FIFTH EDI'IDUA

 

 

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Copyright. 1884. by BEADLE AND ADAMS. October 21. IR“.

 

Sin le PUBLISHED \VICI‘IKLY BY DICADLIC AND ADAMS, Price. '
VOl' XV’ Nun: 61’- No. 98 WILLIAM STREET. NEW YORK. 5 Cents- NO' 

 

NABOB NED; or, The Secret of Slab City.

BY EDWARD L. WHEELER,

AUTHOR or “ munwoon mcx ” NOVELS, “ROSEBUD ROB ” NOVELS, “ DENVER DOLL” NOVELS, 1:10., ETC.

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“ I’LL CUT YOUR HEART OUT!” AND THE BLADE WAS DESCENDING WHEN SPERRA’S ARM WAS CAUGHT BY ONE MAN’S RIGHT-HAND GRAB’.

 

  

  
 
 

  

 'I Nabob Ned.

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Nabob Ned;

THE SECRET OF SLAB CITY.

_J——

BY EDWARD L. WHEELER,
aurnon or “ naanwoon DICK.” NOVELS, “ DEN-
vnn DOLL." NOVELS, " SIERRA sari,”
“YREKA JIM,” ETC., ETC.

 

CHAPTER I.
A PLACE FOR RENT.

“ FOR RENT!

“These premises will be rented cheap to a good,
responsible tenant. who has the courage of a lion,
the gall of aside-show fakir, and the strength of a
Hercules. No other than one answering to the
above description need apply.

“ Nanon Nan.
“ Slab Citfi,
" on."

A characteristic sign it was, considering all
circumstances. _

Twenty miles from Heron station, on the
Northern Pacific R. It, which is considered'the
nearest point of ingress to the Coeur d’Alene
mining region from Montana Terrltory—lo-
cated deep down in a gulch with loft pine-
crowned Walls towering abovo, is Slab it .

Geological surveys never did anything for the
place—newer will.

A wild-cat enthusiast from “up-country,”
with more saw-mill than geographical knowl-
edge, awoke one morning in the full belief that
the place was on the line of the direct route to
E igle City and there was a little fortune there,
ga ing for some one to gobble up.

This man, for the sake of reverence we have
for the elephant he had on his hands, we will
call John Smith; be had a barrel of money, a
hogshead of conceit, and a little experience;
with these he started out to build Slab City.
He moved his tools down from Plainville—the
tools consisting of the only split saw boiler and
engine in that immediate portion of, the Terri-
tory, five mill hands, a dog and a burro—load of
sleeping material—and began work.

The one redeeming quality of Smithwas that
be was chock-full of ambition, and as a result
of his combined ambition and enthusiasm, the
tall pines began to “ drop,” and in a short space
of time both cabins and sham ties began to loom
up. and Slab City had its start. .

When the accommodations for population had
shaped up to something like a con e of score or
more of abodes—it occurred to mith that he
had better begin to boom the place,” in order'to
attract some "summer boarders,” before the
next fall of snow came—thOSe eternal snows,
for which the Caur d’Alene region is noted.

So Smith opened his'heart. and likewise his
“ bar’l," and the result of an ingenious amount
of “ fiushin ,’" was a stampede.

The peop e' came—of the.wild, feverish sort,
that make up the population of every; mush-
room mining~city, which is enough to say of
them, at present.

Mr. Smith occupied a cabin, that was both
residence and office. Here, he had on exhibition
s cimens of gold, in the way of nuggets and

u t. which he claimed to have taken out of the‘
gulch, in various places—and Mr. Smith had
oth claims to sell, and houses to rent.

In fact, for awhile, he did a flourishing busi-
ness, and coined money. '

Many disgusted mortals putting put of Eagle
City, wandered over to Slab City. while art of
the influx to the first-named place, unto unate—
ly green as to the “ white elephant cam p,” were
induced to t Slab City first.

For a coup e of weeks, Slab City filled up in a
way that should haVe made its founder feel
proud but for the fact that he had a guilty con-
science, and, maybe, a foreboding of coming
trouble. r .

Had he been possessed of the evenings sense of
a burro, hewould have folded h s. tent and
stolen away.

But he didn’t.

Day by day. he sat in his omce and listened.

to the rattle of cash, as Nabob Ned took it in.
' Nabob Ned was, a “scholar,” from the
whom Mr. John Smith had hired to handle his
cash, and keep the kinks out of his accounts.
‘Day b day sanguine miners delved and pros-
t rou bout Slab City gulch, and nightly
if; efliress one of dissatisfaction grew louder
on er. ‘
, Finally, one of John Smith’s mill-hands, who
had boon with Smith from the time of his arri-
- ' vol. was visited in the dead of night by a dele-

  

 

East,'

 
  

 

had recently paid the money, and beside the

gation of indignant miners, and requested, at
the point of the pistol, to divulge any little stray
facts he might possess.

He was not one of the most stubbornly heroic
men in the world, and the persuasive induce-
ments ofifered him, to be confidential, had the
desired effect.

He narrated how Smith had really dug the
auriferous specimens which he had exhibited
from different parts of the gulch, but he had
first planted them there. To insure the success
of his town, he had flushed it, at several thou-
sand dollars expense, and recaptured a part of
the “plant,”.leaving the rest to be .found by
the sanguine fortune hunters.

t was a very cute, although not original
scheme, on the part of Smith; but, owing to
the lack of proper early training, this delega-
tion of miners failed to appreciate Smith’s
cleverness, and they waited upon lzim in short
order, and hung him to a limb of the sighing
pine, some of whose branches swept the roof of
his cabin.

Nabob Ned was then persuaded to hand over
Smith’s cash. and then was apprised that he
and Slab City could go to the Antipodes.
bléift’er which proceedings the delegation “ am-

e . ,

This was a part of the early history of Slab
City; but not all, for there remains much, yet,
to be told.

Nabob Ned, with an e e to business, closed
the Smith cabin, and nai ed the simple sign of
“ For Rent ” to‘ the door. Assisted by some
of the more humane citizens, he cut down
Smith’s body before it was yet cold. and plant-
ed it, at the side of the cabin, which, by the
way, stood on the outskirts of the camp. Full
three feet of earth did they put ovm' Smith‘s
remains, with tho evident intention of making
him “stay thar.”

But, Smith, pr‘ctically speaking, “didn’t
stay worth a cent ”—at least, so it was asserted.

The circumstances warrantin this assertion,
were somewhat after the followmg order:

Nabob Ned having removed to the Bung-Eye
Hotel, kept by Bung-Eye Jake, was waited on
bya party, who introduced himself as Scotty
Shannon, of ’Shian.

Scotty was a onderous, broad-chested indi-
vidual, who loo ed e no! to annihilating an
iced-dozen of dapper ittle fellows like Nabob
Ned, but, instead of being of the blustering
order of humans Scotty appeared to have been
reared in the lap of good-nature, if not luxury,

“You have a shebang to let, up hyer, Isee,”,
he said to Ned, tackling business at once.

“ A sheb .ng we have” Ned hastened to as-
sent. taking out a form of blank leases. “ It is
alittle palace in its way. and the former pro-
prietor, having just passed in his coupons, the
place is to let. ’Would. you believe it, sir, I
have already had numerous applications for the
house?”

. “Why haven’t ye‘let ’er then?” Scotty de-
manded, regarding the agent, in the light of a
confirmed liar. r

“Obi because they were not responsible par-
ties. WhOever takes the place, must take it for
a year. and come down with spot cash, in ad-
vance?” ‘ .

“ And, wh , thusly?’

“ Because am so pressed with business, that
I cannot be bothered with the palace.”

“ Of what did the former proprietor shuflle,
may I inquire?” ‘

“0h, cert’l He died of a throat aflection,
brought on by wearing too tight a collar, made
of hem .”

“ Ah! Did he kick, particularly, or threaten
ter wander back ag’ini’

“ Oh, no; not a kick or threat.”

“ You yourself planted him?"

“ Oh, you betl—planted him in Prayer Book
order. right near the shebang.”

“ HOw deep?”

“ Three feet, at least, and well ballasted, with
stone.”

“ What's the taxation?”

“ Well, I’ll tell you; you seem like a pretty
straight sort of hairpin—I‘ll put you up and
label you, at two hundred, for the whole year,
which is dirt cheap!"

“ Taken 1” Mr. Scotty Shannon agreed, de-
positing the required sum in Ned’s hands.
“ Just give me the key, and I’ll take a look at
the ranch, before I take possession wi’ my
wife an’ darteri?’ ' v '

The key was only too willirli‘glg handed over,
and “ the lucre” corraled by . ~
Scotty took his departure.
Within half an hour, he returned.

He laid the key upon the table over which he

   
 

  

 

 

 

key a “six,” which had the appearance of look-
ing for something to do.

“ Well, sir, did the place suit you!” Ned venv
tured to inquire, secretly wondering how Mr.
Shannon came by a fresbbruise alongside his
nose.

“ Yas, et suits me—to let alone,” was the re-
ply. “ Young man, yer early trainin’ has been
sadly neglected; ye’r a liar, a thief and a fraud,
and for six cents’ worth of soap—grease l’ll swal-
ler ye whole ”

“ Great Heavenl what’s the matter?” the
agent demanded, fearing instant annihilation.
“ W hat’s gone wrong?”

“ Wrong?" echoed Scotty, tragically —
“wrong? Did you not declare ter me thet ye

lanted him three fut deep, an' put stun on him
in the bargain?"

“ l’ll swear to it, and can furnish ample
proof, sir!”

“Then ye’d better go an’ do ther job over.
As a high kicker be aire great, as you kin see
by ther bruise on my cheek-bone. Young men,
I don’t banker after that aire shebang, but I do
went back my money. So the quicker you fork
it (war, the more years ‘ you will hev ter live.
Come down i” '

Nahob Ned did not hesitate. ‘

There was cardinal red in Mr. Shannon’s eye.
and the two hundred dollars were returned
V-‘llll a promptness that seemed to establish Mr.
Ned’s business capacity. ' ' '

Mr. Shannon then departed.

He did not'even take one lingering, regretful.
backward look at John Smith’s executor, but
marched with the air of a man who was highly
content. '

After he was gone, Nabob Ned. summoned ‘
those citiZens who had assisted in planting Mr.
Smith, and related Mr. Scotty Shannon’s aver-
red experience.

As a result, a visit and invastigation were de-

cided upon, and the party set out for the cabin
at the early edge of evening. _
' When they arrived within a few yards of It.
the door was discoVered to be standing wide
open, while in the doorway stood the cadoVer-
of John Smith. erect and without support,
other than that furnished by the rigid limbs.

Fastened to his breast was the sign which had
been nailed to the door: .

“ FOR RENT.”

Smith’s corpse was rue-buried, and then a new
sign was put up—that mentioned at the begin-
ning of our narrative. I

 

CHAPTER II.
I A TIMELY RESCUE. .
Tan sign was allowed to remain upon the
door of John Smith's former abode; nor did his
remains again wander from their proper place
of repose.

But the odor of mystery clung about the

cabin, and it was declared haunted. 
This fact did not deter others than Scotty V
Shannon from trying at tenonc . ‘
Repeated tests were made by bold dare-
devils, who sought notoriety; but in each case. .
the tester gavo up the job, satisfied that the
su ernatural possessed the cabin.
n the mean time, within a couple of weeks

after the first manifestations, it was discovered , .,

that gold in paying quantities really did exist
in the gulch, and that, after all, Slab City’s
success was not likely to provea delusion.

Stock went booming, and the fever broke out
anew, brighteninig man countenances that had
before been clou ed an fierce, and tripling the ‘
receipts of the drinking-bars within a day’s .
time. -

Now that the prospects of the camp were I
the town was a bun of .

again “ ’way up in G,’
excitement and hilarity, and general good fel~
lowship reigned among the rough c owd. '
The miners got-their tools in wor ing order;
the gamblers rubbed their hands in uxpectation .
of replenishing their crushed pocket-books.
The saw-mill rusu ~ ed “ork. and new dwell-

ings began to si‘ocr up. ir anticipation of a “J "

non-ed rush, mu'.‘ Nr‘lmb Neil once more reigned
as one of the mos' imi‘r‘rranv individuals in the

camp. from the fur-r t‘ M: be claimed the late  I
John Smith prrperf y, by right of bPlng formers. w I, .

1y Smith’s I'tht-h‘HWi 'nfin' 'nd [)0 One stop/an

ready to dispute l-ia right. ‘ 1'
A dapper little individual was Nabob med,

with spindling leggaqu shoulders not remark;

, , "’ '1
able for their promise of strength. From all up-  w
pearances, Nature must have designed him funk; 

a dry-goods clerk, or some other light vocation,

since he was not muscular and impoung of gap.»

penance, nor had he as yet shown any-em
ibitionso belligersney and gm, .3 -’ .. W .

 
   
 
 

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. . v' floor.
' [left the table,a
 and was upon his alien partner-at-cards.

 
  
  

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Nahob Ned.

 

 

 

 

He was what a lady might call pretty—a
pretty dude—and with his gracelul mustache,
center-shot hair, and war careful regard to the
arrangement of his attire, won the appellation
of “ Nlibob ”—niaking hitn Nabob Ned.

The Bung-Eye Hotel was Nabob Ned’s bead-

qunrters, and when he was not otherwise occu-
.pied he could generally be found at the few or
poker-tables, where he was considered pretty
uckv.

“Stud-horse poker” reigned as the favorite
game. and his honor, Mr. Ned-his other name,
he claimed, was R useVelt—was an adept at the
game, and consequuntly seldom lost,

One wild, wet evening, when the rain our-
ed down cansalessly, and the thund r bll'iy
made the dwellings of Slab City dance upon
their foundations. Nabob Ned sat at one of the
numerous tables in the Bung-Eve, Opposi‘e a
wiry. dark-visaged individual, with blui‘k curl~
'ing hair and mustache, who looked as if he
might be of Mexican descent. -

This Mexican, Pedro Sperra, had a considera-
ble pile of gold and greenbacks before him,
while Nabob Ned had none.

“Play again. senorl” he said, in a. soft voice.
“ Never get discouraged at so slight a loss."

"‘Discouraged?" and Ned u tered a sarcastic
hugn. “ Well, I hardly believe I'm the one to
get discouraged. But, you see, I’m not exactly
the fool you take me 'o be. I might play here
with you all night without winning a pot; or if
I won a pot, it would be because you choose to
’let me do so. in order to draw me on."

“Hal Why so? You do not mean to cast
any insinuations, I trust,” and Sperra’s eyes
flashed.

“ You can take it that way, if you choose,”
'Ned replied. “I have said 1 willtplay you no
more, becausc, no matter how go'i a player I
might be, I would stand no show with you!"

“But. hold on. air. You mistake the sort of
gentleman you are talking to. A man had
better say out to me just what he means in
plain words, rather than to dodge about in hints
—it will be far better for him!’

“That matters not to me. If on feel dis-
posed to take exceptions to what said, do so.

1’ t matters very little to me whether you do, or
do not.” . ' I . .

Sperra uttered a snarl of impatience.

“If you retract, all right. I accept your
silence as an apology for your cowardice!” he
said, pointedly, and in a. way that elicited a
broad smile from the several bystanders, whom
the little bout of words had brought to the
spot. ' _

'The smile, perhaps, more than the Open in-
sult, caused an angry flush to sufluse young
Rosevelt’s face.

“See here, coMound your impudencel” he
criegfiercely. “You want to pick a fuss, don’t

on
y “Yes, sir, I am perfectly willing to accom—
modate you,” Sperm replied, calmly. “You
insinuated that had won your money by un-
fair manipulation of the cards. I retaliated by
suggesting that you were a coward. I repeat
the epithet: you are a coward among cow-
ardsl”_

Probably Pedro Sperra became forcible in his
speech because he believed that Nabob Nev-i was
acoward and would submit to insult Without
fighting. .

Then, too, the wily Mexican who was evident-
ly a man of education, wanted ,to make an im-
passion, upon the Slab Cityitos from the start,
whi h would give him further prestige as a
,“so id ’“man. _

But it so happened thathe missed his calcula-
tions, for Nabob Ned leaped lightly upon the
table, and with his right foot administered 8.

~ kick upon _the gambler‘s jaw, which elicited a
bowl 0 pain and rage from him.

‘In leaping backward from the table, Nahob
stumbled over a chair and went crashing to the
Ere he could arise, Pedro Sperra had
littering knife in his grasp,

 

 
 

.“You accursed Yank!” he hissed, clutching

I'Ned by the throat with one hand and raising

 

  
 
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
 
 

,the knife with the other: “I’ll cut your heart
out!” and the blade Was descending when Sper-
ra’s'arm was caught by one man’s right-hand

4’ mill" .
V -- The same grasp raised the Mexican 03 of

, Kabob Ned, and stood him squarely on his feet
s-the whole operation being performed without

Avon spoken. ',

And Who waa this timely rescuer!

" ' It wds a question no one could answer.

;.  He was not a giant—indeed, was about a half-

time! taller than the Mexican, and there were a;

 

 

of‘bigger men in the room than her

bleached, b sun and rain, and the same might

And aside from the fact that he was rather
good-looking, as the faces of men go there was
nothing particularly striking about his appear-
allPB.

He had a r'ecidedly firm cast of countenance,
an eagle-gray eye, and a pleasant mouth, orna-
mented with two rows of pearly teeth. His
hair he wore in a wavy mass, that rippled back
over his shoulders; a mustache, brown, like his
hair, and a slight imperial, added to his good
looks; but, his garments were rugged, and lit-
erully CoVered with mud. Consisting of stogy
boots, breeches, WOUlen shirt and corduroy
jacket, they had not originally cost a fortune,
but new looked as it they had seen hurd ser—
vice- vi hile the slouch sombrero u on his head
had been beautifully riddled with uckshot. In
lieu of a weapon-belt, a leather bridle-strap
was fastened around his waist, but no weapons
were there to set it 011'.

And this was the man—not over twenty-five
years of a —-who had picked Pedro Sperra no,
and stood im on his feet, with as much appar-
ent ease as though the Mexican had been a
mere boy.

"Thar! stood!” the newcomer admonished,,
“What war ye try in’ to git thru’ yerselt,
eraser?"

“C'aramba! I’ll show you! I’ll have your
life for this!" Sperra hiSSed, not deigning, how-
ever. to raise the knife. for, indeed he was pow-
erless to move the hand in which it was
clutched. ” I’ll cut your accursed heart out!”

“I’m bt‘tlin’ye’r’ wrong!” the stranger re-
torted, good-naturedly. “ You’re the most
harmless Greaser l chr saw. Git up, young
fellerl Wnnt’s the matter of you i”

Nahob Ned had raised himself to a sitting
posi‘ion, and was taking in the some, his face
depic‘ing his surprise.

“ Oh! there is not much the matter with me,”
he replied, “except that we had a little dispute
about cards and the Mexican called me a cow
ard. Ilticked him on the jaw, and stumbled,
in getting off the table. He mounted me then,
and was near kniflng me, I reckon!”

“Not so near as he would havo liked to bel”
and the young rescuer eyed Sperra sharply.
“ I hnin‘t no puriickler love for Groasers, my-

self, nn’ especially this hyer bud. Pedro 8 arm!”

“ How do you know me?” the exican
growled, suspiciously.

“ Jest ther same's a boss knows oats— only, a
leetle different. I've got a claim ag’in’ yer
life, me chrome-yeller snoozcr, but, just at
presant, I‘ll not make a levy. There, now! See
that ye don’t come no more monkey bizness
around hver, ag’in.”

He released his iron grasp upon the gamblcr’s
arm, at the some time speaking a few quick
words in the Spanish language, which were un-
intelligible to any of the bystanders.

Sperm glared back at him, a moment, de-
fiantly, the venom of rancorous hatred in his
glance; then, turning abruptly, he pushed his
way through the crowd and disappeared.

It became plain to all, then, that the stran-

er of the iron arm had some power ovar the

exican, wl.ich Sperra dared not resist—a fact
that excited a new element of curiosity among
the citizens of Slab City. \

CHAPTER III.
EAGLE crr‘r tin—Tau CHALLENGE.

THE stranger at once became a favorite.
Those sunburnt veterans of the mines, were
pretty accurate critics, in" their way, and they
at once “sized” the stranger as “every inch a
man, and sharp as a steel-trap.”

It was not until an hour or two after his ap-
pearance within the precincts of the Bung~Eye
that his name became known.

Then, too, it might have remained unknown
but for the fact that, an inquisitiVe mule-driver,
from Mariposa broached the subject, by Skip.
ping him on the shoulder and facing him around
to the bar. '

“Nominate yer p'izen, stranger, an’ ti us
yer handle. I’m Bi Boots,ther terror rom
Eagle City, an’ choc -full o‘narve an’ electri-
city, an’ at strikes me on the tample that I‘ve
gazed upon yer alabaster Visage afore!’

A ponderous fellow, this mule-driver, im-
mense of girth, and as dirty and seed as you
often meet ’em, out in the mounts us. His
whiskers had once been dark, but had been

 

be said of h a hair; while, as for his mouth, it
might easily have answered the purpose of
two. The endsof his” nose was one mass of seed
warts. His feet were incased in a pair of boots
larger than the largest stogies in the room, and

The young stranger eyed him a moment,
curiously; then, laughed:
, “Wel . now, I allow (you’ve got cheek!” he
declared. " As if a goo -lookiu fellcr like n2»,
could War be known by a high-minded inder-
vulual like you. By the way, howevor, faint
and dim in my recollekshun nirea shadow—a
mere ordinary shudder, w’ot luks like you. l’m
from Eagle ity, myself, nn’ when they try ter
catch me wi’ good squar’ bait, they ginerall
allow they’re flshiii’ for Eagle City Ed—which
turn my name. Now, We’ll obliterate our sor-
rows.

Tle drink was had, and Eagle City Ed turned
around, facing the crowd, and Will] his elbows
leaning on the bar, looked the assumblage over
with a curious scrutiny.

“ Yas, pilgrims,” he finally said, “I’m frum
Eagle City. Mehbe ye hev {utigcd that same,
by the broad-cloth I wear. imvc left Eagle
City with many sad rtgrets—lhet I lied never
seen et—an’ ei’ thar’s any 0’ yt u wanter go in-
side distemper paintin’ a la Doctor Tanner
there's vacancies ihnr for one or two more. I
tell ya, I went in like or lion an' slid out on me
lamb-like uppers. An‘ now, as l behold er
smilin' visages, I realize more fullsomely w at
chances in life I‘ve lost—chances fer bread an’
bacon. You will excuse me, gents, at my
auburn-haired remarks approach ther ragged
edge 0’ sarcasm, but, ye are, I’m broke wuss’n
ther egg w’ot ther elyphant stepped on.
That hydra-headed orthinological beast, hunger,
has consumed the entire unchinci' of my in—
terior man, nn’ I kin even now for him tryin’
ter gnaw ofl‘ rry suspender buttons. El? some
guloot, or galoots, wi’ more liicre than Sense.
will march up ter ther manger, and conlriltufo
a few sovereigns toward buying me a mom:-
ntent—of grub—ye shall cvcr hcv ther muscular
thanks of yer flat-fumed friend, Eagle City Ed-
ward.” '

With the ease of a side show blower, did the
strange. combination of muscle and waggishe
ness delivu‘ himself of this harangue; then tak‘
ing ofl? his bullet-riddled hat, he held it out for
the reception of aims.

For a full minute the bystanders stared at
him, as if deliberating w ether they should
Open their hearts or not; than, a man ste ped
forward. and in passing the s rt without 00k-
it: g ill gym, dropped a flvodol ar gold-piece into

ill' )1) . I

A: (1 this man was—Pedro Sperra.

Earle City Ed’s face manifested no surprise
further than a sort of humorous contraction
abr‘ut his mouth.

The mom! lcoked even mrre puzzled than he. .

“Boyees, der ye sec?’ broke in Big Boots.
“Aire ye pom’ ter let or clurned Greaser git
ahead ,0’ ye? Not far Sarah Jane! Hyer’s a
gold V, w’ot come to me, while on a spree an?
cuss’d be we, ei’  don’t give ct to heel” an the
gold-piece was flipped dcxleronsly into the air,
in? dropped alongside the other one, in the

a . . .'
Big Boots’s action was a signal for others of
the bystanders to show their liberality, and the
coins; large and small in denomination, flowed
freely into the hat. until nearly every man in
the room, eXcept Nabob Ned, had contributed
something. ' '

“Come, Nabob, ain’t ‘ye goin’ ter do some- '
thing?” a miner cried. ‘Ycu orler fer you’re
better able ter do it than ary man of usl”

Nabob‘ Ned stood leaning against the bar,
regarding his late rescuer with an uninierpret-
able stare. ,

He started at being asked foralms, and thrust
his hand down into his pocket.

“Sorry, gents, but I just lost'mv last red to
the ’cursed Mexican,” be said, slowly and drill:-
erately. “What other money I possess doors
not belong to me, but to the estate of John
Smith. Heirs may come along, some day, to
claim it.” I

“Bab!”

“ Nonsense.” ~ ’

“ That’s a nice way tor squeeze out 0’ at!”

“ Too thin!" . -

“Ye orter go soak yer head!”

“ Naboh Ned fer gratitude, every time!"

Such and other expressions of disgust escaped
the lips of the miners, causing a vivid flush to .
come over the agent’s face. ~, ,

He saw that the arrival of Eagle City Ed wan
more than likely to swamp his own prestige
unless he did something to keep his footing
among them. i . ' -
“You are unjust, gentlemen l” hefnid bow- .

ing. “1 nm very grateful to the gen emani
from Eagle Chgv
may rest assure

he shall not go nun". ed.

 

 

it seemed evident that he must have derived his
title from their sine. , I - V

, , Being out ‘of cash, I’ll do'the nextbeat thing.

a. 
)‘ _‘p
l

for saving my lifo,1and on . i I

 

    

  
     

  

ion—- .o

 

   

Nabob Ned.

 

 

“ What’s that? w‘cat’s that?” a dozen voices
interrogated, eagerly.

"This. Eagle Cit Ed appears to be a man
of nerve. if he wi I remain over one night in
John Smith’s haunted cabin, in the morning
I’ll deed the property to him as his own.”

A murmur of surprise escaped the lips of the
bystanders.

What was the obyzct of this strange proposal?

was it' to test the courage of the man from
Ea le City?

as it with a hope that the mystery would
be cleared upl—or—

Was it done because Nabob Ned was a little
jealous of this new arrival?

The crowd wondered.

Nabob Ned looked a trifle triumphant.

Eagle City Ed emptied his hat of the dona-
olOll that had been given him. ‘

“I am werry much oblige to all who have
responded so generouslty to my appeal l” he said,
bowing; “an’ now, e you’ve got any ghost
rackets hyer in Slab Cit , an’ I kin rope in a
roof, bylsittin’ up an’ taikin’ politics wi’ ther

hosts, that hits me a crack right whar I live.

as, sir, me noble bud, ef ye hev a cabin as
won’t hold me till mornin’, why ther quicker
we get down ter hizness the better. 1 hain‘t
had a good scrap wi'a thoroughbred ghost since
Marv come home!”

“Verv well, sir; I am as good as my word,”
Nabob Ned said, a twinkle in his eye. “Come
along!”

And the entire crowd were soon on their way
toward John Smith’s cabin.

 

CHAPTER 1V.
. rim ARCH PLOT'I‘ER.

IT was not such a night as ghost-hunters
might be expected to favor. The wind blew
fiercely through the gulch, the lightning flashed
apitefully from crag to crag, and the thunder
pounded away at the gates of heaven with sul-
en roar.

As for the rain, it fell in volumes, the wind
whirling and twisting it into fury, as it beat
against all obstacles.

If there were any ghosts in Slab City, such a
night they might choose for their revels.

The crowd that left the Bung-Eve for John
Smith’s cabin, numbered fully two-score. with
Eagle City Ed, Big Boots, and Nabob Ned in
the lead.

The former seemed to pay little attention to
the warring of the elements, but strode along
with a quick step.

“Ugh! Darn my hosiery ef this hyer ain’t a
blizzardous night!” Big Boots gr‘unted. “It
beats ther Dutch how she do pour.”

“It’s such nights as this that supernatural
visitants hold their fandangoes, I reckon!” Na-
goh Ned suggested, with a shrug of his shoul-

ers»
“You bet!” the young man from Eagle
City replied. “ It was such a night as this thet
I got locked in a house down in. Mexico and had
the op ortunity of seeing a ghost-dance. Thar
were t irty on ’em, and every one bed evident-
ly been a young Senorita. in her time. Talk
about ther artistic dancin’ o’ yer Saratogy gals
--why et waran’t a circumstance. Ther ghost-
esses war gliders, you bet, wi’ now and then a.
high-kicker, who would kindly kick my hat of!
wi the toe of her golden slipper. E: war a
bot night. but them floaters kept waltzin’
around till et war cooler'n an automatic fan
could make it.”

“’8 act ye must hev heda tech of the bug,
eh i” ig Boots suggested. /

“ Nary! Hadn’t touched a drap fer a month.
Oh! they were ther genywine article. Arter/
they war done dancin’, ye orter seen ’em. set
out ther lunch. We had quail on toast, oysters
an’ champagne—an’ ye jest orter sea em open
champagne! Every durn cork tuk me plum
on ther end 0’ my proboscis, ontil et got as red
as a blushin’ lob--”

“Look! look!” Nabob Ned fairly screamed,

~ pointing ahead. -

There was a vivid glare of lightning, that
seemed to last for several seconds—long enough
at any rate for the crowd to behold a sight that
atargod them, and caused them to stop in their
trac s.

_ - It was a sight. too, calculated to startle those

evon of the strongest nerVes.
Just ahead of them, not over a dozen yards,
stood the cabin of the late lamented John Smith.
The door was wide open, and standing up-
“i

' right and erect in the doorway, without visi
 support, was the ghastlyrfaced corpse of Bmit
.‘himself, with the sign f‘-For Rent,” mud to

 
 

hubrth  H

 

 

   

- the darkness; but when be seated imself in

This much the crowd saw in that vivid lare
of heaven’s pyrotechnics; then, all was b ank,
intense darkness.

Motionless and speechless the miners waited
for a repetition of the lightningdiash, and after
a lapse of several minutes the were rewarded.

Tuey plainly saw the cabin; but the door
was closed as usual, and the sign nailed upon it.

A dry laugh burst from the lips of Eagle
City E l, as the flash expired, leaving naught
hut blankness again.

“ What are you laughing at?" Nabob Ned de-
manded, fiercely.

“ Why, at you galoots gettin’ skeered at sight
0’ an ordinary good—natured lookin’ cabin l” Ed
replied. di'yly.

“ Cabin?" Nabob echoed. “ D’ye mean to tell
us you didn’t see old Smith’s corpse standin’ in
ther doorway, at ther firSI flash 0’ lightnin’?”

“Nothin’ o’ the sort. You fellers must have
been optically deluded, or else had whisky is
gittin’ in its work on you!”

“You’re a liar if you say ye didn’t see ther
cadaver in ther doorway!” a miner boldly as-
serted, and the others of the crowd gave audi-
ble approval to his declaration.

But, Eagle City Ed only laughed again.

“say what, you like, gents. This ’ere felier
ye call Nabob Ned seemed desirous of testing
my nerve, and I accepted his proposal. If he
will kindly give me the key to the cabin, I’ll go
over and turn in for the night, for I am slight-
ly subject to malaria, and this rain ain’t wery
pleasant!”

Nobbv Ned sneered.

“Talk is cheap!” he declared. “You know
money couldn’t hire you to sleep in the place.”

“Not? Wh , I am surprised at yer opine
about me. udge you would be afeard to,
from what you say.”

Nabob hit his lip, and remained silent.

“Oh! of course I understand {our failing,”
Ed said, dry! . “ But, you see, was built of
different tim r. I’m goin’ ter rest my weary
shanks in thet aire shebana you bet—not only
fer ter-ni ht but fer gud. iVe us ther key l”

“ The oor is not locked,” Nabob growled.
“ Go ahead wi’ yer ark, an‘ ye can bet we’ll see
that ye stay in.thar till morning, too. If you
attempt to sneak out you ’ll get filled with
five node of cold lead.”

“ ll right. Hot lead would kinder work in
better sech a wet night as this, but suit yerself.
Won’t I laugh at you guys out hyer in ther
rain, while I. like a king in my castle, am bein’
entertained by white winged cherubsl By-by!
See you later!”

And theman from Eagle City trode toward
the cabin, over which hung a pail of supersti-
tious dread.

Eagerly the men of Slab City craned their
heads. and endeavored to follow the outlines of
his figure, with their :.ze; but the darkness
was so intense that when but a few feet away
they entirely lost sight of him.

or onlya moment, however. A flash of
lightning again lit up the scene.

Eagle City Ed was within five feet of the
cabin, the door of which stood wide open, and
the cadaver of John Smith occupied the aper-
ture as before!

A second flash, almostimmediately afterward.
reVeaIed the cadaver as having disappeared, and
Eagle City Ed standing in the doorway, tri-
umphantly waving his hat.

Although a man seldom given to profanity,
Nabob Ned now uttered a fierce malediction.

“ Curse the fellow!” he gritted; “ he’s got the
nerve of a boa-constrictor!”

“ An’, by ther cavortin’ cats 0’ Charleston,
ye’r’ out a cabin!” declared the muledriver
from Mariposa. “I ked hev told ye the chap
war no slouch fer ter bluff. You bet he re-
mains in thet ranch all night, an’ of thar’s any
disembodied stifi’s cuttin’ up monkey-shines he’ll
join in the racket!” .

Na boh uttered something that sounded suspi-
ciousl like a chuckle.

“ aybe!” he said. “If you men want to
stay‘here and keep watch till mornm’, I’ll giVe

you five dollars apiece when you come oi! duty. .

I’m goin’ back to the Bung-Eye, where it is
dryer.”

About a dozen of the crowd accepted the
ofler—roughs, who realized with satisfaction
just how much " bug-juice,” or chance-at the
taro-bank. the little five would ive them.

The remainder accompanied abob Ned back
to the saloon.

Nabob was plainly in a bad humor. Usually
gay and full of spirit, he now appeared surly
an ill-tempered.

efore going to the hotel, hedisa peered in

 

   

the brilliantly-lighted saloon, and counted over '

a roll of bills, he had several thousand dollars.

“I am not broke in my own right yv I.” he
muttered; “and if I don’t make Slab City loo
hot for this Eagle City Ed, it will be a wonder
to me.” ,

'He sat for some moments in sullen silence:
then spying Pedro Sperra across the room, he
beckoned to him.

After a moment's hesitation the Mexican ap-
proached. his face bearing none too good natur-
ed an expression. v

“ Well.” he demanded. pausing by the table,
“ what do you want '4’”

‘ Sit down I” Nubob ordered.
tall: oitii you.”

" What about?”

" That you will learn as we proceed. Sit.
do“ n ! ’

The Mexican obeyed, watching the young
man as th( ugh sus icious of mischief. .

"NOW, then,” abob said, “to begin with,
we will draw a veil over What happened this“
evening, and talk business of a different char»
acter.
Ed?”

“ What of it?”

“ Much, perhaps. You know him. and while-
you cordially hate him, you also fear him?"

Sperra scowled but made no answer.

“I want to

“ You see I have observed that much,” Nabob»

went on, “and have deduced therefrom the
fact that you would feel more at ease if this
gent from agle City were not so numerous.”

The Mexican showed his white teeth in a.
significant smile.

"Perhaps you are right,” he assented; “ but
no harm mu=t come to him. I would pro,
{$Ct”bll]l from harm, at the peril of my own
1 e. '

The other looked puzzled.

The Mexican hated the stranger, and yet.
stood ready to espouse his cause!

What did it mean? /

“ Indeed l” ejaculated the Nahob. “Why is
it thus? You are enemies, are on not?” >

“ If so, it can matter but lfitle to you. If”
enemies, we will not fight.”

“Excusc me, but] think you are a crank.
Eagle City Ed is a hard customer, and would
think no more of cutting our throat than he
would that of a bullock. I ate the fellow more
than lever-hated any other person in my life.
He is a thorn many path, and must be removed,.
regardless of cost.” .

“ Why don’t you remove him, then?”

And the Mexican smiled, sneeringly.

“ Because I don’t want to have anything to- '

do with him.”
“Because, like myself, you are afraid of

him!” Sperra declared. with a diabolical grin. .

“ No! no! Let Eagle Citv Ed alone, as long as-
he d0es not molest you. a is a python; if 5 on.
arouse him he will crush you l”

“Bah! there are better men than he, and
even I do not fear him. As I said before, he is-
in my way, and must be removed. The sooner
the better. Do vou think he will remain in the-
haunted cabin all night?"

“Without a doubt. He fears neither man
nor spirit. You see, I know of him, while to
you he is a stranger.”

“Perhaps he is a stranger!” Nabob Ned re-
turned,significantly;“and rha spot. Sper—
ra. you are a raswl. Dont fee insulted be-
cause I compliment you, for your very looks:

give you away, and you ought to feel proud ‘to' ‘

be so easily distinguished from the common-
herd. You are here in Slab City to make, not
to break. Am I not rightl”

“ You are.” ~

“ Of course, the more you make the better it
will suit you. If you can earn a thousand dol-
lars as easy as by turning over your band, do-
you suppose for an instant you will allow the-
opportunity to pass you by i”

he Mexican 5 eyes glistened for a minute;
then. he laughed, lightly.

“ Why, I can sit down at a gambling-table-
and ma e more than that in a single night!" he’
declared.

“Hardly!” Nabob Ned replied, compressing
his lips. when he realized only too keenly that
he had lost twelve hundred dollars but a short
time before. “ All layers are not so tame as 1

was. Came now,II’ l strike a bargain with you. ‘
‘At daylight. to-morrow mornin , this Eagle~~-'

City Ed will leave the cabin. e will be one

of the triumphant, and one of t
shall not he!

man concealed in the bushes, some distance
away, can drop him, with a rifle, and no one:

2

 

You'know this new chap, Eagle City

popnlar. men . "
of Slab City. That must not be—l swear it _‘
When he leaves that cabin. a; 

will be the wiser as to who'did the jab. fleet”. .

   

 

    

   
  

W
m

 

 

   
  
 

  
   
  

    
   
   
   
   
 

- I was up at ther saloon.

  

,1 ’1

".“mosn= 

 

 

 

“ You map it out plain enough so far as talk
.‘is concerned; but, planning and executing, are
two diflerent things.”

“Pooh! pshawl What is the use of wasting
breath on. ‘ifs’ and ‘ands’. I‘ll tell you just
what I’ll do: You secrete yourself and put a
bullet through Eagle City Ed’s heart to-morrow
morning, and I’ll give you two thousand dollars
{immediately after satisfying myself that he is
- Quill

“No!” Sperra said, coolly. “It is you who
have been wasting breath. “I told you before
no harm should come to Eagle City Ed, through
my agency. You will have to get some one else
to do your bloody work, senorl”

And bowing obse oiously. the Mexican
turned away, leaving abob Ned in a fearful
rage over the defeat of his evil purpose.

CHAPTER V.
IN THE CABIN.

THE last the awed and wondering miners had
seen of Eigle City Ed, was by the aid of the
lightning flush which had revealed him standing
in the doorway of the cabin waving his but at
them.

The next flash the door was closed and the
adventurer had vanished.

Let us follow, now, the adventures of the cool
head from Eagle City.

He had seen the cadaver in the doorway and
the succeeding events had been a matter of no
little wonderment to him; but that only in-
spired him to further investigation, so he strode
:resolutel y t0ward the cabin-door, and when the
apparition once more confronted him he was
Within a few feet of it.

He saw that there was nothing earthly about
'it, because, from his close proximity, he cool-i
look directly through and beyond the body. It
was nothing more or less than—what?

Evidently it was a shadow that filled the
doorway, but it bore the shape and features of
a corpse, said corpse being, as declared by the
miners, what John Smith had been, in life.

Determined to explode the mystery, he step-
ped quickly forward, but the apparition van-
ished as mysteriously as it had appeared, and
he hound himself the undisputed occupant of the
doorway, while the door remained Wide open.

Waving his hat to the crowd, he disappeared

 

_ within the cabin.

To close and bar the door, was but the work
of a moment, and he found himself in Stygian
darkness. -

Overhead, the rain poured down on the roof,
which, in a measure, was welcome music, con-
sidering the situation.

The first, and most im rtant thing, was a
.littleli'ght on the subject, ut a careful search
'throug his ‘ clothes, failed to produce any
matches.

“ Nat y a match! I orter tho’t 0’ that, when
. I’m bound to remain

in this ghost shebang without any glim, that’s
certain. ’Tain’t ther most comfortable thing
to do, but Edward will try it a whirl.”

The cabin was of .good size, and the interior
as well as Eagle City Ed could judge, was in
one large apartment.

The Only windows were, like the door, on the
front side, and these were guarded by close
shutters. So that, even in daytime, little light
struggled into the cabin.

Finding himself without means of striking a
light, the sport was nonplused. He might go
blundering blindly about the cabin, with the
result of stirring up something immenSely to
his disadvantage; so concluded to remain where
he was for the prescnt.

'“ This is awuss fix than I anticipated!” he
muttered growing uneasy. “Durn my skin,
of ’twasn t fer the rain, I’d mosey!"

A peculiar, scratching noise in a distant
corner just then caused him to listen with
eagernessand anxiety.

Drawmg a weapon, and crouching upon foot

'. and knee. he waited further developments.

The scratching sound continued but a mo-
ment; then Some hen-y oi‘ject struck the door
:and fell to t to 512'» flmr. '

Ed lewlcil his revolver in the direction
‘Whence had come the scratching noise and fired
two shots in quick succession; but there was no
answer to the reportsct’ the weapon.

’ Five minutes passed. but there Were no fur-

. ther “ manifestations.”

“Reckon mebbe I must have dropped the
brick-bat thrower,” was. Eagle City Ed’s com-
meat, as the silence continued. “ It’s a wintry

' day whenll get left by ghostsl”

“ 1 should say !” ,
Clearly and distinctly the words came, from

 

and musically pleasant. The sound came from
directly opposite the s .rt, across the room.

For a moment, he di not speak or move. That
there was another person in the cabin, besides
himself was certain.

“I’Iello there!” he finally cried. “Who are

out

“ Polly wants a cracker,” came in the unmis-
takable tones of a poll-parrot.

“You’ll get one, if I don’t get an answer
from your owner, pretty soon l” Ed declared.
“If there’s any one in this cabin besides myself,
I want to see that person. I’m Eagle City Ed,
and I’m here on business—you bet 1"

“ Don’t shoot, please 1” the musical voice cried,
anxiously. “If yot'i will take the trouble to
strike a light you will see that I am not a
ghost!”

“ I have no matches, or I would have had a
llgh t, long ago,” Ed responded.

“ Wait. I have some matches, sir.”

There was a brief silence; then the crack of a.
parlor'match, and a little gleam of light fol-
lowed.

“ Wait. now I have some papers, which will
burn, until we can find something better,”
Eigle City Ed said, dropping his illiterate style
of speech, and using the language of a person of
good education.

He crossed over to where a girlish figure was
crouching, her white right hand holding the
burning match.

In a moment he had ignited a newspaper
which he halppened to possess. and began a bore
ried search or something with which to pro-
duce a more permanent light.

Upon the hearth were two pine~kuots, which
he fired; a lantern was also found, containing a
good-sized piece of candle, so that he soon had
the apartment lit in every part.

He then turned his attention to her who had
furnished the welcomcl light.

He beheld, now standing erect, a girl, prob-
ably eighteen years of age, of a lithe, prettily-
molded figure, and a fair, round, most winnin
face, partly set in a. wreath of golden hair, an
eyes of magnetic hrillinncy—a “perfect little
beauty,” as Eagle City Ed had to admit and so
agreeably surprised was be that he stood star-
ing at her in undisguisell amazement.

Her attire was plain, coarse and serviceable,
but neat fitting. A belt about her waist con-
tained a single pistol. and her hat, which lay
upon the floor, was a jaunty sombrero.

The only furniture the cabin now boasted,
was an old three-legged stool, and, leaning
against this was a guitar, while perched upon
the stool, was a huge red and green parrot,
who was taking a “size—up” squint at the sport.

its he gazed upon the girl She laughed, musi-
ca ly.

“ There, now, am I a ghost?” she exclaimed;
“ am I a phantom?” .

“ Hardly, I fancy.” the sport replied. “ But,
how in the world did you come here?”

“ 021 foot, of course—all the way from Spo-
kane Falls, Idaho. My name is Polly Smith.”
“ Smith, eh?” '

“Yes, Sir. What is your name?”

"Well, latterly, when I am called anything,
it is Eagle City Ed. I may once have possessed
another name, but, if so, it was so long ago that
I- might be excused if it had passed entirely out
of memory. I suppose the rain drove you in
here?"

“Yes, sir. It rained so fis-rcely that 1 was
glad to take refuge under almost any Shelter.”
“It was you, then, who threw the brickbat
at mg, a few minutes ago?”

“ No, sir. I threw nothing whatever at you,
and you nearly frightened my wits out of me
when you fired the shots.”

“You are sure—positive—that you threw
nothing at me?”

“ Oh! yes, sir. I heard some missile strike

the door, but indeed I did not throw it, nor do 1

know who dizi.”

“ Then there may be something in the report
about the cabin being haunted after all,’ Ed

commented. _

“If you were in here, prior to my arrival,

you ought to be able to throw some light on the

matter. This cabin is said to be hau: ted.

W'hilenpproaching the place. a short time (inn,

a fl 1511 of lightning l‘ch‘illt‘d the door to be title

Open, and the corpse of the former proprietor

was standing in the doorway. A sccond flash

revealed the door-as being closed and the corpse

gone. Athird flash, when I was within three

yards of the door, showed me the same appari- '
tlon as the first had done. 1 Sprung forward,

and in an instantfound myself in theo u door-

way, but not a vestige of a corpse did encoun-

 

' across the room, in a voice that Was feminine,

  

“1 saw the door open and shut, but saw no
apparition, such as you describe,” Polly de-
c red, leoking both uzsled and frightened.
“I laid the o )ening an shuttin of the door to
the wind. ear me! If I ha had any idea
that this place was haunted I’d never have en-
tered it.”

Eagle City Ed laughed. . .

“ It was because the place had the reputation
of being haunted that I came here,” be said,
“ but I assure you that you are a different style
of ghost from what I expected to encounter. I
rather expected to feel cold clammy hands lay
hold of me, and so be forced to dance aqua-
drille with a bonafide ghost."

“I must acknowledge that I am awful glad
you came,” Polly was forced to admit, “for I
was getting nervous, it thundered and light-
ened so hard. So you really relieve there is
such a thing as ghosts, eh?” I

“I am rather inclined to believe Ido.” Ed
assented, picking up the stone which the invisi-
ble hand had hurled through the darkness.
against the door. “ If you didn’z sling this
stone at me, some one did, whether animate or
inanimate.”

‘ Well, then, there must be ghosts in this
place,” Polly agreed, “ for I do not believe that
Pollv Number 2 had a hand in it.”

“You bet!” articulated the parrot, making a
vicious pick at the strings of the guitar.

Eagle City Ed gazed inquirineg about the
room, but failed to find any indications that the
place was tenanted by any one else than him«
self and Miss Polly Smith.

“ Well, for the present we shall have to give
it up as a mystery,” he said. “ And, failing to
solve it you might relieve my mind of a great
deal of curiosity if you were to explain your
mission. urp in this wild region.”

“ Indee . I suppose it is a matter of surprise
to you that I should be a wanderer in this wild-
erness. I am sometimes surprised mySGlf, to tell
the truth, and yet. so far in my travels, I have
encountered no trouble; on the contrary I have
been treated nicely and respectfully.

“ I left my home, in Spokane Falls, nearly a
year ago, fetching with me my only possessions,
the uilar and my namesake, yonder—all that
was eft me out of the wreck of a once happy
home."

“ I infer‘then that our home was sold out.”

t was. My tat ier left the Falls, to go“
prospecting}. in hopes of being able to better his
fortune. ’hen he left home there were some
debts standing against him. and as he did not
return, our things were levied u n, and sold,
and I was turned out of doors. then set out .
on what has been, so far, a fruitless search .for
my father.” -

“ His name—”

“Was John Smith l”

——

CHAPTER VI.
roux.

EAGLE CITY ED was not surprised at the an-
swer, {or from the moment of learning her own
name, it had struck him that, possibly, the
might be in some way related to the unfortu- _
nate Smith who had given Slab City its start.

Should he make known to her the fact that
she was at the very moment in dead John
Smith’s cabin?

“Did you ever know or hear of a man by
that name?” she asked, looking him searchineg
in the face. \ .

“ Plenty of them,” he replied, with a smile-
“ all the we from the time of the original
Pocahontas ohn down to the present day. In
fact, the former owner of this cabin’wus named
John Smith, so I am told.”

“The former owner you say? Where is he,
now, and who is the present owner?” Polly de-
manded. '

“Well, if one is supIposed to believe all he
hears, the J ohn Smith made reference to was
lynched by a mob of indignant minors for salt-
ing the territory around here, to attract the
crowd. IIis little game was found out, and he
formed one of the principals of a little neck-tie
party. His affairs Were taken in charge by an
individual known as Nnbob Ned, who, owing to ‘
a rum 1' that the cabin is haunted by John
Smith’s restless spirit, offered to give me the
shebang if I woult remain in it, all of tonight;
So I came, and here I am.” . .

“ Can it be possible that this person, who was
lynched, was my father? 0h! sir. I cannot
believe it. Popn was a good man, and no one
but a wretch, would think of harmin him.”
“Well, I don’t know about that, am sure. .7
This man Smith was accuSed of having planted f I

 

ter. Did you see anything of all of this?”

gold hereabouts, fer the [sake of getting up aL

 

gab...—

‘D- a

 

 sea; "lied;

 

boom, and when he was found out, he was
treated according to the code of border justice.
Whether it was your father or not I do not
knew. For your sake I hope not!”

“Oh! if it should turn out that it was my
papa. I don’t know what I should do. He is all
the relative I MW in the wide world, andto
lose him would be sad indeed.”

“ Very true. Perhaps, after all, it was not
your father, but some one of a like name.”

“I am very much afraid it is my poor papa.

It is own a year and a half since he left home,
and in all that time 1 have never heard from
him. This is what causes me to fear that he
and the man who was lynched are one and the
same person. You say you saw an apparition
when approaching this cabin. Will you please
describe it to me!”
, “Certainly. It was like a man standing in
the doorway. The miners who saw it declared
it to be the Corpse of John Smith. or else his
phantom. It couldn’t have been his corpse, for
when I sprung into the doorway where but «an
instant before I had seen the apparition, no—
body was there but mySelf. There is, of course,
some infernal mystery about the matter and I
mean to find out what it is if possible.”

“ Was the apparition that of a large man ?”

“ Well, no—not exactly, but of a person about

- five feet six, I should say, and not very heavily

built. As near as I could judge, aided by the
flashes of lightning, his beard, which was worn
full, was of a rather sandy hue, and I should
hpve pl’aced him as being about forty-five years
0 age.

Tears sprung into Miss Polly Smith’s eyes,
and she hid her face in her hands and wept: the
description evidently was that of her missing
parent. '

“ It is my father they have killed—oh! sir, it
is my poor father, and I am left all alone in the
world,” she sobbed.

“ Don’t cry. Polly, don’t cry i” cried the par-
rot. “Poor Polly—pretty Polly. Polly wants
It~ cracker!” but seeing that its appeal was likely
to pass unheeded, the bird began to cry and
snivel as if its heart was broken. '

“ Do not take it so hard, Miss Smith, I beg of
on,” Eagle City Ed said, laying his hahd upon
or head. “Even though it proves true that

your father is dead, it is not true that you are
alone and friendless. There are many hearts
that go out in sympathy for an orphan, and
Eagle City In is net one of the least of these
sympathizers. Our chance meeting has caused
me to take an interest in you and your case,
and inasmuch as you are alone, like myself. in
strange surroundings, I should consider it an
honor to be ermitted to extend you any pro-
tection or assistance that lies within my power.
There seems to exist a mystery concerning the

cabin and your father‘s case, and I propose to.

ferret it out, let the cost be whateVer'it miy.
You may be of a, great deal of assistance to me,
and if you will accept my friendship, I will do
all in my power to make it worth your whileto
do so.”

He gazed at Miss Polly so earnestly as to
cause her to give him a quick, earnest glance
from her tearful eyes; then she dropped her
gaze, and a vivid blush suffused her cheek.

“ I should be very glad to possess your friend-
ship, sir—very glad. I have no acquaintances
here—no one in the world except my not.
pro se to sing here in Slab City, so t at I shall

0 ably not need any pecuniary assistance.

ow I will be received and treated by the
miners I of course do not know.”

“Hear none too kindly, and should, as a
friend. advise you not to sing. The men of
Slab City,.ac i rule, are. a bad Set, and none too
likely to treat a young woman like you with

v civility. You had better give up your inten-

\

I; , up
‘  * ,distasteful to me, I

 

tion of appearing, for, although I should make
it my pomt to protect you, it might involva us
both in a serious unpleasantness. If you are in

need of pecuniary assistance, I shall be only too.

glad to assist you.”
“ I could not for h. moment think of accept-

.gng your profl’ered assistance, sir, while I have
t n

my power to earn the money. I hope this
will not give you offense, but that. on the con-

' trary, you will think the better of me because

ofmy independence. I have sung in “various
mining-towns quite successfully, and prefer to
adopt that as my profession, until it is proven
to me beyond the shadow of adonbt that my
'poor father is really dead. Then, I shall plan
for the future as best I can.” "
“ But. Miss Smith, where will you sing, here,
in Slab Cigy? There is no flt place for you to
or in. i . , ‘ ‘ ‘
‘ There are saloons. are there not? Although
am not afraid to appear in

 

 

 

them, as I have done so before. I came to this
town to sing. andshall do so.”

Bright, clever. and possessed of a. will of her

own was Miss Polly Smith—a fact which did
not fail to impress Eagle City Ed. '
. “Very well. Seein that your resolution is
so formed, Miss Smith, I will not seek to
change it, but rather, with your permission,
will try to assist you. f you appear, it must
be for a pecuniary object, and the matter so ar.
ranged that your success from the start shall
be substantial. 1 will contrive to bill the town
for you, and transact any little importantitems
of business for you; and thus I, acting as your
agent, you will be less likely to be exposed to
insult, as the people of Slab City will begin to
realize by morning that Engle City Ed is not
particularly on the ‘ skeer.’ ”

“ Ohl sir, that will be just capital, and Ihave
so much to thank you for, in the way of kind-
ness! I have been wondering whom I would
get to put up some notices for me. And now,
ifyou can but aid me in this way, I shall be
niCely fixed for my stay in Slab City, after se-
curing hotel accommodations. Or, do you
think I had better put up here?”

“ I am not determined about that matter yet,
but will hold it subject to further deliberation.
One thing is sure: if John Smith proves to have
been your father, and we can successfully es-
tablish the fact, you will have no need to sing
for a livelihood, as the better share of Slab
City will rightfully belong to you, and that will
comprise a tortune of no mean extent.”

 

CHAPTER Vii.
MANUFACTURING GHOSTS.

THUS Miss'Smith and her new-found advo-
cate cnatt d, and the hours passed more quickly
than either surmised.

After about an hour‘s time the rain somewhat
abated. '

Curious to know if the watchers were still
keeping their vigil, Eagle City Ed concluded to
make observations. ‘

Above the strong door was an opening. guard-
ed by an iron grating, which ventilated the
cabin when the door was clOSed.

Mounting the stool, the only piece of furni-
ture in the place, Ed was barely able to look
through the hole by standing on tiptocs.

As he did so, a flash of lightning revealed to
him some half a dozen men standing where he
had left them.

Like heroes they had stood the halting rain,
partly out of curiosity, but mosfly through a.
desire to earn the reward Nabob Ned’ had
offered.

“Are they still watching?” Polly asked, he
paving informed her of the circumstances be-

ore. -

“You bet!” Ed laughed, good-naturedly.
“ They don’t intend to let me out of here before
morning; and, more than that, I am not in the
least inclined to vamose while I have such un—
ghostly society as your lovely self. I mean,
hOWPVer, to have some fun on my own book.”

“ What are you going to do?” , ,

“This. The ghostly manifestations around
this shebang having/suddenly ceased, since we
got light on the sutj. ct. I propose to reorganize
iom’ething ghostly on my own book, if possi-

e.

“Wemay get some bonafide ones are long, as
I see that the torches are burning low.” v

“The light will last till nearly morning, I
guess. 9 have been here quite anumber of
hours already. New, then, let’s see what I can
do to create a circus.”

Although the cabin lacked for furniture.
various other articles were there, among which
he found a keg half-filled with gunpowder.

He also made examinations of the floor and
walls of the cabin, but could find no part or
portion wherein ghosts or bodies could possibly
be secreted.

Years before, ere circumstances caused him
to become a rOVer throughout the wild West,
he had learned his trade in the employ of a
prominent Metropolitan manufacturer of pyro-
technics, and had not yet forgotten it' by any
means. ' .

Fireworks of ingenious shapes and action he
could manufacture out of a little paper and
powder, and Some of these he now set to work
to put into shape. ‘ , i ,

An ample supply of waste paper was found
in the cabin. and as the roof looked in a num-
ber of places, he had no dimculty in dampening
his powder when occasion required.

 

 

, Polly watched him curiously, both puzzled
and interested. . . . ‘ .

    

In half an hour’s time, Eagle City Ed he
fullyj a dozen varieties of fireworks manufac~
ture .

He then cast about him as to the best method
of giving his exhibition.

The chimney was a- huge atfair, built of mor-
tar and stone, and so constructed, probably
with a view to the defensive in case of an at—
tack as to allow a person to climb up within-
the chimney to its top.

On making this discovery Ed felt jubilant, for
it gave him the means of working without leav-
ing the cabin.

Securing several of the articles he had manu-
factured, he ascended the chimney, and set off‘
the pieces in rapid succession, with a result.
somewhat startling.

The icons had been manufactured to display
as sna es, and the way they went squirming
down the roof and side of the cabin from that
chimney was a sight which must hava caused
the miners and roughs a shock of surprise.

At any rate they gave yells of astonishment,
and several shots were fired.

The effect was so near what he had expected
that Eagle City Ed concluded to forego the set»
ting off of the other pieces and to reconvert them
into more powerful snakes.

This he lost no time in doing, and out of the
powder left succeeded in forming six extra.
strong serpents. _

Then placing the empty keg on the stool, he-
fixed it so that Polly could kick out of the ven--
tilating window.

Ascending the chimney, a flash of lightning-
gave him the location of the watchers.

They had approached several yards closer to
the cabin, as if impelled by curiosity and doubt.
in regard to the fiery Serpents.

At which Eagl" City Ed laughed.

“Oh! I’ll make you scoot!” he muttered.
“I‘ll make vou mosey. in short meier or my
no me is notEngle City Ed.”

Poi-ing one of the snakes, he first emptied six
chambers of one of his revolvers. into the air
above him; then, igniting the fuse to the snake
he hurled it out upon the roof of the cabin—
then a second, a. third, and so on in rapid suc-
ccssion, until the whole six snakes were writh—
ing dawn the walls and shooting away toward

the watching miners, whom Polly, on E-l‘s do» '
scending into the cabin. reported to be skurry-.
'ing away, at the best of their speed, with fran-~.

tic yells of terror. . ,
“Oh! how they did run!” Polly cried, glee~
fully, as she sprung lightly dawn from the-
perch. “ They
wits, and I guess they won’t get so near to the
cabin, again.” , , V
“ I am not so sure of that,” Ed replied, taking
advantage of the perch she had‘ vacated.
Reconnoissance through the grated window
resulted in no new discovery. The lightning,

had abated, and all now was gloom. The .,

watchers might either be speeding away to-

ward the town, or creeping back toward the‘

cabin. I ,

Ed replenished the fire with what little file!
remained, and throwing his coat upon the floor.
bade Polly obtain what rest she culd, until;
morning. '

Which she declined to do, but insisted f
upon remaining up and keeping him company,_

until they could seek better quarters. .
Accordingly she tuned up the guitar, and ran:
her fingers over the strings in a manner that

proved her to be no mere novice.’

Then, in'n clear rich voice, she sung several ’

popular ballads. .

El had a keen appreciation pf. muSic, and
now listened to Polly‘s really artistic execution-
in delighted surprise, and when Polly at len tb
lniri aside the instrument, he complimented er
highiy and earnestly. . '

Again reconnoitering. Ed discovered the gray
streaks of dawn in the East. It was, however,
still densely dark, in the gulch,

' “I’ve hem thinking,” Edsaid, addressing his
pretty protegee, “ that it Will be better for you

to leave the cabin before daylight. as some of '.
the townspeople may come to see if I am aliVe, '

and finding you heretin my company, might
give rise to remarks, distasteful to you.” -

“I have also been thinking of the matter my-i 
self," Polly assented, “and if there is a chance '

of my leaving. without being seen, lpresumeit

would be better to do so, and for me to ap~ J:

roach the town during the forenoon.”
“ Exactly.

in.
your leaving'lthe cabin.” . _ Z .
“ Very well. I hope that you], wxll run 

    

twere frightened out of their ’

    

n

r ‘0'
at Emu-$7,? .,

“,4 ‘

s

- ‘2  1’4  I

 

I ,will reconnoiter, leaving the 
cabin by the chimney. " If you soon hear six:
quick knocks on the door, unbar it and let me ‘
That will be a signal that all is safe for.”

  
 

 

  

In ‘. .-,.
. ~ \‘hf‘

Nabob’ Ned. ‘

  
    

 

 

nondanger, sir, on my account. I am not worth

“Indeed!” Ed laughed as be reloaded his re-
volvers. Then he disappeared up the chimney.

It was an easy matter to get out upon the
roof, and thence to the ground, at the side of
the cabin, which was still enveloped in the
. deepest shadow. -

i. ‘ It would not be so easy a matter to get back
to the roof, however, in case he could not gain
access to the cabin by the front door, without
exposing himself as a target.

eaping to the ground, he made a detour, and
soon arriVed at a point where the watchers
should be if still keeping their vigil.

The light had now materially increased~
.-. enou b so, that he was able in a short time, to
satis y himself that the miners and roughs had
all sought the main part of the mining—camp,
either for rest or for drink.

The sport therefore hastened to the cabin,
and was at once admitted.

Polly had her few effects in readiness, and
leaving the place, was a goodly distance away,
and out of sight are the full light of day broke
over the City oi’ Slabs. .

  

he
. K. M .

.Vu.
V‘s—us»! ' I _. .n

 

CHAPTER VIII.
MADE TO “ PONY UP."

Nance Nun‘s night had been rather illy
Spent, at the Bung-Eye saloon.

'Aftcr failing to score his scheme, so that it
should implicate Pedro Sperra, the apparently
treacherous Mexican, he was left in a moody
and sullen state, and, something new for him to
do, drank deeply.

He had considerable money—somewhere in
the neighborhood of five thousand dollars, and
before two o’clock in the morning, what he had
not spent at the bar, he had “ bIOWed in," at
the faro table, without making a win.

This served to further sour his humor and he
paced to and fro across the gaming room, in
tip-top order, as one miner suggested, to “spit
up blood and swaller it.”

Ashort time before daybreak, the watchers
rea peered at the Bung-Eye, rain-soaked, and

r as isconsolate a looking set of humans as ever
ut their red flannel shirt~fronts toe. Western
ar.

“We takes bug-juice, we do!” Big Boots
bellowed, in a tone that was none. the mildest.
“We drink's tarant’ler, wi’ a rattlesnake or
two lhrowed inter it, ter warm up on, an’
Nabob Ned he pays for'it.”

The Slab City conVeyancer heard the declara-
tion, and strode forward. with a fierce oath, and
a savage scowl.

He evidently didn’t, “ tumble.”

“ Who said I was going to pay for the drinks
here?” he cried, sava ely. “I reckon the party
that said so made a slight mistake.”

“Weal, I should blush!” Bi Boots roared,
putting his arms akimbo, and g aring at Na hob
as if it would be a pleasure to him to make a.
meal 03 of bit]. “ My cognomen air Big Boots.
and I’m a hustler from \Hell Hollow, you bet!
I did asseverate’ that yeow war goin’ to pay fer
ther drinks, an’ I’m here to back up what I
said, or masticate something.” "

“You’ll have to go to masticatingiat once,
then!” Nabob reto'rted, “for I’ll swear I don’t
pay for any drinks that go ovar that bar, with-
out I order ’em personally. I’m in no wise in-
.debted to any of you. ad you remained on
dut till mornin , you would each have been
‘ent tled to five collars. As it is not morning
yet, you have forfeited all claim on me.”

“ Et aire mornin’!” Big BONES defilfll‘ed. “ 811’
We watched that Eagle City Ed didn’t leave the
cabin. We ’arnt our money. an’ yer kin bet
yer duckets thet we gits it. *' Eh! boyees?”

“ 0n course we do!” i

“ Hoqra fer Big Boots 1”

“We 3 ts the cash or we spills a bar’l .o'
bleed!”

Such and kindred
spouse to Big Boots.

Revolvers were drawn, and Nabob Ned found
. himglf covered. ‘
' v ' '~‘ h! you've got ter come ter time!” Big,
.. Boots howled. :‘Ye war licked by one leetle
" wake-eyed Mexican. ’cept thet ye war picked
V, out by, Eagle City Ed, an’ then ye got outer

er ear an’ went ter ,pickin’ onter him. Now,
’11 djsseck my Ole bootS, and, chaw that page
a  dinner, of ye km playany o’ yer slim games
you’ yer uncle—oh! no. not a domed smidger
ref it! I’ve eat 11 grizzly b’ars alive on toast, I
' «hey, an’ swallere molten lead, an’ when ya git
, my mad up, I’m wuss’n a elerphant w’ot’sbin
; ed.»on terbac. So yerst you flicker out our
lives, an’ tell ther juice-wrassler ter treat us

\.

ya‘
, . < .h.
hr

. t. h . _ .‘d

r

3,

w.

‘ 9“  “m. ._

1'
shouts filled the air, in re-

  

, . ,
white, or yer funeral percession will form in
line at tew P. M. l” ,

Back to full cock did Bi Boots draw the
hammer of his revolver, and abob Ned clearly
saw that the men meant business, and he turned
a shade paler, for he now had not a cent at his
immediate command.

“ Come! d’ye hear my Zephyr voice?” Big
Boots roared, floiirishing his persuader. “ Aire
ye goin’ ter come down, or airs on not?”

“This is unfair!” Nabob dec arcd, his eyes
glittering angrily.

\“ Ye‘r’ a liar!” Boots bawled, fiercely. “We
stayed out thar in thur dew, like leetle ducks,
an’ never whinipered, till ther stripes o’ Aurory
beginner! tew show in ther east—then, we calky-
lated thet Eagle City Ed bed bin game enough,
an’ we. lewnted. We see’d ther devil’s dwn
fiery serpents a Coma pourin’ out 0’ ther chim-
ney, an’ the cussed things chased us half—way
ler camp. Now, cf we ’nriit ther cash, we
gits it—that’s all. Ef we didn’t. you git it—
cold lead, right from ther muzzle!”

Nabod Ned was silent a moment, before he
made any response.

" 1 am sorry, gents,” he finally said, “that I
haven’t a cent of money about my person, at
the present moment, having just li'OVVf-fd it all
in at the bank, yonder, as the dealer can tell
you. What I propose is this: You all go down
to the cabin, and order Eagle City Ed to open
up, or burst in the door if you get no answer.
If you find him there. dead or alive, comeback
to me, and you shall have your money. If he is
gOvve. you get none.”

Some of the men gave a grunt of assent.

Big Boots, howevor, and one or two others,
immediately ()bj~('.ti3(l.

“ Thet won’t work!” the giant declared. “ Yo
want a chance ter play ther skin game on us,
yeou do. Et won’t work fer a cent. We’ll go
down ter ther cabin all right, aii’ find Eagle
City E-l thar all right, you bet. But afore we
go, we’ll jest sit a leetle watch onter Mr. Nabob
Neddy, so he can’t slide off out 0’ our viSion
like duck down on top of a Montana zephyr.”

“ l refuseto be dictated to in this manner,
sir! I am no a suspicious character, to be dog-
ged by spies, and shall do as I please. If you
don’t choose to do as I proposed, why I have
nothing more to say.” \

“ What are ye afeard ter let one 0’ us watch
ye fer?” Big Boots demanded. “Ye must hev
some cat ye’r’ afeard o’ lettin’ out o’ the bag, or
else a treasure cache, or suthin’ o’ the kind I”

“ ’l, will not argue with you. I haVe said my
say.

“Then, durn yer pictur’, We’ll hev our say,
you bet! We’llgivs yer jest five minnits ter fork
over the cash. or do as we tell ye!”

The bar room of the Bung-Eye afforded a
clock, and the hands pointed to within fivo min-
utes of the hour.

Big Boots fiXed one eye on the dial and the
other upon Nanob Ned, while his fingers worked
around the trigger in a restless manner, that
was dangerously suggestive to the man at whom
the weapon was leveled.

What N abob would have said or done, under
the circumstances, can only be surmised, for,
at this juncture, a man stepped forward, say-
mg: -

“There is no use of having any disturbance
about this matter, gentlemen, l assure you.
Nuibo'b Ned. as you call him, is undoubtedly re-
sponsible for a! he says he will do; but, if his
word won’t answer, 1 will loan him what
mopey he needs. How much will it be, sir!”

Nabob N ad’s face betrayed great surprise, but
he made no hesitation in accepting this way out
of a dilemma.

“ There were twelve men: accordingly, it will
require sixtv dollars." he said.

“ An’ ther cost 0’ the whisky fer ther house l”
Bi Boots added, with an ugly grin.

ithout a word the man, who was a stranger
in the towm counted out sixty dollars, which
he placed in Nabob’s hands, and also threw a
twenty-dollar note upon the bar, with the brief
remark: ,

" There, gents—drink that out!”

This stranger then retired to a seat at a card-
table. '

Nabob Ned paid 0!! the men, who really
seemed loth to take the mone . as they had got
their ire up fora rumpus; t enihe quietly a
proached the stranger who had so voluntari y
come to his aid‘. and put out his white hand.

“ Sir, although you are a stranger to me. ac-
cept my sincere thanks for your opportune act,”
he said; “ and rest assured, if it ever comes
.within my power to be of any service to you,
you can command me.” \

 

“I may take advantage of your offer, sir,

shy.
' “ Well! what of Silver Cliff?" he demanded.

 

    
   
   
    
  
   
 
    
   
      
   
   
  
  
   
     
  
 
  

sooner than on think,” the stranger replied,
pulling away' eisurelyat a cigar. V ,

He was a man about whose appearance there
was nothing extraordinar --a thing quite sin-
gular, too, or a t0wn li e Slab City; for the
gold and silVer region population is so largely
made up of singular persons.

This person in question was of some fiVe-or-
six-and-forty years of age, well built, and just
an ordinary-looking man, with brown eyes and
heard. He evidently had spent some years in
alga West, but as evidently was not Western

rn.

His attire was a serviCeable blue suit, and
heavy walking-shoes, and a straw but, a rather
odd-looking head-gear it was, too, for a country
where snow-capped peaks hovered‘above the
town the year round.

He wore no weapons expOSed to view, if in-
deed he Curried any at all about his rson.

Nabob Ned drew a chair to the ta Is and sat
down. The reply of the stranger had. given
him the impression that a further acquaintance
was wanted. 0

“Might I make so bold as to‘inquire your
name-i” he asked.

“ Oh! certainly,” was the reply, in a calm
yct magnetic tone—for, dear reader, you must
admit that there is magnetism in voices. " My
name is Herold Henshaw; I‘presume you have
hen rd of the name before."

Nabob shook his head in the ne alive. Only
a slight twitch about his mouth strayed that
he had heard the name before. i ‘~ ’

“I do not think I new met or heard of on
before this meeting,” Nabob answered. “ cn-
shaw—Henshawl Let me see. No, I am sure I
have never known a person of that name.”

Mr. Henshaw laughed again—a peculiar
laugh it was, expressing to some extent a feel- ’
ing of sarcasm. .

“Elwarrl Landis, you do know, the name
even as WPll as you know your ow‘n and it is‘

uite useless now to. deny t at you lmow me. I

id you ever hear of a little town in Colorado, ’ _
called Silver Clill'i” ' '

Nahob Ned’s face flushed, the gleam that i '
nestled in his eyes grew stronger in he inten- '

   
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
   

“What of Silver Cliff?” ’

The words of Harold Henshaw evidently had
aroused the sleeping tiger of the little sporth _
nature. I ,

Henshaw eyed him a moment, Curiously. , f

“ Do you want me tore-peat all I know about
you and Silvar Cliff?" he demanded. I ,

The Sport did not answer at once, but regard- _
ed Henshaw much after the manner a caged
tiger regards the people who are peering in at
him from without the grates. , 'I‘

“I do not think .it necessary,” he replied, at' g '
lergth. “You are surely mistaken in your \.
man for once. I think you made the drive at '
me for the pur ose of finding out if there was 7 ~
rot a poss1hiliy that I might be your man.
What is your business? Are you a detective?”

“I am not, although I have a mis~ion some.-
thing of the nature of detective we} k."

“1 surmised so. \ C. ance has made it within
my power. perhaps, to aid you, in return for the g ,
favor you have done me to-night. My name _is
not Edward Landis, by any means, but Edwm ’
Hurst. I, however, have met this Edward ‘ I
Landis.”l r . '

“ You have?” "

' “I have. Tell me your errand after Edward
Lundis’. and I may be able to put you on his“
track. ‘ =

IIensliaw looked thoughtth a moment. ,.

“I don’t know thatI ought to make 'c0ntl-| “
dants of strangers,” he said, dehberatingly. -
“In this case, however, I dont know that it -;j
can make any particular difference. If not Ed~
ward Landis, you are. l resume. a person of "
gnod character, and one w 0 can be trusted."

"Without a. doubt!” .

“Well. then. I will confide in you.
you know this Edward Landis?” .

“ I have seen him!” ‘ ‘ ‘ _ . .

“Ah! Where?”

“Go on with your confidence. I can answer
aftur you are through.” ' . '

Henshaw frowned at this. He had no boy‘to. I -
deal with. a . .

“ Well. I will go on i” he said, watching Nae  ' ‘-
boh as if he was suspicious of him. “I‘am a 
gentleman worth considerable money, and until
recently a resident of Silver Cliff. whammy;
family reside. My extenswe mining-interests 
havelkept me away from my home more than I .
could desire. This fact has bron ht me dire,"
trouble. During one of my a chess, 
eighteen-year old, daughter Helen metand'be-g

     
     
     
       
     
       
     
       
   
     
     
       
     
       
     
     
       
         
     
       
       
           
     
       
      

You say

      
           
             
       
       
      
     
         
   
         

  

3.,

x

     

 

   

  

came intimately acquainted with a person of
fascinating presence, whose name, it appears,
was Edward Landis. From her description of
him I picked you out as the man.”

“ Unfortunately for you, you made a wrong
selection, sir."

" Possibly.”

“ Positively instead of possibly. Edward
Landis and m self do not resemble each other
in the least. at, go on.”

“ Well, this acquaintance between Landis
and my daughter ripened into admiration such
as affect young people—for one can scarcely
call it love—and they were engaged. My
daughter informed me of this by mail, and I
hastened home, if possible to prevent more seri-
ous consequences. On arrival I found that
there had been a. rivate ceremony, nnd then, a
few days later, andis had started forth to
make his fortune, ostensiny by gold—mining.
InVestigation, however, proved to my satisfac—
tion that the marriage was a sham, of which
Helen had become an unsuspecting victim. So
I registered a vow to hunt him down, and force
him to re-marry‘ my daughter or give his life as
the forfeit.”

“ Your feeling in the matter is certainly com-
mendable,” Nabob Ned declared, quietly. “I
would do the same, were I in year tracks.
And, as Edward Landis is in this very camp,
it will not trouble you to perfect your arrange-
ments.”

“ Hal he is here, then?”

“ Yes. Come to me, during today, and I
will oint him out to you.” .

“ hanks; I will do so. As my daughter has
accompanied me here, it will be no trouble to
bring our man to time. I will present you to
Helen, during the day.”

Nabob Ned shook his head, negatively at that
suggestion.

“Spare me!” he said, putting up his hands.

, “I am~ a natural woman-hater and always
make it a point to avoid their society, as much
as possible. To-mo'rrow, I will show you Ed-
ward Landis, but do not care, any further to
enter into your case.”

1 “Very Well, sir. I am much obliged to you,
I am sure. If we succeed in finding this Landis,

you shall not go unrewardeo.”
' “Thank you. I shall ask no compensation
for doing you so slight a favor.”

The conveyancer of Slab City then took leave
of the husband-hunter, musing as he did so:

“No! I don‘t want any pay, Mr. Henshaw. I
wouldn’t take it for the world.”

CHAPTER IX.
IN DEFENSE 0F POLLY.

WHEN daylight had fully flooded Slab City a
party, made up of Big Boots, Pedro Sperra and
a dozen miners, made their way to the haunted
cabin, where, to their surprise, they found the
door open and Eagle City Ed sitting on the
threshold, enjoying a morning cigar.

“Good-morning, gents!” he saluted, as they
‘ came up regarding him with curious glances.
“Had a pretty tough time of it outside, didn’t
ye? Why in blazes didn’t ye come and join
tme? ”I was as dry and snug as a. bug in a rug in

ere.

“Durn me of you luk like you’d bin knocked
out wi’ ghosts, ’cept yer all covered wi’ black!”
Big Boots gruntnd.

“Trouble? Knocked out by ghosts?” and
Edward laughed boisterously. “Why, I had
the he-hossiest pick-nick of my life. Furst
along the darned spirils did not take kindly ter
me, but went twr sluggiu’ me with pavin’ stones.
After I kindled a fire, tho’, things went diff’reut.
Old Smithy riz up thro’ the floor an’ welcomed
me, an’ fetched along a passel‘ of other friends
of his, an’ sach a racket we did hevl Smithy
sad I war jest ther man to take his cabin, fer
he’s in o°her biz now!”

The miners looked incredulous, while a few of
them laughed. x

“Come, neow, git out! Ye can’t seal us wi’
sech sort 0’ sli~kin’-w;:x as that!" Big Boots
asseverated. “We ain’t so orful flip, but then
ghost-racket won’t work.”

“ Won’t it? Bel} ye a hundred there is not a
man of ye dare stay in the ranch to-night an’
ace the fun!”

Eagle City  seemed so dead in earnest that

the gang exchanged glances.

“Uh! Smithy hes got it in fer you fellers, all
’cause ye choked of! his wind. He hes got ye
down fine, an’ soou’s he gits thro’ with his pres-
ent job, he’s goin’ to make it sulph’rous for ye,”
the s rt informed the astonishedcrowd.

“ hat job?" sneered Sperra.

‘ “Oh! he’s trainin’ a den of snakes fer ther
; his]! Government. St. Pat aire ~goin’ ter use

    

 

   

.‘  . .

’em ag’in’ the English. Several of ’em got away
an’ run up the chimney, an’ I chased ’em, but
couldn’t ketch ’em. But the best snap was ther
dancin’. We did jest hoe it down great. Hed

a gal w’ot played the guitar an’ sung opery.

Phew, but she was a daisy l”

.The crowd looked even more mystified than
before, and, while some ventured forward to
peer into the cabin, others held aloof, appar-
ently not anxious to get any closer to the house
than they already were.

“ Waal, durn my boots (I ye can’t live in the
den far all 0’ my interferin’,” Big Boots answer-
ed with a shrug of his shoulders. “ Ef the place
is ha’uted, I’ve got no time around it,"ade-
cision that was received with approval by his
companions.

Even Sperra did not appear to be particular-
ly assured.

After a little further conversation, Eagle
City E1 locked the cabin door, and returned
with the crowd, to the camp.

As Nnbob Ned Could not be found about the
Bung-Eye, the Eagle City man engaged a. room
and retired toit. ,

The rooms of the Bung-Eye were all on the
second floor, anl partitioned oil’ with heavy
muslin, the furniture consisting ofa “ slammed-
up ” bed, a stool, tin wash—basm, and bucket of
water.

Taking a wash, Eagle City Ed descended
to the street, and hunting up a Jew clothing
shop—one of the first lusiness features of the
shanty town—soon h: d himself “togged ” out
in a way that altered his appearance greatly.

He then went back to the hotel. just in time
to witness a. scene that caused his temper to
arise like the mercury in a thermometer, on a
red-hot August day.

In the office of the Bung E‘ eestablishment,
surrounded and hemmed in by a curious mob,
comprising princi ally the roughest element of
the camp, stood iss Polly Smith, guitar in
hand, and with the parrot perched upon her
shoulder.

Her face was flushed, and tears were on the
point of springing into her eyes.

Without waiting Eagle Ciry Ed bounded for-
ward, and by main force, hurled Several of the
crowd aside.

“Stand away here, you boorsl” he cried,
sharply. “Is this all the manners cu haw?
Out of the way 1" at the same time ex ibiting a
pair as cocked revolvers. ‘ “ I’ll learn you to in.
salt a ady while I’m around this camp."

“ We warn’t insultin’ her Mule-Ears,” a
roman cried. “We wanted her ter play, an’
she‘s got ter play—that’s all.” ,

“No, that’s not all 1” Ed cried. “Git up and
git out 0’ here, you hounds, or I'll salivate you!
This young lady is under my protection, I’ll
have you know, and the man who raises a
finger to harm her, or avoice to insult her,
dies with his boots on. What were they saying
or doing, Miss Polly!”

“Ohl nothing, sir, only they stopped me
here and insisted on-my playing.”

“The impudent brutes! I’ve a mind to kill
half a dozen on the half-shell, just for the ex-
periment. Here, sir,”—-to the proprietor, who
had just come up—“show this young, lady,
Ma’m’selle Pauline Smith, to the best apart-
ment your house affords, and if a repetition of
this not ever occurs you‘ll need to organize a
bucket brigade l0 dip up the gore I’ll spill for

“The lady shall have the best attention l”
the proprietor declared; for, although Bung-
Eye Jake was a. tough customer, a woman
stood higher in his regard than twenty pounds
of gold. , ’

Accordingly, at Ed’s nod, Polly Smith accom-
panied the Chinese waiter of the eslablishment
to the room assigned her, while Ed turned his
attention to those he had lately repulsed, among
them being Big Boots and Sperra.

The general expresnon of the different faces
was that of anger and resentment. ,

“ Now, then, my posit-s,” the sport said, cool-
ly, “ as you seem a bit on the edge of your ear
over my taking that young lady’s part, I want
you to allow me the privilege of informing you
that' yourlittle thunder-clap looks don’t scare
me worth a. pint of hard cider. That'young
lady is trawling under my management, and I
am amply able to take care of her and her in-
terests, so far as protection and managing her
business are concerned. I am aware that many
of you imagine yourSelves to be walking tPrrOl‘s,
from whom even an African lion would run ‘in
alarm. To me you are nothing of the kind. I’m
neither afraid of onenor. a dozen of you. and if
you’re ripe for having a funeral, the culest caper

   

will be to let the funeral commence at once, in

    

 

A‘“

order that the preacher kin git his foe quic
er! '

Standing there, handsome, reenlute and de-
fiant, the man from Eagle City uttered the cl al-
lenge, his eyes looking over every face in the
crowd with a deadly glitter. .

Not a murmur escaped the crowd, but their
faces grew harder in expression.

A moment Eagle City Ed glared at them;
then, seeing no defense, he went on:

“ That young lady is Pauline Smith, a father,-
less girl, who depends upon her musical abilities
to gain support—or rather, has done so, until
now, when it will soon be unnecessary for her
to do so, for, in her own natural right. she will
be well enough cfl’ not to be forced to appear
before you as a vocalist.
she will appear in her professional capacity,
and I believe there are enough men in Slab City,
counting myself out, to hang the man who
dares to insult or offend her in the slightest!"

For an instant another dead silence reigned—
then, simultaneously, the major portion of the
[crowd broke into a yell of applause!”

“’Rahl hip! yoop ’rah fer Purty Poll!” howl-
ed Big Boots, executing a caper. “Tber er-
loot w’ot durst luk cross-eyed at her “all ev
ther top 0’ his pericranium cut open, an doused
wi’ p‘izened salt an’ bug-juice. ’Rah fer Putty
Poll an’ Eagle City Ed l”

The cheers were given with boisterous en-
thusiasm by all except a few.

Eagle City Ed next ordered the gang up to
take something, after which he'prepared a huge
poster, announcing the following for the benefit
of all who could read:

“GRAND VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL
ENTERTAINMENT 1

THE CHARMING CANTATRICE AND GUITARIST, ‘

MLLE. PAULINE,
‘ WILL SING AT BUNG-EYE, To NIGHT.

PAN OUT FOR HER!
Eagle City Ed, Manager.”

In the mean time, following the disturbance,
Pedro Sperm had hun ed up Nabob Ned, and
found! him in the gulch, pacing to and fro, not
far from the haunted cabin.

A sc'owl came over- his face as the Mexican
approached.

HEAR / HER l

“Well, what do you want?” he demanded, .

crustily.

“To See you, of course,” was the answer. in
the Greaser’s most amiable tone. “Here is a
bowlder. Let’s sit dawn, and have /a )chaton
business.” ' -

“ Well, be brief. I’ve some business to attend I
to myself, pretty

soon.” . .
“Yes, and if I don’t lose in guess. you will
have more than you can atten to ere long!”
Nabob eyed the other with a keen glance.
" Why do you think so?” he demanded. a
“ For a Very simple reason. The town is be-
ginning fo refill with people again, and it is but,
natural your business should increase.”
“ True l” -
“Certainly. This Smith estate, not to men
tion what has been disposed of, will yet be a
bonanza to its owner.”
The conveyancer’s face brightened percep-
tibly.r ’
“ on are right,” he assented; “and I’ll be
closer with the moneyxhereafter than I have
hitherto been.” ' W .
“ Of course you ought to;‘1t will be but a.
short time before you will have to vacate.”
“ Wk 5’"

“ Exactly. You’ll soon have to give up to
the next of kin to John Smith, who already has
arrived in town.”

The conveyancer uttered a fierce oath.

“You lie!” he grOWIed.
no’= known relatives living, and it was voted
that what was his belonged to me.”

“That don’t make a particle of difference.--- .

sir,” Sperra replied, with composure. “ Listen.”

He then went on to relate the circumstances '

of Miss Smith’s arrival at the Bung-Eye, not

missing a point. evon to lhe ecclamation with I

which she. and Eagle City Ed had, been receiv-
ed, after his daring lhe crowd.
Nabob’s face darkened, but he made an at—

tempt to scoff at the idea of his prospects being ‘

in any danger.

“ Pooh! nonsense. .
Smith, that signifies nothing, and even if it did,
what of it? We are not supposed to take the
word of every straggler or adventurer that

comes along, thatthey are so-end-so. The girl ,

To-night. h0wever, '

“ The old cuss had ’

Because the girl's name is  '

    
 

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4 s a fraud, without a doubt, and if she goas to'

trying any funny business around here, she’ll
wake up some morning with her throat cut.”

“Good! Don’t you let ’em bamboozle you.
If you want any help, I’m the man for schem-
ing and working.”

" How do you mean?"

“As I said. This Eagle City Ed is manag-
ing the girl’s business. and if I do say it, there’s
but one an in Slab City able to cope with him,
by power of possessing a knowledge of him that
no one else possesses or even surmises.”

“Do I understand that you would hire out to
me, to serve my interests, for a stipulated sum
of money i” '

“No, I would not work for money, but for
revenge!” -

“Ah! how is that, when you told me that
you would protect, rather than harm, this
Eagle City Ed l”

“ I was wild then, because I hated you. But
time brought back my reason. I have a inis~
sion of vengeance to perform, and it must be
performed soon.”

“ I don’t know of any employment for you.
You Mexicans are as treacherous as adders,
anyhow.”

“I am not treacherous, except to enemies.
You have employment for me, and it will re-
quire, but the telling of a single fact to convince
'ou.

“Well, out wilh it!”

“It is this: The girl whom Eagle City Ed

* has in his charge is the true and genuine daugh~

ter of the John Smith, who was hung here, in
Slab City!”

“ Bah! Don’t try to lie to me 1”

“Nor do I, for I saw her in Spokane Falls be-
fore eVer I came here or her father either. She
has come here, undoubtedly, to claim her
ow l‘

or seVeral minutes Nabob Ned gave ventila-
tion to his rage, through the medium of cui-Ses
and wishes for vengeance; then turning fiercely
upon the Mexican he demanded:

“How much money do you want to become
my 7spy, assistant schemer and aid in this mat-
ter?

“No money. Counsel with me, before each
and every act. and I will give you such advice
as will be prudent, and will help you to win.”

“ Upon your honor, as a Mexican?”

“ Upon the sacred honor of a Mexican.”

“Then listen: As you say, there may he a
fight, but the two of us united, and with such
material as I can collect, we ought to win,
without a doubt. If we do win, I’ll make

on my half-partner in all there is belong-
ing to the John Smith estate. And, ’sh! mind
you, not that alone: there are secrets lurking in
Slab City. Serve me faithfully, and you shall
not miss them.”

“I assent. Here is my hand. Now we must
lie in wait and watch the very first develop-
ments. The are liable to come, at any time. ’

Just then, agle City Ed was seen coming to-
ward them. 1

“He’s coming for the deed to the haunted
cabin!” Sperra explained. “You’ll have to
give it to him. He’s too much at the fighting
business for us. We must at present do the best
we can and not get hurt.”

CHAPTER X.
PLO’I‘TING.

“GOOD-DAY, gentlemen!” Eagle City Ed sa-
luted, inclining his head particularly to Nabob
asbe came up. “ Have you been down to the
cabin to see if I had slaughtered any ghosts,
sir?”

“ No,” Nabob replied, coldly. “There are no
such a thing as ghosts, else you would not have
remained in that cabin all night.”

“ I would hava remained in that place all
night if there had been ten thousand full-fledged
members of Satan’s cabinet there! ’

“ Large words, but nothing more. This gen—
tleman and I were having a little private cou-
versation. If you will be brief in stating your
business we will excuse you.”

“ That I can do without much trouble. I
came for the transfer of the cabin property to
my name and possession.”

“You came to no purpose, then. No amount
of money could buy that property!" Nabob sul-
lenly declared. _ ,

“Yet you bargained with me for it.”

“ Bah! I was only fooling.”

“ 1 was not. You made me a fair and square
offer, which I accepted and carried out. I ex-
pect you to hold good to our promise.”

“I won’t do itl I shal ' hold. the cabin by all
means, for nothing goes in this camp except it

a is put down on paper in black and white.”

 

. “Then you positively refuse to give me the
cabin?”

“ You bet I do!”

“Then, not only will I take the place without
your leave, but I’ll teach you a lesson!”

He bounded forward and struck ‘Ned ater-
rific blow in the face, which knocked the Nabob
senSeless: then turning, without deigning the
Mexican a glance, he strode toward the camp.

Fifteen minutes later, Nabob Ned and Sperra
could have been seen going in the same direc-
tion.

The conveyauCer’s face was swollen from the
effects of the blow, one eye being nearly
closed.

There was an expression on his face which
boded no good to his assailant and enemy.

When the hotel was reached the twain sepa-
rated, Nahob alone entering.

Eagle City E1 was nowhere to be seen, but it
was not for him, in particular, that Ned was
searching, but for Harold Henshaw, whom he
soon found seated at a poker-table, with a pile
of chips before him, having just made a haul.

He soon cleaned the board on a big sweep,
and then arose.

“ Did you wish to see me, sir?" he asked, ad-
dressing Nabob.

“Yes,” the latter replied, leading the way to
a quiet corner of the room. “ I have something
important to say to you.”

They were soon seated at a table, with a
bottle of wine and glasses between them.

Then, Henshaw said:

“Now, I am ready to hear what that matter
of importance is.”

The conveyancer forthwith narrated the his-
tory of John Smith, so far as Slab Clty'was
concerned in it. .

“ But, what interest is all this to me?” the
Silver Cliff man demanded, finally, somewhat
impatiently.

“ A rent deal, if you listen 1”

He t en roceeded to tell of the arrival of
Miss Polly mith, and the probability that she
would lay claim to the estate.

Henshaw still looked blank.

“ I am not particularly brilliant as to what
you’re driving at!” he declared.

“ I will try to enlighten your comprehen-
sions,” Nabob went on, with blandness. “ Now,
you will see that I'd be a most consummate
fool to allow myself to be ousted from an estate
that will be—is now—worth a fine fortune.
No! sir-ee, I won’t have nothing like that you
can bet your prettiest. To begin with, I’ll tell
you something that will surprise on. My real
name is De Wolf; nevertheless, never use it,
for reasons best known to mysalf. I am. how-
ever, the man you first took me for—Edward
Landis, but I will remarrvl your daughter only
under certain conditions. You need not get furi-
ous or hasty, as my hand here. in my left coat
pocket, clutches a cooked revolver, which is
aimed toward your heart. So, if you are sensi-
ble enough to believe that I have the bulge on
you, we will begin to talk business!”

Henshaw glared at the goodrlooking knave,
savagely, as" if tempted to fly at him, and read
him limb from limb.

“ So you are the villain who deserted my
daughter, are you?” he cried, hoarselv. “ Curses
rest upon you! I’ve a mind to kill you where
you Sitl”

“You couldn’t do it; besides, even if you did,
you would gain nothing, as you would be strung
up within an hour. So, the most sensible thing
for both is to hold our tempers, and see if we
cannot come to some satisfactory terms.”

“Terms! Make terms with a man of your
stam ?" .

“ ertainly. In order to retain my grip on
this property, I have conceivpd a plan some-
thing like the following: This Eagle City El is
trying to get ahead of me in public popularity,
and if he succeeds. so many more chances Will
there he of success for this new claimant.”

“ Very likely 1”

“life”, Imust maneuver to beat them both.
Now, sir, since you liaVe been in Slab City have
you given your name out, publicly, to any ex-
tent?”

“No. On the contrary I registered as John
W. Smith and niece. Idid this for fear that
you might be leagued With some desperate

ring, and find me, before I could find you.
on, alone know me as Harold Henshaw!”

Naboh uttered an exclamation of delight.

“ By Jove! It couldn’t. have been better!” he
declared. " The matter will be twice as easy.”

“ What matter?”

“That of establishing your daughter Helen,
as the real heiress. See, now’.” -

“Ah! but that—"

 

“ Nonsense! There. are no buts about it. I t 1

marry Helen. Will she welcome me back!”

“I cannot say, as for that. I fancy she is not
entirely weaned of her aflectiou for you yet.”

“Well, as soon as I mature my plans, I’ll
spring the scheme. and declare her to be the
daughter of John Smith deceased, and b a will
he left in my possession she becomes is sole
legatee. You are her uncle with whom she had
been living, during her father’s absence in the
Coeur d’Alenes. See?”

“ Yes. It is a bold plan I”

“But bound to be successful. It makes Helen
an heiress, and the proper? sure of not being
snatched away from us. fter she is snug in
her position, so that there is no danger of sus-
picion being aroused, I will have her sign over
the property to me, and then marry her.”

Hen‘shuw burst into a sarcastic little laugh.

“ That would be quite cute, too, now, would-
n’titl You’re a vary neat schc-mer, Nabob Ned,
as you are called, here. but your cuteness don’t
pay. You remarry Helen first, or neither ’of
us will have aught to do in abetting you in your
plot.’

“That is impossible. Why, you could force
me to marry her under penalty of exposing
my fraud, were I inclined not to keep my
promise.”

“ Perhaps. Well I will talk it over, with
her, and see what she says.”

“Do so, and use our influence as much as
possible. It would a shame to lose such a
fortune, merely because of personal scruples.”

After a few more words, Henshaw. sought
his apartment, while Nebob Ned, in a cheerful
humor hunted up Pedro Sperra, and revsaled
his plans, even going so far as to trust the Mexi-
can with the secret of his previous sham mar-
riage with Helen Henshaw.

Sperra listened with rapt attention and signi-
fied his approval by frequent head-nods. -

CHAPTER Xi.
POLLY’s DEBUT.

NIGHT came on, and with it a violent rain-
storin,so that by an early hour in the evening,the
Bung-Eye saloon was packed as full as it could
be—the majority of the crewd bein those who
were eager to hear the beauteous M le. Pauline
smg.

To those who had not yet seen her, strange
stories had gone out, of her wondrous beauty,
and the very fact that she “ played on a fiddle,’
as the miners put it, was sumcient to set the
town in a state of eager expectancy.

There being no stage, a couple of faro tables
had been arranged together, at the further end
of the fare room.

A dozen rows of lank seats had been also put
in for the benefit 0 those who wished to pay a
dollar for the privilege of sitting down.

These seats were quicklyfilled, netting Polly a.
profit of nearly a hundred dollars, I. anks to
Eagle City Ed’s good arrangements.

The remainder of the audience was forced to
accept accommodations in the rear, and see the
best they could. A

It suited many of the roughs. as they were
adjacsnt to the bar, where they could both hear
and drink. ‘

Eight o’clock came.

 

It was the hour fixed for the arrival of Mlle.

Pauline, upon the stage, and promptly at the
appointed time, she and Eagle City Ed made
their how.

“ Allow me, gentlemen.” Ed said, before seat-
ing his fair ote ea, to introduce to you, Mlle.
Paulino'Smith, t a daughter “of your former
citizen. John Smith. With your'kind attention
she will favor you with some instrumental and
vocal music. The first will be a Selection from
that charming opera, ‘ The Bohemian Gill.’_” ,

Be an! Polly then became-seated amid a
storm cf :1 plause, and when it had subsided
somewhat. Bully touched the strings in an ex-
temporized relude, bringing forth an exquisite
strain that instantly caused an intenso and ap-
preciative silence on the part of the audience.

The player then struck into the melody of the
opera, giving it in a mostexquismely artistic
manner, the music penetrating to every part of
the room then dying softly away to a faint,

weirdly-beautiful tone that seemed to die in the l 9'7

distance. .

 
   

At the conclusion of the solo the applause was. I

so tumultuous that a,repetition of the latter

meaSure of the piece was necessary to secure 'L

anything like order. ,
Men, old and young, stamped their heav -
booted feet, yelled and waved their hats high In

the air. while gold coin and little pouches of " '

dust rained upon the stage in a shower! . .

It was a reception such as Polly had nevar ex." 

 

, and so cannot say what I will do.

   

 
    

1]..

  

  
 

Messed.

 

 

perienced or dreamed of and she felt only too
pleased to respond to the encore.

She then sung a plaintive home ballad which
was listened to with rapt attention, bringing
moisture to the eyes of more than one veteran
and tenderfoot, as the words brought back to
them recollections of the past.

Among the spectators nearest the stage was
Nabob Ned, attired in the highest of fashion,
and appearing at his case. His garments were
of the best material and fit, and a big diamond
glittered upon his spotless shirt-front, while a
huge cable gold-chain was worn about his neck,
and attached to his watch. -

From the moment of Polly’s first appearance,
his eyes hardly once left her face, and by intui-
tion, she was forced to glance at him several
{limes only to find his steadfast gaze fixed upon

er.

She scarcely knew whether to feel pleased or
oflended, but made up her mind to call Eigle
City Ed’s attention to the matter after the per—
formance.

At the end of the second ballad the Chinese
waiter presented Polly with a. handsomely—
urrenged basket of wild flowers, which had
been formed in colors to represent a star.

Although Polly felt almost certain that Nabob
Ned was the donor, she gave him no look to in-
dicate that she thought so; but, on receiving the
flowers, courtesied. placed them upon a stand
between her and Eli, and immediately sung the
third number of her programme.

Ed then arose and announced that there would
be an intermission of ten minutes, to givo the
audience an opportunity to “oil up,” and he
and Polly retired behind a curtained space that
had been provided as a retiring room—Polly
taking along the basket.

“ Obi haven’t I had a nice reception 1” she
said, inhaling the fragrant odor of the flowers.
“I am so delighted, and I am so much indebted
Eoyou, sir, for you have been the direct cause of
t. ~

. ‘9 By no means. You have done splendidly, I
will admit. What with the seat rent and volun-
tary donations, I have ovar a. hundred and
eighty dollars, and a. few more songs will, no
doubt swell the amount to over two hundred
dollars.”

“ And oh! look here, Mr. Ed—a hundred dol-
lar bill hidden among these flowers!”

It was, true enough—a new crisp hundred
dollar note that had hitherto received but
little, if any usage.

She handed it to Ed, who without a word,
gaVe it a minute examination.

While he was thus engaged, Polly slyly ex‘
tracted a written note, from among the flowers,
and slipped it into her pocket. Looking toward

'Eagle‘City Ed, she found him regarding her,

amusedly. .

“Oh! you need not be so sly. I have no de-
sire to see that note,” he {laughed “ I’d advise
you to avoid the man who sent it, as much as
possible.” ‘ 

“ Thank you. I do not yet know the contents,

Who was the
gentleman, who sent the flowers?”

“The swsll who attracted your attention. If
you had looked sharp, you might have noticed
a little discoloration under his left eye, although
he had it well painted over. I had occasion to
do, today, what I may do again, if he gets too
fresh l” .

He then turned his attention to counting the

, money over again.

She had a woman’s intuitive shrewdness, and

. quickness of perception; so stepped to his side,
and laid one hand upon his shoulder.

“ Now, Mr. Ed, you are not jealous, are you?
I dOn’t want you to be, I am sure.”

“ Jealous?” and he looked up at her in sur-
prise. “Why, believe me, that is {a thing fur-
thest from my thoughts, Here is the money.
Now, excuse me a moment, please. I will a
back before you go on again.” ,

And he stepped out among the audience, leav-
ing a little unpleasant feeling tugging at her
heart. It Wasn’t exactly a/ pain, but a sort of

swing sensation, that caused her to wonder

f it would not he herself who would be jealous,

I ‘ had she any cause to be.

I, ._-.<.,.. I .

   

’ claim to be the daughter of
, ceased. whose appointed representative I am
 - the liberty of bestowing upon you a token of my
5 esteem for you, from the fact of having been Mr.

Earth ,I a». .

If so, she must like him very much!
During his absence, she read the note, it oc-

‘ curring to her that he had absented himself, in

order to give her the opportunity to peruse it.
It was as follows:

"MSW:—
“Dm Lam—Learning, by chance. that you
ohn Smith. Es?“ de-
, t

eke

 

Smith’s friend. I would also res ctfully request
{onto call upon me at my new 0 cc, opposite the

otel, at ten, to-morrow. as there are matters of
busmess awaiting the attention of Mr. Smith‘s heir-
ass

"I also considerit m duty, to advise you to have
very little confidence it the man who publicly an-
nounces himself as your manager as, in reality, he
is unworthy of your slightest no.1cc—is a very dis-
reputable character.

"The charges a ainst him are numcrous, to say
nothing about his ein ' a moral leper. "I'is said he
has two wives living; ut, hOchor this may be, I
have reasons to believe that one of them is «n route
for Slab City now, in search of him. A word to the
wise is sufficient. Most respectfully yours,

“ Nanou NED,
“ Conveyancer. Counselor, etc.“

Polly’s cheeks grew red and white by turns,
as she read the missive, and she was extremely
nervous, when Eagle City Ezl returned.

At first, she was tempted to thrust the letter
before his gaze; but. on second thought, she
concluded that the dcnouement resulting from
such an act. might detract from the pleasant
success of her first appearance; so she picked up
her guitar. with a. smile.

“ Well, is it time, yet?” she asked.

“Yes. Giva ’em something serio-comic, this
time, to wake ’em up!”

They then went upon the stage, and Polly
sum: serio~comic songs of the day, to hilarious
applause, and more showers of gold.

n encore, she sung from “ The Barber of
Seville” and, to her own surprise, Eagle City
Ed joined her, in a rich powerful barytone voice.
The execution was exceptionally fine, the sport
provin , beyond a doubt, that his musical train-
,ing, a Some time in the misty past, had not
been neglected, while Polly found it a keen
pleasure, to sing with him.

At the conclusion they both bOWed them—
selves off the stage, amid the most deafening
applauss, after which Ed reappeared, and un-
nouncsd that Mlle. Pauline would reappear the
next evening.

When he returned to the primitive green-
room Polly Seized his hands in hers impulsively.

“ 0h! wasn’t it glorious 2” she asked, looking
up into his face with her starry eyes. “ I could
have sung right along all night with you, you
sing so nicely. I see you have been educated
in music. Were you ever abroad?”

“Oh, no] What smattering of music I have
is all self-learned. I am glad my effort pleased
you. If you desire to retire to your room, there
is a back stairway that will lead you to it.
Here also is a revolver. In these rough towns a
lady should never be without one, nor hesitate
to shoot whenevar occasion requires. Good-
nightl”

“ Good-night!” .

She threw her arms about his neck and im-
printed a kiss upon his cheek.

Then-she was gone. ,

It was done so quickly that it really took him
several moments to comprehend what had oc-
curred—by which time Polly was up-stairs and
in her apartment.

“ Stuck!” was the first comment the aston-
ished sport made. “ Here 8 a case—a clear trans-
lucent case. She’s clear gone on me, and Nahob
Ned can send her all I the flowers he wants, for
all the good it dOes him 1’”

As for Nabob Ned he left the saloon imme-
diately after the pbrformance, gnashing his
teeth with rage.

The last act on the programme, and the fact
that ‘Polly had failed to look at him at all,
after receiving the bouquet, was like gall and
wormwood to him, and he left the. Bung-Eye
in a furious passion. - .

“ Curse the girl! Curse Eagle City Erl! Curse
everybody! I’d like to kill eVerv mother’s son
of ’em! The girl‘s a beauty. Egadl I would
give a mint to possess her, and possess her I will;
though Satan and his imps may stand in my
way! I wonderif she got my letter? If so, she
disdained to pay any/ attention to it. Ha,
curse herl That lut fires me with greater de-
termination ‘ to possess her. She may be stuck
on him because the devil can sing. I can’t sing,
but I can outwit ’em all in scheming. Ah! my
brain! It is in a whirl. I must Compose my-
seElf, or, 1 shall not be able to do the work ahead
0 me. .

“Then you had better take a little liquor as a
tonic!” a voice exclaimed, and, like an omen of
evil, S erra, the Mexican,stepped alongside the
arch—p otter.

" Ah! you 1’” Nabob hissed, his tone not indi-
cating whether he was pleased or not. “Give
me the‘ whisky, if you have,any.”

Sperra produced a flask, which his newly-

 

acquired master nearly drained of its contents.

\

  

 

It was then returned to the owner, and {the
Nabob said: ‘
“ I am led you have come. I have business
for you.
.“You bet!”

“What did you think of her?"

“A rare flower, blooming among cactus-
thorns.”

“Sl;e is the same you saw in Spokane ?”

“ Without a doubt.”

“She‘is a beauty, as you intimated, Pedro
Sperra, and I dote on beauty. She shall be
mine!”

Sperra smiled a. purely Mexican smile—half-
satanic, half-derisiVe.

“ Bravely spoken, senor! But I fear that
another may have something to say about
that.”

“ Bah! Curse him I I shall meet him in due],
and take his life, to-morr0w at ten o’clock. I
am a dead-shot with the revolver. I also meet
the girl to-morrow, and propose to give her the
estate if she will marry me. If she accepts, all
well and done. If she refuses, you are to kidnap
her to-morrow night.”

“I kidnap her?”

“ Exactly. You can do it easily by following
plans I shall arrange."

“ Where will I take her?”

“ To a place I will show you, all in good time.
Mum’s the word, now, and await the issues of
my plots and plans. I’ve much to do before I
sleep this night, you can bet!”

 

CHAPTER XII.
THE ACCUSATION.

THE next day dawned bright and auspicious.
The storm of the night before had frechened up
everything, and the warm, bright sunshine
seemed to rest on evrry one and everything
with a sense of cheerfulness. l
' The forenoon was one destined to be marked
down in the calendar as eventful~at least for
Slab City. , ' .

As early as eight o’clock it was asserted that
a man named Cranston had struck it “terrific
rich." having located an immense ledge of gold-
bearing rock on a claim he had lately purchased
of Nabob Ned, not far in the rear of the “ Bung-
Eye,” on the mountain-side.

This set the town wild, and a rush was made 1

for a look at the “ find.”

The report was then confirmed. Part of an
extensive ledge had been unearthed, and proved
to be richly impregnated with gold. The yivld

would be fifteen hundred dollars, if a cent, said‘

old and experienced miner's. -

The future of Slab City was now assured
beyond a doubt, and, wild with enthusiasm over
his luck, Cranston invited the denizens to drink
his success over the Bung-Eye bar.

Did they?

They
and Cranston’s bill was big enough to make him

wmce. 4 ‘
But what the differenca, as long as the future

of Slab City as the boss camp of the Cmur l

d’Alene country was assured?

Just opposite the Bung-E e Nabob Ned had
erecle a ;one-story shanty 0 cc. provided with
a des and safe. and when he took possession,
early in the morning, he found plenty of busi-
ness on his hands.

Not exactly because of the boom created by

the new discovery, but from the fact that a card ,

in his window bore the following announcement:
“ GOLD EXCHANGE i
“ Today—$110 in Paper for $100 in Gold.”

As paper money was a commodity largely un-
known in the young metropolis, those who had
a hundred dollars worth of the. glittering “root”
hastened to convertit inlo greenbacks, receiving

in each instance a hundred~dollar and sten- ,

dollar note.

At about half-past nine, however. Nabob Ned‘ .

closed the oflice, and went out upon the rugged

street, where he met Harold Henshaw, as if by ‘.

appointment, and rasped his hand warmly.
“My dear Mr. enshaw. I am delighted to
see you. this morning. I suppose
heard of the new discorery of gel , and the
great excitement that prevails? Why, bless

you, sir, Slab City will have ten thousand pOpu- ‘

lotion inside of a year. And, just think of the
money that goes jingling into our pockets! I
dare say you made arrangements with Helen,
satisfactorily?”

“So far, yes. But what is this I hear about

sending the rival claimant a‘ basket of flow- ,_.'

ers?” .

Na bob laughed merrily.  V

“ How gossip does carry the newsl
~ , i I

   

ere you at the Bung-Eye to-night?"

did, and without a murmur of dissent.‘

on have -

To:  I .p

'5‘

l
.I
l

t

l

  
 

i?

 

     

~ stab.» Ned;

 

 

sure I sent the flowers, together with a note to
Miss Smith, requesting an interview with her.
I intend to get into her favor sufficiently, so
that it will be an easy matter to abduct her if
the attempts to interfere.” ‘

“Ah! I see. Agood plan. I am afraid we
shall have trouble in the matter, that would im-

licate us all. However, I have talked with
gelen, and she is willing to become a party to
the scheme, depending upon it that you will re-
marry her, when it succeeds. If you then re-
fuse, she ,will humiliate herself to become
avenged upon you, by a full exposure—and you
may guess what that would mean for you, in a
man like this—the rope.”

“ She, nor you, need entertain the least fear
that i will be inConstant to my premise. And,
now, what work is done must be done quickly.
If we get our iron in the fire first, we are sure to
win the first heat, don’t you see? One of my
main objects is to hurt the character of this
Eagle City Ed, in order to decrease his fast-
growing popularity. Once he is out of favor
with the people, it will be smoother sailing.”

“What do you propose to do?”

“This: Within an hour, I shall challenge
him, to meet me at thirty paces, with pistols.
Just before we are to fight Helen is to rush
from the hotel, threw her arms around his
neck, and call him her truant husband, and yell

and scream, and beseech him to take her back, ‘

and so forth. See? It will create a big sensa-
tion, and as he will naturally deny the allega-
tion, the crowd will sympathize with her, and
it will hurt him more than anything I can con-
ceive.” ‘

Hensbaw shook his head.

“ I don’t belieVe she will consent to this
thing,” he said. “ It places her in a bad light.”

“Pshaw, no! It will do more to establish her
in favor here than anything else that could be
done. Go talk with her. and have her ready
twerity minutes hence. If she refuses, 1 drop
her.

“ I will see what can be done,” Henshaw said,
grimly, and turned away.

“0h! he’ll come to time,” the daring young
schemer mused, gazing after him. “Now, for
the other art of the programme.” .

Spying ig Boors, lhe, giant, he motioned to
him, and the ponderons mass of bone and flesh
approached.

“ Good-morning!" Nabob accosted. “ You, I
believa, are a sort of friend of Eagle City Ed,
are you not i”

“A darned sight ’nuff more his friend than I
am yours,” was the gruff response. 7

“Oh! I resume so. I could not think of
doubting t at. I haVe, however, a challenge,
here, for your friend, which I want you to con-
vev to him.” ,

He handed the giant a note which he had
written, before leaving his office. It read:

“EAGLE Cm Enz—You are a coward and a cra-
ven. I hereby challenge, you to meet me. fifteen
minutes later, in front of the Bung-E 6 Hotel, at
thirty paces with pistols—the best man 0 live. *

“ Nance NED."

“ Ye want me to take this to him?" Big Boots
demanded, after taking the liberty to read the

note.

“ Certainly I do.”

“Then, jest take a fool’s advice. and go git
fitted fer yer wooden overcoat, that’s all.”

And away strode the Hercules.

Eagle City Ed was Sitting in the gaming-
room of the Bung-Eyeu when the note was
handed him, smoking a cigar. .

He had as yet moved about, little, that morn-
ing, and was at the time cogitating over the
subject of a note he had received a short time
before from Polly, which ran as folJows:

“Ma. EAGLE Crrr Em— .

“ Sim-1t is with cheeks burning With _ shame that
I wish to a ologize for what I did last night-an act
for which cannot account myself responsible, as I
certainly could not have been in possession of my
senses when i did a thing so unbecoming and un-

laddylike. I trust you will accept this ex lanation.
an
ture

avoidall allusion to the occurrence n the fu-
' ' llhss SMITH."

' After receiving that passionful kiss, Ed had
certainly passed a sleepless night and arose at
daybreak, in the full belief that he was full as
much “gone” on the pretty Miss Smith as she
was on him; but when he received the note/he
got considerably mixed up in his conclusions.
And he was in this condition of mind' when
‘~ Big Boots handed him the challenge, and stood
 grimly waiting for an anewer. \ ,
" Eagle City Ed leisurely opened the note and
scanned the few lines, his face scarcely chang-
. ing expression. ~

 

“ Tell the sender that I will be there,”he said,
and resumed smoking his cigar.

Big Boots looked his surprise, as he moved
away to deliVer the message.

“Durn my Sund’y boots ef thet aire Eagle
Ed ain’t as game as they make ’em!” he mut-
tered. “ He received thet note ther same like
at was an invertation ter a ice cream festervel.
His jaw never drapped once.”

He returned the answer to Nubob Ned, who
was pacing to and fro outside the hotel, and in
three minutes afterward half the town knew
that Eagle City Ed and Nobel) Ned were to
fight a due], and a crowd quickly collected at
either side of the street.

, Working himself into a passion, simply
through trying to keep cool, the Nabob paced
up and down the street, awaiting his intended
Victim. V
That singular gentleman did not make his ap-
earance until time W98 up, when he sauntered
eisurely into the street.

An audible murmur of applause ran along
either line of spectators, and caused Ned to
grate his teeth savagely. '

“ Gents,” Eagle City Ed said, smilingly, “ I
have been challenged to fight yonder individual
with pistols, and as I know your appreciation
of fun, I could not do less than acr-ept. You
wish to practice with pistols, I believe, Mr.
Nabohl”

“I do!” was the curt reply. “ We will stand
thirty paces apart, and at asignaI—one, two,
three—begin firing, and continue until one or
the other falls, You may select a man to ive
the word, for no seconds are, required. hat
suits me if it does you.”

“Very well; I’m agreeable to almost any-
thing that‘s fair,” Ed replied. “ Go ahead
and measure 011’. Your legs are as good as
compasses.” . ~

A smile was visible on the spectators’ faces.
Ned’s peculiar point was the length and thin-
ness of his lower limbs.

He failed to take a meaning out of Eagle City
Ed’s remark, but measured of! thirty paces
fromla given point. '

“Who will you select for starter?" he do-
mended flerCely.

“ I’ll rctl” Pedro Spurra cried, stepping for»
ward. “ It won’t be the first duel I have offici-
ated at. Get ready, gents!”

Neitlienmen objected but drew their revol-
vers, and put their left foot forward, with wea-
pons leveled.

“ One!” counted Sperra, in a ringing tone.

“ Two ."’

Hark! A woman’s scream!

And a woman.

She darted from among the crowd in front of
the Bun -Eye, and threw herself upon Eagle

City Ed, nocking the weapon from his grasp, _

and then throwing her arms around his neck.

“ Oh! my husband—my long-lost truant hus-
band!” she cried, piteously. “ I have found
you at last—oh! at last. Long and patiently i
have hunted you, and thank God, I have at last
found you!” '

In spite of his struggles she rained kisses upon
his cheek, and it was a couple of minutes ere he
lcouldhfree himself, and put her away at arm’s
engt . ' .

“Woman!” he gasped, “are you mad? I’m
no husband of yours!”

“You are—you are! and it is useless for you
to attempt to deny it. 'You are my husband,
and no power on earth shall eVer part us
again!”

Eagle City Ed was not only astounded, but
horrified beyond measure.

He gazed at the woman, utterly dumfounded.

She was young, Well dressed, and pretty of
form and facc. She was a decided brunette.
and her features were those of a person of re-
flnement.

“ My dear lady; you have surely made a mis-
take,” Ed once more assured. “ It is some
other person you are looking for. I was never
married in my life 1”

“Ha, ha!
cannot. Do you suppose I haVe forgotten you?
No, never!”

At this juncture Harold Henshaw rushed for-

. ward andpaught her by the arm.

“Helen! Helen!” he cried, reprovingly,
“what do you mean? Haven’t I sworn you
should never‘live with him again as his wife?
Come. you foolish child!” a l
h Allld be half dragged her back into the
ote . “

And Polly Smith. standing on the veranda,
attired to call on Nabob Ned, heard and saw
all, :‘ith a sickening sensation gnawing at her

ear . .

You would deceive me, but you'

 

CHAPTER XIII.
POLLY'S “ rom'raa.” '

WHEN Helen Henshaw was one Eagle City
Ed turned to the crowd nearest im with pallor
in his face. .

“Gentlemen!” he said, clearly and distinctly,
“ you have all been witness to the scene just
now, and of course are welcome to your own.
opinions. But asGod is my judge, I never sa w
that young woman before. There are but. two
ways about it. She is either insane or else a'
Job has been put up to injure me. I presume I
can point out the instigatorl”

He turned his angry gaze toward where Na
bob Ned had stood a few minutesbeforerbut.
that worthy was nowhere to be seen. and on in— .
quiry, no one appeared to know where he had
gone. '

A smile of contempt curled the sport’s lips,
when he learned the truth, and he turned to the '
crowd.

“You see, gentlemen. The so-styled nabob
of your camp has moseyed. He evidentl knew I
would accuse him of putting up the. Job on me
and was afraid of encountering my vengeance.
Well, let the coward go. He is not worthy of
the time of hunting up and killing him. Let’s
all take something.”

S one of the bystanders gave assent, but not
all of those present, for many shook their heads
significantly, as much as to say—“We don’t
care to drink with a man as would desert his
wife.”

Ed was not slow to notice this. .

He raised his hat courteously to Miss Polly,
as he ascended the steps to the veranda, but she
turned her head aside and refused,to acknow-
led e the compliment.

' fit: out the sport. like a knife. and he knew,
too. that she was justified in doing as she had
done, if, indeed, she had witnessed the street
soone.

Half an hour later another of Cupid‘s wicked .
shafts pierced his heart, when he became the
recipient of the following worded note:

“ Ma. EAGLE CITY En. :—

“ Sim—Your services as my manager will not be
required any longer during my stay in Slab City.
Thanking You for past favors. I am, sl ,

“ Respectfully etc.. ‘
" PAULINE Sun-n.”

Ed was writing in a pocket memoranoa at the
time he received the note, and after he re-
ceiVed the missive, he deliberated full an hour
and then sent back the following answer: '

l

l
x!

I

“ Miss Putnam—I accept my discharge, without a. , V. ‘

word of protest, knowin of course that you are
weak-minded enough to elieve true what you saw
to-day, when it was one of the most infamous con-
spiracies to ruin me, and I have no doubt but what
your flower-gift lover was at the bottom of it. You
can accept this at its par value. and believe me.
“Resp‘v yours,
“ GLE Crnr En." ,

During the afternoon Polly visited the (-mce
of Nabob Ned, and found that genius of scheme, .
ers alone. ‘

He received her with the greatest courtesy, . .-

and after she was seated, said: ‘

"Miss Smith, you have honored me greatly,
by calling, and I trust we shall be able to ar—
range matters so satisfactorily that you will not'
he forced to sing before the class of audiences
that frequent the Bung-Eye Hotel.” ' .

"How do on know i am forced to do so?”
Polly relorted: “For all you know I may do
it as a preference.” . ‘

“ Ah! es, but then, you knOW, I drew the in- ‘
ference that the occupation was not congenial
to one with your refined tastes.”

Polly simply smiled. '

“Perhaps not,” she answered. “But I did -
not come here 'to discuss my likes or dislikes.

u x.
‘s

You wrote me you wished to see me on business ‘ 

cencerning my decoased father’s esta'e."

“ Exactly, providing We can establish it that , "

you are the daughter of my late. lamented em.
plays“ To do that, you know,.we must have
strong proofs—very strong proofs—of your
identity.” I .

“ As long as you get proofs, why require that.
they should be so extremely strong!" Polly de-
manded, sharply.

“For the simple reason that there is another . “i

be dimcult to galnsay.”
V “Another claimant?" Polly echoed.
pray?"

“ Miss Helen Smith, who has documents that

claimant in the field, who has proofs thalawil-l‘ 
“Who, )-

would stand fire in any court. to the effect that t 

she is thadaughter and only direct heir‘ of John '
Smith, deceased."

I

looked dismayed.

This was startling new; to pony, 4“", “my

 

v

‘9
l

-. “I am sure I don’t understand how this can
’be,” she remarked. “ Is this other claimant in
1Slab City?”

, “She is, and stoppin at the hotel. If you
were a witness to the s reet episode this fore-
noon, you saw your rival I”

“What! tha woman?”

“Exactly.”

” Then surely there is a mistake, or else a base
imposition is on foot. You Say you Were my
father’s clerk?” '

"I was John Smith’s confidential clerk.”

“Did he ever tell you where he had lived be-
fore coming here?”

“Yes; at Spokane Falls.”

“Ahl that is my home, and the home of my
father, as can be easil y proven; and, more than
that, but one John Smith ever lived at Spokane
Falls.”

“Just what the rival party says; and, more-
over, she has letters from Smith, and other

roofs to show that she is the rightful claimant.
In fact, I have not the shadow of a doubt but
what she is the daughter of my late friend.”

“if so, why invite me here?”

“For reasons I will make plain to you; then,
too, I wanted to hear what you had to say on
the subject. Now. I have served the interests
of John Smith faithfully, since his death, with
but slight compensation. It was understood
between him and me that I should eventually
'be better rewarded. That reward I naturally
expect. The estate, as it stands to—day, is
worth a. fortune, and I can, in a measure, be
thanked that it is so, for I havo held back from

' making many sales until a boom should start,

which has at last come. To-day the estate will
sell for a hundred thousand dollars cash—to-
morrow maybe double as much. Therefore,
you will see that I have no little responsibility
on my hands.

“In regard to this other claimant, she is a
person in whom I have not the slightest confi-
dence, and I believe, were she to come into this
princely prOpert , she would wholly forget
that I am entitl to any compensation for my
services. Therefore, I am averse to seeing her
rolliu in this wealth, whether or no she is the
right eiress. There is just one kink—one small
opening by which I can prevent her from tak-
ing pgssession of the property, and that is all i”

‘ hat is it?” V _

“ It is a secret that I am justified In using to
protect my own interests, and therefore I can.
not fly) it awe .” v

“ n eed? ell, sir, from what you have
said am I to infer that you have power to make
me heiress to this property, whether 1 was the
rightful one or not?’

‘ Exactly. I have it in my power to put you
in the place, or the other one. It is therefore a
matter of choice and circumstances. I am not
a worldly or a mercenary man, but I mean to
have some reward for my services.”

Polly gazed at him, keenly.

At times he was really a fine and honest-look-
ing fellow, and just at this particular moment,
oneof the aforesaid times was upon him.

And Poll wondered if there was reallyK
treachery, eceit and villainy under that mas
of such blandness.

“ What sum of money do you propose to de-
mand?” she asked, “as an issue of your interest-
ing , amel” _

‘ 0 make Helen Smith the heiress, I shall
demand the sum' of twenty-five thousand dol-
lars, and one-third interest in the property.”

“And, in my casei’ I

“ Your hand and heart, in marriage, and a
husband’s equal interest with a wife. in the
estate—a peaceful, quiet and pleasant life, such
is own more. precious than a lthe world’s gold
and diamonds.”

“Sir! I did not come here to make terms of
that order.”

“Oh! I’m aware you didn’t. xBut from the
moment I firsc saw you, I loved you.”

Polly laughed, outright.

“Such protestations sound Well enough when
on read them in story books,” she said, “ but
hey hardly stand test in this life we lead.”

“ Mine will. I love you truly and devotedly,
and it is only since I have become aware of the
fact that I have formed the idea of working
you in as the heiress. You may be the real
one, but, were I to express my candid opinion
I should feel in duty bound to giVe it in favor o

‘ the other claimant. Become my bride, and I

will not only make you the heiress, but be one
of the most devoted of husbands to you,”
“And, if Irefuse, you will go over to the

. ‘ other party?”

‘ ‘ Certainly l”
“Then, let me settle the matter right here,

mystified by the ghost business.

 

 

sir. Iam perfectly well satisfied that I can
furnish sumcient proof to the eople, of who
and what I am, to gainsay all) your boasted
pawer and authority in the matter. So let me
tell you, now, and for good, that I wouldn’t
wed a man of your unscrupulous character
under any circumstances whatever. I defy
your power the same as l scorn your protesta-
tion of love. Good day, sir!" and with the
hauteur of a queen, she swapt from the ofiice,
leaving Nabob Ned in a rage bordering on in-
sanity. ‘

The day passed without further incident—
Nabob Ned keeping closely to his office, part-
ly through his exchange business, and part—
ly through fear to make himself conspicuous,
for he felt sure he would havs trouble with
Eagle City Ed.

J net at the edge of evening, he sent for Pedro
Sperra, and the Mexican promptly made his
appearance at the office.

e saw by Nabob’s face that something had
gone wrong, and suspicioned what it was, hav—
ing seen Polly leaVo the office.

“ I want you !” the plotter announced, open-
ing the conversation. “The work I spoke of
must be done to-nightl”

“What! kidnapping the girl? She didn’t
come to time, eh?’

“No. She is unmanageable. Immediately
after the concert, or, whenever is safest, you
are to secure her, and take her to a place I will
show you.”

“ Can’t do it alone!” .

“ Nonsense.”

“,Nothing of the kind. You’ll have to help
me.
“ Impossible. My hand must be silent.”

“Then, I can arrange it. There’s a tried and
true Mexican pard of mine, just arrived here,
broke, and a tendollar note will buy him, soul
and bod , and he can he depended on. His
name is agios.” '

- “ Are you positive he can be trusted?”

“I’ll stake m life on it. You know I am
working for ha! of this fortune, and I can’t af-
ford to do otherwise than what’s to our mutual
interests.” .

“True. Well, get this fellow, and come
here, an hour later. I’ll then show on where
to fetch the girl. Mind, in doing this I am go-
ing to let you into some important secrets, and
die you will if you breathe a word of them i”

“Rest easy. You can depend upon me and
Daglos. Mexicans are treacherous only when
starved.”

“Well, be 03. It will be dark, in an hour—-
then, pass by here, t0ward Smith’s cabin and
I will directly join you. Here is fifty dollars
for you!”

Sperra accepted it, and was off.

“The plant is developing rapidly,” Nabob
muttered, to himself. “ After the’gir! is out of
the way, and old Henshaw and his daughter
too, Ishall be monarch of all I survey!”

CHAPTER Xl V. /
THE SECRET EXPLODED.

AN hour later, Pedro Sperra and another man
passed the office. This companion was alo a
Mexican, to all intents, for he was attired in
Mexican garb, in a greasy and ragged condi-
tion, and his features were swarthy, such parts
as were not covered with a heav jet beard.

He was a villainous-looking 0 ap. as, indeed,
most vagabond Mexicans are, and evidently
was fitted for transactions of a dark nature.

The twain had nearly reached the Smith
cabin ere they were overtaken by Nabob Ned.

The schemer gaVe Daglos a single sharp
glance, and was evidently satisfied with Sperra’s
selection.

“ I’ll show you the place. now,” he said.

“ Follow me, and say nothing. and I will
make all the explanations necessary.”

The Smith cabin did not stand out in the
gulch, like the other structures of Slab City,
but was built about one foot and a half,
from the rocky wall of the mountain-side. The
space between the outer log wall of the cabin
and the rook was not over the above-mentioned
width: hence, no one would have thought of
crowding into the contracted fissure.

The face of . rock, along the passage was sin-
gularly smooth.

When near the cabin door, Nabob Ned said:

“ I suppose you, like all the others, have been
I will explain
it-to you, because old Smith reposes uietly in
his grave. The door-sill of that cabin is a piece
of ingenious mechanical work,that produces the
ghost. Beneath the cabin is a shallow cellar,
reaching to the door-sill. ‘ '

“ A close examination of the door-sill will re-

 

 

.“

veal that there is a crack in it half an inch Wid ~.

or more properly speaking, there are two strips \

of board that form the sill, the slit being be-
tween them. A match dropped through the
slit, will descend into the cellar. Well, when it
is desirous. to have old Smith’s spirit appear,
a man with a mechanical invention embodying
some of the principles of the sterotypticon lan-
tern, turns light on his machine, which is in the
cellar, and the ghost uickly appears, and can
be made to disappear, y turning ofi.’ the slide
light. The ghost rarely appears except when
some one contemplates laying for it all night, and
is designed to frighten people away from the vi—
cinity. I originated it.”

With a laugh of satisfaction at his own un-
Scrupulous cunning, the scamp then led the way
around to the rear narrow passage.

“ It is tight squeezing, but you can make it,”
he said. “Follow me.” -

They did so, and when half-way along the
cabin wall, suddenly came to an opening in the
rock, sufficiently large to admit the trio abreast.

Here a halt was made, and Nabob Ned lit a
pocket lantern.

Sperra and his companion were then able to
see that the passage ran back some distance into
the mountain. Human hands had not hewn it
out, it was a piece of nature’s own handiwork.

Nabob now led the way, his two tools follow-

ing.

For fifty or more feet they proceeded, and
then turned abruptly and entered a huge cir-
cular cavern, with high vaulted ceiling, from
which pended grotesque drippings of rock.

In the center of-the cavern was a, greenish
pool of water, while at One side was a brilliant
ight—a vein of natural gas from a fissure in the
wall, supplying it!.

Near this light were tables and desk-like ar-
rangements, which contained tools of various
descriptions, and upon one of the tables was a
peculiar design of portable printing press.

Two men, well dressed, and wearing half-
masks,were at work at the tables, apparently
enga ed in engraving upon stone.

“ are is where you are to bring the girl,
Nabob announced. “ Those two men are conn-

terfeiters, in my employ, and execute work ’

that few persons can tell from the genuine.
Perhaps you can now understand why I can
give $1.10 in greenbacks, for a dollar in gold.”

“You are certainly a deeper rascal than I
gave'you credit for being,” Sperra declared.

At this juncture, one of the counterfeiters ap-
proached where they had halted.

“Jack!” the plot er said,‘ “ these two fellows
are to bringa girl ere, to-night. I will prob-
ably be here when they arrive, but, should I
not, they will guard her. till I come. They’re
all right.”

“ Correct, captain. How about the stufli
Did it go?”

“ Like hot cakes! I changed a thousand for
gold, to—day. Will make a shipment to-morrow.
That’s all.’

The man bowed and went back to his bench.

“ We’ll go. now. Secure the girl as soon after
the performance as possible, and bring her here
and await me, if I am not already here.”

“ All right! You can depend that the girl’s
ours this night!”

They left the cavern, and NabOb entered the
camp in advance of Sperra and Daglos. '

In fact, they did not enter the camp proper, ’
but halted on the outskirts, and stood gazing at
each other.

Daglos was the first to s ak.

“Pedro Sperral” he sai , in a tone that one
would have regarded as stern, “to-night you
and I balance accounts.”

Sperra started and a look of terror entered his

eyes

“ Why, have I—”

“ Stop!” the other command-ed. “ I am doing
the talking for this occasion. A year ago to-
night I foiled you in an attemptto rob and mur-
der me for what money I had on my person.
You plead for mercy, on the ground of starva-
tion. and I gave you a year’s lease of life, pro-
viding you served me faithfully. Have, you
done so?”

The Mexican drew himself up proudly.

"That is not for me to say i” he replied. calm?
ly. “Dozens of times Could I have driVen a
dagger into your heart while you slept during

this year of sleuth-hound business you have led '

me through~dozens of times, the devil has
tempted me to do so, but yet I am not guilty.
You are the judge!”

The hand of Daglos went out, warmly.

“ Sperra. you have served me better than I
could ever have hoped. E-=pecially in this trail

for Ned De Wolf have you served me faithfully - r

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Nabob Ned.

 

and shrewdly. No professional detective could
have filled your place better. Shake l”

The Mexican seemed overjoyed, and the two
shook hands, heartily.

“The matter ends to-night. The trap is ready
for springing, thanks to Nabob Ned‘s confidence
in you.”

“Have the Secret Service agents arrived?”

“Yes. They came on to-iiight’s stage, and I
have only to make the arrest. Now, let’s {1.0
back and find Big Boots, and then scoop in the
two counterfeitws.”

Of course the counterfeiters got “scooped!”

CHAPTER XV.
CONCLUSION.

FEELING jubilant over the prospective suc-
cess of his plans, Nabob Ned sought the Bung-
Eye, and approached a table win-re two well—
dressed, decidedly Eastern-looking gentlemen
were playing a social game of poker.

“Do you obj«ct to a third party. gentlemen?"
he asked, when the hand was own “I have
a few minutes and a few dollars to throw
awa .”

“I ertainly not,” the elder of the two an-
swered. “Anything to make it interesting;
although, in poker, we don’t usually play to any
particular limit.”

“Oh, I’m not particular.
erate blufl."

The first game was dull; the stake of thirty
dollars was, raised ten. and taken in by the
younger gent from the East.

The next deal, each man discarded two and
took two.

Their hands now appeared to give them satis-
faction. '

“ I think I see a hundred dollars in this hand i”
Nabob Ned said triumphantly.

“ Do on?” replied the younger Easterner,
whom his companion called Johnson.

“ Well, I’ll have to 396 you and go you a bun-
dred better 2”

Both stakes went bang down upon the table.

“Now, Packard,” said Johnson, “ we will
hear from you.”

“I drop out i” Packard answered, throwing
down his hand. “ You gents can fight it out.”

There was now, altogether, three hundred and
thirt dollars in the pot.

Na b Ned laid his cards, face down, upon
the table, and drew from his vest ocket, a I‘Oll
of crisp new one-hundred-doilar ills. While
he was engaged in counting the amount the two
Easterners exchanged significant glances.

“ I have here‘ tWenty-two hundred dollars
upon the ot.” he said, tossing the bids upon the
table. “ 0 on raise it?”

“No! but cover it," Johnson said. throwing
down a wad of notes, the outer one being a five-
hundred dollar-note. “Now, sir, what have
you got?” ‘

“ Four kings!” Nabob cried, triumphantly
turning up his hand, and reaching for the
stakes.

“But, holdl?’ Johnson cried, thrusting a re-
volver before the villain’s'eyes. “ I happen to
hold four little one-spots, you know,” and he
laid down four aces sure enough!

Nabob arose from the table with a growl.

“Then, you’ve won,” he said. “ The devil al-
ways favors his own.” I

And he stalked off.

“The devil has been favoring that rascal a
long time,” Packard remarked, ‘r‘ but he won’t
favor him, after to-night, I Judga” -

At eight o’clock, the saloon was well filled,

 

I can stand a mod-

. and Mlle. Pauline made her appearance.

Eagle City Ed was not with her. and mur-
mur; of disappointment were heard on either
han .

Nor did the little songstress look vivacious, as
on the previous night. She was pale. and there

v, was noticeably not the same spirit in her

Ion .

Niabob Ned occupied the same position, as on
the previous night, but Polly did not look an
NHL Her gaze rOVed over the Sea of faces, in
quest of the face of Eagle City Ed.

But he was not present.

Immediately after Pauline had retired from
the Stage. there was a surging of the crowd,
and almost before he was aware of it Nabob
Ned found himself confronted by Harold Hen-
sliaw and his daughter.

Henshaw. too, grasped a cocked revolver.

“ Edward Landisl" the man from Silwr Clifl
cried. “1 hays come to you to force you to
make ropal‘atlon for the wrong you did my
da hter. H8181! has refused to act out the lie
8h attempted mtdaY. and as soon as she is law-

. fully married. even though you be a criminal.

 

, we are going back to Silver Chfl and she shall

 

have a divorcs from you. Do not tter a word
of protest. Instead of being Eage City Ed’s
wife, as you plotted to linVe her represent her-
Self, she shall become your wife. You married
her falsely once!”

“This is fulscl This is an outrage!” Nabob
Ned protested. “ You tried to foist this woman
Off on one man and failed. and now you think
to make me your victiml Never!”

“ Tnen, you tlir!” Henshaw declared, with
emphasis. “ Either you marry my daughter
whom you wronged or you die where you stand.”

“Listen, gentlemen 1" Helen Henshaw cried,
turning appealinuly to the crowd. “This is no
attempt at blackmail. A year ago. this man,
Edward Landis, Won my ali'cction, and we were,
as I heir-vied, married, during my falher’s ab-
sence. The nmrringu, however, turned out to he
a sham, but Lnndis had find and deserted me. We
pursued him here, wnen he promised to marry
me if I Would become a party to his vile schem-
ing. At first I was weak enough to consent;
but now that l have got my senses, I refuse to
do his will. The girl who sings here is the real
heiress of John Smith, yet this man proposed to
defraud her by substituting me in her place.
He also caused me to perpetrate the falsehood,
this morning, of declaring Eagle City Ed to be
my husband. i swear to you. 1 never saw the
man before.” ‘

At this a ringing cheer of “ bravo!" went up,
and Polly, behind the curtain, trembled with
joy as she heard the calumny raised from the
sport’s name and character.

“Now, gentlemen, all that we want is that
this man be forced to remarry me, and lift dis-
honor from my name. Then he can go whither
he pleases.”

“ Hurral Bovees, et’s a go!” a miner cried.
“ Form a big ring. and trot the Nabob inter it.
He has got ter do ther squur’ thing, or we’ll
skin him alive.”

The ring was formed, and the villain, seeing
that sentiment was strong against him, dared
not refuse to enter it and take his place beside
Helen.

His face was very pale; but his inward rage
was terrible. I

Slab City happened to boast of a lawyer, and
this worthy was called upon and the legal knot
was tied.

Then Harold Henshaw said:

“ Now, sir, you are at liberty to go whither
you please. We return to Silwr Cliff by next
stage.” Then he and Helen left the ring.- '

As they did so, four other persons stepped
into it, and three pairs of revolvers, were level-
ed at the schemer and scamp.

The party were. respectively, Eagle City Ed,
Pegro Sperra, and Messrs. Johnson and Pack-

ar .

“Edward de Wolf, alias Landis, alias Hea-
Ven only knows how many other names, I ar-
rest you by authority of the law of this Terri-
tory, coupled with that of the United States,”
the sport cried. “ Do not attempt to resist, or

on will be shot down like a dog, for we are
iere to take you, dead or aliVel”

The villain uttered a fearful curse, and stag-

ered back against the wall, white as death.
I etsaw that retribution had overtaken him at
as .

“On what charge, and by what pewer do
you arrest me?” he gasped, seeing no avenue of
escci e.

“ n the charge of counterfiiting money in
half a. dozen States and Territories. Sperra and
myself have been on your trail for a year, and
at last. we have got you. I arrest you on the
authority of being a detective in the employ of
the GOVernment. Throw down your weapons
and surrender peaceably i"

here was nothing else to do and the crest-
fallen Nabob permitted himself to be made a
prisoner, then was taken in charge by Messrs.
Packard and Johnson, and removed from the
Bung-Eye.

 

Mlle. Pauline did not reappear that night, re-
alizing by the noise that Eagle City Ed was
quite the hero of the hour.

The next_day, at her request, they had a pri-
vate interwew, and Ed was prevailed upon to
remain in Slab City long enough to arrange her
business affairs.

This he succeeded in doing in a week’s time,
and. Polly found hersalf a rich and much ad-
mired heiress instead of a saloon-singer.

Every one liked her and not one objection was
raised to her taking possession of John Smith’s
prosperous estate, which was daily increasing
in Value.

When she was securely installed, Eagle City
Ed announced his intention of going South.

 

 

As yet, no word of law had passed between
them; but when he had made known his pur»
pose to depart, woman-like she was the weaker"
ofdthe two, and begged of him to stay; and he
di so.

This marriage, too, was one of the events of
Slab City life, and there was a big demonstra-
tion in honor of it.

Nabob Ned and his two confederates received
long and severe sentences.

The Hensliaws returned to Silver C.ifl’, and
were heard of no more.

As for Sperm, he and Big Boots are n0w full-.-
fledged detectives, and doing 813le good work.

Meanwhile, Ed and Polly live in Slab City, as.
happy as the day is long!

THE END.

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Always Pure !

The Best Weekly fiwtw‘mmm flange
  l or mommy Pubhshed in America!

Always briginal ! ’

 

 

 

 

 

 

=2 Its Corps of Contributors Unrivaled I 2:5:

Almost all of whom write exclusively for its publishers-embrace the following popular authors:

   
   
 
 
  
 
   
 
    
    
  
 
   

Col. Prentiss [nan-alum, Col. ll. 1. C. Judson (Ned Buntline), on (homes,
Albert W. Aiken, Hon. Wm. F. Cody (Bufl'alo Bill), Charles Morris, '
10.01“! E. Budgerng" Major Dangerfield Burr, Philip 8. Warne,
Clyt. Fred Whittaker, Major Snmv s. Hall (Buckskin Sam),
Edward 1.. Wheeler, J. C. Cowdrick, Edward Willem,
Wm. B. Eyster, , T. C. nnrbnngh, Eben E. Rexrord,
Wm. H. Manning, Frank Triplett, A. F. Holt,
1!. H. Johnson, Wm. S. Gidley, K. F. 11111,

Henri Montcalm, A]. W. Crowd],

Jo Pierce, H. 3. Keller, 

Weldon J. Cobb, gxqg to

  
 

a Ito” etc., 6Q
630'  0‘

~L !
p
.i

<6“ 00% 
 mum-nu %  J

I INTERESTING AND ATTRACTIVE FIELDS 0’

Border, Interior, and Wild West Romeo— . V \
Adventure, Expansion. and Sport—#-
Life on the Great Plains-—

m. on the Rnnches— I

 

   

 

 

 

 
  
  

 

 

 
   
 
  

 
  
   
   

    
    
   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

, r, Life in the Mines— I, m
V Life in the Wilderness-— ‘ 
City Life Character. Courts sud Wsys—L " '  L: -‘
m I.“ ' Detective and ‘Shadow’ Revolution-‘-
': Stories of the Greet Deep. etc.
{1;}: Renee, each and every number overflows with the most
an] interesting and exciting matter, while in its sever-31W, I 13‘
get , :3 PM Mon“ ' ' ' ' " ' " $1.00 anmmnn'rsenswering all the needs, and adding to the / “i "
on," T3003: 16:2;011;Ye' ' - " ' ' ' '  general interest and usefulness of, the strictly. popular ' , /' / V Vi:- :.
:11“; El 13 0‘; b8. _ - fr _ _ ' ' ° ' 6 ' journal, Tm: BANNER meLYis the papers ' .' , of h I
wil: p r r ' - can“ others‘ for good reedm' g and entertsmm' out. a" ' C i"
of r‘ SOLD BY ALL NEWSDDALERS. ‘ . 97’
u v x _ O I], k
40th . _ ' 1"; n ,
:: ‘ I I \wfi 
Q I  ,
98 WILLIAM 81:. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publlshers, NEW YORK. - .- 3
-\ ' ‘ ‘ V  ‘ h

 

   

 'B'EADLE’SaeHALF; "

Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers.

       
  
 

. .. r“ .-
.‘TA 1.1,... w”.

     

».
r ‘ I.

IMEaLIBRARY.

\l.

 

BY PHILIP S. “'ARNE.

OT Patent-Lenthor J not or. ()id Rattle-nuke. the Charmer.
175 Unpuiln Arizona: or. Patent-Leather Joe’n Big Guno.
1915 Captain Mun : or. l’nientdmather Jno'l Defeat.

2]” lieu-pun], [he iuollut: ur,’l‘he Mountain Vvtupim.
88% A Ten It Boy: "I‘. The llwnri'o Reveille.

“in! LIQHQ ‘olnnudo; or, The Uutcnata ol' ilie Glen.

873 Little .Iinu'o; or, the Queer Pard.

88! Little "ll-my! or, Caught in iiia Own Trap.

4"] Little Shoo-l1 1y ' or, A Raca for a Ranch.

408 Little Leather. rem-hen or. Old Jumbo'o Curio.
4!“ Little Ah Sin; or, The Curoe of Blood.

4.51 (‘olorado Rate. A Tale of the ullnea.

480 Three Jolly Perth.

512' Jim Gludden’a Deputy.

527 ’| IM‘ J0|ly I’urdo to the “OMIIQ.

54‘? Handy Andy; or, a flood Mun Down.

556 Lariat Lil; or, The Cast {or a Life.

BY CAPTAIN FRED. “'IIITTAKER.

15 The Sea-Cat: or. The Witch nf Dorian.
99 The llulnh Pa (5 or, The Duge'a Daughter.
43 liluk Darling. i. .9 May Expreoo Rider.
150 Lance and Laaao; or, 1 ha Children of the Ghana.
15 The Fwttrli Hunter.” or, The Land ofihe Ele thant Ride".
159 ’gho {fly-It i‘uptuin ; or, Skipper aneo Cotiln’o who to tho
)I‘Il " ll? l‘i'll.
’00 'l" e lioy l'uuloulna: nr,The Brother- of the Plumed Lance.
21-3 “ iililtunih Lite iluhller of the Rhino.
949 Milo Homer. the Animal King; or,'I'ho Round tho World
ani'ririsr. T ’
865 The ‘ 8" tuner: or. Tho Le no of the ungio.
331 Blur-k git-k. the Demon Rider. M
895 California Joe'a W or Trail.

BY BUCKSKIN SAM (Major San. S. Hall.)
234 Old Roeky’a “Royce: 1” or, Bonito, the Young Horne-
Breaker.

246 Giuut George; or, The Ang’l of the Range.

ans Arizona Jack; or, Giant Georgo’a Pard.

991 The Tarantula of Tana or. Giant Gonrgo’a Revenge.
80’! The Mfume Paul: or. .mie Bon’a Death Hunt.
313 her-whooz. lam-.whmn or, The'l'arantulanf’l‘aoo,
8'27 Creotbl‘lur lnt, the Cnddo; or. The Red and White Pardo.
332 F‘rlo ‘ red: nr, Th.- 'l‘nnkaway’n Trust.

8-1.4 ’l he li lirhtiug Trio: or. Rattleauake. the Tonhway.
349 Wild \Voii’; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front.

357 The Ranch Raiders: m, The Siege of Fort Purgatory.
864 Smut-Shot. the Iloy Ranger.

375 Chiotu. the Creek: 01'. The Three 'l‘huuderbolto.

V . '88] Handel-a Bill: or. Frio Frank to the Front.

-f - 39$ Romeo Illld the Redo; or, The Beleaguered Ranch.

3"" x at 404 Littl? lmriut: or. Pecan Pete'a Big Rampage.

. I

 

gilt:  l'l‘ “y it?” ai'e'wer'om a 1. a, R

' 'r e ‘ r nc on o
m nnur mfi. "fihfmmon. H” 1m 5 0 mm.
4‘." Lune Lone Star; or. The Belle oi‘the Cibolo.

s: l
- .- i '..

W‘ . .

1? BY EDWARD WILLETT».

' ‘1‘ '16? Ann Scott, the Steambnnt Boy.
. 199 l‘ entaerweight the Boy ,-Cmunplnn of the Muahingnln.
,, 1 a, I 923 Omar; Ali' nr, Featherweight Among the Ouilnwa.
1389 The Typo heme-the ; or, Weasel, the Buy Tramp.

 

‘ J . ‘095 Fell-lento Phil; or. The King of Quartzville.
i.  . ill I The Roving Sport: M. The Pride of (timekaluck Camp.
‘ 1, 3” homo. the Detective; or, Kit'Ken on‘n Vendetta.
' 340 Cup. the Contortloniatt or. Thu outrun Vigilantu.

i BY J. c. cownmcx.

.800 Silver-Monk the Man fM ‘ote '.
369 Shanta, the Gold knit»; if. a? 50"" Y‘m 13”"
490 'gho Iietectlve’a Apprentice: 0?, A 3°! Wl‘h‘iul A

424 Ciflthl‘ta .lohn: of, Red-Hot 'l‘unu at Anto Bar.
 Saintlyfilnm, ghogbroetricngt.
t o r .
490 Br?:dw:m nl’uy. cl... liootblaci: 3......
.506 liedli it at h the Prince of the Road.
‘ .32: .. if“? 18!‘5'. were
neer a o vo
'° "' {J mum t Dliiilailty.”
.548 Mart, tho ight Expresa Detective.
65’? Broadway Blily’! Death Racket. ‘

RY JO PIERCE.

891' Rob 0’ the Bower g or, Tho Prince of Mnlb.
415 The Vagabond lie eetive; or, no...” 30"..me
452 "out or Bob. the Street-Buy Den-cu...
4% fire. .awyer’a Shadow; or. Luke. 1‘”.
>4. nuuty Joe, the Youn Hom-K‘ng.
494 Surly Sim. the Young orrylnon Donal",
, 604 Five Pointa Plrll.
» 4' v 1509 Jack J guru. the Butcher Boy Detective.
“' .15 , 516 Tartarfim; or. FiVe Pointo Phll’o Men .,
.‘ 626 North River Not. the Pier Detective.
" 538 Wren ling Rex, the Pride ofthe Sixth Word.
541 Jel? licker. the Stable Boy Detective.
551 Nl'olo Nettle, the Bov Shadow.
559 Harlem Jack. the Om... Boy Detective.

 

    
  
 

or can. MARK wuzroN.

"an .t'r:::£rr“** t? “a: firm ..
. on or. t
‘38. Joni. the Boy‘Tendgl-i'ogtt: “o P.

    
 
   

BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID.

I(ii Blue Dial" onT‘no Y ii Chi P V
 ¥lhne findlmrlnltoa 1130;; [5.53: Devll’o Inland.
a an r or, out Reiri .
'08” The Cola-hooker Guider :rffho loot b.3353...

 
 

  

BY MAJOR HENRY n. s'roooann. 33......“

806 Neekd‘ie Nell: 0?. Th0 Duo-Ont l‘arda.

m n It. aelt 01’. Tho S d m...

not ,Kfl'diove ill. the Dandy om. 3.22.3?”

8508 Kid-Glove Kit and Par-d: or. Tho Gold King.

400 The Mad Mon-“unto” 0:. Tho Myltory or oat-ho

nlall. .
5‘“ Pow-Wu Pordt or. 1"" Ono-Armed Giana

   
 
   

       
 

BY nqummon llEMYNO.
8. find "nt or, The F“ of “I. Fulfill . i
Club or. 'l'h and
.1 man: man»: Wm

    

 

BY ALBERT W. AIKEN.
l The Two Detective” or. The Fortunel oia Bowery Girl.
ti

1
76 Abe (Bolt, ilin Grow-Kill r.
?9 Biol (linger. the Giant Trapper.

288 Joe llm-l.‘ of Angela and Ilia Roy I'ard.

 1tow or? Ndnia‘ Ak'l‘nlo olt’lTrllekn and Tram in Gotham.
n . ow In an .' e '3 or,"m ‘urtuneo oi‘oFonndli .

464 Nimblu fink, m. Cirruo Prince. ““

498 Tune 'l‘od. lue Arioenn Sport.

519 Cool Colorado, the Hait-limd Detective.

513 Cool Colorado in New York.

BY GEORGE \YALDO BROWNE.

86 “and Rock the Man from Texas.
90 The rend Rider; or. The 'i'exnn Duollat.
99 The Tiger of'i‘noax or. llamly lim-k’n Angel.
115 The .‘Iatl Miner: or, [luntlv Huck'a Dnom,
lBl The Golden "and: or. Dundv Rock to the Rom.
1.64 Dandy lloek’u Pledge: or. Hunted to Death.
173 Dandy Rook’a Rival: or. The haunted Mold of'l'aoo.

BY CAP'I. J. F. C. ADAMS.

84 "pogo" so]; or, Nick Whiiilea'o Boy Spy,

46 Glnau- Eye. the Great Shut ofthe‘Weat.

54 \ed llnzel the liov Trapper.

56 Nick \Ylll ra‘l l‘ett 0r. it? The Valle of Death.

60 The. “'hite Indian; or. The Scout of t m Yellow-tone.

7.0 Old Zi 'II Cabin; or, The Grennhorn in tho Woodo.

81 I‘lxlltllrng Jo, the Terror of the Prairie.

35 lint-k lluokrnult or, lieu. the Female Tra For.
24? Old Grizzly and Ilia l’otut or, The Wii Hunt”...
Bfil Light-hon“! Like! 0?, Onceula, tho Firebrand.

5 The L0,", Hunter-3 or. The Underground Camp.
283 The scalp King; ..r, The Human Thunderbolt.

ll Y ROGER HTARBIYCK.

25 The Roy Captain: 07, The Pimio’a Daughter.
114 The liluok Svhooner: or. Jih Junk. the Old Tor. a
25" The Golden liar-noon: or. Lost Among the Flo...
84R Fire-“cola or, Old Sitlntilnt. the Death-Shadow.
854 Big Horn 1 'o. the Hill Tramp: or, The Odd Pam.
861 The Phantom Light-houae.
870 lireuker lien. the Reef-Runner.

RY “'ILLIA“ R. EYSTEII.

190 andy Darius; or. 'l'ha Tiger! of High Pine.
210 am Prank; or. Dandy Dnrke'o (Io-Down Pardo.

RY COLONEL BELLE SARA.

108 The .ion ofthe Son: or, The Vailad Lady.
186 Cool )eamoml; or. The Gambler'o 1311mm.

BY HARRY ST. GEORGE.

80 Roaring Rnlgh Rockwood, the Run

44 Ruttlin Ru ex 01’. The Nluhthawko o

59 Old lllc orys or. l’and)‘ Ellia’o Sm] ,
108 During Davy; ur. The Trail of u...
166 Hickory llurr t or. The 'l'ra
179 Thunderbolt i,

or.
Kentucky.

" iI’d‘olr,“'¢)li.
per- r a 0-8
om; or, the \ Wit-Hera", p’.

RY JAMES L. BOW'EN

10? One-E ed Sim: or. The Abandoned F t H
110 The B uek Steed oi‘ the i’rairiomonA 5.32%: Tuna.

BY 0. DUNNING CLARK.

185 Captain Paul: or. The Thy S - Hh Vi .
280 The \ ankco Rajah; or: Thglt‘al’a «Exit; ns'heruf.

BY GEORGE C. JENKS.

485 Git T‘Inl' Owney the Unknown.
49! Git ’i‘ tar Own , ’a Pl (1 .
518 The Demon its-(lion . G ‘6

DY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR. U. S. A.
191 gu‘ifalo Billy. the Boy Bullwhachr; or. Tho Doomed
Horn. ‘
194 Bud'qu Illll'a Bet: or. The Gambler Guido.

BY CHARLES E. LASALLE.

50 Hurt Bunker, the Trapper.
58 The White Bufalo. A Tale of tho Northwoot

BY JOHN J. MARSHALL.

‘ 40 Roving Ren. A Story oh? I: A ri .
9'! The Outlaw Brother-t or,?lPhelCa:t.lv:“ol thoHorpoo.

BY WM. G. PATTEN.
489 The Diamond S on. '11: b
519 On tain lily-tor pi 0?. i713... 6112“ I. he. 0'“ no“
581 Da ay Dare, the port i'l'otn Denver.

BY MAJOR E. L. ST. VRAIN.

S9. Sancho Pedro the Boy Bandit.

801 Londvlfle Nil: , the May Sport.

SIS lledtop Rube. the Vigilante Prince.

88!! lirimatone lloh, and liia Lightning Ham Qnm
869 Tombs-tone Tom. the Arllotll Boy upland.»
8r,” I’I)|'||‘"-'.| i tn 0-, tli- ‘ unu "Nth-- nu “junk”
871 Kin bolt Chris, the Young Hard-Shell Deleon".
880 Avn nacho Alf. tin- Foothilla Guido. '
890 Jaguar Joe. ofthe Mountqu Mail-um,

RY EDWARD S. ELLIS.

ll Bidtlon, Trap er.
til Jone" or. 'i‘ e Captiveo of the Frontier.

It Todd t or, The Fate of the Sioux Captive.
Frontier Angel.

Roy Minor“ or, Tho Enchanted island.

I noted Hunter; or, The Stranu Her-anon.
llnlf~illood : on Thu Panther of the Plolno.
lingo Hunter: or, The Steam Prairie Mon.

25'

U

:E 89--

added!
’-

{2'33}

BY MAJOR LEWIS “K CARSOH.

"8 The Three 'i‘ra r- or. The Mount-tin Monitor.
.88 Indian Joe: or. ilfwiu. Spirit oitho Hillo.

 

BY “K J. HAMILTON.

68 The Red Brotherhood r. H 1‘ in Am
1i“ Single "and; or, A Life (Erna Lit: '.
o! Mm Tom Wet-tern, the Term Ranger.

88. Ben Bird. the Cove‘Ktng; or, Big Peto’o Soon...

RY JACK FARRAGUT.

815 Ned. the Cabin lloy.
820 The Sea Soroereaat or,'l‘ho Boy Shipper.

liY FRAN K DUMONT.

O The llranded "and: or. Tho Man of Myotory.

‘3 “girl-Klimt. the "uni: ll}? Road. D h
tie all-at or. 0 rank 0' ay Bo arm

71 Ebon Dan: "r. The Rival Leaguu. y. .

85 Ev ll ‘ve; or, Tho Vultureo o! the Rio Grando.

Il!’ LIEUT. II. D. PERRY. (LS. N.

170 The Roy Runaway; m', The Bum-anon of the Boy.
“0 The Sea Trailer; or, A'Vow Wen Kept.
19' Captain Kit; ur. The Mylkrt ui‘ Montauh Point.

BY “ARR Y HAZARD.

898 Arkonaaw Jack 3 or. The Scourge of tho Minna.
BS9 Red-Skin Torn or',"l‘ho Demon’s Trail.
842 The Mountain evil; or. Yellow Jack, the Outlaw.

BY COL. A. F. lIOLT.

809 Black Ruck-lain; or.'l'he Hooked Mon «Death (by...
419 kenneth. illo- Kalle-King.
485Little lelltfoot. tho Pilot 0! the Woodo.

BY J. W. OSBON.

469 The Rival Glanta ofNowhnr’.
49S (int-tun Burr, the Man irom Hard Look.
58'? Old liuoko o. the Sierra Shadow.
664 Powder l’llil, the Boy Miner.

BY FREDERICK DEWEY.

818 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin nf Rifle-Shots
4??! Tongum—und, the Desert Dohciivo.
543 The Canyon Pal-do.

BY ARTIIUR C. GRISSOM.

440 Little Foxfoot, the Gold Bowie Kid.
558 The Sure-Shot Pnrda.

RY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS.

546 (‘a nln Cnetua theGhaparralCock.
568 Tlllltllnndy of Rod ’

e-
669 Brooklyn 13..., the‘lJnxiih-Own-Hook W

MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS.
4 The Wild-"one lluntero. By Capt. Mayne M M
Frederick Whittaker.

9 Adventure: of Baron Mum-banana.

12 Gulliver’n rave a. B - Dean rum.
l4 Aladdin: or. The Wonder ul Lamp.
16 Robin-um Cruooe. (‘11lllllitrlilnnn.)
18 Sindhad the Sailor. Hie Seven Yarn“.
23 The Sea Serpent: or, The Boy Rob noon Crnaoo. Dy Jun

Latvia.
88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Rod Pinto. of tho
Carrlbera. 3 .W.Piorco.
80 The Boy Clown; or, The Queen ofiho Arena. By Front
. . DD.
88 Ned “'ylde. tho Boy'Soont. By Texan Jack. > ’
51 161110 Boy Rifloa; or, The Underground Comp. By Arable
. rum. -
95 The Rival Rover-o; or. The Fmbootuooiiha lilooiooinl
By Menu-Col. Haultlno. ‘ \
" R hi llood th Untlowod no...“ )1 M “an...
98 wooed.“ By Prol. Glidoraleovo. ' ' . m . '
105 Old Rube, the Hunter: or, Tho Crow Captive. By Canto!-
Hamilton Holman.
112 The Mad Hunter: or, The Con oi Doom Sync“ 8.3..

124 an”. the Texan: or, The Young Champion. By 0.0".
CIND-

pB The Young Privateer; or, The Plroto'o Stronghold. I,

1 Harry Coven llli.

148 Sharp Sam: or, The Advon tum eio Maillo- Boy. I, 3 I - ‘
Alexander Patton. _

CS? Duaky Darrell. 1‘" pm or. The Green Bangor oi tho Yul.
lowatono. By Erhard .

861 {Ema Fearnanght the New York Boy. By Conner. v 4
on. . ,
nae Riilh'ar. the Guide: or. Davy Crockett. W Tn“,
By Enlign . D. W mu.

I
S98 Red Claw tho'Ono-chd Trapper. or.'l'ho Mold oftho cal.
By Captain omotock.

‘ ti. 2.: l m 
Cw? Poaeoorfigeq'fima «y from ludviilo. By Ll.

tenant A
888 The Sky Intent at or. A loy’lflght hr Like-dilator.

iv

By Major Mickey Free.

50 dtihth RivorR ‘l‘h ~‘
8  gypNh menu“ overt or, o  It

865 Baltimore Boa tho Boothlook Detective. ML?“ 4
874 gold-Duet Torn; or, Ben’o Donblo Match. Dy George I.
om.

876 California Joe'o Fini. Trail. By Colo-oi hon. '
Hoyer Monatory. , _'

‘18 Billy Rombahell, tho cmr Climber. Dy 3. S. Will“.
‘75 The Block Ship. By John 8. Warner. \ . 
484 Column-he mo. .and m. math h '1',

Hilan .i. Tin-nun. . ,

BS8 ‘Yiznrd \ rm. tin- Dandy 3pm. By AND!!! I M ' ' 5'

one The (‘owltoy Duke. ny Eilwln mm ' 
559 Ariel, the Aihlrte. By David Druid. v I

A New lune Every 'i‘noaday. . I

The RIM-Dione Library in in ooio by at! M. ii}.

onloooraoyy,oruotbymailoomolpioioizaontuafl. ’ '

- own! no mono. Pam

no wan... soon. so. 

 

 

BEADLE’SrHALF-DIMErLIBRARY.

Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers.

an

 

BY EDWARD L. “WHEELER.

Deadwood Dlek Novels.

1 Deadwood Dick, the l'rlnee, ol'tlw Road,
20 Douirle. Dag-Kerr or, Dr-adwoml Dir-h’n Defiance.
28 Buifale lien; or. Deadwood Dirk in i’lBKuinv.
35 “'ilil ivall. the, lioy Claude Duval.
42 Phantom .‘i lner; or, Deadwood llil‘k'l lionanza.
49 (hnuhu ()ll - or l)|',lill\Viilill Dick in Hanger.
5.“ Deadwoml Dir-L‘s Eagles; or, ’l‘hu l'nrdn o.’ Flood Bar.
76 Deadwood Dlek on Deck; or. t‘nlnniitv Jane, the llorolne.
77 (‘nrdu ray (‘hurilog or, ih-adwooil Dick’s ldiztl Act
100 Deadwood Dlek ill Leadvllle.
104 Dead wood Dlek‘n De\ lee: or, The D-iuhie, Croaa Sign.
109 Deadwood DIi-k an Detective.
129 Deadwood Diek‘a Double; or. The Ghost of Gorgon‘n

(1|ill‘, i.
138 lilnndc "ill; or, llerithoi-il l)li'l('9 iloino liuse.
1'19 A Gann- of Gold; or, i)

195 Deadwood Dlek‘n Drea

201 The lilaek Illlln Jelebel; or. ih-wtiwuud i) cli‘u Ward.

205 Deadwood Dlek'n Doom; or. Calamity Juno's Lani. Ad-
venture.

D1,? Captain Crook-Shot, the iiiri liri mini

22! Hagar-Coated Ham: or. The lilo-Ill iinwn.

232 Gold-Dani. Dir-k. A iii-ununve ot‘ Rough - and Tonglw.

263 Deadwood Diek‘n Divide,- or, ’i‘lm Spird. oi'Swamp Lake.

nos Deadwood Dlek'u Death Pro“.

809 Deadwood DielJn Big Deal; or. Thu Gold Brick of

irgim.
82] Deadwood Dluk‘n Dozen; or. The Faith nil’hantmnFlain.
'47 Deadwood Dick’s Dueatu; or, Rainy Days in the lug.

gingu.
851 Deadwood Dlek Seuteueod; or.'|'ho Terrible Vendetta.
B62 Dleudwood Dlek'u Claim; ur, 'l‘hu Fairy Face of Faro
all.
405 Deadwood Diek in Dead (‘lly
4l0 Deadwood Dlek’a Diamonds;
’orinr.
421 Deadwood Dlek in New York; or, A “ Cute Cine."
480 Deadwood Dlek’n Duat; or,'l'iiu Chained “and.
4-18 Dead wood Dick, Jr.
4&8 hiekel-l’lute Red; or, Deadwood Dick Jr‘n Defiance.
458 lauu‘liower 5am, oi Shanta; or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Full
Elli -
459 Fluuh Fan, tho Ferret; or, Deadwood Dick Jr‘s Big Round-

465 E’Fl‘llowFly, of l‘henix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr‘l Racket at
l a in .

471 Dozeman Bill; or, Deadwood Dirk Jr’l Corral.

476 Illlulboldt Harry, the Hurricane; or, Deadwoml Dick Jr'-
Dog Dutoctivo.

431 Moll Mystery; or, Deadwood Dirk Jr. in Deadwood.

491 Prince l’lutol. the King of the West; or, Deadwood Dick
Jr's Coinpnrt.

490 Monte (if-into, Jr.t or. Deadwood Dirk Jr'l inheritance.

500 Deadwood Diek‘n Digfilugn ; or, Dr. Death-de‘s Snoop.

508 Deadwood Dlek'u De verance.

515 Deadwood Dick‘n l'roteuee.

522 Deadwood Dlek‘» Three.

529 Deadwood Diuk‘n Danger Duck».

584 Deadwood Dlek‘n Death Hunt.

589 Deadwood Dlek Jr., in Texas.

544 Deadwood Diek, Jr.. the Wild West Vidocq.

549 Deadwood Dle'i. on Illa Mettle.

554 Deadwood Dlek, Jr.. in Gotham.

56I Deadwood Diek In Bot-ton.

562 Deadwuod Dick. Jr.. in Philadelphia.

Other Novel-i by E. L. Wheeler.

’6 Cioven "00?, the Buffalo Damon.

82 Rob Woolf; or, Tim (:M brad-Shot.

E9 Death-Faee. iletct'iiw; or, Life in New York.

45 Did Avalanehe; or, Wild Edna, the Girl lirigmd.
53 Jim liluduoe. Jr., the lioy l’henix.

61 iiuekhorn "III; or. The liud Iiilie Team.

69 Gold Rille this Sitar mhooher; or. The Ho ‘ Detective,
80 Rosebud llolr ' or. t'tiizgct Ned. iii-i Knight.

4 dyl, the Girl hit-nor; or. Rosebud lioh on Hand.
88 Photoxra h Phil: of. Rowhmi lioh’a lleaiumnmnco.
92 (ianadn (J not ; or,1)lii Alillt'olldn in Sitting Bull’s Cunp,
96 “'ateh- It} a; or, Arabs and Aiigrlu urn Great City.
18 Jack "or e the Young Snecnininr.

Gilt-Edged Dink. tiw 5n irt Detective

(ilnnulnon (filly, the (lirl Sport.

Bonanza Dill. Miner.

Rona lioh the King of lioothinrks.

Solid Ham the tin) Road-Agent.

gangsta-I erret, the New York Deuctlvo; or, Boa Bub’l
OM U .

i New York Nell the Roy-Girl Detective.

7 Nobb N iek oi‘ liievada; or, The Sierra: Scamp].

8 Wild ‘rank, ih.- lillt‘liiililil Bravo.

$09 Fritz, the il-umddioy Detective.

318 Fr“: to the Front; or, The Vontriloqnllt Hunter.

826 Snooler, the Buy Sharp; or, The Arab Detective.

236 Apollo "ill, the Trail Tornado.

240 eloue Kit, the Young Gladiator.

  

hr, The Myatery of Joan

east-'0

1
9
2
3

4
4
i

out—lid Hill-tfllll-I-l
HQH qu—

..
ac

- erra Sum, illn. Frontier Ferret.

245 B-erra Sauna Secret; or The Bloody Foot rlnto.

853 R-erra Snm’u Paul; or, The Angel oi Big ism.

858 H erra Ram’s- Seven; or,’l‘he Sinlon lirido.

278 Jumbo Joe, the lioy Patrol; or, The Rival lloirl.

277 Denver Do". the lietrt'tlve Queen.

881 Denver Doli‘u Victory.

'35 Denver Doll'a Deeoy ; or. Littlo Bill’s Bonanza.

I91 Turk, the Roy Ferret.

396 Denver Doll'n Drift; or. The Road Queen.

.99 A No. 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker.

808 ’lea Juno, the Girl Miner; or. the lion-Nerved Sport.
825 Kelley, Illokev & 00., the Detectives of Philadelphia.
Little Quit-k-Sllot; or, The Dead Fare ofDaggurIville.
Kangaroo Kit; or. The M;storiout Miner.

9 .{nn aroo Klt’n Racket.

flan rattan .“lke, the Bowery Blond.

‘ir-t-Cla-ni Fred, the tioni lrom Gopher

i'reka Jim. the Gold-Gatherer; Or, The Lottery or

Life
879 Yrekn Jim's Prlze.
873 Naboh Ned; or, The Secret ofSlah City.
8%” Cool Kit. the. King of Kids; or, A Viiinin’a Vengeance.
885 Yrekn Jim's Joker; or, Tho Rivals of Red Now.
889 Bicycle “on; .ir."1'h.a Linn nfLighining Lode.
894 Yrekt Jim oi’ \ aim Dam.
400 “’rlu ien, the Night»“’atrh liutective.
416 High "at. Hurry, the iiom- Hull Detective.
426 flnm lilalmldou, tho liegcnr-liov Detective.
484 Jim Deak and Pal. Privnto Detectives.
438 flanta Fe flal, the Siaahnr.
4B6 Sealskin Sam. tho Sparkii-r.

DY BUFFALO BILL (lion. “Fm. F Cody).

8 Karl!” Kinz'; or, The Red Right Hand.
19 The Phantom 88y: or, The Pilot of the Prairie.
55 Deadly-Eye. the nlmown Scout.
63 Border Robin llood; or, The Prairie Rover.
158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or. The Trapper’n Trult.

 

 

 

R Y C" A IMAGE MD R R18.

1 IH ‘Vlii Bonner-n, this lint I). tut-live.

22 Phil Iiurdy, the iii-Sit Mn};

6 I’ivayl'lne I’ete: or, Nimilomnn, the Dog Detective.
Deleetlve, Diek; or. The lil'l'” in Raga.
Iiaudmrme Harry, lite. lionihlnck Dem-tire.

\’. in \" lltlil re, i'iu' 'l'horuuglihrntl.

lilael. lien-u. Will Wihllin-‘n liru'el’.

)Iilse .\ erry, Ihv ilartnir l'olh'ir Boy.

“'lll “'ildilre in the “'oodn.

Hilly “luggage, tho Railroad Iiu '.

v\ 'i rump l'ard; or, \\'ill \Viiuhro “'inri nndann.
Bub "cu-kc"; or, .\ly~lerie~‘ oi New York.

Holt Rot-ken. lin- liunh iiunnvr.

'l'lie lliddeu "and or. Will \\‘ihliir«-‘a Revenge.
Fred ilalyard, tho .ilr lit-at lit»); or. The Smugglers.
lillll Illtt‘lnt‘iiii; Hf. Driven [4- the “'ail.

' Hhadowed; or, litill lim-iwtl'u Fight for Lilia.

Dark l'aul. thi- 'i'igi-r King.

Danhlng Dave, tin. Dandy i‘etcrtii’e.

'l‘om ‘I‘anner; or, 'I‘hu lilui-k Sheep oi the Flock.
5am (illureoal ihu l'l'l‘llliilllt ilnriiy.

Y

n.
v

-+::iuout

HHHH—flfldfl
r..-

-1 I’l'l’l335l

4

2|:
220
225
23'“ Shadow Nam. the .‘lt‘filfl‘llfll‘l’ lin)‘.

242 The Two " liloodn "; or, Simmniloah Bill and His Gang.
252 Dlek Danhaway ; or, A Dakota Boy in ('liivngu.

262 'l‘ he Young- Nharpn; or, ilnilii-kiug Mike's iiot Trail.
2711 Jolly Jim. lln- ileii-I'ilrr- Apprentice.

: 2"!) .l oily Jim’n JDD; or, 'l'hu Young ih-tertivr.

 

298 The “'ater-Ilound: or. The Young Thoroughbred.
305 liar-haway. ol' Dakota; or, A “'eriiern Lnd in the Quaker

l y.
82 Ralph Ready. the Hotel lioy Detcrllvo.
- ’l‘ony Thor-no, the Vngahond Detective.
The. Reporter-Detective; or, Frrd l’lyer’l Blizzard.
\" Ide-A wake Joe; or, A lioy ni‘iho ’i‘imea.
Larry. the Leveler; or. 'l‘lm liloodl ol‘ the Boulevard.
Fire. iy Joule, the, River-Rat linti'i‘tlvc.
4215 The l.o~t Flu or; or, ’l'hr Entrappcd Cashier.
428 Fred Fiver. t :- llelmriur Deiei‘tiVe.
4 luvlnelb‘le Lo an. this l’inknrton Ferret.
456 lilll)’ lirlek. the Jolly Vagabond.
466 “Wile-Awake. Jerry, llvteelive; or, Entombed Alive.
4.79 Deteetlve Dod e; or, The Myntery of Frank Hearty.
4m “'lld Dirk Rne et.
501 Room, the Roy Fireman t or, Too Sharp for the Sharper.
566 The Heeret ~ervlee Boy Detective.

33:“:
=5!!-
.15:-

379
4023

:C
N-

BY 0LL C00.“ ES.

5 Vazahond Joe, the Young Wandnring Jew.
18 The, Dumb Spy.
2'? Antelope Abe. the. Boy Guide.
8 'een-knll‘e, ill! l'l’lnee of the l'rairieI.
4i Lav-no Jack, the Young Ninrtnnger.
58 The Border- Krmn or, The Secret Foo.
’Zl Delaware Dick, the Young lisnuer Spy.
74 Hawk-eve llai-rv ille Young 'i‘inpper R :ngor.
88 Rollo, the Do ' Ranger.
134 Sure Shot F‘et I, thr lioy Riflemnn.
148 Sear-Fave Sun]. the Silent Hunter.
146 Silver S ar, the lioy Knight.
153 Emzle K t, the lioy Demon.
168 Little Texas, the Young Muntnngor.
17" Did Holitary. the Hermit 'l'rn yin-r.
1R2 Little llurrieane, th» Bo (.nptain.
202 I’ron wet Pate ; or, The ’onng Outlaw Huntorl.
20% The oy llereulent or, The Prairie Tramp.
219 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror.
22 i Danhlm: Dink; or, ‘I rnHu-r ’l'oin’o Castle.
22*! Little “’ildiiro, the. Young l’mirie Nomad.
288 The Par-on Do teeth 4-; or. The Little Ranger.
243 The Dlaguiued Guide; or. \\ ihl anon, the Ranger.
260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young l‘mirii- Ranger.
272 Mlnkukiu )ilko, i... lim sharpshooter.
29" Little Foxllre, lite liwy Spy.
30” The Hk Demon ; or. liuiuhuii, the Ranger.
884 “'liip-kiniz Joe. the iim Roi-chart».
4-09 llereule‘; or, lurk, llle liny Ranger.
4]? \Velli'oot “one. llle 'l‘rnnip “vim-live.
42! Raer Hutu, tho it“) i-‘iunl i-I lln- Yellowstone.
444 Lin, 9 Ruck-kin. the Young l‘rairie Centaur.
45? “'lmzedi'oot Fred ; ur, “hi Polar Saul.
461i 'l‘mnarae 'l'om. iin- iiig I‘m n.“ Bay.
4?8 Did 'l‘oln Rattler, Iiir lli‘il {iver Epidemic.
432 Stonewall Rob. llm l’m_\' 'i‘roinn.
562 Blunderlnz Ran”. the Hermit lioy Trapper.

BY '1‘. C. HARRAUGII.

23 Nit-k o’ the Night; or, ’I‘h- lio Spy of ’16.
87 The Hidden Lodge; hr The l. ttl~- Hunter.
47 .‘Nig‘hllnxaie Nat ; u. ‘i in: l-‘..r.mt (la tnins.
64 Dandy .Ioek; or. 'i‘h.- (luliawri of the rogon Trail.
2 Kit liarei‘oot tho Wood-Hawk.
94 Midnight Jar-it; or. The lioy Trapper.
106 Did Fronty, tho iiiidr; or. Thi- White Queen.
128 Kiowa Charley thr- While )liiuinnger.
“59 Judge in neh, .I r.: or. The l‘mv \‘iel‘lante.
155 Gold ’l‘rimrer, liiv Sin ri; or, '1' Ni (Girl Avenger.
169 'l'ornndo 'I'orn; vr, injun Jack From Red Core.
1”.“ Ned 'l‘l'lll Die. the, Border lioy.
l9" Aritannaw : or. ‘i he (luv u vi hair-ht Revenge.
20? Navado Nit-k. ilm lioy Gold Hunter.
2”; i'uotaln lillilel : v-r. l-iliit‘ 'l‘onknnt'u Crusade.
22H l'lueky Phil: or. Roan. lhu Rel Jezebel.
24] Hill liriu'o; or, Tim [laughs oi lhr Rochiea.
255 (‘anialn .\poli , Uii- thi'in of Bowie.
267 The l-iiIi-ltnlrin Detective.
279 Did \VlIIi-h; or. The Iiurlmkin Den-oration.
294 Dynamite Duo; or. The Bowie lilaiie oi Cnchelopa.
802 'l' to Mountain Deleelivc: or, The Trigger Bar Baily.
316 Dial l‘k‘llpne, 'l‘ramii Carri of Aritunu.
826 The Ten I’ardu: or. The 'l‘urror olTnko-Notlco.
“It: llenuon; or, The Qlll'rn of the Lit-no.
l’it’ilenn Matt; or, Red Thumierholi'n Secret.
"u-n' '-nm . w l'ar 't o The Terrible Six.
866 Velvet Foot. the lndian Detective.
8‘6 (‘uptain (‘utia-n; or, 'hi- ii rcuneor'a Girl Foe.
896 Rough Roi): or,'i‘he I’win Champions oi Blur. Blazes.
4i i The fillkeu Lain-to: er, The Rose of Ranch liohin.
4Il'i Felix Fox. the Ho)! sputter.
425 'I'oxnn Train". the iiordor Rattler.
I’ll“ i‘Viilllt, the New York Fox.
445 The. City Van-niren; or. Keri llnlfe’l Pigeon.
46l line Again-int I’liiyg or, The. l.nsi Man of Kano Bar.
470 The l oy Filadow: or. Felix Fox’s Hunt.
477 The luxt-el-ior Sport: or, The Washington Spotter.
Single flight. tlm fine-Eyed Sport.
Branded Den, the Nighi Fern-t.
Dodzer Dir-k. tin- “’hnrf—‘py Detective.
521 Dodger Diek’a Rent Dodge.
5‘23 Fox and Falcon. the lion‘er Shadows.
'ifii

 

5- "‘06ch "lei" the Dork Ferret.
548 Dodger Diok’n Doulplc: or, The Rival Boy Detective;
5 8 Dodtter Dlek’u Deupr-rate Case.

5
563 Dodger Dick, the Boy Vlillil'q.

 

RY CDLDNEL I’REN’l‘lh‘S INGRAIIAM.

7 The Flying Yankee; or, The ()i‘rnn (lulmmt.
17 Ralph Ro ‘, lhe liny lint-can or; or. The Fugitive Yacht.
24 Diamond ilrk: or. The M)Rir'l')’ ol'lht- Yellow-atone.
62 The filnulow Nilip; or. The, iiiviil Lieutenantfl.
7t, 'I'hp ‘=.,y l,"(‘l‘pt; or, The, (Truiw oi'thc Sea-Wolf.
102 Diel.’ Dead-Eye, tho Iioy Suinugler.
l I i The Sell-De \‘II; or, The Midshipman“ lu-gnvy.
] I6 'l‘he iluunm- Cu itain; or, 'I he lleilnil hi lléii (lute.
19? Lillie Grit; or, il'~hlt‘, the Stork—’l‘ondrr'a iiuughum
20 I. Gold l’lulne; or, lho Kid-(Glow, Sport.
2i“ Iii-on lilil. the l'rim-c oi the lit-inn.
222 Grit. the liravo hport; or, The Vi'mnnn Trailer.
229 (irimuou Rate; hr, The (‘iiwhoy'n 'l'rlunijih.
Lone Star. the Cowboy (In ilain.
.‘it‘l'lt‘ tilt“ .‘llddy ' or, ' lie Freelance llrir.
250 The )ildnhlpman .llutiueer; or. “Tamil, tho liniwaneer.
264 The Floating: Feather; or. Merle

inland.
269 The Gold Hillp; or, Merle, the Ciill‘ltiiliiit‘tl-
276 Merl}- .\lonie‘n (urine; or, 'l'hr ('huiie of “The Uoh
. up.
280 Merle Monte'u Fate; or. i‘mirl. ilw l'irniu'a Bride.
284 The Sea Marauder; or. Merle .\lnni.-‘i. l’lmige.
287 Billy Rlue-liyeu, tin- lioy lion-r “1‘ [lie llin iii-undo.
804 The Dead Shot Dandy; or. hunt-i. ihr lily) iiugler.
308 Keno Kit; or, Ih-ml Shot llnndy'us iioulile.
814 The] Mynterloun Marauder; or, The liny iingh-r’s Loni;
rni .
Douodel, the Roy Rover; 0Y,'l'he Flnglom Schooner.
8!“! The lndian I’llot; nr, The Search i‘i-r Pirate inland.
“'arpatlt \Vill, the lioy l’hantuni.
Seawall; the lloy Lieutenant.

\lunie's 'l‘rmnuir

402 lilodor. the Young lDllll iralor; or. Tho. Fatal Lea us.
407 The Rov lnnnru‘enl; unpl‘hv (‘uhnn Vendetta. g ’
412 The \i' lid Yaelllnman; or. The \i‘nrrtllouu’n Cruise.
429 Daneau Dare. the lioy lict’uizw. '

433 A Cabin in "n Luek; Ur. Tim (“Mill'-

43? The Sea Ra der.

44] The 090,". Firefly; or, A .\liilii_\-'s ergennro.

446 llaphazard llarr ' : or. The Svapegrnre oi the. Sen.
450 “’lzard “'lli: or. I'he Buy Ferrm oi'New York.
454 “'lzard “'iil’n Street Fit-outta

462 The Horn I-‘uuide; or. Thu Sailor Boy Wanderer.
468 Neptune Ned. the in. v Coaster.

474 Flora; ul’. \\'izurii “'ill'l Vagabond i’m‘d.

483 Ferret: Alloat: or. Wizard Will’s Last Case.
43? Nevada Neil. the itm‘niwr Ranger.

 Ari/noun J 00 the Hay l’ani (if'l‘gxug Jack_

49? linek Taylor, King at lhv Cowboy;

503 The Royal .\i ldd y ; on. Thu Shah and the Sn CM.
502' he llunted Mid-hi an.

511 ‘lle Dntiawed Mid y.

520 Ruekukin Bill. the (‘mnnnche Shadow.

525 Rrothern ln Rueknkln.

580 Tile Ruekukl-I Rowers.

585 The line nkin Rovern.

540 Captain Kn—Klux, the Marauder ol the Rio.
5.15 Lieutenant, Leo. the Son of Lafitte.

550 Laiitte’n Legacy; or. The Avenging Son.

555 The Creole Corsair.

560 Pawnee Bill, the Prairie. Shadomir.

565 Kent Kingdou, the Card King.

BY JOSEPH E. BADGER. JR.

2 Yellow-tone Jack; or, The Tra - wr
43 Black John. the Road-Agent; or. m Outlaw’n Retro“.
65 llurrleune Bill; or. Mir-dang Sam and lill Ford.
19 Mustang Sam or.’l’ha King of tho Plains.
86 Night-Hawk 'It; or, The Daughter ul'tlie Ramh.
44 Dainty Lanee the Boy Sport.
5! Panther Paul: or. Dnlntr' Lame tn the Rea-no.
60 The Rlaek Giant; or. Dainty lntliee in Jmpnrdy.
(ll-i Deadly Dar-hi or. Fighting Fin- wuh Fire.
9‘1 The Roy Tra lera; or, Dninly lumen oil the War-Pith,
208 The Do ' l’ardn; or. Dainty Lani-e lininaulis.
211 Orooke Cale, the Cniilmn oi" (‘uirslial City.
810 The Rarrnnen Wolf; or, The licautilnl Deroy.
819 The "lack Rider; or. The ilorae-Thieveo’ League.
885 Did D'ouble Flnt‘ or, The Strange Guide.
355 The kiln: oi'ihe Voodo: or lhuuoi iiuona’u Lut Trail
“9 Kit Fox. the Border Boy Detective.

LATEST AND NEW ISSUES.

570 Camille. the (and Queen. liv Col. Prentiss lngmham.
5'“ Air-Line Lake, the Young Engineer. iiy J. C. Cowdrirk. ~
572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chit-ago. By E. L. Wheeler. i
578 Tito Two Shadows. liy T. C. llarhnngh. ‘ 
574 Did \Veunel-to , the Man with the Dogs. liv l‘. S. War-rm. ‘ '
575 I;l‘hel Surgeon-Scout Deteetlve. 15y Colonel Prenim ’
"L'Tll illill. .
576 The fillver Sport. By Lieut. A. K. Sims. _
577 Pavement. Pete, the Secret Sitter. liy Jo Plane. «1,. "
57st Deadwood Dick. Jr., Afloat. Bv Edward L. Wheelnrfli'
579 The Chimney Spy; or, Broadway Billy'l Surprlw-Party..
Br J. C. Cowdriek. 'r
580 The Duteant Cadet; or, The False Detective. By Co .
l’rentirn ingrannm. ‘

581 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. By George c‘fiAw

.lenkn.
592 Dodger Diek’n Drop. By T. C. linrllfliigli.
538 Ruin-on flol, the Man “'ith a Shadow. liy Lieut. A. K. Sim:
5934 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Denver. By Ed. L. Wheeling, -.,;
585 Will \Vateril, the lim‘ Ferret. By li. Eaton. .‘ M
5’16 The Buekukin Avenzer. “.V 0|. l’rmitisslngrahnm. '
587 Did Bambi-hell, the Ranger Detective. liy \Vm. G. Patten
5S8 Jaek-o‘-Lantern. thu Under-Sea I’mgiwctor. By Jo Pierc
589 Tom-Cat and Ford; or. The Dead Set at Silver City. B
Lieot. A. K. Sinu .
590 Deadwood Dick. Jr’n., Decree. By E. L. Wheeler.
59] Delmoute. tho Young Sea-Rover. liy (‘01. i’ lngmhnm.
592 The Bov Pinkerton. iiy J. ('. andrick.
593 Keen Clem, the Rain-h imp. iir P. S. “'nrnr. 'V
594 Little Lon, tho Street-Singer Dricvtlw. liy T. (‘, Harbilltlh.‘
595 Deadwood Dlek Jr. in Beelzebub‘n Ranin. By E-
L. Wheeler. Rwth Derrmhvr l-i. ~
596 Jimmy ihe Kldi 0". A Lumh Among \Volwn.
Morris. Ready Derenibrr ‘25.
59'? The Young Texan Detective.
Ri-miv Januarv .
59H Flute, tho Sim!" Detectivts. By Geo. (‘. Jenks.
Rviuiv January 8.
599 Jim Dandy, the No—Name Sport. By P. S. Warnc.
Ready Januurv l5.
600 Deadwood Dick J r. at Coney Island. By Edwml
thlt‘i. Ready January ‘29.

HHHHHHH

   
   
 
   
   
   
 
 
  
 
 
  

 

liy Chant,
u.
Dry Col. P. ingi'ahnm. it!

A New Issue Every Tuesday. I
The Half-Dime Library in for ale by oil newndulgn, fly A“
cont- por copy, or lent by mail on receipt of nix cents each. 1x1

BEADLE AND ADAMS, Pub“.th ,
98 William Street, New 70!.  ,