harkawny.”
90 The Dread ill er. I! George Waldo Bron-no.
91 The. Captain ofthe C lib. B)’ Brnrohridgv llvmyng.
92 Can ada Chet, tho Coltnterfoltor (.‘hiot. By E. L. Wheeler.
98 The 110 Miners. Br Edward S. Ellis.
94 Midnlg nt Jack, 1h.- IlnmlAKsnt. By T. C. llnrbanzh.
95 The Rival Rovers. By Lieut. Col. ilnultluo.
96 Watch-Eye, tho- Shndow. By Edward L. Wheeler.
97 The flutlaw Brother-u. By John J. Marshnll.
93 Ilohl Iiood, tho Outinwc-d Eml. By Prof. (-‘ildersleen.
99 The 'l lgcr of’l‘uul. By (lemma Waldo Brown».
100 Deadwood Dick in Lendvllle. By E. L. Wheeler.
101 Jot-k llnrkawuy in New \ ork. llrm'ebrldge liemyng.
102 Dick Dead. Eye. By Coloan Prenth lngrnhnm.
108 The Lion oi'tlle Sea. By Colonel Dslio Sara.
104 Don wood Dlek‘a lbs-Jive. By Edward L Wheelsr.
05 Did lube, tho lluntsr. By Captain ll. llulmel.
08 Did Frosty, the Guide. By T. C. iiarbaugh.
0'! tine-Eyed 81m. Bv Jmms L. Bowsn.
08 During Davy, the Young limr-Kilinr. By H. St. Genrgs.
Deadwood Dis-k as Detective. By E. L. Wheeler.
he Dim-I. Steed ot‘ the Prairies. By J. L. Bowen.
he Seu-Dcvll. ‘ By Colonel Prentiss lngrnham.
he Mud Hunter. By Burton Sun.
ck Iioyle the Young: Speculatnr. By 15.. L. Wheeler.
he llluek Schooner. By Roger Starbuck.
he Mid Miner. By (looms Wsldo Browne.
he Iluaaar Cartons. By Col. Prentiss Lip-sham.
t-Edged Die '. By Edwan L. thsler.
ll Somera, the Bar Dv-tsctlvs. Bv Charles Morris.
uatnng Sam or,‘i'ho King of tho Plains. By J. E. Bsdgor.
‘he Branded land. B Frank Dumont.
innumon Chip, the Girl port. it E. L. “'hoaler.
1’11“ Hardy, the Boss Buy. By Char es Morris.
1211 Klown Charley, the White ii ustnngsr. By T. C. Hnrbangh.
any. the '1‘ By George Gleason.
125 Bonanza Bill. Miner. By Edwnrrl L. Wheeler.
126 Plus 'une Pete. By Charla Morris
12? WII .Flre. the Boss oftho Road. 8 Frank Dumont.
128 The Young Privateer. Hy H. .svemllsh.
9 Deadwood Dick's Double. By Edward L. “'healsr.
Detective Dick. By (‘hnrh-s Morris.

he Golden "and. By George wuido Browns.
The Ilunted lluntor. By Edward 5. Ellis.
Ito-c.1601) the King of the Bootblnsks. By E. L Whaler.
Sure. Shot Beth. By Oil Co mas. '
‘ Cuntuln l’aul. By C. Dunnng Finrk.
Night-Howl; Kit. By .10??le E. Badger. Jr.
The llelrlels "and. B n tsin Mayne Reid.
Blonde lill. ii Edwar L. 'hoeler.
Judge Lynch, r. By T. C. Hnrbaugh.

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Blue. Blazes. liy Frnnk Dumont.
& (1 Sum, ths Boy Road-Agent. By Ed. L Whaler.
Handsome Harry. By Charles Morris.

Hear-Face Haul. itv,0ii Coomos.

'144‘Dalnt 1. nee, lilo Bo Sport. B Joseph E Bad‘gorwll.
'1“ Gupta n' erret, the . ew York 1:

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148 Silver litur. the Boy Knight. By (til ('oomea.

14? “'ill Wildii the Thoroughbnd. By Charles Harris-
148 Sharp Ham r J. Aiuauder l’nthu.

149 A Game of Gold. 1:? Edward 1.. Winch-r.

150 Lance and . y Captain Frsderlck “'hittakar.
161 Panther Paul, the Prairie l’irnio. ii - Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
152 Blur-k Bests. Vi ill Wildtirs’s Btu-«r. y Charles Morria
158 Eagle Kit. the Ho Demon. By Oil Coomos.

154 The Sword liun rs. Byi‘Ca rt. Frederick Whittakor.
166 Gold Trigger, the Sp!er y . C. lisrbuugh.

156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood. By E. L. Whoelor.
157 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. By Charles Morris.
1158 Funey Frank of Colorado. By Bull'an Bill.
159 The Lost Captain. By Captain Fmdsrlck Whmskg.
160 The liluek Giant. By Joseph B. Badger, Jr.
161 New York Nell. By Edward L Whmlsn
182 “(ill “' lldllre in the Woods. By Charles Morris.
168 Little Texan, the Young Mustang". By Oil Coon!“
16-1: Dnndy Rock's Pledge. By George Waldo Brown.
185 Billy Baggage, the Railroad Buy. By Charla. Morris.
166 Iiiekory llurry. By iinrry St. George.
167 Anus Scott. the Stcsmhont Buy. By Edward win“;
188 Deadly Din-h. By Jom'ph E. limlger, Jr.
169 Tornado Tom. By T. C. llnrhnnzh.
170 A Trump Curd. Br Charla Morris.
171 Ebony Dun. By Frank Dulnunt.
172 Thunderbolt Tom. By Barry St. (horns.
1711 Dandy Rock's “anl. By George “.nldn Browns.
174 Bob Itookett. the Buy Dodgor. By (‘hnrles Martin.
175 (‘uptuln Arizona. By Philip S. \1'Itnle.
170 The Boy ltunuwuy. Hy Lientvnant ll. ll l’u-rr), l'..‘..\'.
1'17 hobby Nick 01’ Nevada. By Edward l.. “‘herlel’.
IYH Old Solitary. the Hermit. Trapper. ll; Oil (Women.
179 1101) Roekett. the Bank Runner. liy Charles Morris.
1130 The Ben Truller. l’iy Lieutenant ll. D. l’wrry, U.S.N.
1%! “'11d Frank ol'liontnnu. By Edward L. Win-sin.
1B2 Little llurrlossno. tlm Buy (‘ttptuiih ii; on (names.
1!“ The Hidden "and. By (‘harlvs Morris.
1K! The lloy Trulleru. Ii) .ltnlt'pll E. lllulgs-l’, Jr.
1H5 Evil Eye. King of tho (‘attio Thiums. liy hunk l)ulnoni.
1’46 (‘001 Denmond. liy ('olrmcl Drllu: Sum.
19"? 1"er llulynrd. the Life Bout Boy. liy ('hnrlrs Morris.
1748 Ned Temple, thr liordt'r iioy. By '1'. (7. ll lrimugh.
189 Bob Hockett. the (.‘mcksnmn. By (Ilmrles Morris.
190 Dundy Durke. liy Willium R. Eyster.
191 llull’ulo Hilly. the Boy liullwhnt‘ker. By Capt. A. B. Taylor.
192 (‘uptuln Kit. the VVH-u‘dhe—Winp. lly Lient. Perry.
193 T he liuily Rood-Agent. By Philip S. “'srns.
1' l llull’ulo lllll‘s Bet. By Cnptuin Tnylor.
195 Deadwood Dick's Drestm. iiy Edwnrd L. Wheeler.
194i Hlutdowed. liy (‘harlvs Morris.
19? Little Grit. the Wild Rider. By Col. Prentiss lngrahnm.
193 Arkunaxtw. im- \inn with the Knife. By T. C. llarbnurh.
199 1“eutheru right. ii; Edwnrd Wiiiott.
200 The lloy Iledoulna. liy ('upt. limerick Whittaker.
201 The lllm-k Ililh- Jezebel. ii) Edward L. Whenler.
202 Prosper-t Pete. of the Boy Brigade. By Oil Comm...
208 The Boy l’urda. liy .lmiupll E. lindgu‘r, Jr.
20-! Gold l’lume. the tiny Bandit. By (‘ol. i’rcnliss lngrahnm.
205 Deadwood Dick's Doom. By Edward L. VVheeier.
208 Dark Paul. the Tiger King. lly Charis» Morris.
20? Navajo Nick, the lloy Gold llnntor. By T. C. llarlmugh.
20B The lloy llert-ulea. By ()il Comma.
209 Fritz, tlm Bound-lloy lletertivo. By Edward l.. Wheolor.
210 Faro Frank ol'illgh l’lne. By Willimn R. Eysur.
211 (‘rooked Cole. By Joseph E. "with", Jr.

12 Dashing Dove. this Dandy llrtrrtiw. By Charles Morris.
218 Fritz to the Front. By Edward L. Wlms‘er.
21-1 Wolfgang. tho Robber of the Rhino. By Capt. Whittaker.
215 Captain Bullet. tho Raider King. By T. C. Harhangh.
21‘. lilaon Bill. the- l’rlm-o of tho Reins. By Col. 1’. lng-raham.
21’? Captain Crook-Shot. By Edward L. Winselsr.
218 Tiger Tom, tho Toxsn Terror. By Oil Coomss.
219 Deapurd. the Duelist. By Philips. Warns.
220 Tom Tanner, Sahara; and Scapogracs. By Chas. Morris.
221 Sugar-Coated Sum. By Edward L. Wheeler.
222 Grit. the Bravo Sport. By Col. Prontiss ingrahsm.
228 (iznrk Alf. King ol'the Mountain. By Edward Willott.
224 Dashing Diek. By hil Commas.
223$ Barn Charcoal. the Premium Darky. By Charles Morris.
228 Snoozer. the Buy Sharp. By Edward L. Wheelsr.
227 Dusky Darrell. Trapper. By E. Emerson.
228 Little “'ildllre. By Oil Coomos.
229 Crimson Kate. By colonel Pnntiss lugraham.
280 The Yankee Rujnh. By C. Dunning Clsrk.
281 Plucky Phil. of tho Mountain Trail. By T. C. Harbng
282 Gold-Dust Dlok. By Edward L. Wheeler.
288 Joe Buck ofAngs-ia. By Albert W. Aiken.
284 old Rooky'l “ Boyees.” By Buckskin Sam.
285 flhadow Earn. the .‘iemnzer Boy. By Chariot Morris
288 Apollo Bill. By Edward L. “'hsolrr.
'8? Lone Star. the (‘owboy Captain. By Col. iomhsrn.
288 The Parson Detective. By ()li Coomss.
289 The Gold-seeker Guide. By Captain Mayne Bold.
240 Cyclone Hit. By Edward L. Wheeler.
241 Bill Bravo and Ills Bear l’arda. By T. C. Hal-bangh.
242 The Two-“ Bloods.” By Charle Mums.
248 The Disguise-d Guide. By Oil Coomu.
244 Sierra Sam. By Edward L. Wheeler.
248 Merle, the Middy. By Colonel I‘rsntias lng‘rnhun
246 Giant. George. By Buckskin Sum.
24? Old Grizzly nod 111— Pet». By Capt.“ Brain” Adams.
248 Sierra Sam‘s Secret. By Edward L.Wl1eeler.
248 Milo homer, the Animal King. By Cnp‘t. Fred. Whittaker.
250 The Midshipman Mutlneer. By Col. 1’. lngrshsrn.
251 Light-house Lige, By Captain J. F. C. Adams.
252 Dick Dashaway. By Charles Morris.

258 Sierra Sam‘s Pard. By Edward 1.. Wheeler.

 

254 The Half-Blood. By Edward 5. Ellis.

2515 (iaptnln Apollo. By '1'. C. iiarbaugh.

256 Young Kenturk. By Captain Mark Wilton.

257 The Lost Hunters. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams.

258 Sierra Sam's fieven. By Edward L. Whosisr.

269 The Golden Harpoon. By Rog" Smooch.

280 Dare-Devil Dan. By Oil Coon-tol-

281 Fergus Feurnaught. By (Inorgs L Aiken.

262 The Young Sleuths. By ('hurlua Morris.

288 Deadwood Dlek‘a Divide. By Edward L. Whulu.

264 The Floating Feather. By Col. P. lngrshsm. l
265 The Tiger Tamer. By Captain Fred. Whittaksv.

266 Killb'nr. the. Guide. By Ensign Wane-n.

287 The Buckskin Detective. By '1‘. C. ilarhsugh

268 Deadwood Dick‘s Death Troll. By E. L thalsr.
289 The Gold l‘hlp. By Col. Prentiss lngraham.

270 Blizzard lien. ily Captain Mark Wilton.

an The Huge. Ilunter. 'ny Edward s. an».

272 Mlnkskln Mike. By Oil (homes.

273 Jumbo Joe. By Edward L “'ltoslor.

274 Jolly Jim. By (‘harlrs Morris

275 Arizona-lurk. By liurkskin Sam.

278 Merle Monte‘a Cruise. My Colonel l‘rontiu. irmhs‘
2?? Denver Doll. .By Edward L. Whack-r.

278 The Three Trapper». By Major Lewis W. Carson.

279 Did \Vlneh, l-llt‘ Ritir King. By T. (l. llarhnngh.

2H0 Merle Monte's Fate.
281 Denver Doll's \ lr-tory.
282 The Typo Detet-tiye. Hr Edward Willott.

288 Indian Joe. “y Mnjnr Lewis W. Carson.

284 The Hen Muruudrr. lly (‘olnnel Prentiss tombsns.
246 Denver Doll'n Des-0y. By Edward L. Who-slur.

2N6 Josh. the lloy Teudrrt’oot. By Capt. Mark Wilton.
287 Billy Blue-Eye's. iiy (,‘olnnol Pmntlss lngrnhllh.
288 The “0qu King. liy Captain J. F. C. Adsms.

2B9 Jolly .llln’n Job. My ('hrtrlrn Morris

290 Little Foxfire. li)‘ 0” Channel.

291 Turk, the Ferret. liy Eduard L. Wheeler.

292 l‘unvho Pedro. By Major R. L. St. Vrsin.

298 Red (‘law. the One-Eyod Trapper. By Captain Com-took.
294 Dynamite Dan. By 1‘. C. llsrhsugh. .
295 Fearless i’hll. By Edward “'illott.

296 Denver Doll‘s Drill. By Edward L. Wheel".

29? The Tarantula ot’ Tana. By Burk-kin Sam.

298 The “'ater-llound. liy Charles Murrll.

299 A No. 1. the Dashing Toll-Tn". By Edward l. “'hesisl.
800 The Sky Demon. iiyilll Cunmcs.

801 lwudvllle Nivk. By Mnjur E. L. St. Vraln.

802 The lionntulu Deter-the. liy 1‘. (1. liurimugh.
308 1.11.“ Jane. the HM Mini-r. By E. L. \th-ler.

80-1 The Dead hhot Dandy. liv Coloml Prrntis- lnmnnm
805 Dunhuwuy. 01‘ Dakota. liy ('harlu Morris

806 Nevis-Tic Ned. li_\ Mnjor ll. ii. Stmidnrd.

307 The. Strange l'urd. liy liuckakin Sam.

808 Reno Kit, the Boy liugler'n l‘nrd. By Col. i'. lngrlhatn.

lty Col. Prentiss hum-sham.
By Edward l.. Wheeler.

8019 Deadwood Dlt-k'a Ilig Deal. By E. L. Whesler.

810 The l‘urrum-n “'oit’. By Joseph E. Budgar, Jr.

811 The i{0\ lug fiport. liy Edwunl Willott.

812 Redtop Rube. thr Vigilante Prince. iiy Maj. E. L. St. \‘rsil.
BIB (‘imstrron Jot-k. liy Froderick Dewey.

814 The Mysterious Marauder. By (201.1’. lazuli-In-
315 Ned. the (‘ssbln Boy. lly Jack Farragut.

818 Did Hellple. Trump (Iard o! Arisuna. By T. C. llsrbong'h.
817 Pew-00k l’ete. By Llrutmmnt Alirsd Thorns.

818 Ker-whoop. Ker-u hon! By liurkskin Sam.

819 The “look Rider. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

820 The Ben floreereu. By Jack Fsrmgut

821 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen. By Edward L “‘hoolal.
822 Nrmo. the Detective. By Edwsrd Willatt.

828 Arkansuw Jar-k. By Harry Hazard.

824 Ralph Ready. tho iioui Boy Detsctirs. B) to. Morris.

3215 Kelley, suck” 4-. Company, mi’sncutb- of rho-dolphin.
By Edward L. thelor.

828 The Ten Parda; or, Tho Terror of TsksNt tirs. ll)- T. C
ilsrhaugh.

827 (‘reeplng Cat, the Coddo. By Burkskin Sun.

822 The Sky Detectives. By Major Nicks, FIDO.

829 Red-flkin Tom. 83' Harry Hazard.

880 Little Quick-Shot. By Edward L. Wheeler.

881 Black Nick, the Demon Rider. By (1an Fred. Whittalsr.
882 Frlo Fred. By Buckskin Ssm.

sac Brim-t ne Bob. and ill Li M i Home 0"".-
“gw, lily Major E. L. St. Vr’rlln. I n u

884 Kunguroo Kit; or,Ths Mysterious Minor. By 1!. L. “along.
88:) old Double Fiat. By Joseph E. Bath", Jr.

886 Big Benson. By T. C. tlarbssgh.

887 Bell Bird. the Can King. By W. J. Hamilton.

888 A Tough Boy. By Philip S. Warns.

889 Kangaroo Klt's Racket. "y lWWI"! L- Wheeler.

340 Clip. the Contortloniat. By Edward Wills-ti.

8-11 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Dotoctlvo. By Charles Mom
842 The Mountain Devil. By Barry Hum].

848 Manhattan Mike. By Edward L. Whaslsr.

8-14 The Fighting Trio. By Buckskin Sam.

345 Pltilcaa Matt. By 10- Hub-ugh.

840 Rapier Raphael. By Major n. B. Stoddard.

847 Deadwood Dick” Dlfl'nil. By Edward L Whaler.

843 Fire-Heels; or, Old Skintllnt the Dustin-Shadow. 2"
Roger Sturhuck.

849 Wild Wolf. the Waco. By Buckskin Sam.
850 Beds Ralph. the River Rover. By Nod Buntilm.
A New lune Every Tuesday.
The Half-Nine Library is for sale by all nswsdsslcrs. In.
0.1"." per copy. or son! by mail on raceipt of six cont: each.
BEADLE AND ADAMS. Publishers.
98 William Street. New ink.