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Copyrlkhted 1896. by BxADL: up ADAIS.

 

 

$2.50
a Year.

'PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS.
No. 92 WILLXAM STREET, NEW YORK.

5 can

Price.

u, v01. XXXIX

 

 

 

 

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“ THREE. FOUR.” CONTINUED SIX-FOOT son, WA'H‘HXNH 'rmcm mnnm'rmu
STEPS WITH A BROAD GRIN ON ms BA’I‘TEHH) “(+2.

  
  
 

 

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Johnny; the Spot

A STORY OF GRIZZLY GULCH.

 

BY “'M. R. EYSTER,

AUTHOR OF “ THE

DUDE DETECTIVE." “ THE

ALL-AROUND SPORT," ETC , ETC.

 

CHAPTER I.

A BOY
“ CLICK!" as the
“D )n't. be a fool
" Fool ain’t in it.
“ But see hyer.

wrm SAND.
hammer went back.
, kid!’
I've got you foul. "
Yer da’sen't shoot, an'

ef yyr don‘t git out ov ther way I'll smash
yer. ’

 

 

 
   

2

 

Six-Foot Sol; the Sharp-Shooter.

 

 

“Just as soon shoot as not. When it
comes to that you'll find me on the
rpot.”

“ But they’d hang yer."

" Now, you are bluiiing, old man. The
man that shoots you is all paid for. So,
tome down, old man; i have you fine."

The two were alone in the stable at
the rear of the station at Peddler's
i’orl-Let.

‘l‘here would have been a marked dis-
ULl‘lL)’ between them had it not been for
one thing.

the gun in the hands of an expert
makes all men equal, and the “ kid "
had the other lined.

lie was dressed after a natty fashion
\Hllcll hardly seemed the right thing in
Luise regions. and his face actually had
an titeniinate appearance, WlLil its clear
pink and white, anti just the faintest
suspicion of mustache, betokening that
he n-td not yet been under the barber's
liit;.«.:s.

ljlll. his eye was bright and fearless as
a hawk’s, and his white, slender hand
LLHEI‘ wavered as he held his ivory-
liundled, gold-plated revolver in true
line.

ine other was a burly ruiiian, desper-
2_do seemingly written all over his out-
mud self, yet with a crafty, shifty look
in his washed-out orbits, betokening
that, when put to the test, he might not
My out altogether “dead game."

A few moments before another man
lu.d left the stable, and after a little in-
terval of waiting this ruiiian, at present
sailing under the name of Keno Charley,
was about to pass out at the other end,
but before him suddenly rose the lad,
3 his finger on the trigger, and a call on
his lips, which. in that country, was
never disregarded when the drop went
\.'i,h it.

rieno Charley’s hands went over his
head, and his first question to himself
\.‘;;s whether the unknown youth had
heard the late conversation.

’i‘hen ensued the colloquy as given.

“ Fine it is, then. What do yer want?
Ef it’s coin, you're away off. Ef I hed
it, I wouldn‘t be hyer,” retorted the big
fellow, sulkily.

“Coin? Great Jingo! What do you
suppose I want with coin? It's knowl-
edge I’m after. Who was your friend? ”

Keno Charley gave a start. The con-
ference had been observed, then!

“Blamed of I know; but I reckon he
might be a heap—sight piuser man, an’
then not git ter glory.”

“And what did he say?”

“Axed how fur it war to Grizzly
Gulch, an’ how he’d find ther walkin’.”

“You lie! He. gave you instructions
and gold. ‘ Keep the oro, but tell me
what he said, or your brains spatter the
stall.” 0

Perhaps it was only a bluff, but it
looked like the sure enough article.

This youngster seemed to know every-
thing, utter stranger though he was, and
little as he looked like one acquainted
with the «men and ways of the mining
' camps.

“Take yer gun down an: I'll tell yer
ther hull blessed truth—an’ of that thing
happened ter go off you'd never know."

“And if I did take it down I’ll swear
I’d never know that. or anything else.
No. no, Char-lev! Warble your little song
as youxare, and I'll relieve the pressure
afterward.”

“Honest gospel, then,” growled Keno,
desperately. “He told me the hearse
would be held up between hyer an' Griz-
zly Gulch, and advised me to keep my
hands up and mouth shut.” ‘

“Whereabouts on the line?”

 

“Five mile this side, jest afore We
strike 'ther down grade."

“ And what in the name of wrath does
he choose this trip for? Why don’t he
go for the antiquated tumbrel when it is
coming out with a full treasure box?”

“Dunno, unless he‘s going fur you.”

“Something in that. All right. Keep
your eyes open when the pinch comes, or
yen will hear something drop. So long!
as they say in this country.”

Without a sign that he thought of the
man, the lad put away his revolver, and,
turning, made, his way back 'to the sta-
tion, where the guess were just: arising
from the dinner table.

Half an hour later the coach came roll—
ing up to the door, and on the box, lines
in hand, ‘was Keno Charley~~the driver.

The )assengcrs filed out to the side of
the, stage, and they went so unanimously
there was an easily seen reason ior i;.
The “ hearse ” for Grizzly Gulch that day

. was to carry at least one passenger of pe-

 

culiar importance.

Miss Myrtle Mabilee on this advanced
parallel of development was too gorgeous
even for a dream; and she would have

been a revelation and a beaui.V in an
Eastern metropolis.
She came out bo:ween Judge Jack

Johnson and Deacon We-stbridge. \vhiis;
Sport McKenzie, or Sport Mac, as he was
familiarly called, and Abiram Weintz—
lieimcr gnashed their teeth in the imme—
diate rear. Not. one of the four had ever
set eyes on the young lady previous to
that morning, but she had made them
all her obsequious slaves. and each was
burning to distinguish himself in her
service.

’l‘heir very anxiety and distrust of each
other caused them to overlook another
element, which brought them to grief.

As they approached the stage a natty-
looking youth of perhaps eighteen,
dressed up to the nines, threw open the
door, gracefully caught her fingers,
which were mechanically extended, and
with the very softest of “Allow me‘s"
handed her into the coach.

Then, without a pause, he followed im—
mediately after, and sank into the seat
by her side, which had, all that morn—
ing, been defer-entially vacant.

“Holy Aprahams! Vot gaull ” hissed
Weintzheimer, who was a money—lender
by profession, and old enough to be the
young lady’s grandfather, but who was
known to have a soft heart for the fair
sex, if for nothing else on earth.

Deacon West'britdge held up his hand-.5
in scandalized horror, and Sport McKen-
zie chewed almost too viciously at his
drooping, bronze mustache.

Only the judge, as was usual with him,
“kept his head,” and climbed into the
next best seat without a show of vexa-
tion. It was a cold day when he was en—
tirely left.

“Hello, kid, ain’t yer kimin' up whar
yer was?” exclaimed Keno Charley from
his perch on the seat, and bending over
to look in the coach.

" Not this trip, Charley. They say
there’s some roughish bits of road along
the trail, especially about the down grade
to Grizzly. If you hit a rock it might
bounce me off; and I’m not sure the in-
surance money would console the widOw
or go far with the kids.”

The driver-gave a snort of disguSt.
whilst Miss Myrtle laughed merrily as
the coach moved off at that moment.

“ I can imagine the widow," she said;
“ but, judging from your appearance, I
should suppose the kids were mighty cal-
low. Are they twins? ”

“Perhaps so. am tell the truth, they
won’t arrive fr ~ vears yet; but it's

 

as well to begin to look after their inter-
ests now. Get used to it, you know, by the
time they are on the spot. That’s what
takes me down to Grizzly Gulch. Want
to see what chance there would be to
make my own living it I should happen
to be left a family man with a large cir-
cle of dependent relatives.”

“Verily, young man, hast thou ever
thought it might be thy fate to be called
first?” snuiiied the deacon, away off in
the fartherest corner, and in sufficiently
bad a humor to feel like moralizing.

“If so it happens, i reckon my de—
scendants won‘t suffer,” spoken over the
heads of McKenzie and the judge, as he
turned again to Miss Myrtle.

She evidently encouraged the lad,
whilst she held the four at a conversa-
tional distance; and all that afternoon no
one would have thought the lad had a
care on his mind beyond Miss Myrtle.

But, all the same, he was on the alert:
and just as a shout arose from the left
hand side of the coach he thrust his head
out on the right, and, with his weaponed
hand reaching upward, shouted:

“’l‘wirl your whip, Charley, and drive
through ‘eni, or I‘ll spatter the hearsc
with the best brains you’ve got. I’m on
the spot, and I mean biz!"

 

CHAPTER II.
THE DANGER Gnows.

With Keno Charley in the secret, the
road-agents had no doubt that the hearse
would haul up at the first hail, althougn
the road stretched away perfectly clear
and unobstructed.

As for Charley, the gun at his ear, into
the muzzle of which he had that day al—
ready looked, clicked ominously, and the
holder, as he had remarked, was “on the
spot! " The interview at Peddler’s Pock-
et station had brought him somewhat
under control, and the sudden, unexpect—
ed order was obeyed without the least in-
tention on his part.

Out went the long lash, curling around
to touch every back its length would
reach, and with a great shout from lad
and driver the teams sprung madly away,
as from either side of the road men rose
up, and there was a rattle 'of firearms,
and a madder bound than ever, as one of
the horses felt a sharp score on its flank.

The hat of the lad lifted slightly from
his head, but fell to its place again as he
drew in at least two-thirds of his length
through the window.

“Now,” .he remarked, coolly, “if “the
brake beam holds on the down grade, and
the fiery chargers don’t fly the track, we
will sup in splendor at Grizzly, and
meantime there will be no files on us.
These boasted road-agents don't halt
come up to a. Bowery slugger.”

“But, my! what was it all about? ” ex-
claimed Miss Mabilee, who had clasped
her hands together, but who neither lost
her head nor was overcome with nervous-
ness. "

“Evidently an attempt at a. hold-up;
but the less said about it the less danger
of breaking down over the strain when
weitcome to think of the'chance of pur-
su .” '

“Don’t worry about that, miss,” put in
Sport Mac; “ for I tell you that Captain
Zip is not that kind. When he misses the

turn he just let’s it go at that and lays v

back for the next deal. But I reckon it
won’t be healthy for the young gent if a
second meeting happens very soon,” and
the sport gave rather an admiring look
as he spoke, for the youngster’s act had
saved him a rather full pocketbook.
“Mine crayshus! vosh dot Zip? Let
me oud! I wantsh ter valk. Vhen he
coomes back he fills dish hearsh so full

 

V s..’“..'—:. an- ; .

 

 

:- -“...L:.-.A"__'_

 

 

 

of holes as you shkimmer,” and he sprang
up so hastily that he thumped his head
against the coach roof.

That banged him down on the scat
again, and at the same momez.  .,.l of
the coach seemed to double him up and
cast his head into the bread—laiskct of
the deacon, who was just turning to look
at him.

\‘v‘c-stbridge had the vocal twang of a
saint, but the fist of a prize—fighter. iiis
fingers were instantly in Abiram’s hair.

“infernal Hebrew, thou art come to
the wrong shop. Take that, and that,
and it is lucky the restraining power of
the presence of the softer sex prevents its
being worse."

in about one minute by the clock he
shook up Abiram so successfully that his
spectacles were gone, his hair stood on
cud toward every quarter of the com-
pass. his nose was bleeding. his coat was
ripped up the back, his false teeth were
over in Miss Myrtlo‘s lap, and he was
gasping like a dying call.

'1 he deacon had had it in for him about
a year, and this was the first chance he
had found to get even with him. That
was the reason he took occasion, as he
remarked. to improve the opportunity.

The fracas momentarily diver.ed the
attention of the rest of the passengers
from their own condition—which was
none of the pleasautest had they only
known it.

Desperado though he had been, Keno
Charley was an able driver, and if his
horses were getting away with him it
was not his fault.

in the beginning the coach
smoothly enough, so it was no wonder
there was little alarm among passengers
used to being driven at a headlong pace.

Later on the road grew rougher, and
by the time the scrimmage between the
deacon and Abiram was over, even the
usually careless face of McKenzie wore a
sober expression as he looked out from
the window and noted the speed with
which the teams were dashing down the
rapidly steepening decline.

Bang! The wheel of the coach struck

a. boulder by the roadside, and had it not.

been for the peculiar shape of the ob-
struction the wreck would have come at
once.

The vehicle swayed to the left as
though it would dash over the precipice
on that side. Then the traces tightened
with a jerk that fairly snapped the coach
through the air, and one of the wheelers
stumbled.

If he had gone fairly down there would
have been no escape from a. pile-up; but,
with an energy almost of despair, Keno
Charley ground down his brake and slung
his whip-lash at the leaders. ,

A trifling check from behind, a wilder
leap from the leaders, and the stumbling
horse was actually swunponce more into
his stride, and went plunging on.

There were few women with such nerve
as Miss Myrtle Mabilee, even in the 'land
where women with nerve are bred, but
the plucky girl now quivered, and her
voice quavered as she spoke in a. low tone
to the youth.

" We seem to be in more danger from
the rocks than we would have been from
the road-agents. They could hardly have
treated us as cruelly as we are threat-
ened. Can we escape with life? "

“I don't know the road, but if Keno

hangs on we may pull up in safety Yet-
.Where I came from we don’t die till we’re
killedf’
, “ But we are in quick danger. If any-
thing happeno to me, take charge .of my
baggage, read the- letter you will find
there, and act accordingly.”

 

rolled"

 

Six-Foot 801, the Sharp-Shooter.

__._,._.r. #7, . ,

“All right. This ain't a case where
brains counts for much on the inside. I
can’t promise to save you; but rely on it
that I’ll do the square thing. Hello! ”

Those sharp eyes of his had caught a
glimpse of something which he knew by
instinct was Keno Charley taking a fly-
ing leap from the top of the coach into a
clump of shrubbery by the roadside!

There was no time for wasting.
Whether the others had seen the jump or
not, the lad‘s eyes took in the desertion,
and his course was decided on in the
same ilash of thought.

“Stick to the machine till the last
horn blows,“ he hastily whispered to the
girl, who was still leaning toward him;
then swiftly he arose, and, leaning out
of the window. grasped the guard rail,
and. taking a firm grip, drew himself
bodily through the window!

As he emerged there was a great surge,
which seemed to cast him into the air
with a snap, and for an instant his feet
went out to a level with his head.

Miss Mabiloe gave a little cry as she
saw him apparently being buried to his
death, and the other passengers, save
Abiravm, seemed to be acaially cowering
under the hand of relentless danger.

As for Weintzheiiuerwhe was grovel-
ing under the middle seat. This sort of
peril broke him all up.

Sport Mac was the coolest there. It
was his business to be cool, and he was
feeling for his revolvers with some idea
of dropping a leader to stop the proces-
sion, and run the chances of going over
into the brink.

Just when Myrtle expected to see him
dashed against the side of the stage and
crumpled to the cruel roadway, the boy,
with a wonderful exercise of nerve,
swung his feet around, higher than his
head, and landed on the upper deck!

Keno Charley had been at least cool
enough to wrap the lines around the
handle of the brake-bar before taking his
leap, and the young Ajax caught them up
as he dropped into the vacated seat of
the driver.

"‘ Keno! Johnny’s on the spot! Let’s
see what he can do for his country!"

And he gave a long, strong, steady pull
—~to feel the mouths of the flying brutes.

One of the lines parted under the
strain, and he surged backward in his
seat.

 

CHAPTER III.
JOHNNY ON THE sror.

That seemed an end of all control of
the runaways, but the daring boy was
not cowed.

With a swiftness almost mechanical he
kicked off his gaiters, and, setting the
brake as hard as he dared, he pitched
forward from his seat, straight upon the
back of the off wheeler!

The teams had passed down the great-
er part of the incline in safety, but the
boy, a. stranger to the trail, did not know
that, nor that the most dangerous part of
the route was yet to come.

What he did know was that below him,
at some distance, he heard a horn sound-
ing, and had caught a. glimpse of another
coach toiling up the hill.

What was to be done had to be done
quickly. Before many seconds the col-
lision woul come unless by some means
it was averted.

Even the insane brutes seemed to feel
something of the kind—or was it all 3‘
fancy? Their pace slackened a trifle, and

the coach, never responding to the heavy

pressure of the brake, bore hard on the
wheelers.

The youngvAjax was not- without an
instant plan.- The remaining three lines

 

 

3

he still held in his hand, and he was
after the broken end of the line of the
off leader. It was the most important
one of the whole outfit, sinre it was the
one to guide them away from the awful
danger which still lay to the left hand.

By something better than chance it
hung across the hame of the wheel
horse, and as he caught it renewed hope
sprung up.

The sounding of that horn showed that
somewhere below there was a passing
place. Which coach would reach it first?

If it was his, then, if skill and solid ef-
fort would work the trick, the wreck
should be made right there, where he
might at least have some show.

He could see that the other driver was
aware of the danger, from which there
could be but one way of escape, and was
“tucking on the braid" to urge his
horses into a run.

The boy was speaking soothingly to
his horses, and all the time holding the
reins ready for the crisis.

Suddenly, just a trifle ahead, he saw
where faint marks of wheels left the
trail and appeared to run into the wall
of rock towtrhe right.

This was the moment he had been
waiting for, and, poor though his pur-
chase was, he put all his power on, the
mouth of the off leader. Even thougn
the line broke again, that pull would
either answer his purpose, or further t:.~
fort would be useless. ‘

Luck was with him. The animals rec-
ognized the situation, or else obeyed his
will, and darted into the cut-off, \Vii‘l
which they were not altogether unac-
quainted.

The work of the road-makers here had
been well done. The passage scooped out
was a wide one, and the moment the
wheels reached it they struck rising
ground; then there was a lurch and a con-
vulsion that sent every one within into
one mingled mass, ,with Abiram Weintz-
heimer at the bottom.

The door flew open at the shock, and
in a moment Myrtle had disengaged her-
self and was out on the ground; but the
danger was over. The horses stood shiv—
ering, only too glad to stop now that
they were relieved of the weight of the
big stage.

The judge and Sport Mac were out an
instant later, but they were hardly need-
ed when each seized a. team by the bri-
dies.

By this time the other coach was op-
posite, and the driver, whose hair was be-
ginning to settle down, and "his hat rest
more firmly on this head, launched 3 vol—
ley of expletives at the little group.

“Why in sanctified blazes didn‘t yer
put on yer chain lock? " was the utter-
ance he emitted, and as he never stopped
to see what damage had been done he did
not understand the incisive answer
hurled back at him.

“ Reckon he’ll meet ’em, too; now, let’s
take stock of damages,” and the boy
looked keenly over the trembling steeds
and examined the stage itself.

“ All looks to be serene, and I wouldn't
wonder if we made schedule time to Griz-
zly yet.” ‘

The sport shook his head, with a. laugh.

“Excuse me, but the walking is' good
enough for comfort, and not a bad thing
for health. I’ll take mine on foot. Griz-
zly’vs not more than a mile ahead.”

“Does you dink dey’ll- refund on der
fare ef we dukes it afoot back? ” queried
Abiram anxiously, as he emerged from
the vehicle. “It vlll pa 9. gaze for tam-
ages, put if der company von’t allow for
der valk I’ll stay mit der $03-$11."

“Good for you, uncle. > You bet your,

 

 

 

 

 

 

l

 

bTLiCXl dollar they ain't allowing for any-

tlilzg‘, not e'xtn for Kcno's time, that
I've been making up. Pile in. those Lita.
are going. I’ll do the best I ran for you,

and if there's a spill af.er all, my neck
will go first.”

The young Ajax spoke with a confi—
dcnce of tone more reassuring than his
wcrtls. lie had been lasening the broken
lizte with a buckle, and now climbed to
the driver‘s perch, where he carefully
tested the brake.

“ I 1':::‘t desert you, little man!"
smiled Iuiiss' Myrtle, as she sprung lighly
back to her place, and with such an ex-
ample even Mac gave up all idea of walk-
ing. In a minute more the coach was
slipping softly down the hill.

Prompt to its schedule time, it rolled
down the main street of Grizzly Gulch,
and, it being well on in the afternoon, a
number of ci.izen3 were out on the street
and observed the strange driver on the
box.

When the teams halted in front of the
Continental a curious crowd greeted it.
The absence of Keno Charley from the
box meant that something out of the or—
dinary had happened.

Two men stood a little apart, at the
end of the porch, watching the coming of
the stage, and one of them gave a star,
as 'his eyes fell fairly on the amateur
who had his hands on the “ribbons.”

“That’s him!" he whiSpered eagerly.
“Mark him. Boss said he might slip
through; an’ he’s did it! ”

“Sure thar’s no mistake? "

“ Dead sure.”

“Yer better be. Ther boss‘d furnish a
t’ust-class objeck fur a. f’ust-class fun'ral
of we made ary mistake; an’ he don’t
look like- ther :inooine article."

“ Looks ain't. a countin' in this. Et’s
what ther boss scz. An' he sez, git ther
kid. Cornsequintly, I'm a gittin'.”

“ All right; but he’s a blasted slimpsey
lookin’ article 'ter be mak’in’ all this fuss
about. Ef he war wearin’ caliker, blest
ef he an’ the gal wouldn’t be much ov a
muchness, an’ mighty hard ter tell
apart.”

“Ef he’s a easy one I ain’t objectin’;
but of yer looks at him squar you’ll see
he hez a mighty keen eye. Don’t yer be-
gin throwin' off or s’uthin’ may begin ter
drop.”

“Drap nothin'! Kim along!
ders what‘s happened ter Keno.
must find out, and then be goin‘.
do nothin’ afore night.”

As he drew up the lad tossed the lines
to waiting hands, and was off his perch
like a shot. Before Mike Motter, the pro-
prietor of the Continental, could reach
the door the young man was there and
'had it open. ‘

“Here you are, safe in Grizzly. Allow
me! ”

This time he was the escort, Motter
flanking the damsel on the other side,
and the rest of the passengers bringing
up the rear, never stopping to answer the
questions which were ready for them on
opportunity.

Mrs. Motter received the young lady at
the door, whilst the rest followed the
landlord to the office.

The lad appeared very much at home
as he looked around and remarked:

“ There might be worse roads than the
one from Peddler’s Pocket, but I reckon
they’re in the lower region. Never saw
anything to beat it in this world.”

“ Come alone?" asked the proprietor

“ Very much alone, not counting the
other half-dozen. But there were a' few

I won-
We
Cain‘t

minutes I wouldn’t have objected to hav-
ing .1 whole regiment in sight.
polled through, as I always do.”

But we

 

4 Six-Foot Sci. the Sharp-Shooter.

 

“Pulled th ough, ch? What war ther
deeiikilty‘.’ "

“ Road-agents they call them out here.
For a minute i did think I was elected to
be robbed, but Keno drove through a
howling; and there's nothing wrong with
my hat, is lilt‘l'O'? "

lie tool»; cit' his stiff black hat, and
thrusting th linger through a hole in
the b.'i:.i guy. s the chapeau a twirl.

“ bless r. y soul, but that war a close
rail. Did 3‘: l' ri. skeered? ”

“Scaz‘ttl nothing! he been in worse
places bt'lOl'e. liut Keno is a bird, and it
will be profitable if you don’t forget it."

“ \Ve‘re onto Keno down hyer, an’ bird

goes. liyer's ther register.”
Mike turned the old account-book
around, and watched the youngster

scratching in a sprawling hand:

“Johnny,
“New York City.”

“Say! Johnny who? Johnny what?”

Mike looked doubtingly at his guest.
He was about as curious as the next
man. Besides, he was not keeping hotel
for his health, and that sort of a register
made him suspicious.

“Johnny on the Spot. Take a week
out of that, and credit me with the
change. There’s no telling how soon- 1
will go dead broke.”

He tossed a twenty-dollar gold piece
on the counter and then turned toward
the water barrel and the tin wash basin,
leaving to Sport McKenzie the task of
explaining the absence of the missing
Keno Charley.

 

CHAPTER IV.
" 1 AM THE MAN."

As has been intimated, the lad who
registered under the name of Johnny on
the Spot was an entire stranger to the
Grizzly Gulch district. this being his first
visit to that region.

Sport Mac was not on the same list, for
he had visited the town before, and had
a general acquaintance with every grade
of the Gulch citizens.

The remaining three gentlemen were
old-timers, and Were generally counted
among the solid men of the town, though
they enjoyed varying degrees of popular-
ity. Anyhow. all of the passengers
stopped at the Continental, for the pres—
ent at least, though Weintzheimer as a
rule boarded himself in the'little -:uddy
hole to the rear of what he called his of—
fice.

Three out of the four had a little knot
of anxious questioners, for though at
first Johnny had thrown them a trifle off
the trail, it did not take long for it to get
noised abroad that something more had
happened than an unsuct..._sful raid of
the road-agents.

When Johnny had performed his ablu-
tions he managed to vanish; but proba-
bly his ears burned in the distance, for
Sport Mac. who held the larger part ofg
the audience, had a good deal to say
about him, and was not slow in telling it.

“Oh, yes. gents, he's nothing but a
kid; but he’s one of the kids you read
about. Keno drive through? Of course
he did. The lad held his gun to Keno’s
ear and told him to swing his whip—and
he swung it." .

“And got plugged for the doin' of it,
eh? If you’re shouting for a hero, what’s
the matter with Charley? ” growled one
of the bystanders.

“ And it wasn't poor Charley’s chin,
either.”

“ Plugged? Get out!
away with him after he had made the
riflle on Zip, and he hadn’t the sand to
stay with ’em!

 

0n the down grade four

i
The teams got I

miles back he just dropped the ribbons
and jumped the deck."

“On the down grade! Great guns and
little grizzlies! What did you do next? ”

“Oh, we just shook together right in a.
pile, except the lady, who stuck L0 the
back Stilt. But that kid—that kid, mind
you——climbed out of (no window, mount»
ed the box, grabbed the lines, and when
they broke, as one of them did, he jill’élpGJ
for the teams. lie just tooled us all sat-3
into the turn-out at forty miles an hour
in time for the up hearse to shave by.
You ought to have heard Uncle Billy
swear because we didn’t have the chain-
lock on.”

“ An’ Keno with that bit of calico
aboard! He ought ter be hung ef he ever
shows up hyer. Who are she, by ther
way? Boy an' her brother an’ sister?”

“Just guess not. He stuck himself up
on the box this morning before she
dawned on him, and it looked like the)r
never had met before. But he changed
all that at Peddler’s Pocket. How we
did want to tear when he chucked him—
self right beside her, and the rest of us
didn’t have a show to get a word in edge-
ways! But that’s all right now. If he
hadn’t been there we wouldn't be here."

Mac laughed at his recollections, but
all the same he showed by the ring of
his voice that the lad had made a solid
friend in him.

“ Who are they, anyhow? That’s a.
mighty fine-lookin' heifer to be runnin'
maverick. Ef ther boy ain’t her friend,
where is he? "

“Ask the lady the question yourself.
If she wan;s you to know, she’ll no doubt
answer. I’ll never tell.”

The sport stared coldly at his question-
er, who knew it was better not to push
the subject further just then.

Some one else, however, wanted to
know how it came Weintzheimer was
done up in such fine shape, and that re-
stored Mac to good humor, while his lit-
tle story sent the crowd into a roar of
laughter. As Abiram was not a popular
man, the history of his tribulations
called up no sympathy at all.

After that it was time to go to supper,
and curiosity could receive no further
satisfaction, though there was a lively
interest to know what the strangers
wanted within their gates.

The Continental was doing a thriving
business, and that evening the supper ta-
ble was fuller than ever. Not a boarder
who could find a place and a plate was
absent; and for the guests who arrived
on the stage places were reserved, except
in the case of Weintzheimer, who was too
badly shaken up to come to the table,
even if he had been willing to stand the
tariff.

Of course, Miss Milly was the principal
attraction; but there was a. strong desire
to see the boy, the reputation of whose
freshness and nerve had gone abroad.
coupled with the information that he was
dre ed like a dude, and flashed gold coin
like a prince.

Even Mrs. Johnson dropped promptly
on her seat after the ringing of the bell
which announced that the dining-morn
was open.

Miss Mabilee did not disappoint the
other guests. and Johnny was on the
spot. They came in together, though
they had just met in the hall, and took
seats in an unconscious manner, while
every eye was turned in their direction.

Both of them were blessed with healthy
appetites, and attended so strictly to busi-
ness that they had little to do with con-
versation, yet Miss Myrtle found time to
say to him:

“I begin to think you can be trusted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

better than an older hand, and some one
I must trust. Can you manage to meet
me by and by without raising a suspicion
that it is for any purpose but mutual ad-
miration? ”

" if I can’t, I’ll want to go home. Don’t
let these gents get too close with their
devotion, and you'll find me on the spot

a summer you fix the hour.”

“ in an h0ur, then. Meantime, see if
you can find out anything about one Car-
108 Murillo, a. rancher, I believe, who
lives somewhere ntar here, on the Mexi-
can tril‘. Excite as little remark as you
can. I .eed not tell you I am not here
.imply to air my beauty."

" nor I for fun; but I am at your serv-

' A ice, all the same.”

A few minutes later they retired from
the table together, though separating at
the door.

“Great Scott, who is she?” muttered
the lad to himself.

“I have traveled four thousand miles
and laid out for a month's work to dis-
cover what she expeo.s me to find out in
an hour after supper. And wants me to
keep quiet about it, too! Blame it, if any
feminines of the family were missing I'd
,say she must be my long-lost sister. But
up to date I haven’t heard of any of them
ge;ting away. In fact, when you see me
you see about all there is of all of us.
Wonder what style Senor Carlos is?
Sport Mac might know.”

The coincidence of which he spoke in
/ his thoughts was puzzling; but Johnny
did not allow it to engross his attention
to the exclusion of the business in hand.
'He watched for McKenzie to come out,
and took the chance for a private word.

“Say, Sport Mac, from some things
dropped I reckon you know something of
the ropes around here. Will you give a
:poor young orphan a pointer? ”

“Right I will, and throw myself in
along with it. You underszand, I am a
sha;k by profession, and not exactly the
right kind for a lad to die to, on the aver-
age; but. if you'll let me do it in a quiet
way, there is no young man ever came
into Grizzly with better backing~and it’s
“a place where he may need it."

‘f I’ve Jotted that all down. Wolf don’t
.eat wolf, and maybe I'm a little in your
line myself. I don’t want to run in the
_ way of any game of yours, but can you
. tell me if there is a rancher about here,
pretty well heeled, who goes by the name
of Senor Carlos Murillo? "

The sport gave a low, soft whistle and
looked sharply at his intérrogator.

“Say, lad, you’re not a sect-o. service
man. 37': you? They take in some blame
_— queer-looking timber, and from what I've
 , seen you are better than the best of it.”

“Honor '. right, between boy and man,
no. I'm on a. racket to put coin or some-
thing else in my own pocket. Liow, what
ywas the meaning of the question?”

- g l’ “Try and forget it. I do know some-
. gthing about the gentleman, though he is
3119 intimate of mine. I meant to warn

'  you that he is a dangerous individual for

I ere-ans of that stripe to fool ar und.
filmy, I can't-say, but the reason i r it
‘Ingght be found.” " ' ‘

: “ Thanks. That throws a whole barrel
4 X rays on his character. if not on ,his
:cupation’. Can you give me an idea of

lamps is fixed, and if there is much
. th in sight?" ‘

Fixed like 3. lord, and, theysay, lives
gle a king. but not over-fond of visitors
a, except: those who come from the other
‘ deofttheline. Let me warn you: When

3‘

in your lap, and af‘erward don"t
‘ ' a late stroll with him on a dark

' have Just

 

 

Six-Foot Sol, the Sharp-Shooter.

 

up; and I make my living by doing such
things."

"Thanks.
ranch? ”

“ It may be uen miles, it may be twen-
~ty. I never met anybody who had been
.‘here, but it‘s not hard to find. If you’re
wise, you‘ll keep away. 'l‘here'll be a
chance to meet him in town, and that will
give you the advantage of a square deck
and a table he don't own."

“Thanks again. I think I'll go around
and ask when uhcre will be a show to
expect him.”

“ All right; and, if you don‘t object, I'll
go along with you. The Gem is the place
we want to strike. They have tried to
steer me up against hint-there, but, hon-
est InJun, I've fought shy of him, so you
judge.”

More than one glance was ens; in the
direction of the two as they strolled down
the street together, and when the faces
turned away there may have been a smile
of pity on some of them. At the Gem
-.he welcome was cordial.

“Anything big at short cards
sight? ” sport asked, after a little.

“Nothing. unless you care to tackle
Murillo. he's around to-night."

“ If i can’t do better, perhaps i wouldn't
care, but Senor Carlos is no; exactly the
kind to pick up without an introduction;
and th y say he's a mighty unpleasant
man sometimes after the fun is over.”

The answer to that remained unsaid,
for at that momem a dark-visaged man,
with midnight eyes, swarthy lace, and
flowing black hair, stepped out from a
stall.

“ Who is it that takes the name of Car-
los Murillo in vain? He is here, and I
am the man.”

How far is it out to his

in

CHAPTER V.
“ BEWARE on THE NEXT TIME."

There was a direct challenge in his
tones as Murillo announced himself, yet
it was possible to pass over the offense
for the sake of some strong motive. If
S'port McKenzie had been looking for
trouble, there would, however. have been
loads of it right then and there.

He smiled as he glanced.at the foreign-
looking gentleman, and it was a pleasant,
reassuring smile.

“ Vanity and the name of Murillo don’t
go together, so far as i have heard, and
our mutual friend behind the bar is not
to blame if it was mentioned at all. I
landed, and was quizzing
Tommy about the chances for interview-
ing some or the mighty chiefs when the
night grew it little older.”

“ And I think you said something
about what might happen after the meet-
ing was over.”

Sport Mac was not very long suffering.
and his eyes flashed at this perslStence.

“ Oh, to some such interviBWs there is
no hereafter. If you’re in a hurry about
it, we may as well have i-. out now. I
suppose you are heeled."

The sport made no movement toward
his weapons, but there was plenty of time
for that. There was no one much quick-
er en the draw, and he was Willing to
risk the chances with the senor.

Nevertheless.‘it came to him wi-hout a
reason why that this Mexican-looking
man might not be after him at all. He
intercepted one glance at Johnny that
had in it the gleam of a rapier-21 glance
of passion and of hate. ‘

‘i Not now,” said the senor coldly, after
first recovering his temper by an appa-
rent effert.‘ '

“ It might seem as if the taut: was
mine if I shot you down in co‘d blood,
and yet the quarrel has not been of my

\‘r

 

seeking. Beware of the next time we
meet. And as, for that cub at thy side——
he is in good hands to be trained well.
If he comes not to his end by the rope it
will be that he has first wit the bite of
lead. To dream that i would sit down in
such company! 1». makes me warm.’

Withom ever a seeming thought of
danger or interruption from the man he
had insulted, Murillo wheeled abruptly
and strode away, leaving the room with-
out anorher word to any one.

“Well, i swear," said Sport Mac, bit-
ing though~.fuily at his cigar as he looked
after the retreating figure.

" Looks like he had made an appoint-
ment to shoot on sight. What the thun—
der is it all about, anyhow? ”

Johnny broke into a laugh.

“ Bless your soul, it looks more like he
was an old friend that you had done a.
iavor for once upon a time. Say, is he
Mexican, sure enough, or does he just
put on that sort of style?"

“I’ll never tell. He has all the looks,
but the voice for the most part belongs
on this side of the line. I knew what I
was about when I wanted to steer clear
of the unmannerly galoot. He and I
won’t mix.” ' ?

“That you did, Mac. He's bad medi-
cine, as you call it out here. You want
to leave him to me to handle. Let’s go
out and hunt him up. 1 want another
look, so I won't forget him."

Tommy was as much surprised as any
one at «.he course things had taken, but
he threw in a word of warning.

“Something must have gone cross- .
ways, for he's sour as a bear with a sore
head. Look a little out when you get
near him. There‘s some of his gang in
town, and after that kind of a snarl you
can look for him to double-team you if
he gets the chance. As you don‘t know
his men, ahey’d nave a. mighty good
chance to get in their work.” '

“ Thanks. awi‘ul: but I suppose if
trouble does come, the only thing to do is
to go for all in sight. Ta, ta! We'll be
back again when things get to moving.”

Johnny waved a farewell, and the- two
went out -.ogether, Sport Mac muttering
as they went: ~

“That's what I get for going on the
war-path before the lamps are lit. I
might have known better.

“0h, rubber: Haven't I just got a
taste of what sort they keep at Grizzly
Gulch. If we had waited for pure busi-
ness hours I might have got the lesson in
the neck. I’ll go back to the Continen-
tal, get my heavy harness on, and be ‘
ready for aetual hostilities. One thing
sure, I‘ve got Murillo down flne,and
won’t be apt -;o forget him.”

“You go, then,.and I’ll see you later.
There’s something back of this, and I'll
try to find out what it is." . .

That suited Johnny exactly. It was
about time for him to keephis engage—
ment with Miss Myrtle, and he had at
least something interesting to tell her.

CHAPTER VI.
cmnrm’ COXFIDENTIAL.‘ . x

“ You dear, delightful boy, 1 am angina
to see you! was Miss Mabiiee's greeting
as they met.

“1 was really getting lonesome, :and
thinking of send;ng for that interesting
garJeman with the hook nose and money
to lend." ' ‘ ‘

“Great Scott! If you are in trouble,
make me your banker." .,

“Oh, no; i never thought of that-mt
all. But any company seemed better
than none. . Now, tell me all then. itJT

“ About what? " , ~ ~ . 9.:

“Why, your adventures. fancy out

 

 

 

"   “iff. “ . — " ,

 

6_ . Six-Foot Sol, the Sharp-Shooter.

 

 

are one of those people who delight in
such things, and have no trouble to find
them. First, you might let me know
what you are doing here. I don‘t think
you are a resident of this section of the
globe.”

“ I should hope not; but, confidence for
confidence. Will you give me a little out—
line of your own affairs in return. I
have the same sort of suspicions.”

“ That's what I'm here for.”

“Drive on, then.” _

In many respects the two were well
matched, and being thrown together
would be likely to fraternize. Johnny did
no: hesitate.

“Being a young man of means, and
having about exhausted the possibilities
of everything above the lower crust of
New York life, I determined to expand
my mind by travel. I stopped for a
while in Denver, and accumulated con-
siderable knowledge there and in its
neighborhood. About the time it grew
tame I caught a glimpse of your own en-
trancing face.”

“A rest, please. You don't expect me

'to believe such bosh?"

“ Truth; every word truth. Without a
moment’s warning I swung myself on the
rear sleeper; kept track of you without
an effort; was a loiterer a; several camps
where you lingered, having various inci—
dental adventures, and finally drifted to
this land of delight, of which I had never
heard three days ago. I am your de-
voted slave, and to prove it I will say
that I have already interviewed Senor
Carlos Murillo, and that he has threat-
ened to shoot my head off at our next
meeting. , Do you think he will keep his
word? ”

All this story he reeled off with a light
and airy manner, but in a way hard to
tell from the truth—if there was any dif-
ference.

He puzzled Miss Mabilee, who looked
at him doubtfully, until the mention of
Murillo’s name, when she was all earnest
attention.

“ Ah, if that is the truth I can pardon
your impertinence. You have done well.
What is he like? Describe him to me.”

In a few words Johnny gave a history
of that interview.

“ Now then,” he added, “it strikes me
this is getting to be something like the
handle of a jug—all on one side. Re-
verse the position of the amphora. Di—
vulge. What is there in the wind, and
how can I be of use to you?”

“ Mr. Johnny, if that is the best name
you will give me, you can be of just that
use which a true friend can be to an hon-
est woman, who is aloneand may be go-
ing into great danger. To be frank, it
may be unwise for you to attempt to back
my game, and I do not ask it. Should I
accept your own offer, it is likely you
will meet with adventures enough to sat-
isfy even such a glutton as yourself. My
visit here is to deal with that man as he
has dealt with me, or mine."

There was no trace of mirth in her
countenance now. Her face took on a
hard, cold look, and her slender hand
doubled tightly, as though it might be
touching a dagger.

“ All right; that is on the spot. What
has he done?” '

“Perhaps murdered my sister. If not,
why has he hid her away from me for all
these years? Why can I not learn if she
be dead or living? Why no answer to
the letters I have written? Why has he
hidden himself so that it was only by
chance I found the trail?”

“ Prize conundrums, every one of them.
The only way to get the answer. is to
look in the book."

 

' ’ . , "H I  -_:‘~nw", "-~_..;‘.‘_» A‘
t v V 1““; If“;  - r ,V“,"‘*.“yfi}'fi#‘fi¢fl?flg: -

“There is, there must be, some brutal
crime back of it all, else why should he
remain silent; why evidently have de-
signs upon you simply since you seem
my friend and attendant? Better for
you, perhaps, if I were to tell him the
truth, that you are an utter s;ranger, met
by chance. He will not hesitate to take
your life if he is not undeceived.”

“And what will I be doing?” answered
the lad, with cool insouciance, folding his
arms and looking at her with a cold as-
sumption of disdain.

“And if he puts up sufficient frills,
what do you suppose Sport Mac will be
doing after he has run the battery of my
guns?”

“ Wait, wait! For heaven's sake, do
not kill him among you until I have
found out the fate of poor Cleo. Keep
him sacred as the apple of your eye until
then. He is the only link; and I am not
sure he is no: a broken one."

“What, then, do you propose to do?”

“ To interview him.”

“Where? Around at The Gem?“

“No. I shall seek him in his lair, if
possible. All Grizzly shall know whither
I am going; and if I do n0t come back
you shall lead the search for me. Here
I will avoid him if I can.”

“ That last is no bad scheme; but as for
the rest-when you go to the Murillo
ranch your humble servant goes along.
Or, if anybody is to go into the lion’s
den alone, I must be the Daniel. Ineedn't
tell you there is to be some danger
about it."

“Not alone; but perhaps we may go
together. You would be a better escort
than an older man. Remember, though.
If this meeting of yours with him is‘like-
ly to lead to something serious, it must
not be until after I have had my say with
Murillo. I could kill the man who comes
between to ruin my last hope to find out
Cleo’s fate.”

“ I’ll make myself safe, then; but, great
guns, I‘ll have to be hustling around to
save Sport McKenzie’s life. By this time
he may have the ranchero climbing the
golden stairs. They say Sport is awful
on the shoot.”

The conference ended almost abruptly,
and a few minutes later the lad left the
Continental by the back door. There
was wisdom Ti Johnny and his meth—
ods, for two brawny ruflians were watch-
ing the front from the shadows on the
opposite side of the street. Just at that
moment one of them was saying:

“ Et ain’t jest the sweetest job in ther
land, an’ ,ef we cain’t ketch him alone
et's goin’ ter go slow an’ easy. Ef he’s
bunked in fur ther night ther fat’s in
ther fire.” ‘

“No danger ov that. He will come
again. But we want to reach him afore
he gits in with the sport. He carries a
heap big gun, and ain’t slow to use it.”

For half an hour longer they watched,
and when almost hopeless saw a figure
steal out they thought they recognized.

Height, walk, and clothing corre-
sponded to those of the ydung dude
they had seen descend from the stage on
its arrival from Peddler’s Pocket. With-
out a word they dropped in on the trail
and followed, keeping well within the
shadows.

 

CHAPTER VII.

HOW SIX-FOOT SOL PULLED TEETH.

Grizzly was a brisk mining town,
which was enjoying something of a
boom, and it had length and thickness
without much breadth.

It took some time to promenade the
main street. but when you had got
’hrourh thud iris: about all there was of

"  a;  ~ ;':.‘a-.-:i£~.-

 

' .2“ ,. l
 x'ut‘... “'A—A .‘ “Wit;-

it. By this time the evening was fairly
well advanced, and the saloons, of which
there were plenty galore, had got down
to business.

The pace at the Gulch was a good one,
but there was a question whether it was
not too strong to last, unless the mining
ventures panned out more brilliantly
than they had done.

That was not worrying the lonely pe-
destrian, however, who seemed to be
strolling along without any particular
object except to see something of the
town.

Here and there he slackened his gait
a little to peer into some saloon through
open door or window. Now and then
he moved aside so as not to come into
direct contact with a rough-looking man
or men, but without any evidence of ti-
midity. ‘

And all the time, skulking in the rear.
came the two shadows, slinking out of
sight from the glare of the saloon lights,
and falling further behind; but closing
up at the darker portions of the journey.

“ Whar is he goin’? " asked one of the
men, suspiciously. He was not satisfied
this tramp was altogether aimless.

“Can’t prove et by me, ’less etfs a trap
ov some kind ter find ef thar’s ary body
playin’ tag. Et may be blamed on—
healthy ef et works. Thar won't be ary
thing left ter do but git down ter hard
business.”

“What we waitin‘ fur, then? Thar
can’t be a better chance than now ef we
close up.”

“ Right you be. Put on a'leetle steam.
I wish I war sure they didn’t nobody see
us back yander; but we got ter run ther
chances.”

Their quarry had got beyond the last‘
saloon, and the shanties were growing
more scattered. Here and there a light
gleamed out from some lonely building,
but it was just the place for a desperate
deed, anr‘ the hour might serve as well
as a later one.

The tw0 moved more swiftly and si-
lently than ever, and at the same time
the lonely wanderer halted and peered
through the darkness like one searching
for a lan Imark.

One hand was extended, making mo-
tions as though checking off the differ-
ent buildings which could be discerned.

And while thus engaged the two hu»
man tigers made their spring. I

There was not even an exclamation of
surprise, or the sound of a struggle, so
neatly and completely was the work
done.

One man caught the victim so that not
a movement was possible, whilst the
other shut off with a broad palm the
possibility of an outcry. .

“ Git out yer strings, Cale, an’ slip in

yer gag. I kin hold him while yer fits
ther muzzle. This job war jest too
easy.”

" Don’t gush, Ugly, et ain't all did yit.
An’ you, youn’ker! Er yer dar’s ter
make a sound we’ll twist yer neck an’
crack yer bones. This ain’t no racket.
fur l’uv an’ fun. Stiddy, now.”

The youngster was steady as a coach
horse.

As yet there was no chance for any—-
thing else. and nothing could be more
useless than a hopeless struggle.

With a skill and swiftness that seemd.
to show that sort of thing was not alto-v
gether new to him, Cale Burton applied
the gag and then knotted the wrists of
the captive together with a strong cord.

“Now. then, jest allow me ter guide
yer weary footsteps a weenty bit furder-
in ther way you should go. Step out——
an’ ef yer don’t step we’ll kerry yer, so
turnin’ balky won’t do you no good.”

v

'VJ-rr. I " n

V

 

 

 

-w-.h.._~-. -_.....__..,_.. A

*1“

if
i
4.

 

 

Six-Foot Sol, the Sharp-Shooter. '7

 

As Cale spoke he caught the prisoner
by the elbow, and without the least hesi-
tation he began to move forward.

“ Good nerves,” chuckled Ueg Dave;
“he never give a shiver. I knowed he
war a .lad ov sand. We’ll let him down
easy ez we kin."

“ Oh, button!” interrupted his part-
ner

“These hyer shanties hev ears some—
times, nigh most ez long ez yourn. Wait
tell we git out ov ther woods, an' then
you kin holler loud ez yer wants."

In fact, the luck which had attended
them this far seemed too good to last,
and after that warning they advanced

,wit‘h a silent caution which soon took

them out of the range of the town by a
route which led directly to the hills im—
mediately in front of which the town
was built.

Nothing further was said to indicate
to the prisoner what were their inten-
tions, and gagged as he was he could
ask no questions. He did not move with
very cheerful alacrity, and if the truth
is to be told there was a certain lagging
of footsteps by which progress was im-
pcded.

At, the distance of perhaps han a mile
they turned into a defile, through which
the beams of the newly risen moon
were sifting.

“Now, kid,” began Ugly Dave, “1
needn’t tell yer this yer are bed-rock
bizzness, which ain’t ter he chuckled at.
What ther boss means we ain‘t hyer ter
say, but to ther boss yer goes. Frum
ther trouble he’s tuk in ther matter, I’d
be edvisin’ yer ter be sayin’ yer pray-
ers ez yer goes along. Mebbe he’ll turn
yer loos, mebbe he’ll do ther other thing,
but ef you acts white we'll do ther
squar’ thing tell we turns yer over. Ef
not, we hev orders ter break yer neck
sooner than see yer git away.”

“ An’ we’ll do et, top,” chipped in Cale
Burton, who was not quite so soft-
hearted.

“ An’ I guess jest not. Han’s up, an’
I’d o'rter pull trigger ter wunst!”

Right at their backs sounded the or-
der, and it was emphasized by a brace
of clicks, and the cold touch of a pistol
barrel which each man felt under an
ear.

The order was given in a rich, rolling

, tone, yet there was a ring about it which

showed the owner meant to be obeyed.

Taken in such an act, the two knew
that justice and the law would not ask a
cent for their death. The hands of Cale
Burton flew up as if moved by springs.

But at the same time the two stepped
a. little further apart, and though the
nearest arm of Ugly Dave went up, the
other hand dropped to his pocket, and
he half-wheeled, whilst the late prisoner
heard the hammer of the derringer in
that pocket go back.

The action had thrown Dave’s head
out of range, and he had half a second
to go on.

Good use would he have made of that
half second, too, had it not been for the
kid, who was not as helpless as his cap-
tors had supposed.

Suddenly he lowered his head and pro-
pelled himself forward like a bolt from
a catapult, catching Ugly Dave fairly
amidships.

There was a grunt as every atom of
breath was forced out of the body of the
ugly man, and he went crashing back-
ward, the youth following in his fall,
but. immediately rolling out of harm‘s
way.

“Say, you, thar! Take hole on yér

~frien’s wrists, an’ be‘jest so spry erbout

et, er off goes ther hull roof ov yer up-

w

 

 

per story.
Now! ”

It was coldly said, but as though every
word of it was meant, and Cale did not
hesitate with that muzzle threatening
him. He sprung in on the other at once
and seized his wrists.

That might impede his movements, to
be sure, but it would give a chance to
whisper a word or two which might
bring a plan to the surface for their ad-
vantage.

But it. also brought them both where
the assailant could once more cover
them, and it also gave him a few sec—
onds, which he employed to the hes. ad—
vantage.

He transferred both pistols to one
hand, and with the other drew a knife
and swiftly and certainly cut the cords
from the wrists of the prisoner. Just one
slice, and-the work was done.

Then the knife disappeared, and once
more he held the drop.

“Now, bub, I reckon yer waan ter
help yer uncle, Six—Foot Solomon. what’s
gittin‘ yer outen this hyer scrape; so you
jest ’bcy orders. I‘ll see they don't play
ary jimnastikle p’ufformances. Dr‘or
the’r teeth; an’ you tellers stay right
thar tell ther perfessor are done with
ther extractin‘."

Fu‘st an‘ only time ov askin'.
O

 

CHAPTER VIII.
.\ sict'ozvp S\\'U()l’.

The first move of the youngster was to
tear away the gag. The next was to step
boldly forward. with a revolver in one
hand, whils; with the other a search was
made. In the short space of a few sec—
onds the two were thoroughly disarmed
and their weapons cast aside.

“Glad ter see yer a lad ov sense. That’s
goin’ ter save a heap-sight of shootin’ an’
bad blood!” '

This to the lad. Then to the two:

“Now, you, Cale Burton, an’ you, Ugly
Dave. yer Uncle Solomon knows yer right
down ter bed—rock, an’ when he sez
‘Giti’ yer wants ter scatter. H’iste up
them digits 0v yourn an’ show us ther
broad ov yer backs. They be a heap—
sight better lookin’ than yer befront-
isses. Git a move on, an’ keep a movin'!
I’ll give yer w’ile I counts ten, an’ then
I‘ll begin ter shoot of yer in shootin’ dis-
tans’. An’ yer knows I ain’t a liar.”

“ Cuss ye, Six-Foot Sol—i ” began Ugly
Dave.

“ One! " counted the man who had been
called Sol; and the two waited to hear no
more.

Each put his best pace to the front.

“Three! four! ” continued Six-Foot Sol,
and watched their retreatir.a steps, his
battered face on the grin.

Before long they had disappeared at a.
turn in the defile. Then Solomon sprung
from the rock on which he had been
coolly seated.

“Git a move on, er we may hev ter in-
terv’oo ther boss hisself. I bin mighty
much afeared he’d turn up afore we got
rid ov ’em. This hyer way! I knows
ther ropes an' wrinkles, an’ kin steer yer
through.”

The Six-Footer led at a rapid rate, and

before long they were in the trail which!

pointed to the gulch.

“I seen ’em a-marchin' yer off, an’ I
thought I'd hole on tell I knowed more
what ther game war. You kerried yer-
self with lots ov grit fur a youngSLer, an’
mebbe ett’s ez well yer didn’t find me at
h’um when yer called.”

“ Have done with your nonsense! Have
you discovered anything, or was the hope
you gave me when me metat Mesquite
all a lie, to win a little coin out of my
pocket? ”

 

“ Fur ther time I've hed I‘ve learned a.
heap, but ett warn‘t jest on your line.
Tell 1 kin say more I ain’t askin' fur a
cent, an’ I ain‘t tellin‘ a word more tell I
kin, ’cepzin’ thet I b'leve yer sister are a
livin’. Now, fur reason ez I needn‘t ex-
plain, you want ter mog on in ter town
alone. An‘ ef yer’ll take a fool‘s advice
yer'll git onder kiver soon e7. yer hev
arove. Mehbe I’m wrong, but I don't
b‘iieve Grizzly Gulch are healthy fur a.
lad ov your size.”

“Your reason for thinking so. Tell me
all. I must know, and at once."

The voice was no longer that of a. lad,
but of Myrtle Mabilee. who at that min-
ute thought only of the intelligence she
had received. and nothing of the advice
with which it was coupled.

“Sorry, mum, but at this hyer moment
I cain’i jestueli, but I‘ll see yer later. So
long! ”

He turned as if to go back on the trail,
but instantly Myrtlc‘s revolver flashed
out.

“Stay! Another stcp.and I shoot. I
have you lined. I have paid you weilw—
better than I should. and you shall not
trifle with me.“

“Shell are a big word. mum, an’ not
ther kind tcr use with yer Uncle Solo—
mon. Ding—blast ett, shoot! What hez
he got ter live i‘ur‘.’ An‘ what yer makin’
by ett, aryhow? A pore ole tramp goes
outen ther wet, an‘ what hev yer gained
by ett? Le’mme be, an' I'll do yer good.
Crowd me, an’ yer won‘t hev a mite ov
fun furever a‘rtewards.",

As he spoke Six—Foot Sol made a low
bow, as though introducing himseii, and
then his extended hands appeared to say;

“Here I am. Look at me and see if it
is not the truth I have told you? "

Myrtle allowed her eyes to run over the
ragged, rotund figure, as revealed ill the
moonlight, and, in spite of her late pas—
sion, burst into a laugh.

Judging by his appearance, there was
as much truth as poetry in what the man
said. ‘*

At least, he had served her well, and,
indefinitely as he had conveyed ii, had
given her a hope that Cleo still lived.

“ Have your own way; yet a word from
you might save me from some false trail
of my own finding. If I lose my life it
will be coin out of your pocket. The next
time you may not be there to rescue.”

“Oh, Johnny’ll be ’round. Me er John-
ny, ett don’t make a differbitterns
w’ich.”

“Johnny! Who is Johnny? What does
he want here? Why has he interested
himself in my affairs? Is he friend or
foe? ”

“ I’ll never 'tell ef you don’t; but treat
him right an’ yer’ll find him white. He’s
a leetle boy ter tie to, an’ you orter know.
I reckon you’ve got his britcheloons on.
Br I hadn’t found yer in sich a pickle, I
swear I wouldn’t a knowed ye apart. But
Johnny didn’t git thar in that waY."

Chuckling to himself, the queer charac-
ter turned and moved off, and Miss Mabl-
lee did not try to stop him.

Not to be again taken unawares, she
walked rapidly toward the heart of the
town, the outskirts of which already had
been reached.

The interview for the sake of which
she had ventured out was over, and to
get to the hotel as secretly and swiftly as

'possible was now her object.

To gain the Continental, the Gem had
to be passed, and, naturally enough. Miss
Myrtle took the other side of the street.
If Johnny happened to be in tint neigh~
borhood, her resemblance would only
serve to attract. attention to the fact that
she was not what she seemed.

 

 

 

The lonesomeness and the semi-dark-
ness on that side were entirely to her
liking, and the one spot she objected to
was where a band of light from the open
door of :.he Gem lay across the road and
cast a streak on the side of the building
opposite. Right there she stood the most
chance of attracting attention.

She looked sharply up as she ap-
proached. l

The building was a low, one-story af—
fair, with the front carried up to a square
to give it a semblance of greater height,
and on the top of it she descried the fig-
ure of a. man, who was looking over the
parapet at the end of the roof.

He held his arm poised, but the light
was not plain enough for her ;0 distin-
guish his exact intention. Not very like-
ly that it had any reference to herself.
She walked on, but her eyes were wider
open than ever, and her hand was on the
butt of the revolver which her careless
captors of a little time back had left her.

She was more interested in what was
in the street than in the man above.
Surely‘he must be watching some one be<
low, and that would be the party for her
to fear.

As she came nearer v.0 the house a low,
sharp whistle sounded from the farther
corner of the building, and then from
above a noosed mpe came hurtling doWn.

It dropped exactly around her arms,
and as it ti htened at a skillful jerk it
effectually ginioned her hands at her
sides.

A second time that evening had she
bfien caught napping!

, It seemed as though the object had
\been to prevent a use of weapons rather
than to shut off the chance of an alarm.
Had she so chosen, there was plenty of
time to give a scream that would have
aroused the people across \he way.

Instead. Myrtle struggled, hopelessly,
but in silence.

Again a whistle, though this time in a
different note. There was an answer,
[and at once she was seized by several
hands.

“ Didn’t I tell yer so? " asked one, in a
low tone. I

“. He ain't thcr kind ter squeal, of he
lost a four-story buildin‘. Handle hiiu
easy! He won't kick ef he ain‘t got a
chance, an’ he’s too sandy a young chick
tor draggle his feathers. Thar! "

The last exclamation was caused by UV:

sudden appearance, of several horsemen

who shot out from around the corner of
the building and darted straight for the
s t. '
. pal-late“! To met! ” exclaimed the fore-
'most, and the voice was the voice of Cars
103 Murillo. ‘ ' ,
, ~“ Take him an’ be happy!” answere
one of Myrtle's captors, swinging her
lightly from the ground into the out—
Stretched arms of Murillo, whose horse
never even faitered in its Stride.
" He caught the burden with he careless
-  of one who had practiced in such
 things, and with a rush and clatter the
little body of men swept away down the
"street.
. 'AS'for Murillo, his face droopcd close
'to 311M of the pinioned girl as he hissed
:‘int \her‘ear: \ ‘ I »

» “At. last! Vengeance comes my way,
~ andyou must die! ”
CHAPTER 1‘.{.

I   I ». OPENING A CAMMIGN.~
‘ HM“? the words whicn had passed be-
:tWeen the sportand the ranrizero it was

harmlessly. ‘ “ ' .
 to Tommy‘ and: some of

 

 

Six-Foot Sol, the Sharp-Shooter.

 

the habitues of the Gem when they talked
th'e matter over after the parties had left.

“it’ll be dead loads of fun, and mighty
worth the seeing of it,” averred Tommy;
“ I‘d hate to miss it awful much, and i
don’t intend to if I can help; but, all the
same, I hope it won‘t come off in the
Gem.”

“ That’s what they are looking for,
allee samee,” answered his nearest friend,
glancing at some men in broad-brimmed
sombreros, whose belts bris;led with
weapons, and whose faces were dark and
scowling. They had just entered, but it
did not seem for the purposes of libation.

“ There‘s the gang {mm the ranch. anti
they didn‘t all drop in here for nothing.
When the trouble begins they must ex-
pect to take a hand:"

“More like they mean to wreck the
shebang. Look a little out. If they be-
gin that game there will be something
going on at this end of the line. Ah!
There he comes now! "

It was Senor Murillo who entered, and
as he came he cast a keen glance around
the room, as if in search of some one not
exactly a friend.

If it was either Sport Mac or Johnny
on the Spot he was after, he was doomed
to disappointment. Neither of them
could be seen.

Without hesitation he pushed over to
one of the cowboys and said sonie.hing
in a low tone.

The answer was a negative shake of the
head, and again he started around the
room.

Tommy, watching his maneuvers, took
it all in. .

“ Looks disappointed like. As a gen-
eral thing, Sport Mac ain’t so hard to
find when a man is looking for him.
Kind of puzzles me, too.”

“i thought he‘d been around by this
time, myself. One thing’s sure. He ain’t
hiding, and he ain’t lost his sand. Guess
he’s gone to put that kid to bed, an's
waiting till he gits asleep."

“ Don’t you worry about that kid! From
the sand he showed on the trail he can
just take care of himself every evening
in the year, and don‘t need the sport for
a/ guardian. Looks as though they
were going to quit, alter all.”

Murillo had gone out almost at once,
and now his, llicil were following him.
Whatever were their intentions, they did
not seem to think it worth while to lin-
ger longer here.

“ They ain‘t the quitting kind, but it
does look as .hougli they might be will-
ing to leave. Luck go with ’em. The fun
will come later on, all the same. Those
two ain't done with each Other yet."

However that might be, the affair ap—

peared to be pos:poned. Several arrivals
from otiierrsaioons had seen nothing of
the spor.. nd, though one or two of Mu-
rillo’s men had dropped in at them long
enough to take a drink and a look
around, they had not remained.
. 'lncy had net left the town-at least
the cowboys had not”. Some of the horses
were hitched where they had been from
their first appearance, whilst it was well
enough known that unless there was
some reason for it they would hardly
have got away ‘without attracdng atten~
tion. ' ,

‘Of. course. there were only a few who
gave a thought to the matter.

Near'y every one knew-who Sport Mac
was. but until business actually onened
out his going and coming were things
hardly to he noticed by the mass of the
camp. 7 , "

Tommy had his own affairs; Running
the bar of. the‘Gem‘aiter tvhe’evening ex-
ercises fairlyo‘opened was about enough

1'."
‘ii.

,
(,'

 

\

for one man, and wha: he learned from a.
question here and there was not of
enough importance to cause him to neg-
lect his own interests. It was impossible
to keep the run of what was going on
outside. .

This was the way it happened that no
attention was given to the little knot of
horsemen gathered not far away, and
that when the abduction came no one at
the Gem was on the look—out for what
happened. The first intimation of the af—
fair was hearing a loud shout from the
street, the rattle of horses’ feet, and a
single shot.

All that excited nobody. When the
men from the Murillo ranch were in town
such a departure as that was tame, and
only accounted for by the early hour of
the evening. Before now they had put a
dozen bullet-holes in the ,front of the
Gem, by way of farewell; and had not
meant any harm by it, either.

There were just two persons on the
street who seemed to take note of what
had been done; and one of them had fired
the shot heard by some of the frequent-
ers of the saloon.

“ On the spot, by glory; but, somehow,
the spot don’t seem to be there!" ex-
claimed one of the two to his companion.
who was no other than Sport McKenzie.

“What is it all about, anyhow? I just
took a. hand in on account of general
principles. Looks like Murillo and his,
gang."

“Can’t go much on looks, or I would
swear \that party they were snatching up
was a boy wno goes by the name of John-
ny. If I hadn’t been sure it wasn’t, I’d
have shot myself, and Carlos would have
been apt to hear something fall.”

“ Oh, he’ll be apt to do that anyhow, if
he listens long enough. I haven’t had so‘
much experience flipping at my fellow-

men, but my work in the galleries used

to be called very fine, and I‘ll wager se~
quins that rear fellow has a hole in the
fleshy part or his right shoulder that will
make him weak about a lift for the next,
two weeks. What are we going to (lo
abom it? ” t

 Sure you haven't got a brother? ”

“ Deed sure, but-—!" ~ . -

Johnny slappcd his thigh with his palm
in sudden enlightenment.

“ i had another suit of clo.hes. and it’s
dollars to dimes that youngster is inside
of them." 7 ' ~

“What! Then it may have been you
their were after?" '

“ You bet. They fired at the crow and
hit the pigemh It beats the Dutch. ‘-You
know the little chap?"

“Can’t say that I do.
pluck. anyhow.”
I “ Lad‘ your grandmother! It’s Miss 
Myrtle Mabile; that's who it is. What U
are We going ’to do about it? " - ‘ t

 if you are right, turn out the gang.
Grizziy won't back the outrage.”

“Not so certain; and there would be
more or less of the population defunct
before it was all over. Looks to me as
though it wasa time for strategy, my,
boy.
track, and he will hardly harm her.
he means that, we couldn’t save her with
an army; and when we fail it will be'
time enough to try worse men." " 

“ Son'ething in all that. But the first '
.hing to do is to find out if you are right: 
in, your suspicion~provlded the young
lady didn’t make a dicker with'you be-
forehand. If the lothes are missing
Miss Mabilee is in exem. sure enozigb‘.;‘,‘_

t the rate the ranchero and his
swept out of town it was useless it}

He's a\ lad \-ot

50! following “on foot: and a View

more or L less; would not W19)?

 

We’ll let him know we are come. 
If, ‘  V

.\‘

i‘ harm in this adventure.

Six-Foot 801. the Sharp-Shooter.

 

’ instant pursuit was not to be made. To

i. «make things certain ‘they adjourned to

the Continental, Sport Mac waiting out-
side while his boy pard made an investi-
gation.

Johnny came out in a minute or two.

“Her cheek beats that of a lightning-
rod man. Left a note of apology in case
I turned up before she got back; and the
goods are gone, sure enough. Do you

suppose there are a couple of horses to,

be had in this burg for love or money? ”

“I suppose not—at this time of night.
We ought to have foraged on the enemy
while we had the chance. There were a.
dozen mustangs tied around all evening,
but I don't see any now. Guess it will
have to be in light marching order and
.go as you can. I’m not so sure we ought
to go at all.”

“ That’s so, Mac. You better stay in re-
serve, to bring up the forces if anything
happens to me. Looks as though this
was going to be one of the things one
man can handle better than a dozen, and
I’m that one man. I'm not sure they
won’t turn her loose if they find out who
they‘ve got."

“Perhaps they will, but we won’t take
the chances. If you are going, count me
in on the same train; and we may as well
start."

“Yes; when we fill. the commissary.
This is going to be something of a cam-
paign.”

How much of a one it was going to
be neither ofthem was then aware.

CHAPTER X.
AN AWFUL CLUTCH.

The second attack of the evening was,
if anything, a greater surprise than the
first; but Miss Myrtle stood it with the
same courage she had before manifested.

Being as shrewd as the average woman,
she had little difficulty in putting me
and two together and giving a close guns:
into whose hands she had fallen.

She came to about the’same conclusion
as Johnny in regard to the mistake
which had been made, and that fact gave
her more courage, if any was needed.

If she could conceal her identity and
, at the same time convince the leader in

V, the affair .that she was not the fresh
‘- young man from the East who was
‘ " bound to take a hand at all that was in

sight. she might find more of profit than

So 'she thought to herself, and the

J werds hissed in her ear only served to

confirm her in this belief.
By the time they had got fairly beyond

3 the outskirts of Grizzly she was in as
,..v;.j,r‘(:omp03ed a frame of mind as it was pos-
3 Bible for her to be under the circum-

smnces. and was keeping not only her
eyes but her ears open, to take in any.
[thing like information. She had not a
doubt she was going straight to the ranch
of caries Murillo.

Miss Mabilee was an accomplished
horsewoman; but that was noc much in
her favor, save for the confidence it gave

er.

L'l‘he position she was in was not by
any means comfortable, and if she had
inotyvanted to learn all that was possible
 an explanation came she might
1‘: ye forced it then and there.

' After that one outburst not a word was
 d to her. Several of the cowboys rode
finadvance, and several in the-immediate
sear, whilst the rest trailed on behind.

She'oonld‘ now and then hear them con-_
flowing in aiiow‘ tone, but made nothing f

year's! whatthey said.

*1”: R time went, by all this had t’ 6 effect.
“jibe would‘diave welcomed a word
{the silent chief, even if it was but

 

to renew his threat. That would open up
the subjeCL of identity; for by this time
she began to feel she would sooner make
her first visit to the ranch in some other
way.

But she had opened the campaign with
cold silence, and her pride urged her not
to give in. Her teeth were set hard, and
still she rode on, more and more uncer-
tain what the end would be.

At first there seemed to be sorne fear
of pursuit.

Those in the rear halted now and then
for a short time, listening or waiting for
whoever might be in the rear.

When that danger seemed altogether
over, the interval was not quite so great,
and the pace was comparatively easy for
all hands. '

She wished now that she had obtained
more particulars about the location of
this ranch toward which they were sup-
posed to be going. ~ .

It began to look at last as though there
might be some mistake about that.

In such a case she could well imagine
her position was a profitless one as well
as dangerous. and the few words finally
overheard did not tend to give her cour-
age.
All this while she had been Simply bid-
ing her time. and throwing Murillo of! his
guard. He did not dream of resistance,
and looked for no effort of escape, for
the present at least.

So it happened that when they rcde
down to a ford in the river to the banks
of'vohich they had come she was on the
alert, whilst the rest were not. '

When she saw the 'ater coming up
higher and higher along the horse‘s
flanks her resolution was suddenly made,
and wih a quick motion she writhed out
of her captor’s arms.

Had she known it, the river was up.
Nothing, in reality, that was very dan-
gerous so long as they kept to the ford.
but even there the water was lapping
against the saddle-girths when she took
her flight, and below or above the line
from shore to shore there was deeper wa-
ter. and other danger. '

It was on the 'deeper'water that Myrtle
counted.

Unless she was badly mistaken, this
was not the way to the Murillo ranch,
and it was time, for her to look aftev
safety before they had gone too far from
the line on which she had hoped to travel.
No one outside of a South Sea queen was
ever more thoroughly at home in the wa—
.er than Miss Mabilee, and the dive was
taken without the least fear. _

She took her directions a moment be-
fore, and, diving well under, swum stout-
ly on a quartering course toward the
shore so lately left”.

There was danger in it, but the only
thing she cared for was the drift which
from time to time floated down and
threatened to strike a swimmer in spite
of more than average skill to avoid it.

It Was just such a piece of wreckage
from the banks above Which aided her.
It suddenly bobbed up into view twenty
feet below, and in the direction of the
further bank, twirling along inthe indis-
tinct light for all the world like one float-
ing on the surface."

It had al-eady reached the deeper wa-
ter beyond the line of the ford. ‘

Carlos pointed with a shout, and his
men understood what had happened, and
were fooled as badly as be. A rush was
made in that direction.

liy the time they discovered the error,

Myrtle had almost reached the bank lates

ly left, and was swimming with head and
body low down in the water, and with an
ear for all that could be heard. ‘ ‘u=

 

‘.

“ Back! " thundered Carlos.

“I was fooled. He has gone toward
the other shore. The current would
carry him down if he attempts to land.
A hundred dollars to the one who cap-
tures him. Alive, if possible; but dead or
alive, anyway.”

Along the shore the water was shal-
lower, the current more sluggish.

There was yet time to effect a change
of base; and it was too late to go directly
up the bank, which every eye would more
or less thoroughly watch.

Sometimes wading, sometimes swim-
ming, Myrtle worked her way along the
line of the bank, hardly hoping to keep
out of sight, and ready at any moment
to make a dash up the shore if a shout
showed she had been discovered.

By the veriest chance, it seemed, she
passed above the line 0 the ford, and
still the greater part of the attention was
turned in the other direction. Keen eyes
stared slantingly across the river, watch-
ing for the first glimpse of her to direct
their course, whilst Murillo and some of
his men made their way back. Carlos
led the way down along the bank' with
three or four men, whilst one, shrewder
than the rest, patrolled the bank above.

Myrtle heard the movements of the lat-
ter and stood stock still, crouching down
where the water came to her arms, even
at her full height.

With the back of her head to the bank,
and only her nose uptiited, she had a
vague hope that even 'if he scanned the
water she might pass unnoticed.

His attention, however; was fixed upon
the shore, where he would be apt to see
the first sign of a moving creature, and
for perhaps five minutes they stood thus.

Then they heard the voice of Carlos.

"‘ The fool has gone to his own fate.
He must have hit bottom like a stone.
If he is living—as I doubt—r-he must have
floated on down the stream while we
were fooling with the log. Come. We
will keep an eye on the bank for a trai
out as we go along.” ‘

The single horseman on the bank
turned and rode away. Shortly after he
joined the main party their departing
steps died out in the distance.

Miss Mabiiee waited a few moments
longer before she dared to alter her posi-
tion or even draw a sigh of relief.

She straightened herself up, brushed
the water out of her eyes that ran down
her forehead, and attempted to look
around her.  .

Something strange about this. - _.

She had not moved a step, yet there
had been a change she could not explain.

Certainly when she first stood there the
water only came to her elbows. Had it.
risen so rapidly? _ ’ ' -

Now it almost covered her shoulders.

It was time for her to be moving. She
tried to turn around. '

Then she knew something strange,
something horrible.

Totally unconscious of it until this mo-. , ” 

ment, her feet were caught as if in a vise.
They refused to answer to her will. A
‘- Strangest of all, there seemed to be no"
reason for ii. She might even have
thought she had received a paralytic
stroke had not her senses told her that
every muscle was as obedient to her will
as ever.
ing? .
It Was no time now to lose nerve and ’
courage. Vain struggle, and idle scream,
could do no good. She shut her teeth?
hard together and looked the situation
eoldiy .in the face. - - ‘ , I i 
The water was still rising. Itwas‘ovér
her shoulders now. ,At this rate‘in ate!
moments more it would be at her in” ,~ ‘

i

 

What hindered them from act-z 

 

 

10 '

 

 

Six-Foot Sol. the Sharp-Shooter.

 

 

 

Was it rising?

A wave of recollection swept to her,
and she remembered some things she had
idly read. No, the water was not rising.
It lapped the shore line not an inch
higher.

It was she that was sinking, sinking.

Her feet were fast in a quicksand.

 

CHAPTER XI.
DANGERUL‘S NEIGHBORS.

When Miss Mabilee realized the truth,
and that it was now too late for aid to
reach her, and the time for hope had
passed, there was a thrill of terror
through her whole frame.

To be brought face to face with what
seemed the certainty of slow, sure, anti
remorseless death, against which there
was no way at.all to resist. was an ex-
perience new to her. She ground her
teeth and clenched her hands in a strug-
gle to keep the coolness which seemed to

' go away in a great surge.

She remembered all she had read about
the quicksand, and knew it was no use to
struggle.

It was doubtful if cry of hers could
reach Murillo; and if it (lid, judging from
the rate at which she was sinking, he
could not come back in time to aid her.
She had let the moment for rescue go by,
and now nothing could be done.

Nothing? Was that so certain?

Cautiously she tried one foot, and then
the other.

Then she took notelof the result, and
could see she was deeper in the mire
than before.

To silently await death was more than
human nature could do, and at last it did
not seem beneath her to shout for help.

It was no shrill scream, thin with emo-
tion, but a clear, ringing cry for help
which would travel far and arouse in-
stantly the ears it fell upon.

Some one might come even at this late
moment. Once, twice, thrice, that cry
sounded, and then the water was gur-
gling about her mouth and against nose
and ears, with every little ripple of the
current. Evidently the last moments
were there. '

Then she heard the pounding of a
horse’s hoofs as they struck the hard but
sandy soil.

“Help!” again she shouted; and the
water gurgled into her mouth and cut off
the cry.

She could not even turn her head to
look over her shoulder; but the answer
came that made her thrill allover with
hope.

“St’iddy, gal! Keep yer kerridge up,
I'm a-comin’!”

A few seconds later the steed of the
horseman halted with a sudden snort.

“Caught in ther quicksand, be ye?”
the new arrival queried coolly, looking
at the dark spot on the surface of the
water.

“I’ll git yer out, right enough; but at
you’ll be in two pieces, er in one piece, in
three quarters, er four halves, ’ll ‘pend
on how tough yer be. Hold yer both
han’s up, so I kin rope yer onderneath
’em, er I’ll strangle yer, sure.”

It was no season for questions, or even
for remarks, on the part of the victim.
The two hands went up, though the ef-
fect was to thrust her feet downward a
trifle deeper.

The man on the bank gave a skillful
'twirl of the rope in his hand, and the
coil shot out, the noose in the end set-
tling down over the uplifted arms, which
dropped across it at once. While life
lasted that rope could not be removed
until safety was assured.

“ Now, et’s pull devil, pull baker. Take

 

et easy; an‘ ef ye can‘t take et easy, then
be easy ez yer kin. Now! ”

What was needed was slow, steady
movement. With a word or two. and a
touch. the new-comer caused his horse to
begin to back slowly, and as the strain
came upon the rope he simply seemed to
throw his weigh't to the work.

For a moment Miss Mabilce felt as
though she was being torn apart, but it
was only for a moment. Out of the
death-vise which clutched them her feet
were drawn, and dripping, bedraggled,
her senses lost in a sudden, death-like
faint. she was drawn out upon the bank,
where there was no danger of another of
nature’s traps springing.

The rescuer hastened to aid her, and q
* frame.

the flask at his hip was of material as—
sistance. Before long she gasped, gur—
gled. anti sat tip.

“Oh, yes, it are me, yer Uncle Solo—
mon. I told yer I‘d be 'round, and hyer I
am. Now, w'ot's bin goin' wrong with
you? "

As yet she was in no condition to an-
swer. but she recognized the voice, and
knew that her rescuer was no follower of
the senor.

“Mcbbe et arn't w'uth while tcr ax
them question. I got a giimp' ov what
war goin' on and tagged along after. I
kin onderstand all ther rest; but how in
wrath did yer git away? "

In a few words Myrtle explained how
she had made her escape.

“Pure sand, that. Ain’t one in a hun-
dred e7. would a stood thar an‘ kep‘ a
button on. Ef yer rckivered ernough. we
better git a move 011. E2 they won‘t find
nothin’ of yer down the river, et won‘t be
long afore they kim moggin‘ back—on-
less thar’s some other game afoot ter-
night. I kin give yer a ride back ter
Grizzly, an’ nex’ time you jest stay ter
h'ttm an’ let yer Uncle Solly run this
hyer fandangle. Et’s what he's hyer fur.”

“Thanks for the advice; but I don‘t
believe I'll take it. How far is it to the
ranch? Can it be reached from here? ”

“ Et ain’t prezack’ly a hull day’s jour-
ney, ner yit would et take all night; but
et kin he did."

“ Then I go. This has been a mistake
on the part of Murillo, and I did not un-
deceive him, because I thought it might
take me within his breastworks. Will
you show me the route? ”

“I kin do better. I’ll go along. Et
Carlos gits back yer won’t be no wuss off,
an’ ef he does thar' is a wrinkle er two ez
I knows ov the. may do yer sum good.
Reckon yer dreened off ez well ez kin be
expected, an' we better be startin’.”

He asked no questions as to what profit
was expected from a view of the ranch,
but assisted her on his horse, and paced
along by her side. He seemed to have
the lay of the country at his finger’s ends,
and several hours later the ranch build-
ings were in sight.

All was dark about them, however, and
the only sign of life was the baying of
several hounds. Whether they scented
the strangers in the distance, or some-
thing nearer claimed their attention, it
was plain they were there and on the
alert.

“ Guess yer ain't thinkin’ ov marchin’
right in, eh? ” asked Solomon.

“No. My clothes have dried enough
to be comfortable, and I suspect the best
and perhaps the only thing for me to do
is to try and get a little rest. The day
and night have about worn me out."

The wonder was they had not done it
altogether.

Few men would have stood the strain
as well; but,there was a danger of a
break-down before long if it was kept up.

 

As there was a convenient hiding-place,
Myrtle took advantage of it, whilst Six-
Foot Sol seated himself near by.

He professed his willingness to remain
on guard, but how long he would keep
his eyes open never troubled Miss Mabi-
lee, who was asleep almost the moment
she closed her eyes. Fortunate it was
that the night was pleasant and the
clothing warm.

She slept soundly, and there could have‘
been no haunting fear on her mind, or'
she might have been awakened by sounds
which under ordinary circumstances.
would have caused her to open her eyes.

When they did open, I'ncle Soiiy had
vanished; and in his place she sat! a
sight which sent a thrill all through her

Only a few yards distant, with fiery
eyes, raised lips that showed rows of
white, gleaming teeth, and altogether

" wearing the expression of demons about

to spring, stood two enormous blood-
hounds.

They glared at her savagely, and as
her hand shot around toward her revol-
ver. from between their jaws came an
ominous pair of growls.

They had found their quarry, and ap-
peared about to spring.

 

CHAPTER X11.
SIX-FOOT sous BIfACE.

It still wanted an hour of day when
Carlos Murillo rode up to his ranch.

He was evidently in no good humor,
from the way he spoke to the dogs when
they came bounding toward him, and as
no servant appeared he hastily unknotted
the cinches, threw off the saddle, re—
moved the bridle, and allowed his horse
to wander off at will while he entered
the building.

He threw himself down for rest rather
than slumber, though his eyes closed. In
an hour or so he rose up renewed. The-
early dawn was giving place to the firmer
light of day when he came out, saddled a.
horse, and, having released a. brace of
huge hounds, rode away in the direction
of the river. The rest of the canine fam-
ily, which seemed to surround the ranch,
were left behind.

He had an object in view, of course,
and once at the river proceeded to carry
it out.

Going well above the ford, he produced
the hat which had been worn by his pris—
oner of the night before and gave it over
to the grave inspection of his hounds.

Then he led them slowly along the
bank toward the ford. ,

It had only been as a measure of pre-
caution that he begun his investigations
so far from the spot where he hoped for
results. It was greatly to his surprise
when, before they had gone many rods,
the hounds suddenly halted and sniffed
eagerly at the ground.

They had found the trail almost at the
first cast.

But what seemed as strange, they were
at once at fault. Over a course of a few
rods they worked their way, and then
were in doubt. What was the matter? '

A close inspecion solved the difficulty,”
The hoof-marks of Uncle Solly’s steed“
were to be discerned, and there was no
doubt that the fugitive had ridden away.

To transfer the scent from hat to hoof-
tracks was not so hard to do; and away
they went on the chase.

Again Murillo was surprised. Before
going far he saw the course lay in the di-
rection of the ranch.

By word and gesture he had kept the
dogs fairly well under control, but now
he forgot them for a moment, and they
darted away from him. He was too busy

I ' ‘ I ‘ . x.

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"a s ' I" ".A‘.l(’v7 'i :x'  ‘ ~ 3', ‘_-‘;‘i_ >, ‘1' an". . ,nfi‘. q,
-.~ .6.  ,; ,, .‘_ /,t_ .  . ,  . V_ a, r x
 a... nave-12mg . b M  ., 

 

 

Six-Foot Sol. the Sharp-Shooter. 11

 

 

thinking what this might mean. Was it
possible the lad had been rescued by one
of his own men?—for he understood the.
late situation, and knew well of the
quicksand on the brink of the river.

When he saw the brutes were already
beyond the hearing of his voice, in its
ordinary tones at least, he shrugged his
shoulders, and muttered:

“As well that way, perhaps, as any
other. .If the beasts pull him down, it
ends the matter. From what I saw of
him when I had him they will make short
work, and it may be better so. S:ill, I
must be in at the finish. There may be
a balk, though he can hardly get away
with them both. If he strikes one, the
other will pin him Good dogs. They
are not eating the bread of their masrer
for nothing! ”

There was one little factor on which he
had not counted, and which had not real—
ly entered into the calculations of Uncle
Solly.

When Myrtle dismounted. Six-Foot Sol I

received her in his arms and carried her
for some little distance to a resting-
place. That broke the trail.

When the hounds came to where the
horse was tied they gave evidence of wis-
dom equal in grade to the evident terror
of the mustang. They looked the snort—
ing, quivering animal over, seemed to see
that it was alone and could go no further,
and decided to do it no harm.

For a time they remained motionless,
and then, moved by instinct, or perhaps
the scent which reached them in spite of
the direction of the wind, made their way
toward the spot where Miss Mabilee was
sleeping.

She was not hard to find, and now they
remembered their first scent, and were
in doubt whether their mission was to
find simply, or to rend. The body was
motionless, the eyes closed. They paused
in angry doubt.

Just then a sharp whistle pealed out.

The hounds pricked up their ears as if
they recognized it; but, though it was
evidently a call, they heSitated t0 ObBY-

Still glaring on Myrtle, they remained
motionless.

It was that whistle which really woke
the sleeping girl.

Had she sprung to her feet the forward
motion of the bounds would have been
instantaneous. As she moved her hand
in search of a weapon they growled. It
was only chance they did not attack.

Then the whisde sounded once more,
and now there seemed to be an impera-
tive shrillness in its tone which caused
the animals lingeringly to obey. It may
have been their uncertainty as to which
was their quarry that caused them to
|turn;_ and at the same time the horse
which they had trailed thither broke
away from the spot where he was teth-
ered and darted in the direction of the
sound.

At that. they hesitated no longer, but
took the trail at once, leaving Myrtle free
to rise to her feet and lo'ok around her in
some trepidation for a convenient tree.

'She was not at all sure they had gone
for good.

The absence of Solly was not alto-
gether, a puzzle. '

As there was nothing to be seen of his
corpse, she imagined he had taken refuge
in flight; and there was nothing to indi-
cate in which way she must go to rejoin
him. Certainly she would not follow on
the trail of the bounds; nor did she know
in which direction lay Grizzly Gulch.

The ranch was the only other point of
which she knew the location, and under
present circumstances it seemed the one
of safety.

' . y - 2w.» 3.: - . -
. , an, « ~ ».'l.,- . H, *4
 tea.

 

 

Crouching low as she moved, she set
her face in that direction, careless of the
dangers which might meet her there.

Had she followed the hounds she would
perhaps have had a chance to be present
at an interview which, at the least, was
interesting.

Carlos Murillo, with his eyes fixed
ahead, where the dogs had vanished, saw
little of what was to be seen on either
side.- All ambuscade was the farthest
thing from his thoughts, when he heard
a sudden hail:

“You, thar, dog-gun ye, hold up yer
han‘s! ”

The call seemed from behind. and
swiftly he wheeled his horse, his hands
flying to his weapons as he turned; but
at the same time he heard a warning:

“ Stiddy, boy, stiddy, or down ye go.”

To his surprise there was no one in
sight, and though his hands rested on the
butts of his pistols he (lid not draw. Un-
less the challenger was plainly visible
there would be no chance for a success-
ful snap-shot against a man who un-
doubtedly held the drop.

“Step out into the open, curse you, if

you want to try which is the better man,“
he snarled, glaring around.
’ “ Not et‘ you please. You’re good
ernough, I'll allow, ter pass in a crowd,
w'ich are w'y I’m a-talkin’ to yer with
ther drop. Aye yer goin‘ ier put up yer
digitals‘? ”

“ No. You're, too cowardly to shoot at
a man with a gun in his fist, but if I let
go you might hit me in the back. What
do you want?”

“Want yer ter keep ther peace, in
course. Ef yer guns ’11 help yer, hold on
ter ’em. Ef yer lifts 'em furder, down
yer g0.”

Carlos was still as uncertain where the
speaker was located. It even appeared
as though he had shifted his position.

He took the side of prudence, and did
not raise his hands, but growled:

“Go on, then; there's something be-
hind all this."

«“ In course.
dorgs.” _

“Better for you if I let them go. If
they came they would rend you.”

“Call ’em off!”

The tone was harsher and more imme-
diate. Murillo was no bad judge of such
things, and he felt delay would be dan-
gerous. His Whistle rose; and it was just
in the nick of time.

When the dogs did not at once answer
the signal was repeated, and then they
came.

" Now, you bring ’em ter heel. I ain’t
yearnin’ fur no three-cornered fight; but
ef et’s got ter kim recommember thet you
goes down, right on ther spot, ez Johnny
would say. Then I’ll take my chances.
You onderstand me?”

“Yon will have to take your chances,
anyhow. I am not sure I can control the
brutes if they once get scent of you. What
is the meaning of this I don’t under-
stand, but you have some object, and it is
time you told it. I wait no longer.
Speak, or the fight opens.”

Murillo was working to gain time, and
to locate the unseen man. Until he did
that last he was at a disadvantage that
he recognized.

At the same timg he was not a man to
be cowed long by physical danger. When
there was nothing further to be gained
he was always ready to risk all; and the
other man knew it.

“Boss, a short' hoss are soon curried.
Ef yer got ten thousand fur me. you an'
I k'n dicker. Ef not, I'm goin’ on t?“ ther
other side."

“What in brimstone do you mean?

F’ust thing, call off yer.

 

Are you mad, or do you mean highway
robbery? ”

“ Not hate so mad ez I mout be cf 1 war
‘clined ter let me feelins’ talk right out.
in meetin‘. But I’m a-keepin’ ‘em down.
W’ot‘s all ther feelin’s in ther world
w‘en yer pocket’s empty, and you be most
high ter starvin’. Ten thousand chucks
is w‘uth all ther mad in Arizony, an‘ that
are whar they grow sich things.”

“You hound, you!”

Six-Foot Sol’s mustang went ,tearing’:

past, and Solly’s eyes brightened.

“ St‘iddy! Keep yer own
straight, er down yer goes." ,

It was time the warning came, for the
hounds were there. A word from their
master might send them circling alter
their still invisible quarry.

The word was not given. On the-con—
trary, a. sharp word of command brought
them to heel. Then Carlos went on:

“If you know anything about me, out
with it. Go over the whole list of What
you would peddle. When you are doneI
will know whether only to strike you
dumb with the~truth, or kill you where
you stand."

“Jest em'agine I knows everything 2111’
then yer get ct, and lots ov words is
saved. Ef I winks. Government sends a.
heap-lot ov men down this hyar ways.
Bi 1 whispers to ther jennowine famny
w'ot I kin thar‘ll be a delergashun 'round
afore a month. Ef I hunts up ther rem—
nants ov ther tribe ov Lee, yer kin be
lookin’ fur ’em 011 ther spot shortly thar—
after. Ef I wanders over ther line I
might stir up a ructshun in ther hearts
0v ther Murillo fambly. An’ all that
squelched an’ did fur on account ov ther
small sum ov ten thousand dollars!
Happy hades! Et’s too cheap. Speak
quick, er I‘ll rise my prize.” -

As the voice reeled off all this, Muril-
lo’s brow darkened.

“At him!” he shouted suddenly,
throwing up his weapened hands to a
level as the figure of Six-Foot Sol rose
from the ground behind him, a revolver
in either hand. At the same time he
wheeled in his saddle, and the dogs
launched themselves at the intruder.

houn's

 

CHAPTER XIII.
UNCLE SOLOMON COMES TO GRIEF.
Carlos Murillo saw his dogs rush for-

ward, and believed he had located the.

voice at last.

It was all quickly done, and he would
have taken a snap-shot that would have
been certain death had he had but a frac—
tion of a second more.

Solly had the advantage, and played to
keep it.

His hand followed Murillo’s motion,
and just when the frowning face of the
ranchero fairly fronted his own he pulled
trigger.

Carlos reeled in his saddle... yet his
knees gripped tighter, and his hand as
though by instinct closed harder on the
reins, holding his horse in its tracks,
though from his left hand the pistol
dropped to the ground. He was not dead,
but dazed.

As for the dogs—Solly gave a snort of
good-natured contempt, and, dofiing his
hat, coolly extended it toward them.

“Hyar, you Jeff, you Juno, ef yer
knows a good thing when yer sees et
smell ov that. Mebbe you‘ll recommem-
her.”

The dogs stopped and looked at him,
more or less puzzled by his manner and
their memory. ~

After that first hesitation of theirs he
seemed to fear them no more. He put.
his battered old hat back on his frowzy

head and slouched forward, just in time: :

  

.11“

  

   

  

~ in’ to a hair.

.- ' near.
._ «away, without undue haste. and never.

but now understood more of the scene

  
  
   
   
    
   
  
   
 
  

12

to catch Murillo as he reeled out of the
.saddle.

’ “ Gilt-edge ez usu'l," he muttered, feel-
ing the little ridge that his bullet had
plowed along the top of the ranchero‘s
head, and the slight look- of concern left
his face.

“On'y tetched him lightly, an‘ ef he
don't hev ary set-back he'll be ‘round
ag'in in a few minnits. Reckon I better
make all ther hay on ther field w‘ile ther
sun’s sliinin‘.”

Without hesitation he removed the
weapons of the insensible man, then deft-
ly felt his pockets, making a quick trans-
fer to his own.

He was not too deeply interested in his
occupation to allow his surroundings to
remain altogether unnoticed.

He had already whipped a cord around
the wrists of the insensible man, when
suddenly he gave a great start. What-
ever might have been his inzentions', it
was now too late to carry them into ef-
fect. Steering straight for the spot, he
saw a body of horsemen which he had no
trouble in identifying as' the men who
had ridden behind Carlos the preceding
night.

To be captured under such circum-
stances, with Murillo unable to dictate
their course, meant almost certain death
for Uncle Sally, and 'he recognized the
fact. The hounds were a factor now
which he could not afford to despise.
Whilst they angst not attack him—in-
deed, they were inclined to be friendly--
they evidently had badly frightened his
horse, which otherwise w0uld have come
to his call. If they followed him now
they would turn the panic into a rout.

“ Hyar, June, Jupe! I Take keer on him;
he needs yer.
I’m goin’ fur help."

lie spoke in a tone that seemed to in-
vite their confidence. and pointed at the
prostate man. Deliberater and softly
he placed the hat of Carlos over his face
and made a gesture which the watching
canines appeared to understand. They
sank down by the side of Murillo with a
sigh.

It may have seemed a waste of time,
but i: only took a few seconds; and after
that his movements were free, though he
went on with the same deliberation.

“Blast st! of I whlssels now, June 2111'
Jupe‘ll think 1 means them; ef I don't
Jolly'll kick ag'in ther irreguier perceed-

iin’s. An' ef he does, hyar‘s a frolic with
all that gang, every man ov 'em a. shoot-
Waugh! Et’s may mean.”

Fortunately, the direction of his mus-

tang was at right ‘angles to the coming
crowd, which was already perilously
With hand outstretched he moved

seeming to notice the approaching cow-
.boys.
v The ranchmen had been puzzled atflrst,

before . them. Whilst several kept
straight on toward the prostrate body,
the rest, with a yell. drew their revol-
gverh and headed for Six-Foot.

Solly held up his hand, the palm to-

’ a ward them, and gently shook it, but he.

did not pause. ‘
Then “crack, crack!” the bullets be

I? ‘~,gan to fly. Knowing how‘ the shooters
' ,e‘onld send their lead, it was to him al-

V *3“  gouched. ,

most a. miracle that he remained un-
The shots were a diversion. 'The mils-

tang pricked up head and tail; ,

’ Once he gave a side glance at Solly.

nutt‘ihere was nothing there .to alarm

Hat-stood. with neck craning and
E ,..H.

rim-dilated, staring at the approach-
wh‘irlwind. .  - . .

Ir.

  

a

  

Watch him, good dogs.‘

 

Sally was swept from the saddle.

Six-Foot Sol, the Sharp-Shooter,

So he was standing when a hand rested
for an instant on the saddle. The next
instant Solly was astride and away.

“Git along, Jolly,” he chuckled, hold-
ing the reins with a light touch.

"May ez well feel ’em a weenty bit.
Like ez not they‘ll grow diskerridged."

Without ever losing control of the ani-
mal, he sent it away at wondrous speed.

For a few strides, indeed, the pursuers
gained; but after that to an onlooker it
would have seemed they might as well
chase the wind.

Still going easily within its powers, the
noble beast hugged the ground with its
long, low stride. In a minute the two
were beyond pistol-range, and with his
face turned toward Grizzly, Solly Sailor
believed he could defy pursuit.

A shout caused one of the men who had
gone Straight on toward Murillo to look
up. He took in the situation at a glance,
and dropped in on the trail without de-
lay.

He was magnificently mounted, and
rode one-half lighter than Uncle Solly.
if the horsefiesh was only even, the
weight would tell.

Then ensued such a race as those men
there had never before seen, though
Solly was all unconscious. His at.ention
was entirely directed to another danger
which rose up in front of him.

The shots and shouts hail not passed
unheard, and three men, toward whom he
had been unsuspiciously o riding, made
their appearance, and did not hesitate to
show by actions that they were decidedly
hostile.

They themselves

placed directly

athwart the course of the fugitive, and.

with ready weapons awaited- his ap-
proach. ,\

Solly rose in his stirrups and took a
survey of the lay of the land. Of course,
he could not turn back. On the one side
the natural roughness of the ground
warned him it was no place for a race.
0n the other lay the ranch, at no great
distance. it was not the direction he
would have chosen if it could have been
avoided, since there was no :elling what
force might appear from that quarter,
where the noise of the difficulty had no
doubt been heard.

it was, however, the best course so far
as he could see. and, believing he could
dismnce the new arrivals and ultimately
flank them. he turned sharply, at the
same time looking back.

They turned, too, and started off at a
rapid gait, but a second glance showed he
had the heels of them. At the rate at
which he was going there seemed n'o
earthly chance of gheir overtaking him,
even though the change would give them
the shorter line.

He did not see a yOung ranchero, clad
in Mexican garb, nor the gesture he
made. In that way it came to pass that
the pursuer crept nearer ‘and nearer;
swinging the rope his righ; hand grasped.
and all ready fora cast, until the thud of
boots not far behind called Six-Foot Soi's
attention to the new factor in the game.
I Then he humped his beak as though ex~
pecting momenari‘y to feel a bullet, and
spoke sharply to Jolly. * ’

He Was too late. The Mexican was
within casting distance. Suddenly the
noose left his hand and came hurtling.
through the air. A little shadow {lifted
before Sailor’s eycs, and then the rope
was around his shofiiders. '

Had the condition., been a; trifle morc
favorable fireman with the lasso might
have chosen to~rope horse-instead of
rider; but, as it was. he took no chances.
and as the "inning looptightened Uncle

  

 

 

 

CHAPTER XIV.
SOME sunrmsns.

As they saw the fugitivepulied down,
the men in the rear turned back and rode
toward where some of their comrades
were bending over the form of the still
insensible Murillo. '

There seemed little doubt their com-
rade could handle his capture, and the
three new-comers would be with him in
a moment to aid After such a bursting
fall, the chance was the neck of the
stranger was broken, anyhow.

Six—Foot Sol lay flat on his back, one
leg doubled under him, and without a
sign of life in his whole frame. There
looked to be no more danger in him, and
the man who had made the cast evidently
thought there was none.

He sprung from his horse, which was ‘

standing like a s;atue, and rushed to the
side of his victim. He had him at his
mercy; but it was the lasso he was after,
and swiftly he removed the noose, giving
but a careless glance at the captive as he
did so.

’l‘ucn he was rushing back to his horse,
coiling the “rope” as he went. With

, but scarce a minuLe’s delay he was again

in the saddle; and now his intention was
apparent. The animal which Sailor had
ridden was no mean prize. With such a
weight up as its late rider it had shown a
speed and training that made it almost
beyond price to a. man whose life was in
the saddle, and whose fortunes were de-
pendent on horseflesh.

Jolly was not at all panic-stricken.
When the 1001. \me darting over him he
squatted in his side, and it was at that
instant his rider fell. Another bound or
two and he was almo t at a can;er, look-
ing around as if to see what had hap-
pened. By the time the Mexican was
again in the saddle he was prancing
around, uncertain whether to go look at
his master or remove himself further out
of danger.

Even when the pursuit began he was
evidenzly undecided on anything, except
that he must keep out of the range of the
rope.

If he had measured it with a yard-stick
he could not seemingly have gauged its
length with more exactness.

More than once the arm of the Mexican
went up. bu; dropped again without the
throw being made. At that moment a
fierce bound almost took Jolly just be—-
yond range. ‘

The game attracted attention, and
there were others who would have been
glad to have joined in it on a signal, but
while the fight was so even, honor, and
perhaps the revolver of the Mexican, kept
them- out.

cred his senses, dazed though he 1's-
mained fora. little, every one was free to
take in the spectacle, which every me.
there was able to appreciate; ~

it was a fight between a man who was
a master of his trade and a horse that
seemed to be one of the noblest, yet,“

wiliest, of his kind.

Even Carlos was caught in contagious; ‘

enthusiasm, and, rubbing away the blurr
over is eyes, watched the game in whichT
the brute was making dangerous play
with the man who well might turnout-

his master when some little slip had  

given. him the advantage. v

When some of the party would have 4‘ .

moved forward, perhaps to Join in the?

game. it was Carlos who kept. 

baék. ' , . ' , : .
' “Stay with me, curse you;,or, if yo

must leave, go look after the “interns!

    
 
 

tramp. You say he is down—let
,, ' "y 

   

For the time Sailor was act-z.
ua-lly forgotten, and when Murillo recov- '

   

        
       
     
       
       
   
        
       
    
       
     
        
       
    
        
 
      
        
    
   
 
      
     
     
     
        
       
        
    
         
   
         
         
          
 
     
      
     
   
    
   
   
       
     
      
    
 
      
     
  

    
    
     
     
     
       
   
 
  
  

    

. n- . , :4. .. -»  v 4- , ..-. v A

.a . w], ,.

Six-Foot Sol, the Sharp-Shooter. 13

  
 

 
  

  
 

\

   

 

 

know for sure his neck is broken. Until
then, I OWn up, I am afraid of him."

Without knowing it, he was playing
into the hands of what well might be
called the enemy.

Jolly was working further away with
every circle he took, though as yet he
was in plain view. Half a dozen times
the horse had foiled the efforts of his
pursuer, yet eaCh time it seemed to be a
closer thing of it. The nerves of the
watchers became more and more highly
strung as they watched the game. Even
Murillo forgot everything else.

“Ah,” he muttered at last; “he has
him now! ”

It looked like it, indeed.

The Mexican, on the inner line, was
following, just out of distance.

He knew that an unsuccessful cast
would probably end the game for good,
and that it had only been prolonged
thus long because the horse hesitated to
leave his master.

It was this hesitation; more than any-
thing else, Which made him desirous of
eifecting the capture. Such a steed was
doubly worth the having.

Suddenly Jolly made a swerve, toss-
ing his head as if in play.

The danger to him lay in the fact that
the swerve was made to the wrong side.

He lost half a dozen yards, first and
last; and :the coil in the Mexican's hand
shot out. Yet, at the very instant of
the cast, or, rather, Just before its full
impetus was finished, a strange thing
happened.

v Rising right from the plain was a puff

of smoke, and the report of a phstoln
subdued by the distance, reached the‘

ears of the watchers, a quarter of a mile
or more away.

The Mexican reeled in his saddle.
whilst his horse, which had halted at
the throw. again stood like a rock.

Before either horse or rider could re-
cover from the surprise a lithe figure
darted up from the ground, and, spring-
ing at the wounded man like a wild-
cat, canted him out of the saddle.

“On the spot!” laughed the new-
comer, as he swung himself in the va—
cated seat and snatched up the .reins.

“"l‘a,‘ ta! I’ll see you all later!"

Even at that distance Carlos Murillo
recognized the figure which so suddenly
sprung into sight and action.

“After him!” he shouted, pointing
wildly.

’ “ He is my meat. Five hundred to dl-
vide among you if you catch him; as
much if you kill him. Dead or alive,
take him! Where is my horse? I‘ll fol-
low him to the death!”

Though he had staggered somewhat
through weakness and excitement, Mu-
rillo straightened up when he had

{ I thrown himself astride the horse.

‘ " Two of“ you look after that “raga-
muffin! ” he exclaimed. with the prompt-
ings of second thought, pointing in the

- direction of the spot where Solly had

taken his tumble. .“ If he is dead, bury
him. If he is living,- keep his mouth
shut, but take him where I can find him.
There are some things he must say be-
fore he dies—4f it is not too late." "
He was away as he spoke, and the
two pointed out rode ofl. Until they

I ,/ heard the order they had forgotten. The

chase had driVen the thought of the

 stranger altogether out :of their

h‘OCgSJ -
New, when they looked in. thc'direc-
.tion‘ toward which Carlos had pointed

"thew-itaiiedm find the spot for which

my looked. They scanned the plain in

train for‘ that 00an heap which they

‘ ’ tain they had seen but .a few

 

“Great grizzlies! be we turned
’round?" asked one of the pair, as he
gave a keener glance ahead, and then
turned to sweep the ground in every di—
rection.

“ No. Yonder go the marks 0‘.” 711::-
uel's mustang.
own; the man is missing."

“Fur a fact he be; but whar are he
gone to?”

Both of them felt something like a sn~
perstitious thrill, for in the nature 01'
things it did not seem as though he
could have so utterly vanished without
being aided by some supernatural
agency. .

“Thar’s whar he fell, sure gun, an’
plumb center shootin‘; but whar am he
now? Thar ain’t no live man ez could
take that tum‘mle an’ then git up an’
move off ’thout bein’ seen."

They had reached the spot where the
noosing occurred, and for the sharp eyes
looking for it there was little trouble in
finding w’here Six-Foot Sol hit mother
earth in his fall. If he was dead, he
ought to be there yet. If living, how
could be possibly have withdrawn un-
seen? They did not make due allow-
nce for the excitement caused by the
subsequent chase and all that followed.

They were reasonably keen of sight,
however; and when they looked it over
more carefully it seemed that the mirac-
ulous had happened. Though the breath
might have been knocked out of the
man at the first, yet 'he had recovered
sufficiently to crawl off while they were
all watching the chase by Manuel.

There were marks 'to indicate the
trail; and the latter led straight toward
the ranch. Without hesitation the two
followed. It was hardly likely the fugi-
tive would have strength to carry him
either fast or far.

Surely he must have turned off a lit-
tle further on, where a crack in the
plain—an offshoot of the great baranca
—-—would offer a place of seeming conceal-
ment. Their glances were in that direc-
tion, even while they followed tihe trail;
and while they were thinking so some
one rose up in front of them, with out-
stretched hands and menacing pistols.

“ Great Sathanas!” muttered the Mex—
ican trailer, “it is the accursed gring
who rode away on the mustang of Man—
uel. 'Tis sorcery, sure! ”

 

‘ CHAPTER (XV.
THE BLACK THREAD LYING ON THE PLAIN.
When Johnny made the" leap to the
back of the mustang he had captured he
knew that he was taking great chanCes.
He was a judge of horseiiesh when he
saw it, and had a pretty clear idea that
about this animal there was a spice of
wickedness which might land him in a
worse plight than that danger of being
run down as he lay hugging the ground,
right in the course of "horse .and rider.
' Fortunately, the stirrups titted him
fairly well, his feet swung to place as if
by instinct, and he would have had no
fears for a fight had he been alone with
the brute. But if it- once started a
struggle for the mastery he knew his
capture was certain. ‘
Nothing of this appeared in his tones,
which rang out clear and laughing; and
when, with all the confidence in the
world, he applied his heel to the side of

_ his mount, the animal answered without

a second ',of deiaygand at that moment
.he knew, if he could get the bestxout of
it of which it was capable, he was grea-
Ionablysafe from pursuit. i !
f'I-Kind of a pity his head ’is turned in
the wrong direction, and it’s not just so
easy to get on to the trail. ‘
for that, I might troll ‘them right into

Satan hath helped his,

If it wasn't.

Grizzly, and have a little talk in Open.
meeting. Perhaps I can do it yet.”

So he thought to himself, and looking?
back steadied the pace to one which he
thought would keep him fairly ahead
while he was mapping out his course.
He had seen about all that had been go-
ing on. and knew just as well as Solly
Sailor had done that it would not do to
fall into these hands which were reach-
ing after him.

His pursuers were spreading out in a
fan shape, and he noticed there were a.
couple. on the right flank who were al-
most abreast of him.

Then, “ crack! ”

The sharp report of a rifle echoed on
the air—and Johnny suddenly drooped
sideways in the saddle, whilst a sharp
yell arose from the rear.

Was he down?

Not a bit of it. ,

He rose again, as straight and fear.

with the same matchless skill he had
displayed from the beginning.

That bullet had come uncomfortably
near, but whether he had dodged invol—-
untarily, as most men will who are not
case-hardened, or whether it was a bit.
of play, was hard to tell.

The yell was from Murillo, who at the
same time made motions which all un»
derstood. No more shots were fired.

“ The acoursed gringo! he laughs at.
us! ” savagely shrieked one of the Mex»
icans, as he ranged up to the side of his
leader. “See! He does not urge the
mustang like one who fears. When Na~
tan fired he dodged at the flash. Shoot:
the beast, or the boy will escape! ”

In another moment the carbine would
have been at his shoulder, and Johnny'
was not out of carbine range.

" Hold, Felippe! We must have the
mustang as well as the boy. If Manuel
is dead I will pay the widow more than
a fair price. I have wanted him more
than once.”

“ Perhaps I can throw him out of the
saddle, even at this distance, the mus—
tang runs so level and true." ‘

“Run no such risk.
not 'bring him down, for the rest of’us

there is little chance. We will have him.

yet!"

“ As thou wilt; but he plays with us
now to give himself room. When the
time comes he will drive in spurs, and
who can follow?" .

" Of that we will take care. Light
weight though he is, Diavolo will not
take him beyond our line on the .one

him in." »
“I wager no onzas on that.
know not'how fast Diavolo can go, but

he hath the wings of the morning, and1 v

to this time hath never been beaten”:

a mustang without price, better to spend
the day-in the chase and have him at
last than lose such a wonder. Besides.
there is the barranca.

goes on a mile he will find it across his
path, and to the left.
in, thou and I, having nursed our may
tangs.

would do."

“The barranca; yea ,But if he 
at it with heel to flank, 'and  it not

in time, we less them both.”
“‘ I chance it.
short on the brink no ill ‘ his Mort”. ?
“ What Divalentig‘ht .
tried I know nm-M‘mrmrt or stop

 

,the two part. No am

less as ever, and handled the mustang

If Natan could ’

side, and on the other the ground hems

We-
“ When Manuel rode him. And, being” . ’

Crowd him a, A .
trifle more from the right, and if he .-

Then, we closer.
We are near enough to fling 3 ~ ” I

rope; and, once his rider off, Diavoiole"
will trot by our sides as a. pet sheep 

Diavoio is no fool. : It;
is a bet of a hundred that hegemony

o If 

    
 
   
  
   
    
   
  
      
       
         
   
       
         
     
       
       
     
       
         
       
       
     
       
     
 

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.7:
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«

 
 

14

I‘

Six-Foot Sol, the Sharp-Shooter.

  

 

 

ever rode better. How comes he here?
Why was he not drowned in the river? "

“Hist! I know not. Look! ”

Carlos rose in his stirrups as he spoke,
and cast a long, keen look ahead.

Just then the boy was casting a back-
ward glance, and, seeing the movement,

, .smiled grimly.

“More to follow, as they say in the
morning papers. If Sport Mac was here
we might stand off the crowd; but I
guess it’s too heavy a contract for me
to undertake alone. What is the dandy
little tiger looking for?"

Had he been bred to the spot he
might have suspected, and, stranger to
the country though he was, he began to
guess a trap.
he knew it was possible for the pursuers
to drop the horse that he bestrode, evmi
if they failed to strike him. That it
had not been done al‘CllSGd his sus-
picions.

It was natural enough they should do—
sire to rapture such an animal as he was
riding; but, when it was plain that could
not be done on the line they were follow—
ing, they must have some scheme be-
hind their mercy.

Still. nothing appeared in front, and
pursuers and pursued thundered on
without any change in their relative po-
sitions, save that the men on the flank,
by taking a straighter course, appeared
to have gained 'in the race, even though
they were farther away.

All this in spite of the fact that he had
been increasing the pace. One thing,
though: he was jockey enough to note
that while his own horse was going
easily those of the others were laboring
visibly in their stride, and, though per—
haps still good for along run, could not
greatly increase their speed. Diavolo,
on the contrary, answered to his slight-
cst touch, and was good for a grand
rush whenever called on.

Johnny peered anxiously ahead, but
could see no danger on the plain, which
seemed to stretch on for miles.

Another glance to the rear showed the
men behind were more widely spread
than ever.‘ Evidently, they did nor
mean to allow him a chance to flank
them by any sudden burst of speed.
They were trying their best to drive him
straight onward.

What did that mean?

He recalled the look of Carlos as he
rose in his saddle, and again 'he looked
warily at the ground ahead.

That revealed nothing; but now, Di-
avolo—he did not know the horse by
that name—gave him warning.

He threw up his head, seemed to sweep
the ground with his eyes, whilst a. dis-
tinct though scarcely perceptible tremor
‘ran through his frame.

There was danger near! As the boy
suddenly realized the‘fact, he heard a.
shout of warning from his rear.

Once more he cast his glance to the
front and caught a. glimpse of what
might be before him.

Something like a huge black thread
lay across his path, not far away.

What it was came to him like an in-
spiration. On these fervent plains there
are places where the ground has seem-
ingly cracked open for miles, making a
chasm which may be measured across

' by feet or rods, as the case may be.

It is doubtful if he remembered ever
having heard of a baranca; but he knew
something of this kind was before him,
and knew from the actions _of his pur-
suers that they Judged it was too broad
for him to leap.

There was yet time for him to turn
aside} but he never flinched, nor did his
steed waver. . ' .

Since they carried rifles,

 

He could see plainer with every stride,
and there were not many more to take.
The baranca appeared fearfully Wide;
but, with a shrill cry. he urged Diavolo
forward, giving him his head to take the
leap or refuse, as he should choose.

The mustang seemed to crouch lower
in its stride and quicken its pace of its
own accord.

Then, with a fierce snort,
leaped out into space!

Diavolo

 

CHAPTER XVI.

“I‘M .It's'r JOHNNY ON THE SPOT."

Forty-two feet to an iiiclr~—three feet
farther than the famous Chandler jump
over water—did the black mustang cover
in that. one terrible stride!

That done, he went skimming away,
whilst from the boy came floating hack
the laughing cry:

“ Johnny‘s on the spot. Hoop la!"

In that moment of intense excitement
the pursuers forgot to shoot, and some—
thing like a cheer arose. Not a man
there but knew the wonderful thing
which ‘had been done.‘ and not a man
there dared try to follow.

For the present Johnny was safe from

pursuit, and even a rifle ball would
scarcely reach him.
After a little, the boy drew in his

mount, and, raising his hand, fluttered .

a white handkerchief as a signal for
truce.

There was a trifle of hesitation; then
Carlos answered in the same way. He
had a desire to hear what the youngster
had to say. i

It did not take long for Johnny to
explain by gestures the conditions of the
truce, and the two advanced to the op-
posite edges of the baranca.

“ Say, party, the first thing you want
to understand is that I don’t want to
steal this mustang. I’ll give five hun—
dred cash for him if you can bring the
owner to a dicker; but that’s as he says.
I'll turn him loose right here, or leave
him anywhere you say in Grizzly. You
sabe?”

“Leave him with Winters, near the
Gem, and that part will be all right."
answered Murillo, scrutinizing closely
the looks of this cool ydung hand.

“Next, I want you to take it all in
that if harm comes to the youngster you
tried to kidnap last night, in front of
the Gem, there will be a settlement that

, may come a heap harder than you have

been counting on. Sport Mac generally
keeps his end up; but he’s not the only
one who knows where the party went,
and will be wanting to know some other
things shortly; and they’ll want to know
mighty hard. Tote fair, or Grizzly will
all be out with a rope.”

“Ah! you threaten, do you?”

“ Threaten? Bless your soul! what
would I be threatening for? I’m not of
the size to do that. I just give you a bit
of warning. I’m not certain but what I
would be your friend if you would let
me. That don’t seem to be in the wood;
so I say, step mighty slow! ”

“Stay! There seems to be some mis-
take in all this. Who are you? "

"That’s just what I’d like to'know.
For the present I'm just Johnny—John-
ny on the spot. When I know more I’ll
tell you ,better. Be good to yourself, old
man, while you have the chance. It
looks as though it was going to be an
awful dry time for corn. So long! ”

The boy turned airin away. It is
true, there was a. good forty-two feet
between them: but a pistol bail would
cover that distance, and thehand of
Carlos was fumbling for a weapon as
he turned. 1 . _ ,, . .- H  .

l , . .h'.

 

"I can‘t do it," muttered the ranch-
ero.

“It may be life or death on it; but
with that white rag floating the men
ought to shoot me down if I forget my-
self. Ilet him go. It is a pity to lose
all the big stake I have played for—and
such a game! Am I a coward, or has
the time come to retreat? Best go back
to the ranch and take counsel.”

The escape of the youth was some-
thing hetween a nightmare and a mira-
cle: and, as the several Mexicans of the
party were, above all things, supersti-
tious, ominous looks were on most of
the faces, which a mile of hard riding
scarcely cleared away.

“The infernal tramp——was he dead or
dying?” murmured Carlos to himself,
as he saw the tWO sent to dispose of
Solly coming toward him.

“Jose I can trust; but ‘Bart Bender
would sell his soul for a dollar. It will
not be well if he knows too much. How
was it, Jose?”

“ Satan was in it, senor. Look!”

His eyes‘ glanced downward toward
his hands, which were held awkwardly
before him.

Murillo saw they were tied to the horn
of his saddle; and, glaring over at Bart,
he noted that he was in the same pre-
dicament!

“Carejo! The meaning? Quick! Was
a dead man too much for thee? Or is
this a bit of treachery? You are none
into good to sell the fawning dog his
1 e.”

“ Thar warn't much ov ther fawn ’bout
him," broke in Bart.

“Never got caught jest quite so bad
in my life afore. Tell yer how it war.
boss—hope may die! Now we see’d ’em,
an’ ag’in we didn’t An’ w’ile we war
lookin’ ’round fur ther corpus ez hed
suddenly vanished, ther spook ov ther
kid ez wur drownded, an’ kim ter life,
an‘ throwed pore Manuel cold, an' rid
off with his mustang, he jest stepped
outen ther clouds, all smilin’ an’ serene.
with both barrels turned on us, riddy
ter cut loose. An’ thar war that tramp
a sottin’ thar, with two barrels 'more-
over, an’ him a dead shot! When they
sez ‘wilt!’ we jest wilted, an’ you kin
wring me out fur a dishcloth an’ hang
me up ter dry.”

“And then?" 

“Then Six-Foot Sol kep’ us kivered,
an’ ther kid tied our han’s this hyal'
way, tole us ef we looked ’round we’d
lsitay looked,'an’ ter light out. So, we

t-91

“Curses 011 You hr blundering fools!
Afterwards, which way did they 80?"

“ A'rterwards, when we looked
’round. they wasn’t thar.”

Carlos stared doubtfully at the two.
There had been times in his life when
he would have shot them down for such
carelessness; but now he was in an un-
certain mood.

“ Cut them loose!” he ordered. harsh-
ly, and again led the way- in silence, his
pace quickened by the sight of a horse-
man in the distance, who seemed to be
riding furiously for the ranch. 1

Almost in front of the buildings their
courses would have intersected, and it
was there the newcomer drew in and
awaited the others.

“Quick!” he shouted. with a wave of
his hand. “ No time to lose. The blue
devils are on the trail, and will be here
within the hour." , '

4 “ Ha! Are you sure? "

“Truly, for I counted them in their
camp at sunrise, and watched them uni
til I saw theyhad found the trail. Bet-
ter would it have been if you had not
turned back.” , "

 

Six-Foot Sol. the Sharp-Shooter.

15

 

 

 

“Caramba! I knew of them, and
should 'have made things safe before
this had I not wasted an hour. Get

In half an

Half it
There is
The

ready the wagon, Pedro!
hour everything must be away.
dozen follow me to the vault.

yet time to hide it all and be safe.

river will cover it well, and if we mark ,
I Sail in, an’ we'll see what she amounts

the spot- it will not be a loss.“
“Guess yer 'way off. boss ’l‘ravelin’
ain't healthy. an’ exercise 'd be bad fur

yer liver! Stayn‘ig'ht thar. boss; stay
right thar! Ett‘s yer uncle Solly ez sez
ett. an‘ I guess he knows what he's
talkin‘."

At the window. from which he had
heard every word, Six-Foot Sol looked
down upon them. and at. his shoulder
stood another figure looking strangely
like that of the boy they had recently
left beyond the barranea!

CI—I A P'l‘ICR X \‘l i.
’I‘lllC iu'xmzox 1N “rim \'.-\i'I.'l‘S.

Myrtle Alabilee, moving ot'f

body of Sol.

He W115 hugging the ground so suc—
cessfully that. had he not. been directly
athwart her path, she might not have
seen him.

She bent over him long enough to be
assured that he was living.

“ Ah! this time I am the one to come.
on the spot. Where have you been?
What have you been doing? Why did
you desert me?"

toward .
the ranch. had come suddenly upon the ‘

 

l
i

you can. We may reach a better van-
tage ground even yet."

“Reckon ther gittin' inside 0v the
ranch are what‘s botherin‘ yer, an’ you
ain‘t a. keerin' ha‘fe ez much fur Six-

Foot Sol ez yer lets on. But, I‘ll try an’ v
Ef I can't walk l

be with yer. leetle one.
I kin crawl: cf 1 can‘t crawl I kin roll.

‘ to!"

 

“‘All 0v ‘em good ‘uns; but this ain‘t g

no riddle contest, an’ you kin jest take ‘

ther cake an‘ do yer own answerin’.
Reckon ett ain’t no use ter tell yer tcr
‘ light out. They’ll be back on yer afore
ye kin run a rod. Keep up yer keridge,
though, an' ef they axes yer about Uncle
Solly jest say to 'em. ‘W‘no‘s him? ’ ”

He spoke despondently, but Myrtle
was not to be daunted.

“ \Vhile there is life there is hope.”

“ 0v hevin‘ yer throat cut by a blamed
greaser»yaas. Run along ef yer think
ett’s in ther wood ter give ’em ther slip;
but, hevin‘ a broke leg. an’ otherwise
affected, I reckon I’ll stay Fight hyar."

“ Don’t give up the ship. Cannot we
slip to the ranch while they are Wasting
their time over that horse? Once there.
who knows what might not turn up?
There would be some chance for a fight
that would bring them to terms.”

“,Try ett on: try ett on: but Soily are
nothin’ now but an old cripple with one
leg an’ no brains. Farewell. farewell.
an’ give my love to ther widder Sailor.”

“Are you really unable to move. 01‘
are you simply a coward? If I was sure
it was the last I might shoot you Where
you lie. There are some things you
might tell which Would make it unpleas-
ant for me.”

The tone of scorn acted like a spur-
The Six-Footer struggled to a sitting
posture.

“ Coward yerself! Ef yer say fight,
fight she are! We kin die right hyar."

“Not die, but conquer. Hist! They
are coming DOW!"

“Snuggle down, then, an’ we’ll try fur
a joyful surprise—all ther joy bein’ on

r side.”

This was the way it happened that the
two ambuscaded Jose and Bart Bender,
with the result already described.

It turned out to have been the aim--

plest way of disposing of their Captives
'to bind them in the saddle and turn
them adrift. Scarcely had they gone a
rod when Myrtle was for action.

“ I have some doubt whether that bone
is altogether broken, and in that case
even it is worth while to make a trial.
Lean on me, and hobble along as best

 

 

The journey to the ranch was really
the most magnificent specimen of pure
grit on the part of the man who made
it; and without him Myrtle would have
fared but badly when she reached it. As
it was. she shrank a little closer to the
ragged individual she was supporting as
the half dozen dogs left there by Carlos
came irooping toward them. Open-
mouthed and noisy. ,

“Take ett easy. sis! l knows ther hull
ov ‘em. an‘ what I don‘t know‘ll take
the‘r docktrin‘ frum ther rest.“

Then. he whistled softly. spoke a few
Words. almost at random. and in a min-
ute had the whole gang rabidly anxious
to greet him, not seeming to notice that,
though moving with apparent openness,
in reality he. was approaching the house
with cautious stealth. How- many occu-

pants, and of what kind. the ranch
might have. were questions to be
solved with care.

An open door offered them an en-

trance, of which they took swift advan—
tage. Once inside. they explored from
room to room until Sol threw himself
down.

“i can't go no furder. gal. You look
’round fur a hidin' place. an’ I‘ll take
my chances with Carlos when he comes.
Ef this thing keeps up much long-er I’ll
begin ter howl.”

“ Do not give up. 1 will look around.
The cellar may have secrets. Any r'oom
may tell its tale. So far, we may have
acted like fools; but it is a foolishness
which may win.”

“Git a move on, then. I begin ter
teei ez though I war goin‘ ter groan.”

It Was (only instinct which led her to
search for the vaults, and it was chance
enabled her to find them. She heard a
footstep, and following, pistol in her
hand. Myrtle was led to the lower re-
gions.

A man was carrying a pail in one
hand. a lantern in the other, and, as she
watched him from behind a half-open
door, her heart beat with the thought of
what that might mean.

Under the ranch buildings the cellar
stretched away, long, silent and gloomy.

She forgot Uncle Solly, and cared noth-
ing for her line of retreat, but followed
with a step as light as the fall of a
thistle~down. It was fearsome work;
but the dauntless girl never wavered,
even though she found herself in a nar-
row passage, where discovery was cer-
tain if the man looked around.

When at last he halted in front of
something which seemed to be a door
let into the wall, Myrtle Mabilee felt
like clapping her hands. An end was
reached to her journey, and hope as well
as curiosity demanded that she should
see what lay behind that door. Her steps
fell even lighter than ever,,and it was
the cold muzzle of a cocked pistol,
pressed against the nape of the neck of
the man she considered a jailor, which
announced. her presence.

“A word, a cry, a struggle or a sound,
and you are a dead man! "

Without the least hesitation or sent--

blance of fear, she spoke. The fellow
stood trembling. and had not even" pres-
ence of mind enough to drop the lan-
tern.
“ Now, lay vr‘v'rself down at full
'

 

length, with your hands above your
head. Obey, and you shall not be
harmed. Refuse, and you shall die."

Without hesitation, he obeyed.

“ Now, the key! ”

“ I swear to you there is none. Search
me. if you do not believe. It is a solid
wall. and the food goes through a grated
turnsiyle. \Vho is there, or what, I
know not. Have mercy!"

Myrtle held up the lantern, and saw
that. it was as the man had said. No
glimmering of light could she see with—
in: and when she called there was no
answer. A horrible fear overcame her,
and she stood trembling.

A shrill whistle reached her ears, com-
ing through the doorways she had left
open behind her; and, recognizing the,
signal of Uncle Sol, she turned and fled
to join him.

 

CHAPTER XVIII.
'llllli SACKING 0i“ TUE RANCH.

Myrtle reached her ally just in time
to see the approaching force.

Solly had not allowed himself to be
caught napping, and, as he pointed out
Carlos, he added:

“Now, fur ther grand bluff. Ef we
kin hold ‘em off a bit thar may be sum
hope yit. Ef we. don’t we kin ca‘lkerlate
ter go over ther border on right smart
ov a jump. an’ never git back again."

Sailor was playing for delay, and had
no objections to a conference. For that
reason, be disclosed himself, though he
knew the risk he was taking.

But, Carlos had lately had one expe—
rience with this defiant intruder, and
was in no haste to have him open the
ball from his post of vantage.

Startled though he was, he took the
matter complacently, and answered, in
apparent honesty:

“Old man, you can have your choice.
We’ll call it off for the present, if you
say so; and I'll engage to furnish horses
to take you and your friend there back
to Grizzly, if you start at once. If you
don‘t accept that offer, we are taking
no chances, but we’ll smoke you out and
shoot you when you come. if we have to
burn the ranch down to do it. That is
our answer.”

“That might be straight talk, ef you
war only honest; but I ain’t a keerin’ ter
trust jest quite ter that extent. S’posin’
you begun ter shoot w’en we begun ter
walk out, whar would we be at, eh?” -

‘I mean every word I say. I have
more than half a mind to leave the old
shack, anyway. If I do, what is it to
me whether it stands or burns? I’d
sooner see it burn than lose the life of
one of these boys. As for myself, shoot
if you dare!”

“I dare, but I don’t keer. Git back
to ther rest ov ther crowd an’ then open
the; ball. We’ll see who kimS‘out jay-

lr .)’

Carlos moved away as carelessly as
though Six-Foot Sol was not on the pis-
tol line. All the time Myrtle was whis-
pering:

“For Heaven’s sake, make terms if
you can. I will come again with all
Grizzly behind me. I can buy them if
they will not come of their own accord.
I have found the mystery!”

“ Then, they’ll never let us go alive.
All we got tor do are ter stay on our
OWn book; an‘, of we can’t hold ‘em off.
an’ help don’t kim, take our gruel."

“ Help! From whence can we expect
it? See! The wretch meant what he
said. We are lost! ”

With what, even to Soliy,‘ seemed like
Strange promptness, preparations for the
sacrifice were being made. The blot! of

the did tramp had won, but not after the
l

   

i,
3

, gm» ..,,:. Y.
 I

v-H

 

, follow that.

16

 

 

Six-Foot Sol, the Sharp-Shooter.

 

 

fashion he had hoped for. No risks
would Carlos run, and the two in the
trap would be extinguished without
much chance to make their teeth meet.

Six-Foot Sol was convinced at last.

“Gal, ef yer sees ther chance yer bet—
ter make a break. I’m crippled, an’ I
know he’d never let me go alive a’ter
what I told him. I may go up ther ilume
and I may not; but I'd like ter save
you. Shake!”

He held out his paw, and she clasped
it.

“It is not for good-by. If we cannot

beat them off we die here together. Let
us open the ball.”
“ It’s too late! Don’t yer see? He’s

found he can’t move what he hez ter
conceal, an’ he’s goin’ ter let the ashes
make a hidin’ place. He’d fire ther
place anyhow. We be on’y incerdents.
Don’t yer smell ther smoke on t’other
side?”

Sure enough, the smell of the burning
grass came clearly to her senses. Un-
less she made a rush, in which Solly
could not join her, she could not even
have the encouragement of a fight.

“Ett’ll go like tinder," Six-Foot Sol
said, solemnly, squinting out to note
that several men watched that side of
the building, at long range. “ Ett looks
like a fool’s sacerfise; but he gits a
great big heap of satisfackshun outen
it, anyhow.”

“ My heavens! What can I do?
for myself—but if sister lives!”

Myrtle clasped her hands and looked
around her wildly; then fled from the
room, darting back once more to the
cellars.

Once below, she saw ahead of her the
lantern; but the attendant had vanished.
She rushed to the grating and beat upon
the solid rock. She called through the
barred turnstyle; and then, when hope
was leaving, her wandering hands
pressed heavily upon a spring, and the
wall began to give. At the same time
she heard Uncle Solly groan as he
dragged himself to the door above.

Not

 

“ This way, if you want to save two
lives! "

Johnny had made a circuit, had
crossed the line of the barranca, and was
drifting back toward the ranch, when
he came within hail of a body of men
who were in pursuit of a wagon, the
driver of which had lashed his horses to
a gallop.

“And who are you? " asked the leader
of the men, making a sign for the rest
to rein up.

“ Johnny on the Spot, for the present.
Six-Foot Sol and a young lady are some-
where over there, in the hands of the
gang which follows Carlos Murillo; and,
if I’m not away off in my estimate of
them, they will mean murder before it
is over. If you are white men, help
them.”

“We are white men, and that is just
the crowd we are after. They are cattle
raiders, and we suspect them of some-
thing worse. We thought they were in
advance of the wagon. Two men can
The rest for the ranch!”

And so it happened that the party of
soldiers and secret service agents swept
up to .the ranch, with Johnny at their
head.

They came from an unexpected quar-
ter, so that the men watching for them
were evaded, and the first thing Carlos
Murillo knew of their approach was see-
ing the whole force. not a dozenvods
away, swirling down upon them in a
headlong charge. The smoke from the

conflagration he had started had ob-

 

scured the view, and the jaws of a great I

trap were closing on him.

The odds were all with the assailants,
in point of numbers, and the benefit of
the surprise was also with them. ‘

“Surrender!” shouted the leader; and 3

with that the work began.

With the attacking party came John-
ny, and he was not tar from the head.
When the others began shooting, his re-
volver cracked also; but he had an eye
chiefly for Murillo, and suddenly, sin-
gling him out, rode straight at him,
shooting as he came.

A defective cartridge clicked under
the hammer of Murillo’s pistol, and then,
beaten by both luck and skill, the boy
had him. He went sprawling down.

Careless of the fight around him, tle
boy leaped upon him with both feet, and,
levelling his revolver again. he shouted:

“You infernal fraud! I‘m certain of
you now! Where is the better man than
you, whose name and house you have
stolen? Speak, or I send you over the
range, and find him myself!”

A black look of hate flamed over the
face of the wounded man, who, with a
shattered arm, could no longer grasp a
pistol. With the other hand he feebly
pointed to the flaming building and
hissed:

“There! In the vaults under that.
He stole the woman I iOVed. and I swore
I would steal all that he had. If I could
have lived an honest life it would never
have been known. His name is Murillo
no more than mine, and there were few
living who could tell the difference. I
knew you were a Jennowine when I saw
you, and if my men had not played the
fool I would have had you off the stage
before you reached Grizzly. Now, live and
suffer, knowing that had it not been for
you your brother might have lived for
years. As it is, when the roof falls in he
dies! ”

“Liar! For once your hate misses its
mark. Yonder he comes now!”

It was true. Bursting out from the.
smoke and .flame came two walking
corpses—those of a man and a woman,
whilst behind them abedraggled. boyish-
looking individual half dragged, half sup-
ported the form of Six-Foot Sol!

The false Murillo fell back, fainting,
whilst. the service men. victorious at all
points. were ready to take good care of
all captives.

Johnny darted away instantly.

All the months of confinement in the

~ dungeon by the false ranchero and secret

outlaw chief had not broken the spirit
of the captives. or done them permanent
harm. Though Johnny had grOWn up
out of his brother’s recollection since
last they met, the reunion was none the
less joyful; whilst Myrtle Mabilee, hav-
ing found her sister living and the wife
of a true man after all, was in high spir-
its. even for her. *

The joyous little party went to Grizzly
that same night, and when the news of
the affair got abroad and it was under-
stood that the Carlos Murillo of late
months had been a false presentment
of the man whom they had scarcely more
than known by sight, and that Captain
Zip had often taken a hand socially with
the best of them, there was great excite-
ment in Grizzly, and a reception was
given the late captives and their friends.
to which came all the dignitaries, even
Abiram VVeinizheimer being present,
trying to say some soft nonsense to the
woman who had captivated them all, and
so sigmallv Succeeded in her mission.

Sport Mac got in a little late, and was
met by an indignant Johnny. _

“ Say, Sport, where have you been
while all this was going on? It looked

 

as though you had left me in a hole;
but I‘m willing to hear explanations.”

“Can I trust you?”

“On the dead level.”

“ Then, i don’t mind saying I was on
the spot. myself. I didn't mean you to
know it; but I do a little tracking my-
self. along with my Side pard, Six-Foot
Sol. who is doing well and wi‘:l come out
jaybird yet. I went off to hunt up the
boys, and I got them there just in time;
but my own horse was played out, and
i wasn‘t scri'y not to give myself away.”

Captain Zip recovered from his wound,
and subsequently went to serve his
countr.v in the penitentiary. The Mu—
rillo family retained the name assumed
by Charles Jennowine when he first
made a fortune in old Mexico, and wich a.
brace of relatives they went East.

Myrtle’s mission at Grizzly was suc—
cessfully ended! »

THE END.

 

NEXT HALF-DIME LIBRARY, No. 1003.

GERMXN JOE,
THE HAYSEED SPORT.

BY HOWARD M. BOYNTON.

 

 

Beadle’s Half-Dime library

NOVELS.

 

BUFFAL‘D BILL

BY COL. PRENTIBB INGRAHAK.
995 Buffalo Bill’s Drop: or, Dead-Shot Nc'l , tho Kama: Kid.
983 Buffalo Bfll'o Loin-o Throwers.
981 Buffalo Bill’s Ff lltln Five.
97?» Buffalo lffil’l I IfleS ofl.
96 Buffalo Bill‘s Rut-ll Ride: «1, Sure-Shot, the High-Flyor.
9'”. Hull'qu lllll‘n lleooy; or, The Arizona Crack Shot.
95! Buffalo lifll’u Mun-p I-(‘IIIIQ-
948 Buffalo iiili’u Pinup-ii of z hr. Wild Kid'u 'l'exnn Tully
942 Buffalo lflll’n 'I‘ou‘h Tum-lo.
986 Buffalo lflll‘n lfoy . moot; or. Joe Janiu’ Hold-up
929 Ruflnlo Bill's (‘rm-k-Iliot I’m-d.
650 Buffalo lllll's llny l’urdx or. Butterfly Billy.
2‘0 "Infill “III. the Prime oi the Helm.
922 Bison BIII’A ('lui-z or. Grit, the Euro Sport.

,\ BY BUFFALO HI! 1..

56 Badly-Eye. the Unknown 50 m. (w, The Bonded Bimini“
6" Border Robin flood : or, The Prairie Rover.
IbU’l-‘Inoy Frank or f'nlormu. g or. The Trapper: Tmt.

BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR, u. 8.1..

WI Buffalo lflll . tho Boy Bullwhockm.
Ill-1. nululo lflll I Bet: M. The Gomblor Guido.

"Y LIEI T. A. K. SIMS.

1
‘ 589 Tom-Cat. am! Purl: or.‘l‘he Dead Sol. at Silver City.

6'22 'l‘mu-(lut’u- 'l I' all; vr. 1 hr Affair at Tomb-tom.
63! Tom Cat’s Terrible Tusk; or The Cowboéngtoctivo.
638 Tom-Cat‘s Tr'lllllpllé or. Block film’s Glut mblno.
540 Cuptuln C etu- lhe imp-uni ( Mi; or. Jmh’o Ten Strike
54:3 The hand of {lmlln ; or. Rmillnr tor Millionl.

576 Th:- t~‘llvel- Span-i: nr. Jot-ii Pvrpelmint‘l Jubilee.

538 Saffron Sol. the Man With a Shadow

60] llu p "nu-n, tbv Dulri Vim-cu; or.HotTimeutRound-Up
fill ""31" Barnacle, the Detective Hercuin.

(i4fi (‘nwltuf “Id, fl!» “Mile—Rom!» hetective.

"57 “'nrbl In: H lllinm the Mountain Monntebnnk.

66f: Jolly Jeromlnlnp the Plains Detective.

67f! Signal Hum, the Lookout Scout.

“‘9 llllly I'll' Gyn— ' Spy: or, The Muh- ‘OITVO I.th
69!! Simple film, the ram-ho Flu-tor: or. For it Stolen.

712 The “comm-fut Sport; or, The Mylliflod Ducal".
133 Toltet- om, the Mud Prospector.

745 Kann- Jfln. the (‘an‘ut Detectlw.

761 Marmaduke, the Mustang" Detective.

778 The Rultler of' lfolllng tone.

785 Lorre "and Joe, the Committee 010?!!-

80] Kent Kit-fly, ihe High-Kicker from Klllbld.

882 The Doctor Detective In Texol.

“‘32 Two Showman I c-ferffveo In Colorado.

98’: The 'l‘exmn Firebug-a: or Bram Blily’l Snop.Slm

961 The Trump’s Trump-T 9“-

NEW ISSUES.

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1003 CPI-mun Joe, the ""3"". SW"; 0T,Tlie Twin th‘iii‘t
at P ace: Ranch. By H. M. Boyliton,

1004 Sewn-(«her -nn’- Sweep-Stoke; or, Buy”. Beak,“
Big 80 in. ByJ C. Cuwdiick.

JUST ISSUED.

~ . I. sum the Detective on Wheels; or The Son-mint
99‘ Elwfm'ihm Hiuhfs. By.) c. Comm. ’ '

8 II dwood “I'll Jro’lo 1" P]. or Tho Blulew
’9 .Ieleld Lodge City. .I y E L. “' mior. ’3 y

999 Juk Lg“, 1hr Privofoor Rov r; 0131‘va M“ of M m-
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1000 Bum-lo “111’! “000! noys. By Chi. P. lumhun.
iv 0 ' B I I . .
100103.33; cue Elain‘éxuhorotb net; or,’l‘ l0 Dork Loot m
A New Inn Every Tied.)
runway-c “hubby-aloha!) M...
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In!“ AID JOLIE PM”
It 'flo- “not. low 'GII.