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The Prince of Purgatory Pass.

A Story of the Blue and Fall of
Jackpot City.

 

BY EDWARD L. WHEELER,

AUTHOR OF THE “DEADWOOD DICK ” NOVELS,
“ DEADWOOD DICK. JR.,” NOVELS, “ROSE-
BUD ROB ” NOVELS, “ DENVER
DOLL” NOVELS, ETC.

 

CHAPTER I.
CONCERNING THE RISE OF JACKPOT CITY. I
IN a deep, g100m_y cgnyon, that traverses the IL
Humboldt MountamS In a northward and south- ' - 
erly direction, and Sltuape upon a peninsula, or WIIN rm: PEOPLE OF JACKPOT CAME FOITH, AND, ONE AFTER ANOTHER, READ DEADW'OCB
bar 'of land, bordered, u- the background, by ucx’s DEGREE, THERE WAS No END 10 EXCITEMENT AND CONSTEMATION.

     

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2

Deadwood Dick J r.’s Decree.

 

 

the frowning, towering mountains, with their
snow-clad peaks, and, mfront, by'a noisy, rapid
river that rushes madl toward the south, is,
gr was until lately, the ittle town of Jackpot
it .
'1ng peninsula alluded to, comprises a trifle
less than five hundred acres, and exce t for the
bed of the furious stream, is the on y foot of
level land in the whole length of Echo Canyon,
.. for above and below the peninsula, the torrent,
' which is most generally known to the trappers
, of the Humboldt as Cyclone Creek, on account
’ of its swiftness and rumbling noise, occupies the
entire bottom of the canyon, there being not so

:much as a. footpath along its course.

A queer place for a town, the reader will sa .

And the question will naturally arise, “ If t 6
upper and lower canyon is entirely submerged
with an irresistible torrent of water, how could
Jack ot City be reachedW—for no human being
coul hope to scale the lofty mountains that
arose sharply from the peninsula, until their
peaks seemingly touched the clouds.

Yet, there was a way of reaching Echo Can-
you without wading up or down-stream, a feat
impossible to accomplish, owing to the rapidity
of the current.

Standing on the peninsula point with your
back to the seething waters, you gazed at the
somber wall of i‘OCk that rose facing you. At
first you saw naught but the wall itself, and the
scattered habitations, on either side of the range
of your vision. You gradually advance on a
direct line, and it is not until you are within a
a. hundred yards of the frowning barrier that
you discover a flame in the mountain-side.

This fissure, when you reach its mouth, proves
to be not more than ten feet wide, and extends
upward through the solid rock as far as the eye
can reach. “Evidently, in some remote age, an
earthquake must have rent the mountain apart,
thus forming this narrow defile, whlch, after
leaving Jackpot City, worms its way through
the forest—clad mountains, gradually widening
as it finally debouches into the foothills of the
eastern 510 of the range near the Utah line.

In all i evada, there is no wilder, grander
scenery than that found in the stupendous Hum-
boldt Hills, and the defile , 'ust described passes
through the most Weird of s" seenery, and for
years has been known to the rangers and pros-

- pectors as Purgatory Pass.*

The bottom of the pass, into which sunshine
never penetrates more than half an hour per
diem, is quite smooth and free from obstruction;
itcnsepuently a wagon can traverse its entire

en t i. ‘

idwa y between Jackpot City and the eastern
' terminus, a transverse gulch crosses Purgatory
Pass, and at this point was a habitation—a. cabin
built of a double thickness of logs, with power-
ful oaken door and roofed with thick slabs 'of
shale stone. The windows, too, were higer than

a man’s head, and protected by iron bars.

The builder had evidently taken the precau-
tion to provide himself well against the siege of
an enemy.

The cabin itself backed against one wall of
Purgatory Pass; while, extending from it clear
across the pass, was a massive, iron-bound gate.

' ' ,When this ate was closed and locked, further
progress rip urgatory Pass, in either direction,
was prompted.

On top of the gate was a neatly painted sign,

/ containing the following information for the
benefit of travelers. On the Eastern side of the
board, for the information of people bound for
Jackpot was this:

 

 

7 “ GOV’T TOLLGATE.
'NO’I‘ICEI
. Tins WAY 'ro JACKPO’I‘ le
Toll per Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Twentyifive cents.
‘ “ Horse..... .. en “

"biases DAVE, Clerk."

011 the Western side of the sign, for the benefit
of persons Eastward-bound, this:

, “GOV'T TOLLGATE.
‘ ' Tins WAY TO Una Tmnnrronx LINE, AND Poms
I . , Non'rn AND Sov’rnl
Toll per Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..'l‘en cents.
“ “ Horse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ve “
Dunsnor DAVE, Clerk.”

It thus appeared, that a lar er toll was exacted
for Western-bound tramc 1'. an for Eastern-
‘bound. '

The cabin was a large, roomy affair and its
single door opened on the eastern side of the big

1 ga . , ”

-, . z *The name ori listed from a superstition that
 ‘ whoever entered he pass from the east, and fol-
, , dowels it to its termmua, never returned to the outer
' v -I ' "nor . ‘
‘ k

 

 

Over the door hung another sign, creaking
dismally in the stiff breeze that ever sucked
through Purgatory Pass.

This sign. contained the following bill of par-
ticulars:

BARl
Common Bug-Juice . . . . . . . . . . . ..Twenty-five cents.
XXX Tickler per Three Fingers. .Forty “
Ten Year Old Red-Eye . . . . . . . . . ..Fifty “
Terbacco 3. Plug . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Twenty-five “

As a rule, the door of the toll-house was
never open, except in midsummer, and any one
who came along, and wanted to pass through
the gate, had to exercise his vocal powers b
“halloaing,” before any one ap eared to wait
on him or her, as the case might 6.

Such was Purgatory Pass, at a casual glance.

Returning to Jackpot City, we are in a little
frontier village, com osed of perhaps a hundred
habitations, half a ozen business places, such
as Stores saloons, and gaming-rooms an ore
mill, in fun blast, and, last but not least, the
big barn-like structure, with its broad piazza,

.known as the Jackpot Inn.

The existence of Jackpot City, with its thou-
sand and odd population, originated somewhat
as follows. -

During the summer months of the year (pre-
ceding our story, which opens in the bud ing

sprin of 188-, three men prospectin for ore in,

the umboldt Mountains, met by c ance one
noonday, at the forks of the two mountain
defiles, where afterward stood the Tollgate al-
ready described.

Two of the trio were veterans of the mining
and Indian times of over three decades before,
while the third, 3. man of forty, was much the
youngest of the party.

All proved tobe “ hail-fellows-well-met,” how-
ever—nomads of the frontier, who never had
been or would be content to lead any other sort
of life than that which they now pursued and
enjoyed. Consequently, after they had broken
fast together, and lit their pipes, it was pro—
iosed that, so long as they remained in the

umboldt Range, they should join issues as
partners; for the better they became ac uaint—
ed, it was developed that neither he met
with any success while prospecting in the menu-
tains, and it was thoug t that the consolidation
g: interests might affect a change of luck for the

tter.

So the partnership was entered into, harmo-.

niously, and the partners thereto seemed well
matched.

The elder of the trio was “General” Jackson
Potts, a veteran of the feverish mining days of
California and Pike’s Peak—a gray-whiskered,
totally bald old chap, with plenty of life,
strength and spirit, despite his eight-and-sixty
years—a genial, big-hearted fellow, who was
full of reminiscences of by-gone days, and who
was as fond of agood story, a joke, or three
fingers of rye as the next one.

Just h0w he acquired the prefix “ General” is
not apparent, nor did the “ General” gratify
the curiosity of those who took the pains to in-
quire into the matter.

Suffice to say that he was dubbed “ General,”
whether he had ever been commiSSioned or no,
and, true to Western ways, his name had been
abbreviated, and instead of Jackson Potts, he
was christened by his pards General Jackpot.

Next in point of age to the General, was a lit—
tle, shriveled-up old man, who was, nevertheless,
possessed of prodigious strength and panther-

like agility, and was an unerring rifle and re-'

volver-shot, and a dangerous individual to get
into a scrimmage with. .

There was little flesh upon his frame, but
what there was was hard as gristle. His shaggy
hair and heard were liberally streaked wit
gray, and his face bore the scars of many a bat-
tle; but his eyes were as keen as a hawk’s, and
sparllilled with the animation and brilliancy of
yout .

Ears he had none, they having been shorn off
close to his head, ears before our story.

This famous c aracter needs no further in-
troduction to the readers of BEADLE’S HALF-
DIME LIBRARY, where he is already known as
Old Avalanche, the Only Original Great Injun
Annihilator. ‘

The third mason, John Prince, was a good-
looking, able- ied man, in the prime of life,
and a enial companion. He was gentlemanly,
well neated, more polished in his manners
than his‘two companions (albeit General Jack-
pot carried considerable “sugar” about his
clothes, which he had saved up in bygone days),
and quite particular about his personal appear-
ance.

His com‘panio'ns drew from him that he had

 

seen better days, having, until a couple of years
previous, been successfully engaged in the
brokerage business in Carson City. He was ru-
ined, however, by his partner’s absconding with
the entire assets of the firm, and he was thrown
upon the world, penniless, with nothing left to
do but start out and begin life anew.

This much Prince’s two partners learned, and
no more, for he was not a man who was par-
ticularly communicative regarding himself or
his past.

After the firm of Jackpot, Avalanche and
Prince was organized, and vows of fidelity
sealed mu 8. pint-flask of “ bug-juice,” a reso-
lution was passed to penetrate Purgatory Pass
to its western terminus, something that, it was
believed, had then never been accomplished.

So equipping themselves with meat, a plenty
of which was abundant in the mountains, the
trio set out on their journey.

As a result, after a longer tramp than was an-
tici ated they at length reached the peninsula,
in cho Canyon, where afterward Jackpot City
sprung into existence.

To the great elation of the three prospectors,
they found the Mecca of their fondest hopes;
they had discovered a new Eldorado, in the
almOst impenetrable fastnesses of the mountains
literally locked out from the world at large.

Not only was the soil of the peninsula itself
richly impregnated with “drift” or “ wash”
dirt, but there were plenteous out-croppings of
“ sign ” rock, in the towering mountain-side.

So extravagant were the promises Nature
held forth to these pioneers of Jackpot City of
the wealth that lay there at their disposalntliat
the grew hilariously jubilant, and were afflicted
wit the most radical ty e of gold-fever:

At first, it was decid . to kee theirdiscovery
a secret from the outside wcrl , as long as pos-
sible, and work the mines on their own account,
but this resolution soon fell through.

“ lt’s “ a pretty sure thin to bet on,” that
the more money one makes, t e more he wants
to make, and so it was with the Jackpot Three.

Although they took out an average of twenty
dollars a day each, from the peninsular dirt,
they were greedy for more, and foresaw that by
hiring an extra force their receipts would be
proportionately increased, and it would not re-
guire so long a time to fill their coffers to over-

owing. ‘ .

Consequently it was decided to introduce a
dozen trustworthy and able-bodied men into
the mines, who would' be paid extra wages, to
work for the company’s interests but none were
to be employed who did not have families, and
Who Were not sober, and industrious.

With this extra force the peninsula could be
profitably worked, until winter set in, and then
a drift could be sunk into the mountain, a fine
vein of ore having already been disclosed.

General Jackpot was commissmned to select
the parties wanted, while Prince was to go to
the nearest point for purchasmgsupplies, and
fetch back enough canvas to build temporary
abodes for all hands. _

Old Avalanche was to remain behind, and do
guard duty.

General Jackpot and John Prince left Echo
Canyon on the same day, the former going to
Salt Lake City, and the latter to Carson City
Nev. '

Before leavin the mines, Jackpot had, unbe-
known to the ot era, discovered a valuable nug-
get, and this he took With him. _ .

Weeks passed by, and during this time Old
Avalanche divided his time between working
the claim and makin himself a cabin, partly
of stone and partly of ogs. _

John Prince was the first to return, and With
him he brought a big prairie “ schooner,” drawn
by six horses, canvas enough for twenty tents,
a collection of mining implements and other
tools, a stock of blasting-powder and ammumu
tion, a portable steam-engine, heiler and saw-
mill, and, last but not least, his 59 Tom, a
strapping young man of seventeen, his aughter,
Nellie, a pretty young lady one year her broth.
er’s senior, and a niece, named Pearl Prince, an
orphan, by the way, nd rather prepossessmg.
She was about twen -three. ‘

Tom Prince was a practical engineer, a Jack-
of-all-trades, and just the man who would make
a valuable addition to the town of Jackpot

Cit .
fie General returned from Utah'one week
after the arrival of John Prince. accompanied
b fifteen able-bodied men, who were only too
lad to get work at the sti ulated price of three
ollars per day. and a shelter for themselves

and families. Each man had a wife, but no
children,," while ten of the fifteen were half-
breeds, but, evidently, peacefully diSpOSeu. ‘

 

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Deadwood Dick J r.’s Decree.

‘u. 4, ->' ,. M.”

 

 

The month following J ackpot’s return was the
third and last of the summer season, and a busy
one it was for the nineteen men of the “city.”

Mining was abandoned, and the time was oc-
cupied in building up the town. Timber was
abundant on the northern edge of the peninsula,
and this the little saw-mill converted, into lum—
ber, and comfortable shanties Went up, taking
the place of the canvas habitations.

Foreseeing that the future of the camp was
likely to draw a swarm of people thither, the
General built the hotel, as his own enterprise, so
as to have it ready for business. At first he only
opened the bar for the dispensation of liquid to
the thirsty; and, it may be added, that the pro—
prietor was one of his own best customers.

John Prince built, stocked and opened a gen-
eral supply store, placing his daughter and niece
in charge; then, ten more miners were engaged,
and mining was resumed in earnest. ,

No stragglers, up to this time, had wandered
into the town, to carry back to the outer world
the secret of Jackpot City’s existence, and our
handful of pioneers congratulated themselves
that, as winter was not far off, there was little
likelihood of an invasion of their domain before
the opening of the coming spring.

As a necessary precaution against a surprise,
'however, the cabin was built in Purgatory Pass,
at its intersection with the transverse gulch
and telephone connection made between it and
.Jackpot City, the office being in Prince’s store.

Tom Prince and a gigantic half-breed named
Dave Dodd, or Deadshot Dave, were then
placed in charge of the cabin in the pass, and
instructed to exact tell from every one who
passed through the gate, and to pass no person
-on toward the mines, who, in their opinion, was
.an undesirable character.

The autumn months were delightful and
there was nothing to prevent the miners from
putting in full time at gold-gathering; hence
the coffers of Jackpot, Avalanche and 00. be-
gan to fill up in a way highly satisfactory to the
parties interested.

In running the toll-gate, Tom Prince and
Deadshot Dave took turns of duty, each being
on twelve hours at a time, viz: If Prince was
Inight watch one week, the following week he
was day watch. When either of the men was
off duty, be generally put in his time in Jack-
pot City.

It so happened, one stormy night, at the close
of October, when the rainy season was setting
in, that the first stranger made his appearance
in Jackpot City, without invitation.

He was mounted on a fine horse, and, as he
came from Purgatory Pass, it was general]
presumed that he had been passed as “ a 1
right,” by Tom Prince, who was on night service
at the Tollgate. 0

The new-comer was a large, well-proportion‘
ed man, apparently about forty years of age
and not bad—looking, with a full brown bear
and mustache, and an intelligent or agreeable
countenance—agreeable save one thing, and
that was his eyes, which constantly emitteda
geitless, snaky glitter that was not pleasant to

e o .

He was well-dressed, and had the appearance
of one who had always been accustomed to
good living.

The bar-ream of the Jackpot Inn contained
nearly the whole male element of the town,
when the stranger put in an appearance, and
asked for accommodations.

“ Who aire you, an’ what’re ye doin’ in this
~camp?” demanded the General, who presided
behind the bar.

“ My name is Morton,” was the reply in a
rather haughty manner, “and I have come
here to look around angvperhaps locate.”

“ Ohl ye have, eh? ell, now, mebbe you’ll
change your mind when ye find that the prop-
erty around heer belongs to a syndicate, an’ there
_ain t no room for an outsider to squat!"

“Oh! I guess it’s not so bad at that!” the
stranger replied, coolly. “This young town of
' ours, whose existence you havo so carefully

em a secret from the outside world, is in
reality no man’s land, as you have not protect-
ed yourselves in the least, through the required
land or mine entry, nor secure your atents
from the Government. Consequently,
as much ri ht here as any of you!”

This dec aration reached the ears of John
Prince and Old Avalanche, and they immediate-
ly came forward.

‘9 Did I understand you to intimate that you
should remain here, without our sanction?”

.iPrince demanded.

“ I didn’t say so, in so many words,” Morton
answered, “ but, if you want it straight, I say
:so, now. I’ve as much right here as you, when

have

wr III .,~|—d

 

it comes to the legal aspect of the question, and
if I see fit to stay here, I shall do sol”

“ We will see about that. I have been ap-
pointed marshal of this town, and if you do not
take your peaceable departure, I shall see you
forcibly ejected!”

“ You are not such a fool as that!” Morton
retorted, indifferently. “ I am peaceably dis-
posed, and think you have common sense
enough to know that it would be better to have
me for a friend than as an enemy l”

“ Ah! you dare to threaten, do you i”

“ Oh! no, not particularly,” Morton replied,
stroking his glossy beard, and appearing self-
composed. I simply wanted you to comprehend
that I am a man you can’t bluff worth a cent. I
have known of the existence of these mines, and
their wealth, ever since that bald-headed indi-
vidual behind the bar returned from Salt Lake
City. IVhile in the Mormon city he was on a
spree, the better part of the time, and when in
his cups, he showed a big nugget of gold around
in nearly every place he visited, and he made
his brags that he knew where he could get plenty
more like it; so when he left Salt Lake, I fol—
lowed him. Since that time, from different ele-
vated points of observation, I have watched the
progress of things, here below, and finally came
to the conclusion that it was about time for me
to come down and see what kind of a showing
there was for me. So I came.

“Now, sir, during the time I have known of
the existence of this New El Dorado, I have kept
a still tongue in my head. Had I felt so disposed
I could have one to other mining-camps and
brought a fioorf of ever—ready stumpeders down
upon this camp big enough to have filled the
whole peninsula. More than that had I seen
fit to go to the pains and expense, Icould have
legally secured this tract of territory as my own
and had you all dispossessed. So you see, my
friend, if you insist that I cannot remain in your
camp, why, I am quite willing to leave you for
a time, but I am not prepared to say how long I
shall be absent.”

Jackpot, Avalanche and Prince now saw that
they had made an egregious error in not makin
the customary entry with the Government, an
had rendered themselves liable to heavy penal-
ties and ejectment. They certainly were in this
Morton’s power, for if they further incurred his
enmitly, not only could he -bring Government
troub e upon their heads, but he could betray
the existence of Jackpot City to the world at
large, the inevitable rush would follow, and
riches would be wrenched from the partners’
grasp.

There was but one thing to do, for Self-pro-
tection, and that was done.

A meetin was held that night by the com-
pany, and wen Morton was admitted to a part.
nership equal to that of the others.

After that, all Went on smoothly for a couple
of weeks, and then there came more trouble.

Morton suddenly disappeared from the towu
one night, leaving no word whither he was go-
ing, or when he expected to return.

his caused his partners considerable surprise
and anxiety, which became intensified to ac-
tual alarm when it was discovered, the follow-
ing morning, that poor Tom Prince had been
foully murdered during the night at the Toll-
gate, where he had been on night duty.

For weeks, afterward, the excitement was at
boiling heat: the guard at the gate was treb-
led, and extra precautions taken against a sur-

rise.
p- But a month passed, and nothing was seen or
heard of Owen Morton.

Winter set in, and the denizens of Echo Can-
yon began to breathe freer, as it was prophesied
that Ehere would be no trouble before spring
0 one .

pBut, that was where the mistake occurred.

The blow came when least expected, and watch-
fulness had grown lax. .

For one stormy morning the citizen! of Jack-
pot City were aroused from their slumbers by
the startling intelligence that over two hun-
dred Mormons with their families had invaded
the peninsula, bag and baggage, and taken pos-
session of the town.

And this proved to be correct. .

Two hundred resolute, well-armed men there
were, the most of whom had a plurality of wives,
and the whole under the leadership of their al-
leged prophet and elder, Morton Mer ith, in
whom the citizens of Jackpot had no di culty
1“ 7000811121115; Owen Morton, although his face
was now as smooth as a woman’s.

Well. to make the remainder of our retrospect
brief, the Mormons took ion of every-
thing. Meredith produced papers to prove that

 

ernment of a thousand acres of land, encom-
passing Jackpot City and a portion of Purgatory

ass, and had conformed with all the require-
ments of the statutes.

Meredith at once notified Jackpot, Avalanche
and Co. that he was henceforth ruler of the
town, and it would be governed on Mormon

rinciples. If they referred to remain as
aborers, he Would a1 ow them to retain their
habitations, and the General could keep his hotel
by yielding half the net rofits to Meredith.

Our pioneers smarted itterly under this new
order of things, but after a secret consultation,
resolved to remain for a while, at any rate.

The Tollgate was left in charge of Deadshot
Dave, as agent for the Mormon ruler, who, of
course, took the receipts, and thus it was that
Meredith had succeeded in establishing a little
monarchy of his own in the heart of the Hum-
boldt Mountains.

The winter months were mostly devoted to
improvements, preparatory to an active mining
campaign on the opening of 3 ring.

Shanties, stores, saloons, a ormon church, a
stam mill and numerous other enterprises were
estab ished under Meredith’s rule, and over all
the Mormon influence prevailed.

The three pards and their friends were forced
to adopt many of the ordinances of the Latter-
Day Saints particularly as regarded attending
church, an obedience to the commands of the
Elder, as Meredith was known.

Of course the little band of Gentiles chafed
under this order of thin, , but, the truth be
known, they were only bi ‘ng their time, for the
end was not yet.

“ Be firm, boys, and be patient, for our' turn
is yet to come!” John Prince would say to his
flock, as when, by prearranged signals, they
would be called into secret conclave in the dead
hours of night. “ We can’t strike yet, but our
chance will come, and then we will cause an in-
surrection that Will sweep these Mormon devfis
into the waters of Cyclone Creek, and Jackpot
City shall be our own again.”

This feeling among the Gentiles gradually ew
so intensified, that it became a mania With t em,
and they stood ready for bloodshed at a mo-
ma‘nht’s ngticei. be d W ed

ust ewn rpassed, an springopen
warm and glorious, rich alike with natural;
floral offerings and nature’s promises of golden

gain.
Which brings up to the opening proper of our
story. r '

— * i

CHAPTER II.
ran SAD TRIALS or OLD AVALANCHE. ,

THE spring of 188— was an ear] one. The
snow having disappeared in Marc , except on
the mountain-tops, and then followed 3 Ion
spell of bright, warm weather, that broughg
forth the grass and foliage, in great luxuriance, .
and, a little later, the mountain-sides became
covered with spring flowers. whose bright colors
apd fragrance Jackpot City got the full benefit
0 . -
Mining had been resumed in dead earnest, and
the output surpassed the expectations of even
the most san ine, so that Mortpn Meredith
could lay bac in his eas ~chair,1n his snu ,
well-appointed cottage, an see the wealth r0 -
ing in upon him by the hundreds of dollars per

(1 .

gMeredith, by the way. ‘was unmarried, but
this did not conflict with his M'ormon views, and
on the first of April every man in the camp,
except himself and one other, was ordered to
take unto himself a Wife, or undergo two weeks’
imprisonment in a rocky dungeon in the moun-
tain-side, that had been specially prepared for
the purpose, without food or water.

As there was not one man out of a thousand
who could endure the punishment, April lat
was, accordingly, 3. wedlock day, all of the
former male founders and settlers of the little
town being forced to “ hitch up” in Benedictine
traces, except one. ‘

Our friend General Jackpot, was fortunate
enough to get a comely-looking woman who
was possessed of a business mind, and who set #
ab‘put at once, putting the Jackpot Inn into
or er. ,.

Poor Old Avalanche, however,'hero of hun—
dreds of well~won battles, was not so fortu-
nate.

A long, lank, scrag , vinegar-tempered
Virago was put of! on m. Who was known
among the Mormons as “Sal Slap. the Scrap-
per.” She was of prodigious strength despite

he and his flock had made a purchase of the Gov- . er lank, lean appearance, and freely bragged

 

  

4

0
!

Deadwood Dick J r.’s Decree.

'. 1“

 

 

that she could lick any galoot in the camp,
tooth, tongue, or toe-nail.

The only man who refused positively to take
a Mormon wife, was John Prince, and he was
promptly cad: into the dungeon, there to remain
without food or drink, until the expiration of
the fourteen days, when, if he still refused to
marry, he was to be banished from the camp.

Prince did not flinch in the least, but bidding
good-by to his daughter and niece, entered the
dark, dank dungeon, whose exact location was
kn0wn to but two persons—Mort Meredith and
his “ heeler " Paul Podesta—there to remain,
until death, most likely, would claim him.

Meredith’s tyranny did not end here.

He issued strict orders that no one be admitted
to Jack 0t City via the 'Iollgate of Purgatory
Pass, w 0 would not sign a promise to join the
Mormon faith and adhere to its requirements.
If a perSOn gained access to the town without
the “sign” of acquiescence, which consisted of
a triangular piece of flat stone about 3x3x3
inches in size, be was to be tried by a special
tribunal, and a disposition made of him or her,
as the case might be.

It so happened, that one evening about half-
past eight, a stranger was discovered saunter-
ing along the main street, in fact, the only street
in Jackpot City.

Just when he had come, or where he had come
from, no one was prepared to say, for telephone
communication With the Tollgate failed to es-
tablish the fact that he had come by that route,
as no one answering to his description had passed
through the gate.

Hence, there was a mystery, and Paul Po-
desta at- once communicated the fact to his
master.

” Some strolling vagabond, I presume,” Mere-
dith observed, as he idly sipped his evening tea.
“ Sim ly kee an eye on him, and I will see him
later, fore . retire.”

In the mean time, the stranger sauntered back
and forth along the single street of the town,
which was fringed on one side with stores,
dwellings, and so forth, and on the other side
by the madly-rushing waters of Cyclone Creek,
which swept around the peninsula’s point with
a never-ceasing rear.

The night was one of the balmiest in early
April, and the moon had soared high enough in
the heavens to send a flood of light into Echo
Canyon and upon the oung city.

The saloons Were we I patroniZed, and nearly
the Whole population were out of doors, saun-
tering about, and, to all, the stranger was an
ob ect of much curiosity and interest.

e was of medium build, with a trim, athlet~
ic figure, whose “ points ” denoted both strength
and agility; his face was round, leasant and
intelligent, the cheeks glowing wit the tinge of
excellent health.

His eyes were keen and brilliant; his hair was
worn long down over hi shoulders, while a
graceful mustache adorned his upper lip.

Not a man was there in Jackpot City who
could “ hold a candle to him” in point of good
looks, and numerous maidens fair abroad that
ni ht were by no means blind to the fact.

he stran er was attired in a suit of light—
colored woo en goods that fitted him perfectl ,
wore a white shirt and collar, a jaunty milk-
huetds sombrero, and a pair of patent-leather top-

This completed his make-up, except for a
gold-headed cane he twirled in his hand as he
walked along.

In one of his strolls toand fro. he suddenly

~ found himsclf confronted b Paul Podesta.

Podesta was a burly Six- ooter, of dark, ugly
visage, and had won the reputation of being a
hard man to handle.

If report Went for anything, he had formerly
been a Danite leader during the rei of terror
in and about Salt Lake City, and a loodthi'rsty
one at that.

There was a wicked gleam, too, in his eyes
as, with arms akimbo, he confronted the stran-
ger and thus saluted him:

- “ Lookee beer, boss! I would like to know
" who you aire, before you go gallivantin’ ’round
‘ this town any longer!”
“You would} Well, I don’t know that I am
under obligations to satisfy your curiosity.
Who are you 3’”
“I’m Podesta, and I’m the marshal an’ hull
police force of this town combined, as you’ll
mighty quick find out, if you don’t shout out
your name and tell what your business is here!”
'“ So, that’s the we of it, eh?” and the
stranger coally twirl his mustache. “ Supa
pose don’t see fit to reveal my name?”

“ Then I‘ll arrest and imprison you.”

“I reckon not, Johnny. I ain’t taking ar-

 

rests so freely, now, as I once did. If you don’t A

want your skull cracked, have the kindness to
stelp out of 1137 way." ‘

odesta di not budge, but stared at the other
in astonishment.

“ Ye dare me?” he finally roared.

“ I told you to step out of my way,” was the
cool reply. “Are you going to get !”

“ No!" thundered Podesta, “ but l’m going to
yank you in, all the same,” and he laid hold of
the stranger’s left arm.

Better not to have done so, for almost simul-
taneously with his grip, the stranger’s iron~like
fist caught him between the eyes and sent him
tumbling to the ground in an insensible condi-
tion.

This little incident caused a crowd to collect,
but paying no attention to it, the stranger
mounted the steps of the piazza of the Jackpot
Inn, and entered the bar-room.

As he did so he reCeived a hearty slap upon
the shoulder, while a joyful voice sung out:

“ By ther great ham-bone that discombobber—
ated ther reflections of old Jonah! Et’s Dead-
wood Dick, sure’s I’m a live sinner. J umpin’

Jericho! how do ye sagaciate, Dicky, old
bo’yee?”
he new-comer turned in surprise. to find

himself confronted by the Great Annihilator—
the veritable Old Ava anche.

“What, you, Avalanche? Jove! but this is
a surprise, and the famous sport~detective
seized the veteran’s extended hand warmly.
(‘1‘ that on earth brings you into this Mormon

en.

“ Dicky, me be , I war one o’ the founders 0’
this hyer town, ut thet war before the Mor-
mons cum an’ overpowered us an’ tuk teetotal

ursession. Et war me an’ my two pards, who

u’st discovered ther auriferous hyer, but we’ve
bed to give it up to these Mormon spawn of
Satan, an’ we’re now their slaves. Great ham-
bonel Who’d ever thort thet ther great cavort-
in’ Injun e idemic would ’a’ come to this?” And
the Annihi tor wiped away an imaginary tear.

“ Well, old friend, I’m sorry to hear that
you’re in trouble,” Deadwood Dick re lied.
“ I’d sort of lost track of you, and,did not now
as I’d ever run across you a ain. Why, you’ve
chan ed wonderfully since saw you last.”

“ rown older, hey?”

“ Yes; and you look as if you’d seen some
hard times.”

“ So I have, Dicky, me boy, so I have! First,
I’ve lost my two old side-pardners. who did so
much toward makin’ ther Terrific Triangle
famuss. Yas, both Prudence Cordelia and me
William-goat have gone to that bourne whence
none returneth, an’ et cl’ar knocked the heart 0’
mine lop-sided ter part wi’ ’em, you kin bet.
But thet loss warn’t ace~high ter a full band ter
ther affliction I’m now bowed down with.”

“ No? Well, I’m sorry to hear that, Ava-
lanche. You’ve surely seen enough ups and
downs in the past, that your old age ought to be
blessed with peace and comfort,” ick returned.
i‘ Wéhgt’s the nature of your new affliction, may

as l

“ Great ham-bone. then you- haven’t heerrl
about it, hey? Oh! et’s suthin’ wuss’n the small-
pox or ther yeller janders. You haven’t seen

can. then?” '

“ Yas, her I ther ripsnortin’, tearin’, swear-
in’ tri le tornado, that shrieks slaughter, and

vomic fire and fury! That’s her, only ten
filings wuss! Oh, Lordy! just wait till ye see
er

“ But, see here, whom do you refer to by her I’
I don’t comprehend our meaning, Avalanche?”

“ Ye don’t, eh? aal, mebbe not. That’s
because ye ain’t seen her. No, ye ain’t seen her
yet, for ef ye had, yer comprehension would be
as clear as crystal!” the old man said, slowly,
and then relapsin into silence.

“ Hum h!” Dic said, considerably puzzled
by his 01 partner’s actions. “I don’t see but
what I’m as much in the dark as ever, and
hanged if I ain’tinclined to believe that either
You’re in love, or else ou’re out of our head.

rather think it’s a ove affair, e l I say,
Alva, is she a beauty?” . .

The old man shrugged his shoulders, and gave
a shiver of disgust.

“A beauty?” he grunted. “Jumpin’ Jeri-
cho! anything but that. Dicky, me boy, I ain’t
a mylionair, ner nothin’ o’ ther sort, but i. have
a comfortable boodle put away, an’ I’m willin’
to bet every red ‘of it that ye can’t find an
n lier Virago ’twixt hyer an’ Halifax then thet
se fsame old termagant. Mrs. Old Avalanche l”

“Mrs. Old Avalanche f” echoed Dick, in

 

gainine astonishment—Mas. Old Avalanche!
y, in the name‘of all that’s wonderful, you

/

don’t mean to tell me you’ve been, gone and got
spliced, old man?”

“Perzactly and pos’tively,” the Annihilator
grimly assented. “ Tied up tighter than a ten-
pound brick. Yes, me boy, yer old man is no
longer a ragin’ epidemic o’ demolition—no
longer a double-action disaster to the evildoers,
but, beholdlhe stands before you a martyr to
myrmidon machinations of Mormon rule. I’m
a slave—a poor old wreck of aonce booming

: blizzard, bowed down, ('uwed ’down, and irre-

trievably tied to the apron-strings of a she cata-
mount, who makes me toe the mark, and dance
juba, without even so much as the music of an
old, squawkin’ bull-fiddle. Ah. hum!” and the
Annihilator heaved a deep sigh, and this time
wi d away a genuine tear.

s for Deadwood Dick, he could not refrain
from an outburst of laughter.

“Well, I’ll be shot if that don’t beat the
deck,” he ejaculated. “Just to think that an.
old rascal like you, now nearly a septuagena-
rian, should enter into the supreme state of
matrimony. It’s the richest thing out.” -

“Oh, e needn’t laugh, fer it ain’t no lafiin"
matter !’ the Annihilator protested. “Great
ham-bone! d’ye s’pose ther great main spoke o"
ther Terrific Triangle w’u’d ’a’ hitched up wi"
ary petticoater, ef he hadn’t bin forced to? No,
sir-ee! bob-tail burro. I tell ye thet we Gen-
tiles war forced to marry, or stand imprison-1
ment fer a hull fortnight, without food or
water. So all of us war hitched up, ’cept one o"

y pards, an’ he’s in prison now, fer refusin’ to;
obey the mandate. Ther rest 0’ ther boys fared.
better than me, ’cause they were given pretty
tolerable fair sort 0’ weemen. Even old General
Jackpot ct a wide—awake sort of a biznessu
shemale; ut, alas! it was my sad lot to have
the worst vixen on God’s footstool saddled of!
on me. Jest wait till ye see her, me ho ee, an’
of ye don’t sa that she who war Sal S ap, be.
fore I marrie her, aire tber wu’st case 0"
Helenblazes you ever see’d, you kin hev what’s
left 0’ me skulp what the red-skins didn’t tech,..
years ago.”

“ Pshaw! you don’t mean to tell me it’s as had
as that do you, old man? Sure the famous»
Annihilator would not‘submit to being hen-
packed by anything that wears calico?”

“Submit! henpecked! Great ham-bone that-
caused the last sickness of old Joner!” the vet--
eran ejaculated, “ henpecked ain’t, no name for
it! Me boyee, I tell ye,ther truth, I don’t own
so much as a cent’s worth 0’ stock in my hull
consarned carcass. She’s supreme ruler of all!
that’s left 0’ this roarin’ Injun epidemic. By
day I have to work in the mines, like an ordina-
ry mortal, an’ turn over my wages to her. She.
makes me swee the house, wash the dishes an"
comb her grizz y ha’r; I hev to go to bed when-
ever she sez so; she restricts me tow two pipes
an’ one chaw o’ terbaccy a day, makes me say
my catechism, and teetotally abstain from my
once favorite three fingers of Red Eye. Snortin”
salamandersl ef she war ever ter catch me h’ist
in’a dose of bug-juice tew my bugle-trap, I
wouldn’t have no use for a chair fora week.
Ohlshe’s a screamer, an’ no mistake, and yer-
old pard is no longer alivin’ reality—nothin”
but a grim shadder o’ remorseless fate.

“ Ah, Dicky, it’s lucky ye don’t know all. Et’s:
lucky er not hitched up along wi’ sech a
on vortin’ cyclone o’ concentrated custedness.
Why, w’u’d ou b’lieve it, the old fury sez that
when I shu e of! this mortal coil she’s goin’ ter
have me cremated, and sell my ashes for cock
roach exterminator!”
~ “I hardly think the suppl£ would meet the
demand," Dick laughed. ‘ ut, come along,

Avalanche, and have a smile with me, for the I

sake of old times.” .

“ Dicky, my ho ee, I darsn’t I” the Anni-
hilator impressive y declared, as he glanced
nervously about. “If I war to imbibe a taste
of licker, that pullet of mine would know it afore
ther ticklin’ sensation had at out o’ my throat,
an’ than
men eVery had, an’, ten to one, she’d make me
go to bed, and stay there for a week Without a
morsel to eat or drink.” .

“Pshawl nonsense! I Won’t allow you to be
so chicken~hearted. All’s the matter with you.
is the lack of a sufficient amount of stimulant to
brace you up, help you to assert your indepen-
dence: then I’ll guarantee the weaker member
of the family won’t boss you around so much 1”

“ Weaker! Oh! Lord! If she only was weak!”
the Annihilator aned, as be permitted him-
self tobe dragg up to the bar. “ I blush to
admit. Dicky me daisy. that a litttle o’ the am.
her would stren hen me up a hit, an’ I should
be only tew hi riously happy to Eat to yer
health, of I won’t ;afeard o’ Sal makin’ at on-

I’d get one of t underin’est maulin’s ‘

a...

 

 

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$5.51. ,,

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Deadwood Dick J r.’s Decree.

“‘ --~

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healthy fer me. Howsumdever, we can’t (lie but

once, an’ fer my part I’d jest erbout as liet‘ die

in pickle as in par’dise wi’ such as that screechin’
catamount, who war Sal Slap!”

Dick ordered the drinks, and while he touched
lightly of his, he watched Old Avalanche, as
the veteran sipped his beverage with great
,Us‘tO.

“By titer smokin’ salamanders, Dicky, that aire
lest like pourin’ ’iie on troubled waters—rog’lar
Ji'l dew from an Elysian field! Et strikesa
"lumbering and hitherto voiceless cord in my
internal music-box, and brings me back to the
1“in when Iuster git up More daylight an’
.;i~;'llp an Injun, as an appetizer fer breakfast!”

"Avalanche, my brother,” said General Jack-
,voit, who presided behind the bar, and Whose
Tull-moon face reflected the ruddy glow of the
prony, most particularly the nasal feature,
 verily I believe that thou art going the way
of the transgressor, and forgetting thy duties
to thy brethen an’ sisttrn of the Church.
'Verily, the backslidi r be more (1..»spised by thy
Elder, than the reptile tEr.t stingetil.”

“The Mormon church 1,0 cussed!” retorted
Avalanche. “ I’d give inure for :t swig of good
all mountain dew than for the hull caboodle of
Mormons. Fill up yer glass, Dicky, me boy,

.au’ drink to ther health 0’ ther once main-spoke

0’ ther whirlin’ wheel 0’ demolishun!”

“ Thanks! one nip at a time is enough for me
so if it will be all the same, I’ll drink a cigar,’
Dick replied.

“Kercct, old boyce! Suit yourself—but no
cigars fer ther old epcrdemic, when he kin git
rare old red-eye fer five bits aswaller, nary
time!” and the Annihilator poured out another
brimming glass, and held it up before him, his
‘eyes sparkling with appreciation. “ Ye would—
at believe it, but my stock 0’ energy has gone
up fifty per cent. a s are, an‘s still a-boomiu’.

“Tell ye what, Dicky, my speerits feel as
congenial as a coon in a hen-roost, an’ by ther
time I get a couple o’ more 0’ these coffin-nails
inter my interior, thur’ll be a double distilled
hail-storm o’ destruction chhyrin’ around this
hyar camp, and yer old Avalanche will slide
~d0wn amongst the besom of his famerly, an’
demonstrate tew Sal his views o’ther female
sufferin’ question! IVhoop-eel let her go,
Gallagher! .

“Here goes ter ther juice, that makes one feel
merry, ,

An’ picnics yer pride, an' paints yer nose cherry !’ "

But, alas! the veteran of many battles was

not destined to add to the tint of his nasal ap-  coat”

pendage through the medium of the liquor, for
there was a wild feminine screech at this junc-
ture, and the glass was ruthlessly snatched from
the Annihilator’s grasp and dashed into atoms
on the floor“. ‘

On turning to see what was the matter, Dead-
wood Dick beheld Old Avalanche being pulled
.along toward the street door of the room, by
the hair of the head, his captor being a tall,
thin, raw-boned female, whose slattern dress
and ugly visage gave her the appearance of a
veritable Hecate.

And Avalanche was submitting to this treat-
.ment without so much as a whim per!

.“ By Jove! this is too much of a good thing!”
Dick cried, and sprung forward to separate the
pair. As he did so, however, a man suddenly
fieppeéill in front of him and seized him by the
‘ roa

 

- CHAPTER III.
DEADWOOD DICK ON THE DEFENSIVE.
THIS interference had been so unexpected,

that ere the Prince of Western Detectives could
release himself irom the grasp upon his throat,

.not only did Sal Slap succeed in getting her an-

fortunate spouse out of the bar-room, but rein-
forcement came to the assistance of Dick’s as-
sailant, and,-in almost less time than it takesto
write it, his hands were securely pinioned be-
hind his back.

The first assailant then stepped back and sur-
veyed his capture, With a smile of triumph.

“Aha!” he observed, “so your free-anileasy
way of meddling received a sudden check, eh,
my key young friend?” , .

‘ So it seems,” Dick replied, Without a trace
of resentment in his tone. “ May I inquire
what is the cause of my being made a prisOner?”

“The cause is suflicient!’ the other replied.
"‘ You entered our town, without leave or
license, and that alone warrants your arrest.
You refused to give your name or business to
my special ofllcer Marshal Paul Podesta, and
publicly assaulted him. Now, who are you,
and what do you want in Jackpot City?"

 

 

 

“ For one thing, I’d like more civil treatment
than I have received, so far!” Dick replied, nou-
chalantly. “ Before I make known my identity
I’d like to know who you are, for I am particu-
larly rcScrvcd in (rheosing my associates, and
don’t. as a rule, mix up much with the common
herd!”

This speech combined with his indomitable
“ cheek,” caused the Mormon to stare .

Fora monu-nt, he did not answer; evidently
he was trying to solve the problem of what kmd
of an individual he had struck.

“ I am Morton Meredith, the Mormon Elder
of the town i" he said, haughtily, “and I own
this place, and all that appertains to it, body,
substance or soul. No man is allowed here who
does not adopt the Mormon faith, and conform
with the rules and regulations thereof. This
place is my home, my farm, my principality,
purchased, paid for, and protected by law, and
I have the right and power to reject, or to ad-
mit to my domain, whomsoever I may elect.
Trespassors come under the hand of the law,
and I have perfect right to arrest whoeVer I
may see fit. You not having passed into this
camp 'via the Tollgatc, and received the sign to
prove that you are all right, are therefore called
upon to explain!” and the saint folded his arms
across his breast, and waited for an answer.

He was a tall, well-proportioned man, some
forty years of age, with a round, smoothly
shaven face, scintillatin eyes, and glossy hair
of dark-brown color. e was dressed neatly,
in a black suit, wore a silk hat, no jewelry, and,
taken as a whole, was a good-looking person,
who evidently had been brought up not to
value the power of the almighty dollar.

“Your vocabulary lacks nothing in the way
of assumption and authority certainly,” was the
quiet rejoinder, “ but, my saintlyhrother, excuse
me if I say your language does not in the least
disConc :rt me. I am too old a nomad to be
cowal by patent thunder. Elder Brown thor-
oughly schooled me in regard to the sort of a
hairpin I was to run afoul of here, and I am
proud to say, Elder, that I’m glad to meet you.

f my dukes were free I should be only too happy
to grasp you by the hand!”

Meredith frowned.

“ What do you mean, sir?” he growled.
“ I’Vhat do you know of Elder Brown?”

“ I simply know him to be your superior, in
Mormon authority,” Dick replied, “ and pre-
sume you recognize that authority. For further
information, refer you to a. document you
will find in the left hand breast pocket of my

This nettled Meredith more than ever. Since
he had risen to a position among the Latter-Day
‘ Saints,’ and, especially, since he had held sway
at Jackpot City, he had not been accustomed to
such independence of manner and language as
he had received from the sport detective.

Who was he? ‘

' Where did he come from?

What did he know of Elder Brown, of Salt
Lake City, whom Meredith hated, feared, and
yet Was forced to yield to, more than to any
other man on earth. ‘

These were the questions Jackpot City’s mag-
istrate asked himself. as he stood glaring at the
cool/’indiflferent prisoner, whom he already do-
tested.

“ Bah!” he retorted, derisively; “ you are a

, scoundrel and an impostor!”

“The proof of the pudding is in the eating!”
was Dick’s calm rejoinder. “ If you doubt it’,
devour the document I have referred to—which
is sealed—and I know not its contents—and very
likely you will learn more than my innate mod-
esty permits me to publicly tell you 1”

‘ Very well,” Meredith replied, struggling
hard to suppress an outburst of anger. “ We
will see who, and what you are. If you are an
impostor, you had better never have set foot in
Jackpot City 1” '

He stepped forward. and, inserting his hand
into the left-hand, inside pocket of Dick’s coat
withdrew a sealed letter, which he at once opened
and perused. .

It ran as follows:

“ SAULLAKI: Crrv, May —, 188—.
“Ma. MEREDITH:—

"MY Dun Sim—Although we are, privately. ene-
mies. I consider it my duty to give you due notice
that you must adop new methods of protection
and precaution. as your downfall would be a down-
fall to the interests of the Church. Let me there-
fore enJoin on you the utmost secrecy and watch-
fulness. There are thousands of men. who. did they
know not only of the wealth of your place but Of
1/0”" being“ thrre. would descend upon t in a cloud-
and your present sway would be forever lost. and
yopr'life, also!

' Your guard is insufficient. and unless placed in

 

the charge of thedproper party, the doom of Jack-
pot City is scale . he existenceof the place is
daily becoming more and more known to outsiders.
and only instant readiness to repulse intrusion, In
case of emergency, will save the place from falling
back into the hands of the Gentiles.

' “ A for yourself. you need even more protection.
Your affairs at, C— are not lessening in magnitude.
as they age, and you know what fate awaits you, if
you fall into the clutches of the law.

“ l haveilsent this by a man whom you can impli-
citly trust. He was formerly a U. S. Government
Detective. but is now under a cloud—a fugitive from
justice—and will prow- a useful ally to you. He is
clear-headed, cool and fearless. ahorn general owr
men, a keen manager, and a power in himself. He
is a student of character. and allows no petty scru-
ples to interfere with work he has to do.

"Then-fete, I recommend you to make him chief
of guard and if there is any trouble, he is the man
you can rely upon to mtppress it.

"You and I are still enemies. Morton Meredith
and I will not seek my Vengeance until the fatal
annivvrsury of your devilish deed. Until then. we
are brother Mormons, and my duty to the Church
commands me to incite you this letter, which. hav-
ing missed the nppiovnl cf the Senior bishop, [here-
by direct you to carefully consider, and act accord-
in' .

L y “Yours in the Church,

" Ewan Jos. BROWN."

After the first perusal, Meredith read the let-
ter over again, before speaking.

“ Humphl” he growled, after the second read-
ing, “ this letter is a forgery. You did not re-
ceive it 'from Brown at all, or if you did. he’s
undergone a great change. It’s my opinion
you're a sneaking spy. come here to pry into my
affairs.”

“ Sorr you’ve got such a bad opinion of mo,”
Dick re. ied, “and I hope you’ll shake it off.
If you oubt my being what I’m represented, or
think the letter is spurious, why don‘t you com-
municate your suspicions to Elder Brown, and
have him set your mind at rest?”

“ That’s precisely what I propose to do. I
shall dispatch a messenger at once to Salt Lake
City, and on his return, if he does not bring
back a favorable report, direct from the Elder’s
own lips, I will have you shot. Until then you
are welcome to such hospitality as you may find
here, but bear this in mind: you will be watched,
and if you make any attempt to leave Jackpot
City you will he shot down like a dog. Here,
Podesta, release the prisoner’s hands.”

Podesta. with one e e swollen shut and discol-
ored, shuffled forwm , and in a twinkling the
detective was at liberty.

_ Meredith turned then and quitted the hotel,
while, not desiring further publicity for the
resent, Deadwood Dick had a room-assigned

im by Old J ackpot, and retired to it, prepara-
torv to a good night’s rest.

For there was no telling what the day might
bring forth.

 

CHAPTER IV.
nuanwoon men MAKES A raw INQUIRIES. '

DEADWOOD DICK was early astir the next
morning, and found General Jackpot just open-‘
ing up for business. '

“Ah, good-morning, young maul” the Gen-
eral saluted, rubbing his hands together bland-
ly. “ You are an early riser, I see. Perhaps it
is for the same reason that I am such. The old
General allus has to have an eye-opener before
breakfast, and as he has so far forgot himself
as to not yet imbibe. will you J’ine us?” 0

“With pleasure,” Dick replied, knowmg a
refusal would be considered an offense. “ If
you’ve any wine I’ll sample that.” .

“Wine I have. what woos the Wits into wis-
dom,” the General assured, oratorically. “ By
the way. my friend, are you of the Mormon
faith invested 9” . .

‘,‘ In a horn l” Dick replied, betraying his dis- ,

st. .
gu“ But, then, how come Meredith to let you '
9

o?’
g “ 0%], he had a reason to! Are you a Mor-
men?

“ God forbid!” the General exclaimed, as he
ured out his liquor and tossed it off at a gul
‘But for the cussed galoots. mean’ my pa -
ners would still own these mines. But wait. me
boy! There’ll be a change afore longvand we’ll
sweep these brutes nff’en the face 0 be earth
sure’s my name’s General Jack t! We’re all
organized for revolt. and it’s on y a question of
time. till we not a little stronger. When thar’l]
he an insurrection, and then we’ll retake the

mines,”

“ Good! I admire that resolution, and if I
am around when the revolt takes place. you can
count on me to lend a helping hand 0" the
present, I am playing a little game of my own
and, for reasons best known to mySelf, s all if

\

 

 

6

.r‘

Deadwood Dick l'r.’s Decree.

 

 

 

things work right, appear to be Elder Mere-
dith‘s right-ban man and ally, while in reality
I am working dead against him. Understand
the racket?”

“ Hum-I yes, partly. I’ve heard my pard,
Old Avalanche, speak of you frequently. You
are a detective?”

“Yes; but mum’s the word as regards that.
I am here on an important mission, and while
working out my own case, can be of service to
your cause in a quiet way.”

“ J es’ so—jes’ so! An’ right glad we shall be
to have you on our side!” the General declared;
“ for both me an’ my friend Avalanche ain’t
quite ufi to the fightin’ standard we once war,
especia y sence we war forced to hitch up in
double harness. Lordy! tho’, my woman’s a
queen to the old cutamount Alva’s got."

“ Probablggs From what I saw last night, my
old friend a hard lot of it. Where does
Avalanche live?”

“ In a cabin, down yonder on the south edge
0’ the ernins’ler; but ef you know when you’re
well 0 , on will not go okin’ ’round thar, fer

ou’l-l al us find the ol woman ‘ at home,’ in
igh tantrum, and her reception committee
consists of a pair of forty—four caliber ‘ bai‘kers’
which she knows how to use with effect. So, if
on are hankerin’ to get filled full of solder, you
tter go d0wn and call on Sal. If she don’t
make it interesting for you, I’ll keep free bar
fer the hull town from now till closin’—up time
to-ni ht.”

“ ell, if that’s the case, I hardly think I
shall venture to intrude upon the charming
matron 1” Dick declared, shrugging his shoulo
ders. “ I’d like to have a longer talk with
Avalanche, however, as no doubt he could give
me oints that I Wish to know.”

“ ell, if that’s the case, you’re likely to have
to wait awhile!” the General chuckled, “ for,
ten to one, the Annihilator will be under an
eclipsc, for a week to come. If ther inquiries
ye have to make concern this hyer town, I
reckon I kin post you purty nigh as well as ther
next one.”

“ Very well. You’re the individual I want to
see. One part of my mission in Jackpot City is
to find a missing man. The case is t is: Over
a. month ago, I sent a detective partner of mine
into the Humboldt Mountains, in this immediate
vicinity, to hunt up a man to whom an impor-
tant secret was to be committed. My partner
was to communicate with me as often as pos-
sible, but, having heard nothing of him, or of
the result of his search, up to two weeks ago, I
set out in search of him, myself, and after
scouring the mountains bereabouts, I finally
struck this town. But, after getting a look at
most of the citizens, I have failed to find my

. rtger, and fear that some harm has befallen

m

“ What fer name did yer partner bear ‘3”

“ Joseph Sands!”

“ Sands, chi” and the General rubbed the bald
surface of his cranium, until it assumed nearly
as roseate a tint as the end of his n0se. “ Sands,
hey? Yes, I allow I’ve seen him. Short, stocky
sort of a galoot, hey i” r

“ Exactly 2”

“Rather ood-lookin’, wi’ a blonde mustache,
and mighty een eyes!”

“Yes! yes! that’s the man. Where is he?”

“ Gone where the woodbine twineth, my
friend, I reckon. Thar was sech a teller floated
into this camp, about a fortnight ago, an’ got
into some trouble wi’ Meredith. I don’t know
the hull circumstances 0’ the case, but I’ve heern
tell that he didn’t get out 0’ camp alive!”

“ Do you mean to sa that he was foully
dealt with?" demanded Dick in evident excite-
meat.

“Dunno what else ye kin make out 0’ et. I
kn0w he disappeared mi hty suddint,.an’ Dead-
shot Dave has told me t at he didn’t leave ther
town by ther way of Purgatory Pass.”

“ Who is Deadshot Dave?”

“ He keeps ther Toll ate, up ther pass.”

“ Ah! _I see!” and eadwood Dick paced to
and fro, in front of the bar, in perplexit . “ By
Heaven! if this double-dyed scoundre , Mere-
dith, has caused the death of poor Sands, this
town is doomed, and he with it. Not an ac-
cursed Mormon shall escape!”

“ Bull for you !" cried the General, en-
thusiast cally. “ That’s the way to talk it! You
sail in an’ start the ball a-rollin’, an’ ye can bet
every Gentile in the Camp will be with ye,
tooth, Thomashawk, and toe-nail!”

Richard made no answer for a few moments,
then he asked, abruptly.

“ id Sands tell you. or have you heard any
one spy, what was his mission, in Jackpot

Gityi’

 

 

 

“ No, I only saw him once, and afterward
heard he and Meredith had had a quarrel, and
that Sands would not be likely to pick up an
more quarrels around this hyer camp. It ain t
a healthy '0b to go nosin’ arOund into Mormon
affairs, an so I war content to accept what lit-
tle I heerd as a conclusion that your pard had
been done for by the Danites!”

“ The Daiiites?”

“ Yes—Paul Podesta and his gang. When
there’s any dirty work Meredith wants done,
they’re the chaps as does it, it is said.”

“ How many are there of ’em?"

“ That’s Inore’n I kin tell you, for the rest of
’em is unknown, except Podesta, and even he
professes to know nothing of the existence of
such a gang. We Gentiles know better, and it’s
only keeping our mouths shut and conforming
to Meredith’s tyrant rules that keeps us from the
unpleasant sensation of waking up some morn—
ing to find ourselves Corpses.”

“ Humph! I see. But this sort of business
won’t last long. When I get things Working
right I’ll make short work of Morton Meredith
and his infamous Mormon rule. Now, drop-
ping Sands out of the case, and granting that
he has been foully dealt with, I want to ask you
if there is, or has been, (previous to my arrival,
such a man in Jackpot 'ity as John Prince?”

“ John Prince? Great humped-up hornets, I
should sa thar war! Why, et war me, General
George Vashington Potts, together wi’ John
Prince an’ Old Avalanche, who first discovered
ther auriferous in this hyar canyon.”

“ Indeed? Then I am on the right trail,”
Dick said. “It was to hunt up this man,
Prince, that I sent my partner into the Hum-
boldt Mountains. Where Will I find him—I
mean John Prince?”

“ I reckon ou won’t find him at all for the
present,” the .nerai replied, grimly, “ or if you
do, you’ll run the risk 0’ gettin’ riddled wi’ bul—
lets a—doin’ it!”

The General then went on, and detailed how,
by Meredith’s orders, all the Gentiles except
John Prince had been forced to take unto them-
selves Mormon wives, and how Prince had been
shut up in a secret dungeon, somewhere in the
bowels of the mountains, there to remain for
fourteen days without food or water, all be-
cause he refused to accept the fate of his com-
rades.

“Where is this dungeon?” Dick demanded,
when the General had finished.

“ The Lord only knows!” the General
groaned. “ The boys have tried to locate it,

ut have made an ignominious failure, and, as
near as they can learn, Meredith and his tool,
Podesta, are the only two who know where the
dungeon is.”

“ I’ll bet I’ll know,” Dick asserted, “ before I
am in Jackpot City many hours longer. How
long, has John Prince been imprisoned, thus
far?

This is the tenth day. Poor fellow, I reckon
he’s turned 11 his toes, long ere this. 1 allow
no man coul live that long, without food or.
drink.” ,

“ It would seem not. Yet I have heard of in-
stances where people liVed many days more
than that. John Prince had a. daughter, had he
not?” ”

“ What became of her?”

“ She lives down yonder, on the furthest point
of _ the peninsula, in the little cottage. ,Poor
thing! 8 e nearly cries her pretty eyes out, all
on account of her father’s being shut up.”

At this juncture a number of roughly dressed
laborers entered the bar-room, and so conversa-
tion for the time being was at an end.

CHAPTER V. '
MISS PRINCE.

DURING the daytime, especially working hours,
Jackpot City was about the quietest town one
could imagine, all the male population, with the
exception of a handful of tradesmen and saloon-
keepers, being at work in the big drift that was
driven into the mountain-side; and which was
yielding so much rich ore, that placer mining on
the peninsula. was abandoned. . '

tAfiter breakfast, Dick sauntered forth for a
s ro .

The northern portion of the peninsula. was tim-
bered with ma estic pines and cottonwoods, and
afforded a sh y retreat, and having nothing ln
particular to occupy his attention, until later in
the day, Bristol wandered toward the woods,
and later threaded its leafy aisles.

Awa ahead, through the timber, the roar of
the tar ulent waters of Cyclone Creek could be

 

 

heard, as they lashed themselves into a fury
against the rock-ribbed shores in a vain efl’ort

to cut across the neck of land, and then with a.
sullen rush had to turn aside, and sweep angrily
around the peninsula’s oint.

But neither the caroling of the winged song-
sters overhead nor the hubbub of the waters,
seemed to be noticed by the Wild West Detec—
tive, as he wandered among the trees in deep.
thought.

For an hour he paced to and fro, and then
paused to light a cigar and look at his watch.

As he did so, he caught sight of something
lying on the ground before him, and on stooping
to pick it up, he was astonished to find it was a
Chamois purse, prettin trimmed with various
colored beads, the latter being also arranged
into the letters

“ NELLIE P.”

Examination proved that this little receptacle
contained a sum of money in greenbacks, but
just how much, Dick did not take the trouble to
count.

“Queer place to find a purse!” he mused. “ I
wonder where the owner is. Nellie P——--? Let me-
think. Ah! I have it—wNellie Prince, John
Prince’s daughter! Bly Jove! it is fortunate I
found this, for now have a good excuse for
calling on the young lady.”

Putting the purse in his pocket, he left the for-
est, and made his way toward the point of land
where stood the Prince cottage, which was one
of the cosiest in Jackpot City, inasmuch as vines:
had been trained up over the door-arbor and‘
windows, and flewer-beds were arrangad on.
either side of the graveled Walk.

The front door stood pwtly ajar as Deadwood
Dick approached, and as he came up it was
0 sued by the person whom the detective con—
c udedv must be Nellie Prince, for he was un-
aware that John Prince’s niece was a member of
his family.

The young woman he now beheld, was tall
and of sylph-like build. With rather strong cast
of features, a pearly complexion, dark, liquid
eyes, and raven hair, with which great care had
been taken, evidently, to becomineg arrange.

She was in a flowing wrapper of pink percale,
with a bunch of wood-lilies at her fair throat,
and was certainly a picture of rare beauty, such
as is not frequently met with in the wild regions
of the West.

“ Have I the honor of addressing Miss Nellie-
Prince?” Dick asked, cavalierly raising his hat.

The young woman hesitated a second, while
her aze swept the detective from head to foot.

“ es, I am Miss Princc,” she finally answered.
“ What is it you wish?”

“ If on will pardon me. I will introduce my-
self. y name is Bristol, and I am commis-
sioned tosee your estimable father on an im-

Ortant business matter. Learnin that Mr.
rince is not to be seen at present, concluded
it; w;?uld be appropriate to call upon his daugh-

r

I ‘deegtainly. You did quite right. Pray come
1115] e..

And Dick was ushered into a plain little sit-
ting-room and given a chain.

“ Were you acquainted with papa, Mr. Bris-
tol?” Miss Prince asked, when they were seated.

“I was not,” Dick replied. “ Cbancing to
visit Carson City a few weeks ago, I was en-
gaged to hunt up your father. as soon as it be»
came known that I was a detective.”

“ A detective f” and Miss Prince began to look
ill at ease. _

“Yes, miss; but pray do not be alarmed. ‘08--
cause my motive m finding your father isnot an
unfriendly one. I have come as a friend, and as-
such I trust you will accept me. Your father
was formerly in business in Carson. I believe?”

“ Yes, sir. He was engaged in the brokerage
business, in company with a man named Henry
Kirke.” -

“ Mr. Prince was quite wealthy,
stand?”

“Yes, sir. I think he had many thousand
dollars in the business; but he 0st it all,
through the base treachery of his Partner, Who
absconded with the entire assets of the firm.”

“How old a man was this Henry Kirke?”

“Over sixty years of age."

‘Do you know where he went after he fled
from Carson City?”

“ I do not. I have
seen in Utah.” ,

“ He had two nephews. I believe?”

“ Yes, sir—a Mr. Morton Meredith, who is
the present Mormon ruler of this camp, and an-
other nephew named Lloyd Meredith. Thelat-
ter, however. Was pt SWOI‘GS’ points with Klrke
and Morton Meredith. and consequently changed
his own name for the commoner one of 06»

Sands.” r

I I under-

heard he was afterward

 

P
i

was

 

 

 

 

 

\I

 

 

11'".- .-

t-vx -.._4 .4»;

AM-
. Mp ‘

N .

'- did not escape

“ E actly. Have you ever seen Sands?”
“ Vgave not.”
“ hen Kirke lived in Carson, he had a young
wife. I believe?”
“ Yes, sir.” v
“ What became of her after Kirke absconded?”
“ Oh, she turned her affections over to Mere-
dith, and I believe was going to marry him, as

  
  
 

 ‘oon as she could get a divorce, but, one morn-
, ng she was found dead in her bed, and Meredith

as nowhere to be found.”

“ I see. Meredith killed her, eh?”

“ I suppose so.” ,

“ And it’s this same Meredith who rules J ack-
pot City?”

“ Yes, the very same.”

“ He holds your father a prisoner?”

“Yes, sir. Oh, sir, you do not know how I
am suffering every minute, because of poor

apa’s imprisonment. I try to be brave, and
hope for the best, but I feel certain I shall never
again see my poor father alive.”

“ Don’t despair, Miss Prince, for while there’s
life there’s hope, you know. I shall set to work
to secure Mr. Prince’s release as soon as I possi-
bly can, and put him on his feet again. That is
mainly my busineSs here in Jackpot.”

“How do you mean by put him on his feet
again? Do you mean that it is in your pOWer to
re-cstablish papa in business, sir?”

“ I do, if everything works as I intend to have
it. Now, Miss Prince, what 1 want to know is
this: Has Meredith any stronger motive for
keeping your father a prisoner than that of
punishment for refusal to marry a Mormon
woman?"

“ I think he has. I will tell you what I know
about it, and you will then be able to draw your
Own inferences. At the time my father and
Henry Kirke were partners, this man Meredith
was an expert accountant, and was frequently
employed by the firm to adjust the books and
attend to various other matters. In this way
he managed to get an insight into the private
affairs of the Others, and, among other things,
learned that papa’s life was insured for ten
thousand dollars, and the policy drawn ayable
to me on pa a’s death. As soon as eredith
learned this 6 began paying assiduous atten-
tions to me. I gave him no encouragement,
h0wever, and at length, as I have told you be-
fore, he fled from Carson City. !

“ That is the last I ever saw of him until after
we were located here in Jackpot City, when he
came and surprised us with his gang of Mor-
mons, and' took possession of the camp. After
papa was taken prisoner, Meredith renewed his
suit for my hand, and has continued to annoy
me ever sincc. although I have repeatedly scorn—
ed his offers.”

“ I presume he has offered to set your father
at liberty if you would marr him?”

“Yes, he has, and only ast night, when I
again refused to listen to his protestations of

, love, he got angry, and swore that if I did not

marry him within the coming week, my father
would not be liberated at the expiration of his

' sentence.”

f‘ Humph! The villain is carrying matters
With a high/hand, I should say,” Dick observed.
“But his da, sin this camp are numbered just
the same. hat did you say to his threat?”

' I made no answer. or course I would not
think of becoming the slave of such a wretch.
The very idea is too horrible to contemplate!”

“What! Would you not marry him to save
your father from rotting in a dank dungeon?”
queried Dick. . ‘ ‘ .

u 1—1—01]! 819, I don’t know. I—I—couldn’t
marry that awful man—oh! I should die, I
know 1 should!' Benders, I have no longer any
hope that papa .13 Yet alive. Just think! he has
been shut up Without food 01‘ water for ten days,
and not beng a strong man, I don’t believe he
could have lived a wee .” '

Dick made no direct answer, but his mind
was busy with conflicting thoughts.

He was Very much disappointed concerning
Miss Prince, to say the least, for She was in no
wise the idea] young woman whom he had 9;.
WM to meet.

Instead of a cold, unnatural and selfish crea-
ture who would not make any sacrifice to save
her own father’s life, he had rather expected to
find an affectionate, sunny-natured girl, uite
the Opposite of the Miss Prince he now behe d.

The ratherdissatisfied expression upon his face
the young woman’s notice, for
she made haste to say, in a way that betrayed
her uneasmess of mind:

“ I trust you win not think me hard-hearted,
Mr. Bristol, for, if I could be assured th t papa
was really still alive, I would do any ing to
secure m5 relelse—yes, I would even marry

 

Deadwood Dick J r.’s Decree.

Mormon Meredith, if I had to cut his throat for
it the next morning!"

“ What are your plans for the future?” Dick
asked, changing the subject.

“ I have not formed any. If I ever succeed
in escaping from this town, I shall Iprobably go
back to my friends in Carson, or may try to
get a school to teach, somewheres, for very
likely I shall have to depend on my own efforts,
as I never expect to realize a cent from the in-
surance upon my father’s life!”

“ Why not?”

“Because I haven’t the policy. It was in
papa’s possession when he was taken prisoner,
and very likely Morton Meredith now holds it!”

“That will not make any difference, for in
event of your father’s death, it is payable only
to the person named. But, independent of the
insurance money, you will come into a fortune
that will keep you in comfort for life!”

~“ Indeed?” and Miss Prince’s eyes fairly glit-
tered with excitement. “ I do not understand.”

“ Then I will ex )lain: When your father’s
partner, Henry Kir ’e, absconded from Carson,
he went direct to Salt Lake City, joined the
Mormons, and became known as Elder Brown.
He soon was a power among the Latter—Day
Saints, and while officiating as older used the
money he had robbed your father of to Specu-
late on. In speculation he was eminently suc-
cessful, for within a year’s time he had acquired
a large fortune, in ready cash, as the result of
his operations.

“ Then he became afflicted with quick con-
sumption, and secretly returned to Carson City,
where he died, about a month ago. Joe Sands,
my detective iartner—and who in reality turn—
ed out to be enry Kirke‘s own sow-together
with myself, a lawyer and a physician, were
with the sick man in his last hours.

“ Before he died he made his last will, and ap-
pointed me executor of it. This will, together
with all of Kirke’s wealth was also turned over
into my hands. Among other things, the will
stipulated as follows: That I find John Prince,
and return to him every dollar that he had been
robbed of ; that I bring Prince‘s daughter and
Joe Kirke (or Sands) together, in matrimony,
and settle upon them the balance of the fortune
as soon as the nuptial-knot was tied; and, third-
ly, the will deals with a confession that the tes-
tator, Henry Kirke, personally witnessed the
murder of his faithless wife, Cora, by his
nephew, Morton Meredith, and charges that the

executor of the will devote his time to hunting ~

down this man Meredith and bringing him to
justice. For doing this, the executor received
his pay in advance from the hands of the tes—
tator, the sum being one thousand dollars.”

"What a singular will!” Miss Prince said,
visibly excited. “ Wh . in case Nellie and Joe
Sands do not marry, w at then?”

“Half of the fortune then goes to the ex-
ecutor of the will, and the other half to Nellie
Prince, if she be unmarried. If married, al-
ready, all of the fortune goes to the young
woman.” - ~

“Ah! then the fortune is mine!” Miss Prince
cried, excitedly.

“ How so?” demanded Dick.

“ Becausa I am already married!” was the re-

ply-

 

CHAPTER VI.

A REVELATION CONCERNING PEARL PRINCE.

THIS latter announcement naturally caused
the visitor considerable sur rise.

“ Married?” he ejaculate . “ Since when?”

“I was married over a month ago to a gentle-
man named Lucas—Leonard Lucas. The mar-
riage was not made public, however, as my
father was afraid Morton Meredith would raise
a row about it.” .

“ Your father knew of the marriage then!”

“ Certainly.”

h “ Who is this man Lucas? I would like to see
im.

' “ He it: one of the few Gentiles of this camp,

and works in the mine. I‘Ie neVer. comes here

for fear of exciting suspicion: but, if you like, I

can arrange a meeting after dark in the woods

at the upper end of the peninsula.”

“ Very well. I will be at the extreme upper
side of the peninsula at nine o’clock to-night,
and shall expect on and your husband. If I
find on are rea ly married, and everything is
O. . part of my mission in Jackpot City will
have been fulfilled. I must now devote my
energies toward securing the liberation of your
father, so you will have to excuse me for the
present.”

And the detective arose to depart.

“One question: before you go?” Miss Prince

 

~ “I...” -

71

said, also rising. “How long will itbe before‘I
may expect to realize upon my inheritance?
Since poor papa was arrested I have been very
short of funds, and have hard work to get
alon r.”

“ here will be no settlement until I learn for
certain whether John Prince is dead or not!”
Deadwood Dick declared. “ By the way, I had
nearly forgotten a part of my errand here.
Have you recently lost anything Miss Prince?”

“Oh, yes! yes! my purse! Did you find it?
Oh! I am so glad 1”

“Yes, I found a purse. Is this yours?” and
the detective exhibited the article he had picked
up while in the woods.

“ Oh, yes! that is mine. Don’t you see—~
‘ Nellie P.’ is worked upon it. Thank you ever
so much, sir.”

“ Oh, you’re welcome,” Dick replied, and bid-
ding the apparently overjoyed young woman
good day, he took his departure.

“ Well, I’ll be blamed if I know what to make
of things!” he mused, as he sauntered along the
edge of the creek. “John PrinCe‘s daughter is
one of the oddest cnigmas I’ve struck for a long
time, hang me if she ain’t. She’s avaricious,
selfish, heartless, and, if I mistake not. in a.
measure unscrupulous. In order to get the in-
surance money on her father’s life, she would
make no effort to free him from imprisonment;
and in order to get hold of all of the Kirke for.
tune, she re resents herself to be the wife of a.
common miner named Lucas. By my soul, I
believe she lies, for she is a too high-strung girl
to wantonly make a plebeian alliance. Anyhow,
one thing is certain: I shall not disburse a cent
of old Kirke’s money until I find John Prince,
either dead or alive. I’ve half a notion to—”

Just what that half a notion was, Dick did
not say, for he was suddenly aroused from his
reflections by an unexpected spectacle, or, in
other Words, came near running bang-u against
two persons who were coming from t e direc-
tion in which he was going.

The party proved to be no one less than Old
Avalanche and his vinegar-visaged wife, out for
a morning stroll.

And such a pair they were!

Old Avalanche, ever short of stature, looked
even shorter and more bent than usual. He
was clerically attired in a suit of black, with a.
b’iled shirt, and a plu but which may have be-
longed to his wife’s ormer husband, granting
that she may have had one. " ‘

His spouse, the venerable vine ar-visaged Sal,
towered at least a foot above Iiim in stature,
and was robed in a wrapper of dark figure and
startling colors, and wore upon her head a flar—
ing “ sugar-scoop" bonnet of bygone days,
which was lavis 1y trimmed with yellow rib-
bons and gaudy artificial flowers.

Her arm was linked in that of Old Avalanche
who, with his disengaged hand, held a faded
umbrella aloft to shade his liege lady from the
imaginary sun.

Such was the picture suddenly thrust before
the detective’s Vision, and his contiguity to the
spectacle caused him to come to a dead halt.

“ Old Avalanche, by my soul!” he could not
help ejaculatin , and with difficulty repressing
a snort of lung ter. '

“ Ay, ay, Dicky, me ha eel ye’r’ right, ther.
Et aire yer leetle Old Ava anche, but he airo a.
werry chang-ed mortal. Behold! out of a once
teetotal hailstorm o’ demolition has risen the
famous In 'un Annihilator to becum a support-
in’ pillar o ther Church. Allow me to introduce
you to the new partner of my bosom, who has
done so much toward my reformation. Sarah,
this is ther Honorable Richard M. Bristol,
9. recently-arrived convert from Salt Lake.
Dicky, me boyee, this aire my wife-she who
war Sal Samantha Slap, before she got mashed
on me.”

Although he was ripe for fun, Dick made a.
sweeping obeisance in true cavalier fashion. ,

“It gives me great pleasure to meet Sister
Lanche.” he said, “ for I have heard of her
as an indefatigable worker in the interests of
the Saints.”

“ She’s a J im-dandy, you bet!” Avalanche
declared, “ an’ I tell ye, me boy, ther way she
yanked me out o’ ther “awe of the pit 0’ Mi-
shun war wonderful! reat ham-bone! tell

you what it is, I feel like a different man, 1 do,

y ther great ham-bone!” o _ ,
“ You look it,” Dick replied, With comic
seriousness. .
“ Young man,” said Sal, who had been eying
Dick rather suspiciously, “do gen contemplate
takin’ unto yourself a Wife. an thereby lay the

corner-stone toward becoming 3» Supporting Pil‘
lar of the Church?” ,
“ Perhaps !” Dick replied, evamvely. *

/

 

 

 
   

“

8 .

Deadwood Dick Jr.’s Decree.

 

“ It is well. But, as a sister, let me warn you
to beware of vipers.”

“ Vipers?”

“ Yes, vipers!"

“ Great ham-bone! vipers, to be sure, Dicky,”
chimed in Avalanche, a peculiar twinkle in his
eyes. “ Listen thou Well, me boyee, to our
counsel, for we aire supportin’ pillars of the
Church. Sal Samantha is ther pillar, an’ I’m
the support.”

“I am truly grateful for any counsel you
can give 1119.” Dick assured; “but pardon inc
if I say I do not understand to whom you refer
by vipers.”

“ Ye don’t, hey? Wal, ther’s a pair of ’em in
this camp, and if you don’t mind your P’s and
Q’s you’ll get yerself into a muss that it will be
hard to got out of, for both of ‘em are your ene-
mics. ()ne of ’em is Morton Mercdith.”

“ Yes? Well. who is the other?”

“ A woman!”

“ A woman?”

“Yes. You just come from the Prince cot
tage, didn’t yet”

5. V 3

“ but did you go there for?”

" To see Miss Prince.”

“ For what?”

“ Oh! on a matter of business!"

" You see’d her, I s’pose.”

“ I did.”

“ Which one did you see?”

“ Why, I saw Miss Nellie Prince, I suppose;
for I did not know there was more than one
Miss Prince!"

“Just as I supposed. You didn’t see John
Prince’s darter, at all, ’CAAUSG she went up you-
der into the woods, awhile ago. The critter

ou saw was tnat stuck-up snip, Pearl. who’s
Nellie’s cousin, an she’s the other viper I spoke
of. Ef ye went to John Prince’s shebang to
court up his daughter, young man, you’ve made
a sweet muss of it, fer I tell ye that Pearl aire a
snake-in—the—grussI"

“ My visit was not a mission of courtship!”
Dick replied, “ but a mission far more import-
ant. If the tall young lady who received me,
was not John Prince’s daughter, she certainly
practiced deception on mel”

“ 0h! she’s none too good for that!” Sal
Samantha declared. “ She’s meaner and more
treacherous than a Mex1can woman. an’ if

oujve told her anything ye wouldn’t ’a’ wanted
er to know, you’ve jest gone an’ put yer fut in-
to it. Hain’t that so, Alva dear?”

“ I allow that them aire about ther fac’s o’
the case!” assented the Annihilator, who, while
under Sal Samantha’s protecting wing judici-
ously agreed with. every view she advanced,
and thereby saved a hair-pulling. “Whatever
Sarah tells ye, Dicky. me boyee, you can de-
pend on as being gospel truth.”

“I am very grateful for the enlightenment I
have already received!” Dick candidly declared,
“for it Will enable me to be on my guard, in
the future.” I

“ An’ that’s what ye wanter be!” Mrs. Ava-
lanche averred with marked vim. “ I don’t pur—
tend to be no angel, but I won’t see no shenani-
gan games practiced on a Gentile, no uicker
nor I would on a Mormon. Ef that Pearl rince
can git a hold onter ye, in any way, she’ll freeze
to you faster than grim death to a nigger, long’s
thar’s any hope of wheedling you out of. any
money!”

" But—but, my dear!” put in Old Avalanche,
“ lye}: know friend Richard is no longer a Gen-
ti 3! ‘

“ Shut your mouth. Alva Lanchel” retorted
the “ pillar" of. the family. “ Haven’t I told
you, time and again, not to put in your gab
when I have the floor? Fresh air don’t agree
with you, and now do you march straight
homel’

And, seizing a firmer hold of her lord’s arm,
Sal Samantha hustled him off, without further

0.

The ‘Ahnihilator cast back one despairin
glance at the detective, and then the ill-matche
twain disappeared from view, within a neigh-
boring shanty, while Dick sauntered away
along the stream once more. this time heading
in the direction of the timber, whose cover he
had only recently quitted.

CHAPTER VII.
rum. rumor: TALKS “nusmss.”

As has been mentioned. Morton Meredith was
not the possessor of a wife, so far as his sub-
I ,jects, or the other residents of Jackpot City
were aware.

He 1i w‘ed alone in the cosiest cottage of the

v Salt Lake City!

 

camp, and took his meals at the houses of his
flock. who, it appeared, received no compensa-
tion for these accommodations.

Meredith’s home was comfortably furnished,
as? answered for his lodgings and business
0 cc.

The morninc following his interview with
Deadwood Dh’fTi, found the Elder seated in his
office, in an cvialcntly uneasy frame of mind,
for his brows WHP, knitted in a frown, and his
eyes were a re~tless, hunted look.

In his hands he. held the letter from “Elder
Brown,” which he had received from the de-
tective.

“ Curse the day I ever saw Henry Kirke!” he
muttered, shutting his teeth hard together.
“Curse Ill» day I ever saw him, his wife and
If I had lied East, after the
murder at Carson, I’d new-r have been found
out. Instead, like an idiot. I went to Salt Lake
City, and fell plum into Kirke’s power, which-I
dare not resist, for, if I did, he’d turn me over
to the luv, and my doom would be sealer]. He
has got me fairly penned up here, and I am at
his mercy. He is aware of my every move~
ment, no ,doubt, through the agency of a spy,
and now he has sent on another bloodhound to
keep a closer watch on me. Curse him! curse
him!"

His face grew dark with the hatred that
lurked Within his soul, and his hands clinched
together, until the nails crimsoned the flesh.

“If I only knew who the other spy was,” he
continued, “ I’d know how to lay my plans: but
Ido not. One thing is certain—the spy is one
of the crowd who came with me to Jackpot
City. But which one am I to suspect? Not
Paul Podesta, for he is but an ordinary brute,
with only intelligence en ugh to eat, sleep and
drink, except it be in the way of fighting.
Sometimes my suspicions are directed against
Sal Slap; but why ? She has never done any-
thingto cause me to suspect her. In factI
believe her greed for gold is so ,reat, that she
could be hired to do ,anything. 1‘ I felt safe in
gloinlg it, I might find it profitable to give her a
ma

“ Something has got to be done, and that, too,
without delay. If this man Bristol was really
sent here, as he claims, Henry Kirke means me
mischief—ay! means to keep. me under strict
surveillance, until the time arrives for his
threatened vengeance. If Bristol does not come
from Kirke, or “Elder Brown,” as Kirke is
known, why, he is an impostor—a detective,
likely, who is here for some other purpose. In
either event, he must be put out of the way;

,He’s dangerous to my interests, in either case.

With him out of the way, (in case he does not
come from Brown, whom I dare not anger too
much,) and with Joe Sands and John Prince
both dead, I see no reason why I may not reign
as the ruler of Jackpot City, for a long time to
come. And, another thing: Nellie Prince must
become my wife before the week is out, for I
have Sworn to possess not only her, but the in~
surauce on her father’s life. I must also as-
ceiéiigin whether John Prince is still alive, or
no

The foregoing soliloquy was unconscious] y u_t-
tered aloud, as is the habit of many a villain in
his moments of silent excitement. Had the
scoundrel knewn that much of what he mutter-
ed had been heard and understood, his peace of
mind would have experienced .a new shock.

As it was, his self interview was soon inter-
rupted. There came a rap'upon the door, which
almost immediately opened, and Miss Pearl
Prince, stepped confidently into the room.
Meredith sprung to his feet, in evident astonish—
ment. .

“ Miss Prince!” he ejaculated.

“ Miss Prince at your service i” the young wo-
man coolly replied, as she helped herself to a
chair. “ but, not I presume the Miss Prince you
would prefer for a visitor.”

“ Oh! I don’t know about that,” was the some-
what hesitant reply, as he resumed his seat. “I
think I may safely say I had no idea of receiv.
ing a call from either you or your cousin, for
both of you have not been notably friendly to-
ward me since I became ruler of this camp.”

“ Oh! possibly not. Times and things have
changed since we lived in Carson City, and I
flatter m self we are all less sentimental and
more bus noes-like than then. ' If you recall the
fact, you‘were quite friendly in those days, and
went so far as to ofler me your hand in mar-

: ‘ ‘

“ Indeedl- Is that so? Why, had quite for-
gotten the fact!”

“ Your memory must be weakening. I have
not forgotten your prOpOSHl. and. after mature
deliberation, have come to-dey to accept it i”

"“If I marry her, I am sure of gettin

. t'fio shy a fox to carry much 0

 

“Jerusalem! You don’t mean it!” and the
Elder began to 100k ill at ease.

“But, I do mean itl” Miss Pearl persisted,
“and I mean business, too. I’ve not so much
sentimentalism left in me as would fill a thimble.
I have recently come into information which
makes it important that you and I should affili-
ate as mun and, wife, for not only will such a
business transaction prove mutually profitable,
but. it will be the means of saving your neck/
from the noose of justice.” I

Meredith again sprung to his feet, but now
with a fierce curse that revealed the devil in his
nature.

“ What do you mean 24” he hissed, bending to-
ward her with a savage glitter in his eyes.

“ Pooh! Don’t try to intimidate me with ugly
looks 1” Miss Pearl replied, with a toss of her head.
“ I don’t scare worth a out. I mean just what
I say. On one hand, I declare you are a mur-
derer and a scoundrel, and did I choose. to do so,

‘1 could turn you over to the custody of the law

on very short notice. On the other hand if you
marry me, not only can I bring to you a fortune
which you would not otherwise get, but could
save you from all trouble, as regards your
past!”

Meredith resumed his sea t, the look of aston-
ishment and incredulity still upon his face.

“ Go on, and explain yourself. Either you
must be drunk or crazy—J don’t know which!”

“ I’m neither, and well you know it. True, it
is not a usual or very proper thing for a woman
to do the wooing, but in the present instance, it
isn’t a love affair, but purely a business trans-
action.
I will explain.”

And she proceeded to detail Deadwood Dick’s
visit to the Prince cottage, and all the informa-
tion she had gathered from him, and b the time
she had finished, had succeeded in wor 'ing Me -
edith up to a high pitch of excitement. '

“You will see, therefore, that, by marryin
me, we can both make a comfortable sum 0

money, and then. after the fortune__is secured we.

can et unmarried, or otherwise, as we feel dis-
po . Without me as your accessory, you can
neither get the money left by Kirke, nor the in-
surance.” ..

Meredith made no immediate answer, but
seemed lunged in deep thought.

“ If enry Kirke is dead,” he said aloud, as if
again talking to himself, “ one enemy is out of
the way, and my rule of Jackpot City is not
threatened from that. source, and with four
other, persons silenced, I am king of all I sur-
ve ! l
X, To what four do you refer?” Pearl Prince
quickly demanded. - \

“ To John Prince, my cousin, Joe Kirke, and
to this detective dog, Bristol, and, one other.”

“By ‘one other’ I presume you refer to my
cousin, Nellie Prince?”

“ I am not so sure whether I refer to her, or
to you 3’” Meredith replied, a little viciolusly.

t e in-
suragce money, which I am not if marry
you.

“Wh are you not? Nellie andIlook very
much a ike, and when you disguise yourself, as
my husband, you will pass muster all right,
both as concerns the insurance compan and
the detective. If you hope to get old irke’s
money, however, no harm must come to this
Bristol until after the moneyis obtained.”

“ Well. perhaps you are right,” Meredith ad-
mitted, “ but; before I make an move in this
matter, I must have time to deiberate. I’ve,
had too much stain on my hands, already, and
if the money can , be got Without bloodshed. so
much the better. Do you think this Bristol has
the Kirke money with him '1!” ,

“ Probably it is not far of!" but the fellow is
n it on his person.
His chief aim is,_now to find and rescue John
Prince: for I think he is satisfied that I am
John Prince’s daughter, and the wife of Leon
ard Lucas. If he does discover Prince, there
will be trouble!” _

“ He will not find Prince!” Meredith replied,
grimly. “ Both John Prince and J _oe Kirke are
dead, so far as the outside ,v~ orld is concerned,

and Very likely, will be dead, in‘reality, before .

I get throu h with them. You can go, now,
and return ater in the day.
able Ishall adopt your plan for getting this-
money, I must have time to reflect!”

“Very well, I will return toward night, for a
decisive answer,” Pearl said, risin to depart.
“ But. bear in mind this: If you on’t come to
my terms, you need not expect to get it cant of

the money you covet, for I shall make it a point r

to balk you at every turn. I shall be pr? 1 red
for any treachery on your part, and 1 you

Now listen, without interruption, and .

While it is prob— '

 

 

 

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—‘ ,

 

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Hui-7‘; - I,

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9,‘

 

Deadwood Dick J r.’s Decree.

 

know when you are Well off, you will not make
me your enemy 1”

She then left the house, while Meredith sunk
back inhis chair, and relapsed into medita-
tion.

Each side of the Elder’s cottage boasted of a
window, opening out from room wherein this
remarkable interview had taken place, and
each window was
" morning-glory ” vines. .

The windows being up, had two persons been
secreted among;~ these vines—one at either
window—they might have readily overheard
all that transpired within.

And the old saying that even walls sometimes
have ears, was, in this instance, literally veri—

fied, for two eavesdroppers there were, who,

overheard the conversation, and the oddest part
of it was, neither eavesdrop er knew i of the
presence of the other, nor did . Iorton Meredith
dream of the close proximity of either of them!

CHAPTER VIII.
THE WORK or A FIEND.

ONE of the eavesdroppers was none other than
Deadwood Dick.

He had well the young woman going toward
the EM r’s Muse, and curiosity, as well a sus-
picion l ata '1 was not right, prompted him to
play the spy, which he had succeeded in domg
satisfacto. i If.

As soon as Pearl Prince took her departure,
he also left his concealment, and hurried to—

thoroughly shaded with I relief.

!

l
u

I
l
l
l
!

ward the woods, on the Upper end of the pemn— 7, .
; comparably more charming of appearance than
real Nellie Prince, but, after half an hour’s ’

Sula, where he boiled and expected to find the

on the rocks, where the turbulent waters dashed
against the shore. ' _
He had been seated only a few minutes, when

Search, he failed to discover her, and sat down i

i.

he heard a stifled scream not faraway, to his i

right. and springing to his feet he hurried to as-
certain what was the matter.

Within fifty yards of where he had been seat-
ed, he suddenly came upon a startling scene.

In a little dell, bounded on three sides by a
copse of willow, and on the fourth by the roar-
ing crfek, he found a woman.

,5 he lay upon her back, on the ground, to
which her wrists and ankles were pinned down
by ropes fastened to stakes; her clothingwas
literally torn to shreds, and much of her face
was so disfigured, as to render identity by it
seemingly impossible. ‘

“Still. this poor creature was alive, as her
moans proclaimed.

“ Good God! what fiend did this work?” Dick
cried, as he lea ed forward, where two turkey
buzzards that ad been hovering over the un-

. fortunate woman, flew up into the trees. “ U gh!

it makes my blood run cold, this awful sighti"
He knelt beside the unfortunate and gazed

 

l

1

upon the lacerated flesh that once may have!
formed the features of a pretty face, but was I

now unrecognizable. Even the eyes were sight-
less!

Placing his hand upon the woman’s heart,
Dick found that it still beat. '

“ Poor suflerer!” he said, aloud, “ it were bet-
ter she were dead, and out of her suffering!”

The victim was still in possessian of her senses
for the lacerated lips parted and a faint voice
asked:

“ Who are you?”

“ I am a stranger, but a friend,” Dick replied.
“ For heaven’s sake, how came you in this pre-
dicament?” I

“ Through the Wickedness of man,” was the
reply. “ I. am the wife of Morton Meredith,
who married and afterward deserted me, in
Ogden. I traced him, and in the dead of last

night, arrived in this place, found my husband 1

and implored .him to take me back as his wife.
Instead of domg SO. he knocked me senseless,
and I knew no more until I awoke a prisoner,

here, where I have lain for hours, at the mercy :

of those awful scavengersythe buzzards. Oh!
God, if I could only die, and be free from this
excruciating pain I would be only too willing to
give up life I” -

“ Poor woman! You have my heart’s full
svmpathyl” said Dick, “ and if there Is anything
I can do to alleviate your pain: please let me
know!” »

“ No! there, is nothing you can do,” was the

reply. , p
“ am dying by inches—that I well know--
and must stand my suffering as_ bestI can.
There is only one thing that my spirit calls for;i
and that 15 revenge. Surely a man who con]
consign his own wife to such a helhsn fate as
mine, on M not to escape unpunished.” ‘
_ eaven. no! Nor shall he. _Mort0n
Meredith shall pay the penalty he richly de

 

 

serves, for this fiendish work, and I swear it!
Twice-ay! three times a murderer, for what I
know, he shall not live to gather in another
victim, for, before. high Heaven, I end his dark
life Within the next twenty-four hours. Such is
the decree of Deadwood Dick!”

“ Then, knowing that I will beavenged, I am
content to die,” the woman said, with a sigh of
“ Ah ! — what is—this’i—a—a—strange
feel——”

She did not finish the sentence, for a torrent
of blood burst from her mouth, and, ere it
ceased to flow, her spirit had taken its (light.

"She is better off dead than living,” Dick
said, as he arose to his fort, “ and Morton Mere-
dith is her murderer.
have sworn to avenge her death, and I shall
keep my vow.”

Upon one of the woman’s fingers Dick found a
plain gold ring, on which was engraved the
name “ Celia.” This ring Dick put in his
pocket.

The next thing to be considered was, What
was he to do with the body? He had no imple-
ments for making a grave, and if he left her
long enough to procure a 'spade, the buzzards
would further mutilate the remainsi.

He was thus eogitating, when he felt a top on
his shoulder, and turning, found himself face to
fee». with a young; woman, whom at first glance
he srnpposed was earl Prince.

But it was not lz’earl. This fair woman had a
round, sunny face, sparkling brown eyes, and a
wealth of golden hair, all of which made her in-

her cold-faced cousin.

“ Oh, isn’t this a terrible sight!” she exclaim-
ed, pointing at the corpse.

“ It is, indeed,” Dick replied. “Did you
know of it before you ca me, just now?”

“ Yes. I discovered the poor creature by ac-

’ cident a few minutes ago, and was so startled,

that I uttered a scream. Then, I heard you
coming, and fled back into the forest.”

“ It was 'our scream that attracted me here,”
Dick said, ‘and I came just in time to learn
who was the author of this terrible crime, and
who the. victim was.”

“ Who is she?”

“ The deserted wife of that fiend, who at

‘ present rules this town, Morton Meredith; and

e it was who consi ned her to this horrible
fate. But, the cowar 1y wretch shall pay the
Benalty of his crime, so sure as my name is

and wood Dick.”

“Deadwood Dick ?” and the girl looked at
him in sur )rise.

“ Yes. Vhy, have you ever seen me before?”

“No, sir, but I’ve heard you spoken of fre-
quently, bya man known as Old Avalanche.”

“ Oh, yes! Avalanche and I were in times
past, bosom friends, you know. If I mistake
not, you are the den hter of John Prince?”

“ es, sir, I am ellie Prince. Were you ac—
quainted with my father?”

“ Not personally, but I was sent here to J ack-
pot City to find him. I learn, however, that he
is a prisoner.”

“ Oh, yes, sir. He has been shut up now for
ten days in a damp, dark dungeon, without food
or water. Oh, sir, do you think it Could be pos-
sible that he is still alive?”

“ I have some doubts of it. It hardly seems
possible that a person could exist so long with-
out some sort of nourishment. Howevar, we
will not give up hope. To-night I shall try to
rescue your father, if I can gain any idea as to
where he is concealed. If I fail to rescue him
to-night, I shall not give up in despair.”

Dick then went on to relate the cause of his,

visit to Jackpot City, and what he had learned
since his arrival, dwelling in particular on
Pearl PrinCe’s deception and proposed scheme
with Meredith.

Nellie expressed herself as greatly shocked at
her cousin’s treachery and baseness.

“ I never could have suspected Pearl of doing
anything so wicked as that,” she said. ‘“ Why,
she has been dependent upon my folks since she
was a child, and we were brought up together

. as sisters!”

“ The greed for old has transformed many a
saint into a sinner, ’ Dick remarked, “and many
fall where few are saved. Miss Pearl, I am
satisfied, is wholly unscrupulous. and to further
her aims I don’t believe she would hesitate to do
you an injury.” .

“Oh, dear. I can’t believe she would be so
wicked. Yet, if what you have told me be true,
I can no longer trust her, for I fear Meredith
as I fear no other man in the world, and no
fight he Will use her in his evil designs against

“' Exactly. It Morton Meredith concludes to

\

And, more than that, I ,

 

co-operate with her, their plan will be to
you out of the way so that Pearl can fill
place; but I do not anticipate that this is ere-
dith’s plan. He wants you for his wife, and,
f the sake of getting you, would forego the
p ensure of capturing the ten thousand dollars
on your father’s life for a time.”

“ The monster! But then. he knows there is
no hope of my ever marrying him.”

“ He has asked you, then?"

“Repeatedly, but I have as many times re-
fused him. Oh how I loathe that mun!”

“Yet, when he again proposcs marriage to
you, you must conditiona ly promise that yoii
will be his bride.”

“ Sir? Indeed, no! I would quicker take my
own life than Wed that human devil.”

“ Rest assured you shall not wed him. In-
deed, I will singly light Meredith and all his
Mormon allies before I would permit such a
sacrifice. My object in having you promise to
marry the Elder is threefold. ‘irst, to free your
father and J oe. Sands from captivity; second, to

sin time to mature my plans, and third, to get

eredith securely in my grip. and wind up his
career, as I haVe sworn to do.”

“ Ah, I see! Very “'ell, sir, I will do as you
say, for I believe you to be a friend, and a
friend now is a friend indeed. To secure the
downfall of Meredith and the release of my poor
father, I will follow your instructions so far as
lies in my pom-r.”

“Thank you. I simll then be able to work
out my plans sucm M'i'lllly, I think. Now, What
I want you to do is [him-and in follom'ng my
directions, yr u are to appear to be as sincere as
possible. No doubt your woman’s wit will tell

on how to act better than I can instruct.
"hen Meredith again approaches you on the
subject of marriage, to! him that you will
marry hnn on two conditioiis. First, that he
allow you to have an interview with your father
and be allOWed to take him food: second, that
before you become his wife, on Thursday eve-
ning of this week, your father be given his
liberty and one—half interest in the Jackpot
mines.

“To this prop0sition I think Meredith‘wfll
assent. As an extra incentive, however, you
may add that you will come into a fortune of
your own as soon as you are married.

-“ Of course the scheming Elder will jumpto
the conclusion that I intend to pay over to you
the Kirke fortune, and there is no danger but
what he will be eager to wed you. See?”

“ Yes. But when the time comes for the mar-
riage to take place—What then l"

“Oh! I’ll arrange that. ‘You are to stipulate
that the ceremon shall be private, only your-
self, your father, 1d Avalanche and his wife,
and himself being present; that it shall take
place at midnight, when the camp is quiet, and
that a minister from Lawson’s Ranch be sent
for to perform the ceremony. You are. also to
give him specifl warning to keep the matter a
secret from m . until after you are married and
have received the Kirke fortune, making it our

lea that I might object to the nuptials an re-

use to disburse the money.”

“Very well. But, you have not yet told me
how I will evade marrying him, when the time
arrives?”

“ You will not be present at all. You are to
arrange the wedding to take placc at the house
of Old Avalanche, and instead of marrying you
Meredith will marry me i” ’

“ Marry you I” ‘«

“ Yes, but I will be so cleverly disguised that

put
our

,he won’t know the difl’erencc until after the

mock ceremony is ever, when I shall have all in
readiness to lace him under arrest. The fur-
ther details will make known to you later.
For the present, I am puzzled as to what dis-
posal to make of the remains of this unfortunate
woman!”

“ You had better leave her where she is, until
some one else finds her!” Nellie said, advisingly.
“ Were you to raise an alarm, you might be ac-
cused of the murder.”

“ You are right,” Dick said. “ ’Sh! listen!”

They instantly became silent: then heavy
footsteps could be heard approaching. r ,

“ Quick!” Dick whispered: “ we must go out
of sight, for something tells me that it is are-
dith who is approaching.” ~

Into the dense thicket near at hand, they
hastily concealed themselves, and could see what
transpired in the glade.

A few moments later a man emerged into full -
view, from the timber above. . .

Dick’s conjecture proved to be correct, for the
new-comer was indeed Morton Meredith, rough-
ly dressed. and looking in anything but a pleu-
ant humor, as be advanced toward the corpse.

, 1 h. . ”
Jib. Alc‘f _""“ "' ‘ 5”“:

 

 
 

10"

Deadwood Dick J r.’s Decree.

 

 

CHAPTER IX.
NELLIE PRINCE PLAYS A PART.

FROM their covert, Bristol and Nellie Prince
watched Meredith with eager curiosity to see
what emotion he wmild manifest when he dis-
covered his dead wife’s mangled condition.

When he reached the corpse, Meredith gazed
upon it without changing expression of coun-
tenance.

“ Well, she’s dead,” he was heard to say aloud,
“ and right well it serves her. She should have
known better than to follow me here; she
brought her doom on herself.

“ The body must be gotten rid of,” he contin-
ued, “before it is discovered, and I see but one
safe way.”

He now drew a knife and severed the cords
that bound his victim to the ground; then he
raised the body in his arms and hurled it into
the rushing stream. which quickly carried it out
of sight.

“ There! that covers that crime!” he cried, as,
standing on the rocky shore, he gazed into the
seething torrent. “ Three more have yet to go
that way. and then I am safe!”

Nellie Prince turned upon Deadwood Dick, 3
stran 0 wild gleam in her eyes.

“ ou rema n here," she said.
out to meet him.”

And before he could utter a remonstrance,
she had glided forth into the glmlo.

So intently was Meredith gazing into the
stream, that she reached his sale without dis-
covery. and tap him on the shoulder.

‘“ Nellie Prince!” he ejaculated, turning pale.

“ To be sure!” the miner’s daughter re lied.
“ Is there anything strange in that? hat’s
the matter with you? You act as though you
had seen a ghost 1”

“ Did you see anything when you came here?”

“What are my eyes for, if I didn’t? I saw
trees and flowers and birds and rocks; what
more is there to see in this wild lace?”

Meredith drew a breath of relief; she had not
seen him throw the corpse into the creek.

“Oh! of course,” he said. “ I fancied I saw
a ghost, and didn’t know but what you might

have seen it.”

‘ “ Oh, no. I’m not troubled with a guilty con-
science, and so ghosts nor phantoms bother me.
But now that I meet you, Mr. Meredith, I de-
mand to know whether or not my father is still
living."

“ Ah! Well, my dear young lady, I am not

repaired to answer, for the truth is, I do not
ow. The last time I visited your father, how-
ever, I found him well, but obstinate as ever.”

“ When was that?”

“ Three nights ago.” ’ ‘

“ Do you propose to release my father when
the fourteen days are u ?”

“I have not decided. It rests with you as re—
gards that.”

“ What do you mean?”

“ I mean that your father’s life depends upon
your marrying me. Three days hence, if you
still refuse to become my wife, I shall have your
father and another prisoner publicly executed,
and you will be the new occupant of the dun-
geon, there to remain until you come to my
terms.”

“ Indeed? That is certainly a. very forcible
argument, Morton Meredith, but what if I tell

I

“I am going

you that, within a week’s time every Mormon,

will be routed out of Jackpot City, and that you
will be in prison to answer for the murder of
Celia Kirke.”

Meredith growled. “What non-
sense!”

“ Not nonsense, but solemn truth! Jackpot
Cit shall cease to exist as a Mormon stronghold
wit in a week‘s time, and the Gentiles will once
more be in possession. For you, individually, I
have the power to say what shall be and what
not be.”

“ You 2 What can on do?” and the villain
uttered a sneering laug .

“ You can never leave Echo Canyon alive if I
will it. There is just one chance for you to
escape the gallows."

The villain was alarmed. That word—the
“ gallows ”—sent the blood from his face, and
he looked the craven that he was.

“ What is that chance?” he demanded.

" You must marry me!” '

A look of unfeigned astonishment swept over
Meredith’s white face.

“ Marry you i” he ejaculated. “ Why, haven’t
I beer: trying to win you for my wife for months

“ Oh. yes. on your own terms, but in the res-
ent instance, if I marry you, it will be on y on
' my conditions!”

 

 

“ Ah! Supposing I refuse to agree to any con
ditions?”

“I have already given you the alternative.
You are a doomed-man.”

“ But I do not understand,” he rsisted.
“ Hitherto you have appea red to ate me.
What then can be your object in desiring to
marry me?”

“ I’ll answer that. For one thing, I want to
release my father from confinement, and nurse
him back to the life you have so nearly robbed
him of.”

“ I see. That is your condition. I must set
him at liberty, before you will marry me?”

“ That is one condition; but, there are others.
The first is that I be allowed to have an inter-
view with my father, and take him food and
drink. The second is that on the night of the
marriage, which will be the coming Thursday
at midnight, you set my father unconditionally
at liberty, before the ceremony takes place.
The third is that the marriage ceremony be
performed private]y,in the presence only of a few
friends I may select, and that it be performed
by my minister, from Lawson’s Ranch, and ac-
cording to the Christian faith. The fourth con-
dition is that, after the ceremony, you renounce
the Mormon faith, and lead an honest life, in
some other part of the country, which, with the
wealth you have, and the fortune I shall come
iint'o; in a few days, will not be a hard thing to

o.

“ What fortune do you expect to come into?”
Meredith demanded, eying her distrustfully,
and at the same time exhibiting an avaricious
eagerness.

“ That I do not see fit to disclose, at present.
There is one more stipulation that you must
agree to, in case you agree to any, and that is,
that our engagement be kept a strict secret
from every one except Old Avalanche and his
wife, and such others as I may see fit to make
my confidants, until after we are married, and
I come into my fortune!” ‘

“ What’s your reason for this secrecy?”

“My reason is, that, were my marriage to
you to get to the ears of a certain party,” before I
get the fortune, the chances are thatI would
have a great deal of trouble in getting it at all!”

“ Oh! I see. Very Well, I shall take great
pleasure in accepting, and conforming withall
the conditions you have named, my dear,‘and
will look forward to our union as one of the
happiest periods of my life. You named Thurs-
day night, for the nuptials?”

“ Yes; to-day is Sunday, and you must dis-
patch a messen er to Lawson’s Ranch to fetch
the Reverend 1'. Blake, as no time is to be
lost, for this town may be in ashes ere the
week is out i”

“ 1 will send Jockey Sam, with the best
horses, within an hour. Where is the cere-
mon to take lace?”

“ t the reSidence of Old Avalanche. I will
make the necessary arrangements, and, as for
you, you want to be in readiness to bid fare-
well to Echo Canyon, immediately after the
ceremony, if you value your life, for, as I have
told you, there is a decree against you that may
mean your doom.” '

“ Very well, I will follow your instructions,

to the letter. When do you wish to see your
father?”
“ As soon as possible.”

“ Then meet me here to-night at moonrise,
and I wil take you to him.”

“ I will be on hand. You can go, now, and I
will follow, later, for all possible suspicion must
be averted, that we are on speaking terms!”

- Meredith bowed his acquiescence, and tipping
his hat, took his departure elated at the pros-
pect of winning the miner’s daughter, and a
chance at the Kirke fortune in the bargain. - .

When his footsteps had died out in the dis-
tance, Dick emerged from his concealment and
joined Nellie.

“Well, Mr. Bristol, how did I manage mat-
ters?” the young lady asked, with a smile. ,

“ Capital !” Dick replied, enthusiastically.
“ You played your part with skill and cour-
age. I couldn’t have asked you to do better.
All will now be easy for me, and I can wind up
the case to the queen’s taste. You are to return
home and leave the rest of the details to me.
When I want anything elseof you, I will let you
know.” - l

“ What shall I say to father when I see him?”

“ Merely bid him keep up courage, and assure
him that he will be set at liberty within a few
days, but say nothing to him of our little
scheme!”

To this Nellie of course acquiesced. and shak-
ing hands the two separated and left the spot by
different routes.

 

 

CHAPTER X.
ANOTHER PLOT.

DEADWOOD DICK was not the only witness to
the interview between Morton Meredith and
Nellie, for, concealed in the edge of the forest,
drinking in every word that was uttered. was
another listener, in the person of Miss Pearl
Prince!

With flushed cheeks and glittering e es she
heard her cousin’s proposition to the ormon,
and his acceptance, and she grated her teeth to-
gether in furious rage. '

“ Curse him! curse him 1" she hissed
clinching hands; “am I thus to be balked when
I had riches almost within my grasp? No!
it shall not be—not if I have to stoop to do a
dark deed to win my point. The Kirke fortune
shall never do either Meredith or my cousin 3
cent‘s worth of good, not if I have to murder
them both E”

And, with a passion-distorted face, the schem-
ing creature turned and left the glade slightly
in advance of Dick, all the rebellent spirit and
treachery of her nature aroused.

Her mother had been a Spanish half-breed, and
she inherited all the fiery spirit of the Spaniard
with the treacherous nature of the Indian.

No! she would 'not suffer defeat! She would
baflle Merton Meredith, and thus have her re«-
venge on him. She would wrest from Deadwood
Dick the Kirke fortune by being its only heir!

One of all men she most detested, Paul Podesta,
Meredith's “ heeler;” yet, now, he was the very
man she must utilize, if she could com} e1 him to
abet her in her schemes, and she was sure she
could. Podesta was American born, but plebeian
Italian blood flowed in his veins. and his natural
instincts were wicked and brutal.

He was usually niorose and dissatisfied with
everybody and everything, especially when un-
der the influence of bad whisky, and it was sel-
dom he was not in that Condition.

Podesta had one other passion and that was a.
sort of bulldog admiration for Pearl Prince,
albeit there already were two Mrs. Podestas,
who laid claim to his affections and support.

Pearl was well aware of this admiration on
the part of the “ baddest” man in Jackpot City,
and so at once Set to work to concoct a plot
wherein Podesta was to figure.

So, after some deliberation, she sought out the
grim-visaged Danite, and fouan him seated on
the ground, on the sunny side of the ore mill,
over which he was ostensibly superintendent,
but in reality was Meredith’s spy.

He did not appear to be in a pleasant frame of
mind, which might have been owing to the fact

with '

q. F.

that his face was scratched up ina way that ,

made him uglier than ever.

“Why, Paul, who has been giving you such a
clawing!” Miss Prince asked, as she approached.

“ Them two she catamounts of mine,” was the
short answer, “and if you don’t want your hair
lifted, you’d better not hang around here.”

“ Pshaw! I’m not afraid of them. Have you
heard the news?” r

“ What news?”

“ There’s trouble brewing.” ,

“ How do you mean ?”

“ I mean that you fools who have been follow-
ing the lead of Meredith, are going to get
bounced.”

“ Get out! How bounced? _Who can do that?”

“Why, within a Week’s time this camp W111
be filled up with Gentiles, and you Mormons
will be started, bodily,- bag and baggage, on the
run for your lives.”

, “Bah! who’s been
nonsense, Miss Pearl _

“ It’s no nonsense. The sport, Bristol, is at
the head of the movement, and has pleiit‘y of
backing to carry out his plans. Anyhow, ere-
dith has got wind of what’s tofollOW. and on
Friday coming, after he has corraled all the
boodle be can get hold of, he intends to skip and
leave on and our friends in the lurch.”

“ ill be? 0t much he won’t!” the Danite
cried, as he sprung to his feet.
skin him alive if he tries playin’ any gum-games
on us, like that!” .

“Well, that’s just what he intends to do. I
found it out, and I thought I’d confide the
secret to you. Now, you don’t want to tell

p’stufling you up with this

the rest of the gang 3. word of ‘ this, but if you’ll .

stand in with me, I’ll show you a way to make
at end deal of money.” .

‘ Correct. I’m with you Miss Pearl, and glad
to work at your command.”

“ Very well. Now, ou can keep a secret?”

“I reckon I kin mess to anything that’s
worth keeping.”

“ Right. What I tell you, keep to yourself,

Now, before Meredith leaves Jackpot City, he is
to marry my cousm, Nellie!”

“We’ll just ’

 

.\‘

 

A- ->-—~..- W-.."

‘ the hiding-place of the boodle.

 

Deadwood Dick J r.’s Decree.

11'

 

 

with Dead wood Dickls fist.

Podesta whistled.

“ I don’t believe it!” he declared. “The gal
hates him worse than Satan hates holy
water.”

“ That makes no difference. The girl is going
to marry him, just the same, forl heard her say
so. She is to come into a big fortune, in a few
days, and it is with the expectation of getting a
grab at this that Meredith is marrying her!”

“ there’s the fortune comin’ from ?"

“From this man Bristol, who was sent here
with it, to give it to the girl, but, he is not going
to disburse the money until he succeeds in liber-
atin John Prince. See?”

“ es. Go on.”

“ IVell, our business is to get this fortune be-
fore the girl gets it; then, after We’ve got it, we
can inform the other Mormons of Meredith’s
proposed treachery and if they’vo got any grit
in them, they’ll ma '0 it hot for him l”

“ You can bet they will!” Podesta grimly
agreed. “ They’ve set a pile 0’ store in him,
and when they find he’s goin’ to give ’em the
shake, why they’ll—swell! I wouldn’t like to
stand in his shoe—leather. But, go on. How
a-re we to get at this fortune? Is it a case of
tapping this cuss Bristol on the head? l‘ll
agree to do that, free gratis, for I owe the cuss
a grudge i”

‘ Nol a different plan must be pursued, than
that. This fellow, Bristol, is by no means a
greenhorn and it’s safe to bet he’s too sharp to
be found With the boodle about his person. He
has it concealed somewhere, and on] by be-
coming on intimate terms with him do hope to
learn where it is hidden.

“ So listen, and I will tell on my plans. A
couple of years ago, I trave ed a brief term
with a snap dramatic troupe playing the min-
mg-camps. The troupe bu’sted, and, to get my
pay, I seized the wardrobes, some of which are
very fine. I shall now disguise myself as a
roughly dressed, red-whiskered miner, and pre—
tend to be a Mormon from Salt Lake, named
Ike Davis. You are to watch a favm'able op~
portunity, and, together with a couple of your
pals, make a. sham attack on Bristol, taking
care to use-no weapons. I will rush to the res-
cue, and drive you ofi‘, at the point of the pistol.
Of course Bristol will thank me for the interfer-
ence, and in this way I shall play my cards to
his further acquaintance, and endeavor to learn
If I am not suc-
cessful in this plan, why, it will be time enough
to adopt other measures.” .

“ I dunno whether I’m counted in for this
racket, or not,” Podesta said, rather duhiously,
as he passad his hand over his left optic, which
was still “ indisposed,” as a result of a contact
“ That cuss strikes
out harder than a mule can kick, and he
{alien’salivate us with cold lead, if we go for

m.

“ Pshaw! are you afraid? Why, three of you
ought to keep him too busy to draw a weapon,
until” I rush in, as peacemaker, and Separate
you

“ Humphl How are we to be sure you will
be around, at the time?”

-  a? 111ml be on ballad, never fear!”
9 , su os1n a ree 0 his r '
what am I tgouget?”g  t t p oceedmg’

“ When we have succeeded in getting the

‘ mono , you will get half.”

 I 01w nine]? will tthat be?”
(out now at rob b
thousand dollars p a ly a couple of
“All right. m your hone comb for an
such sum as that, you bet. thn will you bg

madly?” _
“ will get ready during the day, but the at-
tack had better-not be made before night.”
“Correct. Tonight it shall be, then. I’ll
at Hockey Ben andfilm Crow to be] me.
’pose ye won’t obJect if we punch the fe low’s
fer him?” , ,
“No. I’ve no particular obJections to that,
but no other wea ons than your_ fists must be
. Deal-1 res, y, as soon as it is dark, and if
you catch Bristol on the street, go for him, and
.will be on hand to act my part. In the mean
time let whisky alone, so you will be in con-
dition for the work ahead of you. I must be
gom now, but will depend on you to-night.”
“ 1 right. You‘ll not be disappointed,”
Podesta responded, and then the unscrupulous
young woman hastened away toward the Prince

cottage-

“It the plan works, and I get my hands on
the money, who shall say my triumph is not
gent?” she thought. exultantly. “ It Will the“

I who Will be the dictator,'and oh! won’t I
make Morton Meredith regret the choice he has
made, and playing false to me?”

 

CHAPTER XI.
DEADWOOD DICK’S DEGREE.

AFTER parting with Nellie Princc, Dick Bris-
tol made his way direct to the sh'anty occupied
by the Lane-hes, and after some parley, succeed-
ed in gaining an audience with Sal Samantha
and her “reformed” Spouse, the veteran Au-
nihilator.

Avalanche, now divested of his suit of broad—
cloth, and in lieu thereof Wearing one of Sa-
mantha’s wrappers, over his undergarments,
was enga ed at a wash-tub, in the arduous task
of cleansnig the family linen, and his appear-
ance was so truly ludicrous, that Deadwood
Dick could not help roaring with laughter.

“ By Jove! Avalanche, you look all the world
like a heathen Chinee, except you lack the pig-
tail,” he saluted.

“ Great hum-bone! I feel ten times wuss than
one, Dicky, me boyee. But, thar’s no time to
stop now, ner no help fer it. Sarah tells me
that no one can be a pure and perfect Mormon,
except he or she is convarsent wi’ther art 0’
cleansing, an’ as I warn’t particularly well
versed in this purtic’ler science, the old gal’s
breakin’ mo in like a farmer breaks in a two-
year-old Stccl' what he wants ter tzike ther pree-
niyum at ther country full‘. After she gits me
graduated in this line, she’s goin’ ter l’arn yer
old Annihilator how ter knit quadrille socks.
Tell ye what, ine boyee, if she’s anything she’s a
hustler, is thet same leetle child bride of mine.”

“ You Avalanche, if you don’t shot up your
yawp, I’ll fire a skillet at you,” vociferated Sal
Samantha, giving the Annihilator a 100k that
would have wilted a mullein-stalk. “ Now then,
Mr. Deadwood Dick, ef you’ve got any hizness
here, as you say, spit it out, or else pick up your
feet and git!”

“Yea, Dicky i” put in Avalanche, dolefully.
“If you have no business here, you’d better
waltz hence, for of ye don’t, Sal Samantha will
waltz you, as sure’s a ham-bone discombobbe-
rated ther terrestrial gravitation of old J oner.”

“If you two pillars of the Mormon Church
will give me your attention, I will proceed.‘ to
unfold to you a reVelation that will measure
thirty—six inches to the yard,” Dick replied.

Accordingly, he proceeded to explain the mo-
tive of his visit to Jackpot City, what he had
learned since his arrival, and what his plans
were for the future.

As he had expected, the narration excited
the interest of both the Annihilator and his
wife—so much so, as regards the latter, that she
forgot toadmonish Avalanche to stick to his
work at the \vnshtub.

“By craekyl I had no ideer you was sech a
pearl: young chap!” Sal declared, when Dick
had finished. “ You’ve got a level head on ye,
{pang man, an’ I he you’ll make Morton

eredith dance till the last fiddle-string is
bu’sted. I allus know’d he was a snake in the
grass—an’ so’s all the Mormon tribe, fer that
matter. I shouldn’t never have gi’ined ’em only
I was a poor, friendless waif o the world, an’
wanted a husband to shoulder my sorrers and
responsibilities thr’u’ life. I was told if I j’ined
the Mormons I would be rvided with a bus
band, and, sure enough, corraled old man
Lanche. He warn’t exactly to my suitin’, but
he’s better than no support at all, and I expect
to make something of him by application and
perseverance. In a couple of years’ time 1 hope
to have him trained down to such a point that
he’ll be about as perfect as a common-bred
human can be made.”

“ Yes, Dicky, me boyee, Sarah d0es not pre-
varicate when she makes that assertion!” the
Annihilator groomed. “ In two years more
she’ll have me trained down to such a nicety
that there will not be enough left of me to make
a shadder on a sunny day; and if you ever hap-
pen to see a pair of wings cavortin’ along
through the ethereal vastness, on will sit ye
down and reflect that et war al that aire left 0’
ther once famuss Terrific Triangle." ‘

Dick tarried but a. short time at the shanty
home of the strangely-matched couple, but in
glint time he succeeded in enlisting them in his

ans.

He then returned to the hotel.

About mid-afternoon he once more quitted
“.18 hotel. and awaiting a favorable opportu-
nity, Stealthily left Echo Canyon by the way of
Purgatory Pass, .

Once within the confines of this gloomy hall—
W?” 0‘ “9'3"”, he struck out for the Tolllllate
still preSided over by Deadshot Dave, in the in-
terests of Meredith.

.Thehorses belonging to the denizens of J ack-
I30t City frequently wandered into the Pass,
and Dick soon came across his own animal:
which recognized him with a whinny.

 

Mounting, without saddle or bridle, he dashed
up the gulch at a swift gallop, and sow reached
the gate.

As he dismounted, the door of the cabin open-
ed, and Deadshot Dave made his appearance;
and from the fact that the two men shook hands,
it was evident they were not strangers.

“ Well, Dick, what‘s the best word? I was
beginning to fear you had got into trouble,”
Deadshot said, as the two seated themselves on
a rustic bench.

“ Oh, no; I’m alive and kicking,” was the
reply. “ Have ou heard from Carson?”

‘ Yes. Gra Eagle returned last night, with
a letter from laptain Kramer, who says he will
arrive here with a couple of Carson detectives,
some time tomorrow. A colony of miners,
from points between here and Carson. wi-ll ar-
rive a few days later. How are matters in
Jack mt?”

“ Elverything will be ready for the ca ture of
Meredith, Thursday night, providing ramer
arrives all right.”

“ Oh! he will be here, without a doubt, for he
hasn’t any too much money, and the liberal offer
of the. Carson authorities Will be an incentive
toward hurrying him up.”

“ I hope 50. Has a man known as Jockey
Sam assed this place, since morning?”

“ es. He was bound for Lawson’s Ranch,
after a minister, he said.”

“ Ah! all right. We’ll treat Mr. Morton
Meredith to a surprise, Thursday night, which
I don’t think he will fail to appreciate if not
enjoy.”

"Do you anticipate that the Mormons will
kick up a fuss, when on arrest Meredith?”

“I don’t know. he arrest will be made as
quietly as possible, but if I see there is to be any
trouble. I will have him taken out of camp,
under the cover of darkness. I think, however,
that my bulletin will have an effect to change
their feelings somewhat toward Meredith, for I
reckon, they won’t want to stick to him, at the
risk of getting strung up. HaVe you got the
bulletin read y?”

“Yes; do you want to see it?”

N Yes.”
“All right. Come inside. It’sflill ready for
you, when you want to take it away.”

Accordingly, the two men entered the cabin.

Fastened to the rou h, unplastered wall, was
a piece of muslin, reac ing from the roof to the
floor, and about three or four feet in width.
This cloth with the aid of paint and brush, had
been skillfully lettered, and contained the fol—'
lowing proclamation: ‘

“ DEADWOOD DICK'S DECREEI

“ To whom it may concern :—

“Havin thoroughly investigated the matter
to which t is order refei s, and found in existence a
hotbed of vice and immorality cloakedunder the.
guise of Mormonism, but wiih which the Mormon
Church of Utah has no connection:

“T313 18 're CERTIFY, that I. Deadwood Dick,
Prince of Purgatory Pass. do hereby decree that
this settlement known as Jack at City. shall cease
to exist as such, on and after he first Friday after-
the public display of this bulletin. and shall there-
after be governed by the law-abiding Gentiles.

“ Warning is therefore given the followers of Mor-
ion Meredith to immediately and peaceably leave
Echo Canyon, or else forswear al allegiance to
Mormonism and return to the Gentile faith. All
persons found in Jackpot City at noon of the day
this decree goes into e ect, w 0 do not wear a red
ribbon about their throats, as a pledge that the in“
tend in future to lead the lives of Gentiles and Min»

abiding citizens, will be arrested and forced to work

out a term of servitude in the mines All persons
not desirous of remaining under Gt‘llhlc rule, can
now leave for other parts. but before issuln
through the gates of Purgatory Pass. W1” be force
to give up all uncoined gold or silver in their pos.
session. which will be turned over to the Govern—
ment by me its duly empowered agent.

“ This decree ap lies to every person now in
Jackpot City. with t e single exception of Meredith,
who will be turned over to the ant orities of Carson
City, to answer to line charge of murder.

“The terms of this decree will be enforced to the
letter, and Jackpot City Will hereafter be known by
another name.

“ By order of
“ Daanwoon Dion.
“ Prince of Purgatory Pam";

“ There! how docs that suit you?” Deadshot
Dave asked, pointing to his work proudly.

“ It’s just as I want it 1” Dick replied. “ You
are an artist, Dave, and I’ll see that you're well
paid for this work.”

“ Will you take it with you now i” , ,

“No. I haven’t time to bother With It now-
You can bring it as far as the mouth of the pass,
an hour before daybreak to-mori-ow morn-mg,
and I will be there to meet you. We will then
post it in a prominent place before the tbwn is

 

push...“ w. A.-.“_.._.‘,.. .

 

l"
L.
,_
l'
,3-

 

is“

time, you cussed Yank!”

 
 

12

Deadwood Dick J r.’s Decree.

.91."

 

 

astir, and return here, where I shall spend the
most of my time until Thursday night. ’

“ All right. I will he on hand in the morn-
ing. You better take care not to get into a
rumpus, if you go back to Jackpot, for some
one may give you a dig in the ribs, and that
would knock your plans in the head.”

Promising to he watchful, Bristol reuiounted
his horse and galleried hack toward Echo Can-
,yon, which he rem-lied shortly after nightfall,
no one apparently suspecting that he had been
out of the camp.

CHAPTER XII.
A LITTLE GAME TBA-T DIDN’T WORK.

LEAVING his horse with the other horsos at
the mouth of me Pass, Dick made his way on
font into the camp, and arrived at the Jackpot
Inn in time for supper, of which repast he par—
to-lk heartily.

'Ai'ter supper he sauntcred out on the piazza,
where he seated himself to enjoy the moonlight
~and a cigar. '

“ Let me see!” he mused. “ I believe I was to
meet Miss Pearl Prince in the grove to-uight,
and receive an introduction to her alleged hus—
band. I reckon, however, that it will be hardly
necessary, after what I have learned.”

So his siesta was not broken.

There was little to do now, he told himself,
but to await the arrival of Tuesday night, when

 

the culminating incidents of his visit to Jackpot,

City would in all )robahility take place. .
As he sat smo'in;,r his cigar, he noticed a

- roughly dressed, red-whiskered man, who paced

to and fro in front of the hotel at regular inter-
vals—a personage whom the detective was sure
he had never seen before.

Perhaps his attention would not havo been at-
tracted to the individual at all, had not he so
persistently continued his tramp in front of the

ote .

“I wonder who the fellow is?” Dick mused.
“ He acts like a stranger, for no one appears to
know him. There’s something about his dress
and his movements, however, that gives rise
to a suspicion that he may not be exactly what
he seems.”

When he B‘d finished his cigar. Dick, out of
curiosity, went in and consulted the little book
which the General used as a register, and found
inscribed therein in a scrawling style of chiro-
graphy the by no means aristocratic cognomen,

“le DAVIS, PRESCOTT, A. T.”

“ Got a new arrival, eh ?” Dick remarked to
the General, who, in the absence of paying
(tinsitomers, was regaling himself with a cock-
" a1 .

“ Yas. A chap wi’ red whiskers,” the
General assented. “ Another convert, I reckon.”

As Dick was about turning away, a boy en-
tered the room and touched him on the arm.

“ Some one wants to see you i" was the an-
mouncemcnt.

“Some one wants to see me?” echoed Dick.
“ Who is it?”

“ Miss Prince.”

“ Which Miss Prince?” .

“ The 'nau’s gal what is shot up!” was the
lucid explanation.

“Miss Nellict’,’ thought Dick. “I wonder
what she can want of me? Where is she, boy?”

” I[gown by the crush-mill. Come! I’ll show
‘ on
y Dick glanced at his watch, and found that it
was after ten o’clock.

“ Perha the girl has got back from her visit
to her fat er, and has something to tell me!” he

mused.

So. bidding the urchin lead the way he left
the hotel. ,

The boy kept trotting along ahead, until they
Were close to the mill, when he suddenly disa.
peered. Just where, or how, Dick was unab e
to say; but he was gone, nevertheless; so the
detective halted point-blank, to deliberate.

“Where did the young imp Send to?" he mut-

tered. “ This d"n’t look quite right, hang me if
it dogs! Perhaps I have been steered into a
' ran

_He had no time for further reflection, for
there was a rush of feet. and he found himself
attacked by three burly men.

The moon was high enough in the heavens,
and shed its light down into the gulch, making

5 .all objects startlingly distinct, and by it Dick

had no difficulty in recognizing one of his as-
sailants as Pedesta, the Danite.

“ He! now we’ve got you 1” Podesta cried,
.savaeely, as be aimed a Wicked but unsuccess-
ful blow at the sport. “ You’re our mutton this

“ That’s a sheep’shead remark!” Dick re-
torted, as he parried a triplet of blows, succes-
sively, and then kn0cked one of his assailants
flat upon his back. “ I’ll endeavor to make you
think there’s more mule than mutton in my
composition 1”

There was no further time for words, for it
took the best of attention to business for Dick
to hold his own against the onslaught that was
now made upon him.

The battle was waging hot and heavy, when
an interference occurred, that was a surprise
to at least one of the party—Deadwood Dick.

There was a shout, and Ike Davis, the man
with the red whiskers, rushed in upon the scene,
a cooked six-shooter in either hand.

“Stop! let up, here!” he cried, “or I’ll blow
yer heads off. Git ! you two bloody Mormon
curs, or down goes our shanty l” ,

That settled it. odesta and his companions
gave a glance at the “man with the pops,” and
then turned and beat a hasty retreat.

“ W'ell, pardner, I reckon they were giving it
to ylpu pretty hot!” Davis observed, addressing

1c '. .

“ Ohl they were giving me lenty of business
to occupy my attention!” Dic replied, smiling.
“ I allow you don’t belong to the Mormon herd?”

“Well, not that I am aware of,” was the re-
ply. “ I only arrived to-night, so am a stranger
here.”

“ By way of the paSs?”

“Yes. I had a hard time getting here, too,
but I found the gatekeeper was an old acquaint-
ance o’ mine, and he let me through, and give
me my cues, so’s I’d know how to work the
racket.” ‘

“ Ah! I understand. \Vell, as the war' seems
to Le over for the time being, I suppose we
might as well meander back toward the hotel.”

Davis assented, so they returned toward the
Jackpot Inn.

“ I take it you’re a stranger in the camp,
also,” Davis observed.

“ Well, yes, to a certain extent.
been here a short time.”

“ Were you ever in Carson Cit ?”

“9h! yes. I came v to this p ace from Car-

“Ahl Perhaps youmay have known a for-
mer resident of Carson, named Henry Kirke?”

“ I have heard of such a party,” was the an-
swer, Dick giving his inquisitor ,a sharper
glance. '

“ Yes, so I have understood.
had a young wife, did he not?”

“ So I understand.”

“ Kirke skipped the town a defaulter, and left
his wife behind to stand the brunt of the dis-
grace?”

“ Yes, so it is said.”

“ Kirke’s wife then took up her abode with a
man named Morton Meredith, who chanced to
be Kirke’s nephew, and he, too, found it neces-
sary to leave Carson, and when he did leave he
left the deserted and unfortunate woman behind,
a corpse.” . ‘

“ You seem to have a pretty thorough knowl-
edge of the case. Who are you?”

Dick spoke sharply.

“ I am Ike Davis, the brother of the murdered
woman!” was the reply.

“ Hal then fyou have come to Jackpot City for
the purpose 0 —”

“ Killing Morton Meredith l” was the fierce
answer. “ I learned that he was here, and here
my six months’ Search for the man ends. To-
morrow I shall hunt the red-handed scoundrel
down and put a bullet through his cowardly
heartl”

“ If you make an attempt on Meredith’s life,
you will get yourself into trouble.”

“How so?”

“ Because Meredith is my game. I came here
for the purpose .of arresting him and taming
him over to the care of the Carson authorities.
and that I intend to do. Justice will have a deal
first, and after it has a. chance, your turn will
cemel” .

" Ah! so that’s the how, eh?” replied Davis,
slowly. “ Well, so long as I am. sure that the
accursed villain receive the punishment be de-
serves. I reckon I won’t interfere. But if the
court tries him and don’t hang him, why I’ll put
a bullet through him before he leaves the bar of
justice!" .

“ Well, you must act as you see fit about
that.” Dick replied.

“ Oh. I’ll ‘promise that! I am in disguise,
and Meredith will not even know that I am in

cam.”
en they reached the hotel, Dick announced

I’ve only

Kirke formerly

 

his intention of retiring, and, bidding Davis
good-night, sought his room. ‘

 

 

 

The accommodations of the Jackpot Inn were
not of the most fastidious order, and a bed and
a stool comprised the furniture of .most of the
rooms, none of which had as yet been provided
with locks. , .,

So, on retiring, Dick took the precaution to. . 5:
push his bedstead against the door. ' '

This was scarcely necessary, as, had any noc-
turnal prowlers desired to gain entrance to the
room, they could have found ready access via
the window, which looked out upon the roof of
the “ lean—to” addition.

He had no particulnr fear of being disturbed, .
however, and so went to bed and to sleep, know— i,
innr that, being a light sleeper, he would readily .,
awaken, in case there was any intrusion or ,1:
horse. ,

How long he had been in repose he could
form no idea, when he was suddenly amused by
a shake. .

Quickly sitting up in bed, he was astonished ‘ ‘
to find that he was not the only occupant of the
l'OOlIl. l

Davis, with the red whiskers, was seated be- ‘,
side the bed, and one of his cocked revolvers :
was leveled full at the astonished detective’s
head.

“ Hello! What the blazes are you doing here?”

Dick demanded. ,

“I’ve come for that boodle!” was the grim ' »
announCement. “Take care! Don’t move an
inch or I’ll salivate you! Either I get the .'
boodle, or else I take your life. What’s your T 
answer?”

“ What boodle do you mean?”

“ The Kirke fortune.”

“ Humph! I’ve not got it.” -,

“You lie! You brought it toJackpot City n'
to give it to the Princes; and now, I want "
it, or, when I leave this room, you will be a
corpsel” .

“ I tell you I haven’t got it. You can Search
my clothes, or the room, if you doubt my
veracity.” .

“ Maybe you haven’t got it here, but you’ve
got it concealed somewhere.” . .

“ Supposing I have? Do you think I ‘am gomg
to fell you where it-is?”

“ If you don’t. I’ll blow your brains out!”

“Get out! You ain’t such a feel as that!”
Dick retorted, coolly; “ for if you Were to scat-
ter the contents of my cranium about the room I
and soil old Jackpot’s wooden carpets, what
Would you gain by it? Nothing! and would bury
forever the hope of fingering the Kirke fortune,
which y0u seem to COVet.” , .

“I don’t care a-cuss what ye say!” Dans
growled. “ If you don’t tell me where the
boodle is I’ll have the satisfaction of killing you
anyhow.”

“ You will, eh? Jerusalem! but you’re a _
bloodyminded cuss!” . , ,

“ Come! I’ve no time for monkeyin’. Either -' ' ’ '
you spit out the secret while I’m counting a
hundred. or off goes the top of your head 1”

“ Whewl Can you really count as many as  ‘
a hundred? I didn’t know you were a college in V '
graduate. But, I say. can’t you and I make a "

argain?”

“ How do you mean?” i , _

“Well, I’ve learned. that Nellie Prmce pro-
poses to marry Morton Meredith, which is con-
trary to the terms of Henry Kirke’s WIIL Ac-
cordingl , I don’t feel. so much dis . to give I '
her the f’ortune as I dld. Now, 1’1 admit that ,
you’ve got the bulge on me; but you mi ht shoot " ‘
me into grease-spots before‘I’d give u t e whole 
of the fortune. If the boodle don t go to the
girl,'half of it belongs to me, anyhow. So, if
you’re content to acccpt the other half, Why, I
reckon we can make a clicker!” ‘ .

“How much Will I get?”

“ About twenty thousand.”

“ All right. I’ take that rather than resort
to harsher measuresl” Davis accepted. “ Where’s,
the money?” , I .

‘* Not here. I shall have to go with you to l H

et it.’ ‘

“’Then get up and dress yourself. But, 
you. I shall plug youif I catch you makinga
trickv movol” I ' . ‘

.“You needn’t fear. I sha’n’t take any we”
risks.‘ What time is it?” 7 v

“ It lacks about an hour of daibl‘eak-” i '3

“ Then we’ll have just about time to get the - ‘ V
money, and skip before the camp 15 astir.”  ‘

Dick arose. and ‘ roceeded .to dress himself, \ ~. ‘-
whieh opperation d d not require much time.

Davis watched his every m0vement narrOWIy,
and kept his revolvcr ready for instant use,‘ n x ,
case of emergency. , '  ‘I

When Bristol wfisrefldy. he led the way down- if; .
stairs, and the two men cautiously quitted the I {
 '

 

i

 

 

 

Deadwood Dick Jr.’s Decree.

13

 

“Now, which way?” Davis demanded, as they
emerged upon the peninsula.

“ To the mouth of the Purgatory Pass.”

“ Lead on, and bear in mind your life hinges
on your good behavior.”

Dick made no reply, but led off, and Davis
brought up the rear, revolver in hand.

It was an odd little procession,the twain made,
as they wended their way across the neck of
land, toward the mouth of the dismal pass.

It re uii‘ed but a couple of minutes’ walk to
reach t e mouth of the paws, and there Dick
came to a halt, and appeared to be peering
searchingly around him.

“ Well, what’s the matter, now!” growled
Davis. “ Is the money concealed here? If it is,
produce it instanter, or I’ll blow your head off!”

“ Don’t get in a sweat!” Dick responded.
“ I’m tryin’ to make out the exact spot—”

“ Drop that ‘pop .” "

The order came suddenly, and in fierce tones,
. and, with a cry of alarm, DaVis wheeled to find
himself confronted by the towering figure of
Deadshot Dave, and to find himself “covered”
by a revolver even more wicked-looking than
his own.

“Drop that 1gun, 1 say 1” again ordered the
ha1f~breed gru y, and this time Davis obeyed,
for the suddenness of the turning of the tables
had completely unnerved him, and he trembled
with abject terror.

f‘ Now, pardner,” said Dave, “ if ou’ll adorn
this cuss with a pair 0’ bracelets, reckon we
won’t have any more trouble with him.”

‘ _“ The bracelets shall the worthy Isaac have!”
Dick replied, handcuffing the risoner.

“ But, this him happens to c a her!”

“ The devil you say!’ ‘

_“ Well, no, not exactly the devil, but one of
his fair satellites. Allow me, Mister Davis,”
and reachin forward, Dick first removed the
slouch hat, t on the falsc beard and hair of the
disguised schemer, and Pearl Prince stood be-
fore them, unmasked.

“ Curse you! curse you i” she cried. \ If I
ever get fee, I’ll murder you both,” she scream-

ed, fairly furious over her defeat.

’ f‘ Oh, no doubt you would like to!” Dick re-
plied, “ but, as you have done quite enough mis-
chief for one while, I reckon we shall be in duty
bound to put a tem orary check on your
regress down-hill. ou’ve played a good
and in the game, only you discarded wrong.
In future, never think a 'ack will be worth
pltli‘ying, when kings are hig against you.”
. or the next few minutes the oung woman
indulged in language more forcib e than: polite;
then she went into hysterics, after which she
ca pad the climax by faintin dead awa .

. aving her in charge of ave, with instruc-
tions to take her to the Tollgate as soon as she
recovered consciousness, Dick returned to
Jackpot, taking with him the bundle of muslin
on which was his proclamation.

Ere day had fairly dawned, this bulletin was
posted in a conspicuous eplace, on the end of an
em ty shanty, for the ification of the early
an late risers of the little mountain town.

CHAPTER XIII.
Tim KNOT THAT-WAS NEVER rmn.

WHEN the people of Jack t came forth, and,
one after another read D _‘ wood Dick’s Decree,
fibers was no end to excitement and consterna-

ion.

The men swore, roved about and drank
whisky, and the women sniveled and‘ gossiped,
and forgot to get breakfast. .

The prospect of being driven from their new
homes was anything but pleasing,

The ma'ority of the weaker sex were con-
firmed ad erents of Mormonism, aflda dly
number of the men declared their intent on of
showing fight, in case there was an invasion of
Gentiles. ,

. As soon as he heard of the commotion, Mor-
ton Meredith took a look at the bulletin. Evi-
dently it did not impress him agreeably, for his
"face grew pale, and a hunted look entered, his
eyes. ‘ y
‘f That accursed hound, Bristol, has done
1111!.” ha growled “and that roves Nellie’s
statement that t is camp wil be invaded.
Well, let them come. The invasion is not to
take place until Friday,,and ere Friday dawns
I shall be out of this camp.”

No attempt was made to work the mines that
' day, and the sin is little street swarmed with
 excited people a day.

There was 8 noticeable division of the classes,

tOO.

The Mormons. whowercforretainin possession
of the cam ,an fighting it out 01% that line,
4 : largely P 01mm“, but lacked male strength.

 

 

J __._______-__

The class who voted to remain, subject to
Gentile government, had the majority of able-
bodied men and few women on their side.

Paul Podesta was about the only man who
was, so to speak, “ astrnddle the fence.”

The failure of Pearl Prince’s mad scheme was
not unknown to him, for he had secretly wit-
nessed her capture, and knew that there was no
promise of getting hold of the Kirke fortune, so
far as she was concerned.

Which party to lend his services to he did not
quite know, for he was ambitions to be on the
winning side, and was uncertain which side that
would be. Much depended on the numbers the
invasion brought.

But make money out of the trouble he meant
to do, come what might and he knew of no
source more likely to yield a good revenue than
in “ working” Morton Meredith.

So to Meredith’s cottage he betook himself,
and found the elder at home in a particularly
disa reeable humor.

“ ell, what d’ye want?” he demanded, when
the Danite entered. “ I didn’t send for you.”

“ Who said you did?” was the cool reply.

“ What do you want?”

“ Oh! I thought I’d drop in and have a settle-
ment with you.”

“ A settlement? What do you mean? I don’t
Owe on any thing.”

“ on’t you? Waal, I ruther reckon you do.
What’s more, you have got to settle, or you’ll
find yourself in hot water. I want a couple of
thousand dollars. When I ‘want a thing, I
want it bad, as you’ll find out.”

“ You’ll get no such sum of money from me.
I owe you nothing, so I’ll not give you a cent.” '

“ (3h! won’t you? Then we’ll take it from

u.

“ We? What do you mean?”

“By we I mean myself, and those who have
until now been your faithful followers. They
do not know of your intention to skip the town
and leave them in the lurch, but when I tell
them, they’ll know it, you bet! And takin’ into
consideration the fact that they’re all b’ilin‘
mad on account 0’ the bulletin, it won’t take
much to sic ’em onto you. So, if you want ’em
to make it pleasant for you, why, all you’ve got
to do is to say the word.”

“ So that‘s your game, is it? Well, it won’t
vaork,, I havono intention of leaving Jackpot

itv.

“ Bah! Tell that to the marines! I know
your plans just as well as you know them your-
self. You can’t afford to be on the cuts with
me, providing you hope to keep out of prison.
By being liberal with me, I can help you to es-
cape from the camp, after you marry the girl,
and reach a place of safety. Be stin
me, and I’ll bet my horse ag’in’ a chaw o tobac-
co th’f’lt you don’t get out of Echo Canyon
alive.

“.Who told you I was going to be married?”

“That don’t matter. I know it, and I ain’t
the on] one, either. The fact is, you’re hemmed
in on 9. sides, and only by dealing with me is
there any hope of your saving your neck. If
the Mormons hear of your proposed flight, it
will so infuriate them that they will pounce
upon you and rend you limb from limb, and
just so sure as ou refuse to come to my terms,
just so sure wi l I set them on you. You sabe?”

“ Curse you!” Meredith hissed, as he arose and
paced the floor. “ Curse you! I’ve a mind to
murder you!” ,

“ Oh, dry up on that gab! I cankill a dozen
bun lers like you. while ou’re killing one.”

eredith evidently dli not doubt this. Any-
how his demeanor changed and be said: _

“Well, I suppose there’s no use of making
matters any worse than they are. So if two
thousand dollars will buy you over to my side,
why the money is yours.” .

““ Fork it over, then, and I’ll stand by you,
through thick and thin l"

‘ Meredith arose and went toward his big safe,
but, instead of attempting to open it, he sudden-
1)’ ‘wheeled, with a revolver in his grasp!

’You will try to bleed me for mone will
ye?’ he cried, ,vengefully. “ Well, I’ll en eavor
150 Show you howeyou’ll succeed. Take that,
you dog!” ‘ ‘

And leveling his revolver full at the Danite,
he fired. once. twice, thrice.

Each bullet hit a vital spot, and, without so
much as a groan. Podesta tumbled from his
chair to the floor. stone dead. '

“ Another red crime to answer for!” the mur-
gel‘e!‘ gasped. as he gazed at his awful work.

Ugh! But. why should I care? If the will
come and bound me, their doom be on the own

. heads!”

Seizing the murdered rnfllan by the feet, he

with ‘

 

dragged the body into a rear room and raisin
a trap in the floor, tumbled the dead wretc '
down into a foul-smelling place. Then the trap
was closed and firmly nailed down.

That night the red-handed Elder of Jackpot
City removed, bag and baggage, to the Inn, and
his cottage was closed and locked, probably
never again to be tenanted by its owner.

Though he was missed, no one seemed to en-
tertain a suspicion that Paul Pedesta was false
to the Mormon side, but all concluded that he
had been frightened at Deadwood Dick’s Decree, i
and had left the camp.

 

Hours rolled into days, and at last, Thursday
came, finding no articular change in the situa-
tion of affairs at ackpot City.

The citizens who proposed to remain under
the promised new government, all wore the red
ribbons of allegiance; while the faction who pro-
posed to fight against invasmn had taken Bos-
session of the ore-mill, and grimly declaredt eir
intention of “ holding the fort,” to the last.

They were well sup lied with weapons and
ammunition, and, as hey were thoroughly in
earnest as good Saints, it looked as if they
might give a pretty tough battlé‘ge

Old Avalanche had secured Sal Samantha’s
consent to act as general over the Gentile fac—u
tion, so he was oncc more in his glory, and he '
gave his subjects a drill, twice daily.

Meredith kept himself houscd at the hotel,
most of the time. Between doubt and fear in
re ard to how matters were to end,’ he grew

a’le and nervous, and spent his money freely,
or drink. _ ‘

He paid one visit to Nellie Prince, Thursday
morning, to satisfy a gnawing suspicion in h s
mind whether or not she intended to lay him
false; but, as there was no apparent c ange in‘
her demeanor, he went away feeling reassured
that all would turn out right. Nothing more
was there to do, he was told, but present himself
at the Avalanche cottage at eleven o’clock that-
night, bringing with him his two victims of im-
prisonment, John Prince and Joe Sands, Deade
wood Dick’s former pard.

As for Dick he was not seen in the cams in.
the interim between Monday and Thurs a ,.
although he came down acouple of times from
the Toll ate on the sly, and consulted with.-
Nellie an the Lanches. . -

The parson from Lawson’s Ranch arrived
Thursday afternoon, and tonk up his quarters at
the Lanche home. where he was met by Dick
and ac uainted with the gart he was to play in
the litt 9 drama that was be enacced.

At first he objected, on the ground that it.
was deception, and, consequent! , a sin; but,
when he learned what a mur erous wretch
Meredith was, he changed his mind, pocketed
a twenty-dollar “ ducat.” and consented to per--
form the sham ceremony.

The night came on with inky darkness, and a.
driving rain-storm; but all that was propitious:
for the work to be done, and neither Meredith-
nor Deadwood Dick were sci- for the storm.

At eleven o’clock, the litt 6 front room of
Avalanche’s shanty was lit up, but. as the cur- «
tai-ns were drawn, no one on the outside would
have known that any one was awake within.

Seated in the front room were Old Avalanche,
Sal Samantha and the minister, waiting the.
arrival of the would-be bridegroom.

Presently there w s a knock u on the door.

“Ha! that’s him! the Annihi ator chuckled,.
as he arose to answer the summons. “Now, by
the great ham-bone, the sarcus is about to
begin 1” and opening the door, he admitted three!
ruin-drenchel figures.

First came Meredith, enveloped in a great-
army coat, and following him were two gaun
famished-looking men whose pale faces told the
suffering they had un ergone. They were John
Prince and Joe Sands. .

hThey were very weak, and were at once given!
c airs.

“ ell, I’m here!” Meredith announced. “to
fulfill my part 0’ the contract. and I want to»
get through with the business at once. Where’s
the girl?” i _

“ She’ll be ready in a few minutes!”r lied
Sal Samantha, who had planted herself in, out
of a. door leading to an ad oining room. ‘Jest
be Seated, Brother Mere ith,.and she will be
me via I”

“u”??? got the bosses ready to leave
cam after the ceremony?” asked Alva.

“ es, The in waiting outside. Do you
think there w' ?"be any trouble of eacaping by
wa of the as
‘P'Waal.'fareckon not, pervidin’ I go along!”
the Annihilator replied. “The detective ner-

 

  

.14

 

Deadwood Dick J r.’s Decree.

 

Deadshot Dave ain’t neither of ’em at the Toll-
gate to-night, an’ so there’ll be a clear way!”

“If they are not at the Tollgate, where are
they?” Meredith demanded suspiciously.

“Dunno for certain. I have an ijee they’re
in camp, and that thar’ll be an attack made on
the gang what Litre quartered in the breaker
’twixt now and niornin .”

“Then, there’s no time to be lost!” Meredith
cried, paling with alarm. “ If we don’t get out
of camp at once, we may not be able to get out
at all. Fetch out the girl, or I will! ”

“Hark! listen!” cried Avalanche. “ Ha!
didn’t I tell you? The music is begun!”

They all listened, and distinctly heard the
crack of rifles, coming 90m the direction of the
stamp~mill. '

The Gentiles had begun the battle for the
possession of Jackpot Cit l

Meredith became great y excited.

“ Bring forth that girl!” he roared.

“I am here, sir!” was the announcement, as a
figure clad in a long waterproof, stepped from
the adjoining room—a personage who wore a
dark vail to conceal the face from view, and
who, otherwise, looked very womanly. “Are
you ready, Morton?”

“Yes, I am ready !” snapped the villain.
“ Here, preacher, get u i and tie this knot with-
out any unnecessary {in ver! Hello! what you
wearin‘ that for, gir ?" and he snatched away
the veil.

Then, he leaped back with a hoarse cry, as he
saw the deception that had been practiced upon
him. for he recogniZed the smiling face of Dead-
wood Dick! '

At the same instant, Deadshot Dave and an-
other powerful man apK’eared u n the scene,
and sewed and handcu ed the afiled Elder,
while Deadwood Dick’s crinoline fell to the
'floor, and he stood forth in his now proper
dress, smiling and triumphant.

 

CHAPTER XIV.
CONCLUSION.

“ MORTON MEREDITH,” the detective cried,
‘“ you are my risoner! I arrest you for the
murder of the ate Mrs. Henry Kirke, in Carson
City, not to-mention the more recent murder of
your wife, and for other crimes. The scaffold
has long awaited your coming, and now it shall
be gratifieddn stretchin the neck Of one of the
vilest villains the wild est ever knew.”

\Vords are inadequate to express the furious
rage of the baffled wretch, and only through
111tter exhaustion did he relapse into sullen si-

ence.

In the mean time, the sounds of battle became
fiercer in the direction of the ore-breaker, and
presently a burning building lighted up the
night.

Preparations for leaving the camp were now
hastened, and within an hour a party, headed
by Dead wood Dick, was wending its way on
horseback through the gloomy confines of Pur-
gatory Pass.

Besmdes Dick as director, there were Deadshot
Dave and three Oflicers from Carson, who acted
as keepers of Morton Meredith; Nellie Prince
and her father; Joe Sands, having charge of
Pearl Prince, who was also a prisoner; and last
but not least, General Jackpot, who was going
to Prescott on business.

Old Avalanche and Sal remained behind to
try their fortunes with the new town that was
to succeed Jackpot Cit under Gentile rule.

IVhen day dawned urgator Pass was left
behind, and the little cavalca e was well on
its tedious journey across the Territory, to
Carson. '

The first two days of the journey passed, with
out incident worthy of mention.

All parties except it were the prisoners, were

‘ in good spirits, and everything seemed to prom-

ise that t
'trouble.

On the early evening of the third day, how-
ever, when .the party was camped in a little val-
leg, something occurred to change the aspect of
a airs.

On a distant hillock, a single horseman was
discovered, who ap red to be surveying the
camp through a lie] -glass.

It was seen that he was a white man, but, fur-
ther than that could not be made out.

He remained watching the camp a few min-
utes, then disappeared from View.

Nothing more was seen of him until the next
sunset, w en he again appeared, and disappeared
as before.

What did it mean?

Here was a mystery which none could explain.

e journey would be completed Without

the brother of Kirke’s wife, whom I smothered.

Yes—one could explain, for Morton Meredith
sent for Deadwood Dick, and the detective found
his prisoner in a great state of excitement.

“ In the name of mercy and humanity I beg of
you to set me freel” he cried. “ I am doomed,
anyhow, and the few hours I havo to live I want
to have in freedom!”

“ It is not in my power to set you free were I
so disposed !” Dick replied. “ You are in the
custody of the two officers from Carson, and
they will not let you go!”

Meredith groaned aloud.

“You can influence them to free me. For
God’s sake, I beg of you to do so!”

“ Impossible. by are you suddenly so
terrified?”

“ Because I am doomed!”

“ What do you mean?”

“ I have but a few more hours to live.
never reach Carson alive 1”

“ Why not?”

“ Because he is after me!”

“ He! Whom do you mean?”

“ The horseman l”

“ Ah! You know him, then?”

“ I wish I didn’t l”

“ Who is he?”

“His name is Davis.

I will

He is an outlaw, and

For the love Of Heaven, let me free!”

“ Impossible 1” and Dick walked awzfi. .

But, it was with an effort, for he re y pitied
the miserable wretch.

That night passed without further incident;
and nothing more was seen of the strange horse-
man, as, early the next day the cavalcade moved

Meredith was pale, weak and exhausted. If
one might judge by the wild glare in his eyes,
the tortures of the living damned had been his
during the night.

No halt was made until night; and then it
was only at the Solicitation of Meredith; for
the party lacked only ten miles of being in Car-
son City.

“ For God’s sake, give me one more night out
of prison l” Meredith leaded; and, consulting
with the omcers, Bristo granted the request.

The halt was made at the edge of a little prai-
rie motte, the fires kindled and a primitive
suplper prepared, of which Meredith ate raven-
ous y.

His spirits seemed braced up, and, after sup-
per, he called Dick and the others around him.

“This is my last ni ht on earth,” he explain-
ed, “ and I shall pay t e penalty of my crimes.
I’ve tried to stave off the horror of a felon’s
death, and have succeeded, for to-night I shall
meet my death like a man, and now, before
bidding you all good-by, I want to say that I
bear no malice toward any of you. As I have
lived, so do I deserve to die, without a feeling
of ity or sympathy from the least of you.”

hen turniu to Dick, he added:

“ When Dans comes, surrender to him, with-
out opposition. Leave me now, all of you, for
I would be alone with my misery!”

Somewhat awed, they withdrew, and a hush
fell over the camp.

But no one felt like sleep. All Seemed im—
bued with the apprehension that the end was
near, so far as Meredith was concerned.

And they were not mistaken, for at moonrise
the climax came.

With surprising suddenness, as if they had risen
from the earth, twenty masked men swept into
the camp. all armed.

Their eader wasa brawny six-footer.

“Who commands this camp?” he demanded.

“ I do 1” Dick replied, stepping forward.

“ You have a prisoner, one Meredith?”

“We have!” ’

“ Well, I want him i”

“ What for?”

“ Vengeance! He murdered my sister, and
11:1}; fan’te is sealed. Do I have him, or shall I take

Deadwood Dick. was not iven a chance to re-
ply, for Meredith arose, pa e but stern.

' I’m here, Davis!” he said. “I am at your
disposal,and have but one favorto ask, which I
think you will grant?”

“ Name it I” '

“ It is that you will make no scene, here, in
the resenre of the ladies!”

“ he favor is ranted l" was the reply.

Meredith was t en taken and mounted upon a
horse, and, after he had hidden his former cap-
tors good-by, Davis and his gang galloped away.

Little remains to be told, to render our story
com lete

 

' 32 B’hoys of Yale: or.

fortune, and received a handsome recompense
for the work he had performed.

Elicithen left Carson at once, for duty again
ca er .

The Princes still reside in Cal son except Pearl,
who, being forgiven her baseness and wicked-
ness, left for'parts more congenial.

There is a likelihood, too, that Joe Sands
will also become a member of the Prince family.

Jackpot Cit , under a new and more preten-
tious name, sti exists, with Deadshot Dave, Old
Avalanche and General Jackpot among its ros-
perous citizens; so wishing them all good ck,
we write—

THE END.

Beadle’s _lli_m_e library.

BY DR. J. H. ROBINSON.

13 Pathaway; or, Nick Whitfles. the Old Nor’west
Trapper.
17 Nights ade; or. The Robber Prince.
22 Whitelaw; or, Nettie of the Lake Shore.
37 Hirl,kthe Hunchback; or, The Santee Sword-
ma er.
58 Silver Knife; or. The Rocky Mountain Ranger.
70 Hydrabad. the Stran ler.
73 The Knights of the (1 Cross; or, The Granada
Magician. .
163 Ben Brion; or, Redpath. the Avenger.

BY MAJOR DANGERFIELD BUBR.

92 Buffalo Bill, the Buckskin King.
117 Dashing Dandy; or, The Hotspur of the Hills.
142 Ca tain Crimson, the Man of the Iron Face.
156 Ve vet Face the Border Bravo. .
175 Wild Bill’s rumpCard; or, The Indian Heiress.
188 The Phantom Maze pa; or. The Hyena.
448 Hark Kenton. the aitor.

BY MAJOR DA NIEL BOONE_DUMONT.

883 Silver Sam. the Detective.

389 Colonel Double-Edge, the Cattle Baron's Pard.
411 The White Crook; or, Old Hark’s Fortress.
420 The Old River Sport; or. A Man of Honor.

439 Salamander Sam.

454 The Night Raider.

464 Sandvcraw, the Man of Grit.

508 Topnotch Tom, the Mad Parson.

BY GEORGE C. JENKS.

398 Sleepless E e, the Pacific Detective.
432 The Giant orseman.
507 The Drummer Detective.

BY COLONEL DELLE SARA.

53 Silver Sam; or, The Mystery of Deadwood City.
87 The Scarlet Captain; or, Prisoner of the Tower.
106 Shamus O’Brien, the Bould Boy of Glingal.

BY GEORGE ST. GEORGE.

296 Duncan, the Sea Diver.
417 Tucson Tom; or, The Fire Trailers.

BY E. a. s'r. MQX.

471 The Heart of Oak Detective, .
491 Zigzag and Cutt, the Invincible Detectives.

MISCELLANEOUS.

6 Wildcat Bob. By Edward L.Wheeler.
9 Handy Andy. By Samuel Low-r.
10 Vidocg, the French Pohce Spy. By himself.
11 Midsh man Easy. BK Captain Ma att.
T e Scrapes of ollegians.
60 Wide Awake, the Robber King. By F. Dumont.
68 The Fighting Trapper. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams.
76 The Queen’s Musketeers. By George Albany.
78 The Mysterious Spy. By Arthur M. Grainger.
102 The Masked Band By George L. Aiken.
110 The Silent Rifle-man. H. W. Herbert.
125 The Blacksmith Outlaw. By H. Ainsworth.
133 Body the Rover. By William Carleton.
140 The Three Spaniards. B Geo. Walker
144 The Hunchback of Notre ame. By Victor Hugo.
146 The Docror Detective. By George Lemuel.
152 Captain Ironnerve, the Counterfeiter Chief.
158 The DOOmed Dozen. By Dr. Frank Powell.
166 Owlet, the Robber Prince. Bv S. 3. Urban.
179 Conrad, the COnvict. By Prof. Gildersleeve. ,
190 The Three Guardsmen. gill] Alexandrr Dumas.
261 Black Sam, the Prairie underbolt. By 001,
J o Yards.
275 The Smuggler Cutter. By J. D. Conroy; -
312 Kinkfoot Karl, the Mounts. n Scourge. y Mar.

ris dwing.
830 Cop Colt,the Quaker Ci Detective. By C. Morris.
850 Flash Falcon. the Socie y Detective. By Weldou

J. obb.

353 Bart/Brennan: or. The King of Straight Flush.
Bv John Cnthbert.

366 The Telegraph Detective. By George Henry

orse.
410 Sarah Brown, Detective. By K. F. Hill. .
500 The True-Heart Pards. By Dr. Noel Dunbar.

A new, issue every Wednesday.
Beadleu Dime Library is for sale b all

 

 

 

hen Dick and his party reached Carson he
turned over to'John and Nellie Prince the Kirke

Newsdealers, ten cents per copy. or sent by on
rece t of twelve cents each. EADLE & AD ' ‘,
Publighers. 98 William Street, New York.

xxx

 

AL

' skew»

 

 

 

 

Id", .3.,.; m \Q,_4.n) #:9233524W?‘

 

 

AALL

 

 

 

 

 

 

BEADLE’SakHALF-DIMEarLIBRARY.

Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Umform Price of Five Cents.

No Double Numbers.

 

 

BY PHILIP S. WARNE.

OT Patent-Leather Joe; or, Old Rattle-nuke, the Charmer.
175 Captnln Arizona; or, Fluent-Leather Joe's Big Guns.
198 Captain Musk; or, Patent-Leather Joe’s Driertiu
219 Deupurd. the Duelist; or. The Mountain Vampires.
88! A ’l‘ou h Boy; or, The Dwurl’e Revenge.

888 Little ‘ornndo; or, The Uutcunts ol'the Glen.
8":8 Little dingo; or, the Queer Paul.

88!} Little Oh-my : or, Caught in His Own Trap.
401 Little Shoo-[I‘lyé or, A Race for u Ranch.
405 Little Leuther- rem-hen; 0?. Old Jumbo’s Curls.
48] Little Ah Sin; or, The Cum of illood.

451 Colorado Rate. A Title of the nllnes.

480 Three Jolly Purdue.

51? Jim Gludden’n Deput '.

527 The Jolly l’urda to t to Rescue.

547 h‘nndy Andy; or, A Good Mun Down.

556 Lnrlut LII; or, The Cast for a Life.

574 um “fen-.3144"), the Man with the Dogs.
593 Keen Clem. the Ranch imp.

599 Jim Dandy the No-Nnme Sport.

618 Billy Blaze-n; or, The Skeleton’o Legacy.

BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER.
15 The fies-Cut; or, The Witch of Dnrien.
$9 The Dumb Pa e: or. The Doge’e Dnughter.
48 Dick Darling. t e Pony Expreal Rider.
150 Lance and Lasso: or. The Children or the Chsco.
154 The Swurd Hunters; or, The Land ofthe Ele hsnt Riders.
159 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabez Coilln's min to the
0 )en Polar Sea.
.00 T 0 Boy Bedouinn; or, The Brothers of the Plumod Lance.
214 Wolfgang, the Robber of the Rhino.
349 Milo Romer, the Animal King; or, The Round the World
Wanderer. .
065 The 'I‘ifier Tamer; or, The League of the J ungls.
881 Black ink. the Demon Rider.
895 California Joe’s War Trail.

BY BUCKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8. Hull.)

284 gldklioeky s “Boyees; or, Benito, the Young Horse
l'dfl 111’.

346 Giant George; or, The Anz’l of the Range.

875 Arizona Jack ; or Giant George’s Ford.

39? The Tarantula o Taosi or, Giant George’s Revenge.

80? The Strange Part! or, lttle Ben’s Death Hunt.

318 Ker-whoog. Ker-w on; or, The 'l‘nmrtuls ofTaos.

82‘? Cree in; at, the Caddo; or, The Red and White Psrds.

red: or, The ’i‘onkawny’s Trust.

' 312 llrio
8 The Fl htinx Trio: or, Rattlesnake, the Tonhwsy.

G49 lNild 011’; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front.
The Ranch Raiders hor, The Siege of Fort Pergstory.
864 Snap-Shot, h anger.

or The Three Thunderbolts.

t 0 Boy
875 Chiota, the Creek
‘881 liandera Bill; or. rlo ii‘rank to the Front.
892 . {ounce and the Reds; or, The Belesguersd Ranch.
404 Little Lariat; or Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage.
‘ aisy from enver.
? The Three Trailers; or, Old Rocky on the Ramps”.

(

 

4
2. 442 Blufl' Bill; or, The Lynx oi‘ the Le 11

o s.
455 Little Lone Star; or, The Belle of the Cibolo.

BY EDWARD WILLETT.

16? Asa Scott, the Steamboat Boy.

199 Featherweight. the Boy Champion of the Muskingnm.

223 Ozark Alf: or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws.

282 The Typo Detective: or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp.

995 Fearleer l’hii: or, The King ol'Qunrtzville.

811 The Rovin Sport; or, The Pride ofChuvksluck Camp,

882 Neruo, the Leteetlve; or, Kit Kenyon‘a Vendetta.
Clip the Contortioniat; or. The Montana Vigilantss.

BY J. C. COWDRICK.

8 0 Silver-Masks the Mn 0! Mym'i-

8 9 Shanta, the Gold King; or, For Seven Years Desd.

480 The Detective’n A prentiee; or, A Boy Without s Name.

424 cum“. Jon": or, ed-Hot Times at Ante Bar.

439 udy Sam, the Street Scout.

46? D aco Dan. the Daley Dude.

490 Brondwa Bil] '. the Bootbiack Bravo.

506 Real] ht‘lnl , the Prince of the Road.

5 Bron way Bl ly’a Boodle.

534 The Engin eer Detective.

586 Broadway Billy’s ‘Diiiikilty.”

548 Mart. the Night Express Detective.

55’? Broadwn Billy’s Death Rocket.

53! Air-Line uke the Young Engineer.

5.9 The Chimney Spy; or, Broadway Billy’s Surprise-Party.
'1‘. The Boy Pinkerton.

609 \‘Vlllinm 0’ Broadway; or, The Boy Detective’s Biz inning.

61.) lighting Harry, the Chief oi Chained Cyclone.

BY 00 PIERCE.
39? Bob 0' the Bowery: or, The Prince oiMulberry Street.
415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob.- Boom.
452 Hots ur Bob. the Street-Buy Detective.
460 The Lawyer's Shadow; or, Luka’. um.
4’32 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King.
49-1 Surly film. the You": Ferrymnn Detective.
504 Five Point:l l.
509 Jack Jnxcera, the Butcher Boy Detective.
516 Tartar Tim: or. Five Points Phil’s Menagerie,
526 North River Xnt. the Pier Detective.
588 Wrestling Rex, the Pride ol‘thc Sixth Ward.
541 Jefl Flicker. the Stable Boy Detective.
551 Nick Nettle. the Bov Shadow.
559 Harlem J nok, the dice Boy Detertlve.
589 Brooklyn Ben. the On-Hln-an-Hook Detective.
577 Pavement Pete. the Secret Sifter.
583 Jack-o’-Luntcrn, the Under-Sen Prospector.
“Mi Wide-Awnk - Bert. the Street-Steer".
614 whifltlhlg J “nob, the Delettlve’s Aid.
828 Buok numblebnc, the Harlem Hummer.

BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID.

78  o ‘ Y 11”" Chief’s Von once.

87 ThleeLmfii‘in;h:2:- in, The League of evll’s islsnd.
181' The “91 [on “and; or, Backwoods Retribution.
as» The Golfing“...- Guide; or. The Last Mountain.

BY MAJon "ENRY B. STODDARD. Ex-Seout.

806 Neck-Tie N 0, Th. Du -Ont Pards.

I48 Baylor R. fiuh’mmhe wordemon onscstecss.

891 Ki -Glove E“, the Dandy oi' the Rockies.

.98 Kid-Glove Kn, and p...“ or, The Gold King.

400 The Mad Indium”, or, The Mystery of Golden

Gnlc .
505 Powell’s Pard; or, The One-Armed Giant.

BY HARRY ST. GEORGE.

so Roarinr 11-1 h Roekwood the Ran or.

M Rattlin Ru 0; or. The leh’thawks 0 Kentucky.

59 Old Hie oryt 0?; Plndy‘ Elils’s Scal .

08 Daring DIV]; 0r.'l‘hs rail or the £arder Wolf-
108 Hickory Harr t or. The Trs r-Brigsde’s Spy-
1?! Thunderbolt out: or. ths elf-Herder.

 

BY ALBERT “'. AIKEN.

11 The Two Detective»: or, The Fortunes ors Bowery Girl.
76 Abe Colt. the Crow-Killer.
79 Sol (Huger. the Ginnt 'l'rn mm.
288 Joe lluek oi’ Angeer an "in Boy Pal-(l. .
447 New York Nat. Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham.
458 1‘ our En lumi Nit-k : or. 'l‘hu Fortunes oia Foulidliug.
464 Nimble Hide, the Circus Prince.
498 Thus Tod, toe Arizonn Sport.
510 Cool Colorado, the'l'inlr-llreod Detective.
518 Cool Colorudo in how York.

BY GEORGE “'ALDO BROWNE.

86 Dand Rook the Man from Texan.

90 The l rend Rider; or, The Tenth Duelist.

99 The Tiger oi'Tuon; or, Dandy Rock’n Angel.
115 The Mad Miner: or, Dandy Rook’n Doom.
181 The Golden "and; or, Dandy Rock to the Result.
164 Dandy Rock’s i’led e; or. Hunted to Death.
178 Dandy Rock’s Riva : or. The Haunted Maid oi'l‘sos.

BY CAN. J. F. o. ADAMS.

84 Oregon Sol; or, Nick Whlliien’s Buy spy,

46 Gland-Eye the Great Shot of the West.

54 Ned Haze , the Buy Trapper.

56 Nick Whittier-I’ll 1 et; or, in The Valley of Death.

60 The. White Indian; or, The Scout of the Yellowston-

70 Old Zi ‘Is Cabin; Or, The Greenhorn in the Woods.

31 Lightn g Jo, the Terror oi the Prairie.

85 Buck Ruckram; or, Bess, the Female Trs per.
247 Old Grizzly and His Peta; or, The Wil Huntrsss.
951 Light-house lee; or, Osceola, the Firebrsnd.
957 The Lost Hunters; or The Under round Camp.
888 The Scalp king; or. The Human

BY ROGER STARBUCK.

55 The Boy Captain; or, The Pirate’s Daughter.
114 The Black Schooner; or, Jlb Junk. the Old Tn.
969 The Golden Ilarroon; or, Lost Among the Floss.
848 Fire-Heels or, 0 d Skinnint, the Death-Shadow.
854 Big Horn 1 e, the Hill Tramp ; 'or, Tbs Odd Yards.
It”. The Phantom Light-house.
870 Breaker Ben. the Reef-Runner.

BY WILLIAM R. EYSTER.

190 Dandy Durke; or. The Tigers of High Plus.
810 Faro Frank; or, Dandy Duke's Go-Down Psrds

BY COLONEL BELLE SARA.

108 The Lion oi’the Sea; 0', The Vailod Lady.
186 Cool Desmond; or. The Gambler's Big Gum,

BY JAMES L. BOWEN

10? One-E ed Sim: 0!. The Abandoned Forest Home.
110 The B ack Steed of the Prairies. A Story of Texas.

BY 0. DUNNING CLARK.

1815 Captain Paul]; or, The Boy Spyr of the Mountains.
.80 The Yankee ajah; or. The sts oi the Black Shred.

BY GEORGE C. JENKS.

485 Git Thar Owney the Unknown.

492 Git Thar Owuey’s Pledge.

518 The Demon Dot-tor.

581 Double-Curve Dun, the Pitcher Detective.

59! Flute. the Singer Detective.

608 'Ii‘hell’iticher Deteetlve’e Foil; or, Double Curve Don’s
luui; re ’ ll\‘.

616 The Ocean Detective; or, The Last Crulee ofthe Black Bear.

BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR U. S. A.
191 Buflulo Billy, the Boy Bullwhscker; Or, The Doomed

T .
194 Ruin-1'3 Bur. Bot: or. The Gambler Guido.

BY CHARLES E. LASALLE.

50 Burt Bunker, the Trapper.
53 The White Buii'alo. A Tale of the Northwest

BY JOHN J. MARSHALL.

40 Roy 3 Ben. A Story of a Young American.
9’? The atlaw Brothers; or. The Captive o! the Harms.

BY WM. G. PATTEN.

489 The Diamond Sport: or, The Double Face ofBod Rock
519 Cu. toiu Myrter ; or, Five in One.

i581 Du ay Dare the port from Denver.

587 Old Bombshell, the Ranger Detective.

604 iron Fern, the Man oi Eire.

619 The Boy Trump Detective; or,'l'he Double Grip Witness.

BY MAJOR E. L. ST. VRAIN.

299 Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit.

801 Loudville N iek the Boy Sport.

819 Redtop Rube, t re Vigilante Prince.

888 Brim-stone Bob, and His Lightning Horse Quartet“.
859 Tomb-stone Tom. the Arizona Boy of “ send,»
859 Durnnro Move. the Young “hnnn-rnn Wrem".
871 Kin bolt Chris, the Young Hard-Shell Damn",
830 Ava nnehe Ali', the Foothills Guide.

890 Jaguar Joe. ofthe Mountain Mail-Line.

\ BY EDWARD S. ELLIS.
8 Bil Biddon Tm er.
8 Set Jones ;’ or, 'iziie Captives of the Frontier.
0 Nat Todd; or, The l-‘ste ol‘ the Sioux Captive.
The Frontier Angel.
he Boy Mine"; or, The Enchanted island.
188 The Hunted Hunter; or. The Strnn o Horseman.
954 The Half-Blood; or, The Panther o the Plains.
.71 The Huge Hunter; or, The Steam Prairie Man.

BY M JOR LEWIS W. CARSON.

ITS The. Three pg on or. The Mountain Monster»
I88 Indlln Joe; or, The White Spirit of the Hills.

190 Th BY FRANK DUMONT.
eBrand dll ,Th M {M .
127 wna-rn..°n.. 93323.3: no.3. "I ° "my
140 Blue Blazes; or, Ths Break 0’ Day Boys of Rosky Bal-
171 Ebon Dan; or The Rival Leagues.
‘85 EV“ .VG 8 Of. The Vultures of the Rio Grands.

BY CAPT. MARK WILTON.

856 Young Kentuok; or The Red Lasso.
s10 Blizzard Ben .rr.’ m z ‘
880 J osh, the Boy8 Endeerfo‘htt‘ Kano twp.

BY BRACERRIDGE HEHYNG.

a: teem: "at" ‘25:  n...
p u o . .
101 Jack Harkaway i: Ngw‘fzrkf ' '

undsroolt.

 

BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR.

2 Yollowntone Jack; or, The Tra a or.
48 Black John the RoarLAgont; or. re Outlaw’s Rstrssi.
O5 Hurricane lill; or. Muetung Sam and His Paid.
119 Hunting Salu yr. The King ofths Plains.
186 hiuht-Iluwk it t or, The Daughter of the Ranch.
144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport.
15! itunthor Paul: or, Dainty Laure to the Rescue.
160 'l he Him-k Giant: or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy.
168 Deadly Darth ' or, Fighting Fire Willi Fire.
184 The Boy Trailers 3 or. Dainty Lunre on the Wsr‘Paiil.
208 The Ho l’ards; or. Dainty Lance Unnmeks.
fill (lg-00km Cale, the Culihun ol’ Celestial City.
810 The Barram-a Wolf; or, The Beautiful Decoy.
819 The Black Rider; or The Horne-’l‘hieves’ Lucas.
885 Old Double Fist: or. “II Sir-Hire Guide
855 The King oi lht- “’omls: or. Brunei Boone’s Last Trail.
449 Klt Fox. the Border Bov Detective.
625 Chinoupin Dun, the Boy Trailer.

HY W. J. HAMILTON.

08 The Red Brotherhood; or, The Twslvs Arm
66 Sin le Hand; or. A Life for a Life.
72 Max Tom Weatern. the Texan Ranger.

387 Ben Bird. the Cave King; or, Big Pete's Scoop.

B Y J ACK FABRAGUT.

815 Nell. the Cabin Boy.
830 The Sea Sorceress; or. The Boy Slipper.

BY LIEUT. H. D. PERRY. U. S. N.
176 The Boy Runaway; or The Buccaneer oi ths_Bsy.
180 The Sea Trailer; or. A Vow Well Kept.
199 Captain Kit; or, The Mystery of Montsuk Point.

BY HARRY HAZARD.
828 Arkansaw J aek ; or, The Scourge of the Mines.
899 Red-Skin Tom or, The Demon’s Trail.
848 The Mountain evil; or, Yellow Juck,ths Outlaw.

BY COL. A”. F. HOLT.

899 Black Buckskin; or. The Masked Men of Dssth Canyon.
419 Kenneth, the Knifecxlnz.
486 Little Lighti’oot, the Pilot of the Woods.

BY J. \V. OSBON.

469 The Rival Giants of Nowhar’.

498 Cactus Burr. the Man from Hard Lock.

587 Old Bueke e. the Sierra Shadow.

564 Powder 1’ ll, the Buy Miner.

609 Holly Dorrit, the Veteran Detective.

680 Little Lightning’s League; or. The Mystery oitns Island.

BY FREDERICK DEWEY.

818 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Rifle-Shots.
478 Tangemund, the Desert Detective.
549 The Canyon l’ards.

BY ARTHUR C. GRISSOM.
440 Little Foxfoot, tbs Gold Bowie Kid.

558 The Sure-Shot Pal-(ls.
4321 Truthihi James, the “Pecooliar” Man.

BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS.

546 Captain Cactus the Chaparral Cock.

one The Dandy of Dodge.

5'36 The Silver Sport.

583 Suil'ron Sol. the Man “’ith n Shadow.

5!!) Tom-(int uml Par-d: or. The Dead Set at Silver City.
601 I‘ll pv Iluurs. thr- Dutch Written}.
6] i Biliim‘l llurnnole. the Detective} ercules.
622 Texas 'i‘om-Cut’e Triad.

MISCELLAN EOUS AUTHORS.
4 The Wild-Horne Hunters. By Capt. Msyns Rsid and
Frederick Whittaker.

9 Adv entures of liar-on Munohansea.
19 Gui iver’e Travels. By Desn Swift.
14 Aladdin; or. The Wonderful Lamp.
16 inh'II-nn Crusoe. (9'! Illustrations.)
18 Elindhad the Sailor. His Seven Vo ages.
29 The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusoe. By Joan

Lewis. ,
88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates 0! the
Cnrribees. By S. W. Pierce.
86 girls Boy CioWn; or, The Queen of the Arena. By Iran!
nn

as N'ed Wylde. the Boy Scout. B Texas mar.
51 The Roy Rifles; or. The Un erground Camp. By Archie

C. irons.
95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi.
By LieuL-Col. Hueltino.
98 Robin Hood, the Outlawed Earl; or,Ths Merry Men ot Gnos-
wnod. B ‘ l’roi’. Glidersleeve.
105 Old Ru 1-. the Hunter; or, The Crow Cantivo. By Captain
Hamilton Holmes.
119 The Mad Hunter: or, The Cave of Death. By Bum Sm.
194 Entry. the Texan; or, The Young Chsmpion. Dy Gsorp
69.011.
198 The Your“: Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Stronghold. By
my Caren lsh.
148 Sharp Sam 3 or, The Advsn tures of a “endless Boy. By J.
Alexander Patten.
.97 Dusky Darrell. Trs mm or. The Green Ranger of the Yel-
iowetone. By Edward Insrson.
961 Fergus Fearnau ht the New Y rrk Boy. B G. 1.. Aiksn.
.66 Killh’ar. the Go dc; or. Davy Crockett's rocked Trail.
By Ensign C. D. Warren.
398 Red (now. the One-Eysd Trapper; or. The Maid of the Gill.
By Captain Comstoc .
 Peacock Pgte, tho Lively  Mm IMdVillO. By “W
tenant Alfred T orne. -
8.8 The Sky Detective; or, A Boy’s Fight for Life and Honor.
By Msior Mickey ree.
850 Red Ralph, the River Rover; or, The Brother’s ls-
venize. By N Bun tllne.
865 Baltimore Ben the Bootbiacit Detective. By A. P. Hallie
874 Gold-Dust Toll; or, Ben's Douhls Mstch. By George IL

Mons.
870 California Joe’s First Trail. By Colonel Tho-
Hover Monstery.
3.1:: gliilyfitlomlrgmn. or]; cgigcgmwr. By I. s. Winthrop.
e . y n n amen
Homartflfe Dix-K and His Three Invinciblos. By
CITY . 0111M-
5’3 W! . th Dand S rt. 1! Arthur F. Holt.
ass nthwitzm'n-ire. 3y hirer. nicot- ram.
552 Ariel the At Me. By stid Druid.
88‘ 1V!“ Waters, the Bov Ferret. By HJInton.
A New Issue Ever! Tuesday.
The “ginning lernr’ is for sale by all. nswsdssisrs,flvs
seats per copy, or unit by mail on recsipt of six cents suit. ‘
BEADLE AND ADAHS. Publishers.
9!! Willia- Strest, New York.

 

 

 

\

I

 

 

 

'585 De w
o I

BEADLE’SerHALF-DIMEeLIBRARY. ‘

Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Umform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers.

k

..,..,..i, .._  . .:..
- ’ .. '4 ‘ .

  

 

BY EDWARD L. WHEELER.
Deadwood Dick Novels.

1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road.

.0 Double Daggers or, Deadwood Dick’n Defiance.

8 Halfan lien or, eodwuod Dick in Diuguiue.

5 “ lld Ivan. t a Boy Claude Duvul.

4!) Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’t Bonnnla.
49 Omaha 011} or Deadwood Dick in Danger.

7 Deadwood Dick’s Eagle-t; or, The Purd- of Flood Ber.
78 Deadwood Dick on Deck; of. Culumitl’ June. the Horoino.
7’? Corduroy Charlie; or, Deedwood Dick’n Last Act.

100 Deadwood Dick in Lendville.

104 Deadwood Dick’s Device; or, The Double Crou Sign.
109 Deadwuod Dick an Detective.

189 D‘eadwood Dick’s Double: or, The Ghent oi Gorgon’l

[Jillt' .
189 Rim-do Bill: or, Dendwuod chk’l Home Bose.
l 9 A Gtune oi’- Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’n Big Strike.
156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood or, The Picked Part .
195 Deadwood lDlek'I Dream; or, he RDVMII oi‘ the Ro .
.01 The Black Illlla Jeuebel; or, Deadwood Dick's Ward.
805 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Lani. Ad-
venture.
21‘? Captain Crack-Shot, the Girl Brifiond.
281 Sn ar-Couted 8am; or, The Blue Gown.
389 Go d-DIut Dick. A Romance of Rough and Tonghs.
068 Deadwood lDlt-k’a Divide or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake.
.68 Deadwood Dick's Death rail.
809 Deadwood Dick’s Big Deal; or, The Gold Brick o!

reuou.
821 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen: or, The Fnkir ofPhnntom Flats.
.4? Deadwood Dick'a Ducate; or, Rainy Days in the Dig-

"input.
851 Dick Sentenced: or, The Terrible Vendetta.

 

U" WV"
86% Dead wood Dick’s Claim.

05 Deadwood Dick in Dead City.
10 ca w Dick’a Diamonds. >
1 Dead wood Dick in New York; or, A “Cnis Cue.”
0 Deadwood Dick's Dust; or, The Cit-lined Hand.
448 Deatlwo IDick, Jr.
448 \ickel-Plate Ned; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’l Defiance.

8 Sunflower Sam, oi Shinto; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Full

liaud.
459 Fluoi. Fan, the For»; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’e Big Round.
465 Pllllo Fly, of Phenix; at, Deadwood Dick Jr'e Rocket st
Claim l0

471 Bozeman Bill; or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Corral.
476 Ilullsbglgt Harry the Hurricane; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’.
e C V6.
481 Moll Myuter ; or, Deadwood Dick Jr. in Deadwood.
491 griléce Pit-do the King of the West; or, Deadwood Dick
r's omnuc .

496 Mon be Crieto. Jru or, Deadwood Dick Jr'l inheritance.
506 Dent wood Dlok’n Digfilngst or, . Death-Grip’e Swoop.
8 ’7. [De verance.
515 ] teat wood Dick’s Protegec.
532 Deal wood Dick’a Three.
5139 ten. wuu Dick’s Dancer Dacha.
Deal woo: Dick'a Death Hunt.
589 on wood Dick Jr. in retail.
544 Deal. wool Dick, Jr. the Wild West Vidoq. —
Deal wood Dick on His Mcttle.
554 Dec .woo l Dick, r. In Gotham.
561 Deal woo: Dick in Bun-non.
56? Meat wool Dick, Jr. In Philadelphia.
572 lea: w Dick, Jr. in Chicago.
518 Dead wom Dick, Jr. A . at.

4 ‘ m. Dick, Jr. In Denver.
590 teat woot Dick, J r'n. Decree.

Dick Jr. in Beehebuh’o Bull.

 

 

 

6
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60 Dick Jr. at Coney Inland.
606 rc "w Dick J r’n Leadville Lay.
6l2 ] Dcut woot Dick Jr. in Detroit.

618 1 Dick. J r. in Cincinnati.

lo
624 Deadlrood Dick, Jr. in Nevada.
Other 1V, ovela by E. 1.. Wheeler.

 

.6 Cioven Hoof, the Buflnlo Demon. ‘
83 Bob Woolf; or, The Girl Dead-Shot.

39 Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York.

45 Old Avalanche: or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigall.

58 .l in: Bludsoe, r., the Boy Pheuix.

61 lluckhoru Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team.

69 Gold Rule the her theater; or. The lio Detective.

80 olebnd or, ugget Ned, the Kn sin.

84 yl, the Girl iner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand.

all
88 Photo ra h Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reap nee.
98 (Jun 3 C net; or, Old Anaconds in Sitting gull’l Camp.
96 Watch-E a; or. Arab. und Angels of a Great City.
113 Jack Iloy e the Young Speculator.
117 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective
181 Cinnamon Ohio. the Girl Sport.
xza‘ Miner.
188 Hus. liob the King of Boothlnckl.
141 Solid E on the Boy Road-Agent.
145 Contain Derret, the New York Detective; or, In. new

Boss Jo 5.

161 New York Nell the BoY>Glfl Doloctive.

177 Nobb Nick of evadnx or, The Sierra Scamp.
Wild rank, the Buuhkin Bravo.

li'ritl, the Bound-Boy Detective.

I'ritl to the Front; 01, The Ventriloflgilt Hunk.

iinooleli3 lilo Buy Sharp; or, The Anti) noun.

1

t

 

ipollo ill, the Trail Tornado.
3 clone Kit, the Youn Gladiator.

. .. Sam, iliu Front er Ferret.
c. . .. Sam’s Secret: or The Bloody Footprinu,
ii oerra Sam’e Paul; or, Tue Angel oi Big van.
S oerra Sam’s Seven: or, The Stolen .Bride.
I;3 fiumbo Joel, till: }iov Petrol; or, The Rival Helm.

 

 

 

 

. the Detective Queen.
881 Denver Doll’u Victory.
Ifl‘ Denver Doll’n Decoy g or. Little Blll’n Banana.
or ,t e 0: Fern .
.96 iDcher Doll’s Drift: or. The Road Queen.
9 A No. l, the Dashing Toll-Taker.
OB ’lea J ane. the 'llrl Miner: or. the iron-Nervod Sport.
885 Kelley, llicke .l'. (30.. the Detective: ofPhlladelphla.
880 Little Quick-S at or, The Dead Face 0! Dagger-ville.
Kangaroo Kit; or. he Myeteriolu‘hiiuor.

9 a aroo Klt’o Racket. I

B an attan Mike, the Bowery Blood.
8 Fir-tpolaeu'li‘red, xlie Gent irom Gopher.
it {lacks Jinn. the Gold-Gatherer; or, he lolly oi

I Yreka Im’n Prize.

8 Nahoh ed 3 or, The Secret of Slob City.

Cool Kit. the King of Kldr or. A Villain'n Von...“

5 Yreka Jim’s Joker; or, e Rlvale of Red No...

9 Rioycle Real or. The Lion of Lightning Lode.
Yreka Jill: of Yuba Data.

400 Wrinklaa, the Night-Watch Detective.

I! it flat tarry, the Swahilptzeutitin.
r. v lac v0.

rivate Detectives

'2;

23

OHIO an
:3 3:0!“

 

BY CHARLES MORRIS.

118 Will Some", the Boy Detective.
122 Phil llard , [he Buns Buy.

26 Picayune l'ctcg or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective.
130 Detective Dick : or, The Hero in Rugs.
2 [landmine Harry, the Boothlm'k Detective.

W [I Idflre, the Theme 'hhrcd.

"lack "can, Will Wildfire 3 Rover.
ll Ike Murry, the i-{urhor i’oliuo Boy.
Will W'ildllre in the Woods.
age. the Railroad Boy.
unit or, Will Wildlire Vi'inn and Loan.
iiob Roc ett; or, Mysteries oi'New York.
llob Rockett the Bank Runner.
' ‘lle llldden fluid or, Will Wildfire'e Revenge.
lt‘red Halyard, the die Boat Boy; or. The Smugglerl.
llob Rockett; or. Driven to the WM].
lihndowed or, Bob Rockett'a Fight for Life.
206 Dark l’au , the Tiger King.
212 Dalthing Dave, the Dandy Detective.
820 Tom Tanner or, The Black Sheep oi the Flock.

2.1 Elam Chan-on the Premium Durky.
285 Shadow Sam the hits-anger iioy.
842 The Two “ ll oods ”; or, Shenandoah Bill and Hit Gang. '
9573 Dink Dauhaway t or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago.
268 The Young Sharpe: or, Rollickiug Mike’s Hot Trail.
374 Jolly Jim; the Detective Av rentlce.
989 Jolly Jim It Job; or, The can Detective.
298 The \‘Vater-llound; or, The oung Thoroughbred.
805 Dauhuway, oi’ Dakota; or, A Wettern Lad in the Quaker

tty.
824 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective.
841 Tony Thorne, the Vognhond Detective.
858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyer’l Blizzard.
86’? W [dc-Awake Joe: or, A Boy of the Timon.
879 Lari-iv the Leveler; or. The Bloodl of the Boulevard.
4-08 Fire y Jack, the River-Rat Detective.
The Lost Flu er; or, The Eutrapped Cashier.
4338 Fred Fl er 1. e Reporter Detective.
432 Inviner e oEan, the Pinkerton Ferret.
56 Bill Brit-k, t e Jolly Vagabond.
466 Wl e-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive.
479 Detective Dod c: or, The Myltery 0! Frank Hearty.
gill 3“? "link ‘1?”  'r 91 r hoShsrpor.
oo o, e oy ‘ roman: or, no. in art
566 The Secret Service BoLDeteetlve. m
596 Jimmy the Kid; or, A mb Among Wolven.

BY OLL COOMES.

5 Vagabond J oe, the Young Wandering Jew.
18 The Dumb Spy.
2'? Antelo e Abe, the Boy Guide.
81 Keen- nli’e. the Prince of the Prairies.
41 Lasso Jack, ihe Young Mmtunger.
58 The Border Kin : or, The Secret Foo.
71 Delaware Dick, t «9 Young Run {er Spy.
5'4 llawkuexe llarliy the Young rapper Bonn
t e BoyI a er.
184 Sure Shot Set , the oy Riflemnn.
l Sear-Face Saul the Silent Hunter
146 Silver so... u... hoy Knight.
158 Eagle Kit, the Boy'Demon.
168 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger. ‘
178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Tm per.
182 Little Hurricane, the Bo nptein.
20’) Pros ect Pete ; or, The ounx Outlaw HuniolI.
llo Hercule“ or, The Prairie Tramps.
818 Tiger om. the Texas Terror.
.94 Dun-hill Dick; or, Trapper Tom’s Cutle.
Little re, the Young Prairie Nomad.

8 The Pamn De tective: or The Little Bangor.
“48 The lDlagui-ed Guide: or, “lid Raven, the Ran".
260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger.
$73 Mlnkukln Mike, the Boy sharpshooter.

290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spv.
800 The Sky Demon: or, Ruhlhr-li, the Ranger.
884 Whip-king Joe, the Boy Rnnchero.
409 lleroulee or, Dick, the Boy Ranger.
4‘? \Vebi’oot one the Tramp Detective.
Bally Stun. the oy Giant ol‘ the Yellowstone.
Little Buckskin. the Young Prairie Centaur.
45? 'l“. lug-edl’oot Fred; or, Old Polar Soul.
468 'l mum-ac Tom, the Big ’l‘m per Bay.
478 Old Tom Rattler, the Red iver Epidemic.
482 stonewall Bob, the Boy Troinn.
569 Blunderinz Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper. ,

BY T. C. IIARBAUGII.

08 Nick 0’ the Night; or, Th» Boy Spy of "It.

8'? The lllddcn Lodge; or The Little Hunter.

47 Nightin ale hat+ ur, Tne Forest Cu taint.

64 Dand fuck; or, he Outlaws oi the regon Trail.

88 Kit 1 arei‘oot the Wood-Hawk.

94 Milnifllt Jack 8 or, The Boy Trapper.

06 Old Frosty, the uide; or. The White Queen.

8 iowa Charley the White Mustang".

9 Jud e I. 'uch, Jr.l 01’. The Bov Vigilante.

5 Col Tr er, the s on; or, The Girl Avenger.

ll Tornado out; or, njun Jack From Red Core. ‘
ample, the Irder Boy.

8 Arkannaw; or, The Quad) oi Fate’s Revenge.

7* Navajo Nick the Boy Gold Hunter.

15 Captain Bullet; or; Little 'l‘onknot’l Crusade.

D81 l’lueky Phil; mallow, the Re! Jezebel.

941 ill Bravo; or, The Rough. of the Rockiel.

’55 Captain A on.» me King-Pin of Bowie.

our The Book. a Detective.

279 Old Winch or, The Buckskin Del credo”. ‘

894 Dynamite an: or, The Bowie B ado of Cochetopa.

602 'l‘ 0 Mountain Detective: or, The Trigger Ber Bully.

816 Old Eollpae. Trumn Curd of Arizona.

82 The Ten l'ardu or. The Terror or TokrNotleo.

886 Bill Benson: or, The Queen of the Lamb.

845 Pitlleu Matt; 0!, Red Thunderbolt’o Secret.

856 Cool ham and I’m-"t or The Terrible Six.

866 Velvet Foot the Indian Detective..

836 Captain Cut slur} or, l he K'ccuneen’l Girl Foo.

896 Rouill Rob or. he l'wiu Champions of Blue Blun-

411 The .ilken .asso: or, The Rose of Ranch Robin.

418 Felix Fox. the Boy Spotter.

4 T as Tram the Border Rattler.

486 PM Flanh t 9 New York Fox.-

TheiClty an iron; or, Red Rolfe’n Pigeon.

461' One you“; I" fly; or, The Lalt Mun of Reno Ber.

‘th-lbl-thdHH—IHHH H
scanne-
carom”.
)
-I
'1
5

3-1 I IN'D'D
a-coleecn.

 

uflunnun
emanan

ND
9

0 The oy Shadow or, Felix Fox’s Hunt.
477 The xceluior Spdrt: or, The Washington Spotter.
a: “in; e Si‘l‘lt. the Ono-Eyed Sport.

e

Brand en the Night Ferret.

 ‘ {radiator I“ lit“ t In! Wltlflgf y Detectlm
‘ er e s on e.

528 Pox'and aleon, the Bower‘y Sllldm

588 l or ck the Dock Ferret.
543 loan.- mold. nonme, or, The mui Boy boa-ma.
. ’a Beneath Case. _ ~ ‘
ocq.

soil '3“. 5.1""? 3%. Deiecti . '
e n 0 rec - "'0? . V n
010 (in smnér, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Sharp on I'd.

 

«

 

BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAIIAM.

? The Flying Tanker: or, "“~e Oct-nu Outcast.
17 Ralph R0 ', the Boy liuwunwr; or. The Fugitive Yacht.
24 Diamond Dirk ' or, The Myutrry of the Yellowstone.
6g The Hillldow fillip; or. ’l'ln- liivnl Lieutcnunla.
7.) ’l he Boy [Duellnt 3 nrY The Cruise oi' the Sea-Wolf.
l2 Dick Dead-E 'e, the Boy Slnuuuier.
II The Sou-Devil ; or, The Midshipmim's Legary.
16 The llusI-ar Ca tuln; or, 'i‘ln- llmmit oi'Hell Gate.
97 Little Grit: or, eesie, the Stork-Tendon: Daughter.
(H: Gold Plume: or, The KilHilm'e Sport.
2]“ "Ilsan “ill, the Prince (ll the “vine.
9.22 Grit. the liravo Sport ; or, The Woman Trailer.
2’59 Crimean hate; or, The Cowboy's Triumph.
28‘? Lone Star, the Cowboy Cu Min.
245 Moi-lo the Middy or, ’ he Frecluncohieir.
250 The Idnhipman utlnecr; or, limudt, the Buccaneer.
264 The Floating Feather; or, Merle Moute’l Tree-nu

Island.
269 The Gold Ship: or, Merle, the Condemned.
276 Igor}? Montes Cruise: or, The Chnee of one Go”
. up.
21-10 Merle Monto’s Fate: or
$84 The Sea Marauder; or, hicrie Monto‘t Pledge.
28’? Billy Blue-Eye's, ille lioy Rover of the Rio Grands.
304 The Dead Shot Dandy; 0?. BenltO. the Boy Bugler.
303 Reno Kit; or. Dead Shot llnndy's Double. ‘
814 'Illjhfi Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’a Long
1'“ .

mun-tut

Pearl, the “nude Bride.

8?? Bonodel, the Boy Rover; or, The Fiegiea Schooner.
888 The Indian Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Inland.
387 “'arpath Will, the Boy Phantom.

898 Seawall; the Boy Lieutenant.

40% Isodor, the Young Con-pirator; or, The Fatal league.
407 The Boy Insurgent; or, The Cuban Vendetta.

412 The “'ild Yachtaman; or, The War-Cloud’s Cruise. I
429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee.

488 A Cabin Boy’n Luck; or, The Comlr.

48’? The Sea Raider. ,

441 The Ocean Firefly; or, A Middy’a Vengeance.

446 llaphazard Harry; or, The Scupegmu o! the Sea.
450 Wizard “’ill: or, The Boy Ferret of New York

454 Wizard Will’s Street Scouts. v

462 The Born Guide: or. The Sailor Boy Wanderer.

468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Conner.

474 Flora: or, Wizard Wii'i’u Vagabond Pard.

488 Ferret. Afloat; or. Wizard Will’s Lent Case.

48’? Nevada Ned, the Revolver Roilger.

495 Arizona Joe the Boy Pard of Texan Jack.

49? Buck Taylor, King oi the Cowboys. ,

503 The Royal many; or, The Shark and mono-ca.
50? The llunted Midnhlpman.

511 The outlawed Mlddy.

520 Buckskin Bill, the Comanche Shndow.

525 Brothers in Buckskin.

580 The Buckskin Bowers.

585 TDQJIIIOL akin Rovers.

540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marauder d the u.

545 Lieutenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte.

550 Lallttc‘e Legacy: or. The Avenging Son.

555 The Creole Coreair. .
560 Pawnee Bill, the Prairie Shodowor.

565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King.

570 Camille, the Curd Queen.

5'35 The Surgeon-Scout Detective.

580 The Outcast Cadet; or, The Fol-e m
586 The Buckskin Avenger. ,
591 Delmonte. the Young Sen-Rover.

593'1 The Young Texan Detective.

602 The Vagabond of the Mines.

60‘? The Rover Detective; or, Keno Kw. Chap“...

on Ral ii, the Dead-Shot Scout; or, The ma... .u a.
Red idern ol' the Rio.

0

BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. Wm. F. Cody).
3 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hund.
19 The Phantom Spy; or, The Pilot oi' the Pralria.
55 Deadly-Eye, the Unknown Scout.
68 Border Robin flood: or, The Prairie Rover,
158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The 'l‘nppcr’n 'rrnns.

LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. ’

626 The Champion Par-do; or, The Lucifer ofSilver Bar. B,
'l' H r as .

. C. a be
69’? Tom Bruce of Arkansas; or, The Wolfln the Fold. By
Chorlel Morrie. ‘

Bill ’s Dead Act or The Le o o! the
628 ls‘fil‘lsml By J?C.Cowdrick. 3 ’ , m

689 Violet Vane, the Velvet Sport; or, The Jubilee ofJnclriown.
By Wm..G. Po ten.

ood Dick J r. in No Man’s Land; or Golconda
680 Rsalfiintm. By lid. L. Wheeler. ’ '

‘ Cat’s Terrible Task or The Cowboy Detective’e
681 33%.... By Llent. A. K. Siml. Floody August ‘27.

688 The Dead Detective’e Double. By Gould eon...

Ready September 3. .
‘ k Paul the Bo Pro! “or or The Deadwood Deo-
688 filmed-YR“ lnn’lngl. 8% J. . Oebt’m. ’ Reedy September 5

h C th Chico Giant: or. The True Home at M
684 €;°Ro‘o...“ia‘y’ Buccth Sam. Randy September 11.

th ‘Bluo Cult Scout; or, The Boon-II 1‘
685 ghlfll°§l>ghw§no Ready September 94. .

A New Issue Every Tuesday.
The llalf- Dine Library is for ale by all newedulul, In
cents "copy, or not by mail on rmiptohlx out. such.

BEADLE ANID ADAJIS, Paul-hero,
98 William Street NewYu-l.

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