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Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y.. at Second Class Mall Rates. CopyngPt 1889. by Bunu um Ann; 77 June 25. 1889. a
$2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY 11E ADLE AND ADAMS, Price,

NO-  a. Year. No. 98 WILLIAM STREET. NEW YORK. 5 Cents- VOL 

 

 

 

 

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The Queer Afiayt Tombstone.

BY LlEI'T. A. K. SIMS.
AUTHOR OF “TUM-(‘AT ANI) mum,” “SAFFRON
SOL,“ “ HAPPY HANS," “ THE SILVER
SPORT. mu, mu, mu

r 4

CHAPTER I.
THE TARANTL’LA or TUMBSTONE.

A WIBY Xndiun pony was trotting briskly
along a dusty tmll a short distance from the
famous minm -town of Tombstnnc. IL was in
the earlier an wilder days of that town, when
men’s heads Wore turned by reports of marvel—
ous silver discoveries, and the trails were crowd-
ed with eager fortune-hunters.

The rider or the pony was not of this ' -
class. He W88 «in-“581 1" (‘0me sub, and “ YAB—YAH—YAH! BE you MARSA Ton-CAT!” A FIGURE. m BTRANGIST an BAD mm
more was nothing in his au‘ to betoken the half— SEEN, DROPPED FROM THE Lmns or A Tall.

 

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fl

’2

Texas Tom-cat’s Triad.

 

v

crazed silver-seeker. His face was intelligent,
but not handsome. His eyes revealed his char-
acter. They were bright and penetrating, and
indicative of a curious combination of cool
courage and precipitate recklessness.

What would first attract the beholder, how-

"ever, was his cap. It was a singular affair,
made of gray catskin, with the mounted head
serving as a visor, and the tail curling about
Jike a plume.
_ In fact, the rider was none other than the cele—
brated border character, once a cowboy, and
now known throughout Silverland as the
Texas Tomcat.”

After a little he drew the pony down to a
walk, took a letter from an inner pocket of his
coat, and read it over slowly and carefully.

“Sharp as a steel—trap, I’endergast is, but I
s’pose he can’t get his rope ever the horns 0’ this
thing he calls an ‘ affair.’ So he sends fer the
Tom-cat. Didn’t ’low I’d ever have to redeem
that promise. But, hyer I am, claWS an’ all,
ready fer bizness. It makes me feel good to
wear this ole cap ag’in. Molly don’t want me
to wear it any more, but I jist have to, in a case
like this. Wouldn’t meet no luck ef I didn’t. I
do hope, though, fer her sake, that thar won’t
be nothin’ ser‘us happen l”

His voice softened, and he became silent and
thoughtful.

The letter, dated at Tombstone, ran as fol—
lows:

“MY DEAR. Ton—CAT:—

“ When I visited you at your home in Silver City,
in return for certain favors you made me apromise.
I little thought how soon 1 would ask you to redeem
it. Iain mixed up in an affair now that calls for
immediate unraveling. If any one can doit. you
are the man. Come at once, that justice may be
done to an innoeent and injuer party.

“ Your friend, JULIAN PENDERGAST.“

“ Yah—yah—yah! Be you Marsa Tomcat?"

A figure” the strangest he had ever seen, drop-
ped from the limbs of a tree that overhung the
trail, and planted itself in his pathway.

The pony snorted and attempted to wheel
about, and the Tom-cat’s hand involuntarily
sought his Weapons. ’

The figure was that of a. negro, with a hideous
black face and wide red 1i 5. At first glance he
looked squat and short, With disproportionately
long arms and legs. A further scrutiny cor-
rected the impression. He was of the average
hight, but his bod was ball-like and preter-
naturally large, ma ing his arms and legs seem
extreme y long and thin by comparison.

The Tom-cat’s hands left his weapons, and he
thrust the letter into his pocket. ' ,

“ Who air man’ what d’ye want?” he asked,
not exactly li ' g the appearance of the negro.
“ You ’most skeered this bronc’ into a fit!"

“ He! he! he!” came from the wide, red 11 s.
“ Dat hoss am a skeer ' creeter, to be sho’l
you Mawster Tom-mtiz'

He advanced, as he spoke.

“ Yes! That air’s my handle.”

“ I knowed you, boss, by yo’ ca . Dis am a
quah country we got out yeh! you do Toma
cat ’case you w’a’dot cap. An’ I’se de Tomb-
stone Tarant’la “case I look like a big, black
spideh. Missy call me so, an how i”

“ I allus did hate tarant’ ys!” muttered the
Tom-cat, under his breath. “ An’ of he don’t
look like one 0' them pesky, red-mouthed spiders,
then I never seen one I”

“Missy want you teh call an’ see her. She
lib in de fu’st w’ite house at de aid e ob town.
Little sqnah house, 00k Iack’t migh’ a balm!
But, ’fain’t no bah . She wants t9 ’vise wid

ou ’bout dish yeh biz‘ness what you ’ aged in.
he know what you done come fob, an she want
see you ’bout hit.”

“ What does she want?” demanded the Tom-
cat who feared a trap. “ What’s her'name?”

‘ Her shuah ’nuff name I don’ know i” repli
the ne ro, with a deferential bow. “Call he -
se’f adame Dumah. Berry ’portant lady, I
kin tell you !” '

“ Does she know a young lawyer whose name’s
Pendergast?” -

“ Spec’ not! ’Case why she on’ come to dis
yer’ place las’ week. But, she ow you, an’
now yo’ name. Look ’cross mountains, in bi
lookin’-glass, missy did, an’ she see you comin .
on dat"ah boss. So she sa to me: ‘ T’rant’ly!
yeh comes de Tom—cat. on go out an’ meet
’im. An’ you tell him be sbo’ an’ come to see
me. Bizness berry p’tickleh. Ef he don’ come,

gisnagaih what he’s ’gaged in is sho’ boun’ to
a1

The cowboy—as I shall term him—was mysti—
fied. His curiosity was excited, too. How did
this Madame Dumar know that he was coming?
And, how did she know anything about “ the

affair” which had brought him to Tombstone.
He knew almost nothing about it, himself. In
answer to the queries came the suggestion that
she must be in the confidence of I’endergast.
Perhaps she was his friend and ally. He might
even find Pendei‘gast at her residence.

“ You wine go?” questioned the negro, who
was watc ing him intently.

“ Yes,” re lied the Tom-cat, roused from his
reverie. “ ’low I might’s well. But, mind
you, of they’s any tricks played, thar’ll be a
dead nig round hyer. The Texas Tom-cat’ll
come fer ye with claws a—stickin’ out, an’ eyes
a~sh,inin’! Ye never heered me bowl, I reck-
on?’

He stared fiercely at “ the nig,” and gave ut-
terance to a series of most discordant yowls.

The Tarantula, with a yell of terror, bounded
into the bushes and disappeared.

Seeing that the darky did not intend to re-
turn, tho cowboy touched up his pony, and rode
on, laughing.

In a little while he caught sight of the square
white house which Madame Dumar’s strange
messenger had described, and, recalling the ap-
pearance of that individual, a queer thrill shot
through him.

The Tom-eat was very far from being a cow-
ard. But it is one thing to confront an open
and known danger, and quite another to ad—
vance upon one that is masked in the garb of
secrecy and mystery.

His recklessness impelled him, however, as it
usually did on important occasions.

“ Hang the thing!” he exclaimed. “I ain’t
afeard of it, I ain’t, whatever it is! Ef thnr‘s
any galoot in that shanty a—settin’ up a job
on me I'll down ’im. An’ I ain’t afeard o’ a
woman.”

A flush came to his cheeks.

“ That is, not 0’ a fightin’ woman! But one
o’ these soft, purty, purry women gits away
with me. I’ve been married to Mollv a-goin’ on
two year, come nex’ round-up, an’ I’m ’most as
skcery of a petticoat as I ever was!”

To divert his thoughts, he drew out his wea-
pons, examined them, and clicked the cylin-
ders around to see that they were in working
order.

The house was now at hand. Dropping a re-
volver into each side-pocket of his coat, to have
them ready in case of surprise, he dismounted,
hitched the pony, and walked leisurely up to the
building. ,

It was a square, ugly structure, and looked as
if it might some day have been used as a mine
building. There was no garden attached to it,
no beds of flowers, nor anything to relieve it of
its plainness, and lend attraction to its sur-
roundings.

Still the place appeared to be occupied. There
were cheap Curtains at the two staring windows,
and the grass-plot in front of the door had been
recent] trampled.

The om-cat noticed all these things, and they
did not bestow a sense of security.

But he had gone too far to retreat, even if
his curiosity and recklessness would have per-
mitted him to. Bold] ascending the steps, he
rapped loudly on the oor, and grasped the ban-
dles of the revolvers in his pockets, as he awaited
the ansWer to his summons.

He heard a nick movement and a sound of
shuffling feet. c1I‘hen the door 0 nod and he
stood face to face with a lady, eavin vailed
and dressed in black.

“H’ml Mornin’l” said the cowboy clearing
his throat and almost at a loss for wor s. “ I’m
the Texas Tomcat! I seen yer spider—I mean
yer T’rant’ly down the trail and 1—”

“ Come in!” she replied, in a low, soft voice.
“ I knew you Would come. My horoscopes never
fail me. I saw you from here when you left
Silver City and I made up my mind I would
.speak to you.”

“Thats a lie!” thought the Tom-cat, as be
stuffed the catskin cap down on top of one of
the revolvers, and proceeded to follow her.
“ She couldn’t do that, ’cause Silver City’s many
a long mile from hyer, an’ thar’s mountains
atween!”

She led the way into a darkened room; and,
while the Tom-cut was fingering his weapons in
momentary expectation of some mysterious at-
‘tack. she proceeded to illuminate the apartment
by igniting a curious compound that gave out a
sickly, greenish glare.

An ewl with a rattlesnake in its talons, both
stuffed, stood on a sort of mantle; and a black
cat, very much alive, purred at and rubbed the
feet of the cowboy.

“ Cuss the thing!” he elled, in a kind of

“It gives me

‘

 

nervous horror, springing ack.
the creeps!”

 

“ Why, I supposed you were a lover of cats,
judging by the name!” she said, in her low
voice.

“ I am, ma’am. sometimes .’
identical minute!"

For the time his superstitious fears quite over-
came his natural bnslii‘ulness. It was such an
eerie, uncanny place!

“ The Tarantula told you to come here!” she
contiifued. “ He leaped out of a tree across the
ridge there, and delivered my message. I saw
him, just as I saw you when you left Silver City.
You have come to assist Julian Pendergast. e
imagines he is called upon to tight the battles of
what he terms outraged and injured innocence.

But not at this

He don’t know what way to turn; and so he.

sends for you.

“ Take my advice:
salt in. your death I”

The Tom—cat was so .tounded that he knew
not what to say. '

“ How d’ye know?” he at last managed to
stainmer. “ Air you ’quainted with the gen’le-
man?”

Then, emboldened by the sound of his own
veice:

“ “'hy sh’u’d I b’leeve it? Mebbe it’s like that
air yarn ’bout Seein’ me in Silver City. I
couldn’t swaller that, ye know! Not while my
head-piece is in good workin’ order. Beggin’ of
yer pardon fer sa yin’ so, ina’am !”

“Son of mortal!” she cried, drawing herself
u , tragically. “ Do you doubt the words of
Ii adaine lhimar, the prophetess, the reader of
stars, the revealer of past and future events?
Know, then, that I am the seventh daughter of
a seventh daughter, and that the very‘stars in
their courses Whisper to me the secrets of man-
kind. Come, look here!"

She clutched him by the arm and led him un—
resistingly in front of the leaping green flame.
Just before him was a mirrorrlike surface of
water.

“Idook into that pool and tell me what you
see?‘

The cowboy strained his eyes into the crystal
de ths. Then, started back with a cry of horror.

Vhat he saw seemed a picture of himself,
stretched on the ground in the agonies of death.

“Behold your fate, if you pursue tl,e course
you have marked out. The horoscope tells me
you will pursue it, and that that will be your
end. The stars whispered to me to warn you! I
have done so, but I much fear you will not heed
it. I can see no chance for you unless you,
this hour, turn back upon your trail.”

The waoy could bear no more. With a wild
howl, he'darted from the room and from the
house. As he mounted his pony he realized that
the sweat was streaming from every pore and
that he was trembling violently.

CHAPTER II.
rou-eu’s mum.

FOR a moment the Tom-Cat hesitated as to the
course he should pursue. But the clear sunlight
drove out of his brain the horror of the greenish
mists from which he had fled; and the old dar-
ing and recklessness returned. The white light
of neonday is a wonderful dispeller of super-
stitious fears.

“ Hanged ef I’ll go back!” he declared, setting
his teeth firmly. “ I’d be ’shamed of myself the
longest day I lived. That bizness is all fol-de-rol.
Thar’ can’t be nothin’ in it, fer all it’s so near
and skeery. Wonder who she is? Mebbe end-
er ast kin tell me!”

6 set spur to the pony and dashed down the
trail and into the town, scarcely darin to look
back at the little white house for fear is cour-
age might wane. '

It was no difiicult matter to find Pendergast’s

If you aid him it will re—

 

oflice, for it was on the main street and a gilt

sign swung over the door.

The young lawyer responded to his rap,

“ Ah!” he cried, extending a hand wax-ml .
“ Its Tom-cat! Come in! We were just spealyc.
ing of you 1” .

Then the cowbow saw that there was a lady
in the office.

“I’d ruther not!” backing away. “I’ll put

up my pony, and then we’ll talk.”

He Was gone before Penderga st could explain.

“He’ll be back in a little while!” the youn
lawyer observed, with a smile, as he re-enter
the office. “ As brave as a lion, but bashful to
timidity in the presence of ladies”.

I “ Perhaps I’d better go, then!” With an amused
ook.

“ Not at all! He must meet you. I Want to
interest him in your behalf and your presence
will aid in that as muih as my words.’

His manner and actions showed that they
were lovers

 

   
 

.v

gens—i- 5441",

 

 

  

 

 

Texas Tom-cat’s Triad.

 

And they seemed well adapted to each other.
She was slight and fair, with a pleasant but
not strictly beautiful face. It had in it, how-
ever, the beauty of intelligence and purity. On
the other hand he was tall, dark and muscular.

It was almost a half-hour before the Tom-
cat returned. Then, he did not come directly
to the office, but havercd about the corner oppo-
site, as if uncertain what to do.

Pendergast went across to him, spoke a few
words and took him by the arm.

When they entered, the cowboy made a great
effort to appear nonchalant, but it was a signal
failure.

“Allow me to present you to Miss Devore!”
said Pendergast, anxious to relieve his friend’s
embarrassment. “ Miss Devore, the Texas Toni—
cat! Tom-Cat, this is Miss Dell Devore, the
young lady I mentioned as needing your assis-
tance.”

The Tomscat could not remember that a
young lady had been mentioned, but he thrust

is cap into one of his capacious pockets, sunk
into a chair and said nothing.

" Now that we’re acquainted let’s get to busi-
ness!” Pendergast suggested, with professional
briskness. “ Just in, I suppose, and nothing to
recount in the way of adventures?”

This set the cowboys tongue to going; and,
with many uneasy shiftings, he related what
had befallen him. His hearers Were puzzled
and astonished.

“I’ve heard there is a fortune-teller in town,
but, I didn’t know she lived there. I thought
the building was unoccupied. You didn’t get
to see her face '3"

“ No!” replied the Toni—cat.

“ I suppose the Tarantula, as he calls himself,
is only a deformed negro,” continued Pender—
gast. “ But, that woman’s knowledge surpasses
belief. How she discovered the facts mentioned
rather gets me. I never told a soul, expect Miss
Devore.”

“And you may be sure I didn’t repeat it!”
asserted the young lady, earnestly.

“ But, what about the green fire an’ the pictur’
in the water?” questioned the cowboy, haunted
by the mysterious affair.

" The tire is easy enough. Some compound
that gives out a greenish light in burning. And
the other is base trickery. Of course it’s impos—
sible for any one to foretell the future.”

“ Of course!” repeated the cowboy, as if not
at all sure of it.

“ Why, you don’t mean to let that scare you
into going back on your promise?”

The tone, the implied doubt of his plighted
word, settled it. After that, the cowboy sternly
put the mysterious affair behind him and set his
face in the direction of what be conceived to be
his duty.

“ Pardon me! I ought to have known you
wouldn’t think of such a thing!

“ And, now, let me lay before you the business
in hand. I will preface it by confessing that I
don’t know what to do. -

“ To begin with: Silas Taulbee is in possession
of minin property which belongs to Miss De-
vore. flier father, David Devore, owned the
Phoenix Mine, near this place, and Taulbee was
his foreman. Mr. Devore died, some three
months since, and Taulbee entered into .
sion under a will which we believe to be orged,
but which we cannot prove to be.

“ The difliculty Is that we cannot establish the
fact that this young lady is Devore’s daughter,
or that he was David Devore. Here he passed
under the name of Thomas Tem leton.

“ He was forced to leave the ast for a crime
he never real] committed, and here he assumed
the name of empleton to conceal his identity.
He accumulated wealth, and held it in the name
of Tem leton. He corresponded with his daugh-
ter in t at name.

“ When she learned of his death she came here
with letters and papers which would have proved
all these things. Believing Taulbee an honest
man, she went to him and laid the papers before
him, thinking he would relin ish possession as
soon as he earned the truth He seized upon
the papers and turned her into the street, brand-
ing her as a crank.

“When she threatened to make him trouble

he denied that he had taken any papers from
her,’ and had her locked up on a charge of luna-
c .
“ The skunk i” howled the Tomcat, unable to
control himself longer. “ Ef I’d ’a’ been ’round
hyer ’bout then he’d ’a’ heerd some cat-music
that he wouldn’t fergit in a hurry.”

“ No doubt!” asserted Pendergast. “ I wish
you had been.”

The grateful look that the young woman cast
upon t e cowboy, at this expression of .synipa-

 

thy, caused him to collapse and listen with mute
attention to the continuance of the story.

“ in committing her to prison he doubtless set
a trap for her, which, in her terror and distress,
she fell into all too readily. On the very first
night the door of her cell was left slightly ajar.
Believing it an oversight on the part of the jail-
er, and that if she remained she would undoubt-
edly be committed to an insane asylum, she slip-
ped out of the cell, and without much difficulty
escaped from the place.

“ In doing this, of course, she acted unwisely
and played into the hands of her enemies. She
would have been released when brought up for
examination. But she did not think so, and
fled.

“The next day the body of a woman was
found in the hills. I suppose it was the body of
some poor creature who had become lost, and
perished. The body was brought to town, iden-
tified b£Taulbee and some of his tools as that
of Miss evore, and buried.

“ A day of wandering gave Miss Devore time
for cooler reflection, and she returned, deter-
mined to begin a legal fight for her rights.

“ She came to me; and when I examined into
the case I found it hadn’t a leg to stand on.
You see, the coroner’s jury had decided her
dead. Taulbee and his tools stood ready to
swear that the body buried was that of Miss
Devore; and I couldn’t find a person to testify
that it wasn’t or even to identify her.

“ I might have brought witnesses from the
East for that purpose. But even to establish
that fact would not win the case. If I could
prove that she is David Devore’s daughter, I
could not prove that David Devore was Thomas
Templeton. Taulbee had possession of that evi-
dence, and ere this has, no doubt, destroyed it.”

The indignation of the honest cowboy was
great. He knew that the story was true. The
face of the lady before him showed that she was
incapable of so great a falsehood.

“ Now, we’ll return to the Tarantula of Tomb-
stone and the mysterious propheteSs!” proceeded
Pendergast, noting, with great satisfaction, the
effect of his words. “Is it not plain that some—
body has reason for wishing you to return to
Silver City, without looking into this affair?
This fortune—teller said the stars warned her to
order you to do so, and that a terrible death
would befall you if you did not. That’s bosh,
of course!

“ In my opinion, she is in the employ of Taul-
bee. He discovered in some way that I had sent
for you; and, fearing the result, 0t her to work
upon your superstitious fears wit a lot of flum-
mery and fire-works, believing it would drive
y0u from the trail. Most cowbovs are super
stitious, you know; and he didn’t think you
would prove an exception to the rule.

“ As for the Tarantula, no doubt he is the
woman’s negro servant.”

The Tom-cat was flattered; and the explana-
tion was so clear that it Swept from his mind
the last vestige of doubt.

“ I’m with 1:vlvel” he cried, extending his hand,
enthusiastica y. “I’m with ye; claws an’ all.
Jest tell me what you want and I’ll go fer that
air Tanlbee hot I”

“ I knew you would 1” witha grateful pressure
of the hand. “ Allow me to thank you for Mix
Devore, as well as for myself. But, you forget.
You are to find the trail. I confessed at the out-
set that I didn’t know what to do. We, both of
us, place ourselves under your guidance. You
must show us the way out.”

The cowboy stared.

“ Yes; you are the leader. We are simpl
followers. Or, if you like it better, we will ca 1
curse ves equals. ' s

“ he Tom-cat's Triad! That expresses it. ’

“ Shake ag’in l” laid the cowboy. “ I ain’t a-
keerin’ fer a name, but I’m with you both tothe
bitter end. Ef thar ain’t a way to git at this
hyer Taulboe. why we’ll make one I”

The young lady left the office soon after, but
Pendergast and the Tom-cat remained there the
greater part of the day planning and plotting
and outlining their proposed work.

And through it a l, wholly unknown to them,
the Tarantula of Tombstone, like a great, black
spider, was crouched among some barrels be-
neath the rear window, apparently sunning him-
self and sleeping away the hot hours of the af-
ternoon.

 

CHAPTER III.
INTO THE DEPTHS.

IN accordance with the plans outlined, the
cowboy sought for and obtained work at the
Phoenix Mine. If Silas Taulbee suspected .him,
no sign of it was manifested, unless the fact that

 

the Tom—cat was placed at very hard labor can
be considered such a manifestation.

When two days had passed and the cowboy
had accomplished nothing, Julian Pendci‘gast
determined to pay a visit to the mysterious wo-v
man who claimed to possess clairvoyant pOwers.
He was firmly convinced that she was in Taul-
bee’s confidence, and buzzed to learn something
that he could turn to MiSs Devore’s benefit.

The cowboy was at the Pl omix Mine when
Pendergast made this resolve, and he did not
think it necessary to delay a day in order to ac-
quaint him with it. It might have been better
for Pendergast had he done so.

Arming himself to be prepared against
treachery, he set out for thehous . A few min-
utes’ brisk walking brought him to it. It was
in the c’ondition which the Tomcat had de-
scribed: apparently deserted, but occupancy
shown by the curtained windows and the
trampled grass-plot.

A couple of young women, of the lower classes
evidently, slipped out and away by a ‘sidepath,
as be advanced. Doubtless they were foolish
and superstitious creatures,who, having encoun-
tered trouble, had visited the pretended prophet-
ess for the pur se of having the impenetrable
future reveal to them.

Pendergast was rather ashamed to be seen
there, and shrunk behind a scrubby tree to es-
cape observation.

When they disappeared he again advanced,
and knocked at the heavy door.

It was opened in the course of a few moments
by the prophetess herself, heavily vailcd and
dressed in black, as the Tom~cat had seen her.

Pendergast scrutinized her closely as be en-
tered, but that vail was a Chinese wall of seclu—
sion. There was no penetrating it. As for the
Tarantula. he was nowhere to be seen.

“ A secluded place you have here!” he ven-
tured, for the purpose of hearing her talk. He
hoped he might detect some familiar accent in
her voice.

“ Yes,” she replied, simply.
quiet.”

“ You have not bern here long?” questioningly.
” I supposed the house unoccupied, until the
other day. Your name is new, too. Dumar, I
believe? Madame Dumarf”

For some reason she did not lead him into the
darkened chamber, but into a little box-like
ante-room. At least that was what he took it to
be. There was some drapery about the corners
of the walls; and it was a singular—looking
place, be acknowledged, even for an ante~room.
He could not resist the feeling that it was some—
thing of a cage. But this passed away as she
sat down opposite and began to answer his ques-
tions.

“Yes; that is my name. I am
ger here.
week.
told.”

“ You cannot tell it!” he declared, leaning
back in his chair and eying her closely. “ That
is a wer given to no one.”

“ they all think, until I prove it!” with a.
musical laugh. “ In the first place, your name’s
Julian Pendergast, and you are a lawyer.”

“ It is very

uite a stran—
Have been here but ittle over a
I suppose you came to have your fortune

“A fact not very difficult to discover!” was.

the nick retort.

“ erhaps not. Most of them come here to
consult me about love affairs. You are in love,
but on did not come for that purpose."

“ ray, what did I come for, then?”

Bis mental query was:

“ How does she know whether I’m in love or
not? I haven’t even told the Tom-cat that!”

“ You came to see if you could discover an -
thing that would assist you in a certain case, in
which your client is your sweetheart. You are
leagued with an ex-cowboy, known as the Texal
Tom-cat. Your sweetheart’s name is Dell De-
vore. You three have combined to accomplish
a certain purpose; and you call yourselves the
‘ Tom-cat’s Triad !’ Is it not so?”

The statements were startling and revealed a
wonderful knowledge. He could not understand
how she had gained it, and was resolved not to
believe her pretended miraculous powers. His
amazement was plainly revealed in his 6 es.

“Still a doubter!” she cried, laughing y. “I
see that I will have to tell more. Then, per-
haps, you will believe that it is as easy to reveal
the future as to call up a past which I can have
had no 0 portunity of penetrating.”

With t is she plunged into a detailed account
of all that was said in the young lawyer’s ofiico
at the Tom—cat’s first visit.

“ You go beyond me!” he confessed. awed and
mystified in spite of himself. i‘ 1 don’t know

how you gained your information. Of course I *

can’t believe that you discovered it in the way

 
   

   
  
  
  
  
  
    

i
i
I
C

  
 

 

 

Texas Tom-cat’s Triad.

 

 

 

you claim. Pardon me, please, for the doubt.

erhaps I ought to believe it, but my educa-
tion is against such a thing. It’s impossible;
and we’ll not argue the point.”

A sort of fear had also mixed itself with this
awe and mystification. This woman, whom he
believed to be leagued with Silas Taulbee, had
penetrated the secrets of the recent past. What
was to hinder her from continuing it? The
Triad would be forced to work at a terrible dis-
advantage if their plans were to become, as
soon as matured, the property of their enemies.
They could never thwart Taulbee, in that event.

“Why do you wear a veil?” he asked, with
sudden energy.

The query annoyed her.

“ An un entlemanly question!” she asserted.
“Because I choose to. I am told there is no
law against it.”

He had been listening close] to every word,
but could detect nothing fami iar in her voice.
But that was not strange. He was acquainted
with but few of the women of Tombstone. And
besides, the fortune-teller might have come
from a distance.

“ No! I suppose not!” replying to her asser-
tion. “ But the question was prompted by a
very natural curiosity.”

“I suppose you came to have your fortune

' told?” uestioningl .

“ We 1! yes! I reckon I might as Welll’

“ One dollar, please. I always demand the fee
in advance.”

“ So this is not a charitable institution?”
with a light laugh, as be extracted a dollar
from his purse.

“ Quite the Contrary. It is not best for peo-
ple to look into the future. If they will, I
make them pay for the privilege. Your band,
please!”

She dropped the dollar into the pocket of
her black dress, and began to examine the palm
of his extended hand.

“I thought the victim looked into a pool, or
something of the sort!” with an amused smile.

“Ah! The Tom-cat told you that! Anda
gruesome sight he saw. You shall look soon, if
you wish.”

Then, bending over the palm:

“ I would rather not tell you, sir, what I see
here!”

Her tones chilled him.

“Oh, go on!” he cried, with an attempt at
bravery. “ You have the fee, and I can stand
it. But don’t draw the lines too black!”

“ I see,” she said, holding the hand away from
her and staring at it fixedl , “a man in the
last stages of starvation. e is wasted, emaci-
ated, famine-stricken. The skin clings to his
bones like cracking leather; his clothes are torn
into rag; and his hollow eyes burn with the
fierceg eof insanity. And around and over
him, as he lies helpless, swarm legions of rats,
ready to devour him as soon as the breath
leave: his body. That man is Julian Fender-

ast!

She cast the hand from her and arose.

“Oh, it was terrible. Let me prepare the
magic pool. Maybe it will reveal some way of
esca .

Pendergast, scarcely able to control his un-
strung nerves, leaned heavil back in his seat,
as she turned to leave the lit le, box-like room.

To his surprise and alarm, she was no sooner
out of the place than the door clanged to and
locked and the room commenced to sink. Down,
down it went, with dizzy swiftness.

“ a! ha! ha!" came the voice of this female
fiend. “ You will believe the rophetess, Julian
Pendergast, when the rats gat er to gnaw your
bones!”

Then he knew that an elevator-like arrange-
ment was carrying him into the depths of some
abandoned mining-shaft.

Springing to his feet he rushed to the drapery-
concealed corners. In one of them was a speed-
ing chain cable. But he found he could not stop
the descent of the cage by means of it. He was
powerless!

Then his cries rung loud and wild: and, in his
desperation, he beat his fists against the hard-
wood walls until they were lacerated and bleed-
ing. And still the cage descended into the un-
known and terrible depths!

——_.

CHAPTER IV.
A msous'rnn TOM-CAT.

“THIS hyer bizness don’t suit me a-tall!”
muttered the Tom-cat, with some warmth, as he
slapped his face and walked away, in the cool
0 ng air. He had Just come into the outer
life and light from the depths of the mine

 

where he had been breaking his back and ex-
hausting his strength handling heavy ore.

“ I wasn’t cut out for a miner! Chasin’ stam-
pedes an’ ropin’ steers and brandin’ mavericks
an’ sich is my best bolt. Ef I hadn’t gone into
this thing with my eyes wide opgn, I’d pull up
my picket-pin an’ light out. inin’s a dog’s
work, an’ no mistake!

“An’, besides, I ain’t doin’ no good. An’I
can’t do no good down in that dark hole. An’
whenIcome up I’m so tuckered an’ beat out
that I ain’t got no life to do the shadder trick
with. I couldn’t giveagood healthy ‘meow’
to save me. I like to go at things a-screechin’
and chargin’l That’s my way. An’ it’s the
on’y way to ’complish anything. But you can’t
do that hyer. Thar’s nothin’ to screech an’
charge at! ’ _

The Tom-cat’s disgust was deep and genuine.
For five days he had toiled in the gloom and
darkness, hoping that he might learn something
from the miners regarding Taulbee, or the late
David Devore. From appearances he might go
on toiling there forever and be none the wiser
on those points. The miners knew nothing: or,
if they did, they also knew how to keep that
knowledge.

It was very discouraging; and the Tom—cat
was quite at his wits’ ends. At Pendergast’s re-
quest he had undertaken to unravel the tissue
of crime and falsehood with which Taulbee had
screened himself. It was the Tom-cat’s theory
that the apers taken from Dell Devore were
still in emstence; and he hoped to obtain some
clew to lead him to them. In default of this he
believed it possible to implicate Taulbee in some
crime that would drive him to a confession of
this offense to shield himself from punishment
for the other.

This belief was founded on a theory that did
credit to the Tom-cat’s discernment. Few men
leap at once into gigantic crimes. The great
crimes are approached by a long gradation of
lesser offenses. The baseness that prompted
him to the wrong against Dell Devore, was the
legitimate result of other wrongs committed.
If one or more of these Could be discovered and
traced to him he would doubtless surrender the
property to its rightful owner to escape ex-
posure.

The plan wasagood one. He had applied
for and obtained work, so that he might be near
Taulbce. And had been sent into the bowels of
the earth, where he scarcely ever saw or heard
of him.

“ This hyer bizness don’t suit me a-tall!” he
repeated. “ I can’t make no headway. I’ve a
good mind to march right into Taulbee’s office,
poke a pistol under his nose and make him own
up to this bit 0’ devilment. I may have to yitl
An’ when Ido show my claws I’ll purceed to
rip his black skin in ruther a lively way, of he
don’t talk straight.

“Hello! Thar’s the Tarant’ly!
he snoopin’ ’round fer, I wonder?"

The negro was dodging from point to point,
but whether he was following the cowboy or
not the latter could not tell. He might not
have known of the Tarantula’s proximity, if the
Swollen, rounded body had not leaped across a
bar of light that came from the window ofa
miner’s cottage.

The Tom-cat slipped his hands upon his
weapons and walked on, apparently unconscious
of the negro’s presence.

“ Another critter doin’ the shadder trick. An’
this time it’s me that’s bein’ shaddered. Makes
a feller feel kind 0’ squeamish an’ onsart’in; like
follerin’ a stampede an’ expectin’ to be pitched
onto yer head ever minuit. Ashadder bein’
shadderedl Now, Wiat d’ye s’pose he wants?
Should think he wouldn’t keer to come near me
ag’in, the way he run when I screeched.”

But for some time he saw no more of the
Tombstone Tarantula.

Making his way into the busier portion of the
town, he turned toward Pendergast’s office. To
his sur rise, the young lawyer was absent. This
be con d not understand, for Pendergast had
made an appointment to meet him there on that
evening and at that hour.

“Never knowed the young chap to belate
afore,” mused the Tom-cat, seating himself on
the steps.

But the minutes passed, and Pendergast did
not come.

Then the Tom-cat became alarmed, and
sought for him at his boarding-house. He re-
called the shadowy figure that had been, ap-
parently, following him, and the memory

rought un leasant suggestions. Perhaps Pen-
dergast ha been waylsid by the Tarantula and
slainl The youn lawyer had been very posi-
tive in the belie that the negro was one of

New, what’s

A

 

Taulbee’s tools. And if the Tarantula had slain
Pendergast, might he not be following the cow-
boy with similar intentions?

lie Toni-cat glared about in the gloom as he
thought of this.

“ Ef he shows his black head hyerabouts I’ll
purceed to punkcher it,” he gritted. “ I’ve
stepped on t’rant’lys afore to—day, an’ he’ll find
that my foot ain’t growed any lighter. Whether
it’s human er animile, thar’s allus p’izen mean—
ness in a t’rant’lyl”

The information gained at the young lawyer’s
boarding-house was not quieting.

“ He hasn‘t been seen for three days!” said the
proprietor, “and no one seems to know what
has become of him. He told nobody be was
going. I have become somewhat alarmed about
it

“ ’Tain’t like Pendergast to puckachee ’thout
sayin’ a word to his friends,” declared the
Tom—cat. “ Thar’s dirt hyer—heaps of it! An’
it’s my solemn belief that he’s been put out o’
the way by a certain dark-complected chap that
I ain’t ready to name yit.”

“-You sur rise me,” exclaimed the proprietor.
“ W’ho coul have cause for putting him out of
the way, as you express it?”

The Tom-cat was not ready to explain the
grounds of his opinion.

“ I kin o’ny say it’s my solemn beliefi” he de-
clared, and backed away to prevent, further
questioning.

Pendergast might be somewhere in town, he
thought. So he made a tour of the saloons and
business houses, returning finally to the office.

“ Thar’s on’y one other place!” he mused.
“ An’ shorely he wouldn’t stay thar, when he
knows ’at I’m wait’in’ fer him. I’ll call on Miss
Devore; an’ ef he ain’t with her, I’ll know cer-
tain he’s been killed er sperited away.”

And this was the answer that came to his
questioning, when he asked for that young lad :

“ Miss Devore? Wh , we haven’t any earthly
idea what’s become of her. She has mysterious-

ly disaplpeared.”

The om-cat was staggered. He could 'not
understand it. Was it possible that Pendergast
and his sweetheart had both been slain? It
seemed too horrible for belief !

Just then he noticed the Tombstone Tarantula
writhing toward him through the shrubbery.

The cowboy had left the home and was stand~
ing, a few rods away, in the shadows of some
trees. There could be no doubt that the negro
was advancing upon him.

Stepping behind the trunk of one of the trees,
the Tom—cat drew his weapons and awaited the
black’s a preach.

Then e leaped out upon the Tarantula,
screaming:

“WVVhoopl Mariarl Sp’t! sp’tl sp’tlmee—ow-
ow

It was the Tom-cat’s well—know war-cry.

 

CHAPTER V.
A SUGGESTIVE PICTURE.

THE second day after Pendergsst’s disa pear.
ance from the public view, Miss Dell evore
was sitting at the window of. her room, on the

round floor, staring dreamily into the garden.

er mind was pre-occupied and ill at ease.
Julian Pendergast had (promised to call on her
the previous evening, an had failed to keep his
promise. Consequently she was filled with
gloomy forebodings.

She had no thought of a disappearance. Her
forebodings were only such as all lovers have
when the course of true love meets, or appears
to meet, with an obstruction. She wondered if
she had said or done anything .to give offense.
And when, after a mental rev1ew of her Words
and acts, she decided she had not, she was ready
topout her red lips and cry from sheer vex—
ation.

She tried to fix her mind on the book she was
pretending to read. Finding this impossible,
she again turned to the Window. ,

At this juncture a per pellet sailed into the
room, struck the cei ing and fell at her feet.
She picked it up and untwisted it. It was a
sheet of note—paper, and there was writin on it.

Before readin the words she ran to t e Win-
dow to see who ad thrown it. No one was in
sight. Then she spread the paper upon her lap,
smoothed out the wrinkles and read:

“ To Miss Di Li. Dirvoanz—

“Your lover, Julian Pendergast. earned 011 m0

esterday. While here he was taken suddenlyil.

e is every sick man indeed; and, as he asks for

youd almos bgonsttagtlyhl thggght it tmyviglizit to
sen on t no , an nequ on o .
Yours? Minna Dunn."

A very startling communication, delivered in
a very startling way.

 

  

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l
l
I.

.‘J-m

. __4-.s

 

 

 

 

 

. ......_a..

_.-A -I _. .

  

. a .... , .1 ..i......., .... . , .

Texas Tom-cat’s Triad.

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

 

 

 

She gave a quick cry, and the paper fell from
her nerveless fingers. Her first impulse was to
hurry at once to the residence of Madame
Dumar. This was checked by the. thought that
the communication might be false. f true,
why had it been delivered in so strange and
surreptitious a manner?

At this, a great fear came over her. Her
lover had said that the fortune-teller was cer-
tainly an ally of Taulbee’s. Probably this note
was designed to lead her into a trap.

But, on the other hand. the statement offered
a Complete explanation of the cause of Pender-
gast’s failure to keep his appointment. He was
not given to such lapses. If sick at Madame
Dumar’s residence, of course he could not come.

And he was calling for her in his flights of
delirium.

That brought the ar ument to an abrupt
close. She would go! o matter what the dan—
ger, she could not slight such a summons. He
mustbe therel No one could pen so cruel a
falsehood. She would be on the alert; and if a
trap was intended she would use her good,
sound sense to keep out of it. She had little
fear that personal violence would be attempted;
what she thought of was an effort to deprive
her temporarily of liberty.

Having reached a decision she got ready, with
much trembling and haste, to carry it out. As
she was almost a stranger to the landlady, and
quite so to the guests of the house, she did not
think it best to confide to them the contents of
the note or tell them where she was going.

In this she displayed the di ition that had
led her to seek out Taulbee an lay the precious
paper before him without first consulting an at-
torney as to the course to pursue.

A walk of fifteen or twenty minutes brought
her in front of the fortune-teller’s residence.
She recognized it easily from the Tom-cat’s
description; and her heart beat painfully, as
she approached the door.

The prophetess was evidently waiting for her;
for the door was opened almost as soon as she an-
nounced her presence by rapping.

“Ah! Step in, please!” with a bending of the
vailed head. And she led the way along the
narrow hall; ushering the young lady into the
darkened chamber.

Instantly the greenish glare shot out, giving
to everything an unnatural and ghastly color.

Iiiiss Devore looked about the apartment in
an awed way, noting the owl and snake, and the
black cat that purred and rubbed about the
feet of its mistress. But nowhere did she see
anything of her lover, Julian Pendergast.

“Where is the——the gentleman?” she stam-
mered. '

Madhme Dumar wheeled around and stared
at her as if in surprise.

“The gentleman? I don’t know that I un—
derstand you, miss! Perhaps you mean my
negro servant, whom I have dubbed the Taran—
tula of Tombstone.”

Dell Devore was overwhelmed with astonish-
ment.

“ Why, you wrote to me, did you not, request-
in me to come here? The note stated that Mr.
Ju ian Pendergast, the attorney, was lyingr ill
at this house, and that he wished to see me.”

The prophetess gasped her amazement.

“There is some mistake 1” she declared. “ Let
me see the note. I never wrote it.”

Miss Devore passed it over for her inspection.

It was difficult to read by that dazzing, green
light, but Madame Dumar accomplished it
finally.

“I never wrote itl” she asserted. “It’s a
base forgery. And that’s what brought you
here? I supposed, of course, you came to have
your fortune told.”

The young lady’s distress was painfully ap-
parent. She knew not what to (lo—what to
think. Was this woman deceiving her? If she
was what motive inspired the deceit?

“ am at a loss to account for thisimposi-
tion!” continued Madame Dumar. “Your—I
mean Mr. Pender ast, was here the day before
yesterday. I tol his fortune for him. But he
is not here now. I pledge you my word upon
that. If you disbelieve me, you are at liberty
to search the house.”

Dell Devore declared that she had no wish to
do that. And then woman-like gave way to a
flood of hysterical Weeping.

“ Come! Come! This will never do!” urged
the prophetess. “Dry your tears and let me tell
your fortune. I will not charge you anything,
considering the circumstances which brought
you here. If your lover—for I perceive that he
is your lover—is above ground I can trace him;
and if he is under ground I can follow him

, there.”

9

 

The young lady looked up, quickly, the tears
shining in her eyes.

“ You have a kind voicel” she said. “ And,
«oh! I so want to kn0w about him. But you
can’t tell me that wa . Indeed you can’t! I’ll
not believe it. It’s Silly and unreasonable!”

Madame Dumar only laughed at this bold ex-
pression.

“ Let me tell your fortune, and then you can
believe it or not, as you choose.”

“But if you can tell that, why didn’t you
know what came for, and that I had the letter,
without questioning me?”

“ Still a doubter! A hopeless one, I fear.
Why, my dear child, I don’t pretend to know
at all times what’s going on in the world. It’s
only when I place myself in proper condition,
and the influences are right. Then I can tell
what lies behind and before any particular per-
son.”

“Well, I won’t believe it, no matter what
you sayi” with a laugh that was altogether
forced, doubtful and hysterical. “I can’t, you
see. It’s too preposterous. The future is known
only to God 1’

There was a solemnity about the last sentence
that evidently struck disagreeany on the ears
of the madame.

She shuddered a. little, and drew the veil
closer about her face.

“ We‘ll not discuss that!” hastily. “ You see,
we couldn’t agree, and discussion would be use-
less. Shall I read your hand, or will you take a
look into the pool?’

Now that the test came, the young lady drew
back, almost affrighted,

“ Do you suppose it is wicked? It seems like
mockery, or tempting fate. I hope you won’t
show me anything horrible, like you did the
Tom-cat!”

“So you know about that? I su pose the
cowboy will tell of it to every one he meets.
Well, it will be a good advertisment. Do you
wish to look into the pool?”

Dell Devore was about to refuse and leave the
house. She really had no faith in the woman’s
pretended powers. But there is a mysterious
fascination in even the pretense of looking into
the future. She could not resist the spell.

“Come!” was the imperious command. “ I
can see that you prefer to look into the pool.
I call it my magic looking-glass. And a
magic glass it is, as you will be forced to con-
fess!”

She grasped the hand of the shrinking girl,
and drew her toward, that baleful, leaping
flame.
“There!” she cried, pointing with extended
finger at the glassy surface. “ Behold your
fate!”

Miss Devore gave one quick glance, and reeled
backward with a startled cry.

Beneath the placid waters she saw a picture
that was terrible, and, if she had known it, sig-
nificant. She saw herself, gaunt and hollow-
checked, clasped in the arms of a starving and
dying man. And that man was Julian Ponder—

ast.

“ Come away!” cried the stony-hearted fiend.
“ The picture is too much for you i"

She saw that the young woman was on the
point of fainting.

But no relenting came to her. She dragged
the almost helpless girl from that chamber of
horrors into the little, cage-like structure to
which Pendergast had been conducted.

“ You are weak. That room is not quieting
to unstrung nerves. This is better. Now, if you
will remain herea moment, I will fetch you some
water.”

She bounded away; and, as she did so, the
heavy door clanged t0, and the cage began its
downward movement.

 

CHAPTER VI.
A STRUGGLE IN THE DARK.

THE Tarantula of Tombstone went down under
the Tom-cat’s sudden assault. He had not an-
ticipated such a screeching onset.

“ Now what air ye follerin’ me fer?” demand-

ed the om-cat, glaring fiercely into the black
face that was upturned to the starlight. “ I’ve
a good mind to claw ye into ribbons. You’d

make nice ones, I ’_l0w, fer mournin’ purposes.”

He tightened 'his grip on the negro’s throat,
bringing a gur hug and wheezing sound from
between the re lips and causing the long legs to
twist convulsively. ,

“ Oh! Oh! Foh goodness sake, boss, let up a
minit!” the negro howled, when the grasp was
relaxed. “ I didn’t mean nuflin’; ’deed I didn’t!
1 im’ wanted teh speak wid you.”

“ A likely yarn!” growled the Tom-cat, allow-

 

 

ing the Tarantula to rise to a sitting posture.
“ Don’t begin by tellin’ lies, er I’ll plug ye,
shore l”

The negro gave another bowl, and repeated his
protestations.

“ Whar’s Julian Pendergast?” with a signifi-
cant movement of the revolver. “Spit it out
live] 1”

“ at ’ar lawyer gemman what hab office on
de main street? Sho’, boss, I cyain’t tell you
datl Ef you shoot me, I couldn’t!”

“ An’ whar’s Miss Dell Devore?”

“ Hain’t ’quainted wid no ladies ’roun’ heah,
’cep’n Madame Dumah. You in’tainin’ me wid
foolishness, I see!”

The red lips expanded in an attempted laugh.

“ It’s my solemn belief that you put ’r—m both
out o’ the way; an’ that you was follerin’ me fer
the same purpose. Ef I was jest positive on
them p’ints, I’d put a ball squar’ through on.”

The threat caused the negro to tremb e vio-
lently, and hastily repeat his denials.

“ Then, what wuz you follerin’ me fei ?”

“I wanted teh speak wid you, boss. Deh
madame sent me. She say, ‘ Tell de Tom-cat
dat ef he’ll come to me I kin tell ’im whah his
frien’ is.’ Deni’s de berry words, sho’. An’ so
I been creepin’ roun’ an’ creepin’ roun’ tryin’ teh
git to speak wid you on de subjec’.”

The cowboy scarcely knew what to make of
the statement.

“ Why didn’t you come up to me like a man
an’ say so? Yes: an’ a minit ago you said you
didn’t know anything about Pendergast. How’s
that?”

But the negro was a sh pery fellow.

“ Hit’s de troofl I do’ now nufiin’ ’bout him
an’ I do’ wan’ teh know. De madame say yo
frien’. Mayby hit’s some ’un else what she done
speak about. She don’ s’plain her intendments
teh a nigger like me.”

“ An’ so you sli ped onto me because you
didn’t know who this hyer madame meant.”

“No, boss! Don’ bounce ofl”n de han’le dat
way. I’se afeard to walk aroun’ dish yeh town.

.De boys flip stones an’ holler at me, an’ say:

‘ Smash de spideh l’ So I creep roun’ tryin’ to
speak wid you private.”

There was an air of pleading in the negro’s
voice; and the Tom-cat, somewhat ashamed of
his threats, lowered his revolver.

The negro gave evidence of his gratitude in
an ex ns1ve grin.

” i ow, you ac’ lack a gemman. You skeered
me powerful—’tic’lai" when you jump at me
wid dat screechifyin’. Dat soun’ lack a caty-
mount what done 103’ hits cubs.”

The Tom-cat gloried in his screeching abili-
ties, and the comparison pleased him.

“I don’t know ef I ought to let you go er
not!” he said. “ But I will; an’ resk it. f
you’ve been a-yarnin’, though, I’ll diskiver it,
an’ it’ll be the wuss fer ye. Remember that.
The next time, I’ll claw as well as screechl”

“ Thanky, bossl Thankyl An’ don’ fergit
what I tol’ you’, ef you wanter heah from yo’
frien’l”

The Tarantula evidently interpreted the c0w-
boy’s words as a release; for he backed behind a
tree, and, with a sudden spring, disappeared in
the gloom.

“ New, hyer’s fer it!” the Tom-cat exclaimed.
“ I’m a-goin’ smack into that fortune-teller’s
house. Though, blamed ef I know what I’ll do
when I git thar. Ef she was on’y a man, I’d
know mighty quick. But you’ve got to handle
a female c1 itter kind 0’ tender like er she’ll
faint. ’Twon’t do to stick a pistol at her like I
did the spider. '

“ I don’t fancy the thing a bit. How should
she know ’bout the young chap ’less she’s had a
hand in puttin’ him out o’ the way. Maby she’ll
try the same gameon yours truly. Ef she does,
she’ll find she’s got a buckin’ broncho at the end
of her rope.”

He was uneasy; but the promise that he
should gain information by paying the madame
a visit drew him on.

He rather wished, as he left the town behind
him and struck out toward the fortune—teller’s
residence, that he had forced the Tarantula to
accompany him. By keeping the latter covered
with a revolver he might have been able to die-
tate terms, or at least secure his own safety.
There was no help for it now; and he tram
on, with eyes and ears strained to catch the
faint warning of peril.

He half—expected that he would be waylaid en
route; but he reached the house without noting
anything to excite his apprehension.

l t was dark beneath the shadow of the build-
ing; and no friendly light gleamed from the
windows Not a sound to indicate that there
was life behind the gloomy walls.

._.-_n .. . - __  .. , a»...

 

 

Texas Tom-cat’s Triad.

  

 

 

i
!

 

 

He drew and cocked a revolver; and, with the
butt of it, rap d on the door. He rapped twice
before a shu ing sound showed that the sum-
mons had been heard.

Then, the flame of a lamp pierced the darkness;
and a little later the door was opened.

The fortune—teller stood before him, holding
the light above her head and staring at him
through her heavy vail.

“Evenin’, ma’am!” he said, removing his cat-
skin cap with his left hand, and holding the re-
volver down out of View with his right. “ Yer
nigger said as how you wanted to see me ag’in.

‘ Why, it’s the Tom-cat! It’s so dark I could
hardly make you out. Certainly; come in. I
sent the Tarantula after you a good while ago.
I thought he had missed you, perhaps; or that
you didn’t intend to Come."

“No; I don’t keer to come in, ma’am! Thank-
in‘ ye jest the same. You kin say it tome hyer.
I’ve got a ’p’intment back to town that’s power-
ful pressinl.”

She laughed in his face.

“ Why, Tom—cat, I didn’t suppose you would
ever be afraid of a woman!”

“ No more I ain’t!” protested the cowboy.

“Oh, but you are! Remember, I’m a fortune-
teller, and I can read your thoughts as well as
tell fortunes. You are afraid of me.”

“ Hanged ef I am!” cried the nettled cowboy,
striding into the room. l’l] prove it. I ain’t
the kind that shows the white feather. Lead on
to yer snake room. But remember that I’m
watchiu’ ye. Ef ye kin tell other things, ye
ought to know that I won’t stand any nonsense.”

She started toward the box-like room; then
changed her mind and led the way to the apart-
ment containing the pool. The cowboy noticed
her hesitation. He could not understand it, but
it made him more wary and watchful.

He had slipped the cocked revolver into his
right coat pocket; but his hand still clasped it.
His beloved cap he did not suffer to go out of
his left hand.

“ What’s come 0’ Pendergast?” he demanded,
not designing to notice the chair to which she
waved him.

“ He is in very great distress!” she answered.
" Look into the 01.”

“ Blamed ef do. I looked into it onc’t too
often, a’ready. Couldn't sleep fer two nights
after. Ef ye know anything say it. Ef ye don’t
I’m a- oin’.”

The omcat imagined he heard soft footsteps
in an adjoining room, and it did not tend to
make him tractable. His suspicions were con-
stantly increasing. A premonition of danger
settled upon him.

“ Talk,” he cried “er I’ll bolt. Ef ye know
anything, say it. here’s .Pendergast? That's
what I come fer.”

A ain he heard those soft footsteps.

“ k into the pool,” she urged.
tell you all.” '

Instead of obeying, he drew his revolver and
backed through the doorway into the hall, which
was also illuminated by that leaping green
flame.

She hurried after him.

“ Stop!” she commanded. “ What do you
mean? Put up that pistol. If you must leave
in this silly way, leave by the proper entrance.
You’re backing right into my bed—chamber.”

He was really doing nothing of the kind, but
the statement had the desired effect. He re-
coiled, and for a moment lost his watclifulness.

“This way,” she said. “If you will go, go
out at the side entrance. I haven’t any patience
with you. I sent for you with the best of mo-
tives. I intended to truly reveal to you the
present whereabouts of Mr. Pendergast, and
also of his sweetheart, Dell Devore. But your
foolish suspicions have robbed you of your wits,
and you won’t listen to anything. Here, go out
this way!”

And she flung open the door leading into the
cage; but the Tom-cat remembered that she had
started toward that on his entrance, and the act
deepened his distrust.

“ Not by a ju full” he yelled. “ I go out the
we. I come in!’ And he backed toward what
he lieved to be the front entrance.

Madame Dumar gave a hysterical scream,
magnian toward the room they had just va-
ca . The Tom-cat’s eyes involuntarily fol-
lowed hers. He saw nothing. But the next in-
stant he heard the swish of a rope. and a noom
dropped over his shoulders, pinioning his arms
to his sides. -

Then he was jerked from his feet. his revolver
went s inning across the hallway, and he found
himself engaged in a deadly struggle with the
Tombstone Tarantula. At the same time the

" It will

light, and plunging everything into the deepest
g oom.

“ Whoop!” he yelled, roused to tremendous
exertions. “ Tom-cats ag’in’ T’rant’lys! II
smash ye, ye black spider. Mee—ee—ow—ow !”

CHAPTER VII.
A TERRIBLE SITUATION.

DELL DEVORE became almost wild with ter-
ror as the cage descended into the darkness,
bearing her with it.

She had not dreamed of treachery, when Mad-
ame Dumar hurried away, saying that she was
going for water. Even now she could scarcely
realize what had happened.

After a descent of perhaps a hundred feet, the
cage stopped, with a jolt, and the door swung
outward, apparently of its own accord.

But she could see nothing. The air seemed
freer and purer, however. While she was still
filled with wonder and fear, she heard a quick
step and some one rushed toward her, crying:

“ Oh, my own darling Dell! You here in
this horrible place? Stay there! I am coming!”

But the warning came too late. Witlia quick
spring she had leaped from the cage, attracted
by his voice.

Then the door closed and the elevator began
to ascend.

He sprung at it. as if he would hold it by
main force. But it hurled him against a rocky
projection; and he fell, half—fainting, at Dell’s
feet.

All this was very mysterious and strange;
and she bent above him, thinking that surely
she must be dreaming. She would awaken soon
to find the sun shining and the birds singing in
the old, familiar way.

But he aroused almost immediately and spoke
to her, and slieknew it was not a dream.

“ Oh, if I had only been here wnen the cage
descended!” he moaned. “ They might have
drawn us up ignorantly, and then I would have
fought a way to daylight. But it‘s too late!
Too late! It will not descend again—unless they
entrap the Tom-cat. I didn’t dream of its com-
ing down this time.

“Oh, my darling: That you should be con-
si ned to such a fate!”

e drew her to him, shuddering as he did so.

She tried to say something that would com-
fort him, but found her own grief so great that
she could not.

“It seems ages since I descended into this
living tomb!” he continued, his calmness re-
turning somewhat. “You know what it is, I
suppose! It isa deserted mine. That car was
doubtless used once for drawmg up ore. It has
been transformed into an elevator-like room,
and arranged in some way to work as it now
does.

“ I have explored the mine as far as I dare
go. It is nothing but a series of galleries, lead-
ing no one can tell where. I thought at first
there must be an opening that could be easily
found, for you notice the air seems rather fresh.
But I can t discover anything of the kind. I
am almost convinced there isn’t any, or they
wouldn’t have placed as here.”

He spoke in the weary, desponding tone of a
man who has lost hope.

“ But the car!” she exclaimed, clinging to him
as if she feared he might melt away into the
darkness.

“There is achance—if it descends with the
Tomcat. A slender one; but still a chance. IVe
might crowd into it, and thus be drawn to the
room above. I have thought it over; but the
hope is so slight that I fear we must discard it.
Though in a frenzy a while ago, I leaped at it,
as a drowning man might leap t a straw.

“You see, the trouble is, t ey control the
machinery that raises and lowers the cage. If
we should enter it, they might not raise it. In
fact, would not; for I am sure they can. hear
every movement that is made within it.”

Then he told her how he had been entrapped;
and she related her own experience.

“ And I have only been down here forty-eight
hours l” he said, when she had told him the day
of the week and the time of day. “ It doesn’t
seem ssible. How the hours have dragged!
And Inhave been busy, too, searching for an
outlet. But there is none. A series of never-
ending galleries. I feared to go too far lest I
might not be able to find my way back. It would
be terrible, with both of us in here and lost
from each other.”

He clasped her hand; and she was startled to
find how thin his fingers were.

“ Mental torture exhausts more rapidly than
hunger and thirst!” he declared, answering her
startled questions. “ And I am suffering from

 

tasted food or drink; and I have suffered a life-
time of agony.

“ But do not weep. If it is God’s will that we
die here, let us be thankful that we can die to-
gather.”

She had not yet reached that state of resigna-
tion; and her lamentations were heart-rending.

He endeavored to comfort her; but his honesty
would not permit him to hold out false hopes.

“If they do not trap the Tom cat as they did
us, we may esca I" he said. “He is an honest
and faithful fel ow, and will not quickly give
up the search. If he knew we were here, I
would have little fear. He would rescue us, if
he had to organize a band and raze the house to
its foundations. But he does not know we are
here; and I do not see how he is to discover the
fact, unless he is sent down in the car as we
were.”

It was hard for Dell to give up all hope of ever
again seeing the bright sunlight, which was at
that moment, she knew, flooding the streets of
Tombstone. To be dragged from the warmth
and color of the beautiful \vorld above, and be
Consigned to a torturing. lingering death in the
gloomy galleries of that deserted mine.

The picture she had seen in the pool projected
itself into the future and became a haunting
horror. Her mind grOped forward, counting
the minutes, the hours, the days—until the end.
Then she prayed that it might come speedily, if
it must come.

She knew now that the pretended fortune-
teller was some base creature, the tool of Silas
Taulbee. It Could not be otherwise, for Taulbee
was the only person who Could wish her out of
the way. And Pcndergast must suffer because
he had championed her cause! ~

At last she started to her feet.

Pendergast was sitting by her, his head
drooged on his breast, his every attitude denot-
ing t e deepest dejection. She had become ac—
customed to the darkness, and could now make
out his appearance, as he sat there.

“ Light and air get into this mine in some
way!” she exclaimed, her energies becoming
aroused. “ T here must be an entrance some-
where besides the shaft. We can feel that the
air is comparatively fresh, and there must be
light, or we could not see at all. I can make out
the shape of my hands. If no light entered, we
could see nothing, no matter how long we re—
mained in the dark.”

Pendergast lifted his head, but did not speak.

“ I can t stand it to remain here, Julian, with-
out making an effort to escape! We are bound
to perish here.”

“ \Vhat would you do?” he asked.

“ Anythin ! So that it seems we are doing
something. xplore the galleries! One at a,
time. There must be a way out.”

“I have explored them i” he declared. “ If
we 0 too far we cannot return to the shaft.”

I eakness had sapped his courage. When
first he found himself in the mine he had like.
wise been all fire and energy.

“ What matters it if we cannot find our way
back here?” she argued. “ We cannot escape by
this shaft. We might as well die in one place as
another. But I feel sure that some good—fortune
will guide us."

Her hopeful words inspired in him something
of her spirit.

“ I‘m willing to try 1” he announced, stagger-
infr to his feet. , .

Vith joy she hailed the declaration. It was
like a new lease of life. As he stood trembling-
13’ by her she began to realize how weak he was,
and slipped a hand through his arm in an en-
couraging way.

“ N ow what direction?” she asked.

“ I tried these galleries leadin straight:
away,” was the reply. “ They branc ed until 1
had to give it up.”

“ One is as good as another, I suppose,” draw-
ing him forward. " Let us try this. And pray
Heaven that it may lead us out of this terrible
place!”

With a sincere heart he echoed her words; and
together they set forward.

It was a seemingly interminable walk. They
went from one branching gallery into another:
on. until they lost all idea of time, distance and
location. For all they knew to the contrary
they might be traversing the same galleries
over and over again.

At last Dell sunk down with a mean of
despair; and Pendergast crouched disconsolate-
ly by her side. , .

Hunger and thirst were gnawing. wolf-like, at
his Vitals. Such terrible cravmgs he had never
known. His mouth and throat were arched
and blistered, and his lips cracked and b ceding.

am.

 

 

 

..
as

all three, new. It has been fifty hours since I Worst of all, touches of delirium came at times.

door of the room closed, shutting out the green

 

  
  

 

 

Texas Tom-cat’s Triad.

“ (“a r . .‘ " . 'w i .r-‘W-‘JY -"

7

 

 

And when he slept, in a restless, tossing way,
his dreams were filled with feastings and he
seemed laving his parched body in cooling lakes
of crystal clearness.
‘ Then he would awake to the terrible hunger,
thirst and darkness.

Dell Devore did not suffer so much in that
way. He had been in there two days and nights
before she came. But her mental torture and
her weariness were crushing.

When she sunk down she almost believed she
was dying. She crept nearer to Pendergast,
placed her hands in his, and strained her eyes to
see his features. But the darkness was too
great. Then, she kissed him again and again,
passionately.

“Dell!” he said, arciiSed by her kisses, “I
believe my time has come. I can’t last a great
deal longer. If you were not with me I would
be tempted to hurry matters by the suicidc’s
route. But, you have sawed me, from that.
Put your arms about me: and if we must (lie,
let us (lie together. And may the Lord look
down in mercy on our souls.”

She complied with the request, trembling and
weeping; and, as she did so, waf ted to Heaven
a prayer as sincere and earnest as ever came
from the heart of mortal.

CHAPTER VIII.
A sun-Risa.

WHO shall say that her prayer was not an-
swered.

A shuffling sound came out of the gloom,
and a big, brown bear poked his nose around
an angle of the gallery. Dimlywleiined he
seemed of monstrous size: and his eyes gleamed
balefully.

Dell gave an involuntary shriek, causing
Pendergast to lift his head, in a questioning
waly. VVhereat the bear growled horribly.

his drew another shriek from her, and
Pendergast, catching sight of the bear fired
at it, scarcely realizing what he was doing.

The bear growled again, and made off.

“Follow him!” cried Pendergast, now fully
aroused. “That was a foolish shot. He may
save us!”

He leaped to his feet, strengthened by this
new hope' and hurried after the bear, ,fairly
dra ging Dell along with him.

“ urry!” he urged. “ We must not let him

et away. He came in here; and We’ll go out.
If we f0ll)W him. We can crawl through any
aperture that he can. Oh, Dell! W e’re saved!
saved!”

He was almost wild with the thought.

As for Dell she was scarcely less excited, now
that she realized what the appearance of the
bear meant for them. And she hastened along
at her lover’s side, hardly daring to speak. She
had suddenly lost all fear of the brute. Under
ordinary circumstances she would have fled
fromabear with horror. Now she was filled
with apprehension lest the creature might dis-
tance them and leave them again alone.

The bear shuffled along, growling in a menac-
ing way, when they pressed him closely. Some-
times he would bolt around an angle or into a
new passage, and they would be compelled to
stop to determine the way he had gone. Then
they would run, knowing that life depended on
their speed, until they came up with him once
more. ,

It was by a long and devious route that he led
them. But, they scarcely realized it. So ex«
cited were they, and so strengthened by hope,
they forgot the flight of time and gave no heed
to pain and weariness.

And then, like the glimmer of a far~oif star,
they saw a point of white light.

“Saved! Saved! Oh, Dell, we are saved!”
Pendergast shouted, hysterically. And Dell
Devore felt the tears dropping from her own
cheeks, While a prayer of gratitude walled up in
her heart.

Ayl they were saved. That ungainly brown
bear hadled them back to life and happiness.

The pomt of light grew brighter and larger.
Soon they could make out quite plainly the
shaggy form of their brute guide. Then they
could discern the features of each other.

Pendergast was wild with delight. His ho]-
low cheeks were glowmg with joy, and his suf-
fused eyes shone gratefully. He kept up an in-
cessant chatter. But Dell’s happiness was too
deep for words.

Suddenly the light was blotted out.

“ The bear is crawling through the entrance!”
shouted Pendergast. “Hooray! Now for lib-

ergi’ _

9 dashed forward, almost dragging his
sweetheart from her feet.

The light came again; the bear was gone; and,

 

 

they were crawling through the narrow

aperture. It was a tunnel-like place, hollowed
out by some wild animal. Perhaps by the
bear.

In another instant they were beneath the deep-
blue vault of heaven, now radiant with the
glory of the rising sun. Then Pendergast’s
strength deserted him, and he reeled and fell
fainting.

The country about was strange to Dell. She
had never been there before. As far as she
could judge by appearances they might be hun-
dreds of miles from the town of Tombstone.

But she had no time to waste in conjecture.
Her lover demanded her immediate attention.
There was‘no water near; and she was quite at
a loss what to do. Nevertheless she knelt by
him and began to chafe his wrists and hands.

The fainting fit was fortunately of short du-
ration. He revived, and sat iip—staring at her
in a strange way out of his deeply-sunken eyes.

He was emaciated and feverish; his eyes blue-
lidded, with dark circles beneath them; and his
whole appearance indicative of the greatest
mental and physical exhaustion.

“ Is it you, Dell?” as his eyes took on a look
of recognition and memory. “ Yes! Thank
God, we are saved! Saved 1”

Then. as he tried to stagger to his feet:

“ Oh, if I only had some water!”

She was thinking the same. Not only water
for her lovm', but for herself. She began to
realize how very, very thirsty she was.

“ Why, how long were we in there together?"
she questioned, with an air of inystiticatioii.
“When I called on Madame Dumar it was al-
most nooii! And now the sun is rising! A
night has paSsed! It appears impossible!”

“ It Seems tome it has been a month!” be de—
clared, steadying himself on his feet with her
assistance. “ I felt strong as an ox while chas~
ing that bear. Now I’m as weak as a child.”

“ It was the strength of excitement,” she an-
swered. “ You are hardly able to stand. Rest
against that b0wlder, whileIgo in search of
water. There must be some near. A creek,
spring, or something. I’ll have to use your hat
as a pail.” .

She tried to smile in a cheery way; and tak-
ing the hat, hastened off in search of the life-
giving fluid. -

She glanced about to see if the hear was in
the vicinity. ‘

“ It wouldn’t be nice to have the beast guide
me to safety, just to make a meal off of me!”
and she shuddered.

But the bear had disappeared.

The search wasalong one, for the country
thereabout was dry and rocky. But at last she
found a tiny pool. formed by water oozing
through a clayey $01!. It was quite cool; as the
sun had not yet searched it out with his hot

re s.

Pilling the hat half-full she hurried back to
where she had left Pendergast sitting against
the bowlder. Not, however, before she had
satisfied her own cravings-

How the eyes of the fever—parched mar. shone
when they fell upon that dripping hat. Snatch-
ing it from her be buried his face in the water
and drank greedily, scarcely stopping to
breathe.

“You must be careful, Julian!” she urged,
drawing the hat away. “ I, as your physician,
command you to moderation. That is enough,
110W. After a little you can drink more.”

The water brought strength and life to him.
To her surprise he soon got upon his feet with-
out ass1stance.

“ Now, if we had something to eat!” he said,
glaring about through the shrubbery. “ I feel
like a new man, even as it is. That water has
done me a world of good. Where do you sup-
pose wo are i”

“ I was just thinking of that! The country is
unfamiliar. I think, though, the town cannot
be far. Across that ridge, probably.”

“Yes,” reflectively, “ it must be. We have
crossed the ridge by going under it. How we
are to get into town puzzles me. There don’t
appear to be any trails hereabouts.”

“ We can’t!” she replied. “ Not until we are
both stronger!”

“Which we’re not liable to be, unless we can
find something to eat.” ~

“The words gave her an idea. Without saying
anything to raise ho s that might be blasted,
she tripped away. ithin half an hour she re—
turned with a quantity of berries, which she had
found on some ow-growing bushes. '

Together they devoured them; Julian eating
with the greediness of a half- starved man. .

When they were finished. he felt so much bCfr
ter that be accompanied her on a short walk to

 

see if he could not bring down something more
substantial with his revolver.

He succeeded in shooring a couple of moun-
tain quails. He had matches in a metallic case;
and while Dell prepared the quails, he kindled a
fire. No meat ever tasted better than the flesh
of those quails, brOiled over a bed of hot coals
on the ends of sharpened sticks.

Then they climbed tOWal'd the top of the
ridge, hoping to see Tombstone just beyond it.
Pendergast’s strength was not equal to the task,
however. The increasing heat of the sun affected
his head; and they had to halt and remain in a.
clump of bushes until near SimSet.

As the air became cooler they pushed on again,
with slaw and weary feet: and, just as darkness
settled down, they raached the low summit and
looked off on the twinkling lights of the twin.

The sight inspired them with renewed cour-
age, and they went on, halting occasionally, and
by nine o'clock were in the streets of Tomb-
stone.

llniliiig a passing vehicle, they were conveyed
to Pendergast’s boarding-house; and from that
Dell was driven to her own.

As soon as I’endergast had done full justice to
the supper placed before him he asked that the
Texas Tom-cat might be sent to him.

“He is not in town !” was the startling in-
formation that was brought, after almost an
hour’s anxious waiting.

“ Not in town ?”

“So it seems, sir!” declared the mCSSenger.
“ He called for you here, I’m told, sometime
this evening. Finding that you were gone, he
went away; and not long ago he was seen walk-
ing t0ward the northern trail. I’ve been to
his lodgings, and all over town, and I can’t find
him.

Pendergast had not told what had befallen
himself and his sweetheart. He had evaded
questions, believing the time not ripe for ex-
planations. Now he saw that he must unbOsom
himself. He was satisfied the Town-cat had
been induced to visit the fortune-teller’s resi-
deuce. Probably the faithful fellow was now in
the depths of the mine—or dead!

Urged by this thought he told the messenger
how he had been entrapped, together with his
sweetheart: how they had escaped; and of the
peril he believed the Tom—cat to he in.

“ And you want men?” questioned the mes-

nger.

“Yes! A half—dozen reliable fellows! And
warrants for the arrest of the fortune-teller and
her servant.”

His strength and vigor were rapidly return-
ing: this new excitement also lent strength and
spurred him on; and while the messenger was
gathering the men he went into town and pro-
cured warrants for the arrest of Madame Dumar
and the Tombstone Tarantula.

se

 

CHAPTER IX.
TO THE RESCUE.

HE had scarcely done so, when the man ap-
peared, with four or five rough-looking miners
at his heels.

Pendergast explained to them the situation,
offered to pay them liberally for their services,
and then led the way out of town.

“ Remember there’s to be no shooting, unless
it becomes absolutely necessary, to save life!”
he explained, as they neared the house.

.He was about to say more, when a series of
screeches came to their ears.

“ That’s the Tom-cat!" he cried, drawing his
weapons and darting forward, entirely forget-
ful of his Weakened condition.

His followers imitated him. A few bounds
brought them to the heavy door. One of the
miners hurled his burly frame unceremoniously
against it. It flew open, and they tumbled into
the dark hallway.

Pandemonium seemed let loose there in the
darkness. The Screechesof the Tom-cat were
answered by the labored breathing of the
Tarantula, as he sought to gain the better of Lis
nimble foe.

The rescuing party could do nothing in the
gloom. Pendergast shouted his encouragement
to the cowboy and rake! a match on the wall.
At the same instant the door at the o posite end
opened, flooding the hall with the;J blinding,
green flame, and the prophetess leaped to the
negro’s assistance.

A quick blow, and then she half-dragged the
Tarantula into the elevator. The door closed
with a vicious snap. And before Pendergast
and his men realized what had occurred, the
fortuneteller and her servant were speeding
down the shaft. .

“Stop the thing I” yelled Pendergast, at the

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Texas Tem-cat’s Triad.

 

 

 

same time hurrying to the prostrate cowboy,
who lay as if dead.

The prophetess had struck with some blunt in-
strument, and the blow, falling upon the Tom-
cat‘s head had rendered him senseless.

While Pendergast was determining this, the
men were searching for some means by which
they could stop the descending elevator. They
finally discovered the lever that controlled it;
but, before they did so, the cage reached the
bottom of the shaft and its occupants escaped
into the mine. ,

Pendergast was attempting the cowboy’s re-
storation. The wound was in the nature of a
contusion. He bathed it in cold water and
bound it up with his own handkerchief. The
water seemed to possess revivifying power.
The cowboy stirred uneasily, and opened his
eyes. Then he felt of his bruised head, and sat

p.

“Great guv’ner!” he cried, staring into Pen-
dergast’s face. “So ’twas you that bu’stcd
through the door an’ told me to look chipper,
au’ plug ’im? A p’izen T’rant’ly got away with
a Tom-cat. Well, I never!”

Pendergast did not stay to answer questions.
He hurried off to examine the peculiar machin-
ery by which the elevator was controlled. It
was an ingenious arrangement, working on the
principle of the balance. 'When the cage de«
scended, the weights Were drawn up, and vice
versa. The additional weight of a poison or

ersons in the cage would cause it to descend.

ut to draw it up, loaded, a winch was neces-
sary.

It was empty now, and it came up quite
readily.

“ Tumble in there, some of you!” commanded
Pendergast. “Not all! Some must stay here
to draw us up again. I’m going after that
preciOus pair. They can’t have got far from
the bottom of the shaft. And they won’t dare
to go far for fear of gettin lost.”

He turned, to see the om-cat at his elbow,
the well-worn catskin cap pressed down on the
bandaged head. «

“So they went down thar?” cried the cow-
boy. ‘An’ that’s where she wanted to send

“ And would have done so, if we hadn’t come
just in time. Tumble inl I’ll be glad to have
you go ’long, if you feel able.”

“ Oh, I’m all right!” With a tug at the cap to
make sure that it was in place. “ Tom—cats
ag’in’ Tarant‘lys! I’m with ye. I want to git
even with that chap fer the love-lick he give me.
That was a sneakin’ trick.”

Pendergast shouted a command and the ca 9

dropped into the depths with startling swi t-
ness.
Like tumblin’ down a well, that air!” ex-
claimed the irrepressible cowboy, as the cage
brought up at the bottom, with something of a
crash. “ Don’t know’s I banker much after
that style 0’ travelin’.”

He leaped out as soon as the door was open,
only to find himself in adarkness as dense as the
traditional gloom of Egypt.

“ There! I forgot a light!” cried Pendergast.
“A most inexcusable blunder!”

“ Hyer’s one!’ said one of the men, producing
and lighting a miner’s lantern.

The Tom-cat led the search, for it was not his
nature to remain in the rear when there was ex-
citement and danger. But they could discover
nothing. The woman and the negro had disap-
peared completely.

Pendergast was somewhat disappointed as
they gathered again about the shaft.

Yet, when everything is taken into considera-
tion. he had no good reason for being so. Placed
in similar circumstances, he would have fled
into the gloomy galleries, as the fugitives had
probably done. '

They re—entered the cage, and were drawn up.
It was now past midnight. Pendergast was be‘
coming faint and weak. He would not leave,

' howaver, until the house had been subjected to

a rigid search. He hoped to find something to
imp icate Taulbee.

In this he was disappointed. The “mysteri-
ous ” room held nothing that was really mys-
terious. The green flame was produced by the
ignition of some peculiar preparation. In the
miraculous pool was a hand-painted picture.
showing “ Tom-cat’s Triad” in the last stages of

,starvation. It was rather artistically done, and

served to show that the pretended prophetess
was something of an artist.

“But how’d she git that fu’st pictur'?” asked
the Tom-cat, staring in great amazement at the
one before him. “ She c’u’d paint this ’cause
she’d seen us all. But when she showed the fu’st
’un, she’d never see’d me, I’m confident.”

 

“ That’s something you can’t be confident of,”
aSSerted Pendergast. “ You’ve never seen this
woman’s face, remember. If you should, you
might recognize her instantly.”

On the way back to town, be related to the
Tom-cat the adventures of himself and Miss
Dell Devore, to the cowboy’s great astonish-
ment.

“ There‘s one thing we can do,” he announced,
before dismisaing and paying his followers.
“We’ve left two men at the house. There’s
also an opening just across the divide. In the
morningl want to post two men there. The
fugitives will try to escape at one of those
places. They will never remain in that hole
and starve—unless they get bewildered and
lost!”

He was really too tired to explain further,
and, as soon as they were gone, he bade tho
Tom-cat good-night, and sought his boarding—
house.

The next day he piloted the two men to the
place where he and Dell had escaped from the
mine, and gave instructions that one or the
other was to remain on guard all the time. It
was possible that the fortune-teller and her ne-

ro servant had already escaped by that exit.
fiut he did not think it at all probable. It was
very unlikely that they knew of it, and there
was little chance of the bear appearing to them
as he had done to the des airing lovers.

The Tom—cat returne to his work in the
Phoenix Mine, and affairs resumed their normal
condition.

The watchers at the house, and those at the
hole emerging on the slope, were alert and vigi-
lant. But the days passed, and their eager eyes
remained unrewarded by aglimpse of the Taran-
tula or of his vailed mistress.

CHAP'l ER X.
MYSTERIOUS MOVEMENTS.

WHEN a week had passed without develop—
ment of an sort, Pendergast dismissed the
watchers. 6, however, requested the Tom-cat
to occupy one of the rooms of the house as a
sleeping apartment; and this the cowboy did.

“ I am satisfied,” he said, explaining his
motives to the Tomcat, “that they will never
find the exit on the slope. It may be that there
is another way of egress. And it’s barely pos-
sible that they are still in the mine, and alive.
You see, they may have been prepared for
something of the kind. If so, they will stay
there until the excitement dies away, or, until
their food and water is exhausted, and then they
will try to come out. In any event, if they
escape or have escaped, it is quite likely they
will visit the house. There are articles of value
and clothing there; and they will not wish to
abandon them. If they make such a. visit they
are almost sure to go there at night, to avoid
observation.

“ You can be ready for them; and by dint of
a surprise I think you can capture them.”

The cowboy expressed an eager desire to try
it at any rate.

“ I want to git a whack at that T’ran’tly. I
wouldn’t ax nothin’ better’n fer him to come
nosin’ around thar in the dark!”

“ And there’s another thing!” Pendergast
continued. “ The house belongs to Silas Taul-
bee I I discovered that by searching the records.
It may be that the old mine connects in some
way with the new one. Any way it makes it
certain that Taulbee knew all about these people
and that they were Working in his interest. If
you can find an opportunity while down in the
Phoenix Mine, investigate the matter a little;
and learn, if possible, if there is a chamber
connecting the two mines.

“ And above all do not let Taulbee know you
are to sleep in the house. He may order you
out of it; or the warning he would thus receive
might make your watching of no avail. The
house is in an isolated position and that is in
favor of secrecy: you will have no trouble about
keeping the kn0wledge of your movements to
yourself.”

The first night the Tom-cat remained there,
he searched the house thoroughly. He was
rewarded by no new discoveries. The elevator
cage was at the bottom of the shaft. Pender-
gast had instructed the Watchers to leave it
there, in the hope that the fugitives might as-
cend by it.

The Tom cat did not alter its position. They
might come up by it, yet. For hissleeping
apartment he chose a little room, across the
hall, almost opposite the elevator. The door of
this he left slightly ajar; so that the faintest
sound Would reach and arouse him.

Two or three nights passed in a very quiet
way. He left the house always before dawn

 

 

lowed, with senses alert an

and returned to it after dark. Nothing occurred
to reward his vigilance.

But one night he was awakened by, he scarce-
ly knew what. It was well on toward morning.
For some time he lay still, listening. He could
hear the wind whistling outside as it chafed
against the eaves and angles of the house. Then,
after a time, in the lulls of the wind, the noise of
light footsteps. _

He got up quietly—he had only removed his
cap and boots on retiring—and stepped softly to
the door, his Weapons in readiness. The sounds
came from the chamber at the further end of
the hall. Some one was movin about in there.

Then he noticed that the e evator cage had
been raised. The sound of that was what had
awakened him, probably.

The steps were very light. Yet the intruder
moved about briskly enough, as if he had no
fear of a surprise.

The Tom-cat’s first impulse was to give his
war-cry and rush upon the person, depending
upon the surprise to aid in the capture. Then
the open cage gave him another and better idea.
It was plain that the intruder had ascended by
it; and, no doubt, he would retire in the same
way. Why not follow, or rather accompany
him? It might result in valuable revelations.

To think was to act, with the Tom-cat. He
slipped his beloved cap over his ears,.and in his
stockinged feet, crept softly into the elevator.
The drapery at its corners was almost invaluable
now. Within its folds he secreted himself, and
quietly awaited the return of the prowler.

He believed that the individual was Tarantu-
la. But he could not be sure of it, for the whole
house was plunged in the deepest gloom. He
drew his conclusion from the peculiar sounds
made by the footfalls. They were soft, but no
companied by a jar showing the person to be of
a heavy frame. he footsteps of the woman
would have sounded very differently.

“ Well, hyer’s a go!” he solilo nized, as he
crouched in eager expectancy. “ ever had a
idea that I’d want to ca e myself up with that
air spider! But I’m in er it. Ef he noses me
out, thar’ll be a lively scrimmage, ’tany rate.
I’d like to meet ’im on squar’, fa’r fl htin’-groun’,
and I don’t know but this ’u’d fillthe bill. Thar’s
room enou h in hyer, an’ not any too much, an’
no one cou d jump in an’ sp’ile the fun.

“ Don’t know as I‘d keer of he did diskiver me
ef’t wasn’t fer doin’ the shadder trick!

“ I ’low, now, he’s ot a den down thar some—
’eres, an’ prob’ly the ortune-teller’s down thar.
Wouldn’t it be a picnic ef I could s’prise an’ rope
’em both, after findin’ out their secrits?

“ I s’pose he’s getherin’ up a lot 0’ vittles; fer
I thought I heerd some dishes clatter. It a’most
makes me narvous, waitin’ hyer fer him this-a-
wav !”

He had not much longer to wait. The foot—
steps were even then approaching the elevator.

The Tom-cat almost held his breath, so great
was his anxiety. The footsteps came on; then
the gloom intensified, and he knew that the
prowler was standing in the doorway of the
ea c.

or a little while the man seemed searching
for something.

“ Gr-reat J oshwa '1” gasped the Toni-cat,
nerving himself. “ do b’leeve he’s a-goin’ to
strike a light!”

But the man was only feeling for the lever
that controlled the elevator. Then the door
closed, and the cage began to descend.

It was a decidedly novel and thrilling experi-
ence for the cowboy. Within arm’slength of a
deadly enemy whose identity was only suspected,
and descending with him into the bowels of the
earth.

The cage descended with a rapidity that was
evidently startling to the man; and he felt about
in the corners for the chain cable. With this
be checked the descent—a thing Pendergast had
not been able to do through ignorance of know-
ing how.

As the man was feeling among the drapery,
the Tom-cat stood in instant expectation of dis-
covery. The sweat started from every pore; he
set his teeth firmly, and braced himself for the
conflict that must follow. His hands opened
and closed with convulsive energy, and that
wild and startling “ meow ” formed on his lipS.

The fellow muttered something, as the speed
of the cage lessened. ‘Vhat it was the Tom—cat
could not make out. But whatever the 1118118
ideas as to the cause of the quick descent, he
never suspected that there was another person
in the cage.

As soon as it touched the bottom of the shaft,
the door was ushed open and the man ste ped
out into the g 00m. Instantl the Tom-cat fol-

foot-falls as light ’ *

  

   

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Texas Tom-cat’s Triad.

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as the descent of autumn leaves. He fully real-
ized the double peril in so doing. He might
walk into a trap; or, escaping that, might never
be able to retrace his way to the shaft.

' “ G0 it, ye crawlin’, creepiu’ spider!” he mut-
tered, as he slipped forward. “The Tom-cat’s
after ye, green—eyed and hot—footed. Ef ye git
away frum him now, ye‘ll have to fly.”

All the time, while listening to the retreating
footsteps, he was mentally estimating the dis-
tance and direction traversed. He noted every
angle, and even counted the number of steps
which he took.

All at once the fellow stopped and ignited a
match. As he did so, the cowboy shrunk
against the wall. The feeble flame showed that
the Tom-cat was right in his conjectures. The
prowler was the Tombstone Tarantula.

Then the Tom-cat saw that the negro had a
bunch of papers in one hand, and it was quickly
evident why he had strucx the match. He
glanced hurried] through the papers; then, as
the match seeme. on the point of expiring, he
applied it to them, and with a sort of gloating
joy, saw them consumed.

All but one, That fluttered to the ground un-
noticed by him. The Tom-cat saw it, however,
and made up his mind to possess it as soon as
the Tarantula moved on.

Then the flames died out, making the dark-
ness ten-fold more intense than before, if that
were possible.

Again the Tarantula retreated, and the Tom-
cat followed. He had marked the spot where
the paper fell, and found it without much
trouble. But he lost some time, and hurried

uickly on, lest he should lose the guiding

ootsteps, which were very faint.

Before he had regained the distance lost, a
door opened, apparently in the solid wall.
There appeared to be a lighted room beyond
it, for the light streamed through into the dark-
ness of the mine. Then the door closed, and
the Tarantula had vanished.

For a moment the cowboy was staggered by
this unexpected revelation.

“ Jest fer all the worl’ like a man goin’
home,” he declared. “ The door opens, the light
pours out; then it’s dark. and he’s gone! That
throws my calc’lations flatter’n a roped steer.
An’ I s’pose the fortune-teller’s ahind that wall,
too.”

He hurried up to it, felt it over carefully,
and even ventured to sound it timidly; but he
discovered nothing. There was no sign of an
opening. Nothing, apparently, but the rugged
rock, just as it ha u left by the blasts and
the miners’ picks. -

“ Beats me! What’ll Pendergast say when I
tell ’im that? He’ll think I dremp it! But, no,
he can’t, for h er’s the paper. Now, I wonder
what’s in it. ’d give a small forchiu to ’a’ got
them that the spider burnt.”

H‘e searched his pockets for a. match, but he
could find none, and, after studying the situa-
tion a little while, he began to retrace his way,
slowly and carefully, counting his steps.

When he had turned the requisite number of
angles and counted out the steps, he began a
search for the door of the cage. After much
fumbling along the walls, he found it, and pro-
ceeded to draw up the cage by pulling down-
ward on the iron cable that passed through it.

Then he sent it down again, so that the
Tarantula would have no cause for suspicion,
should he return.

He could scarcely wait to gain his room and
light a candle, so great was his anxiety to know
what was contained in the paper which the
negro had inadvertently dropped.

When he had lighted the candle and deciphered
the writing, his features assumed a look of the
most intense astonishment. The bit of paper
was a letter written in an Eastern cit , and in-
troducing Miss Dell Devore to Silas aulbee, of
Tombstone.

“ An’ them that the spider burnt was the very
writin’s that she put into Taulbee’s han’s when
she fu’st come hyer!” exclaimed the Tom-cat,
greatly exc1ted.

 

CHAPTER XI.
A TICKLED TOM-CAT.

HIS astonishment gave way to gratification.

“ Yes; an’ that nails this h or bizness right

uar’ down onto Taulbee. hat’s this paper
doin’ in this hyer house ef he ain’t in cahoots
with the fortune-teller an’ the spider! Plainer’n
print, that is!

“ An’ so the young feller was right. A sort of
fight 0’ three ag’in’ three. Ef we’re a triad, I
reckon they’re another’n. Triads ag’in Triads!
Tom-cats ag’in’ Tarant’lys l”

 

The recollection of his combat with the latter
drew a cat-like growl from his lips.

“ I must see Pendergast ’bout this! No work
fer the undersigned to-day. I’ll tell old Taulbee
will be please excuse me on account 0’ p’ticklar
an' pressin’ bizness. An’ ef that won’t be the
truth then I’m a liar. This hyer’s bizuess that
jest can’t wait!”

There was a faint glow in the East, indicative
of approaching day. He slipped the precious
letter into one of histockets, drew on his boots,
and left the house. 11 the course of a half-hour
he was closeted with Pendergast, in the latter’s
room.

“What d’ye think 0’ that?” demanded the
Tom-cat, handing over the letter, with a grin.

“ Why, where did you get it?” Pcndergast
asked, as he glanced down the lines.

“ That’s what I came to tell you ’bout!”

And with a prefacing series of chuckles, the
Tom-cat plunged into his story.

Naturally it surprised Pendergast quite as
much as the discoveries had surprised the nar-
rator.

“ Beats all, don’t it?” the cowboy questioned,
in conclusion. “ I was never done up in my life
as I was when that hole opened and the fire-
light, er whatever it was, flashed out into the
mine.”

“ Rather singular!” the young man confessed.
“And the letter proves that I was right in my
surmises. Taulbee believed we had ceased our
watch; and sent the negro to destroy the pa-
pers. They were there at the time of our raid,
and the suddenness with which we came gave
them no time to carry them off. Doubtless the
negro took them into the mine before burning
them, for fear that the light might betray him,
if be destroyed them in the house.

“ What I can’t understand, though, is, why he
laced them in the fortune teller’s possession.
t would have been more reasonable for him to

have destro ed them in the first place, or kept
them himse f.”

“ The rope’s got too many kinks in it fer me to
unravel!” declared the Tom-cat. “I move ’at
we take a wheen o’ fellers, go back to the ole
mine an’ bu’st down the door which the T’rant’ly
went through. That’ll show the hull thing up
at onc’t. We kin nab the spider, an’ the wo-
man, too, of she‘s thar, an’ make ’em own up to
the devilment they’re into. We kin it a cinch
onto ole Taulbee that-a-way that wil make ’im
squirm.”

The cowboy’s eyes shone with enthusiasm.

“ Do you know, I believe that secret door
opens into the basement of. Taulbee’s residence?"
said Pendergast, thoughtfully. “ I’ve been
studying the directions you took in following
that darky, and the number of steps you went.
I really believe it would bring one right under
Taulbee’s house.”

“ So much the better!” cried the Tom-cat.
“ Er we kin round ’em up in Taulbee’s own
house, that]! be jest the very identical thing.
Yo see, we’ve got warrants fer their arrest; an’
we kin take ’em wharever we kin find ’em. Ef
the T‘rant’ly leads us to Taulbee’s house, we’ll
go in. An’ cf he’s in thar, we’ll drag him out
before these other men. Then when be con-
fesses to his devilment, it will make the thing so
strong—tie Taulbee up so, ye know—that he
jest can’t wriggle.”_ '

The Tom-cat, in imagination, could even then
see the deed accomplished.

“ Perhaps it will work!” said Pendergast. “I
want to think it over ? little. Come to my
office in about an hour. n the mean time look
up your men, get a good breakfast, and send
word to Taulbee that you’ll not be able to work
to—day.”

“Tell him I’m feverish?” queried the cowboy,
taking up his cap.

“It wouldn’t be anyliel” was the laughing
res onse. “ Your eyes are shining like stars.”

\ hen the Toni-cat was gone, Pendergast got
ready for the proposed undertaking. Then,
after breakfast, he sent a message to Dell De-
vore, and sauntered down the street to his
office.

The business of the day had commenced. The
stores and saloons were open; and the streets
were filled with loungers, and with workmen
hurrying to their work. It was a busy scene,
and typical of the hurrying, bustling, driving
life of the minin_ -towns,

It was too ear y to expect clients: and, after
sweeping and dusting the little office—he em-
ployed no oflice-boy—he sat'down to await the
coming of Miss Devore, for whom he had sent.”

She came in a‘ short time, excited and ex-
pectant, not knowing what to make of. this
earl and peremptory summons.

A the same time; the cowboy appeared, his

 

 

cap tucked under his arm, and his face flushing,
as he saw the young lady.

“ Sit down, Tom-cat, while I tell Miss Devore
of your discoveries,” said Pendergast.

“ One of the very papers I gave Taulbee!” she
cried, beaming upon the cowboy, after reading
the letter and hearing the explanations. “ Tom-
cat, you are invaluable! This is almost too good
for belief!”

“ Don’t, miss,” he protested, twisting uneasily.
He feared she was about to cover him with a
profusion of thanks. “ It’s nothin’. I‘d ’a’
done the same fer any other pore creeter. I
mean lady! Pardon me fer the mistake.”

“ lVe are all poor creatures!" Pendergast
declared, coming to his assistance.

“Yes;" ’low we air!” taking the cap from
under his arm, and endeavoring to fan him-
self with it. “My! but this air room’s hot.
It’s ’cause it’s so little, I s’pose. I don’t see
how any man kin stand it to be shet up in a
house all the time. ’Twould naterally roast
me. I’d rather be a lizard an’ fry my grease
out onto the hot bowlders.”

“ And you propose to go into the mine?”
questioned Dell of Pendergast, smiling in spite
of herself.

“Yes! The Tom-cat thinks it the best plan.
We want a vote of the Triad. What do you
say?’

“Me? Why, I say yes; if dyou believe you
can accomplish anything—an will promise to
be careful I"

“ Hooray l” shouted the Tom-cat, pleased into
momentary self-forgetfulness. He was about
to give vent to a jo ful “meow,” also, but
recollected himself in time to thrust the catskin
cap into his mouth and hold it back.

“’Deed, miss, you’re a trump!” he declared,
not able to withhold all expression. “You‘ve
got a backbone, you have. I like to see a per-
son with some sand in their crew.”

It was Miss Devore’s turn to blush and cough;
and Pendergast deftly changed the conversation
into a new channel.

“I reckon the men air a-waitin’ fer us 1” said
the Tom-cat, after a. few minutes of uneasy
silence. “ I tol’ ’em we’d meet ’em jest beyond
town.”

“ In that case We’d better be going!” Pender-
gast re lied.

Dell evore took the hint and departed, and
the men shortly left the office for the rendez-
vous.

The cowboy had collected the men who had
already serVCd Pendergast so faithfully; and it
required but a few words to place them in pos-
session of all that it was necessary for them to
know.

They succeeded in reaching the house without
attracting attention; and at once prepared for
the contemplated movement. Arms were ex-
amined and got in readiness, sledges produced,
and lanterns lighted.

Then two men were left to work the winch,
and the others were lowered down the shaft.

The Tom-cat, as guide, placed himself at the
head of the little paity. -

“Keep as quiet as ye kin!” he cautioned.
“ That air spider mou’t be in hyer somewhar;
an’ ef so, he could make it int’restin’ fer us.”

The caution brought a sudden cessation of the
talking that was irritating him.

“ Couldn’t hear yer years with sich a gabble
as that a-goin’ on!” he muttered. “Some men
-——sniart nien— ain‘t jest natei'ly got enough
sense to walk around with when they‘re trailin’.
A nice job of it, they’d make, in a Injun
country.”

He could hardly control his disgust.

“Now, forrard!” he commanded. “Walk
like leaves a—dra pin’, keep yer mouths tight,
an’ foller me. Ef ain’t plum fergot my jogerfy
lesson, I kin take ye right thar!”

Then he proceeded, counting the steps taken
and the angles and bends passed.

“ Thar it is!” he said, after a long walk, dur-
ing which he had not spoken a word. “ Thar’s
the wall. I’m certain of it! But if they ever
was a door, it’s shorely growed over.”

He flashed the light over the jagged wall.
Not a break, not a seam, was anywhere visible.

“ You are sure this is the place?” questioned
Pendergast.

“ Well, I thought I was. But that wall don’t
look like it. Can’t See nothin’ like a door.
Hardly possible to have a door without the
j’ints a-showin’!”

“ Utterly impossible!” Pendergast declared.

The Tom-cat was running his fingers ove ‘
the rough surface. Then he tapped the wa
softlv, with the butt of one of his revolvers.

“ I reckon I’m off l” he confessed, with a ingu-
brious laugh. “ I’d ’a’ swore I was goin’ right.

  

  

10

Texas Tom-cat’s Triad.

 

Seems like I’m wrong, though. Le’s go back
and try it over.”

To this Perfiergast consented, believing that
they were wasting time there. So they re-
treated, winding here and there, and counting
their footsteps.

When they had stepped off the proper num-
ber, the cowboy stopped and uttered an excla-
mation of astonishment.

“ Boys, we’re lost! We’ve took the wrong

assage somewhar. Blamed ef I know whar.
This ought to bring us to the cage. But they
ain’t no cage hyer! ()n’y these windin’ galleries
goin’ on forever an’ ever!”

Pendergast gave a startled cry. From bitter
experience he knew what it was to be lost in the
depths of that gloomy mine.

Slowly and sadly they retraced their way,
and came again to a wall. But whether it was
the same wall or another, they could not tell.

Starting again they measured off the requisite
distance, bringing up as before in the apparently
endless galleries.

“ I give it up!” the cowboy confessed, his face
blanching. “ We’re lost; and I reckon we’ll stay
hyer tell we starve—er go crazy!"

CHAPTER XII.
TOM<CAT, as A snanow.

ALTHOUGH the Tom-cat said this, and feared
the worst, he had no intention of submitting to
so terrible a fate without a struggle. He again
retraced his way, or attempted to—-f0r he could
not be sure of any route after missing the first.

Having reached the wall, they set out in an—
other direction, at a venture, and were soon
stumbling among broken b0wlders and debris.
All the avenues in that direction Were choked
with mine refuse, which had been cast in there
to save the labor of hoisting it to the “ dump.”

“ We are accomplishing nothing in this way
Pendergast declared. “ Let’s go back a short
distance and see if we can rouse our men by
shouting.”

The suggestion was eagerly seized upon; when
they were gathered in a circle they fired a volley
from their revolvers; and then shouted with all
the strength of their lungs.

“ That ought to wake somebody!” asserted the
Tom-cat, grimly. “ I thought I heerd the walls
a-crackin’. Mebbe it’ll fetch the spider!”

In a. short time they fired another volley and
again shouted.

To their great joy there was an answering
shout; and in the distance they beheld a waving
lantern. The distressed men became almost
hysterical when they saw that tiny speck of
light; and hurried toward it with cries of child-
ish delight.

Hearing their cries the man came toward
them. He was one of those left at the winch.
He had heard the shots and calls, and not knowing
what tomake of them had descended to invest-
igate. The other had remained at the winch to
pull him up quickly, in case of need.

In coming t0ward them, he had advanced but
a little way from the shaft; and the men knew
by that that they had been hopelessly lost when
within speaking distance of it.

“ It’s my 0 inion that this mine is not a large
affair, at al 1" Pendergast asserted, when re-
flection succeeded to the pleasure and excite—
ment of rescue. We’ve seen though h0w easy
it is to get lost in it. When I was lost here be-
fore, with Miss Devore, we came out on the op-
posite slope. If we had had the strength, we
could have climbed to this side in an hour or
less, rough and bad as the route is.

“ The dump pile beyond the house is not large.
It is overgrown with weeds, now, and looks
like a portion of the original hill. Still, there’s
a great deal of dump refuse stOWed away in
those passages below. I would really like to
know if Dell and I went ’round and ’round
through the same galleries. It looks like it!”

Now that they were safe, the Tom-cat was
anxious to plunge once more into the search for
the concealed door through which the Tarantula
had disappeared. But the others refused to
venture into the bewildering depths!

“ Why the thing kin be fixed easy enough,
so’t we can’t git lost 1” he argued. “ Let one o’
the men stay at the shaft and holler onc’t in
awhile, er fire of! his pistol. That’ll lead us
back. The thing kin be worked han’some!”

But the men shook their heads. Pendergast,
even, did not care to urge them. The cowboy’s

Ian seemed sensible and feasible; but he knew

ow easy it was to get lost down there.

“ It might do no good, even if we could find
the door!” he said to the Tom—cat. in extenua-
tion of his passive opposition. “ Our shouting
and firing probably gave warning to the woman

l”

 

and her servant. We’d better try some other
course, probably.”

“We could go to Taulbee’s an’ make a bold
s’arch !” the Tom-cat suggested, loth to give up
his plans.

“And bring trouble on our heads likely, if
we didn’t find them there!”

The cowboy subsided. In his opinion abold
game was always a winning one. But he was
out-voted, and manfully acquiesced.

After their return to town, he announced to
Pendergast that he intended to quit work in the
Phoenix Mine.

“ I hain’t doin’ any yearthly good down thar,
an’ so 1 ’low I’ll quit!”

“Why, you’re not going to drop the entire
business?" with questioning surprise.

“ No! But I’m a--goin’ to turn shadder. A
reg’lar creepin’, crawlin’ shadder. Keep it up,
day an’ night, till I run somethin’ down. It’s
the on’y way. Thar’s bushels o’ dirt goin’ on;
an’ it kin be got at in that way, likely. It
seems the best chance, anyhow, an’ I ’low to try
it.

In accordance with this plan, the Tom-cat
severed his connection with the Phoenix Mine.
But he by no means ceased his visits to it. He
ingratiated himself with the night watchman,
and pi‘Owled about the works at all hours of the
night. But he discovered nothing there.

He was more successful in the efforts directed
at the ’I‘aulbee residence. The success came
about through a desperate determination, ar—
rived at after much cogitation over the nature
of the proposed net.

This act was no less than the entrance of the
house itself, under cover of the darkness. Any
one less reckless than the c0wboy would not
have harbored the temptation for a moment.

“ I reckon it ’u’d put me in a mighty bad
light ef I shed git ketched!” he soliloquized.
“ ’Twould be counted burglin’, I s’pose, an’ the
geople out this way don’t take kindly to burglin’.

ut, then, why sh’u’d I git ketched?

“ I’ve been figgerin’ that the woman an’ her
darky’s in that house. Maby they ain’t. The
on’y way I know of to find out is to go in thar
an’ see; er ruther hear, fer I calc’late I’ll not git
in an’ out 0’ that house ’thout ’tractin’ atten-
tion.”

Usually he went to Pendergast with his
schemes. But with this one he did not. He
feared Pendergast would oppose it, and insist
that it was too risky.

He waited only until it was fairly dark before
venturing to put the plan into execution. The
earliness of the hour added to the difficulties, but
he feared he could not accomplish anything if
delayed until later. He hoped to find the fore
tune-teller or the Tarantula moving about, or
talking. His only object was to determine if
they were in the house.

Taulbee kept but one servant—an Irish girl,
and the cowboy had feared to uestion her.

It was a warm evening, an the front door
was left open after dark, to allow the air to
circulate freely. Hence he had no difficulty in
gaining an entrance. But when he stood, in his
bare feet, in the unlighted hall, he was quite at
a loss what step to take next.

There were voices in the room at the end of
this hall. It was lighted, too, for the ra 's of
the lamp came through a little transom am fell
upon the ceiling overhead. He crept softly up
to the door of this room; but he could distin-
guish neither voices nor words. Nor could he
see anything by peering through the key—hole.

“ A sneakin‘ hizness!” he muttered. “ It
makes me feel mean enough to go off an’ hang
myself. The idee o’ the Tom-cat a-pryin’ aroun’
into men’s private houses. Ef the case Wasn’t SO
desprit l’d say ’twas ’mOst as bad as hoss—stealin’.
But what kin a feller do? This hyer scoundrcl
Taulbee has got a. lot 0’ property that don’t be-
long to him. Seems like the law can’t tech him,
the way things is. He’s cunnin’ as a fox; and I
reckon ’tain’t no harm to put cunnin’ ag’in’ cun-
nin’, ef the cause is good enough to jestify it.”

Thus quietin his conscience, he listened again;
with the same ack of success.

There was a. door opening from the ball into
another room; and into this room he slipped,
hoping for better luck.

Again he was disappointed.

As he was about to leave this room, the door
at the end of the hall opened; and a. man came
out. He believed it was Taulbee. although he
did not get to see him. The man passed into the
yard and presumably on into the street.

The movement left the Tom-cat in a predica-
ment. The door entering the room from which
the man had emerged remained open and the
hall was flooded with light, making it impossi-
ble for the cowboy to retreat that way.

 

 

 

The door by which the Tom-cat had entered
the side room was also slightly ajar. Through
it a hum of voices came to him; but, as before,
he could not recognize them.

“ Trapped, by ginger!" he growled. “ I can’t
go neither forrar 3 nor back’ards. I’d give’most
anything to know who that is a-talkin’. Maby
it’s the lady o’ the house an’ the servant: an’
mahy it’s the identical critters I’m after. This
is jest too aggervatin’ l”

0n glancing about in the semi-gloom, be dis-
covered a window through which he believed
he could escape, if pressed. This discovery
quieted him; and he concluded to stay in the
house awhile longer.

For an hour or more he remained there, hear-
ing voices and footsteps in the other room. Then
the sounds ceased, some one passed through the
hall, closed the doors, and the house seemed
given over to darkneSS and quiet.

The Tom—cat stole softly into the hall, scarce-
ly knowing what course now to take, when the
door of that back room again opened. and out of
the flood of light walked the Tombstone Tar-
antula.

It was so unexpected that the cowboy was
taken completely by surprise. The Tarantula
seemed scarcely less astonished. He recovered,
however, before the Tom-cat could get out his
weapons.

A glance served to show that the room from
which the negro had Come was now wholly un—
occupied.

“ Put away dem dah shootin’—irons, Misteh
Tom-cat!” he cried, as the latter’s hands went
to his revolvers. “ Ef you ’temp’ to shoot dish

eh chile, he squall out powerful foh Mawster

aulbee come an’ larrup you. ~>VVhat you pokin’
yo’ nose th’n dish yeh house foh, anyhow? Dat’s.
a mighty mean trick—sneakm‘ th’u a gemman’s
house! I’se s’prised at you! ’Deed I am 3”

The coolness of the negro’s manner irritated
the cowboy. He did not like to be placed in the
wrong by this fugitive from justice.

“I thought you was in the mine!” he stam-
mered, with difficulty controlling his wrath.

The negro gave vent to a contortion of laugh—

ter.

“Yah! yahl You fine off’sehs, ou an’ Mis-
teh Pendehgast am! Fines’ kin’l on think I
gwine stay in dat ’ah mine jes’ lack a skeered
’possnm? But come dis way a. minit. I wanter
speak wid you, now you lieah. We wake up do
folkses talkin’ l”

He turned to the room from which he had
just come; and the Tom-cat, scarcely knowing
whether to retreat or advance, followed.

It was not a large room, but it was comforta—
bly furnished. Ahand-lamp stood on a table
near the center, and by its light the cowboy
studied the features of the negro in momentary
ex ctation of treachery.

ut the latter had no notion of attempting
anythin of the kind, or of resorting to vio—
lence. The cowboy was too well armed, and
altogether too alert to make an offensive move—
ment safe.

“Now, I wanter ax you some questions,” he
said, backing toward a curtained wall or en-
trance at the oppOSite side of the room. “ Why
you come heah, in de fu’st place?”

“I don’t know that that’s any of yer biz-
ness!” replied the cowboy, regaining his cool-
ness.

“Yah! yahl Peppeh an’ fiah, jes’ lack de
obeliseah on de ole plantation when I was a boy!
You needn’t min’ answeh dese heah queschins
less’n you wanter.”

hThe cowboy knew not what reply to make to
t is.

“I know what mek you come! You come
foh dis berry nigger! Lemme tole you, now,
you’ll nebber git him! Nebberl You do’ know
me, I see, Misteh Tom—cat! I’se been hoo—dooed
er somepin’ by de mist’ess, so datI cyan'tbe
tooken.

“ I know you been lookin’ fob me. Lackwise
you been th’u’ do mine lookin’ foh her. You

been heah an’ yondeh, an’ all ’roun’, You git ,.

105’. an’ fin’ yo’se’f a ’in; an’ you worrit yo’se’f
gre’t deal wid spec ylatin’ what come 0’ dese
yeh folkses. An’ all do time do T’rant’ly watch—

inzlyou!”
he cowboy twisted uneasily.
. “How much 0’ that air yarn did you make up
in our woolly head?” , _ .

he negro laughed, as if the question did not
disturb him.

“ I know yo’ intendments. De ypung ’oman
an’ young gemman down- town fillin’ you wid
nonsense an’ gittin’ you to poke dat catskin cap
into trouble.” .

The cowboy became interested, and coolly
took a. chair.

  
 

 

 

   

 

Texas Tom-cat’s Triad.

11

 

 

“ Dat‘s right an’ comf’able!” searing himself
also. “Now we kin talk lack two ole frien’s. I
been wantin’ speak wid you dis good while.
Been wantin’ to ’form you dat you bettah drop
dis yeh bizness.”

“Why so?” demanded the cowboy, amazed at
his own coolness and at the negro’s audacity.
“ Wh d’ye think I’d better drap it?”

“ ’Ca’sel Best ob reasons! I heah Mistah
Taulbee say dat ef cert’in, p’tickler men what
was now pesterin’ him wid foolishness, an’ stir-
rin’ up ructications ’g‘in’ him didn’t quit hit, den
he’d see dat dey went away some’ercs an’ nebber
got back. You is one ob dem men!”

There was a sepulchral earnestness in the
words, and the cowboy shuddered in spite of
himself.

“ An’ mo’. You can’t ’complish nufiin’!
yeh prop’ty b’longs to Misteh Taulbee. Ile say
so! Yo’ friends is playin’ wid you. I don’
wanter injuh a man what hab family to suppo’t
him. But min’ my word. Min‘ hit! De T'ran
t’ly 0’ Tombstone is gittin’ ready to leap \thn
he do, he hit de Tomcat fu‘st man. Misteh
Taulbee is gre’t frien’ o’ mine. Ile look afteli
me. He pay me. When he say leap, den I
leap!”

“ Two kin play at that game!” cried the cow-
boy, endeavoriiig to appear unruflled. “ I’ll be
a-leapin’, too, ’bont that time. Ef that’s all
you’ve got to say, I guess I’ll go. Much obleeg-
ed fer not jumpin’ onto me an’ causin’ a fight.
I’ll remember it in your favor. It was a sneak—
in’ trick crawlin’ in hyer; an’ I calc’late I'll not
do it ag’in.”

He was about to rise, when the negro inter-
rupted him,

“ Mighty sorry you won’t gib up dish yeh biz-
ness. Study ’bout hit. Now, I’m gwine.”

He drew back his hand as if to hurl some-
thing, and vanished.

The Tom-cat hurried to the
had been standing. Seemingl
peared behind the curtains. ‘hese connected
the room with another. But the Tarantula was
not in it. He had disappeared completely and
almost instantaneous] .

“ Guess I’d better git out o’ hyer!" he mutter-
ed. “ He may be bid some’eres, and take a no-
tion to shoot at me. Or he may ’rouse the
house!”

He slipped uietly into the hall, and from
thence hastened into the street.

CHAPTER XIII.
A PAIR or WARNINGS.

As the Tom—cat hurried from .the house he be-
came aware of a painful, pricking sensation in
his breast. An examination showed that his
clothing had been perforated by a tiny gold
galgger, bearing a skull and cross-bones on its

i t.

Dish

lace where be
6 had disap-

 

His amazement was great. Then he recalled
the quick, throwing motion given by the Tartan-
tula just before disappearing. The tiny dagger
had been hurled at that moment.

It was plain that the negro had not tried to
kill him. The dagger was too small, the blade
being barely long enough to pass through the
clothing and scratch the skin. Doubtless it was
intended as a warning. The negro could have
fired ashot or thrown a heavier dagger with
equal ease. The thought was a startling and
disquieting one.

Such evidence of deadly skill was quite unex-
pected. And the coolness of the negro’s threat
was not calculated to make the cowboy feel
more comfortable. What did the Tarantula
inean by saying that he was almost ready to

ea ?

'IPhe Tom-cat, however, was not given to long
FMIng at the perilous side of any affair. Still
ass of one in which his heart had become en—
ga‘ged and his pride aroused. _

‘ Let him leap, ef he wants to!” he gritted.

“.He’ll find me ready. I never backed down
_it fruma plain duty, jest because thar was
lkely to be danger in the trail. Queer, then b,
how the teller acted to-night. I can’t squar y
understand it. He could ’a’ drowned me prob-
’ly, as easy as to ’a’ throwed this thing.

“ Great Gov’ner!”

He started as if stung.

The pricked point in his breast still ained
slightly; and the startling thought he come
that perhaps the dagger-point was poisoned.
Then is imagination evoked strange thrills and
ltinging sensations, and he trembled from head
to foot.

“I’ve heerd o’ sech things!” he whispered,
“Some 0’ the Injun tribes knows howto ti
their arrers with p’izen: an’ a scratch, it’s suit ,
will .killa man. ’Pears tome the thing’sbe-
ginnm’ to burn now!”

 

He started on with qiiickened steps, deter-
mined to call on Pendergast and have him make
an examination of the injury. Then, if danger
was anticipated, a physician could be called.

Pendergast was not at his lodgings, and the
cowboy sought the home of Dell Devore, con-
vinced that he would find the young lawyer
there.

He was not mistaken; and a little later was
ushered into the parlor, where Pendergast Was
sitting with his Sweetheart.

By this time, however, the pricking sensa-
tions had ceased somewhat—his imagination
having cooled down -— and he was almost
ashamed of his recent fears.

The young (people had been conferring quite
earnestly, an appeared to be rather annoyed
and perplexed.

“ (‘ome in!” cried Pendergast heartily.
“ \I’e’ve been thinking of sending for you.”

“ llad to know it!” said the Tom-cat, placing
his cap on a chair and sitting on it. He feared
his sudden intrusion might not be pleasmg.

“ I’ve had an adventoor to-night that knocks
the persimmons l”

His interest in the subject almost cured him
for the time of his tiniidity.

“ See that!” and be tossed the dagger to
Pendcrgast. “Come out into the hall a. niinit.
1 want you to look at souiethiii’.”

The young man arose and followed him. The
hall was lighted; and, standing beneath the
reflecting lamp, the Tom-cat bai'ed his breast
and showed the tiny wound.

“ The gold dagger done that! D’ye think it‘s
swellin’ any? I don’t want you to laugh at me,
but I’ve been afeard the thing was p’izened.”

Pendergast carefully examined the scratch,
and said that no swelling was visible.

“ Now, what does it all mean?” he questioned.

“The Tarantula throwed it!”

“ The Tarantula! Come into the parlor. This
is something I want Dell to hear about.”

In vain the cowboy demurred. Pendergast
insisted, and they returned to the parlor.

“ Well, the spider throwed that thing at me,
an’ it went through my coat. I made shore I
was p’izened by it!”

And with this as a preliminary, the Tom-cat
related his adventures of the night.

“And you talked with the Tarantula face to
face in that manner? It equals Dell’s experi-
ence.

“ Yes; you are not alone in having a story to
tell 1” she exclaimed with attempted cheerful-
ness. “ And while mine hasn’t any tragic ele-
ments in it, it is almost as startling. At any
rate the experience was startling enough!

“ was sitting by the window, there, with the
sash hoisted, shortly after dark. The cool night
air was pleasant, and I never thought any one
might venture into the garden. I hadn’t lighted
the lamp yet.

“ Suddenly a man came out of the shrubbery,
and walked toward the house. I supposed he
was one of the servants, and paid little attention
to him. But he came right up to the window,
to my great surprise. Then I saw it was a
negro.

“ l was startled then, and was on the point of
screaming out. But he made a motion and
said:

“ ‘ Missy Devo’, I wanter speak wid you jes’ a
minit!’

“ Oh, I can’t imitate his dialect!” laughing.
“ So I’ll tell it in my own words.

“ \Vell, he stated that you two were following
him and his mistress, with the intention of caus-
ing their arrest. Also that we three were
leagued against Silas Taulbee.

‘ Then he-raised his hands and darted at me
such a look as I’ll never forget. I can hear him
yet; and see his eyes shine, just as they shone
there in the darkness. And he said that if Pen-
dergast didn’t drop this affair it would result in
murder. That he, the Tarantula of Tombstone,
was getting ready to lea whatever that meant
—and that the leap wou d bePendergast’s death-

si nal.

“ It terrifles me to re t it. And his looks!
I can’t describe them. hey were fiendish! Ma-
lignant!”

She covered her face with her hands, as if to
shut out the terrible sight.

N“ The scoundrel !” sputtered the cowboy. “ He
must ’a’ jest come from hyer when I met him.
Ef I’d knowed he’d been skeerin’ you that-a-way
I’d shorely been tempted to plug him !”

Pendergast was evidently annoyed and un-

eas .
“yHe must be brave to venture on the streets
when he knows m men are watching for him!”
“ Brave as a ’ ache!” declared the cowboy.
“ I saw that when we had our little confab in

 

the back room. He didn’t seem a mite afeard
0’ my weepin. My ’pinion is, he’s a dangerous
nigger. He’ll be apt to prove hisself a ‘t’rant‘ly ’
shore enough.”

“ Oh, I don’t know what to think!” Dell de-
clared. “I don’t knew what to advise. Per-
haps we’d better do as he says: drop the matter
right where it is. We’re not making any head-
way: and he may tryto put his threats into
execution. That negro is a fiend. I could see
that quite readily, in his eyes 1”

“Nary time!” exclaimed the cowboy. “ Let
’im leap, an’ be hanged. I don’t back nary
inch.”

“ The Tom—cat is rightl” Pendergast asserted-
“ I don‘t think we ought to entertain the thought
of retreat for a moment. These very warnings
prove to me that we are making headway. f
we were not, why should our movements annoy
Taulbee? We are gaining ground. He fears
we will yet overthrow him. So he sends this
tool to utter threats in hope of terrifying us into
dropping the matter.”

“ My sentiments!” cried the cowboy. “ You’re
a~talkiii‘! He‘s a-gittiii’ skeered. An’ we kin
skeer him wuss to iiiori'er—m' to-niglit, fer that
matter. Gether yer men, take yer \\ arrants an”
drag this fortune-teller an’ her dorky out o’
thar. lt kin be done. Then we’ll be able to
make ’em talk. They’ll talk lively, ef they think
they kin git away by doin’ of it: and what they
say’ll be mighty likely to go hard ag’in’ Taul—
bee.”

“But you forget!” Pendcrgast interrupted.
“ You stated just a bit ago that the Tarantula
disappeared almost before your very eyes. “'on‘t
he be able to repeat the trick if we go after
him?”

The cowboy’s jaw dropped. He had quite
forgotten that.

“ What air we to do, then?” he questioned.

“ Drop the matter, please!” pleaded Dell.
“The more I think of that negro, the more I
believe his threats mean deadly peril to both of
you. I could never forgive myself if anything
serious was to occur. It’s only selfishness that
has prompted me to urge on this far. I much
prefer that Taulbee shou d keep the property
than that on should risk your lives further in
trying to ispossess him.”

er manner distressed both her lover and the
Tom-cat.

“ Don’t, please!” the latter protested. “ You
turn my blood towater. We’re men, miss, I
hopes! An’ men never turns their backs on a

lain duty. That T’rant’ly’s a p’izen critter, like-
y. But we’ll keep our eyes open. I don‘t think
’at the danger is anyways ser’us!”

Pendergast expressed himself in a similar
strain.

“ Come, come, Dell! Pluck up a little cour—
age! At this moment you are hardly the brave
little woman I am accustomed to seeing. That
negro’s appearance, and the threats, have made
you unduly nervous, that’s all! You will be
yourself again in the morning, I have no
doubt!

“And now,” turning to the Tom cat, “ what
course had we better pursue?”

“I don’t know anything better than to jest
keep up the shaddcr business. That is, of you
think we’d better hold off about raiding Taul—
bee’s house. To-morrer night, ef all goes well,
I‘ll crawl into his cellar, an’ see ef I kin
find the door that leads, as we spoke, into the

mine. I may be able to make some other disr
coveries, too. Onexpected, like to—night, you
know!”

As delay seemed best, this plan was finally
agreed on. and a little later the Tom—cat with—
drew, leaving the lovers to discuss the events of
the evening at their leisure.

CHAPTER XIV.
THE TARANTULA LEAFS.

THE Tarantula of Tombstone evidently
changed his mind on some material points. Per~
haps the cowboy’s undaunted manner under
threats brought about the change. At any rate,
he did not wait to see if the warnings given
would be heeded, but prepared at once for the
“leap” hinted at. The Tom-cat had not been

one f'om the little parlor of Dell’s lodgin -
gouse ten minutes, when the Tarantula a -
vanced along the trail leading toward it, accom-
panied by a number of masked men.

“ Mawster Taulbee say we slip down heah, an’
wait foh dat man,” he whispered, dropping into
the grassa couple of hundred ards from the
house. “He berry p’tick’lar in is awdehsl”

“Yes, durn him! He’s pertick’ler about a
goodmany things. I don’t like this hyer biz-
ness an too well; an’ at he hadn’t tol’ me it jes’
had to done, blamed of Pd ’3’ come!”

 

 

 

.‘v'

.12

The fellow was evidently angered at the idea

$1: having a negro placed in command over
Jlll).

“ What’s the young fellei‘ done, anyhow? I
ain’t heerd the story, yit,” growled another.

“ Inimy 0’ de boss!” answered the Tarantula.
"‘ Dat’s all I knows. He don’ s’plain his ’tentions
zin’ ’siderations to dis chile no mo’n he do to de
res’. He give awdehs an’ I cyarry ’um out. His
awdehs an’ corrections ’bout dis young man
berry p’inted too!”

“ Vell, what war they? He didn’t have time
to tell me anything sca’cely. Said to do as you
said. An’ that the chap wuz to be put out o’
the way.”

“Corrections was to hide heah an’ nab him
w’en he come out’n dat house. Den you-’uns
was to cyarry him to do ole mine—down into do
mine, you on’erstan’—an’ w’cn de s’plosion
comes you is to hang ’im 1”

“ Ex losionl”

“Ya ! yahl Mawse Taulbee not tell you
’bout dat s’plosion? Dat mighty cur’us.”

“ H e didn’t have time to tell us anything!” the
fellow growled, disliking exceedingly to take
his knowledge at second-hand from this de-
tested negro. “ He was in a terrible hurry, an’
hustled us off hyer as fast as we could go.”

The Tarantula chuckled.

“ Well, dat s’plosion make a mighty ruction,
now, I tell you! Mawse Taulbee say dish yeah
Tom-cat hatter be put out’n de way. Do’ know
W’y; but Mawse Taulbee sesso, an’ dat’s ’nufi‘ fo’
me! Dish yeah Tom-cat, he sleep in do little
w’ite house obeh de ole mine. De little house
what got dat ’ah quah h’istin’ ’sheen in bit. You
reconimembers dat house, I ’low?”

“ Yes; 0’ course we do. Go on! Don’t etc
to tell us how the house looks an‘ what all it s
got in it.”

“ Yahl yahl You in berry big hurry mighty
suddent, ’pears to me! Well, do Tom-cut lib in
dat ’ah house. Leas’wise he slee in hit. I
gwine put iant powdeh cahterges in dat house,
when do om-cat sleepin’, an’ blow him cl’ah
.into de ilimentsl”

The men shuddered, hardened as they were.

"‘ Did Taulbee tell you to do that?”

"‘ To be shol An’ w’en you heah dat s’plosion
you mus’ pull de young chap up by de naik.”

“ But ain’t there some danger that it ’11 knock
in the roof of the mine?” one of the men asked
of another. ,

“ Oh, I reckon not. We’ll have to resk it. It’s
most tob deep down there fer that.”

“ Why didn’t the boss have us rake in the
Tom-cat as we’re to do this fellow?” questioned
the first speaker, again addressing the Taran-

tula.
“ Kiyil Him ’feared to!” was the chuckling
answer. “De Tom-cat pow’ful fighter w‘en

he git his dandeh up. An’ he squall jes’
like a fightin’ Tom-cat, sho’ ’uufl’. He wake de
town, dat man would, w’en he git to screech-
ifyin’ dat way. An’ he sart’in kill somebody.
But dat s’plosion fix ’im so he cyain’ do nufiin’.
Jes' sail away, sail away, tell he hit de incon—
biff! Nobody know what made de s’flosion.
Nobody killed but de Tom-cat. Mighi y n’, dat
plan 0’ Mawse Taulbee’sl Fines’ kin’l”

He gave a low whistle, as he ceased, and sunk
to the ground out of sight. The front door of
the house had opened, and Pendergast stepped
out into the starlight.

One of the villains grasped a m'ata which lay
by his side, and put it in shape for a throw.

Without a thought of peril, Pendergast
emerged into the trail and came toward them,
at a slow saunter. He was just leaving the
presence of the woman he loved, and doubtless

iis mind was filled with tender memories and
fond anticipations.

The boarding—house stood back from any
thoroughfare; and this trail wound through the
grass and sage—brush to .he street. Near the
street the men lay in waiting.

With bowed head and hat pulled over his
eyes, Pendergast came on, passed the point
where the scoundrels Were crouching, and was
about to turn toward his lodgings. Then the
riuta swept through the air, the noose settled
over his shoulders and about his arms and body,
and he was jerked heavily backward. At the
same instant the men leaped upon him with
leveled weapons.

The surprise was stunning in its completeness;
and before he fairly realized what had befallen
him, the Tarantula was astride his body, with
one sinewy black hand clutching his throat.

“ What is the meaning of this?” he demanded,
when the grip was relaxed somewhat and he
could collect his wits sufficiently to frame the
question.

For reply two of the men leaped to the negro’s

 

‘K’,..I"l.’

Texas Tom-cat’s Triad.

assistance, and Pendergast’s hands were bound
tight and fast.

Then he was lifted to his feet.

“ No queschins, now, you Misteh Pendergast
cried the Tarantula, sternly. “P’int yo’ nose
up do trail an’ ’gin foh to trabble. We ain’ got
no time foh s’plainications, we ain’l”

“But I want to know what your intemions
are l” he exclaimed.

He struggled and seemed on the point of
screaming out.

“ Yahl Yahl Lake a buckin’ muel, jes’ foh
all de worl’! Trabble on, now, 311’ while we
gwine mebbe I kin fin’ time to tell you.”

Pendergast was becoming calmer. He saw
that struggles were useless, and any attempt to
bring asmstance would probably result in his
death. He was convinced that their inten—
tions were deadly, but he hoped to be able to
foil them in some way, if time enough was given.

“ I submit!” he said, as one of the men ad-
vanced with a gag. “Don’t put that in my
mouth, please 1”

“Well, we will, now, ef you go to gawpin’l”
the follow asserted, hrutall . “ We ain’t a-goin’
to have the t0wn brought own onto us. VVe’ve
got a little bizness transaction to ’tend to with
you; an’ we don’t propose to hev it interfered
with.” '

“ I have submitted. Isn’t that enough?”

“Go ’long wid you, then!” commanded the
ne ro. “ We ain’ gwine stan’ no speechifyin’l”

here was no help for it, and Pender ast start-
ed along the trail in the direction indicated, his
captors closing about him.

For some time the advance was like a solemn
and stately march, in which not a word was ut-
tered.

Then Pendergast broke out again with ques-
tions.

“ Why did you rope me? And what do you
mean to do With me?”

They were leaving the town, now, and the
negro seemed willing to answer.

“ What we wine do wid you; Misteh
Pendehgast? W y, we gwine ’muse ourse’ves
wid you, to be sho’. We gwine practice see
how much yo’ naik ’11 stretch ’fo’ it break smack
off. Yahl yah!”

There was a depth of suggestive and horrible
malignity in the words and tones.

“You mean that you intend to hang me?”
he said, endeavoring to nerve himself for the
worst. “ It is what I expected.”

“Gwine take you into de mine!” chuckled
the negro. “Nice, cool place, dat ole mine is.
Fines’ kind. Frien’s cyain’ nebber fin’ you; an’
so won’t hab any cause teh worry ’bout you.
Jes’ be a man missin’. Man mi5sin’ mos’ eber’
day in dish yeah country. Pow’ful sight er
strangeli’s arouii’ yeah. Road-agen’s, boss-
stealehs, an’ sich lackl Hones’ men sca’ce lack
hens” teef. Man missin’ don’ count foh nufiin’
yeah I”

He seemed to derive a sort of malicious sat-
isfaction in thus holding before the bound man
the terrors and helplessness of his situation.

Pendergast became silent. He knew, now,
that he was in the power of men as heartless as
fiends. Why question them, and thus furnish
opportunity for taunts and gihex?

Soon the little building above the mine came
into view. It was dark and deserted, and
scarcely discernible from the black back-ground
of hill and dump-pile. Into this building he
was led. Then one of the men produced and
lighted a dark lantern.

It was the first opportunity he had had of
observing them. But the observation revealed
little. With the exception of the Tarantula,
they were all heavily masked. He stood, bold
and defiant, with face uncovered, and a wicked
smile hovering about his red lips.

“One mo’ word 0’ 'sti‘uction!” he said, as
the men were about to step into the cage with
the prisoner. “Don’t fo’git dat s’plosion. An’
I done change my min’ some ’bout hit. W’en
you yeah dat s’plosion you wait jes' a hour foh

1”

me. ’F‘ I don come in a hour go ahead Wid
what I tole on. You on’erstan’?” .
“What 098 he mean by that explosmn?”

Pendergast questioned.
“You’ll learn soon enoughl” was the unsat-
isfactory answer. .
Then, the Tarantula being assured that his
orders were fully comprehended and would be
obeyyd, the cage slowly descended into the dark
sbaf .

CHAPTER XV.
THE EXPLOSION.
THE Tom-cat, as he walked away from the
house, was not altogether pleased with the
programme mapped out. And the more he

 

 

pondered the situation the more he was dis-
pleased. He had suggested an immediate ad-
vance. Delay was not well suited to his dispo-
sition. He wanted to end the struggle by one
quick and crushing blow.

“ Bluff is my ideel” he whispered. “ Bluff is
allus the way to win. Ef you ain’t got cards
enough in a game 0' this kind, rake in the ot
with a pistol. 'Ne’ve been shilly-shallyin’, shi ly-
shallyin’, and ’complishin’ nothin’.”

In this frame of mind he strolled about, pon
dering the subject and trying to reach some
definite conclusion or evolve a better plan than
any yet suggested. Finally he started back.

“ l’ni goin’ to insist on perceedin’ at onc’t l” he

growled. “ They’re there to—night—the nigger,
Taulbee an’ alll Mebby they won’t be to-
morrer!"

As he drew near the house, he saw a group of
men marching slowly and solemnly up the
trail. They seemed to have a prisoner in their
midst. He could not be sure of that, however,
owing to the darkness. He did not dream that
the prisoner might be Pendergast. Still it was
a matter demanding investigation. Very likely
some innocent man had fallen into the hands of
a crazy mob. The Tom-cat had seen too much
of the erratic and irresponsible doings of Judge
Lynch, to fancy them.

So he crept quietly along in the rear of the
party, straining his eyes and ears to little pur-

se. He could hear the sounds of voices, but
could not distinguish the words uttered.

When they turned toward the mine building
his amazement was great.

“ Takin’ the chap to my boardin’ house. I’d
like to whisper into their ears that that’s a pri-
vate hotel, with on’ y ’commodations fer one.
But mebbe they wouldn’t take kindly to it. I
must see this thing through.”

Then, for the first time, he reco nized the

culiar dialect of the Tarantula. he latter

ad incautiously lifted his voice, so that it came
distinctly to the Tom-cat.

“ J ingol That’s the niggeri An’ I do believe
he’s captered Fender ast. They was near that
air boardin’-house w en I fu’st seen ’em. Yes,

sir; they grabbed the young feller as he was
leavin’——an’ they’re bent on murder, I’m satis-
fied. Now, what kin I do to sp’ile their little
picnic?”

It was a question not easily answered. The
men were entering the house With their prisoner,
and, for a moment, the Tom-cat was on the
point of giving utterance to his war—cry and
charging with all his impetuous recklessness. He
knew it might be suicidal, but even with that
knowledge he could scarcely restrain himself.
He muttered a half-score of low “ meows,” his
fingers played convulsiver with his weapons,
and his glaring eyes seemed to shoot fire.

“ No,” he whispered, drawing in his breath,
with a great sigh. “ I mustn’t! It’d ruin
everything. But I’d give a cool hundred ef I
could scream jest onc’t. It hurts me to stan’
hyer jes’ aedi'awin‘ my claws in an’ out an’
afeard to use ’em. Law! couldn’t 1 down one
0’ them fellers purty, now? I’m ’most a notion
to, anyway, resk er no resk. Mehbe I could
stampede ’em !”

The light, which one of the men produced, re—
vealed everything clearly: the bound man, the
masked faces, and the spider-like form of the
Tombstone Tarantula. Then the outer door was
closed, and the Tom-cat stood in the darkness.

Creeping up to the door he peeped through the

key-hole, and could thus see all that trans—
firm].
I “ Ef they propose to hang the young feller I’ll
make a break anyhow. Cricky! They’re goin’
to take him into the mine. Now, what’s that
for? They could hang ’im hyer as well as tharl
I’m bound to foller.”

He stopped his anxious niutterings. The
Tarantula was addressing the masked men. and
instructing them to hang the prisoner if he did
not appear Wlthlll an hour after the explosion.

The cowboy Could not comprehend his entire
meaning. But he drew a great breath of re—
lief. Pendergast was not to be hung at once.
An hour would elapse. No explosion had yet
occurred; and the hanging was not to take place
until an hour after the explosion.

“That’s all hunk!” he soliluquized. . “Ef I
don’t git the boy out 0’ their clutches inside of
an hour, I’ll go into the granger bizness fer the
balance 0’ my nateral days, I will 50! I’ll fol-
ler ’em, an’ somethin’s boun’ to turn up in our
favor inside of an hour.”

The cage descended into the depths, leaving
the Tarantula standing in the hall. For a mo-
ment the cowboy could not tell what had be-
come of the negro. But the latter quickly pro-
duced and lighted another lantern.

 

 

 

. .a—

 

9

Texas Tom-cat’s Triad.

18

 

—.

For several minutes the Tarantula remained
in the ball, as if uncertain what course to pur-
she, and the cowboy watched him through the
key-hole.

“Drat him! I can’t do nothin’, lon ’s he
stays thar! Ef I was close enough I’d ike to

unch him on the head. I ’low, though, that

’m safe while I keep him in sight. The ’re not
to hang Pendergast tell he comes. Ef e don’t
come’thin an hour after the explosion, up the boy
goes, What kind of an explosion d’ye calc’late
he meant?”

Toe black shifted his position, placed the light
so it could not be seen from the outside, and
came to the door behind which the cowboy was
standing. The latter withdrew into the shad-
ows, uncertain whether to leap upon the negro
or not, should he appear.

But, the Tarantula did not come out at that
moment. He simply flattened his nose against
the lock and peered through the key-hole out to-
ward the trail. Then he walked back, entered
the room at the further end of the hall and for a
time disappeared.

The Tom—cat could hear him all the while,
though he could not imagine what he was do-
in .

§Up to some devilment, I’ll be boun’!” was
the uneasy command. “I don’t much like to
stand hyer waitin‘ this-a-way. Mebbe they’ve

ot the young feller harnessed afore now. But

Idon’t hardly know what to do. Can’t git by
that spider very easy, ’thont him diskiverin’ me;
an’ I s’pose that’d sp‘ile ever’thing. He’d sing
out to the fellers below; I’d have a fight onto
my hands; and afore I could git cl’ar of it the
young man’d be deader’n a bu’sted minin’-
cam .”
He drew his revolvers, half-tempted to slip to
one of the wind0ws and shoot the darky when
he a ain appeared; but the creature came into
the all, at that moment, and the Tom-cat
drop. the wen us back into place.

This time the arantula advanced to the door
and opened it. Then he closed it softly behind
him and stepped out into the darkness.

“Blamed ef 1 don’t b’lieve he’s a-waitin’ fer
me!” the cowboy whispered excitedly, as he
crouched in the shadows. “He’s a-waitin’ fer
me to come home. Then he ’lows to nab me
while I’m aslee . He’s a slick ’un! Told me to-
night he’d hol ofl’ awhile, jest to throw me off
my guard. An’ at the same time was gittin’
ready to pounce onto both 0’ us. I reckon this
is what he calls his leap!” .

His excitement became so great, at this
thought, that he could hardly contain himself
in net.

e Tarantula, after hearkenin a little,
turned and walked along the buil in , in the
heavy shadows. 'In doin so he passes within
arm’s length of the crouching cowboy.

The temptation, to one of the latter’s tempera-
ment, was simply irresistible. With a startling
howl, cat-like and terrifying, he launched him-
self at the negro’s back.

The assault was so unexpected that the Tar-
antula went down beneath it. Then the Tom-
cat grappled with him, with terrible fury.
With the advantage of a surprise, his agility
was more than a match for the negro’s stren th.
With a quick and werful blow he stunned im
into partial insensibility; then tied him with a
stout cord which he fished from the crown of
the big. catskin cap.

The Tarantula speedily recovered conscious-
ness and sat up, blinking at the Tom-cat like an
owl. He did not offer to renew his struggles.

“Why you do dis yah?” he asked, as if 88-
tounded at the outrage.

“ I shouldn’t think you’d need to ask, seein”t
you'was waitin’ fer me an’ calc’latin’ to do me a
good deal wuss trick.”

The negro stared.

“ No use in playin’ sweet innocence, thar ain’t.
’Twon’t do You any good. I’m up to yer little
Scheme. Pendergast is down in the mine, now,
With a lot 0’ men, and you thought you’d capter
me an’ take me down thar. too. Then you’d
have a double hangin’. Er, it may be, you in-
tended to blow me up with the house afterI
went to sleep.”

The Tarantula’s surprise was now enuine.

“Oh, I’ve been a-watchin’ ye an a-listenin’,
too, I follered ye plum from town; an’ I know
purty near all about what ye’r’ up to.”

The ne 0 subsided with a groan,

“You’l oan wuss’n that ef ye don’t talk
strai ht. here’d them men take Ponder-
est

“ Inteh do mine!”
“ K’rect! An’ they intend to hang ’im. Well,
they’ll be apt to wait a ood while before they

’ hear that explosion. I ow to leave you turned

 

up hyer tell I come back. I’m‘soin’ into that
mine, you understand! An’ thar’li? be a few of
them chaps less’n they air now, afore another
hour. I’d ought to kill you, by rights. You
may git away and make trouble.”

The negro began to quake and beg.

“ Shet up, or I’ll be tempted to do it, shore.
You’re naterally too p’izen mean to live. A
man that’ll call hisself a t’rant’ly ought to be
smashed, same as of he reely was one 0’ them
black spiders, shore ’nough.”

He was working as he talked, and now slipped
8 ga into the negro’s mouth.

“ That’ll keep you from callin’ out an’ lettin’
any one know you’re hyer. Now, I’m goin’. Ef
you’re wise you’ll keep quiet tell I come back.
Strainin’ ’11 only draw the knots tighter.”

He turned away, listened a few moments to
the negro’s heavy breathing, and then entered
the house.

He had no sooner done so than the Tarantula
slipped the bonds from his wrists, and began to
tu at the choking and suffocating gag.

The negro had resorted to an old trick, but
one that can on] be worked successfully after
long practice. ‘hen bound he had distended
the muscles of his wrists and arms, thus making
them much larger than they naturally were.
On again assumin their normal size, the cords
fell loosely about t. em; and as his hands were
small corgpared with the size of his wrists, it
was no di cult feat to slip the nooses orer them.

As soon as the gag was removed, he drew
a knife and cut the cords from his ankles. Then
he hurried to the door and pee (1 into the hall.
The Tom-cat was in the be -r00m, evidently
preparing for a descent into the mine.

I 1th a smothered cry of joy, the negro slip-
ped around the house, hoisted a window and
crept into the room at the rear of the hall. The
door was slightly ajar; and the rays of the lan-
tern coming through the opening, showed a
Quantit of giant powder cartridges heaped up—
on the oor.

At this moment the Tom—cat came out of the
room, entered the cage, which had been raised
for the accommodation of the negro, and got
read to descend into the depths.

“ ' ie! Die!” hissed the Tarantula, applying a
match to a shortened fuse, and leaping backward
through a window. Then as the fuse sputtered
and hissed, he ran for his life through the dark-
ness.

“ Well, hyer goes!” exclaimed the cowboy
grimly, as the cage began to descend. “Now,
we’ll see what we’ll see!”

The motion of the machinery drowned the
sputtering of the fuse.

Then-—

A terrific explosion shook the earth, and the
Tom-cat knew no more.

CHAPTER XVI.
IN THE MINE.

Pmmnnoasr as he descended with his captors
into the mine, determined to make a bold dash
for liberty, if the shadow of a chance offered.
With a start of a hundred feet. and the protec-
tion of a rocky angle it would be im ible for
them to retake him or even stop his flight with a
buhet. He preferred to trust himself to the
labyrinthine passages and perish of starvation
and thirst, to dying like a elon at the end of a

re

I): was a desperate resolve. Bound as he was,
he could do little to aid himself should he suc-
ceed in getting away.

But he was given no 0 portunity to put his
plans into execution. en the cage reached
the bottom of the shaft, one of the men advanc—
ed, carrying the lantern. The others closed
absu: him and moved forward with him in their
mi s .

They advanced for some distance along the
galleries, and finally stopped where a lad!)
beam overhead seemed to offer what they want-
ed.

“ As good as we kin find!” said the man with
the lantern, who had assumed the functions of
leader. “ An’ it’s fur enough from the shaft to
keep that explosion frum knockin’ us eendways.
I on’y hopes the nigger’ll git killed a-touchin’
the thing off.” '

There was a universal assent.

“ The ideer o’ Taulbee a-puttin’ sich a critter
as that over men like us! White men! It’s
enough to make a feller strike ag’in’ the hull
thing.” ,

A thou ht occurred to Pendergast. as he lis-
‘elled to t 090 growing comments. These men
were evidently working for: mone . The were
thoroughly unscru ulous. Woul it not pos-
sible to outbid Tan bee and purchase a release?

“ How much would it be worth to you to let

7-: a ' ' ‘»

 

me go?” he asked, looking at them sharply.
“ Name the sum, a reasonable one, and perhaps
I can pay it.”

The leader gazed at him curiously before re-
plyir‘ig.

“ hat’ll ye give?”

“ ‘ All a man hath will he give in exchange
for his life !’ ” he answered, lowly and earnestly.

The fellow beckoned his comrades to one side,
and conferred with them.

“Can’t do it!” he said, returning.

Pendergast’s hopes had risen considerably, .
and this was a bitter blow.

“ Why not?” eagerly. “I will make it worth
your while. What do you say to a thousand
dollars apiece? It would push me to raise such
a sum, but I can do it, I think, by borrowing.
A thousand dollars is no small sum of mono a”

“ Can’t do it,” the man repeated, though his.
eyes shone covetously. “ I don’t mind sayin’—
fer ye’ll never have a chance to tell it—that we’d
like to. But we don’t dare. That’s the trouble,

miner! We don’t dare. Our lives wouldn’t.

wu’th shucks.”

“Why not!” Pendergast persisted. “I can
protect you from Taulbee, if he’s the one you’re
afraid of. If released, I’ll have him by the
heels in a. little while, and he’ll have all he can
do to look out for himself, without bothering
you. Think of it again! A thousand dollars
apiece! And I’ll use my influence to get any
prosecutions dismissed that may be brought
against you.”

“ You don’t know Taulbee!” declared the man.
“ Nobody ’round hyer knows him like I do.
He’sadevil, I tell you. A regular devil. He ,
knows enough to hang ever’ one 0’ us fellers, ef
he was minded to spit it out. An’ that’s what
he’d do, ef we sh’u’d et you go. He’d have us
hung, ef he had to be hung alongside 0’ us fer
doin’ it. That’s Taulbee l”

The fellow shuddered, and looked over his.
shoulder in a furtive way, as if he half-expected
to see Teulbee at his elbow.

Pendergast repeated his offers, increased the-
amount, and used all his powers of persuasion
to induce them to release him. It was in vain.
The would do nothing.

“ suppose you intend to hang me i” he said at
last despairingly.

“Yes! That’s what the orders calls fer!" in.
the most matter-of—fact way imaginable. “The
nigger has orders to lay out yer pardner, the
Tom—cat. Then he’s to come down yer’ an’see
that we do this job up ri ht.”

“You spoke of an exp osion t” questioningly.

“ That’s the way he’s to kill the Tom-cat.
Blow u the house, with him in it. And," look-
ing at is watch by the li ht of the lantern,
“ it’s a-tickin’ ’long t0ward he time. The Tom--
cat will turn in about midni ht, likely. Then
it will take a half an hour fer im to git quieted
down so’t it’ll be safe fer the T’rant’ly to tech of
the ca’trid es!”

He cl his watch nonchalantly, and turned
to his comrades.

Pendergast had now lost all hope. It was fer»
rible to thus stand there, waiting for the sound-
of an explosion that was to hurl a friend to—
death, and to realize that he himself must speed-
ily follow that friend.

His brain swam with the tide of despairing
reflections that poured through it.

He thought of his childhood, his youth, and
his manhood. Of the loving faces around the-
old home circle so far away, and the many
warm and true friends of the long ago. Then.
his mind returned to the Tombstone and pres-
ent.

How he longed to see Dell Devore, his sweet-
heart, if only for one brief, fleeting moment.
He would like to kiss her lips, look into her clear
eyes, and say good-by. _

He realized that the minutes ware speed-
ing, and tried to compose himself for the inevo
itable. He turned his thoughts heavenward and
Godward, and gained strength and composure-
from the effort.

Suddenly the very walls of the mine were
shaken. The wild, rough men turned ashy pale
and trembled. It seemed the rocking shock of
an earthquake. Then to their ears came the
dull and mufllled boom of the explosion.

“ I suppose the Tom-cat is dead !” Pende ast
soliloquired, awed and horrified. “ Poor fel owl
A braver and more generous heart never beat
But why should I mourn for him? My time will
come next !”

,tg‘ Must ’a’ used a ten 0’ powder!” exclaimed

e leader, with an attempt at laughter which
was an utter and dismal failure. “ I thought
the rocks was comin’ down on us, shore!”

No one replied and he relapsed into a 'm.
and expectant siIenoe. g"

Q
.6.» s v  V f ,

 

   
 

 

14

Texas Tom-cat’s Triad.

  

...,‘,‘ J,.,.,.;, H, ~- ',....,,,__\i_a:._,,%,, "4,73?  g 4 ,,

 

 

Pendergast was in no mood for idle words.
Hc believed he was doomed, and was endeavor-
ing to prepare himself to meet his fate like a man
and a hero.

All too soon the hour passed.

“ Time’s up!” announced the leader, again
examining his watch by the light of the lan-
tci‘ll. “ The Tarant’ly ain’t come, an’ his orders
was of he didn‘t come in an hour, fer us to go
ahead.” '

The others arose. like hyenas scenting prey.

" Air ye ready?" he demanded, advancing
toward Pendergast, and flashing the light in his
face. ‘

“ Quite ready!” was the low response.

“ Remember, ’tain’t our wish!” said the scoun-
(lrel, apologetically, as he deftly adjusted the
noose of the riata about Pendergast’s neck.

The other end of the rope had previously been
passed over the beam above.

“ Anything to say ’l” the fellow questioned.

“ Nothing!” the young man re lied, endeavor-
ing to commit his soul to his aker. “ If you
will murder me, have it over with I”

“ Up with him!” came the stern command;
and Pendergast. spasmodically struggling, was
lifted from his feet by the noose.

 

CHAPTER XVII.
A BOWLING TOM-CAT.

HOW long the Tomcat remained insensible he
did not know. When he recovered conscious-
ness he sat up in the dark and tried to recall his
position and what had transpired. His head
still roared from the effects of the tremendous
report and concussion.

“ The T’rant’ly‘s blowed up the house!” he de-
clared, as recollection dawned. “ How he done
it, though, gits me! He must ’a’ had help.
Somebody ontied him. An’ hyer I am, half-
way down the shaft, 1 s’pose, and stuck. An’
Pendergast—”

He scrambled to his feet and groped about in
the darkness, to see if the cage was so jammed
that it could not be moved. He leaped up and
down in it, pulled at the cable, and exhausted
every device calculated to start it. It refused
to budge.

“ Stuck!” he exclaimed. “ Jest as I thou ht.
Can’t git down ner up. That explosion as
bulged the walls someway.”

But, the Tom-cat was not ready to surrender
to despair. Drawing his strong sheath-knife, he
knelt down and carefully sounded the floor of
the cage. Then, beginning at the point where
the iron cable passed through, he attacked the
planking with impetuous energy. To cut through
the bottom of the cage seemed a tedious and al-
most hopeless task, but his life, and perhaps
Pcndergast’s, depended on its accomplishment.
He did not know how longa time had ela .
since the explosion. Perhaps hours! If so, on-
dergast was, no doubt, dead.

Impelled by these thoughts he worked away,
cease essly but carefully, in the deep gloom of
the cage. He knew that he must be cautious.
An overstrain, a snapping of the keen blade,
(woulle consign him to a fingering and horrible

eat .

Slowly the hole through which the cable
passed was widened and lengthened. The air
from the mine came up in feeble waves. Then,
when he could get his hands through the aper-
ture, he twisted at the boards with almost sav-
age vigor. They bent under the strain. Leap-
ing to his feet, be stamped heavily with his
heels, and the board that had been cut into
cracked and groaned under the blows.

But it held fast; and he was forced to again
attack it with the knife.

The sweat rolled from him, as he worked.
But he heeded it not. The seconds ran into
minutes and the minutes fled, fleet-winged. He
was gaining, however! The tiny chips and
splinters flew in a shower. At times he heaved
with his hands and stamped with his feet; and
accomplishing nothing, attacked the boards again
with the knife.

His progress was slow, painfully slow. but it
was progress. Finally he cut entirely through
one of the boards; and by leaping up and down
on it, split away a section.

He uttered a cry of delight, as he did so.

“ Hooray! I’m gittin’ thar. I’m bound to git
out 0’ this hole, sooner er later. Now, ef I on’y
knowed Pendergast was still in the land 0’ the
livin’!”

The thought drove him to a renewal of his‘
energetic efforts.

It seemed to him an age almost, since he first
attacked the floor of the cage. In reality the
time was comparatively short. He had worked
furiously and feverishly; as was attested by the

 

knife-blade, which had fairly become hot under
his rapid manipulations.

After splitting away that section, he attacked
the remainder of the board and soon had the
satisfaction of wrenching it from its place.

“ Like a rat in a box!" he muttered, as he
began on the next plank. “ Makes me think 0’
an ole, brown rat gnawin’ away at midnight.
An’, like the rat, I’ll gnaw through, of I on’y
keg) at it long enough!”

is courage had never failed him. Even
when the task seemed most hopeless he had cut
and hacked away, without a thought of giving
up.

The removal of a plank ave him more room
in which to work; and the een blade, propelled
by his muscular hands, ate into the heavy plank-
ing like a saw.

Soon he was able to split off another section,
and a little later he wrenched out the entire
board. They were narrow, however, and he
could not yet force his body through the open-

mg.

After ten minutes more of hard and exhaust-
ing labor, he removed another board, and a lit~
tle later, another.

“ There!” he exclaimed, exulanttly, when this
had been accomplished. “ The way’s open. Now
to it into the mine! I hope the young chap’s
stil alive, though I’m much afeard he ain’t.
Seems to me I’ve been workin’ hyer more’n an
hour, an’ it may be sev’ral sence the explosion.”

He thrust the knife into its sheath, leaned
over the opening, and explored the place below
with his hands. He believed there were other
cables, but he could only find the one that passed
through the cage.

“ I can’t stay hyer any longer to find ’em. A
minit may mean a good ’eal right now!”

With this he swung his body through the hole,
wound his legs around the cable, and prepared
for the descent.

He used great caution in doing this. It was
possible that the men who had descended with
Pendergast were at the bottom of the shaft. If
so, they would make short work of him when he
appeared.

Grasping the cable with his hands, be com-
menced to slide down it, slowly and carefully,
not knowing what obstruction he might encoun-
ter, or what he might find at the bottom.

It was difficult to cling to the stiff cable, but
he had a firm and muscular grip. and his en-
twined legs seemed possessed of prehensile
powers. Thus, alternately sliding and stopping
to listen, he arrived at the bottom at last.

As he drew himself erect he realized for the
first time how greatly exhausted he was. His
limbs fairly trembled beneath him, the perspi-
ration covered him, and he was so weak he could
scarcely rise.

“Now, to see if the young feller’s alive!” he
whispered, paying no heed to this feeling, and
movm toward the door of the cage. This he
push open, and peered into the mine. All was
gloom and silence.

A great fear came over him. He had expect-
ed to find the men near by, with their prisoner,
if he found them at all.

He moved out into the mine, and listened.
Then he pushed on, uncertain what route to take.
Suddenly, in turning an angle, he caught the
far away gleam of alantern. There were figures
of men around it.

Driawing his revolvers he crept softly for-

war .
“ It’s them!” with an exultant thrill. “ An’
the young feller’s all right yit! But I do b’leeve
they’rggittin’ ready to hang ’im. Git yer claws
rea y!

The ominous, cat-like growls, which it seemed
impossible for him to restrain in times of peril
and excitement, were now issuing from his ips.
His eyes blazed; and his fingers worked convul—
sively over the trigger of his revolver.

Ho writhed forward, sinuous and terrible, like
a anther preparing to leap upon its prey. His
exlliaustion was forgotten.

Then, as he drew near, he heard the command
of the leader, saw the rope tighten and beheld
Pendergast swinging in mid-air.

At that his warocry rung through the gloomy
chambers with startling and paralyzing distinct-

BOSS:

“Whoop! Mariar! Moe—ow! Sp’t,sp’t, sp’t!
Mee-ee—ow-ow!”

And, at the same time, his revolvers spouted
flame. The leader and one other went down,
and the remainder, with yells of fright, darted
agvay, as if a legion of howling fiends was after
t em.

Pendergast dropped' to the rocks. as the rape
fell from the hands of the men. The Tom-cat
sped by him, screaming his cat-calls, and firing

 

at every leap. But, he did not follow the fugi-
tives. After a few bounds he turned back, and
bent over Pendergast.

“ Worth a dozen dead men I" he cried, placing
his hand over the heart of the insensible man.
“I’ll carry him away, so that if any 0’ them
fellers comes back they’ll not trouble us. I don’t

.’low they’ll come back, though; fer I never seen

men run like they did.”

“As for them chaps," referring to the men
slain, “they’ll do well enough hyi-r, I reckon.
They died while tryin’ to murder a man, an’ this
mine is a good enough grave fer sich. Et‘ they’s
any ruction raised ’bont it by the off’sers I kin
pilot the gen’lemen down hyer and show ’em
what the critters was up to.”

He was not idle while talking. He had slip-
ped the noose from Pendei‘gast’s neck; and now’
proceeded to drag him to a place of greater se-
curity. In doing this he recalled the ease with
which he had lost his hearings on aprevious
occasion; and went in the direction of the shaft.

Having placed Pendergast in a comfortable
position, the cowboy returned for the lantern,
which the men had left behind in their flight.
Then he applied himself to the young man’s re-
storation with such success that the latter soon
opened his eyes and attempted to sit up.

“ Ruther a close call!” declared the Tomcat,
beamingly.

Pendergast rubbed his bruised throat and at-
tempted to speak. After several efforts he re-
gained his utterance.

“Too close altogether for comfort!” he re-

lied. “ I suppose I owe m rescue to you.

hat has become of the rasca 5?”

“Two of ’em’s a-lyin’ over yonder!” jerking
his thumb in the direction. “ T‘othcr ones skip-
ped in a powerful hurry. I calc’late they’re a—
runnin’ yit. I give two er three yawps and opened
on ’em with my shooters, an’ they jest flew.”

“ I hated to do it!” the Toni—cat went on,
“ but it was them er you,an’ I figgered that you
was wu‘th a regiment o’ sich cattle!"

“It is a serious thing, Tom. Human life is
too precious to he recklessly sacrificed, but they
certainly deserved their fate, if ever men did.”

“ Hellow!” the cowboy exclaimed, staring
through the darkness. “ They’re a—comin’ back,
I do believe, what’s left of ’em! An’ they’ve
got another lantern! Reckon‘» we’d better git
away from hyer. I’m clean beat out, and don’t
keer to git in another fight, ef I kin help it."

Pendergast twisted around and surveyed the
advancing light.

“ It can’t be!” he asserted. “ They wouldn’t
return in that hold open way.”

The Tom-cat had been staring like one dum-
founded. All at once he leaped to his feet and
made the rocky passage ring with his whoops
and cat-calls. ‘

“ We’re saved!” he elled. “ It’s a gang 0’
our own men comin’ a ter us. How they got in
hyer. though, puzzles me! An’ how did they
know we was hyer an’ needin’ help?”

“ Thank Heaven!” Pendergast exclaimed.
rising to his feet with the cowboy’s aid. “I
was afraid we’d have trouble in getting out of
this accursed place. I suppose the house and
elevator were destroyed by the explosion.”

The rescuing y came straight on, when
they heard the om-cat’s cries; and were now
whoo ing a chorus of encouragement.

“ Hryer we air!” he yelled, in reply. “Chip-
per an’ spry as young medder-larks!”

CHAPTER XVIII.
CONCLUSION.

Tm: rescuing rty, as stated by the cowboy,
was com o the miners which Pendergast
had in his employ. They had gained the mine
by way of Taulbee’s housc. The door through
which the Tom-cat had seen the Tarantula dis-
appear, led, as Pendergast supposed, into the
basement of Taulbee’s residence.

“ Now, come on!” one of the men exclaimed,
as soon as this had been explained. “ You’re
wanted powerful. The whole town’s aroused.
Sich another blow-up as that was, was never
heerd of. The little mine building is spread all
over the county.”

“ One thing at a time!” Pendergast protested.
“ How did you know we were in here? ‘

“ Come on! Ycu’fl diskiver quick enough.
Ain’t got time to talk now.”

With this unsatisfactory statement, he led the
wav toward the door that opened beneath Taul-
bee’s house. Tom and one of the miners asmsted
Pendergast, and with their end he got along
quite easily.

“ You want to be careful that you don’t get
lost!” the young man warned. “ I’ye been lost in
here twice, and don’t care for a third experience
of that kindl”

  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~

- justice.

    

“ Never fear 0’ that!” the man assured. “ Di-
rections given to us war so plain, that a blind
man could foller ’em. This place ain’t nigh so
big down hyer as it ’penrs. When you got lost
you jes‘ went round and round, likely. This
iole‘s a good deal in a’pearance like an aban-
doned coal mine. The metal veins seemed to
run ever’ which way, and they jes’ tollered "em,
blastin’ an’ drillin’ ontell the ore played out."

A brisk walk brought them to the wall in
which the door was set. It was now open and
they passed readin into the basement. row
that they emerged by a stairway into the room
above.

“ Thunder!” exclaimed the Tom—cat, in some
excitement. “This is the very room the Tar-
ant’ly dodged into last night, when he disap-
peared in that air queer way. He went through
this hole into the cellar. An’ from thar he
could 0 into the mine. That ruther gits me!”

A g ad cry from Dell interrupted him. She
rushed Into the room and greeted the party—
and especially Pendergast—in an almost hyster-
ical way.

“ I suppose you know?” she said in answer to
their looks of surprise.

“Know?” cried Pendergast. “ “’9 don’t
know anythingl And these grinning sinners
won’t enlighten us. Will you lease explain?
Who sent them to our rescue? And why do we
find you here!"

“I supposed they had told you. No doubt
they wanted to make the surprise the
greater. But, we haven’t much time to talk.
The Tarantula of Tombstone is Silas Taulbee
himself! And I believe he is dying. He was
crushed by a great stone that was hurled upon
him as he ran, after firing the fuse that pro—
duced the explosion.”

Pehdergast and the cowboy were too greatly
astounded to speak.

“ It seems almost impossible, does it not? But,
it is so. The explosion aroused the town: and,
when Taulbee, in his negro disguise, was found,
he was senseless. Some one reported that he
was Taulbee‘s servant and he was carried to
this house. Taulbee, of course, could not be
found, and soon after he was brought in, dead,
as it seemed, Mrs. Taulhee disappeared. No
one knows where she is now.”

“ And she was—” Pendergast ventured.

“ She was the pretended fortune-teller. Taul-
bee has confessed all. The excitement caused
by his confession was something henomenal,
for no one had suspected him of suc villainy.

"‘He believes the Tom-cat is dead—that he
was killed by the explosion, but he thought you
might be alive, for he told his men to wait a cer-
tain time for you. As soon as they discovered
how to get into the mine, these men hurried
away, hoping to be in time.”

Her agitated manner showed how shehad suf-
fered during their absence.

“ Let’s 0 at once to Tanlbeel” Pendergast ur-
ged, “ emay have some communication for

us.

Dell piloted them into the uiet little room
where the dying man lay. e raised himself
slight] as they entered, and his inched features
show the signs of coming issolution. The
rolls of clothing worn to give the rounded ap-
pearance to his body, had been removed: as had
also the black coloring from his face and
hands.

He could speak only with the greatest diffi-
culty, because of weakness and the injuries to
his chest.

“ I am glad to see that you both escaped l” he
declared, with a wan smile. “I will not have
to go to my Maker with your blood on my
soul. I hope you will forgive me. I have
tried to ask God to do so. It is best that I fail-
ed as I did. I see it, now, as I face death.

“ I have on] a few words! My time is short.
The woman w 10, I learn, has fled, was not m
lawful Wife, but if she should be taken. :I as
that you deal kindly with her. It is the only
request I. have to make. I have already made
a confesswn that will restore to Miss Devore
her prOperty. It was put in writing by an
attorney.

“My fate, I trust, will be a warning to
other evil-doers. If I had not inaugurated a
warfare upon you  might have been able to
hold the property, in spite of all your efforts.
But my alarm led me to acts that brought
about In own downfall. The hand of God was
in it. was fighting against an unsleeping
It is the way with criminals. They
are ever blindly digging the pits they are them-
selves to fall into.”

I16 again craved their pardon. And on re-
ceivin assurance that it was freely granted,
closed ‘ eyes wearily.

 

Texas Tom-cat’s Triad.

They stood there, silently watching. And so 1
quietly did his spirit take its flight, that they l
were only made aware of the change, by the j
peaceful expression that came to his counte-l
unnee. i

“Let us not judge him!” said Pendergast j
softly. “ He is with the Great Judge, who never {
commits errors as we dol”

 

The Ph<enix Mine became the property of Mrs.
Julian Pendergast. For, even before the neces-
sary legal formalities were complied with, she
was united in marriage to Pendergast the
attorney, and for aught I know to the contrary
they may still be living in Tombstone.

As for the fugitive, who had been Madame
Dumar, the alleged fortune-teller, and Taulbee’s
professed wife, she was never again heard of by
the people of that section.

The men who fled from the cowboy, in the
depths of the deserted mine, were cap tured, as
they attempted to leave it, and were duly pun-
ished for their several crimes.

The Tom-cat, with a well-filled purse and the
plaudits of his fellow-men, returned to his home
in Silver City. That he was ready to sally
forth at short notice in pursuit of human birds
of prey we can well believe—seeing that he was
never so happy as when uttering in the moment
of greatest danger his war-cr —-

“ Whoop! Mariarl Moe-owl Sp’t, sp’tl Mee-
ee-ow-owl”

THE END.

 

Beadle's Half-Dime library.

RY llll'II‘T. A. K. SIMS.
546 Cnpiuln (‘II('tIln, th.- Chaparral (.‘ock.
{.68 The Dandy of Dodge.
576 The Silver Sport.
5S3 Sull'rou Sol. ihu Mun \l'ith a Shadow.
5M) ’l‘mn-(‘nt nnd l’nrd; or. The lh-ml Set at Silver Citv.
601 Happy "nun, thv- Dutch Vidonwl, or, Red-Hot Tlhlcs It
llunnnlrUh.

 

HY MAJllR E. L. ST. VRAIN.

292 Sancho l‘eilro, {he Boy Bandit.

301 Loudvllle Nick, the Boy Sport.

812 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince.

8133 Brlnlntone Hub, and llis Lightning Horse Quartotto.
859 Tombstone Tom. the Arizona Boy 01 “Sand.”
31.")9 I'lnrum-u Inn 1-. the l’ um: “hum: Inn Vi nastier.
I171 kin bolt Chrln, the Young Hard-Shell Dotoctlvo.
830 Avu anche Alf, the Foothills Guido.

890 Jaguar Joe. of the Mountain Mail-Lino.

BY EDWARD WILLETT.
167 Ala Scott. the Steamboat Boy.
199 Fentnerwel‘ht the Boy Champlon of the Muskinpm.
$23 (lzar ( All" or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws.
BS” The Typo Detective: or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp.
295 Fear on Phil; or, The King or Qunruville.
811 The llovln Sport; or, The Pride of Chuck-luck Comp.
882 Neruo, the etectlve; or, Kit Ken on‘l Vondottl.
“0 Clip the Contortlonlott or. Tho ontnnn Vigil-nun.

 

BY CAPTAIN rum). wnrr'rAKEn.

15 The Ben-Cat; or. The Witch of Dorian.
39 The Dumb Poie or, Tho Doga’s Daughter.
4‘ Dick Darling. t o ony Expro- Rider.
150 Lance and Lauo; or, The Children of tho Chow.
154 Tho Sword Hunters; or, The Land onho Ila hunt Rldon.
159 The Lost Captain: or, Skipper Joboo Comn’o ruloo to tho
0 en Pol-r Sen.
.00 0 Boy Bodoulno; or. Tho BrothorI of tho Plumod hang.
914 Wolfgang, tho Robbor of tho Rhino.
B49 Mllo Roller, tho Animal King; or,Tbo Round tho World
Wond'i‘ror. T n L. on.” ’
r alert or, o no ugh.
881 Black Igash. the Demon Ridor. “
895 California «100’: War Troll.

BY J. C. COWDRIOK.

8‘0 Silver-Huh the Mn of My-lery.
80” Shasta. the Gold King; or, For Sovon YouoDood.
4.0 The Detective’o Apprentice: or. A Day Without I

one.
484 Clbutn John: or, Red-Hot Timoo at Auto Bar.
‘89 Sandy San, tho Street Scout.
46? Disco Dan. the Daily Dads.
490 Hrondwa Bill . the Bootblnck Bravo.
606 Redl ht‘lnl g, the Prince of the
l Bron way Bll ’o Boodle.

The Engineer etoctlve.
580 Hrondwqu Bllly’n ‘ lllkllty.”
548 Mart. the lam Express Detective.
557 Bronsde Billy‘s 'enth Rocket.
57] A‘lr-Lllle uke the oung Engineer.
579 The lmne Spy: or, Broadway Billy’s Snrpfloo-Pu'ty.
592 'l he Boy l’ln 'crton.
605 William 0’ Broadway; or, The Boy Detective’l Big Inning.

BY BUOKSKIN SAM (Major S... S. Hall.)
284 llldkRoekyo "Boyce" or, Bonito, the Young Hono-

I’QI (if.
246 (Hunt George; or, The Ang’l or the Ron .
275 Arizona Jack; or, Giant George’s Pard. I.
’97 The Tll'lll'vllll 0f Tnoo or. Giant Goorgo’o Rovongo.
807 The Strange l’nrd a or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt.
818 ker-whoog. ker-whoo: or, The 'l‘mmtul- of'i‘ooo.
82? Cree In! at. the Cnddo; or,Tho Rod nndWhltoPordn.
‘ n: r 0: or. Rattlesnake, tho Touhwo .
.49 Wlld “'0”: 0?. Big-Foot Wallace to the Front. ’
857 The Ranch Raider-g or, The Sloge ot Fort Pam.
804 Snap-Shot. the Roy Ranger.
875 Chlotu. the Creek: 0:. The Three Thunderbolts.
881 Bundern lllll: 0r. Frio Frank to the From.
8”! Romeo and the Reds: or, The Beluga-rod Ruch-
404 Little Lurlnt: or. l’ecnn Pete’s Big Rampage.
41% Tillie Dally fir-10m Illenver.
' 9 rec ‘ra era: or, Old Rock on tho loan.
on Blufl’ Bill: or, The Lynx of tho bonny.
455 Little Lone Star: or. The Bollo of tho Clbolo.

 

15

:-

HY C. DI'NNING CLARK.

185 Captain l’nul: or, 'I he Buy Spy or the Mountains.
980 The l snkcc Rujuhg or, The Fair tithe Bhle Sherool.

HY CAPT. )l ARK “'ll.TON.
2503 Young Kontuok: or. 'l he “Ml Miss...
270 Blizzard "on; or. Th.» Hint at Keno Camp.
2298 Josh, the Boy Tenderl'ool.

HY LIEUT. H. D. PERRY. U. S. N.
7‘; The Boy Runaway: or. The lincnaneor oi’lhe Boy.
’40 The lieu Trailer: or, A Vow Well Kept.
92 Captain Kit: ‘II', The Mystery oi Montsuk Pains
HY HARRY HAZARD.

828 Arknnnaw Jack; or. The Scourge of the Mines.
829 Red-Skin Tom ' or, The Demon’s ’l rail.
842 The Mountain Dev“; or, Yellow Jack, the Outlaw.

l
l
l

’1” WILLIAM l-'. EYSTER.

190 Dandy Durke; or, The Tigers of High Pine.
210 Faro Frank; or, Dandy Duke‘s Go-Down Psi-do

BY BRACEBRIDGE IIEMYNG.
89 Inland Jim: or. The Pet of the Family.
l The Captain of'the Club: or. The Rival Athlotoo.
101 Jack Harknwny In New York.

HY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID.
73 Blue Dick ' or, The Yellow ChiePs Vengeance.
S? The Land l’lrateu' or, The laughs 05' Devil’s Island.
137 The Helpless Hand; up, Backwoods Retribution.
289 The Gold-seeker Guide: or. The L0“ Mountin-

RY EDWARD S. ELLIS.

6 RH: Blddon, Trap er.
3 Seth Jones; or, '1' e Captives ofthe Frontier.
10 N at Todd : or, The Fate 0! the Sioux Captive.
.1 Tue Frontier Angel.
98 The Roy Mlnern: or, The Enchanted Island.
182 The Hunted Hunter; or, The Strange Horseman.
854 The Half-Blood; or, The Panther 01' the Plains.
971 The Huge Hunter; or, The Steam Prairie Mon.

BY GEDRGE “'ALDO HRDWNE.

[36 Dnnd Rock the Man from Trina.
90 The l rend Rider: or, The Texan Duelist.
99 The Tiger of’Tuon: or, Dandy Rock’s Angel.
I 5 The Mad )Ilner: or, Dandy Rock’s Dnolll.
18] The Golden llund: or. Dandy Rock to the Rescuo.
164 Dandy Rock’s l’led c: or. liuhtedto Death.
173 Dandy Rock’s Rh'u : or. The Haunted Mold of’l‘ooo.

BY HARRY ST. GEflRGIE.

80 Roaring Ralph Rockwood, lhe Ran er.

44 Ruttlln Rube; or. The Nighthawks oi Kentucky.
' 59 "Id Illc 'ory: or, Pnndy Ellis’s Seal .
108 During Davy; or, The Trail oi'the Earlier Wolf.
166 lllckory llurr : or, The 'l'rn per-Brigade’l Spy.
172 Thunderbolt cm; or. the 'oli-Herdor

BY ALBERT “K AIKEN.

11 The Two Detectlvenz on'l‘ho Fortunes of. Bowory Girl.‘
76 Abe Colt. the Crow-Killer.
79 Sol Glnger, the Giant 'l'rn per.
288 Joe Buck oi’Angelo an Ill-I Boy Ford.
44? New York Not. A Tale of Tricks and Tnpo in Gotham.
458 New En land Nick; or. The Fortunoo oi’oFoundliug.
484 Nimble Ick, the Circus Prince.
498 'I‘uoo Ted, tne Arizona S on.
510 Cool Colorado, the H31 ~Bmd Detective.
518 Cool Colorado in New York.

MISCELLAN EOUS AUTHORS.

4 The “'ild-lloroe Hunters. By Capt. Mnyno Reid and
Frederick Whittaker.

ll Adv enturen of lhron Munch-noon.
19 Gulliver’s Travels. By Dun ewln.
l4 Aladdln; or, The Wonderful Lamp.

16 Robunoon Crusoe. (91 Illustrations.)
18 Slndbnd the Sailor. His Seven Voyages.
23 The Sea Serpent: or, Tho Boy Rob noon Cruoo. By Juan

win.
88 The Ocean Bloodhound: or, 'l'ho Rod Pinto. of tho
Carribeu. By S. W. Pierco.

86 Elite Boy Clown; or. Tho Quoon of tho Aron. By l'ronk

 

. inn.
88 Ned Wylde. Ibo Boy Scout. By Taxa- Jack.
51 The Boy Rules; or, Tho Underground Camp. By Arcbio

C. Irons.
95 The Rlvnl Rovoro; or, Tho Froobooton of tho Mhiulppa.
By Llano-Col. Hmltino.
98 Rohln flood. the Untlnwed [or]; or,'l'ho Merry Mon 0! Croon-
wood. BiProf.Glldoroloovo.
105 Dld RI 2, the Hunter; or, Tho Crow Contivo. By Captain
Hamilton Holmes.
Ill The Mod Hunter: or, The Cave of Death. By Burton San.
1.4 Tlppy. the Texan; or, Tho Young Champion. Dy Goorgo
anon.
he The Young Prlvnteer; or, Tho Pluto’s Stronghold. By
Hurry Cavendish.
148 Sharp Sun: 3 or, The Advon turoo ofn Friandlooo Boy. By J,
Alex ndor Patton.
oar Dun y Darrell. Tn par: or. Th0 Gran Bonner of tho Yol-
lowltone. By Edward moroon.
861 Fergus Fennnught tho Now Yn-k Boy. By Owl.

Al on.

.60 Klllb’nr. the Guide: or,DIvy Crockott’o Crookod 'h-oll.
By Enli n C. 1'). Warren.

.98 Red C ow. the Ono-Kym! Tripper; or, Tho Mud oftho Chl.
By Captain Cuuiotock.

81': Peacock Pete. the Lively Lad from Wynn. By u...
tenant Alirod Thorno.

8.8 The Sky Ibefeotlve: or, A Boy’s Fight for Llfo and Ham.
By Moior Mickey Free.

850 Red Ralph. the River Rover; or, Tho Brother’s Bo-

' Ned Bun lllne.

venge. )

865 Baltimore Den the Bootblnck Detoetlvo. By A. P, Honk.

.74 Gold-Dust Ton; or, Ben’s Doublo Match. By Goa-go ll.
Mom.

876 California Joe’s First Troll. By Colonol Tho-
Hover )lonslory.

418 Billy Bomb-hen, the cur Climber. n, r. s. Winthrop.

To The Black SM . By John S. lrnor.

Comanche ch ' and His Three Invlnelhlen- 3!
Henry J. Thomas.

SIS Wizard-Arm, the Dandy S rt. 8 Arthur F. Holt.

‘8. The (‘0wa ' Duke. By dwln rocks For-root.

‘52 Arlel the At late. By Dnvid Druid.

585 WIH “filters, the Bov Ferret. By H. Enton.

A New looue Every Tuesday.
The “olf-Dl-e Library ll for sale by all nowododon, In
oonh pot copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six contl ouch.
BEADLE AND ADAMS. Publlohero.
.8 William Stroot, New York.

 

    

 

    
   
 
 

 

 

BEADLE’SieHALF-DIMEarLIBRARY.

Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

BY EDWARD L. “'HEELER.

Deadwood Dick Novels.
1 Deadwood luck, the Prince of the Road.
20 Double Daggers' or. Ih-nilwond Dirk‘s Defiance.
28 Ilutfalo lien: or. lh-adwood Dick in Disguise.
35 \1'ild lvan. the lioy ('liuide Duval.
42 Phantom Miner; or. l’t’fltlwuntl Dick's Bonanza.
49 "Infill" 011' or. Deadwood Dick in Danger.
5i Deadwood Dick‘s Eagles; or, The l'ards oi Flood Bsr.
78 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or. Calamity Jane, the Heroine.
77 (‘orduroy (‘harllex or, Deadwood Dick’- Last Act.
100 Deadwood Dick in Leadviile.
104 Deadwood Dick‘s Device: or, The Double Crosn Sign.
109 Deadwood Dick as Detective.
129 Deadwood Dick's Double: or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s

(Illli‘ll.
18" Blonde Bill: or, Deadwood Dick's Home Base.
4 A Game 01' “old: or, Deadwood Dick's llig Strike.
156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood ' or. The l’irked Party.
195 Deadwood Dick's Dream; or, ’I he liqulu ol'tlie Road.
201 The Black Hills Jezebel; or. Deadwood D.ck’u Ward.
205 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Cslauilty Juno's Last Ad-
Vellilll’e.
217 Captain Crack-Shot, the Girl liri and.
221 Sn sir-Coated Sam; or, The lilac “own.
232 Go d-Dust Dick. A Romanre of Rouglii and Toughs.
263 Deadwood Dick's Divide or, The. Spirit OfSwnmp Lake.
268 Deadwood Dick’s Death ‘rall.
809 Deadwood Dick’s Big Deal; or, The Gold Irick of
regon.
321 Deadwood Dick's Dozen: or. The Fakir ofl‘hnntom Flats.
847 Deadwood Dick’s Dueats: or, Rainy Days in the Dig-
ings.
851 Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or, The Terrible Vendatta.
362 Deadwood Dick’s Claim; or, The Fairy Face of Faro

l‘llill.

405 Deadwood Dick lll Dead City.

410 lpleadwood Dick’s Diamonds; or, The Mystery of Joan
orter.

421 Deadwood Dick In New York; or, A “Cute Care.”

430 Deadwood Dick’s Dust: or, The Chained llaiid.

448 Dead wood Dick. Jr.

441* Nickel-Plate Ned; or, Deadwood Dirk Jr‘s Defiance.

458 Sunflower Sam, 01 Shasta; iir, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Full
“and.

459 Flush Fan, the Ferret; or, Deadwood Dlt'li Jr's Big Ronnd—

465 I’llhilo Fly, of l‘lienix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr‘s Racket at
(‘ aim 10.

471 Bozeman Bill; or, Deadwood Dirk Jr's Corral.

476 Humboldt Harry, the Hurricane; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s
hog hr-tertive.

4R] )1 0|] )lygtery; or, Denilwmul Dick Jr. in Deadwood.

491 Prince Pistol, the King of the West; or, Deadwood Dick
.l r's Compact.

496 Monte (lrlato, Jr.: or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s inheritance.

500 Deadwood Dick’s Dig lugs; or, Dr. Death-Grip's Swoop.

508 Deadwood Dick‘s De Iveraucea

515 Deadwood Dick‘s Protegee.

622 Deadwood Dick's Three.

529 Deadwood Dick's Danger Ducks.

534 Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt.

539 Deadwood Dick Jr. in Texas.

544 Deadwood Dick. Jr. the, Wild West Vidocq.

549 Deadwood chk on His Mettle.

554 Deadwood Dick. Jr. in Gotham.

561 Deadwood Dick in Houston.

567 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Philadelphia.

572 Deadwood chk, .l r. in Chicago.

578 Deadwood chk, Jr. Afloat.

5S4 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Denver.

590 Deadwood Dick, Jr's. Decree.

595 Deadwood Dick Jr. in Beclzebub’s Basin.

600 Deadwood Dick Jr. at Coney Island.

606 Deadwood Dick Jr’s Lcadville Lay; or, Bristol snd
Bucket‘s flown.

Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler.

86 Cloven Hoof, the Bufl'nlo Demon.
82 Bob Woolf; or, Tim Girl Brad-Shot.

' 89 Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York.

45 Did Avalanche: 0r. Wild Edim, the Girl Briglnd.

‘ 53 Jim liludsoe. Jr., the Boy Phenix.

31 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red liitie Team.

3 69 Gold Rifle the Shnr isliootor: or. The lio ' Detectlvl.
80 Rosebud 1 ob‘ or, ugget NedY the Knight.

l 84 idyl, the Girl Miner; or, RUM!th Rob on Hand.

l 88 Photo ra ll 1,1111; or, Rosebud Roh‘s Resnpearnnce.
92 Canadza (11m! ; or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull's Camp.
96 watt-IIJC e; or, Arabs and Angels ofu Great City.

118 Jack “0;; e the Young Speculutor.

117 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Spnrt Detective
21 Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport,

25 Bonanza Bill Miner.

133 Boss Iiob the ing of llOOtlJlni'kI.

141 Solid Sam the Boy Road-Agent.

145 gaptIagn i‘erret, the New York Detoctivo; or, Boss Bob's

oss o .

161 New York Nell the Boy-Girl Detective.

 Nohb Nick of Nevada: 01'. The Sierras Scsmps.

209 Fritz, the Boundeoy Detective.

218 Fritz to the Front: or, The Ventriloquist Hunter,

226 Snoozer, the Buy Sharp; or, The Arab Detective.

286 Apollo Hill, the Trail Tornado.

240 C clone Kit, the, Young Gladiator.

241» H erra Ram, th~ Frontier Ferrrt.

24s filerra Ham’s Secret: Of. The Bloody Footprints.

253 Sierra Sam's l’ard; or. The Angel at Big \ ista.

25x ~Sierra Ram's Keven; or, The, Stolen Bride.

278 Jumbo Joe the lluv l’alrol; orY The Rival Heirs.

277 Denver 1101,. the Detective Queen.

281 Denver Doll's Victory.

2‘5 Denver Doll‘s Decoy ; or. Little Bill‘s Bonanza.

291 Turk, the Boy Ferret.

296 Denver Doll’s Drit‘t: or. The Road Queen.

299 A No. 1. the Dashing Ttlll-Tnkaf.

808 'l.lrn Jane, the ’x‘lrl Miner; or, the lion-Nerved Sport.

825 Kelley, Illekev .2 Co.. the Detectives of Philadelphia.

880 Little Quick-Shot: 0r. The Dead Face of Daggersvillo.

68 1 Kangaroo Kit; or. The Mysterious Miner.

‘89 Kangaroo Klt‘s Racket.

848 .11 auhattau Mike, the Bowery Blood.

858 FIr-t-Class Fred, ilie Gent troni Gopher.

868 \Zreka Jim. the Gold-Gatherer; or, The Lottery of

Life
872 Yrcka Jim’s Prize.
37"! Nahoh Ned; or, The Secret of Shah City.
8R2 (‘uol Kit. the, King of Kids; or. A Villain's Vengeance.
835 Yrcka Jim’s Joker; or. The, Rivals of Red No".
8"!) Bicycle "ea: or. The Lion of Lightning Lode,
894 Yreka Jim ot’ Yuha Dam.
400 \Vrlnkleu, the. Night-Watch llctectlve.
416 High Hat Harry. the flue Ball Detective.
426 Sam Slabsldes. the Beggar-Boy Detective.

Jim Beak and Pal, vlvlte Detectives.
488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher.
486 Sealskln 8a.. the Spanner.

1v11d ‘rank, the Bllt‘litlltlll Bravo. 9

 

  

B 1' (‘HA RLES MORRI S.

119 W'ill Somers, the Boy Inactive.

122 l'hlllll|r(13‘,tllrl‘lunfllivy.

126 Picayune I’ete; or, Nicodetiius, the Dog Detective.
160 Detective Dick: or. The, Hero III ltugn.

14 Handsome Harry, the BOtlilllHt'k Detective.

147 11.111 Wildlife, the Thoroughbred.

152 lllnek Della. “'ill “'lldtire‘s Racer.

7 Mike Merry, the Humor l’olir‘e Boy.

162 “'111 11’ ildiirc in the “'oods.

105 Billy Baggage. the Railroad Buy.

170 A Train 1 Card; or, Will \l'lldtira Wins and Loses.
4 Bob Roe ett; or, Mysteries ot'New York.

9 1101) "(K'ls’ett the llunk Runner.

3 The Hidden Dand ' or. Will \l‘ildfirc‘s Revenge.

7 Fred Halyard, a... iii. 3...: is... .,., viii... s.....,.g..,.,
9 Bob Roekett: or, Driven to this VViill.

I96 shadowed; or, lioll Rockett'n Fight for Life.

206 Dark Paul. the Tiger King.

212 Dashing Dave. the Dandy Detective.

220 Tom Tanner; or. The Black Sheep ot the Flock.

225 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darliy.

235 Shadow Sam. the Messenger Boy.

242 The Two “ Bloods "3 or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang.
252 Dick Dashaway: or, A Dakota Buy in Chicago.

262 The Young Sharps: or, Rollickiug Mike’s Hot TrsiL
274 Jolly Jilll. the Detective All ireutice.

2N9 dolly Jim’s Job; or, The ioiing Detective.

292 The “Water-Hound: or, The Young 'l‘lioronghlired.
805 Daslsuwny, of Dakota; or, A “'estern Lad iii the Qusker

( it)’.
824 Ralph Ready. the Hotel lloy Detcrtive.
841 Tony Thor-no, the Vagabond Detective.
856 The Reporter-Detectiveg or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard.
867 \1' hie-Awake Joe: or. A lit-yol'the Times.
879 Lav-r '. the Leveler; or. The Bloods of the Boulevard.
403 Firelly Jack, llll‘ River-Rat lletet'tivu.
428 The Lost Flu er; or. The Entrapped Csshier.
42" Fred Flyer. llt‘ Reporter Detective.
432 invincible Logan. the l’iiikcrton Ferret.
450 Billy Brick. the .lollv Vagabond.
466 \VitIe-.\\\'I|ke Jerry, Detective; or. Entombed Alive.
479 Detective Dodge: or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty.
48‘ “did Dick Racket.
501 Boots, the Boy Fireman : or, Too Sharp for the Sharper,
566 The Secret ~crviee Roy Detective.
596 Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves.

i-n-n-u-s-I
1:114“

B Y (ILL C00.“ ES.

5 Vagabond Joe. the Young Wandering Jew.
18 The Dumb pr.
27 Antelope Abe. the Roy Guide.
8| Keen-knife, lllv i'rini-i- ot‘thc Prairies.
4| Lasso Jack, “10' Young Mustnngi-r,
58 The Border King: or, The Secret Foe.
71 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy.
74 Hawk-e 'e Harry the Young Trapper R nger.
88 Rollo, tile Bo ' Ranger.
134 Sure Hhot lict I, lh. ltoy Ritleiiian.
148 Hear-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter
146 Hllver star, the [toy Knight.
153 1911210 Kit. the lloy homo“,
168 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger.
17" Did Solitary. the Hermit Trapper.
182 Little Hurricane. th» llo Captain.
202 Pros ect Pete; or, The 'oiiiig ()utlsw Hunters.
20K The oy Hercules: or, The l‘riiirit- ’l‘ranips.
21" Tiger Tom, the Teng Telrl'r.
224 Danhln Dick; or, 'l'rapper 'l'oni‘s ('astlo.
‘22” Little 1 'lldiire, the, Young l‘inirie Nomad.

fl ' ‘he Parson De teeth-e: orY The Little Rsnger.
248 The Disguised Guide: or. Wild Raven, tho Ranger.
260 Dare-Devil Dull, the Young l‘rnirie Ranger.
272 Miukskln Mlke, the lloy sharpshooter.

290 Little Foxfire, the Iii-y Spy.

300 The Sky Demon g or. Rainholt. the Ranger.
884 “'hip-klng Joe, the Boy Raiichero.

409 Hercules ory llick, the. Boy Ranger.

417 “'ebi'oot . lose. the 'l‘rniiip Detective.

422 Bah Ham. His Boy Giant ol'thi- Yellowstone.
444 Little Buckskin. the Young l‘rairle Contsur.
457 “'lngedi’oot Fred; or, (Ild Polar Saul.
468 Tamarae Tom. the lllg Trs iper Buy.

478 Did Tom Rattler. the Red iver Epidemic.
482 Htonewall "01). the liny 'l‘roiau.

582 Blunderlng Basil, the Hermit Boy Tnppsr.

BY T. C. HARBAUGH.

23 Nick 0’ the Night; or, Thu Bo Spy of ’76.

87 Tile Hidden Lodgct or The L ttle Hunter.

47 Nightln ale. Nat ° or, Tne Forest Cs itaius.

64 Dand ack z or, The Outlaws of the Grogon Trsil.

82 Kit 1 aret‘oot the Wood-Hawk.

94 Midnight Jack 3 or. The Boy Trapper.
106 Did Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen.
123 Kiowa Charley the White Mustanger.
139 Jud e Lvneh, Jr.: or. The Buy Vigilante.
155 Goltf Tr er. illt‘ S wt; or, The Girl Avenger.
169 Tornado "mg or, njiin Jsclt From Red Core.
168 Ned Temple, the Border Boy.
19“ Arkansaw: or, 'I he Quwn ot Fate’s Revenge.
207 Navajo Nick. the Boy Gold Hunter.
215 (‘aptaln Bullet : or, Little Toiikuot's Crussdo.
231 Plucky Phil; or. Rosa, the Rial Jezebel.
241 11111 Bravo: or. The Rnughs of the hockicl.
255 (‘aptaln Apoii-v, the Kliig.i’in of Bowie.
267 The Buckskin Detective.
279 Old “'inch ' or, The Buckskin Desperadoes.
294 Dvnamite Dan: or. The Bowie lllade of Cochetops.
802 The Mountain Detective: or, The Trigger Bar Bully.
616 Did Eclipse, Trump Card of Arizona.
826 The Ten l’ards: or. The Terror ofTake-Notico.
366 lilg Henson: or, The Queen of the Lam.
B45 l'itlless Matt: 0', Red Thuiidorholt’n Secret.
856 I‘nol Mun mut Par-d: o» The Terrible Six.
866 Velvet. Foot, the Indian Detective.
8N6 (‘aptaln Cutlass; or, ’I he B ‘ccaneer’l Girl Foe.
890 Ron h Rob: or. The l‘win Champions of Blue, Blues.
411 The llken Lasso: or, The Rose of Ranch Robin.
41!" Felix Fox. the Boy Spotter.
425 Texas Trum . the Border Rattler.
436 Phil Flash, lie New York Fox.
445 The City Vampires: or, Red Rolfe‘s Pigeon.
461 Due Against Flt’ty; or, The Last Man of Keno B“.
470 The Boy Shadow; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt.
477 The Exeeltliol' Sport: or, The Washington Spotter-
499 Single Hi ht. the One-Eyed Sport.
502 Branded en, the‘ Night Ferret.
512 Dodger Dick, the Wharf-Spy Detectivo.
521 Dodger Dick’s Best Dodge.
 flax and Falcon. tll_i;e Bog'ery Shadows.

“ mixer Dick, the 00k erret.

543 dodger Dick’a Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives
558 [Dodger Dick’s [Desperate Case.
568 Dodger Dick. the Boy Vldocq.
573 The Two Shadows.
5R2 Dod er Dick’s Drop.
594 HA“ c Lon, the Street-Singer Detective.

 

 

 

ll" CDLDNEL PRENTISS lNGRAIIAM.
7 The Flying Yankee; 0rY The Ocean Outcast.
7 Ralph Roy, the Boy liiicrmrer; or. The Fugitive Yacht.
4 Diamond Dirk ' or, The Mystery ot‘tlic Yellowstone.
? The Mundow Filip; or. The ltivnl lieutenants.
2
1

1
2
6
7
t

l

1 '1‘110 Sea-Devil; or, The Mid~liipniun’s Legacy.

16 The Hussar (7a rtain; nr, 'l l..- llellllli in Hell Gate.
97 Little Grit; or, essie, the Slili'h'd‘fllltll‘l“! Daughter,
204 Gold Plume: or. The, Kid—(Howe SI...“

216 Dillon “ill. the Prince (ii the, Reins.

222 Grit. the Bravo fiport; or, The Woman Trailer.
229 Crimson Kate or. The t'iiwlmy‘s Triumph.

28? Lone Star. the Cowboy Captain.

245 Merle the Mlddy ory 'l'lie Freelance llrlr.

The “(by Duelist: or. The (Tiiiisu ol' the Sen-“'0”.
Dick Dead-Eve, the Boy Slnuggler.

v

‘0‘“

250 The . ldshipman .t utincer; or. Brandt, the Buccaneer.

264 The Floating Feather: or, Merle Moiite's Treasure

s and.
269 The Gold Ship; or, Merle, the Condemned.
276  Monte! Cruise; or, The Chase of «The Gem
. llll.
290 Merle Montc‘s Fate: or. l‘i-arl. thi- l'irute‘s Bride.
284 The Sea Marauder; or, Merle .\loiite's l’leilge.
257 Billy Blue-Eyes, ille lioy Ron-r1 l lllt' Rio (.‘ranilc.
304 The Dead Snot Dandy: or. lienitii. the Buy liugla.
608 Keno Kit; or. lleiiil Shot llnndy's Diiiilile.
314  Myltcriuus Llnrnuder; or, The Boy Bugler's Long
1'!“ .
877 llonodel. the 110] Rover: or,Tlie Flsglesn Scliot ner.
693 The iudluu I’llot; or, The Si-iiit-Ii [or Pirate island.
35': “'arpath 11111. the lioy l’himtoni.
893 Heuwait‘. the liuy Lieutenant.
402 lsodor. the Young Conspirator: or. The Fatal League.
407 The Roy Insurgent; or. ’l lll‘ (fuhau Vendetta.
412 The \1' lid 1‘ uehtsnu n; or, The War-Clouii’s Cruise.
429 Duncan Dare. tho-l 5 Refugee.
483 A (‘ahin Boy‘s Luck; or, The Corsair.
487 The Sea Raider.
44] The (Iceun Firefly: or, A .\liddy‘s Vengeance.
446 Iluphazard Harry ; or, The Scape vrare (ll the Sea.
450 “'lzard “‘1”: 0r. The Buy Ferret 0 New York.
454 “'izard “'lll’s h‘t reet Scouts.
462 The Born Gulde: or. The Saiinr Boy \‘Vsnderer.
468 Neptune Ned. the hi»)- Coast-r.
474 Flora; or. 3'. llel’tl Will's Yugaimnil l’urd.
488 Ferrets Alioat: or. \Vizurd “'ill's Lith (use.
4"? Nevada Ned. the Revolver ltungcr.
495 Arizona Joe the lsoy l'ard (it"l'i-xas Jack.
497 Buck Taylor, King oi thv (‘uwlioys
508 The Royal Middy : or. The Shark and the Sea Cat.
507 The Hunted Mid-hi man.
511 The (lutlawed Mid y.
520 Buckskin Bill. the (‘oiiiunche Shadow.
525 Brothers in Buckskin.
580 The Bucksklu Bowers.
535 The line skin Rovers.
540 (‘aptuln Ku—Klux, the Marauder ot the Rio.
545 Lieutenant Leo, the San of Lafitte.
550 Lnlitte’s Legacy: 0r. The Awngiag son.
555 The (‘rcole Corsair.
560 Pawnee Bill, the. Prairie Shadower.
565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King.
570 Camille. the Card Queen.
575 The Surgeon-Remit Detective.
580 The 0utcast (‘adetz or. ’l'hr False Detective.
536 The Buckskin Avenger.
591 Delmonte. the Young Sea Rover.
597 The Young Texan Dctectlvc.
602 The Vagabond oi'the Mines.
607 The Rover Detective: or, Keno Kit's Champions.

 

BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. “'m. 1". Cody).

3 K3..." Kln'; or, The Red Right Hand.
19 The Phantom H y: nr,’l he l'ilut of the Prairie.
55 Deadly-Eye. the nknown Sum.
88 Border Robin Hood: or, The Prairie Rover.
158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust.

LATEST AND NEW ISSUES.

608 The Pitcher Detectlve’s Foil; or, Double Curve Dsn’s
Double Plsv. By Geo. C. Jenks.

609 Dolly Dorrit. the Veteran Detective; or, Little Lightning’s
liivinci‘tles. By John 1". Gabon.

610 Did skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Sharp on Guard. By
T. C. Hnrhsugh.

611 Bildad Barnacle, the Detective Hercules; or, The Tussle at
T Illlk‘ Mountain. By Lieut. A. K. Sims.

612 Deadwood Dick Jr. in Detroit; nr, Turning the Tables
nll Satan. By Edward L. Wheeler.

6111 Billy Blazes: (Ir.Thc Skeletnn’s Legacy. By P. S, Warn...

614 \Vhistlln Jacob, the Detective‘s Aid; or, The Queer Com.
bination. v Jo Pierce.

615 Fighting Harry, the Chief of Chained Cyclone; or, The
Heathen Chinee'n Mission. By J. C. ('owdrick.

616 The 0cean Detective: or. The Last Cruise 0! the Black
Bear liv G9". C. Jrnks.

617 Ral h, the Dead-Shot Scout; or, The Raiders and the
Red iders of the Rio. My Col. Prentiss lngrahani.

618 Deadwood Dick. Jr. in Cincinnati; or, The Clincher
('ainpaign. By Ed. L. “"ht-elcr. ‘ '

619 The Boy Tramp Detective; or,’iho Double Grip Witness.
llv “’m. (1. Patti-n '

620 Little Lightning’s League; Of. The Mystery oflhe lslnnd.
B v John \\ . ()shou. '

621 'Irutht’hl James. the “Peciioliar” Mnnwr, Tllt‘ Spoiler
Dispoiled. By A. C. Griasoni.

622 Texas 'l‘om-(‘ut’s Triad; "r, The Queer Afl‘alr at Tomb»
stone. Bv Lieut. A. K. Sinis.

623 Back llumblchec, the Harlem Hummer; or. The
(lid Captain‘s Moving Minn-Iv. liv Jo Pierce.

0324 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Nevada; or, The Preacher at
Pokcrville. Bv ‘. L. \‘i’liiu-lcr.

625 (‘hlncapin Dan, the Boy Trailer; or, The Hero of tho
Crater. ly Jon. E. Radger. Jr.

626 The Champion Pardon: or. The, Lucifer anilVer Bar. By
T. (7. llurlmugh. Ready July ‘23.

627 Tom Bruce of Arkansas; or, The Wolfln the Fold. By
Charles Morris. Ready July fie.

628 Broadway Bill ’u Dead Act; or, The Lesgue of the
Sworn Seven. By  Cowdrirk. Ready Ammst 6.

629 Violet. Vane. the Velvet Sport; or, The Jubilee ofJaclitown,
llv Win. G. Patton. Ready August IR.

630 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in No Man’s Land; 0:, Golconda,
the Gladiator. liy Ed. L. “'heeler. Ready Aflxuli 20-

A New Issue Every Tuesday.
The Half- Dime Library Is for sale by all newsdsslers, Iv.
ants pa copy, or sent by msil on rscolpt of six units each.
BEADLE AND ADAMS. Publishers.
.8 Willi-Ia Street New York.

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