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$2.50

a. Year. No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK.

Copyright 1890. by BEADLL‘ AND ADAMS.

PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS.

February 25. 1590.

Price,

5 Cents, V01. XXVI

 

e _ WW, __ 7V re, Ar-—

 

 

BU'I' THI DETECTIVE TIGHTENED HIS CLUTCH ON HER SHOULDER, AND A STUNNING RIGHT-
HANDKR UNDER THE JAW BOWLED THE BIG BUFFIAN OVER SENSELISS.

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on,
The Singing Detective and His
Boy Second.

BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS,

AUTHOR or “TOM~(‘AT AND man,” “roar-
CAT’S TERRIBLE TASK,” “THE SILVER
SPORT." “ ('APTAIN CACTUS,” “ BIL-

DAD BARNAC]JE,” 1cm, ETC.

(‘HAPTER 1.
A KICKER CRUSHED.

Tan droning of voices and the incessant
shuffling of feet ceased as the twang Of a guitar
swept across the room. The citizens of Rocket

Range, or at least a large number of them,
were gathered to witness a performing? which

"bung

hnd been vauntingly ndvertieetL

 

   

a

Warbling William

 

 

William, the Mountain Mocking-bird and Won-
der-Worker, in his Enchantingfiongs and Acts
of Prestidigitation and Necromancy ” was to ap-
pear before them and make them forget the sor-
rows that crush and the cares that vex. The
“ Wonder—lVorker” was to be ably assisted, so
the hills stated, by “Master Harry, the Boy
Acrobat, in his Feats of Vaulting and Tuni-
bling.”

The excitements and attractions of Rocket
Range were mainly confined to high betting in
the gaming rooms and the street fights which
too frequenary followed thereupon. Hence the
advent of arbling William had been hailed
with delight, and the long ball above the princi-
pal saloon fitted up to accommodate the patrons
of his exhibition.

The twang of the guitar was followed by the
appearance of a dapper little man, dressed in
the regulation swallow-tail cutaway and white
cravat of the professional con'urer. He held
his guitar daintily, and, on reac mg the center
of the contracted stage, made a. smilingly ob-
setiuious bow to the audience.

t required but a glance. however, to show
that, in spite of his cheery blandness, the world
had not conferred wealth upon him in return
for the heart-ease which it was his professed
mission to disseminate. The once jaiinty cut<
away had‘faded to a lusterless brown, and ex-
hibited here and there threadbare patches; the
white cravat was soiled and dingy; and the
shining polish of his shoes coull not conceal the
rents which disfigured them.

The song, one of the popular ballads of the
day, was rendered in a clear, tenor voice of
great compass and sweetness. It was encored,
and he sung another, which was equally well
received.

This was followed by some very clumsy jug-
glery, interspersed with awkward tumbling
tricks by a boy. There were a number of men
in the room who could have done as well or bet-
ter; and the crowd speedily began to manifest
its impatience by grumbling remarks and de-
risive hisses. The climax was reached when
the “ Wonder-Worker” made such a botch of
the fire-eating trick that he set his frilled shirt-
front ablaze.

Scarcer had the sounds of merriment ceased
when a tall miner, with a week’s growth of red
stubble half-concealing his features, pulled his
legs from under the bench in front of him and
drew his form erect. 1

“Gentlemen!” he said, bracing one hand
against the wall and thrusting the other deep
into his trowser’s po’cket, “ this hyer’s jist too
much fer even the good—humored and charitable
people of Rocket Range. We’ve been induced
by false promises to pay in our good dollars,
an’ w’ot hev we been give to show for it? Noth-
in’, gentlemen! Acchully nothin’. It‘s a swin-
dle, an’ I, fer one, want my money back 2”

Warbling William recoiled slightly while the
miner was making this s )eech. The action was
not indicative of fear. t evinced rather a sort
of mental shock, and showed that his pride was
hurt by what he considered a rude and unwar-
ranted criticism.

He rallied, however, even before the miner
resumed his seat. The bland smile became
blander and oilier than ever. He coolly pinned
his vest across his scorched shirt-front, and im-
pressively waved his hands for silence.

“If there is anything I admire, citizens of
Rocket Range, it is the kicker—the man who
kicks upon all occasions and under all circum-
stances. Without him life would be too much
like sliding down a greased rainbow. There
would be none of thoselittle jars and jolts which
serve to break the monotony and give it charac-
ter.’

He descended from the stage while speaking,
combed asilver half-dollar out of the grizzled
and unkempt locks of a. man on the front row,
and tossed it to the loud-voiced miner.

“ If we haven’t brushed away your sorrows to
the extent of a half-dollar’s worth, say so; and
I’ll comb the Philadelphia mint out of this gen-
tlenian’s frosty tresses and settle the deficit.

“ But, as I was saying,” and he stepped back-
ward to the stage, “ I do admire a kicker. The
kicker is the life of the world; and, whether he
is kicking his mother-in—law into the middle of
the next week or simply exercising his powers
on a performance like this, he is an interesting
creature. It has been my good fortune to meet
him frequently, and to celebrate his many vir-
tues I once composed a little ditty.”

He picked up the guitar and strummed it re-
flectively.

As for the miner who had caused this sudden
chan e in the rogramme, he wasreddening so
that ft was bar to tell where his stubby beard

 

ended and his facial epidermis commenced;
while the crowd roared and haw-hawed in a way
that was simply maddening.

Then, with a premonitory twang of the in-
strument and an affected clearing of his throat,
Warbling William began to sing. The words
were evidently impromptu, and the tune was
the then favorite one of “The Little Old Log
Cabin in the Lane:”

“In the lively town of Rocket Range the Warbler
gave a show,
And the Kicker paid his silver at the door;
And he listened to the ringing of the guitar. and the
Singing?
Watched t is acting;—-but he said ’twas all a bore.
Then he, got upon his nether limbs and kicked a
mighty kick;—
For, on feelingin his purse, he chanced to think
That the remnant of his wealth was locked within
his burglar-proof,
And his empty pockets could not buy a drink.
“ Oh, the Kicker! Oh, the Kicker!
Triumphant may he wave
Till time and life and hope shall all he o’er.
Without him earth would stagnate from the cradle
to the grave,
And the cup of joy be lifted nevermore.

“ I’ve met him in the cities, and I’ve seen him in the
camps,
And my smiling he has greeted with a frown;
And he always makes things lively, and gives the
world a jog—
For his bread is ever falling, butter down.
His paidtthel bucking broncho, I’ve oft ridden on
t 10 rai ,
While the cowboys flocked to patch up my remains.
But wliate’cr the shape you find him in, he’s kick-
ing all the time,
From the Rookies to New Mexic‘s sandy plains.
“ Oh, the Kicker! Oh, the Kicker!
Triumphant may he wave,
Till time and life and hope shall all be o’er.
Without him earth would stagnate from the cradle
to the grave.
And the cup of joy be lifted nevermore.”

The song was greeted with a series of yells,
whistles and cheers; and the hilarity became so
general and infections that even the kicker,
whatever may have been his real feelings, was
forced to join in the merriment. .

Through it all the Warbler maintained his air
of unfailing and smiling serenity. No footlight
favorite, conscious of hishold on the public, ever
met a storm of applause with such unshakeii as-
surance and equanimity. Again and again, as
the cheers rung out, he held his guitar daintily
before him and bowed himself almost to the
floor.

“ It pleases me, gentlemen," and he laid his
hand upon his heart as the uproar subsided, “ to
k now that those choice bits of sentiment meet
your approval. Similar philosophic thoughts
have at various times filtered through the gray‘
ish matter of my cerebrum; and, with your kind
permission, I will venture to put them into
shape.”

Again he strummed reflectiver on the guitar,
tapping his foot in time with the music, and then
launched into a versified and ironical eulo y of
the various foibles and eccentricities of li e in
the mining-camps. The hits were so palpable
and taking that the good-will of the motley as-
semblage was irresistibly gained.

The rformance ended, as it had commenced,
with t e rendition of a popular ballad. Then
the crowd surged about him with good-humored
congratulations. Smilingly making his way
through the throng the Warbler blandly a
proac ed the man whom he had held up to ri i-
cule as the Kicker.

A momentary scowl flitted across the latter’s
face, but the eyes of his friends were upon him
and he chased it away with an uneasy smile.

“ Permit me to present my pard,” said the
Warbler, as the boy came forward. “We wish
to thank you for getting us out of an unpleasant
predicament. The show was on the point of be—

ing a flat failure when you furnished an oppor-'

tunity for the exhibition of my rhyming pro-
pensities. Otherwise, I am much afraid the
disgusted crowd would have booted us out of the
camp—which, you know, we couldn’t very well
afford.”

The showman’s presumptuous self-confidence
and air of easy familiarity drove the slumbering
anger from the miner’s heart.

“ Wal, if you’re a mind to put it that way, I
don’t know as I’ve any call to hold that song
ag’in’ you. It was cute, an’ I sspose I’ll be called
the Kicker to the eend o’ my ays. My name’s
Brown, Sam Brown,”——-he extended his hand as
he said it—“ an’ I don’t giner’ly ’low any small
rooster to crow over me. But, you’re a good
’un, an’ too much of a banty, anyway, fer me to
whup!”

The statement tickled the bystanders so im—

 

    

I

menser that Brown seemed to feel he had at
last got the better of the Warbler in the even-
ing’s verbal dual.

As the, crowd thinned out, the proprietor of
the saloon approached the showman and his
Boy Second.

“I’m s’prised at Brown!" he chuckled. “I
thought he’d jestnacher’ly chaw ye up when
the show was over. You’d be a fu‘st-class card
fer my bizness. If I c’u’d git ye to sing that
way in the saloon, it’d draw a bonseful ever’
night. I s’pose, though, there ain’t no show fer
that?”

Warbling William cocked his head sidewise,

like a veritable mocking-bird, and for a moment '.

appeared to be lost in thought.

“Well, now,” and he counted the words out
as if weighing them, “- I don’t know but that
would strike me favorably. You see, we haven’t
been getting rich at this business, although Mas-
ter Harry and I made a comfortable haul this
eVening.”

He gave a comprehensive glance at his dingy
coat and worn foot-gear.

“ I think I kin make it to your interest,” said
the proprietor, eagerly. “ How would thirty
dollars a week and good chuck for two strike

e.

“And sin ni htl ?”

“ Yes; thEt’s E111",

“Done!” and the Warbler extended his hand
to seal the contract.

CHAPTER II.

SOME DEVELOPMENTS.

“ IT was well done; or, as the Mountain
Mocking-bird would say, the affair was a superb
success. ’

Warbling William laughed lightly, tipped
back his chair in an easy attitude, and looked at
the youth who had assisted him in the evening’s
performance.

The latter was a keen-eyed, bright-faced lad
of about fourteen.

Their room was in the “ hotel” above the
saloon. To it they had repaired at a late hour,
and were discussing the turn of events before
retiring.

“ There can’t be a possibility, I suppose, that
we’ve started on a wrong scent? You fully re-
cognized the man?”

“ I’d know him if I should meet him in China l”
the boy asserted, earnestly. “We’re on the
right track, Mr. Ware; I’m willing to take the
responsibility of that.”

“ I was just thinking what a joke it would be,
if on happen to be wrong.”

Hr. Ware, as the boy had addressed him, un-
pinned the concealed vest and serenely surveyed
his scorched shirt-front.

“We did botch things terribly. We’re no
great shakes as performers at any time, but our
acting to-night was certainly bad enough to
justify a lynching bee. I knew it would wake
up the Kicker, should there chance to be one in
the room.”

A smile played over his expressive face, and
he pulled thoughtfully at his tawny mustache.

“When you tip
spotted our man, began to scheme for an ex-
cuse to remain here. I had already sized up
Mr. Saloon-keeper, and knew that an exhibition
of sublime cheek, together with a lot of apt and
taking doggere], would catch him if he was to
be caught.

“For a minute or two, though, I thoughtI
would surely have to fight the Kicker, after the
show was out. To avoid such a contingency re-
a‘uired a deal of pretty talking, I can tell you.

he fellow came around easier than I thought
he would; and alto ether we’ve gained a host of
admirers and frien 5. And we may need them,
every one, before we get through.” .

He removed his cravat, as if thinking of re-
tiring.

“ You’ll want to mind your eye, Harry, in
boy, tomorrow and to-mormw night, and aivl
the time. You’ll not be called on to assist the
Mocking—bird in his nightly performances, and
can, therefore, give your whole time to the
work in hand. Don’t forget that you’re to
shadow our man night and day, and find out if
possible all he does and says.”

“ I’ll not forget it,” was the confident re-

sponse. _
The next morning the Warbler introduced
himself to the saloon-keeper as Mr. William

Ware, and throughout the day took especial,

pains to make himself agreeable to that indi-
vidual. The latter, whose name was Shelby
Tanner, was much flattered by these attentions.~
He evidently cons1dered the showman a man of

2-:

me word that you had ‘

 

 

  
 

 

 

 

Warbling William.

 

 

note, and presented him to all who visited the
place-43nd their name was legion.

The Warbler was at all times the suave gen-
tleman of the song and guitar, and his melli-
fluous sentences and rounded periods flowed in
a neverending stream. His scorched shirt had
been replaced by another with a gorgeously
frilled front, but his outer garments were as
dingy and his shoes as full of rents as ever.

During the heated part of the day, when the
crowd had somewhat thinned out, a shapely
.little man, dressed in elegant and neat-fitting
garments, a proached the bar, and was intro—
duced to VBarbling William by the saloon-
keeper with an elaborate flourish:

“ This is John Leonard, the tip-toppest gentle-
man in Rocket Range. You ought to makea
good team, an’ I hope you’ll it along han’some
together. M friend, Mr. are, kin give a
Philadelphy awyer p’ints in talkin’, an’ then
beat him at his own game. I tell him he’s
missed his callln’. If he’d only start out asa
temp’rance lecterer, he could rake in the green-
backs by the trunkful.”

Leonard’s keen eyes took in every detail of
the Warbler’s person, as he returned the latter’s
eflusive greeting.

“ Glad to know you, Mr. Ware,” he aerted.
“I understand that Tanner has retained you to
sing for the entertainment of his customers of
evenings,” and with a shapely white hand he
smoothed back the brown mustache that shaded
his mouth.

“ Leonard,—Le0nard,-—seems to me I’ve heard
that name!” the Warbler mused aloud, when
that gentleman had departed.

“ Not much to be s’prised at if ye had,” Tanner
observed.

“’Tain’t such an oncommon name but what
ye might ’a‘ run acrost it in your travels.”

“ Your surmise is correct, of course. I almost
forget how extensive my perambulations have
been. No doubt Mr. Leonard is well known
throughout the mountain country? He‘s
Wealthy, too, I should say, jud ing from his
attire and manner. The stamp o wealth is un—
mistakable, Mr. Tanner.”

The saloon-keeper was pleased by the com-
pliments bestowed upon his friend and patron.

“Right ye air, Mr. Warel John Leonard’s
about as well heeled as men it to be in this
section. He owns the Jim row coal mine,
and’s got stock in several vallyble silver and
gold mines. He holds his head high an’ lives
‘purty tol’able fast, but he’s got the coin to
jestit‘y it.” _ _

A number of times during the afternoon,
when a favorable opportunity presented, did
'Warbling William recur to ieonard and his
doings, and by deft and guarded questions
suceeded' in extracting from Tan'nera goodly
quantiia; of miscellaneous information. _

The arbler’s singing that night drew an 1m-
mense crowd. He seemed in excellent vome and
spirits, and his wit and ready repartee, together
with the local flings and hits ho indulged in,
created much amusement and good humor. _ To
his surprise, for the tumbling on the prevrous
evening had been cxecrably had, “Master
Harry ’ was called for, again and again. The
Warbler sent for him, and the best of their
usual programme was repeated.

The singing and acting brought such a flood
of custom that Tanner and his assistants had,
for the first time in months, more than they
could attend to.

“I’ve struck it rich,” he muttered, rubbing
his hands and chuckling. “ If I can keep Ware

'and his boy hyer through the summer I’ll make

a small fortune.”
One of Tanner’s assistants was an over-dressed
oung woman who answered to the name of
army Fulton. She was only in the saloon when

.there was an extraordinary run of business;

therefore Ware had not e‘en her during the
day. q,"
At a late hour, when .e singing had ended,
he approached the b3? , and, in his easy, self-
possessed manner, dr’ .I her into conversation.
Her every word and act showed that she imag-
ined herself a gushing and attractive young
creature. She posed and fldgeted, minced her
words, and was evidently flattered by the at-

’ tentions of the affable showman.

Why he was attracted toward her he would
have found difficulty in explaining. Whatever
beauty of feature she may have possessed was
hidden or spoiled bya lavish useof cosmetics.
Her plump figure was adorned with flashy
colors, and her abundant masses of dark hair
were combed high on her head and banged and
frimed in a most bewildering way. Some unerr-
inga instinct, howevor, led him to single her
011

 

“Mr. Ware, your singing is just too deli-
cious!” she purred. “ I was so charmed by it I
could hardly wait on the customers. Such a
thirsty crowd, too! It seemed they were thickest
just when I most wanted to hear.”

The little man almost swept the floor in the
bow with which he he acknowledged the com-
pliment.

“The great bard has told us, Miss Fulton,
that he who hath not music in his soul is fit for
treason, stratagem and 5 oil. I sing a little, a
Very little! I have a brot er, though, who war-
bles like an angel.”

She giggled as if she considered it doubtful
whether any one could sing better than the
Warbler himself.

“ Mr. Leonard, who was here earlier in the
evening, paid you quite a compliment!” glanc-
ing at him demurelyé

“ Leonard l” and are started in spite of him-
self. “ Oh, yes; I remember. Our friend Tan-
ner ave me an introduction to-day. And what
did r. Leonard say i”

“That you’re so sharp nothing but a knife
can cope with you.”

The words seemed idle chatter, but when she
had gone, Ware mused over them long and
thoughtfully.

“Can it' be that Leonard already suspects
me?" he soliloquized. “I must find out if the
two are intimate. There was surely a threat
back of those words. ‘ Nothing but a knife can
cope with mei’ I don’t suppose he would hesi-
tate to use a knife to rid himself of an enemy. I
must be extra cautious, or I’ll tumble into some
unexpected trouble.”

CHAPTER III.
STRIKING THE TRAIL.

IN their room that night the Warbler im-
pressed upon his boy pard the necessity of
shgdowing the barmaid as well as Mr. Leon-
ar .

The boy attempted it the next day, but found
the task an exceedingly difficult one. She re-
mained in her room much of the time, only de-
scending to assist at the bar or pay hurried and
surreptitious visits to various parts of the town.
But “Master Harry” was a youth of much
pertinacity, and his patience. and watchfulness
were finally rewarded.

The barmaid’s room adjoined the apartments
of Mr. Leonard, and certain acts tended to show
she was his confidante and ally.

One evening, as she tripped down the stair-
way to assist Mr. Shelby Tenn-Cr in his arduous
duties, aletter fluttered from her pocket and
fell, unheeded by her, upon the lower landing.
The quick eyes of the boy descrietl it and noted
its resting-place; and when she had passed on
into the saloon he crept from his concealment
and secured it.

A look of triumph strangely mingled with
pain came into his face as he glanced at the
superscription. The name was unknown to him,
but the handwriting was perfectly familiar!
Stowing the letter securely in an inner pocket
he went at once in search of Mr. Ware.

That gentleman was entertaining Shelby Tan-
ner with a dissertation on the peculiar qualities
of mountain air in the development of brain
power as attested by the intellectual citizens of
Rocket Range. An almost imperceptible nod
from the boy, however, caused him to drop the
subject and wend his way to their room.

“Now, what is it?” he asked, when he had
locked the door behind them. “I take it you
have run against something of importance.”

“ Look at that!” he exclaimed, with quiver-
ing voice. “ Miss Fulton dropped it as she went
down the stairway, a little while ago.”

The Warbler took the letter and stared curi-
ously at the handwriting.

“You don't understand, I see! Of course,
how should you? You can see that the letter
is addressed t0some young ladv of this town,
and the handwriting is my brother’s!”

Ware now looked at the letter with real inter-
est. It was addressed toMiss Maud Malcolm,
and bore a date of some two months previous.
Then he opened and read it, the boy looking over
his shoulder and devouring the contents at the
same time, It was simply a love missive, and
revealed nothing but the fact that this Miss
Maud Malcolm, whoever she was. was the
writer’s sweetheart. It was signed LeWis Cav—
endish.

“ It don’t tell much, but it tells a good deal
that we didn’t know or were uncertain of before.
It proves that your brother was in this town
some two months ago, and that while here he
formed the acquaintance of this youngdady.
Who she is and whether she still remains in the
town we must proceed to find out. It also

 

 

proves that we have not been wrong in sus

ing the barmaid. I am beginning tothink that,
whatever John Leonard knows about this afiair,
she knows.

“How she came into ossession of the letter,
though, puzzles me. It may be that she or
Leonard intercepted your brother’s mail. Either
that or she has stolen the letter from this Mi
Malcolm. At any rate the postmark shows
that it had passed out of Lewis’s hands.”

After the night’s performance he sounded
Shelby Tanner on the subject now uppermost in
his mind.

“ This Miss, Fulton is quite a jewel of a young
lady and a great help to you l” he assured the
barkeeper, at the same time seeming to give
more attention to the building and balancing of
a pyramid of glasses than to the words spoken.
“ t’s a pity there aren’t more such young ladies
in the town. I don’t suppose there are really a
half~dozen young women in the entire camp.”

Tanner’s pride was touched, for the tones of
the Warbler indicated an opinion that it was a
great pity there were no more; and on a slight
wager he ventured to name the unmarried wo-
men of the lace:

“ Well, t ere’s Miss Fulton to start with. Then
there’s Miss Trueblood, what teaches the night
school for minerS' and Miss Jenks, an’ Miss
Stockton, an’ the olmes gals, three of ’em; an’
Miss Malcolm, what lives on the hill over there,
an’ whose dad died last year, wu’th quite a snug
little fortune; an’ Miss Brown, the clerk in the
post office. ”

“ That will do,” laughed the Warbler, pushing '
the wagered coin toward Tanner. “ You’ve won
the bet. I’m glad to know that Rocket Range is
even a better place than I thought it.”

Then he drifted carelessly into a discussion of
various commonplaces, and a half—hour later
took his departure.

The next evening, when the shades of dusk
were sufficiently heavy to screen his movements,
be cautious] made his way to the house where
Miss Malco m was residing with an aged fe-
male relative.

He had, in the interval, picked up some fur-
ther bits of information, and he trusted that an
interview with the young lady would make clear
many matters which were now locked in ob— '
scurity.

His dingy coat was brushed until it almost
shone, and his worn shoes were polished till they
gleamed like mirrors. He rung the bell, and
spent the time of waiting in flufiing the frills of
his shirtfront.

The ring was an5wered by the young lady,
who,*on hearing his request, led the way to the
little parlor and stated that Miss Malcolm would
be pleased to see him in a few moments.

“ A snug cage,” he thought, as be surveyed
the room. “ It must be a pretty bird that occu-
pies it. It would be a go, now, if I should dis—
cover that she’s the real cause of the young tel-
low’s disap arance. There may have been a
murderous y inclined rival who put his bloody
finger into the pie. I’ve heard of stranger
things.”

His cogitations were interrupted by the en-
trance of Miss Malcolm, a pretty young lady,
but with a face that was rather pale and trou-
bled.

The Warbler was on his feet instantly and
greeted her with a bow of Chesterfieldian polite-
ness.

“ Pardon the intrusion, please,” he apologized,
feeling in his pocket for the letter. “ This will
serve to ex; lain in part in mission. It‘ was
found by my protege Harry avmdish.”

A flush supplanted the pallor, and she sunk
tremblingly into a chair, as she clutched the let.
ter.

“ Pray be seated,” she said. “ Did I under-
stand you say Cavendish P”

He bowed affirmatively and resumed his seat.

“ The letter is, of course, your property, Miss
Malcolm. I called to return it, to explain how
it came into my possession, and to ask some
questions.” '

He had been watching her narrowly without
seeming to do so.

“ I presume it was stolen from you. You ma
not know me, although I sent in my name. I
am a sort of traveling showman, and for the
present am Singing nightly for the edification of
the guests at Mr. Tanner’s palatial establish-
ment. I have some further credentials which I
may Present by and by. The letter was picked
up by Master Harry Cavendish, on the lower
landing of Tanner’s stairway, where it had been
dropped by a certain young woman named
Fanny Fulton.”

The later statement much astonished the young
lady, as was evidenced by her loch

  

‘4

 
 

“ Surely, Mr. Ware, you must be mistaken.
No, that isn’t what I want to say. The circum-
stances appear to indicate that Miss Fulton il-
fered the letter. I can hardly believe that. he
has been here a number of times to obtain work
and I never had occasion to suspect her. ,She
must have carried it ofl.’ accidentally in some
clothin or dress material.”

The arbler had his own opinion as to that,
but his facial expression showed only the greats
deference to the young lady’s expressed be-

1e .

“ The presumption is great,Miss Malcolm,” hesi-
tating slightly and pulling at his tawny mustache,
“that the boy, Harry Cavendish, is a brother
of the young gentleman who wrote that letter.
Following that presumption brought me here. I
confess that a feeling stronger than curiosit led
me to read the letter—a desire, in fact, to earn
something concerning what we believe to be a
great wrong.”

While he was speaking, the young woman
looked at him as if she would read his very
thought.

“ And you are seeking Lew-is Cavendish! Try-
i‘? to find what has become of him? Oh, Mr.

are, can I trust you?”

“As you would trust yourself!” be assured
her earnestly. “ Lowis Cavendish has mysteri-
ous y disappeared, and under circumstances in-
dicating foul pla . To find him if living, or to
punish his mur erers. if he is dead, is my sole
pu 036 in visiting this country.”

or 6 es lighted with hope.
“ An on are a—a—i”
“ Yes, ' Malcolm; I am a detective I”
CHAPTER IV.
MUTUAL CONFIDENCES.

Ix admitting this the Warbler knew he risked
much. He could not expect confessions from
the young lady, however, without himself first
making advances in that line. A study of her
character, as revealed in her appearance and
actions, had convinced him that in her keeping
the secret would be safe. Her face was frank
and open, and her clear blue eyes showed a
pure and ingenuous mind. He felt that she was
a woman who could be trusted; and who, if her
confidence could be gained, would make a valu-
able ally. -

“ I suppose you know something of Lewis
Cavendish’s history?” he questioned, in a tone of
growing familiarity.

“I know a little.” she conceded. “But, it is
only a little. If 1 had known more it might
have been better, for then I could have formed
some intelligent plan to work upon, when be dis‘
appeared.” ‘

“ So, you have been making an attempt in the
detective line?” with an encouraging smile.

“ What I have done hardly deserves the name.
I became acquainted with Mr. Cavendish through
John Leonard, with whom my father had busi-
ness dealings. The acquaintance ripened into
warm friendship.”

The blush which accompanied this confessed
more than the words. ~

“ Mr. Cavendish was thinking of buying some
mining stock of Leonard. Sudden] he was miss-
ing from the town. After a week lad gone by,
without any letter or explanation, I went to
Leonard, and was told that Lewis—I mean Mr.
Cavendish—had returned East, without purchas-
ing the property or stating the cause of his sud-
den departure.

“, Mr. Leonard was ve uneasy during the
whole of the interview. I new be was not tell-
ing the truth, and at once suspected foul play.
But, I had no evidence on which to basea charge.
Mr. Cavendish had told me his home was in
Chicago, and Idirecteda letter to him there,
but received no reply. I didn’t know the num-
ber or the street. I wrote a second letter, using
a return envelope, and it came back to me in
about thirty days.

“ Failing to obtain any trace of Mr. Caven-

‘ dish in this way, I commenced to watch Leonard.

It was about this time that I was thrown in con-
tact with Miss Fulton. As her room was near
Leonard’s I told her something of my story, and
she promised to inform me o anything sus i-
cious in his actions. That is all I have been a is
to do, and that has amounted to nothing.”

The detective on dropping his disguise had dis-
carded his air of oily affability. For a time af-
ter the story was finished he sat with brows
contracted and an ex ression of deep thought-
fulness on his mobile ace.

“ There can be no doubt,” he said at last,
“ that some crime has been committed 1) Leon-
ard or his agents. It may not be mu or. In
fact. I hardly think it is; though I must admit
Nuisances point that way.

 

 

Warbling William.

“ As you have so kindly told me all you know
about the mysterious affair, and as our inter-
ests seem to be identical, I cannot be less frank.
Three or four months ago Lewis Cavendish left
his home in Chicago with a man whom I now
kn0w to be John Leonard, of this place. For
several weeks letters were received regularly by
Cavendish’s relatives, whose names are Upton.
Then they suddenly and strangely ceased.

“ The young man had but recently reached
his majority and come into the inheritance of a
considerable fortune. About that time he made
the acquaintance of Leonard, who, from what I
can learn, represented himself as a Western
capitalist, engaged largely in mining and specu-
latin .

“ (givendish did not reside with his relatives,
but had taken rooms down town; and here
Leonard frequently visited him. Hence it hap—
pened that none of the relatives ever saw Leon-
ard, except Cavendish’s younger brother,
Harry, who was in the habit of calling at his
brother’s rooms on his way from school. Even
he did not know Leonard’s name. For some
reason, however, he did not like the looks of the
stranger, and so was drawn to observe him
more closely than be otherwise might have done.

“ One evening Lewis Cavendish told his bro-
ther to inform the folks, meaning the Uptons,
that he was going West to look at some mining

roperty which he, thought of purchasing.

eonard was in the room when he made the
statement; and Harry now remembers, though
he thought little of it at the time, that he made
some remnrk which suddenly changed the drift
of the conversation. But for that Lewis might
have revealed his point of destination, and thus
saved us much worry and work.”

He ceased for a moment and looked earnestly
at Miss Malcolm; then questioned:

“ Has Leonard been in the habit of wearing a
full heard?”

The query was evidently a surprising one.

“Never, since I have known him.”

“ And that has been how long?”

“ Two years at the least i”

“ I suspected as much. While in Chicago, ac-
cording to Harry’s statement, he wore a full
beard. I take it he wasn’t away from here long
enough to have grown it?”

She replied in the ne ative.

“ I am getting chest of my story, however,”
and he smiled faintl . “ The suspicion suddenly
recurred to me andI could not forbear putting
it into words. I will return to it in a little while.
Now, with your permission, we will go back to
Chicago. .

“ When the long silence of young Cavendish
began to create suspicion, I was consulted. I
talked with Harry, and was Convinced there was
something seriously wrong. The letters received
by the Uptons were all postmarked ‘ Cheyenne,’
and appeared to have been written from that
place.
showed that the name of the town had been re-
moved with acids from the headings of the
letters and Cheyenne substituted. ,

“ The Cheyenne pustmark was of course genu-
ine, and it was the Only clew we had. It was
evident to my mind that Cavendish had fallen
into the hands of a sharper, who was taking
every means to conceal his steps; and that he
had, in some way, induced the young man to
allow him to mail the letters, and that instead
of mailing them at the place where they were
written he had conveyed or forwarded them to
Cheyenne. _

“There were other circumstances tending to
show foul play. Young Cavendish started West
with a considerable sum of money and a draft for
fifty thousand dollars. It was easy to discover
that the draft had been cashed in Cheyenne by
Cavendish himself. His was the only indorse-
ment on it, and it had been left with the Chey-
enne Bank until they could assure themselves of
the genuineness of his signature. _

“ With these few clews I started from Chica-
go for the West, taking the boy, Harry, with
me. This was necessary, for he was the only
member of the family who had seen the man
with whom his brother had departed.

“ On reaching Cheyenne I visited the bank
where the draft had been cashed. The large
amount called for by the draft had fixed in the
minds of the bank officials the circumstances
under which it had been paid. Their books, of
course, showed the record of the transaction,
but that would have been of little benefit to me
if their memories had failed them.

“ Their statements made it certain that Lewis
Cavendish had come to the bank with a stranger;
that he had deposited the draft. in lieu of identi-
fication, and had returned for the money within
a week or ten days. ’

A close examination of them, however,-

 

 

“ Here the trail ended. I quickly ascertained
he was not in the town, and then began plan-
ning a way to discover his whereabouts. If we
could only find the stranger with whom he had
left Chicago we would then have a point from
which to work.

“After much thought I hit upon a plan. It \

was extremely simple, but the best we could do.
I am considered a fair singer, and can perform
afew ordinary tricks of sleight-of~hand. The
boy had attained some little dexterity at a
gymnasium; so we started out as itinerant
showmen.

“By strolling in this guise from town to
town, and from camp to camp, we hoped to dis-
cover the mysterious stranger, or come upon
some trace of the missing young man. Show-
men do not often visit these out—of—the-way,
mountain laces; hence we were reasonably

sure our 9 orts in that line, feeble though they'

were, would draw together all classes and conn
ditions of men.

“For nearly a month we wandered about in
this vagrant way. Then we struck Rocket
Range and Harry discovered our man in the
audience. You know the rest, or most of it.

“The man proved to be John Leonard. He
did not wholly answer to Harry’s descri tion of
the stranger he had seen in Chicago. T at man
had a full beard, while Leonard wears onlya
mustache. The boy insists, however, that Leon-
ard is the man.

“The beard worn in Chicago was doubtless a.
false one. My theory is that before he reached
this place he removed it: and explained the
changeto young Cavendish by saying he had
visited a barber-shop and had been shaved.”

Miss Malcolm had listened with deep interest
to the detective’s story.

“ Have you any further plans?” she asked.

“Only undeveloped ones, and liable to be
changed at any moment. In a case of this kind
it is difficult to form plans ahead. We have to
be guided by circumstances.

“ There is one thing, though,” and he looked
at her closely, “Miss Fulton is no friend of
yours, whatever she professes. I have seen
enough to convince me that she is leagued with
Leonard, and is altogether awicked and dan»
gerous woman.”

Miss Malcolm seemed pained by this frank ‘

statement.

“ Understanding my connection with the case
you will pardon me, 1 know, for what may ap—
pear to you a harsh judgment. We, Harry and
I, have been shadowing Miss Fulton, and our-
discoveries prove my assertions.” I

“And on would advise me to have nothing

more to o with her?”
. “ Hardly that. She would suspect something.
I only want to put you on your guard against
her. I am sure her visits here have been in
Leonard’s interest.”

“And I told her almost everything!” Miss
Malcolm in terjected. “Surely she cannot be so
base as you think!”

“We will let time determine that: but. as
you value the life and well-being of Lewis Cav-
endish, do not breathe a word to her of what we
have discussed this evening. I am certain
Leonard would know it within an hour, and my
best efforts would thus be thwarted.

“A little while ago you spoke of plans. A

art of them, at least, will he the shadowing of

iss Fulton. In this you can assist. Watch
her words and actions when she calls on you,
and try to ascertain her real motive in making
the calls. You can speak to her in a general
way of John Leonard and Mr. Cavendish. By
so doing you may lead her into some .slip of
the tongue that will reveal matters of import-
ance.

“Above all, however, be watchful of your
own statements and admissions. Remember
that while you are trying to sound her she is
probably attempting the same thing with you.”

He looked at the little clock that ticked en-
ergeticall on the mantel.

H I see
the commencement of my performance at Tan-
ner’s. I must keep.my en agements, for the
good of our cause, if not or the sake of the
salary. ,
of the progress of affairs. f you learn any.
thing of im rtance send for me at once.”

llHe bo‘b bsc b th b ktothe ter-
s 'ng yo ure -pa 3 ac roys
ingg‘nd the garish lig ts at Tanner's.

CHAPTER V.
A WOULD-u surron.

 

0n
had a v uable bit of information to im t.

“ I have been watching Miss Fulton

must be going. It is about time for‘

I will try to call on you or advise you-

himself out, and, a little later, was '

aching the saloon he‘ found that Harry '
a

theboyy "

 

 

x
, t.»

1‘

,whispere'd, drawing the Warbler into the dark
.recesses of the side street. “ She is acquainted
with the old chap, as sure asyou live. I saw
her in his room awhile ago while he was away.
Just then a servant came along with a pitcher
of water and saw her too. Miss Fulton seemed
tpok back a little by this. ,

“ ‘Where is Mr. Leonard?’ she asked. You
know what a high, squeaky voice she has, Mr.
Ware!” and the boy gave a ludicrous imitation
of it.

*‘ Well, she said it just that way:

“ ‘ Where is Mr. Leonard?’

“ ‘ I don’t know,’ said the servant, kind of
surprised like. ‘ Did you want to see him per-
ticklar, ma’am ?’

“ ‘ No—er, that is, not especially. You may
tell him, though, If you see him, that I called to
borrow one of his books.’

“ That’s just what she said, Mr. Ware, when I
don’t believe Mr. Leonard has a book in his
apartments. I’m sure she didn’t have any in
her hands, nor she didn’t go back to get any.”

“ And what do you make of it?” the Warbler
questioned. -

" That she was there to get orders about some-
thing, or to tell him something.”

“ And where is she now i”

“ I don’t know,” the boy reluctantly con-
fessed. “She skipped down-stairs, and when I
followed I couldn’t find her. You see the ser-
vant hung around in the hall there for five
minutes or more, and I didn’t dare to creep
out.”

“ And you haven’t seen anything of Leonard?”

“ Not a sign. I am beginning to think he sus-
picions us. I can see him once in awhile, but
he has kept awful shady, for some reason."

“ You must be extra careful,” the detective
cautioned. “ It won’t do to let him find out
who we are at this stage of the game. I can
tell from his looks that he’s as quick as a steel-
trap. The least carelessness on our part may
ruin everything.

“ The reason I speak of this is that I noticed
your wig awry when we turned in here a little
while ago. If he had seen that he would have
had cause to suspect us. With your darkened
complexion and that wig he will never guess
that you are the boy he saw in Chicago, unless
you heedlessly betray yourself.”

“ Well, the thing is so plaguey hard to keep
op!” the boy grumbled, twisting the wig into

ace. .

p Then he crept from the shadows of the side
street by a rear route, and the detectiVe went
on into the saloon. '

When the singing commenced, a half-hour

' later, the barmaid was in her usual place.

At the ‘end of the performance the Warbler
again sought an interview with her. '

“ As bright and sprightly as ever!" he flatter-

' ingly asserted, giving her a cajoling glance.

“ Methinks the very birds would become 'en-
vious, only that the said birds don’t chirp around
after nightfall.”

. “ Some of them do, Mr. Ware. There’s the
owl and the night-hawk, for instance.”

“To neither of which class can you be com-
pared. I have heard you sing; and if the recol-
lections of the old boyhood days on the farm are
not misleading, the creatures you mention are
not gifted in that line.”

In making this assertion he drew la ely on
his fancy. He had never heard Miss ulton
Vping, though he had heard her make some
squeaking attempts thereat.

She looked him squarely in the eyes.

“ Mr. Ware, do you Want to know what I
think of you?” .

“ Certainly!” with a deferential'snlile.

“ That if a contest of sweettalking frauds was
got ugliayon’d be sure to win the blue ribbon.”

He nghed, apparently regarding the thrust
as a compliment.

“ You wouldn’t say that to John Leonard,” he

ayerred.

"Wouldn’t 1? Well, then, it’s because he isn’t
such a palaverer.
in that connection?"

I He saw that she was intently studying his

' ace.

" “ Faint rumor has whispered into my shell-
like ear that he is somewhat ,sweet on you!” he
ventured, striking out boldly.

“I hope yon won’t go and sing that to the
public!” gasping the words as if the assertion

' had startled hen. “Yes, John Leonard and I
are very good friends, but not in the way you

seem to think.”

“Hit ’er ag’in!” Tanner laughed; for, now

‘ '. that the crowd was thinning out, he found time

' hanging rather idly on his hands and strained an
ear to catch a sentence now and then. “ If John

But why do you mention him '

 

Warbling William.

Leonard ain’t sweet on her I don’t know whoair.
She was chattin’ to him fer nighabout an hour,
this evenin’.”

“ I hope Mr. Tanner is a humorous falsifier,”
the Warbler declared serenely. “ If he isn’t, my
cake is still in the flour'barrel. I suppose, though,
the field is open, and I’m at liberty to cut him
out, if I can.”

“ If you kin? That’s good!” gufi‘awed Tanner.
“ I’ll bet this gold mine ag’in’ a wn’thless hole in
the ground, hows’ever, that you can’t do any
thing of the kind.”

Miss Fulton attempted a blush, but the paint
was too thick to reveal any heightening of Color.

“ You men are all alike,” she Simpered. “ If
a girl speaks to a gentleman, a Wedding is an-
nounced forthwith. As Itold you, Mr. Leonard
and I are very good friends, that is all.”

“ Then I’ll not have to go out and shoot my—
self because of a broken heart!” the Warbler ex-
claimed, airily. “ I was afraid such might be
my awful fate. If the field is open, I hurl my
lance into the arena and give notice to John
Leonard and the rest of mankind that I shall en-
ter the lists.”

Few young women of the caliber of Fanny
Fulton but would be flattered and leased by
the manner in which he said this. t told in
language plainer than words that his heart had
been touched by her beauty and wit.

“ By the way, what has become of Leonard?”
he questioned, pulling, as was his reflective habit,
at his mustache. ‘

Miss Fulton started, and again eyed him close-
ly. Evidently this frequent recurrence to
Leonard began to arouse her suspicions.

“ In his room or on the streets, I suppose!”
with a noticeable sharpness in the words. “ You
seem very much interested in Mr. Leonard.”

“Naturally!” and he oilily rubbed his hands.
“ I didn’t know but he might suddenly come
gunning for a canary of about my build. That
would be awkward. you know, and unpleasant.”

Then dropping his bantering tone for one
more serious:

“ I’m really more than half in earnest in what
I’ve said, Miss Fulton. I fancy we might think
more of each other on a closer acquaintance.
I must admit I haven’t much wealth ' but wealth
isn’t everything, even in the IVild West. With
your consent, I’d like to cultivate your friend-
ship. Who knows but it might result in some-
thing warmer?”

She smiled a consent; and the Warbler, lifting
her hand to his lips, politely bowed himself
away.

 

CHAPTER VI.
ANOTHER LETTER.

Two days later, Warbling William received
a message from Miss Maud Malcolm, stating
that she urgently wished to see him. The
message which was written, was borne by a miner
who had been hired by Miss Malcolm to deliver it.
It gave no explanation of the cause of the sudden
summons.

The pseudo—showman waited only until the
darkness would conceal his movements and then
set out for Miss Malcolm’s residence, which was
too conspicuously situated on a hill to suit his
crafty pur oses.

He foun her pacing restlessly up and down
the narrow limits of the little parlor. She had
apparently been waiting; and his coming seem-
ed a great relief.

The Warbler’s mind was cast in almost too
suspiciousa mold, or it may be that this con-
stant shadowing of questionable characters had
given a twist to his ima ination. At any rate
the unwelcome and un idden thou ht came
that he had seen actresses tread the oards of
the mimic stage in much the same way. A
look at her face, however, banished the unpleas-
ant suggestion.

“ Oh, I am so glad you have come!” she ex-
claimed, in an agitated voice. “ It seems ages
since Isent for you. I have received a letter
which has set me half wild.”

“ More letters!” thought the Warbler, that
odd suspicion again coming to him. “ It looks
like this is to be a letter case all through."

" It’s from him 1" she said, placing the closelv-
written page in the detective's hands. “ We
must do something to relieve him. Do you
think it would be advisable to call in the aid
of the officers?”

She checked herself, as if realizing that he did-

not yet know the letter’s purport. '

The Warbler deftly smoothed the page and
spread it on his knee. The handwriting correv
sponded with that. in the love note found by the
boy, and the contents ware as follows:

 

“ IN THE J m Caow MINE, date unknown,
“MY DEAR MAI‘DI—I have succeeded in lribin
the miner who waits on me, to furnish me wit
writing material and deliver into your hands what I
may write. I am held a close prisoner in an aban—
doned chamber of the Jim Crow Mine. How long
I have been held here 1 don’t know, for I have lost
all track of time. I feel that if I remain here much
longer I shall go crazy. The darkness and loneli-
ness and the torture of mind I have suffered are
killing me. No doubt Leonard has explained to you
my absence in some we not greatly to my credit. I
was assaulted and rob ed b a man whom I now
suspect to have been one of is tools. 1 was ren-
dered unconscious by a blow on the head, and when
I recovered I found myself here. Send some one to
my rescue, lam in the abandoned chamber lead-
ing north from the shaft. I haven’t time nor space
to write more.
“ Faithfully and lovineg yours.

“ LEWIS Cavaxnxsn."

“You are certain the letter was written by
Mr. Cavendish?” he asked, looking up from the
page.

“I know it!” she assured him. “There can
be no doubt that Lewis wrote it. And to think
he has been held all these weeks in that terrible
place! I can’t rest nor sleep until something is
done to relieve him.”

She again paced nervously up and down the
room as she had been doing when he entered.

“ I don’t think it would be advisable to call in
the ofiicers,”he said. “ Leonard is no doubt
hand in glove with them, and warning would be
given before we could do anything.”

“ You intend to go alone, then?” stopping in
her walk and looking at him with big, wet

eyes.

He nodded assent.

“ Oh, Mr. Ware, Would it be possible for me
to go with you? It don’t seem to me that I can
stand it to remain inactive while Lewis is in
such need of aid. If I could just. go along to see
and hear, even if I could be of no assistance!”

“I am sorry, Miss Malcolm,” with a pitying
glance. “ But I fear I wouldn’t be justified in
granting your request. A worn-out chamber of
the Jim Crow Mine is doubtless a dark and dis-
mal hole, with many dangers to be overcome in
reaching it. Then, there is another reason for
the refusal:
than to get out; and if I go some one may have
to come after me.

“ So, you see, it is important that I leave a
friend behind. Harry is smart, but he is only a.
boy. I shall tell him to call on you if I do not

return within a certain period, and together you‘

must put into effect some plan to rescue me.

“ Should you hear nothing from either of us
within two days, call on the mayor and insist on
having the mine searched.”

“ Wh not do that now 1”

“As said, I am afraid we should flush the
game by doing so. I want to fasten my grip on
John Leonard, if possible. If I no not come
back, though, there is nothing else you can do
but seek the assistance of the officers.”

He refolded the letter and placed it in his
pocket.

“ With your permission I should like to retain
this;” apqlogetlcally. “It ma come handy, by
and by, for we never know w at may happen.

“When will you start?” she queried, anx-
iously.

“Just as soon as I can. To-night. at all
events. Don’t agitate yourself, Miss Malcolm,
more than you can help. I will report at once
on my return; and I trust I may be able to bring
Mr. Cavendish with me.” '

She followed him, weeping, to the door, as he
quitted the house.

“ Of course I was foolish in suspecting her,”
he thought, as he slipped, fox-like, back to Tan-
ner’s. “ I have been led into traps so often,
though, that I reckon my wariness is excusable.
If young Cavendish is held in the mine—and

there can be no doubt of it. I think—I ought to ‘

be able to release him by a little stratagem.”
So busy with his thoughts was he that he al-

most ran over the boy, who was waiting for him ~

at the street corner.

“The cops will pull you in if you go to falling
over people that way!” Harry Warned, with a
grin. “I’ve been watching the old man like a
hawk, as you told me to. But he’s HIWays too
much for me, some way. Just when I think I’m
looking at him, I find him gone! The Irishman’s
flea could’t hold a candle to him.”

“ Come up to the room !” Ware whispered.
“ I have something we’ll want to talk over.”

When they were safe in their own apartment
and screened from all observers he handed the
boy the letter.

“What do you make of it?” he asked. watch- -

ing the play of surprise, wonder and angeral
the boy's expressive features.

It may be easier to get in there'

 
 
 

 

  

 

  

Warbling William.

 

“That old Leonard ought to be lynched l” was

the emphatic declaration. “ We must find Lew

at once. I know where the shaft of the Jim

Crow Mine is. It ain’t a mile from this very
lace. The scoundrel, to keep any one in a hole
ike that!”

But, what do on make of the handwriting?”

“ Oh, that? .hat’s Lew’s, sure! I could swear
to it anywhere.”

“ Then I’ll go l” and the detective breathed a
sigh of relief.

“And I’ll go!” with eyes flashing. “If your
brother was in a fix like tlmt, you wouldn’t stay
back for anybody, Would you?”

“No, perhaps not. But, circumstances are
said to alter ea-es.”

“ Oh, you must let me go, Mr. Ware. I can’t
—I can’t stay behind l”

The Warbler found it impossible to resist the
boy’s pleading.

“Be ready then when the show is over. We
will start as soon as the bulk of the crowd is
gone. Now, leave me alone, while I try to figure
outa plan for getting into the mine.”

And the boy tripped down-stairs, his mind so
whirling that it is doubtful if he would have
recognized John Leonard or Fanny Fulton had
they passed him.

CHAPTER VII.
“ DOWN IN A COAL-MINE.”

HARRY had been gone but a few moments,
when Ware proceeded to disguise himself by
changing his clothing and donning a bushy,
tawny beard that well matched the color of his
mustache. The articles were obtained from a
rusty-looking grip-sack which he had brought
with him to Rocket Range. .

The change thus effected was so great that
his most intimate acquaintances would scarcely
have recognized him. When he had locked his
dingy cutaway and other ordinary apparel in
the receptacle from which the others had been
taken. he surveyed himself in the oblong mirror
that hung against the wall.

“Notabad get-up,” was his muttered com-
ment. “Methinks if the fair Fanny should
clap her peepei‘s on me at this instant she would
tumble head over heels in love w1th yours truly.
That girl has a fund of information that would
be invaluable to me. Whether I can succeed in
extracting it is another thing. She’s as shrewd
and wary as aprofessional. What a pard she
would make in the detective linel”

After a few further disguising touches be ex-
tinguished the dimly burning lamp, opened the
door slightly and peered into the hall to see that
the coast was clear. No one was in sight; and
he crept softly into the street.

His usual evening performance did not begin
till nearly ten o’clock. He had visited Miss
Malcolm immediately after nightfall, and had
spent about half an hour in talking with Harry
and in changing his garments. Hence he had
abundant time for the work in hand, which was
the securing of miners‘ suits for himself and
Harry.

The thronged streets were fairly well lighted;
but, with a soft hat pulled far over his eyes, he
boldly made his way along them. On reaching
an obscure part of the town he entered a little
store where miners’ supplies and outfits were
sold.

The proprietor hustled briskly forward, scent-
ing a sale; and the Warbler was soon in posses-
sion of the needed articles, lanterns included.

On his return to Tanner’s, he regained his
room in the same cautious way, divested himself
of his dis uises, and was once more the smiling
and affab e gentleman of the song and guitar.

Shortly after midnight, when he was again at
liberty, he once more ascended to his room, this
time taking Harry with him.

“ Now, slip into that suit,” he said, when he
had screened the light and turned it so low that
the place was filled with somber shadows. “ It
may be a little large for you, but it is the
smallest I could find. Work lively, too, for
We’ve got to get into that mine in some way be-
fore daylight.”

Just then a step was heard in in the hall and
operations were for a time suspended. Ware
had taken his usual precaution of leaving the
key in the lock, however, and he had little fear
that prying eyes could see them. But the foot-
steps halted only temporarily, and the changing
of clothing was resumed.

Within ten minutes what seemed to betwo
miners emerged from the lower hallway and
strode down the street. There was nothing in
this to create suspicion had they been seen, for
: niimber of miners roamed together in the

ote

When they had traversed some distance they

:23?

 

took .to dark side streets and alleys, and after
much winding and turning left the town behind
them.

“ I don’t hardl know how we’re going to
work this,” the arbler whispered. when the
black dump-pile of the Jim Crow Mine loomed
before them. “ There is a day and a night shift
of workmen, and if we had been here when the
shifts were changed the thing would have been
easy enough. We could have entered the mine
with the night shift without much danger of
detection.”

A lantern gleained here and there about the
dump-pile and the mouth of the shaft; and as
they drew near they could hear the voices of
H181].

“ I don’t suppose it Would be worth while to
reveal ourselves and try to deCeive them in any
way. They know about who has business in the
mine at this time of night and who hasn’t.”

Just then a little car containing coal was hoist-
ed from the shaft and run out upon a small
tramway leading to an elevator from which the
coal was to be loaded into railway cars for ship-
ment.

The incident gave the detective an idea which
held some promise.

“ Come 1” he whispered, iving the boy’s coat
a tug, and sinking noise esst to the earth.
“ We’ll try the weasel game. If we can sneak
into one of those little cars we’ll go down the
shaft a—rolling.”

With movements as silent as those of the ani-
mal he had mentioned they approached the tim-
bers about the mouth of the shaft. While
crouching expectantly another car came up and
was run upon the traiiiWay. It was filled with
coal, and on top of the heap was a numbered
paddle showing to what miner’s account the
delving should be credited.

These cars were ascending and descending al-
most constantly, and, after an hour’s watching,
an opportunity presented for slipping into one
that was going down. The attention of the
workmen was drawn elsewhere for a few
minutes, and when the car was lowered it bore
the singing detective and his boy pard into the
de tbs of the mine.

ere detection seemed inevitable. When the
door of the cage opened the lamp of the work-
man below pierced the gloom and revealed their
presence.

“ Seems to me you fellows air’ thunderin’ late
in gittin’ down!” he growled. “ You won’t
make enough to—night to pay ye fer yer trouble
0’ comin’.”

Ware was quick to comprehend the situation.
The miner took them for belated workmen who
had probably been delayed by some drunken
carousel.

“ Better late’n never,” he answered, with dis-
guised and thickened utterance. “ Couldn’t git
hyer no quicker. High ole time with some ’f
the boys, you bet!”

“You’re one of the new men, I reckon, an’
I’d advise ye to hustle to yer work quick’s e
kin. Ef the foreman gits wind of it, he’ll be
mighty likely to lay ye ofl’.”

Ware and Harry stumbled past him before he
had finished speaking, and hurried on into the
gloom. ‘ They could see lights twinklin here
and there, and hear the tread of mules an rum-
ble of wheels where the little trains of coal cars
were being brought in from the converging tun-
nels and chambers.

“In the abandoned chamber north is where
your brother is held, if there is any truth in that

etter!” said the detective, stopping and trying
to locate himself. “I’m half turned round
already. If we only knew the outs and ins of
this place we’d have plainer sailing. Before we
go any further, though, we’d better light these
lamps. There may be danger from damp away
from the mouth of the shaft.”

The fact that the miner had not commented
on their unlighted lanterns convinced him it
would be perfectly safe to strike a match there.

When they were again ready to advance, they
turned sharply toward the north, and soon
found themselves among cobwebbed and dusty
debris, showing that that portion of the mine
had been worked out and abandoned. Then
they came to a tunnel-like opening, braced with
rotting timbers, which seemed to be the passage
leading to the chamber mentioned in the letter.

Harry, by this time, was becomin so excited
he could hardly contain himself. He believed
they were now within a few feet of his brother’s
terrible prison. ,

“ I. can’t_ imagine what kind of a place he is
held in,” said the detective, as they picked their
way forward. “ The chamber must be fitted up
With a door, or something to turn it into a
prison. The more I think of it the more in-

 

 

defigite seem the statements made in that let-
ter.

They had advanced but a few yards when
they came upon indications of the recent use of
pick and drill.

“ That looks a little like we may be approach-
ing a part of the mine that is still worked. It
may be we have taken the wrong passage. I“.
didn’t see any other, though, and we’ll go on till
we find out where this leads to.”

He paid small heed to the drill-marks, not.
considering them of much significance. He had
cause to think of this afterward, however, and
to regret his inattention.

The passage widened as they progressed, and
the walls began to stretch away on either hand,
inelosing an area of unknown extent. There
were timber {braces here and there; and in ad-
dition to these, columns of rock and solid coal
had been left by the workmen to support the
heavy mass of earth and stone above. In the
dim and uncertain light of their lanterns these
pillars seemed to divide the vast space into wind-
ing and colonnaded aisles.

“ There’s just about two chances to one that
we’ll get lost in here i” Ware observed, as be en-
deavored to pierce the murky darkness. “I
can fancy it wouldn’t be leasant if I should.
There hasn’t been any wor done in here for a
long time, and we might wander around for
days without being able to find our way out or
make ourselves heard.”

“Don’t you think we ought to be closeto
where Lew is, now i” Harry anxiously ques-
tioned.

“ Yes, my boy, I have been thinking that we
ought, if he’s in here. It looks a little like we’ve
been sent on a wild-goose chase.”

“Maybe we could find out where he is by
calling to him l”

“ And ma be we’d bring the miners down on
us! Let us 00k a little further first.”

They were on the point of again advancing
when a rumbling and muflled report came from
the passage they had recently quitted. The
stout pillars about them shock as if disturbed
by an earthquake and a blinding cloud of dust
was driven in upon them. This was accom-
panied by a crash as if the walls behind them
had fallen in.

“My God I” the detective exclaimed, a per—
ceptible tremor in his voice. “ A blast has been
fired in the passage, and we are blocked in!”

CHAPTER VIII.
IMPRISONED.

EN'rounEn alivel The thought is sufficient
to appall the stoutest heart. The detective sunk
tremblingly upon his knees as the dreadful sus—
picion flashed through his mind, and Harry
dropped beside him, half-sobbing with fright.

“It may not as bad as we think it is,
Harry!” straightening up as he noticed the boy’s
terror. “The passage may not be blocked at
all, though it did sound like the walls had tum-
bled in. There is no need to give up till we
know the worst.”

He shuddered, even while forcing these hope-
ful words through his lips.

The rush of dust-laden air had not extin-
guished their lanterns; and they quickly made
their way back to the narrow passage. Here
Ware found his gravest suspiczons confirmed.
The end of the passage nearest the shaft had
been blotted out, and only a wall of crushed rock
and pulverized coal showed where it had been.

“ We’re trapped l” the detective gasped, when
their lamps revealed the desperateness of their
situation. “Unless there’s another passage
we’ll never get out of here alive.”

In this monient of extreme terror the heroism
of the boy’s soul was brought out. The flash of'
his eyes was undaunted, and though his pallid
lips quivered, they only opened to speak words
0 encouragement:

“ I’ve heard you say, Mr. Ware, that as long
as there’s life there is hope. We didn’t go into
the chamber but a little way. There maybe
plenty of other tunnels by which We can get
out. We’ll not glve up until we have tried
every plan. I don’t su pose there could bea
hope of blasting a Way t rough with the powder
in your cartridges?”

The cheering tones acted like a tonic on the
detective’s dazed faculties.

“ You are right!” he asserted. “It’s foolish
to give way to desoair. The whole black
scheme flashed over me in a minute, though, and
I acknowledge that for a little while I was com-
pletely unnerved.”

He had lifted himself and was now looking the
boy earnest] in the face.

‘ What so emetf’ Harry questioned, not com-
prehending the drift of the statement.

 

 

we be Mid-«er

lwwwp—a.

Warbling William.

7

 

 

“ Sit down here and I will tell you,” said
Ware, drawing him to a seat at his side. “I
don’t feel strong enou h to go on, yet, and it
will do me good to tal toyou. Besides, you
might as Well know what I think, first as last.
You’re a boy of sense and courage, and to-
gether we can perhaps determine whether I am
ri ht or wrong.”

ith wonder-filled eyes the boy knelt by him.

“ It came upon me like an inspiration, Harry!
And for a cunninglIy devised scheme it goes
ahead of anything ever dreamed of. While
we have been planning and working we have al~
lowed ourselves to be made the tools and play-
thinvs of John Leonard and his pals!

“ ou remember when you found the letter in
the hallway! That letter led metovisit Miss
Malcolm; and out of it grew the chain of events
which has placed as here. Miss Malcolm, like
the barmaid, is only one of Leonard’s decoys!
That letter, seemingly in our brother’s hand-
writing, led me to revea everything to her.
Like the poor fool I was I told her what had
brought us here and what we hoped to accom—

lish.
p “I am now satisfied that every word I ut-
tered was rehearsed to John Leonard within the
hour. Then he began to plan to get us into his

wer.

“ But the handwriting!” Harry objected.
“ That was Lew’s—I know it was Lew’s!”

“ You thou ht it was, and so did I. But, we
were deceive , Harry! Basely deceived! The
letters, both of them, were forgeries. Leonard
doubtless intercepted our brother’s mail and
obtained specimens 0 his handwriting. The
rest would be an easy matter to a skilled pen-
man. ’

Harry shook his head; but the detective did
not heed him and went on:

“Then the alleged message from this mine
was constructed, with hellish ends in view. I
shall never forgive myself for not looking more
closely into Miss Malcolm’s antecedents. I be—
lieve, too, since this happened, that Shelby Tan-
ner is another one of Leonard’s tools. All I
knew of Miss Malcolm I gathered from him. It
may be that Leonard suspected us from the very
first. If so, it shows how shrewd he really is;
for the engagement of our services by Tanner
would assist in putting us in Leonard’s power.

“The entire plan: the allurement of your
brother from Chicago, and his robbery in this
wild region; the masterly way in which we
have been led on into self-entanglement; and
our imprisonment here, all show that we have
been contending with as cunning a knave as
ever went unhung.

“ You see, Harry, if we should meet our
death here, no one could be legally charged with
having conspired against us. We sneaked in
here like thieves in the night and entered this
chamber. No one knew we were in here, and a
blast was fired—a very common thing in a. coal
mine. And so we were unwittingly shut in, and
became victims of our own heedlessness. It’s a.
masterly plan, Harry; conceived by the very
king of schemers.”

Wars was so absorbed in working out this
conception of the case that he almost forgot the
Elinful effect it might have on the boy’s mind.

e forgot, too, that he had set out to talk the
matter over and gain the boy’s opinion. He was
recalled to a consideration of what he was doing
by Harry’s startled exclamation:

“ 0h, Mr. Ware, it surely can’t be so bad as
than?” I can’t think that we’re not to get out of
here

“ Did I say that?” and the detective started.
“ If I did, I wish to recall it. We will get out
of here! We must ! There’s too much depending
on us, to think of surrendering at this point.”

He grasped the wall with one‘hand, and drew
himself from his recumbent posmon.

“If we’d shout together, as loud as we can,
ma be we’d be heard,” Harry suggested.

. he plan seemed worth trying; and with
united voices they made the low arches ring.
But, not a sound came from the direction of the
shaft, and only reverberating echoes from the
gloomy aisles of the chamber. Then Ware fired
shot after shot from his revolver, with the same
discouraging effect.

“It’s no use trying further!” be declared.
“We’re only wasting time here. We must on—
deavor to explore every cranny of this place
while the lamps hold out.

He started off in the direction they had gone
before, Harry following close by at his heels.

echamber was not nearlyso large as they
had supposed, and they soon came upon a wall
of solid rock blocking further progress in that
way. At this they turned about and for a long
time wandered aimlessly under the low arches.

 

 

 

“ I thought I heard water!” Harry asserted,
stopping and clutching the detective’s arm.
“There it is again. It sounds likearunning
stream!”

Plainly now to their ears came the low gurg-
ling of a flowing current chafing over a rocky
bed; and they hurried forward with excited
cries. In a little while the earth beneath them
became moist and slippery, and the gleam of
their lanterns revealed a rapid stream. It was
ten or twelve feet wide, and flowed with a
strong motion that indicated considerable
depth.

“ Where this comes in we may be able to get
out,” said Ware, looking earnestly at the water.
“There must bearift in the wall. We’ll go
back and see.”

The suggestion was full of hope; and with
quickened steps and throbbing hearts they
hurried up the little stream. But their hopes
were dashed in pieces when they reached the
point whenco it emerged into the chamber.
With a sullen and subdued roar it rushed with
great speed out of a circular opening in the
rock, which it almost completely filled.

“Looks like an aqueduct?" Harry averred,
strivingto conceal his disappointment. “That
would be a great thing for some cities I know of.”

“Yes, it would!” giving him an approving
glance. “We’ll try the other end of the
chamber. Perhaps we’ll have better luck there.
There’s surely another opening into this place
besides the one by which we entered.”

Yet, though his words were somewhat buoyant
his heart was far otherwise. He could not
think that Leonard would entrap them in a
place from which there was the slightest chance
of escape.

They had now been a number of hours in the
chamber, and had explored a large portion of it.
Almost hopelesst he began to retrace his way
down the stream. Their gait was a slippery
scramble and their progress slow, but they
reached the other end in a comparatively short
time.

Here they were again doomed to disappoint-
ment. With a hollow roar the stream flowed
under the wall and disappeared, fretted and
chafed by the rocks until its surface at the point
of contact wasa swirling mass of foam. Evi-
dently the volume of water was so great at times
that it could not escape fast enough through the
orifice. This was attested by the deposit of drift
and silt high on the walls, and the extensive sur-
face covered by glutinous slime.

“ We can’t get out here i” Ware observed,
dubiously. “ We’ll have to cross the stream and
see if there is anything beyond.”

“ Sounds like the water is going straight down
into the earth 1” asserted Harry, who was climb-
ing over the muddy rocks to get a better view
of the opening.

Just then he gave a sharp cry. He had lost
his balance. The next moment he fell headlong
into the yeasty current and was swept from
sight.

 

CHAPTER IX.
FREEDOM REGAINED.

THE detective shouted warnineg as he saw
Harry to pic; but the warning was given too
late, and e could only stare blankly and despair-
ing-lay at the spot where he had last seen his boy
pal .

“ He is gone!” he whispered, hoarscly. “ Gone!
Gone I”

For the moment it seemed be contemplated a
mad leap into the stream. He took one quick
itep forward; then restrained himself with an ef-

ort. ‘x
“ Perhaps it’s better so! Better a quick death
by drowning than hours of torture and starva—
tion. The end Would have been the same. We
could never have escaped from here.”

He sunk dejectedly upon a stone, heedless of
the slime which coated it, and stared moodin
into the somber current. Suddenly he was
aroused by a tapping on the wall, and a muffled
shout. He looked at the place from whence the
sounds came, feeling almost that his brain was
turning and his irresponsible fancy bad com-
menced to play him tricks.

But the sounds came again. A sharp tapping
as if with a stone or some other hard substance,
and then apparently far-away r‘alls:

“ Oh, Mr. Ware! Ob, Mr. Ware!” v

The detective started to his feet and bent
eagerly forward. ,

“Surely, surely, that was ,Harry’s voice!
Can it be he escaped in some strange way?”

The calls continued: and he answered them
with a shout that thrilled and rung like a trum-
pet blast. .

“I’m in here!” came the response.“ “ There’s

 

another chamber here. The water carried me
under the wall, and then I crawled out. I am
Sound as a top. The wall isn’t very thick, and
the water rises again on this side of it.”

This certain knowledge that Harry had es-
caped death so inspirited Ware that he laughed
and shouted by turns, and seemed as enthusias—
tic as if all their troubles had found an easy so-
lution.

Without a moment's hesitation he leaped
blindly into the stream, feeling sure that as it
had borne Harry safely into the chamber be-
yond he could trust himself within the grasp of
its whirling waters. The plunge carried him to
the rocky bottom; but he was a strong. buoy-
ant swimmer and came again to the surface
without much difficulty. As he did so he heard
a cheery shout and the words:

“Got through all right, eh? I was ’most
afraid you wouldn’t try it.”

It was so pitchy dark he could see nothing,
for of course they now had no lights. But he
turned energetically toward the voice, and by a
few sturdy strokes reached the bank. Harry’s
hand \\ as on his shoulder as he landed.

“ I can’t see you very well, but I heard you
snort like a sea-horse when you came up, and
knew you chad made it. I am gettingalittle
used to the dark. though, and can distinguish
objects better than at first. This is a poki
place in here, but finding it makes me thin
there is a way out. Anything is better than
wandering around the way we’ve been doing.”

He was chattering like a magpie, though his
teeth were knocking together like castanets.

“ Cool as the rivers that flow ‘from Green-
land’s icy mountains!’ ” Ware shivered, scram-
bling to his feet and giving himself a dog-like
shake. “ We’ll have to s ueeze the water out
of these wet clothes or we’ freeze.”

Harry grasped him by the hand and led the
wa to where the floor was comparatively dry
an warm. Here they managed to wring most
of the water out of their garments and felt much
better therefor.

“It seems almost a miracle, the way you were
preserved!” Ware said, reverently. “ When you
tumbled into that stream I thought I had seen
the last ofyou.”

“ I wasn’t feeling extra good about that time,
myself!” and the boy attempted a laugh. “ But
we’re both of as sound as new dollars, yet. I
fancy we are at least as well off as we were in
the other chamber. If we can’t do anything else
we can follow on down the stream and take an-
other header. The water’s bound to come out
somewhere.”

He had no such reckless intentions, but cheery
talk made him feel more hopeful.

“ Now, we’ll see what we can do!” and Ware
laid his hand against the wall. “We’ll follow
this wall until we can go no further. Like you,
I feel that your little misadventure is to prove
our salvation. I’ll go first; and be careful how
you step.”

He t en advanced at as brisk a pace as was
possible under the circumstances. When they
had gone a few hundred yards be halted and bent
forward in a listening attitude.

“ Did you hear anything?” he questioned.

For a moment they stood breathless and with
ears strained to catch the slightest sound. Then
there came a subdued and metallic “ chink,
Chink!” like the noise made by a miner’s pick
striking against stone.

“ Hurrah!” Harry shouted. “ We’re saved!
We’re saved! 1 do believe we’re saved!” and he
ran forward almost dragging the detective
from his feet.

“ Be careful!” the latter cautioned. “ You
ma stumble into a hole.”

otwithstanding this warning he hurried after
with a haste that was as feverishly eager as the
9

This reckless dash brought the sounds nearer,
and they continued on until it seemed that only
a thin partition must separate them from the
miner who was wieldin the pick. Then they
shouted together With a! the power of their vig-
orous lungs.

The clinking of the pick stopped.

“ He hears us!” the. detective exclaimed. “ If
these cartridges aren’t toowet I’ll give hima
serenade with the revolver.”

The weapon was whipped out and a succession
of shots quickly fired. .

“ What ye doin’?”drawled the miner. his VOice
sounding feeble and indistinct. “ Firin’ blasts
in a new tunnel? You want to be keerful er

ou’ll tumble this hull bizness down onto me. .

here air ye, anywa i”

“ Here!” shouted are. “ We’re not firing
blasts That was my revolver. We’re lost in
here and can’t get out. Can’t you get to us

 

,ir, . f," '

 

 

   

the most sing’lar part of it is, that it’s the fu’st

/ tuck a sudden notion into his head that thar was

Warbling William.

 

 

some way, or blow a hole through this wall? I
don’t think it is very thick.”

The miner uttered an inarticulate cry, and
they heard the pick strike as it fell from his
hands.

“Stay there!” he yelled, and his resounding
footsteps showed that he was racing awa

“ Oh. do you think he will come back?’ Harry
anxiously questioned.

“ l judge he is gone after help,” was the reas-
suring answer. “ There’s no reaSon to fear he
will abandon us. These miners are not likely
to be in Leonard’s secret.”

For full ten minutes they waited in intense sus-
peuse. hen they were cheered by the sounds of
approaching voices.

“ Holler ag’in, so we’ll know where ye air l”
the miner shouted, coming close up to the wall.

“'ith this they eagerly complied: and soon had
the satisfaction of hearing drills eating their
way into the rock before them.

“ Now, git as far back as ye kin l” the voice
again commanded. “ We’re' a-goin’ to shoot
er.

Both understood the full significance of this,
and ran back along the wall until they reached
a point where they felt safe. Here they had not
long to wait. A muffled boom and a jar an-
nounced the explosion. On again reaching the
place they found a ragged rent in the wall and
beheld the dancing lights of the returning
miners.

The riven rocks were piled in a confused heap,
and when the lights were near enough to make
the venture safe, they scrambled wildly through
the opening, shouting and laughing like school-
boys released for a vacation. To their surprise
the miners greeted them coldly and even sus-
piciously.

“What Were ye doin’ in there?” growled the
spokesman of the party. ‘.‘ Never knowed they
was such a hole back thar before. Yo ain’t
miners, I ’low?” flashing his light over their
dress.

“ Ah, gentlemen, what do you take us to be?
Badgers?” and the oily showman gleamed from
beneath the rough exterior. “ Send for your
foreman and we will explain matters to him.”

“ Foreman ain’t around,” the questioner snarl-
ed. “ VVe’ll do jist as well, I reckon.”

“Certainly! certainly l” with airy briskness.
“ I only wanted to explain how we came to be
in there. You belong to the day shift, I takeit?
We came down last night, with the foreman’s
permission. We are strangers in your growing
young city, and took a sudden fancy to look in-
to the bowels of the earth, hereaway.”

He stopped and felt for his watch, which was
still running in spite of its recent bath.

“ I thought I couldn’t be far from right!”
glancing at the dial. “It’s almost sunset up
above, where the sun shines. One’s stomach is
as good as a watch, on occasions. As I was say-
ing, we came down to look over the mine; and
fearing to soil our silken attire, we arrayed our-
selves in garments proper for such a ramble.”

The miners were staring at him distrustfully,
but there was no sign of recognition in their
faces. If they had ever seen him before, his
strange garb and coal-blackened face would
have served to screen his identity.

“ Good thing ye did, too, jedgin’ by the looks
of ’em.”

The showman glanced at his soaked and
muddy garments, and smiled.

“ I see you’re bound to think as road-agents,
hiding from the grim grip of the law. I don’t
know that I can blame you, though, for the
whole thing has a queer look. After coming
down as I explained, we wandered off into the
old north chamber, and when that blast was
fired last night we were shut in.”

The miner’s jaw dropped.

“ Thunder!" he ejaculated.

“No, it wasn’t thunder, though it sounded
like it,” and his face became irradiated with a
sort of ghastly humor. “It was the explosion
of giant owder and the tumbling of rocks.
That exp osion will make plain, no doubt, the
why and the wherefore of the curdling of the
milk in the cocoanut. We couldn’t get back the
way we went in, and so we wandered on, found
the stream, dived into this cave, heard the clink-
ing of the pick—and ou know the rest.”

It was so remarkab e a story the miners could
do nothing, for a moment, but stare.

“ It sounds straight enough,” ventured one of
them, hitching up his trowsers like a sailor,
“though it seems ’most beyond believin’. An’

timeablast has been fired in there sence I’ve
been hyer.”
“Yes,” said the spokesman. “Ole Leonard

 

jes’ heaps an’ gobs o’ val’able coal in that tun-
nel, an’ had a blast got ready, though the fore-
man tol’ him ther’ warn’t nothin’ but rock; an’
las’ night hit-war fire( .”

“ lVell, gentlemen,” and the Warbler fidgeted
uneasily, “if the confession and catechism have
been gone through with satisfactorily, I’d like
to go above, for the pangs of hunger are becom‘
ing somewhat distressing!”

At this the .miners withdrew and conferred
for a time in low whispers. When they re-
turned, the spokesman led the way to the shaft,
and Warbling William and his boy second were
soon in the fresh, outer air.

 

CHAPTER X.
AN UNFOUNDED SUSPICION.

It was growing dark as they hastened from
the mine toward the town. When they reached
it the street lamps were being lighted.

“ We got out of that place just in time,” Ware
chuckled. “ The night shift will go on in a few
minutes, and they might have given us trouble.
I’m hungry as a starved coyote.”

They ascended to their room in the hotel with-
out being observed. Here they changed their
clothing and removed all traces of their recent
adventures. Miss Fulton was not in the dining-
room—Leonard usually had his meals served in
his apartments—and no one appeared to remem-
ber that they had been absent; though the
waiters must have noticed that they consumed
an enormous amount of food.

thcn they had satisfied their hunger they
again retreated to their room and remained
there until time for the evening performance.

“ I want to give the plotters a surprise,” the
Warbler asserted. “ I hope they have given out
that there will be no show to—night. They’ll be
Somewhat taken aback, if they’ve informed the
crowd that we’ve left the city.”

He rubbed his hands and laughed lightly at
the thought. Then he began humming some-
thing to the effect that his name was Captain
Kidd, as he sailed; and constructing the sen-
tences of a song he proposed to sing that night.

Never were men so thunderstruck as were
John Leonard and Shelbv Tanner when VVarb-
ling William and Master Harry appeared in the
crowd at the customary hour and mounted the
little stage. Tanner nervously dropped the
bottle from which he was pouring liquor, and
Leonard’s face took on an ashy pallor.

After the opening ballad, the Warbler
thrummed reflectiver on his guitar and then
began to sing of a youth who was decoyed
away by scheming villains and robbed. The
whole story of Lewis Cavendish’s mysterious
disappearance and of the efforts to find him was
rehearsed in doggerel verse. Then- be plunged
into the future, became prophetic, showed the
triumph of right and the close of the chief
villains

“ At a rope’s end he was whirled,
And from life was quickly hurled;
And no more he’ll vex the world—

As it sails." '

This sort of retributive justice exactly suited
the ideas of the citizens of Rocket Range, and
they howled their delighted appreciation.

Through it all John Leonard had stood statue-
like, one hand grasping the bar for support, and
his eyes dilated with fascinated horror. As for
Shelby Tanner, he spilled so many glasses of
liquor and talked altogether so incoherently that
the customers began to think he had been drink-
in some of his own vile decoctions.

hen the song ended, Leonard abruptly
quitted the room..

“ The old scamp’s gone to talk with the miners l”
Ware whispered to the boy, who was coming
upon the stage to execute his tumbling tricks.
“ They’ll have a mighty fishy story to tell him.
The chances are about ten to one he’ll think
we’ve thrown money around like autumn leaves,
and bribed the whole caboodle.”

He then passed on into the wing, to reappear
later with other songs and ballads.

When the performance ended he approached
the bar. Tanner had regained his equanimity,
but he could not repress a curious stare, and the
question:

“ Where have you fellers been? Ye_could
have knocked me down with a feather, this eve-
nin’. Ye didn’t show up fer breakfast ner din-
ner, and somebody reported that you’d skipped
the town. Glad ye didn’t, fer that would ’a’
knocked my fat plum into the fire.”

“ Only out on a pleasure jaunt!” said the
Warbler, serenely. ‘ We were led to believe
there might be diamonds other than black in
the depths of the Jim Crow Mine, and thought
to astonish the natives by bringing one up. I

 

suppose you never heard there was anything
down there but a very ordinary quality 0
coal?”

Tanner looked confused, and declared he
never had.

“ 1 think I outlined the case just right while
we were shut in the north chamber!” the detec~
tive said to the boy, an hour later. “There
can’t be a doubt that Tanner is in Leonard’s
secret. He showed his guilt in every word and
action. It begins to look as if we were sur-
rounded by spies here. We’ll have to keep our
eyes and ears wide open or we’ll get into a worse
trap than the one we just escaped from.”

The next morning, feeling that further dis-
guise in that direction was useless, Ware openly
and boldly called on Miss Malcolm. She seemed
to have been hourly and anxiously expecting
him, and showed none of the agitation he ha
anticipated. Her first questions related to the
success of his venture.

“Calm as a May morning,” he muttered.
“ As good an actress as I ever had to cope with.
She’d make her fortune in tragedy.”

Her eager inquiries irritated him.

“ No doubt you are entirely ignorant of what
has occurred?’ with a sarcastic and ominous
glance.

She recoiled as if the blunt words were scor-
pion whips.

“ I don’t understand,” she stammerod. “ Why
do you speak that way? Something has hap-
pened. W hat was it? Surely Lewis isn’t dead?”

He looked at her coldly and almost scornfully.

“ Do you mean to say, Miss Malcolm, that you .

didn’t have a hand in the trick that was played
on me?"

Her tear-wet eyes burned indignantly, and
she straightened up in a way to show that,
without knowing the meaning of the question,
she yet resented it.

“ I mean to say you are 'talking Greek, Mr.
Ware! I am not an expert at solving riddles.
If you know anything about Lewis Cavendish,
tell me, for the suspense is killing me!”

Then, Woman-like, she broke down and began
to sob in a touching way.

The detective was evidently puzzled and dis-
tressed.

“ Come l” he said. “ I thought to make certain
accusations. Perhaps I have judged you wrong-
fully. Let’s talk it over calmly, and I think I
can get at the truth of the matter. To answer
your question: I have neither seen nor heard
anything of Lewis Cavendish.”
h.She lifted her pale face and looked frankly at

llll.

“ I don’t know what it is you want to discuss,
or what accusations you meant to bring. I had
so hoped you would have some news of Lewis.
I have been even joyfully fancying he might
come with you. And you spoke so—so—”

“ Lewis wasn’t in the mine. There was no prison
in thenorth chamber—though it was turned into
one almost as soon as we entered it. We were
trapped, the boy and and I, and I’m free to say
I thought you had a hand in the dastardly
scheme, to entomb us alive in that dreadful
place.”

Her glance was one of pain and reproach.

“You are either a very clever actress, Miss
Malcolm. or I was wholly wrong in my conclu-
sions concerning you. You received that letter in
the manner you stated?”

She inclined her head in assent.

“ It is a forgery l” and he drew it from his
pocket. “ A very good one, for Harry was sure
the handwriting was his brother’s. Following
the directions in that, we went into the north
chamber of the mine, night before last, and
were imprisoned by a blast fired for that pur-
pose and at Leonard’s own orders.”

Then, narrowly watching her as he talked, he
told the story of their imprisoment and escape,
as it is know to the reader.

“ I can’t blame you for your suspicious,”_she
said, 5 mpathetically. “ But, you must believe
me w en I say, I thought the letter genuine.
Leonard’s effort to remove you from his path
shows, thou , that Lewis is alive. That assur-
ance is wortIi everything.”

She arose and took a packet of letters froma

“ See!” she exclaimed, exhibiting the en—
Velopes. “These are from Lewis. Since you
were here I discovered that others of them had
been stolen. I believe, now, Miss Fulton carried
them away to give to Leonard. Without such
00 ies the forgery could not have been done.”

be spread one beside the forged letter, for
comparsion. Close scrutiny revealed many
minor differences, plain enough to an expert but
not likely to attract the attention of others.

“ And you have revealed to no one my

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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identity or intentions?” he asked, when the
examination was concluded.

“No one!” she protested. “That is, with the
exce tion of aunt.”

“ nd you are sure the secret is safe with her?”

“ Perfectly safe. She has had no opportunity
to tell any one, even were she so inclined.”

“It baffles me!” Ware admitted. “Leonard
ha‘s penetrated my disguise and found out my
secret. The perplexing question is, how did he
accomplish it!"

It was a problem not to be solved by ingenious
theorizing; and when he left the house the whole
matter was still wrapped in mystery.

0f one thing, however, he had assured him-
self: That was the perfect innocence and sin-
cerity of Maud Malcolm.

CHAPTER XI.
THE KICKER AROUSED.

To solve the mystery, to get at the real facts
in the case, was the task now presented. How
this was to be accomplished, though, taxed the
detective’s ingenuity to the utmost.

The plan they had been pursuing, that of
shadowing and watching, seemed as good as
anything that could be dev1sed; and they bent
every effort to secure the best results it offered.
Yet the days passed without positive develop-
ments.

No amorous swain ever haunted sweetheart
more persistently than Warbling William
haunted the painted barmaid. He was at her
side almost constantly, in season and out of
season whispering sweet words into her evident-
ly willing ears. But his efforts in that line
brought no new facts to light. And though he
became more and more convinced that she was
in Leonard’s confidence and pay, yet he could
entrap her into no betrayal of her employer’s
secrets.

In these efforts the Warbler was constantly
distressed by the feeling that he was playing
with an edge tool whose keenness and cutting
capacity was unkn0wn and unknowable. He
knew the barmaid was watching his every tone
and action as narr0wly as he was watching
hers, and the knowledge did not tend to com-
placency and serenity of mind. It was a singu—
lar game of suavity and skill matched against
cunning and wit. Neither was deceived in the
least by the lavish protestations of the other;
and asxde from furnishingalittle amusement,
their verbal fencing amounted to nothing.

It achieved results, however, in a line differ-
ent from anything he had contemplated. Sam
Brown, the Kicker, had taken it into his bushy
head to fall desperately in love with Miss Fanny
Fulton, and the con , uence was that a ragged
and somber war-c1333 quickly loomed above
the social horizon of Rocket Range. '

“ I’ll have to look out for Brown,” the detec-
tive asserted, When discussing this new phase of
affairs with his boy second. “He’s apt to be
reckless and bull-headed. I don’t think he has
ever quite forgiven me for publicly labeling him
asa kicker; and n0W that I have crossed his
love trail he may try to do me up.”

Brown’s first open declaration of war was the
hissing of a ballad Wthh the Warbler rendered
in the course of a performance on the saloon
stage. The Warbler paid no heed to this, but
when it was repeated in a peculiarly aggravat-
ing way he was forced to take notice of it,

“ I see that the Kicker 13 still alive,” he smi]-
ingl y averred, beaming genially over the mixed
audience. “I am glad to know he is determined
to maintain his hard-earned lre utation. The
gem just rendered is one of the t in m ex-
tensive repertoire. If the gentleman thinks he
can render a better I Will yield up the Sta 8 to
him and let him try his ’prentice hand. I ave
sung that ballad from the Black Hills to the
Rio Grande, and it was never hissed before.”

“ Durn yer ballids!” Brown growled. “ Ye’r’
a pesky fake, anyhow, and can’t smg ekal to a
guinea-hen.”

In this exhibition of humor, Brown verbally
“ put his foot into it.” Few men could handle
the lash of the satirist as could the dapper little

,showman; and in the word—duel that ensued,

Brown was router], horse, foot and dragoon.
After the performance he. hung around the
outer entrance ’as if thinking of administering
bodily chastisement to the man w 0 had thus
overthrown him: but he evidently t ought bet-
ter of it as his temper cooled, for he departed

after a time with a select group of cronies.

The detective, while not in the least afraid of
Brown, was extremely willing that the matter
should pass in that way. He felt that he would
be compelled to shoot the Kicker should the lat-
ter draw a weapon, and he was averse to blood-

 

The next evening, while walking with the bar-
maid in the shadow of the trees near the little
stream which flowed by the town, a man rushed
at him from behind a leafy screen. A glance
sufficed to reveal the reddened and drink—swollen
face of the Kicker. The latter held a murder-
ous-looking knife in his right hand, and began
to swear furiously as he made a dash.

The would-be assassin apparently had no
allies near, and as he came on, the Warbler
s uared himself to meet him. But', when the

icker was almost within striking distance, the
barmaid began to scream hysterically, and
clung to the detective in a way to render him
partially helpless.

“Oh! oh!’ she shrieked. “Save me, Mr.
Ware! Save me! He means to kill me, I
know! He said he would if I didn’t quit going
with you. Oh, dear me! Oh, dear me!”

“Let loose!” the detective shouted. angrily.
“ Don’t hold to my arms that way. Don’t you
see he’s got a knife?”

In spite of his command she clung to him with
the pertinacious grip of a drowning person.

“ Words ain’t trumps this evenin’!” the Kicker
snarled, ripping the detective’s coat with a vi-
cious stroke. “You kin han’le thet tongue 0’

.yourn purty tol’able slick, but tongues ain’t

knives, as you‘ll find out in jes’ about a second.

While saying this he was maneuvering fora
better stroke, rushing ’round and ’round the
almost helpless detective, like a dog harrying
some hapless animal.

Again and again Ware tried to shake off the
screaming barmaid.

“Can't you see that he’s trying to kill me?”
he cried, gripping her by the shoulder with his
left hand and holding her at arm’s length.
“ Let loose, I say! You’re a woman, but I’ll
not be responsible for the consequences if you
don’t.”

The more he commanded the tighter she clung,
and for a little while it seemed that nothing
could save him from the murderous knife of the
Kicker. But the detective tightened his clutch
on her shoulder, and a stunning right-hander
imder the jaw bowled the big rufiian over sense-
ess.

“ Now, will you let loose of me?” the exasper-
ated detective demanded. shifting his hand to
the barmaid’s throat. “Or will you compel me
to choke some little sense into you? This non-
sense of your’s came near proving my death!”

“ Oh, am I really safe?” she panted. “ Oh,
dear me, Mr. Ware, I surely thought he would
kill me! He’s such a terrible fellow when he’s
angry. There, he’s getting up!”

She gave another scream, and again attempted
to clasp the detective.

“Enough of that!” he snarled, giving hera
headlong push which sent her spinning away
from him. “One at a time is quite sufficient for
comfort. Now, stand back, or suffer the conse-
queuces!”

Brown was staggering to his feet, one hand
caressing his bruised jaw and the other holding
the keen knife. His red eyes flamed with drunk-
en and vindictive rage.

“Look out!” he. yelled. “I’m comin’ fer ye!
Blast, yer tarnal hide, I’ll rip ye into ribbons fer
thet?’

The barmaid was giving vent to premonitory
screams, and sym toms of another rush.

“ Stand back l” are commanded. “ Both of
you. stand back. I’ve had enough of this for
one bout.” '

As he said it he drew a pair of revolvers from
the pockets of his coat and leveled them, one at
the Kicker and the other at the barmaid.

Brown wavered when he saw the deadly tube
pointed at his head, but the hysterical Miss Ful-
ton came straight on.

The Kicker took fresh courage from this and
recommenced his advance.

“ You will have it, I see!” Ware shouted, pull-
ing the trigger of the weapon he had leveled at
Brown. ,

Only an ominous click followed, showing that
the revolver was empty.

“What cursed plot 18 this?” he cried, dropping
thg useless thing and as quickly leveling the
ot en.-

The same result followed when he pulled the
trigger.

“ Oh, I’ve got ye !” the ruffian yelled, when he
saw the detective’s discomfiture and understood
the cause. “ I’ll carve ye into sassiges an’ feed
ye to the kyotes, that’s what I’ll do! You’ll
think I’m a Kicker, shore ’nough, when I set my
buffs onto ye!” -

Ware hurled the revolver at his head. and
turned to confront the screeching maid, who was
endeavoring to again wind her arms about him
in a way to render him completely helpless.

 

“ Curse you i" he gasped, clutching her by the
throat. “You don’t get hold of me a second
time. I see through your little trick.”

But the barmaid was as active as a cat, and ex—
ceedingly stron for a woman; and as he turned
to parry Brown s vicious thrust, she writhed out
of his grasp and again came at him with arms
outspread.

Had the Kicker not been too drunk to secure
the advantages she thus afforded him, it would
have gone extremely hard with the detective;
who, notwithstanding the fact that he was a.
trained athlete and boxer, found his hands more
than full. Brown was too tipsy, however, to
stand steadily on his legs; and when Ware again
managed to clutch the barmaid by the throat,
his terrible right-handers knocked the ruffian
dowu as fast as he could get up.

At last, when Brown refused to rise, he loos-
ened his grip on the throat of the half—insensible
maid, darted forward and secured the wicked-
looking knife. With this in his hands he felt he
could cope with a dozen such foes.

“ Now, come on!” he cried, his face flaming
with rage. “ You will find me ready for you.”

The Kicker had had a sufficient taste of the
detective’s prowess, however. For a time he
lay where he had fallen, to all semblance dead.
Then with a cringing and humiliated air, he
craw ed to his feet and disappeared in the
thickening gloom.

CHAPTER XII.
DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND.

“ On, that was just too terrible for anything!”
the barmaid panted, feeling of her bruised
throat, where the lines made by lVare’s fingers
shone as redly as her painted cheeks. “ He in-
tended to kill me. I know! How can I ever
thank you, Mr. Ware, for Saving me from
him?”

The detective gave her a look of unutterable
scorn, which was partially lost on her, however,
owing to the increasing darkness.

“ It’s useless to keep up that play-acting!” he
asserted. “ You were a party to his dastardly
attempt on my life. and denials only make your
act more despicable.

She resented the charge with a scornful

laugh.
“ And this to me, after all your love-making!
I really gave you credit for more gallantry.
You must think me an ogre, or some such ter-
rible creature, Mr. Ware !”

“I know you for a demon!” the words rush-
ing hotly from his lips. “You wanted Brown
to kill me, and tried to hold me so he would have
no'tronhle in committing the deed.”

She covered her ears with her hands:

“ I positively refuse to listen to anything so
dreadful! If you propose to talk to me that
way, I shall go straight home, and leave you
to eat your heart out, here in the darkness.”

“ Which would be a terrible calamity!” with
a mirthless chuckle. “You will greatly oblige
me by doing that same.”

“Then I’ll not do it. It isn’t good policy for
a lady to oblige her lover.”

He could not resist the feeling that she was
ridiculing him.

“ No doubt I was a poor fool for ever cul-
tivating your acquaintance.” picking the revol-
vers up from where he had hurled them. “ You
are not what I thought.”

“ And what was that?”

“You are so very shrewd, you can guess, no
doubt!”

“ That you thought me apoor, simple creature
whqm you could use as a too]. I’m right, am 1
not.

Ware smiled as he pocketed the weapons.

“ Think what you like, Miss Fulton. Whether
right or wrong, fancy that neither of us will
have use for the other after the peculiar happen-
ings of this evening. I don’t know that it does
any good to quarrel. It only serves to heat one’s
blood without effecting anything. I have In
Opinion as to the motives which guided you th
evening. Probably you have an equally good
opinion of some of the causcs which hava led me
on. I will be gallant enough to waive all preju-
dicial memories, for the time being, and escort
you home, if you will permit.”

“ Many thanks!” she exciaimed. with a. pecu-
]hard and irritating emphasis. “ You are very

m .
' Then she extended her arm, and the two walk-
ed slowly and thoughtfully bank to Tanner’s
where they bade each other goodevéning. as i
3;) breath of suspicion had ever come between
em.

“ She’s a desperate creature,” he muttered,
when he had gained his room. “ I wonder who
and what she really is? I see plainly that in

 

 

   

«- gm. raw-7s»

; ‘ -'.,!€—,i,.yif! -

Warbling William.

 

 

tampering with her I’ve been playing with fire.
She isn’t simply the affected, paint-bednnbed
being I had imagined. She is Leonard’s strongest
ally, and fully as shrewd and unscrupulous as
her chief. I would give more than a pretty
penny to penetrate her secret. N o doubt the re-
sult would startle me.”

Harry came in, after a time, and together
they discussed the events of the evening.

“ I’ve seen her out walking with Brown sev-
era! times lately l” the boy declared. “ Only
yesteaday evening they were strolling up and
d0wn under those very trees.”

“ She knew Brown had no very kindly feelings

toward me. and I suppose she’s been leading him
on to make this attempt. Leonard’s blow at us
in the mines wasn’t better planned. You see, if
Brown had killed me, she could have been in no
way held responsible for the deed. Her natural
fright would have seemed a sufficient cause for
her clinging to me in a hysterical way and
ham ring my movements; and besides there
was ittle likelihood that any one would see the
affair and be able to refute any stories they
might tell about it.
fl“ Yes, it was a shrewd plot; and if the Kicker
hadn’t hoisted too much poison on board before
tackling me, the chances are great that it would
have succeeded. I suppose his courage was a
little shaky, and he thought to brace it up with
a heavy jag of liquid lightning, and inadvert-
ently took more than he could easil carry. I’ve
heard it said there is only one case nown where
whisky ever benefited anybody; and that was
when an Irish well-digger got so full he couldn’t
go into a well, which caved in, a few minutes
after be otherwise would have descended. This
adds the second case to the brilliant record.”

He was regaining his equanimity, and his
cheery joviality began again to bubble to the
surface. .

“ As I’ve before remarked: If I could convert
the barmaid from the evil of her wa s I’d like
to add her to my detective staff. ‘he would
make a splendid acquisition. It oouldn’tbe done,
though. Her honesty isn’t equal to the strain.”

He looked questioningly at his revolvers, as he
drew them out and began to refill the chambers.

“ How that was done rather gets me. I’ve al-
ways boasted that there wasn’t a pickpocket
alive who could go through my clothing without
my knowledge. Yet it’s as evident as can be
that Miss Fulton extracted these weapons, re-
moved the charges, and then returned them, and
I knOW nothing of when or how she did it.”

“ Which also goes to show that she knew
Brown would attack you this evening,” the boy

a .

“No doubt, my boy, she’s had some sort of
understanding with Brown, or has said some-
thing to induce him to attack me when he did.
I only wish I knew the whole secret of it.”

There seemed no Way of layin this secret
here, however, and after some furt er talk they
descended to the bar-room, where the usual
crowd was already gathering.

Ware kept a close watch for the Kicker, be-
lieving that that individual would not tainer
submit to the ignominious drubbing he. had re-
ceived, but would attempt, in some we , to get
even. He also feared the barmaid mig t hatch
some. other plot to retrieve the failure of the
evening.

Up to the hour for the commencement of the
performance, however, nothing occurred to
arouse his suspicions.

The singing of the first ballad had scarcely
ended, when a boisterous commotion was heard
at the street door, and a moment later Sam
Brown strode into the saloon at the head of a
procession of intoxicated cronies.

“There he is!” he bawled, pointing a dirty
forefinger at the Warbler, who was bowing his
acknowledgment of the applause with which the
song had been received. “ Down the dog!
That’s the chap what tried to kill me this even-
in’l ' Don’t let im git away frum ye 1”

CHAPTER XIII.
THE TROUBLE IN THE SALOON.

“ DOWN ’iml down ’im!” the Kicker continued
to roar, as the startled crowd commenced to
sur e and rise from the benches. “Lay ’im out
sti er’h a salted mackerel.”

The confusion and anic produced by the en-
trance of the yelling iorde of intoxicated ruf-
fians can scarcely be described. As they whipped
out their weapons in response to the commands
of the Kicker, a wild scramble for the doors and
windows took place, in which benches were over-
turned, and men sprawled and rolled in howling
and cursing heaps.

The coolest man in the room, a parently, was
the Warbler. Not a muscle of is face seemed

 

to change, yet a hot light glowed in his eyes
which boded ill to whoever pressed him too
closely.

Amid it all Brown and his men pressed steadi-
ly forward, spreading out as much as possible,
for the evident purpose of hemming the detective
in and effectually preventing his escape.

“ What is it you want, gentlemen?” the
Warbler asked, serenely, bowing politely as he
placed his hands on his weapons in the pockets
of his coat. “ There is no necessity for kicking
up such a row. You will always find me, at the
old stand. I suppose though, the Kicker feels
called on to maintain his reputation!” -

“ You’ll feel the Kicker’s heels purty tol’able
quick, now, I kin tell yel” Broivn snarled, leVel-
in and discharging his heavy pistol.

fHis intense rage caused his hand to tremble,
and the ball flew wide of the mark.

Then, with a lightning—like movement, the
Warbler hurled one of his weapons at Brown’s
head, the aim being so true that the burly
scoundrel dropped in his tracks like a slain ox.

This was replied to by a chorus of yells and a.
volley of shots. But Varbling William was
not there to receive the leaden compliment. Af-
ter hurling the revolver he vaulted like an athlete
into the wing of the stage, and the pistol balls
swept harmlessly over the place he had just va-
cated.

Harry Cavendish was in the little wing, hav-
ing gone there to be ready for his part in the
performance.

\Vhen the detective noticed him, he shouted:

“Quick! Follow me! Don’t let the drunken
fools see you!”

Then he smashed a rear window with a heavy
kick, and leaped into the alley that ran along
the rear of the building.

When the detective disappeared from the stage
with such astonishing celerity, the reckless mob
scrambled forward, apparently certain he could
not now escape them. The boy was about to
rush through the window after the detective,
but their sudden appearance disconcerted him,
and he crouched in an angle of the wall, draw-
ing over himself a piece of cloth which chanced
to be lying near.

Fortunately the smashed window drew the
attention of the men, and through it they
streamed, without casting a glance at the point
where the boy lay concealed. _

The detective had been waiting near the build-
ing for his boy ard, but he now drew further
back into the s adows, and narrowly watched
the men as they ran here and there in a blind
and aimless search.

On several occasions they came within a few
feet of his hiding-place, but the shad0ws were so
dense they could scarcely have discovered him
without stumbling bodily against him.

in the course of a few minutes the Kicker
himself appeared, having partially recovered
from the effects of the blow. This was the sig-
nal for a recommencemeht of the search, which
the Kicker now led in erson. But the result
was the same as before. he Warbler could be
n0where discovered.

After an hour of useless beating and thrash-
ing among the black shadows they retired to the
saloon to soothe their ruffled feelings with copi-
one 1 i bations.

When the sounds emanating from their re-
treat began to assume a jovial character, Ware
left his place of concealment and crept up to
the walls of the building.

“Strange what has become of Harry!" he
muttered, as he strained his ears to catch the
drift of the talk. “It can’t be they have mur-
dered the boy. If they have, Brown will pay
dearly for this night’s frolic l”

His anxiety finally became so great that he
crept back into the wing through the broken
window; and creeping on his hands and knees
thoroughly explored the gloomy place. He
found the cloth beneath which Harry had con-
cealed himself, but not a trace did he find of the
boy.

Failing in this he worked a hole in the wing
with the blade of his pocket-knife, and for a
long time watched and listened tothe carousings
of the drunken wretches.

Shelby Tanner, smiling and affable as usual,
was pouring out the fiery liquor with a lavish
hand, apparently receiving no money therefor
from any one.

“ Leonard is at the bottom of this outrage,”
Ware gritted, as he noted this fact. “ Tanner,
as his tool and agent, is standing all the expense
to—night. I wonder how much Brown has re-
ceived for this attempt to do me up? These ef-
forts to put me out of the way prove one thing,
anyhow; and that is that I’m worrying Leonard
a great deal, even if I’m not accomplishing

L

 

much. They Show, too, that Lewis Cavendish
is alive. Either that, or I’m close on proof that
he was murdered by Leonard.”

He fidgered uneasily as the talk failed to re-
veal anything of Harry.

“I wonder where the boy can be?” he ques-
tioned again and again. “ l’ni positive he didn’t
follow me out of the window, as I told him to l”

Not knowing what to do, and determined not
to leave the place until he had gained some de-
finite information, he hitched slowly and can—

tiously backward and again descended into the ,

alley. Here he called softly, and receiving no

reply, made his way to the street in front of the'

saloon.

Some of the Kicker’s men, hilarious from fre—
quent potations, were beginning to leave, and to
avoid these he retreated to the shadows of the
buildings opposite. From this int he watched
for another hour; and was fist thinking of
leaving, when he saw Leonard enter the saloon.

At this he again crossed the street, and peered
into the room. The last of the revelers had de-
parted, and Leonard was leaning over the bar,
whispering confidentially to Tanner.

The detective was trying to devise some plan
by which he could hear what was said, when
Tanner advanced and locked lbs door.

At this, Ware hastened to the broken window
in the rear, but on arriving there he found Tan-
ner blocking it in such a way that he knew he
could never get in.

“ Shut out,” he growled, “and I would have
given a hundred dollars to hear what those ras-
cals are going to talk about.”

CHAPTER XIV.
HAaav’s ADVENTURES.

As the bowling mob rushed by in pursuit of
the detective, Harry Cavendish crouched tremb-
lingly beneath the concealing cloth, fearing to
breathe lest he should betray his whereabouts to
the bloodthirsty wretches. He had a sublime
confidence in the ability of his friend to take
care of himsclf, and thought only of his own
safety.

When the last of the mob hnd streamed into
the alley, he cast back the cloth and was about
to rise: but he drew back in an affrighted way
as he heard the tramp of heavy feet and the
loud voice of Sam Brown.

The latter stumbled through the wing, swear-
ing horribly and endeavoring to Wipe away the
blood which half-covered his face. He was fol-
lowed by Shelby Tanner; who seemed equally
indi ant and excited.

hen they had passed, and no further sounds
were heard in the saloon, the boy again cast off
the cloth which had so well served him, and
crept to the end of the wing looking out upon the
stage. The saloon was deserted; and fearing he
could not make his way from the place b the
rear alley, he darted into the big room with the
intention of going out at the front door.

He ran quickly forward to this, and was hor—
ror-stricken to find it locked. Even the windows,
which had been hoisted by the frightened

 

habitues of the place in their efforts to escape, ‘

were closed and barred.

“ Tanner, half-believing that the Warbler had
not left the building, had taken this precaution
top‘revent his escape should be yet within the
we is.

The lighted chandeliers made the room almost
as light as day, and Harry realiZed that should
any of the crowd chance to return all hope of
getting away unseen would be at an end. For
an instant he hesitated, not knowing which way
to turn. Then he darted behind and under the
bar. The place was filled with a strange assort-
ment of old bottles, rags, paper, and all the odds.
and ends that collect in a drinking den.

“Just the thing!” he whispered, as he drew
some of the bottles about him and tucked the
mass of rags and paper around and over his

erson. “ They’ll never think of looking for me
ere. How I’m ever to get out, though, I don’t
know." .

He had concealed himself none too soon, for
just then he heard Tanner reenter the room,
talking to some cronies. Their words showed
that Ware had effected his escape.

“ Look the buildin’ over,” Tanner commanded.
“If he ain’t in hyer, he’s got clean away.
Sing’lar how he broke loose frum you fellers,
after you had him cinched so tight. It was
about as slick a trick as I ever see.”

“ We didn’t think of him turnin’ circus
actor!” one of them growled, as they began the
search.

This order to_ examine the room seemed fraught
with new peril to the boy, who had been so
premfltlll‘“ly congratulating himself on the
security of his position. But the explorers did

2.:-

 
 

 

i.

7.....-

 

 

 

 

 1;   -

\\

   

Warbling William.

 

- not approach the bar. Tanner, however, glanced

beneath it in a perfunctory way, and then
pinched himself on a stool in his customary

8108.

p One by one the others strolled in from the un-
successful quest outside; and when the majority
had gathered, Tanner commenced to deal out
generous quantities of the fiery beverage for
which his house was noted.

“ Help yerselves, gentlemen.” he urged. “ It’s
as free as Water, tO-Dighli. Mr. Brown thinks
you done the fair thing by him, even of he didn’t
git the man he was gunnin’ fer; an’ has give or-
ders to set ’em up liberal, an’ that he’ll settle the
bill. This ain’t my funeral, ye know, but it
does me good to see a man treat his frien’s han’-
some.”

No second invitation was required; and if the
Kicker really had the bill to pay, it took several
months of hard work in the mines to liquidate
it.

Brown was almost the last man to enter the
saloon; and in his boisterous fashion be repeated
the barkeeper’s request to “ h’ist p’ison;”~—a re-
quest which every man was already doing his
best to comply with.

While this saturnalia was in progress, Harry
Cavendish, with nerves strained and pulses throb
hing, was crouching in his cramped and con-
fined quarters, a prey to the keenest fear. At
almost every movement made by Tanner he felt
himself on the verge of being discovered; and
what it might mean to fall into the hands of
these bibulous wretches he scarcely dared think.
But the minutes dragged by, and whenhe heard
first one and then another leave the room his
courage began to return.

Finally the last of the laggards bade Tanner
good-night, and stumbled into the darkness of
the street. Tanner walked about for a time, in
arestless, uneasy way. Then all became still,
and Harry hoped he had also quitted the place,
though there was little ground for the hope,
for the lights were still burning. The silence
was maintained for so long a time, however, that
Harry was on the point of venturing out to as-
certain the cause, when some one entered the
room.

At this Tanner arose from a box near the end
of the bar, on which he had been sitting, and
Harry realized how very close he had come to
betraying himself. .

The new-comer was John Leonard, as was
made evident by Tanner when greeting him.

“ All gone are they?” Leonard whispered,
bending over the bar. “ Egadl I’m glad of it!
Such a noisy set I never saw. I could hear them
in my room, and they almost ran me wild. You
must have nerves of iron, Tanner, to stand it!”

“ I’m purty well case-hardened,” Tanner
averred, with a comprehensive grin. “I kin
giner’ly stand a good deal of racket, when I’m
well'paid fer it; an’ you’re a good paymaster,
Leonard, if I can’t say anything else fer you.
As good a one as I ever worked fer.”

“ Don’t tell that to any one else, please!”
Leonard hastily commanded. “ I pay you for
keeping still, as much as for some other things.
By lJay’s! It’s a pity that fellow got away to-
m l

8 t00k 8 hurried tum DD and down the room,
then came back and ordered Tanner to close the
door and arrange the room so that no one could
possibly get in to eavesdrop them,

“ I’ve ot something very important to talk
about, anner, and don t want any one to
hear what we may say. Bar everything, win-
dows and all. Then turn out the lights and see
if you can advise me a little. I hope you haven’t
been muddling your head with the foul stuff you
dealt out tonight.”

“ Nary time!” Tanner asserted. “It’s a wise

.barkeeper that knows enough to let his own

p’ison alone, an’ in that respec’ I culc’late I’m
one o’ the wisest. I never tech the stufl’, myself,
though I’ve ladled out bar’ls to them that’s
fools enough to drink it.”

Harry, squeezed in among the bottles beneath
the bar, almost imagined he could hear his own
teeth chatter. He knew that if discovered, now
he would meet with little favor at the hands of
these men. Nevertheless, he was glad that an
opportunity for learning something of import~
ance was about to he presented, even if it did
seemineg increase his peril.

When Tanner had complied with [eonard’s
request he came back and again seated himself
on the box at the end or the bar.

-“ This thing is worrying me a good deal,”
Leonard observed, as he took a seat at the bar-
keeper’s side. “ It seems impossible to put that
fellow out of the way, without at the same time
running my own head into a noose. I don’t care
to do that, for it’s already far enough into one.

 

11

 

I thought that jealousy business would nerve
Brown up to the deed, but he made a botch of
it, in his usual manner. I don’t know that I
ought to blame the fellow, though, for I didn’t do
any better when I tried my own hand at the
hello“ 8.”

“ Hain’t diskivered anything new, have ye?”
Tanner questioned, with some nervousness.

“ No; but I’ve. come to the conclusion that the
only way to throw this bloodhound off the trail
is to end the trail. I thought I’d ask your
advice about it.”

“ I don’t adzactly ketch on.”

“Well, we’ve been holding the oung fellow
in jail at Silverton a long while. hy continue
it? Why not organize a mob, storm the jail,
and have him hung?”

Harry gave such a gasp that he felt sure his
retreat would be found.

“ \Ve tried somethin’ like that onc’t, ye know!”
Tanner reminded.

“Yes, and failed. But we needn’t fail again,
if we work the thing right. If we don‘t do
something, this cursed detective will yet drop
onto our secret.”

“Your secret, ye mean,” Tanner chuckled.
“ Remember that I hain’t handled the cards any
furder than I’ve had to.”

“Have it your own way. An accomplice is
as guilty as the principal. We’ll not quarrel
about that, though. If you can think of a
better plan, tell it. ’

“ Who’ll ye git to put the thing through i”

“I’ll take the responsibility of that myself.
I can rely on the jailer, and I’ve friends and
allies in that town.’

“Then, I say it’s a good plan,” declared the
barkeeper, breathing freer when he found he
was not expected to manipulate the scheme.
“ A bu’stin’ good plan. If I’d stood in your
shoes I’d ’a’ done it long ago.”

“I don’t like to,” Leonard averred, “and yet
I suppose I must.”

For a long time he sat with head bowed and
brows contracted.

“It can be worked better than that,” be de-
clared at last. “ The young chap was put in
there under an assumed name, and a week or
more ago I had the jailer give out the word that
he had escaped. So, you’ll see the people of the
town don’t know he’s in there now? What’s to
prevent him from shuffling off this mortal coil
same dark night, and no one being the wiser for
l

“ J es’ the thing!” Tanner exclaimed, slapping
his thigh, enthusiastically. “ Ye couldn’t hit it
better if ye’d think a. week. Now, if ye on’y
had the man to do itl”

“ Money will find the man i” Leonard assured.
“ Let’s see! Yes, I’ll go over there day after to-
morrow. I want to find this fellow here, if he
flan ,be found, or discover what has become of

MD.

“I don’t ’low he’ll show up on the stage ag’in l”
with a short, hard laugh.

“ It’s not likely that he will. I’ll have the
men keep a lookout for him and the boy to-mor—
row. They can surely find some trace of them,
or at least learn where they have gone. Then
the day after I’ll go to Silverton, and see that
our young friend OVer there gets as short a
shrift as possible.”

 

CHAPTER XV.
A CHANGE or PLANS.

THE cold-blooded manner in which Leonard
made the statement caused the boy’s heart to
sink and his blood to chill. A man who could
speak of a contemplated murder in that calm
angd collected way was a dangerous man, in-
de .

After much further talk on the same subject.
and a discussion of. the troublesome affair in all
its bearings, Leonard took his departure. The
lamps, which had been turned very low, were
now extinguishedx: and Tanner followed his
chief, locking the front door after him.

When certain that Tanner was gone, Harry
crept from his hiding-place. His limbs were so
stiffened by the long confinement, that for a
time he could scarcely move.

“I’m afraid I’m cooped up here for all night,”
he whispered, going to one of the windows and
feeling of the barred fastenings.
pilzzle a regular burglar to get in or out of this
p ace.

The thought brought with it a refreshing
recollection. A burglar had made his way into
the place onlya few nights before, coming in b
the way of the cellar, and cuttinga hole throng
the floor of the stage. The hole had been tem-
porarily closed until new flooring could be laid,

“ It would .

 

and the chances of escape by that way looked
promising. .,

Hurrying to that point the boy found that a
square of heavy planking had been let into the
aperture and fastened so it could not he removed
from beneath. The fastenings above, Izowever,
could he slipped out of place without much
effort. A gloomy hole was revealed by the dis-
placement.

“ I‘ll have to leave the hole open,” with a
dubious shake of the head. “ 1 don’t like to do
that; but I can’t see that there’s any help for it
—so here goes!”

He swung himself through the hole, and after
hanging in mid-air for a moment, dropped into
the gloomy cellar. The fall was about ten feet,
but he landed without mishap.

“ My, I hope that open hole won’t give the
snap away!” he exclaimed, pulling himself to-
gether and staring at the yawning cavity-
“ There’s one consolation, they can’t know who
did it, whatever they think, and if I can only
find Mr. Ware we’ll fix things so that their
guessing won’t do them much good.”

To get out, now, by the coal-hole, was an easy
matter, and, five minutes later, Harry stood in.
the deserted street. He was puzzling over the
direction he ought to take when alow whistle
reached him from the shadows of the buildings
opp0site. He recognized it as Ware’s signal.

“Where did you drop from?” Ware asked,
when his boy pard had gained his side.

“I didn’t drop; 1 ascendedl” and Harry
halstily explained how he had escaped from the
sa oon.

“ And you heard the talk? That’s fine. I
tried every imaginable way to accomplish that.
Harry, ou’re a jewel! Come! Let’s hunt n a
place w ere we can talk without danger of
ing disturbed. 1 do belieVe fate is at last going
to play them into our hands.”

He spoke in a quick and nervous way, and,
grasping the boy’s arm, fairly dragged him from
the spot. When they had gained a safe distance
be halted.

“ Now, tell me all about it, and as quick as
you can.”

The boy complied, compressing the story into
as few words as ssible.

“Silverton! hat’s the town acress the di—
vide. I understand Leonard has an interest in
the silver mine there. And they’ve got Lewis
in jail at that place? IVell, we’ll see if we can’t
get him out in mighty short order.”

“ It must be Lewis,” Harry exclaimed.
“ They didn’t mention any name, but I felt sure
they meant Lewis.”

“ Certainly; they couldn’t have referred to
any one else! He’s the only person we have any
interest in or that they would be likely to speak
of in connection with us.

“ That will cause a change in our plans. We’ll
have to drop the show business here and journey
to Silverton. I can’t say I’m sorry on that ac-
count, however, for now that the Kicker has
started in to do me up, he’d be apt to cause us a
good deal of trouble here. I’m surprised that he-
could gain so many followers. I don’t know
that it ought to be thou ht strange though,
when it’s understood that hard and Tanner
are backing him.”

He was silent for a time, and then continued:

“No one will ex t us to reappear on the
stage to-morrow nig it, anyway. Brown’s mur.
derous attempt on my life is all the excuse that’s,
needed to explain our sudden disappearance
from the town. I never like to run from dan—
ger, or even seemingly run; but we’ll do it in
this case, and be glad of the opportunity.”

He took out his watch and looked at it by the
faint star light.

“Not more than three hours till day. We’ll
want to be a good distance on our way before-
the sun rises. It won’t do to let Leonard’s cut—
throats get ahead of us. We can get there by
evening, but we’ll have to go without food, pro-
bably. There‘s little chance, now, of getting
anything of the kind to take with us.”

“There’s a little restaurant down-town that
keeps open all night,” Harr reminded.

“ I remember it, but well have to go there
disguised. And I must havemy guitar, too. I
shall need to carry out the plan I’ve thought
of. Stay here; I’ll see if I can’t get into our
room at Tanner’s.”

He was 011’ like a shot, without further ex-r
planation.

Within fifteen minutes he had returned
bringing with him the guitar and a change of
old and worn garments for eac .

“ N0 trouble at all,” he cried, gleefully.
“ Leonard had a man on guard in the ball, but
he was a sleepy chuckle-head, and I passed him
without him once suspecting any one was near.”

I \

44- 

w .4.

 

  

 

.7»

we  use ‘ev ‘

12

A w,m.m .

A ——...;.s.-  v

 

Warbling William.

 

 

He commenced to change his clothing, while
speaking; and Harry immediately imitated his
example. 1'

“ Now we’ll try the restaurant,” he said, when
the cast-off garments had been secreted. “ In
these rigs, I don’t think any one will recognize
us.

Such a. thing seemed very unlikely, for they
now resembled tramps more than anything else.

Ware left his guitar with Harry, and visited
the restaurant alone; and the keeper of the es-
tablishment never once suspected the identity of
his customer.

“ Now, We’re fixed!” the detective e'aculated,
as he rejoined the boy. “ I—Io, for L ilverton!
Leonard will have to be awfully spry, if he
heads us off this time.”

CHAPTER XVI.
AT THE SILVERTON’ JAIL.

“ HELLO! Some fine singin’ down there i”

The keeper of the SilVerton jail poked his
head out of the window of his apartment on the
second floor, and stared into the street. It
wasn’t often that he had an opportunity of hear-
ing good singing, or in fact good music of any
kind; and the concord of well-attuned voices,
with excellent guitar accompaniment, was a
treat not to be missed. '

He was a burly, thick-set man, called “ Buck ”
Hazelrig, by his acquaintances, and lived alone
in the jailer’s quarters, rarely seeing any one
except the prisoners and the officials with whom
he bad business. His place had been gained for
him by John Leonard, who was apparently as
well known and influential here as at Rocket
Range; and Leonard was not a man to use as
tools men who were inclined to joviality or glib-
ness of speech.

“ By George! Makes me think of the ole
times, back East, when the Eyetalians used to

 

- go ’round fiddlin’ an’ harpin’.”

The brisk ballad had ended: and now on the
quiet, evening air rose the soulful words of that
sweetly pathetic song:

I

'Backvgarcklli Turn backward! Oh, Time, in your
ig l
Make me a child again, just for to-night!
)lother, come back from the echoless shore;
Take me. again to our arms, as of yore.
Smooth from my orehead the furrows of care;
Brush the fiw silver threads out of in hair;
Over my slumbers your lovin: watch 'ee ;—
Rock me to sleep, mother! Rock me to slieep!"

The strains carried the jailer back to the old,
old days of his lost and misspent youth; and a
look that was thoughtful, and even sorrowful,
came into his eyes.

“Strike up somethin’ a little livelier!” he
shouted, leaning from the window. “ Too much
like follerin’ a hearse, that is! Give us ‘Sam
.Bass,’ er ‘ The ’Forty-niner!’ ”

Each of these was of interminable length; but
without a moment’s hesitation the disguised de-
tective swung into the story of the “’Forty-
niner’s Daughter:”

“ In a cavern in a canyon——
Excavating for a mine:—
Dwelt a miner. ’forty-niner,
And his daughter, Clementine.
Light she was, and like a fairy,
And her shoes were number nine :—
Herring boxes, without topses,
Sandals were for Clementine.

“Oh, my darling! Oh, my darling!
Oh, my darling Clementine!

You are lost and gon s f0rever;—~
Dreadful orry, Clementine!"

This style of words and music exactly suited
Buck Hazelrig; and the first verse was scarcely
finished before the attraction of the singing
became so strong that he hastily left his com-
fortable seat and descended into the street.

Here a number of others, similarly drawn,
were gathering.

When the history of the miner’s daughter had
been satisfactorily rehearsed, and the exploits of
“ Sam Bass,” the cowboy, recounted, a collection
was taken for the benefit of the singers. A
gentle hint from Ware also caused the jailer to
invite them into his room, where a supper was
served, and the singing continued until a late

our.

It had been the detective’s intention to gain
access to the jail in some such way, but the ease
with which it had been accomplis ed almost sur-

rised him. It was eVident the iailer had never

eard of the singing at Rocket ange; or, if he
had, it never occurred to him to associate the
two in a suspicious way.

“ I suppose about the only music you ever have
is the bowling of some half-crazy prisoner?”
Ware queried, when the crowd they had collect-

 

ed had one. “ You must have a lot of ’em in
here! saw quite a number looking out of the
cells when we came in.”

“ D’ye mean crazy un’s?"

“ Oh, all kinds! I referred to the number.
Silverton must be a famous place for jail«birds.”

“ It’d be famouser, if all was in that ought to
be in.” ,

\Vare glanced at Hazelrig’s evil face, and
mentally agreed with the statement.

“ I reckon you wouldn’t object to a fellow
looking over the place? I was never in a jail
before, and am curious to take a peep at the in-
stitution.”

“ Mo<t men’d rather have as little to do with
the thing as possible!” and the jailer gave him a
keen scrutiny.

“No doubt. Perhaps I’d feel that way if my
knowledge wasn’t so limited. What are most of
the risoners in for?”

“ oss-stealin’ an’ shootin’, giner’ly. Some
few on ’em fer stage-robbiu’ an’ sich ike. One
feller fer whippiii’ the life nigh ’bout out 0’ the
county jedge w hat tried him; an’ a long-tongqu
lawyer for lyin’ aii’ gineral cussedness. ’

“ An interesting lot!”

Hazelrig laughed, in his dry, peculiar man—
ner.

“ That lawyer’s an amoosin’ cub. He talked
at f u’st o’ appealin’ to the coustertution, er some
secli thing; an’ made speeches four hours long,
’bout his rights an’ juties as an Amerikin citi-
zen. I tol’ him he’d haf’ to shot off on that, fer
he was a—fillin’ the hall with so much wind that
there was consider’ble danger the ole jail would
h’ist ’erself some day an’sai] away likea balloon.
I don’t think the ole jedge would ’a’ sent ’im up
if he hadn’t called hisselt' D. Webster McCartney,
an’ parted his hair in the middle. That was jes’
too much, that was, an’ he had to take the con-
sequences.”

“Served him right, no doubt. He’s a chap
I‘d like to see.”

“Well, come erlong, if you like. I don’t do
sich, as a reg’lar thing. If ye git away, though,
’tliout that lawyer killin’ ye off with a speech,
it’ll s’prise me.”

John Leonard would have wondered much at
seeing his trusty henchmen become so supple in
the hands of tho urbane Warbler. His own
marvelous craft would have been scarcely equal
to so great a task.

Harry, in accordance with previous instruc-
tions, had become to all appearances absorbed in
the columns of an old paper and was, therefore,
not included in this invitation. The detective
had not deemed it judicious, even if the chance
should offer, to allow Lewis to see and recognize
his brother, fearing an exposure would result.

Harry’s quiet, however, concealed a torrent of
seething emotions. The hour for which he had
long ho ed and toiled and strived seemed to be
approac ing. Only a thin partition of walls, as
he believed, separated him from the brother he
loved and had so long sought; and now that the
time for verifying that belief had come he felt
that any further delay would surely crush him.

Nevertheless, he maintained an attitude of
stoical indifference, when the jailer took up the
lamp and led the way into the dark corridor.
But when the room be occupied had been plung-
ed in darkness, he left his seat: and, crouching
by the door, listened with bated breath to the
echoing footsteps and to every sound that broke
the midnight stillneSS.

“ Hver he is,” said Hazelrig, stopping before a
grated door, and shaking it as he might shake
the bars of a lion’s cage. He’s asleep. prob’lv.
Made so many speeches to-day that I ’low he’s
wore lum out.

“ ey, in there, D. Webster! Hyer’s a gen’lei-
man wants ter hear you talk.”

At this a dudish—looking young man half-lifted
himself from his low cot, popped an eye-glass
into one of his protruding 0 es, and stared curi-
ously at these disturbers of is dreams

“ I never converse with specimes cf the genus
tramp!” he asserted, regarding the detective’s
greasy garments disdainfully.

Then he collapsed, and was buried from sight
by the bed—coverings. .

Hazelrig laughed loudly, and led the way to
the other cells, the occupants of which he aroused
in turn. None of them were Lewis Cavendish.

“ And these are all?” Ware questioned, glanc-
ing at some cells which were apparently empty.

“ All that you’d keer to see. There’s a crazy
young feller in one 0’ them, an’ he’ll never let
up. if I rouse him.”

Just then the voice of the ” crazy young fel-
ler” broke the stillness, and the jailer hurried
the detective away; but not before the latter
had decided that that was the particular cell he
most wished to investigate.

 

   

For beds, that night, Ware and his boy pard
were given shake~d0wns in the jailer’s own room.
This suited the detective, for the keys to the cells
Were kept in that room: and he had determined
to use them before the dawning of another day,
even if force were necessary to accomplish his
purpose.

Hazelrig seemed unusually wakeful, talking
until a very late hour. But he retired at last;
and when his snoring announced his unconscious-
ness,‘ Ware was ready for his perilous under-
taking. ______

CHAPTER XVII.
CAVENnIsn’s STORY.

RISING softly, the detective crept on tip-toe to
the little desk, where, unknown to the jailer he
had seen the keys carefully deposited. The
room was plunged in darkness, but he had close-
ly noted the position of the chairs and movable
furniture before retiring, and therefore knew
just where and how to step.

Once the jailer turned heavily in his sleep,
and, with revolver drawn, Ware halted midway
between the Shakedown and the desk, thinking
discovery inevitable. The heaviness of the
breathing, however, reassured him, and he went

on.
The desk was locked, but he quickly slipped

'back the bolt with a bent wire, and secured the

coveted keys. Then he made his way from the
room in the same cautious manner, closing the
door after him.

“ Cavendish l” he whispered, on reaching the
cell whichthe “ crazy young teller” was said to
occupy. ‘ Are you in there, Cavendish?"

There was a stir within, a cautious footstep,
and a pale, yet handsome face looked out from
between the bars.

“ Who is it?” was the anxious question.

“ Are you Lewis Cavendish?”

“ Yes! yes!" as he heard the suggestive jing-
ling 0f the keys.

His flood of hurried queries was interrupted
by the turning of a key in the lock and the open-
ing of the door.

“ Come! We haven’t any time for taik.
Take it for granted that I am your friend, and
follow me. The jailer may awaken at any
moment, and then we might have trouble in get-
ting out of here.”

In spite of his iron nerves, his voice betrayed
his anxiety. The jail was situated at one end of
the main street of the town, and ajangling of
the bell which hung above it would be sufficient
to arouse the citizens, and make escape perilous
and difficult.

Had he been handling an ordinary case Ware
would never have taken such risks. He would
have placed Leonard under arrest and secured
the release of young Cavendish by writ of
habcas corpus. But he knew full well how
often justice goes awry in the almost lawless
mining camps, and realiZed that such a miscar-
riage was almost certain to take place in.a com-
munity Owning the sway of John Leonard.

“Don’t make any more more noise than a
falling feather,” he cautioned. “ Carry your
shoes, and I will show you the way out.”

He then led the way through the corridor,
down the stairway and into the street.

“Stay here! Your brother Harry is in the
building, and I must get him out.”

And before the astounded young man could
frame a Single query, he disappeared in the
gloom.

When he returned Harry accompanied him.

“ No time for that now,” he whispered, inter-

rupting the effusive greeting betwen the long— .

separated brothers. “ When we get a little fur-
ther off will do as well. Then, we’ll all talk,
for I’m as anxious to understand certain things
as you are to explain them.” ,

He led the way from the place at a brisk gait,
halting when they had gained the edge of tim-
ber—fringed hills, a quarter of a mile from the
town.

Lewis was bubbling over with the very ex-
uberauce of his spirits, and Wildly anxious to
have the veil lifted from what seemed so mys-
terious an aflair, When the main facts had
been rapidly sketched by Harry, he took Wars
by the hand, and in a choking, incoherent way
thanked him for the hardships he had undon-
gone and the perils he had braved in his behalf.

“ It is my calling!” the detective said, humbly.
“ Whatever I did, I did no more than my duty.
Less than that I couldn’t do. But time isfl -
ing, and you haven’t told us your story. 0
will have to move on. soon.”

Thus reminded. Lewis told how Leonard
formed his ac unintance in Chicago, and by
artful wiles led im to the West.

“After I had drawn the money from tho

  

 

 

 

  
  

 

 

 

\

Warbling William.

13

 

 

Cheyenne bank I came to Rocket Range to meet
Leonard and arrange for the transfer of the
mine. He said there was no bank out here;
that he kept all his Own money in a private
safe, and preferred that I should bring the cash,
as he wished to use it in paying ofl' certain in-
debtedness. Like the dupe I was, I believed
him, and complied with his request.

“On arrivmg at Rocket Range, he engaged
horses for both of us, saying the mine was at
Silvertou, and that we would go out there to
look at it. He had already shown me the state—
ments 'of the business of the mine for the past

ear, but I had insisted on seeing the property

efore turning over the money and accepting
the deed. Inquiries mad" at Rocket Range had
given me the idea that Leonard was the per-
sonification of an honorable gentleman; and, in
my inexperience, I no more thought of suspect-
ing him' than I would think of suspecting

arry.

“ Just before we reached Silverton we stopped
at a spring to get a drink, for the day was hot
and we had been riding hard. We had no
drinkin vessel; and, as I stooped over the
spring, nard struck me a blow on the head
with a club.

“ All I recollect of the assault isa blinding
flash of light, and a sensation as if the heavens
had fallen and crushed me. When I recovered
consciousness I was lying on my back, partly in
the water and my clothing soaked in my own
blood. My money was gone, together with my
horse, and I was so weak I could scarcely stag-
ger to my feet.

“ Leonard had left me for dead, no doubt. It
was then mid-afternoon, and the town still some
three miles distant. Weak as I was, I resolved
to make my way into the town, denounce Leon-
ard to the authorities, and if he was there se-
cure his arrest.

“ Little I knew of the honesty of the officials
of Rocket Range!” with a harsh and bitter em-
phasis. “If I had known more, I should have
fled from the place as from a pestilence.

“ But as it turned out, I was the one to be de-
nounced. A miner had disappeared from Sil-
verton that morning, murdered, no doubt; and
as I staggered toward the place, weak and
feverish, I met a posse of citizens. Leonard
was at their head, and at once denounced me as
having slain the missing man. What kind of a
story he told to make them believe so foul a lie
I am at a loss to imagine.

“They believed it, however, or pretended to
believe it; and my blood-stained garments were
taken as evidence of my guilt. ‘Urged on by
Leonard, the posse became transformed into a
bowling mob; and about as much ceremony
Easfshown me as if I had been a confessed horse-

ie .

“ In vain I pleaded my innocence and told the
story of how I came to be in that condition.
Leonard stated that he had started from Rocket
Range with me, but suspecting me of an evil in-
tent on his pocketbook, he had left me and gal-
loped on alone.

“ I think my statements were more then half-
believed by a few of the men: for when the mob
was on the point of hanging me they interfered
to prevent it. Then I was thrust into the jail,
under a false name as I afterward learned.

“ Time after time I pleaded for a hearing, but
my pleadings were mocked at. The jailer
would not allow me to Communicate with any
one, nor send out any letters or messages. That
I could never quite understand, for I supposed
that even the worst criminal had a right to a
trial,at the earliest and most convenient sea-
son.’

“ I can explain it, I think,” Ware interrupted.
“ You hadn’t been in there long until the report
was circulated that you had effected your es-
cape. Tbere was no neceSsity or law for trying
a. man who was non-come—atable.”

Lewis Cavendish gave a gasp of surprise.

“.Harry learned that, among other things,
while concealed in the saloon. Leonard is a
long-headed chap, and that was just another of
his shrewd games. How many more we may
run onto before we’re through with the gentle-
man only the future oan determine. Quite
enou h to surprise us, no doubt.”

“ e couldn’t have meant to hold me there
forever. I suppose?” Lewis questioned, after a.
moment of thought.

“No- he intended to have you put out of the
way. t was all planned; and as the public
knew nothing of any such prisoner, I doubt
not the matter would have been say of accomo
plilhment.”

Then the detective told of the scheme which
gainer-d had confided toTsuner onlyafew hours

on.

 

“A thorough villain!” and Cavendish shud-
dered involuntarily, as he reflected on the fate
which was to have been his. “ What does Maud
think of that?”

He had already been informed of the part
Maud had taken in attempting to discover and
rescue him out of Leona'd’s clutches: and had
told the story of his acquaintance and corre—
spondence with her.

“She doesn’t know anything about it yet,”
Ware replied. “ We were too greatly pressed
for time to see her before starting for this

om 1."

“VVon’t she be pleased, though when she
knows it all!” and Harry clapped his hands
jubilantly at the thought.

The detective laughed.

“And think of myinamorata, Harry! The
beautiful and dashing Miss Fulton! She will be
tickled out of her seven senses.”

“There’s one who won’t be pleased,” said
Cavendish. “That’s Buck Hazelrig. In fancy
I can see him gnashing his teeth and pulling his
abundant hair out by the handful.”

“We ought to go down and give him a
serenade,” the happy boy suggested. “I’m a
little creaky from last night’s work; but I
reckon if we’d join in under his window with
that guitar, it would create a sensation.”

“And a sensation, probably, we shouldn’t
like. He would have the entire town after us
inside of twenty minutes, and we’d have to
bump ourselves lively to get away from here
with whole skins.”

“Pshaw! He wouldn’t dare. Why, he
couldn’t claim that Lew had escaped: for the
very good rea30n, as you said awhile ago. that
the people of the town don’t know there is such
a person as Lew.”

“ True! Strange that view of the casa didn’t
strike me. Maybe it won’t strike him, and he’ll
arouse the town, anyway, and have a gay old
time in explaining why he did it.”

He was interrupted by the wild clanging of
the jail bell.

“ rophetic words!” the detective cried, start-
ing to his feet. He’s discovered that we’re gone
and you’re likewise missing. We’ll have to
make tracks for tall timber. Perhaps he has
concluded to catch us first and explain after-
ward. It would be entirely safe, I venture to
say, especially if he had John Leonard to assist
him in making the explanation. That scamp
can come as near to twisting men to suit himself
as any fellow I ever saw.”

He had picked up his guitar, and now stood
listening to llie quick strokes of the bell.

“See! Theres a light!” he cried. “The
people are arousing. We must make ourselves
scarce, hereawavs, or we’ll be in great danger of
being taken. The releasing of a prisoner from
jail is no light offense in this country. Come!”

And with the command he hurried into the
Eimlber, the Cavendishes following close at his

ee s.

 

CHAPTER XV III.

A HASTY FLIGHT.

BUCK HAZELRIG was shrewder than he had
been given credit for being. Awakening from
sleep, in the early hours of the morning, be dis-
covered that the persons he had mistaken for
strolling musicians were missing, and leaped at
once to a correct solution of the situation.

Hurrying into his clothing he took the keys
from the drawer where they were kept—they
had been replaced by Ware—and rushed into
the corridor. to find that the cell of the ‘ ‘ crazy
young feller” was empty.

H9 greeted the discovery with a string of
lurid oaths. then hastened to one of the adjoin-
ing cells, and spoke to the half—awakened occu-

ant:

p “Do you want to git out o’hyer, Skinny?
0’ course you do; you’d be a pesky fool if ye
didn’t. Well, I’ve got_ special reasons for want-
in’ to let ye loose; an’ if you’ll cut sticks lively,
I’ll do it.” .

He had droppedOhis voice to a whisper in
making this astonishing statement, but the
prisoner was quick of ear and comprehension.

J‘ Try me, onc‘tl” he cried, sitting bolt upright
on his cot. “ Ef any one ketcbes me. after I’m
safe outen hyer. they’ll hev to hustle.”

" Of course I’ll have to rouse the town an’ try
to ketoh you. Skinny. 'Twouldn’t never do fer
me not to. But I’ll not try a mite harder’n I’m
actilly boun’ to; for, as I said, I want ye to git
away.” ‘

“ They ain’t no games ’bout this!” the risoner
demanded, not understanding why selrig
should thus want to favor him. -

“ None at all! An’ if ye‘re goin’ ye must g

 

I can’t stand hyer shill -shallyin’ all night,
neither. If you ain’t rea y in jes’ one minute,
yer chance is gone.”

“ I’ll be ready!”

And the horse-thief—for such he was—began
to wriggle into his clothing.

Five minutes later, the jail bell was beginning
to ring out its brazen warning and arouse the-
Slumbering inhabitants of Silverton to the fact
that another prisoner had escaped.

“ You see, it war jes’ this way,” the jailer ex-
plained, as the people began to gather. “ Them l
rotted singers Were jes’ the worst kind 0’ fakes. '
They pulled the wool over our eyes most beauti--
ful. After you fellers went away las’ night,
there come another feller, and blamed fool like,
I let him in.

“ The three on ’em slep’ right in my room,
where I thought I could watch em easy, though
I never s‘picioned anything wrong. Well, may
I be hung, if I didn’t wake up a while ago an7
find the hull b’ilin’ of ’em gonehan’ Skinny, the
boss-thief, gone along of ’em 1”

He had added the third man to the number of
the rescuers, so that the presence of Lewis Cav—
endish could be accounted for, should the trio be
taken.

“ They played a master cute game to git
Skinny out: an’ they got him. I never knowed
of a cuter. I’m much afeard it’s goin’ to trouble
as to overhaul ’em an’ git ’em back.”

Many others seemed to think the same. Never—
theless a hunt was commenced as soon as a sufli-
cient number had gathered to make a respectable

rty.
paHazelrig had instructed Skinny to start west-
ward, a direction opposite to the one in which he
proposed to lead the search party: for, by a
series of shrewd guesses, he had formed a fair-
idea of the route Cavendish and his rescuers,
would pursue. '

By the time the jailer’s party got under way,
the detective and his friends had placed more-
than three miles of the rugged path behind
them. They had scarcely gone three miles fur-
ther, however, before they discovered they were
bein pursued—and by men on horseback.
Haze rig’s forces, after considerable heating,
had struck their trail near the point where it
entered the timber; and, as there were several
skilled trailers among them, they were enabled
to proceed at a rapid rate in spite of the obstruc-
tions.

“ That’s bad,” Ware observed, when, from a
considerable elevation he ascertained that they
were being closely followed. “ They will ever-
take us, soon, at that rate. We must try to con-
cenl our trail. before going further.”

This they did by walking backward for some
distance, then swinging from tree to tree until
they had covered several hundred feet. When
they again dropped to the earth, they changed
their course, and sought to conceal their foot--
steps by traversing the rockiest and fliutiest
ridges.

This maneuver was repeated several times,
and with such apparent success, that, when more
than hour had passed without sight or sound of
the jailer’s party, they began to feel so secure
that they again became incautious.

They were made startlingly aware of the folly
of this by the neighing of a horse, only a few
hunder yards behind them!

Hazelrig, with a squad of his men, had gone
on in the general direction which he believed
the fugitives would follow, leaving the others to!
puzzle out the intricate trail. By rare good
luck be had stumbled on asuccession of foot-
steps in a mucky place, and was now hurrying
forward, hoping to take the fleeing men an.
awares. But for the neigh of the horse he
might have accomplished his purpose.

The detective‘s little party again scrambled to
the tree-boughs. There were no_ flinty ridges
near, but a mountain stream With worn and
rocky banks, flowed not far away, and toward
this they hastened.

On reaching it. they ran upward along its
course for a considerable distance, and then con-
cealed themselves in a hollow beneath the shelv-
ing banks.

“Cuddle down, and kee perfectly still i”
Ware cautioned. “If they nd us here it will
be apt to go hard with us.”

No words were needed to cause them to main-
tain strict silence. The dreadful fear of dis-
co“? glued their lips and almost stilled their-
breat ing. The danger was greatly 1mm”.

however, by the character of the place they had
secreted themselves in. It wasacavi in the
rocks, so thoroughly screened by bus and
undergrowth that its existence would not be
an

ey bid stumbled on it by the m acci- '

‘1‘

 

w

‘ H" L‘—

 

W‘ -‘e—‘)v.-fi~rf~¢é uni-3. a..-% as... , .

    

14

Warbling William.

 
 

 

 

dent, and unless Hazelrig’s men should do like-
wise, the chances were great that it would be
overlooked.

“ I don’t like this business, at all!” the detec-
tive whispered, when several minutes had passed
and they had not been disturbed. “ We seem to
be criminals ineread of the men who are chasing
us. I’m sometimes tempted to go out and bold-
ly face the dogs. I would, if there were any
men of honor among them.”

“ It would be suicidal!” Cavendish exclaimed.
“They would shoot us d0wu in our tracks, if the
jailer should command them to. I’ve had quite
enough of the honorable gentlemen of Silverton
to last me several days. Hazelrig is a sample of
the most of them; I saw that when they were
trying toadjust a noose about my neck some
weeks ago.”

The sound of footsteps coming steadily nearer
put a stop to the conversation. Ware drew his
weapons, to bedprepared for the worst, but the
Eootisteps passe by, and they again breathed

ree y.

When almost an hour had passed without any
indications that the searching party was still in
the vicinity, they crawled from their place of
concealment and recommenced their journey.

“ The ’re looking for us in the direction of
Rocket 11 e, I’ve no doubt,” the detective ob—
served. “ ith one party in our rear and an-
other ahead of us, we’ll be compelled to keep
our eyes open. What worries me most, though,
is the fear that they will go on into the town
and give warning to Leonard, and thus allow
him to slip through my clutches. I wouldn’t
have that happen for anything, for I’ve a heavy
account laid up against the rascal.”

When within about four miles of Rocket
Range they received another scare. It was a
little past noon, and they had halted to eat
somethin and secure a much-needed rest. A
considera 1e elevation lifted itself near them;
and this Ware ascended to ascertain, if possible,
if any of Hazelrig’s party were close at hand.

“ Hazelrig and his men are in camp not over
a hundred yards away!” was his startling an-
nouncement on his return. “ It’s a wonder
they haven’t seen us. They are in our rear, and
will move this way just as soon as they get
ready to advance. We’ll have to change our
location, and as quickly and quietly as possi-

“Where shall we go?” Cavendish asked.

“ To the top of the hill. It’s the safest. There
we can see and not be seen. They haven’t
enough force to surround it, should we be dis-
covered; and while they are coming up one side
we can skip down the other.”

With great celerity, but very little noise, they
hastened t0 the foot of the eminence; and keep-
ing well within the timber, slowly and cautious-
ly ascended its side.

Near the top they halted, and screened by
bushes and bowlders, looked down, with a
sense of security, on the jailer and his little
posse.

“ They’re waiting for the others to come up, I
take it,” said Cavendish, after studying their
movements for awhile.

" I only hope they won’t take it into their
heads to 0 into the town!” Ware declared.

“ If the do, Leonard won’t fly, as you seem
to think. He’s too old a dog for that, and has
too many friends there. He’ll turn the entire af-
fair some way so that it will serve to strengthen
him and weaken us.”

“ Perhaps! I’m trusting, though, to the good
sense of the honest element, and to the fact that
most of his seeming friends are only paid tools
or accomplices who can be frightened off by a
show of legal authority. The first thing I shall
do, you understand, will be to place him under
arrest.”

After nearly an hour’s waiting, Hazelrig’s
men moved off in the direction of Rocket Range;
and, when they were well out of sight, the trio
descended from the crest of the hill and followed
in their wake.

“ This won’t do,” Ware averred, after they
had proceeded a short distance. “ I don’t want
them to beat us into t0wu, which they’ll do, of
course, if we simply follow them. I propose
that we strike for the trail. They’re traveling
slow, and once on that we can make such
progress that our chances of getting in first Will
be excellent.”

Accordingly they took a nigh cut to the well-
beaten trail which ran from Rocket Range to
Silverton, and pushed on with all possible speed.

They had proceeded along this new route but
a little way, when they saw a horseman coming
toward them.

“ Get into the bushes!” the detective cried,
recognising the rider. “ It’s John Leonard!”

 

CHAPTER XIX.
“FANNY FULTON.”

JOHN LEONARD had not been able to start for
Silverton that day as early as he had expected;
but when he did start he jogged along at a rapid
gait, in the endeavor to reach the place at as
early an hour as possible. His mind was filled
with the details of the wicked scheme he had
concocted against the life of the prisoner in the
Silverton jail, and he gave little heed to the
route he was pursuing.

Hence he failed to see the forms that flitted,
shadow-like to the cover of the bushes, and
recked not of danger until it was too late to
escape.

He was aroused by the detective’s sharp com-
mand:

“ Climb down from there; and be quick about
it, if you care to keep a whole skin, John
Leonard.

Leonard reined in, with a gasp of surprise, be-
ing so startled by the suddenness and unexpect-
edness of the order that he threw the horse
almost upon its haunches.

Then, out of the covert came the three, the
detective with revolver held in readiness.

As soon as the astonished man recognized them,
he attempted to spur forward, but Cavendish
seized the animal by the hit.

“No you don’t l” Ware grated, thrusting the
revolver into the face of the frightened wretch.
“ We’ve a little account to settle with you first.
We’re in no mood for trifling, and if you don’t
want a bullet, you’ll get out of that saddle with
as little ceremony as you know how.” I

There was something in the tones that quite
unnerved Leonard.

“ Yesl yes 1” he assented. “ I’ll get down!
What is it you want with me, gentlemen? I
haven’t enough money with me to pay for the
plucking.”

“ It isn’t money we’re after, Leonard,” the de-
tective declared, as the trembling man scram-
bled out of the saddle, “ and no one knows that
better than you do. What we’re after, I should
think you might guess, unless your judgment
has suddenly failed you. It is usually pretty
good, as I have had reason to know.”

“ For mercy sake, gentlemen, what do you
want with me, then ?” Leonard faltered. “ Sure-
ly you’re not going to murder me l”

“ We’ll talk that over after we get into the
bushes. Here we're in danger of interruption.
Lead the horse, Harry; Lew and I will endeavor
to see that our good friend does not escape."

With this, he dropped in behind his prisoner,
and inexorably urged him forward.

“ You recognize this young gentleman, no
doubt?” dropping to a seat on a stone when they
had reached a safe distance, and pointing a tin-
ger at Lewis. “If not, allow me make you ac-
quainted with Mr. Lewis Cavendish, recently of
Chicago; more recently of Silverton Jail.”

As he said it, his eyes burned with a light
which showed he was in no trifling humor.

With a hard, hitter tone he ran quickly over
the points he most wished to impress on Leonard’s
mind. adding, at the conclusion:

“ You’re in the net, Leonard, and wriggling
won’t do you any good. A clean breast of the
whole affair might ease your conscience, though,
and make your punishment lighter. That fifty
thousand, too, must be repaid as a preliminary.”

Leonard’s face had taken on a corpse-like pallor
and his whole form shook.

“ I can’t repay it!” he moaned, wiping away
the sweat which stood in great drops on his fore-
head. “ Do what you will with me I can’t repay
it. I was urged to the deed by threatened bank-
ruptcy, and the bankruptcy has come notwith-
standing.”

“ But the Jim Crow Mine, and your silver
mining stocks!”

“ All plastered over with debts which I now
see are unpayable. My God, gentlemen! You
don’t know how I’ve suffered. I thought that
fifty thousand would tide me over, and enable
me to get on my feet again. I week ago I saw
that the crash must come, and have been pre-
paring for it. I acknowledge I had designs
against the life of Mr. Cavendish. I knew that
when I could no longer pay, my tools would fall
away from me. I thought to put him out of the
way, so that when I left this place, he would not
bound me over the world for the crime I com-
mitted against him.”

He groaned, as he made the confession.

“ I am guilty and I must sufl’er. I see it now.
How my creditors will come down on me, as
soon as” they discover I haven’t the where with
to

‘ And no doubt Miss Fulton and Shelby Tan-
ner are equally guilty 1” the detective asserted.

“Tanner, yes. Perhaps I oughtn’t say that.

 

 

He was only one of my paid tools. He has been
running the saloon and hotel under his own
name, but the property is really mine. It’s
mortgaged, too, for more than _ it’s worth.
Mortgaged by Tanner, for me, as if it were his
own property.”

He stopped, and his face relaxed into the sem-
blance of a smile.

“ Strange you never guessed Miss Fulton’s
secret. I’ll reveal it now, as it can be kept a
secret no longer. I am Miss Fanny Fulton!”

The detective recoiled in utter astonishment.

“ Impossible!”

“ Not at all!” with a light chuckle. “ I played
the part well, you must admit. I am Miss Ful—x
ton, minus the female apparel, the false hair,
the rouge and powder, and all the little acces-
sorics which went to make up the gushing crea-
ture.”

Ware seemed crushed by the confession.
With all his natural shrewdness and his long ex-
perience in dealing with criminals of every
grade he had never suspected the deceit that had
been so boldly practiced on him.

“That goes ahead of anything I ever heard
of l” he gasped. “ No wonder the dear creature
gave me so much trouble. No wonder I couldn’t
begin to fathom her motives or determine what
line of action she was likely to pursue.

“ It explains a good many things, too, that
have been almost unexplainable.”

“ No doubt!” Leonard exclaimed, bubbling
over with the momentary pleasure which the ex-
pose aflforded him, and Sriving, apparently, to
temporarily forget the terrors of his situation.
“ I got a good deal of fun out of the little
comedy as I went along. I didn’t begin it,
though, merely for the fun of the thing. I had
a purpose in view.

“ That purpose, at first, was to gain the confi-
dence and thwart the efforts of Miss Malcolm.
It succeeded, and when you appeared on the
scene I continued the disguise in an effort to dis-
close your intentions and planS.

“I dropped the stolen letter when and where I
did, knowing the boy would find it, and that
you would be led to visit and confer with Miss
Malcolm, if my suspicions regarding your true
character were correct. You made that visit;
and when you told her who you were and what
had brought you there, I was crouching just out-
side the window and heard it all.”

“ You devil!” Ware cried, a feeling of terror
taking momentary possession of him.

“ Don’t be too hard on me,” Leonard whim-
pered, all the life suddenly taken out of him.
“ I’ll confess everything, and do just what you
say. Only don’t be too hard on me 1”

The innate cowardice of the man’s soul shone
forth in that moment of terror. Regardless of
other men’s lives, be yet clung with blind in-
stinct to his own. It is the trait which charac-
terizes all cowards, and Leonard seemed to com-
bine in his own person the cruelty, cunning and

craven fear of his class.

 

Not knowing that Buck Hazelrig’s men were
standing in readiness to aid him. Loonard re- ‘
peated the confession to the officials, on his ar-
rival in Rocket Range, and, in due course of
time, was imprisoned for his crimes, as he justly
deserVed to be, Tanner and Hazelrig sharing in
his punishment.

The trial, one of the most memorable in the an-
nals of Rocket Range, had scarcely closed before
Lewis Cavendish and Maud Malcolm were
united for life.

The money taken by Leonard was never re-
covered, but young Cavendish’s inheritance was
large enough to permit its loss without seriously
crippling his financial condition. Since that
foolish trip westward he has gained business
judgment and the discretion which comes with
years, and is now a prosperous merchant of his
native city.

Harry, now grown to manhood, is his partner,
and Warbling William, who still follows his old.
time calling, is numbered with their dearest

friends.
TE] m.

 

 

 

 

 
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

IIY PHILIP S. WARNE.

6" Patent-Leather Joe; or. Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer.
175 Captain Arizona; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game.
193 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Lentil" Joe’s Defeat.

219 Deapard. the Dueilat: or. The Mountain Vuuipirol.
888 A Ton h Boy; or, The Dwarf‘a Revenge.

363 Little ornado; or, The Outcast! of the Glen,

373 Little Jlngo; 0r. the Quaer Pard.

683 Little Oh-lny nr, Caught in Hie Own Trap.

40] Little Shoo-1‘ ly: or, A Race fora Ranch.

«[08 Little Leather-Breeches: or. Old Jumbo’s Cane.
431 Little Ah Sing or, The Curse of Blood,

451 Colorado Rate. A Tale of the nllnes.

517 Jim Gladdcn'n Deputy.

52’? The Jolly Perth to the Rescue.
54? Sandy Andy; or. A Good Man Down.
556 Lariat LII; or, The Cast for a Life.

5'34 Old Wen-el-top. the Man with the Dogs.
693 Keen Clem. the Ranch Imp.

599 Jiln Dandy the NmName Sport.

618 Billy lilazeaz nr,le Skeleton’c Legacy.
685 Oklahoma III. the lilue-Cnat Scout.
648 Happy Harry‘s RI: Find.

BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKEB.

15 The Sea-Cat: or. The Witch of Darien.
E9 The Dumb Pafie: or, The Doge’s Daughter.
48 Dick Darling. t 9 Pony Express Rider.
150 Lanee and Lam-o; or, The Children of the Chaco.
[54 The Sword "antes-a; or, The Land ofthe El» haut Riders.
159 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabel Coilin’s ruin to the
n Polar Sea.
900 '1 e Boy Bedouina; or. The Brothers of tho Plumed Len“,
214 Wolfgang. the Robber oi' the Rhine.
949 Milo Romer, the Animal King; or, The Round the Worm
Wanderer.
.65 The Tl er Tamer: or. The League of the Jungle.
:31 Black link. the Demon an...
895 California Joe’s War Trail.

BY BUCKSKIN SAM (Major Sans. S. Hall.)

284 gldkRoeky'a "Boyees; or, Benito, the Young Horse.
Tel 81’.

246 Giant George; M, The Ang’l of the Range.

275 Arizona Jack: or Giant George’s Pard.

297 The Tarantula oi’ Taoa - or, Giant George's Revenge.

80? The Strange yard: or, ittle Ben’s Death Hunt.

318 Ker-whooz. her-whoa: or, The Tarantula oi' Taos.

82'? Cree Inc ‘at. the Cuddo; or, The Red and White Psrds.

638 Erie red: or, The 'l‘onkan-ay’e Trust.

844 The PI htlng Trio: or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway.

849 Wild oli; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front.

85? The Ram-h Ruidera: or, The Siege of Fort Psrgatory.

364 Snap-Shot, the Roy Ranger.

875 Chiota. the Creek: i-r. The Three Thunderbolts.

381 Bandera "ill: or. Frin Frank to the Front.

392 Romeo and the Roda: or, The Beleaguered Ranch.

404 Little Lariat: Ur. Pecan Pete‘s Big Rampage.

414 The Daily from Denver.

427 The Three Trailering nr, Old Rocky on the Rampage.

442 Blair Bill: or, The Lynx oi‘tho Leona.

' 47.5 I‘lflle Lous- Hinr: 1".le Bolleoitlle Clbolo.

vap—

“

.561 Da

634 Cache Carl, the Chico Giant

ii Y ED‘V A R D \YILLETT.
16? Ana Scott. the Steamboat Boy.
199 Featherweight. the lioy Champion oithe Mushlngurn.
2233 Ozark Ali'° ur, Ft‘iltilt‘HVt‘ighl Among the Outlaws.
282 The Typo Detective: or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp.
995 Fearleu Phil: or, The King oi'Quartzviile.
811 The Rovl Sport: or, The Pride oi‘('hucksluck Camp.
82% Nemo, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon‘e Vendetta.
“0 011’ the Conmruonlat; ur.'l‘hn Montana Vigil-nun.

BY J. C. COWDRICK.

860 Silver-Mask, the Man of Mystery.
869 Shanta. the Gold King: or, For Seven Years Dead.
420 The Deiectlve‘a A pprcntloe: or, A Boy Without a Kane.
4211 Cibuta John: or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar.
439 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout.
46? Disco Dan. the Daisy Dude.
490 Broadway Hilly. the liootblavk Bravo.
506 Red" ilt R ll it, the Print-Moi the Road.
514 Bron way 5i i)": Doodle.
524 The Englnecr Detectivc.
586 Broadway Hilly"! ‘Diiiikilty.”

é: afar-ta the NifihllilExpn-fin Detective.
5 roa way y‘a eath Rack
 Ali-111‘“- Luke‘the Young Engineer?“

‘ e ‘ mncy - pyi or, Broadwa' Bill ‘s - art -

292 $.l-lpoy‘l’yfikergm. ’ ’ 5mm P ’

05 am ron way; or, The Bov Dctective’l Bi Innin'.
615 Fighting "m'ry the Chief or Chained cyclone.K °
62% Broadway illlly‘n Dead Act.
640 Bareback Both. the ('cntaur or the Circle.
64’? Typewriter Tilly. the Merchant's Ward,

RY JO PIERCE.

697 Rob 0’ the Rowory: or, The Prince of Mulberry Stu“.
415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bonny Bohr. Boon.
452 Hots ur Rob. the Street-Boy Detective.

60 The .awyer’a Shadow; or, Luke’s m,
478 Jaunty Joe, the Yming‘Hom-King.
494 Surly Sim. the Young l‘erryman Detective.
504 Five Point: Phil.
509 Jack Jn zerl, the Butcher Boy Detective,
516 Tartar iln; or. Five Points Phil’s Menagerie.
6 North River Vat. the Pier Detective.
Rex, the Pride ni'the Sixth Ward.
Jeil’ Filo 'er. the Stable Boy Detective.
551 Nick Nettle. the Hay Shadow.

59 Harlem Jack. the Office llny Detective.
569 Brooklyn Hen. the ()n-ilis—Own-Hook Detective
57? Pavement Pete, the Secret Sifter.
533 Jack-o’oLantor-n, the Undcr-Scn Prospector.
“0" Wide-Awake Dori, theSti-m-t-Stwrer.
614 \Vhiatllng Jacob. tlu- Dn-tvt‘tii'e'a Aid.
628 Ruck llumbloltcc. the Harlem llnmmer.
“39 RIl'Il'i-e Haul iht' Exprcuqurnin Ferret.
“49 Gamln Bob.t u ilmvery liadgur; or, Scooping a Slippery Sc;

RY MAJOR HEN RY H. STODDARD. Ex-Seout.
806 Neck-Tie Ned: or, Th D -0ut Pards.
646 Ra ier Ra hael: onThel‘S‘wordsmen ofbcsteeas.
691 la] -Glove 'it. the Dandy ofthe Rodi".
398 kid-Glove Kit and Pgrdg or, The Gold King.
406 The Mad Man-Hunter; or, The Mystery of Golden

Gulc .
605 l’ovSell's Pard 3 or, The One-Armed Giant. t'

I BY WM. 0. PATTEN.
489 The Diamond Sport; or, The Double Faced“ Rock.
519 Captain Myatcr tourin- In One.
581 01.1.6 “Tel-"ii Trina!“ Dfinm'
om I e e

81': liar"?     . m

e oy ram t he.
229 Violet Vane, ti: Vo‘iveeto OUT” Dun. fl,

Dismal Dave’s Dandy l’ard.

BY ALBERT W. AIKEN.
11 The Two Detective” or, The Fortunee ole Bowery Girl.
76 Abe Colt. the Crow-Killer.
79 Sol Ginger. the Ginnt'l'ra per.
288 Joe Buck oi'Angeln an Ilia Boy Pard.
447 New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham.
458 New England Nick: or, The Fortunes ofa Foundling.
464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince.
493 'i'uoa Ted, the Arizona Sport.
510 Cool Colorado, the Hall-Breed Detective.
518 Cool Colorado In New York.

HY GEORGE VT ALDO BROWNE.

86 Dand Rock the Man from Texas.

90 The I read Rider; or, The Tenth Duelist.

99 The Tiger ui'Tam‘: 0r. Dandy Rock’s Angel.
115 The Mad Miner: or, Dandy Rock’s Doom.
181 The Golden Hand: or, I)andy{Rnck to the Rescue.
164 Dandy Rock’a Pied e; or, unted to Death.
173 Dandy Iloek’a Riva : or. The haunted Maid of'i‘aee.

BY (‘Al”l. J. F. C. ADAMS.

84 Oregon Sol: or, Nick Whithes’n Boy Spy.

46 Glmuuldye, the Great Shot of the‘ West.

54 .‘s-d Hazel. the B.» ' Trapper.

56 Nick “'Illiiien‘ll l 01.; or, In The Valley of Death.

60 The \\' hite Indian; or, The Scout of the Yellowstone.

70 Old Zl ’n Cabin: or, The Greenhorn in the Woods.

81 nglstn n3 Jo. the Terror oi the Prairie.

85 Buck Ruckram : or, lieu, the Female Tra per.
247 Old Grizzly and Ilia Peta; or, The Wll Huntrsla.
$51 Light-houne Lice; or, Osceola, the Firebrnnd.
$57 The Loet Hunters; or The Under round Camp.
988 The Scalp King; or, The Human T underbolt.

RY IKOGER STARBUCK.

25 The Boy Captain: or, The Pirate’s Daughter.
114 The Black Schooner: or. .lih Junk. the Old Tar.
259 The Golden Harpoon: or. Lost Among the Place.
348 Fire-llcela' or, Uld Skintlint, the Death-Shadow.
:54 Big Horn Ike. the Inn Tramp; or, The Odd Pards.
.61 The Phantom Lizht-houae.
370 Breaker lien. the Retaiannnev.

RY “'ILLIA“ 1'. EY STER.

190 Dandy Darke; or. The Tigers of High Pine.
210 Faro Frank: or, Dandy Darke's Go-Down Pardn

RY COLONEL DELLE SARA.

108 The Lion oi'the Sea; 0', The Vailed Lady.
186 Cool Deamoud: or, The Gambler’s Big Game.

BY JAMES L. BIHVEN

IO? One-E ed sin” or, The Abandoned Forest Home.
110 The D Ill'k Steed ol'the Prairies. A Story of Texas.

RY C. DITNNING CLARK.

185 Captain Paul: or. The Boy Spy oi'the Mountains.
980 '1 he 1 nnkee Rajah: or. The Fate nfthe Black Shereef.

RY GEORGE C. JEN KS.
485 Git Thar Owney the Unknown.
592 Git, Thar Owncy’a l’ledxe.
5,18 The Demon Doctor.
53%| Donhlc-(‘nrvc Dan. the Pitcher Detective.
59.“ "illltvg iill‘ Singcr ileicl‘tivc.
608 ll)h(l-ll',itl.chcr Dctcctlvc’a Foil; or, Double Curve Dan’s
nu l t‘ ’ nv.
616 The Ocean Dot votive: or. The Last Cruise ofthe Black Bear.

DY CAPT. ALFRED R. TAYLOR U. S. A.

191 Buffalo Billy. the Boy Bullwhacker.
194 Buffalo Dill’a Bet: HP. The Gambler Guide.

DY CHARLES E. LASALLE.
50 Ru rt Ranker, the Trapper.
52 The “'hite Buffalo. A Tale of the Northwest

BY JOHN J. MARSHALL.
40 Roving Hen. A Story ofa Young American.
it? The Outlaw Hrothernz or, The Captive o! the Ham.

HY HARRY ST. GEORGE.
80 Roaring Ralph Rockwood, the Ran er.
44 Rattlln Rube: or, The Nighthawkso Kentucky.
59 Old ch 'oryz or, l’amiy Ellie’s Scal .
108 During Davy : or, The Trail ot‘the Blinder Wolf.
166 Hickory llarr ': or, The Tru per—lirlgade’s Spy.
172 Thunderbolt om: or. the 'oli—Herder,

BY MAJOR E. L. ST. VRAIN.
ianeho Pedro. the Boy Bandit.
headville Nick, the iioy sport.
612 .Kedtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince.
Krimnt ne Rob, and His Lightning Horse Quartetto.
I‘ornbn one Tom. the Arizona Boy of“Sand."
859 "urlllliflt "Inc. the Young 'Iiinnnp-n Wrestler.
671 Kin bolt Chrla, the Yiung Hard~Sheil Deucuu,
880 Ava anche Alf. the Foothills Guide.
890 Jaguar Joe. ufthe Mountain Mall-Line.

RY EDWARD S. ELLIS.
6 Hill Hidden, Trap er.
8 Seth Jonea: or, T e Captives of the Frontier.
0 Nat Todd: or, The Fate ot'the Sioux Captive.

.1 The Frontier Angel.

98 The Roy Miners: or. The Enchanted Island.
182 The Hunted Hunter; or, The Stran e Horseman.
654 The Half-Blood: or, The Panther o the Plains.
971 The Huge Hunter; or, The Steam Prairie Man.

BY MAJOR LEWIS “K CARSON.
’79 The Three Tragpera; or. The Mountmn Monster.
938 Indian Joe: or, ie White Spirit of the Hills.
RY FRANK DUMONT.

100 The Branded "and t or, The Man of Mystery.

127 Wild-Fire. the Boss of the Road.

140 Blue Blazes; or. The Break 0’ Day Boys of Rosky Bar.
171 Ebon Dan 3 or. The Rival Leagues.

185 Evil Eye: or, The Vultures of the Rio Grands.

~- BY CAPT. MARK WILTON.
'56 Young Kentuok: or, The Red Lasso.

970 Blizzard Rent or. The Riot at Keno Camp.
.86 Josh, the Roy Tenderfnot.

BY BRACERRIDGE IIEXYNG. -

:11. 'E‘agalgl lilac orf'lt‘l'ile  oi‘bthe Family.
e a ano e u .Th R' lAthl
101 Jack niirkawsy in Newhehrkf '" M

RY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID.
78 Blue Dick or, The Yellow Chief’s Ven nine.
8 0 Land irateu:i or, The League a. Devil’s island.

 

 

r 'n.
187 The Hel lean Han z n ,B k ood Retrib ti .
into The (ids-seeker Guide I fin'Tlle i.» uni-3s.

 

BEADLE’S*HALF-DIME*LIBRARY.

Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Unszrm Price of Five Cents. N0 Double Numbers.

“ “’“j

RY JOSEPH E. BADGER. JR.
2 Yellow—tone Jack: or, The Trapper.
48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw‘s Retreat.
65 Hurricane Blll; or. Mustang Sam and His Part.
119 Mustang Sam or,The King of the Plains.
186 Night-Hawk 'it; or, The Daughter of the Ranch.
144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport.
151 Panther Paul: or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue.
160 The lilack Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy.
168 Deadly Dav-h; or, Fighting Fire Will! Fire.
1 4 The Roy Trailera ; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path.
203 The Roy Par-dag or. Dainty Lanes ilsmuks.
211 Crooked Cale, the (‘nlibnn of Celestial City.
810 The llarranca Wolf; or, The Beautiful Derey.
819 The Black Rider; or, The liorse-Thieves‘ Leagna
885 Old Double Fit-t; or, The Strange Guide
855 The King ofthe “'oodn: or luniei tinons’s Last T“.
“9 Kit Fox. the Border Bov Detective,
625 Chincapln Dan, the Roy Trailer.
BY 1". J. HAMILTON.
68 The Red Brotherhood; or, The Twelve Avengers
68 Sln le "and: or, A Life for a Life.
72 Ma Tom Wei-tern, the Texan Run!-
687 Ben Bird. the Cave King or, Big Pete’s Scoop.
BY JACK FARRAGCT.

815 Ned. the Cabin Roy.
820 The Sea Soreereu; or, The Boy Skipper.

BY LIEUT. II. D. PERRY. 17. S. N.

176 The Roy Runaway; or, The B-craneer oi the Bay:
180 The Sea Trailer: or. A Vow Well Kept.
19” Captain Kit: or, The Mystery of Mentsnh Point.

HY HARRY HAZARD.

628 Arkansaw Jack; or. The Scourge of the Mines.
829 Red-Skin Tomi or, The Demun’l Trail.
848 The Mountain Devil; or, Yellow Jack, the Outlaw.

BY COL. A. F. HOLT.

899 Black Duckakln; or, The Muked Man efDasth Ca!”
419 Kenneth, the. Knife-King.
485 Little Lightl'oot. the Pilot of the “'oeda.

BY J. “K OSRON.

469 The Rival Glanta ofNowhar’.
498 Cactus: Burr. the Man irmn Hard Look.
537 Old Ruckcyc. tile Sierra Shadow.
561 Powder Phil. the limy Miner.
609 Holly Dorrlt, the \t‘it'l’Nll Dciertive.
6‘20 Little Li hiulnf'n Lcnguc: hr, The Mystery “them
633 l’lueky Paul, tie Buy l‘rm-per'tor.

HY FREDERICK DE‘TEY.
816 (‘lmarron Jack, the King—Pin of Rifle-Shots.
475 Tnngemnnd, the Dcaert Detective.
542 The Canyon Purdn.

HY ARTHl'R C. GRISSOM.

440 Little Foxi'oot, the Gold Bowie Kid.
558 The Sure-Shot Pardn.
621 Truthi‘ul Jsunon, the “Perooliar” Man.

BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS.

546 Captain Cactus, tin-Chaparral Cock.

56" The Dandy of Dodge.

5’?6 The Silver Sport.

588 Saii'ron Sol. the Man “'ith a Shadow

5N9 Toni-Cat nnd Pnrd: hr. The Dead Set at Slim
601 I'll py Hana. thv- Dutch Vidm' .

611 Bill ad Rarnuclc. the Deicrtive I erculea,

622 Texan 'l‘om-(‘nt’n ’l'riad

631 Tom ('at’a Terrible 'i'iuk.

638 ’I'om-(‘ut‘n Triumph: or, “lack l\'an’e Great Co-hh'.
646 Cowboy Gld, ihc (‘flliic-liallze Detective.

MlSCELLAN EOITS AUTHORS.
4 The “'ild-Horae Huntere. By Capt, llsyns Role and
Frederick “'hittakcr.

9 Adventure:- of Baron Mnnchausen.

12 Gulliver’a Travcla. By Dean >wii‘t.
14 Aladdlnz or, The Wonderful Lamp.
16 Roblnnon Crnaoc. (‘27 illustrations.)

18 Sindbnd the Sailor. His Seven Voyages.
2’) The Sea Serpent: or, The Boy Robinson Cranes. By Jnan

W S.
88 The Ocean Bloodhound: or, The Red Pirates of the
Carribeea By S. W. Pierce.
86 'ghFe Roy Clown; or, The Queen ei'tno Anna. By Frank
inn.

38 Neil “'ylde. the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack.
51 The Roy Rifles; or. The Underground Camp. By Archie

(‘. Irons.
95 The Rival Rovers: or, The Freehoters of the Mississippi.
By Lieut.-(70l. Hazeltine.
98 Robln Hood. the Uutlswod Earl: or,The Merry Men of Green.
wood. By Prof. Gildenleeve.
105 old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Cantivs. By Captain
Hamilton Holmes.
112 The Mad Hunter: or. The Cave of Death. By BartonSana.
124 Tippy. the ’I‘exanx or. The Young Champion. By George

arson.
128 The Youn ’rlvamer: or, The Pirate’s Stronghold. Dy
arry Cavem ish.
148 Sharp Sam: or, The Adventures efs Frloudless Boy. By J.
Alexander Patten.
.27 Dusky Darrell. Tra per: or, The Green Ranger of the Yel-
lowstone. By Edward menon.
261 Fergull Fearnauzht the New Y rrk Boy. I G. L. Allen.
.66 Killb‘ar. the Cuidet fir, Davy Crockett's rocked Trait.
By Ensign C. D. Warren.
:98 Red Claw. the 0no- )‘Od TI’IPPOI’: or, The Maid oi the CHI.
By Captain Cnmstock.
817 Peacock Pete. the Lively Lad fre- Leadvllle. B, u...
tenant Alfred Thorns.
8.8 The Sky Detectives 0r. A Boy’: Fight for Life and Hones.
By Maior Mickey Free.
850 Red Ralph, the River Rovers on“. Brother’s Io-
venze. By Ned Buntline.

665 Baltimore Den the Bootblsck Detective. B A. P. Hank
674 Gold-Dust ’l‘ollll 0', Ben’s Double Hatch. yBy 900'” an

Mom.
676 California Joe’s Pint Trill. 3y Colonel The“
over Monstery.
an min Bombshell, the cm Clim‘er. n, r. s. Winthrop.
475 The Black Shi . By Jnhn S Warner.
484 Comanche D10 and His Three Iavineihlen. h
Henrv J. Thomas.
III “'laard-Arm, the Dandy S rt. By Arthur I. Holt.
582 The Cowbe Duke. Ry dwin Brooke Format.
552 Ariel the At leie. By David Druid.
585 “ ill “intern. the Dov Ferret. Bv H. Ehtfll-
682 The Dead Detcotlvo’a Double. By Gerald Carlton.

A New Issue Every Tuesday.
The "elf-Dime Library i. a. sale by all sow-am...
“'5 P" 0°”: 0! sent by mail on receipt oi nix cents each.
BEADLE AND ADAIS. Pnhliolern.
08 Willia- ltneot. new Yolk

 

 

 

{it

BEADLE’sieHALF-DIME.LIBRARYi ‘  

  

‘3 :7 ‘ ‘ 1 "WV"! 71.;

 

Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

BY EDWARD L. “'IIEELER.
Deadwood Dick Novels.
‘ 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince ofthc. Road.
.0 Double linggora; or, Deadwood [lick'il Defiance.
l 28 Bull'qu Hen; or. Duuilwiiml Int-k in Dittgulbe.
85 “’ild Ivan, the Boy t‘lnudc lluvul.
42 Phantom Miner; or, iii-mlwnml Dick's lionanta,
49 ‘Dlnahn 0“. or [it'illlhvtlilil Dick in Duiizcr.
57 Deadwood Dick‘s Eagles; or, The Punk of Flood Bsr.
; 78 Deadwood Dick on Deck: or. ('nlninity Jililt‘i,ille lleroins.
77 Corduroy Charlie; or, liendu-nnd Dick's Lust. Act.
100 Deadwood Dick In Lcad rule.
104 Deadwood Dick‘n De vice: or, The Double Cross Sign.
109 Deadwood Dick in Detective.
129 Deadwood Dick‘s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s

(with.
188 Hlollde Hill: or. Deadwood Dirk‘s Home Base.
149 A Game of Gold; or Dt'lhiwnml Dick’s Big: Strike.
156 Deadwood Dick 01' cadwood; or, The i’irked Party.
195 Deadwood Dick‘s Dream; or, The Riv-tin oi'the Road.
201 The Black "111! Jezebel; 0r, Deadwood DIck’s “'ard.
205 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity June‘s Last Ad-
venture.
217 Captain Crack-Shot, the Girl Bri rind.
221 Sn ar-Coatcd Sam; or, The Blur Gown.
232 Gofd-Dust Dick. A liniiinnre of Ronle and Tonghl,
268 Deadwood Dick’s Divide or, The Spirit oi Swamp Lake.
268 Deadwood Dick’s Death rail.
809 Deadwood Dick’s Big Deal; or, The Gold Brick at

Oregon.
821 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen; or, The film oi'Phnntom Flats.
847 Deadwood Dick’s Ducats; or, Rs‘my Days in the Dig-

HIKI-
851 Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or, Tho Terrible Vsndetta.
862 Deadwood Dick’s Claim.
405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City.
410 Deadwood Dick’s Diamonds.
421 Deadwood Dick in hew 1 ork; or, A “ Cute Caro.”
480 Deadwood Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained Hnnd.
448 Dead wood Dick, Jr.
4-18 Nickel-Plate Ned; oi, Deadwood Dick Jr's Di-Esnro.
458 Sunflower Sam, 0! Shutn; or, Desdwood Dick Jr’s Full

Hand.
459 Flash Fan, tho Ferret; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Big Round-
‘65 gallilltrloFly, o! Phenix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr‘s Racket at
/ Kiln

471 Bozeman Bill; or. Deadwood Dick Jr’s Corral.

676 Humboldt Harry the Hurricane; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s
Dog Detective.

681 Moll Mystery; or, Deadwood Dick Jr. in Deadwood.

491 Prince I’intol, the King of the West; or, Deadwood Dick
Jr’s (foniiini't. .

496 Monte Crista, Jr.t nr, Deadwood Dick Jr‘s Inheritance.

500 Deadwood Dick‘s Digfilllgl; or, Dr. Dosth-Grip's Snoop.

508 Deadwood Dick‘s De verance.

515 Deadwood Dick‘s l’rotcgce.

522 Deadwood Dick‘s Three.

529 Deadwood Dick's Danger Ducks.

584 Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt.

589 Deadwood Dick Jr. ill Texan.

544 Deadwood chk, Jr. the Wild West Vidocq.

549 Deadwood Dick on His Mcttle.

55-1 Deadwood Dick. Jr. In Gotham.

561 Deadwood Dick ill Dov-ton.

567 Deadwood Dick, Jr. ili Philadelphia.

572 Deadwli Dick, Jr. in Chicago.

578 Deadwood Dick, J r. Afloat.

581 Deadwood chk, Jr. in Denver.

590 Deadwood chk‘. J r‘il. Decree.

59.") Deadwood Dick Jr. ill lleclzebnb’s Basin.

600 Deadwood Dick J r. at (‘oiicy Island.

606 Deadwood Dick Jr‘s Lead ville Lily.

612 Deadwood Dick .1 r. ili Detroit.

616 Deadwood Dick, Jr. ill Cincinnati.

624 Deadwood Dick, Jr. lirNei'iiilii.

680 Deadwood Dick, Jr. In No Man’s Land.

686 Deadwood Dick. J r. After the Queer.

642 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Buifnlo.

648 Deadwood Dick, Jr's. Chase Across the Continent.

Other Novels by E. L. “'heeler.

26 Cloven "oof‘, thc liutTnlo Demon.
32 "01) wooli'; iir,Thc,\1‘irl Dvitihshot.
39 Death-Face. llrti-rtiw; or, Life, in New York,
45 Old Avalanche: or. Wild i‘ldnii. the Girl itrigsnd.
58 Jim Bludsoe. .lr., tlm Ito, Phcnlx.
61 Huckllurn Bill; or, The Red liitlc Team.
69 Gold Rifle, the, \hurpsliooter: or. The lioy Delectiyg,
80 Rosebud Roll ' or. Nugget Ned. ih» Knight.
“4 ldyl, the Girl Si liter; or. Rosebud Roh on Hand.
88 l’hctogra 'hli; or, linsetmd Rob‘s Reniipemmce,
92 (inn adu (‘ let; or, ("Al Anucoiuln in Sitting Bull‘s Camp.
96 “'ntcll- Eye: or. Arnlm -ind Angels ofii Great City.
118 Jack Hoyle, the, Young Siierulntor.
117 Gilt-Edged Dick. the Spin Detective
121 (‘lnnamon (lhip, the Girl Sport.
125 Bonanza Bill. Miller.
188 Hollis "0D the King of lionthlucks.
141 Solid Sam the tiny RomiAgt-nt.
145 Captain Il‘erret, tics New York Detective.
10! New York Nell the Boy-Girl Detective.
177 Nobb Nick oi’gievada: or, The Sierras Srnmps.
181 ‘Vllil ‘rank, the Buckskin lirnvo.
209 Fritz, the lloiindrlloy Detective.
218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventrllnquist Hunter.
226 Snoozer. the B -y Slump; or, The Ami: Detective.
8110 Apollo Hill, ill" 'l‘rnil Tornado.
0 (J clone Kit, tin. Younx Gladiator.
244 S erra Ham, tho Frontirr Ferret.
24* Sierra Sam's Reel-ct; or, The Bloody Footprlnil.
258 flierra Sam’s Part]; or. The Angel at Big Vista.
258 Sierra Sam’s Seven; or, The Stolen Bride.
278 Jumbo Joe, the iii!“ Patrol: or. The Rival Heirs.
277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen.
281 Denver Doll‘s Victory. .
235 Denver Doll's Decoy 3 or. Little Bill’s Benson.
291 Turk, the lioy Ferret.
296 Denver Doll's Drii‘t; or. The Road Queen.
299 A No. 1. the Dashing Toll-Taker.
608 ’lea Jane, the 'iirl Miner; or. the lion-Nerved Sport.
825 Kelley, Ilickev .It 00.. the Detectives of Philadelphh.
.lttle Quick-Shot; or, The Dead Face of Dagger-ville.
(angaroo Kit; or. The Mysterious Minor.
9 {an aroo Klt's Racket.
Ian attan Mike, the Bowery Blood. ,
858 I‘il-ot-(llaso Fred, iho Gent lrom Gopher.
668 ‘i'reka Jim, the Gold-Gatherer; or, The Lottery si

Llfs.
k Jim’s Prise.
  Ned; or, The Secret ofSlsb City.
282 Cool Kit. the King of Kids; or. A Viilsln's Velma.
885 Yreka Jim‘s Joker; or, The Rivsls or Red Noss.
889 Bicycle Ben; or. The Lion of Lightning Lode,
8M Yroka Jim of Yuba Dani.
600 Wrinkles, the N lght-Wstch Detective.
416 High llat Harry. the Blue Ball Detective.
Sam filabaldea. ths Bonn-80v Dstoctivs.
Jlln Boak and Pal, Prlvsu y...
3 Santa Fe Sal, ths Slasher.
6 Deals“! 8a.. the S

 

 

BY COLONEL I’RENTISS INGRAHAM.

7 The Flying Yankee; or, The Ocean Outcast.
17 Ralph 1K0 ’, the, linyOliuri'ann-r; or. The Fugitive Yacht.
24 Diamond Dirk ' or. The Myslcry ofthe Yelloustone.
62 The thldow Ship; or. The Rival Liciiteimiits.
75 Tile Hoy Duelist: or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf.
102 Dick Dead-E 'e, the lioy Sinuggier.
11 The Hen-Devil; or, The Midnhlpnian’a Legacy.
116 The Iluusar Ca tuln ; or, The lieiniit oi llell Gate.
197 Little Grit; or, Dannie, ihe Stock-Tendrr's Daughter.
201 Gold Plume; or, The Kid-Glove Sport.
216 liison Hill the Prints at the Reins.
222 Grit. the l ravo Sport; or, The \Vomnn Trailer.
229 Crllnnon Kate ' or, The Cowboy’s Triumph.
287 Lone Star, the (:‘owhoy Ca itnin.
245 Merle the Middy or,’ he Freelance Heir.
250 The . ldshipman ntlneer; or, Brandt, the Bucrsiicor.
264 'll‘lhe Floating Feather; or, Merle Monto’s Trouurs
fl “nil.
269 The Gold thp; or' Merle, the Condemned.
276 gilerle Molites Cruiae; or, The Chnse of “The Gold
. up.
260 Merle Monte’s Fate; or. Pearl, the Pirnie's Bride.
284 The Hen Marauder; or, Merle Monte‘s Pledge.
287 Billy lilac-Eyes, the Boy Rover oiihe Rio Grande.
804 The Dead Hhot Dandy; or. Benito, the Boy Buxlsr.
808 Keno Kit; or. Dead Shot. Dundy's Double.
814  Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler's Long
"\l .
877 lionodel, the Roy Rover: or.Tlir Flngless Schooner.
888 The indian I’llot: or, The. Search for Pirate island.
867 “'nrpath Will. the Boy l’lmntoni.
“98 Seawaii’, the liny Lieutenant.
402 lsodor. the Young Con-pirator; or, Tho Fatal Losgns.
407 The Dov Insurgent; or, The Cuban Vendetta.
412 The Wild Yacht-man; or, The \Vnr-Clouu’u Cruiso.
429 Duncan Dare, the. llny Refugee.
488 A (‘abln Do "a Luck; or' The Corsair.
487 The Sea Ra der.
44! Tile Ocean Firefly; or, A Middy’s Vengeance.
6 Haphazard Harry; or. The Scnpe nice or the Sol.
450 “'lzard “'ill: (if. ‘he Boy Forum New York.
454 “'izard “'ill’s Strcct Scouts.
462 The "or" Guide; or. The Sniior Boy W'sndorsr.
468 Neptune Ned, the lioy Coaster.
474 Flora; or. Wizard Will‘s 'i'ngnnonil l’nrd.
4’48 Ferrets Afloat; or. “'iznril Vi'ill's Last Case.
467 Nevada Ned. the Revolver Ranger.
495 Arizona Joe the liuy l’nril oi"l'cxmi Jack.
497 Duck Taylor, Kim: oi ih» Cowboys.
508 The Royal Mlddy z or. The Shark and the Sea Cat.
507 The Hunted Mid-hi man.
511 The Dalia“ ed Mid y.
520 Huckflk‘ill Hill. thc (‘oinnnche Shadow.
525 "rotllern ill lhlckukln.
580 Tile Bilcknklii flowers.
585 The Hue skin Rovers.
640 (‘liptuin KII—Klnx, the Marauder oi the Rio.
5.85 Lieutenant Leo. tlm Sun of Lniitte.
550 Llillttc‘ll Legacy: or. The Awnging Son.
555 The (‘reole Fort-air.
560 l’awnce Dill. thi- l’l’ilil'it‘ Shadower.
565 Kent Klngdoli, thu- (‘nril King.
570 1‘1"“1111‘, ilm ('iiiil Quin-n.
575 The N lrgcon-Scout Detective.
560 The 0: east (‘mli-i; or. The False Detsctivs.
5H6 The Buckskin Avenger.
591 Dclnlonic. tlic Young Sun Rover.
597 The Young Texan Detective.
602 The \"lurnllolld oi‘thc Mines.
The Rover Detective; or. Ki-no Kit's Champions.
617 Ralkh, the Dead-Eliot Scout; or,’l‘ho Raiders and the
RM ivlvrfi of the ltio.
641 The Hercules llighwnylnan.

  

BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. “'m. F. Cody).

3 Kansas King: or, The Red Riuht Hand.
19 The Phantom fl yt nr,‘l lic l‘ilntoi'the Prairie.
55 Deadly-Eye. the l’lnknown Scout.
6" "order Robin flood; or. The l'rnirii- Rover.
156 Fancy Frank 01' Colorado; or, The Trnpper’u Trust.

DY CIIA RLEB MORRIS.

11% Will Homers, the Bar Driel‘tlvo.
122 Phil Hard ', the, Buss léoy.
126 l’icayulie 'etcz or, i it‘mluiilllfl. the Dog Detective.
130 Detective Dick; or, 'l'lh- lli-rn in Rugs.

142 Handsome Harry, the. iiOHililili'lt Detective.

\Vill Wildllre, the 'l‘homnizhlired.

"lack lieu. “'ill “'ildtirc's Rilt'l‘l’.

Mlkc Merry, the tliirtmr l‘i-lii-e Boy.

Will “'ildiire ill the “'oods.

Dilly Baggage. the Railroad liny.

A Trump Card; or. will Wildfire Wins and Loses.
1101) Roukotf: or, Hysteric! of New Yor .

110D Rockett. the Bank Runner.

The Hidden Il'und ' or, \\'ill \"ildflre's Revenge.

'red Halynrd, the Life Boat ilov; or. The Smugglers.

N9 Dob "(M-kett; or, Drlven to the “'all.

196 shadowed ; or, Hot: lini-kett‘fl Fight for Life.

206 Dark Paul. the Tiger King.

212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detoctlve.

220 Tom Tanner: or. Thu [thick Sheep oi the Flock.

225 flam Charcoal the Premium Dnrky.

2315 Shadow Hill", the Messenger Roy.

242 The Two “ Bloods "; or, Shenandoah Bill rind His Gang.
252 Dick Dashaway: or, A anotn Boy in Chicago.

262 The Young flharps: orY Roilicking Mike’s Hot Trle
274 Jolly Jim. tllc lletei‘tlre Ap irentlcc.

289 Jolly Jim’s Job; or, The mini: Detective.

298 The Water-Hound; or, The Young Thoroughbred.
805 Pashaway, oi' Dakota; or, A Western Lad in tho Qosksr
,ity.

truadaawwh
aehcauqmw

nsi-i-i-s-I—IHH-IHI-l
q
'!‘

62-1 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective.
841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective.
858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyor's Bllmrd.
867 W lde-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times.

879 Larry. the Leveier; or, The Bloods of the Boulevard.
408 Firefly Jack, the River-Rat Detective.

428 The Lost Finger; or, The Entrsppod Cuhiel.

428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective.

482 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret.

456 Billy Brick, ths Jolly Vluisoond.

466 Wide-Awake Jerrv, Detective; or, Entombed Alivo.
478 Detective Dodge; or, Tho Mystery of Frank Hurry.

488 Wild Dick Racket.

80! Boots, the Boy Fire-Ian: or, Too Shsrp for the Shupu.
566 The Secret Service Boy Detective.

1596 Jimmy tile Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves.

627 To- Brneo of Arkansas; or, Tin Wslfln the bid.

-.

BY 0LL COOMES.

5 Vagabond Joe. the Young Vi'andering 19'.
18 The Dumb Spy.
27 Alltelo c Abe, the Boy Guide.

81 Keen- nli'e, the Prince oi'the Prairies.

41 Lasso Jack, the Young Mustang".

58 The Border Kill 3 or, The Secret. Foe.

71 Delaware Dick, t a Young Ranger Spy.

74 Hawk-ego Harry the, Young Trapper Ralph

88 Rollo, t e Boy I anger.

184 Sure Shot Seth, the Roy Riflemnn.

148 Scar-Face haul, the Silent Hunter.

146 Silver Star. the Boy Knight.

158 Eagle Kit. the Boy mm)",

168 Little Texan, the Youn Mustsngsr.

1734 Old Holltary. the Herin t Trli iper.

182 Little Hurricane, the Bo nptnin.

202 Pros oct Pete; or, The ’onniz Outlaw Hall.“
208 The oy Herc uleui or, The Prairie Tramps.
216 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror,

224 Dal-hill Dick; 0r. 'l‘rnpper Tom’s Cnstlo.

226 Little \ ildilre, the You": Prairie Nomad.
283 The Parson Detective; or The Little Razor.
248 The Disguised Guide; or, li'ild Rsvon, the Ralph
260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Yoilllfi' Prairie Ranger.
272 Minksklli Mike, the Boy sharpshooter.

290 Little Foxfire, the 803' SW-

800 The 8k Demon ; or. Rlliillilvll, the Ranger.
884 “'hip- ing Joe, the Bov Ranchero. ‘
409 Hercules or, Dick, the Boy Ranger.

417 “'ehi'oot . one, the Triuin Detective.

22 Rah Sam, the iloy Ginnt oi the Yellnwshlo.
444 Litt e Buckskin. the Young Prairie Colt...
457 Wingedi‘oot Fred; or, Hid Polar Ssul.

468 Tamarac Tom, the Big Trn iper Boy.

478 Old Tom Rattler the Red iver Epldsnfi.
482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan.

562 Blunderlng Basil, the Hermit Boy '1'an

BY T. C. HARBAUGH.

28 Nick 0’ the Night; or, The Bo Spy 01’“.
87 The Hidden Lodge; or The L ttli- Hunter.
47 Nightin ale Nut; or, Tne Forest Cagtnins.“
64 Dandy ack ; or, ‘lie Outlaws of the rsgon M
82 Kit itinerant in. Wood-Hawk.

94 Midnight Jack or, The Boy Trapper.

106 Old Frosty, the .‘uide; or, The White Queen.

128 Kiowa Charley the White Mustang".

189 Jud e1. 'nch, Jr.; or. The Rev Vigilante.

155 (doll Tr er, the S ori; or,T e um Avenger,

169 Tornado am; or, njiin Jack From Red Can.

188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy.

193 Arkaliaaw; or. The Queen oi Fate‘s Revenge.

207 Navajo Nick the Boy Gold Hunter.

215 Captain Bullet; or. Little Tonknot’s Fronds.

281 l’lucky Phil; or. Rosa, the Roi Jezebel.

241 Hill Bravo; or, The Ronzhs of the Rockies.

255 (‘nptain Apollo, the King-Pin 0' Bowie.

267 The Duck—kin Detective.

279 Did “'lnch; or, The Buckskin Desperado“.

294 Dvnnlnlie Dali; or, The Bowie lilinle of Cochems.
802 T lc Mountain Detective: or, The Trigger Bsr Bully.
816 Did Ecllplle, Truiiiii Curd of Arizona.

826 The Ten i’ards; or, The Terror 0! Trike-Notice.
886 lilg Henson; or, The Queen of the Lingo.

845 l’ltiletltl Matt 3 or. Red Thiiiiderliolt’s Secret.

856 Pool "IIVII and Par”; 0” The Terrible Six.

866 Velvet Foot. the lillillln Detective.

8’46 (‘aptaili (‘utlanst or, 'l he liv'rr'iinecr's Girl Foe.

896 Rough Rob: or, The Twin Champions at Blue Bisus.
411 The Nilken Latino: or. The Rose of Ranch Robin.
41" Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter.

425 Texas '1' the Border Rattler.

436 Phil Flash. the New York Fox.

445 The (‘ity \‘umnircs: 01'. Red Rivll'o’s l’iirrns.

461 (Due Agnlnut. Fifi y; or, The Lilli plan of Keno Bsr.
470 Thc Boy Shadow: or, Felix Fox a limit.

477 The Excclslor Sport : Ur. The \l'lbhingtss Spotter.
499 Single 3121", the ()llt‘—E1’Pi:lg[lnri.

502 Branded lien, the Night rem-i.

512 Dodger Dick, ihc Whnrf-Spy Delectivs.

521 Dodger Dick‘s Dent-Dodge.

528 Fox and Falcon. tlw ilnwcry Shadows.

589i Dodger Dick, the Dock Ferrel.

543 Dodger Dick’s Double: or, The Rival Boy Detectivoa
558 Dodlzer Dick‘s Desperate Case.

568 Dodger Dick. illt' nay Vidocq.

573 The Two Shlidown.

5R2 Dodger chk‘a Drop.

594 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Dctertlvs.

610 Old Skinner, tln- Gold Shark; or, Tony Silst s- Guard.
626 Tile Champion l’lirds.

687 Dick Doan, the Dock Boy Detective.

645 Kit. the Pavement Sharp.

LATEST AND NEW ISSUES.

650 Rutterin Billy, the Pony Rider Detective; or, Bgflgi.

Bill‘s lioy Print. By Col. Prentiss lngrnhnm.

651 Round Roy Frank, the Young Amstsur Detective. By
Win. G. Patten.

652 Don Barr, the I’lsins Freelrmce. By Oil Comes.

058 Billy Bantam, the Bov Beagle. By T. C. Harbnugh.

654 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Among the Smugglers. By
Edward L. \Vheeler

655 l’lncky Paul, the Boy Speculator. By Charles Morris.

656 Rutterin Billy’s Man Hunt. By Col. 1’. Ingrnhsm.

657 Warblln William, the Mountain Mountebank. By
Lieut. A. KFSilnl.

658 Sky-Rocket Rob. the Life-Sher: or, The Storm-Win oi
Giant's Boot. By Jo area.

659 Moonll ht Morgan, the “ Plsenest "Man or Ante Bar; or
Cihutii limn's Champion Chase. By J. C, Cowdrick.

660 Deadwood Dick Jr’s. Insurance Case. By Edvard
L “'heeler.

  
 

'1
:3

661 Old 'Kit Randy’s Deliverance; or. Burner Bali, tho
Wildfire of tho Pralrlcl. By Oil Cooms. Ready Much 95.

662 Buttcril Billy’s Bonanza or The S r Soldia ol
tho Overlagd. By CoL P. in‘nhs;m. ' My rd 1.

A New Issue Every Tuesday.
The llalf- Dl-e Library is iov ssls by sit MM
“pumwrust by motion roosiptoisix on.“ ‘ ‘
3mm m nulls, rum-son. ‘ i

 

"Willis-Mlon

 
 
 
 

   
 
 

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