I i * ‘ ‘ ' \ " //'/// . ' ' \ 1/ 3V W‘fi‘wil' ~ e \ 1,4,4 2 —.?-«\l .1 < \ \ ~ \“ A ""..,,,"'13 V. “ “0a ..’ NIII ' ' . » I '" I. 'I ‘5‘“. r "M M" "5nd I ‘ , ‘ I H Ii . mummimvs I J ‘1 ‘ _? ‘9’ Q X? JR- ‘ ' _ ‘j ‘R ~' ' All \ \\ \\ \ Itllluuwuum'" mm! umu i"‘l'.‘.\l H \ lllllHHllMHH u TED IN I's'ao, BS! 'éEADLE a: ADAMS. ' V " V "_"' r./.,'//.i;/,'/4.V- 4' V JUICY. L'r.‘ ,' .. ‘r h H I, H “ ., A V01. IX. Puggigxggeellzery £801,126 cf- fldams, szlishers, rummage”. N0. 98 WILLIAM STREET, N. Y., November 10, 1880. $2.50 a, Year, momma TlLBflT DFCINNABARwr. The Brothers of nheied Hand. A strange tale of a lonely Californian camp and the rude mortals who dwelt therein. BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, Amen or “m m mom m max,” “m atom DETECTIVE,” “THE NEW YORK SHARP,” “ ovmzmrm m,” “ mm max,” no. ‘ [\JmPO 1 " “: 3mm . ‘ film...” x \{:;x\\\\y‘\‘3\§s:‘§\“$ _ . \W \\ i - i , __W.de’.“df‘1£‘\lldu.d 1 Q's '5‘}; \ * A THROUGH THE GENERAL’S PLACARD A STRONG ARM HAD DRIVEN AN EIGHT-INCH BOWIE-KNIFE, AND RIGHT UNDEBNEATH THE KNIFE WAS THE PLAIN IMPRINT OF A RED HAND. I 2 Richard Talbot of Cinnabar. ll Richard Talbot of Cinnabar: The Brothers of ,the Bed Hand. A strange tale of a lonely Californian camp and the rude mortals who dwelt therein. BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, AUTHOR or “OVERLAND xrr,” “nu: won'- nnnon,” “ wrrcans or NEW YORK,” “ naonzn JACK,” “ run men or moo,” arc. CHAPTER I. ' A.ENT WITH THE STRANGE DEVICI. . with the line of the coast, al- -- : y miles distant, on our Pacific s a chain of mountains—the lower portion of which is known as the nge, and the upper as the Cascade Mountains. The Klamath river, flowing westward from the lakes in which it rises on its way to the great Pacific ocean into which it falls, cuts the range in two; hence the double appellation. T 6 great highway from California toOre u breaks through the mountain chain at Yre a, keeps retty well within the shadows of the big hi1 until the Klamath river is crossed, then bends ofi.’ a little to the westward to J ack- sonville and the upper towns. Just at the Klamath crossing] a small trail left the main road and went irectly to the eastward along the northern bank of the river. A single place only was served by this trail a new mining-camp, situated just about twenty miles from where the main road cron- ed the river. Candle box Camp the place was called; and its only means of communication with the outer world, represented by the town of Yreka, was a small, weather-beaten coach which made a single trip each way once a week. Bright and early every Monday mornin the coach left Yreka, and as it took some ten ours to make the journey, just at an time it ar- rived at Candle-box. Every ursday it re- turned. It was a Monda —a bright, fileasant Manda in the month of ay when a nature smil rejoicing in the bright beams of the sun, and ‘the Candle-box hack—for it was nothing but a lack, and a sorry one at that, although always dignified byflthe title of coach—bound on its usual trip, (1 accomplished about two-thirds of the journey when a most amazing incident occurred. On the box of the coach sat the driver—a pe- culiar, gaunt imen of humanit , who was known ar an wide as “Lean” om John- son. B the driver’s side Was a single pass er— a pgrtly, heavily-built man, some thigtgy or thirty- ve years old. pretty well dressed and with that indescribable air about him which denotes the pros rous man. The coach ha got within about ten miles of the Camp, its destination, when the trail, nit- ting the side of the river for a brief od, ran through a wooded district. “A place this for a. road-agent opera- tion,” e passenger observed, gazing curioule at the big ines which shut in he trail and most hid t e sky from sight. “Mighty good, on bet!” replied the driver, with that dogged etermma' tion common to the tribe the wor over. “ Ever troubled much with ’em on this trail!” “N time l—never heerd of one since I handl the ribbons on this road, and I’ve been drivin’ on it ever since the Camp up yere start- ed. U on the upper road, sometimes the boys come own on t e coaches, but never on yere trail.” “Not worth the trouble, eh?” “ That’s sol” b “ But so; about when the dust is sent down y e s. .“O ,the com yputs a special immense;- on—Big Bill Sm th; once a month that is, and he sits alongside of me on the box yere armed to the teeth; two magazine rifles and our re- volvers; he could whip a dozen, single-handed.” “ Yes, it would a pear so.” “ But, thal- ain't t e least bit of danger.” And so the driver reall though but the words were hard] out of h s moat w en from behind a clump o pines, about a hundred ahead of the coach. rode a horseman on into ’the trail, and at the same moment two more horsemen made their appearance in the road about a hundred yards in the rear of the coach. Lean Tom pulled up his horses without wait- ing for orders; for, at the very first glance, it asstplain that the rider ahead was on mischief n . ' The driver cast a quick glance in his rear and discovered, as he had expected, the other horsemen. Stran ly attired indeed were these unknown riders w 0 had so unceremoniously made their appearance. ‘ They were all in blue—blue overalls, pants and jacket, and a blue hood pulled over their heads, so as to completely disguise their faces; naught but their eyes could be seen. The man in front of the coach was distino guished from the other two by a strange device which he wore upon his breast—a device which as plainly signified who and what he was as the wi of man could have devised. It was a. blood—red hand! All three of the road-agents—for there was no doubt that these oddly-dressed riders were followers of that patron saint of thieves, winged Mercury, and that their garb was designed sole- ly to prevent them from being recognized— were s lendidly armed. They carried re t- ing ' es in their hands and heavy revo vers were slun in holsters at their waists. Althoug considerably astonished, neither the driver nor the passenger seemed to be much alarmed. True, Lean Tom had nothing to lose, and perhaps the passenger was no better “ fixed.” “Do you know this fellow?” the traveler asked, cool as could be, as the road-agent rode slowl toward the coach. “ ary time,” the driver responded, la- conicalxlly. The der advanced until he was within fifty feet of the coach; then be halted and raised (tihe cocked rifle menacineg toward his shoul- er. “ Throw up your hands!” It was the old cry so familiar to Californian ears. “Up the air!” responded the driver, imme- diately; “t ouglh what in thunder you expect to git is more t an I kin make out.” “That’s m business!” cried the road-agent sharfily. “ eep your mouth shut or you’ll catc cold! You, sir, are my mutton,” he con- tinued addressing the passen er. “ I’ll trouble you, neral Cadwaleder keppleton, to get own out of that seat ” and the man accom- anied the command with a very ominous mo- ion of the cocked rifle. The passenger stared, not alarmed but ‘ ‘I beg your pardon, sir, but you are laborin ‘under a mists e,” be said, in the bluff an hearty manner natural to him. “I am not General Bkeppleton—iu fact, I don’t really know the gent eman, although I have met him two or three times in Frisco, but if you are at all ac uainted with him you ought to be able to see hat I am not the general. He is an old man and as fat as a porpoise—not at all like e.” The road-agent came nearer and took a good glance at the s or. “ It’s all 0. ., er, I’ll take my ’dav'y to it i” the driver eclared. “ This b er ain t the general no way you kin fix it. saw the old cuss in Yreka yesterday and he started on hoeska for Cand e-box, intending to come up the east side of the mountains.” ” That’s a lie i” cried the road-agent, fiercely; 3:61;? is no trail on the east side of the moun- s. “ es, thar is—an Injuu trail; leastwa s, a bigdred buck that the gineral ingaged or a e sad that thar was and that he could fetch m b a short cut throu h the mountains slap into e camp and save ve miles.” “ Curse the luck i” cried the outlaw, unable to repress the anger that he felt at being thus baf- gsd; “but gho are you, anyway?” he asked, dressing e passen er. “ My name is Blair. “From Yreka?” u Ya.” “ I reckon that I’ve heered on you. Well, throw“ out your dust. Toss it right down in the “I regretthat I’ve only about ten dollars ” 9 passenger replied, producin his wealth. “I never carry much money wi me travel- ing, for we gent‘lgmen litre entirely ttoo 11111:; morons. noo ervauables,exce a tie silver watch that isn’t worth ve dol- lars, and I trust that you will allow me to keep, that. If you doubt my word, search me “ We’ll rake in the ten; keep our ticker." The passenger thanked the outlaw, and M his money upon the road. “And now drive on with your 1 and jest give my com liments to the guard Who“ you git to Can e-box; tell him quit. d vamose as soon as ble or else get ifil‘hmné?’ Mm? " 2232‘s" “" m s yer on e me n o “ One moment, in frien !” exclainmd the gengesztheou wturnedhishorse tore- ‘d t ’ntofltze pinrfi- “wherefore are you own on gene “ Don’t he own the Candle-box mine!” “Yes I believe so.” “Well, stranger it’s going to be 11118“? 011' healthy up in t s region for any m that owns a uar’ inch of that air prOWtYn‘nd the Blood- Hand says so!” . And with this covert threat the road-agent rode into the pines and was soon hidden from sight. His companions followed his example, and the coach was free to p CHAPTER II. THE mm IN run run. CANDLE-BOX CAMP was an extremely queer name fora settlement, but teen in our far west- ern land fancy runs riot, and the bearded child of the Orient d ises the trammels of civilisa- tion, and rides imself that in a new land he cuts loose rom the slavish customs naturalto an old one. And good reason, too, had the settlement to the name for was it not upon record that the original discoverer of the mine, from whence the Camp took its appellation, bought the value.- ble knowledge from a Digger Indian, who glad- ly showed where the golden store lay hid in consideration of the remains of a box of can- dles, that the explorer happened to have along with him? The fortunate white man was a petty trader, who supplied a few of the upper camps along Rogue river. As it is well known, the Digger Indians are the meanest of all the western tribes, living al- most entirely on roots which they dig out of the earth; hence their name. The candles, to the mind of the untutored red- man, seemed like a rare tid-bit, for the Diggers are passionately fond of fat; so he bartered away the secret of the mine in the little lonely valley in the foothills of the Cascade ran e, and Candle-box Camp came to have a local abita- tion and a name. It was not a particularly rich strike, and al- though there was a great rush thence, at first, the excitement soon ‘ played out,” and now, at the time of which we write, a year from the date of the original discove , there were some forty people in and around t e valley. The rincipa] mine was called the “Candle box,” t e lode which the Indian had revealed, and this was the only one that amounted to any- thin , the rest being small claims worked by “in thordl bo h e an e- x pro rty, t ough possessed a finedstamp—mill, andpe was tolerabiy well ar- range . But a most unlucky speculation the Candle- box mine had proven to all who had ever taken hold of it, the original discoverer of the lode excepted. He, like a wise man, had never at- tempted to develop the mine, but had contented himself with selling out, at a big figure, to a party of Frisco shar , who had formed a com- pany to work the l e. Eve hing went wrong from the beginning and alt ough there seemed to be no doubt the. the vein really was a rich one yet the expenses ate up all the profits, and more too. It seemed to be an unlucky “strike;” miners are general] very su rstitious, and are firm believers in uck. and rom the first the Candle- box property became the rt of fortune. All sorts of strange accidents appened to the ma- chinery; something was continually breaking or getting out of order; twice all the buildin of he works took fire and burnt to the groun . The men who were then running the thing strongly believed that the hand of private malice could be discerned in this, but they couldn’t prove it—in fact, had no foundation, whatever, beyond their suspicions to work up- on; so all they could do was to “ grin and bear it,” but they got rid of the property as soon as thsiy could. he mine changed owners often. Only a single year since til?l Candle-box prop. , an ty had been devel _ ‘9: it had been held by five differen rties. e fifth owner, General Cadwalader eppleton, a fat, goodma- tured looking old gentleman, with a smooihly- shaven face, anda wonderfully curly brown wig, accom ied by his daughter, a tall, handsome, state] blonde, and another young lady, who was s ort, fat, red-haired, yet retty, guided bya uirrel-looking red-skin, he that morning arriv at the Camp, and proceeded to take pos- session of the Fmperty. The genera was a New Yorker a retiI'Bd merchant of eat wealth, so re rt said, who had come to t 6 Pacific s10pe with) the express intention of dabbling in mining s culations. The general—the title was mores); an honora- ry one, by the Way—was “ ” he was 5 ‘ flat,’ he had no “ sand,” an the 3‘ boys” went for him. in California lance, In brief, they “stuc ” the New Yorker by sellin him the Candle-box mine for sixty thou- sand ollars. ‘ And now the old gentleman had com? °° 9“" the ropertv Into working order. e inhabitants of the Camp were O. queer lot' thewd not tell the new owner how badly be had 11 taken in; on the contrary. 9V9” man said, gravely, that that. was, no dO'IIbt, a heap of money in the mine, if it could be (got OlltbedTEgs little “if,” it '“ that had so i - 8‘15 8 rev' ers- But. “ragga £33211?” wasn’t a man in the town to a” m we the of managing man of the mine. Theseiierglaof course, knew nothing abo‘“i PM“ m n "3 and wanted a person to take full chug:k He offered a hotel salary, but found no - ers , There was a strange su tion abroad that it was dangerous to run box! '1.- » ’5? 2 . .xfln- .t . ,jt‘ ‘- The last three superintendents had suffered; one had been shot—openly shot in broad day- li ht, and no one knew who fired the shot; an- ot erhad been knifed, after nightfall, the stroke given in the back, and so quickly and cunning- ly that the wounded man was not able to de- scribe his assailant. Tho third man had been poisoned. or at least it seemed like that, for he had been taken deathly sick, and only recovered after a severe illness. ‘ Naturally, then, as these three men had no foes that they knew of, the Settlement came to the opinion that some daring, unscrupulous man had a grudge against the mine and intend- ed to satisfy his anger by attacking the men who happened to be at the head of the concern. In~th1s dilemma then, the general ut in prac- tice the old device, which, in the ast had al- ways proved effective He advertised for a man, not in the columns of a newspaper, for there wasn’t any near at hand, but a big pine- tree stood by the mine and on the tree he nailed a placard, reading as follows: “ Wanted, a superintendent for the Candle-box mine. Good wages will be ises. to General Skeppleton.’ The old gentleman tacked the sign, which he dextrously painted with a marking-brush on a box-cover, on the tree, in the afternoon; all the townsmen had seen and read it before nine that night; the subject was prett well canvassed in the two saloons which the amp boasted, and bets were freely offered of two—even three to one, that no man who knew anything about the mine wouldbe foolish enough to risk his life by taking the management; so the Camp retired to sleep, well satisfied that the general s device would come to naught. But, when the morning came the men of Candle-box saw a strange sight. Through the general’s placard a strong arm had driven an eight-inch bowie-knife and left it sticking in the tree—the knife driven in so tightly that it was plainl apparent that it would take a t deal of orce to get the steel outa 'n, an , right underneath the knife was the p ain im rint of a bloody hand. The coach ad reached the Camp the revious evening and the driver’s story of t e road- agents had spread all over town 1 before midnight; so, when the men of Candle- x saw this ominous sign blazoned upon the general’s placard, they understood at once what it meant. The masked road-agent, who had assumed such a fearful device, had proclaimed war to the knife. The old general was amazed, he put on his spectacles and looked at the knife as though he expected that the senseless steel would speak and reveal the mystery. But, if the knife spoke not, the miners did, and soon the owner was in full possession of the strange story1 of the mine and equally strange tale of t 9 attack on the couch by the roadgagents; at which the general was per- iex . . p But now his daughter’s wit came to his aid. “Tell the citizens that you wish to speak to them to-ni ht: the Willa 1 be in town then,” she counse ed. _“ he moon is bright and will alford plenty of light for the meeting. Tell them that on are going to run the mine at any cost, andt t you rely upon your neighbors’ aid to su rt cu against this unknown foe.” 11TH; alfvice was good, and the general adopted t e p an. The night came. The news that the Candle- box man, as the old general was nowtermed, was goin to “aspeaka iece ” did not take long to 81) abro ; so, ut eight o’clock there was quite a little crowd gatherednear the shaft. The general came out and mounted a barrel; he wasn’t much of a band at speech-making, _A.K (1. Apply on prem~ _ and a m' hty poor fist he made 0 it. “ Gent emen and fellow-citizens,” he said; “ I am a stranger to this of the country, but I have pitched my tent ore and it is my inten- tion to abide some time in this. d1 t if I am allowed so to do. The meaning of thisroad- agent’s attack on me I don’t understandnin the least. I haven’t got anything to do With his bloody hand, nor with anybody else’s .blood hand. It is my intention to run this mine if can, and at out of it some of the money that I have ut nto it. I am in want of a first man managethemine,andto such a maul will ive—” “ pine coffin!” cried a deep voice, coming from no one knew where. The general stared, and the miners with won- dering eyes gazed at one another, but the bold speaker remainedundetected. The speaker’s ideas were total! routed by this rude interruption, but, as he mound him, a new actor ap the scene. The man was a well-built, medium-dad stranger who had that v day rode into the Camp and put up at the p y Palace, as the restaurant, nor-saloon ho kept by [any Missouri was called. He had said, briefly, that, he was a speculator. and most all who saw him had at once set himdown for a man who “speculated” more in cards than any% else—a traveling gambler, in brief,seeking fleldsandpastures new. “ General, this hyer is an outrage, and my blood b’iles ag’in’ it!” he exclaimed. “ I’ll take the management of this mine, and risk the pine cofiln, if you say so. I can give you a heap of recommendations in regard to my rninin skill and we won’t quarrel about terms: so i you say the word, I’m your man ; my name is Richard Talbot, and I’m from Cinnabar—up in the Shasta Valley.” A car had elapsed since the time when Talbot had ad his memorable fight with the Governor of the State, as related in the story of “ Ca tain Dick,” and a year blots out many things, ence it was that there was not a man in the thron whho t“full y remembered this hero of a hundred CHAPTER III. 'rwo carnoannm smrs. THE neral at once accepted the proposal “ Cal upon me to-morrow,” he said, ‘ and we will arrange the terms: and now, fellow-citi- zens, I he sincerely that there won’t be any more trou le.” The old gentleman then retired Talbot saun- teimfl toward the hotel, and the crowd dis- Two. men encountered each other as they :turollled up the street; the recognition was run- a “ Hallo, McCracke is that u?” a “ Be the powers! if t isn’t ister Blair!” With Randolph Blair, the famous bonanza king, reputed to be one of the wealthiest spec- ulators on thegigcdslgie, tltile reader is al- ready acquain e at or party was full as notorious a man as the brawny Blair. r is name was McCracken—Cornelins Mc- Cracken, and he was known far and wide as the Member from Biskiyou. He was a dema- osue of the worst stripe one of the men who a risen to power by n; on the waves of po ular clamor. Reportsai , too, that he had “ eathered his nest’ pretty well. Ten ears before the time of which we write be h done a brick-laying job for Blair in Frisco that being his trade, and since that time Blair had never seen him, although he had watched hiscareer with a great deal of interest for it was really curious to follow the grad climb to power of such a brainless upstart, who had nothing but impudence and muscle to back him. “Well, McCracken it’s a good many years since we have met,” Blair observed as he and the demagogue walked on side by “Yes sur, an’ it’s meself that has changed wonderfully since that time, do ye mind?” re- plied the other, swelling up with conscious pride. “ I’m a man of the people, Mister Blair, and mighty well it pays me, too,” he added, sinking his voice to a confidential whis . “Fifteen ears ago, sur, I was 'carryi a 0d at two do] urs a day, but now, sur. now uck at me! I’m the Honorable Mister McCracken. I sit in the council halls of me country. I make the laws, and if the pay isn’tvery good the st'al- in are immense!” lair laughed; he hadn’t the least doubt in re- gard to this. ” “ But, I say, McCracken, what are you doing up in this region i” Tlée Irish' min wintkled at the speculator, slyly. up ' put e same question to you, Mister Blair?” “Well, I should probably lie to you,” the ‘ .iff'iiw’ ‘flt’z‘flfii’fii‘ly‘ ‘ , now w e admitted mm {glint-means that your businem is import- All ,” replied Mc- “ No more than yours, may Cracken, s1 ly. “ Well, , to tell you the truth, for I don’t see the use of beating about the bush when two such old blades as you and I are concerned, the moment I saw you I at once jumped to the con- clusion that the business which brought you to this delightful hole was exactly the same as fetched me here.” “ Be me sowll Mister Blair, the same thought occurred to me.” “ You are after this mine!” new . n m... ...., a. , y Own 15, kl . “ I have beeneslnformed that it is a very vayluable min indeed, but needs money to develo it. ” “ hure, I was tould that it was all, ' t now, fpramanto take hould of andget a ig e. “ It isn’t so, Mac; there’s got to be fifty thou- sand dollars spent on it before a man can make a cent out of it, but then it will be a bananas.” “ And you hope to get it?” “Well, es: and now. how do you propose to act in t is matter! Are you strong enough to ht me?" “ ivil a hit, an’ I’d be afool to tryit! Let me in for a share an’ I’ll do all I kin for you.” “All right: that‘s a bargain! I suppose you have a good deal of influence with some of the miners, even up in this GM—formken I ti” “ Oh, ;there’s some of the byes know Inc—pregy hard byes they are, too." Richard Talbot of Cinnabar. ' 3 “Yes, more sinners than saints in this on, and I presume that this ingenious device 0 the blood-red hand is some of our doin i” “U n me sowl, it isn l” the man do- cl , and from the earnest way in which he spoke Blair felt pretty certain that he was speaking the truth. “I niver was more aston- ished in me life than when I heard of it. ” The face of the bonanza king darkened, and a thoughtful look a peared upon it. “I am at fa t, then,” he observed, after uite a lon pause. “ I sup that it was a. c ever trio of yours to frighten the old man out of the mine. “ No, sir: I was going to work in another way. I was going to let them git into opera- tion and then it up a strike among the hands.” “ It’s done near! there is somebody else after the mine, hen, for of course this road- ‘ agent has not made his threats without an ob- ject. And now, our first task must hello find out who that somebody is.” . .. “ He’ll be sure to show his hand in tim” “ Oh yes, no doubt about it, and this party is all that we haye to fear, for it will not be a dif- ficult job to get the old general out.” “Is that so? Shure! Ithought that he was mulling in riches.” “Quite the contrary; he is a brok bank- ruptman. Hewasonce at the head 0 a big business at the East, but finally went under and now all the money that he has in the world is some ten thousand dollars that he inherited from his deceased wife.” “ Aynd I suppose that he put all that into this “Yes, and run in debt forty thousand dol- ing: snore. I hold that leetle claim against “Oh, murder and turf! apn’ve got him foul!” “I flatter m If that I ve managed the af- fair pretty we "Blair observed, complacently. “ In fact, for a small matter I’ve taken a great t%“““b’“ ‘2‘?“ “i"' %i°”‘ a score you— am m- terested in this matter.” y “ I don’t understand,” said McCracken, who a some respects was not as bright as he might “Did you not notice that tall, handsome girl, the eral’s daughter?” “ did that same.” “ Well, sir, that rl is the proudest min: that ever stepped oot in shoe leather!” the speculator exc imed. decidedly. “ Would you. believe it, Mac, that particular, dainty young , lady actually refused to be introduced to me in Frisco because she understood that I was not so scrupulous in my business dealingsas I might bet” The Irishman burst into a loud lau h. “0b, did anybody ever hear the ' es of that! You, the bonanza king! Oh, the gurl was c “No but possessed of a cursed stuck-up pride which have sworn to humble before she get: out of this ltiger State of California; and I’ll k my v.0 , too.” " on haveonlyto turn your hand over to crush her.” “Ah, but that won’t satisfy me!” Blair ex- claimed, quickly. “To be frank with you, ken I want this girl and I have made up my to have her. ain’t much on wo- men: Ihave been too busyall mylife to pay much attention to them; but now that I am prettzwellfixed,l 'ntothinkthatitis abou timethatlsettl down. I want a hand- some, dashy girl—a r clipper and no mis- tbsilfie,’ you know; and ' hyer gal jest fills the Baggi’n be mound by making her Hrs. “That is exactly my leetle gait, Mac, and that is the stmafi-motive for my fooling away III time with mine, alt h I have been ,b good authority,that' I go to work the t way, it will turnout a banana. You seamygameisanextremelysimpleone. The old man owes me now about forty thousand dollars, and I tell you he’s got one of the best creditors that mortal man ever had, for he’s never for the mono -ln fact, he has beentcdtimeandtime thatifhewanted moremoneyallhehadtodowastoaskfor it." “And does he know that ith your money!" “Oh, no; that is where the joke comes in. Behafn’ttheslightestidsathatlamhiscrodi- . vo schelned to tangle the whomi’ntheworld that can help him on myself. to“And yfimm gurLthen,will begins; “W {reckonthatshewilkfor I'llpntthe oldman averytight andshewillhe the on] soul in this worl thatcan gethim out. lt’sn fancy, Mac, you know, when on cometothinkthe matterover, thataman e myself, wbocan have a down handsome women ustforthe uking,slsouldtakesomuch trouble get a girl who, 1 am morally certain, will hatemeasbitterlyasagirl can hate; but I’m like the barbarian chief that I saw on the stage attheCalifornia theater,theother night: I lovemyhumwhnitmmydop wh- ‘4 2-4-... —_. . .1- .-_...—.—.—- __-,.. . . g... ~....._.._.._._. ..... n.__..... _. ._. _- l...<.. 4 Richard Talbot of Cinnabar. ww- they snarl,’ and, I forget the rest of it, but them’s m sentiments exactly.” “0h understand; shurei it’s the pleasure and delight of conquering.” “Now, the pro me, Mac, is—we must make all the troub e we can for the old man; we must hinder the working of the mine in ev- ery possible way, of course taking care to keep ourselves in the background.” “Of course; but, I say, how about this man that isn’t afeard to go into the mine, this Mis— tergl‘albot? His name is mighty familiar to me. “Yes, so it is to me, but I don’t remember ever seeing him before. Oh, he won’t trouble us. We’ll either buy him over to our side, or frighten him out of the cam .” ‘ And this road-agent—t 's blood-red hand felleri” “Ahl now there you get me!” Blair replied, thoughtfully. “ We must find out about him. At present, thou h, in playing his game he he] 3 us, but I rec on that when the end comes he’ be apt to step in and uarrel with us over the division of the carcass. ’ “ That would be u 1y.” “Yes; but that time is some distance 0!, and I’ll take care to be prepared for all emer- gencies.” And so the bargain was made between the two. The old general had little suspicion of the new rock ahead. CHAPTER IV. THE HAPPY PALACE. CANDLE-BOX, take it all in all, was about as odd 8. Camp as could be found in all California. The rincipal saloon and hotel—there were only two in the settlement -was ke t by a woman, and it Was called the Happy Pa ace. We said a woman; but, to s k more cor- rectly, we should have said a gir for the owner of the ranch was nothing more. She was known as Molly Missouri. Her father, a regular old bummer if ever there was one, had been one of the first pilgrims to settle in the valley, but he was no benefit to the town, and there were few mourners when he fell down in a fit, one n' ht after a prolonged spree, in the single saloon t t the Camp then possessed. “No ood to nobody, nohow,” was the epitaph t at the miners furnished. But, public opinion was wrong as public opinion often is; the man was some good to the ifine, buxom girl his dau hter, the only woman in the Camp. Cid, idle ummeras he was, be 311?: always managed to take pretty good care 0 er. Ola Missouri he was always called, as he was forever bragging about his native State. He was a “Pike” from M' , as the natives of that county are generally termed. Now that he was gone and his daughter left unprotected, the miners ca’me to the conclusion that they ought to do something for the orphan, so a committee was appointed to wait upon her after the funeral was over. Molly was a tall, stron , handsome girl, with a tow head and muscle ike a prize- ghter—a resolute, go-ahead sort of a feminine, as the committee soon discovered. The men of the Camp had “chip ” in and had succeeded in raising a hundre and ten dol- lars, which the spokesman of the committee, in a set speech, premnted to the girl. The gist of the speech was: “The Camp feels bad for yer; we ain’t on blue gravel (good pay dirt) as much as we ought to be, but hyer’s our level best and good luck go with you, so say all of us. ” “ Much obliged. boys,” replied the girl, ac- cepting the o ering instant ; as one of the “ boys ” afterward remark —“ She was as pert and chippy and as sassy a gal as any one could scare up in a 1:23 ionrney. “ And as for the g uck that you wish me, why, that depends :(pon the men in this hyer Camp,” she continu . “I reckoned of course that I would have to paddle my own canoe now, and so I’ve hired Cohen’s shanty, and I’m goin to open a firetrclass hotel there just as soon as kin t ready. 00 en was an enterprising Hebrew who had erected quite a large shanty and started a gen- eral store at the time of the first rush into the valley, but, with the decline of the excitement be had de rted. Two or three es had tried their uck in the shanty but had fail as the rent was steep-the express company I: come into possession of the building-and there really wasn't room for more than one general store in the Camp, and the man that kept the other place. J udso Zebulon Gubble, was alto- gether too well “fixed ” to be easily run out. Great was the astonishment, then. in Candle- box when the news spread around that the or- phan girl was going to Open a hotel. The idea seemed ridiculous, but Molly’s dispo- sition was pretty well known; she was a girl who wouldn’t stand any nonsense from any one, and the miners, in discussing the matter, were an of theo tales that it an “gel” could run a hotel, Mo ly Missouri in certainly was that The enterprise was a success frcinthestart; the Camp needed a table place of enter- tainment, for the only saloon that had survived the crash that followed the flush times of the o nal discover was a mean,low whisky shop. 6 Happy Pa ace, Molly named her venture, and under one roof, a hotel, a drinking-saloon, dinin -room, private apartment for gentlemen who esired to indulge in a uiet game of cards, and a barber-shop could be ound. The barber-shop was almost a in , for the men of the Camp cared little whet or their beards grow or no , but the barber, who was an almond—eyed Chinese, depended full as much upon his skill as a gambler as he di upon his leather-bmsh and razor, and so he managed to scrape along—no un intended, by the way. True it had not n all smooth sailing for the girl. Disturbances had arisen. Men would drink and quarrel, and strangers to Molly some- times thought that they cou d impose upon her seeing that she was a lone woman. Molly, though, was as full of grit as a moun- tain lion, and she alwa 3 went armed; the dex- trous manner too in w ich on three or four oc- casions she had whip d out her revolvers and planted them under 6 nose of some big- bearded scall wag, who was loud in boast that he was a “ch ef ” and never “took water” in his life, was really something to talk about. And there had always been a flash in the eyes of the girl which had awed the turbulent spir- its, and caused them to betake themselves and their vaunts to other quarters. At the Happy Palace Talbot had secured ac- commodations upon arriving in the town, and after the meeting had dispersed, to the hotel he had wended his way. He had sauntered along slowly, so that the most of the crowd were already in the saloon when he arrived there. The main floor of the hotel was divided into three apartments one large front room, which held the bar and was the general lounging- lace of the Camp, and two smaller apartments in the rear of the main one: one was the “ pri- vate room,” where ni btl festive “poker” rei ed, and the other t e ining-room. albot, who was not acqluainted with a soul in the Camp, helped himse f to a chair by the ¢window, quite apart from the crowd, and sat own. It was some time since he had figured in one of these little camps, and as he gazed at the miners geouped around the apartment—near] all eyes nt on him—old memories came thic upon him. Molly, assisted by the Chinaman, Hop Hi, who was a general man of all work, was behind the bar, blisinJ engaged attending to her cus- tomers, but t e moment Talbot entered she caught sight of him. T ere were two or three little groups stand- ing b the counter, but Molly never heeded them the least as she turned and addressed the Chinese. “Did Mister Man over thar pony up in ad- mggt for his lodgin' g?” she asked, indicating The Chinaman shook his head. “ I must go and talk to him,” Molly observed, decidedly; “he’s a stranger, and rha he don’t know that cash down and no t the rule of this ranch.” The 1 came from behind the bar and ad- van directly to Talbot while the miners winked at each other—that is the most of them did, but a group of three at the end of the bar neither winked nor seemed to euloy the fun. “She suspects somethin , and as gone to put him on his guard!” eXcla med one of the men in a cautious tone. “You remember that I warned you a little while ago that you were speaking too loud and that thought the girl was listening." “ What does it matter?” one of the others re- torted, in a boastful sort of wa . “This pil- gzim kin be salivated easy enoug , and I won t ve to half try either.” By this time Molly was at Talbot’s side. ’ “ don’t want to disturb you. stranger.’ She said, “butif ou wantto lodge here tonight, it’s the rule 0 the house to pay in advance. “Certainly; here’s five on accoth ” Talbot re lied, putting a gold- iece into her hand. ‘30 on your ard You are in danger,” she exclaimed, qu ckly, under her breath, as she bent her head to examine the gold-piece, then in its worth by biting it. Tel t although about as cool a man as ever breathed Californian air, was somewhat aston- ished at this information. “.Wherefore danger i” he asked, quietly never betrayin his surprise by a movement of the muscles of is face. “The Candle-box mine is bad luck to the men that work in it. ” “I hope to rove that isn’t so before I get through with his hyer Camp,” he answered, “flfly'in l k pearedi th k n in n 00 a n e een eyes of the 315; the goolness of the maxi her fancy. “ Look out; that‘s all; but they sha’n’t dou- hie-bank you till I ‘pass’ out of the game. You’re sure that it’s ood, eh?” she exclaimed aloud, so that all so d hear. “Well, I’ll take m your word for it, althon h it does look queer to me.” She then return to the bar. “So, you’ve gone back on me, eh?” said the tall, brawny man with the stolid, deathlike face, who was leaning against the bar, and who had warned his comfianions that the girl had overheard their wor . “ Eh?” and there was an uneasy look in M011 ’8 eyes. _“ h, on know what I mean! Have ou picked im out for a partner at the glance?” “ What nonsensel” the girl cried, but there was a quiver in her lip as she spoke. “I’m sorry for you, for Bill hyer is going to smash him.’ Molly turned away it was plain that she war mistrusted. “ Go for him l” commanded the tall man. The brawny fellow at once obeyed. He rolled with a sailor-like gait over toward Talbot, who at once rose to receive him. “ I’m the chief of this hyer town!” the bully said. “I’m Kanaka Bill, the sweet William of the Klamath. I kin drivea lance clean through a whale! You look like a regular snorter, you do! 8a l jest wipe er paw across my face?” And albot obey this in 'unction on the in- stant, much to the surprise 0 all, the ex-whale- man included, for the wipe was such a violent crack with the open hand that it fairly brought tears to the eyes of the assailed maul CHAPTER V. TAMING THE 33m A BOWL like the bellow of an en ed bull came from the throat of the bull . ever in all his life had he been so surpris , for the at- tack had been so sudden that for a moment he could hardly realize that it was the man whom he had accosted that had smacked him. The first moment of surprise over, Bill b- bed for his pistols, the revolvers which un suspended in holsters at his waist, but Talboé was prepared for this. Little icion had any one in the room that the man, who had been selected for avictim, was one of the best two-handed fi hters thathad ever stepped foot in the Golden tate. Kanaka Bill’s hands were no sooner on his pistols, than Talbot’s gripe of steel had him by the throat and waist. There was a sudden, powerful movement and then the bi bully, raised bodilylfrom the oor, was hurled eadlong through t e window, car. l'ng away, with aloud crash, sash, glass and With a heavy thud the man struck on the ground outside bleeding from a dozen scratch- es where the window-glass had cut him. And hardl had he struck when talk)“ was on him. havin eaped h htly through the window. He luck the revo vers from their holsters, the ife from its sheath, and when the crowd, rushin wildly through both door and window, reach the outer air, the found Talbot 1;; com. plete ion of the fie d. “ 0W. the", gentlemen, how shall I kill him!” Talbot exclaimed, as the crowd came rushin out. “Knife him, or blow the top of his thing fool’s head of!!!” “ Give me a chance for m life i” yelled Bill. mmblins to his feet, and n no we subdued by the defeat which he had met wi h. “ You can’t down me in a fair fight, if you give me any show 1” “Give the man a fair chance!” cried a voice my? crowd. h n 89 yes give him another c ante. lug~ 8"“ 1,1381! om Johnson, who had got it into his head that the new-comer d easily flax the bully of the camp, and who was anxious to see more fun. “Oh. Well, if the court thinks that the man ought to have another trial, I’m agreeable," T8 bot replied in his cool, careless way, and then, with a whirl, he sent the revolver and the knife whining through the air into the river. A yell of disgust came from the lips of the brawn bully, as he beheld his property link honest the wave. “I’ll take ’em out of your bids!” he cried fierce] , rolling up the. sleeves of his discolored fianne shirt, and so preparing for action. Talbot merely laid aside. his coat, and turned “P the sleeves of the “b’iled ” shirt which he wore. “ Are you ready!” cried the brswnyflfellow, burmng with impatience to demolish 0 man who had handled him so roughly. “ All ready. sir, ” replied the otbeI'EWho a rently was not at all ready, see!!! t fit he held his hands down at the level of h waist. While his opponent’s fists were sawing the six-me ‘ windmill. The m of the encounter in briefly told. The bi ge ow rushed at his nimble antagonist with al the fury 0f 3“ “mired bundo bull. and with about a much clumsiness. Talbot gave ground as d .xtrous‘lynas a dang. ingmaster' “1pm”; eve blow ed at in. person in th. moat skillf planner, and then, when the other, out of breath, completel winded w”: topause'and ut down h arms iii sheer fatifi, with a ht‘nin .nk. stroke of his MODS 1' t hand, that way.' at...» «v . so _ l l i ’2 ,; Richard Talbot‘of Cinnabar. 5 m served him so well, Talbot gave the big man a most terrific crack right in the center of the chest, and over backward the bully went, strik- ingIZhe earth with a terrible concussion. . nya powerful blow, skillfully delivered, had the men of the crowd seen, but not one of them had ever witnessed a more terrific stroke. That one blow ended the contest, for Kanaka la upon the ground as helpless as a log—liter- y “ knocked out of time.” ‘ He’s dead!” cried one of the amazed by- standers, hastening to the assistance of the fallen man. “ Oh, no; he’s worth a dozen dead men yet,” Talbot reassured. I Some of the miners ran into the hotel, pro- cured a itcher of water and dashed it over the face of he van uished bruiser. This at once revived him. e sat up and looked around him with a vacant air; it was lain that for the mo— ment his wits were “ woo gathering.” “0h!”he grunted, “I feel as if a mule had kicked me.” - “ No, a two-story shape?7 fell on you,” one of the bystanders sugges , and thereupon the crOWd laughed. Then Kanaka Bill’s eyes rested upon the stal- wart figure of Talbot, and a wondering look crept over his face. He rose slowly to his feet, then shook himself as if to be certain that he was all right. “Time! ’ cried Talbot, laconically, advancing as he spoke and putting himself In a fighting position. ' “No more for me, hosspfi !” exclaimed Bill, decided] . “. I have got al I want. I never was ma e to take water afore in this hyer Cam , but I reckon that I’ll crawfish now. You re the heftiest man for your inches that I ever faced. and I’m done, I am.” “ You are quite satisfied, then?” “ Yes.” gr0wled the bully, angrily, “ I am quite satisfied that I ain’t got any right to fool around you, but maybe in the ion run I’ll et squar’ with a man ’bout your size or handling me est as if I didn’t cost nothin’, nohowl” “ at us close the account now "responded the victor. “I hate to have anyt 'ng of this kind on my mind. Some gentleman in the crowd hyer will gladly lend you a knife or a istol, I am sure, and if you are only going to {is satisfied with a fatal end to this difficulty, the quicker then we get at it the better.” But bold Kanaka Bill, the bullv of the Camp, had altogether too much steel taken out of him to accept this frank and open defiance. although he kneyv Well enough that to back down now meant the loss of his hard-earned reputation as a man-eater. “Come, which is it to be?” cried Talbot, per- ceivin that the other hesitated “knife or pis- tol! ake your choice, quick. for I’m tired of waiting, and if this Camp needs a graVeyard, on’ll be just as good a man to start it with as know.” The crowd were watching the scene with breathless interest. Not that they expected Bill toaccept the challenge, for they did not; rightly they judged that the taste he already had experienced of the stranger‘s quality was quite sufficient to last him for some time. “ I don’t want neither knife nor pistol,” Bill replied, dogged] . ‘ Oh, you don t want to end the matter now? Yo‘quan’t to leave the quarrel open l” es. “Sothat you can shoot or stick me in the back some time. eh?” cried Talbot, his voice clear and cutting as a knife. The hull knew not what to say and so per- force held is tongue. “Well I don’t propose that you shall do any- thing of the kind.” Talbot continued. “ I mean that this quarrel shall be settled now. Take your weapon like a man and stand up to our work, or else own up that you are sa isfi and that you desire no further quarrel with me." “3’ so I don’t do either?” demanded Bill, sullen y. “Well, then I’ll shoot you on sight the first time I meet on i” cried the other, stern] . “ and ecrowdiflamnot j 'edinso actm . Even in the wildest camps and among] the rou hest men the code of arms and honor olds 00 To shoot or stab a man without warning is assassination; but if two men with a quarre to be settled, meet. by chance, each cells n n the other to “draw” and fire and the en is the death of one of the parti . public sentiment upholds the killer: bewas attacked and he had a right to defend himself; anyhow, it was a, fair fight and no favor! “ I can’t fight without we’ no that I’m used to!” Bill exclaimed, sullen y. “You’ve cor- raled m shootin -irons, but after I fotch ’em out of e river ’1] give you ought for your money; mebbe morrow mebbe next day ’3 on how, I don’t want nothin‘ but a fair show. ‘All right, I’m agreeable; the next time we meet then it’s shoot on I! ht." “You bet!” cried the and then he turned upon his heel and w C Talbot picked up his coat and put it on. ten man, mvaSilyd '1 Three figures came from the shadow of one of the shanties where they had stood in the back- round and watched the scene, and passed down e street. The three were General Skeppleton, his daughter and the young lady friend who had come with her 11 into this wild re 'on, Miss Pollie Jones, dauggiter of the late Ju ge Jones who once struck it so rich at Angel’s Bar. They had been out for a walk and had he - pensd to come along just in time to witness t e afirqz. “ ell, well, I wouldn’t have behaved that that fellow would ever have been able to stand up against the big rufiian,” the general ob- serve . “ He’s just as sweet as ever he can be!” Miss Jones exclaimed. She was a very romantic young lady, and much disposed to “ gush” upon the slightest excuse. “ Why, Polly, how can you take an interest in such awild rude fellow?” Desdemona asked. The general’s daughter was named after Shake- peare’s sweetest, purest heroine. “Indeed, I am heartily sick of this region now; the men here seem to be but little better than so many wild beasts.” CHAPTER VI. ran: COUNCIL or raw. Tm: general and the two ladies were not the onl parties who had stood in the back und an witnessed the discomfiture of the great fight- in man of the Camp. e speculator and his companion, the wily Irishman, had also overlooked the scene. “Holy Moses i” cried McCracken, after the affair was over and the crowd had dispersed, “but isn’t this fellow a tearer!” “Oh, yes, he knows how to handle himself,” Blair replied, carelesslyh‘for he was not -. ticularly impressed by albot’s skill. “ on see, he knows how to use his fists and the other fellow don’t. But, you put a man who knows anything about boxing in front 0 this Talbot and he wouldn’t make much of a .” " Bedadl if I had the art at me finger ends, it would take a dale to induce me to stand up afore him i” McCracken declared. “ He’ll be a. good man for us; you must sound him, Mac.” The Irishman shook his head. “What do on mean I” thgvflpeculator asked; E‘don’g, you hink that he ' be agoodman or us “0h, es, a foine man, but I’m not aisyin m min about getting him.” ‘ There will be no trouble about that; all these fellows have their price; some cost more than others but you can fetch any of them if you bid high enough.” The Irishman nodded; he did not think that it was worth his while to disgute the point with Blair, but in his own mind e had come to the conclusion from what he had already seen of the new mana er of the Candle-box mine that anybody woul have a pretty diflcult task to swa him. cCracken although an uncultivated man, almost entire y without education yet was poe- sessed of a large amount of natura shrewdnem, and was an extremely good judge of human na- ture; he rarely made a mistake in the estimate of his fellow-mortals, and it was this trait, that, more than anything else had made him the power he really was, in the political world. 'The night (1 away without further in- cident and though there was a great deal of talk about the probable results of the hostile meetin which was certain to take place at an early to between the combatants of that evening, yet, as Talbot had retired to rest, and Kanaka ill had “ made himself scarce, the actual presence of either of the two did not on- courage the The unprovok. attack of the bully um stranger gave rise to no comment, for Bill, when he had a little li uor aboard, was known to be Mguarrelsome, an no one, except ing Molly ssonrf, W t at a deeper motive than mere brav was at the bottom of the bully’s demonstration. Mornln came, and after the denizens of the Camp be got their breakfast, before they de- parted for heir daily toil, they looked around ' was in the Camp on hostile to see if Kanaka Bill mission bent. I But no one had seen him, and after Talbot had made his a pearance, got his breakfast and walked down 0 the Candle-box property, the anxious hungerers after excitement concluded that (tihere wouldn’t be any blood and slaughter that z . Evidghtly the “ chief ” of Candle box Camp, as he was wont to proudly term himself, was not over and above anxious to meet the plucky stranger in singly fill ht. The Candle- x property was not a very ex- tensive one. It was situated right on the river’s bank, and a rude stoekade fence inclosed it on 2hr? sides; the river prevented intrusion on the 011 0 Within the stockade, which was ierced by a ngle gate on the south side, was 9 mouth of the shaft, the mill with the stamps for crushin the ore, a tool and store-house, and a good-Si m shanty, which the general had selected for his dwelling-place. At present the works only boasted of a sin is hand, acoal-black negro of gigantic sine w o answered to the name of Ginger Blue, and who had been connected with the mine as a sort of watchman ever since the organization of the first compan and the sinkin of the shaft. Through t 'ck and thin hrough good and evil fortune—much evil and little good, so far—— Ginger had stuck faithfully to the mine, and there was no convincing him that the Candle- box lode wasn’t the richest mine in all the known world. It didn’t matter a particle to Ginger whether he got any wages or not; he stuck to his work as well without as with, and when hard times had come and the mining speculators, utterly broke, were unable not only to pay w es but to provide “grub,” Ginger never grum led in the least; there were fish in the river and game on the hills; and then, too, the dar ey was a pretty ker-player, and so he managed to live and stick to the mine even when all else had forsaken it. He had resented himself to the general the moment t e new owner had arrived in the Cam , and made known to him how faithful and evoted a servant he had been to the Can- die—box lode, for it was to the mine that Ginger considered he owed allegiance and not to the individuals who at times controlled the prop ert . 'I’he general, who was, at heart, a jolly old fellow, and as innocent as a child of the “ways that are dark and tricks that are vain,” so pe- culiar not only to the Heathen Chinee but to the average sharp of the Pacific slope, took a decided fancy to the negro, who was really a comical character, and therefore engaged him on the spot. Ginger was the most indifferent fellow in the world as regards wages. “How much, boss?” he said, refiectively, in answer to the general’s question; “ well, that depends upon promisc’us circumstances. I’d like to be sure of my grub, anyway, ’ca’se I don’t s’poee dat dere’ll be much danger of my getting anyt’ing else.” “Oh, you’ll get (your money,” the general declared, astonishe that there should be any doubt on this subject. “ Yes, sah, dat’s w’at dey all say!” Ginger rc- plied, grinning, until he showed his wine In ii rem eartoear. “De las’ gemman Ft‘il «at I would in advance; so he did; but In lv. ‘ rowed t 1 back ’fore de week was out. ‘ca’: e l was unlucky at poker. De money, boss, in . gwine to trouble me so long as (le grub m»: i-‘l right, but when it’s no money rnd 10 gm} , 1 tell yeri it’s tough scratching for dis yeie chile.” The general. perceiving that there was very littleuse in attempting to persuade the negio that it was all right, gave up the purpose, con- tenting himself with engaging him. At the gate of the stockade Talbot met the neral, who received him very cordially, for be new man had made quite a favorable im- pression. “ You will take up your quarters hereafter on the remises.” Bkep eton said, as he conducted Tal t into the dwe ling-house. “ I have had a room fixed up for you, and althou h it is not particularly well provided with urniture, I presume that on won’t mind that.” “Oh, n0' a unk is all I need.” Within the main room of the house the two girls Were seated, and the general, after con- ducting Talbot into the apartment, introduced “fiddled. late Mr Talb t M J f ‘ aug r, . 0 has ones 0 Angeli,” he said. ’ Desdemona bowed politely, but pretty Pol- lie Jones who was an errant flirt Ly nature, and whohad made up her mind that a little flirtation With the ocd-looking mir er would be quite agreeable, ac nowledg ed the introduction in the most elaborate manner. “ I am so charmed to make your acquaintance, Mr.‘Talbot,” she exclaimi d, gushingly. “ I am sure that I have met you before somewhere, for your name is uite familiar to n e. ll « re you ever at Ange sf Puhai-s you knew n-y pr— the late J ut’ge Jones, who once struck it so rich at Angel’s Bar." “ Yes. miss I remember your father perfectly well, although I do not think that I ever Ltd the pleasureof seeing you before,” Tall at th— swered, with perfect ccmpowre, aliLeizgh still fresh in his mimory was the night M in ie rode into Angels disgmred, and saw «and in eve saloon and on every dead wall e lard- bill out by the Governor of the great Store of ifornia, offering one thousand dollars re- ward for the body of Richard Talbot, alive or dead. “ I‘m so glad to have met you. Mr. Talbot, if you were acquamted with my pa.” “Only very slightly acquainted,” Dick has- tened to es . “ Well. sit down. Mr. Talbot: we must hold a counczl,” the general remarked. "My daugh- ter here is going to act as my secretary, and therefore she is entitled to kn0w our plans. Now then, sir, what do you think of these ._ _..._-. a"-.. 0 . w-...¢.--- '. . . “.4”... M w w. .~ .g. -.... ~.- .-.. - . -_.._..:e_..w~..,._ mu...» ._. -Ww...-‘.... --.. . ,,_...-. w .- a..- - x- A .a‘:_w‘m\-..—.W._.Ka w. ' Ginger was ongoiing himself hugely, chuckling {very now an t 6 ' Richard Talbot of Cinnabar. ..-- ts. threats against the mine? You have heard the story of how the roadagents stopped the coach in search of me?” “ Yes sir.” “And now, another strange circumstance I wish to call your attention to. I did intend to come by the coach, but I happened to run across an Indian who said that he knew a short cut east of the mountains, and the idea of the gallop through the wilderness pleased the fancy of these young ladies and so we came that way. But, after we got here, the Indian disa peared and we have not seen him since. Be as not come for his pay; something re- markable, ou know. Now, then, has this mysterious ndian anything to do with these road-agents? Have I a secret friend up in this region who knew that I was goin to be attack- ed by the road-agents and emp oyed the In- dian to ide me in by the other road?” Talbo looked thoughtful; the question was indeed a puzzlin one. “ As to that, s r,” he said at last, “ of course it is im ssible to say. It certainly looks strange; ut, as to the threats made against the mine, that matter is very clear to me. As far as I have heard the story of the iproperty, ever since the discovery of the lode. has suflered more or less from these secret attacks. The motive is clear enough; there is some party af— ter the mine—somebody who thinks that there is mone in the lode and yet is not rich enough to buy t e control of the property. The scheme that they are working on is a very cunning one; by continually attacking the mine so as to em- barrass the working of t, much can be done to ham rthe works. Already four or five par- ties ave given up the property in disgust, and if this sort of thing keeps on, the time will come when no one will want it, and then comes the 313.335 of these parties who are working in the “Yes, but how can we discover who they are?” the eneral asked anxiously. “ Well, thought that I would kinder put myself forward as a target for them to strike at,” Talbot answered, coolly. “If I am not killed, in time I must certainly find out who it is that is striking the blows.” CHAPTER VII. nonnr’s MISSION. Tn'i.’ listeners looked at the s aker in aston- ishment. This was most deci edly the coolest pro osition that any of them had ever heard. “$ut, my dear sir!” exclaimed the general in wonder, “you do not seem to comprehen thafi‘you’are exposing yourself to certain death, per i “ 0 course there is a risk, but man, in going through this world, is alwa a taking his life in his hand more or less, and am not real! much afraid. I shall be on my guard against 1', of course, and he who is forewarned is fore- armed, you know.” The impression this speech made upon the twa girls was widely difl'erent. Polly o ned her eyes in wonder; it hmazed her be any man should thus coolly face death, but the ge- neral’s daughter wit her cold, proud eyes looked searching y at Talbot’s face. Was the h really the candid expression of a man who had calmly calculated the chances and was willing to risk his life, or was it the mere bra- vado, so common to the loud-talking frontiers- man? But Talbot with his cool, uiet way, appeared to have but little of the bul y and the braggart in his di ition. “ Well, ’ said the old gentleman, at last, “if on are willing to risk it, it’s all right ;” then he {cached on the question of salar , but to his sur- prise the man was utterly indi erent. He was almost as bad as the ne . “Anythin you like,” he said, “until a‘ ter you’ve tri me, and thoumine, and see how the ‘plant ’ is going to work.” And this was the only arrangement Talbot was willin to make, and so the general was forced to c ose the matter in that way. While this interview was transpiring within the house an equally important one was going on outside the stockade. By the door that led into the inclosure was a big rock which the negro generally utilized as a seat when he had no work to attend to, as it was exposed to the full rays of the sun, and so he could bask in the heat-givin light. With a com-cob pipe stuc between his teeth, en when he thought how soon be mine would be in working order again. The very life and soul of the negro seemed b02231 61pth tge lotde. Suddenlyfhe was sur- ri e a rup a nce o a woman. p Now, {vomen were few and far between in Candle-box Camp, and therefore it was no won- der that the ne rro wat surprised, At the first g ance, though he recognized the flrli for a more enerall known party than 01 y Missouri e sted no in that region, The girl’s face was flushed, and it was evident that she had been hurrying along at this top of “Do on belong to the Candle-box mine Bow i” s e asked, hurriedly, and almost out of rea . “DoI belon to the mine now, honey!” he exelaimed, ind: antly. “Well now you jes better believes at I does, and w’at’s more, my bressed lamb! I’m allers wine to belong to dis yere mine ‘es’ you bet al you got on dat I” “ I wan see Mr. Talbot 1” The negro burst into a loud lau h. “Go ’wa ! ain’t you ’shamed o yerself run- nin’ ’roun arter a feller! Go ’long! I blush for er!” “ ee hyer, you black rascal!” cried the girl, in a rage; “ you are entirely too sassy, and you had better kec a civil tongue in your head. want to see r. Talbot on particular business. N ow, then, charcoal, walk your trotters in and tell him that a lady wants to see him.” “Oh, dat’s too good! dat hits me whar I lib!” and the darkagoared again. “You call yer- self ’9 lady! ’way! you ain’t nothing but a “You’ll get your ears pulled you impudent snowball!” he girl retorted. “ lint come, hurry up; I can’t wait here all day.” ‘ No emmen ob de name of Talbot h er,” the blac answered with a great deal 0 di - nitv. “ De ginera am hyer—Gineral Ca — waladgr Skeppleton, the proprietor of dis yere mine. “ It’s the superintendent I want, Mr. Talbot; I know that he is here, for he left my place this morning to come here.” “Oh, yes, dat man! Oh, he’s hyer. I disre- member dat I ebber heered his name afore. And you want to see him, eh i” “ Yes, and I’m in a hurry, too 1” “All right; I’ll luff him know dat you are hyer; you kin step inside de gate if you like.” This suited the girl exactly, for within the stockade she was concealed from the sight of any chance passer-b , and just about this time the negro‘s words (1 taken weight in her mind and she had come to the conclusion that perhaps she had acted rather foolishly in rush- ng like a madwoman down to the Candle-box wor 3. Ginger soon returned, followed by Talbot, who appeared sur rised at the summons. The ne o’s m e of informing the gentleman that a y to see him was really unique. He sim l stuck his head in at the door with on: even ng the trouble to knock and sung ou : “ Bay! is you Mister Talbot? If you is, dar’s a gal out hyer dat wants to see you on very ’ticular business.” All within the room were surprised by the announcement, for, as before remarked, women were not plentfi up along the Klamath river. “ If on wi excuse me, general,” Talbot said “ will see who it is.” “ ertainl ,” replied the old gentleman. 80 Talbot ollowed the negro, while the two ls, with that curiosity so natural to woman- ind, went to the window that they might see who it was that sought Mr. Talbot. Molly Missouri’s eyes were as bright as a deer’s and as keen too, and she instant! caught sight of the two facesframed in the win ow, and some wa , why she could hardly have explain- ed, a p nly perceptible scowl appeared upon her rather pretty face, for, despite the shght coarseness of her features, and the utter ab- sence of all attempts to better her appearance by the artificial aids so dear to the heart of the pvefinge woman, Molly was far from being bad- 00 'mg. “Ah, is it you, Miss Missouri?” Talbot said, addressing the irl as courteously as though she had been a due ess. “ Yes- I want to see you on particular busi- ness!” s e exclaim quickly, evidently em- barrassed, as the big teued color in her face plainly betrayed. “Andif you will have the indness to step this way so that I can say a few words to you in private,” and then she glanced significantly at the ne 0. Now, thou h the renowned ' was zen- erall dull o comprehension, yet he had a cer- tain egree of wit of hisown and most decided] was no fool, and he comprehended the girls very ap rent meaning just as uickly as Tal- bot, an i “r’iled” him, to use t e vernacular. “Look a-here, white gal!” he cried in - nantiy, “does ye t’ink dat a gemmen like I am cares two wags of a sheep’s tail w’at you’80 80!? tosayto dis hyer man? No, sah; an I like you to asperse my character in d“ 331‘ wa Aynd then having thus relieved his mind the black marched off. - d: Tlhaltini antd I wilt!l have trgpbdglone of these 8’ oyo serve senten o . 30h, you must not 'miud him," 'IYalbot said. “ And now, Miss Molly, that I have a chance, allow me to thank you for the kindly warmng you egave the other night. If ou had not pre- r me for the attack r ape I might not ve come of! as well as I id.” “Don’t say anythin about that, stranger!” Moll exclaimed, a br ht flush ap ng on here eeks, a fact that annoyed her, or she was her speed. fully conscious that the hot blood was flooding always known. .A-Z-“‘ her cheeks, although there was really no reaso for it; and she knew, too, that curious eyes ‘ were watching her from the window where the two irls stil Were standing; the scrutiny did not ease her, and yet she could not have very wel told wh . “It‘s my nature to speak right out an do what I think is right with- out asking anybod ’8 advice. Mebbe it’s bad that I am this way, ut I cannot help it; it’s my nature and I never had anybody to teach me what to do; I grew up jest like any weed you kndw. Inever had ang7 edication' ain’t ike themtwo fine ladies in here, but if I ain’t t sich nice harness and fixings as them two as got on, I’ve got lenty of spunk and I’ll stand up for my inch 5 while the breath of life is in my body!” And when she made the declara- tion she cast a defiant glance at the two in the window, for, by some process of reasoning which it would have puzzled her to explain, Molly had come to theconclusion that the two ladies, whose manners and dress were so differ- ent from the avera woman of the mining- cam s, were no frien s to her. “ ell, I’m much obliged for the service, and I sha’n’t rest easy until I have a chance to square the debt,” Talbot replied. His back being to the house, he had no idea that there were curi- ous eyes observing the interview, and he was somew! at puzzled at the peculiar words and manner of the girl. “ Stran er, I took you to be a good square man, and wasn’t goin’ to stand by and see you murdered in cold blood without taking a hand in the deal!” she declared emphatically' “ and that is what brings me hyer to-day. naka Bill, ou know, has left town?” . “ o, I did’nt know it. I expected to meet him to-night; in fact, to own right up to the truth, I was going to cavort a little round the town so as to give the man a chance to settle his quarrel with me. You see, I hate to have these things on my mind,” he added, with a coolness that was perfectly natural and not at all assumed. “If either of us is fated to have afuneral in this hyer Camp, why the uicker it is”decided which one of us is to do it, t e bet “Oh, he don’t mean to ht you openly!’ she exclaimed. “That isn’t is game, at all. He tried his luck with you once in a fair fight and he’s satisfied. N 0; he means to lay in wait for you and shoot you from behind a house, like the coward that he is! That’s all that I’ve got to say. Ioverheard enou h this mormn to know that your life was t reatened, and made up In mind to warn you, so-long! Meb- be this gay ady wouldn’t do as much If she had the chance, for all her flue clothes!” And with a parting, contemptuous, defiant glance at the Window, wherein the two rhsh faces were framed, Moll hurried throng the te, leaving Talbot consi erably astomshed at er strange words. MAnd without the gate a surprise awaited oll . Th2; tall, gaunt, white-faced, determined man accosted her. , “ So, you have bstrgtyod me again!” he cried; ‘ you deaervo to die! _—- CHAPTER vm. A NEW FOE. Ir was quite plain that the man had been lying m wait for her, but the girl, altliough 9’" tirer taken by surprise, confronted him boldly. This tall, gaunt man, small in flesh yet 81‘ eat in muscle, was one of the noted characters 0‘ Candle-box Camp. Klamath John he was called, his ri ht name had been forgotten it it had ever been nown. An odd, peculiar man was John; he had been one of the first 1pilgrims to find his way up the river after the i get Indian had reveale the existence of the Ode, and at first, like all the rest he had staked out a claim and 8°39 to WQI' . but from the very beginning it was very evndent that he was a much better card-player and hunter than a, miner, and it wasn’t very long before he gave up even the pretense of mining—tor it had never been 111110 elsewalm devoted himself exclusively to the two Puffin“s which were much more congenial to his nature. The miners readily bought the game which he fetcthl Into the camp, and paid 38°°d 9"“, too, for it was about the only fresh meat they ever ot a chance at, and with this money and what e managed to pick up at gambling ohn was supposed to make about as a thin of it as any mine, in the Camp, not work alf aslléard, either. tin “fit, was owin tohis wil ban 8 PW" 1°“ that the namegof the ring:3 had been added to his Chris‘ tian up nation; he was very cautious about revealing is hunting. ounds tq’any one and always sud, i s U the lamath, and on five 01‘ Six Occasions w en he had brought “uh " dirt "—gold-dust—and small 1111889“ into the town to be chan to the in 1111"“ ‘3 to “he” he had p the wealt . he had aNew» given his old answer, “ U Klamat :” and 80 it happened that as m John b“ w“ i i if z: i -. - ? Richard Talbot'bf Cinnabar. '7 Silent, reserved and quiet as be generally was, yet when the occasion had come he had shown that in a row he was desperate, resolute and savage. One little episode in the career of Klamath John since he took up his quarters in Candle- box Cam we have neglected to mention, and that was 8 had once been the superintendent of the Candle-box mine and had been poisoned by the secret foe, or foes, who seemingly had a grudge against all who were in any way con- nected wit the mine. “ Yes,” he repeated. angrily, “ you have be~ gagednme for the second time and you deserve 1e. “ Oh, but I won’t die, at least not just now l” she replied, defiantly and she thrust her hand into the pocket of the little, rough cloth sack that she wore. “ You foolish child, do you suppose that if I wished to kill you I would give you any chance at all, for your life i” he exclaimed, contem tu- ously. ‘ You need not be alarmed: I shal not strike on except with words, but they will be itter ones. saloon now?” “ Yes; but what is that to you i” asked Molly, her manner still defiant, and the very reverse of friendly. _ “ Why, I’ll walk along with you and say what I’ve got to say.” 7 “ You needn’t trouble yourself.” ' “Oh. but I must; I’m oingito have a little ex lanation out of you, ' oily.” ‘ You had better go about your own business and leave me to attend to mine,” she responded, sharply, walking along toward her saloon as she spoke. Klamath John kept right at her side. “Oh, we must have an explanation—an un- derstanding, in fact," he rsisted. “ I want to know now whether her ter we are to meet as friends or foes.” “As neither,” she retorted, “just mere ac- quaintances, that’s all. When you come into m place you can pay for what you want; and w an I buy your game I’ll pay you your price.” “ Might? nice way to treat an old friend!” he exclaim , contracting his bushy brows and evidently much anmayed. “Oh, a rest frien you’ve been to me!” “ Well, have been a friend, and when {an needed a friend, too,” he replied, angrily, “ t it’s always the way with you women; there’s no trusting any of you! The moment you saw this dandified chap you fell in love with him, hea i over ears!” “ That‘s a lie l” cried the ' 1, fiercely, her face a flaming red. The speec was not a nice one, but Molly had been brought up in a rough school and she had never been taught to pick and choose her words. “ Oh, no, it ain’t! It’s the truth, sure enoughl I’m no fool and you can’t pull the wool over my eves. fnoticed the look in your eyes when the fellow first entered the saloon. I was a-watchinfiays'our face then, and when I saw your e es h as I had never seen them fiash afore, turned to see who it was that had come in and caused it. Then, when me and my pard- ners Were talking about laying the fellow out, I the ht from the way you acted you were try- ing overhear our words and so I kept my eyes on you. You didn’t fool me a bit when you went over and spoke to him. I knew that you wasn’t anxious about your money, but that you wanted to warn him that we Were going for him.” “ Well, I won’t deny that I did warn him I” the girl cried, defiantly. “ What of lti It was a. coward! thing, anyway, your game; I ex- . ted the. allthree of you were going to tackle 1m. “So we ought to have done,” the other re- plied, coollygcand just as unconcerned as th h such an at k was a mere commonplace at! . “If Kanaka had not been so infernally head- strong, and so perfectly sure that he could make mince-meat out of the fellow, we could easily have finished him and fitted him for a coffin; but Bill insisted that he could handle the strano tor, and so I let him have his own way, and the result was that he got badly beaten. I_never fiafw,a man whipped quicker or better in my e. . “What is the matter with you and this pil- grim anXWay i” demanded the girl, abruptly. “ hat is none of your business.” “ He doesn’t seem to know you or any of your crowdl” . “We know h1m.”Klamath retorted, signifi- cantly; “ and we mean to settle up old grudges afore long. But I wanted to find out about you --I wanted to be Certain that you had made up your mind to take the side of this stran r, rather than mine; that s the reason thatJoc ey Joe and I talked loud in your saloon this morn- ing, just so that on con (1 overhear our words. I wanted to see i you really had decided to go ag’in’ me. I reckoned that if you had, on would be apt, after our loud talk, to think at we meant mischief right away, and would 1, to warn the stranger: so I watched you, a sure enough, on cam straight to the mine.” “Oh you ayed the spy upon me, did youl” cued 1‘10“ 3', frightfully out of temper. Are you going backto the' “Yes; I made up my mind that I would know the truth of the matter.” “Well, I hope that you are satisfied, now!” the girl exclaimed, with a bitter laugh. “ But, I don’t want ou or anybody else to come spv- ing round a ter me. I’m old enough to take keer of myself, and I have, so far, in this world ever since I was big enough to know how. I don’t ask no odds of on, nor of anybod else.” “You did ask od of me, once, Mo ,” he answered, meaning] . An angry look came over the rl’s face; for a few moments she set her teeth t ht together, breathed hard through them, and t e angry re- ply came: “ No sich thing! I never did! I know what on mean; it was the hundred dollars that vent me when my father died, and you adv set! me to open the Happy Palace! Oh, I knew what you was up to on wanted to use me for a tool! You thoughtthe Happy Palace war going to be your speculation—t at I war a mg to run it and let you take all the pro t. But, I knew a trick worth two of that. took your money because I thou ht that I had a right to the loan of it, and was sure that I could pay you back very soon. Many a dollar you won from my poor old drunken father at cards, and you cheated him, of course, for any sharp could cheat such a easy man as he was. You got your money back, and I owe u no thanks, either for if you had let myo d dad alone I would have had much more than a hun- dred dollars when he died. The miners seed around the hat and made up a ‘stake’ or me and that wasgiven me out and out. So don’t countthat I owe you anything, becauseI don’t !” “Molly, are you in earnest to make an ene- mg' of me?” Klamath John asked, his w ite face growing even whiter, and an evil look shining out of is eyes. “I don’t care two cents whether friend or an enem l” the girl repli with uplifted he By this time the two were at the door of the Happy Palace. “I’ll make you care, though, maybe before you are a month older!” the man exc , hreateningly. “Oh, I on’t fear you!” Molly retorted, in- stantly. “ If it comes to trouble between us, I reckon that I’ve t as many friends in this hyer Cam as you ave.” “And t is stranger—how is be fixed, eh?” “I reckon that he will be able to hold his and against you, and all you can bring. He andled Kanaka as if he was a baby, last night on are a , proudly, and I’ll bet that Bill don’t want any more of in his’n l” “ He’s handy enough with his fists, but we won’t give him a chance to use them next time; and now I’ll give you a bit of advice: Since you are struck after this stranger so badly, make much of him, for you won‘t have him h or long: now just you remember what I say. e’ll put him where the do won’t troub e him!” And with this threat, lamath stalked away leaving the girl in a very peculiar state of mind. She was both an and annoyed. Why should the man coupe her and the er together! She had only done for him w t she would have done for any one else in a like situation. What did she care for the man? She was no sill girl, to fall in love at first sight; the hard 1 r . which had been her portion so far in this world, had pretty well destroyed all the romance that so na ly is a part of a maid’s nature. Love—bah! She laughed at the idea! CHAPTER IX. mas non MW. Tn girl entered the house and removed her hat, then, looking throu h the window, she caught sight of an odd- coking stranger a preaching in the op to direction from that which the threa g hunter had ne. The new-comer was a man a lit e below the medium hight, ver slender in figure, with par- ticularly thin an oddly-shaped legs; he was dressed in a rusty blac suit, ver much the worse for wear. and it had evident; seen long service for the coat and panta oons were patch . in twenty difierent laces. The coat was buttoned tight in the nec ,so that it was quite impossible to say whether the person had a shirt on underneath or not. He was not old, and yet “no chicken ”; with a peculiar face, rather long high cheek-bones and small, watery blue eyes; he wore his hair long, and, as it was quite thin, the black ringlets hat came down over his coat-collar had an extremely cork- screwy look; the hair was black, though, as the crow’s wings, and evidently the source of con- siderable pride to its owner. No such man had ever been seen in Candle- box Camp before. and. in fact, such a peculiar human was about as scarce in the usual Cali- fornian mining camp as an elephant, for the man was, seem ugly, but little fitted to encoun- ter the wild life common to the mountains and the foot-hills, for the face betrayed an easy, food-natured, irresolute ne’er-do-well, as in- y as the figure a lack of brawn and mnsc e. In his hand the man carried an oddly-shaped black box which looked strangely like a small oomn, but from the jaunty manner in which hd advanced, his battered~up silk hat carefully tilted on one side in'an extremely rakish style it wasquite plain that he was not on funeral thoughts intent. As he approached, Moll came to the door, surveying ' with as muc curiosity as though he had been a wild beast; a smirking smile oveggread his face, and when he came within a y of her, he halted and indul d in a mos-2'- elaborate bow—a bow that won d have donu honor to a French dancing-master. “HaveI the honor of addressing Miss Mis- souri, the proprietoress of this stately mansion, that rears its cloud—capped towers high toward heaven?” exclaimed the little man, striking a podtionand ,waving his right hand wildly to- ward the sky. Molly retreated a step; her first thought was that the man was crazy. The stranger loticed . the motion and guessed the reason for it at once; it was not the first time such a thing . had happened. “Be not alarmed, fair maid!" he cried, if ’ more extravagant in his manner than be ore: ‘no danger lurks within this manly frame!” and here he hit himself a soundiu whack on the chest, that made the dust fly on of the dirty coat; “in me you behold a gentle, ' wandering stranger seeking ‘ Rest and shelter, Food and fire 1’ No thought of guile dwells within this bosom. ' Like the troubadors of old I journey afar, ‘ Strange countries for to see 1‘ I come to amuse—to instruct; to cause the gene _ tle tear adown the cheek to glide, and anon‘to ‘ make the horn -handed son of toil to lie-haw Z like emu-ell With laughter. In brief, I am J. Lysander Tubbs, from Arkansaw l” “I never heered on on,” Molly replied, still re arding the man wit suspicion. The more cious, then, thy state per- haps l” answer the man, with another ridicu— lous bow, which annoyed the mistress of the Happy Palace exceedingly. She beganto get an ea that the man was making fun of her. “See hyer, stran er, I don’t want no non- sense out of you, an I want you to undrrsland itl” she warned him, angrily. “I don’t w: lit you to come talking any of your flnmmel-y round hyer; I don’t keer’bout any such neu- sense!” “ dear Miss Missouri, not for tie world woul I offend so sweet and gentle a hostess ourselfl” ahd Mr. 'I‘ubts made another ro- ound bow. “Surely never was great ovc W served by a fairer Hebe than thou “ Stranger, if you go to call me any names. I’ll smack you, sure as shootin’l" exolaimed Molly, in a rage. “ I ain’t no sich thing as you called me, She-be or whatever it war.” “Ha ha!” laughed the man, loud! , and then he an denly changed his tone; “ e, he!” he squeaked, and Molly stared in amaument. “I see that you do not understand— ermit me to explain; 1 am a professor ofl to art dramati e. I am Tubbs. the irresistible.b Tubbs, t e genial child (f genius—Tubbs, the favorite son of Momns—Tubbsdhe comedian from Arkansaw l” and then the stranger banged his breast again, and glared 2K at the sky after the manner of Ajax def ing 9 lightning. , Now this was all Gree to the girl, and so she shook her head, doubtfully. “I don’t know what you mean; are you a board sharp in hard luck?” she inquired. n truth the man did look something like a de- cayed gambler. ‘ ‘Oh, n0' that’s not my leetle biz. though at a pinch, when dire necessity presses me close un the wall, I kin flip the ‘ pa rs’ with any hoes-thief in the camp. But t at, my diniae Miss Molly, is not my regular lay.;.Ii am a fol; . lower of gentle William, Avail’s hard-ranad— vance guard of the drama—a picket, a scout . thrown out, fresh fields to cor (find new laurelsto win; socarry the news 0 Mary, that I am come! Just look over that. will you?” - The man had such a reenliar Way of drop- ping from the sublime nto the commonplace. ,- hat it was really quite startling. Mr. Tubbs at the finish of his speech drew from one of his pockets a small li-and-tdllwhich he opened with a great flourish. but; as hewns gibout to give it to the girl an Hagaer m . “d1 beg your pardon-hut rea . “Read!” cried Molly, in themlmost disdain: “ what do you take me for?” ' . “M brains are V col-gathering, of ermrsel” he rep d. SIBPPIDR‘ his forehc ad in an extreme- R 9119119th manner. “Forgive the a pan nt ight; attribute it to a mind disorders by in- cessant toll o’er the works of sagesby _ ' The dim, religions light of the mfui kerosene.’ ” “ He’s cracked, sure!” Molly muttered, asshe glanced at the hand-bill which 12‘; use to her. 1: was a fearful and wonderful pr action, that read as follows: .vgflfi~ ywzvz‘rreae—r « '—'-. . tars-=31 ‘3. .,...—..~-. who , i . . ._ “.7. , .. , .. .__, : ._ ,-._ 31913634 Talk_§f9f,401nnabar- THEATER ROYAL, ram Norm. The Theater R0 al on this occasion will be in the large hall over oe Smith’s store. where can be found the best assortment of goods at popu~ lar live and let live prices, north of Frisco. Come one. call all And give me a call; Joe Smith will suit on all, And treat you besi es to a ‘ball.’ N. B. The best whisky in town—warranted pure bug-Juice and no water. “ I had to put that in,” interrupted the comedian at this point, “ for Smith was a man with no soul and wanted to char me five dol- lars for the use of the room, but fixed him oil' with that; the poetry caught him heavy, you know, and the ball’ did the boys, too; for to take a ‘ ball’ is to have a drin , ou know. You, can’t imagine how it runs Smit ’s business p. Molly nodded and proceeded: The eminent son of genius—the rising star that from the broad plains of the South-westhasemerged toastonish all t e world—the gifted son of Momus, whose erformances for 100 nights at the Dru Lane eater, London, Englan , were witnesse and ap lauded to the echo, which did applaud again, y all the crowned heads of Europe—the world-famous, world-conquering J. LYSANDER TUBBS, THE ABKANSA W COMEDIAN. In his wonderful performance entitled LAUGH AND BE HAPPY. PROGRAMME. SCENE FROM HAMLET. mum .................. .Ma. J. Lrswnsa Tusss Gnos'r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . ..Ma. J. LTUBBs. Tn Qnus Morass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Ma. Tunas. TRICK VIOLIN SOLO: intrusions or mans AND minis. Yionnnsr ......................... ..Ma. J. L. Tunas. RECITATION: m FRINGE” AND 'rns RATS. am . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..,....Ma. JACK L. Tunas. Tn Bars ............ ..Ma. J1.ch Lyssxnn Tunas. VIOLIN SOLO: m CARNIVAL 0" VENICE. OLE BULL. Cu: Bum. ............................... ..Ma. Tunas. MOVING TABLEAU: soon. a Pos’s mm. Enos: A. Pom... ................... "this. Tunas. Tan Runs”... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .Ma. Tunas. Los'r Lamas .......................... ..Ma. Teens. Namnoas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Ma. Tunas To conclude with the great quarrel scene from ’s masterpiece, JULIUS CESAR. Cassius ............................... ..Ma. Tunas Bums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .....Ms. Tunas Manx ............. ..Ma. Tunas Tn Gaosr mos Pnnm ............. ..Ma. Tunas Cans or Anmsion . . . . . . . . . . . .A Brrs. N. B. No produce taken at the door, but Mr. Joe Smith will be happy to negotiate down-stairs in the store; highest prices always paid. “Oh, I see, it’s a show,” Molly observed, af- ter she had finished the meal of the bill wherein, b means of a ittle juggling with words, a ngle man managed to give the impression that there was going to be a “ heap ” of an entertainment. u mayo) 3 And yciu are going to give it hyer?” “It won’tpa ; I don’t believe that ten peo- ple will come. "y “Ten! gods and little fishes! I only had five in reka! Ten! if they ve ten ucats into this manly hand then w I rise up and call this Camp leased !” he cried, in the theatri- fiaklnstyle that had become a second nature to “ Well I’ll help you all I can.” “ Gent e mistress, ‘ your pains are written where every day I turn the e to read them ;’ and, by. the way, that reminds me, did you ever hear of a man called Dick Talbot?” —— CHAPTER X. m “murmurs. “ Dicx Tumor?” said the 'rl, looking rather ' astonished at the question; yes, I believe that is his name,” and a slight flush came up in her cheeks as she spoke. “Oh, certain] , I know that it is his name; there ain’t any oubt about that' but the ques- tion is to find the man to strip t e lamb’s skin from him that he wears and hold him forth to all the world, the moral monster that he is!” “Wh , he don’t wear any lamb’s skin. I i reckon hat lambs, or sheep, or any sich thin are mighty sceerce up in this hyer region; an as to being a monster, he’s jest as nice and squar passionate sort of way. cause this behthe boys ain’t over-flush with ...-y _ l . n. "‘~'« - ...u. V’s). -. w”; ...m.........._,...._ the prize dinal! lint, is he here in his own soul Surely he does not dare to let the ' —-Talbot of Cinnabar!” “ Certainly; that’s what he calls himself.” “Well, hang me if the man hasn’t ot cheek enough to be president of a railroa l” Tubbs protested, evidently astonished. “ But, come to think of it, and the idea did not occur to me be- fore, Ipresume that the people of this Cam don’t know much about my esteemed frien , Richard Talbot, e uire, erst of Cinnabar.” “ No, not much; e’s a stran er hyer.” “That accounts for it; my eetle game will work then.” “ Are you a friend of this hyer Talbot?” “In strict confidence, Miss Missouri, I will confide the fact to ou that I never saw him in the whole course 0 my life' but, question me no more. I could a tale unfold that would bar- row up thy young soul and cause each particular hair to stand on end like squills upon the fright- ful rcupine—” “ tran er, you have got more gab—more foolish a than any man I ever see’dl” and Molly’s ace expressed the disgust she felt. Mr. Tubbs laughed; he seemed to think that the remark was a compliment. “ Ah! ou are a true child of nature—a daugh- ter of t ese wild scenes o’ershadewed by the cloud-cap d ks where the free eagle sails on majestic wmg and screams unto its mate.” “Do shut up: you make me sick!” the girl cried, indignantly. Even.the irre ressible Mr. Tubbs could not take this remar as a com liment, although it wagigtremely hard to dash his ever exuberant “Talbot I will leave as a last resource,” he observed; “heaven knows, I don’t want to be hard on the r fellow if he is getting along and making is way in the world. But, if the worst comes to the worst—if the inhabitants of this romantic and saiubrious s t are deaf to the charms of poetry, and turn t eir back upon the dulcet strains of my violin here—why then, I ms: ‘go for’ Talbot—bold Talbot oi’ Cinna- “.Oh, is it a fiddle that you’ve got in that?” ex- claimed Molly, really relieved; “ blessed! if I didn’t think that it was a cofiln!” Tubbs made a wry face and looked at the box ruefully for a moment. “ The sad remains of beauty once adm "he femarked, poetitizily; ;‘ bprt what is the 0di shas oug as you re ppy on are quite r g Miss‘ Missouri; it is more like a coffin than 2 violin-box, but it serves my p . Haveflm knowl e of a room that will 0 for my on r- tainmen within the limits of this Camp of Can- die-box?” “ To give a show in?” “ Exactly.” “ Well, in saloon is the only room that is of an size in t 9 Camp.” ‘ The very thing—and the entertainment will bea bi _thing for flour bar, too; remember that, Miss issouri! I pitch it to ’em strong so that they’ll want to take a drink after every act. I’ll divide the whole thing into acts so as to fix the bar trade all right: “ ‘ Scene,from Hamlet. Hamlet, Mr. J. L san- derTubbs. Ghost, Mr. Jack L.Tubbs. The een Mother Tubbs. Intermission of five min- utes. In uid refreshment, pure as bone -dew and ark as the leapin mountain rook, may he at the well- ked bar of the Happy Palace, Miss Missouri’s world-famous saloon the finest north of Frisco, at reasonable noes. “ See! that will catch the boys, heavy! You better have a fresh su ply of the ardent put in 1” He had written out t is new departure on the ro me with the int of his finger. “01‘. y e way !” he excla ed as a new idea came to him, “ you need not do that- just water what you’ve got on hand add a little red pepper 90 make it bite, and I’ll work ’em up so stron with the poetry and the music that tbs? W never know the difference. Now, don’t s ck on too steepa rent; and I’ll stop at your house, too, and that will help the bar—trade. After the entertainment, you know, I shall be the lion of the Camp—the distinguished guest, on see! Every man that’s introduced to me ask me to dr nk: of course I’ll return the compliment, then he’ll have to set ’em , certainlz’ You can fix a private bottle for me, water wi h justa dash o whisky in it. Wh ,Miss Mis- souri, I ought to drinks a be ood for a bun day. One hundreg drinks, two bits a—head, twent -five dollars—and there ought to be twen- ty do! profit on that.” “If you stay lon enough in this hyer Camp you’ll Set hung!” Olly exclaimed, in a com- “Oh, don’t you worry about that. I’ve been round with the boys afore now; I know exactly how to take ’em; ’m a big favorite among ’em, I tell on!” Mr. Tubbs assured. “But, touch- ing t leetle rent his—- as it on light now, be- is not a v ge Cam , and, may- eir money.” your head, so much for me lord car- proper per- 533‘“ world stare on and know that he is Dick bot aria and more than one string to my bow, you know; the entertainment biz pays pretty well some- times, but in some camps it ain’t worth a cent, and where it don’t pan out well I fall back on clairvo ance.” “Eh ” and Molly looked inquisitively at him. 1:She hadn’t the remotest idea of what he mean . “Don’t understand that? a trifle too much for you, eh! Oh, well, one can’t be e ted to know everythin . Clairvoyance, my ear Miss Missouri, is the giggest thing out; it beats ’em all. Clairvoyance is when a party goes to sleep and in the sleep tells fortunes.” “It can’t be done!” the girl declared, in- credulously. “Oh, yes, it can! I’m just the toughest old clairvoyant that ever was Seen! ‘ to sleep—per- chance to dream, ah! there’s the rub!’ All I want is a five~dollar gold piece ut in my hand for me eyes to are on, and t en I can go to sleep immediate y and when I get to sleep tell the most beautiful fortunes. It’s rather un- pleasant business sometimes, though. I was strap d’ down at Yreka—that is broke financ ally speaking- and I just rushed around the town to see if I could hunt up somebody that desired a peep into futurity. ‘Tell giei’ye black and midnight hags, what is it ye o “ I struck an an 1 at last—a big six-footer a mule-skinner just in from the Oregon trail. 0 wanted his fortune told but two b ts was all he was willing to pay. Oppressed as I was at that time, by the unrelenting hand of iron fortune, I was really glad to scoop in his paltry silver piece. I went into the clairvo ant state and I made up my mind that the ig brute should have a good two bits’ worth, so told him that his life of crime and rapine would soon come to an end—that if he tarried within the walls of Yreka for four and twenty hours an enra vigilance committee would rise in its mig t seize him, tar and feather him, ride him out o town on arail and then when he got back to his own corral, his mu e , not weighing him in his stran disguise, would in ntly kick him to deat ! But I piled it on a leetle too strong; the tar and feather business he didn’t mind. I presume that he had been run outof so many towns that he had ot used to it, but the idea of his own mules kic n him, that was too much, and, despite the iact at I was in a claiis voyant state and of course was not responsible. for the working of the oracle, he went for me, bald-headed, and it took four men to 1111 him off. I nevercaine so near getting kille before, in all my life. Then the next customer was an- other two—bit fellow, and I made up my mind that I wasn’t going to risk in life a second time, so I reeled it oi! splendi y for him. I told him that ‘the stars predicted a ion life and wealth untold; he would go into po as; run for COn and get elected;’ and, 1 then, he ‘ went’ for me. He said that any man that insinuated that he was going to disgrace his family by saying that he was going to be a. Congressman had got to die ri h on the spot. It took simmen to pull him 0 ,and I haven’t: tried clairvoyance since; still, if had fortune- comes—‘ dupe]: ginkthe hbreaking rocks rig weary sea-sic ar . w then needs in when bid Nick drives!” y, ’ Molly hid takend quite an interest in the stranger, 6 seems such a aim is ha y lucky sort of fellow; so she to] him {Eat-fife- wss welcome to the use of the room, and that after his show was over if he wished to enter- tain the “ boys_” with a tune or two in the eve- ning in consideration of the servioe, she won dn’t charge him any board. V Mr. Tubbs was profuse in his thanks, and Moll , conductin im into the house, set out a h vmeal, tow ich he did full justice. As he told the mistress of the Ha Palace. he had walked I.“ the way from and Sin" sisted on a couple of crackers. Such are the ups and downs of the children of eggs! ‘ f 0 went at once to work to Pare or his entertainment. He rocured a giant-brush and lettered some bins which he stuck up around town; then he called personally on everybody that lived within a couple of miles a; 3110 Happy Palace, and solicited t eir patron' And so, in a v short time, the Arkaninw Comedian ashe de ighted to term himself, be- came on the best of terms with almO't 079’? boa mfhlftcamg' min t ‘ d e n of h an came an about twgnty-five [geoenltcfpame'dl by Molly: who stood at the door, andp deposited a dollar in her hands much to her Wilma for she had not believed that on. would come. Quite a number had amn .d not of curiosit —the era! for instance, acoom ed by t 9 “'0 had Talbot; but qulgxpm“ . [)1ng aging? - - ingy some 99R$592§2fi the crazy loon, as they considered . and they had provided themselves fitb articles which were des- tined to be lit into active use . but they a man as ever struck this camp!” “ Aha! he’s here, then! Oh by high heaven, I’ll clutch my leetle game! The sta e is mine; Well, times ain’t over and above good.” “That is exactly what I thought; but I’ve were somewhat that the two ladies WON PM ncerted upon voting .1 m.=aa.x...a;:=.. “an Irv—m 2 seem. , ‘1": CHAPTER XI. am. TUBBs BECITES. , Tan “boys” held council together and dis- l cussed what they should do, for the presence . of the two girls rather interfered with their lans. p But, as we have said, the majority of the folks of Candle-box Camp were a rough set, and as they had made up their minds to have some . fun at the expense of the showman—the crazy fool, as the termed him—they resolved to go ahead, thi ing that the moment the “fun” . commenced the women-folks would take the , hint and get out. This promised to be an eventful evening for the Camp at Candle-box, for, just as the come dian was getting ready to go ahead with his rformance the silent and moody hunter laamath Jo n, accom anied by Kanaka Bill and Jockey Joe ente the room. The moment they paid their money and pass- ed by Moll , she made up her mind at any risk ; to warn T bot that his enemies had arrived. 9 But upon lancing around, she found that i Talbot was a ready conscious of the fact. i Injun Dick, as he used to be called in the old . time, was altogether too well versed in mining . camp difficulties to allow himself to be taken at a disadvant , and knowin that war had ' been dec between himse f and Kanaka , Bill, and that it was “shoot” on sight, he had ‘ taken articular ns upon enterin the sa- . loon, w ere it was probable that his 00 would ', come during the evening, to select a position that both defied a surprise and commanded a full view of all that was going on within the saloon. He had placed himself by a window on the left hand side of the room, takin the prccnu- I tion to close the shutters, and wit his back to I the wall could easily see everybody that came in. ' The entrance of the three men excited gene- ral remark among those present. All knew there had beena quarrel between Talbot and Kanaka, and there was a great rohability that the quarrel would have a bloody ending on the very first occasion the two men came together. And now, here they were, both in the same room, and both armed of course—“ heeled,” ready for the fight. . But, to the sur rise of all, Kanaka did not seem to perceive ' foe, for, with his Compan- ions he took a seat quite close to the door. “ Don’t you see the dodge!” quoth one miner toanother; “he’s oin’ to wait till the show is out, then, when T t moves to leave, he’ll try for to t the ‘ drop’ on him.” .“ A ollar fur the show an’ the shootin’-match throwed in,” observed the other. Two tables had been placed together at the further end of the room to serve as a platform, andablanket hung from a pole nailed to the side of one of the tables and extending to the wall, formed a retiring room for the rformer. Promptl at the a pointed time, r. Tubbs appeared m behin the blanket, and mount- ing the rude platform, made his bow to the au- dience and commenced his performance. Mr. Tubbs was trul a natural-born come- dian, if his rendition o the “ Seene from Ham- let ” was any criterion to o by. for it was most ridiculous] funny, but t e Joke of the thing was that e actor was thoroughly in earnest, and was trying with all his power to do due justice to the c theme. ' In truth the ‘child of genius” was but a so armor, and Whrn he assayed the viglKi solo, such fearful discord was never heard before. Of course the afilause was deafening: no matter what Mr. bbs did the audience ap« lauded vigorously; if he stopped for a moment go take breath the jokers howled at the top of their lungs, and stain with their big boots violent) enough to bring down a less well-con- strue shanty. But, some 0 the miners were very rough fel- lows and they were not content to enJoy the fun in a halfvboisterous sort of way; so they began to make a. most frightful noise, yelling like a lot of wild Indians, so that it was impos- sible for 'IRibbs to go on. Talbot set his teeth firmly to ether when the noise commenced, and was on is feet in an in- stant,but Desdemona was watching him, and she laid her hand entreatingly upon his arm nnd he, understanding what she meant, in down. “For m sake. Mr. Talbot, don’t get into an distur noel” she said, earnestly. “ They will soon get tired and stop." “You don’t know these hounds aswell as I do, mini," he replied. “This is but the begin- ning. I had an idea When some of them came in that they meant mischief, but I thought when they saw there werehlnfdies‘5 roses: Ithey Voilld have respect enou 01' 6m eep 11 et. They need a lemnfmiss. they need design in this Cam and i think, maybe, I could give them one. The big veins were atandin out on Talbot‘s forehead in a. peeular way, a thoush this sign «excitement apart, he was apparently ascool aid M as a man of he. .Biiihsl‘d Tal m ‘ auto hade to lath way. / The noise continued, and the (‘mnediun Was forced to pause and implore peeve. He was now in the midst of “ the Frenchman and the Rats,” but he might as well have been engiiged in reciting in the Choctaw tongue for a the audience understood of what Le said. “Gentlemen, if ou don’t kecp quiet I can’t go on!” he shouted}., Tubbs was very pale; he was used to scenes something like this, although not quite so bad. He didn‘t mind being laughed at as long as the audience paid their money. As he was wont to remark in his cups “I plady the fool on the stage, )erhaps, but I, get pai for it; the audi- ence p ay the fool in front and they gay for the pleasure of so doing,” but his uic eyeshad discerned that some of the roug fellows had thin in their hands, and he was terribly j afraid that they intended to thr0w some mis- siles at him. “ Oh, go on i” cried one. “ It’s bull l” sun out a second. “ First re 1” ad ed a third. Then the general cry came: “ Go on! go on i” Thus commanded t e comedian obeyed, but he had hardly spoken ten words when a well- aimed pctato came whizzing by his head and striking the wall behind, smashed into a pieces. As there were no eggs to be had in the Camp, either good, bad, or ndifferent, the gang was obliged to content themselves With potatoes. The tuber was a big one, and being thrown with great force most certainly would have floored the comedian if it had struck him. Tn lhot could restrain himself no longer. “ Miss Skeppletonl” he cried, earnestly to her, as the audience were roaring over the well- aimed shot, “don’t you see now that I must speak? I know these fellows better than you do. I have lived among them for years, and the only thing in the world they respect is the hand of a master. If I don’t interfere the chances are that they will half-kill this poor fellow before they get through with him.” “But, they may '11 you!” she cried, her face deadvl‘y pale. “ hat is my life worth anyway? That’s a riddle that I have been trying to solve for a good many years, and I havon’t guessed it yet.” And then with his hand thrust into the right hand pocket of the loose sack-coat he were he rose to his feet. Apparently it was a careless movement, for he displayed no weapon, but the pocket was a dumm one, as was also it: mate on the other side; i was onl a slit in the coat with a fin inside to look 1 ke a pocket; the hands pas right throu h and grAsped the heavy revolvers swung in a olster mm the waist. The shouting had 'ven place to roars of laughter. The same i5; rough-bearded, ugly fellow who had thrown e potato now hel a second oneinhis hand, and was takingdeliberate aim at the miserable Mr. Tubbs on the stage, who was on erly begging the man to refrain from thro g and was dancing about from side to side, ready to dodge the missile when it did come, as be fully expected it would. Talbot’s voice rung out clear and shrill. “ Say, you fellow with the b' bear ain’t you forgetting that there are n the room 1” ~ The laughter hushed on the instant, and ev. ery eye in the apartment was instantly fixed upon the speaker. “ Perha you are not aware that there are a couple of ies here,” Talbot continued “and they won’t have a very good opinion of the men of Candle-box, if this sort of thin continues.” “ Yes gentlemen, you ought no to act this way!” Tubbs cn'ed, glad of a chance to get in a word. “ I don’t mind what on say but I don’t like it when you throw t ngs, an if that potato had hit me, it would have served me as the old song says: ‘ A kidney ‘tater, such a size. Tuck Padd Flynn atune the eyes, And slut h m roullin into the styes, At the wake of Ted , the tyler.‘ ' A roar of laughter greeted this effusion, and one of the gang took advanta e of the occasion to shout on as the laughter ed away: “ Let the ladies go home.” “ And why should they go home?” demanded Talbot, instantly. “ So hat you can make brutes of yoursehes? Let the man go on; you are all getting your mpney’s worth, and there’s not a single one of you has any right to com- lain. I you don’t like it, go out and go home, ut while on remain behave like decent white men,”and on’t forget that there are ladies pre- sent. Now, the rough fellows didn’t like to be talked to in this wav; it went “against their grain ” most decidedly; and, although from the tee they had had of the stranger’s quality on the previous evening the idea prevailed that the new man of the bundle-box mine was going to be a hard nut for any of them to crack, yet, as he stood there leaninglagainst the wall, with his hands in his peckets, e didn’t seem to be very mm“ bot of Ginnabar._ 9 CHAPTER XII. ONE-MAN POWER. “ WHO in thunder air you, any way, and who made you boss over this b er Camp?” the big loafer demanded. “ If the adies don’t like our fun, why, let ’em go home: that’s all fair an' uar’, ain’t it, fellow-citizens? We ain’t a- eeping ’em hyer. We’ll keep jest as quiet as mice until they go out. We came hyer to have some fun; we paid a dollar fur it, and we’re go- ing to have it, or else there’ll be a row I” ‘ But, gentlemen. allow me to say that what ‘ may be fun to you is death to me,’ Tubbs pro- tested, vigorously. “ Perha we had better retire,” said the general, ’ng. “ You will come with us, Mr. Talbot?” the general’s daughter said. “ No, miss; I can’t go ” he replied, firmly. “I’ve undertaken to see this man through, and Bibi-In} put my hand to the wheel I never turn c The girl hesitated for a moment and then she laid her hand upon the arm of her father. “ Let us stay, father ” she said; “it is our duty to support Mr. albot by our presence in this affair. “ Yes: oh, do stay, general l” the young lady from Angels exclaimed. “ My pa always said that on mustn’t (give way to such fellows, or else i: e would ri e right over you.” “We well; perhaps it might be better to settle it now as at some other time," the old gentleman concluded, and he sat down. General Skeppleton had lived some fifty years in this wor d, and in that time naturally 0 had seen something of life; he flattered him— self that he knew a good deal of mankind. He had heard many blustering words spoken and weighty threats made and et had never wit- nessed an actual fi ht. T e combatants had either one off of heir own accord, or friends stepped in and separated them. But the mine owner knew not the men of the wild West—the men of the cam on the fron— tiers of civilization, where near y every second person you meet is one who has left his country or his country’s good. With such, a personal uarrel generally ends in a personal encounter. f friends interfere it is to secure fair play—to see that their “pardner” is not itted against un ual odds. For a man to ck out of a figh is toimply that he is a coward. Such a man fails to Win the respect and esteem of his fellows. Even to this day the laws of the duello are in as full force in t e country of which we write as ever they were in old-time France, where a llant was not accounted much if he had not ‘ killed his man.” ‘ The general sat down; be reckoned that it wasn’t goifi to be much of a disturbance, after all. He h seen how skillful] Talbot had dis- poaed of the other fellow, and e had no doubt whatever that he would be able to give a good account of this one. This littlee isode in the proceedin ratha' inspired the i fellow of the with a fresh degree 0 courage. By the neral’s manner he thought be perceived a lac of Eur- in the enemy’s camp, and he was quic to im rgive the supposed advantage that he had, “ Oh, you had better not sit down, old gent !” he suggested. “Git right up andvamose the ranch, and take your galswith on, too; and we kin spare this young feller t at is so pert with his ‘b. I want you to understand that we are al free and equal in this hyer country, and nary man is two cents better nor another, even if he does own a mine with a mill onto it. You can’t walk over us in this hyer town if we do use the rocker and the Long Tom, and we don’t want no galoot to come into this hyer Camp and put on an frills: and if any il- grim does, why, I’m lest the boy to take be starch out of his shirt, and I don t keer a darn whether it’s buckskin, woolen or b’iled l" “ You’re an ugly~mouthed rufiian, and if you don’t dro that potato I’ll shoot it out of your hand l” albot cried, and with the word his sil- ver-mounted six-shooter flashed in the light, though how he 0t it, or where it came from. no one could ta 1, for so quick was the move- ment that the istol was out before any one Within the room the slightest suspicion that such a thing was intended. Talbot had gained a most decided advanta . for with his cocked and leveled revolver fife threatened the life of his antagonist. The b fellow blinked and winde as he- gazed at t e gluing tube of the pistol, leveled irectl at in like an owl brought sudden]; from arkness to the light. For a few moments he was bless, so ut- terly taken by surprise was he by Taibot’s skill- “tam”: . .... .‘ s egrowedat “ ’tyongo- ing to give me an show athallt'for my money? Say, boys, is this yer the clean white thing!” heucontinued. appealin to the crowd. Gentlemen! ' edql‘albot, before any one the‘ room could speak in answer to his ap- Pfll. this-Ian, even if he had his revolver out and cocked, m and apy more show with muflbwaaachldlxymnold. San!" .m sag-.1. 0:; 7 99:. .,..r-z——~ <1 *m—w—mw w—vw ....«.W- 1.0.- , the revolver. The bullet sped on its way, and striking the potato full in the center, as the rufiian held it with outstretched fingers high in the air ready to throw at the comedian, split it in twain, knocking it clean from the gri of the holder. , It was just as if the potato ad suddenly he- come red-hot and burnt the fingers of the bully. He was terribly alarmed; the shock was so great that he thou ht all his fingers were owled at the top of his gone, and therefore voice. “Shut up, you fool!” warned Talbot, con- “You are not hurt although I easily have put a bullet through temlptuously. cou d just as your thick head.” For a moment there was dead silence in the room; all were marveling at the splendid shot, and wonderin 'stran or who ad come amon Tal t was the first to bre them. the silence. “ Sit down, you big lubberl” he cried—“ that 3s, unless you are not satisfied and want another ose The man sat down; for the moment he was awed into obedience. “ Now then, Mr. Tubbs, if you will have the kindness to go on I will see that on are not in- terrupted again. I mean just w t I say, gen- tlemen,” he said, addressing the audience. “ There’s going to be order in this hyer concert if I havetokil a dozen of you. The first pil- grimtliat boots, or howls, or throws anythin , ’ll bore a hole through quicker’n a wink. It 8 business. boys, with me now, every time, and if you don’t believe it, just some of you try it on. Go ahead, Mr. Tubbs!” It was really a marvelous sight; twenty stout, well-armed, reckless men — the very hangdogs of society, nearly all of whom could boast of having ad “a man for breakfast” some time in their lives, cowed by a single reso— lute, determined person. But there was “ light” in Dick Talbot‘s face, there was “shoot ” plainly to be read in the steely glitter of his dark eyes. If there was any one in that room anxious to “pass in. his chi s” and get his baggage checked for the happy unting- ounds, now was the chance, and every man- ack of them felt that it was so. 1 N ever did a man stand out more prominently ,a hero than Dick Talbot while the comedian hurried through his rformance. The conscience of ubbs smote him; here was the man standin forward in his defense—a single person against a crowd—whom he had remorselessly pursued for the purpose of mak- ing a “stake out of, to use the mining ver- nacular. It is quite safe to say that neither the audi- ence nor the performer enjoyed the entertain- ment much, for all within the room were busily saga ed in thinking of what was to come. a already had one quarrel on his hands, and now he had boldly entered into another. The performance came to an ..end at last, and a sorry performance it was, too, for poor Tubbs was too agitated to be extrav nt, and the miners were too much afraid of albot’s pistol to indulge in any merriinent whatever for fear that honest mirth might be mistaken for un- seeml mockery. . Tub 8 closed the entertainment by returnin thanks for the liberal patronage which he he received—and the earnest attention with which his eflorts were greeted he was about to say, as was customary with him, but on the present occasion he conc uded that he had better omit that part; so he bowed himself behind the blanket, and there, in dread, waited for the pistol-shots which would announce the begin- ning of the fray that he felt sure must soon come. Alread , like a prudent eneral, the come- dian be. selected a line 0 retreat. He had made up his mind upon the first sign of hostili— ties to take refuge under the tables and by up- sett' the rear one form a barricade which won] bepr against stray bullets. During the performance the friends of the big fellow, who were clustered around, had been advising him how to proceed. There are ulwa splenty of men ready to give advice to wet or about how to conduct a quarrel, al- though not quite so ready to enter into one thfinirlm‘m l cky hit "th argued u H \ ‘ was J a u ey . e .20 at it t tato am in a ozen lulld”’hthapo ’ng' d tria 3. And the bi rufiian, who was terribly morti- fied by his (Eismmfiture, and rather ashamed that he had been backed down so easily, began to believe that it was only chance, after all and that Talbot could not repeat the skillful shot. Klamath John, too, and his two “ mom» R. And then, before any one within the apart- ment had time to divine his intent, or lift fin- ger to prevent it, Talbot pulled the trigger of what manner of man was this chard-Talbot of Cine CHAPTER XIII. A DARING CHALLENGE. his foes as well as if he really possessed of clairvoyance, to which the comedian, Tubbs, lost. the party, he was retty certain to be attacked, not only by the i rough, but by the three men in the rear of t e saloon. His quick eyes long ago had detected Kanaka Bill and his two companions, and he rightly guessed that all three traveled together. “General, and you, too, ladies, will on have the kindness to excuse me after the per ormance is ended?” he asked, while the comedian was delivering his last recitation. “ I may have to leave you quite abrupt] .” “There is dan er, t en, Mr. Talbot? Yon fear an attack?” esdemona inquired, anxiety on her sweet face and a tremor in her tones. “Oh, I am not sure of it, you know; but then, it’is always best for a man to be on his “ Mr. Talbot, cannot we stay and be of ser- vice to you?” and if the words were spoken in a low voice, there was a strong purpose in the flash of her eye. “ Oh, no, miss, not in the least—thanking you kindly for the offer, all the same, though.’ “ Dessi, dear,” as the gushing young creature from Angels generally addressed her compan- ion, “ Mr. Ta hot is quite right. I’ve often heard my pa say that when there was going to be a ti ht, women were always in the way, and hurt their friends a reat deal more than they helped them; but, r. Talbot, don’t let that comical fellow get hurt if you can help it; he’s just as funn as a monkey.” The come ian would not have been pleased at this remn rk. “ He‘s iii no dan rer. miss.” “But you are, ll 1'. Talbot!” Desdeinona said, earnestly. “ ()h, nothing to hurt,” he assured, carelessly. “ I guess Mr. Talbot is right, dear," the old general declared, in his placnl way. “He has taken the measure of these fellows, and under- stands them pretty well.” “ Depart the moment the performance ends,” Talbot said to the group: “ that is the only way in wh'ch you can serve me.” They complied with the request, although Desdcmona evidentl went most unwillingly. lt was re ugnant to or nature to leave Talbot alone in t e presence of his enemies, for, to her mind. each and every man in the room was a deadly foe to the mine’s superintendent. Not a. soul stirred within the room while the ladies were passing out. In fact, quite a number of the audience felt that they were in an extremely awkward situ- ation, and were wondering how on earth they were going to get out without suffering person- al damage. Talbot was at one corner of the apartment, the big-bearded rough about in the center of the apartment, but on the opposite side and near t 0 wall, while Klamath ohn and his men were ’way back by the door that led into the open air. Now, the question that troubled the audience was, if the hostile arties suddenly opened fire, who was most 1i ely to get hit, the parties themselves, or the innocent spectators who were wed ed in the center of the triangle formed by the 5'!fo Therefore, all sat still as mice and looked at each other. No one wanted to get up. for the commencement of a movement might be the signal for the fight to begin, and those who were on their feet Would be pretty apt to stop some of the flying balls. In the street or saloon afi'ray, in nine cases out of ten, it is the bystanders that suffer, and not the principals. 'l‘alhot solved the riddle for the anxious spec- tators. “ Now, then entlemen, as I reckon thercnre 1 two parties in t is hyer room who are anxious to drive a nail in my coffin, and as I am unfu— rally the most obliging fellow in the World, I" goin to give them a chance,” he said. dellbo- rate y. ‘ I don‘t ask any odds of an one man in this Camp, nor of any ten! If tread on anybody’s tees in my passe through this Ville of tears, I am always rea £130 step up to the captain’s office and settle. at, there’s a good many in this room that I haven’t got any Erufige against, and I ess they haven’t gotan against ’ me. I should eel real sorr if I shoul mako a l mistake and ‘plug’ one o m fellow-citizens who never did anything to me. ’ At this point the men who were between the contending parties began to move restlesst up. on their seats° they sympathised With the speaker, fully; he couldn’t be any Iorrier for ‘ lugging: them than they would be to be .121? “ ow, fellow citizens, this is what I pro- ,” Talbot continued: “let us adjourn this to the open air. a window here in the rear of the room, were prepari for .6. tion, for it was their intention to a Tabot, “XV”??? '°"‘"".S;a W t toget or re were g or a lively time ahead; _ an and can step right 0mg: gentle friends aban TALBOT seemed to comprehend the purpose q: t e gi' pretended. The years that he had passed in the wild West, and the life of toil and danger he had led, had not been wasted, nor its lessons He understood that, with the breaking up of through the door. I’ll take up a position right in the center of the street and there I will be ready to meet any one, two, three or ten men, in this hyer town, who are hungerin for m corpus, if there be that man , and as no od from any of them. I don call on them to come up singly, but to come up all at once, or any way it pleases them. can’t say any fairer!” “ You want a chance to cut and run!” cried the stern voice of Klamath John. “ You are a liar and not an ounce of man in you!” r onded Talbot, loudly, “and I reckon that you d better take a hand in this fight; the more the merrier. I want to settle this thing right up at once. I don’t want to fight the w ole town in detail. I want to wipe you all out at once or get wiped out, and that is the kind of man I am !” Never since the day when the first miner struck his pick into the earth of Candle-box Camp had its denizens ever listened to such an astoundinglproposition. Either t 9 man was crazy or else he was made of sterner stuff than the usual ilgrims who had wound their devious way up ong the Klamath river. But that the man was in sober earnest there was very little doubt. After such a challenge he must back it up or else never hold up his head as a fighting-man in the Camp of Candle- box a in. At t is uncture up rose an old and bearded man—Ju ge Zebulon Gobble, the principal storekeeper—in fact, the on] storekeeper of the Camp. Gobble was one o the solid citizens of the place, and a man well liked by all. “ ’Pears to me,” he remarked, “that wot Mister Talbot says is ’bout the squar’ thing. I ain’t anxious to etc a bullet, and I reckon thar’s a big chance 0 it if the lite is itched in- to hyer. I 11 count one, two, three, t on all you fi’tin -men git! “ no, two, three, 90!” » Lightly as a dancing-master Talbot lea through the window, first pushin the shutter 0 )en. He then went at once to t 0 middle of t 0 street and takin up his position, a revolver in each hand, wai for the onset. The miners came pouring out of the saloon, all eager to see the fun, but one and all were careful to get at a safe distance so as to be out of range. It was truly comical to see the bearded heads peeping out from behind the corners of the shanties, and one rather fat fellow had squeezed down behind a small dry-goods box that stood in front of the judge’s store and was now anx- iousl engaged in calculating whether the box was ig enough to shelter him or not. There was a new moon; it was quite bright, and high in the heavens, so that there was plenty of light for the affair. All within the saloon had come out into the street, with the exception of the rl, She had hurried tip-stairs and t rowing Open one of the frontwmdows appeared at the case- ment. thus havmg a full view of the battle- ground. She knelt at the window so that only her head and shoulders were visible, but there was a'purpose In the attitude, for in her hands she reigned a pair of revolvers, and she WM used to an ling them too; for report gave 'out that she was as good a shot as any man up 810118 the river. If Talbot was to fall by the hands of his 1008, the desperate young woman had made “P her mind that he s ould have company 01! “1° dark W8. . Xnd as the girl, with a mood bro" and compressed lips, looked forth into he darkness of t e night, she detected a group of figures half concealed behind a shanty, only a Short distance from what was to be th‘ batfle' ground. Molly had eyes like a hawk. and at the first glance she recognised the people who composed the group. The general and his rty had not gone hom- Hls daughter had qu tted the saloon ver un- willingly, and when she was in the 0Pen 3 r She refused to return to the mine without ' a of. ‘ “ Father, it is downright cruel,” she “01”” ed, warmly, “ for us to go away and 1°“° M" Talbot here in the hands of his enemies! If We cannot help him in his battle we can“ 10‘“ iid him if he is hurt in the contest.” The young lady from Angel! ‘1” WW against going away, and so tho Wm“ Duty staid. “ Now, then, gentlemen, "'4th on you !” Talbot exclaimed, impel?!“t 101' the Work to begin. “Come, cry havoc And 10‘ 3“? the do of war! How many or. the" 01 you?” b l w a» q“°'“°‘l saber-rd... 5;} u a revo ve n y Suppod forward, W m who are hungering for my scalp can go out hithslrxsswrp In “Two!” muttered the crowd, who were “on mt:3h‘3.*‘:t££i§l°tmwohm nmth ’tzuflmidfi t“.é‘il‘°i'5‘i '12....“ mm, of Cinnabar! CHAPTER XIV. FOUR AGAINST ONE. THERE was no mistake about it; there they stood, four determined, well-armed men—four against one. The spectators gaped at the picture in amaze- ment; some old miners were there among the throng, men who had witnessed many a des- erate aifray during their sojourn in a wild and awless land, yet no one of them all could re- call to memo a more reckless deed of daring than Richard albot’s bold defiance. Four against One! It was utter madness! Molly could not restrain her woman‘s tongue at the sight. “Onl four!” she cried at the top of her lungs; ‘ is there no morc?——isn‘t there one or two more cowards in this Camp to take advan- tage of the opportunity to get the man they dare not face Singlv at a disadvantage?” The attacking force hesitated; the biting taunt stun them. In truth, the attack did sa- vor strong y of cowardice. But Klamath John was not inclined to lose the golden oplpertunit to get even with the boldfellow w oseem to be the cock of the walk in Candle-box Camp. “Fire at once; never mind the woman!" he cried to his com nions, and suiting the action tothe word he lazed away: the rest at once ‘ followed suit, advancing rapidly as they did ; It was a perfect shower of bullets; shot suc- ceeded shot in quick succession, and the echoes rung out sharp on the clear night air. Talbot did not attempt to return the shots; he gave ound before the fierce attack, and then, as t e assailants came hotliv on, still keep- i ing up their rapid fire, he sud enly stumbled 5 and fell. He essayled to rise; an exclamation esrgiped , from his 'ps and then he rolled over on his ‘ side. It was plain that he had been badly hurt. Ten to one Talbot of Cinnabar was done for! The girl in the window could restrain heiself no longer. “ Oh you utter cowards! you brutal murder- 5 erd” she screamed, violently, and then, wild ‘ with rage, she thrust her revolvers out of the window and fired. A yell of triumph had ascended from the throats of the leagued men at Talbot‘s fall, and they suspended firing. Their yell was answered by Molly’s exclama- 2 tion, and the bullets of her revolvers, which, : though, were entirely harmless, for the girl was . too much excited to take aim. ’ “Are you mad?” cried Klamath John, in a rage, as he threw up his arm and took deliber- ate aim at the rl in the window. “Fire an- j other shot and ’1! send your soul to its Maker before the re rt dies away on the air.” Hardly the words escaped from the lips of the angry man when the quick re rt of a 1 pistol rung out sharply on the night air. Klamat John’s extended arm fell; the rec ‘ volver dropped from his nerveless grasp, and a doe curse came from his lips. The bullet had torn a way through the hun- ter’s ood right arm, and the shot had come from albot’s revolver! Bold Dick had “ layed ’possum,” so as to draw the fire of is antagonists. He had judged, and judged rightly, that even an ex- rt marksman would be far more apt to fail to it a man extended upon the ground than one . standin erect. The s ot most certainly had saved the life of . the girl, for a bitter defiance trembch on her lips even as the bullet of Talbot crippled the trusty right hand of the hunter. The moment the shot was fired Dick sprung to his feet and advanced rapidly toward his oes. The attacking party were confused by this daring movement; their revolvers Were nearly empty; there were not five shots left in the arty, and all of them were so amazed by Tal- mgs bold advance that they hardly knew what 0. “One!” cried Dick, as he came on, and the crack of his revolver followed the word. _ The bullet cut through the shoulder of the bi fellow. _ With a yell of pain the iant turn upon his heel and fled. He h got all he wanted. Kanaka Bill and his armor stood their ground and fired a coupR‘, of shots, but their hands trembled and the bullets went wide of Dick’s stalwart frame. . Then two tongues of fire flamed from the vnvizzles of his pistols, and so true the aim that both of his stout antagonists went down, wound- ' ed by the leaden missiles. , And now came Klamath John’s chance; as Talbot had advanced, be had deliberately raised his wounded right arm, from which the , blood was streaming freely and, d its the ‘ pain that the action caused him, h taken careful aim with the pistol which he held in his left hand, using the wounded arm as a rest. Aflerce gleam was on his face as he gunned the for he felt. sure that he held t We of”. stranger at his mercy: but in this would man proposes and fate disposes. 1 and, to a certain extent, mighfomakes ‘ from beginning to end. . l” McCracken cried, after ' Cracken interrupted U n the goodness of an uncertain cap hung the it'o of Dick Talbot. Fortune smiled upon the reckless man. who was, in good truth. one of her most favored fol- lowers. The cap missed fire. Wheeling uickly, with a snap-shot, ap- parently fireg without aim, the adventurer “ drop ed ” the hunter. The ght was ended; three men lay wounded upon the field, while the fourth had taken to his heels and fled, thinking discretion to be the bet— ter part of valor. Talbot cast a glance around him, but no other foe presented himself, and the men who had suffered were disabled for the present. “Gentlemen, the show is over!” the con- , queror exclaimed, “but if anybody wants me I i can easily be found." And tl'cn he walked ‘ quietly away, the best man of his inches who had ever stepped foot within the limits of Can- dle—box Camp. The bystanders. awed and amazed by the strange scene which they had witnessed. came from their “coigncs of vantage” and hurried to in t the wounded men who had fallen before Ta bot’s sure aim. The miners expected that they would be call- ed upon to assist at thrce funerals on the mor- row, but, to their astonishmcI-t, upon examina- tion they discovered that the wounded men were but slightly hurt and that there was not the remotest danger of their dying yet awhile. None of the men were hit in a vital part, and with careful nursing were certain soon to re- cover from their injuries. The miners stanched the blood flowing from the hurt men, and assisted them to their cabin. All three occupied the same shanty—a rude log structure on the outskirts of the town, and Lean Tom Johnson, the stage-driver, volunteered to sit up with the wounded men that night. Not that the veteran stage-driver at all ap- proved of their attack upon the new-comer, ut, as he quaintly expressed it: “Mebbe, they kinder had an idea that they were a-fighting for the credit of the town, and we ought not to go back on ’em, boys even if the strange ilgrim did turn out to be the cock of the wal .” With the departure of the wounded men the curt iin, so to speak, descended upon the scene; the play was over, and the spectators departed, in different directions. The oldfeneral and the two ladies, who asif spellboun , had remained and witnessed the scene from beginning to end, walked slowly down the street toward the mine. All the three being fresh from the East, for even the young lady from Angels, though Cali- fornia born, had spent nearly all of her life at a boardin -school on the Atlantic coast were considerab y astonished at what they had seen. , “ Jr J eve!” exclaimed the old general, “ who woul have believed that that quiet fellow was . such a fire-eater?” “ Father, are such scenes as we have witness- ed to night common in California?” asked Des- demona. abruptly. “Well, my dear, not exactly common, and yet not uncommon; it is a wild land as the strong band of civilization is lacking. time, though it will be all right.” “This Mr. Talbot is just a splendid fellow!” Miss Jones averred enthusiastically; “ don’t you think so, Dessy dear?” “ He is brave enough, but so is the d rado v always, and I am afraid that Mr. Talbot, uiet as he seems to be generally. is not one to re rest from a contest even though it may be accom- plishnd with honor.” “You are too severe, my dear,” the general re omed. “You don’t understand the customs 0 this wild region. The law is werless hege, , . t . Talbot was a stranger here, and his metal ad ' not been tested. The bullies of the Camp want- I ed to find out what kind of a man he was, and so 3 they forced a quarrel on him, and he. being well- ; used tothis sort of thin , at once took the bull by i will give him a pret wide berth in the future. “ Possibly be some admitted. “yet the man seems suited for some- thing better than such a life as this.” The speech was a regretful one, and full be- She’s yet, and In ; ima . l B air exerted all his powers to makehiz'nself Richard Talbot of Cinnabar. .2 “ S’pose he doesn’t see it, eh?” “ Then I’ll either drive him out of this Camp or kill him!” This, perhaps, was easier said than done. CHAPTER XV. IN COUNCIL. THREE weeks passed away from the date‘up- on which the wonderful right aflra described in our last chapter had taken place, fore any- thing occurred worthy of note. In that time Talbot had succeeded in getting , the mine into working order, engaged his hands. commenced getting out ore and set the stamps to work. The threats of the unknown who had chosen for a blazon the blood-red hand did not seem to worry the new superintendent in the least. and it was evident to all that at last the unlucky mine was being run by one who was “game” to the backbone. The general was ve anxious. Being a go nial old gentleman, it ad not taken him long to get acquainted with his neighbors, and some of them, thinking that he ought to knew all the particulars in regrd to the mine, had revealed to him that he (1 b0 ht a property which had succeeded, so far, 11 “ breakin ' every man who had had anythingto do wit. it since the lode was developed. This information made him feel and look grave; at last he began to see that he was no match for the sha s of California street, and that the prospect end was far from being a rose-colored one. He told' Talbot what he had heard, but the superintendent already posted, declared it as his belief that there was money in the mine, or else there would not have been so much trouble made about it; but, as he terselysaid, in con- clusion: “ It will not take more than three months to test the thing; and then, if the ‘ plant ’ is worth- less, you are stuck, of course; but if the lode is ghood for anythin , why, it was dirt-chea at 9 price you pal fori . As for violence, t is a game two can play at. These fellows have had a taste of my qua itv, and I do not believe any of them are particularly anxious to try it on again.” The general felt quite encouraged for he had great aith in this quiet, determin man. Blair and his coad utor, McCracken, had not been ‘die all this wh e. The bonanza kin had visited the mine and . introduced himself the general, representing - that he had come up into that region to look ’ after a good ying ulation. McCracken accompanied lair, an the old speculator was really delighted to see the two, for such ac- vquaintances were pleasant in such a wild re- ‘ the horns, and I think rom the display that he f yees has made to-night the fighting men of this Camp ’ a for the best,” Desdemona 3 “ on. - Of course the old gentleman introduced the tw'loh to the ladies. fro A l ‘ I“ eyoun y m n swas rticu ly delighted for, as she miseto Defiemona in strict confidence, she was really d ing for a good flirtation andthe only good-loo F oung man around Talbot, was no good at al or he was very polite and that was all; a i might as well try to get up a flirtation wi a stone agreeabletothe ladies, the eneral’s daughter ‘ in particular; but she, alt ough polite and agreeable, yet kept the sharper at a distance, much to his disgust. “ This 1 is as prond as Lucifer!” he d0: clared to cCracken, one afternoon, as the two strolled away from the mine after payin a visit to the ladies. “Yes, sir, as proud as in- ciferi” he riafeated. “ and as cold as an iceberg! By Jove, cCracken, I sometimes despair of gel; w this woman into anything like e. ’ “Mebbe yer not the bye to do that same?” the Irishman suggested. “ Oh, you mean to insinuate that somebody else would have better luck, eh?” “ n at is the size of it, me byel She’s not for 0, nor for any one else either, if I know n thing about her,” Blair asserted, decidedly. think I understand her, for I have been studth her very careful! since I have been here. have had a s lendi chance, you know . t a deuced. at of high-strung notions (( trayed the deep interest which the gir had 1 about er. Bie’s from the East, on kuow,an«‘ taken in him who, that self to be the “ chief” of U n le—box Cam . . i pou two other persons the extraor nary I fight; had proved him- ; she has kinder got an idea in a 1' head the there ain’t an body out on this coast that i-s good enou h or her. She’s great on cultur- . feat of Talbot had alsomade a great impression. f and blue h 00d, and all that sort of thing. Sh x Blair, the bonanza king and his man Friday, the bold McCracken, had “ Be the holy filter the affra was ed, “this Talbot is a broth , of a byel ’ i “ You are ht for a hundred dollars l” Blair , re lied, “ and e’s the very man I want.” i ‘Faix! I’m afeard that it won't be an any i only We are more open thin to handle him.” “ h, yes, it will be,” confidently. “ He will oomhighofcouru. Mastheaan toanv- thdng are always dear, you know. downendeee him tomorrow." E n “Bedad! she’s not far wrong, is she?” Me i thinks that we California sharps are all a set of witnessed the affair, ‘: gamblers and rascals—- jocosel . “None of your jokes, Mag” Blair answered. “.I reckon that when the thing is figured out rightly, we Paciflc' fellows are no worse than speculators in at er parts of the world, about what we do, and : care less for the o inion of the world.” “ Yes, me bye; at’s true coma: lady has an out? like?“ he .. 7‘ I her x ‘Am—zfiyxw, “Taps” 7‘. .....,...._ :3 .1- _.. -.__.- ‘71 N’ w— m’ —-————-———-..~._... . «-‘wa..-_,..._ — “-m-w‘ so..- l i! mi. 4....— -‘...~--,........ / low but I think you are out, All let ya know how he stands.” 18 Richard __‘,,,.,__”_‘,V..._ . . .. .. . .... . _. ‘ an id ea thatshe will put her ride into her pock- et, and, making a Virtueo necessity accepta gentleman about my sizo. I had an idea that she was inclined to be romantic, and high- strung, but this infernal ride of hers is stron- ger than anythin else. id you notice to-day when she was tel ng about her family, how her eyes sparkled when she said that her folks could trax-e their line clear ’way back to some old baron or other? The fact is, Mac, I want a .‘umil y tree more than anything else to win this woman. I’ve got the money, and now all that 1 luck is the blue blood; I’m goin to fix that up right, too. There’s a sharp in t e East, New York, I think, who makes a business out of that sort of thirzlg; all you’ve got to do is to pa, him enou h, an he’ll trace you clear back to oah. 0h, m oing in for a. digree that will make my lady s eves open w )en she sees it.” ‘ Mister Blair, will you excuse me if I differ wid e?” the Irishman asked. 6 “If Iread this girl right, and it’s a dale of experience I’ve ha , if she made up her mind to fall in love with a fellow, she’d pitch ride to to the divil, and if ye’re not careful, t 1e furst thing ye know whin yo go to put yer finger on yer lird, ye’ll find that she’s not there.” “ Mac, you are generally a pretty shrewd fel- ere.” “ e’ll find that I am not; whin this girl is started, a raging volcano will be nothing to her. I tell ye, me bye, these cold and uiet women are the worst whin they get starte .” “ Even supposing that you are right, and that I am wron , as lon as she remains here the op- portunity s want ,” Blair remarked, thou ht- ully. ‘ There is no man in this Camp t at such a woman as this would be apt to pick out as a lover.” “Ye forget this Talbot!” McCracken remind- A shade came over the face of the Bonanza King and he walked along, reflecting intently for a few moments. “By Jove !” he cried at last, abruptly, “ I don’t know but what on are right, Mac. I never thought of the fe low in connection with the girl, before. It don’t seem hardly ossible there can be any danger that such a t ha‘pg‘ern, and yet these women—” omen are mighty unsartain !” and the Irishman gave a wise shake of the head. “ We must 0 for Talbot, at once!” Blair de- clared, with ecision. “I don’t think there is any danger but in this game we mustn’t throw awa the immest chance to take a trick. I thi , though, from what I have seen, that this girl who runs the hotel is after Talbot.” “Molly Missouri? 0h, yis, there’s no doubt about that." “ ot the slightest in my opinion; don’t you remember what a decider stand she took for him on the night of the fight?” “0b, is; and now if we can’t do anything wid Talgot, and the gineral’s daughter does take it into her head to fall in love wid me hold buckaroo, wouldn’t it be a ood idea to use the one gurl ag’in’ the other? olly is a strapping lass, and a regular tearer when she gets a-goin .” “ The idea is a good one, and we ll try it, i it is needed, although I can hardly bring myself to believe that t ere is any danger of such a mud, haughty beaut as Desdemona falling in Pave with sue a fel ow as Talbot. Why, he seems to be a regular desperado, but Women do take stran e fancies.” “Faix! he do.” “See Talbo at once, and sound him, and if he isn’t to be had—if he will not work with us whv, then, we must take measures to put him out of the way assoon as possible. The three fellows that he had the fight with, whom he so cleverly whipped, were out today. The, feel pretty sore over their thrashing, and, a though they do not intend to ursue t e quarrel any further gcan, demagogue was sure that in the wily arts pe- culiar to the politician Talbot was unprac- ticed. Therefore it was with the greatest confidence that the cunning Irishman essayed the difficult, and-when Talbot’s peculiar nature was eon- sidered~somewhat dangerous task that Blair had assigned to him. McCracken really believed that he would suc— ceed. He had great ex erienee with all sorts of men, and there were ew he had not succeed- ed in handling. With the wil ' Englishman he believed that every man ha his price; the only difliculty was to discover exactl what that price was. Money would bu near y every man, provided the purchaser bi high enough, and where mo- ney failed, some other influence would surely succeed. “ Faix now I” McCracken muttered, as he came near the mine “if it wasn’t for the fool- ish notion that me riend Blair has got in his head about the gurl, supposing Talbot can’t be had for money, we might offer him the rurl, if his thoughts run that way; but, as it is, can’t. It plays the divil wid business whin ye mix up women wid it.” The Irishman found the negro at the gate of the stockade, as usual seated upon the bowlder, and as he came up Gin er Blue rolled his eyes in a. way that plainly s owed he had a most de- cided aversion to the bold McCracken. If there was an thing in this world the sable guardian of the andle-box mine hated, it was ‘ an Irishman, and he was never slow tomanifest this aversion. McCracken’s visits to the mine had annoyed him greatly, the more so that, as he had always been accompanied by Blair or the general, his employer, he had never got a good opportunity to express his sentiments. Then, too, the negro’s ra had been excited. The Irishman was something of a dandy, and the idea of such a big Patlander being rigged out in store-clothes from top to toe and sporting a “b’iled shirt,” and a go d-headed cane, was altogether too much for the darky’s patience. As McCracken approached the negro got up and placed his brawny figure in the doorway, thus barring the passage. “Say, w’at does you want hyer?” the darky exclaimed, as the caller paused in amazement at the une ted action. “Don’t you know dat we don’ allow no dogs or Irishers ’bout dese hyer works?” For a moment McCracken was speechless with rage. Of all things in this wor d he de- tested a. negro. “Be the powers! ye blackamoor ye! do yeés know who ye are addressing, bad ’cess to the likesof eesr’he demanded. “ Don t want any talk out of you !” the dar- ky replied, coolly. “Go ’way! don’t want no sich white trash as you is foohn’ round dis hyer mine!” “ Get out wid ye i” McCracken cried. “ I’ve halfa mind to hate ye black and blue, only I wouldn’t be after soiling my hands with the likes of yees, ye rilla!” “Go ’wa wrd yer, verself!” Ginger re- torted. “Don’t you dar to raise dat are cane to me, or I’ll wipe on all ober dis yere ground. I’ll orilla one Iris iman for suah!” “ o ees know who I am?” “ A b g-mouthed Irisher!” Ginger responded, in contempt. . “Ye lie, ye black divil ye; I’m a gintle— man !” “Go’way wid yer! You can’t lay dat air game hyer. Whar did yer steal ( em clothes? ake ’em 0!? and raba pick as yer ought to! Dat’s w’at an Iris er’s fer.” “For two cints I’d grab you. ye. baboon!” and the Irishman shook his cane menacingly. at present—so th 3 big fellow, this Klamath John j informed me—yet from the way in which he spoke, I can see that he was ust hungry for a. ' good chance to get even with albot. And the next time they go for him, they won’t give him i an chance for is life: they’ll take him at such a earful disidvgnltzgp that he will be sure to under in t e g . go“ I have an idea,” McCracken said. tor Talbot is uglv and won’t listen to reason. be- tuno the three at omen, whom t . so e y I can fix a trap that Will and his ca- reer in this Camp. ” lof the Ha py Palace, and these r, dat’s all! go superintendent bate i At this Ginger became frightfully enraged. “ Who are you a-calling a baboon? No more baboon dan you are! Go way, you r, mean white man, or I’ll frow you into de ribber!” That the darky and McCracken would have most certainly come to blows is sure, had not Talbot’s attention been attracted by the noise of the dispute and so led him to come forward ‘ to ascertain the reason. “ Hallo, what’s the matter, Ginger?” he asked, “ If Mis- as he came up. “Dis yere bod-carrier tryin’ fur to git in. the negro replied, glaring at his foe. “It‘s aword or two that I want wid you, ‘ Mister Talbot,” McCracken hastened to say. I “ and this lump of charcoal barred me way and “Good! you had better go back now and see 1 denied me admittance. It’s lucky for him that Vim.” whether he’s for or ag’in‘ us. “And if he is obstinate it will be -by to Mr. Dick Talbot of Cinnabar!” was lair’s con- fident assertion. CHAPTER XVI. randxx'rsgur. op! 1 MCCncxlN he, anex meyfood non of himself and hohad not the s1 htost doubt thnthowduld be able to twist T bot around !-'.i! rfu-alth hthesu ntendenthad; N ngle,W , pugsh per-i displaved fing‘qualila'os, yet the i F ye came, Mister Talbot, for I was jist after “1 Will: it Won’t take me long to find out ‘ crackin’him over the head wid me cane so asto In ten minutes . learn him manners.” I “ By golly! it’s luck for on (let on didn’t!” Ginger retorted. “I you ad jes’ it me once wid dat cane, dere would have been a dead Irisher round dis hyer camp in two wags of a goat’s tail.” “Do you want to see me, sir!" Talbot in- uired. coldlv, for he had taken a dislike to cCracken; his keen instinct ma told him that the man was a rascal. “If you will have the kindne- to fiveminutes of your valuable time." mans-id. 've no Irish- Talbeiefcmnabar- “ Certainly.” “In rivate;” and as he spoke McCracken looked disdainfully at the black. “ Say, white man, you don’t want to turn up dat nose of yours any more dan it does now!" Gin er exclaimed. ‘ It’s the wuss-looking nose dat ebber see’d!” And with this parting shot the-negro resumed his position on the stone again. McCracken clutched his cane angrily, but by an effort be restrained himself; after all, the ne 0 was not worth wasting time upon. he Irishman led the wa round the angle of the stockade; Talbot fol owed: then, secure from observation, the agent proceeded at once to business. “ Mr. Talbot, it is ssible that I may not be unknown to on,” a): began. “ Me name is McCracken; have done the State some ser- Vice—- “I didn’t know that you had ever been in jail,” Talbot interrupted, his manner very earn- est, and his face so quiet that it was almost im- possible to suspect him of joking. McCracken stared for a moment, 0 n-mouth- ed; metaphorically speaking, the plication confounded him. “Oh no; you do not understand me, my friend!” he exclaimed, as soon as he could re- cover. “lt was but a figure of spach that I was using, a oetical fancy, do e mind. As I was saying. zens wid many marks of public trust—” “And the point is, I suppose, you want a chanceto swinga pick, or handle a shovel in the mine here,” interru ted Talbot, 1n the most matter-of—fact way. “ ell, I can’t oblige you; we’ve got all the hands we want.” McCracken was disgusted; he began to have an idea that this quiet Mr. Talbot was poking fun at him. “No, sir no, sir!” he exclaimed; “it is on private and particular business that I have wid on. y “ Yes? Well, ahead!” “The fact is, Iistcr Talbot, it is not for me- self that I am sp’aking, but I represent another 1,31%” “ ho is it?” Talbotnaturally in uired. . “Aha! that isas'icret!” McCrac en replied, mysteriously. “There may be more than on:- —th’ere may be five or tin at the back of me “Oh yes; that ma be, for all I know, but, what has this got to o with me?” “Ais i I’m coming to it! It’s an able man eair, ister Talbot; it’s a foine man ye are or this region, and the arty that I have the honor to represent are 100 in’ afther jest such a man as ye are.” _ “I am sorry that I am not at libert to ne- gotiate,” Talbot replied. “ I am boun to Ge- neral Cadwalader as long as he chooses to keep “ Oho! That doesn’t matter the laste taste in life!” McCracken announced. “What I want of you will not interfere wid your present en- ga ement at all.” albot looked surprised. “ Well, sir, I can t understand how that can be. I am so busy here that I can’t posmbly get time to attend to anything else. ” “ It will not interfere in the lasts; 811',” the Irishman answered. “ Ma be if you were not connected wid this mine t e parti’es that I re- present would have no use for you. . These words gave Talbot a clew to the demfin of the messenger from men unknown, but a resolved to draw him out and make him explain himself clearly. . “I don’t understand what you are driv' at,” he said, in aflected ignorance. “Spit 311% what you have to pr0pose so thatI can get a, clear idea of Wth 3’?“ weak" The Irishman, With all his shrewdness, fell into the tra . . “It’s aisygenough,” he confessed. “ I want to engage you, Mister Talbot, as our man. You kin name your own 6 re;_make it a liberal one, and We will pay 0 price; but you must belon tous.” “ V hat am I to dog” “Whatever we or er on! Don’t - ed ; it will be nothin’ ag’gi’ the law” be alarm “Suppose you order me to do a certain thing and General Cadwalader orders me to do 0:. act] the opposite?” “ 0“ are ‘30 Obey us and not the glneral.” “ Old boss! we can’t trade!” Talbot returned, abmpflz”. mucb to McCracken’I astonishment. “ 1"“ t ,8 general’s man, and there ain’t gold enough m California to buy me over to eh. other side l” “0h. bless me soul!” exclaimed McCracken, in‘xretended amazement. “ It’s nothing to d. W] the given,“ We on] wanted to got you into our speculation, the. ’s all, as on are . foine man to have the handling 0 a min; There’s no harm done, e know. If ye Iv"- want to l’ave the ne , m’ybe we kin mm room for ye. morning And the Irishman walked 0% tly un. concerned, but in reality gree. y c afed at In. mammalian isa ’ around“. mndthoothor have been honoret by me fellow-citi-‘ i i i I i ! “MRichard Talbot of Cinnabar. 1,3 CHAPTER XVII. A um LIGHT. TALBOT was not conscious of the approach of the irl. He was watching the Iris man’s re- trea ing coat-tails, and, as they disappeared around the angle of the stockade, the thought which surged so swiftly through the brain of the adventurer took shape in words: “IVhat cunning trick is this fellow up to now i” he murmured, talkin to himself, a habit which nearly all men who ead a solitary life often indulge in. “ It is some scheme against the general and his mine, I am sure. The lode is a retty good one, I feel certain, although it has u’st up every arty that has tried to run it, but there’s a sa 1') individual in the wood- pile, beyond a doubt. This unknown party wants to buy me, because, from the slight taste of my quality that the men of this Cam al- ready have had, they think I am not the 'ind of man to fri hten, easily. Now, the question is are McCrac on and his gang working the blood-red hand business, or are there two par- ties working to get the mine out of the general’s hands? That’s a point thatI must have some light upon. New, then, whom docs McCracken represent? This Blair, sure! I’ve heard of this Bonanza King before, and it is a wonder to me that some desperate man, whom he has robbed b his legal tricks hasn’t emptied the contents of a revolver in him. ills presence, here, means mischief; what is be after! What other piece of property around here is worth any trouble, but the Candle-box lode? Clearly, then, whether he is the hand unknown_who is pulling the wires of this road-agent business or not, he is bent upon mischief, and the old gene- ral is about as fit to fight these fellows as a ten- rear old child. Now, what is ahead of me? I ave refused to go in with these schemers, and, as I am not with them, of course I am against them, which means, since they cannot buy me, that they must use force. 1 must kee my wits about me, or else the ’11 check me t rough to {he Happy Hunting rounds, the first thing I 'now. The rustle of a woman’s dress, at this point, fell upon Talbot’s ear, and, turning, he faced the general’s daughter. She hadcome straight u to him expecting that he would hear her bu he had n so oc- cupied with his thoughts that the noise of her approach had escaped his notice, and so it hap- penedthat the last sentence of his speech reached er ears. Despite the peculiar way in which he bed frame? the thought, she understood what he mean . “I beg your don, Mr. Talbot,” she said, “ I did not inten to overhear your words, but, since I have unwitting? done so, and I gather from them that some anger threatens you, I make bold to ask its nature.” “ Indeed, miss, that is exactly what I cannot tell you,” he replied, frankly. “My instincts, which are very seldom at fault, warn me that there is danger ahead, but precisely what the danger is, I cannot sa . I’ve just had an inter- view with Mr. Mc ken; you know him, miss?” The girl nodded assent and a slight tinge of color crept over her usually pale face. McCracken and Blair were always together, and the mention of the one suggested the other; and the Bonanza King, since his arrival in the mining-cam , had rapidly devoloped into a suit- or despite t e coldness of the girl. . . besdemona was in anunpleasant posxtion; she could not kee out of the man’s way now, as she had done 11 San Francisco; as a lady, she must treat him politely, and upon that pohte- ness he )resumed to press his suit. “He eft me just as you came up. He came to make me a proposition; he wanted to engage my services.” A peculiar look came into the girl’s dark eyes, Emd she fixed her gaze intently upon Talbot’s ace. “ Is your position here, then, Mr. Talbot, dis- talstegul to you, that you wish to leave it?” she as re . “Oh, no; I did not say that I had any idea of leavin ,” he replied. ‘ The otter came from him. 1: was a very strange offer, too. He said that he represented a certain party who want- ed to make me their man—to bind me to obey their orders, and I could still retain my position in your father’s employ.” " I do not understand how you can serve two emplo ers.” “Miss, I am afraid they intend to try and work our father out of the Candle-box proper- ty. he lode is a one, I think, and there is a certain man in this Camp, who, if report does not traduce his character greatly will not hesi- tate at an means to am the end he seeks.” The r uncle who the man was as well as if albot had mentioned his name. Blair never made any secret of the means he used if success attended the result. “ I am afraid that m father is not fit to cope with these men,” she o rved. 810W]! “ Well, miss‘ I am afraid that he is not, but I‘Will tr and do the best I can to help him out. . '.'c be «1:12:10 ‘ 1‘ .e'vl l‘;‘ in i' is T””"f"‘, r.“ 'r . t considerable experimce in this sort I ,.,. , ,,:.., 4 I .u .. L. much law, except the law of the stron er. There’s some game afoot; I feel sure of t at; but, what it is, and how it is going tobe worked of course it is impossible for me to guess; but you may rest assured of one thing, and that is, that I am calculating the chances 'ust as closely as a man can. I have picked my ands pretty carefully; there isn’t a man in the place who doesn’t understand that he’s engaged to fight, as well as to work, if he’s called upon so to do.” “Is there any danger of that?” Desdemona demanded, in some amazement, much astonish— ed at the information. “ Oh, es; a rich claim is ‘ jum ’ ever now an! then and it takes a figh to decidse who owns it. To seize a claim is to ‘ jump ’ it, miss,” Talbot explained. “ As a rule, that game is seldom tried unless the party have got some sort of a claim to the mine.” “Mr. Blair said only this morning that he would like to buy an interest in the mine 1” the girl announced. "Just as I thought! I had an idea that he was the party in the background who was pull- ing the wires. Tell your father not to sell, miss! Don’t let him get a cent’s worth of in- terest in the ropertv or else the first thing we know we’ll a 1 be in ot water.” “ I will so advise my father,” she replied, and then she swggt past Talbot; “ and, Mr. Talbot,” she contin , “allow me to thank you for the interest yo display in our property, and to as- sure you that we appreciate your zeal.” “ Oh, es; and if the mine pays, and your fa- ther ho (13 onto it, he can afford to raise my wages,” and as he spoke Talbot looked the girl full in the eye in the most innocent manner .sible.” A troubled expression came rapidly over the girl’s face; the color mounted into her cheeks, and she really looked distressed. “I—I sup e so,” she murmured, and then she hastenc away, strange thoughts surging through her brain. “Money—he s eak of money!” she exclaim- ed, bitterly. “ e is willing to risk his life for us, utter strangers to him and yet he speaks as if gold was all he require in payment for the service.” Talbot watched the graceful figure of the 'ri until she turned the an rle of the wall, a pecufjiar look upon his resolute ace. “ And this scoundrel Blair, has an idea of making up to this girl,”he muttered, as she dis- appeared from his sight, “the fairest, freshest, roudest beauty that ever my eyes fell upon. he is indeed a glorious woman, and et us proud as any queen who ever put her cat to As fair as fair can be, and yet as cold as a marble statue and as disdainful as the child of a line that boasts a hundred earls. And, now that I come to think calmly over the matter, wasn’t I a fool to mix myself up in this matter at all, lured on by this girl’s beautiful marble face? And women ain’t luck for me either, or rhaps I ain’t lucky for t em, for never yet id I win one that death didn’t snatch her almost before the honeymoon was over; but, I suppose, like the chi upon the river, I must float on the current 0 fate wherever my destiny leads me. For the present I am back- ing the Candie-box, and I don’t intend that my game shall be beaten if I can help it.” And meditating in this manner Talbot re- trac. (1 his steps. At the door of the stockade he found Ginger in a high state of excitement. The negro had been meditating over his wordy war with the Irishman, and the more he thought about it the madder he got. “See h er, Massa Talbot!” he spluttered, as that out eman came up. “Did you hear w’at dat big Irisher called me f He sed dat I was a baboon! I nebber was so insulted afore since I was hatched! Massa Talbot, you hear me now! I’ll jest chew dat feller’s car 03 do very next time dat I set my two eyes on him.” “11,901: out that he don’t whale you, Gin- er " Whale me! W’at all of me?” and the big black rose to his feet and stretched his muscular form to its fullest extent. “ Look at me, Massa Talbot! Hyer‘s whar you git your men from, whar I grow ed. I wouldn’t make more (lan two mcut ifuls of dat bi Paddywhack! W’at does he want foolin’ roun dis yore work, anyway?” “’Oh, he was after a hand; he wanted to hire me. “ To hire you Mae-a Talbot—dat teller! Why. he’s no good! all he kin do is to talk.” “Well, he is a pretty ood talker; to use the old saying, that 18 bin at bolt!” And with this observation Talbot went into the mine. McCracken’s proposal was somewhat of a sur- prise, but the superintendent was destined to receive anotherpne before he retined to rest that night for. just as the shades of night be- gan to gather thick and heavy over the earth, the ne r0 sought him, gunning from ear to ear, and delivered a note into his hands. “ What’s this?” Talbot asked. “ Letter from your gall” With a grin. “From my 'rl! “ . es, suhztflat’s w’at de boysedw’at fetched ' ("1. I' i". i 73:41 Tclhct~it \ l . . talliesms good-looking young bucks to catch de 8. Talbot opened the letter at once. CHAPTER XVIII. nccmcm’s 30mm. “ Fm! we’ll haveto crack this fellow’s skull, bad ’eess to him! before he will listen to rea- son!” the Irishman muttered, as he hastened away. He went at once to Blair, who waited for him at the hotel—Molly’s ranch—and related to the speculator how unsuccessful his attem t had been to win the master-spirit of the Can e-box mine over to their side. “ Well. since fair means have failed we must try foul,” that gentleman observed. “ He’ll be a dimcult man tohandle,” the Irish- man warned. - “ Yes, if we give him any chance for his life, ' and that is exactly what we must not do,” Blair re lied. “ Now I am satisfied that these three fe ows he fought the other night are just burning to get even with this Talbot." “ They won’t meet him in fair fight of course, for they have tried that once and come out Second best,” the irishman averred. “ No, I don’t think any of them are eager to face the fellow in a good, square fight again; but new Mac, can’t we arrange it so that we can get Talbot into a trap?” “ A mighty difficult matter. me bye!” and McCracken gave a wise shake of the head. “ This gintleman was not born yesterday, and he’s as cute as a crosscoun fox.” “ Oh, we must be able to t 'nk of some way to trap him i” Blair persisted. impatiently. “game Mae, if you can’t do this you are no “ Hould your whist till I got on me thinking- cap,” the Irishman admonis ed, reflectivelv. ‘ If you can think of some way-some clever device to induce Talbot to go to some lonely spot, I can have these fellows concealed in the neighborhood, and the chances are good that they will be able to settle him. If on can only devise the trick to fetch Talbot, a I will ham to do is to (get these fellows and tell them that I have hear that their man is going to be at a certain place at a certain time and they will do all the rest. You see. I won’t be mixed up in the matter at all if the thing happens to go wrong. “ True fur yees,” McCracken observed, in a meditative sort of way. Then a sudden idea occurred whim. “Oh, corn in Egypt!” be ex- claimed: “ I have it me bye, I have it!” “A plan?” cried Blair, eagerly. “ Yis, a beautiful one! ’ “ Go ahead, explain 1” “ Oh, it’sa foine Iplan—an illigant one! Ye know the gurl that apes this place!” ‘ ‘ Molly i” “Yis, she’s a big friend to Talbot; you re- member how she took his part, the night of the fight?” “Yea es,Iremember.” . “She’l be a foine decoy-duck to lode Mr. Talbot exactly where we want him.” “ Well, Mac. you may understand, but I’ll be ban if I do.’ “ t’s as simple as rowlin on a log. She thinks a hope of Talbot, ye now. I’ll go to her and tell that, as I was coming up the street I overheard a conversation between two min say- ing how they were goi to layout Talbot to- ni ht. How there’s a p an to go to his shanty, on him to the dure and then slaughter him. I’ll tell her that she ought to warn him for I’m afeard to mix m 'self up in the math for fear I’ll et intotrou le.” “ es, but Idon’t see—” “ Oh, l’ave me alone; I’ll fix it all ri ht!” Mc- Cracken enjoined. “ Shurel I’ve no ot the thing down exactly it, meself. It wi come to me, though—it wil come to me on the spur of the moment. I’ll go after the girl at once! Wait till I come back and it’s thecrown of Eng- land ag’in’ a tenpenny nail you kin bet that I ll do the 'ob up brown! The rishman seized his hat and hurried out. This conversation had taken place in the room in the Happy Palace occupied in common by the town. McCracken proceeded to thesaloon which, as it); hadl expected, he found tenanted only by e gir . ' During the daytime the saloons'in the min- ing camp do not flourish; all the men are at work and it is not until darkness putsanend to toil that the town becomes lively. . The ' lwas seated by one of he windows, axing ' essly out into the street. As the Irishman had ustly remarked; neces- sity with him was truly be mother of invention, and as be en the saloon his plan only ball- formed, a new idea came to him that seemed to be an extremely good one. “ M133 Missouri. kin I have a word wid von, if you pl’ase!" he asked, in his most gallant . manner. He rather prided himself upon‘being aladies’man. “ Yes, sir; what is it!” asked the girl. , “ Are we alone '1” MeCrucken questioned. mysteriousl . “Is there any danger that we val! be overheard?” , zll “rs — . ' A V .d..- .- '«:::;s.'.., . V an“...— .......... v... '2 .. . .a- w“. M, can“: - .~.x-_ -.......... ......-.... ._. v..- ~ . . . .....--- w. A? .. . ~57 ‘ #7-...v—3; .—. pew—«1w ~>¢cl'0re the courts for a couple of years.” “ And before that time, if the mine produces "s I feel sure it will, you can pay what you owe on it twice over.” “Exactly my idea,” the general assented. The conversation at this int was inter- rupted by the appearance of he negro Ginger, who had been I ttmg in his usual position out- side, by the gate. / “ Say, Massa Talbot 2” he exclaimed. as he approached, “did you have any fuss wid dem two men dat jes’ done gone?” . “Well, no, not a fuss exactly, but I reckon they are no friends of mine; why do you ask?” “’Coe I heerd one on ’em say tode adder a, day t out. ‘He isn’t gwine to git eut.’ _ Richard Talbot of Cinnabar. The eneral and Talbot exchanged glances, then Ta bot laughed. “ They mean business, and I reckon there is fun ahead,” Talbot remarked, quietly. “Just keep your eyes open, Ginger, and if you ever see a crowd making for the stockade just jump inside, bang the gate to and raise an alarm.” “ Is dere gwine to be a fight?” “ Well, I reckon there is a likely chance for one. “ Good for you, s'ah; Ise been a-wantin’ to kill one of dem white men for some time; de las’ time dat I was 11 in de town one of dem low trash sed dat if would pay for de brush and de whitewash he would turn me into a white man, an’ I‘jes’ want a chance to git squar’ wid him, dat’s all 1” And with this bloodthirsty observa- tion Ginger departed. “ You see how he feels about it,” Talbot re— marked- “ and, general, I’ve sounded all the rest of the boys and there isn’t one of them who won’t stand b the mine to the death.” “Well we] , I hope we will not have any trouble, but if we do we must meet it like men the old gentleman replied. “ We will try and do that, sir, and give as good as we receive.” And here the interview terminated. The general went into the house and Talbot return- ed to his work in the mill. The da wore away and ni ht came. The mi 1 shut down and to' ended. Talbot had established a re ular military sys- tem; the men were all boar ed andlodged on. the lace, and only one-half of them allowed to be a sent in the evenin at one time; thus one- half went out one night and the other haif the next night. The stockade gate was closed promptly at dusk and from an elevated position a sentinel kept careful watch and ward, so to surprise the fortress—for such in truth was the mine now— would be almost an impossibility. Talbot was too old a bird, and knew the pe- culiar tactics usually employed by the claim- jumpers too well to be caught napping. Supper was over and the men who were off duty had strolled up the street to the center of the camp, intent upon enjoyment. Ginger, the negro was at his usual t, the big rock just outside the stockade, en oying a pipe. It was yet too early to shut the fortress up, for there was very lit 19 danger of any at- tack at such an hour. A man came hastening down the street with rapid footsteps and approaching the stockade accosted Ginger, evidently in a high state of a itation. t was Tubbs, the comedian from Arkansaw. “ See here, uncle, I want to see Mr. Talbot!” he exclaimed. The dignity of the negro was afl’ronted at once by the term “ uncle ;” it recalled the old slavery days, the cotton-patch, the overseer and the .‘ ! whigv “ ho is you callin’ uncle?” he demanded, indignantl . “ Go ’way, on pore low-down white tras , I’s no uncle o you’s. You es’ be keerful how you undress me or I’ll jes mash you}, I don’t ’low no sich liberties, you hear me! “ Most tent, grave and reverend signior! to the duilstO I bow me!” cried Tubbs, who, de- spite the gravity of his mission, could not re- frain from his ridiculous habit of “spouting.” “ I come on the wings of the night, and a tale I could unfold that would harrow up thy young 801(llla’l’ld make each particular hair to stand on en ~- “ Go ’wa ; it kinks too much!” “ Talbot I must see him on business that will not brook delay. and so I pray thee, gentle master, fly with all thy speed and tell him that, no matter how fast he shuts his door, ill-tidings knock, and he, perforce, must 0 n!” “ Say, are you crazy?” cried Ginger, in amazement. “Fly, ood Gobbol Good Launcelot Gobbo, take to.t y heels and run! Tell Talbot that his life is threatened, and that I must hold earnest converse with him.” “ W’at’s dat? is dey gwine for Massa Talbot?” “Yes, yes! Run at once and tell him that I must see him! What I have to say ma save his life, so get thee one thou foul flend.’ “You’ll et mas ed if you don’t quit dem names!” G nger cautioned, as he retreated. “ Fly! and may all angels bless and guard thee i" howled Tu bs, who, in spite of the avity of the situation, could not , keep his heatrical madness within bounds. Ginger hurried to the house, leaving Tubbs at the gate. The negro opened the door and entered the building; a minute or two he remained Within the house, and then Tuhbs could plainly distin- guish, through the dusky gloom, two forms come forth. The negro was evidently in the advance, ‘0? his voice sounded plainly on the air. “Dis way, ssh; de man’s down at de gate !” Hardly had the last word of the sentence fall- en en the air when the sharp, quick report of a gnnrungout full ndalear‘ withacryef arr ‘ Navy t out,’ do odder one said. ‘ Den dey’ll clean him out.’ do adder on: Sill l. ' You bet.’ and do odder one. .I. guishthemenwhowasfo wingthenegre “ Eternal Heavens!” cried Tubbs, in horrm my warning has come too late, and they haw- killed Talbot!” And then, panic-stricken, i. took to his heels and ran away. it CHAPTER XXXII. ‘ rm: ROAD-AGENTS MASK. THE shot had come from the to of the north stockade wall. Three men had ogged Tubbs’s footsteps from the Happy Palace, and when he had accosted the negro at the gate of the stock - ade, the had skulked around the works to the north si e. Everything was in readiness for the success— ful ing out of the bloody purpose upon which the three had come. Within a clump of pines near by, a double- barreled shot-gun and a rude ladder were con- cealed. The men drew the ladder forth from its place of concealment, placed it against the wall and then one of them, taking the gun, ascended; with steady, resolute purgose he waited for the appearance of the man w 0 had been destined for an untimel grave. The plan ha been cunningly contrived. The vagabond comedian, who never let a chance es- cape to extol Talbot, whom he declared tobe a hero worth to rank with any of the ancient Greeks, had n approached, and a my steni- ously worded communication had been con- ve ed to him, the purport of it being that Tal— boz was to be assaulted that very night. it" he happened to come up—town, by a blood-thirsty firng who had sworn to take his life, and it he 'd not visit the Hap y Palace that evming, then, at the midnight our, the assassins were to go the Candle-box mine, rouse the superin- tendent from his slumber, and summon him to the door upon some specious pretext; then, when he appeared, he was to be immediately attacked. It was represented to Tubbs that he would be doing the man he glorified a great service if he, Tubbs, went at once and warned him of the dan er that threatened. “ right down to the mine, now,” whis- pered the tempter. “ You will find that big ne- gro at the gate; just tell him that you want to see Talbot on rticular business, and he will go in and fetch h in out.” Tubbs, who in some respects was as credulous asachild, eagerly caught at the chance to do Talbot 3. service, so started off at once little so ting that he was being used as a lure to entice the man who had so nobly befriended him to a terrible death. The scheme succeeded to perfection as has been seen. The man who had fired the death-dealing shot lingered long enough on the wall to see his vic— tim reel and fall and then he jumped down and joined his companions. " Is he settled?” cried one of the two who had remained upon the ground. “You bet!” replied the other, tersely, “ un- less he has as many lives as a cat and can live with a charge of buckshot in his breast.” “ It’s time we wasn’t hyer!” warned the third man, and acting at once upon the suggestion thgy hastened away. be sound of the shot had stirred up the Can- dleebox people at once; every man within the mine came rushing out. Even the two girls came to the door. The discharge of fire-arms within the works was a certain signal that mischief was afoot. “ What is the matter?” Desdemona cried. anxtiously, as she peered out into the dusky n t. find the men who thered around the lifeles; man—for death swi tly and surely had follow-- ed the discharge of the assassin’s gun—put the same question to the negro who, amazed and horror-stricken, was gaping at the lifeless form. like one transformed suddenly into stone. “ ’Deed I dunno how it was done!” Gingi'l' cried. “ A man come to de gate an’ sed he do) «- want to see Masea Talbot, and den dcy sh! 1 him l” The words came lully to the listening ears or the two rls. “ M —Talbot 1” came in a pierc7ng scream from he lipsof Desdemona: then she reeled and fell in a dead faint to the floor. And that shrill scream gave fresh speed to a”. footsteps of a man Who had been deep dawn in the recesses of the mine carefully examining :0. new vein of ore which the workmen had strm i; into that day. He carried a lantern in his hand, and as he dashed forward and joined the little r0111. around the dead body of the man who he been sent so untimely to his last reckoning by the us: sassin’s shot, the light illuminated the scene. .Prone upon his back, with his hands clenched rigid in the convulsion that had preceded death, the blood wellin forth from the wounds in his breast, lay old general Cadwalader. %: wrong man hadhisllen a VlogaTéOt’ old gentleman gone to s quot- ters to emit with him, not knowing that he had descended into the mine, and when the that w up Ls asms and £911.. negrohad brought the message tLata what I , i E l vs I Rio fim__--. 3;? .1” -s.-,_s the gate desired to see the su rintendent, in Talbot’s absence the general be come forth to see what the man wanted. I Talbot’s lantern revealed the scene in all its horror. “ How did it happen—who fired the shot?” Dick demanded. Gi“ M‘s“ Tm“b°"1’°l‘§°fi“ié°‘id§l§l2 1 ?““"°’" n r r0 in a 'g u o agita- tionge ‘PDe ole man come out arter me: dere was a man at de gate dat wanted to see you an’ he sed dat he see him, an’ de furst t’ing I knowd —bim! dat 11 went offan’ de ole man screech- ed an’ fell, at who did it, de good Lord knows dat I dunno!” “ I heard Miss Desdemona scream—is she hurt?” Talbot asked. “ I one she saw that her father was killed," one 0%“the miners suggested. “ She was stand— ing at the door 1.: oking out as I came by.” ‘ Examine the outside of the stockade, boys, and I’ll be with you in a moment!” the super- intendent ordered. “And, Ginger, you take the body into my shanty and put it on the bunk.” . The commands were obeyed at once, and while they were being carried out Talbot hastened to the 1 whose shrill cry had rung out so start- li y on the night air. . ' Jones was busily engaged in reviving Desdemona, for she still ay in a deathlike state. “ 0b, is that you, Mr. Talbot?” the young lady from A l’s exclaimed. “ Why, I thought you was kill , and Desdemona fainted away.” “ Because she thought that I was killed 1” “ Yes, sir; we understood the men to say so.” “And doesn’t she know who the victim is?” Talbot asked. “ Oh, no, sir; is there any one hurt?” Talbot hesitated for a moment, but upon re- flection he thought that Miss Jones had better know the truth for there was no one in the Camp who could as well inform Desdemona of the great afliiction which had befallen her, and so aptly break the force of the terrible blow: so, as carefully as he could, he told the sad story of the tragedy. . With all her frivolous ways the girl had an excellent heart and a sound understanding.l Then, too, she was used to wild scenes, for‘ a her young life had been nt in a mining- cam , so she did not yiel to overpowering grie , although dreadfully shocked by the news, and after the first outburst of astonishment was over she said that she would do her best to con. vey the sad intelligence to the now orphaned rl. 8iThen Talbot hurried swag search for the man who ha deed. The miners had not started when the superin- tendent came forth. The had been endeavor- ing to get some informs. 'on in regard to the attack from the negro Ginger, but the black was utter] at fault. Althoug he had only been a step or two from the general when the fatal shot was fired, yet he had no more idea of who aimed the deadly bullet, or from what direction the shot had come, than if he had been a hundred miles awa . “’I)eed, I dunno anyt’inf ’bout it!” he dew Cl'll‘ed, completely an bewildered. “De furst t’iiig 1 know’d I heered de gun o bin ! den de general be hollered, an’ I turn roun , mighty skeered, I tell yer, an’ dar was de boss down onto de ground.” . Talbot put Ginger through a_ brief cross-ex- amination and soon became satisfied in regard to the truth of the matter. . The man who had come to see him, and whom the negro in his bewilderment declared he had complete] forgotten, was evidently sent b the conceal assassins to lure him forth. The general coming in his lace was mistaken in the dark for him and so ell a victim. _ “ We must scout around the fence and see if we cannot find some traces of the men. who have done this bloody deed!” Talbot exclaimed. “ Three of you go to the left and the rest come with me. " ' Every man in the party was anned, and be- ing armed were r for a hunt. At the gate the party separa , as Talbot had suggested— the division led b the superintendent going along the fence the northward and then turning to the west. They were the first to ar- rive at the spot where the ladder was placed. . to join in the done the bloody And the moment the superintendent saw the . ladder he understood how the bloody work had ' ccom lished. “$11,188.11 somgthing white rolled around one of the rungs of the rude ladder attracted Talbot’s “Wigginti it and saw that it was a piece of white per. « A c153, aim-t, mrgga‘gl‘eivpfndeedoit W”, to the authors of the dreadful deed, for, when the paper was 0 ed, there upon the White surface was (119- p yed a blood-red hand! CHAPTER. XXXIII. an LITAOl is roacx. Anne-u boys!” he cried, as he re- _ ways, she had a very good ill puss-add this. mandala-in about business,” she began, ‘mdthoegh you clew, yet Talbot felt satisfied that any pursuit now would be useless. The road-a ents, who had left the blood-red hand token be ind them that their a ncy in the tragedy might be known to all, d taken immediately to the hills and in the gloom of the night it was folly to dream of tracking them. But the miners were eager and anxious to do something, and so Talbot, against his better ' jud ent, gave orders for a pursuit. T 9 search was unavailing, though, as Dick had expected it would be, but some time was consumed in it, and it was quite late when the party returned. _ The news of the Violent death of the general I had traveled rapidly through the town, and about all the a le-bodied inhabitants of the Camp had congregated at the mine. Desdemona in time had recovered from her swoon and her first words were in regard to - Talbot. “ Is he really dead ?” she asked, piteously. “ Yes, dear!” Miss Jones replied, forgetting ‘ for the moment that the girl was ignorant of 9 the true victim. “0h, heavens! how terriblel Generous, no- ‘ hie-hearted Talbot!” she exclaimed, a world of ‘ meanin in her tones. “ D emona, it is not Mr. Talbot,” the other said slowlfi} ‘ “ lilot . Talbot!” and a joyful light sparkled in her eyes—a light which afflicted the other girl to a painful degree, for she feared the reaction which must surely come when Desde- mona learned the truth. ‘ It was a terrible task, but the girl from An- gels performed it nobly. Little by little she prepared Desdemona for the nful truth, and so, when at last she did revea to her that it was her own loved father who lay cold in death, al- ‘ though indeed it was a fearful blow yet it did not kill or even stun, for the girl had braced herself to meet it. ‘ Nature relieved itself by a violent outburst of ‘v tears, and as she sobbed in the arms of her ’ friend, whose tears, too, fell as freely as the other‘s, she moaned that fate had ever directed her father’s steps to the great Pacific slo He had come in search of fortune but had ound a grave instead. The miners of the Camp held a little sort of * an impromptu meeting without and appointed a committee to visit the young lady and tender ‘ her their sym thy in her sad affliction. Masterin er rief aswell as she was able ; she thank the miners for their kindness, and i said, in reference to their offer of aid, that if ‘1 she needed assistance she would gladly call upon [ them. " Blair and McCracken had been very active in I this and had formed two of the committee, - and they had improved the opportunity to drop , certain hints—regarding the assassin, or assas- 7 sins, of the old gentleman which they ho 1, would produce some impressions that won] be 3 of use them in their schemes. | Talbot’s return with the men who had been in pursuit of the murderer, and the roduction of I he iece of paper which the h found upon ' the dder, at once satisfied all, that the strange- l 1 -dis ised road-agents were at the bottom of l t e a air; but then, the question at once came I up who were the road-agents? Each man looked distrust-fully at his neigh- ; bor when the qli’iestion was asked. I It was proba le—more than probable, almost 1 certain that the road-agents were inhabitants I of the Camp. 1 Then the dark insinuations that the Irishman § and the bonanza king had so cunningly let fall I began to take effect, and more than one man in i the crowd shook his head knowin ly, and l “reckoned "that he had a pretty g idea as 1 to the chief of the road-agent gang, although ‘ “ma be ” he couldn’t rove it. . At t_the crowd d persed; but, after leav- ‘, mg the Vicinity of the mine, neither Blair nor 1 the Irishman was idle. They saw which way the tide was beginnin to run and they did all in their power to he p it, and before they re— tired to rest that night they held a secret con- ' fab and chuckled over the admit wa in which . they were getting the inhabitants of andle—box I camp to help them in their designs upon the min . The next day witnessed the funeral of the neral. He was buried in a lonely little grevn nook on the hillside right above the mine which , pigd been the indirect means of 0. Almost everybody in the Cam was there and Blair volunteered to deliver?in lieu of ii funeral service, a slight eul on the deceased, for to the di of Can e-box Camp be it said, there was neither Bible nor prayer-book in the settlement. After the funeral was over and the assem- blage had MW, Miss Jones took occasion when she and emona got back to their own inarters to ask her friend a few question ight-hearted and volatile as the young lady from Angels usually was, ‘yet, in spite of her deaof business. dear, you mustn’t fldnklam heart!” thing 8 I ask you costing him his is Row, M hard Talbot of Cinnabar. : his big strike. 1 were fighting, and just as they were 23 are ever—so-much smarter than I am in almost everything, yet I think I know more about mining and such things than you do.” “Yes; that is robable.” “Well, then want to know what are you going to do? ow are you fixed, dear;l Have ‘ you got much money—are you going to sell the mine or run it?” “ I don’t know: I have not thought anything , about it. I suppose I will have to sell the pro- perty, if I can find any one willing to buy it— that is, ifhit is mine to sell, for I beliieve there; - is a very eavy mortgage upon it, an rhaps' I shall not be able to retain possession oFie ." “ Oh, yes, you will, if you want to!” Miss Jones assured, impulsively. “ I know all about such things. That is just the way my pa made He and some other «men had a mine, and it wasn’t payin , and it has «m-r head and ears in debt, an the rest all got out frightened, you know, but my pa, he stuck, and the sheriff come to put him outz and pa raised a crowd, that whi the sherifl‘ and his men, and then they al went to law, and while they going to indict pa for murder or arson or something, the mine tumed into a regular bonanza, and in a month he made money enough to buy a dozen Ludges, so he said, and that is how he made his ig strike.” “But, how can I take care of the mine?” “ Mr. Talbot can, just as he did for your pa. Just you say to him. ‘ This mine is all l’ve got, andI don't want any one to take it away from ‘ me,’ and I’ll just bet you the best hat you ever saw that he’ll hold on to it for you i” “ Indeed, I fear the mine is all I have, for, from what father said, only a da ' or two ago, 1 think all he had left in the wor d is locked up in this property.” “ You would be a great goose, then, to give it up!” Miss Jones tXClflllllE‘d, indignantly. “Why, you might strike it rich here, at any time, and then on could easily pay ofl.’ any claims against t e mine. Just you take my advice and; stick to it. Why, Dessy, dear, if I owned this Candle-box property I'd hold onto it so tight that it would take a derrick to ull me out. See Mr. Talbot at once; tell iiin just how you are situated, and ask his ad— vroe." ‘ A faint blush came up in the pale checks of the general’s da hter. "You seem to ave a great deal of faith in Mr. Talbot ” she said, quietly. “ And so ave you, too—you know you have!” , Miss Jones replied, promptly, and with a great- deal of irit. “He’s just a perfectly splendidi fellow: t at’s what he is! That is my opinion, and I don’t care who knows it. Now, let me go after Talbot, right away, for there isn’t any time to lose. know all about these things: when a mine ain’t working it’s eatin ' itself up; I have heard my say that, a bun red times, and what Judge ones of Angels didn’t know about mining—although he was my pa—wasn’t worth knowmg.” “ Do as you please; I am willing,” Dcsde- mona assented In truth, she felt that her friend had spoken correctly; Talbot was the only man in whom she could place absolute trust. 80 Miss Jones summoned Talbot, and frankly explained the situation to him. ‘ Now. what do you advise Miss Cadwalader todo’l” she asked, in conclusion. “Hold on to the mine by all means.” here- plied. “If she can manage to retain posses- sion of it for two months, I will stake my min- ’ ing reputation, and I have bad a good deal of experience, that it will produce ore rich cnough to clear ofl.’ all the liabilities against the proper- ty in a very short time.” “ But can I hold it, Mr. Talbot?” Desdemonzi inguired. “If I understood my father aright, on y a day or two ago, he told me that he was being us ed for the payment of a heavy debt, and t at this property was in danger, as he could not possibl raise the money to meet the claim immediate y.” “ Yes, miss; I understand all about that; our father and I talked the matter over; and say to you, as I said to him, tell me to hold the mine, and I will hold it in spite of all the creditors in the world.” “That is exactly what she does say, Mr. Tal~ bot!” Miss Jones interposed. ‘ “ Yes,” said Desdemona. thus rom ted, “hold the mine if you think thatllougfit to hold it, and can do so_honestly.” “ No one has any just claim, and I laugh at legal trickery up in this region," Talbot de- clared “ Do not fear; you shall not be robbed of your while I live, and, someway, when I 00 back over my life and see how many narrow shaves I have had, I i to be- lieve that my days are to be long in land.” CHAPTER XXXIV. In. m 13me HIMSELF. T:me with the mpefirilnetlendent being .0 my te in a rreat measure to quiet the m of the afllc'tedggirl, and-he ntidbrestthatnight, feeling w. 1., "5. ,.... “a. ..... :cx \. -m..-......--.._» . »‘~ :3» ‘ ’uvrcw -‘ wvw~vrw»r' a- :<;...- ‘-. . MwO‘t—mw 1""- ... -'. t... .. . «Mam—.9... ,. ......M—p- 2.1. more consoled than she would have believed she could be that morning. True, her father was gone; but to the loss of her latent was not added the grief of bein cast out omeless and penniless upon the cold 0 ari- ties of a cruel world. She had a friend—one :rue, stout heart who would back her quarrel with life, if occasion called. Her thoughts in regard to Talbot—bold Tal- bot of Cinnabar—began to change. At first she Had been inclined to look upon him in the light ‘ if one who was something of a desperado~one who would sooner fight than eat; but now she began to comprehend that in this world a man must fit himself to the position which he must iii]. The quiet, gentlemanly clerk of the East .JUSt becomes. bold fighting-man if he would yough it successfully amid the wild scenes of the lax Vest. At the present Talbot was beginning to ap- pear ver much like a hero to the eyes of the ,Jeautifu orphan. In the morning the superintendent called all the hands of the mine together and explained {othem that everything would go on exactly the same as before; Miss Cadwalader would run the mine in place of her father, and he wound up his brief speech by sa 'ng that he hoped, for the sake of the young in dv, every man connect- ) l with the works woul do his level best to make the thing a success. The men emphatically replied that they would, “every time,” and then they went to their work. Blair had his spies out, and this news was ' ..peedily brought to his knowledge. “Ohol Gomg to run the mine herself, is she?” be exclaimed to McCracken. “What do you think of that?” ’ “ Faix! it’s a word or two that you will have to easy in the matter,” the Irishman replied. “ up we go down and call u on her at once?” Blair suggested. “She mig t as well know that we are ‘going for’ her, first as last. “ Yes, sur; we’ll not kape her in suspenders!” observed the Pride of Siskiyou, jocosc y. 80 the two set oil? for the Candle-box mine. Ginger was at the gate as usual, and after a brief parley he admitted the twain. The ne rro was not very particular during the ‘ay, but 0 had made 11 his mind that no one upon any account sho d get him away from .he gate at ni rht again. The momen darkness came on be shut the . jate ti htly, and then, with a rifle in his hand . nda grace of revolvers belted to his waist, kept guard over the top of the wall. “ Dey don’t feel dis yer ni ger dat way ag’inl” he had re ated, a hundre times at least. he two conspirators found Miss Cadwalader in the house in company with Miss Jones. Blair came at ones to business, for, as he was, fond of expressing it, in business he was a man of very few words. “M dear Miss Cadwalader,” he began, «moot ly and softly, “ I have taken this occa- :.ion to call upon you and express my sympath for the very severe loss that you have sustains , :md alsoto see you on a little matter of busi- ness, which I presume had better be settled up as soon as Possible. I suppose you are acquaint- ed with al your father’s usiness affairs? ’ “No, sir, not all.” “ Well, of course I didn’t know how that was, but I assume that you know your father’s af- Iairs are notinquite so good a shape as they might be.” ‘ Yes, sir, I know that.” “ The fact is, Miss Cadwalader, I hold a heavy claim against your father, and according to the conditions upon which the loan was made, if the money owed is not paid upon demand, I have the right to take the mine, which is pledged as security.” The girl was perplexed; Blair spoke with such absolute assurance that she didn’t know but what he could take the mine in spite of er. “ I don’t want to act the of a harsh creditor you knew,” be con 'nued: “ but as your father isdead, and you, being a lady, utter- 1l y unfltted for attending to any such enterprise, and in orderto save the property from deprecia- tion, and so endanger my loan, thought that I had better act on the matter at once. willing to do more than the fair thing by considering the circumstances. Althoug have alread advanced more money than the mine is con dered to be worth, if you are con- !ent to turn the property over to me, immedi- utely, I will give you my check for a thousand rlollais or if you choose to accept a certain proposition which I had the honor to make to your father. a short time before his death, and which you, then refused, the affair can be easily arran ed. . Dcsdemona understood well enough to what proposition he referred, and a slight flush ap- upon her pale face. “You see,” the bonanza king said, in con- clusion, “ I want to do the square thing Just as u 011 u I know how." issuance-w that Desdemo- wu m ml, and ht she was uncertain new to reply, am 0“ i Richard G. ‘ I who appeared to her to be a very Atlas, fit to l carry the Candle—box works on his broad shoul- ‘: ders. l “Wait, dear,” she whis red, in Desdemona’s ear: “wait until I call r. Talbot. He knows how to talk to these men. Please wait a few minutes, gentlemen,” she added, sweet , to the two conspirators, and then she hastenc away. Miss Jones’s hurried mannerdid not remove in the least the suspicions that her action excited in the minds of the two plotters. “Curse that irl! she means mischief!” Blair whispered, to cCracken, and he hal f-turned and tried to see where the girl was going by means of the side window. “Bad ’cess to them! ain’t they all alike?” re— turned the Irishman, in the same cautious tone. “ Didn’t Mother Eve begin it, and hain’t they all been at it more or less ever since?” And both of the two saw that they had good grounds for their sus icions, when, after a very brief interval, Miss ones reéntered the apart- ment, followed by Talbot. Heartin under their breath both of the men cursed the superintendent. Talbot seemed fated tocause them trouble. “ This gentleman is going to attend to all the business oi? the mine in future,” Miss Jones ex- plained, introducing Talbot, “is he not, dear?” and she turned to Desdemona. “ Yes,” the girl assented, feeling strong at the very sight of the cool, quiet but determined su- permtendent. “So, gentlemen, if you will explain to him the business upon which you come I guess he will be able to attend to it. You know Mr. Tal- bot, of course.” Despite the 'great control that Dick had over his marble-like face, he could not quite suppress the faint smile that played about his lips as he noticed the look of disgust on Blair’s coun- tenance. Yes, he did know Talbot, and there was still a mark upon ihe face of the bonanza king which dated from the night when he had been intro- duced to Talbot and to Talbot’s iron-like fist. Blair, however, speedily controlled his anger and came at once to the int; he explaine that he held a lar e claim 'or money loaned to the dead Genera Cadwalader, the Candle—box mine bein lodged as securit for the loan, and one o t e conditions of t e bargain was that the money was payable on demand, and that, in case it was not paid, the mine was to be forfeited. Talbot listened quietly, and when Blair had finished, demanded: “ You hold this claim 7” it Yes. i? “ Do you demand your money?” “Yes, or the mine, either; I don’t care which.” “ Hold on; don’t be in such a hurry,” Talbot returned, quietly. “ We cannot pay the money at present, as we are not now prepared; it was expressly sti ulated that the money should not be deman ed as long as the interest was aid.” “ ‘ ell, I do not know anythin about that.” Blair replied, impatiently. “ bought the claim 'ust as it stands, and I hold to the letter of the ad.” “You will have to sue for it; I am advised that we have a good legal defense.” Blair stared; e was getting angry. “Sue!” he cried; “sue be han ed! I shall not sue. It is expressly stipula that if the mops! is not paid the mine is to be trans- fer .” “ Oh, such a thing was never heard of! We refuse to do anything of the kind. Go into court and make us turn the mine over.” “ That is our game, is it i” cried Blair, hotly. “Well, I siall not do anything of the kind. You cannot pay the money, and this mine is my roperty by right, so I give you fair warn- ing hat I am oing to take possession of it.” ‘We will ve you six feet of soil to lie in, and that is al ; and even to win that ou’ll have to have an army at your back i” repl ed Talbot, coldly. . “Ill have the men fast enough, and I give you fair warning that if we win it will be six set of rope that you will get. The Camp is getting roused against you now. This road- agent business is about pla ed out, and, Miss Cadwalader. I want on to now that general suspicion points at this man as the murderer of your father.” Talbot breathed hard, but Desdemona was on her feet in a moment, and with a look restrain- ed him. “ save this house!” she cried. “ I defy you! Do your worst! You will not triumph over me if there is any justice in heaven!” Like two whipped curs the plotters linked away. CHAPTER XXIV. mm ms. “THAT is right!" cried Polly, oral II thdoor closed aim: an ’ "I" albot of Cinngbefi that a bold game Was pretty sure to win, evw if the man didn't have the cards in his hand i , back it up. ” “ Well, in this case, miss, I think we have the cards,” remarked Talbot, qvu‘iyetl . “ All the a l— vantage is on our side. e hold the fort, n pretty strong one, too; and behind good stout walls, such as the stockade is. ten men, well» armed and resolute, could easily hold a bun dred at bay. ” “ But the miners—the workmen, will they be willing to peril their lives in my behalf i” asked esdemona, anxiously. “I will answer for them, to a man!” Talbot replied. “ Why, miss, it is their bread and but ter; the mine gives them a living, and they an- not gomg to stand tamer by and see this fel low seize u n the property. I really doubt it he will be a le to raise a force, although I reckon he will throw out money freely, and he has managed .in his cunning way to et up a senti— ment against me in the town. on see, this Camp is about as wild and lawless a one as l have ever seen, and as I have beaten some of the bullies of the town pretty badly at. their own ame, they will not leave any stone un— turne to get even with me. They know that, just so long as I remain in the Camp, they will not be able to have everything their own way, so of ilcourse they want to get rid of me as speed y asposs1 e. “Do you think this man will venture to at— tack the mine?” Desdemona asked. “Undoubde , if he can raise force enough to encourage t 9 hope that he will succeed. That is the case, just as it stands, in a nutshell. If he can raisea crowd he will surely give us battle.” “ Oh, this isaterrible state of aflairs!” the girl exclaimed, nervous with a prehension. “Dessy, dear, it is not ing when you get r used to it,”.the youn lady om Angels re- marked, hilosophicai y. “Oh. I know all about it. ou see, dear, it is the peculiar way they have of doing business in California. I re- member that my pa, when he was alive, was al- ways in hot water—always fighting somebody or somethin . You know in some of these camps they a ways ‘ have a man for breakfast,' so my pa to es .” “1t ma all blow over,” Talbot hastened to say, in or er to relieve the mind of the young girl: not that he thought so, for he felt sure it would not. Long experience had taught him how easily a strong public sentiment could be excited against a man in a wild and lawless cazrp such as Candle-box truly was. Besides, an attack upon the mine was the last trump left in the hand of the bonanza king. He must either play that or throw up the game and cen- fess himse f a beaten man, which he was not at all likely to do.” “I cannot bear the thoughts of a conflict but I presume it cannot be avoided,” the girl rc- marked. “ Of course it cannot be avoided!” Miss J ones declared. “ You must fight for what is yours, mustn’t you i” “ It is no sin, you know, for a man to strike in self-defense,’ Talbot assumed. “ We will not take any steps to invite a conflict; we will simply defend ourselves against rufllani‘y vio- lence; and now, ladies, if you will excuse me, 1 will go out and prtlapare to receive this land- shark and his gen he is mad enough to lead his crowd to attac us. We cannot play with them, you know, in such acase as this, for if the tug of war does come it will be either their lives or ours, and as for myself, I feel quite cer- tain from what has already transpired, that,’ like the pirates of old, I fight with a rep- around my neck, and I do no intend m £005 shall hate the tightening of it, if I can help it." And with a pleasant smile upon his face the superintenden passed out into the open air, ap- ring much more likea man going to a cheer- ul entertainment than one who expected witlp in an hour or so to give battle for his life. “Isn’t he ust rfectl lendid 1” Miss J om s exclaimed, a no w ic fully revealed hw private opinion that the superintendent Wus much above the common run of men. “He is a man, every inch of him!” Desdu» mona assented, a rich, warm color mounting in“ to her cheeks. “ And he has found a little favor in your e es, at last, eh i” the agirl from Angels question (I. mischievously, “ though at first-you then in. he tides; great bully of a fellow—a regular cs» per 0 f‘Am I toblame for liking the man who is Willing to risk his life in my cause i” Desdemu~ na‘iiemt‘iznded,tiihe bll‘ush deepening in mar cheek, an ye nice n or friend’s so am with unabashed eg es. ‘ n‘ g “No, on woul n‘t be a woman, but a marble statue you did not like him 1” Poll returned. I wish you didn’t like him, thong ,” she con— tinped regretfully. Why so?” the other asked, in wonder. use then there would beachance for one I” Miss Jones retorted, with a comical look. “I tell you what it is, Dos-v. if. you had not up” mind toer him, i would have generos- like-repeater,asmypamedto mamas. emergency she thought of the mus W “the: t tinny to talk. Hypo always my !” l w -.v»».— :7 :~~ a. Hulk. _._ Richard Talbot of Cinnabar. Leaving the two “girls to their meditations, we will now follow albot’s f ' When he left the house he found a the miners congregated without, by the gate of the stock- ade busy in conversation. Blair, in his hurried retreat, had paused lon enough to let fly a Parthian arrow, a poison shaft, indeed. He had addressed the miners, told them that he claimed ion of the Candle-box propert — that it was his, legally—that he had served ue notice upon the present occupants and that he was now on his way to the Happy Palace to get his forces together in order to take pomeSion, fleeceably if he could, but forcibly if he must. e warned the miners that he had force enough engaged to take the mine; told them that their superintendent Talbot, was a marked man, and that the men of the Cam had determined u 11 making an example of m if he pe ' in defying their warning and remaining in the Camp' and he furthermore said to the men that he had no quarrel_at all with them, and trusted they would be Wise enough to keep out of a quarrel in which they could have no possible concern. As be ex lained to them they could all retain their tions, Talbot would be the only" man who would have to go, and he said, openly, that the su rintendent was thought, by t e greater part 0 the town, to be the leader of the road-agents, that he was the Blood-red Hand and that his fin r had fired the shot which had killed General adwalader; he had assassinated the old man in this cruel and barbarous man- ner, so that he might get easy possession of both the Candle-box property and the general’s daughter. . And, after delivering himself of these dark suspicions, the bonanza king hurried “away to o ' his forces for the attack. lair had played a most excellent game, and played it in the most skillful manner; hisspeech gave rise to doubt and indec1sion. The workmen of the mine had been strong for Talbot, but as they found that in the rel they were not only going to encounter but and his men but that the s tor had suc- ceeded in enlisting about all the inhabitants of the Camp on his side, they really hesitated, and an to ask themselves if they were wise in gomg 'nst the will of the town. And albot, when he came to converse with them, soon discovered how they felt, and fully realized how effectually the poison of Blair s - words had taken effect. p in t heaVens, proclaimed that the noon our had come. Talbot, sitting quietly by the gate, waiting with all the patience of a stoic for events to devel , caught sight of the Happy Palace r1, Mo! y, accomplanied h the come- dian, Tu bs, hurrying at t e top 0 their speed toward the mine. A peculiar light shone for a moment in Tal- bot’s dark eyes. “The 1 comes towam and assist me,” he mutte “She is true though the others fall from me. When a woman—a true woman, once gives her faith doubt cannot shake her. ” Molly was all out of breath when she came up to Talbot, and Tubbs, who was somewhat fat, was blowin like a porpoise. “ Oh, Mr. albot! the girl exclaimed, as soon asshe could catch her breath “Dick, they are coming for you, tooth and l” “ You bet!” cried Tubbs, emphatically. “ ‘ The land is burning; mercy site on high, and either they or we must lower lie !’ ” ‘ The Frisco: l" Talbot asked calmly. “ Yes, and he’s go the hull town at his back!” “A mob, a rude imeiggt ragifiggzpcome- dian uted, “ on bl ug r “ B'iiz’we’ve come to fight for you Tubbs and Il” Molly continued excitedly. “Tubbs is my ner now. I did think of another chap, but har ain’t nary use of a wing her affec- tions away on ang g. ,t hasn’t an use fog ’em soIsaid to ub , es oucome on an fight for Talbotrand then ,bl vge ain’t killeif, and on as hitch m a e. y “Fo¥thesa eoft is fair maid pruld face the wild Numidian lion and tear his rugged Jaws asunder that he might no longer hey the moon with howling!” the man from old Arkan- nw declared. “Thar they come, Dick!” Molly cried, with a lance toward the town; “get inside and shut e e!” “ grind then c havoc and let slip the dogs of war!’ ” Tubbs ye ed, at the top of his voice. CHAPTER XXXVI. 1' mass '10 ran: occasion. ‘ Tn girl’s eyes had not deceived her. Blair, followed by some twenty-five or thirty men in warlike array, came rapidly on toward the mine. There was no doubt whatever that this armed force was on mischief bent. . “ You go inside, Molly,” Talbot said, after taking a good look at the advnncing host; “ you F Time gassed rapidly, and when the sun, high e and your friend go inside, and get all you can ‘ of the ho s toman the wall. The miners were all clustered in the to. we. looking out, and tothem Talbot turne !_ ‘ This is all my funeral, gentlemen,” he said, in his quiet, impassive way “ and I don’t ask a 1 sin 1e one of you to lift a finger in my behalf, an yet, at the same time I don’t want to be delivered u helpless into the hands of my ene- mies. All want of you is to line the wall there as though you were ready for a fight; that will 've me a chance to make terms orm self, and ey won’t know that I am almost one and helpless. That’s fair, boys, isn’t it? You can do this much for me even if I am the black- hearted villain that they say, can’t cu?” The men nodded assent: it wasn’ in human nature torefuse such a simple request from a man brought to bay and actually hunted down by his enemies. The favor was a trifling one, and the miners made up their minds that they would grant it; so {slimy appeared in warlike array above the w a . M011 and Tubbs Were in their midst, and the girl, w 0 had got an idea from Talbot s h that the men were not hun ering for a fig t in his behalf, could not restra her indignation. “ If you don’t stick to him to the last breath you are all a set of pea cowards!” she cried, ercel ; “but Tubbs and I will, whether the rest 0 you do or not: we will stick to him to the death, eh, Tubbs!” “You bet!’ .cried the comedian, who, spurred on by the girl, had become real! valiant. “_We 11 .go for ’em hot and heavy an then, di- vine mistress of the Happi P e, ‘ lorious serpent of the Nile, 1i ht t 6 way of tygian horrors with the splen or of thy smile!’ ” The near approach of the attacking force pre- vented further conversation. N oticin the hostile a cc of the miners, Blair pru entl halted s force, at a safe dis— tance, and ta ng his handkerchief from his packet advanced himself, waving it as a flag of co. Talbot rose to meet him. “I do not want to have anyt to as to you, sir,” the bonanza kin remar ed . dy, ‘but I do want to speak these misguided men ” and he inted to the miners whose heads and shou ders just a above the top of the stockade; “ to these misguided men,” he repeated, in a loud voice “who are foolish enough to take up arms an show fight on be- half of a redhan ed murderer!” “ Who is a red-handed murderer?” Molly de- manded in a terrible rage, a cooked navy re- volver clutched firmly in her right hand. “This man, Talbot!” Blair re lied, insolentl . “Take it back!” cried the girl, leveling t e revolver full at Blair “take it back instantly or I’ll drive a bullet through you!” The expression upon the face of the bonanza king changed, and his breath came thick and hard, for he comprehended that the girl was wild enough to do afithing. “Hold on!” cried bbs, excitedly, “ hold,by all the gods, I charge thee! hold thy desperate hand! Tis ' stall the rules of war to fire upon a flag 0 truce!” “Don’t fire and let me ki” Talbot re- marked, calmly, even now in he face of all this cruel dan r the coolest man on the ground. “ You an the citizens of thisCamp bring an ac- cusation against me,” he continued, raising his voice so that all should catch his words. Am I to be condemned unheard? am I to have no chance for my life?” “ h es, certain] ,” responded Blair; “ we gave on a fairytrial.” “A fair l” Talbot repeated, “and what sort of a fair trial do ou mean! A trial such as I‘would have down n Frisco or in the Eastern cities, or a trial after the fashion common in the mining rm?” “ Wh , he , of course.” “ 'l‘ha suits me exactly!” Talbot cried, for the first time a trace of excitement appearing in his voice. “That is what I want, and so I de- mand, after the fashion of the mines, a trial by battle. I am here, armed and ready; let in ac- cusers step forth; I care not how man t ere be of them, one, two, ten or twenty, if am so dangerous that it requires an army to beat me and you are cowardly enough to avail yourself of the opportunity.” There was ahead silence for a few moments after this ringing speech; the listeners were as tounded. This was the wzy in which Talbot of Cinna- bar showed the w to feather. It was a fair Ifroposal and Blair felt that he was caught. e looked back at the rest to see what the thou ht about it. Old J n Go ble nodded his head, vely. “This seems to me to be about t e squar’ thin . I’ve bin ’lected Judge L nch,” he re- mar ed, slowly, “ an’ I s’pose the. in this hyer “it” my "has. th blin u ’ ‘s e e d ’ an, ” McCracken ex¢iaimed. ' so in, “I’m very much obleeged to yer” the judge retorted, savagely “but reckon that it aint an of mv funera . I ain’t accusin’ the man of no hin’; I’m jei’ Judgin’ the case, that's all; but, what I’ve got to say on this hyer p’int‘ is that if a man sets 11 to make his word ood with his body, then it s time the accusers of hat ; nir man come forward and face the music, likewise.” 25 “Unless they are afraid to back up their ‘ words,” said Talbot, with cutting emphasis. The remark stung Blair at once. “I’m not afraid to back my word with my body!” he exclaimed, angrily, for, in truth, he was anno ed that he ha been caught in the trap and orced to toe the mark. “ Neither am I afraid!” cried Klamath John, ste ping forward. “I sa that this man, who cal himself Talbot of innabar, is a black- hearted, redhanded scoundrel, who has been driven out of nearly every decent mining-camp in California.” “Two!” said Dick, as cool as a cucumber. “Come! ar’n’t there two or three more of you! Let us have enough to make the thing interest ing, you know. ow is the chance to settle old scores and end the matter. Let every man in this Camp who bears a grudge against me, or wants me rim out, step forward, now. Don’t any one hold back! You’ll never get a better chance at me.” Kanaka Bill and Jockey Joe stepped forward and oined Klamath John. “ had in eyes on you two!” Talbot ex- claimed. “ knew you were hungering to t at me and there’s a ig friend of mine you r, that had a slight discussion with the other ni ht,” and with his outstretched finger, Dick in 'cated the giant who had attempted to ex- tinguish the light of the Arkansaw comedian’s genius, with a big potato, on the night of the ex‘lnii’mo'n' h a l” dedth t rth o,sir-ee— oss- y respon a wo , instantly. “I got all I wanted of you, e other night. Thar’s sich a thing as gettin’ too much pork for a shillin’. You kin count me out, ef you will be so kind, stranger!” “ You are a man!” cried Molly, at the top of her hinge; “you are a man, and on ought to come out of that crowd of cowa i” The crowd didn’t relish thizdpointed allusion, at all, and the miners look at each other, doubtful] and inquiringly. as much as to ask if thegir hadri htl named them. “ Four—is tha all ’ Dick inquired. No one else stirred. “Talbot, [reckon that you see the heft of the job!” the old adjud remarked. “ Now, gentilif you are re y, 11 give the word. You are armed, and I reckon this hyer thing is to the death, isn’t it?” “ Asfar as I am concerned it is !” Talbot cried, instantly. “ I won’t run or cry for quarter un- til I am killed, and then I can’t.” “To the death !” Klamath John exclaimed. “Hold on, then, till we scatter!” the judge cried. “I reckon that you’ll make meat for five funerals store you git through, and that ain’t any one of this crowd anxious to make the sixth, as fur as I know. Git, bo sl” The crowd obeyed on the word; e five des- perate men alone remained. “One, two, three—sail in your elephants!” Judge Gobble shouted. The sharp crack of the revolvers instantly sounded on the air. CHAPTER XXXVII. run END or run near. Tim foemen were at it instantly, the moment the word was given. Four ainst one! The od s seemed terrible, and yet, when Tal- bot was compared to his antagomsts, it was not sogreat,afterall. He wasan old andpracticed duelist: as good a revolver shot, too. as this world had ever seen; and he entered upon this affair as 00011 and as unconcerned as though itwasasimpe trial of skill instead of a des- perate battle for life. Eight shots were fired in as many minutes. Four by the attacking force and four by the resolute man who was confronting his foes as gamer as the mountain bear brought to ba . Talbot had a revolver in each hand, ant? so quick and skillful was he in the use of the wea- pon that he found it an easy matter to fire two shots to the one of an single enemy. ' ht bullets w ' 'ng throu h the air, and six 0 the eight reached the mar , two only be- ingwasted. at of the four shots that the attackinfi'pm fired, two of them drew blood-from a! Klamath John’s bullet creased his cheek, leav- ing; mark as though he had been. cut with a w p-lash—a narrow shave, for an inch more to the ‘ ht would have rendered it a would: aBill’s leaden pill tore a we through the fleshy part of Dick s arm; the rul- fianhadaimedatt 9 heart and had not been very wide of the mark. Blair, through sheer nervousneu, Jockey Joe, for want of skill. had mined outright. But Talbot’s metal messeng my bad sped with wond might each one to its tar t. Blair went down, with afullet in the shoul- der—an ugly, dangerous wound, but not abso- lutel a mortal one; but the leaden an of hi and slaughter settled Kanaka B l and Jockey Joe’s account with this world forever. Bill was hit direct] in the center of the fore- head and Joe right a the heart. Both dropped deadintheirtrscks, withscarcelyagroan. And Klamsth John, the gian hunter, m onthecon- directness 5% r." 3'.‘ ’call it quits, and if I don’t get out of this re- 26 was down—shot through the lungs, mortally Wounded, apparently, for the crimson life- stream came gushing from his lips and he writhed like a wounded snake in a onv. But the fight was not yet ended, or Blair, re- clining upon his side, took deliberate aim at Talbot and pulled the trigger of his revolver a second time. And the aim was a true one, too, now, and no doubt the shot would then and there have ended the eventful career of Talbot of Cinnabar, but the pistol missed fire; these little accidents will happen sometimes with the best of tools. Talbot had approached quite near; the foe- men had all advanced when the battle began, all acting under the belief that a moving man could not be hit quite so easily as a stationary one. And new came the chance of the victor, and he was so near that the bonanza kin could de- tect a fierce glitter in his eyes as T bot leveled his revolver directly at him. Blair felt that his last hour had come; he was certain that his life was not worth a moment’s purchase if Talbot’s finger ever pulled the trig- ger of the pistol. Life was sweet, sweeter even than the reputa- tion of being game to the core and of dying like a man with a ood backbone. “ Hold on l” e exclaimed, throwing away his revolver; “ don’t fire! I give it upol’ve got enough!” A bitter smile came over the bronzed face of the victor. “I reckon that it is my say-so nowi”he re- plied. “ You would have ppered me if your istol hadn’t missed fire; esides, you seem to orget the conditions of this fight. It was to be to the death. You had no business to throw away your revolver. I won’t take any advan- tage of you, though. Pick up your revolver and ,I’ won’t fire until you are ready for a shot! But the bonanza king had no stomach for any more fighting. He had “ weakened” most de- cidedly. “ No, no, I am wounded and disabled,” he protested; “I will not fight anymore, and if you attack me it will be murder!” “ I a peal to the crowd l” Talbot replied. “ It was to a fight to the death. Although you are disabled you tried to get another shot at me, and if your revolver hadn’t missed fire ou would have sent me to the happy hunting. grounds.” “ But I will do the fair thing!” Blair exclaim- ed, in mortal terror. “I’ll own up beat, and :.grce never to trouble you any more. I swear to you by all that is he y that I will not bear any malice. I will do anything in reason—I’ll give y ou time to make payment on my claim on the mine.” “Aha! new you are talking!” Talbot cried, with a lite bow. “ That is business, every time. ive me a year to meet your demand and I will call the matter square !’ “ It’s a bar ain l” the bonanza king instantly replied, a col fimpiration oozin r out from ev- ery pore, now t t escaigaseeme grenable, for never in a‘l his life had ndolph near to death. “ All of you will bear witness to this!” Talbot said, appealing to the crowd. “ The pro osi- tion comes from him and on behalf of iss Cadwalader I accept the offer.” “ Oh, it’s all squar’,”Judge Gobble remarked. “The game is yourn, and if he chooses to settle in this way it is nobody else’s business.” “I will act square, upon my life I will!” the bonanza king protested. “ I will make out the papers just as soon as I can. I give you my word that I won’t try any gum-game.” “ You would not be wise to try any,” Talbot remarked, quietly, but with a eculiar grim- ness Forceptible in his voice, “ )ecause it you didn’ act square, and should try to take advan- tage of my mercy, I would kill you as certainly as I are you to-day, no matter where you went, or, in such a case, I would follow you to the very end of the world.” Blair shuddered ; there was not the least doubt in his mind that this bold man of the mountains ——this cool and dauiitlcss Talbot of Cinnabar—— would be as good as his word. “Gentlemen, I suppose that this circus ma be considered as over "Talbot remarked a - dressin the crowd. “ flow is it, judge? I liaVe mainta ned my cause at the revolvcr’s muzzle. What is the verdict, guilty or not guilty l” “ Not guilty, squire!” o d Gobble replied in- stantly. “I reckon that all the Camp will al- low you have fiaxed your accusers in the most genteel an’ handsum’ manner. These three, hyer ain’t likely to say an thing, an’ I reckon thatthis hyer eat is satisfie ,” and he nodded to- ward Blair, w 0 was sitting up ciideavoringto stanch the flow of blood from his wound, With his handkerchief. “ I haven’t got a word to say against him,” Blair answered, morosely. “I am satisfied to lair come so gion as soon as I am able, then I will make you a resent of my head for a football.” albot then directed the attention of the miners to the other three. Richarsfl‘elbeieigieeahar- An examination was at once made by some members of the crowd, while others assisted Blair to his feet, at the suggestion of his famil- iar, the Irishman. Bill and Joe had been killed instantl , but the im and silent hunter, Klamath leihn, still reathed, although it was evident that life was going fast. “ pen his shirt, and let us see if we cannot stop the flow of blood,” Dick now interposed which one of the miners proceeded to do; and as he opened the flannel shirt which covered the brawny chest of the hunter, a folded paper was ex sed to view. he miner seized this, astonished at finding such a thing there, and curious in regard to the centeiits, while the bystanders gaped on in amazement. A sur rise awaited them that they little dreame of, for, as the man unfolded the paper the lurid sign of the road-agents, the Blood-r Hand, was displayed to view. The paper was a warning address to the miners employed on the Candle-box property, commanding them to quit the mine within three da 3, or else prepare to die. he mystery of the Blood-red Hand was now a m ster no longer. It was clear that the chic of t 9 gang lay gasping in the agonies of death before them, an as the two others who had fallen, Kanaka Bill and Jockey Joe, had al- ways becn his boon companions it was meaty certain that they were the ot ier two r0 - :fents, for it was remembered that there had wa 3 been three in the gang. Ta bot’s innocence was thus made apparent. And now that the truth was known, the miners remembered that Klamath John had been connected with the Candle-box mine, and it was clear to all that he had been the secret plotter, who, not possessing money enough to ever enable him to et hold of the property, which experience hag taught him to believe was very valuable, had adopted this peculiar mode of secret terrorism, hoping thereby some day to secure the roperty at his own figures. The end ad come now, though, and Talbot’s bullet had forever destroyed all chance of the giant hunter etting possession of the lode. And while t e crowd stood and gazed at the stricken man, in wondering tones conversing concernin the strange affair, with a final gasp the soul 0 the outlaw took its flight. Klamath John was dead. Then, at Judge Gobble’s suggestion, the mi ners proceeded to search the cabin of the hunt- er, and there concealed they found the blue suits which the road-agents had worn as a dis- uise, and also various pieces of plunder, which eft no doubt that Talbot’s bullets had saved the hangman a job. Public sentiment now took a most decided change, and Candle-box Canip hailed Talbot as the hero of the hour. CHAPTER XXXVIII. 'rALsor’s REWARD. THE bonanza king in this instance proved to be as good as his word. He executed the pa- pers allowing a car for the payment of the money which h been advanced, and then. ac- companied by his satellite, the pride of Siski- you, the bou d McCracken, shook the dust of Candle-box Cam )i'rom his feet and departed, to seek i'resh iiel s and fpastures new. The leading men 0 the Camp, when they learned of his intention, endeavored to persuade him to remain. But, once caught twice shy, sa 's the old adage, and the speculator had at ill he wanted of the Camp of Candle-box an the valley of the Klamath. “No, sir-cc!” he cried, decidedly, to Judge Gobble, as McCrucken assisted him into the coach, for he insisted upon going away at once, although his wound was an extremely painful one and common prudence would have told him that he had better remain fora few days in quiet, and ive it a chance to heal, “ not any more for me, udge!” he said, in the most em- phatic manner; “ I have got all I want and. if you ever catch me outside of a sheriff’s domains agzLinnl will give you leave to shoot me on sig t! " Well, good-by; sorry that we cannot per- suade you to invest in our growing town!” the judge responded; “but \I presume, Mr. Mc- Uracken, that we shall see on ag’inl ’ O “ No surl” returned the rishmnn, in ant- ly. “ Wouldn’t be found dead in your amp. bad ’cess to it i” The stage rolled off, and the town of Candle- box never saw either of the two again. Talbot 0 .rried the documents to Miss Cad- wahilder. He found the two girls together as usua . “There, Miss Desdemona, for a year on will not have any reason to trouble ourse 1' about this claim,” he said, as he hande the papers to her, “ and from the prospect ahead I am about as certain as a man can be that you will be able to ay it in full inside of six months.” ' ears stood in the lustrouse esol! the girl and she was so much under the in uence of emotion “ Are they dead ?” he cried. woman’s wits where matters of the heart were concerned, notici the peculiar looks of the two, began sudden y to have an idea that they would et on better if she wasn’t there; so she immediately executed a most skillful retreat. “ Oh, Mr. Talbot, you are a perfectly splen- did man!” she exclaimed, “and if I wasn’t half- promised to three or four lyoung men down at Angels, I should be strong y tempted to set my cap for you, although, maybe, it would make somebody angry that I knew of l” This, with a glance at her friend that called the vivid crim- son blush up into Desdemonu’s pale cheeks. “Excuse me for a moment: I’ll be right back!” Then she caught up her hat and fled. “ lf she doesn’t find her tongue now, he will,” she mut- tered to herself, as she passed through the door, :‘or else he isn’t the kind of man that I think he Left alone with Talbot, Desdemona felt that she must speak. The foolish pride of power and Klaus were all gone now. In the beginning, she ad thought erself far better than this man. Her station in life was so far above his that any love between them was impossible; she cried out to herself that he was a lawless des- perado, and so fought vigorously a ainst the love which was radually stealing into er heart. And the man oved her, too; she knew it, for there is a subtle instinct in the heart of woman- kind in such matters, although never by word or action had he given evidence of the passion which she felt sure dwelt within his heart; he had always treated her with the greatest re- spect and consideration. But now she felt that the time had come for an explanation; she was all alone in the world —no one in this life to whom she could look for protection, advice and assistance, but the faith- ful, true-hearted man who had risked life, and all, in her battle. Instinct told her that if she afiorded him a chance he would speak. “Mr. Talbot, I am utterly at a loss to know how I can ever repay the kindness which I have received at your hands,”she began, timidly. “ I am a beg er, I fear, even in thanks.” “Miss ‘adwalader, in all my life I have al- wa s spoken frankly both to friend and fee,” he rep iet ; “ and now to you, whose good opinion I value more than words can ex iress, I shall speak my thoughts freely. When first saw you in Yreka your beautiful face impressed me av once, and Isaid to myself here is a. woman who is worth a. whole lifetime of toil to win. I have led a wild and adventuring life, have loved and lost, for fate seems to take a malicious pleasure in snatching from my arms ever loved 0i e who trusted herself to me. 1 thong t that n y heart was scared, and that I should never ca re to look with eyes of love [3:011 any woman’s face again. Your appearance owed me instantly that the idea was false; such a woman as y u are I felt that I could love—love as Ibelieve I have never loved belore. I was willing to seive for you, even as the Jewish lover served seven years for the maid whom he adored. I made it my bu>i~ nose to find out what brought you and 'our father up in this region, and when I hear the story of the general’s mining speculation, I saw at once how uiifltted he was to co c with the rude and unscrupulous men whom e was sure ‘to come in contact with in this Camp, and I made up my mind that I, too, would come to Candle—box Camp. I was not sure that any of- fer of advice or assistance from me would be accepted, and so I had recOurse to strata rem. I heard the stor of how the Candle-box ode was originally iscovered: so I assumed the character of a Digger Indian, and offered my services as a guide to your father, but after our arrival here, fortune gave me the chance I sought, and in my own roper person I entered your father’s service: t 6 rest you know; and now, Desdemona, that “on snow the truth, my fate is in your bands. do not ask in answer at this time; let me prove to you t at I am worthy of such a woman as on are; let me clear this mine from the 108. of debt which weighs it down; let me put you in a position so that you will be independent of all the world, and then, if you think—if your heart tells you that I am worthy of the reward I seek, give it to me—your own precious self.” “My heart speaks now!” Desdemona ex- claimed, smiling through the tears which had dimmed her lorious eyes and she extended both her ban 3 to him; “love has conquered pride, and I am free to own you for my lord and master.” Our story is told, and once again cool, daring, lion-hearted Dick Talbot found a heart that could appreciate his worth. Securely anchored in the haven of joy we leave him, but for how lei g we know not, for clouds will gather in the mountain region, storms Will burst, and rude, lawless men seek to win golden pairs by other means tl an by honest toil, ii u l(‘ ss restrained by the la w‘s strong arm; but Ian‘s machinery exists not in the “pocket” Ly the Klamath’s stream known as Candle-box Camp, and yet, if troublous times do come, what better security could the Candle- box lode have than the dauntless courage and the good right arm of bold Dick Talbot—Talbot that she found it im ible to speak. The young lady M in Angels,wl10 had all a of Cinnabar? Till: EXD. 9.1 ,—::—.> rm. l I TEE DIME SPEAKERS. Nos. 1 to 23, inclusive. Each Speaker, 100 pages 12mm, containing from 50 to '15 pieeei. #4 Dime American smile; 1. You America, Birth y of Washington, Plea for the Maine Law, Not on the Battlefield, 0 Italian Struggle, Inde ndence, After the Battle, The Glass Railroad, Case of Mr. Macbeth, Prof. on Phrenology, Annabel Lee. Washin on's Name, The or Boy’s Syren, Dime National Union and its Results, Our Country's Future, The Statesman's Labors, True Immortality Let the Childless ’Weep, Our Country's Glory, Union a Household, Inde deuce Bell, a"? holar‘: gignity, e c es 0 gross, A Chghtmas Chant, Stability of Christianity, The True Higher Law, The One Great Need, ' 'he Ship and the Bird, i'ecumseh‘s Speech, ' ‘erritorlal Expansion, Martha Hopkins, The Bashful Man’s Story, u, The MatWr—of-Fact Ma Rich and Poor, r Seei the Eclipse, Beau es of_ the Law, 3‘" Rafi“ “aims: o eown o . 8., Three F$la W Washington, Our Great Inheritance, Eulogy on Henry Clay, Dime Patriotic IAgleriigaCto the World, ve o oun Right of Sager-enorm- 2"]? “Emit W" en uc an‘s ap Kentucky Steadfasfieu‘ Timidity is Transom The Irish Element, ‘ mvfimhh Let MedAilone, ml, Brigsn - er-Gene The Draft Union Sqliare Speeches, 3*: a... r t 's The Story (I)? an Oak Tree, L-e-g On My leg, J. Jeboom‘s Oration, A Dutch Cure, The Weather gig Heagd erm, ' 060 A ll An Old p ed' Penny Wise, und Fool- Ea'fic‘flmtnmfish‘ \ I tgs 7 “In 8.5:} Cause,’ u, i hm‘ti‘izmee' men, The Cost of Riches, Great Lives Im erishable The Prophecy or the Y’r Unfinished Problems, Honor to the Dead, Immortalit of Patriots, Webster‘s olit’l System, A Vision in the Forum, The Woman‘s Rights, Right of the Governed, {‘1’ Ladder, oman, Alone, The Rebellion of 1&1, Disunion. Speaker, No. 2. 8i?“ amid P ver , Our Domain any 8 stems of Belief, 6 Indian Chief, The Independent Farmer Mrs. Grammar‘s Ball, How the Mone Comes, Future of the ashions, Loyalty to Liberty, Our Country First, Last, and Always, British Influence, Dale-as of Jeflerson, it (“30%. ve or 0 Earl Rising, Deed: of Kindness, Gates of Sleep, The Bugle. s were. .ggl urity o t e t Old A e, 6‘ Beaut iii and Trug The Worm of the till, Lmi‘i and that; 311m. glusge 6 Eagle, Was ington, The Deluge. Speaker. No. 8. Hi to 1' Our Flag T. 1F. lfiefigher’sA dram, We Owe to the Unio Last Speech of Steghen Cotton, [Union, Batt e Anthem, The limb of Peace, Freedom the W: tchword Crisis of Our Nation, Ditixty of Christian Pa- Turkey Dan's Oration, A Fearless Plea, The Guns of Slavery, A Fore er’s Tribute, The Lit e Zouave, Catholic Cath The “ peculators. ’ Dime Comic Speaker. No. 4. Kle ergoss on the War, Agmun 1y Considered, %rl¥vRisin;gdd m e asp 0 Beef Comic Grammar, No. , I'm Not a Single Man, A. Ward‘s Advice, Buzfuz on Pickwick, Romeo and Juliet, Happiness, D083. Po’F, A exan Eul um, How to be a reman, The United States, Pufl‘s Acc‘t of Himself, Practical Phrenology, Beautiful, Cabbage, b] People reea e wnfi is a Bachelor Like? Funny Folks, A Song of Woe, Ward’s Trip to Richm’d, Parod Compound Interest, A Sermon on the Fest, Old Do Jock, The Fis es‘ Toilet, Brian O‘Linn, Cwlfickfitt to o ponen Pollticailgtump S h, Comic Grammar o. 2, Farewell to the settle, The Cork Log, The Smack in School Slick‘s Definition of Wife, Debating Club, A Dutch Sermon. Lecture on Locomotion, . Mrs. Candle on Umbr'lia. Dime Elocutionist. No. 5. SEC. 1. Parscxrtrs or TRUE. Newman—Faults in Enunciation; How to Av0id Them. Special Rules Eand Observations. . . THE AsrosOIu-ron. Shefldsn‘smstof the Passions: Tranquiiii‘Y. Cheerfulnsss, Mirth, Raillery, uiry Attention, Modes godadchol , urage, Comandhf. Diflerence lug, toquitting), Buffoone Joy, Delight, Gravity W t)!” Perplexity, Pity, Grief, Despair ear Sham Donating, Pride, Forbidding, , Exhorting Jud ,Approv- Condemning caching, Pard In- , e, Remorse, Obstinacy, Authority, Amrmi , Denying, on- rguin ismissi . Refusing Granting De- pmegxidence, g’enerationflfil ’ $.93“ tion 0th, Intoxica tion, SEC Tn Coupons-r ope, D Love, Re- Giving, Wonder, Admiration, Gratitude, Cu- Persussion, Tempting. Promising, Anecta- er, etc. ms or AN Osa- rxos.—'Rules of Commition as applied to Words and Phrases, viz. t3. Propriety, Precision. Asapplied to Sentences, viz“ Length of Sentence, Clearness, Unity, Stre . of Speech; the Exordium die N 0 tion, the o Proposi Confirmation, the Refutat on, the Per-oration. SEC. IV. Rspansss'rsms Exssmsss IN Psoss Aim Venn—Transition; A Plea for the Ox; Falstafl's woquy on Honoréhzhe Burial of Lincoln; the and use; and the D e r amlet‘s Solil Look Upw ; king William Ba onet Cha ' Histo ofaLife' the le; th go “hame 118' Byron' ' uy; Old Things; s' the Eye; an R Essa Onto Musik; Discoveries of G eo. SEC. V. OBSERVATIONS or Goon Au'rsoamss. Dime Humorous Speaker, No. 6. A Sad Stay, A Strinf o Onions, A Trag c Story, Cats, . Courtship, Debt De Dow, Jr.’s Lectures, Ego and Echo Fashionable Women, Poetry Run Mad, R' ht N es, g; entiflc 8 A891" The Cockney, The Fate of Sergeant Thin, The Features” Hamerican Voodchuck, The Harp of a Thousand tures, Fern Thistles, S rings, Good-Nature, The Last of the Sarpints, Gottlieb Klebcyergoe: The March to Moscow, Schlaekenlichter's an e, The Mysterious Guest, Hosea Bi low‘s O inions, The Pumgé How the oney , The Sea- rpent, Hun-ki-do-ri's Fourth of The Secret, July Oratiou , The Shoemaker, if on Mean N’o, Say No, The Useful Doctor, Jo s on Leap Year, The Waterf Lay of the Hen ked, To the Bache om' Union Lot Skinner's E eg , Legue. Matrimony, Uni States Presidents, Nothing to Do Vagaries of Popping the Old Caudle’s Umbrella, Question, Old Grimes‘s Son, What I Wouldn‘Xg} Paddle Your Own Canoe. Yankee Doodle din, Parody on “ Araby‘s Ze Moskeetere, Daughter,” 1933. Dime Standard Speaker. No. 7. The World We Live In, The Two Lives, Woman’s Claims The True Scholar, Authors of our Liberty, Judges not Infallible, e Real Con ueror, F ti The Citizen’s tags, Italy The Mechanic, Smite“ Wise“ e ern un, Oesian’s Address to the Independence Bell—1777, John Burns Gettysburg, No Sect in eaven Miss Prude‘s Tea-Party, The Power of an Idea, The Beneflcence of the rs, HowCyrus Laid the Cable The Prettiest Hand, Paradoxical, Little Jerry, the Miller, Th N k e co , r Tho hts Tmies‘ ’ Life The 'Idler, The Unboliever, ana Instability of Successful Agriculture, [Crime, The Poop-l: Always Con- Music of bor, [quer, artisan and A The Blarn Stone, The Studen of Bonn The Broken Househo Th Bi e ble, fiheé’urs: and the Sword oun , Tr’he Mord? Co What is War? finttgrborah Lee, e my m e o The Pin and Needle, The Modern Puritaxao Immortality of the ill, nation, Hero and Daring, A Shot at the Decanter. Dime Stump Speaker, No. 8. Hon. J. M. Stubbs’ Views on the Situation, Hans Schwackhoimer on Woman's Suffrage, All for a Nomin Old Ocean, Sea, The Sea,the Sea, the open Star Bangled Spanner, Stay Where You Belong, Life’s What You Make Where’s My Money, 8 h from Conscience, an’s Relation to Society The Limits to Happiness, Th suing America, [‘Fallacy, “Right of Secession" a Life s Sunset, ,Egman Nature, el‘B, ‘ngy of the Indians, $1,153 in behalf of Am. ries of War,[Liberty, A Lay Sermon, A Dream, “Astrfiliomical, m e oon, Duties of American Citi- e Man Temptations of Cities. Good-nature a B . Sermon from Hard-shell Broken Resolutions. Tail-enders. [Bum There is no Death, The Value of Money. Meteoric Disqnisition, A Fruitful Discourse. Be Sure You are Right, A Frenchman's Dinner. (Disang F 1E2, Il’Shrew Ng‘ontl :ccilqm‘n' o , e ma ur ‘0 man, T a Masculin The Cold-water Man. timing 9 Farmers, [Our Country The True Greatness 0 New England and Union, The Unseen Battlefield, Plea for the Republic, Permanen of States, Libert 010g , il‘ohu ompson's Dau‘r, ouse ea It Is Not Your Dime Juvenile Speaker. No. 9. A 8081‘s Philoso by, How the Raven Became Hoe t Your w, Six-Year-Old‘s Protest, A Mother's Work, The Suicidal Cat, The Same, arisen 0p m. eep tory. . ThetElditor, A Little Correspm The Same, in rhyme, One Good Turn Mes The Fairy Shoemaker, My Dream, [ , What Was I‘ll ever Use Tobacco. The Horse, A ll set: we...va r: 01d. e o o , , Bromley ’3 Speech, film, eSame, second extract was Lament, The Fisher's d, J y Shrimps on Boots Sh an Scholar. , AMai en'sPsalm of Life, Choice of Ho ,- _ A Mixture, Poor Richard’s ‘ Eligifor Skates, mo , D 3.11, 0 , win so ty Best Policy, Live forySomething‘l Regan, Lay of the Hen-Pecked, Ho for the Fields, The Outside Dog, Fashion on the Brain, Wolf and Lamb, On Shanghais, Ethiifilti an... ones or a , ca Sick Lion, Hommogathic Soup, Counlt'lx-ly;1 %ld Town Mice, fioflse an Eyes, [00 Man 0 ma Home, m A ‘Hundred Years to The Lotus-Planter, The Madman and his Little Things. Little Sermons, [Bacon A Baby’s Soliloquy, Snuilies on Electricity, Re ntance The Two Cradles, A lea for The Ocean Storm, Humbfiiat otism, Do flue—Do it Well Night r Christmas, Little Short Legs, ever. Shrimpson Amusements, Prescript n for ring Dime Spread-Eagle Speaker, No. 1 0. Ben Buster’s Oratiou, Drum-head Sermons, Hans Von Spiegel’s 4th, Schnitzerl‘s Philosopeda Josh ' 's Advice, “ Woman's Rights,’ Allard-she Sermon, Luke Lather, The Boots, The Hog, The Squeaer, Jack S ratt, Noah and the Devil, New $336 Tragedy, A Lover‘s Luck The t Bachelor Hifalutin mighruga J aeob Whittle‘s Speech, Digestion and ise, Jerks PW tea, Distinction‘s Disadvant- A Word h Snooks, Smith, But Love G Stock f Noun) Aoilllhulhfailiings Buzzers, A 0 on on Speaking for the edit, Ii Trovatere, Daking a Shweat, Kissing in the Street, "we... m, We... 's u , DoctoruDudlfikter’sAnn , i The ohm, Co ents, . Old Bachelors, Hard ves, ‘ oman, Dan Bryant’s Speech, f The Niam N A Colored View, People Will Talk, Maud Muller, l wackhamer s Ballhm Nobody Who Wouldn‘t be ‘n, Train of Circumstances, Don‘tD on Dadda, Good Advice Music of bar The Itching rum, . The Amadeus Ensign. Debater and Chairman’s Guide No. 1 1. L—Dmrnla SOCIETY. Its Office and Usefulness, Formation of, Constitution of, By-Laws of, n.-How 10 Dream. Why there are few good Pre uisites to Oratori- The c of The ER‘lolg‘toric 02mm, e. assassin... e Order of Argument, Summary. . ill-CRANK“ GU"!- Ordinary Meeti and Assemblies, n88 TheOrganisstion, Order of Business and The “Quea'tfgiin' nowlt be'l‘rested, The“Questioa." HOW“ Yeas and Nays, Interrupting a Vote 0 animation of Delibera- ve Bodies, Conven- tions, Annual or Gen- eral Assemblies, PreliminaryO tion Permanent 0 main. The Order of Considering Reports, a- OPEmhsCiEfi. M ti u ary o ons, The Due Order of Con- sidering Questions, Sii‘m‘ r e. mi ects o a m ttee, Their Powers, How Named, . When Not to Sit, Rules of Order and Pro- i Miscellaneous. I Treatment of Petitions, The Decarum of Debate, Hints to a Chairman . -0“... V v. .. . N ,_ , ,.._,,.. J-.-w«0-v First-Class Family Paper, and Model Weekly.” R L A" \ ( spy- ~ . (is/1 ’ I 45"" " UNRI'VALED AMONG POPULAR PAPERS h the good repute of its large corps of Contributors; In the beauty of illustration, typography and order of its “ make-up.” In the variety, scope and interest of its com A FEST-CLASS POPULAR WEEKLY, aiming at what is BEsr, FREsHEsr AND Mos'r Amscrrvr in Fiction, Romance w Novel—in Sketch, Story, and Narrative—in Adventure on Sea and Land-in City Life Revelations—in History, Biography and Events- in Wit and Humor—in Poetry and Essay—in the Useful and Practical—in Answers to Correspondents, Topics 4 the Times Wale, etc" etc., etc. ENTERTAINING, INSTRUCTIVE AND AMUSING, It meets the tastes, wants and demands of old and young alike, and is the Congenial Companion, the Welcome Guest at Fireside; in Houses, Shape and Ofiices IN ALL PARTS OF THE UNION! No paper now published in this comitry having a. wida simulation, and none being received with so much favor by that class of people who are solicitous this what they read shell h both pure and good. The corps of regular contributors embraces the following MOST POPULAR LIVING AMERICAN WRITERS: LIBERT W. AIKEN, CAPT. MAYNE REID, 3 MRS. MARY REED CROWELL, EBEN E. REXFORD, OLL COOMES, MATTIE DYER BRITTS, CORINNE CUSHMAN, c. D. CLARK, JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR, COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM, mas. JENNIE DAVIS BURTON, HON. WM. F. CODY (“Bme Bum cm. FRED. WHI'I‘TAKER, r. c. HARBAUGH, LUCILLE HOLLIS, RE’I‘T WINWOOD, MARY GRACE Hm CHARLES MORRIS, MAJOR SAM S HALL (“Buckskin Sam,") FRANK mm ROGER STARBUCK, cm. SATTERLEE PLUMMER, uwxmmmnmurumwxrsmauxomrs, WASHINGTON WHITEHORN, JOE JOT, Jr., and BEAT Tum. AND THE BPARKLING ESSAYISTS AND EN-PREACHERS, THE PARSON’S DAUGHTER and EVE LAWLESS, I.” of whom cater exclusively for the Sun JOURNAL, while in its department of ANSWERS TO comm thee who use conversant with such literature pronounce it the best and most interesting column of the day. Taken :11 in 1.: tin STAR. Aroma is the Journal Par Excellence for the Lovers of a Wholesome Popular Literature, And those seeking for what is best and most enjoyable in that line should become its modern. PHILIP Ea. WARNE, BRACEBRIDGE HEMYNG ("Jack Ed away/5 EDWARD L. WHEELER, GARRY GAINES, CAPI‘. CHARLES HOWARD. A. W. BELLAW, The Star Journal is Published Weekly at the Following Rates; for Four Months . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....................$l.00 Two copies forOneYeast...“......,..,,,,,,......M for On. Your . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o. cho-Iee.egeeeeeesODOOOOIOOIOOOOOOOIOOOO.u Supplied by all Newsdeunen. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, WILLIAM_ STREET. NEW roux. 8.00 .-..~ ‘ A size numbers. -J[__,- JEJEJE_J_4E 0] Notable Works by Notable Authors. Beautifully printed in the popular folio form, from clear, open type; each issue a complete novel and sold at the uniform price of TEN CENTS EACH. No double price on double or mm THE CHEAPEST LIBRARY EVER PUBLISHED! .ARY 1 WAs Sm: H18 Wm? Mrs. Mary R. CrowelL... 10c 46 A Wom‘s HAND. Author of “Dead Letter.” 10c as THAT B0! or Noncorr'r’s. 83 Smear Wan. 48 A Wom‘s Ham. By Mrs. M. V. Victor... 44 Tan Dun Lmsa. By Seeley Regester. 45 Loan Luna’s DAuonm By C. M. Breanne. 100 asked Bride or. Wm. Bus Man! 1 HT}: lgy Mrs. Mary Rees Crowell. It Love? or, Commune Ann Swar- 2 :31; By Wm. Mason Turner, M. D. 3 The Girl Wire or, Tu Tans Ann mm mm. ByBartley . Campbell 4 A Brave Heart; or. Summon Srralxos. By Arabella Southworth. k G‘ l Bessie Ba nor the Wor :- . By 5 Wm. Mason M. D. The Secret Marri- e; or, A Dncusss m 8 Sun or linens. By gas-a Claxton. no A Ila hter of Eve; or. Bnnman a! n, 7 By Mrs. ry Reed Crowell. 8 Heart to Heart; or, Fun Pamss' Lou, By Arabella Southworth. 9 Alone in the World; or Tn Tom Ma‘s WAan. By the author of “Clittonm 10 A Pair of Gray Byesi or We Nacnm ByBoseKennedy ' ll Entangled; or, A Damascus Gm. By Henrietta Thackeray. 12 His Lawns] With; or. Mm m Cum or Anon-10s. By lira Ann 5. Stephens. B 13 Madea the Little Quakeress. y Corinne (Kishman. 14 Why I Married mm; or, Tn Wow is Guy. By Sara Clarion. ll A Fair Face or. Our n m Woaw. By Bartley '1‘. Camp 16 Trust Ber Not; or. T!!! Tans Knon'r. By Margaret Leicester. Southworth. A Loyal Lover or. Tn LAs'r or m 1JGamsrsrras. ByArabella 13 Bio Idol or THIILirSTABBIDMAm 3! MraMaryéeedCrowell. 6 Two Gmns‘ LIVIs. ByMrs.MaryR. CrowelL. 100 OTnWAaorHsAa-rs. CorinneCushman..... 23 Sowmo Tm: Wmn. Mrs. Mary R. CrowelL.... 10c 34-25 ans or Pan. Miss M. E. Braddon ..... .. Charles Lever. 27-28 Cam‘s mnsnrrmcs. 39 A GIBL'B Hm’r. By Rett Winwood ....... .. m1 Ran As A Ross :3 8n. Rhoda Brougham. 100 83 Tu: Lnaors'r. Em. ByMrs. Crow WM“. J. D. Burton...... 84 THIGIPSY Bums. ByM. E. O. Malen......... 100 85 Axons Tums. ByBev. J. H. Ingraham..... 86 Watson Manor. By Bartley T. Campbell. . .. 100 87 BLACIEYISAND Bws. Corinne 33 Buy! BAaaAaA. By Corinne Cushman ..... .. 89 A Dmosnous Wow. By Margaret Blount... 10c 40 OnmA's Love. By Henrietta E. De Condo. .. . 41 Lost: A WIFE. ByCorinne a annlo WArs. By Margaret Blount 47 VIAu orWaA'ru. B Mrs. MaryReedCrowelL. 10c 2mmmanoxLovs. ByHarrletIrvinz .... “:00 “AW G cc hmnnu “me 3 DH) HI 10“ H“? M” T' Campben“°'° 0" 49 Tin MADDss'r MAsumos: Evan WAs. Burton. 10: 4 A Emacs Wow. By Rett Winwood. . 10c 50 Love in A Man. By Mrs. E. F. Ellet ........ .. 10c 10c 11 Tax Fuss Wmow. Mrs. J. D. Burton ...... . . 10c g; A'l‘mcsTPmnn (g m Blount. was amen rm. . en ...... .. 12'” L0" ’03 LOVE M' 19' Braddon‘ "" " 10c 56 TH: Pan-r! B Parson's Daughten 10c 14-15 Toxins or m Sn. By Victor Hugo ---- -- 10° 57 Dm Sm: am By Mrs. ary Reeq Crowell... 10c 16 TH! QUAnnooa. By Catharine A Warfleld.... 10¢: 58 Domain! Divoncxn. By Jean Davis Burton. 10c "48 Um,“ 3w. By J. 3' Le Fan“ __________ u we 59 AWimn Wow. By Lillie evereux Blake. 10c ’ 60 BLIND BAanAiu’s Seem. Mary G. Halpine.. 10c 19-3) FRUIT. Miss M. . . . . . Ax We” Grace Mortimer. ' _ 1% 21-22 mm KATE Kmav. F. W. Robinson .... .. 10¢ 09 MAnoorm, 'rna STRANGE. B Wm. M. Turner. 10c 63 Win: on Wxnow. By Bett inwood . . . . . .. . 100 10c 10c 66 Tm: Taxman: Miss Braddon. 10c Bett Winw 74 Ann was 51 (known. By Dr. J. H. Robinson . . . . . . . . .. 10c 52 A Home: or A Poor. YOUNG GmL. Mn. Ellet 10c 53 Tm: Locxsn Hum. By Corinne Cushman... 10c 64 THE Canons Consms. B Philip S. Warne... 10¢ 05 Possum To run Anna. .. Tam. By Jennie D. Burton. 67 Euxum‘ Eonun'r. By Philip 8. Warne . . . . . .. 68 LADY Ham’s Vow. 09 Bowm. Tm: Karon or Cmvmr. 70 Dan-rmo'roRm. ByMaryBeedCrowell.... lilo 71 Tu: PAnsoa’s DAuanm By A Parson‘s Daughter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 10c 72 TnMrs'rmous Comm. CorinneCushman 10c 78 WAs Sm: A W513? or, The Proof of Love. By 1 oo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . run; or. The M story of Ano Elleeiord Grange. Pas-rm Am) van- or The Gold-Bug oi Fr’isco. By Corinne Cuslnnan. chber21. 10:: y Cushman , . 10c By Mrs. E. F. Ellet .... .. 100 P. S. Warne 10c Go By Jennie Da Burton. we 10° NTnBrn'sanun- or,TheFatalLegacy ' 10c BmeJennle 1). Burton. BeadyNov.4th..10c .‘ :3: A new issue every two weeks. i For sale b all newsdeal or sent. ‘ - 10° on receipt twelve cents. B LE Publishers. 98 William . Y. 19 The Broken Betrothal; Hun. By Mary Grace Halpine 20 Orphan Nell the Orange Girl; or,Tn Wm oanw’Yoax. Agile Penne. 21 Now and Forever; or, WmDmSn MAnr or. Low vnsns Hm. By Henrietta Thackeray. 22 The Bride of an Actor. By the author of “ Alone in the World," etc, etc. 23 Leap Year; or, Wu! San Paorosln. By Sara Claxton. 24 Her Face Was Ber Fortune. Byxleanor Blaine. 25 Only a Schoolmistrcss; or, En Umm Slam. By Arabella Southworth. 26 Without a Heart : or, Wmu or m Barn. By Prentiss Ingrahaxn. 27 Was She a (‘o uotte ? or, ASrraAyos Covar- sm. Henrie Thackeray. 28 Sybil Chase: or, Ta: Gmm‘s Win. By Mrs Ann E. Stephens. 29 For Her Dear Sake: or,SAvannos HIM- ssu'. By Sara Clarion. 30 The Bouquet Girl 2 or, A Mmos or Mom. By Agile Penne. 31 A Mad Marris e: or Tastime Mrs. Mary A. Dennis‘on. ’ By 32 mm, tgyefsr‘imntthawoginna: or. Bosas 33 5.2:: shrew-mg.um °' 3‘ eiezeremmxm' W“ 3 5 gywAmst : or, Tax Wnrrusor Patna. 3“ ewmnimmw W m- 37 The Country Cousiné or. Au! liar a...» THAT Guam. B Rose on . 38 His Own Again; or. Tans-r Nos. By Arabella Southworth. 39 Flirtation; or, A Yams Gina‘s Goon Nun. 4081;1Medxphflu‘m In Le a Bonus e o arty or, vs . Sara Claxton. ; 41 11nd Devotion; or, Low AoAms-r m Wosm. ce eming. 42 Beatrice, the Beautiful; or, Emanuel» Lova. B ASouthworth. 43 The ronet’s Secret: or, Tu Brut. By Clarion. 44 The Only Ban hter: or, Bantu-am Inna. By Alice fieming. 45 Her Hidden Foe or. Less AI' An. Ones. By Arabella Southwo 46 The Little Heiress; or. Um A Owns Bme. M. A. Denlson. 47 Because She Lovell Him; or, How Wm rr END. By Alice Fleming. \ 48 ln s ite or Herself; or. Juan-11's Ru Ann-mgr. By 8. R. Show“ 49 His Heart’s Mistress; or. Luvs A! I'm . Bron-r. ByArabellasouthwortr. October we. 50 The Cuban Heiress; or, Tu Parsonso: LAVnn-aasss. ByMrs.MaryA. Denisou. Oct.‘ 61 Two Younlr Girls' or, Tu Buns or A: nun. By unamemmg? Ready November as. 52 The Wine Moose or or Ransom Ian A Hun. By bod unwell. Ready Momba- Ola. A new issue every weak. in: Warsaw Luann is for sale dealers, five cents per or sent noel of six cents each. DIE Pa 98 William street. New York. alllews- maliou ADAMS. 1 r c i l |. i ’. i . .z.. -_.\. .. ..... i “2" .‘.‘!'Y’ . w—r W .«.;Iv9déi:§|i.+:{z -. . gee“: r. .r¥35;-;u-$:rm?%.éiri?si :5: “a: :— .1 {33.7.- 3 «x. ru. 4 “A v M M‘ "‘ ‘ .49.. fi'fll