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N0. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK.

 

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gBeadZe g”: fldams, @ublishers,

Ten Cents.

 

 

Overland Kit;
OR.
THE mm. or WHITE PINE.

BY ALBERT W. AIKEN,
Amman or “Tl-IE sporrrsn DETECTIVE," "m NEW
YORK SHARP,” are, are.

CHAPTER I.
ran ROAD—AGENTS.

.7175? as the full, round moon rose above the rocky

ks that hemmed in the Reese river and cast her
mad, bright beam down upon the little road by the
side of the stream, bathinfi hill, valley and rollin
water in a flood of silvery ght, the overland coac
from 1:tustin, bound for Ione, rolled up to Kennedy‘s
Ranc .

The driver descended from the box, bawled out
“ supper,” and the passengers commenced to alight
from the coach.

Down from the box, from his seat by the driver's
side, came a stout, muscular Irishman. upon whose
honest and good-humored face was a broad grin,
caused by the pleasant announcement of the dinner.
He was called Patsy Doolin. From the interior of
the Concord coach came a portly man, with a grave,
staid face, lit up by large gray eyes and fringed by
iron-gray hair. “Judge” Ephraim Jones was one
of the principal citizens of the nilniniecam , known
as S or City, that lay twenty miles yon Kenne-
dy's oh and was the next stopping-place of the
coach.

Kennedy, the proprietor of the Ranch, greeted the

 

Judge—every one called the merchant “Judge,” al-
though the only reason for the title was his grave
and state] manner—with great respect.

After t e Judge, came an elderly, white<haired
man, with a fat, unctuous face, wherein twinkled two
sharp little blue eyes. In form he was portly and
commanding:I An air of intense respectability sat
upon him. e was evidently a man well to do in the
world, and one who fully understood what good liv-
ing meant. This well~preserved old gentleman was
from New York city, and was known as Salmon
Rennet—hy profession a lawyer, and reputed to be
one of the keenest in all Gotham.

After descending to the ground, the old lawyer
turned to the coach, and gallantly assisted a lady
ou v.

A young and beautiful girl, some two and twenty
years of age. In figure she was tall and str h ,
exquisitely pro ortioned, the round outlines of
form giving {a r promise of a lorious womanhood.
Her face oval; its complexion t 8 rich, creamy hue
of new milk, and the brush of the crimson rose-leaf
blended; e es, dark-blue. rich and lustrous in their
light; her air, the golden brown that seems to woo
the sunbeams. She was called Bernice Gwyne. She
was a wealthy heiress; orphaned, and the old law-
yer acted as a sort of protector to her.

A strange motive brought the fair e201mg girl and
the'astute, comfort-lovin old lawyer the Wild min-
ing region, known as White Pme. ‘

few words will explain.

Twenty years before the time at which our story
commences, two brothers were doing business to-
gether in New York~two men of Irish descent, Pair
rick and Daniel Gwyne. Daniel was the father of
Bernice. He died while she was but an infant. Ber-
nice was taken in charge by her uncle, Patrick, who
reared her as carefully as if she had been his own

 

child. Patrick Gwyne had but a single scion—a Son,
some ten years older than Bernice, named Patrick,
after himself.

Patrick, the father was a sober, steady man of
business' Patrick, t 6 son, was a wild, reckless
youth; all the fire of the old Irish blood was in his
veins and swayed all his actions.

Vainly his father remonstrated with him upon his
we. ward course.

he blow that the anxious sire expected came at

last. In a drunken uarrel in a gaming‘house, young

fiatrlck Gwyne stab ed one of his companions to the
eart.

The blow really was struck in self-defense, but the
curse of Cain was upon the forehead of the reckless
fiouth, and he fled in haste from the city where he

ad first seen the light.

Hot pursuit was given, for the dead youth came of
awealth family, who burned to avenge his death,
but, in he Far West, amid the pine—clad sierrus,
where the golden mass lies deep hid in the rocky
“ pocket," and veins of silver streak the quartz, the
fu itive found shelter and bid defiance to pursuit.

'me, that in its flight brings forgetfulness in its
train, covered young Patrick Gwyne and his crime
from sight with the dark waters of oblivion.

The stem father, like the Roman parent of ancient
time cursed the son who had dishonored his race.
He orbmie the mention of his name within the
household. The grave and silent man strove, in
Bernice’s love, to forget that he had once had a
son.

Six months before the time that our story 0 ens,
old Patrick Gwyne died, leaving all his proper r to
his niece, Bernice. The outcast son was not even
mentioned in his will; though it was true that no one
knew whether he was alive or dead, for, since the
time of his flight from New York, ten years before’

ON WENT KIT, THE ROAD-AGENT, AND CLOSE BEHIND CAME THE SOLDIERS.

 

2

Beadle’s Dime Library.

 

 

unit a dsingle word regarding him had ever been re-
cc ve .

Bernice waited until the estate was all settled up,
and then coolly announced to Mr. Salmon Bennet—
who, as the legal adviser of her deceased uncle, had
charge of his affairs—that it was her intention to c
to the Far West and discover whether her cous n,
Patrick, was alive or dead, before she would touch
one sin is nny of her uncle's money. Bernice had
( utilte a itt e fortune of her own, inherited from her

it l0l'.

The lawyer remonstrated, but in vain; the mind of
the girl was fixed, and words could not turn her from
her purpose.

She declared that she felt sure that her cousin was
still livin , and she Would not touch the money that
belonged y ri hts to him.

This determ nation tBuzzhed the old lawyer greatl .
He had little idea of e reason that impe led the l
to act as she did.

Bernice, the child’of twelve years had loved her
cousin, the youth of twang; loved him as a child,
but, as she grew to woma cod, she kept his mem-
ory green in her heart. Every night before she closed
her eyes in sleep, his handsome, manly face floated
before her vision.

This love it was, deep down in her heart, a perpet-
ual well-sgrlng of I:j‘oy, that caused her to reject the
suitorsw ohadt edtowin rsmiles. It was this
childish affection, str ened by years into
womanly love, which had rought her two thousand
miles or more to the man who for one wild act
owassion, when the madd fumes of lauor
h dredhisbraininfrenz ,hsd n compell to
fly from civilized life, an find a refuge amid the
canons of the Far Western sierras the haunts of the
wolf, the red Indian, and the crime-stained white
outcast. .

At Bernice's urgent entreaty, the old law or had
consented to accompany her on what he, not aptly,
termed a wild-goose chase.

The t silver discoveries had ust been made in
the 'te Pine region as the 01 la er and the
young girl set out on their mission. Al California
was rushing there, and, thinking if Patrick Gwyne
lived, he might be attracted there, too, the lawyer
headed his course in that direction. There was also
another motive: Rennet had a son who had been in
business in San Francisco, failed there, and had lo-
cated in Spur City, the point to which the lawyer
was now conducti Bernice.

The craft and een-witted old gerfleman had
formed a lit scheme in which he needed his son‘s
assistance.

Rennet had not the slightest hope of finding any
trace of the outcast, for whom Bernice was in search,
but he had made up his mind to turn this Western

trip to serve his own purpose. What that was, our
story will tell.

Judge Jones the Irishman, Mr. Rennet and Ber-
nice,hwere all the passengers that journeyed in the
cone .

“ Come hurry up your cakes, old h " cried the
driver of the coach to Kennedy, the ram: an. The
driver was inger Bill, on account of his flow-
iw red locks and beard.

I l the miningi districts few popular men but have
some design on attached to their own proper

name.
“0 I ain‘t ot time to tarry,
Ilalln’t got tine to wait, old hossi"

Billy sung, at the top of his voice, cracking his whip
in t e .

“ What's your hurry?" asked Kennedy.

“ Why, I want for to slap this coach inter Spur
City afore twelve you bet! I want to git a chance
to shake a leg at the Eldorado store I turn in.

“ Rock back Davy cuttin‘ up a shine,
Gal with the red ha’r kickin' up wind."

“ Supper’ll be ready in a minute. Didn't expect

you so soon. You‘re ahead of time to-night.“
“I‘m 'ist old htnin‘ now, fust thing 33; know!
’Sides, wanted or to make here afore k. The

road ‘tween here an' J acobvilie ain‘t all hunky arter
sundown. since Overland Kit’s taken to lookin‘ arter
a," Bill said si nlficantiy.

“ Overland ‘ti Who’s he?" asked the lawyer,
who was standing near by, with Bernice on his arm.

“Guess you’re a stranger round hyer, ain’t yer?"
the driver asked.

“ Yes, I am; but who is this man?" ,

“I‘ll never tell yer, as we used for to say in old
Kentuck‘; you’re too much for me, stranger,"
“him h ' ad 1; " Kennedy'added.

‘ ousee esaro -. n

“B. orra'i the need mebody to be after luck-
in' to t 9 road. ivil such a mane way I iver seezd
nforei" exclaimed the Irishman, in t." ‘ I
don‘t know whether I'm inside or out, an- way.

All in bed at the indi tionpf the

“Wha is the meaningncff the
asked the lawyer, who eased at 0 he
name had some peculiar fication attached to it.

“ 011. they‘ma polite so of 3:“ who stop
overland coaches, an' in order t the
sha'n‘t have too much to draw, they kin
the galoots inside of any gold-dust, silver bricks, or
any valuables of that sort that they may happen to
have along with 'em," the driver explained.

“ Robbers in lainer words n J Jones um
I‘ Why the, will don't you fight; “pm?”
'quesi‘thgngmpmgan?pays me. to:- u) m the coach
u r u
not forte n t replied Bill, coo - “mi. ext,
and ain’t in uded in the bargaimyy’ . a"
“ But this overland Kit?“

“'l‘heleaderofthe mostawful, cussedsetofroad.
agents that I ever heerdtell on,"saidkennedy, the

anch-k .
'r‘rfiizrmrira m... w...
' e ow I a
his face M't bid by tbl‘i;

' Be a
brown hose with four white feet and a blue in the
_ forebsad~ thar ain‘t anything on four in the
shaggoof hossflesh in these parts flag: kin him.
He ps onto the coach like a .

the p rs for all they‘re worth an‘ then he's

off ag‘in quicker‘n a streak of greased hghtnin‘ i"_ '

.th“sii(pper!“ howled one of the ranchmen, stopping
e s ry.

.that the tree

goes through-

 

All proceeded into the house to attack the cata-
blilesabut thoughts of the road-agents were in every
m n .

 

CHAPTER II.
ran swoop or run: saws.

Tun meal was soon dispatched, and the passengers
again assembled around the coach.

“Is there any danger of our meeting this Over-
land Kit between here and Spur City?” Rennet
asked, just a little nervous at the thou ht.

“ Not muc ; never heerd tell on t e critter the
other side of the ranch, hyer. He’s got a roost up
in the rocks somewhar, ‘tween hyer and Jacobville,
I s‘pect, ‘cos he always swoops down, hawk-like
about ten miles from hyer. Maybe you noticed
whar the road runs through a big canon?"

“ Yes, I did,“ the lawyer said; ‘ but I should think
stationed in Austin would make
quick work 0 this fellow and his band." Bonnet
had noticed as be, through Austin that a
gfimpany of‘ United totes cavalry was stationed

ere.

“They‘ve t to catch him first, you know," Bill
said, with a augh, “ an’ that ain‘t eas to do. He
seems to smell out a sodjer ist as a on smells out 9.
mice. I‘ve druv’ the cone over the road twice,
filled with sod rs, tin' that he’d,come down on
the coach, an then t ey'd go for-him. But he never
put in an e pearance any time. He‘s akind of a
generous so uv a cuss' ,he never troubles any miner
with his little pile, but alers es for the ex ress
company‘s plunder. I reckont e 've swored a esp
gt 9him. He went through you, udge, onc't, didn t

e_..

“ Yes," re lied the merchant; “two thousand
dollars‘ wort of gold-dust. It has always been a
puzzle to me how he learned that I had that dust."

“ Oh, he’s sha , he is!" chimed in the driver. “I
reckon, though, t e sodjers will take him into camp
one of these days,

“Then, good-by, Sal. come ag’in soon!

“ All aboard!"

The passengers clambered into the coach. Bill
took a long pull at Kennedy's whisky-flask, climbed
up to his seat, cracked his whip over the leaders'
ears, and the coach rolled on.

The road winding round to the right, following the
course of the stream, the‘ranch was soon lost to

h .

t was a glorious ht. The bright beam of the
moon made the way 0st as light as by day. The
swaying 1pines upon the hillsides, nodding sleepil in
the gent e breeze, filled the mountain air with t eir
strange balsamic odor.

The conversation of the three in the coach turned
upon the subject of the darin road-agent. Judge
Jones gave a brief account of h exploi s.

“ There are three in the band," said the Judge;
“they have only been operating on this road for about

a month, The express com y has offered a large
reward for their capture bu as at, they have elud-
ed ali attem to arrest them. I was evident to me
that these ellows belong to ly organized

a

band, having s ies in the rinci a1 miningg camps, for
their informs on re ng t e coaches that carry
valuables, and those t do not is wonderful. They
seldom attack a coach unless it has valuable express
matter in it. The compan are already out about
ten thousand dollars, and t ey are ring no pains
to catch the rogues; but, as the river said they
seem to scent the presence of the soldiers. ‘ t is a
wonder that we have not been attacked, for we have
some express matter that is ve valuable.“

“Why, I understood that t e valuable express
matter came fmm the mines," Rennet said. r

“Gold and silver? Exactly; but the valuables we
are carryin co ‘ of Government notes for my
bank," exa ed the Judge.

“It's a rrlble risk to run," the old lawyer said,

0

“ Yes, ut if these fellows unattached "it might

‘ have cost them dcarley.t  suup‘ge

they have smeltgou trap,"

cant y.
ardly had he uttered the words, when the coach
came toa sudden halt, that almost pitched the pes-
se'rlifiers out of their seats.
e Judge and the lawyer stuck their heads out of
the coach windows. one on each side.
h had ialiy

e cone , , a narrow defile,
" g t by the tall' p es that
of the ravine.
V paces‘up the road, ust at the further
entrance to ravine, were three orsemen, ranged
side byside, motionless as statues. ,
The flickering moonbeamzi that stole through the
in raysof silvery light
upon the polished revolvenbarrelq. which the three

entsl'  the Judge, with-
wlndow eagle spoke.

scream of . lmost at
the same instant, the bright flash of ited gun-
powder broke upon the air h , the side 0 the coach
andhzhtergggerp crack of a p rung out on the still
threeintheooaohlookateaehotherinaston-
ishment forth shot was fired close by them, and
the smoke had cated in through the window.
“Hallo! what do you mean by that shot?“ cried
one of the masked men on horseback, advanc
slowly toward the coach. His voice was harsh an
mm fine
Tbefull, kbeardthat came from under his
mask asweliasthe brow horse he 'rode marked
with four white feet, and anbrlght blaze in the fore-
head told that the
agent,-Overland Kit, person. ,

‘Durnecl efI know," re ‘ed Bill. “I s‘pect one
of the weapons inside wen on at half-cook. 'Tw'an't
fired at you. anyway."

m" ill?” 1" ‘m the 1. l" mam
or‘pua gugyou- er-
m etc

I on your mule-team, now! don't be in a
hurry," answered Bill, his natural We; de-
sertinghim. Then he bent over audio , the
two in'the stage. “Gents, if you don’t want to at-
tend a first-class funeral to-morrow, jest throw your
we‘ as out intothe road."

“ am not armed,“ the Judge replied.

“ Nor I," said Rennet.

or was‘ the notorious road- .

their weapons out on the This

 

“A'li co-rect!“ exclaimed Bill; then he addressed
the highwayrnan, who had ridden u to the head of
the leaders. “ The gents inside say t they hain‘t
got my we‘pons.“ v '

“ They lie 1" returned the road-agent promptly.

“Maybe they do; I'll never to you," Bill said,

“"36?
“ 0 have your ot inside?"
“Judge Jones, 0 Spur City, and a fat cuss from
Eh? East are the he-males; one lady," replied the
river.
“ No. 1i" called the highwayman.
The horseman on the right of the road galloped

u .

12‘ Draw abead on the driver; if he offers to stir,
put a ball through him.“ I

i‘l‘lS’pose I want to scratch my head?" suggested

“If you don‘t keep your mouth shut. you’ll catch
cold," cried Kit, sharply. “ No. 2i"

The other horseman galloped up. ‘

“ Ride down the road a dozen pages, and has a
look-out toward Kennedy's. I’ve an idea that t at
pistol-shot was fired as a s al. There may be some
nice little trap readyto spr ng upon us." .

The horseman obeyed he order and took his star

'tion some/hundred es down the road. -

Overland Kit ro' e up to the coach and peered in
through the window. '

“The slightest attem t at resistance willcost all
of you your liv " he (1, harshly. “ Judge Jones,
good-evening! lad to see that you're looking so
well. I fear I must trouble {an .to hand out the
leather bag full of bank-notes t t you've got der
your seat. I think that I’ll open a bank mys f in
opposition to yours, and I want some notes to start
on." '

“ You have been sadly misinformed, sir " said the
J ud5e, making a great effort to appear on .

“ h, no! not much," re lied the robber. “ Come,
hand over the valuables. suspect that you and the
express company have got some sort of a trap or
ranged for me. You made alto ether too much

rade about this note business n Austin. Ifdycu

‘t got a trap) fixed, you would have trie to

smug la the veins ice in, so as to have kept me from

knowing which conical; they went by. You tired that
ot as a sign . ‘

“ I give you my word I haven‘t a weapon, sir," ex-
claimed the J u . _

“ Because you ve flung it down in the bushes here
somewhere. You can‘t pull the wool over my eyes.‘
The robber put his head still further into the win-
dfivfi Aslhe did so, he caught sight of the pale face
0 e gir.

“ Bernice Gwynei" he cried, in great astonishment,
while a violent shudder shook his frame.

All within the coach wondered at the knowledge of
the road-agent.

Crack! Out on the still air rung the sharp report
of a carbine-shot.

5‘ The soldiers, b heaven!" cried the robber with-
drawing his head rom the window, and gathering up
the reins of his horse.

The man whom Kit had designated as No. 2 came
dashi up the road, the blood streaming from a
wound his cheek.

“The sodjers. Cap’; they‘ve muffled their bosses‘
feet, I 'spect, for they were on me afore I knew iti“

he crl .

" Ride for your lifei" Kit exclaimed. “Judge, I’ll
settle with you for this' some day!“

U the road dashed the robbers.

“ ve us a lock of your hair!” yelled Bill, as the
two dashed past him.

Around the turn in the road came a dozen cavalry-
men in hot haste. As the robber had suspected, the
soldiers had wrapped the feet of their horses in
blankets, and thus deadened the sound of their
tread

“ Go fur ‘emi" shouted Bill, in huggedellght, as the
soldiers, We in hand, firing at road-agents,

rode .
‘ Th3)“ rs inside, ardless of the danger,
Rokfed eager out of the w dows, anxious to see

3 .

Origin the highwaymen, and close behind came
the soldiers.

The pursued and pursuers swept onward through
the dark and narrow defile and out into the rolling
count bevond.

The ugltives were far better mounted, though,
than'were the soldiers, whose horses, too were in a
measure hampered by the blanket stud wrapped
around their boots.

Soon the fugitives were out of range. They
reached the summit of a hill; two of them disa

' over the crest, but the third, who was t 0

etc! the band, Overland Kit. enedtheesgeed
of his horse a little on the crest the hill, turn his
headandlookedback, asif to laugh in defiance at
his pursuers. A moment more. and he. too, disap-

pe\‘i‘Vhen the soldiers reached the summit of the hill,
and looked alo the road Windi down V in the val-
ley, no traces o the robbers 00 d be seen. They
evidently had turned aside from the rosdand so ht
safet in some one of themany canonsthat ed
into e hills beyond.

 

CHAPTER m.
m “mwom.” .

Sron Orrri aminingcamp nestled by the side of
the Reese river, numberings‘m . some five hun-
tssssrm- Ass . “wearers-
a mo . crew 11
shongeiggon. :1: of situations and of all hues.

Ev ‘ m.mg m

h I __ ‘ 41311“ “gambling

Bed ' w w miners

gofigeiy  V ,ust, side by side, with

tbeyellowflh , ~ ,‘d ,. swarthy son of Africa.

.The princi buffing the city was a two-story

shanty, rud consign/c out of unplaned boards.

wuhthe h Ogo‘p ht t rt 1%; 5in 211:6

, en ,0. u an o e
idler:  mheral wefigh. p e

ErE‘s’ii’éJé'“ it"; “ "h" ‘3“‘“ “3h”
The was n as a -reom: ro
to 'a majorltyof the inhagitants of Spur Sity, fill";
of the stopping place was edlymore at-
ractive than any other. -‘
A long bar extended across the end of the room;
behind the bar was shelving. displa bottles,
glasses and cigar-boxes. A few common p e tables,

' h... .a‘ ‘~v»

Magus... m-....a-n_.“_‘—+-.~J -—- -— -

a the battle-ground of opposing clans.

Overland Kit.

3

 

 

wltli benches were placed at regular intervals along
the si les of t 6 room. The first proprietor of the
“ Eldorado “ had provided chairs—J‘ tip-top Eastern
st le " as he claimed; but the first “ free discussion “
that took lace in the saloon—it happened on the
o )ening n ght between the rival arties of “Padd ‘8
, at " and “ opher Gully " emolished all t e
chairs. By the time the “Flat “ part had “cleaned
out “ the denizens of the “ Gully " here wasn‘t a
whole chair left!

The next mornirE the enter risingNew Englander
who opened the “ ldorado " ooked over the battle.
iield in dismay. He cleared away the remains of the
chairs, and rovided benches.

But, at t s very next “ discussion “ that took
place], every bottle and glass in the saloon went to
51119.5 1.

The hotel-keeper retreated a “ bu‘sted man," as he
laconically expressed it.

Two or three others essa ed to show the Spur
(,‘ityites that they understo “ how to keep a hotel,"
but the rampant spirit of the miners was too much
for them.

The “Eldorado” went from bad to worse.

Then sudden] , a change came over its fortunes.
A new band too the helm; not a paw of iron, but
soft, white fingers. ..

No longer was the “ Eldorado Saloon " selected as
Peace reigned

within its walls. Even the rough oaths of the beard
ed miners were hushed into a low growl. If a strait
ger, ignorant of the rules that governed the hotel,
and t inking that, as long as he paid his money, he
had a right to do us be pleased and make himself
as disagreeable as possible, won] yell out an offen-
sive imprecation, some stalwart neighbor would take
it upon himself to inform the stranger that he must
behave better or he s eedily “ li’isted " ‘out.

Few men, after a g aiice around at Lthe lowering
faces but had sense enough to obey the warning.

An what had wro hi; this wondrous changein
the manners of the [El] rons of the saloonr—for the
froquentera of the “ dorado " now were the same
men who had “ bu‘sted " the former pro ristors.

Look around the saloonl If you are qu ck at guess-
ing, a glance will tell ou.

It is 'ust midnight. The place is full of men drink-
ing and smoking; the inhabitants of Spur City do not
retire early.

Every thing within the saloon is as neat as wax.
The floor is white—and the mud of Spur City can't
be excelled~the whitewashed walls show no sign of
dirt, exce t above a certain table1where the ride
of “Pad ‘5 Flat " Yellow Jim— ‘lined" Gop er‘s

t—Dave Reed—in with a knot<hole on the wall,

ut missed him, owin to Dave’s uickness in firing
his derringsr thro h ' pocket Without drawing it,
and drilli a hol through Jim‘s elbow, thereby
throwing h shot out of line. The mark of the stray
bullet on the wall still remained, a touching remem-
brance of the old times, when the "Eldome " was
wood for one free fight at least, per night. Over the
‘ little mirror that is flanked by the bottles on the
:fliclf a couple of pine branches are tastily arranged.
‘ ‘ine branches also ornament the whitewashed walls,
:‘ ir dark, cool green a delightful contrast to the
glaring white.

On each rude table a tumbler is placed, containing
a little bunch of wild flowers, encircled by green
3pm 3.

.Alfgive evidence of a woman‘s careful hand.

The secret is out! The magic power that had
tamed the unruly miners, and t ‘ run "' the Eldo-
rado successfully, was feminine witchery.

Behind the bar, serving her platrons. assisted by a
grave-faced Chinaman, was t e woman who kept
the Eldorado.

fiwoman? hild othi ore

o o v a. c : n n m .

A giiil‘barely sixteen; s lght and fragile in form,
with a grave and earnest ace; the form of 3 rl,
the face of a woman. Great masses of red-gold air
that gleamed in the candle-light hke winding threads
of fire, clustered around her temples, and hung in
tangled masses down to her shoulders: clear ray
eyes large and full, looked out above the sun- ssed
c eeks. The firmly com resssd lips—that glowed
with carnation’s hue, an were as soft and fresh as
the rosebud kissed by the dew of the morning—shut
over the little white teeth, and the peculiar lines
about the mouth plainly revealed—to one gifted with
the art of reading nature in the face—that the rl
had a will of her own, and a mind far beyond or

'ears.

5 Ask one of the bearded miners her name and he
will repl , “ Jinnie."

“Jinnewhat?” '

“Why, ‘ Eldorado J innie.‘ "

Ten to one that he has forgotten her whole name;
and yet it is hardly atyear smce old Tom Johnson—
commonl known as ruiiken Tom Johnson, to dis-
tinguish im from another Tom Johnson, whose
Spur City a pellatlon was Big-nosed Smith—had
fallen into t 9 river and drowned in a foot of water.
He had fallen on his face, wandering to his tent in the
darkness, and was too much under the influence of
11 nor to turn over and make an effort for his life.

he miner-s made up a little purse for the orphan
girl, whom drunken Tom Johnson had always taken
good care of in his rough way, and three or four of
them held a sort of council to decide what the had
better do for the “ little gal," as they termed innle.
These few had been cronies of her father.

Jinnie was consulted in regard to the subject; she
thanked them for their kin noes, but said she had
cl ready decided what to do.

All S ur City was astonished when it was an-
nounce , after Johnson‘s death, that little Jennie
had leased the Eldorado Saloon, and was going to
run it as a first-class hotel—first-class for Spur City.

The miners wisely debated where the money had
mine from, for drunken Tom Johnson never was
known to save a. cent. But one thing was eVident,
Jinnie had Plenty of money, for she opened the place
in good sty e. I '

It was a rest night for S ur Clté when Jinnie
opened the dorado. Everygody at ndsd for ten
miles around. '

When the crowd surged into the saloon an azed
about them in migmtolnizhmefiigd at the iron erfufl
elm ethat the ' r us wrou t one o
the xfcgriariiost of the rough crowd was Di Talbot-‘-
“Gentleman Dick," as he was called by some; “In-

juu Dink," as he was called by others. The first

 

 

name given, because he wore “store-clothes," a
white shirt, always clean-he was the only man in
Spur City that could boost such a luxury—polished
boots and kid gloves. The second, because he was
as cool as a bank of snow melting under the shad—
ows of the pines in a mountain canon wily as a pan‘
ther, cunning as a fox, a man who knew not what
fear was who never turned his back on a foe, or
hesitated to back a friend in a fair fight; quick as
lightning on the trigger, s ryas a cat with the bowie
knife; the best two-ban ed sparrer that ever set
foot in the Reese river valley, and the finest poker-
pl'iliy‘er that ever handled a deck of cards.

D‘ kerefore a popular man in Spur City was “ InJun
c

A brief speech he made to the crowd. He told of
the orphan girl, left alone and trying to make an
honest livi —-that S ur City needed a hotel, and she
could keep t—that t e first man that kicked up a
row in the Eldorado would have to meet him and
would get wiped out, if he was able to do it. The
remarks were brief and quite to the point; no blus-
ter or bravado, but delivered with a coolness that
was far more im ressive than heat.

The Eldorado some a “fixed fact." Of course
at first there had been some little trouble; some few
skirmishes; but Injun Dick first ran the offending
parties out of the saloon, and then administered a
scientific thrashing. The parties who received the
aforesaid never needed a second warning.

So at the time we write, the Eldorado had run a
year as a saloon, restaurant and hotel, under the
supervision of J innie, assisted by the grave and lflui-
et Chinese, Ah Ling, who attended to the coo us
do artment.

e Eldorado was on! waiting for the coach to
come in to close up for t 0 night.

Just as the clock, that was ticking on the bar,
struck twelve, a man, who was dressed so different-
{fi‘from the other patrons of the room that he looked
l e the inhabitant of another land, entered the sa-
oon. i

A single look at the muscular. well-knit figure,
that just reached the medium hight; the sprl
ste that told of the wondrous power that dwe t
wit in the muscles of the leg; the firm, well-shaped
head with its close-cut black hair, its pale features,
dark-blue e es, drooping mustache and little point.
ed beard, tint, German fashion, adorned the chin
alone the rest of the face being smoothly shaver),
told that the new-comer was “ In un Dick."

Talbot seated himself at the tab e nearest the bar,
which happened to be unoccupied.

. “Make me a hot whisky, Jinnie," he said, a pecu-
har look ngon his pals features.

While t e fgirl was preparing the drink, she
watched his ace narrow] . She saw that some-
thing was the matter with e coolest head that had
“31’ ii” ‘1’)" mnhltstlfho‘tgderi ’ ll id d lacingi

n_ e roug e 3 am u , an t
before Talbot, sat down on tubse other side all the to-

ble. ..

Injun Dick drained the glass at a draught.

“Make me another one, you heathen!" he said,
addressing the Chinese.

“Me do—allee same," re lied Ah Li , {inning
in a friendl manner at T bot. He ha a lgh re-
spect for D ck who had once saved him from being

ncked in the'Reese by a Dpart of re h miners.

“What‘s the matter, ick? ’ the ir asked, anxi-
ousy; “ you very seldom drink anyt ing."

" innio, old times are coming back to me. I don't
drink whisky generally, because my business needs
acool hand an a clear head; drink interferes with
both. But, just now I want to forget if I can. I'm
out of sorts to-night.“

“ hat is it?"

“I can‘t tell youl I don‘t know myself! But, J in-
nie, I feel as if something was going to hop n to me.
I've been up to Gopher ully havin a litt e game of
poker, and, would on believe it, J his, every hand

‘ve held to-night 've held the queen of hearts—a
Mart-woman—as the fortune-tellers say.“

“ And what does that mean!"

“Why, that a heart-woman is your}? to cross my
truck; and almost every time, in e, the ace of
s es has been the next card to it. That means
b luck-death, perhaps. I ain‘t generally super-
stitious, 'but, something‘s made me awful nervous

said Jinnie

to-nlght.

“A heart-woman?" , thoughtfully;
“ wl‘iag is a heart-weightlikhe, Dick?" 1 If

" y,awoniana u esamestyeasyourse;
blue eyes and brownish hair."

“It‘s strange that Byou should be nervous, Dick,"
the girl said, With a delong glance into his face.

"‘ We all have our dull moments sometimes, my
girl " he replied, a sad expression in his tone.
th’l‘ tglghlnaman brought he liquor and placed it on
e e.

“Muchee likes—good heapee," he said, grinning,
and then returned to his former position. .

“ I hope, Dick, that if any danger threatens you, it
will come 0 " J innie said, t oughtfully.

“ Wh ,so " aibot asked, in nu rise.

“Sot t Icanhel you meet 1 ,snd sopayoif a
little debt I owe you, ’ she said, low and earnestly.

“ You owe me " he exclaimed, in surprise.

“ Yes. Obi {on mustn't think that I forget!"

“ You inust t ink that I havzfiot a bad memory,“
he said, quickly. “ Do you thi that I've forgotten
when the Reese was coming down like a hungry

ther, and a helpless man was struggling in the
cy waters, how somebody dashed into it ite of
the junks of ice and tree-trunks, and risk or life
to save mine? When I forget that Jinnie just con-
clude that Injun Dick has assed in his checks, and
will ‘chip in ' again nary a me.”

A warm blush oversper the features of the girl's
face as he spoke. A sweet feeling of joyfilled her
young heart.

"‘ No, Jinnie I never yet forgot a friend orafoe.
I‘ve always tried to pay1 my debts. But, it's strange,
this queer feeliniir that as come over me. I believe
in luck and a little in presentiments; and, just now,
I feel siiak about what’s ahead.“

Homise the glass to his-Ii ; just then the door
opened, and Ginger Bill con noted Mr. Rennet and
Bernice into the saloon.‘

A convulsive gasp came from Talbot's lips, and the
glam dropped from his nerveless hand to the floor,
where it was shattered into a dozen pieces.

“ The heart-woman!" he murmured, as he caught
sight of Bernioe's face. i -

CHAPTER IV.
ms-nn-irnon-nsn-noo.

“IWE'AT'B the matter, Dick?" asked the girl, anxi-

ous v.

“ Oh, nothinlg; only a little nervous attack, that's

131]," he replie , recovering himself, with a great ef-
ort.

Talbot sat facing the door, while Jinnie had her
back to it, so that she had not noticed the entrance
of the strangers.

“Good—evenln', Miss Jinnie,“ said Bill the driver,
advancing to the irl. Mr. Kennels and 'Bernice fol-
lowed; both of hem had seen so many strange
sights in their western ourncy, that they were not
much surprised when B ll introduced Jinnie as the
hotel owner.

“ I‘ll do the best [can for on, miss," said Jinnie,
politely, when she learned t at it was the intention
of the strangers to remain with her for aweek or
so. “But, we‘re pretty well crowded; we hniii‘t got
many rooms, but I reckon I'll be able to fix you,
someway."

“ You can have my room, Jinnie,” Talbot said, his
head down, resting on his arms, which were laid up-
on thc table, and thus hiding his features from view.

Bernice and the old lawyer looked at Talbot in as-
tonishinent, his appearance was so different frorri the
rest of the inmates of the saloon.

“ But, where will you go, Dick?" asked Jinnie,
anxiously.

“ 0h, anywhere; I'll get alon well enough,“ Dick
re lied, never raisin his head mm the table.

‘ I am very muc l obliged to on, sir," Bernice
said, in the low, sweet, ladydike vo cs, that was such
a contrast to the clear, ringing tones of Jinnie.

Talbot shivered when the tones of Bernice's voice
fell on his ears, as though an icy wind, fresh from
the north, had blown full upon him.

“This way, miss- I'll show on to your room at
once; and vou, sir, ' said Jln e, addressing the old
lawyer' “ I’ll have to put on in the room with Bill,
here. It's the best I can 0."

“ You'll be as snu as a pint of bourbon in a miner's
gullet, old hossl" ill exclaimed, slapping Bonnet
familiarly on the back, with his huge aw. “ Sn. , I
hope you alers keep $1011? own side 0 the bed, cos
when I bunks in wi strangers, I nlers go to bed
with spurs on.“

“ch, yes, I see—quite a joke,“ said the old law-
yer, affecting to enjoy the remark of the facetious
stage-driver, though, in his heart, he cursed the (el-
low‘s lnsolence.

As Bernice passed by Bill, following Jinnic, she
said (Ellelyt

“ W at is the name 'of that gentleman in black?“
indicating Talbot, as she spoke.

“ njun Dickl"

“ Indian Dick ?" Bernice exclaimed, in amazement,
.at the strange ap ellatlon.

“ Yes, sir-eel n1un Dick Talbot. He‘s the big
shang—hae round th s ranch."

Wl bout further words Bernice left the room, fol
lowing Jinnie and the old lawyer. She had taken a
sudden and strange interest in the stranger, whose
voice alone she had heard; whose face she had not
seen.

Bernice found that the room assigned to her wan
in the front of the building and looked out upon tho
only street of which Spur Cllstg' could boast.

It was small plainly-film ed, but fitted rp neatly
and tastily.  woman's hand, though, was plainly
evident in the simfple adornments.

In the silence o the little room, Bernice pondered
first on the man who bore the strange name of “In

an Dick," and then upon the masked horseman who

(1 ronounced her name at the first lance.

“ omethlng tells me that here in th 3 place I shall
find what I seek," she murmured, as she prepared to
dlsrobe for bed. ‘

Hardly had she commenced to undress, when a
terrible series of yells, coming from the saloon be-
low, fell upon her ears. She paused to listen.

After J innie and the two at ran ers left the saloon,
Talbot raised his head and looks around him. Hit
face was pale as the face of the dead; great dro s or
sweat stood like orient arls upon his white ore-
head, which the broad-b mined slouch hat had no
tected from the sun-kiss, that had bronzed the rest.
of his face. A strange ex resslou was u on his nn»
usually-calm features. at had so on ted Injun
Dick, who had been known to face a dozen an
men, with brandishing weapons in their hands, w
:1 smile) upon his lip and a bitter taunt upon his

ongue

“I must get out of this," he murmured,
1y; “ the mountain emon and the shelter of the
must be my home till this woman is far from oral
How beautiful she is. For the sake of a woman like
her. I‘d walk over burning coals; but I must fly from
her. I feel that she will bring me ill-luck; I inust got
out—levantl"

b Talbot arose from his seat and approached the
ar.

“ Give us some whisky,“ he said.

The Chinaman handed down the bottle, in aston-
ishment. He had never known Talbot to call for
raw s lrits before.

Dic filled a glass brimming full, and drank it of!
as if it had been so much water.

“The ll nor seems to bavo lost its stren in," be
murmur , an ugly look in his restless dar eyes.
“How much,heat en?"

“Six bltee, ‘ replied Ah Ling.

Talbot tossed the money upon the counter and
turned to leave the saloon. He longed for the
air that laden with the birhn of the pine sweptfrom
the white peaks down upon the river valley.

The potent s irlts had lost their power. The ner-
vous action of he brain, roused into being. defied the
fumes of the whisky to overcome it. Yet Talbot
would fain have stilled the busy thoughts that were
working in his brain.

I As Talbot turned a burly, black-boarded fellow.
gigantic in size, 0 in a ragged, red-flannel shirt,
butternut colored breaches stuck into huge

and a highcrowned fe t hat. rolled with an unstead
motion. into the saloon. The stranger was cove
with yellow mud from head to foot, as if he had lain
clotwei;c and mg: a ba'tll‘i  the “middle of the street.
A. stra arou s we sup rted two to
wolvers an: a huge bowie-knife. Do

After the stranger got fairly into the saloon, he

 

steadied himself and looked around him with an air

4

Beadle’s Dime Library.

 

 

of dfllfilken gravity. All eyes, of course, were fixed

upon im.
“ I’m the—man—from—Red—Dog (hie), wake
es an‘ come at mei Yar-who-oo-oopi’ and he
lndulged in a prolonged ell.

It was the drunken e of the representative from
Redb0 Dog that distux- Bernice in her chamber
a ve.

After delivering his defiance, the stranger looked
around him.

The initiates of the saloon naturally glanced toward
Talbot, who stood leaning on the bar, an evil look in
his em; he understood to whom the d ce was
direc , but made no re 1y.

“What‘s the man ed Injun Dick—the feller
that wears kid gloves an‘ store clothes?" howled the
stran er. “ him step out an’ look at me! I kin
frigh n him into a greasespoti

“ ‘My name is Dandy Jim from Red Dogi‘ “

Then the stranger executed a war~dance in the
center of the saloon.

“ Set ‘em uphag’ilil Come an’ see me. Yer-who-
oo-ol" Again e stranger yelled with all the strength
of his powerful lungs.

With a quick stop, but a calm face, Talbot strode
forward and confronted the Red-Dogite.

" See here, in friend, you had better go home and
go ta bed; the. ‘s the best place for you,” he said,

e y.

“Halioa, Tom Thumb! how are ye?“ exclaimed
the red-shirted stranger, lnsarcasm. “Hadn’t you
better go home? Does Her mother know yer out?
Stand away, sonny, or I‘ blow at er an‘ knock yer
over. I want ter see Injun Dick. I in the-man-from-
Red-Dog! I’m part sea-lion, an‘ the rest on me is
grizzly1 ’ar. I kin outrun, outdrink, or chaw ii any
man the Reese valley! Peel an‘ go fur me I'm
yer antelope l”

And nglsin the stranger executed a war-dance
around t e center of the room, accom anied by a
series of yells that would have done or it to a Paw-

neTeh till ofth giant ridi l lyfu
e ac ons e were on one nny,
despite his warlike intentions.

“See here, now, you’ve cavorted round here lon
enough; stop your noise, or I’ll ut you out," Talbo
said, aughing at the antics o the whisky-soaked
miner, in spite of his eflorts to a pear grave.

“You ut me out? You!" ed the miner bal-
slicing himself unsteadin on his legs. “Wh , ’i ldn
eat you, I kin! Maybe you think I’ve h’is d too
muc benzinei I kin jist clean out this hull ranch, I
kin! Who are you, an way?"

“My name is Dick albot."

“You're my antelope i" cried the miner, drawing
a revolver from his belt. “I been huntin’ you!”

But before the giant could use his weapon, there
wasatiplck movement on the rt of Injun Dick.
Hisrig tarm drew back and 3 0t out, sudden and
sine ected as the flash of the lightning; a sharp,
whip- 6 crack resounded throu hthe room. It was
the iron-like knuclaes of Dick st on the bloated
face of the miner.

with a hgwl of plain and “18" f the gut
wenover ackwar agai es on;
on his left cheek, under his eye, was a terrible gash,
nearly two inches long, as clean a cut as thong the
cheek had been slit b a knife.
In un‘s Dick‘s terrific low.

e-man-from-Red-Dog reclined against the door,
and looked around him with a stu fled air. The
blow had been so sudden and terrl la in its force
that it was plain that he did not realize whathad

combin
6 door 0

It was the mark of

occurred.

' “A ht peart alrth uake; beats Red Dog all

 exclaimed. ‘ Did it knock anybody else
on

Then his eyes fell upon Talbot, who, with leveled
revolver. stood in the center of the saloon.

“‘Helloai what 'er ’bout?" the miner cried; “turn
that t‘ether we ." I

“ You cow hound! You come here expressly
topick a mm and now on want to back out of
it,‘ said hot, in contemp .

Dandy Jim—so the miner was called—felt of the
terrible wound in his cheek rom which the blood
was slow d realized what had

ha 11 .
‘Pgieee hyer, give sum a chance. I n chaw you

up with a fair show." The giant slow rose to his
“ You ut down our we’pons an‘ ’ll put down

feet.
mine. We go outside an’ settle it.”

“If you haven‘t got enough, there is more where
the first came from," Talbot said, significantly.

The two gave up their weapons, and, followed by
the crowd, adjourned to the street outside the sa-

n.
swimmers  
no . or was e, an w
look u n her features, as she stood at the window
lml Talbot in the moonligh ndgmaofl his
3?. preparing to encounter the t t wered
ve him.

 

CHAPTER V.
ma nor is m wrsnow.

Tainan was a dlt'y spot of ground, some thirt feet
square, in front 0 the Eldorado, which had no been
cut up into ruts by the wagon-wheels.

The b ht rays of the full moon shining down up-

onAilti m eitasli htasday.
in the saloon athered in a circle in front of
it. Within the circle .s the two gladiators, com.
plating their pre aratlons for the contest,
The—man-from- -Dog was soon ready; he dash.
edhis old hat upon the ground; rolled up the tom
sleeves of his red shirt. displaying his brawny m
We his face, were tanned to the color 0
by the hot sun in the mountain gulch“. is
left cheek was swollen terribl , where Tahoe's
knuckles had left their mark. 6 t was not a
handsome man, at an time, and the ugl wound
didnothnprove his loo The proof he had already
received 0 Talbot’s prowess had opened his eyes to
the task he had undertaken in confront-
!“ “chum and he was notdisposedtounderrate
0 .
sic , Talbot for the enconnter. He
0 the nea black coat and hat; rolled up the
sleeves of his ruffled white shirt—he were no vest—
as carelesslyuthough he was going towash his

I aglainst the window- ane.

 

blinds, instead of facing a bully, almost twice his

9.

As Talbot bared his arms to the shoulder—the arms
that were white and fair as those of a beautiful
woman—the giant saw the firm play of the steel-like
muscles that stood out like bunches of knotted wire
under the smooth, silk-like skin. If the shirt had
been stripped from the back of Injun Dick the sight
of the body of his foe would have still further aston-
ished “ the-man-from-Red-Dog." He would have
seen that Talbot was all bone and muscle, not an
ounce of useless fat u on the wiry, sinewy form.
The breadth of the she ders and the knotted muscles
that lay there beneath the silken skin, would have
told whence came the strength that sent forth Injun
Dick‘s sledge-hammer blows.

“Look h or! don‘t be all night," wled the
miner, who gan to have a nervous d re to see the
thin through.

“ ot any friends to carry t1yer home Goliah?"
asked Gin er Bill, with a grin, us politely intimat-
ingethatt e Red-Dogite would be unable to walk
af r the affair was settled.

A chuckle went round the motley crowd at the
humor of the stage-driver. Besides, the sym athy
of the bastanders was almost entirely on the s do of
the sma or man.

After rolling up his sleeves, Talbot took his hand—
kerchief from his pocket and tied it around his
waist. As he tightened the knot of the handker-
chief, he ba nod to glance toward the house.
There was a l t le opening in the crowd, so his view
was not obstructed. He saw the pale and anxious
face of J innie pressed against the window- ane

A quiet smile of confidence was on Tel t’s fea-
tures, and a bright ht shone in his dark eyes as he
glanced at the girl’s ace. Then, some stran 8, sub-

e instinct caused him to look upward. y, he
could not tell: but a sight met his eyes that made
the blood run cold in his veins. Bernice, the “ heart-
woman," had been attracted by the noise under her
window, and was looking out upon the crowd.

As Bernioe’s eyes rested upon Talbot‘s face, a
stra e expression came over her features. Fixed
and girl as a statue, her soul staring throu h her
great lue e es, she looked upon the scene he ow.

A single g ance Talbot gave. He saw that she h
seen the face that, in the saloon, he had ‘
in hiding from her.

Astifled an came from his lips; he raised his
hands to h throat as tho h be was choking° then
rocked for a second u ii on his feet, and then
with adee groan of anguish, fell fo on his
face sense ess. The groan was answered by a stifled
gasp of anguish from Bernice‘s lips; yet, still, with
aface pale with agony, she pressed her temples

mi

be rough crowd d not noticed the glance of
Injun Dick directed at the window; had not heard
the sigh of anguish that had been wrung from Ber-
nicels overwrou ht heart.

At Talbot‘s in den, and to them astonishing, faint,
they had thered eagerly around him. '

“ Somet in’ bu‘stl" cried Bill, sagely, kneeling b
the side of the rostrate man and oxtendin hs
arms as if to rgsehlm fromtheground. Bu ,be-
fore the stage‘driver could carry out his intentions,
Jinnie burst impetuousl thro h the crowd, push-
i the miners rightan left in rhurry.

ith a nick, energetic motion like a iger mother
springing orward in defense of her young, Jinnie
gushed ill away. Losing his balance the stage-

l-iver sprawled over on t e flat of his back, like a

gifintic frog.
e r1 raised the head of the fallen man from the
groun and sugpxorted it on her knee. With pale fea-
ures, lips tig compressed and eyes shooting
lurid fires, Jinnie ooked into Talbot’s face. She tore
o n the band of the shirt that seemed to compress
e swollen neck.
“Get me some whisky, quick, some of you 1" she

cried. .

The crowd had discreetly fallen back a little after
the girl’s appearance. There was somethin terrible
innaer grie that impressed even the e miners
w awe. .

Two or three of the crowd ran into the saloon after
the whisky.

Jinnie bent over the ‘Bgle face- her long hair had
escaped from the knot t usually held in place
and came down like a red screen around the shapely
head of Talbot. Concealed by the tangled mass of
hair that half-hid her action from the gaze of the
wondering crowd, Jinnie kissed the pale lips of the
saints“ “ii” i it“ were turning

. , o s e t e er
would woo hin‘i‘gback to 0:8 . p5

She thou ht not of those that stood around her;
she would ve done the same had all the world wit-
nessed the action.

The color came back to the pale 1i : the on-
ate kisses had accomplished their ob act; T 01; was

reviving.

The l raised her fearless eyes—there was too
much re in her soul for tears—30 y to heaven.
Her eyes rested on the palefaee o Bernice, ressed
against the glass. Bad not Bernice been in her
mght-dress, robed for rest, she too would have sprung
as eagerly as the other to the assistance of the alien

man.
With the nick instinct of woman, Bernice had
essed wha had taken place, when the red-gold
air of Jinnie had sw‘flpt screen-like, around the
face of Talbot. She co d hear eager kisses wooing
life into the cold lips, though they reached no other
ears. That little minute was an our of torture in
the soul of Bernice.
The eyes of the two is met.
A single glance; bu a glance of hatred met and

returned.

“She loves him too!"

Four unspoken words, through two brains
at the same moment; from that moment Bernice
Gwyne, the woman who seekskgud Jinnie, the girl
who runs the Eldorsdo saloon, ew that they were
bitter enemies. '

th a roar and a bowl, the three miners rushed

from the saloon with abottle of whisky to which the

Heathen ti(ghinee, Ah Ling, clung witht’he‘courage of
n. ,

“ Melican man no havoc—payee sllee sameel" he
screamed in remonstrance. '

When the three rough fellows had rushed into the
saloon and seized the first bottle that came handy

 

and reg-lured to depart with it the faithful “ Chinee"
had tled manfully with the thieves, as he sup-
posed the intruders to be, as they hadn't tendered
payment for the whisky or given any explanation.
All right, Heathen,‘ said J innie, taking the liquor.

There was a stran , unnatural tone in the girl’s
voice. A forcedc ness that seemed to tell of a.
raging fire within; something like the thin crust that
covers the volcano‘s flame.

The Chinaman retreated into the saloon again»
smilin blandly.

Jinn e ured the whi into the hollow of her
ligand an dashed it upon a head that lay on her
ee

The smell of thempotent spirits finished what the
kisses of the girl h begun. Str medicines, the
pure and dewy lips of the girl and go fiery incense
of the soul-destroying 1i uor.
Slowly Talbot opened is eyes and looked around
him With a wondering gaze.
“ Be a man, Dick," murmured Jinnie, re roachful-
ly, in his ear. “ You have fainted like a gE-l."
‘ You don't know the cause," he answered a shiv-
:3 siliaking his form as though icy fingers had touch-
in

“ Yes, I do!" Jinnie exclaimed. “I am not blind,
Dick; it is this woman—this stranger from the East.‘
gh'liheretwas just a little touch of reproach in the

‘s vo ce.

“ Come now, t on ygur pegs!“ cried the red-shirt-
ed miner, who eglaln bluster ain, thinkin from
Talbot’s suddeni ess that he an easy b be-
fore him. “ Stand up an' take our gruel like a
man. I kin hug a b’ar to death. kin. I‘m the ca-
vorting ggizzly rom Red Dog, who-oo-o i"

“ Sa , ick, lemme peel the hide 0!! t -taile(l
mulel ‘ cried Ginger Bill, who had risen to is feet
after being pushed over lbg J innie’s impetuous rush,
and stood quietly b , loo ng on.

“No, no, ’ replie Talbot, rising to his feet, his
strength having agigiarently all returned to him. “ I
ask no man to fig my battles. This fellow wants a
lesson‘ he shall have one. Jinnie, o in; this is no

lace for you;” but, even as he spo e, in a chiding
no, be pressed the brown band of the girl within
his own, softly.

The pressure brought the nick, tell-tale blood to
the h ‘ and f0. L ‘ of e girl; her eyes, too,
flashed with a 130m light.

Withouta wo she quitted his side andwent to-
ward the saloon.

A single lance she ave at the pale face that still
was against t ewindow- lass above. Upon
her eatures was a look of de ance, of triumph.
Barrios answered it with a scomful, contemptuous

ce.

Rivals for one man’s love were now those two

gitil'lls, who, but an hour before, had never seen each
0 er.

 

CHAPTER VI.
'rwo Lovns son on: nun-r.
A one silence reigned amo the re h crowd as
Talbot pod forward and con nted e giant.
The 00 between the two was great; not that
there was such a difference between them in size,
for, now that the miner had doffed his high-crowned
hat, and bared his arlns, he did not appear to be a
gfiat deal largerin frame than his 0 ponent—only
er. His arms were larger, but 1; e bulk came
fromlpounds of useless flesh, not from sinew and
musc e.
A pugilist would have looked with admiration upon
the easy and graceful. osture of Injun Dick, as he
carelesz threw into position and faced the

miner.

It was the old story over again; brute strength
against cultivated skill.

A desperate rush the miner made at his 0 nent.
Hisbrawn arms out the air as blow succeed blow,
but their ,orce was wasted upon  e
and gageful as a dancing-master, c either s kg)-
ped out of reach, or warded 03 the blows as e
rook throws aside the breaking wave.

Out of breath, the giant paused.

“ ttly; man you are ain’t ye? Why don’t you
stand st l and lemme hit our Yer wuss nor a per-
arie dog!" growled the miner, breathlessly.

Without roply , Talbot measured the distance,
and sent out his rig t arm as if intendin
the giant on the breast. umsily the

is arm to ward oi! the blow when nick as a
rash, rap! tap! the knuckles of Talbot left eir mark
on the face 0 his opponent; then Dick jum back
ai out of distance, and, u down hands
‘

0

nor drop-

fii Illi’ed at the bewildermen of the astonished ant.

‘ ow‘s that for high?" suggested one o the
clI“v'i"‘lii'is is as good as a circus i" roared Bill, in huge
deli ht. “Got any more fellows like you in Red

Do U

fiaddened by the taunt, as well as by the smart of
the three cuts in his face, which did not improve his
personal beaut at all, the miner made another des-
peraterushat albot. ,,

This time Injun Dick ado ted new tactics; he
gave wa for a foot or two, en dod ed under the
arm of e miner, and as he turned follow him,
tripped him with his foot. As he stumbled Talbot
caught him sideways. assed his arm over his neck,
pressed him against h hip, and, ii: him by
sheer strength from the ground, turned Over
in the air, us giving him, in wrestling‘parlance, a.
01%“ “ mi;th ’ ftmwdth terrible force to the

own came e an

ound. The shockI stunned him. Senseless he
ay, rostrate on the earth. '

‘ you’re kilt, o is your month an as so, bad
luck to yeesi” c ' e Irishman, Patsy, eeling

by the miner.

“He's o stunned.“ Talbot said, coolly unreli-
in the sleenvgs of his shirt. “He’ll be over, it in n.
mainte. He wanted a lesson, and now he‘s at it."

“ Guess he won’t want any more ” Bill sai , with a
chuckle in which the majority of the crowd joined.
The Spur-Cit tes naturally rejoiced to see their
mwusmen go the best of the stranger.

In a few minutes the miner recovered from the
eflects of the fall. He sat up and looked around

him.
“Gosh! in head feels bger’nabushelbasketi”
he eiacula , in a mystiil sort of way. “Rock-

on Id better travel- ou've at too many airm-
quakes round hyer figure." gl'hen he was slowly

' Overland Kit.

5

 

 

to his feet and agiproached Talbot, who stood with
folded arms. “ tranger, yer too much fur me. I
axes yer pardon fur cavortin‘ round hyer, an‘ I‘ll
jist glt up an' dust. You‘re Jist ligh nin' b‘iled
down, you are! The fust time you hit me, I
thought my head an‘ the hind leg of a mule had
been suddenly introduced. If you ever want a fel-
lgr fur to hold your hat in a free tight, jist call on
my I‘m your antelope!"

Then the miner picked up his hat, and started ofl
u ) the street. I

I'l‘lle crowd made a break for the door of the sa-
laon, but were confronted on the threshold by Jin-
ll 0.

“ No more Eldorado to-night, gentlemen," the rl
said, decidedly. “It‘s neurl one, and time or
everybody to be in bed. The ar‘s closed up."

"Jistone drink Jinnie, all round fur to celebrate
the salivatin’ of that galoot," leaded Bill. But the

rim was firm, and the crow slowl dispersed to

heir “ roosting-places," as Bill acetiously ob-
served.

The driver and a few others who roomed in the El-
dorado, entered the now darkened saloon. which was

'whted only by one small lam .

albot, who had put on his at and coat, remained
outside leanl against the doorpost, apparently
buried ln thong t.

J lnnie waited till all the idlers had dispersed; then
she a preached Talbot.

‘* hat is the matter with you, Dick?“ she asked,
in a low soothing voice; “you seem like a man in a
dream.‘

Talbot started, roused from his abstraction by the
girl‘s uestion.

“I— am not well,“ he said slowly. a painful re-
straint evident in his manner.

“ And it is all the fault of this strange woman; she
has bewitched you, Dick.“

“ Perhaps she has,” he re lied.

"I know she hasl" Jin e cried, earnestly. “It
was her presence that made you act so strangely in
the saloon. It was the sight of her face in the win-
dow above that made you the strong, resolute man,
faint likefa weak woman w on on looked on it. Why
should this person possess sue a strange influence
over you?" And as she asked the question, a sudden
and fearful suspicion shot across her mind. A tho ht
that made her clench her teeth in ony, and ca h
her breath as though life were abou to desert her.
But Talbot, his thoughts far away, his eyes fixed in a
vacant stare, afar off where the ark line of the pines
cut the mountain peaks, whitened by the moonbeams

did not notice the ltation of the girl. He did no
even hear the words hat she add to him.
" Dick 1“ she cried, impetuously, p him by the

coat-sleeve, “ will you answer a question?"

Talbot, recalled from dreamland b the pressure
of Jinnie's hand 11 n his arm. looks upon the rl
in astonishment. e saw the signs of agitation at
were so apparent in her face.

I “ Answer a question, Jinme? Of course I will,“ he
said.

“ N o matter what it is?" persisted the girl, with
feverish lips and burning ey:s. -'

“ Yes no matter what it ,“ Talbot replied.

::}im£ih di f" ' kn t speak in

an e, you ever ow me c any
other way?" he askedl re roachfully.

“ Forgive me, Dickl ‘ s e said, her heart throbbing
almost to bursting. and. with a deep h, she lai
her head upon his shoulder. The red-go d hair‘was
still flying freely in the breeze.

A moment Talbot looked into the little face that
nestled on his shoulder; the sweet witchery that
comes from the fair and gentle presence of a young
and love woman was softly stea over him.
Tender-1 e wound his arm around the ender waist
of the girl and‘kissed the low brown forehead.
Jinnie s nddered, and a deep sigh came from her
lips, when she felt the cold klss of Talbot upon her
temple. Dreamin she closed her eyes and nestled
still closer to the man b whose Side she stood.

“And now. Jinnie, w at is the question that you
wish me to answer?" he asked, soft .

“Have you ever seen this woman fore?” and the
eyes unclosed fixed themselves with an eager
gaze upon his face as she asked the question. ‘

Talbot's face grew rlfld as marble as the question
fell upon as earls; yet, l $1183.01}: oeager, search-
i 6 es 6 read no a .

nfill‘iha’t molars you ask suchya nestion?“ he said,
asifwishingtoevadeadireetrep .

“Dick. you are not answering me!" the lex-
claimed, re roachfnlly. “Who can it ms. tor to
you the m vs I have for asldngf You promised
me that you would answer. Will you keep that prom-
isel'

“ Yes," he replied, after a moment‘s hesitation,
and in that moment he axed into the face of the

l as though he expec to read something within

ere.

“You will answer?" she exclaimed. quickl .

“Yes; Ihave never seen this woman ore," he
said slow and firmly. . '

“Then s e is not your wife!" Jinnie cried, a touch
of gov in her voice. '

‘ My wife!" Talbot sal
what put such an idea as t t into your h

“I do not know,” Jinnie replied; “the thought
came to me. Yon are from the East, so is she. I
thought, perhaps. that she was your wife before
yon came here. and that she had now come after
'ou.“
“ our thought was wrong. Jinnie; I have never
been married.’ "

“And you don’t love this woman! the girl asked,
anxiously.

“ Why should I love a woman that I never saw be
fore?" . ,

A long breath of relief came from the girl s lips
at the reply; a terrible load had been taken off her

heart.

“ And now, Jinnie, good-night; I must be 01," he
co‘{l§ivl]1‘lled- ing tonight?"

ere are you go

“'l‘o Jim Blood’s room, down the street. Jim is
u in Austin, and I shall ,take possession of his
slfanty until he comes back. I‘ve got the key. 50,
ain he kissed the low

 

good-night, once more.”
forehead and then walk carelessly down the
street. jlnllie watched him until he entered a little
shanty, some hundred paces on; then she entered
the saloon.

in astonishmeelm?:: whyy

 

Hardly had the girl disap red when a dark
shadow. that had been concea ed behind one of the
houses 0 poslto, came from its hidlnfigme, and stole
caution down the treat to the s ty where Tal-
bot had said he would pass the night.

The sp crossed the street and ered inthrou h
the win ow of Injbun Dick‘s re rent. From t e
shanty came the fee is learns of a candle‘s ht.

When the light was ex inguished, the spy wh stled,
softly. Forth from the darkn ss came five other
fl res, who joined the first. 1‘ ey were all dressed
a ke, in long black gowns, and their heads were
covered with black hoods. '

CHAPTER VII.
,nrox Tamar‘s omvm. .

DICK entered the little shanty which only contain-
ed one room, lighted the candle, and then looked
around him. T e apartment contained a table. two
rude chairs, and three shoe-boxes with a blanket
spread over them—the boxes served as a bed.

Dick sat down on the rude couch and meditated.

“What demon was it that sent this woman here?"
he muttered, a cloud on his handsome face. “I'm
in for a run of ill-luck, I suppose, and the best—the
only way to avoid it, is to run from it. That is the
only thing. Bright and early in the mornin I’ll bid
Spur City good- y for some little time. ‘11 go to
some mining-camp higher u in the mountains; find
some place where she won‘t able to follow me. I
shall have to leave Jinnie, though. That’ too bad!
The girl loves me. I think that she‘d die for' my
sake, :and the other one—“ He did not finish the
sentence, but remained silent for a moment, s
blank] at the whitewashed well before him.

“If think of her longer I shall go mad l“ he mut-
tered, in afiny. “To-morrow the canyon and the

ines‘ shall do me from her ht. No more Spur
it for I‘nflun Dick while this l remains here. I
wish I co d forget her. I suppose that I sha‘n‘t
slee much to-night for thinking of her."

T on he rose and pnaced noiselessly up and down
the floor for a few In utes.

“ I must forget!" he murmured; “I wonder if Jim
left any s irits here?"

He won to one corner of the room and lifted up a
loose board; from. the cav‘it under it he drew a bot-
tle. He held it up to the t and examined'it.

“Good! there‘s some w lskylefti" he exclaimed,
in a tone of satisfaction. Then be filled a large tin
cup that stood on the table with the potent s il'lts.

‘ It‘s strange; at any other time I couldn‘t ear the
taste of a drop of this, but now I can drain it 011‘ like
water. It’s bad enough, too, to burn a hole through
a man’s throat. If it will only make me sleep and
to at, that‘s all I as c of it.". 1

on he drank’oif the fiery spirits at a sin lo
swallow. The strength of the isonous drau t
bro ht tears tohis eyes. Soon albotbegan to eel
the e ects of the dram in his brain.

“It’s going to work!" he muttered' “ the dose is
strong and bad eno h to affect me. I n to have
an idea that m h was cast-iron to-nig t. I shall
sleep; I feel s eepy already. That cursed stuif is
makin my brain reel like a top."

And is was no wonder, for he had swallowsd a good
half- int at one draught.

Wi h an unsteady step, Dick blow 'ont the candle,
and, in the darkness groped his mg to the boxes
that were to serve him as a bed for e night.

Lying down upon the rude couch, he drew the
blanke over him and closed his 9 es.

The fumes of the whisky had Led his brain, and

 

strange, fantastic forms seemed tobedanci around
him in the darkness as

In the strange excitement that he had labored un-
der, he had never thought to fasten the door of the
shanty after him.

Finalg]. overcomeb the power of the liquor he
had sw owed, he f into a restless sleep—a sleep
in which the scenes of the ht came back to him
with a. terrible earnestness, ye “disordered and un-

certain.

Again he saw the ldon-brown hair and dark-blue
eyes of Earlier the vision of the “heartwa-
il‘“ 331?“th & l

e, e a an
saloon stood' her red-go d 5:; , you:
the wind and waved around her head like the ly
oil-elm eoflightthatcmwnedthelocksofthesalntsof
o I

Then around his bedside stole dark and lowering
forms, with stealt tread.

The golden-hill maid vanished in afl-ight. Tal-
bot would have stretched out his arms tohave de-
tained her, but some unknown power linked hls’wrista
together and he could not separate. em.
tempted to cry out, but a. damp

tel-ed to the brain. A thou-
sand stars twinkled before his e es; his head whirl-
ed round and round like a sign in wheel, then came
a sudden explosion—an explosion without noise, but
producing endless showers of fiery sparks, and than
—-all was still.
“ this death l‘} Talbot questionedto himself. His
“fidiiimmifia an m temp!

e e a coo ng u n s a
rough joltlng, too, as if e was lag oonveyedel'd a
wagon over an uneven road. He to 0 his

e es; he succeeded but darkness s was ore
m. The truth flashed upon his bewildered brain;
he was blindfolded. hands

to tear the ban

unknown power llel him down. ,
It did not take In un Dick long to guess what had
hap ned. Part 0 the frightful dream
Dar forms had stood around him. They had

his hands ether; stu
upon a age and pressed gaunt his
been placed in a and

host7 . Then he '13“
nowwasbelngcarrl —wherel' Thatriddle

not guess.

Suddenly the wagon halted. Powerful aims bore
Dick from the w on and placed him upon his feet.

Talbot guessed t at the end of this mysterious pro-
ceeding was at hand.

“ Le him see," said a stern voice. .

The bandage that had been placed over his eyes
was suddenly removed, and Talbot stared around him
in wonder. ’ '

his men surrounded him, all clad in long black

hands free

 

cloaks and wearing black masks, through which
shone gleaming 0 es. Each one of the masked men
-—except the one or than the rest, who seemed to
be the chief, and confronted Talbot—held in his hand
grsaix-shooter, cooked and leveled full at Injun Dick's

ast. .

A single lance told Talbot where he was. He
stood upon t le crest of one of the rid es that looked
down upon is ur Cl from the no -wcst. A mile
or so in the d stance e could see the waters of the
Reese river. rip ling silver in the moonlight. Between
him and the m camp was a little clump of pines;
at his back the mountain ridges rose to meet the sky,
and down upon the strange scene shone the fu ,

“Wild” in b all raiding r lny '
0 on can y s mas no 0 '
asked Talbot?scornfully. “ Do you‘ihlnk to righten
me b child's lay?"

“ 3 once p sonerl" cried the chief of the masked
men stern'ly.
“ firisoner?" demanded Talbot, not a whit afraid.

“ Yes, lyou are now standing before your judges,“
e masked man.
‘And who are on that dare to constitute your-
selves my judges? ‘ asked Talbot, defiantly.
“ The tool"
For a moment a nervous look shot over the-face of

Talbot. but in a second it was  v d ‘
e igllantes on t

“ You llel" he said. boldfivf.
come in secret disguise. you are anything, you

are a band of masked assassins!"

“ Bold words will avail eyou but little. Listen to
the charge," said the i , . “ You are Dick
Talibgt commonly called Injun D ck, gambler, cheat

an .

“You llel" cried Talbot, fiercely; “if I had In
you would not dare to say such wo
to my teeth. I play cards, true; few men in Spur
City, or for: gazepltlo the Pacific, that dod not. I
mucosa in yasquare ameanwro
no man out of his gold-dust. Ifgl win, it is g
cause Heaven has given me brains; perha
use them as I o ht to, but, that's my air.
it”? “till?” bui1§‘°‘m°“i°”‘i‘1€d£‘a“ w’l‘here “"

or a , 's a a .
don’t stand a man on this earth today that can
truthful] say that I ever picked asgarrel with
him. I ve used the strength and ii that na-
ture has mu me to l“protect myself, and I’ve taken
the part, . of a tie man at a big one.
If‘ycu call this acting the b , t on I am one.“

Dick Talbot, look down a our feet," said the
chief in the same cold, calm vo cc as before.

Talbot obeyed the command.

“ What do {fin see there?"

“I see a lole in the ground that looks as if it
was dug for a grave." ' 4 ’

:: 1Y6: have guessed right; it is your grave. "

e

“ Yes, unless you swear to leave this valley before
the sun sets to-morrow."

“See here!” cried Dick, boldly; “perhaps I've
trod on the toes of some of you gents. You want
reven . I’ll give you a fair shake for it; that is,
if you ve got any manhood about you. Unbind my
hands; give me a revolver and fift foot start. I’ll

stand my ground and fight the who e six of you."
“Judges do not fight with prisoners," storaly re-
plied the chief.

“No, nor cowardly hounds like you, when on

meet a-man who doesn‘t value his - life more an
ill)“btr;ss button in a good fight,“rcturned Talbot,

“will you leave Spur Ci l"

“ Never, until I’m out of it feet first, are
regular tion of the citizens tell me that my
presence is unwelcome. Then I‘ll go. But the

wer of men who are afraid to show their faces I

augh at. I was going to leave the ranch to-mor-
row, anyway; bu now, since on come to threats,
miganplayatthatgame. megoifyou

CHAPTEBVIH.
Wm .‘mmmm'm‘ “mm; m
bo‘i‘;§i:)c:dthcmaskedme‘i?fl “ to '. -
defyour wel- refuse
«Nu. fir c' an“. "m... “.3.
'I e o.
. your lifghg at oully’mcrcyflzuptwc
t. This isbutawaning.
toleavefipurctg. Attho
endof ttime“d willsurelyoomo you’defy‘

Talbotfelt the ol motto .
he the un- g “1:: northewagondcccend
against his' nostrils.

we
Henson leaving
“mo: spar; a felt 't'itmfimm‘ “ urn..." °”“i"°'
and hen—lollwca blank. w w “L

When Talbot‘s sensescame back to him and he
0 ed his 0 es the morn sun was in
h the lftfle’ window of m
e ycnhisbackonthemde. .wuho
had one, himself down to sleep the hi ht ore.
With a vacant look, 'l‘albo around him.
For a moment he believed all the events of the night:
had taken p in~dreunland,but an be turned
it“ mud; Wt? Mode tidbit; dhchfi'a‘?
came r a
bezean totgmmsltting  Th
. ow rose a
:hmbung'pflfeelinn 3 about his head; a’ alert 36qu
"It’s no drehml"he muttered' “they dosed me
well last night. Get up and 6t. e ?‘ Not if I know

myseifl?’ and he compresse his li s firm] as he
spoke. “This is gorng to be an awlfni run 5f luck;

I

6

Beadle’s_ Dime Library.

 

 

just as I expected. I had made up my mind to ‘le-
vant,’ and now I‘m forced to stay. Bad cards ruin
the best player; what can a man do against luck?
They sha’n‘ frighten me out of the ranch, though.
There‘s some deep game under all this."

For a few minutes Talbot sat motionless, his eyes
fixed u n the uncl his mind busy in thought.

“V' lantesl’ he exc med, suddenly; “not much.
Those fellows last night were more like Overland
Kit’s hand than like the members of a Vigilance
committee. Who is there in Spur Cit that would
profit by my absence? That’s the ques ion. Let me
discover that, and then I can discover who those
fellows were last ni ht. The la ed their ame
right up to the ban e. I di n t k that here
was aman living that could catch me napping but
it’s been done. The voice of the chief seemed fa-
miliar to me. I'll ust look round quietly to-day and
see if I can’t spot in."

Talbot looked at his watch.

“ Five o‘clock," he said; " I’ll take a little walk up
the valle . Just to clear my head." He rose tO'hIS
feet. “I 's in the cards but I must sta in 8 ur
City—that I must meet this woman whom ough to

rom

fl .

Jhick left the shanty and strolled leisurely 113) the
valley. His eyes were fixed upon the groun , his
face overcast with thought. ,

Talbot was not the only early riser, for, as he
walked up the river bank, a young man a parently
about his own age, clad in the roughgar o aminsr,
came along down.

He was good-looking young fellow, though rather
thin-visag , with grayish eyes and curling brown

“Good-mornl " said the stranger, halting when
he came u to Film? his voice betrayed the gentle-
man; “di you see e coach from Austin come
in last night?"

“Yes,” replied Talbot. The questioner was un-
known‘to .

“ Was there a lady on board?”

“Yes,” ' replied Talbot; he was rather as-
tonished at t e question.

“A you , pret girl and an elderly, white-haired
gentleman saidt e stranger. '

“ Yes; they‘re stogping at the Eldorado."

“ Thank you," an the stranger gassed on.

Here was more food for thong t for Injun Dick.
What had this you man to do with the “heart-
woman," and how di he know that she was coming
to Spur City?

“The stranger proceeded at once to the Eldo-

o. .

The Heathen Chinee was just proceeding to clean
out the place when the young man arrived at the
saloon.

Of him the young man proceeded to in uire if the
old gentleman who had come in the coac last night
had arisen yet. '

But just as the stranger was endeavoring to make

the faithful Ah Ling understand what he wanted,
the old lawyer entered the saloon.
e recognition between the two was extremely
and no wonder, for they were father and
soul e young man was James Rennet, who, edu~
acted for a lawyer by his father, had hung out his
shingle in Fr'isco, as the metrolpolis of the golden
State is generally termed in the iar Westefiot into a
little scrape there, and had “ absquatulat “ to the
mining region to avoid unpleasant con uenees.

“Bless my soul, Jamesl You do ook rou h
enoughl” exclaimed the old lawyer surveying t e
hronzed face and whiskered chin of his son n as
tonishment.

“ Sluice mining don‘t improve a man‘s looks," the
son repli . ,

“Bless mel ou're as brown as an Indian."

“ Sun and d and hard work."

“ You look like a bushwhacker."

“Kid loves and ‘b’iled’ shirts don’t do for this
region; t era’s only one manin this camp that wears
aw te Ijust met himasIcameupthe
street; I knew him by his shirt, tho h I never hap-
Eleneg to meet him before-Dick albot, the gam-

er

“But who washes his shirts if nobody else wears
them?" asked the old lawyer, glancing down at his
own soiled shirt-boson as e spoke. . .

“The Heathen Chinee here,” the son answered'
“ he came here a ‘ nally as a washerwoman, but
the poor devil near starved for want of oulmm.
Youses, dad ammhereputsonalanneishirtand
wears it until it wears out. ’ .

“ A nice region this is fora ntlemanto come to,"
old Rennet said, in disgust. But come, walk down
the street with me' breakfast will not be ready for
some time, the tell me, and I have something im-
portant to say you."

“All ht. ’

The tale; procee'dg: down the agate upgwe

Spur was begun mean.
of course, he inhabitan office in nlng camp.

“You received my letter telling you of my inten-
tion to visitthisplace with Miss To?"

“Yes,” the son rep “on a wil goose chase af-
ter Patrick Gwyne.’

“ Exactly' young girls take queer notions in their
heads sometimes.’

“Well, this is qgioer eno h. Why, the chances
fil‘eflfllltOOD-O th'a this Pa ck Gwyneis deadend

ll 0 ago. I

“By the. y, 'James," said the father, suddenly,
" you wrote me that ou were 0 to leave San
1F,.ancis<:10, but you mgnggrte: his!“ a real:eh $9 for so
(loin . su poso 80 a

“ t‘s agout the size of it, deal??? replied the
son, coolly. “But don‘t ask an nestions; it isn't
much of a scrape, anyway, only gidn‘t care about
coming East from Frisco In a pine comn, so 1 went
off between two days, as the saying is. I couldn’t
make my salt as a la er, anyway; the professions
are overdone on the acids coast: they Want red-
nliirted workingmen out here, not black-coated gen-
tlemen.” . .

“ That‘s the casein all new countries; . but now to
business. You remember Bernice Gwyne, of.
course?" . 7

“ Well, Iyes; I suppose I should know herifnl should
see her; was never intimate with her, dad, the son

re lied.

B She is the heiress of her uncle‘s wealth as well as
of that left by her own father; but she is determined
never to touch one single penny of her uncle’s prop-

CON

 

erty until she discovers whether his son, her cousin,
Patrick Gwyne. is living or dead."

“So you wrote me.”

I“ Of course it‘s only the whim of a foolish oung

1‘]. Now, I’ve been thinking over a little so eme.

far we haven‘t been able to discover the slightest
trace of this Patrick Giflyne, except that when our
coach. was stopped by t s road-agent, Overland Kit,
last night, he put his head in at the window of the
coach, a parently recognized Bernice, and pro-
nounced er name. The alight occurred tome at
once that he might be Patrick Gwyne.”

“But then, again, it mi ht be some one else who
had known her in New ork," James suggested;
“it‘s astonishi how men from the East 0 to the
bad here some imes. Besides, this Over (1 Kit,
from what I have heard of him, don't answer to Pa-
trick Gwyne at all. Gwyne, as I remember him ten
years ago, was a slight-built fellow with brown hair,
good deal such a sort of man as this gambler Dick

albot, while the road-agent is a swarthy fellow,
with et black hair and beard—a regular desrtigrado.‘

“ es, that's true," the old lawyer said, ought-
fully, “but now for my scheme.“

CHAPTER E.
a memo ma names.
Tim old lawyer looked around him , as if
to b that no one was within e ot.

assure

The son looked at the father in astonishment; he

cei‘hlgnb‘gimagine what the scheme of the old lawyer
co .

“Of course you are aware that this girl, Bernice
ngie, is worth a great deal of money?

“ es," the son replied.

“ I take it for granted, either that Patrick Gwyne
is dead, or else gone to the bad so utterly that he
will never dare to return to New York.”

“ That is ve probable."

“Now, Bern ce has a very stronsiwill of her own'
she will never be satisfied until e discovers what
has become of Patrick Gwyne.”

“ That is very probable, also " James said, thought
fully. “ When a woman of or style once ts an
ideal: into her head, it’s deuced hard work to ge it out

n

“Exactly; I do not suppose that any reaso
could induce Bernice to return to New York, uni
she had fully satisfied her mind in aid to Patrick.
Now, asit is ve improbable that e will succeed
in learning iugflabout him, and as I have had
about eno h of t s de htfiul, country, I have
formed a p to induce ernice to e up her
wild-goose chase, and return conten to New

“What is the plain". '

“To have you stumble upon us, just by chance,
aou know, and tell the story of the death of Patrick

wyne up in some wild mining region. Say he was
attacked and killed by Indians, or eaten up by a

grizzl bear.
“That’s agood idea.”
“Yes; asyou are a li witness thatheisdead,
ofcourse she will be sa ed andwill thenreturn
ssession of her pi

 

to New York and take p0 'operty."
“Well, now, dad, that‘s a cute idea. of yours,“
James said, in admiration.

“ It’s not bad; but I have another one still better,"
the old lawyer said, complacently.

. “In regard to Bernice?

“ Yes; she is a great heiress; a fine catch for some
oung man and had an idea, James, that it would
a good t for you to lay siege to her. You
haven’t been very successful so far, but if you could
succeed in winning her, it would be a master-stroke."
“That’s a capital idea, dadl” the son, exclauned,

in admiration.
“ Prett fair, pretty fair,” the old lawyer chuckled,

rubbing hands to ther softly.

“There's 0 two that might upset the cal-
culation. In t first the filoung w migh
nottake a fancyto me; in e seoo place,
neither Miss Gwyne nor myse profess the Mormon
faith " the son said, coolly.

“What the deuce has that to do with it?" asked
old Rennet, in astonishment.

111%

“ml?” dad, you know, is ugly—”

“ nd as I’ve got one wife already, I think that it
willhga'dvisabletoget rid of her before I take a
secon .
“ You don't mean to say that you're married?" ex-
claimed the father, in astonishment.
“Well, I am,“ James replied, coo . “You see,
I'had an office over a little mil ner-sho ; the
young female that ran ta? institution was euoed
re .andI ll in love th and her. I
ho htt shewssananflll;aftermarriage1
the reverse. y, dad, I was really
t into the little unpleasanmess that
m e 616v 1 n n

“ You might get a dive "’ sted the father.

I ;‘nll'% Veléyalndlllith ob edmttEByou or the tides, but if

orce or urpose 0 manyan

againIt thatlwouldra erbeexcused. Six

weeks gave me one h of married life to suffice me

Ear as many years, not for a lifetime," replied
ames

“ How very unfortunate l" exclaimed the old law-

yer. “Just thi James, if on had won the heir-
ess, youfmd I co have the handling of all her
mono .

“ tyis rather unfortunate," the son remarked,
tho ,htfully. . ,

us. m..." , u
“ By‘Jove, dad l" exclaimed James, suddenly, I've

“ Yes. . .

“ To secure the mono l”

Ygu see, father, if I can‘t mar-
ry the heiress, somebody else can."

“ Well, f course I know the ’_‘

" But if the man that mames her is our man,
bound to act according to our instructions, why the
result will be just the same as if I Bernice.

“ That‘s v true,” replied the old awyer; “ but
the chief pain is to find such a man."

“ He is already found; a chum of .mine up in
gopher Gully; a regular man of wax; Will do just as

sa .

“ Yes, but is he the sort of man to win the love of
a young and high~spirlted ' 1 like Bernice l"
‘You bet!" as we say in Fr'isco. He’s a good-

 

looking fellow; comes of a good family East, but he‘s
one of those weak, wavering sort of men—easily in-
fluenced. He’s a gentleman, though."

«3 Emwih‘iiifimfi‘” i u. can,

aius en - ut u n e we‘ve short-

ened his name down into}: Gay.‘ "

:2 You think that he will agree to aid us i"
" Not a doubt of it," the son replied, confidently.

He 1] never make his fortune as a miner; he‘s one
of tie;  lkind."

‘ e , re y on you entire] in the affair. The
first thing is to convince Berniceythat Patrick Gwyni»

is e .

f‘ I‘ll do that. I‘ll swear that I saw him go under
With mar own eyes, and afterward helped to bur
him. f course, after we et him under groun
that settles him, ’ James sai , with 9. Ian h.

“I can‘t help thinking of this Overlde they
call him,” the old lawyer said, suddenly. “ e very
moment he saw Bernice‘s face, be pronounced her
name. Just then the soldiers came up, and he had
to run for it."

“Well, even if he is Patrick Gwyne, he‘ll never
dare to declare himself to Bernice' and of course
she would turn in horror from such an outlaw. I
don’t believe that he is Gwyne though. There‘s a
rumor among the miners that the road-agent is one
of the Government officials; there’s no telling any
thin about it; it’s onl talk, but it may be true."

" e‘s a reckless fe ow, whoever he is," observed
the old lawyer. “But we had better turn back,"
and he halted as he spoke. '

The two had proceeded some distance beyond the
borders of the town. A heavy growth of ines
skirted the rude road. Father and son hadlittle
idea that, concealed by the trees and rocks, a spy
had followed in their path, eagerly trying to over-
hear their conversation."

The two turned and commenced to retrace their
steps still conversing together and arranging the
details of their scheme.

The s y did not attempt to follow them. He wait-
ed hid hind the pines, until an angle in the road
311d them from his eyes. Then he stepped out into

e road.
A single glance at the jet-black hair and heard, the
resolute face, and one could have told that it was
Overland Kit, the road-agent, who had played the
spy upon the lotters.

‘ So on th Overland Kit is Patrick Gwyne. do
ygn?" e murmured, looking in the direction of the

wn. “And you are going to rob the heiress, Ber-
nice, of some of her wealth? Her money must pass
thro h your hands; some of it will stick in the pos-
sa e, ’m afraid. I must be oi! for the mountains.
I‘ll: take measures to have a finger in this pie my-
se .

_With a tread as stealthy and as noiseless as an In-
dian wamor tracking his prey, the road-agent pass-
ed t ugh a clum of pines. A hundred paces on-
ward e came to w ere the rock rose upward like a

wall.

Skirting the base of the rock, Kit proceeded
northward.
' He went on like one well accustomed to the way.
In a thousand yards or so he came to where a
gully broke the wall of the rock. It was the path
of a water-course. At some remote period a stream
had poured down into the Reese, but now the
rocks only felt the kiss of the water in the spring-
time when the snow melted on the mountain peaks.

The road-agent turned into the Silly. A group
of pines growm at the mouth of e canyon con-
cealed it from v ew.

Just around the corner of the rock, at the en;
trance, stood a horse. The four “white
and the broad blaze in the forehead told that it
was the famous steed of the road- nt, reputed
to be the fastest horse that had ever .p anted a hoof
in the Reese river valley.

The horse whinnied with delight when she beheld

her master approach.

“So-ho, 01 girl!" he muttered, patting the arch-
ing neck of the mere; “are you glad 0 see me.
beau ? Well, there's .two in his world that care a
little or me. outcast and villain as I am.”

There was an expression of sadness in the deep
voice of‘the ougldaw. m m m gm," he

on ve sav in e m a e 0
continued. “I woniyier if Jifnye Jones 'planned that
attack last night? I‘m afral that the Judge and I
will have to come to a settlement before long. I! I
know sharing of human nature he's a ter Vu-
lain, by , than I am. How lucky that lsoverheal'd
the conversation between this recious pair.
in the dark unto the reason 0 Bernice‘s visit here.
I was never more astonished in life than when I
saw her in the coach last night. r girl, she’s on
a fruitless questl" ,

t, with a bound vaulted into the saddle.
the intelligent mare picked her w dew:
ug

the rough of the water-course, passed

the little up of ines, gained the road, and then,
obletdfient her er’s hand, galloped 01! to the
no w

An hour‘s ride andKit turned to the left unden-
tered a dark can on, the pines on the brink of which

almost shut out e sun ht.
The canyon was the en tothe mountain re-
treat of the road-agents. .
CHAPTER 1:.
1' ' m soar-some. ' ‘
Tan branches of the clouded in the canyon;
from their precarious ootholds far up on the chi!-
wildl the ever-constant breeze

tops the surged in
that'swegt down alongythe valielfi.

On a level with a rude path w ch wound through
the canyon, was a dark, ugly cavity in the side of
the cliif, some six feet high three wide. It wasas
if by some suddenand terrib e convulsion of nature,
'the massive rock had been forced open.

one, pausing and looking with curiosity into the
dark cavi , would have seen that the opening only
extended u some ten feet, yet this dark cavity, ap-
parently barred by massive rocks beyond, was the
e trance to the cave which served Overland Kit and

band of road-a ents for a head-quarters.

The cave itse was some twenty feet square.
Through a hole in the roof, as big round as a barrel,
came a stream of light which dimly illuminated the
cavern.

_ Three rude couches of fragrant pine branches,

1

ovvr which were sproml folded blankets, and zi, i‘ow
cooking utensils, comprised the furniture of the
robbers’ retreat.

In one corner stood two homes. The road-agents
and their steeds shared the same apartment.

Extended on the fragrant couches in two brawny
men. Their rough appearance, t e revolvers
strap ed to their waists. and their general look told
that t iey were members of Overland Kit‘s notorious

and.
“ ’Bout time for the cap‘n, isn‘t it?" asked the tall-
or of the bandits, who answered to the name of Joe

Rain.

“Yes,” replied the other, who was called Jimmy
Mullen. .

“We had a prett narrow squeeze last night; the
bluev~coats came w thin an ace of gathering us in. I
thought that the captain was done for sure.“

“ There‘s an old saying you know. about the man
that‘s born to be hang -—“ replied Jimmy, signifi-

cantl .
“gs, exactly; that applies to us, too, it strikes
me '

“We‘reall in the same boat. We’ll have to keep
our eyes skinned now, for the hull country will be
arter us. I s'pose tho cap’n has gone to see what
new (lodge is up.“

“Yes; I don t think though, that all the soldiers
between here and the Missouri river will be able to
hunt us out of this hole.“

“Your head‘s level tharl“ exclaimed Jimmy.
“This is the snuggest hiding-place in all the Reese
river valley."

“ The cap‘n tiliskivered it hunting uricr a b’ar, did-
n’t he?" Joe as ‘ed. .

“ Yes; he wounded the critter in the canyon an‘ be
run in hyer; the cap‘n‘s blood were u an‘ he fol-
lercd him in. Not being able to find i: e critter in
the cleft of the rock, be, naturally, came to the con-
clusion that Mr. B'ar had a hole inside somewhar,
which he bed are t into. He had some matches in
his pocket, so he is: struck a light and proceeded to
examine. Sure enough he found the hole which
leads in hyer. ‘Twa’n t half as big then as it is now,
for when the cap‘n selected this for a head-quarters,
he saw at once that he would have to have some
place to keep the bosses, in case the soldiers were
clus’ at our heels an time when we run into the
canyon. So he jist se to work with a pick and made
the hole big eno h to 'et a horse through. Why, it
would puzzle Old ick imself to smell us out now.
The hosses’ hoofs don‘t leave any mark on the loose
stones in the can on, an’ one would as soon beheve
that the animals flown right u out of the can-
you (its, to look for them inside of e cleft rock be-

on .

“ They hain't hunted us much yet and it ’poars to
me that now they will go for us all they know how,"
Joe said, tho htfully. .

"Shouldn’t e surprised," re lied the other; “I
think it is about time to quit. e‘ve made enough
already ' enough to make us all gentlemen, East; we
kin live like flg iting-cocks.

“There‘s a big reward offered for the cap‘_n,” Joe
observed with a peculiar expression in his vows, and
he cast a covert glance at Jimmy from under his

bushvvéleyebrows.
“‘ arehawk there, pardi” exclaimed the other
guessing at Joe’s meaning at once. “Overland Kit

is like a weasel; he’ll never be taken asleep, and the
chances are ten to one that if he could be capti-
vated, he’d get out of it store they tightened the rope
around his neck. It would take a domed sight more
money than is oifered for his hide now, to make me
risk my precious carcass in attempting to take him.
He'svahist chain-lightning with his we‘ ns.‘

“ do the cap’n, anyway?’ ask Joe, suddenly;

“There. pard. you’ve got me; I‘ll never tell you,’
replied Jimmy, with a dubious shake of the head.

‘ Hain’t that a wig he’s got on; and a false beard,
too i" r ~

“ We the don‘t look ve natural; on don’t
often slilge 8. inn with jet-blag hairandhlue eyes,
you know. ‘ 1’

“ What do on suppose he wears em for?

“To keep olks from knowing him, of course; it’s
a cute dodge. I‘ve a sort of an idea that our cap'n

amounts to someth , else he wouldn’tbe so anxious
a keep himself dlsg ed," Jimmy said with'aknow-
air.
5 He’s smart enough to be somebody, anyway?"

“Tis so, old  you never laid a truer
rdl“ exclaim ..
w9‘ mWed Joe, suddenly, rising to a sitting

stars as he he.
p0“ What is it malted Jimmy, also rising, and laying
his hand upon the butt of a revolver.

“The sound of a boss‘s hoofs, coming up the can-
yoni" replied the other.

:llhtemutclwffltll? flag.qu out clear upon the

soun o a

rocky way of the canyon, cou d distinct] heard.

Nearer and nearer came the sounds. an at last
giverland Kit, leading hishorse by the , an

e cave.

“Comsatlast, ca ’ni“ JoesddasKit placed his
horse by the side 0 the other two at the end of the

cave.

“ Yes.” the leader of the road-agents replied, seat-
ing himself on the erupt couch o pines.

~‘ What’s the news 1" co .

-‘ Bad- in a few da 3 the whole country from here
to Austin willh be 1 ter usthlllldge Jones has been
stirrin u t o m ners, an e express com
has 95:; 6 United States troops upon our Kind:
They re going to hunt us down, boys, as if we were
wolves.”

“ What’s to be done?” exclaimed Jimmy. .

“Emogsere newt, laconlcally.

“ van ” oe .

“That‘s our ame; there’s no use blinkin at the
truth. They wng make this section altoge or too
hot to hold us. Sooner or later they ll track us bereti
the game 18 u 3 Judge Lynch will take a hand inan
and. then we s i be strung up to some tall pines by
way of ornamenting the landscape."

‘ Well, we haven done badly considering thpt we
ven't collected toll in these parts very long, said

mmy with a grin. .

“We ve enough, b0 , to make us all comfort-
able. We can return 0 civilized life; try and be
honest men again, although I don't know asit’s' os-
sible fora man to prosper on ill-gotten gains, Kit
said, quietly.

 

OveI'laa11d 

“ Well, I‘m sorry for it," Joe said, reflective] .
“ Weglve made some money, and with mighty htt c
trou e.“

“ Yes, and our gold is not stained with blood; we
have gone for the ex ress company and the rich men
alone, and they‘re ab 6 to slam the loss. Now we’ll
divide what gold-dust we have here, shake han s and
say good-by. If we should ever meet again, it is
perhaps better that we three should be as strangers

0 one other,” Kit said.

“ Well, I‘m agreeable " Joe remarked.

" So am ll“ exclaim Jiminy' “for my part I’m
going to get out of this art of t e country as soon
as possib e. I shall put or the East. I’ve got money
enough to make me comfortable for the rest of m
days“, and I think I've had all the rough work that
wan .’

“ You are acting wisely; and now I have a request
to make " Kit sai .

“ T1nit it out!“ Joe exclaimed.

“ 6 secret of this cave I wish reserved. I ask
of you two to kc; it locked.wit in your breasts.
Do not speak of it 0 any one. There may come a
time when this place will again afford me shelter-
no man can tell what will hap en, you know. Will
you romise to keep the score l"

“ ou kin depend upon me, cap‘nl" exclaimed

Joe.

“ And on me, tool" chimed in the other.

“ Good; that is all I ask. If you‘ll take my advice,
boys, you won’t go anywhere near Austin, and swap
your horses off as soon as possible. Our animals are

etter known than we are ourselves. I don‘t know
but what it would pay us to kill them outright and
leave them in the canyon for the wolves.“

“ Perhaps it would be the best thing to do." Joe
said, thoughtfully. “A man’s neck is worth a heap

ht more than a boss."

“ Well, act (your own pleasure," Kit observed.
“Now for the ivision.“

Then from under a huge stone, which concealed a
cavity in the rocky floor of the cave, the leader of the
road-a ents drew some canvas bags filled with gold-
dust. in his pocket he took a pair of small scales
and weighed the dust into three 18.1 portions.

1
This done he ut each rtion up in fltfirand hand-
1old onelfapiece Joe on Jimmy. The a he kept
imse .

“That’s settled, and now, partners, good—by; take

my advice and don't let the grass grow under your
eet.

The three led their horses out of the cave and
through the cleft rock into the can on.

A moment they wru each other 3 hands, and then
they parted Joe and J y going north through the
canyon, while Kit went sou h toward the vaneyrood.

CHAPTER x1.
“Nina‘s HACKER. ‘

J U'DGE J owns sat in the express office checking of!
the few articles of freight that had come by the
coach on the previous night. Ginger Bill, the driver,
was examining and calling out the directions of the
various packages.

“Jinnie Johnson, one box; Austin! Gue's that’s
a new dress or some sich plunder,” Bill remarked, as
he held the Jpackage in hand.

“ Jinnie ohnson, one box- Austin,” repeated the
J udie, as he checked the article of on “Jetway-bill.

:: nd‘that‘s all." I ‘

“Co-root! t ht coach last ht Ju -
liiioks as if Srgujgrhétg‘was bu‘sted on’tuhg diist $3:

on." .
“Dull time of ear, Bill,“ the Ju said e .
“That‘s so Ju 6; things ain’t ggethey'g‘sgdtg)
was. Wh l've seen the time, ri ht hyer, when
naryanig went by without the bégsst kind ofa
1' fight. I kin remember when they used to sw
out ’bout a bushel of eyes every morning in the -
dorado. that hailingot uged out the ht afom."

“Don‘t you t nk t it is better or “IS-gut City
that those times have passed away?" ed the

J .
u on‘t ‘xaotg'knowf’ replied Bill,
as!"

 

u a“,
tlvely; ' kinder made
of fun, them times, 150::

“ We‘re getting 0 er and more civilised.“

“That‘s so, J e; I ’spect we‘ll build a church
gingham a p or, hyer, flora another year goes

lee“): err-g; .. . a... 1......

y 0“ I 66 e x or 0‘

Eight u' to the sidomdo; r11 take it along with me,
d Bali: abru ,bolancing the box onhisln‘oad

as e e.
“Well—IEere‘s some freight due on i you
know " the Judge repliedcvidentlynot plough with

r. -
that'sall ‘5 I kin collect it; it‘s all
right- ’ be respo lel’

‘ of,course; but it is necessary that she
should the recei t for it." There was a strange
look on. e Judge’s as he spoke.

“I kin take the book right up along with me," Bill

replied, .

I can‘t spare it at man " the Ju laid
(pluckly. “ But, Bill, youpcan itch Miss Jin‘fiieo that
t 6 box is down here and she can come‘down for it,
diphthe race! 1:, and then I'll send it nag"

9 driver ooked at the Judge in as ishment.
“ Say what’s up Judge? Never knew you to act
so c afore. Want to see the little gal, eh! got
something for to shy to her "
1“ Well, yes; per ops I have," the Judge said,
s ow . . ,
“ Slposo I‘d better nOt come back with Jinnie?”

“It might be as well to let her come alone."

“ Allco-rect; awink’sasgoodosanod to a blind
horse,” sai , aciously'. “I’m on. 88. ,
Judge, ou ain‘t a~shi 11‘ up to the that runs t e
o are you? ’cos I’m goin‘ or her if
and you don't stand a ghost 0 a show normalized
inc:

“ ‘ For I looked in the glass an’ found it so.

' The handsomest nig in the country, oh,’ "

Then Bill took his departure.

“I wonder what on airth the old cuss wants with
Jinnie?" Bill muttered as he walked up the street
toward the hotel. “i cotched him the other day

rodeo,
eiy, yon know; hoop

i

 

.

when he was caiin' his hash up to the saloon, a-lonk«
in‘ at the gal with a iecooliar look on that grave-
ard face of his‘n. y liookeyl Jinnie‘s struck a
lead,‘ if she‘s got the Judge onto a string. ‘Pay
dirfi,’ by thunder! Guess the old cuss will ‘ pan out '
we :

“ ‘Oh rett Jemima, don‘t so no and we will
’ inaniod be.‘ y l

“ I don‘t beheve though. that Jinnie will cotton to,
that old cuss, noliow you can fix itJ' }
B the time that Bill had come to this conclusion
be ad arrived at the saloon. Entering it he found

Jinnie busy as a bee, as usual. -

“Box for on down at the express ofllce," Bill
said in his a rupt way.

“ Why didn’t you bring it up?“ Jinnie asked.

“The old cuss, Judge Jones objected; said you
had better come down and see a out it ourself. He
wants to see you ‘bout somethiiég. v, Jinnie, I
reckon you‘ve struck the old cuss or all he‘s worth:

“ ‘Den I was gone; clean gonel' "

“Nonsense! Bill, you‘re alwa s ioki : but does
theJud mall wanttoseeme ‘s on ed.

“Thu 3 hisp atform and no beefstoakl But, soy,
J innie, don‘t you throw yourself away on on old cuss
like the Judge, when Ginger Bill is around:

“ ‘.For you’d make me just as happy as abig suns
flower 1‘ " '

" I’ll go and see what he wants.“ '

So Jinnie caught up her straw but, which lay boo'
hind the bar, and left the saloon. -

With a light step she hastened down the street to-

ward th ex ress office.

An look was in n her face as she walked
onward. The words of be 100056 stage—driver had
put string thoughts into her head.

M d circumstances connected with J 11359
Jones s mariner toward her come into her mind. 9
remembered how, once or twice, when the Judge
was seated in the saloon eating his meals—tho Judge
took his meals at the Elder-ado and slept at the ex-

resso ehadcahthisoyesflxedu u
or with a peculiar express on shining in them. Bile
had not thought much of it attho time, but now, she
an toask erself if Bill had essed'tho truth.
ntering the express office, s e found the Judge
alone bus among his papers. ‘
“ Bill to d me that a box has come for me," Jinnie

said.

“Yes; there it is: charges, one dollar."

eJinnie handed over the amount and signed the re-
c .

,‘PI'll have it sent up to the hotel right away " the
Judge said a kind expression in his usually harsh

oloe. “sit J o. I want to talk to
you for a “flawhilo.” He brought achair as be

it b the girl‘s si e.
waited in silence. The Judge

brought another chair for himself and sat down,
facing Jinnie.

For a moment the Judge looked earnestly in the
fresh young face of the tgirl, a strange expression
upon his rave features; on he spoke:

"Miss innie, do you know that the life that ou
are leadi is a very strange one for a young gir ?"

“Yes,I owit,‘ Jinnie said quie .

“ You are constantly brought in contact with the
very worst class that frequents our town—rough,
uncouth minors-you cannot be happy leading such

I

life.

“I must liv somowa ' I havono one to
look out or 3%," fink repligd, earn . “I
know that the minors are. rough, but you to t,
Judge that Iwas brought up among them; by his
time I ought to be pretty well used to them and to

the r we. ."

e, what ever ut it into [your head to take
the Eldorado?" the Ju e asked, suddenly.
“ I don’t know; I suppose because itwas the only

t Icod
vimgandthulgro

<

0 here. I work hard, and I‘m doing
isn’t any one in Spur City that can
tru say sword , t me." The girl‘held
up‘her ’.  spoke. H , , -
“¥u; father died, I didn‘t have five dollars
Iwuallal hol losaalin ud-
Iat in 9 little on lug came
for father. for he had
ortome; Ifeltuifthpro
earth that cared nnythingfor
mind togo out um into the
where father Then
fltyo sesame. - no ’t sigma-:1
. tom ugh u
‘3‘- ’  theptruth
there 'I hhotbo sky in ma chem
over
uld'lgk arm-ma“? never was Wm”,

wo

J b ‘ than «laid at n t with

Mym'm‘y'hmn y' o my um:
“This friend that came to see-you adored you as-

E
2

’ s 1” the J anti '
W ‘ wage udge qu cued, a peculiar
18:?“ did; but wasn't what you callaregw

friend: Iliad never seen him but once before.
He  p the d tak
from me but lind- givon me another, afi $ng
«wily-“rum understand how that  "
“ tho Jud“. puzzled at the words. be'
It as true, but I would rather not speak any
mom , if you please," Jinnie replied. I,

“Just as‘yctfli pleasog but go on with your story: I.

am very mu .

“Then he told me that he intend to look out for
menutilIwas able‘totnkooare ofm .andhe
asked me what I would like to do. You vs seen the
gagging”, Judge. haven’t you, in a thunder

The Judge nodded assent. ~
“W .ustas uiokasthat thotho ht came
into meu'nlind so loin the mdomdo. W'ifen I .told

him i he looked glove, but. after thinking for a .

moment asked me'if Ithoughii I could run it. I
told him‘ I thought I could, and that settled the
matter. I took he hotel, and you know the rest,
J o, as well as I do.

“ es; I thinkI can guess who aided you!“

‘t‘ll don’t want you to, Judge i“ cried Jinnie, cam-
es y.

_._... ...... ._. ._...._._._A.____ -- -l -.-..._ ..

 

Beadle’s Dime Library.

 

 

CHAPTER XII.
when JONES'S QUESTION.

J noes Jom casts long and stead glance into the
face of the i. It was evident at he was not
pleased with er speech.

“ You do not wish me, then, to guess who your
friend is?" be said.

J innie replied b a single movement of the head.

“ Do Iyou know but I take a great interest in you,
my gir l" the J udge asked, a strange hesitation evi-
dent in his speech

“ I'm sure, I‘m very much obliged, Judge," Jinnie
said honestly.

“It pains me to see you leading the life that you
do; something tells me to extend a hand and 23y to
liftyyou from it. Are you willing to be aid by
me ‘

'For a moment Jinnie's gaze sought the floor. In
the eyes of the Judge the read the full meaning of
his words.

-“ You do not answer," he said, after waiting for a
mq'ilvem' h bliged t J d b I
‘ m verymuc o 0 you, u go, ut ‘m
tting along very well now " she re ied slow . “If
feshould need a friend, why I’ll rglmemberlywhat
you‘ve ustsaid."

The udge started to his feet and seed up and
down the room for a few moments, h‘l’s brow con-
tracted in thought. Suddenly he halted, facing the
girl, and oxtended his hands to her. ‘

"Give me our hands, Jinnie,“ he said, in a tone
that betrayed traces of deep agitation.

Astonished at the request, the girl placed her little
brown hands in the broad ms of the s wartman.

nick] , with'feverish , the rs of the
J u e c osed around the little hands. He raised
her from the chair to her feet and gazed:with an
earnest look, into her face.

” J innie, do you love any one i“ he guestioned.

For a moment the face of the girl ushed crimson
at the qgiestion. She strove to withdraw her hands
from h , but he held her fast as by a  of iron.

“You do not answer my question ‘ ecried, his
lips trembling with a strange excitement.

“ You have no right to ask it," J innie said, slowly,
avoiding the earnest gaze of the Judge.

“ Perhaps not—perhifips not i“ he exclaimed, slowly;
“ still}, Ifido ask it. W you reply?"

‘ o.

The answer of the girl was low but firm; no trace
of hesitation in her voice.

The brows of the Judge contracted at her words.

“Then, if there is a man in Spur City who loves
you —a man rich holding a good tion in the
world, esteemed in his fellows—if t are is such a
man, and he sho come to Ru and say: ‘I love

on; will you let me take you m the unwomaniy

To that you are leading and place you before the
world, the wife of a wealthy maul" what would be
your answer?"

it No,"

Firmly and promptly the answer came.

:‘ Eon will not change your mind!“

‘ o. ' -

For a sin is moment the Judge gazed into the
earnest facegof the girl‘ then he released her hands
and turned away; walking to the other side of the
room, he sat down in a chair, and lacing his elbow
Epog the table near him, half his face in his

an

Jinnie stood irresolute, not knowing whether to
soar sthay. The strange manner of the Judge sur-
prised er.

“1“30' don wish me to say anything more?" she ask-

 No; 133m have the box sent up," he replied, in a

n

st , unnatural to e. _

Wit a gunned look upon her face, Jinnie left the

recs o co.

o J remained for a few moments motion-
less, adsr looku nhismassiveface. Thenhe
rose to his feet and mash with a rapid step,
up and down the narrow limits 0 the room.

“She loves him!" he muttered, in an angry tone.
“ I read the truth in the crimson flush that read
over her face at my question. Shall he have er?"
There was an an menace in his voice ashe asked
the uestion. “ es, when the Reeserunsbackward
and he peaks of the Sierra melt like the snow that
lies upon them in the winter-time." com-
pressed his lips . and clenched his nerv-
ously, as though he old a fee in his  "His
hfe or minex eh?" A dreadful m the simple

uestion. ‘ It must come to that, sooner or later.
the Reese river valley isn't big one h to hold
both of us. I‘ll have him out of the way efore ano-
ther week 532s by. It’s strange what a fascination
there is in rl‘s face."

Then the J sat down to the table and com-
menced to write. The words he traced upon the pa-
per threatened a human life.

Jinnie, returning to the Eldorado, met the lawyer,

. t.
“ Ah, by the lay, miss—“
“ Jinnie " sal the girl, as the lawyer hesitated.
" Yes, lilies Jinnie; can on tell me where lean find
the gentleman who gave

room u to Miss G e
last 11 ht!“ Rennet asked. p m

m; klyy, does she want to see him?" Jinnie asked

c .

“We I—thst is—of course it would hennly com-
mon po tenses for her to rose to him her appre«
ciation of his kindness," ed the old gentleman,
rather embarrassed at J e‘s direct uestion. Ber-
nice, that was in was,“ .

he emcee w c s e estedaninter-

,, ieweawgith Talbot. In obedience to ex- cemmands,
the old ntleman had been searching for “InJun
Dick " the eveninfihlgut without success.

“ She wants to see i" repeated Jinnie, thought—

ull .

~Ԥ(e_y " replied Rennet, who couldn't under-
L'faa‘d whiz» young girl was so particular in regard

e ma r.

“I don‘t know where he " Jinnie said; ‘-‘I
haven’t seen him since last nigh ."

“ Can you inform me of any place where I would
WI?“ “:4 “mi; 1. an n

‘ or e s u t e .

“The 03's 9" p y ‘

“Yes. Go er Gully; it's about two miles up the
valley. Fo ow the river till you come to where a
little creek rims into it; then turn to your right; the

u _ ‘ A

 

fiamp is only about a hundred yards or so from the
ver "

“ You think that I will be likely to find him there?"
“I don’t know anything about it,“ replied Jinnie,
with a shake of the head. “But he‘s Just as likely
to be there as an here else."
22%nd 1gust as ely not to be there. I suppose."
es

“Ah!” Rennet came to the speedy conclusion
that he hadn‘t obtained much information.

Jinnie went on her way toward the saloon, leaving
the old lawyer in a rather uzzled state of mind.

“Bless met I wonder w y she was so anxious to
know if Bernice wanted to see this young man?"
muttered the-lawyer. “ I suppose that I may as
well go back to the hotel, and tell Bernice that I can‘t
find he young man. I don‘t think that it will be
of use for me to travel two miles 11 this val-
ley, over the rocks and thro h the mu . It‘s ten
chances to’one that I shall on have my labor for

mg pains. '
o, havi come to this determination, Rennet re-
turned to t e hotel. He went at once to Bernice‘s
 He found the young girl gazing out of the
n ow.
Bernice turned eagerly as the old lawyer entered

the room.

“ Well?" she questioned, in haste, almost before he
had entered the apartment.

“ I haven‘t been able to find him," Rennet said, un-
derstanding what she wished to know.
hat's too badl“ exclaimed Bernice, petu-

lant] .

“fiydear child, I have inquired all over this de-
lightful city, and no one seems able to tell where he
is to be found. I asked the landlady—that young
girl you know—and she said that he might be in
a 'lace called opher Gully, two miles up the
:h eyh but the shoes were that he might not be

re.
“ Didkyou tell her that I wanted to see him ?" Ber-
ce as
“No; I didn‘t tell her so—that is, not until she
asked me. She guessed it some wa ."
“ Then she would not tell if she knew i" exclaimed
mice, im tuoule
“Eh?” c ed the wyer,’ in astonishment; "why

“I can‘t—well, o a fancy of mine " Bernice re-
gl‘i’ed, in some lit e confusion. “ ere is this

pher Gully?“
‘ Follow the river up two miles to a creek; then

turntothe ht.‘ I m h 1‘“ f
n e ouse; go or

hi

“I am ti of sta
awaik,“ the girl-l sai suddenly, rising and

her hat and cloa .

“Shall I accom ny you, my dear?"

“ I won't troub e you; I‘m only goingalittle way,"
Bernice replied. -

Leaving the lawyer utterly astounded at her sud-
den determination, Bernice left the hotel.

She followed the little road that led alon by the
river. Soon she left Spur City behind. e road
wound along, flanked by rivm', rocks and pines. A
man cingto ardthe citycamein sight. At the
first ce Bgmice recognized him. e man ap-
proaching was Dick Talbot!

CHAPTER XIII.
names m mm arcs.

Daemon’s face flushed crimson as she caught ht
of the lithe, sinewy figure of I un Dick. he

0

sto suddenly as t ugh stric on into stone,
and) 18.101ng breath Esme from between the full, red

xlgickwas advan slow , his hands clasped be-

hind him, his eyegmgent ulgon the und, and his

$holegéspect plainly betraying that e was deep in
o

Hzgdid not see the motionlsm figure that stood by
the side of the rude road.

Slowly he came onward.

Bernice remained on the spot where she had stood
when she had first discovered Dick approaching.

As he drew nearer and nearer, the color came and
went in her wax-like cheeks.

Supreme] beautiful she looked, as she stood in the
center of t e little ravine through which ran the
road, robed in her neat traveling suit, her" iden-
brown locks straying carelessly from an or the
jaunt straw hat.

Tal t came on with measured , his brow
dark with thought—furrowed with t e lines of care‘

Bernice made a slight motion toward him.

His uick ear ca ht the rustic of her dress. In
astonis ent he his e es. When they fell
u n Bernice‘s face, he halt and then recalled. as

ough s hantom stood before him, rather than a
younghand utiful woman. His face became ashy
Egg dro of iration came out and

ed wn fore un Dick, the dare-
devil. who had never turned his 1: on mortal foe,
now trembled at the mere sight of the fair young

girL

A moment he gazed u n Bernice with
eyes; then he a re igogllance behind him, as
he meditated see ety flight.
“gem guessed intentions and promptly step-
“ Isn‘t this Mr. Talbot?" sheask fixing her large,
clear eyes upon his face. ed.

Dick s breath came thick and fast. What terri-
ble spell had the face of the young girl cast upon

1’
“ Yes," he murmured, speaking only with a great

eflort.

“ You are the gentleman who so kindly resigned
the room to me last night, I believe?“

Bernice was now so near Talbot that she could
have touched him with her hand.

Bye powerful eflort, Dick recovered his compo-

sure.

“Nothing but a'common act of courtesy, miss,"

he replied, uletly; “ any one would have done the
e ‘

“But, as you rformed the act, of course you
deserve the than ,“ she said, a pleasant smile upon
her fair face: and as Talbot gazed upon it, he could
not help thinking how lovely she was.

“I am always pleased to he of any service to a
lady," he answered.

“Mr. Talbot,” she said, suddenly, after a little
pause, during which her e es had rested searchineg
upon the face of Injun ick, “as no one has ever

 

introduced me to on, I suppose I must do so myself.
¥y nsimk e is Bern’ice Gwyne, and I come from New
or .“
Talbot bowed, but replied not; his face, though,
was a shade paler under the searching eyes of the

rl.
“Do you know why I have come to this wild min—
ing region?" she asked, her full blue eyes still rest

ing u n his face.
‘Wgy, how should I know, Miss?" he asked, an
e ression of astonishment on his features.

‘ Then I‘ll tell ou- I am a woman who seeks? Can
you afiess what seek?“

T t shook his head in the negative. For a mo-
ment Bernice looked disappointed, but it was soon
over.

“I seek my cousin, Patrick Gwyne, who left New
York ten years a o.‘

Talbot looked s readily in the face of the l, but
flitcti‘ not speak. Bernice’s brows contrac Just a

e.

“ I have been wishing to see you all the morning,
Mr. Talbot," she continued after a moment‘s pause;
“ can you guess why I wished to see you i"

“To speak about the room, I sup ose, miss," Tal-
bot sald, slowly, his eyelids coming own just a‘iittle
over his dark eyes.

“No; guess again!" she exclaimed.

“I cannot ess,“ he replied. .

“ Shall Ite you?"

“ If it will please you," was his non-committal

re l .

R'Fhen you do uot care to know?" she asked, a
straw expression upon her features.

“ y should I care?“ he asked, apparently puzzled
at the uestion.

“I‘ll ell you, and then you will- lainl see why
you should care," she exclaimed, a 1i tie bit of
mpatience in her manner. “I w shed to see cube-
cause I thou ht that might be able to ll me
something 0 my con 11, Patrick Gwyne."

Talbot looked at the fair girl for a moment, an ex-
preision of blank amazement upon his face; then he

8pc 8:
“You expected that I would tell 1Zion something
ghout your cousin 1" astonishment in s voice as in

f .
“ vgas," replied Bernice, firmly.
“Icannot understdnd why you should think so,"
he said, slowly. ‘ I
“Look at me!" she said, imtperlouuskv, but the
sweetness of the clear tone was ull p on for the

manner. .
“ Well i“ Talbot‘s eyes were fixed on her face.
it Am ‘I blind t"

“ Do you think that I can not recognize you, even

though years have gassed?"
ain Dick look utterly astonished.

“ t is a hard matter to race ze one whom you
have never seen before,“ he sai , slowly.

“ Do 1you mean to as that I have never seen you
before " she asked, 11 ckly.

“ Before last night, never!" he replied, firmly.

“How can you say such a thing? ' she said, earn-

. “ My woman s eyes have read the truth, even

though ten years have changed you a great deal.
Ten years 0 your cheek was as white as my hand,
your chin as ass as mine; and now, even thou h
your face is bronzed b sun and wind, and your 0
covered by a heard, I you I”

“ And who am I? ' he asked, quietly.

“Your name is not Talbot!" she replied, quickly.
“ Possibly “ he said, careless] ; ‘ in this wild re-

on, the re of men whose c mes have outlawed
em from ci tion, few men are known by their
right names."

‘ Gould Inot speak your name if I wished to?" she
asked, sudde , fixing her eyes upon his face, with
a look as thoug she would readthetruthjnhis eyes,
despite his eflofis to conceal it. ' -

A moment Injun Dick looked into the beautiful

ace, so radiant with youth, health and freshness;
then cat-fashion, his eyelids came half-way
‘19? our eyes]: speak as " h id in

'oyoucanno my me one, a
tilrm,I clear tone, which betrayed no trace of hesita.

on.

“Shall! t" she asked, a touch of re reach in
her voice mtdys mournful look in her 

“Just as you please," he replied, ins tone of ther-
ough unconcern.

‘ Wgy do you attempt to deceive me!" she ex-
glaim , petulantly, her face betraying deep emo-

on.
“ I amhnEt attempfting to deceive you,“ he 
calmly manner orming a strange contrast w
hers. “You think that you have detected in my face
a resemblance of some one—who, of norms, I know
not. Because I do not allow. you to continue in your
error, and do not admit tha I am the person you
think me to be, you accuse me of deceiving you.

“Why did on hide your face from-me inthe sa-
loon last nig t? Wgy did ofyou faint—er awoman
-—when ou caught ht my features in the win-
dow las nighti, An why, when I encountered ou
here, a moment ago, did on turn pale and then ook
aroundasif ouwished flyfrom me,” if Iwere
“ Qui k d, ’ est the esti f

c an earn came eager qu ons rom
Bernice's full lips.

“Miss, when tell you who and what I am, per-
haps on will understand w your presence has af-
fected me so s —for won’t attem t to deny
the truth of what you have ust said," Di answer-
ed, slow . “I am Dick Tal the man who wears
broadclo h and flneihmn, and who plays cards for a.
livi —Injun Dick, the hlerl that‘s what I am;
not efltsortofagen manto toaladylike
you. I‘m a human wolf—a panther—that pre u -
on honest men, robs them 0 their hard-earn 15.
dust and takes in live minutes what cost days oiFaiil,
maybe to win. Like all men who 31an cards for a
living, I believe in luck. For two s before the
one on which you came to this place, had a run of
bad luck. I noticed that, every time I lost my mon-
fy, theagmen of hearts had somethi to do with it.

I h a pair of Jacks—a pretty air hand tobet
on, miss—somebody else had a pair of queens, and
one of them was sure to be theagueen of hearts. ,
when ou came into the Elder 0 last night, the mo-
ment set eyes on you, I saw that you were a heart-
woman—that is, you know, in fortune-telling, the
queen of hearts would represent you. And the mo-

‘14

 

‘fi

 

Overland Kit.

 

 

ment my eyes fell upon your face something whis-
pered in my ear that you were fated to bring bad luck
to me. I made u my mind to ‘levant ‘——get out—-
leave Spur City ti nu left it: but luck me against
me there, too, for t iings have worked so that I am
obliged to stay here. Now that you know who and
what I am, it must be clear to you that I am not the
inn-son you have taken me to be."

Attentively, Bernice had listened to Talbot’s story.

"You will not confess the truth, then?” she said.
minirufuliy,

“ Vlmti ain‘t you convinced yet?" he exclaimed,
in astonishment.

“ Yos, convinced that you are the man I think you
are. You cannot deceive me!" cried Bernice, im-
pulsively. “ And I will never leave this place until I
make you confess the truth."

“ You‘ll stay here a long time then, miss," Talbot
said, quietly.

“ No; something-I know not what-tells me on
will actllr‘nowledge that I have guessed rightly be ore
man are over. '

“ inSi’ssta here long, miss, I feel sure that it will
end in my begig put into a hole- in the round,” Tal-
bot said, seriously. “ You‘re going to ring me had
luck."

“ How can that be?"

“I can't tell, but I‘m certain it's in the cards," he
replied. “ Why, men who follow my business out
in these regions walk over quicksands; there’s no
knowing when we‘ll sink, and when once we go
through the crust, we are pretty sure not to stop un-
til the sands close over our heads. The Vigilantes
may rise right here in Spur City and string me up to
.the nearest tree at any time."

Bernice had little i ea of the terrible meaning of
the simple word “ Vigilantes. "

“ No one will dare to punish you unless you com-
mit a crime," she sai . I

“I am committing one every day by ll here.
Am I note black sheep-a gambler? Judge ynch
has small mercy on gentlemen of my craft when he
once gets his hand in. And now miss, let me advise
you not to be seen talking wit me. I am not fit
company for you. Only the rough miners associate
with Injun Dick. Why I am not onl _ a gambler, but
I am a bruiser—a fig ting man. ive me a wide
berth, miss; it will be better for both of us."

“ By my act-ions in the future you shall see how I
re ard your counsel."

ernice turned and walked back toward the town.
 gazed after her with a strange expression upon
ace. ‘

CHAPTER XIV.
A m THINKING or mania.

Wrru a light step Bernice hastened onward. She
came to the turn in the road; a few more paces
would conceal her from the sight of Talbot. ‘

She halted, turned and waved her hand in fare-
well, A moment more and she disappeared behind
me ines.

A ng breath of relief came from Dick's lips. It
'zuem ed as if a weight had been lifted oif his soul.

“Thank heaven it's over!" he exclaimed. “This
girl is as beautif as an angel; and as “good, too, as
she is beautiful. Oh! what cursed luck ever
brought her in my way? I love her! I feel the pas-
sion swellingI in my heart—the vain, idle, foolish -
sion. I img tas well seek to pull down the w ire
peaks of yonder sierra. or uproot the pins that
grows on its side, as to hope—to dream—of ever
winning this ure and beautiful girl! I‘d give ten

ears of my ife, the h, for her !‘ And he clenched
his hands firmly as e s oke, and the close white
teeth came down with a sip, tiger~1ike click.

“on. what folly!" he murmured, after a pause,
and he let his head fall mourufuliy u n his breast.

“Ten years of my life wouldn‘t worth much
anyway. If those fellows in black who trapged me
last night keep their word, I haven’t at ten ays to
«rive, let alone ten years. But I’ll fig t ’em though!
iniun Dick is not to be bullied out of this here
ranch. I‘ve pla ed many a blufl game in my life
and I never ‘ ed‘ ainan until my pile was up. i
reckon, though, I won't ‘ chip in” many times more.
I‘ve about gone to the end of my rope; maybe I‘ll
d is at the end of one soon, but I'll die game!"

afik had expressed his thoughts aloud. Around
him was naught but rocks and nodding pines; that
is, to his view for Lin Dick had no suspicion that
a man con edbe id in clump of bushes, some ten
paces from him, had overheard the interview he-
tweenhbimse‘ if and Bernice, as well as his muttered
thou ts.

T t sauntered leisurely up the road toward the
to but the listener who was stretched out at full
lengt behind the bushes, still kept his place.

Ju 3 Jones satin the express office before the
table t served him fora desk. The drawer of the
table was 0 an, and in it, amid the Ezra, glistened
the lish barrelof a revolver an t broad blade
ofa eon-ed ed bowledmife.

The eyes the Judge were fixed upon the weapons,
and a heavy frown was upon his bro . .

“It must come to it, sooner or later,” he mur-

mured, nervous : then he took the revolver from
the drawer an examined it. It was loaded 

ca ed. ' ’

'Fgere was .a dark look. in the stern eyes of the
Judge as he drew back the hammer of the weapon,
and watched the lay of the well-oiled lock. .

if ever the we “ murder " was written lalnly on

its face of man, it was then on the strong marked-
r‘- -.iiures of Judge Jones. ,

He laid the revolver down on the table. got up and
paced up and down the room for a few moments,
hi3 eyes glazing and his features convulsed by “Pong
91110 0113. .

“ It must camel“ in he murmured. Then he
paused before the taflfi: and took up the “WONG”
again he tried «as workings of the lock.

“ To thinkthat a half-dozen lives are at the m
of this little toy in the hands of a resolute man. If
quarreled with a. bully—this un Dick for instance
-—in a drinking-saloon. he w
as little remorseas though I were a mad dog.
should I hesitatethent‘ . . r

The Judge
his annat thowail of the emce, as though

 

he were

drawingn“bead" at the head of a foe. His eyes eh

glared and his teeth were clenched together._

shoot me downwith. mo shut some Do
- you see? I’m all right for tiligdgeslt‘l'oom in the ill--
rad ' MW’ ‘ ' ‘ ‘

, dull, gay] ; “no more slavin
fly

‘drew the revolver up and'leveled it over. do

 

A moment he poised the pistol on his arm, then he
slowly returned t to its place in the drawer.

“It makes a noise, though,“ he said, slow] , deep
in thought; “ erhaps the other will be getter. ’
Then he tookt e knife from its lace among the
papers and tried the blade on. his umb-nail. The
edge was as keen as a razor.

‘ Perhaps this would be better," he observed slow-
liand thoughtfully. “ Well we‘ll see." An with
t ese words he returned 1; e bowie-knife to the
drawer and closed it with a quick motion; a shudder
ran through his frame at the moment.

The J uc ge leaned his head upon his hand. his arm
refitiug on the table, and glowered across the narrow
0 (EC.

“ The rid—foolish child—loves this gambler, Injun
Dick. e sha’n’t have her if eve des erode from
here to Austin backed him." 6 u e‘s brow
contracted as he thus murmured his thong ts aloud.

A map at the door and the immediate entrance
therea tor of a bearded minor, roused the Judge
from his abstraction. '

The man was a stranger to the Judge; not so to us
for it was Joe Rain, esperado No. 2, of Ovarian
Kit‘s band.

“ I reckon ou‘re J udge J onesi" exclaimed Joe,
familiarly he ping.r himself to a seat.

“ Yes, sir," replied the Judge. distantly. He did
not admire the looks or the manners of his visitor.

“ Agent for the express company?"

“ Yes, sir."

“Then I reckon you and me kin do a leetle busi-
ness together." -

‘1; vghat is the nature of your business 1'" the Judge
as e .

" Did on ever hear of a man called Overland
Kit?“ said Joe, with a grin.

The Ju e started. and cast an earnest look into
the face 0 his visitor.

“Ah, I thought. maybe, that would make you
prick up your ears,“ sa (1 Joe, with a chuckle.

“ Do you know anything about this outlaw?"

“I reckon I do," as replied, confidently. “I um
(ier that there’s a heap of money oflered for
Kit-Yes...

“ S'pose one of his men comes to you and offers to
fix things so that you can corral Kit; would you
pay the man the money and git hima pardon for
what he had done i"

“ Certainly. “
“I’m our man then, by hokeyl“ cried Joe. -“I
kin ut verland Kit into our hands!"

“ hen?" asked the Ju e. or .
“Inside of two hours." flag I,

, rig er."
“ Here?" questioned the Judge, in amazement.
“Yes, hyer in Spur City; he‘s got his disguise of!
now, the h, butI kin swear to his voice!” cried,
Joe, full 0 confidence.

CHAPTER XV.
cams STRIKES A “LEAD.”
Tm: sun had sunk behind the snow-white alts far
off in the west and the gloom of the tw ht was
gathering thi over river, valley and mountain

ra e.

ggur City was alive with red-shirted booted
treats "8mm m“... “a ne-

owe a m p posses an «iv -
drinking and card-playing were going on briskly.

You Rennet, coming up the street, encountered
at the cor of the Eldorado a man who has not ap-
peared before in our storiiy, :1 h spoken of.

The man was Gains endail. up once he
was about medium higbt, not very stou built: the
contour of his face regular blue e es—rather hand-
some eyes, but shifting and un n; ht ellow
hair that curled in crispy ringlets all over s sad.

at the first glance that Rennet gave at his friend.
he saw that something was the matter with him.
There wasalook of excitation upon his face that
was not usually there, for Tendall was onset the ba-
bitual] unlucky fellows who never succeed in anym-
dertakflég, and his face wugeneraliygloomy and
overcas .

“ Hallo, Jim, my boy!” ejaculated Tendail, sla
ping Rennet on the shoulder, “I’ve been lookin a
over the town for you; I've been in every drinlging-
game from here to Paddy's Flat, hunting you, and

vs ‘p‘isoned' myself in every one." ‘
iii-31W“ stimuli “hm‘l‘iill‘iiiln‘m‘ “it:

e p , or e ew v mo
Tendail hadn‘t a dollar. cry

“ Flush! well.I

11mph. “Shall end you ten?" and he drew. hand-

ful of silver from his cket as he spoke. -

 

“ Where the deuce id you get your money?" csk- .

ed Rennet, in astonishment '

“Oh, I‘ve strucka ‘lead!"" replied Gains, an .

aflectatiou of careless unconceru.
“ Not up in the gully ", ‘
“No, downhercin ec .
“ The deuce on have!" ~
“Fact!” exclyaimed Tendail, triumphantly.
“ Been playing poker r”
“ Did, you ever know me to win anything at

s . ,

“Never!” re lied Rennet, emphatically. . '
“Well, I d n’t get this that way. I’ve stuck
‘pay-dirt,‘ partner; and I’ll bet the.
be worth four aughts before I get through with it."
“What the deuce have you tumbled into?" quasi
tioned Rennet, in amagament. ' , .
"Apccketful of go -dust, old pardi“ cried Ten-
for me; the mines
up thegu maygo to Old Ni , for all I cnm' I’ll
§aklenyou a present of my interest in ‘Wlldcat,’
0. . ~ ' o
. i'seehere, Gay, you've got too much whisky on

“ Fuller‘n a tick, you bet! _ How's that :69 high?" '

and Tendail hit Rennet another vigorous ship on the
' shoulder. ' ' ‘
“ Are you crazy?” 0 A
.‘lWlfll' slay: yes." lied Tendail. “ The fact is,
Jim, I’ve scovered a ectle secret, and to have me,‘
keep my nth s me well.

0 . I .i - ..
;  it’s something that concerns was Jinnie.’
‘3 Did I say it was?" dominoes rennin. with an sir'

cu bet!" cried his‘friend, in tl'l-i

t the strike will-

 

of wisdom. “ I say, Jim I’ve been celebrat t-
ty free, but I know what I‘m about, and yglllg 33's

pumVB me.‘

“ ho‘s trying to?“ asked Bonnet, with a la b.

“I sup se,though. that vou have discoveredw o

backs as Jinnie in running the Eldorado, eh?"

' “ Well, ma be I have an maybe I haven‘t," ro—
lied Tends! with a wink: “but come in and we'll
ave a bottle of wine, that is, if they’ve got such a

thing here; and I don‘t believe they have."

As the two entered the Eldorado, the encoun-
tered the old lawyer. Rennet introduced is father.
The old gentleman begged to be excused. when Ten~
dail pressed him to join himself and “ Jim," and
proceeded tip-stairs, leaving the two young men in

he saloon.

The old lawyer went at once to Bernice’s room.
He found the young girl seated by the window, peer-
ing out into the darkness. for, by this time, the
shadows of the twill ht had deepened into the sam-
ber gloom of the nig t.

A single candle burning on the little table alone
lighted up the room.

“ Well, my dear," said the old lawyer, after enter-
higuthe little apartment, “ I hope that you are pretty
w satisfied by this time with this detestable place.
I think that we had better make u our minds tore'
turn to New York as soon as possi e.”

“ You £0 at that I have not discovered yet what I
came to see " Bernice replied.

N on hain’t James told you?"

“ Told me what?“ .

“Why, about the miner who witnessed the death
of your cousin, Patrick.“ -

:l His death? ‘

n

gfltr'ick Gwyne is not dead!" replied Bernice. de-

y. .
-“ Oh, yes. (bar, he is !" exolaimed the lawyer.

“ James meaiwminer to-da who told him alltho :

particulars of the main . he even saw him
uried. A mam. you know, don‘t come up out at

the ground. . ,_
“ atiick Gwyne has!" Bernice exclaimed.
“ Eb t" Bonnet was astonished.
“ He cannot be in his grave."
“ Why not?" ~
“Beécause I have seen him todayi" replied Ber-
e rmly. >
{gear girl, are you in possession of your sen- »

nnet exclaimed.

“Ithink that I am rfectly sane," Bernice sai
smiling. “ I repeat; have not only seen, b
spoken with Patrick Gwyne to-day."

figou “Kelli: da shall hi I

. an ore man vs you see in
also. "e isnowdisguisgig himself under diabo-
name.

“Bless me you real Astonish In "stRennet,
ratherbewil o . I'll}!y little plan fg'rdecei her *
in to the fate of Patrick Gwyne had cut .
fail . “I must go andtell James the news."and
he hurried from the room.

Bernice a sin azed out of the window.

Strange t oug ts were in her mind' again she
stood in the lonely canyon, and held the interview
with the man called Injun Dick. . ’

“Can itbethatlamfatedtobohlabod 2""
she murmured, gazing out into the darknsuo tho :
night as though the expected to “marathon.
swer to her qu

The sudden
her attentio

and a

nic
H
see?"

n the. window. She turned her,
flguromet her eyes that fllledhersoul

'with a strange tenor

b Within tlfie room’ht'il'ietdcor closedflliehind him, I. ‘
lack mas over e stood c road-agent, -
Overland Kit! ' M ' r

 

CHAPTER XVI. . _ I
H ‘ urinal 6mm APPEARS. .
Amw ofalarmcamefromBernice‘sli so
she behelglwthe masked man standing withinth '
room. .’ _ l - '
“ Don‘t fear I ain't a- in‘ toharm " said the
outlaw gram ', his voice ard and who?“ - ‘
Bernleem asinglesteptoward himut stone t
ofhisvoicefelluponhereuao Herli were alted
as though a ques ion trembled upon em, an there.
was an eager and anxious look upon her beautiful

face _ . , , . -
Themedth thequsstienthatwcu~
Bernice's tongue. v. w >  ».
g‘gfiu know me, eh?" he said, with a house
c u e. . “ ‘
-“I—-—Ithinkldo;"fie replicdyshwiy, . lam-fled
ex‘POhl “in “he!   know 0 '
too, Bergiocebgytnh: Ibex ygéih: ligament L13»
e on you coach e r although
ity’fiisnyconmnvoseen your fang“. V , ;
sh“ Tm vim £33“ and her ' “‘°‘i”é.i‘ m} “gm " m"
were no m e as x s ’
when or  ..  t. 
; .  years see even '
Gotham and found a home in the~Far 19:2,:
changed a heap hat time; the smooth-faced \
boy hasheocm the bearded man; the-hand. that
ounce only suncilnnlf-defcnse. isnow raised W.
‘I‘IAnd who are

fi’criedathmi suddcniynhe'
En m‘agllgu duo mafia-mm

 Ari-rt“ i
are;  wawmurmw

yr . ax: Jim.» 1. '» ->
"Answer-l m.” im-nka‘ etl but
with s In Eras-adult. hater  'wu.
“Youkiiowwgll M “basin-timid

our“ ‘2“fitmm°m m:§$?%§”i "1°;
e so can » 4 i.
myheadinct'thoeoccbwindcwl “fin-Eta»

ylou’ve'come all the way from they“ oh)";

6 outlaw . ‘ - .
“PatrickG "-sherepliedp-i . v . .-
“Taken locket mo: I‘mthe,man."wd the

. ‘f You. Patrick Gwynef" Romans-aloud. slow-i
'“YM on know lam: when 0'  3 d
and 1:5; my v ou’ know {hilt I am trick
Gwyne, although you we tried to cheat yourself in-

\

action. ~
Weathedcorofherrocm drew ‘
rom

 

 

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i
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i
5
i
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 .«ur, 1:

‘10

Beadle’s Dime Library.

 

 

to a belief that you have discovered Patrick Gwyne
in this blackIQ, Dick Talbot.“ ‘

‘30ng do you know that?" demanded Bernice,
q .

“ Because I overheard all'that passed between you
and him up in the ravine to—day," replied the out-
law, with a laugh.

Bernice started as though she had been bitten bya
serpen .

“ It‘s true " added Kit, noticing the movement of
the girl. “ was snugged down me
you see, I have to be pretty careful how walk roun
this hyer town. You halplpened to meet this fellow
not ten prices from my d -place, so I heard all
that passed between on. could hear, though I
couldn‘t see, but for that, I saw someth with-
out the use of my eyes, that he didn’t see With the
use of his."

“And what was that?“ asked Bernice, a peculiar
expression upon her face.

That Bernice Gwyne, if she stays in Spur City
long will be very apt to make a fool of herself," re-
plied Kit bluntly.

" You think so?"

“ I know so " he said, decidedily. “Why, Bernie
I know you 0 old. The free an pen-hearted child
has not changed. altho h she has grown to woman-
:lhood; her gauge is gill tfiéfimg But, m}? o:

e wrong ac m r ' s o ; sa -
this “on and get hack lilast as fast as gogslble.x

“ n leave you, Patrick Gwyne, to lead this life?"
questioned Bernice.

“ What other is open to me?" said Kit, doggedly.

“The life of an honest man; tEon are youn yet;
the best ears of your life are s 1 before you " ex-
claimed rnice, earnestly.

“Too late!" said the outlaw, with a shake of the

cod.
“ Itisnever too late to forsake the ways of evil!”
replied the girl.
‘ Oh, there’s no use talking; leave me alone; on
can’t hel me  Go East and forget that suc a
man as strick wyne ever existed! he exclaimed.

“ Patrick, do you know what has ha ned at
home ?” she asked, quietly, but with a wor of feel-
ing ln her tone.

A let

‘4 All”)

“Yes; the father forgot that he had a son: well,
the son once fo at that he had a father; both are
even. Perha the father had been more of an
Irishman less a Roman, the son would not have

aced his gray hairs."

‘ How an you speak so, Patrick?" exclaimed Ber-
nice softl , her lar‘ge eyes filling with tears.

“It is t e truth, the outlaw replied stubbornly.
" My father had read that the Roman, rutus, ve
his son to death; his country first, his kindred r;
my father a the Roman and would. have given me
to the scaflo d had I not found safet ln ' ht. Years
came and went, yet he did not re ent; t e foolish
boy, that a kind word perhaps might have saved
from evil, became a de rate man. When my
father was on his death even, he did not relent. '

“How do ou'know?"

“ it.

“ You did not ess rightl ," Bernice said, so .
“Your father’s lasted only a few hours; t e

ockcame sosudden that it gave him no time to
undo the wrong that he had committed in his will;
but yet, the last word upon his life was your name;
in his d hour he thought of t 8 son whose name
he had or dden all to speak."

The teeth of the outlaw were tightly compressed,
and his muscular frame shook wit stro emotion.

. “Will you not, then leave this dre ul life and

seek once more the path of honesty f” Bernice asked,

61' .
:2??? momgfit Itéiehl-osd-egent (lihcila not reply; then,
agreat o e recovered com ure.
“Enough of thht,“ he said. “i 1.33%“ alread

given you answer, and now ve me yours. W
youzlzeaxe place and return the East 1‘"
0

“ You will not!" exclaimed Kit, harshly.
“ No," replied Bernice, firmly.
“And why will on not?" demanded the outlaw,

evidently anno . “You have found what ‘3:
9

seek. Iam :kayne. Youdonot doubt
do on?"

‘ No,” Bernice lied. I '

“You came to t e West to find me' on have
found me, That ends your mission. can

kee you here?"
f}; ,‘vt you guess?"
‘ o.
" And yet you so that on overheard the inter-
view between myse and t ’s Mr. Talbot, to-day.”
r“So Idid, ev word; if you doubt it, I'll repeat
the conversation. ‘ “
“No, I do not doubt it," Bernice replied. You
also said that you, without eyes, discovered some-
thjpg whit:de his vision. '

" A you ask why I remain here?"

Kit looked at the rl for a moment in silence;
wonder expressed itse f in his dark e es.

“You love this man i“. he cried, surlydenly.

“Ido"Bernicere ll firmlyand ro .
l “ Girl: you are magi'fi’fled the roar-ages? rough-
y"‘Do you think so because I love this man, who

calls himself Talbot, and because I am not ashamed

toconfessto ou.mycouds.Pstrick Gwyne. that I
do love mt‘igogflh'el said, the peculiar ook again
a pearin on .
p‘ You love this fellow this Injun Dick bully
mbler cheat of the first water! A scoundrel that

e Vigilanges will ailing up to the brains: of a gal:

inesome nemorn asawaming eres o
his”?ng trlbeix‘lgcried Kit, hastily, and with
on.

“Yes, I ove him," replied Bernice, dly, “ and
thatloveshallwinhim from them 'ofeviland
make on man of him once again.‘

As she spok the color flushed her cheeks and a
bright, jo omellgbt kled in her 0 es.

‘ 011. Add. u lose 0 and not save
him!” c ed it); “the task l; impossible. Besides,
he loves another woman—the girl. Jinnieflho keeps
this place. She saved his life once; that ebelongs
to her. Leave him to hisfata"

“Patrick Gwyne whg do you attempt to deceive
me?” mod the girl. so deniy. “You are playing a

the pines»

 

game. butalread I guess iltfim 5 know you,Yde-
s our  ou cannot m e es. on
elm Igjun Dic a.re—“ y y

“ Hush!" cried Kit, quickly extending his hand in
arnlng. “ There is some one in the entry!"

CHAPTER XVII.
, m QUEEN or asst AGAIN.

BEENIGE obeyed the warning and kept silent.

The quick ears of theoutiaw had not deceived him.
There was some one moving in the entry outside.
Some one movingcautiousl .

“They‘re after me, I think," said the outlaw,
coo

“After you i” exclaimed the l.

“ Yes, I shall have to run for maybe.”

The noise in the cut increased; the one man
there was joined bya ozen others, judging from
the noise they made.

“I’m in a trap, sure," muttered Kit, listening,
andously.

“ He‘s someth in the house now, you bet!” ex-
claimed a hoarse voice outside.

“Joe Ra' b Heaven!" cried Kit his
teeth to ethhr an er. He had mew the
voice of former fo ower.

“ Let anumber keep watch below, while the rest
search the rooms " said the stern voice of Judge
Jones. He was evidently on the lan outside.

“So, wolves and dogs, all on m -t " muttered
the road-agent, an angry menace his tone.

“ If the discover you?"

“The ’ string me up to the first treethat comes
handy: replied Kit, guessing the half-asked ques-

on

“Is there no way by which you can escape i“ Ber-
nice asked, anxiously.

“ Yes; open the window, slowly and carelessly'
look out and see if there is anybodlvddown in front of
the saloon," the outlaw said, quic , his ready wit
comi his aid.

Be ce opened the window.

“ Well ?" questioned Kit, anxiously.

“ There are two or three standing in the doorway,"

she replied.

“Pu there of course to watch that I don‘t jump
out of some of the windows," muttered the -
agent, inanger. “I‘m in a trap; this visitto you,

Bernice, may cost me my life."
“Why no remove your so!» The do not
their in t,” Ber—

suspect that the outlaw is daily
nice said.

“ Dis eel" cried Kit, in wonder. “What mad
notion ve ou tinto your head?"
- With a vio ent ck, one of the men in the entry
orced open the door. The entry was filled wit
men some of whom bore candles. ‘

With the speed of the lightning‘s flash, the road-
sfignt drew his revolvers an fired into the crowd.

owli in terror, the miners tumbled over each

other in t eir anxiei to escape from the range of
the bullets of the on w. The candles were extin-
shed and confusion “fined su reme. None of
e pursuers were inj thgllafi , by the fire of
missed-agent; y he aimed over their

With a second movemen as quick as the first, Kit
brushed the candle off the ttle table and extinguish-
ed it. Then, with a bound, he vaultedu nthe win-
dow-sill and lea htly to the groun .

As he had an icipa , the noise of the fire-arms
had attracted the knot at the door into the house.

The coast was clear for the escape of the desperado;
but the pursuers were close behind.

Kit ran up’ the street at a terrific burst of speed.
The miners tumultuously from the house and
followed in e chase. Thanks to the confusion st-
tcnding the discharge of Kit’s revolvers, hehad man-

to secure an excellent start. .

As the miners followed in pursuit, they 0 ed a

mnninifire from their pistols upon the ugir ve; but

t was dark, the moon partially ob-
b clouds, and the aim of the miners uncer-
tain; so he road-agent really stood but little chance
of being hi

t. i

Judge Jones was not with the crowd of pursuers,
although he had led the mob in the hotel. The
miners did not notice his absence, so absorbed were
they in their human chase.

After running up the street a few hundred yards,
Kit darted suddenly to the left. Under a low.
tumble-down shed stood a horse. It was the famous
steed of the road-agent the brown mare, with four
white stockings and a bright blaze in the forehead.

With a bound, Kit swung himself into the saddle.
U the street, at racing speed, went the horse.

at the now certain escape of their prey
the1 lagers emptied their revolvers at the fiying'steed
an er.

Kit turned and in bed in defiance wavi his
hand in bravado as hgg rode on. ’ us

A few moments more and the outlaw disappeared
in the gloom of the darkness.

Disgusted and breathless, the pursuers returned
slowly from their fruitless chase. In front of the
Eldorado they found Judge Jones and Joe Rain, busy
in conversation.

“ He were too much for us. Judge!" exclaimed
Ginger Bill, the driver, who had been one of the
foremost in the pursuit.

“ Run away from you, eh?“ asked the Judge in his
usual calm manner.

“ Had his boss down under a shed corraled, an’ be
jest gotéllfi an’ got like a ‘tarnal earthquake!" ex-
claimed .

“Never mind, we‘ll have him before morning,"

said the Judge.

“ Well, on may " replied Bin, doubtful] ; “but ef
he shows his nose hyer for a week, he’s a lgger fool
than I take him to be "

“ This lucky escape'will render him careless. Bill,
I want spout four good men logo with me," said the

u .

“ for, Judge?"

“ To make an arrest."

“I‘m your meat for one!" clied Bill.

“Put me down for wan !" exclaimed the Irishman,
Patsy, who was one of the crowd.

Two more of the crowd volunteered, and so the
party was made up. '

Headed by Judge Jones, and accompanied  Joe
Baimthelittle proceededuptherosd., -
i toward Gop Gully. . . .

y were the quie remarks amongtherank

 

and file of the Barty as to the object of the empe-
dition. But as udge Jones had, some time before
ing of our story, been formally elected
no one thought of questioning
information reg them.
On through the darkness of the night tru ed the
little party. Spur Cit was left behind, and the
rocky defl e, northw , entered.
The defile ended, and the little creek that tumbled
into the Reese crossed, the arty saw before them
the flickering lights that mar ed the location of the
little mining aim known as Gopher G .
Two houses an some twenty tents, an tents and
houses combined, made u Gopher Gully.
The largest shanty, 0 course, was the saloon.
which was dignified by the title of Cosmopolitan

Hotel.

When the little official party from Spur City en-
tered the Cosmopolitan, a quiet game of her
was going on in one corner. One of the yers

as ngun Dick; another one, the giant w o rc-
oiced n the ap ellation of Dandy im, the-man-

rom-Red—Dog; hree other rough-looking fellows
madeu the gas .

Taibo nod ed amng to Bill, said “ -even~
ing " tothe Judge, when e party entere and then
picked u the hand that had just been d t him.

From t e size of the little pile of coin before Dick,
it was evident that he had not been winning.

“What bringsggu up our way Judge?" asked the
landlord of the. mopolitan, ahuge-bearded giant
of a fellow, with a round, good-natured face.

“A little business, that s all," re lied the Judge,

In “Mr. Talbot,” and he ad seed the card-
P yen!

“Eh,did you speak to me, Judge? I'll see that '
This addressed to the card-

and go ten better."
111%?ng ‘ very sorry to disturb on b t—" d th
. u an
Jud e hesitated. y ’ e

“ at isitl Spitit out, Judge! Do you call me?"
to the Red-Doglte, referring to the game.

“ Not b a durned sight, till you get all your pile
up," rep ed Jim, confi ently.
th‘ IIshall have totrouble you to come with us," said

e u . .

Allwi themom,excefitJoeRain staredatthe
Juel‘iige in astonishment. ose who had accom
nib him fromSpurCitywere fullyas amasedas e
o ers.

m: {on want mat—what for?" asked Dick, aston-

e

“You.are my prisoner, sir." said the Judge, in a
tone which showed lainly that he was in earnest.

:2 gour prisoner: exclaimed Talbot, amazed.

es; you mus accompany usto 8 ur Cit ."

“Of what am I accused?" p y

“ H you will soon learn; your trialwill begin at
once.

“ Say, Dick!" cried Jim ringingtohisfeet “ as
{on say the word, an' I‘ll' ean out the wh e 13ers

. I’m a ay old mustang, I am, an' I chaw up
a man a wee'r— njuns ain’t counted!‘ and the-man.
from-Red-Dog, squared himself scientifically, and
‘ or" the S ur-Cityites

red .

“ o, nol" cried Dick quickly layi down his
hand-and gathering up the few p secs 0 silver that
remamed to him; ‘ don't kick up any fuss on m ac-
count. I’m ready to (go with you, gents;" and n
blimi‘i‘i‘: “ “3.528%; “f h" m”

mlg ve t ' We at the een of
hearts in my hen again." ' E q“

CHAPTER XVHI
nos re nos.
Bsmcs, from the open window, watched eagerly

the flight of the outlaw.

Of course all Spur Oi had been alarmed at the
noise of the firing, and e street was well lined with
men, women—very few of the softer sex, though, in
8 ur Cl —and children.

thsd een §uite a time since a first-class “ruc-
tlon "—as the rishman would have said—had oocur’
red in the mining camp, and the inhabitants thereof
reseegot slow to improve the opportunity now ai-
o .

Bernice could see the b ht flashes of fire that
came from the pistols of t e pursuers; hear the
sheh lreports that lung out so clearly upon the

a r.
ith clasped hands, anxious eyes a 0 face, and
a bosom that throbbed tumultuously, he girl tried
to watch the progress of the chase.

The night was dark, though and in a few seconds
the crowd assed beyond the line of her vision, but
she could s ill see the little patches of fire, hear the
pistol reports and the yells of the pursuing crowd,
who were shouting like so many savages.

“Oh, merciful were! lethim escape !‘-' murmured
Bernice, in angugh; “he is not fit to die. Give him
time to repcn ; givehimtimetosee the evil of his

wa s."

’l’hen to the ears of the girl came the sounds of the
hoof of a horse alloping rapidly away.

The reports 0 the revolvers came thicker and
faster, the yells of the miners more and more dis-
cordant. and then—all was still. save that a busy
hum, reduced b moving feet and many voices,
came herlistenlng ears. .

“He has escaped, or else he is dead," she mur-

- muted, and her cheek grew paler still at the second

ht. “I must learn the truth!" she exclaimed.
wil “This too bear."

. suspense is terrible to
The noise of the voices and the sound of the feet
grew louder and louder as the crowd came nearer
and nearer.
As the miners came into sighgigernioe's eyes were
mammalian was more t° 
n a p no s , or 0
see him borne alo , lifeless, b their hands.

Her fears were for Over Kit had escaped
the hot purs .

e crowd up to the doorof the saloon, and

Bernice heard e conversation that had ensued

between Ginger Bill and Ju e Jones,
the esclgc of the outlaw.
Judge’s emand for volunteers.

A, gain Bernice trembled, and
grew pale. In the simple words

‘ "£3 he v-egnessedthe tru
inflow, all other eyes but
a usly.

"Hive to

her check
the Judge she

which has seem—
e!" she mused.

 

 

 mails «us ,. .,. .-

Overland Kit.

11

 

 

iShe watched the little party proceed on their mis-
on

How stran e is the quick instinct that dwells in
the breast o a woman! Without an reason for her
belief—without being able to tell w y or wherefore
—the thought flashed through her mind that the
ox edition of Judge Jones and his four volunteers
hosed dan erto the man whom she had boldly de-
clared she oved—Injun Dick.

Although the Ju e and his men had been swal-
lowed up in the dar ness, yet still Bernice watched
ea erly from the window.

he listened to the conversation of the miners,
who were gathered in a little roup in front of Che
saloon, discussi the little ray. She heard the
opinion ex resse : ‘

“ Since ellow Jim went fur Big-nosed Smith cos
he said as how he was the first co ote to strike ay-
dirt in Wildcat No. i, it war the veliest leetle ime
I’ve see‘d." < -

This by a veterap miner—one of the original Call-
fornian ‘diggers.

Bernice carried away by the excitement of the
moment, had never thou ht of closl the door of
her a rtment, which h been kick open by the
crow in pursuit of the road-agent.

And as she leaned out of the window, llsteni to
the talk of the crowd beneath, she was unconsc one
that her room was plunged in darkness, and that the
door was wide 0 en.

One thought a one occupied her mind—the fate of
the man known as Overland Kit to the miners, but to
her as Patrick Gwyne, the long-lost cousin whom she
had followed from the far Atlantic coast.

The rustle of a woman‘s dress within her room,
and the flame of a candle illuminating the darkness
that surrounded her, caused Bernice to withdraw
her attention from the crowd beneath the window.

Bernicedwithdigew her ghost: J 1gase-
ment, an turn roun , e no,
standing with a 11lighted candle in her hand, in the

,.oenter of the room.

“ I'm very sor , miss, that they should have dis-
turbed you by on ring (Hour room so roughly," said
J innie, picking the can e up from the 001' where
Kit hadthrowu it and pine ng it on the table, then
lighting it by the flame of the candle she held in her
hand

“ I suppose the excitement under which they were
laboring excuses everything," Bermce said, gazmg
with curiosity upon the face of the young girl.

A strange contrast there was between the two.
Bernice.‘ W'flih her handsome face and the air which
bespoke the breeding of a lady; and J innie. the wild-
flower, w 0 been reared among the re h life
of the mines; her face thin, and a look of s rewd-
iiess about the eyes and mouth that told of self-re-
liance, and a knowledge and courage far beyond her

ears. .

y “Yes, miss I suppose so," Jinnie said, a parently
not noticing the attention with which Bern as was re-
gin-linv her. “I can’t understand what got into
Judge Jones. He came into the saloon with the rest
at his heels, and asked where Dick Talbot was. I
told him that he had gone out after supper and
had said that he was oin u to Gopher Gully
to have a little fun wit t e ys there. Then
the Judge said that I must be mistaken; that he
was sure, he was in the house; and he and his
men started up-stairs at once. I asked Ginger
Bill—that’s the man with the red beard who drove
the coach the night you came in, miss—what the (use
was, and he and the Judge was after the road-agent,
Overland Kit, and he s’posed he wanted Talbot to go
with him. Injun Dick. you know, is looked up to y
all the miners, pretty near. I followed the Judge
right up-s and I card ’ein talk about searching
the rooms. '1‘ e Jud e asked me which was Dick s
room. I told him rig t away that there wasn’t any
use of looking there because you had the room; but
I mi ht just aswell have talked to a lot of stones, for
all tfie good it did. One of the men kicked open the
door, and after that, of course, you know all that

ha ed.’

‘Pgeeg " Bernice replied, absently. The words of
the girl confirmed the thought regarding Judge
J ones’s action that had come into her min

“ Did this road-agent try to rob you, miss?" Jinnie

“No; he came to warn me," Bernice replied, and
then she looked earnestly into Jinnie‘s face: a strange
thought had entered her mind. “ Do you lmow any
thing about this Overland Kit?"

Jinnie looked astonished at the qu

“ Why, no; how should I?" she asked.

Bernice was satisfied. Jinnie was ignorant as to
who and what the outlaw really was. She had not.

eased the mystery that surrounded Overland

't.

“I can’t understand how he got into the house,
either," Jinnie said. “He must have crept in the
back way when there wasn‘t any one around. I‘ll
try and not have fin disturbed again miss." Then
J innie stood and load for a moment, wistfully, in-
to Bernieefilface. It was evident that she wanted to
sa somet more. '

rnlce nogced the e ression upon the face of
the other, and waited for aquestion; but it did not

come.

“ Good-nigh miss," Jinnie said, abruptly, and
turning, she is t the room.

“ Good-night," Bernice replied.

The door closing, Bernice was once more left alone.
She sat silent in thought. She asked herself 11 n;
were not possible that she had made some terrible
mistake; if the suspicion which she had allowed to
take full possession of her mind was not rather the
mango ofia morbid fancy than actual truth, war-
l'lm b c rcumstauces.

But theY uestions were in vain. she could not shake
Elie belief t had so completely taken posaession 0:

er.

How long she remained silent in thought she knew
not; but judging from the extent of the candle that
had been eaten in by the flame, it was some hours.

Although the e was fast verging to midn ht,
sleep seemed a stranger to her eyes. The cease ess
spirit of unrest that had taken possession of her
brain forbade all thou hts or wish for slumber.

But, at last, with a s h, she rose to her feet, and
prefiared to disrobe for the night.

’1‘

e street without was hushed into silence. Spur ‘

Cit was re arinv for sleep. , . , ,
Then, 51d enly:3 on the still nightsh- came the

 

train of many feet and the hum of voices. With a
terribe foreboding tugging at her heart, Bernice
again ran to the window.

CHAPTER XIX.
rim Mission-r EXAMINATION.

Tan window was still open, for Bernice had not
closed it. She looked out upon the street. A little
5: up 35] men came marching along, coming from

e no .

As they came past the Eldorado, Bernice saw that
Judge Jones was at the head of the party, and that
in the center was Dick Talbot, evidently a prisoner.

A si h of anguish came to the lips of the girl; her
worst ears were realized. Theexpress agent was on
the ht scent.

Ant 9 arty passed the window, Talbot raised his
6 es, an azln in that direction, can ht s ht of
t e pale ace 0 Bernice. framed in e h that
streamed through the window, from the urning
candle on the ta le beyond.

“1A and smile came over his face as he looked upon
e r .
The part on, heading for the ress

office. A lltte group of people had come? the

1:00;;an the Eldorado, attracted by the noise of the
00 ps.

Among the party was J innle and Mr. Rennet.

Bernice leaning out of the window, caught sight
of the ol lawyer.

She called out to him, aloud.

In obedience to her request, Mr. Bonnet ascended
to Bernice‘s room.

“ You saw them ” Bernice questioned eager-
ly, almost before e lawyer was fairly within the

apartment.
“You mean the party that just went down the

to Yes."

“ Certainly."

“ What is the matter?"

“ Well from what I can gather from the converse-
tion of the men who stood around me, I should say
that the Vigilantes had risen."

“ Vigilantes ?" questioned Bernice. in wonder; and
then, at the very moment that she s ke, the tho ht
Elmtliif’wil‘s‘ mi?“ tilt T“ is ii...“ ‘31.:

ew or spa en angrr , so
from the hands of the V' lantes.

“Yes; the old-time V ance Committee, under a
new name, my dear," ex lained the lawyer. “You
see they don‘t have muc law in this region—none
of the machine of courts, judges, lawyers, etc.;
so, once in a wh e the citizens take the law into their
own hands, and that, my dear, is the V' ilantes."

“ But what are they goi to do with . Talbot!"
questioned Bernice, earnes y.

" Mr. Talbot i" said Rennet, in astonishment; he
had entirely forgotten the name of Dick.

“Yes; the gentleman in the middle of the group
of men, who seemed to be a prisoner. He‘s the one,
Mr. Rennet, who gave up his room to me; don‘t you
remember? ’

“ Oh, yes; bless me! I for ot all about it 1" ex-
claimed the old law or. “ ell no one seems to
have the least idea w y this Mr. albot is arrested—
ever body calls him In un Dick, my dear. By the
by, t at‘s the reason w I didn't understand who
you meant "

“ Where are they taking him?"

“ To the BIB-[:88 office down the street; they‘re
going, to try right away, so one ofthecrowd

“ Mr. Rennet, I feel a t curiosity to know of
what crime he is acc . Be very kindly gave up
his room to me, you know,” Bernice said suddenly.
“Would it be requesting too much to ask you to go
and see what is the matter?"

“ 0h, of course not, my dear," Bonnet replied,
rather astonished at the odd request. “ I‘ll go at
once, but; the trial may take some time, ind it’s late
now an -—‘

“I shall be up—I‘m not at all sleepy!" interrupted
Bernice quickly. r ’

“We ‘ll be back as soon as possible," and the
old gen eman hurried from the room, wondering at
the peculiar whims of “ lovely woman."

Down t estroet to theexpressomoehurriedthe
lawyer. I was only a few hundred yards, and when
Bonnet arrived there, he found that they had- just
got the once lighted u by means of a number of
caudal: stugk around flede gang]: of tbeh in tin
soon an were proc o n e court.

The Judge took a seat behind theptfiible; Talbot, the
risoner, was placed behind a dry box; and
he crowd ranfied themselves around e room. '

- The little o co was Ifiretty well crowded, for the
Barty that held an ckprlsoner had increased,
ttle by little. on t e road from Gopher Gully to the
express ofllce in Spur City.
As this is merely a preliminary examination we
don't need any guy.‘ said Judge Jones, with this
remark opening he court.

“ Prisoner at the bar, known asDick Talbo other-
wise Influn Dick, are 1you guilty or not guilty "

“ We Judge, um I know what I'm accused of, I,
can't1 tfll; I heifer oozii‘ld guegs (ii-lgdl’es. £23581?
muc or me; five ii u re
coolly. not at all a bed bg' his position.p "

A itter went ronnd the circle of miners at the re-
ply. Probably no class of men in the world are

ulcker to appreciate a certain sort of humor than

e denizens o the Far West.

The Ju e looked annoyed for a moment.

“I put t e uestion directl to you to save time,"
he said, sterngy; "you must now very well of what
crime you are accused, Dick Talbot."

“Haven‘t the least idea. Judge; unless it is in be-
ing l{Diclejalbot I'll have to plead guilty to that,
any cw.

‘ Gambler b chea and despersdol" exclaim-
ed the Judge' fllfly. t’
The face of Talbot grew a shade paler at the ugly
names; he shut his teeth firmly
ment, involuntaril his hands nched, and an
ominous li ht shot in his dark e es.

All wi the room bent forw eagerly to watch
the issue. Few there but had seen men, to in
size, .go down before Injun Dick’s sledfie— ammer
blows, for far less offense than that now 0 ered him.

Nearly all the crowd expected to-see Dick dart for-
ward and fell the Judge to the floor, and one half of
those within the room would have justified the deed.

Neither they, nor Dick, had any suspicion that

 

'fiyar wordagl ’it. on] offeredfurtosee
ckt u if encoded Istandreadyfur

to ther for a mo«-

 

Judge Jones had slyly drawn a revolver from the
drawer of the table. w on he had first taken his seat
at it, and now, with his hand u n the trlgfii' the
hammer cocked, he waited for e attac w c he
had f calculated his words would ring. or
course, n self-defense, the Ju e though
rightly, too, that few would blame iin for using his
weapon.

But Judge Jones had reckoned “ without his host.“

With a powerful effort. Dick repressed his wrath. 1

“Ju e when a man stands before you with hi1
hands ed behind his back to strike him, even with
words isa cowardly act,“ ck said, slowly and dc
“berater. ,

A low murmur came from the lips of the crowd.
at] wgs lain that the prisoner had more friends than

a u e.

“And now, Judge, let‘s have a good, fair, uare
show of hands; no cards up your sleeve, oggaccs
rung in on a ‘cold‘ deal," continued Dick, in the
sarr e cool deliberate way. “ What are you, anyway?
are you the Judge, sitting there to try me for some
crime I am ace of committing, or are you the l
prosecutin attorney, whose business it isto prove '

e ' ty he can, whether); am so or not? or are
on th, rolled up into one? If you are, I‘d like to
now what kind of a show I'm going toget in this

here court?"

“ A show to be struck by lightning l" growled the-
manzfmm-Red-Dog, in anger.

“ Silence in the court,’ cried the Ju e, sternly
and in a or. "In reply to our accusat one, I Will
say that am the Judge, an not the rosecutlng at-
aorney', but it is my duty to see t at Justice be I

one.

“ That‘s all I ask," remarked Dick, quietly.

“ Of course {Eu are aware that, in certain cases,
the Judge, on e guilt of the prisoner being proven,
has “Power to pass sentence at once " Jones said.

“ hat’s square, eveg time; but say, Judgg you
commenced operatic by saying that, as was
only- a preliminary examination, a jury wouldn‘t be
needed. Now, if ou're olng to have a Jury, they're

at to find me ty ore you can sentence me.

' nd if the crime I’m accused of isn't b one h to
go before a juia, w of course the p shmen will
only amount a

ne. So yfou can propel hi;
away with your mule-team; I’ve done any ng
wrong according to law, I'm ready to pony up for it,
and I haven‘t got money enough about me, maybe
some friend of mine in the crowd will ‘put up ' for
me.

“I’m our antelope!" yelled the-man-from-Rcd-
Dog, 'n a canvas bag of gold-dust excitedly in
the air, and ncing first on one leg, and then on the
other, like a turkey on a hot late. “I‘ll see iyou
thro h of it bu'sts me. I‘m e big cinnamon tar
from Dog, I aml"

put that feel out!" ejaculated the

, .
“ ve you icked out the s t where you want

that ‘ some ’ buried?" asks the Red-Dogite, sar-

castl “ r hadn‘t you better ‘ go fur me‘ your-

self? I hit you onc't the dui-ned old express com-

gany would want another express agent at Spur
ity, you bet!“ .

 

CHAPTER XX.
A anon m m uncommon.

“ Ononnl order 1" murmured some of the partisans l
of the Judge, scattered among the crowd.

“Who’s a-sayin‘ .an thl ag'ln’ order?" demand-
edthoglant,lookinga ut ,asifwithintent to
get his eyes on one of the speakers and inaugurate
a free fight, there and then. “Is this agood squsr'
trial, or ain t it? Have you got the ‘papers’ k-
edonus,an’t ed.sothatmyp tbar
ain‘t goin‘ to have no sight for his money, so i"
andthe-man-from-Red-Dog looked indi t. “ at
big cuss, thai', that’s tryin’ to boss job, stuck
his ick into my ‘lead’ without my sa ary word
to h I don t allow that ary man rein hyer’to
Austin, big or little, Injun or white, kin call me a
fool, without havin‘ to peel an’ fight fur it. ' I'm
m: amalgam-free fight,an all I askisa far

i 0‘! '

"Ordyer must bepresorved, or the examination
cannot go on ” said the Judge, in a quiet way; he
alreadysawthathe had proceededonthewrong

“That‘s sol" a aculateld Dandy Jim. “I never

to utthe urstmanoutm ,ofhe‘sasblgasthe
3‘ Pullic‘mirm tisf ' fin Jones, .l

‘ s so so 0 ' ev -
dently dosing:- of calming the trrbiibled waters that
threatenedlto overtwhhelm the im rom tu court or

notice. " was ra er hast r

{be oxpreosio which I addriiis’o’d pi.
whole crowd t an to ug‘one man in t; and, I sup-
poseitisaswellthatl ould staterlght herethatl
maul tli‘igdlolrenalve word, and trust that it will be
over 00 - ‘

“'1‘hat'ssquar’l"exclaimedthe ntlemanfromRed
Dog. “I don‘t knock any chip 0 any man’s. shoul-
der, he puts it there .to be knocked off. Your
H 'm' «affepded‘ Judg'i’iinmin w ht toinb6 m.

ven an‘ ve one 0 so

, I‘m glad of it." in? with remalrlk’:
mazes once more restored, and the examination

Jones saw lainly that Dick hadmade n his mind
to take the &air coo ,rand not be provt'bked into
any violence. The Ju feltthathe had lost the
first Point in the game, and that his adversary had
the best of it at presen . /’

“ The cha against you, Talbot, ll av serious
one," theJ said, slow) - “too serious or me to
handle alone. I don t wan assume any res onsiv
bility beyond what the citizens here havo eon erred
upon me. As your life or deathwnl in the
issue of trial, I shall summon a o twelve
mew and true, and place your to in their

The members of the crowd looked at each other
rather astOnished at the words of the Ju . Me'-
chanica . each man put the question to elf:
“ f who crime is I on Dick accused?”

“ You will have a air, square trial before a jury
of your hollow-citizens here; your fate‘ will he in
the r hands, not in mine,“ continued the J nd 9. “I
make this remark, because, by your wor s, yozn

l

 

 

n ‘
L ,
w

 

t

Beadle’s Dime Library)

 

12

 

seemed to insinuate that I was acting unduly against
you. Now I am not aware of any reason existing
ughy I should have a spite against you; do you know
0 any "

“No,” Dick replied, promptl - “but Judge, in
this world, amen ain’t always ahle to tell his friends
from his enemies. You may have some secret spite
against me that I don’t know anything about. I
don’t say that on have; I don’t know any reason
why you shoulcfl have; I never trod on your toes in
any way that I'm aware of. But, as I said before a
man can’t always tell. When the ship is on the
ocean, it isn’t the rock that rises above the water
that’s dangerous; it‘s the one beneath the surface,
that the waters hide. Just so in life. I never yet
feared, or turned my back on an open enemy. I
was always giro ared for him; ready, willing to
meet him. I ’s t e man that strikes you in the back
that’s ugly—the fellow who hasn’t the cou e to
say; :I‘ve got a grudge against you; look on for
me ‘ i

" Very true' but I think you, as wellas everybody
else here, ought to be full satisfied that I haven t
anything a ainst you. Im aware that these re-
marks of m e are a little out of place, but when a
man’s character is attacked, and his motives ues-
tioned. he had better settle the matter right 0 at
once," Jones said, striving to appear as just as pos-
sible. “ We’re convened in this room fellow-citizens,
to carry out the spirit of the law; what does it mat
ter if we don‘t conform to the strict letter of it?
We‘re after Justice, that‘s the main point. We are
far ofl here from civilization; we haven’t ot the
re machinery to work out the process 0 law as
they have it in the East in the bi cities. But, what
do we care for that? As I said efore we're after
justice, and law ain't always justice. intend that
this man shall have a fair trial. Twelve honest men,
selected by yourselves, fellow-citizens, shall decide
according to the evidence whether he is guilty or not
guilty. As for myself, I’m goin to lay down the

aw Just as honestly and fairly as know how. If I
don‘t, when I step out of this court to the street
outside I become a private citizen again, and answer-
able to any one of you for my acts. ’

A murmur of applause went round amon the
crowd. What fair man could take exception 0 the
J udge’s speech? -

“ And now we’ll commence roceedin s," said
Jones, after the slight noise subsid . “ Dick
Talbot. you do not know, then, the nature of the
ehai e under which you have been arrested?"

Dicfir shook his head silent] in the negative.

“ You are accused of etc p ng the express coaches
on the highway between ere and Austin, and by
force of arms assisted by armed confederates, rob-
biii said coac es and theypassengers in the afore-
saig coaches, of their money and other valuables!”

Nearly all within the room started in surprise, and
loud murmurs of astonishment and doubt came
from the lips of the miners. Such a char e, cou led
with the name of Dick Talbot, seem to t em
utterlfy pre osterous.

As or T bot himself, he seemed to be the most
thorough! astonished person in the room.

“Why, udgel" he exclaimed, “somebody’s been
putting u an awful job to humbug you 1"

“You Jen the charge?" questioned J u eJones,
fixing his co d gray e so on the face of Tel t.

“ Of course I 0! ou might as well accuse me of
tryin to steal the moon."

“ ou den that you are the road-agent known as
Overland Ki 1’"

If a bomb-shell had burst in that little shanty it
couldn't have caused more astonishment than he
question put by Jud Jones to the prisoner.

The members of e crowd stared at each other
with open mouth. a

“ Overland Kit!" cried Talbot- “what, If"

“ Yes' are you no i that notorious desperado?"

“ Well, Judge, I‘d ke to see you prove it,” Dick
replrfid, with'an air of conscious innocenc .

e

at I will s do,” said the Judge, confl-
dently. “ Step forw , Joseph Rain."

That worth instantl enie ed from the crowd and

advanced to he side 0 the to lo.

“ This is the first witness,” said the Judge. “ Wit-
ness look at the prisoner. Can you tell me—” .

“I beg your pardon,” interrupted Rennet, who
looked upon the whole mair “Mflect farce, and
the charge as too ridiculous to of credibly, for
an instant; “but Judge, it is customary to swear
a witness before e gives his testimony; otherwise,
how can you tell whether the man is speaking truth

1- falsehood? You can‘t, legally, jeo ardize a man’s
flfle‘ uppn the mere word, unsupported by oath, of an.
at er.

“ That’s so, hoes P' ejaculated Gin or Bill.

“ You bet!" cried the-man-from- -Dog the ex-
pression “ sort of clinching " the remark of the other,
as a'miner observed.

“ Squar’ " said another of the mine and vari-
ous reind ark: of a like tenor came from o are of the
crow . .

Judge Jones knitted his brow; he did not like the
interruption, but his own good sense told him that
the int was well taken.

“ any one in the room a Bible?“ Jones asked,
aftera moment’s pause.

The miners looked at each other in doubt.

If Judge Jones had asked for a. pack of cards a
dozen in the room could have accommodated him
at once.

“ Hasn‘t any gentleman got a Bible?" repeated the
Jud e, beginning to see a serious delay.

“ ficckon thar ain’t one ’round, J ," one of the
miners said, sh his head in den

“A Testament _ dg.” the Judge remarked, be-

iuni to s ow ns 0 annoyance.
g Agt’ii the firs of the crowd looked at each
other with b aces.
J.“ Reckonkgiiar ain‘t any sich thing in this crowd,"
im remar .
“ on‘t believe that thar's sich a thing in town,”
Gingsr Bill observed, dubiously. .

"‘ ell, in the absence of the article whereon the
oath should be taken, we must swear the witness On
his conscience," said the Judge, seeing a way out 0‘
the dilemma.

“ Swear him on a chicken, Chinee style," BuggeSted
another.

“ I reckon chickens are as skase as t’other things
round hyer,” observed another.

“ I wouldn‘t believe that ornery-lookin’cuss of you

 

were to swear him on a stack of Bibles,” growled the-
man-from-Red-Dog, in an undertone. .

“No nor a hull hen—roost of chickens,” replied
Bill w o stood by the side of the Red-Dogite.

“We must proceed on the word of the witness,”
said the Judge. ,

“Stop a moment, I have a Bible!” exclaimed a
clear, gu'rlish voice; then the door of the shanty
opened, and Jinnie appeared.

CHAPTER XXL
THE FLY-LEAF.

NATURALLY, all within the room were a little aston—
ished at the sudden and unexpected appearance of
the landlady of the Eldorado. But her resence at
the door of the shanty is easily explaine . Like all
the rest she had followed Judge Jones and his pris-
oner. Instead of enterin the house however, she
had re ained outside at t 8 door. The door being
ajary e could easily overhear all that took place
within the room.

For a moment a dark and lowering frown clouded
the face of the Jud e. It was caused by the sudden
it earance of the l, but speedily it passed away

e es being turned upon Jinnie, none noticed i
butt 6 (girl herself. 1t did not esca her she.
eyes, an she understood the cause 0 the Ju es
an gut But she adfitanced within the room wit a

s e an uprig carriage.
us‘ You phave the book i” the Judge estioned.

“ Yes: I’ll bring it if you want it " innie replied.

“If on be so kind, Miss innie ” the Judge
said, b andly, but there was a look in his 6 es that

lain rey‘tealed to the girl the bitter anger at was
ea .

“ I'm goin to bring the book, Dick, because it may
help you to ave this fellow—” and the girl glanced
contemptuously at the witness, Joe Rain—‘ bound
down b oath; perhaps it will keep him to the truth.
I hea ’em when the asked for it first, but I
wouldn’t sa anythin , or I thought that if they
didn’t get it hey woul n’t be able to go on; but since
they are to put the thing through anyway, why, it is
better to have ‘em swear to what they say."

“Thank you, Jinnie,” replied Dick, a slight tinge
of color flushing his cheeks. ‘.‘ I sha’n’t forget your

kindness.“ .
There was ve little expression in his voice,
small meaning in words, but there was a look in

his clear blue eyes that made the heart‘of the girl

leap for jiffy]. v

‘ I’ll h g it right away}. Judge!" Jinnie cried,
hastily and she ran out of t e shanty. _ l

The Judge leaned his head on his hands, hidin his
face from view; he felt that he could not con the
rage that was burnin in his heart.

The crowd gather in little knots, discussing the
strange occurrences of the last few hours.

The witness, Joe Rain, leaned on the edge of the
Judge’s table, and looked around him with a stolid

face.

Talbot stood upright, straight as 9. inc tree, fold-
ed his arms over his breast, and with s gaze fixed
afar oil on vacancy, lost himself in thong t, and by
the smile that appeared upon his lips one would
have guessed that his thoughts were of a pleasant

nature.

“That gal‘s a trumpl” said Bill emphatically.
“ She wasn’t a-goin’ to reduce the Testament when
she thou ht a-holdin’ o it back would help Dick; but
the minn t she found that a-fotchin’ it out would be
good for him, she goes fur it thar an’ then.”

“ ’Tain‘t no use to sw'ar that cuss,” growled Jim;
“ he’ll lie, how.”

“ B orra, e’s like a cousin of mine in County
Kerry, ' chimed in the Irishman, Patsy—“a cousin
four times removed, d’ e mind; he was sich a goat
divil to swear that he‘ swear the legs from 0 an
iron pot, or arhole thro h a tin saucepan, an’ think
E? Ingre of it than of ‘a his praties, bad ’cess to

m ,

“Look-a-hyeri You're kinder pilin’ it on, ain‘t
ye?” questioned Bill, doub l .

“ By the piper that plays re Moses, it's the
honest trut ’m sp’akin’ " firmed the Irishman.
“Share, he’d swear that black was white, an’ that
White was no color at all.”

“ Say Ju , kin I hev a word with Dick?" asked
the Red-Do te abruptly.

"I see no objection, ’ replied Jones, raising his
head for a moment.

 new it? y...  . . t

, , e m o n a ow no,
:33“ got a question fur to ask you; will you answer

 

“Yes, of course, if I can.” > -

“Oh, you kin, 'nufl," replied Dandy Jim.
" Now, on or word of onor, old pard—‘hopeImay
die,‘ an‘ that sort of thing—what war your band
gorthfnwhen these fellers went for you up in the

T bot laughed at the question, asked with so
man words.

“ pair of queens," he said. .

“And I .had two leetle l" exclaimed the-man-
from-Red-Do , in disgus . “Why, I would have
raked the pi e. Din-n their skins, why didn’t they
wait until we played the hand out? '

And then Jim retired, growling to himself.

With a face glowing with excitement, Jinnie re-
entered the room carrying a little Bible in her hand.

“There it is Judge,”s e said, placing it on the
table. Then she retired a little way, and mingled
{mil the crowd, the men respectfully making room
or or. .

“Thank on, Miss Jinnie,”sald the Ju e, politely

y hisdfiinnds

raising his head from the shade of (an
‘ You

pushi the book toward the witness.
filem imar‘that the evidence that you are about
u .—

ve
fl; Oh, J udgel" cried Jinnie, suddenly, her face in a

me.

The Ju 5, thus interrupted, stopped in his speech,
and look at the girl in astonishment. Her face
was as red as fire, and she was trembling with ex-
citement. ‘

“ What is it?" Jones asked, in ostenishment.

“ y Bible, lease—for a moment—I forgot some
thing," and innie advanced to the table, her out-
stretched hand nervous with agitation. *

“ Certain] ” said Judge Jones, perplexed at the
unaccounta e excitement of the girl.

h Thoroughly astonished, Jones handed the book to
er. '

 

0 col it with a hand that shook like an as en
lea , Jinn e tore out the fly-leaf of the book. he
keen 9 ‘es of the Judge detected that them Were two
short nes written on the page. J innie crumpled
the leaf u in her hand, thrust it hastin into her
bosom, an then, replacing the hook on the table,
retreated to her former position among the crowd.

Of courSe, her motive was plain to all within the
room, There was something written in that book
she did not wish other eyes to see.

The Judge administered the oath to the witness,
and then proceeded to question him.

“ What is your name? ’
.“Joe Rain."

“Your business?"

“ Haven’t any at present."

“ What was our former occupation?”

“ Road-agen .” _

There was a visible sensation among the inmates
of the room at this, declaration.

“ When you say ‘ road-agent’ you mean that on
were a robber—highwayman?” questioned the J u

“Yes " replied the witness.

“ Ha you companions in your robberies l"

“ Yes—two."

“ Name them."

“ Jimmie Mullen and Overland Kit."

:: Overland Kit was your captain?"

" Where did you part with him last?" .

“ In a cave that we had as a hidin‘-place up in the
mountains. The captain said the country was get-
tin‘ too hot to hold us, and that we must disband.
He diVided the plunder, and we so arated."

“ Would you_ know Overland Ki if you should see
News?" 9,, J ,y

es answer oe, promp .

“ Look around on.”

The witness di so.

“Is Kit in this room?”

65 Yes."

“Point him out."

“ That’s the man—the fellow you call Dick Talbot,”
and Joe pointed directly to the risoner. ‘

A murmur of astonishment lled the room at this
direct accusation.

“ You are certain that yonder man is Overland
Sit, {he leader of the road-agents Y" said the Judge,

ow . a

“ I am swearin’ to it,” replied Joe, confidently.
“Prisoner, you are at hberty to ask the Witness

hat on like,” said the Jud e the ex-

any uestion

ressmnu n his ace fully betraying hi elief that

e had T 0t in a tigiht place.

“We I would li e to ask a few, Judge " Dick
said, ca 1y. “Hasn’t Overland Kit a full black
beard and long black hair?"

“Yes,” answered Joe, readily, an insolent smile
upon his face.

“Yet I wear no beard except this chin-piece, and
my hair is short, cur , and brown in color.”

‘That’s because w on you called ourself Over-
land Kit, you wore a wi and a board of false hair.
I’m so fur you, On , ut I’ve got yer. I saw yer
in the ver-road yes rday, heard you speak, and
knew that you war my meat in a twinklin‘i ’ ex-
claimed Joe, with a leer of defiance. ‘

“This court will now adjourn," said the Judge;
“the evidence fully warran's my holding on pris-
oner on this charge. To—morrow you s ah have a
formal trial. In in mind however, from the evi-
dence, there is no oubt about your guilt.”

CHAPTER XXII.
GIRL on woman.

SLOWLY the little crowd emerged from the shanty
twmhmmary' examination over, and Dick Talbot
h a prisoner, accused of being the notorious
road-agent, Overland Kit. ,

It was arranged that the express-office was to
serve as Talbo s prison, rded b the four men
who had volunteered  with the ud in his ex-

tionoto GopiifilékG y, that had res ted so un-
un .

Joe e witness, was taken toanother shanty
near b , also placed under guard, with strict injunc-
tions t no one should have communication with
him. The Judge did not intend that the important
witness for the government should be tampered
with in the interim that intervened before the hour
of the trial.

Judge Jones was leaving nothing undone to secure
a conviction. The motive that urged him on was
powerful ind

Talbot, within the shanty, was left alone to reflect
u n the unexpected course of events.

ithout, the express-0mm was guardedby the
four volunteers, revolver in hand.

Ginger Bill, the sta driver. and Pets , the Irish-
man, guarded the b of the shantyan the side of
it looking to the north, while the two other miners
guarded the front and the south side.

“I say Patsy, the idea of the Judge askin’ for a
good boo amon such acrowd of rough cusses as
we are] If it ha '1: ‘a’ bin for showing disrespect,
Pa ‘33 haw-bowed right out."

“ Faix an’ I kim near doin' that some meself,“
said the Irishman. “ To be askin’ the likes of us for
a book, good or badl Barrin’ the gurls, 1 don’t be-
lave there's a book in the cam .”

“You don’t want to gamb e on tliaeta flagentle
friend from Cork or ou‘ll t flax thun-
der,""Bill remarked. “ ’ve g a book in my pocket
now. '

"Is it the likes of con that would be after read.
“linseed the... mes-assess...

or e es
drawingya sniyall Egd well-thumbed volume from 

pocket. .
B the ht of the moon now shining diml in the
heazens atsy looked at, the book, which,yto the

ate? ver, was a treasure.
“ ’adle'spime Novels—The Bed Coyote," said
ffigy‘,’  out the title. ‘ Oh! I’ve herd of

“ Bill I" said a low, cautious voice.

.The two men turned in astonishment. »

Forth from the shelter of the shade cast by a
neighboring house came the rl, Jinnie. She ad-
vanced to where the two men s 0d. They looked at
her in amazement.

“Why, Jinme, What are you doing hyer?" Bill
asked, -

 

 

ll

 

 

 

The face of the girl was pale, and the red circles
around her swollen eyes told that she had been
weeping. Even the not over keen eyes of the two
men detected the, traces of suffering so evident,

“ I want [0 see Dick," the gii'lsaid,(5)1ainti\'ely.

" Well, I don‘t know." Bill replied, ubiously.

“ i must see him, Bill !" she cried, excitedly.

“Say, Jinnle. you ain’t a-goiu‘ to fix things so he
kin it away, are you? ‘0051 gave my word for to
watc him like a thousand of bricks."

“ How can I aid hill) to escape?“ Jinnle asked,
mournfully. “I only want to speak to him. that‘s
all. He may want somebody to come and speak for
him at his trial. Judge Jones has got a 5 its aiust
Dick' I know the reason of it, too. He on't ntend
that Dick shall have a fair show, if he can help it.
Dick was alwa s a friend of yours, Bill: ain't on
willing to help im a little, now that he has got nto
trouble?"

“ You bet!" cried Bill, em hatically.

“Then let me speak to Die through that window
there. You can keep a watch on me; he can't es-
cape, even if he wants to, with you two here, with
your revolvers.”

“Tru , for yees," said Patsy, quickly; “ let the
gurl see him: where‘s the harum?"

“That‘s so; sail in, Jinuie: but, I say, the window
is always fastened inside," Bill remarked.

“ Yes, I know that. but I unfastened it when I was
inside during the examination," Jinnle replied. “ I
thosiglfit that, perhaps, I might get a chance to speak
0 ic '."

Bill gave vent to slow whistle. The forethought
of the girl rather astonished him.

“All right; go in. lemons.“

Jinnle id not wait for a second bidding, but hur-
ried forward toward the house.

“Did yees hear the g? spake about our revol-
vers?” asked Patsy. ‘ gorral I niver had a re-
volver but onc‘t, an' thin ‘twas a bowie-knife."

J innie catching hold of the window-sash—the win-
dow, whlch was a one, swung on hinges to one
side—pulled it open. Talbot advanced to the window,
and could not repress an exclamation of surprise
when he beheld the girl.

With a cry of joy Jinnle threw her arms around
Dick's neck, and pil owed her head u on his breast.
For a few moments, sobs shook the s ight frame of
the girl, and the teardrops came freely from the
Ergo eyies that seldom sought the consolations found

weep .

Talbot!)me the girl tenderly to his breast.
“W , Jinnle you are cryin r I never saw you
cryvbe ore, in all my life," he (1, softly.

ith a great effort, she forced back her cabs, and
raised her teanwet eyes to his.

“ I don‘t ever remember cryinfiJbefore, since I was
a little girl," she said, in a voice roken by emotion.
“ I s‘pose all the cry that or ht to have come before,
has come now, just like t e spring floods in the
Reese. 0h, Dickl I feel so badl‘ an again the little
head, crowned with the rare-tinted red-gold locks,
went down upon his breast and the convulsive sob
checked the voice of the girl, as she clung closely to
Dick, and illowad her head on the heart of the only
friend she ad in the world.

Dick wound his arms still tighter around the girl,
and drew the little trembling form still nearer to

him.

“You r child!" he murmured1 kissin the
golden h r, the glory of the shapely ll tie hang. “ I
never saw you so agitated be ore, Jinnle; you've
alwu. s been such a—such a little man; so plucky
and ull of spirit. “ Dick was hesitating for words to

ex ress his meaning.
‘ That‘s just the way I don't want on to think of
me l“ exclaimed J innic her voice bro on by sobs.
“Not think of you that way!" said Dick, in aston-

ishmeut.

“No‘ Iain‘t a little man; am It" questioned Jin-
nle, sti sobbing.
y, no; 0 course not "replied Talbot, rather
pe lexed b the strain e behavior of the girl.

mth ade£rmined e ort. Jinnle once more chok-
edback her sobs. A ain she raised her eyes and
looked into the face 0 the man to whose breast she

clu .

“ at am If" she asked, abruptly.

3%“; “abstinl’tiramssr u u.

ou' s n c “ co m on

the tears again ptherlng in her large o'yeap‘“ What
am I? a bear—a og—“ ‘

“No,u:i£,';11ifmmpwd Dick; ‘ you are a very
prott e r.""

L golfing else? demanded Jinnle, panting.

es; a v ood little girl—
“No nyg but sear-ft" interrupted Jinnle, ponting
ill ore. -
n“ Vlthat else would you be? " asked Talbot, in won-
der

“'What you can‘t soothst I am; a womanf‘ex-
claimed the girl, in an aggrieved tone.

“ A woman

“ Yes; I'm sixteen: and I‘m a great deal older
than that in knowledge—at least so everybody says."
“ And you want me to look upon you as a woman
rather than as a child?" Talbot asked, a strange ex-
pression upon his face.
“ Yes," replied J innle, prommy.
“ Then I mustn‘t let you do t any more.“

“ Do what?" Jinnle asked, in wonder.

“ Why, lot on clin to my breast as you are
clinging now; mustn’t 58 you any more, or smooth

our hair back from your forehead. Such acts of
¥amiliarlty whichhmlay be permitted with the child,

reim r0 rwit t ewoman. ‘
a “ Aug gt? can‘t pet me any more?" asked Jinnle,
a wistqu look in her large eyes. "

“ No, not if you are a woman. '

“Well, I‘ll still be a child with you, if I m awoman
1vxvllthf every one eltse,” she said, a ruptly, after think-

or a momen .

6‘That‘s a sensible little ll" exclaimed Talbot,
gmflely. kissing the little rown forehead as he
5

o.
p2And now, Dick." said Jinnle, sudden] , “cant I
do anything to help on out of this awful ole?’

“I don't know, inuie,” Talbot rephed, thought-
fully. “ This fellow will swear terrib hard against
me. I can see that already. I think can prove the
difference that exists between Dick Talbot and Over-
land Kit, but Judge Jones is going to convict me if
he can. If he can get public sentiment aroused

agninstme here, and rush the trial through on the I

Overland Kit.

evidence of this fellow, without giving me a chance
for my life, I‘m a gone man,"

“But. Dick, isn't there any friend who could Iit'lp
you?" the girl asked anxiously.

“ Yes, one i“ cried ick, a bright thought coming to
him. “ Let me whisper in your car.“

A lengthy communication it was that Dick whis-

red. Then Dick pressed another kiss upon the
ow forehead of the girl, and she hastened away, her
heart beating high with hope.

CHAPTER XXIII.
annex mam uaaax.

TEN o‘clock, on the morning following the exam-
ination, found the mining-camp known as Spur City
in a terrible state of excitement.

As one old gru -haired miner remarked, “He
hadn‘t seen sich a cap of peoplein town since the
day when the first woman and baby arrived from
the East." An event, the knowledge of which trav-
eled with railroad speed from camp to camp in the
mountain gull] and which brought every minor
within thirty m les into town, to see the ht.
And, as the husband of the woman and the fat er
of the bab happened to be a shrewd West Virginian,
he instant y “went in " to accumulate a small for-
tune by charginga “bit” apiece for admittance to
the tent where his family resided! The unfortunate
arrival of two other women and two other babies,
some three days after the first, “ bu‘sted “ the spec-
ulation. The miners were like all other people who
run after curiosities. They didn‘t care to see sights
which had become common.

The old miner who uttered the above-quoted ro-
mark reggrdlng the number of peo do in town, was
reputed be one of the oldest inha itants. He had
been in Spur City full three years. and had seen the
camp grow up from one tent to some fifty tents and
shang'es combined. Of course his words had
Wt? K .

Speculation was on tiptoe regarding the chances of
In un Dick‘s ac uittal or conviction.

6 state of he betting, perhaps, indicated how
the pular pulse of Spur City bent in regard to the
mat r, better than anything else. Four to one that
Dick was acctifiitted went begging; few cared to risk
glaeir money at he would be convicted, even at that

ds.

One loud-talking gentleman shook his canvas bag
of gold-dust freely in the air, and offered to bet four
to one that Talbot would be not ultted, and followad
it with a side bet that he could ax out Jud 9. Jones
and the witness, Joe Rain, inside of a qua r of an
hour single-handed, or any two men on the jury.

It. is perhaps hardl necessary to remark that this
reckless better was t e-man-from-Red-Dog.

None cared to acce t his olfer, the b.

As a neral rule t e miners soon the idea that
Injun lck could by any possibility, be the road-
agent, Overland Kit.

J udge Jones 11 ed onward by the fierce assion
that was burning in his heart, had been up y day-
break, and since that time, he had not let be grass
grow under his feet.

He had dispatched two different parties in vari-
ous directions. On what mission they wont, no one
knew excegthudge Jones and the leader of the ex-

itions. ith one of the grace went, under guard,
be valuable witness, Joe in.

After various consultations with the leading citi~
sens, Judge J ones selected twelve men for the jury,
stud presented them for the unambled people to pass

udgmen upon.

Asthe twelve comprised twelve of the principal
men in the camp. they were elected unani-
mously. So the jury was formed.

A little circumstance that had occurred early in
the moral had annoyed Judge Jones excessively.
Just after t e departure of the second expedition,

the Ju e was waited u n by the New Yorker,
Salmon nnet, wccompan ed by Dandy Jim, Ginger
Bill—who had been relieved of his seat -post at

$9. lbor‘i'sak—and a couple of other citizens, riends of
a . '

Rennet had introduced himself as a member of
the New York fir, and informed the J u that he
had accepted a position of counsel the pris-
oner.

The Judge ground his teeth in an when inform-
ed of the fact, but refilled civilly engl‘ir'h.

Bonnet desired to ow the hour so for the trial,
and when the Judge said “ ten o'clock," he objected,
until he could have an interview with the prisoner
and ascertain somethin re ing the of de-
fense who used. A: e o d lawyer explained. he
hadth got yet seen his client int portion-1::d fact which

9 u was aware o as e van ox-
p13: :0. on thath'lllgbot should not be nilowsgd to see
an

ith an ill grace, the Jn allowed thela erad-
mlssion to the shanty wheggtDick was conflix’d.

After a very short interview. not occu ylng more
than ten minutes, Mr. Bonnet waited agSn upon the
Judge, and auured him that the {risonor would not
be for trial until six o'cloc that evening, at
m est,an alléhat time

procure eases an repare
for the trial. W p

The Judge replied tersely. and with considerable
asperit in his manner, that the trial was fixed for
ten o'c ock, and at ten o'clock it would take place
whether the prisoner was read or not.

Then Reunet blandly mov to “ end the mo-
tion,“ y roposing that the prisoner be hanged at
ten o‘cl ,wlthout any trial at all, and be added:
“ As it was plainly evident that the presiding Judge
had made up his mind to ha the risoner anyway,
they might as well hang w out a trial as
wit one."

After this shot, the old in erwithdrew. About
ten minutes afterward a noise n the street attracted
the Jud e to the door and, to his d , he beheld
the old ew Yorker elevated on a w sky-barrel. his
hat in his hand, his white hairs flying in the breeze,
supported on one side by the-man-from-Red-Dog
and on the other by Ginger Bill, addressing a crowd
of miners.

In about five minutes Jones became pretty well
convinced that he was no match for the New
Yorker.

Old Salmon Rennet, in his young days, had been a
| prominent ward politician in great Gotham, had won
the Judge’s ermine with the aid of flu- “ mitcrriflcd "

 

 

voters of the “ bloody Sixth," and, besides, he was

 

13

really an able lawyer. He knew how to address a
mixed audience, and it was really fun for the old
war-horse of Tammany once again to mount the
stun: l.

Inside of two minutes he had the crowd in n. ma r.
Then he invited them to come and see the hanging -.
congratulated them u n having a ju e no able flint
he huni,r men first, an found out whet or they \rvro
guilty or not afterward.

The consequence of these few remarks was, 1hr {
two minutes after the old gentleman descended i l
terraflrma adeputatlon of excited citizens, lirmlwl
by the redoubtable Red-Do lto, waited upon Judge
Jones, and demanded to now whether he was
going to ive Injun Dick in. show for his life or not?

The Jug e attem ted to tom orlze, but that unit of
thin wou dn't go own with t a crowd that Dandy
Jim leaded.

“ Too thinl" remarked the citizen of Red Dog, sen-
tentiously. The growl that followed Jim's terms ex-
pression, from the crowd. had similar meaning.

Jones reflected. He knew t iat lie was backed by
all the more respectable of the citizens: but he also
knew that he was powerless to any the majority of
the Spur-Cityites with him, unless some overt act
was committed to serve as an excuse for a call upon
the Vigilantes. If Dick had shot a man down in cold
blood, the deed, coupled with his well-known mode
of livin —by playing cards—might have been suffi-
clcnt t have raised a mob, and strung him up to the
first tree that came handy. But, in the present case
until Dick was "mat to be the road-agent, Overland
Kit, beyond t e shadow of a doubt, it would not do
to act r hly.

That he could prove that Talbot was the road-agent,
Jones had no doubt.

And so J u 0 Jones was forced b the opulur
clamor, raised y the speech of the w 1 old wyor.
to grant what he might readily have y cldcd with a
good grace in the first lace.

The trial was fixed come off at six o’clock that
evening.

When it became noised about town that the “ old
fat cuss, in store clothes," as the miners irreverent-
] termed Mr. Rennct was a celeme lawyer fi‘nlll

ew York, and that he had undertaken the defense
of the prisoner, the state of the odds in the betting
market changed at once. All those reckless souls
who had bet one to four that Talbot would be found
my, went round with bags of gold-dust in tlu-ir
an s, and “ tears in their 6 es, ' iinploring some-
bod to take. their offer of t rty to four that Dli'li
wou (111’! be found iilty.

As we before sail no better example of how Fuh-
llc sentiment re arded the matter can be given ban
the statement 0 the odds offered.

Jud 6 Jones, looking out into the street, could son
the o d lawyer surrounded by a group of Tulbot‘s
friends, busy asabeaver. Horsemen ke triding up,
making reports, and then, apparently, eporting on
other ml

ss ons.

Jones groaned in 0 He sun ted that (I:
law er‘s services in be al of the prlsgggr was 0. him
do t him by a woman‘s hand; but be little gnaw“
that he was fighting two. The rivals, Bernice Gwyn ‘
and Eldorado J innle, had made common cause

against him in behalf of Talbot.

CHAPTER XXIV.
m ram.

As the hour for the trial drew near, the express
office was the center of attraction.

It soon became evident to all that the shanty was
much too small to hold the Judge, the jury, the ris-
e??? the wiltnemes, and the lawyers, to say not. ling
o e peop a.

After considerable discuuion, an adjournment to
the o n air was s This was soon ado ilA‘d
unan mously and ve general satisfaction. he
citizens of pur ty, and the no hbors who had
been attracted from the surround ngoamps b the
news of the trial—it is astonishing bow news 0 this
sort will travel. and how fast it goes—natur- oli-
jectcd to being deprived of a chance to see the 8 mr.

So the court, wh ch was to t Dick Talbot, better
known as Injun Dick, and flu out whether he was
Kit or not. assembled in the (gen air.

A tablewas laced for the Jud a, a jury wan-r
accommodate on two pine hen
box the only one, by the way in Spur City, which
had n freely contributed i; its public-spirited
ownhgr, when he had learned tha it was needed, for,
as ex
pod or o‘nery old box nohow.“)sorved for
the prisoner, o togand one o knocked out. A
barrel, with a nailed to one end. and set up—
right, was for the witno-u. The '1‘ out had

inchnrge ofa Manama man. as it

discovered. a
only one in Spur Chg]. Now it. was
thoboard,andtho nin urgestoodnearbyto
see that no one it, for even the rough mini-is.
with all their lawlesl ways. had a rofouud res *ct
for the "Word." which has come own to us in -t
through so many long years.

The Ju too his seat, the jury theirs. The pris-
onu- was p in the box, the guards oncompaosin
him to prevent all chance of esca By the side 0
Talbot sat the old lawyer, a coat] out smile upon his

h had been summon-

es. A dry-goods

5

rom tu witness-box.
chair, by the sl 6 o the old lawyer, was Bernice
G 0, who had been summoned as a witness.

T a sun had‘ one down behind the far western
peaks, but the 0 ends were tinged gold, purple and
crimson by his dying m _

The balsamic odor of {he pines swept down along
the valley, borne on the bosom of the gentle breeze.
The Reese, a sheet of dune-colored satin, from the
reflection of the gorgeous clouds shave, rippled on
over rock and ledge, and golden-lined lands, a reall-
zatlon of the fabled rivcr ‘ Eldorado," of the Spur.-
lard, as if a human being'a life was not in peril, ten
paces from its banks.

Judge Jones opened the court.

“As I cannot and cltison to act as
rosocuting attorney luslhallbe obliged

ucstion
he witnesses ainst the prisoner in self; ut the
prisoner at the rmay rest assured t at I desire to

extract nothing but the truth, and that he shall have
full 'ustice done to Illln."'

’I‘a bot bowed, but replied not, while old Bonnet
smiled serenely to himself.

it, he “ wouldn‘t hev had the fun -

 

   

Fae. ; 33:5» - 4

;§ a“;

it

 

 

 

 

 

14:

Beadle’s Dime Library.

 

 

The first witness was Bernice Gwyne.

She related simply that the outlaw had entered
her room, engaged her in conversation for a few
moments then came the attack upon him and his

flight. The sub ect of the conversation was not
touched u n, urther-than that Overland Kit had
declared elf to be her cousin Patrick Gwyne,

and had warned her to leave S ur ity.

At the end of her recital, J u ge Jones spoke.

“ Do you detect any resemblance between the per-
son of the risoner at the bar and the outlaw?"

“None 9. all," Bernice replie firmly.

“ Do you detect any resemb ance between the
arisoner at the bar and your cousin, Patrick

no?" the Ju e asked.

“ ob ect totha questioni"ciied the old lawyer
on his est in a moment—one of the miners ad
kindvlflprovided him with a keg to sit on.

“ y do you object?" asked Jones, knitting his

row

“The question is irrelevant”.

“It is not i" cried the Judge.

“What is its purpose?" A

“ To establish the fact that the prisoner at the bar
is Patrick G ne."

“Exactly; ut if the court knows itself, the pris-
oner is not accused of being Patrick Gwyne, but of
bong Overland Kit.”

“ ertainly; we allow that; we may not be ro-
ceeding according to the exact forms of law, bu we
are after justice. If I can grove that the prisoner
is Patrick G e, and that verland Kit is Patrick
Gwyne also, i is clear to my mind that we establish
the risoner's identit as Overland Kit.“

“ tme answer t e question, please,” said Ber-
nice, suddenly. .

The old lawyer took the hint at once, and sat

down.
A smile of triumph appeared in the eyes of the

Jud e.

“ get me put the uestion again, miss so that the
ry‘wili understan it fully," and the Judge looked
t e gentlemen of the j meaningly, as much as
say, “Take notice, now.’

“Do you detect any resemblance between the
gisoner and your cousin, Patrick Gwyne, who came

you disguised as Overland Kit?" said the Judge,
slowl , measuring out, as it were, every word.

“ ell, bless my souli"muttered the old lawyer
in an undertone “if that isn‘t a nice way to u

ju
at.
to

wues‘tion—and he wants nothing but j cei
ew. ‘
Bernice ilxed her eyes fully upon Talbot. The
crowd held their breat to listen.

‘I have not seen my cousin Patrick G e, for
ten years, but in the face of that gentleman, do not

trace a single resemblance to him."

The old lawyer chuckled; the Judge had got rather
more than he bargained for.

Jones bit his lip nervously, hesitated for a moment,
then he spoke again:

“ Of course ten ears would naturally make a great
in a man. '
“ t’s for the jury," muttered Bonnet; “and he
wants justioel"

“ I am through with the witness." Then the Judge
“i3”? .

nne 0 u .

“ Relategwheili) and where you first saw this Over—
land Kit," he said.

Bernice];1 told the story of the road-agent stopping
the coac .

“When and where did you first see the prisoner at

?“

the bar

“ At the Eldorado Hotel when -I arrived here. He
was in the saloon when I entered I"

“You came straight from the place where the
coach was attacked the hotel?"

“ Coach go fast or slow?"

“ Very fast." ‘ .

“ How far from here do you sup the place was
where the coach was sMpfied m e road-agent!“

“ Some ten miles, I sho d t ."

“Ge r Can on, eight miles," said Ginger Bill,
from e crow . .
“Thank you; the information about the distance
and the name of the canyon is not, of course given
under oath, gentlemen of the jury; but it is hardly
necessary to s of that' it is a more question of
distance and ocality. Probably, nearly all of you
are aware of the truth, or falsehood, of the remark.
All that I want to call your attention to, is the fact
that, on the night in question, the coach was stop
ome ei ht or ten miles from this place, by ‘
Overlan Kit, the man‘s rson sworn to by this
lady; yet, when she entere the Eldorado saloon an
hour or so later, having come directly from the scene
of the robbery, at the topmost s eed of the coach,
the first person she saw, when entered the El-
dorado, was the prisoner at the bar. When on re-

member entlemen of the jury that the out w was r
chased in§o '

the mountain passes by the United
States troops and that the coach came directly on
to the bots here, you will clearly see the impossi-
bility of the prisoner at the bar being the road-
agent, Overland Kit; unlem, indeed, he possesses
the marvelous faculty of being in two places, some
eight or ten miles apart, at the same time. In fact,
aclearer alibi than this, I don’t think that I have
ever seen proven in the whole course of my profes-
sional experience." Then Rennet sat down.

It did not require the wisdom of 9. Solomon to see
that Talbot‘s case was won already, unless some
stro evidence against him, against which there
could no caviling, could be introduced.

Ggigegd 13% 1:11:03 drivtgizwgs failed to thfhstand; he
conrm cess mnregm‘dlnf ea r-
ance of Kit on the road. and findin albot Define
saloon; also the distance and the ocality of the
robbery. Then, in answer to the Jud e’s uestions,
he gave an account of 1115st in e a mgt to
“if” “2””??? ‘1‘“ T315315 ms;
1) testzee'an earres ,

pker in the Cosmopolitan Hotel, in Gopher

ully.

Bonnet on askedBillthi-ee estions.

1;;W1hat tiln'ie did the aflairquin the hotel take
08 H

p " ‘Bout eight o’clock; maybe half-past."
“After the fight, did you go directly to the Gully
to‘arrestithe prisoner?’ .

“ With time did you get there?"

 

“All along from nine to half-past; it takes 'bout
an hour to walk it."

“You see, gentlemen of the jury, that Overland
Kit was in Spur City, engaged in an armed contest
with the citizens, at eight or half-past eight. That
fact is clearly proven y the testimony of this wit-
ness; an hour or so later, he arrested the prisoner
at the bar, in Gopher Gully, four miles off. This is
important, use we have awitness ready to rovo
that the grisoner entered the Cosmopolitan Ho ei, in
Gopher ully at eight o‘clock precisely, the very
time when—i he is Overland Kit—he was fighting
the citizens in Spur City."

CHAPTER XXV.
an usnxrncrsn wrrimss.

Tim light of the torches flared up into the ht.
In the g re of the flames, the actors and specta one
in the strange scene that was being enacted in the
center of Spur Cit looked grotesque and unnatural.

The little crow of lockers-on watched the faces
of the jury erlv, as though striving to read in
their features t e fate of the prisoner.

Talbot, with a quiet smile u n his face, seemed
to be the most unconcerned 0 all the little gather-

in .

§udge Jones looked anfvthing but pleased with
the way that affairs were ending. He felt that he
was no match for the able New orker. So far, the
evidence had tended to rove Dick's innocence rath—
er than his guilt. The rown upon J ones's stern face
deepened, and the an ry glare that shot from his
eyes told plainly of bit or hatred. . .

Joe Rain was called to the stand. On his evidence
the Jud e depended. If it failed to 1m mess the
minds 0 the July with the conviction 0 Talbot’s
guilt, the game was up as far as the Judge was con-
cerned.

Joe was sworn.
as; 1210 you know the prisoner at the bar?" the Judge

6

“ Yes,” answered Joe, promptly.

“State how you became so uamted with him."

“’Bout two months ago, an‘ a pardner were
a-prospectin’ in a gulch ’bout twenty miles north of
Kenned 's Ranch. One night, achap comes along
an' es my pardner an‘ myself an offer to jine
him in a leetle s eculation. Seein’ as how the (pros-
pect looked goo , we agreed to jine him, an‘ di ."

“That was the we you became acquainted with
the risoner, eh?" ed the Judge.

es

“ What name did you know him by?“

“Overland Kit,“ replied Joe.

There was quite a sensation among the crowd at
this rom t reply, and even the jurymen looked ear-
nest y at albot, to note the effect of the speech up-
on him. But note muscle of his face moved. In'un
Dick had been in many a “tight place” in hi hfe,
and as he had always met danger with a bold front.
it wasn’t anything astonishing that he didn’t flinch
now.

“ You are sure that the prisoner at the bar is the
man that on knew who called himself Overland
Kit?" the udge asked, with measured accent.

I: a I’m a-swearin‘ to it!" exclaimed Joe, em-

a ca .

p “You see, gentlemen of the jury,” said the Judge
addressi the twelve, f‘ that this witness who is well
acquain with the road-agent, Overland Kit, swears
Easitively that the prisoner at the bar, commonly

own as Dick Talbot, is Overland Kit.” .

The jur looked puzzled. So far, the evrdence was
veg con cting.

e old lawyer got up.

“Has my learned brother got through with the
witness t" he asked, in his bland, oily way.

The Judge nodded assent.

“ What is your name?" he asked.

“Joe Rain.”

“ Your occupation?"

“Nothin' at present." ‘

“ You have stated that you and Overland Kit were
planners in a speculation. What was the nature of

at speculation i"

Joe scowled and cast a glance at the Judge as if to
ask whether he should answer the question or not.
The old lawyer detected the covert glance at once,
and pounce down upon Joe as the hawk pounces
upon a chicken.

“ ,k at the jury, witness; why do you hesitate to
answer my question?”

“I cannot see why the witness should be obli' ed
to answer such a question as that,” said the Ju e,
quickly, with a frown on his face.

“ Oh, dm’tyou?” exclaimed the old la er, sar-
castically. ‘ Well, I trust I shall be able to ow you
before I get through with this man."

“I rule that the witness is not obliged to answer
that uestion,” said the Judfip‘, with dignity:e

“ O , very well—very—we i ‘exclaimed nnet, in
measured tones, a peculiar smile upon his face.
“I‘ll put another questionto the witness. You say
that you recognized the prisoner at the bar as the
man who was your partner in a s ulation—the na-
ture of which on ob ect to sta ng-and who was
known as Over nd Ki i”

“ Yes,” answered Joe, doggedly. He didn't feel
very comfortable under the searching f the

la gaze 0
or.

“You are quite sure of it?"
il 19

“Didyou ever see Overland Kit dressed like the
prisoner at the bar?"
“ Well, no; I can‘t say I ever did,“ Joe answered,

slowl .
a “‘ Iiy I have been informed rightly], Overland Kit has
black hair, worn quite long, anda eavy black beard.
Is that true?"

“ Yes, but the ha’r an’ beard were false."

“ How do you know that?" asked Bonnet, sharp-

'“ Why, Isee‘d it." ,
“That is, you mean you d it?"
“I reckon I'm sure of ti" exclaimed Joe, confl-

ently.
“ Overland Kit always wore a black mask over his
face I believe?" Bonnet said.
N fa. H
“ Did you ever see him when the mask wasn’t over
his face i” .
“ Well, no," Joe replied, slowly; he began to
have an idea. that the lawyer was leading him into a
rap.

 

“ Then ou have never seen Overland Kit without
his mask, black hair and beard?”

“No,” Joe said, very slowly and reluctantly.

“ That i, ion mean to say that on have never
reall seen t 0 face of the man at a i"
“ hy, no; ve see‘d it in course—"
:: gut covered by a mask and a heavy beard?"
es."

“And you positive] swear that the risoner at the
bar is Overland Kit?"y p

“ Yes, I do,“ Joe reiplied, savagely.

“ You swear to the ace that you never saw 1’"

“Well, I didn't recognize him by his face!"

“What then?" -

“ Yy his voice; I kin sw‘ar to that."

“ on are really a most remarkable man." The
tone of the lawyer was sarcastic in the extreme.
“ How much are on going to get for this swearing i"
Rennet asked, an den y. .

“ Why, the reward, of course," answered Joe,
quickly.

The Ju looked anno ed.

“Oh i” and Rennet loo ed astonished. “ You ex-
pect the reward, then, ofiered for the apprehension
of Overland Kit? PossibLy that is the reason why
you are swearing so strongly that this man here is
Overland Kit, eh i" ’

“ I know he is!" exclaimed Joe, angrily.

“I‘m satisfied,“ and Bonnet sat down.

Joe left the stand.

" Have you any witnesses for the defense?" the
Jud e asked.

“ es, I had one or two," Rennet answered, rising,
“ but I don‘t think that it will be necessary to exam~
ine them. I think that we have already roved the
falsehood of the charge brought a ainst t e prisoner
by the very witnesses who were i‘ought forwardto
convict him, I am willing to rest the case here. Will
your honor sum u against the prisoner?“

“ I think that it is unnecessary; you can proceed,"
Jones re lied.

“ The you," snjd Rennet, politely. “ Gentlemen
of the jury, from the evidence presented, you can
have but one o inion as to the innocence or iii. of
the prisoner. have clearly provcn two alt is. As
to the evidence of the last Witness, the , gentleman
who declines to state the nature of the business in
which he was interested, in conjunction with ihe
road-agent, and who honestly confesses that he c:;~
fleets 0 get the reward offered for Overland Kit for

is pains, why, I leave it to your own good sense
to decide what it is worth. All have to say about it,
is that the man who can swear to another man
whose. face he has never seen, and identify him by
his vorce alone, is really a most astonishing instance
of human penetration. ’

The lawyer paused for a moment to catch his
breath, when, from behind one of the shanties that
stood nearest to the crowd athered around the
scene of trial, came a horse an rider.

1:ISYI‘BIiitEh breakneck speed, the horse dashed up the
s e r.
The glare of the torches flaming on the n ht-air,
cast a weird light upon the steed and rider. single
glance the astonished crowd cast u on the stranger,
and the truth b_urst upon them. he brown horse
with four “ white stockings " and the broad blaze in
the forehead was well_ known to the mine l'S' so, too,
was the horseman, With his black mask and flowing

beard. , .
“ Overland Kit 1" shouted the crowd, in wonder.

CHAPTER XXVI.
'rnn TRAITOR TRAILED.

ONWARD, at furious speed, went the horse, the rider
sitti in the saddle as if he were an of the animal.
The of the road-agent and s noted steed was
known to all.

Bonnet had proVed pretty conclusiveliithat Dick
Talbot couldn’ very well be Overland t, but the
new-comer was a wi ness whose testimony could not

dispu . .

Seein was believing, and as both Judge, my and
spectatgrs beheld Injun Dick in the risongr‘s box,
and, at the yery same moment, saw e road-agent,
Overland Kit, in person, dash up the street riding
with the speed 0 'the wind, the came to t e wise
conclusion that Dick Talbot an the outlaw, Over-
ltilzlnd Kit, could not, by any possibility, be one and

e same.

The majority of the crowd made a bold dash after
the outlaw, and the revolver-shots run out she ly
on the still air of .the night. But the ri er seeme to
bear a charmed life. ith the speed almost of the
iron horse he flashed through the street and disap-

red in the darkness beyond. The quick thud of

s horse's hoofs alone could be heard, and they
were soon lost amid the sound of the Reese, rippling
over the rocks.

The sudden appearance of the horse and rider act-
ed differently upon the prominent ersons concern-
ed in the trial. The face of the udge grew white
with anger and he cast a furious glance at the wit-
ness, Joe Rain, who stared with open mouth and
straining eyes upon_ the une cted val. Tal-
bot’s face was as white as the ace of the dead, and
he bent down his head as if in thankfulness for his
narrow escape; but when the re rt of the istols
rung out sharply on the air an mingled w h the
rapid hoof-strokes of the flying steed, he trembled
convulsively, like one stricken with an a 9., Per-
haps he thought how near he himself 11 to

eath. . V

Bernice gazed with a ston glare upon the horse-
man. Her teeth were cleric ed, and a strange, un.
natural look was upon her face; her breath came
thick and hard' one hand she clasped to her heart,
as if she wished to still its tumultuous beatings.

Old Rennet stood smiling with dehght, and he
rubbed his ds ther-

After the horseman disappeared, the court
once more came to its senses. -

The foreman of the jury got u . He was a Jew,
who ke t the pflndpfll Store in pur City; by name,
Moses Bohen. The miners, however, had recklessly
abbreviated his name into ‘ Old Moses.”

“Shentlomellmfll Overland Kit ish ’ust one by
germ plain as can be dat meester T canno

There was no one bold enough to gainsay the truth
of .tll‘iisv; so, With one voice, the jury shouted, “ Not
gm .7, h .

This proceedin was not very regular, but it was
very pleasing to t e crowd.

Overland Kit;

15

 

 

“ Hooray l“ and theman-from-Red-Dog leaped
about three feet up in the air in his 'joy; “let em
out ‘inl Whar are you now, Judge? ‘

J ridge Jones did not answer the query, but silently
walk away. a lowering frown upon his stern face.
The court had broken up on the instant. Talbot was
surrounded b his friends warmly con atulatin
him on his luc escape. Bernice, with nnet, h
withdrawn to t e hotel. She walked with heavy
steps, a load upon her heart, and a strange, puzzled
ex ression on er face. .

nnet was mentally confiatulati 'himself.

“ The idea of me, an old th War er, being beat-
en in a law-case by any one-horse Western Judge!“
he muttered, complacently, as he walked along,
never noticing how ale and ill Bernice looked.

The Judge procee ed directlwa his office, entered
it, lit a candle, and sat down. e pressed his hands
nervousl upon his tom ice, as though he wished to
still the usy thou hts at were raging in his brain.

Gloomy and he looked. Sn denl the door
opened and Joe Rain entered. He clo the door
behind him, and surveyed the Judge with a grin.

“Wal, a nice mess we made of t, didn‘t we, eh?“
he said, uttlng his tongue in his cheek.

“ You emal villain! ‘ cried the Judge, with rising
anger, “ why did you come to me and say that you
could ut your hands on Overland Kit, when you
couldd t do anything of the kind l“

“ All men make mistakes sometimes, don‘t they!“
replied Joe sullenly. “ Besides, Judge, I thought I
had the right man, sure.“

“You lie, you villain!“ exclaimed the Judge. “ You
Egg well enough that this Talbot was not Overland

“ I sw‘ar, Judge, I was ready to take my oath—as
I did—that he was the man. I never heard two
voices so much alike in all my life " Joe replied.
on' recognized the re -agent when he

ugh the crowd 9“

“ Oh, yes, you bet!“ cried the ruman; “thar ain't
no mistakin that blood boss of his‘n. He‘s ist
chain-lightnin‘ on the (fa; thar ain’t anfimhiflfi1 at
goes on four legs roun this h er valley t t out—
run him, or her, rayther ‘cos t‘s a mar’."

“ What made you thin that this Talbot was Over-
land Kit?“ ,

“ ‘Cos he‘s got Krt‘s voice; I kin sw‘ar to that."

“ You‘ve made a nice mistake,“ said Jones, dryly.
“The best thing that you can do is to at out."

“That‘s my platform, Judge " rep ed Joe, cool-
ly. “ I 'ist- dodged in hyer to Fl out of the way of
some to ers who were a- n‘ putty loud ‘bout a
rope, apine tree, and a cuss ‘bout my heft at the
end, of the rope. I reckon if some of this Injun
Dick‘s friends git hold on me, they‘ll kinder make it
live fur me.“

“ hat‘s very probable." ‘

"I’ve ot for to git u an‘ dust mighty sudden
now I tel oul“ Joe sai with agrin.“

“ Yes. albot‘s friends will be after you."

“Oh, I ain‘t afeard of them so much. '

“Who then?" the Judge asked, in wonder.

“Overland Kit!“ Joe exclaimed, mysteriously, and
with a careful glance around him, as if he expected
to see the -agent dart out of some dark corner.

“ You fear Overland Kit f“

“You betl“ replied Joe, emphatically. “ Why,
Judge, he won‘t leave a stone un urned in the Reese
river valley till he finds me an‘ wipes me out. He's
shreg‘larb oodhound, he is. I‘ve got to git out of

s .

“ But he will never be able to track you 1“ Jones
exclaimed.

“ That ain't safe to gamble on!" cried Joe, with a
dubious shake of the head. “ Kit‘s got friends both
hyer an‘ in Austin. He allers knows wot‘s goin’ on."

“ Perha s this Talbot is one of Kit‘s confederates,"
said the udgf, slowly, the thought for the first time
occurrin to im.

“ Of cgurse he is!” cried Joe. “Wh , it's as lain
as the nose on your face. J ist thin how
have one. Talbot ain‘t ready for trial till near
dark; hat’s so as to have Kit dash in without danger,
an‘ convince everybod that he ain't Talbot.‘

The Judge knitted is brows; the reasoning ap-

to him to be sound. _

“ It may be so,“ he said, absently. Hrs thou hts
were far away, busy in attempting to plan ano her
trap wherein to catch I-njun D ck.

‘ And now, J udge. I‘ll just take a look out and see
if the coast is clear; if dfibreak tomorrow finds me
within twenty miles of t hyer camp, then you kin
jist set me down for a fool."

Joe approached the door, opened it and looked out. -

There were very few peo le about the shanty. Near-
] all the crowd were gat cred about the doors of the
Igldorado, further u be street. Joe ave a careful
lance aroulrlréiétan then, with a “80- ong, Judge!
e left the s .
Once in the olpzn air, Joe glided around quietly to
the back of t e shanty, avoidin the street and
made hi way down the river. e was careful to
keep in the shade as much as possible, so as to avoid

reco tion.

“ in so recious modest," he muttered. “that I
don‘t keer (grout an cuss seeln' me ‘levant.‘ "

The moon was ris ng siowl , a great red ball in the
heavens but the clouds were heav and dense, and
partly obscured the rays of the nig t—queen.

Carefully picln'ng his way, dis laylirerg in the streets
of the minin -camp the craft of e Indian on the
prairie Joe nally arrived at the e eof the town,
and, with a feeling ofirelief. plung into the little
cluster of inesbe on .

“All hugkey novyv, you bet!" he exclaimed, in ex.
ultation, as he proceeded onward with increased
speed and with less caution. But, before he had
gone a mile, be e conscious of a fact that
Chilled his blood and brought out the big sweat-drops
on his forehead. Some one was followin cautious-
1y behind him; moving when he move .stoppins
when he stopped.

CHAPTERXXVII.

.mmm mm.

Tamar‘s friends insisted upon adjouming to the
mam-ado and celebrating his release. Despite his
wishes, for there was a heavy weight n n his heart.
and he felt more like seeking solitude mingling
with a boisterous crowd, Dick was forced to accom-
pany the crowd.

Upon entering the saloon. Bill noticed that Jinnie
was missing. v

 

" Whar‘s the leetle woman, heathen l" he asked of

the Chinese.
“ She plenty sick,“ replied the s acious Ah Ling,
pointing upward. Bill understood y this that Jin-
little woman,“ he said, confiden-

nie had gone to bed.
“ She‘s a pluck
tiall , to the-man- rom-Red-Do , “ but, of course she
aln’ any more than human. reckon she thinks a
heap of Dick, now.“ -
Talbot excused himself as soon as possible. under
lea that he needed rest after the excitement of the
av, and withdrew from the saloon.
Upstairs in her room sat Bernice and the old law-
er. 0n arriving at Bernice’s apartment, Rennte no-
ced how pale and sick the young rl looked.
“ Wh , what is the matter, my ear?“ the lawyer
asked, n alarm.
“ I am not well," Bernice answered, slowly and

sadl .

“Yes, my dear, I can see that plainly enough.
Your face betrays that ou are not well. I suppose
Ehe excitement of the t al, etc., has been too much
or on.

“ es," Bernice replied, absently, her eyes fixed on

vacancy.
“ You‘ll be all right to-morrowi"
U  H

Rennet was puzzled. He had known Bernice from
childhood, but had never seen her in such a state be-
fore. Her whole nature seemed oppressed by some
dee grief.

“ r. Rennet, I think we had better return to New
York soon," Bernice said, suddenly.

The old lawyer stared at thgdvoung girl in aston-
ishment. During his life he h ot prett well ac-
customed to woman's whims, but his sud en deter-
mipfition of gemice ratheiizimnlfiied hfim. h

um ear,yousa 0 saw ours c
that ytdu ad 5 ken with your cousin, Patti‘fcli
G no, and that—“

“ atrick Gw he is the outlaw, Overland Kit," in-
terru ted Be ce. '

h “. 1)es, so you said, but how can you be sure that
e rs “ ,
“Why” he told me so."

“ Yes, but did he present any proofs that he is the
person that he represents himself to be? Did you
reco nize him?“

“ o, I did not,“ Bernice said, thoughtfully, her
mind reverting back to her interview with the out.

W.

“Well, then, his declaration amounts to nothing!"
Rennet exclaimed. “ By some means he may have
learned all the particulars regarding your search for
your cousin, and for some unknown purpose of his
own he ersonates the character of Patrick Gwyne."

“ Mr. nnet, I was sure that Mr. Talbot was the
outlaw, Overland Kit, and that he was 111 cc
Patrick Gwynel" exclaimed Bernice abrupt .

“M dear, how could you possibly think such a
thinglt’ cried the lawyer. ‘ , it was clear to
my mind from the first, that Ta bot could not by
any sibility be the road out and I had no
dOubWhat he would be no u tietl of the charge
although I did not ex ect suc overwhelming me
as the a pearance o the outlaw in person. ind
you, I think Talbot expected his appearance, for it
was at his urgent refiuest that I fought to have the
trial postponed unt six o‘clock; and he articu-
lar] requested me to occupy allthe time tha I could
in t e examination of the witnesses. He said that
he could not give me his reasons for this stran e
manner of proceeding, but he assured me that e
had good and sufficient ones. And, as the darkness
came on. and they lighted the torches, he told me
in awhisper that ime eno h had been occu led,
and to hurry matters forwar all that I could. ow
that the whole affair is over, I am convinced that
he to, in some wa , connected with the road-agent."

“Oh! I don‘t now what to think! I am in a
maze!" Bernice exclaimed.

“ Better go right to bed. my dear; you‘ll feel better
in the morni . ‘ And, after giving this advice, the
old la er le t the room leaving Bernice alone, a
pre to er own sad thong ts.

“ ill I ever learn the truth?" the yo Er]
cried in a ish. “Now I am like one wgrxllger g
in a £0 . I 0 not know which way to turn."

Bern ee arose and paced up and down the little
{30m hasflesw, her features end with anxious

ou

" ester-day I felt so sure that I had discovered
the truth; but now, today, I am more in the dark
than ever."

a A slight tap at the door attracted Bernice‘s atten-

on.
in“? “1'” 8113:1de Ji 1 peared
eooron an nnea .Ahtl
flush burn in her brown chgeks, and theecreg
circles)g around her eyes told that she had been
wee .
F3; a moment the two girls looked at each other—
a locker on would have said, like two rivals measur-
ing. mother‘s strrsngtl}. mt ding "
your on or ru m Jinnie

Isaidéoa mournfulm cadence in her usually Elgar, ring-

he.
nfiApardon is not necessary,“ Bernice replied, a
constraint in her tone and manner, in spite of her
efllggtys‘ to appear unconcerned. ‘What do you
w

a: want to ask you a question," Jinnie said, hesi-

g.

 uestion? Wegnggtnils 1%“. I

on answer “ e eager .

“Willy! answer it?“ Bernice said thoughtfully.
“It is an unpleasant quest-on, then, that you have a
doubt as to my answering t?‘

“ ‘ cried Jinne, abru . “Miss, you
and I ain‘t friends. We can‘t be ends. There's
something between us that won't let usbe friends.
Itlsn‘t that you're a lady, and that I‘m on] a poor,
rough girl. There‘s something more than I. You
know what it is as well as I do. Perhaps on would
n'tspeak outso plain; but I can‘t help 1 It‘s in
nature and the nature that Heaven has given as t
ain‘t ofany useto UK and keep down as long as it
don‘t lead us into ev .“

" If we are not friends, we are not enemies, Jinnie,“
Bernice said, softly, speaking the girl‘s name for the
William? peak th r is miss," Ji i

on' s a way. an 0 ex-
claimed, tears glittering in er bright eyes. “When

 

you speak like that you take all t e courage out of

 

me. I didn‘t come here to be ken kindly to. I
came to talk bitter, to hate,to ght ou— ust like
the men fight—if you don‘t give up w at be ongs to
me. But when you speak soft it takes in anger all
away.“ Jinnie‘s lips uivel‘ed convulsive y, and she
strove, but in vain, to eep back the big tear-drops
that were forming in her keen eyes.

“I will be as frank with you as you are with me,"
Bernice said, after a moment‘s thought. “What
havel striven to take that belongs to you?"

“ The love of Dick Talbot,“ Jinnie answered with
broken accents.

“ His love!“ murmured Bernice, and a burning
blush swept over her pale cheeks.

“ Yes, i belongs to me. Three years ago I jum od
into the Reese when it was comin down bank nil,
in the s ring-t me, and pulled Dic out by the hair
of the ead, when the cakes of ice and the broken
timber were crush him down under the icy water.
And after I ot him the bank, and brought him to
sense a in e £13. his arm around my wa st, kissed
away big of water that were runnin
down in face, sad that I had saved his life, rurfi
that life elonged to me and that I might have it
whenever I wanted it. never reall wanted it (ill
now, when I see that somebody e wants it. I
don‘t go to him but I come to you to ask you not to
take away the llfe that is urine. You‘re a nice lad ,
with lplenty of money East, and lenty of frien s
too, suppose. Now, I‘ve 0 go one friend in all
the wide world, and I come ask you not to take
that friend away from me."

“ You love him?" Bernice said, sadly.

"Yes," re lied Jinnie, quickly “ tter than you
do; better t an an body can in this world. He‘s all
to me—father, bro her—“

“ And husband?“ questioned Bernice, as Jinnie

paus
Jinnie‘s brown face colored up, and a soft look
cam“ ginto bergr ht eye}? d l t m
as may you‘ 0 oaw an e m
alone,“'she said', shyly. “ng nefir thou ht of
that, though, only in my dreams. But I‘d ie for
him. I came rgt y for him to-day,“ and
a rap .

CHAPTER XXVIIL
wmr .rnnna novsn max.

Barmrcs looked at Jinnie in wonder, but, in a
second, a thought that explained the mystery came
into her min

“I understand “ she said; “ it was you who car:
ried the news of Mr. Talbot’s danger to the road-

en .‘

“ I didn't so. so," Jinnie re lied.

“True; but am sure that am ht."

“Do you love Dick?" asked Jinn e suddenly, fix-
ingkher keen eyes on the face of Bernioeas she

Jinnie pans

8p0 0-

Bemice was troubled at the abrupt question; a hot
flush swept over her face for an instant.

“ Do you think that I love him!“ she asked, evad—
ing the question.

I know you doi“ replied Jinnie, promptly.

“ You know l—you mean that you guess that I do,"
Bernice said, uietly.

“NO' I don‘ mean any such thing!" the r1 ex-
claimed. “I can see it in your face. I saw t that
night when you looked out of the window. You see
I speak ht out. I am not ashamed to that I
love him; ‘d say it before all the world, an it ain‘t
fair for dyou to come here and take him away from
me. I‘ do anything in the world for him—die for
“saws.  .m . k

e no no rep ; a 00 came over her
beautiful face. and go bent her eyes upon the

ground.

J innie watched the face of her rival anxious] .

" You don't answer. You ain‘t as honest as am,"
Jinnie said, a mournful tone in her voice. “ You
try to steal a man‘s love away, and yet you don‘t
care to confess that you love him.“

“You are wrong; I have not tried to steal your
lover away from you," Bernice said, slowly.

“ He ain't my lover and that‘s what's the matter 2“
Jinnie replied, quickly, her lips quiverin and the
teardrops stealing into her eyes. “If he ad ever
told me hat. he loved me, I wouldn‘t be afraid of your
lsDtleri‘l'in hirtn awgy, may (f‘thlsrivggmn in tlhe world.

0 s 0 rue or e ven is word
he‘d stick to it." 3‘ '

“ But of what value is this man to you if he loves
another woman l“ asked Bernice.

“He don't love you!" cried Jinnie i ntly.
“ If it was a fair st 16 between Iwou u‘t say
a word, but it isn‘t. you could 0 him away

from me fairly, that would be all right; but, you
have bewitched him. The moment he set eyes on
on he seemed like a man in a dream and Dick Tal-
ot isn‘t a man that dreams when he is awake."
“What do you want me to do?" demanded Ber-
nice in a clear, calm voice.
“ Leave Dick to me, and o away from here; go
where you belong; on can nd plenty to love and
can t. Theres 0 one man in the world that I
care for, or shall ever care for, and ou've no busi-
nessflw come here and try to take away from
me.
" How do on know that I hav "
“ Hain‘t I got eyes?“ asked Jinfinitgemckly: “ can’t
I see? If you wasn't here Dick woul love me. He
told me once that his life heron ed to me, and that I
could have it whenever I wan it."
2: Do you‘thlnk that he will break that romise?"
He can t help himself; you have bewi hed him!“
cried Jinnie, in sorrowful ind ation. “If I should
go to him and tell him that was ready to take the
rte that he had said was mine whenever I wanted it.
how could he give it to me, if you've stolen it? Ilo
might try to do it my: keep his promise. but I
don't want a manw o ven his heart to another
woman. I want his heart to mum"
with a, troubled face, Bernice listened to the pee»
slopaie outburst o‘fh the r1. 1," m asked.
on wish me en, go away a
“ Yes,“ Jinnie 'replled. (linen!-
:: 3,1,: 3:12 ygah‘ave icedtboréght of."
a ' I n e as no exac under
standing Bemicttailsameaning. ' fly
Y9};de tthismanlloveisywrsby

was,“

 

 

 

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9)

 1.

new? wilt-u" -« t

16

Beadle’s 'Dime Library.

 

 

 

“ Haven‘t I told you once alreade I loved him be-
fore he ever saw you.“ .

“ Are you sure of that?” Bernice asked, meaning-
Y-

Jinnie cast an anxious glance in the face of the
other. There was a confident tone in Bernice’s veice
that struck terror to J innie‘s soul.

“ You say that you have a prior claim to his
heart," Bernice continued, “ but are you sure of it?
i‘imv can you tell but that he and I have met years
ago? It is possible that I am the first love and you
the second. ‘

“ N o, it isn’t!" cried Jinnie uickly.

“What proof have you of t at?" asked Bernice,
somewhat astonished at the confident tone of the
rirl. '

" The best roof in all the world, Dick’s own
word," repli Jinnie. “When I011 first came, I had
an idea that lyou were some 01 sweetheart of his,
or, maybe, is at you were his wife; so I asked Dick
to tell me the truth ht away.”

" And did he?“ as e Bernice, a strange expression
upon her face.

“ Yes, he said that he, had never seen you before!"
There was just a little bit of triumph in Jinnie‘s
voice as she spoke: ‘ '

l}: mice was perplexed. The In etc was getting
See or and deeper; no ray of ght umined the

or uess. -

“ You demand, then, that I shall give this man up,
even if he loves me and I love him? ' I

“ You can’t love him one-half as well as Ii" cried
J innie. uite fiercely. “It isn't in your nature. You
wouldnit ha 1lipilumped into the river, and pulled him
out by the r of the head, as I did. You ain’t
ready to lay down our life for him any day, as I
am. You never be d him in your arms and he_;lust
as cold and still as a piece 0 ice; you never kissed
his chill , white lips back to life or felt the hot tears
rolling own your cheeks, thin that he was dead
and lost to you forever. I have .’ 9 belongs to me,
and it‘s cruel and cowardly for you to come and try
to take him away from me.“

“ Is he not the best person to decide the uestion?
Whether I love him or not if he loves on, should
lilot attempt to take him from you," ernice said,
5 ow y.

“ He’s not the same man when you are around that
he is at other times. If it wash 1: for that, I wouldn’t
ask an odds. I’ve got as much pride as any other
girl. wouldn‘t want a man to love me who loved
somebody else. I wouldn’t try for him, but i don‘t
stand an show with you; your ame ain't fair. I
didn’t ta c any advan age of Die . He knew what
he was doing when he said his life belonged to me;
he wasn’t euc into saying it; he wasn't a bit ex»
cited. We stood on the rocks by the bank.of the
rixer, both of us wet through, not a dry stitch of
clothes on us, and the water dropping down our
faces and from our hair, just as we had come out of
the river. He caught me up in his arms and ressed
.ne right tight to his breast, then kissed my ps With
such a kisS' it made the blood all dance through my
veins just e are along a d stick. I shut my eyes
and leaned my h on his s oulder. I didn't feel a
hit cold then; I didn‘t even feel the wet clothes that
clun all around me; all that I felt was his kiss on
my 1 ps. I was so happgsthatI could hardly breathe;
It was the first time, in , that I knew the meanin

of the word love: and he tau lit it to me. He didn t
ask me to be his wife, but knew that he meant
the” should be some day, although he didn't say
so. I was only a child then—it was about two years

0; father was alive and I lived with him, in a
li tie shanty up the Beese. After that time Dick
used to comeand see me every day; he bought me
books and used to teach me; but there was one
thing I had alread learned, and it came without
study' that was to ove him. Father used to like to
have bick come, because he could plaB cards with
him. Father used to always win from ick, and he
couldn‘t play worth a cent but Dick let him win on

urpose. I believe that «both father and I would

ave starved if it hadn‘t been for Dick. He made a
b' difference with me. too. ‘I used to 0 round
wlfihout carl how I looked, but after t t ht
by the Reeselfi took care of myself and alwa 5 tr ed
to look as nice as I could. Now you know about
how Ilove Dick' I’ve told you fair and square, and
if I ain’t got a claim to 11m, who has?"

Bernice had listened with a face is with aggulsh.
The simple story of the girl had ed her he wit
sorrow.

“I canno dis ute our claim “ she said.

“You will glee hiiyn up, theni?" asked Jinnie, joy-
full .

“’l’cannot give up what I have never possessed,"
Bernice replied.

“I mean you won‘t try to steal him away from

v

e?’
“ I will not; I promise it,“ Bernice said, sadly but

“ Pat's all I ask!" Jinnie exclaimed. “ I thought
that, when you knew all about it, you’d do what was
ggh‘ti. Yfip‘can’t guess how good it makes me feel.

00 - .

And th a smile upon her face, and a light step,
J iniiie left the room. But in her lace she left mis-
ery. Bernice threw herself upon 9 bed and sobe
as if her heart would break. '

CHAPTER XXIX.
ni'r “cairn” IN.
’ Jon Ram, stan at the center of the little road
that ran northward y the side of the Reese, tram.

bled.
ti

fifigvullllfi him the pines surged fltfully in the breeze
that awe t ever downward from the t rocky peaks
of the ierra. The tall walls of e canyon went
strai ht upward, like a structure built by human
han , toward the‘ heavens. And from the sky the
full round moon shone down, thgggh every now and
then a sullen cloud assed over hid the light of
the vestsl orb as if ghe dark-lined courier of the 53,
sailing upon the bosom of the air, was jealous of 9
silver sheen, ’ ‘
the desperatio the man upon whose soul lay
the w ht of a hundred crimes—whose life from
boyh 'had been but one ion ' record of wrong
—trembled, standing alone in the. mountain canyon,
at a sound that the pure night-air hadhrought to his
cars. .

. ,from his belt.
“ But you bewitch him!" cried Jinnie, in despair. A

 

With eve sense intent on the watch, he stood like
a statue in t 8 road. His hand clutched convulsive-
1y the handle of a revolver in his belt, for the dos-

erado was. well armed. Two six-shooters were

uckled at his waist, and the blade of a broad, keen-
edged bowie-knife thrust through his belt, gleamed
silver in the moon i ht. '

“Giles my darne coward heart!” he muttered.
as he glared with watchful eyes around; “is a tree
a-rustlin‘ in the wind a-goin' to make me shiver and
shake? But is it a tree? No pine that grows in this
hyer gully ever made that noise. It‘s somebody a-
trackin‘ me, Injun fashion. Kin it be a red-skin a-
goin’ fur my top-knot or is it—" and he paused; a
nervous sh ver su plied the place of words. The
desperado had not rembled at the first thought; the
Indian warrior had less terror for him than the foe
whose name he feared to s oak.-

Rigid as a statue for ful five minutes the despe-
rado remained. The sounds of the night and of the
wilderness were around and about him. The breeze
murmured through the branches of the pines and
whistled softly in warnin calls amon the winding
passages of the rocks of t e canyon. he river rip-
pled along over its stony path and fell with a little,
sullen roar over the edge of the shelving ledge into
the dark pool below, w are the spotted trout waited
for its pro . The hum and cry of the night insects
rose and ell upon the air, ridiu upon the balsamic
breeze but no sound of human life—nothing that de-
noted the&resence of man in the mountain canyon
fell upon e ears that listened so eagerly).

“I’m a darned fool!" Rain muttered, etween his
teeth; “wuss skeered nor a coyote makin’ tracks
with a ounce ball into him. Why, I believe that a
go her comin‘ out of his hole would make me run.

‘ go on ag‘in."

Joe thrust the half—drawn revolver back into its
pouch, and proceeded on his way. Not ten steps did

e take, when again he halted, a muttered curse on
his H s. His listening ears had again caught the
noun that lie so feared to hear. But this time, in-
stead of being behind him, following in his track, it
was beyond him, toward the north. _

“The darned critter has circled round me fur to
head me off " Jo‘e muttered, drawing the revolver
“ All I ask is a fair shake; I ain‘t
afraid.“ But the bloodless lips and quivering hand
of the desperado proved tha he did not speak the

truth. A dead] terror was on his soul—a terror
that unnerved is sinews and made his head sag
with doubt. ‘ '

Joe heard the slight sound. It was only
some hundred emcee ahead of him, and came appar-
ently from a 1i tie clump of pines that grew close to
the road.

Joe drop ed upon his knees behind a hu e bowl«
der. Care ull he drew back the hammer o the re-
volver. The s arp click of the lock rung out shrilly
on the clear mountain air. ‘

With an anxious face and a beamin heart, the,des-

gerado clutched the weaplon. T e moonbeams'

anced in wavy lines of lig t along the surface of
the shining barrel.

Then from the covert of the pines, into the center
of the road, came the thing that had produced the
noise that had so alarmed Rain.

lglA tglgckass rabbit, by thunder!" the desperado ex-
c m . '

And so it was. The harmless little animal halted
in the road, sat up on its haunches and looked
around.

Joe could not repress a burst of laughter. Alarm-
ed at the noise, the rabbit scampered into the shelter
of the bushes again.

“Ha, ha, ha! Joe roared, risin to hisfeet.

“ Ha, ha!“ ru out an answe ng laugh upon the
night air, so as ural, so unlike a man’s lasi‘i'gh, and
so unlike an echo that Joe again started in right.

“ What adarned fool I am," he muttered in 1:. er,
recovering from his in. “ Fust I‘m skeere to
death by a jackass rabbit, and then I judian like a hit
antelope at the echo of my own voice. ain’t got
more pluck than this I’d better sell out " a

Then again Joe proceeded onward. He followed the
road throu h the canyon. After it left the shelter
of the defl c it turned suddenly to the right, follow-
ed alwa s the course of the stream, and passed
across a ittle rocky plain.

Half- y across the plain Joe stopped. Again he
had'heard the stealthy footsteps fol owing upon his
ra . - '

The outlaw turned pale, and great drops of sweat
came out on his bronzed forehead.

With a resolute eflort he turned and faced in the
direction of the noise. ‘ -

“ Darn the thin whatever it is!" he cried. “ I
might as well he lied outright as skeered half to
death this way.” ’

The moment the desperado stopped the sound of
the footsteps stopped also. Joe istened, but no
sound, save the neise of the night insects, the rustic
of the breeze, and ripple and swash of the waters,
came to his ear.

“Kin it be an echo of my own footsteps?” he mut-
tered. in doubt. “ Darned if it ain’t more like a

host followi me than a man. My blood feels like
cc," and Joe s vered as he spoke. He had ain
drawn his revolver from his pocket, and wit it
ready cocked in his hand he stood with a gloomy
frown upon his features.

He was in the center of the little (flade within easy
revolver range of the pines that hi the entrance to
the canyon.

“ You darned skulkin‘ thief, come out an’ face me
if you dare 1“ Joe said, defiantly. It cost him an of-

fort, though, .to utter the defiance. His voice sound-‘

ed hard and unnatural, even to his own cars.

Before the echoes from the Sierra's side had given
back the bold defiance of the outlaw, two forms
stood within the rocky plain, lit by the moonbeanis.
One the desperado Joe Rain, standing in its center,
his roused face white with terror, and his heart
chilled by thecold fingers of black despair; the other,~
on the very edge of the plain, risen-liken specter
from amid the pines at the canyon‘s mouth, was the
road-agent, Overland Kit. His face m covered by
amaskaas usual, a six-shooterin his hand, level d
with a eadl aim at theperson of Joe Rain. ‘

A bowl 0 despair came from the lips of the des-
Rgado when he beheld the well-known figure of

in former leader step from the dark cover of , the

es.
p A moment the two surveyed each other, their re.

 

volvers leveled at each other’s breasts; death in their
hands, death in their hearts.

“Overland Kit by blazes!" exclaimed Joe, in a
tone that lainly betrayed that both rage and despair
were blen ed in his heart.

“Treacherous villain!" said the road-agent, in a
stern, (lee velce. f‘are you repared to die?"

“ To die " growled Joe, a erce light shining in his
evil eyes. I

_“ Yes; to die the death that all traitors should

is r

“ What have I done to you?"

“ Cowardly hound!” exclaimed the road-agent, in
contempt. ‘. You ask that ucstion even when you
are flying like a_thief in t 8 night, from my ven-

eancc. Every time that you have aused to listen

or the sound of my footsteps track g you through
the canyon, your guilt consmence has w ispered my
name in your ear, an _told you that I was on your
track, and that in mission was one of vengeance.
Not half a mile rom this spot I watched you kill
Jimmy Mullen. Like a coward, you struck him in
the back, then robbed him of his wealth. I did not
think then that Heaven had destined me to avenge
that deed. From my covert in the rocks I watched

on depart without makin any effort to stay you.

woui not be both your ud e and your execution-
er, although I knew you to e a red-handed mur-
derer. Then you went straight to Spur City, eager
for more bloc -money. Had your eyes been as keen
to netrate my disguise as your hand was quick to
em e Mullen in the ack, I should have swung from
a pine tree. But,&our time‘s up; the game is over,
‘pass in your che s.‘ "

“We are man to man hyeri you‘re no better than
I aml" cried Joe, fiercely. ‘ am armed, an‘ I'll
play my hand for all it’s worth."

“ liou‘d better ‘ pass,‘ " returned Overland Kit,
terse v. .

“ I‘ll see you to blazes furst,“ exclaimed Joe, with
the courage of despair; “ you jist ‘clu'p in,‘ now i"

“ My ‘e gel’ ” replied the road-a ent.

Two puffs of flame, two whip- ' '8 cracks. and a.
wounded man fell on the rocks. 1

CHAPTER XXX.
up To up.

Warm the interview between Jinnie and Bernice
-—the particulars of which we have already related
—was taking lace, a skulklng form in the darkness
gf the entry, ned at the door of 1Bernioe‘s cham»

er.

The two rls had spoken without caution, there-
fore the lis nor had heard every word.

When the interview came to an end, and J innie
left the room. the eavesdropper sought concealment
Eildfil‘ €216 rude stairs that ed to the little garret of

e o .

The ent was quite dark except at the head of
the stairs t at led up from the lower part. There a
window let in the moonbeams.

With a smile on her face and joydn her heart.
Jinnie walked along the cut , never for a
moment that listening ears over card that
had  between herself and Bernice. -

When nnie reached the head of the stairs she
heard the sound of footsteps ascending. An ex-
1(1:111aixigtion of joy broke from her lips. She recognized
' e s ep.

The man came up out of the darkness of the stair-
way into the circle of light castby the moon through
the window. It was Dick Talbot.

His face was stern and gloomy; but the expression
softened as he beheld Jinnie. .

“ , Jinnie, hf that you?" he said, advancing to

the side of thgofilr .

The two at by the window. The moonbeams ,
streamed in full 11 n their faces. '
ve been in such danger " J innie

“Oh, Dick, you
murmured, softly, gazing with an anxious look into
Talbot’s face ' ’ ‘ ‘

“ A pretty tight place, Jinnie," Dick answered. v
“Judge Jones has got a grudfiagalnst me for some
reason, and he tried all he cw how to have my
neck stretched. I can’t understandwhy the Jud e .
should beat me ill-will; but he does. There’s no mi-
take about it. I suppose I‘ve trod on his toes in.
some way." v

Jinnie‘s face flushed for a moment, and she
down her eyes at Dick‘s speech. Talbot noticed the

culiar look upon the face of the girl, and a sud-

en thou ht darted through his mind.

And w e Jinnie’s eyes were cast upon the floor,
and Talbot’s were searching her face anxiously, the
dark figure mammuched in ambush beneath the
gen-ct stairs, .w the two with breath!

can earn- '
estness. -

Jinnie and Dick little guessedthnt anxious ears
were drinking in their words, or that eyes, glaring in
anger, were watching their ever movement.

‘ Jinnie do you know why Ju e Jones hates me!"
asked Tal t, suddenly. v

Jinnie‘s face flushed crimson at the question' the
little red lips quivered, and her bosom heaved tu-
multuously. , ,

“You don’t answer J innie,“ Dick said, after wait~
ing in vain for the girl’s rgpéy, .

How can I answer, i" Jinnie said, slowly

‘9 It isn‘t sigiight'for me to say that I know when I am:
on e . ,
ts“ her} ya? have made a guess regardiugthe mat-

r, e . r
“ Yes," answered the l, slowly.
“What is it?” ' g“

‘gthhdogge ask nigh Dick!“ cried Jennie. impetu-
ou , or u up.

T bot lockedagtuthe which) of the l for a
moment, in silence, a curious expression ng in

as. - a

“J n ” he said abruptly..and after quite a long
pause??? owe 01; two lives, for twice you have
saved_. 39 as be spo e,
arm gently around the waist of the l, anddrew:
her to his side. She did not resist, but nestled her
head on his breast, and the long-drawn brea —half
a h—that came from her lips, told of peace and
wch Myumpmfny t th.   V
so 0 e w. wn‘
forehead of the girl. guides light form quivered:
for asecond, like awind-stirred 1e91,“ she felt the,
warm, moist pressure of Dick’s lips. « . -

“Twice you have risked your life for mine." he-

,‘f Now I think it is about time that‘

said earnestly. _
I shbuld try to pay you for the services. _Dc you re.-

Overland Kit.

1'7

 

 

fiember the time when we stood by the bank of the
ass?"

“ Yes “ J innie said, softly.

“ I told you then, that the life you had saved be-
longed to you, that it was yours whenever you
Eiunted'to claim it. You haven't asked for it yet.

innie.

A single lance Jinnie cast into Dick‘s face, and
then again t e long, golden lashes veiled the large,
clear eyes.

“You're right, Jinnie,“ he said, slowly. “I had
forgotten. I must treat ou like a woman and not
like a child. It is not r ht that
should speak, when I, a man, hesita . But, Jinnie
I have not spoken before because-well, use
don‘t know myself- I can‘t tell what I am or what I
think. I‘m a deal like a piece of pine floating down
the Reese, at the mercy of every current and eddy
in the stream. One moment, I think that I am a
strong, determined, self-willed fellow; and the next,
I come to the conclusion that a more waverin , ir-
resolute wretch than I, don‘t exist on top 0 the
earth. Jinnie, I belong to you by rights; I know
that; and when I am With you I feel that I love tyou
better than I do any other woman in the world, ut
when I am away from you—" and Talbot paused, ir-

resolute.

“You think that on don‘t love me?" Jinnie ask-
ed, looking up into ick‘s face again with her earn-
est 0 es.

“ o. I don‘t think that; but, the thou ht comes to
me that, perhaps, I don‘t love you we enough to
make you haplpf',“ Dick replied, honestly.

“ gou‘only nk so when you are away from met"

“ es

“ There is a veriy eas cure for that, then.“

“What is it?" albo asked, in astonishment.

“ You mustn't go away from me at all," the girl
replied, simply.

smile came over Dick‘s face at the answer.

“ And so Jinnie, if I tell you honestly and frankly
that I think I love you, but am not sure of it, an
ask you to be my wife, what now will be your an-
sWer?" '

“Dick, when you play cards do you always make
the man you‘re playing against tell on how he is
going to (play, before you commence 0 game?" the
girl aske , s irewdly. -

“ Of course not,“ Talbot replied, (tilCRIIY.

“ And yet, on ask me to tell you ow am oin
to answer be ore ou put the question. I don‘t hi
that is uite fair, lck."

“Litt e girl I‘m no match for youi“ cried Talbot
suddenly; “t ere‘s more brains in this little head
than inadonen like mine. I haven't asked you a
fair uestion, but now I will." .

Wi h a touch full of tenderness, he drew the li ht
form of J innie still closer to him, up the ii is
head with its halo of red- 1d hair, until the clear
{any eyes looked full into 5 own.

T e smile upon J innie‘s face, and the joyous light
dancing in her e es, told how ha py she was.

“Jinnie you 'now me as Dic Talbot," he said,
slowly; “it is very likely that it is not my name. In
other years, and n other places far awa from this
wild r ion, I moiehave been known y another
name. ood may u on my hands, human blood;
why Jinnie, I me. be 5 ed by all sorts'of crimes.
I tell youthis so t you may not act mhly, but
take plenty of time to think it over. And now, for
what was going to say at the beginning: Jinnie, I
think I love you well one htoask you to bemy
\n'fe. I ain‘t quite sure of i , for, as I told you be-
fore, I am like a man wandering in a dark night; I
can‘t see my way clear; I’m willing to risk it
the h, if you are; so, e, will you be Wei
Don’ bein a hurry to answer, you know; 0 all
the time on like."

“One ttle second—only; breath is all I want,"
Jinnie cried, quickly. ” es." Firm and decided,
but full of love, was that “ es."

Amoment Dick looked nto the clear eyes, now
lustrous with the light of love; he saw the flushed
cheeks and quivering scarlet lips, so rich and n in
their dewy sweetness and then, over his soul, ike a
flood sweeping all before it down the canyon s bed,
came a swee sense of joy, which told him that
he really did love the whose little form he

ressedagainsthishea. enhebcntoversnd
Kissed;11M the little, full lips that so eagerly awaited

The soft sound of the passionate Hm that told that
two human hearts had to beat in loving con-
cert till the Dark sounded the call of doom
resounded tly through the darkness of the pas-
sageway. IE reached the ears of the watcher beneath
the stairw .

The 303d that told of loving concorgia trans-
formed him into a demon of hate. His he closed
gonvulsively over his revolver; death was in his

on, a woman,

 

CHAPTERXXXI.
ran rnr-nssr sour.

Foa a second 0 the dark figure, crouching be-
neath the s kglpyt the revolver at its poise then
the calmer nd thought stayed the murderous

hand. He dropped the muzzle of the pistol toward
the floor, and again eagerly bent forward to listen.

Unconscious of his danger, unconscious that afoo-
man‘s hand had been raised to deal him the death-
ntroke, Talbot gazed with a glance of tenderness into
the little brown face, whose eyes looked so lovingly
into his own. -

Gently he kissed the low, sweet forehead, the
blushing cheeks and the golden-fringed eyelids.

“ You are willi to ris all then? ‘ he said, “will-
ing toglve yourse into my charge, forever and for-

over?
“Yes.”shc re 1i low , softl , dreamily- she
iii“ in thud“ “rs- ”: staining
W 0 e rs so 0 an
mwmflhst. p'I'ge sense 0 joywhich thrilled

through her bei‘xtig  to take away her breath;

she was faint w 1) egg,

“In spite of all the I have said. you love me?"
Talbot med. 810W1)'- “ My past life may be stained
with crime, my resent isn‘t any too good; in fact
couldn‘tl be muc worse, yet you love me, angel that
you are “

_ “ 0h, Dick, I am but a poor, weak irl, stro only
in 10ve," Jinnie rephed, nestling her end, coy y, on
ins breast.

" You are playing a desperate game, J innic, to

 

stake a priceless love like yours against the weak,
wavering passion that has to struggle for its exist-
ence in my heart."

“ I don t fear a bit, Dick,“ she answered, earnest-
l . “ I know that ou would not ask me to be your
wife if you did not ove me a little; you are too fair
toolFenerous for that; and if you love me a little, I
sha give you so much love in return that you will
not be able to help loving me a great deal, even if
you tried not to, and I know that you won't do

Perfect faith shone in the clear eyes of the girl as
she uttered the sim le 8 h.
ht," Talbot ckly.

“ No Jinnie on re said
toylove you with all my heart. (“It can-

“I shall t
not be poss ble that I shall fall, for a ion as pure
and strong as yours must meet th its reward.

From this time forth ou are the on! woman in the
world that I shall th nk of; I will orget that any
other woman lives."

A quick, 10 ous flush came over Jinnie's face;
never before ad she heard words that seemed so
sweet in her ears. A long-drawn breath came from
Mtfieen her scarlet lips; her heart was too full for
we s.

“ y the way, J innie," said Talbot, suddenly
“ you remember the night that Judge Jones

“ Yes.“

“Somethinlg happened then that has puzzled
me a little; meant to have spoken to you about it
before, but forgot it."

“ What is it?‘

“ Why about that Bible: what reason had you for
tearing t e 11 deaf out of it?"

A. half am 6 came over the girl‘s face, and a soft,
shy light shone in her eyes.

“I‘ are was some written on the leaf that I
didn't want anybod to " she saidhslow .

“Something writ n on a leaf?" e questioned,
in astonishment.

“ Yes, somethin that I wrote there."

“What was it, nnie?"

The girl drew the crumpled leaf from its warm
hidin apiece close to her heart; but as she placed it
in Dc ‘s hand, she hesitated, a ll retained her
films upon the paper, and looked up, shyly, into

3 ace

“ I s'pose you'll think that I'm real silly, but I
couldn't help it Dick. If ou hadn‘t asked me to be
your wife, I should never ve shown it to you."

“If your love for me promp your hand when
you wrote I shall not be apt to think that it is silly,"

albot replied,"smiling.

en

Jinnie relinquished her on the crumpled
bit of paper and again nes her head down on
Talbot s breast.

Dick smoothed out the crumpled leaf, and, by the
aid of the moonbeams, examined it. ‘

On the leaf were two written lines; two names;
one written beneath the other. A e came over
Dick's face as his eyes rested on the lines. The two
names were:

“ Jinnie Johnson.“ '

“ J innie Talbot." ~

The girl had coupled her name with that of the
man she loved. .

“You r girli"crled Talbot, quickly and car-
nestly, “ am not wo such a love as yours, but
for your sake I'll try 0 be. If Heaven will only
hel me in timeImsybo able to love you as you
oufi t to beloved." ~
In nnie returned the precious paper to its former

“I s ould have felt so mean if Judge Jones had
seen that," she said.

A thoughtful expression came over Tsibot's face.
An idea had come to him.

“Jinnie,” he said, abruptly, "can you tell why
Ju e Jones hates met"

“ --I think I can," the girl answered, a little con-

fused.
“ Has the Judge ever professed any love for gout"
Talbotasked guessingat thetruthfromth look
i
may; go. girl I face.

“ I thought sol" Dick exclaimed.
him that you did not care for him?"
 “hi :Ised m7?" 391': and f
n E c or somebody
""vmiimfld thsth 00de n itwss
H ea- 0 e
backed inc u in the Eldorado. ' o “M
“II:  chfiufia it," real hard f
e a ' WI.
I hadn‘t any den um I'Iencu‘ed anything 13:33;

the Juggeth me,”

“And you told

Talbot said, the htfully' ‘I am in ,
has tried his to gct'me out of it. '33 he
and I will have a settlement one of these days. I m
afraid. I‘ve an ea that he‘s a pretty
in to of his quiet, smooth way."

“ mtg? (:gwpoiind gloss up, Dick; where are

on o s nigh

y “ gown at thalahsnty."

:2 EherI-el‘ls roam hezt'sil." I

o ’ own ero- came u on rpose

see o'u. flelt that ‘we' ought tophavepsun undo:

stan , and now my mind‘s easier - ht."

A half-dozen warm kisses he W33. will-
ing lips, and then took his departure. As the two
descended the stairs, they met Tendail coming up,
supported by Ginger Bill. Gains was under the in-
fluence of liquor as ,

“How are gm, Miss Jinnie?" Galus exclaimed,
with a vain at mpt to stand up without Bill‘s assis-
tame the consequence of which was that he hearts
unabllled headlong down the stairway, carrying B

wi im.

“Look a-hyeri you‘re a durned
mule, on are, you drunken cuss,
claim in anger. “How his I he
you're a-goin‘ towabble round this way? You fall
d an‘ neck of yours, an'

own, break that gracious
then we can all jine in t e funeral."

“I essthat somebody would be mfibty glad if
I bro e my neck.“ Gains stammered th a thick-
ened ton e. “I reckon that somebody wouldn‘t
‘ u out to-morrow it’ I broke my neck to—ni ht.
0 , no! I haven‘t a old mine—haven‘t struc a
‘lead ‘—don‘t know w at ‘pay dirt‘ is; not much,
you bet!“

sight wuss'n a
cut" Bill ex-
you n , ef

'whst todo

F“went for " each

 

Bythis time Gains and Bill had reached the land-
ing , and Talbot and Jinnie had entered the saloon

ow.
“What in thunder are on talking about any-
way?" asked Bill, steering endaii through t 0 en-

t .

IY‘Oh, wouldn‘t you like to know!" cried Gaius
with a drunken laugh. “ You‘re mighty (site, but I
ain‘t to be pumped; I'm a regular spon e, 1 am.
know somethi that's wort a pile o rocks. I‘ll
make Ianother s e to—morrow, or I'll know the rea-
son w .

“Shot up, you mutton-head!" exclaimed Bill, in-
dignantly; “ you've got more gab than a she-wo-

“Bill I‘ll stand treat in the morning; I swear I
will l“ Gains cried.

“Jest you go to bed an' sleep 01! some of that
tanglefoot you ve ot on board now, afore you talk
about a more ligating." And Bill pushed open the
door of aius's room and placed an almost helpless
man inside. There was a candle b on the
table. Bill tumbled Tendail over on the

1‘ $19 ykgtzlsll Eight, old! hossl" be aged. h

‘ ou so em u “ e sculated stretc -
himself out on the ttle  m
Guess I won't blow out the light, he may sober
oi‘f enofih to git up an' " Bill remarked.
gglmm ngwit himself,for Gaiuswssslmsdyhslf~
ee .
B paused at the door to take a farewell look at
his drunken friend. A fewds of reckless dissipa-
tion bad greatly changed Te

“ He's got whisk]!f enough on board to run a small.
sized mill. he keeps on h‘istin‘ thsr'll be a
famine in the whisky-line putty soon round hyer.“

Bill closed the door and proceeded down-stairs

ardly had he closed the door below behind him,
#33:; datkgmhga‘file i‘ii‘zflifimifi the oonlig t
a a e o e m
shone on the features of the “ Heathen Ohineo."
CHAPTER XXIII.
A malnu- nxsoovnr.
“Inn the saloon. Bill found yonng Rennet and Dandy

“How is your friend and backer now?" asked
Bonnet, referrl to Gains.

“ nk as a ‘iled owl,“ replied Bill, 
“ I’ve corraled him in bed, though, an‘ I s‘ be ll
snooze the ‘isen out of him. Talk ’bou h‘istln’i
Why. he kin ‘ist more tanglefoot than any other
£121}: of his inches in Spur City for rocks, now you

8 H

“Who's in antel for a leetle game of kart"
asked the-mzn-frommd-Dog, defiantly, drsv‘vfig out
his bag of gold-dust as he spoke.

“I reckon I‘ll jine in the services." replied Bil].

“If you've tony more money than you know
I don‘t mind relieving you of some
of it " observed Rennet, carel .

“on, come fur me nowi" cried the Bedaboglte,
persuasively; “I‘m your meat, I am!"

So, without more ado, the three sat down to a
table; Dandy Jim produced the “papers,” and they

0

thsr.
The game continued with vs

 

fortune for an
hour or so; than t. growing announced
hisintentionof tobed,muchtothcdisgustof
the-man-from-Red-

“What sort ofscusssreyou. 1"Jhnex-
claimed. in an ed tons. ‘ I reckon that
when a gent sits own to play ker, it‘s a duty he
owes to socie'tgofur to keep sot he‘s bu'sted."

“Well. if cards on even as

keep as
th have for the hour we t till
(ing and be mar poérer it,"
Rennet answered. ~
“Jistaslief playtilloldGsbrlel toot! his hornas
lsixned.

not i“ Jim exc
"You‘re as contrary as s muiei" Bill cried. “Bee
hyer, I‘m six bits ahead of the game,so I'll stand
treat. Ws’n’dltskes nightcap andturn in. No ~
In urp
.-W a Jim cldedtethswisbssofthe
it. '1'ng :t‘sodsbem‘eptw 3°33” 
o .
leftthessloon. “8 '
That Egan” lsdeeho :31“ ‘l-iisssduuit
usu a w so as .
Bennett and lip-stairs. As they
came to the door
and within,

ofthe

after

:Ndon‘ts snore he‘ '"ths o of M '

' l arms

paddy-‘31.”: poem would  mu MdlwIthn:
3"“ hsd mm 1m the u of
dawn a sound came from thg'roomthoccue p
bythedrunken man, which caused the two in the
entryto stars atesch other in blank astonishment.
'l'hccsndlethst Billcarried inhis hand shook and
ghe‘ flsdee waging w sir as though agitated

y en .

“tht the deuce was that!" exclaimed Bonnet,

as‘t‘oBished. ‘ "
urnedefitdidntsoundlikesgrosn, ssidBill.

" énmu  a .

“I onltmade meshsks. shit: itcsmoso
maximums fenerclesrjernder thsesrsnd
histed him off his plug! s‘posehc‘shavingbad

“Hsdn‘twebsttergoinsndscsifwccsndoany-

th‘t‘nflfetiarkon ,"t he nly vortin'slittleinhis
no ' ‘s o s-cs
w, that‘ssli. ‘ He'll heal! right in the morning,"

answ
“Won,now,itsounded tome justss ifthemsnwas
in deadly pain," Benin.” said, a strange apprehension

of evil coming over

“ It is kinder skeery fur to hear a sound like that
inthe nigh you know; I reckon thata man who
wouldn't steered to face a down In uns sin 1e-
handed in the daylight, would run like t 0 .misc ief
from a thing that he thought was a spook, at ni h ."

“Yourh is level there, Bill; but we‘re s and-
ingflhere like a couple of children; shall we go in or
no ..

 

 

33:72:11.

18

Beadle’s Dime Library.

 

 

 

“ Ef I thou ht that critter wasn’t all right—I guess,
on the hull, hat we had better go one eye on him,
anyway.“

‘ Go ahead.“

But, as Bill placed his hand on the door-knob, there
came from the room within a low hollow moan; a
cry so full of human anguish t at it paled the
cheeks of the two strong men and filled their hearts
with terror.

“Did you hear that?“ questioned Bill. nervously,
pausing, with his hand on the door-knob. '

“Yes; it sounded like a death-moan," replied
Rennet, unconsciously lowering his voice to a whis-

r.
pe“Durned sf Iain't afeard to o n the door, an‘ I
ashram“. “Hits:  n," R.
e s o n p, n-

net said, resisufingfi'yet, in his own heart, he felt
a fear for which he c d not account.

“Hyer goes, any w l" exclaimed Bill, decidedly.
And with the word, opened the door and en-
tered the little room, Bonnet following close be-

ind.

A single look the two men gave at the motionless
form that lay upon the bed, and then a smothered
cry of horror burst from their li .

A terrible sight indeed they ooked upon. Gains
Tendail lmn his back in the bed, his mat off
and his front stained with blood that welled
from a dozen stabs in his breast. The truth dashed
upon the two white-faced men at once; Gains Ten-
dail had been murdered! .

“This is awful!" Bill exclaimed, solemnly.

Bonnet did not mp3, but ste ped forward and ex-
amined the . ot one. ut a. dozen, stabs let
out the red life« load. It was plain the victim had
been surprised in his drunken slumber, and had
been struck without giving him a chance for his hfe.

“ Is be gone up?" questioned the stagedrlver, anx-

io .
“ he‘s dead,”l'tennet replied, convinced at a
singleeglance thatsuch was the case. “Who could
have committed this bloody deed l"

“ We need the Vigilantes round hyer right sharp,
I reckon " Bill said, earnestly.

We had better give the alarm at once; we may be
able to discover the murderer)” Rennet exclaimed,
moving toward the door.

“ Say, I‘ll o with you; I wouldn’t my“ alone
for a. heap o d-dust!" Bill cried, quic , and fol-
lowing Reune as he spoke.

The two went out into the entry and closed the
door carefully behind them. Rough, reckless men
as they were, there was somethsii'llgmtemble, even to
them, in the cold, silent, blood ed form of the
murdered man.

As the two alo the entry, they saw the
glimmer of lig t throu h t e crack of a door. _ 3

“Hold on!’ said Bil in a. whisper- “this is Miss
Jinnie’s room. Hadn’t we better tell herall about
ghe affair! She ain’t gone tobed yet, ’cos the light‘s

urn .’ r
 I think you had better tell her," Rennet re-

p Bill knocked on the panel, but as the door was
not latched, the motion forced it o For the
second time that night, the two men b eld a strange
sight. In the center of the room, her face pale as
the few of the dead stood J lnme. In her hand she
claspled a bowie-knife, the blade clotted With agsore;
the out of her dress was stained With blood, 0.

For a moment, J innie looked at the two intruders
with staring eyes, and they gazed at her with speech-
less horror.

J innie was the first to recover her speech.

“ What is the matter?“ she exclaimed.

“ Tendail has been murdered!" Bill blurted out
iggvertiiinking what the effect of his words would

Vgith a mhgmrmflgnie dropped the bowie-
e ' rror.

“HON thstwas the weapon that killed him!” she
cried. ,

The same thought had occurred to both Bill and
Rennet when they beheld the bloody wea n in the
hand of the l; but, Rennet’s- mind not stop-

there. ckastheelectrlcilash,hehad ess-
ed who had struck the blows that had rob Ten-
dail of his life, and the motive for the deed. A
oertaierouss each of the murdered man had
come ‘ to his d, and that sow
a reason why Tondail‘s death would advan us

to some one.

Rennet ste forward and icked u the knife.

“I will takglcehdarge ofth "Es said; 2it may lead
to the discove of the mu erer.”

“ I the ht t t it was hzgcikg—tlhazfisglli‘lgl gnetms
t to hten me w oun e s -
mwliih blfi on my table. I did not dream that it
was lnlman ood; and see,_it is all over mydrees
and hands!" With awnvulsive sob, Jinnie sunk into
a chair, completely unnerv

Young Rennet cast glance into her
faoefia peculiar look in his eyes.

“ in run for Judge Jones,“ he_ said; “ we must
look into this matter at once.’

m
BEHIND run sowhnln.

TEE first gra ht of early morning shone down
on canyon, p and river. The somber pines
nodded gen in the mountain breeze.

y of four rode along by the side of the
Reese, heading northward. The our were, Billy
Brown’ was t M mtilliee lino “W‘fi
D00 ' an wo rs, wn v
as Dlililvlm Reed and Missot 11.11 nghnnmyé Ci m
The art were re urnlug pur
taken p yin the trial, and now were onctvlieir way
to Gop er Giullgin

. g 9.10

They were 1-} finite slowly, for, to tell the

trut theirseatsmthe die wereratherunce

the been up all night long celebrating ham;
Dis ‘5 acquittal; and the power of the Spur ty
whisky was potent in the extreme.

The cool mountain breeze was very welcome in-
deedi to their fevered foreheads as they rode on-
war .

The conversation between the four_turned natu-
rally upon the trial at which they had Just assxsted.

“ I reckon the Judge must be a leetle cracked, for
to think, even for a minute, that Dick Talbot was
Overland Kit," Brown said, reflectiveiy. . ‘

"Shure ’twas all the fault of tha black-loohn

7-‘——r-:’:“t '.—':*A.‘:-:'.'..~.-: _-;_——ss—.—-. fl.-_.~ .

devil that swore ag’in‘ him," replied Doolin, referring
to Joe Rain.

“Yes, and a nice~lookin‘ cuss he was to get up an”
swear ag‘in‘ sichaman as Talbot!” cried Dave Reed,
in contem t.

“ I won or what became of him after the trial?
He got out of the way lively, I reckon,” Missouri
Johnny observed.

“ Best thing for him to do,” Brown replied. “Ef
Talbot went for him, he‘d come out wuss nor a an-
telo c with a lot of D er Injuns. Why, Dick
wo dnt‘t leave hide' nor ‘r on him, the p‘lsoned
sarpen ."

“ After the trial, he thought it time he wasn‘t there,
begorra!" Paddy exclaime with a n.

He lit out right smart, freckon, Reed said. “ I
had ‘bout made up my mind to ‘ climb ‘ him myself,
jist to show my respect to my old pard, Dick; but,
when I went to look for him, he had ‘ levanted.‘ ”

f‘Vam the ranch, eh?" Brown observed,
With a laugh.

“ Absquatulated by thunder!" Reed replied.

“ W'h , any foo mi ht have knowed that Dick
couldn' be Overland t; it‘saclean impossibility.
But Judge got the idea intohishead, an' you couldn‘t
move him a mite. He’s ist like one of them hyer
rocks' when he eta sot, e‘s sot fur good, an’ it
would take an ailghquake to move him."

“ That‘s so," chimed in Missouri Johnny; “but

the Ju e is a squar’ man, every .
“We , who's sayin‘anyt ing ag'in’ it?” demanded
Reed. ‘ I didn’t say that he wasn’t uar'; I only

saidas how he at sot, an” staid sot too. '

“ How that o d fat cuss fixed things round!“ sud-
denly exclaimed Brown,- in evident admiration. “I
reckon, now, he knows law for all it’s worth. The
old cuss didn‘t look like ‘ pay-dirt,‘ but he ‘panned
out’ rust-rate. Why, he jlst twisted them ’ar’ wit-
nesses round like 8. mice. He proved jist as clear
an alibi as I ever see’d, an” with the very identical
witnesses that were brought forward to convict the
prisoner! He didn’t bring any witness on Dick's
aide, an: I come down from the Gully on purpose to

a 3 .

“ hat did they want you for?” Reed asked.

“ To rove the time that Dick came into my place
last nig t, you know.

“ How could you swear ‘bout the time?”

“Jist as easy as ef it had been fixed aforehand,"
Brown replied. “ You see, when Dick came into my
place, Dandy Jim axed him for to have a game of
poker, dan‘ he said that he couldn’t stay long, ‘cos he
wants to be back in 8 ur Cityby ten' so hejlst
looked at his watch, an‘ t were jist eight o’clock.
So you see, I were all primed to sw’ar that Dick came
into my shebang at eight o’clock."

“It war dumed queer that Overland Kit should
risk a ride ri ht through the town, jist as another
man was tri for being him, wa’n’t it?“ Reed said
hthou htfuliy. '

“ ell, now, 110 s, it lies jist hyer," Brown replied,
mysteriously. “ t‘s jist as plain to me as the nose
on your face, Missourl— ' an body knows that’s
big an‘ plain ‘nough—that Dick ows who this road-
sgent is, but he’s too squar’ a man f'ur to blow on
him; so, when he got into this little difficulty, he t
some friend fur to carry the news of the scrape t t
he was in to Kit;' an’ the only way that Kit knew fur
to git Dick out of the corral, was to ride through the
town. In course, any fool could see then that Dick
Talbot couldn't be Overland Kit.”

“That’s so!“ exclaimed Reed.

“Begorra! that reminds me of a fourth cousin of
mine, one Teddy Flynn; he said he’d niver be mar-
ried till he was a widower, an” he never was, d‘ye
mind?" cried Patsy.

“Well, an body would know you was a Paddy-
whack l’ sai Brown, dryly.

P‘aayn' $110 the devilsfiaid -I welsn’t?" demand t 
a , dignan .. ure an m mu 0 e

ouid sod; i was‘llixt m fault anywai? they never

axed me where I'd be orn, bad ’cess ’emi“

“ lg sweet William, who do you think this Over-

land i is?" asked Missouri Johnny, abruptly. ‘

“Well, now on have at me whar my ha‘r is
short," re lied rown. “ kinder reckon, though,
that he’s some gs? Washington galoot who hangs
out in Austin. ’ve heard say that the biggest
thieves in the country kinder center that, an‘ I rock-
on he's oneof the crowd."

“ What makes you think so?" Reed asked.

“ ‘Cos he knows all about the coaches that carry
the valuable express matter, and knows, too, when
the blue-coats are after him. Ef he wa‘n t mixed u
with the head roosters at Austin, how could he teB
that I'd like to know?"

“ kinder ted, ain’t you, Brown?" Reed said.

“Oh, no I‘m'aslee ; I ain’t had my e es open
filming; I were knee-high a grasshopper,” rown re-

p The party were now :1 through a little canyon.
They Were near the end 0 it, and a small,

plain appeared beyond, through which the litt e
stream at came from Gopher Gully ran, tumbling
into the Reese, a few hundred feet beyond.

“ I wish I’d no to bed, -by the powers," mut«
tiered fiatsy; ‘ the next time I start I'll stay at

ome.

A roar of laughterfromthe rest of the partygreet—
ed his remark.

As the little party emergfed from the can on into
the lain, a huge ay wo scampered out rom be-
hin a bowider an ran off at a long. loping trot to-
ward the hills.

The miners relned in their horses and em led their
revolvers at the “ outcast in y." But eefiannt
wolf was fleet of foot, and a ew seconds him
out of revolver- ; besides, the hands of the min-
ers were not overvs ady after the night‘s spree and
the wolf really was in but little danger when within
ran e of their fire.

“ thar’s thin' that I despise, it's a wolf,"
Brown remarke ; “ it's the meanest critter that runs
on four legs."

“ Barrin a. crow !" Patsy exclaimed.

" A crow ain’t got four legs, you mutton-head
you i“ Brown repli .

The party ain proceeded on their way, and when
that? came to t e bowlder from behind which the wolf
h appeared, their horses reared violently and re-
fused to proceed further.

“Durn the brutes! What in thunder has got into
’em?" Brown exclaimed, in astonishment.

Brown stuck his spurs into the flanks of his horse,

 

 

and attempted to urge him forward, but the beast
shied Violently to one side, and Brown slid out of the
saddle to the ground. The horse then galloped away,
evidently thoroughl frightened, and did not pause
till he alned the en ranco of the canyon.

The orses of the others attempted to follow the
example of their com anion, and were only restrain-
ed by main force on t e art of their riders; but ad-
vance forward they won d not, des ite the applica-
tion of the hen Mexican spurs hat the miners’
heels were arme with.

“ I s‘ ects thar’s something wrong hyer some-
whar," rown said, pickln himself up. “Jlst hold
your mule-teams, boys, an I’ll go round the rock an‘
prospect."

Brown turned the corner of the enormous bowl-
der; hardly had he disa peered from sight when his
voice rung out quick an earnest on the clear air of
the mountain.

“ ight down, boys, an’ come hyer; hyer‘s blazes
to $ay, an’ no mistake i” Brown cried.

onderi at the summons, the three dismount—
ed, fastene . their horses” heads together and has-
tened after Brown.

Turning the angle of the rock, a strange ht met
their eyes. Extended upon the ground was t e body
of a man, stone dead. The blood that crimsoned
the I‘Oiiks, the wounds in his breast, told of a terrible
s rugg e.

The wolf had pgrtially eaten away the lower art
of the face, but e dress of the dead man, an the
black mask upon his face, told plainly who he was,
even at the first glance. .

‘1 Overlan’ hit, an‘ dead, by thunder!" Brown ex-
claimed.

CHAPTER XXXIV.
wanna ran swarm.

Gnmsn BILL ran from the Eldorado to the ex ress
office as fast as his legs could carry him. A] was
dark within the office. It was evident that the
Judge had one to bed.

“Hallo, udge! ra‘se up an‘ come out, old boss!”
Bill shouted, rapping vigorously at the door.

There was no answer

“I reckon he‘s laid right down to it!" Bill mut- ‘

tered indisgust. “I‘ve hollered loud ‘nuff to wake a
dead mule down at the bottom of the Reese. Say,
Judge! wake upl" And Bill beat against the door
with his brawny flats.

at this second Vigorous appeal there was a move-
ment apparent inside the shanty. Bill‘s listening
earshdetected the prolonged yawn of the sleeper,
waking slow . .
‘ eep sound ’nufl fur six; I reckon he
must be pretty easy about the conscience for to
snooze it out this way," the driver observed to him-
self. “ Say, Judge, get up an‘ come fur mel Thar‘s
Jist old blazes to pay in this hyer ranch!"

“ Who’s there?" asked the Judge, evidently only
half-awake. -

“It‘s me—Ginger B .”

“ What do you want?"

“ I wantiyou for sure! Things are riled ‘round an‘
they hev rung in a ‘ cold deal ‘ on us," Bill replied.

“Come in the morning," and the Judge turned
over to go to sleep again.

“See yer, ef you don‘t git up, I‘ll kick the hull
eend-board of this hyer shanty in!" cried Bill, in-

dignantly.

‘ What‘s the matter?"

The 'Judge began to have an impression that some-
thing important had occurred.

“Blazes to pay, I tell you!“ growled Bill.

“How does it concern me " asked the Jud e. “I
can‘t be called out of my d on account 0 ever?!
drunken row that occurs in town. Let ’em fight t
out among themselves and the more roughs there
are killed, the better lol- Spur City. Go we and
stop your noise! You ought to know better n to
come and disturb me in this way." The-Judge spoke
tes ily. He was evidently annoyed at being dis-

“ Are you the she-hose of this hyer ranch or ain’t
er?" cried Bill, in a rage. “ fizz don't git up 1‘11

1: this old she sich a welt t ou‘ll reek
“trim reissues .2... °” “
‘ on e u in '
risin u; in his . use"
“ ome out an‘ see," replied Bill, ving the door
a tremendous kick. “It’s no use, iguge; you‘ve ot
t-ogtifime; nag-y awgilllltk 1:10;: sleep you get t ‘s
an 's in mornin‘ now anywa .
80 hi; ‘gw’avfit‘hseeymei't‘h J c' t y
rum an r e u out 0 his
bun and hting acfidle, unfastdgslélo the door.
B walk in. he Judge wasin underdothes
just as he had got up, with a blanket wrapped
aro ' '

“Now, then, what the devil do all want, disturb-
ing me at this hour of the ' hti‘ the Judge asked,
an angry look u n his stern ace.

"Thar‘s been lazes to pa u in the Eldorado—”

“ All, some of In an D ck s work?" asked the
Judge, interru ting e ech of the stage-driver.

“ ell, I rec on you‘ tter not bet on that, ‘cos
he ain't mixed up in the leetle alfair at all.”

“What has ha pened?"

“Afellerm rightinhisbed—stuckjistlike

a P‘lgi'ho f” r

“Young Gay, the miner from up in the Gully,
who‘s been on a ‘ tare 'round hyerabontthree days."

“ Gay?" said the Judge, thoughtfully.

“ Yes, Gay Tenpennynsil, or somethian that
sort; d of I know exactly. He’s Jist ngone
for! he won’t ante up any more, you bet!”

“Is be dead?” -

“Well, I reckon he is;' he'lsgot‘as many digs as if

31- .

he:‘dvslrli‘m hugging}: i" asked th J ,1
en 0 u -
ginning to dress  39' be

“He was went for ’bont an hour 0. I kno i
about the time, ’cos he an‘ me wereag-h'lstin (10:13 is:
the saloon ail tillefoeyvteglfigl'l. That r cuss could
drink more tang e an 0 man "
“3 htmhthleing ' i3}; h h y Ir '0‘ m

as e n oxen w en ewenttobed?"asked
the Judge, pulling his shirt over his head.

“ I reckon he was; took me all I knewhow fur to
carry him up-staus. I corraled him in bed, and left
a candle burnigg; then I went down-stairs ag’in; an‘
’bont an hour ter I came u an’ jist thought I’d
take a look an’ See how the g oot was, an‘ we found

Overland Kit.

19

 

him kivered with blood. I r’ally weakened, Judge'

poor little cuss, he must have thrown up his han

mighty sudden."
‘ You so. 'we ‘; was there anybody else with you

when you iscovercd the murdered man i" the Judge

gsked, finishing his hasty toilet by pulling on his
oots

“ Yes, Jim Rennet.“

“ Did on discover anfi trace of the murderer?“
and as e Ju 6 put t is question, he buckled a
nav revolver to is side.

“ e diskivered the we‘ on that did fur him.“

“Ab!” and Jones looke earnestl into Bill‘s face.
He foresaw that the discove o the murderer’s
weaken might prove a clew tortyhe door of the deed.

“ rter we found the bod we went to call Miss
J innie, jist fur to tell her all out it. Jim knocked on
the door, an' it were unlatched an’ flew open, an’
thar stood Jinnie, with the bloody bowie in her hand
an‘ the blood from it had daubed all over the front 0
he} dress"tar-ted, d t ression swe t

ones s an a s range exp

oval: his face. Bill noticed it and wondered at the

loo .

“ Then Jim Rennet told me to run for you as fast
as I could go, an’ new you know jist as much about
it as I do.‘

“How did the girl ap ar when you discovered
her with the bloody kni e in her hand?” the Judge
asked, fixing his keen eyes intently on the face of t e

'l'lVel‘.

“ Skeered to death, on bet! I reckon her face
was whiter nor a b‘iled ag. Never see‘d her skeered
afore, either; she’s jist as full of pluck as a wild-
cat; ‘she ain‘t one of the squalling kind of femin-
mes.

“ I’m afraid that she will need all her courage," the
Judge said, drylliy, as he passed out into the air, Bill
following, won ering in his mind what the Judge
meant b this last remark. ’

Jones ocked the door of the express office careful-
ly behind him, and then started u the street toward
t e Eldorado. Bill came close be ind him.

The mind of the driver was in a to . A certain in-
definite suspicion passed through his rain' he could
attach but one meanln to the words of the Judge,
and that put a human fe in ei-il.

“It can‘t be " he mutte . “I wouldn‘t believe
it of I see’d it; 'd sw‘ar my e es lied."

When the two arrived at t e Eldorado, they pro-
ceeded u tairs at once. The saloon had been closed
up, but t e side door was open, and a light was burn-

” mi on the counter. .

3 they passed by the bar, Bill noticed- that the
Chinese, Ah Ling, was asleep in his little bunk under
the counter. ~

In the ent they found James Rennet. He had
brought the l hted candle out of the room where
the murder he been committed and placed it on the
floor of the entry.

“I‘ve told the Judge all ‘bout it," Bill said, uncon-
sciously lowering his voice almost to a whis er.

“ Have you given the alarm?" Jones as ed, in a
low and arded tone.

“ N o," nnet replied; “ I thought that I had bet-
ter see you first."

“ It is as well,“ the Judge said, slowly and thought—

ull .

“This is a terrible aflair. Poor fellow!” observed
Renfilet‘; "I didn't think he had an enemy in the
wor .

“It is hard to tell, sometimes," Jones replied.
“Have ou formed any idea in regard to who com-
mitted t e crime?"

“ Yes," Rennet said slowly.

" You have?" asked the Judge, quickly.

“ Yes; has Bill told you about our discovering the
girl with‘the bloody knife in her hand?"

es

“This man was never killed withwt an object,"
Bonnet said, slowly.

“ For his money, 1perhaps," said the Judge, with a
covert lance into t e face of the other.

“ He none."

“ But, I have been informed that he has been on a
spree for some little time, and has been spending
money very freely," the Judge said. ,

“Exactly: but where that money came from, no
one knew except the man whose body now lies cold
in onder room and‘the p who gave it to him."

Judge stroked his oh for a few minutes in
silence, his gaze bent upon the floor. Suddenly he

ke.
ups Mr. Rennet, you have a suspicion as to who com-
mitted this deed of blood?"

“And the person i" _

“ The same one who gave Tendail hi money. He
was 'd to keep his mouth shut. He owned as
muc to me when under the influence of 1i uor.
This murder was committed to keep him s ent.
Whoever had reason to fear Tendail living, struck
the blows which have insured his silence. If we
find the person who paid Tendail, we shall find his
murderer." ,

CHAPTER xxxv.
ran View.
Fan in few moments, there was silence in the
out -way. Bill almost fancied that he could hear
thelgeating of his heart. As for the other two, they
were too much absorbed in their common specula-
tions as to the hand that had brought death to the
drunken man to think of afiht else.

Although the had not d so in words, lfist both
the Judge and nnet felt sure that they co d name
the person who had struck the murderous blow, and
that they both suspected the some men.

Bill to t as if he was under the ni‘luence of some
horrid dream. He hadfiigssed the thoughts of the

ough he

terms... h ‘° h” mm“ as“;
e on ere ino n
also. Bill could h believe thatphe was awake,

and it was not until e had 5] l bitten his little
finger that he became convinced’bgthe fact.

‘ Murder is not committed without a reason," the
Judge said, slowly, after a long pause. “If Tendail
had no open enemy—” -

“ Not one in the werld!" exclaimed Rennet; “ I am
sure of it."

“ There must have been a motive for his killin ,
and although circumstances may point strongly
one party, unless we can prove t a that party ad
some strong motive for the deed—some powerful

~veryba a o

 

reason to wish the murdered man out of the we. -—-
we shall find it difficult to fix the crime upon he
person, even though, in our minds, we ma feel
confident that we have lit our hands upon t e ac‘
tual murderer," the Ju e said, slowly and deliber-

atel .

“I, think that my evidence will furnish all the
profit ‘necessary to convict the murderer," Rennet
re er .

Bindeed i?" questioned the J udfi‘e, earnest! .

“Yes; some few (la s , w e under t e influ-
ence of liquor, Tenda ut red some careless words.
At the time I paid but little attention to them; but,
now, I feel sure that the will serve as a clew as to
who and what his ass is." ‘

“And those words?"

“ Had reference to the mperson who was paying
him to kee his ton e st . I guessed at once who
he was, an now at r the discove that Bill and I
made alittle wh‘ e o I feel sure but I can prove
who it was that kille Tendail."

“I can hardl find it in my heart to admit this
dreadful susplc on,“ Jones said, slowly.

“ It is dreadful, but looks are sometimes deceptive.
I think that if we proceed cautiously and promptly
we shall be able to find some other mportan
proofs," Rennet observed.

“ You think, then, that we had better act at once i“

“ Yes," Reniiet replied.

“Very well; I‘ll leave you in charge of the house
and the body while I go and rouse the citizens. We
shall have to call u n the Vigilantes in this matter-
Injun Dick and h 3 friends will probably attempt
to give us trouble. Now that we have ot our hand
in, we might aswell rid S ur City of wo or three
had characters or else st ng ‘em up at the end of a
rope as a warning. I think that we 'had better not
proceed to active measures until mo . Do you
mint]; that there is any danger of the attempt-

esca
mg No," Bonnet replied; “all is dark in the room-
gone to bed, of course."

“ Pluck eh i"

“More ravado than anything else."

I‘Well, you and Bill keep watch here. After day—
break the Vigilantes will act.“ With this assurance,
Judge Jones took his departure. .

“ feel like a durned fool in this hyer matter," Bill
blurted out. “ I wish I‘d druv my coach back to
Austin instead of lettin' Ike go in my place; but I
won‘t believe it! darned of I will."

“ You’ll find out before to-morrow night,“ Rennet
said, dryly. Then he examined his watch. “ Half
after two; we sha'n‘t have a at while to wait until
do. break. Suppose you go n the room there, and
b 11%?“ a coup e of chairs.”

“ at, whar the dead man is P"

u Yes‘w .

‘I‘No, I‘m durned ef I do !“ exclaimed Bill with a
shiver. “I ain‘t afeard of much in this world, but I
don‘t gain thar ag‘in till dayltilght, you bet!"

“W y, Bill, you’re a cowar ."

“ I kin eat the man that says it, of you’ll only cut
off his ears an’ grease his head," Bill replied. stoutly.
“ ‘Sides, thar ain‘t any cheers in thar; reckon ou
think that you‘re in New York or Fr’isco, a-c ' ’
fur cheers so handy." '

“Pei-hag): there’sa box round in the entry some-
where?" not su g ted. - .

“I see'd one a w
Bill, after thinking for a moment. -

Bonnet took the candle, found the box and brought
it with him to his former station. Then the two sat
down upon it and k t t watch, though, as
Bill observed, " ’twa‘n’ much use to watch a dead
Eran, ‘cos he wouldn’th away, nohow you could fix

'Ronnet did not take the trouble to inform the s -
331‘ that he was‘watchlng the living and not e

 

The ex ress ofllce was dimly lit by a half a dozen
cabriucgles, urnlng in the tin sconces attached to the

w .

The flickering light fell 11 n half a dozen stern
and resolute faces. The V to leaders were gath-
ered in council. Judge Jones sat at his desk' the
others were seated around him. Th most prominent
men in Spur Changer-e represented ere.

Quietly they assembled at the Jud ’s sinn-
mons, roused from their slumber b the of dut .

The Jud e made a short space recounting 6

ll c of the murder of Gains Tendail, to
whic the others listened attentively.

“And now fellow-citizens " said the Judge after
com leting his recital, “ I think that the time for ac-
tion s come. I think that the strong arm of
justice should be felt by the to es thathai-borin

a canon.

our midst; itis time that they ta
The Viki-lumen must 1136, take a hand the game,
“W° Fix“ earmark- “WS °‘ mu: .
,eow naanu nus evoves a
guy. We must let the desperpgloes -our midst
un erstand that we are terrib in earnest. No
child‘s play now; no more black c oaks, masks, and
bug-a-boo stuff. Such fellows as this Dick Talbot
laugh at it. You see that he has never heeded our
menace at all. In fact, he defied our power b re-
maining. We don’t want talk now, but work—flan,
shrug: and decisive.“ Then the Judge sat down.
“ t is there any reason, Jud , to connect Dick
Talbot with this murder?" one o e committee ask-

ed.

“Well no—not exactly " the Judge replied, slow-
1y. “Still, as he i looke up to b a great man of
these desperad0es as a sort of a ader, it woul be
as well to make an example of him and so strike ter-
ror into the rest.“

“ Yes; but, Judge, I don’t see what excuse we
have got for making an example out of Talbot,“ said
another of the committee, Ben Ha esby name, who
kept a eneral store next to the F dorodo.

“ Wefi, only that he is the 'most conspicuous one
of these roufhs who are disgracing our town by their

resence," ones re lied.

“It’s true he don‘ work for a livin and ts his
bread b yingl cards; there ain’ anytfi? so

. ut t at, anyway—at least, not on in
this region. They say he always plays a. fair, square
game, and never takes advan a of an man. 0!
course the men who pin with h m inten to win his
money if they can' and don‘t think much of a man
who sits down to play cards with a gambler, and then
squeals because he loses his money."

 

“To udge from your words, Haynes, you think
that this reckless desperado is rather an honor to
our town than a cl race,“ Jones said tartly.

“No I on‘t thinkan thing of the kind,‘ Haynes
re lied, b untly‘ “but don’t believe in giving a dog
a ad name and then hanging him right off. I go in
for justice every time” don‘t so. but what our
town would be better Without Dick albot than with
him' but I ain‘t sure of it. I‘m rfectly willing
ask him to leave town if the sen iment of our (‘l
zens is that way: but it ain't, and I know that !
ain‘t. And I tell you, r! ht out, fair and squarc,
Judge, if we try to strin njun Dick up without rea-
son we’ll have our han full.“

“I kinder think Haynes is right there,“ said an-

other.

“But if the evidence roved that Talbot had a
hand in the murder of minor. Tendail?" asked
the Judge.

“ Wh then we'll havea rightto put him throu h,"

;e lielilia‘k ass; “but I say, Judge, we‘ll give a
s e. '
“Certainl 'wewillk ultice oursid “the
Jud sdid,¥ilandly. mp j °n °’

“ sure you‘re righthand then go ahead! that‘s
my motto!“ exclaimed aynes. v

‘Of course; unless we represent the whole of
Spur City, our power— amounts to but little. The
Eeople must be with us and not list no. The

onest and bio citizens must eel that we are
doin them a service in ridding our community of
the es erate cases who have sought refuge here, or
we be acting with our hands tied.“

A murmur of assent told that this point was well
taken. A course of action was soon resolved upon,
8;](1 at? hour after daybreak fixed upon as the time
o no on.

.__..

CHAPTER mvr.

m ARREST.
Tn leadersof the Vigilantes to call out

their friends. Bowie-knives and revolvers were in

demand. The rising of the Vigilantos was some-

thing ,new for ur City. The min

siever been “p
on.

Dark forms fiitted like spectral figures from shunt
to shanty in the early morningbgloom. y

There is something irresist e in Judge Lynch‘s
summons.

The first gray lights of the morning! were begin-
ning to appear above the horizon. The arker shades
3f nigh; were flying fast before the coming of the

av» .

Jufige Jones and two or three of the committee
stood in front of the express ofilce in busy consulta-

tion.

The rogramme was that the V lantes should not
show eir hands openly at first, at in case of an
attempt by the rough element to obstruct the c."~
reer 0 justice, to rise and make aterrlble exam} a
of the ringleaders.

At last the Judge thought that the chances Wt' r
in his favor. The discussion was ended that! i
had been taking an active in, and he leanm
back ainst the corner 0 the shanty. The first
light 0 the mornin , struglilgun through the mist
and vapor of the rig mg t, uminated his iron.
like face. A look of so. sfaction gleamed in his

e leaned carelessly against the corner of the
building, his arms folded across his massive chest,
and his 5 es fixed on the aks of the far-on Sierra
gleaming hush-white in t e misty n ht, he seemed
more like the statue of an ancient man, fantas-
tically robed in the garb of modern times, than a
living, breathing pioneer of the great Western ad-
vance- ard of American civilization.

The ps of the Judge moved, though the sound
of his words was inaudible to all save himself.
He was musing half aloud—a sign of deep thought.

“He will be sure to make some demonstration
when he learns who it is that is accused of the
murder of this miner. If he will on allow his
passionwcarryhimawaysoasto our wer
.-—attempt to rescue the risoner—oxoite a turb-
an' an to vemeachanceathim,l
ask for not g better. 1f he will only put himself
in the wrong, so that I can have an excuse to
string him up to a pine, I’d give ten years of my
life and I am not asTKo as I once was. How
luc this affairis! e dsaretentoonothat
it drive Dick Talbot from ,S Cityi thonwho
cankmme fromtheprlzelsee towin? ' .

A l of fierce exultation swept over the face
of the Judge to he put the question to himself.
Victory seemed almost vi

.The Judge

11 o-man-from.
the landlord of the Cosmopolitan, and

°8o .
Thethre'e ulledreininfrontofthe regs m
ruminant... s h f...  “5
rown rea ' ‘
corralzd the critter!“ ’ we ‘6

"Who?" asked Jones, in astonishment.
Mummers... .. .
oneo e e otomen u b the

door of the shan . started atthis ingrtglliggcefam!
exclamation: of nishment rose in the air.

“3135] have captured Overland Kit?" the Judge

ue .
q “You bet!" replied the-man-from-Red-Dog, in

trlum h. _ - .

“ Where? where?" questioned all, gathering mum!
the three in eager excitement. r u .

“ Up in the mountains; but he's passed in his.
checks," Brown said. ~ »

“Dead!” The Spur- .ylteswere

“ I reckon that tharain “anymore life him than
in a dead mule‘s " Jim Observed -

“Tell us all them I" oneofthe citizensexclaimed.

Brown briefly recounted how they had discovered
£13113? ogomfdmd-agent, covered with wounds,

e w er.
“ Bier-e the marks of adesperate fight, eh?" Jones

CL ‘
18:1 rgcnkogdho did," Brown replied; ‘ “ he was reg‘-

! w u . ‘

Jgngs guesseld at the truth lnan instant. Be rc-
membered what the lump, Joe Rain, had said iii
regard to OverlandKlt. It was plainto him that Kit

 

 

2O

Beadle’s Dime Library.

 

had tracked Rain, to Ipunish him for his treachery,
but had perished in t c struggle.

‘ " We ki‘vered the body up With rocks so as to keep
tuc wolves from it, Judge; but the critters harl com-
menced on the face afore we got there,“ Brown said.

“ Well, I suppose that you may as well let it be
just twhere it is, ‘ said Jones, after thinking for a mo-
men .

“ But, I say; what's b‘iiin‘, anyany, fur to bring
you out of your roost so early 7“ rown asked.

“ There has been a murder committed; we are 0-
ing to arrest the criminal; and if there is any res st-
ance made, the Vigilantes will probably take a hand
in," Jones replied.

‘ Wal. I don't keer if I jine in the funeral myself,“
the-man-from-Red-Do remarked carelessly.

“ Count me in, too," rown d.

“ And me; I go for order, every time i“ Reed ex-
claimed' which remark, considerfi that the s aker
had probably been in more “ ‘ cultiss " i an al-
rfmlist any other man in town, was something wonder-

u

“ Very well, gentlemen' we w nt all the good men
in town; we ma have 0 do little cleaning out
after we get our nd in," Jones said, dryly.

The approach of a force consisti of some fifteen
men, marchin up the street with m tary precision

ut a stop to t conversation, The new-comers, all

uliy armed, were headed by Ha nos.

“All ready, Ju , for a start, ‘ Haynes said, ashe
halted his men in rout of the shanty.

“Life is short; we might as well be going,“ Jones
remarked, putting himself at the head of the party.

Up the street went the fined, counter-marching,
and halted in front of the dorado. All within the
hotel were a parently still asleep.

After de oying the squad so as to surround the
building ones and He. es entered the hotel. They
ascended at once to t e second floor. There they
toting Bonnet and Bill seated on the box, keeping
gun .

“ Everything all right?" the Jud asked.

“ Ain’t a mouse stirred," Bill rep led. .

“ The party is still here, then f"

“ Yes; there hasn’t been amovement in the room "
finnegdsaid, rising to his feet, an example which Bin
'0 ow . '

“ I suppose that we might as well make the arrest
now as at any other time " the Judge observed,
slowly. It was plain that t e do was a disagree-
able one, and that he hated to act 11 the premises.

“The sooner the better, I think " Bonnet replied.
“ Justice shouldn‘t lag in a case 0 this sort. I think
that the sooner we et the out of this the
better it will be, for, ‘ the at! gets noised around
there may he a few, impelled by sympathy, who w
interfere and make trouble.“

“ t all provided for!" the Judge exclaimed
quickl . “ I‘ve got fifteen or twent well-arme
men gown-stairs; enough to frown own any at-
tem t at a rescue.”

“ gou had better make the arrest, then, at once,"
Replllltgltmtii'th bod um asked, '

ere s e ynes .

“ In that room the; " and Bill pointed to the door.

“This is the room, isn‘t it?" Jones asked, pointing
to the door of Jinnie's apartment. i

“ Yes " Rennet answered.

The J’u e knocked at the door.

“ Who‘s here?" asked Jinnie, apparently waking
at once.

“I, Ju Jones. I want to see you at once,
please." be voice of the Judge trembled as he
spoke.

it Yes.”

Then could be heard the sound of the girl moving
around in the room. The light of a candle shone
thro h the narrow crack over the door.

Wgfie J innie was (1 the four in the entry
remained silent as statues. e sound of their heavy
breathing alone broke the stillness that seemed to

' all around. Grave were the

Y
Atlastthedooro nedandJinnieaneared.
She started just a little as she-saw the our. In
their stern faces she read signaof evil.
“ What's the matter, gents?“ she asked

“Miss Jinnie, a painful dufievolves o'n me," the ‘

Judge said, slowly and reluc tly. ‘ “I must arrest
3’0 '

minnow ml for; what?" questioned the girl, in
s ay.
“ F r murder."

Slovorly and solemnly the Judge uttered the terrible

words.

“ me foziréiurderlg’thnnie exclaimed. as if
she doubted the e ence 0 er ears.

“ Yes; for the murder of Mr. Gains Tendail."

J innie turned and took up her hat from the table. ,
eady to go with you,” she said, simply.

“Mr. Haynes, take charge of the lady; I must look
at the body " the Judge sai . Then he took the candle
and entered the room of the murdered man. H
had he entered the room, when a loud cry of aston-
ishment summoned all to his side.

CHAPTER xxxm
m moon “runs or“ m canes.

Tan Judge stood gust within the doorway, a look
of blank amazemen upon his face.

The others azed into the room, and then they,
too cried out astonishment.

he body of 0am remit: was ml

There was the bed the blanket spotted with the
blood that had walled from the wounds of the strick-
on man showing up] where the body had lain,
but the body itse ad mired. The room was
a small one, lit by a single dow. At a glance the
eyes saw all that it contained. The window, too,
was closed.

“ What has become of the body?" cried the Judge,

mazed.

“ Durned of I know!” replied Bill, in utter astonish-
ment.

a‘s‘l‘igldou kept watch of the door, Bennett" the Judge

“Yes: we‘ve not taken our eyes frogn It.” the
young man answered. “ A mouse couldn t have got
out Without our seein it, let alone a human.

" l‘ll sw’ar that neit er hide nor ha’r has come out
of this since you went away, Judge!" affirmed the
driver. 

"' Some one must have removed the body through

a

 

the window, then " Jones said, a dark look upon his
face. He step )e to the easement and opened it.

The window ooked out upon a small shed. The
Judge saw at a glance how easy it was for an one
to ascend to the roof of the shed, and thus ga ac-
cess to the room.

“I cannot understand this,“ he muttered, in an
undertone, communing with himself. “ What can
he the motive for this movement? Some one is deal-
ing me a blow in the dark. I must be on my guard
or else—" Then the Judge paused in his muttered
speech as Rennet advanced to his side and looked
out of the window.

“ Iguess the idea," Rennet said, in the ear of the
Judge. “Some accomplice of the girl has removed
the body by means of this window so as to destroy
the roof against her."

“ es, it looks like it," the Judge replied, thought-

full .
“But it does not make an diflerence; we are not
going to act according t9 t e precise forms of law
ere. Both Bill and in self can swear that we saw

the man dead. I thi that our evidence will he

one h to convince an one of the death of the man,
even f we cannot pr uce the body, or tell what has
become of it."

“ In my mind, the fact of the body bei spirited
away, is strong evidence of the gir ‘s gui t,’ Jones
Bfl‘lleWluilcfl‘. covert glance into the face of the other.

es s so. ' -

“I think that I had better search her room; there
we may be able to secure some proof regarding this
terrible deed."

“ That is the proper course, Judge."

“.You had be ter make the search, and I will as-
sist you," the Judge said, slowly.

Judge Jones seemed stranlgely ill at ease.

The two then went into mnie’s room, Jones bid-
ding Ilaynes remain with the prisoner in the entr .

A long breath came from Judge J ones’s lips as e
entered the little apartment. It was plainly but
neatl furnished.

“ ut the bloody knife?" the Judge asked.

“I secured it last ht' Bill hasit now," Rennet
answered. “I did no wish to rouse the girl‘s sus-
picions that we the ht she was concerned in the
murder, so I told her hat I would take c e of the
body, and that she could go to bed and no bother
herself about it."

“ That was wise."

And as the Judge s ke, his e es fell 11 n the
blood-stained apron the J innie worn on he pre-
cedin eve .

" ore roo ," he said.

. A little runk stood in one corner. It was unlocked,
and Rennet 0 had it. He ulled the clothes out
carelessly; as e did so, a fol ed sheet of note-paper
fluttexl‘ed to the ground. The Judge snatched itup

or y.
5 he opened it a peculiar expression flasth
across his ace, and a fierce light burned in his cold

eyes.

“This establishes the motive for the deed!" he
said, 133cm? then folded the letter and placed it in-
side et-book with some other papers and re-
turned e book to the breast- cket of his coat.
“Stay!” he said, after a momen ’s thought. “ You
had better write your name on the back of the gaper
so that, you can swear to it when produced evi-

ence. ‘

Then the Judge took out the pocket-book a n.
It was along one such as are usually carri by
business men, and contained uite a number of
folded Esapers similar to the one t had come from
the fol of Jinnie’s garments. The Judge took out
the folded sheet that he had placed on to of the
others, and Rennet wrote his name in penc on it.

“ There, now; we will be able to prove conclusive-
5y that it came from the trunk of the git-1.". the

u 9 said, and he half-unfolded the  as be
are» "e. " Just see what terrible evidence t ainst

:-

Bonnet glanced at the last few words written on
the paper and nodded assent.

The went on with the search; but nothing else
was ound that seemed to have any relation to the
murder. Satisfied, at length, the two gave over the
search and rejoined the y in the on .

Jinnie had not spoken a word. She
calmly and quietly. Ha nos, who had watched the

lrl attentively was bo cred. He could not he]
Wm: she was either totally innocent of
knowl act the crime orelse she had more
common courage.

The gantry went down-stairs; the pickets were
called ; innie was placed in the center of the
armed men, and the line of march taken up for the
ex rose-once.

e astonishment of the-man-from-Red-Do when
he saw that Jinnie was the criminal he ha volun-
teered to arrest, was extmmelyl‘vg'reat.

“ Sho! that gal the critter? enty of us galoots
armed tooth and nail, fur tomcat one female! I
reckon I'll sell out my share in this h erb’ilin‘ cheap.
Ain‘t felt so mean since the Digger uns stole my
mule!" he muttered, in disgust
The proceedings in the Elder-ado had taken up
some it tie time and it was broad daylight when the
party, bearing lnnie as a prisoner in their midst,
marched through the street.
t1IGIreat was the astoliliishment of the inhabitant: cg

emining cam w o, 0 course, were oran o
the terrib e deedp done under cover of the ht, when
thfi saw the little procession.

e news of the arrest of J innie for the murder of
Gains Tendall ran like wildfire through the town.
Those who were up and saw the arrest, made it
their business to wake up those who were asleep,
and tell them the news. Swift horses, ridden by
reckless riders, bore the news to Gopher Gully,
Paddy's Flat, and other outlying regions owning
Spur City as a center.

To do justice to the inhabitants of the mining
camp, it is necessary to remark, that almost to a man
they “haw-hawed‘ at the idea of Eldorado Jennie
committing murder. Popular sentiment was strongl
in her favor, and some even went so far as to
Judge Jones a “ durned old fool!"

The miners came pouring into town. Whisky
was at a remium, and the saloon-keepers were
jubilant. e Eldorado alone, of all the places of
public entertainment in Spur City, did not share in
the general bustle. The doors were tightly closed,
and the stillness of death reigned within. The

 

Chinese, Ah Ling, had disappfared. The adventurous
seekers after knowledge, w 0 had penetrated into
the house, urged on by the morbid curiosity uliar
to the masses to gaze on the scene of a bloo deed,
found all the doors locked and Dick Talbot {n pos-
session of the premises.

Talbot had been hunted up by the-man-from-Red-
Dog the night after the arrest.

lujun Dick said very little in regard to the aflair;
and when asked his opinion as to J innie’s innocence
or guilt, merely smiled quietly and asked the ques'
tionerslf the thought that the Reese would evei‘
run backwar . It was plain that Dick did not feel
at all alarmed. ,

d Mr. Rennet awakened Bernice at an early
hour, and told her of the terrible murder that had
been committed, and the accusation brought against
the landlady of the Eldorado.

“They‘ve carried her off and are going to try her
before that remarkable s cimen of a jud e who
runs the machine in this do ectable re ion,” c said
in conclusion. “ The landlady of this rst-class hotel
is in ‘ durance vile," the Chinaman cook has taken it
into his head to abscond, so that we shall have to look
after our provender, to-day, ourselves; but you
needn’t be alarmed, my dear; I‘ve been on a forag-
ing tour already. I ve secured six boxes of sardines
and a choice assortment of cove 0 stars, canned
salmon, lobsters, etc., and four poun of crackers,
so that we are not likely to starve.“

” When is the girl to be tried?" Bernice asked, a
thoughtful expression on her face.

“Some time this morni ."0 ‘

h “ go you suppose that s e has a lawyer to defend
er »

“A lawyer! what, in this region?" old Rennet
asked, in comic astonishment. “ Oh, no; unless it‘s
some one like myself on a wild-goose chase.
law here, Hi dear, lies in a revolver, and the quick-
est man on he trigger is the ablest practitioner."

“Mr. Bonnet, won't 'ou speak for her?" asked
Bernice, quickly, laying or hand pleadineg on the
law er‘s arm. '

“ at! you want to at me into another lawsuit?
I‘ve already leaded an won one case for you."

“Oh, Mr. ennet, you cannot guess how much I
am interested in this girli" Bernice exclaimed, cam-
estl . “She must be saved: the hap iness of one
tha. I love depends upon her. For sake, she
must be saved 2’

“His sake! who?" asked the old lawyer, in a

maze.

“I cannot explain that," Bernice rep’i'ed, in con-
fusion; “I cannot explain to you the motives that
actuate me; but she must be saved," she repeated,
earnest] .

“ All right. I’ve only got one fault—I neveramld
refuse a woman an thing. I’ll go for this one-horse
judge again!“ or! old Rennet, excitedly.

CHAPTER XXXVIIL
m accusa'nou.

Ir was after nine o‘clock before the court assem-
bled to tr Jinnie Johnson for the murder of the
minor, G as Tendail.

aged express om'oo had been selected as the place
0 .

Of course it was crowded to suffocation.

Judge Jones presided. The in , twelve good men
and true, were seated on a rude y-constructed seat
by the wall. A strong guard of well-armed men kept
back the crowd.

All the noted men of Spur City were there—Dick
Talbot, the-man-from-Red-Dog Bill Brown, the
landlord of the Cosmopolitan, ave , froch
pher Gully, Yellow Jim, of Paddy’s Flat, and many
others less known to fame.

Old Rennet had managed to squeeze inclose to the
line of men who kept back the spectators.

Ju e Jones Opened the court with a briefi speech.

“ F ow-citizens,"- he said, “ we are bled
here to-day for a very important urpose. Last
night one 0 our townsmen was bra murdered
in the Eldorado Hotel. The prisoner, known to you
all as Jinnie J ohnson, stands accused of committ‘
that murder. It behooves us, for the reputationutl'fi
our town, to discover and  the door of the deed.
Miss Johnson, are youlgu ty or not ‘t i"

“ Not guilty." re ed Jinnie, . “ Why
iliiglul’d I harm him? never had any g against

“ I'll bet a mule ‘in’ a yaller pup she didn’t do
it!“ howled the-man- m-Red-Dotgl.

The Judge d no attention to e interruption.

“ The cou 11 now to examine the wit-
nesses," Jones said. ” the prisoner has no one to
gpeak forher,Iwill seethat ahehasfulljunticedone

er H

“1 your pardo sir‘ I stand read to act as
counsglagifor the flsgherl’ exclaimed oyld Bonnet,
striving to push ough‘ the line of men, who resist-
ed the attem t.

“El ou on’t let the old fat cuss throu h, I’ll
climb over you!“ cried the Red-D ‘te, oving
back the stalwart fellow who opposed et's pro-

gross.

“What!” cried the v ard in a e leveling his

“miniatfi' Jim- .“ ' mu be
,youp we ,namet a
furst-$3 funeral round hygi? to-morrow, an‘ you’ll
ride in the furst carriage!" cried the-mnn-from-Red-

Do'fii defiantly. _
ere was a lively rogpect of a row for a few mm-
utes, but Talbot and) a ew others got between the

mguard and the Bed-Dogite, and succeeded in
g the disturbance. I
Rennet through the guards, and took a po-
sition by t e side of the prisoner while the commo-
uoanastggiéig on. my I" he
.‘ on‘ ‘ said encouragm .
1y; " you're not wit out agenda." ’ g
A teful look from Jinnie rewarded him for his

we 5.

Judge Jones surve ed the old lawyer with a pecu-
liar ex ression in eyes; it seemed to be one of
scornfu defiance.

The trOubled waters were calmed, and the trial
proceeded. , -

The first Witness called was James Bonnet. He
gave a clear account of the discovery of the body,
of knocking at the door of Jinnie’s room, and the
filiggveiy of the girl With the bloody knife in her

 

Overland Kit.

21

 

“ I found it on the floor, and took it up to look at
it,“ cried Jinnie, interrupting the evidence.

“ Hush my dear,” the old lawyer.

Young ,Renuet then told of his summoning Judge
Jones, and of the events that followed.

Ginger Bill, the driver then gave his evidence,
which differed but little from that of Rennet. The
only important point was that it indicated the time
whenthe murder must have been committed.

Old Rennet put a few unim rtant uestions to
the two witnesses; they cliie y relate to the ap-

arance of the murdered man when discovered by

em.

“ You see, gentlemen of the u , the wag the evi-
dence tends,‘ theJud esaid. ‘T ey utt eminer
Tendail to bed, and a out an hour of envard found
him weitering in his gore; then, on knocking at the
door of the risoner‘s room, the door flies open and
the prisoner discovered with a bloody bowie-knife in
her hand, and some portions of her dress stained
with blood."

The Judge then produced thea ron, which showed
the blood-spots plainly on its wh to surface.

“Gentlemen of the jury," said the old lawyer, in
his bland, oily way, ‘as the roceedings of this
court are not conducted accord ng to regular rules,
I ropose that we let Miss Jinnie tell her own story
a out this bloody knife and the spots of blood upon
her garments. We are after t e truth, and, of
course, it doesn‘t matter much how we get at it, as
long as we do et at it. I have too much faith in the
manhood of t e free American citizens here on the
frontier, the pioneers of civilization, bearing the
starry banner of our great republic amid hostile
foes, to doubt but they will do full justice to a oung
and helpless woman, especially when her e or
death ha 3 on their acts!" And, after this little
Fonrth-of— ul m—this fragment of the “stum ,"
Rennetlooke around, and smiled benignantéy. he
hum of approval that arose' told that his ot had
struck home.

“Now, my dear, give us your account of this af-
faifi'," continued the old lawyer, addressing the young

“ Yes, sir," Jinnie said, in a clear voice, and with-
out a trace of embarrassment in her manner. " Af-
ter I shut up the saloon, I went ug—stairsto in
I knew that there was a candle t ere, so I di n’t car-
r one u with me, only some matches. I lit the can-
dire and i; took me a few minutes, because I couldn‘t
make the matches burn that I had with me: so I had
to hunt for some that were in the room. After I lit
the candle I turned round to fasten the door and
then I saw the bowie-knife covered with blood,l
on the floor. From the place it was lying, I ju
that some one had opened the door in the dark and
thrown it in. That was what I thought the moment
I saw it. I picked it up and some of the blood
dropped off on my dress, and just then the door flew
open, and I saw Mr. Rennet and Bill. When they
told me that Gay was murdered, I eased instantly
that he had been killed by the kni e that I held in
my hands. Of course I felt faint just a bit, though I
ain’t one of the fainting kind.“

All within the room had listened attentivel to the
girl‘s words, and few there but believed t at she
spoke the truth.

Old Rennet looked around’with an air of trium h.

“You see, gentlemen of the jury, how clear, ow
lucid is the lyoung lady’s statement. It carries con-
viction on t 8 face of it. See how plain it is that the
murderer, after committi the deed of blood, was
naturally anxious to get rid of the bloody instru-
ment, and opening the first door that came handy
cast in the crimson-stained knife. And again, I u
it to you, gentlemen of the my, as sensible an in-
telligent men, is it natural or an one to commit
such a. cold-blooded, coolly-calc ated murder as
this deed of' blood must have been, and then allow
himself or herself to be surprised with the very wea-
pon of death stained with the blood of the victim
in his or her and? Of course not! It is uttcrly on
of the question. The first impression of the crimi-
nal isto remove all evidence implicating him with
the foul deed. And now we come to the strongest

oint of all. What motive had this girl to commit the

cod? Weigh-that question well! What difference
could it Bossibl make to her whether Gains Tendml
was in t e war (1 or onto! it? That's the point!" And
Bonnet paused and looked around him, as if_to give
time for all to consider his words.

“A man does not stain his soul in crime without
an object. There was some reason for this murder,
but on cannot connect the prisoner at the bar with
it. here is no motive whatever for her committing
the deed. . The evidence against her, too, is of the
weakest kind. Let me you, gentlemen of the
jury, to put yourselves in the place of this :1; let
any one of you enter your a ment at nig t, and,
flndinga boody knife on t a door, what would be
more natural than for you to pick it up and examine
it? Then some one opens the door suddenly; you
are found with the knife in your hand. How would
any one of you like to be convicted of murder on
such evidence?“

The keen e as of the old lawyer detected by the
expression 0 the faces of the jurg that he had made
the impression that he wished' ut the cold smile
which hovered around Judge Jones’s lips puzzled

him.

“Gentlemen of the jury,“ the Judge said in his
harsh, stern voice “ ou havelistcnedtothe eloquent
address of this dist nguished ntleman from the
East. It is not for me, very lit e of a lawyer, to at-
tempt to measure legal wits with him. I am only a
plain man- I trust, an honest one; and iii my pre-
sent very d ble position, I am stnving_to do
the best I can for the good of the community in
which I live. Every one of our Western towns has
had at some time or other. earlier or later, to be
purified of the desperadoes who prey u in good
citizens. A terrible crime has been coin ted right
In our midst; a woman is suspected of that crime;
but, because sheisa woman, is theta reason why we
should harbor herif she is ilty? No; ifsheisguilty
she ought to be punished If she was a man. all

found guilty of murder I’d recommend the first

rope “d pine tree tbs, came handy' but her sex

' protects her from that. But, fellow—citizens, if we
nd that she is guilty of this cold-blooded murder,
we can send harto Austin, where the menthol-i-
ties will take charge __f her and deal wi her accord-
1, to her deserts. ~.l say—these few words, rellow-
ggzens, so that no false sympathy will prevent you

room. ‘

 

from doing your duty. And now, to return to the
tfluestion 0 he prisoner‘s guilt or innocence, it is
c aimed that she had no motive for committing the
deed. There was a motive, and I have the proof re-
garding it. ” _

The words of the Judge created a decided move-
ment among the inmates of the impromptu court-
room.

The jury looked at each other in astonishment;
they had about made up their minds that J innie was
ignocent, and the decided words of Jones puzzled

em.

Bonnet hardly knew what to make of it, for he
was sure that the irl had 8 ken the truth.

Ast for Jinnie, s e look at the Judge in amaze-
men .

The spectators watched the proceedings with
breathless anxiety.

CHAPTER XXXIX.
rns moon or GUILT.

Tunas: was a look of triumph in the eyes of the
Judge as he looked around him and noted the
effect of his words.

“Maliannet, we‘ll examine you again," Jones

' said.

The young man stepped forward.

“ gen were intimate with the murdered man?“

u 65.. .

“Did you ever hear him say anything regarding
a hold that he had on a certain person?”

“ es.‘

“ Relate the particulars.”

“ I met Gains in front of the Eldorado about three
weeks ; he was under the influence of liquor, and
boasted hat he had plent of money. I think he re-
marked that he had struc ‘ pay-dirt! I asked him
if he had been gamblln , and e re lied, ‘no" but
that he had discove a secret w ch somebody
would y him well to keo ."

“Di he say an hing 0 indicate to ion who it
was Ythat'he had a old on?" the Judge as ed.

“ es.‘

All within the room leaned forward anxiously,
and the su posed criminal, Jinnie, seemed as much
in the dar as to what was to come as any of the
res .

“ Who was the person indicated b him i"

“ The prisoner at the bar, J innie ohnson."

A look of utter astonishment swept over Jinnie’s
face at these words.

“I should like to ask the witness a question," said
the old law er, rising.

“ Certain ," re lied the Judge, with an air of as-
surance tha plalng said that he did not think that
the old lawyer co d make much out of his son.

“ Did the murdered man tell on that he gossessed
a secret concerning Miss Jinn e, and whic she was
paying him to keep silent?“ the old lawyer asked.

‘ He did not mention her name, but he gave me to
understand that he meant her!"

“ How ave you to understand?“

“ B ' erence."

“ A ,“ and the old lawyer glanced at the njury as
if to call their especial attention tohis wo s, ‘he
did not say that e possessed a secret concerning
Miss J lnnle r"

“ Not in those words; no."

‘1 gut you guessed that he referred to her?"

‘ es

“ What gave you that o inion?"

“Because he said the. hereafter he would have
the best room in the Eldorado—"

“Nothi in that,“ interrupted the lawyer; “the
Eldorado the best house in town: a man with
money would naturally say that he would have the
best room in the best hotel, without reference to
who kept it."

“Then I asked him openly if the secret concerned
Miss J innie?"

“And he answered es i"

“ No; he evaded e uestion, and said that I
couldn t pum him even i he was drunk."

“ You see t e value of this evidence, gentlemen of
the ury; sor-ro-smos!" and the lawyer laid ade-
cid em basis on the word. “ The moon was once
‘sup ’ to be of green cheese; rhatgs‘ it is, but
I don‘t believe, nt emen of the F , i: you be-
lieveit." Then nnetsat down, {)6 ectly satisfied.
One thing, though, puzzled him; he face of Judge
Jones never lost its confident expression.

“ You are under oath, Mr. Rennet and fyou declare
to the best of your knowl and hello that when
Gains Tendail,the murde man said that he had
a secret con ng some one, that he referred to
the landlady of the Eldoradof" the Judge asked,
witlli mm. mm

‘ 0," re 0 yo man .

“That w do." “n8 ' 1y

The young man retired.

“And now, gentlemen of the jury, I will present a

roof to you t at a secret understanding existed be-
?ween the risoner at the bar and the murdered
man; that 6 had a hold upon her: that she was
payinfilhlm to keep silent; and this proof cannot be
ex la ed away by any legal craft.‘

esilence in the room that succeeded the words
of the Ju was op ressive; court, spectato all
seemed to old their reath as though the slig test
sound would disturb the solemn scene.

The Judge drew a folded paper from his pocket-
book. and opened it slowly.

“ This per was found by Mr. Rennet in the trunk
of the oner, in her room at the Eldorado. I was

resen and in order there should be no doubt,
{caused Mr. Bonnet to write his name on the paper.‘

When the Judge produced the little folded gage, a
burning blush swept over the face of the girl, ut, as
he continued on in his speech, it was succeeded by a

00
All wondered at the varyinfiaegressions upon her
face, {lor almost every eye e room was fixed
u n er.
I601d Bonnet was bewildered; the calm confidence
:5 Elie Judge, and the confusion of the girl astonish-

in.

“I will first read what, is written on the pagr
aloud, and then submit it to your inspection, ‘ 9
Judge said, addressing the dry.

J innie leaned forward in reathless astonishment,
her lips slightly apart and her eyes dilated with
amazement.

,_ “Elise Jixsisz—The money you gave me is gone,
and iWant more. I have come to the conclusion

that you didn‘t pay half well enough. Why, I have
only to speak and you will be ruined forever. If you
want me to keep my mouth shut, you must pony up.
Take an ear opportunity to see me, or I shall be
obliged to ca! upon you. Spur City would be slight-
ly astonished if t knew what I know. I don't want
to make any trouble, but money I must have. You
are makin plenty; s are a litt e for me, or else I
shall be ob ged to en ghten the world as to who and
' what you really are. GAY.”

A deep silence ensued. The miners looked at each
other in astonishment, and the most amazed person
in the room seemed to be the prisoner, J mine.

The Judge handed the aper to the 111?.

“ Examine it well, gen lemon,“ he sai ; “ on see
that it is addressed to the prisoner. Here is he inc-
tive for the murder. This man, Tendail, possesscd a
secret concerning the prisoner; to preserve that se-
cret he was kille ."

“ Have you an
by the murde
a straws.

“ Yes, your son will bear witness to that fact," the
Judge answered, calmly.

Young Rennet‘s testimony to that effectwas coni-
plcte and overwhelming.

The old lawyer sat down in disgust.

“ What the secret is, to preserve which this mur-
der was committed, does not ap r; ossibly it is
in regard to the person who found the gfr’l the money
with which she started the Eldorado r“ and the
Judge cast a side glance at Dick as he s kc.

“ hat isn‘t so, J u l” exclaimed albot, in a
calm voice although t is purple veins in his temples
were swelied out like whip-cords. “ I found the
money! I‘m not ashamed to own it! she‘s not
ashamed of it! Everybody in 8 ur City could have
known it, if it had been an of t it business. That
girl there is my roml wife; on're trying by

also swearing to lacken her good name; you re a
set of oontemptible cowards to persecute a woman,
and I'll hold eve man engaged in this affair per-
sonally responsib e for it, and you, Judge Jones, will
be the first i"

The Judge turned deadly pale and half-drew the
revolver belted at his waist. but he paused as he
caught film of Dick's actions.

Talbot his Derringer in the pocket of his sack-
coat, ready cocked his hand on it, and by simply
raising his arm without withdrawing his hand from
the pocket, he ‘ covered “ the Jud .

Jones shut his teeth tightly to 6 er.

“ I call upon all ood citizens protect me from
this rufflan," he so d, appealingly.

“ Look b er, Talbot, you‘re too fast!" exclaimed
Haynes. ‘ I reckon that I'm foreman of this ury,
an’ I'll see that the gal has justice and a fair ow.
Go ahead, Judge; we ain‘t a-goin‘ to have any dis-
turbance er. ’

“ I kin se tie it!" shouted the-man-from-Red-Dog.
suddenly. pushing tbro h the line of men into the
open space beyond. “ bar's been a feller killed;
good! I‘m the galoot wot killed him! Go fur me
now, ye cripples! I‘m ready fur to take in riu-i
like a little man! Say, sis, jist slide out with ii un !"

To say that the speech of Dandy Jim created no
little astonishment would be but the truth.

“ You the murderer? Impossible!" cried the

Ju .

9%: wasfiin' up the Gully with us at the time!"
exclaimed ly Brown.

“ Wot‘s the use of talkin‘?" cried the Red- te-
indignantly. “I say that I‘m the man that clim ed
him. Wot more do you want? Hadn't I ought to
know? You bet! Gents, I'm yer antelope!"

 "‘3"? °i£ii"i‘“i‘i§'°‘“£“°“£ .. as
u n ,an,esp sn nanproes
hfig back into the crowd again. D

"Why can‘t I be hub for Injun an‘ the gal if I
want to, you dumed se of no-soulcd cusses, you?”
he cried, in wrath.

After the tumult caused by this little series of in-
cidents had expired, old Bonnet sprung to his feet.

“ Gentlemen of the ury, *ou are tr ing this girl
for the murder of sins endall. era's our
Eric‘odf. that the man is dead? where is his body!’ he

proof that that aper was written
man?“ exclaimetfiicnnet, catching

“ Spirited of! by accom lices in the murder," re-
lieglhth‘e Judge. ‘ Two w tnesses swear to the man‘s
“I ' retest

against the authori of this court.
You vs no egal right to try girlil’Bennet
Cfl‘eg'rimifdlyiigi th right " pliedth J d

‘ u e vnc ves 0- re 6 u
stern] .8 “Gentlemen of the jiiry, you will re rd
and ellberate u n your verdict. Gentlemen cf
the guard, clear erooml"

And thus the trial ended. The citizens gathered
in knots; died

ominous words were freely
around.

 

CHAPTER XL.
An cameo-ran wrrxus.
Tan jury were conveyed under guard to a shanty

near by.

The Judge posted sentinels around the 0 recs
office, and stationed ten of the armed men a tie
door. It was lain that he feared a rescue.

Jinnie  died £13113 line the fumes.

Afters n g e stionofhisforoesthe
J udae entered the office 

“ uess he's ing to i? and get her to make
aclean breast o it one 0 the men remarked, as
the Judge closed it behind him.

Jinnie sat by the Judge’s desk, her head resting on
her arm. She looked up in astonishment when she
saw who it was. Her face fully exp hoi-
amazement.

The Judge stood silent in the center of the room
for a few moments and surveyed lug: hit 1506 was

mar

as rlygid as though carved out o lo.
le‘gflou‘re in a terrible plight, Jinnie," he said at
n .

“Yes I an pose so," she answered, slowly.

“ Eve' higg has gone against you; the attem t
of Talbo to interfere in our behalf has only ma 9
matters worse. The oi as have now made up
their minds that it will not do to let the gamblers

. and de percdoes rule Spur City. They will make an
exampe olfunou to show the rough eleth a,“
they can’t the town."

‘ Dick only acted like a man, that‘s all." mphed

the 'rl. -
“Y‘ou do not fear the verdict!”

 

 

il'

u.
,H.

 

22

Beadle’s Dime Library.

 

 

“ No; why should I? I‘m innocent; I know it and
Heaven above knows it, too." Jinnie said, earnestly.

“ They will bring you in guilty."

“ How do you know?" she as ed, quickly. “ Have
you told them what the ought to say?"

“No; why do {ou t ’ that wa i" the Judge
questioned, a slig t frown clouding face. “Be-
sides it wouldn't matter what I might say. They
\Vlll find the verdict accordin to the evidence, and
{but is terribly against you. at reason have you'
in think-that would do aught to harm you?"

_“Blecause you act that way," the girl replied,
.-.un y.

“ ou miscontrue my acts.
more than that, I love you.
before."

,“You take a queer way to show it " Jinnie an-
swered. “I should think that you hated rather
than loved me."

” ain you are wrong I can' and will explain
eve , ‘ he said, earnestl . “I have taken the
lead in t aflair, so that might control it—so
that I might save you from the danger that threat-
ens on.

“ ave me ?" Jinnie said, incredulously.

ages; you do not believe me?"

o.‘

“Listen and be convinced!" he cried quickly.
“The jurywill brin in a verdict of guilty. Then
you will be cam to Austin and delivered into
the hands of the r omcers of Justice. You
will be tried there, and the will robab sentence
you to the State Prison for ife. hink w at a fate
that will be, to spend all the rest of your life within
four stone walls, and you so young so full of life!
Is not that a fate worse than death? From that
fate I come to save you."

llooked himsteadily in the face but made
no re .

Y

“ J nie, I own frankly that I would rather see you
dead than see on the wife of this Talbot. Events
have so she. themselves that you will have to
choose between the prison-cell and me. I can and
will save you if you will only let me. Surely, it is
not a hard fate to become the wife of a man who
loves you as I love youl Jinnie, we’ll go far from
here—leave this country altogether. We'll go where
no one will know either of us, and in some great
city forget the life that we have left behind us.

1geg‘lti'ililre’stinemthing thatI won‘t forget easy," re-
p e okly.

‘« And til”. i.»-

“That Ilove the man that you're ng to tear
me away from better than I do my own 6. It's no
use, Judge; to love you, I‘ve got to beborn over

am.
ag“Oh, foolish egirl! Do you prefer a prison-cell to
my arms?“ ci'i the stern man, in despair.

‘That's so, Judge; it's the truth and I must
speak it.” Little sign of weakness or indecision
was there in the voice of the maiden.

“ Take time to think, J innie; you are now shaping
out your life for the next twenty years—perhaps for
as long as you shall live. Do not answer hastily,”

the J ploring y.
have given you in antiwar; I can‘t
Iain cha . T ough the world
ma ty, yet know that I am innocent.
Dic don't t that I’m guilt , and Iwould rath
have his and opinion than all e world besides."

Judge ones gazed for a moment into the glowing
face of the girl. He saw that words were useless.

“We be it so," he said, slowly; “you accept
your” . I'll wash my hands of the whole af-

air.

The Judge walked slowly to the door; he paused
for a moment, irresolute.

“Jinnie, are youmad?" hecried. .

“Maybe I am, but I'm happy in my madness,"
shore lied. '

“ I ve you one more chance—“

"It s no use, Judge; to tell you the honest truth,
I'd rather a snakethan you. You put me in
mind of one every time I look at you. There‘s some-
thing in your face that chills my heart."

1 ‘3" Jim" WE“ "M1... °“ mild?“ fbwlt‘if“
oohe atte 'n-s .‘,u eu-
tered nowrds. A momenlte‘l‘ie 100E251 upon her,
and then left the room.

Jinnie once min was alone. Alone! N01 .for the
memory of Talbot's face was in her mind; shefelt
his kissesu her lips, and the electric thrill of his
arm aroun her waist. Sometimes the thought is
almost as pleasant as the reality.

The Judge 1 upI a.an downhoui'i'side of the ex-
omoea com 00 u n sacs.

1? r1 chilies me}? he muttered. “ Just
as fate willed

at everything should aid me, the
will of a weak girl baffles me. Obstacle after ob-
stacle have I swept from in way.

I havebcuteg
through rocks to fin my ro ss arr

fly a fiend. One satisfaction though; not for me
nottfof him. Apoorresultforsomuchtodan

I am your friend—
I told you so once

chen

The appearance of the ury ut a sudden stop to
the gloomy meditations o the udge‘.
Amshwas msdebythe crowd forthecourt

retina as the express office was now termed, but the
g at the door kept them back until the Judge
and jury got in then theynsllowed the rest to enter.
The-man rom-‘Bed- ppened to be some dis-
tance up the street, endeavo to “ et on" a
“sédebe " as t3 htogv ion the iii-yt wg d bedout,
an consequen y, 0 part 0 t e crow t
in before him, and he only succeeded in getting0 a
position in the doorway, much to his .

He offered to give any oneinside 5 dollars for
his sition, or fight him a fair stand- fight for it,
bot which offers found no takers; upon, he
expressed his 0 inion that Spur 0:3 was a mean
sort of place, an that he oou d dri more whisky
than angman hilnlt. As no one denied this, Jim was
unable no t to a wager. .

The jury ggsumed their places, and» the cnowd

hushed their noise.
One could hardly have essed from the quiet fees
of the girl that the Meagan charge of murder was

DZ over her.

“ 0W, gentlemen of the , have you decided
on your verdict!" asked the J u e. .

1 “We have,"y replied Haynes, foremm of the

ur . - n -.
“yHold onl stop yer mule-team!" yelled the-man-
from-Red-Dog, vainly trying to force his way in at

 

the door, a proceeding on his part which was fierce
ly resisted by those inside.

“ Get off my toes!" “ Take our elbow out’n my
“ Shet up!" and a num r of choice expres-
sions rose above the din.

“ Stop that disturbancel" yelled the Judge, in

nger.

“Hold onl I've 0t awitnessl" shouted Jim, using
his head as a bat erlng-ram, and battling his way
through the crowd. The result of this was that the
mass gave way, and the-man-from-Red-Dog, drag-
ging the Heathen Chinee by the collar, appeared in
the little opening by the side of the jury

“Is this our Witness?“ exclaimed he Judge, in
a er. “ H s evidence cannot be received."

‘ Wh ' not?" asked Jim.

“ He a Chinamanl"

“ No, no! No John h or!" yelled adozen of the
crowd, imbued with all t e miner prejudice against
the almond-eyed Oriental.

“ You can’t t the gal for the murder of Gay Ten-
daill" shouted t e Red-Dogite, defiantly.

“Why not?” questioned half a score of voices.
The court was resolvin into a caucus.

“’00s he ain't do i he's alivei” yelled Jim, in
triumph.

 

CHAPTER XLL

"JOHN" SPEAKS.

“ Auvn? Wharl Shol"

A perfect Babel of sounds rose on the air. The ex-
citement was cont 'ous. Judge Jones alone pre-
served his calmness; ke a statue he sat in his chair
lfiis (flace ashen pale, and his breath coming quick an

ar .

“ Up at the Eldorado ranch!" answered Jim.
“This heathen toted him off last night an‘ ’tended
him like a Christian. The yaller—skinned cuss didn’t
know till a little while ago that the gal was a-being
tried for his murder; and when he found out, he
come down like a man for to spit it out!“

Then the crowd made a rush through the door for
the Eldorado. The-man-from-Red-Do picked up
the heathen in his arms asif he had en ababy,
and aided b his long legs, was soon in the advance
of the crow . The jury even yielded to the conta-

'on, and forgetting all about the prisoner, ran after

e s atom and the armed .

Wi h a single bound, J c leaped into Dick‘s
arms. ain she felt the warm embrace which
brought such joy to her heart.

When the lovers looked around, they found that
they were alone, for Judge Jones, too, had dis-
appeared. Talbot noticed his absence in an instant.

‘ Hanoi-where did the Jud ego?" he said, in as-
tonishment; “ he didn’t pass y us, I’ll sweari”

Then‘Talbot’s e es caught sight of a small door in
the other end of e hull 

“ He must have gone rough there," he ex-

claimed.
“That leads into the shed where he keeps his

horse," Jinnle said.

“ Yes, I know it " Talbot answered.

Then the sound. of horse's hoofs rungout on the
air. Talbot ran to the window just in time to catch
sight of the Judge gallopi off.

‘ He must have ad his orse all ready saddled,"
Talbot said, thou htfully. “ He was prepared, then,
for flight; but, is t for good?" '

“He fears your vengeance, Dick," Jinnie said.

“He has nothing to fear from me; there isano-
ther who will strike him," Dick replied.

Then they left the express odice and proceeded to

the hotel.

The crowd raced the street, and, headed by the
Chinaman soon the satisfaction of gazing on
the face of Gains Tendail. The youngman was very
faint from loss of blood' could not even speak, but
he still lived, and one of the citizens who fessed
tobe a doctor, after him, gave opinion
that he would recover.

The Heathen Chinee had selected a place
for the senselem man. The shanty, by the
titleof hotel, was raised some three set from the
gonad by massive bowlders; the s ace under was

ed 11. The sagacioussonof t eEsst had re-
moved acou e of loose boards in the door behind
the bar,‘ca ed the senseless man under the flooring,
and, with the blankets taken from his own bunk, ar-

a bed for him.

“ t in thunder did u hide him down there
for?" asked Bill, in as eat; as he assisted to
remove the almost lifeless man from his place of
concealment. ' V

“Melican man—comme back—kiile he more," re-
plied the heathen. ' t

Did you see who went for him!" asked
Haynes

" Me 'see—alle time," said the Chinaman, grin-
“ ' 0? Who was it?" asked the_crowd, anx-
iousl .

" telle—alle same—John no likes—Melican
isnan kills he, too," answered the cautious child of the

un.

The miners at once came to the conclusion that Ah
Ling had seen the murder committed, but that the
murderer was a stranger to him,

“ Me hide—see ‘ it man kille—no likee telle-
how can he?"

The crowd guessed at the 338%”. The Chinese
had seen the murder commit and the assassin de-

art; then had seen Bonnet and Bill discover the
and heard the message dispatched to the Judge.
Then he had entered the room by the window and
removed the body. Such was their solution of the
riddle. But the true one was—the Chinaman had
entered the room immediately after the assassin de-
; had examined the body and discovered that
usstill lived; then, surprised by Rennet and Bill,
be had sought refuge under the bed and seized the
first 0 rtunity to remove the helpless man through
the of the window. .

Talbot and J innie had joined the crowd and listen-
ed attentively. A strange expression came over the
Eco of In an Dick as he heard the heathen‘s story.

e se
t:(Eiinese a but the ormation he gainedhe kept

Restoratives were applied to the wounded man,
and the crowd waited anxiously till he should revive
and speak the name of assassin. .

an early opfirtunity to speak with the

 

CHAPTER XLII.

wsrics.

Rmmo northward by the side of the Reese,
aogn‘tled upon a wiry gray pony, was a pale and hag-

an.

The flanks of the animal showed the lather of the
rapid gallo and the dark stains of the cruel urs.
Foam ell rom the mouth of the horse. He h evi-
dently been pressed at his topmost peed.

The moon was rising in the heavens already
dotted over with giggled stars. The cod, white
peaks of the frow _g Sierra pierced the sky like
giant icebergs. The mes rustled softly in the breeze
and their balsamic 0 or filled the air.

But the traveler—in ‘tive rather—heeded not the
rising moon, the rust e of the pines, nor the per-
gime :hat floated on the bosom of the clearmoun-

in a r.

1:11;? had eyes and ears but for one thing only, pur-
sui

A dozen times in his onward rapid gallop, pushi
forward as fast as his horse coul carry him he 11:5
fancied. that he had heard the sound of horse‘s
rhoofs behind him. A dozen times, while covering
the last mile, he ulled the silvervmountod revolver
from his belt, an with a nervous hand, drew back
the hammer ready for action: and then with a
curse upon h cowardly fear satisfied that he heard
only the rustle of the pines in the breeze, and that
the pursuing horseman existed but in his imagina-
tion, he had at down the hammer upon the cap, and
pushed back the weapon in its pouc .

Why should I fear?" he asked himself, for the
hundredth time. “ I am like a child. f htened at a
shadow. I am safe," he repeated as t on h some
still voice within whispered of danger. ‘I have

ushed my horse as fast as he could go. If I have

n pursued, they should have ained on me by
this time if their horses are better 11 mine. They!
theirs! Is eak in the plum ” he cried, with a bit-
ter laugh ‘while really I fear but one man. And
why she d I fear him? Enjoying the caresses of
the woman whom I would have almost given no
soul to win, will he be a t in this hour of trlum
to think of vengeance? ill he leave the soft 1 ps
of woman to encounter the bullet of a desperate
man? I would not. I would not have left her side
£3211 gluined her, to have saved myself from years of

es

The once gain, he listened as he rode steadily
onw , listen for the sounds which, in imagina-
tion, were ever ringing in his ears.

“ Tls but the rustle of the wind," he muttered, as
again he thrust .back the revolver. which he had
half drawn from its sheath. “As I look back, I can
see how badly I have pla ed my hand. Oh, if I had
it to play over ain! ut, I hadn‘t the pluck. I
wavered when I s ould have been strong. One des-
perate blow would have won for me. daredevil
reputation cowed me, as if he was more than man.
Yet, every blow that I aimed at him seemed to re-
coil upon my own head. It’s all over now, though.
I’ve got mydrafts on Fr’isco buckled around my
waist. It's lucky that I prepared for the worst.
At any rate, I’ve got engfih to make a glorious
start again. I'll try and l a new life. I hope the
devil won’t tempt me again with a pretty woman; I
am so Weak."

The narrow road bent suddenly to the right, and it
rose to the crest of the hill.

Pressing onward with an untiring stride, the game
little animal swept round the bend.

Turning the angle of rocks, the hair of the rider]
nearg rose in horror when he beheld a horseman
stan n motionless in the centerof the road. In the
hand a the stranger was a leveled revolver, on the
polished barrel 0 which the moonlight danced in
wavy lines of ht.

At the first g co the new-comer had recognized
the motionless figure standing sentinel in the road.

Thebrownmarewith thewhite blaze in
head and the four white “ ," once seen,
was not essigaforgotten, and the coal-black hair
andbeardof rider,aswellastheebonmaskthat
covered his face were all easily remembered.

It was the road-agent, Overland Kit, in men.
“Good-evening, udge Jones," he said, with a
menaci in his voice.

Judge ones—for the rider on the n was
the J udge—pulled up his horse and lag“ pgahd on
the hilt of his revolver. But the outlaw was scarcely
twenty from him, and. as the moon was shin-

, ' the canyon bright as day, he saw the
motion at on . ‘

“Drpr that, Judge; Ican put a bail thro h on
gggnh “ore youcan get that pleythlng on 0 its

Withane ressienofdespsiru hisfaoathe
Jud eremoggdhlshandfromthevegpon.

" on are doubtless astonished atseeingmehere,”
the road-agent said. ~

“I 13101181“; that you were dead," the Judge an-
swere . ' I

“ Exactly; so I am, to all the rest of the world but

on. I have come to life for your special benefit.“
ere was a menace in the tone of the speaker.

Jones shivered: his face was very pale and his lips
almost bloodless.

“For m benefltl" he said, slowly.

“ Yes; rely upon your honor ‘never to mention
this interview after we part. I have perfect confl-
m “‘3‘ - a.“  .. .. m...

ones u e con v
him-{h on the revolver-hilt. He understood the
meaning of the outlaw. ,. ,

“Take your hand off that revolver, and don t put

lagers; again, 01“ alligltg ht ,thl’outh you
on warning ' 0 ' o .

m“ :51 {ion seek mg; fiwoumsht and end it!”

e u cried,

“ Go owl let 6 reckon u the account before we
settle it " the outlaw rep You're probab as-
tonlsh at me in the flesh when all the world
thinks thatIam sad. It is easily explained. That
traitor, Joe Rain. I followed and settled with in full
in the mountain. Then it struck me what a lei-ions
idea it would be to ut mic-lathe; on him all let all
theworidthinktha Over Kithad'pessedinhis
checks.’ A bullet from m revolver partlydisflgur-
edthelowerpartof the andItrustodtom
mountain friends, the wolves to do the rest. I
sauna-mans“: was or  m:

, , n e re ve , r
especial benefit." ' 0 your

.5 a, _  .-__- . _._

. cousin, Patrick Gwyne, fo

“ You intend to kill me i" the Judge asked, slowly.

“ Don ‘t you honestly think that you deserve death 3'"
the outlaw asked.

“ I am not fit to die."

“ That is the cant of all rogues. If I let you live
you will but commit more crimes, sink yourself
deeper and deeper into perdition when the and does
tome. Judge, n taking your life it doesn't seem to
. li‘ as if I commit a murder. am more like the

:r‘cutioner, who takes the life forfeited to the law,

iLll the agent of private vengeance," the outlaw

xid, earnes iy.

“ What have I done to merit death?"

“ You attempted to kill (iaius Tendail."

The Judge started, and nearly fell from his horse.

“ I guessed the truth, then, before " he muttered,
in a hollow voice; “ you have tracked. me from S )ur
City, though I have ridden almost with'the spec of
the wind.’ .

“ You are rl ht; I have," Kit re lied. “This
mare of mine 3 a thorn hbred an can beat any .
thing on four le s west 0 the Mississip‘. Throug
her speed I have an able to be in two places ahnost
at the same time, or so near that men swore that I
was. As you guess who I am, I’ll throw this mum-
inery aside.” -

The mask wig and heard were dashed to earth.

Iryun Dick stood revealed in Overland Kit!

“ do not deny my crimes," the Judge said, in a
tone which told lainly that at heart he was utter]
without hope. ‘ I attempted to kill Gains Tendai .
He knew me in the East; knew of a crime thatI
committed there, and the consequences of which
forced me to fly and seek shelter here. He met me
in Spur City‘and reco nized me. I paid him to keep
silence; but fearing t at in some drunken s , he
might reveal in secret, i determined to kill im."

“And the le ter written by him. which you read
at the trial?”

“ Was written to and received b me. It was acci-
dent alone that led to Jinnie accused of the
murder. After I had stabbed in victim, I assed
out into the hall and threw the nife into e first
door that came hand . It hapaened tobe her room.
Then, when I was c ed up by luger Bill I guessed
at once b his words that innie was implicated, and
the devil h idea came into my head to profit by the
accident. I thought that I could force her twve
vou up and become mine to save herself. on
Rannet pulled the paper out of her trunk, I picked it
up and examined it; your name and hers coupled
together, with some few loving words, were scrib‘
bled over the e. The idea struck me at once to
substitute for it Tendail's letter to me, which was
about the same size. I placed it in my cket-book;
then presented the other to Rennet for 's si nature
so as to identify it. The name of Jinnie I grged at
the top of the age afterward."

,“Jones on ve been a reat scoundrel for a man
with as litt e pluck as you ave," Talbot said, in con-
‘. -mnt.

"I know it," the Judge replied, coolly; “had not

;_; heart failed me, you won d never have won this

_» (-1. I played a bold game, but lacked courage.
,; it now I am braver than I have ever been in all my
a, for I sit here, calml , await my death-shot. ‘

“ Hang it!" cried Tal t, irreso utely. “ I know
(1th you deserve death, but, with all my wild, reck-
1533 actions, I never yet attacked a defenseless man.
I'll give on a chance for your life. Draw our re-
volver; ‘11 not fire until your weapon is ccc ed and
on the level."

“ I thank you for your fair offer, but I cannot ac-
cept it,” Jones said, slowly. “Never again, as long

as Heaven lets such a miserable wretch as I am live, -

willIattcmpt to take a.human life. I am not a
young man; I have crimes enough on my soul now
without attempting more." ' _

Are you in earnest?” Talbot asked, doubtfully.

“ I hope so “ Jones replied, solemnly.

“Then wit ered be my arm if I raise it a alnst

oui" cried Talbot, uickly. “ In the future , too,

ope to lead a new 1‘ e—in that life to atone for the
errors of the past. J udgs, we'll cry quits, and each
go on our separate ways."

“I can only say that, if there ever comes a day
when you need mercy, may you receive it," the
Jud e responded.

“ ones,- I don‘t quite trust you yeti“ ciied Talbot
suddenly. “You have been such a thoroughly bad
man that I fear tranche . brow down our re-
volver, ‘heEuIJdB pastick n I am round ebend

oucanre nan u ourwea n.
y;th (:‘o not; blame yen: forpyyour dougg," the Judge
5 , 0w .

Then he drew the revolver from his pocket and
dro pedittcthe and The weapon struck the
me and explode . The Judfie straightened up in
the saddle With a groan, and is heavily to the earth.

When Talbot, horror-stricken at the accident, dis-
mounted and rnached his side Judge Jones was be-
yondamortnluaiid. The bath“! wrath: 

ass w . tearing ungl. debt
gomeah‘xli’oltinmntly. ‘ ' -

Spur Oi was astonished when Jinnie anncimced
her inten on of disposi of the Eldorado. Still
more so, when Gains Ten recovered so as to be
axial; stpeak, and declared that his assailant was

u ones.

ngn the miners understood why the Heathen
Chinee, on the hr. of the attack, hearing Judge
Jones sent for, ould attempt to hide away t e
wounded man' they comprehended now what he
, ieant by—“ elican man comma back—killee some

.iore." ' -
had uite a lo interview with Bernice.
.tgglg‘g; nfu on?) Eggshell h Berni: (if‘s
u o ness or or
love for albot was mm b mt tho m
intoapassion, still,asshehadal wedittotake nll
sway over her nature, the strgfille to conquer it was
necessarily a difficult and pal one.

“ rides,” laid Talbot, at parting, “forget that
it“ acacia? P‘s?“ “W 2*" hangs:

on war or ears: e w
to life again. Take the fort’une; dead Patrick Gwyne
cannot use it."

“ But Dick Talbot?" she asked.

“ Will seek some place far from here; and, there,
by honest labor, carve out a new fortune and a new
name. I have another life now, besides my own,
to care for. For her sake I will avoid tefltmion.
If it had not been fora certain high, Uni Staste

 

Overland Kit.

official at Austin Overland Kit would never have
been heard of. He tom tcd me; there was really no
bloodshed in it—althoug i it is worse than weakness
for me to attem it to excuse it in any )vay—and I
.ielded. Then t are was a wild excitement in the
ife that suited my reckless nature. But, that is all
over now."

And so they parted.

The-man-from-Red-Dog was inconsolable when he
learned that InJun Dick was oing away. He lead-
ed long and earnestly to be oWed to go wit him
but Dick replied that it could not be, and the result
was the-man-from-Red-Dog went on an awful
“tare,” and offered to 11 t all Spur City, single-
handed, just for the fun 0 the thing.

Bernice and old Mr. Rennet returned to New York,
much to the latter‘s delight. Still, he often chuckles
a little over his appearances as counsel in ,thc im-
promptu mining court.

 

Toward the Pacific coast a lo w on-train wands
its way. The setting sun is tint ng t 9 peaks of the
Sierra golden, purple and ruby.

In the rear of the train r de Talbot and J innie,
Talbot mounted on the famed brown mare, but bear-
ing no longer the blaze in the forehead and the four
“ stockings " for the aint that save the animal
those noted marks has on washe off.

The soft rays of sunlight lay upon the golden red

. locks of the girl _as though t ey loved there tod well.

Talbot‘s arm is around her waist, her head upon
his shoulder.
“ Are {Ion happy?” he asked, tenderly kissing the
lowéore cad. M H h i 1y h
‘ es so—eo pp 9 e murmurs n rep or
eyes bright, her chee 's slightly flushed. ’
ran nun.

THE FIRESIDE LIBRARY.

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The Mingljleekly!

The Respectable Popular Paper

-—AND-

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'i'he New York Saturday journal

 

For 1878.

I WITHOUT A RIVA].
as a sterlin carnal of W Lucy-«(u f
 flrwiinu- ..W. .... " °’
cones e or s o as 0 American
life and adventure it has no peer. D

IN STORIES 0F HEART LIFE,

where love is ortra ed in all its over nndpurit
it leads an enigma. y p y'

IN ROMANCE! 0F ADVENTURE

 

 

 

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published can compare wi h it in It"; clan merit.

ITS SPECIALTIES 1

Washington Whitehorn, Joe Jot Jr.. Best Time, as
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Albert W. Aiken, in his city life and wild ro-
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Mrs. Ma need Crowell stands at the
fight as a w tor of dramatic fiction of the best
0 85.

011 Coomes, in his boys‘ tales of adventure in
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Corinne Callahan, in serial. of Love and
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Cu t. Frederick Whittaker whose bis—
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Col. Belle Sam, the man of many lands and
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Col. Prentiss Inn-Inn, who in call
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Ben wmwoo nova:- miingiiia‘ abiding
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‘ nary Grace an no the keen header of
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DIME

 

 

I,

32 Large Three-Column Pages. .

"I, y
m CARSON, JR.-—No. 3.

1. A Hard Crowd : on, GENTLEMAN
SAM‘s SIsTER. By Philip S. Warne, author of “Tiger
Dick,” etc.

2. The Dare-Devil: OR, THE WINGED
WITCH or THE SEA. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, au-
thor of “Flying Yankee," etc.

3. Kit Carson, Jr., THE CRACK SHOT or
THE WEST. By Buckskin Sam.

4. The Kidnapper: OR, THE GREAT
SHANGHAI or THE NORTHWEST. By Philip S. Warne.

5. The Pire-Piends: 0R, HERCULES, THE
HUNGEBACK. By A. P. Morris.

6. Wildcat Bob, TEE Boss BRUISER :
on, THE BORDER BLOODEOUNDS. By Edward L. Whee-
ler, author of “ Deadwood Dick,“ “ Double Daggers.”

'7. Death-Notch, THE DESTROYER: OR,
THE Srnu'r LAKE AVENGERS. By 011 Coomes, au-
thor of “Vagabond Joe,” “ The Dumb Spy," etc.

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.

1 1. Midshipman Easy.

ryat.

By Capt. Mar-

 

 

 

 

HANDY ANDY.—NO.

[BEADLE’S

 

LIBRARY.

 

 

 

 

12. The Death-Shot: 0R, TRACKED To
DEATH. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

13. Pathawa : OR,NchWn1mEs, THE
OLD TRAPPER or THE ORTHWEST. By Dr. J. H. Rob-
inson.

14. Thagendanegea, THE SCOURGE ;
OR, THE WAR- AGLE or THE Mornwns. By Ned Bunt-
line, author of “ The White Wizard."

15. The Tiger-Slayer: on, EAGLE—
HEAD To THE RESCUE. By Gustave Aimard, author
of “ Red Cedar,“ “The Bandit at Bay," etc.

1 6. The White Wizard : on, THE GREAT
PROPHET or TEE SEMINOLES. By Ned Buntline,‘au-
thor of “ Thayendanegea,” etc.

17. Nightshade, 'IlnE ROBBER PRINCE
or Houxsww HEATH. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.

18. The Sea Bandit: OR, THE QUEEN
or THE ISLE. By Ned Buntline author of “ Thayen-
danegea,” “ The Red Warrior,’ etc.

19. Red Cedar, TEE PRAIRIE OUTLAW.
By‘ Gustave Aimard, author of “The Ti er-Slayer.”
“ rapper’s Daughter," “ Prairie Flower, ’ etc.

THE amuse HORsEMAN.—No. 8.

20. The Bandit at Bay: OR, THE P1-
RATEs or Tm: PRAIRIES. By Gustave Aimard- au-
thor of " The Tiger-Slayer,” “ Red Cedar," etc.

21. The Trapper’s Daughter: OR,
THE OUTLAw’s FATE. By Gustave Aimard, author
of “ TigerLSlayex-f’ “Red Cedar," etc.

22. Whitelaw: 0R, NATTIE or THE LAKE
SHORE. By Dr. ‘J. H.'Robinson, author of “Paths.-
way," “ Nightshade,” etc. »

23. The Red Warrior:
DEmRnE‘s Councan LOVER. By Ned Buntlinez au-
thor of “Thayendanegea,7’ “White Wizard,” ‘ Sea.
Bandit," “ Red W'arrior," etc.

24.,Prairie Flower. By Gustave Ai-
mard, author of “Tiger-Slayer." “Bandit at Bay,"
“ Trapper’s Daughter,” etc.

25. The Gold-Guide: OR, STEEL ARM,
Tm: REGULATOR. By Francis Johnson, author of
“ The Death~Track," etc.

26. The Death-Track: OR, THE OUT-
LAWs or THE MOUNTAIN. By Francis Johnson, , au-
thor of “ Gold—Guide," etc. I

27..The §PottenDetective: OR, THE
GIRLS or NEW ORK. Bv Albert W. Aiken author
o‘ffl‘LPligntom Handfi‘ " Heart of Fire,” “ verland
, e .

0R, STELLA

 

Each Number Complete. Price 10 as.

.

msmmAN EASE—No. 11.

28. Three-Pingered Jack. THE ROAD—
AGENT or THE ROCKIES; on, THE BOY MINER or HARD

LUCK. By Jose h E. Badger, Jr., author of "Gospel
George,” “Old

ull’s Eye,” “Jack Rabbit," etc.

29. Tiger Dick, THE FARO KING; or,
THE CAsmER‘s CRIKE. By Philip S. Warne. author
of “A Hard Crowd," etc.

30. Gospel George:
THE OUTLAVf. By Josep E. Badgerx Jr., author
of “Three-Fingered Jack," “Old Bulls Eye,” etc.

31. The New York ‘Sharp;’ OR, THE
FLAsn or LIGHTNING. By Albeit W. Aiken, author
of “Spotter Detective,” etc., etc.

32. B’hoys of Yale; on, THE SCRAPEs
OFA HARD SET or COLLEGIANS. By John D. Vose.

38. Overland Kit. By Albert W.
Aiken. Ready April 2d.

y 34. Rocky Mountain Rob.
bert W. Aiken. Ready April 9th.

35. Kentuck, the Sport. By Albert
W. Aiken. Ready April 16th.

86. Igun Dick. By Albert W. Aiken.
Ready Ap ' 23d.

or. FIERY' FRED,

BY A1-

A new issue erery week.

Beadle’s Dime Library is for sale by all
News-dealers, ten cents per CODY. or sent by mail on
receipt of twelve cents each. BEADLE & ADAMS,
Publishers. 98 William Street, New York.

 

VIDOCQ.~NO. 10.