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{' Entered as Second Class Matter at the New York, N. Y , Post Office. Copyrighted 1896. by Emma: AND ADAMS. May 26, 41 I ‘
$2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS. Price “
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‘X g Bear-Tamils Disguise

. . r: 1/» BY WM. R. EYS7I‘ER, ’ i

'  AUTHOR OF “THE TIE~T0 SPORT,” “FARO
. I ‘ ‘ '   ’ FRANK,” 15:19., me. i
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. CHAPTER I.
“ YOU com: TOO LATE."
“ HOLY Caesars! Shell I. or shift T? Et’u
not ofien my mother‘s dariin’ holds that edge, .
 ‘ but this time I reckon I better not chip.”
T YERSELF m A BOX. BECKON THEM REAR GUARD ’D men The one who muttered these words to him
1?qu HARD mo THEY CAUGHT mu A~TRAILIN’I" self, as he crouched behind the bushes which

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by:
8

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2

Banty Billy’s Bonanza.

 

 

 

he had partially drawn aside with one

hand, was a boy of moderate size and
none too well clad, but with a shrewd
face and an eye that was keen.

In his right hand be grasped a Win-
chester, his thumb on the hammer, and
it was plain he was contemplating a shot
at something he saw in the distance.

He lowered the muzzle of the gun,
however, and continued to stare down-
ward, while his lips moved.

“Jest ez like ter hit ther pidgin’, an’
miss ther hawk. An’ thar’s no chance
ter git neardcr inside ov half an hour.
Reckon I jest got ter lay low an’ wait
ter flip my keards. Ett’s a brace game
0v some kind they’s playin’, an’ I’ll git
a chance ter run up ag’in it yet.”

Banty Billy Bruce knew nothing about
the rights of the affair, but he had made
up his mind very solidly, because right
below, in the canyon, the strong were
attacking the weak, the armed were ap-
proaching the seemingly defenseless, the
wrong appeared about to triumph over
the right.

Not long beic-re, looking casually down,
he had discovered neighbors, though sep-
arated from them by a precipice which
could only be descended by a long cir-
cuitous route.

He knew at a glance they were fugi-
tives, and would have called to them had
he not feared his voice would carry farth-
er than desirable.

The pair were strangely mated—youth
with old age, May with December.

They crept up the gorge of the can-
yon, side by side, an old man with gray
hair and a splotch of blood on his pallid
face, whose steps were guided if not
aided by a girl of barely sixteen.

Then, behind them, Banty Billy caught
a glimpse of two shadowers, who closed
up as they toiled up the steep ascent
which led to the level ground below the
lad. They were for the moment so near-
ly in a line with the two who had aroused
his sympathies that he hesitated to
shoot; and in another were hidden from
view, as they veered to the side of the
canyon on which the boy was stationed.

“D’unno what a brace like them be
doin’ round hyer; but them two behind
are after mischi’f an’ no mistake, an' I
ain’t whar I kin do ther most good,
neither. Ef they means murder, ez ett
' looks jest now, they kin git in their work
an’ me no chance ter stop ’em. Better
hunt up Dandy and we two git a. hustle
on. Ett may not be too late ter save
’em at we strike ther ground floor.”

,The youngster seemed to think nothing
of the fact that his own danger might be-
gin if the skulkers once were aware of
his presence. - He gave another glance
dOanard to make sure man and girl
were rapidly drawing towards a point
where they would pass out of sight.
Then, he tinned hastily away.

Meantime, the couple below continued
to stagger on, the man growing weaker,
while the young girl was rapidly ex-
hausting herself by the aid she was giv-
ing him.

Both were unconscious of the pursuit
in their rear...~.though from time to time
the girl had given glances in that direc-
tion.’ It seemed to them nothing but
chance could throw their enemies on
this trail, for they knew little of the
skill in tracking which made their boot
marks, faint though they might seem,
but: an open path to those who came af-
ter.

An overhanging place in the canyon
wall seemed almost like a cavern, an
.the boulders scattered in front of it of-
fered a fair hiding place.” Both felt they
could go no farther.

, With a last expiring effort of strength .

\

 

the old man drew himself behind a rock
and sank motionless to the ground.

So still did he lie that his companion
feared he had fainted, and looked hope-
lessly around, as if in search of some
means with which to revive him.

After a little his eyes opened, and his
lips moved, though ever so little. The
girl bent over him. '

“What is it. uncle? What would you
have? What can I do for you? ”

“Are you there, Josie?” came softly
from between his lips.

lie was staring straight at her, yet
did not appear to see.

“ Yes, yes, uncle, dear. I think we are
safe, now, and when you are rested a
trifle we will plan what next to do. For-
tunately, I have a little food, and there
is water near.”

“Food nor water will ever trouble me
again. The time has come when I must
go over another kind of river, and my
regrets are to leave you, and that 1 have
not come face to face with poor Wilbur.”

“ You will not leave me; and you will
yet see father in this life. I am sure of
it. Do not waste your time and strength
with foolish fancies.”

“ It is but too true, Josie.

“ Do not say so.
a trifle.”

“ True, but then, my sickness prepared
me for surrender. The wound, the strug-
gle, the flight, the excitement, the ex-
haustion, have been too much. Remem-

er.”

He _spoke painfully, and between gasps.
Brave though the girl he called Josie
might be, she could not help believing
the end near, and her face was darkened
with terror, though she tried to keep
up an outward show of courage.

“ Yes, yes, I will remember.”

“That paper—you have it yet? ”

h 1 Yes, safely under the lining of my

a I!’

“ Preserve it as you would your life,
and place it in Wilbur’s hands, with
my love."

He had partially risen as he spoke,
but now he fell back, while his breath
came harder, with more rapid gaSps.

“ Remember.”

Painfully he sobbed out that last word,
and then grew still, while down into his
glazing eyes gazed the girl, with a deep-
ening sense of hopelessness.

There was nothing now she could do
but clasp his hand, and weep silently
as she felt it grow colder in her grasp.

Suddenly, her ear caught a Slight
sound, _which seemed made by nearing
feet. Half delighted, half frightened,
she sprung up to peer over and beyond
the rock which shut off her range of
view. '

Then, she became conscious of the fact
that the coming intruders were not al-
together strangers. A rifle was aimed

I am going.”
Your wound is but

at her head, while a hoarse voice raspedr

out:

“Up with yer hands, gal, an’ tell ther
old gent ter waltz out ther same way.
We got him foul. He’s thar, we knows
it.”

She threw up her hands without hesi-
tation, as, looking straight in the eyes of
the desperado, she answered:

“Yes, he is here; but, he will never
raise his hands again in this world. Do
your worst, you brutes. You come too
late.”

 

CHAPTER II;-
BAFFLED. BUT NOT BEATEN.

The girl had forgotten her sorrow in
anger at the appearance of these men.
If she had held a weapon in her hand
she would have fought them both.

The fellows stared at the one they had

 

pictured a timid fugitive, scarcely taking
in the meaning of her words at the first.

There was little delay, however. See-
ing Josie was not likely to offer resist-
ance—which, indeed, they had hardly ex-
pected—they rushed around the boulder,
and saw the silent figure lying in its
shade.

“Get up,
shouted.

“Thar‘s no time ter be dodgin’ off
sick. You got breath ernough ter tell
whar ter find them papers, ef you ain’t
got ’em hid on yer, an’ we means ter hev
yer do ett, ef we hev ter draw blood
ag’in.”

As he spoke he caught the shoulder of
the old man, and gave it a rude shake.

But as his fingers fell away he started
back, exclaiming:

“The old fool has got away a’rter all.
He’s dead.” '

“ Yer off, sure,” answered the other,
coming forward, though not allowing
Josie out of his sight.

“ Ett war on’y a few minnits ago we
heard ’em chinnin, an' I guess he's on’y
playin’. That dodge can’t fool me.”

“Look at him yerself.”

The man did so, dragging the body
brutally out where the light fell full upon
the face.

The inspection satisfied him beyond a
doubt

“Right yer are, Tom, arter. all. Let’s
see what ther kid hez ter say. He ain’t
hed time ter git away with them pa-
pers, an’ ef he ain’t got ’em ther gal kin
say. whar ter find ’em.” .

Eagerly he examined the clothing of
the dead man, turning every pocket in-
side out, and feeling each seam; but
nothing rewarded his search.

“Where did he put them papers, blast
yer]? ” he asked savagely, turning to the
glr .

“He had no papers to put anywhere.
You and your gang searched him thor-
oughly enough, once before, to have
told you that.” ‘

The steady ones of the girl angered
the man. He caught her by the arm,
snatching her away from his partner.

“Don’t be so fresh, kid, er you'll find
who’s boss ov this outfit. You kin talk,
an' blamed ef you won’t be made ter
talk, one way er ’nother. Mag went over
your dunnage er I’d a thought mebbe he
hed give ’em ter you. Ef he didn’t hev
’em along hyer he’s got ’em hid some-
where’s, an’ you’ll tell whar, er die while
we're tryin’ ter find out.”

old man!” one of them

“ I tell you, I have nothing to say. I.

might lie to you, and send you miles,
miles ba0k on the trail, but I have no
desire to postpone the final settlement
of this. Take me to your captain and
I’ll tell him just what I have told you.”'

“Git a stick, pard. Thar’s Only one
way with a bird like this. Ef she kin
Sing an’ won’t sing we got ter make her
sing. A leetle 0v that same whalin’
tglcliies a big ways with sich fresh ’uns ez

S.”

“Yer jest right, pard; but I’d sooner
twist her blame leetle neck, an’ end ther
hull fool' racket, ef it warn’t fur ther
boss. Rod-oil are ther thing ter fisick

her talkin’ outfit; leastwise, we’ll try ett-

on. Hold her thar a minnit! ”
There was no doubt in the mind of

the girl about the earnestness of- the ruf— '

flame, and her brow compressed as she
thought of the execution of their threats.
For the moment she ceased to think
about her dead uncle, and forgot his un-
buried corpse. ‘ ,

If she was to escape at all it seemed as
though this was the time. Fleet and sure
of foot as a mountain goat, she believed
she could scale the rocks of this canyon

 

 

 _--._..._

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

cg... an .....-_.A..~ he.

 

Banty Billy" s ' Bonanza.

3

 

where the men could not, and with any-
thing like a fair start could perhlps out~
pace them on level ground.

The man who held her prisoner moved
with her from behind the roe}; :» id looked
down the canyon. After all, he was not
quite certain about this treatment they
proposed. He turned to the girl.

“See hyer, sis! Ther boss hcz offered
a hundred fur them papers, an’ me an’
my pard means ter make a divvy 0V that
same. You kin see yer ain‘t got a chance
ag'in us, it’ll be a heap wuss ef we takes
yer inter camp. \Vhy not give ett up?”

Josie shook her head, but said nothing.
She was furtively picking out a course.

“I tell yer squar’ thet ther captain
means ter put yer light out, an’ of he gits
hold 0v yer ag’in he’ll do ctt. Own up,
now, put them papers in my hands an’
I'll see that yer gits away. We‘ll leave
yer on ther trail ter Barton’s camp, an’
I'll see yer ain’t follered by none ovither
gang."

She held down her head, and seemed
to be listening so intently the speaker
actually thought his words were going to
be of some avail. There never was a
man more surprised than he at what
followed.

His hand had dropped from Josie’s
shoulder as he tried to convince her that
he was a friend, and imperceptibly she
had edged away a pace or more.

Now, with a sudden spring, she bound-
ed into the air, and before he knew her
intent, was upon a jutting point of rock,
which it would have taken some minutes
for him to reach. His hand dropped to
his belt with the instinct of a shooter
directing it.

Before the weapon could flash up Josie
was out of sight.

She was running desperately, but light-
ly, along a rough, rugged, broken track,
over which neither of the men could
possibly have followed at anything like
the samé rate of speed.

If eyes had not failed her, there was a
strong chance this path would lead right
on up along the face of the canyon wall,
though what might be found when it was
surmounted was more than she had even
tried to guess.

A yell from her late captor served
to redouble her speed; but it also caused
his partner to look up, and see the fly-
ing figure.

He took in theposition at a glance,
and did not hesitate.

His rifle was still slung at his shoul-
der, and he brought it around with the
cool swiftness of an expert, raised the
hammer, and took deliberate aim, linger-
ing long enough, however, to shout:

“Halt, thar, an’ hands up, er by ther'

livin' Moses, I’ll bring yer down! ”

There was no slacking of the feet which
were winged by fear, and without a
second challenge the trigger was pulled.

At that instant Josie was bounding
from one point of rock to another which
jutted out but a foot or so from the
sheer wall.

The bullet hissed just OVer her shoul-
der, missing her by only the fraction of
an inch. It struck the rock in front of
her with a cruel spat, sending up a small
shower of sharp little splinters, some of
which struck her in the face as she
alighted.

The report and the little shock were
too much for her.

Up went one arm in an involuntary
movement to guard her face, and the
hand struck sharply against the solid
wall of rook before her.

At that. her footing was lost, and
like a wounded bird she went .tumbling
down from her perch. ‘ ‘ '

 

 

CHAPTER III.
BANTY BILLY’S DROP.

The two men below looked upward,
and at the moment thought the ballet
had done the work, and never dreamed
but that she would drop to the bed of
the canyon a corpse. ‘

Fortunately, she took no such tumble,
or there would have been an end of all
things, even though never touched by
the lead.

She grasped at little projections, which
served to check her progress even though
she obtained no firm hold, until, at last,
her fingers clasped a point her feet had
already passed, and she hung suspended
by the one hand, twenty feet from the
cruel rocks below.

“ Never t’etchcd her, pard~—an’ I reckon
ett's most mighty well. We'll hev her
now.”

“In a box. She can't pull herself up;
an’ when she lets go 1 don‘t want ter
see ther squelch.”

The marksman had cast down his rifle,
and rushed to the foot of the rocks.

“ Thar won’t be none ef we stands on-
der, an’ ketches her when she kims.
Git a move on, Paddy, er ther boss ’11 git
it on fur us.”

As he spoke. he looked upward with
outspread arms, calculating the distance.

They were both burly ruflians, and
not altogether without a certain vicious
nerve and chivalry. Grumbling as he
came, Paddy took position beside his
pard. He did not fancy risking broken
bones, but it seemed possible to him that
between them they might break the fall
of the girl without serious damage to
themselves.

Meantime, Josie hung alm0st motion-
less. She felt vainly for a footing,
glanced upward to see that thereowas no

hold for her other hand, and then calmly‘

waited for whatever ending fate might
force.

If she heard the voice of the men be-
low it was as the noises of a dream.
About all she knew was that her fingers
were slowly but surely spreading open.

“Say, you up thar, We kin ketch yer
ef yer does ez we sez. D‘yer hear? ”

The shout of Tom somehow brought
her back to her senses.

“ Yes, I hear. What do you want? ”

“ Ef you works with us we’ll bring yer
out all right. Will yer do ett? "

“ What is it you want? ”

“ When we give ther word let go. Will
yer do ett?”

“Yes.”

“ Ready, then! Now! "

Josie’s fingers opened altogether, and
she shot downward.

The men worked together as though
they had been trained to it. The girl
was caught in their arms; and though
they did not attempt to hold her, the
fall was so broken that she struck
the ground with a shock by no means
dangerous. .

The two men staggered back; Josie
sprung to her feet. Perhaps she owed
them her life, but she trusted them none
the more. What would be their next
move?

If she had thoughtsof again darting
away Paddy was as quick to prevent.
As she stood erect his hand once more
fell on her shoulder, with a more un-
gentle force than ever.

“ No, yer don’t, kid. Yer needn’t think
we’re goin’ ter let yer off, now. Ett are
bizziness with us, with er great big B.
Thar’s ther stick, an’ hyer’s yer back.
Ef yer don’t open out ter bedrock ther
one ’11 feel- t’other.”

“ on, let ther gal hev a chance,” inter-
posed the other man.

I'—

 

“ She’s skeered now, an’ can’t talk; but
when she gits good an’ riddy she’ll reel
ett off straight ez a string. Ef not, we'll
know why not, shore. 0v course, she
mast talk.”

A frown made these last Words more
of a threat than the other man had used.
Between the two Josie could see but lit—
tle to choose; and her eyes began to
wander around in search of a route
should she be able again to break away.

“Blast yer nonsense, Tom; soft soap
ain’t a goin‘ ter git ther truth outen Iu’r.‘
Thar’s nothin’ ’11 do ett but ther stick,
an’ ther stick she‘s goin’ ter hev. Kim
along, sissy.” ‘

Tom folded his arms and stepped a
pace backward. He did not altogether
approve, but did not care to interfere.

Paddy was already attempting to drag
her away, when a new voice chipped into
the conversation.

“ Say, pards, I‘m in this game; deal me
a hand. Ef that don‘t suit, throw up yer
own, I got yer lined.”

The sharp click of a hammer being
forced back emphasized the words, and
both men turned swiftly in the direction
of the sound of the voice.

The tones might be juvenile, but such
a challenge was one in those regions
which always commanded attention, es-
pecially when a Winchester struck up a
preliminary chord of accompaniment.

The butt of Banty Billy’s rifle lay along
his cheek, and the muzzle pointed in
their direction; but the sharp eyes could
scarcely be said to be looking through
the sights. They appeared to be taking
in all three with a roving glance, while
the tube, which might be deadly enough,
wavered first toward one and then toward
the other.

They did not understand much about
the boy, and the erratic motion of his
gun gave the outlaws confidence. Their
hands had not gone up, and now, one of
Paddy’s went back with a swift dart
for the revolver which swung at his hip.

“Trumps led, an’ yer uncle takes ther
trick" ” exclaimed the boy, and without
farther aim he pulled trigger.

He never seemed to follow the shot
with his eye, but turned his glance to
Tom, at the same time preparing for a
second shot.

“ Stiddy, now, pard! " he warned. “I
kin put ’em right whar I want ’em, an’
this ’11 go betwixt yer eyes ef them
hands ain’t up in ther shake ov a bar’s
tail~an‘ “ein’ short by natur' that don’t
take long.”

The way Paddy was howling might
have drowned the words had they been
uttered less distinctly. ,The ball from
the Winchester had made nasty work
with the handle of his revolver, to say
nothing of two or three fingers which
happened to be in the way. Hewas
dancing around, flirting the blood from
his wounded hand, and altogether too
wise from experience to think of making
another aggressive movement while that
muzzle frowned in that direction.

Tom, not even having a weapon handy,
flung up his hands without a word.

“Now, leetle g’al, whar’s ther old
man? ”

“He is dead!” answered Josie, sim-
ply.

“Sorry ter hear ett, but so ett goes.
We can‘t have ther funeral tell after
this fight are over, an’ I don’t want yer
ter see ett finished. Might give yer bad
dreams. Jest step this way, an’ g0 kinder
round, so .ez yer don’t hide the? critters’
heads. May hev ter take a. line shot on

.”em yit, an’ bore ’em both.”

Josie needed no second invitation, but:
ran to his side at once.

 

    

4

 

Banty Billy’s Bonanza.

 

 

 

“Keep on down ther kenyon tell yer
kims ter a burro,’ he whispered. “ Mount
an’ let him go. Don‘t tetcli ther bridle
an’ he’ll take yer in ther way you should
go. Skeet, now!”

No second warning was needed. Her
present safety was the first thing the
bruised, roughly handled, and well nigh
exhausted girl thought of. She bounded
away with a momentary renewal of
strength, while Banty continued to eye
the ruffians.

“ Nice pair, you be! ” he said, looking
them over.

Paddy was tying up his hand, while
the wicked look of one who soon might
do something desperate was beginning
to come into the face of the other, as
he listened to the boy:

“ I’ve seen better men than you be hev
the’r ha’r cut fur nothin’ an' ett didn’t
do ’em half ez much good, neither. Ef
yer goin’ ter turn sour I’ll -hev ter hev
‘both yer scalps; but, ef your way ain’t
my way, an' yer willin’ ter go it, I dunno
but what I might be willin’ ter let yer
slide.”

Paddy spoke up:

“Bub, ye kin do ez yer please, but I
giv yer warnin’. Ef yer don’t, hyer's one
ex will still track yer to ther death.”

“ I’m ‘greeabie, ef thar’s no other way
suits yer ter pass in yer checks; but
meanwhile you two stand thar tell I tell
yer ter move. I’m good fur a snapshot
up ter eight hundred yards, an' next
time I'll hold plumb fur ther center ov
yer bigness.”

In spite of Paddy's threat neither man
attempted to follow as the boy deliber-
ately backed away. Josie was already
out of sight, and it would not take Banty
long to get outsxde of the range of their
revolvers. In fact, in another minute
he had vanished.

“ Slow, an' stiddy, now,” warned Paddy
as he picked up his broken revolver.
“ We got ter hev ’em, but ther cub kin
bite hard.”

They were beyond the point where the
walls overhung their base, and scarcely
had they taken two steps when, from
above, stone after stone came hurling
down, in a way which showed an inten-
tion to block their pursuit. .

Any one of them would have worked
terrible harm had it hit, and when, at
length, a boulder which might have
weighed, perhaps, a quarter of a ton, fell
directly in front of Paddy, he turned,
followed by Tom, and fled in the other
direction.

As they darted away in retreat a se-
ries of most blood-curdling yells arose
from the top of the canyon wall.

 

, CHAPTER IV.
THE BEAR-TAMER.

Josie did not hesitate to follow the or-
ders of her suddenly found friend. Who
he was, or where he came from, troubled
her nothing. She ran along the gorge
without even a thought of the danger into
which he was thrusting himself by advo-
cating her cause. ,

She knew in a moment that she was
out of sight of her late captors, and so
felt a sense of safety, impossible so long
as she might be expecting a bullet in her
back. The next thing was to find the

~burro.

He was there, sure enough, standing in
I. little niche, with head bowed down and
ears drooping. He hardly looked 'like the
sort of charger to hear her fleetly from
the fray, but he was better than nothing.
She was anxious to leave the spot behind
as soon as possible, yet was unable to go
on foot. She mounted, and gave the rein
as directed.

 

Dandy was what the burro was called,
and he proved himself a dandy, in spite
of his looks. He immediately proceeded
to assert himself and get over the ground
at what seemed quite a furious rate.

For some distance he followed the bed
of the canyon, but after going perhaps a
quarter of a mile he turned and with a
great leap appeared bent on attacking
the perpendicular rook.

He was wiser, however, than he
seemed, for after a hard scramble up
some yards of difficult footing he struck
a. path which was an easy incline, though
no four-footed animal but a mountain
burro would have willingly attacked it at
such a pace.

Josie shuddered as she discovered how
much she had to trust to an animal she
had never seen before. Mindful of her
late fall, as she rose higher and higher
she would have thrown herself off if it
could have been done with safety.

That was impossible. There was noth-
ing to do but keep her seat as best she
could, and hope Dandy was taking the
right course. Once or twice, when the
path seemed particularly narrow and full
of danger, she closed her eyes, bending
down to rest her arms on the pommel of
the saddle and hide her face.

It seemed like hours while the journey
lasted, though in reality it was but a few
minutes. At the very moment she began
to think she could not possibly keep her
seat to the end Dandy gave a nimble
leap, and then stood once more on level
ground. By a path known to him and
Banty, he had surmounted the canyon
we‘ll, and reached the table land from
which, in fact, he had descended but a
short time before.

The burro made no halt, however, but
ambled along near the edge of the chaSm,
and Josie could not help but notice he
was taking her back toward a point
above the spot in the canyon where she
had met with her late adventures.

The route was reasonably smooth,
though here and there rocks were scat-
tered in their path, and back at no great
distance low mountains rose up.

It seemed a scene of savage loneliness,
and it was natural she should wish for
her protector. She yearned for him more
than ever a moment later, when Dandy
gave a snort, and stood stock still.

Out from behind a huge rock there
suddenly marched an immense bear,
which finally reared itself upon its hind
legs immediately in the path, and opened
its cavernous Jaws.

The girl gazed at him like one fasci-
nated. Then, seeing he was slowly
marching forward in her direction, she
gave a tug at the reins, and looked over
her shoulder, intending to turn and flee.

What she saw gave her scant consola-
tion. Behind her came a. mate for the
first beast, every whit as large, and if
anything more dangerous looking. Dan-
dy and she were caught between two
fires!-

Dandy did not take kindly to the idea
of Josie’s interference. He drew his feet
up under him, stuck down his head, and
said as plainly as actions could say, he
did not intend to budge an inch.

Meantime, from front and rear, the
bears were approaching.

Was Dandy never going to move? Josie
was almost petrified, and knew but too
well that she could not run a step.

The rear beer was the nearer, and when
she looked at him again he was so very
near she gave a scream of alarm, at
which the animal seemed to fall for-
ward unon the burro.

Dandy was not asleep, by any means.
He had not been fascinated, if his rider

 

had, and his stubbornness was not the
stubbornness of fear. In the twinkling
of an eye he had launched out both hind
feet, and landed them with a dull thud
against the body of his assailant!

After that, he skipped around so light-
ly one would never have suposed he car-
ried weight, and let drive again at the
foe approaching from the opposite direc-
tion.

That sudden turn was too much for
Josie, though she was no mean eques-
trian. It unsettled her in her seat, and
when Dandy’s heels arose again she went
sailing off over his shoulder.

She fell in a little huddle, and fortu-
nately received no harm.

Crouching there, in a little recess be-
tween two piles of rocks, she closed her
elyes, and listened to the sounds of bat-
t e.

For a brief season Dandy held his own
remarkably well.

He plunged and kicked; he danced
around after a fashion that would have
done the heart of a pugilist good to have
seen; and over all the noise of the fray
rose the sound of the cries which were
heard by Banty Billy and the two des-
peradoes.

At that, Josie probably fainted. For a.
little she knew nothing.

When she opened her eyes she could
hardly believe what she saw.

Dandy was standing in the same droop-
ing attitude as when she first found him;
on either side of him stood one of the
bears, in as peaceful an attitude as he
could assume; while directly in front of
her, staring down in a wondering way,
was a strange being, the sight of whom
sent a thrill of terror through her frame.

The figure was that of a man, of ocurse;
but at first glance, save for the scant
view obtained of his features, he resem-
bled more one of the animals at his side.

No sign of a hat was there on his head,
and his hair, coarse and matted, hung
down nearly to his waist, as it trailed
over his shoulders, and behind his back,
while his beard, of many monhts’
growth, reached down as far in front.

He was clad in skins dressed with the
hair on, even to the moccasins on his
feet, and the belt around his waist was of
the same material.

At his back hung a carbine, and in his
belt were two revolvers, and a huge
knife, of rude manufacture, as though it
had been forged by his own hands.

” Little girl come round allo rightee.
What she want here? ”

Seeing she was looking at him with
anxious curiosity he rumbled out the
words, and Josie felt her courage return-
ing as she heard his voice.

Though the man was unmistakably of
the white race, he spoke much as an In-
dian would have done had be spoken at.
all. Yet, there was nothing savage in his
hoarse tones, which were so reassuring-
that Josie found her tongue at last.

“ I want nothing but to get away from
the bad men below, who have killed my
uncle. who was my only friend.”

“What for they kill him? "

"They would have robbed him, for
they thought he‘hed hidden treasure.
We joined a party to make a Journey
across the plains. and were betrayed into
the hands of outlaws, who searched us,
and would perhaps have killed us both.
Then, thinking we were too helpless to
attempt flight, they were careless, and we
made our escape, though my uncle was
wounded. and dying. Two men tracked
us, but they came too late. Uncle was
dead. I made my escape from them, and
now do not know which way to turn.“

“ And, boy—he one of them? ”

 
    

 

 

 

 

 

 

l ""' "L. V,”

_ .9..- -..

 

 

 

Banty Billy‘s Bonanza.

 

“ No, no! He saved me, though I had
never seen him before. Providence must
have sent him just at the right time.
Then, too, he is brave; oh, so brave! ”

“Humph! Brave boy sometimes die
soon. Come ’long! ”

{e shrugged his shoulders, and made a
gesture, which meant she should rise and
follow him. At the same time the bears
looked expectant, and even Dandy pricked
up his ears. He spoke carelessly; yet
like one who intended to be obeyed.
Josie shrunk back in renewed fear.

“Perhaps I had better wait for that
boy. He seemed my friend, and I know
nothing of you. What would you do? ”

“ Dunno. Trebizond, the tamer, eat lit-
tle girls sometimes; mebbe he eat you.
Come ’long! "

He bent forward and caught her by
the hand. With his other hand he seized
Dandy by the bridle, and, turning, step-
ped away. It made no difference wheth-
er they were willing or not; they had to
come. When Banty Bruce stole silently
up from the canyon he saw in the dis-
tance the strange being stalking away.
With one hand he held Josie, with the
other he led the not altogether unwilling
Dandy. The two bears shambled along
in the rear of the procession.

 

CHAPTER V.
BANT‘Y 'ro rm: RESCUE.

It was useless for the girl to resist, and
she knew if she did not go of her own ae-
cord the strange being who called himself
'Trebizond would be most likely to carry
her. If he did not, perhaps he would
turn her over to the tender mercies of
the bears, which she now began to see
were his own peculiar property.

Forward she went, like one in a maze,
taking little heed of her footsteps, and
none at all of her surroundings. She
only knew they were ascending the high-
«cr, broken ground which extended away
upward, from the line of the canyon.

But even such doubtful energy as this
had to come to an end some time. After
awhile her feet refused to move, and
when Trebizond stepped on without no—
ticing it she fell forward, dragging along
after him.

He looked down, and understood.

“ Cyanide!” he exclaimed, looking
back; and at the name the largest bear
shuffled forward.

Across his back Trebizond threw the
girl and again stalked on.

Cyanide was not oppressed by the
weight. He could have carried three or
four like her. He gave a little “ whoof! "
of surprise at the unaccustomed load, and
journeyed on.

This time Josie knew nothing more un-
til after her journey, for the present at
least, was done. \

Her strength came slowly back and she
found herself in the hermit’s home.

It was a small room, built upon a floor
of solid stone, and apparently perched in

12. niche in the rocks which was by no

means easy of access.

Through 'the open door she could see
the threshold was the edge of the rock,
which seemed to go straight down indefi-
nitely. In fact, the distance was some
twenty feet.

For a time Josie said nothing, while
the man sat silent, smoking a pipe carved
out of a great gnarled piece of root.

He did not look dangerous, and grad-
‘ually the girl regained confidence, and
was able to think connectedly. She
clapped her hand to her head, and then
looked eagerly around. She had at last
missed something, of which she could see
no signs in the room.

Trebizond’s eyes were on her. but they
asked nominations.

 

    

5

 

 

“My hat!" she exclaimed.

“It is gone. I—«have you seen it? ”

The smoker gravely shook his head,
and continued to puff at his pipe.

“ But I must find it. If it is not here I
must go back.”

“ No go. Way long, and girl not find
it.”

“ I will risk it if you start me on the
track. How can I get away from here?”

She spoke from the doorway, to which
she had hastened. Below her the ground
lay twenty feet away, and the two bears
were prowling around on a little pla-
teau, now and then looking up, and sniff-
ing uneasily.

“No get away. No get down. That
good. Cyanide and Hyperchlorate no get
up. That good. They no eat us while
we sleep. Girl hungry? ”

“ No, no. I could not eat a mouthful.
Help me away from here. You do not
understand, and I dare not tell you. If
anything should happen! "

“If girl no hungry, girl sleep. Trebi-
zond must think. Maybe show her way
out by’mbye. Not now."

He pointed to a bunk, covered with
tanned hides, and there seemed to be
menace in both word and gesture. 'It
was evident he did not mean her to go at
present, and if she wished to escape she
must throw him off his guard, and then
discover some means to elude his vigi-
lance, and scale the descent.

Without a word she went over to the
couch and threw herself down. She even
closed her eyes, and after a little tried to
imitate the long—drawn breath of a
sleeper.

In that she was so successful that be-
fore long she had really passed into the
realm of dreams, and was sleeping the
sleep of exhaustion. .

After a time the bear-tamer arose, and
looking into the face of the sleeper to
make sure her slumber was genuine,
slipped out through the doorway. Had
Josie been ever so wide awake she could
scarcely have seen by what means he
took his departure, though she would,
perhaps, have been able to guess that he
went up rather than down. A few mo-
ments later he was stalking towards the
canyon, followed by his grizzlies.

He went without any stealth or effort
at concealment, though he had reason to
know he might possibly meet some who
could hardly help but be enemies. The
outlaws he had left in the canyon might
be prowling around; and there was the
boy, who might fancy the taking of
Josie, and the capture of the burro, were
not exactly the acts of a friend.

After he had successfully backed away
from the presence of the Outlaws, Banty
did not linger to see what it was that
was happening to them.

It was better to investigate that from
above, especially as he had sent the girl
in that direction.

When he came cautiously up by the
path over which Josie had ridden not
long before, his eyes dropped upon the
singular procession just vanishing from
sight.

He dropped down instan-tl)’, uncertain
what to make of it.

“ Horns ov Jericho! Thar’s Dandy and
ther gal; but who is those? An' Dandy
seems ter be goin’ ov his own willin’ness.
Drap me cold of ett don’t beat ther deck.
Banty, yer got yerself in a box, an’ don’t
yer furgit it. Reckon them rear guard'd
pinch a feller hard ef they caught him
a-trailin’ ’round ther layout; but reesk
er no reesk ett’s got ter he did.”

There was no mistake about it. Banty
was in a box.

There was no telling how soon the out-
laws would be coming in on him from

 

 

the rear, while he did not intend to
abandon either his burro or the girl,
though to go forward seemed to be lull
of danger.

“ He’s takin’ ett mighty cool, though,"
continued the boy, as he saw Trebizond
and his retinue disappear without a sin—
gle backward glance.

“ Can’t know thet he’s foolin' with
Banty Billy’s property. Ett looks like a
hard outfit ter run ag’in, but onless he
shows thar’s bin some mistake he’ll be
apt ter find ther beforesed Banty Bruce
very much around betwixt now an’ ther
time when ther game closes. I could do
’thout ther kid, but ther burro I’m bound
ter have.”

He looked back into the canyon long
enough to assure himself the men he had
left there were not in sight, and then be-
gan cautiously to proceed in the direc-
tion taken by the hermit.

It was quite a tramp, but the boy had
no difliculty in keeping on the trail, so
that eventually he located the mountain-
side den of the hermit.

He was obliged to content himself with
that, for a time. ,

The presence of the bears puzzled him.

They seemed to be stationed as senti—
nels, and as a man who lived in these re-
gions was supposed to understand its
business methods he believed they would
almost certainly discover him if he at-
tempted to draw near.

He had little fear of them, to be sure,
even if they should come out to the at-
tack; but he did not care to have their
owner made aware of his presence.
There seemed nothing better for him
than to prowl around for a while and
await developments.

He had a long wait, but at last his pa-
tience had a better reward than he had
hoped for.

The bear—tamer came to the opening,
balanced a moment on the threshold,
and then swung himself up, hand over
hand, in a nimble way that was astonish-
ing.

For perhaps twenty—five feet or more
he climbed, and then, reaching the top of
the rock, drew up after him the rope by
which he had mounted.

When he went away, accompanied by
Cyanide and Hyperchlorate, Banty exe-
cuted a brief war dance of triumph, and
made haste to climb up to the bank out
of which jutted the rock in which the re-
treat was located.

As yet, he had seen nothing of Dandy
or the girl, but had little doubt of being
able to find them both.

To his delight the rope was lying there,
neatly coiled, and the one end fastened to
a stout stick, thrust into a cavity in the
rock.

He threw the other end over and let
himself down without hesitation, swing-
ing into the little doorway with as much
precision as though it was all an old
story.

The result was, he came face to face
with Josie, who gave a little cry of de-
light as she recognized him.

“ Oh, how good! You have come to
save me from the madman. Let us get
away quick, before he returns.”

“Hev ter git a rustle on, then, fur I
think he’s comin’ now. Are yer able to
travel?”

“Yes, yes! Hurry. Go back as you
came. I can follow. If you had only
waited a moment, and said a word, I
would have come up, and all this time
would not have been lost. I will die if I
meet those monsters again."

“ Ain’t so easy ter die ez all that him:
to,” said Banty with a shrug of his shoul-
ders, and catching the rope he began to
ascend.

 

It
“ \
f.
‘,

    
 

5-:
f. ‘
it
I v
r. t

6

Banty Billy’s Bonanza.

 

 

CHAPTER VI.
mom THE FRYING PAN TO THE FIRE.

Banty made no mistake when he said
the hermit was returning to the niche.

Fortunately he was still at consider-
able distance, and the face of the rock
against which swung first one and then
another small figure was temporarily
hidden from view. The two reached the

‘ solid ground above without mishap, and

hand in hand they scampered away.

“ What in blazes did yer do with Dan-
dy, kitten?” asked the boy, giving a
keen glance around, in a vain attempt to
search out the hiding place of the miss-
ing burro.

“I do not know. I guess I fainted be—
fore I got here, and have seen nothing of
him since.”

“ Heven’t time ter look him up, then.
Wouldn’t wonder ef ther leetle imp hed
tried ter take a bulge on him, an’ he’d
throwed him over. You’re next best, an’
I’ll get yer outen this an’ see him about
ett later on.”

The day was fast nearing a close, and
the darkness would favor the lad. He
knew something of this ground, though
up to this very afternoon he had never
suspected the mystery which had been
all along hid in this mountain glen. If
Josie only had the strength to follow he
had little fear of the result, unless the
bears were better and more willing trail-
ers than he believed.

Josie had the strength. I

She had to have it, and the boy helped
to sustain it with his quaint, low-voiced
conversation, as they hurried along. They
followed the canyon for some little dis-
tance, and then, turning aside, plunged
deeper into the fastnesses of the wilder-
ness. There was his camping-ground,
which Banty believed would be safe
enough, until daylight, at least. They
reached it without interruption.

Josie threw herself down, hopeful but
exhausted, while Banty began to prepare
such frugal supper as his resources ad—
mitted of.

The boy was bubbling over with curi-
osity, but he refrained from asking queS-
tions.

The first thing to do was to put some
strength into this wilted lily, and after
that he had no doubt she would give him
an explanation of what he had seen.’ At
present, grief for the loss of her uncle
appeared to be somewhat blunted, and it
might not be well to open it up afresh, as
any questions on his part would have the
effect of doing.

Banty was right. .

‘ When they had eaten what they cared
to from his stock of jerked meat, washed
down with spiing water, they crouched
over the few coals of fire which were
alive, and of her owu suggestion Josie
opened the subject.

“ You have called yourself Banty
Bruce, and I suppose that is your name.
Anyhow, you have been my friend, and I
am yours. Can I‘get back to the spot
where you found me?”

“ ’Pends largely on what’s in ’ther road.
I ain’t allers yearnin’ fur a thing because
I kin do ett; an’ I reckon you better wait
a day er so tell we see how ther land are
goin’ ter lay.”

“But I must go back at once; or, at
least, when morning dawns.”

“ Fur why? ”

- " For one thing, I must see what has
become of uncle. For another, I have
103: something which I must recover it I
risk my life.”

“ Ef ett’s arything more beportant than
Dandy you better tell me what she is an’
let metry. You kin lay low hyer; an’ I

 

reckon I’m better set up ter wrastle with
ther contrack.”

“Oh, no! I could not leave it to you,
though if you could go with me you
would be more than ever my friend, and
some day I might be able to pay you
well.”

“ Don’t talk ter me about pay. I don’t
take no jobs that way, when thar’s a
pore leetle orph’un gal at ther front. Be
ye a orph’un, though?”

“That is what I am trying to find out.
Uncle and I were on the way to follow
up what he thought was a clue.”

With this for a beginning she went
on to tell a story much the same as
she had told to the bear-tamer.

“ An’ now yer sez yer hez lost s’uthin’,
an’ wants ter go back ter git ett. 'Bet-
ter want.”

“ No, never. And you forget poor un-
cle. At any risks I must see his corpse
is buried, even though I have scant time
to mourn over him. I only left him
to save myself; but— but—now, I must go
back.”

“ All right. You’ll run ett ter suit yer-
self, an’ I’m with yer. Ef I can’t see
yer through ther rifi‘le, a feller ov a
bigger bigness would n’t be ov no use.”

The lad was inclined to be boastful,
and perhaps not without some reason.
His pride was destined to take a tum—
ble.

Keen and quick though his sight and
hearing were he was not in the least
prepared for what happened.

With a sudden dart a pair of strong
arms wrapped around him, pinning his
hands to his sides, While a gutteral
voice at his ear gurgled out a senten-
tious:

M Waugh! 1!

“Redskin, by mighty! ” exclaimed the
boy, unable to move, but not at all par—
alyzed.

“You jest beat my time, an’ I ain’t
got a word ter say. But whar did yer
kim frum, anyhow? ” _

“ Bear What Talks here all the time.
He hear all white children say, then he
take um both. They Agood maybe he
no hurt. They try get away he take um
hair, sure.”

The boy began to believe the Indian
told the truth. It would have been al-
most impossible to have got into the
camp without giving the alarm; in very
fact he had been lying almost within
arm’s length when Banty was listening
to the interesting story of his young com—
panion.

It was evident Bear Who Talks in-
tended to consider the pair his prisoners.
Without iusing unnecessary violence he
proceeded to twist the wrists of the
boy behind him, and knot them together
with a piece of green hide.

While he was doing this he glared at
Josie, who, on the other side of the
fire, remained motionless and mute. The
shock of this sudden attack had been
too much for her.

Under other circumstances she might
perhaps have tried either resistance or
flight, but the experiences of the day
were capped by this one of the night, and
she had no courage left to meet it.

As soon as the boy was rendered help-
less for harm his captor became quite
friendly. He rummaged around the little
camp, finding nothing which appeared
to take his fancy except Banty’s arms,
which at the very outset he had appro—
priated. '

Finally he threw himself on the ground
near them.

The fire was burning it anything too
brightly, for he had thrown on it an
armful of dry fuel to aid him in his

 

search. By the little glare he studied
the faces of his captives, turning first to
one, and then to the other.

“Boy shoot, boy trap, boy hunt gold.
Talk Bear see him before. What white
little squaw do here? Talk Bear not.
understand that pow-wow.”

Josie did not at once answer, and her
face showed the fear which she really
felt.

The silence seemed to anger the In-
dian. His face had not seemed alto—
gether vicious before this when it was
turned toward Josie, but now it dark—
ened with a scowl.

Josie observed this, and quickly spoke

up:
Briefly she told her story over still
another time, using the simplest lan-
guage, and dwelling on the fact that she
had no idea of doing more than pass
through these regions. .

The explanation calmed the redskin;
he even looked thoughtful, as though he
might be weighing the story, perhaps
with an idea of helping her.

“Um. Bear What Talks understand.
better, now. Good for girl his brothers
no find her. They no sabbe. He take
care of her, mebbe.”

He asked nothing more, and his next,
movement was not so reassuring, since
he proceeded to bind her hands, and
fasten her in such a way she could not
get nearer to Banty Bruce:

Then he threw himself carelessly
down, and before very long went to.
sleep.

The night wore on after a fashion, even.
the prisoners obtaining a fair amount
of rest and sleep, uncomfortable though
they undoubtedly were. When morning
dawned Bear Who Talks had no occa—
sion to rouse them, for they were til--
ready wide awake. He had Banty's rifle
slung over his shoulder, and his revolvers
stuck in his belt, so that it was not giv—
ing his captives an unwholesome advan"—
tage when he cast loose their fasten-
ings.

“ No want fool, now. Shoot quick and
never miss, boy try run away. Him
(lo, Talk ‘Bear say: Git move on, cat
hearty.”

“But say, me noble red man, what’s.
yer platform? May save lots 0v frickshun
cf ye’ll open out down ter bed rock-
Jest s’posin’ I’d make a mistake, an’
throw yer cold when you war a frien’
after all. Horns 0v Jericho! W’ot weep—
in‘ there’d be in ther Bruce fambly,
which are mostly me.”

The boy spruced himself up like a lit-
tle bantam rooster, while Josie watched.
him with an admiring gaze. She had
seen how he could act on an emergency,
and his words did not seem altogether
like a braggadocio.

“ N0 sabbe,” answered Bear Who
Talks. shaking his head. “ Boy no
eat, boy git weak; Talk Bear take his
scalp.”

His lips closed tightly after that, and
Banty concluded there was .no use in.
making further effort to obtain informa—
tion. A‘s the provisions were principally
his own he made the best of the situa—
tion, and finished his meal without an—
other word. 'v

Then, Talk Bear gathered up what was

left and stowed the fragments away.
With the pieces of green hide which had
confined them the previous night he
securely tied a wrist of each so that
they could walk side by side, and their
other ,‘wrists behind their backs.
v Thus linked together he motioned'them.
to follow the course by which theyhad
come to the camp, and, grimly silent.
stalked on behind as they movedaWaY-

  

1'
r

 

 

    

 

u

Banty Billy’s Bonanza.-

 
   

'7

 

 

 

CHAPTER VII.
CAPTAIN HARD GETS HURT.

The two outlaws who had trailed the
fugitives to the canyon had the average
amount of courage belonging to such
men, but several things had happened to
shake their nerve, and when the at-
tack came from above it was no wonder
they turned and fled; or, that once going
they should not have stopped for some
time.

What was the meaning of the terrific
yells heard above them they did not
know, but there was no mistaking the
falling rocks, which had come so near
putting an end to them altogether.

They went on up the gorge for half a
mile, only stopping when the way be—
came tangled and rough.

They found a place where they would
be screened from observation if any one
followed directly on their course, and
there they crouched down.

“What war ett, Paddy? ” asked Tom,
after a glance down the canyon to make
sure no one was in sight.

“ Ber cussed ef I know. You ever bin
hyer afore? "

“ Mighty few spots in these diggin’s I
ain’t bin. But ett‘s a year or more senqe
I tracked this trail, an' then I didn’t
stay more ner a night. I’ve heared ov
ett, though.”

“ 0v what? ”

“ Ther thing what makes them noises.
Ef ett hedn’t bin fur that mebbe I
Wouldn’t a took ther f’ust boat. Thar
War no chance ter hit back, though, an'
ett war shoot Luke er give up ther gun.”

“Thought yer didn’t know.”

“ So I don’t, but thar’s suthin’—Injun,
white man, ghost, b’ar er howlin’ loony-
tick, I can‘t tell which. But when yer
tries ter crowd him he allers kills."

“ We ain’t bin crowdin’ him, though.”

“ What’s ther dif’ ef he thinks so.
Reckon we better skip ther ranch tell
ther boss comes. He kin do ez he
pleases.”

“ I’m with yer on that. We ain’t got
no chance at him from down hyer, an’
he kin sling a dornick mighty straight.
With that sort ov a hand you ain’t fit
fur a fight, even ef we could git at him.”

“ Thar ain’t much chance ov his gittin’
clost enough jest now. Ett’s ten mile
’roundyby ther neardest route, an’ after
he hez time ter simmer 21 leetle we’ll
skip out.”

“ Sooner ther better.”

“Yes, but I ain’t furgittin’ biz. Ther
gal’ll go driftin’ back down ther ken-
yon; an’ we’ll pick her up on ther way,
er crowd her out ag’in ther boss ez he
kims up. An’ thar’s that boy, cuss him! ”

“ Who is he? Like ez not he’s got
backin’ somewheres nigh er he wouldn’t
hev crowed so loud.”

“ Blast him, he ain’t ther kind as needs
backin’. Never set eyes on him afore.
but I knowed him soon ez I seed him.
Ett’s ther fresh young kid 62 scooped
ther deck at Bent’s Crossin’ when thar
war a big rifle match thar last fall. He
took f’ust prize then, an’ cleaned out
Rio Ralph when he tried ter cut up

‘ rough with him.”

“ But he ain’t out hyer alone.”

“ That’s his style. Sez he’s his own
pard. Prospects, hunts, traps, an’ 8113’-
thing else ez kims to his hand. Quick ez
lightn’in, an’ full ov grit ez a sand bar.
Ef yer goes fur him yer wants ter do it
a holdin’ ther drop; an' that won't do
yer much good onless he’s dead.

“Dead goes. He’s my mutton, an’
sooner er later I’ll hev him.”

It was policy for more reasons than
one to remain in hiding for a little. That

'Nvould not only give the assailant above

 

time to turn his attention in some other
direction, but would throw the two fugi—
tives whom they hoped to overtake off
their guard.

“ Mind yer, ef we git ther bulge on the
boy, thar’s ter be no nonsense; down
he goes.”

This was Paddy’s speech as they start-
ed out; and swiftly but cautiously they
beat down the bed of the canyon.

As they passed the place where the late
unpleasantness began they saw a white,
upturned face, with dropped jaw and
staring eyes, but they only hurried on
the faster. There was no thought in
their minds to stop and bury the dead
man.

In these remote regions there were
wolves and vultures. To them the duty
was left.

But some distance farther on they did
halt. They had already not only the
steps of the girl but the footmarks of
the burro.

“ Say, Paddy, ther gal war wuss skeered
than we war. She drapped her bat an’
didn’t take time ter git ett. Ef she’s
kept up that gait she’s half way ter Pres-
cott by this time.”

“ Ain’t a blamin’ her. Ef I’d hed ther
chance I’d a gone ther same way, too.”

” But ef she gits out ov this afore ther
boss heads her off we may lose her ag‘in.
That boy ain’t no slouch, an’ he kin steer
her inter safe hidin‘.”

“ Ther boy ain’t found her yit, an’ ef
he does we kin trail ’em both. All ther
same, we’ll take ther hat along ter show
ther chief. Ile‘ll know then he’s on ther
lead, sure.”

There could be no mistake about the
article.

It was a soft, felt, wide brimmed som-
brero of the finer sort, evidently made
for woman’s wear. The stout rubber
band by which it had been secured to
Josie’s head had broken at the one end,
and in the excitement of the moment
she had never noticed its drop.

Paddy stooped and picked it up, fas-
tening it t9 his belt by the broken band.

As they hastened along they kept a,
keen lookout for any possible hiding
place, but it is needless to say found
nothing of the fugitives, traces of whom
had vanished.

Three or four miles away, the canyon,
which had rapidly been growing shallow-
er, debouched upon the plain.

Eagerly they glanced in every direc-
tion, not giving more than a passing
glance at a little party which they saw
approaching in the distance. Their first
desire was to try and get a glimpse
of Banty Bruce, and his Young charge.

It seemed a little strange there had
been no visibleltrace left, or any mark
to show at what point they had left the
gorge.

“ Ther boss are coming, anyhow,” mut-
tered Paddy. “ Reckon we better be
gittin’ our lcetle story riddy. He’s a
mighty oncertain man ter deal with when
he thinks yer ain’t done yer level best.”

“Let him icome. We got proof we
found ther gal, an’ he’ll hardly be think-
in’ you ripped up yer hand that way, Yer-
self. Take ett easy. I’m tired meself.”

It was pretty certain the party would
come directly to the spot, and both of
the men were tired enough already. They
dropped down to the ground and waited.

It was a wait of no long duration.

Evidently they had already been seen,
and the party came up at a gallop. In
the lead was a man of middle age, who
had black, yes, dark, flowing hair, and
a cruel mouth. His build was powerful,
and he held his seat in the saddle like
a Centaur.

‘admirable camping

 

“What news, you?” he called as he
came within speaking distance.

“ That's ez yer take ett. We found this
up ther kenyon. Fact are, ther old man
hez passed in his cheeks, an’ we’d a bed
ther gal ef a party hedn’t chipped on ther
sly, an’ give Paddy that hand. Ett all
makes a nice leetle story, an’ when
you’ve heared ett you’ll know what ter
do. She’s in ther box somewheres, an‘ it

won‘t be hard ter put a finger on her.” {

Tom pointed to the hat, and then to
his partner’s hand, as he spoke. It
was easy to show they had been on not
altogether a bootless quest. The chief
frowned as he listened, and harshly put
a few questions.

Tom could be terse enough when nec~
essary, and in a few words explained
what had happened. He had no doubt
the boy and girl were in hiding some-
where up the canyon, from which there
seemed to be no means of escape. There
was yet time enough to roust them out
before the darkness came down. There
was a spot near which would serve as an
ground, and little
time would be lost.

The search began without delay, but
though the canyon was swept from the
mouth to a point beyond that at which
the two men had halted in their retreat
from the nameless terror above, nothing
was found.

Strangest of all was the fact that the
body they had left under the overhangng
rocks had vanished. Had it not been
for some unmistakable marks which Pad-
dy pointed out the captain might have
thought the story told him was a fabri-
cation. .

The corpse had been cleanly carried
away; and as that was certainly beyond
the powers of the girl it was evident
some one else had taken a hand. Wheth-
er the boy would have the needed
strength was doubtful. The rocks told
nothing, and the marks on the soft
ground were all accounted for. The
disappearance remained unexplained, and
the captain was face to face with a mys-
tery.

Various unavailing efforts were made
to climb the walls of the canyon, and
considering the chance that the fugi—
tives had made their escape by some
hidden path there was nothing to do
but go over the ground again, while
sending out explorers to search for a
path from the lower end, which might
lead up to the banks above. , '

But search as they might, when night
closed down they had found no traces
which could point with any exactness to
the direction in which the missing ones
had vanished. There was much ground
to cover, and it almost began to look as
though Josie had escaped for good.

Watch was kept but laxly around the
camp that night, and as the hours were
on even the two men who should have
been on guard were sleeping. The chief
lay with his head pillowed on his saddle,
slumbering to all appearance as soundly
as any one, but sometime after midnight
a noise among the horses awakened him.

They were restless, uneasy, and several 1
times snorted as though they scented an '
enemy. As the captain bounded to his
feet and stared around him in the moon~
light he saw they were huddled to—
gether in a close body, and while he
looked the same terrific yells arose which
had assailed the ears of Tom and Paddy.

Instantly the camp was up and in.
confusion; but before any one had fairly
gained an understanding of what was
happening the horses dashed away in a.
mass, while clinging to the back of the:
last of them was a strange figure, wheth-
er man or beast it was hard to tell.

(

 

   

‘?

 

8

Banty Billy’s Bonanza.

 

 

 

“ It's a mountain lion get among the
horses; after them! " shouted the chief;
and snatching up their weapons the
men darted off, leaving him alone.

“A lion it was," he muttered to him-
self; “and yet there is something about
it I do not understand. It almost looks
as though the brute had interfered in an
Indian stampede. There may be other
1.ro.vlers.- It is worth while to inves-
tigate."

Bending low he cautiously stole out to-
wards the spot from which the horses
had started.

There was nothing suspicious to be
heard or seen, yet from time to time he
halted and crouched down.

Il‘inally, just as he was rising from one
of these moments of pause, a form
loomed in front of him with startling
suddenness, and before he had time
for word or act an awful blow felled
him senseless to the ground.

 

CHAPTER VIII.
CLOSED IN FOREVER.

The march which Banty Billy and his
fellow captive were compelled to take
was a long and somewhat tiresome one,
but not altogether beyond their strength.

Bear Who Talks strode along in in-
scrutable silence save when now and
then he briefly directed their course. At
times he led the way, again he fell in
behind. At no time did he leave much
trail, and for the most part none at all,
though it was doubtful if he feared pur-
sun.

They halted for dinner at a spring, and
the wrists of the leashed couple were
unbound. When they were ready to
start again Talk Bear made a proposi-

i tion, and thinking altogether of his com-

panion Banty accepted it, giving his pa-
iole for the afternoon with ready cheer-
fulness. After that their journey was
much more comfortably made.

\fhither they were going puzzled the
boy. In low tones he spoke several times
to Josie, but as each time their captor
looltcd frowninng at them he gave up
the idea of discussion.

During all the long journey nothing
happened worth relating.

Finally, by a hidden path they went
down into a. little valley walled around
by precipitous hills, and fellowed for
some little distance the first appearance
of a. path they had met with that day. .

At that moment Banty was in the lead;
and hestopped suddenly. In the path-
way appeared a girl in Indian costume.
In her hand she held a bow; and to
this she fitted an arrow with a. sud-
denness which almost took away the
breath of the boy as he watched her.

He was entirely weaponless; but had
he been ever so well armed he would
have had scant time for defense, so swift-
ly did she throw up her weapon, all ready
for deadly work.

No twang of the string followed, how-
ever.

Her recognition of the one who brought
up the rear was as swift as her motions.
She loosened the string softly, thrust
back the arrow to its quiver, and without
a word turned and walked away.

Banty remained as stoical as a red In-
dian would have been. His foot never
hesitated a moment in its rise and fall,
and he went on as though he had never
seen the young intruder.

l Josie carried it off almost as well. She

Itarted at the sudden apparition, but no
pound passed her lips, and she stalked
along by the side of her friend without
any other show of interest.

Talk Bear perhaps saw the girl before
(he had time to vanish, but if so he gave,

 

no evidence of the fact. He came to the
front, presently, and the two followed
him without a word.

In a few moments several Indian lodges
were in sight, and towards these they
made their way.

Into the largest the three stepped, and
the Bear W'ho Talks said something to
the girl they had already seen, and to the
elder woman who was there with her.
As he spoke in an Indian dialect Banty
could not understand a word, but shrewd-
ly suspected the remarks were not partic-
ularly savage. The woman, who was
evidently a full-blooded Indian, looked at
Josie, and then motioned her to a resting
place on a pile of skins. Josie obeyed the
signs without hesitation, whilst BantY,
seeing no one was paying any attention
to his comfort, took a seat on the earth
floor, wrapped his arms around his knees,
and stared quizzically around. He had
expected to be led into an Indian village,
and submitted to Indian curiosity, if not
to torture. '

It did not take long to understand that
he was a prisoner who would be watched,
and that any attempt at escape would be
at his own great risk.

For once in his life the boy was thor-
oughly tired, whilst his companion was
almost exhausted. Things did not look
very immediately dangerous to either,
and not long after they had eaten the
supper provided for them the two were
asleep as soundly as though they were in
the safest of homes.

They slept just as well, and'when they
woke in the morning had just as good an
appetite. Later on, Talk Bear in his
terse way introduced them to the girl of
the bow, who, they easily understood,
was to be their guardian and jailor.

“Boy good, boy stay; VVandega take
care him and girl. Boy be rough, boy try
run away; Wandcga shoot, doubly quick.
Big park here, he stay right here all be
’way up. Try go cut, that be bad all
round. Wandega shoot, red men scalp,
bad men cut throat sure. Sabbc? ”

“ Yer right I sabhe; but yer don't ’spect
me ter stay hycr furever ’thout l-znowin’
what’s comin’ ther next day. How long’s
this thing goin’ tcr keep on? An’ what
sorter game yer settin’ up, anyhow? ”

“ Talk Bear no talk he tell no lie.’
Mebbe all go right, mebbe all go wrong.
Who know? Wait and see.”

Wandega stood by with a ghost of a
smile on her face.

She did not look as though she would
be a. Very savage jailor; but, to tell the
truth, Banty would sooner it had .been
some one else picked out to act as guard.

She seemed to be a couple of years
younger than Josie, and was a good speci-
men of an Indian beauty in the early
stage of development. A man, or even
an old hag, Banty would have been will-
ing to take in preference, because he
would expect some day to turn in for a
fight, regardless of consequences. Wan-
dega was another article altogether, to
which he took a liking on the spot, and
which he decided, after his swift way of
jumping at a conclusion, he would not be
apt to harm. He had seen Indian girls
before, but this was different from the
best of them.

The place they were in was a pocket
among the mountains, and though Banty
could guess at the route by which they
had entered he was not sure he could find
it again without some little exploration.

That day he had abundant opportunity
to explore the valley, though it was in
the company of Josie and their young
jailor. ,

The latter was silent as a sphinx, yet
was not altogether an uninteresting com-

panion. She guidcd them around, and
Banty could not help but admire the un-
restrained grace oi her movements, or
the intelligence which shone in her face.
Now and then he found her looking curi-
ously at him, and perhu )s pityingly.
I‘robabiy she suspected what was to be
his fate. He tried to enter into a con-
versation on the subject, but she shook
her head in a way which indicated She
did not understand. After that he con-
fined his addresses to Josie, who was not
by any means as much cast down as he
expected to see her.

She even hinted to him that, since her
uncle was gone, perhaps this was as good
a. thing as could have happened to her.

She was safely out of reach of the out-
laws who had pursued her, and from
whom escape might not have been so
easy under other circumstances; and was
not without hope that Bear Who Talks
would assist her in the search which she
had not altogether abandoned.

They wandered around with apparent

freedom; but Banty Bruce noticed certain
spots were avoided, and formed his own
conclusions. There was no trace there of
a road to the outside world, but he scent-
ed a mystery.
' Bear Who Talks was absent, and this
would have been the time to have at-
tempted escape if other things had been
“favorable. But the day went by in seem-
ing content, and when night came the
end appeared as far off as ever.

What the little hermitage meant was a.
question the boy asked himself more
than once. lie was even thinking it over
as he lay awake an hour after he might.
have been supposed to be asleep. . A
hand suddenly laid on his shoulder
aroused him from the reverie into which
he was falling.

“Come,” whispered a voice in his ear.

“All right, I’m coming "of yer think
ett’s time fur a strike,” he answered,
swiftly rising. - “ Ef I hed my way
though, I'd continner ter lay low fur a.
season. Ef yer thinks ter fool Wandega
this early in ther season I‘m afeared yer
off. Her black eyes’ll be peerin’ round.
An’ she kin shoot a mighty close string."

“Oh, but Wandega is going along.
There is something strange about it, and
I scent danger in the air, but if I under-
stand her she will show us a place of
safety.”

“Holy Caesars! Are that so?
we’d better be up an’ a—moovin'.”

Wandega. was waiting just outside, and
she led them at a. rapid pace, aiming for
that very spot in the side of the border-
ing mountains which she had avoided the
day before.

she evidently knew the route, for she
clambered up behind a jutting boulder
which concealed an opening, and then led
the way into the side of the mountain.

Yet, at the month she halted for an in-
stant to listen, and they heard the crack
of several distant rifles break the still-
ness.

Their guide drew Josie, and Josie
caught the sleeve of Banty, who yielded
to the touch. They stepped back a few
paces. Wandega lighted a lantern, and
passing by them returned again to the
entrance.

Banty watched her without under-
standing her efforts. She was working
at a. lever. It was only when it rolled
forward he saw she was prying at a great
stone.

Lazily it settled into the entrance, and
then stopped, blocked by a couple of lit-
tle stones over which it could be forced,
but beyond which it would not go of its
own accord.

Then,

 

The girl threw down the pole she had

 

   

 

 

  

on;

 

Bant' Bill ’s Bonanza.

 

9

 

 

been handling, and stepped back—just in
time. A few detached bits of rock and
gravel fell at her back as she passed; and
then, just behind her, a huge rock whose
weight must have been tons settled solid—
ly down, with a slow, grinding crush like
the sliding of a mountain.

“Horns 0v Jhericol ” spluttered Banty
Billy, for once in his life appalled.
' “You’ve went, an’ gone, an’ done ett! ”

“What?” asked Josie, in a tone of
awe, though not as yet recognizing the
full nature of the catastrophe.

“Closed up ther openin’ furever.”

 

CHAPTER IX.
TRAPPED IN THE CANYON.

The night attack did no serious harm
to the outlaws, after all.

The captain came to his senses by and
'by, to find that outside of a badly bruised
face he had received no great damage.
By the time he had staggered back to
camp the men were coming in again.

They had recovered all the horses save
one, which had separated from its fel-
lows and been lost in the darkness. As
it bore the strange animal which had
stampeded the herd the chances were it
would be dead if discovered.

There were spare horses with the out-
fit, so that this one was no great loss,
and it was not strange that little time
was lost searching for it. Before long
the camp had settled down again to
silence, but not altogether to slumber.
The captain kept to himself the mishap
he had met, but what he said put the
sentinels on their mettle, and left the two
careless ones in doubt of What might
happen to them in the morning.

In the morning the negligence ap-

‘peared to have been overlooked, and

' bright and early the search for the trail
of the missing ones was begun.

There were good trackers there, but
chance was against them, so far as being
able to point out the route which the girl
had taken; whilst the traces they found
of the passing of Trebizond were unsatis-
factory, and told next to nothing.

Yet, it was certain she had gone in
some direction, and to linger longer
there was useless. When the different
searchers had got together, and all had
reported failure, it seemed time to move
on.

The chief looked over his men before
he spoke, and saw their faces were dark.
He knew what‘they wanted, and spoke
acoordingly:

“Men, we started out on the trail for
gold, and whatever you may think we
have never turned aside from it. It is
true we have apparently wasted some
time with an old man and a girl, and you
have thought that was only a matter of
private vengeance. You were wrong.
While we may find the spot for which We
were aiming without them, had all gone
well we would have made it a certainty.”

' A murmur ran through the crowd. To
tell them this after one fugitive was dead
and the other vanished was a sore trial.

“ Oh, you need not feel discouraged. I

' have not given up all hope of getting

from them even yet all that we need or
desire.”

Paddy could not keep silent.

“ Boss, ef yer goin' ter hev a chat With
ther old man count me out. When et
comes ter raisin' a spook I ain’t in ett.”

“ Steady, you! This is no jest. That
old man was going to the one person Who

'iknows where the bonanza lies. I was

after him because he had the directions.
'How he hid them I cannot understand,
but before he died you can bet yer life he
passed them along to the girl."

“ But whar’s ther gal? "

 

 

“ Gone straight to the spot, or I‘m
much mistaken. We already have an
idea of the direction, and so there is no
use wasting more time here. There are
a dozen points where we have a chance,
and at one of them we must strike her
trail.”

“But, a gal like her can’t traipse ett
over ther mount’ins."

“ Not by herself; but she has one guide,
if not two. When we meet them those
guides must go down hard. If they can‘t
win themselves they would bring in the
outside world to take a share, and that is
what we won't have. Make ready; we
begin the march at once."

“ All right; but, boss, ef we overhaul
ther boy I claim ther settlement with
him. He‘s little, but when one slings
lead ez he does it makes him ov the size
of anybody. I’ll give him a fair show,
but I’ll turn him down sure.”

As Paddy held up his bandaged hand
no one there failed to understand him.
If Banty Billy dropped into his clutches
there would be something like murder
done.

In half an hour they were all streaming
along the right hand side of the canyon;
and at last they came upon unmistakable
Sign showing Josie had passed that way.

It was only a scrap from her clothing,
but it was instantly recognized. In

which direction she had gone was not so .

sure.

Two courses were open, either one
seemingly trending towards a notch in
the mountains away off in the distance.

The captain searched the ground thor-
oughly, but found no footmarks near. It
looked as though the fragment might
have been wafted from a distance by the
wind. ,

The party divided, and looked farther.
By and by there was a signal from the
captain’s lips. Another fragment was
found, and the two gave him a direction.

Detaching a couple of men, so that no
possible chance in the other direction
should be thrown away, the march was
kept up on this more assured line, until
sundown.

Track or trail there was none, and the
march grew more and more tiresome.
The wilderness grew more profound. A
hundred foes might be lurking within
gunshot and yet unseen. It was a relief
to come at‘ last to the narrow pass or
canyon which the notch in the mountain
crest had signalled from afar.

There was a chance inside for an am-
bush, but of that, so he was not caught
between two fires, the captain was will-
ing to take the chances.

If he could be surprised it would be be-
cause he deserved it.

The way grew still narrower, though
as for an ambuscade, there seemed but
little chance, unless they came suddenly
Upon an enemy in turning one of the
bends in the canyon. Other place for
hiding there seemed to be none.

“ Looks ez though we might strike
S’uthin',” said Paddy, edging up to the
chief, and peering shrewdly around.
“ Seems ez though I'd heared ov this
afore, an' I wouldn't wonder ef we hit
float rock afore we’re many hours older.
Ef ett war my say-so I’d reemark thet
we’d purty nigh got thar.”

“ Where? ”

“Ter whar ther gold jest “88 in big
dornicks, bright an’ solid ez yer Please-
Hope ther boys» won't strike ther sign
tell your riddy ter stop. Ef ett should
pan out like ez I heared ov, a drove ov
hosses couldn’t make ’em budge.”

" And who told you all this? ”

“ An old sidepard. First of! I didn’t
understand what you war tryin' ter git

"at

 

through yer, fur he didn‘t tell me whar
it war. But he sed ett war dangersome
ground. Look out yer don’t find ett so.”

“ And that pard—where is he now? 

“ He sed be war goin’ back; an’ I
reckon he‘s went. Leastwise, I ain’t seen
ner heared 0v him ag'in. Ef he’s passed
in his chips I wouldn't wonder.”

“He told you of a pass like this? ”

“Fur a fack—with a valley beyondt
ett whar thar war diggins ov untold
gold.” .

“Did he say anything of that?” said
the captain, with sudden fierceness, as be
halted and caught the wrist of the man
beside him.

As they turned the bend which had
shut it from their sight they came face
to face with a huge wall of almost per-
pendicular rock directly athwart their
course, effectually barring farther pro-
gress.

And almost at the same moment from
above they heard the same unearthly
noises that had assailed Paddy and Tom
in that other canyon, while rocks again
began to fall, not in scattering volleys,
but in an avalanche which threatened
fairly to fill the gorge. With the wall
before them and the landslide behind
them, they were caught in a trap.

 

CHAPTER X.
EASY ANDY GETS IN TROUBLE. .

Tom Bogan would have sooner had his
pard Paddy detailed with him for the
independent search; but the man told
off by the captain would do very well for
a pinch, and the two pushed on, though
neglecting no chance for obtaining infor-
mation.

To them, the ground, where it was
open for impressions, was like a printed
book.

The only trouble was that the pages,
so far as they were meeting them, ap-
peared to be blank.

At the close of the first day they turned
in at a convenient camping ground, de—
termined to make the most of it, as
there was no telling what they would
strike on the morrow. They knew where
they were to go; but it was not so cer-
tain what they would meet with when
they got there, or even what lay be—
tween.

“1 say, Ike,” said Tom as he lit his
pipe, and cast himself down by the
smouldering little fire, after they had
finished their scanty supper. “ Ett looks
ez though we’s elected fur blame hard
times, an’ no profit.”

“ Orter told that to ther boss.
he’d a made em easier.”

“ Yes, with a six an’ a hunk ov lead.
I don't like his way ov answerin’ a per-
miskus remark. But, say, Tom.”

“ Say ett.” .

“I don‘t like ther looks of things.
Mebbe ett's a squar’ deal, an' mebbe ett
ain't; an’ sposin' ther ain'ts hev ett? "

“ What’s workln’ through yer cabeza?
Ef yer got ary thing ter say why don’t.
yer spit ett out? This ain’t prezackly
fun amazin’; but thar be things ez are
wuss."

“ I kin trust yer? ”

“ Shore."

“ We bin in with ther boss sum time,
eh?”

“ Quite a while.” .

“ An’ at he wanted ter quit ett might
not be comfortable ter hev us layin’
’round?”

“Not ef he wanted ter jump this
game and turn a sharp corner."

“ That’s what. I don’t say fur shore.
but I got a. idear what ther game might
be he’s after. Five thousand ain’t a. big

Mebbe

pile by ettself, but at he could drop us

 

 

 

  

I..-

.__..-.___ ,.,v.. “M...— .4... - __~. .__._-..

Banty Billy’s Bonanza.

 

 

all in ther shuffle, an’ slide off to a new
trail, mebbe it would be wuth lookin’
at.”

“ Ain’t none ov us what wouldn’t jump
at ther chance.”

“ Mebbe yes, an’ mebbe no. But hyer’s
what set me thinkin'.”

Tom drew from his pocket a handbill,
which he carefully unfolded, and bent
down closer to the low fire.

“$5,000 REWARD—The above re-
ward will be given for the return of
Miss Josephine Lortor. to her friends.
She has been missing since the 13th
day of April. Is supposed to have been
enticed away by a man pretending to
be her uncle.”

So he read the words out, in a hesi-
tating, uncertain manner, deciphering
them with evident difficulty by the faint
glow of the smouldering fire.

“That’s ther way ett starts out, an’

.' then ett gives ther descripshun thet fits

’em ter a ty-t.”

“ An’ who pays them five thousand,
an’ whar does they hail frum? ”

“ That’s tellin’ tell I know ef yer takes
ther same View ez I does. Part ov me
capital ef I concludes ter start in biz
fur meself. How does ett strike yer? ”

“ Mebbe thar’s s'uthin’ in ett; but,
pard, ett takes money ter buy land. Why
didn’t yer open up ter Paddy. Yer hed
ther chance.”

“Paddy can’t see anybody but the‘r
boss, an’s afeared ter crook a finger
crostways.”

“ But like ez not it’s a heap good ways
ter Whar ther folks ez put out thet bill
hails frum. Ef we got ther gal how we
goin’ ter git her thar? ”

“Easy ez rollin’ off a log, but I ain‘t
tellin’ all I know—yit. Mebbe you’d
like ter ax ther boss.”

“ Skassly. Not tell I know what you
wants ter do about ett.”

Ett’s this way. When cap are on
deck thar’s no use fur us ter monkey
with ther layout. But ef we should hev
ther chance all by our lonesome selves
tei' talk ett over with ther young leddy
I reckon we’d better not be in a hurry
ter hand her over ter him tell we git
her side ov ther story, an’ make sure
thar ain’t a pile 0v rocks in ett fur us
two.”

“ That’s right. Shake, pard. Thar hez
seemed s’uthin’ queer all along ’bout his
goin’ an’ comin’; an’ ef he started out
ter throw off on us I can‘t see ther rea-
son we shouldn’t make a ten strike ef
we kin. Now, read us ther rest ,ov ett,
will yer? Ett gits mighty interestin’ ther
more yer goes along.”

“Time ernough fur that in ther mom-
in’. You jest sleep on what I tole yer,
an" see ef yer be in ther same ’pinyun
When yer wakes up. I’m goin’ ter bunk
in now. Don’t reckon thar be danger

. hyer.”

“ But say, ef this be so we’re out. Boss
hez ther short track, onless we head
him off. Thar’s no sign she went this
way, an’ ett’s just a fool ride we’re
takin’.”

“Fool, nothin’. I’ve seen what I've
seen, an’ you an’ me is on ther right
track."

For reasons of his own Tom did not
care to talk more at present, and with-
out having laid their plans any farther
the conversation closed. Tom.was asleep
before many minutes had passed, but
Ike lay for a long time smoking his pipe.
What he had heard excited him, and
his nerves were all on a quiver.

Perhaps he considered it fortunate
they had been so when he heard a
stealthy step near the camp, and glanc-
ing "in the direction of the faint noise
saw a figure suddenly crouch down out
of flight. /

 

Silently but swiftly he slipped his
hand on his revolver, thumb to hammer,
and waited for the next development.

As he did so he heard the harsh creak
of a cocking rifle; and was sure a muzzle
was being aimed in their direction. He
threw his own revolver forward to cover
the spot where the skulking figure had
vanished.

Friends he was not apt to meet with
in such shape; and if it was a foe he
wanted to be ready for him, though
knowing that he was at a disadvantage.

He continued silent and motionless in
the hope that the skulker would come
closer, and lose some of his caution;
but though he waited what seemed a-
long time he heard nothing more. Then,
Ike rolled over, opening his eyes.

“ What yer doin’ thar? ” he mumbled,
seeing the unnatural position of his pard,
and yet not wide enough awake to real-
ize there might be danger.

On the still night air the sound would
carry a distance; and it reached other
ears, for which it was not intended.

Out of the darkness came an imme-
diate answer.

“Say, pard, ef yer white, help!
brute hcz got me down.”

Something more the stranger would
have said, but his speech ended in a
sudden break, as though ‘his mouth
had been violently jbweled to the
ground, and there was a savage snarl
from some wild beast. Tom Bogan and
his pard sprung to their feet.

It might be only a dodge to throw
them off their guard, but of that they
did not think. The fire still smouldered,
and there was a brand which only need-
ed a little urging to make it burst into
a flame. '

Tom caught It up, whirled it around
his head, and then, holding it in one
hand and his revolver ready in the oth-
er, cautiously advanced, Ike stepping
along nervously in his rear.

The glare of the torch was, if any-
thing, a disadvantage, but it was for
the sake of safety more than of sight.
Finally, Bogan made out a crouching
figure and then a pair of fierce, glittering
eyes.

He raised his hand, yet forbore to
shoot. Beast though it was, something
lay under its paws.

As he hesitated the brute launched
itself through the air, in a fierce, unex-
pected spring. ,

Bogan fired one wild shot as it came,
and then went down as though a. moun-
tain had fallen on him. Ike, staggering
baCk, received What seemed but a second
later, a blow Which sent him well nigh
senseless to the ground.

It was the stranger who first got to
his feet.

He had received no serious injuries,
for he paid no attention to himself; but
examined the two men with some anx-
iety.

“What—what war ett?" asked Tom
Bogan, looking wildly around.

“ Stiddy, stranger pard. Ett war one
ov ther old man’s pets, an’ I reckon
she didn’t mean ter do me ary harm.
But she’s a holy terror frum headwa-
ters.”

“ And who are you? ”

The stranger shook himself, and felt
limbs and clothing to make sure he had
received no damage. Then, he peered up
cautiously at the two strangers before
answering:

“I’m Easy Andy, perspector, an’ a
squar’ man. I bin 3. yearniu’ fur a pard.
an’ I reckon I’ve found ther squar, arti-
cle- What yer say? I’ve struck a holy
old bonanzer, an’ that cat war one ov
its keepers.”

Ther

 

CHAPTER XI.
CINNAMON MOLL.

The outlaws, at the first moment, were
only too glad over their escape to think
much of the ugly position in which the
landslide left them.

No one had been hurt, though some of
the huge rocks came perilously near.

When the dust had settled, however,
and they had time to look around they L
were not so thankful, though the attackg
seemed over.

Though it might be possible in some
way for a man to scramble out, it was
pretty clear the horses could not sur—
mount the huge mass that closed up the
gorge behind them, while the rock in
front effectually barred farther advance.

What was to become of the brutes?
They cowered together in the close quar—
ters into which they had been forced,
and seemed to realize the danger impend—
mg.

Among the men there was visible con-
fusion, but the sharp voice of the captain
called them to themselves, and when it
seemed certain there was no more to fol—
low they began to look around.

The canyon walls went up sharply, and
the pile left by the avalanche was almost.
as perpendicular. There was danger, too,
that any attempt to scale it, or make it.
more passable, would cause ’it to topple
in on their side. 'Well, it was not at-
tacked before a careful view of the situa-
tion had been taken.

Even after leaving the horses behind.
it would require judgment and skill to
escape.

Several attempts made by one of the
men resulted in failure, and the captain
was just about to make an effort himself
when they heard a voice from above. '

It was on the side opposite to the one

from which the slide had taken place,‘

and narrow as the chasm'seemed below,
it was wide enough at the top to prevent
a leap, whilst neither of the walls across
reached high enough to furnish passage.

The captain craned his neck up and
saw a round object, just at the edge of
the ledge, which gradually resolved itself
into a human head, with a dusky face,
and black hair streaming down on either
side.

“What white men do there? Them in
heap fix.” I -._-.
“ Ett’s a Navaho squaw, sure ez guns,”
whispered Paddy. “ Mebbe she’s frien’ly,

an’ ez likely not. Treat her fair.”

The captain did not heed the warning.
He understood who was the visitor-
above, and how they were at the mercy
of even one.

” YeS, We are in a. fix.
you can. The ground caved in.
it was started by some one.
hear those yells? ”

“Heap hear. That Dark Mind do it.
He great chief. Mebbe I no better help,
Him killum too queek him get mad.”

The squaw spoke more plainly than
had been expected, and shook her head
solemnly, showing she had considerable
reverence for this Dark Mind of whom
she spoke.

“ Get us out of here and we’ll take care

Help us out if
I think
Did you

of him. See your people and get a rope. 

It will be safer for us than to risk scram- -
bling up these loose stones. If they had
not wedged in when they fell they would
have been over us. They may come
down yet.” I
" Cinnamon Moll has rope.
up You pay dollar.” .
"Yes. yes. Gladly. Can’t you 8%
some of’your people to help? ”
“ Need nr heln. an’ they take dollar.
Moll hold one end, white man climb one.”
It was forty feet or more down, but
the rope she showed a moment later

Bring um-

   

 

 

 

Banty Billy’s Bonanza.

“*‘h’n.ru— -

11.

 

 

came squirming dOWn with plenty to
spare.

The captain caught the end, and hav-
ing given a strong pull to test its safety,
worked his way upward swiftly.

He scarcely more than glanced at the
squat figure which met him, but looked
keenly to the other side of the gash in
the mountain side, and then ran swiftly
along, until he could get a view of the
other side of the mass of rock which had
fallen into the gorge.

“ It can be done, boys,” he called down.
“We can save the horses, but it will
take work. Come up, all of you but Nel-
lis. He can stay to look after them.
The sooner the better.”

“Reckon not,” growled the man sin-
gled out for the unpleasant duty.

“ Ther critters’ll hev ter run their-

selves. Dark Mind may kim back, an’ I
ain’t hevin’ him ketch me in no sich box.
Ef I don’t go the rest ov ’em stays.”
‘ There was reason for his having been
selected to remain behind, since he was
the heaviest man in the party, and under
other circumstances the breach of disci-
pline might have been harshly dealt
with, but the captain was in no humor to
have an insurrection.

“ All right. Come up first of all. And,
boys! If the rope breaks shoot him when
he falls. There will be that much satis-
faction, anyhow.”

Nellis would have drawn back. After
that much warning he was not sure but
what he would be shot on his arrival
above.

“ Roust him up! If you are in no
hurry I am, and if he don't get a move on
I’ll leave you to settle it till I get back.”

“ Steady up there, then. I’m coming,”

Without hesitation he caught at the
rope, and came up nimbly, hand over
hand, touching his hat deferentially as
he rose to his feet on the rock above.

“Let me take hold, boss. I’ve got the
weight.”

One after another they swarmed up,
while Cinnamon Moll stood stolidly
watching. .

When the last man was up she wad-
dled forward, and taking the rope with
one hand extended the other.

» “ You pay dat dollar now? ”

The captain had no desire to evade the
indebtedness, and gave her the coin
promised without hesitation.

She put it between her teeth for a mo-
ment while she coiled up her lasso, which
she swung over her shoulder.

Then, from some hidden pocket she.

drew out a buckskin bag, which seemed
already heavy with coin, and dropped
this one with the others. It chinked mu-
sically as it slid in, and as she put the
pouch out of sight Moll turned away.

“ Say, Moll, it’s another dollar if you
can show us a short way down yonder.”

Moll turned her head, and saw the cap-

' tain pointing to the rear of the wall be-

low them.

For answer she held up the rope again
with one hand, while with the other She
swept around in a circling direction. Un-
less they were lowered down they Would
have to track the edge of the 53511 until
they came again to the mouth. '

“All right. Loan us the rope-”

“ Moll sell rope five dollars. No wear

out for nothin’."
0 Under other circumstances the offer
might not have been kindly received, but
it was not certain how much backing was
behind her, and the outlaws were in no
condition to provoke a conflict with any
band of Indians which might be in the
neighborhood. .

To the disgust of some of the men the
transfer was made.

 

Then, Moll again turned away, while
the captain, followed by most of the men,
dropped over into the gorge. Only two
were left above, of whom Paddy was one.

Work below began at once. Paddy
turned to his comrade.

“You kin ’tend ter all that’s wanted
hyer fur a while; hold on. I’m goin’ ter
see whar ther squaw went to.”

She was out of sight, but Paddy had an
idea she was not far away.

Nor was he wrong.

He found her leaning against a rock,
counting out the coin which her buck—
skin pouch contained.

Stealthin he approached the spot, im-
agining he was doing it without detec-
tion; and finally ’rose up at her side.

“ Moll, girl, you ain’t no need fur sich ’

treasures, an’ I hev.
us a frien’ly loan.”

He caught at her wrist with one hand,
while with the other he made a snatch
at the buckskin, and was altogether un-
prepared for what followed. Her hand
closed swiftly on her treasures, and
swinging the fist mound she delivered a
blow straight between the eyes, that sent
Paddy sprawling backward.

“White man no fool with Cinnamon
Moll,” she hissed.

“If he do she shoot um very much
dead.”

Out came a revolver as she spoke; but
just then Paddy was not likely to fool
around anything. The blood was gush-
ing from his nose. and it was a pretty
sure thing that in a few minutes both
eyes would be as black as a stove pipe.
She waited a trifle, and receiving no an-
swer again waddled away.

S’posin’ yer makes

 

CHAPTER XII.
PADDY BUILDS A WALL.

“Wonder ef there’s any other way
out?” mused Banty Bruce, as he held up
the lantern to inspect the unintentional
work of VVandega’s hands.

“ Ef not, (we’re in a heap sight ov
trouble, an’ no end ov tribbylashun.
What’s ther best word, leetle ’un? ”

He turned to the Indian girl as he
spoke. ‘

“ How? ” she ansWered not unmusical-
ly, and the boy repeated, making such
gestures as he thought would enable her
to understand his meaning.

Again she shook her head, this time
slowly and thoughtfully, as failing to re-
member ever having heard of any. .

“Ain’t no use ter linger hyer, then.
Lanterns won’t burn more ner so long,
an' ef this goes out ther’ won’t be much
chance ter find one fur ourselves. S’pose
We mosey on an’ see whar we are at. Ef
we’re in a box we can’t git out ov it’ll be
ther f’ust time fur me mother’s darlin’.

Josie remained silent. Though Wande-
ga was their guide as well as guard, she
turned naturally to the boy for assist-
ance.

While he was puzzled, she had nothing
to say. When he suggested they begin to
exDlore she was ready. After What they
had gone.through, it was not strange
She had courage equal to almost any
emergency, and faith to the utmost in
Banty Bruce.

Wandega had nothing to say—which
was not surprising. She allowed the boy
to take the lead, and followed willingly,
though as if she was somewhat dazed.

They found themselves in a small
room, to which there was but one means
of exit, and opening almost exactly oppo-
site to the one by which they entered.

Along a narrow passage they hurried,
turning several sharp corners, yet in the
end going farther and farther into the
mountain.

 

They came to another small room, from
which led two pasages, and of these they
took the one to the right.
were against finding another opening into
the valley, but Banty was not willing to
lose a chance.

He knew that if they were to receive
assistance at the closed doorway it would
be more apt to be later on than now, so

that this was the time, if any, to spend in 

exploration.

Though they made all speed possible,
their progress was not rapid, and perhaps
the time seemed longer to them than it
really was.

Wandega had followed without a pro-
test, but at last she began to look behind
her. Josie herself had doubts.

She put her hand on Banty’s arm to
check him.

“We 'find no hope, and are going too
far. Would it not be best to turn before
the lantern begins to fail? If it goes out
we can never trace our way back.”

“Fur why should we want ter? ”

“ Because that i‘ our only hope.
Who Talks will
happened when he comes to look for us,
and find some way to get to us.”

“ Ef he gits in he’ll find us hyer; ef he
don’t, bein’ thar'd do us no good.”

“ But if the light goes out? ”

“ Better be a movin‘, and sooner be do-
in’ it hyer than snoopin’ round in ther
dark thar. Keep yer sand up. ‘Ve'll pull
through.” '

He spoke bravely, and felt all the
courage he showed, but at the same time
he knew the oil in the lantern was well-
nigh gone. The mystery to him had been
that he had found any in it at all.

There was no answer to this, but the

Bear

girls pressed a little closer to him as he 

started on again, looking keenly around
at every step he took.

Again he halted; but this time because
he saw something which seemed strange.
Thus far their way had been excavated
by nature; but now he came upon evi—
dences of the work of man.

In the wall were the marks left by the
tools of a miner, and a little beyond the
opening to a drift.

It might be worth while to see whither
it led, since it was as likely to be made
to enter the cavern as by one who. had
already penetrated its recesses. He
turned aside, and, stooping, followed the
low passage for a few yards, suddenly
halting at something almost at his feet.

He would have kept the girls back had
it been possible, but their eyes were as
quick as his.

There, looking more like a mummy
than_a simple corpse, with the rough
clothing of a miner still around shrunk-
en body and limbs, was a human body,
and between the clawlike fingers was
clasped a shining mass of thread gold.

An"exclamation from Josie, a sputter
from the lantern, and then the light
went out.

They were alone in the horrible still-
ness of the black night, buried under
ground, their only companion a corpse.

Yet, at that moment, Josie thought of

something else, forgetting her own dan- ,5

ger.
“ A light! Oh, a light!” she exclaimed.
“ I must see his face, and, oh! what if it
should be father!”

“Easy, leetle gal. A light you shell
have; but ther chances are ett ain’t.

Hyars a match, an’ look spry, fur we
hain’t too many ov ’em ter waste.”

By the little flame Josie peered into the
features to which the match was held,
and drew a long sigh of relief when she
made sure there was nothing familiar to
be found there.

All the signs.

understand what has.

.3,“

 

l

 

- _ w,....,.,._a. 1n,.—»'.'—-.:~'€“—L.

 

! ther way out.

 

 

12

Banty Billy’s Bonanza.

 

 

 

“ No, it is a stranger. Poor fellow, he
[died just when he found the gold he must
have been searching for.”

“Most like heart disease,” said Banty,
thoughtfully. “P’raps ett war a sheer.
How did he git hyer? That’s what we‘re
wantin’ ter know. Mebbe thar war a
cave—in, though, an’ he couldn’t foller
We’ll hev ter leave him
hyer fur ther present, an’ you better
‘ketch hold. We’ll keep movin’ while we
kin, an' luck ett are I hed me eyes open
while ther light lasted."

They backed out of the drift, and Banty
again led the way.

With nerves all on edge, stumbling,
.striking the rock, now and then losing
the touch of the wall by which they were
.guided, they crept on until at last they
found their progress almost barred by
loose, gravel and stones, which seemed to
form an embankment in front of them.

“ Reckon we’ve found ther landslide ez
shut him in. Let’s see ef thar’s a chance
fur us ter wiggle our way out. Sure ez
guns’ we’ve got to ther other end. Stay
hyer tell I git back, an’ ef yer hear me

[callin’ give a gentle ’hoop, but don’t yer

move tell I kim.”

With this parting counsel, Banty crept
forward and upward.

From time to time he spoke gently, but
after a little his voice was heard no more.

He had found the route more practica—
ble than he had hoped for, though in time
it was barely large enough to worm his
way through.

What encouraged him more than any-
thing else was the strong current cf air
he met after a little. Hewas sure then
he was on the right track.

A little later and he saw ahead of him
a patch of moonlight, and knew there
was a way out.

More "than that, if he had passed
through the crest of the mountain he
had most likely got beyond danger.
Without hesitation he pushed on, and
finally crept out into the night air: He
had reached a. spot which had been laid
bare by the miniature avalanche that
had so nearly overwhelmed Captain
Hard and his men, and the falling of
‘which had no doubt reopened the pas-
sage. _

Quite a little hole had been scooped
out, and though the canyon was in front
of him, on either side the rocks rose up,
and it was not so certain their condition
'had been bettered. As well to starve in
a cavern as on a mountain side from
'which there was no escape. He made a
careful effort, and succeeded in scram—
bling up to a ledge at the top of the
niche.

And as, on hands and knees, he
-crawled to level footing, a. man sprung
upon him, seizing him by neck and thigh,
and crushing him to the ground.

At the same time this unexpected as-
sailant gave a cry, as though he was
doing his work at some little pain to
himself, and having jowled the boy
"down he proceeded to shake him up.

“ Thar ye be, cuss yer! ” he exclaimed.
““ I SWOX‘e ther chance ter get even’d
.kim, but I didn’t think et’d git hyer so
«quick, Whar’s ther gal?"

The man was the outlaw known as
Paddy, and with both the boy’s wrists
.in his sound hand he waited for an an-
:swer. .

“Dunno ef I’m a chance er not, but ef
I be I’m hyer, sure, ez you'll be apt ter
find out ef yer don’t let me be. Dunno
-nothin’ ’bout no gal, but Banty are half
a man, an’ a heap sight better than lots
'ov hull ones.” ~

“That don’t go down. You got ther
«drop on us an' she skipped; this time I

 

got ther drop on you, an' she kin kim
back ag‘in. Whar is she? ”

“Say, what’s got through yer. \Ve
didn't go away tergether, did we? She
slid out on her own book, an’ I run we
own clam wagon. Et‘ you ain’t seen her
sence I laid eyes on her she’s a lost gos—
1in’, sure.”

Banty had been waiting for some
show of relaxed vigilance on the part of
his captor, expecting then to make the
effort of his life.

Instead of that the effort came from
the other side.

Paddy was no doubt as strong as two
such boys, and with sudden activity he
laid the lad over his knee, bound his
wrists together and then his feet,

“I’ll see whar you kim from,” he
growled. “’Spect yer tell ther truth
about ther gal; but that’s all ther wuss
fur you. I kin afford ter git even; an'
this are ez good a way ez any.”

Dragging the boy after him, he slid
down into the pocket.

The opening there was not. hard to
find, nor, as Paddy thought, to explore.
It seemed simply a niche in the rocks,
but he did not take into account the de-
ceptive light, nor did he notice the
opening above his head, which led far-
ther back.

He liSLened; but all was silent.

“ Yer needin’ a rest, had; an’ thar ain’t
no better place goin' than right hyer.
Sleep sound, an' et’ ther boss happens
ter want yer I’ll come back an’ let yer
know. Good-night.”

He crowded Uanty into the back part
of the alcove, and then began throwrng
up a wall of the huge stones which still
lay convenlent to his hand. Higher and
higher rose the wall, until at last the
final rock was forced into position shut—
ting out both sight and sound.

’1 hen, with his lips hard pressed to-
gether, and a woliish gleam in his cruel,
blackened eyes, I-‘addy turned and went
away.

 

CHAPTER XIII.
A STRANGE )ILIL'IING.

The two pards did not open their arms
at once to embrace inasy Andy. In fact,
they looked at him with suspicion, and
he could hardly have failed to note they
had their hands convenient to their re-
volvers while Tom answered gruflly:

“I ain’t jest so sure but what we’re
owin’ suthin’ tei‘ that same cat—er would
a. bin ef we hedn’t bin a watchin'."

“ Ez how? ”

“You war prowlin’ ’round when ther
beast mounted yer. An’ ef I ain‘t mis~
took you war di'awin’ a bead, er tryin’
ter do ett, on yourn trooly. Et might
hev bin hoss flesh you war after; but I
war jest goin’ ter make sure you’d be dis‘
serp’inted when ther cat saved ther
trouble. Ef we struck in, it war on
jin’ral principles, an’ not fur love er
money.”

Easy Andy laughed cheerfully.

“ I knowed i hed neighbors, but I
warn’t so sure how they’d take a visit,
so I come accordin’. I ain't on the hunt
fur hosses now, er I’ll edmit thar might
be danger. But tell I knowed ef it war
redskin er white, squar’ man er rustler,
I war moovin’ accordin’. I made yer 9.
offer thet war way up; what yer sayin’
to ett?”

" Mebbe we’re both on ther same lay.”

“ Ef so, it's big enough for all of us.”

“ That sounds good. Sit down and talk
ett over. How long yer bin hyer? ”

“ Jest got in; but I bin hyer afore. I
got a man in tow, but he’s my meat. Hed
ter bring him along ter git a outfit; but
he won’t hinder." ’

 

“ I—Ioly smoke! Like ez not he’s ther
man we’s lookin’ fur.”

The two parties stared at each other
suspiciously, but Easy Andy spoke up
first,

“Five thousand looks like a heap

‘big pile, but it’s nothin’ to what I got in

my eye. I ain’t takin’ much stock in it
nohow, an’ ef yer wants him I’ll turn
him over ter you.”

“That’s just what, ef ett’s ther man
thet’s lookin’ fur a gal named Lorton.’.’..

“Yer right. That’s him. I’ll take mm
right to him, an’ ef yer know anyth‘i'ilgj
you kin make yer barg’in.” 

“Pears like yer monst’us willin’? ”

“So I be. When I make a barg’in I
mean ett ter go; but ef I kin git shut ov
him so much ther better. It would 8.
took suthin’ more than ,five thousand
ter draw me hyer ag’in after I’d once
got out alive. I ain’t forcin’ yer ter take
a chance in with me, but some ov these
days you’ll be kickin’ yerselves yer didn‘t
jest jump when I made ther offer.”

“See hyer, That man’s nigh, is he? ”

“Yer right; he is.”

“ What does he want of the girl? ”

“ I’ll never tell. I didn’t ax him.”

“Take us to him and if we make a.
dicker we’ll sheer ef you does your half
ov ther Work. Then, ef you kin show us
a good thing you kin count me an’ Ike in
along with wer.”

“It’s a whack. I’d give a thousand
anyhow ter git ther blamed tenderfoot
often my mind.”

“Jest wait a minnit, pard. Ef we
knowed more ’bout that find yer askin’
us ter sheer we might know better how
ter talk ter ’Curgus Jackson, ef that’s
ther name ov yer man.”

“You got it down fine. An’ ez‘ fur
my yarn—open yer ears new er they
may be stri‘tched too wide after awhile.”

It was a strange story which Easy
Andy had to tell, and yet, one not alto-
gether unexpected. _

Andy was a prospector, and together
with his partner had made a way into
these recesses, and finally finding such
signs of gold they would not have sold
out their chance for a million.

They had imagined themselves alone
in the region, until they had found traces
of a few Indians. Once, at some dis-
tance from their camp, they had come
upon a squaw, who eluded ,them.

Then, they met an Indian girl, from
whom they tried to gain some informa-
tion, and when she would not speak
they tried to frighten her with their
threats.

It proved to be an unfortunate thing.
A giant came to her aid, and before they
were aware of his presence attacked
them. With his bare fists he battered
the life nearly out of them and then de—
parted in one direction. While the Indian
girl without a word went in another.

There was one singular thing about
the man, He had with him a body- a
guard of animals-4'3. huge mountain
lion, and two bears, who crouched blink- -
ing and winking until the fight was
over, and then trudged away at his heels.

They did not see the man again, but
they heard from him and his four-footed
allies, until their threatening attentions
drOVe them out of the camp, Possibly
they would not have gone bad they not
been in need of supplies.

When they did go they did not stand
on ceremony, for it began to look as
though the 'trange being and his strang-
er aliies meant to make it hot for them.
The two were separated, and Andy rath-
er believed his partner had metwith
some evil fortune, as he had not turned
up at the place of meeting as agreed.

 

 

 

i}

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Banty Billy‘s Bonanza.

13‘

 

 

Then, he met Lycurgus Jackson, and
agreed to guide him to this neighbor-
hood, and here they were.

The sooner as could be got rid of the
better it would suit Easy Andy.

As Andy reeled out his story Tom
was running the whole thing over in his
mind, and he mentally decided that one
way or another it was to his profit to
close with these overtures; and in case
it was necessary he had no doubt about
his being able to make his peace here-
after with Captain Hard, though if this
Sting turned out as it might he would

ler drop him altogether.

When Andy ceased his briefly outlined
story his mind was made up.

“ That’s enough, pard. Count us with
yer, an’ ther sooner yer kin put us along-
side 0v him ther better. When we know
what he wants we kin put him up ter a
p’int er two thet may be ther hub 0v the
hull wheel."

“ All right, Ef ther painter ain’t
chawed him up I kin do it. He’s waitin’
over yander, now; an' I wouldn't wonder
ef he war skeered nigh ter death."

He did his patron something of an in-
justice, for he was very much on the
alert when the three men approached his
camp a little later, and if they had come
with hostile intentions they would have
found him ready to put up a very good
fight, with the cocked revolver he held
in his hand.

Lycurgus, however, did not look like
a hero. He was a fat, oily-looking man,
great in girth, though of but medium
stature, and spoke in a tone distinctively
whiny.

It must have been something of great
importance that could have brought him
to this region, where he was peculiarly
a stranger.

Tom was not at all abashed in such a
presence, and opened matters without
delay.

“ You're ther party ez put out a han’-
bill about a missin’ gal? ”

“Yes; and if you have any informa-
tion about the poor girl you shall be
well rewarded.”

“I’ve heaps ov informashun, but I’m
after all er none. Thar war a party had
her fur ye, all right ernough, but she
got away, an’ now, pard an’ me are on
ther trail. We don’t mind takin’ yer in
on ther ground floor, but we don’t mean
ter share ther coin,”

“ oh, my friend, cheerfully will I give
you all of the reward if I can once again
meet the young girl, in whom I have the
deepest interest, and who has been en-
ticed away by a man claiming to be her
uncle; but who, since reaching this
country, I am only too much afraid is
none other than the outlaw known as
Baptain Hard." ,

" Mebbe yer won't be sorry, then, er I
tell yer thet ther party she left with are
lead. Leastwise, so they told me. an’ I
{mess they wern’t throwin’ off on me.”

“ Dead! If I could be sure of that I

mid, heartless though it seems, rest
asier."

“ That seems a leetle odd, stranger.
I‘hem two stuck tergether
Thor gal could a left him any time, but
she reesked her life ter try ter save him.
Ett was ther running away thet wore
:her life outen him.”

“ She knew not who he was, or she
would have shrunk from him in horror.
At least, if I am not wrong. Even
now—"

He ceased Speaking suddenly, while his
eyes opened to their widest extent, and
his hand arose, to point at some object
suddenly appearing at the rear of the
three men with whom he was convers-
11!.

like wax. -

 

Easy Andy and the rest wheeled sud-
denly; the same sight met their gaze.
The intruders had come with the swift-
ness and silence of a shadow.

A strangely clad man, seemingly a
giant in height and a Hercules in build,
clutched an axe, which he held threat-
eningly; on either side of him was an
immense bear, while at his feet, with
lips parted and white teeth showing in a
noiseless snarl, was a great mountain
lion.

“Lycurgus Jackson!" he
where is my daughter?”

roared,

 

CHAPTER XIV.
CAPTAIN HARD TO THE FRONT.

The beasts had seemed docile enough
a second before, but at the sudden move-
ment of the men the cougar emitted a
warning growl, and the bears gathered
themselves as though about to make a
charge. It would take but a word to
launch them. Jackson waved his hand
for a truce, though it shivered and shook
in the moonlight as he did so.

“ Wilbur Lorton. if you are he, I would
give thousands to know. If she is not
with me it is no fault of mine. Wait, and
she shall be found."

Lycurgus actually ’rose to a certain
dignity as he spoke, and the three men
beside him scarcely recognized his voice.

It seemed, however, to have a certain
effect on the intruder, who lowered his
axe.

“ It may be true, it may be true; but I
dreamed that you had given her to Edgar
Bastion, and sent them out to slay me.
Why should my child hate me? I have
done her no harm?”

“ Edgar Bastion?
pected. Wait, wait!
does not hate you. I have never even
told. She was coming to you. She is
even somewhere near. She will be found.
She must be found. These men know
something of her, and we were even now
discussing how to come upon her trail.”

“ How? What trail? My poor brain!”

The strange being put his hand up to
his head as though he would steady his
thoughts. The axe had already dropped
from his grasp. There were three men
there who would have flung themselves
upon him had it not been for his body
guard.

“ From the time you confided your
daughter and your fortune to me, shortly
after receiving your injury, I have raised
Josie in ignorance of the possibility of
your being alive. I firmly believed that
your mind had entirely given way, and
You had committed suicide. DO you un-
derstand? ”

“ Yes, yes. Just now I do. G0 on."

“ I treated her as my own; her fortune
is intact. But some one came to her and
told her that her father still lived, and
that he was deputed to lead her to him.
How he convinced her I know not.”

“ And of her mother?”

“I told her never a word that would
reveal the secret."

“What are you—what are you doing
here?”

“ I followed her this far.”

“ This far—here? "

“Yes.”

“ And Trebizond never knew.”

The man seemed to change in the
twinkling of an eye. If they could have
looked into his face they would have be-
lieved he was u. diiferent individual alto-
gether. There was an awful ring in his
voice, as though madness had come back
on the wings of a thousand fiends. He
wheeled, and without a backward look at
his four-footed attendants, who followed
closely on his heels, bounded away.

I never even sus-
Have patience. She

 

Tom threw up his revolver. There was
an instinct on him to shoot, and it was
a narrow escape. Lycurgus knocked
aside the muzzle just in time.

“Another five thousand if we can save
him from himself."

“ An’ how much ef we tries an’ slips
up?" shrewdly thrust at him the mount-
ain rough.

“A thousand a piece.
me? ”

“Tell yer gold melts,” was the ready
answer.

“Then come on. We must not allow:
him out of our sight till we have located
his den.”

“ Jest a weenty bit ov satisfaction f’ust,
We’s strangers an’ you ain’t none too
well acquainted. Afore this game opens,.
wouldn’t ett be well ter put up a leetle
ante? ”

“I understand. Of course, I carry no
such sums around with me, but, as you.
know so much, you must have heard that
my check would go for a million. An-
drew can tell you something about that."

“ Kay—reck. I’ll take his chips fur cold
cash—when I hev to.”

“Here is a hundred for each, which
will at least show you I am in earnest.
If you delay too long I withdraw my
offer.”

“ Holy Moses! don’t do that, an' we're
yourn tell ther cows’ tails drap off. We’re
riddy ter start right now."

Ike had been saying nothing, but his.
respect for the tenderfoot had been rap-
idly rising, and he broke in earnestly.
In fact, he led the way, the rest deserting.
the camp Without hesitation.

Trebizond had disappeared; but from.
the direction in which he had been mov-
ing, and what Easy Andy had to say, it
was not hard to understand what was his
most probable destination. Whether they
could overtake him did not for the mo-
ment enter their heads.

By and by the gloom grew deeper, and
they plunged into a gulch, the bed of
which sloped upward, and, though Lycur-
gus Jackson began to breathe hard, there
was no present thought of stopping.
They tried to tread lightly, but four men:
can hardly stumble in darkness over
rough and strange ground without mak~
ing their presence heard.

Suddenly, a sharp, stern voice near
them called out: .

“You there, halt! One of you come
forward with hands up and explain who
you are.”

Tom and his pard were side by side.
Ike leaned over.

“ Ett's ther Capt’n,. by Moses. What's
ther best hold? "

“ I’ll run ther chances'an’do ther talk-
in’ of yer all agreed,” answered Tom,
stepping briskly forward, his hands welt
Over his head.

“ Frien’s she be! ” he added in a still
louder tone.

“ This way, then; and the rest of you
stay as you are."

In obedience to the order Tom moved
on; and, though the rest of the men were
concealed so cleverly he did not note
them as he passed, he soon came-face to .
face with Captain Hard‘.

“Who are those men out. there, and
how do you come to, been this trail? ”

" Easy Andy and 'Curgus Jackson, they
call theirselves; an" they been ther trail
ov ther gal. Bein’ ez they hed the'r noses
p’inted in this d'reckshun, we thort we’d
better kim along, an' steer 'em what
they’d do ther most good. Ther’s coin.
in them two, ter say nothln’ 0v what.
they knows ’bout that bonanzer, which
are all thar ez reported."

“Lycnrgus- Jackson! Ahi. I. shall be

Will you follow

 

afl

 



" g‘ ' Era;

14

Banty Billy’s Bonanza.

 

 

glad to see him. You can tell them it is
all right, and they can come in."

“Jest a niinnit, f’ust. We war follerin’
a queer, loonytick sorter a cuss, what,
from all I hearcd, are ther father ov ther
gal. He passed by hyer lately—did yer
see him? ”

“What! And the girl with him?”

“Not that we seen. Looked like he
hedn't got glimp of her. Ef he did he
never knowed her. But he knowed
’Curg. Jackson.”

“That will do. You have done a big
thing without knowing it, and will re—
ceive pay accordingly. Call the-n1 in. I
will attend to the matter now.”

. The captain spoke in self-contained
tones, and it was hard to tell his mean-
ing. As Tom had made rather a study of
him at odd times, he rather thought
there was evil in the wind for some one,
though no sign of that belief was in the
call that he raised.

A moment later the three men came
blundering forward.

“\Vhich is Mr. Jackson?” asked the
«captain, coolly.

“ That is my name.”

“ Ah, I am glad to hear it. Sorry for
this delay, but we will try to make it tip
for you. There is no time to waste, and
explanations will be in order later on,
I suppose you have not found the girl as
yet.

“ No, no! But we will. Hurry. Do not
detain us. Were it not that he can turn
neither to the right nor the left I would
give up hope.”

Jackson seemed not to notice the dark
forms that closed up, and moved on
without a suspicion that he had faHen in.
with one whom he would have been
most anxious to avoid had he only
known.

Perhaps he was even thankful at that
moment for outside help. Between them
they could sweep over the ground so
thoroughly there would be no danger of
passing their game in the dark.

In spite of the little rest he had taken
Lycurgus Jackson was more exhausted
than he knew; and soon began to lag,

At that,Tom and one of the stragglers
dropped back to his side. They did not
intend him to fall out without company.
After that, the rest went on faster than
ever, and were soon beyond sight and
hearing.

“Did you tell them the man must on
'no account be hurt? ” Jackson gasped, as
he hung on to the arm of Bogan for
needed support.”

“In course; but thar war’n’t no need.
That ‘man wou1dn’t hurt a fly.” ‘

But, as he spoke, a shot roared out in
the darkness ahead, followed by other
shots, and shouts, and the screams of a
panther. Then, the noise died away.

Once more Jackson hurried on;
before long came upon the party, which
was waiting for him, In the gloom it
seemed like a little army; and they
were looking down into a. Valley wher
all was black and silent. ‘

 

CHAPTER XV.
THE ROCKS ARE ROLLED AWAY.

The rescue of the horses from the
blind canyon in which they had been
imprisoned had taken time and labor;
but after Captain Hard and his men
got fairly at it there was never a doubt
but what it would be, accomplished.

The great thing to be done was to
make sure that if there were any falling
rocks they should go to the other side.

This was what had occupied the time

they were pebbles.

and ,

ure “ Dark Mind,” should he return. The
rest went away to seek a more practi—
cable route to the valley they knew lay
beyond. Thus it happened they came
into contact with Lycurgus Jackson; and
it also explained the appearance of
Paddy on the spot when Banty Bruce
made his exit from the cavern in which
he and the girls had taken refuge,
though of course, if was hours after
Captain Hard had left the spot.

Paddy felt quite satisfied with the work
he had done, and imagined that his
prisoner would do him more good thus
disposed of than in any other way he
could think of, He went back to his
pard; and so quietly had he done his
work that not a sound of it had reached
the ears of the man who was dozing a
few hundred yards away.

“Say, Corker, ett’s ’bout your turn
now. Everything seems ter be runnin’
on wheels, but keep yer ears open an’
fingers riddy. Ef yer see ary thing up
yander, shoot at ther drop ov ther hat.
Yer can’t go wrong.”

Corker sprung up without demur, while
Paddy sank down. He had no objections
to a little rest, and he wanted to think
things over. Before he knew it he was
asleep.

A good while after, as it seemed, he
was awakened by the report of a gun.

He leaped upward—and fell back.
Something jowled him down, and he felt
Corker across him, Staring up he saw
a shaggy monster settling down on them
both.

He recognized the head and shoulders
of an immense bear.

He had heard nothing of Trebizond
the tamer and his accomplished sub-
jects, but he knew his best game was
for the present to he still, though he
was not sure the weight of monster and
man would not crush the life out of him.

Perhaps the brute would go away be—
fore that, if only Corker would do the
same.

The brute was not ragingly savage, and
simply held them to the spot.

Meantime, another bear was saunter-
ing along the edge of the canyon, sniff-
ing now and then. When he came to a
sort of pocket scooped out of the rock
he stopped, examined it sagely, and then
slid down a iew yards until he stood
before a well and lately built patch of
wall. ,

Here he used his nose more than ever,
giving a few anxious whiffs.

The result appeared to satisfy him, for
he attacked the wall without delay.
Great rocks he tossed aside as though
Stones that Paddy
strained at to lift went rolling down into
the canyon below as though they were
pebbles,

Having demolished the wall he thrust
his head into the alcove, and grunted
cordially.

“ Hello, Si‘nide,” answered a cheerful
voice from within.

“ It’s Banty Billy, sure enough. What’s
the good word? ”

Cyanide drew back as though sur-
prised; but the snapping of a finger ar-
rested him, and Wandega, darting out,
threw her arms around his neck, at
which he surrendered altogether.

“ Yer jest in time, Si’nide. They bed
a dickens ov a time gittin’ to me, an’
ther wonder war they warn’t lost alter-
gether. But, what we goin’ ter do now? ”

Perhaps Cyanide understood him. At
any rate, he turned his muzzle down the
gorge, and shambled away. ,The three

 

another ov

thar’s

“Holy
’em! ”

Banty had none too much confidence
in the animals, but had heard all that
Josie had to tell about them; and until
they could get out of this pickle their
company could not well be avoided. He
strode up to the spot, and discovered
Paddy and his companion in a well-nigh
senseless condition,

VVandega glided up and touched Hy—
perchlorate, who growled but shambled
back, while Banty Billy stooped down
and peered into the faces of the men.

After that he did not hesitate, but
bound the two firmly while he had the
chance, appropriating their weapons
without a shade of hesitation.

“ Reckon they ain’t hyer all by the’r
lonesome selves; but we can’t take ’em
along, an’ I reely don’t like ter kill ’em.
\Vhen ther gang comes along they’ll set
’em loose, but mebbe they’ll hev bed a
lesson. We’ll draw off a leetle afore we
talks ’bout which way ter turn. Pity
fur ’em thet they ain’t hurt a lettle wuss.
Might save their lives. Ef I find ’em
on my trail ag'in ther’ll be killin’ done.”

VVandega led the way, and seemed to
know it well enough, cautiously though
she advanced. They did not even stop
to rest, though daylight was coming in
the east.

Turning this way and that, a nook was
finally reached, where the Indian girl
gave them a signal to halt. There was a
spring bubbling out from under a rock,
and over her shoulder she carried a
small haversack. Breakfast, such as it
was, came not amiss, nor the couple of
hours’ slumber which followed. With.
out them Josie would have been a perfect
wreck. After that the strange procession
started again, proceeding more cautious—
ly than ever. The distance was not so
great in a direct line; they moved as
though every step was toward an ambus-
cade.

Banty would have been for simple re-
treat, but when Wandega shook her
head Josie refused to turn, and the boy
trudged along without a word further.

Their path led them over "the crown
of the mountain, and they did not halt
‘when the locked-in valley lay before
.them.

Then, Wandega suddenly crouched
lower, and the rest halted as their feet
dropped to the rock. Not far below them
their eyes rested on a singular sight.

The valley had received visitors since
leaving it-

There was the bear-tamer, in the first
place.
the entrance to the passage had been.
He seemed unconscious of observation,
yet not far away half a dOZen men were ‘-
watching him, and in the first rank.
stood Captain Hard. .

Tothe rear, again, guarded by Tom
Bogan, was a prisoner, at sight of whom
Josie had hard work to repress 'a cry.
It was Lycurgus Jackson, looking oilier
and more unconcerned than ever. He
seemed to be able to rise to almost any
occasion, and when, in the early morn-
ing, he had found himself in the hands
of Hard, he retained an unrufiled front,
and gave few answers to subsequent
questions.

The bear-tamer halted at the spot
where the opening once was, and looked
thOughtfully at the rock which closed its
mouth. He stooped down and peered
under it, never noticing that Captain
Hard and his men were drawing nearer.
He caught up a log that lay near, and

Caesars,

He was going straight to where. .'

  “1"” W. =

*“ fa, r:
I !.

.~...f.-.., 

 

 

 01’ Captain Hard. When the labor was. came trailing after, for last of all, Josie began to work with the strength of a.
'3 $311, done Paddy and a comrade were left to had made her way out of the alcove and giant. _ _
f“; guard the spot, and, if possible, to capt- joined her friends. ' Finally, he gave a. great backward

-mx~::~*,*my-«-' ‘ 
'- ' a; ,.
‘ ‘ .

  
 
   

 

     

e ,...,...s'-. t l
,1  tat-34'

   

, .  .
\J .
L . k 1 I \‘ 

  

Weep»  .r  r- wu— w‘ "’-
' , .‘ . ’

. n .mw “a”

Banty Billy’s Bonanza.

15

 

 

 

 

leap, and at that moment Hard was on
fnim.

For a few seconds there was a flurry,
like to that of a stricken whale when
tangled among the boats. With a wild
yell the bear-tamer struck out with his
only weapon, leveling two outlaws, while
with one shake of his gigantic shoulders
he flung the captain to the ground,

Hard was down, but not conquered.
Rising on one elbow he whipped out a
revolver and threw it up to bear, just
as Trebizond dropped.

It was the last “ight the captain saw
on earth—and a strange one. The work
of the bear-tamer had loosened the
chucks, and all at once, like a thing of
life, the rock came bursting out from the
passage.

Trebizond, the unwieldy lever still in
his hand, was almost in its path. The
rock struck the log, the log struck his
head and crushed him down. Then, the
boulder, swerving a trifle around the
end of the lever, changed its course
slightly, and darted at the captain. Be-
fore he knew it, death and the rock were
on him. Broken, flattened, crushed,
dead, he lay there, scarcely recognizable,
while the rock thundered on down the
slope.

 

CHAPTER XVI.
THE END or THE TURN.

The sudden death of Captain Hard de-
moralized his men. They knew not what
to do next, and stared from one to the
other of the two senseless men, wonder-
ing if both were dead. It needed but lit-
tle to produce a panic, and something
more than that little came.

With a shrill scream, a mountain lion,
which had lain crouched an‘iong the rocks
above the spot, bounded down to the side
of the tamer, and then crouched again, as
if for another, spring. At the same time
Cyanide and his companion came lum-
bering down in a headlong charge, while
they heard Banty Billy’s challenge:

“Say, you fellers down thar, you be-
gin ter git, er I’ll begin ter shoot.”

They “got” accordingly—all save Tom
Bogan, who coolly whispered into Lycur-
gus Jackson’s ear:

“ Didn’t I told yer ter take ett easy, an’
I’d bring yer through all right? Me an’
Andy knows a thing er two, an’ we never
barks up ther right tree at ther wrong
time.” .

“ I do not know whether to trust you
yet, for you seem to be always on the
strongest side, without caring which it is.
Still, if things turn out as I think and we
return in safety, you shall have your re-
ward. Now, can I go to him? ”

“ Ef yer wants ter reesk ther hull me-
nadjery, ter say nothin’ ov t’other chance
0v Hard kimin’ ter life. Thar’s nothin’
else ter hinder.”

Jackson went forward carefully. By
the time he- had reached thebear-tamer
Wandega was bending over him, while
Josie was standing near, a troubled look
on her face. Captain Hard, a few paces
farther on, lay lifeless, but no one noticed
him. All eyes were on the tamer, who
groaned now, and moved heavily.

When he opened his eyes there was a.
look about them and in them much dif-
ferent from that which had been there
before they were closed.

He started up, somewhat uncertain, to
be sure, and when he saw the face of LY-
curgus he gave an evident start.

“Lycurgus—you here? Where am I?
What does this all mean? ”

f‘ Thank heaven, you are in your right
mind at last, and pray heaven you may
stay so.” .

The incautious speech worked no harm.

 

“ Ah, I have been wandering, have I?
That blow on the head—it will be all
right now. And Ella—~how does it come
that she is here? Great heavens! I re-
member now. Ella is dead! Who, then,
is that?”

He pointed at Josie, who was listening
in horrified wonder.

“That, Wilbur, is your daughter."

“ Then ”——he turned his head around
to survey the landscape, and he looked at
the unfamiliar faccsfi“ then I have been
mad for—for—at least a dozen years."

“ Not mad, but bewildered. We thought
you dead. You made no Sign. Had it
not been for your daughter, you might
have remained forever dead to us. She
came to find you.”

“ How did she find the way? ”

“Some one claiming to be her uncle
met her, told her some strange stories,
and led her away. I believe it was none
other than Edgar Bastion.”

“ My half brother? ”

“ Yes.”

“ Wait. I dreamed that Edgar Bastion
was dead, and that I buried him. Could
that be true? ”

“ Perhaps it is.
for a time.
where you can rest.
will be more to say.”

“ I am stronger than you think. That
blow on the side of the head has only. set
my wits to working. I must know more.
Why did Bastion seek me?”

The girl answered:

“ Because he had done you great wrong,
but was repentant. He would have will-
ingly forfeited his life to the law, as was
its due, if he had not wished first of all
to beg pardon from you. He had the
certificate of mother’s first marriage, and
entrusted it to me; but I——I lost it. That
makes no difference. She was never sin—
ning, but may have been sinned against,
and if you ever thought differently it was
because that old hurt had driven you
wild.” , ' '

“ Yes, yes! I never really doubted her!
Thank heaven, I am now in my right
mind! What has happened since seems
but a dream—yet I can remember it all,
even to Cyanide and Hypochlorate, my
own especial pets. And yonder is Wan-
dega, the waif. Accept her as your sis-
ter, for she hasbeen for years my adopt-
ed daughter.”

“But where is Bear Who Talks?”

“I am Bear Who Talks, unless my
memory strangely belies me. And Cin-
namon M011, and other characters with
which, at one time or another, I have
peopled this glen.”

‘ “And the loss of Uncle Bastion’s mes-
sage—you are sure it Will work no
harm?” . .

For a girl who had just found her fa-
ther, Josie was strangely cool, but then
he had been lost for over a dozen years,
and for the most of that time she had
thought him dead. It would take time
for her to be enthusiastic over a ghost.
And, to tell the truth, she‘ was still a
little afraid of him. '

“It was not lost,” he responded, with a
wan smile. “I went back that night and
found it before I changed my garb to
that of Talk Bear. Ever since I have
carried it, though not understanding What
it meant to me. Give me your hand; and
You, too, Jackson. I have made some
strange discoveries in this neighborhood,
if my dream is real all through. Let me
rest now, for you were right, and I am
weaker than I thought, but I will be al-
together right when I wake again.”

But better say no more

By—and—by there

 

Wilbur Lorton made no mistake about
his future. The chance blow seemed to

w» v

Let us take you to a place

have undone the work of one received in
the same spot years before. When he
awoke he was still sane as the sanest,
save for the dreamy shadowiness of the
years he had passed in the garb of Trebi-
zond the bear—tamer and Talk Bear.

It had been a bad day for Captain Hard
when he attempted to combine bonanza
hunting with outlawry. He imagined he
was on the trail of uncounted gold, and so
he was, but he died just in sight of port,
He believed that if he could find this
mountain pocket, and the strange being
legends of whom he had heard, it would
be a better way to wealth than turning to
place Josie in the hands of her pursuing
uncle. Perhaps it was: yet death stopped
him, and his followers melted away at
that first stern check.

The bonanza gave something like
wealth to Banty Billy and the little party.
Of them all. Bruce was the only one who
had regrets, mourning for the disap-
pearance of Dandy. the burro.

When Wilbur Lorton changed his garb,
Josie really knew that he was her father,
and after that felt neit'her shyness nor
fear; but her greatest surprise was when
she discovered that Wandega, as she still
called her, had a tongue, and when the
hermit‘s restriction had been removed
could use it as well as anyone.

- THE END.

 

 

 

NEXT HALF-DIME LIBRARY,
No. 984

l Scaler Sam, Detective,

on,

> Searching the Sheeny Fire-bug.

BY HAROLD PAYNE.

 

 

 

Beadle’s Half-Dime library.

BY COLONEL BELLE SARA. .

:08 The Lion ofthe Sen; 0', The anlod Lady.
86 Cool Delmondi or. The Gambler’s Big Gm.

BY BUOKSKIX SAM (Motor Son. 8. Hull.)

'84 Old Rock! I " Bo can: or, Bonito, the Hone-Brook"
.46 Glantfieorge; or, he Ang’l oftho Rouge. 0
975 Arizona Jack: or, Giant Goorgo’l Ford.

19'! The Tarantula of Taoo or, GinniGoom'o Rovongo. 3
not Thestnnge Pord: or, time 3...!- nmn Hunt.

818 Ker-whens. Kehwhoo: or,The Tarantula ome.
82? Creeping at, the Guido; or, The Rod :ndWhiuPuh.’
882 Frio Fred: or, The TonkIw-y’n Trust.

8:4 The Fightlng Trio; or. Rattlesnake. iho Tonkuny.
849 Wild “ 011: or, Big-Foot Wallace to thogFront.

8'51 The Ranch Raider-I 01'. TM 3103' of F0!" Put-m. 
on Snap-Shot, the Boy “Inter. -
375 Chloe“, the Creek ; or, The Three Thunderbolts.

881 “under. Bill: or. Frlo Frank to the Front.

899 Romeo and tho Red-x or. The Bela-mend Ruck.
404 Little Lam-n or. Pecan Peie’l Biz Rampage.

414 The Daisy from Denver.

427 The Three Trailers; or, Old Rocky on tho Mm)
448 Bluff Bill: or, The Lynx oitho Leona.

4: 5 lJttle Lone Mort or. The Bollo oftho Cloolo.

634. Cache Carl, the Chico Gin-i.

BY HAJOR E. L. 81‘. VRAIN. [i

298 Bum-ho Pedro, the Boy Bandit.

B01 Lendville Nit-k, thy Boy Sport,

81! Redcap Rube. iheVizilonte Pan“,

888 Brimstone Bob, and His Lightning Hon. Quorum)
852 Tombstone Toll. the Arlzon Boy of u sud...

859 lhlrnnro have, the Ynung Chan” 5,,“ W’s-n".

.71 I {In bolt Chris, the Yuan: Hardshoil Detective.
880 Av. globe Alf. the Foothill: Guide.

890 Jlunor Joe. ofiho Mountain Mail-Lino.

BY DAN DUNNING;

743 uiei. Jack. the Secret Service Spy.

6? . ac and JIu-k, the lnvinclbleo: 0131110 Diobolicd 111m]
875 Detective Duve’o (‘looe Cal ‘
884 Forrel Fox and "In Girl Ferret.

89.8 Fol-rel: Fox‘o Sweep-Stokes.
.A New loo-e Every Toad-y. ' '

 

 

out per oopy, or uni by mail on receipt of on“ on.
BEADLE m ADA‘S, Plum“

 

n

\

OF HOOK AND LADDER 6;

.._"t:._.~_‘-'~N, .

e
i,

The Hllf-m-o ml'nry il ior uiz‘oy oil Km '7? .

as wan.- “root, New Yeas! ‘

 

 

BEADLE’SaleHALF-DIMEie-LIBRARY. 

 

 

Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, by all Newsdealers...

 

BY EDH'AIKD L. “'lil'IELER.
Deadwood Dick Novels.

1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince oi the Road.

.0 Deadwood Dick's Dcllnnco; or, IroubleeDAzguru.

88 Dondwood Dick in Diuguiuc; or, Buil'iu. Ben.

85 Deadwood Dick in Ill- Cut-tic.

42 Deadwood Dick’u liomutzn: m, This Phantom Miner.
49 Deadwood Dick in Danger; ur,0uulm (ill.

5? Deadwood Dluk'o Eagle-n; or.'l'hu Ford. oi iv‘luod Bu.
78 Deadwood Dick on Deck: ur. i'nlninity .' Imele Heroine
7? Deadwood Dick's Lnnt Act: or. Corduru,‘ Chulia.
100 Dond wood Dick in Lcmh illc.

104 Deadwood Dick'n Detice; or, iii. Duublo Crosl Sign.
[09 Deadwood Dick on Dctcotive.

1.9 Dead wood Dick'll "Vill‘lei 0f. The Gnrgon'a Gulch Ghost.
18’! Deudwood Dick’l lion-c Ila-c; or, Blond! lilll.

149 Deadwood Dick’u Dig Strike or. A Game of Gold.
153 Heidi'de Dick of Deadwood}: or The Plcln-d Putv.
195 Deadwood Dick'o Dream; or The ivnio oi'tho Road.
’01 Deadwood Dick‘l “'nrd; or. 'l'he Block Hill'l Jolebel.
.05 Deadwood Dick’l Doom: or, CnlnniityJono'I Advoniuro.
I]? Doodwood Dick'n Dead "(3],
'21 wood Dick’s Death-I'lnt.

    
   
   
   
 
 
 
    
   
  
   
  
 
     
   
  
    
  
    
   
 
  
   
   
   
     

.8. Dani. Dick. A Ronni-nee of Rough- Ind Tourho.
 woo: lacs. :Dlvido cr,"l'ho Spirit oi'Swnmp Luke.
woo c "o tenth ro I.
809 wood Dick’n Dcolr or. The Gold Brick oiOrnron.
8’! wood Diok’o Don-n: or, The Fnhir ofPhnntom Fiat-
34? wood Dick'l Ducoin or, Duo in the Diniun.
3:: wood. ili.l'ell("8r‘nlto.nccdz or.‘l'ho Tonibio Vondutta.
woo o I n nt.
‘05 Dick in Deon i‘lty.
fl? lil’t’l‘ 'K‘"""i""t A c c
c n . ow or or. " uio no.”
‘80 Dick'n Dunn or. Th: Chlinod Hun-i.
1‘8 Dick. Jr; of, TM- Crlmwu Crescent Sign.
4475 Dick. Jr.’o, Dciinncc.
“I Dink, Jr.’l Full "nod.
45. Dick, Jr.’o. Hi: Round-Up.
4615 w Dick Jr.'- Rocket ot (‘lolln 10.
4?! wood Dick, Jr.’o (‘orroiz or, Baum-u Bill.
4’"! wood Dick, Jr.’o. Dog Detective.
4191 wood Dick. Jr., In Dooduood.
491 wood Dick, Jr.’o. Conpoci.

wood Dick Jr.‘-. Inheritance.
wood Dick, or): in no.
wood Dick. Jr.’l. Def vcrInQQ.
wood Dick Jr.‘o l’rotolee.
wood Dick. Jr.’o. Three.

wood Dick, Jr.'o, Dnnflcr Ducko.

:3: :23: lift 3"":  
- r. n .

I44 wood Dick: Jr.: the Will‘l‘ah-t \‘idoq
549 wood Duck, Jr., on Illa- Nettle.
554 wood Dick, Jr., In Gotham.
‘6] wood Dick, Jr., in Bunion.
‘0? wood Dick, Jr., il l’hilodci llil.
57' wood Dick, Jr.. in Chico-o.”
5TB wood Dick. Jr.. on.
584 wood Dir-L. on. in Denver.
590 w Dick. Jr.’-, Decree.
595 Dick Jr., in Bcclnehnh’o Bnoill.
000 Dick, Jr., at (‘onc inland.
:i: mgr l:-"’..."i.“.l:..‘.° w-
  J'r." i'n gincllhnltti.

c . r. n on: o.
680 w Dick. Jr.; in No Mun’a Lond.
:2: lllt‘t' 3'" l'il'l“: 

- r.. n u o 0.
«Mi wood Dick, Jr.’-. Chou-e Acrou the Continent
654 wood Dick. Jr.. Among the Rmnzglen.
silo wood Dick, Jr): lnlnrnncc Cone.
Gilli wood Dick, .lr.. hook in the Mines.
87' wood Dick, Jr., In Durnngo: or,“Gothored in."

wood Dick, Jr)! Ill-cover" or,l"oundol'ori¢l¢.
wood Dick. Jr.’-. Dollie.

 

690 wood Dick, Jr.’I. Dollon.
 Wont:  gr... ohllnngcr Divide.
WOOi - . r. M .
704 wood nil-k, 1..."... Jo‘l-k-Poi.
110 wood Dick Jr. in Son Froneioeo.
no wood Dick, Jr}. nun "not.
7!! wood Dick. Jr): 'lomlnoel.
7!!! wood Dick. Jr.’-, iii-gain
184 wood Dick. Jr.’-. Jouhlc Dell.
740 wood Dick Jr.’o. lonthwotch.
741' wood Dick. .lr.’u, lloublet.
75$ wood Dick. Jr.’-, llenthhlow.
753 wood Dick, .Ir.'-, Jeoperute Sir-it.
704 wood Dick, Jr.’o. .one Hood.
710 wood Dick, Jr.’o left-oi.
 good Riot,  geoltrr’ociiol.
c -. . I or
78? Dick Jr., DeIod. ."
9! Dick. Jr.’o. Double Dovieo.
9‘! Dick, .1th lie-porno Volt-10.1
.0. Dick, Jr.’l, Din-told Dioo.
'2: ills: s':'f:'.'.‘::.".}"""°
31': Dick: 5.4;... lib-oi. '
c r. I. 00-.
us Dick: J .-.. lcoop.
ii“ Dick. r.’-, Pro: .
3“ Dick. Jr.’II, Clutch.
8“ Dick. Jr.'l, I" h "one.
on Dick J... at lfrvii’a Gulch.
3:: Dilclé, if...” Reoikrolo llnotlo.
1' 'o I O.
are Dick: r.. in auto:
87. ck. r’o Decoy Dock.
Sit. Dick, r. n Silver Pocket.
8.1 iek. Jrh. Drod-fiuro Gold.
 git-k, grin. gouglo Driio.
o , . o. .
no Dick, .15.?“ '51 31'."
Old Dic . Jr). Doohio-D’Mhoh
0.8 ick. r., ll Dollorville.
 3:115. In; unfilu‘oh Fluid.
3:: 1.):sz J3; nods]? 3.1».
on hm? 3.3: 71:33:31?“
985 Dick, Jr.’I, Gold-Dust.
9f1 Dick, J r.’o. Outh.
BY WILLIAM R. EYITER.
1.. Dond Dork.) or. Th. Tin" oi High Pin.
1 "oro rnnki or. Doody Dori-'- Go-Dowl Pork.

D 0
818 "ho III-tier Rme-Cokher.
8 r’okor Pcte’o Double Dodge,
5! "no Tie- o h rt; or, High Huatlin; lh sluum' Plot.
389 Monte 5...]. d... an...
1 Diouond Do vo the Gilt-Ed” Shootor,
.110 Crock-Shot Do oy’o Drop,
’81 Tho .50 in Volvott ohm. Burk'n hint.
.3: Dilly ir ’o Bonny-uni or The Rook-Rnnn' Room“.
9 Flip-Fl? Prod word on
9.. Tho Cir lportoh owort or, Clark's Clooo Show.

 

 

other Non-la by E. L. “'ln-cler.

80 Roncbnd Hob: Hr. Nugzw Ned. lhv Knight.

“4 lion-inn! Hill! on Iluml: Ir. ld_xl, ii -- H‘rl Miner.

8’4 Rout-bud Rob'n lieu pcuruucc: m, i’lmir-gnwh Phil.
1%] lion-bud Rob'r- (‘hurli-nuc: or, (‘mnmnnn l'lilp.
277 Denver Doll, Um llr-tm Live izilro'111nr,'i'lii Ynnln-c'n Surround
281 Denver Doll‘s \ iclory: wr. Skull unvl l‘rnsuhl-nca.

.85 Denver Doll'n Dot-o)- 3 ur. Little Hill's Bonn-4n.
.96 Denver Doll‘n Drill; ur. The Road Queen.
dill i'reku Jim, tin- uold-imiI-cu-r; or, 'I‘hr- Lilo battery.
8?! Yreko Jim's l’rlzc: or, The Wolves mi \Vakr-Up.
885 Yrcko Jim”! Joker: or, The Rivals oi chi N00.
889 Yreku Jim'n how iolc; or, Hii')tle lieu.
304 Yreko Jim oi' Yubn Diun.
809 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective: ill’. Dot Lwile Como.
'13 Fritz to the Front; or, The Veulrlloqulnt Hunter
344 1-er Rum. th. l‘rmliiwr Frrrut: or, A Sim-r3 Dwotion.
-crru flaun- l-Iccrct: 0r, Tho Bioodv i-‘ovtprlnu.
7 crru Sum’n l’urd; or. m Angol (vl Big ill-to.
' crrn Sum‘g Keven ur,'l‘hu Stiller) Bride.
884 kangaroo kit; or. 'l‘ to Myltoriouu hilmr.
.89 Kangaroo Kii’o Iiockeit or. The hide of Playrd.0nt.
39 Death-Face, Detective; or. Lifr in New Yor .
09 The Do; Dciecilvct or, (hid Rifle, the Sharp-hoot".
96 “'uich- ch tin- Doiri‘iivo’. or. Aruba nnd Angeli.
117 Gilt-Edged Dick. the s m Detoctivo
145 Contain Ferret. tho ow York Detective.
Iii! New York Nell, the Buy-Girl Douctive.
2!“ The Arab Dcicctlvet or, Snouur, the Boy Shorp.
.91 Turk the Boy Ferret.
825 Kelley, liiokev .i' l‘o.. the Dutertlvu oi Phil-delphio.
.48 Munhuitnn Mike, the Bowery Deimtlvo.
400 “'rlnklco. th. Night-Watch Detective.
416 Iligh Ilat Harry, the Bim- Bull Douctivo.
48¢ Ham filaboidoo. the litigator—Boy Detective.
Jitn Beak dud I’ul. rlntc Dom-tire...
80 Clovcl Ilooi', tho Bulfqu Damon; or, The Border Vulturoo.
8' "ob Woolf: nr. Tim Girl field-Shot.
45 Old Avalon-ho: or, Wild Edna. tho Girl Brlgmd.
58 Jim Bludooo. Jr.. th. Boy Phouix.
Bl Buckhorn “Ill! or. The Rad Rlflo Tonm.
ii! Can-do (‘ilelt or. Old Anaconda In Sitting Bull‘. Comp.
I]. Jud lloylo the Yuan; Speculltor.
III! Bonnqu Dill. liner; 0I'. Mfldun Mvmvy. “‘0 For!"-
183 lint-o iiob the King of lloothlnrh
1 Solid Hum. than DOV RondAAgent; or. The Brande Brown.
77 Nohb Nick of Nev-do; or, Tho Blurru Sunny...
8] “'ild *rnnk ihr Burhkin Bravo: or. Lady Lily’s LOW.
8“ Apollo "ill, the Trail Torn-do: or. Rowdy Kn...
40 Cyclone Kit. iha Young Gladiltur; or, The Locked anloy.
78 Jumbo Joe, the lioy Putrnl: or. The Riv-l lioln.
98 A N... l, the Dnhlng Toll-Tutor.
8 ’ldzn Jane, the Girl .‘llnl'l'; or. the lton-Norvod Sport.
0 Little quick-film! i or, ‘l'ho Dead Foce oi Dugonvillo.
8 Fir-t4) III Fri-d, 'ho Gent lrum 60 her.
8 NIDGD Nl‘di 0?. The Sucrct oi Sillll C iy,
8. Cool Kit, the Klrl vi Kid-l; or, A Villnln’l Veurennco.
‘88 fin-ta Fe Roi, the Sluhfl; 0r. A Son’n Vann-incp.
“C “I‘ll-kin lion. thu Snuklof: or The Tribuuhl oi Ton.
913 Kit Keith. i '1 RVVPV 1w Sprutter. '
92% “0| finurnc. tin.- Ncw York hilht-llowk.
948 on: lily-need Among llum-o Men.

BY J. 0. CDVVDRICK.

490 Droudwoy Ilill)’. the Bootbloch Brno.
35% ii'°“‘i“"’ iiii'u’i‘ "s‘l‘liii'ifui’é’ Cv'v'""" “m” C‘“
rou w. .l' I .
MW Droudwu: llilily‘l Death liogket.
579 lirondwuy Iiil )"I Sun-prim.- Part
005 "roadway lilllyi or, The Boy Detoctiva .ai. inulnr.
it’ll Iiroodwuy Iiiib"! Dead Act: or, The League oi Sewn,
Gilli liroudwny iy Abroad; or, The Bootblock in 'Frinco.
 Illiroll‘t‘llwny lli‘l'l‘ily'l'lica; or,Beotlnz Sou Fnucllco IFinui.
rou wu V II ‘ over.
696 llroudwn; "lily, In Texan; or, 'rh. RiverRultlefl.
108 liroodwoy Bill! I lirund.
"I"! lit Santa Fe; or, The Clever Dal.
1 null"! l'ull "and; or, The Gunlu Detail".
Dilly:- lluuincu.
Dilly I (.‘nrlonl Cute.
Dilly in Denver.
"In!" “arguing or, Tho Thru- Detective.
Dilly: liw Rririn’rr Detectiro.
Bill! I Shadow Chole-
Dilly"I Dongle-t or The Trio’n Quut.
illy" ‘(mlnt or, flu Cnmhlnu'l iii; Pill-
'l'l'ly’u grit-d]? or. Tho Dad All".
3"! our o out.
800 Bron: wny Dilly lluled. q
iliy’lI 5', nol Scoop.
lltli!" “ in "M.
 first: Rocket.
’- I .
wo Tull limo! Jone Thu
an nmu wo; moi-r. Rani: ’ "‘
an Drool woy Billy‘l iii. ii
Bron: woy liilly‘u Bin Bul c.
8450 Drum woy liiliy’u mm o it Ilnp.
85. "'0'! way llilly’n "I". d: 07.11:. Bootblock Stowuny.
way .on o .
wny  London III-o.
woy y I one.
880 runway Billy and “I. Bout» hroworl.
Odo ltiivor-look tho Mu oi Myntov); or. 7hr Goidoo lop.
.0. IhoIi-I, tho ilold Klnli W, Fork": You! Dood-
3r: .. °:°“'°"*r.'.'a'.“rfi'.' "litmw' M
I .Ili 0', ' 0 .d I o
O loudly a... the Stmt Scout.
4.? Dim Don. tho Dal Dodo.
“0 Rod! hi Dolph t a Prince 01000 loud. '
a: zhchfiolml; gtetergm‘ar. Rodlight Ralph n Rooolvo
If G l x no: o.
r-.Io .u e tcl'ount "homer 0 II o
I I Ai Ii k E 1 Th Do bl Cu.
3 h 'I' no! ’ilkerun; or Running the hut-lo Out.
015 Pinhtino llorr the Chic! oi Chnlnod Cvelono.
.4. B k “at , the Coliuur o! the Cinlo.
04‘? 1 "writer Tilly, th. Iirrrhnt'n Wm.
a"? B oonllch': go It, thok“‘f,iu‘ln:l”flu oiAIio lot.
otter! o. t «- toe coo vo.
it“ Arinono Dick'u It.

00 Jumping Joek’n uhlioc.

9 fight, low», the Cyrlo Egon.
.1. Train iioy Triut'o lloi. ionic,
D!“ The Tron-n Dock-Dov.
on In. Book nob. on. Fire-Luau.
9|. Rut-tier Dolph. the Boy “potter.
986 o Ex-Nownhoy Deicciive’l Chan.
3213'" 3:"‘62' ii'fi'i "ii"“‘°" ”""

ow y or e I on e.

4 e ow ry not or: or. 0 Me or. yo or.
O7'l'hll'fWi Thlthno’haclr
on P ddv’l rut-p Cord; onilllvor Soiliz. tho Girl Sport.
’00 'l‘ e firofiwgp firm-9‘," or. Fiver Frcd'I Clout Co...
Ni? .1000 Row-rd! or. in» Rival ilvporton' Sink Scoop.
978 Bolton Billy, the Corker-Fermi.

BY HAROLD PAYNE.

84: Don, the River flpori t or. Polling tho Frisco Slurp.
80 Bowery {on in Chinatown.

Oil Bower oh. the Eont-oido Detective,

.6. Tho rou- Detoct vo.

'l

 

on
Q

“IOICUEUUV‘I‘
“FGG

no
on
.—
.-

 

B i' FFA L0 Bl Ll. NOVELS.
BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM.

975 lillfl'nlo llill'n lllilc-‘hoin.

96“ lillifnlo Dill‘u kin-II “idi‘i "r, Fure$th the liiuh-Flyer.
itiH- Iinii'nlo liiil‘u Ill-coy ; or. The Arizona Crack Smut.
955 linifnlo liili‘n Minchfu-(‘lmnn

948 liuifulo liill‘u Snap-5 mi 3 or. Wild Kid'n Tunn Tully
942 lluii’alo lilll’n 'l'ou h Tunic.

936 Hull'qu Hill”: "03' . novel; or, Joe Jarvin’ Hold-up.
929 iiuifulo llill’n (‘ruck-ulloi l’nrd.

6.30 Buffalo Bill’s lloy Ford: or. Hulk-my Billy.

DIG Iii-on Dill. thv Prince 0] the Reins.

W2 Bloou lilll’u (‘luct 07- 6m. the BIN" 59°“-

BY BUFFAID 311. L.

3 Kan-n- King; or, The Rad Right “nod.
19 The Phantom S yi or,’lhe Hint of the Prairie.
‘5 "Hilly-Eye. the nknown Strut. or,Thc Bonded Brotherhood
3" Border liobin lloodt or, The Prllric Rover.
‘53 Fancy ll‘ronk of Colorado: or. Tho Tnpper'r Trust.

BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR, u. 8. A.

19] nulalo llillv. tho Boy Bullwhochr.
194 Bull-lo llill‘o Item “I. The Guam-r Guido-

BY OOLDNEL PRENTIBF INGIKAIIAI.
New York Nut’o Dro i or, Ex-Fcrret Sykol’ Bold Gil.
N‘cw Y'ork Nut und the 'lruitor hcrret.

how hark Nut Trapped.
New 1_ork Nnt'u 'lhrec of a Kind.
New h'ork Nni’o Double.
"or: li‘hut’; la (l‘élenNhI.t C

_or at I o ‘uggc on).
\Vork Nui’o Dcudly Deni.
‘ \vork hui‘o (Took-Chane.
hot-k N'nih Trump Curd.
\Vork but and the Grove Ghoulo.

lork .Itt'u Mn-ked Malcoi.
iI ork hot. thwlhmln Drlfl‘iive.

loom’o Kidnap er Knockout.

toom'l Ten Sir kc.

loom'n l‘lu-h Hond.

Ioont‘n Death-Grip; or. Tho Detective in Dolby.
toom'o Dot-tiny; or. 'l he River Blocklov'n Terror. ‘1
moon" or, ‘hr Shun: and Shark: oi New York.
Doom III Dot-ton: Or, A him oi Many Mash.

tool- in i‘hicngo. '
Doom in the i\ lid Vi out.
looln‘n (‘ieun Fnccp; or, Flu Links in I Ciuo.
ioom’n l'cuth i‘lnc.
Doom’n Diamond Dculo
lit-k "oom'u i-‘irl Mascot.
loom'u Sillu'ott' "uni.
Doom‘n liii.r "vol.

I-: (innate: nr. 'l'lw Krniuciinenderfmt'l Flnt’l‘nfi'.
.i... ('hurlii-‘u I'm-tiny: or. The Renende'l Cnptlvr.
Inn-him: i hitrlli-‘r- l'u“ ncc l'urd.
‘a: .i 1 Finn-"o, ilw lirwm—r.
luck Toylor, Kim oi thy Cowboy:
luck Taylor. thr ( mnulzrlm'h Cristi".

luck Tnvlorio Iiw'oyot :r.’l h. ii. Hiuenoltho Rio Grade.
’ownce ill, tlk i'ruiric Shudowrr.
’nwnce lilil: ur. (‘nrl, the hind Cowhov.
fiii i’uwncc liill'o Pied-c: nr.’l‘h. ('0wbo3‘ll’)oom.
T25 Pawnee ilill: r-r. Dnrlnglllrk.
699 liedi‘ern’n (‘urinm- (‘uou m, The Rival Sim
091 liedi’ern at De Vll’l linncltt or.TlIoShup from Tenn.
:0: linger»:- {nan 1|_loi'l'di "'glglugjscgELb R.

0 (e ern . ,.- pg 1 or. u- o in Mt) upon.

And Fm! other-o.

DY LIECT. A. K. SIMS.

'589 Toni-Cot Ind Purdi or.The Dend Sat at Silver City.
039 Toni-Cat’s 'l‘riodt or. 'I'hr Adair hi. 'l'omhntona.
081 Turn Oot’n Terrible Tut-k; or, The Cowl-o ~ Detective.
688 Tont-Out’n Triuuu h or. Blnck Dan’s Git-Ii omhln.
Id. Captain Coauo t e hnporroi i‘ocL; or. Joli'i'l Ten smh
508 The Dondy of body” or. Rut-iith ior Millions.
576 The Silver Sport; or. Jooll Periponnint‘l Jubilee.

88 hum-on so]. the Mn: With ssh-(low
301 II. 1, ll...“ 9.)..- Dmcl. Vidocq; or,HotTiniea-t Round-Up
‘1‘ fills-d Don-mole, tho Dotectin Horcu en.

4‘ Cowl-o Girl, the Cutie-Bonn mama.
057 Worhilu. Vi ml... the Mount-in Mountehuk.
“5 J0": Jere—m. m Plain-Detectivo.
610 SI Iol Hon the hoot Scout.
‘8’ "a" the dyp'o 5”! 0T: "10 Mutt oiTwo Lino.
099 Simple Sim, tho Kroneho Bu-trr: or. For (B

:3 he Hen-orb: I fit or, The Myotilod Detective.

. Tolteo Ton, tin Ad PIOIpocw.
5 Kong..- Jin, the (‘nm—(‘ut Detecilvo.

i" Murundnkc. l?" M"""|l" Dctectlvo.

78 The Root] r of Rolling huge.
7’15 Lone "on Joe. the Committoo oi 0M.
80] Kent. Ktrhybiho "Int-Kicker lrooa Kill
3” The D etc etivc in Tcxoo.
“7. Two Ibo ll"- l'ctcoiive- in Colorodo. ‘
93? The 'l'exon Firchr-nd or. Brno! Billy’l Mfihok
Nil The TIC-I'll Tru-p- rick.

BY T. J. FLANAGAN.

90’ Mid-hi’lonclturath; Pi‘rolto Cotoher. V
The ooh I.

  TWO gidz‘hrip-yon:’or-, Tho Caulk-Clue"! HM
, Id.

'll‘ be Th .i i
.u [-5. xx. ‘M?:£;'..:r.‘1'h. Four Continuum.
.lhfing Jon-k Ihuhrick

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OT! Aofiiilc J uck’o Kiddie-3 or, DI“! Did" 9'“-
NEW ISSUES.
on Boniy nuiy'. non-nus or. Th0 “fir-Tumor“ Dual-e.
3)“ Wm. R. Eylkr.

994 Fcoicr s.- Detective, ofliwk I" 14“" 0t or.
scunmuu “I. ,‘ihnny Flypbu‘. By liurold Pnyno.

.85 Gldeon’o Bond; or. 3°“! 1‘“ i“ “um” 3" w‘ 3' Hm'
iiton.

JUST ISSUED. ‘

9-" 00.3,...“ nlck,'JP.’lg Booth-boon. By Edword L.

.c or.
the Street-Do Detective: or Th.
.78 ganghxnlfz‘ithul. By J. C. (‘owdrlch ’
.7. J...,& .hne ch] shot; or. Sol Bunker. tho Cowboy. By
"WHO.
,8. ¥‘;”"i},‘..b..n:. run, or, Nubby Nick’l m. an...
By 1'. C. Ir nut .
Bill’l Filhi-il. Five. 3 Col. P. inmhun.
:3; 1393?” Pu... or, Thn‘Duth-Bol of the Ruin. n, o.
Wold!) Browne. ‘
A Row luno Bron Too-do).

“Imam-o Llhroryilioruloby-u m”

“paranoia-Hymn noipioluixcootuuh.
V

EMILE AID “All, Pom

 

O! 'illio- Iiroot, low Iain .