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Entered as Second Class Matter at the New York, N. Y . Pout Office. Copyrighted 1895. by BEADLE AND ADAMS.

     

 

 

April ‘2, 
$2.50 PUBLILIEI) WEEKLY IIY BEADLE AND ADAMS. Price.
NO'  a Year- X0. 95 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 cen‘s-  

 

 

 

 

Y.

  
  

 

 

OR, THE

eadwood Speculator’ 1
BEND.

BY JOHN \V. OSBON.

AUTHOR OF THE “GOLD DUST DAN ” NOVELS,
“I‘LL‘CKY PAUL," ETC., ETC.

 

CHAPTER I.
THE ESCAPE.

“MY God! The gas is escaping, the balom
'4‘ is collapsing. and we are lost!"

That terrified cry burst from the lips of on:
of two men crouching in the bottom of the cm
attached to a balloon sweeping swiftly through
‘ ' ' " ' the air above the eastern peaks of the Black

CAPTAIN BLACK noun INTO THE STREAM, CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY LANDLURD JERRY Hills,
AND SLY-BK BID. The first of these men, the one uttering th‘

 

 

 

W‘Wf W '

 

 

   "3' Lind while

Gold-Dust Dan’s Snap-Shot.



 

 

 

fearful cry. was a tall. well-built fellow.
whose garb and Weapons. no less than the
sable half-mask covering the upper part
of his face, stamped him as an outlaw.

And the second. a tall, sincwy. well-
formed man, was arrayed in a full suit of
buckskin, which had been dyed a bright
scarlet. His sombrero, of the same strik-
ing color, was looped up on one side with
a massive gold star. and ornamented with
a triple cord of gold and a single long
black ostrich plume. lold spurs were at
the heels of his high cavalry boots, and
his rifle and revolvers were ornate with
the same precious metal. A broad sash
of black silk encircled his waist, and on
each shoulder. worn 'as an epaulet, was the
dried toret‘tmt ot' a huge panther.

This singutlar-looking being was an out-
law. and a leader of outlaws. l'nder the
name of lied Panther. he had for months
past been the terror of camp and trail
throughout the Black Hills.

It was shortly after midday. and the (le-
tobcr sun was shining brightly.

Below.'and to the southWest. lay the
mining camp of Gold Gulch.
pygmies in the distance. men \vere running
to and fro, some mounted, others atom.
and all iiercely excited.

Again that wild. agonized cry rang out:

“The gas is escaping! The balloon is
sinking! “'e are lost! \Ve are dmnned!"

" Silence. fool!" sternly commanded lied
['anther, calmly rising and bending a
searching look on the distant camp. " Is
it not enough that We have escaped the
rope? Death in any other guise should
have no terrors for us!"

“ By Heavens! Those devils are mount-
ing to pursue us! .

" Now. up with you. Bill Bickstaff, and
empty a bag or two of the ballast. for we
must keep afloat till we are beyond the
sight of Gold Dust Dan and his aocursed
allies, be the end what, it may !"

But the fellow did not stir, and the man
in red glared viciously at the cow'ering
wretoh. 

“Perdition take you for a cowardly cur,
Bill Bickstafi'! Will you obey. or shall 1
send us both to death swift and sure?

" See!" drawing his knife and severing
one of the ropes supporting the car.
“()ne—two—three! As many more, Bill
Bickstaff, and we will drop from the
clouds together!" ,

“ Stop! For God's sake, stop!" screamed
the afirighted outlaw, springing to his feet.

“ You will obey me?"

“Yes! yes!”

"Then out with the ballast! The bal-
loon“ is slowly settling, and those sharp-
eyed devils have seen, it. We must haz-
ard all on keeping afloat.”

Mechanically Bickstafli hurled two of the
bags of sand overboard. The balloon shot
upward a hundred feet.

“Godd! Courage, now, Bickstaff, and
we’ll triumph yet! I have a plan. it is

1 simple. but will succeed if we land in;
safety. And now... Bill; I want your
clothes, quick!“ -
Bickstaff hesitated. ,
"Quick. I say!" And: 11min the knife
in Red Panthers hand was “poised threat-
enineg above“ the nearest of the three re:
maiuing ropes.
,Otl' came'the desperado‘s boots, his hat.
and then his other outer clothing.
Red Panther. in turn.’hurriedly discard-

l

.  I " “1 his bmunar garb. in nding the huge»

red beard . and the wig of flowing red hair.
“Now, Bill. into my clothes With you!

you're about it, I’ll get into

yours!" ’ l ' .
“ But. capmin—” ' .

». “Not a word, Bill! i know what you're
-' i : 36131310 say. and as you7re sworn' to obey
- ’ .m‘e. you’d better leave it unsaldl

!

There. mere ‘

l have escaped. while Bickstai’f has per-

 

] as

l

“The simple truth is. I intend to trade
identities with you. on the chance that we
may reach the earth alive. To all outward
app varanccs, you will then be the notori-
ous and much-soughtofor lied Panther,
while I shall masquerade as the unassum-
ing but none. the less desperate Bill Bick-
staff.

“ A hot pursuit will of course be made,
btit‘ as you‘know every nook and corner of
the Hills, you can lead Gold Dust Dan :1
long chase. and in the end elude hint at
will. while i, as the lesser scoundrcl, will
attract but little attention.

“Do you grasp the situation. Bill?" "

" l~l understand. captain! It. is a ter-
1-ith test. you put me to!"

A very few minutes sufficed to complete
that: hurried metamorphosis. and then. as
he clap ted on liickstal‘t”s black. beard and
wig. “t d Panther again gazed in the direc-
tion of the gold camp.

“ We are in luck. Bill!" he cried. jubi
lantly. " The camp has faded. and our pur-
suers are no longer in sight!" .

" Rut w- are sinking. captain! Sinking
t‘ast!" returned Bickstatl'. in fresh alarm.

“Then out with that ballast!" sharply
cried lied l’anthcr. opening a trap in the
bottom of the basket and paying out a
stout rope with a grapnel attached. “Aha!
l'p We go again, and over the atnyon!"

Even as the outlaw spoke. the fiukcs of
the grapnel caught: firmly in the project-
ing roots of a gigantic. pine standing on
the Very brink of the precipitous canyon
wall; at. the same instant: the billion!)
mounted with the velocity of a rocket. and
the grapnel rope tightened with a. sharp
snap.

A ripping, reading sound, a hoarse cry
ot‘ terror from each of the men. and the
great silken bag split from bottom to top!

Downward shot the car, into the top of
the pine. and thence, bottom up, into the
depths of the canyon! ,

The two men were buried violently into
the topmost branches of the pine—Red
l’authcr to grasp at his frail support and
save hin'isclt’, the ill-fated Bickstaff to
plunge head first after the wrecked air-
ship. , »

Stcadying himself in his SWaying perch.
the outlaw chief slowly and carefully
made his way to the ground. '

A single glance over the verge. and he,
drew back. shivering in every fiber.

“ .\I y God! My presentiment was trucll

ishod! As Red Panther. he will be left
for the'eoyotesio feed upon! Nevm'more
shall ‘1 appear as Red Panther~neverluore
as Jake Rose! From this day forth 1
shall have no other object. till I am re-
venged on Gold Dust Dan!"

CHAPTER II.
CAPTAIN BLACK.

"Hands up. pilgrims! .This is ’a toll
road. and he who falls to. pay finds a
gravebe the waysldel", ‘ x I

It i 'as on a lonely trail leading into Dead-
wood t'rom the south. 1n the middle of
the narrow. winding path stood the .toll-'
taker, aestnlwart, heavily-bearded fellow,
the upper half ’of his face hidden by a
black mask. in each hand a cocked and
levelled revolver. \ ; .

Confronting "him at a distance not
greater than ten feet were. two men,
splendidly mounted. and each leading a
stout pack animal. '

.

“ By Heavens»! ’it's

. , poor picking you’ll
find this crowd. Sir Robber. bam'lnguour
horses and camp outfit!" exclaimed the

smaller'of the two. bitterly. .
“Horseflesh is valuable,” was the. sig—

nificant: response. “Unhu'ckle and throw
aside your belt of

Sullenly the two men obeyed.  i  

“ This hyar is darned tough luck. Sidi”!
grumbled the larger. , '

“ The worst I ever saw, Landlord Jerry.
But we can‘t kick, as it’s only gettin'
back at us with our own game.” ‘

The road agent started, and a grim;
smile curled his bearded lips.

“Hold! both of you!” he ordered, stern-
ly. “Know ye, I am Captain Black. of
the Deadwood trails. and I‘m strictly busi4
ness from A to izzardl Your names, pil-
grims!”

“ Oh, I'm Sidney Glover, a prospector in
mighty hard luck,” the smaller man re-
torted.

“An’ ' lm Jeremiah Timkins, ditto,”
growled his burly companion.

“ And liars, both of you!" Captain Black‘
exclaimed. “Think you to deceive me!

" You. Sidney Glover, are Sidney Graft.
other wise Sleek Sid! ’l‘hree days ago
you were mayor of Gold Gulch. and a
shining light in that camp!

“And you. Br'er ’l‘imklns. are Jerry
Longbridge, better known in Gold Gulch
as plain Landlord Jerry.

“ Both of you are infernal scotmdrels,
and are at “US minute fugitives from jus-
ticc."

“And you. Captain Black, are—~yes, by
Heavens! you are Bill Bickstalf!" cried
Sidney Glover. or Graft, excitedly, as he
gazed keenly at the outlaw.

“Nay, nay. Pauline; say not so," was
the cool retort. The gentleman you
name has quilted this world.

“ To tell the truth, I am the defunct. lied
Panther—the late lamented Jacob ~Rose!"

A bowl of surprise and delight escaped
the two men, and with one accord they
sprang forward and warmly grasped the
hands of the masked highwayman.

“ Derued of I ain’t glad tcr see ye. pard."
cried Landlord Jerry, his oily face beaming
with sinister joy. "l reckoned es how
‘twas all up with you!” ‘

“ Shake, pardner! I thought I‘d looked
my last on Jake Rose!" Sleek Sid declared.
with equal enthusiasm.

3 “Drop that name, please," uttered the
road .agent. warningiy. “Let it and the
other die. Remember, I am now‘Captain,
Black! ‘

“And now tell me, what is the news
from Gold Gulch?”

“It's mighty little we know. capln,”
Jerry replied, with a vicious little nod.
“About ther time you an’ Bill jumped ther
balloon. me an’ Sid put out afoot, es We
diskivered thet, owin’ to ther presence '0‘
Gold Dust Dan au' his gang, ther climate
’round ther Gulch war gittin' deuced on-
healthy for us.”-

" And these horses and the outfit?”

“'l‘hey‘rc ours. ‘causu we took "om,"
grinned the ruflians.

“ We held up a couple of galoots about;
ten miles back." Sleek Sid explained.
“ We were heading toward Deadwood,rto-
work the trails running into camp, and
we tackled the job just to‘ get our hands
in. But, now that We’ve met you, ,wc’ll
falllour plaustofi'pand again follow your

on .’ , .

“Well, I think We ‘may be able to do a
little business together,” Captain Black re-
marked, after a moment’s reflection. “I’ll
tell you plainly, though, that I'm out for

revenge as, Well as gold. and as seen as
I’m squarely on my feet again I'm going
for Gold Dust Dan. it you’re With me 
on that ticket well and good; 'if not, 'we‘ll‘ " ‘
, part right here with no hard feelings!” r ,

“0h. we’re with ye right thar, cap’n... .‘5
dead sure!" mndlomrdetrry i asseverated .5
with no little vehemence.- Ye kin count",
onus ev’ry timjei’f“ _" . , '.' 

 Thet you hang? supplemented Sléé

‘ K

 

mm... #11118; 9:101; or you. and
I ‘ ’ '1‘ ‘ -

31”
C I,
»‘ "'

gill. emphalipaflxvt “Geld Dust

 

    
 

  

’  my bravosi With three against
one. We can overmatch the detective hound
.yl'ith all his cunning!

:' 3‘. Come, let us quit this trail and seek a
s ,snug retreat of mine, where we can talk

‘ over matters at leisure.“

" We'll foller where you lead, you bet 1“
Landlord Jerry declared. enthusiastically,
' as he and Sleek Sid hastily remounted.

Captain Black led tile way as rapidly as
the tangled undergrowth Would permit,
and ill a few minutes halted beside a shal-
low, swiftly‘ilowing stream.

“ Wait here a moment," he requested,
in a guarded voice, and then disappeared
in a dense thicket, from which he shortly
emerged leading a small, dingy looking
»'   mule.

‘ “ is" i “ This
I longs to

ancient critter isn’t: mine; it be—
an old and tried friend, a secret
. member of the band, to whom l‘ll pres-
ently introduce you. But now, let's get on
again,” and, seating himself astride the
bare back of the mule, Captain Black rode
into the stream, closely followed by Land-
lord Jerry and Sleek Sid.

For upwards of an hour the trio followed
the winding course of the stream to the
southward; but, finally quitting it, Cap~
tain Black led the way across a slony
Waste, and thence around the base of a
towering hill to a lone cabin built against
the face of an overhanging bluff.

“There‘s the den, and a right snug den
it is," he announced. with a flourish, as he
abruptly drew rein and dismounted.

“And now, boys. a word of warning
before I call our friend. He‘s an oddity.
Just a remove better than a born idiot, and
terribly misshapen; but you must treat him
with the utmost respect, and appear not
to notice his deformity. He is easily of-
fended, and his anger is frightful; but he
is a valuable ally. So be careful, for we
can ill afford to cross him."

i _ “You may trust us, captain,” assured

Sleek Sid:

" Thet ye kin," Landlord Jerry chuckled.
“I’ll be meek es mutton." ‘

Captain Black now placed a small
wooden whistle to his lips, and blew hree
.short,‘sharp blasts.

At the third (call the cabin door noise-
lessly' opened, and a man stepped out into
v , the moonlight. '

 A hunchback—a dwarf less than: four

' feet in height, with a huge head set upon
.‘a long and slender neck. llis shoulders
were broad and lllassh'e. and his crooked,
sinewy arms of unusual length; his body
was short and full, alid his legs and feet
Shared in his general ugliness and deform-
ity. ‘ l ‘

A mass of long, straight black hair cov-
ered his head and deScended in stiff, harsh

- ,hls‘face to his eyes.
And, as if to heighten his grot ue up-

v1 pearancea this unfortunate creature had
clothed himself in a suit of military blue.
gay with gilt braid and brass buttons, and
‘ ‘ Wore upon each Shoulder an epaulet, while
a broad red sash encircled his squat, mis-
shapen figureu A cocked hat". crested with
, i eagle feathers. long buff gauntlets, and
" higlltopped cavalry boots, With big brass
= jingiing at the heels, completed his
 ‘ , , r w ,
nig

 
 

saber clanked dismally at his side, and;
his hands was a repeating rifle.

  
 
 
 

outlaw chief. inclining himself profoundly
as theihuuchback moved forward. '
,\- “ I welcome your return, captain.” the
 latter responded, With an absurd flourish.
_ “ , . . yofirrventune. has been
"wnedwith success)!” ‘ ,- 
7 It. he“. indeed-When? general: though
gum Willi  elect: 3a; ever. yet
4,": .w' ‘ ' - ' ' 

 

  

 

i,‘

 

Wisps upon the hump between his shoul!
ders. while a bristling black beard covered -

’ ."“I.s'alute you, General Grim!” cried the

' GoldQDust 'Dan’s . Snap-Shot.

; I have had the exceedingly good fortune
' to fall in with two old and tried friends.

“General Grim, I have the honor to
introduce Mr. Sleek Sid and Mr. Landlord
Jerry, both of whom are members of our
secret league and worthy of every consid-
eration at your hands."

The llunehback peered sharply at the
two rascals, then leered cunningly, and
bade them welcome.

“ You know the way to the stables.
noble captain," he continued, turning
glittering black eyes to the face of the
Louilaw chief. “May I beg that you ex-
~ ‘euse me while you put up the horses? Mat-
ters within the cabin demand my atten—
lion."

Captain Black‘s brows gathered in an
ominous scowl beneath his mask. and he. '
darted a searching, suspicious glance at
the gene 'al. who merely nodded. turned
and re-entered the cabin.

“Come, pards," exclaimed the captain.
abruptly confronting his allies. “ ’l‘he gen-
eral has said the truth: be is needed in the
cabin. on a matter heretofore a sealed se- i
crct llet.ween him and myself. but which I
shall now disclose. as it may have an im-
portant bearing on our future course."

In silenCe the two outlaws folloWed their
chief.

my
his

 

 

CHAPTER Ill.
Tilt: TRAGEDY.

General Griln's stable proved to be a
cavern of considerable extent. it was blit a
short distance front the cabin, and was
entered through a narrow tisSure hidden
by a mass of hanging vines. '

When back of this screen of foliage. 
Captain Black produced and lighted a
lantern. and led the way inward. It re-
quired but few minutes to dispose of the
animals and their trappings.

"Now, pards, We must make a tllor-'
ough can 'as of the situation before we
return to that doubled and twisted
wretch at the cabin.” the chief averrc’d.
putting down the lantern and Seating
himself upon ajlmlge in one of the walls.
"For the first time I distrust the gentle- ,
= man, and if I find anything in his con-
duct to verify my suspicions his road
shall be, a short one.”

“An’ sarve ‘im right. too!" 'Iaandlol'd
Jerry declared, with a vicious neg. '
“ To explain the cabin secret. I must!
ask’ you to recall ill detail this (i‘rold'
Gulch affair.” pursued Captain Black.
"It is now nearly a year since we jumped
. the BmdlowoBenuet claim, but you both
doubtless remember the features of that
double light, and of the later desperate

“uh-

8U'llgirle to obtain the secret of the
buried treasure. For a time success

seemed to be with us. but, through the
devotion of. Gold Dust Danto the beau-
tiful Media Bradlow, we have at last
been routed, losing both the mines and
the. hidden gold We had hoped to secure. .

“80 complete and crushing has been
our defeat, that it would seem sheer mad-
ness even to plan a second attempt; yet
with Gold Dust Dan out of the way. we
would win. for in the cabin secret lies
the key to the situation. ' .

“You will recall that, ‘at the'ffime we
jumped the claim. Bradlow. and Bennet
succeeded in escaping. but later returned
With a strong force to retake the mine.’
In that tussle. Bennet received his death
wound; while Bradlow was reported
killed. -

“ But such was not the case. He was
wounded, 'badly‘ wounded. but. knowing
of the buried treasure, I cdnceived the
idea‘ of wringing the secretfroln him;
and to that end removed him from t 9
field under cover of night and bred t

 

him here. leaving ill-his stead the body or . Deadwood the restless,  , f

"one of ourawnmen'dressedln Bradiow's,

 

 
  
   
   
  
 
    
  
 
   
   
  
  

clothes, and from that; day to this he
has been under the keeping of General
Grim in a. small cavern back of yonder
cabin.

“That, pards. is the cabin secret. and A;
it is something connected with it that ‘
compels the linucllback's presence there.

“ 301110! We will heard the lion in his
lair, and learn the meaning of it all."

And springing to his feet, Captain Black
hastily quitted the stables, with his allies
at his heels.

Geileral Grim met them at the cabin door.
_ “Welcome. gentlemen!" the bunch-
back cried. "My home is at your dis-
posal.”

The outlaw. entering, seated himself at
the table, where he beckoned his allies
to join him.

“And now, my dear general, you will
kindly fetch us something to eat," he. or-
dered, laying aside his mask. " While we
are eating, you must station yourself out-
side, ten paces from the door. to guard
~ gainst surprise.”

The hunchback lnutely obeyed.

By the time the meal was ended the vil-
lainous trio had completed their plans.

Two of the horses were then brought
from the nvorn. saddled and bridled.
Captain Black ahd Sleek Sid mounted and
rode away. the former laying his course
toward Rapid City. the latter taking the
Deadwood trail. while Landlord Jerry
remained at the *abin with the hunch-
back.

It is three weeks later. Along a rough
trail winding away to the magic city of
Deadwood, two horsemen are riding side
by side. Both are well armed and well
mounted, but there all points of similar-
ity cease.

One is a young man, and, it appear-
ances count for anything, he is a profes- ‘
sional man ,

The other is a thorough Westerner,
tall and sinoWy, old and rugg‘d. and is

 

. _: .3; w :1

   

 

 
        
     

garbed after the manner peculiar to the -  '
region. I

   

Their trail led into a canyon. and as
they neared the jaws of the gloomy 0p—
ening the young man turned to his com-
panion with the query: \

“How .far are we from Deadwood, » . -
Mint?” ‘ 2

" Ten miles or nigh ab0ut, Mr. Cokely.
Barrin’ a bresh with ther road agents,
we’d orter reach thar now inside 0‘ a
couple 0’ hours. fer ther critters are in
prime condition an‘ ther trail ain’t bad."

" You still think, then, that we may
have trouble?” ‘

“ Ther odds arethet we shell. It's said
Captain Black holds ev’ry trail inter
Deadwood, an’ thet. nothin’ escapes his
net. I only hope. sir, thet ye took my ad— ‘ , :
vice an’ fetched mighty little money with  f
ye." . ..

 
 
        
      
     
    
      
 
      
     
       
      
       
  
     
    
      
      
        
  
   
     
 

. “_ The vultures Wouldnetger grow fat OR
the contents of my purse‘! But the pa- 

  
  

pers, Mint—I have them. .They could not:
well be left behind, and (if need. be we
must fight to keep them." \
“Ye kin ’pend on old Mint Mason, g
youngster. Mcbbe-e—L" 
The crash of several repeating rifles - -
checks the guide. and under that leaden‘
hail both men fall from their saddles,  ,
wounded unto death. ' , ~ ‘_ 
“The fools! They pronounced their. ' 2‘ '
own. doom!” exclaimed a harsh voice, ‘
and with the words a masked man
stepped out from the denser shadows of
the canyon. “ They thought to cheat.
Captain Biack!‘ ' . , ‘
“Up. boys. and secure themrize, for t. ,
those papers mustbevalnabie!"  . -=. i 

 
         
         
            
       
     

  
        
     
      
     

 

 

       

turbulent. was in a fever or excitement; f: .v J 

i - I!
L

    

   

 

\

‘ Mayor, rising.

' ‘ ’ ; bustling to the door.

A

 

In-the streets, on the corners, in all
places of public resort. there was but one
topic—the ravages of the bold road agent.
Captain Black, and a movement afoot.
against him. ’

Flaming posters challenged the eye on
every trail leading out of the metropolis;
the huge black letters stared at you on
every corner. and the same grim greeting
held the post of honor in every store.
saloon and gambling hell in the bustling
mining city:

$1,000 REWARD.

The above amount in gold has been de«
posited by the undersigned with the au—
thorities ot‘ Deadwood, and will by them
be paid to the person or persons deliver—
ing up. dead or alive. the ‘body of the
notorious road agent. Captain *Black.

()r. one-half of the above amount will
be paid for information that will lead to
the arrest of the said outlaw.

(Signed) AITSTIN RANSUME.

Austin llansome was a newcomer and
capitalist in I)ctltl\\'()otl, having been in
the place little more than a Week.

He had sull'ered severe tinancial losses
at the hands of Captain Black while
making his way to Deadwood, and was
perhaps the most bitter of that outlaw‘s
numerous t,~twiiiies. Indeed. in addition to

offering the reward mentioned, ltansome

had himself organiZed, equipped and sent
out a party to scour the hills in search of
the dashing toll-taker.

Early in the eVening of the day on
whiehthis party quitted the Black Hills
metropolis, ltansome and the Mayor of
Deadwood Were. closeted in the former's
office, discussing the move and its prob-
able result.

This conference had lasted something
more than an hour, and was nearing a
close, when the office door was flung open
and a man stepped briskly into the
room. " v

Huge spurs on’ his heels 'jingled with
each step, and he had the appearance of
one just from the saddle.

“Hallo! Hallo" eigelaitned Ransome.
springing to his feet. “ Buckskin, you’re
just the man we want to see.”_

Well. boss, you can feast your eyes,

. I reckon.”

" You’re just back from Gold Gulch?"

“ You've hit it, boss. I'm not three
minutes ‘from the saddle." ~

“Did you succeed in finding Gold Dust
Dan?"

“ You bet!
boss".

“ He will come

“Bar accidents, he'll be here to—mor-
row.”

Ramsome turned to the. Mayor.

“Luekgis certainly with us!" he. cried,
exultantly. “ With,’ Gold Dust Dan to
lead our men. I feel that t e audacious
Captain Black cannot fai to cotnelto
grief in short order."

“ I certainly hope. so," returned the
I “In any event, you may
be assured of my hearty (so-operation.“

With that; the official departed.

When the door had closed behind him.
Buckskln'drew a small parcel from his
pocket and tossed it to Ransome. saying:

“Papers, boss. and valuable, I reckon!"

CHAPTER IV.
‘ A TIMELY ,MEETING.

Just at noon. one day. a lone horseman
spurred into Gold Gulch. and drew rein
and dismounted at The ,Mint, the single
hotel in the camp. ‘

At that hour the street was deserted,
but the rapid clatter of boots had caught
the landlord’s ear, and he at once came

And I gave him your letter,

9"
.

“Elwin. stranger, an’ come right in!

 

I

Gold-Dust Dan’s Snap-Shot.

'l‘har‘s a mighty good lay-out o' grub jest

in sight. 2111' I’ll send a man. ter look arter
ther critter.” _

" lt‘il'sl, though. let me ask you a ques-
tion. Is there a man known as Gold
Dust Dan in this camp?" '

"'l‘har is. stranger.”

“ Where can I lind him

“You can lind him right here, sir. for
I am Gold Dust Dan." and with the
Words. :1 tall. handsome youth stepped
past the landlord and confronted the
stranger. ,

“ I, sir. am George Gutter. better known
in and around Deadwood as Buckskin. I
am here to see you on a matter of busi-
lless, in which i have the honor to repre—
sent, the Mayor of DeadWood."

“ indeed! 'l‘hen, tir, i am glad to meet
you." and Gold Dust Dan frankly ex—
tended his hand. while his dark eyes
earnestly scanned the face of the courier.

"i am the bearer of a letter from his
honor.“ pursued Buckskin, drawing the
missive from an inner pocket. “ I am in-
structed to deliver it to you. receive your
answer. and then returlrto Deadwood."

"Very Well. 1 will read the letter and
have the answer ready in an hour from
now." ..

"That will suit. me. sir." and Buck-
skin hurried into the hotel, folloWed by
the landlord.

Alone, Gold Dust Dan opened and. read
tht'lelnat

A puzzled look cane over his face.

“l'pon my soul. this is strange!" he
ejaculated. “Itansonnu—Austin Ilansome!
The name is new to me, and I‘m quite
sure I don't know the man; but his re-
quest is i-ndorsed by Deitdmmd‘s Mayor,
and so must be bona title. odd as it is."

At. that moment the landlord re-ap-
peared. followed by a man to take charge
of the courier‘s horse. and as soon as the
latter had disappeared with the. animal,
Dan said:

“ Idaho!“

r“ Wal. Gold Dust '1"

“I want your candid opinion of this
Buckskin." i

" A shark, Dan'l—a bloody spirit!”

“Exactly! We agree to a dot, Idaho!
ltead that!"

Idaho complied with the request, then
said:

“ it seems all straight. Dan‘l.”

“ I‘ard. that’s what puzzles 111'. It
seems st night, but it has come tinough
bad hands." '

” Are you goin'. Dan‘l?"

“Yes, I'll go to-morrow. It’s a good
otter. and I'm foolish enough to admit
I’d like a joust with this Captain
Black.”

" it may be a trap?"

" Whose, Idaho?" ,

“Some 0’ Iled Pantlier’s gang. Ye
know a lot. o’ ther critters slipped away
at ther big clean-out.” .

“I can hardly believe it is a trap,
for that is certainly the Mayor's signa-
ture. appended to the letter."

“Take an’ ole fool‘s advice, Dan’l. an“
play safe on ther game. When Buckskin
loaves. roller an’ .keep hi in sight.
"[‘won't do no harm, an’ it ay pan out
big.“ , '

“I shall try to use such precautions
as will make it an extremely difilcul‘t/
matter to spring a trap on me." ' ‘

“ Wal, Dan‘l, I hopcther thing’ll twist
around all right,” and shakingyh‘b head
dubiously. the landlord walked away.

A moment {later Buckskin came out of
the hotel. and Gold DustDan'iat once ad-
vanced to meet him. a '

“You leave when ?” he asked.»

“ As 8001] s I have‘ymrnnswe'r." '
x “I have not fullvfieclded as. yet. as
there are some points on which I am is.

can

       
 
  
  
  
      
   
      
     
   
    
    
    
        
        
      
        
       
     
   
    
    
           
      
  
       
       
          
    
       
            
    
     
     
       
    
      
   
       
     
       
       
      
       
    
    
    
    
     
           
    
 
 

 

 

, ~— -m-rsw

not-ant. Let. me ask how longvhave you;
been in Deadwood?" ' 

“About a month, sir.” " '

“ And Austin ' ltansome‘?"

“ Ile Cilillt‘ a w ek i go to-day."

“ Can you tell me anything about him,
Buckskin?"

“Very little. sirutHe is from Chicago,
and came to Deadwood from Silver City.
On the way the hearse was held up and
ltansome was robbed of several thousand
dollars. Ile sw0re to get. square with
(.‘aptain Black, and to that, end has organ—
ized the party which you are requested
it)hauL"

“ When is this party; to leave Dead—

“WNNI?" a
“ At the earliest possible moment." .  ‘T f'
“ How long has this Captain Black 

been operating?"

“1 first heard of him, sir. a few days
after i arriyed in Deathxni." _

“ llas he a large band?"  '

“ Ile is said to have a strong following,
with spies in DeadWood and all the
camps." , '

‘2 What estimate would you put upon
him?"

“ lIe is undoubtedly a big gun. sir—and
strictly business from the word go."

“Well, Buckskin, you may make a ver-
bal report. Say I will confer with the
Mayor in person and will leave here not.
later than noon to-morrow."

Buckskin nodded and turned away-
llalt‘ an hourlater he galloped out. of
Gold Gulch on his return to Deadwood.

 

 

 

 

A night and a day lfad passed, when"
an armed man. mounted on a splendid
black horse, could have been seen cours-
ing swiftly along a gloomy trail, heading
toward the. Black Hills metropolis.

This horseman was Gold Dust Dan.

For reasons best known to himself. the.
young knight errant had discounted the .
.time stated to Buckskin, and had quitted
Gold Gulch just five hours after the latter
had ridden away.

Suddenly there came the sharp crash of
a volley in the distance. , .

‘ Gold Dust Dan instantly drew rein
tand dismmtnted.

“ Easy. Prince!" he exclaimed. in a low
voice. “ Those rille shots tell a tr‘agic
story, I fear, and we must reconnoiter.”

Leading the bum" aside from the. trail
Dan seem-ed him in. a clump of low-grow— , 
ing pines, and then hurried onward with if ,
sWift. noiseless steps. I

Nez'lrly a quarter of a mile had he. thus
prtxe‘cedml. when. pausing a moment to
listen. he was startled ' by the“ sharply
uttered conunand.‘ I f

“ Mount, boys, and away! Our work 
is done!" i .

Then there came the sound of hasty i
shuffling steps. the jingiing of spurs, and
the steady beat of hoofs.

At this latter sound Dan shrank deeper
into his leafy covert beside the trail. The
riders were coming toward him. They
were road agents. perhaps the dreaded‘
band of Captain Black. -

Crouching close to the earth. a cocked
\revolver in each hand. Dan waited in
motionless suspense until the last of the
evil cohort had thundered by; the“ he” »-
arose and stepped forth into the trail. \

At the same instant the. bushes on the
opposite side were parted. and the dark
outlines of a man appeared. \

' Dan promptly raised his revolver to a. 

level. V . ,~ ,
“Throw up your hands!” he ordered.
sternly. ,. ‘ ' 

“ Mud eats .an’ hmm’ pups! 
.hnln’t genenn,’ jobbed myself onto 3
jemmcd mis'l‘orttmp. mav Penna
ter- weentyabltse h’genh i'f and ,

,Iam‘ent up went the fellow" "

  
   
 
   
     

 
 

 

    

         
      
      
    
     
     
     
         
     
      
     
      
       
    
      
     
      
     
       
      
 
     
   
    
      
      
   
   
   
        
       
    
     
       
      
      
      
       
     
   
   
     
   
    

 

i-«dylngV interposed a, "faint
figured you were, the read agents re- ward Deadwood.

 

 

fl“ ‘;Sa-21)'. Part1, this 113’31"S “ puny

"rough deal on an ole galoot like me. fer
I’ve got rheumatics in both shoulders,
an' ev‘ry time I swings an arm 1 creak
all over. Fact. An’ I‘m ou‘y a mere
shudder—a ghost, seekin‘ a quiet spot fer
ther obseekies, an‘—an’ 

“ Who in tarnalatiou are. you ‘3"

“I'm Gold Dust Dan.”

“ Iold Dust Dan! Gold Dust! au'
ringin' in this hyar bluff on me! Dan’l
Dan‘l! Ye‘ll break my heart. b'gosh!
Didn’t know me——didn‘t know (He (Za-
lamity!"

Dan laughed. the old ranger chuckled,
and then the two shook hands.

 

 

CHAPTER V.

THE DYING LA‘VYICIi‘h‘ STATEME.’T.

“ What are you doing up here. you mis-
erable old fraud?" asked Dan, as they
clasped hands.

“I kem out: ter play nuss ter an in-
fant, b‘gosh! Ye see. yisterday. down t’
ther Gulch. Idaho kem ter me, an' he sez,
sez he, ‘Calamity, thet kid's puttin' his-
self in the vay of an ort'ul spankin'.‘
An’ 1 sea. sez I, ‘I-Iow so'." ‘Goin‘ ter
[Deadvmod ter play hide-:m‘-seck ‘ith
Captain Black.” sez he. ‘Shoi' sex I. ‘Ye
don't mean et!‘ Sez he, ‘I do.‘ “

“ And so he had you follow me

“Nope! He sent the ter t'oller .Buck-
skin, an‘ then let you foller me, an' ‘chixt
us, Dan‘l, ’twan't a bad move, es cts
panned out."

“ Why so? Have you discovered some-
thing?”

“I’ve diskivered thet Buckskin are a
road agent. of not Captain Black in per-
son, ~b’gosh !"

:‘Ifixactly! I had reached a conclusion
similar to that. myself. But go on. Calam-
ity. Tell me. how you discovered the
fact." .

“ \Val, I left the Gulch ahead of Buck-
skin, rode out:five mile, waited in a
thicket. till he‘d passed. then muffled l'ep-
per's hoofs an' foilered him, keepin’ him
jest in sight till dark, then closiu' up till
I c’u‘d hear cv'ry cluck of his boss‘s feet.
About three o’clock this mornin' he
camped a couple of hom's ter give his
boss :1 breathin‘ spell. then was up an’
at it ag’in. with no let-up till four this
~ovenin’, when he, left ther trail an”
fitted a gang 0' outlaws in waitin‘ near
by." .

“ You are sure they were outlaws,
()alamity‘.”

“ Sartin, Dan’l. Honest men don't hide
their faces behind bandanners an‘ ther
like. ‘ .

“ Howsomever. when Buckskin jined
ther outlit. he got a fresh mount, tied a
mask onto his face, an’ then headed ther
gang this way. I follered till 1 seed ’em
lay an ambush in ther gulch jest ahead,
then putt back ter warn their victim,
but was too late.

“Thet, Dan‘l, is ther case, jest es et
stands. an' I reckon ‘We'd better .push
on an‘ see et we kin onth any 0‘ ther mis-
chief." a
" "That was my errand when I encoura-

r,"

I tered you."

Silently the two' men glided forward
afew paces, when the body of a, man
blocked the way.

’“ The devils have made 'sure work of
lit, I'm afraid.“ exclaimed Dan. as be

,‘bent forward in a vain attempt to read

rthe face of the prostrate man. “Lend

~ a hand. Calamity, and we'll move him
. out of this gloomy pit."

“No. 'IlO-I Do not'move me, for I am

voice.

I 1

a".

 ‘
c

Gold-Dust Dan’s Snap-Shot.

   

 

 

turned to complete their work. but your
words lead me to believe that you are
honest men, and as suoh I have. a favor
to ask of you."

“It is granted. stranger, if it is any-
thing within our power." Gold Dust Dan
returned, in a sympathetic tone. "You
may speak freely to us.” .

“ I thank you. Listen closely. and try
to fix tirme in mind what I say. for it.
is of the utmost importance to a young
girl now somewhere in these hills. and
may save the life of her brother. who is
in the hands of his enemies."

“I am Melville A. (‘okely. of the law
firm of Black, Stone & (“oltely, of lndian—
apolis, Indiana. and I came here in search
of Media Bradlow. SWIG—“U

“I know the young lady—know her
Well," interrupted Ilan. betraying deep-
ened interest. “Her father and grand-
father were killed a month or more ago
by a band of outlaws and Italians.“

“ Yes. A meager press report of that
unfortunate afi’air reached us some time
since. and hastened my departure for this
region, as We entertained g1':ive fears for
the girl's safety."

“ You may case your mind on that
score, Mr. (Iokely, for the young lady is
surrounded by devoted friends.”

“ I "am glad to hear that. Miss Bradlow
has lately become the heir to a considera-
ble fortune through thelwill of a mi~
serly uncle. long estranged from his fam-
ily, and. it is because of this money that
I now fear peril threatens her, as all
the papers relating to it were stolen from
me by Captain Black not an hour since.
I gr any fear that the audacious scouru-
drel will attempt to capture her, with a
view to getting his hands on the for-
tune."

“ We will do the best we can to
guard against anything of the kind
happening.“ assured Dan.

“ I am growing Weaker—"

Ilislips parted in a fluttering sigh. and
in a faint whisper tame the words:

“ All is orer! It is the end! See~
Hampton. Send word to the firm, and
tell—another "

" Gone!" murmured Old Calamity,
niournfully. as he bared his bowod head.

“ Another one is added ter ther long list
0' misfortunates."

In grim silence the pards raised the
lifeless body of the lawyer and carried
it to a Secluded spot beside the trail.

“Thar‘s another some'ars, in- ther
much." avert-ed Calamity. when that had
been done. “I heard the critters comin'
up the trail, an’ they was two."

A brief search confirmed the truth of
the old'mnger‘s assertion. A few paces
beyond the spot where Coker had fallen
lay the coi'pSe of Mint Mason, the 'guide.
and it was quickly placed beside that of
his employer. =

“ .\'ow. Dau’l. what‘s next? Hedn't We.
better git on ter Deadwood it"

“ You had better return to Gold Gulch
and warn Reckless Ray to look after the
girl." Dan replied. “Like 'the lawyer. I
am pretty firme convinced she is in real
manger."

“ Au’ you ?"

“ I‘ll go on to Deadwood. and send out
a' party to bury these poor fellows."

“ All right, Gold Dust- But you look
out. for ther hull business is a trap, an’
ther critters back of et arn‘t fools. Now
I’ll go git I‘epper. an' at ther fast peep 0’
day we'll backtrack ter ther Gulch. So
long. pard." t

The old ranger hurried away through
the darkness. while Gold Dust Dan re-

 

 

traced his steps to secure his horse, whic

“I, the youth mounted and started briskly to-

 

C-IIAPTICI: \‘l.
DAN AND THE SI‘ECULATOR.

“ 311'. Austin Itansome?" ‘

“I am the man, sir. How can I be. of
service to you ‘1" And the speculator nar-
rowly eyed the muscular, well-knit tigure
confronting him.

" Well. sir, I am here in response to a
letter from you, delivered to me by one
known as Buckskin. 1 am Daniel Deer—
t'oot. or Gold Dust Dan."

“ Indeed!" Iiansome exclaimed. warmly
grasping the yolmg plainsnuin‘s hand. “ I
am most glad to see you. Gold Dust. Dan.

 But sit down, please, and we'll discuss
my proposed campaign against, Captain
Black and close our compact," and Ran-
some conducted his visitor to a chair be-
side the table. then seated himself oppo-
site. adding:

“Naturally, you must be, somewhat cu-
rious to know the motives underlying the
movement of mine."

“I am contident that you have reasons,
urgent reasons, for entering the lists
against this Captain Black.“

“I have. Not only has Captain Black
eased my purse of a heavy sum. but in him.
I recognize one who reddened his hands
with the life blood of my only brother!”

" Indeed?" '

“Yes, sir. The outlaw‘s real name is
Felix Game, and he committed this crime

1 three years ago in a gambling hell in Peo-

ria, 111. Heavy rewards were offered, and
the best of detectives employed. but from
that day until I entered the Black Hills,
never so much as an inkling of Felix
Garne’s whereabouts could I obtain.

“ As you have doubtless learned, I am a.
speculator. I was drawn here. by a flat-
tering prospect, and brought with me some
seVen thousand dollars in cash. A few
miles out of Deadwood the coach was held
up and I was robbed. But in the chief of
the marauders, despite his mask, 1 recog«
nized Felix Game.

“ I iimnediately set about organizing a.
band of men of known courage, and it:
was upon the recom‘mengttion of Dead-

, wood’s mayor, warme 8 conded by that

prince of mountain detectives, Belly Dor-
rit, that I sent for you to lead the party.

“ I will pay you two hundred and fifty
dollars a month for your Serviees as chief;
an extra two hundred and fifty if you
close the campaign within a month, and a
reward of one thousand dollars for the de-
livery of Felix Garne into the hands of the
authorities, or one-half of that amount for
indisputable proof of his death.

" What say you? Do you accept

"I accept. .I will undertake to deliver
Captain Black into the hands of the au—
thorities.

"And now, may I ask where are your
men encamped?"

" They are camped in a canyon off the

Lone Pine trail, some seven miles south of
Deadwood. I leave the matter in your
hands, and ttHllOI‘I‘UW morning will ac-
company you down to the camp and make
you acquainted with our men.”
’ Thus. all being arranged, Gold Dust Dan
quitted Ransome's office; but out in the
darkened hallway a heavy hand was laid
sharply upon Dan’s shoulder, while in
hoarse. wheezy tones came the whispered
warning: . ‘ ‘

“ On your life, not a word. Gold Dust
Dan! \ ,

“ I must see you, and at once!"

99’

 

' CHAPTER VII.
THE VETERAN DETECTIVE. ’
Though startled. the young plainsman
was by no means disconcerted. Swifhas

thought he. drew his revolver and grimly; ‘

faced the speaker. .

 

 

   
     
    
 
   
   
  
   
  
  
    
     
   
  
   
  
    
  
  
    
   
 

       
    
        
       
      
         
     
     
  

v. v
- l

' l

Gold-Dust Dan’s

' ' ' f t x . ' . .-( v
“(I I “Wfiwmmiwfi$gr..¢._saw.~ymragng.xa;§ww  fright”: m, «V ‘ ~ .5 v, 4 _ 

 

 

“Very well—just set the pace!" he as
guardedly returned, peering sharply at the
(lime visible outlines of the bulky form
facing him. .

“Not hyar, Dan; not hyar!" wheezed
the unknown, his hand slipping from the
shoulder to the arm of the youth. “Putt
up thet gun, an’ foller yer pore but respect—
able uncle, please yer honor!"

“ Belly Dorrit, by the—"

“Bolivar Dorrit, Esq.—jest thet! Now
hop along lively, fer thet black-whiskered
fox in ther hes keen ears, es yer uncle
knows ter his sorrow!"

“ Meaning ”

“ Ransome—nothin’ less!

Dan silently followed.

Down the stairway and out into the
street proceeded Bolly Dorrit, followed by
Dan, and thence they tramped due south
until the. outskirts of Deadwood were
reached.

“I’ve. got a cabin over in ther bresh a
leetle way. Reckon it‘s ther safest. place
ter hole-up fer a confab, eh '3" suggested
Dorrit.

“Just as you wish it, Belly."

Something in the appearanCe and manner
of Austin Rainsome had early aroused
Dan's suspicions that the speculator was
not just what he represented himself to
be; and now that Dorrit Seemed imbued
with much the same idea, the youth was
most eager for a long talk with the detec-
tive.

At the end of a half—hour’s walk, the
pair entered the mouth of a narrow tis-
sure. in the side of a hill, and. a few'min-
utes later, halted in front of a small cabin.

“ Jest a pocket in ther hill, Dan’l, nothin’
more nor less, with my shanty fer ther
bottom,” Dorrit explained, as he pushed
open the éabin door and ignited a match.
“ Sot down an’ be at home while I make
a light, fer—~—

"‘ Holy Caesar!”

Swift upon that sharply drawn exclama-
tion came a keen report, a blinding flash,
and the, sound of a. heavy fall—then the
sharply-uttered command from without:

“ Up, boys, and close in! Raynor has
killed the accursed detective, but his pard
must not escape!”

\Varned by that single shot of an am-
bushvwithin the cabin, Gold Dust Dan had
nimny sprung back, to pause. revolvers
in hand, just without the door; but that

. shrill rallying cry told only too plainly of
ginger, even there—that he was hemmed
« Facing swiftly about with he felt the
solid log wall at his back, the youth swung
his revolvers to a level and Opened fire at
the half dozen shadowy forms just visible
in the deep gloom of the ill-starred pocket.

 

Come!"

Thrice, in as 'many seconds, those
deadly weapons sent forth their sharply-
ringing notes; and a screech of pain
here and a muttered curse there attested
only too plainly that at least two of those
, furious snap shots had not gone. astray!

,“Down~—dotvn! And snake your way

_ in!” shouted the leader of the attacking
party. “Down, a d. creep forward, and
see that you spare no chance to kill that
young curtainount, for he is Gold Dust
mu!” ( . ‘ V r '

A furious yell followed this announce-
ment, and the last of those dim and in-

. distinct shapes disappeared as if swal-
W lowed up by the earth. ‘
Then came silence, deep and oppress-
ive, of several minutes’ duration, which,
’ was broken at last by the sharp rasping
voice of the leader: .
  “He‘s escaped, boys. by all that’s bad!"

W' ‘,“‘But how???-
1 'i " “ He" never went down an' out o’ the
 'pocketg-fkase he c’u’dn’t; nor he didn’t

snarled ‘ a second voice;

 

go up the sides, fer them rocks ’u’d fool
the feet of a goat. I'm tellin‘ ye, pards,
he‘s still hyar. sumwhar!"

“ But whar?" mocked a. third voice.

“Mebbe he slipped into ther cabin,"
another suggested.

“ Silence, all!” ordered the leader, sharp-
ly. “I'm firmly convinced the whelp’s
somewhere about, even now, listening to
every word we utter. Stand guard, all just
as you are. and shoot him down on sight.

“ Benton—Davis, come with me!”

The two outlaws thus addresed prompt-
ly stepped forward, and followed the
chief down the narrow pocket.

"New, boys, set to and gather all the
dry wood you can get your hands on.
We'll have a monstrous bonfire. and me-
thinks the light will reveal Mister Gold
Dust Dan to our sight."

“ Why not fire the cabin an' have done

with it?" suggested one.

“Two, Benton, 1 had not thought of
that.“ was the quick response. “Then,
too, to burn the :Lbin is the easier way.”

Accordingly. the three hastened'back
to their waiting comrades, and, a mo-
ment in ter, a. tiny flame leaped into view,
to feed eagerly upon the dry log walls,
and soon the tire became intense.

Step by step the outlaws retreated be-
fore the glowing heat, unconsciously form-
ing a wild, weird picture there in that
narrow, rock-bound pocket.

Higher leaped the flames, and brighter
each minute grew the scene, until each
bush and shrub, clinging s0 close‘y against
those rocky slopes, seemed to stand
forth in bold relief. ‘

And yet no sign, no trace, of Gold
DuSt Dan could the keenest eye discern.

“Curses! He has slipped us!” growled
the chief. '

Even as the words escaped the desper-
ado, the outlaw Benton flung up his hands
and sank lifeless to the earth, while a
sharp fusilade of revolver shots, com-
mingled with a wild and thrilling war
cry, rang out far up the rocky heights.

Then, in a ringing voice, came the
words:

“ It is war-war to the death, Captain
Black!" ,

A chill seemed to strike the desperado
group, and each man stood as if spell-
bound.

'l‘wo hundred feet above, thrown into
hold relief by that fiery glow, upon the
very edge of a jutting spur, his handsome
face as cold and white as that of an
avenging angel. stood Gold Dust Dan. V,

Then, with the spring of a panther, the
youth disappeared, while again rang
forth that wild cry:

“ War—war to the’death!"

CHAPTER VIII.
JOB PEPPERBEAN.~ .
The morning sun, rising above the caps
of a group of three sharply defined hills
a few miles to the. south of Deadwio'od,
looked down upon :1 st 'ange scene. ,
There, in the narrow, heavily wooded
valley, beside a swift, clear mountain
stream. stood a number of wlokiups,‘ and?
back of them, in a sort of natural any
phithea'tre. was a temporary corral con-
taining not less than a core of horses.
But: the strange feat re of the scene
lay between the wickiuns and the corral:

I

a man bound, Maxeppalika, upon the back'

of a'horse. ,

The man. was a. short, bulky ffello‘w,‘
in appearance alcommon! specimenof the
mountain tramp.  , \ . -

'“ Whoa, Bones!” this .Mazeppa yelled,
in a; husky voice. “Dern .yer ,picter,
c‘nin’t ye see. we’re at ther f g and 'o’_,eiv-
ilizashun? Stiddy. now.  I, hail‘ther
campl”. t ‘ t l  ‘ i

i
: s "

Snap-Shot. v

 

 

Then, as the old gray horse camera. .
a stop, forth rang the bail, in stent‘oria'n  '
tones: "

“Hallo! Hallo!
ters! Help
Hallo! Hallo! ther camp!” . 

Effective, too, was that bellowed jumy
ble, for ere the last word had been ut—
tered each of the wickiups gave up its
occupants, while a sentry, reposing in a.
snug nook down in the corral, suddenly
sprang into view, rifle in hand.

“Help! Help!” continued the Mazeppa,
as if wholly unconscious of the effect pro—
duced.

“ Stop that yawp!” sternly cried a tall.
sinewy fellow. striding forward, knife in
hand. “You'll have Captain Black and
his devils down upon us."

“Aw—I beg yer pardon!" uttered the
tortured tramp. “But I say, pardy, cut
me loose. please. an‘ roll me down easy!
I‘ve had enough an' plenty ter spare. o‘
bumps an' jolts this three hours!"

it was the work of but a moment to
sever the stout thongs holding the Ma-
zeppa in place, and as they parted- he
fell in a heap to the ground.

“Gi’me a. lift, somebody. l'm sore as.
gumbiles in June."

“Cut your nonsense!" sharply ordered
the rescuer, catching the Mazeppa by the
arm and jerking him to his feet. “\Vho
and what are you ‘3 Tell the truth."

“ Please, yer honor, I‘nrJoh Pepper-
bean—poor ain’ honest. but jest now terri—
ble down on me lack, an” that’s no lie."

“But it is a lie just thesaxne! See
here, my man, fairy tales don‘t go! You
are in (lamp ltauxsome, and I am Durango
Dan, chief of thesc fellows around us;
We‘re Vigilantes, and we are out for the
scalp of Captain Black. Now, do» you,
know what that means?”

Yigorously slapping his ponderous
thigh Job Peppemean'uttered a yell of
delight. -

“I’utt et thar, Durango Dan—putt et
thar!” hecried, extending a grimy hand
to the self-styled Vigilante. "Shake. by
mighty, fer ye've hit me right whar I
live!. I hates Captain Black wuss nar a.
pro’bishunst hates good red tanglelegi"

Thrusting his arms akimbo, Job Pepper--
bean slowly turned completely around,
while his twinkling little eyes scanned
each of the. faces gathered about him.

“A nice lot you be, pards." the bulky
vagrant continued. “Just ther kind
like, b’gum! An' ef some mother‘s son
’u’d only offer me a wee drop 0' ther-
critter I’d feel right ter heme among
ye—l jest Would. now, sure's my name’s
Job Pepperbean." '
“Neither sup nor bite do you get till.

Pile out. ye lazy crit-l :"
Help! for ther, sufferin’i‘ ' *

you’ve told a straight story," broke in . 

Durango Dan, curtly.

“Please, yer honor, an’ What is et ong 

want ter know?”~. Pepperbean asked.
cringing before the fiery gaze of the Vigaf
ilante. “I know l’m a silly old fool,
when my tongue'gits ter waggiu‘; but,
jest p’int ther way. an’ I‘ll sing ye a
straight song~so help me, gmshus!”

“ Who and what are you '3" explosively-
“And how camp you here in such a way
and at such a. time? By Heavens!’ i'm
inclined to believe you‘re a~—~‘—‘-“

“Will.- what, boss?" humbly ventured 

Pepperbean. A : \
“Colessal fraud and not. for om? .43
thing!" the Vigilante avert-ed, main t; in;
grimly, while his hands mym With" the 
lutts of the heavy rwolvers. “Speak?
out, man?  w . V " ,. 
“Job P we helm. by yer leave. si'r'. "
I once done to 9 ye already. ‘ Once af.
ppfiPfian’, "vyinmj, now guardian nut;
veyofi-iqfleue‘ml to . ther greathhlb

tery.’ Roving “Ruth.”

M“ 21-bit! YW—r’ {



 

   

 

    
   
 
   
    
   
  
  
  
 
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
   
   
  

 

v

,

I

 

r "‘Itxactly, boss!" broke in Pepperbean,
.with an unctuous flourish "An‘ lookin'
arter ther afiairs 0’ Lady Ruth last
night, I was set upon by thet prince o‘
unhanged cut-throats, Cap'n Black, gar-
roted, robbed, plundered, marauded, an’
wellnigh murdered, sir; yas, sir; an’
bound upon that thar hoss, a second Ma-
zeppa, an' set adrift in these“ hyar wilds,
a. helpless prey to bird an’ beast, outlaw
:Ln’ redrind. But. proverdenee tempers
ther wind tor ther shorn lamb, sir, an‘
proverdence led ole Bones straight, inter
Camp Ransome, sir straight to your bold
atn’ noble self, sir! ()11! Ah! Could I
but fall upon thy neck an‘ Weep, my
noble—um—ah !—-preserver !‘ ’

A pronounced titter from the group of
\Yigilantes followed the snutfling of the
vagrant, and Duraingo Dan tin'ned red
with rage.

“Upon the miserable cur, boys!” he
shouted, himself springing forward.
“Bind and gag him, for he’s a spy for
Captain Black!”

And in less than the time it takes to tell
it, Job Pepperbean was again in bonds;
but, ere a g' g could he slipped between
his 3m a sharp warning cry from the
sentry at the corral drew the attention
of the Vigilantes.

Looking up, they beheld a singular
looking wvalcade approaching.

 

 

i, CHAPTER IX.

, ENTRAI’I'ED.

Yes, strange. indeed was this caval-
zade. Nine riders in all, and slightly in
advance of the main body, astride a
great white stallion and leading a pow-
erfully built. clay-bank horse, rode the
leader of the party—a woman!

Behind this mysterious personage,
mounted on black horses and riding two
abreast, *ame eight sable figures, each

' leading a pack horse.

Fo ' a full minute Durango Dan stood gay.-

ing at the approaching column like one fas-
. cinated; then fromhislips leaped the words:

“By Heavens! it is Roving Ruth, the

Black Hills mystery, and with her are her
weight black braves! New, indeed. shall
we test the truth of this fat cur's words!"

AAwild howl of delight broke from Job
l’epperboan, and, with what St‘t'lllCd
scarcely an effort, he. sc 'ambled .to his
feet, bound though he‘ was.’ \

“Oh, et’s mo purty boss, dead sm‘e!" he
chuckled, weaving oddly to and fro.
“Glory hallelujah! 1’ni—”

“.Silmioe!” brusquely interrupted Duran-
go Dan, his open hand falling across l’ep-

perbean’s mouth in a vigorous slap. “ An-
, other word unbidden, and you die!
“ Dustan — Maguire — Kelly! For-ward

there with your Winchesters, and halt
Lady Ruth and her men, for enter this
camp they shall not till we know their
mission!” '

Promptly the three men addressed
sprang forward, and. as their deadly rifles
(game to‘a level, forth rang the stern Chill-

 i’lenge’: '

"‘Halt, Roving Ruth. and give an ac.
count of yourself! This is a Vigilante
camp, and none enter without a permit!"

' Drawing rein, the woman uttered a sar-

'.yrastic.laugh. ’ ‘ I
" “Vigilantes or outlaws, it s all one to
.'in91’."‘she cried, with a vivid flash of her

,. dark eyes.

“ My quest leads me onward,
onWard/I shall go!

, 4‘ ‘Now, a Word of warning: 11016380 .that'

unantyou' hold prisoner! He is my servant,

,_ and belongs tomy. party. Do you hear?"

.1 u r hears; Madam,” Durango Dan “‘T’m‘d'

 :{f'briskly . stepping Iterimird, revolvers in

 
 

ham-“bat While I awake to auto you,
1.53" mystery'abontme fellow that

. w )9:
~i-J ' ,P 4,.,

' .3 .
i

   

 

  
 

“ He came into our camp a few minutes
since, bound upon the back of a. horse.
and claimed to have been held up and
robbed by Captain Black, the road agent,
who then sent him adrift in the fix in
which he appeared here.

“Now, madam, prove the truth of his
story, and he. goes free. Fail to do so, and
he shall be tried and hanged. for I am
firme convinch that he is one of Captain
Black’s spies." ‘

Again that sar 'astic laugh from Roving
Ruth. and Dumngo Dan sharply recoich
a pace, as she flung her shapely right hand
aloft.

“ With the truth or falsity of Job Pep-
perbean‘s story 1 have nothing whatever
to do," she declared, coldly. "Let it sutl—
tioe that l 'llIin‘ told the truth, and that.
should it later be proved that he is a spy
for Captain Black, 1 hold myself respon-
sible for his deliverance into the hands of
the authorities. Now, release him!"

A dark look crossed the face of the
Vigilante chief, and. in a low voice, with-
out a movement of his lips, he uttered the
words:

“ Ready. boys, for it looks like war!"

Then aloud: “As chief of the Vigilantes
I refuse to yield him, Roving Ruth!"

“Then upon your head be the result!"
was the swiftly uttered response. “For-
ward, men, and show no quarter! You are
striking outlaws. not. Vigilantes. for tlu-sc
men are a part. of Captain Black’s band!“

A hoarse cheer burst from the eight
black bravos, and, to a man, they pre—
pared to charge.

Again Durango Dan stepped forward,
and with uplifted hand requested silence
and a truce. '

“At the first forward move upon the
part of yourself or your men. Roving
Ruth. Job Pepperbean dies!" he exclaimed.
grimly. "Know that, then come on, if
you will!" -

"0n!" shouted the mysterious woman,
lm-dless of that grim ‘.\arning. “()n, and
cut down every miscreant who resists!"

That a conflict mustfcome was now ap-
parent, and, with an execration Durango
Dan sprang back.

At the same moment a firm hand
gripped his shoulder, while the cold muz-
zle of a revolver vas thrust against his
temple.

“ Steady, captain!" uttered a low. stern
voice. “ As chief of Ransome‘s Yigilantes
I order you to yield that prisoner! Men.
throw up your hands! Your captive goes
free! Resist, and you shall settle at head-
quarters!" .

Had a. thunderbolt fallen in their midst
the surprise and consternation of the Vigi-
lantes could! not have been "101" pro-
nounced.

The speaker was a slender youth ver -
ing closely upon man’s estate. There was
that in his well-knit. sinewy figure. in his
dark. Dii'l’tfintl eyes'and stern.'unfaltering
face “inch betokene-l an unyielding will
and dauntlcss courage. ..

How or from what quarter he had come.

no one of the Vigilantes could say; had
be literally dropped from the clouds, his
appearance there could not have been
more unexpected. more sudden. or more
startling. ' _
‘ Roving Ruth seemed at a glance to read
the altered situation aright. and a hurried
command checked the ad ’ance Of her fol-
low‘eis. " I ,

For a full minute Durango Dan stood
like one turned to stone; then his madly
gleaming eyes slowly shifted till they met
the stern and chilling maze of his captorx *

“ Your authority for this step—J demand
to see it!” ho’grated, through. his hard-set
teeth’. ’ ' , ,

“Aimee. and ‘yourywish is' granted,”
was the cool response. y ' ' it ‘

Gold-DuSt Dan’s Snap-Shot.

 

i,

 

“A truce be it."
Releasing the Vigilante's shoulder. the

youth drew a folded paper from an inner!

pocket, saying:
“ My authority is there.”

Eagerly unfolding the sheet, Durango‘

Dan read:

“ Durango Dan—The bearer. Dandy Bill,
of Denver, is hereby put in command of
our men in wait for tlold Dust Dan.

“ Report to me immediately, as there is
quick, hot Work ahead.

“ RANSOME.
" Deadwood.“

A long sigh of relief fluttered from the
Yigilante's lips when his eyes had finished
the boldly written scrawl, and he promptly
extended his hand.

“ l pass. Dandy Bill, and l welcome you
to Camp Ransome. Pards. your new chief,
Dandy Bill! Treat him right. and you'll
never be sorry!“

A wild cheer bm'st from the throats of
the reckless crew. and as they crowded
forward to greet their new leader, Du-
rango Dan severed the bonds holding Jul)
I‘epperlwan. i

“ tiit!" he exclaimed. then turned sharp
ly as the ringing hoof-strokes of a horse
sounded not a. hundred yards away.

‘7 Aha! who comes there?" he continued
his face paling. a lurid glow leaping into
his dark orbs, while his hands dropped
mwhanically to the revolvers belted to his
middle. “ By Heavens, it. is Reckless.
Roy!"

“ Right you are, Buckskin!" was Dandy
Bill's cool response. as be promptly cov«
ered the surprisml Vigilante. “ ‘Tis Reck-
less Roy, and I am Gold Dust Dan!

“Hands up. all, or die! The camp is
surrounded—you are prisoneis!”

 

CHAPTER X.
A MESSAGE FROM THE MISSING.

A moment of profound.silence followed
that startling dcnouement. and then, with
an imprecation, Durango Dan unbuckled
and cast aside his belt of arms, saying:

"Pards, we must pass this deal. for

thar's a. cold deck ag'iu us, an’ Gold Dust. '

Dan an’ his crowd hold all trtnnps!

“Now be meek as lambs, fer these
galoots be dead shots an’ death to road:
agents. Savey‘:"

An assenthig growl came from the \‘ig’r
lantes, and one and all promptly followed.
the example of their leader. laying down
their
hands.

“ Ah. Buckskin, you are sensible to the:
last,” grimly remarked (fold Dust Dan. as
he deftly handcuffed the outlaw. “ Were
Captain ’Black himself in your shoes, he
could hardly (10- it moor." ‘

“Captain Black be hanged. deuce grill
him!” was the savage response. as Gold
Dust Dan firmly drew his captive aside.
“ Stack yer chips mountain high as how
he‘s safe, blast him!"

_ “ Be not so sure, gentle Buckskin. Me?
thinks the days of Captain Black are num~

bered. We go to DeadWood, you and l,
and with your help I expect to net the
captain." '

“With my help!” exclaimed the cap- . I,

tive, in evident surprise.
“ So I said."

“A queer bit 0’ work fer me, it seems, . 

Can’t ’you explain ?“ . _
“In ,due time. my. dear Buckskin,”
laughed Gold Dust Dan, as he calmly pro—

weapons and raising their emth

m git.»

ceeded to .bind .his captive to a tree.

.“Think it; all out as best you may. You’ll

stretch hemp or not. just as you elect.”

With which significant remark 

Dust 1n strode, back‘ among the Be in—

"tors. his keen gray eyes sha ly aim-titer .
find. 

the. bulky form of JohPe . e an.
The  tramp was no; hard? to

c , f

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fl “Phrase, _. , .

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A 8' . ‘ Gold-Dust Dan’s snap-Shot.

 

5.. . H..- ...._._. .H

 

Indeed, he was a central tigm'e in that
bustling scene, his arms akimbo, his
whet-2y voice lifted in voluminous thanks
for his timely deliverance from the Vigi-
lantes. '

A touch upon his shoulder, and he turned
to meet tlold Dust Dan face to face.

"Lady Ruth awaits you." uttered the

detective. in a peculiar tone. his piercing '

eyes looking straight into the round blue
orbs of the vag nut.

“Ther hint‘s good es a kick, bossi‘f
Was the chuckling response. “Only-—
shake!"

The hands of the two 'men crossed, and
then. in a guarded voice, Pepper-bean con-
tinned:

“ See Roy. Dan, an' bring him over ter
Lady Ruth's outtit. Things aire movin’
our way now. an‘ We‘ll have a good thing
if we jest push it along.“

“At once. But last night, Bolly—how
did you escape?"

“ 'Sh! ’l‘het by an' by. youngster.
be thet Bolly‘s dead. Savey‘!”

Dan nodded and turned away. while the
vagrant hustled noisily toward Roving
Ruth and her braves.

l'nder the skilled hands of the Regu-
lators the prisoners Were speedily secured
beyond escape. 'and then Reckless Roy
ttn'ned aside with Gold Dust Dan.

IA‘t

" You Were in the nick of time, Roy. '

Had you dropped from the clouds. your
appearance could not have been more un-
expected."

" "I‘is an ill wind that blows nobody good,
and it was trouble that brought me here."

“ 'I‘rouble—"

“ Media Bradlozv has been stolen!"

“When?” he asked, sententiously.

“ The night you left Gold Gulch.”

“ The trail—the signs! -l\\'hat
they?"

" Next to nothing. Th‘ alarm was im-
mediately spread through the camp. and
then it came out that some. of the hangers-
on at Dutch Jake's all-night resort had
seen two strangers come to town shortly
after midnight. and an examination dis-
closml the fact that there had been two or
more horses hitched to the rear of the
Mint some hours during the night.

“ Beyond that the closest search and the
keenest inquiry could discover nothing,
.and I at once divided the Regulators into
squads to beat up the trails leading out.
(if camp.” '

“There were hoof tracks in abundance
goiug‘and coming. but .no sign of the
.miscreants was visible. and at nightfall
we halted and went into camp. where.
shortly after midnight, We were joined by
Old Calamity.

“The old ranger brought news Soon
after parting from. you he had encoun-
tered three men with a‘ captive. whom he
bellowed to be a Woman. .1119 had fol-
lowed them" in the darkness, but had
lost the trail in thii vicinity of the cabin
ofa dwarffknmvn as General Grim.”

“General Grim! l have. heard of him.
But—proceed. Roy." ‘

“Well, as our horses had had a good
breathing spell. we at once. mounted and
followed Old Calamity to the point at
which he, had lost his game.
halted and vainly tried to pick up the

said

. trafl by means of torches.

, “After talking the matter over we de-
Uided‘to push on to Deadwood to secure,
your help. while he remained on the

Q .ground to make an attempt. to pick up

the lost trail by day.”

“ And he‘ will find it. if“ is to be found. ,
~but do you know. Roy. it is my belief i

there is a large sized plot afoot for gold
‘and revenge? I have ascertaian that
my call to Deadwood was a skillfully

> baited trap. while. swift upon its heels.)
3 1 comes the abduction of Media Bradlow.”

I

 

There we '

!

 

“But by whom, Dan? I understand
about Media’s inheritance, but Captain
Black could have learned nothing from
the lawyer‘s papers until many hours
after her abduction.”

" Ry survifors of Red I‘aaither's band."
was the prompt reply. “I will lay you my
horse against your hat that Captain
Black proves to be one of that merciless
clan; and. if so. is it not possible that.
he is fully informed as to the Rradlow
property?

” To my mind it is now a fact that John
Rradlow. the unfortunate young miner to
whom Roving Ruth was betrothed, yet
lives, and that h i and Media are captives.
held for ransom! The story of the bot-
tle and the telltale paper is no hoax. The
Bradlows' inheritance is to be the price
of the Brailloyvs‘ liberty.“

, “ You have said the simple truth. (lold

pDust Dan!" interposed a musical voice.

and Roving Ruth stepped forward.

"lle whom I have mourned as dead
yet. lives, and it is my mission to tind
him.

" See here!" and the mysterious lady of
the hills held aloft a small. flat bottle. in
which was plainly visible a closely folded
sheet, of white paper. “This is a mes-
sage t'rom John Bradlow. found but a few
days ago by one of my men. It bears
date of September 15. and so was writ-
ten less than three weeks ago."

“ May I ask where it was found. Lady
Ruth?" inquired Hold Dust Dan. ’

" in a. small stream near the' ‘abin
home. of the dwarf lmnchback. General
Grim."

" Ah. the gene all again!" Dan ex-
claimed. his dark eyes kindling. as he ex-
tended his hand totake the paper which
Roving Ruth had deftly abstracted from
the bottle. "Roy. we shall certainly have
tomake'the acquaintance of that gentle-
man.” and then, unfolding the bit of pa-
per. (lold Dust Dan read aloud from the
penciled scrawl: ,

“ "l‘o whomstwver this may find its way:

"‘ ‘I. John B'adlow. a gold hunter. am
held in captivity in a secret cavern of
the Black Hills by the outlaw band of
Jacob Rose. better known as Red Pan-
ther, for the purpose of extorting from me
the secret of the location of a large
amount of gold which they suspect I
have buried. '

“ ‘ I will. give five thousand dollars in
gold to the person who. finding this, ef-
fects my release. directly or indirectly.

“ ‘ 'l‘he caVe in which I am held is some-
where to the south of Deadwood. and is
in a. cliff overhanging the small stream to
which I entrust this message. Sly wants
are attended to by a renmrkable looking
dwarf. who styles himself the Gene 'al.

“‘This is all I’ know. and upon this
slender clue you must work. (live, heed
to this appeal of ahelpless prisoner. and
may the blessings of Heaven be upon
,VOll. “ ‘JOHN BRADLOW.

«“ ‘Sept. 15, 18—."

CHAPTER XI. M
OLD CALAMI'I‘Y'S RUSE.

For a full minute no one broke the
silence which followed the reading of,
this. remarkable message. 'l‘hen Gold
Dust Dan. coret‘ully refolded the paper
andhanded it. back to Roving Ruth. say-
ing:

“It seems that this ‘General‘ is fast
becoming the central figure in a series of
startling mysteries. and I shall not be at
all surprised if. in the end, We find him
the moving spirit of Captain Black’s
band. .

“The matter will bear further investi-
mtion. General Grim is reported as a

cunning knave. and I shall put his cum

wing to the test.

 

“Lady Ruth, with your permission ‘I’ll
leave the jail-birds in the care of your
bravos for a day or so, for I shall start
within the hour." ' t

The beautiful mystery muter inclined
her head, and there the conference
ended.

“ Wal. ye see, Dan‘l, it: war like this;
I :never made a den in my life thet I
didn‘t leave a back way out so ef things
got. too pimssin' in front I c'u’d walk oil?

 

an‘ leaVe matters ter cool down. An‘
thet's how I escaped last night. 1 war

on'y stunned a bit by ther bullet ihet
yarlet let fly at. me; an' es soon es 1
kem to a.n' they gave me a hafeway
chaince, w‘y I jest sneaked.

" But you, Dan'l-~how did you sarcuin-
vent ther int-my? 1 seed you do ther
det'y act a-top ther blufl'. but war too far
off ter make my presence known."

" (‘limbed the chimney, Holly, and from
the cabin root‘tgot a foothold on the
bluff." tlold Dust: Dan explained. "In
watndering about. I struck Roving Ruth's
outtit, just. before day. and there learned
that you had escaped and Were then on
your way to Camp Ransome in the imise
of Job l'epperbeau.

“A short talk with Roving Ruth con-
vinced me that my suspicions of Austin
Ransome Were well founded, and that
the Vigilantes in waiting for me were,
outlaws—probably members of Captain
Black's band, and we at once determined
to capture them. Disguised. and with
that forged note from Ransome. I entered
the camp. The result. you know.”

“It all worked jest right, Dasn’l. an’ I
reckon we'd better play pards to ther
end 0' this game. While you go with
Roy ter get a peep et. ther hunchback,
l'll jest mog along ter Deadwood an’
keep an eye on Austin Ransome. What
say?" .

“ It sni ts me exactly," declared Dan, ex~
tending his hand. “

“ Mud cats an’ houn’ pups! Sech a can-
tankerous wrinkle I never did see! Two
up, two down—an' no tellln‘ which couple
is hafe girl!”

With that muttered expression of dis-
gust, Old Calamity quickly retreated from
the brink of the stream, crossing the nar-
row .strip of stony waste. and disappear-
ing in the dense undergrowth choking the
forest border.

And snugly ensconcing himself in the
shelter of a thicket ()ld Calamity buried
his face in his hands and silently med-
itated. ‘

Fifteen minutes slipped by and the
'anger moved not. Then, suddenly, as
if produced by the direct application on?
electricity. a slight tremor shook his
wasted form. and one hand clenched at
his breast with a convulsive movement.

‘f Death an? destruction!” he murmured
softly. a faint sigh escaping his tremu—
Ions old lips. his eyes turning back in
their shrunken sockets. “Red-rinds. out-
laws. varlets o’ ev’ry description-air
thar’s trouble brewin' this blessed min-
ute—shore!" . x

The mournful reflections ceased, and a.
steely glitter appeared 'in his, dull blue
eyes. 5

Suspicion had become certainty. The.
trap so skillfully set was ready for spring-
ing. ‘

Out of the undergrowth across the
glade glided a man, a tall.:black-*bearded,
muscular looking fellow, grasping a Win-

' Chester rifle ready for use.

For a full minute he stood silent and

motionless, sharply eyeing the wretched v
looking cayuse: then be. swept the glade 
"with his keen black eyes. j 4   ‘
“Et's donned strange wot’s become ’0’
ther ole cuss? he muttered, in an 

 

j :..
.....-.,,

 
 

    
     
   
 

   

 

 
   
     

 

      
       
     
     
     
     
       
       
       
     
       
     
   
       
       
     
       
       
   
   
       
     
       
     
       
     
     
 

      
    
 
    
    
   
   
       
   
 
 
  

 

Gold-Dust Dan’s Snap-Shot.

 

 

{one just audible to the hidden ranger.
V “"Thar’s his critter, shore enutf, but
* whar’s he?" ,

' As, if in anSWer to that. suspicious
«query, there arose, at that moment, a low,
‘quavering sound, rising and falling witha

peculiar inflection which left no doubt*

as to its origin or meaning:

“Asleep, by thunder! .Mn’ snorin' like
a nigger with his heels to the fire!" the
dcsperado exclaimed, with a chuckle.

“Hey, tihar! Wake. up!“ he yelled,
\with a grin of malicious delight, as he
,gave the ranger a vicious poke in the
ribs with the muzzle of the rifle. “Change
ky-ars fer Limbo!”

Old Calamity did “wake up.” With a
swift fling of his arm, he dashed the
rifle aside, and with the nimbleness of a
'cat sp'ang full upon the outlaw, throw-
ing him off his feet. '

“Hands up!” he grated, levelling a
cooked revolver with marvelous quickness.

“Don’t. pardner! I was on’y jokin‘!"

“Jokin’, eh?” grinnml 01d Calamity, as
he kicked the fallen rifle aside.
>“Thet was it. Comin’ by. I see you
asleep thar. an’ thort I’d jest give ye a
scare. Call ct square, now, an' we‘ll take
a drink."

“ Cain't see ct. bub! Fact is. I see you
a bit ago, down by the crick. an‘ I jest let
«Rep a few words ter draw you on.
'Thar’s on’y one chainee fer you. You
must tell the truth, or die!

“\Vhar is Media Bradlow?"

“ Who-what?" he staimnered. with an
uneasy shifting of his gaze. “Say et
ag‘in, pardner, fer I don’t—don‘t jest on-
41erstand.”

“Whar is Media Bradlow'?
Straight-out truth, now, or——’

“Which same I‘ll give ye. pardner!
Ye’re on ther wrong track—that's so,
fer I never heerd 0’ him or her till you
spoke the name!” ‘

“Don’t lie! I warn ye, again! Ther
name ye may not know. but ther critter
ye do know! Whar is she?"

“ Fer a gospel fae‘. I don’t know."

“Ye do know! You an’ your ilk stole
her out 0‘ Gold Gulch; you helped putt.
her away, an‘_you‘re goin‘ to tell—mark
thet!

“ Now, git up!"

Slllli‘flly the outlaw obeyed. and Old
Calamity disarmed and bound him.

“Now, pint yer nose toward thet bit 0’
tall timmer over you, an’_ keep yer mouth
shet, or off goes y’er head.”

“It’s. no use!" exclaimed the outlaw.
defiantly. “I won’t talk—I won’t. tell!
Kill me here, for my secret dies with
me!” '

CHAPTER XII.

THE “GENERAL” TURNS A TRICK. *
“Listen to reason. General Grim. For-
' sake your desperate companion and re.—

lease us. I will make. you arlch man."
' Gravely the hnnchback inclined himself,
his ugly face as expressionless as that of
a Sphinx, yet with a peculiar light lurking

in the depths of his dusky eyes. "
“Fair lady, you ask that which is im-
poSslble, save under the sole“ condition

Don’t lie!
?

which I have named," he returned, delib-t
“It is only upon your solemn

_ ,erately.
. promise to become my wife—J

i ' "‘ Silence; you devil!” harshly interrupted
, ‘11 third . voice, while Qut 0f the denser

' i gloom of the rear of the cavern advanced

‘ ’a' pale. emaciated man, heavily weighted
with chains. “Better that we both rot
_ here'than thatsnch an unholy compact be
1 'made. Your wife. augh!” E

i “As you will, John Bradlow!” snarled
f the. hunchbaok. recoding with a hideous
"distortion 0f hiS, face. ' t‘You have. said it!

’ 1- bid'youand yourch‘anmimg sister adieu!” .

in profound inclination, abur'st of elfish

\

 

laughter, and General Grim disappeared
amid the shadows of the cavern.

“Thank Heaven! the fiend has gone!"
Bradlow exclaimed, sinking to the solid
stone iloor. ,

“ Now, Media, let us see if you can find
:1 Weak point in these chains. \Ve must
ilnd one, for it is our last hope."

Eagerly Media Bmdlow bent to the task,
her bright blue eyes narrowly scanning
each link in that dim, uncertain light-
slowly, one by one, to end in failure!

" It. is as I feared!" Bradlow grimly ‘ex-
claimed, when the faltering tones of the
girl announced the result. "The scoun-
drels made sure work of it. and I am sore—
ly afraid we are doomed unless "

" l'nless what, Jack ‘3"

“ I'nless your friends in Gold Gulch suc-
ceed in finding and‘ running down the trail
of your captors, Media.“

" They will, Jack,” the girl asserted,
while a faint flush crept into her pallid
face. "Roy will never rest until he finds
me." ’ - ’

Bradlow shook his head.

“it is a slender chance." he declared.
“Do not hope for too much, my sister.
These outlaws are cunning knaves. and
doubtless covered \vell their trail. Then.
too, this is a forsaken locality, most diffi-
cult fo approach. and the ‘cavern is Well
hidden.

“ In all the months I have been here I
have. seen but two \men other than the
hunchback and the captain, though I have
stationed myself day after day either at
the cre’vice overlooking the stream below
or at the one on the opposite side of the
cavern. To both of these men I shouted
until my voice failed me, yet not a sound
seemed to reach them. ‘-

"No, no, Media! Let us not hope too
much, for the disappointment may be hit-
ter. Three times have 1 thrown a message
into the stream, and each time my heart
beat high with the hope that some pros-
pector might find it and effect my deliv-
crance. Yet it was all in vain.

" I hoped. too, to bribe that hunchback
devil into turning me loose, only to be
flogged for my pains. The lasttime I
tempted him. and we had reached the
cabin ere he changed his mind. A11, God!
I'll never forget that night!"

A shudder couvulsed the crouching form,
and Media gently drew her brother to his
feet.

“Come, Jack, let us look out of the
crevices," she, suggested, anxiously. “It
can do us no harm. and we may see—
who knows what we may see?"

Bradlow silently led the 'a.y. It was
an old story to him, looking out the crev-
ices, hoping against hope; yet, for his sis-
ter‘s sake, he did not demur.

Just at the length of the chain holding
him to the rocky wall was the first crevice,
extending from the floor up into the dome
of the cavern—a narrow, zigzag rift, ad-
mitting nearly all of light and air there
was in that gloomy den.

Listlessly the brother, eagerly the sister,
they peered out. The .Stm, as ’nearly as
could be judged. was approaching zenith.
and a swift-flowing stream a few hundred
feet away shone with a silvery luster. Be-
yond it lay the frost-tinted foliage. (of
thicket and wood. and there, securely hid-'
den from view of the cabin below, and,
anxiously scanning the fare of the bluff,
were. a number of horsemen!

“ It is Roy! it is Roy!" Media exclaimed
in joyous excitement. “Quick. Jack; lift
me up on this bench in the wall! The crev-
ice is wider above. and I can signal him!"

Strengthened by hope. the cavern cap-
tive hastily lifted the girl upon the narrow

 

elevationkand. in a moment. her hand and

arm were thrust through’the. crevice. ft’anti- ,
cally waving a small white handkerchief. 1

“He sees! he answers!" shouted Brad-
low, in a delirium of joy, as he noted an
answering signal from the leader of the
horsemen. “ We are saved!”

But at that moment a rifle cracked some-
where below, and Reckless Roy toppled
out of his saddle and fell heavily upon the
ground.

Let us now follow General Grim, the
hunchback.

With a face purpled with rage, he
turned from his captives, and as he strode
across the cavern a succession of violent
ejaculations and threats burst from his
writhing lips.

" Deuce grill him! the half-dead worm!"
he snarled. " Blast an‘ double blast him!
I‘ll skin him alive an‘ marry the jade to
boot! 1 say it! l’ll do it! An‘ when Gen-
eral Grim promises, the deeds as good as
done!“

Thus muttering, the dwarf approached
a roughly constructed door, which swung
open at his touch, revealing a flight of
stone steps leading down into the dark-
ness.

Closing and securely fastening this door,
he took a lantern from a niche in the wall,
lighted it, and strode downward, the long
saber clanking dismally at his side. At the
bottom was another door, which he like-
wise closed and fastened after him.

The dwarf was now in a cavern similar
to the'oine above, but considerably larger,
and evidently used as a general rendez-
vous. _ ,

“Ye're jest in ther nick 0‘ time, gin.-
eral,” exclaimed a burly ruflian, advancing
from the side of the cave. “ A gang from
Gold Gulch aire hot on ther trail, an’ in
jest two minutes ye‘ll hev ’em hammerin’
at ther cabin door, or I misses my guess."

“Let ’em hammer—I‘ll receive them!”
was the vicious response. "Keep an eye
on things on the outside, Landlord, an' if
the galoots get too brash, wake up the
boys."

Landlord nodded curtly and returned to
his position beside a small opening in the
side of the cavern, while the hunchback
hurried in the opposite direction.

Quitting the cave by means of yet an-
other rudely fashioned door, Gene'ral Grim
entered a dark and narrow corridor,
through which he made his way to a po-
sition just in the rear of the cabin.

Here he stooped and applied his eye to
a small hole which had been drilled
through the solid rock. 

The interior of the cabin met his gaze,
and after a brief scrutiny he pushed a.
small lever and forced the stone aside.

Through the aperture thus created he
crept; the stone slab slipped «back into
place, and the general was "at home."

With noiseless celerity he removed the
bolts and bars holding the cabin door;
then, with naked sword in hand, he placed
himself facing a huge map of the world
which hung upon the wall. ‘ ,

One—two minutes passed, and the dwarf
stood motionless, save for the slight turn-
ing of his wrist as the point of his blade
traced a slow zigzag across the. face of
the map. Then a sharp rap sounded at the
door, and he turned his head to utter the
one word:

“ Enter!"

Even as his lips formed that curt invi-
tation, the door was flung open, revealing
a lithe, athletic figure on the tln'eshold.

“London—Paris—Berlin!” uttered the
dwarf, in a dull monotone. without so
much as a second glance at his unwelcome
visitor. “Three important strategic points
to be carefully guarded. ‘ Let me see: The
Fifth corps for London. the Twenty-first ‘
for Paris. and the Fifty-ninth for Berlin;

you: that will doit." I 'L

“Begging your pardon. is this Gwen}

Grim I address?” Vblandly inquired  ,

 

 

10

 

 

youth ,in the doorwaypas that dull mono-
tone ceased for a breath.

The hunchback faced about.

“ I am General Grim,” he replied, with
a stiff salute. “ And you?"

“ Daniel Deerfoot, general, and in search
of information.”

“Very good, Mr. Deerfoot; very good,
sir. \V ill you have the kindness to state
exactly what you want? My time is—is
valuable.”

“I perceive there is a campaign of un-
usual moment afoot," Gold Dust Dan grim-
ly returumi. “The fact is, general, your
caixipaigns are becoming too frequent, and
it is about the result of your latest one that
I wish to inquire.

“ What have. you done with Media B 'ad-
low ‘1“ '

The diwarf’s face instantlyo assumed
look of intense surprise.

“Media Bradlowl" he ejaculated. “That
name is st 'ange to me. May I inquire
who the young lady is?"

“ She is the sister of John Bradlow, the
man you have held captive so long," y'as
the cool response.

That look of surprise simply deepened.

“ You speak in riddles," exclaimed the
general, ' after a moment of reflection.
“Pray reduce your inquiries to matters of
fact and conumin-sense, or I shall have to
decline to listen.” .

Gold Dust Dan entered the cabin and.
closed the door. ,

“ You will listen, general. and you will
answer, too," he declared, sternly. “ Amd,
between man and man, I advise you to
confess and have done with the whole
villainous scheme. I haVe positive evi-
dence that you are allied to the band of
the notorious Captain Black; that you
hold John Bradlow captive, and that you
are a party to the abduction of his sister,
Media Bradlow.

“in a word, general, as the case now
stands, your neck isn’t worth the rope it
will take to break it.” ’

The hunchback shivered, and a look of
fearcame over his hideous face.

“I see! I see!” he exclaimed, hastily
sheathing his sword. “' My good Mr.
Deerfoot, I am so glad that you came!
YI‘hese matters have been pressing heavily
. upon ‘me, but I have been so unhapplly
_ situated that I dared not make known the
gttuth. L
' “Now I see my way clear, for I can
rely upon your protection.

“ I am, indeed, an ally of Captain Black
~n0t from'choice, but under duress, and I
am the jailor of both John Bradlow and
his sister. ,

" I tell you this frankly and freely, and
rely upon you to take me away from here
‘With you, that I may escape the fury of
Captain Black when he finds that I have
betrayed him. 6

“Now follow me.”

Turning to the huge fireplace at the rear
of the cabin, the generalinserted a short
bar “of iron in a crevice in the rear wall,
-‘ and With a wrench of his long and power-
ful arm forced the huge slab of‘ stone“
r' aside.

, “ It is balanced upon rollers, and moves
= back and forth, as you's‘ce,” he explained,
 stepping-back a pace. ‘ ‘

‘ v 3‘ That, my, good Mr. ’Deerfoot. is the
entrance to captain Black's prison. The
captives are within, as‘you may, discover
it you care to take a glance within.

Mechanically Gold Dust Dan stooped
and" peered through the gloomy aper~
. taro. ' ’ ’

ll.

, i.   At that/instant a singletrifle' shot sound-

 ie‘d near-st hand. ‘ .
’ 1 .Utterin}; a elfishascreech, General Grim

 ismmgthe s on, new mot iron high,
'hlptt; and *‘brouglnxédltdown with crushing 

' 5391????” We

‘1 .

9': Gold martian.

'ther gal ?”

 

 

"CHAPTER XIII.
OLD CALAMITYfS DARING GAME.

“Kill me here, for my Secret dies with
me!"

The words burst fiercely, viciously from
the lips of the captive outlaw; yet the
trained ears of Old.Calamity detected a
despairing strain in the subdued veice,
and a mocking laugh came from his
grizzled lips.

“Mud cats an’ houn' pups! But ye're
a qneer ki-mullei“ he exclaimed.
you ? Not fer Susanna, dear! Man, ye‘re
a walkin’ mine 0’ information! Ye kin
shed whole bushels o’ light on these
(:alamitous leetlc misfortunes We're all so
maxed up in, an’ ye're gwine tcr do et,
too!

“ N o w—niosey !”

A slight jab with the. point of his bowie
emphasized the ranger's command, and
the outlaw started rapidly across the
glade.

Iieenly alert, 01d Calamity kept close
at the heels of his victim until they had
gained the shelter of the dense woodland,
when he ordered a halt.

“Now, we‘re out o‘ sight 0’ yer gang.
an’ we kin git. right down ter business
’thout fear 0’ interruption,” he explained,
grimly facing his captive. “Jest g‘lt yer
talkin’ tackle onlimbered, for I’m a com-
in’.” '. v

The outlaw grinin shook his head.

“This is a useless waste 0’ time,” he
declared. “ I know butriittle, an” that lit-
tle I won’t tell.” _ , '

()ld Calamity uttered a weary sigh.

“I hate ter do ct, but ms a (also 0’
have to, I guess,” he‘mut'tered, and forc-
ing the outlaw back he fastened him se-
curely to a tree. “Et's an Injun trick,
an' I hate like smoke ter use of, but
when needs must ther devil drives, they
say, an’ so here goes.” ’ ‘

Collecting a quantity of dry twigs and
fallen limbs, the old mountain patrol
kindled a small tire, across which he
laid the fallen limbs.

The outlaw looked on with curious
eyes, and his face gradually assumed an
ashen tint.

He understood the meaning of that
hurried preparation. He was to be tor-
tured with fire.

It was a dire thought, and as it burst
upon him in all its horror, his nerve
failed him completely. .

“I say. pardner, let's patch this hyer
thing up some ways,” he hastily urged.

“I ain't patchin’ just now,” returned
Old Calamity, grimly. ,

“Kinder bin thinkin’ I was in thcr
wrong about thet little matter,” theout-
law continued, desperately. "I‘ve, made
up my mind to tell.”

“ A parsel 0' lies, I reckon!”

“No, no! ’l‘her truth!” "

{The ranger calmly added ‘a few sticks
to his fire. '

“ What’s yer name '3” he. asked.

“Gabe Pyatt, I‘m called now.”

“ B’lrmg ter Cap’n Black’sband?"

“Yams, I do; j‘ined icss’n two weeks
ago.” - . .

“Axn' ye war in this hyar raid arter

w ~ \

i

“ I war." .

“ Very. good, 580 far. Gabe Pyatt, ,butbe I

keeri’ul, now, or‘ye’ll strike a calamitous
misfortune. '
“thaf’S ther gal?” , ,
“I don’t know.” I .  "
Picki‘ngum one of 'the brands which
had burned'in two, Old Calamity? stepped
toward Pyatt.’ ' i ‘

A .

 I‘ really. don’t now!" a‘sseverated that.

wretch, cowering against. the tree. "‘ She‘s
at headquartem;fbut Ifm anew man an"
hev never‘bin-'-thar yit.” , i '_

., i.

’ Gold-Dust Dan’s I Snap-Shot.

“Kill'

 

is! Ain’t ye got an idea?” > ,
Yas, yas! There’s a cave somewhat“

.v,

“Uh, huh! Thet's a likely sweetie;

in ther bluff back 0’ ther hunchback’s'i-

cabin, an’ she’s thar,
brother. -

“Go down stream about a mile, an
ye‘ll strike a branch runniin’ in from ther—
nor’west through a canyon. Turn up
this anyon, an" ye *an git upon. ther
bluff an’ lookfer yerself.”

Old Calamity started.

“ 'I‘hcr bluti‘. then, is not a part 0‘ the?
main bill?" be queried.

“No; on’y a mirror ridge. 'I‘her main:
hill is t‘other side 0‘ ther canyon. F’m
this side they look tcr be all one, but they"
ain‘t.’

“ How many men aire in ther cavern ‘5’”

“ I don’t know. Four or iive, maybe.”

“ All right, Gabe I’yatt. I reckon I kin
find out by an’ by, for I'll go now.”

“An’ me?”

“ You'll stay hyar till I git back.”

The outlaw demurred, but Calamity was
determined. Stamping out the fire, he
fashioned a rude gag for the mouth of
the captive, looked to the seem’ity of his
bonds, and departed. .

A walk of a few minutes took the old
patrol back to the glade where
'ayuse was browsing, and a moment
later he was in the saddle, riding toward
the stream. ’ ,

Striking the water a considerable dis~
tance below the hunohbaek’s cabin, Ca-
lamity turned down stream and rode
slowly on till he came to the branch I‘yatt.‘
had mentioned.

“ So far. so good,” he muttered. laying
his course up the canyon. “Wouldn’t
wonder a bit of thet. fire dodge. didn’t
Scare Pyatt inter tellin’ ther straight
truth, but I’ll keep an eye open for traps,
jest ther same." '

But there were no “traps.” I’yatt,
thoroughly cmle by the ferocious as-
pcet of the old ranger, had told the exact:
truth so far as he knew it. i

A very few minutes sufficed to find a.
break in the canyon wall whence. an easy.
ascent of the ridge was possible, and
with a word of caution .to Pepper, Old'

horn and started upward.

On gaining the crest. the ranger made a
careful survey of his surroundings. The
ridge was narrow, and of varying. height,

’whiie the top, nearly flat, sloped slightly-

toward the canyon, and was covered in
places with small clumps of dvs;arfedz
trees.

The cabin of'the humehback could be
seen at the foot of the eastern blui‘t’, and
without further loss. of time Old Qalam~a

ity advanced, and took up a positiOn di—v

’1ong with her ,

the s



67

,4

Calamity took his lariat from his saddle  x

\

rectly above‘lt. , . t
The sun 'was scarcely morefthan an,”

hour above the eastern horizon, and the.
ranger snugly settled himself in thence

"dergrowth at the verge of the blnfl, to
the cabin "and await develops...

' 'atch

m-ents. 4 / -

, . His patience was soon rewarded. h
v\ V A man-«a supple, well-built fellowfi
dressed like a miner and heavily armed, -

emerged from the cabin, crossed the.
stretch of stony .waste and turned up
stream. 1 - ' " I ' ' . 
‘.‘ Out to relieve Hyatt!" chuckled the
watcher.
thar’ll be a Circus? , . _
This surtnise provod correct, for in.”
few minutes dthe { fellow ,came 
back-and‘dartedinto the cabin, tortiapi
peat-.131 moment later, )accdmpanied
General Grim and another-3mm:
‘thc band. . v. , . , .,  
The linnchback mas sneaking

  7 g \spyifi ' " "I ‘ bi

“But Pya’ot’s gone, an’ new.

.i.

g.

 

f-‘thin hair.

, I

 

Gold-Dust Dan’s Snap-Shot.

 

VT~ ' ___.

’"“ In any event,” the general was say-
mg, his sword flashing brightly as he
waved it to and fro, “in any event,
Py'att has disobeyed orders. No man
stationed at headquarters is permitted
to cross that stream without express or-
ders to do 

“You, ’l‘alcott, take the post he has
abandoned.

“Nadross, the. men agree that you are
the best trailer in the band. Follow
the traitor and bring him back, dead
or aliVe, but. alive if possible. Away!"

Both men darted ‘apidly across the
barren, While the. hunchback turned and
re-entered the aabin.

“Mud cats an’ houn’ pups! Ef pard
Nadross listens ter pard l’yatt, l‘m
likely for hev comp‘ny come in thcr
back door!" muttered ()ld Calamity,
gunning his fingers through his long,
“’Pears if I’d better con-
ciude my (Riser'ations an‘ take a ram-
Die.

“Now, thet cabin seems ter be ther
hive, an’ I do opine ther gal is tbar, or
tharabouts. Ilmvsomever, l'll poke about
a bit."

Drawing back from the verge, the old
patrol sprang up and began an ex-
tended gexamination of the ridge. Nu-
merous seams and crevices existed, but
no other evidence of the existence of a
cavern could he find.

"I’ll hev tcr try ther cabin," he ex-
claimed, giving up the search after
something more than an hour. “Thet’s
headquarters.” ‘

Returning to the shelter of the timber,
he resumed his position overlmrking the
cabin, and calmly waited.

“Ef thet cuss hes found I’ya-tt. he‘d
ought ter be back soon now, ef he
don’t disobey orders, too, an' foller
me,” he muttered, noting the position of
the sun. “Cain‘t take ther risk till I
know—-thet’s sure!” ,

f - His doubts were, speedily set at rest,

for Nadross soon reappeared, half «lead—
ing. half dragging I‘yatt, gagged and
Wth his arms pinioned at his back.

Captor and captive. were met at the
door by the huachback. and all three
entered the cabin. Ten minutes passed,
and then Nadross reappeared and again
started across the. barren in a run.

“I‘lt’s now'or never!” muttered the
old ranger, when the outlaw had dis-
flppem'fd among the bushes bordering
the stream. “Pard Nadross has gone
to run ddwn my trail, an‘ when he,
gets here he must find me gone.”

, Uncoiling his lariat, Calamity passed
' it around a small tree‘ near the brink,
then dropped both ends over the blufi‘.
As he had foresaw, ‘botlh reached the
cabin, roof. ‘
' With his rifle slung 'at his back. he

' _slipped over the Verge and rapidly de-

1’,

Uh

' - _, asith

scendcd. Listening a moment to, as-
sure himself that. ‘ht? had not alarmed

,the occupants of the 03.1711], ‘he drew
down and coiled the lariat. then sank
down with his ear to the roof. I '
‘No‘t a sound oaime from within.

3 . The roof was formed of‘ roughly

«32'  slabs, which were held in place
5%,!)ny ‘the' weight: of heavy cross~tinibers
"113111196 to 'the‘ top log of each end wall.“
.' '-j""‘;Oain't go through char!" Old Cala’m-'
. 935'! nmttered,
I . 'inin'utes' tO’ slip one. of the. thinner slabs
“3.11.1 believe ther shack’s do.

after trying for some

.safled, am" 4 '11 try am chimney-V

« . w’l‘hefgohimney was ,a rude affair. built

.. or sticks.".‘stone and clay, with the face

" of the-plinth forming one side. and am-
‘1y-' large 'to admit a far larger man
 brief ‘exa

 

. . , natiéar‘éaisciosoa "this
   ,a flmflltyhadvbeen‘ ‘scl-

’, 11"

 

dom used, the sides showing butlittle
trace of smoke or soot.

Peering down, Calamity listened in-
tently for several minutes, but. not a
sound ume from below. Securing his
lariat to his belt, and looking to the
condition of his revolvers, the ranger
then drew himself up, silently entered
the top of the chimney, and began the
descent.

Noiselessly, pausing at intervals to
listen. he descended until his feet rested
upon the stone hearth, when he stooped
and leaped lightly out into the. room,
a. revolver in each hand.

But the ubin was deserted. The
door was securely fastemxi- on the in-
side. and the one window was closed.

Mystiiied, the old mountain tramp
gaZed searchineg at the walls and the
iioor.

No means of going in or out Were vis-
ible, save the door and the window.

A ladder in one corner led to a loft
overhead, and without a moment‘s hes-
itation the anger ascendui.

This loft was not over three feet in
height. but was provided nith a num-
ber of loopholes. which admitted suf-
ficient light partially to dispel the
gloom.

A bear skin lay in one corner, but be—
yond this it was absolutely bare.

Drawing the beat-skin out. into the
middle of the floor. ()id Calamity

stretclmd himself out at full length upon'

it, face downward. with his eyes near a
crevice which commanded a full view of
the cabin below. ‘

Patiently the ranger wvaited. unsolved
to ferret out the mystery of the cabin.
The minutes dragged slowly by. The.
bearskin was a couch soft and luxur-
ious to the tired frame of the old bor—
derman, and more than once he caught
himself napping.

'i‘hen tired nature
and he slept—quietly, peacefully.
less of the (hanger of his position.

The sound of voices below awoke
him; with a startled air he lifted his
head and listened, then bent his eyes
to the crevice.

“Cold Dust. Dan. by all: tliet's dead
.an’ livin’!” was the thought that Went.
whirling through his brain; then his
keen old eyes drank in the scene below.

“Dan'l! Dan‘l! Ye're in 'ther hor-
nets’ nest!" he muttered. ,as he noted
the general’s words. “'i‘het lnmohlmck
devil is plottin’ tcr sting ye!"

Rising to his hands and knees. the
ranger crept softly toward the ladder
and swung himself silently downwardg
revolver in hand.

At that moment that mysterious rifle
shot rang out. followed by that clflsh
screech from General Grim. and with a
savage. cry Old Calamity flung his hand
to a level and tired!

Just in time was that furious snapshot:
for with his right arm broken at the wrist,
the lumcl'lback’s blow glanced harmlessly
from the head of Gold Dust Dan. and
with the wild, fierce'Cry of a wounded
beast, the outlaw darted head first
through the yawning aperture into the
cavern. . ’

' Staggexing to his feet. weapons in hand,
Gold Dust Dan faced Old Calamity.

A:
asserted herself,

34] 1'0-

CHAPTER XIV.
'BAFFLED.

Recognition instantly flashed from the
dark eyes of‘the young y! “‘1‘. and he
extended his hand. -

“' in the nick.o’ time. hilamity!" be ex-
claimed. as “he duickly drew ' the ranger
aside from the. cavern opening. “General
Grim threw me Completely off my guard

for a moment, and but for, your shot that.

 

bar of iron would have settled the case
for me."

“ An’ yer head, how is it?” queried the
ranger. anxiously, as he noted the pallor
of thb youi g detective's face. “Et war a
measly mean lick. Dan'l."

“ Yes; I saw all the heavenly constella-
tions in a bunch. Calamity. But my hat
saved my scalp. and I've nothing to Show
for the blow. but a good. big hun i. while
we’ve certainly got the varmints iolcd at
last.”

“Ef they (lOill‘t slip out the back way
an‘ track for a new den," the ranger sug-
gested. “lCt's a cinch thar's another way
out, Dan'l.”

To this the detective agreed. and after a
few words of mutual explanations he left
Old Calamity on guard and hurried out of'
the 'abin to summon Reckless Roy and
the Regulators.

Although ignorant of the source of that
mutiied report which had sounded at the-
moment of his encounter with General
Grim, the detective suspected that the shot
had been tired by an outlaw sentry posted
in some niche in the face, of the bluff. and
accordingly kept closely under cover of'
the projecting rocks as he sped along to a.
point whence he could summon his friends.

At a point perhaps a lnmdred yards dis-
tant. from the cabin, he halted in an
abrupt angle of the rocky wall and ut-
tered a series of short, sharp whistles.

instantly there came an answering note»
from the undergrowth bordering the creek,
and. a moment later. a number of horse-
men dashed rapidly across the open. while
half a dozen ritle shots rang harmlessiy
out from the face of the bluff above.

At the head of the band rode leckless
Roy, his head freshly bandaged, but sitting
erect in his saddle. his face grim and tie—-
termiiwd. '

“ The news. Dan?“ he cried. eagerly, as
the Regullators drew rein under shelter of
the bluff.

“ We. have the swarm hived all right."
Gold Dust. Dan replied. " It is as I sus-
pected, too. Our friend. the general. is.
deeply implicated, if he is not indeed the
king bee. .

“ Dismount four of your men. Roy. and
send three to the cabin to join Old Calam-
ity, who is inside guarding the entrance
to the cavern. while the fourth pushes on
down the bluff to watch for a break from
some other outlet.”

Quickly Reckless Roy detailed the men,
and while they lnn'ried away he held a
brief conference with the detective, during
which they comparml notes and decided
upon a plan of action. , .

“We must search the “foot of this blufi‘
for another outlet,” Gold Dust Dan dc-
clared. “The gang have homes. and there
must be some cavern near in which they
keep them. '

"‘ Roving Ruth spoke of such a cavern
discovered by her braves, which was used
as a stable by General Grim, and we must
now find it, for it ,is my belief there is a
passe. re extending from this cavern to the
one back of the cabin." .

“ it is quite likely," assented Roy. “And
if we 2m discover the passage, our task of '
dislodging the general and his allies can
be much more easily accomplished.

“ Boys, search the face of the bluff close-
ly, and if you find such a cavern. signal
Dan and me.” , ' ‘

The three remaining Regulators hurried.
away, while Boycontinucd his conversa-
tionwith Gold Dust Dan. 1 I

The search was brief. for within five
minutes one of, the men came hurrying
back with ‘the announcement that the-

stable had been fetmd. and Gold  Dun. j  ‘

went forward to reconnoiter the place. , V

Canningly hidden indeed wasfthat feni   ’

1

trance t5 the outlaw’s stable: for  V

1‘ V 

 

   
    
    
 
  
   
   
    
  
   
   
    
     
  
     
   
    
 
  
    
   
    
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
   
   
   
 
  
   
  
    
  
    
  
   
 

.12

 

the heavy growth of vines masking the
outlet hung a sheet of Weather-beaten can-
vas. so nearly the color of the rocks them-
selves as almost to defy detection.

“l'lt war a lucky stumble as sent my .

hand ag'in' et. boss." one of the men ex-
plained. "an' on'y t‘er thet We'd be lookin‘
yet."

" Lucky. indeed." Dan averred. “for it
is skillfully hidden. and might be passed a
thousand times without detection in the
shadow of these vines.

" But. follow me. boys, and we'll learn
the secrets of this den."

And. jerking both. vines and canvas
:aside. the detective strode into the cavern.

Prompt as had been his action. he was
too late. A mocking laugh. the flash and
crack of a revolver in a distant recess. a
heavy. jarring sound. and the secret of
the cavern was lost. "

“ Tl‘liey've run out the horses and blocked
the passage." eXt-laimed the detective.
"‘I‘ards. they haVe taken the trick. and WP
are euclicred!"

_ Leaving a man on guard at the cavern
entrance. (told llust Dan and the others
rejoined Reckless Roy.

 

" Merciful Heavens! he is killed!"

In accents of bitterest agony these words
rang from the quivering lips of Media
Bradlow. as she beheld the young Regu-
lator reel and fall from his saddle.
“Steady. girl! steady!" hoarscly ejacu-
lated John Bradlow. with a desperate
clutch at his sister‘s swaying form.
"Don't fall!"

But the mischief was done, and that cau—
tion fell upon heedless ears. With a low
moan Media slipped from the ledge into

. the arms of her brother.

“ Dead or fainting?" the (xtptive gasped.
weakly staggering under the weight of the
burden he was so illy able to bear. “1)ead
or fainting, sister mine? Oh, God! that I
were free to wreak vengeance upon .these
heartless devils!" .

That thought, just then, infused new
life. new energy. into his wasted form,
and he gently laid the girl on the cavern
tloo ' and lifted her head upon his knee.

“Not dead! not dead!" he .muttered.

peering sharply into that white, pinched-

face. “The shock has robbed her of con-
sciousness."

Mechanically he set about the work of
resuscitation with the limited means at
his command. bathingher face and tem-
ples with cold water. and chating her
wrists with fev'erlsh eagerness, until, with
.a long, low sigh, she opened her eyes and

gazed wonderingly at her surroundings.

A shudder convulsed her slight form and
she covered her face with her hands.
, “ 0h. he is dead! he is dead!"
moaned. ‘

" Calm yourself. Media.” urged Jack

she

Bradlow, gently. "Explain yourself.
,th0 is dead '3" -
65 Iloy.!'

" That shot. then—"

"That shot killed him!" Media declared.
suddenly sitting up. "He threw up his
hands and fell from his horse.”

"‘ But perhaps he was only “'Olllldt‘t,"
suggested Bradlow, hopefully.

Media's eyes kindled, and she sprung
to her feet; but. further action or conver-
sation was cut short by the abrupt appear-
ance of General (‘lrlm and two of his men.

"The hunchback's right wrist and hand
'were tightly bandaged, and his fare was
white and drawn with pain.

“Knock the, irons off the critter. boys!”
he ordered, dancing madly about. "Waugh!
but that mad devil’s bullet burns! put.
I'll have. revenge—deuce roast him!

I ‘ “ Now bind their hands behind them and
gag and blindfold them! Be. careful, too,
,rorthe least slip now may ruin us."

i

 

 

    
 

Gold-Dust Dan’s Snap-Shot.

" You no going to take us away?" ven-
lured Media.

" Ask me no questions, and I‘ll tell you
no lies." was the sneering t'cstmtlsc. “Let
it sliiiicc that you shall not escape."

" l’a'aar is a good dog, but you‘re a poor
cur!" John Bradlow rctorted, suddenly

 

t

slipping .oxward and dealing the wretch a .

kick which sent him howling out of the
way. “That as a sample of the hour of

. our rH-koning!"

'l‘hc glow ill the blue eyes of the captive
boded ill for the lmnchback. but the grasp
of the outlaws prevented further pursuit.
and he quietly submitted.

" l'pon him! strike him down!" roared ,

(leneral tirim. capering wildly about in
comminglcd rage and pain. "The whip!
the whip! l‘ll lash his back until the red
blood flows!"

“ Ye'll do nothin' o' the kind. Ilunchy!"
the larger of the outlaws eXclaimed. turn-
ing savagely upon the general. "Ye got
on'y a small taste 0' what ye desat've. an'
what yc‘ll git et' ye mix up in this hyar
pcl'ccssion! 'l‘ime’s money; so shot up yer
tomfoolery an' keep out o’ ther way. )lind
that. now!" .

With the look of a demon upon his face
(l-eneual (lrim strode away. his long sword
clanking dismally at, his side.

“ We've got ter change quarters. mum."
the outlaw continued. addressing Media.
"1 can’t tell ye whar we‘re goin‘. but ye
Won't he no wuss off than ye aire liyaru
thet‘s sure."

Then in silence the task of the despera-
does was completed. and captives and cap-
tors quitted the cavern.

 

“ [it's a calamitous misfortune we didn‘t
kctch ther hull capoodl'r out in ther open
sum‘er‘s." ()ld Calamity grumbled. as he
sat int council with the Itemtlators. "\Vc'Vt'
got 'cm holed good an' fast. but ter git
‘em ont—thet‘s ther question."

“ They're on the alert. sure. enough. and

could pick us oti‘ one by one going through.

that hole." observed RH-kless Roy. "Yet
that seems our only chance, and at sun-
set I'll make the Venture."

“ if something don't turn up." supplts
mented Gold Dust Dan. "1 can‘t help but
feel that they have a way of retreat left.
open, and I'll venture a new hat that
when we do enter the favern we’ll find it
deserted."

No one. accepted the proffered wager.
and after a moment of silence Old Calam-
ity rose to his feet, saying:

“'l‘m, goin' arter Pepper. an' while ['11]
about it. I'll take another squint along ther
top 0’ ther ridge.

“ (lo ‘long. Dan’l‘t"

The detective nodded assent, and after
a few words with Roy. mounted and rode
away, -arrying the mountain veteran be-
liind him.

The cayuse was found patiently waiting
Where the old ranger had left it. and dis-
mounting. the two men made their way
to the t0p of the ridge. and thence to the
point. where. Old Calamity had descended
to the cabin roof.

“ Dan'l. thar’s suthin' derned strange in
this hyar Cap‘n Black business, an’ I'Ve
bin avpuzzlln‘ my head over et all day."
the ranger remarkml. as he gar/.ed at the
scene below., “’Pears es of ther gang must
be a part 0‘ ther ole Red Panther onttit.eh?"

“ It does, indeed. Calamity.” the youth
replied. "When the. round-up comes. I
shall not be surprisul to find Iled Panther
himself the head devil of the crowd."
 Paliaw! Dan’l, he’s dead!" .,

The detective slowly shook his head.

“This work looks very much like his.”
he averred. "If you remember the day of
the clean-up at Gold Gulch. Calamity, you
will recall that Red Panther and his lieu-
tenant seized the balloon, cut loose and

 

 

,\ _ futons H. HAMPTON.

 

made their escape.
wrecked balloon was found there was only
one corpse with it."

“ An‘ thct war Red Panther. Dan‘l."

“ Are, you sure?"

“ Et War dressed as
dressed."

“ Yes: but might not the chief have com-
pelled his lieutenant to exchange clothes
with him during their flight? 'l‘hat though
has occurred tome often of late. Calamit '.
and in the light of past events I believe
that in that cxchangc We shall find the
solution of the mystery.

" I believe that Austin ltansome is Jacob
Rose. or lted l'anthcr. There is that about
him in his voice. his face. and his gestures
which awoke my suspicions the very mo-
ment ltSil‘V him."

For a full minute ()ld (‘alamity stared
hard at the detective. Then a chuckle
broke from his lips. and he gave his thigh
an expressive slap.

v“ Putt. ct that. I)an'l" he exclaimed. ex-
tending his hand. “ Ye‘ve got it es
straight cs a string. feta—n"

A deep groan near by checked the ran-
ger‘s utterance. and both men wheeled. re-
volvers in hand.

“ Help! help!"

Guided by that faint. call. Gold Dust Dan
leaped forward, closely followed by his
old adjutant.

In the midst of a small thicket a few
paces distant lay the body of a man. his
life blood oozing rapidly away through a
gaping wound in his breast.

()ne glance at the white. pain-distorted
face. at 1 (‘alamity started back with the
ejacula ion:

“ Gabe Pyatt! by ther etarnal!"

Red Panther

 

(‘IIAI'l‘l‘IIl XV.
DORRIT'S TRICK;

Let us now follow for a brief space the
fortunes of Holly Dorrit. the veteran de-
tective. .

True to his promise to Gold Dust. Dan.
he quilted the camp of lloving Ruth at an
early hour. to return to Deadwood and
hold Austin Ransome under espial.

That this task would prove a mest per—
ilous one the veteran little doubted: but he
was well armed. a stranger to fear, cool,
shrewd. and (wilculating. and felt that if it
came to the worst he would be able‘ to out-
wit his foes or tight his way clear.

Yet he was (lt‘it‘l‘lllillt’d to take ex'ery
precaution against recognition. and as he
rode alntng be carefully outlined a plan of
action. ’

Two miles out of Deadwood he quitted
the t all and rode slowly down the channel
of a‘sniall stream.

-

A little after three o'clock that afternoon
a short. heavily-built man. with a florid
face, bristling g 'ay mustache and imperial
and closely-cropped gray hair, walked
slowly and pompoust through the main
street of Deadwood. .
i That the Black Hills metropolis was new
and strange to hint was apparent to all,
and his mstly apparel and dignified mien
quickly attracted attention, which he
seemed to court rather than to shun. ‘

His ralment was of broadcloth and linen,
a natty silk' the covered his bullet-shaped
head. and patent leather shoes his feet.
Diamonds flashed from his shirt-front and
his pudgy fingers, and guiti-l‘lllllllt’d eye-
glasses sat astrlde his short and bulbous
nose. . .
Straight up the street. with the dignified.
leisurely carriage of a man at ease with
the world. he strode. until his eyes enconn-.

tered a small, swinging sign bearing the. 

words: 1
‘ 's .

 

“Attorney at:

/

“Ofllce Upstairs."

and that when the

l.
'.
.‘t
‘j
.



’n

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

      
              
        
      

         
          
    
   
 
       
         
        
 

   

   
 

H“.- r‘,._,s2-_ ,

 
  
    
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
 
   
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
    
   
    
   
    
   
   
     
  
  
  
    
   
  
   
  
   
  

. ..x .

  
  
   
   
   
  

    
  
  

H...“ M ' "l ~‘.; " .,.

i

Gold-Dust Dan’s Snap-Shot.

 

1.3

 

,“ The very thing,” the stranger mut—

tered, in an undertone, after a close in-

spection of the sign, and he at once
mounted the stairs and entered the.law-
yer‘s oiiice.

A small, wiry old man, smooth shavon
and gray headed, rose front a seat at the
window overlooking the street, and, bow-
ing, advanced to greet his caller.

"Mr. John 11. llampton, salt?"

“The same, sir."

“ l (lawd! salt, l‘m glad to meet a mom- ‘
Iie— .

ber of our profession, sah, in this
nighted land.

"But permit me to introduce thyself,
sah.

“ 1 am Judge Ebenezer llangon. sah, t'or-
merly of southern Kaintucky, but now of
Indianapolis, Indiana, salt."

“You do me an honor, sir. in calling.”

the little lawyer respondod, extending his
hand with a cheery smile. "lie seated,
judge, and consider yourself at home.“
" Jiu ge llangon accepted the invitation
with profuse thanks, and thou the two
men fell into an easy conversation, which
had lasted perhaps an hour, when llamp-
ton produced a dclilijohn and glasses, and
the two waxed confidential.

Night had fallen when the judge took
his departure, and it was with stops far
from steady that he made his way to the
nearest hotel and secured quarters.

Once within his room, safe from prying
eyes, a romarlnible change came over
Judge llangon. The half-drunken loer left
his round, rod face, his blue eyes bright-
ened as if by magic, and he sat bolt up-
right in his chair.

“it’s as clear as day," he mused.
“Hampton has been in correspondence
with Black, Stone & Uokely, of lndianapo-
lis, and through him Ransome has come

,_ into possession of the facts relating to the

Bradlow estate, enabling him to waylay
Mellville A. C.okely and secure the papers.
“ But to prove it—that‘s the rub!"
The judge retired early, and was up
With/the break of day. Afto‘ a hearty

breakfast, he left the hutolnand spent tliel

forenoon in visiting 'several promising
claims in the vicinity. ‘

Immediately after dinner, he anade his
way straight as the bee flies to the office
of Lawyer Hampton.

That worthy was in, seated just as the
Judge had f0und him the preceding day,

‘a nod with a; gesture invited his visitor to

:1 seat.

“ I have called on business to—day," the
judge explained, Seating himself‘ and
abruptly dropping the dialect peculiar to
the cha 'acter he had assumed. , "It is of
a confidential nature. May I- trust in your
discretion ‘3? ’ -

~“ Certainly, sir, and I beg to assure you

that my professional honor has neVer be- ‘

fibre been questioned," Hampton _ (xx-
claimed. his startled air giving place to a
peculiar stiffness of manner.

“Very good, sir—very good, indeed," the

judge responded, resting his pudgy, be- P
jowelled hand upon his knees and bending
forward, his keen eyes fixed steadily upon

the flushed face of the lawyer. “Allow me
To say that I believe that you are the soul

 01 henor, but at tithes indiscreet.

' “ ‘When the wine is in, the wit is out.’ ”

L ,. “Yt’hatm—fl

‘i Compose yourself, sir; compose 3'01?!"
self,” the judge coolly interrupted. meeting
the glare of, the irate man with undtllmk’fl
assurahco'. “Understand, once for all, I
am not here to quarrel with yon. but ‘0
thelp you repair, so far as possible, an OITOI‘

' which you harecommitted in the manner

I have‘ just suggested. ‘ .

,“ I refer to the matter of the Bradlow
estate}? _ , t
 Again the lawyer'started,'and a peculiar
expression came‘ over his face.

 

 

“What is wrong? Who are you?" he
demanded, rising to his feet.
“There is a great deal wrong. Informa—

tion has leaked out at this end of the line,
and Black. Stone & (Jokely’s special mes-
scnger. bearing important documents in
the case, has been murdered and robbed of
the papers by Captain Black, with the re-
sult that Media Bradlow has been’ab-
ducted.

"1 am Bolly Dorrit, and-m"

".Not the mountain detective?" ejaculat-
od llampton, suddenly resuming his seat.

“ Yes. the mountain detective." pursued
liorrit, "and 1 represent the friends of the
girl. ,

"Let it now sui’tice that my attention
was drawn to you by words the messenger
uttered before dying. Careful inquiry has
developed other points, and I came to you
yesterday as Judge liangon, oi“ 'lndianapo-
lis. to put to a test a certain theory 1 had
formed.

“ Do you remember, in detail, what oc-
cured last night, Mr. Hampton?"

“1 do not," the lawyer groanod, cover—
ing his face with his hands.

“ Well. you drank a great deal more than
was good for you: you became communi—
cative, and betrayed the full extent of your
knowledge of the Bl‘adltiw case. dwelling
upon its peculiar features and disclosing
the fact that you were daily expecting a
member of the Indianapolis firm with the
papers."

“ Yes—yes!" faltcred Hampton. rising
from his chair and inoo‘dily pacing to and
fro. “Mr. Dorrit, it is the old story«—a life
ruined by liquor. This is not my first
lapse, but one of many which have driven
me from pillar to post. 1 do not ask your
indulgence. 1 am guilty!

” But command me if there is any’thing
I can do to——to assist you."

“You can assist me," Dori-it returned.
“You can name the men of Deadwood
with whom you have been on convivial
terms, so to speak.” '

The lawyer reflected a, moment. then
turned, and with pallid face and trembling
hands drew his chair nearer that occupied
by the’ detective, and sat down, saying:

“ My case is a peculiar one. 1 am what
is known as a solitary drinker, ‘and have
never drunk at a public bar. and Seldom
with a companion.
will enable me to identify positively the
man to whom I have betrayed my profes-
sional secrets. ’

“His name is Austin Ransome. He
n

 

is

“That is enough—I know him!“ broke
in Dorrit, with a chuckle. “ I am greatly
obliged to you, Hampton. You have con-
firmed a suspicion." , '

The lawyer looked bewildered.

“ Surely, you do not think ”

 A whole heap? Yes, that’s it. Com-
pose yourself, man, dear. I want you to
~tell nie somethings about this Austin Ran-
some, and then I expect you to make him
acquainted with Judge Ebenezer Ilangon,
of lndiana. ‘

“ Is he in his office now?" _

“I do not think so." and the lawyer
glanced through the open dOor at the rude
hall beyond.

“ Do you know where he keeps his pri-
. 'ate papers?” ' t ‘

“ In a small safe in his office.”

“ And he sleeps in the room back of his
office?” f

:‘ths. But surely you—” _

‘1 just'want to know," laughineg ex—
plained the detective, and then footsteps
so ed on the stairway. , ‘

‘ Ten to one it’s Rapsom ,” the laWycr
exclaimed, in guarded toned, '_ . '

“ Quick! your bottle and glasses.”

Hampton was quick to catch the hint
that terse sentence conveyed. With noise.

 

It is this fact which‘

i

 

loss celerity’ he produced the desired arti-
cles, and seated himself at a small table,
opposite to the position assumed by Dorrit.

Just in time was that, deft change in tho
scone accomplished. fonas the detective
tilled his glass a tall, black-bearded man
illltti‘iil'i‘ii ill the doorway.

It was Austin llansome.

Lawyer Hampton was equal to tae
emergency. and in another minute the de-
toctive‘s wish had been gratitied.

" Now, gentlemen. let's drink to a more
intimate acquaintanco." stiggostod_11amp—
ton. " ltansome. I predict that, Judge
llangon will prove a valuable acquisition
to Deadwood. “financially speaking, at
least. lie is seeking mining inVostinonts,
and but a moment, ago 1 referred him to
you.

“I shall be pleased to render the judge
any assistance in my powor." ltansome
returned. and then all three drained their
glasses.

A few minutes of conversation onsUed,

'and llampton had just proposed another

drink. when Austin .llansomo sank limply
back in his chair.

“By .lloavons! the man is dying!" the
lawyer cried. dropping the bottle in alarm.
" l‘ll call——~—”

“ Steady!" warned Dorrit. his firm grip-
closing upon Hampton‘s arm. "lie is in
no danger at all. lie. is simply" doped. and
will remain unconscious a half hour—n0-
longer. ”‘

" Close the door."

“ Surely you do not intend to

“ intend to see those papers," was the
stern response. “I can afford to take no
false step in this matter."

Muter the lawyer obeyed. .

A brief search of Ransome's pockets
brought to light a number of keys. and
without furthe' ado the detective quitted
Hampton’s office and unlocked the one
across the hall. ‘

Twenty minutes had elapsed when he.
returned, and there was a triumphant.
gleam in his keen blue eyes.

“ They‘re there, and enough to criminate
him, but not to prove him Captain
Black."_he announced, as he returned
the keys to Ransome’s pockets.

“Act well your part, Hampton.
must not suspect.’

Moved by a will stronger than his own,.
the lawyer boWed in acquiescence. ,

A monith later Ransome sat up, a look
of bewilderment on his dark face.

“ What happened?" he muttered. thickly.

“ You fell in a tit, or a faint,“ Hamp—
ton oxplainod. “Get up and walk about.
You need‘exercise, than.” 

Ransome arose, and stretched himself
like one waking from a long sleep. ,

“ It is strange; I feel all right now,”
he remarked, and then. after a few words
with the pseudo—judge, he took his de-
parture.

A half ion-r later Dorrit, accompanied
by Ilamp on, Set forth to swear out a.
warrant for the air-st of the speculator.

.In this there was considerable delay,
and when the detective and the marshal
finally reached 'the otfice of Ransome-
armed with the necessary document. dis-
appointment awaited them.

The bird had flown.

The safe stood open, rifled of its con-
tents, and the room was in a state of dire
disorder.

Inquiry developed the fact that Ran-
some had quitted the building by the
back way. accompaniml by the redoubt-
able Buckskin. who was travel stained
andldusty, as if from a king ride. 4

‘f The jig is upl’? uttered Dori-it, in dis- ,
gust. and leaving the pursuit to the mar-
shal, he returned to the hotel. . i i

:There a note addressed to Judge Eben- '
exer‘Hangon awaited him. , . ,, '

..

 

He»

   
 

 

 

 

 

 
       

 

 

 

  
    
  
    
 
     
   
    
 

 

  

  

i

i CHAPTER

' come a member of his band.
‘ “to the lowest creature. and I yielded. that »

 

‘3 It read as follows:

“Belly—If you desire to be in at the
death, ride at once to Skeleton Gulch,
.ten miles west of Deadwood.

“GOLD DUST DAN."

“The jig is up—for laptain Black!"
amended Dorrit. and ten minutes later he
was in the saddle, galloping westward.

 

XVI.
SKELETON GL'LOH.

"Ah! It is you!" Gabe l’yatt. weakly
exclaimed. as his eyes encountered the
face of ()1d Calamity.

“Yas, Gabe, ct's me. an‘ you do seem
a tarnal sight wuss oil" than 1 left you."
returned the ranger. sinking upon his
knees to examine the outlaw's wounds.
“I reckon ther hunehback did this?" ..

“Yes, it is the general‘s work," was the
low-voiced reply. “He has killed me."

“Ye do need a sky pilot, sartain sure,
Gabe!"

I‘yatt's half-closed eyes gleained vi-
ciously.
“No. no!“ he exclaimed. lifting his

head a trifle. “Let it answer that that
devil's sWord has reached a vital point.
and that my heart rankles with a fierce,
hot longing for vengeance.

f‘ He. has killed me! I will destroy him!
Listen!

“The general and his band have es-
vaaped from the cavern, and, with the cap-
tives, are seeking a new retreat. The-—-—"

“Which way, man?” interrupted Gold
Dust Dan. eagerly. ‘

“Be patient, and you shall know all."
"the fellow returned, peering! sharply at the
"face of the young detective. “Haste will
«only defeat your ends and mine. for,
pressed too hotly, Grim will kill his cap-
tives and scatter his men to avert cap-
time.

“No, no! You must use stealth and
cunning-you must listen to me and. do
(exactly as I say.

“Has either of you ever been at the
place known as $keleton Gulch?"

“.I hev." Old Calamity returned. "'l‘het
is, of ye. mean that gulch o’ thct name
about ten miles west 0’ Deadwood.”

“It is the same. Well, the gulch is
popularly supposed to be a mere pocket.
of blind canyon, in the rocks. And it
was so originally, but Captain Black has
blasted a passageway from the gulch to a
basin of peculiar. formation. lying a
hundred feet. perhaps, north of the gulch
itself. This basin is known, I believe,
only to members of the band. Ages ago,
it may have been a lake. fed by a small
stream which now pours in over the rocks
from the. north. crosses the basin. and
finds an outlet under the clifl? forming the

southern lmundaryt '

""l‘hisbasin (xintains. perhaps." .a half
dozen acres of‘land. on which three cab-
ins have been built—«two recently, the
other years ago. '

“I am perfectly familiar with every feat-
ure of the, spot, for it ,was there I took
up my abode years ago. an" exile—a fugi.
tive: and it was there Captain Black
found me less than a month ago and com-
polled me. under pain ,of death, to be-

Life is door

.,17 might wait and watch for acbance to
escape, for ‘I had found gold and pea.
sest enough, to clear av'vay the stain
which had driven me into eXilo. and yet

 I " live like a prime the rest of my natural

days. 4 . . -'
“But the dream ‘is ended. and naught

‘ " I wings, but vengeance ‘and restitution.
 ‘2’. 6‘ e

  conceit ,

-‘ 7"”hn: may readily be found by. one knowing
 '1 thereisaseoondlem

pm "from the gulch to the basin
ed with skillfully paintedcarnvas,

secret; while,

,_, l

  

 

trance, unknown to the outlaws, and it is
the one through which you must strike.

“Ride to Skeleton Gulch, and divide
your force, leaving enough men. to hold
the pass, then send the others up into
the hills. {so that they may approach the.
basin from the north. \Vhen they strike
the stream of which I have Spoken. they
will find a water all, many feet in height,
behind which is a cavern. From this
cavern a tortuous passage leads down
and opens behind the falls in the basin, a
dozen feet above the level.

“lit-member this, and you can strike
(lrim from the rear and save the aiptives;
forget it. and they will surely perish, for
he is a merciless devil.

“ My gold is hidden in a recess of the
lower cavern, beneath a large flat stone
under a ledge in the Western wall. With
it you will find a paper explaining my
crime. telling who I am. and the disposi-
tion I wish made of the tr ~asure.

“ Attend to this for inc—follow the
written directions airefully. and you will
find yourselves wall repaid."

“Et will be done. 1mrdner~~pay or no
pay." assured Calamity. bluntlyf “We
airo honest. men. an’ never a cent will
stick to our fingers.”

The outlaw “aised his head. and ut-
tered a faint sigh. The end was drawing
near.

“Strike to—morrow night." he contin-
ued, staring hard at the face of the old
ranger throng the deepening gloom.
“il‘o-morrow they will send a messenger
to Captain Black in Deadwood. \Vatch
the trail and you will nail the captain."

Silence came upon the little group. un-
broken for several minutes save by the
labored breathing of Fyatt; then Gold
Dust Dan spoke.

“ Can you tell me how the general and
his gang quitted 'the cm'ern below us?”
he asked.

“They came out upon this ridge,” was
the faint reply. “You will find the place
not fifty feet may. it is covered with a
huge flat stone.

“Another point: The general and the
‘aptain are brothers. Their rightful
names I do not know. but the captain’s
headquarters are in Deadwood.”

Then silence came again, and remained
unbroken until a hoarse rattle. in the
throat of the outlaw announced the end.

“ He‘s gone over ther range, Dan’l, an’
he didn’t go in peace," murmured Old
Calamity. “Pore cuss! We must run a
larlait around 'him an’ slip him over iher
cliff tor ther boys, am’ they kin plant him
while we, look around a bit.” v

This suggestion was adopted. and. with
a brief explanation to Reckless Roy, athe

tors for burial. a I

Then Dan and Old Calamity turned and
groped about in the darkness until they
came upon the flat stone concealing the
upper entrance to the cavern. v

two men to slip the huge slab aside.
A yawning cavity was disclosed. ‘. ,
“ Pyatt told ther truth. sure enough,
Dan’l.” the ranger remarked- “We’ll
go git ther bosses. at)’ git, back tor camp."
Dan assented. and the. two at once
quitted the ridge. . ’ .

Skeleton Gulch was one of. the wildest
spots in the picturesque Black Hills. Bar-
ren rocks lay on every side. The slopes
were steep and the summitscraggy.

The gulch. ,apparently the mouth of a
canyon. pierced the hills for perhaps the
half» of a mile. then ended in a‘ wallet
towering rock. ‘ ‘ ‘

It had gained its gre 'some name. in the

:early days of the“ Black Hills gold Craze,
through the discovery by a par '

 

l

 

Gold-Dust Dan’s SnapéShot. -

 

body was lowered to the waiting Regular

It required the united strength of the.

atoms.

- ,r . i c
at dthe foot of the cliff forming the'i’n'nex‘.
en . , r .,

So much for the locality. ' ,

A night and a day have passed since the
flight of General Grim from his den in the
hills on Clearwater Creek, and night has
zgain descended. robing the hills in a,
mantle of deepest black.

In a group near the mouth of the gulch,
sitting their saddles firmly, as if awaiting
a word of command, are a number of
horsemen.

Thus. silent and motionless they stand,
until a tall. heavily armed iigure emerges
from the deeper gloom of the gulch, and
pauses at the head of the ‘avalcade.

“ I have found the passage, and the way
is clear, Lady Ruth." utters a voice which
all recognize as that of Reckless Roy.
“Follow me."

In silence that spectral Cavalcade moves
forward. the muffled hoofs of the horses
giving forth no sound. Into the gulch
then onward it winds. closely following
the lead of the, Regulator chief. until he
finally halts close beside the eastern wall.

“Disntountl” hc orders, in a guarded
voice. and then disappears. seemingly
through the solid rock. ~

Quietly. without so much as the jingling
of a spur. that command is obeyed, and
each rider takes his position at the head
of his horse.

Slowly the minutes slip lry. until the
iron nerves of the waiting adventurers be-
gin to tingle with excitement and anxiety.
Then a section of the wall seems to slip
aside, and the Regulator chief reappears.

“I<‘orward. in single file! Wait for tne
at the end of the passage."

He Steps to one side. and the cavalcade
passes slowly onward. When the last
man has entered, Reckless Roy carefully
replaces the canvas blind, then hurries
ahead to act as guide. '

Two of the men, carefully instructed.
are left to guard the inner end Of‘ihe
’passage;\ the others, with Roving Ruth,
follow Reckless Roy. '

A hundred yards, thus. in the dense,
black shadows of the t0werlng walls, then
the ohirrup of a cricket is heard, and the.
party halts.

“It is Old Calamity," Roy announces. ,
and a moment later the old ranger ap-
proaches, closely followed by the Regulao,

“ We‘ve pried out ther siteWation. Roy.
while. ye war gone, an’ we do find that
thcr captives alre in ther middle cabin,”
the ranger explains. “Now, that’s nine-
teen of us. an’ I moves thet we leave one
man. with titer horses. then break up inter
three. squads. an’ each squad take a cabin.

“ 0’ course, ther middle cabin must be
taken fll'st. but th'fi‘ others can be sur-
rounded so as ter perwent ther escape 0’
any 0’ ther variets. ~

“ What say?” . ‘

r “ The plan seems good to me,” avers
Roy, simply. '

The squads are
leader for each is appointed. Theuithe
forward movement begins, each squad
guided by the light shining from the win-
dows of the cabin assigned it. '.

cabin is led by Old Calamity. Beside him
are Reckless Roy and Roving Ruth, while
just behind them are; two .01

ltors and one brava in 'all.

Straight to the. door they glide. and Old.
within. .

eral Grim is heard. demanding: .
,“ Who (tomes. there?" V  . . _ , ,3;
amt—gum Dan; with a 

the captain." promptly! alum ;

 

 

pectors otga number of humantivlkeletqn“ 13799339“

‘\

curse is heard. 

.\ ‘fl

\.
't. '/

tors. ' ‘

I‘ .

hastily formed. and a. :

The party advancing upon the middlcf  I

the Regula- 

Ill

Calamity triesit,‘ to find that it is barred 

Then the  raps sharply with that}; 

putt of his revolver. and the voice of Gen-; ',* 

    

   

 

 

 

 

 

     
      
     
          
    
            
 
          
   
      
     
     
        
        
         
       
          
    
       
       
          
          
       
     
       
     
       
          
     
       
       
       
            
  
 

, \

  

V

    
   
 

I
I

   
 
 
  

   
 

 

      
    

 

 
 
 
 

         
 
        
 

 
 

' Gold-D

' w ,. . " .
' .4  _ .

ust Dan’s

 

 

    
 
 
 

,6 rattle noisily, and the door swings
. r .n.
'» "'“wit‘t as a brace of panthers. Reckless
:y and Old Calamity leap over the
threshold. cOcked revolvers in hand.
v Just a breath of dazed surprise. then a
hoarse yell bursts from the throat of
General Grim.
“ .l “ Trapped!" he shouts, his face Working
“ with furious rage. and with that cry he
" springs toward Media Bradlow. a knit‘e
' gleaming viciously in his left hand.
 (iii .« (l uek! . '
 Just the one shot. but. ere the smoke
lifts from the muzzle of Old ('alaniity's

 

sf revolver. General (lrim is down. with a
I bullet. through his evil brain.
.-\ '- 'I‘Wo outlaws step forward. with their
"f hands up. and are promptly made pris-
‘_» oners. *
“,3 They are none other than our old
7’"? abquaintances. Landlord Jerry and Sleek
- to; _ Sid.

. Then. rescued and rescuers stand face
‘ . to face. and a tremulous, joyous cry passes
 the lips of the beautiful hills mystery.

1‘;- “ John!" she. cries. "Dear John!"
 , “ My God! Bradlm ' answers.

I.  OHAIVI‘ER

Ruth !"

XVII.

. CONCLUSION.

On leaving the office of Lawyer Hamp-
ton. Austin Ransome crossml the hall and
" _ entered his own apartment.

” His face wore a perturb:l .look. and
 he closed and locked the door with the
‘ air of a man expecting unwelcome Vis-
’itors.
“There is something wrong—very much
Wrong," he murmured. thrusting the
(low-key into his pocket and hanging his
hat. over the key-hole. “\Vere I not posi-
tive that he perished in his cabin. I
would suspect this Judge Hangon to be
Bolly Dorrit in a new disguise.
, “ Affairs are not running right. Can it
~be possible that. Dor-rit got onto our
scheme and aimed Gold Dust Dan.
Something has happened. or Bucksin
. would have. reported ere this."
.'  - Rapidly., almost incoherently. yet, in
“13' ,‘ ,tonesnot louder than a. whisper. the
"‘- words fell from Ransome’s lips as he
moved toward the small safe. key in
hand.
“I have been (h'uggtal—of that I am
sure!" he continued. dropping upon his
knees and thrusting the key into it"
..f socket. while his deep biack.eycs seemed
to scan every feature of the room. "It'
so. some has been here. The safe will
tell." .
‘ ‘ The key clicked in the lock. Slowly. he
K . 'zslwung the door openand glanced within.

' A breath of relief passed his lips.
- " “ It is just as I left it!” he cxciaimml.
 his voice growing firmer. “Yes. all is—”
v A sharp gasp of surprise filled that

.ehiatus. and he hastily clutched a small
parcel of papers lying uppermost in the
safe. and stepped to the window.

. p "A single searching glance, and his face
grewhvid.
j “ Blood!" he €'j1‘l(‘-.;i:l1(‘d. staring hard at
\. “the'round. telltale spot in the center. of
’ the outer fold.
“Some one has been here! The safe
.,‘,1ias;been searched! I am in peril. and I
' ‘tnustflyl” v
 A desperate look came into the specu-
' :i-ldtor’s tace. Tossing the ram“ “00" a
. .mblé. he drew and” examined his revolv-
imrs. ‘ ' ' - '
 “They shall never take me alive!" he
(muttered. “I’llgtve them the slip. if pos-
sible... If they pursue, they shall find my
aim has not lost its cunning.”
(Approaching the 6601', he listened in-
 tentlya'mome I . .
r'rhere yet.’ the mused. . {When they
 59'“: ‘ ,x  - :  "

 

  

     

 

  

  

 

 

With the stealth and silence of a thief
in the night. be emptied the safe and ran-
sacked the room'. Naught of value——
naught that might incriminate him. was
let't behind. Papers.‘money and a quan-
tity of jewelry were hurriedly packed into
a satchel. together with a black mask, :
number of false beards, mustaches. and
like articles.

Scarcer had this task been completed.
when the sound of steps in the hall and
upon the stairway announced the de-
partitre of Hampton and his st 'ange
Visitor.

Out. into the hall sprang Ranso'lnc.
pausing only to close and lock the door;
then he hurried to the rear of the build—
ing.. where a narrow stairvay led down
into a sort of stable yard.

At. the foot, of the stairs the speculator
hailed a rough looking fellow lounging
about. the stable.

" My horse. 'I‘atsy." he ordered. coolly
lighting a cigar. "Be quick. too. for I
bare to ride down to (lamp Ransome
and back before night."

A grunt from the hostle‘ as he disap-
peared within the stable was the only
ansWer. and the speculator ran lightly up
the stairs and hurried through the hill].

Just as he reached his office. door a man
came. bounding up the. front. stairs.

Ransome started.

" Buckskin! By Heavens!"
lated.

“Sure enough. cap." the outlaw re-
turned. with an apprehensive glance over
his shoulder. “Let's get inside. The
deuce is to pay!"

Ransonle unlocked and threw open the
door. .

“ Explain. and quickly." he commanded.
hastily. crossing the room and seizing his
satchel. “The old boy is loose here, too."

Buckskin nodded coolly.

"I see." he remarked. "Well, it‘s like
this: Reckless Roy’s Regulators came up
from Gold Gulch. joined hands with Roy-
ing Ruth’s outfit. and pretty near cleaned
us out at. (.‘amp Ransome. ‘and we were
compelled to fall back to Skeleton Gulch.

“ About the same time. another party
routed the general and his crew out of the
den in the rocks. and they. too. are now
at Skeleton Gulch."

“And the. 'aptives—wltat of them ‘:" de-
ntanded Ransome. eagerly.

" Still in our hands. along with Gold
Dust Dan. whom we managed to rake .in
during the skirmish down at. the ‘amp.

“Now. cap. the boys want you to join
them at once. for they feel the need of
your cool head and cunning hand."

“I'll go to them.“ the, speculator de-
clared. “The fact is, Buckskin. I‘m in
trouble here. and expecting arrest every
minute. I 'as on the point of' starting
for the general's when you came up.

“ “yo. nm '. and await me at. the dump of
pines three miles west of town. It will be.
some. time after nightfall when I reach
there. for. in order to throw the detectives
off the trail. I shall start eastward. and
circle back." . ‘

“ Good. enough. cap. But I left my boss
in the stable below. and I’ll skip at once
with you. and leave the impressitm we’re.
bound for Camp Ransome. Just out- of
town we can separate. and I'll wait for
you at the pines."

To this Ransome agreed. and both-
quitted the building. and. a few minutes

he ejacu-

later, galloped out of Deadwood. .

A mile from town they separated and.‘

rode in opposite directions, Ransome giv-
ing the satchel into Buckskin‘s keepink-

Arrived at the clump of pines. Buckskin
dismountedland tethered his horde: then
took up a position overlooking a consid-
erable stretch of the broken country he
bad Just crossed. t . ;

 
  
 

Snap-Shot. '

15

 

After an hour's vigil. his patience was
rewarded. From the direction of Dead-
wood came a horseman. a short. bulky fel.
low, well mounted. and riding at break-
neck speed.

As he neared the clump of pines. Buck-
skin uttered a peculiar whistle and arose
to his feet.

The horseman instantly drew rein. and
Buckskin advanced to meet him. After
exchanging a tow \vords. the rider struck
spurs to his horse and 'galloped onward,
while the outlaw returned to his ('t)\'(‘l'i.
iilled and lighted a pipe, and made himself
as comfortable as possible.

The somber shade of the pines slowly
deepened into nngt. and the minutes
lengthened into home, ere the ringing hoof-
strokes of a horse announced Ransolne's
approach.

Mounting. Buekskin rode out of the
pines and hailed the chief. and quickly
they were riding onward. side by side.

Ransome was sullen and silent. and
Buckskin made no eifort to draw him into
conversation. -

At the end of an hour Skeleton (lulch
was reached. The tlwo riders Were halted
by the challenge of a sentry in the masked
passage.

l‘romptly Buckskin gave the countersiin
and the two rode into the basin. where
both dismounted and appmached the and
the cabin.

Thrusting open the door. Austin Ran-
some stepped across the threshold.

A singular scene met his gaze.

Ranged round the walls of the cabin,
heavily armed. and with their faces cov-
ered with cowl-like masks. were nearly a
score of men, while. bound to a heavy
chair in the center of the room. with his
chin bowed upon his breast in a dejectt
manner. was a prisoner. '

Ransome‘s dark eyes flashed wickedly.

“Gold Dust Dan!" he exclaimed. in an
exultant Voice. “Good. my hravos! you
have done, Well! That hound has been om‘
bitterest, our most dangerous foe, but to-‘
night he dies~dies by torture! ’

“Look up. you miserable dog! Face
your fate. like a man..for this is pour last
night upon earth! DI you hear? Look
up. I say!"

Mechanically the :iptive raised his bend.

Ransome started convulsiver, and the
hue of death came over his dark face.

ing hoarse and hollow. “ What. trickery is
this?"

“ Merely a surprise party for your bene-
fit, Captain Black!" uttered a voice behind
him. ’

Swiftly 'the entrapped outlaw facet]
about. ‘

A cocked revoly‘er stared him straight
between the eyes. and back of the leveled
weapon was the determined face of Gold
Dust Dan. ‘

“ A Roland for your Oliver. Captain
Black." the young detective announC-ed.
“To help along the game, I traded places
with Buckskin to—day, and here you are!"

A dz‘sliflil'ing yell burst from Captain
Black, and his hands'dropped to the butts
of the revolvers in his belt. Swiftcr yet.

'as the snap-shot of Gold Dust Dan, and
the outlaw received his death wound.

Little more remains to be told.

A search-of the cavern back of the
waterfall brought: to light the gold buried
by Gabe Pyatt.‘ together with the Written
statement of which he had spoken.'and
Old Calamity and Gold Dust Dan faithful-
ly executed the pledge made to the dying
outlaw. . ‘ r a . .

Captain Black's band were duly brought
to trial. and all receivcd their exited pun:
ishment. "In due course xRovin Ruth .be- ‘

 

,oame‘ Mrs. John Bradiow.‘while   "

.  . z“

“ Buckskin!" he gasped, his voice sound- '

         
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
   
   
  
    
   
     
  
   
    
  
   
  
  
  
    
  
    
    
   
     
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
     
  
     
    
       
        
    
   
   
     
     

  
   
      
      
      
     
    
        
       
        
      
       
       
     
    
        
         
       
    

           
   
   
   

  
 

L  Bedllgilt Ralph the Prince of the Road.

16

I”? 3:“ —~..—‘ “.1 _- __ _ . v .-

G-old-Dust Dan’s Snap-Shot.

 

 

Media became the bride of Reckless Boy,
the Regulator chief.

Bully Dui'rit, the veteran detective. still
haunts the mountains. i‘ci'i'cti11;.r out crimi-
nuls in his own peculiar way. while ()ltl
)nlumity and Pepper, when lust heard
from. were llliXl‘ll up in thc "czlluulitous I
misfortune" lit Wounlh-ll Kncc.

Gold Dust Dun continues his (:ztt'ce‘ us
a (lctectch, .‘lIl(i is til-tiny :l terror to evil-
docrs in the grout ucw \Vcst.

THE BN1).

NEXT HALEiiLEjEBARY, No. 924.
Big Boots Bob,
THE FIRE-LADDIE;.

0B,

The Dandy Detective’a Double-up,

 

 

 

 

BY J. C. COWDRICK.

 

 

 

Beadle’s Had-Rims library.

BY J. W. OSBON.

469 The Bival Glantu oI'Nowhar‘.

498 Cactua Burr, the .\inn iroln iisrd Luck.

587 Did Buckeye. the Sierra Shadow.

56 l’owder l’llli, the lioy Miner. or, The Man WithoutsPast.
Bolly Dorrit, the. \eternn Deiel‘lin‘. 5
620 Little Li htllillf’a League: or, The Mystery our. him! i
688 l’lncky Bani, t e llnv Prospector.

751 Gold-Dani. Dan, lhe'i‘rnil Plllml.

755 Gold Dullt Dan‘a (lath; or. Reckless Roy, the Regulator ‘,

BY J. O. CDWDRICK.

490 Broadway Billy. the Boothluck Brlwo.

614 Broadway Billy’a Boodle; or, ClemingaStl-unge Cue
686 Broadway lillly’n ‘Dlfllklltyo”

557 Broadway Billy’s Death Racket.

679 Broadway Billy’a Surprise Party.

605 "roudw‘iy mu“ ur,'i'lle Boy Detecthe’s Blzinulnc.
figg "roadway "my. "end Act; or, The League oi Seven
«(,9 “roadway nuly Ayn-mu]; nr,'i‘he litmibitv‘ii in Frisco.
375 firmldway nflly'p "cut; Ui’,B€Bi.lllK San Francisco's Finest.
687 Broadway Billy ill Clover.

696 Broadway Billy In Tell“; “in” Riv” “"5119”.
708 Broadway Blily’a Brand.

111 Broadway Billy at mum. Fe: onTheCleereal-
720 Broadway Billy’ll Full "and: 013le Gmniu Detective.
785 Broadway Billy’a But-inc“.

788 Broadway Billy‘s Cllrioua Care.

758 Broadway Billy Ill Denver.

762 Broadway Biliy’n B "gain: or, The Three Deiectiv
769 Broadway Billy, tho Brlriever Detective.

775 Broadway Billy's Shadow Chane.

738 Broadway Biliy’n Beagles; on Tim Trlo'a Qum-
786 Broadway lily’l- Team; or, The Comblne’l Big Pull.
790 Broadway Billy’n Brigade: or. The Dead AliVe.
796 Broadway Billy’a Queer Bequest.

800 Broadway Billy Buflied.

800 Broadway Billy’a SI nal Scoop.

810 Broadway Billy'u “' no But.

815 Broadway Billy’s Bank Racket.

891 Broadway Blily’a Blllil'.

826 Broadway liiiy Amon Jersey Thugs.

886 Broadway Billy’a Raldf

889 Broadway Billy": Big Boom.

844 Broadway Bill "ll Big Bulge.

849 Broadway and». £100,000 Snap.

866 Broadway Billy‘s Blind: or, The Bouthlack Stowaway.
862 Broadway Billy In London.

868 Broadway Billy Shadow:- London Sluma.

874 Broadway Billy'll French Game.

880 Broadway Billy and the Bomb-Throwers.

919 Train Boy Trlnt‘u llot liustle

906 Safety Sam, the (vale Sport. ’

990 Jumping Jack‘s Jubilee.

887 Battery Boll, the Dock Detective. -

360 silver-blank. ’the Man oi Mystery; or, The Golden Keys.
369 ill do, the Gold King: or, For Ssvsn Years Dead.
486 Th lletootlve’a Agprenticet or, A Boy Without ll Nana.
4M Clbuta Jolnll hr. ed~Hot Time. at Ante Bar.

‘89 dandy Sam. the Street Scout.

467 Dlaco Dan. the Daily nude.

 

5.»

—
w

The Engineer Detective- or. Redlight Roi lh’s Ramiro
548 Mart, the Night Ex rel-s Detetitive. I
571 Air-Line Luke t e Young Enzlneel; or, The Double Case
598 The Boy Pinkerton: or, Running the Rascals Out.
615 Fighting "an the Chief of Chnined Cyclone.
640 Bareback Bet , the Contour of the Circle.
47 Tynewrlter Tilly. the Merchant'- Ward.
659 Moonlight Morgan the " Pisenest ” Man of Auto Bar.
89!: Arizona Dick's W inc-Out.

BY WILLIA“ R. EYSTER.
190 Dandy Darke; or. The Tire" of High Pine.
210 Flu-o Frank 3 or. Bondy Darkr'l Go-Down Pards
Sifi The. Hustler Rogue-Catcher.
888 Poker l’ete‘a Double Dodge,
851 The Tic-To Sport; or, High lluatllng at Slnnerl' Fiat.
888 Monte Salli. the fiport.
901 Diamond Dave, the Gilt-Edge Shooter,

BY HAROLD PAYNE.
848 Dan, the River Sport: 0!. Felling the Fri-co Shirt»
89% Bowery Ben In Chinatown.
911 Bowery Bob. the Eaat-uide Detective,

BY BUFFALO BILL (lion. WI. 1". Cody).
8 Kansas King; or, Tho Rod Rixht Hand.
19 The Phantom 8 yl or, The Pilot of the Prairie.
55 DudlyoEye. the lllnlown Scout; or, The Banded Blothorilood
69 Border Rollin flood: or 'I'ho Pralrio Rover.
158 Fancy Frank of Colorad

 

o t or, Tho Tnppcr’s ‘l‘rut.

3 I68 Deadwood Dick‘ll Death Trail.

BY EDWARD L. \VIIEELEB.
Deadwood Dick Novels.

1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince 01 the Road.
20 Deadwood Dick’a Defiance: or, [)oubh-Dnlrgerl.
28 Deadwood Dick ill Dll-glliae; or, Buil'lll: Ben.
85 Deadwood Dick In 1|1l Cal-lie.
42 Deadwood Dick'~ Bonanza: or, The Phantom Miner.
41 Deadwood Dick ill Danger: nr.()nlunu()ll.
5? Deadwood Dick‘s Eaglea; or, The Portia oi Flood Bar.
73 Deadwood Dick on Deck: wr. t‘llllunitv .‘ ~lle,the Heroine
77 Deadwood Dick‘a Lani Act: nr.(‘ordurn,' Churlie.
100 Deadwood Dick in Lcalllilic.
10-1 Deadwood Dick'l- Del ice: 0r, ’l he i). uhle Cross Sign.
109 Deadwood Dick all Dell-oi.th
1‘39 Deadwood Dick'u Double: or.'i‘llv Gnrgnn'l Gulch Ghost.
16% Deadwood Dick'n lillllle Baa-c; ur, liillililt‘ llili.
1-19 Deadwood Dick'll Biz Hirikc; or, A Hume-oi li‘trlll.
156 Deadwood Dick 01' Deadwood: or, The i‘it‘kcd Party.
195 Deadwood Dick’s Dream: or, The RiVlllfl hi the, Rom].
201 Deadwood Dick‘ll “'ardt nr. 'l‘hl- Black llill’ner-hel.
205 Deadwood Dick‘u Doom: or, Cnlulnity June'a Adventure.
21? Deadwood Dick'n Dead 1“ al.
221 Deadwood Dick‘a Iicatil-i’iant.
B62 Gold-Dani. Dick. A Rmnllnre oi' Rough. and Tmlzhn.
866 Deadwood Dick'o Divide: or, The Spirit of Swulnp Lake.

809 Deadwood iiick’a lieu]; ur,'i'hl- Gniti Brick oiOrezon.
62! Deadwood Dick’ll Dom-ll: or. The Faklr oi l‘lmntnln Flats
847 Deadwood Dick‘u Dllcata: or, Days in the Diggings.
 Resultil'ool‘iI  flinltclnced: or, iho Terrible Iondetlfl.
- ‘ elu woo c "l- ‘ a III.
405 Deadwood Dick Ill Dead (‘iiy.
410 Deadwood Dick‘u Diamonds.
421 Deadwood Dick in New Y ork: or, A “Fine Case."
:20 “enliwom: :ii'clli’a Jim-t : lii’, 'l‘l(l.- Chained illlnli.g
1 cal “'lNH c ', r: .‘r, ' ’lw ‘rilnsnn Crescent .‘i n.
4-1-1 Deadwood Dick, Jr.‘n. Dciillllce. K
458 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’~ Full lllllld.
459 Deadwood Dick. Jr.‘a, liil: Rolllld-l'p.
465 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’l-. Bnckci at (‘illlln 10.
471 Deadwood chk. Jr.’-I. ('orrlli: or, Huzrlnan Bill.
476 Deadwood Dick. .1 r.‘n, Dog Detective.
41%| Deadwood Dick. .lr., ill Deadwood.
491 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’~, (‘ollllllll-t.
496 Deadwood Dick. .ll'.'l-. Inheritance.
him Deadwood Dick, .lr.’- DI illgll.
508 Deadwood Dick. .Ir.‘a. De \erallce.
515 Deadwood Dick. Jr.‘n l'rotegee.
522 Deadwood Dick. Jr.‘ll, Three.
529 IJeadwood Dick. Jr.’-. Danger Dllcka.
5i.” deadwood Dick. Jr.‘-l Death Hunt.
67.? Deadwood Dick, Jr., Ill Texan.
566 Deadwood Dick, Jr.. the Wild West Viqu
549 Deadwood chk, Jr.. on llll- Mettie.
554 Deadwood Dick. Jr.. ill Gotham.
661 Deadwood Dick. Jr.. ill Bar-ton.
567 Deadwood Dick, Jr.. ill Philadelphia.
572 Deadwood Dick. Jr.. Ill Chicago.
579 Deadwood Dick. In. Afloat.
58-i- Dclldwooll Dick. an. ill Denver.
590 Deadwood Dick. .lr.‘a, Decree.
i195 Deadwood Dick .Ir.. In Beclzeilllb’a Ball».
690 Deadwood Dick, .lr.. llt (‘oncy inland.
606 Deadwood Dick, Jr.‘u, l.elld\'Iile Lay.
612 Deadwood Dick, Jr.. Ill Detroit.
61“ Deadwood Dick. Jr., in Cincinnati.
62-1 Deadwood Dick. Jr.. Ill Nevada.
680 Deadwood Dick. Jr., ill No Mllll’a Land.
686 Deadwood Dick, Jr.. After the Queer.
649 Deadwood Dick Jr” Ill Bulfaio.
 ==CII(:“'00(}  {Ir-Jul. :‘hane Agro‘lilsthe (iontinent
0 eat wool c ', r., i lnollgt c mll ers.
660 Deadwood Dick, Jr.‘I llzallrlvllce Cal-g.g
666 Deadwood Dick, Jr., iiack ill the Mines.
672 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Ill Durant-:0: (>I'.“Gs_lhcred in.”
 “cat‘l‘woog  grin. lll’Ircolvery;or,FounuaF0ltane.
» ca woo c , r. ll. an: e.
690 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'ll. Doilarn.
695 Deadwood Dick. Jr.. at Danger Divide.
700 Deadwood Dick. Jr.'l‘, Drop.
704 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Jack-Poi.
710 Deadwood Dick Jr., Ill flan Frallcilco.
716 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Fiill Hunt.
722 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'l-. Dolnilloeu.
798 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’n, Din-guise.
781 Deadwood Dick. Jr.‘a. Double Deal.
740 Deadwood Dick, .Ir.’ll. Deathwatch.
747 Deadwood lllck. Jr.‘u, Doublct.
752 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’ll. lentillllow.
75! Deadwood Dick, .lr.‘-, Jenner-ate Strait.
764 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’-, .one “and.
770 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’u, Defeat.
776 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’u, leanrreciion.
79% Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ll, Dark Days.
797 cadwood Dick Jr., Dclled.
792 Deadwood Dick. Jr.‘ll, Dollllie Device.
797 Deadwood Dick, Jr’.a. Deaperate Venture.
802 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’u, Diamond Dice.
807 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ll, Royal Flush.
812 Deadwood Dick, .lr.’u. lielld-oil'.
816 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’ll, Rival.
822 Deadwood Dick. .lr.'_-, Boom.
92R Deadwood Dick, Jr.’n. scoop.
#84 Deadwood lllck, Jr.‘u, Proxy.
810 Deadwood iIick. Jr.‘u, (‘illtc .
945 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ln, III h "one.
859 Deadwood Dick Jr., at i l‘\‘ii’fl Gulch.
858 Dead wood Dick, Jr.’-, h‘cntll-llole lint-tied
368 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ll Bombshell.
870 Deadwood Dick, Jr.. Ill Mexico.
“76 Deadwood Dick. Jr’a, Decoy Duck.
88% Deadwood Dick, Jr., ill Silver Pocket.
S91 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’u, Delldb‘llre Game.
696 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’s. Double Drive.
904 Deadwood Dick. Jr.‘a. Trade-Mark.
910 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Tip-Top.)

BY LIEUT. A. K. 8131!.

589 Tom-Cat and Ford: or. The Dead Set at Silver City.
622 Toln-Cat'a Triad; or. The Affair at Tombstone.

661 Tout Cat‘a Terrible Tank; or, The Cowboy Detective.
688 Torn-Cat'a Triumghé or. Black Dan’s Glut Combina.
546 Captain Cactua t e haparrai Cock; or. Jmh’l Ten Strike
568 The Dandy of Dodge; or, Rustllnlr ior Millions.

576 The filiver Sport; or. Jouh Peppermint/a Jubilee.

588 Sail'ron Sol. the Man With a Shadow

60] Ila p "nun, the Dutch Vidccq: or, Hot Time-at Round-Up
611 Bil ad Barnacle, the Detective Hercules.

646 Cowho “ill, the Cattle-Range IJl-tcetiy's.

657 Warbirlg “’iliilm the Mountain Mountebank.

666 Jolly Jeremiah the Plains Detective.

676 Si lai Sam the knot Scout.

689 B ly the hypo Spy: or,'l‘hc Myltorv oi'rwo Liven.
699 Simple film, the Broncho Banter. or. For it: Stakes.

19 The Me-meriat liport: or, The Myltlilod Detoctlvo.
88 Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector. \

4 Kanaaa Jim, the (‘rou-(‘ut Detective.

61 Marmaduke, the Multalllrcr Detective.

778 The Bustier of Rolling Stone.

785 Lone "and Joe. tho Cmnmittoa oi One.

801 Kent Kirby, the High-Kicker from Kilihuck.

889 The tor Detective Ill Texan.

87. Two llownlcll Detectives In Colorado.

BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR U. I. A.

 

444“

 

191 Balalo Bill , tho Boy Bullwhachor.
194 Bil-lo Bill a no“ or. The Gamhlor Guido.

BY COLDNEL PRENTISS IN GRAHAM.

nos New York Nat'n Double.

902 New York have ill Colorado.

896 )ew York Nat Ill Gold Nugget Camp.
K89 New York Nllt’n Deadly Deal.

KKK New York Nui'! Crook-Chime.

977 New York Nllt’n ’l‘rlllllp Card.

871 New 1 ork Nut and the Grave Ghoulll.
K65 New York Nllt’a Mlluked Mun-cot.
N59 New York Nut. the Hulnin Detective.

H53 Dick Doolll’a Kidllllpper Kllock-0ut.
847 Dick Doolll’a ’l‘cll Nil-Ike.

842 Dick Doolll‘n Finl-ll "and.

Dick Dooln‘n Deni h-(lrip; or, The Detct‘tlve by Destiny-

72
777 Dick Doolll'a Del-tiny; or, The Rh er Blachleg's 'i'crror.
7,411 Dick Doolll: or. 'I he Shari» :lnli Shurks 01 New York.
739 Dick Doolll lll Bullion; or, A Man c1 Many Muskl.
3 Dick Doolll ill i‘lllcnflo.

7"” Dick Doom ill the “'lld “'eai.
1408 Dick Doolll'n (‘ieall Sweep; ur, Five Links in ll ( inc.
' Doonl’u Dentin ('lue.
‘ lioolll’l Diamond Deni.
819 Dick Doolll’rl (ilrl Marmot.
N29 Dick Doolll‘n Shadow Hunt.
885 Dick Doom’n Big lllvlll.
7-19 Danlling Charlie: or, The Kentucky Tcndvri‘noi's First Trail.
756 Dal-hing (‘ilnrllc'r Del-tiny: nr.’l‘he Reneumle’s ('nptivr.
760 Dal-hing (‘hllrlic‘ll l’llallee Ford.
766 Dill-hing Charlie, the Rescuer.
497 Buck Taylor. Ring oi the Cowboys.
737 Bllck Taylor, the (unmul'he‘t (‘ll utive.
743 Buck Ta 'lor‘n iiioypl; I‘i','l‘lii‘ Rel Hilleraoi the Rio lirllnde.
560 l'nwllce ill], the Prairie Shmlower.
718 l’awllce Bill: or, (kill, the Mud (‘owlmy.
719 l’llwllce Bili'a l’lclilrc: «.1 he Cowboy-317001”.
725 l’llwllee Bill: or, During ilil'k.
692 Redf-rll‘u (‘llriolln (‘lll-c: ul. Tin Rival Sharps.
69? Redi’crll at Devli’ll Rllllcll; or. TheShari-froulTexus.
702 Rcdi'ern’n High "and: «I‘. "luv J‘H‘kri-
707 Redi’erll'n Lllnt 'l'rllii: ur.'l'hc l'ii‘ll SulnhrernRangels.
6694 Roll Ihllph‘a "line; ur,'i'he lil-l'iilllt'l‘l Mil-sill nnnn.
“74 lied Ralph’s Bold “lune; lur,'lhe Wizard .aiior.
679 Red Ralph, [he Shanon". or, The l-‘recncolur‘s Legacy.
644 Butterfly Billy‘a Dingulle.
650 Blliit'l‘lly Billy, the l'ullV i-xpress Rider.
656 Butterfly Billy’s Mall Hunt.
662 Butterfly Billy’s Bonanza.
565 Kent Killgdull; or. 'I he 0“ In or the Owrlunll.
570 Kent Killzdoll'u Siladouer; (Iriiile Curd Queen.
575 Kent Kingdoll‘a lint-l ; if. The Surgeon Scout.
636 Kent Klngdon‘a Doom; 1 r. 'l he Hucksiin Avenger.
545 Lafitte flu" Duw ng or, 'I’he iiullanccrs hi Bllrrataria.
550 imfltte’a Legacy: or. The Avenginc Sun.
555 Lafitte’a Conn-union: or, 'l'ln- crmlt- Corsair.

And Fifly Oiilern.

B Y .10 PIERCE.

897 Bob 0’ the Bowery: or, The Prince of Mulberry Stuck
415 The Vagabond Detective; or. Bowery Bob'l Boom.
452 ilotll llr Bob, the Street-iicy Detective.

460 The .awyer’a Shadow: of Luke's Legacy.

479 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King.

494 Hllrly Him, the Young Ferrynlun Detective.

504 Five i’oilltl l’ilil. the Pavement l'rimc.

509 Jack .Ill gers, the Butcher Boy lletectiw.

516 Tartar inl: or. Five Points Phil’s Menagerie.

526 North River Not, the Pier l’v'tectivc.

583 “'reutiillg Rex. the Prilicoi'the Sixth Ward.

5-11 Jeil’ Flicker. the Stable Buy Detective.

551 Nick Nettie, the llny Shadon: nr,’lhc. illli “'eli Mystery.
559 ilurielll Jack, the (mice iluy Dl'il'Ctht'.

569 Brooklyn Ben. the ()nviii~‘»nwn-liook Detective”
577 Pavement Pete the Scmet Sifter.

589i JIIck-o‘Jlnnlern, the l'lnier-Sl-n Prospector-

603 \VIde-Awake Bert, the Strl-ct-Stecrer.

614 “'lliatilllg Jacob, the Dctcctlu-‘s Aid.

1128 lilfl'i" Bumblebee. the Harlem Hummer.

689 Sunrise Raul thl- Express-Trill" Fem-t.

649 Gamin Bob, the liOwl-ry ilmizer: or, Scocping s Slippery Set).
658 Sky-Rocket Bob. the Liiq-ancr.

6’43 filitpoter So]. the New York Nnviclltm.

694 Spicy Jim, the Univ One of “in Kind.

706 Tom Till-lie, the Bond-House Dctectl‘r.

717 Mosquito Jack, the Huntier (innlin.

726 Dellnia "I!" the Brown Sport's Kill.

744 Dick of the. Dockll, the highbihllch.

765 Flipper Fl lln, the Street i‘ntrol.

771 Foxy Fred A (Md I’ard: 0r. The Keener’s Huge Bil-tit,
7K1 (.‘IIIt-DI' (‘uie, the Scapegoat Detective.

824 Bowery Billy. the liunco Bouncer.

887 Tile BI Four ofihe Bowery.

9346 Buck, i no New York Sharper.

850 'lhe Grand Street Arab.

855 The West Broadway Galllin.

800 The Boat-Club Mal-cot; or. Dun Derker’s Double Desi.
864 The 1'nion Square Baggage Boy.

1478 The Street Arab’ll Blilll .

£86 The Five Points Lodging Il'oullc Jul-itch!

890 Ave High, the Trump Curd l)6il'(‘il\'i’.

“95 Fifth Avenue Fred. the Valet Detective.

8919 Basement Bert, the Bov (‘ohllier Detective.

908 Billy Blue-Blazes, tin- Dodgercfthe Docks.

907 Beddy Bullher. Bell-Boy 4-11.44.

LATEST AND NEW ISSUES?

914 New York Nat'll Three of a Kind! 0r, Nick Norton’s.
(‘hml‘ (‘ulL By Col. Prentiu lnurahsln.
915 Flip Fillilel', Ferret, of Bart Broadway: or, Firing;
the Fire-hugs. i y 10 l’lerco.
916 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Double Decker: or, Cent/r
Fire, the Self-Cooler. lly Euwurli l.. Wheeler.
917 Fluflll Lightning, the Mountain Mount; or, Jerry Jactiivs’
Doom. By Charles Morris.
918 The Trump Dock-Boy; or, Too Sharp for tho Jen»;
Sharpen. By J. C. (‘uworiekx‘
919 Crock-“hot Daiay‘u Drop: or. Bronco Billy’l Bizlllruslz.
By Wm. B. Eylter. ,
920 New York Nat Trapped; or, 'ihe Tenn Tenderloin
Crook~'l‘racker. iiy Col. 1’. lngrllhanl
921 The Boy from Denver; or, Fighting the Tough. or Dead-
set. liy .C. Harbaugh.
922 fiol Sharpe. Detective; or, Hayseed Ramsey’s Double
Find. Iiy Edward L. \Vheeier.
928 Gold-Dust. Dan’ll Snap-Shot; or. The Deadwood Specu-'
llltnr’s liiinli. lly John w. Oshon.
924 Big Boots Bob, the FIre-Laddie; or, The Dullly De-i
tective’ll Double-up. By J. C. (‘oworick.
925 The You] Cowboy Cflpflllfli 0?, Rounding-up they
Grease". By .J.Flanslr:ln.
926 New York Nat’a Legacy! 0', '1 he Tell—tale Skoleton..
By Col. l‘rrntiss lnxraham.
927 The Sport In Velvet; 0:, Billy Bird‘s Big Strike. By‘
Will. R. Eyster. *
A New halo Every Tuesday.
The Half-Dino Library in for sale hy oil I'd
use no”, or sort by mail on room oi six out. MW’
lama All) ADAII, PIMIM\
.3 Winin- It"... le' '0“,

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