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Big GeorgeIThfiefifiiam ofyihmlgh‘; or, The Five? Uguliaw Brothers.

BY JOSEPH E- BADGER, JR-,

xLuthor 01‘“The Boy Jockey,” “Captain Cool Blade,” “ Double-Sight,” Eta, Etc.

 

 

 

 

 

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QUICK AS THOUGHT m GHNAST INTERPOSED HIS OWN BODY TO SAVE HIS LOVED ONE.

 

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i 2' Big Geogge, the Giant of the Gulch.

 

 

 

...-_. _.. _Z

niche—.EORGE,
The Giant of the Gulch:

THE FIVE OUTLAW BROTHERS.
BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR,
AUTHOR or “Tun BOY JOCKEY,” “DOUBLE
sieiir,” “CAPTAIN coon BLADE,” ETC.

CHAPTER I.
A NIGHT AT THE “TEMPLE.”

“ THEY’s no two ways ’bout that J” positively
observed long-legged Corncracker, admiring the
bead upon his w iisky-straight a: he replied to
an observation of the little man with the car-
buncled nose. “The boys has made up thar
minds to work the thing up in style—”

The sentence was cut short with an angry

curse, as Corncracker felt 'himself thrust un-
ceremoniously aside—so rudel in fact that the
glass fell from his hand and tie golden li nor
was wasted upon the sawdust—covered floor. the
insulted digger instinctively grasped his ever
read y revolver—but the hot flush of anger gave
place to a sickly grin, as he rcCognized the face
upturned to his, and heard the words:
, “ You‘re old enough :in’ ugly enough to know
butter iuumicrs, Legs. Next time you see a gen-
tlcmun comin‘, you juth slump your ungainly
karkidge outcn the way-you licur mc talk?”

The tones, deep and souorous, contrasted ludi-
crousl y with the size of the speaker, who, stand-

 

: ing on tip-toes, would still have lacked several

inchesof reaching four feet in bi 1rht. Head and
trunk Were those of a stout- )uilt man of
medium hight: to these were attached limbs
proportioned [or a chunky child of six,or there-
abouts.

“i didn't know '011 was coinin’, Little Pop—
per," staiinncred _oi'iiCI'ackci', evidently ill at
ease, Wllilc his brilliant-nosed friend dextrously
slipped behind the end of the bar.

" Ephriam Pepper, 6 uire—none 0’ your
nickniuuas when you’re dressin’ gentlemen,
Lengtliy~don’t you forget it!” growled the
dwarf, as he shambled across the room, the
rough-clad miner losing no time iu'opening a.
passage for his iiiightiness.

“Ef the cusses don’t clear the way fast
enough jest tetch ’om up with a bit 0’ lead,
Eph,” chimed in a voice the counterpart of the
dwarf‘s. “Them as insults you must buck
ag’inst the hull fainbly 1”

“You shinny on your own side, Big George.
Iconsnit I kin take my own part—’iiiong sech
trash, ’specially,” and little Pepper gave a sniff
of disgust as he glanced aronni the bar-room.
“Here, you sorrel-topped son of a hop-toad!
fetch, me a pint o’ red-eye——-good measure, mind,

“What’s the word, Epli—spit it out,” in).

tiently muttered the man addressed as Big
gorge. “ Is it a false trail, or—”

“ Notaspeak do I speak afore I’vo washed
out my gullet—so you mought as well take it
cool, baby.”

Besides the speakers, three other 'men sat at
the round ine table, and, all in all, the quin-
tette form a party not undeserving a second
glance, more particularly as the reader who
may havo patience to follow us to the end, is
destined to meet them more or less frequently.

A curious and not over-respectable family, in
truth. What their past may have been, boots
little here, but since the world-stirring cry of
GOLD! in ’49, the trail of the Peppers may easily
be followed, marked here b a nameless grave,
there by a robbery—over a] thefi er of iced.

Nine at first only five remain; ig George
Red Pepper, Blac Pepper, Pepper-pot and
Little Pep r; such were the so riquets by
which the epper family were general] known.

- Bi!r George, the eldest was also the argest of
th: brothers, though all, save Little Pepper,
could look down on six feet. Six feet seven in
his cowhide beets, Big George was “built a’cor-
din‘.” His huge frame was well covored and
rbunded with brawn and sinew. Though his
face was Well-nigh hidden beneath an immense
beard, which, like his long, straight hair, was
beginnin to grizzle, his features were clear-cut
his eyes all and bright, and only when infiam
by drink, lust or rage, could his claim to being
a. handsome man be dis nuted. In ropese there
was no outward trace 0 the devil: he seemeda
good-humorod, honest giant, a handsome man-
mouutain. No one knew this better than Big
George himself, and his dress was ordered ac-
cordingly. A crimson shirt of the finest flannel,
daintily embroidered with white silk upon the
bosom, loosely secured at the throat by a silk
ban iana; trowsers of buck-Skin tucked into
high boots. The belt at his waist, which sup-
ported a brace of revolvers and long knife, was
curiously inlaid with gold coins, from the
masswe fifty-dollar “slug” down to the tin
quarter-dollar. His hat,a stiff-brimmed Me -
can sombrero, was studded round with our-
iously-shaped nuggets of gold, dull and un-
g‘olislied, Just as the earth had given them u .
tinder other Circumstances Big r e we
have blossomed forth a full-blown dan y.

 

Their sobriqucts will indicate the other
brothers sufiiciently for the time being. Pepper-
oI-,.,Red and Black Pepper were slightly modi-
fied editions of their 9 der brother and leader.
Despite their different-lined chevelures, there
was a strong family resemblance between them,
morally as well as ph sically. Where Big
George led they i‘ollowe , apparently strangers
to fear as they Were careless of consequences,
only looking, as it Were, instinctively, to him
for orders. Little Pep r alone was ever known
to dispute the will of ig George, as he was the
only one of whom the giant ever deigned to ask
advice.
This much by way of preface.
“ The ral is thar—she’ll show up to-night,
surel” sai Little Pepper, smacking his lips over

his li uor.

“T ey ain’t no mistake- ou’re sure it’s the
one!” eagerly uttered Big orge, a red glow
filling his eyes.

“ Am I a fool? ' Don’t I know B from a bull’s

foot?” angiin growled the dwarf. “ Next time
you want—”

Aloud burst of music came from across the
we. ; the heavy booming of a bass and sharp
rat le of a snare-drum, min ling with the far
from harmonious notes of ruse—and with a
roar of delight Little Pepper waddled toward
the door with all the glee of a. country lad at
musterday.

Redd , the accomplished bartender, gave a
snort 0 dis rust as he found his occupation gone,
every man ocking out to on by the harmonious
strains, and freni that hour t e theayter had an
uncompromising enemy in the engineer of the
“Mint.” .

Blue Earth was “doing herself proud" this
evening, and turned out en masse to celebrate
the opening of the first theater north of “the di-
vide. ’ A ittle man from Sacramento had pros-

' pected the town, decided that there was money

in it, and the next day broke ground where
“The Temple” now stood in all its glory—of
undressed pine, qghaud banners and blazing
transparencies. e g ad news had read far
and wide, until every digger within 1: e radius
of twenty miles had flocked to the spot, eager to
do honor to the opening.

The first to enter, when the wide doors ware
flun open was Big George, followed by his
brot ers. With a. modesty very remarkable in
him, the giant dropped into a seat half-we.
down the ong hall, settling low in his seat, wit
hat pulled for down over his face.

The interior was rude and bare enough. Un-
cushioned benches slopingv down from the en-
trance to the orchestra. he floor and walls of
rough pine. Twenty feet from the floor, rang-
ing along each side of the buildin , meeting in a
semicircle at the front or end fu best from the
stage, were the private boxes, about six feet by
six, hung with gaudy curtain calico. The drop-
curtain was a model of art—in a Chinese sense
of the term.

The scene was not devoid of a certain d
of interest. The rough-clad diggers rang in
closel - cked rows, some covered with scarce-
ly dri mud from their claims, others rigged
out in the best of their savage fine , joined as
one voice in a stentorian chorus as t e orchestra
opened, varied with numerous calls for drinks
and cigars; but when the bell tinkled and the
curtain siowl rose, the clamor was stifled as if
by m 'c, an five hundred of e eswere
rive upon the stage, or rat or upon t e‘semi-
circle of performers.

The nature of this chronicle demands a close
record of that night’s events.

After the opening chorus came threadbare
and ancient ‘ gags ’ from the end men then
son , all of which were received by the diggers
witfis unrghlified approval, much stam ing of
feet and isterous u hter. Among e rude
chorus rose the doc vo cc of Little Pepper, like
that of a lion dst jackals, but Big George
sat without sound or motion, ring out from
beneath his slouched hat wi h fixed gang, a
strange fire in his eyes. Then a sharp ulver
ran t rough his massive frame as the orc estra
played so tly, and a low, inexpreaibly sweet
voice uttered the first notes of “Home, Sweet
Home.” La Belle Estelle the £08m an-
nounced; the One uponle the eyes of
BeigeGieoEge had been glued ever since the curtain
1‘ . ad aim ly in white, without ornament
or jewels, her soft brown hair falling with care-
less grace over her shoulders, she sat with
clasped hands a dreamy look in her large blue
eyes, seemingly forgetful of all save the tender,
sad music the. fell from her lips. Breathless,
the miners listened; more than one hard eye
grew thoughtful and dim, and when the last
notes died away, the silence was almost op-
pressive. . .

Little Po 1' broke the charm, and then a
wild bursto applause followed the orchestra
struck 1015 a lively air, and the fair artiste

With w song, scarcely less suc-

curtainroseagainfortheolio,Bhiig
George kept the waiters busy *0
calls. An unquenchable fire seemed oonsu

him, and he poured down loss after glass 0
whisky with an eagerness t astonished even
his brothers.

 

 

“Some feller’s goin’ to git a benefit to-night,”
shrewdly remarked Poker Dan, to his pard.
“ Look at that overgrowcd cuss a-stowin’ away
of t e pizen!”

“ f a airthquake ’d on] ' open an’ swaller
’em up, I’ gladly run the c since 0’ sqiieedgin‘
out at some hole. It’s a scandalous shame the
way we let ’em ride—hurrayl they’re h’istin’
the rag l”

The acts succeeded each other rapidly the
manager knowing that stage-waits would nrt

. answer with such an audience. The usual variety

programme was carried out; negro acts, soul:
and dances, vocalisms, fancy dancin , etc, all
of which were duly encored: but the it of the
evemn was when La Belle Estelle reappeared,
as a_H ghland lassie. Her clear, full voice lack-
ed little of rfection. Time and again she was
recalled. T e audience seemed fairly wild. Gold
coin and nuggets were showered u n the stage
with reckless profusion, until the girl was forced
to cease singing, unable to hear her own voice.
Then it was that Dandy Dave capped the climax.
He had emptied his ppckets, tom the diamond
pin from his bosom, e ring from his fingers;
still he was not satisfied. e saw the golden
shower continue, and then—flung his heart at
the damsei’s feet. Not literally, though the
sacrifice could scarcely have been greater. He
wore a shirt of marvelous workmanshi f the
finest blue silk daintil embroidered With white
and crimson silk, t e gage d’amour of an
almond-eyed Mexicana, too precious to be worn
saVe upon state occasions. Hastin removing
this, Dandy Dave sprung lightlyto the sta ,
and kneeling, laid his treasure at the feet of t e
astonished son ress.

Ye gods! w at a. cheer arose from near five
hundred throats at this heroic sacrifice! The
walls fairly quiver , the music was drowned—
then the curtain swiftly descended. .

When next it arose, a finely-formed gymnast
appeared, and saluting the audience, nimny
c ' bed up to the tra ze which was suspended
from the center of t e building, not over the

Big George arose and strode down the narrow
aisle, passing throu h the side door leading to
the bar-room where e swallowed another glass
of whisky, though he had already imb bed
enough to rceptibly aflect his walk. He saw
a. narrow oor at the end of a short passage, and
his eyes glowed as he noticed the word above,
Private. A man was keeping ard beside it
who looked up inquirineg as 9 giant paused
before him.

“ You can’t pass here without an order from
the boss,” he said, sharply, as Big George touch-
ed the latch.

Never a. word spoke the giant, but his brawny
hand closed upon the doorkeeper’s neck, and
lifting him clear of the ground, much as a cat
does a kitten he flung the astonished fellow half-
wa across 9 bar-room, then opened the door
an seed through.

01¢ experience aided him here, and with little
difficulty he wound through the and
made his way to the flies, where he foun a por-
tion of the companfi watching the performance
upon the trapene. ut the object of his search
was not among them, though he reco an
old Sacramento uaintance in one o the wo-
men, who return his coarse greetin th 3
half-frightened air. Big George hugged, cou-
tem tuously.

“ ever you fear, Nell—I don’t mean to rake
up the past. You played me a. dirty trick that
time, but I squared it all on him—I don’t count
girls. Besides, I’ve got choicer game in my eye
“3%?” i0 you ” l'ttl harp] lied

s e, sup , a i e s

Nell. “I’ve hear of that little bit 0313:?an

at Sacramento, though I was on the shelf just
then. I wish on jpy of your bargain!”

u‘i‘ Where is s e?” e demanded, 9verlooking the

q P-

“ Dressing for the afterpiece; that comes next.
Or you may find her in the waitin acorn—she
always manages to be there when inch comes
in from the trapeze.”
th“‘l7l‘l:.h°£n§il°”’ “mild 131‘ “W”

e o s u now cs.

“You’d bgtter afi glen—no doubt e’ll
glad to alive you an introduction ” laughed Noll,
35 she pod away, adroitly eluding his out-
stretched lurid.

“ I will ask her!” he gra viciously. “And
let her look to her answer! there’l anything;
between them, I’ll- Say, pretty ” he addc ,

to a scantily-dressed nym , “show me
where to the greenroom, w ' you?”
1‘ “With 1116681136, sir,” she go lied, visions all;
‘ OWNERS 8!! mm min throng
her mind. “You might so}; lost, alone, lit
one. Here we gpltoget er— beo in the woods,”
She laughed, ta 'ng his arm.
“£01303 cu reckon Estelle will be there, yeti”

Geo bluntl .
“ Bo— t’s newlines ruler, is m” the
little mite, rel his arm. “F0 ow your
nose then, and find or the best way you can!”
With an ugly came at this second rebufi,
an

ong the d
a door chance guiding him night. A m-
t e 0 met '5 our, and he saw the c act 01]“,

scare spring toward him with on

 

 

 

_.,.- ..

 

 

hands, then pause abruptly, the glad light fad-
ing from her fair face as she recognized her
mistake.

“ You didn’t expect to meet me here, Estellc,”

said Big George, in a low, not unpleasant voice, :

and speaking in a, very different style to the
rough idiom he usually affected.

do not know you, sir,” came the quick ‘

reply; but then the woman started back, an ex-
pression of mingled fear and aversxon coming
over her face.

One could see now that La Belle Estelle owed
little of her charms to stage glamour. In a
short dress of white muslin, short sleeves and
low neck, her luxuriant hair held back by a
simple knot of ribbon, with her fair skin and
plump, beautifully rounded figure, she made up
a charming “Gertrude,” for the afterpieoe. But
now the soft flush left her cheek, the glad light

faded from her eyes, and in its stead came a .

wild hunted expression, painful to witness.

“ on’t rake up old times, Stella,” added Bi
Geor c, with a soft, yet earnest pleading. “
hope you would have forgotten it. I was mad,
then, and acted the fool—but you drove me on
to it. That night—~you know I had been drink-
ing, and I wasn’t my real self. I’ve come here
to-ni ht to ask your pardon—I, that never be-
fore umbled myself before man or God! I ask
your pardon, Stella.”

“ As far as my pardon goes, you have that— 1
’

stop!” she adde sharply, as he offered to take
her hand. “ For the wrong you did me,I repeat,
I forgive you. But that is all. There are some
t ' that one can never forget—and that in-
sult Is one. 1 ho d never to meet you again.
It can be but unp easant to us both. Now go—
leave me, if you have the least spark of man-
hood about you-go!”

“I don’t think you know me yet, Stella,” ,

slowly re )lied Big George, “or you wouldn’t
talk like t at. I came here ready and r to
make all the reparation I could. Don’ you

drive me to desperation—don’t do it I warn
you} It will be the worse for us both, if you
0

“ I care as little for your threats as I do for
your pretended love, George Pepper. The
answer I gave you then I give you now. I
would rather die in a tter than live in a
palace as your wife—so t ere!”

“ You may come to worse, girl—I warned
you—don’t drive me too far! I am trying fair
means—don’t drive me to foul!”

“ Stand aside and let me pass—”

As the woman attempted to passbim, Big
George clasped her in his arms, pressing his hot
lips to hers with a fierce energy, as though los-
ing all control of himself. Estelle uttered a
sharp cry, and struck him full in the tau» with
her clenched hands, so hard that blend followed
the blow. Stout as he was. Big George sta -
gored back, releasing his grasp; but then wit
a hoarse, snarling cry, he sprung toward her,
with uplifted hand.

A rapid tread sounded in .3 passage. The
door 0 nod and a. man entered With an aglgry
cry. here was a istol shot,a wild y of
angr pain—then a heavy fall that shook the
bm ding.

CHAPTER II.
A CHANGE or mocnunm.

GEORGE Manx, the gymnast, completed his
really meritorious rformance upon the tra-
peze. descended an stood bowing an acknowl-
edigment of the Vociferous applause as the cur-
ta. n descended. The audience settled them-
selves anew in their positions as the orchestra
began tuning up for the final overture before
the curtain should anse for the last time that

‘ ht to “The Loan of a. Lover.”

t this moment came the _pistol shot, the
wild ye and heavy fall distinctly audible
through ut the hall.

“Two to one it’s that ovorgrowncumof a
Big George!” muttered Poker Dan, in the brief,
breathless pause that followed.

And had the wager been accepted, Poker Dan

'nid have won' nast, th at f ll,has-

e ounggym as soar in e

toned award the greenroom, but. was
opposite the half-opened door of his dressing-
room when La Belle Estelle uttered her angry
301238311» 88 Big George caught her in his arms.
With a. cat-ii e bound the gymnast sprung to
where a pistol belt hunfilclose beside the door,
and graspinga weapon e flung open the door
of the greenroom. He saw the giant about to
3 ring upon the woman with elevated fist, and
t ing forward the 1pistol, he fired. With an
an yell and cursed pain, BigGeorge whirled
ha f-way around, falling heavily to the floor.

In an instant Estelle was in the gyth
arms, sobbing upon his broad breast, while he-
with ready weapon, closely watched the twist,
ing wrote upon the blood-stained floor.

‘ What the devil! who’s raising a rm 1,,
here?” cried Ben Coffee, the manager pm.
prietor, as he burst into the room with drawn
revolver, at the head of half a dozen actors, who}
like him, had been attracted by the sound 0

u /
“ You—George! what—oh! mother of Moses!"
1‘ malmost with a groan that the worthy

 

l

 

l
, manager recognized the prostrate fl now
lyin still and motionless In a uddle of blood.
I ‘ ig George—oh Lord! an the whole family
I of ’em out onderl It’s instm crooked luck— l”
“ I did i to save her, ’quic ly interposed the
gymnast. “The big brute was 'ust going to
i strike her in the face. Look at im—that fist
would have killed her, sure, if I hadn‘t called
' him.”

“ If ’twas only anylbodg else, I wouldn’t care,”
and Coffee wiped is ushed face. “Listen!
they’ve heard it out yonder—there’s the devil
‘to cook and no pitch hot, now! Clear the
woman off, quick—and you Mack, make your-
self scarce. You’ve stirred up a nest of wild-
‘ cats this night that’ll follow you to kingdom
, come if they ever strike our trail—”

“Go to your room, Ste la—quick; fasten your
door—go!’ said Mack, then turning to Coffee,
he said: “I only did my duty, and I’ll run
1 from no man for that. The coward deserved
all he got.”

“That don’t make it any easier—listen!
They’ll tear the house down—oh! dum the.
crooked luck 1”

“ There’s only one way—tell them the truth,”
cried Mack hastening toward the stage, pistol
still in han . “ Raise the curtain—lively!” he
ordered the negro scene-shifter, who promptly
obeyed, and not one moment too soon.

At the first alarm the quick-witted doorkeepcr
had closed and barred both doors, thus balking
the excited diggers as they sought to rush out,
eager to witness the “muss” or its conse
quences. Thus far they had contented them-
selves with laughing and jesting, rather enjoy-
ing the crush, but making no effort to break
down the barrier. This could not have lasted
‘ long, however, and already angry yells were

ari ng, oaths and curses takin the place of
j jests, when the curtain was swift y rolled up.
i As if by magic the tumult was stilled, and
, every eye was turned toward the stage. The
1 young gymnast stood there, pale but cool, the
even 'ng pistol still in his hand. Sharp and
1 clear is voice rung out:
I “Gentlemen! I appealto ou asmen—as the
l children of women! There as been a lady in-
} sulted—.”

“Who by— 've us the name—we‘ll tar an’
feather the di cuss!” were audible amidst a
score more exclamations of similar import.

“ I don’t know his name. He insulted her—a
lady, pure as the an els above! And then he
raised his hand to ma 0 her in the face—”

Again the y gymnast was interrupted by
curses and yells execration, mingled with de-
mands that the dastard be turned over to them
to receive a fit punishment.

“He lies in yonder, gentlemen. I shot him,
just in time to save her—the lady, from—”

“ He tells you true, gentlemen, cried Estelle,
gliding forward, and standing beside the actor.
‘ If he shot the man, it was to save my life—he
is not to blame—”

“The name—the name l” roared out Little
Pepper, from his perch u n the bench. “Ef
’twas my brother, he’ll ke h—l”

“ It was George Pepper.”

Estelle shrunk back with a shriek as a pistol
exploded and the bullet passed between the two,
so closely that it cut a spangle from the —
nast’s shoulder. Little P per it was who fired
the shot and, an une g marksman the
career of the wt won (1 have ended then
and there only or the prompt action of a man
who stood close behin the dwarf, and whose
heavy hand hurled Little Pepgr down into the
press ust in time to frustra though not pre-
vent h shot.

“Down with the curtain!” yelled the mana-
ger, and his order was promptly obeyed, none
too soon.

“ They’ve murdered Geo l” roared Red
Pe per, plunging forward 1 e a mad bull.
“ ollow me, b0 1 cl’ar the way thar, you
comes! Open up r, I say or I’ll cut a. swath
through yel Come on, boysi knife the fast fool
cuss as tries to stop our way! Now then!
shoulder to shoulder—w l”

Brandishing a twelve-inc bowie knife, Red
Pepper pressed forward, more than once dash-
ing a digger aside With his hu left fist, though,
w h

remarkable dance or him, refrajmn
from usi the a, knowing that the si ht 0
blood w dbethe signal for the use 0 cold

steel and lead, before which he and his broth-
ers, hated as the 'were, must inevitably go
down in death. Igomnsly seconded b his
brothers, he was no Ion in reachin e or-
chestra stand, from whic the mud had
fled at the first alarm'fhseeking refuge beneath
the stage floorin - di rsparted before
them, crowding on an or side, not one
seekin to oppose their. passage, so t was
thein uenceo their evil name. An holding
his knife between his teeth, Red Pep scram—
bled ever the Cians’ seats, an gained a
foothold u n that portion of thestage which
$59M yond the curtain to accommodate
semicircle of footlightn.

From the moment when Red Pepperbegan
his impetuous rush, he was kept close company
by his four brothers and one other, whose cries
and actions would seem to indicate his belong-
ing to the gang. Yet his was the hand that had

 

 

Big George, the - _G-iant of the Gulch. 3

frustrated Little Pepper’s attempt at assassina
tion.

Through the terrible crush he had been hus-
bandin his strength, and now, just as the party
reache the vaildividing the ()X‘chcsii'n from the
aisle, the stranger dextrously writht-d between
the brothers, and with an active bound cleared
all obstacles and reached the platform beside
the puffing giant. Not one instant did he hesi—
tate, butbur *ing his fingers in the il:-n.e-colon».l
mop that a one covered Red l’cpl)c1“s l3('€'-(l,
hurled him backum'll with a strength and dex‘
terity that would not be denied. 'l‘lwn. ulnn-st
before the truth was realized even by tho fallen
Pepper, the stranger leaped to the h-l‘t and van-
ished between the curtain and ('(vllllllll.

Meanwhile within all was confusion. nwn and
women running to and fro, for the nu t'u-ni‘ too
greatly eXcitcd to think orm't ll :uu null): 'l'lw

pistol shot of Little l’cppvr told 1} cm that the
friends of Big George lnczmt no cl'iéd‘s play

and few among their numbcrlmi had heard
dark and disagreeable tales of the notorious
quintette. ~

“ Clear away the\x'o1|1<-ii!"cl’is~zl(leorgchlnck

as the curtain descended. “ Those who call
rourselves men, stand ready for hot work. You
ave heard of those devils—Jet, them get a foot-
hold hcre, and some of us will get our last call.
Take the first that shows his head ~pir'k off one
or two—let them sec that we are in dead earn—
est, and they’ll cow -"

“Save yourself, (lcorce—ii is you they seek
to murder!" subbed Estcllc, clinging to his arm
in an agony of fear.

“My God! you hero—listen tothose yells for
blood! Stella, flee—go hide yourself—try to
slip out at tln- side door.
not for 'our own!”

“\\'it you, George—for life or death-l will
not leave vou alone!” sobbed thewoman—or
girl, for int cod she seemed but little more.

Still exposlulnting, the young g) mnust half—
led, half-calried her tou ard the rear of the
sta . Just at this moment the stranger who
h served Red Pepper such a d. xtrous trick,
slipped around the curtain, greeted by a couple
of shrill screams from as many nyni hs of the
ballet. Ben ('ofl'ec, the manager, V\ in, though
so cxeitablc at the first flurry, proved himself-a
cool and determined man in the face of imme-
diate danger, sprungr forward with raised knife
as he caught sight of the intruder, but his onset
was dextrously eluded, and the man sprung out
into the full light, removing his but as he cried,

coolly;

“ 'y, pard, easy! Save your steel for your
enemies, o d man Ben~—l’ll none of it!"

“Little Cassino! glory to Moses—but I took
you for one of those devils! What’s the look—
out, mate?”

“Nasty!” was the scutcntious reply. “It’s
those Pep )ers—they mean l~usiness chuck-11pm
ha ! Go ck to your mates and tell ’em I sent
you!” he gratcd, springing forward and deliver-
mga furious kick upon a certain point of the
drop-scene where the round imprint of a human
head was plainly to be seen. “Set’em upon
the other alle'!” he added, with a reckless
la b, as a (111] thump from without mingled
wit a bowl of furious rage.

Little Pepper it was who had received the
compliment. Impellcd from behind by the
powerful arms of Pepper-pot, he alighted upon

he platform on all fours, sliding along under
the im tus until his further progress was
checke< by the stout canvas. Before he could
recover himself, or make good his advantage,
he was hurled from the stage by the vigorous
kick of Little (.‘assino, that would have shatter-
ed a less solid skull, striking full against Black
Pepper and I’eppenpot, carrying them back-
ward to the floor. Fairly wild, the brothers
scrambled to their feet and drawing revolvers,
began firing throuvh the curtain, yelling and
cursing like veritab e fiends.

Foreseeing a retum fire, and knowing thata
bullet could scarcely avoid finding its billet in
such a crowd, the diggers toward the front of
the building made a might ' rush against the
folding doors tearing them i om their hinges
splintering t e pine boards and carrying all
with them into the street, yellin r, cursing
screaming with pain as those behind trampled
over the oremOst, thinking only of clearing a.
passage for the expected missiles.

Ben Coffee gave a howl of mingled rage and
pain as the first bullet struck his revolver,
glanci'iligl and carrying away the tip of his fin-
Elesr. en it was that Little Cassino proved

' metal. Dragging Coffee aside, he cried
cloud in a clear, commanding voice:

“Leave the stage—take your stand in the .

passage beyond—put out the lights behind!
hose devils want a fight, and I guess we can
give ’em a health deal.”

The wisdom 0 this advice was self-evident,
and the crowd of rformcrs lost no time in
acting upon it. Floc 'ng into the narrow pas-
sage—the onl means b ' which the greenroom
beyond coul be reac ed—they extinguished
thedim hts beyond, thus casting themselves
in the dar while any one attempting to cross
the stage must necessarily be ex iosed to their
atg beneath the full glare of the gaslights
a ve.

(lo—fir my sake, if-

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“ hum the crooked luck!” howled Coffee, as a
loud crash met his ears. “They‘re tearin’ down
thi- honse—"

At that moment there came a shrill scream—

an angrv yell—then the sounds of a scuffle from ‘

the direction of the grccnrooni. Little Cassino,
u iih an oath sprung toward the room, flinging
back the words;

“ Watch the stage, Coffee—put a bullet
through tho first man who tries to enter, unless
he halts at your challenge.”

As We lrivc said George Mack hurriedly
withdrew La Belle Lstclle from the stage, when
he found that she was firm in her refusal to
leave llll‘l, and supporting the trembling girl he
hastened with her along the passage, intending
to place her in the grccnrooni, where she would
be in safety for :1 time, at least. But as he en-
tered the room, he was greeted with a furious
curse, and saw before him the bloml—staincd

 

\ “It...

Big Georgehthe Giant of .theGulch.

“Not so green, thank’e,” chuckled Little Cas-
sino. “ I’m runnin this lay-out, according to
my own notion. ou fellows put your wea-

ns upon the floor, in yonder corner. Then

’11 bring your brother on to you. If that don’t
suit, why just do your prettiest-remembering
that the first shot makes a drinking-cup of Big
George’s head.”
After a hurried consultation, the brothers

‘ sullenly obeyed, and when they had disarmed

; was ushed forward, a gruesome si ht.

figure of Big George, upon his feet, with level- 1

cd revolvi-r, the muzzle covering Estelle. Quick
as thought the gymnast interposed his own
body to save his loved one, but Providence still
stood his friend. The pistol missed tire, and
with a snarling curse the giant hurled his trea-
cherous weapon at the couple, but, luckin
with an erring aim, though its hammer grazed
the woman’s barc shoulder, breakiii r the tender
skin and staining her white dress With blood.

Estelle staggered back with a wild scream
um-onsciously saving the life of the maddened
giant through whose hair the bullet tore which
would otherwise have bored his brain. Mack
had no time to attempt a secnnd shot. With
glittering knife Bi George was upon him, and
nothing but his ath otic skill could have availed
them than.

Flinging Estelle violently aside with one
hand, the gymnast dropped flat beneath the de-
scending knife. rollingswiftly against the riant’s
fci‘t. The shock, added to the unresistci force
of his own downward thrust, caused Biercorge
to lose his balance and plunge heavily orward.

 

Before he could recover himself, the gymnast 3

sprung to his side and dealt him a furious blow
upon the head with the brass‘bound butt of his
Volvm‘. felling him, like a log.

“ Good though i” cried Little Cassino, who had

'arrived at the door just in timetocatch the f
maiden in his arms and save her from an awk- ;

Ward fall.
reckon he’s got it now!
shoot the (log-——foi‘ our life!”

“The beast would have it, and I ;
Hold hard there—don‘t .

“He tried to kil her!” printed Mack, his eyes .1

ft'ishing fire. “He tried twice to murder
lier——”

“ And got hispay for it, too. But don’t you
soc,” hurriedly addczl Little (Iassino, “all this
fuss is about him. If we kill him, we’ve got to
rub out all the rest, too—or go under ourselves.
With him alive—and in our hands—we can
make our own terms with—”

“Too late for that—listen!” interrupted
George, as a heavy trampling sound was heard,
followed by a pistol-shot

“ Halt! one stop forward and down you go—
twonty pistols are covering you!” came the
shar ; tOiicSof Ben (Ioll’cc.

“éuick! help me with this mass of beef!"
muttered Little Cass-inn, casting aside the fallen
giant’s weapons, and then raising his head and
shoulders. “ Livel , pard! there’s only this
one chance to avoit a fracas that will be death
to some of us.”

Startled at hearing without scein their an-
taggniistfl, the l’cppci' brothers, all ogwhom by
this time sum-coded in scrambling upon the
stage through a long slit in the curtain, used
irresolvitcly, glaring rround them with ming
cycs, revolvers ready for instant

“Keep ’em covered, but don’t burn powder
until i give the word,” Coffee cautioned his
allics in an aside; tlicii,‘peei'iiig around one of
the wings, he added; “ e’ve got the drop on
you this time. boys—but we don‘t want tobe
too hard on ye. Tell us what you want, and
maylw we can make some arrangcnient—"

" We want our brother—Big George—air we’ll
licv him, too!” cried Red Pepper, glaring in the
direction of the voice, nervously fingering his
‘.V£';l[mll, and had he been able to catch a glimpse

, of tin spcaliui‘, his answer would have taken a
4 Very di'

l‘crcnt form. “We want him, but it
must be hull an‘ s nind! cf you’ve double-bank-
cd him, or jumped him unawares, look out for
sn:r:-;! We‘ll make hash outcn the hull cussed
kit 0’ 'c!”

“ Big Gcor ro i4 here, all right enough, as yet,”
prompt! 'rcp icd Liltlo (Jassioo. “ Eas ,therc!”
Io :l.'l(l(‘( , sharply, as the brothers mat e a move
forward. partially raising their pistols. “Big
(lg-urge is standing before us, and to reach us
your bullets must first pass through him. Be-
sides-~mark what I tell you! The first shot you
fire, the first crooked move you make until I
give you permission, will be the si nal for me
to blow your precious brother’s brains out.”

“ It ’(1 be the last act 0’ your life, anyhow,”
grow led Pep )er-pot.

“The ‘rc yin’ to us !” chimed in Little Pep-
wr. “ 1" George was thar he’d jest chaw up
tho, hull lot afore—” -

“ Ei' George is thar, let him come for’a’d an’
speak fer hisself,” persisted Red Pepper, by no
men ns satisfied. .

 

themselves the stunned and bewildered ca ttitxie

e
(tassmo held his arms and stood ehind Big
George, so his face was hidden from view.
Mack held a. pistol at the prisoner’s head. A
simultaneous or broke from the brothers.

“Speak up, i George!” cried Little Cas-
sino, sh l “ Tell them to go and wait for
you outsule. Lively now—or you know the
Consequences!”

“The ’ve got the drop on us, boys,” mutter-
ed Big rge. “ Go out, as he says—an’ hunt
up Doc, in a hurry!”

CHAPTER III.
AN EASY PATIENT.

“ COME the old tri on him, George!” eagerly
cried Little Pe per, alf—smothered with ra e at
the thought of aving to “ take water.” “ e’ll
’tend to the rest—on y you it loose—”

“ Big George ain’t such a. 001 l” chuckled Lit-
tle Cassino.

“The game’s up, boys,” added the 'ant, af-
ter a moment’s hesitation. “ Do as tell e;

0 out peaceably and hunt‘u‘p the doctor; I’m
leeding like a stuck hog. ork lively l”

Thorou hly trained to obedience though they
were, the eppers followed the giant’s directions
with ill—concealed reluctance, slowly resumin
their weapons, not without ugly glances towar
the young mnast, who simply smiled in reply
and presse is cooked pistol closer to the cap-
tive’s temple. There was no chance for treac -
cry, and with curses not deep but loud, the four
rufflans left the stage as t ey had gained it,
through the slit in the drop-scene.

“ Now, Big George,” said Little Cassino,
though still keepin his position and hold 11
the man, “ we are ‘t rough with you, or wil be
as soonas we show you be wa outside. Just
look upon the events of this nig t as a lesson,
and thank your lucky stars you get off as easily
as you do—”

‘ Dry up (your preachin’—I don’t want none of
it,” growle the wounded man. “I’ll remember
this night—I’ll remember it, don’t you fear!
Now let me out 0’ here uick!”

“First swear that you’ not set your brothers
at us again to-night—”

“ That’s an easy romise," interrupted Bi
George, with an ug y  “It’s a poor foo
shows another man w ere the game harbors
that he has marked down for his own hand.”

“Good enciigh—if you only think so. Well,
heave ahead, ig Geor —your sweet brothers
will be owing impat out. No, youn fellow,”
he addefif arrestin the gymnast. “ t some
of the boys show him out. I don’t believe it
would be healthy for you to meet with those
fellows just now. If you’ll take my advice you
will keep all eyes open—or better still: ma 8 up
your mind that you don’t like this burg, and
strike out for a new pasture—”

“ That isn’t my style, friend. I’m under en-
agement for three months, and I’ll fulfill it if I
ive long enough.”

“Well, you have my best wishes, anyhow.
And now, old man Ben—a word with you,”
added Little Cassino, drawing the manager
aside. “ You heard what that ellow said about
hunting up a doctor. I want to borrow a hat
coat—anything to change my looks a little. I
don’t believe any one of them could swear to me,
but I don’t care about being even suspected.
How is it—”

“This way, mate—anything I can do I will.
Only for you we wouldn’t have got off so easy.
1 can fit you out, only—won’t they go for Doc-
tor Forbes?”

“He’s on his road to Cinnamon Fork, hot
foot—nasty accident with that tunnel—I prom-
ised to g? up to-inorrow, but I must patch up
this bi ully, first.”

The esired change was rapidl effected, and
then Little Cassino parted from is friend and
after liding along thro h the shadow . or a
short istance. turned an saunterod lazdty «
ward the Mint, pausin upon the thresh old,
casting a keen, thougfii apparently careless
glance around the room.

“ Hurry, Doc!” cried the barkeeper; “you’re
just the man we need—a dozen men huntin’ you
all ,pver town—they’s a man wants ’tendin’

 

“Only one? I heard the rum us—woke me
up—bless me if I didn’t think ’ was a young
earthguake being born! Bo—you are the tie-
man?’ he added turning to where Big rge

lay papon a bone . ,

‘ f you’re a raal doctor, do the best you km
fer him—he’s my brother—an’ I’ll ve you
more old then on ever dreamed 0 y‘he 8)’

ou 5e him on is legs a ’ln,” earnestly cried
ittle Pepper, whose one v tue was his intense
love for and fldelit to his big, brother.

“So—shot—hud cracked, muttered the doc-

..._....J._,‘..,, ..

 

 

tor, stooping over the wounded giant. “ Pretty
thoroughly mauled,but I guess it‘s nothing very
dangerous, though I can t decide without a
closer examination. He can’t remain here—ho
must be kept quiet; you say you are his brother
—then rig up some sort of litter and hava him
carried down to my shanty—the sooner the bet-
ter. Lively, now! ’

There was a little difficult in this, everybody
seemin anxious to help. or this time being
the ev' repute of the Peppers was forgotten,
only the fact that a fellow-being was in extremit '
remained. A couple of slabs were hastily nai —
ed together over which were 5 )read a couple of
blankets. i George was ten erly placed upon
this, and hal a dozen men carefu 1y raised the
rude litter and followed the doctor down the
street some four hundred yards, pausin before
a small slab building, beside the door 0 which
creaked a sqlgam bit of tin bearing the legend
“Doctor 0, . Parmley.”

. “Ease lnm down until I light up, boys, and
rig up the bed a little. You’ll have to leave the
litter—it’s too big for m doorway,” said the
doctor, entering and striking a match.

A modest ‘f office,” truly. The light revealed
a simple folding cot bed, one chair, a tiny pine
table or stand, a good-sized iron-bound chest;
these articles with a few clothes hanging upon
the rough slab walls, completed the inventory.

Bi Geor e was placed 11 n the cot, where he
lay like a ead man. Litt e Pe per turned to
his assistants and fairly crowde a. bag of gold
dust into the hands of he foremost so. in in a
voice stran ely subdued and friendly, foriim:

“Lord bess e, boys—I won’t fergit your
kindness soon! ar-go drink his health—my
brother’s.”

“ The little cuss! thar’s a solid pound of
thar’s a-nounce!” chuckled Mallet-foot, as the
door closed upon them.

Little Pepper assisted in removing the wound-
ed man’s upper garments, snarling like a wolf
whenever the doctor Ste-med lacking in tender—
ness, until at length the surgeon rose erect and
spoke sharply:

“Who’s running this thing—you or I? If

ou’re the boss, go ahead—but if you expect the

doctor your friend, I must do it in my own

wa .”

“y You hurted him— ou’re too dumed rough
an’ keerless like, now e’s dreaned so low—"

“I don’t need you to teach me my business.
Either go there and sit down and hold your
tongue, or else take your man to somebody else
-—and blessed quick, too!”

Still snarling Little Pepper crouched down in
one corner, gri ting his teeth and clenching his
hands at every groan from the brother he al-
most worshiped. Doctor Parmley, now rid of
ins incumbrance, coolly proceeded with his du-

ies.

. The pistol ball had entered the iant’s back,
Just beneath his left shoulder, but,  upon
a bone, had glanced abruptly and settled ally
in the muscles of his left thigh; Thou h very
painful, the wound could not called gun er-
ous. It was the rent loss of blood that ad
prostrated the gian . There were two wounds
upon his head, one a trifle, produced by falling
against a corner of the table when first shot;
the other a serious contusion, where the gym-
nast had struck him with a pistol butt.

“The ain’t much dan er, is they, doctor!”
coaxing y asked Little. epper, crawling for-
ward, “ He’ll git over it easy, won’t he?’

“Let us hope so,” slowly replied Parmley in
a preternaturally solemn tone. “But he has
gone through enough to kill a regiment of com-
mon men. Still I think I can answer for him
—or could, if I onl had—”

“What—what is it, doctor?” panted Little
Pepper. .
i A certain drug—Pm just out of it, nor is
there anyto be ha in town, I’m so tosa ”

“Tell me what it is—tell me whar kin iii—it,
311’ I’ll fetch it, though I hev to crawl to ing-

dom come on my two knees a’ter itl” cried the
diparf, with an earnestness that was almost ter-
r ng.

g1 You can set it at Celestial City—there’s my
horse, if you’ like to try it. You can go and
return before noon—if you know the road. If
I have it by then, ’tWill be time enough.”

“ Thar's twenxtfv ounces fer your critter—”

“ He’s not we h over ten ounces—”

“Take twenty—now he’s a mine to kill cf I
like. Tell me whar I’ll find him. You git a
bit 0’ writin’ ready, so they can’t be no mis-
take. An doctor—do yer best fer him—don’t
let him. die store I git back—cf you do, I’ll kill
you-kill you sure’s death!”

Pannle simply smiled, though, despite him-
self, hc fe t touched by the fierce, unreasoning
$531510? Wéislcllgtgouficé tfheP dwarf to thougiaint.

mnu :- ' e e rwas'g‘a n8
madly away from Blue Flambound u :phis
Wild-goose mission, while the doctor 0 uckled
grim y at his adroitness in getting rid of an un-
Wifihed-for witness. He quick] mixed a
tion, and o ning Big George’s aws, pom it
down his .

“ There!” chuckled the doctor “ if that, with
my pi'gbing, don't stir him up then I miss my

em

 

/"

That he had not miscalculated, was speedily

I" mu; ,.

 

 

 

made evident. Big George began to groan and

stir uneasily wincing at every touch of the
robe, but Parmley coolly persisted until he
ad extracted the ball.

“The more quietly on take it the easier
'twill be to bear, my riend,” easily observed
the sur n, as he proceeded with his work.

“ng2?” growled the giant. “’Pears like I
was  nipped with red-hot pinchers all
over—

“You have had a pretty tough touch of it,
mate, but I reckon lyou’ll worry through, if you
take things easy. t’s no little thi that can
lay a man like you on his last bed. t’s almost
apity, though -speaking professionally. I
never met With a body that would cut up to
so much advantage for dissection, you under-
stand Easy! how oyou ex t me to patch
you n , if you flop around 'ke a fish out of
water ne moment there! I fancy on
are patched and plastered up in tip-top sty e--
if I do say it. ”

“I feel like the devil afore day! Cain’t‘ou
give me nothin’ to stop this infarnal tire? t’s
eatin’ me up!”

“You’ve been mixing, the liquors, I gum,
and you’ve lost so much load that the mixture'
has t all its own way,” was the cool re ly.
“Just grin andbear it; it’s all in a life 6,
you know.”

But instead of growing better, the wounded
man’s misery inc uring the next two
hours, during part of which he was little better
than a raving maniac. Through it all, the doc-
tor sat beside him, a uliar smile n his
clear-cut features, a pi 'less gleam in black
eye. Then Big George gradually grew calmer,
until he lay weak an be pless asa child, though
his brain was still too greatly excited for sleep.

“You’ve been in the mines for some time, I
take it,” at length observed the doctor, in a low,
smooth voice. “Perhaps you may be able to
give me some information concerning a man
who called himself Edward or Ned Kendall !”

A low cry burst from the patient’s lips as he
sought to arise; but with a powerful effort be
mastered his emotion lying pale and still,
fhough watching the doctor With cat-like vigi-
ance

“ I’m not a rich man,” continued the doctor,
taking no notice of his patient’s emotion; “ but,
poor as I am, I’d give a thousand dollars to any
one who could put me upon thetrail of that
man. I’ve hunted him for years—”

“ What’s atween you an him?” slowly asked
the wounded man. “Who or what was he—a
inim or a. fri’ndl”

“ 0 you know him?” quickly demanded
Parmley, his eyes lowing.

“ Mebbe es—me by no; I don’t peach on no-
body ontel sees the rights 0’ the matter. Tell
me jest what’s in the wind, then mebbe I kin
as whether I iver met the man.”

‘I’ll do it!” impulsively cried the doctor.
“He must know by this time that I am upon
his trail so it don’t matter much if you should
prove his friend and blow on me. Listen. then.

his fellow, Ned Kendall as he called himself,
wro me, years ago, so deeply that only his
heart 3 blood can ever wash it out. The
is too long for me to tell you from the first.
Eno h that I married when very young—a
mere y in fact. I was away from home a

t deal, often for months at a time. One

y, when I returned home, I found it deserted
—-desolate—my wife gone. The neighbors told
me all. She had elo with this man Kendall,
who had been an ost daily visitor at the
house during my absence. They were gone—
that was all I could learn, taking my child—a
little girl—with them. I could never strike
their trail though I gave my whole time to the

nest. I had no clewto him—only the vague
escription 515291: b the neighbors; that he was

1 han me ellow.

“ tar ears of vain search, I heardfrom
him—that e had been seen in Frisco—and I
hastened out here. But he was e—no one
could tell me whither. Since en I have
searched over nearly the whole State—finally
coming here.”

“ You’ve give up the search, then?” asked Big

“ thousand times no!” said the doctor,
hiss ea hing, hisfacestran lyconvulsed.
“No while I can draws. breat —not while I
can lplace one foot before another! Unlem I
dflndth :31 before. I shall search for him until my

ea

“ S’posin’ he’s dead a’rcad 1 It’s a lon time
you’ ve bin lookin’ for him—3nd an. i, 3 “Enable
rough kentry—”

“ 0 01‘ now “M 0! himl” demanded
the 90° nu): rv hearn th n,

“ ears e e e name no
Kendall—a big, ood-lookin’ feller you 33,771? ed

“Yes—yes! Eek out, man, if know_
don’t torture me this manner. an me What
{:11 know about him—gawk I” snarled the doe.

1' panting heavily. .

ut B George was notailowed to answer
the on gut then. There came a heavy
mung] wit out, then a heavy thumping Yip.
0“ i e oor while a loud voice excitedly e.
mended ce, calling the doctor

b name.
With a furious curse Parmley-aroeeaynd un-

 

\

barred the door, angrily demanding the cause
of the disturbance.

“Oh, Lord, Doc—jest wait ontel I kin—git
my breath I’ spluttered the man. “You re
wanted—quick—down thar! They’s bin jest
little old scratch to pay 1”

CHAPTER IV.
RED PEPPER IN HIS GLORY.

THE three elder Peppers returned from their
search for a doctor soon after Bi George was
carried awa under direction of r. Parmley—
or “ Little assino,” as he was better known in
the vicinity of Blue Earth. Satisfied that their ?
brother was in good hands, little dreaming that
it was to the doctor alone that they owed their
original defeat at the Temple, the gave them-
seIVes no further trouble on the score, since
their rather extensive ex rience in n~shot
wounds and contusions ld them t t Big !
George was in no serious peril of his life, this
bout. Though the bond of brotherhood was
strong between them, the felt no such love
for the giant as that whic filled the heart of
Little Pepper. Either would have fought for
the other at the drop of a hat, even to death,-
3111": there was little of brotherly love between

em.

Occu ying their accustomed seats, withdrawn
from c crowd a bottle of whisky before
them, the three brothers discussed the events :
of the night with many an oath and bitter

curse.

“ This ain’t the eend on it, ” growled Red Pe
per an ugly glare in his eyes. “ They’ll
ma r for afuneral ’round yere afore that trap-
paze cuss is a day older—”

“ Don’t you fergit what George said,” inter- .
rupted Black Pepper. “ That’s his meat, an’
the man as comes atween them ’1] git ten inches
0' cold steel throu h his hamlet—jest as George
told us, kin or no in.”

“He said we shouldn’t pick no fuss with the
cuss—no more I don’t mean to: but thar’s more
ways to kill a cat than chokin’ her with butter.
Geo ’ll be on his back for a good month.
Now wouldn’t it look nice of we let this cuss
hev all that time to brag in? Ef we kin make
him give us the leastest bit of a handle—jest so
we could tell Geor e we didn’t ick the fuss—”

At this 'uncture eband of t eTemple struck
up a live air, and the brothers, in common
with near y every man in hearing, flocked to
the spot, eager to earn what was up.

At a sign from Ben Coffee the music ceased,
and the worthy manager, standing u n the
doorstep briefly addressed the crowd. 6 deep-
ly regretted the unfortunate affair which had
interru ted the ony of the evening, but

them that it was not owing to the fault
of a? person in his employ.

“ 0 man shall ever say he lost moneyhby me
ermine. Iclaimtobea uareman. e r-
formance shallbe resum at the point w ere
it was interrupted. The door! are open, gentle-
men," with a comical glance at his shattered
portals; “ enter and take your seats!”

A hearty chorus of cheers greeted thiss h,
and a rush, headed as before by the e per
brothers, ily filled the theater to reple ion.

e arose promptly discovering In
Belle Estelle as Gertrude, in ‘ Loan of a Lover.”
Only for the still fresh blood-stains upon the
floor, the marks of pistol-balls and perhaps a
slight trace of h sterical gayet in the heroine,
one could scarce y have be iev that a trafi‘edy
in real life had so lately transpired upon ose

rds. The audience was more enthusiastic
than ever, vociferoust applauding every point,
emphasizing their applause with golden offer-
ings—all save the three brothers, who occupied
the first bench. They sat in sullen silence, watch- i
ing for the one who never ap —-for George 

 

 

 

Mack was not cast in the piece.

Just before the curtain fell, the manager ap-

roached the f ' hts and stated that a se- I
ect hall would be won by the members of the ,
company, which a! were cordially invited to ‘
attend—admittance one dollar.

The brothers interchanged quick gtlgnces and !
Red Pepper grinned vic ousl . A r all, the '
chance he sought might not be so far distant. ;

The dance-
with the theater, and was reached by a flight
of mmgpeninfg upon the street. Eager to gain
M31033;- ew o the “ girls,” an intro uction and
even dance with them at such. a chea rate. the ;
diggers lost no time in rushing up he narrow

wa .

A ong, lbw-celled apartment, bare] twenty
feet in width. The Walls ceiling an flooring
of re h, unplaned boards Just asthey came
from “tie saw-mill. The front end of the room ‘
was occupied by a her. At the opposite end
stood a rude platform, seated upon which were
the musicians already briskly plying their el-

bows.

Perhaps a dozen of the female performers——

enerally from the let—were present, and
fittle time was lost in starting the fun with a ;
couple of quadrille sets. , It is ut justiceto de-
clare that La Belle Estelle, with a few of the ;
more reputable membersof the company, were ’
absent, declining“? mix with such dubious

com in more t was absolute! ' necessary.
'11?th made Wwayug); to theisti-l

 

i and called for liquor.

.togaina

_ e ressed it, he “felt

all was beneath the same roof ‘ hi

 

BigfiGeorge, the g Giant 'of theGulrch. __ 

 

 

‘Vliilc busin will! this,
Red Pepper glanced eagerly around 1h:- ro an. A
black frown gathered on his brow as he saw that
the object 0 his search was missing, that lin-
youn gymnast was not among the com mny.

“ l‘fi) go to-night, old men ” mutterul lh‘pper-
pot, by no means greatly ispleascd as he re-
membered the re ted caution givcn them by
Big,r George. “ e’s too smart to show his head
whar he mought run it ag’in’ a snag. Rec-hon
we’d better go an’ take a look a’ter Big

r e—’

“ ou kin; I’m goin’ in fer some fun cf I
can’t hev nothin’ else. I hain’t shuck my heels
sence the time at Lawton’s——”

“ Drap that!” snarled Black Pepper, with a
venomo’us glare. “I don’t want to dream 0’ her

’in—

“ Promenade to the bar!” sung out the “ call-
er-oif,” and the ei ht couples pushed their way
bargain; to “ refresd ” ahei‘nselvies.’ n

e r e e t e girs critics yes
they smofpigaitihg to be served, still clinging
to their partners as though fearful of being left
in the lurch before the drink was paid for.
Right before the red—haired giant stood the

lump little mite who had so indignantly
Bounced away from Big George behind the
scenes, and as he changed his position in order
better view of her face, she turned
around and met his admiring gaze with the full
light of her bri ht black eye. The one glance
settled it. As Red Pe per himself would have
1 over in spots.”
mong his failing; Red Pepper could not
count bashfulness. o fancy was to do—or at
least attempt—nor was this case an exception.
Striding forward he elbowed aside the long-
nosed, red-faced youn fellow who had danced
with the ballet-girl wit a cool:

“You’ve had your turn, boy—now make room
for ygur betters. This lady wants to talk to a
man.

Evidently the oung fellow knew his cus-
tomer, for he sid ed away with a sickly smile,
not daring to mutter a curse beneath his breath
until at a safe distance.

“ You are so kind, stranger,” softly whispered
the damsel, doubling her thanks with her elo-
quent eyes. “He was such a flat—I couldn’t
give him the shake to save me.”

“He tuck the hint easy enough from me,”
grinned the giant. “ Then you ain’t sorry I
cut in—”

Whatever answer the siren made was drown-
ed by the music and the loud call of the floor-

man er for the dancers to take their places.
Black e per was equally fortunate in picking
up a ner, but Pepper-pot was too slow, for

once, though he was not long at a loss. As the

co began, be crowded his way through the
spectators and broke into the set where his
brothers stood. The op site cou les were a
blueshirted di ger and a exican, t e latter of
whom was leagin ofl.

“Skin out 0’ %his, you pesk smoke-dried
Greaser!” cried Pepper-pot, clutc ing the aston-
ished Mexican by the neck and hurling him
across the room accelerating his progress by a
dexterous application of his thick-soled boot.
“Go hunt up one 0’ your own color an’ let a
gentleman shake a foot with a lad . ll'hoooopl
spin out your music thar, you pes y varmints—
what ye stoppin’ fer?”

“Look out, Dick!” yelled Black Pepper.

The Mexican gathered himself 11 with the
wonderful quickness of a cat, an plucking
forth a wicked-lmkin knife from his wide boot-
leg s rung toward is h e assailant with a
we fis snarl, and only for t e prompt interpo-
sition of Red Pe per, the bully, whose back was
carelessly turn , would have paid the penalty
of his insolence with his life. _

“Perlite’s the word you durned riptyle!”

, roared the red—haired I-Iercules, leaping forward

with wonderful activity in one so lar e, and.
catchin the Mexican around the waist, e lifted
him big in the air, then flung him across the
room and against the wall with sickening force.
“Take that fer tryin’ to bu’st u a comf’table
crowd wi’ your impident tricks! f the varmint
has got any friends in the crowd, let ’em look to
’m. , El" he comes botherin’ round yere any
more, he's gwine to get hurt—you hear me!”

Brutal and unprovoked as was the whole
affair, a wild cheer arose from the diggers at
this exhibition of wonderful strength. Some
there were who looked on in silence, a few who
soowlcd black] ,but not one voice was raised
to denounce t 10 outrage; The sufferer wasa
“Gre:15e1"’-and his abusers were the Peppers.
That was enough.

A Couple of his countrymen picked u the
bleeding: and senseless body. carrying it own-
stairs and into the night without a \\ (.rd. The
brothers laughed recklessly as the dance went '
on. little dreaming what conseqtienccs were to
spring from this act of brutal insolvncc.

Upon the stairs two men were forced to give
way for the Mexicans topass with their ghastly
burden, but . then resumed their way, their
curiosity excited by the event, and entered the
dance hall. Thebartender observed. than). and
leaving his posttion—a sinecure while the dance
was in progress—hastily whispered in the ear of
the younger man:

  

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6' “Big George. the Gianth the Gulch.

 

“Take a fool’s advice, Mack, and.slide out 0’
here. Yender’s three of Big George’s brothers,
and they’re just ripe for mischief. They’re
running the thing tln-ir own way to-nig‘lht.
Three to one is migh’rv long odds, when t 6

come of that tribe, and I’m dub’ous you wouldn t
find lnapy to back you, if they should trya

uncc.’

“ Take his advice, George—you’re too young
a chicken to be oll‘ your roost so late. And just
think! you might get our face scrathcd ina
muss—and that would )6 a frightful catastro-
phe!” laughed ihc gylnnast’s comrade, with an
lll«concealed sneer that stung his pride.

“ Thank you, Tom,” was his quiet rep] . “ I
know yoll warn me as a friend, and lel not
forget it. llut 1 came up here for a dance, and
a. dance I’ll have. As for being bounced—I’m
well heeled. and when anybody tries to send
me to head a funeral, the odds are I‘ll have
com mny on the 1-! md.”

“ 'cep out: of it if you can—T don’t know how
the old man would get along without you,"
hastily added 'l‘oln. slipping behind the bar as
the last change came to an end and the flushed
dancers 1h mkcd to the liquorstand.

“There’s little l'aquita nodding at you,
Mack—3’

“ l see—gums I might as well take her. Look
you up a partner, Sam,” and he passed over to
where a really beautiful Woman stood signaling
him.

“No, thank you!” muttered Sam, with an
ugly glance after the gymnast. “ I’lll thinking
there‘ll be more fun ill looking on. If only they
(lt)——”

“Whoop up the music, thar!" roared Red
Pepper, who sot-med ill his glor ' now, and who
still hold fast to his black—eyed c larnler, “Play
up solnethin’quick an’ devilish—an’ thar’s some—
thin’ to grease your elbows with," he added,
flinging several gold pieces upon the stage.
“ Conic, little ollo—oll—”

An imprl-vation dropped from his lips as
though the words werered-hot, when he can ht
sight of George Mack coldly taking his position
as his 'l:l'..-a~r'is.

“Don’tget into any fuss, or I’ll never even
look at you again!”agitatodly whispered his
partner, as he shook her from his arm.

But even her blnndishnlents could not avert
the catastrophe, though for a few minutes Red
Pepper contented himself with black looks and
muttered curses. He had not long to wait for
his opportunity. The ascend change brought
the two close mgether, and as Muck passed by,
Pepper thrust out hi. foot to trip him up. The
trick was only p n! ially successful, for, though
stumbling, thegylzmnst swung half—way around
and struck the lanly a heavy blow upon the
neck with his (‘hllll'llml list. Red Pepper fell
to the ground, wi; h a hoarse yell of rage, that
drew all eyes to the spot.

The brothers sprung forward. Instantly all
was confusion. The women sought to flee,
screaming ill mad l'l'i,..-:ht. Pistols were drawn,
knives flashed ill tho dim light; then came the
first shot—l'olloWl-d by a horrible shriek of
agony, as a digger fell back, shot through the
heart.

As by a preconcerh-d signal the lights were
extinguished. Then all pandemoniunl seemed
let loose. Yells, rrouns and screams of terror

, were mingled wit l pistol-shots and the clashing

of knives!

CHAPTER V.
woonrlccmcn. AND HIS PARD.

A son, silvm'y light was chasing away the
somber remnants of night. The moon had dis-
a poured, the stars wvro wanin , the fleecy
0 ends were rolling back from t e mountain-
tops, as the golden light grew stronger and in-
creased in splendor around the bare, rugged
crags and spurs of~ weatherbeaten rocks. Down
through the needled pines, the dark, rugged ce-
dars, around the moss-grown bowlders, anced
the rosy dawn, nearing the rude, rough “ city ”
of Blue Earth, nestled in the valley below.

80 recently a human pandomonium, where
deadly passions were running riot-whero

V death and bloodshed reigned triumphant; now

silent and calm as the grave lay the llllllillg
town, an unsightly blot upon the face of na—
ture. Through the little valley stole the rose-
light, revmlling its lwautlrs with caressing
touch, yet seeming to amid the cluster of hu-
man nests us though lo-llh to reveal the eye-
sores, the moral l'nl‘l'upihnl and sins now par-
tially concczlll l li-mw'n.

.A single (-ry— —\\ ild, pl olongl-d, thrilling from
it‘s very intensity; a cry that stunned to die
away in a wail—mot of bodily pain, not of fear
-—yeta wail of bitter anguish, of grief insup—
portable.

The echoes gradually died away. Once more
all was still in and around the little valle .
The morning beams spread more rapidly. Tile
'ellow gleam upon the mountain-tops crept
ower and lower, until day had fair] dawned
fer Blne Earth, though not for all of ts inhabi—
tants. milling over with slee y grunts, con-
ratulating themselves 11 n its ing the Sab-
Eath (l:l_y-—~l,l!lls was the wn

But then; was at least one u atelier to whom

\

 

the dawn came unheeded; to a man crouching
down in the dust of the crooked, narrow stree
to a. figure of utter woe, slowl rocking to an
fro, from whose dry, cracked ips came a. low,
husky moaning sound that occasionally broke
into words, rude and uncouth, yet at times
painfully pathetic.

Before him lay a frightful object—a. sight to
curdle one’s blood, growing horribly distinct as
the light of day—dawn grew stronger.

The gray dust around was saturated with
blood. In a. coagulated pool of this in the
mutilated trunk of a human being co (1 in
death. Lying upon its back, with legs and
one arm carefully straightened out, as was the
other arm, rfect to its wrist, frOm which the
hand had 11 hewn. This hand, with one of
its fingers hacked off and missin , now lay u
on the dead man’s breast, supportlng a ghast y
burden.

A human head, with horribly-staring eye-
balls, with distorted features, rotrudm
tongue and lips drawn back from Ithe bl -
stained teeth. Thus the dead man lay, holding
its head in its own right hand.

“It’s me pard—dou’t you know?” huskily
muttered t e mourner. “It’s Wood ker—
old Woody, the pore, ign’ant cuss you uck out
o’ the ju at Sacramenty. You ain’t mad at
me? G knows I’d let my or‘nary karkidge
be chopped into cat’s-meat to saVe one ha’r 0’

'our head! Speak to me then-don’t kee so
still, like you was dead. beam Who sais e’s
dead? It’s a lie—a lie blacker’n night! Tell
’em it’s a lie, pard—you ain’t dead—-you cuiu’t
be dead, an’ me here alive, not even scratched.
Ah—ha! you hear that?’ he added, glari
over his shoulder. “He’s only sleepin —he’
wake up bimeby—then 'ou look out for snakes!
Ho aint theman to ta e alie—ain’t Salt tor
——not much! The best man in ten coun 'es—
take him how you will. Lordyl to see him in
a knock—down an’ drag out! An’ it—he never
had no inimies. Everybody tuc to him like
a sick kitten to a hot brick—didn’t they, paid?
Hush! he’s sleepin’ yit! Shet up tharl—quit
your aup! Don’t you see he’s sleepin’L—my
pard, k altpeter.”

Woodpecker—as the mourner had termed
himself—sat in silence beside his murdered
friend, a. stran 61y wistful look upon his h -

rd face. 0 acted like one complete y

ed. Beyond the fact that his er was
lying before him, his brain seemed incapable of
com rehendlng the truth. Often his hand
wou d steal forth and gently touch the corpse,
softly shakin it, trying to arouse the slee r;
but as the ead made no answer, the trou led
look would deepen, the ched lip quiVer, and
the uneasy light deepen in his eyes.

“Ain’t you slept most long enough, Petey?”
he would utter, coaxineg. Git up an’ come
’long home with me, won’t you? You must be
hun ——an’ thar’s somethin’ ood in the black
jug— saved it fer 'ou. ard—wake up!
don’t you hear me callin’ ye’l You skeet me
layin’ thar so still—you don’t move nur speak
nur look at me. I hain’t done nothin’ to make
you mad, hev 1? I’ve worked stiddy eve
day sence you’ve bin one. I did take a litt 6
run las’ night—but I di n’t know you was com-
in’ so soon—I’d ’a.’ bin watchin’ fer you, pard.
Speak to me, old fellow-Ldon’t look t aha-way
——-it makes me crawl all over! An’—you lay so
funny! Your head—”

He started back, brushing one hand across
his eyes with a. fierce gesture. The horrible
truth now for the first tune up to strike
him. The coagulated blood, t esevered hand
upon which rested the gory head! Now his
stupefled brain began to work, now he be an
to realize why his old friend remained so eaf
to all his entreaties.

Slowly his trembling hands were extended
until they touched the head; but so trembling
were they that the touch sufficed to destroy its
balance. The head slowly rolled over, resting
upon the miner’s knees, its sightiess eyeballs
staring full into his, the contracted li seem-
lngfitp part still further in a grin hor bly un-
ea 1 .

A eihgle yell of terror. of anguish, of grief
and despair burst from Woodpecker’s Ii 88
he sprun back from the clammy touch. on
he crouc ed down in the road, quivering like a
leaf in the storm, et luring at the trunkleas
headas the h fasc .

This time is c was heard. A door opened
and a' bushy h rotruded itself. The bog;
followed and a half-dressed man approach
lvlvhiltrh a. mingled exclamation of wonder and

m .

“God of mercy! Saltpeter—dead! and you,
“’oodpecker l” .

“ Don’t You dare tetch him!" snarled Wood-
pecker, s ringing upon the man as he sto0ped
over the 3‘ ast y object. “ He’s mine—my pardl
You ain’t 0!: no claim on him- I’ll kill you 81
you lay a n r’s eend on him l”

“ How did t happen? who killed him? Great
heavens! what a. sight!”

“ Don’t—don’t say he’s dead—it cuts me
wum’n a knife ” piteoualy leaded Wood her.
“He never had a inlm —-£e was too so! heart-

___.__.____—.———~ -.__-._.. .

 

ed. They wouldn’t no y dream o’killin’ him
—he’s only hurt a little. I’ve knowed him to

_. .. “Mo—-

 

 

w -7-—-—~._e

git hurts a heap wuss’n that, an’ nun a foot-race
afore sundown. He dead—my pard? Ha! ha!
it makes me la b my si .s sore—an’ I couldn’t
laugh if he was ead, co d I? Not much—it ’d
kill me too: yes, it would—don’t I know! Then
he ain’t dead—cf he is hurt a little. We kin
doctor hinl up. Thar—you o ax the doctor to
come—tel] him thar‘s a hat ull 0’ gold ef he’s
quick. Why don’t ye go? I cain’t—Petey
wouldn’t like it. He al’ays wants me to be ’long
0’ him when he’s sick—3’

“ I’ll go for Doc, if you wish it, Woodpecker;
but it’s no use; it’s ag’in’ natur for a man to
want a doctor when his head’s off,” muttered
the man, with an unusual choking in his throat
as he trotted off up the street.

He found the doctor—Little L‘nssino—up to
his elbows in blood. That night had brought
him plenty of patients. The “free fi 'ht ” at the
Temple dance-hall was one to wide I the Blue—
Eart lites would often and proudly refer in days
to come, and point to their graveyard as evi—
dence.

“ Head and hand out ofi‘, you say,” echoed
Little Cassino, his flushed countenance paling.
“Still another—l” and hastily securing the
bandage he was occupied with, he snatched up
his hat and followed lis guide.

They found an excited crowd already collect-
in around the spot. Wmdpecker crouched be-
si e the body—upon which he had re laced the
head and hand as he had first found t em—with
bored knife, as though fearful some one would
attempt to rob him of his dead.

“Don’t you tetch him!” he snarled, as the
doctor stooped to examine the corpse more care
fully. “ I know now he’s dead—murdered! _ But
nobody shaln’t tetch him but me. I was his

I‘d—we worked together an’ slept together.

’d gladly ’a’ died fer him—God above knows it!
An’ he’s mine, now he’s dead, like he was alive
—— ners still.”

‘How was it? tell us all you know about the
matter. There’s been foul murdrr done here,
and it will be a stain on our manhood if we do
not ferret out the murderer and do him full

justice. 8 out man!”
“I fomdwhikm—iest as you see. I can't say

no more. ’Pears like thar’s sunlthln’ the
matter with my head—it feels so thick and
heavy! You see, I was at the dance—J didn‘t
know Petey was comin’ home so seen, or l‘d bin
looking out fer him, then this wouldn’t ’a’ hap-

ined. I’d ’8) died afore they could ’a’ hurt one

a’r 0’ his head—God knows I would! "Twas
the devil done it—I know it! No human critter
could ’a’ found the heart to hurt h 1"m——nly pard.
God hev mercy on me! ah, pard—it makes my
heart bleed to see you thar—dead! Ef you’d
only called Inc—I’d ’a’ beam you, even of I d bill
dead drunk—they couldn’t ’a’ fetched you then.
An’ now—you’re dead—dead! Lord God-kill
me too—let me go ’long 0’ my old pard! I cain’t
live without him—l won’t—’

“Lend a. hand here, fellows!” cried Little
Cassmo, grappling with the frenzied miner as
he song t to drive the knife home to his own
heart. “Grab his tools—sol Woodpecker, you
are not the man I thought you. If another man
told me you would turn out a coward, I would
have shut his mouth with a handful of loose
teeth! And yet—with your partner lying mur-
dered at your feet, you try to kill ourself. in-
stead of swearng to livo until you ave hunted
his murderers down and brought them to the
gallows. For shame, man!”

“Let up, boys—I was a fool—you needn’t
fear I’ll ever try that on ag’in. I reckon I was
plum crazy; I might ’a’ knowed Saltpeter
won! ’a.’ cussed me tell all was blue, efIwent to
him an’ couldn’t show the she! s of his murder-
ers. You’re right, Doc-—an’ I t nk you. Give
me back my knife. New, listen all you tellers.
I want you to bear witness to what 1 say.”

Sinking upon his kness beside the mutilated
corpg 0 his murdered friend, Woodpecker,
hal -erazed, uttered a vow of vengeance so fear-
ful, so frenzied. that more than one of those
present turned astde shudderingly, with chilled

lood and blanched faces. Then the aven r
quietly arose, and after a lingering look at Iris
lostpartner, glided away to his shanty, soon
returning w1t ablanket which be spread over
the body. He selected the best slabs from his
cabin, taking them from the sides as though he
had no further use for the buildin . And with
these he began to make a coffin. 0 one ofl’eerd
to assist hl instinctively feeling that such an
ofieil'twouldst,m deemgd an insult.

“ 3 9 “86 a air!” muttered the doctor,
half to himself. “ Three times over have I seen
the same thing! three times—the head, the hand
-—eyen to the missing fln er!’

, I ve” see’d two of em, an’ hearn tell of
t‘othtzri sold a squat, heavy-téarded digger.

An . reckon .most 0’ you boys bev hearn
somean about lt, too. But to my mind thD-F’S
more In the matter than shows on top. Who
anion you kln tell me jeetwllo those three—
the 0 her two, I should say—jest who an’ what
they was?”

That I kin Bart Noble,” cried a lil-tle'skin-
ny specimen of humanity in a dirtv shirt and
ragged troweers. . “One was old Webfmt—be
it.) rubbed out In 'est this way, at It‘r’isco.

other In Bun Gridloy—I'tmnd him myself.

\

 

1.... . .7.._..._ .._. .



A !

 

2.? w...- r,:.—vrv:-»~ -—-‘

Big George, the Giant of the Gulch.

 

gage, miles out o’ Fiddletown, on a Sunday, in

“ Lem’n three months a’ter Harry Love made
his big strike—co—rect. An’ in the three cases
tharwas the head out off, the right hand out
ofl—an’ the little finger missin’ from that same
hand; jest as you see’d with Saltpeter here,
gentlemen. That’s a co-incidence; you’ll say,
mcbbe. I don’t deny it. Mebbe I km show
you another. Youax Ca ’n Harry Love, boys,
an’ he’ll tell you that t esethree men was in
his comp’ny the day he rid down Joaquin Mu-
rieta an’ his gang. That’s a coincidence. The
boys cut of! oaquin’s head; the cut oi! Three-
Flngered Jack’s hand—the han that had lost
its little fiizger, them’s co-incidenoes, too, I
tfiike it, gen emen,” triumphantly concluded

art.

“Then you think—”

“No I don’t,” quick] interposed the man.
“ But do sav this, of was one o’ the men as
aimed that blood-money, I’d feel mi hty on-
saw about the neck ontel I’d put t eooean
atween me an’ the kentry whar sech co—inci-
dences hap n so often.”

“I’d rut er b’lievo ’twas them durned blue-
nosed Yanks over ender as cheated me out o’
my clearin’ when was drunk," snarled the
skinny bummer. “ Who knows anything about
’em? The never goes nowhar—ef a body
come: nigg’em, they turn thar backs an’
of! h e they’d hm caught suckin’ ai ”

“That’s too thin, Gin Cocktail,” laughed
Bart. “You sold the claim at your own price
an’ thought on was doin’ the cheatin’; ontel
they tuck ho] an’ worked like you was too lazy
tvo, En’ struck it rigfléggd k d an

s cry rom er rew eyes
towardalhkim. He had lug the corpse into its
rude coffin, when a handsome tortoise-shell pen-
knife fell to the ground. He gras this ea-

rly, as a possible clew to the mar er or mur-
rers.

“You’re sure it wasn’t his own?” demanded
Little Cassino, closely examining the knife; but
before answer could be made, the man called
Gin Cocktail cried, excitedly:

“I know that knife—what did I tell ye? I
knowed the was mixed up in it! That knife
belongs to ft Tommy, an’ he’s the murderer
——him an’ his brother l’

CHAPTER VI.
sorr mm m TROUBLE.

TH! red-nosed, skinny bummer, whose noto-
rious love for that delectable compound had
given his sobriquet, Gin Cocktail, caused a

neral sensation with his triumphant speech.

nderan other circumstanccs his word would
scarcely ve been believed on oath, but the
rough crowd resent was just ripe for anything
that promis to wipe out the wrong done them
thro h the murder of their fellow-digger, nor
were he men to careful] Weigh the evidence

resen With them eliberation followed
udgment.

Gm Cocktail’s cry was taken up by a dozen
other voices. Knives and pistols were drawn.
Loud curses and threats took the place of low
awed whisperings. Then the bummer '
the cry—the crowd started toward the little
cabin of Soft Tommy and his brother; but

podpecker stood before them, with cocked re-
vo ver. .

“Wait a bit, thar, he s. ’Twas my pard as
is _killed-_—-not your’n. I claim the right to
“in :ltlm_’;hall ha a ted

‘ a on ve oldman”in rru
Bart Nob e. f‘ We’ll arrest the feller, fotchgiim
backetyere give him a fa’r trial, an’ of he’s
prov . guilty you shall have him to deal With
as suits you best. Onl —long as I kin lift a
flu or drawstri r ladshallhaveafair
show; no murderin for me I”

“ I’m with you, Bart!” chimed in Little Cas-
sino. “I don’t know the man you mean, but
he is entitled to a fair show for his life. You
agree to that, Woodmer?”

“I don’t want no y’s skel ’cept 0’ them
as murdered mg; (1. But e Gin Cocktail’s
right, I’ll kill t Tommy though a thousan’
men stood atween us!” slowly rep 'ed the aven-

 

gefi.
Good en hl Now come 0!, ho s—but
mind: cool 12:5 easy’s the word,” addedy Noble,

leading the way.
The distance was not Iess than half a
his Earth the mining

mile the toIXn of
0 gun. a narrow ch la the claim
owned and worked by the 5:: brothers pop:-

e

larly known as Sneaky and Soft Tommy.
brothers were far

the rough

from popular among
n
'entle

I’ll-135011: their very soberness a
demeanor acted 3 them,
hough te and «film to  avoid-

ed the oons and gamhlm -h0uses as though

contagion lurked there. y made no inti-
mate friends, seem rather to avoid than
court observation. once they were dubbed

“ h-toned,” “got the b -hea ” and “they

hflin no better’n they ould be, u- they

Wouldn’t act so darned sneaky.”
The door of the little slab shantymwas closed,

and when Bart Noble knocked my, the“

 

came a faint exclamation as of alarm, and a
WW around, with-omlittledelay‘

 
    

 

before the door was opened. A fair-haired’ i

e—faced lad, whose trembling fingers were
uttoning a coarse blue blouse, confronted the

miners. There was alarm, if not absolute ter- i
ror, in the full blue eyes as Soft Tommy beheld ‘

those rough, excited faces, though he managed

to stammer a few words, asking their pleasure. ‘

“Don’t you be skeered young ’un, ’ re lied
Noble, not unkindl . “They’s somethin’ p-
pened down-town w ich we t ought mebby you
mou ht know somethin’——”

“ t’s murder—that’s what it is!” snarled Gin 3

Cocktail, venomously. “You’re ketched at
last, you bl—l”

“An’ that’s my boot—that’s what it is!” an-

' y cried Bart, as he turned and grasped the

ummer, twisting him around until the proper
portion of his anatomy for such a vimtation
was at a convenient distance, then applying his
heavy boot with signal effect. “ You ‘jiest open
your head ng’in Onte] your betters is one, an’
’11 double the dose—you hear me ."’

“He said murder-indeed, indeed, gentle-
men, I know nothing of this—I have not left
this house since brother went away, yestcrv
day,” asped Soft Tommy, brushing his be-
dewed row.

“I b’lieve it—everKr word. But you know

what the law is. ou’ve bin a’cused—an’
thou h the feller as did it is such a’ oudacious
liar e cain’t even b’lieve hisself—why, you
must come over an’ tell the boys all you’ve bin
doin’. Don’t you fret, now; ’tain’t nothin’
when you git used to it. You say you don’t
know nothin’ about it an’ I b’lieve you. Then
you won’t be hurt. You shell hev a fair trial
——that I kin promise ye, an how.”
Despite this unusual cons deration on Noble’s
part, be accused, instead of feeling reassured,
grew even more a 'tated, until he had to be
carried rather than ed to the scene of the mys-
terious murder. And when he stood beside the
rude cofiin which contained the mutilated rc-
mainsof Sal ter his 'tation was excessive
—so much so hat Dart in rchan ed a troubled
and puzzled glance with the octor. If not
guth Soft Tommy was behaving most unac-
coun bly.

“He knows somethin about it—more than
he is willin to tell,” w ispcred Little Cassino;
“and et 9 couldn’t have killed a big man
like Salt ter. Is his brother—this Sneaky, as
youcall ' —-an th' like him!”

“In featur’s on  e’s a tall, likely feller—"

" Could he have ndled Salt ter?’

“He looks able—though S13: was a tough
mouthful, when he let whisky alone. Then
you think—i”

“That he’s trying to hide the real murderer,
I don’t think you need guess twice who that is,’
re lied the doctor. ,

‘I reckon ou’ve struck pay-dirt, Dec. Ang-
how, I’ll wor that lead, ef I kin only git t
boys to putt me in as jedge. Look at cm now!
They’re owin’ red-hot] That fool boy! he’s
twistin’ t e rope to hang hisself, with sech wo-
man’s doin’s. I’m dub ous it’ll be tough work
savin’ his neck, of he don’t brace up.”

Bart Noble spoke no more than the truth.
Soft Tommy’s strong agitation was observed
and commented upon, as usual with human na-
ture, having the worst possible construction
placed upon it. The dig rs were re idly be—
coming convinced that (am Cocktail d, for
once in his life, told the truth when be de-
nounced the lad as Saltpeter’s murderer. Only
the prompt interference of Bart and Little Cas-
sino prevented, or rather postponed, the out-

“Gentlemen—we are losin time, valuable
time for me, at least, since I ve left my E-
tients in order to see justice done here. -
lieve we are all agreed on one int: that the

risoner .15 to have a fair tri As honest,

aw-abidmg citizens, we can do no less. There-

fore, gentlemen, I propose that you nominate

n Noble as 'udge to try this case. You

all know him. 9 Will do what is right and

uare, though the heavens fall. Those in favor

o Noble for judge will hold up their hands,”

and Little Cassmo set the example, which was
followed by three-fourths of the crowd.

Noble bore his honors with characteristic
cooln‘e'ss dofiln his hat and smoo ' down
his tangled. hair as he took ‘Possession of the
three-legged stool procured ram the nearest
house, and at once proceeding to select a jurv.
Scarcer a man present but was ready and will-
ingto serve, but Noble made _good use of his
au horit and promptly rejected all those
whom e eved were stroneg prejudiced

against the prisoner. At length t e panel was
com lete. , ,
“ ow, boysfi imPNSSWBIY stated Judge

L nch, “ cure sworn to do our dut an’ no-
thin’ but gour duty, a’cordinyto the gum
Lord hes given Ye. You must listen to the
evidence. both for an’ ’in’ the prisoner; you
must We' h it well. rubb ’ out all aswon’t hold
water an makin’ a note of what on think is
clean dust. You must decide on t evidence,
not a’cordin’ to your prejudyce for or ag’in
the ris’ner. One thing more. , We’re here for
ness, mind. . They ain’t to be no skylarkin’
,nur skyugling in my court. Ef thar be, I’ll
jest a‘journ the court, an’ of I don‘t lick the

 

fender right out 0’ hi: boots, it’ll be because he
, licks me—that’s all!”

] Gin Cocktail was the first witness called, and
he gave in his evidence with a gusto that told
how greatly he realized the unpleasant )redica-
ment in which Soft Tommy found iimself.
Alwa s of an exuberant imagination, on this
00033101] the bummer fair] ' outdid himself, tell-
ing such outrageous am impossible lies, de-
spite the repeated warnings of the judge, that
he helped rather than injured the Cause of the
prisoner. At last, in utter distrust, the judge
ordered him from the stand, and bade the jury
forget that they had ever listened to his lies.

Other witnesses followed, but their evidence
threw little light upon the matter in question,
being merely repetitions of the “quecr” con-
duct of the brothers since their arrival at Blue
Earth, until Woodpecker, growing im tient
at the loss of time w llCh might allow t e real
murderer to escape, said:

“Ax him about the knife, jedge—ax him
’bout the knife.”

“Did this ever belong to you?“ and Noble
held up the knife.

“No, sir; I never owned a knife like that,”
was Soft Tommy’s rep] y.

“He lies, jedge!” yelled Gin Cocktail, furi—
ously. “l’ve see’d him with it many 2111’
many—”

“ Tom Wilson—you jest throw that warmint
down an’ set on him onte] I’m done here; of I
don’t lick some 0’ the nat’ra] cusscdness out 0’
him, I’m a liar!”

The big digger promptly and literally com-
plied, COo ly squatting upon the angry bummer,
occasionally administering a punch or two as
ahint for his seat to keep uiet. Scarce-1y was
the laugh which this procccr ing aroused uelled,
than another interruption occurred. " ie bar-
tender popularly known as Reddy, from his
fiery chem urn, pushed through the crowd and
addressed the judge.

“ I ax pardon, jedge, but I reckon I kin set
you right about that knife. Jest look at the
side; I reckon ou’ll find the two letters of my
name scratche thar—”

“R. P., near as I kin make out—so ’tain’t
your’n; your name’s Dick Fifer, ain’t it?”

“Richard Pfeiffer,” rinned Reddy, spelling
his name in full. “ wouldn’t ‘a’ putt in,
Ledge, only ye see that knife was given to me

y a-lad '—’

“You re willing to swear to the knife?"

“Yes—on a stack 0’ Bibles higher’n the
moon—”

“Wait a bit,” said Woodpecker, nervous]
fingerin his knife. “You say the knifes
W’n’; ow did it git here—on my pard’s dead

“That’s easy told,” laughed Roddy. “Salt-
ter tuck a ancy to the knife, an’ wanted to
my it, but—LEM it to you,
I sell a keep‘ e give to me
much :—that ain’t my style! '
Then Saltpeter watched his chaince an’ stole
it— Hold on tharl” \

Woodpecker did hold on. With an angry
yell he sprung upon Reddy, hearing him to the
ground and pummeling him with swiftly deo
scenlding fists, grating between his clenched
teet :

“ Not stole—say he jest borrged it, blast ye]
Borryed it—borryed 1t-—say it, or I’ll punch ye
clean down to China-land l”

The yells and laughter of the spectators as
they crowded aroun were quickly checked by
a waming cry that the prisoner was escapin .
Instant purstnt was made; foremost among a
was Gin Cocktail, who steadily gained 11 the
fugitive, and before two hundred y s were
covered he secured his victim, though in the
struggle which followed Soft Tommy’s clothes
were torn and rent—so much so that the white
neck and full bosom of a woman were revoaledl

At that instant, asif in response to the fugi-
tive’s despairi cry, an an my shout was heard,
closely follow by a listo -s ot \Vith a hor-
rible scream of agony in Cocktail spun around
and fell heavily upon his face.

CHAPTER VII.
mic DEAD BEARS wrrxnss.
JUST as the fugitive sunk panting to the
ground at the feet of the exultant cursmg bum-

rcutlemen—could
y a lady? Not

mouthed amazement at the wonderful revela-
tion his desecrating clutch had made apparent
to more distant eyes than his own—a shrill yell
of angry vengeance, mingling with a pistol-
shot, filled the air, and the bummer fell head-
10 to the ground, tearin and biting the earth
in is agony, his hot bloor sprinkling over the
white neck and bosom of the. senseless woman-—
until now known only as “Soft Tomm 7." ‘

Well used though they were to wild scenes
and startling surprises, the crowd stood irreso
lute, while the person who had so signally
avenged Soft Tommy, rushed to the spot, and
stooping, raised the senseless figure to his broad
breast, confronting the di gers with an angry
glare, as he half-raised t e pistolb from the
muzzle of which still curled a faint lue them]
of smoke.

“ Me first—you must take me first!” he cried,

 

in a sharp, grating voice. “ Fifty to one—and

7 _

So I refused. '

mer—just as Gin Cocktail staiied back in open- '

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8 Big George, the Giant of the Gulch.

 

 

he a poor sick boy! That’s the kind of men

ou are—back there!” and thelimyfoungl fellow

eveled his weapon. “We’re w 'te and
born! We’re not dogs, that you-4’

At that moment the revolver was dextrous-
ly knocked from his grasp, and a pair of stout
arms inioned him fast, despite his furious
strugg 'ng, while a clear voice muttered in his

ear.

“Don’t bea fool manl Submit uietly and
I’ll save you et. Keep on with suc fool play,
and I woul n’t give a straw for your chance.
They’ll kill you-and her.”

No sooner was it plain that the bold talking
stranger had been secured and disarmed, than
the very men who had slunk back from the
trowning muzzle of his revolver, crowded for-
ward, brandishing knife and pistol, uttering fu-
rious yells and curses, demanding the heart’s
blood of the murderer.

“Stand by me, Bart Noblel” hurriedly cried
little Cassino as he shifted his grasp and drew
a weapon. Then raising his voice, as he boldly
step before the stranger, whose arms were
fill with the senseless f u itive, he cried aloud:
“Soft and easy does it, ys. The day is not
I0 old yet but we will have plenty of time to
settle this affair in a decent, gentlemanly man-
ner. Take it 0001—” .

“ He killed a man—”

“Easy, Roaring Tom—don’t be so brash.
There’s not one particle o. evidence that Salt-
peter was murdered b these——”

“Luck at your fee ain’t that enough? A
man shot down jest ’cause he was ’restin a run-
awa from jestice—”

“ n’ sarved ’im no more’n right, too—the
onglnly parlurous whiskyskinl” retorted Bart
No 1e. ‘ 3V :t he said was one lie from A to

w .—

“A foul lie it was, gentlemen,” interrupted
the doctor' “and the proof lies before your
face 1” he added, step in aside and pointing to-
ward the two——the tive and the man who
had come so opportune y to the rescue.

Little Chssino had not counted without his
best. The angry, snarling cries died away like
magic. As if by one accord, the knives which

been brandished, the revolvers which had
been cocked were returned to their scabbards.
They saw w t had so surprised Gin Cocktail.
Though a loving hand was striving to cover
them from sight, the whiteskinned neck and
bosom still showed through the torn garments
——too fair, too beautiful or other than a wo-
nan.

“ There is your answer—a woman God bless
the name i” and Little Cassino bared his head.
“A woman, weak and helpless—scarce more
than a girl. And this is the murderer of Salt-
fiter—as stout and as good a man as ever trod

shoe-leather—a man who never met his equal
in fair ht, knife or pistol, tooth or toe-nail,
fair fist or rough-and~tumble—yet the man, as
you call him, Roaring Tom—Gin Cocktail
SWears that she murdered Saltpeterl Why, if
the angel Gabriel himself were to come down
and make oath to that, no man in his seven
senses could believe him. It is Out of nature,
gentlemen—as ou must confess. And then—
not satisfied wit trying to swear away the life
of an innocent woman, the malicious little devil

must add insult to influx-E?”

“I don’t reckon e owed who she was,
Doc ” said Roaring Tom in a remarkabl sub—
clued tone for him. "She al’ays fora

or boy. Then she tried to run away—”
“ nd wh not? why shouldn’t she run away
' - if she lik ? A woman isn’t a man—and I

thank the Lord she isn’t! Such a sight—such
aterrible accusation—was enough to frighten
the seventeen senses out of an woman—let
around er. I don’t
—I only wonder she
stooditaslongasshedi —-” ~
“Thank you sir, for your generous defense
of m —my wife,’ said the man—none other
than ewhowas ularl knownas “Sneak .”
“I don’t know w t this means, but ’m
readyto make good anything shehassaidor
dour”
“Spoken like a white man 've me your
an, oungsteri” cried Bart oble. “You
t at, gentlemen? Ain’t thatn- lenty? Kin
anymore he said? Le’s quit all t is growlin’
an snarlin’, an’ come backto the int. I rock

. on a little guiet talkin’ ’ll settle he hull thing.

How is it?’

“We don’t want no more’n what’s ri ht,
Edge,” replied Roaring Tom. “It did ook

n er rough fer a man to shoot down a feller-
critter as wasn’t thinkin’ ’ithout givin’ him a
chainee to ’fend himself; ut of it‘s as he seis—
sf she is his wife, why, I don’t see how any-
body kin blame him fer cuttin’ ugerrusty when
he sees another man gragplin’ so rough
like as Gin Cocktail was. 11’ bein’ as she is a
woman why—how is it, boys? I fer one vote
not guilty—that thar ain’t no manner of proof

inst her—an’ that Gin Cocktail only at
w t he deserved fer tellin’ sech a. ongen e
manly, double-an’-twisted lie about a innercent
woman-critteHmenl”

“Talk’s cheap.'Boarin Tom” gedl in-
term ted Woodpecker. g“'l‘slk’sd0<§iefix.y but
hm madame:

backto life. an: won’t

 

A

keep my word 0’ revenge. Gin Cocktail ain’t
all a fool. ’Tain’t likely he’d say so much of
he didn’t hev somethin’ to back it up. Ef them
two is innercent it’s no more’n ri ht they
should prove it. Let ’em tell the j whar
they was last night, an’ what they was doin’.”

‘ You hain’t no objection to that?" asked
Noble, turning to Sneaky, who was see
the now consCious woman as best he could.

“ I was on my own business; what that was,
matters nothing to you or them,” was the sharp

re 1 .

R Thar’s more ways then one to open a crit-
ter’s jaws as kin speak an’ won’t,” growled a
beetle-browed digger.

“ Now don’t go to bitin’ your own nose off,
friend,” added Noble, lowering his voice. ‘ ‘ The
bo s is worked up mighty hi h, an’ ’twouldn’t

e much more to set ’em a ’11in’ over—then
look out for scalded shins! Take a fool’s ad-
vice, an’ speak to ’em civil—for her sake, of not
your own.”

“That he’ll do—I answer for him, gentle-
men,” cried Little Cassino, who had been bend-
ing over the groaning bummer. “ Justbe pa-
tient for a moment and you shall know the
whole truth. You, Bart just rig up your jury
again, please; back at the old lace. You go
With them, friend. Believe me, am speaking
for y”our own good; I give you my wordas a
man.

The youn miner had by this time cooled down
sufficiently realize the good sense of this ad-
vice, and first slipping his own coat over the
shoulders of his com ion, he accompanied
Bart Noble back to t 6 spot where the unfor-
tunate Saltpeter still lay in his rude coffin.

Little Cassino watched them depart, with a

uizzical grin upon his face, then turned to
where the wounded man lay shaking him
rou hly by the arm. With a hollow groan the
wre h opened his eyes.

“ Oh! octor, I feel mighty bad—can’t on do
somethin’ fer me? Cure me u an’ I’ll—I give
{131111, gold—gold tell you cant rest! Do some—

“You had betterbe thinkin of your latter
end, poor fellow,” replied Lit le Cassino, in a
preternaturall solemn tone, though there was
a malicious tw nkle in his eye as it lanoed to-
ward the bummer’s “ seat of honor,’ where the

were besmeared with blood. “Moral aid

can avail nothing in such an extremity as

yours. e your y your prayers if

on know any—con ess your sins, and then die
like a white man.”

“I cain’t die—I ain’t fit to die!” moaned the
terrified wretch; and then he broke into a tor-
rent of mingled curses and rayers, so horrible,
so b hemous, that the octor turned aside
with a s udder of disgust and horror.

But he had a part to play, and choking down
his aversion, he returned to the char . With
no little adroitness he played upon t e fears of
the coward, making him believe that death was
inevitable that his ve moments were num-
bored, and urging him confess his sins as he
hoped to escape utter damnation in the world
to come.

“ You will be easier, then. With all weight
of! your mind, you can die like a gentleman at
peace with yourself and everybody else,” added

he doctor.

“I will—I’ll do it ” sped Gin Cocktail.
“Call ’em, uickl I feel ’m in’—goin’ fast!”
and he b into another fit 0 raving.

Little Cassino lost no time, but summoned the
grty, bidding judge and jury o n their ears

the dying man’s confession. rmly believ-
in that he was at death’s door, Gin Cocktail
ac owledged that his evidence was all false—
that he knew nothing against the prisoners,
making a clean breast and offering to swear
that he was now speaking the truth.

“That’ll do,” said Little Cassino, unable to
longer conceal his disgust. “ Get up, you piti—
ful coward! The bullet only your
haunches—a ity it didn’t o eeperl Gentle-
men form a inc—and here i a compliment to
start with I”

Lifting the bewildered bummer to his feet,
the doctor faced him toward the double line,
then drew back his foot and saluted the bum-
mer’s scored rts with a vigorous kick that
sent him fair] within the antlet. Tossed from,
hand to ban , from boot boot, Gin Cocktail
was burtled along the lines with greater
than ceremony, finall sinking down upon the
sand, a bruised and b eed' mass of wretched-
ness, the contem tuous ye is and 19 13150? 0f
the heavy-boo diggers ringing in is mor-
tified ears. I

Woodpecker alone took no share in the gport
—or punishment—neither b laugh 1101‘ 08d.
and when it was over, he owly and heavily
shuffled back to where his “ pard” lay. For a
moment he stood beside the coffin as if trified;
then an angry yell drew the attention 0 all save
that of the groaning bummer toward him.
They saw him stoop and pick up something
from the dead man’s breast—something that
shone and ttered in the sunlight. and bearing
a uare b of something white upon the shaft.

The crowd rushed rly forward. In silence
Wood kerextended lshandtoLittle Cassino.
filament“. slender dagger, which he ha

 

,‘ ‘ . ~”\
Q .

 

 

plucked from the dead man’s bosom. Upon the
polished blade was abit of paper, bearing large,
plain characters, which, in a low, wondering
voice the doctor read aloud.

“ Noun 4! IN Manon or JOAQUIN
MURIETA!”

Such were the words—terribly significant to
all who were conversant with that tragedy;
such was the evidence borne by the dead!

 

CHAPTER VIII.
A ROMANCE IN Disoursn.

IN awe-stricken silence the crowd received
these words. Only their eyes roved swiftly
around, filled with doubt, suspicion—even su—
perstition. Scarce five minutes had elapsed
Since they were all gathered around the coffin,
since Wood cker had left the side of his niur-
dered frien to hem-ken to the confession of
Gin Cocktail; the paper was not there then.
Though no person had been kee in particular
watch it would have been litte s ort of im-
possibe for anybody to have passed near the
co se during t at period, unseen. There could
be ut one solution; the messenger must have
watched his chance and drove the dagger home
just as the crowd was hastening to obe ' the
summons of Little Cassino. Granting this, he
must still be amon them—but who;l With a
wolfish glare W pecker’s eyes rovcd -over
every face but even the instinct of deadly
hatred and burning vengeance failed to read
more than doubt, wonder and fear.

But then the oppressive silence was broken
gigaadfiusky voice from the crowd, gasping, un-

“Let’ me out—I want air—I’m chokin’-——”
and a man staggered out from the press, reel-
in like a drunken man.

ore close] than ever did Woodpecker re-
semble a wo f, as with bared knife he sidled,
crouchingly, toward the miner. But a nick

eye read his su icions and a stout hand c osed
upon his arm e a vise, as Bart Noble mut-
tered in his ear:

“Easy, pard—don’t go off at hat‘ccnck!
That ain’t your game—don’t 'on see! It’s
Hammer Tom—one 0’ Harry mve’s boys——
that m e has made him sick, an’l don’t
wonder, neither!”

“Somebody done it—somebod who’s in this
crowd nowl Ef I only knowe who!” painted
Woodpecker, licking his parched “)8 as the
long knife quivered in his grasp, and is blood-
shot eyes roved over the crowd. “Jest for
one little minnit—that’s all I’d ax. I’d be ready
to go then; I’d sell my soul to the devil fer 'est
one minnit! It’s monstrous hard to know he’s
ri ht onder my gripe, a-hearin’ my voice this

unit, an’ yit not know whar to strike. It
makes a teller feel like the wasn’t no God!”

“Come,” muttered Litt e Cassino, touching
Sneaky u n the shoulder. _“ There is nothing
more to eep us here and it isn’t a pleasant
si ht. And your—the lady looks ill.”

‘One moment,” and the young miner raised
his voice. “Gentlemen, you must be satisfied
now that We—I and my Wife—had no hand in
this affair. Still, if there are any more ques-
tions to ask on will find me at my cabin on-
der. Come, osie, have courage; the blind 0013
see their mistake now.”

“I trust ou do not include me in that cate-
go ” hal laughed Little Cassino.

“ 0 indeed! only for 'Ou, I— But I cannot
tell you now all I would ike. Some other time,
when I can look calmly back on what she—”

“ If it’s all the same to you, we’ll drop that, I

right here. If .there’s one thin I detest more
than another, it is. undeserv thanks. But
come; I will see you safe to your shant . I ive
you warmng, friend, that Ru are likeiy to rid
me something of a bore. ough I believe this
is the first time we have met, I’ve heard of on,
so much that it will not be m fault if we on’t
become good friends. Besi es, if you won’t
think me too inquisitive, there are some ques-
tions I would like to ask you—”

_“ Anything I can do for you, believe me, I
Will, only too gladly,” was the earnest re-
sponse.

There we. few more Words spoken, as the
trio ressed on toward the little cabin at the
mou h of the gulch. The woman, though still
pale and trembling, seemed to other fresh
strength and con 6 as the le t the rough
gathering behind t em, an Little Cassino
can ht himself stealing more than one inter-

lance toward _the being who had so long
passed amen the miners for a boy—Soft Tom-
Efii.‘ He can d see—despite the sun-embrowned
, the rude, ill-fitting garments, the short
hair—that, in. a more becoming garb, she would
be docking, if not positively handsome.
Her features were delicate, almost classical.
These, with the timid air, the ntle, almost
deprecating manner in which s e habitual]
moved about, had given her the sobriq'uet, So t
Tommy.

Little Cassino found the interior of the cabin,
though small and poorly furnished, neat as a
new , and—a new sensation to him—he
pa at the threshold glancmfi'uefully doWn
at his hands and clothes, still aring strong
marks of his recent surgical elforts. Sneaky

 

 

 

-mn‘c..._ -ar« 2. .

. I can trusn you, and I will

\

divined his thoughts, and spoke to Josie as he
picked up an iron kettle.

“ch will go to the spring for ii. wnsh, little
‘onc. Meantime, if you feel able, ’ou can put
out some grub—anything eohl will 0. Iliuven‘t
eaten since yesterday noon.”

Refreshed by their rude bath, the two men
sat down beneath the bushy oak beside the bub-
bling spring. They both seemed troubled, and
for some minutes remained in silence. The
youn miner was first to s )eak.

“ 1’] do it!" he cried, impulsively, striking
his clenched hand against the soft turf. “ You’re.
a stranger to me, but there’? something tells me

ml'

“There’s nothing would please me lmtter,”
laughed Little Cassino. “And yet—reiiieiiiber
I am a stran er.”

“You Went be one long, if I can help it.
I’m not much on the talk, but 1 can 'eel enough
for two. You saved my life—and was. That
bull~lieaded crowd would have madequick work
of it, once they were started. For myself, it
wouldn’t matter much, but her—I‘d have died
rather than havohud her even touched by a
mu h finger—”

“The feeling does you credit, though it’s not
every husband would say as much,” dryly ob—
served the doctor.

“ There it is—that’s just what I ‘ve been think—
ing over. She isn‘t my wife-though I said so
to those follows. I thought it might save
trouble in the end. But I know I can trust you.
Josie is my sister.”

“‘You ean trust me,” sinipr replied Little
Cassino. “ I don’t pretend to he a saint. l’iu
what most ,people would call a tough nut-ht
for the devilsown cracking. But I never yet
went back on a friend—be sure 1‘“ not lwgiu
with you.” ,

Further speech was checked by a call from
Josie, who met them at the door, blushing pret-
tlly in a neat garb more suited to her real sex,
and though only of calico, right well she graced
it, as Little Cnssino was faiu to confess. The
introduction over—a brief enough one: “ Josie,
this is Doctor Parmley ”»--no more, the trio sat
down to their dela ed breakfast, and Little
Cassino exerted his est powers, not altogether
in vain, to clear away the cloud which still
hung over his new—found friends. How long
he might have delayed—for he found a. strong,
not unpleasant excitement in drawing out the
gentle-voiced maiden, in watching her mobile

eatures, the changing coloras or soft bluo
eves drooped before his admiring RRYAl—llllt a
s umin footstep was heard, and a coarse voico
hailed im:

“You’re wanted over to Reddy’s, Doe. Bus].
Tipton’a wouud’s done broke out ag’in, an’l
reckon he’ll bleed to death of you don‘t make
haste mighty lively l” _ .

“ Tell them I’ll be. there in five minutes. .iA
fine youn fellow; he got cut last night, at the
dance-ha] , though I don’t b lievo he was in the
fight himself.”

“I’ll go with you,” said Sneaky. “I’ll be
back in a minute, Josie; .=‘ u only going a few
steps.”

“ I only wish I could say the same,” laughed
the doctor, “for I’ve been so busy talking I’m
hungry yet! But business before ileasure: and

0 to see you again ere long, iss—” '

“ ust like me!" laughed the young miner.
“It's been so long since I‘ve heard it that I
have nearly forgot we have a name. kendall
H our name—ho! are you—Josie, girl—a glass
of water! nick!” he cried, as the doctor start-
ed. back athly pale, a strange light in his
Wide] dilated eyes.

“ .O—it’s over now,” faintly replied Parmley,
Pressmg Behand to his side. “An old story—
my heart troubles me, sometimes, but it don’t
135* 101181 Good-morning—I won‘t take you
“WY-porno other time—”

Turning, he strode ra iidly away followed by
the wonderin gaze of Lumber and sister. His
face was wor 'iig strangely, and he repeatedly
fingered his throat as though choking, and had
to pause for a. few minutes before entering the
town, in order to smother his stifgg emotion.
The struggle left his face white haggard
but this was the only trace of the confli left
as be bent over the wounded miner, who lay
senseless in a corner of the saloon. His hand
was “steady as ever when binding up the hast-
ly “mild, and  voice calm enoug as e as-
sured'the eager inquirers that young Tipton—a
fay‘tlilntel Wit alrlf—wotud live_

' is “W P9 Omed and refusin eve in-
Vitation t0 “Plum” himself, Litt e casino

seed down the street toward his little office,
Ike 8. man in a  The deep. 
voice of Little Pepper awakened hi however,
The dwarf at that moment retn from his
{cums , on foot. His horse had hum dead,

Wom es away. .

“Ycr’a the stuff—J got it!” he painted, “1

32:3 300 late? He ain’t—don’t say ho’hhy.
I

“Dead nothin’!” gI‘OWIOd 30“ Pepper. Who
11% open the 0mm, door: “You peek little
3 die-bug—whar you bml. An’ we a- ookin"
high an» low fer ye_3—searclim’ every ratrhole
in the kentry fer ye! 1’“ 3 mind—n

Pepper made no reply, but darted be-

9

Big George,the Giant of the Gulch.‘

 

9

 

A.-.” '

the prostrate figure of Black Bepper, then
heel

tween the legs of the colossus stumbling over 1 humor. “I reckon we’ll hev the laugh on our
un- ;
ing that wortliy’s groans and curses, dung l flat on our backs.

side yit, even of the cusses hev got two on us
Now fer business. You,

his arms around Big George, laughing and cry- F Dick, will start in the mornin’ ferthe Den. See

in: in the same breath, as the wounded
called him by name.

The doctor entered and examined the band-
ages of his two patients—for Black Pe per had
received an ugl knife wound in the 8‘66 11 ht
at the dance-h —-but it was only mechanica ly.

stupefying drug.
“Don’t smother a teller, little ’un,” unted
Big George. “You act like a crazy bugl

I’m all right—a little weak, like; but seiice Doc
putt out that cussed fire in my in’ards, I feel fit
to rastle a grizzly blind !”

“He told 'me ou’d die ’less I got some stuff
from Celestial ‘ity—yer it is. I killed a boss
gittin’ it.”

“ He would have died if you had stayed with
him. I sent you off to get you out of be way,
so I could doctor him—’

“ Sliet up, little ’unl” growled Big Geor .
“ Doc knows what he’s doni’. You mean we 1,
but you cain't control—J’

“ Thar comes Pepper-pot!” cried Red Pep-
per, with a quick glance toward the doctor.

“You won’t take it amiss, Doc, cf 1 ax a fa—
vor of you?” said Big Gear 9. “It don’t look

ri ht to drive a teller out 0 his own house, but ‘

w tever trouble we putt you to, ’11 be made up
with good gold. Ef I could crawl, I wouldn t
ax it; but sauce I cain’t, an’ we want to hev a
little powwow ther, would you mind lettin’
us be alone for a our or so?”

For answer Little Cassiiio left the office,
passin down the street, watched by Red Pep-
Ker un il he disappeared among the buildings.

hen the door was closed, the window-shutter
fastened, and the brothers drew close together.

CHAPTER IX.
THE PEPPERS IN COUNCIL

“GIVE us a pull at your flask, Jack,” said
Big George, addressing Red Pepper, as that
worthy returned from securin the wooden
shutter of the one window. “ 00 gave me a
dose of something worse than melted lead, and
I feel as though (1 had a lime-an burnin’ in-
side of me for a ’coon’s a l Thar—now chuck
something behind me—t one blankets; so-—-
that’s more like it.”

“13 Doc on the square, Geor ?

ou’re pulled turribly for sec

hey ain’t no bones broke, an’ ve knowed
you to lau at a heap wuss lookin —”

“ ’Twas he bleedin , I reckon. e hain’t got
no cause to ply double on me—that he knows
on, an how. on kin see that he’s done up my
Woun in tip-top style. He wouldn’t ’3’ did
that of he was playin’ crooked. He had it
right in his own hands. Ef he meant mischief,
he could ’a’ putt a bit 0’ doctor’s stud in the
hole—p’izened it, on know—an’ nobody ’d be
any the wiser. ot , anyway—you tuck
might good keer of hat! Mebbe you’re sorry
he di n (2 take his chance; then you would hev
the hull thing to yourself.”

“ A nice piece of business, tool Look at Sam
—it’s odds he’s t his last sickness—ail for
your cursed b eadedness. Didn’tI tell you
to keep your fingers out 0’ my pic? If you wasn’t
my own brother, Red—”

‘11 I wasn’ d lucky for you I be,”
Shelled Jack. “I’d ’a’ in our heart
With my knife ears ago, only for 1:. And

r you mustn’t go too far.

even as it is,
I’m half white and born-not your slave,
Because
to

even if you are my older brother.

we’ve agreed to give you command—agreed
act under your orders—that’s no  you’re
tos itinmirfacesandthenrubitin.’

“ POP all this span-in ” sharply interrupted
Pepper-p0. .“ Where’s 0 use or sense in it?
We must stick tOgether, not only because the
same mother bore us, but because in that union
lies our safety. Were we to break up, not one
of us would live to see this day month. We
would be hunted down like mad dogs, by the
cowards Who dare not look at us while we
stand shoulder to shoulder. There has been
too much squabbling, of late-I know I have
done my share. We are growing reckless. We
have had the game in our hands so long that
we are flowmg caan careless that un-
less we VB 8 change for the better mighty
soon, we’ll dlgoul‘ own graves. ”

P _-pot spoke with an earnestness that ev-
idan impressed his brothers doc I . He, like
the 0 spoke in a style v ' erent from
the coarse uncouth t ey usually em.
Ploygdih 'i‘Itgouzh few who huge; on
mac , e eppeI'POame ma. respect-
shelf)i gmflwnd, In youth, hadthemselves been,
w uca

“ As you say, Dick, we’ll let thomtter drop,”
mid Big George- “ WO’Ve got too much busi-
ness on hand for quan‘ellnuxtiong ourselves.
You three must do it, the you can, since
Bamand Iarelaid upforatime. Youm

b0 7”
Wbmthm, Bod, Little, and Pepper.

 

’Pears to me
a in scratch.

 

po‘t, nodded. ” , ,
Good enough, chuckled Big George, this
ready acquiescence completely restoring his

; much.

l
I

 in earnest—~thcre musii’t be no foolin’.
He acted like a man under the influence of some ‘

 

giant 2 her—Clarry, you know: tell her it’s likely she—

’ll hev viSitors soon. They won‘t trouble her

Only, one will likely be a girl, and she

, kin manidge matters better than Black Dine.

You kin tell her enough to let her see that I’m
But
you uiiderstan’ all that.”

“I’ll do it ef you say so, George,” was the i‘e—~

ply, slowly uttered. “But I don’t know he“
she’ll take it. You know how she cut up about
that Lawton girl. And then—she‘s down on
me since I spoke out. She said ’twas an insult,
tohim for any man to even think oi" love in
connection with her until his iiieiiioi-ym”

Big George uttered a warning hiss and raised '

one hand, a hot fire leaping into his eyes, but
the warning was not needed. They all had
heard the same—a momentary noise, coining
fro me int near, though neither of them
could xact y place it.

“Out, boys—441mm!” hissed llig George.
“ If there’s anybody spying ’round us, smell ’em
out, and—”

Opening the door, the three brothers sprung
out and ran quickly around the cabin. But no
living rson was discovered, save a little
crowd ar down the street, who could not pos-
sibly have been eavesdrop ing then.

“ ’Twas a rat, I reckon, ’ said Red Pepper, as
he turned and reentered the shanty.

But he was mistaken. No rat had caused
that interruption, as they were to learn, in
time.

Little Cassiuo had his reasons for giving n
his office to the Peppers, and was only too g]
to accede to the request of Big George, though
be concealed his feelings beneath a stead look
of unconcem as he left them alone. 6 re-
solved to overhear the impending “ powwow,”
and was too admit to ril its success by a rash
or hasty movement. E‘Qill' this reason he 5d
slowly down the street and entered the “ 'nt,”
where his other patient lay. Here he remained
long enough to feel sure that the conspirators
were thrown off their guard, then ventured out
and rapidly approached his shanty from the
rear, reaching it unseen. In this he was fa-
vored by its being a Sunday. Even the excite-
ment attendant upon the discovery of the mur-
dered miner had not proved so lasting but that
nearly over digger had settled down to card-
Blaying, an there were no curious eyes to watch

is actions.

The cabin. standing upon low ground, had
first been built upon four bowldcrs, some three
or four feet above the surface. Afterward,
this open space had been boarded up, to keep
out the stray dogs. Near one corner was a hole
or hollow in the ground, into which Little Cas-
sino now crawled. He took the precaution,
however, to partial] y fill up the entrance with a
few stones 1 ing under the building, and this
done, he set 'mself to listening to the words of
the inmates of the room above his head.

He had chosen his time well. Big Geo e
was just opening the sub 'ect to settle which 3
had summoned his bret ren. Little Cassino
listened with a strange eagerness, straining his
ears to mtch every word. His eyes shone and
fined like those of a cat, and when Big

rge mentioned the name of the woman,
“Clarry,” be fairly held his breath, that not a
llable might escape him. But the speech of
epper-pot still more deeply excited him, and
an mvo untary sound escaped his lips—a sound
which startled the rogues above as already re-
corded. ‘

With a breathless curse at his own impru-
dence, Little Cassino drew back in his corner,
and, with ready knife, awaited the result of the
search. Right well he knew that he must ht
for dear life, if discovered. He would receive
no mere at the hands of such men.

“A 066 shave!” he muttered, as he heard
the door closed and barred once more. “I am
losing my nerVe; but that thought—if it should
be her!”

“Mebbe ’twas a rat,” he heard Big George
say, “though it didn’t sound like one.
now—will on do as I axed, Dick!”

:Yes; I’l do my best,” responded Pepper-
D0

“ Good! you tell her she won’t lose nothin’ by~

carryin’ out my wishes. We scratch her back,
an’ 1 ’3 no more’n right she should scratch our’n
when we stan’ in need of it. You talk her over,
then take a look up the .gulch. See that the
be is doin’ thar duty. ell ’em to work the
lively, to keep watch an’ settle every
cum as comes ’roun pokin’ noses whar they
don’t be] . Tell ’em the time ain’t fur off
now when he treat I promised ’em ’11 come.
It’s wuth workin’ fer.”
“ You kin trust me,” impatient] re lied Pep-
per-pot. “What’s the use in takin so much
when I know it all a’ready?”

“ Dick’s in a monstrous hurry to hev the talk-

overwhckin tbock to hissweetness ” 'u~
nod Black Pepggr. ’ Sn

“ At any rate I won’t make such an muffled
fool of myself over her as you did with—”

“ Drop that, Dick 1” sharply cried Big George.

But ~

     

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Big George, the Giant'orthe‘G'ulch}‘

 

“ Lot liygon l-c bygonOs. As for you, Jack
and .l'lpli, 3,1 ; ; nor}; eoines next. I’ve planned
it all but as I lay here, and if you’ll only keep
your tempt 2' and let whisky alone, the job Will
be an easy one. I only wish l could do it my-
self, but that cussed whelpl he has settled
that—~”

“I‘ll settle Mm, ef )ou jest say the word!”
chimed iii the «luep tones of the dwarf. “He
sha’n’t hev it to brag over you long. I’ll rub
him out (pii<:!.(-i“ii——”

“ No you’ll not little ’un,” quickly interposed
llig (leoi‘gc. “lle’s my iiieut—and the man
who steps atweeii us lied better licv more liVes
then a cat or he’ll lose ’em all. This is fer you,
too, Jack. You iiiii<tii"t git into no fuss with
him, nor teteh :ilill onless its to save your own
life. You must promise me that," and he wait-
ed for th-‘- sullen assent of the red-haired giant.

“Thank you, lad,- l’ll make it up toyou some—
timc. Now for your part of the work. That ’ll
come fo-iiiorrow night, since you say there ’1! be
no show lo—night. You an’ Eph will be tliar.
Take a box, :ui’ keep yourselves quiet an’ close
as though you war mice. You’l watch your
chaince an’ get her to come up to your box~—”

“But how? She ain’t one o’ that sort. as

ou’d orter know,” significantly uttered Red
gcpper, grinning.

‘ She’ll come—I’ll settle that." impatiently.
'f I’ll give you a note. You‘ll send it down by
one 0’ the waiters. But minds—don‘t give it to
him when he kin see I'lph.
Lions, and of she lieai-n o’ him, she'd scent trou-
ble, right away. You give it to him, as I say.
Tell him it’s ’portant business; that‘you’re in a
hurry. She’ll come, neVer fear.”

“ lVon’t she make a fuss when she sees who
Sent for her?” .

“You mustn’t 've hera chaince. Hev the
curtains down. t'tan’ close to the door an’
grab her as she comes in. Don’t let her give a
squeal but mind you treat her as easy as you
kin. I don’t want her hurt. When you’ve got
her safe, jest muflle her up wellun' carry her
down-stairs. Ef you meet anybody, jule tell
'em she’s fainted, drunk, anythin’. ()nce out-
side, you’ll inak ~ for the hills. Eph ’11 come for
he critters, an” ’1! meet you wharever 'ou say.
You ’ll strike straight for the lien. 111er you
’ll putt her in (ll-arr "s han’s, an’ comeback
here. By that time I’ lbe fit for the saddle.”

“ Ef they should find out we did it—-”

“ I’ll send you Word in time, then.”

The conversation was continued for an hour
or more, but nothing further was divulged that
requires a lace in these pages. 'Rhi'ougli it all
Little CILSSIUO listened, and though no names
were. mentioned he understood the plot per--
fectly, and inwardly resolved to frustrate it,
if Ssible.

hen he heard a heav foot cross the floor
and fling open the door. n instant later came
a. she. report, mingled with a wild, hoarse
yell. on came a dull, heavy fall upon the
floor, shaking the shanty in every timber.

CHAPTER X.

TROUBLE BREW’ING 1N ANH’HIER QUARTER.

_RATH12R Wild than iicturesque, curious than
attiactive, was the little eolection of brush
'ncutas', din canvas tents, and rickety, tum-

ledown sla shanties, known far and near by
the name of Spanish Quarter, or “Greascr
Flat.” It lies very quiet, now, under the warm
rays of the afternoon sun. few men, an oe-
cusional woman or child may be seen, lying
prone in the grateful shade, or lazily passing to
and fro. But all is still. This is butthe hour he,—
l'ore dawn with the inhabitants of Greaser
Flat. Nirht birds are they, one and all. As
the twilig it dee lens the roosts give forth their
birds of pre . here is no silence then. Yells,
curses and shrieks; the sound of clashing steel,
or pistol shots; the shrill pen] of laughter, the
twanging of guitars or mandolin minglingr
with the soft notes of a love-song. 'I‘orchlights
and bonfires light up the mad yet curious
scene. Here stands a gold-laden table in o n
air, surrminded by a group of eager gamb ers
—.yonuer a man gasping out the feeble remnant
of his life, while his murderer, \vitli yet red
hands, laugliingrly boastsof his exploit.

bold. rec less man is he who ventures
alone into Greaser’s Flat, after the sun goes
dowu, without other safeguard than his own
Strong: arm.

Thre.-- years before the date of this story,
When the world of California was electrified by
this wonderful richness of the “ find ” that gave
birth tothc gay little town of Blue Earth, the
grand rush which followed, as a matter of
course, attr ieted those birds of prey— amblers,
thieves and mittlii'oiits, the scourge of a l miningr
totvus. For a time they had rare pickings, Ibut,
final! , they waxed too audacious, and Judge
Lync arose in his might and overthrew them
"sending the bodies of a round doZen among
the worst a great deal higher than their souls
wont! ever soar;

This gentle him; was not ignored. The sur-
vivors bade the law scene of their glory adieu,
and pilv'kachl'cd for more congenial climes. The
majority, that is. A few settled down where
in? river mar is an abruptbend, some three miles
tron Blue E-irth, where they were allowed to

 

lw‘lie’ll a): some ques- . '
‘ through the marks of dirt, sino (e and grease,

 

'* o  "'1.

1' pr,.E’ \ _.  .,...._

 

remain, unmolested. From this nucleus sprung
the Spanish Quarter. All honest men felt it a
burning shame that such an eyesore should
flouriin so near them, but no decided steps were
taken to remedy the evil, and their numbers
steadil ' increased until now, at the day of
whillil write, (ii'easer Flat sheltered full two
hundred fighting men.

Beneath that sultry Sabbath sun, Greaser
Flat scenic! to slumber. A foul~looking, foul-
sniclling place. Garbage and filth choked the hill"
row, ('i‘oolred passage between the rude building's.
Even the few wolflsh—looking curs lounged
about with drooping tail and blinking eyes, too
lazy to light the legions of fleas which they
shared with their masters.

From one cabin-«a brush—wattled jumlc—
alone came the low sound of human voices.
Four men Were within—wMexicans all, though
two at least boi‘c negro blood in their veins——
meal'izocs.

()ne lay upon a pile ofhay, moving restlessly,
now cursing Vieiously, non moaning with pain.
The others squatted upon the ground, a greasy
pack of cards between them, conversing eagerly
between the intervals of play, paying little at-
tenl ion to the complaints of their wounded coni—
rade, only pausing to curse his groans when
they grew too troublesome.

Not one of the quartette ran any danger of
ever being hung for his beautv. Stout enough
fellows, one and all, with evi written in capi-
tals upon every feature, and lainly visible

the marks of drunkenness and unbridled pas-
sion, the scars of many a wild fight and reckless
melee.

“Curse that JOsei” snarled the sick man,

ating his teeth. “ \Vliy don’t be come back?

0 is lying drunk in some ditch, the bound!
That is his love for his brother, the way he
keeps his oath of \‘eiigeuiieol And you, sneak-
log curs! With yourcards, your liquor, your
smoke—like swine in a iuudliole—sc you laugh
at our bond, while I lie here, a helph ss cripple,
and lie—Mary, Mother, grant that he sup with
Satan this night! In», the one who has done this,
goes free and laughs at the work of his hand!”

“ And if he laughs, he has camed the right,”
coolly rctorted a huge half—breed, with only one
eye, and half a nose, as he shuffled the cards.
‘ Let a man laugh when he wins and while he
can. It will not last long—his chance. There’s
a good man on his true ; aquick eye, a sure
hand, a cool brain and a suift foot to back
them. Don’t be impatient. \Vhen Jose takes
the trail lie is like a bloodhound—hard to choke
off. As for your hurts, grin and hear them, as
you have borne worse ones. You will soon be
afoot and ready for work. Think of that, and
act like a mun.”

“Like a man! A l as you did, Muerte, last
night! As you and ose and bias and Gaspard
—as men and heroes, as true brothers in blood
and oath! You all acted like men when that
overgrown devil flung me against the wall. You
rememlmrcd your oath, then; blood for blood,
life for life! Both!” and the injured wretch
ended with a bitter, scoruful curse.

“Brothers or not, oaths or no oaths, you
mustn’t let your tongue carry on too far, Pc—
lucho Sylva,”retorted the he.) --breed his 0 —
gle eye flowing with a dangerous flre, his t iic {
lips cur ing own from the long, Ipointed teeth
as he spoke. “ f we do your wor , we did not
bargain for vour curses. There is no cure for a
hot tongue like cold steel. A hint to awise man
is enough—and you are no fool, if you would
only give yourself fair play. If we held our
hands last night, it was only to deal a. surer
stroke. There were too many around who knew
us—who would have been on! too glad of a
chance to measure our hearts With their knives.
it is only a fool who snaps at a leg beyond his
reach, instead of waiting until he is sure of his
mouthful. You say we are false to our oaths.
Does it look like it‘! At daydawn Jose took the
trail. He will never leave it until he bites. If
he fails—for man is but mortal—then it will be
my turn. And after me, Diaz; then Gaspard.
Is not that enough? Are you the only one whose
tongue is dry to lick his heart’s blood! Bah! a
few bruises—no worse! I—what have I suffer-
ed’i You known—but listen. It will show how
mad you are to call me coward, or to even
dream of my hanging back when the time comes
for striking.

“The day was when I had a home, when
had a. heart that could feel love—~now itis in
of ashes, bitter as death! ’I had a home, poor
enough in looks. But We had enou h to eat,
my mother, my wife, my child and , and we
Were Imp iy, too. I knew where there was gold
enough or our wants, but we needed little.
That little betrayed me, though. They saw me
my nuggets for goods, they dogged me home.

on know whom I mean. There were nine of
them, then. They came with soft tongues and
lying smiles. They asked for food and drink,
ofl'ering'to pay for it. And pay they did! yes,
theylfmd us, noblyl

‘ ow’i they beat m mother to death. They
murdered my wife, at ousand times over, They
flung my Chlld into the fire. I came up Just In
time to see the end. I had no wcawn buta

knife. They were nine at first. I didn’t stop '

j

to count them. It was easier work afterward.

Then they killed mc—as they thought. They

burned down my jut-ale. and my dead. They

left me one eye and this face~—with fifty other
wounds. That is the way they paid us. Wasn’t
it enough?"

There was silence for a minute, as the giant
half-breed paused in his story, so horrible in in.
details, yet told with such coldness and a par-
ent indifference, belied only by the luri fire
in his (ye. But then another took up the drop-
led thread. If less frightful, his stor was

lack and bitter enough to justify the cepcst
hatred and revenge. iid after him, the third.

All tales of the reckless brutality and devilish

cruelty of the same persons—the Pepper fam-

ily—varied only in minor details.

Scarcely had Gas lard concluded when a
hasty footstep was heard, and the door was
rudely thrust aside. A small, slight-built man
entered, ale and breathless. his garments torn
and soile with mud, his skin bearing scratches
and soars, as of a hasty flight through bush and
brake, over hill and down dale.

Hastily grasped weapons were dropped as
they recognized the intruder, and hasty ques-
tions were poured upon him from four pair of
1i 8. He unsyvercd nothing until he had drain-

' e the leathern flask of liquor, and dropped to
the ound.

“ he devil is in it!” he snarled, plunging his

llong knife haft-deep into the ground. “As
fair a shot as ever man had—I covered his

heart with a head that Would have spoiled a
1 dollar at twice the distance—curses on the bul—

let that failed me!”
l “Don’t say he escaped you, Jose—don’t say

that, or I’ll curse the hour our mother here such
‘a child!” screamed the wounded man, fairly

foaming at the mouth.
' “Didn’t you hear me say so, you winning
>fool!” snarled Jose. “What care I for your
curses? I did all that man could do. I dogged
,him from place to.place, waiting for a sure
jcliance. It came, as I thought. He stood in
3the open door, in full view. I covered his

heart. I fired. He gave a yell, and fell. I
‘ believed my work was done. But Satan stood
this friend and held back the lead from his
heart—or else he wears armor beneath his
j clothes. He got up. They saw me, and came

after me: the little imp, the big red-haired
' beast, and the one with the long hair. Their

Veils and their )istol-shots woke up the town.

Before I rcacheu the top of the hill, over a bun-

drcd men were on my track. I ave them all
‘ the sli l, but it was hard work. led them a
long c iase toward Celestial City then threw
them off the scent, and double back here.
There-you have my story. I did the best I
knew how, and if one of you dare say I bun-
gled at it, I’ll make him swallow the length of
iy machete l” ’

“ You have done well, Jose,” quietly uttered
Muerte, extending his hand. “ All men make
mistakes sometimes, and we don’t blame you.
()nly—let it be a lesson to us in dealing with
these brother brutcs; we will send our lead at
their brains, the next time.
concealed armor there.”

“Did they reco nize you, think?” asked Dias.

“I think not. I led them away from here
on purpose. The will lay it to some other of
, their enemies. ut if they did, what matter?
! How many men could they get to follow them
i here? I only wish they would come—then we
1 would make sure worl:—”

“And—since there could be no hidin our
hands then, what would the queen say? mut-
tered Gaspard. ’

“What she pleascs,” sullenly replied Jose.
“ Are. we to remain dogs because she has takcn
a fancy for these horn devfls? Can not she fled
true hearts and stout hands enough among 1 or
own people to do her work, Without turning to
these accursed—f”

“Hist!” and Gaspard glanced suspiciously
around. “Guard ycur tongue, Jose, if Vou
would not lose its use forever! airbus
ton es to carry her news, I do believe ”

“ care not! I would even tell her as much,
if I had occasion. She is only a woman at the
best. Because we serve her is no reason why
We should—”

He paused abruptly. A heavy, shambling
footstcp was heard without, drawing nearer and
nearer- then the frail door was flung back with
a rude

i

 

CHAPTER XI. . ’
“OLD BOOTS.”

“ WAL—I—ber—dumedl”

Such were the words which ted the Mexi-
can conspirators as the door 0 the brush jacale
was rude! flung open. A queer figure ar-
tially_fille. the entrance, Sup rtlng lumsel by
grasping the doc sts, while is projecting head
was slowly swaying from side to side with n.
ludicrous expression of surprise and doubt.

Truly, an oddit even in 'that country of na~
tural curiosities. ew rsons could have assed
, him by without pouring for r rec-end g nce,
‘ and once met, he would iv V! r be forgotten.

Of his figure but little could be told, lave

 

They can’t wear

 

 

 

 

 

.fg. .V. .

that he was a trifle above. the average hight of
man. Ithther loan or corpulent, muscular or
the contrary, symmetrical or dcforuled—could
only be conjectured: all was hidden, buried
beneath the mass of rags and tatteis that flut—
tered with every passing: breeze.
were ragged, but not like this. Other men
were greasy, other men were. dirty. and other
men bore about with them the strong, nnngled
odors of bad tobacco and worse whisky; but
they were as Coyotes in the presence of a griz—
zly. The rags and tatters sci-med made for
him, not be for them. They seemed part. and
parcel of his being. The keenest eyc might
search in vain for trace of the tailor‘s art. It
required no great stretch of imagination to be—
lieve that the rags and tatters grew there, just
as the feathers upon a bird. The only suspi-
cion of style about bin) lay in his but; it boast,-
ed an entire brim and at least halfa crown.
Yet, if the eye, in search of thepicturesque,
lingered here. with a vague disaplxiintment,
ample amends were made at the ot icr extrem-
it .
Xl‘hose boots! It is not for this pen to at?—
tempt the vain task-the pliotograpln-r’s art
alone could hope to xviprrxluee evon a faint
image of them. ll‘ceble words could not de—
scribe them. Enough that they gave to the
man his name: “Old Boots.”

“Geu’lemen,” added Old Boots, in a still
more unctuous voice, releasing one hand long,r
enough to brush away the (lrop of moisture
which bedowed the extremity of his richly-col-
ored nose. “Gen‘lemcn, ’scuse my ‘motion on
this—hic—‘morable ’casion. My heart sxwlls
up in my buzzum like a-hi«-——like a toad in a
thunderstorm. I cain’t 'Spress myself—strong
‘motions tickle my—hic—my tin-apple tell I
cain’t s oak. Moly Hoses! jest tothink! Fer
twenty ong an’ w’ary—hic—yoars hey I sought
thee? For twent long years I hain’t tuck bitc
nur sup—I haint winked a eye. in sleep—I
hain’t ett nur—lu’c—drunk all this time—gen-
’lemen, ’scuse my ’motims; when I think of
what turrible suifcrin’ I hey underwent, when
I look back an‘ see the tears o‘ blood I‘ve weep—
cd—salt—water enough to drowndatwcnty-leg—
god duck—”

“Thousand devils!” growled Muerte, the
first to reCover from the astonishment with
which the strange intruder filled them. “Who
are you, and what do you want here? Speak
out—quick! and let your tongue be short and
straight, unless you would have it crammed
dowg, your throat! Speak! who and what are
you -

“Twenty years—think of that, Elmiezer
Quackenbush! All that weary time have I
sought thee, and now, have I found thee only to
lose thee—t0 hear wot-dc of revilFir—cnss-wordudl
Ah, ’Neezer—JNeewH It‘s lucky your pore ole
mam an’ pap ain't alive If) hear yo cuss your
only livin’ brother—the last, survivin’ orphintof
seventeen! your ondly brot': u'—”

“He is crazy i” muttered .laspard, clutching
his knife uneasily, and retreating behind the
huge bulk of the giant half—breed. “ Don't stir
him up—bo careful!”

“ Crazy? who dar’ say I’m crazy?” demanded
Old Boots, drawing his apparently boneless
11 re erect With a ludicrom assumption of dig-
th- “Afi’ yet—I don’t blame ye, young fel-
ler, fer thinkin’ as much. Look at inc—look mo
cluss an’ clean through. \Vhat d’ y’see! 'l‘lm
shudder of a man, that's all. The ‘tinm was -—
you’ve hoarn toll of Thornhilus Qllill"{(‘ll-
bush—the last survivinfiorphmt o’ scvmmum?
I used to be him. That was years ago—inure
years than you’ve got hairs. I was a man,
then, smart, actyve, ll‘m’somc»—-I didn’t Like
water from nobm y, nur ax no orb].- fmm mm-
in’. An’ now—what air I! Old Boots—a shad-
der 0’ nothin’—-a Wlpt’ddlp grease-spot.—-the
li ht of a candle when it’s blowe'l out! That’s

. Folks sais I’m crazy. Mohbe I be. I do
git light-headed sometimes, an’ then I mest

'n’al y run ’round axin’ fer him—fer brother
benezor; but it don’t last lono'. Then I kin
’member it all soon. I know then that they
rubbed him out—same time they made me what
I be. You ain’t see’d ’em, hev ye?” abru tly
demaniied ‘gildnlBoots, nodding and blinking iiltrze
an ow su e and une. .ctcdl ex .‘x o
the broad lambf da . W y pm

“ Seen w to?" sharply demanded Muerte.

“ Them devils—them Pep )er boys—”

“ What do You know of t em?—-what are they
toyou? Speak,quickl man, unless you would
fee in knife between your ribs!” grated the
giant alt-breed, as his weapon flashed forth,
and he drew his massive limbs together like a.
panther crouching for a. death-lea .

Old Boots met his fiery gaze wit out fiinohing,
though there came a sudden and startling
change; so great and instantaneous that the
Memcans could scarce believe their eyes. In-
stead of the drunken, idiotic hummer weak and
trembling from long dissipation, there stood
before them a man, full of fire and determina-
tion,  eyes glowed like livin 0031;,
whose Ivoice sounded clear and sharp, ike the
vibration of tried steel.

“You ax what I know of them, what they
be to me! I know they’re Satan’s own, body
and soul. I know tlmv‘re the blackest villains

Other men '

 

i (lod ever let run loose. I know they’ve shed

innocent blood enough to float a steamboat. I
know that words cain’t begin to tell the hafe
they’ve done—”

“ You 3 .ak strongly," interrupted the half ~
breed, wit) a peculiar laugh, returning his
Weapon to its sheath. “ How do you know but
we are their friends and comrades? Suppose
we should—"

“Try it on,” coolly retorted Old Boots, lean-
ing against the door-post, while a brace of re-
Volvcrs filled his hands as though b magic.
“Four to one; I‘ve faced as long ds afore
now. Let her flicker, 1Hin.rd—”

“Put up your bu dogs, friend,” laughed
Muerte, with a grim satisfaction which he
made no attempt to conceal. “ I was only try-
ing you, and am satisfied. We, too, hate those
dev1ls. and have sworn to have their scalps.
But—you say the have wronged ou? Tell us
how. It may be *tter for us both’.”

“I will. know you, 1:02". I saw how he.
was treated," nodding toward the injured Mex—
ican. “That is why I come yere. I thought
you’d like to hev revmge. But I got to thinkin’
—thinkin’—an’ it sent my head to hummin’ an’
a-buzzin, an’ I forgot everythin’ else but that
black day—”

__ Big George. the Giant of the Gulch.

 

i ear:

“ Come in, sit down and tell us all about it,” ,

urged the half-breed.
He was obeyed, though Old Boots moved and

looked like a man acting under the influence of j

a will other than his own. Bigfttin

side the half-breed, he mec nical y shuffled
and fingered the greasy cards while 6 spoke,
in a low, monotonous tone:

“They was only me an’ Ebenezer left. We
struck a rich claim. We worked hard an’ was
happy ontel they come. The wanted to buy
us out—fer a song. We sai no; that was all
they wanted. We fit as well as we could; but
they was six there. They murdered Eben, an’
I was little better. The jest kep’ me in ho s
I’d tell ‘em whar our ust was cached; ut
they couldn‘t make me speak, onlyto cuss them.
They tried all the knowed how. They tor-
tur’d me wuss then Injuns ’d ’a’ done. But they
couldn’t make me speak. Thep ke ’ it up ontel
I went crazy; yes, I know now was crazy.
That‘s all I know, fer years. ’Tain’t bin long
sauce I knowed that much. Soon’s I woke up,
I swore I’d hev revenge. I set out lookin’ fer
’em. It was a long an’ a crooked trail, but I
follcred it day by day cute] I run on ’em here.
The si ht 0’ them must ’a’ set me craz ag’in,
fer I t ought I hearn brother a-callin’ me—
callin’ to me, an’ I couldn’t come. You hain’t
golt {my p’izen, hey yo? I’m dryer’n a lime-
'i n!

This abrupt transition seemed to startle the
Mexicans. and for one moment Muerte believed
this uecr customer was playing with them;
but tie sus icion died as soon as conceived.
His brief arr or had died away. and Old Boots
was once more the odd, whimsical bummer,
whose lips clung to the mouth of the leather
flaskrfis t ough grown thereéed 1

“ at’s enou h!” be gas ickin his li .
“I don’t ax ng better interductiong Menptfs
totes sech liker as that must be the right stripe.
We’re . rdncrs from this on. I’ll fight fer ye
long’s kin drink—or lay. Come! pleasure
fust—then business. M 0 your game, gen’le-
men—make your mel”

As he spoke, 01 Boots dextrously sorted the
cards for a manta “lay-out,” then produced a
handful of gold coin from the midst of his ra ..,
which he placed before him as his “ban .”
That was enough. Born gamblers—as indeed
all Mexicans are~the cards and gold were suffi-
cient to drive all else from their minds—even
the wounded man crawling forward to take a.
part in the game.

An hour passed as one minute. The ile of
gold before Old Boots steadily increased. He
seemin ly held fortune at his finger ends. It
was on y necessary for the players tobet a 'nst
a certain card for it to turn up. Those irty,
discolored fingers played among the pasteboards
like magic. Veterans though they were, the
Mexicans could only stare in mute amazement-—
and dis t-as their pockets one by one were
emptie , until their last coin joined the pile be-
fore Old Boots. Black looks passed between
them. The dealer was in danger.

“ Thar!” cried Old Boots, drop ing the cards.
“We’ve hed fun enough. Ta e your gold
friends, an’ call yourselves lucky we wasn't
playin’ in dead airnest. Take it," he added, as
they'seemed to healtate. “Ef you don’t we’ll
hev to quarrel. I’ve swore never to play for
kefips with friends and pardmrs.”

ot a little abashed at their baseless suspi-
cions, the men secured their money.

“Now to business. You’ve all agreed them
devils must go under. It only remains to set-
tle the how an’ when. I kin tell you that. I’ve

ot the hull thing out an’ dried. The work ’11
be dangerous, thou h of all oes right wekin
take ’em from ahm , an’ git one good lick
afore they think—”

Drawing closer together the five men 0011-
versed low and earnestly, for some minutes.
Them they drew back, see man holding aloft a
knife on which he swore a bitter and undying
vengeance against the Pepper brothers.

down be— ‘

 

CHAPTER XII.
LITTLE PEPPER. PLAYS A TRUMP.

BREATHLESS with haste, Little Cassino en-
tered the “ Temple,” and with an almost pain-
ful sigh of relief saw that he was not yet too
late. Ben Coffee and George Mack wire stand—
ing at the bar, drinking together. and from
their unconcerned demeanor, it was plain that
nothing out of the usual run had transpired.

“The very man I wanted to see!“ <~ried (.‘of-
fee, catching sight of the doctor. “I haven‘t
been able to thank—"

“Drop that, old man!" sharply cried Little
Cassino, with a warning glance. “ You owe me
nothing, not even thanks: remember that.”

“I owe you more——and if eyer the chance
comes you’ll see that l am ready ti i-ajv my
debts,"intcrp<iswl the young in innzrt, “ i look-

ed for you today. but you were luv l u:-.\ . If
I knew what time to-imiri'ow——“

“I don‘t want to hurry you, Mat-k. but it’s
near your time for going on. and you know how
popular stage-waits are. Better g0 rig.)r up,”
cautioned Coffee.

“I’ll go help Mack. I’m an old hand at the
biz,” laughed Little Cassino, joining arms with
the gymnast, then muttering hurriedly in his
“ Don’t make any sign. I've something of
the. utmost im iortant'e to tell you.”

George Mao'made no sign until they were
safe Within his little six-by—six dressing-room,
then securin the door:

“Now w at is it! Some more dcviltry
brewed by thOse hounds—”

“Just that: no less. But go on with your
dressing. There is no real danger now that we
know what to guard against, and, as (Toffee
said, our digger lads are not fanmus for their
patience.”

“Speak quick, then,” and Mack strove to
choke down his excitement. “ Is it about me,
or—or her 2”

“ I reckon what affects one wouldn’t go far
from touchin r the other,” retcrted Little Cas«
sino, with a alf-lau rh. “ But—now don’t fly
off the handle—this tune it. deals more particu—
larly with the lady, Miss Estelle—3’

“ Curse them!” grated the gymnast. all afire.
“It’s that overgrown dog—that George Pep-

r—fool that lwas not to haw emptied his

lack heart when I had him in my power!
But I’ll do it—I’ll not let another hour—’

“ Yes on will—several of them,” coolly re-
torth Little Cassino. planting himself against
the narrow door. “I tell you it’s all cut and
dried-the prettiest little job you ever see!
We’ll spring the trap at the right moment, but
that moment hasn’t come yet. and I’ll not let
you interfere to spoil sport. You owe me that
much, at least.”

“ I owe you more than you think, perhaps,”
replied Mack with an evident effort. “Since
you wish it, will beguiet. Oan they must-
n‘t cross my path. 1]] not seek a uss, nor
will I avoid one.”

“ Nor am 1 the man to ask it. You just keep
on your way quietly: that’s all I ask. I’ll let

you know a] about it in time to take a hand
in, if on want to. Well, that is settled, then.
Now or the trick they are going to try on to-

night. That you may know I speak b the
card, I don’t mind telling you that I over card
the whole plot, without their suspecting any-
thin .

“ gig George is at the bottom of it, of course.
He is dead-gone—that is—you know—” and
Little Cassino actually stanuncred and grew
confused as the face of the gymnast grew hard-
er and more stern.

“I understand, I know the whole story,” he
said, quietly. “I’ll tell it to you, then you
will have the rights of it. He—Big Geor e—~
met Estelle at Sacramento. He appenrm to
be a gentleman, as he can be, when he tries,
and lets whisky alone. They gradual] ‘be-
came better acquainted, and she almost earn-
ed to like him—or rather what he seemedto
be. But one evening he showed out in his true
colors. He had been drinking, and—insulted
her. She resented it, of course, and never
would speak with him again. That made him

worse, instead of better, and at last he pcrsc— _

outed her so that she left town, taking the,
night stage for Fr’isco. There I met her, and
—well, you can gum the rest. She is my wife,

ow.

“ And a lucky fellow you are, if the little I
have seen of her is a fair sample,” warmly cried
Little Cassino, claspi the young man‘s hand.
“Iam doubly glad to car it. I shall be more
eas now smce I know you can watch over
an fluid her all the time.”

“ ey must walk over me, first.”

“Good!
that twice. Now for the pro ammo to-night.
Bigf‘reo hatched it, Red eppcr and little
stu sho are to carry it out—snpposin We
let ’em. Bi George wrote a note, whic he
hopes will brm your wife up to the box they
have taken. en they are to carry her off,

’ her, if n -— .

‘l  answer the note—let them gag me!”

“ No you don't—remember our promise.
That would let them see that we ow all their
plans and the time for that has not yet come.

t them read the note, and wait for their an-

 

I don’t believe any one will try I

t .
- .. , . A ‘i . ,
19 w WmmrerR'WJ -

 

  
 

l

n—B o—v

**—_ ._._..‘. ,_.c_ ,._' _'

.. .‘. ks..- -

~

.124

‘ liver it at once, and to return with an answer.

, toils, thanks to his past intimacy with her af-

 

..'i ~;

1

Big Georgffihe Gli‘lm . 9f  _'

 

swer until their patience gives out. You just I
warn your wife—” _ 

“You come with me; she made me promise
to introduce you. Come—I have only a min-
ute to spare.‘ VVc’ll find her in the green-
room.” 1

Nothing 10th, Little Cassino followed the ‘
gymnast’s lead, and in a few moments more
Was beside La Belle Estelle, whose greeting
was warm enough to satisfy the most exacting.
Her looks more than words told the doctor how
intensely ateful she was for his services, and
he felt his interest in the fair songstress re-
doubled, though he affected to makeJight of l
what he had done.

“Keei him with you till I come back, lit-
tle one, ’ said Mack, as the call—b0 repeated
his name for the third time. “ ll rush it
through as quick as i can.” I

Little Cassino did not find it a very great
hardship, this being kept tprisoner by so fair a l
'anitress. They converse as freel as though ;
ibeir acquaintance dated from childhood, pay-
iii no attention to the covert whispers and gig-
gling of several ballet girls who occupied one
end of the room.

But their tcte-a-tefe was speedily interrupted.
A sharp, shrill cry—a heavy fall—then a wiid
outcry!

 

 

Meantime Red Pe per and his dwarf brother
had not been so id 9 as would a pear at first
glance. Among the first they ha entered the
‘Temple,” and paying for a box, had seated
themselves to await the proper moment for ac-
tion. Despite the business on hand, which might
turn out a more troublesome affair than they
had at first anticipated, Little Pepper gave him-
self up to the enjoyments 0f the hour, applaud-
ing each favorite performer with the nois care-
lessness of a child, or hissing another wit such
good will that all eyes were drawn toward
the box, not a little to the red-haired giant’s

disgust.

‘ You‘ll play the devil with the hull thing,
Eph, ef on don’t mind,” he muttered, savage-
ly. “ e ain’t at no baby-play now. Let ’em
git a scent 0' what we’re after, an’ all blazes
couldn’t save us.” ~

“ We two kin run the hull outfit, ef the tries
to cut 11 rusty,” scornfully retorted Litt e Pep-
per. “ he cowardly gang ’d run from ary one
on us—let alone two.”

Red Pepper soon saw that words were worse
than useless. In fact, Little Pe pier was nearly
wild, and had to let ofi.’ some 0 is superfluous
steam “or bu’st.” The killing strain—the ab-
solute torture he had undergone thanks to the
dootor, in believing that Big George ‘lay at
death’s door, only to be preserved b his own
unaided exertions—now relieved by he assur-
ance that his idolized brother would in all pro-
babilit be upon his feet in a da or two—rem
dered ‘m doubly excitable, an all that Red
Pepper could do or say would not keep him
within bounds.

Eagerly and impatiently Red Pepper consult-
ed the programme, and awaited for the first
appearance of La belle Estelle, and he drew a
long sigh ogcpositive relief as the lithe, graceful
fl re mov toward the footli hts, dressed as a

i hland lassie. Until then he cared she might
Jai to appear, from some cause. This doubt
settled, he prepared for business.

Summoning a. waiter lad, he confided to his
care the note which had caused Big George so
much trouble in compossing, and bade him de—

in due time the boy returned, bringingowith
him the ordered drinks and in answer Red
Pep r, said that the lady read the note, re-
mar ing that it would be all ri ht. He receiv-
ed the promised reward, and astil left the
box, pausing u n the stairs to Wipe is flushed
face, with a c uckle of relief at his fortunate

esca .

“El he ondly knowed I’d lost the per——
’tain’t gold he’d paid me with—not muc l Bet
I d%i;’t’amer no more calls from that box this
hi i

t was true he had lost the note in the cm
below, and after a vain search for it, ha re-
solved to lie his way out of the scrape as the
most'satisfactory method. To his carelessness,
Estelle probably owed her escape, since Bi
Geor had cunnin lmhosen the only subjec
by w ich she won] ve been lured into the

fairs. Hence she knew nothing of the lot,
when. some minutes later, she learned all rem
Lip-19 Cassinoi1 i h

xpectin or appearance w t every mo-
ment, Red 9 per sat on nettles. Not so the
dwarf. The evil put a diabolical fancy into
his head. Andashe lanced at the motionless
trapeze, snapended o a few feet from and
directly in front of he box, he rubbed his
hands and chuckled like a veritable imp of

Satan.

“ lit _1 could only reach them ropes—jest fer
aminmt—wouldn’t it be fun? Jest tetch my
knife to it—jest enough so whin he clumb up
thar an’ of. to cuttin’ up his monkey-shines, the

 

z-opewo dbreakan’sendhimdowntharina
hurry to break his ornery nook—n’ mebbo

bu’st up hafe a dozen 0’ them pilgrims—oh,
Lord! what inn!”

“Dro it!” grated Red Pepper. “Thar’s
someboc y a-comin’!”

But once more it turned out a false alarm.
By this time the giant was growing uneasy.
The end of the variety performance in as draw»
ing near, and still no signs of their intended
victims. Growing desperate, he bade Little
Pepper await his return, and passing down--
stairs he pushed his way into the burrroonv.

Amid the blaze of trumpets, (in'm‘gi' Moi-l;
bounded upon the stage and l)(i\\'(‘~ll to {in 1H"
thusiastic audience, then pnsscd on to azhcrc
the rope llllll" by means of which lnc §J.'(ll‘.l"(l.
the trapcze. Tattle Popper watched hi: grin-c-
[iii and daring movements with thc we of :i
basilisk, and all the time the dcvil within him
kept whispering do it—do it! Almost uncon.
Sciously he drew his broad bowic knife, lingcn
ing its edge, his eyes iichr leaving the face of
the young gymnast. And then-ho kncw that
the moment was at hand whcii he must act.

As evm‘ybody knows who has witncsscd a
trapeze act, one of the most common exploits
is for the performcr to scemin 1y fall head-first,
catching u on the ropcs with iis feet.

George ack balanced hiniscll‘ upon the
small of his back, with folded arms, then fell
backward, with a loud cry. At the same iii—
stant the dwarf flung his weapon. *His aim
was true. Half-severed, the rope snapped and
the unfortunate gymnast was hurled liealeng
upon the benches, twenty feet below.

A scene of frightful confusion followed.

CHAPTER XIII.
iio'i‘ WORKl

RED PEPPER was not in an enviable state of
mind as he left the box and passcd down-
stairs. He looked fully as ugly as he felt. llc
cursed the mad passion of Bi<r George for the
“ dough-faced bab ',” to which all this trouble
and uneasiness inig t be attributed; he cllrscil
Estelle for not answering his message in pcrson,
thus putting an end to all trouble; he cursed
Little Pepper for his obstinacy for not ngi‘i ciug
to postpone his “bit of amuscmcnt” until a
more 0 portuue moment; and capped the
climax y cursing everybody and everything
collective y and in general, as he pressed his

6 through the densely crowded aisle to-
ward the side—door, above which glcuincd thc
facetious legend: ‘

“FOLLOW Youn Nosn T0 Tim BAR!”

There was little unnecessary rcsislance to his
passage. Rough and ready as most of tho dig-
rers were to draw knife or cock pistol—to

‘fl ht at the drop of a hat”—-—none among the
'0st ed ones seemed eager to avonge tho all'i-ont.

ot only had Red Pepper re atcdly proved his
prowess as a fire-eater, bu , like coyotes, the
desperado family always hunted in packs. No
one cared to start the cause, good though it was.
Few men care to twist the rope that is to hang
them, knowinglly.

Chafed thong i he was, Red Pepper still had
self-control enough to confine his aggressions to
curses and a few necessary digs with his elbows
whenever the crowd was unusually dense.
Though nothing would have been more Welcome
than a scrimmage, just then, it might prove
fatal to his hopes of et entra ring the woman,
and loyaltyto Big eorge helil his passions in
check.

Reaching the door he Kissed through a dark
and littered room, full 0 ' angles and nooks, into
the noisy bar-room. His appearance crealx'd
quite a sensation. Every VOlCc was stilled as if
by magic, every eye was turned upon him, some
half-defiantly, others with an uneasy look which
spoke plainer than words.

Pepper grinned; all the more disagree-
ably from its being forced. He knew that the
had been conversing about him or his
rot ers when his entrance interrupted them;
possibly of the cleVer manner in which the
young mnast had foiled his attack, the night
of the ance. At any other time he would
have asked for nothing better; there would
have been brave matter for the gossips. fresh
food for the flourishing grave-yard'on Cinna-
mon Hill.

Instead, Red Pepper assed up to the end of
the bar nearest the wal , thus guarding his rear.

ing against the counter, one hand resting
on his hip in close proximity to his revolver, the
giant insolently scrutinized the group, finally
uttering:

“ You fellers slide up yere and drink ’long of
a man. Tom "turning toward the lmrkeeper.
“Tom, on b ear-eyed, yo-necked, cat-hammed,
muttou- eaded, flat-cared, crooked-shankmi,
long-legged son of a hop-toad you! sling out
your p’izen—lively, tharl -

The insulting invitation, or rather command,
to drink was complied with, such was the force
of the desperado’s reputation. The miners
drank in seemin amit with the man whose
throat they ion , yet cared, to tear. ‘

“ Now you fe lers kin go on with your talk,”
grinned Red Pepper; ‘which you dropped
when I came in. Don’t be has fill.” icn
turniu to the bar, he paid for the drinks, add-
infi,“ ive me one 0’ them tickets. I’m goin’
in see '

 

the gala.”

/  ._ ' - \
. - ~

1' * \' -.
j . , , ,t . . i

x.

 

A placard posted at the bar, rend—“No ad-
mittance behind the scenes without a pass signed
by the manager. Price five dollars.”

“ The world’s comin’ to 3. end when he buys

tickets!” imittered Green I’crsiminoiis, whosp
piickcrcd visage had earned, the sobm’qucl.
“ They’s minic in tlic air—yon hear me I”
, But this sagacious prophecy was uttered too
low for the giant’s cars, as he left the barrooin
and paused while the doorkeeper unlocked ihc
door leading behind the scenes. A loud burll
of music caused lied Pepper to pause. He knew
that George Mack had come upon the. stage, and
that he would have little spare time, unless,
which was very unlikely, Little Pepper would
allow his victim to cscnpc after all.

icd Pepper had foiincd no )lans. So farlic
bud nctci solely on impulse. f he could only
find the woman! Once face to face, it would go
hard but he would succeed, even though he had
to light his way out to the horses.

Ilc knew nothing of the lay of the ground be-
yond, nor did he stop to consider how he was to
lcavc the building with his prev, in case he
should iii-.ike Estelle captive. The red-haired
giant was no cool plotter.

Hc hurried into a dark, narrow passe c,
pressnig doggedly on. Fortune favored him
in this. The passage led to the green-room, as
the dim light soon assured him. Just beneath
the smoking lniiip were the words, “WINE—
Roon." And, peering throuin the half-opened
door, he caught a rlinipse of two ersons seated
at one of the tub cs. An evil g ow filled his
cyes us he recognized the woman he sought.

iut~~licr companion? It was the doctor——C.
li‘. l’arnilcy—otlici‘wisc Little Cassino. An
liglylsur'picion flashed through the desperado’s
lllllll .

“l’iim’an’ her! Ef he's been playin’ bugs
mil” us!”

The two were evidently on good terms—even
confidcntia]. led Pc per grew hot as he re-
nicnibcred tlic unexp ained noise that had in-
tcri'uptcd Big (.lcorge while iving them their
instructions. If the doctor ad eavesdropped
them, and then carried Estelle the information
—lhut would explain why she had not fallen
into lhc cunnineg baited trap. Grating his
lceih, llcd l’cppcr grasped the butt of a revol-
vci'. But he did not use it, ’ust then.

Then came the shrill yel as Little Pepper
flung,r his knii‘c and severed the trapeze rope,
closely followed by the heavy thud as the luck-
less gymnast was hurled down, head—first, to
the bare, hard floor of the aisle, cleared by tho
horrmustricken spcclators not a moment too
soon to save their own )recious carcasses, at
the expense of George ll ack’s. Then came a
moment of bi'euihlcss silence.

Little (famine and Estelle sprun to their
feet, the latter pale and palpita ing. One
brief moment of horrible doubt—then the
dread truth flaslicd upon her mind as loud cries
came from the theater.

“(ieoi'gc——iiiel'('iful God! he has fallen!”
lnp‘st from her lips, as she sprung around the
tn no.

“Wail,” cried Little Cassino, catching her
arm. “Let me go first—there may be some
trick in this.”

“lie has fallen—let me go! he may be dead
~—dying-—nnd I not there—let me 0!” gasped
the woman, strugglin to free horse f.”

“ Look to her, girls, ’ cried the doctor, to the
terrified ballet-girls, who, womanlike, flocked
around llie nearest man at the first alarm.
“Keep her licre until I et back—ha! look
out!” he added, as the tube was overturned
and the light extinguished b its fall.

Freeing Estelle, lie dart to the door, but
lied I‘ep )er met him at the entrance. pistol in
hand. id for a defective cap, the thread
of Little ‘assino’s life would have been cut
short then and there. W'ith a furious curse at
his failure, Red Pepper shifted his grasp and
dealt the doctor a‘crushing blow upon the
head, felling him like a log. Then, with a
bowl of joy, he spurned the quivering body
with his foot. and rushed into the room, seiz-
iii Estelle in his arms, holding her aseasily asa
child, despite her desperate struggles to es-

ca .

BeHold your hush!” he snarled, furiously. as
she shricked aloud in her agony of mind at be-
inglljepg fromHtlliéla side of her suffering or dead
bus an . ‘ oi your au or I’ll wrin
neck like a chicken!” y p, 8 your

Brutally compressing her throat, he stifled
her screams While tearing the shawl from her
shoulders and cnvelopin her head with it.
Then, knownig that the nu must have been
given, be rushed to the door, cocking a revol-
ver. Butthe struggles of Estelle still bothered
him, and in the semi—darkness, he stumbled over
the prostrate doctor, falling heavil , a full
length, the shock knocking down he amp
which was shattered u n his head, the oil and
bits of glass half blinding him.

Freed from his arms, Estelle scrambled to
her feet, screaming loudly, in concert with the
ballet-girls. Cursing furiously, Red Pe r
sprung up, the shawl stall in his hands. an af-
ter a brief chase succeeded in catching his prey,

 

this time dealing with her in a still more sum-
mary manner. .

 

 

 

 

 

One heavy blow upon her head effectually
silenced her screams and struggles. Flingmg
the limp, nerveless figure upon his shoulder,
holding his pistol ready for instant use in case
necessity demanded it, the ruffian hastened
along the dark passageway. There he paused,
with an oath.

The alarm had been given, though for a time
It had been overpowered by the tumult beyond;
yet not one minute had elapsed since the first
alarm, so rapidly had the different changes 0e—
curi‘ed. But now, shouts of a far different ca-
dence came from the stage and the bar—room.
'l‘hc slii-ieks of the terrified women had been
heard, and aid was ap roaching.

Matmrs looked dar for Red Pepper, 'et he
never flinched, nor for one moment (llf it oc-
cur to him to abandon his prey and secure his
own escape, as he could easily have done, I)
mingling with the crowd. He was a true bul -

do .

§tanding in one corner, he waited as the men
came rushing on. The darkness favored him
beyond his ho . Ben Coffee and half a dozen
others )flSSSd fin, and the way of escalmsecnied
free. lied Pepper darted forward, with clench-
cd teeth. He reached the door in safety. Two
paths la open before him. The barroom was
one. he other, longer, led to a side-door,
“boning upon the alley. Along the latter pas-
sage he pressed. But the momentary hesita—
tion proved disastrous. A loud yell told that
16 was discovered. He turned, snarlin r. The
tall bartender was raising a revolver. (511le as
thought the giant fired. A horrible scream,
and another murder was added to the long score
against him.

Rushing along. Red Pepper found the door
securely fastened. Mad with impatience, he
kicked it heavily, but though the barrier rat—
tled, it held flrin. And from close behind him
came the sounds of pursuit; the heavy tramp-
ling of feet, the loud, angry voices.

.A grating curse arted his lipsas he recog-
nized the voice of Little Cassino, crying:

“ Take him alive-don’t burn powder—~yoa’ll
hit the girl!” '

Plungin forward, with the rush of a wild
bull, the mat struck the door with his shoul—
del‘. Splin ring the pine planks and bursting
the bin es, carrying the fragments into the al-
ley wit him. With crushing force he fell, in-
creased by the lifeless form upon his shoulder,
losing his isto] with the shock. Bewildored,
lialf-stunne , he gi‘oped around for his Weapon,
when, without warning, several dark forms
sprung across the alley noon him, their knives
gleaming wickedly in the starlight. Stung
with madness as a knife pierced his side, Red
P6Pper hurled the enemy aside with one mighty
effort, then rasped the Woman once more,
drawmg another pistol and discharging it point-
blaénkin the face of his most audacious assail-
an .

How it was done, he scarcely knew. but _a
strong band tore the lifeless fi-rure from his
grasp; as his legs were knocked from under
him, and he fell among those who had issued
from the building. But the giant was _not sub-
dued“ yet. Leaping up, he flung aside those
who had sought to confine his arms, then leap-
“ 9-Way down the alley like a deer, despite the
revolvor bullets which were sent after him. .

“On—after him!" elled Little Cassino,
[Qapmg forward, pisto in hand. “ Don’t let
mm escape us, now—ha! listen!”

One—two bright flashes came from the shad~
0‘” beyond; as many sharp reports. Then a
hoarse yell,a shrill sci-eaiii—-a brief struggle.
And as the party sprung toward the spot,
they heard a long laugh, as the thud of a
horse 3 hoofs filled the night air.

CHAPTER XIV.
LITTLE CASSINO FALLS MEIR TO A PRECIOUS
LEGACY.
WITH a fierce, grating curse Little Cassino
:Erun forward, at the head of his little party,
0

ug feelin that the were too late—that
the red-hair _ giant h foiled them all. The
defiant, tauntin yell had proceeded from his

1iPS‘ thifl, to ‘01: or with the ra idly-lessening
thud of iron-s 0d hoofs, spoke on y too plain! '.

Not far did Little Caesino run. In the (far {—
ness he trod full 11 11 some yielding substance,
only savmg himse f from falling by his cat-like
activity.

“Look out!” he cried, excitedly. “There’s
dead meat lying ’round here loose. Strikea
"13:011. some Of You; maybe it’s our man—if
it isn’t, then he’s got clear 06! this deal.”

“ It’s a nigger—or a greaser!” .gnm'ed Dandy
Dave, as the flickering match expired,

Little Cassino struck another match, and
stooped over the bod . Faint though the light
was, he saw enouf . That huge form. the
heavy repulsive ea res, the eel)inan
face, the one o gle-eye, now glazed and 'ght.
less—it was t t remained of the giantshau-
breed, Muerte. _ ,

A frightful gash laid bare his chest. Death
must have been almost instantaneous.

“That settles it!” uttered the doctor, in a
hard, unnatural voice. f‘ The dog has escaped
us, for this once. Let him laugh while he can.
Our turn comes ”

_ Q l
l

 

1

Big George, the Giant of the Gulch.

\

13

 

“ Who was the female critter, anyhow?” de-
mzuu to Randy Dave. “ ’Tall come so sudden I
hain’t had time to find out which end I’m stand—
in’ on. When I heard them gals a—squealin’, I
didn’t stop—”

“The little Scotch girl—the one you gave
your shirt—”

“ Oh, 12—1 3” fairly howled Dandy Dave. “ An’

I didn’t know it—an’ that dirty cuss has ker-
rivd her of'.‘~an’ we let him! Somebody chaw
me into fiddle-strings—rub me down with a
brick——do somethin’to make me feel meaner’n
i do now. She stole away by a p’izen snake
like him—an’ we stannin’ yere like two-le‘gied
hitchin’-posts—good Lord! pour down re - 0t
whom an’ little imps to use ’em of we don’t
hustle aroun’—- “'uke u , you fellers—all them
as culls ’cmselves mun, oller me!” howled the
excited digger, as he started down the alley at
the top of his awed, in the direction from
whence came the last beat of the hoof—strokes.

“Let him go, boys," shortly laughed Little
Cassino. “ Cool and easy goes further in a da
than hot and hasty. It’s headwork that w'l
count in this game. lVe can’t take the trail
until daylight—"

“Doc—thank God! I’ve found ye!” splutter-
ed Ben Cofl'ee, coming up. “ You’re wanted—
quiek! Poor Maek———”

“Then it was him—I feared as much. How
did itha pen?”

“ Murder—cold-blooded murder, that’s what’s
the matter—st devilish trick as ever was! And
he, poor fellow! the best card I ever held—just
my dadurncrooked luck! I wish to ge-mently
I’d iic\’ei"strucl{ the town—the pizeiiest hole the
side of—’

But Little Cassino did not pause to listen
fin-flier, and “ cursing a blue streak,” the man-
ager followed hard upon his heels. With dif-
ficulty the doctor succeeded in maki his way
to where the injured man lay—uponnfibe stage,
where he had so recently stood, a model of su-
perb strength and manly beauty bowing low
to the enthusiastic applause of the audience;
and now——a bruised, bleeding, man led ruin.

“Stand back—give the man an!” steme
cried Little (.‘assino. “ Do you want to destroy
his last chance? Air—air!”

“You hear the boss?” bellowed burly Cot-
ton-top, swinging his ponderous arms around
like battering—rains. ‘Give us room—plenty
o‘ room—you, Tuni’le-bug! scroudge back, that,
f'o’ I ’light onto e! You orner cusses act like
you‘d never bin )rought up a- l!”

“\Vhat’s the show-—wdl he pull throu b,
think?” anxiously muttered Coffee, as the oc-
tor knelt beside the body. “I knowed it! 
niy esky, crooked luckl’ he groaned, as Little
CllSn'lllO silently shook his liea .

The sight was not so repulsive, now that the
doctor had wiped away the blood and dirt
from the ymnast’s face. A long gash upon
the back 0% the skull, a few bruises upon the
shoulders and one side: this was all that the
unprofessional eye would have seen. Far dif-
ferent with the doctor. His eye looked doe
er. There were terrible internal injuries.
falling, the gymnast had struck against the
corner and back of one of the benches. His
death was inevitable—his moments were al-
ready numbered.

“ It ’1! kill his poor wife—you knew he was
married? I wonder where she is—I haven’t—”

_“ You don’t know, then .3” quick] interrupted
Little Cassino, looking u . “ he’s gone—
stolen awa ' by that (lOVll, god I’e per—3

“That may settle it!” gasped (EJII’O, suiting
the action to the words, and squatting upon the
stage III. a crumpled hea of utter di. ust.. “I
won’t kick no more. ou fellers kin git the
hearse ready soon ’8 you like—1 don’t want to
breathe an longer.”

Iii-5 won 3 were unneeded. At that moment
the injured man moaned feebly, and quivered
as he vainly strove to lift his head.

“Easy, lad,” soothineg uttered the doctor.
“ Take It ('001-V0n’ve had a little accident,
that’s all. You’ll be all right, pretty soon.”

“ Estelle—where are you? I can’t—can’t

“She’ll be here in a moment—don’t worry
-—tnke it easy as you can,” added the doctor, a
queer sensation in his throat.

If heard, his words were not heeded. The
poor licad rolled feeny from side toside the
glazing eyes moved rest essly as though 
for the deer face they would never again be-
hold in life—his feeble voice faintly wh'
the loved name-Estelle, no ' but E5 3,

None knew, better than the octor how vain
all human skill wear-that the dread flatbed
gone forth—that the. young wt was dy-
ing. And knowmg t 18. he ought only of
soothing the poor ellOW’slast moments. Mo-
tioning Cotton-top to take his lace, and show-
ing him how to support his mad, he pulled
Ben Coffee aside.

“Wake up,old manfdon’t beafool! Hunt
up some of t 18 gu'ls—brmg one here. A steady,
cool-headed one, if you can. Lively, now—
don‘t you see the man is d mg?”

Thus spurred, Coffceb yed, returning in a
few moments with a middle-aged woman. To
her Little. Cassino spoke, in a low, earnest tone.

“ You hear him—calling for his wife? She

' v

 

r

cannot come—you must take her rt. Wait—
it is nothing so (y'eadful. He is lind—d ing.
He cannot see—he never will know the ' er-
ence. It is a pious fraud, for he will die happy.
You are strong enough for that? ‘You mustn’t
speak—only let him hold your hand and think
you are his wife.”

“I will do it—never fear me, sir ” was the
subdued re y, as she moved forward and knelt
beside the ying man.

“ Estelle—my wife—I thought you would
never—come!” whispered the gymnast, his face
calming as though by magic.

The touch of her hand seemed to infuse new
life into his veins. His voice grew clearer and
stronger. His words came eaSier.

“ I am dying, little one—don’t cry. The best
of friends mu and God is 00d. He will
let us meet again, never fear. wish I could
stay with you longer—always. Life has been
very sweet since knew you. Ah! there is
something risin and choking me—I can hardly
breathe! But hsten—I must speak quick. This
is a bad place for such as you. You must leave
it—~this life, I mean. The ‘old man’ will give
yin; my salary—that will take you to my people.

mise me you will go? Promise—”

“She will—I ‘ve you my word, friend,” in~
tempted Little assmo.

“ Doctor—thank God! you are here! Give me
your hand—and little one yours. There!” he
added, joinin their han . “I leave her in
your care, doc r. You have—proved a friend
to—us both Estelle, wife, trust him; he will
not fail you. Doctor, as you deal with her, so
ma —God deal with you!

‘ I accept the trust!” solemnly uttered Little
Cassino. “If I fail her—your wife—may God
desert me in my hour of need—amen!”

A faint sigh of intense relief, then George
Mack lay quiet, like one dead, save for his la-
bored breathing. For several moments thus—
:hen he suddenly sat up, a wild light in his

ace.

" Estelle—my wife—God of mercy protect
her! save her from that—oh—hold me! I am
falling—falling—”

A burst of b 00d checked his utterance. One

ebggyulsive shudder, then his head fell heavily I

The young gymnast was dead.

A worn and faded flag covered the dead. The
stage was cleared. Men stood around in little
knots, conversing in whispers. But then the
o (pressive silence was broken by aloud cry from
0 Bart Noble.

I “Look yonder! see that knife—thar’s a claw

or e.

.A eyes were turned 11 ward; following the
direction of his outstretc ed fin er, the men
saw a broad-bladed knife sticking ictween two
of the boxes, its int deep buried in the soft
pme. A wild yel arose as the read the truth.

“Hold!” shrill cried Little assino,his voice
arresting the as tho h liyemagic. “One
hasty move may destrgy EL t us make sure
of each etc as we go ong. Who among you
saw the knife thrown?”

No one replied. Thong? a hasty examination
had shown them that t e fatal rope had been
half severed, until Bart Noble’s discovery not
one had even ted that the devilish deed
had transpired be ore their very eyes.

“Was the trapeze in motion, or stationary,
when the rope broke?” .

To this question there was but one answer.
The ropes _were still.

“That is enough!” cried Little Casino, ex-
ultantly. “ We can easily tell from which box
the knife came, by drawing a line from the
weapon to the trapeze, then to the spot from
whence it was thrown. Easy, now. Let me
pass, please. The murdered man was my friend
—_you all heard ms_wordHnd I claim the
rigltit to, take the lead in bringing his assassin to
Jus ice. ’

“That’s the talk! cl’ar the way, for we’re
comin’!” yelled Cotton-top, using his broad
shoulders with good effect.

Little Cassino led the way up the stairs and

 

quickly marked the box from whence the knife
had been thrown. They could even tell the

exact spot where the assassin had stood.

“ Thar’s onl one thin more,” said Bart No-
ble, quietly. ‘ Ef any y kin tell us who tuck
this box for the night, I reckon we won’t be fur
from flndin’ the right cuss.” ,

The doorkee r was esautistioned, but he could
not answer t e u on. There was little
regularity observ above stairs. The miners

having paid for box-seats, made the most of - ‘

their privile , often going the rounds, drop—
ping into a x whenever or wherever they
recogn a friend. But the avengers were not
10 age 105. A  :3; a}: hfnd.

f we  ' — 'now it all!”
cried a shr' voice and, breathlem with his
a; 105, the shock-headed waiter boy reached

9 x. .

“I kin tell,” he panted. “I fetched u
drinks yore jest store he fell. Theywastwd:
at fast but the big red-headed
dpwn-sta’is, lea ' ’ t’other alone—a little mint
0 a—

“ Little Popper, by—l” cried Bart Noble.

gnloot went. ,,

~ I . 5
rN~ w-.. “firm-r

    

‘19 .

 - .21... A

R" "Arr-.1...“ .3 a; <

w..._v, .1.

=uu .r. .—. dawnu- -

.‘..
‘i

. .-

i a!

— ' him grow plainer and more distinct.

3'
i 

 

A. wild howl arose—a yell of bitter, deadly
vengeance——a yell that meant bloodshed. The
long pcnt~up storm was loosened at last. Woe
unto the Pepper brothers! _

But the tumult was quelled in a strange
manner. In a shrill tone Bart Noble cried
aloud:

“Good heaVens! look at the Doc!”

Staggering blindly, Little ()assino fell heavi-
ly to the. floor, lying like one suddenly stricken
with death!

CiiAI’TER XV.
PHANToMs or Tim NIGHT.

A snAnowv figure gliding through the night.
Striding swiftly where the shade is densest.
Crouching low down, almost crawling, when
‘lilB silver moon or twinkling stars shine out
brigher from the tlcccy clouds. Startin at
every sound, now crouching down bCSltll a
bowldcr with finger on trigger, with face show-
ing ghastly pale through the struggling beard,
with eyes bloodshot and wild—the eyes of a
desix‘rate, hunted beast, eyes that see a bitter,
merciless foo in every bush and stone, in each
whisper of the wind among the scraggy iines
and cedars, in the silently waving sliai ows;
with ears that bear the swift tramp of the
avenger of blood drawing nearer and nearer
with each passing moment.

A man whose life from youth has been one of:
wild adVenturo and reckless during; a. man
,whose braVei-y had become a proverb, now
trembling with fear—a Very craVeu, frightened
of his own shadow.

()n, with throbbing heart and whirling brain,
with limbs that dragged like lead. Punting
breathless, yet still on, fearing to pause, s iiirred
on by that horrible dread—+11ll’erillg‘ death even
in li e.

lie enters a narrow canyon, the walls rising
high upon each hand. lie shudders as he enters
the gloom. it seems like a grave~—like being
buried alive. Yet he dare not pause. Terror
im ‘iels him forward.

1 low cry parts his lips. The sounds behind
He can

hear the echoing tread of horses’ boots—the
occasional clink of an iron-shml foot upon the
flinty rocks. Imagination no longer. The aven-
ger of blood is upon him!

A bitter groan bursts from his lips. Like an
echo comes a wild, mocking laugh—a laugh so
' fiendish. so malignant, that it diills his very
heart.’ Despairingly he raises his pistol—but
whither aim! The mix-king notes come from
above, from in front, behind—from every direc-
tion; yet no one is visilili.~-4iiily the gloom of
night, rendered still deeper by the faint twinkle
of the stars peering down between the walls of
the deep canyon.

Hunted down, feeling that esca. )e was impos-
sible, one spark of his former man iood returned
to the fugitive. He raised his pistol to his own
head, and pressed the trigger. Since die he
must, he would at least esca )0 the torture.

But even this was deniei him. Though his
hand was steady enough, and the weapon faith-

ful, the leaden bullet idly spent its force upon
the senseless wall, far above. A snaky coil cut
the air, and the despairing wretch was flung
heavily to the ground, saved from suicide—for
what? ’

Stunned and bruised, he was yet sensible of
what ensued; like one in a dream.

He knew that a dark figure approached and
bentbwr him, loosening the lasso, and feeling
of his heart, to see if be yet lived. He heard a
low murmur of satisfaction, then a lender tone
as the shadowy figure announced his success.
He knew that other forms descended from the

rpcndicular walls, glided up from the pas

)eyoml, while still others rode into the canyon,

pausing by his side. He heard voices, but

could not distinguish the words. He felt that
he was being disarmed. That stout thongs were
being twisted around his limbs and body. That
he was being lifted up and bound securer upon
the back of a horse. Then the cool night air
fanned his damp brow as he was carried on
through the valley, along the trail he had so
lately traversed. Then, his mind seemed to

've way. The earth seemed swimming around;

e felt himself failings-falling down an unmea-
surable dc ith! '

m al was a blank. It seemed as though
he was dean. Beth for him had this seeming
been reality! ,_ __

A weird, ieculiar scene!

A small )i‘sin-llku valley. The mountains,
dark and forbidding with their robes of somber
pines and cedar shrubs, mottled here and there
with a ragged bowlder gleaming an unearthly
white beneath the light of the moon, towered
high upon every side, seeming to )enetrate the
clouds. The bottom of the valley, level and
smooth as a flOor, was covered with coarse sand
and gravel. A down] dark-relied figures were
ranged in a semicircle. Before them knelt an-
otherform. kindling a tire with flint and steel.
Beyond this, a single fl e sat u n horse-
back, coVei‘ed from homing) foot W th a sable
robe. At the animal’s feet lay a bound and
helpless man. ,

The tire crackled and mapped. Its forked

 

Big George the: ,Giant_9f,,te9_Gu1011-

tongues crept in and out among the resinous
twigs. Its glow began to drive back the pale
luster of the moon, to fill the little amphitheater
with its ruddy glare, to light up the somber
figures, to revea their stern, forbidding fea-
tures.

At a gesture from the horseman, those form-
ing the semicircle flun aside their cloaks and
blankets, each man h01( ing a bared blade in
his right hand. Then the cowled figure spoke
—its voice sounding hard and metallic.

“ Vandez, prepared the prisoner for judg—
ment.”

The man addressed advanced to where the
captive lay. Stooping, he bathed the man’s
face with strong liquor. Frying open the
tightl clenched teeth with the point of a knife,
he a] owed a portion of the brandy totrickle
down the prisoner’s throat. Rude as the treat-
ment was, it proved efficacious. With a long
sigh, the wretch opened his eyes and glared
around him.

A convulsive shudder agitated his frame as
his eyes noted the stern, silent figures, and read
the truth—that his worst fears were realized.

“ Prisoner ” uttered the cowled figure, in the
same icy-co d voice, slightly bending his head
the better to look down upon the captive’s
face. “ You are here to be tried for your life.
Listeii to the charge against you. Vandez, pro-
coed.

“ I charge the prisoner with being one of the
men who, under command of Captain Harry
Love four years ago this month, did foull
murder, among others, two men whose deati
we have solemn] sworn to avenge—so help as
Mary, Mother of esusl"

For a moment there was breathless silence as
the sonorous voice died away. Then the. cowl—
ed fi re spoke again.

“ risoner you have heard the charge read.
Are 1you guilty or not ilt .4”

“ Us a lie—a foul, ilac hearted lie!” cried
the captive, throwing all his power into one
effort to burst his bonds; but in vain. A cun—
ning hand had ap lied them. ‘

“ Thomas Ha ress, alias ‘Hammer 'l‘om,’
listen,” coldly added the masked rider. “ Four
years ago there lived a man, whose name was
Joaquin Murieta. He was outlawed, a price
set upon his head. For what! Because he
sought revenge against those who had blacken‘
ed his whole life—those who had robbed and
flogged him; those who had hung his brother
like a. dog for another man’s crime; those who
had outraged and murdered his innocent wife.
If he committed crime, if he stained his hands
in blood, had he no excuse? Men said not——
and the offered five thousand dollars for his
head. 0 earn this blood—mono , you and your
fellows hunted him down, muri ered him like a
wolf. You cut off his head—with the hand of
Manuel Garcia, Three-fingered Jack. You took
them to San Francisco. You received the
blood-money—and then you placed the head
and hand in a cage, so that every cowardly cur
whose blood turned to water whenever they
heard his name spoken, could come and revile,
iipit upon all that remained of the Mountain

.ing and his faithful friend! You boasted of
your brave deeds—you and your noble com-
rades! Little did you think on were uttering

our death-warrant in those mats—that even

hen the even r was upon your trail—that
your names an descriptions were being taken
down by one who had sworn never to rest until
the last one of our number had met with the
same fate that fell him—but so it was. li‘our
have been )unished. You are the fifth.
Thomas Ha ress, repare for death!”

A ain the wrote ied captive sou ht tobnrst
his nds, raving, cursing and gging for
mercy alternately; but he was fighting against
the inevitable. »

At a sign, two stout men grappled him, hold-
ing him immovable. Then the masked rider
dismounted, taking the long, heavy knife which
Vandez extended. The wca )0" hung fora nio—
ment poised in mid-air. hen it descended.
A wild yell broke from the ca tive’s  The
blood spirted from his maimed hand. no little
finger was missing.

gain the weapon rose and fell.

 

The fire crackled and snapped. Its ruddy
glare fell upon a terrible object. The hoodlum
trunk of a man. Upon the still quivering chest,
la a mutilated hand. Upon this hum rested
a end, its features horribly distorted and con—
vulsed.

“Brothers!” uttered the cowled figure, in a
clear, cold voice. “Thus shall perish all those
Whose hands were stained with the heart’s blood
of Joaquin Mai-iota, our master and king! Ad-
vance and, with me, renew your oath!"

With right arms elevated above the mutilat-
ed corpse, each hand clasping a knife, the
blades crossing, the avengers repeated the
stern. deadly oath of vengeance after thm‘
chief.

“It is well!” declared the chief, resuming
his seat in the saddle. “Now to com ilete pur
work. See'to the carrion, Vandes. _he night
is growing old, and we have a long trail to ol-
low.’ '

Turning, the chief led the way up the steep

a—t , v ‘v‘

 

 

ascent, his horse following the narrow, winding
trail with the activity of a goat. Bearing the
hand, the head, the trunk, his followers came
after. Fifty yards above the valley, the mask-
ed rider turned aside into a dense clump of
shrubbery which concealed the entrance to a
narrow ass through the mountains. A num-
ber of orses were tethered here, and, after
binding the body upon one, the avengers mount-
ed and followed their chief through the night.

For several hours they rode on rapid] , that
length of time suilicing to carry them c use to
their destination. ’icfore them lay a rude col-
lection of buildings—n mining town. Halting,
the chief uttered a few directions in a low voice.
Vandez listened in silence, and bowed respect-
fully at its conclusion. Then he, with two
others, took up the horrible burden, and
cautiously entered the town.

Vandez went in advance, as though to make
sure that the way was clear. Twice he uttered
a low, warning hiss, and the trio sunk ilatto the
ground, lying still and motionless as logs. But
the alarm proved unfounded, and as often they
proceeded, finally pausing near the center of the
town.

The headless trunk was carefully coni sod
upon its back in the middle of the street. pou
its breast was placed the severed hand, support-
in the head.

bno cautious look around, then the trio stole
stealthin away.

A moment later, a dark fi re cautiously
crawled toward the corpse. he moon )assed
from beneath a cloud, its silver rays lighting up
the fearful object.

Themeasured tramp—tramp of horses’ hoofs
came from the edge of the town. The avengers
were ridin away.

With a ow grating snarl, the dusky figure
rose erect and darted away in the direction
from whence the sounds proceeded.

CHAPTER XVI.
STAR’I‘LINH TIDINGS.

“ Fir a feller cain’t sackertlgc hisself fer a
pard, then whar’s the use in livin’i” and Cottoir
top nodded impressiver at his own shadow up-
on the floor, w iile twistin r off a section from a

lug of “bright navy.” gtowing this away in
us ch“ck, he resumed.

“Nobody but a durned hog’d want curry-
thin’——a critter couldn’t goan’ stay, too. They’ll
be high jinks, I reckon, cf the boys ondlv strike
pay-dirt—inore flin then you could s mice a
stick at! Bullets an’ steel ’1] be free to all-—
they’ll be more holes )unched an’ slits cut then
they is fleas under a reaser‘s blanket! Ef ondly
~—biit he is, an’ that settles it!”

The big digger hit his speech short off, with
a quick, vicious nod, though his eyes crossed
the room with a half—regretfnl, half-resigned
glance, resting upon a silent, motionless figure
which occupied the rude, blind-stained cot.

Little )assino lay there, his face white and
pinched, seeniinr-r still paler from contrast with
the dark mustac 1e and pointed beard. He lay
like one dead; only a keen eye could have de-
tected that he breathed.

“He looks like a pictur’!” muttered Cotton-
top, with an admiring look. “ Ef his sweet-
ness could ondlysec him now—~she’d jest keel
right over, past savin’. Looks so soft an’ deler-
cut—like a suckin' babby. An’ yit—‘est see
him in a shindyl Geeroomagootsl it’s tter’n
a bully-dance jest to see him wade in likea
forty thousan’ boss-power injun b’iled down
an’ ioured into a man’s side—it is so I”

The little thread of sunshine, streaming in
through a crack in the slab door, stole up and
covered the doctor’s face. As though the touch
was magic, his eyes opened with a vacant stare.
A broad grin overspread Cotton-top’s face, as
he arose and creakineg advanced, on tiptoe,
to the bedside. At the Sight of his countenance
the puzzled look fled from the doctor’s eyes,
and a little smile lit up his face.

“ Hallo, old man!”

Those three words gave Cotton-top more
genuine pleasure than. would the discovery of a
“ pocket ” of gold. With a half-choked chuckle.
he began mpering around the room with all
the grace of a grizzly bear fighting hornets, not
a little to the amused wonder of Little Cassino,
but who, at last, was fain to call a truce.

“ Eiiough’s as good as a feast, old man—su
pose on come to anchor, and tell me—how in
than er I came here, in bed—and what it all

means, anyhow?”
“ I huin t felt so’ gmd sence m fust drunk 1”

 

declared Cotton-top, with a long reath, wiping.

his wispiring brow.

“ ha ’s more than I can say,” put in Little
Cassino, With a stifled groan. “I feel as
though l’d been run through a thrashing-ma~
chine—”

“Not much wonder, nuther,” interru ted
(‘otton-top, more soberly. “You’re 3, Sigh 3"
over—you be so! A lump on your head big—
ger’nn punkin; a bullet thron h our left ham:
a knife jab in your side—a itte deeper ’nd
you’d went to glory by ’xprcss! Then you’ve
got more bumps an’ bruisewfl

“But how f” persisted Little Cassiuo, uz—
zled. “We were up in the box where that
devil of a Pepper throw the knife—”

 

 

 

“Then you fainted—fell down all in a heap,
like as ef your bones’d turned to quicksilver.
You skeart us right ert, now I tell ye! Your
boot was chuck-ful 0‘ blood, an’ they wasn’t
no more starch in ye than in a wet rag, ou

in so limber when we icked you n . he 4 top, in a subdued tone.
p €16 last ‘ plain as nu l to me
‘ ( .' I i r.

’mtement, I reckon, kep’ ye up till t
notch; then you giv’ way all in a heap to oncct.
So we brung you yere—’ :

A low cry came from the wounded man. as
he glanced swiftly around. An awful expl'cs— ‘
sion came into his eyes, and he Would have
sprung from the cot, had not Cotton-top firmly
restrained him.

“Here—in mv oflice! Tell Inc—where are 
thcy ?” he cried, in a harsh, strained voice. ;

“Ef you mean them Pepper boxes, they’ve ,1
gone,” quietly repeated Cotton-top. “Thar— 
take it cool an’ eas , now, an’ I’ll give you the ;
hull details, fur’s llknows ’ein, tiat  But
you must keep ca’m, them’s the orders. I’m
putt yere as your nurse. My rcpetation’s at
stake, an’ I can’t hev you ruinin’ it an’ cuttin’
your own throat by any sech fluinmydiddles—
you mind that I”

“I’ll be quiet—only tell me what has hap-
pened} I have a deeper interest in it all than
you think.”

“Now you’re talkin’ sense—good stud-boss
sense” and Cottoutop nodded approvingly.
“ 0 ere goes. I don’t s’pose they’s any need
0’ my goin’ back 0’ the time when you kerflum-
maxed—”

“No—I can remember up to that. Tell me
what followed.”

“I’ll do it—like a bird! You know what
we’d diskiverod: that that orner Little Pep—
fir hed flung the knife which cut the rope. 3

en

i

 

 

 

Dand Dave kem in an’ said as how Red ,
Pep or he run away with the.little singin’- [
1’13“: the e the muss was about, t’other
night—”

I know; go on,” impatiently.
_ “ That bu’stcd the dam; they wasn’t no hold-
in’ the crowd back then. You know how much
dirt they’ve tuck from them imps o’ sul )hur an’ ‘
brunstone-land, all fer want 0’ some oily to
take the lead ag’inst ’em. That wasn’t wanted
no lon er. Dandy Dave stirred ’em up that
time, c can to the bottom. They was jest one ,
yell; I reckon you kin guess what that was. '
l‘he hull outfit, ’cept me ’nd Bart Noble, who
stuck by you, made a break for outdoors. The
run here, jest a-b’ilin’ over. The meant bum-
noss, chuck up, you bet! I rec 'on they’d ’a’
Just nat’ally chawed—”

_“ I’Vould have; then they didn’t?” interrupted
Little Cassino, excitedly.

“N0; ’ca’se whl': they wasn’t nobod fer to
chaw up. The p’izen rats was gone, loc , stock
an’ bar’l; levanted, vamosed, cut stick, skee-
daddled, puckacheed! Geeroomagoots! but
wasn’t the boys hot when they found it out,
though! I reckon you kin smell the cuss-words
in the air now, of you try hard.” I

“What did they do, then?” persmted Little
Cassino.

“ All they knowed how. Some s’arched the
town, others scattered through the bills, but
they’d made more goin’ bug-huntin’ to the
moon. Not a durned one on ’em struck a lead.

“0' art an’ me, we brung you over yere, I
a“, Putt? g‘ou to bed. When he done up your :;
wounds: 8 sez to me, sez be: you stay right 1
hyar an} don’t you take your gliininers o ’u g
him. mind that. He said he reckoned you 1
moughtpull through; ’twas more the w’ar an’
t’ar of he last few days then your hurts as :
knocked you over. A good long sleep an’ rest-
in’ 8 ll would—”

 

f‘ ever mind me; I’m all right,” restlessly
cried the doctor. “About her—has nothing:
been done!”

“0001 an’ easy does it, pard," quoth Cotton- i
t’rolfi’who was something akin to a mule. “I
1min t come to that part yit. Lord! Doe; I tell
you last night won’t be forgotten in these parts
very soon. The devil’s imps was cuttin’ up thar
outdom’est Itell you! The fast gang 0’ boys
what kem hack—what d’y’ s’pose they stumbled
:i inst, fust thing, not twenty feet from whar
\ oodpecker found his pard? Hammer Tom;
you knowedhim, I reckon; the man as tuk sick
when they read that paper on Saltpeter.”

“You on’t mean to an -—?”

“1 jest 110!” answere Cotton-top, soberly.
“ Sirved jest like they did Saltpeter; head,
hand an’ little. or; an’ a dagger stuck in his
karkidge innin’ own a bito paper with the

mime wor s on as t’other , r
live, ’stead 0’ four.” paper—0n Y a 5886
Great

“ Still another! heavens wh Will
the and come? Pard—the next one; willethe me
—-I feel it—-”

Cotton-top uttered a cry of wonder.

“ You wasn’t one 0’ them—”

“ Yes—I belonged to Harry Love’s band. At
the time I believed the cause was a holy one—
:ind I think so still. But if it was Wrong—God

3 the game to earth.

' gratified, he thought of his own safety.
‘; as he drew back. a bitter curse hissed betwixt
‘ his clenched teeth. His gum rested u on his

I

l

15

 

BigflG-eorge, _the_eiant of the '

1 they are true ones, this horrible myster will be
, cleared up before many more days. ow tell
i me the rest. Has anything been done for this
j poor girl ’5”
“ Bart Noble tuck hold 0’ that,” said Cotton-
“He made it all as
He said them Peppers all
1 played the same hand. an’ Big George was king-
tond 0’ the \nddlc. He was dead stuck on that

I gal. Red ’epps‘r kerried her off, more’n likely

for his brother, scnce they all pulled up stakes
at the same time. It stan's to reason they’d go
to the place whar the 7 could make the best

j fight, of. so be they shou d be follered in airnest.

“ har would that be. onless at the gulch, whar
they could hev thar gang to fight fer ’em?

“ That’s the way Bart read it, an’ he acted on
it, too. He called the boys together, an’ made
a speech, runnin’ over what I’Vc told you, an’

; a-slingin’ in a lot 0’ sharp hits ’bout the dirty
_ stories the country in gin’ral would hcv to
’ 71

Sn.” ——

dust here came an intei'i'iuifion. The door
was flung widely open and a man stumbled
across the threshold, ailing upon his hands
and knees. \Vith an angry cry. (‘otton-to
leaped to his feet and scizcd the intruder.
moment more and ihc man would have been
flung into the street, but Little (.‘assino cried
shar 1y.

“ old—it is a friend, Cotton—top! Let him
down, old man—it’s all right.”

The iant obeyed, though reluctantly.

“A irtv, sneakin’ Greascr!” he sniffed, con-
teni )tuously.

“ ut a friend, if I mistake not, nevertheless.
Now, my man, you want to see me! Quick—
out with it!”

“ He sent me—-—Jose Sylva,” replied the Mex-
ican, edging further away from the scowling
giant. ‘1 am Gaspard—’

“ I know—I have heard of you from a friend.
What did Jose Sylva bid you tell me?”

“He said for you to come—that he had run
He said use whip and
spur—”

“ What game? Speak out, fool!"

“ The big red—haired mun—”

“ Red l’e )per!”

“Yes. There is a woman with him—”

“ Cottoirtop, go get my horsc-quick!” cried
Little Uassino, springing to the floor and grasp-
ing his clothes.

“ You cain’t o—-you’ll kill yourself—”

“ I will go! swore to him that] would care
for and protect his wife, and I’ll not fail her
now. Go—get the horses—there is not an in-
stant to lose! Go, I say—or I’ll think you an
enemy instead of a friend!”

lVith one reproachful glance Cotton-figs left
the building. Though his limbs trembl be-
neath him, Little Uassino hurried on his clothes,

uestiom‘ng the Mexican the while, and before
otton-top returned with the horses, he had
secured his weapons and was ready for the
road.

 

CHAPTER XVII
FLEEING FROM VENGEANCE.

WITH a chuckle of diabolical satisfaction,
Little Pepper witnessed the terrible fall of the
young gymnast. Leaning far over the box-
railing, he glared down 11 on the quivering
man, and licked his thick ips as he noted the
little rill of blood creeping down the aisle, over
the space left vacant by the startled audience.

But the one gloating look was all Little Pep-
per allowcd himself. The devil’s promptjpgs

nd

knife sticking firmly in the woodwork ( irectly

] opposite. A single glance told him whata fa-

tal witness this would prove, if left where it
hung until other hands found it.

Leavin the box, Little l’cpper hastened
around t e circle, but to his intense disgust
found that both doors of the boxes between
which hung the knife were locked. He dare
not attempt to force them, lest he should be
overheard and taken in the act.

“They’s only one thing—puckachccf” he
grated, cursing his headstrong passions, now
that it was too late. “ A blian man could see
whar the knife kem from—2111‘ cvorybodv in
the house knowed I was in that box. They’ll
be the devil’s delight kicked up——I reckon the
quicker we slide out o’ yere the better for our
healths.”

Reckhisg as he was, the dwarf did not ex-
actly fancy the meeting with Big George, hear-
ing such tidings as he must. He succeeded in
leavinor the building, unmolested, but so leis-
urely id he move that as he emerged, he heard
the struggle in the alley that acted the ap-
pearance of Red Pepper and his victim. Not
until he heard the V0100 Of his brother did Lit-
tle Pep er divine the truth, but then he acted

rompt y. The sounds guided him, and sham-

 

knows I’ve suffered enough to atone ten thou-
sand times! I’m no coward—where I can ace 
a danger, or know who I am fighting a must;
but this—there! Let it drop now, 01 man,
Only one thin . Keep a close tongue. Don’t
breathe awor of what I have toldyou. I have I
not been idlA u“ mV summons, and it

ling around the corner, he reached the spot
where their horses had been tethered, nonetoo
soon.

Two men were fighting desperately over the

rostrate figure of a woman. Like a bull-dog
.ittle Pepper sprung at therear of the big
Mexican, and so hampered him that Red Pep-

l

 

ulch.

 

per instantly ended the struggle with a down-
right stroke of his bowie. nafching up the
woman, he leaped into the saddle, calling to his
brother:

“Tell George I’ve got her—but thar’s h—-l
to ay! Tell ’em to hunt thar holes—hot foot!”

ike an ape, Little Pe per climbed into the
saddle and thundered o in the tracks of his
brother, too cunnin to run direct for his lair.
Then circlin aroum , he left his horse with the
others, and astcned on to the doctor’seflicc,
reaching it just in time to Check Pepper-pot,
who was sallying forth to learn the cause of the
u roar.

“Gosaddle the critters—«mick? punde the
dwarf. “It’s for life or death—a mini'iit may
lose our skelps!”

“ What’s the row—speak out?” growled Big
George. iringing from his cot, unmindful of
his wouni s.

“Jack‘s got the gal, but we lied to fight fer it
—hafe a dozen galoots rubbed out." rapidly re-
plied the dwarf, making no mention of the
tragedy within the theater. “They made us
out—we putt ’em on a blind trail, but they ’11 be
yere after 'ou fellcrs soon’s they take a second
thought. othin’ ’1] save us but legs—an’
mighty long ones, at that!"

“(lot the horses—you and Dick~livelyl I’ll
see to. Sam,” ordered Big George, throwing on
his outer garments and weapons, then turnng
to his wounded brother.

Badl ' hurt though' he was, Black Pepper
shows no lack of “grit,” bearing the torture
without a sign other than by rating his teeth
together as though he would?Y grind them to
powder. Their bittcrcst enemies could not
deny them the possession of brute courage and
endurance in an uncommon degree.

\Vhile Big George was adjusting his clothes,
Black Pc ipcr recoppcd and inspected his revolo
vers, wit the air of one who meant business.
Scarccly was this accomplished when the four
horses were brought to the door. The wounded
man was lifted into the saddle, and, to make all
secure, a trail-rope was wound around his body
and fastened to the saddle. As for Bi George,
the exr-ifement had effected a marve ous cure.
He moved around as though perfectly sound in
mind and limb.

“Keep close to me," cautioned Big George,
as he settled himself in the saddle. “ Ride slow
until out of hearing—~thcn we must put in our
best licks. There’ll be wolves on our trail, hot
for blood, with the first light.”

“Allthat come won’t go back o’thar own
a’cor ,” was the quiet reply of Black Pepper,
pressing one hand to his wound, from which he v.
felt the hot blood beginning to trickle; but not
a complaint uttered be, though every move-
ment of his horse was like drawing a tooth.

Clearing the town, they made a detour half-
way round it before striking the trail they
meant to follow. At this moment they are fun-
nishcd proof of their prudence in taking flight.
For a few minutes the town had been comparar' ,
tively silent, but now a fierce, deadly roar
came to their cars. But few Wordsweredis-
tinguishable; still, they heard enough. The
mob had arisen—it was the cry for blood!

“The cowardly curs!” snarled Big George,
his eyes lowin ike those of an enraged ti r-
cat. “ ey ye p loud enough now, but the
one Would turn tail and hunt his hole at the
first glim of our faces!”

Nevert eless he urged his horse into a lope,
and rode across the valley, followed by his bro-
thers. The were now heading toward Dia-
mond Gulc ,whcrc, for the past three ye
Big George had had his head» uarters. Bu
the were destined not to reac the retreat
wit iout serious interruption.

A deep curse and cry from Little Pepper
startled thcm.

“ H—l! look at Sam! hc’s played out!”

“'ith stern fortitude Black Pepper had home
his sufferings, pressing)a hand to his wound.
But, de. ite this, the lood oozed between his
fingers aster and faster, until he grew faint
in spite of his iron will. When he failed, it-
was all at once. His head droo ed and he sunk
forward 11 )OH his animal’s neck). Only for the
trail-rope 0 would have fallen to the ground.

“He’s fainted ” uttered Bi Geor e, with a
deep curse. “ c’s been blee ing ' e a stuck
pig! Curse the luck!” ‘

“ We can’t lcavo him,” quietly said Pepper-
iot. “ We’ll have to hunt up some hole near

y. and stand it out if they find us. They’ll
earn all they get, anyhow!” '

“ ’F we was on] ' to Greaser’s Flat-”

“That’s our on y show,” decisively interrupt
ed Big Geor e. “He’ll get good care there, an’
we must ma e the Gulch afore them hounds, or
all‘s lost! He’ll stand it-lie must stand it, of
we go slow."

As usual, the giant’s will was low with his
brothers and neither of them ventured to dis-
sent. Black Pepper was removed from the sad-
dle, a handful of moss pressed into the wound
and then the displaced bandage firmly secured
in place. A quantity of whisky was poured
down his throat. Which partially revived him.
Once more he was placed in the‘saddle, the rope
was replaced, while two of them aided in sup—
porting him as the other led the way toward

 

, The

   

v

16

 

 

Greascr’s Flat, at a slow walk. Though less 5

than two miles had to be traversed, the trail
was so intricate and rough, that fully as many
hours were occupied in reaching their destin-
ation.

Dawn was near at hand, but Greaser’s Flat
was all alive-a perfect gandemom'um; yellin ,
cursing, the sounds of ghting minglin wit
rude, twangirw music. Around the g owing
fires danced Wild, half-nude figures. A hide-
ous, repulsive scene. Yet the brothers did not
hesitate.

As though by magic the uproar was stilled as
they trotted into the square, and the flrelight
revealed their persons. That they were well
known and feared was plain.

Big George dismounted and strode forward,
calling aloud for Diego e! (Jojo. A little lame
fellow immediately left one of the gaming-
tables and hobbled forward, grinning obsequi-
ouslv.
| “My brother is hurt and needs lookin af-
ter,” said Big George, tersely. “I must save
him in your charge. You will watch and
nurse him as your own life. I will come for
him in a day or two. If he is not alive and
well, I will cut your throat. You know me.
On his life hangs your own. Off with you,
now, and get read y for him.”

The Mexican ventured no reply, but hqpped
away, closely followed by the brothers. lack
Pepper was carried into the little but, and
placed upon a rude bed. The Mexican bent
over him for a moment, then arose, with'an air
of relief.

“He will live, senor. In one week from
now he will be ready for the saddle or the fan~
dan o.”

“ 0 much the better for you, then!” rudely
answered Big Gem‘ 0, turning away and mount-
ing his horse. “ n, boys! there comes the
run! We must make the rulch in time to get
ready for those bloodhoundsi”

But he was doomed to be disappointed, reck-
lessly as they pushed their animals. An hour
later, and when they were still five miles as
the crow flies, from their retreat, they made
this discovery. Big George was riding in front.
were nearing the crest of a high rid .
In t 0 Valley beyond lay the direct trail to t e

lch—in fact the only one at all practicable
or horses. A grating curse broke from the
giant’s lips as he stooped low in the saddle and
reined back his horse.

“ Too late! they’re ahead of us!” he snarled,
ering down into the valley. Full two score
orsemen were trotting past, heading up the

- valle , and so close at hand that more than

,~done by means of the
‘ much

-. George.

quarter 0

one ace. could easily be recognized. At their
head rode Barton Noble and Dandy Dave.
“ There’s only one chance,” 'rowled Big
“We must have the crilters and try
it over the hills. They won’t care about ridin’
in too brash, thinkin’ we’re thar. Mebbe they’ll
fool away enough time for us to 't in the
back way. ‘ Anyhow, it‘s all that’s 1e t us.”
Stripping their horses the hid saddles and
bridles, then made all possib 0 speed along the
tangled trail. It was hard work, especial Lfor
the dwarf. but they were playing for rge
stakes, and accomplished won ers. The dis-
tance was traversed more rapidly than one
would sup e, and soon they were within a
a mile of their retreat.
worse remained. An almost per ndicular
cliff had to be scaled, and this co (1 only be
lasso. This consumed
recious time.
Wit out pausing for breath, Big Geor e slid
down into a deep ravine just across the 'vide,
f0110wed b his brothers. With their aid he

- pushed asi e a heavy bowlder, revealing a nar-

. asso, then groped their way alo
.tunn'el as best they could in the intense dark-
" nets, for full fifty yards. “
It;

' sino,'iea ing into the sad( le, seemingl‘y
3

row opening in the hillside. Entering, they
pulled the stone back again, by means of the
the narrow

Then a faint ht showed‘before them sift-
ing through a dense clump of vine-matted bush-

’ es. Close to this Big George paused, bending

his ear intently.

He started back, stifling a furious curse.
The sound of voices was now audible. And
one at least was that of an enemy—that of old
Bart Noble!

They were (:00 late! The enemy was ahead

I .' otthem!

CHAPTER XVIII.
A DEED or mauve.

“Yan’s your critter, lwss,” cried Cotton-
top reappearing before the doctor’s office,
leading wo horses by their bridles. “Least-
ways, of ’tain’t your’n it’s the best I kin do. I
don’t reckon they‘s Ill’y other fo’-legged ani-
mile shaped boss-fashion in these yar dig-
gm 5— '

. “It will answer," hasti! replied Little Cas—

sound
as a d lar. , “I forgot—my horse dead.
Up, man—mount! Every minute now may be

. worth a life—mount!”

“Jest as you say, bow,” and l - ed
Cotton-top hung himself over Hi?

I

Big Ge

A.
‘ , ‘I

“ You’re the injuneer 0’ this machine: I’m only
the stoker, but I’ll ’bey orders ef I bu’st a
b’iler!”

“ Come, Gaspard—lead the way!” im
cried the doctor, turning toward the
who smiled faintly.

“It will have to be slow then, senor. I cov-
ered the last five miles in half an hour, over
the mountains, on foot. M horse stumbled
and broke its neck. Jose said haste, and I did
not stop to take breath. I am only flesh and
blood senor.”

“ You must get him a horse, Cotton-to ”

“Ef IdoI ho I maybe cursed!” luntly
interposed the i r. “You ax too much,
boss—you do so I cornflscated the critter as

ou’ve got atween your legs—it’s Blue Johnny’s

rag plug, an’ he’l be jest rip-snortin’ blind
ma when he finds ’tain’t to be found: but I’ll
be all over doglgoned of I run the resk of bein’
strung up for oss-stealin’ to save the legs 0’ ary
flea-breedin’ Greaser this side 0’ ge-mently—so
thar!”

“If the senor wouldn’t mind, and his horse
will car double,” muttered G rd, doubt-
ingly, “ can get a mount at he Spanish
Quarter. It would not be much out of our

tiently
exican,

way.”

‘ Up with you—behind me,” tersely uttered
the doctor.

The Mexican nimbly sprung upon the “ corn-
flscated plug’s ” haunches, retaining his position
with the ease of a monkefy despite the plunges
and desperate bucking o the animal. liber-
al taste of the spurs soon put an end to this ex-
hibition, and then the trio rode rapidly throu h
thtilalmost deserted town and out through t e
va ey.

Cotton-top contented himself with keeping
close upon their heels and if ever mortal’s
face expressed unmitigated disgust his was
that face. He had made up his  that Lit
tle Cassino was badly in'ured, that only long
and careful nursing coul bring him through
safely. Though blingl —for that was
second nature to im—he h undertaken the
task, throwing his whole heart into it. and now
this Mexican must come and spoil all. .

“Durn his ornery hidel” wrathfully mutter-
ed the deposed nurse. “Ef I ever ketch him
out—”

Duri the first half-hour’s riding, Cotton-
top wa bed the doctor nervously, his lips

 

uckered up all read to say “ I knowed it!” at
the first sign of his ving way; but the words
were never utte . Little Cassino rode and

3 here himself asthough he had never known a

But the I

 

hurt or moment’s illness, and not a word was
uttered aloud by any of the party until the
Spanish Quarter was at hand.

“A thousand thanks, senor ” cried Gaspard,
sliding to the ground asthe c uster of huts was
sighted. “Keep ri ht on through the pass. I
Will overtake you y that time,” and he ran
swiftly toward the settlement.

“Yes—with a o’ flea-kivered cutthroats
like hisself!” grun Cotton- top taking care
that his revolvers worked freely n their cases.
“ It’s temptin’ Providence trustin’ them aller-
bellies—but I he they’ll come—the hu] dog-
goned tribe! I eel jest like chawin’ somethin’
into shoe-strings.” . . ‘

“You’ll not have the chance at them this
bout old man,” quietly re lied Little Cassino.
“I know Gaspard and co S Iva. In this
matter they can be trusted, i in no other.
They have as black cause for hating the Pep-
pers as I have. Ha! yonder he comes—and
alone.”

Silenced, if not satisfied, Cotton-top resumed
his placein the rear as Gaspard, well-mounted,
overtook them.

“Now ” said Little Cassino; “tell me where
Jose is— ow did you find him if”

“ It is a simple story, senor,” replied Gaspard.
“You know we haVe been shadowi him—this
accursed Chile Colorado. Jose tri one shot,
but missed him.”

“Yallerrbell fashion!” sniffed Cotton-top.
“ A shot from iver, then runnin’ like a skeered
coyote!”

Gaspard grinned'fiu'ntly at the interruption,

then resumed.

“We watched them in the theater, but
couldn’t t close enoug to make sure work;
so we wa ted. You know what followed. We
heard the noise; we saw him come out, the
lady in his arms. We sprung upon him, but
the devil aided him now, as ever. He broke
loose, and fled, after Muerte, who had the lady.
You cams out, then, and we got tangled up for
a minute. That was all he needed. He killed
Muerte, and rode away, bearing the woman
with him. But Jose and I were upon his trail,
and though we were upon foot, we ke t Within
hearing of horse’s boots. When 9 struck
the mountains, Jose bade me return for horses,
while he followed on. I did so. He made the
trail a broad one. I overtook him soon after
daydawn. He told me the game was run to
earth; that I must carry the word toyou. I
obeyed; ’I’ killed my horse, but I delivered my

message. ’
“But Red Pepper—will he not escape?
The Mexican smiled y.
“Jose Sylva is on guard, senor. If the wolf

orge, the Giant of the Gulch.

 

3 J ‘1

. .._'_”"""'.:f ‘_Zf::-'__'W‘”Z:T__:7:=S
attem ts to leave his hole, he will die. Be-
sides, e is hurt—maybe cri led. His horse
fell in the dark, over a bow or. He kept on,
but the trail showed blood-drops, and that he
limped badly. He only crept on u the hill-
side to a cave. You will find him t ere, dead
or alive, senor.”

Cotton-top fairl snorted with disgust. Two
stout, well-armor men had treed a cri pie,
yet had hastened after aid to capture him!
Only his strong affection for Little Cassino
kept him from taking the back trail in high
dudgeon. Gas rd could not mistake his
meanin , and lus snake-like eyes glittered ve-
nomous y, though he spoke calmly enough.

“ We are bound by a. terrible oath, senor; I
cannot explain further. Only—were it even
suspected that we had raised one finger against
him, a hundred knives would seek out our

heart’s blood, even though we were to hide in .

the bowels of the earth.”
“He will understand you better presently,

gasped. But now—pass on. ’Tis growing
te.
No more words were spoken. The sun sunk

to rest and the shades of night were failing
fast, when at a sign from the Mexican they
dismounted and secured their animals, then
noiselessly stole forward. A low whistle—a
prom t answer: then they met Jose S lva.

“ I[)1 goes well,” he quickly said, an 'cipatin
the questions Little Cassino would have aske .
“They are in the cave still. About noon he
started to come out, and only for an accident,
he would have been cold ere this. A twig
caught in trigger and the bullet flattened on
the rock yhis side. He has kept quiet since
then ' has not showed himself once.”

“ e knows that we are here, then!” ex-
claimed Little Cassino. “ Is there no way by
which we can take him b surprise?”

“None. I know the on well. There is but
the one entrance—just at that white ledge be'
heath the dead pine; you see? Only fer her
’twouid be easy to starve him out.”

“ She is there, then— on have seen her?”

“Not since last nig t; but heard her—yes.
She was singing this morning—”

Little Cassino uttered an incredulous cry.

“It is true, senor” affirmed Jose, quietl '.
“That was a little while before he came to t e
entrance. I was glad to hear it, because it told
me that he had not been abusing her. She
seemed lighthearted enough; the song was a
gay one; ’twould have sounded well with a
guitar or mandolin.”

Little Cassiiio could scarcely believe his ears;
get the Mex1can spoke in accents of truth.
‘tolen away from all that she held dear on
earth—with the death shriek of her husband
rin 'ng in her ears—by a brutal, conscienceless
ru an who acknowledged no law save his own
dark passions, yet singing merrily in his com-
pany! There was something revolting in the
thought.

Yet it drove him into swifter action than he
might otherwise have ventured. For a time ha
ha been watching the ledge indicated. A deep
shadow was now cree in over it; ten minutes
more would leave it 1 arkness. During that
time he formed his Ian—a reckless, daring one;
and then divulged it to his comrades.

For a moment they were too astounded to
speak, but then Cotton-top began an earnest
protest.

“Drop that, old man,” quietly responded the
doctor. “ I have made up my mind, and noth-
ing you can say will make me change it. All
you can do is to wait for my signal, then play
your art as best you may.”

Cot n’to was silenced if not convinced. He
knew that 'ttle Cassino meant business when
he s he in that tone.

T e doctor’s pre ations for his venture
were simple enoug . He removed his boots
and outer rments, retaining only stockings,
trowsers an close-fitting undershirt. A care-
fully primed and re—capped revolver completed
his outfit.

“ Once more re )eating his instructions, Little
Cassino cautious y began scaling the steep hill-
side, taking advantage of evory bush and bowl-
der, throwmg aside no single chance though
all was silent as death above. Yet 9 knew
that he had to deal with a cunning and des-
perate man, who might even then be peering
down upon him on y waiting for the proper
Eminent to sen a bullet through his heart or

ra n.

It was a venture that few men in their sober
senses would haw cared even to think about,
yet Little Cassmo did not falter or hesitate for
a single moment. Stealthin he crept forward,
nearing the little ledge which gave entrance to
the cave, usmg both eyes and ears, tho 1) the
former Were of little service to him just t en.

He reached the e of the ledge and crouch-
ed down beside it. 1' intently. All was
still—so Silent that he was half tempted to be-'
lieve that the game had fled despite the Mexi—
can’s confident assurance to the contrary. That
fear urged him on.

With knife flrml griped ready for use, he
rose 11 and peered over 0! . All was
dark and silent. Then he himself ,
lying flat upon the rock. Ho coulde

 

(:8

 

.g‘.

f

Big George, 1:

he Giant 'of the Gulch.

'17

 

 

 

 

out the low, irregular outline of entrance. The
passa e seemed free for him.

Inc by inch he drew nearer, each moment
ex tin to receive a knife-thrust ora pistol
bu let. t was a period of trial that few men
could have endured without blanching. Still
nearer, until his head was fairly within the en-
trance.

Then without a sound he sunk fiat upon his
face, thrilling in every nerve.

CHAPTER XIX.
AT THE GULCH.

LONG threatening, the storm had at last arisen
which bade fair to sweep the Pepper brothers
from the face of the earth. A storm that had
been brewing for many a month, needing noth-
ing but a stout heart and a ready hand to give
it direction—and these were no longer wanting.
This last brutal outrage gave the needed im-
petus, nor was the hot, deadly lust of venge-
ance allowed to subside.

As Little Cassino fell, Bart Noble came for-
ward. A better leader, in such a cause, could
scarcely have been found. Possemed of a rude
eloquence, it was easy for him to fan the fierce
flames and keep them to a white heat, knowin
his men so thoroughly. Well known liq/all; coo ,
skillful and fearless; quick to !an and prompt
to execute, Bart Noble cut lit e time to waste
and soon had his men well in hand. We
mounted, thoroughly armed, they rode out of
Blue Earth just as the first rosy beams of day
were lighting up the mountain-to Two score
In all, stout, resolute men, boun for Diamond
Gulch, the headquarters of the desperado
brothers.

. “ It’ll be no fool play, bo ,” said Bart Noble,
Jlst before starting. “ ’ ain’t the Pep rs
alone. They’ve got the Lord only knows ng
many imps a-workin’ fer ’em—’noug anyhow
to bother us like fun ef so be we let em git all
read for us. One man onder kiver inside that
8‘11" is ekil to six outside.”

“ Ef they’s a thousan’, we’re the boys to
chew ’em up, Uncle Bart ” interposed Dandy
Dave. “Jest. tothink o’ t at ge-lorious gal—it
makes me feel wolfish!”

 

“ You jist kee on thinkin’ that-a—way—an’
when you git a c ince, make your teeth meet
In the flesh.”

There was little conVersation along the road.
The feeling was too stern and eadly for
that. They were riding to avenge many a
black and ruthless crime. and had thought for
little else. '

The trail was a plain and well-known one,
the distance not great, and had nothing trans-
pired to delay them, the fugitive brothers would

av? rim blindly into a trap. _

.ding a few yards in advance, his keen e es
rovmg restlessiy in every direction, Bart No Is
suddenly checked his horse with a jerk that
forced it upon its haunches.

His game had been arrested b the maneuvers
of several buzzards, slowly circ ing thro h the
air, hovering above one particular spo , and
gradw nearing the earth He knew that
they Sighted prey of some kind. At any
other time, this would not have caused him a
second thought; but now he felt interested, and
“llghtly diverged from the main trail until he
caught sight of the object which had attracted
thgwlllgged scavengers. h h ted to.

8. rpcrypartedhis ' as epoin
ward it. His look of horrorpgi’as reflected from
the faCes of his followers.

For the third time within a week had their
blood been chilled by that dread sight—a bead-
1088 corpse, an arm without a hand, a missing

linger!

art Noble was the first to recover from the
shoe and his snorting, terrified mus-
tan orward. But then, with a second thought,
he ismounted, flinging the reins to the near-
est man.

“ You come ’long 0’ me, Dandy Dave, Shanks
andGO her. Ef ever we’re to see throu h this
deVils usiness, now’s our chaince. Min whar
you step. Them as did this job, couldn’t leave
Without makm’ some sign on this sand. Keer-
ful, now i”

The four men paused beside the mutilated
corpse. The dark skin, black hair, thin, strag-

glilgmbeafdflpnd mustache, together with the
0 e arments, ko lain enou h.
TheIdead gran wgas a Mexiczxz): p g

' cam see it-it beats m ti. 1”
mutt/etred 1acme, s ' his head. y“’lll’ifiey
wasn no exicans in that outfit—Ha 7 Love
lied fit them too often for that—he’llnswner

' chum ’long 0’ a rattler!”

“ Mebbe it’s a blind.” Gopher.
“ Some feller bed a grud ag mm__m mm
him heavy, then fixed t like this, so folks
’d lay it to them as laid out Tom and

Salt iter.’i’ ,1 kt . f km
‘ rem""100Bringn—ewe' I.
a clove to work by!” added Bart. on y 3“
The trio obeyed, but their quest was in "in.

Though the soil, moist and loamy, was v m.
vorab e for receivmg and retain imp
no foo 'nts, save their own, marked the spot;

. Puzzl , and not a little uneasy, the manhunt.

ens finally abandoned their vain search, at. n,
word from Noble. In lilacs he led the way

i
- \

 

I __,,. _  
back to their horses, mounted and trotted off

up the valley. One crisp sentence, drop by
S anks, aptly expressed the opinions of t 6 ma-
0

nt :

“ l)t”s a dev’lish job, an’ the devil did it, too!”

It was briefly after this that BigleGeorge
caught a glimpse of their party from t ridge-
to , and, readily divining the object of their
rise, took precautions to avoid the snare into
which he might otherwise have ridden.

Only once did Bart Noble call a halt before
reachm Diamond Gulch. Then his words were
few an to the point.

“A uarter furder ’ll fetch it, boys. Now
mind. ou’ve ’lected me boss 0’ this outfit, an’
I’m oin’ to run it a’cordin’ to my own notions
o’ w t is right. Them as ain’t ready to ’bey
orders, chuck up from the word go, d better
skin out now, a ore any harm’s did. The cuss
as acts contrai to my orders ’11 have to lick
me the minnit t e job is over.”

“We ain’t afeard to trust on, Uncle Bart,”
interrupted Dandy Dave. “ ou tell us what
to do an’ we’ll do it. ”
um“ 'I’hat’s all I ax. You ain’t to burn wder
ontel I say so—but of I 've the word, Jist sail
in fer all you’re wuth! eep your tools ready
an’ your eyes wide open. Now, trot up.”

Passing around a little island of trees and un-
dergrowth, the entrance to Diamond Gulch lay
before their 0 es. It was a picturesque spot,
but one that t 9 eye alone con d do justice to.

The long valley ended abruptly here in a tow-
ering range of rocky hills, almost perpendicular
yet studded here and there with evergreens and
creepers. The tremendous wall was broken
onlyl in one spot—by Diamond Gulch. ’ .'

e entrance was scarcely thirty feet in width
here, though nearly thrice that at the to , full
four hundred feet above. Nearly all 0 this
thirty feet was occupied by a clear, rapid
stream of water, tum ling out from beneath
the trees and matted vines that formed a per-
fect arch above. Upon each side of the stream
a narrow trail was visible for a few yards, dis—
appearing beneath the shrubbery. y these
trails alone could any person enter the gulch,
since the force of the stream was such that no
man could have breasted its current.

A re. id glance passed through the little band.
Thoug the ma 'orit had seen as much, at least
once, it was un er iflerent circumstances. The

ition was well—nigh imp able, if manned
y a few resolute men. hat, then, if the
Pew brothers were awaiting them?

tever may have been his thoughts, Bart
thzliefldid not ltifisitate forlaetrinpgient, big) rode
s on as on reso v carry e
sition 3’ storm. .5} was silent, save e reg:
ing of t 0 little stream. The gulch seemed de-
serted of all human life. Not a sound, until
Noble was within fifty yards of the entrance,
then a clear, high-toned voice challenged them.

“Halt! hold your places, or I fire! Who and
what are you? What is it on want here?”

“ Cool an’ easy does it, ri’nd,” promptly re-
plied Bart, though reining in his horse. “ You
can’te t a critter to answer a wagon-load
0’ use one all to oncet.”

‘ You have no business here—”

“That you cain’t kn0w pard—thou h you
talk like on did,” easily laughed Noble. “I
reckon th

is a free country, an’ we’ve a right
to come an’ go—”

.“ Just as far as you have but no further.
Fifty feet from the rock— (i from that back
to the further end of the gulch—is private prop-
erty. We’ve got the papers to show for it. f
you pass over that line you do it at your own
 you are warned. I W it

in business so m cross
what digit " y” ’

“ My business says that if on try it, you will
never live to take a secon step across it, if
there’s any virtue in powder and ead,” was the
prom t reply.

“ our usinoss Wouldn’t last much longer
than mine, any way fer you wouldn’t live long
enough to go to my funeral. But let that drop.
I’ve got business in thar, an’ in I’m goin’, either

bl or otherwise jest as the case may be.
I don’t b me you, , fer stickin’ up fer your
boss; on] , to save his, mebbe you’d better
call him.

“ Who is it you mean? who do you want to

I

“ Big George,” promptly replied Noble.

“ He isn’t here.

“ Then one 0’ his brothers; I ain’t nowise per.
tickler.” .

“The are Wlth him, at the settlements. I
believe hat you know it as well as I do, or you
wouldn’t tal so much brash. You are from
Blue Earth, Bart Noble, and there’s where Big
Geor and his brothers are.”

“ 0 they ain’t or I wouldn’t be here axin’
for them. Now 001: here, plan-d; let’s play a’
o n hand. You talk like a w ite man. don’t
billeve you’re the sort to stan’ atween jestice
an’ a dirty scamp who robbed a pore sick deyil
of his hard-airned dust, an’ then murdered him
in the barg’in—now, would e?”

“ Who is he, and what’s h name?” slowly.

“ Bob Greenleaf; Sandy Bob, he’s « better
known; a tall, crooked-shanka galoot, squint-
eyod an”sgotaredwortonhisnooe.”

 

“There’s no such man been here,” was the
prom t reply.

“ e was trailed clean here: they wa’n’t no
back tracks. They ain’t no other hidin’-place
nigh, nur he hain’t- went back down the valley,
nur yit cromed the ridge I
hintin’ that you lie, but you must ’a’ bin asleep
when the varmint came in. I know he’s in thar,
an’ we’ve swore to hev his skelp, no matter who
stands in the way. Now thar’s two ways.
You’ll let us in quietly; we’ll s’arch for him, an’
ef we don’t find what we want, why, then we’ll
leave. Ef you won’t—well, we’ll come in any-
how.”

“All of you wouldn’t go out again on your
own legs, then. But take it easy. I’ve sent to
see whether you are to enter or not. You’ll
have your answer in a minute.”

“Good enough! Thar’s nothiii’ like reason.
I thought I’d arg’e you into the notion o’ bein’
sensible, ef you ond y give me time,” chuckled
Bart, sitting as though perfectly at ease, while
every sense was upon the alert to guard against
treachery.

“ Well gentlemen, what is it you wish?”

Bart Noble started violently, while a low
murmur of astonishment arose mm the miners
as their eyes fell upon the speaker.

CHAPTER XX.
PLOTS AND COUNTERPLOTS.

PARTING the bushes before her with one hand,
stood the speaker—a woman. Only the upper
portion of her person was revealed, framed in a
network of the dense foliage. A head and bust
of marvelous beauty. The face, purely oval in
its contour; the rich complexmn, pure and
clear, yet dashed with the gently-bronzing
touch of the sun’s caressing fin ers; the eyes,
large and translucent now fill with a 'cold
resolute glow: the ful red lips, the rounded
chin and swelling neck that sloped down to
meet the wellxleveloped yet rfectly symmetri-
cal bosom; with jewels flas in from her ebon
hair, her neck, her finely-mold arms; a simple
white garment envelopin that portion of her
person exposed by the period bush the
woman, a very queen in looks and demeanor.

 

A slight smile just stirred her lip, as she no- _

ticed the sensation her unexpected appearance
had created. A less acute eye than hers would
have found no difllculty in translating those
looks and muttered exclamations of wonder.
But if she exgsrienced a momentary pride at
this homage her bewildering beauty it was
assuddenly subdued. Again she spoke, her
voice soundin almost chillingly hard.

“You ask for me gentlemen. I am here,
reap; to hear your business. What is your
W
N‘Qfl’e wanted to see Big George—” hesitated

o e. '

“ He is not here—as none should know better
than yourself. Your insolent parley would

have ended long since, had the  of Dia- .

mond Gulch been here to answer you.’
“Like enough—like enough, ma’am,” coolly
retorted Bart, the scornful tone dissipatinfilthe
lamour her appearance had cast over im

‘We kin deal easier with men critters then ‘

with ladies, sence we know the use of our han’s
aheap better’n we do our tongues. But never
mind that now. I reckon we kin manid to
onderstan’ each other. Then you hev c

here while Big George is awayf”

A cold bow was the only reply vouchsafed
this estion.

“ enough! I ax you, then, as I would
ax Big George ef he was here: is it peace or
war? We want to come in thar, with perinis-
sion ef we kin, without it if we must.”

“ You might not find that so easy,” was the
cool reply. “There can be no entrance here
without permission. I have been told your
gofesed object—the ursuit of a murderer.

ou have been assu that no such fugitive
is harbored here. Is not that enough?”

“ Seein’ is believin’, ma’ani,” persisted Bart.
“ We cain’t know ontel we look. Not that we
doubt your word—we’re too white fer that:
but it’d be a .easy 'ob fer ary one 0’ your botys
to_ smpggle in a ri’nd, an’ you be none e

r.

“ And if you are denied entrance?”

“ We’ll kee on axin’
how, long’s that
or han’le a knife.”

“If {on are allowed to search the gulch
thoroug ly, and do not find the man you seek,
will you then depart quietly, without dispute
or difficulty?”

“ Sartin,” promptly replied Bart.

“ Very we you can enter. And the sooner

you are an of your error, the better we
will be pleased.”
With these words, the woman turned and dis-
ap red behind the foliage. ,.
Noble did not speak, but as he turned
toward his party eac man read aright his
gesture. It told them to have their weapons

ready, to keep on their guard against trend»
9

ll‘zfone fif this suslplicign did the old digger be-
tray as surged ' csitati mustan alon

the narrow, trail  the f8 8,
turbulent stream, his eyes raved .

Mind, fri’nd, I ain’t ,

'est as hard as we know;
’8 one 0 us left to pull trigger ’

,

,.~:

pt”

(I
p ..

I. - ._ ' tw

7 v

y]. .

.JV

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_ l  . . - . , 4 . _ ., i , . .. , . 7 “A, I,
m. mm «Qt-lu- rn, v a. mun—w-ur- » M'VQWW «nu-raw" "Wu—«aw...» am ., aw w"... an." on...” <—vm «. v” — ..,m_..w.., ‘fi-w..o-r- ... .

. I. I. l
I. ,L. »

 

 

     

18

. , Big.

arouirl, I..il{:.l,'.‘,‘ in every dctail, every means of
defense, and impressing them upon his mind
for future use. No human being was visible,
sav s his own party, until a rude bridge of tree-
trnuks was reached, some sixty yards above
the mouth of the gulch. 1 Upon the further side
stood a Woman and twoimen.

’l‘he gulch abruptly widened at this point to
thrice its dimmsions at the entrance, and the
walls of rock beyond swept boldly around up-
on each side, forming an enormous bowl, or
*gg—slriiwd valley, some three hundred yards
in width by twice that in length. At the point
spanned by the bridge of logs, the stream ran
between banks twenty feet above its surface.

Bart Noble took in the situation at a rlance.

“You, Shanks an’ Dandy Dave, '11 ta '9 half
the boys an’ look to this side. Look into every
l'lLirllUlG you kin find. S’arch like you was
liuntiii’ fer the soul o’aycller-belly. Ef you
jump the game, fake it. Alive cf you kin—a
hangin’-bee ’d be a good zainple jest now——but
[rt/w ’cm anyhow. Gopher avi’ Blister ’11 leave
thar critters an’ go back to guard the openin’.
The rest 0’ you come along 0’ me.”

tiling across the bridge, Bart saluted the
woman with a respectful admiration which he
did not seek to conceal. And little wonder.

She was probably fivcand-twcnty years of
age. Tall and admirably proportioned, her
figure symmetry itself. . n em iroidered clic-
uiiso of white silk, sccurcd at the throat bya
diamond clasp, the short sleeves looped on the
shoulder with like jewels, formed her'soleu -
per garment. A short skirt of dark maroon f0 1
to just below her knees. Full trowsers of like
color and material were secured at the ankles
with bands of gold, meeting tiny boots of
stamped leather, armed with golden spurs. A
scarlet sash of China crape encircled her waist.
In this were thrust tWo silver-mounted revol-
vers and a slender oniard. One hand clasped
the muzzle of a light rifle, the stock of which
was richly ornamented.

“You are at liberty to make your search,
senor," she said, coldly, vouchsafing no other
reply to his salutation, and speaking in %panish
though until now she had used the nghsh
hongue. “I hope, for your sakes, it may be
successful.”

“Thankee, ma‘ani,” replied Bart, to whom

" Hprinish was perfectly familiar, thou rli his pro-

 

, ‘ "1r pepper—pods.

' :1. Med

 

' ‘ y necessary.

1.. “I intend to,” coo 1y.

_ 1; my those fellows.

.- i-l', give the alarm at once.

A .

i r once more.

\' sun for) much.

-‘ound contempt for the “ Greasers ’ Would not
A

.-.llow him to use the language unless absolute-

“ Ef the wax-mint is in here,

full find him. It’s a way we hev, gen’ally.

v ’ Iebbe, though, you’d like to go ’long 0’ us, to

mistake in the teller.”
“ Thcre is much that
-. valuable lying around, and this is ‘cleaning
:ip’ day with the miners. As I am left in
. iarge, I am responsible for anything that may
.1: destroyed or stolen.”
"‘We’re white men, ma’am; nyther Greasers
They'll be no stealin’ done
How it’ll be

.. 363 we don‘t make an

it we long‘s we run the machine.
after, in course I cain’t s Ly.”

“ Lion,” she said, turning to one of the men
Insile her. “ Do you cross over and accom-
If they interfere with any
o'.‘ the workmen, or attempt to molest any per--
son except the man the say they are in search
You understand?”

The man'bowed lowly, then hastened across
t'ia bridge to join the party led by Dandy Dave

‘ m id Shanks. '

“Now, senor,” she added, turning to Noble
“I am ready to accom any you.
'i'he sooner our search is ended, the tier sat-
iiilel Ishal be. Only—perhaps ’twould be as

' '. well for you to warn your ladrones to carry

vi hemselves straight. At the first si 1 of steal—
ing, that moment will I shoot the o ender—and
1’ never miss my mm.”

b “Now look yore,” exclaimed Bart, fairly’

notified at last. “They’s sech a thin as run-
.i.i’ a joke i‘ltO the ground. A man {in make
" iwance for a Woman’s tongue, cf she don’t go
I H fur. But when she keeps on callin’ white
- lf‘n thieves—a Wouiiu as consorts with scch
-: «iblcoanhtwistod blackguards as them throat-
. utiu’, gal-stealin’ Peppers—that’s jest one
\Vc‘re goin’ to look through

’. .is hole, an’ you can‘t help yourself. You’re

‘ ;‘  enough lonjr’s you keep a decent tongue in

. "tr—no ye (lonItl‘

Her eyes flaming with anger, the woman

'. niw her dagger and darted toward him. But
i )ble dextrously caught her wrist, easily dis-

w'uiih her, while those around him quickly

€110 Mexican into submission. The Wo-
mi abruptly ccazcd hor struggles, and a com-
date change cam", oVor her face, as she said,
mnkly:
" I was wrong, senor, and I ask 'our pardon.
‘iavo had much to disturb me, of) late. I will
'. y and not give' you any further trouble.”
“That’s hearty. Sn no more about it.
Are is your plaything, ’ and he returned the
. .nim-d to its owner.

. ’ To all appcarmico the breeze had blown over,
irit Bart Noble notile a significant glance pass
1» *tween the tWo, and though he advanced with

 confidence in his guides, he kept his

ovary sense upon the alert. 4
’ ' wing

among the vine-clad bushes which

4 I

 

 

 

fringed the base of the rugged stone walls,
there were few places where a man could hope
to lie concealed within the gulch. The houses
were first reached. A dozen or more small,
bush-wattlod buts; one more pretentious build-
ing of stone, a few yards distant. These were
unoccupied, save by a few women and chil-
(ren.

Passing on, heating the bushes by the way,
the )arty final] reached the diggingsnwhere
near y a score 0 men Were em loyed With pan
and rocker, washing gold. ere the party
were re—united, each having the same story to
tell—no traces of the game had been discov-
cred.

Bart Noble had descended into the huge pit,
the better to assure himself that those he sought
were not concealed within some of the recesses,
when he sudden] became aware that both the
woman and the exican had disappeared. In-
stantly sus cting mischief, he (slprung to the
level and anced hurriedly aroun . A momen—
tary gleam of crimson through the bushes guided
him, and with a. sign for his men to remain
where they were, he glided after the clew
stealthin as an Indian upon an enemy’s fresh
trail.

The chase was not a long one. He caught a
glimpse of the two standing close together, and
with no little skill managed to crawl within ear-
shot without disturbing the plotters. The wo—
man was speaking earnestly, and the first words
he caught were:

“—-You will find them there. Bid them

from me, be cautious. Stop their coming, at
all events, until they can see the si al that all
is wcll. You cannot s the mout —you must
take the other trail. Vatcli your 0 portunity.
I will, engage the ladrones so t iey wi 1 not notice
you.
Bart Noble did not wait to hear any more.
He knew enough for his urpose, and dextrous-
ly retreated until Well yond ear—shot, then
arose and leisurely strolled forward, peering
into the bushes at every step.

Suddenly the woman a peared before him,
pale and agitated. Bart oble smiled grimly,
)ut said nothing.

“ Come—there is yet one spot you have not
searchixl," she uttered, touching his arm with
one trembling finger.

These were the words Which startled Big
George, in the tunnel.

CHAPTER XXI.
A STARTLING DISCOVERY.

eorge, the Giant of tlievGulch.

 

SINKING flat in the deep shadow holding his
breath, almost stilling the rapid throbbing of ;
his heart, Little Cassino lay motionless before :
the cave entrance. For a moment he believed j
himself discovered, and, despite his undoubted
cour e, his flesh crept and uivered as though
al y feeling the stroke 0 an enemy. But

 

only for one moment. Again came the sound,
this time plain and unmistakablH heavy, pro-
lon ed breath—almost a snore.

Little Cassino almost laughed aloud as he
slowly lifted his head and tried to ierce the
utter blackness of the interior. here was '
naught to be seen, nothing to be heard, save the
regular breathin as of one who had denied
himself sleep until completely exhausted. Yet
he did not advance further until satisfied that
the sound was natural and not counterfeitod.

He knew that Red Pepper could have gained
but little rest of late. the Iii ht of the Tem-
ple opening and the dance, whic had had such
a tragic ending, the desperado did not close his
eyes. The next day was given to looking after
his injured brothers. That nig t—Sunday—he
knew he had spent in a gamb in saloon. His ‘
only chance for rest was on Mom ay, on which
day he had to arrange his lans for the abduc-
tion. Then came the fligh , the pursuit, and
the knowledge that he was besieged b some
bitter enemy, as evidenced by the near v fatal
rifle-shot. Doubtless he had home up as long as
possible, fearing an attem t to take iim by sur-
prise, only to yield to the rowsy god at last, as

he steady snoring lainly evidenced.

Convinced that his reasoning was correct,
Little Cassino crawled forward, inch by inch,
feeling the ground before him, and carefully
removing evei thing that could ibl betray
hispassa e. en once fairl mside he cave
he pause listening intently. eheavy breath-
ing was still continued, and mingling with it he
could just distinguish a fainter, higher tone-
not exactly a snore, but as then b the sleeper
emitting it had caught a slight co (1.

He heard this With strange] mingled emo-
tions—that would have been ifllcult for him-
self to have analyzed. It told him that she
was still alive and well—that her grief and
yter wrongs Were temporarily forgotten in
s umber. And yet—was she altogether an
unwilling ca tive? She had been singing to
him—a gay. lithcsome Song, J one said. A bit-
ter curse rose in Little Cassino’s throat as he
strove to choke down the thought.

Once more he resumed his progress, slowl
creeping along the base of the wall, using it
as a guide, until glancin back he could look ,
out at the entrance, an knew that he had I

leached the point where his work must be ,
done.

 

V., .‘T’W

 

 

The sound of breathing was very deceptive
in the low-roofed, narrow-walled den: there
was no locating it exactly, and Little Cassino
was obliged to change his plan somewhat.
With his knife he severed one sleeve from his
undershirt, moistenin it with spittle as thor-
oughly as possible. hen be emptied upon the
sleeve the little flash of wder which he had
made use of in priming is pistols. Rubbing
this thoroughly together, he produced an ad—
mirable ha] of tinder, which would require
only a spark to set it into a bright blaze.

hen he paused for a few moments, holding
a match in his hand ready for striking. The
hesitation was natural enough, and no discredit
to his courage. The man whom he was to
awaken was one whom few men would care
to encounter in a death-grap lo; a giant in
strength, a devil in ferocity and) brute courage;
one, too who would be fighting with a rope
around his neck. '

Rapidly these thoughts passed thron h the
doctor’s mind, but they were as quick y dis-
missed, as he remembered the earnest pledge
he had given the dying gymnast. He no lon-
ger felt his own wounds—he thought only of
vengeance.

Crouching low down, with his feet to the

wall, Little Cassino struck the match, shielding .

the faint glow with his hands and body. The
flame grew steadier—then touched the ragged
end hanging from the ball of tinder. Instantly
a broad glare filled the cave, and flinging the
fire-ball toward the cave entrance, Little Cas-
sino uttered a shrill yell, cockin his revolver.

For one brief instant he behel a Si ht that
chilled his blood. Two forms—man an woman
.—were lying side by side. Her head was rest-
mg aupon his am, one hand nestling upon his
bro breast.

With a hoarse cry, Red Pepper bounded to
his feet, the woman utterin a iercin scream
asshe was flun rudely asi e. azzl by the
fire—ball, bewilt ered by the sudden alarm, the
giant glared wildly around.

Little Cassino raised his pistol and discharged
it quick as thou ht. A snarling c broke from
the dos rado’s ips as he stagger back, turn-
ing hal around with the shock. Without paus-
ing to note the result of his shot, Little Cassino
sprung upon his enemy, dealing him a crushin
b ow upon the head with the pistol-butt. 
Pepper fell, but flung out his arms and carried
the doctor with him. Despite his injuries, con-
fused as he was with the blow that would al-
most have brained an ox, the giant was yet a
terrible antagonist in such a close gra 10. En-
feebled b his wounds, Little Cassino ound his
hands ful . and had not aid promptly reached
him, the end might have been very diflerent.
But the iron gripe of Cotton-top’s fingers speed-
ily choked the outlaw into submission—0r rath-
er insensibility.

Pantm , breathless from his frightful strug-
gle, Litt e Cassino sat upon the rock floor
watchin the dextrous fingers of Cotton-top
bindin ed Pepper hand and foot. He dare
not 100 around to where the woman, for whom
he had dared so much, crouched against the
wall terror-stricken well nigh insensible. He
recalled that one fleeting glimpse—it turned
him sick at heart as he remembered the wasted
love of the murdered gymnast.

“Come!” he sudden] cried springing to
his feet. “I am smot iciing ere—let’s car-
ry this devil out into the open’air—catch hold I”

Cotton-top obeyed. Just then there was
nothing that he would not have done—or at-
tempted—at Little Cassino’s command. To-
gether they bore the senseless giant out upon
the ledge. Then, for the first time, the Mexi—
cans ap reached, their faces close-shrouded in
their )ankets, until assured that Red Pepper
was not in a condition to recognize them.

“No, he is not dead,” said Little Cassino.
“I only aimed to cripple him. I have sworn
he shall die by the rope—and I mean it. I
know what you mean. You have s“ cm to
have his life, but you must be satisfied with
my mode of vengeance. I don’t believe you
care about making me your enemy, but you
will if you attempt to interfere with my plans.
So don 1: think to use your knives on him. The
man who saves him from the hangman’s r0 e,
even by death, I will hunt down and kill like
a do , though I have to f0110w him to the cen-
ter 0 the earth.”

The Mexicans listened sullenly enou h, wist-
fully fingering their knives, but they are not

nlfy re Finally Jose spoke:

“ I you are determined, senor, then we must
part here. You know enough of our lives to
see that it would be death to us to stay and be
recognized by him. If you save him for the
rope, he would manage to pass the word on to
those who would hunt us to death. LVt'I] as you
ghreateiied. We must go, senor—Gaspard and

“ That is as you will. Only, first help us car--
ry him down to the level. You take his feet;
we Will manage his head.”

It was no easy task, but at length the unsc-
less outlaw was lying at the ham of allege
bowlder, still further secured by sevorui inn 9‘.
of a stout truil-rope.- The Mexicans s'iil iii.-

gered near, 10th to leave their enemy i...'.:..,

res

- him?

 

Big Geegaihe Giant oohe Gael-- "

19

 

 

 

Cotton-top drew a long breath, drawing one
sleeve across his brow.

“That’s what I call a pesky hefty 'ob fer
little av! It makes me sick—dum ef it
don’t), Handlin’ a lump 0’ nat’ral cussedness
like that jest ’s of he was a bag 0’ aigs, to bu’st
one 0’ which ’d be ’tarnal death I: savin’! Ef
’twas to do over ag’in, durn of I wouldn’t
'est give ’im a boost
im go a belly-buster the easiest way he knowed
how! I’in clean blowed—hello! dog my sister’s
cat’s kittens, of I didn’t clean for it the 1!”

“She’s safe enou h,” cried ittle Lassino
sharply, arresting gotton-top, who was about
to scale the hill. “ Let her remain where she is
for a while. She’ll not suffer; never fear,” he
added, with a short, bitter laugh.

Sorer puzzled Cotton—top paused, scratching
his head, dnbiOusly. Ignorant of what Little
Cassino had witnessed inside the cave, he was
at a loss to account for the at change which
had overtaken his friend. ut, then, “the king
can do no wrong,” and he squatted down upon
a convenient bowlder and began whittling up a
chunk of “ navy,” with which to load his pipe.

The Mexicans whispered earnestly together
for a few moments, then Jose Sylva drew near
to Little Cassino.

“You won’t think better of it, senor? A
man can die but once, and it matters little
whether that death comes b the bullet, steel,
or rope. Reflect that this emon has many
stout friends, who will s re no pains to rescue
him. He is a member 0 a powerful band who
are sworn to avenge each other, and to aid
each other with their own lives, it need be.
You will surely lose your revenge if you ven-
ture to carry him to town alive. Better let us
make sure now—you need not even look on.
Give him to us. We have bitter cause to hate
him. He has wron ed us more than death can
atone. Yet that is a l we ask—one knife-thrust
—just one!”

‘ You are wasting your breath, J Ose,” coldly
replied Little Cassino. “His fate is written.
It must and shall be carried out. Don’t think
me ungrateful for our services. On] for you
we might never have taken him. on’t you
see, then, that it is your hand which punishes

Let that satisfy you for more I will not
grant.”

“Then, farewell, senor. You will need our
horses to convey him and the lady. We will
man e without them,” and with these words
the exicans faded away in the gray light of
the coming dawn.

“ I kin see the gal a-peekin’ out o’ the cave,
boss,” uttered Cotton-top, in an eager, yet sup-
pressed tone.

“ Ver well,” listlessly responded Little Cas-
sino. ‘ You had better go up and fetch her
down. We cannot leave her there—and it
might as well be gotten over with first as last.
(lo—help her down, pard.”

He watched the tall digger scramble up the
hill and enter the cave. Several minutes
elapsed without any sound or sign, and he was
beginning towonder, when he saw the couple
appear upon the ledge, then his eyes Were
drawn toward Red Pepper, who now began to
show signs of recovering his senses.

‘fLoo ’round, boss!” uttered the excited
vmce of Cotton-top in his ears. “Jest looky
yonderl”

Little Casino turned his head, then sprung
to his feet with a cry of astonishment. The
woman stood before him, but it was not Es-
telle—was a perfect stranger to him!

CHAPTER XXII.
LYNCH LAW.
BART NOBLE grinned broadl as he felt those
taper tin are upon his shirt s eeve, and heard
the ta tones of the Spanish woman.

“8 e’s afeard I’ll ’spicion somethin’,” he i {ticket hes got hissel

muttered to himself. “ I won’t let on, and
shell try to play me for a sucker. It‘ll tickle
he‘iz—fer awhile—an’ ’twon’t hurt me.”

steadier than at first, as the old miner‘s hand
dropped from the bush. “There is yet one
spot—I  com letel forgotten it. A man
could easily hide imse f there; it may be that

sylpgiwwgillyet find your game. Come—I will

“ en you begin to h’lieve we ain’t all ‘

thievos an cut-throats, out on a stealin’ trip.”
grinned old Bart, yielding to her hand, and
trérpggg his back upon the so nearly discovered
S .

“I was wrong, senor,” she replied. in a soft,
half-coaxing tone, with a frank, open look from
her lustrous e es. “ My temper was sorely
ruffled, and I ardly knew what I was saying.
I am sorry that I spoke and acted so rudely.”

“Lord love ya, nia’am,” romptly replied

, “we never mind what) a woman gals
They’s rivileged characters, they bel”

She rew a ong breath as of intense relief as
they walked away from the bushes. Bart
laughed in his sleeve. He believed that his

careless manner had banished her iclong of
bein followed; and yet he himsel was the
deoeved one. her actions been lea;

rompt, one instant more would have lain bare
e entrance totho secret pan-go. mfg..-

l

x.-.” I...

 

ith my mudflingers, an’ let , low with bared knife ready to

l

 

 

had caused her alarm, for even she never dream-
ed that Big Geor e and his brothers were at beside the prisoner. “ 'l‘hnr‘.‘ only one way for
that moment wit in hearing of her voice. As , on to git out 0’ this SCI-£11k, an" that is by tell—
unwittin 1y had she reserved the life of Bart ! in’ us all you know. I was watchin’ you an’
Noble. ne minute ater and he would have ; her in them bushes yonder; she gov you a mes-
separated the bushes would have can ht si ht ; sage to tell somebody. I
of his game—and that would have en is ‘ what was you to tell ’em? _
death-warrant. for Big Geor e was crouching : The Mexican showed his teeth in a sickly
orever silence the ‘ smile, but made no reply. Twice Bart repeated
intruder. i the question, with the same result. Then, los-
Thus relieved, the Spanish woman proceeded ' ing iatience, he arose. .
to keep her promise to her emissar V, softening i “ he more fool you fer not speakin’ on.a
her voice, using her 6 es with a skil)l worthy a civil axin’. This is the last chaincc you’ll git.
far better ob'ect. Indeed she acted almost too Spunk out, an’ you kin go with a whole hide, to
well. Eveniiad not the miner overheard her ' thc dcucc. ef you like. You wn‘ts Good
plans, this utter change would uickly have cnougli! H’ist him up to that stump, boys—
awakened his suspicions. Now, owever, he lchly, now!”
made no Sign, seeming to swallow all—the sly Willing hands make quick work, and the
side-glance, the half-vailed compliments as Mexican was speedily stripped to the waist and
thou h be liked such diet. bound in an upright position, his arms embrac-
“ reckon I’d better ive the boys 9. call,” he .ing a stout stump. A brief search among the
finally remarked. “E? our man’s in that hole cabins brought to light a number of quirts, or
gm speak of, he won’t come out easy. He’s a rawhide whips. It was not a difiicult matter
ugh ’coon when he gits cornered.” . to find hands ready to wield these implements.
Leaving her, Bart pressed forward to where There were no lovers of “ greasers ” among the
his men were gathered around the gold-dig rers, band of vigilant es. .
and sinan out two of them,hastilygavet em “It rests with you. boy, how many licks
his instructions. you’re to hev,” said the old digger, drawing

“Now, my lad,” said Burl, crouching down

Let him try to 't out, then take him—alive,
mind you. It’s is message we want—an’ who
it was meant fer. Do your purtiest, now.”
Bart Noble had shown good judgment in his
choice of men for this delicate job. Without a
chan of expression they had listened to him,
nor id they send one glance in quest of their
game as they in common with the rest, follow-
ed their leader toward the spot where the
Spanish woman awaited them. Yet the saw

The quirt arose and fell, with a sickening
swish, leaving a purple ridge bchind. A single
start-a convulsive quiver—that was all. Not
:1 sound parted the (uptivc’s lips, though the
cruel lashes fell fast and heavily. rapidly grow—
ingr moist with the blood trickling down the
lziccratcd back.

At a gesture from Noble the flogging ceased.
He strode forward and lifted the captive’s head,
then said:

 

e, senor,” added the woman, her voice 1

her make a peculiar gesture, with her and,
and at the same moment caught sight of the
blue-jacketed Mexican stealing away through
the bushes, toward the cluster of buildings, and
then themselves paused as though searching the
bushes before them. _

“Thebo s won’t let him pass out the way
we come in,” muttered Weasel. “They ain’t ‘
no holes in the rocks—he must use a rope to
climb up to the ledge yender—”

“An’ ender it goes!” hissed Buckeye, as a
snaky c011 shot Up and settled around a point
of rocks. “Let him git a fa’r start, then we'll
persuade him to come down.”

“He’s peskgegreen to think he could shin up
thar ’ithout in’ s tted—jest like the durned
yaller—bellies, any ow l” sniffed Weasel, in a
tone of contemptuous disgust. E

“He’ll know more afore old Bart gits through . s .
with him,” laughed Buckeye, striding forward  Bart turned away with acurse of impatience,

|
i

“ You've got one mouthful of the dinner we’ll
give you, ef you keep on actin‘ the inule. You
mm! tell. stt or last. Better do it now then
\\ hcn you’re all cut to pieces. I’ll tell you jest
how we‘ll sarve ye, of you keep stubbern.

skin on your karkidgc. Ef thdt won’t do, we’ll
try hangin’ for an hour or two. S’posin’ that
don‘t fetch you to reason, we’ll draw your teeth,
‘ one by one; pull off your toe-nails aii’ finger~
nails, an’ wind up by hangin’ you head down
over a slow fire. You kin take your choice.
Tell now, an’ we’ll set you free, or act the fool
an’ fa’r wuss: which is it?”

The prisoner flashed one quick glance toward
the Spanish woman, but meeting her cold,
steady gaze, droo d his head and muttered:

and hailing the Mexican, who was now twenty and once more the cutting lash resumed its

feet up the face of the cliff. work. The blood flowed more freely. mid the

as he heard the challenge, and his face blanch- ‘
ed to a sickly yellow as he stared full into the ‘
black muzzles of two revolvers with which the ‘
order to descend was emphasized.

“Don’t shoot—I’ll come downl” he faltered,
allowing the taut rope to slip through his
hands. »

As his feet touched the ground, he was seized
and bound with a piece cut from his own lasso.
As though knowing how worse than vain would
be any resistance, he lay motionless only a
hard stubborn expression settled over 's face,
as Weasel uttered a uliar whistle.

Bart Noble chuck ed aloud as he heard this
signal of success, and turned toward the woman,
w one face suddenly grew hard and cold, as he

fall of the rawhide. A clot of blood fell from
the lash and struck upon the woman’s cheek.
Brushing it away, with a little cry, she turned
and glided toward the house.

As though this was a signal for which he was
awaiting. the prisoner cried out that he would
icll all if they would only spare him further
torture. »

“Speak, then—but mind!” warnineg criet
Bart. “ Ef you don‘t tell a straight story, we-
’ll murder you by inches! Now—who was you
to find out?”

“Big George and his brothers,” snllenly re—
plicd the Mexican.

“ Go Oil—tell us all; and mind you don’t trip.
Ef you lie now, salt won’t save ye!”
spoke. . “ I was to tell them that you were here,
i “That whistle sais our friend in the blue hunting for him—to tell him who you were,
into a Scrape, ma’am. your numbers and your pretext for searching

‘m free to sa you played it fine—cf I hadn’t this place. Then he was to act according to his
ovorhcarn w at you told him back yender, I ()‘.’.‘llj11(ignlellt." /‘
: reckon you’d ’a’ tuck me in chuck-up.” “ Whar did you ’spect to find ’em—or do you

“ I don’t understand you, senor. You have . know?”

j promised not to wantonly injure anythingror . “ In
‘ anybody, if. you found not your game. on , Butte. I left them there this morning, early.
have searched every foot of ground. You ‘ They said there had been some trouble in town,

know that the fugitive is not concealed here. . and they expected to be followed. I was to

 

i

‘ Now I claim your promise to depart peaceably , warn the queen of this, and bid her allow no ’

‘ and at once.”

“You should hev thought 0’ that afore you
1, tn'edtospring a trap on us. You giie that
critter a message to giv’ to somcbody. It’d be 3

' person enter the Gulch. N ow you know every-
thi I cannot say more if you torture me
unti next year.”

“You’ve told enough, if it’s true. If it’sa

I’d better take charge of ’exn.” ' hev time. Cast him loose, bovs. ’
“ You shall not injure him—I'll—” I The bonds were cut, and the wretch sunk to
“You’ll take things easy of you know when i the ground like a limp rag. His
ou’re well off, ma’am,” sharply interrupted ‘, were flun
Bart} “We’vo fooled awa too much time i to himse .
a’ready—now it’s business. e’re oin’ to find ,
out whar that man was goin’, an’ w at fer. Ef
you’re smart, you’ll take it quietly, but of you

over his shoulders. then he was left
Lucky for him that none of the

They would have felt less faith in his compul-

better off in the eend.”

The woman vouchsafed no reply to this blunt
speech, though she evidently realized her hclp-
leaneu. And while the ' ful scene which
followed was being enacts , she never once re—
moved her gale from the face of the captive.

“ VVe’ve wasted too much time here a’ready, an’
must rid hard to make up for ’t.” "

As he ode slowly along the precarious trail,
Bart Ne .le cast more than one curious glance
around i m, but if be e ted to catch snot!»
er glimp o of the 

 

Who was it to, an’ .

“Keep our eyes on that greaser in a blue . back. “\Yhen you make up your mind tospit .
'acket. ey’re tryin’ to play bugs onto us. ! out all you know, jest squeel ’u'oiit!”

hearn the woman tell him to ker * word to The Mexican made no answer, only clenched
somebod —-most like the Pe pers. ind, you his teeth more firmly and pressed his forehead
must lethim hev rope enoug to hang hlSSeif. hard against the wood.

You’ll be licked ontel they ain’t a whole inch 0"

“ You may ki me, but you can’t make me '
” _ .

With a low cry, the Mexican turned his head ‘ crimson spray was scattered around with every ‘ " '

the ‘sink’ at the foot of Lone Tree .

a shame to waste any 0’ your words, so I reckon , lie, you’d better say your prayers while you ,
garments .

vigilantes observed his fierce yet trinm hant»
smile, as he bowed his head upon his 'nces. r

cut up rusty, we’ll hev to tie you rip—though sory confession.
l’d ruther not sarve a woman so, of I kin 't “ Ketch u our crittcrs, boys—lively, now!" *
around it. Take a fool’s advice an’ you’ll cried Bart oble, setting the example himself.

Wm]...

 :aw-u': who- — m.»—  Mmabm 1”

 

   

v
i
y
t

i ~ .7.....:W.-

pmfir" I"

..,

 

 

. scarcely able to believe his eyes.

, but somebody else.

’ and lay wi

‘ done enough harm already.
' dead! and you murdered him—you—may God’s
» curse forever blight——”

‘ 3y as he heard her
'light forgetting 9.] else, the woman turned to-

' soft, wor

‘i'ace.

4 '. ain’t planted

' A  mm, a

20

 
 

was doomed to disappointment. And yet, as

, the vigilantes rode rapidly down the valley, her

bright eves followed their course, a low, mock:
ing laugh issuing from her lips.

 

CHAPTER XXIII.
RED PEPPER IN LIMBO.
LITTLE CASSINO stood like one, petrified,
He brushed
one hand across them, as though there lay the
fault, glancing from the woman to Cotton-top,
then back again. But the tow-headed digger
was equall at a loss with himself, and stood
upon one oot, vigorously scratching his pate,
with an air of ludicrous perplexity.

“It beats my time {11 holler! You sais: go
fetch down the gal critter. I went. Thar she
squatted in the corner, trem’lin’ lit to kill. I
coaxed her out, an’ then I see’d it wasn’t her,
I looked ag’in; they wasn’t
nobody else; so 1 jest brung her ’long down.”

“ Can it be that these dogs followed a wrong
trail? No, that is impossible. I saw him carry
her away; there he is; and yet this is a strange
woman!’ .

“You don’t reckon thar’s any—any spook
business in it, do ye?” abruptly asked Cotton-
top, his voice falling as he cast a quick, appre—
hensive glance toward the cowering Woman.

At this moment an interruptiim came from
Red Pep )er. As already mentioned, he had
recovere his consciousness just before Cotton-
top reappeared with the woman. It cost him
little trouble to realize what had occurred, and
fully alive to the eril of his situation, a pris-

\

'oner in such han s, he concentrated all his

lower into one desperate effort to burst his

nds, determined, unarmed though he was, to
die fighting if he could not regain his liberty.
But thelen tlis of stout trail-rope proved true.
They WOUII have held a buffalo bull, and he
failed to even loosen them. The effort was too
muCh in his present condition. An excruciat-
in pang shot through his wounds, and with a
ha‘ f—stifled can of agony he relaxed his elforts

tirclosed eyes, like one fainting.

“Thor's our huckleberry, boss!” cried Cot-
ton-top, triumphantly. “He kin tell e the
hull business from A to Ampersand! durn

I fool we didn’t think 0’ that aforel”
' “At the hollow groan the woman sprung for-

ward and knelt beside the wounded desperado.
Almost fiercely she repulsed the doctor, fling-

ing aside his hand with a force that caused him

to nearly lose his balance.
“Get away! you sha’n’t touch him—you’ve
He’s dying—he’s

Red Pepper opened his eyes and smiled faint-
assionate words. Quick as
we him pressing her lips to his, murmuring
as a mother caresses her infant.
And a softer light stole over the desperado’s
All feeling was not yet dead in his breast.

Little Cassino had by this time recovered his
usual composure. Though there was a mys-
tery as yet unexplained, he was content to

r await aproper time for obtaining the solution.

“ You are doing him more hurt than good,

«' madam,” he said, gently lifting the woman to

her feet. ,i “ I am a doctor, and I will attend to
his wounds as carefully as though he were in
brother. If skill can save him, he shall not die
—-—at present, anyway.” '

The desperado laughed shortly.

“That means—not afore you kin twist a
noose for my neck! All right, Doc. The seed
at as is to grow my rope. Ef
you count on t t, you’ll slip up on it.”

“I’ll run the risk, Red Pepper,” was the cool

“ But just now you’d better lie still

re 1 .
, Whig; I look to your wounds.”

These were found to be four in number, two

‘ of'wbich—an ugly knife-Wound in the side and

a frightful mass of bruises upon his right leg~—

 were. already bandaged neatly enough, With
’ soft white linen, to which still hung bits of lace

edging. Little Cassino’s eyes softened as he
glanced quickly toward the woman. The
'llushed face and droo ing 8. es confirmed his

" ’pus icion that she had een t e tender surgeon.

sides these injuries, adeep gash u )on the
istol-ball through the left shoulder
completes the list; the two last-named having
’boen inflicted by Little Cassino in the cave.
“‘You’ve got less than you deserved, Red
'I’epper,” coll ly said the doctor, as he proceed-
--th0 dress the wounds. “Less than you do-
serve, by one-half; yet enough to keep you out
of'mischief for a few days, even were youto
receive less care than we mean to bestow upon
’you. I’m happy tosay that your free-and-easy

' days are about over.”

‘l’ll live long cnou h to see your heart’s
blood anyhow,” growleiI the unsubdued rufflnn.
“You will if you do, but I Wouldn’t stake
many chips on it. There's many a black score
tallied against your name, and settlement-day

_ .‘ is hard by. Your bank’ll be bu’sted before the

 

accounts are lialfiettled.”
.“ Ax him about her I” prompted Cotton-top,

nothing to tell,” quickly inter—

Wdthnn

um“?

... ....~.,~ . “www.1—

Big, George,

 

ER.

 

posed the woman. “Iwent with him of my
own free will—I’ll take my Bible oath—”

“Easy, little one,” muttered Red Pepper, in
a voice stran ely soft and tender for him.
“ Let me do t e talkin’, Zoe.” Then looking
toward Little Cassino he added: “ hat was
all that rumpus in the theayter, night afore
last?” '

“George Mack was murdered while perform—
ing upon the trapeze. Do you mean to say
that 011 (lid not know all about it?”

“ he did it—does an body know i”

“Your brother, Littc Pepper. He flung a.
knife and cut the rope. It Wm only a few mo-
ments before you knocked me down at the door
of the greenroom.”

“Whar is lie—Little Eph—an’ the other
boys?” eagerly.

“They esca )ed and, for all I know, are still
free, though old Bart Noble is leading a party
in pursuit of them.”

“He’ll earn all he gits, I reckon,” grinned
the relieved captive.

“ All California won’t be big enough to hold
them—so don’t count on their escaping, or of
aiding you to esca c. Now—since it can do
you no nirm—I wis you would explain what
happened that night. I don’t mind acknow—
ledging that I overheard all your plans, Sun-
day—yes, I made the noise that startled you.
I was under the shanty all the time you were
hunting for me.”

“Ef I’d only knowed it! But never mind.
You’ve did us some good turns ’long 0’ the bad
ones, n’ter all. ()nly fer you, I don’t s’pose I’d
ever found out what a trump she is. Wa-al,
some you overheard our plans, the story’ll be
shorter, an’ easier told. ’ou know, too, that
I didn’t go for the gal on in own a’count.
That was meat fer (xcorgc. \ e was to coax
her up into the box, but that wouldn’t work—
I kin guess now why it failed. Then Little
Eph got hot. That’s his only fault; he cain’t
hold his hand when his head gets to b’ilin’ over.
He swore he was goin’ to try to cut the ropes.
They wasn’t no use in my tolkin’. I knowed
that well enough, an’ as the gal didn’t come to
us, I ’tarmined to go to her. I met you—I
reckon you know how. Then I rubbed the
gal. The table turned over au’ spil the li hts.
As I was runnin’ out I tripped over your ar-
kidge an’ fell, losin’ my bolts on hcr. She run
back. I follered an’ grabbed her, as I thought,
hittin’ her a lick to stop her noise. You kin
see the mark now—fer ’twas her I kerried 01f,"
nodding toward Zoe.

“I deseerd it all for being such a bab ,”
quickly uttered the girl, swi tly coverin the
:IVIII bruise on her forehead with a fold 0 her
iair.

“ I’m sorry for it now, little onchbut I didn’t
know ’twas you. How should I? They was no
light—I 'est abbed you up an’ put for out-
doors. ou now I didn’t hev no spar’ time
then, Doc,” griml . “Atween you an’ them
cussed Greasers I ed to hustle aroun’ mighty
lively. But I did git through, an’ tuck to the
hills. My critter fell, an’ smashed my leg flat,
ag’in’ a rock. That put a’ eend to my travelin’,
an’ I 'est manidged to crawl up yonder. An’
wouk you b’lieve it! all the time I thought I
lied belt of George’s gal, ’stead o’ her—nur I
didn’t find it out ontol plum daybreak.”

Little Cassino listened in silence to this re-
cital. He was thoroughly puzzled and be-
wildercd. Now, that he looked more closely,
he remembered having seen Zoe at the Tem-
ple—indeed so has the reader, since she was
none other than the black-eyed sprite whoso
indignantly flouted Big Geor e on learning
that he was searching for Este e; and the one
with whom Red Pe per danced at the “Va.-
riety Ball,” afterward). He could not doubt the
man’s truth—the explanation was so simple.
And yet—where was Estelle? What had kept
her from the side of her dying husband? Dea h
or captivity alone could ave done this. The
theater had been thorou hly searched, in vain.
The enigma was beyond is power of solving.

His painful musings were finally interrupted
by Zoe, who came and knelt at his feet, her
voice trembling, her eyes moistened.

“You’ll let him go, won’t you, air, for my
sake? He’ll promise not to do any more harm;
he couldn’t, anyway; you’ve hurt him so bad.
Please let him go free, and I’ll honor you—love
you next to him. For my sake, please?” .

“ e is not worth one tear from those bright
0 es little one. You don’t know him as I do.
I e is a thief, a murderer—all that is evil and
foul«hearted. For years he has been a disgrace
to the name of man. But now, he has run his
course, and as sure as God made the sun above
us he shall receive his reward, shall die a death
befittin the life he has led.”

“ An who are you that speak of unishin
him?” cried Zoo, springing to her cat Wit
flashing eyes. “ Are your hands so clean, your
soul so free of stain—’

“ That matters not- I expect to meet the fate
my life has earned. But you ask who I am.
am the son of a man whom he—he and his
brothers—fotu murdered! And yet you ask
me to spare himi, No; ten thousand times no!
For years I have hunted them—long, weary
yemwhenlhodonlythe faintest of clewnto

1
\

 

Giant of the Gulch.

 

guide me, and now, when I have run my prey

to earth, you be me to spare him! Yes, as he

stared my gray- aired father, such is the mercy
will show him—none other!’

With this passionate outburst Little Cassino
turned and strode away amen the rocks, leav-
ing the aweostricken beings be ind him, nor did
he return until the sun was high overhead.
Once more he was calm and collected, no trace
of his recent excitement visible. His voice was
even and natural as he bade Cotton-top collect
the horses and prepare them for the back trail.
This order was speedily obeyed, and owing to
Jose Sylva’s enerous foresig t, each of the our
was provide with a se arate mount.

Red Pep r’s huge ulk was lifted into the
saddle, to t e pommel of which he was securely
bound. A rope confined his feet, passing be-
neath the mustang’s belly, while a trail-rope led
from the animal’s neck to the saddle of the beast
ridden by Cottoni‘tgg That worth led the
way, followed by Pepper; he by , while
Little Cassino brought up the rear.

The trail was long and difllcult; and as it was
full noon before t ey set out, there was little
chance of their reaching Blue Earth before
nightfall. Fully aware of the importance of
their capture, neither guard suffered his vigi-
lance to relax for one moment, more particu-
larly after twilight, which fell while they were
yet several miles from their destination.

“Look yonder!” final] exclaimed Cotton-top.
“See that ii ht! I be the boys has captured
thar game! at’s a big bonfire!”

“ Press on; the road’s better now,” muttered
Little Cassino.

The red glow against the heavens grew
brighter as they advanced, and eagerly enough
Cotton-top stretched his long neck to peer over
the ridge from whence the first glimpse of Blue
Earth could be obtained.

“ Moly Hoses! ’tain’t no bonfire; it’s Sneaky’s
cabin!”

With a hoarse cry Little Cassino rushed past
him and thundered down the slope like a mad-
man!

CHAPTER XXIV.
BIG GEORGE STIRRED UP.

A LOW, taunting laugh broke from the ruby
lips of the Spanish woman, a look of bitter scorn
in her black e es as the vi 'lantes followed Bart
Noble’s lead own the v ey.

“ The blind fools! And the would boost of
being men—so wise and foresig ted—ha! ha!”

But time was gracious, and she was too wise
a woman to spen many minutes over the suc-
cess of her ruse while there yet remained so
much to be done. A last glance "toward the re-
treating horsemen, then she raised a tiny ivo
whistle to her lips and sounded a 'shar thril -
in call, which speedily brought the exican
cadlled Leon to her side. To him she spoke ra-
pi y.

“ Go bid the slaves and workmen to hasten
hither with their tools—axes, picks and crows.
Make haste!”

Leon darted away upon his errand, and she
followed him with rapid ste as far as the
moss-covered stump at which t e blue-jacketed

Mexican had been so terribly flog ed. He was -

still crouching there as they had eft him but
at the sound of her footstep, he raised his need
1

113% a bright, eager smile ghted up his pinch
e ace.
“ My r Florio!” she murmured, softly, la

in one and upon his head. “It was terrib a
— rightful cruelt !”

“I don’t min it—I can laugh at it now
Madam Clarina. As long as you were near an
I could see your face, I felt not the lash. They
might have killed me, but I would never have
uttered a word.”

“  wish I could have spared you the torture,
Florio—but there was no other way. Sometime
I Will repay you—until then, you have my
heart’s suieerest thanks. I shall not forget your
fidelity, and—ah! cruel that I am!” she exclaim~
ed, as an involuntary shudder agitated the Mex~
ican’s frame as a gust of wind caused the jack-
et’s sleeve with its heavy golden button to
strike against his raw back. “I am talking
here, while you are suffering, your wounds un-
cared for—’

“If you would palease call old Dinah—”

“ The great b cow—with her clumsy
hands—no! In my cause you suffered; the least
I can do—wait one moment, my friend,” and
she swiftly ided away. toward the stone build-
ing soon a ter returning, bearing soft linen
clothes and a Jar of Ointment.

“Not you, madam?” faltered Flor-i0, as she
gent] removed the garments from his lacern
ated ck.

“,YeS, 1, ply friend and brother,” Clarion
replied, paying no heed ‘to the crowd of swar-
th)’, dlrW miners who drew near under lead of
Leon. ‘ My lips bade you suffer; in hands
shalLdo what they can to make amends. ’

Doubtless the reader has' suspected the truth.
Believing that the vigilantes were in reality
searching for B? George and his brothers, and
knowing that 1 lo the would not be easily

gotten out of the ‘11, determined u
a bold rune, hofithnt she could depend 11:3:

\

 

4..
q

 

 

Florin to the last drop of his heart’s blood.
The ruse was cunnineg conceived and admir- ‘
ably carried out. She stole away, knowmg that
her absence would be discovered and she speeme
followed. In the first few momepts she gave
Florio his true instructions, and had completed
them when she saw Bart Noble stealing toward
them. Her after words were spoken to mislead
him. Florio chose a int of the wall where he
must necessarily be discovered. Then came. the
hardest part. A premature confesswn might
ruin all. The keen-witted di gers might “ smell
8. mice.” Madam Clarina ha calculated closely.
She stood beside him, not alone to 've him
courage, but so that he might see her cave the
spot, which was the agreed upon signal for him
to. ak out.

\ ith a skill that betokened no slight experi—
ence in surgery, Madam Clarina finished dress—
ing Florio’s wounds, then gave him her hand,
assisting him to arise, and apparently for the
first time noting the presence of Leon and the
laborers.

“Why are you standing there—and the en-
trance unguardedf" she cried, sharply. “Go!
see that both trails are barricaded. Work as
though your life depended upon every moment;
those accursed ladrones may return at any mo-
ment. Come, Florio.”

“ I will 0 with them, senora—I can work—”

"‘No. on have finished your work—and
right nogy, too. We will work for you, my
friend. on need rest and quiet. Come. Do
not be afraid to lean upon my arm. It is
strong,”

As lorio attem ted to walk he found that
his boasted strengt had abandoned him, and
only for the tender support, he would have
fallen, so severe had been the punishment he
had undergone. But with her and he managed
to reach one of the huts where a bed had been
)repared for his reception by the fat negress,

inah. Bidding her minister carefullyto his
wants, Senora Clarina left the but and hasten-
ed down to the mouth of the gulch, where the
work of defense was rapidly progressing.

Big Ge

less provided with cannon to sweep away the
barricades.

The sound of a horn ended this inspection,
and even Bi Gebrge promptly obeyed the call
to supper. 1d Dinah waited upon them, and
for a tune she found her hands full. But then.
their hunger appeased, the brothers sat around
the table upon which the negress had placed
decanters of brandy and whisk ', glasses, ci-
gars, etc. Big George filled his g ass thrice in
re. )id successmn, but ere he could em )ty the
third, the husky voice of Dinah sounde in his
ear.

“ Missa say she must see you, Mass George.
She say you must come tiredly at oncet, sah!"

With a snarling curse, the giant drained his
glass, then left the but and strode across to the
stone building. He was not kept waiting.
Clarina ned the door, admitting him, then
closed ant secured it, slipping the key into her

,ket. If Big George noticed this movement,
Edemade no comment, but flung himself upon a
velvet—covered sofa, with an angry scowl, growl—

m :

g‘ Well I’m here; now, what do you want?”

“ You now well enough what I want, George
Pepper,” replied Clarina, in English, pure and
unaccented. “Why have you been so long
absent—what have you been» doing—-—who have
you been spending so many days and nights
with? This is what I wish to know.”

“You speak as though you had a right to
know—”

“And haven’t I? IVho has a better right—
who can have a better right than the woman
to whom you swore eternal and undying love——
and I am that woman!”

“Yes, I believe I did do something of the
kind, once,” lazily rejoined Big George, pro—
ducing a cigar and moistening it between his
lips. “I suppose I meant it all, too, at the
time——”

He was interrupted by a sharp cry—a cry
of mingled rage and pain—as Clarina stamped
her feet passionate] , alf-drawing the poniard
from her belt. ntly Bi George was upon

 

A number of cedar and pme trees were cut

down, their butts pointing inward along the =
narrow trails, their stout, straggling branches 5

closely trimmed and sharply pointed, forming
an abattis that could not easily be passed from
the valley side. Over the trunks were piled
heavy bowlders, to keep them in place, to
guard against an enemy’s rolling them over
into the swiftly-flowing water. went paces
further up the defile a stout barricade o bowl-
ders was erected, with convenient loop-holes
through which shots could be delivered.

It was while busily directing the erection of

this rock defense that Clarina heard a deep,
booming voice from close behind her, and tum-
ed uickl , with a sharp cry.
S e be old three men, worn and haggard
their rments tattered, their faces begrimed
and g oomy. Her face flushed scarlet, then
turned hastly pale, and it seemed .that only
her be] upon the stout bush growmg beside
her kept her from falling to the ground.

“Skeered fer ouce’t, by thunder!” rumbled
the voice of Little Pe per, ending in a hoarse
laugh. “I reckon she tuck us fer ghosts,

b0 1”
XII did not expect you so soon,” she faltered.

“We have been here longer than you think,” ‘

interrupted Big George, in a harsh voice.
“ You ave been entertaining company.”

:‘It was you they came to see, not me,”
spirited replied the woman, her color return-
m8- “ ey would have been here yet, only
for Florio. He threw them 03 the scent, at
the cost of—”

“ I saw it all from the mouth of the tunnel,
though I couldn’t tell just what it was all
about—nor does it matter now. Tell me, where
is m brother Jack.”

“ do not know—he is not here,” she replied,

slowllfr.

“ 9 must be here—he started last night
from town to come here. You are trying to
deceive me—”

With an angry fire in her eyes. Clarina 3

brushed'past him and darted along the rocky
trail, quickly vanishing amo the shrubberfy.
Pepper-pot followed her with is eyes until s e
disagpeared, then sharply turned upon his
brotyer.,

.‘ on ve no call to speak to her like that,
Big Geor She’s a. la , every inch 0’ her,
as none 8 ould know bet r’n you. An’ when
you _ come to ’cusin’ her of lyin’, all I’ve got to
fiyviis, that you lie yourself in sayin’ so—thar,
l \y

As he spoke. ,lfepper-pot assumed an attitude
of defense, anticipating a striking retort, but
Big George only laughed shortly then turned
.away. and closely questioned the Mexican,

Leon. Of him he could learn notbin concern- ,

ing Red Pepper, and cumin hisluc that was
running so crookedly, Big G§>rge n himself
moodin in the shade, his thoughts fitting but
pleasant ones.

The other brothers assumed control of the
defenses, and worked busily until the sun sunk
to rest when they expressed themselves satis-
fled with the result. A handful of resolute
men could hold the gulch against an army, un-

his feet. an ominous devil in is eyes.

“ None of that, my lady! I’m not in the hu—
mor for laying, and if you stir up the devil in
me, it’ll the worse for you. Once for all,
this nonsense must end. I don’t deny having
, madea fool of myself about you, once. I did
; love you then, and meant every word I said.
‘ But you, you said your heart was dead to love
while he remaine unavenged. You made me
swear to aid you; so I have. I worked for
you likea dog—ayl like a. devil! But as often
as I spoke of love, you checked me. You
denied me everything, even a kiss. Well, what
could you expect? I be u to find that I could
live Without you—that t ere were other women
as fair and lovable as you. You let the chance
,slip from you. I grew to love another, even
i better than I did you—”

‘ “And you dare say this to my very face—
! dare taunt me with this new love?” gasped the
! woman, pale with rage.
. “If it is the truth, why not?” he coolly re—
? plied. “If what I say is painful, you can only
: lame yourself. Surely my actions of late
1 have spoken plainly enough! But no—you
must force a scene upon me—and now you’ve
i got it red hot!”

“Y’es, I have got it,” said Clarina, with a
strange calmness. “ And your turn will come
< next. Do you think I have been sleeping all
this time? No, Greer 0 Pepper, my eyes were
0 ned lon since. knew of our love for
f t t girl— 0 variety actress. I new that you
had spoken to her the ver same words on
poured out at my feet; an I knew, too, t at
she scorned your love. I know how she eluded

on; how you hunted for her, finally finding
her at Blue Earth. I knew, too, of the plot you
formed for abducting her.”

“Since you are so wise, rha you are
aware that my plot succee ed—t at brother
‘ Jack carried her oil? for me—that before another
. night she will be in full possession of what you
‘ scorned until too late,” sneered the desperado.

“That hour will never come, George Pep-
! per!” exultantly cried Clarina. “A bride-

oom has already claimed her—she is dead—

ead! and I killed her; stabbed her to death
. with this right hand!”

CHAPTER XXV.
A VENOMOUS RASCAL.

IN.addition to the events already recorded,
1 mischief was brewing in another quarter. lit-
‘ tle suspected by the intended victim. For a
. better com rehension of what is to follow, the
Ereader wi revert to that eventful Sunda :
;the one which marked the discove of tie
murdered Saltpeter by his “ pard,” an its train

‘ of stirring eVents.
On that day the little, skinny bummer, Gin
‘ Cocktail, figured in an unenviable light. De-
tected in his false swearing, condemned out of
his own mouth, he was forced to run the gant-
? let of heavy' cowhide boots, which played a live—
1 tune around his bullet-scored posteriors.
j gruised and bleedin , as soon as he could re-
: ' his breath, whic had been driVen out of
l is carcass by kicks and buffets, the ragged ras

 

orge, the Giant of the Gulch.

town, knowing that the warning of the cum ed
miners was not one to be ignored. Misera le
though he was, Gin Cocktail felt no desire to
figure at the loose end of a trail-rope.

In the events that followed, no one vouch—
safed him a second thought; better for them.
perhaps. if they had. The bummer was a trua
snake in some respects. A drunken, begging
vagabond he had been for years; the willing
butt and laughing-stock of every man “110
would give. him a drum, as one casts a bone in
some prowling, mangy cur. Yet now, as be
nursed his bruises, in a snug hollow not far
from Blue Earth. he told himself that he had
been outrageously insulted—that his injured
honor demanded reparation.

Upon two heads were his bitterest curses
showered—those of “Sneaky” and “ Soft Tom-
my.” At their door he placed all his suffer-
ings, and upon them he swore vengeance, dark
and thorough. For months past he had hated
them with all the rancor and malignity of a
narrow, contracted soul, and eagerly seized
upon the first opportunity of injuring them,
only to fail signally.

At one time, nearly a year prior to the date
of this story, Gin Cocktail had “struck a
streak of good luck,” and it came about in this
wise: During one of his drunken rambles
through the foothills, he stumbled upon a nu -
get of gold weighing nearly half a un .
Changing this, be resolved to try his uck at
fare. For nearly the first time in his life he
won, finally “jumping the game ” several hun-
dred dollars ahead. A half-drunken digger
bantercd him into a game of draw poker. For-
tune still fuvorcd the bummer, and after a ten

completely, even to the papers by which he
held a 'Bn'ovisionary claim on “Sure Thing”
lead. he loser bore his ill—fortune with a
nod grace, and shortly after “pulled out”
or a more congenial chine. Gin Cocktail was
in his glory for a few weeks. One would have
fancier him a millionaire by the way he scat-
tered gold on every hand. One month from
that day he did not have enough gold to pay
for a drink of poor whisky. Then he went to
work on his claim. But fortune now frowned
persistently. The claim seemed barren; half
the time he would not even get “the color” as.
a reward for his labors. At this period the
“brothers” Sneaky and Soft Tommyarrived
at Blue Earth. Gin Cocktail resolved to take

he succeeded in disposing of the claim at his
own figures.
his boastin for a. few days; but then the laugh
changed si es. The. buyers set to stead work,
and within the week developed one of t rich-
est “strikes ” in the vicinity, clearin from six
to eight ounces of gold per day.
folly, Gin Cocktail tried hard to go back of his
bargain, but in vain.
the )apers to be drawn up so as to leave not a
loop 1018 for the escape of his supposed “sari

But he could do nothing.

stealing out once to “confiscate” some bacon
and hard tack from the stock’of adevotee of
the drama, whom he felt confident would be at
the Temple. Succeeding in this, and prOVided
with a jug full of water. he bore his enforced
confinement as well as could be ex ted.

From this refuge he overhear the disturb—
ance at the Temple, the runningflght main-
tained by Red Pepper, and the Wild excitement
that followed. In the gray light of dawn he
saw the vigilantes, under leadership of Bart
Noble, ride rapidly away in the direction of
Diamond Gulch. As the day progressed, be

under the noonday glare, a bold plan gradually
shaped itself in his mind. The cabin of the
Kendalls lay to his left, not a quarter of a mile
distant, alone, since the nearest building was
hundreds of yards awa

devil in his eye. “He hain’t been to the ’ ms:
office fer months. They’ve bin makin big
wages—an’ it’s mine by good rights, an way.
He went ’long 0’ them fellers, most ikely.
She’ll be alone—’twon’tbe a hard b. E]! I

settle her. The won’t nobody s
They think I no acheed. hot foot.
it to some 0’ t cse dirty Greasers. Yes,
it—an’ I will, too!”

'cion me.
e ’11 1a
kin 0

was not a favorite with Gin Cocktail, just
then—his eyes fixed 11

He believed its execution would be 39,
accompanied by little real dan er. , If neak
had gone, as be firmly believ , since he coul
see that no one was working at the claim-
then there was onl the ' l to deal with. And
{Elbe devilllish 1i ht t atf 

ecaug ta im 0 erli ht grwefulfom
--now clad gin t e garmentg siiitable for her
sex—told plainly enou h how little mercy she
need expect at his hands.

 

~cal slowly and painfully hobbled away from

thus frustrate his pans, caused Gm

hours’ sitting be “cleaned out” his antagonist .

them in, and after one week’s admit finessing, '

Great was his exultation, leud‘

ursing his , v

dines,” and bitterly enough he regretted now.
Gin Cocktail kept close to his covert, only ,

saw that the town was almost completely de- .
serted, and as his wounds and bruises tingled "

“I’ll do it or bu’stflhe muttered, a Wicked y

c“?-

kin ondly git my hands on the gol -—-I’ll soon I 

Lying upon his stomach—a sitting posture ' “

pen the lone cabin, the ' ‘
bummer carefully formed his diabolical plot.
, and ‘

ed his eyes whenever ,l."

A dread lest the vi ‘lantes should return and.
‘ Cocktail

‘wmm—su “is: :3».

a—‘vgsri

..s—~ as"... 32§L+

/
. _. 4.--.1.

H--- *4)... ~ fl. ..

He, himself, had caused ~ ‘3 I

.ol‘

v
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22

to lean; his covert earlier than he Would other
wise have dared. The men hadscarcc disap—
pearcd an hour when he stole cautiously down
the hill toward the lone cabin. A burning
longing for revenge, togget her with the hope of
making a rich haul of gold, deadoned his pains,
and the bummer betrayed no still'ness nor de—
bility as he neared the slrmty.

Creeping forward, keeping in the darkest
shade, he gained the cabin wall Undiscovered.
All was silent within. There new on lights
burning. Evidently Josie had gone to bed,
inst what he. had calculetml upon. lle cautious-
y tried the door, then the one wo ulen—shutlered
window; but each and all were fastened from
within. 1

A grating curse told that he had not counted
upon this. sllll, at the same fine, it convinced.
him that .losii- was alone within the cabin. lie
knew that SnealLy's bank lay directly beneath
the window, which was usually left ajar, to
admit the cool, fresh air.

“Jest my durned crooked luck!” snarled the
bummer, slittel'ully. “\Va-al, el' 1 can’t git
the. dust, I’ll buy my revenge, anyhow, of I die
for’t!"

The cabin was a frail one, built of pine and
cedar I'loles, the interstices llelll': filled with
moss and dried grass, the whole thatched with
laycrsof bark for shingles. Beneath the sill-
try sun, these materials had become dry as
tinder, so inflammable that a spark would be.
enough to insure, its destruction.

None knew this belt-r than (tin (,‘m-ktail,

. since he had occupied the cabin for several

weeks. And, guided by this knowledge, he
lest no time in carrying out his devilish pro—
'ect. Gathering an arml‘ul of dried grass and
ieavos, mingled with twigs and pine knots. he
built four separate piles, one at each side of the
cabin, then striking a match he ignited a wisp

/ of hay, running rapidly from one pile to an—

other until the four were blazing freely. Then,
with revolver in hand, he crouched down in a
clump of bushes, some twenty yards from the
window and one of the doors. At both of
the latter he had started tires, and already he
could see that the growing llames had fastened
upon the pitclispine slabs.

As stated in a previous chapter, the cabin was
Situated in a narrow valley. and a bend in the
hollow shut off all View of the town. 'l‘hns (iin
Cocktail had little cause to fear interruption
from that direction, at least until the increasing
glow should awaken suspicion.

Eagerly he. awaited the rmult. his eyes glow-
ing, his tongue licking his dry, parched lips, his
skinny face fairly hideous With a Satanic glee.
He could see that the cabin was fairly alire,
the pitch- )ine poles burning furiously. The
moss chin ing dropped out in blazingllukes.
The forked tongues of fire Were reachingr far
into the interior. And then his gaze concen—

' trated upon the window, as he saw that the door

his resolve was taken.

was a blazing furnace through which no living
thing could pass.

“ Ha! ha! now she feels it!" he laughed, as a
half-stifled shriek cami- from within the cabin.
“ Now it touches her: now it’s spoilin’ her baby
face! Hal h—‘l l” he grated, fiercely, “ she’ll git
away, arter all!”

He heard a rattling crash within, and then
the wooden shutter was flung open, with a jar.
Through the flame-tinted smoke a pale, terrified
face a pcared at the opening. It was that of
Josie Ixendall.

The assassin saw that she would escape his
devilish snare, unless ijecdily prevented. The
opening was amply large enough to permit her
crawling out, and at this side of the building
the flames were fiercest by the door. Instantly
He had already dared
too much to falter now, and, rising up in his
covert, he raised his revolver, crying aloud:

“ Go back; I’ll blow yer brains out of ye don’t
go back!”

Josie saw the threatening figure, heard the
menacin words, but. instead of olwying, she
struggle-i still further through‘ the window, ut-
tering a shrill, piercing cry for hel ).

'With another curse, the assassin raised his
pistol and fired. But the bullet sped wide of its
intended victim. -

The maidcn’s cry for aid was not unheeded.
A figure was already hastening to her rescue,
and was close behind (tin (‘ocktail when he nt-
tered his fierce threat. Rising into the air. the
figure leaped forward, striking heavily against
the murderer, hurling him to the ground with
stunning force, just as his pistol exploded.

As though under the same impulse the leap
was repeated, and then the rescuer darted on
to the cabin, just in time to catch the half
senseless maiden in his arms.

“Thank God! darling, I was in time!” he

, cried, pressing his lips to hers, as he drew his

precious burden away from thc'intense heat.
‘But am I-—you are not injured?” he added,
fearfully, as he received no rep] y.

At this moment a horseman gallopod up, and
Gaping to the ground, confronted him, with
drawn pistol.

V “You here, Bush! what does all this mean?”
cried Little Cassmo, for be it was who last ap-

“It means murder—a man was trying as

. ...

 

.1 /
é. — *v

Big George, the Giant of the Gulch.

 

 

 

shoot her as I came luv—yonder he lies,” hastily
replied the rescuer.

“I saw the light and hastened up, but you
were too quick for me. A dying man, too!
Turned doctor—you were trying to restore her
with your breath, wasn’t you?” with a. hard,
unnatural laugh.

have known her for months, doctor,”
quietly replied Bush—the young miner whom
we saw laying wounded at the “ Mint.” “Never
mind how I found out, but I knew who ‘Soft
Tommy ’ was all along, and she has promised to
be my wife.” ,

“ I’m glad to hear it, Tipton,” was the warm
reply. “You’re well worthy her love, and I
can’t say more than that, though I tried a year.
lint she’s coming to. You’d better wrap this
blanket around her. Young girls are some—
iimes bashful about up uring before their lov-
ers in such scant attire—though she'hns no
cause to be afraid,” smiled Little 'Cassino, tak-
ing a blanket from the croup of his horse and
passing it to Bush 'l‘ipton.

Then he turned to where the baffled assassin
lay, not having stirred a member since that
second deadly jump. The young miner had
alighted fairly upon the neck and head of Gin
(lm-ktail,breaking the one and crushing in the
other with his heavy iron-shod heels.

CHAPTER XXVI.
A van or JEALOITSY.

MEANTIME, what fate had befallen Estelle
Mack, the wife of the ill—fated gymnast? To
explain her, as yet, eni matical disap .arance,
the reader must go buc ' to the Temp e on the
evening when Red Pepper abducted Zoo, in-
steudzof the ame Big George set him at.

Only for his stumble and fall over the body
of Little Cassino at the door of the green-room,
the dos )el'udn would doubtless have succeeded
in his )old attempt. But, as he fell, Estelle
slipped from his grasp and fled from him, into
the grain-room, the only avenue of escape left
open. The darkness aided her in so far that
Red Pepper seized one of the ballet—girls in her
stead, nor discovered his mistake until hours
later.

But, if favored by fortune in this respect,
)oor Estelle was to fall victim to a scarcely
ess diabolical plot. In the darkness she ran
against some person, uttering a little cry of
terror at the contact. A vowe called herb
name—~11 voice that she readin recogniz .
She replied, with just what words she never
knew. But it was sufficient, since her voice
plainly declared her identity, and instantlya
pair of soft, warm arms Wound around er
trembling form.

“ Come, with me—hastonl He is hunting for
you—he will murder you if he finds you new!
Huston—for the love of Our Mother! hasten!”

The voice was that of a woman, eager et
guarded, and audible onlyto the ears of is—
telle above the wild uproar and tram fling with
which the wooden walls resonnde . Never
dreaming of treachery—why should Shel—Es-
telle followed the woman. Across the room,
through a low, triangular owning in one cor—
ner, now creepin ,groping t eir way blindly
through a maze o rough beams and scantlings,
progressing with wonderful ease and certainty
considering the obstacles; it was as though the
woman—guide possessed the visual wers of a
cat. At length she. paused, pushlng aside a
short flank and stepping through into a small,
dimly-lighted dressing—ram].

“ here—you are safe here; no one can touch
you now,” spoke the woman, as she pulled Es-
telle after her and slipped the plank into place
again.

“Let me go—-I must find him—George—
they are murderin him!” gasped Estelle,
brushing the hair bac from her eyes and glanc-
ing wildly around her.

At her words an almost terrifying change
mssed over the other woman’s countenance.
i aturally beautiful, though of a brilliant, pas-
sionate t 'pe, a brune in whose veins coursed
the hot lood of the sun-lands, her face now
became dark and fr0wning, a menacing light
in her eyes. As though aware of this fact, and
lost her intended victim should take the alarm
and escape her toils after all, she averted her
head, bending ()Ver a trunk as she s ke.

“One moment and we will go. at you are
ill—fainting! Smell this; it will give you
strengtli—-ah——ha .I”.

She moved swiftly toward Estelle, a crum-
pied handkerchief in hand. Bewildcred, dazed

 

though she was, Estelle detected the cloying'

odor of chloroform, and started back, but ere
she could raise her voice, that lithe form was
upon her, bearing her back, ressin the drug-
ged cloth to her nostrils, ho ding i firmly in

lace until the girl-wife's struggles ceased and
lier body hung limply across the arm of the
traitress.

A low, mocking laugh parted the lips of the
Mexican as she allowed her victim to Sinkto
the finer, flinging the tell-tale handkerchief
back into her trunk and closing the lid.

“So!” she hissed, standing over the sense-
less girl, tappin the pale lips with one tiny
satin-slippered oot. ‘So; you will cross my
path and then laugh at poor Paqmta because

A;

 

 

 

she likes not your soft smiles and sweet looks;
11 n her lover! You will step on my heart~
be my footsteps on your lips—you will laugh
and coquet With him~with my Pclucho, eh?
No—not any more. My time it is nowl I
laugh at you—I bruise your baby li s—I spit
upon you—ha! ha! 1, Pat uita—I do t is!"

A beautiful, brilliant emon she appeared
as she gave full vent to her wild jealousy, but,
the trans ort quickly ended. She heard the
voice of t e manager, Ben Cofi'ee, calling aloud
the name of Estelle. There was yet danger of
discovery, and to guard against this was her
first move.

She dragged the bed of her victim into the
further corner, rolled t 0 heavy trunk close up
against it, then piled clothes over all, drawing
along breath of relief as she drew back and
assured herself that all was hidden from view,
unless a close search was instituted. Then,
knowing that the drug administered was p0vr»
erful enough to insure. her victim’s silence for
hours, Paquita left the room, lockin the door,
and hastened along the passage leai ing to the
Sta 9.

b ercached this in time to hear the dying
words of the young j'ninast. Affecting as
was the scene, it fail to touch her heart.
She only regretted that Estelle was for the
ltime being insensiblc to the magnitude of her
oss.

A few words will explain the. cause of the
Mexicans bold action. That she had been
bitterly jealous of Estelle, for months, every
body connected with the troupe was well
aware. Her avowed lover, a Spanish gym-
nast, had been deeply smitten with the fair
son stress. Estelle treated him comtcously,
as s e did all with whom she. came in contact,
but one evening Pelucho threw caution to the
winds and declared his passion in terms not to
be misconstrued. Before Estelle could reply,
Paipiita appeared, and only for a prompt in-
ter erence, would have slain her supposed ri—
val then and there. Estelle sought to explain,
but she would not listen. A king in her eyes,
Pa uita would not believe that any woman
con d remain insensible to his love. Possibly
all would have blown over, in time, but a pow-
erfulterrptcr was near, and Pa uita only too
eagerly seized the opportunity 0 ridding her—
self of a dreaded rival. A note. was handed
her, which she read and then destroyed. Her
answer was prompt. On the succeeding night
she would do the work—place Estelle in the
hands of the. writer or any other who might
be deputized to pay her the sum pledged.
Thanks to the disturbance created by the Pep-
per brothers, she was enabled to secure her
.victim with far less difficulty than she had an-
ticipated, and the following events still further
favored her scheme.

While upon the stage—now the scene of a
tragedy from real life—her eyes were roving
rest essly in search of one particular face, not
in vain. A gigantic half-breed cau ht her
glance, and worked his way around to 191' side.

no look was sufficient. A gesture of her hand
bade him keep close beside her as the stage
cleared after the death of George Mack.

“ All is well,” she whispered. in Spanish. “1
have her safe but we must watch our chance to
get her out of the theater.”

“That will be soon,” he tersely replied.
“They have struck a hot trail—listen i”

It was the doc roar of vengeance—the cry
for blood—the b cod of the des )erado brothers.

“ Come! they are clearing t e building—fol»
low me!”

Together they reached the little dressing-
room. Paquita drag ed the senseless girl from
under the pile of cothes, hastily drawing a
loose, dark—colored gown over the fanciful Scot—
tish dress, then bade the half-breed take Estelle
in his arms. This he did, first paSSing her a
weighty bag of old. Paquita led the way to
make sure that he read was clear, and two
minutes later the giant half-breed was gliding

rapid] through the street, toward the foothills.
Thoug the town was in an uproar with men

running here and there, in ever direction, no
one appeared to notice him, an in a few min-
utes he reached a clump of bushes in which his
horse was tethered.

Mounting, he rode rapidly dewn the valley,
boldin the senseless woman before him. He
was f0 lowing almOSt exactly in the footste of
Red Pepper, hough he knew it not. But 8 ori-
3 after mg the side-trail which led to

reaser I at, he veered to the north, carefully

icking his way through a narrow, rockcncunv-
red ravme or canyon. And thus he ressed
on through the night, never drawing rem until
the far distant mountain peaks were lightening
with the first rays of dawn.

Just distinguishable through the gloom, n.
square stone building rose before him. Haltmg,
he uttered a she whistle, then rode on until
his animal touch the broad stone slab before
the door. Dismounting, he knocked at the mag-
swe door. Creakingreupon its rusty hinges, it
opened and he ente . The low-coiled room

only contained one other figure; a hideous old
crone, with wrinkled skin and toothless mouth.
who snatched up a. smoking torch and motioned
him to follow, without sword. Through that

 

 

 

 

 

 

3139????

\

, of the Gulch.

, ,- '23

 

room intoasmallerone thehaglighted the way. ' be satisfied with my love, and try to forget

Stooping, she raised a trap-door, revealing a
narrow, steep flight of steps. Descending these, :
she o ,ned an upright door, heavily studded ,
with iron, by means of a ponderous key. Obedi-
ent to her gesture, the half—breed descended
four more steps, into a small stone-walled cell.
A bundle of moldy rass la in one corner. ‘
Upon this he placed his sense em burden then
retreated. The door was closed, locked and
barred; the double foot teps retreated—died .
away; then all was still as death.

How many hours Estelle lay in this trance—
like state can only be surmised; but at last she
didawake, with a feeble mean of terror. She
raised her head, but the utter gloom confused
her. She could only recollect—what? Like a.
flash it came to her—that wild, terrible shriek——
his voice!

George, George! God of mercy, where am I?”

She cried aloud until the muffled, unearthly
sound of her own voice smothered within those
massive walls terrified her. Seized with a ?
nameless terror. she sprung to her feet and
sought to fly, only to be beaten back by the
senseless stones. Again and again, with the
same result: Then, exhausted by her struggles,
she crouched 11 ion the damp floor sobbing iti-
fully, striving in vain to recall what had ap—
pened.

In no way could she account for her present
situation. The last she could remember was
her hearing the wild cry of her husband: all
after that was a blank. The assault of Red
Pepper, her esca , the brief interview with t
Paquita, alike ha faded from her mind.

In her delirious despair she could hear his
voice calling to her, begging her to save him
from some frightful peril; and something was
holding her bac , keeping her from her ri htful
place at his side. Desperately she stru g ed to
free herself, yet unab e to move a lim . And
then, with one long, piercing shriek, her head ‘
sunk forward and she was lost to all conscious- '
ness.

It was hours before she recovered her senses,
but when she did, it was all at once. She sat
up, her eyes widely dilated. every sense on the
a ert.

She heard footsteps—faint and muffled as
though coming from a distance. Then there
was a fumbling, a dull clinking as of metal ,
striking against metal. Dreading, she scarce]
knew what, she sprung to her feet and shrun
mcay from the sound until the stone wall bar-
red further retreat.

Then the door swun heavil open, abright
light filled the cell. ith a ow cry, Estelle
covered her face with her hands.

 

CHAPTER XXVII.
A BEAUTIFUL FURY.

{ERRIBLY beautiful was Clarina as she drew
her ueenly form erect, her countenance glow- ‘
ing, er eyes blazing with an angry triumph;
but it was with the beauty of a fallen angel. ,
Even in that moment Bi ' George felt a glow of
admiration thrill throug his being, a sensation
something akin to the old passionate ardor of
days gone by. But it lasted only for an instant.

.811 the memory of a fair, pure face returned
with redoubled force as he caught the full mean-
ing of her exultant speech.

‘Yiu will never again breathe your love-
vows in her ears. She is dead! And I killed
herl’I’ repeated the beautiful fury, in aclear,
ringing tone.

“You—but it is a lie—a shallow lie on its
face! cried Big George, suffering his uplifted
hand to Sink to his side. “She is safe in Red’s
hands, and I’ll take good care that on never
have the chance to trouble her. rem this
hour our paths run separate. You can stay
here 0" 8‘0—‘Just as you refer; but whichever
you elect, I and mine wi 1 take the other course.

have more than fulfilled my bargain with you
so. far. here is nothing you can blame me
Witli—.-”

“Nothin ,George?’ cried Clarina, her tone
and attitu e changin as by magic, from hard
and defiantto soft an reproachful. “Do you
call it nothin ? You teach me to love vou
better than al the world beside, better than
my very soul: then you turn aside with a care-
19933 laugh. tossing my heart from you as you
might a crushed and faded flower, saying—go.
_I have done with you! And this you call noth-
ing! 0h, George—say that you do not mean
its—say that you have only been trying your
power over me. You cannot mean it, I love
yon—lifwrcitul Mother! how I love on! I 1
Would die if I thought you hated me! ay that i
you were only trying me—that you still love j
me if only a little?” 1

Sinking at his feet, she 0 his knees

. g - . 1
looking beseechingly into his face as she plead-
ed; but the cold, hard look did not soften nor
the black frown fade from his face. ’

“Say that you lied about her—that she is '
yet alive and well, for all that you have done,” ‘

e uttered, sternly. !

“And if I do—if I admit that I was mad and I.
hardly knew what I was sa ing, will you recall l
those dreadful words? ill you promise to

. feet.

, to keep raking over the cold ashes.
once for all that there is not a single spar of

that she ever lived?”

Big George laughed with insolent triumph.

“That is all I want to know. I was pretty
sure that on were trying to deceive me, from
the first; ut so many ueer things have hap-
pened during the last cw days that I didn’t

now but this was another one of them. There
——you’d better get up. I know how such act-
ing tires one, from sad experience.”

‘Actingl” cried Clarina, springing to her

I thought that would be the
roper way to put it, to spare your modesty.
‘ome, Clarina, this is growmg tiresome. Sure-

ly I have spoken plain enough for even you to

understand. The past is dead, so far as you
and I are concerned, and it is worse than folly

I tell on

“ So I said.

lllfiold love left alive—’7

e never finished the sentence. With a sharp,
agonized cry. the S nish woman sprun toward
him, striking mad y at his heart with er dag-
ger. Quick as were his motions, Big George
could not stay her hand until the keen point of
the weapon penetrated his clothes and pierced
his skin. The stinging pain enraged him. and
for the moment he forgot that he was dealing
with a woman. Uttering a furious curse, he
struck her with his clenched fist. Luckily the
force with which he wrested the poniard from
her gra. , caused Clarina to reel, and thus
she avoi ed the full force of the blow, which
would otherwise have maimed if not slain her

5 outright. As it was, she was hurled across the

room, falling heavily in the corner. Then, with—
out a second glance at his victim, Big George
strode out of the room and rejoined his two bro-
thers. Payin no heed to their questions, he
seized one of t e decanters, and raising it to his
lips, drank lon and deeply of the fiery li uor.

Scarcelgv ha he disappeared when 81mins.
arose to or feet. Her ace was very pale, and
all passion seemed to have vanished, save from
her eyes. They burned with a vivid fire painful
to witness.

Arranging) her disordered garments, (‘larina

icked up t e dagger from the floor where Big

eorge had flung it, then opened a drawer in
the bureau from which she took a quantity of
gold—dust and some jewels. These she secured
upon her person. Then, after one slow glance
around her, as though bidding a long farewell
to the home which had sheltered her for so
long, she opened the door and passed out into
the night. Once she aused. Through the
open door of the rude irush—wattled hut, she
could see the forms of the three brothers, gath-
ered around the table. One moment her aze
rested upon the massive fi re of George e -
per; then she glided silent y away toward tiie
entrance of the gulch.

Leon the Mexican, Was on ard, with the
best of the mine laborers. low, cautious
mate upon her ivory call brought him to her
81 e.

“I am going away from this, Leon,” she
said, in a low, cold tone. “You will follow
me. But first, pass the word to my men. Tell
them that their work here is completed, thatl,
their queen, say so. Bid them make all haste
to join me at San Felipe—the old mission.
There is work for them on hand—work that

, will repay them richly. There—that will do.”

“ But what will they say?” hesitated Leon.

“That need not concern you: you have only
to obey my orders. But that there may be no
trouble, act cautiously. They are at the liquors
now, and will not be easily disturbed. If they
should, and attem t to smfinyou—well, you

have weapons an should ow how to use
them.”
“Holy Mother be praised!” fervently mut-

tered the Mexican, as Clarina' lided away.
“ There has been a uarrel with t e cursed he-
retics! If it may on y last forever!”

Clambering over the barricade Clarina
emerged from the gulch, and rapidly glided
down the valley, nor did she pause to cast one
glance behind er. In silence she hastened on
through the night, seemingly insensible to fa-
tigue, though the trail was a difficult one, at
times almost im assable.

It was fully t ree hours before she paused,
upon the brow of a rocky hill. Taking breath
for a few moments, she raised the whistle to
her lips and blew a long, trilling blast, then
sunk down upon anioss- wn bowlder. She
had not long to wait. lmost immediately a
huge figure strode up the hill and bowed its
head before her.

“Prompt and faithful as ever, Manuel' you
at least I can trust. Well, did you succeed?’

Another low bow was the only reply.

“Good! Now listen. There is work on
hand. We will need every arm. You must
set [the signals for them to gather at the mis-
sion at once. You understand?”

“ Si senora,” bowed the man, moving away
in obedience to the gesture.

Arising, Clarina descended the hill crossed
a level tract of land and found herself at the
door of a loomy-looking stone buildin —one of
the ruin missions, long since ahan cued by
the priests who sought to convert the savages

 

to the true cress faith, and the same to which
Estelle Mack had been borne a captive, some
four-and-twenty hours previously.

In obedience to her signal. the door was
0 nod to her by the old woman. Clarina IUt‘ii
t e torch and key to the dungeon door, bidding
the old woman return to her couch, and 1:11»
ceeded alone. It was her footstep that Estelle
heard, the light of her torch flashing upon her
vision after so long a spell of utter darkneq:
that caused her to cover her face with her hands
to shut out the blinding light.

Clarina entered. closing the door behind licr.
She thrust the torch into a crevice in the we Ii,
then stood over the captive, touching her with
the tip of one foot, saying in a sharp tone:

“Look up! I am anxious to see what there
is in your face to drive nn'n mad and cause
them to forget their most solemn vows—look
up, I say l"

Estelle obeyed. and a lew, glad cry broke
from her lips as she saw that a woman stood
before her.

“You are a woman—you have come to save
me? Oh, let me go from here—help nn- toes-
cape, and I will bless and pray for you! He
was calling for me, and they would not let me
go—for the love of God! take me toliiin!”

Clarina laughed bitterly, as she thrust the
kneeling figure from her with her foot.

“ A woman—yes, I mts a woman, once; but
not now. I am a devil: and you made inc one
—you and him. As well pray to thrsc stone
walls—they will listen to your pleadings with
a better grace than I, and answer them far
sooner. Take you to him? I would sooner tear
the heart from my bosom with my own fingers!
Ay! look at me. look well. Am I so hideous?
Am I old and withered? Is my figure deform-
ed. in ' voice discerdant? “'hat is there in you
that lack? Nothing! And yet—belies seemed
me for love of you!" '

Terrified by the angry look, bewildered by
the frenzied speech of the jealous woni n, Es-
telle shrunk back trembling in every fibe mur-
muring:

“ I do not understand—J’

“A lie! You know only too well—but you
shall not live to boast of your triumph over
the. Do I look like one who would tainer
subinitto such an affront, an injury so bitter?
No, no! You have had your triumph; ou
must pay the penalty. I told him that, 1 ad
killed you. I lied then. but I will make my
words good now. Bah!” and she laughed

scornfullv as Estelle uttered a low cry of ter- 1

ror. “ here are none to hear you; and even!
if there were, I am queen over all. I would‘
onlgbhave to lift my finger, and your dainty
lim * would be torn asunder. Not that I
would give that signal; no. no! That would
be poor revenge; to see you die by another’s
hand instead of mine. And then, there are
worse punishments than death. He has scorn-
ed and insulted me. You shall meet the same
fate. He loves you for your sweet baby face.
I will spoil that soft beauty—leave it scarred
and hideous. I will pull out your silken hair-—

rhaps he has toyed with it—even kissed it!
Iother of Mere —I am choking! I am dying
—the thought kills me!” and clutching at her
throat, Clarina recch as though she would fall.

Instinctively Estelle sprung to her aid,sei.~,

ing only a sister woman in agony; but as.

though her touch was magic, Clarina rallied,
grasping the girl and flinging her prostrate,
raising er poniard to deal t e fatal stroke!

 

CHAPTER XXVIII.
PUT TO THE TEST.

Wrrn a choking cry, Estelle Mack closed
her eyes, believing that death was inevitable.
The strong grasp upon her hair, the knee press-
ing sharply into her breast, held her helpless as
a amb bound for slaughter. There was no sign
of rclenting in those fiercely—blazing eyes.

But the end was not yet. The door was flung
open and a man leaped into the cell. The knife
was already falling when be extended his hand
and the round white wrist fell into his broad
palm, holding it firm as though fixed in a vise.

With a low, angry cry, the madwoman
turned her head, while struggling to release
her hand. She saw a heaVily—bearded face
large eyes now filled with an expression 0
wondering reproach. There was something in‘
the glance t at calmed her strangely. Her
struggles ceased. She rose to her feet, letting
the dagger fall from her relaxed fingers.

ick as t ought the man stooped and secured
t e wea
toward er, saying, in a quick, earnest tone of
veice:

“Take our weapon, Clarina. Plant it in
my heart or treating you so roughly; but dorn’t?~
dip your hands in the blood of a woman!”

‘ will take the weapon. Richard, but not
to use it on you "replied Clarina, in a more
natural voice. “I owe you thanks for check-
ing my hand, just new. I believe I was insane:
I must have been, else I would never have
t of killing her with a single blow. That
woul be too t a mercy!" ‘

“Who is sic—what has she done that you
hate her so bitterly f” asked the man—mono

n; but only to hold the jeweled hilt’

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24

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other than Richard Pepper, or Pepper~pot, as
he is best known to us.

“ Look—you have seen the face before?” cried
Clarina, stepping forward and pushing back
Estellc’s head so that the red rays of the torch
fell full upon her face.

“George’s girl!” muttered Pepper-pot, with,

an air of utter surprise.

“ i” bitterly cried the S anish woman.
“ Andynow do you ask me why hate her—wh y
you found me just now with my knife at her
throat? She stole away his love for me and
changed it to disgust and loathing. His love—
the light of my life!”

“It will not lust—it can’t,” said Peppeiupot,
slowly. “ Geor e is no fool, and no man in his
sober senses cou d choose her before you. Per-
haps he has been only trying you—trying to
make you jealous.”

Clarina laughed bitterly.

“He is a good actor, then!
you are my friend—"

“God knows I am!” fervently cried the des—
perado. “To serve you, to save you one ino—
ment’s pain, I would give my right arm and
count myself the winner. Clariiia, is there no
ho for me? Must it ever be thus? For one
smile—one look of love, I would die the death
of a dog. I love on more—bah! words are so
weak! I know w lot I feel, but I shake when-
ever I try to put my love into words. Clarina,
gity me I don’t ask you to love me all at once.

11 y let me love you—give me the right. to love

ou—f’

“ Stop, Richard—it is you that need restrain-
ing,‘ now,” said the Spanish woman, smiling
faintl . “I love and respect you as a dear
frien —you mustn’t ask more of me now. I
have been sorely tried to-night.” He—but per-
you!

orge? no. I knew that there had been a
quarrel, from his looks. I couldn’t sit there
with him. I went outdoors, and then I learned
that you had left the gulch. Dinah told me. I

Richard, I believe

believed you would come here, so I followed as
' fast as I could.”

' “ You desert him—”

“ If he is your enemy he is mine,” quietly.

“ He is my enem . Look!” touching a livid
bruise upon her fore iead with one finger. “ That
is his mark!”

“ He dared to strike you? You cannot mean
that!”

“ Yes he struck me.

It may have been in
fault. I do not know.

I can’t remember a

r that passed between us. I was crazy I believe.

He spoke socruelly! It seemed as t ough my
heart would burst. He taunted me With his
love for her, and said that it was my turn to
sufi'eras I had made him suffer in da 5 gone by.
I humbled myself in the dust at his eet, I said
all that woman could, only to be repulsed with
noon and jeers. That drove me mad. I tried
to kill him- then he struck me down.”

“It‘ will abitter blow for him; I swear it
b‘ the Eternal!” hissed Pep r—pot, his face
white with deadly passion. He is no brother
of mine. From this moment he is my bitterest
enemy, and I swear to hunt him down and wash
out that insult in his heart’s blood!”

“,No2 Richard; you must romise me that
you Will not seek his life. romise, or you
unless as his
aven r.”

“ e struck you, a woman,” muttered Pepper-

pet.

“I know; but I drove him to it. No,” she
added with awan smile. “ Don’t think that of
me. eisnothin' to me, now. M love died
with that blow. only wish to ma e him suf-
fer. I can do that through her. He loves her'
IcouId tell that from his words and looks. I
shall kill her‘ then send him her body.”

f‘She would not feel the blow now,” said

Pepper- t, steeping over the captive. “She
‘ fapoted ”

has- .

“ All the better. There was a ti rue—just be-
fore you came in‘that I longed to torture her
to make her die a thousand deaths in one. I
blamed her for my loss. But now I can see that

' she was not to blame. He’s made me love him,

almost against m will: then how could she re-
sist him? No, I 0 not hate her now. I would
rather strike her while her eyes are
closed.”
“ You will not let her escape?” hesitated Pep-
r- .
pe“Tgtmake him happy with her love? No—

, ten thousand times, no!” and the wild fury

again filled her eyes.

“ V well she shall die. But you must not
do it. could not bear to see such blood upon
your hands. I will do it, instead. Give line

 dagger; it is more suited for a girl like

or than my bowie.”

In silence Clarina extended her hand. He
took thgdpapiard and)! felt of its pains, then ap-
proach e inseam e woman, gen y movm
one arm that 19. across her heart. 8

'Again dida rightth peril threaten the girl-
): was her life preserved,
when death seemed inevitable.

The re rt of a pistol filled the cell, sounding
almost ke thunder within those close walls.
The 0 ' straightened up convulsively,

When around as though to face his de-

 

‘7' a

Big George,,the Giant of the Gulch. I

 

atroyxer, then fell heavily upon his face, stone
ea

At almost the same instant, a dark figure
8 rung into the cell, a pair of stron arms were

ung around the Spanish woman, w o stood like
one turned to stone at the terrible retribution
that had so suddenl overtaken her ally. And
almost ere she coul comprehend the truth, she
was lying upon. the floor bound with her own
scarf, disarmed and help ess.

The clan 'ng of the massive door as it was
swung to, t e sudden snap as the huge bolt was
turned, directed her eyes. A man was crouch-
ing upon the topmost step, his back ainst the
close| door, uinting along the barre of a re-
volver, the b ack muzzle of which stared her
full in the face.

“ Jest move a inuskle; make a sound bigger’n
a pig’s whisper, an’ [’11 blow ye clean to never
come back ag’in I” he uttered, in a low, grating
veice.

“ Who are you—what have I done—”

t_ The man laughed, low, yet strangely vindic-
lVe.

“ Enouglh to check ye straight to—by express!
Who air ? I’m Woodpecker—the man whose
pard on butchered.”

“I 0 not know on. I never saw you be-
fore,” faltered Clarina, a sickening sensation of
fear creeping over her.

“ ’Twasn’t my fault that you was kep’ wait-
in’ so long. I hain’t ett nur slept sence that
day. Ht- wouldn’t let me—Saltpeter wouldn’t.
He kep’ shovin’ me on ontil I struck the right
trail. I couldn’t ’a’ rested ef I wanted to. fer
his voice a—callin’ fer vengince. He showed me
them fellers creepin’ into town—them with
Hammer Tom. That was all I axed. I follered
’em like a bloodhound. I struck one on ’em
that same night; a Grosser. I sarved him as I
mean tfilsarve all thet rest),3d as I ineandtoflnsarve

cu ' e way you rea m — ger,
hand an’ head; jest the same mafia?”

A single long, pierci scream burst from the

nish woman’s lips. he crazed miner laugh-
shortly, as he divined her object.

“ That won’t do you one mite 0’ good The ’5
no one in the house: they’re all outside. 11’
even of the was to hear ye, what better would
you be? T ey couldn’t bu’st open the door in
time to save “ye.”

“ They co d avenge m death—”

“Like enough,” was t e uiet response. “ I
wouldn’t much keer ef they 'd, once I‘d settled
you. I’d only see my old pard the sooner. He’s
waitin’ fer me. He said he would, an’ Petey
never lied to me. They wasn’t a whiter man in
ten States then him. No man never bed a truer
pard nor him. An’ yit you murdered him, like
a wolf! You never 've him no show fer his

ile. I know that or e’d ’a’ bu’sted the bank,

race ame or no, Pete would. You tuck him
when e’d bin fightin the p’izen, I reckon, or
else double-banked ’im from ahind. An’ he.
harmless as a. suckin’ dove! It makes my head
go ’round an’ ’round when I think of it! Some-
times I reckon I’ll go plum crazy with thinkin’
so much. I kin see it all so plain. Thar he lays,
like he was sleepin’. That’s what I thou ht
when I fust seed him. But then—I see is
head a—la ’ on his breast; I tetched it. I felt
the cold lood on in hand. I knowed that he
was dead—murd ! ’Peared like somethin’
bu’sted jest then, in my head ye know. It to!
so queer—like a. chunk o’ red-hot fire. It burn
so bad, ontil he told me what’d cool it an’ squinch
the fire. That was blood—your blood an’ that
of the devils as helped you to murder him!”

With icy terror at her heart, Clarina listened
to this rambling speech. She could see that the
man was well-nigh crazed, if not actually in-
sane. There was no evidence that her cry for
help had reached the friendly ears without. She
co (1 only escape by her own wits, if even they
could save her.

“ It was a cruel deed,” she said, slowly.
“ You are right to swear revenge. But you are
wrong in accusing me. I am only apoor, w
woman—”

“ I know who you be,” chuckled Wood her.
“You was Jcfilafluin Murieta’s wife when 6 was
alive. You ' ed my pard, an’ now I’m goin’
to kill you 1”

CHAPTER XXX.
men we Duncan GULOH.

So faithful! had Florfo, the Mexican, car-
ried out the tions of his mistress that
Bart Noble never once dreamed of the truth—

that he and his of vigilantes were being
sent upon a wil chase. Few if any
among their num but had heard of the
“sink” at the foot of Lone Tree Butte, con-
nected With which was a. wild, thrilling le nd
of the early days of gold, and nearly one he f of
of the partyhmne personallye acquainted with
the spa . us the viigilan captain did not
suffer for want of a do.
h The trail Wafilangggg dand iloldikflflcult 01116 for
orsemen, nozg g eep some 3 oomy
can on, now ding u ward along the face of
a pr’tcipice where one fapise step would dash the
unfortunate to the rocks hundreds of feet
below, new Over high rid es, throngh grand
forests of towering pinnao es, Spires unvl inma-

 

rets of fantastically carved stone. But the
riders. had no eyes for the weirdly beautiful
vagaries of nature just then. A long, level
stretch of barren sand would have pleased them
much better. The anticipation of a speedy
“Circus ” with the Pepper brothers had caused
them to forget their fatigue and loss of sleep,
but now that the “ skrimmage ” seemed further
off than ever, nature re-asserted itself, and
more than one minor dozed and nodded in the
saddle as they followed at the heels of Bart
Noble and his chosen guide, G1) her.

_But every trail has two en s, and near the
middle of the afternoon, Noble called a halt.
Hls plans were simple, yet such as promised
success. The horses were to be securely teth-
ered. The men were to steal forward through
the undergrowth and surround the “sink,” us
nearlyI as the lay of the ground would permit.
Bart oble was to give the signal. Each man
was to rush forward and effect his purpose by
the one resolute charge. Dead or alive their
game must be bagged.

The plan was perfect, save in one respect,
and would doubtless have succeeded to a charm,
had the enemy been where expected. The sig-
nal was given, the charge made, the eager
diggers lungin' down the steep sides of the
sink wit more valor than prudence, but the
anticipated “ circus” was not to be then.

To say tha Bart Noble and his followers;
cursed long and loudly, as the truth flushed
upon them, is stating the case very mildly. The
recording angel must have used an elastic pen,
or else some of the be S in flannel could not
have received full credit for their half-hour of
tongue exercise.

“Somebody set on me—do!” groaned Bart
Noble, flingin his hat to the earth and stamp-
ing on it. “ in too big a durned fool to live—
'est fit to w’ar long clo’es an’ diapers an’ suck a

ttle! Fooled by a woman an" a corntwisted
greaser! I’ll shave my b’ard off an’ hire out for
a Chinee washwoman !”

“ It’s lucky we’re all in the same box,” cried
Dand Dave brightening up. “Thar hain’t
nobody to tell on us, an’ don’t reckon thar’s
much dan or 0’ this outfit lettin‘ it leak out.”

“ 1’11 lie the galoot as ever dreams 0’ sech a
thing,” soberly added Noble. '

There were many remarks and suggestions:
made, but only one that calls for special men~
tion. Long-legged Cornci‘acker was the s )eakei'.

I move we lay by and recruit. I, er one,
am mighty nigh tuckered out. 'l‘har’s a boiler
in me bigger’n a bu‘l bufiier’s hump, an’ I hev
to prop my eyes open to boot! I move we grub
an snooze a bit.”

His motion was prom )tly seconded, though a
minority opposed it. t was held that all the
harm had been. done already. Beyond a doubt
the gulch was now put in order to resist the use
sault and a few hours one way or the other
could do no especial harm. And renaming
thus, the company went into cam near the
spot where the had tethered their animals,
where aspring urnished them with an abun-

ce of water. Food Was searcer, until a
pro 'tion was made which met with univei—
sal aver. Lots were drawn to see which man
should sacrifice his horse for the benefit of all.
The animal was butchered, several tires were
kindled and the air was full of the odor of roast-
ing“ horse-beef.”

fter a hearty meal the vigilantcs stretched
themselves out upon the ground and spec-(lily
forget their bitter disap intment in slumber.
Not so Bart Noble. Asggader of the part he
felt the sell too acutely for sleeping. So, cad-
ing his pipe, he stood on guard. His reflections
would not look well on paper.

For an hour or more he leaned against the
bowlder without motion. The fires 'radually
died out. The moon shone brightly, t iough at
times obscured by light, ileecy clouds. It was:
during one of these intervals of moonlight that
the watcher became fully aware that all was
not right.

For several minutes his gaze had been fixed
upon what appeared tobe a curiously-she d
bowlder, lyin near the center of a grassy p at.
It more near y resembled the moss-grown cut
of a log, but that he knew it could not be. sinCe
the ground had been well uartered in search of
fuel, and such a stick woul have been greedin
snap up. Then while his eyes were vucantly

upon it, the seeming bowlder swiftl'
changed its position, disappearing behind a roc (
several yards nearer the fires.

Instantly Bart Noble was wide hwake. He
knew now that the bowlder was a. man, and
armed, since he had caught a glimmer of steel
in the moonlight. Crouchin low down, he
cocked his revolver, its tri e click sounding
clear and distinct in the night-air. That the
skulker. heard it was evident from his calling
out, quickg, though in a guardedtone of voice:

“ Don’t cot; I am a friend!”

“You not lots like a fri’nd! I reckon the
woods is full 0’ sech fri’nds as you be!” retorted
Bart, eagerly Watchin for a chance to send a
bullet through the nig t-walker.

“ No, Iain alone,” replied the man, evidently
interpreting the hrase literal! . “Promiiie
that syou will no shoot, and Pi come out. I
am Only one; you are I()l‘t)'.‘”

 

i

 

 

, “I wouldn’t advise ye to run the same resk

xmthateac

 

7

“All right: long as you act straight on 3
sha’n’tbe urt. Show your mug stranger.’

The man promptly arose from his covert and
approached. As the moonlight fell fairl upon
his face Bart Noble recognized him. t was
J qse YSylva. .

on come might ni h passin’ in your

checks that time, oldymang,” grimly observed
Noble, returning his revolver to its Scabbard.

over ag’in.”

“I‘ve been watching your tires for over an
hour, but I wouldn’t speak out until I was
sure. I know what you are after, and I can
(give you news that will please you. Chile

‘olorado is taken—”

“ An’ the gal !” eager] cried the digger.

“ She, too,” and then he Mexican briefly de-
tailed the ca ture of Red Pe )per. “More than
that,” be ad ed: “you will md another of the
accursed demons lyin badly wounded in the
house of Diego e1 Coy), at the Spanish Quar-
ter. The others you will probably find at
Diamond Gulch.”

“We tried that; s’arched through the hull
place—”

“Did you look in the tunnel; about half—
wa between the houses and the mine, on the

side?”

“ I never saw no tunnel—”

“They must have been hidden there—right
under your hand and you let them escape!”

“We did the best we know’d how. A fel-
ler can’t hit bull’s-eye every time, but we’ll
rake ’em in yit. I’ll call the boys an we’ll take
saddle right away !”

Ten seconds later the entire camp was on the
aler and wild cheers broke the air as Bart re-
tail the news brought by Jose Sylva.

“S’ ' ’ he’s lyin ,” suddenly cried Gopher.
“Meb it’s another trick. hf they was a
hole thar, big enough to hide three men, would-
n’t we ’a’ found it with all our huntin’?”

“ The tunnel is there,” quietly uttered Sylva.
“It’s runs clear through the eastern ridge. I
will show you the way if you wish. You can
pass through it, and take them by surprise,
while your main force keeps them busy in 7
front.”

“You do that, old man, an’ it’ll be the best
day’s work you ever put in!” cried Bart No-
ble. “But ef you an playin’ it on us, the
minnit we find it out, they won't be enough 0’
on left together to make a decent-sized fish—
)ait!”

“I will show you the secret passage. That
should satisfy alyou that I am telling you the
truth and de ing honestly with vou. I be-
lieve you will find them at the gulch, though I
could not swear to it.”

“We don’t ax onpossibilities, ard. You do

» Big George, the Giant o

 

thebest you kin an’ we’ll see to t e rest. Now,
boys, thar’s that cuss at Greasers‘ Flat. It’ll ‘
be a nastlyaplace to get him out of, of he’s got
fri’ndliaog . They ma be a tough fight, an’
some ymo ht iturt 'esgreasem.
tho’ll offer feli'gto g5?

“ You kin take your pick, boss,” put in Band
Dave; “beginnin at me. Any 0 the boys’l
go, I reckon.”

‘You pick ’em, Dandy. You’ll boss the job,
an’ it’s ondly right you should hev our choice
o’mentoback ye. But mind. Tn e the cuss ,
alive of you .kin an’ kerry him safe to town.
The boys ham’t bed a hangin’ match fer a
’coon’s age."

0;?“ $333“"°m2i°’“ “my” "°"“‘“’ ml"
. no 6 names of those whom e
wishedp to bear hliIh‘i company.

Then the two .rties separated, mounting

horses and ridm briskly away upon their
res ,tive missions. oss Sylva acted as guide
to e mam force, and, by his more intimate ‘
knowledge of the country, succeeded in leadin .
them to Diamond Gulch by a far easier and
shorter trail than the one which they had ‘
previousl used. So expeditious were they
hat day ad not yet dawned when the part
drew rein just behind the point of rocks whic I
concealed any one in the valley from view of
such as might be keeping guard over the en.
trance to the gplch.

Bart Noble riefly repeated his instructions.
In just two hours—Jose assured him that in that
tune he could lead them through the secret pas-
sage—the miners were to make a mock attack
upon the entrance, though taking care not to
expose themselves. unnecessarily. That would
bethesi al’for him toadvance. At the first
yell—in rt 3 vorce—trom within, they were to
elors§ m at 1once. . ~

e pre uninaries arranged,

Noble set off on foot, cruising ariagigi-‘n 
and striking into the same trail which we saw
used by Big George and his brothers. The same
«limculties had to be surmounted, but eve -
thiafinhad been provided for, and considerab v

wi _ the two hours which Sylva had specifle'd
the little band were at the opening of the tunnel. l

Through this the Mexican led the way, knife in

hand. But the weapon was not needed. The
tunnel was unoccupied by other than them- !
5815“. hi 5 h i h i

rouc n ust wit in t e edge of bushes
they care! i inspected their Weapons, makin , l
cap was pufect and well fitted '

 

, he was

25

 

r11}? Gulch.

 

on the nipples. All was still within the Gulch;
so still that it seemed utterly deserted.

Then came the signal from the valley beyond,
and, lfireaking forth, the miners rushed to the
attac .

 

CHAPTER XXX.

LIVELY TIMES AT GREASERS’ FLAT.

“THAR’s the sweet-scented hole now,” said
Dandy Dave, reining in his horse and nodding
half-( efiantly toward Greasers’ Flat, sweltering
under the hot afternoon sun. “It looks more
like a’ overgrowed pig—pen then anythin’ else,
jest now; but I reckon the hogs as live thar hev
got monstrous long teeth an’ p’izener nor a cat’s
claws.”

“ I reckon we’re the lads as knows how to
draw ’em, eh, fellers?” rinned Com-cracker.

“Right you air, par< —we ain’t nobody else!

, Ef ary crazy yaller-bell tries to look cross-eyed

at us, we‘ll just sprea ourselves, set down on
’em an’ drive the hull outfit down through to
China land—we will so I” was one among the
rom tchorus.

“T rat’s all good enough, tellers,” responded
Dandy Dave, on whom the weight of authorit '
seemed to have a steadying effect. “It soun s
mighty fine but I dont reckon it’ll wash, this
time. Mind, I don’t say we couldn’t run the
town, of so be we tuk a notion; but you must
b’ar in mind that we’re out on business, not
jest fer a spree. You’d call a feller a durned
fool of he’d ram his fist into a ball-ho’nets’ nest
an’ bet they wouldn’t sting him. There’s our
ho’nets’ nest afore your eyes, an’ we’ve got to
go into it, too. But we must putt gloves on, as
twere, an’ mebbe we’ll draw out without gettin’
stun toobad.”

“ e ain’t to let ’em it in ourfaces an’ then
stan’ still while they ru it in, be we?” disgust—
edly muttered Com-cracker.

‘ Not so bad asthat, little ’un,” grinned Dandy
Dave. “But we mustn’t start no muss. Cool
an’ perlite is the word: it’ll kerry a feller fur-
der twixt sun an’ sun then hot an’ nasty. We
want that Pepper cuss, whichever it may be,
an’ in course we’re goin’ to hev him. Ef they
kick up a bobbery bout it all right; I reckon
we kin hold our eend up. lint mind. We want
him, fust. Ontel he‘s safe, don’t mind a few
ugly looks or cuss-words; they won’t break no
bones.”

“Mebbe they’ll hide the galoot afore we kin
find ’im,” suggested Sugar-lips.

“ The in-easer said he was in Diego el Cojo’s
shanty. know the rooster well—‘Short an’
Dirty’ we used to call him down Sacramento
way. I reckon he knows me, too; I cho ped off
two 0’ his fingers oncet, when he tried he dou-
ble slip on me at poker. We kin find his hole
easy enough, I ess.”

After a brie delay, to breathe their animals
the little band of diggers trotted brisk] forward
and entered the cluster of rude, fllt y hovels.
The place seemed almost deserted, yet a close
observer could have caught glimpses of bright,
viciolls~100king eyes peering out from the huts
upon the intruders, but not a soul issued forth.
Drawin rein near the center of the cluster
Dandy )ave glanced around him with a puzzled
air. Only for a moment. Then he spurred his
horse forward, pausing close beside one of the
huts. An angry snarl followed as a ragged
heap beneath his animal’s nose suddenly reso v-
ed itself into a human shape, shakin a bloody
hpndmpipon which the mustang’s foo had been
p an .

Where is Diego el Cojo?” cried Dandy Dave,
in Spanish. ~

The Mexican angrily motioned toward one of
the huts, then dartet away and plunged into
the thickest of the town.

“Luck forever!” chuckled Dandy, as a short,

; stout figure appeared at the door of the hut in-

dicated. “Short an’ Dirty hisself! Come on,
fellersl”

As the Mexican saw them approaching, be
cast a swift glance around, as though to meas-
ure the chances of escape. But if such was his
purpose, he was too slow in puttin it into ex-
ecution. He drew the slab door to hind him,
folded his arms and stolidly stared at the Amer-
leans.

“ Ain’t; you glad to see us, old boss?” grinned
Dand Dave, leaning over in his saddle. “ We‘ve
been ottin’ on paym’ ye a visit this ever so
long; wanted to come an’ stay a year with 6,
but business was too pressin’. Whar’s t at
wounded feller you’ve got here?” he added,
abru )tly.

“ nine. He-went away this morning,» was
the ready reply.

“ I’m lad to hear it—I be so! Ef you’d said
ere, I’d jest turned tail an’ rid awa .
fer I know you never told a sober truth 1n
your life,” laughed Darfly Dave, leaping to the
ground. “ Jest stan’ aside, pf you please!”

“He is not here. This is my house and you
have no'right to enter.” uickly uttered the
Mexican, squaring his shoul ers, an ugly gleam

in his black eyes.
“ Jes’ so; I don’t doubt our word a-tall, but
reckon you’d better

thlgfc lyin‘ fer all that.
liiegoelCojoobeyed, though just how prob-

.. .. —.«-».

 

ably puzzled him. He felt an iron pupon
his shoulders—then a stunning shoc as he fell
upon his back over a dozen feet from the door-

ste .
‘PEf he makes any fuss, some 0’ cu tellers
‘ set on him,” coolly remarked andy, as
ie osat up and gouged the dust out of his eyes.
“€3etter mind, Dave,” warningly uttered
Com-cracker. “ Ef the cuss is in thar, he’s
guessed what we’re a’ter an’ ’ill take you on the
jump ef he’s got strength enough to pull trig-
r.

The caution was not needed. Dandy Dave
had served his time as sheriff of a river county
in Arkansas, and was thoroughly “ up to
snuff.” Cooking a revolver, he drove the
frail door 0 n with his foot. Only pausing to
take one g ance into the room, he crouched ow
down, then leaped forward like a gauther. ,

His suspicions were correct. lack Pepper
was within and fully upon the alert. As the
door 0 n ,he raised his revolver to whom a
man’s reast would naturally appear, and bad
Dandy Dave attempted to enter in the usual
manner he would ave fallen upon the ve
threshold. Black Pep r lowered his isto ,
and fired, but the bu et buried itself in the
floor behind Dave.

The neXt instant he was upon his feet, his
pistol covering the outlaw.

“Surrender—dra your wee in or I’ll bore
ye through quickern a wink! he hissed, ina
deadly .one.

“Surrender be durnedl” snarled Black Pep-
per, cocking his istol.

Dandy Dave red with lightning quickness,
his bullet shattering the d rado’s fingers and
tearing the revolver from his grasp. Black Pe

r attempted to seize the weapon in his le t
hind, but the miner was upon him, bearing him
back with a force his weakened frame could not
withstand. Dand called aloud:

“ One 0’ you fel ers fetch a trail-rope—~rest 0‘
ye stay thar an’ keep the greasers from comin’
mgc}m"ii geed'l red d d

u r - s l a pea , an un er
Dang:l DaEZ’s irect-ihns psecurely bound the
desperado, despite his furious struggles.

“ Thar!” exclaimed Dandy, in a tone of satis-
faction, as be wiped his brow. “Jest as neat a
job as a teller need want. Ef you hedu’t bin so
dumed contrairy, I wouldn’t ’a’ sp’iled your
hand fer ye. Cut a bit from that hide ender,
Sugar-lips; he’s bleedin’ like a stuck 0g, an
won’t be no better’n a dough-boy time we 't
ready fer that han 'n’ match, of ’taJn’t step ~”

The tough hide t ong was tied tightly around
Black Pepper’s and his hand was envel-
gped in a portion of his shirt. Then, bidding

ugar—lips watch him, Dave stepped to the door.
A quick glance showed him the state of affairs.
The pisto ~shots had fully amused the Mexi-
cans, who, though takin care to keep at a
respectful distance, were '11 to be seen bustling
around, weapons in hand, as though preparing
for an attack. . .

“They mean business, boss,” grimly observed
Corn-cracker.

“We know how to give it to ’em,'I reckon.

I want youto come ’lon 0’ me, Cracker. We’ve .

got to t a boss, some ow. ’Twon’t do to try
ridin’ double out 0’ this hole; we’ll need all the
hands we’ve got, u hear me I”

As he spo e ave strode to where the fat
Mexican still squatted, and jerked him to his

feet giving him a vigorous shake by way of re— ‘

storing his scattered senses.

“ I’m monstrous sorry to trouble ye, old
man,” he said, his words in ludicrous contrast
with his actions. .
on good natur’, but I must ax ye to lend me the'
loan 0’ a boss—I know ou’ve got $13!: in the
corral yender. I woul n‘t ax it, t' know

ou’ll be delighted to ’commodate a’ old fri’nd ‘

ike me.”

Between the two Diego was forced along the
street to the corral, and while Corneracken
guarded the entrance, Dave made the Mexican
select and halter one of the finest animals with
in the inclosure. ~

“ Now you kin git !” said Dave, as he led the 1

horse over the bars. “ Take our frl’nds niy
best complements, an’ tell ’em t at the fust one
as sticks his karkidge ’ithin pistol shot ’11, git
blowed to never-come-back-ag’m. Skin out l’

“ ’Tain’t so bad as I though ,” remarked Corn»

“ Mebbe you think it’s ’posin’ ‘

/

cracker, as they re oined their friends without .

bein molested. “ he cusses show that teeth,
but don’t b’lieve they dar’ try to bite.”
“Don’t crow too soon, mate. Ef we git out
0’ this without smellin’ powder, an’ plenty of it,
you ' take my hat. But, mind one th ‘—
all of ye. Ef t eycrowd us too close,m e
sure of him. He mustn’t slip‘through our fln~
ers now th h we’ll keep im fer the
ong’s we kin. etch my critter up cluss to t
door, and git your trail-ropes ready, against we
fetch him out.” _'
With the aid cigar-lips, the risoner was
carried out and ho' into the sad leg-to which
he was firmly bound. Another rope passed be--
neath the mustang’s bell and secured Black
ngper’s feet. Besides t is, a trail-r0 was
ti by the middle to the high pummel, be two
ends extended from thence to thouddlesbe-
midden by the two miners.

w” “W, ‘l

dun—n- uw-. ..:...w.. .p... ....

_' . ,. A, V .' . r g . . . p. . t
m «W1 “was... m-m “v w‘uwv-u-v» Maui.--" .r.»..~.a.,;....u..— .... .

w-‘wA-revwr vv—a‘w <

I-.. .1.— ‘7..—

._‘:_.-~_,__ .. f.w..,.,_...<...»A  .-

;’-¢‘~ «v -—-—---'~1-<-rs-v—- ww—v- ~ 

r

‘

‘ r-

 

i
!

    

got in, anyhow,” responded the giant, more like

' Bigl George hastened into the stone building,
l"

 

 

cautions escape for the desperado was ligpossi-
blez unlem his entire guard were massacr .

‘ Take it cool an’ easy, now ” muttered Dan~
dy Dave, ashe tigegrd n n he bare back of
his confiscated s “ on‘t burn powder on-
less the press as too close, then make every bit
0’ lead etch out a death-yell!”

With cocked revolvers the little party rode
slowly along the narrow lane, while the Mexi-

their shouts and cries growing louder

and lder, d from but to hut, adually
closing in upon em. Suddenly, a single shot
came from the right and Dandy Dave flung
back his head as a ullet fairly grazed his tem-
les. Almost like an echo came the sound of

orn-cracker’s revolver, and with a horrible

yell of agony a man plunged head-first into

open sight.
“Good-by Short an’ Dirty! to the devil
an’ tell him I sent you!” laughe the tall miner,

recklessly.

With that double shot the threatened storm
broke in its full fury. Yelling like wolves, the
Mexicans swarmed forward, firing at every
‘um .

“ oop ’er u , boys!” yelled Dandy Dave,
brin ' down is man. “Show ’em how white
men n—ah—h!”

A musket-ball struck him full in the throat,
and he almost fell from his animal’s back, but
am himself with a terrible effort, he
t I pistol fairly against Black Pepper’s
head ‘and pulled trigger, even as he fell, stone

 

CHAPTER XXXI.

AT THE OLD MISSION.

“OH, thunder! wake up, Geor 6, wake up!”
howled Iiittle Pep r, sfampintg ' hfeet in hiin
ecstasy o rage an exc temen , as e roug
rolled and shook his brother. “ They’s jest big
little ole h——l to pay while we’ve bin snoozin’!
Roast u , consarn ye; cain’t you ronst up?”

Bag orge bore a hard and well-seasoned

lipon his shoulders, and could walk steady
under a load of “p’izen” that would have
floored any two common men, but after his
‘wordy war with Clarina he had absorbed both
whisky and brandy like a sponge, until, “full
to the brim,” he sunk beneath the rude table
dead drunk. Little Pepper drank more moder-
ately and, though he soon stretched his scant
length upon the floor in slumber, worn out by
the unusual excitement and fatigue of the t
few da 5, he awoke fully one hour before ay-
break, brain cool and clear. Missing Pep-
per-pot he rolled out of the but, and, yawn-
mgly, s ambled down toward the entrance to
the gulch. Yet no had no 5 icion of the
c as which had been wrong t during his
slum r until reachin the first or inner barri-
cade of bowlders. Th was unmanned and un-
He scrambled over the rocks and

brush, making his way even to the mouth of
the gulch, bu the de enses were entirely de-

36

Then it was that he rushed back and so un-
ceremoniously awakened Big George from his
drunken slumber, neVer ceasing his efforts until
the giant sat up, with a mingled curse and

yawn.

“ The durnedest out you ever hear tell on!”
he splnttered. “ Dick’s one—’nd so’s the hull
p’iaen outfit! Th3 ain’t 'de nur ha’r left—”

The in ti nfisobered Big Geor like
magic and th one nnd he was outsi e the
hut, g around him like some lion disturbed
at its feast of blood.

“ You kin seefer yourself. They ain’t nobody
keeglig’ watch ’long the trails: they ain’t nobody
in huts nur big house ’cept old Dina, an’
she’s dead drunk. ”

“ It’s her work—her work an’ his!” snarled
the giant, an ugl glare in his eyes. “ They’ve
levanted and tuc the men ’long with ’em! Ef
they hev—an’ I ever find ’em—!’

‘ Ef they hev one fer good an’ left us two
yere alone this ole won t be as healthy fer
us as a small-pox horsepittle in full blast, you
hear me! hat p’iren cuss, Bart Noble, and his
im ’11 be back yer the minnit they find out the
«l Clarry pn on ’em. I reckon the jig’s up,

“We could pick of! a dozen or two afore they

his usual self. “But I valie my life a heap
higher ’n that. They’s a heap of scores to
‘pay of! afore I go under. Eph, on 0 an’ see
what you kin make out o’ the go . ’Tain’t
likely she went 0! ’ithout her nowin’ some-
ttiin about it. Work lively now, and don’t be
:cfeard 0’ hurtiu’ the wench’s feelin’s. I’ll see
to cat-hein’ the dust, then we’ll puckachee.”

g throu h the room where he had had the
storm inter w with Clarina, unloc ' the
imn car of a small square recess or coeet.
From this he took an iron chest so heav that
his huge frame bowed beneath ts weigh , and
bore it out to the bank of the swiftly-flowing
srtream, where he was speedil' y joined by Little

e r.

ain’t no use” owled t dwarf; “the

devil hheelf cooking!- git a he her

.. . ,_- .._...... ..... _....._.. H.

Big AGe

...._.._..<_ _. .H.-...- ,W-... ,.......-'_.- a..." a............

orge, the Giant of the Gulch.

 

, _...-- _. .__._._..

 

to turn over ef you was to set her into a pot o’
b’ilin’ soa -fat!’ .

“It dont matter much. I kin ess pritty
nigh whar she is, an’ that int se tled, taint
hardto tell whar we nee to look fer Dick.
Ketch bolt 0’ one eend 0’ this; we’ll drap lt. in
from the bridge; then they won’t be no Sign
left to tell the sneaks whar to look fer it.” _

The treasure chest was carried to thebridge
and balanced upon the edge. Then, With one
quick glance around to make sure that no pry-
ing eyes were watching them, the iron box, With
its precious golden freight, plunged swiftly down
into the foaming water.

“ It ’11 be safe enough thar ontel we come back
a’ter it'” said Big George, with a sigh of relief.
“ Now e’s git out o’ yere. My tlirapple won’t
feel easy ontel I‘m whar thar’s room to swing
myself round in.”

“ I’ll go wharever you say, or as fur’s I kin.
My legs feel like lumps 0’ lead, an’ my feet’s
sorer’n blazes,” replied the dwarf.

“We’ll git our critters the fust thing. I
reckon you kin hold out ontel then. Arter that
we’ll strike fer the Old Mission. We’ll find her
thar—an’ like enough Dick, too.”

“ An’ arter that?

“ We’ll know better when the time comes,”
briefly replied Big George, leadin the way over
the defenses and out into the val ey.

As the shortest cut to the s t where they
had left their animals, the bro ers abandoned
the valle trail, striking over the hills, in an
easterly irection. Neither of them ever knew
how narrowly they escaped meeting the band
of returning vigilantes. Ten minutes later and
the could not have escaped a meeting that
con (1 only have resulted in their death or cap-
ture—its equivalent.

Fully two hours were spent in finding and se-
curing their horses, then the brothers headed
for t e Old Mission, riding recklessly in their
haste to reach there.

The giant’s reflections were not pleasant ones.
During the past few days everythin had been
working against him. His best lai plans had
miscarried, when failure seemed impossible.
Black Pep r was seriouslyz if not mortally,
Wounded; Pepgg‘ was missing. Then came
the quarrel with rina, ending in her aban-
doning his cause with all her force, including,
as it now appeared, Pe per-got. Little wonder,
then, with all these t 011g1 ts to trouble him,
that Big Geor reached t e Mission in a dan-
gerous state 0 mind.

“They’r here—yender’s Leon an’ a lot more
0’ the men,” cried the dwarf, as the old building
was sighted.

The recoggition was mutual, but the rece
tion of the rothers was anything but 9. gm i-
f ing one. Of nearly thirty men grouped upon
t e yosward before t e Mission, not one
face ut re a dark, u ly scowl, while every
hand held a weapon With he resolute gripe that
plainlygevealed their willingness to use them if

nir

iglGeorge saw this, and the insolent words
whic were upon his lips were changed for a
more diplomatic salutation.

“ The queen is within, Leon? Go tell her that
I wish to speak a few words with her.”

“ I carry m es for no man, Senor Pepper ”
bluntly replied e Mexican. “ And for only

onfi'wwn, rasped h' 1 b t l

i is revo ver, 11 a ow,
wgling sloguen caused him to pause. The en-
ire party were closing around him, handling
their wea ns threatenin ly. Knowin thata
sin is r act might res t in his own eath, he
be. e Little Pepper follow, and rode up to the
open door, choking down his rage as he best
co

“Wait here, Ep ,” he said, in adistinct voice.
“If any one crowds on too close give them a
leaden hint to sta back. I’ll not be gone

lon .”

“g1 don’t reckon I’m the kind 0’ a critter the
likes to crowd overly much,” rinned the dwar ,
shifting the bridles to his left hand and display-
i a revolver.

l‘irgfiGeorge entered the building without more
wo . Though quite an extensive structure
the Mission was on] one story in hight, and
con uently not di cult to search through.
And t ' was what the 'ant set about, as no
answer came to his cal . Room after room
groved to be unoccu ied, not a little to his won-
. er, so certain had e been of finding Clarina,
if not his brother, there. As a last hope, he
looked into a tiny alcove, barely large enough
to contain one person, but started back with a
loud cr . Before him lay a corpse, its face hor-
ribly istorted, its garments torn as b ater-
rible struggle, its throat bruised and livi . The
body was that of an old woman, and she had
been choked to death!

As he retreated to tip door, he was met by
Little Pepper and Leon, the Mexican.

“You gave found her, then—old Jaemtha, I
mean ” said the latter, in an uneasy tone. .

“Who murdered her—what has been gomg
on here?” sternly demanded Big George.
“ Where is Clarina?”

“ You know as much as any of us. The ueen
came here last night, so Manuel says. She

 

on ..
“that blinddnmk die wouldn’t baseman}

himlightthefiredgndforthementoa-emble

 

 

here—that there was work for us to do. We
obeyed, but can find nothing of her. Manuel
says he carried a woman down to the hole in
the und, and looked her in. We listened at
the cor, but all was still. Nor can we find the
key. J acintlia always carried it.”

‘A woman—what woman?”

“One he carried ofl from Blue Earth, ni ht
before last. He let that much slip out, ut
when I questioned him about her, he would not
speak further.”

Leon only waited long enough to light a
torch from a pile of pitch knots in one corner,
then led the way down the steps, passing before
the iron-bound door. Striking this With one
hand he turned to the brothers saying:

“ Manuel says he put her in this cell.”

“Help! friends!” suddenly came a voice from
beyond the barrier, a voice that they all re-
cognized,.despite its muflied sound. “ Break
down the door and avenge, if you are too late
to rescue me!”

“Clarina!” cried Big George, in astonish-
ment.

“ Yes—there is a man in here.”

“ Wnss’n a man—I’m a devil!” shrilly laughed
Wood ker. “Come on in, Big George—do
come in! I’ve rubbed out one of your brothers
h—Pepper-pot—an’ I’m eetchin’ to send you a’ter

im.

“For the love of God! help us!” added a
fainter voice. “Asyou hope or mercy here-
after do not desert me !’

“Estelle!” gasped the giant, staggered by
this second discovery. “ Quick, men—get axes,
crowbars—anything with which we can batter
down this accursed door!”

“Work fast as ,you will, (you won’t be in
time, Bi George,’ cooll ed ed Woodpecker.
“The be a mce ictur in yer fer yeto look
on. on lmow w t they did to ma) pard,
Saltpeter? She did it, an’ I’m go' sarve
her the same way—both on ’em!” and once
more came a burst of shrill, maniacal laughter.

CHAPTER XXXII.
CORRALED!

OUT from the bush-screened tunnel, on along
the beaten athto and ast the stone building
and rude uts, Bart oble led his “forlorn
hope” with cocked revolvers, each and every
man eager for the death-gra ple. Separating
at the bridge, they rushed own the narrow
trails, shouting encouragement to their com-
rades and stern defiance to their enemies.

And then—what a fall from the sublime to
the ridiculous. The two ies met at the
breastworks, starin at see other in blank dis-
may. Where was t e enemy?

‘ Sold")?r thunder!” snorted Bart, dashing
his batte hat to the ground and grinding it
beneath his heel.

Words were too feeble to do the sub ect jus-
tice, though an abundance of strong an highly'
seasoned ones were flun around romiscuonsl .
An outsider suddenlyV ropped own near t e
spot would have fe t sure that a “ cursin
match ” was in progress, with every prospect o
turning out a marvelous success.

This storm was too furious to last long; the
overwhelmin volleying gradually descended
to skirmish g, from a general salute it be-
came particular cursing, black words and
blacker looks bei concentrated upon one un-
lucky head. Jose {llva received them meekly.
The disappointment ad been a very bitter one
to him, and for the moment his de ection made
him look ver much like a detec trickster.

“ Look at t e durned Greaser!” growled Pick-
erel Dan. “ I b’lieve he know’d it all the time,
an’ jist coaxed us yere so’s to give them whelpe
more time to levant !”

h“Ef he did, he deserves hangin’!” said Go-
p er.

“ String him u , the lyin’ cur!” came a fierce
cry, from sever voices, and it would have
fared hard with the Mexican, only for the
prom t interference of Bart Noble.

“ one 0’ that, fellows. You don’t tetch him
without you crawl all over my back fust! I’ll
go my bottom dollar on this feller. He’s got
moss cause to hate Big George then the best 0’

e.

“ I thank you, senor; you but do me justice,”
earnestly re lied Sylva. “I thought sure we
would find i: em here. And they may be, yet;
there are the houses—”

The hintwas enough. A rush was made and
the builde quickly searched. Only one per-
son was vered: black Dinah, still in a
drunken slumber. Hoping to extract some in-
formation from her, two men gras her
ankles, two others her shoulders, then s
beneath their load down to the brid . A s -
iron bucket was fastened to the en of a trail-
rope, and with water drawn from the river the
negress received such a washing as she h not
been blessed with in many a long year. Gasp-
ing and half strangled, she was speedily re-
stored to consciousness.

Though she could tell them nothing, save that

 

Big and his two brothers had been in
the ob when she “went to sleep,” the time
dev to her was not wasted, since it con-

vineedall concerned thatJeeehedheaeehg
Wthgeedfeith. -

 

 

“Gentlemen” said the Mexican, speaking

like one who ad formed a desperate resolve
“ there is one more chance; if that fails, then I
must give in beaten. Less than two hours’ hard
ride from here is an old Mission, which the lad-
rones sometimes used. Unless they are there, I
am at a loss where to look further. ’

“Out and to horse, then!” cried Bart. “I’ll
hunt over every inch 0’ Californy but what I’ll
hev the cusses now! Lively, boys—you lead the
wily, pard.” , .

ose performed his duty admirably, and the
vigilantes seconded him sb well that scarce half
a mile divided them from Bi George and Lit-
tle Pepper, as these worthies escended into the
Mission valley.

“ Sometimes the keep a look-out )osted near
this point,” said By va, peering eagerly forward.

Scarce had he spoken these words when a gi-
gantic, nearly nude figure leaped out from
under a clum i of bushes giving utterance to a
long, shrill ye 1, then darted down the hillside
toward the Mission, yelling at every jump
keeping unmusical time to the rapid popping o
revolvers as the vigilantes opened a brisk fire
upon him. Just as he reached the level, he
made his last leap, fallin headlon upon the
green award, uivering, h s limbs distorted in
the agonies of oath.

But the harm was done. His ells had warn-
ed the Mexicans below, and as t e vigilantes de-
scended the slope, the hindmost men were just
crowding into the building. Then the massive
door was closed.

“ Don’t give ’em time to breathe!” 'elled Bart
Noble. “Charge right up an’ bu’ open the
(10’! Hooray l”

A wild cheer rose above the clattering of
boots, and like human grenades the sturdy
miners followad their leader. Two-thirds of the
distance was covered ere a sound came from the
stone building. Then an irregular volley was
discharged from the narrow loops.

A strangled yell of pain—a bitter curse—a
heav fall: the volley had not been without
eil’ec . Two saddles were emptied by death.
Several others of the vigilantes Were visibl
reeling in their seats; and still the deadly fusi -
ado continued. Yet the charge was not check-
ed. Right on, even until his animal’s hoofs rung,r
against the huge doorstep, did blufl Bart Noble
lead his men. Leaping from the saddle he
hurled himself against the door. It was] 9 a
giant attempting to overthrow a mountain.
geveral of his men seconded his efforts. Others
rode up and fired their istols through the loop-

holes. Two more sad« les were em tied here
before bull-headed Bart could brin imself to
utter the bitter word retreat An even when

he did it, he was not obeyed until he
mounted and shOWed his men the way back, so
desperately were they enra red.

Castin their animals oose, the survivors
gathers to therin a clump of trees beyond
gunshot, an as their blind passion gradually
cooled, they found time to count up their losses.
A dozen men had been “barked by bullets,
more or less deeply; three others were lying
upon the which was fast changing color
with their heart’s blood; five brawny -
ures lay scattered along the trail, their earth y
battles forever ended.

“A black show!” sternly muttered Bart
Noble. “ A black showin’ an’ might little to
set ag’in’jt on t’other side. I don’t reckon thar’s
enough lives in yonder to hate pay fer these

re galoots—an I sw’ar never to ive over
while one 0’ them devils has life ones; in him
16,003? the brains out o’ a sick fly—so help me

“The hull crowd’s with ye, Uncle Bart,”
cried Gopher, spitting out a mouthful of blood;
he had received a pistol ball through both
checks. “The ’vo putt me out 0’ fix fer chaw-
in’ terbacker, ut if I ever git within arm’s
length 0’ any 0’ them, I’ll make the few teeth the
cussos has left me meet in the flesh—you hear
me talk I"

Then followed an animated discussion as to
the best method of accomplishin their purpose.
A variety of plans were proposeg, but on siftin
them, not one would answer unless at too grea
a loss of life.

While this consultation was in progress. Jose
Sylva stole away from the y and taking ad-
vanta of every bush an bowlder, succeeded
m nia'ing a detour, coming out behind the
building, unseen by any of its occupants. A
few moments sufficed for his p , and then
he retran his {steps crouching upon the ground
and listemng in Silence tothe several pro si-
timim. Then, an invention seemed exhws he
s o (e. .

p“ You have all taken your turn, friends. now
[wish to s . You may not have ndticed
that there is but one door to that building—the
one before us. There are two windows on each
side, but they are heavily ted with iron bars,
besides being commanded y loopholes, such u
you see in front. On the back there are neither
windows, doors nor loopholes. We can crawl up
there without fear of being picked off by those
Wi‘iliiniub h dfust 1'! h
n uttour way ea gtthro
(«35;

the fort —foot thick wall-oh! ya-as!”lpi
"tutti Gopher, nursing his jaw;

Big Georr: the Giant

 

 

“of the Gulch.

27

 

l

" Throuin the wall, yes,- only it is but little ‘
more than three feet thick.’

“ As well three thousand, without tools l”

“A few knives, a little powder, a stone or
two; all these tools are here, and I ask no more.
Give me two stout men to aid me, and I’ll agree
to open a way through that wall large on h
for our urpose within an hour,” confident y
said the exicaii.

“ B blastin’?” asked Bart Noble.

“ es. The further end of the old building
was destroyed in some manner. The one door
which opened into that apartment was walled
up, and no fresh loopholes were out. There is
a short crack some three inches wide, by four
feet in length, near one corner. We can pour
in powder—after icking away some bits of
mortar—tam up 0 crack, set fire to a fuse;
then our wor is done. If the overhearus at
work, they must fully ex t emselves upon
the roof, or else open the cor and come around
the house before they can touch us. That can
easily be guarded against. a dozen men
among yonder rocks can keep the roof clear;
aha rest can crawl over yonder and guard the

cor.

“ An’ this is the critter you fellers was goin’
to lynch back yonder!” cried Bart, admirineg
pat ing Sylva upon the shoulder. “Fer hea -
work an’ clean strategécge kin jest double dis-
count the hull outfit! tater thar, you tellers;
put a bit 0’ lead through every inch 0’ hide

at shows itself. Pickerel Dan an’ me ’11 go
’long 0’ Jose; I’ve got a bit 0’ fuse in my clo es
somewhar.”

Armed with several powder-flasks, the trio
stole 01! upon their mission while the other men
secured the positions most iavorable for keeping
roof and entrance clear.

The Mexican’s words were found true. The
crack was a deep one, and seemed favorable for
their purpose. A few minutes sufficed to re-
move sundry bits of mortar and crime cre-
vice at one point. Then thepowder- were
emptied, the fuse inserth and held in its lace
by a handful of mixed clay and sand. d-
ful after handful of gravel and pounded stone-
'dust were driven firm home, until the crevice
was completely plugg up, and the effect of the
explosion could almost certainly be predicted by
the experienced miners.

“G0 now,” said Bart to Jose. “Go tell the
boys to sneak round here, ’cept them as is on
the rocks. They must stay thar, to pick of! any
as tries to escape thro h the do’.”

Five minutes later a was in readiness, then
Bart lit the fuse from the bowl of his pipe.
Searcer had he reached his cover when a tro-
niendous explosion shook the very hills.

CHAPTER XXXIII.
LEAD AND Finn.

“BLUFF hey?” squeaked a
voice, with a snifl.’ of ill-di ' contempt.
“Bluff me—the ontamed mu—el o’ Whang Doo-
dle Flats? You must be sick! Thar—see your
thousan’ an’ call ye; what ye ot'!”

“Two pa’r—both on ’em kings,” chucklineg

replied another voice. “Go ’way, fiush— ou
cam’t shine with this chicken, not much! on
kin play a pritty fa’r scrub game 0’ draw boy,
but you ain’t got the skience of it yit, though
you’re ’ rovin’, you’re ’provin’, lad.”
“ Ta] ’8 chea your tongue’s mighty limber
ion ’3 you’re cad o’ the Its luck—
not lin’ but blind, stud-boss uckl Jest wait a
bit; I’m comin’ for ye, red-hot, you bet! Thar’s
a. coolp’hundred blind—shuffle ’em up, lively, old
coon

“It’s most like robbin’ ye bar’ handed, boy.
You don’t stan’ no kind 0’ show ’long 0’ me.
reckon l’m king-pin when it comes down topure
skientific poker.’

It was a peculiar, scene. A little square log
cabin, with gravel floor, and no ceiling save the

le rafters and la ers of bark, through cracks

which stream in the golden rays of the
sun. Two men occupied the shanty;m One was
lying in one corner of the room, ' handsbe-
hind him, his fqt and legs wrapped round with
a dozen turns of rawhide rope. He seemed
sleeping, so motionless did he is; yet thro h
his closed lids, two keen eyes were eager y
watching the other man, who was seated near
the door, his dirty, horny fingers dextrously
mani ulating a pack of dog-cared cards

A burly, rough-clad fe 10w, with knife and
brace of revolvers at his waist, dealin the
cards, then inspecting his own hand With as
much caution as though confronting an adopt
in the gambler’s art. Once _more the two
voices werclaudible; the shrill, high-pitched one,
and the deep, sonorous reply. The “blind’
was made good cards were discarded and
others drawn; a bet was made, raised, ro-raiscd,
and finally “seen” and “callcd,”hands were

 

shown, and once more came the tronizing
advicetothe “boy,” the angry ort, as the
limp bits of teboard were bein shuffled for
another d ; and all h the red- minor
with his imaginary or.

The prisoner moved restlessly, ut a low
growl. The gambler glanced over his dor-
pettishly.

“ hat’s the matter 0’ you! Don’t you got
notion politene- than to nah nth a out. i

1

landish fuss when gen’lemon‘s busy ’musin’
tharselves?”

“ I’m sick—bmnin’ up!” groaned the prisoner,
rollinghishead fromside to side hise’yespro-
tru ' ,hisface hon-iblydistorted. “Imbum
in u ’m dyin’--l”

“ est my luck !” snarled the gambler. “ Suro’s
I git in a streak o' fast-class luc somethin’
must come ’10 an’ bu’st it to under an’
guns! Sa-a :cain’t you put it of! istalittlei

’ve got ri ortin’est hand— ’m suroto
win, an’ ef you only act decent, I’ll stan’ in
with e.”

“ alter—water! I’m burnin’ up!” gasped the
prisoner, his wing more violent.
“ Give me water, if you air a Christian man!
water! water!”

“ Thar’s four oughts gone to thunder !” snarled

the miner, dashing the cards tulantly from
him. “Shetu , you howlin’ ootl d’ ’ want
to skoer all t e folks ’twixt yore an’ ’iscoi

Yer’s wateil—drink your fill an’hold—oh—agh
h—l

Catching up a tin canteenthatstoodinono

corner, the stooped over the sufferer,
lacing one d beneath his neck and raising
his head so he could drink with more case.

Quick as lightning two brawny hands shot from
beneath the prisoner’s body, and closed mad
the miner’s neck, until the fingers were fairly
buried in his flesh. A choking, urging cry—o
fierce struggle to release himse on the un—
fortunate wretch was hurled to ground, his
head strikin the lower log with terrible force.
And while 9 lay quivering, his muscles sud-
denly relaxed, the long knife was lucked from
his belt and buried to its very hilt his breast.
once, twice thrice!

With a low, devilish laugh, the murderer
withdrew the weapon from its pitating
sheath, and a lied its blood-dripp edgeto
the rope whic still encircled his ower limbo,
then sprung to his feet, kicking aside the sever-
ed thongs and stamping upon them with a
grating curse.

A golden beam of sunlight fell athwarthls
face. Bruised and swollen, covered with a
tangled mass of fieryrodhair; thofaoeofBod

Pe r.

31: fool you lived an’ a fool you died!” ho
muttered, as he turned the body of his latest
victim over with his foot, then stoop? and so-
cured the belt and its won as. “ ladonm

shots—each good for a l' e—with a ton-inch ,

bladeto fall back on. Goodcnou h! Ireckm
the imps ’ll bev to whistle for t hangin’
miimh' “r'tafimm°’" f a: h' k betw

e pee one o co m 8 our
the logs. If nothing else the mlaboose at Blue
Earth was well ventila .

“ Thar don’t to be anbe ' ’. I
kin make the 1: easy; an’onoet tgar, the devil
an’ all his imps couldn‘t ketch me ag’in!”

Satisfied that tho moment was pitious, Red
Pepfir slid back the heaiiy hot, and
quic y against the door. t did not move. He
pulled the bolt still further back, then trust his

whole weight the door; but with no
better success. door was secured on the
other side.

A fur-ions storm of curses broke from the dot
perado’s HE, as he realised this fact. Escape
would not so easy as he had believed. For a
few moments he vented his insane zinger upon
the senseless barrier, plunging his 0 again
and again into the tough oaken planks, ravin
likeamadman. But issensessoonre .
There was danger in dela . The guard had al-
ready been once relieved his imprisonment.

It was now nearly noon. AWf in t
be emoted at any moment. is”
“ root’s the east ” muttered BodPop-
per, after a swift glance aroundhim. “ I must
git out o’ hare afore they smell mischief. I ain’t
n a fix to run a foot-race—dum that
his injured leg.

boss!” he snarled, rubbigg
-~yit they’d better

“One~armed an’ one-legg
not push me too close!”
Despite his disabled condition, the wound in
his right shoulder rendering that am nearly
useless, now that his mad 0 had sobered wit
the murder of his guard, P succeeded
in climbing up the logs, and, ho ding on with
one hand, attacked the bark roof with his knife.
In a sound condition he would have found the
task a trifling one, but now it was very difficult.
Bruised and wounded he made but little -
Yet he doggedly persevered, even ami-
m3..”%°h駰W£§3°d an“ m“
u the
fioorugcneath. 80 intent was on mcceedponing,
:hat he faile‘cll to hear thehoouilild (:1! up reaching
ooixteps o caning w en o e a
voice calling {loud to the dead nerd. Btu ,
hedro hisknife,andon£aaVedhimaolr
from with diflculty. reathlemly he
listened. name of the dead man was re-

, floated in impatient, then with Wonderin tones.
e 50, and

heard the fastening: of the dom- rat
with a sudden hope, he to the ground.
At that moment a cry of rror told that the
new-comer had discovered the truth. Indeed.
asheghdod to the door, Red Pepperoould-ue

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Big George, the Gia

 

nt of the Gulch.

 

 

divined the truth, he could not doubt. A mo-
ment more and he would sound the alarm.
There was bare] a chance that a pistol-shot
mivht ss unnoticed. And, quick as thought,
Red e r cocked a revolver, thrusting it
through Elie crack, and fired, With the muzzle
almost touching the man’s face.

The miner staggered back, throwing up his
arms with a wi d, horrible screech of a any.
’l‘urnin , he ran swiftly for several y s to-
ward tie town, then fell forward upon his
face, dead.

Unfortunately for the hopes of Red Pepper,
at that very moment a man was standingin the
door of the Mint, looking toward the log jail.
He heard the shot, the death-cry, saw the man
whirl around and fall like a 0g. The signs
could not be mistaken.

“ Thar’s mischief oin’ on at the ’boose, boys!
Somebody’s shot ttlin’ Joel” he elled,
(ii-ili’wmg a revolver and rushing toward he log
ca in.

Like magic the alarm spread, and scarcely
had the echoes of the death-yelldied away when
a dozen men were rushing eagerl toward the
scene. And as quickly were 1; ey checked.
'i'hree pistol-shots were fired in swift succession.
Two of the foremost men drop in their
tracks; a third spun around upon is heel with
:i howl of pain, blood streaming from his cheek.

“Kiver, boys!” screamed Cotton-to , himself
setting the example. “That devil Pep r’s
got loose! He must ’a’ murdered Stumpy ick
nn’ tuck his weapons. Kiveri”

“ Ef he did, then thar’s four good men rubbed
out a’readyl” muttered Eph McClellan, as
they crouched down behind a sand-bank. “ It’ll
emit a hull rijiment to take him out 0’ that
ho e !’

“Ef we can’t do no better we kin surround
the ’boose an’ starve the blamed galoot out,” re-s
plied Cotton-top.

“I’d rather swaller one 0’ his bullets at durned
a“ lit] A bull town bluifed by one cuss?

‘ouldn’t that sound nice? We’d never hear
the send on't—neveri No, sir! He’s got to
come out o’ thar of I hev to play it alone ag’inst
him—you hear me talk !”

“He must be tuck alive—that you kin bet
high on. He knows it’ll be hangin’ sure. We’ve
got to rub him out, an’ the sooner the better.
i‘hcy’s one way: we kin all 0 1) fire on the
boom), aiinin‘ fer the cracks. 6 can’t dodge
(Ivory bullet, s’posiii’ we surround the shanty. I
:eckon we mought as well begin to oncet.”

The word was rapidly assed from man to
man. Half an hour atert esurround was ef-
i‘.icted, every man left in Blue Earth turning
out to enjoy the sport. Then the fusilade
opened, and not a minute passed of the next
two hours but at least one shot was fired at the
:hinks. But Red Pepper seemed to bear a
Scarce a man could expose him-
SJ“ but what a bullet was winged from the
house in his direction. One man was slain out-
right. Several more were wounded.

otton-to uttered a wild yell of rage and
p do as be c asped a hand over his face. A bulc
let from the ’boose had barked the end of his
nose, causing the blood to flow freely, and giv-
ing him intense pain. From that moment all
lesitation ceased. Cotton-top meant business.

Followod b Eph, he crawled away until pro-
ed Pepper’s bullets by a friendly
house, then confiscated a hand-cart, the only

’ one in town. Before this was bound a stout

shield of bullet—proof planks, reaching to the
grounds The cart was filled with a mass of
hay, mixed with pine-knots and splinters.
Powder, whisk and grease were cured over
this. Abovea were iled bits of 'ght wood,
bound in place by cor s wires and even chains.
A. lantern containing a lighted candle was also
procured. Cotton-top and Eph McClellan

rasped the handle and slowl pushed the cart
before them, acted by wi d yells from the
ullllfil‘S. Stea ily they advanced until the cala-
uoo-ie walls were reached, uiiheeding the bullets

which fattered a ainst their barricade.

“Gi the plan s ready while I tetch the
darned thing off,” muttered Cotton-top, takin
tie candle and thrusting it under the mass 0
gross.

As. the flames shot u with growing fierco-
mss, the two men slow y retreated from the
z’ in erous spot, holding each a stout oaken
in before them as a shield. Not even their
...-inds were exposed, thanks tothe rope loops
:i died to the boards.

In safety they reached their covort, and then
’1 Mod their veices to the mad, exultant chorus
.1? yells as the flames shot ' her and higher,
1 uiping the dried logs and tim rs in their de-
m'uring embrace.

And not a sound came from within. Red
7’ pp?!" was resolved to die game, since die he
must

 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 4
monrncmca‘s “ rum” AVENGED.
ONLY pausing ion enough to assure himself
that the fuss was airly ignited, Bart Noble
turned and darted away toward the covert he
had already selected. SeamelyM he sunk
down behind the how and turned hk
go. toward the hull when the ex

 

 .M‘msm.uiu ., ,_,........,.... 

took place, with a deep, sullen roar. For a
moment it seemed as though the entire building
was falling, an utter wreck. But then, as the
cloud of smoke and dust partially lifted on the
fresh breeze the vigilantes read the truth with
a wild hurr i

One entire corner and nearly two-thirds of
the eastern side of the Mission had fallen, leav—
inglan opening wide and clear enough to admit
a c arge of cavalry.

“They’re our meat, boys!” yelled Bart Noble
leaping forward. “ Clear the crib out—blood
for blood! Ondly the Pegpers—take them alive
ef you kin. Whoorayi yar’s your ontamed
catamount o’ Roarin’ river—sartin death to
tetch, smell or han’lel”

lVith a will the sturdy diggers backed the
charge of their old leader, sounding their wild
slogan, caring little for the death that might be
awaiting them in their mad longing to avenge
the death of their fallen comrades. Strain-
ing every nerve, they gained the ruins, climbing
over the scattered stones from which the blue
smoke still oozed, and fairly entering the shat-
tered building before the startled and half-
stunned defenders could realize what had oc-
curred. Even when the Mexicans rushed tothe
breach to dispute the entrance of the foe, their
efforts were spasmodic and poorly directed.
Their wea ions were emptied with little attempt
at aim. Not so with the miners. Every bullet
they sped, every blow they struck ad its
mission. Already a half-dozen Mexicans were
down, dead or dying. The survivors were being
driven back, too confused, too dazed .to offer
more than a feeble defense, fallin back foot by
foot until their assailants had airly gained
foothold within the long apartment.

“No quarter!” how ed Bart Noble, dashing
out the brains of a wounded wretch who clung
to his knees. “ Only Big George an’ his brother
—they’s a rope waitin’ for ’emi"

When the explosion transpired, Big Geo
and Little Pep r were endeavoring to forcet 0
door of the ungeon below. Grasping their
weapons they hastened to the breac , Just as
the bewildered Mexicans were being driven
back. Big George uttered a gating curse as he
can ht the meaning of old art’ h, and
leve ing a pistol, he fired at the b ufl miner.
Thou h ignorant of his danger, Bart bent his
head ust in time to esca the bullet.

“ T e jig’s up!” cried t e dwarf, clutching his
brother’s arm just as the 'ant was aboutto
plunge into the melee. “ 6 must run fer it
an’ wait fer a better chance. Come! they
won’t think 0’ the door—once out an’ a-critter-
back, we’ll be safe enough 1”

Even as he spoke Little Pep r hurried] re-
moved the hea iron bar, un ooked the c sin
and flung wide t e door onl to fall dead upon
the very threshold, a bullet eep in his brain.

At the fall of the wall, the five men who had
been stationed among the bowlders over the
hillside, forgot their orders and rushed down
eager to share in the fun. Just as they reached
the building the door was flung wide open b
Little Pegper, who was immediatelv shot down.
Another ullet glanced alon BigIGeorg-e’s tem-
ple. He stag redback wit a owl of furious
pain, and in t at moment his only chance of co
cape was cut ofl’. The doorway was filled with
enemies. Bart Noble and his men Were crowd-
ing the survivingJMexicans des rately. There
was nothling left im but to sell is life as dearly
as e.
be poorly-lighted room was filled with smoke,
crowded With yelling, shrieking, cursing men
who fought like demons, shifting rapidly here
and there; a scene that bafiies description, like
a fri htful nightmare, vague in details, yet a
horri le, sickening whole.

The strug 1e “as too desperate to last long.
One by one is men fell, and Big Geor was
forced to give ground until at ast hge back
touched the bee ed and battered door leadin
to the dim eon. Here he made his laststan
wounded n a dozen places his pistols empty
his only was a blood-dripping knife, yet
steme deflan a lion at bay.

“Give in, Bi George!” cried Bart Noble,
from the head 0 the stairs, with dimculty hold-
ing back his infuriated men. “Surrender while
you kin!"

‘ ‘ Come and take me i” grated the outlaw, de-
flantly.

The words had scarce his li ere he
sunk in a senseless heap to the floor, st cken full
between the eyes with the brass-bound butt of a
revolver, flung with all the strength of Bart’s
sinewy arm.

“Rope ’im, he s, hand an’ foot 1” yelled Noble.
“Whooraw fer urrayl”

He was promptly obeyed. Half a dozen eager
hands seized upon the senseless ant, but before
they could apply the ready cor s, a startling in-
terru tion come.

A s will, piercing scream, followed by a ,wild,
eldritch l of aughter, apparently coming
from the wels of the earth. The rough dig-
gers started back with cries of won’dering

alarm.
“ Help I for the love of God I help I”
B...“It'r.r°msnerty...m rates
0 e. ‘ c u
Gees-gel Tellsomehodytolookfer an of

J‘

 

Fetch down that iron bar. Thar’s deviltry
goin’ on in yenderi”

An ax_was found lyinignupon the floor above,
where Big George had p it, when he on-
deavored to escape. With t, Bart sturdily as-
saulted the already shattered door, and soon
succeeded in cutting the hinges free. Then one
desperate wrench, and the door was opened.
As he torches cast their lurid light into the cell,
a horrible, sickening sight was revealed.

A pale,‘ trembling woman crouching in the
further corner. The cor of a man lyin in a
{gel of blood. A wild, aggard figure sftting
' side a mutilated corpse—the remains o
Clarina Murieta, once wife of the notorious out-
law, Joaquin Murieta. As Saltpeter, Hammer
Tom and the Mexican Gas rd: so with her—
liead resting upon the muti ated hand which lay
upon her breast. .
ba“kWoodpecker!” gasped Bart Noble, shrinking

c .

“ Yes,” quietl‘y replied the miner, tossing
back his tangle hair. “I swore I’d hev re-
vinge fer my pard and so I hev. killed
him—Petey, an’ so I bed to kill her.”

“Take me awa —-he will murder me too!”
moaned the pale girl rushing the frightful
trio and clinging to Bart. ‘ ake me away—to
him—to Geor ” -

“Wa-al, I r-durned!” was all Bart could
utter, as he reco ’zed Estelle Mack.

“ Le’s git out o yere,” muttered Gopher. “ I’m
sicker’n a dog 1”

“ Fetch him along,” re'filligd Bart, nodd to-
ward Woodpecker. “ business in be
1°9kiiiimt°€éi h bo "11st! 1 k Wood

‘ so tye. ys,'essysp°° -
cker. “The ain’t nothin’ more for me to
etey told me he was satisfied

As he spoke he yielded 11 his was. ns, follow-
ing Gopher in silence, ug t e steps, b the
blood-stained rooms, an out into the open air.
Big George was lying bound and still senseless.
No other ca tives had been taken. Terrible in
their fury, he vi lantes had spared none but
the ‘ant, nor h their ons subsided sum-
cient y for them to regre their mercilessneu.

Woodpecker sat upon a little mound, listle-ly
watchin the vigilantes gathered around old
Bart. eir glances plainly revealed the sub

gject of their consultation, and a faint smile
ital-ad athwart his haggard features as he at

r .

“The ain’t no call fer so much talk, gen’le-
men. ain’t a-fioin’ to deny killin’ that woman.
I’m sorry she’s end. I wish she was alive this

minnit—

“What’d yer murder her fer, then?" do-
manded Bart. “An’ her a poor, weak woman-
critter!”

“I wish she was alive this minnit,” added
Woodpecker, payingI no further attention to
the interru tion. ‘ wish she was alive this
minnit, so’s could do it all over ag’in. Salt-
Eeter told me he was satisfied, but ain’t. A.

undred like her wouldn’t gin to be pay for

my dl .
h‘ e critter’s plum crazy!” muttered Go-

er.
p “No I ain’t,” uickly replied Wood her.
“A 0 man co dn’t a’ done what I did. He
couldn’t a’ follered a blind trail like me. He
wouldn’t ’a’ seen them shadowy things when
the?’ brine? Hammer Tom home. He couldn’t
’a’ olle them through the night on foot an’
they a-critterback. A crazy man couldn’t ’a’
ketched him, an’ killed him, an’ fixed him up
like he’d sarved Sal ter."

“ You killed that reaser, then?” asked Bart.

“Yes. I watched him put Hammer Tom
down in the street. I follered ’ein an’ killed
him. I kep’ on after the rest, an’ tracked ’em
to this place. She rid awa ,an’ I follered her
to Diamond Gulch an’as ycome I
her face an’ know her for Joaquin’s wife afore
he was killed. I see her fool you tellers.
watched in chaince meanin’ to strike her in
the gulch, ut she slipped me. I follered her
here. I entered after her, but couldn’t find
nobody but a old woman. She woke up an’
1 bed to choke her to keep her from ye ’.
Then a man came in, an’ I follered him down-
stairs. ”l‘was the one they call Peglper-pot.
Sitetwtastaar, too. ’ f Evahsadcoaxinw l’h 
t 9 ea r on e n aged
he’d ’a’ {lone 1:, too. Then 1 west . I fill1
toned the door. I told her who I was, afore I
killed her. That’s all. I don’t den nothin’.
Hang me of you want to. I’m ’bou tired o’
livin anyway. The ain’t no more fun for me.
now Petey’s gone. like I’d sooner die
then to keep on livin’.”

“He’splum crazy!” whhpedeo her. “We
cain’t hang a crazy feller, even for ’ a we-
man, kin we?”

“ No, but he must leavo these fit. A wo-
man is a woman, even of she did Baltpetrr
and Hammer Tom. The so she went crazy
when Joaquin was kill an I reckon it’s so.
Nov]? old‘msfin,” he added, as he to Wood-
pecer,‘tae ourwwpons. e youwas
right in avengh’a” your paid. But ou’vo butch-

a woman, an I don’t reckon parts ’d
be healthy 'guarton fer you, ate:- thh. Yd!
understand '

.‘L.

 

 

 

 

 

.z.

 

 

Big George, the Giantvof the" Gulch.“

\

29

 

 

“ I’ll go, thankee. I reckon Petey ’ll be look- 
in’ fer me,” softly replied Woodpecker, taking !
his was ns and slowly moving away, never
once loo ' behind him.

 

CHAPTER XXXV.
run waons or SIN.

Tin: old Mission valley was a busy scene for the
next few hours. Bart Noble found an abun- 
dance of work for himself and men. Their first :
care was for their wounded, and eve sound 1
man turned surgeon or surgeon’s assi nt for I
the nonce. This duty performed as thoroughly i
as lay in their power, a “graVeyard” was i
started in the rear of the mined building. A ,
long trench was dug. Into this the dead miners 1,
were placed, covered with leaves and grass be-
fore t e earth was shoveled in, and over all
were piled heavy bowlders to baffle the prowl-
ing wolves. The bodies of Pepper-pot, Little
Pepper and the slain Mexicans were dragged
several hundred yards to a deep crevice in the
rocks and unceremoniously flung in, to meet
such fate as might befall. .

While this was being rformed by his orders,

imsolf, weavin a long

Bart tNoglcivvvvias busdyl B_
baske 0 an on grass. 1 r ,
es 8 , waghed hguth

now sensible, who was lying nigh
curiously for a time then laughed scornfullyjas
he divined the truth. Bart glanced at m

“ cu think I’m a fool; better that then a
heathen. She was a woman, no matter how
she may hev sinned, an’ bein sech, I’m makin’
her a coffin’ each as it is. The won’t be so
much trouble spent on you, Big orge. Your
coflln ’ll be the gimrds o’ turkey-buzzards!”

His task comfleted, Bart tenderly composed
the remains o ill-fated Clarina in the rude
ccflln, wrapping his blanket around all. The
coffin was owered into a sggarate ve by
Bart and Gopher, surround by of the
miners who could walk. There was no pro. or ‘
uttered, no tears shed- but each man hatred is ;
head With a esture of respect. The SIDS were 1
forgotten. T ey onl remembered that a wo-
man lay dead before hem.

Bart s greatest trouble was caused by Estelle. !
Since she was carried forth from the dungeon
where she had suffered such frightful tortures ‘
mentally she sat like one in a wakingltrance. 1
She could hear, speak and move; but er eyes }
were lusterless, her face dull and vacant. It i
was like a living corpse. Bart brewed a little I
codes and some horse-beef broth, which she I
swallowed as hidden. He made her a couch of ,
blankets beneath two saplings where a brush
but had been hastily erected, and she lay down
and closed her e es as he bade her try to sleep.

“ I’m afeard s e’s gone plum crazy,” he mut-
tered to Gopher, stealing away from the little
but on tiptoe.

There was no intention of leavin the valley
that night. Several of the wouu ed were too
badly hurt to bear transportation, and all were
too weary and jaded to think of making a
forced march. One of the captured horses was
butchered, fires were kindled, and a rude sup-
m‘frepared. Ere the sun had disappeared be-

the western hills for two hours, the entire
camp was wra in slumber, excepting the
wouiided and e elected sentinels.

The sun was high over the bills the next
mornin when Bart Noble, with ten men escort-
ing the r prisoner BighGeorge and Estelle Mack,
as out for Blue Eart . The rest of the party
were to remain behind with the wounded
until arrangements could be perfected for their
removal.

As before mentioned, the trail was a long and
difficult one, and thfilparty made slow rogress,
not strikinghithe v ey which led to iamond
Gulch until gh noon. Just as they filed into
the valley Gap er uttered a low cry.

“ h eys a man jest dodged into yonder

“It’s Doc Parmley,” replied Bart, as the fig- i
ure almost immediate] reappeared, running !
swiftly toward them, u ring a loud of de-
light. “Glad to see ye, Doc—I beso! ought ;
you‘was done for, though, when I had to leave 1
ye behind—” .

“Thank God!” ejaculated Little Cassino fer- I
"‘You have found her—safe and un- I

r

“ I don’t reckon she’s got any wounds as the l
eye kin diskiver” rephed Bart, drawing the 1
doctor aside. “But jest look at her! She’s i
been that wa ever sence we found her. I’m
sadly afeard s e’s clean gone, up here,” and he
mpg his forehead.

‘ es she know about him—her husband?”

“Not from me. I was afeard to tell her. It
'd kill her, sure,” earnestly replied Bart.

“She will die unles we do or say something
to arouse her. She will sink and fade awa
like a plucked flower. Do you ride on a lit e
distance and leave her to me. Don’t stop to
we. There is onl the one chance, and she

bearherlossbe nowtbanifwewait
wager. Go; butbe read toridebackiflcall
you,” hurriedl e Cassino. *

Noble obey , hough with visible reluctance.
The doctor touched Estelle tly upon her
haudJ_ Shoguedathim.butt rewas noreo-

 

 

 

3 hour, in full possession of her senses.

‘ she can be put to bed.

f crippled an
i the crowd with my

ognition in the lance. Then, in a low clear
voice he spoke. 9 spoke like one describing a
picture, but the subject was that of the real
tragedy at the Temple. His voice grew more
earnest as he repeated the last words of the
dying gymnast.

Estelle started, as one just recovered from a
profound slumber, and brushed a hand across
her eyes. Then, as if she had comprehended
the terrible truth for the first time, a low, wail-
ing crly parted her lips, and she would have
frJ en rom the saddle only for the eager arms
which received her yieldin form.

.“ Rig u a litter between wo horses, old man,”
cried Litt e Cassino, cheerily, as Bart Noble al-
10 d back on witnessin the woman’s all.
“ t’s all right—she’ll wa en in less than one
She ma
have a spell of illness, but I reckon we can u 1
her through. The first thin is to et her wlfere
Tel the ys to work
lively.”

A cou 1e of blankets were stretched between
two of he steadiest horses, upon which Estelle
was placed, then the little cavalcade once more
resumed their course. In a measure relieved
from their worst fears, Little Cassino and Bart
interchanged brief sketches of their doings since
parting.

“ en you hain’t hearn nothin’ o’ Dandy
Dave? Ef he only did his job all ri ht, we
won’t be pestered no more with this out t; two
on ’em dead Big George here, Red Pegper there,
that leaves Blac Pepper fer Dave. f he only
corrals him, won’t we hev a gay old hangin’
spree!”

It was nearl sunset when the little party
came out in fu 1 view of the town. For some
minutes back they had noticed a column of
smoke rising high into the air, but aid little

V attention to the fact, as parties were requently

burning brush from their claims. But now—

:_ they saw a building wrapped in flames. And

through the fiery vail a wild, frightful fi ire
was visible—the form of a man. wrappc in
fire! Only for a moment was this visible. Then
the roof fell in, with a furious storm of 'sparks

! and cinders.

“It’s the ’boose—whar you said the Kit Red
Pepper!” gasped Bart, turning pale. ‘ ’ that
was him—roasted alive!”

“ He cheated the rope: I am sorry for that,”
steme muttered Little Cassino uo ray of pity
in his eyes. “He deserved it -—and more—a
thousand times more!”

In a few minutes more they heard the whole
story, and as they azed upon the dead bodies
1 ' g in a row, near by all present felt that the

esperado had ric y merited his frightful

doom.

Little Cassino hastened at once to the hotel,
where he ordered a bed repared for Estelle.
Here he found Josie and rt Kendall, and to
them he hurriedly told her sad story].

“You will bethe kind nurse 3 e so sadly
needs,” he added, addressing Josie. “I do not
hesitate to ask the favor of you, as a right.
Some day soon you will know why. Ihave
work to do now—a black debt to y. Come—e
I‘will take you to her room. on must lovo
her as a sister. Come.”

He left them together and hastened down into
the town. He found Bart Noble greatly ex-
cited. Nothing had been heard of Dandy Dave
and his comrades. There could be but one
solution. They had gotten into serious trouble
with the Mexicans at Greaser’s Flat; perhaps
had been massacred. On no other grounds
could their long absence be explained.

“Wait,” cried Little Casino, as Bart called
for volunteers. “ An hour more can make no
difference. The matter is ended one wa or
another, long before this. Remember wha we
have sworn; that Big George should hang.
The rest have escaped us by death; let us make
sure of him now, lest the devil, his master,
should aid him to cheat the rope.”

That this s h chimed in with the popular
opinion a w d chorus of cheers plainl evi-
denced, and Bart Noble gracefully yield .

“All right—anythingto please be children.
But, be , let’s o the up in style. I
wouldn even hang a dog wi ut givin’ him a
show for ustice. We’ll rig up a court an’ try
the cuss, s i shape fashion.

“A healt y show!” snarled Big Geor who
lay near, bound hand and foot. “ ou’ve
already sworn to hang me; so what’s the use of
wastin so much time? String me upaud be
done th it curse ye!”

“ You shall have a fair trial, George Pe r,”
coldly replied Little Cassino. “And t at is
more than on ever gave your vic ' .”

“Bah! f you mean What you say, cast oi!
these ropes give me a pistol, a, knife—nay,

d cut to mess as I am, I will fl ht,
. . rehandsandaskno ds!
Thatis all the Justice I ask 1”

“ AndPso cheat Ythe hangmI an—not nfllch,
Geor e 1' 6m ago swore to an

011,88‘Ild thigeday I will make that oath oorf

or years I have trailed Iyou, feeling the. my
time would come—as it as, at last. Remem-
ber Logan county, Kentucky—”

“ My God!” gasped the outlaw, with a con-
vulsive start. “Who and what are you?"

 

“My father’s avenger,” slowly replied Little
Cassino.

“’illing hands made quick work. A rude court
was speedily arranged, with Bart Noble in the
chair as Judge Lynch. Them is no need of giv—
ing full details of the. procecdings. Witnesses
were called and gave in their evidence. Enough
was proven against the prisoner to condemn
him to death a dozen times. Last of all Little
Cassino took the stard. Ile accused the pris—
oner of murdering his (the witness") father,
nearly ten years previously, in Logan county,
Kentucky.

Big George was asked what he had to say in
defense.

“A great deal if I thought it would do any
good. But I know better. You have sworn
my death, and though an angel should come
down from heaven to testify to my innocence,
you would laugh at his ev1dence. Go on with
your rat-killing, gentlemen. A man I’ve lived
and a man I’ll die—game to the last!”

Bart Noble arose and rapidly summed up the
evidence ending by sentencing the prisoner to
be hung by the neck until dead.

“ Put him on the boss, boys,” cried Gopher.
“ entleman like him hadn’t ought to be made
w , even to the rope. You skin out ahead,
JumEi-In’ Jack, an’  the rope to the old tree—
you ow the one. ively, now!”

Big Geor was laced on a horse, and the
rocession signed fgr the place of execution; a
uge oak-tree standing upon a little. knoll south

of town. When they reached the spot Jumping
Jack had already rformed his part, and the
well greased noose ung ready for its victim.

Big George coollyuglanced around him, over
the crowd, a scorn smile curling his lip. He
plainly meant to keep his word good—and die

‘ game to the last.”

“Gentlemen,” cried Little Cassino, “I ask
one favor of you. You all know how deeply
this man has wronged me. I have sworn to
hang him with m own hand. I beg permission
to lead the horse min under him.” -

“ The two-legged critter as objects hes got to
mount me !” fiercely cried Cottontep, flinging
down his hat.

A general mission was given, and Little
Cassino fittp the noose around the outlaw’s
neck. But nothin more. With a loud laugh
of trium h, Bi eorge flung himself from
the sadd e and 1mg dangling in the air, his
neck broken by the shock. .

 

CHAPTER XXXVI.
mun rm: cwuns, soxsnmn.

Imnu'rELY after the death of Big George—
whose body was left dangling in the air, a feast

for buuards—a strong party of men under com— , \

mand of Bart Noble took saddle and rode rap-
idly away toward Greaser’s Flat, to solve the
mystery of Dandy Dave’s long delay. But when
they gained the point from whence a first
glimpse could be had of the Spanish Quarter,
heir worst fears were realized.

The sandy waste before them was dotted with
prowling wolves and hovering vultures, snarl-
ing, soresm' and fightin over a tooth-mark-
ed skull, a less bone or lood-soaked bit of
clothing. Beyond lay the rude, filthy brush
huts composing Greaser’s Flat.

Bart Noble lspoke not a word as he glanced
back at his f0 owers. He saw that his wishes
were theirs and, giving his horse the spur, he
thundered orwar , revolver in hand. Acrdss
the sandy flat, over the bones of man and horse
they charged, death in their glowin eyes and
hard-set features. On into the co lection‘ of

hovels; then pulling up with hoarse oaths and *'

curses of disappointed vengeance. No enemy
confronted them. Greaser’s Flat was forever
deserted b its recent inhabitants. Dreading a
swift retri tion they had fled, only themselves
k“div vlhithlfn rty rod back 1 
ow y t e pa e , eav' t e
tooth polished bones as the found themtn1§nahle
to tell friend from foe, an resolved not to bury
the bones of their enemies even ifthe had to
leave those of their late comrades to w 'ten in
the sun.
As they were returning to Blue Earth, a
gfiehlel flail vgas heard from moms: t2; hillsto
eir e ,an aragfd  rn upona
highrock, wavinga no of grass asa signal
to thorn. Ten minutes later they were eager!
listening to the story

one of the miners who escaped with life. H15
comrades all down, himself wounded in a dozen
he had burst through the cordon of

oath and fled r o,the host of his wounded
horse, closely foilv wed l y e infuriated Mex-
icans. His orse failin , he managed to scram-

ble up the ' h table- ped rocks where he

managed to ho d the enemy at bay or moral.

hours, when, either disheartened by their severe
loss or fearing a visit from others of the miners,
the Mexicans abandoned the siege. Cri
unable to even crawl, Corn-cracker . the
lon,wearyhoui_'suntil theclatter ofhoof-
stro aroused him, just in time to '
attention of the
must have perished in rably.

There was one gleam of grim satisfaction in

of Com—cracker, the so e . ‘
survivor of the fight at Greaser’s Flat—the only .

athnct, the
, without whose did he .

-o.-.‘ 3

A an.-.»

' ‘ P ' .
a..- M “avflwi “x4..- m--....a.. .2.-.:..:.-.44. .. in.

a
_ .......p.‘...

 

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MM»-.—-as-rfiv-w-g'w “W7 ‘

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.L r

the black details. Corn-cracker declared that
Black Pepper wasdead.
“’Twas the last thing floor Dandy did. He
fist fiat’ally blowed the d ty galoot s brains to
un er!

 

That same night three persons were sitting
together in one of the rooms at the hotel; Josie
Kendall and her brother Bert, with Little Cas-

sino.

Estelle Mack was sleeping from the effects of
a rifle administered by the doctor.

“ will e lain my words—what I meant by
saying that?had a right to ask a favor of you,
Josie began Little Cassino. “I don’t much
won or that you fail to recogn me; I have
changed wonderftu during the past ten

”

y “It’s Frank—brother Frank!” cried Josie,
witha little scream of wondering delight, as
she impulsively sprung into the doctor’s arms.

“Right, little pet,’ said the doctor, ressing
his lips to her brow, then extending his and to
the astounded “Sneaky.” “Now you know,
Bert, wh I acted sostrangel when you told me
your real name, the other ay. I did not re-
cognize you until that moment. I was not
ready to reveal myself ust then: I had stern
work on hand which I d not wish you to join
in H

For a few minutes, though all were busy talk.
ing, but little was said t at has an bearing
u n this sto Enough that Little assino, or

k Kend to ve him the name that he
was christened wit , was warmlg' ggeted by
hishalf-sister and brother, the e il 11 of h
father’s second wife.

“You know when father was killed that I
were never to rest until I had brought his mur-
derers to justice though I little thought so
many ears would elapse before I kept m vow,
when bade on good-by; It seemed a oolieh
task I had so myself. here was no clew—so
“h” m! “tweed”??? 'fi‘d’ BEE; isms

. t e epper o e .
{gab I could find no tangible proof again

them.

“ It would be too long a story to trace my
course etc by step, to tell the straits I was
driven to or money with which to follow them,
or the dangers I encountered in the 10 search.
Enough that I became a gambler, as t ey had
before me, the better to dog their steps. Year
after year I hunted them, scarle losing sight
of them for a day at a time until t e gol -fever
of ’49 broke out. I lost them in that great rush,
nor did I find them again until three years later.

“Then I learned—as I firmly bel eved—that
they oined Joaquin Murieta’s band of cut-
throa , and so I enlisted under Cathain Harry
Love. You know the result. on uin was
killed and his band annihilated, as all lieved.
But still I did not find m game.

“Then came the m er of old Webfoot one
of Love’s men; you have heard of it. Other
deaths followed. Some unknown and terrible
avenger of J
too, was mark . I assumed a dozen diflerent
dbguises—among them that of ‘Old Boots ’—
an divided m mind between the two rsuits:
hunting for t murderer of our fat er, and

to solve the mystery of that terrible

aven .

"lg than six months Iheand of Big
and his brothers, an hastened hither.
I played three different rates here; as Little
Casino, the War and sport; Doctor Parm-
lo and Old As the last, I gained ad-
mittance into Diamond Gulch, and there dis-
covered enough to convince me that m sus-
picidns were correct. I alsosaw arina
—-and recognized her by the descri tion of
Joaqnin’s last wife, gun me by Little oleano.
e Pe ateve oppor-
to foil hem at
points. As Old Boots I made friends
their enemies, at Greaser’s Flat, and
through their aid made sure of Red Pepper. I
had my plans all laid, but the stran disap-
of Estelle Mack disconce them.
owever, ’twas all for the best as it turned out.
Father is avenged and so are my old comrades;
and now I feel that I canbreathe freely once
more, without expectifi whenever I lie down

to awaken with my h in my hand.”
In a few words Bert Kendall explained the
pearance at the mines. Losing

either of than had

the faintest idea of what a rough element they

and themselves among at e diggings, but

their eyes were speedily opened. after Bert had

mum when ‘1‘ “.3?”

. e oca an no

firth the changed oge's sex outward] at

will! {he became zigoft Tgnkn’s .” y. ”
made a good u 0 Wk

e’ve d gout nearl ,ten thon-

mnddollsn’worthof % .It’son

era's

watmmw. wereIwas
‘ I Jodefirintotroubie. Andshatoo;do

nk,thelittlewitehhssltrucka

uin had arisen. I felt that I ' ’1

Big 7 George, the Giant of the Gulch.

 

 

“Never mind him, little one,” lauvhed
Frank. We know more than he does, on’t
we? He wasn’t at your ‘house-warming,’ was

’

“ If you say anything more, I’ll make Estelle
believe you are a perfect wretch—so there I”
cried J osie. flushing.

Little chasino su denly grew sober, and there
was strong feelin in his voice as he spoke. _

“God willing, mean to win her for my Wife.
I believe it was love at first sight with me
though I tried hard to smother it when I foun
she was already married. But mind, Josie.
Never breathe a word to her of this. He left
her in my care, and I would not have her take
a dislike to me from the very first.”

There is little more to be recorded. What
few gaps are left the reader’s imagination can
close far more readily than can my pen.

For full two months Estelle lay hovering be-
tween life and death, but at the end of that
time she began to mend, and on Thanksgiving
day was well enough to act as bridemaid at
the wedding of Josie Kendall with Bush Tipton.
Soon after that they took the stage for San
Francisco, embarking from thence for New 0r-
leans, finally bringing up at their old home in
Kentucky. The were comfortabl rich now,
and soon foun themselves com ortany en-
sconced in the building formerly owned by their
murdered father.

For one year longer “ Little Cassino ” waited,
then opened his heart to Estelle. receiving the
sweet reward his long patience had deserved.
The were married, and I do not believe either
of t em ever re tted the action.

As for Bart oble, Cotton-top, Com-cracker
and others who have played a more or less
prominent 1pant in this story, nothing definite
can be said ere.

 

THE END.

_..._—-— .

 

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esanm & ADAMS, In u‘mnu S12}? £11m“ by

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BEABLE’S HALF-DIME LIBRARY.

 

Every one of them “l.lve”18torlgs by “ Live 9’ Authors. Each number
a Complete Novel, at the extraordinary price or a HALF-DIME.

1 Deadwood Dick. By Ed. L. Wheeler.
2 Yellowstone Jack. Jos. E. Badger.
3 Kansas King. By Buffalo Bill.
4 The Wild-Horse Hunters. By Capt.
Mayne Reid and Capt. Fred. Whittaker.
5 Vagabond Joe. By 011 Coomes.
6 Bill Biddon, Trapper. By E. S. Ellis.
7 The Flying Yankee. Col. Ingraham.
8 Seth Jones. By Edward S. Ellis.
9 Adventures ofBaron Munchausen.
10 Nat Todd. By Ed. S. Ellis.
11 The Two Detectives. A. W. Aiken.
12 Gulliver's Travels.
13 The Dumb Spy. By 011 Coomes.
14 Aladdin.
15 The Sea-Cat. By Capt. F. “’hittaker.
16 Robinson Crusoe.
17 Ralph Roy. Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
18 Sindbad, the Sailor.
19 The Phantom Spy. By Buffalo Bill.
20 The Double Daggers. E. L. Wheeler
21 Frontier Angel. By Ed. S. Ellis.
28 The Sea Serpent. Col. Juan Lewis.
23 Nick 0’ the Night. T. C. Harbaugh.
24 Diamond Dirk. By Col. P. Ingraham.
25 The Boy Captain. By Roger Starbuck.
26 Cloven Hoof. By Edward L. Wheeler.
37 Antelope Abe. By 011 Coomes.
28 Bufl'alo Ben. Edward L. Wheeler.
89 The Dumb Page. Capt. F. Whittaker.
BO Roaring Ralph Rockwood. By
Barry St. George.
31 Keen-Knife. By 011 Coomes.
33 Bob Woolf. Edward L. Wheeler.
83 TheOcean Bloodhound. S. W. Pierce
34 Oregon Sol. Capt. J. F. C. Adams.
85 Wild Ivan. By Edward L. Wheeler.
36 The Boy Clown. By Frank S. Finn.
37 The Hidden Lodge. T. C. Harbaugh.
38 Ned Wylde. By Texas Jack.
39 Death-Pace. By Edward L. Wheeler.
40 Roving Ben. John J. Marshall.
41 Lasso Jack. By 011 Coomes.
42 The Phantom Miner. E. L. Wheeler
43 Dick Darling. By Capt. F. Whittaker
44 Battling Rube. By Hurry St. George.
45 Old Avalanche. Edward L. Wheeler.
46 Glass Bye. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams.
‘7 Nightingale Nat. By T. C. Harbaugh.
48 Black John. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.
49 Omaha 011. By Edward L. Wheeler,
50 Burt Bunker. By C. E. Lasalle.
51 The Boy Rifles. By Archie C. Iron.
53 The White Bufi'alo. Chas. E. Lasnlle.
53 Jill Bludsoe. Jr. By Ed. L. Wheeler.
154 Ned Hazel. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams.
55 Deadly-Eye. By Buffalo Bill.
53 Nick WhiEes’ Pet. J. F. C. Adams.
57 Deadwood Dick‘s Eagles. Wheeler.
58 The Border King. By 011 Coomes.
59 Old Hickory. By Harry St. George.
60 The White Indian. By J. F. C. Adams.
61 Buckhorn Bill. By Ed. L. Wheeler.
6. The Blind” Ship. 001. P. Ingraham.
03 The Red Brotherhood. Hamilton.
64 Dandy Jack. By T. C. Harbaugh.
‘5 Hurricane Bill. J08. E. Badger, Jr.
09 Single Hand. By W. J. Hamilton.

 

67 Patent-Leather Joe. Philip S. Warne.
68 TheBorder Robin Hood. Buffalo Bill.
69 Gold Rifle. By Edward L. Wheeler.
70 Old Zip’s Cabin. By J. F. C. Adams.
71 Delaware Dick. By 011 Coomes.

72 Mad Tom Western. \V. J. Hamilton.
73 Deadwood Dick on Deck. Wheeler.
74 Hawk-eye Harry. By 011 Coomes.
75 The Boy Duelist. Col. P. Ingraham.
76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. Aiken.
77 Corduroy Charlie. Ed. L. Wheeler.
78 Blue Dick. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

79 Sol Ginger. By Albert W. Aiken.

80 Rosebud Rob. By Ed. L. Wheeler.
81 Lightnng Jo. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams.
82 Kit Harefoot. By T. C. Harbaugh.
83 Rollo. the Boy Ranger. 011 Coomes.
84 Idyl, the Girl Miner. E. L. Wheeler.
85 Buck Buckram. Capt. J. F. C. Adams.
86 Dandy Rock. By G. Waldo Browne.
87 The Land Pirates. Capt. Mayne Reid.
88 Photograph Phil. Ed. L. Wheeler.

 

No. Sta—Burrito Bar.

89 Island Jim. By Bracebridge Hemyng.
90 The Dread Rider. George W. Browne
91 The Captain of the Club. Hemyng.
92 Canada Chet. Edward L. Wheeler.
93 TheBoy Miners. By Edward's. Ellis.
94 Midnight Jack. By T. C. Harbaugh.
95 The Rival Rovers. Hazeltine.

98 Watch-Eye. By Edward L. Wheeler.
97 The Outlaw Brothers. Marshall.
98 Robin Hood, Gildersleeve.

99 The Tiger of Taos. G. W. Browne.

100 Deadwood Dick in Leadville. By
Edward L. Wheeler.

1 0 1 Jack Harkaway in New York. By
Brucebridge Hcmyng.

102 Dick Dead-Eye. Col. Ingraham.
103 The Lion of the Sea. Delle Sara.
104 Deadwood Dick’s Device. Wheeler
105 Old Rube. By Capt. H. Holmes.

106 Old Frosty. the Guide. Harbaugh.
107 One-Eyed Sim. By S. L. Bowen.
108 Daring Davy. By Harry St. George.

109 Deadwood Dick as Detective. By
Edward L. Wheeler.

6

 

110 The Black Steed oi the Prairies.
By James L. Bowen.
1 1 1 The SearDevil. By Col. P. Ingraham.’
1 12 The Mad Hunter. By Burton Saxe.
1 13 Jack Hoyle. By Ed. L. Wheeler.
114 The Black Schooner. R. Starbuck.
1 15 The Mad Miner. G. W. Browne.
116 The Hussar Captain. By Ingraham.
1 17 Gilt-Edged Dick. By E. L. Wheeler.
1 18 Will Somers. By Charles Morris.
119 Mustang Sam. Jos. E. Badger. Jr.
120 The Branded Hand. Frank Dumont.
121 Cinnamon Chip. Edward L. Wheeler.
122 Phil Hardy. By Charles Morris.
123 Kiowa Charley. T. C. Harheugh.
124 Tippy, the Texan. Geo. Gleason.
125 Bonanza Bill, Miner. E.L. Wheeler
126 Picayune Pete. By C. Morris.
127 Wild-Fire. By Frank Dumont.
128 The Young Privateer. Cavendish.
129 Deadwood Dick’s Double. By
Edward L. Wheeler.
130 Detective Dick. By Chas. Morris.
131 The Golden Hand. Geo. W. Browne.
132 The Hunted Hunter. Ed. 8. Ellis.
133 Boss Bob. By Edward L. Wheeler.
134 Sure Shot Seth. By 011 Coomes.
135 Captain Paul. By C. D. Clark.
136 Night-Hawk Kit. Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
137 The Helpless Hand. Mayne Reid.
138 Blonde Bill. By Edward L. Wheeler.
139 Judge Lynch, Jr. T. C. Harbaugh.
140 Blue Biases. By Frank Dummt.
141 Solid Sam. By Ed. L. Wheeler.
142 Handsome Harry. By Chas. Morris.
143 Scar-Pace Saul. By 011 Coomes.
144 Dainty Lance. Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
145 Captain Ferret. Ed. L. Wheelers
146 Silver Star. By 011 Coomes. V'
147 Will Wildfire. By Charles Morris.
148 Sharp Sam. By J. A. Patten.
149 A Game of Gold. Ed. L. Wheeler.
150 Lance and Lasso. Fred. Whittaker.
151 Panther Paul. Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
152 Black Bess. By Charles Morris. \
153 Eagle Kit. By 011 Coomes.
154 The Sword Hunters. F. Whittaker.
155 Gold Trigger. By T. C. Harbsugh.

156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood:
or, THE PICKED Parr. By Edward
L. Wheeler. \

157 Mike Merry. Tm: Henson Pena:
Bor; or, Tm: NIGHT-HAWKS or Pm-
DELPHIA. By Charles Morris. July 27.

158 Fancy Frank of Colorado: or.
Tun Tmrrxa’s TRUST. By Baillie
Bill. Ready August 3d.

159 The Lost Captain: or, Sm
Jazz Corrm’s Cams: 10 m 0m
Pom SEA. By Captain F. Whittaker.

Ready August 10th.

160 Black Giant; or, DAIN‘l'Y Luca nt

Jnoreanr. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
Ready August 17th.
A new tune every week.

The Half-Dime Library is for sale by all
Newsdealers. five cents per copy. or sent by mail on
receipt of six cents each. BEADLE & ADA“
Publishers. fl William Street. New York.

 

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82 Large Three-Column Pages.
1. A Hard Crowd : OR,
Sun’s SISTER. By Philip S. Wernc.

8. The Dare-Devil: OR, THE .WINGED
WITCH OR THE SEA. By Col. Prentiss lngraham.

3. Kit Carson. Jr., THE CRACK SHOT OE
THE \VEST. By Buckskin Sam.

4. The Kidnapper; OR, THE GREAT
SHANGHAI OE THE NORTHWEST. By Philip S. Wame.

5. The Fire-Fiends; OR, HERCULES, THE
HUNOHEACK. By A._P. Morris.

6. Wildcat Bob, THE Boss BRUISER;
OR. THE BORDER BLOODHOI'NDS. By Ed. L. Wheeler.

I 7. Death-Notch, THE DESTROYER; OR,
THE SPIRrr LAKE AVENGEILS. By ()11 Coomes.

8. The Headless Horseman. A strange
story of Texas. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

9. Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover.

10. Vidocq. THE FRENCH POLICE SPY.
Written by himself. .

11. Midshipman Easy. By Capt. Mar-
not.

GENTLEMAN

12. The Death-Shot: OR, TRACKED To
DEATH. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

18. Pathawa : 0R, NICK WHIFFIJL'S, THE
OLD THAPPEII OE THE ORTHWEET. By Robinson.

14. The. endanegea. THE SCOURGE ;
on, THE WAR- .AGLE OE THE MOHAWKS. Ned Buntline.

15. The Tiger-Slayer; OR, EAGLE-
HRAD To THE RESCUE. By Gustave Aimard.

1 6. The White Wizard : OR, THE GREAT

PROPHET OE THE SEMINOLES. By Ned Buntline.

17. Nightshade, THE ROBBER PRINCE
or HOUNSLOW HEATH. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.

18. The Sea Bandit; OR, THE QUEEN
or TH. ISLE. By Ned Buntline.

19. Red Cedar, THE PRAIRIE OUTLAW.
By Gustave Aiinard.

20. The Bandit at Bay: OR, THE PI-
ILTEE OF THE PRAIRIES. By Gustave Aimard.

21. The Tra er’s Da hter- 0
THE OUTLAw‘s FATEPpBy Gustavequmerd. ' R,

22. Whitelaw: OR. NATTIE OE THE LAKE
SHORE. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.

23. The Red Warrior: 0R, STELLA

,. DELORAIE’S COHANCHE LOVER. By Ned Buntline.

24. Prairie Flower. By Gustave Ai-
nerd, author, 0! “ Tiger-Slayer." etc.

26. The Gold-Guide: OR. STEEL ARM,
THE REGULATOR. By Francis Johnson.

26. The Death-Track; OR, THE OUT-
LAWE ’OE THE MOUNTAIN. By Francis Johnson.

27. The Spotter-Detective: OR, THE
Gnu OER" ORE. By Albert W. Aiken.

28. Three-Finger“! Jack. THE ROAD-
AGENT or THE Room By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

29. Tiger Dick, THE FARO KING; or,
'1‘. CAEHIER‘s CHI“. By Philip S. Warne.

80. Gospel Geor ; or, FIEle FRED,
m 00mm By Josep E. Badger, Jr.

81. The New York ‘Sha ;' OR, THE
FLARE OE LIGHTNING. By Albert W. ken.

82. B’ho‘ys of Yale: 0R,ITHE SCRAPEs
DA HARD Sn or COLLEGIANs. By John ‘D. Vose.

33. Overland Hit. 'By A. W. Aiken.
34. BockyMountaln Rob. By Aiken.
88. Hentuek. the Sport. By Aiken.
3.. Man Dick. By Albert w. Aiken.
37. Hirl, the Hunchback: OR, THE

RDIIAIER orTHE SANTEE. By Dr. J..H. Robinson.

38. Velvet Hand: OR, THE IRON GRIP OE
WDICK. By Albert W. Aiken.

89. The Russian Spgs OR. THE BROTH-
ER» «was STAR“ CRoss. By rederiok Whittaker.

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40. The Lon§ Hair-e... ~'.. A...“ I,
THE TARTARs OE TIIE LAINs. .in Jim. l1]. lhulgur. Jr.

41. Gold Dan: OR, THE WHITE SAVAGE
OE THE GREAT SALT LAKE. By Albert W. Aiken.

42. The California Detective : OR,
THE WITCHES OE NEW YORK. By Albert W. Aiken.

43. Dakota Dan, THE RECKLESS RANGER;
01', THE BEE-HUNTERS‘ EXCURSION. By 011 COOIIIes.

44. Old Dan Rackback, THE GREAT

EXTARMINATOR. By Oil Coomes.
45. Old Bull’s Eye, THE LIGHTNING

SHOT OE THE PLAINS.

46. Bowie-Knife Ben, THE LITTLE
HUNTER OE THE NOR‘-WEST. By 011 Coomes.

4'7. Pacific Pete, THE PRINCE OE THE
REVOLVER. By Jos. E. Badger. Jr.

48. Idaho Tom. THE YOUNG OUTLAW
OE SILVERLAND. By Oil Coomes.

49. The Wolf Demon; or, THE QUEEN OE I.

THE KANAWHA. By Albert W. Aiken.

50. Jack Rabbit, THE PRAIRIE SPORT; 3

By Joe. E. Badger, J l‘.

51. Red Rob. THE BOY ROAD~AGENT.
By Oll Coomes.

.
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KIT CARSON. JR—No. 3.

52. Death Trailer, THE CHIEE OE
Scours. By Hon. Wm. F. Cody. (Buffalo Bill.)

53. Silver Sam: or, 'i‘IIE MYSTERY OE
Deadwoon CITY. By Col. DI-lle Sam.

54. Always on Hand; or, THE SPORTIVE
SPORT OE THE FOOT HILLS. By Philip S. Warne.

55. The Scalpfiunters. A ROMANCE OF
THE PLAINS. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

56. The Indian Mazelppa: or, THE
MAD MAN OE THE PLAINS. By ibert W. Aiken.

57. The Silent Hunter; or, THE SCOWL
HALL MYSTERY. By Percy B. St. John.

58. Silver Knife: or, WICKLIEEE, THE
ROCHE MOUNTAIN RANGER. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.

59. The Man From Texas: 01‘, THE
OUTLAW OE ARKANSAS. By Albert W. Aiken.

60. Wide Awake: or, THE lDIOT OE

THE BLACK HILLS. By Frank Dumont.

61. Ca taln Seawaif. THE PRIVATEER.
By Ned Bun line.

62. Loyal Heart: or, THE TRAPPERS OE
ARKANSAS. By Gustave Aimer. -

63. The Winged Whale. By Aiken-

64. Double-Sight. the Death Shot.
By Josaph E. Badger, .

By Joseph E. Badger, JR. ‘

 

r

Each Number Complete. Price 10 ctl.

‘  n"? 1» 1’11? finial": OE, THE SCOUII'.'1
I)!“ THE lNllliCS. My (‘upmin li‘rvderick “'hittaker.
I 66. The Specter Barque. A TALE:
OE THE l’ACIEIC. By Captain Mayne Reid.
67. The Boy Jockey; or, HONEST-.-
VERSUS CROOKEDNESS. By Joseph E. Badger. Jr.
68. The Fighting Trapper: or, KI:
CARSON TO TIIE RESCUE. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams.
69. The Irish Captain; A TALE OI:
FONTENOY. By Captain Frederick Whittaker.
70. Hydrabad, THE STRANGLER; or,
ALETHE, THE CHILI) OE THE CORD. By Robinson.
71. Captain Cool-Blade. or, THE MAN
SHARK OE THE MISSISSIPPI. By JOE. E. Badger, J l.
72. The Phantom Hand. A STORY OI?-
NEW YORK HEARTBS AND HOMES. By A. W. Aiken.
I 73. The Knight of the Red Cross:
or, THE MAGICIAN OE GRANADA. Dr. J. H. Robinsor.
I '74. Captain of the Rifles. A ROMANCI:
‘ OE TIIE MEXICAN VALLEY. By Captain Mayne Reid.
75. Gentleman George, or, PARLOR,
PRISONL STAGE AND STREET. By Albert W. Aiken.
76. The Queen’s Musketeer, or,
THISHE, THE PRINCEss PALIusT. ByGeorge Aibony.
'77. The Fresh of Frisco. or, Tm:
HEIRESS OE BUENAVENTURA. By Albert W. Aiken.
78. The Mysterious Spy: or, GOLDEN
FEATHER, THE BUCCANEER‘s DAUGHTER. By Grainger.
79. Joe Phenix, THE POLICE SPY. By
Alix-rt W. Aiken.
80. A Man of Nerve;
THE DWARF. By Philip S. Warne.
81. The Human Tiger:
OE FIRE. By Albert W. Aiken.
82. Iron Wrist, the Swordmaster.
By (‘OL Thomas H. i‘vlonstery.
83. Gold Bullet Sport: or, THE KNIGHTS
OE THE OVERLAND. By Buffalo Bill.
84. Hunted Down; or, THE WHITE
WITCH. By Albert W. Aiken.
85. The Cretan Rover; or, ZULEIKAH,
THE BEAUTIFUL. By Col. Prentice Ingraham.
86. The Big Hunter: or, THE QUEEN
OE THE WOODS. By the author of “ Silent Hunter."
87. The Scarlet Captain; or, THE
PRISONER OE THE TOWER. By Col. Deile Sara.
88. Big Geor e, THE GIANT or THE
PGULCII; or, HE FIVE UTLAw BROTHERS. ByBadger.
$9. The Pirate Prince: or, PRETTY
NELLY, THE QUEEN OE THE law. By COL Ingrahnni.
90. Wild Will. THE MAD RANCHERO;
or, THE TERRIBLE TExAN. By Buckskin Sam.
91. The Winning Oar: or, THE INN-
KEEPER’E DAUGHTER. By Albert W. Aiken.
92. Buffalo Bill. THE BUCstIN KING,
By Major Dangerfield Burr.
93. Ca tain Dick Talbot, KING OF
THE ROAD. y Albert W. Aiken.
94. Freelance. THE BUCCANEER; or, The
WAIE OE THE WAVE. By Col. Prentiss lug-sham.
95. Albert, THE AXMAN; or, THESECRETS
OF THE DUOAL PALACE. By Anthony P.‘ Morris,
96. Double-Death, or, THE SPY QUEEN
OF WYOMING. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker.
97. Bronze Jack. THE CALIEORNIA
THOROUGHBRED. By A. W. Aiken.
98. The Rock Rider; or, THE SPIRIT
OE THE SIERRA. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker.
99. The Giant Rifleman: or, WELD
LIFE IN THE LUMBER REGIONE. By 011 Coomes.‘
100. The French Sp : or, THE BRIDE,
OE I’ARIs. A Story of the ommune. By A. J'.
Morris. Ready August 11th.
101. The Man from New York: or.

THE ROHANCE or A RICH YOUNG WouN. By Albert
W. Aiken. Reedy August 25th.

 

or, CALIBAN,

or, A HEART

Amwismmhmm

Beadle’s [Mme Library is for sale  all
Newedealem, ten cents per copy. or sent by Ind] On
receipt of twelve cents each. BEADLE & ADAM!"
Publishers, 98 William Street. New York.

 

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