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& Your.

BY WILLIAM R. EYSTER.

AUTHOR OF “DANDY DARKE,” “FLIP-FLOP mum," “'I‘IIE HUSTLER ROGUE-(‘AT(?IIER," wrc” ETC.

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’ The Tie-To Sport.

 

 

The Tie-To Sport;

on,

O O 0
High Hustlmg at Smners’ Flat.
BY WM. R. EYSTER,
AUTHOR or “DANDY mans,” “THE HUS-
’J‘LER iiOoUs-oA'renmi," “ rAno FRANK,"
“CLEAN onrr To run FRONT," ETC.

 

CHAPTER I.
A HOLD-UP 0N 'rnn MOUNTAIN.

“ IF you please, steady as you are.”

The speaker was young in years, com-
pared with his Companion, but he was well
advanced in the wisdom of this section of
the world. lie emphasized his words after
the manner of the men around Sinners’
Flat.

In his hand he held a revolver, the muzzle

of which looked the other grimly in the,

face.

“Poor, dying mortal, is it with the weap-
ons of the flesh you would menace one who
would use no carnal sword, but pin his faith
to the saber of the spirit? Put up that

“deadly tool, for I am a peaceablc wayfarer,
bound like thyself, if I mistake not, for the
city of Sinners’ Flat, and on a mission of
brotherly love. I am known as Guyon
James in other regions, though here the pro-
fane have sometimes called me Giant Jim.
What might thine own name be ?”

“ John Jones,” answered the younger
man promptly; and then, after a brief pause,
he added:

“But it ain’t. Call me Dell Hammond
and you won’t be far wrong. You do look
harmless, unless you are subject to fits, and
I guess I can put up my gun for the present;
but with a stranger as big as a meeting-
house I’m not takin any chances. Till we
are better acquainte you want to go mighty
slow. It seems to me I have heard of you;
and the boys have. it that' you’re the Saint
from Side Ace.” .

The larger man heaved a sigh as he re-
sponded:

“ Verily—though I am but a sinful mortal
like themselves, save that my wickedness
runs not in the same direction. Truly, we
seem to be known to one another, since
,Daisy Dell has been spoken of more than
once in my presence as the Tie-To Sport.”

It seemed to be a chance meeting, though
Dell Hammond had thought the other had
come upon him somewhat suspiciously, and
had been ready for danger on the instant.

I Ath this he gave a short though hearty
aug .

, “You have it down fine, uncle. Without
wishing to blow my own horn I am willin
to say ’m a mighty ood man to tie to.
there is any coin at Sinners’ Flat I expect to
gather it in in professional style and then go
on to the next place.”

“ Beware thou art not athered in thyself.
Sinners’ Flat. with whic I have some ac-
quaintance, is a hard place for men who live
by table and card; and the lot on the hill is
more than half full already. I have labored
somewhat with some of its godless ones, after
my quiet wa , but it seems to have been in

. vain. Iniquity flourishes, and honest integ-
rity oes to the wall.”

“ ct her go if she can’t take care of her-
self,” carelessly retorted Hammond.

“ But while we are chinning here the sun
is climbing down at a two-ten gait, and we
stand a rank bad show of getting to the burg
tonight. I intend to pull foot, andif you
think you can keep up with the procession
you may start along."

He glanced over the sturdy limbs of James,

and smiled as he spoke. If his looks did not

belie him the giant would not be far behind
in a day of travel.
“Verlly, it is not for fear of being out-

  

 

stripped that I do not accept the offer, but
because it is time to take to the brush. The
wicked are coming like unto roaring lions,
and if thou hast not a desire to dovour or be
devoured it would be better for thee to do
likewise.”

The Tic-To Sport had already looked up
with a quick glance, so that the warning
came a shade late. At some distance up the
trail, in the direction they had intended to

roeeed, there was a sound of hoofs, clatter-
ing toward them at a rapid rate.

“ Thanks for the invitation, my friend, but
I am not in the habit of running away until
I know what it is I am running from.”

“ Nor of going into afray until thou know-
est what forces are on the other side?” sug
gested the giant, leisurely striding back into
the bushes from which he had emerged a few
moments before.

Daisy Dell looked dubiously after him.

“ The blessed old crank!” he muttered.

“ I don’t believe I would trust him beyond
reach of the turn of my wrist, yet he may
not be altogether a fraud. And if not, there
is something in his warning. Faith, I be-
lieve I’ll follow in his feetsteps. I feel it in
my bones there is something around here
that needs watching, and somehow the way
those follows are coming on sounds like real
old business. There’s too many of them to
take in without leaving a bad taste in the
mouth of Sinners’ Flat, and I’m not ready
yet to march over the range myself. Here
we go.”

Laughing somewhat at himself, yet touch—
ing the revolvers which hun, handy at his
Waist, Hammond leisurely allowed after
Giant Jim, who seemed already to have
found a secure hiding-place. Nothing was
to be Seen of him, and his footsteps were no
longer to be heard.

Once behind the curtain of leaves and the
sport was no longer in doubt as to which
wgy to go. .

here was something like a path, which
led up an acclivity, and higher on there was
a huge rock which might furnish a lurking
place and a fortification. When Dell ha
reached this he found James lying prone by
its side, craning his neck to peer down at the
trail below.

None too soon was the retreat made, for
hardly had Hammond dropped down by the
side of the man when the horsemen came in
s ht. ‘

alf a dozen of them there were, and they
came straight forward to the ver spot
where the two lurkers had been standing but
a moment or so before.

There they halted, and at a few low words
from the man who rode foremost certaintdis-
positions were made which told a story to the
sport. The men dismounted, the horses
were led out of sight on the opposite side of
the trail, and it was easily to be seen an am-
buscade of some kind was intended.

“ In truth, it looks as then h they waited
for the stage from Red Ben , which is due
at this hour,” whispered the giant, his whole
hug: body seeming to cower lower as he
spo e.

“ They mean it no good, but who are we
that we should stop them i”

“ True enough. I have been held up my-
self, and I notice that no one was chipping
to save my gelter. We have an elegant post
from which to see the fun, but I don't reckon
there will be much of it. Hark!"

Their low whispers hardly could be heard
by each other, much less was there danger
o the sounds reachingmthe ears they knew
were below. And :1 ve all, there was a
noise of taming wheels which would dis-
tract every ear. The coach was coming, as
usual, on time. ,

The road to the 8 0t was slight] rising,
and the grade beyon was stiffer stil .. Right
here would be the place where the pace
would be slackened i the driver had breast-
ed the ascent with anything like an attempt

   

 

at speed; and it would be almost impossible" ‘

to suddenly urge his team to anything like a
hurricane flight over the sharply rising
ground in front. It was just a lovely place
for the agents to get in their work, and so
whispered the sport to himself.

Rapidly the stage from Red Bend neared
the spot. Once, looking cautiously through
the screen of leaves, llammond caught a
glimpse of the vehicle toiling up the rise
after a fashion that told of a full load, and
he marked the fact that it was no great dis-
tance. Before he could fairly settle back
into position it would be within hailing dis-
tance of the ambush.

Uncertain what was to come, or of his own
course when the crisis came, Dell Hammond’s
hand dropped to a. weapon as he looked
around to see what his companion Was do-
in".

rGiant Jim was doing nothing. yet there
was something in his face, in the feverish
anxiety which seemed to thrill his whole
frame, totally different from anything the
sport had expected to see. James might
be a saint compared to the sinners of the
town from whence he came, but there was
nlpthing very lamb-like in his attitude just
t on. .
He looked more like a tiger crouching for
a spring. '

“ Bigger chance for fun than I had thought
for,” was the idea which darted throu h
Hammond’s mind; and then he heard tie
hail of a man whom he could not see, though
he could have tossed a pistol-ball close enough
to his location to be dangerous.

“You driver, thar, down brakes, an’ up
han’s. This hyar are ther tax-getherer’s
office, an’ ther galoot whot don’t pony up
goes down—hard.”

There was a snort from the team, a noise
of the break-beam being suddenly thrown
over, and then a shrill, pipin g voice:

“ 0h, say, Mister Man, cain’t yer put it
off? We’re in a hurry fur ther Flat, an’ ain’t
no time fur sic-h ding-donged foolishpess.” I

What answer there was to this Daisy Dell
never knew. Something caused his eyes to
dart upward with their glances, and he saw
a distorted face with glaring eyes peering
down from the top of the rock, and two
claw-like bands which poised high above
thema huge bowlder. Which of the men
lying there was it meant for, and whenrit
came would it come to slay?

 

CHAPTER II.
THE omr or A WOMAN.

’ NEVER before had the Tie-To Sport seen
the face, and at that moment he would have
cheerfully missed the sight altogether so that
its owner was miles away. .

L in there as he was it seemed impossi-
ble 0 snould spring aside in time to avoid
the coming missile, while it was just as im-
possible to take a snap-shot with the hand
which clasped a revolver, or change the
weapon to the other, which at that moment
was resting upon the ground, and support-
ingaa ood share of his weight.

es des, if sudden .lightnmg should blast
the being above him the bowlder would
still come down.

Further still, there were the outlaws upon
the trail, whom he did not care to call to the
spot. For once he hesitated in a moment of
danger—and saw the be e rock leaving the.
claw-like hands, and arting downward,
straight for his brain. '

And then, over him reached a pair of stout
bands, which caught the comin missile as
though it had .been a toy, and t ough tag
swung rilously near they did not to i
the headpgf the endangered sport.

The stone was so tly placed I
ground, and for the instant the danger was
over. , '  I

What was to come next? a t ' 

Dell’s revolver had changed from 

r (—

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upon theag'k»i

 
    
 

 

     
    
 

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The Tie-To Sport.

 

 

d' to the other, and now swung up, but

.178 it dro ped to line the glaring eyes above

u strikin’ you.

vanishe ,and before the sport could spring
to his feet there was a noise, slight but cer-
tain, telling his unknown assailant had slip-
ped hastily down the opposite face cf the
rock, and was even then in full retreat.

He would have [con up to follow but the
hand of Giant Jim closed upon his coat-
.sleeve.

“ That dan er is over, why tempt another?
Truly, he is a ready be end the reach of thy
pistol—though it WOlll( not be hard to bring
hither yonder outlaws, to take thee within
the range of theirs.”

The sport nodded and sunk down again.

He could be cool as the coolest; and be-
sides, he recognized the truth of what his
co panion was saying. But as he regained
hi old position his eyes rested upon the
bowlder which now lay between them.

“Fifty pounds if an ounce,” was his
thought.

“ Who flung it, and why was it thrown?
And what sort of a man is this who plays
with such things after such a fashion?
When I have time to do it I may as well be
asking for answers to those questions.
Just now—there’s business on the trail, and
Iign not so sure I’ll not take a hand in, after
a I!)

The bit of by-play had caused the sport to
lose something of the conversation, but when
he listened again the outlaw leader was
speaking in a tone that was stern:

“ Enough ov that! Git down an’ out, an’
that mighty full suddin, er thar will be quick
death, an’ no end ov funerals. You, in tharl
Better hustle out that galoot e7. are doin' all
ther talkin’ cf you don’t want ter all go up
t' .er flume tergether.”

“Nothin’ like check!” the individual of
the piping voice flung back at him.

“I jest wanted ter know how it war a-
Bless yer souls! Iain’t noth-
in ter lose, an’I ain't too proud ter come
down when I cain’t stay up. Hyer I are——
ther roarin‘ lion ov ther archipelergoes.
Don’t be shocked when yer sees who’s bin

y'doin’ all v this chin, fur ef I’m leetle I'm

' .one he’s jest heared ov at Sinner's Flat.

': 'tend to you later on.

good, an’ when me pards don‘t hold ace, face
ner trump I know it can’t hurt ter go it
alone. . Look sharp, an hyer we are. ”

Out from the coach came the speaker-—
and he came something after the fashion of a
rubber ball.

Adark, round object seemed to shoot up
into the air.

It dro ped elastically to the ground, where
it turne over and over several times, and
and then resolved itself into a grinning
1y;pungster, who threw out his hands from

s lips in a regular circus salute as he touch-
ed the ground, and faced the agents.

“ Bil y Jingle, gents all, ther leetle sinner
frum Side Ace, on his way ter taste a bigge;
E
you must work throu h ther hull program,
sail in. I ain't a-hin erin’ no longer. But
do it quick an’ decent er I may hump me
back, an’ put ther brand on.”

Daisy Dell was certain the man at his side
gave a start at the appearance of the lad.

He noticed it because he would have sworn

 nothing earthly could have upset the strange

individual.
He was surprised himself, because he had

 thought the quernlous tones belonged to a
' decrepit old man, but he felt sure it was not

this which caused the movement by Giant
"Jim. Both from Side Ace—surely they were
no strangers to each other.

“ Great grizzlies!” ejaculated the spokes-

‘man of the outlaws.

“ I’ve heared ov a old head on oung
shoulders store this, but I dunno ez ever
seen it. You stan’ tar one side tell bizzness
are over, an' he might keerful how on

at up too many men ey shines. e’ll
Jest new, time’s a-
ressin’, an’ thar’s a big stroke ov work ter

 

be wrestled with. You, in thar, foller yer
leader. We want yer all hyer in a row, an’
ther sooner yer git thar ther easier we’ll try
ter make it fur yer when we pass ‘round
ther hat."

After that there was no delay. The ice
once broken and the passengers began to
scramble out by the door which Billy Jingle
had thrust open.

There was no mistake about the stage
having a full load, and it made quite a flock
when the passengers were all bunched to-
gether, with Billy on the extreme right.
The last two persons to descend were evi-
dently of the sex feminine.

“ Stiddy, as ye are now,” commanded the
spokesman.

“Deacon Jones will perceed for take up
ther colleckshun, an’ of ar individ' onder-
takes ter retire with filthy hie-re on his per-
son thar will be suthin' he didn’t think war
set down in ther bills, You are all kivered
thick ernuf with Winehesters fur a cold
winter night, but in cases ov obstinaey we
jinn’rally use a rope. Sail in, Jonesey.”

“ A retty good imitation, but not exactly
the retd)thing,” mused the sport in ambush
as he listened with interest to this harangue.

“ He may be a road-agent, sure enough,
but that’s not the lingo he is used to using.
Very well done it is, yet I have stamps that
say I‘ll. know his voice if I ever hear it
again. But what is that to me? Dell llam-
mond is not posing as a hero to-night, and I
wish they would hurry the circus over so I
can be moving.”

It would have been possible enough to
have flanked the outlaws while they were en—
gaged with their work, but the sport never
thought of that. Much as he seemed to be-

rudge the time, he was bound to see the
t ring out, while Giant Jim appeared to be
of the same opinion, and was as silent and
motionless as the rock beside which he lay.

The outlaw addressed as Deacon Jones
followed orders to the letter.

Hat in hand he advanced to the left of
the line, and held out the battered tile.

Though there were three or four rifles
frowning at the thorou ghl y cowed passengers
the fellow held a revolver in his other hand,
and as he presented the hat the muzzle of
the weapon came into line, while he rowled
out a low warning which sounded ike the
sure enough thing.

There was no hesitancy, either.

One man after another dropped in his con-
tribution, and it came in such shape it seem-
ed to be all he had.

Finall , J onesey came to the females.

The rst was a woman full of middle
age, ortl and well-dressed. ith a low
and rie y uttered snarl she threw in a
wallet which she drew from the bosom of
her dress, and as it left her hand she clinch-
ed the list from which it had dropped, and
shook it angrily at the road-agent.

“ Much obleeged, mum. Hard words
don’t hurt, an’ when we rech Cannan I’ll
drink to yer better luck an’ betterleoks.
Next!”

The remaining passen or was the oun-
gest of all, save Billy J ing e, and was so bing
audibly.

In her hand she held a little-purse, and it
seemed to the Tie~To Sport. even 'from that
distance, it was none too well filled.

With one hand covering her face she drop-
ped her mite, and then, as though overcome
with emotion, fell back a pace, throwing
her thus a trifle to the rear of the line.

From a irl of her caliber resistance was
scarcely to 0 expected, and Jonesey. paid no
attention to the movement. He turned to
the b0 , who was carelessly awaiting him,
with his hands well extended over his head.

“Bring ther hat hyer," interrupted the
leader, who had moved back a little, and
W31 standing by himself at the side of the
tr .

“Let’s see ther size of ther donations.

 

We kin tell then to a dollar cf it's wu’th
while tcr turn things upside down. I s’pect
Meg Brandon hez a leetle nest aig held back
in ther leg ov her slookin‘."

The portly female seowled darkly but held
her peace. It was no great surprise that her
name was known, and she was wise enough
to understand that no outcry could help
her.

“ \Von‘t do, Meg," continued the agent, as
he glanced over the collection in Jonesey‘s
hat.

“Go down fur it. “"0 want ther rest.”

Meg gave a snort of anger.

“ You got my last ducat. Captain Brand,
if that is your name, and if you are white
you won't try to play rough with a lady. It
won't do you good in the long run.”

“ No. 3'ou have a longer arm than ther
gerloots ov ther camp give ye (-rcdit fur, an’
some day ye may hev a chance tcr buy me
out an’ see me over ag’in; but all ther same
—empty yer stockin’, er we‘il hev ther
young lady doin' it fur ye. No one kin say
thet Captain Brand war ha’sher ter a female
than he hed ter be; but this hyer shenanagin
are too thin."

Dell Ilammond's interest began to grow
deeper. What was the meaning of this, and
how would it end?

The woman stooped as though conquered.
Then she partly straightened, thrust out her
hand, and there was the sharp report of a
pistol, fired point-blank at the leader of the
road-agents.

CHAPTER III.
warmer) AND sunrmsnn.

MEG BRANDON pulled her pistol with the
steady speed of one to whom tire-arms were
no strange thing. Though she never linger-
ed on her aim it is more than likely the shot
would haVe gone home had it not been for
an interruption least looked for.

For all his careless look Billy Jingle was
keeping a keen watch, and as Meg’s pistol
came up he took a single step, and iis hand
shot out, striking her sharply on the wrist
as she pulled trig rer.
‘ The muzzle of, the weapon went up, and
the bullet flew high over the head of the man
at whom it was aimed.

The failure appeared to take away her
courage.

Without waiting for another shot Meg
wheeled and started to fly.

Though final escape might not-have been
,ossible it is certain she would have got a
air start of the astonished outlaws had it
not been for Billy, .

He was active as a cat, and could move
three feet to the woman’s two. In three
bounds he had outstripped her, and cast
himself directly in her path, throwing her
headlong. .

She came down on him something likca
mountain on a mouse, and if he was not
crushed it was because he had looked for
what happened, and arched himself to sus-
tain the shock.

“ Sorr , mum, but it’s a down grade, an’
of they ed ‘bergun ter shoot at you they
would ’a’ hit us; an‘ I ain’t so ding-donged
sure ez Ihev my callin’ an ’leckshun sure.
Better hand over an’ be did with it. ”

The shock to the woman turned out to be
a heav' one, and the breath was almost
knocke out of her.

Gasping, she rose to a sitting posture, and
in her hand held out a folded paper.

“Take it," she managed to utter.

“ How the Hades ou knew I carried it I
can’t say, and it wi ldo you no good new
that you have it. If there was a chance to
win I’d fight you tooth and nail, but—no!
No!” she suddenly broke off.

“I give up! See! There lies my istol.
and here is what you want. You won d not
harm a woman I”

 

  

 

 

The Tie-To Sport.

 

 

The report of half a dozen rifles would
hardly have terrified her as much as what
she saw. With a brace of revolvers pointed
her way the captain was stepping forward,
while by his side walked a man with a rope,
in which he was just knotting a running
noose, and looking upward at a stout limb
which overhung the side of the trail.

“ I dunno e7. you orter be called a woman,
you ole she-wolf,” grated the captain.

“ Try another trick an’ we‘ll hang you high
e7. IIaman—l ain't sure but what we’ll do it
yit. lie’mmesee.”

He caught the paper from her hand and
gave it a hasty glance.

“ Yes, I reckon you got down ter bedrock
at last, an’ we can't ask more frum you this
trip. Lucky all ’round thet this kid hed
sense ~ernuf ter see what war ter be done, an’
grit ernuf terdo it. I want a leetle talk with
him, ter sue of thar’s ary way Captain Brand
kin show he kin be grateful, an’ ther rest ov
you kin be pilin’ in ther hearse.

There was no waiting for this permission
to be repeated. Without any attention to
the rule of gallantry the male passengers
scrambled back to their seats, followed first
by the younger and then by the elder of the
females.

The latter, as she entered the coach turned
and shook her fist at the outlaws in a savage
but silent burst of wrath. No one paused to
consider or care what was to become of Billy
Jingle. The captain had led him a trifle to
one side and held with him there a brief con-
ference. When he too crawled into the
coach his face was full of smiles, but he said
not a word.

“ Now, Johnny, crack yer whip!” laughed
the captain, and without any apparent fear
of the passengers whom he was leaving to
their own devrces he and his men sudden]
disappeared by the same route which Del
Hammond had seen them take upon their ar-
rival. Their horses were hidden somewhere
in the covert, and though they did not reap-
pear there was evidence the animals had not
turned up missing. In a few moments the
departing beat of hoof-steps could be heard
alon the trail below.

Jo nny was willing enough to crack his
whip; but he was too prudent to try it on till
some temporary repairs had been made. A
knife in the hand of one of the outlaws had
made had work with his harness, and there
was considerable tying to do before he
thought the harness would stand the strain
of the upgrade.

In the midst of his labors he became aware
there was a stranger 'on the spot.

Without worrying himself about the
possible suspicions his appearance at such a
time and place might give rise to, Dell Ham-
mond stepped coo ly into the road, and after
a careless glance in the direction taken by
the road-agents approached the vehicle.

The explanations he offered were brief,
and he said nothing of the man he had left
behind him in the shadow of the rock, but

,while he dextcrously assisted Johnny to tie
a knot here, and fit a buckle there, he put in
an application for the vacant seat on the
driver‘s perch, and his plea was not re-
jected. ,

The result was that when the coach came
rolling into the Flat the Tic-to Sport was
with it. It did not matter to him that some
of the \other passengers thought he was a
coward, while others were sure he belonged
to the band of Captain Brand. He had saved
a weary old walk, and felt himself abund-
antly able to paddle his own canoe in case
he found he had thrust himself into deeper
waters.

The ride was rather a pleasant one, for it
did not take him long to get on friendly
terms with the driver, and though he could
not see much of his fellow- assengers Johnny
was able to tell him a go
of them, besides posting him as to the con-
dition of affairs at Sinners’ Flat.

deal about same.

 

“ The lady ov size? Oh, yes,” he respond-
ed in answer to a question.

“Meg Brandon are ther name we know
her by, an’ in her time i reckon she has been
a daisy, though she is passing alongin years,
an'don’t pan out fur good looks quite ez
strong as she used ter did. All ther same,
with her Sunday harness on, silks and
streamers, diamonds and sich gewgaws, she
kin hold her own yit. An’. stranger—~”

“ Which my name is Dell Hammond,”
laughineg interposed the sport.

“All right. I’ll jot it down. But, ez I
war goin’ ter say, she knows how ter run
ther “Gates 0V Glory ” s’loon clean up ter
natur‘.”

“ Ah, that comes my way, at last. Some-
thing to be done there with the pasteboards,
I take it ?"

“Everything—cf you have ther gift, an’
ther luck's on your side. But mostly they
play it ther other way. Oh, ther sheckels
she hev raked in are jest wonderfulter think
’bout. An’ stra—Mister IIammund, I mean
—I wouldn’t be a-wonderin’ of she was goin’
ter rake in some ov yourn. Thar’s ther look
ova sport in ther twist 0v yer eye, an’ I
sh'ld say yer war lierable ter 0 whar thar
war the show ter rake in ther iggest ile.”

“ Right you are. When I can strike a
square game without a limit I am happier
than pins in clover.

“ An how about the other female? Does
she travel under Meg Brandon's wing?”

“ That's whar you’ll find it, but on want
ter go slow on kickin’rwhen yer oses, fur
Ante Ben an’ some ov ther other heelers ez
trains onder her flag are holy terrors when
she r'iles. An’ fur ther other bit ov caliker,
you can’t prove nothin’ by me. She’s a
stranger ter ther Flat, an’ ef she warn't, frum
her looks I jedge she wouldn't be goin' thar.
No one lookin’ fur her down thar er they
would ’a’ asked me ter keep an eye out fur
her. An’ it’s a scand'lous fact thet ther Flat
are a bad lace fur an innercent. onpertected
female. bar’s boys thar, mind yer, ez are
white; but they's others ez b’long down her-
low, an’ jest come up hyar fur a sort ov
summer vacashun.”

“ Then the town is equal to its name and
reputation. So much the bettte)‘. Isee I am
not going
And that little fellow, with the squeaking
voice Does he belong about here?”

" 'Nuther stranger ter ther Flat: but I
reckon he can hoe his own row. But Meg
won't be apt to be his best friend. Ef I war
him I would steer wide ov ther ‘ Gates ov
Glory,’ or they may open fur him in good
earnest.”

With such sort of conversation had the
way been be uiled, and when the stage drew
up in fronto Decker’s Hotel, Hammond had
acquired more knowledge of the town than
some men would have gained in a week.

As he had the advantage in position he
was the first passenger to the ground, and
as he moved away some one brushed by' him
so sharply he took a more than passing
glance at the individual.

“ Looks like a steady- oing miner, but you
can‘t sometimes almosta ways tell. Hellow!"

The mental exclamation was caused by
the fact that as Simon Decker, bluff and
ready for trade, began his task of' helping
the passengers to alight, the first out was
the young lady passenger.

And the man who had brushed ast Ham-
mond was coming eagerly forwar to claim

her.

He halted at her side, touched her on the
shoulder, and bent forward to whisper some-
thing in her ear.

The air] looked up with a start, and was
inclined to draw away, but what the man
said appeared to reassured her. She nodded,
uttered a few words in a low tone, and the
two walked off together.

For the first time Hammond had a fair
glance at the face of, the young lady.

to be disappointed in the place.-

 

l mond might have thought Billy did 

He started forward as though intendin
to speak, then drew back again, though he
followed the pair with his eyes until they
passed out of sight. As far as he could see
they were making their way out of town.

“Dollars to cents, the man is a scouno
drel!" muttered the Tie—To Sport to him-
self.

“ I’ll swear he is under cover, in disguise.
Shall I, or sha’n’t I? Yet, what right have
Ito interfere at this stage? If there is a.
scheme on foot I ll know it in time, and you
bet I’ll be elected, as usual, for a leading
part on the other side. ’

Again he made as though he would fol-
low, bnt felt a tug at his coat-sleeve.

“Eyes open, stranger, an’ fingers full,”
whispered at his side the squeaking voice of
Billy Jingle.

“Ef they git ther chaince they'll down
yer, am’ down yer hard. Billy Jingle’ll be
’round ter slap ther brand on, but among
ther sinners ov ther Flat mebbe even he
cain’t save yer.”

Then Billy skipped into the hotel, while
the sport gravely followed, never showing
by word or look that he heard the warning.

 

CHAPTER IV.
SAINT AND SINNERS.

THE Tie-To Sport did not expect too
much in a town like Sinners’ Flat, and there-
fore was rather astonished when, a few
hours after his arrival, he stepped into the
Gates of Glory Saloon, and moved along
with the tide which flowed toward the bar.

After what he had heard from the driver,
that it would be prosperous went without
sayin , but he hardly expected to find such
a we] .furnished and thoroughly appointed

lace.

D “If the madame owns all this she is
rctty well heeled,” was his thought as he
ooked around.

“Everything first quality, and spick and
span as a new pin. don’t see how she
kee s it so, and holds her custom. The
kin of a crowd that gathers at Sinners’
Flat ought to turn it into a pig-pen before
the night is half over, and if she triede
shut off the steam I should think they would
kick, or go somewhere else. It suits me to
a charm, but I shouldn’t think it would be
the place the boys would like to have fun
in.”

Nevertheless, he saw plenty of rough-look-
ing cases there, and they were enjoying
themselves. ‘

If he had been there in the early days of the 

Gates he might have seen some of that kick-
ing he was thinking about. In those times
they knew less at the Flat about Meg and
her men at arms, and it required some sharp
lessons before the rank and file could be in.
duced seriousl to listen to her.

After that, eg had her own way. except
when there was general emeute, which did
not happen there very often. She did not ob-
ject to a little noise, and a bit of horse-play;
but she did to having things broken,'or too
much of a litter made on the floor. a

The center of the frolic just now was '1

none other than Billy Jingle, who occupied
a cleared s wt in the middle of the bar-room.
He had finished piping off a rollicking song,
and strange though his voice ordinari y

sounded, when be sung there was a good -‘

deal of music in it.

When the applause which greeted his "
efforts had a little subsided he be an a ,

breakdown, executed with a skill an pre-
cision that showed he was as skillful in the
use of his heels as of his tongue.

After that, he passed around his hat, 

and received liberal offerings from every
direction.

If he had not already shown 'to the 
that he possessed plenty of cheek, am-I.

    

   
 
 
  
   
  
  
 
  
  
   
      
 
   
  
  
  
   
 
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
  
   
    
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  

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The Tie-To Sport. I

 

 

"‘o’w into whose ranch he had come, for
after the way he had thrown up Meg Bran-

don’s hand, and assisted in her capture, it ‘

might be sup osed she would have no love
for him, an would hardly be willing to
tolerate his presence.

Still, she was not visible, and it might be
he wanted to make his harvest before she
came to the front.

As he passed the sport the boy gave him
an odd glance, and muttered:

“That war straight goods I war givin’
yer. Look a leetle out. ”

“ I’m a-looking,” returned Dell, airily, as
he tossed a coin into the extended cap.
“ Looks as though you might have been tak—
ing lessons from Captain Brand, but this
show is worth the money. You better keep
an eye open yourself. A wink from the
madame when she arrives and there would be
trouble in the air for one small boy."

“Thankee fur nothin’. Ef I can’t hold
my end up I‘ll call on me pards. Sabbe?”

“Don't call too loud, then, and maybe
they will hear you,” retorted the sport, as
he turned toward the bar. He was just
about to name his vanity there when his at-
tention was attracted by a hubbub near the
door.

“ Hyer’s ther Saint!” shouted a voice.

“This time we got him sure. You can’t
fire and fall back,” laughed another.

“Bring him along up, and we’ll see if he
has the stomach to sample some Of the
madame’s benzine.”

The burly form of Giant Jim could be
seen, surrounded by half a dozen tormentors
who without using any great roughness

‘ were hustling him along as well as they could.
For some reason he had entered the saloon,
and had been spotted at once.

He offered no resistance; neither did he
seem to be either alarmed or indignant.
Sadness there was on his face, however, and
he simply appeared willing to find out how
far they would work their wicked will.

In the briefest of times the crowd had him
facing the bar, while the ringleader of the
gang cried out sharply:

“Sling out your tumblers, Early Ike.
Here is a gent that is quite aistranger to. the
Gates and we want to do the honors clear up
to the nines. Your stiffest bug-juice,
‘Ike. Nothing else will satisfy the Saint from
Side, Ace. And I’m not sure on have any-
“thing in the shop that will ta (e hold at the
right place.”

“ Money talks hyer,” growled Ike, sur-
veying the crowd suspiciously. “ If the gent
wants Igood licker it must be paid for accord-
ing. want to know how many are going
to rrigate, and sec coin enough in the dis-
tunes to make it a safe investment. ”

“ 0h, bosh!” retorted the fellow. “If

ou don’t believe Mariposa Mike is good

or all he calls for hyer’s the collateral.
Set ’em up to the extent of that. If any
more want to drink with the Saint they
will have to pay their footing. That’s
“enough for this gang.”

Mariposa Mike, as he called himself, flung
.down a gold coin without taking his fingers
Ofl‘of the shoulder of James, and it looked

“was though the hand which east the coin
was going to drop back to a revolver for
it made a suspicious move in that dire ion.

, For that Early Ike cared nothing. His
‘ieye had turned to the Saint, and as he saw

othing which looked like kicking there be
sad down the bottle which held their
_ ' riest brand,
_, One of the crowd seized it, and filled
étumbler after tumbler as Ike swung them
out. Each man grasped his glass, and a
’brimming one was left for Giant Jim.
_ “New, Saintey, take your medicine and
flown. it with the 'rest of us. It’s not often
11 give us the chance, and we want to
w  we are your solid friends. Down

:Vei'ily, friend, thou art much mistaken.

 

No pleasure does it give me to look on the
wine; and for five years not a drop of the in-
fernal poison hath passed my lips. Once I
was that manner of a man, and therefore I
understand the mistaken goodness in thy
hearts. One of the will have to drink twice.
1 cannot, and dare not, indulge.”

Very mildly did the Saint Offer his refusal,
but it was received with a show Of anger,
real or pretended.

“ Drink first and preach afterward. Turn
up your tumbler now and we’ll hear your
sermon; but don't monkey with the sinners
when they have you foul."

A glint of fire came into the eyes of the
Saint, and he shut his lips tightly. The Tie-
To Sport, who was watching the scene with
interest, was not sure whether it was the
insult or the temptation which called it
there.

He shook his head gravely, and then stood
motionless.

“ Drink!” more sternly still ordered Mari-
posa, his hand going, this time, all the way
to his revolver.

“ Verily, no!”

“ Then—drink, or croak, and make your
choice infernal quick,” and the pistol of
Mariposa Mike flashed out, its muzzle com-
ing up till it almost touched the nose of the
man from Side Ace.

The giant folded his arms across his breast
and looked reproachfully at the thrcatencr.

“ Verily, the rope is all twisted and ready
for such sinners as thou. I desire not to go
over the range, but life and death are not of

my giving, andI could not go in a nobler_

way than resisting temptation. I drink
not."

“Shoot, Mike, or give up your gun!”
laughed some one on the outskirts of the
crowd, imagining a dead-lock had come;
but. Dell Hammond, watching the proceed-
ings with a coldly-professioml starc, made
up his mind there was something more in all
this than appeared on the surface. Sinners
Flat might be a rough place, but he hardly
thought it one where it would be safe to
shoot a man simply for refusing to drink
when invited.

If he once became sure that it was, he
rather thought he would have a w\ord to

sa .

"I‘here were other men who seemed to have
a worse opinion of the town, or a better
knowledge of Mariposa Mike.

Though no one directly interfered, here
and there a voice arose:

“ Best go a little slow, there, Mikel”

“It’sa shame. The old fool never chip-
ped into another man’s game, what does
Mike want to chip into his'for?”

“They may crowd the camp a leetle too
hard ef they don’t hold on."

It was evident Mike had a reputation for
doing what he said, and not caring much
what it was, either.

And he seemed to be an unhealthy man to
interfere with, too.

But Mike did not intend to go to such ex-
tremities at once. The game was probably
arranged beforehand.

While he held the attention of the crowd,
as well as of his victim, the rest of his gang,
were quietly making ready, and, as if at
some .preconccrted signal, the threw them-
selves suddenly upon the Saint from Side
flAce, and endeavored to hear him to the

001'.

CHAPTER V.
ONE GAME CLOSED AND ANOTHER OPENED.

IF Mariposa Mike and his allies wanted to
unchain a cyclone then and there they suc-
ceeded in doing it.

There was not time for them even to view
the “ black, funnel-shaped cloud " of wrath
which few but Daisy Dell saw rising in the
danger quarter of the compass.

 

Half a dozen men on one—then, it seemed
the one was on the half dozen.

Once around he turned, with a wave of
strength that swept up every one within
reach into his grasp. Whether the stood
behind him or in front made no di erence,
for he reached them all, gathering them up,
and flung them in one confused heap on the
floor.

The dead-lock was not only broken, but
Mike no longer held the drop.

When his friends swung into action he
lower-d his gun, as though its threatening
muzzle was no longer needed, and now, to
his surprise, the drop was on him.

With a deftncss that was an overwhelming
surprise the giant shock a revolver out of
some unsuspected hiding-place and thrust it
full into the face of the ringleader of the
crowd.

"Call oif thy hounds!” he shouted, in a
thunderous voice.

“ Thou hast tried to do even worse work
than could be dreamed of by such as thee
and thine. Sooner than have it accomplished
I would slay all who would have a hand in
it and then turn this muzzle against myself.
Up hands or die!”

The Saint from Side Ace had been badger-
ed before, and had accepted the chuiling of
the sinncrs with a mildncss in keeping with
his titlc. Now, he was worse than any sin-
ner of themselves.

Mariposa hesitated.

He had been a chief among the sinners so
long that such a defeat seemed almost an im-
possibility. Had he not been quick to
realize the desperate earnest in which the
order was givcn he would have turned the
weapon he still held. But the blazing cycs
were looking him through and through, and
he was aware the least motion of an Offensive
kind would be the signal for' his death.

“ All right, Saintcy, you have me," he an-
swered, forcing a laugh.

“ Put up your tool and move along. We
will allow you to go dry. It was all a bitof
rough play, and it won’t do to make too
serious a thing out of it. We might end by
mussing the floor."

“Call oil’ th hounds, then, before they
fare worse. I'buta drop of that accursed
fluid had passed my lips, by this time they
would have been past prayin for. Men
call me a saint, now, in dcrislon, but ifI
fought not against it with soul and mind
your poison would turn me into a devil.”

While he spoke he was keeping watch not
only of Mike, but his pards, some whom
Were beginning to rise from the floor.

“ Stead , boys, the fun's over. We bit
off more t tan we could chew, and each one
had better spit out his mouthful, and wait
for another time to take a fresh start.”

“Ez you say, pard,”laughcd one of the
fellows, a parently not at all ina bad humor
over the“ ( cfcat.

“We wanted ter see what war !.in ther

aloot, an’ we found out, orful suddint.
' hat’s good ernuf fur me. I ain’t settiu’ up
fur a chief."

“ That’s right,” added another. “ He had
the fun and we got the {,cxpericnce. A hog
wouldn’t ask to have any better. Never-
theless, ef he «could take a drink—”

The fellow looked at the Saint in such a
comical way as he uttered the invitation that
there was a general roar from those who
had crowded up again now the danger of a
shooting scrape seemed to be over.

“The fun is over, (gents, and Jim the
Giant comes out jaybir ,” added Mike, with
awave of the hand; and at last the Saint
turned in one direction, and he and his pards
in the other.

Nevertheless, there was a look in the face
of the man from Mariposa that gave token
he had been cut deeper than he chose to let
on. It was possible the end of the horse-
play had not really come yet.

“ Sensible Saint, after all,” was Hamw

 

   

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The Tie-To Sport.

 
   
 

 

 

mond’s thought, as he saw his late com-
panion on the mountain pass out through
the door.

“But what did he come in for? I begin
to think he is a deeper man than he looks.
If I had the time I might try to find out, and
like as not the knowledge will come in my
way, anyhow. I doubt if I am done with
him yet.”

As he turned away toward the gambling-
room, which was reached throu h a curtain—
ed arch, he heard Billy Jing 0, who had
been silently enjoying the scene, tune up his
pipes:

“ A man may smile, a man may snarl,
A man may laugh or frown,
But though you hate the ground he
treads,
Don't hit him when he’s down.
I’m for the thing that's fair and square.
A man may fight the town,
Yet, if he falls my rule is this,
Don't hit him when he’s down.
Don’t hit him, don’t hit him,
Don’t hit him when he’s down.”

“ A very good rule,” thought Dell, as he
dropped the curtain; “ but I am afraid it is
not the one which guides the sinners of the
Flat. I have hardly had a taste of their

uality yet, but the time will come, no

oubt.”

The little trouble in the bar-room had not
disturbed the players, and Dell Hammond
found the game in full blast.

Faro was the game, of course, but Madame
Meg had no objection to short cards on the
flanks. She knew that, after all, the money
which changed hands at the poker tables
would mostly find its way over her green
cloth, provided luck ran her way.

Hammond was aware of this dispensation
of fate, but was willing at any time to brave
it when he could do nothing better. As he
saw no one who looked as though he was
anxious to try the stranger a hand at poker
he advanced toward the lay-out. In an-
other moment his money would have gone
into a pile of chips when some one touched
him lightly.

“Say, pal-d, while they are all too busy
to look at a couple of strangers, what's the
matter with you and me taking a quiet little
game?”

“ Nothing at all," was the hearty answer.

“ You are just the party I am looking for.
If we can’t make it interesting for the rest of
the world we I’ll make it interesting for our-
oWn two selves."

There was a vacant table in one corner of
the room, and toward this the two made
their. way.

“ And what do you say, pards, to count-
ing me in, too?” asked a third party as they
were taking their seats.

Dell looked up at the new-comer with an
inward doubt. ‘

The first challenger was a nattily-dressed
individual, who looked the gambler all
over, while this second person might be any‘
thing from a sharper or a crook to a mine-
owner.

Hammond preferred dealingslwith the first
class. He was always willing to meet a man
who really intended to risk his money on
the chances of the cards, but as a stranger
in the town he knew it was not wisdom to
have dealings with a sure-thing player,
easil though he might foil his schemes.

“ t‘s not my game,” he answered without
hesitation, however.

“Just as pard here says. For me, the
more the merrier.” -

“ Let us be merry, then,” said the first
comer. ~

“ And call me Briggs—~Charley Briggs.
If I heard it right. around the hotel, your
name is Hammond. "

“ And mine is Dave Johnson. Now, let’s
get right down to level work. I have ood,
cold dollars to risk on my luck and fudg-

 

ment, and if either of you two gents can
show the cards that lay over mine you can
gather them in. What’s the game?”

“Poker, of course,” answered Dell, and
opening a fresh pack of cards he threw
around for deal.

CHAPTER VI.
DOUBLY TRAPPED.

THE name of the young lady who came
in on the coach from Red Bond was Stella
Stone, and she had come to Sinners’ Flat
with a mission.

She had no idea any one would be inter-
ested in interfering with the success of
that mission, and had thou ht very little of‘
the chances ofany personal danger.

The first bit of evil fortune on her jour-
ney was the encounter with the road~agents,
and for the time being that was overwhelm-
ing. IIer purse was none too well filled
for the work in hand, and when her stock of
coin vanished she was not certain how it
could be replaced.

Still, she had a brave heart of her own,
and resolved to put the best possible face on
the matter. If she had to look for employ-
ment at the Flat she had little doubt she
could find it. Her greatest sorrow was for
the delay her penniless condition might
cause in carrying on her quest.

For some time after the agents had disap-
peared, and the stage had begun to move,
she remained crouched in one corner, paying
no attention to what was going on, and re-
volving in her mind what course to pursue.

She had some little baggage with her, but
it was uncertain whether the sight of it
would be sufficient to obtain a night’s lodgo
ing, or the meal she began to feel she needed
worst of all.

After a while she put her hand mechani-
cally into her pocket—and met with a sur-
prise.

It seemed utterly impossible. and et, she
felt her purse back in its accustome place.

Her first impulse was to draw it out and
see if its contents were there as well.

A seeond’s thought convinced her, how-
ever, that it would be better to say nothing.

.With one hand she opened it, and turning

the contents loose in her pocket began to in-
vestigate.

She could feel beyond a doubt the little
wad of bills which constituted the bulk of
her funds, and the ten dollar gold-piece that
had occupied a compartment by itself. In
some mysterious way the purse and its con-
tents had been returned to her.

After :hat, the encounter with the road-
agents did not seem such a terrible thing,
and she no longer dreaded the time when the
coach should come to a halt at' Sinners’ Flat.
She was again ready to continue her search
for the missing man, her father.

When she dismounted she had no thought
of meeting with any one who knew her, or
of her. It was another surprise when a man
with a totally strange face approached and
asked if her name was not Stella Stone.~
She shrunk away from him while acknowl-
edging that it was.

” All right, then. You are the young
lady who wrote old Adam Druyer some time
a o, telling him you were coming this way.

on asked some questions that he didn’t
have strength enough to answer. And if" he
could have done so he would hardlv have
cared to put his answers on paper. To tell
you by word of mouth is a difierent matter,
and he sent me here to meet you.”

“But where is he? Is it far to go? I am
worn out with a long ride. with excitement.
I must have some food and rest.”

“ You can't get them anywhere else better
than you can at old Adam’s. His woman
can look after you—and you bet she won’t
see you suffer. If you want Adam to talk
you better come now, while he’s in the

 
   

notion for it. By and by he may close'h
fl -trap, or be too weak to chin if he wanted
hake up our mind quick; I just came to
oblige A am, but I’ve no time to wait. If

on want to you can try and hunt him up
in the morning—it’s not far. But you may
not find him living.”

He spoke hastily and in earnest. Stella
did not doubt that he was all that he said,
and further hesitation was but momentary.
She did not feel as tired as she had done, and
no doubt there was information waiting for
her that would be well worth the hearing.

She followed the man without misgiving,
and when he told her Adam Druyer’s cabin. . .,
was less than a mile away she believed him.  .4;

She met but few persons on the way out ’
from the town. They looked at her curi- 3
ously, but hardly suffered their eyes to rest ,
on her companion. . 

He seemed to be well acquainted with the  j 
place, and to several of those the passed he ‘ 3"
nodded after the manner of an ol friend. a».-.

With the town behind their backs the way ._ .-‘
began to grow lonesome. It led up a gorge, ' 1"};
where there were no habitations, and from  ‘
the looks of the ground she decided that but
few ever came that way, and no one ever
worked there.

“Here’s your cabin,” he said, at len th,
and pointing with his finger she saw the cor
and little window of a dug—out.

The sight was not what she expected, and
she felt frightened in spite of herself.

Yet it was no time to hesitate. From
what the man had said Adam Druyer was
an elderly man, and his wife a kindly woo
man. What matter if circumstances com~

e1 them to live in a hole in the ground.

’erhaps that was only a proof of their hon-
est . She advanced without a word.

'iYhe door opened as she reached it, and she
saw beyond a female form, clad in a dingy,
calico dress.

“ Come in, hone ,” squeaked the voice,
and she entered wit the man who had been
her guide close at her heels. ,3

Then the door swung to with a sound su - "
gestive of solid strength, the man placed h 3
back against it, while the woman crept to-
ward her side, with a stealthy movement
suggestive of a tiger.

“ You will have to wait a bit, honey,”
whined the woman, while she wasapproach-
1n .

5‘ Adam has been took bad a ’in, gn' we
don’t know of he kin see you. ’11 g t you
some supper. an’ then, mebbe, he’ll feel
strong enough to talk, but it’s terrible un-
Bart’in.”

Stella stared at her, scarcely hearing the
words she uttered“.

There was enough in the fierce face, and
pantherish movements to put the girl on
guard, and she would have shrunk away. '
had there been any- place to shrink to. i
There was no use to turn to her guide for
aid, since she knew without a glance that he ,
was no better than the woman.

He was bolder, though. ,

“ Be done with that, mammy,” he sneered.
‘ You can’t feel her with your cant, and
she may as well know the truth right in the-
start. ‘ '

” You want to listen to reason, little wo-
man, and you want to salt it right down. '
We don’t mean to do you an hurt. unless
you force us to it, but you on’t come at; '
just the most convenient time, and we want
you to lie by till we are sure you can’t d'o- 

any damage.” ‘ ‘ | ~ '

“ But—but what harm can I, or could
do you, if you only let me alone? If tron,
pie follows this it will be of your own male?
n '1) I 7",:
a That is all right. We will risk th ‘
trouble you can make for us long aswuf
have you safe up in the hills. When We go
we Will see things are in such shapekyq
can’t come back to us. Take it easy, I; '
you. Mammy, here, will get you so

 

‘

   
   
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
    
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
   
   
    
  
   
   
   
  
  
  
    
  

 

          
  

   
     
  
     
    
 

 
       
  

  

   
 

 

   
     
     
       
 

 

    

 

 

  

   

' the outlaws, and so far Bradley ha

 the case.

> I ~ ~»» g-s-yg,u,d~.-.. .,",\r
.,' ‘. "' .- .

‘ The Tie-To Sport.

“ , . ; 05". , .. w I ,
 Agitarlniufl .,_H,,y..‘;'.

  

w ‘ A. _ . . , V 
t": ‘.’-W‘»." “i ‘v- .' ‘ ~,“.'.,  .

 

 

, b, and I’d advise you to lay in a stock of
5' 1; while you have the chance. You will
have a long ride to make, and there’s no
stopping places along the route.”

It was a.l well enough to tell her to take
it easy, but she felt like raging, and if she
did not do it, it was because, on the instant,
she decided on her course, and was able to
Summon the nerve to keep to it.

Some little talk there was, and then, see-
ing her so calm, the woman brought out the
provisions whiz h were to saw as a meal,
and the three did ample justice to them.

1‘ No use for you to try to give us the slip,
for there’s a good man on the watch down
the trai., and another on above. Till you
try to cut up monkey-shines we won’t bother
tying you up, and if you want to you can
lie down and rest till dark. It's not far off
now, and when it comes we will move.”

The advice was good, and Stella availed
herself of the offered privilege. Though
she ex ected to do no more than rest her
wearic limbs she had hardly closed her eyes
when she fell into a troubled sleep which
lasted until she was awakened by a hand on
her shoulder. ‘

Then, it was up and away. Several
horses were at the door of the dug-out.

“Without even giving her a chance to
break away, her guide assisted her into the
saddle, and then mounted himself. The old
woman scrambled up on another horse with-
out any assistance, and the trio set out, up
the canyon.

Stella asked but few questions.

, The curt refusal of answers stopped off
the flood that mighthave been expected. It
was enough to know she was a prisoner;
and though promised gentle treatment so
long as she made no effort at resistance or
escape, she knew well what that might
amount to. .

What it all meant was a mystery. So far
as she was aware all the wor (I might know
whatever concerned the life and death of
Harold Stone, yet if this capture was not on
account of her quest for him, or his remains,
what could it mean?

There seemed to be but one course open to
her. She must wait in patience to find out.
Some time, perhaps, she might learn much
more than she had ever dreamed of.

But the journey was fated to meet with
an interruption. Suddenly, and from no
great distance, there came a short, sharp
warnin and command:

“ Sti dy, thar, an’ han’s up! Cap’n Brand
wants ter know w’ot’s goin’ on hyer.”

 

CHAPTER VII .
ms vanmsss or CAPTAIN BRAND'S wonx.

STEVE BRADLEY, Stella’s guide, halted
promptly enough at the challenge.

The drop was on him, and Captain Brand
had the reputation of shooting quickly when
his orders were not obe ed.

Stella hardly knew w ether or no the in-
terruption was agreeable. It seemed to her,
somehow, that her purse was doomed. Once,
in some miraculous way, it had esca ed from
showed
no designs against it, but now it would
- probably have to go.

Still, it was likely that when they were
robbed the road-agents would turn them

 loose, and she thought they would be will-

‘ 'ilr‘r‘gto set her face in the direction of the
at, and perhaps hold Bradley and the
gwoman there until she had obta ned a fair

-  start

To Bradley there was no redeeming feature
N He knew more about the gang,
and they had an unpleasant way of putting
their fingers into other people‘s pies, and ex-

 tracting all the plums, and then acting

harsh! if there was any cutting up rough
bout t. In sullen silence he awaited what
uto'come. ‘ '

 

The outlaw came out from the trail-side,
and their weapons pointed in the same
direction.

“ Speak up, man, an’ let us know what
you war doin’ hyer with that thar young lady
1n tow. Looks like ez though thar war some
kind ov a game up thet Cap’n Brand wants
ter take a han‘ in. Tell ther truth, or face
ther devil.”

“ No game is there, at all. She wanted to
find a man, and I agreed to bring her to him.
I’m taking her there now, and that’s all there
is about it.”

“ And the man.
for him.”

“ And a mighty queer man."

“ liis,name.”

“ Don’t know that his name counts much.
He might kick if 1 was to begin to sling it
around loose, up hyer.”

“ You’ll find that it counts a heap of you
don't tell it mighty sudden. Thar Won’t be
another time ov askin’.”

“Adam I)ruycr, then, if you must know
it. What she wants of him you must ask her
yourself. 1 don't know.”

“ Is this hyer a true bill, young lady?’
asked the road-agent, turning sharply to
Stella, who had been listening without giving
the least sign of concern.

“ True as far as it goes. I started under
his guidance, with the expectation of being
led to the man he names but since then I
have doubted whether he had any such in-
tention at all.”

“Has he treated you badly?”

“Not beyond a few threats which were
enough to make me very careful how I acted
for fear worse should come."

“ Glad to hear it. It saves a ban gin’ match.
Now, Mister Man, you hev finished your con~
track, an’ brought ther young lady jest c7.
far c7. she wants ter go. You continner ter
keep yer han’s up, an’ take ther back track,
ter wunst. I'll tend ter ther rest.”

“ Thank you for dismissing my false guide,
but would it not do just as well if you were
to allow me to take the back track, and keep
him here until I was fairly on the wa "P"

Stella’s interruption was useless. ‘he out-
law coldly answered:

“Scassly. That may come later on, but
jest now you've come so fur it’d be a dog-
goned shame cf you war disserp’inted.”

“ It seems to me I am bound to be that,
anyway,” she answered, coldly watching the
retreating figure of Steve Bradley, who had
Wasted no words, and was riding away with
lfiis lliands holding the reins high over his

ca( .

“ P’rhaps not. This hyer lady bed better
be a-movin’ ’long in ther same d'reckshun of
she wants ter go at all, an’ then we’ll con.
sider."

The woman wanted no urging. From the
moment of the appearance of the road-agent
she seemed to shun observation as much as
possible. and if she had not started with her
companion in the abduction it was because
she was afraid she might not be included in
the arrangement. She went away without a
single backward glance.

" An’ now, leetle woman, they done the‘r
work upa heap-sight better than they fig-
gered on. You war lookin’ fur Adam Druyer.

"m the? Chap: what’s wanted?" ,

“ Is there a threat behind that, if I do not
go on and reveal my business? You can
scarcely expect me to believe that you are
the man for whom I am searching.”

“ Jest cz yer hez it. But of thar’s my
other man sez he’s ther Adam Druyer thet
prospected ’round hyer with one Harold
Stone, in times ez are gone by, thet same are
a liar an’ a hose-thief. I’m guessin’thet you
be ther da’rter ov my ole slde-pard, an’ I’m
a givin’ yer a straight tip on ther dead level.
Ef I’ve mistook, all I, got ter do are ter
swear yer in an’ let yer go. Fur ary other
body I ain’t got a word ter say regardin’
them things. ”

It’s a queer place to look

 

“ I am the daughter of the Harold Stone
you mention, but I cannot et believe you
are the man I wanted to fim ."

“ Play you do, though, an’ open out. Yer
cain't do yerself ary damidge. an’ of it's that
truth I'm tellin’ yer it may be a heap good
thing ter do."

" But Adam I)ruyer was—was—"

Prudence forbade her to finish the sen-
tence as she had intended when she began
it. If this was the Druyer she wanted he
might well take exception to what she had
begun to say.

Captain Brand, however, finished the sen-
tence for her, and he did it with a harsh
laugh.

“Was an honest man, you war goin’ ter

sa .

J‘I‘An’ he talked like a book. That war
ther old Adam, sure enuf, an’ yit I’m ther
same pusson. Don’t ax questions why it are
so, but just knuckle down ter biz. I ain't
much time ter waste, an’ cf yer don't git
w’ot yer want now thar’s no tellin’ cf yer
ever gits it. The life we live are mighty
onsart’in."

“If you are the Adam I)ruycr I sought
to meet then you are in disguise, and
afraid to trust yourself with me under
your own colors. Why should I show more
confidenco?”

" Bless yer soul, honey, what’s that to do
with your affairs? ch' time yer sees me
I’ll be sum’un’ else. It’s a part ov ther trade.
Iain‘t like ter do yer ary harm, an’ I may
do yer good. Ef yer won’t run yer chainces
better wagon back ter town an' call ther deal
off.”

“ There is truth in what you say, and be-
cause it can make matters no worse I will
take you at your word and believe you are
the old-time pard of my father. It does
not seem it should be hard for you to guess
what .I would ask.

“ Can there be a chance that Harold Stone
still lives? If not. how did he die, and where
was be buried? There is more than revenge
or sentiment in those questions, though there
is enough of both."

.“ Now ye’r’ a-gittin’ ter bedrock. An’ it's
jest 07. Well you don’t ax them things too
free ’round Sinners' Flat. Yer ma hcv
another visit frum Steve Bradley. ain’t
shore thet Stone are dead, but it looks
mighty likely; an' of he’s gone up ther
flume it stan’s ter reason thet ther man
what holds ther Fair Dove Mine started him
on his journey. Mcbbe you have heercd ov
Morris I-lowc?”

“ 1 have heard the name. and that he owns
property that was m father’s by ri ht of
discover and work; lint I have bear little
more. ‘eh me something of him. and why
you fancy he is guilty of such a thing as a
murder."

“ You kep’ me so long a~chinnin’ thet I
’ain‘t ez much time 07. I’d like for ex lainin’,
an‘ I'll bev ter make it short an’ soli ."

I 10 stopped fora moment as though he was
seeking to arrange what he hadto say. Then,
in a low tone, he went on:

“ When a man hez a good thing ov it an’
steps out suddint an' onbeknowns, an’ em
other man drops inter his shoes ’thout
hevin' ter say “her or how, out hyer we
s’pect of we do keep dark. Ef I bed bin
hyer you bet thar would ’a‘ bin questions
axed;‘but by ther timeI got back it war
late in the day, an’ 1 war kinder oncertain
cf I'd git jusliss in a court. I bin a-lookin’
’round a leetle on me own book. an' mt‘bbo
I struck s’uthin’ 27. her. a bearin’. lou seen
me git it from Meg Brandon. It looks all
straight an’ ship-shape. an‘ shows thet ther
mortgidge e7. Howe old on ther find war
all paid off, slick an’ clean."

As he spoke he brought out the very '

paper he had succeeded in forcing from the
proprietress of the Gates of Glory when the
stage was held up.

“Ez she said, I cain’t do much with this:

   
    
    
 
   
    
   
  
  
  
  

       
      
     
     
       
     
         
     
     
       
     
        
      
     
     
     
     
       
      
      
     
     
       
       
       
     
     
     
     
     
      
        
     
     
     
     
     
       
     
     
     
     
     
      
     
        
      
     
     
     
       
          
       
  
         
      
      
       
       
       
       
 
     

as v

“\.,<

151‘-

  

 
 

  

  

 

 

but I reckon it would be apt ter set you
solid on ther ground floor, an’ thinkin’ it
over I’ve concluded ter pass it your way.
R0ad~agent er not, I‘m not a-goin’ back on
ther darter ov ther old pard w’ot allers used
me white."

“ There is money, then?” asked Stella,
with a gasp.

, “ It was not that I was after, but to find
my father.”

f‘ This hyer will be the next best thing.
You jest git it recorded, all in ship-shape, an’
ontil it are done keep outen ther fingers ov
Howe an’ his heelers. You kin see they are
arter you circady, an‘ sooner than miss
they’d send you arter or father.”

“ But how did you mow?”

“ I got outer ther deal ez Meg war makin’
with a tough case ez wunst hung ’round
hyer. How, are a story ov another kind.”

“ But what did she intend to do with it?
Certainly it could not be of any value to
her—and she seemed so 10th to give it up.”

“Mebbe she meant ter play ther same
game I hed laid out—ter pinch Morris till he
made a divvy. It ain’t perzaetly her style,
but thar’s no knowin’ jest how an’ whar a
wooman like her will break out”

“ And you think the man with whom you
found me tonight was a tool of this man
Howe?” -

“Shore 0v it. An’ fur ther sake ov yer
health steer cl’ar ov him in ther future.
They’re skeered ov ye, an’ when that crowd
are skeered they don’t keer whar they hit.
Now, ef ye hev ary questions spit ’cm out
fur I must be a-goin’. You cain’t miss ther
way back ter ther Flat, an’ I’ll hev one 0v
my men watch yer till yer gits to ther town
fur fear that galoot chips ag‘in. Ef 1 kin
help yer furder I’ll do it fur ther sake ov
my pard ez war white; but like 07. not I
cain’t. [most ginerally hev my hau’s full
ter look out fur number one.”

’l‘here was some little conversation, which
was only explanatory of what has already
been mentioned.

Then Stella set out on her return to the
Flat.

To give her further confidence Captain
Brand had put into her hands a revolver,
and as she knew how to use it she believed
that, backed up by .the road-agent in the
distance, she had nothing to fear from Steve

radley and the bag who was so ready todo
his bidding.

Though the region was solitar there
was no doubt in finding her way a ong the
thread of a trail by which she had come, and
before long she caught a glimpse of the
lights of Sinners‘ Flat, twinkling in the dis-
tance.

It seemed it would be the wisest course to
turn loose the horse she had accumulated
before entering the town, and she was about
to dismount tor the pur ose when, from the
bushes by the roadsh e, a weird fl ure
darted, and sprung astride the animal rom
behind.

One long, bony hand twined around her
throat, while another clutched the reins
from her hand and wheeled the horse.
Then, with a screech that made the blood of
the girl run cold, her captor struck his heels
sharply into the ribs of the frightened ani-
mal, causing him to dash away in headlong

flight.

CHAPTER VIII.
THE VALUE OF THREE SIXES.

Soun'rmns fortunes are lost and won
with frightful rapidity at the card-table, and
again, luck and skill are so evenly balanced
It takes a long while for one man to get the
better ot his ellows.

. It did not take the Tie-To Sport many
minutes to find out that the two knew the
value of a hand as well as the next, and
with luck so evenly ba.anced he was cautious
about forcing the pace.

 

He had a fair working capital for an ordi-
nary game, but not enough to stand many
heavy losses.

Charley Briggs was one of those men who
seem overflowing with good-nature while
they play. To hear him talk one would not

suppose he had more than half a thought
for the game, and was careless whether he ,
was to win or lose. '

While he shufiled 'the cards he kept up a
running fire of questions, and if no answer
forthcoming he answered

was otherwise
himself.

“ First appearance at the Flat, I believe?”

Ile slung the question at Iiammond in a
friendly way, and the sport answered it
after the terse fashion of one who was busy,
and didn’t relish any outside nonsense.

“ Oh, of course, I knew it without asking,
but I couldn’t help putting a word or two in
so I could add a dozen later on. I’m a
stranger myself, or pretty near it, though I
have been around the camp enough to have
caught on to some of the ropes. Mighty bad
place it is for a man with a kink in his neck.
They are so rough when they try to help him
straighten it out. Three cards you want,
and I’ll take two. What are you doing, Mr.
Johnson?”

For half an hour the game went on with
even fortune.

Then, as he looked over his hand, Johnson
braced himself up. or seemed to, and began
to crowd the betting.

“ easy, easy, my friend,” laughed Briggs,
counting down the coin called for to see
Jolmsou’s raise. “ You hadn’t ought to have
bluiied out the stranger unless you were
sure I’d follow him.

“But you don't bluff me worth a cent.
I’ll stay right by you through s1x troubles,
and on the seventh you’ll find me around.
There you are, and there’s a few ducats that
says you’re clean wrong. When you tickle

me, old man, you always find me ready to .

reciprocate.”

It was hard to tell from his face whether
Johnson was disgusted at catching the wrong
fish. At any rate he saw the raise and went
a few dollars better.

“Oh, I’m after you with‘a sharp stick,”
continued Briggs, as he again went over the
other.

“ I’m only sorry our friend here couldn’t
see his way to staying in. I do like to win a
pile when the cards run right.”

“In your mind,” growled Johnson, tak-
inga glance at his hand and then making
another raise.

“Most parties I have played draw with
let their money do the talking. It’s a heap
better than to be chawing so much wind.
If you are going to stay with me,bcttcr show
up just how long. It’ll save both of us a
lot of time counting over change, and clear

‘the road for a tussle between me and the

stranger, here. He don’t say so much, but
that don’t hinder his knowing the cards by
name. ”

“ One down and another come on, eh? If
I knew how much gelt you carried I'd bet-
ter know the size 0 the pile I ought to put
on the table. How does that strike you for
a raise?"

Still laughing, Briggs first counted out the

amount it took for him to come in.

Then, he drew a roll of money carelessly
from the side-pocket of his coat, and began
turning over the ends of the bills.

When he had fingered over ten of them,
each with a C on the end, he flun g the little
package down with a flourish, and looked up

nowingly in the face of the other, whose
answer was not long coming.

“ Pretty fair for a tin-horn spoiler, just in
from a raid on the joskins at a country fair,
but not much for a highflyer at the Gates of
Glory. A little better if you please.”

And this time he fluttered two thousand
down, and evidently had more back of it.

“ Ah,” said Briggs, with what might have

5 passed for a sigh of relief, tossing his
into the pot.

“A high roller from ’way back. Cover
what you can, and if you size the pile I’ll
open another wad. If it's for blood and hair
We’ll have plenty in sight.”

“ Count out your coin, and call the size of
it. Idon‘t want to linger your wealth till
the cards say it’s mine,” grumbled Johnson,
a evidently a little staggered by the size of the
stake, but not inclined to take water.

" Eight thousand you will find it, bar mis-
takes at the bank in counting it. Money
talks now. Put up or shut up.”

The sport was watching the game with
all eyes in spite of the careless front he
maintained. '

He began to think he was sailing in deep
water. If this was the size of a little side
game for amusement, what would he have
got into if he had looked around for the
heavy holders? Was Johnson going to stay
with his antagonist?

No real question did there seem to be
about that.

“Eight thousand 1 see, and we’ll let it
stop right there. I’d know what you bad if
it cost me a fortune, and if I had a million
I’d stake it on a side bet that I scoop the

ot.” ’

p From his own boodle he drew away a few
bills, and placed the remainder against the
pile just pushed up by Charley Briggs.

The latter threw down his hand, face up-
permost, but bunched together.

The top card was the ace of hearts.

“ Four of a kind, and they’re all like the
little joker ontop.”

“ Not good,” gritted Johnson, throwing
down his hand so the five cards could be
seen.

It was a straight flush of hearts, beginning
at the deuce, and running upward.

Then, he thrust his hand over toward the

ot.

p “ You say? What’s the matter with mine?”
asked Briggs, spreading out his cards with
one hand while with the other he made a
gesture that protected the money on the
table.

“ I said I had four of a kind, but that don’t
hinder from having five. The cards speak
for themselves.”

He also had a flush in hearts, but it was
also the highest hand in the deck—a flush
royal.

“ And you dealt the cards?" said Johnson,
in a low, tense tone.

“I dealt the cards,” answered Briggs.

“ What‘s the matter with that?”

And then. like a flash the two men were
up and facing, each with a revolver in his
hand. Johnson had attempted to catch the
drop before he said the word, “ cheat,” but
Briggs was with him, as he had been all
along.

“Hold the stakes, pardner, till this thing
is se tled, and see the best man gets them, ’
hasti y exclaimed Briggs.

It may have been said to divert the atten-
tion of the other man, but if so the trap was
not a success.

Though Dell Hammond coolly bent for-
ward, and swept up the stakes without the
least apparent thought of danger, the eyes of
Johnson never left his antagonist.

“I’ll settle with him afterward,” he rit-
ted. “First is this matter with you.
it be a go as you please, or do you want a
regular thin of it?” .

‘“ I guess can hold over you With the
barkers as well as with the pictures, and at
any game or any gait you choose to take ’em.
It 2's a pity to makea muss here. We’ll go out
doors, where Meg can’t hinder. Have you
got any friend, or; shall I lend you one of
mine?” ,

Charley Briggs thrust away his pistol as
he spoke, and turned away.

With lightning like speed Johnson threw

 

up his own, and there was a double report.

/

hall .

w

 

 

 

I I I“... . ‘E-m 1,". "-4
 ,. . - ,  ,. "Ir-Pu: « 1"" ""

A 'The Tie-To Sport.

. shafts; 4M.“ lbw-r3; 35.4"" "Amt": ’

   

 

 

 

 

   
   
 

CHAPTER IX.
'rin'. mama or JUDGE LYNCH.

CHARLEY BRIeos’s knees shut up jack-
knife fashion, or he would have been a dead
gambler.

It was the jarring click of the hammer of
the revolver held in Johnson’s hand which
saved him. He knew that after hearing that
the bullet would be along in short order, and
he dodged in the speediest and most effective

J‘ {v way.

jg "'7‘. ’ As be seated himself on the floor, with
y  more promptness than grace, his revolver
 =1. came out again, and he twisted himself
 ‘ around, just in time to see Johnson falling

toward him. At the same time, Dell llam-
lond was thrusting away a pistol.

“ Thankee, pard!” cried Briggs, leaping to
his feet, his weapon still in hand.

“ I might have known the dirt dog would
play me foul if he could, and i you hadn’t
chipped I reckon I would have stood a mighty
good show to go over the range. He would

ave got a second shot before I could be
ready for him.”

Hammond made no answer but looked
keenly around, his hand resting carelessly
near to his now hidden pistol. He was not
sure the frolic was over yet.

At the reports all was confusion in that
part of the saloon.

The two (players, who had thus by chance,
as it seemc , become pards, had not suffered
it to pass altogether unnoticed that there
were more spectators to the game than was
usual, and that for some time there had been
an unexplained drift in the direction of the
table.

Now, these outsiders all suddenly
developed into friends of the man who la
where he had fallen, his arms outstretche ,
and his face covered with blood from a
wound in his head.

Fortunately for the two the crowd was all
around them. find it not been for that the
ball might have opened on the instant, for
more than one hand brandished a weapon, and
from the shouts which arose as it came surge
ing forward it seemed the crowd was already
ripe for revenge.

” Down with him! He’s shot Dave in cold
blood—whar's yer rope?”

“ It’s ther blood pirate ez came in on ther
stage, an’ they id say he war Captain
Brand, hisself.” ,

“ Hang ther road-agent, an’ send his pard
up along with him!”

“ Hands up~ thar, ycrselves, an' see how
yer likes it 1”

“ Up they are,” retorted Briggs; “ but
each one holds about half a dozen lives. Go
a leetle slow till you find what all this racket
is about. He tried to shootme from behind.
and if my pard, there, gave him his gruel it
was no more than he deserved. There’s the
mark of Johnson’s bullet on the wall, and if
it wasn’ta fair line shot for the head that
just then didn’t happen to be there I‘d like
to know. Steady as you are or there will be
: pistol play for a fact.”

The rush wavered and came to a halt.
Briggs was covering several of those who
had wasted time flourishing pistols, and Dell
Hammond was taking care of the rest. He
found he had been elected to the position
of Brig s’s pard whether he wanted it or not,
. and un er the circumstances it might not be
2. exactly safe to decline the honor. Charley
owes in effect putting in one word for him-
self, and a dozen for him.

1 But the danger was not over. '

There was a chance for a sly shot at any

Ement, and meantime, if the crowd was
ecked its humor seemed only to become

“more deadly.

'j In spite of the pistols one man took a step

the. front.

1" Thar’s a dead man on the floor, an’ thar‘s

', man what shot him without a word ov

'_ ing. Sinners’ Flat may be .a rough

  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
   
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
    
 
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 

 
 
 
  
  
   
  
 
  
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
   

    
 
   
   
 

  

  

  
 

‘ ’15}.- we,

 

place. but it‘s whar they deal out jestlce,
hot an’ quick. Are these men ter git it?”

“ You bet!” chorused the crowd.

“Thar you have it,” he continued, turn-
ing to Briggs.

“ When ther boys talk that way they mean
business. You can’t fight ther town, an’
then thar’ll be no chance at all of yer tries it
on. Step up ter Jedge Lynch’s bar an’

ou’ll rit what yer deserves; no more, an‘ no
ess. hat do yer say? An’ be mighty
kcerful how yer answers.”

“ You say, pard,” said Briggs, giving a
quick, keen glance at Dell llammond.

“ I pass. You know the gang better than
I. If I was runnin things I’d say I never
was called down as ong as I held sixes, and
was ready to bet money they would rake the
pot.”

“Then, that’s my platform, too. If you
galoots want two prisoners you got to come
and take them." .

And side by side, with their backs against
the wall, the two men faced the crowd,
lwhich again appeared to be at about boiling
icat.

“ Last offer. It’s your pard that done
ther shootin’, an’ it’s him that we'll be a-try-
in’. \Ve know he shot Dave; we reckon he’s
snatched ther stakes, w’ot made Dave git to
his gun, an’ we s'pect him 0v bein’ a road-
agcnt, which ther some he kin explain how
he come ter git cn ther hearse jest cz Cap-
tain Brand war a-leavin' after ahold-up this
afternoon. Ef yer wants ter do him good
git him tcr hold up his hands an‘ you kin be
rustlin’ ’round ter see thct we play him fair.
Dunno ez 'we got ary thing ag’in you ’ccpt
bein’ in blame bad company.”

Part of this was not just as clear as mud,
but it was plain it was a bid made to separ-
ate the two pards.

1 Charley Briggs simply shrugged his shoul-
( crs.

Then, he edged a little closer to the Tic-To
Sport, and in a low tone gave a warning:

“ It’s the worst gang, and the biggest
gang in town. Bcckon there will be music in
the air. All the same when the pinch does
come I can count on a few friends if 1 give
the signal. But I’d like blame well to know
how they found me out.”

“ You don’t want tcr waste no time askin’
conundcrums,” piped a shrill voice, almost
at his elbow.

“They’re a-goin’ ter plug one ov yer frum
the winder, with a shot—gun, an’ I’m bettin’
odds thet of they begin they’ll take ycr in,
all both. What yer goin' ter do about it,
afore I j’ines ther other side?”

Billy Jingle hadcreptin through the ush,
some time before, and after the fash on of
the Irish rioter was willing to throw a brick
wherever he could see a head.

“ B heavens! you’re right, boy!” exclaim-
ed Briggs, his gaze darting toward the win-
dow immediately opposite.

“ I wondered why they held up.
there, and ready here. Ah!”

Through the window came a pair of
muzzles that evidently belonged to shot-
guns, and for an instant faces were seen,
glancing along the barrels.

There was no time for hesitation or chal-
lenge. '

When men took such careful aim it, was
because they meant death to follow. The
two pards were close to the gates of death,
and only the Warning of the boy to save
them.

With a quick turn of the wrists the sport
threw his muzzles around, and without dwell-
ing on his aim fired two shots.

A scream came from without, and the
clatter of a steel barrel falling upon a stone.

The other barrel wavered for a second,
pointed upward. sent a handful of buck-

Steady,

shot into the ceiling, and then disappeared. _ j

Neither of the sport’s shots were wasted.
Quickly as he turned again to the crowd,
the men of Sinners‘ Flat were quicker. His

fire had been drawn, and before he could
even draw the hammers of his tools a dozen
men were upon him, snarling, swearing,
grasping, ready to tear or slay.

At the same time, some one iluug a hat in-
to the face of Charley Briggs and though he
aimlessly pulled trigger once, the end of his
gun was forced u )ward, and he was flung
into the midst of tho snarling, gnashing
crowd.

Dell Hammond in the course of his busi-
ness experiences had been in such cmeutos
before, though they were not directed at his
life, but at that of some other unfortunate.

make up his mind that all this riot was on
account of the shooting of Dave Johnson;
but if it was he had lost all chance of clear-
ing his skirts when he fired two shots at the
men in the window. All that seemed left,
now, was a tight to the bitter end.

Clasping his pistol tightly he struck out
savagely with their steel bound butts, he
wrenchcd himself loose from the hands that
grasped him, he did the work of a dozen
men. Iiad Briggs been as vicious the two
would have cut a wide swath through the
crowd—might even have come out vie.
torious.

Unfortunately, Briggs was on the defen-
swe.

Once moving and they kept him moving.
He was hustled this way, and when he
broke awayhe was plunged that. lie fired
several shots without knowing whether
they counted, and then saw two men driv-
ing at him with knives in their fists.

At si ht of that he appeared to lose his
sand. lc gave utterance to a loud whistle,
tore himself loose once more, and having
broken through in some miraculous manner
went sailing feet through the nearest
window, just as Early Ike, Ante Ben, and
other 11001ch of the place came driving
through the door which led to the bar-room

All this passed with almost blinding rapidr
ity, but Dell Hammond kept the run of the
cards as the game progressed, and when he
saw Briggs retreat he thought it was time to
go along. Ile leaped back in time to evade
a knife-thrust, sprung upward, landin
upon the shoulders of two of the mob, an
ovor the heads of them all bounded for the
window, tiring shots from either hand as he
went.

As he passed through the opening left b
Charley Briggs some one was right at his
heels, and that some one was Billy Jingle.

CHAPTER X.
THE TIE-T0 sron'r mrrnucs IN coon ORDER.

So far to the best of his knowledge, Dell
Hammond had killed no one. ‘

There was a chance his bullets had not
gone exactly where he meant them, but he
was willing to bet such was not the case.
It was to avoid going to extremities, and to
gain a little time, that he retreated. Had
he believed the case was hopeless he would
have (lied trying to make his teeth meet.

Ilc did not blame Briggs for making his
retreat, though he wasa little surprised at
not finding him waiting outside.

At any rate, he did not intend to remain
there to make a fight alone, and with head
bent low trip ed along close to the side of
the house. ’Iliic shadow concealed him, and
he naturally made for the rear of the saloon
as being the best route to take to dodge the
would be lynchers.

Somethin he did not altogether under-
stand cause him to hasten on.

He was certain Briggs was not lurkin near,
yet before he hadtaken the secom step
some one on the outside began a regular
fusillade—and it was directed at the house,
for with every shot Dell could hear the
ingle of breaking window-glass.

“ He’s throwin away ood lead, firing
high,” thought ammon , as he hurrie

 

 

along.

110 had not, from the first, been able to.

 
  
  
  
 
  
 

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The Tie-To Sport.

 

 

“ Sorr I haven’t time to stop and tell him
so, but reckon he’ll catch on to it shortly
after the crowd does."

Voices near to him‘caused his reflections
to take another turn.

The rear of the house was evidently
guarded.

A man or men had been stationed there,
and a man or men had just come hurrying
to the spot.

“. You bet it’s a racket,” one of them was
saying.

“ We got Captain Brand, the road-agent,
coepcd in there, and the boys are just getting
away with him. If he comes out of this
door, plug him!"

“ Sounds as though he might be gettin’
away with ther boys,” suggested one of the
part§.

“ 'ou can’t scoop up that sort without
more than fun.”

“ Right you are. He and his pard salted
down Dave Johnson, and have salivated
two or three more. They passed the word
lalong,but I tell you they are bound to have

1m.”

It seemed possible no one thought or knew
of the fact that the men detailed to guard
the windows had both been downed, and
that avenue of escape was open. Hammond
fancied it would be best to leave the region
before they did, though how to go without
attracting attention was not so easy to deter-
mine.

The Gates of Glory was a nucleus toward
which men were running from all directions.

While he hesitated, looking this way and
that, Billy J ingle’s paw was hooked under
his arm.

“ This way, pard. It looks dusty, but the
road are level. I 've’em somethin’ter think
about, an' I shoul n’t wonder of I put the
brand on two or three. Better come erlong
with yer grandpap an’ hunt a hole.”

“ I‘m huntin’ a hole. right enough, but
I’m not so sure I’ll find it in time. Stop
your chinning and go to hunting if you
mean sport. f not, clear out!”

“This way, then. I jest wanted ter know
of I war ter count yer in.”

He stood and stole off at right angles, fol-
lowed b the sport.

Billy new what he was aiming for. In
the rear of a shanty not more than a dozen
paces away there was an old ditch which
offered the best kind of an avenue for re-
treat.

Along this they stumbled for some dis-
tance, while the noises in their rear showed
they were being sought after principally in
the opposite direction.

“Guess Briggsy are drawin’ them that
way, an’ I must say, I ain't a-keerin’. Ef
they ketch him they’ll hang him, but that’s
twiste ez good ez though they hung me. I’m
leavin’ town, how are it with you, pard ?”

“ Oh, I guess I will hardly go yet. I can
slip around to my room and wait till the
tide oes down. ”

“ 0, you cain’t mister, fur hyer they
come now. Legs, do yer duty l”

The heavy tramp of half a dozen men
running at ra id rate came quite plainly to
their ears. I they had thought of the ditch
and were now following its course it would
not be long before they would give the sig-
nal which would draw the rest of the gang
thither. '

Billywaited for no answer, but shot away
as fast as his little legs could carry him,
never once looking over his shoulder.

Dell Hammond would have followed, but
at that Instant an unlucky misiste caused
him to stumble, and seeing he coul scarce]
save himself from falling he allowed himsel’f
to drop to the ground.

Then, he rolled over and over a few times,
and remained quiet.

The fact was, he knew that if he rose
from the round he would be seen, and he
did not th 1: he was bound to show himself

 

 

l

simply because the plunging steps of the
boy in advance could still be distinctly
heard.

The crowd rushed past, in the wake of the
boy, and then he rose and followed. It
struck him it would not be the fair thing to
desert the lad, for the tender mercies of such
men as those were cruel, and if they thought
Billy had dcsignedly led them off the trail—
even if they had no Other account against
him—they might do murder.

In this way the chase kept up until they
were well out of the camp. Perhaps Billy
Jingle played the same game the sport
tried. At any rate, he appeared to sudden-
ly vanish without track or sound, and hear-
ing him no longer the men from Sinners’
Flat came to a halt, fairly puzzled at the
disappearance.

“ Bet iyer a dollar he’s dodged around an’
get bac ter ther tow'n, cf that war him,”
said one voice; and then others chimed in,
giving different views of the situation.

Back in the town lights Were glancing,
and there were the shouts of men who were
running to and fro. The Sinners were in
dead earnest, and appeared to have turned
out en mates for a grand batteau.

After some consultation in a low tone the
party divided up.

Two remained standing with drawn pistols,
watching and listening, two went back to—
ward the cam , while the rest stole carefully
along in the ( ircction the fugitive seemed to
be going the last they heard of him.

It was plain they were not altogether cer-
tain they had been on the right track. Had
they been so they would have given a general
alarm.

With such evidences of determination
Hammond saw that he could not regain the
town without a fight. He was an exile,
and all that was left for him to do was to
get as far away from the place as quickly as
possible.

So far as knowledge of location went he
was altogether lost.

He knew nothing about the approaches to
the Flat save the trail by which he had en-
tered it, and he had not taken particular
notice of that, nor did he have the least idea
of whereabouts it lay. The best he could
do was to seek a iding place and wait
for daylight to decide upon the final line of
retreat. '

It was ticklish work edging away from the
spot where he had been lying, but the at-
tempt had to be made, and Very cautiously
did he move away, flanking the two sen-
tinels, and avoiding the route taken b the
rest. He might run upon some of the utter
at any moment. -

He went slowly, but he went surely.

No attention was attracted in his direction,
and in ten minutes or so it seemed he was
fairly out of the dangerous neighborhood,
and could draw a long breath.

As he gave a sigh of relief he heard a low
laugh almost at his elbow and Billy Jingle
was around as usual.

“ Mighty close cutting, but I got a fairy

pattern outen the piece ov cloth. One time
tho’rt I’d have ter draw my peppers, and
slap ther brand on, but I reckon they kin
run wild fur mavericks a bit longer.”

“A young man about your size will get
more than branded, with your fool capers,
some of these times. I’d like to know who
is running this thing. you or I. And I’ll
swear, I don’t see what call you have to
chip anyhow. A sweet youth of your age
tag appearance ought to be at home and in

The sport could hardly be angry with the
boy, though it appeared to him he was
getting to be something of a nuisance.

" In bed, yer grandatheri Whar would
on come out at ef Bil y Jingle an’ his brand-
n’ irons wa’rn’t around. Feller me, an’

at I don’t lead ter glory I’ll show yer a road

outen ther wood. After that, ef yer want ,

 

 

 

 
   

ter go it alone say ther word an’ I’ll dr
yer an’ go hunt fur that man Briggs. ”

“ Don’t you think you had better go now?
Your infernal chinning will bring all the
Flat this way; and no doubt Briggs needs
you more than I do.” '

“Dunno. He's a young man ov sand,
though, onfortunately, it runs out by ther
time ther pinch comes. Ef it’s his time on
he’s a roarin’ lion ov ther archipelergocs, an’ . -.
of it ain’t. he’s a spring lam’, with green ' :1
peas an’ sparrowgrass. I don’t take much ',
sto'ck in him, an’ I kinder think he’s a-runnin’ ,‘l 

it." . , i
y “ No doubt, if he thinks you are coming 
on his trail. For a small boy with great ’
gall you take the cake. I think I’ll run ._ .1
myself.” .  3..

The conversation had been carried on in a "
careful tone. Without waiting for answer
Dell started off at a rapid rate.  ,r

llilly (lid not attempt to follow. He folded 4-? '2
his arms and looked after the vanishing '

Shadow. 7 
“ Never mind, young man.” he muttered.  '
“ You’ll come my way before ther night are > ,

over. an’ cf Sinners’ Flat comes with yer I’ll
most likely hcv a chainee ter slap on me
brand.”

 

CHAPTER XI. 2" ‘
THE BOY, AND 'rns MEN. -  ‘
a

WHEN Charley Briggs .went out of the l .
window he had no idea of further flight than - '  t
the rear of the house. -  

He gave one glance over his shoulder to :3 .
see that the Tie-t0 Sport was following in " ~ L 41:,
his wake, and then pushed on to clear the 5 ii ‘

wa .

The men on guard were a revelation, and
he began to see it was a more serious situa-
tion, even, than he had thought. it -:

For an instant he stood irresolute, looking  ~
backward, and saw Hammond come sailing
through the window.

Then, at the noise of running footsteps he
broke away in a flight so silent that Dell
failed to catch a sight-of his flitting figure.

After he had once begun to move, Circum-
stances kept him moving on. He was not
far ahead of Billy Jingle when that interest-
in g youth was trying to throw the pursuers
off the track, and he kept up his rapid pace I
for half a mile or more without pausing to
look back. -

Then, he broke into a laugh and threw
himSelf down by the side of the trail.

“ Well, for a sport of my experience I do
take the most foolish panics now and then
that man ever dreamed of. If it was not so
ridiculous it would be infernal, and I don’t . '
know that I would care to meet Daisy Dell , .
in the morning.” ‘ '

He started and looked up, even while'he l
was thinking this. He heard light footsteps
near him, and the clatter of a horse's feet.
further off. ,.

If some one was getting into position to ‘
command the road, Charley Briggs was de‘
termined to hold his advantage, and he bent.
forward, though beginning to be uncertain
whether the lurker Was man or beast . ‘

What he saw was the capture of Stella
detailed in a preceding chapter. ‘

From the time she came into view—and in ,.
the dim light she was none too clearly to be!
seen—until her captor was dashing away,“
was so brief a space it was a wonder Briggagvk,
recognized her at all. ' '9.

He did, though, and flun up his hand;
training his gun to bear on t 0 back of the.
weird horseman as he turned awafly. p

More than one reason held his nger from
tightning on the trigger. \

A bullet which struck the one might w
pierce both; and, hit or miss, the re 0
would be sufficient to guide all Sinners’
to the spot. . ‘

“ Great heavens! It is the girl _who ,
111011 the stage, and—~and—‘that face! 8 n  -

   
    
 
  
  
  
    
   
   
  
   
  
  
   
 
    
   
   
    
  
    
      
       
   

 

        
         
      
 
    
    
       
     
    
    
   
  

 
 

 

  

  

  

  
 

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The Tie-To Sport.

 

 

'I never noticed it except as belonging to a
Bread-and-butter miss. Could it—can it
e?’

It was hardly possible flight could be kept
up long at the gait at which the horseman
started, and pursuit on foot was not alto-
gether as wild a thing as it might have seem-
pd dto one unacquainted with the lay of the
an .

Up to his feet sprung Briggs, thrustin
awa his weapon, so as to be untrammelet
in his mOVements, and with his elbows at his
sides, after the fashion of a practiced runner,
he struck in on the trail, following the foot-
steps, the sounds of which were rapidly
growing fainter.

He trailed along for some distance, and
the sound of a pistol-shot urged him to
greater exertions. I

“ Curses on it," he panted, as the sounds
of the steps finally failed altoger.

“ The man was Morris Howe. Ghoul that
he is, if he knows who he has in hand——and
why else should he have taken her—her life
is not worth a dime. He will kill her if no
worse. I’ll trail him to the Fair Dove Mine,
and shoot him in his own shanty if I can do
no better. Perhaps it will not be too late
to save her."

He recognized the route as one by which
the mine could be reached, and meant every
word that was said. ‘

Onlyl for the time being the men of the
Flat had been forgotten.

Now that there was a fair distance between
them they could have been circumvented
easily enough, but they had ceased to enter
into his calculations from the moment sight
had been had of the fair, frightened face of
the girl captive.

But Sinners‘ Flat was around—or, at lcas ,
that section of it represented by a determin-
ed gang of would-be l nchcrs—and it was
fated L

tance impossible.

He came along carelessly cnou h, and
several men, darting out from behin , threw
themselves upon him and bore him to he
ground.

Before there was more than time for a mut-
tered curse to leave his lips, a cord had been
twisted around his wrists, and his captors
were bending over to take a closer look at
their find.

“ It’s not the galoot ez downed pore Dave,
but he’ll do jest ez well,” rowled one who,
with knee on his chest hel a lighted match

I ' to his face.

“Ef he didn’t kill Dave he warntcd to, jest
ther same. an’ we'll swing him off ter keep
our han’s in tell we kin find his pard.”

“ Reckon we ort ter give him some sort
ov a show fur hisnwhite alley,” answered
another.

“f Guess we best take him back ter town
an’ have him turned oil! regular like.
P'r’aps we kin turn ’em both of! ter
wunst.”

“ An’ give him a chance ter git away an’
slaughter a few more good men like Dave.
I vote ter turn him off right hfler, an’ now,
an' then keep mum about it. ‘f we hed got

' i , his pard we’d ’a’ put ’em all both up hyer an’

now, so what’s ther dif‘?”
Charley Briggs was as silent as a wolf in a
ra

here was no chance for resistance, and

tithe knew that with these men talk would
;‘ not count.

There was something more be-

.hind all this than the shooting of Dave

Johnson, or he was very much mistaken.
Would he keep up that sort of nerve to

V, the end?

Thou b there was still some objection to

‘i' 5 his sud en taking off. the sport knew it was

 

 
 

only a question of time when it would be
toyerruled. and the reps. would be noosed
that was to end the struggle.

, it"There was just one point in the sport’s

shiver, and that was, the scarcity of rope.

harley Briggs s iould drop into their.
hands after a fas ion which rendered resis-~

 

 

 

For a little it really seemed as though the
execution would have to be deferred.

Two or three belts and suspenders finally
solved that diiiiculty, and with savage
earnestness the tragic farce went on. The
rope was short but it was stout, and the
noose that was made slipped as freely as
though it had been of the best hemp. It
could be utilized, and they intended to
do it, doubly brutal as their method
might be.

The end was made fast toa limb up to
which one of the men had climbed; and he
kept his perch, holding the noose open, to
receive the neck of Charley Briggs, whom
the rest were raising up. They meant
strangulation, pure and simple.

At the last moment the gambler found his
tongue.

“One moment, mcnl
listen!”

His voice sounded no more like the care-
less, cheeky Charley Briggs. The change
was so great, one of the lynchers dropped
his hold and staggered back.

“Curse you fur a coward!” shouted the
leader—he who had insisted on an immediate
execution. ,

Ashe spoke his hands sought Briggs’s
throat, cutting off further speech.

“Up with‘him, an’ of Tom don‘t like it
We kin put him alongside ter keep him com-
pany. All tergether, now!”

“ S'kasslyi” chirped a shrill voice.

“ I reckon it ’11 be one at a time onless yer
han’s all goes up tergethcr. ()n’y time ov
askin’. Drap that an’ git, afore I put the
brand on.”

Billy Jingle did not intend the force of his
words should be lost by waiting long for an
answer.

About the time they had fairly left his
month he began to shoot; and his first shot
Went plowing along the shoulder of the
nlian up the tree, just fairly breaking the
sun.

With a howl of dismay he plunged head-
forward toward the ground.

Underneath him was the roup supporting
Charley Briggs, and as he esecnded spread-
eagle fashion he was able to take them all in,
'ust as another shot from Billy’srcvolver

urtled over their heads.

The men stumbled this way and that, and
each one was more than half-sure the bullet
had struck him. Charle Briggs was allow-
ed to drop unhee'ded while they took to their
heels instanter. It was a rout as sudden as
it was, to all parties concerned, unexpected.

“Ha, ha!” laughed Billy, darting toward
the prostrate gambler.

“The are awful sinners, but they ain’t
got san fur a cent.”

His keen knife quickly divided the cords
at the wrists of the late captive, and Char-
ley‘s hands at once went for the revolvers
which no one had thought worth while to
remove.

"Sinners they are, but when they hunt
together they have the coura e of a pack
of wolves. They may be back on us any
minute. Come, before they get here. Tnere’s
one or two in that crowd who can shoot
very straight.”

"That’s right. Glad ter see yer gittin’
a move on ov some kind. Whar ye think
ov goin’ to ?”

“ Straight to the Fair Dove Mine. There’s
business there for me to do. and if I had the
time, and dared to go back to the Flat, I’d
never go alone.”

“Ncr ye won’t either, pard. I reckon
I’ve biz thar meself. an’ cf 1 don't hev ter

ut ther brand on it ’1] perobably be aeause

’ve grow’d colder than this hyer iron. This
are ther way I beat her up."

He threw out the empty shells as he spoke,
and thrust in fresh cartridges. His brand-
ing-iron was ready, and unlike Dell Ham-
mond. Briggs did not disdain the aid of the
boy, for together the two left the spot.

For heaven’s sake

 

CHAPTER XII.
MORRIS nown’s MERCY.

Tim clutch on Stella Stone’s throat was
more for warning than harm. It gave her a
taste of what she might expect if she did
not icld promptly. ‘

V hen it loosened a little, the voice of the-
man hissed into her car:

“This time I take it in hand myself, and
there will be no getting away. Submit.
quietly and you have a chance for your life.
Make any resistance or outcry and I will
wring your necklike I would that of a spring
chicken. You ought to know if I have the.
strength.”

She certainly did know.

The gripe on her neck“ had not been there
for long, but it had left a mark that would
stay for some time, and she was even now in
the dazed condition of one who has been
thoroughly Well choked.

It was useless to ask the cause of this
treatment. Her heart misgave her. Steve
Bradley had failed him, and Morris Howe
was taking up the business himself. After'
the warning of the road-agent she knew she
would have to expect the worst if she fell
into his hands.

The flight went on without more words.
Before very long they iiitted past a small
party of men, one whom tried to stop them,
and fired a pistol-shot which hummed peril-
ously near to the head of the man behind
her, but Stella was not sure whether she
wanted their aid. Men wandering on the
mountain-side‘ at his time of night were not
the safest of all ties for young ladies such as
she.

There was one thing which offered her
some consolation when she was cool_enough
to think about it.

If she managed to get safely out of the
clutches of the man, she ought to take with
her considerable information about his in-
tentions, which she could have gathered in
no other way. ,

Perhaps this abduction would turn out to
have been for the best, after all.

And if she did not get away?

Well, Stella Stone was no coward. She
recognized that there was a chance against.
her as well as in her favor, but as she had
not invited the risk, so she would not
shrink from it. If the worst came to the-
worst she would probably find out the fate-
of her father before she went.

Meantime, where was be taking her?

She had not yet learned much n regard to
the environments of the Flat, and all she
knew was that he had turned aside from the
trail she had previously followed, and thus
had avoided the spot. where the man who
had called himself Adam Druyer had come
to her rescue a little while before. ‘

Perhaps Captain Brand, or some of his
satellites, would turn up again. In that case
the end would not be quite so bloodless as
when she was taken out of Steve Bradley's-
hands.

The man ofl’ered no further ex lanations.
Stella could see that he was all t to time on
the alert, and was sure an attempt to es~
cape would find him rea y to thwart it.
After what seemed to her a very long and
wearisome ride he came to a place where
there were signs of settlement and work.

A rude cabin lay against the Side of the
mountain, and near to it were several open--
ings in the ground.

“ It is a mine,” she thought.

“ What if it is the Fair Dove, and I should
find poor father’s bones? I wonder if I
would recognize them. I WOndcr more if I
could bring this man’s crime home to him i"

The man came to a bait, and cautiously
dismounted.

He evidently did. not intend to give her
the least chance of esca 0, since, when he
slid from the horse, he rew her with him
so that she fairly tumbled into his arms.

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12

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The Tie-To Sport.

 

 

He stood for a moment as though con-
sidering a matter of some importance. The
door of the cabin was right at his hand, and
a short distance away a Windlass overhung
one of the openings. He seemed to be de-
bating whether to use shaft or cabin.

“ The mine would be the surer but there
are the risks of taking her down alone. A
drop there would make an end of the whole
business, fast enough, and I’m not ready
for that—~yet. There was Only one fool in
that outfit, and surely the boys have sense
enough to know how to make him hold his
peace. The cabin it will be. Come 1”

He spoke the concluding word harshl —-

the rest of it had hardly been above a Willis-
pen-and began dragging her toward the
door. 1.
“Bea little easy, sir. I have no idea of
resisting until you drive me to it. When
you go that far—well, you may find that I
can use my hands “

“ Humphl You have found your voice at
last. Good. I was afraid you might choose
to play deaf and dumb. e’ll have a little
more talk later on. See that you do not
make a fool of yourself. Mistakes here
Seldom go over."

He did not abate his vigilance, but he re
moved his hand from her arm while he un-
locked the hcav door.

Then, he ba e' her enter, and following
once more locked the door behind them.

The air did not feel close, for there was an
opening in the gable end which allowed the
wind to blow through, but it was dark as
could be, and if Stella had not been the girl
of courage that she was her heart might
have failed her.

Perhaps the revolver given her by Brand
accounts somewhat for her courage. At
last she was able to place her hand upon it,
and the touch was, to say the least, reassur-
mg.
The darkness did not last long for there
was the striking of a match, and then a fire
flared up in the large fire-place which oc-
cupied almost the whole of one end of the
room. .

The kindling seemed to have been all ready
for the match, and by the sudden blaze
Stella took a View of her surroundings.

The room was rudely furnished, and look-
ed as though it was the head( uarters of a
bachelor miner or hunter. ere was a
round table, a couple chairs and a few
table and cooking utensils. In addition,
there was a bunk in one corner. With a
shutter fastened over the hole above, and the
door locked, the room might make a
sufficientl gloomy prison, and she wondered
whether t e man expected to keep her there
any length of time. It was an rut-of-the
way place, but still, there seemed to be a
chance of some straggler coming that way at
almost any hour of the day. .

From the room she turned to the man him.
self. and gave him a fearless, searching look.

The sight was not reassurin'.

The face of the man was darE with passion,
and with the possibilities of sin, and he was
eying her as an eagle might a lamb which it
had marked for its prey. '

His long fingers were bent talonlike,
and she would not have been surprised if he
had swooped down upon her, then and
there

“ Are you a woman of sense ‘2" he asked at
length, when he found her e es did not
droop under the burning gaze 0 his own.

“Perhaps. Who can tell?" was her an-
swer, given in a steady tone.

“ Do you care to live?"

“ Not very much. " I ‘

“ Has the prospect of gold without end no
charms for you?” ,

“ It might have had once;it has few now.”

"Take heed what you are as ing. I’ll
"take your words as the truth, an it is life
or death you are deciding on now.”

“However that may be I enter into no

bargain with you, Morris Howe, until I know
more of the past than you would care to tell
me. If you slew my father you will prob-
ably kill me; but if it is fated so to to, what
matter? I would be willing to wager my
salvation you will not live. long afterward,
to enjoy the Fair Dove Mine.

“ Ah!” gritted I‘Iowe, staring at her more
viciously than ever.

“You know too much to bargain with;
and even if you came to my terms who could
tell how long you could be trusted? There is
only one way out of the snarl.”

“ And that is?”

“Death!” he shouted, and with a leap
more savage, more pantherish even, than the
one he had made before, he sprung across
the cabin.

IIer hand was on her weapon, and she
had thought that if she only knew for a
surety, the knowledge would so nerve her
hand that she could give the stroke of death
and vengeance.

Only for a second did she have the chance.
After that it was too late.

With mad strength be seized her, tore
her from her feet, and flung her into a
chair. Before the first shock of the as.
sault was over he had her securely knotted
to the seat, and had dragged her to the fire-
place.

“Lcad and steel leave ugly marks,” he
hissed, “and I do not care to strangle you
where you sit as long as there is something
better It will not be painful, but it will be
just as effectual. Say your prayers, girl,
for our end has come. ”

H’e caught up a horn filled with some
strange compound, and poured a generous
share of its contents on the fire.

Then he darted out of the cabin, locking
the door behind him, and a moment later
was on the roof, closing tightly the chim-
ney, aLd hanging down the heavy shutter
which fitted, almost air-tight, to the opening
in the gable.

From the fire-place a deadly vapor swept
out, filling the room, and Stella heard a
savage laugh, and then the sound of de-
parting feet, before she lapsed into uncon-
sciousness. ,

CHAPTER XIII.
A REVELATION.

“ STEADY, now! Who goesthere?”

The challenge rung out with stern earnest-
ness, and was accompanied by a shard click
from a cocking revolver; but the answer was
a light laugh.

Then, after a momentary silence, a voice
added:

“ Steady) yourself, Charley Briggs. I
seem to e the onl friend you have in
these regions, and guess we won’t fall
out before the night is over. We can do
each other a heap of good unless I am away

Brig s did not seem to be so sure of the
voice, or his weapon remained at a level un-
til the chirping tones of Billy Jingle came
in to set him straight.

“’Pon me soul, it's ther sport ag'in. Ef
he’s bound ter wring in with a man ov my
side I won’t hinder. Let him come.”

“All right. I’ll take ’most anybody for
a pard, if he can tell me where I am, and
which way to go. I may not be lost now,
but if I sta ed here alone all night, blame
if I believe could find myself in the morn-
ngIn

This time he did not disdain the company
of the boy, and Charley Briggs was by no
means displeased at the meeting.

“ Glad to see you, pard,” he said, as Ham-
mond stepped forward. ‘

“Outside of my own particular gang
there’s no man living I would sooner meet,
because I know you have nerve, and I be-

 

lieve you are white. \I need that kind of a

  

 

man behind me to-night; are you game for the '

work?”

“I never covet more of my neighbor’s
goods than I can win at draw poker; and I
( on't object to shooting a man when I have
to save my life; but right there I draw the
line. I’m not shooting for the fun of the
thing, and I don’t want to grab for any
boodlc except my own. And that reminds
me, I have qurte a fair-sized stack of
yours.”

“Never mind that. You can keep it till
daylight. and perhaps by that time neither
of us will want it."

“ Very well, what do you want?”

“ I want to head off the chief of the gang
that has been laying for us, and to save one,
who has fallen into his clutches. I suspect-
ed there was morc in the riot than appeared
on the surface, and now I know it, though
how they spotted me, and what you have to
do with the matter is more than I can yet
understand. That will come later.”

“ If you think it is the best thing we can
do you can count me in; but from what I have
seen of them the Sinners are away up in
the catalogue, and if 1 had my way I’d say,
let me alone and I’ll let you alone.”

“Yes, but they won’t. They have gone
too far. And besides, there is an innocent
girl in the case. It is for her sake, and not
for my own, that I want to carry the war
into Africa.”

“ A girl! Great Scott! count me in from
the word go. For the sake of the sex Dell
Hammond can‘ always be counted on to be
around. Who is she?"

“Her name ] cannot give you, but she
came to the Flat on the same coach that
brought us—that brought you. Strange
that others could suspect her mission and-—
and—we could not.”

The gambler seemed to tangle himself up
a little in his speech, but Dell Ilammond
never noticed. lie was too much interested
in the intelligence.

“ And to think I saw her go, and never
chipped. I doubted the fellow who met
her, but thought she was up to running her
own affairs, and let him waltz off with her.
I tell you, man, I’m her friend, I’m her solid
friend.”

“ An’ as we be goin’ along, pard hyer kin
be ’xplainin’ how ther land lays. Blowedef

Idon’t want ter ketch on ter ther style ov I

ther game meself.”

Billy Jingle’s suggestion was a good one,
but Charley Briggs was not yet ready to ex-
plain all he knew, or thought he knew,
about the game. If he had done so he would
have saved something of a surprise later on,
by wringing it in now.

But he gave an outline that was near
enough to the truth, as far as it went. He
told how the Fair Dove was supposed to be
held by a man named Ilowe, who had ob.
tained it from the original leader in some
underhanded Way which would not bear in-
vestigation, and that this young lady was
the daughter of the man who had been first
swindled and then, perhaps, killed.

What might not be her fate in such
hands?”

“ If it comes to that there will be some gilt-
edge shooting and no mistake," muttered.
the sport.

“ But it must not. We can save her, and
we will. Step out a little faster, and, sonn ,
you’ll have to trot a little if you want to
in at the death."

“Oh, I’ll be there, old man. An’ of ther
galoot don’t carry Billy Jingle’s brand short-
ly after it’ll be ’cause he won’t be feelin’ equal
to ther load. Ther brand’ll be there, all ther
same.”

“Billy, you talk too much. Save your.

breath, for it’s no frolic we are on, and
there is any shooting done you want to do
more than break windows. ” ‘

“Bones, moreover—when the time comes . V

you bet I’ll break ’em. But I’ll shut my fly-

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The Tie-To Sport.

 
 

 

,  trap. Sound kerries a ood ways on a still
night, an’thar‘s no tel in’ who may be in
ther bushes.”

In silence they strode alonnr for quite a
_ while. Charley Briggs seemed never to be
*‘ at fault, though the trail leading to the Fair
Dove Mine was at times a tangled one.
About the time they were beginning to weary
of the journey, and wonder when it was to
come to an end, they saw a momentary
gleam of light in the distance, and toward it
Briggs pointed.

“ There is the cabin at the mine, and we
are none too early on the spot. He is already
there.”

They hastened their pace, but were more
cautious than CVCI‘. The light had vanished,
and it (lid not reappear again. Perhaps
Morris Howe was there; and, again, he might
have retreated and taken his prisoner along
with him.”

So silently did they advance that Morris
Howe did not hear them as he came rushing
away from the cabin.

Perhaps he had ears for nothing but the
last despairing cry which he expected to
hear pealing up from the lips of the girl he
had left to her doom. '

“ Is he going awa
going to her?” asket Briggs, his voice low
and husky, but his hand, where it rested on
the arm of his companion, clutching until it
seemed to be seeking to reach the bone.

“ One of us had better go for thelight, and
the other follow him. I could drop him, and
I would, but if he has her hidden away in
one of these holes in the ground it might be
long enough for her to starve before we could
find her.” ' -

“Which shall be which? Take your
choice, and take it quickly.”

“ I’ll follow, for that’s more in In line, I
reckon. If you need me, sing out and and
I’ll be with you.” '

“ They don’t count me in nowhere," whined
Billy Jingle.

“ An’ me a-ycarnin’ fur fun all ther time.
Serve ’em ri ht of I jest split mesclf, au'
went with a 1 both ov ’em.
don ed ef I don’t b’lievc I’ll try it.”

bile the boy stood there considering how
that impossible feat was to be performed his
com anions were stealing forward, each in
the fraction he had elected to go. The lad
was about equally drawn in either direction,
and so moved in neither. He might have
stood there until da li ht had it not been for
the si run] which 0 ar ey Bri gs gave as he
neare the cabin. He had Ileard a weak,
smothered voice within:

“ Help! Mur-dert Help.’.’

Stella Stone had recovered her senses long
enough to utter that cry, and then was again
silent.

.But that one cry was enough. It hastened
Briggs, and really brought Dell Hammond.
It would have brought Billy Jingle, too, if
the thought had not struck him to watch
that some one who was not wanted did not
come also. Hammond. in his haste, was
leaving his rear unguarded, and what was to
hinder Morris Howe from taking the back
track also.

Bill slid to one side when Hammond
rushe past him, and waited to see what else
was to come. _ _

/ Briggs was already flinging himself
against the door in an apparently vain effort
I, to burst it open, and Hammond, thinking he
\f saw a better way, spent no time in assisting
I him, but swung himself up on the roof.

 , Dim as was the light he could see the out-

.Ilnes of the top of the chimney, and thought
’ it would be an avenue by which he might
sconest gain an entrance,

, Something to his surprise he found the top
Talmose hermetically sealed, but when he tore
way the covering there was an opening

Jar, e enough to admit of the descent of two
 5!} rec men.

Without a moment’s hesitation he thrust

  

    

from the girl; or, is be,

I’ll be ding--

 

his feet into the aperture and allowed himself
to slip downward. The fine was not tall,
the heat was not great, and he did not take
time to consider the nature of the smoke
which came rolling out.

Before he reached the bottom of that chim-
ney he began to believe he had better waited
a moment. The opening of the top was fol-
lowed by a draft upward, and brief as was
the passage he thought he could not live
through it.

When he reached the hearth below he
bounded lightly over the tire which was
leaping once more into a blaze, and with out-
stretched hands went groping through the
room, calling us he went:

“ Where are you, Stella? Speak! We
are friends, come to the rescue.”

Then, as the door, at last giving way un-
der Charley Briggs’s attack, came bursting
inward, the smoke and the fumes overpow-
cred him, and he fell back himself at the in-
stant Charley was leaping over the threshold.

The last comer was in no danger.

Agust from the night came sweeping in
with him, and the air was growing )ure so
rapidly he scarcely noticed that wh eh had
overpowered his companion. The lire, too,
leaping up into a flame, now revealed the in-
terior of the cabin.

Dell Hammond, pale, ghastly, and prone
upon the floor was the first object to meet
his eyes.

The next was Stella, herself, bound and
motionless. If she was not dead she looked
like a corpse indeed.

He sprung to her side with a snarl of fury,
and tore the rope away from around her
form. Fate and his nimble fingers were in
his favor, and the knots scarcely delayed
him. He caught up the figure in his arms,
and staggered with her to the door.

Then, he brought her face below his own,
and gazing downward kissed her once, twice,
a dozen times, and there were tears stream-
ing from his eyes to fall upon her own.

 

CHAPTER XIV.

THE sam'r’s WAY or CARRYING 0N ms
mssmN.

“ HALT, Mister Mani I’ve got yer kivered
with pop ers, an’ ef yer don’t throw up
yer han’s ’ll put ther brand on.”

The challenge came from Billy Jingle, and
the party addressed was a man who came
hurrying along the trail, heading directly
toward the cabin.

Billy had no very clear idea of what Mor-
ris Howe looked lille, nor was he able to
see at all plainly this late arrival, but he
strongly suspected him to be the present
holder of the Fair Dove. At all events, he
thought it would do no harm to stop him.

The man halted; but it did not seem as
though it was because of the shrill order.

A gentle glow appeared in the now open
door of the cabin, and framed and surround-
ed with that glow could be seen the scene
described at the close of the last chapter.

“Looks ez big ez a rhynoscurosus, an“

I'll be ding-donned ef I b’l’cve he hearcd me
at all. Are it .Iorris, an’ shell I letter bliz-
zard ‘2”
g It would have been pretty hard to miss at
that distance, with his pistols pointing
straight for the center of the man’s back, but
reckless though he was, something seemed to
hold the boy’s fingers. /

“Donit wonder he’s struck all his heap,
an' I must say Briggsy are takin’ a ongen-
tlemanly advantage; but all ther same it
won’t do ter let this icon jumpin. Lay
down, pious friend, an’ think it over.”

So ran his thoughts, for he had been steal-
ing nearer, and at the last moment recog-
nized the man as the individual who had
been at the bottom of the first racket at the
Gates of Glory Saloon.

Hastily he thrust away his pistols, and

 

with open hands gave a sharp blow behind
the knees of Giant Jack. Then, springing
up, he caught the Saint from Side Ace by
the collar, and thrust his knees vigorously
into the small of that individual‘s back.

It was all done with so much rapidity,
strength and skill, be accomplished what
stouter and older men had failed to do.
Taken altogether off his guard, Giant Jim
succumbed to the at am, and came lumber-
ing to the ground. \

Billy was too wise to allow the Saint to
get hold of him, and was watching that he
did not get caught in the fall.

Quick] he sprung aside, and then rushed
toward tie cabin.

A glance told him that the pair was no
longer in the doorway, and casting his 0 es
around he saw (‘harlcy ‘Iiriggs stagger ng
away with the form of the still insensible
girl over his shoulder.

Il’c darted toward them, intending to give
Charley a pointer as to the presence of the
man he had just overthrown, but for once
luck was against him. His foot struck
against a root or a stone, and he fell head-
long.

Billy’s head was hard or it might have
been cracked by the blow it got. As it was,
he staggered to his feet in a rather dazed
condition, and seeing nothing of the air
hurried toward the spot where he had set
noted them. They could not have one far
in that brief time, and he had no oubt he
could overtake them in a minute.

The minute turned out to be a pretty long
one, and meantime Giant Jim was not idle..

He lay for an instant without motion.

Seeing that nothing followed the assault
he slowly rtgaincd his feet and started
straight for the doorway, that was still tobe
seen in the glow, which was now, if any-
thing, brighter than before.

Not the least sign of an or did he show,
and one would have thou it, seeing how un-
moved he was, that poss bly he had taken
his tumble throu rh some misstcp of his own.
‘ “It was little tella," he was muttering.

“The villain had his arms around her.
He would kill her, soul and body, just as he
thinks he has killed me. He has one back
into the shanty, but I’ll have hm out of
there. ”

Without fear or caution he made his way
to the low doorstep, and looked into the
room.

At first he thought there was no one there.
Then, he saw the figure of the Tie-to
Sport, stretched out upon the floor.

“ Could it have bun all a drmm? Was
it a temptation from the Evil One to rush
blindly forward to strike, and aim, and slay?
Verily, it seem like it, for the face of this
young man is familiar, yet it is not the one

saw but a bit a 0. Perhaps it was all an
illusion. Why s muld my daughter be here?
She died long ago—years before I did. It
was to fit myself to join her that I became
the Saint from High Ace. And now—”

He looked downward at the sport, who
was beginning to gasp with returning con.
sciousness. The sounds attracted his at-
tention, but something else riveted his gaze.
There was a paper lying 'on the floor, Fat
under Hammond’s outstretched arms. er-
haps it had a familiar look; it may have been
because when a man is in doubt he is apt to
wander off on any side issue which presents
itself.

The giant leaned over the prostrate sport,
picked up the document, and bonding to.
ward the tire-light glanced over the folded

a e.
p  was the paper taken from Meg Brandon,
and which had been handed over to Stella.
by the chief of the road-agents. In the
sight struggle with Howe it had been dis-
placed from her bosom, and had fallen un-
noticed to the floor.

“Ha! This aperl At lastl Yet what
to make of it al ? This man is not Morris-

  
    
   
  
  
    
  
  
   
   
  
  
    
  
 

  

   

-‘Nu'. 3......) ‘.... VW~L W‘.‘ awnfiw

l gether.

‘ '14

 

 

r1 1“.

TheTie-To Sport.

    
 
    
  

 

 

 

Howe, but he must be deep in his plots.

What has happened here? 1 will twist the
'truth out of him, or burn him on his own
hearth. Here, you, where got you this
paper, and whither has Stella gone?”

The sport gave no answer, and Giant Jim
washardly in the frame of mind to be
patient. The rope which had bound Stella
.to the chair was lying near, and was sug-
gestive.

lie caught up a loose end and brought it
around the sport’s neck, ready to make the
noose, and then, seating himself on the
breast of Dell he lanecd downward at the
face into which CO or was beginning to re-
turn.

“ Yes," muttered Giant Jim as he clutched
tightly at the rope; “I am tired fighting
fancies, and this brain of mine must have a
rest I’ll know the facts now, or, the noose
draws tight.”

CHAPTER XV.
BILLY JINGLE TO THE FRONT.

“ SAY, sport, let up er I’ll hev ter clap ther
brand on!"

Billy Jingle came rushing into the cabin,
just as the reviving Hammond, looking up-
ward, for the first time caught the glare of

. Giant J im's eyes searching down for his own,

and heard him hissing: .

“How got you that paper; and where is
my daughter .9”

James never heard the boy. He was bend-
ing eagerly down to catch the answer he ex-

, peeted to drop from those whitened lips.

Had he been less wild he might have un-
derstood that in the feeble state of the young
man he was crushing the life away with his

. weight.

And Dell, reviving from the deadly effects
of the strangling smoke, fancied the lower-
ing face above him was a figment of a night-
mare which would float away now he was
awakening. He drew his hands up, and
stru gled like a man in a dream.

“ nswerl" shouted the Saint, and gave
the ro e a twitch which brought the noose
more tightly to place. A little tighter and
it would shut off the breath alto ether.

If the sport could not un erstand him
Billy Jingle did.

“That cuts ther brandin' act out alter-
Synnergogucs an’ sunflowers! ther
man’s her dad. An’ ef I don’t do s'umthin’
ther sport are gone afore I kin git him ter
onJerstand.”

The giant was no more aware of the res-
ence of the boy than he had been when illy
so successfully attacked him, but the situa-
tion was not the same. and had it been,the
boy would not have been as ready to fall
back on his revolvers if things went wrong.
That there wrs a misunderstanding he was
pretty sure, and what he wanted was to see
some way to bring it to an end without run-
ning too desperate chances in attempting it.

Once more Hammond was motionless; but
the boy was shrewd. Unless he was mis-
taken badly Dell was pla ing ’possum, and
trying to gather strength or another effort.

If that was the ease—and it would not take
long to find out—Billy intended to have a
hand in the next struggle. He slipped be-
hind the giant, gathere up the other end of
the rope, and made a noose likewise.

Then, grinning so widely that it was al-
most au ible. he tip~toed closer still. and
with the loo held over the head of Guyon
James he w ted the next movement.

_ Suddenly, Hammond seemed galvanized
Into life. He slung his fists out at the body
of the man who was seated on him, and they
did not fail to reach. He caught the rope
with one hand. and then tried to fling himself
around face downward, so that he could get
some purchase. He was active as apanther,
and strong as a bear. to put it according to
BialyeJingleis thoughts. '

boy wasted no time in admiration.

 

 

 

Thought and action with him went together.
The noose dropped and tightened, and as
Dell Hammond threw his hardest strain into
an effort, Billy plunged backward, fairly lift-
ing Giant Jim from his seat.

With that, Hammond slipped out from his
uncomfortable position, wrenching the rope
from the hand of James as he went, and was
on his feet, weak, staggcry, but very much
himself. Had it not been for the presence of
the boy the days of Giant Jim would have
been numbered.

“ Hold on. sport, hold on !” Billy shouted,
in shrillest earnest.

“It’s ther gal’s dad, an’ he don’t sabbe,
that’s all. We kin fix it all right 02 a triv-
ett of hell jest open his ears ter reason.
Ef he don't it’ll be time ernuf ter knock him
down with er club.”

Billy Jingle sprung back out of reach the
moment he had scen‘the sport slip from under
the giant, and now that neither was in imme-
diate danger he wanted to have the two
come to an understanding. There was a
chance they would need each the support of
the other. If he had not found Charley
Briggs when he searched for .him, a few
minutes ago, he had heard voices, that made
him think Morris Howe was coming again,
and his gang coming with him.

Guyon James passed his hand wearily
over his brow.

The sudden check he had received, instead
of rendering him wilder, appeared to have had
a calming effect. He no longer overlooked
the presence of the boy, but stared at him
from under his raised hand as though bring-
ing back the face to his memory by an
effort.

When he spoke his voice had lost its late
fiereeness, and had returned to its ordinary
calmness.

“Pardon me, friends, if friends you may
be. Verily, it seems I have been the victim
of a delusion, and under its influence have
’been acting in a way unseemly for one
who has been named the Saint from Side
Ace. If there is anything I should hear—
as, by the speech of this lad, whom Ire-
cognize as the son of one'Hiram Strange,
who once lived at Side Ace—speak it quick-
ly, for my mind misgives me that startling
thin 5 may be expected to happen.”

“ tartling if indeed ou are the father of
Stella Stone,” answere Hammond, looking
around him for traces of Charley Briggs
and the girl.

“ You can see for yourself what sort of a
death-trap Morris Howe had her fastened in.
It might not have hurt her, but it almost
did for me; and I’m not supposed to be of
the soft-shell kind, either. What became of
her and Charley this boy can tell you, per-
haps. They seem to have got a move on
without much reference to me.”

“Oh, I reckon the will come out all
sirene. But ther last seen of her she did
not look like a corpus, an’ Briggsy war a-
kerr in’ ov her to’rrads ther bresh. I don’t
thin jest ser much ov his grit, but fur
brains an’ motion he’s ez ood ez ther next.”

“ And who is this riggs? By what
right does he take her in his arms?”

“Oh, he’s a sport from ’wayback, an’
when he knowed ther game he brun us out
hyer a-‘hoopin’. Wouldn’t wonder e he war
sweet on her; but ef so, you bet it’s all on
ther squar’. P’rhaps it’s ez good a time ez
any ter remark thet Morris are returnin’, an’
his gang come with him. What or all
goin’ ter do about it? Speak qu ck, er
climb ther golden stairs at a two-ten gait. ”

The boy’s warning reached their ears at
about the same instant certain sounds called
their attention to the outside.

The boy’s suspicion was correct, more-
over.

The gang from the Flat who trained in
his interests had reached the mine, on the
trail of the fugitives, and Howe, seeing
from a distance the open door, was leading

‘them up to where he would have useer

 

   
   

thenL ,

"But, my daughter—where is she? Which
way shall we go? What shall we do? She
must not fall into their hands again? Ah! I
think 1 hear her now! To the rescue!”

The appeal was unfortunate after a certain
fashion.

The others listened, while the Saint dashed
out through the open door. a ‘ I
They did indeed hear what seemed to be _ , 
the cry of a woman; but it was cut short by ‘

the crack of a revolver. Theappearance of 
Giant Jim had drawn a shot from the first ' 3;
of halfadozen men who were dashlng up ' y 

outside.  ,4
The bullet sped true to its aim, and the 3
Saint pitched heavily forward and down- ’
ward in his tracks. ‘
“ Forward, boys!” shouted IIowe, himself
springing to the front.

“ They are trying to jump the mine;
down every man that you See. They are all
paid for. ’

He had seen the open door, and knew the
girl conld not have escaped unaided. Ilis
idea was to wipe out all evidence of his
crime, if it had been successful; to finish it
up in the grand hurrah if it had not been.

He recognized the man who sprung out,
and it was 1is hand halted him. He thou ht,
also, he had heard the voice of the gir he
had left caged there toldie, but was unwill-
ing to believe she had passed out from the
cabin. Had he looked a little to the right he
would have seen her in life and stren th,
blindly rushing away from the outstretc ed
arms of one who pursued her.

Her course was taking her straight back
to the cabin; and even the sound of the shot
did not serve to check her.

What had happened seemed to her both
strange and terrible.

She had closed her eyes to the world. as
she su )posed for the last time._ When she
opene them again she found herself in the
arms of a stranger. who held her tightly,
and was calling her by names which fright-
ened her, and which she could not under-
stand. As she recovered strength there came
the thought that this was the' prime moyer
of the plot to which she had been a Vlctlm,
and in mad excitement she broke away.

Had she chosen a route it would not, cer-
tainly, have led her to the cabin; but fate or
chance chose it for her. and once started she
neither knew nor cared which way she was _
going, so long as she kept up successful
fli ht. '

as she would have passed the door of the
building she tripped over the body there,
and fell with a sharp cry of fright. As she
tried to regain her footing it seemed to her
that men rose up all around her; she heard a
crash of firearms, and then, some one was
dragging her back into the cabin, and the
door was closed with a crash, just in time to
stop the rush of‘ Morris Howe and his men;

Inside the but were two wounded. Char-
ley Briggs had mana ed to crawl in thou h
hard hit, and Billy ingle had moved t a
giant, though it seemed like a) mouse at work
on a mountain. Dell Hammond and Billy
Jingle kept close watch through a couple of
loopholes the had found and opened. 7

As for Stel a, it was the hand of Hammond \
which had drawn her to present safety.

“ I sling ca’tridges ’round so loose it’s 3
:11 em 9. ‘int ter kee a good stock on hand,”
said Bil , as he coo l began to recharge his
pistol from a 'handfu of cartridges he had
drawn from his pocket. - '

“Ef yourn are a 44 cal, an’ yer hev  '
occashun you better fill her u now. ~_ .
what I know an’ kin see I rec on the 11‘ be : ,'
comin’ seen, an’ in this hyer 1i ht 61’s}!- '
chain'ce ter lose more ner one she .” I: 

Hammond‘s revolver was all right, and?“ -
answered: .

“I think they will hold off a bit and:
to see what is ahead of them.

 

   
        
     
        
   
    
       
      
        
   
 
   

\

    
       
   
   
   
   
   
   
           
      
 
  

    
     
   

  
   
    
        
      
   
          
        
      
        
      
     

 
  

    

  

   
    

  

         
     
       
         
    
   
       

.
 i  v. V  . ' L.'  “Tcr'  ' .s  5w
M '-v'2fl1-mfl .'-.:n.-,‘rvra-,wnm_  . 

The Tie-To Sport.

15

 

 

a lookout while I look our pards here
over and see how bad they’re hurt. If
you think they are starting in on a rush let
me know."

Now that they had got down to busi-
ness at last Ilammond was as cool as the
coolest, and though he (lid not think very
much of the boy’s capacity as a pistol-shot
he was willing to make use of him at a
pinch.

Hastil he looked over Giant Jim, and
muttere :

“If there's nothing more than I can see
on the surface he will keep till after the
frolic, and perhaps will join in on the grand
chorus at the close. Now, let’s see how
Briggs has fared. I begin to suspect he is
worst off of all. If he had played a straight

ame, confound him, it might have saved

im getting plugged.”

He bent down, took a useless arm in his
hand, heard a few words that ended in a
low moan, and then started back with a ges-
ture of surprise.

At the same time, Billy Jingle, from his
post of observation shouted:

“Hyer they come!"

CHAPTER XVI.
ILLY JINGLE’s BRAND, AND THE MEETING
Dissonvas.

HALF a dozen desperadoes to one man and

boy looked like long odds, but the smaller

rty had the advantage in position, and
less they could be surprised it was pretty
rtain, so long as the fought as best they

ew how, they eonlc not be rented by a

rge without considerable loss.

ut Morris Howe did not know exactly

. the defenders were, or how much dam-

, had been done to them, and the charge
that was driving up to the cabin was mm c
more for the purpose of finding out than
through a hope of immediate success.

If he had only known it, the Tie To Sport
was a past master with the pistol, and could
,have brought them down one at a time be-
tween the moment of coming within range,
and the time of their closing in on him. It
was not fear for himself that caused him to
utter a challenge. Nothing could have suit-
ed him better than a wild attack upon the
stout walls of the little cabin.

“ Let up, there, Morris, if that’s your
name. I hate to slaughter, but if you crowd
me I swear I’ll slay. I can drop every man-
jack of you before you can reach this door,
and if you come on after the warning I‘ll do
it, too. '

The answer was promptly given.

“You are the man who shot Dave John-
son when he wa’n’t lookin . That’s your

" ,- style of work. We ain’t a raid that you'll
i show much fi ht when it comes face to face

-.=, with men. I you surrender we’ll take you

' v

i, ‘ ulled trigger on Johnson. but

i back to town and give you a fair trial. If
you don’t, we’ll have you out of there be-
. fore you know what’s coming, and hang

you before you can wink twice. Throw up,

 or shut up.”

“And what will I be doing? I never
et that go.
ove off, and give us a fair roadway,and you
can find us at the Flat to-morrow, read for
.. all the law may direct. Crowd us, an you
v take what you get.”
~ “ An’ it war my popper ez slapped ther
brand on Davy when be war. shootin’ at a
 man ez looked ther other we . I’m, ther son
.“ov' Hiram Strange, ov Si e Ace, Morris
. Howe, an’ yer orter know w’ot that means.
You killed mg dad, an’ I’m jest a-yearnin’
yer kill you. f yerwhite, stepr ther front
 hev your gang go to ther rear. Then,
on an me’ll settle this, man ter man.”
;:,Billy Jin 1e was havin his little say-so,
d, he sai v it with suc vicious rapidity
' re heVictim; no choking him off until he had

i ' “shim Howe vouchsafed no answer.
~ Stranger, you may not know it, but you

 

 

have jumped m claim.
you are in, and reckon the law allows me
to get you out. lfyou come feet first there’s
no one but what will say, served you right.”

“ Liar!" thinly screamed a voice as yet un-
heard.

Giant Jim had dragged himself to the door
and was speaking through one of the loop-
holes his own hand had long before fashioned.

“It is my claim. Every dime you ever
loaned me was paid before you dragged me
down and killed me as you thought. I have
the papers to prove it. I am in my right
mind now, and whether I live or die you’ll
never hold the Fair Dove again."

Doxvn in a heap he fell as he said this, but
he was not dead yet, and the defiance seemed
to have an effect. The men without not
only halted but they fell back a pace or two,
and huddled together. They were gathered
in a little knot, and from appearances were
discussing the situation.

To Daisy Dell the situation seemed sus-
picious. lf IIowe had continued to bluff he
would have been better satisfied. So long as
they held the cabin Morris Howe and his
men might raven around on the outside; but
what if they were driven out?

Somehow, the huddled little crowd (lid
not look as large as it should, and with a
whispered order to Billy to keep careful
watch in front he moved over to the other
end of the cabin.

He was in time to discover, but not soon
enough to prevent.

With a-crackle and. roar a sheet of flame
rushed up the side of the building, and at
the same time the cabin began to fill with a
smoke like that from a Chinese stink-pot.
Morris Howe had been taking no chances.
Ile intended to drive them out into the open
where six to one would soon end the game.

Against that they had the chances of death
where they were. '

In the East the dawn was read to break,
but in front of it lay the deeper arkness of
the hour, rendered more intense by the flare
from the fire in the rear of the cabin. Prime
expert though he might be, Dell Hammond
could do nothing with his pistols, and there
were but a few moments left him to decide
on his course.

“ Keep your head now, Billy. There’s
but one thing for you to do. ’11 make a
rush and go for them. Perhaps I can take
them all in; perhaps I can’t. When on see
me getting down to work, and them all busy,
throw the door open and commence hauling
these out. You will probably have a chance
to put a brand on two or three of the gang
that’s setting things up behind the house.
If I get through all right, good enough. If
I don’t, save what you can of the outfit, and
perhaps you had better begin with the girl.
She’s an old friend of mine, Billy, though
perhaps you wouldn’t think it, and if you
hel ) her out of the hole you’ll do me proud.”
_ he gang was edging u as he cautiously
opened the door a little an sidlcd out.

Then, with a revolver in either hand be
rushed toward the crowd.

Morris Howe was kneelinga little in ad-
vance. His left elbow pressed against his
side, and from the rest he took steady aim at
the figure of the Tie-To Sport. ‘

The advantage of the light was all against
him, but Hammond knew he must take
chances, and did not hold his fire a second
after he thought he was within ‘ran 0. Had
he seen the crouching ii are of t 10 mine-
jumper he mi b have! made an endin then
and there. irst with the right, an then
with the left, he fired a shot; and then, Mor-
ris pulled his trigger.

A shout arose, and a rush followed; as
Daisy Dell threw his hands straight out and
pitched forward. With him down Howe
was 11 and leading the charge.

“ A] right far you. p'r'aps, but hyer’s my
brand,".squeaked Billy Jingle, his voice ris-
ing shnlly above the hurrah.

That’s my shanty I

 

“Thar ye hcv it, an’ how do {yer like it?
That‘s one for dad.”

Morris llowe never knew what struck him,
and as he stumbled and fell Dell llannnond
rose again, while a sharp voice which as yet
had not been heard in the racket broke in:

“ What's going on hyer, an' whar do yer
expect me for come in at? You Sinners ov
ther Flat, yer drove me out once, when I
war a honest. man, an’ I orter ter kim back
on yer hard when I got ther ehainee. Pick
up yer boss an' travel, er me an’ my men
will let go.“

It was (‘aptain Brand who was talking, and
at his back \vere half a dozen of his men.
\Vhatever had been his record of late, just
now he had appeared on the side of the right,
and meant every word he said.

lVith Morris down the man known as Mari-
posa Mike stepped to the front as leader and
spokesman.

“ They say you are square, Adam, and I’ll
swear to it you used to be. That’s a fair
bargain, and we'll take. you at your word.
You have the biggest crowd, and we’re not
altogether sure of the rights of this thing
anyway. We’ll get back to town with our
corpses, and you can come in in the morning
and tell the boys just how things ought to
be. 'l‘hey’ll give you a warm welcome. For
the present, just count us out.”

Captain Brand allowed him to make his
speech to its end, but watched closely to see
that no game lurked behind it. When they
gathered up their fallen comrades and de-
parted he turned his attention to the little
hospital he had on his hands.

Billy Jingle had passed through unharmed,
but the rest were all more or less deeply bit-
ten with the lead.

Giant Jim was Gnyon James no longer.
From the time he received the wound which
stretched him out in front of the cabin he
was once more the Gnyon Stone who had
found the Fair Dove. Ilowe had done
better for him than he know. In after
years there was a fortune in the mine which
so far had been little more than developed.

The Tic-To Sport was barely scratched.
Ilc dodged at the flash, and had not Ca tain
Brand taken the contract ofl.’ his ban 3 he
would have been up and iving a good ac-
count of himself. What 10 said to Stella,
when she had at last drawn herself away
from her father's arms, may explain all that
need be said.

“ You sent me away from you for good,
as you said, and boasted hat you were
going to solve a mystery, and take care of
yourself till it was done. I’ll swear ‘I had
given you up in despair, but it strikes me I
came in mighty handy to the em .”

“ For that you have m thanks,” she an-
swered, blushing as he spo e.

“ But if you rad come a little sooner it
might have saved some of this bloodshed.
And—who——who is that man f”

She nodded with her head slightl , and
the direction of her head was toward rl gs,
who, pale but. reviving, crouched aga net
the side of the cabin.

“Charley Briggs, sport at large, so far
as I know. If he has anything more to tell
you I’ll find out and let you know. For
the presesnt you had bettertake care of your
father."

He moved over to the gambler.

“ Oh, I’m all right. sport," muttered
Brig s as he came. ” Hel me out of this."

“ s well as 1 can, but reckon on may
as well understand I know you or Meg
Brandon, the lady of the Gates of Glory.
Just how you intended to profit by this in
I don’t understand. but, you must know
your chance is over.”

“ Yes, yes. And I will tell you further,
I was once Gnyon tone’s wife. Yonder girl
is my daughter. had thought them both
dead and would have gathered in the Fair
Dove form self. That s over now. They
must never now. Help me away that I can

 

 

 

19.

 

The Tie-To Sport. '=
hide mysclf. Stella Stone must never blush collar, consequently, there was a lively demand 0’ catsl But, advance cats and vs the own—
for the unfortunuie woman who was her for Shirts and COHM‘S- termng Meow—Meow", roared ete‘

mother. And for that ten thousand you are
holding—keep it for her. As it looks now,
you’ll not regret giving it up.”

For the moment the Woman broke down;
later on, the sport asserted itself, and with
the help of Dell ll:Lllllll()ii(l she stole nwuy.
then the Stones enme into the Flnt :i. few
days inter the Gates of Glory had it new pro-
prietor, and Meg lirnndon was no more to be
heard of. Stella never knew.

After seeing?r his purd was no longer in
danger Brand did not linger long.

" Good—by, old mun,” he said, as he shook
Stone‘s hand no putting.

“ I'm not particularly a saint, myself, but

Icouldn’t help but see my purd through, .

What hnd always used me white. 'I“her less
you see ov me now ther better. nn' ez you‘re
back hyer l‘ll hev bizzness in some other
d’reekshun.
stayed ’round hyer.”

And Billy Jingle, refusing; all offers of'

protection and assistance, sziid his say, and
departed likewise.

“Thankee, pards, I jest kim down ter
find me man on chip ther brand on. I’ve
evened up fur dud, now, nn’ 1’“ go back ter
Side Ace on live a life ov virtue un’ repent-
anee.”

And with this the record closes.

THE END.

 

Next Half-Dime Library. No. 852.

Deadwood Dick, Jr, at Devil’s iiuloh; ,

PETE PARROT,
The Boss Masher from Mashersville.

BY E. L. WHEELER,
AUTHOR or “ naanwoon DICK ” NOVELS, no.

CHAPTER I.
Purl: PARROT AND POLL.

IT was a glorious night, in Devil’s Gulch,
Nevada, and one long to be remembered, as it
was to witness the first marriage that had
ever taken place in the camp.

As Uncle Charley Copeland said, and he was
an authority, being the oldest man in the place,
“Thar’s gom’ tor be a roarin’ ruction in Devil’s
Gulch to-night."

The event was the marriage of Miss Nora
Sago to her father’s mine-superintendent, Burt
Bradford.

Burt was one of the most
men in that region, and Miss
the prettiest gir s in all the State.

Samuel Sage, the principal mine-Owner at
Devil’s Gulch, had been very successful in his
ventures and had arranged that the wedding
should come oil? in the best style that circum-
stances would permit.

Every one had been invited who was known
to sass a white shirt.

minister had been engaged, from Virginia.
City, to do the “ splicing."

A brass band had also been engaged to fur-
nish the music.

Samuel occupied the finest and largest resi-
dence in the camp, and it was surrounded by a
spacious, well-kept lawn.

On this lawn a dancing platform had been ar-
ranged, and Chinese lanterns were strung about
in profusion—which, for Devil’s Gulch, was cer-
tainly a great novelty.

Mr. Sa o bed likewise brought a chef from
Virginia ity to arrange the supper, and had
provided pounds and pounds of red-fire, with
which to illuminate the grounds.

Pending the time for the guests to assemble,
a number of the citizens were congregated in
Three-Fingered Jack’s saloon, bracing up for the
evening.

Three-Fingered Jack was somewhat of a
celebrity, having been born with only three fin-
gers, on his right hand, pad, truth to tell, be
catered to the worst element.

It was especially understood that no one
would he admitted to the Sage grounds, who
did not have his hair and board combed, his
boots blackened, and wear a white shirt and

pular young
ora was one of

It might work you trouble cf 1 "

Bnt Levi, the local clothing merchant, had
only a limited supply, and these were soon gone;
hence a. number were barred from attending the
festivities, and filling up on Sage’s wines and
“ honest ” liquor.

The grounds in which the Sage mansion was
? loonted had been specially laid out by an ex-
pwrieuced landscape gardener, and rivaled any-
thing in Nevada of its kind.

Tnere were plenty of trees, and ornate shrub-
bery, and flower-beds that filled the air with
delicioUs odor.

The house, too, as a piece of modern archi-
tecture, was pleasant to the eye.

The lawn was threaded with graveled walks,
and the grass, always kept mown short, was
‘ as soft as velvet.

’l‘o-night both lawn and walks were well filled
with people, in their best attire, and the broad
i piazza fairly swarmed with guests.

The Virginia City band was diseoursing good
, music. A Punch and July man, and others,
, who had in an inexplicable manner gotten into
i the grounds, were “ raking in the Shekels.”
1 Among the lot was a fukir, who was perform-
' ing tricks of magic, before a mystified and en-
thusiastic audience.

He was about twenty-two years of age, and
was as good—looking a young man as had ever
shown his face in Devil’s Gulch.

He stood five-foot-tcn; was of muscular build;
his face was of pure Anglo-Saxon cast; his hair
and eyes dark and scintillant.

shirt. collar and tie, a silk hat and patent-
leather shoes.

He had established his stock of implements
upon a common deal table, and was busily en-
gaged in uzzling his audience with his sleight of
hand bus ness,when he was suddenly interrupted
by Samuel Sage‘s arrival on the ground, in com~
pany with his brother, “ Shorty,” (Silas) Sage.

The mine-owner and the magician eyed each
other for a moment, inquiringly,before speaking.

Samuel Sage was a man of large physique,
was well up in his fifties in age, and was of
rather overbearing presence, or manner.

“ Young mani" said Sage, “ what are you
doing here?”

“ Amusing your
“ No harm, I hopel’

“ Yes, a great deal of harm.
show! What’s your name?”

“ Magic Mose, or Moses Magic, whichever you
chooso. I was invited here by a friend of yours.”

’guests, air," was the reply.

here?”

“ The Honorable Peter Parrot.”

Sa 0 started back, as if thunderstruck.

“ hy, confound your impudence, Pete Parrot
is dead!" he cried.

“ He was pretty lively when I saw him last.
But, hold on! ore is something in your hat.
What is it?” and reaching down into the hat, he
drew forth a baby’ stocking]

The crowd, that had now gathered around,
roared with laughter. '

“ Now, that is a nice thing to be carrying in
your hat,” observed Magic Mose. “But, holy
Jerusalem, what’s this? Where have you been
’tending bar?” And from the hat he produced
two lemonade-shakers, and threw them on the
floor to rove that they were tin.

Next 0 brought forth a nutmeg-grater, and
then out came the photograph of a negressi The
mine-owner was literally paralyzed with as"
tonishment.

What did it all mean?

“This is infamous!" cried Sage. “You are
possessed of the devil’s own traps for mounte-
bankory and imposture.”

The crowd roared, while Sage made a rush at
the necromancer, grabbed the hat, and turning,
strode away.

But, he was gone for a few moments only,
when he returned, acoompanied by his three
Mexican “ heelers.”

They were vicious-looking “Greasers,” dark
alm0st as negroas, and fully armed.

“ That’s the man, Pedro!” cried Sage; “ put
him out of the grounds!”

The Mexicans made a rush for the man of
magic; but, they did not carry out their instruc-
tions for a gigantic man headed them off, as-
sisted by a pair of big revolvers.

It was Pete Parrot, who had suddenly appeared
upon the ground, and P011 was perched upon his
shoulderl

“Back! you cussed Greasers, or I’ll bore a
hole through ye big enough to run a railroad
train through!

“ Whoopeel Hyer they cum, like a thousan’

 

His dress was a fine suit of broadcloth, white '

, 100 Dem] wood

 

f 21?
I 22]
l 282
1 288

This is no side- ," 5
A 554 Deadwood

“ Who is this friend of mine who invited you ,

 

‘ 684 Deadwood
ooll

For the balance of this lateSt and most in-
tensely interesting Deadwood Dick novel see
BEADLE‘S HALF-DIME LIBRARY No. 852, for
sale by all nowsdealers. '

“ THE MOST POPULAR DETECTIVE
STORIES PUBLISHED .’ ”

Deadwood Dick Novels

Beadle’s Hall-Knime librarv.

chk, the Prince or the Road.

DIck’u DcIInucc; or, Double Daggers.

Dick Ill DinglII-c; or, llnil'ah lien

DIck In Illa Castle.

DIck’n Ilommzn; w, The Phantom Miner.

chk III Dungcr; or,()nmnn()ll.

chk‘u Euglcn: or, The Panic ol Fl. OII Bar.

chk on Deck: or. (‘nlnniiiy .' ine,ilu- Heroine

:I’Ilck'; Llunt  or. Corduroy Chnl‘lie.
ck In em \I c.

104 Deadwood chk‘n Dei Ice: or, The Double Cross Sign.

 

 

I Deadwood
20 Deadwood
28 Dcudwood
35 Demlwood
42 D(‘llll“'00(l
49 Dcaulwood
5? Dcndwoud
78 Dcudwoml
77 Deadwood

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3 3n-
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Dch wood
Deadwood
Dead wood
Dead wood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Dcud wood
405 Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
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Dead wood
Dcud wood

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56I Deadwood
567 Deadwood
572 Deadwood
573 Dcndwood

109 Dcudwood Dick an Dctccth'c.
129 Dead wood Dick‘s Double; or.le Gorgon’s Gllll'h (Eject.
13H Deadwood Dick’u Home Halo; or. lilumie Bill.
1- . Dciulwood DIck’n Dlg Fin-Ike “F. A ‘hunaoiunld.
Deadwood Dick oI' Dcmlwoo x or, The Picked Party.
195 Dead wood chk’o Drcum; or, The Rimla of the Rand.
Dcudwood DIck’n \I'nrd; 0!". Tim Blnck Hill’s Jezebel.
205 Dcmiwood Dick’s- Doom: or. Calamity Juno’s Adventure.
Deadwood chk’n Dcud Dcnl.
Deadwood DIck’I Death-Plant. '
Gold-Dumb DIck. A Rolnnnrc of Rimng and Tough! ,
chk’l DIvIdcx M. The Spirit of Swumy loh,
chk’n Death Trail. "
chk’u Deal: or, The Gold Brick of Or‘mn. -
DIck’II Dozen; or, The Fnkir oi Phantom Ha
DIck’I Ducutni or, Days in the Dial-gs.
Dlek Sentenced: or, 'l he Terrible i'nnlelle
DIck’I (‘luIm.
chk In Dead (‘Iiy. h,
DIck'u Dlumondl. ,d
DIck III New York: or, A “ Cute Care.” “
chk’n Dunt; or. The. Chained Hand,
chk. Jrf; cr, The Crimson Crescent Sign.
DIck, Jr.‘n. Dellnncc. Ck
Deadwood DIck. Jr.'n Full llnnd. 
Deadwood Dick, JP.’I|, Ill): Round-VI).
Deadwood DIck, Jr.’n. Racket at (.‘luIm 10.
Deadwood Dick, Jr.’-. Corral: or, Bowman Bill. th
Deadwood DIck, Jr.’l, Do. Detoctlve. ‘0
Dcndwood Dick. Jr.. In Dendu ood.
Deadwood DIck, Jr.’l, Compact.
Dcudu'ood DIck. Jr.fn. lnllcrlinncc.
Dcndwooa chk, .lr.'u, DI Inga.
Dcudwood Dick, Jr.’n, Dc verouce.
Deadwood chk, Jr.‘-, l’rotcgcc.
Deadwood Dick. Jr.’s. rce.
Deadwood Die ’, Jr.’n, Danger Ducks
Deadwood DI , ', Jr.’-, Death llunt.
Deadwuod Dick, Jr., In Texan.
Dcudwood DIck, 3n, the Wild Wen Viduc(
Deadwood Dlok, J15, on III! Mcttlc.
Dick, Jr., In (‘
Dick, Jr., In Boston.
"ck, Jr., In Phllndelphlo.
"ck, In Chicago.
Ilck. Jr., Afloat.
5134 Deadwood Jr.. In Denver.
690 Deadwood Jr.'r. Dccrce.
595 Deadwood ' Jr., In llecllcbnb’u Room.
600 Deadwood Jr., of Com- Island.
606 Deadwood Dick, Jr)!» Lendvl le Loy.
612 Deadwood Mck. Jr.. In Dctrolt.
618 Deadwood DIck. Jr., In Clnclnnatl.
624 Dcndwood )Ick. Jr.. In Nevada.
680 Deadwood Hck, Jr., In No Man’s Land.
686 Deadwood lick. Jr.. Afier the Queer.
4 Deadwood Ilck. .lr., In Dull-Io.
648 Deadwood "ck, Jr.’v-. Chane Acron thoContlnelk
654 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Among the Smugglers.
6fl0 Dena“ ood lick, Jr.'-, In uurunoe Cube.
666 Deadwood lick, Jr.. Back in the Mines.
672 Deadwood “ck, Jr., In Durnngox or.“Gathered lu.’>

67’“ Deadwood lick, Jr.’n, DIncovery; «.Foud a Fortune.
"ck, Jr.’a. Dazzle.

llck. Jr.'l. Dollars.

lick, Jun, at Danger Divide.
chl. Jr.’a. Drop.

Dick, Jr., at. Jack-Pot.

DIck Jr., In San Frunclnco.
Dick, Jr.’~, Still llunt.

DIck, Jr.'u. Dominoes.

DIck, Jr.’u, DI-gulle.

DIck, Jr.’n, Double Deal
740 Dcndwood Dick, Jr.'u, Deathwatch.
747 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’~. Douhlct.

752 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’u, Dcaihblow.

753 Deadwood llIck, Jr.’n, Dcnpcrate Strait.
764 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’-. Lowe "and.

770 Deadwood chk, Jr.’!, Defeat.

776 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’n. Resurrectlon.
7R2 Dcudwood DIck, .Ir.’i-. Dark Days.

787 Deadwood Dick. Jr., Dolled.

792 Deadwood DIck, Jr.’l, Double Device.
797 Deadwood Dick, Jr‘.n. Desperate Venture.
802 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’-, Diamond DIoo.
80’! Dcadwood Dick, Jr.’n, Royal l‘luah.
812 Deadwood DIck.’Jr.’I-, Head-of.

SIG Deadwood DIck. Jr.’u. lllvnl.

822 Deadwood DIck, Jr.’n, Room.

821% Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a. Scoop.

~34 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’u, l’roxv.

840 Deadwood hick, Jrnu. crutch.

945 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’n. III I) "one.
852 Deadwood DIck, Jr., at l cvll’a Gulch.

LATEST AND NEW ISSUES.

847 DIck Doom’a Ten Strike. By Col. Prantlu lnzrahun.

848 Clip, the Buttery Ferret; or, Jack Jefl'm’ Foul Play.
By T. C. Harbnugh.

849 Broadway Billy’s $100,000 Snap.

850 The Grand Street Arab. Bv Jo r:iewa.

851 The TIe-To Sharp; 01, High Hnsthng at Sinnen’ Flat.
By Wm. R. Enter.

852 Deadwood DIck, Jr., at Devil’s Gulch. By Edward

. Wheeler.
858 Dick Doom’l Trump Cards. By Col. P. lnpaham.
A New lune Every Tueadny
The Half-Dime Minor, in for sale by all music», in
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690 Dcndw

695 Dcudwood
700 Deadwood
704 Dcndwood
710 Deadwood
716 Deadwood
722 Deadwood
1’28 Deadwood
784 Deadwood

 

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