Entered at the Post Office at New York

No; 669. 3:3,,

 

      

. N. Y., at Second Class Mail Rates.

PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS,

 

 

   

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copyright 1889. by Bunu um Anus. Man-h “.36, 1889.

 

 

 

 

Price,

No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 Cents-

 

 

 

 

 

voi XXIV.

 

 

 

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Little Lightmfig's Invincibles.

A Romance of Yellow Dust City.

 

BY JOHN W. ()SBON.

AUTHOR OF: “ROYAL RICHARD, TIIE THOROUGH-
BRED?’ “ POWDER PHIL, THE BOY MINER;"
“ THE ROYAL GIANTS 0F NOWHAR;”
ETC” ETC” ETC.

 

CHAPTER I.
LITTLE LIGHTNING.

" ’SHI Thar’s the major. IIOW! Look, pard,
but don’t—don’t. for ho’vingK' mkel—put astraw
in his way! Ye may call yorself a purty good
leetle man. but—”

The speaker filled the hiatus with a significant
toss of his head,

“ Be 119 an ugly-looking customer, uncle.”

 

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THE TRAMP CAME TO A SI'DDEN "ALT NEAR THE PENTER OF THE ROOM. WHEILING
UPON HIS TORMENTORS-VVITH THE FIERCENESS ()F A TIGER AT BAY.

"6"

 
 

l

2 Bolly Darrit, the Veteran Detective.

 

 

“ Ugly ? Ugly es orriginal sin, thet’s all!
Don’t i"ile ’im, boyee!” '

“ Ketch me !” laughed the youth, with a care-
less shrug of his broad shoulders. “ I’ve seen
this paragon of Yellow Dust—that’s all I want!
No scrap, no funeral, if you please i”

“ Ye’re right, Keene-an’ ye, too, kid,” inter-
polated a husky voice, that of a short, stocky
fellow just behind the two. “ Fight shy ov
Major Menace!”

“Orthodox Pete, the presiding genius of the
stage!” exclaimed the youth, half-aloud, as he
glanced quickly over his shoulder.

“ Ya-as, Orthodox Pete, leetle sport,” was the
response. “ Et‘s jest as I told ye down ther
Rocky Bar trail ter-day—et must be an old-
timer ter do bizness ’ith ther major ’thout burn-
in’ his fingers.”

“ Thet’s ther straight goods, Pete,”asseverated
Old Man Keene, turning until his elbows rested
upon the railing of the bar, his sharp tones
sinking almost to a whisper as his littering
black eyes shifted to the Jehu’s honest ace. “ I
didn’t kalkilate ter say et in public, but et’s said
an’ I’ll stick to et, I reckon! Nuther uv us keer
ter see a likely younker cleaned ov his pile or
cut down in ther bloom ov his youth, eh?"

“ I don’t, fer sure! An’ sech a thing might
happen, ef ther boyee warn‘t warned! Whar
Ze see one 0v his imps, look out fer ther devil

isself !”

Old Man Keene turned pale; but into his
darkly-glittering orbs leaped an ominous light.

“ I don’t jest ketch yer drift, Orthodox,” he
enunciated, his hands slipping swiftly down upon
the butts of his revolvers. “ Ef ye mean any-
thing pussonal—”

“ Thanks, awfully, ye dear ole geese!” broke
in the mellow voice of the youth, just then, as
he turned from a careless survey of the Monu-
mental to face his companions, ap rently un-
conscious of the portending trou 1e between
them. “Thanks, awfully, I say! As if I had
a pile, or carried a chip on my shoulder.”

“ Steer cl’ar ov Major Menace an’ ther Monu-
mental, anyway, m lad,” advised Orthodox,
in steady tones. “ h ’sociations es we find
hya’r aire none too good for ther toughest ov
us.

“ Good advice, thet !" Old Man Keene chimed
in, with an ill-concealed sneer.

“ Good enough, I reckon,” admitted the youth
his midnight eyes meeting the crossed orbs of
the Jehu with a steady glow. “Such advice as
a father might give to a son, and therefore not
to be des ised.

“ But must confess that I am interested in
this Major Menace. Who is be? What is he?”

“ Ther devfl’s imp—a stony-hearted gambler.
ther Owner ov ther Monumental," returned Or~
thodox, almost sharply. “That is es much es
ther most ov us know ov him. Sum’ thar be
who c’u’d tell more—of they dared!”

Old Man. Keene turned to the bar and called
for a drink. There was a dark look upon his
smooth face—a look that boded ill to the out-
spoken J ehu.

The youth gazed across the room at Major
Menace. The gambler was standing at a table.
the light above which shone full and clear upon
his face. v

A strange face—a face once seen not forgotten.
The features were without fault: the eyes were
a deep, dark-blue; hair and mustaches, jet-black
and curling; but the skin was a dead~white hue:
the smile upon the thin lips was a wolflsh one-
and below the left eye was a livid X-shapecl
scar, extending well down into the check.

The major was well-dressed, and well-armed,
too, though his weapons were kept out of sight
except when in actual use.

But, neither silk hat nor spotless linen, the
tailor’s art nor the flash of diamonds, could mask
his character; the fellow was a villain, and
there was an intangible something in his visage
that at once betrayed the fact.

“ Major Menace! An odd cognomen, but well
chosen, ’ muscd the youth.

“ Right, lad,” echoed Orthodox, catching the
words. “ He’s a menace ter ther camp an’ every
honest critter in it. An’ he’d ’a’ gone, long ago,
but fer his standin’ hand-in-glove with ther
Saints—blast ’em l”

“ The Mormons, eh?”

“A tool fer ‘em, pard, es I hes reason ter
know," was the guarded, yet dogged, reply.
“ Ask ole J im—”

The J ehu paused; _an expectant hush had come
over the crowd—a Silence so intense as to render
his last three words distinctly audible through-
out the room. ' '

Just a breath—tho keen, pistol-like crack of a
whip' then—

‘ d’lcmg I”

t
L

“ Gee ha-aw! ye mis’abul pirate! Gee ha-aw!
or I’ll lash yer measly carcass inter ribbons!”

Again the vicious report of the whip rung out,
followed this time by a howl of pain, and the
swinging door of the Monumental was Violently
flung open, to admit a singular-looking object.

A man—a short, fat, greasy-looking fellow,
whose coarse hair and beard were of a iiery‘red,
shaggy and unkempt; whose nondescript garb
hung in tatters upon his bulky form, covered
with clinging particles of earth and reddeued in
spots by the blood following the strokes of the
cruel lash.

A tramp—a genuine bum.

A few paces behind him, each tugging away
at a lariat noosed around the body of his victim,
each plying whip, came two stout fellows, from
their dress miners.

His blue eyes glowing luridly, his breath es-
coping with a hissing sound, the tramp came to
a sudden halt near the center; of the room,
wheeling upon his tormentors with the fierce-
liess of a tiger at bay.

But he was‘ pow.:rless. The lariats held his
arms, and his tormentors circled warily about,
pulling him hither and thither at Wlll.

“ Rico Rube au’ Peet Brown—two ov ther
camp’s toughest.” muttered Orthodox, as the in-
mates of the Monumental began to press for-
ward. “ Mighty leetle show ther pore devil ’ill
git fer his white alley!”

A peculiar look had crept into the dark. hand-
some face of the youth. For just a moment he
seemed about to spring forward; then his ex-
pression changed, and he looked inquirineg into
the crooked eyes of the J ehu.

“ Wait!" warned that worth , with a covert
glance over his shoulder at ld Man Keene.
“ Et’s a crooked move—mebbe they’ll flash their
hand by an’ by.”

“ §tiddy, critter!” cried the larger of the ruf-
flans, Rico Rube, just then, with a savage jerk
at his lariat. “ I kin tell ye yo aire not wanted
hyar, an’ I reckon when ye git a leetle reason
inter yer noddle ye Won’t keer ter tarry. JeS’
slap yer berderned optics outer that notice ag’in’
ther wall over thar, an’ then say of ye’ll scoot!”

“ Slap—nothin’ !” panted the tramp, fairly
bristling with rage. “ I’ve squatted in this hyar
camp ov Yaller Dust ter stay, an’ et’s nary
scoot, ye—”

“ Easy, my man !” interrupted Major Menace,
softly yet warningly, moving forward at that
juncture.

“ And now, Rube, what’s the trouble?"

“Trouble enough. major l” returned the des-
perado, irascibly. “ Ther critter’s a cussed bum
—an’ ye know ther law ov Yaller Dust!”

“ ‘ The heathen Chinee, all bums and tin-horn
sports must go.’ ” greeted the major, from the
scrawling notice just beyond him.

“ But I’ni eternally bu’sted ef I’m a Chinee, a
bum or a tin-horn sport!” vigorously protested
the captive.

“ I’m a thoroughbred red-shirt, with a record
runnin’ back ter ther year ~49, am I’m open ter
swing a. pick or swap lead with any galoot yer
camp kin scare up.”

“ Putty durned thin—that !” sneered Pete
Brown.

“Major, we caught ther cuss a-skulkin’ in
ther bresh back ov our quarters, an’ et’s dollars
ter doughnuts no square man w’u’d be found in
each a lace arter nightfall!”

At t s announcement an ominous murmur
ran through the Monumental. r

“ ks like a fu’st-class sneak~thiefl” Old
'Man Keene remarked, and the words were

ily indorsed by a score utterances of simin
lar purport.

“Go slow, boys!” continued Major Menace
with a deprecatory movement of his jeweled
hand. “ Give the fellow all the show in the
world. I reckon he’ll quit the camp.”

“I’ll do nothin’ ov ther sort!” doggedly assev-
erated the captive, glaring fiercely at the white-
faced sport. “ I kem, ter stay, an’ I reckon I
won’t move!”

“ Sn pose some of you go for Mayor Grim,”
sugges the major, glancing over the womb
“ ther he or Marshal Pepper should be able
to drill a little horse-sense into this fellow’s
noddle.”

“ S )eak ov ther Old Boy! Thar’s Red Pepper,
now,’ Peet Brown exclaimed, as a tall, lank
individual with red hair and a long heard of
like color strode into the room.

“H0, Pepper! Ye’ro jest in time! Hycr’s a
case fer ye. an’ don’t ye fergit et!” and the
desperado hastily narrated the event of the even-

ng.

“ An’ ther critter sw’ars he won’t budge, eh?”
exclaimed Marshal Pepper, in a shrill, rasping
voice, when Brown had finished.

 

 

“ Thet’s w’ot!” declared Rico Rube, grinning
viciously. “Mebbe he’d move, though, ef we
guv him a sample ov ther same medicine he’s
bin a-takin’.” _

“\Ve’ll see,” grunted Pepper, squaring him-
self before the captive.

“ W’ot ye got to say fer yerself, critter?”

“ Nary scoot l” iterated the bum, sententiously.
“I’m down on my luck just now, but I’m
square. I’ve hoofed et all ther way from
'Frisco, over ther line, en’ I’ve made up my
mind ter hang up in Yaller Dust jest es long es
thar’s an ounce ov silver in her mines. Ye heur
me! I’m Ole Bill Williams, I am, an’ I kin
swing a pick with ther naixt one!”

“ Tbet settles it!” Marshal Pepper said, as if
thoroughly convinced. “Trot ’ini down ther

trail a hafe-mile, ards, tech ’im up a leetle, an",

turn ’im loose. f be mOseys back ter Yaller
Dust, he’ll git w’ot he oughter hcv—a rope!”

“ Thet’s ther talk!” exclaimed Rico Rube,
tightening his grip on the lariat.

“ G‘lang, critter!”

At that instant the youth at the end of the bar
threw off Orthodox Pete’s detaining hand, and
sprung forward, his hands closing tightly around
the butts of the serviceable-looking revolvers at
his middle.

“ Hold!” he cried, halting between Rico Rube
and the door. “Marshal Pepper, ye’re crowd-
in’ things with a vengeance! I can tell ye Old
Bill Williams is straight goods, an’ I reckon I
ought to know!”

For 'ust an instant the marshal seemed as-
tounded. Then into his bloodshot eyes crepta
tiny flame.

“ Oh, he is. is he!” he sneered.
blazes aire you 1’” _

“ I’m called Little Lightning, an’ I can shoot
as straight as I can talk 1” was the Significant

reply.

“ An’ who in

 

CHAPTER II.

IN, LIMBO.

FOR a moment, the Marshal of Yellow Dust
stared in open-mouthed wonder at the bold
youth. In the qxpressive vernacular of the
camp, “ he was knocked all ov a heap.”

And the worst of it Was, he was completely at
a loss how to roceed.

“ Ther kid fixed fer ketch ther drop on me,
an’ I’ll bet a horse he’s ole bizness with his
tools!” was the thought-that flashed through the
brain of Marshal Pepper. “ A bluff won’t work
—I must try strategy.” _

“Two ter one on ther bantaml” exclaimed
Orthodox Pete, his homely but honest face
aglow with satisfaction. “ Oh, my! but he’s a
screamer i”

Nor was the J ehu alone in his outspoken ad-
miration.

After that first faint ripple of astonishment,
however, all became silent, and every eye turn-
ed to the youthful sport.

A dashing fellow he was, truly, of lithe yet
muscular form, with a face dark from long
exposure, yet clear and ruddy, smooth and firm,
and eyes as black as midnight, hair of Jetty
hue, long and waving. . ,

His clothing was of buckskin, fringed and
beaded but well worn. Arepeatlng rifle hung
at his backl and in his gird e rested a brace of
heavy revo vets and a home.

All in all, a personage at first glance eflemin-

ate, yet bold as a lion, With the wariness of a
fox.
'“ Some dare-devil young plainsman!” mut-
tered Major Menace, his cold blue eyes turning
to the marshal. “ And may I be dashed if Pep-
per hasn’t put his foot in it!”

And that worthy, as has been noted, wa
painfully aware of the fact. '

A full minute passed, durig which the red-
bearded desperaiio succeeded in partially re-
gaining his equanin‘ity; then the door Was
opened, and into the Monumental strode no less
a, personage than Grim-Gideon Grim—mayor
of the camp. .

Ashort, stocky old man, dressed in ministerial
but seedy black, and of girth appmachms the
Falstnflinn, was “ his Honor,” and hls_patrlarch-
a] beard, and long white hear, his mi d, specta-
cled blue eyes and beaming faces lent mm an ex-
pression most benevolent. ” _

“ We’ll not quarrel, younker,‘ exclaimed
Marshal Red Pe per. curtly- ‘ Thurs ther
mayor, an’ I rec an be km look inter ther
matter, an’ flx ct up ’bout "8217- , W115? 88y?”

“ If it suits Bill, it suits me, Little Lightning
re lied laconicall . _

P‘ That’s ther {elk !” cried the bum, with a
broad rin. “ ‘Lay 0!,J Maqdpfl!’ A fair show
an’ no favor aire all Bill Williams axes!” ‘

    
 

 

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Bolly Darrit, the Veteran Detective. _ 3

 

At that moment Gideon Grim reached the
outskirts of the crowd.

“ What’s the racket, boys?” he demanded, in
an asthmatic voice, as he pushed his way toward
the center. “ What is it, I say? Somebody fix—
ed for plantin’?”

And then, as he caught sight of Rico Rube and
Pete Brown and their captive, he halted, staring
first at one, then another, of the trio over the
rim of his glasses.

“ What’s the meaning of this outrageous
scene, Marshal Pepper?” he cried, indi nantly.

“ Meanin’ enough!” gritted RICO ube, half-
savagely, half-fearfully. “ I reckon, Mr. Grim,
we’d orter see’d ye first, but ye warn’t ter
be found—an’ that’s ther plain, unvarnished
truth!”

“ Ther critter aire a durned thievin’ bum,
yer Honor,” Peet Brown hastened to say, with a
nod at the captive. “ We ketched ’im hidin’ in
ther bresh back ov our shebang, an’ We’re only
follerin’ ther law.”

“ Law be han ed! You fellows haven’t the
first idea of law! ’ grunted the mayor in disgust.

“ What you got to say, marshal? I’m waiting

to hear from you.”
“ Nothin’,” Pepper replied. “ Poet and Rube

hev told e all I know. But I reckon ther
critter’h better move on ter sum other man’s
cam .

D

At that juncture, Major Menace stepped for-
ward, saying:

“ It a pears to me, Grim, that the course
suggest by Marshal Pepper would be a little
hasty. The man may be all ri ht, and he may
not. Give him a chance, say f”

“ Certainly, major,” blandly ac uiesccd the
mayor; “ that is my idea exactly. lways ive
a man a chance for his white alley. ow,
m dear fellow, what can you say for your-
:e f?” and he turned abruptly to the captive

um.

The broad grin that came over Bill Williams’s
face gave it a grotesque look.

But be repeated the statement madetoPepper,
amrming with due earnestness that he was
plainly and simply a miner seeking employment;
and, as before, ittle Lightning vouched for the
truth of the statement.

Gideon shook his head dubiously, and after a
moment of deliberation said:

“To tell the truth, gentlemen, I more than
half believe you; but you are both strangers
here, and the means to substantiate your state-
ments are not at hand. It is my unvarying
rule to thorou hly investigate all such cases,
and therefore shall have to commit you to the
lockup for safe keeping until two o’clock to-mor-
row afternoon.”

Little Lightning’s face turned first red, then
white, as he hstened to the mayor’s pompous
strains.

“ Am I to understand that I am under arrest?”
he asked. _

“ You certainly are, my youthful friend.”

“ On what charge?”

“ You are a witness in this case, and therefore
must be locked up for safekeepin .”

“ But I am friendly to the cause of the defend-
ahigl,‘ "and would certainly appear in his be—
Mayor Grim looked over his glasses with an
air of owlish wisdom.

- “Very true, perhaps; but these are troublous
times in Yellow Dust, and a witness in hoc is
worth a score at large,” he observed.

“ Rico Rube, you and Pete Bmwn unharness
the galoot; and you, Marshal Pepper, do your
duty.”

Again there was a surging and swaying of the
crowd. with here a murmur of approval, there
an expletive expression of dissatisfaction.

. Little Lightning’s slender brown hands closed
just a trifle more tightl around the butts of his
weapons, and he brac himself as if fora strug-
gle; then his eyes met those of Bill Williams, and
his hands dropped to his aides, in' token of sub-
mission.

Major Menace was quick to note the exchange
of glances.

Sullenly enough, Rico Rube and Pete Brown
removed their lariats, and Marshal Red Pepper,
reinforced by three men deputized from the
crowd, marched away With the prisoners.

In the mean time, a peculiar smile just part;-
ing his bearded lips, Orthdor Pete had watched
the varying phases of the Singular affair much
as a cat watches a rat-hole.

The Jehu, It may be remarked in passin , was
a recent addition to the populatiOn of ellow

80; but during the three weeks he had been at
the camp his eyes had not been idle.

Ma 0r Gideon Grim followed the marshal
and posse from the gambling-house, and a

‘ ‘_..,.l,..'mv‘ 7.”...

-. '_ .—

 

moment later, Rico Rube and his pard skulked

awaiyl.
d “ ow for Old Man Keene,” muttered Ortho-
ox.

But that personage had disappeared.

Again that peculiar smile (11th across the
fage of the J ehu, and into his twisted orbs came
a re.

U uohserved he left the Monumental, and took
his way southward along the rough street run-
ning lengthwise of the camp.

Fifty yards ahead, just discernible in the star-
light, were the objects of his solicxtude, Rico
Rube and Pete Brown.

On toward the outskirts of the camp, with
noiseless steps, they hurried, keeping to the
darker side of the street, as if anxious to avoid
notice.

After them, with all the stealth and cunning
of a red-skin, stole Orthodox Pete.

At the last cabin on the street the desperadoes
halted, and, after a wary survey of their sur-
roundings, pushed open the door and entered.

“Easy, boyees,” came the voice of Old Man
Keene from the gloomy interior. “ Shut ther
door, an’ I’ll turn on the light.”

Even as he spoke the door was closed, and the
next instant the rays of a lamp dispelled the
gloom.

“ Sct down, pards,” continued Keene, in the
same cautious tones, as he helped himself to a
seat at the rude table in the center of the room.
“ Sot down an’ onboscm yerselves.

“ W’ot’s ther racket with ther fat pilgrim,
enyhow i”

“ A racket ov ther wu’st kind,” averred Rico
Rube, with a grimace that disclosed his yellow
fangs. “ Ther grea(sjy cuss aire a s I”

“ A spy l” echoed id Keene, visib y surprised
and amazed.

“ Yas, a spy! Pete an’ me ketched ’im with
his ear ter a crack in ther near wall ov our
shanty,” pursued Rube.

“ But afore he c’u’d heur a durned thing,”
Pete Brown put in. ’

“ Yas, we hed jest sot down ter fix up a scheme
ter g’i1t holt ov ther gal, when we lit onter ther
cuss.

“ But if he heard nothin’, why this hyer powo
wow ?” Keene demanded, suspiciously.

“ Ye must see ter at that ther critter don’t
stay in ther camp—thet’s all,” said Rube. “ He
heard nuthin’, but we don’t know w’ot he sus-
pects,”an’ of he played ther spy onc’t, he’d do et
a in.

“ Thet’s true enou h,” nodded the Old Man.

“ We’d ’a’ done er ’im fast enough,” Pete
Brown declared. his voice sinking to a whisper,
“ on’y we didn’t know how many more sech
cusses thar might be round; an’es things bed
ter seem fair an’ reg’lar, we jest trotted ’im
down ter ther Monumental.”

“ Ther best thing ye c’u’d ’a’ done,” averred
Keene, with knitted brow. “ On’y—ef Gid
Grim bed ’a’ took one ov his cranky notions ye’d
both ’a’ gene inter limbo with ther two galoots
an’ hev sp’ilt ther hull racket.”

For a moment the two rufiians seemed star-

t ed.

“ ’Tain’t too late yit!” exclaimed Rico Rube.

“Keep out ov his way,” advised Old Man
Keene, smiling grimly.

“But now you fellers bed better scut. I’ve
got bizness up-town, an’ I reckon we don’t keer
ter be seen together. Do yer work, an’ ther
dust is yours at daylight fer-marrow.”

Without further arle Rico and his ally
left the cabin. Old an acne followed a mo-
ment later.

Straight to the St. George, the principal hotel of
the camp, went the wily old rascal, there pass-
ing through the office and ascending to the
second floor, where he halted at the door of an
apartment facing the street.

A short, dry cough, then a key clicked in the
lock, and the door opened, revealing the white
face of Major Menace.

Old Man Keene glided into the room.

Seated at a table. bottle and glass in hand,
was Gideon Grim, the Mayor of Yellow Dust.

“ Hallo! hallo!” he exclaimed, his eyes beam-
ing with satisfaction. “ You are punctual to
the minute.”

“ It’s a way the Old Man has,” remarked the
major, us he and Keene drew up to the table.

‘§-Yas, sireei I make et a p’int ter do bizness
right up ter ther han’le,” averred the shrewd
ol double-face with a leer. “ Tell me w’ot ye
want done, an’ I’ll tell my price.”

Major Menace and the mayor exchanged 8.
swift glance. '

“ Go ahead 1” muttered the gambler. “ I
reckon he can be trusted.” .

Grim drained his glass, then turned it botto

 

upward on the table. Leaning forward, his
blue eyes fairly blazing above the gold bows of
his tacles, he asked:

“ ow much is a man’s life worth?”

Old Keene closed one eye reflectively.

“ ’Pends on who ther cuss is,” he muttered at
length, glancing from one to the other, his glit-
tering black eyes aglow with an evil light.
“ Deal yer keerds.”

Grim drew a breath of relief.

“ Ther kid you were taking in tow for a
sucker, we’ll say,” he cautiously suggested,
watching the face of the thug as if he would
read his lightest thought. “How much to get
him out of the way, clear and clean?"

“ A couple of hundred, I reckon—hafe now,
hafe when done.”

“ D0n’t Speak too quickly,” cautioned Major
Menace, just the trace of a smile showing itself
on his cold face.

“ All must be swift and sure; and let me tell
you this Little Lightning is a dangerous cus-
tomer for even you.”

01d Keene uttered a contemptuous laugh.

“That may all be!” he exclaimed grimly, his
black eyes snapping. “ I’ve sot ther figgers, an"
thar they stick, with ther job warranted.”

“ That’s the talk 1” assented the mayor, ap-
provingly, as be tossed his glass and filled it
from the bottle. “ I’ll go down and release the
young reptile. Get him outSIde of the camp,
and— ’

Major Menace raised his hand warningly. A
startled hush came over the trio.

A scuffle of some sort was in progress in the
hallway. A moment of suspense, then the 8134
nal cough brought Menace to his feet.

With noiseless steps he crossed the room, un-
locked and opened the door.

Marshal Pepper staggered into the apart—
ment.

In his arms, limp and lifeless, lay Orthodox
Pete, the J ehu!

CHAPTER III.
DOLLY TEE VETERAN.

WHEN Marshal Pepper and his squad, with
their prisoners, left the Monumental, they turn-
ed northward on the winding, irregular street,
paing the St. George Hotel and a second gam-
bling-house, then a long row of tents and
shanties, ere they arrived at the lock-up.

“ H ar we aire,” announced the red-bearded
ofllci , as he finally halted at the door of a
stoutly-built cabin and knocked vigorously with
the butt of a revolver.

A light step sounded within; then a belt was
drawn from its socket and the door opened, re-
vealing the jailer—a lank, loose-jointed fellow,
with matted, straw-colored hair and heard,
prominent cheek-bones and ferrety little eyes.

“A brace of birds fer yer cage, Sandy Jor-
dan,” exclaimed Pepper, pushin his prisoners
into the cabin. “ Fine birds, w ot’ll take close
watchin’, er l’m mistaken.”

“ I guess ye’re ’bout right thar, Red,” the
jailer returned, looking hard at the homely face
of Bill Williams. “ They do look like tough
galoots—the ole one ’specially. But,’ ye kin bet
I’m ther the dandy rustler w’ot kin hold ’em
wall No hijinks goes with Sand Jordan
ye bet!" and be tapped the pair of orty-fours
in his belt.

“ That’s as good es sworn to," smiled Pepper.
“ Then come an’ s’arch ther varlets.”

“ Ther cage am allers ready, but I went
through it not a half-hour ago, an’ e kin put
yer last ounce on et that things aire s ip-shape.”
the 'ailer declared, as he lighted an extra lamy.

“ I‘Iow, shoot out yer orders, Red.”

“ Take ther fat cuss fu’st, Sandy.” _

The jailer went at his task_ with alacrity.
Williams remained passive, quietly surveying
the interior of the cabin.

The building was of hewed logs, closely board-
ed up inside, with a heavy partition from front
to back. The outer door was provided with a
wicket and stout bolts and bars, as also was the
door in the partitions ‘

There were two Windows in the outer room,
one front, one back, each five feet from the
floor and protected with solid cross-bars and in-
side shutters of oak. I

Rapidly Sandy Jordan emptied the pockets of
the tramp, passing the articles to Marshall Pep-
per for inspection.

A plug of navy, a short, black pipe, a hand-
ful of smoking tobacco and a tattered copy of a
Denver newspaper, three weeks old, completed
the list.

“ Umphl give ther truck back ter ’lm.” {nut-
tered the marshal, pushing aside the articles
in disgust, after having helped himself pretty
liberally from the navy.

 

 

  

  

 

4

._——

“ Wait!” exclaimed Jordan, a grin of delight
sweeping over his salldw face. “ Ef I ain’t—”

An oath from Williams, the sound of cloth
hastily ripped asunder, and the jailer held up a
small package, neatly wrapped in a silk ’ker—
chief.

Marshal Pepper repressed a start of surprise.

“ A ticker, by thunder !” ejaculated Sandy
Jordan, triumphantly.

With eager hands, the marshal removed the
’kerchief, disclosing a splendid hunting-case
watch—gold.

“ Singe me fer a cat! ef ’tain’t Buster Mack’s!”
cried one of the squad, as the marshal held up
the piece.

“ Thar kin be no mistake ’bout thet,” the ofli-
cial coincided. “ I’ve see‘d thet identical ticker
twenty times of once. Mighty proud ov et,
Buster war, an’ no money c’u’d a‘ bought at 0v
’im. ’Tain’t bin a week sence he refused three
hundred in cold cash, an’ be war broke at ther
time. He started yistiddy ter hoof et ’cross ter
Rocky Bar, au’, pai'ds, I reckon ther watch tells
ther rest ov ther story! This ‘kerchief, too, be-
longed ter ther pore cuss, an’— Gents, et’s
stained with blood!"

The announcement drew an anxious murmur
from the jailer and the three deputies.

The face of Bill “Williams was a picture of
Wrath, disgust and consternation.

Of the group, Little Lightning alone remained
cool and unperturbed.

“ Jordan, putt ther cuss under lock an’ key,”
ordered the marshal; “ an’ guard him well. An’
you fellers,” he continued, turning to his depu-
ties, “ aire not ter breathe a word ov this, or
ye’ll answer ter me. Before this thing aire
made known, I must consult with ther mayor.”

Sandy Jordan at once obeyed the command,
then turned to Little Lightning.

The search in this case, however, was barren
of result. The only things taken from the
youth were his weapons and a well-filled purse.

He, too, was thrust into the strong-room.

Then, after a brief exchange of opinions, in no
wise com limentary to the prisoners, the mar-
shal and is men withdrew.

After bolting and barring the outer doors,
Sandy Jordan took up a lamp and peered through
the wicket into the cell.

“ Hallo, thar!” he exclaimed.

“ Hallo, yerself, ye durned night-hose!” re-
turned Bill Williams, irascibl , as he started
up from the couch in a bee corner, upon
winch he and Little Lightning had thrown them—
se ves.

“ Better keep a civil tongue in yer head,”
warned the keeper of the lock-up, his discolored
teeth showing in an ugly smile. “ I’m goin’ ter
bed, I am, an I don’t want no monkey bizness in
thar. Understand?”

“ That’s all right ’long!" and the mountain
tramp sunk bac wit a grunt of disgust.

Sandy Jordan was as ood as his word. He
at once turned in, and w thin ten minutes his
rich, resonant snore was fillin the cabin.

To the prisoners it was a we come sound.

" Old Bil Williams raised himself upon his elbow
and listened intentl .

“ It’s ginooine an reg’lar,” he averred, with a
breath of relief as he rose to a sitting posture.
“Ugh! I’ve bin corked so long thar’s mold in
my throat! But, putt et thar, pard! Et warms
ther c’ockies 0v my heart ter putt eyes on ye

.n ,

" Ditto, Bolly,” returned Little Lightning, as
cautious! , as he took the proffered hand.
“ What oin’ up hyar, masquerading as Old Bill
Williams?”

“ Same ole racket—arter a man. An’ you?”

“ Slip into Yellow Dust, just after dark,
for sup ies. Ye know ther rest.”

“ Ye ooked through my disguise. What was
weak in at?”

“ Your make-up was perfect; but, we’ve
1b;i)r(i)lpi,i,rds too long, Bolly, not to know ye like a

 

 

“ An’ whar aire yer pards, ther Invinciblesi”
demanded the mountain tramp, after a moment’s
silence.

“ Back in ther hills, a few miles, at our mine.
We’ve struck it rich, an’ are quiet] workin’ our
lead for all it’s worth,” Little ightning re-

plied.

“ Now, thet aire good!” exclaimed Boll , in a
tone of great satisfaction. “ I c’u’dn’t as my-
thing better, of I c’u’d jest git word ter them!
But we’re in a bad box, pardner. Jest listen
till explain a bit:

“ A month ago, the darter 0v Jim Orndare ov
ther Silver Streak, war kidnggped, an’ is held
for ransom in ther sum ov $15, .”

“ A pretty snug sum," Little Lightning re-
marked.

 

 

Bolly Darrit, the Veteran Detective.

“ Yes, more than Orndare hes bin able tei'
scare up, ’thout sacrificin’ ther Silver Streak,
an’ thet be won’t do, for at w’u‘d be playin’ inter
ther enemy’s hand.

“ Ye see, this camp 0v Yaller Dust is divided
inter two factions or arties—Saints an’ Gentiles,
an’ so ov ther latter rndare is ther chief. With
him out ov ther way, ther Mormons w’u’d soon
be in full swing.

“ As a move in thet direction, they hev stolen
his gal, takin’ keer, es a matter ov course, ter
kiver their steps Well. But et didn’t take Orndare
long ter decide thet ther blow kem from ther
Saints, an‘ I was brought inter ther case.

“ Gid Grim, ther mayor, is secretly ther head
0v ther Mormon gang, an’ back ov him aire sech
critters as Marshal Pep r, Major Menace, an’
so on, an‘ ter thet crowd lay ther disappearance
of ther gal.

“ Fer three weeks, Buster Mack, sport-at-
large, I tried ter work my way inter their confi-
dence. No go: they w’u’dn't hev et.

“Every trick, every artifice, known ter me.
hev I tried, but all ter no purpose. I am satisfied
that Grim and Company aire back ov the hull
measly bizness, but cain’t prove et, norI cain’t
putt my hand on ther gal.

“ I was in hope this hyar last rig w’u’d give
me a chaince; ’stead ov thet, I’ve got myself an’
you, too, in a devil ov a box; fer unless I kin
gsca e, I hev got ter make a clean show ov my

an .

A moment of silence f0110wed the detective’s
hurried recital. Then Little Lightning spoke,
saying:
“So far as I kin see, we’re snowed-up, hard
an‘ tight, Bolly! We can’t get out of this ranch,
nor can we get word to my pards, an’ that watch
you carried as Buster Mack is goin’ to make a
rough case ag’in’ you—especially if the Saints
have dropped to your game.”

“ Ye’ve got et straight as a string,” was the
ready response. “ But I’ve got a pard in this
hyar camp—Orthodox Pete. He’s ugly as sin,
but as cute as they make ’em, an’ I reckon we
kin look for him ter take a hand.

“’Twixt him an‘ Orndare, word w’u’d go ter
ther sherifl’ at Pioche, an’ thet w’u’d end our
troubles so far as Gid Grim war concerned.
Et’d take hustlin’, but-—”

A sharp rapping at the outer door inter-
ru ted the detective.

u an instant, Sandy Jordan was upon his
feet, with the demand:

“ Who’s tharf”

“ Marshal Pepper,” was the reply, from with-
out. “ 0 n, Sandy, for I want ter see ye.”

“Now ook out for squalls, ardl” breathed
the imprisoned detective, as t e jailer moved
toward the door. “ This visit is not without
an object—«a dark one, too!"

 

CHAPTER IV.
A nnsrnaun oonon'r.

Trim more terribly astounded scoundrels
than Mayor Gideon Grim, Major Menace and
Old Man Keene, upon the appearance of Mar-
shal Pepper with the senseless form of Orthodox
Pete, could hardly have been found. .

It was not terror at the dark crime suggested
by the limp body of the Jehu. They were be-
yond that.

The short, sharp striig le in the corridor told
its own disgustin story. hey had been watch-
ed—their grim p 0t overheard.

Suspicion had attached itself to them and
they were under espionage.

“ Make sure things aire close an’ tight.” grit-
ted Pepper, with a swift glance at the snugly-
drawn curtains, as the door closed behind him.
“We aire watched l”

“ ‘Natchedi” echoed Grim.

“He was in the hall, with his ear ter ther
key-hole.” continued the marshal, placin 0r-
thodox Pete on the floor. “ He fought fike a
devil, too, but a crack over ther cabeza with
ther butt-end ov a pistol settled ther matter.

“ I tell ye, pards, thet Orndare job hes brought
a hull hornets’ nest about our ears, an’ matters
aire so thet we must ush, or be pushed. Et’s
either, a squar’, stan -up tight, or back down
an’ vamose. ’

“We’ll not run away,” asseverated Major
Menace, With his ugly smile. “We’ll fix the
J e‘hu .thien tglk thehmattsr over. d K

in an gag im, e r ou an eerie.
Ytog fire adopts at thet 30:53? wgrk. Here’s the
s u .

The gambler opened his trunk as he spoke,
and tossed out a quantity of cordage and an
“fig-1001!!!) gag.

arshal eg‘per did not delay. In a Very few
minutes Orth ox Pete was pronounced secure.

rant ye, till we give ’im leave,” observed the
doughty official, as he coniplacently surveyed
the work of himself and Keene.

“ But ther main p’int is, w’ot aire we goin’ ter
do with ther galoot? W’ot did he hcar?’

“ Before we discuss that, we had better make
sure that we cannot be overheard,” Gideon
Grim suggested, uneasily. “Let Keene out into
the hall. He can hear all that passes.”

“ A good suggestion,” smiled Major Menace,
a sin unlocking the door. “ Out with you,

eene.”

Their sentry posted, the three plotters seated
themselves at the table, and the major disclosed
the lot against Little Lightning.

“ .ooh! Ther cub amounts ter ve little!”
exclaimed Pepper, in contempt. “ e’s 0t
ther sand, but when that’s said, all’s said. 6
knows nothin’.”

“ Don’t be too sure of that,” Menace protest-

. “ I know this Little Lightning of old. He
is the chief of a band of young dare-devils
known as the Prairie Invincibles. If he is here,
they are not far away.”

“ Wa-al?”

“ What more likely than that they are in the-
employ of Orndare?

Pepper stroked his long red beard reflective-

1y.

“ Mebbe ye’re right,” he muttered; “ but ther
tramp, Bill Williams, worries me more than a
dozen sech kids.

“ Do ye know, pards, thet thet fat cuss aire
none other than Bolly Darrit, ther Sleuth-hound
0v ther Mountains?”

Both Major Menace and Gideon Grim sprung
to their feet.

“ You are right!” cried the
plosively. “ The appearance of
nin roves it! They are pards!”

“ her deuce they aire!" Pepper exclaimed.

“ Can it be?” echoed the ma or.

“ It is a fact,” assured a'or Menace, his,
white face Owing livid. “ hey work hand-
in-glove, an a keener pair of sleuth—hounds is
not to be found in all the West!”

For fully a minute the three plotters stared
blankly at each other, mute with consternation.
and dis st.

“ And11 that fellow ?” sputtered Grim, at.
length, nodding toward the senseless J ehu.

‘ Another 0 the same ilk," Major Menace

gritted.
“ But sit down, boys and steady your nerves
with a swig of rye. We’ve a hefty job ahead of

ambler, ex-
'ttle Light-

us.

“ 0r flight,” muttered Pepper. “ Dem me!
at thet haydoogin ov young Wildcats ye jest
mentioned aire on ther same hiay, we may as
well toss up ther sponge an’ leave ishop Hearne
ter fill his inrem as best he kin. We can’t cope
with ’em all!”

“ We can, and we will !” asseverated the gam-
bler, fiercely. “ The three leading spirits of the
crusade against us are in our power. By day-
break I’ll have a force of trusty fellows on the
alert for the Invincibles.

“ Twice within a month the stage from Rocky
Bar has been held up, and I reckon the 1nvinei-
bios will come to the conclusion that this is a.
decidedl unhealthy locality before the Vigi-
lanteS 0 Yellow Dust are through with them.

“ I tell you, pards, the stake is worth a des-
perate struggle. Hearne’s $10,000 isn’t a mite
in the pile!

“The Silver Streak is worth a kin ’s ransom
ten times over, and I know it! T e last ton
yesterday yielded one hundred and fifty ounces!”

“ Impossible!” gasped Gideon Grim.

“ No; it is solid fact. It is.bound .to become
the best- aying mine in this district It has
never yie ded less than forty ounces; and, were
Orndare not so heavily handicapped, the $15,-
000 ransom money Wouldn’t be a flea-bite.

“ Now, what say you?”

“ I’ll stick ter ther last,” announced Marshal
Pep r, moistening his lips greedily.

“ ere, too,” the mayor declared.

“Then sit down, and we’ll talk business.

“ The first thing is to get rid of Orthodox.”

“ Leave him here for a couple of hours ” mut-
tered Grim, after a moment’s silence. “I think
I have a plan that will answer, when we have
gotten rid of Little Lightning.”

“ Then, as Old Man Keene is to attend to the

boy, we may as well pass on to Bolly Darrit,”
said the major.
, “ Ef I may make a suggestion.” Pep r put
In, half-fearfully, as he thrust his hand nto an
inner pocket of his coat. “.8! ye galoots will
listen ter me, I opine thet I km Open up es purty
a tra es war ever sprunso”

“ het’s what we want,” averred Gideon

 

“He won’t move, nor he won’t lisp, I’ll war— 

     
 

 

‘77)».- --

WM“ . .M_ ,még

Law

.‘A‘ p- . gray... I

 

 

 

    
 

 

4..” . ..__.._

 

Juan—s: f” -

 

‘m"' ‘

l

.w . I ,....,...._.._..._M

Belly Darrit. the Veteran Detective. 5

 

 

 

Grim. “I’ve no more liking for this job, in its
present shape, than have you, Red Pepper; but
we’ve got ourselves into a box, and I’m willing
to adopt any measure to get out, so long as we
can hide our hands.”

“ That’s me,” Menace declared. “Proceed,
Pepper.”

The marshal slowly drew his hand from his
pocket and discIOsed the timepiece taken from
the captured detective.

" Thar’s Buster Mack’s ticker,” he muttered,
huskily, his bloodsliot eyes glancing from one to
the other of his confreres. “ Et guV ther bull
snap away, an’ I reckon et kin be made ter putt
Darrit’s head through a noose!”

Menace recoiled, with an oath, his dark eyes
afiame.

“ Mack and Darrit were one i” he ejaculated.

“ Jes’so, pard,” grimly uttered Pepper. “ But
we aire ther on’y ones thet knew er. Ef' Buster’s
ticker, wrapped in a. bloody ’kerchief, war
found on Bill Williams, an’ ther fact should be-
come known, w’ot w’u’d be ther result?”

“ Juilge Lynch would have a case before
morning,” Major Grim replied. “ Buster Mack
was the most popular sport that ever struck the
camp; and vengeance would follow swift and
sure.

A peculiar smile flitted across the marshal’s

face.

“ Thet’s ther game,” he declared, briefly.
“ Push et, an’ we’ll win !”

“The plot is feasible,” averred the gambler,
after a moment of deliberation.

“ The night is yet young, and if we crowd
things, morning Will see us clear.”

“ l’ll go down and order the release of the
cab,” said Mayor Grim. “ Come with me, Pep-
per, and we’ll have Keene follow closely, so that
this Little Lightning will have no chance to
give him the slip.”

“ And Orthodox?” queried Major Menace.

“Keep him here until I return,” the mayor
replied. “ we will pay the bishopaviSit be—
fore midnight and we’ll carry the spy with us.”

The two officials then took their departure,
proceeding straightway to the lock-up.

Old man Keene was not far in their rear.

Arrived at the prison, Pepper rapped sharply
at the door, which a moment later was opened,
revealing Sandy Jordan.

“ This way, Sandy,” uttered Mayor Grim,
cautiously. " I want to see you in privatea mo-
ment.”

“ I’in yer huokleberry,” the jailer exclaimed,
and he followed Grim into the shadow at the
corner of the building.

“ W’ot’s ther row, boss?”

“’Shl not so loud l” warned the mayor.
“ There will be trouble in Yellow Dust before
morning—a lynching bee, and I want to put
you on your guard!”

“ Ther fat galoot?”

“ Yes; it has leaked out that he waylaid
and killed Buster Mack, and as the sport'had
made many friends in the camp it is not at
all uplikely that something tragical will hap-

n

“ Ohol I see, I see, es ther goose remarked
ter ther fox.”

“ You w ill do all you can to protect the ris-
oner, so that the law may take its course,’ the
oflicml continued. “I can’t just bring myself
toblame Mack’s friends, but it is time Yellow
Dust put upon the shelf that wild and woolly
character, Judge Lynch.”

“I allow ye’ve jumped astraddle ov the right
animal,” Sandy Jordan observed, nodding
sagely. “Yaller Dust kin git along ’thout
the good ole jedge, an’ ye kin jest slap yer pile
on at that thar’ll be no neck-tie party tor—night!

“ Ther jail War built fer service, an’ I'kalkil‘
late I’m the sportive sport w’ot kin hold on

- ag’in’ all comers, bar none!”

“ That’s about the size of it," readily assented
the mayor; “ but I want to caution you on one
point, Sandy.

“ It is a clean case against this Williams and
if it comes to the scratch and the boys reffige to
take a stand-off you are not to lay any of iem
out. The cuss isn‘t worth it.”

The darkness hid the peculiar grin that
crossed the jailei"s face.

“ Mebbe not,” he aSSented.

“ But w‘ot about ther kid?”

“ I’ve concluded to release him,” replied Grim
" He might fare hard if the boys conclude to
get in their work.”

In the mean time Bolly Darrit and Little
Lightning had stealthin left the couch and
ta on up a poeition near the door, deterrnined
to hmwhatpassed in the adjoining room, it

As the jailer stepped outside at the request of

 

Gideon Grim, the marshal entered the building
and walked rapidly to the back of the room.

“Some derned skin game,” muttered Darrit.
“I wish ther long-leg ed critter hed left ther
Wicket open. Et’d ’a bin a consarned sight
more satisfactory.”

Then the click of a. revolver-lock came from
the direction in which Pepper had gone, and
both listened intently.

A lapse of two minutes, and then the sound
was repeated.

“Bring out the cub,” ordered the major,
throwing himself into a seat.

The prisoners beat a stealthy retreat tothe
cot.

“ Look out fer a cold deck,” warned Darrit.
in a low tone. “ Ef ye git a chaince, git word
ter yer pards. Mebbe—’

At that juncture the wicket was opened, and
a bolt of light flashed across the cot.

Sandy Jordan’s face appeared in the aper-
ture.

“ Hyar, young fellerl” he exclaimed, gruflly,
“ come out ov thet. Ther mayor wants ter git
his peepers outer ye.”

be next minute Little Lightning was in the
presence of the pair of scheming officials.

“ Young maul” exclaimed Mayor Gideon
Grim, as he softly polished his spectacles, “ l’ve
concluded that it would be better for all con-
cerned to release you on your own recogni—
zance.

“Take up your tOOls and scoot! If you are
not outside of Yellow Dust in fifteen minutes,
the end of a halter awaits you!”

For just a breath the piercing black eyes of
the young ranger met the mild blue orbs of
Gideon Grim iii a steady glance, then shifted to
the face of Pepper.

The two plotters shivered.

Then, his revolvers and knife again in his
belt, his Winchester at his back, Little Light-
ning strode out into the streets of the camp.

CHAPTER V.
THE HERMIT~MINER AND HIS DAUGHTER.

“ RACHEL, my child, I must leave you to
yourself today—perhaps until far into the
night.”

“ Whither now, papa?”

“ To Pioche, to wind up my affairs there.”

“ Papal you have attained your object!”

There was a glad ring in the pleasant young
voice——a sparkle of delight in the lustrous blue
eyes of Rachel Carson.

“ I have, my dear,” was the grave response.
“ That is, I have amassed wealth enough to keep
the wolf from our door forevermore. As for
the other matter—”

Lewis Carson hesitated; then his teeth came
together with a sharp, resolute click.

“ The old aversion remains, but I shall live it
down,” he steadily cautioned, after a moment.
“You are out of place in these hills. My jewel
must have a proper setting.”

“ apal‘

“ Well, Rachel?"
, ‘thy not remain here? Are we not happy
and contented?”

Carson smiled sadly, yet tenderly.

" We have been, dear—more so than I could
have hoped,” he replied. “But it is all at an
end now. I have been tracked within a mile of
here, time and again. Let it once be discovered
that Muse, the Hermit-Miner, and Lewis Carson
are identical, and all peace, all Security, will
vanish.

“ N o, it is my dut , it is the part of wisdom,
to go I told you 0 my suspicions some da 5
ago; they have been verified, and this shall
my last trip to Pioche.

“ I will go now and secure the horses."

That brief sentence ended the conversation.
Buckling on his revolvers and knife, Carson left
the cabin.

Rachel gazed after him wistfully, her blue
eyes dewy with unshed tears.

“ Poor papa! there is a cloud upon your life!”
she murmured, sighing as she turned to her
work.

Beauteous was this girl of sixteen, and
stamped on every feature was the promise of a,
glorious womanhood.

No child of the mountains was she, rude and
uncouth; refined. 21‘3091'111. a graduate of one of
the best schools of the country, and pure in mind
and heart, she was all that heart of father could
wish.

The neat interior of the cabin here on every
hand traces of her presence; the dooryerd was
a mass of bloom. and the Windows were emboW-
ered in vine and blossom.

Lewis Carson was not long absent. -

On re-entering the cabin, he carefully inspect-

 

 

ed his weapons, then selected a repeating-rifle
from a number in a rock against the wall.

Tall and spare, yet agile and muscular, dressed
in the rude garb of a hunter and booted and
spurred, he certainly presented a. redoubtable
appearance.

And that appearance did not belie the man.

A moment sufficed to complete his prepara-
tions. and he then caught Rachel to his breast.

“ Good—by, my sweet one!” he murmured, ten-
derly kissing the upturned face. “ Be wary and
cautious. It is the last time you are to be left
alone in this solitude. If you grow weary, go
to the Retreat and await me there.”

“ Have no fears for me, papa,” was the brave
response.

Yet an ther exchange of caresses, and then
Carson left the cabin and hurried toward the
artfully-hidden stables.

From the doorway Rachel watched his re-
ceding form. At the edge of a dense thicket he
turned and looked back at the slender, dark-
robed figure, thrown into relief by the first rays
of the sun. The tiny white hand waved a fare-
Well, and, sighing, Lewis Carson plunged into
the undergr0wth.

A narrow path wound through its depths,
leading beneath an overhanging bluff, where
were tethered two horses, fine, sleek-looking
animals. one bridled and saddled, the other
fitted with a well-filled pack-saddle. The hoofs
of both were muffled.

Mounting, Carson pushed forward on the nar-
rOW, gloomy trail skirting the foot of the bluff
for the greater part of a mile, then turned into
the thicket, and thence into a rocky, tortuous
ravine leading down into a dismal defile.

Here be halted. After a careful scrutiny of
his surroundings. he sprung from the saddle and
removed the mufilings from the hoofs of the ani-
mals.

“ Steady, boys, steady!” he muttered, patting
the sleek, well-kept greys to quiet their restless-
ness. “ Better save your fire for the work be-
fore you.”

'lhen, with another look up and down the de-
file, Carson gathered up the niifflings and glided
through a mass of foliage into a small cave at
the foot of an adjacent blufl‘.

Time hung heavily on the hands of Rachel
Carson after the. departure cf her father. Never
before, when left alone at the cabin, had a day
passed so drearily.

Her books, the potent charm of which had
abridged many a lonely vigil, seemed suddenly
to have lost their power and were laid aside.
Uneasy, starting at the slightest sound, the her-
mit’s dau hter finally sprung from her easy-
chair, exc aiming:

“ I’ll walk it off! A long tramp will rid me
of disagreeable fancies and restore tranquillity.”

And drawing on a pair of stout walking—boots
and donning a broad—brimmed chip hat, Rachel
took u her rifle—a light repeater—and closed
and ice ed the cabin. ‘

Taking her we through the neatly-kept gar-
den at the rear 0 the house, she sought the path
through the thicket, which her father had taken
some hours before.

Arrived at the point which the hermit he‘d
moanted, Rachel turned into the nan-0w trail
winding around the foot of the bluff, going in
tin direction opposite to that taken by her fa-
t er.

Half a mile from the cabin, the thicket opened
out into a splendid timber growth.

“ Now, which way?" was Rachel’s thought, as
she came to a halt. “ Straight and around the
mountain, of course.”

The place was strange to the irl. It was
her first venture in that direction; ut she push-
ed ahead with a light, springy step, her blue
eyes busy with her surroundings.

A mile from the thicket she ‘came upon a
gloomy defile. reaching far back into the range.

At the same mcment she was startled by a
mellow laugh, and the sound of apprc aching
footstep8. _

Just time to shrink behind a friendly towlder,
had Rachel, and then into view strode two young
men, apparently from the defile.

Handsome, stalwart fellows the were, and
it required no second glance at their garb or
their weapons, to tell that they were prairie
rangers.

One was dark, the other fair, and there all
difference ended. In form and in feature, in
garb and in weapons, they were doubles.

There could be no doubt that they were twin
brothers, and their age was evidently tetween
eighteen and twenty-one. ,

“ Kent, we separate here, for the time being,"
said he of the dark face, coming to a stop with—

  

., 5')»

st, '

is}

 

   

 

Belly Darrit, the Veteran Detective.

 

 

in a dozen paces of the bowlder behind which
Rachel Carson was crouching.

“ I leave the mine in your hands until my re-
turn.”

“ Guard it well, for I don’t like the looks of
the numerous prowlers about of late.”

“ Nor do I, Davy,” was the prompt avowal;
“ but you may rest assured that it will take tall
work to dislodge and rout the Prairie InvinCi-
bles, if I do say it.”

David Kane—“ Little Lightning ”—nodded as
it perfectly satisfied on that score.

“ The claim is ours, clean and clear, and I
reckon the boys will hold onto it as long as
they can hold a ‘ six,’ or grip a bowie,” he re-
marked.

“ But I must get on down to the Yellow
Dust trail, for I do not care to miss the sta e.

“ You may look for me back to-morrow night,
barring accident or delay.”

“ So long, Kent.”

“ Luck to you, Davy.”

Witha warm clasp of their hands, the bro—
thers parted, Little Lightning proceedin on his
way down the mountain, while Kent ane re—
mained motionless, gazing after him.

“Brave, true Davy l” he muttered, as he at
last retraced his steps into the depths of the de-
file.

Rachel Carson witnessed his departure with a.
breath of relief.

“ They are noble-looking fellows,” the girl
could not help thinking; “ yet, I am glad that I
was not seen.

“It seems that they, too, have a secret claim
and are beset by spies.

“But I will return to the cabin, for I might
be seen and tracked by the prowling knaves.’

The return was without adventure.

The afternoon gave place to evening, and
then night came do wn in starlit beauty.

Contrary to her usual custom, Rachel de-
termined to sit up to await the coming of her
father.

Her uneasiness had returned with two-fold
tone. The words of the'open book on her lap
were a blur. Between her eyes and the pages
seemed to float the dark, handsome face of
David Kane.

Midnight came and went, without the return
of Lewis Carson.

One—two—three o’clock!

Rachel sat down, in despair.

“ Something has hep nedl” she moaned,
wringing her hands. “ e is three hours later
than ever before i”

A shuffling, dragging sound, a quick sharp
tapping at the door, followed the words, an

.Rachel sprung to her feet.

“Who is there?" she demanded, ‘her voice
quivering between fear and suspicion.

“Open, Rachel—I’m hurt!” was the weak-
voiced reply.

Her face growing colorless, her blue eyes
dilating with a nameless dread, the girl glided
across the room and unlocked and opened the
door, to a start back with a piercing shriek.

It was not the honest. rugged face of Lewis

Carson that looked in at her from the gloom!

On the threshold, aglow with wicked satis-
faction, stood Rico Rube and Feet Brown!

CHAPTER VI.
rm: assassm's saor.

DRAWING into the shadow at the end of the
lock-up, Little Lightning closer scanned that
portion of the rough street visible.

“There’s a gum-game of soma sort back of
this move on the part of Grim, Menace & Co.,”
muttered the astute youth. “ If 1 could scent
it, I’d block it, or go back into limbo!

“ It’s Belly they’re after, though, and I
reckon nothing short of the Invincibles can pull
him through.”

As there was nothing to indicate the presence
of a lurking foe or spy. the young ranger pro-
ceeded rapidly down the street toward the cen-
ter of the camp.

Arrived at the St. George Hotel, he hastened
to his room, drew the curtains, locked the door
and hung his hat OVer the keyhole, after which
he lighted a lamp.

Then out came his revolvers for a critical ex-
'amination.

Every bullet had been drawn. ,

“ As I suspected i” Little Lightning muttered,
with a grim smile. “ Sandy Jordan wasn’t
:called aside for nothing. '

“ It begins to look as if they might be ‘ oing’
'for me as well as for Belly; but I on ulate
the ’ll be disappointed somewhat when it comes
to t e scratch.

“ It was a mean our that put up such a {pb
«and if they crowd their game, I shall feel ca ed

 

 

 

upon to do the best I can for this fiery Red
Pe per.”

aving carefully reloaded his weapons, Little
Lightning tightened his belt and otherwise pre-
pared himself for the arduous errand before
him.

Then, just as be extinguished the light, there
was a cautious rapping at the door.

“Friend or foe?” the y0uth asked himself.
“ A moment Will tell!”

Relightingr the lamp, he unlocked the door and
flung it wide open.

In the hallway stood a man—a tall trimly-
built personage, of commanding mien, plain y
dressed, and, so far as appearances went, un-
armed.

The deep lines in his fine face, the silvery
whiteness of his CIOSely-cropped hair and mus-
tache, betrayed the ravages of not less than
fifty years; but the flash of his keen, piercing
black eyes revealed a spirit unbroken and un-
daunted.

“You are Little Lightning?” he exclaimed,
abruptly.

“ I am.”

“My name is Orndare—Jim Orndare, of the
Silver Streak Mine.

“I am here to warn you that your life is
menaced by the cut-throat gang intesting this
camp. ’

Little Lightnin bowed.

“ Come inside, r. Orndare,” he said, extend-
ing his hand. “ You are the very man I wanted
to see.”

“ I can readily believe that,” as Warmly re-
turned the mine-owner, “ as I have every reason
to suspect that you are in the confidence of Bill
Williams.”

“ To a degree, I am,” admitted Little Light-
ning, closing the door and placmg the single
chair in the apartment at the disposal of his
visitor.

“ And now, Mr. Orndare,” he continued, “we
must be as brief as possible. My friend is in
imminent danger of death at the hands of the
cohort besetting you; and, unless decisive meas-
ures are promptly adopted, he is lost."

A peculiar smile crossed the mine-owner’s

face.

“ They’ll have to fight to get him,” be de-
clared, a fiery glint appearing in his black eyes.
“ I’ve gotten together half a dozen of the more
trustworthy of my men, and Bolly Darrit shall
have at least a fighting chance.

“ At the first sign of an attempt at lynch-law,
it will be found that the Saints haven’t things
altogether their own way in Yellow Dust.

“ ‘hanks to Darrit, my eyes are opening as to
the identity of my foes, and they shall find that
fire can be met with fire.”

Little Lightning openly expressed his satisfac-

tion.

“As Bolly has probably informed you, my
daughter has been abducted and is held for ran—
som by this accursed Mormon cohort,” pursued
Orndare, with knitted brows; “and it would be
extremely impolitic therefore for me to take the
field openly in this matter.”

“ You must meet cunning with cunning,
strategy with strategy,” Little Lightning ac.-

quiesced.

“ That is the idea, exactly. I must fight from
under cover. It a mob, at the instigation of
these devilish plotters, go to the jail to—night to
hang Darrit and be resisted by a body of picked
men of the camp, my connection with that body
should by all means remain unknown. Other-
wise my danghter would be imperiled.”

“ And yet, should that thing happen, it would
be laid at your door,” observed the Young
ranger. “ They are striking at Darrit as your
agent—a detective in your employ.”

“Very true, as to their motive,” returned
Orndare, pulling from his pocket a wig and a
false beard. “ As to my part in the affair, bew-
ever, all would be mere cor: 'ecture, inasmuch as
it is supposed that I am in ullionville.”

The mine-owner carefully adjusted his dis-
guise, then continued:

“ Even Darrit himself believes that I am away
from Yellow Dust; yet, I was present at the
Monumental when he made his appearance
there.”

“ Your disguise is certainly a capital one,”
avowed Little Lightning, after a critical scru-
tiny of the make—up. “You will be safe in
taking the field yourself.”

“I ropose to do so. There are eight of us.

all to d, and, although the odds will be over-
whelmingly against us, yet I think we shall be
able to make a pretty good fight.”

“I’ve nine trusty pards back in the hillsa
few miles, and you may count on them,” said
the ranger.

 

Needless to say, this proffer of assistance was
gladly accepted.

“ And that brings me to my real errand
here,” said Orndare, when he had expressed his
thanks.

“ As I have before stated, my daughter, Mil—
lie, has been abducted by this Villainous cohort,
with a view of extorting a ransom. Unfortun—
ately for the success of their plans, they hare
placed the amount not less than $5,000 higher
than I can go, and I have been compelled to in-
voke the aid of detectives, of whom Dari-it is the
chief.

“Through him I have heard of you and the
Prairie Invincibles, and, taking advantage of
your unexpected appearance in Yellow Dust, I
am here to make you a proposition.

“My daughter has been secreted somewhere
in the surrounding hills. Find her, return her
to me, and I Will pay you $5,000 in hard cash.”

“I Won’t accept your proposition, Mr. Orn—
dare,” Little Lightning exclaimed, after a. mo—
ment of deliberation. “ It is out of the ques—
tion.

“ But you may consider the Invincibles whol-
ly at your service, you to meet only the ex—
penses of the search: and I assure you that my
pards will scour the hills with a zest, for the
fact thata lady is in distress will arouse their
strongest sympathy and call forth their stoutest
efforts.

“ Then, too, they abhor and detest the Mor—
mon hierarchy, and nothing could suit them
better than a whack at that monstrous evil.

“ You may certainly count upon us, Mr.
Orndai-e, with the understanding that the In—
vincibles subordinate themselves to Bolly Dar-~
rit.”

“ So be it, my boy,” cried the mine-owner,
taking the oung ranger by the hand, while his
black eyes gashed hopefully. “ But remember,
if you succeed the money is yours—you may de-
mand any reward within the bounds of reason
and it is yours.

“ And now, a word as to yourself: You have
not been released simpl as a matter of justice.
There is a dark motive ck of the move, and if
you are wise you will be exceedingly wary.”

“ I am sinfully aware of the fact,” smilingly
returned ittle Lightning.

“ In fact,” pursued Orndare, “I am positive
that you are a marked man. Old Man Keene
accompanied Grim and Pepper to the jail, and
shadowed you thence to the hotel.

“ The actions of the trio aroused my suspi-
cions, and I followed them, taking the opposite
side of the street, and so witnessed a part of
their maneuvers.

“ Sandy Johnson wasn’t called out of the jail
without an object. Pepper wished to be alone
inside.

“ Have you examined your weapons?"

“ Yes—the bullets were drawn.’

” That explains it all, and at the same time
forms another link in the chain of evidence go-
ing to show that Grim. Pepper, Menace, Keene,
Rico Rube and Feet Brown are ruling spirits
of the desperate cabal.”

“ ‘ Give ’em plenty of rope,’ ” quoted Little
Lightning, nodding shortly.

“ And now, Orndare, I must go. It will be
daylight before I can bring in boys 119- If 3’0“
can stand the critters 03 till then, well and
good. If not—”

A lurid flash of the ranger’s black eyes com-
pleted the sentence. The death of Belly Dun-it,
would not pass unavenged.

Little Lightning left the hotel a quarter of an
hour in advance of Orndare. '

Straight down the rough street went the
young ranger, striking into the Rocky Bar trail
at the outskirts ofthe camp. - - ’

A glance over his shoulder detected no sign of

ursuit.
p “If they make an attack, it will be from am-
bush,” he muttered.

The surmise was correct.

A mile from the camp. in one of the gloomiest
stretches of the trail, a sudden flash lighted up
the bushes, and, with the sharp report of the
assassin’s weapon, Little Lightning uttered acry
of agony and fell at full length.

CHAPTER VII.
LITTLE Licn'rnme’s ADVENTURE.

N0 ordinary western desperado was Old Man

eene.

His career had been as checkered as criminal.
Born in the Mexican Province of .301101‘8, 0f 011t-
lawed American parents in hiding among the
Wild fastnesses along the upper waters of the
Rio Altar, that region had been made the scene
of his first depredationsa

At the time he made his appearance in Yellow

 

 

 

 

 

 
    
  

   

 

 

 

, he never paused

5 ~ 1...

Belly Darrit, the Veteran Detective. 7

 

Dust, his age could not have been short of five-
and fifty yearS. -

The six years immediately following his de-
parture from the Province of Sonora had been
spent among the most des rate of the criminal
class of the Old World. e had been a thug in
Paris, a brigand in Italy. Returning to Ameri-
ca at the age of twenty-five, with the spolis of
his outlawry, he passed as a gentleman of means,
traveled extensively, and finally settled down to
the quiet life of a planter, purchasing a large
plantation not far from the then thriving little
Kentucky town of Maysville.

But the role of gentleman farmer did not sit
well with him; the evil in his nature cropped out,
and at the end of five years he was again an
aVOWed outlaw, and a peuniless fugitive.

Then from the depths of penury he again rose
at a bound, to become one of the most merciless
of the card-sharps common to the Mississippi at
that time. Handsome, of polished exterior. it
was years before an unsavory notoriety com-
pelled him to abandon that field.

Back to his old haunt in Sonora he went,
when finally forced to abandon the river, and
thence into Arizona, where he gathered about
him as desperate a band of road-agents as had
ever cursed the Territory, making his head-
¥uarters in the wildest region of the Gadsden

urchase.

'A fewyears later found him in Utah, a dig-
nitary high in the Mormon hierarchy—crafty,
unscrupulous as ever, prominent as a politician
among the Latter Day Saints, and in thorough
unison. with their wicked plotting toward the
attainment of political power.

So much as to the real character of this hired
assassin. His mission in Yellow Dust, under an
assumed personality, will be developed in due

time.

When Little Lightning left the shadow of the
‘ail, he was followed at a safe distance by
H326131;», until lost to sight in the St. George

For a moment the desperado was startled by
this move on the part of the young ranger.

“ Can it be that he intends staying right here
and standing by his pard i” he asked himself,
shrinking back into the shadows on the opposite
Side of the street. Such a move would mate-
rially alter our plans!

“ I’ll remain right here until the gentleman
reappears, and thus solve the riddle.”

And the desperado was as good as his word.
Patiently he awaited the reappearance of Little
Lightning, then again set forward on his trail,
keeping the youth Just within range of his keen,
ferrety black eyes.

“ That settles you. my fine fellow!” the cun-
ning outlaw muttered, turning aside from the
trail and seeking a narrow footpath. “This
short-cut will enable me to intercept you, and
put an artistic finish to my job!”

Once under cover of the undergrowth, Keene

struck out at a sharp, loping pace. which not

only carried him over the ground with great
rapidity, but at the same time demonstrated a
thorough knowledge of the hidden path.

At a distance of little more than a half-mile,
the. desperado again entered the Rocky Bar

il.

“ 8:: much for that fortunate loop in the
road! he muttered. breathing hard from his re-
cent exertions. “ Now, to dig a pit for the “n-
wary gamecock!”

Listening intently to assure himself that Little
Lightning was not. yet approaching, the deer
perado cast about him for a_ suitable covert.

Within ten paws. growmg close up to the
trail, was a clum of bushes which seemed to
offer the shelter esired, and without loss of
time he crouched behind it, drawing and exam-
inin his revolver.

“ ow let him come,” Keene muttered, be-
tween his clinched teeth as the faint clicking of
the cylinder ceased. ‘ One shot. and I am
rid of one of the most powerful allies Orndare
could have!”

scarcely had the last words been uttered when
a slight sound a short distance up the trail
warned the desperado that his victim was ap-
proaching, and a moment later Little Lightning
was fairly in the trap.

Breathlng hardy yet cool and collected, as
merciless as a tiger, Old Man Keene deliberate-
ly raised his weapon to a level and fired.

80 sure was the assassin of his aim—of the
defenseless condition of Little Lightning—that

I to note the effect of his shot,
but aplrunlg to his feet. and out into the trail.

Lit e igbtning, With & v‘ilcl cry, had fallen
upon his back, not a half-dozen paces from the
ambush. In lem than the time it takes to tell it,
Keene was bending over blm.

 

“ He‘s done for,” coolly uttered the assassin,
peering with strangely glowing eyes into the
white, upturned face of the youth. “Now, to
get rid of the body.”

And putting away his revolver, after a can-
tious glance up and down the trail, Keene put
forth his hand to seize the rangcr’s shoulders.

Then it was that a terrified yell burst from the
desperado’s lips.

A pair of strong hands had grasped his
wrists, and the next instant he was flung vio-
lently upon his back.

“ Lie there, you dog!" enunciated Little
Lightning, in menacing strains. “ You’re caught
in a trap of your own making!

“ You calculated to ‘ go’ for me in villainous
style, and had I not been up to your dodge you
would have succeeded, too!

“ Dastard! Devil! Who set up this job?
Speak, or I’ll choke the life out of you !”

The ouiig ranger’s voice was hoarse with an—
ger. eftly stripping away Kecne’s weapons,
lie clutched him by the throat.

“ Speak—out with it!” he exclaimed, his black
eyes lighting up with a terrible glow. “It is
your only chance, and a slim one at that!”

“ Hands off my throat, then!” sputtered the
bafliled assassin. “ Ef et’s my life, or peach, ye
kin amble on’t I’ll live, every time!

“ har! My humble thanks, boss! Ef them
gar fingers ov yourn didn‘t fit so snug es a hal-

r—

“ Whose game was it?” coldly interrupted
Little Lightningéplacing the muzzle of a six-
shooter a ainst eene’s temple. “ Cut it short,
too, for don’t intend to stop long with you.
Understand?" .

“ Es of l c’u’dn’t, boss! You bet! I hop right
onto yer nieanin’, an’——I’ll tell ye ther straight
truth, with never a friil!

“ Ye ’members Ole Man Keene, I reckon?
Wal, I’m thet oriiery pilgrim—bet yer life! Es
fer ther game, et’s mine, from A ter Izzai'd!”

“ Don’t lie!”

“ Et’s gospel, boss! Ef ’tain’t, may my eyes
see stars through ther back ov my head!” pro-
tested the ruflian, with a sort of lugubriOUS
solemnity.

“ I war after yer roll, an’ as one plan w’u’dn’t
work, I bed to tackle another. That’s ther long
an’ short ov et, an’ ef- ye roosted on me till
morni ’ ”

“ Get up!” tersely interrupted Little Light-
ning, in disgust, as be sprung to his feet.
“ And don’t you attempt any of your tricks.
I’ve put fresh bullets in my guns, and I’ll war-
rant them to go straight!

“ I’m going to turn you loose, but I’ll keep
your weapons. Go! and remember that if our
trails cross again I shall exact full satisfaction
for this night’s work!”

“Thankee, boss! Ef—J’

“ Off with on, at a doublequick !”

Old Man eene obeyed, laying his course to-
ward Yellow Dust. The ranger’s voice was in
itself a warning.

, Little Lightning waited only until the des- -

perado had disappeared, then turned and with
long strides hastened down the trail.

“ It was Old Man Keene, sure enough,” he
mused. “ The grim old scoundrel! He must have
followed me to the outskirts of the camp, and
then. by means of a by-path, forged ahead.

" At any rate, he pla ed his game fairly well,
naught but his enforce haste marring it. Had
not is hard breathing warned me just in the
nick of time, his bullet would have gone straight

home.

“But, that he, and he alone, was the prime
mover in the assault, is altogether too flimsy to
bereadily believed. He is no more nor lees than
a tool for the Mormon cohort infesting Yellow
Dust.” .

And thus, pondering the varied events of the
n' ht, Little Lightning hastened along until
fu ly five miles from the silver-camp. Then he
abruptly left the trail, entering the wooded hills
to the right.

“ It will save two miles of the distance, and
time is precious,” he muttered.

For upwards of half an hour he ushed
steadily onward, almost due southwest. The way
was rough and toilsome—utterly impossible in
the dense gloom to one not an adept in woodcraft.

.Pushing through a heavy growth of young
“when the ranger at length reached the foot Of
a Wide bluff, at the base of which there seemed
to be a beaten path.

A _moment’s examination proved that such
was indeed the case, and, with no all degree
of satisfaction, yet with every sense alert, Little
Lightning hurried along the narrow trail.

“ It may lead to the reiidezous of some outlaw
gang, or Simply the quarters of a hermitominer,”

 

 

he thought. “ At any rate, it leads toward my
pards, and so I shall follow it for a time, at
least.”

An exceedingly short time it proved.

Within five minutes the young ranger was
startled by the shrill whinnying of a horse a short
distance ahead. ,

“ That calls for an abandonment of this route,”
he muttered, with a species of grim humor.
“ A detour is preferable to an argument as to
ri ht of way.”

entering the thicket, he glided along with
the stealth of a red-skin. Two, three hundred
yards were passed, and then he came upon a
small open space, near the center of which loom-
ed up the outlines of a substantial cabin.

At the same moment, a door was flung open,
shooting a broad belt of light across the clearing
and revealing two men upon the threshold.

But the object upon which the eyes of. Little
Lightning at once became fixed was the petite,
dark-robed figure in the doorway—the figure of
a young and beautiful girl.

J ust an instant of absolute silence—then L
piercing scream rung out, and uttering hoarse
cries of anger, the two men pushed boldly into
the cabin! _

Through the veins of Little Lightning the blood
surged holly. His hands clinched, his face
flushed, then paled, and into his eyes leaped a
light of direst ire. Toward the cabin he hur-
ried, with swift, noiseless strides, to become a
factor in the stirring scene!

 

CHAPTER VIII.
A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.

RACHEL CARSON was undoubtedly a girl of
courage, at the evil, gloating faces of Rico Rube
and Poet rown appearing at such a time and un-
der such conditions, almost stilletl the beating of
her staoch heart and forced from her lips a
frightened cry.

What did this unseasonable visit of the two
roughs portend?

Had they waylaid Lewis Carson. her father?

The ruse adopted to gain admittance to the
cabin showed that they wire certamly aware
of his absence.

With these thoughts flitting Swiftly through
her brain, Rachel staggered back a pace, clutch—
ing at the door as if to close it.

“ Drop ihet,” growled Rico Rube, scowling
darkly. “ Ef ye try eny 5101) game es thet, ye’ll
wish ye hedn’t."

Even as he spoke.the desperado crowded across
the threshold, closely followed by Brown, who
promptly closed and fastened the door.

Faint with terror to the verge of swooning,
Rachel drOpped limply into a chair, burying her
face in her hands.

“ Come. now, my lady, that won’t do nuther!”
pursued Rube, grufliy, his rough hand settling
on her shoulder. “No weepin’, no hysteericks,

lease! VVe’re hyar on bimess, we aine!

“ Whar’s ther old man?"

Her eyes flushing with indignation, Rachel
rose, managing aside her tormentor’s hand, and
Rube r ized that he had adopted the wrong
tactics.

“ Cain’t ye answer?” he growled, after a no-
ment’s silence.

“ If you mean my father, I do not know,” the
girl replied, steadily meeting his dark gene.
“But you may be quite sure that you will be
made to suffer for this intrusion.

“ If ypu have any business here, state it, and

one.
be two deSperadoes exchanged a look, then
joined in an outburst of coarse laughter.

“ Ye need hev no alarm, gal.” averred Rube,
throwin aside his hat and cool! settling into
the dept s of an easy-chair. “ edon’t intend
ter do ye a mite ov harm. No, nol—thet ain’t
our game a’ tall! Hey, Feet?”

“ Nary time,” promptly corroborated that
rufiian, following his leader’s example and be-
stowing himself in a comfortable chair. “We
w’u‘ldn’t harm a hair ov_ er purt head, gal, fer
ther biggest streak ov Sl ver in t ese hyar hills!

“We look like toughs, but we’re pufl‘ec’ gen-
’lemen, jest ther same; an’ I reckon ef yer pap
was hyar, he’d mighty soon tell ye we war
reg’lar ole pards 0v his’n !”

“That’s w’ot!” Rube cried, chuckling at his
pard’s conceit. “We’re three ole ‘pards, we
aire, an’ I bet ef Lew war hyarhedtreatns

right royally, tool .
“An’ thet ’minds me, my lady, that I’m nigh
starved. S’pose ye rustle ’round an’ set out a
lu‘ncfimo matter what, solong es that‘s plenty
ov e .
Rachel sim ly nodded. _ ,
given way to indignation, and

Terror ha

1 AN;

 

   
 

Use-o“ I

 

4

ther slip, nor don’t

 

 

Bolly Darrit, the Veteran Detective.

 

 

flans, if poss1blc.

She hailed the demand for food with a breath
of secret relief, the hope that her father had
escaped an encounter with the two desperadoes
outweighing the dark suspicwn that he had met
with ten! play. Had he so escaped, he might
now he expected to appear at any moment, and
with his appearance the affair would assume a
vastly different phase. ’

Lewis Carson, with his matchless cunning and
skill and strength, would rescue her and punish
the villainous intruders.

Peet Brown must have divined something of
these thoughts, for as the girl silently turned to
comply With the pointed request, he stepped
before her, his cruel eyes ablaze with suspicion.

“ Let me tell ye, Rachel Carson, thet ye don’t
want to try any 0v ther flimsy on us,” he
warned, ahalf-smile addin to the vindictive-
ness of his expression. “ on’t try ter guv us
ye fool away any time, or
ye’ll be sorry for it—niind thet!”

“ Stuff!” growled Rube, in a sudden and un-
accountable blaze of resentment. “ Let ther gal
alone, Peet!”

Brown slunk aside, taking a position where
the movements of the girl could be narrowly
watched.

Her hand tightly clasping the handle of a
small revolver hidden away in the folds of her
dress, Rachel passed into the second room of
the cabin, where a moment later she set about
her task.

In due course, the table was laid, and then
with a gesture she indicated that the meal was
in readiness.

The two ruflians fell to with avidity.

In the midst of the repast came a cautious
rapping at the door.

“ Ther deuce!” ejaculated Rube, abruptly
gaining his feet, “ We’ve tarried too long!
Thet must be ther ole man hisself!”

Peer foIIOWed his example, and they listened,
weapons in hand. I

A flush of hope appeared in Rachel’s white
face. Involuntarily, she moved toward the
door, trembling with eagerness.

“ Stop!” ordered Rube, in a subdued voice.
;‘ Ter open that door will cost yer father his

He!”

“ Not if you give us a fair count! ”

Scarcely louder than a whisper, yet clear, cold
and distinct, the words stung through the room,
coming from a point directly behind the two
ruffians and causing them to wheel in direst
confusion and alarm.

Rachel uttered a faint eit'iy.

Crouching in the wide replace, a leveled re-
volver in each hand, was a third intruder—a
tall, handsome youth, beyond doubt a prairie
nomad!

“ Et’s thet cussed Little Lightningl!" grated
Rico Rube, his hands working. nervous y.

“ Yes, I am Little Lightning,” quietly averred
the young ranger, leavmg his cramped quarters.

“Up with your hands, both of you!

“ Miss, you may open that door.”

Utterly crestfallen at this unexpected col—
lapse of their plans. the two ruflians obeyed,
and Rachel Carson hastened to admit her father.

The 0 ning of the door revealed a man of
venerab e appearance on the threshold, and Rico
Rube’s face betrayed fresh surprise and alarm.

“ Pard, et’s Mose, the Hermit-Miner, and this
is a bad job for us!” he ejaculated, the words
comin from his lips mechanically.

Rec el uttered a cry of joy.

“ Villain! on were never nearer the exact
truth!” said wis Carson, sternly, as he stepped
quickly into the room.

“ Rachel, what does it all mean? Have they—”

A deep chuckle interru ted the miner, caus-
ing him to face about 8 arply, a revolver in
each hand. Alert though he was, yet the move-
ment was too late.

In the doorway beyond him were a group of
rough-looking fellows—men of sinister mien and
heavily armed.

One glance sufficed to put Carson in full pos-
session of the grim facts of the case.

A crisis was at hand.

“ Tracked l” he exclaimed, whitening to the

lips.

“ Exactly, boss,” vouchsafed the leader of the

nod, With an owl smile. “The race of Mose,
the Hunter-Miner is run!

“ Keep your hands down; we will relieve you
of your weapons. If you resist it will be your
death!“

While ' g, the desperado had advanced
and Le Carson was speedily disarmed and
forced aside.

Rico Rube and Feet Brown, after the first

that to a cool determination to thwart the ruf'

 

start of surprise, witnessed the proceeding with
the utmost composure.

Searcer a second glance had been needed to
establish the fact that the new-comers were of
their ilk.

Rachel, too, realized as much, and stood as if
bereft of hope.

And Little Lightning?

At the very instant .ewis Carson was uncere-
moniously thrust aside, there was a swift pat-
ter of feet across the cabin floor, a short, sharp
scream, and with Rachel Carson in his arms the
young miner disappeared in the second room.

“Lively, lads!” roared Rico Rube, springing
forward; “lively! or ye’ll lose him, ther devill”

A spirited general rush followed the words,
Rube leading the way; but the solid door
clanged, a heavy bar rattled into place, and, for
a brief time at least, Little Lightning and his
protegee were safe.

“ Baffled!" grated the chief of the roughs.

“ Yes, baffled, Jason Marks,” came the voice
of Little Lightning, from the inner room.

“But for a time only,” supplemented one of
the crowd, a gaunt, ill-shapen fellow, evidently
second in command.

“ I would suggest, Cap, that the house be sur<
rounded. We can then knock that door into
splinters, with a stout bit of timber, at our
leisure."

“ That is undoubtedly the proper plan, Con,”
the chief admitted, and be proceeded to tell off
and station the men.

Rico Rube and Feet Brown drew aside.

“ Et looks bad fer us,” muttered Rube, his
wolfish eves roving restlessly over his surround-
ings. “Ef Marks an’ his crew want ther gal,
too. we aire left!”

“ Exactly!” Peet acquiesced.
let him hev et thet way!”

“ VV’ot kin we do?”

“ Do? A hea l”

Rube shook his head dubionsly.

“ I cain’t See it. Ef I c’u’d—”

“ Ye kin I” interrupted Peet, earnestly.
“Jest wait an’ let me engineer at. Fall in with
Marks an' his gang; do es they do—till ye hour
from me!”

At this juncture, Marks hailed the scheming
pair. saying:

“ Hyar, pards—you, ef ye’re with us—lay a
bolt, an’ give us a lift. That door must come
down.”

The two complied with alacrity.

Then back and forth, upheld by four pairs of
stout arms, swayed the eavy timber, to fall
with a resounding crash against the door, forc-
ingit ajar.

' shout of triumph escaped Jason Marks.

“ Slow and eas , pards,” he cautioned the next
moment, as his fo lowers surged forward. “ Ther
critter’s no slouch !”

“ An’ he‘s got his pepper~hoxes,” added Con,
grimly.

“But we must get them out of there, and
quickly, too,” pursued tha chief.

“ Putt out ther light, an’ make a rush fer etl”
one of the men suggested.

This course was quickly decided upon. ~

Its execution was the matter of but a mo-
ment.

To the surprise of all, however, no resistance
was offered.

Once in the room Marks struck a match. Its
fltful low disclosed a startlin fact.

Lift 6 Lightning and Rac el Carson were
missmg.

11:0 clewto the avenue of flight presented it-
se .

The one window with which the room was

rovided was covered with a substantial shutter,
field in place by a pair of solid bars, and it was
evident that the fugitives had not escaped by
means of it.

The only door leading from the apartment
was the one between the two rooms.

“ Furies!” ejaculated Marks, as he quickly
noted these facts, and scanned the apparently
solid log walls. “ Here’s a mystery! Bring ther
lamp. sum ov ye l”

Pursuant to this request, Con, the lieutenant,
stepped into the outer room, striking a match as
he passed through the doorway.

No sooner, however, had he applied the splut-
tering lucifer to the wick, than a yell of genuine
dismay burst from his lips.

“ Look!” he cried, wildly, pointing to the cor-
ner where the captive had been thrown. “ L001“
The Hermit-Miner has escaped!”

And. that half-frantic declaration was the
truth, incredible as it seemed; for on the spot
where Lewis Carson had been but a moment
before, there was nothing buta bunch of severed
pinions!

“ Thet is, ef we

 

CHAPTER IX.
SANDY JORDAN’S RETREAT.

“ WA-AL, ef ther camp hain’t well rid ov thet
young varlet, I ’m no jed e ov such matters!"
exclaimed Marshal Red epper, as the foot—
steps of Little Lightning died away, after his
liberation from the lock-up of Yellow Dust.
“Dern me! I wouldn’t won’er, may’r, ef we’d
made a leetle mistake in not lettin’ thei' sassy
galoot take ther chances fer life right hyer with
Bill Williams!”

“ Possible,” admitted Grim, with a show of re-
luctance. “ There was certainly a. vicious look
in the fellow’s eyes.”

Sandy Jordan, the jailer, gave his head a neg-
ative toss.

“ Twan’t thet,” he averred, with the air of a a

sage. “ Ther kid’s all right—chock full ov pluck
an’ bottom, an’ not ter be crowded.

“ Howsumever, I’m glad enuif he’s out ov ther
way, of thar’s goin’ ter be a ruction. I reckon
Williams will be enufl’ an’ a plenty fer Jedge
Lynch—barrin’ accidents."

“ Yes, yes,” exclaimed Grim, justa triflejrate-
1y. “ One victim ought to satisfy the boys.”

“ But I would suggest, marshal, that we move
on down into the camp. Sandy here has been
duly introduced, and if anything is brewing we
can be of more service there than here.”

“ Ye. kin sartainly do no good hyer,” grimly
affirmed Jordan, a peculiar look coming over
his rugged face. “ The prisoner’s safe with me—
till I hev ter guv him up. When thet p’int comes,
reckon I’ll see w’ot’s best ter do.”

“No doubt 0v et, a’ tall,” said Pepper, gain-
ing his feet. “ Come, Grim—let’s vamose.”

“ Remember 'my instructions,” warned the
mayor, as he turned to leave t he prison‘. “ No
bloodshed to save the cuss!”

By way of reply, Jordan simply shook his
head, the peculiar look upon his face deepening
to a grin as the two ofiicials took their depar-

ure.

‘ No sooner were they beyond sight and hear--
ing, however, than his visage cleared as if by
magic, giving place to a determined expression
boding ill to the plans of the plotters.

Closing and carefully securing the door, he
crossed the room to the rude table at which
Pepper had been seated a moment before, then
took up the lamp and closely scanned the floor.

Under the table, well back toward the wall,
lay a single cartridge.

“Thort es much!” muttered Jordan. half in
triumph. “ I heard it drop. Le’s see—Pepper’s
gun's aire 44s; this ca’tridge isa 32—ther kid’s
size.

_“ Ther find tells its own story! Bill Williams
ain’t in hafe tber danger his young ard be!”

Replacing the light on the tab e, the jailer
crossed to the door of the second room, or cell,
and deliberately removed its numerous fasten-
ings.
Bolly Darrit stepped forth, his hand extended,
a trace of a grin on his round face.

“ Shake, pardnerl”_he exclaimed. “Et took
time ter pick a, hole in thet thar make-up ov
yours, but I’ve done at!"

u Bony_n
“Rackhoss! ye condemned Arkansaw scare—
crow! Ef I ha n’t tempted—”

The sentence ended. in a hollow gurgle, as the
long arms of the jailer suddenly closed around
the detective With a bear-like hu .

“Thet’ll do, Dan,” pufl'ed BoIly, aftera mo-
ment. “ Jest a chaince ter git my breath, an’
I'm ready fer eny kind ov a mill!

“But now. fll’St ov all, tell me w’at this gay
deception means. ”

“ Business, every time.” Rackhoss replied;
“ I’ll give ya partic’lars later on. Jest now
thar’s su’thin’ more important ter talk about.

“ Gid Grim an! Pepper hev set up a bad job
on th r kid,” and in rapid tones the jailer pro-
ceeded to detail his suspicions:-

I The veteran detective listened to the revela-
tion pomting to a fiendish plot, the varying ex-

ression of his eyes betraying no small degree of
interest.

“ The scoundrels!” he ejaculated, when Rack-
hoss had ended. “ Give me some wen ons,
$28!}; I’ll go bail there’ll Le fun, by an by,
1 .—

At that juncture a determined rap at the
outer door interrupted the conversation.

" Hist!” cautioned Rackhoss. PIECng his
fln er upon his lips. “ Follow me!”

it!) that, he moved softly across the floor,
halting beside his cot and lifting a trap-door.

“ Down l” he cautioned, POIDting into the
gloomy opening. “ Judge Lynch is at hand.

he oply avenue of escape Is by way of my re.
treat. .

‘_

“"h-“V‘M *7 .~ L) "

 

     
  

“a... f A 

“Unvfir ~ .

 

    

_,.»._. “an...

..a..... f l 

Ami—wan.“ h? 3 L) '-

 

..._lv‘_‘, ~.

Bolly Darrit, the Veteran Detective. , 9

 

 

Without a word, expostulato or otherwise,
Belly Darrit descended the lad er with which
the hole was provided, to be quickly followed
by his singular friend.

In the mean time, the rapping at the door had
grown more voilent, with loud and frequent de-
mands for Jordan to open the jail and deliver
the risoner.

“ ow, let ’em howl!” exclaimed Sandy, as
he suddenly dropped from the ladder. “ It
will require time to open that trap, even if
they suspect our whereabouts."

“But if they do, we are like so many rats
in a trap,” ventured Bolly.

“ Hardly,” Rackhoss returned, igniting a
match. “ This way, pardner, and we’ll fool
these Mormon cusses.”

As he spoke, he opened a cunningly contrived
door in the side of the excavation, revealing a
tunnel like passage.

“ In with you,” he urged, fairly pushing Bolly
into a the opening. “,Straight ahead about ten
paces, then turn to the left. Wait for me there.”

The detective followed the hurriedly-uttered
instructions. A moment later he was rejoined
by the jailer, lantern in hand.

“ This is my ‘ Retreat’,” explained the latter,
holding the lantern aloft, the better to reveal
the extent of the underground chamber. “ I
happened onto it by accident and have kept the
discovery to myself.

“ There is a hidden passage leading from the
wall yonder and opening in a bit of chaparral a
few yards back of the jail, and we will escape
through it.

“ Here, too, are weapons and ammunition in
abundance. Arm yourself, and let us go."

A moment sufficed for Belly Darrit to put
himself in “fighting trim,” as he expressed it,
and then the veteran Dan Rackhoss led the way
into the passage, and thence into the Chaparral.

be two men listened attentively.

A confused murmur came from the group of
Mormon roughs at the front of the cabin.
Otherwise all was quiet.

“ Plottin’ deviltry, dern ’em!” muttered Bolly,
relapsmg into the vernacular as abruptly as he
had abandoned it a few minutes before. “ Pard,
le’s leave ’em ter storm ther castle while we look
up ther young ’un.”

Rackhoss murmured an assent, and the two
cautiously (pushed deeper into the Chaparral,
eventually escrlblng a detour and approaching
the camp from another direction.

“ We may es well git right along ter ther
St. George Hotel,” declared Bolly, as they
halted for a moment in the shadow of a buildin
on the outskirts of the camp. “ Like as not we’fi
find Little Lightnin’ thar, too, so thet we kin
settle things in a jiffy.” '

“ I’m agreed,” Rackhoss returned. “ We
cain’t move too fast, either, fer ef we don’t
ketch ther kid at ther hotel et’s mighty leetle we
kin do fer him.”

“ True,” assented Belly; “ but— Hear that!”

A series of heavy crashes, an outburst of tri-
umphant yells, told the story. The door of the

i] had n forced.

“ Quick DOW!” u ed Rackhoss. “ In ten
minutes that crowd wi 1 be scattered throughout
ther length an’ breadth ov Yellow Dust, an’—ye
know W at thet means i”

“ Ye bet!” Belly declared, laughing shortly.
‘9 pa fer two. of we failed ter stand em 01!.”

At a rapid . 00 the two approached the hotel,
Rackhoss lea ing the wa .

A glance sufficed to s ow that the bar—room
was deserted, save by the bartender, and the two
detectives boldly entered._

At the same momenfiJlm Orndare, the owuer

of the Silver Streak 1119, d lead as he had
appeared before Little Lightning, mode in from
the hallway. , _ ,
:At sight of the Jailer and his companion, the
mine-owner paused in surprise. then with a
significant gesture, turned and walked out
into the street.

“ Et’s ther boss ov ther Silver Streak,” uttered
Darrit, in wary tones. ‘-‘ We mDSt foller
him.

“A leetle rye, barkeep' ” cried Rackhoss ap-
proaching the bar to a ay suspicion. “153m
my ole shoe-packs! at I don’t feel as shaky as
Arkansaw agar!”

“Bin jest a leetle onpleasant up your way,
Sandy, I reckon,” returned the ’tender, setting
out a bottle and glasses. “ Et‘s one over Yaller
Dust like a flash thet Buster ack’s bin mur-

dered, an’ thet his slayer war quartered at ther
Hotel Jordan fer ther night.

“ Pore ole Buster!
he war.”

“ Jes' l10:" assented Rackhoss, lifting his glass.
" When I see ther boyees comin' I jest slid out.

He war a plum good ’un,

 

Et wa’n’t my funeral, ye know, ef they hanged
ther bloody cuss.”

“ Nary time!” 0

“ Hyar’s lookin’ at ye, barkeep’.”

The glasses clicked anda suggestive gurgle
fOIIOWed. Then Dan Ptackhoss drew his sleeve
across his lips and turned to Bolly, saying:

“ Le’s sli up an’ see how they’ve done et
pardner. I in a leetle cur’us ter see w’ot kin
ov a knot they tied."

Darrit nodded assent, and they hastened from
the bar-room.

In the shadow at the corner of the hotel they
W958 met by Orndare, who at once drew Bolly
asn e.

“ Is Jordan to be trusted, Darrit?” he asked.

“ Es he is Dan Rackhoss, fer years a side-
pardner ov mine, I should say—yes.”

“ Good enough—it is as I suspected l” Orndare
exclaimed.

“ But the crowd at the jail yonder is begin-
ning to scatter. You must get under cover.”

“ But Little Lightning—”

“ Is safe, well on the way to the camp of
the liivincibles. He left the camp a half-hour
ago.

“Ya-as, but ther dinged Mormon crew aire
a-layin’ fer him. Pepper tampered with his
guns at ther jail, so thet when et comes ter ther
scratch .her boyee will hev no chaince fer his
white alley,” protested Bolly.

“He has been warned, and is on his guard.
Come—we will go up to my room. Two minutes
more and you will be dlSCOVBI ed.”

The truth of this declaration was apparent.
The mob, baflied at the jail, had scattered, and
was now surging through the streets of the
Camp, creating a very Babel of confusion.

the same instant, a note of warning came

from Rackhoss, and without further delay

Eh: ltrio hastened to the hall entrance of the
o e .

“ Pull your boots off,” cautioned Orndare,
pausing in the shadows. “ The bartender is not
to be trusted. If he hears us go up—stairs, the
hotel will be searched.”

A moment later the three stole noiselessly
through the gloomy hallway to the foot of the
stairs, and thence to the second floor, where the
mine-owner halted at the door of a room facing
the street.

“ In with you!” he exclaimed, as the door
swung open.

A lamp, with the wick turned low, burned on
a table in the center of the apartment serving
only partially to dispel the gloom, and with a
cursory glance at the closely-drawn curtains
the two detectives helped themselves to chairs.

“ Here we are snug as bugs in a rug!” quoth
Orndare, locking the door and hanging his hat
over the keyhole.

“Turn on the light, boys, and we’ll—”

A low whistle filled the hiatus, and the mine-
owner stared around in thorough surprise.

“We’re in the wrong pew, boys,” be ex-
claimed, as Bolly Darrit held the lamp aloft.
“ Let’s get out, or— What’s that f”

“ A captive, by Rockies!” ejaculated Rack-
hoss, gliding in the direction indicated by Orn-
dare. “ Hold the lamp a leetle nearer, Belly.”

The three men hastily crewded around the
prostrate form lying in the corner, and as Darrit

eaned forward a cry of astonishment burst
from his lips.

“ Et’s Orthodox Pete!” he uttered suddenly
straightening u . “Take the lamp, pards.
Thai-s bin foul p e? hyar!”

“ Hist!” warn Orndare, lifting his hand.
“ Some one comes! Put the lamp on the table,
and lie low !”

The NEW order was quickly and noiselesst
obeyed, the mine-owner, revolver in hand, tak—
ing a position behind the door.

Then a key clicked in the lock, and Major
Menace strode hurriedly into the room.

 

CHAPTER X.
rm: BISHOP’S srmuunom.

A GLEAM of fire leaped into the dark eyes of
Jim Orndare at sight of. the gambler, and with-
out an instant’s hesitation he sprung forward,
clutching Menace b the throat.

In the same breat , almost, Darrit and Rack-
hoss arose and seized the desperndo, one on each
side,'so that in a moment’s time he was over-
POWered—a helpless captive!

“ Hold onto him, pards," uttered Rackhoss, in
a half-whisper. “l’ve ther handcuffs in my
PCCket, an’ I reckOn a gag won’t be no great
shakes ter skeer up!”

Menace ground his teeth savagely tqgether
as the irons closed about his wrists, an over
his deathly-white face surged a crimson tide;

 

but any attempt at resistance was worse than
useless, and, with the hope that his allies might
quickly appear, he sullenly submitted.

A very few minutes sufficed for his captors
to render his condition fully as helpless as that
of Orthodox Pete, and then he was dragged
aside while the victorious trio held a brief con-
sultation.

Only a moment tpassed thus, then Bolly Darrit
stole to the side 0 the captive Jehu, to remove
his bonds.

Orthodox had been placed upon his side, fac-
ing the wall, but as his superior bent over him,
he looked up in a quick, significant manner.
readily understood by Darrit, who at once re-
moved the gag.

Eased of [that incumbrance, the Jehu at-
tempted to speak, but failed, until his lips and
throat had been moistened with a small quan-
tity of liquor from the bottle on the table.

“ Take yer time, para,” advised Darrit as
he set to work on his ally’s pinions. “ e’ll
git ye out 0v liyar, an’ ye kin explain arter-
ward.”

Orthodox shook his head, saying:

“ Don‘t tech ’em. Boll ! Leave me jist as I
was when ye kem in. e’ve struck pay-dirt at
lastl”

“Leave ye-pay-dirt!” ejaculated the corpu-
lent veteran, visibly astonished. “ Speak out,
Pete—we aire listenin’l”

“ Time’s short!” grunted Orthodox, his jaws
moving painfully. “ On’y this: Grim, Pepper,
Menace, an’ Old Man Keene aire a-workin’ fer
thet Mormon devil, Bishop Hearne, an’ I opine
thet Ilearne hes Oriidare’s al."

“ Go on!” Bolly exclaimed, as the Jehu
paused.

“ Yes, yes, say on, my good fellow!” cried the
mine—owner, betraying extreme agitation.

“ By and by, Grim an’ another ov ther cohort
will go ter Hearne, an’ I am ter be taken along,
ter be disposed ov on ther way, or later on,”
continued Orthodox. “ Jest leave me hyar, an’
then foller ’em, keepin’ close enough to keep 'em
from saltin’ me, an’ I reckon ye’ll strike ther-
right trail.

.“,A” job hes been putt up on Little Light
nin —

“ We know all about thet,” interrupted Dar-
rit.

“ Wa-al, another thing, then: Keene hes hired
Rico Rube an’ Peet Brown ter steal a sart’in gal.
They aire ter report at his cabin in ther mornin’.
Don’t let ’em all .”

“ Hardly!” enunciated Orndare, clinching his
hands sharply.

“ Now, fix me up, an’ git out!” requested the
captive, in conclusion. “ Ye may, ef ye will,
slip a we’pon inter one ov my kets, an’ then
loosen my bonds so thet I kin sip out ov ’em ef
need be.

“ But, above all else, keep yer grip on Mon-

ace.
“ Be thet all, pard?” Bolly asked, taking up

the ga .

Orthgodox nodded in the affirmative, and his
friend at once replaced the gag, then removed
and readjusted his pinions in such a way that a
violent wrench would leave him free.

A revolver was then placed in the inner pocket
of his coat, after which the trio prepared to
leave the room. ,

“We’ll leave everything es nigh like we found
at es possible,” said Darrit, turning down the
light. “ You lead ther way, an’ Dan an’ me‘ll
bring ther major.”

A hasty reconnoissance of the hallway showed
that it was clear, and with due caution, the
trio, with their captive, betook themselves to
the room adjoining.

Just in time they were, too, for scarcely had
they locked the door behind them, when a clat-
ter on the stairs announced an a proach.

“ They are Mayor Grim and arshal Pepper,”
quietly announced Orndare, after a searching
glance through the ke hole. “They are about
to enter the room we jist left.”

This statement accorded with the facts.

Baffled in their attempt against the life of
Bolly Darrit, the Mormon leaders, after institu-
tin a vigorous search of the camp, had returned
to t 6 hotel to counsel with Menace.

Halting at the door of his room, they gave the
signal agreed upon for that night—a short, sh
cough. As no response was vouchsafed, Grim
gently tried the door.

“ Looked!” he muttered in disa pointment.
not unmixed with impatience. “ onfound it!
this is hardly business on the major’s part.”

“ We’ll go in, anyhow!” declared Pepper,
jingling a bunch of keys. “ We want a chaince
ter talk matters over—must hev at!”

Within a minute the lock yielded, and the

 

 

 

 

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'reins to his companion and

 
  

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10

Bolly Darrit, the Veteran Detective.

 

 

 

two entered, carefully securing the door after
them.

Turning up the light, Gideon Grim flung him-
self weariiy into a chair, an example that was
at once followed by Pepper.

“ W’ot’s ther Word, boss?” queried the latter
worthy, after a moment’s silence.

“ To Hearne’s, as soon as things grow a little
quieter. We can do nothing here. If Darrit is
found, ther boys Will take care of him.”

“ An’ Sandy Jordan, too!” suggested the mar-
shal wrathfully. “ Ther derned, deceivin’
cuss”

And then the two lapsed into a silence scarcely
broken during the two hours that passed ere the
streets grew quiet, save by an occasional oath at
the prolonged and unaccountable absence of
Major Menace.

“ Time’s u l” cried Mayor Grim, at last,
springing to is feet. “ We can’t possibly wait
any longer. Go get the wagon, Red, and we’ll
set out.’

With a muttered response, the marshal strode
out of the room. At the expiration of twenty
minutes he reap ared.

“ All right, id!” he exclaimed hurriedly.
“ Quick—the way is cl’ar. Let’s hustle Ortho-
dox out ov hyar while kiver’s good."

The Mayor of Yellow Dust simply nodded his
assent to the propOSition, and in due course the
captive J ehu was conveyed to the covered spring-
wagon the marshal had left standing in the
shadows at the corner of the hotel.

“I don’t think any one is the wiser for this
move,” said Grim, with a chuckle, after a search-
ing scrutiny of his surroundings. “ We’ll turn
Orthodox over to the bishop, with a full enum-
eration of our suspicions.

“ But into the wagon with you, for the night
is growing old.”

moment later the Spirited team sprung for-
ward, Grim giving free rein until the two or
three all-ni ht places of the camp were assed.

“We she 1 li ely pick up Old Man eene, if
he hasn’t failed in is undertaking,” observed
the mayor, as they swept out of Yellow Dust on
the Rocky Bar trail.

“ He’d ort’er be ’long hyar sum’ers,” the

-marshal assented.

In the mean time, the occu ants of the room
adjoining the apartment of ajor Menace had
not been idle.

No sooner had Grim and Pepper entered their
ally’s quarters than Darrit, in his stockings,
crept out into the hall and bent his ear to the

V kevhole.

Thus all that passed between the two plotters
was overheard, Darrit beating a stealthy re-
treat at the moment Pepper arose to go after the
we on.

hen, after a brief consultation, Dan Rack
hose slipped out of the hotel to await the mar
shal’s return, taking a position where he could
see and not be seen.

As a result of this maneuver, when the wagon
left the camp it carried with it the lank, loose-
jointed spy, perched on behind, despite the pre—
cautions of Grim.

Three miles from Yellow Dust, Grim turned
into a branching road, and thence, an hour later,
after the way had become almost impassable,
into a gloomy canyon.

Proceeding up the defile at a slow and tortu-
ous pace for a alf—mile, the wagon was halted
by a mounted sentry, with the challenge:

“ Hold, pilgrims! Have you the time?”

To this in cautious tones Grim replied:

“ It is the hour of political power, civiland re-
ligions liberty.”

The sentry drew aside, and the plotters push-
ed onward. _

Within a hundred yards the canyon widened,
opening into a splendidly wooded valley of con-

‘siderable extent, anda short distance further
,on the wagon was halted in the shadow of a

large building.

‘ Here we are,” announced Grim, handing the

springing out.

“ Hold on to the nags until I arouse the bishop."
“ Thar he be, now,” returned Pepper, as a door

- suddenly opened in the side of the building, per-
‘mitting a long shaft of light to escape, and re-
vealing on the threshold a man in smoking-cap .

and dressing-gown.

“ It’s Hearne, sure enough,” the major re-

nded. hastening forward.

The bishop started at the words.

“ Is that on, Grim?” he exclaimed, as he
peered sha y toward the wagon. “Come on
--I’ve rem ned up, awaiting you.

“ Where’s the major?” '

“ Don’t knew,” was the laconic repl,

l “But he was to have come with you.”
I, “ Very true; but I suppoae circumstances

 

com lled him to amend his lans,” and, halting
besi e Hearne, the major riefly outlined the
events of the night.

The bishop proved an attentive listener. More
than once during the recital his sharp, white
teeth clinched savagely.

“ Orndare is making a better fight than was
to have been expected,” he exclaimed, at the
conclusion of the narrative. “ Let us fetch in
the captive spy. He must unbosom himself.”

The two men proceeded to the rear of the
wagon, where Gideon Grim lifted the curtain
and groped about inside.

He started and changed color, then withdrew
his arm, and held up to view a bit of rope.

“ What dees that mean?” cried Hearne, ex-
p10sively.

“It means,” replied the Mayor of Yellow
Dust, in measured tones, “ simply that we have
had our pains for nothing—that, despite all our
precautions, Orthodox Pete has succeeded in
giv1ng us the slip, and is again at large !”

 

CHAPTER XI.
THROUGH THICK AND 'rnm.

LET us now return to the cabin of Lewis
Carson—“ Mose, the Hermit-Miner.”

The sudden appearance of Jason Marks and
his outlaw crew had chilled the stout heart of
Little Lightning, for the moment rendering him
fairly incapable of decisive action.

Marks was not unknown to the young ranger,
and the reputation of the desperado was so
thoroughly bad that the lad shrunk from the
bloody conflict that seemed almost inevitable.

But it was not for himself that Little Light-
ning feared. Fair Rachel Carson “as there,
and her pure, sweet face, her grace and her
beauty, had gone straight to the heart of the
dashing young plainsman.

One tremor of dire apprehension as to the
results possible to the presagcd struggle, and
then he was himself again—cool, shrewd, cal-
culating, ready to do and to dare.

Escape by way of the door was impossible,
and but one other avenue presented itself, and
that problematical as to its ultimate utility.

Waiting, watching with the wariness of a
hawk until the proper moment, the young ran-
ger suddenly bounded forward and, catching up
Rachel Carson, disappeared in the second room,
closing and barring the door almost before
Marks and his followers could realize his inten-
tious.

Then, after a cry of defiance, he turned to
Rachel saying:

“ Pray do not be alarmed, Miss Carson. You
shall not fall into the hands of those scoundrels
without a struggle.

“ Is there an available outlet to this room ?”

“There is sir,” replied Rachel, in tones as
guarded as Little Lightning’s had been. “ My
father,~in anticipation of an event of this kind,
provided a secret avenue of escape when he

uilt the cabin,

“ Come—if you are ready to go 1 will show
you the way.”

Placing her hand or. the ranger’s arm, the
girl led him across the floor, pausing in the cor-
ner of the room.

“Here is a skillfully-contrived trap-door.
opening into a tunnel leading under the cabin,”
she explained, kneeling. " Descend—I will fol-
low you.”

Even as she spoke a portion of the floor swung
downward. Into this opening Little Lightning
carefully descended, by means of a short ladder

‘set firmly in the wall of the cavit .

He was promptly f0110wed by ache].

The next moment the trap—deer swung back
into ilace with a faint click.

“ his way," murmured Rachel, groping
about in the intense gloom for her companion.
“ Let us take up a position under the other room
where we can hear all that passes above.”

“ Agreed," muttered Little Lightning, yield-
ing himself to the guidance of the girl._ “ It
is not like] that they will scent out this pus-
sage, and i they do we shall at least have the
start in the race.” . _

In accordance with this idea, the fugitives

ushed ahead until they came to a secondladder
eading above where Rachel sto ped, saying;

" Here is the place. Direct y overhead is a
second trap-door, within a foot of which pap”-
was thrown. If—”

A shock that seemed to shake the cabin to its
foundation interrupted the girl.

“They have broken down the door!” Little
Lightning cautiously exclaimed. “ Listen!”

In the almost breathless silence of the tunnel
the words of Jason Marks and his men were dis-
tinctly audible.

 

At the proposition to extinguish the light
Little Lightning started. ‘

“ Can you open the trap from below?” he
asked, layiu his hand upon Rachel’s arm.

“ Yes. by do you ask?”

“ I intend to ascend and rescue your father,”
was the guardedly-uttered reply. “ Listen—
stand ready!”

The girl obeyed, quivering in every fiber.

“ Now!”

The headlong rush of the outlaws overhead
effectually drowned the faint clicking of the
trap, and in less than the time it takes to tell it
Little Lightning was in the cabin bending over
Lewis Carson.

A few deft slashes of the young plainsman‘s
keen knife, and the Hermit-Miner staggered to
his feet—free!

“ Through the trnprquickl” urged the yohth,
as a match flared up in the adjoining room.

Little need to urge haste upon the part of
Lenis Carson. His quick brain had readily
grasped the situation, and his feet were upon
the rungs of the ladder almost before Little
Lightning’s cautious strains had died away.

As noiselessly as a shadow the young ranger
followed him below, then the narrow opening in
the floor closed, and the rescue had been accom—
plished.

“ Let us away, now,” pursued the ranger,
hurriedly as the miner wrun his hand. ' “ Some
one has entered the room. We have no time to
lose!”

The next instant, as if to hear him out in the
assertion, there arose a shout of alarm.

“ They have discovered my unceremonions
departure,” muttered Carson, firmly. “ Come
on—I Will lead the way.”

Even as he spoke, he set forward, closely fol-
lowed by Rachel, with Little Lightning bring-
ing up the rear.

A dozen yards, perhaps, were thus traversed,
and then the Hermit-Miner halted.

“We leave the tunnel, here,” he announced.
“ The question that arises is, in what direction
shall We proceed?”

“ My camp is not a great distance away, and
my pards can be depended upon till the last,”
Little Lightnin returned. ‘ I would propose,
sir, that we go t ere.”

“ An arrangement pro-eminently satisfactory
to me, I am sure,” averred the miner, quickly.
“ As soon as we gain the outer air, you may
take the lady, sir.”

A moment sufficed to see the trio clear of the
underground passage, which opened into a
cluster of shrubs and bushes a few paces from
the end of the cabin.

“ Here we are, and without a moment to
spare,” uttered the hermit, in a WhiSper, as he
anxiously strove to note his surroundings.
“These fellows must be tearing the house to
pieces, from the. racket they make. The way of
our escape cannot long remain hidden.”

“ Remain here just a moment, sir, until I can
see if our course is clear,” said Little Lightning.
“ The presence of your daughter renders every
possible precaution an imperative necessity.”

“ True, true.” '

The next minute the young ranger disappear-
ed. A moment passed in silence, then there
arose a hoarse cry of alarm, followed by the
sounds of a desperate hand-to-hand conflict.

“ He has been discovered!” ejaculated Rachel.

“Alas, yes! 1 fear that escape is out of the
question,” the hermit returned, as Marks and
his followers came trooping out of the cabin.
“Corrie—we Will retreat in the opposite direc-
tion.

“ Yes, go," came the voice of Little Lightning,
in subdued tones. “ ltis your only chance. I’ll
try to run these sharks off on a false scent, and
rejoin you later on.” -

“ Brave boy I” murmured Rachel, peering
ovor her shoulder in a vain attempt to see the
face of the gallant young plainsman. “ If—”

A shout of alarm from Jason Marks, answered
by a note of defiance from Little Lightning, and
then pandemonium seemed to have opened.

Under cover of the burly-burly, the hermit
and his daughter stole away.

And Little Lightning?

At the very moment the brave youth left the
confines of the thicket the form of a huge out-
law loomed up before him, and a 31101“ 01 alarm
went echoing throuth the forest. .

The next instant t e prairie nomad flung him-
self straight at the throat of his burly foe, his
strong fingers effectually cutting off a repetition
of the yell.

Overthrown, borne down by that im tuous
assault, the outlaw yet struggled ame y; but
the clutch of that steel-like hand be good until

supplemented by a succession of heavy blows

v, , l «-
H. I v p , ~  ;~..-r_.;,;v.~.- ‘

 

 

      

.'leave the gorge.

Belly Darrit, the Veteran Detective.

i
1.».

11

 

 

from the butt of a revolver, when he sunk back,
lin‘if) and unconscious.

. ot a breath too soon had this result been
reached, for scarcely had Little Lightning ut-
tered a word of warning to Lewis Carson and
his daughter, when Jason Marks and his gang
charged down upon him, making the woods
ring with their shouts and cries.

Then up and away sped the youth, in a course
directly opposite to the one taken by the hermit
and Rachel, and after him surged tho outlaws,
yelling and firing as they ran.

It proved a fruitless chase.

Five hundred yards from the cabin, Little
Lightning changed his tactics; abandoning
headlong, nonsy flight, he turned almost at right-
angles and glided away with all the stealth of a
red-skin.

“ Follow me, if you can," he muttered, grim-
ly. “ Half an hour will see me with my pards,
and then—”

A sort of chuckle filled the break, and the
nomad paused and glanced back as if tempted
to recal his puisuers to the trail.

“ Time is too precious, or I’d do it!” be con-
tinued, after a moment of deliberation. “ Poor
old Bollvl I fear that quick, sharp work by the
boys will hardly save your neck!”

Assured that his ursuers Were at fault, Little
Lightning cautious y resumed his way, flitting
forward as noiselessly as a shadow until beyond
hearing of the baffled desperado.

Then he fell into a long, free stride, threading
the gloomy forest with the celerity of one thor-
oughly aC(illstomed to the wilds, finally enten‘ng
a dark, forbidding gorge stretching away into
the bills.

A. few minutes later he was halted by a shrill,
boyish voice—the hail of the sentry of the
Prairie Invincibles.

.The camp was at once aroused. Little Ligbt'
mug terse y narrated his adventures, and re—
vea ed his plans, which were instantly adopted
by his followers.

Great was the wrath and indignation of the
youngLrovers, and within twent minutes all
save ittle Lightning and Kent ane were in
the saddlotread to depart toward Yellow Dust.
Bolly Darrit b long been a time favorite with
the restless, daring lads, an in defense of him
they would readily haVe faced an army.

“ Bedad! an’ we’re riddy,” announced the
foremost of the eight, a brightlookin Irish lad
of eighteen 0r_ nineteen. as the cava code drew
up before Little Lightning. “ Fw’at’s de
worrud, ca tain dear?”

“ On to allow Dust. Report to Jim Orndare
at the oflice of the Silver Streak Mine as soon as
you arrive. You are to follow his orders until I
come,” was the terse reply. .

A semi—military salute. and the eight wheeled
and rode ra idly down the or e.

“Now, Kant,” cried Litt e ightnin , ti ht-
ening his belt as he turned to his rot er,
“ fetch up our horses while 1 get the dog in trim
for trailin .”

“ You Will take the trail at ones?”

“ Without the loss of a minute Kent. I can’t
rest until I learn the fate of Rachel Carson !”

“ The invulnerable has been pierced ” mut-
tered Kent Kane, with an odd smile, as he hur-
ried away. “ The smiles of a ’ gal ’ have accom-
plished more than the wiles of red skins and
outlaws combined. Dave’s heart has been
stolen!”

It required but little time for the brothers to

. . Once in the timber, Little
Lightning. With unerrin precision, laid his
course for the cabin of the ermit-Miner, which
was reached in due time.

The place was dark, Went. deserted.

After a hastyinspectlou of the remises, Little
Li htning led the way to the c ump of bushes
hiding the mouth of the secret passage.

There the dog was brought into action, the
well-trained animal lifting the trail and pushing
forward silently and steadily, Closely followed
by the brothers, alert and watchful.

A hummin- passed thus: then, Just within the
edge of a heavy growth of yougg timhen, the
sagacious brute suddenly recon , uttering a
,low, ominous rowl. _

In the same reath, in a veice deep, stern and
_harsh. came the hail:

,1 “ Halt! Advance a step and you are dad

I”

 

 ‘I‘aittle Lightning drew his weapons.

and“) nd readyj Kent!” he aficlfiismg, 'ustt‘.
ly. “It is ason Marks an n 0
nm outlaws!”

CHAPTER XII.
mania u m: nisnor’s.
WNW» consternation and despair, in turn,

 

seized upon Bishop Hearne at Mayor Grim’s an-
nouncement that Orthodox Pete had escaped
from the wagon. o

“ Ho! ho! Alfl—Jabel—Reddyl Outr—turn
out, every mother’s son of ye!” he roared, mad-
ly, as be ground the severed pinions under his
heel and started toward the house. “Scour the
place! Scour the pass! Look high and low till
ye find the deVil’s imp of a detective!”

Then, flinging up his hands as two men came
running from the house.

“ Rouse up the boys—quick! ye devils! A
captive has escaped! If he slips us we are
ruined I”

Instantly the men separated, darting away in
opposite directions, leaving the bishop swearing
and fuming in impotent wrath.

Promptly enough, the adherents of Hearne
turned out, and in less than five minutes they
Were approaching from all directions, to the
number of a dozen.

“ You, Injun N ickerson—you !” screamed the
bishop, exultantly, as he sighted a lank, hard-
looking figure among the men hurrying up.
“ Back—back, and bring up the dogs!”

The order was instantly obeyed.

“ Six of you go down the pass,” Hearne con-
tinued, as the men gathered around him. “A
detective spy has escaped from the wagon there;
and we must have him at all hazards, dead or
alive—alive if you can take him.

“Away—away!” and another burst of pro
fanity followed the words.

In jun Nickerson was but a moment appearing
with his dogs,

An evil-looking rascal he was, too—lank and
cadaverous, poorly dressed, armed with knife
and revolvers; a full-blooded Indian, with the
vices of his race multiplied and intensified
through long and intimate association with re-
creant white men.

A cunning fellow. too. was the red-skiu—just
the man for the job in hand, as Heariie well
knew.

“ This way, Nickerson,” exclaimed the bishop,
turning to the wagon, as the Indian came up.
“ A prisoner has escaped—go after him with
your dogs.”

“Uml Wharf”

For a moment Hearne was nonplused.

‘f Where?” he demanded, turning to Mayor
Grim.

“ Some time after we had entered the pass,”
returned that miscreant, after brief but ro-
found reflection. “ We had the fellow all right
when we made the turn.”

“ Hyar’s ther cuss’s head—gear,” cried Pepper,
from his perch on the wagon holding up an old
slouch hat. “Reckon Ole ick an’ his critters
kin strike ther scent from it."

“ You bet!” the red-skin exclaimed, eagerly
seizing the trophy. “Dog run um dewn heap
soon now, mebbe.” ’

“Awaywitli you, then,” gritted the bishop.
“You can get a l the help you want from the
boys down the pass.

‘ And you fellows,” turning to his remaining
followers as the Indian darted away, “ must
secrete yourselves in the undergrowth surround-
ing the house. Permit no one to aproach with-
out the word.

“ Roddy, attend to the team.”

Then. accompanied by Grim and Pepper,
Hearne turned toward the house—a large, barn—
like structure of two stories, designed with an
eye to. strength rather than to architectural

uty.

Straight to the library strode the bishop,
where With scant ceremony he rested his allies
and helped himself to a liberal potation.

“ Boys, we are in a bad boat," he asseverated,
sinking back into a comfortable chair. “ Orn-
dare is proving more than a match for us. We
must get possesSion of the Silver Streak, and at
once I”

“ J um ther claim?” asked Pepper.

H No; “y it.”

Mavor Grim nodded sagely.

“ That’s the way to do it,” he declared.
“ ’Twould neVer do to attempt to jump the Si]-
ver Streak. It would give the whole scheme
dead away.” , ,

“ And put our necks in Jeopardy,” added the
bishOp, grimly. “ No, I have thought the mat-
ter over, and I think that I see the way clear,”
and sinking his voice almOSt to a whisper he
proceeded to disclose his plans.

Though fully as hazardous as villainous, they
met with the ready approval of the two Yellow
Dl‘lst officials.

‘Tbe only thing in the we? is that cursed de-
WCflVe " said Hearne, in conclusion. “ If be
In in getting back to Yellow Dust. you
fellows will be mighty apt to strike a snag.‘

 

“ We’ll risk that,” returned the mayor, as he
and Pepper rose to depart. “ You may look for
us to report tomorrow night.” '

“ Very well.”

That was all. The two officials left the room,
the bishop remaining half-buried in his easy-
chair. ‘

“Fools! dolts!” he muttered, springing half
erect, as the opening and closing of the outer
door announced their departure from the house.
“ Do they Seek to hide their uneasiness from
me? Then let them not flatter themselves, for I
know all!”

Hearne’s resemblance to Old Man Keene, at
that moment, in as absolutely startling.

Draining another brimming glass of liquor,
the plotter locked the door and retreated to his
chair, in the luxurious depths of which he was
soon soundly sleeping.

Just as the sun rose over the hills east of the
valley, he awoke and sprung to his feet, shiver-
ing as if chilled to the marrow.

One sweeping glance at his surroundings, and
then he hurriedly left the library, hastening
through the hall to the foot of the stairway, up
which be bounded two steps at a time.

At the head of the stairs was a second hall-
way, running lengthwise of the house, and along
this he hastened, stopping at the door of a cor-
ner apartment.

After a sharp. peremptory knock, which
elicited no response. Hearne nervously opened a.
small sliding-panel in the door and peered
through.

“ Safe, after all!” he muttered, with a breath
of relief. “ Contound these dreams! If they
continue I shall go mad!”

Then, with just notiCeable hesitancy, he drew
a key from his pocket, unlocked the door, and
entered the room.

Its occupant was a girl—a girl not beyond the
age of seventeen, and of wondrous loveliness.

Of slight, trim figure, yet giving promise of
splendid womanhood: a pure oval face, perfect
in feature, illuniined by fine black eyes; a proud
little head, crowned with lustrous, long black
hair—these were the more patent features of
the seeming vision that greeted Hearne as he
crossed the threshold.

“ Good-morning, Miss Orndare,” he exclaimed,
halting 'ust within the room and inclining him-
self wit an air almost reverential. “ I am
happy to see you looking so cheerful this day of
all others l”

The captive, quietly ignoring the bishop,
turned to the window.

“For this is the day you areto become the
sixth Mrs. Hearne,” he continued, a shade of
annoyance crossing his face, a steely rin creep-
ing into his voice. “ Some time diir ng the
afternoon my esteemed co—lahorer, the Reverend
Bishop Skinwell, of Utah, will arrive, and
shortly afterward the ceremony will take place.
So prepare yourself, m y dear; for, although the
affair will be private, yet it is my wish that—”

The girl suddenly confronted him, her black
eyes fiashin fire, and the words died away in I.
hollow gurg e.

“ Get out!” exclaimed Millie Orndare, her
voice sinking to a low, intense strain. as she
pointed to the door. “ Go!”

Bishop Hearne started, and his liquor-flushed
face grew whiter.

In the girl‘s small white hand, leveled at hb
head was a self-cocking revolver!”

“ reacheryl or the women have bungled!” he
muttered, and bowing low he left the room.

Scarcely had be locked the door and restored
the key to his pocket, when a loud call rung out
in the hallway below.

 

CHAPTER XIII.
PURSUED.

OLD Dan Rackhoss was not long in realizing
that the task he had taken upon himself was no
light one.

Marshal Pepper was a reckless driver, and. a
the trail was anything but smooth, it was with
the greatest dificulty that the veteran detective
succeeded in keeping his perch.

But the end to be gained was an important
one, and Rackhoss clung to to the wagon until
his arms seemed to have lost the power of
feeling.

Then the canyon was reached, and he knew
that the end of the secret journey was near.

Lowering his feet to the ground, he 
silently along in the rear of the wagon, stealtth
loosening the curtain and opening the “81%
so that he might extricate Orthodox Pete With-
out the loss of an instant when the critical mo~
ment arrived.

Scarcer had these preliminary moves been

 

   

 . ’~ ,
W

   

“x

r‘ ‘9‘  D  |  " ;

  

v

12 Bolly Darrit, the Veteran Detective.

 

completed, when a hail rung out and the wagon
came to a stop.

Without less of time, Rackhoss severed the
pinions confining the captive’s ankles, then can-
tiously lifted him from the bottom of the vehicle
and glided away in the darkness.

A more propitious moment for the rescue
could hardly have been chosen.

With suspicions unaroused, the two officials
gé‘ove onward, and the sentry resumed his

at.

At a distance of fifty yards down the canyon,
Rackhoss paused and placed Orthodox upon his
feet, then removed the pinions from his wrists.

The cramped limbs of the Jehu almost refused
to support his weight, and but for the assistance
of Rackhoss he would have been unable to con—
tinue the retreat.

Their progress was painfully slow, at best,
and they had not yet reached the mouth of the
canyon when an uproar a half-mile in their rear
apprised them that the escape had been dis—
covered.

“ Thet means bizness, pard,” muttered Ortho-
dox, ggorously chafing his wrists. “ Ef I don’t
{niss ” y guess, they’ll be arter us hot-foot ’fore

ong.

“ Wal, let ’em come,” Rackhoss returned,
complpcently. “ Ef they git us, they’re welcome
to us.

Nevertheless, the two men quickened their
pace, and in a few minutes quitted the canyon.

And just at that juncture there was wafted to
their ears a sound that carried to the very souls
of each a chill of terror.

It was the deep long-drawn haying of a blood-
hound!

Little need to ask whence it camel

Bishop Hearne had organized a pursuit—and
such a pursuit as neither had for a. moment
dreamed of!

“ This is rough, pai'd,” exclaimed Old Dan
Rackhoss. “ We’ve got ter git right out ov this
an’ find a place whar we kin make a stand. No
use ter try ter shake thet feller—we’ve jest got
ter throw ’im cold 1” .

“ We hev, fer a mortal fackl” Orthodox
gritted. “ Strike fer ther timmer, Dan-I’ll—
.Jest listen ter [het I”

There was a faint tremor in the voice of the
veteran man-hunter, and his hand closed firmly
upon his comrade’s arm.

The bay of the bound had suddenly swelled
to a grand and awful chorus—the chorus of a
pack in full cry!

Not a word passed between the two. As if
each divined the other’s thoughts, they dashed
deeper into the timber, Orthodox, in his well-
founded alarm, forgetful of his bodily con-
dition.

Louder grew the sounds, and mingled with the
bayin of the dogs could be heard the voice of
Injun ickerson. urging on his pack.

“They’re gainin’ on us, pardwfastl” grated
Rackhoss, through his hard—set teeth, as they
darted down a sharp slope. “ We’d better make
a stand afore we’re clean gone—think?”

Orthodox turned his head slightly, as if about
to reply. At the the same instant his feet struck
a projectin root and he fell, to roll swiftly to the
bottom of t e slope.

A sullen splash followed the abrupt descent,
bringing an exultant cry to the lips of Old Dan
Backhoss!

“ Water! by the holy mack’rel!" he ejaculated.
gleefully, and the next minute he was up to his

uses in a small, swiftly-flowin stream.

Orthodox, drenched to the s , had already
gained his feet.

“ Which way, pard?” he muttered, in husky
tones, as he shook himself vigorously. “ U or
down? Hyar’s our chaince, but I’m too ’ nati-
cated ter know which way ter turn—dang et!”

“ Up,” hurriedly returned Rackhoss, catching
his companion’s arm. " ya go down, ter
head us 01! from Yaller Dust. Move along now,
quiet, but lively l”

“ Be ye’r’ We n all right?"

“ All right, 0 ther ca’tridges—”

. ‘:,Hyar’s fresh ’uns—watcrproof, too. Slip ’em
in.

The revolver was quickly reloaded, and then
the two moved forward rapidly, but in utter
silence.

Their pursuers were now near at hand, and an
incautious word or a careless step would prove
fatal to the two detectim.

A moment later Injun Nickerson, with a.
gigantic hound in leash, halted on the brink of
the stream.

Directly behind him were four' more of
{learne’s clan, each with an ugly-looking dog in

a O
“ Um l—debbil—water l” grunted the red-skin.

 

pointing down as he glanced over his shoulder.
“ Dog heap no good nowl”

The logic of N ickerson’s remark was at once
attested by a volley of curses.

“Better divide an’ go don-stream, a party
on each side,” suggested one of the men, after a
moment of deliberation. “ The cuss will be sure
ter head fer Yaller Dust.”

“ That’s the talk,” another cried.

“Mebhe, mebbe not,” objected yet another,
rather shi‘ewder than his fellows. “ These hyar
detectives aire derned cute galoots sometimes.
W’ot ef he’s looked fer jest sech a game, an’
turned upstream 3”

" He’d either escape, or lead us a long chase,”
slowly declared the last man of the party, until
that moment Silent. “ Zeb is right, pards. Our
best plan is to separate, two men goin’ up-
stream, one on either side with a do , an’ two
down in ther same way, leavin’ ther fifth man
hyer. What say ?”

The proposition met with unanimous appro-
val, Zeb, with one of the dogs, being stationed
at the point where the trail entered the water.

In the mean time Rackhoss and Orthodox
had been wading cautiously up—stream. The
swiftness of the current impeded their progress
not a little. Their movements were painfully
slow.

About two hundred yards had been trav-
ersed, when the banks of the stream suddenly
changed in aspect, looming up to a hight of
many feet.

“ By George! pardner,” exclaimed Rackhoss,
in dismay, “ we’ll have ter leave ther water!”

“We cain’t do at hyar,” Orthodox returned,
prsitively.

“ But ef we push on, at may be miles before
we kin leave that pass.”

“Better thet than ther chaince ov atussle
with “em thar dogs,” the Jehu persisted, and so
the again pushed onward.

Nyo sooner were they fairly within the jaws of
the canyon, however, than a fresh difficulty
presented itself.

The water increased in depth so rapidly as
they advanced that at the end of a dozen yards
they were compelled to halt.

“ We’re at ther end ov our string in this direc—
tion—’less we swim,” admitted Orthodox, lugu-
briously. “I feel a tech ov cramp, too.”

“ Nary swim,” Rackhoss muttered, facmg
about. “We’ll leave ther drink an’ trust ter
luck.”

“ Wait 1”

As he breathed the word, Orthodox laid his
hand warning] y upon his companion’s arm.

It was a timely precaution.

The next instant a quick, restless patter came
from the banks of the stream, announcing the
approach of pursuers from below.

“ They’ve split up, an’ aire beatin’ ther banks
ov ther crick, up an’ down,” Rackhoss uttered,
in a whisper.

“ Let ’em go! They cain’t see us from
above.”

Bendin low over the surface of the stream,
the two etectives waited until their pursuers
had passed out of hearing, then turned and re—
traced their steps, leaving the water just below
the mouth of the canyon.

“ Which way?” asked Orthodox, as they shook
the water from their clothing.

“ Down crick—et’ll take us within a mile 0v
Yaller Dust,” was the reply. “ Ef we kin
reach ther camp afore day, well an’ good; if
we lfail, we shell hev ter lay out till ter-morrow
ni t.

he J ehu muttered a response, and then with
stealthy steps they took their way forward.

Five minutes passed thus, and then came an
interruption.

A low, fierce growl, the clicking of a pistol-
lock, and up from the shadows at their feet
rose a tall, gaunt form. sending yell after
yell of alarm pealing through the depths of the

crest.

 

CHAPTER XIV.
THE BEBMIT’S s'roaY.

A FULL minute of intense silence followed the
hurried warning of Little Lightning to his bro-
ther Kent, as they halted in response to that
stem challenge:

“ Halt! Advance 8 step, and you are dead
men 1”

The voice was that of Jason Marks, and the
Essence of himself and his men at that pomt,
ed ill to the hermit and his daughter. .

“ They, too, are on the trail,” thought Little
Lightning, wrathfully, as he sought shelter be-
hindatree. “ The longer the are compelled
to remain here, the better Rae el’s chances to
escape!”

 

Much the same idea seemed to possess Kent,
too, for he silently followed his brother’s exam~
ple in seeking shelter, and, revolvers in hand,
with the dog crouching at his heels, he patiently
waited an attack.

But it came not. _

In its stead there was a momentary rustling
of the undergrowth, and then all was still.

Two minutes passed. .

“ Kent!” exclaimed Little Lightning, in an
undertone.

“ Well, Davy?” was the cautious response.

“ We have been tricked I”

“ Yes—by whom!”

“ B Lewis Carson, I suspect. It is not
likely that Marks would attempt to evade a
struggle.”

“ No, to the contrary.” '.

“But what do you propose, Davy? The mat-
ter can’t rest in its present shape.”

“ Put ROVer forward; if there’s any one in the
brush, he’ll nose ’em out.”

"True enough; but it’s hardly necessary for
you to trouble yourselves, gentlemen I” interpo-
lated a harsh voice behind them. “ In fact, I
may say that it will save trouble all around if
you remain perfectly quiet. You are sur-
rounded—completely hemmed in, and an at-
tempt to use a weapon will be the Signing of
your death-warrants!” .

The young rangers started sharply. The Sig-
nih'cance of the mocking words was by no means
lost upon them.

They had permitted themselves to be tricked,
and Jason Marks now held the winning hand.

“It’s a hard line, Kent,” muttered Little
Lightning audibly, as he leaned Over and pulled

the dog to him. “ A hard line, sure,vand we’ve
nothing left, I reckon, but to throw up the
sponge!”

“That’s good boss-Sense!” exclaimed Jason
Marks, stepping out from his covert and ad-
vancing—a movement that was quickly imitated
by his followers. “Ye’ve a level head on ye,
my lad.”

“Thanks, Captain Marks,” Little Lightning
returned, in easy strains. “ But—wait! Just a.
moment, i-leasc.

“At him, Rover .'—SiC 1”

A sudden flurry of the leaves, a single rush,
and with a wolfish snarl,the great brute was
upon Mark, hearing him down and tearing at
his throat With the fury of a mountain lion. _

Horrified at this unexpected turn of afl'airs,
the outlaw’s followers surged forWard.to his
rescue, for the moment forgetful of the instiga—
tors of the attack; and in that moment of con-
fusion, Little Lightning and KentKeene quick-
ly slipped away, keeping well within the shadow
marking the edge of the thicket.

Nor was Rover far behind .them. Aided by
the sagacious brute, they again picked up the
trail of Lewis Carson and his daughter, and
pushed forward at a ra id pace.

The expiration of an our found them atithe
bottom of a. gloomy ravme, Opening at right
angles into a pass, and there the do came to a.
halt before a mass of vines at t e base ofa
towering bluff.

“ Rover is not at fault,” averred Little Light-
ning, in a low tone. “Carson and his daughter
are hidden here. These vines conceal the en-
trance to a cave of some sort.”

“ You certainly are not far wrong, my young
friend,” came a voice from behind the leafy
screen, and the next instant the hermit-miner
ste , into view. ,

‘Pfigmit me to thank you, Little Lightning,
for your gallant service in behalf of my 'daui -
ter and myself,” he continued, extending is
hand. “ But for our timely assistance, we
must ere this have n helpless in the hands of
that rascally Mormon Bishop Hearne.” '

“ I certainly am pleased to know that I have
been of service to you and your daughter,”
respcnded Little Lightning; but, as there is
astrong possibility that some of the bishop’s
desperate cohort may appear at any moment,
permit me to suggest the advisability of getting
under cover.”

By way of return, Carson parted the natural
screen of vines, and motioned the young rangers
to enter.

“ It is a small cave—a mere pocket under a
bluff,” he explained, as he followed them; but,
as it offers a snug temporar retreat I have de.
cided to remain here until aptain Marks and
his‘rfizn hay: left the vicinity.

chell

“Here, papa,” and With the Words a slight

form glided out from the darker nooks of he
loom recess.

g “ I gave brought in our gallant rescuer, Little

Lightning, and one of his friends,” pursued the

 

    

 

 



wen/swift ‘q' r {:7 '

 

 

    

 

‘I—O'V _<,. .». .

 

Bolly Darrit, the Veteran Detective.



13

 

 

. rmit. “ You may c0nduct them into the in-
ner cave for|the present, while I remain on guard
here.”

“ Allow me to amend that,” said the ranger,
quickly. “ Let me put Rover here on duty.’

“ He is to be trusted?”

“ He has been trusted at a hundred camps,
and red-skin nor outlaw ever proved wily
enou h to pass him.”

“ hen he shall be our sentry,” Carson declar-
ed, in evident relief.

Accordingly, Little Lightning posted the dog
fast within the network of vines, and then the
little party withdrew to the inner cavern, where
the hermit busied himself with the preparation
of a. light, while Rachel, her hand nestling in
the palm of her rescuer and hero, poured forth
her thanks.

A moment sufficed for Carson to bring forth
and light a lantern, and then, when Little Light-
ning had formally introduced Kent, the party
proceeded to make themselves as comfortable as
possible in the barren cavern.

“ The attack of to-night was by no means a
surprise to me,” averred Carson, breaking a lull
in the conversation. “ I have suspected for
some time past that Bishop Hearne would make
just such a. descent, but hoped to get beyond his
reach ere he could gather his forces.”

“ You are about to quit the Vicinity, then?”
queried Kent, while Little Lightning’s face fell.

“ Yes, sir; for two years past I have been lo-
cated here,.workiii a silver deposit; lately it
has shown signs of ing pretty well exhausted,
and that, With the appearance in the neighbor-
hood of these Mormon vandals, has led me to
seek another location.”

“ I have heard of this Bishop Hearne quite
frequently of late ” observed Little Lightning.
“ Do on know the location of his stronghold,
Mr. arson.”

“Yes; we are within two miles of it at this
moment,” was the reply of the hermit.

“ It reports be true, he is a sort of brigand,”
pursued the ranger.

“ A born mercenary cut-throat if one ever ex-
isted,” the hermit returned, emphatically. “ I
know him of old. He strikes at me and mine
through motives of reVenge.”

“ Oh! you have been enemies?"

“ Yes; but, to show you, however, that I am
not unduly biased, or prejudiced, I will relate
my previous experience with the scoundrel.”

" hat is hardly necessary, Mr. Carson,”

Little Lightning affirmed readily. “We are
quittigviling to believe that yOu were in the
rig

“ It is better told,” persisted the hermit, with
glowing eyes. “ To be brief:

“ My name is Lewis Carson, and I am a Ken-
tuckian, of old and good family. M' home,
from boyhood to manhood, was near Miysville
Kentucky, where my father owned a large and
valuable plantation.

“ My mother died ere I was a year old. My
father never married again, dying shortly after
I had reached the age of nineteen and leaving
me heir to his estate.

“ My on! remaining relative was a second
cousin—He en Elder, a beautiful girl of my
own age, and at that time a resident of Mays-
ville.

“Rumor had it that she was lighted to a
youthful planter, whose estate a joined mine,
and who had for years been my warmest friend.

“ But into their Eden crept the serpent, in the
guise of one St. Leger Clarkson, a wealthy ad-
venturer, who shortly before had purchased a
fine roperty just out of Maysville.

“ 0 cut the matter short, the Bishop Hearne
of to-day is none other than the Clarkson of

, that date.

“ The scoundrel fell desperately in love with
Helen, and through his machinations the lovers

uarreled, I was forced into challenging James

rndare and killed him.”

“ Orndare!” repeated Little Lightning.

“ Yes, James Orndare, the young planter to
whom Helen had been betrothed,” Carson con-
tinued. “ It was all a deep~laid scheme on the

‘ part of Clarkson, and he succeeded only too

well.

“ I lied to the West. A year later, by a strange
chance, I discovered the duplicity of Clarkson,
and at once wrote to Helen, inclosing lndISput.
able evidence of his uilt.

“ Since that time have been a hermit-miner,
Shunning the world hiding from my sin. Less
than a week ago I discovered Hearne’s identity,
as well as the fact that I was under the sur-
veillance of his spies. What the end will be, 1
know not; but upon one point I am determined
aifpliearne and myself meet, one of us must

0

 

” Death would not be too great a punishment
in such a case,” declared Little Lightning, who
had listened with deep interest to the hermit’s
narrative.

“ May I ask you to describe James Orndare?”

“ Certainly: he was tall and spare, very erect,
and of military carriage, with piercing black
eyes and straight black hair.”

“ Did you ever receive a reply to your letter
to Miss Helen Elder?”

“No: as soon as I had dispatched it, I left
the vicinity, taking especial care to cover my
trail.”

“ Did it ever occur to you that you had
made a mistake—that Orndai'e was not killed l”

“ No; my bullet struck him just above the
heart. There is not one chance in ten thousand
that he recovered.”

“ And yet he did not die!” asseverated Little
Lightning, with due solemnity. “James ()rn—
dare is alive and well at this moment. Why, I
shook hands with him not five hours ago 1”

The hermit gasped, and his skin turned to a
deathly white.

“ Impossible!”
“ You mock me.”

“Indeed I do not,” protested the ranger.
“ He is not on] alive, but in Yellow Dust. He
is the owner 0 the Silver Streak Mine.”

“ My ch! it cannot be! There is a mistake
somewhere!” Carson cried, in a voice tremulous
with emotion, while Rachel, similarly agitated,
aroie and softly slipped her arms about his
use .

“ No—listen: Orndai‘e has a daughter; a
short time ago she disap red—was abducted.
What more likely than that Hearne struck the
blow?” '

The hermit remained silent, his head bowed
down. A minute slipped by; then he arose.

“ Thank Heaven!” he fervently ejaculated,
his eyes glowing with a new light. “You are
right—~ Orndare’s blood is not upon my head!
Hearne, in his devilish malignity, has over-
reached himself, and all is clear at last! But
for the attack to-night I would have fled-- would
have gone down to my grave haunted by a crime
never actually committed!”

“ It is Providence," said Little Lightning, with
a grave smile.

.“ It is Providence l” Carson echoed, extending
his hands to the youth. “ What else could have
induced me to reveal to you, a stranger, the
story of my sufferings—a. story that has never
passed my lips save to Rachel here and her
saluted mother! ’

“ We shall never forget you, Mr. Kane,”
added Rachel, in a low, joyous voice, her fair
face flushing as her blue eyes met the dark orbs
of the;young ranger witha tender glow. “ Never,
never!”

“ That assurance is he

“ Hark!” interrupted
ing‘to his feet.

he next instant Rover appeared at the en-
trance of the inner cavern.

“ That means danger,” Little Lightning de—
clared. “ Remain here, Mr. Carson. Come,
Kent.”

“ That yougg man is worth his weight in
301(11’ declar the hermit, drawing his daugh—
ter to his breast as the two rangers glided in-
to the outer cave. “ I would have trusted him
with my life the moment I set eyes on him!”

AS W0111d_ 1.” Rachel murmured, burying
her face a must her father’s shoulder to hide
a vivid blus .

Little Lightning and Kent were absent but a
moment.

When they re-entered the cave, they brought
With them a most singular-looking personage.

A man, rather tall, can almost to emaciation,
With mild blue eyes, long, straight red hair and
great red beard. .

His'high white hat was rusty and dingy, as
was hisclerical suit of black. In his right hand
he carried an old carpet-bag, in the left a demi-
'ohn.

“ Good-even’, ladesh an’ gen’lemen!” he ejacu-
lated, nodding and blinking gravely at Rachel
and her father. “ Happy to meet you, ’m sure!”

“ Rcckon you don t ’zazactly know me, eh?
No, s’pOse not! But I’m a howlin’ terror from
head-waters, I aml Don’t you fergit it! I’m
Steele Skinwell, the Silent, I 8m, 811’ a right
reveren’ bish0p of the Mormon chnrcb, too!

“ On‘my way to a wed—weddin’—wed—”

The outburst, broken by sundry hiccoughs,
had proceeded thus far, when the “bisho "s ”
limbs suddenly gave way beneath him, an the
tw0 rangers stretched him at full length on the
madly floor.

' loored by the demi john l” exclaimed Kent
With a chuckle.

he muttered, incoherently.

iness enough for—”
ent, suddenly spring-

 

CHAPTER XV.
KENT’S BOLD VENTURE.

LITTLE LIGHTNING stepped aside, accom—
panied by Carson. .

“ What is the meaning of this?" the hermit
asked, with a gesture to indicate the drunken
bishop. “ Why have you fetched him here?”

“ To learn what he knows,” was the guarded
reply. " He had fallen from his horse just _be-
yond the cave entrance, and lay muttering
something about Bishop Hearne and a wedding.

“ Then, too, as Ca tain Marks and his men
are as likely to pass t is way as any other, it
seemed hardly the part of wisdom to leave the
wretch there to attract their attention.”

“ By no means,” Carson assented. “ But tell
me, what is it you suspect concerning Hearne?”

“ Simply that he has carrfed Orndare’s daugh—
ter to his stronghold, with the intention of forc-
ing her into marriage.”

“ At which ceremony Skinwell is to officiate?”

“Exactly. And if I can twist the truth out-
of this Skinwell I shall be in a fair way to thwart
Hearne.”

“ Then I pray Heaven that you may succeed i”
cried the hermit, earnestly. “ Let us to work at
once.”

“ I am ready,” Little Lightning responded.
“ I would suggest, however, that you and your
daughter withdraw to the outer cave. If this
fellow is really Steele Skinwell, the Silent, he is
likely to prove a rough customer.”

Carson uttered an assent. and forthwith con-
ducted his daughter to the outer cave. The two
rangers then set to work.

The bishop had fallen into a drunken sleep.
Kneeling, Little Lightning shook him roughl .

“ Rouse up, old man,” be exclaimed. “ on
won’t get {through tonight! Bishop Hearne—”

A muttered ejaculation filled the hiatus, and,
bendin yet lower, the ranger peered sharply at
Skinwe l’s face.

“ The fellow is in disguise,” he declared, start—
ing up. “ Both hair and heard are false! ’

“ Then it behooves us all to see the wolf di-
vested of his fleece,” said Kent, bending over the
bishop.

It was the work of but a moment to strip off
the beard and the wig, revealing a bald head
and a face fairly seamed with scars.

“ The disguise was harmless—worn for
beauty’s sake,” Kent remarked, smilingly, as he
laid the articles aside. “ But lay ho d, Davy;
We’ll get the galoot upon his feet.”

“Yes, for he must be make to talk,” returned
Little Lightning.

The task, however, roved too much for them-
Tr as they would, a1 they could glean from
Skinwell’s maudlin utterances was that he was
on his way to Bishop Hearne’s, where he was to
officiate at a wedding.

“ We’ll have to give it up,” said Little Light-
ning, in d' ust. “The rascal is soaked so full
of whisky t at he couldn’t tell a straight story
if he wanted to.

“ We’ll bind and gag him, and when he is
sober enough to talk maybe we can find a way,
to draw out the truth.”

“ There is a quicker way than that,” declared-
Kent. “ As you have pledged our assistance to
Orndare, the sooner we strike the right trail the
better.”

“ That is true enough; but what have you in
view!”

“ I propose to become—for the time being—-
Steele Skinwell, the Silent, and beard the jackal,
other wise Hearne, in his den 1”

Little Lightning started:

“ It is too risky,” he protested. “The cheat
would be detected, and your life would not be
worth a pinch of snuff!”

“Trust me to pull through,” was the smiling
response. “ I have this wig and the heard, his
clothing and effects, and his horse. If my
niakegup proves weak, I shall give up the

an.

Little Lightning yielded the int, and the
two went to work with a will. ithin twenty
minutes Kent declared himself ready to depart.
Then Skin well was carried some distance into
an out-of-the.way passage.

“ Call Carson,” said Kent, taking u the
carpet-bag and demijohn, and assuming t e air
of drunken gravity. “ We’ll give the matter a
fair test, here and now.”

A moment later, the .hermit appeared in re-
sponse to a call from Little Lightning.

“ Mr. Carson, will you please to direct
Bishop Skinwell to Hearne’s stronghold?" the
youn ranger asked, his hand resting upon the
shcul er of the bogus Mormon as i to steady
him. “ He has decided to push on, and in the
interest of alll have sanctioned his de rture.”

“ Certainly, it it is your desire,” rep ied

 

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14

> <-' .11” 05‘, — """ ‘~”‘17\4,,~' .' . 3.1, ".‘J. .  i” _

Bolly Darrit, the Veteran Detective.

 

 

son, and he proceeded to give the instructions
asked for.

Little Lightning then accompanied Kent to
the canyon.

"Let us part here,” said the latter, as the
vines closed behind them. “I know exactly
where to find the house.

“ And now, good-by, Davy! If I am not
back by an hour after daylight, go after the
boys and have them ride straight for the strong-
hold. Carson will act as guide, I dare say.”

“ Good- by, Kent! Take care of yourseifl”

“As ever,” was the careless response, and
then the brothers parted.

“Where is your brother, Little Lightning?”
queried Carson,as the ranger re-entered the cave.

“ Gone, Mr. Carson.”

“ Gone?—when?”

“A moment ago, to reconnoiter Hearne’s
stronghold.”

“ And Skinwell?”

“Remains in the rear of the cave, bound
hand and foot. Kent has simply usurped his
title for a time.”

“Impossible!” ejaculated the hermit, in visi-
ble astonishment. “ I never would have detec-
ted the imposture l”

“Nor will Hearne, unless he is intimately
acquainted with this Skinwell,” Little Light-
ning declared.

In the mean time, Kent Kane had made his
way to the spot where he had tethered the
bis op’s horse. Mounting, he rode slowly away,
following Carson’s instructions as nearly as
possible, and in a short while arrived in the
vicinity of Hearne’s place.

Dismounting, he tethered the horse in a
secluded spot near the mouth of the pass lead—
ing into the valley. Creeping past the sentinel
unobserved, he made his way without mishap
into the valley proper. Stopping beside a small
thicket, he made as thorough a surve of the
house and its surroundings as the arkness
would permit.

“ A light down—stairs, front, and another up-
stairs, roar,” he muttered. “ If Miss Orndare is
in either of the rooms, it is the u r one."

Leaving his sheltered p0sition, ent proceeded
to the rear of the house, where, at a distance of
forty or fifty feet from the building proper, he
again paused. Then:

“ Hallo, that! Don’t tromp on a teller, pard l”
and up from the ground rose a lank form, con-
fronting the startled lad as suddenly as an up
parition. “ What d’ye mean, a-prowlin’ round
off yer beat? Sa—ay, you—”

The uerulous tones ceased abruptly. A hand
drop heavily u n Kent’s shoulder and a
ir of wickedly-g1 ttering eyes stared hard at
is face.

“Ef ’tain’t, dern me! Howdy, Bishop?”

The die was cast!

Mechanically, Kent dropped the carpet-bag
and extended his hand.

“Fair to middlin’, Rocky—it’s Rocky, ain’t
it?” he returned, in a thick tone, broken with his

cougis.

“ ary Rocky—et’s Jerry Sulkan ye’re talkin’
to,” the sentry replied. “Bin tankin’ up right
smart, hain’t ye, bish?”

“ Solacin’ the inner man a trifle, sir,” was the
giggly-uttered reply, and the demijohn changed

n s.

“Et’s prime stufl’,” declared Sulkan, aftera
fingering look at the stars. “Kinder celebrat-
in’ ther weddin’ aforehand, bean’t ye?”

“ Rejoicin’ at my friend’s good fortune, some-
what,” and Kent made a pretense of taking a
lon ull. “Good-lookin’ gal, they say.”

“ ou bet—slashin’! Black e es an hair, an’
es purty es a peach ie. Thets her room up
thar—ther one with t er light.”

“ I’ve forgotten her name.”

“ Orndare.”

“That’s it,” and Kent again passed the demi-
john. “ An’ where’s the bishop?”

“ Snoozin’ in ther library, ’ replied Sulkau,
after a sigh expressive of supreme contentment.
“ I reckon thar’s bin ther devil tor pay this
night, au’ we’re all used up, ther boss included.”

“ In what we 3”

“ Oh, inera y. Ter be in with, sum ov ther
bishop’s eelers down at aller Dust snared one
ov Orndare‘s detectives an’ undertook ter bring
him inter camp; but, sumwhar down ther ass
he made his escape, an’ Injun Nickerson an his
hounds hev bin out fer two hours tryin’ ter run
’im down.

“ Then, too, earlier in ther night, afore ther
biship had gotten home. Cap Marks an’ a squad
left tor bring in Mose, ther Hermit-Miner, an’ a

a1, liviu’ over in ther hills two or three miles
rom hysr, an’ they hevn’t got in yet, though
they’re more’n two hours overdue.”

 

“ We must learn to bear such trials, though
they go mightily against the spirit,” Kent ob-
served, Signing mournfully. “ Hit it again,
brother; it’s tLO balm in ‘ilead, an as free as
water to the faithful."

“ Thankee, boss; et do take ther wire aidge
off’n a hard night’s work.”

“ By George! l’d like a peep et that gal l” the
bogus bishop exclaimed, with a sudden anima-
tion, after a moment’s silence. “ She’s up an’
stirrin’.”

“ Ye shell hev et, Pard Bishop,” declared Sul-
kan, warmly. “ Le’s see; thar’s a shed roof
runnin’ up under ther window, an’ I’ll guv ye a
lift outer et, et‘ ye’r’s steady enough on yer pins
ter make et from thet p’int up. VV but say I”

“ Steady, say you? Try me zin‘ N v.” hic-
cou hed Kent, as ifindignant at the imputation.

ith a muttered apology, the gangling rough
led the way toward the building. The back end
of the shed was not more than seven feet in
hight, and it required but a slight exertion upon
the part of Sulkan to place the reckless young
ran er upon the roof.

“ e keerful, bishop,” warned the rough,
eagerly seizing the demijohn, for the possession
of which he had risked his chief’s direst displeas-
ure. “ Sev’ral ov ther boys aire posted in the
grounds, an’ ef they see ye, yer cake is dough—
ef ye git off so easy!”

With a muttered response, Kent crept cau-
tiously up the roof, keeping outside the belt of
light. A moment sufficed for him to reach the
Window, which was provided with stout bars.

A pane in the lower corner of the sash had
been badly cracked. A gentle, yet steady, push
with the point of his knife dislodged a piece of
glass, which rattled to the floor within.

“ Miss Orndarel Miss Orndarel” he exclaim-
ed, in a low, penetrating voice, placing his
mouth as near the aperture just created as the
bars would permit.

A rustling sound, a quick, li ht step, ap-
prised the young ranger that he m5 been heard.

Then, in a guarded, yet musical voice, came
the uer-y:

“ ho speaks”

“A friend! Turn down the light—low, and
come nearer the window.”

The request met with a prom t compliance.

“Help is at hand,” pursued ent, gazing ea~
gerly at the outlines of the white, wan face just
discernible in the darkness. “ Keep up your
spirits. Before the day is gone you shall be re-
stored to your friends.”

“ Heaven bless you for that assurance,” was
the earnest, low-vowed response. “May I ask
your name, and if you came from my f itherl”

“ My name is Kane—Kent Kane. My pm
ence here is due to an accident, but I s a 1 go
direct to your father, with full information as
to your whereabouts.

. “ Can you open the window!”

“ I can hoist the sash a few inches.”

“ Then I will leave you a revolver. Use it in
defense of yourself without scruple, if need be,”
and Kent placed the weapon in the slim white
hand extended.

“ And now, good-by—for the present,” con-
tinued the ranger. “ It is growmg light in the
east, and I must get out of this infernal strong-
hold before daybreak, if at all.”

“ Good- ”

Impulsively, his heart beating wildly, Kent
raised to his lips the hand laid confidently in
his. Then the window softly closed, and, with
due caution. he descended from the shed.

No sooner was be fairly upon his feet, after
dropping to the ground, however, than he was
confronted by Sulkan.

“ See hyar,” exclaimed that worthy, with a
menacing inflection, as he suddenly presented
his revolver, his eyes gleaming wrathfully,
“you stop—bishop! Yer little game’s played
out !’

“ Played out !” echoed Kent, in well simulated
astonishment.

“ Thet’s w’ot I sed,” affirmed the rough, grim-
ly. “ Yeve played et purty slick, too, ’cept on
one leetle ’iiitl”

“ And t at?”

“Steele Skinwell, ther Silent, carries a closo
ton ue; but you—”

he ruflian laughed outright.

He had detected the imposture—but too late!

The next instant, Kent, hazarding all upon a
bold stroke, dashed aside the weapon and SPFUPE
forward, raining down blow utter b10w Wit
the heavy butt of his clubbed revolver.

CHAPTER XVI.
DESPERATE MEASURES.
“ PERDITION !” grated Old Dan Rackhoss, sav-
agely, as yell after yell of alarm rung through

 

 

   

the forest. “ Take keer ov ther dorg, Ortho-
dox—I’ll fetch ther two—laiged kiote a thump
an’ a belt in a holy minnit!”

Ere the hoarse strains had ceased, the affray
was begun in deadly earnest. Shot after shot
rung out from either side, while from up the
stream, and down, came yells of encouragement
to the stubbornly battling outlaw.

At the first fire, as luck would have it, the
huge dog uttered a sharp yelp, staggered and
fell, with a bullet planted squarely between his
6 cs.

This was too much for the outlaw, pi'esaging,
as it did, the fate almost certainly in store for
him if he remained. Hastin emptying his re-
VOIVer, he uttered a faint cry of defiance, then
turned and fled headlong down the stream.

“ Quick, pardl—let ther dirty cuss go!” Ci'ied
Orthodox, catching Olc‘: Dan by the shoulder
and pulling him toward the water. “ We’ve
got tor git out ov this—they’re too many fer us.”

Rackhoss, with a muttered imprecation at the
ill—luck pursuing them, Shevcd his revolver back
into his belt, and the two again made their way
to the middle of the stream.

“ Which way ?” Rackhoss asked, as they paused
for a moment.

“ Down,” was the ready reply.

Not ten paces had they proceeded, however,
when RaclihOSS, who had again taken the_ lead,
suddenly halted, uttering a sound expresswe of
intense satisfaction.

“ This way, Orthodox,” he muttered, hur-
riedly. “ Hyar’s our chaince, ef we’re quick an’
s r l”

pTl’ie two men were in the dense shadow of a
tree leaning almost directly across the stream.
Just overhead was a mass of foliage, and into it
Rackhoss drew himself, even as he spoke.

The next minute he was followed by Orthodox

ete.

“Ther higher we go, ther better,  reckon,”

Rackhoss continued, with due caution, as he

roceeded upward. “ Them derned hounds ’11
Rev a high time strikin’ our trail, eh?”

Then came an hour of intense anxiety. Up
and down the stream beat Hearne’s followers,
passing and re ssing directly beneath the two
fugitives, who ly unsuspicious of ' their resence,
yet marveling at their mysterious d sappear-
ance.

“ Et’s no use, pards—they’re too much fer us,”
cried one of the five, despondently, as they
assembled under the overhanging bank of the
stream, a short distance below the leaning tree.
“ Et will be daylight in another hour, an’ that’s
our best holt."

" Straight talk,” assented Nickerson, briefly.
“ Dogs no good—see bime-by.”

Slowly and wearily, the cohort took its way
back to the point at which the dog had been
killed, and there patiently awaited t e break of
d

a .

Then, just as the sun rose into the cloudless
sky, the trail was discovered, nearly a mile
low, running in almost a bee-line toward the
cam of Yellow Dust.

“ We’re euchered, pards—et’s more’n an hour
old l” solemnly averred the oldest and most skill-
ful trailer in the party, and, Injun Nickerson
acquiescing, they abandoned the pursuit and
hastened direct to the stronghold of Bishop
Hearne.

 

In the office of the Silver Streak Mine sat
James Orndare, his elbows resting upon the edge
of his desk, his face buried in his hands. .

Before him just as it had fallen from his
nerveless fingeis. lay a fragment of white paper,
closely covered with writing. '

He had entered the office a few minutes after
da break. Just as the sun sent his first ray of
go den light up the pass and through the window
behind the mine-owner, some one tried the door,
then knocked.

Orndare raised his head.
and haggard.

“That must be Darrit,” he muttered, rising
and crossing to the door. .

The surmise proved correct. .

On the threshold stood the veteran detective.

Into the office he strode. vi ith a careless salu-
tation, and helped himself to a seat oppOSite to
that the mine-owner had vacated. _
d Orndare locked the door and returned to his

esk. .

“ You are looking bad, this morning—played
out and used up,” the detective observed, Scan—
ning Orndare’s face with critical eyes.

“ Read that,” was the terse response. and the
mine-owner thrust into Darrit’s hand the piece
of r. . .

lammiued the followmg, penned m acmmp.
ed, irregular hand:

His face was white

 

 

 

.. V‘fi.“)fi:{'t .,.

 

   
 

i ' .,,

Belly Darrit, the Veteran Detective.

/

15

 

 

“Jana mummies-You are hereby notified that
our day of grace has expired. Unless the sum of
15,000 is this day depOsited, per the conditions

specified in the terms of deliverance h retot‘ore

made you, your daughter is forever lost to you.

“Tm: BROTHERHOOD or FORTUNE."

“,‘All pith and point,” remarked Bolly, when
he had perused the message. “ How was it
delivered?”

“ Pinned to the door with a bowie,” Orndare
replied. “ It is high time for something decisive
upon our part. Those infernal rascals are grow-
ing desperate.

“What have yon to report this morning?”

“ Simply that a decisive move will be made
some time to-day—as soon, in fact, as Orthodox
and Rackhoss return.”

“ Have Little Lightning and his men ar-
rived?”

“ Eight of them came in some time before
daybreak, and are lying in wait a short distance
out in the timber. Fine-looking lads they are,
too—as daring as ever trailed a red or hunted
an outlaw.”

“ Their leader is with them?”

“ No, but momentarily expected. He and his
brother were detained.”

Orndare sighed.

_“ Speak of his Satanic Majesty l” ejaculated
Bolly, quickly gaining his feet. “ Here comes
Grim. Get me out of sight.”

“ What can it mean! Do you connect his
coming with this message from the ‘ Brother-
hood of Fortune?’ ”

“ Two and two usually foot up four, and—
Gideon Grim isn’t up early for nothing! ’ Bolly
returned with a grimace. “ Hide me, quick,
and don’t betray my presence.”

“ That closet there will answer your purpose
— on can leave the door ajar.”

t took the veteran but a moment to stow
himself away. Orndare unlocked the office
door, then returned to his seat to await the
coming of Grim.

That oily individual was not long in makin
his a pearanoe. -

“ -morning, Brother Orndare!” he saluted
in his smoothest tones, as he threw o n the door
and walked into the office. “ I don ted that I
should be so fortunate as to find you here at this
early hour.”

“I trust, then, that you find yourself agree~
abl disappointed,”_was the even-toned response.
“ ave a seat.”

The Mayor of Yellow Dust sat down, removed
and rubbed his spectacles brisk] .

“ Yes. 1 turned out early thg morning, as I
am going over to Piocbe on busin ” he began,
with a certain nervousness that di not escape
the keen black eyes of the mi ne-owner, “ in fact,
to bank a considerable sum of money.”

6‘ Yea?”

“ Yes. I have decided, however, to try to
close up the deal I opened with you a few days
ago be ore I start.”

“ on still .wish to purchase the Silver
Streak?”

“ Exactly.”

“ The mine is not for sale.”

Grim put on his glasses. His hands trembled,
and it was ev1dent that he was hurried.

“ Consular, Orndare—consider,” he expostu-
lated, dropping a_amooth, round hand on each
knee and and, gums straight at the mine-Owner.
“I’ve the solid cash right here in my pocket——
every cent the mine is worth. And you need
the money, t»0()"bfidlyl Remember the fate
hanging over your daughter!”

The ast vestige of color fled from Orn-
dare’s face. In an instant he was upon his
feet.

“ You infernal Scoundrel!” he cried, his voice
low and intense, his eyes blazing wrathfully;
“ go back to your confederates and gay to them
that, if so much as a hair of my child’s head is
harmed, I shall never rest till just and due un—
ishment has been meted out to every man 0 the
unlawful and unholy cabal!”

“ You are mad, sir—mad as a March hare!”
sputtered Grim, s ringing back in alarm.

“ Mad, but it is a madness with a method,”
quoth a new voice, directly. behind the villain-
ous official, and Bollv Darrit stepped forth from
his place of concealment, a cocked revolver in
his hand. ,

“ Surrender, Grid Grim.
name of the law!” ,

“ On what charge?” falteredthe culprit, facing
about and paling and flushing by turns. '

“ Abduction and cons iracy to defraud l”

tterly unnerved, Grim quietly submitted his
“I”? gimme manacies, and was then led backto

“Desperate mm require desperate meas-

I demand it in the

 

ures,” quoth Darrit. “ We must next secure
Pepper. Can you entice him here?”

Before Orndare could reply, the door was
opened and Marshal Pepper entered the office.

“ Good-inornin’, gents,” he accosted, as he
carelessly closed the door.

“Good-mornin’, Mr. Pepper,” returned Orn-
dare, With an icy smile.

Then the marshal’s eyes fell upon the rotund
form of Belly Darrit, and he made a move as if
to draw a weapon.

The veteran was too quick for him, and with-
in a minute he was as helpless as the mayor.

After a brief consultation the prisoners were
gagged and conducted into a small apartment
in the rear of the office proper, where they were
locked up in company with Major Menace.

On their return to the outer room Orndare
and Darrit found in waiting a slender, blue-
eyed, brown-haired lad, armed to the teeth and
gurbed as a plainsman.

“ Kent Kane!” ejaculated the detective, rush-
ing forward with open arms, his twinkling blue
eyes beaming with delight.

“ None other, I assure you, Bolly,” the youth
returned, as he evaded the threatened bearlike
bug by warmly clasping the outstretched hands.

“ And this is James Orndare?”

“ lt is,” replied the mine-owner.

“ Then, sir, you are the man I am lookin for.
I am direct from the stronghold of Bishop
Hearne, and I have newa of your missing
daughter!”

CHAPTER XVII.
CONCLUSION.

WHEN Bishop Hearne arrived at the bottom
of the stairway, after his brief interview with
Millie Orndare, he came upon a group of his fol-
lowers surrounding the senseless form offJerry
Sulkan.”

“ What’s wrong now?”

“ Sulkan has been set upon and beaten well-
nigh to death,” replied one of the group.

‘ B whom?”

“ None ov us knows. He was found just back
ov ther house, jest 9! ye see ’im.”

“ A drunken row, I’ll be bound,” snarled
Heal-he, passing on toward the library.

Dark and wrathful were the glances that fol-
lowed him.

“ Pards, things aire lookin’ shak fer ther
Brotherhood ov Fortune,” assevera a shrewd-
looking rascal, as the library door closed.
“ Hearne is too near drunk ter attend ter biz-
ness, an’ jest now—”

He shook his head sagely, ominously.

“ Atween us,,pards, t’other side ov ther range
aire safer a durned sigI t, jest now! ” another
muttered, with a quic , cautious glance at his
fellows. “ 'I‘her ole man hes too many irons in
ther flre. Hyar's goin’ ter vamosei”

“ An’ hyar,” “ an’ hyar l” echoed others of the
party, and then, in a silent, subdued sort of
way, they gently lifted Sulkan from the floor
and carried him to his quarters.

_In the mean time Bishop Hearne had entered
his library and flung himself into his comforta-
ble leather chair.

There came a rap at the door, and. in response
to the summons to enter, Captain Jason Marks
walked in.

“ Well?” queried the bishop, half-rising.

“1V0 failed,” was the curt reply, with a ges-
ture at his bandaged throat.

For a moment the bisho was speechlem. Then
he launched forth in an a usive tirade.

Captain Marks listened in silence, a grim
smile hovering over his lips, until Hearne had
ended, then, without a word, he quitted the
library.

A few minutes later Injnn Nickerson glided
silently into the room and confronted the bishop.

Hearne did not stir from the depths of his
chair but eyed the red-skin suspiciously.

“ o ketCh ’um—find water an’ fool hounds!”
terser reported the Indian.

“ Get out, you worthless dog!” thundered the
Mormon, quivering with rage. “ Get away—-
don’t let, me see you! You are all in league with
my enemies!” . I I

Injun Nickerson quietly withdrew, and the
bishop was again alone.

“ They are undoingme, the curs!” he grated,
again and again, in his drunken wrath. “ But
I’ll beat ’em yeti Steele Skinwell will be with
us. by and by i” .

And thus he sat during the greater part of the
forenoon—one moment despondent and wrath-
flll. the next flendishly exultant.

Finally, a strange sound reached his ears—the
gumbling of wheels and the tramp‘ of many

ones.

 

In a trice he was upon his feet, startled, agi-
tated. Crossing to a window overlooking the
narrow valley, he peered forth.

What a scene greeted his eyes!

A scene that might well curry terror and de~
spair to his wretched soul! ,

Winding across the valley, led by Captain
Marks, and bearing with them everything por-
table of value, were his followers.

They were deserting, to a man!

Stolidly, as if bereft of the power of motion.
Bishop Hearne watched the cavalcade out of
sight.

“ They are going through the upper pass.” he
gritted, as he turned toward the house. “ They
have robbed my vengeance of half its sting, but
it shall be swift and sure, nevertheless!”

At that juncture, he was startled by a ring~
ing hail. _

“ By heavens! it is Steele Skinwelll” he ejacu~
lated, with a breath of relief, as he gazed earn-
estly down the valley.

Two minutes later, the red-bearded Mormon
sprung from his dripping horse and confronted
Hearne, with the salutation:

” Well, bishop, I am here.”

Hearne made no reply. He was gazing anx-
iousl at the lower pass.

“ be are these men?" he cried, suddenly,
his hands dropping swiftly to the revolvers in
his belt.

“ Friends of mine,” was the reply. “ See
here, bishop—don’t act a fool! I hold the dr !”

Hearne started. The muzzle of a revo ver
stared him in the face.

“ Who are you?” he asked, hoarsely.

The bogus bishop threw aside the false beard
and wig, revealing the white, stern face of Kent

ne.

“One of Little Lightning’s followers i” ejacu-
lated Hearne, in dismay.

“ His brother,” amended Kent.

“ I’ve played a hard game, and lost,” con-
tinued the bishop, in an undertone. “ But, even
in defeat I can rob them of Vengeance!”

He raised his hand to his mouth. .A slight
crackling, grinding sound followed. -

Kent sprung forward and plucked the revol-
vers from his belt, just as the Invincibles rode
up and halted.

“ Hal it is Little Lightning l” eeted Hearno,
staggering blindly. “ Had I illed him last
night, this would not have been i”

“ Orndare and Carson, too, and reconciled l” he
continued, just audibly. “Ye gods! how utter-
ly, how miserably, have. I failed I”

“ How miserably, indeed, St. Leger Clarkson,”
uttered Orndare, dismounting, just as the bishop
sunk d0wn in a heap.

“ How miserably, indeed, Old Man Keene l”
echoed Little Lightning.

With an effort, Hearne lifted his head and
motioned Orndare and Carson to approach.

“ I’ve done my level best, and failed 1” he
gasped, his eyes shifting from face to face. “ Be
merciful, I beg you, and spare my son, Major
Menace l” _

Those were the plotter’s last words. The next
minute he was dead—poisoned by his own hand!

 

With the death of Bishop Hearne, the pom er
of the unscrupulous Mormon cohort was broken,
Millie Orndare was restored to her father, and a
better one dawned in Yellow Dust.

Lewis Carson at once purchased a half-inter-
est in the Silver Streak Mine. Rachel and.
Millie became inseparable, and, in the end, sis-
ters-in-law—the first becoming the bride of for-
tunate David Kane, the other, of the equally-
lucky Kent.

The pursuit of the fleeing Brotherhood of
Fortune, although vigorously pushed by Old Bol-
ly Darrit, Dan Backhoe: and orthodox Pete, to-
gether with the Prairie Invinmbles, was barren
of results. The demoralined outlaws scattered,
to reassemble and reorganize later on.

On the return of Orndare’s party to Yellow
Dust. it was found, too. that Major Menace,
Gideon Grim and Marshal Pepper, doubtless aid-
ed by allies in the camp, had efl'eCted their es-
cape, leaving no clew by which they could be
trailed.

The only remainin captive was the unfor-
tunate Steele Skinwe 1. Against him no case
could be made, and he was accordingly released.

Thus, the malefactors escaped, almost without
punishment; but, relieved by the death of_their
arch-foe, and made happy by the restoration of
Millie and the reunitin of friendship’s broken
bands, our friends could well say:

“ Ali’s well that ends well.”

THE END.

 

h

a
V.
. .
4

on...

   

BEADLE’SrHALF-DIMErLIBRARY.

 

 

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Published Eve Tuesda . Each Issue Com le 72 ' ' '

ry y p te a d Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. N0 Double Numbers.
B1 LD“ ARD L. Vi HELLER. BY CHARLES MORRIS. HY CDLDNEL PRENTISR INGRAHA“.
Dcadwood Dick Novcla. 118 Will Somcra, the Boy Detective 7 ‘ ‘ - '
I . - 'lhc i‘ hill 1 ankec' or Th 1-: .

1 Dcndwoml luck, H... him... “i ii... “WHL 122 Phil llardy, the Bus! Buy. 17 "mph [(05, the Nov lil‘it‘t‘ll’nrere' (gfe’illigi‘lnxttive Yacht
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gs Bun-“h, lg...” (.r' l),.,..lw.,...l [)i..k in Disguise. 130 Detective Dic ': Ur. 1hr New in Rflifl- 62 The Shadow Hill”; or. 'l'ht- Rival i ieutennnia .

85 \i'llu lvun, n... is... (tr-um. lluval. “2 Ilpl-«I-mne "am, 5"“ “(“"'""k Detective» 75 The lioy Dncli-t; ur. 'rii. cu”... “in... Myron
42 Phantom .Viillcr: or, lit-alluonll llick's Bonanza. 147 “ ill “Viidiil't'glllt' Thoroughbred. 102 Dick Dc‘ad-E 'e, the Boy snnlzvier L -
49 “main: (ill: Hr. l’t'iltlwnoul Dick ill Dung". 152 "luck Itclla. \\ Ill \‘i Iidhrc‘a liflt'i‘l’. ill The Sca-Dev I: 0". Tht; Mid‘hiiunan’a Legacy
5.- "..udwoud luck-I Eagle” M, The mm. or Flood mm 153.? Mlkc Mcrry, (hr iiurin-r l’nlu-e Boy. 116 The Honor Captain; Or. The Hermit oi “(all (into
73 Deadwood Dick on Deck: or. ('nlamitl- .lnne,the Heroine. 1‘35 wm “ "dan I" "W  00¢“ 197 Little Grit: 0f. ""Sslel lhé' Stork—'l'ondr-r‘s Daughter .
7’? Corduroy (‘ililrli(‘; or. llcmiuwmd Ilit-li‘s Last Act. 1“” “"U “flifll‘fllfl'. ‘1'“ R’l‘l'oml “"va 204 Gold i’lumc: 0". Thta Kill-tilm-e Sport. I
100 Deadwood Dick in Lcadvillc. ‘3" “ 'l run-n Cord: "r. “Illfit'ilhiw Win! find 1-0!“- 216 lilaou mu. the mm. at the ion...
04 Deadwood Dick‘a Del-ice: or. The Double Cross Sin. 13.4 "(’l’ """ki‘": "" “film” “f New “"1" 222 “I'll. iilll' Drin'o Nimrl; “r. The Woman Trailer
109 Deadwood In”. a, "cu-0",... 1l9 Iiioh iiockctt. thv Bunk liunno-r. 22D Crimaon Rate; or. The (‘owhuy‘s ’l‘rlulnph '
129 Deadwood Dick‘a Double: or, The Ghost of Gorgon’a “8 U” "mac" “um” .""v “ ‘” Wildfire} Revenge. 28? Lone Mar. the Cowllm‘ Capt-in. ‘
Gulch. 1"? 1‘ IT" "nlyurd. “W 11"" “"3! “"l‘: “T. The Smuuglen. 245 Merle tllc Middy "W. The Freelance lleir
188 "lullde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick‘s Home Rule. 1"” '50“ "00"0“? “T- n""““ i“ “'9 Wltll- 25" The Nildlhipnuln .Mutlncer; or, Brandt. the Buccaneer
149 A Game oi’ Gold; or. l)cmlw«.nd Dir-it'll Big Strike. ‘96 h'Hldt'Wl‘d; 0'. lfoh Rm-kett'fl Fight for Life. 204 The Floating Feathcr: or, Merle Ali-lite’n Trauurr
156 Deadwood Dick oi' Deadwood; or. The l’ickrtl Party. 2"“ "Ier l’alll. tlw llirt'r K'I'ir- :- nnu.
195 Deadwood Dick'll Drcaln; or, ’I he Riv iln ni'the Road. 212 ,D‘llt‘l'illll "INT. "‘8' PM!” ntlertli‘e. 269 Tim Gold Elli ' or .\lcric, the Condcinned.
201 The "lack In“. Jezebel; or, llrildwond In“ Ward, 2&9 loan l‘unncr: or. [he Black Sheep 0! the Flock. 276 Merle Monte a‘ Cruiao; or, The Chase of “The Gol.‘
20:, Deadwood luck»! "00'", or, Guam“), Janey! L“, Ad. 2;? :lllnldi'lla:coal lilit;\]l‘l‘r‘lllllllll ’llarky. Sliip_v,
venture. - b) L In 'ow . am. i it‘ A t'fiflt‘nut‘r lily. 230 Merl . ‘ ‘ - earl, the Pirnlr‘ '
217 Cantu“. Crn(ak.fihot, the (:irl mi and. 242 I llc i no “ lilood- “: or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang. 884 The germifl'uilxii ‘nrmhiierle Montr‘a i'lriigEflde.
221 Sn ar-Conted flaln: or. The llhu: Gown. 2:3” Rick i’fllhfl‘YIU‘3 ("'v A BMW” “‘0' i" ('hlt'l‘tl“v 257 "HIV iiiuc-Eyea the Boi- Rowr of lhc Rio (irande.
232 (go (Lung [Huh A munnme (,r Rough, and Tough... 202 I ilc \ oung hilarpa: or. itollii-king Mike’s ilot Trail. 304 '1‘ilt‘.1’('ali Shot ’Dalldy - nr lirnltn. the Boy Bugler.
263 "endwoml mow. I“..ng My T}... Swim “Swflmp Lake. 274 Jolly Jim. the vomit... m. m-iuh-r. mm Keno Kit; of. hand Shut l’lnnrly‘n nonhio. ‘
2M Dcadwood Dick’a Death ‘raii. 2"” J01” -!l"|"‘ JO"; "'2 Thi- iounz Dow-live. 814 The Myatcrioua Marauder; or The Bov 1311819?" Long
809 Deadwood Dick’n Big Deal; or, The Gold Brick of 29" Till: “ IIit‘r-iipllilt‘i: or, The YoungThoroughbred. 'l'raii. ’ ‘
n...me ‘ 305 lianllllway. oi Dakota; or, A Western Lad in the Quaker s77 nonodel, the Buy “over; our”... mule... schooner,
321 Deadwood Dick a Dozen : or. The Fakir ofl’hantnm Flats. ‘ "3'" 888 Tim lndilln Pilot: 0". Tllr Search for Pirate lainnd.
34? Dcadwood Dick‘ll Ducatn or, Rainy Days in the Dig. 821 "MP" Rena!“ "W "M91 Wt." Del-BMW“ 357 “'Ill’itflill “Will. tht'v 30" l’hnnwn
King,“ Bil 'i:ony Tilornc, the Vauahnnd Detective. 893 Senwnify the liov Lieutenant. .
851 Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or, 'l‘h. Ten-ibis, vendvun. 853 'l he Reportl-r-Dctcctlvcz or. Fred Flyer’a Blizurd. 402 laodor. the Young Collapirator' or The Fatal League.
362 Deadwood Dick‘a Claim: or, The Fairy Face of Faro “’7 “ id“"‘“'“k" J”‘-‘3 "'v A ""3"" theTimt‘L 40’? 'i‘hc iiov innurzcnt; or The (‘uha’n Viorldetto
i Inta. 8'?” LP“"* the chcicr; or. The Blnodu of the Boulevard. 412 Tim “‘1 d Yachtnman 3‘ or The War-(‘ioud‘aCruise
405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City. 403 'i‘ Ire y Jack. the River—Rut l)ei.t‘i'i.l\'¢- 429 Duncan Dare. thv liov Refugie. I I
410 Deadwood Dick’u Diamond's: 01’. Th0 MYIterv of Joan 42” the 1‘9"" 1‘ “We” “r' Tl" 1‘3""“i'i’e‘l Cflhler' 488 i\ (‘abin llov’n Lllck- or The Cor-air
421 font; ll" k1 1‘ ‘  Frcid i‘nlpl'or'. til» lielvtiricr Detectivc. 48? The SC“ Kuhn.“ ’ | .
k.“ woo, (. n ‘ew York; or, A “Cute Cane.” ' "V “1' D (‘ .oiran, tho Pinkerton Ferret. ' V . . ‘ r in - or, A Middv' ’ i
430 Deadwood Dick’a Duati or, The Chained liand. 45“ “l”! WM“ “w Mb" lemwl- 23:; ili'I‘l‘pliililfll'dylillirrv": or, 11.. s(-»€p:i<":;::lrilie€%~
443 "cadwmm luck, Jr. 496 \\ llic-.\ \l'llkc Jcrry, llrlrt‘lit’t'; or, Entombed Alive. 4150 \Nl’nrd “‘1”: or Th.- llnv Fern-at oi New York ‘
“8 Nickebplnte Ned; 0,, Deadwood Dick Jrr. Definite. 4.9 Dctm-tlvc Dodge: or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. 454 “v'iard “1",. fill-got scout... ‘
458 Sunflower Hum, oi Shanta; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’. Fun 48" \\ lid Dick Ruck-ct. 462 1"“. "on. Guide; or. The Sailor Bov Wanderer.
an . 501 Hoot-i. tllc Boy Fireman t or, Too Sharp for the Sharper. 68 Neptune Ned u”, “M. 0mm". '
459 Flu-h Fan, the Ferret; or, powwow chk 1“ Big Roma, 566 'lhc hccrct rcrvlcc Boy Detective. 474 Flora; or: 'ri'izilrtl Will‘s \‘ugnnond Purd.
. ' 488 F A r - a : ur. Wizard \Vili’o Last Cane.
465 lfililo Fly, of l’henlx; or, Doadwnod Dick Jr‘a Racket at , V ‘ 4N? N;:;Ja [I‘VE-titling), Revolver Runner. ‘
aim 0. B‘ 01.1. (DDMLS. 495 Arleua Joe thr- llov l‘ard ci'Trxas Jack.
47] Bozeman Bill; or, Deadwood Dirk Jr’a Corral. , 497 Huck Taylor King hi thv (‘nwhova
470 Humboldt Harry, the Hurricane; or, Deadwood Dick Jr‘a 5 ‘Vfllflbnlld Joe. the Y0"!!! Wandering Jew. 503 The Royal \iiddv ' or The Shlikand ll195“ Cat
Dog Detet'tivc. 13 '1 he Dumb filly. 507 The IIuntchHIdliili nian I
431 Moll My-tery: or, Deadwood Dick Jr. ll. Deadwood. 27  ""31"?" Ah". il‘“,““." Gl‘l‘le- 5" The "llilfl‘h‘éd “id 1 .
491 Prince i’intol. tile King of the West; or. Dcfldwoull Dick 31 keen-knife, “W Wm“? "Hhe l'rflil’lel- 520 liuckakin Dill ‘thc (‘onianrlle Shadow
.lr’l compart. 41 Laaao Jack, the Young Mustanger. 525 lirothcra ill lil‘lckakln
498 Monte Cid-to, Jr.t or. Deadwood Dick Jr's inheritance. 5’” The Bord" “mg! "" “85¢er Foe. silo Thc n. kI-ki‘i Dower-i
500 Dear wood Dick’a Di; nil-iohbf- De'ih-Grip‘l Swoop. ‘ l "t’luwm'e "it'l‘r ‘ " “'"W “inn!!! 5P)” 535 The “ac akin ltovcra.
508 Dead wood Dick’a De veranee. 74 "t‘Wk'th' "‘"rV “‘9 “*"HK T'M‘l‘el‘ R'mflY-h 540 Captain Kn—Klux the .‘tiaraudrr oi theRlo
515 Deac wood Dick’a Protegee. 88 Rollo. tile Bo ’ Iiunxer. 545 l icntcnant 1 co of. Son ‘or Lafitte '
522 Deal wood Dick’a Three. 184 Euro ii‘llot hct , th. lloy ltiflcmnn. 550 l‘nmt'e.‘ Le  ‘, m, The AW“ in ' son
529 Dead wood Dick’a Danger Ducka. 148 Scar-l‘ ace Saul. the Silent Hunter 555 The yt‘rcolc‘Coi-‘iialr ' g g ' |

on woot Dick’s Death Hunt.

Dick Jr., in Texas.

544 Deal wom Dick, Jr., the Wild Went Vidocq.
w Dick on llil Mettle.

554 Deadwood Dick, Jr.. in Gotham.

56i Dead wood Dick in Bonton.

567 Dead wood Dick, Jr.. in Philadelphia.
573 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chicago.

 

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Other Novel: by E. L. Wheeler.
’6 Cloven "00!, the Bufnlo Demon.
89 Bob Woolf; ol’, The Girl Dead-Shot.
89 Death-Face, Detectiver or, Life in New York.
45 old Avalanche} or, Vi lid Edna. the Girl Briguld.
53 Jim Bludaoe. r.. the Boy Phcnix.
61 Bucklrorn Bill: or. The Rad liiiie Team.
69 Gold Riilc the SM? thooter: on'i‘ho Bo Detoctlvo.
80 Ito-chad Hob or. ulrget Nod, the n gilt,
84 ldyl, the Girl . inert or, Rosebud ob on Hand.
88 Pilcttzfl'. ll i’illi; or, Rolebud Rob‘s Reap rams.
92 Can: a C et; or, Old Anaconda in Sitting liull’: Camp.
98 w atch-E e: or, Arab. and Angela ofa Great City.
18 Jack Hoy e the Young Sneculatur.
7 Giledged Dick, the Sport Detective
i (‘in amon Chin, the Girl Sport.
5 Bonanza Hill. Miner.
8 lion iiob the King of Bootblacka.
41 Solid Sam the Boy Road-Agent.
45 gupt’agn Dorret, the Now York Dctoctln; or, Bog. now.
00! u .
16! New York Nell the Boy-Girl Detective.
177 Nobb Nick of fievadal or, The Slcrru Sculpt.
181 “'ild rank, thc Biii'kllilll Bravo.
209 Fritz. the Bound—Boy Detective.
218 Fritz to the Front: or, The Ventrll ulat Hunter.
I26 Snoozer the Buy Sharp: or,1‘ho Arab toctive.
236 Apollo fun, the Trail Tornado.
240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator.
244 8 crra Ram, il‘lu Frontier Ferret.
248 S-‘erra Sam’a Secret; or The Bloody Font rinta.
258 S-erra Sam’a Pard; 0r. The Angel ill 3].: nu,
258 S-crra Sam'a Seven: or,'i‘he Stolen Bride.
278 Jumbo Joe the Boy Patrol; or, The Rival Holrl.
277 Denver Do . tho Detcttlve Queen.
281 Denver Doil‘a Victory.
.N5 Denver Doll‘a Decoy g or. Little Bill’a Bonanza.
I91 Turk, the ltoy Ferret.
'96 Denver Doll’a Driitz or. The Road Queen.
299 A No. 1. the Dashing Toll-Taker.
308 ’i.iza Jane, the ‘iirl Miner; or. the iron-Nervod Sport.
25 Kelley, Ilickcv it 00.. the Dctcrtivol of Philadelphia.
880 .lttle Quick-Shot: or, The bond Face of Dagger-villa.
884 Kangaroo Kit; or. The Myltoricua Miller.
.39 Kangaroo Kit'a Racket.
.48 ilan attan Mike, the Bowery Blood.
858 Tint-Clan Fred, Ihe Gent troll Gopher.
868 ljreka Jim, the Gold-Gal ercr; or, The Lottery of

Life.
87. Yreka Jim’s Prizc.
878 Nghob Ned; or, The Secret ofSlnh City.
8N2 Cool Kit. the King of Kids; or. A V'lllnin’a Vengeance.
885 Yrcka Jim’s Joker; or. The Rivala of Red No...
889 Bicycle Ben; or. The Linn of Lightning Lode.
8 Yreka Jim oi' Yuba Dam.
400 Wrinkle-l, the Night-“Hitch Detective.
410 High Hat Harry, the linu- Ball Detective.
428 Sam Blainldea, the lie gar-lloy Detective.
484 Jim Beak and Pa], i’rlvato Detective;
‘38 Santa Fe Sui, tho Slasher.
‘8. Sealakin 88m. tho Sparkler.

BY BUFFALo BILL (Hon. W.- F. Cody).
3 Kan-an King; or, The Red Right Hand.
9 The Phantom 8 l or,'l‘ho Pilot 0! tho Prairie.
Deadly-Eye. the nknown Scout.
Border Robin Hood: or The Prairie Rover.
1 Fancy Frank of Colorado: or, The Tnpper’. hut

 

 

 

146 Silver Star, the “0) Knight. -
153 Eagle Kit. illt' llny llnnmn.
168 Little Texan, the Young Mustang".
158 old Bolitury. the Hermit Trapper.
1 2 Little Hurricane, th» B0 (.a tain.
2013 Pro: ect l'cte : or. The 'nunx Outlaw Hunters. ‘
203 The oy Hercule-x or, The Prairie Tnunpo.
218 Tiger Tom, the Texan Tolrur.
224 Duahin Dick: or. 'l'ruliper Tom’s Paulo.
228 Little Iidiire, the Young Prairie Nomad.
23" The Par-oil Dc tcctivc: or The Littir Ranger.
248 The Dinglliacd Guide: or. ii ihl Raven, the Ranger.
26D Dare-Devil Dan, the YciIIIK Prairie Ranger.
972 Minkilkln Mike, the hay sharpshooter.
290 Little Foxfire. the Roy Spy.
800 The flk Demon z 0?. Rail-bolt, the Ranger.
884 Whip-king Joe, the llur Rnnchero.
409 llerculea or, l)lt'l(' the Boy Rnnger.
417 \Vcbi‘oot . one. the Trump Detective.
:23 Dab Hall, tho llny tiiunt oi ille Yellnwatone.

4 Litt e Blickakill. in» Youw i‘rulrie Centaur.
45? Wingcdi‘oot Fred: or. Hid Polar Saul.

68 amarac Tom. the iilg Trn per Boy.

478 Did Tom Rattler, the Red tlver Epidemic.
482 Etoncwall "oh, the Boy 'l‘roiun.
562 Blundcring Bun-ii, the litrrlnit Boy Trapper.

BY '1‘. C. HARBAUGH.

28 Nick 0’ the Night; or. '1‘?! ' Boy 5N 0‘ '75-
87 Thc lliddcu Lodge; or The Liiti~ Hunter.
4? Nightln ale 1‘ at - or, Tue Forest CI taint.
64 Dand lick: or, 'llc Outlaws of the rogon Tun,
82 Kit 1 arefo'ot. the Wood-Huwil.
94 Midnight. Jack; or. The Hay Trapper.
108 Did Fruity, the Guide: or. Thr White Queen.
123 KIoWa Cilarlcy the White lilllnlnnger,
189 Jud e Lvncll, Jr.i or. The an Vigilante.
155 Gal Tr er. ilu- Slmrt; nr. '1' 1e Girl Avenger.
16” Tornado oln: nr. njnn Jack From Red Core.
183 Ned Temple, the Border Boy.
19" A rkanaaw : or. 'i he Qllwn oi Fuie’u Revenge.
20? Navalo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter.
215 (‘aptain iillllct l cr. Lliilc Tonknnt’u Crusade.
23‘ Pl ncky i’ilil: or. Rosa, the Roll Jezebel.
241 liill iiravo; or, The Rough. oi the Roclllel.
255 (,‘aptain Apollo, the Killeriu (if Bowie.
267 The Duckain Detective.
279 Did \Vinch; or, The iiilckakin Dcaperadoes.
294 Dvnalnlte Dan; or. The 30le Blade of Cochetopa.
802 The Mountain Detective: or, The Trigger Bu Bully.
816 Did Eclipac, 'l‘rlimll Card of Arlmna.
826 The Ten i’ardl: nr. The 'l'erroroi'Takc-Notico.
38“ iii: Hermon: or, The Queen of the Lit-no.
B45 i’itileu Matt: 0", Red Thundorholt’a Secret.
85" (Itlol 5am and Par”: 0" The Terrible Six.
3”“ Velvet Foot, thn- llidilln nt-tt-l‘llve.
8‘6 Captain (‘lltla-az or. lin- lit ertneer’n Girl Foe.
896 Ron ll Hob: or. The twin Champions oi Blue Bio!“-
411 The ilkcn Lain-o: "T. The Rose of Ranch Robin.
413 Felix Fox. the Boy Spotter.
425 Texan Tram . the litil‘dl'l’ Rattler.
48“ Phil Fiat-h, i w New York Fox.
445 The City \ nmpirca: or. lied Rnlfe‘. Pigeon.
4t“ ii‘lle A aim-l. Fli‘ty; or. The Last Man of Keno BU.
4‘30 '1 he i oy Shadow: or. Felix Fox’s Hunt.
477 Thc Excelaior liport: or, The Wuhington Spot“?-
499 Single flight, the Onwflycd Sport.
502 Brandt-d Den, the Night Ferret.
:12 Dodger luck. theI “'ilurf-Spy Detective.

 
 
  

2| Dick‘a lie-t Dodgc.
528 o and Falcon. the Bowery Shadowl.
58" Dick, the Dock Ferret.
543 Dil‘k’l Douhlci or, The Riv-13°! MW“-
558 Dick’a Deanerate Case.
568 Dick. lhc lioy V'idocq.

Shadows.

 

580 Pawnee. Hill, the Prairie Shadowar.
565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King.
570 Camille. the Card Que-cu.

575 The Surgeon-Scout Detective.

LATEST AND NEW ISSUES.

57‘? Pavement Pete, the Secret Sifter. By Jo Pierce.
 irifiadzyfiod Dix-lg, Jr., Afloat. By; Edward L. Wheeler.
'inlnc' "or r r'v’ '. v
5 “v f. C. Cuwdriyk‘ p), , oadwn) lily a Surpmo Party.
580 The Dutcaai Cadet; or, The False Detective. By Col.
Prentiss ingranaln.
581 Double~Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. By George C.

Jcnka.
5912 Dodger Dick’l Drop. By T. C. Harhangh.
588 Saflron “oi. the Man “'ith ll Shadow. By Lieut. A. K. Slma.
584 Dcadwood Dick, Jr.. in Denver. By Ed. 1.. Wheeler.
585 Will Water-I. the HM Ferret. By M. Enton.
6 The Buck-kin Avcnxer. By (oi. Prential lngraham.
587 Did Bomb-incl]. the Ranger Detective. By Wm. G. Patton.
5’48 Jack-o’-Lantcrn, the Under-Sen Pro-parlor. By Jo Pierce.
5139 Tomocnt and Para; or, The Dead Set at Silver City. By
Lieut. A. K. Sllna
590 Deadwood Dick, Jr’n, Decree. By E. 1.. Wheeler.
591 Dcimontc. the Young Sea'Rovrr. By Col. P lngralnm.
592 The Boy Pinkerton. By J. 0- Cowdmk.
598 Keen C cm. the Ranch imp. By P. S. W'arno.
594 Little Lon, the Stmei‘Slnke" Dentilve- “y T. C. ilarhaugh.
595 Deadwood Dick Jr. in Beelzchuh‘a Basin. By E.

L. “’llecler.
596 Jimrny the Kid; 0?. A 14"“? Among Wolves. By Chan.
orr a.
597 The Young Texan Detective. B Col. P. Ingrnham.
59H Flute, the ingor Detective. By Geo, ,, Jon“.
599 Jim Dandy; the No-Name Sport. Bv r. s. Wlmc.
600 Deadwood Dick Jr. at (‘oney .laiand. By Edward L.
'liooier.
601 "I", y Hana, .the Dutch Vldocq; or, Red-Hot 'l'imea at
Rm", _Up. By l.tt'\li.. A. K. SlInI.
602 The Vagabond of thc Mines. By Col. r. lngraham.
608 WIdc-AWflke Bert. thi' Strcct-Stccror. By Jo. Pierce.
604 iron Fern; the Mun oi Fire. Bv Wm. G. Patten.
605 “'illiam 0’ Broadway; or, The Boy Detective's Big in-
ning. By J. C. Cowdrick.
608 Deadwood Dick Jr’a Lcadvillc Lay; or, Bristol and
Bucket‘a loom. By E. L. “'lleelcr.
80? Tile Rover Dctcctivc; or, Keno Kit‘u Champions. By
(‘nL l'. anl‘flhnln.
608 The i’ltchcr Dctcctivc’u Foil; or, Double Curve Dan‘s
Douhlc Play. By tic-o. C. .lcnka.
609 Holly Dorrit, the \ clcran Detective; or, Little Lightning’s
lllvliicihlca. By John W. Gabon.
310 Did Skinner, illt' Gold Shark; or, Tony Sharp on Guard. By
T. C. ilarbilugh. Rclldv A iril 9.
611 Bildat‘l Bin-uncle, the ctrrtivc ilerculcs. or, The Tussle at
T ihle Mountain. By Liellt. A. K. Sims. Ready April 9.
812 Deadwood Dick Jr. ill Detroit; or, Turning the Tables
on Satan. By Edward L. “'hcrlcr. Randy April 18.
613 Billy lilazca: or, The Skolt‘ton'n Legacy. By P-S. Wlme»
wadv April ‘23.
614 “'hliltlill Jacob, the Dctertive’l Aid; or, The Queer Com-
615 lhinlltinn.  Jo Pierre.h Ready Arricl‘: . d c i n! Th
I htin [arr , t c Chief o . line yet) A: 0? e
liesthen inee’l h‘fiaaion. By J. C. Cowdrick. Ready Wily 'l.

A New Iaaue Every TIIOO‘IY-

The Half-Dime Library ll for “10 by ‘n “""dfilfll. 1v.
cont. per copy, or cent by mail on receipt ofatx cont: mil.

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.8 William Btroot, New Yul.