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Against Desperate Odds.

A TALE OF IDAHO.

.—_—

BY JOHN W. OSBON,

AUTHOR OF “ THE RIVAL GIANTS OF NOWHAB,”
“CACTUS BURR. THE MAN FROM HARD
LUCK,” ETC.

CHAPTER I.
THE TRAGEDY AND THE TRAIL.

IT was an autumnal midnight, unusuallv dark
and dreary. A high wind was sweeping down
the rough and winding trail between the swift]\'—
flowin little river and the bases of the towering
hills. he howling of a wolf on the broken plain
beyond the river, the occasional limiting of an

 

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“WHO BIDS? wno ems? A ms’ABUL THOUSAN' FUR mm PURTY CRITTER! WAUGH!” 0W1 sweeping through Space, the faint Cbil‘PinC

 

  

2

Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow.

 

 

and pipin of countless insects, the wind’s shrill
whistle, t e river’s soft and musical ripple—
parts of Nature’s grand voice, one and all—
alonebroke Hie dismal nocturnal quietude, and
robbed the narrow trail of the weirdness and
grimness locked in brooding and midnight si-
lence.

A horse and rider, their blended outlines just
discernible under t .e pull of darkness, crept
slowly along the trail -—a spectral Centaur,
whose movements were marked by just a sus-
picion of the sound of falling hoofs.

Onward, at a slow, unvarying gait, stole the
shade; onward, until the trail veered outward
to the water’s edge, to round a protruding spur
in the range. .

Then halted—a smothered imprecation ac—
companying the action.

An iron hand had closed upon he nostrils of
the silent steed, while against he face of its
rider were focused the rays of a dark lantern!

From each Side of the trail a man in mask
had glided forward, and the cocked revolver of
each bore full upon the breast of the horseman.

Muscular—looking fellows, disguised beyond
recognition, they were, and the cold gleam in
their eyes was as pitiless as death. .

A moment sped by in silence unbroken save
by the restless champing of the horse; then a
light, sardonic laugh rippled from the lips of the
men in the saddle.

“ Now here’s a pretty go!” he coolly ob-
served, in the most matter-of-fact tone imagin-
able. “ Say, hain’t you galoots barkiu’ up the
wrong tree?”

The leader of the masked trio chuckled.

“ Nary a time!” he declared, positively. “ A
blufi.’ won't work in this leetle game. You’re
our timber, an’ we’re goin’ ter peel ye! Eh,

lads?”

“ Bet yer pile!" promptly avowed his fellows.

“Fact is, major, we’ve bin expectin’ yo’ fer a
week past,” continued the man with the lan-
tern, a deal of satisfaction manifesting itself in
his voice. “Kin ye see on t’other side 0’ ther
knot-hole?”

The horseman slowly shook his head, a uz-
zled expression appearin on his handsome ace.

The three road-agents aughed outright.

“ Mebbe ye hain’t Major Cool, ov ther Gold
Bug,” suggested the leader, ironically.

“ An’ ye hev’n‘t muffled yer critter‘s hoofs ter
slide by unheerd,” chimed ‘in the outlaw on the
left.

“ An’ I reckon we hain’t got ye lined,” added
the third.

The horseman stared at the three men in un-
disguised amazement a moment, then leaned
back in the saddle and uttered a mellow lau h.

“ Drunk or crazy,” he muttered, his vo ce
just audible, a peculiar smile parting his mus-
tached lips. “ In either event I must not cross
them in tbeir mad whims.”

“ Sensible,” terser said the outlaw leader,
with a crisp nod. “ An’ new, major, a word to
ther ’int. ’.

“ her Gold Bug, ther new gambling-hell, aire
advertised ter berm work on ther suckers an’
chumps ov ther anyon ter-morrow night.

“ In a live camp like Chispa Canyon, u thar,
it takes dust—heaps 0v it—ter keep ther eerds
turnin’. An’ we kalkilate yer pockets aire putty
well lined with ther yellow stuff!”

“ And that’s some more of your business!”
crisply returned the horseman, not the slightest
trace of alarm or annoyance noticeable in voice
or hearing.

“ J es’ so,” complacentl affirmed the ruffian.
a broad grin crinkling t e close-fitting folds of
his mask. ‘ Fact aire, major, ye don’t seem ter
ketch onto who we be.” '

“Oh, yes, I do!” the horseman protested, his
bi blue eyes scintillatin suspiciously. “ And
I’d make it Confounded y warm for you, too,
but you’ve go» me foul.” _

“That’s all right. We aire not toll-takers 0v
ther common cloth,” went on the ruflian, assum-
ing an air of injured innocence, and paying not
the slightest heed to the si uificant assurance.
In fact, we aim agents 0 Captain Trackless,
ther Terror ov ther Trail. Dust we ' aire after,
an’ dust we’ll hev! Resist, an’ thar’s yer grave!”
and a curt inclination of his head indicated the
river.

“ Agents of Captain Trackless!” echoed Major
C

001.
“That’s w‘ot I said!” doggedly iterated the

outlaw. .

“And lied! The redoubtable Trackless has
no hand in this matter! In a word, you are the
hirelings of High-Card Hank, the Faro King, of
Chispa Can on!”

Not loud y, or with blaster, but in a cold,
deadly monotone, the bold words fairly shot

 

from betWeen the white, even teeth of the im-
periled sport.

Bracin his feet firmly, as if to resist a des-
perate at ack, the leader of the outlaw trio drew
a hard breath. The effect upon his companions
was equally marked.

But the looked-for resistance did not follow.
On the contrary, Major Cool sat quite at ease in
his saddle, his arms slightly akimbo, his jeweled
hands resting lightly upon his hips, with the
loner, tapering fingers doubled under. His cold,
white face wore a faint smile, the real signifi-
cance of which was revealed only by the wicked
sparkle in his eyes.

“ Yes, sir, you lied,” he reiterated. “ And
now, listen to a little plain talk.

“I am Major Cool—I don’t go back on that.
It’s a good handle, and a clean one, com ared
with some I can call to mind—that of unco
Ben, for instance. Do—-”

A bowl of rage from the ruffian with the lan-
tern interrupted the sport. ‘

“ Hear that, pardsi’ he grated, his eyes gleam-
ing viciously through the twin apertures of his
mask, as he released the horse‘s nostrils and
clapped his hand upon one of the revolver-butts
protruding from his girdle. “ It‘s ther river fer
ther cuss new, even of we do resk a taste of
Jed e—”

“ .‘low and easy, friend Benjy,” interpolated
Major Cool, his quiet, incisive voice clear and
distinct above the husky mumblin s of the mad-
dened road-agent; “don’t crowd t e mourners;
there’s time to settle up this little affair in de-
cent style, even if the river beside us is to be the
Styx of my journey.

‘ As the matter stands we retty nearly
understand each other. You due 3 want what
good, solid coin of the realm I may chance to
‘gilavte’iimn my unfortunate person. Well, take

a .

A swift outward fling of the major’s hands
gave emphasis to the last word; more than
that, for the glittering len th of a small revol-
ver appeared in each, whi e the sharp, spiteful
cracking of the pair of trusty wea ns con.-
pletely drowned the even strains of his voice.

80 dexterously, so swiftly executed was the
maneuver, that the road—a cut on either side
fell back lifeless ere he cou d realize the true
im rt of the turn affairs were taking!

nd at the ver instant the long white fingers
of the ma‘or r ormed their deadly work, the
rowels of is exican spurs urged forward his
well-trained steed, dashing the leader of the
outllaw trio in a senseless heap on the rocky
trai .

The lantern fell with a s lash into the waters
of the stream, and over t e strange scene the
pall of darkness resumed its sway. 1

Again the Centaur shade stole noisclessly for-
war along the trail, heading straight for the
twinkling ights of Chispa Canyon.

 

“D’ye heur,’ gal? Head up, an’ face ther

gang, or—”
A menacing gleam in the small, bloodshot
ificant uplifting of his

‘eyes of the speaker, a si .
c awish ban , filled the iatus with an emphams

more brutal than words could have conveyed.

There was an uneasy shifting of the crowd;
here and there a toil-stained hand dropped to a
belted weapon.

“ Come—you, Red Joaquin! No more of
that, or something will drop—quick and hard !”
icily enunciated a low, clear voice, the signifi-
cant tapping of a revolver-butt accompanying
the warning words. “ Don’t forget that this is
the House of Gold, the resort of white men all
wool and a yard wide.

“ Use in tables for slave blocks—sell that

helpless gir , if you will; but roughly touch a‘

hair of that glorious head, and Chispa Canyon
will no longer know your presence!”

A stifled oath, a. snort o disgust; then—

“ Neow. how d’ye git in, chippie? Hevn’t
hurted ther purty critter a cent’s wu’th, hev I?”
and, as he spoke, Joaquin turned savagely
upon the sport, his villainous face aglow wit
Wrath. “ Jes’ keep yer fiimsy-wim y paws of!
them thar tools. too, ’less ye mean iizl Naow,
I’m a—talkin’, High-Card—Ta-chockin’ aout boss—
sense! Twig?” .

The gambler nodded nonchalantly, a faint

smile, indescribany sardonic, parting his thin
lips.
Red Joaquin felt a strange chill creep over
his massive form: just a then ht of the color
fled from the little of his face Visible. His arms
seemed to hang limp at his sides.

The spectators silently drew back.

The smile of High-Card Hank was accounted
deadlier than the fabled Upas—tree.

The eyes of the two men met in a steady

. and, but for High-Card Hank. the ruifian woul

 

glare—those of the rough, small and black,
lled with the dull glow of intense ra e; the

s rt’s, new blue, t on gray, and a l-in-all

singularl cat-like, cold, clear and piercing.

In mar ed contrast were the two belligerents,
as they stood weapons in hand.

Scarcely more than five-feet—five was High-
Carrl Hank, and agile rather than muscular; his
short, black hair lay close to the skull in crisp
little ringlets: his face was smooth and hand-
some, but at all times cold, and as white almcst
as a block of marble, the natural pallor being
only hightened by the jetty blackness of his
mustaches and imperial. ,

He was attired in a full-dress suit, and a gir-
dle of richly-worked blue silk supported a pair
of 819 ant- ooking “ tools.”

As or Red Joa uin—six-feet-six did not or
ceed his altitude. is as ct was one of extreo-o
repulsiveness. From so es to arm—pits his grcut
form was a model of symmetry. There ell
shapeliness ended and hideousness begun. Shoul-
ders, back and chest were gnarled and twisch,
as if by some awful accident, setting his short,
thick neck awry, and bringing his face around
almost over the left shoulder.

And such a fare! Covered with a matted

rowth of sandy red whiskers befouled with to—
bacco-juice, it was Simply brutish. The nose
of rubicund hue bespoke habits most biliulous.
The eyes were deep-set, small and black, and
above the low, retreating forehead was a mass
of long, tangled red hair.

A suit of tattered buckskin bid the nakedness
of this repulsive wretch. Upon his head was a.
sort of turban of wolfskin, ornamented with
waving eagle-plumes. At his back hung a Win-
Chester rifle, which was reinforced by the pair
of sixes in his hands.

Uf High-Card Hank, the camp knew but little;
of Red Joaquin it knew less.

The firmer had “ struck the camp ” at the
twilight hour one evening three months before
—coming no one knew whence—with his finances
at the low ebb of a lone silver dollar. Ragged
and hungry though he was, yet with light step
and sportive mien he had headed direct for the
Eureka Shades—reputed the biggest bank in
Chispa Canyon—an by an almost fabulous run
of luck had “ bu’sted ’er wide open, an’ laid
Gentleman George out cold,” as the Canyonites
ex ressed it ever after.

0 name beyond that of “Hank” had the
nervy adventurer vouchsafed the denizens of
the camp. Upon the high-card he had laid his
heaviest wagers, and so in their i‘ree-and-easy
way they had prefixed to his name the title of
his favorite card. '

The Eureka Shades was now the House of
Gold. Gentleman George, the roprietor of the
former, had gone the way of a flesh—had de-
parted this life in strict accordance with the pe-
culiar code of the isolated old—camp. Detected
in an attempt to work a “ race” on that event-
ful night, he had fallen before the deadly revolv-
ers of the ragged adventurer.

Always cool and collected, ever as ready for a
fi ht as for a frolic, with never a word of him-
se f of his past or his future, High-Card Hank
in the three months immediately preceding the
opening of m romance had worked out for him-
self the dist ction 01’ being. with possibly one
exception, the worst man in the camp.

And that exception was Red Joaquin.

Loud-mouthed. abusive, Vile in appearance
and in manner. the deformed giant was the ter-
ror of the camp. Then. too, he was something
of a myster . Gold he had in plenty, and when
he up a in camp, bent upon one of _h18 peri-
odic “ tears.” the yellow god went right and
left most lavishly.

Invariably he came and went between two
days—a fact which had leu to no and of idle
speculation and to a general sup ition that,
somewhere back in the hills, be ad struck a
rich lead of the virgin metal, and was secretly
working it for all it was worth.

From the day the giant had first set foot in
Chispa Canyon, he ad. to use the vernacular,
“ Played a lone hand,” and played it well, too.
Foes he had in generous numbers, but of friends
not one. ' .

This particular night on which the herculean
desperado is introduced to the reader, be had
suddenly appeared in camp with the girl, whom
he at once conducted to the House of Gold, and
offered for sale to the highest bidder.

A high~handed proceeding, even for this
roughest and most lawless of Idaho’s gold-camps

have suffered Vigorous punishment long ere eve
the preliminaries of the atrocious barter 11
been arranged. .

Realizing this full well—knowing that in :

  

    
  

 

  
  

 
    

 

01d Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow.

:6

 

 

Chispa Canyon he had not a friend tobe de nd-
ed upon—Red J qullin mentally cu his
folly IM having invoked the anger of High-Card
Hank at so inopportune a time.

An odd shrug of his misshapen shoulders; a
swift, restless flashing of his deep-set eyes over
the motley throng: a singular twitching of his
facial muscles; then a augh, singularly soft
on! purring, yet indescribany chilling, rippled
:lowly through the tangled meshes of his nius-
taclics.

" P’izen, hain’t we, pard?” he muttered, the
words marked with a Series of deep chuckles.
" Re-kon we c’u’d eat each other an’ not hate
try—hut we won’t!”

And. to the intense sur rise of the assembled
Canyonites, he with a sw1ft, easy motion return-
ed his weapons to his belt.

At this unex mm, but none the less diplo-
matic turn of a airs, the sport of the House of
Gel? bowed with studied grace, and answered
air y:

“ As sensible as ugly !”

A moment he looked straight into the burning
black eyes of the crippled Hercules, his own
-dotlike orbs filled with a greenish glint, boding
ill to the latter, then quietly put up his revol—
vers, and in cold, hard strains continued:

“ A truce to senseless horse-play, Joaquin.
Who or what this girl is—whether your kith or
kin, or a stolen mountain beauty—is nothing to
me. You have brought her here to find a buyer.
Confine yourself strictly to that business, and
remember that the briefer the time you tarry
here the better for our health.”

Returning stare or stare, gazing straight into
the dilated pu lie of the gambler, the giant ut-
tered a hoarse augh, barren of mirth—a vehicle
of contempt, simply and purely.

“ Kyrect, ole hoss-jes es yer say, and not es
I keer a darn for it eyther!" he enunciated, in—
solently. “ Bizness fu’st—pleasure alter! ’Tain’t
ther last hour ov ther night, and thar’s another
sun a’ter to-morrow’s!”

Then a short, curt nod, and he turned to the
crowd, crying:

“ Neow, who bids? Who bids? Hyar’s ther
dainty critter fer sale, galoots, and ther big est
roll plucks ther prize; 93' es -she stan’s—t er
boss rosybud ov ther anyon, ther bri htest
chispn. 3v ther pocket! Who bids? Who ids?”

In hoarse, chuckling accents at first, with an
expression of savage defiance upon his distorted
faCc, then louder and with increasing clearness
and vehemeuce, and in tones betraying just a
spice of malignant joy, spoke Red Joaquin.

Silence, breathless, but of brief duration, en-
asued. Then came the Chink-chink of gold coins.
hastily poured out upon the hard deal table, and
:in an eager, excited voice the words:

“ Hyar! Ciinarron Jack oflers $500!”

The ice was broken. An electric thrill seemed
to gun throufgh the throng. Bid after bid was
ma 9 in swi t success on, until the first 8 k
had'doubled his offer. ' pea °r

Then a brief lull—a quietude alinost unbroken,
.save by deep-drawn breathing and the restless
shuffling of feet. .

Uunoticed, a slender, boyish form glided into
the place. .

The cowerin girl shot a covert glance at the
brawny, repu sive-lookiug ruffian, Cimarron
Jack. Her eyes encountered his burning gaze.
and with a shudder she crouched yet lower upon
the table, shivering in every fiber.

Then a ain the voice of Red Joaquin arose,
wild and erce. '

“ Who bids? Who bids? Cuss ye fer 70018!
Dem an’ double-dern ye, I say! A mis’abul
thousan’ fur thet purty critter! Waugh!”

Scarcer had the strains of disgust died away
when High-Card Hank enunciated, coldly and
distinctly:

“ Fifteen hundred dollars! Let him bid who
may, the rl shall be mine!”

A still snarl of rage. I! look of black, un-
utterable hatred. and Cimarron Jack strode
smftly out of the House of Gold.

A flush of triumph appeared on the face of; the
gambler—a look of dismay Upon that ol the
crippled Hercules. High-Card Hank’s only for—
midable rival had withdrawn from the race.
The fair prize was as good as won.

“Gojn’ at fifteen hundred! A cussed shame!
Who bids? Ther last chance, so help 1119! TWitter,
ChlckleS—twitter quick, or never!” roared Red
Joflmll, madly. “Fifteen hundred an’ 80M—

om -— '

“ T’other word, an’ you’re gone!” chipped in
a ('I‘ISP. fresh young voice, in cool, Snapping
accents. “say, Cap’n Trackless, at ther best
I kin figger it out, you’re my meat! so hands up,
or by ther blue ethereal! I’ll swat ye a few right
whar ye live!”

 

His cavernous mouth a ape, his heady black
eyes protuberant with sud en astonishment and
rage, the giant desperado—for the moment a
picture of discomfiture—stared down at the
deadly steel tubes leveled at his heart, then on
beyond at the smooth and boyish but bitterly
determined face of the speaker.

CHAPTER II.
FIGHTING FRANK, THE FEATHERWEIGHT.

ACCUSTOMED to wild and stirrin scenes thou b
they were, the habitues of the ouse of God
stood as if spell-bound—motionless, speechless,
for the nonce, seemingly unwdling to credit the
evidence of their eyes.

Truly, it was a striking picture!

Confronting the gigantic bully and desperado,
a self-cocking “ six ’ in each hand, was a youth
of eighteen—a mere stripling, yet one whom
0 an, expressive face, bore the indelible impress
o courage and daring bordering close upon the
reckless.

A lithe, supple form. clad in an odd yet har-
monious admixture of the garb of a prairie
cougar and that of a border sport; booted and
s urred, with a belt of arms at his middle and a

inchester at his back. Not above five-feet-four
in hight, but broad of shoulder, full-chested and
trim-waisted; shapely as to limbs, with hands
and feet that a lady might well have envied; a
fine head, from which the hair descended to the
shoulders in 101] , wavy tresses of gold: forehead
broad, high an full; eyes of hazel, large and
brilliant; nose of purest Grecian mold; mouth
large, with clearly-cut red li s and sound white
teeth, and a firm, square c in. All in all, a
strikingly handsome youth—a boy in years, a
man in eeds.

An indescribable expression mantling his
bestial visage, Red Joaquin stareddown into
the boy’s flashing hazel eyes a full minute, then,
with a characteristic oath, ejaculated:

“ Eh, thar, sonny! hain’t ve jest a little keer-
less with them thar tools? ’I’ears es ef—"

“ Team as if I hold ther dro ,” cut in the
youth, nonchalantly. “ Ye’ve tri buckin’ag’in‘

rank ther FeatherWeight. an’ run on a sun —
that’s all! But ve’re ther marked kcerd in t er
pack jest now Cap’n Trackless. Wilt!”

High—Card Hank stared. A shade of annoy-
ance crossed his face.

“Fighting Frank Bayne. the Featherweight,”
he exclaimed, the name slipping involuntarily
from him. .

And at the same juncture the crouchin girl
raised her head to stare wildl at the ban seine
youth, then slip from the ble to a stand on
the floor, her lid but beautiful face bearing a
look of relief inexpressible.

“ But ov course ye wilt," continued the outh,
not heeding either the words of High-Cart Hank
or the action of the girl. “ Just now ye cain’t
even twinkle yer starry eyes ’thout riskin’ a
com )ound fracture.

“ er quit foolishin’ an’ git right down ter biz,
cap’n, thar’s a few questions I want ter ask ye
an I expect answers so chockful ov solid, gospel
truth thet three or four ov’em ’u’d freight a
Conestoga. Ketch on?

“ In course, ye know all about the quiet leetle
circus thet rascally ole snoozer, Buiico Ben, an’
yEr Tigers ov ther Trail bed With Carleton Os-
man’s outfit back in ther Big Gap. Ye know.
too, thet fir gang succeeded in gettin’ of! with
ther al, iss Aurelia.

” ’ot I want ter know is, fu’st ov all, who
P3115 up ther job 0v lioldin’ up ther outfit? You
didn’t do it on your own hook—the light warn’t
wu’th ther candle.

“ Thet’s question Number 1. Now
yerself. cap’n, an’ see thet ye ante a
solid truth.”

The giant desperado stood stock-still, his
mouth _a.gape, his heady black eyes Opened to
their Widest extent. His expression was that of
one hopelessly nonplused.

" See hyar, sonny, 9’33? ye guv me suthin’
easy,” he owled, his 9 tones full of disgust.
f‘ Dem an double-dern me, at I know urot ye’re
drivin’ at.

“Fu’St. I’m cused ov bein’ thet cantankerous
critter, Cap’ii Trackless; an’ then, atop ov thet,
I'm ’cused ov doing up ther outfit ov a pilgrim
I never heerd tell on! No, silage, hnssfl ! I
cani’t answer yer questioii—an’ I w’u’dn’z’ef I
c’u’d. Jest—”

“ Stop. thaw" broke in the Featherwei ht,
almost savagellfi “ ’Tuin’t no use ter 1'8!

 

assert
unk ov

Ye’ve bed a chaince ter clear yer record.
Now—”

The irnscihle strain ceased abruptly; a mur-
mur of surprise ‘01‘ Wonder went up from the
throng.

Fighting Frank, crouching slightly, had, with

 

scarce! a perceptible effort thrown a some!»
set, p anking his heels fully and uarely
against the forehead of Red Joaquin, hurling the
brawny rufiian to the floor in a senseless heap.

So entirely unexpected, so dexterously executo
ed was the feat, that not a man in the room
could have lifted even so much asa finger in
time to have prevented it.

Alighting With the supplcness of a panther,
the young athlete, making a single bound,
reached the side of the girl. Another instant,
and he had whirled, rather then carried, her
from the table to the wall, and stood before her,
facing High-Card Hank and his fellow canyon-
ites, his hazel eyes aglow, his lips parted in a
careless smile, his revulvers on a dead level, with
the hammers trembling upon a poise under the
steady pressure of his long, tapeiing fingers
against the triggers.

“ Try conclusions. shall we, gents?" be queried
lightly, yet with a certain metallic sort of ring
in the smooth easy tones. “ As fer that ”——with
a swift inclination of his head toward the sense-
less ‘aiit—“ ther less said either way, p’rha )8
ther tter. Oii’y this from me: He is Capri
Trackless, ther noted road-agent.

“ But, of eny ov ye feel onhappy over it, ther
ball hes bin started. Will ye keep it rollin’?
Dow,n grade—no trouble ter make it bump it—
Self!

Just in time, that masterly retreat to the
wall' and the cool, devil-may-cai'e words of the
Featherweight, backed with the easy handling
of his tools, was exactly the thin needed just
then. Otherwise, his career wouli have ended
right there, and with it all he and brightness
have been blotted from the uture of Aurelia
Osman.

For, from the throng beyond Hi h—Card
Hank more than one pair 0 ugly, boodshot
eyes had lured with Wolfish fury at the dash-
ing,‘ reck css youth—more than one deadly
“six "' been drawn to end his existence. But,
it is one thing to shoot a man in the back, an-
other to court death in the muzzles of weapons
up and ready.

~No mining-camp in all the West is free of its
quota of bad men; and Chis a Canyonlsdeni-
zens were little better than t. e offscourings of
the older camps. While there were men good
and true among them, yet for the sake of )8000
they shieldcd the light of their virtues wit the
cloak of secrecy.

The crisplyvuttered words of the Feather-
weight, pregnant with defiance, but wholly do»
voi of even so much asa trace of blaster or
bra gadocio, had scarcer ceased, when High-
Car Hank shifted uneasily, then laughed~a
soft, pleasant sound, yet as eadly at that junc-
ture as an adder’s hiss. There were those in the
House of Gold to whom it expressed, as plainly
as if uttered in so many words: “Kill the
whelp', but let the deed be secret.”

“ If we must smite each other, let it be fair
and open, is all I ask,” continued the Feather-
weight, as if diVining the gambler’s very
thoughts. Then, reflectivclyz ‘Tho’ jest why
thar sh’u’d be a motion I cain’t sec.”

“Nor I; for if ou’ve aught against that
bruised and batter mass of flesh, Red Joaquin,
you are the friend of eve honest man in the
camp," swiftly avowed Hig -Card Hank, mov-
ing orward a trifle, an unctuous smile upon his
usually cold, impassive countenance. “ And if
he is really Captain Trackless, the mountain
bandit, as you have charged, I am equally sure
that he has ‘ held up ’ his last victim: for wild
as is Chispa Can on, the common law of the
Territory has fa thful representatives in Our

Constabulary—not to mention good Judge
Lynch." .
Fi htin Frank lowered his revolvers, but

war! y he (1 One in readiness for a snap-shot
from the hip. He knew full well the unsavor
re utation of the Canyonites—that fair wor 3
might cloak dark pur . Crafty as the sport
of the House of Gold might be. the young plains-
man was his match in so tlety.

“ Ther youn lady lrin doubtless prove ther.
truth ov w’at We said,’_’ the latter remarked,
carelessly, yet with his piercmg hazel eyes look-
ing straight into the treacherous orbs of the
gambler. ‘ ' .

“That I can,” promptly affirmed the girl,
over the shoulder of her fearless young protec-
tor. “The big fellow on the floor is assured]
the leader of'the band who attacked my fathei
outfit this morning, although he was not With
them at the time.”

Hi h-Cal‘d Hank bowed cfl‘usively, and said:

“ our lightest word, lady, Would he amply
sufficient to convict the scouiidrel of any crime,
in our eyes, eVun though he had been our warm— .
est friend.

 

'4 Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow.

 

 

“ But you speak of your father’s outfit having
been attacked—”

“ I’ermir me ter explain,” the Featherweight
bruawiely inter late .

eek ago was hired ter ide ther outfit
ov Mr. Carleton Osman from galolden City ter
ther camp ov Nowhar. Ther party was made
up ov Osman, his darter b er, myself an’ a
dark known as Belzy Golig tly. “'e reached
ther ig Gap down ther trail last night an’ (19-
cided ter make camp thar. Jest afore ( aylight
we war attacked, ther anuimiles stampeded an’
Miss Aurelia hyar stolen. all in ther twinklin’
ov an eye.

“ Golightly-war staudin’ guard at ther time
fer we knowed we war cluss upon thei stampinl
ground ov Cap’n Trackless nn' his Tigers ov
ther Trail; but ther bedizzened hellyons war too
much for ther Coon, an’ they smote us hard,
tho’ I did skotch Bunco Ben, ther gang’s leften-
ant—skotched ’im bad; but he got off.

“ VV‘en we kem ter figger 'out ther damage
a’ter ther scrimmage, we found that Miss Osman
lied bin- captured, ther nigger an’ ther rest ov
ther stock stainpeded. But as soon as day broke
Osman an’ mySelt lifted ther trail ov ther var-
lets nn’ held it so cluss thet we hole! ’em jest
afore, sunset. An: w‘ile l hustled down inter
camp u’ter help, he’s bin keepin’ his eye on ther
Tigers’ lay-out.

“Yo kin imagine mys’prise at findin’ Miss
Osman hyar; we war dead sart’iu she’d bin car-
ried tcr Cap’n Trueklcss’s lair.”

“And so I was,” declared the girl quickly.
“ 'then we reached the camp up in the hills,
about an hour before sunset, Bunco Ben was
given a note by the sentry in charge of the
place. The result was that with two picked
men he left camp, after having given orders
that I was to be taken at once to. Captain
Trackless.”

“ And that order was obeyed?” quered High-
(kird Hank.

“ It was.”

“ And so you are sure that this senseless clod
is none other than the redoubtable 'I‘rackless?”

“ Quite sure; he is the person to whom I was
taken by the agent of Bunco Ben.”

“ Was the captain at the camp?” further in-
quired the sport.

.“ No—yes! I hardly know,” and the girl
paused, a puzzled ex )ression stealing over hei
f nee. “ I was blindfo ded, and, while We walked
a considerable distance, it seemed to me that we
had been going in a circle. When the bandage
was taken from my eyes, we were in a large
cavern, and before us was a man whose face
was cl'incenled by a mask. The place was so
dark that I could just distinguish his outlines.

“ When the n gent 0f Bunco Ben had departed,
the masked outlaw attempted to question me
concerning my past life, and other things. Nat-
urally, I refused to reply to his questions, and
after a few minutes my eyes were again ban-
dazed and we left the cavern.

“After a walk of two hours or more, the
outlaw announced that we had reached the out-
skirts of Chispa Canyon, and, after cautioninr,r
me to keep a still tongue, uncovered my eyes
and removed his mask.’ .

“ Then, to my mind, it is settled beyond aper-
adventure that the fellow is real! and trul the
notorious mountain bandit.” ( eclared igh-
Card Hank, without a moment‘s hesitation,
When Aurelia Osman had ended.

“ And now, my dear young lady, permit me
to conduct you to quarters more befitting one of
your sex than is this rude place.”

Her face flushing slightly, Aurelia Osman
coyly placed her hand upon the arm of the
Featherweight, and responded:

“Put; yourself to no ineonv nience on my
account. This gentleman—Mr. ayne—will act
as my escort.”

Acquiescing, with his accustomed grace and
ease, to this decision of the girl, but mentally
cursing the dangerously handsome young guide,
the gambler went on to say:

“ Before you go, Miss Osman, I trust you will

rmir- me to offer an explanation of certain
filings that have he. pened here in the ast
hour, for I do not wis to have you raga me
as an utter barbarian. In the absence of
Marshal Buckshot from the camp, it was an
impossibility to check the high-handed proceed-
ings of Red J oaqui u, or Captain Trackless, save
by force of arms—and then he would have
slain you rather than have yielded you up.
Knowing this I was from the first determined
{zibuyr-or, better, ransom—you from his vil-

in—

A sudden uproar abruptly checked the utter-
ance of further words.

SeVeral of the more curious of the roughs and

 

toufihs assembled in the gambling-hell had
at ered around the prostrate form of Red

oaquin. At the point where the hiatus occur-
red in the speech of High-Card Hank, the giant
outlaw had suddenly and without an instant’s
warning sprung to his feet, gripping in each
hand a eveled weapon, and sending back pell-
mell the astounded throng.

But, stran est and most startling of all, the
long, matte beard and the shock of red hair
had fallen from his face and head, revealing
the strange, homely and deeply-bronzed features
of a man of five-and-tifty years!

Amoment, the sport of the House of Gold
stood like one electrified.

“One thousand dollars for him, dead or
alive!” he shouted, suddenly springing for-

ward.

“ Kill him!”

“ ’Rah fur Jedge Lynch 1"

“Hang ther dorg!”

And a full score other such shouts went up,
filling the gambling-hell With wildest confu-
8101).

“Stand back! don’t crowd me, ye hounds!
One at a time, an’ I’ll take a regiment of sech
as ye!” enunciated the imperiled giant, in
slow, steady accents, his black eyes flashing,
the muzzles of his revolvers shifting so that
they covered each and all of the clamorers for
his blood.

Meanwhile, Fighting Frank had remained
like one dazed, staring hard at the partially
metamorphosed giant; but us the latter ceased
speaking, the youth clutched the arm of his fair
companion, and in a voice low and hoarse ex-
claimed:

“ By ther Lord 0v Israel! I know that voice
-—I know that face! It is—it is— By heavens!
it is Old Buckeye—an’ a whiter man never
drew a bead !”

And, as if for the time totally oblivious of all
else than the danger menacing the giant, the
Featherweight sprung forward, drawing his
Wea ms and shouting:

“ ack—back! all ov ye! This man is not
Captain Trackless l”

‘ Right gamecock; and, because he is not
Captain reckless, he must die I ” came in deep,
powarful tones from the doorway, as, across
the threshold, strodea masked man of herculean
build, carrying in each hand a. cocked “ six,” up
and ready.

“ Know ye, that I am Captain Trackless. the
Terror of the Trail, and with my Tigers I am
here for blood 1”

True enough; following like shadows in his
footprints came a full half-score men, each and
all masked and heavily armed!

Upon this sudden and wholly unexpected ap-

arance of the notorious freebooter and his
followers, there was scarcely a man in the
House of Gold but felt a thrill akin to terror.

The Tigers of the Trail, as the outlaw clan
had come to be known in the brief time they
had made their headquarters in the camp’s
vicinity, were noted as the most to be dreaded
of mountain banditti.

There were those among the denizens of
Chispa Canyon who had often predicted a de-
sceu just such as the present one; and, now
that it had come, the wilder and more reckless
characters of the camp, who had scoffed at the

'idea as absurd, stood to all appearances dazed

and stupefied in the face of their peril.

High-Card Hank alone of the Canyonites wit-
nessed the advent of the robber band with un-
wavering composure. His white face wore an
icy smile—a smile that boded a. coming storm.

Scarcely had the Giant. Freebooter and his
men halted in a. half-circle just within the door,
covet-inn with their weapons all within the
House 9 Gold, when the nervy little gambler,
advancing a trifle, nodded shortly, and .in tones
of utter contempt demanded: .

“ What is it you felloWS want?”

Captain Trackless laughed—an odd, unpleas-
ant sound. dry and harsh. .

“Don’t know what it is we don’t want,” he
re lied. “But 'ust now there are three things
w ich we wan worse than we do all things
else.”

“ Well, go on.”

“First, this girl here.”

“Ah! Go on.”

“ Then this cursed man-hunter who has been
masquerading as Ca tain Trackless, Old Buck—
e e—or the Sierra 8 euth, as he is better known.

want him, above all.”

The deep tones of the treebooter chief fairly
rankled with ferocity, and his dark orbs blazed
fitfully thrfigfih the eyelets of his mask as he
bent upon Joaquin a steadfast stare. .

The gambler started. For a fleeting instant

 

his expressiOn was that of one confronted by an
apparition.

“"A detective—the Sierra Sleuth! Pshaw! Go
on . -

The last two words were in a hard, strained,
unnatural voice. The others were barely audible.
Under circumstances a trifle less trying, it
would have been apparent to all that the s ort
of the House of Gold had become strangely ill at
ease at the mention of the presence of a detective
by Captain Truckless.”

“ Last of all, every ounce of yellow dust that
can be raked up in Chispa Canyon,” concluded
the giant robber.

“ And. is that all?” in a far-fetched attempt at
jocularity.

“ That is all,” grimly.

“ And what if We resist?”

“ We’ll turn the camp into a boneyard.”

Again High-Card Hank started sharply, the
evil smile dying on his white face, and stared
straight ahead, his cat-like eyes fixed on the
doorway beyond the Tigers of the Trail.

And, what was yet more remarkable, Fight-
ing Frank, Aurelia Osman and Old Buckeye, at
the same instant peered hard in the direction of
the door, each and all betraying signs of uneasi-

ess.

“ Merciful heavens! we are lost I”

The words burst from the lips of Aurelia 05-
man with a harsh, gasping sound, ending in a
wild shriek. Her face as colorless as ashes, her
magnificent black eyes filled with a li rht akin
to terror, she reeled blindly, then ung her
hands aloft and fell to the floor in a dead faint.

Ere her startling words were fully uttered
High-Card Hank, whose eyes had not wavered
in their fixed stare, flung his revolvers to a dead
level and fired once—twice—thrice, with light-
ning-like swiftness.

A sardonic laugh was the answer; then came
the words:

“ Don’t waste your powder, dear brother;
you will need it for foes far worse than I!

“ But what means this strange scene? Can it
be that the fabled Greeks have met and the tug
of war is on, or—- Furies! it is my old friend,
that paragon of virtue, Captain Trackless!

“ Now, lay on Macdufl‘.’ ”

There could be no mistaking that cold, clear
voice. The speaker was Ma'or Cool, the lone
rider of the trail. He sto just, within the
shades of the House of Gold, a Self-cocking re-
volver in each jeweled hand, a half-smile upon
his mustached lips, a strange light scintillating
in his big blue eyes.

With the last Word, one of his weapons cracked.
Ere the report had died away, it was swallowed
up in the dull, heavy roar of a volley.

Thelnghts of the gambling-hell flickered, then
expired, leaving the place as black as Erebus
and filled with the grim horrors of a bloody
hand-to-hand conflict.

CHAPTER III.
THE GIANT SPY or PILGRIM’S PATH.

LITTLE more than a mere pocket in the giant
hills was the site of Chispa Canyon, the camp
being erched on a V-shaped bench, or terrace,
near t 6 base of a towering crag, at the inter-
section of two converging canyons, kn0wn to the

old-seekers as the “ Pilgrim’s Path ” and the-
‘ Devil’s Lane,” respectively.

Down each of these gorges rushed a narrow
stream to a confluence immediately below the
cam , whence rolled a small river to the south-
war through the rock-walled pass formed by
the union of the canyons. V

Up this pass, wound a narrow, tortuous trail,
crossing over a bridge of timber the Pilgrim‘s
Path, entering Chispa Canyon and ending at
the doorway of a large rambling frame struc-
ture, the sign-board of which announced:

“ PEG-LEG PETE'S LAY-OUT!
“BAR AND BOARD.
“Drop in. Bet Y ’ur Shirt 'Unkle Peg Wul
Treat Yur Rite I”

Adjoining Peg-Leg Pete’s Lay-out on the north
was the long, flat-roofed building occupied by
the saloon and gambling-hell known as the
House of Gold, while facmg the Lamar and not
more than a dozen paces distant a rival concern
had been thrown up. with the announcement
that it would be called the Gold Bug. and would

be open for business as soon as the proprietor r

had arrived. \

Beyond these three institutions, on the gradu-
ally widening terrace were a considerable num-
ber of tents and slab shanties, while in the
shadow of the rising rocks at the northern
boundary of the cam were several Malay-11$

Saloons, dance-ha and gaman -h

 

*w’ _ “Meg... :. .-I:.‘ ....

 

 

 

4;-

--- MAW ;.._

< my... . ,2. a.

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01d Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow.

5

 

 

 

abounded, and, as has been intimated in the
foregoing chapters, the denizens of the camp,
considered collectively, were a “ hard crowd."

At an earl hour of the day preceding the
night on whic Ma 'or Cool made his appearance
in Chispa Canyon, igh-Card Hank might have
been seen in the doorway of the House of Gold,
roughly garbed and armed with a Winchester,
revolvers and bowie-knife, as if intent on a
scramble for game among the wooded fastnesses
of the surrounding crags.

After a quiet but thoroughly searching survey
of his surroundings, he sallied forth, crossing
the bridge over the turbulent, rushing waters
and laying his course to the northwest along the
eastern side of the Pilgrim’s Path.

A thousand yards from the camp, at an abrupt
bend in his Winding pathway, the crafty sport
ensconced himself snugly behind a bowlder
whence, for full twenty minutes, he scanne<
with cat-like patience all that was visible of the
distance be had just traVersed.

No sign of life—no trace of a shadow on his
trail could he discover, and witha grim smile
he resumed his way.

Another thousand yards, and again he halted,
going through preCisely the same maneuvers
with like fruitless results.

“ Oh. it’s a thousand to one that this haunting
fear of mine is groundless,” he assured himself,
as he turned into a narrow ravine running at
right angles to the great gorge. “ We have
been too cautious for even the most patient and
cunning detective spy, and I haven’t the re«
motest doubt that our. plot will be a golden suc-
cessl’

Yet subtle as was the sport of the House of
Gold, he was at that moment overmatched by
the superior artfulness of the unseen enemy at
whom he had just hinted. '

Far up on the opposite side of the Pilgrim’s
Path a spur, or arm, of barren rock—in shape
not unlike a huge doruier- window, save that its
top was flat—— rojected froin the face of the ac-
clivity, direc y cpposite to the mouth of the rav-
ine into which the gambler had turned.

At the outer edge of the table-like top of this
elevated projection, 1 ing face downward, was
a man—a gigantic fel ow—provided with a pow-
erful pocket telescope, through which he was
notin each move of HighCard Hank.

Em ioldened by a feeling of perfect security,
the gambler pushed rapidly up the ravine for a
distance of three or four hundred ards, when
his further progress was checked y a wall of
solid rock. V

Then forth froma niche in the walls of the
natural cul-de—sac stepped a man—an exact
counterpart of the giant spy of Pilgrim’s Path;
a man of Herculean build and evil visage—in
brief, the mountain tramp and vagabond, Red
Joaquin!

But, strongly enough, the distortion of neck
and shoulders, which so horribly marred the
symmetry of his appearance when he appeared
in Chispa Can on was not now apparent.

“Helix”. he! 0! it is you, captain!” ejaculated
High-Card Hunk. repressing a nervous start at
the sudden appearance of the red-headed Her-
cu es.

“Oh! yes,” sneered the latter. “I’ve been in
waiting a half-hour. Hope I haven’t hurried

ou! -

“ Not at all,” coolly retorted the gambler, as
he sought a Seat commanding a View of .the
length of the ravine. “ But, I say, captain-—
what is that .flashin in the sun’s rays, up yon~
der, on the Side of i1 m’s Path?”

Red Joaquin star upward a moment, then
uttered an oath.

“ 0b! a Gatling sup—the when of a cavalry
company or something of the sort, I reckon,’
he repli , with a gesture 0f Impatience. Then,
abruptly:

“ A runner from Bunco Ben reached camp at
daybreak.”

The gambler started to his feet-

‘tThen_” .

“ ‘ We have met the enemy. “Pd they are ours,’
to use a familiar quotation, ’ continued Red
JoatLuin, watching his unscrupulqigs confrere
muc as a cat watches a mouse. Bunco Ben
and a picked party of seven have to three
days been lying in wait at the Bit.r 8p for
ffiirlgton Osman s outfit. At daybreak the blow

e .

" They secured the girl?”

“ Yes—that is, it is reasonable to suppose they
did. As soon as the outfit made camp at the
’ Ga , Ben sent back Monte Jack, saying the at-
tac would be made an hour before day.”

“ Why the delay?”

An ugly smile crossed the face of the giant.
“ Bunco Ben is a gentleman with along head,”

 

 

he affirmed, by way of reply. “ It seems that
he recognized in Osman’s guide one Fi hting
Frank, a youngtplainsman known from t e Rio
Grande to the ed River of the North as a bad
citizen to monkey with. Naturally, Ben ar-
ranged the attack to catch the young gentleman
iia ping, if pOssible."

El‘Sllllllng his seat, High-Card Hank beat
an impatient tattoo on the rock with his flu-
gers.

“ I don’t feel easy in the matter, at all,” be de-
clared. “ How many were in the Osman
part ’9‘”

“ our—the irl and three men.”

“ Oh! that is etter. Your Tigers would hard-
ly have failed.”

“They did not fail—they never do,” quietly
affirmed the iant.

“ You will irizig the girl into camp to-nightf”

Red Joaquin uttered a mocking laugh.

“ Oh! yes, certainly—after the stipulations of
our compact have been fully complied with,” he
said. “ I suppose you came with your pockets
lined?”

“ 1 can assure you I did nothinrr of the kind,”
responded the gambler. a provoking smile 'ust
showing on his white face. “I can‘t thin of
honor in connection with thieves. Deliver the
goods and the dustis yours.”

A dark scowl betrayed the ill-humor of the

giant.

“ Fetch the girl into Chispa Canyon and there
turn her over to you! Seebere,Paul Parker-
ton, do you consider me a fool—a blooming
idiot? I ll admit they’re a bad lot down in the
Canyon, but don‘t you get it into your head
that they’d submit to that a moment! No—”

“ Don t make an ass of ourself, Red,” inter-
rupted the gambler in Si! en tones, a greenish
glint in his treacherous, cat-like orbs, as he
lifted his long forefinger warningly; “ and don’t
you mention any names. Just bring the girl to
the House of Gold to—night, and offer her to the
highest bidder. No one et dreams that Red
Joaquin and Captain Trac less are one and the
same, and after to-night the-dual character is
useless. B this means you will get your coin—
] shall pul the wool over many a pair sharp
8 es. -

y“ You mean to—-"

“ I mean to buy the girl her liberty!"

“ Ohol obo!” uttered the giant musingly.
“My skull is thicker than yours, but I see your
game now. Be it as you say: but remember—a
sign of treachery, and your life shall pay the
forfeit,"

“ Look to yourself,” coolly retorted the gam-
bler, with a scornful wave of his hand. “ And
while you are at it, don't forget the good health
of MaJor Cool.”

A curt nod from Red Joaquin, and then the
two men separated, the gambler retraciii his
steps down the ravine, while the iant disap-
peared within the niche from which 8 bad step-
ped to meet his allly.

A craft smile it up the face of High-Card
Hank. eoccupied with his villainous plots
into his subtle brain there crept no second
thought of the suspicious flash he had noted on
the opposite 810pe of the Pilgrim‘s Path—the
gleam of the sun’s rays upon the telescope of the
giant spy. v

Meanwhile, Red Joaquin, or Captain Track-
lem, his red-bearded face convulsed with rage
now that he was free from observation, peered
forth from the niche at his retreating confrere,
and uttered a savage anathema.

“Curse you, Paul Parkcrton,” he enunciated
in low, deep tones, shaking his clinched hand at
the receding gambler. “ Curse you! you are
plagring your hand well in this game for beauty
am ducats. but you are playing to ose.

“ Go on-capture the fancy of th s unsuspect-
ing girl, marry her—and fin yourself foiled!

“ Ohol you are deep, and {on are crafty, and
you are hands0me, but in t is royal game in
which hearts are to be the trumps and the
stakes countless thousands, you have met your
match and your ruin in a hunted wretch whom
you would use as cat‘s-paw to rake your golden
acorns from the fire!

“Go on! go on. Paul Parkerton, with your
plotting and your scheming, but the boarded
wealth of Ezra. the M18613 18 not for you nor
the bride you seek! .Ah. no! ah, no! It is for
one fairer, who With it shall be mine!”

A hoarse, (‘hUCklmgv laugh, indescribably
Chilling, followed the lmpetuous and at times
almost incoherent WONIS. and with a strange
glow in the depths of his usually slumbrous
black eyes the giant dcsperado glared around
lik'leba madman. t 1 ed

en, abruptly 8 Cop ng, he gra the 88
of a large flat stone, which he dresvgethside, re-

 

vealing a dark cavornous o ning, A stron
ladder led into the gloomy epths below, an ,
securing a foothold on its rungs, the iant out-
law lowered the stone carefully into p ace.

A narrow rock-walled passage sloped down-
ward some fty feet from the foot of the ladder,
then turned at right an iles and led out into a
large, dry cavern ere the giant outlaw
halted, his brows knit in thought.

A rloomy place, at first glance, yet one which
had ‘been rendered passably comfortable, in a
rude way, as a habitation, was this cavern. At
one side was a couch of skins, while twenty feet
beyond, on a terrace just outside the cave, a
burly negro was busily engaged over a camp-
fire, filling the place with the appetizing odors
of coffee and broiling steaks.

This terrace overlooked a picturesque, circu-
lar basin, some live or six acres in extent, and
dotted With a half-dozen dingy tents. A con-
siderable number of horses roamed here and
there, crepping the scant grass. About the
tents lounged a dozen men.

On every hand arose towering walls with here
and there a clump of undergrowth to break their
bleakness. There was no visible outlet to the
basin. It was a natural pocket.

The cavern and the basin were the respective
headquarters of Captain Trackless and his Tigers
of the Trail.

For full five minutes the outlaw chief stared
down at the pebbly floor in moody silence, his
face set and stem, his great bands tightly clinch-
ed. Then he strode across the cavern to a dark
recess, w. "nee he appeared a moment later,
clothed in :l. neat suit, of buckskin, but with his
red beard missing and the upper half of his face
concealed by a dark mask.

“Lark! A pint of coffee, black and strong
and hot,” and the giant sunk wearily upon the
edge of the couch.

The black cook quickly obeyed the rempo
tory order and brought the steaming co ee. '

After swallowing the beverage, the captain
hastily scrawled a message on a page torn from
ameinorandum-book, which he handed to the
negro, saying: '

“ Take this to Ugly Upton. Tell him it is to
be given to Bunco Ben as soon as he arrives in
camp.— And, mind you, Lurk, I am not to be
disturbed under an ' ordinary circumstances
until the boys get in from the Big Gap racket.
Do you understand?” '

T e black nodded, and, with the message, left
the cavern, dropping, as he missed out, a heavy
curtain across the opening on the terrace.

Alone, Captain "reckless threw himself on
the pile of skins. His appearance was that of a
man greatly exhausted, and Within five minutes
he had sunk into a deep sleep.

For hours he lay almost as one dead, then
awoke with a start, quiverin in every fiber, his
(lee set eyes fixed With a lig t akin to horror,
whi e a cold sweat exuded in great drops from
his forehead.

“ Only a dream—but the third time i” he mut-
tered. in a hoarse voice, as he struggled to his
feet and glared into the shadows of the sur-
rounding recesses, his broad palms nestlin close
upon the butts of his belted weapons. “ nd he
came, as before, trailing me step by step as the
sleuth-hound trails his prey.”

Utterly unnerved. he struck a match and
lighted a rude lamp, the garish light from
which, while serving partially to dispel the
gloom of the cavern. only deepened the darkness
of the many bran. hing passages.

Then stridin 09 the curtained outlet, he
slightly push undo the hanging folds and
peered forth.

“ N ight is near at hand,” he observed, speak-
ing aloud. “ Bunco Ben should be here with
the girl at an moment now. After that. one
bold stroke an the way to the ducats _of Ezra,
the Miser, is clear; for i shall take this girl to
the House of Gold, and there, as Red Jou uin
offer her for sale to the highest bidder. an
Parkerton will fall into my Well-laid trap to
forever after curse. his blind folly. Now to on
my disguise, for the hour is draWing near.”

roppiiig the curtain into place, the outlaw
chief turned and strode back into the cavern,
where he secured the lamp and retreated to the
recess in which he had divested himself of beard
and wig. ‘

When he reappeared, it was not as Captain
Trackless. The terribly twisted shoulders and
neck, the inflamed face and mottled red board,
were those of Red Joaquin. ,

Replacing the lamp on the narrow stone ledge
or shelf, the giant desperado was startled by a
significant cough directly behind him.

Swiftly he wheeled. his hands upon his re-
volvers.

  

 

 

6 Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow.

 

 

q

 

Facing him, a devilish smile on his bronred
face, his black eyes glowing with a wicked light,
was no less a personage than the giant spy of
Pilgrim’s Path!

In each hand was a revolver, the hammers
oscillating threateningly, the muzzles bearing
directly upon the heart of the entrapped road-
agent!

The Herculean splyI was the first to break the
oppressive silence. is tones were low, yet so
cold and penetrating that his auditor shivered.

“ Don’t stir cap’n—I’d hate ter waste a ca’t—
ridge,” he sai , his eyes fairly chilling Captain
Trackless, so full of deadly menace was their
hateful st re.

“ That dream—the Sierra Sleuth !” the latter
gasped, involuntarily shrinking back.

“ Ye know what brings me hyar?”

The road—agent (assayed to speak, but his
tongue failed Lim He simply shook his head
in the negative.

The denial added fuel to the flame of the
giant spy’s wrath. His glowing black eyes

'indled with a sudden blaze of rage.

“ Ye don’t know eh?” he grated, forcing the
Words with an ,efl’ort. “ Ye’ve forgotten ther
past, I s’pose—thet ye ever war Ezra Grim-
shawl”

“Forget nothing!” doggedly protested Ca
tain Ti‘uckless, a sudden drooping of his eyeli s
concealinrr a. crafty glitter deep in his piercing
orbs. “ remember on! too well Eylan Buck!
A thousand times have cursed the day I lifted
my hand against—”

“ No more ov thet—yer soul aire black enuff
’thout svch useless lies es thet I” sharply inter-
rupted the spy, moving forward a trifle. “ A
thief ma repent at the eleventh hour—you,
never! 6 hain’t built thet way, Ezra Grim-
sbaw. Yer father’s blood aire in yer veins!”

Despite himself, the road—agent shu‘ldered.
The voice of the man before him bespoke piti-
les's hatred.

“But a truce to thet ast—let us deal with
ther present,” continue( the giant spy, the
strains of his voice changing not a particle.
“Ye know that 1 bed sworn thcr oath, Ezra
Griinshaw—cs they died so shall ther light 0v
iyer mis’abel life go out. But, not now—not

yar; ye aire in disguise; ye mean mischief for

one who has never harmed ye—a young gal,
who bylaw has fallen heir ter thet which ye
vuinlyreddened yer hands with blood ter se-
cure—ther fortune ov Ezra, ther Miser.

“ Fer years that authorities hev s’arched for
her, high an’ low, an’ all thet time ye hev kept
trace ov her, knowin’ thet Carleton Osman, or
slipper] y Peter Dauthett, dare not present his

rter as the heiress, lest he suffer fur ther
crime you committed, waitin’ fur ther time ter
come when she c’u’d claim her own—claim it,
an es yer wife!

“ But thet day will never come, ye red-hand-
ed destroyer—never. W’ile ye hev bin trackin’
down this helpless gal, I’ve bin kee in’ tab on
you. No move of yours or ov Paul arkerton

er old-time ally. hes bin too deep fer me. I

now jest how ther game stands—how many
p’ints ye’ve scored, an how many tricks ye must
take ter wm.

“An’ from this hour until ther end ov ther
game ther real Ca ’u Trackless will be seen no
more. I, Old Buc ye, shall take his place and
plilzgy his hand I”

re the giant spy had ceased speaking, with 9.
might bound he covered the space between
himse f and the road-agent chief. The next in-
stant the latter lay unconscious on the cavern
floor, stricken down with a blow that would
have felled an ox.

CHAPTER IV.
GREEK Mun-rs GREEK.

THE House of Gold bid fair to become a. house
of death.

For a full minute following the volley
which so effectually extinguished the lights of
the place, naught could be heard but curses and

roans, and the mad hurryin and skurrying of
fiooted feet across the reugh oor. »

Then a shrill, penetrating Whistle rung out,
clear and distinct above the u roar; there was a
wild, irresistible rush for the oor, and the cries
Within were superseded by a series of trium-
phant yells from the streets of the camp.

“ Steady, parng now! Don’t waste your

wderl" cautioned igh-Card Hank, in tones

stinctly audible and recognizable throughout
the long room. “ The road-agents have gone—
let us count the cost!”

Even as he spoke, the iron-nerved little am-
bler, springin mihpon a few table, struc a
match, and lig a lamp._

His ‘ heelers,” taking their cue from his words,

 

had busied themselves in alike manner, and, as
a result, within two minutes after the cessation
of the thin , the House of Gold was sufficiently
well lighted to enable the surviving partic1pants
in the affray to note the results of the unexpect-
ed descent of Captain Trackless and his men.

Hi h-Card Hank, unscathed by lead or steel,
hasti y surveyed his surroundings, then with a
vigdictive oath, dropped lightly from the
ta 10.

Not without cost had been that fearful strug-
gle, brief as was its duration. Three men—-
Canyonites, one and all—lay lifeless, while the
floor ran red with the blood of the Wounded.

And that the road-agents had accomplished
the full measure of their nefarious work was
plainly evident.

Old Buckeye and Aurelia Osman had disap—
peared—spirited away, in all likelihood, by the
ruthless outlaws; nor was the young guide,
Fi hting Frank, anywhere to be seen.

Then, too, the money-drawers of the fare-
tables, and of the bar, at one side of the room,
had been broken open and rifled of every dol-
lar.

“ Curse the long-leggfd pirate!” savagely
gritted the gambler, as e noted in detail the

estruction wrought. “ Such a go-down as
this if oft/en repeated, would break the biggest
bank in existence.”

“A hard knock, hossfly! a hard knock! Had
you taken a friendly one, however, instead of
throwing your end around at random, we
might ’a’ floored thet gangling tough. Who
knows? But don’t fret a-tcething. Next—”

An oath, a snarl of rage, broke in on the
taunting, malicious strains, and the sport of the
House of Gold dashed forward, his hands seek-
ing the wea obs in his belt, his cat-like eyes
distorted an ablaze with murderous fury.

“ Now, don’t—don’t, I pray you! You forget
yourself—one short acquaintance won’t permit
such familiarity!”

Then—only a laugh, but infinitely more
maddening, then a blow: and High—Card Hank
reeled back, the picture of comniingled rage
and chagrin!

For facing him, and not more than three feet
distant, his elbows resting carelessly upon the
end of the bar, gripping in each hand a weapon
-—the identical tools used with such deadly ef-
fect beside the river a. short while before—
stood Major Cool, 3. half-earnest, half-jesting
expression on his face, a lau hing light in his
blue eyes, a smile of blende contempt and
amusement parting his thin red lips. ,

“ And this is the way you welcome a stranger
in camp!” he continued, not only scanning the
livid face of the sport but covertly watching
each move of the restless Canyomte beyond.
“ ’Pon my soul! it’s a. playful wa , but not cal-
culated to tech the festive ten erfoot in his
vital spot—his ket; but, for a rofessional
brother— Reminds me, that does, t at in view
of the present troubled condition of your affairs
I have been inexcusany careless in not intro-
ducin myself!

“ ajor G. Washington Cool, I am of the
new shebang—the Gold Bug. A thousand
apologies, dear ,boy, for havmg unwittingly
rifled your eider down!

“ Gentlemen, I believe nominations come
next in the order of business. John Barle corn
the choice, by acclamationl Barkeep , the
thirsty are with you. Will you do me the
honor?"

This last, with right hand extended, to High-
Card Hank. .

Lightly uttered throughout, but tin ed with
just a sus icion of gasquinade. had en his
words' and), as the t rong pushed toward the
bar, Major Cool with a sWift movement had re-
turned his revolvers to his belt, then carelessly
thrust his left hand into the side pocket of his
loose volvet jacket ere proffering the right to
his fellow gambler, '

An instant; the sport of the House of Gold, a
wolfish smile parting his lips, stared at him as
if doubting his sanity; then, a crafty glitter in
his cat-like orbs, his left hand resting snu l_y
upon a revolver in his belt, be extended :8
right hand to meet that of the ma'or, and step-
ped forward—only to stumble aw wardly, over
an overturned stool!

Simultaneously there came a sharp re rt, a
bitter, snarling curse from Hi h-Card ank, a
sardonic laugh from Major Coo 1

Then a panther-like leap. and the latter had
his back to the wall, his revolvers up and cover-
ing the startled crowd.

“ Once for all—is it peace, or war?” be de-
manded, his voice cold and ringing. “If it is
my blood you want. don’t beat the devil around
the stump, but say the word. You, High-Card

 

Hank—you it is I am talking to—after you, the
others!”

The little gambler, having recovered ,hh
equilibrium, stood starin down at the revolver
clutched inhis left han , apparently oblivious
to all else, an expression bordering consterna-
tion plainly noticeable on his pallid face.

At the words of the stranger Sport, he started
as if stung, thrust the weapon into his belt, and,
with a sw1ft, covert glance at the faces of the
Canyonites at the bar, turned slowly to meet
the bold challenge—to meet it with an urbane
smile!

“War? No, I thank you. major; it will be

ace first, last and all the time, if you please!”
ll: replied, extendin his hand as coolly as if
nothing had occurrefi to mar the serenity of the
occasion. “ We are strangers—why should we
be foes?”

An odd smile crossed the face of Major Cool.

“ True—Why should we?” be returned, again
putting away his weapons. “ That awkward
misstep of yours, resulting in the pulling of a,
‘ six,’ smacked of a hostile mare, and hence my
shot, aimed to cripple the action of your re—
volver. But—accidents will occur, you know.”

Then the hands of the two men met, not with
the hearty grasp of friends, but barely touch—
ing, as if each knew he was crossing palms with
a deadly, secret foe.

“ A deuced fine shot it was, too, though my

hand got the benefit of adozen spotters from ,

your bullet," observed High-Card Hank, with a
rueful look, as he held up to view the injured
member. “Only barked a little, you see; but;
the first sensation was far from pleasant.

“However, major, no blame can attach to
you in the matter—it was my own cursed awk—
wardness; I was rattled by the unexpected ap—
pearance of Captain Ti'ackless anti his Tigers,
and, with all my hon: ted coolness, was fool
enough to completely lose my head.

“ Then, too, at first glance, you bore such a
striking resemblance to an old enemy of mine
that I was morally sure it was shoot. or be shot;
but with the light full on your face, I can see
that you are not he, and— Well, suppose we
drown the whole miserable affair?” ,

“ With all my heart,” readily acquiesced the
stranger sport, \\ ith an airy ll( .

And arm-in-arm the two men walked over to
the bar, High-Card Hank mentally vowing the
reckless adventurer should not live to witness
the rising of another sun, Major Cool covertly
alert fora sign of treachery—both outwardly
smiling and wholly at ease.

And that it was diamond cut diamond, was
shown in a startling manner ere the night’s
dark pall lifted before the sun of the coming

day.

“Hello! hello! Is the Old Scratch to pa —-
or has the gentleman vulgarlv known as im
Jams captured the outfit? ’Pon me soul! it
must be one or the other—perhaps both 1”

Major Cool again. He stood just within the
door of Peg-Leg Pete’s Lay-out, a cynical smile
on his handsome face, his eyes sparkling suspi—
ciously. _ . .

The rapidly filling bar-room was in a turmofl
of excitement, and ‘Uncle Peg,” as mine host
of the hostelry was popularly known, was the
central figure of the huhbub. . _

In his accustomed place behind the bar. his
usually rubicund visage all aglow, his gray e es
snapping furiously. he stood, for once since is
appearance in the Canyon roused from apathy
bordering stupidity. _ _

On a narrow shelf immediately behind him
layaWincheste'.‘ rifle. while the broad girdle
about his Falstaflian middle fairly bristled with
side-arms.

And to this latter fact could be attributed no
little of the prevailing confusion; for it was a
decided innovation, in that never before had the
jovial boniface appeared in public in better
array. , _

Then, too, it smacked of the ridiculous, as it
was current report that Peg-Leg Pete wasn’t
much of a marksman—the poorest in the camp,
in fact, so far as was known. But, in pinning
their faith to mere hearsay, the Canyonites, the
seguel showed, Were “ going it blind.”

Yer needn’t laugh, pards; et aire gospel]
aire slingin’ ye—thet’s w’oti” he vomferated, as
Major Cool pushed through the rou h throng
and secured a position near the end 0 the bar.
“ Ye kin snicker at these hyar tools an’ be derned
ter ye; but I’m goin’ for use ’em—see ef I
don’t!” .

“ You! Ye c’u’dn’t hit ther side ov a barn
—’le83tg'e war shet up inside!” came a vmce
from e crowd, Whereat there was a general

 

laugh. “ But, hones‘ly, Pete—w’at on airth hes
‘ i

 

 

 

/

' m..—z;,.mm._s;_- s_-__._...

01d Buckeye, the Sierra ShadOw. 7

 

 

bruck loose anyhow? They tell me es how
Cup’n Trackless didn’t fergit yer place ter-
ni ht. Ef—”

‘ Thet‘s w’at! ’Nuf! Bed, Sol! Ther berderned
hellyun tried for kidnap my dartcr J” and Pete
Grattan’s podgy fist descended with thunderous
force upon the bar, causing bottles and glasses
to dance and jingle to the verge of demolition.

“Kidna yer gal!”

The exc amation burst simultaneously from
a. half-score throats, and as many bronzed hands
involuntarily sought revolver butts.

“Thet’s w’at! Fill up, everybody, an’ I’ll
crate ther sarcumstances. Eh, stranger—cigar?
Say, Gold—Bu sport, hain’t ye? Good ’nuff;
shake 1. new earn ov ye tor-night. Reckon
ye"ll do, too."

And supplying the wants of Major Cool, the
exci boniface gulped down a glass of raw
whisky, then with renewed nimbleness of tongue
launched forth:

“ Et’s a derned shame, gen’lemen. thet a purt
leetle gal sh’u'd be picked up es a. victim f'er sec 1
a bandy-shanked, up-endcd sarpent ov sin an’
dece tion es that ’ar mountain thief, Cap’n
Tran: dress: but sech war ther case, an’ ef my gal
Leela hedn’t ’a’ bin a giiiuine chip off ov her
pairental pap—w’ich same is me—she’d ’a’ bin
toted off this night. Thet’s w’ot!

“See ther blood on ther floor? We], w’en
ther rumpus bruck out at High-Card Hank’s
place, like a rip-roarin’ ole fool, I piked out.
cur’us es a Yankee ter see ther fracas, leavin’
ther Lay-out in ther han’s ov my lectle gal.

"' An’ w’en I got back, w’at did I find? Two
ov Cap’n Trackless‘s kiotcs kickin’ thcir l-ist,
drilled thro’ an’ thro’! Aii’ ther gal steed right
hyar, carm es a May niornin’, her guns still
a-smokin’ l

“Thet’s w’at, gen’lcnicn! VV’ile I war out.
two ov ther masked devils hed sneaked in 1111'
tried tor steal Leola~on’y tor hev their lights
snuffed out uicker’n flash-lightning! Jes’—-”

“ Three c eers fer ther gal—Leela, ther
queen—~” ‘

Crack—crack! The two reports stung sibil-
antly through the bar-room, checking the bel-
lowing Words of the tough-and wringing from
him a bowl of pain. ‘

“ You, Ciniarron Jack !—dare you utter my
daughter‘s name again. and your life—not your
ears—shall pay the forfeit! Go, and never again
cross the threshold of Peter Gratuiu!”

Thus spoke Uncle Peg, his voice loud and
strained with intense passion, as the smoke
curled lazily up from the muzzles of his weapons.

The crowd parted right and left. Simultane—
ously, Cimarron Jack shot out the door, his
dusky face distorted with rage and aim, a tiny
:tretlim of blool trickling down eac side of his

ear .

“ We’ll declare that n’int settled ’thout further
argyment,” grimly 11 .red the boniface the
wrathful glow leaving his countenance with the
hurried departure of the rough. “ ’Tain’t often
I bubble over 'ith bile. but—ye all understand
ther sarcumstanoes? 0v course.

“Now ter get at this hyar leetle matterI
started ter tell ye about. Cap’n Trackless
failed in his attempt ag’in’ me an’ mine ter-
night. I shall go ’iin one better, of et takes my
other laig! At daybreak, ’ith apitked party,
I’m goin’ on ther war-path; an’ w’en we meet
ther fight will be Jedge Lynch versus ther
Tigers ov ther Trail! Thet’s w’ot!”

A buzz of excitement followed Uncle Peg’s
warlike declaration.

“Say the word, old man. and I am 'with
YOU,”S&id Mar)" C001, quietly. “I owe this
Captain Track ess one, and it inightn’t be a bad
idea to join forces.”

“Putt ’er thar .rdl”and Grattan enthusi-
astically extended is broad lpalm. Then with
a mysterious look be lowered is voice and Went
on hurriedly: “ Make an excuse jest soon es ye
kin an’ go through ther _hall ter ther second
door, an’ thar knock thCB- I’m puttin’ my
trust in ye esa white man, DOW. My darter
wishes tar see yel” .

The adventurer repressed a slight start. and
benta uick half~suspici0uS at Grattan’s honest

an wit out apparent hesitation he replied:

“ I will go, and at once.”

Leavin the bar-room, he strode along the
rude ball, pausing at the second door, where in
accordance with the landlord’s instructions he
rapped twice.

a moment, then his quick ear detected the
faint rustlingl of feminine garments. A key
clicked in the ock, and the door swung open.

Major Cool stood spell-bound.

Could this. radiant being confronting him
have anght in common with burly, uncouth
Peter Grattan, the landlord of the Lay-out?

 

“ You are Major Cool?”

" I am Major Cool, Miss Grattan,” and the
bowildered sport awkwardly lifted his hat.

“Walk in; be seated—I will detain you but a
moment,” said the landlord’s daughter earnest-
] . and as Major Cool complied she closed the

cor.

“ You have enemies in Chispa Canyon t"

“ It is my fate, lady, to make enemies wher-
ever I go.”

The next instant the adventurer bit his lip in
vexafion. A look of suspicion—almost of
alarm—had crossed the face of Leola Graftan.
Her dark eyes dilated a trifle. With a strange
quiVPr in her sweet voice, she said: ,

“ Make enemies? You must be a de——”

“ A free-lance, Miss Grattan,” cut in the
major with an easy bow. “ Here to-day, there
to—morrow—pretty near white, and fairly over—
flowing with the milk of human kindness. And
it is my misfortune, in helping the weaker, to
incur the cnniity of the stronger.”

“ True,” assented the girl; “I have seen
enough of mining-camp life to understand that
such may often be the case.

“But in the present instance, your enemies
are not of the class you mention. They are
men inimical to you because of the prominence
you are likely to assume in the practice of—of—
your profession, shall I call it?”

“ Profession be it,” and the sport smiled
blandly.

“Well, the gambler known as High Card
Hank is the arch—spirit among these parties,
and, at his instigation, it has been decreed that
you must die!”

An odd smile curled the lips of the adven-
turer. His blue eyes narrow y yet unobtru-
sively swept the pallid face of the girl.

“ How know you this?” he. asked.

“I I overheard the plot betWecn Cimarron Jack
an: »-”

Leela Grattan paused abruptly, bending her
head in a listening attitude.

“ I was sure I heard a stealthy st» in ilic
hall,” she observed, a peculiar light spar 'ling in
her dark eyes.

Just then came a she rap. Crossing the
room. the landlord’s daugli 1' opened the door.
The lights in the hallway had been extinguished.
On the threshold stood a masked man!

Major Cool leaped to his feet, his hands drop-
ping to his weapons.

Too late; a strong arm encircled the waist of
the girl, lifting her swiftly through the door-
way. At the same instant a round missile, with
hissing fuse attached, hurtled through space,
straight at the breast of the sport.

A swift rush of feet along the hall, a piercing
scream, and then a terrific explosion shook the
building!

 

CHAPTER V.
BUNCO BEN scones A POINT.

“ MERCIFUL heavens! we are lost!”

With the ringing forth of that wild cry from
the lips of Aurelia ()sman, Fighting Frank, the
young guide, swung around like one electrified—
only to see his fair profegee drop inert and
senseless on the rough flow.

A iparently oblivious of all else that was tran-
spir ng around him—of High-Card Hank‘s rapid
firing, and the nonchalant utterances of Maj!"r
Cool—of the Canyonites‘ portentous mutterings,
and the leveled weapons of the Tigers of the
Trail—conscious only of the distress of the girl,
the Featherweight darted to her side: deter‘
mined to rescue her—to fight a way through
his surrounding perils, eyen at the risk of
death.

Lifting Miss Osman from the floor, and su
porting her with his right arm. the young suit e
nstlly surve ed his surroundings.

The next instant the sharp CWCk 0f Major
Cool's weapon rung through the room. to be
swiftly followed by the volley which left the
ill-starred place enshrouded in the blackest

loom.
g But, brief as had been the time left the daunt-
less youth in which to choose his course, he had
noted well his surroundings, and the pal] of
darkness was an aid rather than a detriment to
his lans.

T at escape by the entrance in front was im—
possible, had been apparent at a glance. Only
one other avenue Offered itself—a narrow door
at the rear of the room; and toward this Fight.
int: Frank stole with catlike tread, his quick enl‘
no ing each varVPlf: base of the conflict raging
in the gloom behind im.

odd he not been burdened with the respon-
sibility of getting Aurelia Osman safely away,
nothing just then could have yielded him a

 

greater degree of satisfaction than to have turn-
ed and jomed hands with the redoubtable Old
lBuckeye against the notorious Captain Track-
em.

For these two, the giant ranger and the
Featherweight, were sworn friends—had battled
side by side on more than one eventful occasion
against their common foes, outlaws and red-
skins.

Theii too, the evil eye of road-agent chief
had fallen covetously upon Aurelia Osman—a
fact in itself amply sufficient to arouse the
deadliest enmity of the girl’s devoted champion.

And, vividly recalling in the brief space of
time occupied in traversing the distance to the
rear door, the startling words uttered l- his
profegcc at sight of Major Cool, Fighting rank
mentally set it down that this handsome ad-
ventiircr, too, was in some way inimical to
Carleton Osman and his daughter—a conclusion
which instantly put the nmflor beyond the pull
of the young guide’s friends ip.

Arrived at the door the Featherweight halted,
bending his head to listen.

A stealthy footfall at a few paces distant
proved the precaution Well taken. He had been
followed.

Quickly but stealthin his hand sought the
fastenings of the door—a heavy wooden bur.
resting in strong sockets; l-ut tug as he might at
the barricade, yield it would not.

Meanwhile the pantherish footf'alls drew dan-
gerously near, and it was apparcnt that no
fewer than four men were groping about in
search of the Featherweight and his fair charge,
and that each and all were making the door
their objective point.

Fighting Frank realized that there was not
an instant’s time to lose. These fellows could
have but. one ob'cct in crce iing upon him—mur-
der. and the ab iictiozi of' iss Osman.

Gliding a short distance away from the door,
the young scout deposited his helpless burden
on the floor, close against the wall. Then he
turned. each hand clasping the-butt of a heavy
revolver, a fierce sparkle in his bright hazel
eyes boiling ill to the assassins of’ the Can on.

Locating his enemicsiis nearly as possible in
the darkness, the Featherweight swiftly glided
forward. The next moment a heavy dull re-
port ruiig out, clear and distinct a iovo the
firing at the opposite end of the room. A stifled
oath, the sound of a body falling heavily to the
floor, and then—

Crack—crack—cracki

A regular fusiladc. of pistol-shots, as the young
guide whirled hither and thither—now here,
then there: and, crc the smoke had ceased to
curl from the niuzzlcs of his revolvers, he had
retreated as silently as he had advanced.

Again his hands sought the bar. A mighty
effort, and it yielded, allowing the door to swing
inward upon its hinges.

“ Quick—perils! quick l—f'er ther—ther—”

The broken utterance ended in a hollow. gur-
gling sound. faint but chilling. The warning of
the wounded assassin had been checked by
death! I

Yet, a sWift rush of feet followed, showing
that the survivors Were on the alert, and des-
perately in earnest.

Followed, but too late! A dark shade loomed
up in the (likirway—Fighting Frank ,with Aurelia
Osman clasped in his arms!

For the bricfest measurable space of time, the
young guide stood‘at an e. uipoise. then shot out
with a long leap from t e solid threshold, to
whirl downward with fearful velocity through
space—down—down—the terrible descent ending
with a sullen splash far below!

“ Great God! by death swift an’ sure they hev
escaped us!” grated a cold . hard voice. “ Rustic,

ards, an’ dump thct stiff back thnr inter ther

evil’s Whirlpool artcr ’cm. then close an’ bar
ther door. for mum‘s ther word—‘twon’t do fer
ther boss for know how we failed !” '

“ Drnt it! it’s Yellow Dan w’ot’s got his fit ov
sickness this time,” cautiously declared a second
of the foiled assassins. “Lay a-hclt, pards, an’

uick—Cimarron Jack’s right. Dern me, of I
want enny hornets’ nest a-buzzin’ ’bout my
ears!”

A huddling together of the shadowy forms—a
8W1“. Silent march to the open door; then the
corpse of Yellow Dan hurtled down into the
yawning ab ss beyond the. threshold. The 6001‘
noiselesst c osed. the bar dropped back into its
socket, and the assassins skumed away in the
darkness, leaving Unsolved the mystery sur-
rounding the fatc of the gallant Featherweight
and his protegee.

Shift we now the scene from Chlflpa Canyon’s
confines to that lonesome spot on the river

 

 

8 01d Buckeye, the Sierra. Shadow.

 

 

at which Ma or Cool an hour before had met
and defeated unco Ben and his outlaw pards.

Silence once more brooded over the uncanny
spot, unbroken save by the swash and swirl of
the river’s wavelets—by the restless soughing of
the wind.

Near the water’s edge lay three figures, grim
and bloodstained, shrouded in d irkuess. The
one to the right and the one to the left were
rigil in death; but the central form writhed and
twisted in silent agony.

“ Be I in purgatory?" he muttered fiercely, in
a weak, scarcely audible voice. “ Caiu‘t be
thet; fer, Bunco Ben, ye hev bin too to 'h a
galoot ter git even a ghost ovachaince 'era
stop-ovor on ther road (er Satan’s kingdom!

“ No! no! ye aire yit hangin’on tcr ther aidgc
0v ther land ov ther livin’—aii’ I reckon ye aire
not so for gone but w’ot ye’ll Illakcu(le-:p’l'it
rustle ter git back on ter life's terror. firma.

“But of I liain’t in purgatory, whar be i?
Lc’ine— Kerrect, fu’st tiniel Rid down by
Major Cool, ov the Gold Bug, I war; an’ a
thousand ter one Mex an’ Dan war swatted fer
’tarnal keeps b ther sliooth cuss, for now 1
mind thet he red twice, jest as his boss’s feet
lifted the breath out ov me."

An oath gave a vicious tone to the last Words
of the wounded outlaw, and with something of
an elfort he raised himself upon his elbow, to
grope about in search of his whiloni allies.

“Yaas, they hes passed in their checks,” he
continued, as his hand encountered first one and
then the other of the lifeless bodies. “ An’ of I
’menibers right, thet same ilI'ljnl' Cool aire no
slouch—he played at on us purty durn fine, an’
no mistake.

“ Then be rid off ’ith a hull hide, too I"

Faint as was the voice in which those words
were uttered, its strains were expressive of both
dis ust and chagrin.

ssuming a satin" posture, Bunco Ben for a
full minute blinkei moodin across the phos-
phorescent wavelets, his shaggy brows knitted,
striving to collect his scattere l thoughts.

Then forth from one of his pockets he drew a
flask of liquor, and after a copious draught,
scrambled to his feet.

“ Reckon et mou ht be jest es well ter scoop
in w’ot leetle dust kin find on Dan an’ Mex,”
he solilo uized, as he steadied himself. “ Arter
thet—wa , mebbe et hain’t too late yit ter ()VBl'<
haul ther major, an’ turn our \Vaterloo inter a
s'prise party. Et‘ ther bosses—J’

The sentence ended with an oath, and the out-
law lunged abruptly into the undergrowth
fringing the base of the hill. A moment’s re-
connoissance rovod that the animals had not
been moles , and he reappeared and set to
work at the ghoulish task of stripping his dead
pards of their weapons and revolvers.

Scarcely had Bunco Ben completed this oper-
ation, when afaint but regular plashing of the
water, out near the middle of the stream, and a
short distance above him, attracted his atten-
tion.

Instantly the outlaw was alert and on his
guard. Sinking flat upon his breast, he peered
steadily across the water.

Adark object, not unlike the head and shoul-
ders of a man, was just visible above the sur-
face, moving slowly down-stream.

“ A aloot from Chispa Canyon, most
likely,” mentally decided Bunco Ben, his hand
instinctivclly seeking one of the weapons in his
girdle. “ het’s it—a galoot from ther Canyon.
Chock full an’ tumbled inter ther river, may-
hup. Sech bein’ ther case, an’ this hein’ the
fut-t spot beIOW ther camp at w’ich he c’u’d
leave ther drink, w’y, w’ot more nateral then
thet he sh’u’d— By gum! here he kems, sure
enuifi”

The Trail Tiger had Spoken truly. The man
in the water was now heading for the bank.

“He aire eyther hurted, or hes a load ter
kerry.” mentally continued Bunco Ben, as the
slow, labored plashing drew nearer. “All ther
same. w’ot kems ter my net ter~night aire fish.
He will strike ther shore not ten feet above
hyar. an’— a

“ He! He hes a woman on his arm .'”

And the outlaw almost sprung erect in his ex-
citement.

“.By ther Lord ov Israel! Bunco Benjy, now
pla yer hand keerful, an’ ye may score a ten-
stri a,” he muttered, curbing himself. “ A
man an’ a woman driftin’ down from Chispa
Canyon means—w’ot? A Weazel-skin ov vargin
dust mebbe! Who knows?”

Whereupon, with a. subdued chuckle, the
Trail Tiger seemed to 'shrink yet closer to the
earth, his eyes glowing with a hateful light,
his hands nestling close upon the butts of his

 

 

weafions, his entire being thrilled with wolfish
ea erneSs at the prospect for plunder.

' Thar! he’s struck shoal water, an’ is wadin’
ashore,” Bunco Ben averrcd. a moment later.
“ Jist a minute, an’ he’ll be on dry land,
b’ rosh!”

rue enough; and as the foot of the man from
the river pressed the rough trail, his voice—low
and husky, as if weakened by prolonged exor-
tion—bi'oke the grim silence, saying:

" Thank Heaven! danger of death by the
river is past, Rclla, dear. It now remains for
us to get back to the camp yonder as quickly as
peasible.“ '

Then, in a clear, feminine voice:

“ But Captain Trackless and the outlaws,
Fi‘aiik—"

“ Are no doubt well out of Chispa Canyon
before this, Rella. As I have told you, a deadly
light was waging in the House of Gold at the
moment I sprung With you from the rear door
of the rambling-house into the river. Such a
strugge could be but brief, and have but one
ruling—tho swift retreat of the outth when
their object haul been obtained."

The lurking Trail Tiger started as if stabbed.

" Fightin’ Frank! by the great horn spoon!”
he gritted, his yellow fangs almost meeting in
his nether lip. “ An’ ther gal—who kin she be?
AJll'l'll‘l Osman, fer a forty dollar bill! Su’thin’
wrong, somewhar. but whar?"

“ Et aire a t:ck‘1isli job ’ith that game—cock
ter bu -k ag’in’, but at ilii‘c dead sart’in new thet
I must snare ther pair ov ’eml"

Fighting Frank—the man from the river was
none otlier—resu med:

" We are on the Canvon trail. and it is quite
likely that Captain Trackless and his men are
now between us and the camp. We will push
forward cautiously. The trail is bordered with
dense undergrowth on the hillside, and at a mo-
ment’s notice We can conceal ourselves until the
Tigers have passed us.

“ I am particularly anxious to reach the camp
with you as soon as possible, so as to convey to
your father intelligence of your escape. To-
morrow, if he sees fit, an expedition can be sent
against the secret stronghold of the Trail Tigers.”

A sound suggestive of an oeculatory caress
foIIOWed the words, then an exchange of ten-
derly-uttered sentences.

Whatever may have been the perils of the
youthful pair, it was quite apparent-that a new
and sweet joy had crept into their llves during
the brief while they had been swept onward by
the river’s mad current.

Dripping wet, chilled through and through,
they, arm-in-arm, set off at a sna walk up the
trail, heading for the distant digits of Chispa
Canyon. ‘

A dozen paces—then the Featherweight stag:

gered, dropped to his knees. then upon his face,
Strinch sensele-s by a heavy blow from the but
of Bunco Ben’s revolver.

The next instant Aurelia Osman was strug-
gling desperately in the grasp of her outlaw foe.

 

CHAPTER VI.
A STARTLING DISCOVERY.

“ Hmz—T'he bridge, and at once.

, " Uonr Upron."

A crumpled bit of paper hearing the above
words found its way into the slender palm of the
Faro King of Oh? Canyon just as he parted
company With ajor Cool at the bar of the
Hoqu of Gold. ‘

Surreptitiousl delivered, the message was
covertly scanner , then torn into minute shreds.

" Ugly Upton!” ejaculated High-Card Hank,
inaudibly, a strange look creeping over his
white face, “ I must meet him at once. The ras-
cal would never venture here did he not have
something of importance to communicate. He
came alone, too, for he was not with the chief's

rt '.
paA )word here. another there, to the attaches of
the place. then the gambler turned and strode
out into the streets of the camp.

Straightway he laid his course toward the rude
bridge over Pilgrim‘s Path, moving swiftly, yet
fully alert for lurking danger, his hands upon
the Weapons protruding from his silken sash.

Arrived midway of the bridge, be halted. ut-
tering a sound in exact imitation of the chirping
of a cricket.

A full minute passed in silence. Then a dark
shade crept out from the blacker shadows hang-
ingover the bases of the towering rocks. The
next instant the gambler‘s si al was answered.

“ It is you. Up?” queried high-Card Hank, in
a. narded veicc. ‘

‘ Yaas; come onl” was the impatient re«
spouse. ‘

   

-. I! .
I ' ' "
"'N 1 l i! i  ,A
1 5’ ‘.
V J .
*- .- r

 

“You sent for me?” continued the gambler,
halting face to face with his villainous ally.

“I putt 11ch note in yer fist at yer lace; I
hain’t forget ther ole dogs, Hunk; an’ w en our
trails crossed a week ago, an’l promised tcr
keep eyes and ears open, ’t w a’n’t jest talk. Putt
‘er tliar, purd'”

Tln re was a dogged earnestness in the man‘s
heavy, husky tom-s. The gambler winced under
the )ressure of his strong band.

“ Bout this hynr gal nintler. Hunk,” wth on
Ugly Upton. abruptly. “ Ye hev struck ther
wrong lead.”

“ The wrong lead? How?”

“Ye seek ther heiress ov Ezra, the Miser?”

‘6 Yes. 97

“ Ter marry her ducats?”

“ Just so.”

“Now, I aire a tufl’ pill, Pard Hank—Ugly
by name an’ ugly by nater, too; but I aire
squeamish on this hycr one leetle p’int. How-
sumever, ef ye r’ally mean ter marry ther—”

“ I do—positivel l”

“ Ducats or no ucats?”

“ Exactly.”

“ Bcknse yer love the gal?”

h Yes.”

“Putt ’cr thar, pardl Ye'aire on ther road
uphill! Glad yer heart aire got on ther gel as
well as yer head on her oust, fer Sech bein’ ther
case 1 aire with ye till ther knot aire tied.

“ But ye will inarry'thcr gal for herself alone,
fer ov lucre she ho 8 none!”

“ Hal what is that?” and High-Card Hank
started violently.

“ Aurelia Osn an airc not ther heiress or Ezra.
ther Miscr, cs ycr hrv bin lcd ter suppose,”
coolly avcrred Ugly Upton, inwardly chuckling
at the ill-concealed chagrin and discomfiture of
his ally.

An oath slipped from between the hard-set
teeth of the gambler.

“ Curse it! you are toying with me now, Upl
Have a care, or I may forget that we are
friends. You—”

“ Easy, Paul Parkerton! Don’t excite er-
self," cut in the Trail Tiger, unabashed. ‘ ist-
en ter w’at I hev tcr say. an‘mebbe— Wal,
ye’ll jest transfer yer deep-sot affections ter
heiress No. 2, I reckon!

“ Red J oaqnin, or Cap’n TrackleSS, aire, es ye
may know. none other than Ezra Grimshaw,
ther nephew ov Ezra, ther Miser.”

“ Yes, I know.” , _

“ An’, through him ye war led for Where thet
ther darter ov Carleton Osman war ther heiress
ov ther Miser?” ‘ ‘

“ It was through him. I have kept tab on
ther girl and her father for upward of a year.
By merest chance they ventured into this coun-
try, and to better my chances of winning, the
girl, I paid her uncle, Captain Trackless, a good
round sum to abduct her, Curse it! The scheme
was workin as fine as silk, when that meddling

oun fool, ighting Frank, the guide, walized
in an spoiled the combination 1”

A Sound closely allied to a chuckle escaped
Ugly Upton at .the conclusion of the gambler’s
testily-utiered words.

“ Pard Hank, ye hev bin played fer a sucker,”
he averred, without the slightest heSItzincy.
“Ezra Grimshaw aire no more ther uncle 0v
Aurelia Osman than I be—an‘ he knows et!”

The sport of the House of Gold started sharp.
l .
y“ What mean you?” he demanded.

“ You war told thet this hyar Osman gal war
r’ally Louise Dauthett?”

u Ye . ,7

“Then don’t cuss the Feathechight fer block-
in’ yer game, but rather thank im. Aurelia
Osman aire no more Louise Dauthett than she
aire Queen Vic. Ther chief lied.”

“Lied!”

“ Exactly; Louise Dauthett, ther real heiress,
aire hyar in Chispa Canyon—an’ hes bin since
ther earliest day ov ther campi"

“ Impossible 1”

“True as gospel, I tell ye! She aire known
as Leela Grattan, ther landlord’s darterl”

There was a positive ring in the tones of
Ugly Upton that carried conviction direct to his
bearer. ‘

“ But how know you all this?“ the latter do
mended, after a moment’s silence.

The Trail Tiger laughed softly.

“You an’ 1 be friends, Pard Hank,”he r9- ‘
plied. “ I premised ter keep my ears open. an’

hev done it. Ther captain h'cs a way ov bab-
bling in his sleep. Understand?"

“ Yes; but go on—what have you learned!”

“Jest. this—thet Ezra Grimshaw. to ther
with Paul Parkerton, killed Ezra the ' 1',
ther uncle ov ther fu’st, fer his money—w’ich

 

 

 

 

01d Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. 9

 

 

h

same they failed ter git; thet Peter Dauthett a

brother-iu-law ov ther iser. war s’pected 0v
there crime, an’ that ’pearances war so strong
ag’in’ him thet he fled atween two days ’ith
his only child, a gal, to whom it hes been since
disfiovered ther money ov old Ezra war left by
no .

“ I learned more—that Ezra Grimshaw an’
Paul Parkerton had connived ter throw s’picion
upon Dauthett, an’ thet both soon arterward dis-
appeared—goin’ none knew when

“ I learned, too, that Ezra (i‘rrlinshaw by more
chance stumbled upon Dauthett an’ his durtcr,
an’ agin begun plottin’ fer ther fortune. Then,
at ther eleventh hour, Paul Parkcrton ’peurs on
ther scene as lion’som an’ as devilish as ever, tier
shy his caster inter ther ring, au’ Grimsliaw,
fearin’ that his old-time pard may euchcr him in
ther game for gold, trumps up a tale in w'ich he
makes Aurelia OSln'lll appear as Louise Dou-
fhegt, an’ so draws Parkerton off on a blind

ea. .

“ I learned even more than this. Eylan Buck,
ther half-brother of Ezra Grimsliaw, lied taken
an oath ter avenge ther death 0v ther nnser, an’
war only bidin’ his time. He, too, hcd fallen
into ther belief thet Aurelia. Osman war Louise
Dauthett. Some time this aftemooii he entered
ther chief’s quarters, over )owered ther ca tain,
dis uised himself as Red oaquin, an’ witi ther
gir went ter ther House ov Gold. W’at hap-
pened thar ye know. Grimshaw succeeded in
raisin’ an alarm, an’ with a strong party putt out
hot-foot fer ther camp.

“But he failed ter bag his game; an’. Pard
Hank, I reckon thct somewhar liyar in Chispa
ganyon ye.hev:ther wu’st fee a mortal man c’n’d

ev.

“ Now ye know why I ventured inter ther
camp an‘ hed ye come hyar.”

The gambler drew a hard breath. _

“ It is a favor that I shall not soon forget,
Up,” he declared. “ With that man here, and
on m trail, I shall know no rest.

“ p, he must die!”

Hardened wretch thou h he was, Ugly Upton
could not repress a slig t shiver at tee coldly-
lEttlei'txl words of the sport of the House of
( o .

“ He must die,” reiterated High-Curd Hunk.
“ I felt that he and I were mortal foes the mo-
ment he entered in place to-iiight, although he
came disguised as ed Joaquin.

“ But this mother of the heiress—are you sure
that Leela Grattan is none other than Louise
Dauthettf”

“ Positive,” returned the Trail Tiger. “Not
only hev I hecrd Grinishaw say so much, but I.
too, knew Peter Dauthett ov old; an’, though he
aire greatly changed, he an’ Peg—Leg Pete aire
one an’ ther same."

The gambler gnawed his lip in savage vexa-

tion.

“ What a fool I have been i” he exclaimed, bit-
terly. “ I could have won Leela Grattan had I
tried; now it is too late for fair means!”

“One thing more, Pard Hank, an’ then I must
be of! for camp afore ther chief s’pects that all
%u'e not right ith yours truly,” continued Ugly

n.

l)“ Et aire about this hyar Major Cool I want
ter 3 oak. Ye—”

“ a! Major Cool!” brusquely interjected the
gambler. " If you know auglit of him. speak 2"

“ I know only this—he aire not w'ot he seems.
He hain’t no more ther George Washington 0001
ivlio'gire ter open up ther Gold Bug than you or

e.

2‘ He is—” l

‘ A detcCtiVG Spy. ea ed ’itli E' laii Buck "
quietly finished the Trai Tiger, y ’

“ The devil and Tom Walker!”

“ Jest sech a team, Pard Hank.

“ But 1ifiWII hev 36(1th SW. 311’ I am off fer
cam . ‘ t iar’s enuy mg new ter re rt ter-
miAriI'bw at gleidis heliE'I’ll 138 h 'ul‘ti’ T W '

s be cea s a ‘lllg, e “11 i or turne
and glided awaypfn the darkness. g d

“ One bumper all around. boysi and then it is
business, for I’ve work for you—red work—to
do before the light of another day.”

In the slowest of measured accents, yet with
the tone of one who had no time to flltter away,
8 oke the Faro King of Chispa Canyon, his cat.

_ e orbs fairly scorching the bronzed faces of
his two auditors with the intense fierceness of
his aze.

Cimarron Jack and an ugly, beetling-browed
ruflian, known b the accurately descriptive

title of Tough T dy, were thgse two latter par—
ties. The trio were seated at aipoker-table in
tho private apartment of High~Card Hank—a
little snuggery located directly above the bar of

 

the House of Gold and reached only by a secret
stairway.

Immediatel u n his return from his confer
ence with Ug y pton, the gambler had sought
out these two of his villainous tools and con-
ducted them to this hidden retreat.

At the significant declaration of his chief,
Tough Teddy auscd in the act of helpin, him-
self to a liberii potution of whisky from a ottle
on the table, ani stared hard at his confreres, a
look of mock astonishment on his round, red

ace.

“ Worki—red work i” he repeated. “ Thet
means—w’ot?”

“ Guv yer tongue 9. cliaince tor cool,” growled
Cimarron Jack, With an oath. “ Ef ther cap‘n
liesdug up ther hatchet, I’ll be bound he’ll lay
down ther map 0v ther campaign in a jiffy.”

“ Oh! in coursel” assented ql‘eddy, blandly,
just a trace of a grin lurkingr about the corners
of his Well—deVelopi‘d mouth. “ An’ I reckon cf
thar’s a clniiice offered ter turn an honest penny
we’rp ther galoots ter work ther leetle trick,
too.

“ There’s no question on that point,” High-
Cai'd Hank dry] ' observed. “ But punish your
liquor, boys, an give me your undivided atten-
tion. We must understand each other thor—
oughly, for the wrinkle to be worked is a desper-
ate one, requiring not only the fiery courage to
be derived from a brief communion with John
Bai‘lleycorn, but steady nerves and cool heads as
we .

“ We are listenin’, chief," and Cimarron Jack
settled down with his elbows upon the edge of
the table, his head cram-d forward in readi-
ness to drink in the most cautiously-uttered
word. “ An’ yer voice‘ll be music ter our ears,
fer times is mighty hard," chinned in Tough
Teddy. with a do cful sigh.

“ I’ve a yellow lining for your pockets, never
fear,” quoth tho gambler, his cruvl eyes seemin
to read the brace of rufflans through an
through.

“ You have seen this Major Cool?”

Cimarron Jack and his ally started sharply,
dismay plain] depicted on their evil faces, and
the latter exc aimed:

“ Ther new sport! We hes, an’ a hard boss
ter carry he aire, too!"

“No doubt; but with two against one you
should be able to snuff his candle, and that, too,
without much risk. See here,” and abruptly
leaving the table, High-Card Hank crossed the

00m, to bring forth from its receptacle a small
right metallic object of spherical form.

It needed no SOCUDd glance to tell the rufflans
at the table the nature of the glistening sphere;
for, at sight of its short pendent fuse, both in‘
stantly realized the portent of the gambler’s
plot against the stranger-sport.

“Ohol I guess we kin take_ther trick 1” ex-
claimed Cimnrron Jack, chuckling evilly.

Tough Teddy remained qunet, a half-fearful
expression on his face. I . _

A devilish light sparkling in his eyes. a malig-
nant smile curling his thin lips, High» Card Hank
held u to view the deadly missile saying:

“ It olds within its narrow walls the power
to destroya dozen lives. a dozen times overl
This Major Cool may he one man in a thousand,
but let him stand in the pathway of a missile
such as this, and his race is run!

“ He must die to night—within the hour!
His presence here bodes ill to all within 'Chispa
Canyon. He is not what; he seems. He is an
accursed detective s y l”

The sport of the ouse of Gold had spoken in
strains cold. and hard, his wicked eyes lighting
up With a tigerish glare. When he Com' udcd,
both of his llirelings had sprung to their feet,
their faces betraying every eVidence of deep-
seated alarm.

“ A detective!” uttered Tough Teddy. '

“ Yes, a detective!” High-Card Hank enunci-
ated, “and he is not alone. Before the break of
day he will be joined by others. The are pi -
ing that Silver City job, and they are at on t e
trail I”

At this significant declaration. Cimarron
Jack and his ard stared blankly at each other,
utterly dazei , TrulV. the ‘arch- letter was
playing his part with consummate s illl

A moment; only the two sat motionless; then
their hands met In a Strong clasp above the
rough deal table.

The die was 0&8“

“ It is well,” observed the sport of the Hou
of Gold, noting the action. “A few words
with you, and then—to work i”

, Dd. resuming his seat. the ambler carefully
laid the bomb upon the tab 0, then with his
VOIce lowered to a whisper spoke rapidly 101'
fully five minutes.

 

At the ex lration of that time the two rufllans
took their eparture, carrying with them the
murderous missile.

Left to himself, a startling change swept
over High Card Hank.

His evor—pallid face grew ghastly in its white-
ness, and a look of absolute miscr usurped the
mud glow in his eyes. He seem to shiver in
every fiber!

“ I am a coward i” he muttered, staring around
uneasily. “At the eleventh hour—at [heino-
ment of all others when I must need a cool
head and desperate courage, I am a woman in
weakness!

“ But, no—it cannot be! Success is mine, and
this weakness is but the reaction of my over-
wrought nerves.

“ (Jimiirron Jack and his pnrd are stirred to
desperation by my clcverly-concmted story.
Poor fools! my nec ,not theirs, was in danger
of the halter!

"But they will carry out my red work, to the
letter, and abduct the )ecrlcss Lola, the heiress
of Ezra, the Miser. . crc’s to fresh courage,
and to success, and then I must be ofl’ to the
rendezvous!”

And hastily draining a lass of raw whisky,
the sport of the House of gold extinguished the
light and left the secret a‘purtment.

CHAPTER VII.
THE DESI'ERADOES’ DOOM.

WHEN the dashing freelance, Major Cool,
left thebar-room of" the Lay-out to meet the
landlord’s daughter. his movements were nar—
row] watched by eyes other than those of bon-
est eter Grattan—e es in whose depths lurked
a rleum boding mun or!

or mingling with well-assumed carelessness
with the throng—~50 near the bold adventurer,
in fact, that he heard every word possin_ be-
tween him and Peg«Leg Petr—was no ess a
personage than High-Card Hank‘s hired assas-
sin. Tough 'l‘eddy.

The rufllan and his ally. Clmarron Jack, had
proceeded direct from the secret apartment of
the House of Gold to the bar-room of the Lay-
out. intent on sighting their victim, then hound-
ing him to death.

Justin time they were, too, for Major Cool
entered the place, but a moment in advance of
them, having Just finished a leisurely stroll
through the etinflnes of the camp.

Desperadocs of the most brutisli order were
these two hired assassins—smcimens of the
lowest stratum of thc gold-camp. Work—delve
for the “ yellow od ” they would not, but for
the vir in metal t cy stood ready to stain their
souls w th any crime. however black and foul.

Had High-Card Hank hunted the wide West
over twu creatures better suited to his purpose
could not have been found. So long as no
depth of cunning, no high degree of courage. no
extra mental or physical exertion. was a re-
guirement necessary to success, they fitted the

cod precisely.

Of the two, Tough Teddy was by far the
more dangerous man. He was quieter, more
secretive. No warning ever preceded a blow
from his hand. He witnessed the discomflf'ure
of his ally at toe hands of bluff old Peter
Grattan with a certain degree of satisfaction.
He felt safer, more at ease, in the map inst-Out
of his dastardly work with Cimarron ack out
of the way for the time being.

No sooner had Major Cool departed in ac-
cordance with the brief message given him by
Peg-Leg Pete, than Tough Ted y sauiitered out
into the street of the camp.

Perfecth familiar With the interior arrtm
ments of t e Lay-out, the rufflan had instan y
decided upon a plan 0f action.

At the southWest corner of the building), he
was rejoined by Cimarron Jack. who had een
lying in Wllit: and, after a brief conference,
both stole silently along in the dark shadow of
the south wall of the rambling structure, to a
side door within a few paces of the verge of
Devil’s Lane.

Here they halted. and Ton h Tedd rapped
thrice upon the door. his knuc les stri ing the
wood softly and producmg a sound once heard
not easily forgotten. I

A moment; then a Wicket. in the door 0 Bed
and a pair of gleaming black eyes red orth.

“Madm‘ de Dios.’ is it. you, 83mm?” de—
manded a rich feminine voice of strongly-mark-
ed Mexican accent.

The desperado replied:

“Carr‘pjo, Inez. Now hasten, for I would

see you. .

Instantlv, the wicket closed, and in the merest
fraction of time the door swung slightly 0pm
and the woman glided out. '

\/

 

 

  

10 Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow.

 

 

 

“ Ha! Carrajo! you have a friend?”

“ A friend, Inez. But step hither,” and
Ttough Teddy glided toward the verge of the
a 35.
he woman followed.

“ You are alone to-nightl” ueried the des-
perado, halting on the brink of evil’s Lane.

“Alone,” replied the woman, wonderingly.
“ \Vhy ask?”

A strong band rou hly clutched her throat
effectually shuttin o the power of utterance.
A long, cruel bla o flashed downward through
the black shadows, to sink to the hilt in her
quivering bosom! A faint splashing of the
waters at the bottom of Devil's Lane, and the
damning deed was consummated!

The next moment Tough Toddy rejoined
Cimarron Jack.

“ Ther coast aire cl’ar?” asked the latter.

“ Clear,” was the curt reply. “ Now follow
me, an’ see that ye aire ready fer hot work at
close quarters.”

Cautiously pushing open the door, the two
men silently entered the apartment from which
the woman Inez had been enticed to meet her
death. -

Opposite them was an open door, leading
into the hallway running the length of the
house. '

In the hall the two assassins halted a moment.

“ Now comes ther tick’lish art ov ther job,”
observed Tough Teddy soft y, as he carefully
noted his surroundings. “Ther major an’ ther
landlord’s darter aire in ther second room back
0v ther bar. We must get ther gal in our han’s,
then down ther sport ’ith ther bomb.

“Putt out ther light,‘ Jack, w’ile I fasten
ther door at ther front end 0v ther hall, then
stan’ ready ter cl’ar ther way fer me.”

Each man quietly performed the part assigned
him, then the two met before the door of the
room in which was Ma 'or Cool.

“ Slip on your mask,’ advised Cimarron Jack,
in a whisper. “If anything goes wrong, we
don't want ter stretch hemp of we kin dodge
ther halter.” '

" Kerrect,” assented Tough Teddy. “ Aire ye

readlyg”
" ady! I’ve lighted ther fuse!"

“ Then hyar roes!” and the desperado rapped
sharply on the 001'.

The sound of light footsteps within, then it
swung oipen, revealing Leola Grattan on the
threshol !

Instantly the strong arm of Tough Teddy en-
circled her waist, lifting her bodily mm the floor.

At the same juncture, Cimarron Jack hurled
the bomb straight at the breast of Major Cool!

“Quick now!” sharply uttered Tough Tedd ,
as a 1piercing scream broke from the lips of t e
land ord’s daughter. “ We mus’-—”

A terrific explosion filled the hiatus, almost
hurling the fleeing assassins from their feet.

The next instant they reached the deserted
apartment of the woman Inez.

“ Fasten the hall door a’ter ye!” fairly hissed
Tough Teddy, as he bounded swig? toward the
side entrance, his broad palm clo firmly over
the mouth of his captive.

Outside the building the halted a moment,
then glided swiftly toward t 0 bridge over Pil-
grim’s Path, laying the course along the brink
of Devil's Lane.

Two minutes later and they were beyond the
confines of the camp, skulking like hunted beasts
in the black shadows of the rocks.

It needed no second glance to tell them that
Chispa Canyon was fully aroused—that, if de-
tected and captured, even swift-handed Judge
Lynch would be too slow to mete out to them
their doom!

Armed men were beginning to dart hither
and thither through the street of the camp,
while in and about the Lay-out all was commo-
tion.

“ Go ye back thar, Jack,” said Tough Teddy.
“ Ef ye rustle, ye’ve time. Twon’t do fer ther
two ov us for be missed. I’ll take ther gap up
ter ther cave.”

“ Cain’t see et!” grOwled the rufllan surlily.
“ Cain’t e see that I’m marked ’ith ther bullets
9v Pe - Pete? They’d hop onto me, fu’st
jams!

“ ne ov us must go back,” declared Tough
Teddy. “’Twon’t do fer us both ter be away
from camp—you know why I”

“ Bekase we must keep an eye on ther bOSS!”
averred Cimarron Jack, with a sort of grim
chuckle. “ But at won’t be me as does et'”

“ Then take ther gal.”

“ I’ll do it.”

The ruflian gut out his hands as if to receive
the captive. be next instant he felt a keen,
prickling sensation in his left side.

 

It needed no words to tell him that he had
been stabbed!

“ Cuss ye i” he ted, swaying slightly to one
side, “ we aire p ayin’ ther same game! Who
wins!”

Even as he spoke his keen blade sunk to the
hilt in the throat of his fellow-desperado.

Tough Teddy had been overmatched. He
sunk to the ground, with the life-le gushing
in a crimson torrent from his mouth and nos-
trils.

Meanwhile, no cry—no sound, however slight
—esoaped Leola Grattan.

“ Swooned, by all thet’s good!” muttered Cim-
arron Jack, as he bent over his helpless captive.
“ Sech bein’ ther case, I’ll relieve Teddy ov
w’at leetle stuff he may hev. A’ter thet, I’ll
putt him whar he putt ther woman Inez!”

But it was destined that the desperado should
not carry out the above programme.

The sound of rapid footsteps on the brid e
caused him to start guiltily. Catching up t e

irl, he skulked stealthily away in the darkneSS,
aying his course to the northeast alon the
eastern side of Pilgrim’s Path, as had igh-
Card Hank the morning before.

Rough was the way—in the intense gloom
utterly impossible to one less familiar with his
surroundings than was Cimarron Jack.

And at the best that desperado’s rogress was
slow, for is wounds, as well as t e weight of
the girl, to (1 fast upon his strength.

At a point directly opposite the camp across
the canyon, Cimarron Jack turned aside, and,
passing a dense network of vines, entered the
mouth of a small gully.

Here be deposited Leola Grattan on the
ground, pinioning her wrists and inserting a
rude gag between her jaws, and then seated
himsel on a rock for a breathing-spell.

Scarcely had he Settled into a comfortable
posture, however, when a fresh commotion in
the camp below caused him to start erect in
alarm.

“ Good God!” he ejaculated, as he thrust aside
the curtain of vines and peered forth. “ Ther
camp is afire I”

True enough; the frame structures known as
the Lay-out and the House of Gold were a muss
of seethin flame!

“ Ther mb did et!” Cimarron Jack mut-
tered as he glared dowu half—stupefied. “ They
aire fightin’ ther fire. Poor fools! they might
as well tr ter IeVel ther Rockies!”

“ But must up an’ on ter ther cave, fer by
St. J ago! this' hyar spot aire es bright es day!”
and the desperado turned to lift his captive
from the ound.

Leola attan was gone!

Cimarron Jack stood astounded.

“ Hell’s furies! w’at means this?” he gasped,
staring blankly around.

The foliage overhanging the southern side of
the gully rustled crisply. A slight, willowy
form confronted the assassin, stripping the
wea us from his belt ere he could lit a hand!

“ t means you are in ther wron pew, you
festive old outlaw!” res nded a c ear young
voice, back of whose w imsical accent there
was a world of deadly significance. “Reckon
ye’ve as good as poked yer head inter ther lion’s
mouth!

“ An’ jest consider yerself a corpse, Cimarron
Jack, for I hev spotted yer work—an’ I’m goin’
for sock ye full ov lead!”

Astounded before, stricken almost dumb now
that the muzzles of his own weapons were star-
ing him in the face, the entrapped desperado
could only find wer to gasp:

“ Cuss me! 1 it bain’t ther Featherweight!”

CHAPTER VIII.
THE SABLE KNIGHT ERRANT.

A MILE eastward from Chispa Can on, in a
narrow pass running almost parallel to ilgrim’s
Path, a man strode moodilg' to and fro, sentry-
like in the intense gloom, is head bowed down
as. in well-nigh hopeless despair.

A man beyond middle age, tall and Spare,
with features strongly marked. His garb was
of well-worn corduroy, with black slouch hat
and high-topped boots. A belt of arms encircled
his middle, and across the hollow of his arm
rested a trusty Winchester. '

For hours had he thus paced to and fro, anon
pausing to listen, only to resume his restless
walk With an impatient im recation.

“ Can it be that Frank as deserted me?” he
muttered, for perhaps the hundredth time. as
he halted in the Stygian gloom under the east-
ern wall of the pass. “ I cannot believe it! He
is a brave youth—one whose every impulse is
honorable—a fast friend and a fair foe!

“ No! something has occurred to detain him.

 

 

Never would he desert me here, with my help-
less child in the clutches of that merciless ma-
rauder, Captain Trackless.

“ No! no! Frank will return, for my e es
have ferreted out his secret—that a cry of is-
tress from m daughter’s lips would pierce his
heart as deep y as mine-that he loves, and is
10ved in return.

“ But may he not come too late? That is the
thou ht- goading me to madness! Mayhap—

“ ark! that was a footstep!” and the lone
sentinel of the pass was instantly on the alert,
his rifle thrown forWard, his finger restiu g light-
ly a ainst the trigger.

“. alt! Who comes there?”

The challenge rung forth clear and sharp,
yet in guarded tones.

A brief silence, then a broad chuckle, follow-
ed bv the words:

“ De Lor’ bress me! of ’tain’t Mars’ Osman
dis bressed minute! An’ he doesn’t know do ole
man. er-he-he! he-he! er-r!”

“ Belzy! by heavens!” and there wasa strain
of undisguised joy in the voice of Carleton Os-

man.

“ Yes, sah—hit am ole Belzy Golightly, Mars’
Carleton, an’ hit am a fac’ dat I am monst’us
glad dis heah cullud pusson hab foun’ hisse’f—
’deed I is, chile!”

The next instant Carleton Osman clasped
hands with his black henchman. Rude and un—
lettered though the latter was, his companion-
shi just then was most desirable.

ark as was the place, the outlines of Golight-
ly’s form could be discerned. In hight he was
not above five feet; his shoulders were of great
breadth and thickness, and his arms of unusual
length. It was obvious at a glance that he pos-
sessed the strength of a Hercules.

Then, too, he was thoroughly armed, and Os-
man knew that he was master of his weapons.

“ But wha’s Frank, Mars’ Osman?”

“ He left here at sunset, going to Chispa
Canyon to secure help. that We could make a
descent upon the outlaw camp up the ass and
rescue Miss Aurelia,” was the re ly. ‘ At day-
break this mornin we struck tEe trail of the
gang who attacke us, and we followed it until
we discovered their lair.

“ But where have you been? How came it
that you allowed us to be taken by surprise this

morning?”
“Dat ums a poh’ful cu’us sahcumstance,”
mused Belzy, reflectively. “Yo’ see, Mars’

Osman, hit wah not dis chile’s fault dat de camp
wah s’ rised. No, sah! ’Lon jes’ ’foh da -
light, 0 e Belzy heah sumthin’ Tittle way up d
Gap dat didn’t hab jes’ de right soun’, an’ so he
mozeys ofl‘ kinder quiet like for ’sciver what hit
wah.

“ Den dat man Bunco Ben pounce down on de
camp, stampede de stock an’ tole of! Miss ’Relia
’foh ole Belz say ‘Jack Robinson.’ Yes, sah,
hit wah jes’ at quick!

“ But Mars’ Osman, dis heah ole ’coon kotch
on ter do trail ob Bunco Ben, an’follah hit right
home. Yes, sah!

“ Den, jes’ soon as ni ht kem, Belzy slide
dewn inter Cap’n Track ess’s camp an’ try fer
ter kotch a look at de young misses. An—’

“ You saw my child there?” swiftly inter-
rogated Carleton Osman, catching the arm of
his dusky companion, his breath coming hard
and fast. .

“ ’Foh de Lor’, I es’ did, Mars’ Osman,” as
h ily averred Goli tly. “ Dar am a cave up
in e rocks t’other si e ob de basin, an’ dat am
whar Miss ’Relia wah took.

"But when ole Belzy reached dat lint, de
leetle gal wah missin’, an’ Ca ’in Track ess wah
ea in’ on wuss nur Ole . ick hisse‘f. From
all dis chile c'u’d heah, ’peared es ef some one
had done stole do young misses an‘toted her off
ter Cbispa Canyon.”-

Carleton Osman breathed a si h of relief.

“ Could it have been Frank ’ he muttered,
“ But. no! that would have been imp0ssible.
Good heavens! my poor darling may have fallen
from bad hands into worm!”

“ Dunno ’bout dat,” crisply observed Belzy
Golightly, “ de big road-a gent said hit wah Ole
Buckeye. the Sierra‘ Sleuth, what hed stolen de
gal. Enyway. dey mos’ all straddled boss an’
rode out ov do basin.”

“ Rode out of the basin? You are sure, Belzy?”

“ Yes, sah!”

“ Then there must be another hidden outlet
from the place. for not a soul has passed here in
full five hours.”

“ Dar am two passes, Mars’ Osman—one ter
go in. t’other ter go out,” said the African,
quietly. “ Dey go in on dis one, an’ out on
t other.

“ But es soon es I foun’ dar wah no naeter

 

 

01d Buckeye. the Sierra Shadow.

11”

 

 

stay in de campeny longer, I made tracks foh
heah fob I s’pected ter flu yo’ an’ Mais’ Frank
rounz heah somewhar. Deg s’prised de camp
on ole Belzy, but I reckon dat gen’men foxed
’em right home, Mars’ Osman!”
‘ There was a degree of pride in the tones of
the sable scout which did not escape Carleton
Osman. If to the neglect or carelessneSs of the
former was due the disastrous surprise at Big
Gap he had at least done his best in atonement.

‘ You have done well, my faithful fellow,”
said Osman. “The question now is, shall we
await Frank here, or make our way across the
hills to Chispa Canyon? Of—”

“ Hist!” shar ly cautioned Belzy. “ Sunthin’
comin’—git back gin’ de wall!”

“ It’s either Frank with a strong party, or the
road-a ents returning,” Carleton Osman nint-
tered t 1e next moment, as the rapid hoofstrokes
of a number of horses rung out sharp and clear
through the narrow pads. “ From the bold
manner in which they approach, I would judge
they were the latter. ’

“Kewrect!” softly assented Belzy. “ Heah
deg come I”

ven as the black spoke, the night-riders
reached a point in the pass directly opposite
them. At the same instant a harsh oath rung
out.

“ Imps 0v Satan! ther guide hes escaped us!”
roared a hoarse v0ice. “ Halt, pards—we must
look inter this!”

" Fighting Frank escaped, you say?”

“ His saddle aire empty, cap’n.”

“ And the other captives?”

“ Aire hyar, hard an’ fast.”

“Then, Bunco Ben, take half the men and
scour the pass for the Featherweight. He is un-
armed, and more dead than alive. With prompt
action, you can likely recapture him before he
can reach Chispa Canyon.”

And as the lieutenant of the Trail Tigers rap-
idly told oil? the required number of men, Cup-
tain Trackless and the remainder, with the cap~
tives in their midst, rode on up the gOI‘i-‘Ie-

Then, in accordance with a. sharply-uttered
order of Bunco Ben, seven of the road-agents
dismounted to make a close search among the
nooks and crevices in the abrupt walls of the
pass, while he and the two remaining headed
down the trail at a rapid gait.

“ We must get out of here,” uttered Carleton
Osman, in the car of his dusky companion.
" Frank has been captured. and escaped, it
seems, and they could as well search for aneedle
in a haystack as to attempt to find him. 'With
us it is different. We must separate. Return
to this spot in an hour.”

To this Belzy Golightly murmured a low as-
sent, and they at once glided away in opposite
directions-Carleton Osman laying his course
down the pass.

Ten minutes passed in silence, unbroken save
by the signals of the prowling road-a ents.
Then there suddenly arose the sounds of a( es -
rate hand to-hand struggle, closely followed hey
a sharp, triumphant yell.

“Hyar, pards! I hev got ’im!” answered a
stentorian VOice. “Hulkin‘ under ther rocks,
but I fotched him. Jes— Hell’s furiesi ’Tain’t
ther guide I”

At the hight of the commotion which ensued,
Belzy Golightly dropped safely from the she!-
tering branches of a dwarfed tree three hundred
yards up the gorge, his eyes glowing like livid
coals his breath coming in short, hard gas .

“ ars’ Osman done walked into de mi st oh
(la Phillsmnesi dead sart’inl" he gritted. “I’se

wine ter save him, or blow a hole cl‘ar frew

em pesky road-agents!”

And tightening [HS belt. Golightly, with a
cocked revolver in either hand, sped down the
pass with a series of long, pantherish leaps.

CHAPTER IX.
MAJOR COOL snows urns HAND.

NEVER had death more swu’t, sure and terri-
ble confronted the da hing adventurer, Major
Cool, than at the moment he stood In the pat,»
Way of the bomb hurled by _Cimarron J ack,

~ A dastardly attack, shutting off by its swift.
ness, as well as by the weapon employed, every
means of defense; yet the quick-Witted s on,
warned by the significant words of Leela rat-
tan. realized his peril, intuitively divined its
nature. .

And with Ma 'or Cool to think was to act.

Thrown]: u Jhis ban s from the butts of his
revolvers, he i enlv can ht ghe hissing missile,
and Will?!) 8- hastyfiing 0 his right hand, lOdged
3: behinda heavy trunk standing opposite ‘30 the
001'. .
A sudden crouching, a Sharp spring, and the
next instant—just as the bomb exploded—he

 

 

 

was snugly ensconced in the corner formed by a
wardrobe built against the wall.

Stunned by the fri htf'ul force of the explo-
sive, Major Cool ree ed blindly for a moment
then rallied, and with drawn weapons bounded
through the smoke, dust and debris toward the
hallwa , intent on pursuing the abductors of
Leola rattan.

Just as he reached the doorway, the door lead-
ing from the ball into the bar-room gave way,
and Peg-Leg Pete, followed by a half-score deni-
zens oi’ the place, crowded swiftly upon the ad~
venturer.

“ Ha! hyar he airel” roared the landlord ex-
citedly, as he grappled Ma'or Cool in the semi-
gloom of the hallway. “ on devil! whar’s my
dartert”

“Gone—follow me!” laconically uttered the
sport, shaking off burly Pete Grattan as he
Would a child. “Two men in mask carried her
away.”

The teeth of Peg-Leg Pete shot together with
asharp click. Brushing Major Cool as1de, be
bounded down the liallwa to the door of the
apartment of the woman nez.

“ Open, Ineznquick 1” he roared, as he
wrenched vainly at the knob. There was no
response. The next instant the door went down
before his sturdy shoulders.

The room was deserted. The half-open outer
door showed that the abductors of Leela Grat-
tan had made good their escape from the build-
mg.

Old Pete Grattan halted, uttering a sound be-
tween a curse and a groan. In his mingled
rage and dismay he beat a restless tattoo on the
11am, barren floor with the end of his wooden
e .
g‘A’ter ’em, boyces!” he gritted. “A thou-
sand dollars ter tliei- man w’ot runs ’em ter

kivcrl Scour ther camp! Er ye find ’em,
Jedge Lynch— Major, will ye lead ther
boyees?”

This last sentence was lost to the ears ad-
dressed. Already the stranger—sport was in the
gloom beyond the doorway at the head of a half—
dozen adventurous s irits.

As the last of the anyouites skiirricd out into
the darkness eager to capture the bold abduc-
tors, and lay claim to the reward, Peg—Leg Pete
clased and barred the door; then, after a bur
ried search of the rear part of the hostelry, re-
traced his steps to the bar room.

There he Secured his Winchester, closed the
place, and sallied out into the streets of the
camp.

A rod from his doorway he was halted by a
wild series of whoops and yells, and the next in-
stant four men, burly, broad- shouldered fellows,
rounded the corner of the building, dragging in
their midst a captive.

“ flyar’s one ov ther sharks 1” declared a sten-
torian voice. “ Reckou he’ll never skulk in ther
dark any more!"

“ ‘Rah for Judge Lynch 1”

“ W’ot’s he did ’ith ther gall” .

“A rope, Peg-Leg—he must stretch hemp!”

And a score other such cries. mingled in wild
confusion. revealed the tem r of the crowd.

A dark tragedy was imminent.

3‘ Hold, men! Let slow and sure bathe word i”
cried Major Cool, in steady, authoritative toneS,
as he pushed his way through the ranks of the
gathering throng. “ In this matter we must
make no mistake.

“ Now, who have you here?”

“One ov ther rleVils. I’ll be bound!” savagely
grittud the landlord. peering sharply at the face
of the captive. “ Take a squint, major, an’ see
ef he be one 0v ther cusses.”

“ Your double, major—as like as like can be!”
uttered a soft, purring voice, alm0st in the ad-
ventiirer’s ear. “ Which is Major Cool, is al-
most a question!”

“ No question at all, my dear fellow.” declared
the captive with alau b. in which there was a
trace of mockery. ‘ Under that name I hold
the belt against all comers. If—”

Ending with a startled oath, the speaker flung
his hands aloft. Glittering steel manacles en-
circled his wrists.

“ Your anestion is answered, High-Card Hank
....Major . Washington C001 is before you i”
coldly uttered the stranger-sport, as he turned
to face the gamblér- “ I onl borrowed the
title for a few Short hours. lo a camp liko
Cbispn. Canyon. thq Major Cools couldn’t exist
long without a collision—and it came even sooner
than I had anticmatfid.

“ My cu of happiness is full almost to ever-
flowing. One stroke more— ”

Wr-

But High~Card Hank was game—gliding hith-
er and thither through the throng. his marble-
like face whiter than ever, his breath comm:

 

in short, sharp hisses, the pupils of his cruel,
cat-like eyes distendin with consternation!

Close upon his trai followed the stran er.
sport, leaving the captive in the custody of eg—
Leg Pete.

.“ U ly Upton was right—ha is not Major
Cool, ut a cursed sleuth hound, leagncd With
Eylan Buck in his scheme for vengeance,” grittrd
the Faro King, as he sought the shadows and
pushed toward the brid e across Pilgrim’s Path.

' i must fly the cam , or it is death to remain.
Once free in these hi Is with the heiress of Ezra,
the Miser, in my power, I can laugh at danger.
She is worth a king’s ranSom, for if it comes
to the worst I shall hold her as a hostage—as the
price of in liberty!”

Across t 6 bridge, the fleeing rambler halted
and looked back. A shadow was on his trail,
but he saw it not.

All was commotion in the streets of the camp.
Its denizens seemed fired with some fresh excite
ment.

“ The sleuth-hound has made himself known.”
muttered Hank, turning and seeking the ter—
tuous pathway taken by Cimarron Jack and his
ca tive. “ So long, Cliispa Canyon!”

e strode rapidly ahead, yet with such stealth.
as to create scarcely a sound. The Nemesis—
like shadow followed him, step by step, with
unerring precision, patient and tire ess.

High—Card Hunk was doomed!

Onward he pushed, looking ncil her to the right
nor to the left. his head bored, his evxl brain
busy with his precious future.

Sudden] he started, and with a muttered oath
sunk to t ie ground. He had rcachcd a point
almost opposite the camp. The trail before him
was a glare of lurid light!

“ The bomb has done its: work—the Lay-out is
in flames !” he muttered, staring down into
Chis a Canyon. "So be it! While they fight
flre Fain safe from pursuit. The gully is but a
few rods distant—let me once reach it, and the
w?! to the cave is clear.”

lat upon his face, be dragged himself slowly
along the tortuous way, anon peering down into
the camp or to the I‘(‘ill‘ over his shoulder.

Five minutes rolled by. Then he deftly pfll'tr
ed thc curtain of vines and with a gliding, scr-
pentine motion entered the narrow gulch into
which (‘imiirron Jack had disappeared a short
while before.

“ Jack 1”

A dark form scated upon a narrow ledge in
the side of the gully slipped down to a standing
posture, confronting the intruder.

“ Hank?” .

The ambler breathed a sigh of relief.

“ Di you get the girl?”

“ Yas, Cap, I got ther gall”

“She is here?”

“ Yas, Cap, she is hyar!” -
Somethinglin the voice of the s aker seemed

to create in igh-Card Hank a fee ing of uneasiv
11888. With an upward flin of his hand, he
parted the mass of foliage vai ing the place.

“ Ha! you are not—”

“ Too late. Cap! I’ve got you!”

An oath slipped from between the hard-set.
teeth of the gambler. A brace of “ sixes”
stared him in the face. He was trapped!

A light fool fall, a ripping tearing sound—and
the curtain of vines abruptly parted, flooding
the place With li ht. In the aperture stood a
slender, sinewy orm, a glittering weapon raised
lll each hand.

“ Easy, now—both of you!” enunciated a cool,
quict voice—the voice of the stranger-sport, the
bogus Major Con]. “ The quiver of an eyelash
may let slip the do a of war!” .

The shadow ha materialized. The race of
High—Card Hunk was run!

‘ 1 93!” he muttered, disconsolatelv, as he
rai his empty lmnds. “ I hold neither ace,
face nor trump! The game is yours.”

“We'll divide the spoils. Detective Dan Gil-
bert!” uttered a cris young voice-—lhat of the
second ocfupant of the gully. “ Reckon he was
my meat ”

‘ And you are—”
“Fighting Frank, the Featherweight!”
High-Card Hank gritted his teeth in silent-

rage.

 

CHAPTER X.
CAPI‘AIN TRACKLESS BAFFLED.
“Erma Bvox. your doom is sealed! You
have looked your last on earth, for here in this
cavern you must die i”

The speaker was the redonbtable Captain

Traekless—the party addressed. Old Buckeye.

“ Die. Ezra Grimshaw! Wal. mebbe. ’Twon’t
do. 39 know, her kalkilate foo cluss on that ’are-
lee e p'int—sarkumstances alter cases!”

nip—A... -..

“no.4 .. A....§~

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l

 
  

12 Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow.

 

 

Pinioned hand and foot, the giant spy lay flat
on his back in the center of the cave overlooking
the basin retreat of the Trail Tige s. That he
had been subjected to rough, even brutal treat-
ment was obvious at a lance. His clothing
was tOi to shreds; clots 0 blood and numerous
dark br'  lent to his face a peculiarly grisly
look.

A single candle on the narrow stone ledge be-
hind the chief of the outlaws partially dispelled
the gloom of the place.

On the couch of skins at one side reclined
Aurelia Osman, securely bound.

In a degree the raid of the Trail Tigers had
been successful. Not only had they captured
Old Buckeye and recaptured the girl, but they
had also rifled the coffers of the House of Gold of
their yellow treasures.

Little cared Captain 'l‘rackless what action the
enraged Canyonites might take in retaliation.
One stroke more, and he and his followers could
shift their scene of operations and put themselves
beyond the reach of vengeance.

hat stroke was the abduction of Leola Grat-
tan. Foiled in his first attem t to secure the
girl, Captain Trackless was on y the more de-
termined to carry out his fell design, and to
that end flve picked men had been sent back to
the gold-camp immediately after he had en-
countered Bunco Ben and his captives on the
silver trail.

Monte Jack, a desperado of unusual cunning,
was at the head of the detachment, and the out-
‘law chief hadn’t the least doubt that the at-
tempt would be crowned with a full measure of
success.

And yet it was with difficulty that he curbed
his impatience after his arrival in the basin.
The escape of the FeatherWeight was by no
means reassuring, and when an hour later Bunco
Ben rode into camp, empty-handed and with
three empty saddles, and reported two or more
hostile strangers in the pass, the chief lost all
self-restraint, and after a torrent of profanit
hastened up to the cavern to assure himse f
that his remaining captives were being properly
guarded. '

Ugly Upton was the sentry on duty, and.

when Captain Trackless entered the cave he
feathwith betook himself to the ledge out-
81 e.

Glarin down at the discolored face of his
half-brot er, the chief, in tones fairly seething
with passion, gave utterance to that terrible
declaration:

“E lan Buck, your doom is sealed! You
have ooked your last on earth, for here in this
cavern you must die 1”

The nonchalant retort of Old'Buckeye did not
fall short of its purpose. A startled look crept
into the face of the road-a out, and be swept a.
swift glance around the ark recesses of the

lace. -
p “Ho! ho!” chuckled Eylan Buck, with ap-
parent satisfaction. “Ther guilty shall flee,
when no man pursueth !” .‘

“Hold your tongue—or you may lose it,”
uttered Captain 'l‘rackless, or Ezra Grimshaw, a
mad light dancing in his wicked black eyes.
“ Idid not come here to trifle with you, but to
warn you of your fate. » t

“For years you hava hung upon my trail,
bounding me from point to )oint, seeking to
visit your ven eance upon me or Paul Parker-
ton’s dark d —for he, not I, murdered Ezra,
the Miser!” ‘

The blood receded from the bronzed face of
Old Buckeye, and his half-closed eyes filled
with a peculiarly intense, lurid li ht, fixed them—
selves in a malevolent stare on t 6 face of Ezra
Grimshaw.

“ You devil! ye might die ’lth thet lie on "yer
lips afore I c’u’d see a mo‘sel ov truth in it! he
slowly enunciated, each word seeming to cost
him a powerful effort. “ We aire ther children
0v one mother; you war born ten years later
than I, an’ under a lucky star; you hev bed
ther advantages ov book-l’arnin’ an’ sich, while
I know only ther forest, ther plain an’ther
camp. But on ther mountain top an’ in ther
valley, in ther woods an’ on ther runnin’
streams, l hev read Nature’s book—l’arned ter
know ther good from ther bad, guilt from inno-
cence!

" You aire a devil unhung, Ezra Grimshaw!
Et airs useless ter shift {er burden 0v guilt ter
'ther shoulders ov Pau Parkerton, bad as be
aire, fer l hev tracked ye step by step an’ with
links stron er than steel fastened ther murder
0v our unc e-on ye!

‘, ‘.‘ An’ I can’t for et thet ther knife which
W ther miner’s eart did not stop thar. It
ed our mother!”

“Stop!” burst forth Grimshaw, petulantly.

 

“ Your ravings are but the vaporing of a mad-
man. I had no hand in the deed—am innocent
of its awful consequences I”

“ 'Umph!” sneeringly ejaculated Old Buckeye.
“ I s’pose ye didn’t kidnap ther gal hyar, ter
marry her an’ get ther money ov yer uncle?"

“ I don’t know what you mean. ‘

“Oh! in course not! Don’t know thar aire
sech a pusson as Carleton Osman, an’ thet his
real name aire Peter Dauthett, do you? NeVer
entered yer head thet this hyar gal war Osman’s
darter—or Louise Dauthett—and that by ther
will 0v ther Miser she aire his heiress, (lid it?”

“ I don’t know anything of the kind,” pro-
tested Gl'imsbaw, a crafty gleam appearing in
his averted eyes. “ It is preposterous to speak
of Osman and Dauthett as one. Even the girl
will say as much.”

“ P’rhaps she—”

“You aire wanted below, cap’n—at once!”
interrupted Ugly Upton, suddenly a pearing at
the cavern entrance, 8. perturbed £01K on his
evil visage.

The chief of the Trail Tigers started uneasily.
Without a Word he turned and strode out of the
p ace. 1
Ugly Upton seated himself just within the
cave is back to the entrance.

“ Good riddance!” muttered Old Buckeye, as
the footfalls of the giant outlaw died away.

The mountain detective was in a bad box,
and he knew it. Escape was out of the ques-
tion so long as the sentry was on duty. Yet he
was of a sanguine temperament, and hoped for
the best. He was troubled more for the girl
than for himself.

He gazod curiously at her pure cval face. A
sudden thrill shot through his aching fibers.
Her black eyes, twinkling like stars in the dull
semi- loom, were fixed on some objeet beyond
Ugly pton. Her expression was one of breath-
less suspense—of intense hope!

Old Bucke e closed one eye refiectively.
What could urelia Osman have seen? Some-
thing betokening a speeddv rescue, the mountain
detective concluded, an his eyes again sou ht
her face. But the long lashes concealed er
glorious orbs—her visage was marble in its
pallor!

The ensuing moment was one almost of tor-
ture to Eylaii Buck. A single glance at Ugly
Upton would have revealed the cause of the
girl’s strange agitation; but, were the sentry
menaced, the action, mayhap, would warn him
of his peril and defeat the movement afloat for
the rescue of the captives.

Ere this thought had taken definite shape in
the bgain of the detective, his doubts were set
at res .

A dull blow, the sound of a falling body, and
into the cavern leaped Carleton Osman, closely
followed by Belz Golightly—each with cocked
revolwars in ban 1

“ Father !” exclaimed the fair ca tive.

“ Here, my child, with faithful elzy to take
you from this place,” tenderly replied Carleton
Osman, as he severed her unions and lifted her
to her feet. “ Belzy— hom have we here?”

“ A frien’, I s’pect, Mars‘ Osman,” the black
returned, as he agplied his keen knife to the last
of the thongs con ning Eylan Buck. “ Anyhow,
he am no frien’ ob de outlaws.”

“ A friend ter honest men—a foe ter all oth-
ers,” the detective averred, as he scrambled to
his feet. “ But We cain’t discuss sech leetle
p’ints now—we must work ef we expect ter git
away from hyar ’ith hull hides.”

“ agree with you there,” said Carleton Os-
man, closely scanning the recesses of the cavern,
as the detective glided toward the silent form
of Ugly Upton. *There must be an outlet to
this ace besides the one'leading to the basin.”

“ er surmise aire kerrect: thar’sa assage
leadin’ up thro’ ther rocks,” returned 0] Buck-
eye, as he coolly pos. himself of the weap-
ons of the dead sentry. “ In ten minutes we
ken be out ov—- HARKl”

The word of warning came shar ly, and even
as he spoke, the detective motionedp the party to
retire to one of the numerous passages.

The next instant be bounded swiftly after
them, his weapons drawn and ready for action.

“ Quick !-—ther chief an’ a number ov his
men aire near at hand i” he announced, guarded-
ly. “ Foller me! We must reach ther ladder
leadin’ above afore they enter ther cave, or v. e
aire lost!”

Little need to urge the fugitive to quicken
their steps. With flying feet they skurried to-
ward the ladder, reaching it not a moment too
soon, for as Old Bucke e mounted the bottom
rung the deep voice 0 Captain Trackless rung
through the place in notes of alarm.

But, the giant 'outlaw was too late. He

‘ reached the passage just as Belzy Golightly, the

 

last of the escaping quartette, disappeared
throu h the opening at the top of the cave.

An then,.as a means of effectually cutting
off immediate pursuit, Old Buckeye grasped
the end of the .ladder and deftly drew it out of

cave.

“ Oho!” he chuckled, as he threw the ladder
aside and replaced the stone over the opening.
“Afore ther Trail Tigers git out 0v thar we’ll
be in Chispa Canyon. All in all, we‘ve bed
mighty slim chainces—but hyar we aire!”

“ An’ thar ye stay—dead or alive—jes’ es ye
want it!” interpolated a hoarse but triumphant
goice. “ Ye’re day out ov ther fryin’ pan inter

re!”

Confronting Eylan and his companions. and
scarcely three paces distant, were four men—
desperate-looking fellows and thoroughly armed.

“ Who are you? What do you mean?” testin
demanded Carleton Osman.

“ Thet I am Monte Jack, leftenant ov ther
Trail Tigers!” was the significant response.

CHAPTER XI.
THE cam MESSENGER.
NEVER in all his eventful career had High-
Card Hank felt so utterly crestfallen as at the
moment he stood silent and helpless under the

 

muzzles of the weapons in the hands of the ,

bogus Major Cool and Frank, the Feather-
weight.

There wasn’t even a fighting chance remain-
ing, He was cornered, and his only alternative
was to yield.

The next moment he Wns securely manacled.
Then Frank and the detective warmly shook
hands.

“What success, Detective Gilbert?” queried
the former.

“Best in the world.” uttered the detective,
with alight laugh. “ Not twent minutes ago
right down in Chispa Canyon, met the real
and original Major . Washington Cool.”

“Indeed! You—”

“Same 133:!” Detective Gilbert replied, nod-
ding signifivnntly at the irons on the wrists cf
the entrapped gambler. “Just as easy, too!”

“Mebbe you can fix this one in the same
way,” suggested Frank, parting the foliage at
his side and revealing Cimarron Jack, bound
hand and foot.

“Can’t see the necessity,” the detective aver-
red, dr ly. “But where is that fellow’s cap—
tive— iss Grattan?”

“Here, major," and Leela Grattan stepped
into view, extending her hand. “ You escaped
uninjured?”

“Uninjured, Miss Grattan—thanks to your
timely warning of ainoment before. In fact,
the only real harm resulting from the dastard-
ly attack was the shattering and firing of the
building.

“ And that is overbalanced by the fact that
we have secured the arch-plotter, Higthard
Hank, and his tools--Cimarron Jack here being
one. Another lies dead by the bridge.

“ Have you been harmed?”

“Only frightened,” and the girl’s dark eyes
fell under the detective’s warm gaze.

“We had best go down into the Canyon,”
suggested the Featherweight. “ Miss Osman
has again fallen into the hands of Captain
Trackless, and her rescue should by all means
be effected at an early moment.”

The young guide’s lapse from the border
dialect did not escape the detective.

“ I agree with ou,” he returned. “ The af-
fair ,is serious an demands immediate atten-
tion.

High-Card Hank and Cimarron Jack were
handcuffed together, then turned ovtjr to the
Featherweight. Detective Gilbert With Leola
Grattan brought up the rear. .

The flames were yet at their hight when the
five crossed the bridge into Chis Canyon.
As luck would have it, Peg-Leg ete was the
first man the detective and his companions en-
countered. _

With a. hoarse whoop of Joy, the landlord
stum ed forward and clasped his daughter in a.
bear— ike embrace. ‘

The next instant there was a sudden swaying
and surging of the crowd, portend'lng‘ an out-
break of sone kind. Ere even keen—eyedDe—
tectivc Gilbert could realize its nature, five
men broke away from the throng and swift]
hurled themselves upon Peter Grattan and his
daughter. , . - . '

The struggle which ensued was of the briefest
possible duration. Before either the detective or
the Featheiaweiglét C(fl‘leléipliftte :9. hand ito thwzlil't
thed oes. eg- 9 ay gasp ng'on 9
ground, the life-blood gushing in a crimson tide

 

  

'- ms. ‘4‘- 4..

am”... m... .- .u

 

 

A- my "Ava.

-.._..._ c- ..

"'21. w.

 

01d Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow.

1'3

 

 

from a murderous knife—wound in his back,
while Leela Grattan, in the midst of her five cap-
tors, was being hurried toward the bridge!
“ guiok l” shouted Dan Gilbert. springing after
the aring outlaws, a revolver in each hand.
“ After those devils, for they must not escape!”

“Foller—an’ ther al’s life shall pay fer it!”
came back from the ridge in fierce, menacing
tones. “I speak for Captain Trackless, ther
Trail Tiger l”

Captain 'l‘racklessl

Dan Gilbert halted, a feeling akin to despair
tearing at his heart. He knew the threat was
no em ty one—that a mOVe just then on the
part of her friends might end the life of Leela
Grattanl

“Easy, Dan—we’ll get ’em et!” uttered
Fighting Frank, at his side. “ .ook to your
captives and the landlord there—I’ll arrange for
pursuit,” and turning, he glided away.

 

At a glance it was obvious that the seal of
death was upon the brow of Peter Grattan as
he lay gasping one. rude cot in one of Chispa
Canyon’s cabins.

At his side, ministering to his wants with the
tenderness of a woman, was Detective Gilbert.
Just without the door was a strong posse of the
camp's denizens, all named to the teeth, under
command of the Featherwei rht.

The latter entered the ea in. His voice was
scarcely above a. whisper as he uttered the
word:

“ Dan!”

“ Leaving his patient a moment, the detective
approached the guide, his face wearing an ex-
pression of unutterable gravity.

“How is be?” queried ‘i'ank, with an inclina-
tion of his head indicating the wounded land-
lol‘d.

" Failing fast,” was the guarded response.
“ You are ready to take the trail?"

“ Yes, with thnty men at my command. At
one stroke we will rescue the two girls and wipe
the Trail Tigers from the face of the earth, or
ourselves fall.

“ We watched the course taken by the mar
derous wretclies, and will trail them with dogs.
They have but a few minutes the start.”

“ I would that I could join you: but while my
heart is with you, my duty is here—and here I
must stay. May success attend you!”

The hands of the two men met in a warm
clasp. In that moment the Featherweight real-
ized that Detective Gilbert had given his heart
and his happiness into the keeping of Leela Grat-
tan ' '

.“ Have no fear—I Will bring her back, Dan,”

‘ he uttered softly.

Then the two men separated—Fi hting Frank
to take his place at the head of his little com-
mand, the detective turning to the couch of
Peter Grattan.

“ Hello! major, is it you?” ga. ed the latter,
opening his eyes and staring up in the face of
t e detective, as he felt the latter’s cool hand
upon his forehead. “Good! You are a white
man, major; and now that the game is closed
and my checks are called in, I must say to you
what I have said to no other living man.

“ I am sure on will not betray my confidence,
and certain at on will see justice done my
child—for she will he rescued, major—I feel it,
I know it!”

"She will be rescued,” repeated the detective.

“ Yes, I am sure of it,” meekly declared the
moribund. a feverish sparkle appearing in his
gray eyes. ‘ .But I am failing, major, and
must speak quickly, or never.

“ In northeastern Kentucky, some ears ago,
a most fearful murder was commit , one Ezra
Grimshaw—better known as Ezra the Miser—
being the victim. It had long been supposed
that the miser kept large sums of money con-
cealed about his premises and as was natural,
it was assumed that this Wealth was the motive.

“ But such was not the case.

“ The crime, committed in the dead of night
was a most mysterious one, and only a rigid
and thorough search on the part of the authori-
ties brought to light a clew. .

f‘And that clew was a knife—the weapon
With which the miser had been almost literally
hacked to pieces, 1:; was of peculiar form, and
was known. to belong to one Peter Dauthett, a
brother-indaw of the miser.

" Then, too, the two men were known to be
on bad terms, and as a. result of the finding of
the blOOd'StBIIled blade Daughett was straight-
way set dawn as the murderer.

“ He fled—taking with him his only child, a
daughter. For years he roamed hither and
thither. 868le . t 9 Wilder and more remote out-
skirts of civ nation—ever dreading capture

 

and punishment for a crime Whidh he had not
committed—of which he was wholly innocent.

“ In all these wanderings his child clung to
him, never questioning him as to the future or
concerning the past—ignorant of the real cause
of his restlessness, of the haunting fear weigh-
ing upon him.

“And in these years she developed froma
delicate child into robust womanhood—as good
and pure as beautiful. If—”

A crimson tide welled from the pale lips of
the moribund, for the moment chec ing utter-
ance. Then, with what seemed a supreme ef-
fort, he rallied, and in quick, sharp tones ex-
claimed:

“Major, your hand, I am Peter Dauthett—
Leela is my daughter. I am dying now, but
on my person you will find the-—7

Again his voice failed. His head fell back.
He was dying.

The detective bent over him, clasping his
hand. Dauthett’s eyes opened slightly and
rested on the anxious, pitying face above him.
His lips moved, and he muttered:

“ Swear it, major—you will—take Leo—”

A gasp, a ghastly rattle deep in his throat,
andd the low voice failed. Peter Dauthett was
( ea !

 

CHAPIER XII.
A TRYING ORDEAL.

“ YAS, sir-cc ! I am Monte Jack, an’ es I kin
figgcr et out I hold ther winnin’ hand," reiter-
ated the lieutenant of the Trail Tigers, after a
moment of profound Silence, as he stood con-
fronting Old Buckeye and his companions at
the mouth of the alcove in the rocks. “ Ther
on’y t uestion now aire, do ye see ther p’int?”

“ O ! we kin see ther p’int fast enutf !” grimly
averred the giant spy. “But cf 1' onderstand
ther matter, ther's more’n one prong ter ther
dileinmur. ’Tain’t a sure thing which side’ll
hold ther age in ther lcetle (leeflckulty u-brewin’.”

“True as gospel, ye old sinner—every word
of it!” declared a voice in the darkness beyond
Monte Jack and his followers. “Count us in,
fer we’re as famished fer a scrimmage as a boy-
doogan of starved Wildcats!” -

The clicking of numerous revolver locks ac-
com mined the warlike declaration.

“ het’s Fightin’ Frank fer a billion dollars
in gold!” ejaculated Old Buckeye, fairly quiver-
ing with delight.

‘tartled beyond measure, Monte Jack uttered
an oath. He was between two flrcs.

“ Easy, now!” cautioned the Featherweight, a
menacing ring noticeable in his smooth tones.
“ You’re covered—every mother’s son of you.
You are our meat. an’ saltpeter won’t keep you
from spoiling if you attempt to move a step in
any direction.”

“ You bet it won’t!” chimed in the mountain
detective. “ Better throw up your hand, Monte
J ack—we’ve got ther dead sinch on yo!”

“ I wasn’t born a fool!” curtly observed the
outlaw. “ Ther al from camp’s right h ar, an’
E: gar’n’t fire—s e’s no more lead-proo than I

“Yes—but you havon’t got the girl from
Chispla Canyon,” uletly returned the Feather-
wei t. “ fixed hat some minutes ago. She’s
hal -way to camp ere this.”

A howl of re. e escaped the Trail Tiger. Hi8
captive was in eed missing, and with her one of
his men.

At the same instant, Carleton Osman gently,
yet quickly pushed his daughter out of range—-
sheltering her in a dark niche in the walls.

“ Drop!” hissed Old Buckeye. “ It‘s a-comin’
—-throw your lead well up.”

Not a breath too soon, that sharple yet can-
tiously, uttered warning. 10". Wlth a yell
which echoed and re-echoed among the rocks,
Monte Jack flung himself into the alcove, a
stream of fire leaping from the muzzle of each
weapon, his eyes blazing fltfully, his sharp
1white teeth almost meeting through his nether
i .
pFlung himself forward—to drop in a lifeless
heap, a ball from the unerring “six” of the
giant spy through his brain. '

Nor was that all._ A, series of flashes ran
along the FeatherWeights line—a sharp, crash-
in sound,a Vell- an 03th. 8- groan—a deadly
vo ley from Old BIICkf-‘Ye and his companions,
and the vengeful struggle was ended. Monte
Jack and his men hm chesen between Judge
Lynch and instant death—the latter had been
their portion.

u~

“ Reckon ther naixt thing now that ther gall
, uv ther ra'

ld Buckeye,

him out ov ther way, aire ter
Tigersa leetle tussle,” observed

 

as the footsteps of Carleton Osman and Belzy
Golightly, with the former’s daughter and
Loola Grattan, died away down the ravine.
“ We kin sorter drop in an’ take ’em by
s’ n'se.”

“ ’l‘her quicker ther better,” declared one of
the Canyonites. “Seems tor me they hev bin
let monkey ’ronnd long ’nui’f. An’ then we kein
up ter clean ’em out."

And so it was quickly decided that the attack
should be made, entering the cabin by means of
the ladder.

After a brief reconnoissance, Old Bucke e
announced that the way'was clear. Then t e
ladder was lowered, and one after another of
the stron osse descended into the lair of Cap-
tain Ti‘afitflss,

They found the cavern deserted, but the out-
law stronghold below was in a turmoil of ex-
citement.

“ Makin’ ready fer another swoop down outer
Chispa Canyon,” muttered the giant spy, wrath-
fully. “ Look ter er wee )OIIS rds, an’ foller
in Injun file. We’ll guv t or bested thieves a
fit ov sickness."

Accordingl the determined men filed stealth-
ily downwar , and out across the pocket, and,
undetected, ranged themselves with eveled wea-
plons directly across the pathway of the outlaw
c an.

“ We ain‘t a minute too soon,” observed the
Featherweight, taking his stand beside the
giants. _ “ They’re mounted.”

“ An’ liyar the come,”ns cautiously returned
Old Buckeye. ‘ Steady, lads, an’ at ther chirp
ov a cricket, fire!”

The next moment the signal was given. Cap-
tain Trackless and his men Were at close range.
A sharp volley, a triunwhant shout, and the
ninbnscading party (iaSllt forward to a haml-
to-hand struggle with their siartled foes.

In less than the time it takes to describe it,
the struggle was ended; the mountain bandits
were literally wiped out. And foremost among
the slain the victors came upon the body of
Captain Trackless, or Ezra Gimshaw, his heart
pierced with a istol-ball. ,

The vow of ylan Buck had been terribly ful-
filled.

CHAPTER XIII.
JUDGE LYNCH’S COURT.

OVER Chispa Canyon a strange hush held
sway. Massed in a hollow square on the princi-
pal street of the camp, their faces grim and
stern in the dull, red glow of all that remained
of the Lay-out and the House of Gold, stood tho
denizens of the place, intent on the proceedings
of the court of udge Lynch.

For that terrible tribunal was in session, To
the right of the center of the hollow uare,
mounted upon the head of an em ty barre , was

no less a personage than Old Buc eye, the ant.

s y. Before him._S€Curcly manacled,were igh-
(gird Hank, Major Cool and Cimarrou Jack,
under‘ guard of four brawny fellows with draWn
revolvers. Facing this part_ were Fighting-
Frank, Detective Gilbert and arleton Osman.

“Paul Parkerton, alias High—Card Hank,

ou aire charged, first, ’ith bein’ an accomplice
u ther murder ov one Ezra Grimshaw', known
also es Ezra ther Miser. sum years ago in Kain-
tuck: secon , ’ith havin’ instigated one Captain
Trackless ter make an attack on ther train ov
Carleton Osman, et BiKGaE, thet his darter
mought be stolen' third. ’ith avin’ putt up a
like 'ob on Detective Dan Gilbert, under the be-
lief t at he was Major Cool, murder bein’ ther
object; fourth. ’ith bavin’, arter flndin’ thet
Aurelia Osman war not ther gal ye sought—
ther heiress 0V Ezra, ther Miser—pa t up a sec-
ond job ter slay Gilbert at ther Lay-out. an’ ab-
duct Leola Grattan, otherwise Lonise Dauthett,
ther real heiress; an’ etcetery. etcetery, yer
mamr oil’enses bein’ too numerous ter mention in
detail. VV’ot hev yo got ter 8:1 for yerself?”

And as Old Buckeye cone uded, he looked
steadily into the cruel, catlike orbs of the cap-
tive gambler.

“I ain‘t saying a word,” was the cold re-
sponse. “Breath is too precious just now to
idly waste it.” _

‘ True! ESPI‘GSIdin’ officer 0v this court, I
sentence ye ter be banged by ther neck till ye
aire deader’n a mackerel. Thcr only pity ail‘e
thet ve hev’n’t a neck fer each crime.

“ Now, Major George Washin ton . Cool, your
case aire naixt on ther docket. eaire char ed
’ith a multitude ov oflenses, chief among which
is an attempt upon ther life ov Aurelia Osman,
bekaso she refused an odor ov marriage from
ye. W’ot defense do ye offer?” ,

 

 

 

14 Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow.

 

 

 

“ I deny the charge,” promptly answered
Major COOL

“Oh! ye do? Carleton Osman, will ye tell
ther court w’at e know about ther matter!”

“ I have simp y this to say,” returned Osman.
“ The attempt was made at Golden City, and,
when ,thwarted, the prisoner swore to accom-

)llSl] his desi , sooner or later. Accordingly

l employed etective Gilbert here, and his
friend, the Featherweight, to take charge of
the case—the first to hunt down the wretch, the
second to act as guide until we had reached our
destiuation. Major Cool is guilty of the Offense,
as charged.”

“ Halter No. 2!” crisply uttered Old Buckeye.

“ Es fer ye, Cimarron Jack, I sentence ye ter
hang ’itheut trial. Thar’s no chaince fer ye ter
git ther benefit-ova doubt—ye aire too well
known. So, now, for’ard ’ith ’eIn. boyees, au’
hang ’em high. Ther tu’st tree beyond ther
bridge will do.”

lVith a wild yell the Canyonites surged out of
camp and the terrible decree of Judge Lynch
was carried out to the letter!

 

Little more needs to he told.

Upon the person of Peg-Leg Pete were found
documents establishing his identity and remov-
ing forever all doubt that he was innocent of
the murder of Ezra, the Miser.

In due course of time, Carleton Osman and
his daughter, together with the FeatheI‘WOight
and Belz Golightly, journeyed on to the
cam of owhar, where Osman had purchased
11 ha i in crest in a mine.

The oung guide, won from his nomadic life
by the ark eyes of Aurelia Osman, eventually
secured an interest in the mining property of
his former employer. There we leave him.

Louise Dauthett, together with Detective Gril-
‘bert and Eylan Buck, returned to her native
State, where she succeeded in establishin her
1 laim to the heritage of Ezra, the Miser. im-
in a year the heiress and the dashing Oflicer
were made one by the bonds of wedlock.

Old Buckeye shortly afterward returned to
the boundless West, where be yet roams, a
friend to the righteous, a terror to the evil-doer.

THE END.

Beadle’s Qiflie Library.

 

1 A HARD CROWD. B Philip S. Warne........  100
2 THE DARE-DEVIL. y Col. P. Ingraham. .  . 10c
11 KIT CARsON, JR. By Buckskin Sam . . . . . . . . . .. 10c
4 THE KIDNAPPER. BysPhili S. Warne . . . . .  10c
5 THE FIRE FIENDs. y A. . Morris. .. . . . . . . . .. 10c

6 WILDCAT BOB. By Edward L. Wheeler . . . .  10c
7 DEATII-NOTCII, TIIE DESTROYER. Oll Coomes. we
8 THE HEADLEss HORSEMAN. By Mayne Reid... 100
9 HANDY ANDY. By Samuel Lover . . . . . . . . . . 
10 VIDOCQ, THE FRENCH POLICE SPY. By himself. 100
11 MiDsHIPMAN EASY. By Capt. Maryatt _  10c
1‘1 THE DEATH-SHOT. B Capt. Mayne Reid... . 10c
13 PATHAWAY. By Dr. . H. Robinson..  .. .
14 THAYENDANEGEA. THE SCOURGE. Ned Buntline. 100
15 THE TIGER SLAYER. B Gustave Aimard.. .. . 10c

16 THE WHITE WIZARD. y Ned Buntline.  . . .. 100
17 NIGHTsnADE. By Dr. J. H. Robinson . . . . . .  100
‘18 THE SEA BANDIT. By Ned Buntline . . . . . . .  100
19 RED CEDAR. By Gustave Aimard. . . . .. . 10c

90 THE BANDIT AT BAY. By Gustave Almifd,” 10c
21 THE TRAPPER‘s DAUGHTER. Gustave Aimard . 10c

22 WHITELAW. By Dr. J. H. Robinsmi . . . . .. . 10c
23 THE RED WARRIOR. By Ned Buntline . . . . .. . 10c
24 THE PRAIRIE FLOWER. By Gustave Almard.. 100
25 THE GOLD GUIDE. By Francis Johnson. ... ... 10c

25 THE DEATH TRACK. By Francis Johnson .. . 10c
27 THE SPOTTER DETECTIVE. By Albert W.Aiken.. 10c
28 THREE-FINGERED JACK. Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 10c
29 TIGER DICK. THE FARO KING. P. S. Warne . 10c
30 GOSPEL GEORGE. By Joseph E. Badger. Jr , 10c
81 THE NEW YORK SHARP. By Albert W. Aiken.. 100
82 Fame 09' XALE. By John D. Vose   ,. 10c
33 OVERLAND KIT. By Albert W. Aiken ..  .
114 ROCKY MOUNTAIN ROD. By Albert W. Aiken.. 10c
.85 KENTUCK. THE SPORT. By Albert W. Aiken. 100

86 INJUN DICK. By Albert W. Aiken . . . . . . . . . . .. 10c
87 HIRI~ THE HUNCHEACK. By J. H. Robinson... 100
38 VELVET HAND. By Alhert W. Aiken. 10c

'39 THE RUSSIAN SPY. By Frederick Whittaker. 10c
40 THE LONG HAIRED ‘ PARDs.‘ J. E. Badger, Jr.. 10c

41 (101.1) DAN. By Albert W. Aiken. . .  10c
42 THE CALIFORNIA DETECTIVE. A. W. Aiken. . .. 100
4:1 DAKOTA DAN. By 011 Coomes .  , 10c
44 OLD DAN RACKDACK. By 011 (‘ooines . . . . . .  10c
45 OLD BULL’s EYE. By Jos. E. Badger. Jr.... . 100
46 BOWIE-KNIEE BEN. By Oll Coomes . . . . . .  10c
47 PACIFIC PETE. By Jos E.‘Badger, Jr ........ ,, 10c

48 IDAHO TOM. By 011 Coomes.
49 THE WOLE DEMON. By Albert W. Aiken...... 10c
50 JACK RABBIT. By Jos. E. Badger. Jr .. ., .
51 RED Ron. THE BOY ROAD-AGENT. Oll Coomes.. 10c
52 DEATHTRAILER. By Wm. F. Cody . . . . . . . . . . .. 100
53 SILVER SAM. By 001. Delle Sara . . . . . . . . . . .  10c
54 ALWAYS ON HAND. By Philip S. Warne...... 10c

55 THE SCALP HUNTERS. By Capt. Mayne Reid... 10c ,

 

56 THE INDIAN MAZEPPA. BV Albert W. Aiken. . .. 10c
57 THE SILENT HUNTER. By Perc B. St. John... 10c

58 SILVER KNIEE. By Dr. J. H. obinson...  100
59 THE MAN RROM TEXAS. B Albert W. Aiken. 10c
60 WIDE AWAKE. Bi Frank umont . . . . . . . . .  100
61 CAPTAIN SEAWAIE. Ba Ned Buntline . . . . . . . . .. 10c
62 LOYAL HEART. By ustave Aiiiiard,... . 00

 1
63 THE WINGED WHALE. BV Albert W. Aiken.... 10c 1

64 DOUHLE SIGHT. By Jos. E. Badger Jr. .. . . .. 10c
65 THE RED RAJAH. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker. 10c
66 THE SPECTER BARQUE. By Ca t. Mayne Reid... 10c
67 THE BOY JOCKEY. By Josep E. Badger, Jr... 10c
68 THE FIGHTING TRAPPER. By J. F. C. Adams. 100
69 THE IRISH CAPTAIN. B Capt. F. Whittaker. 10c
70 HYDRARAD. B ' Dr. J. . Robinson. .  10c
71 CAPTAIN COOL LADE. By Jos. E. Badger, J r.. 10c
72 THE PHANTOM HAND. By Albert W. Aiken . 10c
73 THE KNIGHT OF THE RED CRoss. By Dr. J.
H.Robinson....  .. ..  10¢
74 CAPTAIN OF THE RIFLES. Capt. Mayne Reid. 100
75 GENTLEMAN GEORGE. By Albert W. Aiken... 10c
76 THE UEEN’s MUsKETEERs. By Geo. Albany.. 10c
77 THE RESH OF FRISCO. By Albert W. Aiken.. 10c
78 THE MYsTERIous SPY. B ' A. M. Grainger.. .. 10c
79 JOE PREFIX: By Albert . Aiken  10¢
80 A MAN OF NERVE. B Philip S. Warne.... .. 10c
81 THE HUMAN TIGER. y'Albert W. Aiken..... 100
82 IRON WRIST. By 001. homas H. Monstery.. 10c
83 GOLD BULLET SPORT. By Buffalo Bill .. .. . 100
84 HUNTED DOWN. By Albert W. Aiken  .. 10c
85 THE CRETAN ROVER. By Col. P. Ingraham .. 10c
86 THE BIG HUNTER. Author 01' “Silent Hunter.“ 100

87 THE SCARLET CAPTAIN. By Col. Delle Sara... 10c ‘

88 BIG GEORGE. By Jose 11E. Bad er, J12... 100
89 THE PIRATE PRINCE. y Col. P. ngraham.... 100
90 WILD WILL. By Buckskin Sam . . . . . . . . . . . .. 10c
91 THE WINNING OAR. By Albert W. Aiken. . . 10c

92 BUFFALO BILL. By Major Dangerfield Burr .. 10c
93 CAPTAIN DICK TALBOT. By Albert W. Aiken. 10¢
94 FREELANCE, THE BUCCANEER. By In aham . 10c
95 AZHORT. THE AXMAN. By Anthony . Morris. 100
96 DOUBLE DEATH. By Capt. Fred. hittaker. . 10c

97 BRONZE JACK. By Albert W. Aiken .. .. 10c
98 THE ROCK RIDER. By Capt. F. Whittaker.. . 10c
99 THE GIANT RIPLEMAN. By 011 Coomes .. .. 10c

100 THE FRENCH SPY. By A. P. Morris. ..  1

101 THE MAN"FROM NEW YORK. By A. W. Aiken. 10c
102 THE MASKED BAND. By George L. Aiken  100
103 MERLE, THE MUTINEER. Col. P. Ingraham.. 10c
104 MONTEZUMA, THE MERCILEss. By lngraliam. 10c
105 DAN BROWN OE DENVER. B Jos. E Badger.. 100
106 SHAMUE O‘BRIEN. By Col. elle Sara . . 100
107 RICHARD TALBOT OF CINNADAR. By Aiken. 100
108 THE DUKE or DIAMONDs. By Fred.Whittaker. 10c

109 CAPTAIN KYD. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham . 10c ‘

110 THE SILENT RIPLEMAN By H W. Herbert . 10c
111 THE SMUGGLER CAPTAIN. By Ned Buntline. 100
112 JOE PHENix, PRIVATE DETECTIVE. Hy Aiken. 10c
113 THE SEA SLIPPER. By Prof. J. H. lngraham. 10c
114 THE GENTLEMAN FROM PIKE. By P. S. Warne 100
115 THE SEVERED HEAD. Bv Cant. F.Whittaker. 10c
116 BLACK PLUME. THE DEVIL OF THE SEA. By Col.
P.1ngraham  ‘ .  ..
117 DASHING DANDY. By Magor Daneerfield Burr. 10c
118 THE BURGLAR CAPTAIN. By J. H.1iigraham. 10c
119 ALABAMA JOE. By Joseph E. Bad er, Jr.... 10c
120 THE TEKAN SPY. By Newton M. urtis. . 10c
121 THE SEA CADET. BV Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 100
122 SAUL SARRERDAY. By Ned Buntline . 10c
128 ALAPAHA. THE SQUAW. By Francis Johnson. 10c
124 ASSOWAUM, THE AVENGER. Francis Johnson. 100

| 125 THE BLACKSMITH OUTLAW. By H. Ainsworth. 10c

126 THEDEMON DUELIST. By Col. T. H. Monstery. 100.
127 SOL SCOTT. THE MARKED MINER. By Badger. 10c
128 THE CHEVALIER CORsAIR. By the author of
“ Merle. the Mutineer." .  .. 100
129 MississIPPI MosE. By Edward Willett..... 10c
130 CAPTAIN VOLCANO. By Albert W. Aiken.  10c
131 BUOKsKIN SAM. By Col. Prentiss lnm‘aham.. 100
132 NEMO, KING or THE TRAMPs. By Capt. Fred.
Whittaker.... .  ..  . . . . . , . . .. 10c
133 RODY, THE ROVER. By William Carleton... 10c
134 DARKIE DAN. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 10c
135 THE BUsH RANGER. By Francis Johnson.... me
136 THE OUTLAW-HUNTER. By Francis Johnson. 10c
137 LONG BEARD, THE GIANT SPY. By OllCoemes. 10c
138 THE BORDER BANDITs. By FranCIs Johnson. ICC
139 FIRE-EYE. THE SEA HYENA. By Ina'rahani 10c
140 THE THREE SPANIARDs. By George Walker.. 10c
141 EQUINox TOM. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. . .. 1043
142 CAPTAIN CRIMSON. By Major Dangerfield Burr 10c
143 THE CEAR’s SPY. By Thos. H. Monstery. . .. 10c
144 HUNCHEACK 0F NOTRE-DAME. Victor Hugo.. 10c
145 PIsTOL PARDs. By Wm. R. Eyster ..  .. 10c
146 THE DOCTOR DETECTIVE. By eorg‘e Lemuel 10c
147 GOLD SPUR. By Col. Prentiss 1ngraham....
148 ONE-ARMED ALE. By 011 Coomes .
119 THE BORDER RIFLES. By Gustave Aimard.. 100
150 EL RURIO BRAVO, THE KING ON THE SWORD-
MEN. By Col. Thomas HO er Monstery. .. . 10c
151 THE FREEBOOTERS. B ustave Aimard.... 100
152 CAPTAIN IRONNERVE. V Marmaduke Dey . 10c
153 THE WHITE SCALPER. y Gustave Aimard. 10¢
154 JOAQUIN. THE SADDLE KING. By J. E. Badger. me
155 THE CORSAIR QUEEN. By Ce]. P. Ingraham. me
156 VELVET FACE. By Major Dangerfield Burr. 100
157 MOURAD. THE MAMELUKE. By 001. Thomas
Hoyer Monstery . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . 100
158 THE DOOMED DozEN. By Dr. Frank POWell... 10c
159 RED RUDIGER. By On it. Fred’k Wliitiaker.. 100
160 so” HAND, SHARP, y William R. Eyster.. 100
161 THE WOLVES OF NEW YORK. ByA.W. Aiken. 10c
162 THE MAD MARINER. By Col. P. Tna‘l‘aham. 100
163 BEN BRION, THE TEA PPEI‘. CAPTAIN: 01:.RED-
PATH, THE AVENGER. By Dr. J. H. Robinson. 10c
164 THE KING’S FOOL. By C. 1). Clark  10
165 JOAQUIN. THE TERRIBLE. By Jos. E. Badger. 10c
166 OWLET, THE BORDER PRINCE. By Septimus
R.Urhan    
167 THE MAN or STEEL. By A. 1’. Morris ..... .. 100

O

3

168 WILD BILL. THE PIsTOL DEAD SHOT. By Col.
Prentissln ham.. .   . 
169 CORPORAL ANNON. By Col. Monstery...... 100
170 SWEET WILLIAM. By Jos. E. Badger .Jr . 10c

171 TIGER DICK. THE MAN or THE IRON HEART.

By Philip S. Warne.
172 THE BLACK PIRATE. By Col. Ingraham.... 100
173 CALIFORNIA JOHN. B Al-bert W. Aiken . . . . .. 10c

‘, 174 PHANTOM KNIGHTS. y Capt. F. Whittaker. 10C
1 175 WILD BILL's TRUMP CARD. By Major Burr. 10c
I 176 LADY JAGUAR. By ('a1~t.MaI-k Wilton... 100
i 177 DON DIARLO. By Col. Prentiss lnzraham. 100
i 148 DARK DAsHW con. By Major S. S. Hall. 100

17'9 CONRAD. THE ("ONVICT Prof. S. Gildersleeve. we
180 OLD 49- BY Joseph E. Badger, Jr..  1
181 THE SCARLET SCHOONER. By COLIngI-aham, me
182 HANDS UP. B Wm. B. Eyster. 
183 GILBERT. THE GUIDE. By (‘, Dunning Clark. 100
184 THE OCEAN VAMPIRE. By Col. P. Ingraham. 10c
185 MAN SPIDER. By A. P. Morris .. . . ..
186 THE BLACK BRAVO. By Buckskin Sam.... 10c
187 THE DEATH‘s-HEAD CI‘IRASSIERE. Whittaker. 10c
188 PHANTOM MAZEPPA. Major Dangerfield Burr. 100
189 WILD BILL’s GOLD TRAIL. By P. Ingraham. 10c
190 THE THREE GUARDSMEN. By Alex. Dumas. 10c
191 THE TERRIBLE TONKAWAY. By Buckskin Sam. ICC
192 THE LIGHTNING SPORT. By Wm. R. Eyster. 100
193 THE MAN IN REP. By Capt. F. Whittaker. 100
191 DON SOMRRERO By Captain Mark \Vilton . 10c
195 THE LONESTAR GAMBLER. By Buckskin Sam. 1

1 196 LA MARMOSET. By Albert .Aiken...  10c
1 197 REVOLVER ROB. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr... 10c

 

I 198 THE SKELETON SCHOONFR. By P.1ngraham. 10c
, 199 DIAMOND DICK. By Buckskin Sam. .. . 1

I 200 THE RIFLE RANGERs. By Capt. Mayne Reid. 100
201 THE PIRATE on THE PLACERs. B’y Badger. 100
202 CAC'I'US JACK. By Captain Mark ’ilton.... 10c
203 THE DOI'BLE DETECTIVE. By A. W. Aiken.. 100
204 BIG FOOT WALLACE. Bv Buckskin Sam .. 100
205 THE GAMBLER PIRATE. y (‘01. P. Ingraham. 100
206 ONE EYE. THE CANNONEER. By “hittaker.. 100
207 OLD HARD HEAD. BV PhlllD 8.Warne...  100
THE WHITE CHIEF. By Ca t. Mayne mid. 10C
1 209 BUCK FARLEY. l'y Edwar WIllett.... . .
210 BUCCANEER Bass. By Prentiss Invraham .. 10c
211 THE UNKNOWN SPORT l’y Ca 1. Whittaker. 10c
2 2 THE BRAzos TIGERs By Buc<skin Sem.. . 10c
218 THE “ AR TRAIL. By Captain Mayne Reid. 100
- THE Two COOL SPORTs. B Wm. B. Eyster. 19c
215 PARsoN JIM. By Captain red. Whittaker. 10c
216 THE CORSAIR PLANTER. By (‘01.Ineraham. 100
217 THE SERPENT OF EL PAso By Buckskin Sam. 100
218 THE WILD HUNTREss. By Capt. Mayne Reid. 10c
219 THE SCORPION BROTHERs. By Ca t. Wilton. inc
2211 THE SPECTER YACHT. By Lol..P. ngraham. 10c
2.21 DEEPERATE DUKE. By Buckskin Sam..  0c
222 BILL, THE BLIZZARD. By Edward Willett... 10c
223 CANYON DAVE. By Ca tain Mark Wilton . 10c
224 BLACK BEARD. By (‘0 . Prentiss lnizruham.. 10c
225 ROCKY MOUNTAIN AL. By Buckskin Sam... 10c
226 MAD HusSARs. By Ca tain Fred. Whittaker. 10c
227 BI‘CKSHOT BEN. By .aptain Mark Wilton. 10c
228 THE MAROON. By Capt. Mayne Reid . . . . . .. 10c
229 CAPTAIN CI‘TRLEEVE. By William R. Eyster. 10c
230 THE FLYING DUTCHMAN or 1880. By Capt.

Frederick Whittaker  . .. 1

231 THE KID GLOVE MINER. By Col. Inzraham. 10c
232 OBSON Oxx. THE MAN or IRON. By Isaac

.30
8

Hawks. Fix-Detective. .. .  . me
238 THE OLD BOY 0F TOMRsTONE. By Joseph E.
Badger. Jr me

234 THE HUNTrRs’ FEAST. By Capt. Mayne Reid. 100
235 BED LIGHTNING, THE MAN or CHANCE. By

(‘olonel Prentiss lngraham ..  .  ..
236 CHAMPION SAM. By (‘01. Thos. H. Monstery. 10c
237 LONG-HAIRED MAX. B Capt. Mark Wilton.. 10c

Bis HANK HOUND. By A. .Morris.. .  10.3
239 THE TERRIBLE TRIO. By Buckskin Sam. . .. 10c
240 A COOL HEAD. B lsanc Hawks. .  me
241 SPITPIRE SAUL. ly Joe. E. l’adzer. Jr. . . . . 10c
242 THE FOG DEVIL. ‘y Capt. Fred. Whittaker. 10c
243 THE PILGRIM SHARP. 17y Buffalo Bill . . . . . .. 100
244 MERCILEss MART. Py l'uckskin Sam. ..  100

215 PARRANCA FILL. I‘y (‘a t. Mark Wilton 10c
246 QUEEN HELEN. By Col. rentiss IIiEraham. 10c
247 Amanon Inc. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker. 100
«w: MONTANA NAT. By Edward Willett. . 10c
249 ELEPHANT TOM. 1‘3 Jr‘s. E. Fadger. Jr. . . . 10:3
250 THE ROUGH RIDERS. 1‘y l’uckskin Sam. .. 100
251 TIGER DICK vs. IRON DrsPARD. By'Warne. 10c
252 THE WALL STREET FLOOD. By A. ll ._ Aiken. 10c
253 AYANKEE COSE‘ACK. By (‘a t. F. \\ hittaker. 10¢
954 GIANT JAKE. Py Newton .Curtis. . me
255 THE PIRATE PRIEST. By Col. P. Ingraham. 10¢
256 DOUBLE DAN. THE DASTARD. BuckskmSam. 10c
257 DEATH-TRAP DIGGINGs. l-‘y Jos. E._l‘adger. 100
258 BULLET HEAD. By Cafitai“ Mark \\ ilton  100
259 CUTLAss AND Cnoss. y Col. P. Ingraham. 100
260 THE MASKED MYSTERY. By A. P. Morris. .. 10c
261 BLACK SAM. By Colonel Jo Yards . . . . . . . . . .. 100
262 FIGHTING TOM. By Col. T.H. Monstery...... 10c
263 TRON-ARMED ADE. By Capt. Mark ll ilton. .. 100
264 THE CROOKED THREE. B Buckskin Sam... me
265 OLD DounLE-SWORD. By .a t. F. Wliitjaker. 100
266 LEOPARD LUKE. By Capta R Mark Wilton . 10c
I 267 THE WHITE SQUAW. By Capt. Mayne Reid. 10c

 

268 MAGIC MIKE. By William R. E ster. ..  100

. 269 THE BAYOU BRAVO. By Bucks in Sam we

1 270 ANDRos. THE FREE ROVER. By Ned Buntline. 100

i 271 STONEPIsT. OF BIG NUGGET BEND. By Capt.

‘ Mark Wilton .. ,  v.,_ ;" 10¢

‘ 272 SETH SLOCUM. By Ca tain Fred. “hittaker. 100

I 273 MoUNTAIN MosE. By ucks in Sam . . . . . . . .. 100
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.7 PHILIP 8. “'AI‘N R.

Pow-ulnthor Joe. 1, Old Roma-nap, tho Chow.

'igl‘l Captain ) fizoom , or, innt-leutlwr loo I Bl; Bong,
‘Iifli Captain Monk; or, Patent-loathe! lna'o [Wei-3L,
a!!! nonparll». the lbuelintt or, 'l‘ho Muuntnic. Vompiroo.
A 'l'on rh lioy | or, The Dwnri'n anungo.
lllttlo ’l‘ornudoi Or, The Ouwluu ot’ tho (3.2m
Little Jillgo; or, the Quoer Pnnl.
Little (ill-my! or, Canine ln lilo Own Trap.
41” Little Alum-i ly or, A Race for n Ranch
43" Little LentlIor-llreeohen: or. Old 1mm or“.
“I Little All Mn; or, 'l'hu Curoo 0! Blood.
45] Colorado Rate. A 1‘qu oi‘tho allnoo.

0 Three Jolly l’urdo.
5|? Im Gludden‘o llcput ,
*2? in: Jolly I’urdo to t o Roma.

flea
’13]
' $35“

a
1
1.

BY CAPTAIN FRED. wall?th

[5 h fie..()gt; or. The wan 0! button.
29 i Dumb Pa 0 m, The Dog“ Doormat.
Darling. t no any Expreu Rider.
150 Lance and Lana: nr, The Chlldnu )f the Chooo
154 The Sword Hunter-ox ur. Tho 14ml )l'thu Elo bozo BM
“59 The lontlilaptalnt or, Skippol lobe- Collln’o to on.
O 11 Polar Son.
.00 The Boy Bedouin" or. The Brother! M an Hon-n my...
2] 4 Wolfgang. the Rubber oi the Rhlno
MP anal Homer. tho Animal King; or. Tho Rana loo Wm:
'nm war.
.65 The TI er Tumor; or. Tho Leon- otdao Jam.
I lllIu-k §Iok. thu Damon Rider.
E'- California Joe’o \Var Trail.

3" BUCKSKIN 8AM (Major Sam. A. Halli
35! "Id llocky‘o "Boyeeu” or. Ben-t0. Nu You: Hono-

Bruaknr.
34h Giant George; or, Tho Anz‘l o! the Kongo.
275 Arizona Jack 3 or, Giant Goorgu’o Punt.
.97 The Turnutula ui‘ Tam-L or, Giant Georgo'o Ravens.
30? The Htranze Part! or, lulu Bon’o 1)”th Hunt.

13 Rehwhuop. Ker-w no: or, The 'I'nrnntnia nf’l‘mo.
82? Creeping (Jot. the Cuddo; (".le Red and Whm Powh-
 Iri'll-Iio {Iro'o‘lr' or. g‘he'Tonkaw'l Trust. h

‘ o ‘ t n. r 0: pr. alileannkefl. oTunkowo .
B49 \Vlld “*0”; or, Illa-Foot Wallace in the Fr-‘ni. ,
85? The Ranch Raiders nr, Thu Sloga oi Fort Pom-W}
864 Ewan-Shot. the Boy longer.
an; Ciliotu. the Creel” nr, Thu Throw Thunderbolt.
8R! Ilandera ill": or Frlo Frank to tho Front,
89% Ilmneo and the Redo. or. Tho Bola-nerd m
M4 thtlo Lurlllti or "mm PW" 3|: Romp-ao-
ill ll."   R M...
‘ o ‘ roe ‘rn on; or. M- on tho‘
142 [Huff Bill; or, The Lynx of the Lama
455 Little Lone Start or. The Belle oftho 01m

87 EDWARD WILLE‘I‘I‘.

a 6? Ann Scott, tho Steamboat Buy.

,199 P‘entherwoluht: the llov Champion of than looking“
328 ilznrk ‘\Ii' nr. ‘r-ulwnwlgh' Among the! motion.

9“? The Typo let-ectlve: or, Wanna], the Boy 1‘!qu-
296 Fearleno Phil; nr. Thu King or‘Qnortmlle.

iii l The Roving: snort: or,'l‘iw Prhlo oi Chuck-luck Camp.
822 Nemo. the Detective; or. Kit Ken on! ‘lomiotu
“0 Clip, the Contortioniot; or,.'l‘he ontono Vigil-poo.

BY J; 0- COWDRICK.

680 alhehflmk the Mon of Myote .
3"” Slum-Lu, the hold Kim.” or, gr Seven I... M
“0 'gho Detective’o Avprentlcet M. A Boy WM .

HIM.
‘94 Clhuta Johnt or. Red-Hot Tllnoouf ‘. a“.
‘39 Mundy Sam. the Strerx Scout.
4‘” "'“001lnn. tlm nam- mm..-
llrondwuy lililv. than Roothlnck Burt.

506 Red“ hi. Rnl h, th» Prlncv ortho Road.
6‘4 Ram‘hwfll! llllv‘o lio'odlo.

e ‘nil no -r I etcct \‘m
“a “Po-who: mny'. ‘ mummy.-

BY J0 PIERCE.

09? Bob 0' the Bower : or The P11de “0‘.
415 Tho Vagabond nogyem've. or. Bowery on“
150 lloto ur lloh. iho Strut-Boy Demuvo.
4"" The Anwyer’l Shadow; or, Luko'l 1m.
 inu‘l‘lytyflfiezhthonounx Hone-Kan.
“r 8
50% glvfi Eon“. Phi;ng Forrymon Dem
so no a zero. the Bx t h Bo ,
5m Tartar lmt 01:. Five $3.3. p.~.'n»’."‘m'.:.q.
526 North lllver N lit. the Pier Dome},in
i588 Wren-glint Rex. tho Prldn ofthe Sixth Word.
541 Jel’ r llcker. the Stablo Boy mm“...

BY CAPT. MARK WILm_

on Young Kentuckl 0;, Tho Rm W.
I?" Blizzard Rent or, ’1 ho Riot ni Kono cm
'88 J ooh, the Boy Tendon-foot.

In? CAPTAIN MAYNE um,

7’! Blue nick: or, Tim Yellow ChloPo Vonmm‘

8? The Land Pirate! 0': TM 1‘3"“ 0" “WWI hind.
13'? The Ilel leoo "an t at. Backwwdo Rctdhufio“
089 The Cola-miter Guidei 0!. Tho Loot Manchu,

RY MAJoR mtle n. BTODDARD. Fix-BM

:2: Ne°k'T'e Ned; or,Thu Due-Out Paulo.

“in :3“ '01- Ba lmolt or. The Swornlmu-n MM“

398 [El "Elch 'It. the Dnndv ui’xlu- Rnt'klud.

‘06 TLd-ixlove Kit nml Laid: or, rum an” m“.
mush Mud lllnn-lluntcrz or, The Dir-tor, u .6“

.05 Powell’s Para 1 w. Thu One-Ali Giant

BY unwmmmnu “lentil”L
I. Ilhnll III!“ or, Tho 7’91. ol'tlm Inmi‘. -r

lTIIe contain r V ‘ J ‘ .
l Jack flarkaou..:h1:kl:: 03,20 Rive-t Dim

 

B" ALBERT \V. AIKEN.

II The Two Detectives; or,’l'ho Fortunol olo Boo-y Girl.
76 Aim (Volt. "I" Chm Killer.
79 Sol (ill-nor. ll!" 0mm. 'I'ruppur.
mm Joe Ith 0| Ansel-t uml III-n Roy l'aHl.
44? New York Nah. A Tqu of ’l‘rlcko :qu Trop- in GM
458 Now En rInml Nicki or, The Furtnnoo oi o m.
464 Nimble . 'lek, the Circus l’rlnco.
498 'l‘no- Tod, lmv Arilnnn S mrt,
610 Cool Colorado, tho Hull-liwod Dem
515 Cool Colorado in Now York.

BY GEDRGE “'ALDo BlioWl'l.‘

80 Ilnntl Rook tln- Mnn frnm'l‘oxno.
90 The I reml Iliclera or. Tho 'l'axnn Duomi.
99 The ’l‘luor oi'Tnnnt or. Dandy liork’n Aug-L
Ill} The Mail Miner: or, Dnmlv Rock'u Dnom.
Ill] The Golden "and: nr. Dnmiv Rock to th' Room
[64 Dandy Rook‘a Pledge] or. Hunwi m Dunn.
ms Dandy Rock’s Rival. or, Tho Haunted umum

BY CAPT. J. F. C. ADAMS.

34 "page" Roi: or Nirk Whlfl‘le-o‘o Boy Spy,

46 Glnnn. Eye. tho éhlfll Shot of tho West.

54 Veil Ilnzel the Bov Trapper.

50 mm wunlu-n rem or. I», 1m. Vail" «new,

60 The \Vhlto lndinnt or,’l‘h« Scout afthu Yullom

T0 0M 'IJ ’II Cabin: or. ’l‘lm Grm-nlmrn in tho Wood;

F“ lollrlltn I Jo. [he Turn-r oi ills Pmlrlu,

85 Buck iim-krnmt M. “was. tlm Ft'nmle Tm m,
847 illd Grizzly and “In Pot-t or, Thu Wll Hunt.
251 Light-hum“l Lice; or. Oomnln, tho Flrehrnnd
26? The Loot "unto-r03 or 'l‘lm Undo-"(found Ca".
288 TI“; sea") Klng' ..r, Tho llnmnn Thundorouo.

ll Y ROGER STARBUCK

25 The Boy Cnptninl mn'l'h" Pinto-’- Dnmm.
114 The Black firhoonert or. Jib .lnnk. tho Old Tn.
259 The Golden "nu-noon: or. Mr! Amolm tho Plan.
843 Fire-"twin: nr, OM Sklnfllut. tin- Daub-Shadow.
854 Big Horn Ike. the “III Tramp; or, Thou M
Mil The Phantom Light-house.
81‘0 llreakor lien, tho Roof-Runner.

BY “'ILLIAM R. EYSTEB.

190 Dandy Dal-kc. 01. Thu len of High Pino.
910 Faro Frank. 0!, Dandy Durka’o Gobowo

IIY Cultflfl EL DICLLE SARA.

108 The Lion ofthe Hoax 0v, Tho Volled LN?-
!86 Cool Desmond: or. The flomblor'o Blg (long
BY HARRY “1'. Gil-Illflllo

00 Roaring Rnlnh lim'kwomi, Ina Rnnror.

44 Rnttllnfi Iluho: 0!. Tho Nluhllmwko n Koala”.

59 Old Ilk- ory‘ m, Pnndv Elllo’o Srnln.
‘03 During Davy; or. Th.- Tnul om.» Bord" Wolf.
1036 Hickory "urrvu or, Tho Tm ur-erondo'o a"
[73 Thunderbolt Tom; or. tho nit-Herd".

DY JAMES l. BOWEN

l0? One]! ed Him; or, Tim Abandoned Faust Homo.
110 The B nck Steed oi'fllo l’ruirioo. A Biol-yd I“

DY C. DUNNING CLARK.

185 Captnin Pnnl: or, The Buy Spv of tho Mountain.
280 The Yankee Rajah; or. ThoTnto of tho Bloch M

“Y GEilllGl’. C. JENKI.
2:: Fr :2” 
l t or wnoy I e
.18 The Demon Doctor. I".

BY ouvr. ALFRED n. TAYMB, u. o. o.
I91 milk}: Billy, tho Boy Hollow or. 1!. M
194 Bulfan mm. Boil or. Tho Gum autos.

BY CHARLES E- mm

M Hurt Bunker mom .
on The White nlm'alo. pm“. a u.- 1cm

DY JIIIIN J. MARSHALL-

“ Roving Don. A Sun oio Y on: Am-
" TM outlow Brother-i or, ll‘ho (.‘opilvo olfio m

BY WM. 0. I’ATTKN.

489 The Dianna d fl Tin Douhll looo d u
610 Cu tain M)'=:er “:3; Orla'ln Ono. “
“1 Da y bare, the gpll’! from Douvor.

BY MAJoII E. L. 31'. VILAII.

m Rnnoho Pedro the Boy Bandit.

30] L.-mlvlllo Niel: tho Boy Sport.

312 Redton Rube, ch. wen-m PrlncI.

mm “rim-tone "oh, and Hip nghtnlnz Hon.

852 Tombutone Tom, the Arlzono Boy ol'“s.md,r
{.9 Illil"i|'l,i"il‘: airy, w. \‘ un-- H: - u ‘ my“.
371 \' III! 0 r «the Young uni-Shel Dum-
3R0 Avnlnm-ho Ali’. th» Fonthlllo Guido. ‘
890 Jill'llfll‘ Joe. of tho Mountnlu Mull-Lil“,

BY EDWARD S. ELLIS.

. 6 Bl" "I'd loll. ‘l‘nqwxnb
R Seth . (Dill‘li or. ' .. “mm” M"... FM u
‘0 Nut 'l‘mld: 0', Th.- F‘nm of“ ‘ H or.
:1 The Prong?!“ Ana-pl "‘ Sioux Lnntlvo.
3 The Ihuyl nor-o: .."T,W v) , u
"*2 The "ma u-mem T;:.‘.::':,.;:,:'.'?I“m
95“ 'l‘lw ll IIIf-lllnmi r 1,7, Th“ mum!" of m. “Mn
2?! The ""39 “""t‘Wl 0'. Tim Sit-am Prolrio M‘

'Y mum: Lawn: w. cums”.

m The 'I‘hree'l'ra urn; ' h . m
.88 Mon Joex 0',  wmi'héfigmfli‘é'm '

 

0" W. Jr IIAMILNN‘
.8 Th. lied Brotherhood I or. Tho Tod" AM
Ci! Single "and. x, A Lllu furo Lilo
f” Mail ’l‘moo Wcotcrn. Us" Tun“ W-
”? lion Bird. tho Covo Km, or, Bl. Pola'o m

R" J ACK FARRAGU'I'.

I“ Nod. the Cabin lloy.
UM I'M in W. «.7» no.”

BY I'll ARK DITIIIB'I.
II. The Branded "and. n, '0» loud I”
I.“ Wild-Fire. tho Booo oi tho Ila...
MI! Blue Illnzcoo or, m. N .7 Day Doro II ltd. k'v
I71 Ebony Dunu or, Tho Rlvon horn-o.
185 Evil Eyo; or, Tho Valium at tho Rio lira“.

8T LIEUT. II. D. PERRY. U. I. I.
“0 The Boy Runaway] or. Tho Buoconooo elm hp
180 The Rea Trailer; I. A You Well Kopt.
I” Captain Kit, or. Tho Mystery 0! Mum Pom.

BY HARRY HAZARD.
on Arknnoaw Jack I m. Tho Scourge of tho lilooo
“l, lied-Skin 'l‘ollu or, Tho Domnn'o 'l‘rnll.
MB The Mountain Devil; 0:. Yellow Inch. moo...»

DY (301. L l". HOLT.

899 Blank Buckoklm of, 'l’ho Mookod No: no...”
A]. Kenneth, tho Knli'o-Klng.
on Little Lizhti'oot, tho Pilot 0! tho Woodo.

BY J. W. 08180!—

00. The Riv-l Giunto oi’ Nowhar’.
m Cat-tun Bun. tho MM- fmm Hard Loot.
0" .10 Bankqu tho 5am Shodow.

BY nucnunwx miwu.

"ii Clmarron Jack, tho King-Pln of Rule-8|.“
I?! Tnnzemumi. tho Donn hotectlvo.
m The Canyon Paulo.

MISCELLANEOUS ACTIID“
I he \Vlid-lloroe lluntoro. By Coot. loro ~~ ‘-
durich Wluttnkur.

0 Adventures: of Baron lilo-channel»
I. Gulliver'o Truveio. ll)- Deo: hwifl.
14 Aladdlni or. Thu Woodarnt Lamp
I! Robin-on Cruooe. (21 llluotrotlonm
IO Sludbad the Sailor. HI! 80in Vo'y‘o.
DB  Sea serpent: mnTho Boo Molnar: Ono-m on m

v' I.

“The ilceon Bloodhoun‘I or, foo It“. (In... .
Corrlburo By S W Plorco ’ u”

no {his no: Clowul or. 11:- Qooc. nmom .Iy '.. no
nn. ‘

.fi Ned Wylde. tho Boy Scout. Dy rm 1“

5] image: Rifle-i 0'. 'lho OWL“ Comp Or Mk.
‘. r .

.5 The Rival lion-rot or, 'm. m a a um.
By Uout.-Col. llmltlno.

w 1:202!"  mom-m "- “M

I05 Old Rube, the Hunter; or,1‘ho cm Coptivo ll] Cog-tofu.
Hmnllton llolmuo.

III The Mad Hunter; or, 'l'boCou «(booth 0' man.

I“  the Texanl or. Tho nun] Mum ll" Goo-yo

I” The Young Privateer] no. 11» Mo Ma. to

lnrry Cnvcndllh.
I“ Rimrp flum; or, Tho Adan“ 01 o Mod). M. )9! ‘¢\
Alexandur Patton.
"7 Duoky Darrell. 1"“ ' °" m an“ m" u a. "l"
lowliono‘ By Edwfl'd m‘
..1 Earn“ [mum-.31", tho Nov Volt Boy I) m i.
on.

980 Killb'ar. the Quidou ohm" W. M M
By Enoign C. I). Vi urn-u.

898 Red Claw. thu- Ono-Ede “WM on m t“, '1‘.
By Cnptmn (‘uu-utm-k CM

81’! Peacock Polo. llm leoly 1‘4 9... w,“ m “-
temult Allnd Thnrno

as The sky Ibo‘c-otlveg or, A anth I!- Lilo-Olivia!
By Mal-w Mickry Fro».

.50 Rod Ralph. the River Revolt 9' W“ We tr
vougo. By Nod Buntllno.

.65 Baltimore lion. the Boolhloek Doioctiw. “\v A. y ‘m
I74 Q'lllil-l'llht Tom. on, Bau'o Danni. Homh.‘ 13;, M 5,,
I “no.

I16 (‘llllli'ornln .lue‘o First Troll. h Colo-m than

I nyu-r \lnnnlery.
.13 Billy llonllrlhell. “'0 (31m C‘l’T-NI  I ‘ ‘W
440 Little Foxt'oot. thouom Bowio Ina morn-no m
‘75 The Rim-k iii-In. “V Juno 3, Wm"?
‘84 (‘umnnolm "It-It and Ill!- Three [BMW "5

an n. .l. 'l‘iu mum.

5235 “'lzurd-Arln. lh- Danny Sport fly mom I “out
“it The Cowboy "aka 3, mm", m. has.“
A New home Every Tuesday
Tho Ilulf-Inme Library n ma an. M u. nudww:
out" 00". or uni by mum on woolpt oi d! now I‘ll-
BICADIJL AN!) ADAMS. Panama!» ,
o. nun-:- own a, .  "-7 l”

 

‘2‘“.

_._._‘4’—

.. w... __

r

l
i
a
i
i

 
 
  
     
    
  
 
  
 
   
 
 
  
 
 
  
   
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
   
   
   
   
    
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
  

.-_.....—.

   

 

BEADLE’SarHALF-DIMEateLIBRARY.

Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

 

 

BY EDWARD L “WHEELER.
Deadwood Dlek Novels.

1 Deadwood Dlek, the, Prim-.3 of the Road.
20 Double Daggerui or, Deadwood llir-k‘n Dnflnncq,
2 "1|!!qu lien; or, )endwomi Dink in iii-guise.
“r! \‘VIIG lVlllI. ilm Buy Claude llural.
‘ l'hautoln Miner; or, Deadwood lliek'l Bonanza.
Dinah“ ("Ii .r llemlwhod Dirk in Diuixer.
5 Deadwood )leli'n Eagle»; or, The l’ardl oi Flood Bar.
" Deadwood Dick on Dealt: or. t‘uiiunity Jane,thu llurolno.
(‘ordaroy Charlie; Hr. l’cmlwwd Dick's but Act.
100 Dead“ ood Dink in Leudrllle.
10-1 Dead wood Dlok‘u De\ leer or. The Doubla Cruu Sign.
N . Deadwood Diet. an Detective.
12!, Deadwood Dlek‘u Double: or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s
Gull'li.
13“ "lulltle Bill: 0". Deadwood Dil‘k’n Home Base.
1-19 .\ Game of Gold; or. lh-nJWuod Dick's Digr Strike.
156 Deadwood Diek oi' Deadwood; or. The Picked l’urt .
195s Deadwood Dlek'n Dream; or, 'l he Rimln oi' the. Rom .
201 The lilaek “llll Jezebel; or, Deadwood ll‘t'k’fl Ward.
20.”) Deadwood Dlek‘n Doom; or, Cuhunity June‘u Lint. Ail-
venture.
917 (.‘nptaln Cravk-flhoi, the Girl Br! And.
22] Fuuar-(‘oaled Ham: or, The Blue Gown.
' Gold-Dani, Dick. A ltoruunve oi linuuh . and Touch.
2”” Deadwood Diet": Divide; or. Tim hpirt ot'Swmnp Luke.
26K Deadwood Diek’u Death 'l'rail.
I509 Deaduood lllek'u Big Deal; or, The Gold Brick of
Hugo“.
“2| Deadwood Diek‘a Dozen: or, The, Fukir oil'hantnm Firm.
847 Deadwood Diek'n Dueatu; or, lininy Days in the Dig-
glam.
851 Deadwood Dlel.‘ sentenced: or. The ’l‘errihle \‘endettu.
562 Illeaduood Dlek‘u Claim; lil', ’l‘hu Fuiry Fact) or Faro
“lulu.
405 Deadwood Dlek in Dead City.
410 Illentdwood lilt-k‘u Diamond-n; or, The Mystery 0! Joan
’urler.
421 Deadwood Dick In New York; or, A “ Cute Care.”
430 Deadwood Dix-km Duut; or, ’l'hu Chuineri llund.
4 ll Deadwood Dlek, Jr.
4 ill Niekel-l’late Ned; «Iv, Deadwood Dirk .lr's Defiance.
4.3: T‘nn‘IIoner hum, ot Shanta; or, Uizuclwomi Dick Jr’s Full
“lit .
4T9 Flu-nit Fun, the Ferret; or, Deadwood lhvk Jr’a Big Round-

1

5-m-
=0-

3::

A

u
o

v
v

is

I l.

465 l’llllo Fly, of l'hunix; or, Deadwood. Dick Jr’n Racket. at

"lllllll l0.

7| llt'rzeman lllllt 0r. Deadwood llh'k Jr’s (‘orrnL

476 "lllllboldt Harry, the Hurricane; or, Deadwood chll Jr’s
ling Detective.

43] M0“ hlyntcry‘ or, Demiwtmd Dir k Jr. in Deadwood,

41H l’rlnee I'Intol, the King of the “'01; or, Deadwood Dick
Jr’s Conn-art. .

496 Monte (Jr-Into, Jr.x or. Deadwood l)ll'k Jr’n inheritance.

500 Deadwood Dlek’n Dlgfilnga; or, Dr. Death-Guy’s Swoop.
Deadwood Diek'n De vernnec.

5|?» Deadwood Dir-k"- l'rotezee.

522 Deadwood Diek'n Three.

6'29 Deadwood Diek’n Danger Duekn.

581 Deadwood Dlok‘u Death Hunt.

539 Deadwood Dlek Jr., In Texan.

61-1 Deadwood Dink, Jr., the Wild West Vidocq.

5:

Other Novel» by E. L. “'heeler.

96 Clove“ llooi‘, the liuil‘ulo Demon.
82 liols \Vooli'; or, The Girl Dead-Shot.
80 Death-Fume. llvtective; or, Lu. in New York.
45 "Id Avalunehe ur, Vi'lld Edna, thu Girl ilrigmd.
58 Jim lllndnoe. r., the lioy Pimnlx.
(ll Buekhorn “III; or, The lied lliilu Team.
'09 Gold Rifle the Shnr nslnmter: or, Th. 5., . “Horn”.
80 lion-had I ob or, ugget Ned, the Kulght.
“4 ldyl, the “III . inert 0?. lU-Ielmd Rob on Hand,
88 Photo risle l'llllt or, Rulehull lloh’s Disappearance,
92 Ullllll n (i net; or, 0M Aunt-midi. in sitting Bull'g (Ir-mp.
96 “’nteh-l“. e; or, Arahl und Aug-sis ul‘u Great City.
113 Jul-k "av 15 the Young Smcuintor.
117 Gllt- Cdflcd "lek, the Sport lleivt'tlvo
IE1 (‘innamou Chi-p, the Girl Sport.
I935 Bornnnza llill Miner.
‘88 Ila-tn liob the king of Boothlackn.
141 Solid tiara the Boy Road-Agent.
[45 Captain Ferret, the New York Detoctivo; or, Boss Bob's

on Job.

161 New York Nell tho Boy-Girl Detective.
17? Nobb Nick of flevuda; or, Thu Sierra Scamps.
181 “’ild rank, the Buckskin Bravo.
209 Frltz, the Bound-Boy Detective.
218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Vantriioquist Hunter.
.26 Snoozer. the Boy Sharp; or, The Arab “gum”.
286 Apollo "Ill, the Trail Tornado.
240 C elone Kit, the Young Gladiator.

44 ‘ erru Hum, tin. Frontier Ferret.

1

B48 S--erru fialn'n Secret; or’i‘The Bloody Foot rrlnto.

253 liner-re Sam‘s Purd; or. he Angel or Big in...
258 fl-erra Sma’n Seven; or, The Stolen Brida.

278 Jumbo Joe the Buy Patrol; or, The Rival Hairs.

277 Denver Dol’l. the Detective Queen.

Bill Denver Doll'n Victory.

3‘5 Denver Doll’s Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Eon-nu.

Bill Turk, the Day Ferret.

296 Denver Doll’n Drii'tTt or. The Rand Queen.

299 A No. 1. the bushing oli-Tslur.

808 ‘l.izu Jane, the 'Eirl Miner or. the lion-Narvsd Sport.

1525 Kelley, llieke & C... the Drtet'tlvrl of Philadelphia.
880 Little Quirk-H not; or, The Dead Fun: of Dagger-villa.
884 ii ungaroo Kit or. The Myltorioul Minor.

.89 Kan aroo Kita Racket.

843 Man attnn Mike, the Bowery Blood.

858 FIrIt-Clala Fred, the Gent irom Gopher.

865 Y'reka Jim, tho Gold-Gatherer; or, The Lottery of

.i u
872 Yreka Jim's Prize.

87-3 anmh Ned; or, The Secret of Slab City.

3H2 Cool Kit. the King of Kids- or, A Viilnin’n Vermont“,
855's 1' reka Jim’s Joker; or. The Rivuis or Red Nose.
889 llleyele llent or. Thu Lion of Lightning Lode.

89 Yreka Jim of an3 Dana.

400 “’rlllkleu, the Night-Watch Detective.

418 High "at Hurry. tho Blue Ball Detective.

426 Sam Slab-Aide's. thn "recur-Boy Duteqtive.

484 Jim Hook and Pa]. l’rivnte Detoctiws.

‘88 Santa Fe flal, the Sinahnr,

‘80 Seal-dun Sam. the Spurkier.

 

BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. Wm. F. Cody).

3 Romm- Kinz; or. The Red Rirht Hand.
19 The Phantom H y t or, 'l he Pilot of the Prairio.
55 Dcudly-Fye. the nknown Scout.
63 Border richn- flood; or The Prairie Rover.
:58 Fancy Frank of Color 0; or, Tho Trnppcr’s Trust.

    

 

BY COLONEL PRENTISB INGRAIIAM.

7 The F] In: Yankee; or, The Ocean Outcast.
17 Ralph lo ', the lloy BUN‘Nnufll’; or. The Fugitive Yacht.
24 Diamond Dirk Lor, The Mystery of the Yellowstone.
The Shadow ti Ip; or. The Rival Lieutetmnts. -
’t'i’s The lloy Dnellutt or. The Cruise of the Sea~\r\'olf.
102 Dlek Dead-Ere, the Buy Sniuuuier.
Ill The Sen-"ev I; or, The Midehipumn’s Legacy.
116 The Honor Cu tnln; or, The Hermit oi Hell Gate.
19? Little Grit; or, ensie, the Stock-'l‘emler's Daughter.
204 Gold l’luule; 0r. The Kid-Glove Sport.
216 Ill-on lllll the Prince oi the Reins.
222 Grit. the llravo upon; or, Tim Woman Trailer.
229 ‘rlmnon Rate: or, The Cowboy’s Triumph.
287 .ono fltur. the Cowboy \Jlll‘llfllll.
245 Merle the .‘liddy ' or, 1 he Freelance lleir.
250 The Nildahlplnan hintlneer; or. lirnndt, the Buccaneer.
264 The Floatan Feather; or, Merle Moute‘n Tnuul’u

ll and.
269 The Gold thn; or. Merle, tho Condemned.
276  Monte a Cruise; or, The Chime of “The Gold
. up.
2K0 Merle Monte'u Fate; or Pearl, the Plrute's Bride.
284 The Sea Marauder; or, ,lurle Monte‘s Pledge.
2!? Billy "lire-Byers, llu: iioy Rover «if the ltio (.‘rnude.
804 The Dead Hhot Dandy; or, liemto, the Buy Bugler.
30” Rollo Klt: or, Ilend Shot l)»uniy'< llnuliins.
814 (lithel Mynterloun Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’s Long
l'lll -
3T7 llouodel. the Boy Rover: on'l‘ht‘ Flntrless SCliuoner.
ill-iii The Indian l’llot; --r, The Henri-h i'ur Pirate inland.
337 \l'lll’lbllth \Tlll, the liuy l’liulitoin.
893 Heawnii', the Iiuy Lieutenant.
40'). luodor, the Youqu Uonnplruior: 01’. The Fill-Ill Lengue-
40? The llov Insurgent; or, 'i'iu- (‘uimu Vendetta.
112 The “’1 d Yaelltuunn; hr. The Wur-lliuuu’s Cruisa.
429 Duneau Dare, the. l'my Refugee.
481i .\ Calvin llo "A Luck; or, The Corsair.
43? The Sea Ila der.
44I The Ocean Firefly; or, A \liil-iy‘s Vengrunce.
446 llaphazard Harry; or. The Scrum-grm-n ot' the Sell.
450 “’izard “1": or, 'he Buy Ferrotoi'NoW York.
454 “'izurd “'lll’n lh't reet l-eoutn.
462 'I‘he Jforn “uldc; or. 'l'lle. Sailor Boy “'anderer.
(tori Neptune Neil, the buy Counter.
4’34 Flora; or, \Virurd \l'lll‘u Vuunhond Ford.
483 Ferretu Afloat: r-r. Wmmi Wili‘n Laud. Cm.
4H? Nevada Ned. thu ilnvolwr liuntzer.
495 Arizona Joe ilie lluy l'ard «it"i‘exus .luck.
49? lluek Taylor, Kim: oi ih-I Cowboys.
503 The Royal )1 Iddy t or. The Shurk and the Sea Cut.
50? The llunted Mid-hi man.
fill The Outlawed .Vlldt y.
520 lilieknkln Illll. the (‘omuuchc Shudow.
525 llrothern in Bucky-lain.
530 The lineknklv- llowern.
535 The line nkin Iloveru.
640 Captain Ku—Klux, tha Marauder oi the Rio.
546 Lieutenant Leo, the Sun or Lriiitte.

BY C1l.\ RLEH MORRIS.

"8 WI" Rona-re, the [luv Drtel‘tive.
122 Phil Ilard ', the limits llny.
126 l'leayano ‘ete; or, Ninmieuiuu, the Dog Dewctivo.
130 Deleetive Dlek: or, The Hero in lingo.
Ilundnolne Harry, the linuthim-k Detective.
147 “' Ill Wildfire, the 'l'horomrhhred.
152 lllaek Dean, Will Wthitire's Rucer.
157 hllkt‘ Merry, the Harbor l‘olin: Boy.
169 \Vill \V ildflre in the \Voodu.
165 Billy ling age. the Railroad Boy.
170 A Trump ard; or. Will Wildiim Wins and Lana.
]?4 "ob Iloekett; or, hlynteriun of New York.
179 llolr Rocket!i the Bank Runner.
1H3 The Hidden land ion Will “'lldflre‘n Revenge.
13? Fred Ilnlyard, the lie liunt Bur; or. The Smuxgien.
139 llolr Iioekett; «Ir. Driven to the “'nll.
196 fllrmlowerl; or. linh Rm-kett's Fight for Life.
206 Dark l’ald. the Tiger King.
212 Dar-him: Dave. the Dundv Detective.
220 Tom Tanner: or, The liinck Sheep oi the Flock.
23.1 8am Choreoul the Premium Dinky.
235 flliudow Sam. the Messenger Bay.
342 The Two “ llloodu ”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang.
8159 Dick Danhnway t or, A Dakota. Boy in (‘lncn o.
2613 The Young Sharp-t or. Roilicking Mike’s ot Trail.
274: J0“)! Jim the Detective Ap rentice.
239 J‘olly Jlmlu Job; or, The oung Detective.
298 ’l he Water-llound; 0". The Ymmk Thoroughbred.
805 REIDIIWII, 01‘ Dakota; or, A W'ttatorn Lsd in tho Quaker

,ity.

824 Ilalph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective.

841 Tony Thorne, the Vngnhoud Detective.

858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyor’s Blixwd.
861' W Ida-Awake Joe; or, A Boy orthn Times.

829 Larrv. the Leveler; or, The Blood. of the Boulevard.
403 Flrelly Jack. the River-Rut Detertiva.

428 The Lout Finger; or, The Entrnpped Cashier.

428 Fred Fiver. l a Reporter Detective.

432 [Invincible Lo an, tin Pinkerton Ferret.

456 Billy “rick, i *3 Jolly Vagabond.

460 W'lde-Awuke Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed All".
479 Detective DodJet or. Th: Mystery of Frank Hurty.

488 “'lld Dlek Racket.

501 Boots, the 'Boy Fireman ; or, Too Slurp for tho Slurp"-

BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR.

2 Yellowatone Jack; or, The Trapper.
48 Black John. the Road-Agent: or. The Outlnw‘s Retreat.
65 llurrleune Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Ford.
119 Multan: Sum; or, The King of the Plains.
186 Night-Hawk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Butch.
144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport.
151 Panther Pqu; or, Dainty Lance to the Rsncuo.
160 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopurdy-
168 Deadly Dash: or, Fighting Fire with Fire.
184 The Boy Trailers; or, Dainty Lance on the Wu-Pnth.
203 The Boy Pards; or. Dainty Lanes Unmnsks.
211 Crooked Cale. the (‘uiihnn of Celeatlnl City.
810 The Burma“! Wolf; or, The Bountiful Decoy.
819 The Black Rider; or, The liorse-Thlevu’ Learn.
886 Old Double Flat; or. The Strange Guide-
‘55 The Klng of “I? Woodn: or Daniel BOOM’I Lllt Trail.
449 Kit Fox. the Border Boy Detective.

 

B Y OLL COOMEB.

5 Vannbond Joe, the Young Wnndoring Jew.

13 The Durnb Spy.

9? Ante] e Abe, the Boy Guido.

81 keeu- nii‘e, the Prince oi’the l'rniriu.

I Lat-no Jack, the Young Mnutnnger.

58 The Border King; or. The Secret Foe.

71 Delaware Dlek, the Young KKnuer Spy.

74 lluwk-e e Ildrr the Young Trapper Runny,

88 Rollo, t 1: Do I anger. '
184 Bore, Shot Set i, th.- itoy ltifianmn.

148 Sear-Fuee Saul. ti... Silent Hunter.

146 Silver Star. the “03‘ Knight.

153 Battle Kit. the lio)‘ Demon.

168 Little, Texan, the Young Mustanger.

17fl Did h‘olltury, the Hermit TM in".

1K2 Little llurrleuue, “In Do dnptnln.

202 Pro: out. l’etex or. The ouux Outllw Hunten.
208 The oy llerenleut or, The. l'ruirie 'l‘rnlnp'.
$18 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror.

224 Dauhln Dick; 0r. 'l rapper ’l'oni's Castle.
228 Little 1 ’lldilre, the Young: Prairie Nnnmd.

BS The l’uraon De teetlve; on The Little Ranger.
248 The Diugnlned G aide; 0r, \‘ il<i Raven, the Ranger.
260 Dare-Devil Dun, tlin Young l’rnirie Ranger.
2?"! )llukultln Mike, the Boy Shurprhoowr.

290 Little Foxllre, 1hr! “‘0’ Si”-

800 The El. Demon; or. lininholt, the Ranger.
384 “'hip-l‘lnx Joe, the lim' [burr-hero.

409 "crelllcn; or, liu-k, iliu liuy Ranger.

417 “'ebi'oot Mole. the Trump llrtlet'llve.

422 lialrv Plant, the Itoy iiiunt of thu- Yellowstone.
444 Little lineknkln. the Young l’ruirie Centaur.
41's? “'lnuedl’oot Fred; nr. Uhl i'ohu- Soul.
3468 'l‘nmarae Tom. the lilg l‘vu ll'cf ih-y.

4'33 Old Tom Rattler, the. Rni ltii-er Epidemic.
482 stonewall Bob, the lioy ’l'rojnu.

BY T. C. IIADDAUGII.

28 Niel; o' the Night; nr. Th~ Boy Spy of ’76.
2‘17 The Hidden Lodge; or The Ltith Hunter.
4? Nightingale \ i,‘ HI. The Forest (‘u thins.
64 Dandy .lael. . Ur. 'l'hv ()uliuws of the token Trail.
82 Kli llnrei’oot the “Mud-Hawk.
ill )1 illnlzht J nel. ; --r. The iloy Trnpper.
106 Did Frosty, the i.‘ui.i.~; or. The White Queen.
123 Kiowa Charley the Whit. hliiillnugr-r.
189 Judge Lynch, .l r.r or.Tho H--v \‘lulllmili.
155 Gold ’l‘r or, llie .‘port; or. 'l‘hn (iirl Avenue:
NW Tornado ‘om; I-r, infirm .luck From Red Core.
1H3 Ned Temple. thu lllll'ill‘l’ lioy.
19" 1‘ Plinth-law : hr, The, Qua n oi Fate's Revenge.
207 Navajo Nil-k, the Buy G ld Hunter.
2”} Captain Bullet; hr, Lit iv, Top‘xnot‘s Crusade,
23H I’lueky I’ll“; or. Rona, the R.- Jezebel.
241 Bill Bravo; nr, '1" u ltuuvhn of the Rookies.
“55 (‘flptflln A 0" ' lite King l‘lli of Bowie.
267 The liaekn 'In Deteetlve.
279 qul “’lnuh or, The liuckrkin Denrormloen.
294 Dvnamlte Dan; or. The liuwln lilunc of Cachemm,
802 The Mollntnln Deteetive: hr. The Trigger liur Bully.
816 "lei l‘iellprle. 'l'rulnn Curd oi' Aritonn,
826 The Ten l‘ardn: ur. The 'i'error ol Trike-Notice.
836 "ll; Dem-on: or, The Queen oi the LA no.
845 l’ltllenu )lutt; or. Red Thumir-rholt’s Serret.
8503 “out MInn . m‘ For '; o The Terrible Six.
866 Velvet Foot. tho lndiun llrtet‘tlvfi.
3N6 Capialn Outlaw-n; or, "ue B ccuneur’s Girl Foo.
896 Rough “oh: or. The i win Champions of Blue Diana.
41] The Silken Lam-o ur.The4Roso or Ranch Robin.
413 Felix Fox. the Boy .fimttm.
425 Texan 'l'rum , the order Rattler.
486 Phil Flank, 1 re Nuw York Fax.
445 The City Vum iron; or, lied Rolfe’s Pinon.
4t" One Agalnut F fly; or. The. Last Mun or Keno Bu.
470 The Boy Shadow; or. Felix Fox’s Hunt.
477 1‘1": Exeolulor Sport; or, The Washington Spottor.
499 “Intrle Fight. the One-Eyed Sport.
502 llrauded lien, the Night Ferret.
512 Dodger Dlek. the. Wimrf-S iy Detective.
52! "lollver Dh-k'n Dent Do Ire.
528 Fox and Faleou. thu Bowery Shadows.
583 Dodger lllek, the Dock Fermi. ' ,
543 Dodger Dick’s Double; or,The Rival Boy Douctivu.

LATEST AND NEW Issnns.

, Car-tun the Chi nrrni For-k. By Lieut. A, K. sin”.
:1: 533:1;"hnay or'. A mourn... Down. By P. s. w......_
543 Marl, the Nitr t Expreeu Detective. By J. C. Cowdrick.
649 Deadwood Dick on lil- Mettle. By E. L. Wheeler.
550 Lniitte‘n Legacy; or. The Avungiuz Son. By Col. Punt].

lnrrnhnm.
551 Niel: Nettle, the Boy Shadow. By 10 Pierce.
552 Ariel, the Athlete. By David Druid.
558 Dodger Diek‘u Dcuperate Cutie. By T. C. Huhnofi .
554 Deadwood Dick. Jr., in Gotham. By E. L. When cr.
555 The Creole Comlr. By Col. Prentiss lttmhnrn.
55“ Lariat Lil; or. The (‘ast for it Life. By Philip S. “ Arno.
557 Broadway Dilly‘n Death Rneket. By J. C. Cowdrisk.
55 The Rare-Shot Par-do. li_\' Arthur C.Grlssom.
 llurlem Jack, the 0mm Boy Detective. By J0 Plans.
560 Pawnee Bl", the Prairie. Shadower. llv Col. P- lhlzmhnm.
561 Deadwood Dick in Boston. By Edward L “ healer.
58$ illunderlnl Bun-ll. the Hermit Boy Trap ~r. liy Oil Coomu,
568 "Dodger Dick. the Boy Vidorq. By T. C. Ir auzh.
564 r’owdcr Phil, the Boy Miner. By John W. Gabon,
565 Kent Kingdom the Card King. By Col. Prentiss immdmn.
566 The Secret ‘erviee Boy Detective. lly Charlen Motrin.
567 Deadwood Dick. Jr., In Philadelphia. Bv Edqu L.
Wheeler.
58“ The. Dual of Dodge. By Lienl. A. K. Slml.
569 Brooklyn on, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective. By Jo
i

P erre.

Ill , tit C d , BvCol.Prent'iu [mural-am.
 Rffidneé L: kner, 33.x“... ltntrlneer. llv J. C. Conrdrlcir.
572 Deadwood Dick, Jr" in Chicago. By E. 1.. Wheeler.
578 The Two Shadow". “3' T- 9- Huh-nil - RM“? 5'33)? 17.
574 old Weasel-top, the Man with the Dog-- By R 8. “urns.

Ready July 94. '
575 The surgeon-Scout Deteetlve. By Colonel mm“
lngrahum. Ready July. ~
576 9%: Silver Sport. B." U01"- A- K- Sin“-
{ A t 'I.
an Pfivimlfié Pete. the Secret smer. By ’0 Pierce.
Re (i A v 1. iii.
are De'hdwl‘r'o‘d Dick, an. Afloat- By Edward L. Wheeler.
Ready August 99.
A New Issue Every T110553!-
ne “alfJnme Library Is for solo by Lil naval-lg the
cent. per copy or sent by mail on receipt of six cent. each. V
BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publith
08 William street, New Y