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EKTEBKD n nu: Pom OFFICE H Kim You. N. Y . A? SECOND tux.» MAIL Runs.

No.225

Published Every CR?“ I775) (f' ‘,4(7(’l 7715'. 7)!) L7l'fi‘7/ (3 73:,
Week- as WILLIAM STREET, N. Y.‘ February 14,1883.

Vol. XVIII.

Ten Cont: n Copy.
85.00 a You.

 

BOBKY MOUNTAIN AL; or, Nugget Nell, the Wait of the Range.

BY “BUCKSKIN SAM ”-Ma_jor Sam S. Hall.

Annular“ DIAMOND DICK.“ “THE LONE STAR GAIBLER," “nu: mmumx 10%waan “KIT “mus.” " mm mm wuuvn.“ nun, rm

 

TH! BLACK STEED UV nm'KY HM’VTAIV AL. WITH A vivml wr' MAthikk AV]! I‘l'HY H-m v. [\Tw ‘IIW HR

 

v

e

;

2 .
_ ' Rocky Mountain Al;
03.

A Story of New Mexico.

 

I BY BUCKSKIN ‘SAM,

(MAJOR sax. a. man)

amoa or “m snnrnm or an use." “ma ‘

. snazos TIGERS,” “ DIAMOND max,”
“ KIT CARSON, nu," are.

PROLOGUE.
,, .1 10min man and a maiden, arm in arm, are

alkiugslowl along the very verge of the Pal-
{miss of the udson- .
 ltis bright silvlery moonlight, and theviewis

 

, and there with white sails; and a stately steamer

‘1 “Herbert, darling
- with tears in her eyes: “ I know we must

wiles up the stream, the brilliant lamps from
u 'oabin windows being but twinkling points of

ght. .
Afar to the north, east and west spreads a j

.Y.

Nugget Nell, the Waif of the Range...

 

soeueJhat would chain the eye of an artist un- .

ill tired nature closed his wear ‘lids.
From the dizzy hight tl‘e R line of America

seems like a huge serpent, stretching its .lazy

len th along the earth.

0 the south, not more than a rifle-shot distant, 3
stands a stately mansion, with extensive gar— ;

dens. shrubbery and outbuildings. Every thing

around and about it denotes wealth, prosperity T»

and happiness. But the beauties of the s'ur~

roundingsare unnoticed by the young man and 3
5 get used to it, and to sleeping out on the plains

his fair companionl

Naught but their own words, thoughts and
presence, occupies their attention.

The youth is agnarently about one-and twent

of age, , slender in form, and wit
dark hair and eyes. and jet-black side-whiskers
‘ and mustache.

There is an honest, manly look about him
which is manifested in every word and move-
ment. The maiden is sweet sixteen, and is fair,
with golden wavy hair. Small in stature is she
but most beautiful, lovable, and graceful as the
wild fawn of the rairie.

Their words wil explain the relations between

them, and their connection with our story will, 

' in due time, be develo ed.
orbert!” said the girl,
r
and now. for I am convinced that Lucretia n2
is, at this very moment, sp ing from her win;
dqw. Oh, Herbert! if you new the life I an;-
forced to lead, your heart wduld bleed for me!
“ Nellie, do not pain me further by a repeti-
tion of your trials. You will nnman me, and
unfit me for the stru gles ahead. Would to God
that your father h never married that wo-
man! 'Then her daughter would not now .be

. domineering over my darling.

/

t

“ But, cheer up, Nellie! I have graduated
from Columbia, after a long and tedious course
of study, and I now start for Colorado and New
Mexico, in order that I may gain a practical
knowled eof that branch of stud ,mineralog ,

[which I ve made a specialty. i, hope soon a)
be able to take you from your father’s roof and
toprotect you as mv own loved wife. lint I
fear-that Carl Cole, Lucretia’s lover will con—
spire with her to cause your father  make a
will in her favor. He is ill and weak and m
must guard him, for hair in danger from t
guilt and unscrupulous pair." ‘ . .

' “gain afraid suspicions are well und-
ed. erbert; an I shall esp watch of m.

” Lucretia ha’s morp than once intimst that
my father is insane, and cm to be sent to an

asylum. _ .
‘I am'wesk and powerless. 0h, Herbert!

what shalll do! 1: they should mde
n

riti - , awn . I can never remain
3h r3!  wi Lucretia; for I shouli efir
he in fear like another of her name-rt- e
Lan'retia bog:
me' ‘

 ~ may we
a eu . l e. w to on 0 (on.
You hag: web: of c rable valuz, I know.

Secrets“ , .. Then, should matters assume a
wrote sgpe. dispole of a portioan them.
fly tome. But he'sure that Carl and Lu-

crftia know nothing of your whereabouts and

m "9.

“When you write, be sure and insert my
middle name. Write it in full-Herbert flew.-
ard hes. Then there will be no mistake in de-
liver ', wherever 1 may be located. You will
not orget this!” ,

At this moment a taunting fem hal laugh
reached their ears from the shru bery. and
caused Nellie Belzar to shudder and clin tight»
,ly to the arm of her lover, who exc aimed,

quic y:

" Heavens! Nellie. that is Lucretia‘s laugh.
She issp ,in on our movements. God Egrnnt that
no ill is in t 8 future for you and ms!
sounds in mv mus like the laugh of a fiend, it
h ominous, I fear. portendng evil—dread evil 
to both of us.

of history—«she would mison .

But that .

w

 

w

 

P
. oblivious to his surround age—oblivious of time

, at?“t chalzm's-h-wherek b Wild
soosou romrocygor uni _ ‘
fin p0 

_ Rocky Mountain Al. N

“Come, darling," he said, haltin in the
screen of a clumpof- bushes as he s ‘ e: “ we
must part at once. There is no use prolong—
ing this heart-torture. One kiss—a last kiss-—
until God permits us to meet a ain!" - I

“Ch Herb! darling Herb! shall die with-

re

 

out you!” And Nel clung treniblingto her.
lover, while the tears ran down her fair cheeks.

Catchin her frantically in his arm and
_pressing er for a moment to his bren. -the

young man kissed her flew in n brow and
cheek, and eye and lip: t n p ac g her upon a
garden-seat, he rushed liken madman u the
river, a lon wail of an ish from the gir cut-
ting throng his heart] 0 a knife, causinihis
teeth to set and his hands to clinch, so tig tly
that the nails cut into his flesh. , ;

Thus they parted-those two; one, noble,
true, and brave; the other, as fair and am

; gelic a maiden as the sun ever shone upon—-
' parted! each to sufler untold sorrow, eac
mm 0 n- . i prove their love for the other in wa s that
, ' r below rolls the cerulean river, dotted here .

hto

would have tried the souls _of the iron- carted
knights of old. ,

A half-mile Or more Herbert Ives proceeded,
when out from a clulnp of trees sprung a (youn
man, but a couple of years his senior, an wit
him an extremely handsome youth of perha
fifteen, each grasping a hand of Herbert, as t 6
first exclaimed: ' ‘ .

“ Well, Herb, have. you met my cousin
Nellie!"

“I have Seen her, (leor e Belzer; and I have
hidden her farewell. (l grant that it be not
for long!

“ Brother Charley, you ought not to have no.
companied us. You ale not used to being‘out
in the night air."

“Don’t you fret, Herb. I shall be forecd to
as well. What is there now to delay us? - Shall
we start tomorrow 5”

“ Boys, let me talk you—this was am ‘most
trying parting, and shall not forget t mm.
L cretia lane was in the shrubbery, watching.
We heard her taunting,r lau h.”

“ Don’t mind her, Herb.’ said Geor e. “She
can do Nell no harm. (,‘hevr up! 0 morrow
we start for the will»: of the Rocky Mountains;
you to hammer quartz in your scientific re-
searches, Charley and I to en oy ourselves hunt-
in and fishing. In six mont is, if all is wall, we
w lstand again in this spot, and then you can
claim Nellie as your bride.

“Butcome; we must catch the down—river
train. Cheer up, I repeat, old boy: for the fu-
tureF wealth" , and’pleasure in abundance.

are“ em
1v . . (Luz...
, . . CHAPTER I.
“ALL, uvl m  or IAN, 1s DIV’IN’E.”

[our on the prairie! A moonlight night.
an the broadtspahse, broken onl toward the
west. where, serrated Igainst e sky, the
Rocky Mountains. stretch north and south, a
dark adamantine mass~tha backbone of the
American continent.

There is naug t on that broad lain that
moves or shows I e ,exoept a solitary orseman,
whose animal plods along without word or spur
from the rider.‘ . -

The latter grips his saddle-horn as if to sup-
Eggt himself on his horse. He an aged man,

twith care more than wit _years, and his
hair isentirel gray.- His features are drawn
as .if’ from manned anguiah’ h isb
that has heed'ahnost mndurable. '
,He has a long g'ray herd, and his eyes are
set; the gray brows curlin over them. '

s gale is bent dowan , and there. is a

, far-away look in his glassy eyes, which seem to

be,without the proper lubricating fluid wren-
der them natural inn arance. He a are

and place. 7
Not even a bird of night soars or fla ,a
wing; not even a coyote sneaks over the p in.
Nan ht but that broken-down, aged man. with
the h lvery l ' _
His apparel is rich and mu '. and the direc-
tion whence he has come woul indicate that he

 from south of l" rt Union-from flan

Mimlel. probe” -—and’ not only this. but that
he,must have' eft that town long afternight—
fall. .‘l'he animal that be rides is one of great

(l', but it” NOW fagged and broken Ivy Liver.

 The trappings of the'horse are. of the

fluent and mo? costly workmanship.

All these t ugs taken together, it is some.
risiu that he seems to aim now at
he. Great Divide at a point where no
riuly and cinnamon

what s
striking
man livesé—where the
bears prowl for rev—where the bi ohorn .
gs i‘romhight ,o hight and across .edis-v
the merciless Apacbl
eyed steed. the warm-y on h 1):, the 0'
torture and carnage! , ~ . . 
Yet on he plods: stil with that insane store
and listless mien~a range picture on ihui
broad. level. moonlit plain. .
$1in on. until for upward, rise the rocky
peaks, Imlll the black, irregular lines in the
r'mgu simiv V‘llvl.l n: champs; until the steed,
M's-xiii "x ili- land’s ni' i‘l'u- night, throws up his
I..~. l x, in. .. mozt'l“ ; i~;n-ulwnsi0n; but not one

a

D

whit does the

 

. ..
n , .- . . .. ...4._____.
4—.—

rider 'change his position or his

8909' 1' , ‘ .
Through dark shades, between towering and

ja ged walls, over bright moonlit spa a1
so t and‘ sandy wash-opts, and -flintc“hed:!:>‘f
canyons, where the iron-shod boots 0 the horse
awaken steel echoes in the-wild solitudes, or:
he 003. seam nsly into the bowels of the range.
at we will leate this 'Iitan e rider, and
shoot ahead of him into the - eep, windirg
gorge, whither his horse has wandered. and fly
on t . yvings of thought to the terminus of the
grand, adamantine-bound gorge.

It ends abruptly. There is a wall'ot rock a
hundred feet high, On either side; the end shely-
in upward a t ousand feetJn rough, ' u

d ted rock. To the east is the outlet of

c -d t
are gorge; where, for a pistol-shot, it is straight
the ow. . ' ' n .

, The bright moon shines down, and illumines
this portion; showin as it does, a most terrible
sight, heart-rendln an observer. ,

n the middle 0 a circle is driven a stake,

and to this is bound a man—a white man, of

perhaps thirty years of age, strong and well do
veloped,‘havmg- a fine physique and handsome

in face.
sLong, dark lyrown hair riially. ‘shades the
a

deep; rip-(ayes, that fish chance even‘now.
A luxuriant mustache and lm enhance
his manly beauty, and add to e' fearless,

taunting derision that darts from his eyes.

His upper garmenth have been torn from his
form, displaying his broad, white breast and
sinew y arms.

Thus we see him fast bound: his head thrown
slightly back over the up of the stake defiantly
—a picture of hemism seldom seen, especially
when we consider his savage surroundings.

A fire b rns near at band, and some half a
dozen ln ian ponies me secured- cedars;
while a‘magniflcent black blooded sia ion paws
the earth. and at times flashes lancss toward
the young man at the stake, as i knowing that
something “as wrong-as if he knew that his
muster was in deadly peril.

Arms and (unflipments lay careless] around.
A Winchtster r? o- and a brace of Co t‘s revol-
vers leaned a ainst a cedar. They evidently
belonged to i e man at the stake, who has,
judging from his condition and surroundin ..
g‘anced across the sights of these weapons 
the last time.

For, circling around the heroic captive, are
half a dozen paint-daubed Apache brews-—
braves, did I say? God save the mark!

Bars of white gypsum ran across the brow,
and down the chee s and neck of each; a dumb
of vermilion being beneath each eye, and the
same between the central bars of white gypsum
on the breast. ’

Blue, red. and black feathers, brokm and bo-
smeared with grease and dirt, with small tin
and silver ornaments mingled with their coarw
black hair.

Around and around in spasmodic hop. their
arms thrown wild] in the air, an unearthly,
fiendish chant issuing from their brutal lips,
they Were nogght to eppall the stoutest heart,
(‘llfillt‘ the bl , and paralyze the brain of all
but one man in ten thousand; and that man
stands there at the stake. sccn to die by slew
torture, to have his scalp torn from his head. to
have his flesh scarifled with flinis. and burning
splints‘of pine thrust into the v- onnds to be dis-
emboweled while yet alive—and all this he
knows. ‘

All this he knowa: yet the glance of his eye
falters not, his proud bead bends not, Lu! 3
heroism as unnatural as the merciless cruelty of
his captors is still nianifesi. There is a sneer
on his 1i , a defiance in his dark eyes, mm mm-
mands t e admiration even of the savage Apa-

ches.

Still m, the hideous ioriuiers whirl and hos.
their chant ending in txultant whoop and ye i
for. well they know that they cannot be heard
from the plain, ewn wrre their enemies there.
And this is improbable; and, at all events, a
spy is on the lookout from the mountain-side to
warn them.

The captive knows that his time approaches; ‘

but he has not been idle eve moment that be
has been tied to the tree. hen unobserved,
be has started his steer sinews to the utmost,
to stretch and loosen the cords that bind him.
While the Apaches were feasting before they
beg n their terrible dance, preliminary to tho

torture, he has. as he udges. succeeded in so ,-

loogening the thongs, t at he hopes when the
critical moment arrives, he may able to
wrench himse f free.

.‘rhe- savages know nothing of his great
mugth. for they sprung u
from following their trail, ad We 00 ex-
blasted from prostration and loss of (at. that

he had been forced to slee . ~  , .

But, should he new has: Mt chance
is there for himi How  hope to cope
sticczssfuily with hug-ems _, Apache war.
'-lr.n I '1 s ’ '

Harem hope is in bounding to his rifle. With
his inchester, which has fifteen cartridge. in
the ma azine, and the secret of which he be.
lieves his foes to be i orant of, he feels confl.

n him when be.‘

deurof winningr the gilt. At the veryleagt‘.»

I
e

_.—n
~_._-_....._._.._....~. v...

 

., _ 1;;rg-.~ ~..—« .—

 

If?

d

in .
‘ .guddenly, just as~the captive is about to en-
deavor, by one of superhuman cflort, to wrench t

’ rible condition. Then at once he realized that

4

a

‘now rolli

~

 .. .. . .. - .--
hecan die, battling with his red enemies, and
thus evade the terrible torture now awaiting
h

ini. ,
Brave and fearless though he is, he cannot

avoid shuddering internally, now that one by ,

l...

__ Becky Mountain Ala

t this ,moment he discovered another brave
ing, on the run up the gulch. _
Back to the thicket, and regaining his rifle,
he drew head on the instant and pulled trigger.
The Apache threw up his arms, and with a

one, a: fin painted fiends whirl t him, they ' yell fell to earth. . *
bait for an instant, and each randishes his f Staggering to the side of the old man he now
scum-knife iii his face. 3 saw that us latter was either dead or had

Itisasign that the scalp will soon be torn
from his head. Well he knows this, for he has
witnessed such scenes more than once before to-

himself free, knowing that when the red devils
next whirled around him, the torture would
begin, his steed gave out a sounding neigh, that
proclaimed the approach of others of his kind— -
a neigh of welcome. . I

The sound was rightly Interpreted by that
Apaches, well versed as they are in all that per-.1
tains to a horse, and the Wild dance ceased.
Each brave stood in his tracks for an instant,
in amaiaement, not unmixed with apprehen—
3100.

It was only an instant. Then, all nished for g
their wee ns, and ranged themselves, three on =
either si e of the captive. At that moment, 9
around the curve below. and into full view—up 1
to certain death, unless some unforeseen and
unlocked-for event providentially occurred to ;
prevent—ambled the tagged steed, bearing its ,
gray—haired rider; the old man still ripping his ;
saddle-horn, still gazing with g assy stare a
downward upon his wrinkled hands, his bridle- 1
rein still flap ng to and frol

0n came t .e steed, unguidvd, hedecked with
the show trappings, bearing its master to a
horrible eath.

The A ches gazed in superstitious awe and
the Capt ve forgot for the moment his Own ter-

there was news chance opened for him, provi-
dentially, to escape death.

Most in riously had the torture boon inter.
ru , he saw hope in this fact alone.

fmmediately he decided that the stranger was
demented; that be probava had been lost on
the prairie and, for want of food and water and
being old and infirm, he had gone temporarily
insane.

The condition of the horse favored this hy-
pothesis; but, hawever it might be, there was I
no time for speculation. Life and death hun
on the moment—life and death for himself an
the gray haired stranger.

Directly up to the black steed ambled the
new-comer, both neighing, and with seemin
pleasure; while the Indian ponies snorted an
pranced about in their endeavor tobreak loose.
As the horse of the old man c'tme within ten
feet of the other, it halted, as if suspicious and
timid as to a nearer approach. .

The Apaches walker several paces from their
captive, at a less to account for the sudden a
pearance of this old white man. who had, so
speak, walhed directly into their clutches.

Just then the arparently dazed old man, prob-
ably from the act that his horse had halted,
glanced apw and then around in.

He saw the captive bound to th stake—the
latter, by a glance and a motion of his head, re-
calling him to life and action.

The next moment, just as the Indians were
bounding to the rear of the old man’s horse to
prevent retreat, the ca tive, concentrating all

is tremendous strengt for the eifort, burst
tree from his hands, apron like an arrow from g
the bowto the epotw ere y his arms, at the.
same time yyling:

“Jumpl amp, for your life, old man. and
take cover with me! Jump, or on are lost l"

Suddenly theold man no to ho hum
with new life. no oblaged the order to the
letter. Bounding habit the oedm ting um ,
the wall of the gulch. be was iollowed at once 3
by the self-released captive.

With loud-sounding yells of Imaumt ma 1
rage, the A chos rushed, wrapons in hand. so ‘
the cedars. ut before they h passed over half a
the distance the Winchester, 0! Which mention .
has been made, began to be heard. .

And the wee i spoke to the point. With
horrid death~yell3three of the warriors Sprung
might“ air, and fell dead upon the bed of the l

' l

Undanntdd, the others rushed on. with vent!“ :
"11 War-6116', into the cedars. Then followed
a thrashing.“ bushes, another gling death-
ory. and t next moment, out etc the moon-
light, battllng for life, hand to hand. steel to
steel. strum; ed the two white men, each .
clutched bv a burly brave. !

No single man. however, could stand under '
the weriul “Poke! Of that bare arm, so re- :

trlysu-ip for torture. With a loud cry ;
of t um . a made one terrific downward cut, .
that do t his savage opponent front breast to I

thi h.
finward fell the Apache. with but a gurgling
on ry in place of the sounding death-whoop,
Springlng to the s ot where the old mdnw
over an over in the clutches of
one survivnng warrior, the recent captive, HM
about his wounds, grasped the indian by the
andhuriedhisk'nile nhisthroat.

 

 

 

s

 

fainted. R-eling and swaying like a mountain
pine in a not-titer, he too fell backward, his face
upturned to the moonlight, as was that of the
gray-haired man, and both bespattered with
blood. _

A horrible scene was that now at the head of
the gulch, and the moon, as if a pulled at the

' si ht, roiled backward behind a c oud.

arkness ruled the ulch. The snort and
prancingl of blood-terri ed steeds was now all
that tol of any presence of life within these
natural adaniantine walls.

CHAPTER Ii.
A CHILD so LONGER.
80x]: two Weeks previous to theeve'nts re-
corded in our opening chapter the mail coach
from San Miguel entered the Main Plaza of
Santa Fe, with bugle blowing merrily, six
spankin nag: jerking the old “ hearse " along,
makingiut a momentum halt at the [met-omen,

E to throw out the “cow- ides," and then on to

the Grand Central Hotel.

This latter institution, by the wav, was far
from as “ rand” as its name would lead One
unused to rder travel to conclude.

As they came to a halt the driver, Jim Hard-O

lug, gave a yell that would have put an Apache
to shame, as he thus: apostrophized ti loitering
stable-man:

“ Wake up there, Mose, and open the couch!
I’m as still as the beams-pole, and I don‘t allow
to strike dirt till I get to the stables.”

Mose at once complied, and with slaw move- l

ments the “ insides crawled out from their
cramped positions, more asleep than awake, and
with difficulty made their way into the hotel,
which was but two stories in hight.

There was, however. one exception as far as

showing extreme wearinesa was concerned.

Thiswas a lady, closely veiled. but evidently
young in years, for aha ng nimbl tram the
s e and stepped into ' hotel as bough she
h mflered no inconvenience from her jean
nev.

The-admiring eyes of Jim Harding followed
her, as he the pod his long “hip and drove to
the stables, w iii a puzzled expression upon his
manly countenance.

The hour was yet early, and there was no one
astir in the ancient Spanish tOwn, except a few
whose potations on the previous night neces-
sitated. an early dram: their nervous condition
preventing anything like sleep.

With these thirsty citizens, however, we have
now nothing to do.

The young lady, we have mentioned, proceed-
ed at once to the office. seating herself in a re—
tired corner until the sleepy night-clerk had dis-

ot the other ,passengers.

While this cflc'ial was absent with the last
guest, the lady step tip to the oflice counter.
and ran her finger own along the mines of the
arrivals b the previous stage.

Sudden v a shudder seemed to convulse her
frame, asher eyes fell upon two names which
seemed to be known to her. These names were:

“Mr. and Mrs. C. Cole, New York.”

Catching up a pen, the lady hastily wrote, in
such a manner that an observer would at once
have concluded she was d isin her hand;

“ Miss Belle Heller Trith d, olorado."

She than paced heel: and forth mini the rea
pearance of the clerk, when she requestmi to
assigned to a room at once; and this, in a voice
so sweet and silvery. that the young man
“ hustled ” himself mud live y to accommo-
date her. seeming mentari doubtful. for
one» in his life, of the fitness of he apartments
at his disposal. . ‘

Soon, however, he decided. a d polittly re-
quested the young lady to follow im.

Entering a narrow hallway at the head of

['the stairs, he opened the second door to the

right. standing atit fpra moment, as he asked,

, respectfully:

“ Can I be at any service to you, Miss Nelaert
Is there anv thing you wisli.att-er your journe 'l"

“ I would thank v: u to send up my hrea ‘t,
as soon as 'ible." was the replv. “ A cup of
(-0399 won d be very t‘u'ceptab ." ,

“ You shall haw it immediately, Miss Nelsen
The 000k has just gone down to the kitchen.”

“ Thanks,"~eaid the new arrival, briefly. as
the clerk walked to the stairway, and she closed
the door. She then passed to the window and
drew :he curtains.

These windows looked out upon the now do-
serted plaza, and a red tint in the Eastern sky
began to denote the approach of coming day.

Throwing back her vail, the young lady aaVe
one quick look around the square, and then
walked hastily to the bedside, removin her hat.
After bathing her face and eyes. t e latter
showing from their infla ed lids the marks of
ion weeping, she had the ppearance of a young
an beautiful girl, of not more than seventeen
summers. I

,more than two thousand miles. .
all the towns and camps [mm the Arhnfl!
river to this ci

r
i321“ my advice.

 

Having arranged her hair, and brushed the
dustof travel from her a parel, she again ap-
proached the window, an gored up at the blue
sky, with a sadness in her expression which
galveto her an appearance that was almost an-
ge ic. . v -

At this moment there came a tap at the door,
and the clerk entered in rson, with a respect-
ful bow, and asalver in is hand, upon which
were ccflee, mutton-chop, cakes and potatoes.

"This lathe We can do at pit-sent, Miss
Neller,” be said, as he walked quickly to the
dial; after havmg placed the lray upon a
ta

“1 am a thousand times tbliged,” uasihq ‘

sweet reply. '

Again bowing gracefully. the clerk retired,

After mg of her chop and (‘( flee. His.
Ni-lzer again bathed her face; and then, be:
troubles seemin to come upon her afresh oith
cverwhelmin oxce, after striving in vain to
throw the sa thoughts from her mind, she be-
gan to pace the apartment with nervous, i...
pati-nt steps, muttering in low solilt qny:

“ Oh, what shall I do? What shall idol That
terrible pair have traCed me twn to this wild
border!

“I fear I shall go insane. It. some like a
dream more than a reality. Slice my {other
«lifappeared, I fear I have not been quite my-
 f.

“I am sure that LUCYPIIH and Carl have-in.
cart-oratcd him in an asylum. as they (imit-
eH-d. Let me think it all (vei'. First, ltold
papa my suspicions; end then what i had heard
and knew if that female fiend's plans, and he
laughed at me.

" Yes; he laughed. lut Ido not think be fully
realism) the terfldious character of his step-
tYaughter. ‘

“She is capable of an} thing—even nllfllt'r-q
for I leard her proij to Carl to Wish!) me,
Liter they had put pm r papa out of the any.
Herbert promised to wti'e me. lxbi-lieve What

he did write. 1 know he must have written. -

and Lucretia ink rcepied the lettcts. He told
me, at partin , to come to him; and I have
mme, though ie journey had been like a night»
mare. -
"Alone and unprotected. Lllleri’ harried.
ave.

t)". and yet no trace oi hint. ,
know that Herb must be in New Mexico. liq.

. lmpe traveling among the mountains, and m

coining tear the towns.

“Oh, what shall 1 d0? 1 know not when b
is, nor how tocommunicate with him, and I an
reminian with dangers. Lucretia and Cash

will not hesitate to minder me, it they meet me _

here! -

“They know that I have come in sears-hat. 1

Herbert, and hence they have followed .a.
When I am out of their way, a princely fortune
is within their grasp: but 1 would gladly relin-
quish all claim now, and work for my bread,
if ting would let me have peat».

“ . God pity me! Pity stud-preservemet
If I only had papa with he. then I would he!
Herbat. I know i would~end we would then
never, never go back to the Hudson. WMI‘
wml in comparison with peace and hapfl—
nasal t is nothing!

“ But I shall yet tin-i Herbert—I know i shall!

I must. and I will find him if i have to travano
allthe wild trails on both sides of the rocky
range! ~ - '
“ They. have mine to hunt me down. I
thought 1 should haw fainted, when I read
their names on that i ' er. I did not”
that. whatever they might do, they would ova!
leave the old house. ~ :

“ The serpent has ensued our thresholpld'

papa has stifleied most terribly for
i knew that both mother
and daughter were bad:and if In step mother
had not died all this would have happened just
the same. We would have had one more enemy
to contend with. _ «

‘tly poor father is now little man than
wreck; and, _if they heVe placed him h an
asylum, he I‘lIlOOOII bemuy insane. 1%
give the world to know where he isat this mo-
ment, but if I find Herbert, we will both larch
for him. Herbert, l know, will care for hinged
then all will be well. ‘

“But where shall lgo next! I cannot re-
main here. forthey willkill me. Had I noteb-
served their names, when looking for Herbert‘s,
I should have been lost: for then I should have
registered my real name. .

“ I dare not leave this room again. until I go
back closely veiled, to the coach. And then. I
will return up the range. I must go back“
once, and stop at Chico City, for 1 «hrs not thy
here. . They are traveling. and media: 0".
money—poor peta‘s' and mine— ‘  z:-
haps, languishes in some asylum, uncu ,
where have been paid to larva, or
poison
prairies, and in the mountains!

“ For (me true friend-402' use
trace of Herbert!"

I .

mpl’md I wander, a wait, on lb,‘

\
I

Bursting into tears, Nellie Belm sunk into a "

chair. her slender form trembling with the in-
tensity of her deep anguish, her utter deem

\

x

V minther’s brain and caused him to grow old ;

4 ,

.i..R°°i¥Y.1YI‘?Pnfamél-

 

_A

 

 

my, and the seeming hepelessness of her situa-

Thus she sat, for full five minutes. sobbing as
if her heart would break. Then she sdprung to
her feet, her blue eyes filled with a esperate
light, her small hands clinched, and her whole
attitude, for the first time, that of a tragedy

ueen.

Btridin tragically across the room, hack and
forth, wit hasty steps but firm, she continued:

“ I have been a child; I will now be a
wflant They shall not conquer—they shall
not kill mel

“Iwill find my father and Herbert. My
father shall be free. I will trace him out, alive
or dead! If they have killed him they shall
snfler‘ for it. They shall linger for long ears in

“ Thank you very much for your kindness to
an old man, and a stranger," was the slow re-

ly.
p “I hardly com rebend what has occurred
since I left San iguel. They counseled me
not to leave the town without an escort, but I
stole awa in the night, for I cannot rest until
I find Ne lie, my daughter. When I think of

« her, I am oblivious to anything else; and I

must have allowed my horse to go at will, and
so the animal took me into this Indian camp.”

“ That is about the way of it, I reckon,”
agreed the scout; “and in so doing. you were
the means of saving my life. and of ridding the
earth of seven fiendish Apaches. The red
devils were on the point of acalping me when
you turned the curve in the gulch.”

 

risen, or they shall hang—yes, they s all die
minions deaths!

“'I'hey‘ have trampled upon us; they have 1

ground as into earth. They havo seared my V

time. They have heaped mountains ,
of misery upon my head. and now they have

v followed me, these two thousand miles, that j

' scene at the head of the gulch met, its returmng
gfi'sehs‘ave and fearless scout, who had taunted

o

‘  man, wages!
motionless

. hideous
- terrible,

a

they may crush out my lifel l

“ They have run me to the wall, but I 'will i
,now turnnpon them. I will scorn them, defy ?
them—a3, kill them! if they crowd me further! l

“I, II tle Nellie Belzer—God help mel—l—l
will—kill—them l" I

With these words, the poor girl gazed up- ;
ward a tremor convulsed her slender frame, l
and I’lle sunk senseless upon the floor; her beau- E
tiful face the hue of death, and stamped with i
an anguish unspeakable. .

 

CHAPTER III.
s'rnANGva MET.
A and again the moon dodged behind a
clan , and still that same ghastly and terrible

his red captors when tied to the torture-stake,
when certain death was before him, still la
outstretched upon the blood ttered swar ,
his eyes open and glassy, an fixed upon the
'star-stndded heavens, but sightless.

Nosign of life was there n that manly, sin-

like a corpse—silent and
as the braves around him, who
:momhbigver aga‘igdtgrture l:ieefenselllest‘s6 women
, never put t tore peace-
ful‘fronties' homes. ,

Terrific had they looked in life: naturally
more hideous in their war-paint; more
now in death!

The horses. had quieted, and were now stand-
ing still, when the moon rolled out from a cloud }
upontthsh' gosh-ate masters. Wondering, and
in terror, e animals gazed upon them, the
taint of blood in the air causing them at times
tosasrt induct! toward thescene of the re-

“ fish

Time ' and the yelp of coyotes sounded
down: gulch; a pack of these cowardly
brafit soon appearing around the curve an
than-- ‘retreatin , , uttering their short, sharp
harm a spite l and hungry manner, each of
them awai ng some one more bold than himself
tolead the way up the gulch. ‘ =

grind snappin viciously at each other

for‘srsime, they at last ashed in a body toward
them ofthe gulch, halting, however, before
reaching the slain to again go through the same
.snarli and snagging chorus that they had in-

d ii at the d below.
Ifirtually thpy flocked in among the pros-

trots one dragging its cold, repulsive nose
dyer face of the scout, who s run at once
to a posture, in a bowl de state of
mind, frightening the coyotes, all of which now i
necked back down the gulch, without a yelp.
WM one comps-shah val lance around him,
 mug man .wasbrough back to the mall
tieselthe near past, but moreby the oyoui
whinnLdof his horse Ithan aught else. or his
bruit undergone a t strain while a capL
tlve'snd while the helish dance had goneon
around him. Besides this, he had lost much
. _ for he had met the three braves alone
who entered the sedan, the old man hav-

r

 

‘ tin Wearable so much as to draw his knife. ]

rving 'the latter, who had been the direct v
means of saving his life, near him, the scout f
arses to his feet, althou not without difficulty, l
~andsta eredtohissi e. I

found that there was a feeble pulsation, and he

now! hastened as well as he was able, to the

, way your va

' old man. “

his hand over the old man’s heart, he 

" I am trul thankful if, through me, in any

Kiable life has been saved. 1 now
remember that you fought like a tiger, and
saved me from being butchered outright. But
I feel that I am badly wounded. and must soou
die. I would like much, my friend, to leave
this fearful spot, and to seek some quiet place
where I can confide to you my sad history and
tell of my child, of whom came into these
wilds in search.”

“ I am pained to learn that you are wounded.
Let us ho it is not as bad as you think. In
the morning I will examine the stab that on

have received, as well as my own wounds. ut
meanwhile we will prepare to quit this place.
Lie down again, until I get my clothing and
arms. If the A aches have not rummagcd my
saddle—bags, I Will be all right.” .
“ What max I call your name?” in uired the
nd how came you tofixa in the
)wer of these savages? My name is George
lser, and I am from the banks of the Hudson
in New York State. They call me major, as I
served through the Civil War, holding that
cult at my discharge. More I will explain la-
r

“ I am called.” said the scout. “Rocky
Mountain Al: and mv range extends from
the South Park to the Rio Grande. Las Vegas,
New Mexico, is my general han ng-out place,
when.I take to civilisation, whic is not long at
atime. I was on the trail of these rods from
the west side of the divide; _ but the doubled on
me, taking me unawares, when was nearl
dead from want of food and rest. In fact,
was in a cedar thicket asleep, when I was cap-
tured; my pard, Broncho Jim, being absent on
a bear-hunt when I struck this trail. But,
compose yourself, Major Belur; I think we
will slide throu h this scrape all right. I’ll be
with you again n a moment.” '

The scout, who, as he had proclaimed him-elf,
was none other than the noted Rocky Moun-
tain Al-at this time scouting and hunting in
New Mexico and Colorado, and also frontier
reporter of the “La: Vegas, (N. M.) Daily
Gazdte "—now proceeded toward his horse.
When hareached the animal. the beast pranced
about, in evident delight at the reappearance of
his master, who patted him fondly.

He then quickly examined his saddle; and, to
his joy, found that nothing had been rammed
from it.

“ You wouldn’t allow the red hellions to ined-
dle with my property, would you, Prince?”
said Al to his horse.

“You kept them at a proper distance. and
kicked lively when a greasy A che came near

on. You’re worth our We ght in gold, old

y; but hanged if, a one time, I ever expected
to straddle you- again. It’s not the first close
call we’ve bad though, and slid throu h without
losing a hair. Now, I’ll be mysel again, as
soon as my wounds have been looked to, and I
cover mgr anatomy with fresh toga.”

Soon he scout had himself attended to, and
then, donning a blue woolen shirt, with a wide
flOWing collar, reloading his Winchester, and
bucklin his revolvers and knife about his waist,
hes erect and gased with a scowl of the
most intense hatred upon the dead Apaches.
Removing from their belts several fresh scalps.
he held them up and looked at them with deep
sorrow imprinted upon his features—a sorrow
that was mingled with an insane thirst for re-
ven

and five children, the different shades of the
fiaxen has of those of the youngest three telling
nearly the'ags of the little one from whom it
had'been taken.

For a moment he held ‘them up in the moon-
light and muttered: -

“Torn from the heads of women, who have
often made a place their fireside for me,

b
place where the Indians had cooked theirsup— , when cold northers ha! blown me in from the

 gerious evening. where, as he had or l prhirie; who have cooked from their little store
I

Returning, he bathed the head of the venera-

This man u some of the li id down his
th , 1W  Q“

‘ l

t loosens lineaivla and, in a abort tiifiile,
‘ ‘su "er 0 e as an t
mm... 9"” y P" y

A “My good old rd,” said the scout: “I am
glad to see you a ive. We had a brisk riflie of
it for a little while~ but, thank God, we got the
.best of the red fiends. and saved our hair! How -
do you feel i" '

/

found a gourd of water. ,- 

of food for me to eat! .

“fi‘orn from little laughing blues ed girls,
that oft have sat upon in knee and isped the
childish verses I ha tath them to sing l

“ I swore over their mutilated forms to avenge
them, and I have partly kept my oath: though I
did come near joining them in the Unknown
Land in the attempt. Providence has merci-
fully pressrved my life: and, I believe, to use
me as an innrument of retribution.

“ Acoursed Apaches l I have not yet avenged
1 these innocent children. For every one of their

 were the scalps of two white women'

 

 

lives a score of your hideous heads shall lie low
in the dust l And there are many more that I
must even e.

“ l’m stil on the war-path, and I mean busi—
ness. I, Rocky Mountain Al—m Ionn father,
mother, sisters and brothers, afi tortured or
butchered, leaving me a heritage of vengeance-—
lI’ll !not forget it until my own head is scilp-
a w

ith blazing eyes, the scout then drew his
knife, and sprung from one to another of the
dead Indians, removing their scalps, the ears
with them, an insane wildness in his eyes that
was terrible to witness. “

All this was unheeded by Me ‘or Belzer, who.
lay‘ With closed eyes, like one a ready dead.

hrusting the scalps into a buckskin bag,
which he cut from one of the saddles of the-
Apaches, Al secured this to the cantle of hi.c
own saddle, cmlecting also the weapons and
other traps of the dead, which be packed upon
one of the ponies.

This done, he returned to the side if the old
man, saying:

“Major Belzer, I am now ready to conduct
you to a place of safety until the morning; then
we can go where you can receive the care and.
attention you stand so much in need of. How
are you feeling by this time!” -

The old man opened his eyes listli-ssly. and
appeared reluctant to i- ak or move. In a mo-
ment. however, he rep ied, in a strange and
unnatural voice:

“I am very weak, my friend. but I wish to
get away from here. I fully cxpect~that Apa-
che war-cries will sound in our ears before We
travel far; but if my time has Cl me. well and
good. This world has not beeiwver kind to me:
and if I but knew that my Nellie was well and
hapP , I could die in peace. 1 have much to re»
Vea you, much to ask of you, but I cannot
say it here.

“ Assist me to rise, if you please, and tore ain
my seat in the saddle; then I think I can eep«
there until we reach some location where we
can encamp and have a talkJ-but I feel that I
cannot ride far.”

“ We will reach good grass and a spring of

water. half a mile from the entrance of the- ‘

ulch,” said the scout, confidently. “I am anx-
ious on your account. and when see you in a.
safe place 1 will, I think, hasten tofian Miguel
for a doctor.” *

As Al s oke, he assisted the old ntleman to-
arise, an then noticed that the an ms] was in a
bad condition from want of food and rest.

“ You could not have made a long stay in San
Miguel, major: vour horse is much tagged "

“ I have ridden the r beast from Fort
Bent, down the range,’ was the reply, “and,
have. not given him proper time for rest and
grazing. lbelievel have been half-insane on
my dau hter’s account.”

“We! , never mind that now, but ride out
and follow me after I. pass you. [shall take the
horses of those difunct reds along, and dis—-

of them in San Miguel, if we ever reach
there.” ,

As he spoke, the scout moun his own black,
and spurred dpwn the canyon, adingthe seven
Indian ponies. ‘

Major Belser followed, leavin his poor jaded:
steed to his own guidance, and relapsed int i
much the same condition and po tion in whim
he had been when he rode up the gorge. Un~

canny enough he appeared then, but nowhe s as '

doubly so, seeming more like a corpse than a
living, breathing, rational being»,

Thus the pair proceeded—one leading,and the
oilier following the Indian ponies. The two, so
Stl‘anfely met—their meeting having been the
signa of a tragedg which came near deeming
them both to most orrible deaths—yet the one
who should, from ex rience, be most affected
imd horrified, seem not to realise the deadly
peril he had passed, seemed oblivious to all ex-
eept his own harrowing, bitter, unspoken
thoughts.

Go, down the winding. sinuous. rock-bound
trail they proceeded. walking their animals as
they went—a pair of men, each the very oppo~
site of the other in evsry way.

CHAPTER 1V.
" susmcmn HAUNTS TE]: Gcim mo.”

\VBEN poor Nellie Belzer, who-had registered
at the hotel in Santa Fe as Belle Nelzer. re-
turned to consciousness the sun was high in the
heavens. .

She had drifted from a state of. insensibility
into partial consciousness. and then fallen. from
sheer fatigue. physical and mental, into a death-
like slumber. ' ‘

As has been shown in her soliloqny, she hadmot
as at ‘ned an trace of Herb Ives theme and
on ysf end and ovsr from whom she could ex-
pect aid, sympathy and protection in her hour

of filler". .

6 hot sun now shone through the Window
upon her upturned pallid face and awakened
her sooner probably than she otherwise would.
have been aroused. »

 

Bathing her eyes. and again arranging her.

hair, she heard voices in an adjoining room that
were familiar.

It was contrary to her nature to eavesdrop; 
. h 7 

v

.n. - _.._3, “1,” gym”... .

«me to protect her—since then, I fancy, he has

feared, he
insane. but had escaped, and was in search of

'matter enough, if we but knew where they are.
_ But one thing is certain. I didn’t travel all the

both myself!” '

:

 

but. situated asshe was, she felt that for her
own protection, it was not only pardonable but
necessary that she should do so. Walking,
therefore, stealthily, to the partition, and ob‘
serving an aperture, through which, at some
time. a stove-pipe had apparently passed, and
which was now closed only by some loose
pawn-s, she resolved, as she could not otherwise

move the obstruction.

: «or distinctly what was said, to quietly rc- i
‘ h‘lie succeeded in doing this, wi bout having 

v- iused even a rustle, and felt confident that her

movement had been unnoticed. To her joy, she l
now found that she could hear quite plainly all i

i at was said.

The one now speaking, she recognized as'

lilll'reLia, Cole, I

“ l repent, Carl,” said this female plotter. “I 1
,.,.p_.,,, that we ought to stay here at least a
“nu-l.- longer; for one or the other of them is
sure t - come to Santa Fe.”

*- Where was the old man when your spy last
lieu! l of him?"

This was the voice of Carl Cole. ‘

" He was on the Arkansas River. The man
was no spv of mine, but a border bummer, who
recogn' the photogra h as being that of a
man whom he saw on t e Arkansas. ‘He said
the old man was very feeble, and that he acted
strangely. If he had stayed in that asylum a
a month longer, he would have gone stark mad,
and but far to go at that.”

H'-re the woman burst into a loud laugh.

‘ i wonder, Lucretia, that he was not driven
into lunacy long ago, for you tortured him con-
tinlmfi .” ‘

" Uh?I he’s in his second childhood ' and, since
he “raped, and ascertained that his darlin
Nellie. (sarcastically) had gone West to searcm
for now lost lover in the wi derneas, without any

Worried himself nearly to death. If he would
only finish it up in that way it would save us
ever so much trouble.”

Nellie Belzer was forced to crouch down in
the chair, upon/which she had been standing,
and tooling to the back of the same formp-
mrt. ,

’ liar father then livedl He had, as'she had
11 incarcerated in ‘an asylum for the

her. 'Even now he might be but a short dis-
tanca-up the range. - I

A heartfelt thanksgiving broke in a husky
whi~p3r from the poor girl’s lips. Again Carl
spoke. ~ 0

“ But how about Nellie! Where do you sup-
po-e she is?”

“Nell can’t be far away," was the answer;
“but I am worried in regard toher. If she
falls in with the old major, our plans are mined;
unless, indeed, We can bribe some desperadoes
to capture them, and that would be an easy

I can tell

way" from New York for nothin .
shoot them

you that much; no, not if I have

“ You can’t do. that here, Cree. Bordermen
are all 'for fair play. They’d gtring as u , in
that case, mighty sudden. I’m always a raid
vou’ll'do something hastv. What sort of a fel-
low is' this Herb Ives! Has he got any ‘sand,’
as they put it in these partsl”

‘ ‘ He‘s a quiet, easy going (youngster; but I’ve
seen his black eyes snap an blaze before now.
Ele has with him, too, a cousin of Nellie’s, who
may give us trouble. This youn man—George
Belz ‘r-was named after the 01 major, I sup-
pus-a A stroke of policy, no doubt; his parents

‘  go”  ountain’ A1.

 

 

\

alogical nonsense, and we ‘can then easily run l kerral‘d me under canvas. Whooper z
the girl of! among some of the bands of desper- l Whoop-er-e-e-e—e! I kin choke ther ‘uice out“:

adoes, where she will no longer trouble us or
im ’ ’

“Carl, you are getting awfully cute all at
once, as the Yankees say. If things could be
made to turn out that way, success would be
certain.
assertion that you’ve never been mixed up with
such things before.
country and the ways of the people, leads me to
infer that this is not your first visit to the
range."

“ You flatter me, Cree,”he said. witha laugh.
“I am a true cosmopolitan—at home every—

9

Do you know, I don’t believe your '

Your familiarity with the 3

where; but this is the first time that I have ‘

been west of St. Louis.”

There was an embarrassment in the tone and ‘

manner of Carl, that did not escape the keen
notice of his wife.

ary pilgrim on ther range, in ther icker of a
big-horn’s tail! Let me out, narm, on ther
Plaza, es thar ain’t room hyer ter squeal!"

 

CHAPTER V.
run woa’s CUNF’IDANT.
ALONG, down the winding gulch, went Rock

Mountain Al and Major Belzer; at times ri —-
’ ing along ulbright. nmon~illuminated s

then into the dark shadows, the vast w s of
rock reaching far up skyward, but diminishing
in hight, as they proceeded '

ln course of time they reached the mouth of I

the gulch, and the scout turned in among the-
foot-hills, going slowly up the range, and coca.
sionally looking back to make sure that the

2 major was following.

“Beware, Carl Cole!” she said. “ If I once ‘
detect you in deceiving me, I‘ll-—— Vt'ell. we’ll
have no words. It is best not. A mutual pol-

icy binds us together; butI will say that I have

aSsertion of yours.

“ I believe you have been in Santa Fe before; ,

and, if I find out that you have misrepresented
your past life to me, I swear I will have a terri-
le revenge.

“ I have staked everything for you: criminal:-
ed myself for you; plotted and planned for you,
and a tigress could not be more merciless than
you will find me, if you are caught playing a
part, and are false to me! Bear this in mind, if
you lease!”

" rec, you would make as good an actress as
detective. The stage lost a star when your

L my suspicions in regard to your veracity in this ;

To his surprise and concern, he saw that the
strange old man was apparently in the same
state. of mind, as when he rode into the Apache
cam l: but, as the horse was following close Il‘
ter t 9 Indian ponies, Al did not halt, butke t
on as before, winding between the foot-hilg,
through and across wash-outs, and at times
along narrow trails made by wild beasts. With
his rifle at half-cock, he ept a keen lookout

3 ahead, for danger might meet' them at any

mother married old Belzer: for i believe you I
i the approach of foes. .

Would have adopted that profession. It is born

in you. But, come; you and I must not quar~ .
rel ”

Whatever might have been the suspicions that ,

lurked in the mind of Lucretia Cole. it was evi-
dent that they were either dispelled or else that
she smothered them. This her voice testiflcd,:as
she now said, with vivacity and seeming satis-
faction:

“ You are right, Carl. We, of all perso
must not- quarrel. Go down, my dear, an
study well this man whom you p
‘pump.’ Ply him well with liquor, and then

I sprin

l

to I

3

bring him to me. I believe I am a better judge i

of human nature than you are.”

“ I believe you are, Cree, for you bend all your
energies to the business—“and for the life of me.
I can’t, for l have a presentimrnt that we shall
both come to grief. But here goes for the next
move in the game.” a

“ Work sly, and be circumspect. Carl. Hold!
Look out on the laza. Isn t that our man?
There is a lawless esperation in his very walk,
and he is suffering for the stimulants he is not
able to purchase.‘

1‘ You're right. Cree. He‘s a bummer of the
mangle}.1 l’ll' corral him sure as shootin’l"

‘ e

lin o i”

re you go again with your frontier ‘

marks from his wife. He darted from the room,
as Nellie knew by his footsteps and the slam-
ming of the door. _

Springin to the window, [she glanced out
upon the p asa. . ‘

A gigantic man, with rough exterior, swollen
eyes, and bloated face, was just disap ring
beneath her casement into the hotel.
sure that this man was the one who had been
selected to send in search of her father and her-
self

l

l

r

 

Ste

‘Illms on, for nearly a mile from the entrance
to that death-pregnant gulch. traveling toward
the north, when, turning abruptly in the direc-
tion of the range, at the distance of two hun-
dred yards they broke into a small, level plot.
inclosed by cedars on all sides except one.
This was toward the mountains, where asteep
wall of jagged rock shut out all danger from

Crossing the gram-grown level to the foot of
this broken and irregular wall of rock. the
scout reached a l of water, formed by a
that bubbled from the foot of a main
bowl er. . e .
Here he dismounted, removed the equipments
from hishorse, allowing the animal to guises,
and also the Apache ponies, which weretoo
tagged and hungry to stray. By this timele-
jor Belser’s horse reach the ng, andflie
scout stepped up tothe an' . ras
bridle-rein, and addressed the ol man, who
still maintained the same listless position. '

“ Major Belzer." he said, “what is thedifl-_
culty with you? We have now reached a

: semre, I am positive, from interrnp . .

ere we can rest, and allow our animals to,
 bzaddea that ther-edit: cool wall-2
a , ginning an a most lovdy
camp. Shall I assist you'lto alight? Hold on,

however! I’ll spread some blankets for yonto~ \

lie on.” .
The scout did as he had proposed placing:

saddle to serve as a pillow and maki’

for the old man, who again threw

more naturaL But he made no effort to di-

; mount. .
at Carl Cole did not wait to hear further re- 13

j strange condition of his friend.

he felt ‘,

E sible esca )9.

Al was greatly perplexed to account for the
He knew M
Major Belzer had not been thron into this
state by the wound which he had reached from
the Apache’s knife, for he had acted in then-Io '
manner when he unconsciously rode into the
camp of the save . . 1
“His singular avior had attracted theattent
tion of the scout at that time, when the latter
was bound to the stake, and condqnned ip'l
terrible death from which there seemed no pm-

a conch
. the feel- ,.
l ing that oppressed him, and began to a

I

From e few words that the old man had .
spoken. Al knew that this extreme mental Ae- ,‘
gemion must originate from some great'trnn-

e——the loss of a daughter. named Nellie, hein-
lmembered had been alluded to—buttheloout 
made nocomment. Takin ,the old minom- , .
the horse in his arms, he lai hiva upon " '
the blankets. . . ‘

Major Belaer’s face became contorted in 
agony, at being thus moved from the

But a. few minutes elapsed, during which the
youn girl could hear Lucretia pacing-her apart- 2
men with quick, impatient step, when the
sound of men coming up the stairs caught'Nel.
lie’s‘ears—one of the men, she noticed, walking
with a heavy tread. Y

Again Ne lie Belzer mounted the chair, and -
listened intently, her face pale as death. and
her form quiVering with suppressed excitement.

expecting to get a slice of .the pro rty. He is
If")!!! East New York. Ives’s family belong in
Brookl n.”

” lid did you learn all this, Creel You
pet?!" said anything about this young man be.
or .

“Because I never thought of him. I have
uevcr‘ supposed that we might have any trouble
from either of them. The way I cama to know

the: young Belzer was going with Ives, was by
abstracting a letter of his from Kerb's overcoat-
pocket, when he was making a call on Nellie,
at Wild Rose Lodge." ,*

“ You‘re a sharp one. Cree; and 011%! have

1118145 9. first class detectiVe. You a ways keep '

your eyes open, and it’s lucky for us that you
do: for all this business is new to me. I’m used
to a holder kind of enterprise. But, did the let-
ter you speak of intimate anything in regard
to the directh these young students intended
to frugal?” '

“ T he proposed route was, to strike for South
Park, thence down the range to this city: bl"
the letter did not say which side of the range,
east or wait.” .

“ Well. if either the old man or the girl ster ‘

that party of progressive youths we are dished,
Cree—that’s a dead sure thing. I’d rather,
though, that the girl met Ives than to have the
old man come up wiSh him.”
"‘ Why so?” demanded the woman. .
“Because the major knows that his daughter

 

:is out here in search of Ives, and she knows
othing wh»tever in re rd to her father. It
ves uneets'Nellie. he wi be main to leavs her

at the town, while he proceeds with his miner-

The door opened, and she .heard Carl’s voice.

“Lucretia. here is a gentleman I wish to in-
troduce to you. He is one of our border herces.
This is my wife, sir. I really have' forgotten
your mme.” »

“I’m ther Terrantaler 0’ Time. marm, an’ a
highflv cuss. yer kin jlst bet. I hes tuck ther
contract ter start grave-yards for all ther burgs

'and camps what’s slapped up fer ther nex’,

twelve moons, from ther Gran-doe ter ,
‘Park. an’ I thinks o’ ’tendin’ my biz Clean ter
ther Platte.

“ I'm a roarer. an’ yer kin jist make a mem-

South .

orander 0’ hit fer fu‘tur’ use. This terrestr’al =

spear air jist a~rollin’ on a skvclone whiz
through blue space, an’ wez’uns o'u’d jump off.

only we doesn’t like ther run 0’ things, ’thout i
any sart’intv o’ strikin’ a-better locate, so we -

makes ther t 0’ hit.
“ But I’m ther loose-gill’d sardine what'per—

poses ter lide over-ther dirt an’ rocks ’hout
whar I’m nclernated, an’ ban’ kerral ’nough
grub ter satisfy my in’ - ’sides errigatin’

t
whenever liquids air roun’ loose. Thet’s ther . ,h
' you would not well spare. .- I‘wiil- 8.0!! fit .A Q!

Temntaler every time!
"Gaze at me. menu! I war ’gaged for Bar
uum’s boss beauty, but ‘2 levanted ’i‘uin they

l

he had so long maintained in his saddle, audio
came near fainting. His features grew more”

death-like. and blue circles formed around his ,

eyies, Weil‘lclll) eggne lge tame of a panther,‘aud
mrror. t e ysic andmentalangnuh'
that ruled the aged md’rll's braill. . .
Quickly cutting away the clothing mum
stab, which he at once distinguished-by a
Sign in}? ma' r’s vest, Al sawalgshaz‘
pro sely- t, upon a very 3 lg t mi-
nation and redaction, he knew there could be

no internal hemorrhag'e. There was, themno
immediate danger. .

Had such been the case. the old marrow
not have ridden thus far. He would have, :32—
out dorm, fallen from his horse, baton

the nu .. a, r ,,

“ You are all right, Major Belicia? 

cheeringly. and feeling much relieved.  e
cutislong, butnotdeep. I havewosaerm
onmyownannaand 1th, _ aw
scratch. althoughyou be e lost a gun.

of blood. which in your [cable

state of

u : and in the mornin I will take you to n
lfiguel. I knew an oldghl'xicanrworm M

\

5.....-

6'-*'..

A

v

1 who will care for'you'faithfully until you have E

regained your strength."
A si h of intense relief came from the old
man’s ips. His countenance assumed a more

cheerful and hopeful expression as he glanced I
uAp gratefully into the face of Rocky Mountain ;

Sun the wouvded man did not speak. Al
rushed to his saddle—bags.

of blood would at‘iy weaken the old man.
But he was great y concerned in regard to the
strange lights that came and went in his eyes. in
the plain marks upon his countenance, which
spoke of mental derangement: and he began to
fear that there was no hope of his being able to
control the actions and movements of his new
friend, if the latter should once cross the mental
trails on the borders of which he seemed to lin-
ger
he to for the daughter whom he said he had
not

The scout soon dressed the wound, in a man-
ner that Would have done credit to an army
surgeon: applying some of the ointment and
plasters which he always carried with him.

Upon returning these articles to the saddle-

Al discovered a flask of brandy. which he ‘

'hcdsiorgotten he had with him, and he rejoiced
beyond measure. He detached the cup from the
bottom, unscrewed the nozzle, and cured out a
gill of the strong liquor, which he ilutcd at 'the
spring, and then proceeded to administer to the
feeble and suffering old man.

The brandy put new life into the ma 'or’s

- ‘veins, and his aged face brightened precept. bly, :

while he looked the thanks his tongue. refused to

emit.

e scout felt that the old man would soon be
better, and probably be able to conwrse: and
not havia partaken of food since the previous
morning, e uickly ignited a fire, and procur-
ifi some on and his quart cup from his
A die, he prepared as much of this precious and
whprized prairie beverage as the vessel would

Entering the dense cedars, be next passed
through the thicket to the opposite side. where.
hurling his knife through the air across a small
Etch of grass, he killed a cotton tailed rabbit.

lithe soon dressed and placed before the fire.
to broil, impaling it upon a stick for this pur-

"  this primitive meal was cooked, Al
N a rtion of the delicate flesh of the
at“ Major Boiler: but the latter could
' eat and his friend administered another
‘doss of the brandy, and then devoured
the hrdll and drank the cause with much satis-
factipn; in fact he felt hungry enough todevour
an ox;

' As he finished the rabbit, Al noticed that the
oldgentleman had arisen to a sitting posture,
and that‘his eyes were more natural in their
0 ' ‘ ion, as he beckoned him to his side.

. ting his pipe and ving a look at the
horses, the scout joined h a patient. throwin
‘ game." in an easy attitu'le'upon a blanket, an
lin sure that the old man was now about to
epr n the circumstances that had brought him
to the ontier, and that had brought'about the
‘s’ad con iti'0o of mind from which he was now
coloring. He‘was not disappointed, for the
under at once commenced his story. .

“ My dear friend ” he began, in a feeble. but
clear voice, “I havebeen more deeply and fa~
“rabiy impressed by you since we so recently
"mct,under‘snch singular and tragic circum-
‘atances, than I have ever before been by any
human being, ‘

‘fBGtting aside your daring bravery, your
solicitude or a friendless old man in a strange

Judd, and your vocation as a champion and

defender of the helpless, there is an honesty .

andanobl

mi

motow
“Eve

ones! of character shown plainly and

to open my heart and life to you.
act and motion of yours speaks the
eman, and there is an indescribable

M“
ing which I feel when under your lance l

- that causes mete réspect you most sincenc y and
anomaly, and to ut implicit trust in you.
“I have been is in thought during our
rflemd I have foun ed great hopes upon you;
not devoid, I mit, of selfishness. but when

v you know my istory on will forgive that and

tr me fromthedept s'of your heart for the
tense snMgs of years, which I have been

. called upon to undergo.

“You are sure that there are c more of
those terrible mvafies lurking a it. are 1
Wm all the party t at followed you kill 1"
 Rocky Mountain Al hesitated. but the eyes of
his questioner were gazing into his and read

" “ 111cm were ten‘,“ I aid the scout slowly, “but
.1 am tive that the others went up the range

If to keep a lookout for any party of
who who might jeopardise their comrades in
’ ‘ .‘ "They will, no'doubt. return before

‘ When a surprise awaits them, which
will"- ' them to make their way over the
. in haste. if they fuilv understand the

, of stairs. “I do not think ‘they will

s

‘0! this vicinity; but. if they do. I will’

0

a give “a a warm reception.”

He feared noill con- 3
sequences from the wound, except that the loss 1

mere force of will, born of the unmety “

ably in your countenance. that causes ;

Rocky : Mountain 

Major Belaer shuddered convulsiver as he
' said:

“i was so filled with’horror when I found
myself among those painted fiends in the gulch
that I was at first unable to make any show of
self-defense; not, however, on my own account,
but from the thought that my darling child
might fall into their merciless hands. Have you.
my friend. in your travels within the last six
months, come up with a party of students who
. are traveling for the purpose of studying the
mineral secrets of New Mexico and Colorado?"

“I have not met the young man you speak
of,” ~nid the scout; “ but i have heard of
them.”

“ Was there a tall, dark young man in this
party, culling himself Herbert H. heal”

“I am quite positive,” said A1, “that such a
person was described to me as one of them.”

Mam Bclzer. at this, showed great emotion.

" here were they, and in which way did
1 they go?" he asked.

, “ A pard of mine met them on the west side
'of the mountains, below the South Park, a

" Thank God 1" exclaimed the old man. “There
‘ is some be e that they may be now in Fort Gar-
land; an where Herbert Ives is, there is
Nellie—”

At this moment, to the surprise ( if the speaker,
Rocky Mountain Al sprung erect, then bounded
quickly into the cedars behind where the old
man sat, and the next instant reappeared—
a burly Apache braVe clutched fast in his vise-
likn grip, and both rolling over and over in a
desperate and deadly combat. their terrible
knives flashing in the silvery moonlight.

 

CHAPTER Vi.
ran maED ABSASSIN.

“LET me out, mnrm, on ther Plaza!
, ain’t room hyer ter squeal!"

3 " Excuse our friend here, Lucretia,” said
I Carle Cole, laughing. " He is not used to being
I cooped up in- houses, and he feels strange, which
is onl perfectly natural.”

“'1‘ ar er jist bit ther bull’s-eye, pardi”
burst out {he Tarantula of Tans, without giving
Lucretia Cole an opportunity to speak. “ l'bar’s
whar yer sine me ri ht down ter whar I live.
Thet’s jist ’bout how pan out, warm. I snatch
afew b0w|ders out’n ther side 0’ a mountain
when I keer ter snooze, roll ’em tergether,
pickin’ out ther soft side ter flop up’ards; then

stretches my.’Pollo—like ’natermy fer a ‘see-
ester,’ es ther Greasers say.

".In ther mornin’, .when l wakes up.
yawn, an’ yer’d think a double-bard d skyclone
war jist horned, of yer war front 0’ me. Hit
gin'rall breaks ofl bout a acre ,0’ scrub pines
an' ce ars close ter ther ruts, an’ blows ther
grass up’ards ’nough ter smother ther sun.
Then I most allers runs back ’bout a mile from
ther ran , ter 't mermentum. Then I skutes
on a wil stam a plum’ up ther rocks ier ther
peaks, grabbin a big-horn in each w. I stan’s
bout five minutes on ther top 0’ t er range ter
take a gaze towards ther Oxerdent arter loose
’Paches, an’ sucks in a, breath o’pure ox-gin.
- Then I makes a few flyin’ skips down ag’in,
i hardly touchin’ ther rocks in my hates. An’
. then I’m ready fer ther biz o’ ther da , whether
1 hits scoopin’ in a. herd. o’ builier, or c awin’ ther
. scal oif’n a 'Pachc war party. Thet’s me!

, “ ’m ther Terrantaler o’ Tans! Does yer
,; hear me! I’m a-talkin’, an’ hit’s straight ‘Nited
‘ States.

, “Whoop or up! Whooper-e‘ee! Bay,pard,
i can’t yer shake up ‘nother quart 0’ double (Ils-
l tilled bu -juice, w th a squirt or two 0’ prussil-
lacid inte hit? I hes ter errigate often.erl
l

Thar

I gi‘ns a

 

tsweak in ther j’lnta. ’Scuse me, warm, fer
’m esfull of lingo es a mule’s hufl' air 0’ cus-
. sadness an’ kick. an’ of I c’u’dn’t talk I’d bu’st,
sure as shootin‘!”
I The modest “Tarantula” now drew a heavy
‘ sigh of relief. which ‘reached the cars of the
l eagerly’listening Nellie, whose eyes were filled
with wonder at the very peculiar style of the
‘ language she had heard.
Howe. er, she still listened intently in the
i hope of earin something that concerned her-
self and her fat er, and her mind was filled with
homir as they continued.
, “Take a rest, Tarantula,” said Carl, laugh-
5 ing heartily, as did also his wife; “ take a rest
‘ and listen to me for a moment. lintimated
that this lady and myself wished to employ
ou, arid, to prove that we mean business, here
' s a little ‘dust’ as a retainer.”

Nellie d now hear the click of coins as
Carl Cole dropped them into the hand of the
“ bummer," and she judged that the rufiicuwas
most agreeably surprised, so much so as to rqn~
der him speechless.

“Do you attend church regularly, Mr. Tar-
,anmlai” Nellie next beard Lucretiaask the
I stranger.

There was an interval of silence, as if the
. border “ hero" was still speechless from For
i prise. Then the young girl almost fell from her
‘ ch ir in fright .It the rnqrpf laughter, which
she knew mow from the stranger. .

“it continued for a full minute Mm he again

' spoke. ' —

 

0

month ago.” a

I

I

..... ..... ,._. “~-_.__.

“Marm, vl‘m dog goned e! yer don’t knock
the stiff by that question.
I never war in a ()hristian-fact’ry since I war
hatched, an’ ef I seeld a gOspel-slinger I’d stom-
pede quicker‘n chain lightnin’. Fact air, I’m
ateerd on ’em. an’ I sh’u’d think my time bed
come fer ‘goin’ over ther range’ 91‘ I should
run ilum’ ag’in’ one.

‘ ut I'm a pure, honest infant, fer all that.
llit's coz I hes a ’ligion 0’ my own that war
hatch’d wi’ me that I ‘puderates all thet a hu-
man kin l’arn me. But I’ll sw’ar l didn’t ’spect
ter run ag’in’ sich lib’ral pards, an’ I’d like ter
know what I kin do fer yer. 'Rhct’s jist what
I’m longin’ fer.

“ Ther Terrantaler air a dead open an’ shet
par-d, day or night, ter ther pilgrim er tender—
oot what shows that he er she is willing ter
pard with me in an kind o’biz, an’ ’speshly
when they furnishes t er nuggets.”

“Have you an extremely locse conscience,
and a heart that is not too easily softened?”

This question came in the soft voice of Lu~
cretia. .

“Mv conshuns air Injy rubber, marm—not

loned li‘ble sort, an’ of yer listen yer kin hear
ther ing-dong ‘0’ my iron heart. Thet‘s me,
ther Terrantaler o' Taos! Whooper-upl whoop-
er-e-e‘e!”

“Spit out yer biz. talkers. an‘ l’m ther man
fer yer money, ter cut throats. rob a church, er
cuyeti’n a mine-shaft! dist make a memorander
o ‘l.

“lbmember.” said Lucretia, "that if you
don’t sign-e to do r or bidding, you are to liver;-
silent now and ever as to what has passed be-
tween us.” .

“Bet yer last lingerin’ paso l‘ll kee n’um:
but thar ain't no neui ter take no efli avy on
thet. fer I‘m goin’ ter dip inter this biz es dee
es yerselves. l’ve sad hit, an’ I hain”t flier 
grim tcr crawflsh. Gene et me sharp! I’m t r
Terrantaler o’ Tans. Yer don’t know me yit,
by a jug full."

inais of some photographs, if I s ow them to
you! Can you retain the features of the pictures
on your mind i”

“ Reckon I c‘u’d, nmrm, though 13m not used
ter seein’ sich sort 0’ trash. I come nigh llustin'
u Barnum when l levanted, fer he lied me
pictur'd out, bi es life. on ther
ther ‘ Beauty 0’ uf’lcr Blufls.’ " .

“ I think we can trust him with our secrets,
Carl: don’t you, dear?” asked the fair Lucretia.

“ Oh, yes; he‘s true blue, and I’ll gamble on
it,”  Carl. d l h '

“ in us yer paw, par 1 _'m mig i ' glad
yer hes weighed me, an’ foun’ me solid. Go
ahead.marm. I’m re d for his; an’ of yer
doasn’t sling hit out. ’l skate down arter a
drink. while yer ruminatin’ over hit.”

Nellie heard Lucretia cross the room and 0 en
a trunk. She then came near to the partition,
as in : «

‘T ere, Mr. Tarantula, is the photogra h of
an old man, who is now, probably. betweeg this
city and Spanish Peaks. And here is an excel—
lent picture of a young lady—the daughter of
the 0 man, ahd of whom he is in search.

“ Now- we do not want them to meet; in fact,
they must not meet. You must not only pre-
vent it, but if by any of the common dangers of
the border the old man should get killed, you
will receive one thousand dollars. ,

“ Again, if you can arrange it so that the
young lady ma be on ured y some band of
desperadoes, w .o will laid her until she will no
longer have a desire to visit the States, you will
receive a like amount. ,

-‘ Do you unri. rstand what we mean? I have
spoken plainly." -

" The fact is, Tarantula,” put in Carl. “we
want the two to he the victims of some accident.
The world is not large enough for them and us;
you understand i”

“ I undercumstumble ter yer leetle sine..an’
I takes a hand,” was the accommodat rg re ly.
“E! ther ole man an’ ther gal air in New cx’

l’ll cut ther ole man’s wiun, an’ shut ther al
up in ther rocks somewhar, feedin’ her on {i no
cones until she Wilts inter her shoes an’ g ides
oii' ter t’other world one -like; fer I sw’ar. bad
es I is, I c’u’dn’t scrat ther skin 0’ a caliker—
kivered human, or plug a hall inter her, nothcr.
Ther trail air open. an’ I air on ther war-path.
I’ll jump my critter ter-night, arter dark, an’
levant up ther range. But whar in thunderation
kin I see you-’uns ag’ini" ‘

“ Is there any town between this and Rayton
Pass that In of! the regular stage road i” asked
Carl Cole.

“ Wa-al, yer kin jist bet ! AI’ hit’s thar I'm
goin’ ter strike out fer—Chico City air ten mile.

range.

“Thar’s a station on ther Canadian Creek,
whar yer git oil. and climb another hot-1‘80 for
Chico. Hit ain’t bin sl up has; an’ I
i ncyer runs in thar but I heart ther is high-fly
s times. an’ plenty o’ dust, an’ two mm! mmaab~

 

d in’ uartz. ' .
t “ her Pumas. a W‘c’md—agents, he. a
notion o’ lavantin’ up theta-way, l bears.  '

W by. dang my cats, ’

ther stiff Goodyear paiunt, but ther ole-lash '

“ Do you think you would rem niw the wig:

phow-bills, es

er Col’rado, I’ll kerral ’em dead sure an’ sartin. -

from the reg’lar trail, plum’ et ther foot 0’ ther-

.,.~—~4-

 

.
‘7‘

w.»
a -.

 

'l

v._...._..__.,m

’7

 

 

 

 

 

 

._ ....§.....___ ._ I‘

. . *nmwswnt .

" and evade being observwd by Girl and Lucretia

hesn’t but jist sot u‘p biz. They is comin’ fromtl
Gran-doe way. r i

“I’m 0’ that opine that. run' game, one er
t’other. hes run in thar ct Chico, erym-‘tl ‘a’ see’d
’em,er 'a’ beam 0’ ’em. comin‘ do“ in country.”

“ Your opinion is a reasonable one. and we '
will run in at Chico City in a short time. Be ‘
on the lookout. for us, and have gmxi news.
Keep sober, and don't let eilhcr the girl or the
old man slip you."

“Bet yer scalp I But I‘m

won't. pard I

, gittin’cottony ‘bout thcr gills, an’ my' throat

air full 0’ cobwelis. I’ll peep in on yer afore I
akutes tel-night, ef I doesn’t git b’ilin’ over wi’
p’ison.

“ Howsomever, cf I does, I kin ’tend ter biz.
1’“ member thcr foam 0’ them pictur‘s, dead
Kill‘i'.

“Air ther gnl a molest-like lives 0' culiker.
wt. n. ‘uvi hang out et a hotel ll ’9 a firstclass
XXX lady l" . ‘

“ Yes.“ answered Lucretia; “and she has
plenty of money. Q S .c is very quiet and retir-
ing in disp )sition. ' . .

“ I'll gin her a Show tar retire inter ther soli—
tudes o’ ther 300 19*," said the Tarantula, with
n boasting air. ‘ Bu‘, ’bout t'ucr ole man, air .
he a high~fly coon {f' “

“ He was a major in the army," said Lucre-

tia. “Major Bolzcr is his name: and the girl’s :
is Nellie Belzm Do you think you can remem~ 
bar that?" o '

“i reckon I hes hit kinder wedged inter my
brain box: but, pards, l‘m levuntin fer “(with
So long. Whoop-er up l Whoop-creep .

The door slammed, amid the farewells uttered
by Carl and Lucretia; and the heavy steps
down the stairs, th it caused the frail buildin
to tremble. proved that the " T ~rrantaler o
Thos' had gone down to “ errigate. ”

Poor Nellie sunk down into the chair. ex-
baustcd with the fearful strain upon her nerves,
and remained for some time in that attitude, in
deep thought. -

She had the advantage of knowing that she
could recognize the voice of the man who had
been hired to kill her father and abduct herself;
and she hoped to get a clearer view of him
from her window than she had previously ob-
tained. ' I ,

She waited, however, until the radian had, as
she calculated, had sumclent tirn_e to satisfy his
thirst at the bar. Then she went to the win low
and stood for a time gazing out upon the plaza.

Soon a burly, gigantic borderer, in blue shirt,
buckskin breaches, and slouched sombrero,
walked out from the hotel into the sq tare; and
from the slight glimpse that she had obtained
previous] , when this same man had entered
with Car Cole, Nellie knew him to be the one
whom she had heard conversing with the hope-
ful pair in the adjoininir room, and whom she
had henceforth to consider her most deadly
enemy. ’

if she had entertained any doubt as to his
identit , it was soon removed; for the giant
tore 0 his sombrero when he reached the mid-
dle of the plaza, and swaying the same over his
head. yelled as before:

“ Whoczp-er up! Whoop er e—e-e!"

Dcterrh ed that she would reach Chico City
inhdvance of this desperado and assaséin, and
save h'er father, should she be so fortunate as to
meet him, Nellie resolved totaka the next stage,

in doing so by going on (not out of the town.
With this view, when the evening came, she
obtained an interview with Jim Harding, the
stage driver, and arrangei to be taken up by
him. and to have her bagg lge put on the stage.
When night came, Nellie Belzer was bciu
whirlith as fast as brave Jinn Hurling could
urge trusty team, toward Chico City, she
Worthy only passenger.

CHAPTER Vl l.
"GREEK trams GREEK."

Muoa Baum had been placed within a lit.
lie 0 .n space on the edge of the cedars, where
the ranches on either side of his cowl-t Shut
out the view in the direction of the mountain,
and toward the washout. by which he and his
companion had approached it.

Within that view, Rocky Mountain Al and
the indian were struggling for the mastery; the
bright moonlight revealing their passion-con-
torted features. as over and over they rolled,
each gras gwith his left hand the wrist of his
OP’anent a right, with a grip of desperation.

9 Apacne was a remarkably large and
“U638” developed warrior: and his adversary,
who was now weakened by privations on the
trail. and by loss of blood. was not in a comb»
in”) 1'0? l hQfld-to—nand fight. i

The blight-bladed bowie and long scalping-
knife gleamcd and glintei in the moonlight. as
ihe two men. with superhuman cfl'orts. strove
each to get the upper side, and to maintain the
some. '

First one and themthe other. had a posi- .
tiou astride his for, but he couqudo no more
than ‘ into his eyes with vengeful hatred. ,
for h a knife was contmlled by the firm gm.
of his opponent

To describe the. feeling 0
Well-iii “cull l.- hops-uh .

 

 

50" Bvlzurmt 
C .‘uRt-IQ‘II 1h“ .

\

r upon his weak brain, caused by
' through which he had lately passed, and the

‘ death

be! 7 ountan. ' .

reatcst anguish and apprehension in regard to
5hr, safety of his new friend; and he strove to
gain an erect position, but the intcnse strain
the scenes

almost positive conviction that his wound was
mortal. had shocked his nervmis ryslcm to such

‘ an extent that he had become almost panvcrlmis.

It was nearl nan impossibility to catch a sure
aim at the Indian with. his rcvolVel'. l-ven Were
he in good health and of strong nerves. and the
major did not dare to make the attempt; but,

. as he saw that the strength of the eCOlll was fast

ebbing, and that the red son of the mountains
“as almost certain of victory in the end—in
which event he would also be butchered like a
dog—us he saw this, lllc old man, by a mighty
effort of will, threw off the oppressive feelings
that ruled him, and procectlcd to crawl upon
hands and knees out. into the Opi'lllllg, his bowie
held ready for instant use.

Trembling in (Vt‘l'y limb, the cnfcebled man
crept forward, the strength in his arms giving
out at times and causing him to fall prostrate;
but, nith determined mien, he would slowly re—
gain his former position, his eyes fixed upon the
de pcratc struggle.

Life and death now depended upon his weak
and trembling exertions, life and ‘death for him
and for Rocky Mountain Al-perhaps, also, for
his lost Nellie!

As tLis last thought came into his n ind, he be-
came nerved to greater strength, lut not. how-
ever, sufilticnt to battle with even a coyote. -

The combatants still struggled. The glaring
eyes of each bluzcd furv into the mbs of the
other. both panting with their terrible efforts
for the mastery: the aint-daubcd face of the
Apache close to the pa c features if the Vi bund-
cd and almost exhausted scout, IllP sickening
breath of the Indian fanning Al's brow—the
fler breath of a murderous fiend! r

Ngither of them was a“ are of the presence of
the old man. the Indian being totally ii norant
of the proximity of any other white man, as his
manner proved, for he had not allow: d his gaze
to wander from his opponent to scan the ” open,“
as he most assuredly would have done had be
imagined that his foe had a friend, or friends,
at hand. =

Major Belzer, after all, was not'so weak in
mind as in body, and he planned as he crawled.

He reasoned that nothing would be gained by
revealing himself in front of the two men.

He could not hope to accomplish anythin by
such a course, for the Indian would nndou ted—
ly keep the scout rolling and strugglingin order
to prevent him from making a successful stab
with his bowie.

The only way in which he could assist his
friend was to surprise and startle the Apache to
such-en extent that his grip on Al’s wrist Would
relax plifl‘lcieittl to allow the latter to wrench
his knife-hand rec.

The irobability of succcm in this we filled
Mu or lzer with relief, and he bi came imbued
wit new strength at the thought. Crawling
with more vigor and speed, he soon reached the
rear of the panting weir, where he could, by
reaching ovor, grnrp t e-feather decked hair of
itlhe :pac‘ne, whose moccasined feet were at his

an .

There was no time for thought or to choose
a position. The lndian. was now, bracing him-
se f for a final and powerful struggle with his
white foe; and the major felt. b the labored
panting of the scout, that it. won d soon be at
an end.

Gaining, with an effort, an upright pcsilion,
the old man threw himself forward. diiectly
upon the back of the brave: clutchirg his houic
With both hands, and chewing the points (.f
the blade to strike the Indian in the back of
the neck, dependin upon his weight to force
the knife dowawar .

The Apache was holding at this moment, the
arms of the scout outstre clcd upon tic award,
his hideous face bending over Linn—Al ferling
that he had csca death in the gulch min to
meet it now in he “ open," for he knew that he

could no longer hold out against his powerful and.

sinva opponent.
- A whispered pm
that he had lisped ‘ n
knee—his thoughts flying backward to that
time. taking in his whole 1 e one flitting instant:
while he closed his eyes to shut out the horribly
repulsive face that bent exultantly over him.
At that moment came a shock. He felt the
form of the Indian forced upon him. He felt the
hideous face pressed hard against his own: and.
thinking that the brave was making a desper-
ate effort to master him, which he knew he
could not resist, a faintncI-‘s came over him, his
muscles relaxed, and he flonted unresistingly
into oblivion. ,
Had be retained his senses, the scout. would
have beheld a strange scene, a scene that would
have filled him with igratitude and wonder, for
the Apache la y qu vering in the agonies of
;y his side; the blade of Major B4 incr’s
Zigth imbedded between the
e spinal cord having thus

er was on his li a pravcr

.ing
his in

bowie
bones n
boa-n s9 l , .
Alongside the twitching and rcpnl-ive form
ol 1!" savage lay the all min 'nlw unwkss: li~

9

childhood at his mothér’s .

 

O

.__,_._.. ._.._._ . ._..... .m. . r _.... . . . ‘

grand effort- to save his frich having be- 11 too
much for him, and his senses having left him
before he knew whether he had been succt nllll
in XIpcing the Indian hu’rs do n mlmf or not.

gain were the two men. So strangely nsct,
lyingM-nseless upon the sumo; lhc late if the
old man having upon it an agonized, mind-tor—
tured expression, and that of the scout one of
110 ielwss horror.

' he iron nature of the latter had at last been
forcwl to bend, through Weakness and long-con
tinde suffering”

At the beginning of the fight the horses, with
the exception of the black steed of Rocky
Mountain Al, and the animal belonging to ille
major, bad gallo from the “ open ” iiLfright.
These two stoo on the border of the cedars,
sunning and prancing about during the terrible
strug'le The black horse, as soon as the men
lay si ent, walked slowly up to his master, rub—
bing his nose over the prostrate form, as though
begging his friend and protector to arise and
spenk to him. _

Just then, high up on the jagged racks. spring-
ing out from the cedars, appeared anttlncr Apa-
clle brave, even more hideous in appeaiutce,
more devilish. '

Not at first, did he seem to comprehend the
true position of affairs belovi ; but in- lic stood,
for a time, pee ring downward, his snake like
eyes glaring with anticipations of boo y and
trophies of his n'owess, he caught sight of his
brother braVe, ying silent and motionliss be-
side the men whom be supposed to be tslee p.

It needed only an instant's reasoning to tell
him that his fellow warrior was dead—tlat he
had fallen. lighting the white foe—killed, r-
haps, are he had sung his death-song. 
decision arrived at the Apache sprung back
into the cedars, and then on by a a mding wry,_
from rock to rock, now and than lo“ eringllim-
Self from the branches he clung to.

The base of the range was soon reached, and
than drawing his long gleaming sculpng knife.
the warrior stealthin entered the cedars. near
the )0. ky wall at the base (if lbemounttin.

lie passcs through the belt of evergreens. and.
from the edge of the same peers upon the scene
that be has vieWed from the hight above. .

He has made but slight motion, but ii has
been enough to draw the attention cf the noble
black steed of Rocky Mountain Al.

1y toward the point from whence the Apache
peered out.

The latter was still looking down upon the ~

wild scene.» Dead they mustbe be r '
but the horse
as the eyes of t e beast looked, human-like, to-

ward him.

Allis silent—silent as death! And death, in- ‘

deed, seems to rule that cedar and rock—bound

vs 9.
Suddenly the Indian straightenshimself, and
begins to stride

unled' him. e felt a ch' I -

‘

The .
animal jrrked up its head, and gazed suspicious“

rapidly into the moonlit v r

u 0 n 7’
'l‘hfcre was naught tut a horse to her his we ; '

but. even that animal may put. his life in peril.’

If the whites but sleep, the steed may, if
startled, awaken them; him-e he must procaed
with caution.

Every stop, every movement of the Apache,
is watched closely and tuspiciously by the
horse: a slight tremor. perceptible about the
muscles of the shouldeis, neck, and nostrils, as
he stoodiand gazrd.

But the warrior bcsncw forgotten the animal.‘
His eyes are fastened u} on the from of the pros-
ti ntc scout.

He sees the gentle rise and fall of the treat,
and he know; that the senseless white man
will soon recover. _ ’

W hat l'e dccs, he must do quilkly? ;

One quit k glance shows, him the ion ic k! ife,
it pn jQC‘l“ flow the neck of his fel v w warrior:

‘and his painted fat-e conform with a thinst for
revenge. '

The two vbiles had evidtntly lcm \ orstcd , 

by one Apache. A
His brother brave has wcumlod both before
he had himself-been struck to the earth. To

satisfy himself, the Apachcplaced his l: nc‘. on I

the breast of his pard.

It yes cold. He their crept forwaid lowland
the scout, on bards end 'nets, and “H: his
long real 'ii‘gknifc l‘elwccn his teeth, tlzc 1n-
dian am e ready for his dastard deed.
feel only inu-nvcmd between him and his in-
tonclod victim, “hon the latter threw up his

arm nrrrily. us if awakened—as if aroused by 4

the near approach if dargvr: as if ncslled firm
oblivion by his guardian angel, but .tuo late to
recline his position, and to act. ‘
A fiendish and cxullzmt sxpi'ession mark!
{)he hideous, paint-dauhcd fau- cf the Apache
rave. ‘
One bound now, and he will . asiride his
{bilge foe, who will be helpkss ’cath his
a c. "

The Indian
that bound, his whole attention but up“) are
form of the aunt, who seems about in arise.

At this momentum. black stead of , ,
Mountain Al, with a snort of madness and {may
sprung into the air lie fore-M for .en instant.
ll)  l; alike tho-c of‘ a buck fillmi g a smoke;

a

e ‘ ' av ' ‘ '

gather; up his strength to make-

Two ‘ ‘

.9!

r-

‘H

P.

t

It,

. - “Ann now, major

11
/

I ‘ ' .
. ,1 I 7

than, downward they came, crushing the
Apache bra've to‘ the earth, its hoofs crashing
the warrior’s bones like pipe-stems!

One wild, piercing, far sonndirg death-Vii.
echoing up from the mountain side, from cleft
to cleft, and then all is over.

The black steed, with blazing eye‘s, stands

v ' I v O m «or... v
I , 0

car seek 'some ui -t nook in the rocks, at some {
distance from t is'point, and there rol’l ourselves i

v in our blankets, and get the sleep we so much 7

over the dead and terribly mangled Apache 3

brave.

The scout rises quickl
and at the same instant
the same position, trembling and nervous, and
not for some time recalling the near past.

He sees before him now two dead Indians,
one crushed almost beyond the semblance of
humanity; and he knows that, once more. he
and the scout have been provideutially saved
from a horrible death.

The two men sat gazing at each other, a
prayerof thanks upon the ips of each. They
soon comprehended the fearful scene before
them. The bowie projecting from the neck of

to a sitting posture,

ajor Belzer also gains ,

r are in search of a lost daughter.”

one brave revealed to the scout to whom he i
owed his life when struggling against such ter- .

tibia odds with the savage.

Rocky Mountain Al patted the nose of his
horse, and the noble beast rubbed its head
against itil master’s shoulder, while both men
the ked God for the miraculous preservation of
the r lives.

At this moment the black horse snorted a sin
tossed its head, and gezrad up at the cliff. his

caused the scout and the major to look upward .

also, apprehensive of the approach of more
an Pl'.

T re, upon arocky ledge. they saw another
Apache brave, who stooped and gazed down-
ward for an instant, and then with a blowi-
curdling howl, bounded back among the cedars,
and disappeared.

‘ “ Major,” said Al. “ there goes the last of the
ten, the sole survivor of the Apache war-party
that I have followed for many days. He will
not trouble as, you may he sure, so there is a
pro's t of rest for hot of us.

” at my friend,” he continued, “I am well
aware that I owe you my life. There—not a
wordi But. remember, Rocky Mountain Al

‘ pays his debts.”

CHAPTER VIII.
ran EXPLANATION.

like to have you exp ain ow, in the name of
the seven wonders, you, in your week state,
succeeded in separating the vertebrae of that
A 0, just in time to save me from being dis-
sected by the coward?y cuss?”

Rocky Mountain A asked this question, still

 _ seated on the award, from which he had par-

tially arisen upon coming back to conscious-
ness. Major Belner also maintained the same
pesltiou, neither of them carin to attempt
standing or walking until they ad fully re.
covered from the excitement caused by their

“ .last terrible exertions—most terrible, when

.j‘ '

, V

, i

7' over-rate the little that I have done.

" arcboth indebted for our preservation to

 ,aerc'd the scout.

.‘ ascertain,

Itself thelast

their weak stat 3 was taken into consideration.

‘ The old man related the manner of his ap-
proach, and how be had sprung from the rear
upon the Indian; explaining that he had lost all
consciousness as soon as he had hurled himself
upward and forward. '

‘3 Major, as I have said before, I owe you my
‘Iife—a ife for this, and another for your timely
animal at the gulch, when, but for your com-

tng.I should have been put to death by the
most horrible torture. .

“I am a man who never forgets a friend, or
a favor: and, in the future, you can command
my services always to the death.”

“My friend.” returned the old man. “you
I must
from the circumstances,
at the gulch by my acci-
dental arrival, which was due entirely to my
ghorse. It was the last place on cart that I
should have entered, had I been myself, and
been guiding in animal. Hence cu owe your
life tchim on t occasion; a , on this, we
our
own'ncble‘black. The events of the night ave

admit that, judgin
your life war-say

been most strange indeed, and we have been.
‘ 'moat miraculously preserv'ed. On that account

I foal somewhat encoura ed to hope for a con-
‘ summation of my hea‘ttfe t wishes—to hope for
me, where, for some time, I have felt no

‘ But do you think we are safe in this ex-

posed position! I confess that I have my fears

ii regard to the Indian who appeared just now
on the rocks. ”

“ a. will not trouble us, as I said before,” as
. “ c is now flyin down the
‘age, as though the hands were chase of

m. '

'“Be doubtless knew
that his brother butchers have been
the gulch; and by that time he will be
filled with sgpsrstitious terror at findinghim-

his party—at knowing t all
M himself have been 'wiped out’bytwo

white braves. .
“Forall thhti! hoover gctoback tohis vil-
-hc will swear that they were a by
a. and he alone escaped. However, I
my“. Iamofthcoptnionthatwchadbct-

‘ bleeding afresh.
‘ will patch myself up again, and then attend

g
i
l

 

if you please,~l would 3

need.

“ Wait a moment, until I recover myself, and i
then I’ll give on another dose of brandy, and 
take one myse f. We need bracing up now, if 5
We ever did. Let us defer our mutual explana- i
tions further until morning; although I confess
to feeling great interest 1 nd a curiosity to know
why a gentleman like yourself should be roanL- -
ing these wilds alone.

“ From your words, I have surmised that you

“Your supposition is a correct one," said the 1
major. “But it is a long story, and, as you 3
have just said, had better be deferred until the
morrow.

“H0wever,I will state that I have placed
great hopes upon your assisting me in my
search; and if you will assure me that you can
and will do so, I shall feel much easier in my
mind, and shall rest better.”

“Major Belzer, I am at your service, as I
have told you, to the death. If your dau hter
is in Colorado, New Mexico, or Arizona, am ‘
the man to find her; and I will do it, I promise I
on.

) “ We are henceforth pards—
and, when Rocky Mountain A 1
man, he is going the whole length of the lariat
to serve him." . l
“ Thanks, All Ten thousand thanks for such I
i
i
l
l
l

 

rairie perds—
pards with a

encouraging words; as well as for all your kind-
Hess to a broken-hearted old man."

“ Enough of that, major! But I find I must
dress my wounds again. That Apache twisted
me up bad, and thev have burst 0 en, and are i
It is nothing, owever. I g
to you. After that, I think, we can rest in
peace.”

Half an hour-after, Major Belaer and Rocky I
Mountain Al were wrapped in deathJike slum~
her, in a small cavern in the mountain-side,
somethree hundred yards or more from the I
“open;"the old man having been assisted to I
reach the spot, by the scout, though it was lit-
tle more than the blind leading the blind. l

The sun was high in the heavens when they I
awoke. both being greatly refreshed and ,
strengthened by their slec ; then, after each ‘
had swallowed a dose of randy—Al’s fore-3
thought having led him to take the flask to the .‘
rave—they again descended the rocks, and re- 1

‘ gained the " open,” where they received a hearty
‘ welcome from the scout’s horse. '

After attending to the wound of the major 
as well as to his own stabs, Al proceeded to get ;
breakfast; havin still some cti‘fee and dried

: buffalo-meat in h s saddle-bags.

or if not he will soon '

 

This, with some hard biscuits, made a good ‘
meal for men with a tites born of mountain
air, and the violent exercise that had been forced
upon them the previous ni ht.

Major Belzer appeared ike another man, so
encouraged was 0 by the scout’s avowed in-
tention to find his daughter, if he had to search
{he range from the Rio Grands to the Canada
inc. ‘

In fact the old man was greatly impressed
with Al, and looked‘u n him as something al-
mOst superhuman; t e scout being one who
quickly recovered bodily strength and high
spirits. repudiating pain and fatigue until na-
ture could stand no more, before giving up, as
has been demonstra ted.

Their breakfast being finished Al lighted his

pipe saying: -
‘I reckon I’ll have my smoke out this time.
That sneaking Apache broke it up last night;

and it was lucky that I heard a branch switch. ;

as we sat on the blankets. or he would have dis- ‘
covered Us, got his pard and cleaned us out,
taking us by surprise, in the midst of your
to I

s rv.

“Now, you have a. good opportunity, ma or,
to can with your explauat on, if you fee so
inc ined. and are equal to it. Onl be brief;
for we must get out of this and stri e for San
Mi el, where I will leave you in good hands,
an go at once in search ofyour daughter.”

“ I was 'ust about to ask you," was the re ly.
“if you elt like listening tomy story. I
will procefll at once. making it, as you suggest.
as brief as possible. As I have to d you, am
from the Hudson, in New York State, where
my family residence is at present: the same
being a fine mansion, with beautiful grounds,
on the Palisades, overlooking the noble river.

“My first wife died ten veers ago. We had
one child, a daughter named Nellie; a beautiful
girl who is, I hope. at the present time, alive,
well. and happy, though I fear otherwise.

“Three years ago I married again, much
against the wishes of Nellie {and would thatl
had listened to my child, when shabegged me
not to brin a stranger into our beautiful home.
Thalad w omIm ed had a daughterbya
former husband. She is of nearly the same age
as my Nellie, but as unlike her as a snake is un—
like a dove.

“ The two never Lucretia Lane—
that is, my step-dang ter—-is an overbearing,

that they won]

 

jealous, and vindictive young woman' unscru-
suspicious and vengeful. Besides th

I

l k

, _,.M_..‘J——..

 

she is a great ,I-vtvr.
hell.

death, one year, ago. She- then took the reins

into her own hands, and ruled despotically.

1Fl‘or myself, I was in too. ill health to oppose
er.

“ She has had a lover, who is her counts rt
in disposition—a young man of the name of arl
Cole. He haunted our home continually, the
two putting their heads together to drive my
daughter away, and then to confine me in a re-
treat for the insane.

“There is a ver
whom my child it

engaged to be marriéd.

hree months ago he came West, to visit the
mining districts, for the purpose of mean-ch,
and the stu of practical mineralc y.

“ I know t at he called to bid Nel ie good-by;
but he did not enter the house, as he.had often
been treated rudely b Lucretia Lane. ~

“ I know, also that e and my daughter were
to have corresponded, but I firmly believe that
Lucretia intercepted his letters to Nellie.

“The poor girl grew very disconsolate, and
one day she told me that she had overheard
Carl Cole and Lucretia making lane to dispOse
of both of us. I laughed at her ears, but I soon
found out that she knew more of the two
schemcrs than I did, for a drug was adminis~
tered to me, and I think that, under its influ-
ence, I signed some papers—perhaps conveyed
my propert , at my, death, to Lucretia, leaving
Nellie penni essi
. “Be this as it may, I Was next placed in an
insane asylum: but, after some months. I es-
caped, and in disguise visited my home, to find
in house filled with guests of Carl and Lucretia,
w 0 were spending my money lavishly. Fro
an old servan ' whom I swore to secrecy,
learned that Ne '0 bad, through the persecution
of the female fiend whom I had been the means
of bringing into our homel been obliged to fi .
no one knew whither. With the hel of the o d
servant I robbed my own house, bav n a secret
safe in the wall of the basement. is was
luck for me now. '

She made ourhome a '"

i

I cannot employ a mild term in the case.‘ »’
“Especially was this so- after her mother’s ‘

i
t

estimable young man, to f

“ ecuring funds, I went to New York, saw 1

my attorney and bankers, explained the situa-
tion, and in this way put a. etc to the ettin of
any more funds by Carl Co and core in.

Ascertaining from relatives of Nellie’s lover th at 3

he had not been heard from for some time. an i
also that my dau hter had called upon them ft-
his address, whic at that time was Denvv
Colorado, I decided that. not‘knowing what} J
lecome of me, the poor child had started to I. !~‘:
West to meet her lovor, accordin to an agre-
ment between them previous to b s do are.
fl8“Siizce tile: I have searcheid fro?) h avast:
n igue ong ever stat on o t e a
line but without getting’dn information except
that Nellie did arrive in
thence down the rarge with the avowod intrr ~
tion of going to Santa Fe. This is all I knoy .n
regard to her. v I
"Now comes another trouble. Lucretia dud
Carl had a grand wedding at my house 03 the

aver, and started ‘

Hudson; but their pleasure was spelled when ,

the learned that I had escaped from the insane
as um, and that I had been in the cit , estab-
lis led my sanity, and put a stop to the rawing
of an more funds at my banker’s. '. i

“ 's, it seems, so infuriated them that they
also started for the West, knowing that Nellie
wonld naturally seek her lovor when she left
home, and that I, when I escaped than.~ would
also come West in search of m y daughu’r.

” NOW, my friend, when I inform a that ;
Cole and his wife are in Santa Fe, and n obabiy ,
with sufficient funds to hire 6 erat char. c- '
ters to do their work—and to flu Us 'ey are,

of course, determined—you will undeij-Rend my
terrible condition of mind my dread,‘anxiety,
and my great desire to find Nellie before‘they do.

“ They mean to have—my fortune. ev’n'though
to get it they must shed blood. Of this I am
satisfied." . g.“

“Why did you not have them arrested when
370“ escafid from the asylum l” asked‘Al. f, ‘

“ For e reason that I was very,unwell,$ d
I shrunk from (publicity. I had no idea t .n

do not wish. even now that the "bile should
know any more of my iamiiy tro . pt. I have
not. indeed, been in a fit conditi of mind to
understand how to act in the pi“ mixes, and I
have had no friend to counsel me. Thus far. I
have conducted my search alone; but now. I
trust that l have found a man who will be the
means, under Providence, of returning a child
to the arms of he; father.” ; -

“ Major Belzer," staid the scout" “ you are not
mistaken.
range, or near it: and I will foil ...hese infernal
plotters. I‘ll do it, so help me E eaven!”

CHAPTER IX.
A Buss] so In madam.

 

NIL”! Bunn had not explained any of the '

circumstances, that caused her toleave Santa Fe
secretly, either to the ate c—driver'Or the night-
clerkcf the Grand Centragl Hotel.

She held a conference with both at the am.
time, and merely confided in them to the ex-
tent that she was traveling in search of her

I’ll find your Nellie.  she is on the

 

 

criminate them *ves. And I j

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a——.

father, who had left Denvar in a partial] de-
mented state, and that she had come to ma
Fe in hopes of gaining some information in re-
gard to him.

A photograph of Major Belzer she ave to
each, re nesting to write her at Chico _ity, if
they, eit er of them, should learn anything of
the whereabouts of her parent.

Both men thought it strange that she should
desire to leave in such a manner; but they _re-
trained from questioning her—Jim swearing
that he would “ keep both eyes peeled for the
major, and also that he Would protect Nellie
herself, while she was on the line.” He adVised
her. also, not to make a long stayht Chico City,
as there were plenty of “ bad Citizens ” in that
burg, and “ range hammers ” were as thick as
ticks on a Chaparral mule’s neck.

Nellie requested the clerk to erase her name,
if possiliiw‘ mm the re ister; for notwithstand-
ing her attempts at a disguise, she feared that it
might excite suspicions. She wished him also
to my, in answer to any inquiries, in regard to
her. : xcept such as might come from the orig-
inal of the photograph, that she had gone down
country.

This he readily agreed to; indeed he would
have done almost anything to serve the beauti-
ful snvl eyed girl.

Tun: were matters, when Nellie Belzer left
Santa Fe; the clerk, after she had stolen out
the brick way of the hotel, following her with a
basket of lunch. while Jim Harding’advised her
to wait the arrival of the “ hearse. . .

Here, the clerk remained with her, until Jim
drove up; no one in Santa Fe bein aware of
the departure of Nellie, or the halting of the
coach.

Assisting the maiden into the stage, the clerk
bade her good-by; and Jim, requestin her to
make herself at home, cracked his w ip, and
the six prancing horses, fresh from the stables,
sped away up t e trail, north, at a wild gallo .
Nellie reclined upon the back seat, and to t
fresh relief, as every mile w..-s sped over, sep-
arating her from her merciless persecutors.

0n went the coach; the chae whistle of the
drivar, the tramp of hoofs, an the creaking of
the swaying vehicle, all blending in a strange,
lviveli'ld way. again the almost flewI ovir the moon-

tpan, can 3 eyoun gir,as ime passed
to sin into a peaceful umber, which lasted
:intil the station was reached where a change of

‘ horses was made—a lone log stable, some thirty

', miles from Santa Fe

.Hardin .Butm
If}. y

Here, Jim Harding looked in, and with a
kindly voice of sympathy, inquired as to “ how
she stood the run,” thus far.

“ Thank you, Mr. Harding; I am doing nicely.”
was the reply, “and have enjoyed a most re-
freshing sleep.”

a This answer delighted Jim, who remarked:

“ I’m might glad thar warn’t no passengers

)in’ north th trip. You’ve got ther coach all
l lyerself, as nice as a pin; an’ I’ll whirl you
through without so much as rumplin’ yer hair,
Miss Nelaer.”

“ I shall never for t your kindness, Mr.

name is Boiler, and not

as . .

“All right! I often git names wrong.” said
Jim, as he sprung to hiaaeat, buckled the apron,
and ave his fresh nags the “ go” yell.

Th edy miles further on, and San Mi el was
reacu , where the horses were again 0 anged;
and, much to Jim‘s disappointment, two pas-
Sengim were booked for rinidad. However,
to his relief. as well as to Nellie‘s. they climbed
up to ihe to of the coach, with cigars in their
mouths. an several drinks inside: which latter,
proha ‘ly, caused them to choose a seat on the
outside, where they could enjoy the fresh air.

a next 3 extended to Fort Union, some
IOTW ! .ilea dis at, where another driver was
total“! the coach; but. much to the surprise of
the lntmr. Jim volunteered to “change off,”
l ‘1’3 taking the stage to Trinidad, and then
bark to Fort Union on the next, when this man
could make Jim’s drive to Santa Fe.

This chang‘ just suited “ Bud.” the Fort

Union dri.~ er, and all went well; Jim Hardin .

in his cont m for Nellie, imposing upon himsel
a, long an. tedious drive, when heonght to have
been asleep ,

Once more. the old “hearse” rolled on the
“cutsides” at times “bracin ” Jim up from
their flask of Old Omd, an pressing fresh
(“ism :pon him as often.

" " 3! Went. Nelliea n sleeping sound] ,
um“. as the gray streaksggif morning shot up in
Phe- eflflwnj and the sta , after again chang-
iue horses. .- d a amafie creek that emptied
""0 ano‘b‘l’a‘at some distance north, where the
pnfifiengefl ho were bound for Chico City

ali thied.
This creek was bordered with timber, and a
t, the water being

stee bank led down into i
shai (WW, and easily forded without wetting the

wheel hubs.
was not accustomed to this part

Jim Hardin .
of the line, he "in driven over the road to

, Trinidad but a few t men; and he pulled n his
timber warking

team as soon as he entered the
the horses toward the steep bank mat fed
into the little stream.

if the distance between the edge of the

down

 

 

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i you. I don

Roekv Motntamel-

 

timber and the creek was passed, when a most
astounding incident occurred.

The trail was but little wider than the coach,
the wheels at times rubbing against the dense
undergrowth, and Jim was intent upon guiding
his team.

The bottom timber was silent as death, only
the creaking of the coach and the dull tramp of
the horses on the soft damp earth being audible.

Suddenly, from the dark shades, in a clear,
c0mmaiiding voice, rung the words:

“ Break brush, boys, and attend to biz!”

The next instant there was a crashing of the
bushes, and half a dozm masked men, mounted
upon snorting steeds, sprung toward the coach
On both sides with leveled and cocked revolvers
in their hands.

“Pull in, Jim Harding, and keep both hands
on the ribbons, or you’re a dead man! Outsides,
throw u your paws and hold them there, or
we’ll maize the da light shine through you i”

These comman s were delivered in a rapid
and imperative manner. that had the ring of
business. by a powerfully-built man, evidently
the chief of the road-agents, and Jim Harding
was for an instant dumfounded; but more by
the fact that he was known to the robber cap-
tain, here on a route that was not his own, than
by aught else.

But Jim was not the man to give up without
a struggle, especially when he had such precious
freight inside; and hardly had the order to pull
up left the lips of the chief when, lightning-like,
Jim’s long‘w ip—lash cut the hams of the leaders,
and by a dexterous movement of arm and wrist,
struck the off-horse, and then wound around the
belly of the near wheeler.

As Jim executed this scientific sleight-of—hand,
he yelled:

“ Outsides! down flat on the coach—down
for your livesl”

At the same time he sunk under the seat, en-
tirely concealed from view by the sole-leather
a ron, over which he held the reins as the team
p unged madly down the stee bank tothe ford,
and a volley of. bullets cut t 0 air hitting the

coach.

A loud, derisive l of laughter struck Jim’s
ears as the team hundered down the incline,
and a dread fear shot through his brain for the

first time.

He sprungku from under the seat, and made
an eflort to ic the brake and jerk up the team
—but too late.

The leaders struck a rope that was stretched
across the trail, and went down. The others
followed, all in a heap; the pole darting into the
kicking steeds, the coach, from the great mo
mentum, being thrown bottom upward upon
the animals. and the pole snapping off at the

axle-tree.

For a moment the coach swayed u the
str gling horses, and than rolled ovor ate the
cree , apiercing shriek from poor Nellie, fol-
lowed by cries of terror and pain from the
“ outaides ” ringing on the night air.

Jim Harding was forced to take a whirlin
“N' leap ” over his prostrate team, Ian -
in in the water; but he was up inan instant,
page and frightened beyond belief.

Wadiniito the u urned coach, now lying on
its side, J m jer open the door, unmindful of
the masked band, who now trotted down
leisurely over the bank, knowing that the stage
and passengers were at their mercy.

“ Miss Belner,” cried out Jim, anxiously, “ are
you hurt?”

There was no answer.

Darting thro h the door, he appeared the
next moment th the senseless form of Nellie
in his arms.

Down and out from the wreck he climbed, and
then waded throu h the water to the ford, while
three of the band ta urged their horses to the
coach and secured the mail-bags, and express-
aafe from the box under the driver’s seat.

The “ outsides” stood on the bank, wet and
bruised, arded bya bandit with presented re-
volver, w ile another “ went through” them in
a business-like manner.

Jim leaned upon one knee at the edge of the
creek, and dashed water in the face of the poor

l, who was pallld as a corpse. As he was
as endeavoring to resuscitate her the bandit
chief rode up saying:

“ How much ‘dust’ is there in the safe, Jim?
But, say, who have you got there? A pretty
gig-g, she is, I swear! Well, by all the gods!

at in the name of wonder does it mean? If
that ain’t Nu get Nell. I’m the bees liar of New
Memo! W at, in the mischief, is she mas-
que in in that rig for? She’s a high-fiyer,
and as on e asa Yankee schoolmarm!’

“As to the safe,” said Jim. in a voice of de-
fiance and fury, “ you can Weigh the dust your-
self, if you can get it open.
wood on me by a sneaking, mean. dirty trick,
and I’d give a month’s ytoknow who the

z devil you are, that can cal my name, when I’m

off my regular section. ‘
“ As to this young lady—you never saw her
before. I’m gambling on that: an’ she never saw
t know Nugget Nell, but 1 do know
that this oung lady goes by no such cog.
“ Anot er thing; I’ve romised to protect her,
an' Jim Harding keeps word! I’ll fight you

_ constructed

You got the dead-'

 

and your whole gang, if you’ll give me fair
play—one or two at a time. I don’t scare yvorth
a cent!

“ There lies my passenger,” he continued, lay-
ing Nellie gently on the sward, as he spoke,
“ an’ here stands Jim Harding, ready to ut a
ventilator into the carcass of any man w 0 at-
tempts to do her harm. I‘m right here, an’
your whole gang can’t move me the Width of a
hair!”

The ale, determined face of the driver indi-
cated business, and his heroic daring against.
such odds surprised and won the admiration of
the outlaws, one and all.

“ You’re a good boy, Jim,” said the chief:
“and we wouldn’t hurt you for the world.
Neither will we molest the lady. But 1 tell you
—‘ Honest lnjun,’ Jim Harding—that is Nugget
Nell; and she’s playing tricks on you. She‘s the
brashest and smartest piece of calico up or down
the range. '

“ I’m sorry our coach is wrecked, Jim: but
you were stub rn, you see, and I knew pretty
well how it would be. So I stretched the rope.
We are desperately in need of funds, and so
something des rate had to he did. I knew you
agong way 0 on the plain by the cut of your

31 .

“Take good care of the girl, Jim; get your
team together, and strike out for the station.
It’s all fair enough—the company is rich, and
we are poor.

“Don’t fret about the coach; they have

lenty more of them. I’ll see'vou later, Jim.

hen you want a lift, call on Doubloon Dan,
Ca tain of the Pumas!”

be next moment the outlaw chief, at the
head of his men, galloped up the steep ban
and away; carrying with them the register ‘
letters, and forty thousand dollars in gold from
the safe of Wells, Fargo & 00., which they had
b10wn open.

As the bandits rode off, poor Nellie Belaer
0 sad her eyes in wonder, which ily
c anged to terror when she remem , what
had occurred. But the si ht of Jim Hardin
standing near her, letting own the hammerso
his revolvers, told her that all was well; and
she sprung to her feet, grasped his hands, and
thanked him, with both tongue and eyes, for
having protected her. ‘

Truly the r girl had escaped most miracu'o
lonsly from or enemies, as well as from death
in the overturned coach; and she fell upon her
knees in thankful prayer, while Jim and the
two passengers were getting the bmiaad horses
into eading trim.

Jim, whose faith had been somewhat shaken
by the decided assertions of the outlaw chief in
regard to his pmtegec being Nugget Nell—a
young woman Well known along the range as a
daring and reckless girl, who generally wan-
dered about in male attire—when he perceived,
how the maiden was now occupied, cursed him-
self heartily for having allowed the slightest
doubt of her truthfulness to enter his mind.

In less than a half hour after the catastrophe,
the " outsides,” who had been robbed of every
dollar the sed, mounted two of the
horses, wh e im placed Nellie a another.
He then sprung anger) a fourth, a leading the
remaining‘ ir, ey all proceeded to the sta-
ticn. g arrived there. Jim assisted Nellie
to a seat in the coach for Chico Ci , bade her
goood-b , while with much emotion OW

see im again in Santa Fe.

The driver cracked his whip, and the “ hearse ”
on the branch line dashed toward the range, ten
miles away.

CHAPTER I:
n U G G i: 'r is I i. L.
03100 Cm had been but recently “
u ,” and was located in New Mexico, near the

lorado line, at the base of the Houn-
twins, and not half a day’s ride from w ' the _
Rayton Mountains branch 08 eastward from.
the main backbone of the Great Divide.

The “bu "consisted of some sixty ahantiea,
a primitive manner. and among
which were the usual number of drinking sa~
Icons found in a new mining town.

Gambling-rooms were connected with each,
or, {generally speaking, gaming was carried on
in 9 same or only room in thereuofthe
building, the bar being in front. '

There were three hotels, so-called, neither of
which was over a story in hight, the sleeping
apartments beingI in the attic, it baingpa i-
t oned 08 with w ite cotton cloth, and reach
by a ladder. '

Quartz mills had been in operation for several ‘
weeks at the commencement of Our narrative,
and many persons had been drawn to Chico
City, as is usually the case, by exaggerated re—
ports or the rich “ finds ” in the near vicinity.

Thus far the town had red far beyond
the expectations of old miners. althou none
but capitalists had profited to any exten if we
except the gamblers and saloon-keepers.

Some pocket gold had been found in the

lches. enough to cause much interest in old

and prospectors. who. however. searched more
for silver “ show ” than for anghtelse.

Chico City was but a short distance from the

.‘w.

I

-.

10

‘ . s ' Rocky Maw Alf...

. .. ... mm~-.._.-._.

little creek that, flowing south for seventy—  they said, would have been more up ropriaie; i ther foot 0’ ther range an’ crunch bowlders tor
five miles, and thence east through the Texas ,5 lp

Pan-Handle and the Indian Nation, empties
into the Arkansas, and is known as the Cuna—
dian river—a stream upon the banks of which
have been perpetrated the most terrible trage-

i'or they contended that a man cou d not get

' down any deeper than whisky would take him.

But the barkeeper swore there ought to have
been a long flight of stairs from his department,

3 down into the curd room, for it took years for

dies, and where have been fought the most se- 1
‘ bler would set a man flat on his back, and craze
ton. timber has echoed to the shrii-ks of anguish j
drawn from hundreds of poor tortured souls, as ,

vere fights between whites and reds: Whose bot—

the fiendish Kiowas or (toniunches have duncod
around them.

There is also another Creek flowing frmn the
l

Rayton Mountains south, uniting: with the one

just mentioned, the two formng the. source ,

of the Canadian, and the junction being some
tWenty miles southeast of Chico City.

Towering adamantine mountains rear high
their terrific sides above the town; indeed, so
near to it that a horseman could be. recognile
as he rode up the winding trails along the. side
of the range, and a yell from any of the lmwr
cliffs could be heard from the street of Chico
L t

It. is hardly necessary to say that strangers
ware coming and going at all times.

The old Santa Fe trail and stage route, point-
ing south from Bent’s Fort, on the Arkansas, in
Colorado, passing through a gap of the Rm ton
Mountains thence on down the range to Fort
Union an San Miguel, and thence west to
Santa Fe, lpasses but ten miles east of Chico
City, and e
the little creek formerly mentioned, and which
swells eventually into the Canadian.

The near Vicinit of Ravton Pass leads north
‘ to Trinidad: and i n Christo Pass, in the main

,i‘unge, is but fifty miles to the northWest,
where, via Fort Garland, the West side of t
Great Divide could be reached; together wit
the fact that it was’known there was a way of
musing the range at or near the point where
the Rayton Mountains branched ofl.

Th1! was direct! to the west of the Divide,
and o nin out a. 8. int nearly due west of
Giulio, Co orado. AI these facts caused Chico
City, and its near vicinity to be a. most favor-
able place for “road-agents,” or border ban-
dits, to rendezvous with snfet to themselves,
and with a wide field Open to-t eir operations.

Being on the line of travel, south and north,
and on the near eastern side of the Rocky
Mountain‘s. caused the burg to be also a favor-
able Ial ' ~place for the many wondering and
desperatec uracters, who assumed to be miners
or prospectors; in reality, blocklegs of all na-
demolition.

There was but one street in the town, and it
run north and south, and parallel with the
range. It consisted of two rows of shanties,
that had been erected without regard to their
being exactly on the square, or of uniform

5:111 '

But udozen or so of these were larger
thanthe others. These extended back further,
uni were of wider dimensions, but like the rest,
were only one story in hight.

,_ The bunch stage line, which brought passen-
m from the main line at the fiction on the

, ‘creok, ten miles distant, followed a wagon trail,
which wound around the side of a foot-hill
north of the town, and swept down the same
intone rtreet.

Tho lay of the land, a. gentle decline. allowed
John to show of! his stock and his dexterity at
tho.an time, by gathering the “ ribbons ’ in
bi. right hand. and with bugle in left blowing a

. mellow rmille to the “citz,” and Welcome to
the outsider: and insides, an opportunity greatly
appreciated and prided in by the drivers on the
border, who no as hardy, brave, happy, and
free-hearted a class of men ascan be found in
a port of the world.

drive of which we have apoki n is u peril-
oul on. In thecoacl. win ' at tin es alongut

grant , where the least lieer of the nags
would lit over precipices . win one to five
hundred t; in depth. It is in she old San
Antonio u El Pas ) section of t, e kian Antonio

.nndBunDiego at: e mail route, bisection be-
, {Inn 11 ndrefi miles in he. :h, and the
le route fourteen hundred.
-, Hod of'it was through the Ir. dun-haunted
~ wfldl, when not unfmqucntly th driVer and
pun-uteri, were butchered or t- 'turod, the
. couch urned, and the horses or mu ~s eaten by
I yelling horde of war-painted, fe thor-bediz-
conga.
. , at, to return to our story.
~ Chico City boasted of one really first-class sa-
loon and gambling-room combined—that is first-
clnu for u new in hing-town. It was known as
Pilgrim’s Palace, and was sixty feet in length
on fifteen in breadth: the bar occur) in: twen-
mfeot of the front, and the gaming apartment
reminder.
There was no partition between: nothing ex—

 ' 'oept a single downward step from the bar to

i the long array of card tables, where roulette,
furo',‘ and moute could be indulged in, or eVen
anchor, if one could succeed in getting up a

me.
g"rho dealers, us a rule. were dissatisfied with
this step arrangement. They asserted that the
gambling-room ought to have been elevated one
step Ct least above the floor of the bar. This,

aves its passengers at a station on :

l
l
i
l

 

a man to ruin himself by drink, while a. gum—

him in a single night.

There was a long bench on the side of the
room norms from the bur, which was ritually
filled with those impccunious wretchcs, known
as bummers, or dead-beats; and, at the Opvlllllg
of our narrative, the usual audience was in at-
tendance—in fact, the “anxious suds” were

packed; for it was night in Chico City, and ,

night meant busiin 

Indeed, seldom did a night pass, in the infant I
A yer’d slide him out.
1 chow him up 'fore yer kin say Amen.

burg, without a “ pic—nic" of some kind; for the
denizens of the lhvule hankcrcd after fun and
excitement not a hit lo.

the range among the residents; and not a few
who had l“(TiltL'(I in huts, or “wicky-ups,”
among the Cctlul‘s‘ in the rear of the West line of
Shuntics.

()u this particular night, however, the bar

? was dcs‘ertcd, nith the exception of the “bum-

mcrs” aforesaid and one other individual.
u ‘ -
whom we u I” shortly notice.
The Center of attraction was in the gambling-

room, where a newlynrrived sport, with nu ,
‘ abundance of “rocks,” was not only holding I
his own uglinst the expert “pasteboard-flip- ;

pcrs,’ but “jist a-rukiu' things clean," as an ud-
miring miner (’Xpl'l‘h‘fil'd it.

IImwver, the previously mentioned individ-
ual at the bar must first. claim our attention.

He was a burly, gigantic man, with long un-
kempt hair and beard of reddish hue; red, sun-
burut nose and cheeks, and blood-shot ryis,
which were small and deepeset, and having
overhanging brows that met and min led, giv-
in him a most mifianly pearance, w rich was
quite uncalled for, as  other features ex
pressed such a character sufficiently.

He wore a red shirt, open at the neck, with a
wide flowing collar. A pair of corduroy
breaches were thrust into high-topped cow-hide

boots, and a soft, wide-hrimmed sombrero,

pushed backward on his head in u defiant man-
ner, completed his costume.

A belt at his waist supported the usual huge
bowie-knife brace of revolvers and car ridge-
pouch, and he leaned one elbow upon the bar,
glaring across the room at the bench of bum-
mer: as he spoke. '

An empty glass Was at his side on the counter,
intinmting that he had just imbibed his favorite
beVerage, which, judging from his countenance,
was no very mild stimulant.

\Vith an insulting glance toward the row of
“ left outs,” and squirting a stream of tobacco

. juice high in the air in the direction of his inho-

ccnt and mm preciative, not to say alarmed,
audience, he b urted out:

“ 1 war in ther that class when I ’tended skule,
an’ I stud at that head. I gut some consid’nble
edicache, but I bucked ag’in’ tlwr teacher uu’
dissected the soft-headed cuss, an’ then sot ther
hull o’ ther skollars on a stonipede. Then I
burned ther darned skule-house nn’ lit out o'
ciVerlize fer good.

“Since then I’ve meandered permisc’ns like,
from Minnv-sote ter New Mex’, an’ ’cross coun-
try ter ’Frisco, ’sides skutin’ up nigh on ter
Wu lla- Walla.

“ I’ve shack paws with a has ,0’ p‘ison whisk,
snakes an’ other animiles o’ the kind, an’ I
rally let ther pilgrims know they hes ter 09
oif'n my grass, er git bored. I war horned wit
u’full set 0’ grinders, an’ I kin show es many
notches on my shooter es ary bod cit’ on this or
t’other side ther range. Yc~ sir—rec! thet‘s me!

“Ary pilgrim what wan ter whoop-er up
me. I’m that man for his money) an I air
u-staudin’ flat~footed. I’m r 0086 gilled sardine
an’ I never war kerrul’d. ‘ct rin’ onc’t, an’ then
I bu’st ther box. Does evm buddy hear me?

“ I’m a preachin'. an’ I’m her wickedest man
in that meetin’. I‘m ther nuckleberry what’s
never been picked. Jist ha a. dozen o’ ou-’uns
come hyer an’ shake my in 'i a leeile er fun,
jist tor fln’ out ef I dra ea: l"

Silence reigned in t e l' r. Not one of the
hammers lisped a word, bu' {82840119 at another
questioningly, as if each engected the other to

ak or make a move.

All of them were desperate for a drink. and
they cared not in what manner it was obtained.
But while they saw, from the amused smile and
encouragin look of the bartender, that the man
who starte a “circus” for the giant would
meet with favor in his direction, they were all
too shaky on their pins to make a “ break.”

Their naturally brave and fearless natures
were demoraliz-«l, almost paralyzed, by the
universal curse of the human race.

“ Doesn’t yer hear tlier ding-dong o' mv iron
heart?” continued the bully, as he walked to the
lunch-bowl and shoved into his capricious: mouth
a handful of crackers. " Doesn't yer hear ti‘er
crunch o’ my quartz-mill! I kin snap up a buf-
fler bull on thcr stompede nn’ cth im down,

hide an’ horns. Then I kin take a sot down at ~

I

This was ve ry nutur d, 1‘
when we consider that there was a. large num- 7
her of “olrl-tin'icrs” from up, down, and ovrr 1

"L.

 

’sist my digest merslieeneryl”

“Perhaps you’ll run ag‘in’ some one in this
town that“ chaw you up,” said the barkeeper,
as he polished a glass. “What‘s yer cog, au’
where did yer come from?”

The giant turned quicky, to study for an in-
stant the face of the Vender of liquors, but he
answered him with a changed voice, for he knew
that it would be imprudent to pick a quarrel
with one connected with the establishment.

"BoSs," said be, “they calls me thcr Ter-
rnntulcr o’ Tnos, an’ I need a heap 0’ clxawin‘.
l’Ve lied half»a—dozcn allergatorsa izibl-iin’et mv
eirkiss tor onc’t, an’ all ther time I war chock
full 0’ laugh. I‘m tough. I am! An’ cf yer
knows a pilgrim ’bout ther burg, what ycr
l‘w('kml§ ’ud buck ng'in’ me, I'd be ’bleegcd of
Jist do it, boss, an’ I’ll
m

" You’re a liar, by the watch. You couldn‘t
score a cotton tailed rabbit, or stampede a.
flock of goats!”

These words came from behind him.

The “Terrantaler o‘ Taos” whirled in his
tracks as quick as a flash, his flushed face filled
with the utmost amazement, as he gazed toward
the point whence this most insulting assertion
had proceeded—the front entrance of the bar.

There, leaning carelessly against the end of
the green screen, was what had the appearance
of a youth of seventeen or thereabouts—a boy,
with a handsome face and dashing air, and
habited in a suit of buckskin that was pro-
fusely ornamented with bullion buttons in Mexi-
can style.

Aclosc fitting j queta set off his graceful,
slender form to the greatest advantage.

The new arrival had blue eyes, long wavy

‘ hair, and n beardless face; and he wore about

his Wnist a rich] ornamented belt, which sup—
prrndu brace o silver-mounted revolvers and
a gold-hilted bowie-knife.

His black sombrero sat janntily upon one side
of his head, tipped back slightly, and was
bound with gold lace, a. golden snake acting as
hand, with {ewels in place of eyes.

His puma oons were tucked into hi h-topped
French boots. well fitting his small goat, and
u n the heels were a pair of silver spurs, to
w .ich were attached tiny tinkling bells.

There wasa daring dash, and an unflinching
sneering glance in the eyes of the youthf ,’
stranger, that told of u bravery and a rookie '
ness that was uncommon one so young, an
apparently no delicately nurtured.

“Stranger,” said the Tarantula of Tans, as
quickly as he turned and saw a human form,
and before he had examined the face and gen-
eral " make-up ” of thisn’ew arroyo]. “ Stranger.
war yerfdressin’ 'er con. lermenta tor me, or
for some other pdgrimf ’m the)“ Torrantuler
0’ Tune, an’ I’m n that habit o’ drinkin’ a bar‘l
o’ bleed afore breckfust every mornin’.”

“ Precisely.” answered the youth. “And I‘m
ulightning-bug. Just watch sharp, and you’ll
self Th?” fifth: l ttlred youth}! f d

s e us 6 o ' I or e .
forward limighmiifgya’hd before the “Ter-
rantaler” realized that he had even changed
his position, sprung upward, knocked the hat
frum the giant 5 head, givin him at the some
time a sounding slap in t e face: and then,
bounding some five paces away, stood with
folded arms and smiling face, gazing at the us—
tonlshed, dumfounded buggurt, whose face
was now pale, and his tongue, for once, speech-

less.

A roar of laughter run from the hammers
on the bench, and the rkeeper called out,
gleefully:

“ Hurrah for Nu get Nell! She’s paralyzed
'i'ihe asticulutin’ mac inc of the Terruntaler of

nos.

At this moment, sounds of confusion, pistol-
sho loud oaths, cheers and yells crmmingled,
p ed from the gambling end of the build-
ng.

Only for an insthnt stood the burly glam.
Then 6 drew his bowie, and Ippl‘OOChld, half—
bent the girl in male attire, who call d out:

“ Don’t any of you interfere in this litlle
game, if you don‘t want to get bored! I can

old my own with this bully and braggnrt. and
ulittle more. I have been loving for hm—l,
Nugget Nell, the Walt of the Rockies!"

CHAPTER XI.
CRUSHING A rmam‘m

Tan “Terrantaler 0’ Tues" had entered Pil—
grim’s Palace but a few minutes previous to his
bein brought before the notice of the render,
and ad not passed back into the gambling-
room.

Had he done so, and “shot of! his ton e.” on
he had done in the bur-room, he won] doubl-
less have had business on his hands at once; for
there never was a more motley crowd of border
men" of desperate stamp collected together.

All of them were intense] eager and watch-
ful for any chancn to turn 1: air bad luck; many
of them careless of the manner, honestly or dis-
honestly. '

And there never had, in the history of Chico
City, been more men Collected in Pilgrim’s
Palace, than on the present occasion.

 

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And never was, thnre such a mixed, lawless
crowd, so silent, and SO interested in the move-
ments, and words, and actions of one man;
every eye chained upon him. all seeming petri-
fied, so lost to themxclvcs. that for once they
forgot the bur and i'< cniicements—forgot to
call upon the di-ulel's lo ol'dcr a general “ crrl-

ate.”

And, indci-(l. upon this occasion, there \\'( re
little or no grounds to demand favors from the
gamblers; :lnd none at all, after the sil‘ungl‘l'.
alluded to in the hut chapter, had “got down
to his work.” .

It wux only about; ten minutes prevwns to the
(—fnil'uui-c oi’ the Tarantula of Ions into tlh- il'll'.
that: this stranger had come 11), and I)Jl.~\t‘if in,
once into the gaming-roolltz druwlng, us he 'iili

m, by his air and presence, all lllllllgel'~~' to the .

some point, except the bumlnci-s, will) “mi-ix w
fur gone that they had no lllLt‘lR st in unything
outside, of a decanter.

This man was of ('Ifllllmal-lling' mien, huth
some in taco, and not more than luirly yc'nu at"
age, with long. tlul‘krln'own lnlir hanging over
llie-x shoulders.

Ht: WM Firallilli 8‘ a forest pine, with El noble
physique. will llrig'il. piercing huz-l eyes, that
caught and held lllnso ot' :lnotllcrnt once, and
Accrued to rczul him through and through at the
lulm- tllllc.

Above the medium higllt and with not an
lllitwll of superfluom lll'sll, he was alnodel of
"llllliltllhl and intelligence. brave, dashing, and
burnt-us; prince of prairie and mountain, as
Zia-s5, manner, words. and actions, each and all,
ell-wl'ly proved.

Take him for all in all, he was a_ man who
Would claim and command the attention of any
crowd.

A silky mustache and imperial, dark-brown
in color, enhanced his dashing air.

The stranger was none other than Rocky
Mountain Al.

The few who caught sight of him as he stepped
down from the barvroom drew the attention of
the others immediately to the new arrival; and,
before he had half. crossed the room, all eyes were
upon him, and all had become silent.

With a cheery “ Good-evening, ntlemen!”
he walked up to a table, saying, wit a smile of

tiflcntion:

“ Ah, here is my favorite game!
is our limit?"

The dealer and the payer exchanged glances

V of surprise, for this was the first. time since the '
had struck Chico City that any one had inti-
mated all inclination to “ trip their bank.”

There were several piles of silver dollars in
the middle of the table, as is usual; the same in’
cloising neatly arranged stacks of twenty, ten,
five, and two-and-a-half dollar gold pieces.

“ Let’s see, Bill,” said the dealer to his pard.
“ How much have we to lose?"

the bank,

Boys, what

“ We’ll allow this gentleman to ta
if, he wishes; but,” said the other, ‘ we’ll have
no limit.”

This he said with a wink, to reassure his pard,
who had put on a dubious, hesitating look.

i “ Give us a new deal, and mix the cards
gopdl” directed the stranger, in a commanding
‘vo ce. ,

B this time every one had left the ot'ler
tab es, and an immense crowd sur arov ml
the monte table: none, however, nterfen' 1g
with the free movements of the man who l. ad
attracted so much curio.~it_v.

“Bud” openerl a small, silver-bound spa le—
box that sat on the end of the table. and taking
from it a pack a, o ned the same, and dis.-
cloeed a new pac of exican cards. , Running
the putaboards off, and throwin out the ten,
1111106 eight 8 ts, as is usua in reparing
the oc for e be quickly shumc .

All sawthat “ ," who was always calm
and indiflerent, let the bank be winning or los-
ing, seemed now nervous and a rehensive.

t was with good reason, for little, all was
in the bank. depending upon the turning up of
a single card, f the stranger persisted in his
proclaimed intention of “ tapping the bank.”

In addition to this, he had been greatly 1m-
pressed by the bold and assured air of the new
arrival.

There was not another man in the room who,
if he had offered to ta the bank, would have
Qfluoed Bud the slightes concern. J list the op-

ite. He would have been elated, filled with

0! to have had such an offer. But all gamblers
are superstitious; and Bud from the moment
the stranger walked up to his table, felt a pre-
senti men of coming misfortune.

'llme proved that this was not unfounded.
although, for the like of him, Bud, as he ex-
plained in 9- 10W. muttered voice to his pard,
could not account for the almost certain convic-
tion that the bank was “gone u in lumpy?“
was this the case, when he had t me to reason
owr his foolishness, as he shuffled the. new deck.
Bill, however. laughed and sneer-ed at the weak-
ness of his pard. . _'

“ Cut the cards, 811'.” said Bud, after he had
shuffled to his satisfaction, and bringing the
even deck down with a whack in front of the
stranger.

The dashin young scout reached out his

' hand, and dol cately lifted only two cards from

i c-mrsc, to outward appearances.

 

.5

Rocky Mountain Al.

the top of the dock, laying them down beside
the others.
A murmur of surprise rim ll round the crowd.
This changed to lhlmirution zlt thc ('llll'll
the stronger; for, illlll-illflll wt :1 HM“ in the

55 (ll

l
l
l
l
l
l

room hall IVel'secn such a ch:- lnnvle in innhtc j
before, all who lnul any .wuw knew that H e.

l‘l"lll()"etl lit‘iil‘l‘ hull. il' iill‘ llcnlo r hull “ stocked “
the curds, " 'oli chm!" ha: gunw, i' if the lilill‘l’

mth have {Mix lliillutl upon at host one-third of ;
the (‘:ll'tl_< lining; cut fro.” il'c top. in be plat-co ‘

upon thc llUlltllll previous to a throwing “ la)"-
( 111."

As the
cngugi-d lznml n roll of greenlmcks lriim his
pouch. :lnl twirling the same ill hix iinpi-ra
slil'i'llti tl.i ill upih the table. Thcu, picking the
non-5 up, one by me, he again griVe llll‘lll :i
ilip in llll‘ :zir, til“lfil‘i.\llig, as they cume (limll.
their (1 nominution—lil'ly. one hundred.
twenty dollar-notes. lo the amount of some two
or threi- thousand dollars.

Again 11 murmur run uroun'i the crowd:
this time of rcsocct and gratification, for all
hull. been very iavornlily ll}!})l'l"~,5t‘(l by the new
miner. and such a display of Wcultll us thie
clincln l the Dial].

“ Biz loss!”

“No slouch."

“ He’s a tart with a thick crust."

“Glltltlvby, Bill and Bud!"

‘.‘ I’d, like dog-goned well ter pnrd wi‘ thct pil-
grim.

“Somebody hold me tight. More I make a
break for that; pile, an’ 3 files thcr game !”

Such expri ssions could be heard in the crowd;
but they Were spoken ill low tones, each one to
his neighbor.

“Is that yom' cut, sir?" asked thc dealer,
while his pard across the table, for the first time
shOch something like surprise.

“ That is my cut, sir. Give me a ‘lay—out.‘
for I‘m im latient to win or lose the amount

on have 1 bank. I‘m a-hankerin’ artcr a
eetle excitement—do my cats cf 1 ain’t-i”

And the scout, as e said this, cast a look
around the crowd, with a winning smile upon
his face.

Flitting as was the glance that he gave, he
seemed to read every man in the assemblage.

Bu'i picked it the deck, and placed it upon
 two cards 1: e scout had cut. saying as he

i so:

“It seem< that you want those two cards in
the first lay -out; that is, if I can make a lay-out
from them.

" Is everything satisfactory?" he asked of his
ard.
p “ (in ahead. Bud," said the other, impatient-

V.

The «lock was turned; the first card that had
been cut roving to be a tray.

Again it was turned; this time displaying the
other, which was also a tray.

This proved the stranger correct, and no lay
out.

Once more the deck was turned. and a deuce
showed up; but only to be cast out on the
cloth, followed by an we. This made a lay-
out.

B ‘8 There you .nre, sir; deuce and ace?" said

u .

Elle scout turned the deuce around end ways.
a: dog:

“ How much have on in bank?"

“ About a thousan dollars,” was the answer.

“dl tap the. bank on the deuce. Pull your
('1‘. r s! ‘

EVi-ry eye was strained—fixed upon the deck
rs Bud turnrd the same face up, and drew the
first yard.

The face card was a king, the next a jack,
then it four, and then a deuce,

The young scout had broken the bank. and a
wild cheer rung from the cmwd.

“ Pm your bags, gentlemen! You have no
further use for them," said the winner, in an
olr-hand manner, an though the breaking of a
bank was a common occurrewe in his experi-
cncc.

' With an oath of intense chagrin and la Bud

buried the deck of cards to t 9 floor, an tear-
ing the buckskin bags from the back of his
cl air, flung them upon the table spitefnlly:
while his pal-d. with the utmost amazement,
gazed with fixed stare. at the winnen who dex-
tcroualy transferred the Buyer to one bag, and
the ROM to another, as he coolly moved on to-
wnrrl the roulette-table.

“ Don’t be down-hearted, boys," he said. “I
see you are new to the business. or you wouldn‘t.
allow this to affect you in the least; that is. of
But here “—
returning to the monte-table—“I won your
money i'uirly, whlch is rhaps more than you
can say of some of it. ‘ake a hundred apiece
pith my compliments; I’m no hog, dog-goned if

am!

“ I’ll see you later, boys; an’ if you ever strike
Santa Fe way, an’ want a stake. or if the Apa-
chcs confiscate your huge in my locate, 1‘“ freeze
to vou As a true pard, an’ stick as tight as the
burl: to a black—Each!”

The stranger, y showing that he was capable
of talkin “ States style,” and at the same time
by assum ng the slang utterances of a prairie or

strung-er cut. he jcrkcvl with hi< rlis- '

 

1%

mountain man, became more popular with the
crowd.

Especially was this the once after he had rs.
tznnul u hundred dollars each to the moote-
ilculers.

However. they proved illcmwlvcs unworthy
of >ll(‘ll lilwrality on hi< part. for they sullenly
li-ccix'cd tlw minty. (-zlstiig thrcutcningglanca
:l~ the Sll‘;ll.;1t‘l' turned his back to leuV'c the ta-
ill“.

"Sayi" criwl out Bill in u surly tone, “I
reckon. secln‘ you’Ve llrolzc our lmnk, you
liain’t no olij ctions to slingin’your cog. We
don’t know you. an’ we don't know your
friends.” ' ‘

The wont turned on the instant, his eyes
flushing. as he replied significantly:

“They call me Richy Mountain A] down

, country. and I curry my friends ui‘ill me.”
and ;

A,»- ll“ spoke he transferred the [mg i f gold to
hi: left hand. in which he then hi-ld both, and
clapped his right hand on his revolvers.

As he did S0, Bill sprung to his feet, his face
furious with passion. and “hipped cut his re-
volVer, which he leveled at Rocky Mountain Al.

Quick as had been his movements, however
the 3 oung scout‘s vi ere quickvr. and the “ (‘olt ’3
ol the latter lclchcd fii‘l' :it. the niilnent that
liill‘s linger pressed thc trigger. the bullet Sbfit'
tcring the hand of the mimic-dealer, and
ranging up the bone of his arm. causing him.
with a howl of pnin and anguish, to crop his
weapon. ‘

But. ere the pistol left his nerveless fingers‘lhe
barrel iii-came depressed. the revolver at the
same time exploding within three feet of his

artncr, Bud, shooting the latter through the V

.cnrt! .
With a gasping. gurgling cry. Bud _ rung
from his chuir. threw up his rims, and to l for-
ward (“1088 the monle-tahle. fiend. his head pro~
jectiug ovw and hi< arms hanging down on the
op nite side.
'ith shattered, blood-dripping hand, Bill

stood for a moment. his face the pullorof death, .

his eyes Lulging from their sockets. 'aziugin
horror and agony at the corpse of it! purd.
Then his form swayed hrck and forth, and he,
too, fell forward across the body of the unfor-
tunate Bud.

While this was going on the crowd stood still,
dazed and speechliss; but this singular and
ing of the tragedy did not. chain the atten-
tion of the young scout fora moment for bk
ear, in the stillness that. follow ed. h caught.
sounds from the bar which drew all his atten-
tion.

One glance n as sufficient. '

lr slmwed him a burly, whisky and slou-
ilifl'llllt’fl man, half-bent, and with a kni e in his
hand. approaching a slender youth with evi-
dently murderous intent. The youth was also
cln‘ching a glittering bowie, and standing, per-
i’ectl y fearless to all up. rancc, ready tom
and to battle with his giant adversarv. ,

Flifting as was the glance which themt
caught, to his joy he recognized the orl no! at
the photograph shown him by Major
and, although she was in male attire Al Ins
positive that Nellie Belner was before in m.

In half-a—doun wild bounds he was at the but:
then, with all the force of his strong arm, he

hurled the bag of silver dollars third the air,

just as the giant borderer was in t not of

springing upon his slender adversary. “ ,
The l envy buckskin ba struck the ruan

in the forehead, and he. to lwith such force onto
shake the building;at the some time the h:
burst, and the silvor dollars flew through vbeair
in all directions, littering in the bright hp-
light. and then re led about the floor. ,
“ Help yourselves, boys!” called out“ Al.
“This is my pic-nic, and I pay all the bills!" '

As he thus yelled. hevpmng mmto ui’n ‘ '

the side of the youth he believed to he (Ilia
Bclvr in d' ice, and whom he had ‘
saved from oath; but the bummer: had made a
rush for the dollars, and in the confusion the
gaylyiatgir: youth who had been in such deod-
,V r l  - ‘ '

he roof oFPilgrinl’s Palace was now almost

lifted h ' the wild yells of the motley crowd,-

who run ed to the bar, totally unmindfnl of‘tl-o
ghastly lay-out on the monte table, butafew'
yards from them!

CHAPTER II".
THE TWO N ELLIES.
WHEN Jim Hunting unlisted Nellie Bela? into

the coach on the branch line to Chico Citv,‘ und-

hadc her farewell, the poor in felt as
she had parted from her last ricnd on earth. \

her, ‘

She felt sure that it Jim had not pmtochd ‘

her, the bandit-a would have robbed hero! it
last dollarzand in that. mse, she would indeed
haw, been in a most pitiable and truly mm
conditiou,—at the mercy of her enemies, and
the lawless element of the range.

Sble and dtih dotd IELJGYGIS, and had
near y roe onsan o n green
yet remaining, other her traveling andbrofil
expenses had been id; and she supposed, now
that she knew her . other had come in search of'
her, that the latter would be short of funda¥

consequently she wished to be prudent in been

expenditures.

\

I

 

to avoid strikin her head against the roo

1

However she cared not whether her father or
herself had a penny, provided she could but find
him.

There were no other passengers in the coach
for Chico City; and Nellie, as she took her seat,
felt thankful for it, and began planning for the

future. . '
Jim Harding had requested the Chico driver

‘ to “ drop” his passenger at the mest respectable

and retired public place in the town, and to keep
an eye open for her on his account. This the
jehu had faithfuly promised to do: a promise
which be determined to fulfill to the letter al-
though he had not seen the beautiful sad face
beneath the val].

The robbery of the coach on the main line
was a piece of news, the )nrticulars of which
were astounding to Job ason; and he was
en er to “empty his budget” in the Pilgrim’s
Pa ace to attentive listeners.

The Pumas, from down country, had located
near Chico City—that was evident—and Cap-
tain Doubloon Dan was the very man to make
things lively, both north and south of Rayton

ass.

Job made the Concord coach hum over the
plain, in among the foothills, and down the
street of Chico City, to the lower end of the
rows of shanties, stopping at the “ Bug Juice Ba-
zaar.” Here, he sprung from the coach, entered,
and, calling the landlord aside, engaged the
only two apartments in the “ hotel” for a. lady
who was in delicate health, and who wanted the

uietest place in town; telling mine host that

im Harding, who “jerked ribbons” on the
main line, was anxious that the lady should re—
osive the best attention, and a good many
guests would be gained by favoring a friend of

im’a

Everythin being satisfactorily arran ,
Job return tothe coach and escorted N532,
who was still closely vailed, to the rear of the
Bug Juice Bazaar, the chambers of which were
accessible by a rou h and narrow stairway on
the outside back on of the building.

On enterin she found that she would be

ed to wafir exactly beneath the ridge-golf:
. 0
attended wthe n ng up of her bagga , in
non; and, request ng her to send for h m to
lgrim’s Palace, if she needed his servicesin
way, took his leave.
ellio thanked him very sincerely, and the
driver mounted to his seat and drove to the
stables' when, after unhitch n and feeding the
Who red quickl to lgrim’s Palace,to
“irrigate,” and to aston the “ citz ” and “ ten-
derfeet” at the same time b a detailed account
of the daring robber , and t e manner in which
it had been accompl shed, and by whom.

The news flow like wildfire; and a notice of
the coming of Barnum’s Mammoth Combi-
nation wit Jumbo included, would not have
ms \ more interest and excitement.

The fact that the notorious Doubloon Dan and
his Pumas were in the vicinit of Chico caused
intanse amazement to all; an fun was antici-

in and around the burg in consequence.

For several days Nellie kept her room, suffer-
ing from nervous rostration, the result of her
great anxiety of mind while in El Paso, at as-
certaining that Lucretia and Carl had followed
heriothe frontier, and were under the same
roof as herself, as well as from her terrible ex»

ea at the ford on Canadian Creek, when
coach was wrecked and robbed.

However, had the girl been ii‘i-egood health
and flats, she would not have do appear on
the t, for fear of meeting some spy, em-
plo ed by her enemies.
1, was about a week after her arrival, and on
the ds previous to the advent of Rock Moun-
tain Ii and the Tarantula of Taos n Chico

ty. that Nellie was sitting by the rear win-
, which was merely four panes of six by
fling set n a h home-made frame,
w was surprised by a light, springy step
on the outside rough stairway, altogether differ-
ent from the slow and heavy pace of her stout
hndlsdy, who never mounted to her room but
with great diflcuity, the stairs creaking threat-
sni y under her.

H‘a‘stily rising to her feet, Nellie stood, with _

timidity and s prehension imprinted upon her
countenance, eating that Lucretia Cole had
discovered her place of hiding, and had come to
make sure of her identity.

There came a slight tap on the door, then the

‘ 4, same opened quickly, and a youth entered.

Putting a finger over his lips, in sign of silence
and caution, he closed the door, and then

whirled and placed his back ainst it.
Glancing around the room, he stranger then
fixed his eyes steadily upon its Occupant. The
faceof the terrified maiden grew as white as
death, and she grasped the back of a chair for
support, her eatures expressing the utmost
' cement, while she brushed her hand over

0 es, as if to banish a disagreeable vision.

Ne lie could scarce believe her senses; for ,
i there, standing before her, was a youth whose
like her own except the.

d reckless ex- 3

face was exact]!
bronzed skin. an the daring an
pression of the eyes.

She was dumfounded and speechless.

Not so, however, was her strange visitor;

 

 

 

Rocky, Mountam Al.
who, with great vivacity and assurance, broke
out in a voice that seemed to Nellie the echo of
her own:

“ Don’t be alarmed. namesake mine! You and
I (must be friends—true friends from the word
I to.

“I am Nell—Nugget Nil], I i” the Rocky
Range, and everybody knows me up country.
I’m as astonished as you are; 1 :1m perfectly set
back, in regard to the strong resemblance be-
tween ns, and it takes a heap to bewilder Nug-
get Nell.

“ You see I wear men’s togs. Well, it’s just
because I’m laying for a man, who has got to
pass in his chips when I fasten my eyes on

im

“ I’m a decent girl, Nellie, and no one can say
a word against me since I’ve been up and down
the range. A vile scoundrel deceived me, and
caused me to leave my hapny home in St.
Louis. He had, before met 1m, been in this
section of the country. He professed to be a
mining speculator, but I believe now that he was
nothing but a ‘card sharp.’

“ I was almost insane when I came here, but
I had plenty of money and I have found con-
sidera le gold since. I prospect and sell my
‘finds,’ and I am genera ly lucky, as any one
will tell on.

“But liveonly for revenge. I lie in wait
and watch every sta e up or down country—
watch for the dastar who bli hted my life and
made me a wanderer. But go eVerywhere
pnrlpolested. None dare insult me by word or
00 .

“ It matters not how I came to know of you;
but I learned that a young woman came in the
stage, last week, from Santa Fe, who resembled
me. and was su posed b some to be myself on
some ma quera ing fro ic. Don’t be afraid of
me, Nellie—you can trust me. Your troubles
shall be m troubles, your enemies my enemies.
Tell me al about yourself: why you are here
on the border, a he ple, unprotected girl. You
may safely confide in Nugget Nell.”

he disguised girl addressed Nellie Beer in a

nick an nervous manner; her expression of
ace and eyes sh0wing great respect. and a
longin for the confidence of her listener. So
earnes and sincere were these fellings mani-
fested in voice, look and manner, and so favor
ably was Nellie impressed by her out-spoken
manner, that she put forth her hand, which the
other ea rly grassed.

“Sit own,’ sai Nugget Nell, speaking has-
tily: “sit down, and tell me all our troubles.
1’! stand by you. and assist you n everything.
I do or die. when I make a break in the way of
serving a friend. Tell me what brought you to
the Rockies, and what is the cause of your evi-
dent sorrow i”

Nellie Belser felt that at last, she had found
one in whom she could confide all her history;
and that her mind Would be greatly relieved by
so doing.

Placinga chair for her visitor. and seating
herself opposite without reserve, Nellie told her
entire family history, the cause of her leaving
home, and her object in braving the dangers of
the wilds of the far West.

The incarceration of her father in an insane
asylum, the departure of Herbert Ives, her
lover, for the Rocky Mountains. her on n escape
from her rsecutors, her resolvs to search for
Herbert, er fruitless wanderings, and the dis
covery of her enemies in Santa Fe; all to
gether with the intelligence she had gained,
while listening to their conversation, in regard
to the escape of her father. and his ,vresence on
the border—everything even the compact be-
tween Lucretia and Car Cole with the Taran-
tula of Taos, was minutely explained to the
es er) listening waif of the mountains.

avn narrated all this, Nellie next ro-
duced p otogra he of her father, of Her rt
Ives, of Carl an Lucretia: co s of which she

ve to'Nugget Nell, who studied them all with
terest.
C:'Il‘he last one she inspected was that of Carl

0 e.

No sooner had Nugget Nell lanced at this
picture, than she gave a hal scream, half
shriek, dropped the other pictures, and with
clinched hands and grating teeth, her eves
blazing like those of a ti ess bereft of her
Loung, she paced the floor u long strides, hold-

: out the card at arm’s length.

Nellie Belser gazed upon her strangely acting
visitor with the utmost amazement, fearing that
the eccentric girl had lost her senses.

In a few moments, however, she paused;
st short in the middle of the room, and
fix her wild eyes upon her companion. Only
for an instant: then she broke forth in a rapid
voice, filled with min led fur and exultation.

“ Nellie, my new- ound riend and sister!
The God of ustice has been sent you to the
wilds of the kies, to give‘Nugget Nell her

i
“ This coward, this fiend, who is with his so-

. reven 2e

‘ called wife upon your track. is the villain who

deceived me by a false marriage, when I was
an innocent and confidin girl. We will jom
hands in the hunt. He wi come, as you say, to
Chico City without doubt—this miscreant, who
calls himself Carl Cole; and I will be ready for

 

him! I will torture him, as he has tortured

me.

“I’ll shsot him! I’ll cut out his heart! I’ll
gaze into his eyes, as they film in death. and.I’ll
taunt him, and spit upon him!

“I swear it, by the hopes I have of meeting,
in another World, my innocent child! I swear
it, by everything on earth, and under the earth!
I, the Waif of the Rockies, Nugget Nell i”

The slapping the face of the Tarantula of
Taos, in Pilgrim’s Palace, was the first “break”
made by the wild girl toward proving her
friendship for Nellie Belzer; the circumstances
of which have been already detailed.

CHAPTER Xlll.
THE “Finn” IN THE GULCH.

ONE mile and a half up the range, north
from Chico City, a narrow gulch wound be-
tween the foot-hills, and extended in between
two bluffs; a wide, gaping cleft in the adaman-
tine range, a rushing torrent flowing along its
bed during heavy rains.

For a thousand yards this gulch extended to-
ward the heart of the mountains, and then
ended in a sharp point. Within fifty yards of
this point was a small spring of water, oozing
from the cliff-side into a mossy rock basin, on
a level with the gulch bed: the surplus water
being lost in the sand.

A thick clump of Cedars grew on either side
of the spring, much more luxuriant. and of a
richer n than the surrounding shrubs and
trees, rom its near roximity to lhe spring.

About the same gme that the Tarantula of"
Taos was expatiating upon his prowess in Pil-
grim‘s Palace, a party of three rode up to the
gulch, and halting at the s ring, dismounted in
a stiff and Weary manner, indicating that tho-ii"
ride had been a long and tedious one during
the day.

They were all young: one of them, a boy of
not more than fifteen years of age.

Assisting this lad in removin the equipments
of his horse, and showing a ten er solicitude for
him, was a young man of twenty-one years
about five feet ten inches in hi ht and somewha
slender in mold: although s owin muscular
strength, and a quickness of action t t was re-
markable. ,

His complexion was dark, and his hair, side-
whiskers and mustache were black, shining and
glossy.

His name was Herbert Howard Ives, and the
youth was his brother Charles, dubbed by the
former and his companion, “Little Pard.

The other young man was shorter in hight,
and of more slender build; with brown hair,
an?i eyes that were sharp, honest, and mag-
ne c..

There was an energy of sction about his
evsry movement, and in the glance of his .eye,
that proved him well fitted for roughing it on
the border.

In fact, none but such men as this same
Geo e Belzer, and Herbert Ives, sre to be
foun so far out on the frontierszand none ex-
cept such can hope to contend with the priva-
tions and hardships incident to prairie and
mountain roving.

“How do you feel, Charley?” asked Herb of
his brother. as he threw himself u n no grass,
near the cedars, wearily, after rinking from

the Spring.

“ ittle Psrd is sllri ht,”pnt in George Bel-

ner, without giving t e boy time to‘answer.
“He wants a good square meal, and a night’s
rest; that is all. Then he’ll be as fresh as a
daisy.”
“ ou’rs right, George,” said Charley. “I
don’t suffer any very great inconvenience from
riding now: t ough when we first started, I
used to wish myself, every night, back with
father in Brooklyn.”

“Yes, Charley," said Herb, “and I do most
sincrrely wish that you had remained at home,
for i am in almost constant anxiety on your ac-
count. There sre reports of Apache raids don n
the range. and we ought to go as far as Santa
Fe. and then turn up the west side of the moun-
tains. and back to Colorado.”

“Don‘t fret. Herb,” returned George. “ Lit-
tle Ford and I intend each to carrv an Apache
scalp or two back to New York. an c you
are expectin letters from Nellie, st me Fe?"

“ I’m great y mortified and worried," was the
answer, “ in regard to not having received any
replies to my letters. . I wrote Nellie to address
me at Denver, Lesdvilla and Trinidad; but not
a word have I received from her since I left
New York.

“I fear that something unpleasant has oc-
curred. .Lucretia hue, suspect, has inter-
cepted my letters, and prevented those that.
have been written me from being mailed. She
and her low-r, Carl Cole, are capable of any
mean .act: in fact, I believe the would com-
mit crime to accomplish their en s.

” Nellie informed me. before we came away,
that Lucretia had declared your uncle to be in-
sane, and asserted that he ought to be sent to
an asylum.”

“ When I return,” said George. “ I’ll meke n
chan e in that establishment on the Hudsor;
evan fl am censured for it by uncle George
who is in his second childhood. I’ll kick that

 

mr.«

 

 

 

.m,_.

 

Rocky Mountain A1.

13

 

contemptible scoundrel, Carl Cole, over the
Palisades; and then run the ranch myself, un—
til you marry Nellie. Then I’ll gracefully yield
up the reins of government to you. Poor Nellie
is not of the kind of material to hold out against
such a woman as Lucretia Lane. But, say;
where the dickens is that bacon?”

“In my saddlebags.” answered Charley,
“ and the coffee also. ‘Shall I get them for you,
George?"

“No, Little Pard; you just squat where you
are. Herb and I will shake out a square meal
Say, Herb, I want to ask a favor of

“ it’s granted in advance. What is it?”_

“ Just this. I want to eat one meal without
chawing quartz with it. We’ve had minera-
logy enough of late; at least I have, and l’ve
heard so much about the various lodes of gold—
bearing ore, and the silver quartz of George—
town and Lewdville, that I began to fancy for a
time I was a millionaire, consequently it has

n a heavy “let down” to realize that I
didn’t have an interest in any of them.

“ However, there is one advantage in hearing
on talk. It is this. Your glowing Mosaic
anguage contributes greatly to assist diges-

tion; in fact, a fellow’s grub digests altogether
too quick, and one is hungry all the time.

“ believe I could eat a government mule
steak without an inconvenience, provided you
kept up your mineralogical lingo. It would
make an ostrich smile, clear to he and of his
tail-feathers, to have on make out a bill of
fare,”consisting of Co crude and New Mexico
ores.

“ I’ll promise you not to mention anything in
re rd to my researches to da ,” said Herbert.
“ fiavo nearly worn out my ammer on Colo-
rado rocks, and we have enOu h of them on all
sides of us. without bringin em into conver-
sation during supper, especially after you have
given such a good reason why I should not.
Speakin of grub, we must try and drop abuck,
or ablac boar, to-morrow.”

“Now ou’re talking sense, Herb; that sort
of thing a long way ahead of quartz and
tau.

975‘

I agree with on, George,” said Charley, as
he helped himuf to a fresh slice of bacon.
“ Herb is getting to be a monomaniac on the
subject."

“I thought, boys," said Herbert, lau hing,
“ that by special request all conversat on in
regard to mineralogy was to be dispensed with
during this meal.”

“That was the decision" agreed George:
“ but, you see, Herb, on have run in so man
rocks on us since we eft Pike’s Peak, that a l
softer subjects have, somehow or other, become
strange to us. However. we must make an
alert to banish such topics. I would lilac much
to know how in sweetheart in Pou hkeepsie

ts along. By t e way, wouldn’t it a good
dea for me to write, and have Ads go to uncle
George’s, and call upon Nollie! She could
ascertain if your letters had been received and
answered.”

“ I’m lad you thought of it, George! It’s an

oxcsllen id ” returned Herbert. “8n
yon write to Ada Johnson to-morrow.

is a new mining-town, called Chico
City, that can’t be far down the range. judging
from the time we have put in on the trail a nce
leaving Rayton Pass. We will run in there,
gigand mail some letters, and hope for the

The boy Charley, after eating, had reclined
against h saddle. and, as Herbert spoke, was
sleeping as peacefully as he could have done had
baboon at home and not in the wilds of the

ky Mountains.

erbortlpread a blanket beneath the shade
of the cedars, and then. with the help of George,
bore him tenderly sud canfully to it, laying
him down withou awakening him.

“ I T803011. Herb.” advised George, “ that we
had better secrete our tricks and trap. in the
thicket, for we don’t know an in
section, and some enemies in t gli

“That’s a good ou,”said the other;
“ we’ll do it, and then cad our do" the
gulch to where there is better grazing. Tm. i.

- a necessity. for we can’t expect to travel nnlem

thohta’nimals have sumcient 100d dunn' z the
n
% But suppose some outlaw should appropriate

“We must run the risk. The poor beasts
must not sufler for grass when there is such
good food near at hand. I could not sleep a
wink if I believed the animals to be sufferinzo”

“All right,” returned George. “ We’ll lead
them do -~n toths foot-hills and find a retired
‘open’ where we can leave them with safety.”

Thus agreed, the two young men led the
horses down the gulch, and, just as they had
lanated the b08893 "P09 good grass in a small
cedar-surrounded opening. a rifle-shot broke on
the night air to the east, ollcwod by two revol-
ver-shots.

“Come on, Herb!” shouted Geor Belser.
“There is something wrong down t e gulch.

‘ them?”

some, one may need our assistance and protec-
on.
‘ Drawing their revolvers, they started in a run.

I

 

0n down the gulch they went, until nearly at
a thick clump of cedars, where lay Rocky
Mountain A1 senseless, and Nugget Nell watch-
ing over him. .

Hearing footsteps approaching, Nell passed
quickly to that side of the thicket toward the
range, parted the branches and peered out.

The moon was shining brightly.

Herbert and George were coming down the
bed of the gulch on the run.

The eyes of the former were fastened upon
the thicket ahead, when suddenly the branches
parted and a female face was revealed.

Herbert Ives came to a sudden halt. His eyes
were fixed and staring at the thicket, his face
showed intense astonishment for a moment;
then, clapping both hands to his forehead, he
sunk with a groan upon the bed of the gorge,
s echless for the moment and incapable of
t ought or movement. .

Why Nugget Nell was in the thicket, and the
cause of the scout’s being senseless, will be ex-
plained later on.

CHAPTER XIV.
LITTLE PARD’S ram.

A MAD rush it was, for the dollars of Rocky
Mountain Al, that rolled in every direction
about the floor of Pilgrim’s Palace; a rush
that caused men to clutch, in fierce murder—
ous fight, in their endeavor to get possession of
them.

There were, however, enough of decent miners

resent, who cared nothing for the money thus
lying around looseJmt a great deal for the dar-
ing and dexterity of Al.

‘Champa ne, 'I‘om Mathews! Champagne!
We’ll drown ock y Mountain Al in champagne 1”

Thus they shouted to the bar-keeper, who,
pale as death, stood behind the bar, revolver in
hand, while bullets were flying, knives cutting
the air, and the Tarantula of Taos being tram-
pled beneath the feet of the frenzied mob.

“Excuse me, pardsl” yelled the scout, as he
leaned over to the rear of the bar and shouted
in the ear of Tom Mathews: “Who was that
fancy-dressed youth, the big cuss was gomg
for; and where has be gone?”

Dodging a flyin bowie—knife, that shattered
a decanter behindfiiim, the barkeeper replied:

“ He was a girl—Nugget Nell l”

As he half-enriched out these words, he point—
ed to the front entrance, in answer to the last
question of Rock Mountain Al.

No sooner did athews utter the name of the
girl, then the scout sprung erect; a look of ex-
treme pleasure and surprise upon his counte
nance, quickl chan ing to one of mgret.

With a wil boun over the heads of some of
the crowd, Al rushed like a madman out into
the street.

It was bright moonlight; and, gazing first
down between the long rows of shanties, and
then up at the stage trail, he gave a yell of
12y], and sprung around to the rear of Pilgrim’s

a ace.

Fastening hastily his bag of old to his belt
as he ran, the scout soon reac ed a clump of
cedars, within which he sprung to the side of
his magnificent black horse, that welcomed him
as he came.

Loose-ling the lariat from a tree, he coiled it,
secured the rope to the horn of his saddleb
the loop. mounted, and dashed into the stree ,
angl- tben north, like the wind, up the stage

As Al reached the most elevated portion of
the road, where it curved around the foot-hills,
be halted suddenly, and cast piercing glances in
every direction.

This was only for a moment. Then, with an
exclamation o Ijoy and relief, he left the trail,
galloping at ful speed directly toward the foot
of the range, not far from his old position on
the trail.

Ahead of him, galloped a horseman. whom
the scout knew, rom the buckskin costume
covered with buttons that glittercd in the moon-
li ht, worn by him, to be a beautiful girl—one
w om he had searched far and wide to find.

On rode Rocky Mountain Al, as if more than
life depended upon his overtaking the rider in
his front, who, turning and discovering him,
drove spurs. and shot up the base of the range.

With a groan of disappointment at this, Al
urged his horse to‘greatcr exertion.

He feared to shout, lest he should frighten the
disguised fir].

He won 6 give the world almost if he could
live some sign to prove to her that he was her
friend; but that was impossible, and a stern
chase was long and doubtful.

Yet the scout was not hopeless.

Still on he went, until the ground became
more broken, and he had gained atly.

He is closing in. for his horse fleet as the
Wind, and Nugget Nell rides a half-breed. Al
was soon within a rifle-shot in distance, when,
fearing she would dart into some loose covert of
cedars, and thus be lost to him, be determined
to bail her.

Both are now speeding along the brink of a
wash out, as he shouted. in a vmce that ought to
have convinced her he was no enemy:

“ Nell! O—oo-o—h, Nell l”

The shout seemed to be a signal for his doom,

 

l

 

! born, as if stricken with death.

left his lips when the
n the night air,
upon his saddle-

for scarce had the last or
sharp crack of a rifle bro 9 u
and the scout sunk forwar

His noble black came to a sudden halt, as if
conscious of his master's condition , and, as the
animal stopped, Rocky Mountain Al slid from
the saddle, and 1‘01ch down the steep bank of
the wash-out to the edge of the cedars at its -

l bed

I

I

At the sound of the rifle-shot, Nugget Nell 1
turned in her saddle, and saw her pursuer sink
forward and {all to the earth!

With a wild cry, the disguised girl at the risk

:of her life urged her animal down into the
i wash-out, and galloped down its bed to the spot
‘ at which the young scout had disappeared.

 

She heard the clatter of the hoofs and saw
the black horse gallop back toward Chico City.
She then knew that the assassin was in search
of his victim. ,

Reaching the clump of cedars, and securing
her horse on the opposite side from where the
scout had fallen, nowing that no one from
above them could see the animal there, she .
spirung into the thicket, passing to the opposite.
S] e.

On the m gin of the cedars, rtl in and
partly out, 1:; Rocky Mountain  y

She saw him as he lay—saw blood upon his '
temple, and then her fair face became con-
torted with anguish and a thirst for revenge. .

At the same moment voices sounded from the.
bank above and Nugget Nell jerked her revolv-
ers, with a 00k of fury in her eyes.

“ I tole yer l’d fetch ther cuss, Bill, but I’m
dang’d put out ’bout his critter gitting off, for
tber bag 0’ gold mought be tied ter his saddle.”

These were the words that Neil heard, fol-
lowed by more in another voice, as two men
made their way down the bank with dimculty.

“ I don’t rec on, ,pard, he’d risk his dust thet-
a-ways, but hit don t much matter. He’s t n
heap 0" greenbacks in his pouch. He Bill
an’ shot Bud so bad he ll never fli another -
keerd, ’sides layin’ out ther Terran r, an’ I’d V
like ter tortur’ him fer that. Both ther punte-
board-slingers war 0’ great sarvice tor that
band, being in ther burg, whar they c’u’d ’n,
Captain Dan infernvashe.
out cold, pard. Dang my skin, of yer didn’t
we ?,far-stretch shot count that time, mall"

in

“Thar he lays, for a fac’,”said the other,
“.an;”ef he hain’t, passed his checks I’ll knife

The two assassins, evidently belongingto the
Pumas, for they wore black masks, had .
reached the vicmit of the cedars. and-stile ‘
lastths afier ended efdrgw his knife and was
w1 mtree ceso toprostra perh-
dead man, w en, clear as a bellme tg -‘
thicket, rung the voice of Nugget Nell:

“ Bay your prayers, you cowardly curs;
for your crimes and your days are at an end!

Never were men more amazed and terrified.

Both turned paleas death, and strove to beg
for life, but only a gaspi sound came from
their throats, for too we they know, bytho
scion that appalled them, tha

t they wore-
oomed. ;

Becoming desperate at length, both turned to‘ ~ ..
flivr, but two quick, sharpe rte broke on the: .
a , one close following t ct or, and with yells
of agony the assassinsfelltotho earth in the
spasms of death.

Nugget Nell still kept her tion on the der'
fensive, expecting others of e outlaw hand to
make their appearance on the verge of the bank
above, but, as moments passed, she decided that
the reports of her revolvers had not bombard,
and she quickly stepped out of the cedars. —

Going upleto the side of Rocky lecithin A1,.
she plahoeedt r bird iiipon his breast and felt lily
pulse, r ace 3 ow ng relief,
when, after inspection, 
bullet of the bandit had made but a scalp
wound, striking the skull with force enough,
however, to stun him.

Just as Nell had ascertained this much she 3‘ 
at a run» V "

heard the approach of men com

down the wash-out, and she parted hunches

on that side of the thicket. ,
Two young men were coming toward choco-

dars in a rapid run, and one of these Noll Incog—
niud as the original of one of the photographs
shown her by Nellie Belser—none other-than
the lover for whom the latter was in search,

Herbert lvesl

For an instant onl was the face of Nug-
get Nell thrust out in the cedar branches,
and plainly revealed by the bright moonlight, .
for she draw back quickly. thinkingit would, '

IIJOtbe policy to revoal herself at thirtime to
v

es.

She saw Herbert sink to the bed of thé ' oh,
evidently overcome by the sight of a so. 
marvelously like that of his. sweetheart, whom . ‘
he suppose two thousand miles away; beprob-
ably inking. and with good moon, that he
beheld a supernatural vision—that the. fair irl
been much loved was dead, and that it washer
spu-it that now appeared before him.

Hastilv climbi a cedar in the middle of the-

l thicket Nugget Ne l awaited developments.

George Belmr was in advance of 

Thar’s thercuss id _ '

now"

" : .8601»! m.

 

' . ‘lem scout. the two

 

' In:
“that
, 01, and into the cedar thicket.

.ce

0  "’- udufilfi- ‘=. '-
- know and he -: .
‘and thinkingof ha, fld'fih mtfi

, old don’t

 ‘But hud’tlbe bri f
r y‘. ‘ u tter ng one o
«thcho

,. \
.‘ with 1110p, on hurley'sB anish
‘LnIKockyifountuln Al was hftgd to

14 ..

R¢°1§Y Mme 4-1:

 

“1C 2:. . .- .-.IT.::I..'.:L all” I 7’

and consequently did not witness the bait of the
latter, but rushed onward, his gaze bout u on
the bank above, which fact also prevented im
from observing Nell as she thrust her head from
the cedars.

(xivcorge discovered the dead bandits as soon as
he reached the thicket: and, with an ejacu—
lation of horror, drew his other revolver, and

i
l

stood, with one of these weapons in either hand, ‘

‘cxpecting each lilstélllii that enemies would
spring upon him from the cedar shades.

No sound, however, c-imo to his ears to indi~ .

Cate the presence of anything,r but dcath in the
lonely wash-out; and, greatly surprised at ihe
absence of Herbert, he tunmi about, and (iii-
covered his pnrzl, seated upon the bed of the
deep gully, with both hands pressed upon his
brow and over his eyes, as if to shut out a hor-
rible view.

“ What, in the name of common sense, is the
row with you, Herb .4” he exclaimed, with a
show of indignation. “ Is that the way you
stick to a pard, in a tight place? I might have
been jumped by a dozen bandits or Indians, and
no one to stand by me.

“ There has been a. lively fight here, for I can

' see two stilts, both with black masks on their

force. But, come on, Herb! I’m surprised at
you. ‘We must investigate the affair.

“Say, have you got the heart-disease, or a
sudden attack of the colic.‘ Or have
a discovery of “ pay dirt” in the san there i”

seeming smothered by agony and terror at sight
pf the dreadful abyss, over which the captive
lung.

For an instant Herbert Ives stood still, his
eyes fixed and glaSsy: fixed upon his little
brother, while his very soul seemed pierced
through and through. His heart ceased pulsa-
tion, and his brain became like molten lead.

Then his form reeled to and fro. and he fell to
the earth—fell, as if a bullet had torn through
hi“ vilals.

“fill: a heavy, heart-rendiug groan. George
linlzor sunk to a sitting posture, gazing in a
dazed manner upward at his little pnrd Charley
Ives, now close clutched by the rcdhuuded
Apache, and suspended a hundred feet ch1' the
rough bch of the clitfi

Rocky Mountain Al now staggered to his
feet, al-<o gazing up at the terrible tableau; at
first as in a dremn. He then slowly began to
realize the true state of affairs: and a look of
the most intense halo and vengeful l'ury came
into his face, as he ru-vvgnined ih '- olic surviving
bxave of the war party tlml. had escaped him at

' the “open,” down the. hinge.

ou made 2

But soon the face of the scout changed in ex—
pression; relief, 'oy, and exnltation showed
plainly, as he sail to (‘reorgc Belzcr, in a quick
and commanding tone:

“ Not a. Word, or a motion. as you value that
boy’s life. If you See anything that changes

3 your dread to relief and joy, don’t suck in an

‘ The cool indifference of George Belzer, and 1

his announcement that two dead men lay near
the thicket, caused Herbert Ives to get u . and

advance toward his pard, saying as he id so : ,

“George Belzer, do you mean to asaert, as
your manner would indicate, that you have
seen nothing to startle and horrify you!”

1 “Well, Herb, I will confess that was at first
set ba’cku little, at sight of these two corpses;
for I thought, at first glance, that the Were

' .iayimor us, ready to blaze with their s :99.”

. , y’re a. horrid sight, sure enough; but I
didn’t refer to them. Did you see nothin
wrong? in the outer branches of the cedars, jus

r thm

And Herbert pointed out the place where

Nell’s head had been seen by him for a moment.

“ I wasn’t looking there," said George. “ If
you saw a living human gazing from the thicket,

’ any-o at once, and we will dash in; for it is

foolish to expose oursolves in this manner.” -

-. " I saw what I do not believe to be a living
being. Don’t laugh, George! You know me
Well enough as the last boy in the world to be
carried away with anything superstitious.

“I’m 3's free from that weakness as any man
livin , I really believe; but, as sure as I am

“9 ng to you, I saw the face of Nellie Belzcr
‘ between those cedar branches, as plainly out—

lined u I ever saw it. Now, what have you to

. ea in explanation l”

earnestly were these words of Herbert
en, his face pale, and his voice husky
rge, without a word in riagy, dashed

' rbert fol-

lowed him, and both searched every nook, but
failed to discover any thing: Nu got Nell hav-
i removed her horse to not or clump of

u'

you saw h r.

., “Itwu tamiudpictnro in

any ugthing more about it. iwhat’c

th 1 nether dead man, as Pm a sinner:

There's been quite a shooting pic-nic here.
"Herb, thisis a scout, as I’m alive! and a

confounded?” good-looking follow at that!

than two‘maskers, but a glance bullet knocked
himout on the fly. Ho's no infant, but I reckon
we can get him into camp.”

prince in buckskin,” said Herbert, ad-

new
PM good idea, Herb! Run as fast as you clip,
6

-_. ‘ and load Churlgy’s nag, us it is the smallest.
, shown no sign

returning consciousness."
Herb rushed at n the wash-out. soon return-
ny.
a saddle,
and one on each side supporting the still nonse-
oung men urged the horse
I‘Ee, soon reaching the
lui t e

up the washout to
stranger upon a

1 camp; There they
. Allen t,nndbuthed his head with cool sprin
‘ water. Thistroatmont, in a short time caused

Al to open his eyes in bewilderment.
* At thisimoment, a prolonged unenrthlv yell

‘ ' i, came sounding afar up the broken cliff-side, and
‘ the astonished listeners gazed upward.

.Tho sight that met their view was soul-bur.

"vhf.
’ V '  A h doous Apache warrior stood u on a nar-

row pro ion of the rock wall 0 the clifl,
holding over the dizzy hight a human form.
the limbs of which were bound, and the face
stomped with horror.

“70h, Herb, George, good-b ! Tell father
Stunner” I left him. Go bac home. Good-
y

’ f  last words were hardly distinguishable,

)

I see how it was. He shot.

 

 

extra amount of oxygen, to cause a flicker of
your nerves. Squat as still as if you were
chained to the ground, for the scene is about, to
change, and that youngster’s life hangs by a
hair!’

The admonitions of Ro:-k,=.' Mountain Al. were,
howeVer. uncalled for; as George Beizer sat si-
lent, and as it' transformed mro stone.

 

CHAPTER XV.
THE RESCUE.

THE lively “ pic-nic ” in Pilgrim’s Palace did
not last long. after the sudden and unaccount-
able disappearing of Rocky Mountain Al.

Soon a score of brawny miners stool mas-
ters of the field, and the bar-mom floor was al-

most covered by prostrate forms of dead and

dying.

Tom Mathews. with a sigh of relief. thrust
his revolver beneath the counter, and cried out:

“Step up, pilgrims, and irrigate! I should
judge you who’ve swept the board clean. and
opened a mourner’s party, might be a leetlc
thirsty. Come! it’s my ‘set ’em up’ to all
that can stand up.”

The effect of these words was almost magical.

It was a hard looking crowd that responded,
and, while they were rinkiug, the “Terrunta-
ler 0’ Taco,” on hands and knees, crawled out,
and around the corner of Pilgrim’s Palace into
a. thicket of cedars.

His head was badly bruised and bleeding.
from the terrible blow he received when Al had
thmwn the bag of dollars; and the tramplin
he had been subjected to, beneath the feet 0
the mob of crazed humans, had put his anatomy
generally in pretty much the same condition.

He had not been inch: thicket long, when the

‘-. . galacmw mum
- “waterwfiuc nought out: and laid
a lib gram, air in all, including

an . the ill-Iturrod monte dealers.

Thus the door closed and the Terrantuler
was Mb alone with the g’hutly dead. Evident-
lyhodidnot enjoy the situation. for-he crept
away saw; the cedars, indulging, as he did so,
in a cautious soliloqu y: '

“ Dog-gonad of I ain‘t the luckiest cost, up er
down ther range! Thor’s pilgrims laid out es
stiff as wagon-tailgueaan’ ready fer plantiu’ that
didn’t shoot of! their tongues fer nothin'. Jist
made blamed idgits o’ themselves tryin’ ter
snatch udollar or two tor _'t hug juice. But
I’m most dmg’dly bum ed ’bout that gal-—
ofI ain’t. i h a ter be chewed by ther first
griz’ 1 runs a n’!

“They sai , down at Santa Fe, when they
bar iced wi’ me ter hem! her, that she war
mil 98! baby: but dang’d of die ain’t chuck
full 0’ chain lightnin'l

“ She’s a high flyer. an’ the stud her ground
wi’ her sticker, ready for me, without a flicker
in her peepers. Howsomever. I’m u-gnmblm’
she’u my game yit, an’ l'il scoop that thou-
san' dollars. ’

“ Major Boiler hes gut tor wilt afore ther ter~
rifle gaze 0’ ther Terrantaler o’ Tans, what ain’t
lost a leg yit, thouch ther hull 0’ New Mex’
poperlation bed a l‘andungo on his ’natcrmy.

‘ 'm as sore Ml’ stiff es if I’d been rolled from
that top 0’ Pike’s Peak clean for Rnyton Pas“:
an’ my scalp ’ud m~ke a ’Pache cuss. of one 0’
them cut ther deadwood on me, hit'a mashed
up an’ toreri so ’tarnal bad! ' .

“I duwm’t reckon I kin lay a lone han’ in
Chico City: ther burg air a not place. an’ ther
citz air a leetle on ther high ilv, an’ too brash
fer ther Terrmtaler. An’ thar’s thet cuss
what slung ther dollars! Wonder whom thun-
dmtion he air! I

“ Ef I had gut a good. fa’r sight et his
make-up, an' ther pictur’ part 0’ his ’natermy, I
niought recog him un’ lay for him. Dang‘d of

I

 

 

Chico hain’t gut, ter suffer fer trompin‘ on a.
peaceable cit 0’ New M«-x’.

“I’m hyer till yit. wi’ my babes on, an’ my
shooters an’ sticker. l’m a meter, I am! I’m a
ragin’ skyclonc, but I bain’t put. steam up.

“ Wisht I bed a bur’l o’ lin- rinx-nt or snake-lie
ter rub onter myself. :uv’ n bar’l -/-’ bugjuice tcr
errigate my in’arris. Then I’d be hunk, an’
would slash through 1) K. L158 see; uhur'd
i leave my critter? 'il-ckon I’d better levant
ai'orc I’m jumped ag’in. l’ll skutc up thcr
range a piece. hunt a so‘t spot ’twwn tn 0 bowl.
ders, an’ repose my ’I’ollo—like ’naiarmy ontil
things calms down.

" Talkin‘ ’bout bowldcrs ’minds me o' Doubloon
Dan. ther Cap 0’ ther Pumas. J must pard with
him in this biz, fer thar ain’t no show fer me ef
l’ve gut ter buck ug’in’ ther hull 0’ New Mex’ an’
Colorado.

“ Yn-ns, that’s ’bout the p’oaramme. I‘ll pnrd
wi’ Poubloon Dan, fer he‘s gut a heap 0’ back-
e-i's.’

Thus bringing his soliloquy to an end, the
“ Tcrrantalcr o’ Taos ” slowly and with difficul—
ty drew himself to a perpendicular, seVerol deep
groans of pain bursting from his lips, caused by
his many bruises and stiil‘ened joints.

He then staggered out from the thicket, and
proceeded up in the rear of the shanties, soon
entering another clump of cedars, where he
found his horse.

(.‘lnmbcring into his saddle with note little
difficulty. he urged the animal up the range
north. following, in Course. of time, the wash-
out that led to the mountain gorge, both of
which had during the night been the scene of
tragic events, unknown and undrcmned of by
the rciiouhtable Tarantula.

The burly ruilinn halted on the east side of
the thicket, from which George Belzer and
Herbert Ives had a moment or no previous:
borne the senseless form of Rocky Mountain Al.

Slipping from his horse. the “Terrantuler”
led the animal within the cedars, where he se-
cured it to a tree. He then proceeded to search
for a. soft spot upon which he could sleep through
the remainder of the night. As he passed
around the interior of the thicket be naturally
glanced out of it here and there, and as it hap-
pened, in so doing discovered the two dead ban~
dits who had been shot by Nugget Nell. This
threw him into a fit of superstitious horror.

“ Dang my castriron heart!” he muttered, in
surprise and dread. “What sort 0’ doin’s hes
bin goin’ on hyer-awuysl Thor’s dead humans
scattered permisc’us- ike up an’ down ther

ran 1

“fiowsomever, 1:10wa the ain’t defuncted
vit. I’ll ’zamine ‘em, for they re some 0’ Doub~
loon Dan’s boyees, sure on shutin’. I doesn’t
keer ter lay- m paws on a corpus, but I reckon
l’ll hev her do it. I c’u’dn’t close my to
wi’ithem luyin’ ’roun’ thine-way, I‘m dead sure
on t! -

Approaching the slain, the Tarantula bent
and examined the bodice, shoving up the masks
as he did so. »

Nugget Nell was still up in the cedurotrec; she
having observed the approach of the ruflian
who had been slapped in the taco by her at Pil—
grim’s Palace.

When the cowardly bragged parsed out of
the thicket, N ell descended the tree and attach-
ing a rope, which she took from the cantle of
the ruflian‘s saddle, around the fotlook of his
horse, she secured its opposite end to tho-trunk
of a ccdar on the outer ed 9 of the grove. This
done. she silently ascended the tree again; the
Tarantula, a moment after, entering the clump
of cedars. with the intention of riding on to the
ran 0, where he could find a place in which he
coufd sleep without having dead men lying
around lease in hilvioihity.

Climbing into his saddle. he urged his animal
out from the shades; but, at this moment, Nugget
Nell gave out a series of moons and bowls,
which caused the vo heirs of the gigantic
border “ hero “to sudden end, and the marrow
in his bones to chill.

The Tarantula drovc both a deep into the
flanks of his horse. and the an moi sprung fran-
tically forward over the bed of the wash-out.
being suddenly brought up by the rope around
its hind leg, which caused the boost to (all

ronc upon the sands. its rider being buried vio-
ently over its head.

At this moment another series of groom broke
out upon the night air; and, with features
stamped with terror—knowing well that the
masked men were dead. but believing their
ghosts were in the thicket—the big borderer, re-
pudiating the pain of wounds and bruisesx,
sprung to his feet, and ran madl ' up the wash—
out toward the range: the 8hr chin penis of
laughter from Nugget Nell. who con d hardly
retain her hold on the tree from merriment.,
causing him to double his exertions to place Ml
much space as possible between himself and the
haunted grovu.

0n ran the “ Tcrrantaler o‘ Tans” as he had
never run before. themand flying behind him as
if a small whirlwind was coming up along the
had of the wash-out. At length he reached the
gulch, up which he sped, at times gazing with
horror over his shoulder, as if expecting to see
the two masked corpses commg in hot pursuit.

\ - \

 

 

 

v.5: .3

 

 

 

,perp

‘1

.4

~.. -._.-._..~——.* » ..-.. . r. . ... . -, .

u» . . . -

On he dashed, until, turning a bend, he. was
suddenly brought to a halt, and made to dart
behind a spur of rock, by a more amazing sight
than he had yet witnessed.

In front of him, at the head of the gulch,
where he had no idea that a sign of animal life
could be, and where he had intended to crawl
into some hole, and study over the strange and
appalling groans and laughter by which he had
been so tcrl‘iilwb—le‘e, high up, at leasta hun-
dred feet on illl‘ cliff side, was an Apache brave,
holding over the dizzy hight a white youth, who
appeared to be bound hand and foot; and around
a rough break in the creek, where it was impos—
sible for the Indian to see him. although quite
near to the latter, was a scout, clad in buckskin
ln‘eeches, woolen shirt, and sombrero—ho lwing
in the act of removing his boots when the Tar—
antula caught sight of him. _

The object of this scout was quite apparent,
but it was one which seemed impossible of ac-
complishment.

The Apache was on a narrow ledge, not more
than two feet between the outer edge and the
eudicular wall at his back, a, fact that was
easnly estimated by the movements of the In-
dian, as he braced himself against the wall and
laid the youth at his feet, that he might rest his
arms and prolong the torture and terrible strain
upon the braim of the agonized witnesses at the
foot of the cliff.

The terror~stricken giant was dumfounded;
for in the bed, and at the ver head of the lob
was a man standing :(prig 1:, one son , and
still another outstretch upon the ground.

“ Dog-gone my iron heart!" muttered the
Tarantula, “ thar’s more ding-dong inter hit ter—
night than I ever see’d store, an’ my bleed air
turned inter ice-water—do ’d of hit ain’t!

“Hell air let loose in ow Mex’, an’ a boss
circuss se ms tor be started ’bout every five
minits. f thar ain’t ther danglklest, mos’ brain-
scurifyin’ sight I ever see’d, I’l chaw my own
head off an' spit hit clean over ther range.

“ What’s a-comin’ nex‘, I wonder? Ther
Angel Gabri’l, I reckon, with a double-bar’l’d
blow-horn an’ a sky-clone ahind ter furnish ther
breath ter keep ther music up!”

At this moment the scout was seen stealthily
to make his we to the corner of the s r of
rock, a bowie - lade gleaming in the right
moonli ht, the handle of it closely clutched in
his ri t hand.

Ra sing himself erect, and straight as a forest
pine. the‘Apache filled his lungs and shot out
the blood-curdlin war-cry of h s tribe in venge—
ful exultation. ll knew that this was the pre-
lude to some horrible act of revenge which
could be naught else than the hurling of the help-
less boy from the dizzy hightto be mangled in o
a she less mass at the very feet of those who
won! gladly haverisked their lives to save him.

At this very instant, however, and while yet
the fearful war-cry was filling the night air, the
right arm of the stranger scout was uickly
drawn backward, and then shot forwur hurl-
in with electric velocity the glitterin bowie-
knfife, which flow like an arrow. the po t of the
blade being buried in the temple of the hideous
A be brave.

ouoonorhnd it left the hand of the scout
than he ng forward alon the lodge, with
such sport: to endanger his ife, and clutched
the logo! the youth, who was securely bound,
just as the terribly contortiug warrior, with his
arms beatin the air wildly sunk downward,
even when oath-stricken, and the horrid death-
rattle in his throat, strivin in his fall to take
his captive with him over t e dizzy hightl”

As the Indian dro u n the youth, caus-
ing the latter to all a partly) over t e shelf, the
Wiltchm below covered their eyes with their
Mada. they being unable to see the rate
scout, Who, granting a leg of Charley ves with
one hand, hurl the brave from the rocky shelf
with the other. At the next instant he jerked
Charley to his foot,_n.nd standing up, holdi
him    be "we 3  o
trium h as the warrior shot downw

Roe Mountain Al nndGcorgo lug heard
the sic suing1 sound occasioned by the Apache
striking on t e jag rocks at the bone of the
cliff near them; at the yell of exnltntion
girls: by the scout, told them that Charley was
as

V

Lookin n ward. they saw the striking tab.
locus Wh ch rought unbounded joy and relief
to their hearts.

rushed to Herbert, and threw a large
cuP ml of water in his face, and soon saw him
gasp, and with long-drawn sighs open his eyes,
that were now almost 9 ression .

"Jump to your feet, erbl” yelled George
Belzar, in a joyous tone. “ Jump to your feet,
and look up the cliff! Charley is saved. Little
Pard is all right!” .

“ Hurra—aa-h for Broncho Jim!”

Thus yelled Rocky Mountain A].

All this was seen and heard b the “ Teri-an-
taler o’ Taos,” who had almost orgotten his re-
cent fright. But, as the loud cry of the scout
echoed throu h the gulch, it was followed by
the same how 3, and groans, and ion ter, that
had frightened the burly dastard in t e thicket.
With renewed horror, terror and dread, all
blended, he now dashed around the spur of

 

Rocky Mountain A1:

rock, and toward the head of the gulch, bound-
ing into the cedars near the spot where stood
George, Herbert and Al.

Here he fell prostrate and panting, unable to
articulate a word; the “ding-dong of his iron
heart” being plainly heard by George Belzer,
who bent over him in amazement.

CHAPTER XVI.
MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

" How-DY, pard Al? Sil‘lfl'li yer trail down
range, nn’ (-ome nrter yer on ther run."

Thus called out the scout on the cliil", after
severing the bonds,tliat held the wrists and
ankles of the boy Charley, who now stood,
pale and trembling, by his side, hardly daring
to look down from the fearful hight.

Broncho Jim had now a. difficult task before
him.

Had he been alone, the feat would not have
been hard to accomplish, for he had (-lambereii
over the range for years, hunting big—horns and
grizzlies. But IIICU‘l bered by this now helpless
VOULh in the descent made it far less easy for

I").

Placing a hand under each arm of the boy, he
gently pushed him ahead, supporting his trem-
bling form.

Gaining the spur of rock whence he had east
his bowie, he strapped his rifle upon his bIICk.
and began the perilous descent. But he had
not proceeded far before Herbert, from the
branches of the tallest cedar, had caught hold
of his little brother.

Lowering the youth into the outstretched
arms of Rocky Mountain, Herbert quickly de-
scended to make room for Broncho Jim, who
sprung from the narrow shelf into the tree: the
same route taken by the Apache. when he bore
his youthful captive up the mountain.

George and Herbert sprung out from the
cedars, and clasped the ianrls of Charley, Al
delivering the rescued ho to his brother.

As Broncho Jim bqun ed from the thicket. Al
grasped his hand and led him to his new-found
friends. ‘

“ Young gentlemen," he said, “this is Broncho
Jim, my rd on the plains and mountains. As
to his c aractcr I need not speak. You have
witnessed an act of his that proves him as white
and brave a man as ever jumped a chasm, slung
a sticker, or pulled a trigger.’ '

Herb and Ge 9 wrung his hands, while
Charley laid his and in that of the strange
scout, saying:

“ Broncho Jim, I am but a. boy. but my heart
is big as a man’stohold gratitude. Charley
Ives will always remember you and the time
may come when I shall be able to show that I
mean more than any words can express.”

The scout patted Charley on the shoulder, and
said with a careless tone and manner:

“What does Iyer take me fer, leetle pfll‘il?
Does yer s’poee d stan’ nn’ see a cussed y
’Pache sling {or tor kingdom come, without
makin’ a brea for resk yer, an’ sen’ ther red
heathen on therfl tar ’other side ther moon!
I reckon not! Hi wouldn’t be Broncho Jim of
I did. But, whnr’s my bowie? I wouldn’t lose
mirth? cousith guano”! led f th

e y o o m n corpse 9
Indian, igi‘eagcont recovered if knife wiped it
onathe , son the Apache, and then re-
turned t to its sheath.

The fire was now replenished, and Charley
was wrap d in a blanket and laid near it,
George Be zer pullin a quantity of long dried
grass from under t e Cedars to form a soft
couch for the youth.

“Gentlemen,” said Al, who was now prepar-
ing some coffee and dried beef for his rd
Broncho Jim, “ I haven’t found time to t nk
you for your kindness to myself. I was in
chase of a certain person, when I was shot by a
concealed assassin.

“ Perhaps you can explain to me something
in re ard to the condition of affairs, when you
foun me. I am known as Rock Mountain
A1; but better on the west side the range
than here.”

“We heard shots down in the foothills, as .
l Herbertwnssilentfrcmostonishmont.

we were stnkin our horses,” explained George;

“and, rushing own the wash-out that loads to ”

the ch we discovered two dead men near a
thic ct. Both had masks upon their faces.
Searching further, we found you.

“ Herb ran to fetch Charley)’: y, and sup-
porting yon u n it, we came ac to our camp,
where we ha left Charley asleep. While on-
deavoringto bring you back to consciousness.
what was our amazement to hear a terrible yell
above us! But you know the rest.

“ I am certainly pleased to meet you. My
Mountain Al. I heard much of on, when we
were in Texas. from Joe Booth, tter known
as ‘ Reckless Joe,’ who is a celebrated character
in the Lone Star State.”

While George Belzer was speaking, Broncho
Jim had gone into the thicket, and with the aid
of a torch, was examinin the face and make-
up of the Tarantula, w 0 had fallen asleep,
prostrated by deep tations: but, when George
spoke of their ha ng seen the two dead ban-
ditsvzril sprung to his feet in astonishment.

“ ere these. men shot or cut?” he asked,
quickly.

I ,

 

H... n--.“ I . _~_ . r.-s.v._v___..s...._._

 

1“ Both shot through the heart," was the re-
p Y- ‘

“ As sure as I am alive," said Al, after a mo-
ment’s rrflection, “those men men were shot
by Nugget Nell.

“ l was doing my best to overtake her, when
they were probably lying in wait for me. A
bullet from one of them struck me on the side,
of my head. It was a close shave. I was rid—
ing at full gallop, at the time.”

“ We found you in the bed of the wash-cut.”
said George. ‘ You must have fallen from your
horse.”

“That is about the way of it.” said Al.. “I
broke a haul: at Pilgrim‘s Palace, in Chico City,
last €'-('illng. and was ob‘iged to shoot one of
the monte men. The place: was full of hlIIIl‘
iilers. The monie men “ere both of them
l'rO“l~T"'l. and 1 have been on their trail. for some
bid business of theirs at Tucson. a year ago.

“ Thvy were connected will) the Pumas. n.
band of road—agents. led by Doubioon Dan: but
I have had a difficult time getting dead straight
proof against them.

“ After that, I saw that big radian, who lies
asleep in the cedars, there—and it is a mystery
to me how he came out of the scrape alive—
about to engage in a knife duel, in the bar—
room, with one whom I supposed to be a youth:
but “vim imon recognized as one of whorn I
was in wan-2:. I knocked the giant down, but
the supposed youth disappeared.

“Then followed a terrible melee. I asked
the barkeeper who the oung man was, and he
told me it was a girl, nown as Nu get Nell.
The name impressed me, as much ast e resem-
blance of the face to aphotograph that had been
shown me. It is the picture of a irl that I am
sworn to find. As fastaspossible, jumped my
horse, and getting sight of her, on the stage
trail, put spurs, and gave chase. -

“ Some of the bandits, who must have been
in the bar-room, in disguise, had seen me, and
takingashort cut laid for me. But I am de-
termined to find the girl, if I have to search the
range to the North Park.

“Boys, if I am not mistaken, you are inter-
ested in the some business. Are not your
names Herbert Ives and George Balm!" ~

The surprise of the two young men was great,
but George made answer at once:

“You have our names correct: but how in
tlfve huge of wonder, did you obtain knowledge
0 use.

As he spoke, Broncho Jim approached from
the cedars.

“ Hold a moment
Idvgilli explain.” Then, turning to his pond he
a e :

“Jim, your lunch is ready. What. do you
make of that burly bummer, who ran in on us
so strangely? Is he craz , think you, ordruuk?”

“ Thet cuss air ther ilgrim what calls binself
ther ‘ Terrantaler o’ os’,” answered Broncho
Jim. “ He’s a bad cit es
hyer an’ ther Rio Gran-doe.

“ I reckon he’s got snakes in his boots,” sug-
gested Al. - '

“We’ll ’tend ter him in ther mound,” laid
Broncho Jim, us he squatted by the are, and
attpltéked his btgef, unpacomae‘.‘ I,“ m v I

ow. gen , 3a exph m -
thing. Down the range, was on the  3;!
some Apaches, and got scooped in.
me tied to a stake for torture, when
who seemed on the verge of insanity, 3 0m
anxiety of mind and '

oke loose, caught u m Winchesur, and he'-
twecn uswe killed nlw 0 were in tbogulch.
We then went further up the range, when we
had another knife

the mine party. is red,vwho on

“Well, the old man was none other "an
Major Georg
daughter, M
come West in search of her lover-.039 Beth

gentlemen,” said Al, “and.

y'efllnm ng’iu ’twc'en ,

privation, redo up the ’
gulch, diverting the attention of the Indians. I _ '
r

ic with skulltrrc mun .
litttlo pard just now, was the last of tbo‘hy-‘j‘
on ' '. »

Boiler, Who was in search nt'his 
Nellie Beiner, who, herself, has'

\

.3131 , 3

fig. Now, you soothe: I am posted, Luck." '

“Will someone give me a baton hobo-d
said George. “ I believe I'm dream
Rocky Mountain Al is no less than
Majesty himself!”

Al burst into a roar of laughter. .

“We haven’t time toccnverso much on this
subject,” he said: “but I have something fur:
ther to say. ‘ ‘

“ I left Mnaor Boiler,
be is in good
search of his daughter. I have seen harp»
tnre, and believe me or not, the
is known as Nugget Neil is none
Mia! Nellie Belmr! ’ * v .

i

The scent now detailed the facts, no 

peered/to him.

Never were men more surprised, and filled - ‘

with deep anguish and concern, than wmhis’
listeners.

'ck and nervous “comm
owledge that his Nellie birth on short a.
time, become ch a notorious , going
about dressed in male attire. . g

.ortbnrg‘
Botanic

m in Ben mama}
ends, and Icame up the range in'l '~

oun ladwa ‘
y Either “In.

Herbert paced up and down the mnds,’with ' ,
by th’ . ‘ ,. _‘.

 

 

.16

Rocky Mountain Al.

 

 

He knew now that he had seen the face of his
betrothed in the cedar thicket, and that it was
indeed a living face.

Nellie had seen him, but had been ashamed to'

meet him. Words are inadequate to express
the agony of the young man. Geor e, also,
was greatly pained, although he felt re ievcd to
know that his uncle was safe.

“ lf Nugget Neil is my cousin Nellie Belzer,”
he sail firmly and decidedly. “she is not re-
Sponsihi- for her actions. She has lost her mind
and j'lvlzinent through the protracted ill usage
she has received at the hands of Lucretia Lane.
She is diszuiswl, in order that she may pursue
her search with a better chance of success. I
am fully c mvinced of that.”

“'1‘ mt must be it,” said Herbert, at length,
“ but I so me know what to think. I trust that
I“ will ‘w, “W”.

“ Let me think—let me study this matter. It
has Completer duzAd and bewildered me, and I
feel myself incapable of sensible reasoning at
present.

“ I am sure none of us will ever forget this
night’s ‘ xperience. George please see that
Charley has everything that he needs. Poor
boy, 1 must not neglect him; he has suffered
enough already.”

As Herbert finished these remarks, Broncho
Jim rushed from the cedars, shouting:

“ Tnet cantankerous cuss, ther Terrantaler o’
Taos, mu invented, skipped, ’sloped, glided clean
away: dog’d ef he hain’tl"

 

CHAPTER XVII.
nounnoon nan.

Tun mmp—fire in the gulch was kindled at the
very has» of the cliff, between the clump of
cedars and the sprin ; consequently, as the lit-
tle. party sat aroun it, they were prevented
from having a view [dawn the gulch.

The “ Terrantaler o’ Taos ” rushed in affright
up the gulch. his brain having been demoralized
bv liquor, and weakened since he left Pilgrim’s
PalaCe, for want of stimulants, causing him to
be startled at the slightest sound.

Be well knew that the scouts were aware of
his character, and had been the means of driv-
in him out of several tawns down country;
an should the recognize him n0w, which they
doubtless wo d, they wou.d probably strin
him up a limb, without a trial—the lonely gulcg
being favorable to such a proceeding.

The sight of the scouts, when he awoke,
sobered im in a measure, and he inst .ntly
formed a plan, which he successfully carried
out.

Rushing into the thicket, he fell down u n
the dead- leav and feigned a deep, drun en
slumber, which eceived, as we have seen, even

Broncho Jim.

.Aftcr Jim left the cedars the Tarantula
peeped out how the branches, and, seeing the
must clear, crawled out on the opposite end of
the thicket, near the cliff base, and quickly
made his ws dawn the gulch, to thespur of
rOck, from w ich he had first caught a view of
the camp.

Here, concealed from view, but pin
around the rock, the ruifisn shook his inch
list up the gorge, saying:

‘ Doc-gone her hull o’ yer! My iron heart’s
bin keu’ on ther double dl -dong ever since I
strut-k Chico City;an’ now it: a- oin’ terhump

un self, sn’ light plum later his. hes t some
intermashe ouwn er. when yer thou& t I war
‘ dead later the mi die 0’ s see-ester. hoop-er-

eei I’m a roarerl

“ I'm chain lightnin’ an’ sot hit down in yer
memorandor in ’delcrhle inkl I’m or border
hem Further Terrantsler o’ Taos an’ my
touch air death. Whoop-er upl Whoopoer-

‘o-e-cl”
After thus deliverin his little piece, being

, careful in regard to rain ng his voice to such a

pitch as to be overheard in the camg, the giant
whirled and dashed down the gulc , and then
an, followin ' the wash-out to the spot where he
had Nan thrown from his horse. .

To his great joy, the animal stand in needy
the same place where it had fallen; and, ap-
proaching the beast, he discovered the larist

ted to its hind leg.

, Giving out a w istle of surprise. at the same
time heratin himself for “ a ormighty ole bam-
bo- sl -d fool,’ be detached the rope. ponderin
in wizard to who had pla ed him the trick; a
last deci ling, from the disc osure of Al, to which
be had listened attentively, that it could be no
other than Nugget Nell.

' Mounting his horse. the border “ hero” was
about i0 spur down the wash-out when a half-
scorc of horsemen, wearing black masks, gal-
lopcd up to the bank above from the timber at
the base of the mountain, and leveled their re
volvcra at him' the two dead “a nts” lying
plain in view of their living confe crates, thus
causing the “ Terrantaler” to be placed in a sus-
picious position.

“ Throw up your hands, or you’re a stifi

grim! ,
' This order fell on the ears of the iant, and
filled him for a moment with terror- is know-

ing that an explanation would set him all right,
and seeing a good opportunity to air the brava-

 

do, which was a second nature to him but which
he could not back up, he yelled:

“ Up paws hit air, pards; yer hes me‘foul, but
I’m aprdtestin’ ag’in’ sich proceedin’s. Dang
my iron heart of I hain’t kep’ chuck full 0’ his
ter~nightl

“Boyees, ef Doubloon Dan nir wi’ yer, I’m
ther peregrinatin’ ilgrim what’s gut a heap 0’
solid simon-pure’ ited States lingo ter Spit at
him: an’ thar ain’t no time fer periimernary
r0un’-ther bush perlaverin’.

“I’ll jump my critter, an’ glide up at yer,
of so be hit won’t break up yer p’ogrnmme.
I’m ther Tcrrantaler 0’ Taos, un’ I’m sp’ilin’
ter string somebody bud. W'hoop—er up!
“’hoop-er—e-eel Set me down A1, superfine
XXX!”

"Tumble up here lively, and no more of your
loose gab!”

Thus ordered one of the bandits, in a voice of
command that was impatiently delivered.

It was with no little difficulty that the giant
surmounted the steep bank, as his bruises gave
him great pain.

His appearance, all blood-stained as he was,
and with glaring and swollen eyes, was little
short of terrible.

“Dog-gone my cast-iron heart! I’m es sore
an’ stiff, an’ gin’rally broke up, cs 1 sh’u’d feel
of I’d bin claw’d, an’ chaw’d, an’ spit out by
fortyvirlz’ b’arsl

“ ich on yer’s Doubloon Dani I’m a-feelin’
jist terrific,I aml l’m hi h-fi ter night, an’
my iron heart’s on ther doufile ingdongl”

“If on don’t bobble your infernal tongue,
the ‘dmg—dong’ will come to a sudden sto ,”
said one of the masked night—riders, ur ' g his
horse close up to the burly scoundre , as he

spoke.

“ What do you want with Doubloon Dani
Spit it out lively, or say your prayers!”

“ Don’t be so cussed cross-grained,” said the
Tarantula; “ l’m a-spokin’ ter ther p’int when I
gits started. Thar lays a couple 0' yer boyees,
what laid for Rocky Mountain A , arter he
broke ther bank in Pil rim‘s Palace. They
made him claw dirt, but e’s right side up w1’
care, now. Nugget Nell ’roved, an’ she bored
’01:: both. Thar 5 some tender-buds up ther
gorge, an’ they tuck the scout up ter thar
camp, and fotched him roun’.

“ Broncho Jim air with ’em, an’ I perceeded
up thet—a-way, ’tendin’ ter clean out ther bull
outfit, when a skulkin’ ’Paohe spy lit outer me,
an’ blocked my leetle game.

“Howsomever, I sp’iled ther red fer futur’
fightin’, but I gut mashed right smart rollin’
down ther range, wi’ ther cuss a-clutchin’ me.
Yer kin clean ’em out easy ef yer keers; though
cIl don’t reckon yer d git a hefty ’mount 0’ plun-

er.

“Thet ain’t what I war wantin’ ter ’splain,
though. I’ve ta fob o’ kerralin’ a ole man
what s in San gue , an’ a gal—this hyer Nug-
get Nell—an’ I'wants help. Thor’s a thousan’

ollars for each, an’ I’ll go halves w‘i’ yer: ’sides
we-’uns kin bleed ther parties what wants ’em
arterwards.

“ They is comin’ on ter Chico from Santa Fe;
an’, come ter numerate, hit ’ud be a mighty
good ijee tor kerral ther hearse, as’ bleed ’em
on the trail, fer they is ’ristercratic States folks,
an’ kin sen’ fer more wealth srter they ’roves in

co.

‘ Now, ef thar ain’t a heap 0’ boss payin’ biz,
shook out wi’ little lingo, in a few fieetin’
periods, I’m s-feedin on prickly pears fer ther
nex’ six moons.

“ How does yer like ther ws ther Terrantaler
pans out? Whoop-er u l W ooper—e+el

“ I’m as dry .es ef ’d chewed gypsum an’
alkali fer grub ther las’ four weeks. Ef any on
yer hes gut a smell 0’ bu -juice, sift her out, an’

’1] ion a dollar a swal erl”

“ use him your canteen, Antonio,” and the
man to whom the Tarantula had been confiding
his secrets.

The giant the vessel with trembling
hands, and g ued the muzzle to his lips with in-
sane satisfaction, takinga deep draught. Then,
heaving a deep si h of relief. 0 asked:

“ Air yer Dnuh oon Dan, dead sure?”

“ I am so called; and i know enou h of your
story to be convinced that the rema nder of it
is true. Go down now and mount our horse,
follow the wash-out until the anim can reach
the bank, and then join us.”

Turning to his men, as the Tarantula slid
down the bank, he added:

“Four of you, to the right of the line. dis-
mount, and bring up Clark and Jackson. They
must have been drunk to have allowed a girl to
get the best of them.

“As to attacking the camp up the gorge, it
would be fatal to some of us, for these scouts
shoot to kill, and they are chuck full of sand.
Besides. it would‘ be gaining but little. for
Rocky Mountain Al would secrete his old at
the first alarm, where We could not find t.”

The dead bandits were brought u the bank,
but not without much difficulty. an hidden in

a dense thicket in the rear of the band, the
Tfrantula arriving among the outlaws soon
a ter.

Doubloon Dan was puzzled—extremely so.
He had seen Nugget Nell often, when he had

 

been in Chico City in dis ise, and he was at a
loss to know why she ha been, as he believed,
in female attire, in the coach that he had
wrecked upon the creek. All this, and above
all, her fainting when the stage was overturned,
was very strange to him, knowing as he did her
fearless and during nature.

Why the Santa Fe parties wanted her was
also a puzzle, unless. indeed, she was an heiress
in the States, and her “ removal ” would benefit
those who were in search of her.

He had seen Nell in the mountains since the
robbery of the coach, and had asked her why
:he had been in it, but she merely laughed at

nn.

Nugget Nell was a character whose daring
acts had Won Captain Dan’s admiration; and be
resolved that, notwithstanding her having shot
his two men, he would, in place of capturing
her for the parties Tarantula had mentioned as
being in Santa Fe, he would capture them. He
would stop the “hearse,” and take them from
it to his secret retreat. They must have abun-
dance of money to be able to offer such re-
wards.

Nell should have them in her power, if she
wished, and unravel the mystery for herself.

In the first place, h0wever, his 1 ien must be
made to think that their two comrades had been
killed by some other parties, otherwise Nugget.
Nell would be in danger of her his.

“ There is one part of your at ’vihat I don’t
believe,” he said to the giant. “It is too thin,
as all of my men can see.”

“ W- at part air thei?” asked the Tarantula
quickly, and With a show of an er.

“In regard to the shooting,’ was the rep] .
“Nu get Nell did not shoot those boys. ll:
must ave been some of the party now camping
Up the gulch.” —

“ I doesn’t know dead suc e,” said the border
ruflian, who was eager to slay into Doubloon
Dan’s hand in an thing ti. 'st would insure the
carrgircifi out of his Own ; fnsg “hit mought‘ha"
bin , y Mountain Al \ .‘iat sent ’em over ther

tangle; ,

“ at’s about it, to are know Nell couldn’t
have d0ue it had sl ."been alone. But break
into the brush, boys: we are exposing ourselves,
and that without chic :t.”

The bandits whir rd their horses, and were
about to enter the brshes, when they heard the
sound of clattering hoofs down the wash-out,
from the direction of Chico 'ty.

Turning their horses, Dou loon Dan and the
Tarantula both dashed back to the position so
recently occupied, and, to their surprise, saw
Nugget Nell speeding up toward the gulch, hav-
ing in lead, read saddled and bridled, the black
steed of Rocky ountain Al. I

“ She’s a r’arin’, ragin’ tornadcr when she
lunges out,” said the iant, “ an’ lwouldn’t‘keer
ter run ag’in’ her. S e’s a-goin’ up ther gulch
wi’ Rocky Mountain Al’s stalyun.’

The daring r1 espied the two, and recog-
nized the bandit chief by his form' and ‘ ing.
Whirling her sombrero above her head in saluo
tation. a merry lau h ringing out on the air, she
turned a bend and isappeared up the wash-out.

“I’d give fifty thousand dollars for the love
of that brave girl,” said Doubloon Dan; “and
she’ll run me wild by her coldness _snd dbdain!

“ Come on, Tarantula!” he exclaimed. “ We’ll
break brush on that hearse to-morrow night and
run chances in re ard to our game from Santa
Fe being on has .

Both men whirled their horses and spurred
aftenthe band, dissp aring among the dense
cedars at the foot of t 0 range.

CHAPTER XVIII.
m CAPTURE.
I Want Nugget Nell saw the Tarantula and his
horse jerked to the earth. she felt sure that the
giant would run into the cam of the young
men who had conveyed Rocky ountaln Al to—
ward the range.

The strange rl was now somewhat puzzled
in regard to w at should be her future move-
ments. l

She knew that Nellie Belur would be wild
v ith delight when informed that her lover was
within two miles of Chico City; that the trou-
bles of the fair wanderer would melt away u on
meeting her betrothed, who would protect er
and right her wrongs.

Nu get Nell had urposeiy sought a quarrel
with he giant in Pi grim’s alsce, having recog-
nized him from the description given by Nellie
Belzer, in order to draw public resentment upon
him, and force him from the town, throngh
fears for his personal safety.

She had been greatly impressed by the splen-
did physique of the stranger scout, who had
taken a hand in the game, and by the daring
bravery in starting a “ circus ” on the first
night of his arrival n a minin -town filled with
desperate characters, and e was reatly
amazed when she found he was panning er and
calling her by name.

What he might wish of her was beyond her
comprehension, as she had never spoken a word
with him previous to this night.

When 3 e heard the report of the rifle. fired
by the bandit, and turning m her saddle, saw
the handsome scout fall from his horse, her

 

 

 

 

é.”

‘;
1
l

\

 

'heart sprung to heir throat, for she knew that
3126 had led im into danger, and perhaps to his
ath. '
, Much she now regretted not having halted
and ascertain d what he wished, and she could
not account for her own preveiseness in en-
deavoring to elude him, except that she had felt
averse to meeting a man who was far superior
to the nVernge denizens of the mines, and she in

' «1 ll'lle attire.

It was this that had caused her to fly from I,
Tarantula I.

Pilgrim’s Place. the moment th
3151 uck ~the floor.

She had been half—crazed with exnltation

from the moment Nellie Belzer had shown her i

the photograph of the so-called Carl_Cole; and,
wifh the object of riding down her intense ex-

:ih mcnt. she had decided upon a gallop up the 
range—a lqut unlucky gallop for Rocky Moun-

tain All

80 she thought when the scout fell from his '

herse; and, at the risk of breaking her neck, she
forced her steed down the bank into the wash-

.int. and then hastened to the side of the )r05- 1
The incidents which followed ave ‘

:rate man.
been already recorded.

\Vhile in the Cedar branches, Nell had pon-
dered much upon what course to take, in order

v ' to accomplish her long-sought reven c.

 

This man,.who now called himsel Carl Cole.
but whom sle knew to he Robert Rogers, had
gained her maiden affections and induced her to
dy from a ham}; home, and from kind an=l in-
dulgent parting“, and friends, only to deceive
and desert her shamefully.

This man she had‘sworn, a thousand times,
when heart was wrung and tortured, should die
by her hand; and now this oath was uppermmt
in her mind. Now, that she knew this dastnrd
was married to another, to one who was lea-
gued with him to defraud Nellie Belzer of for

tune and hupnin .. = -—now that she knew all this, -
she felt that Nellie ' ad herself had a Common ,

interest in workingivut her future plans for re-
venge.

m. p
This Carl Cole. 9.31 in railed himself. was com- ,
‘ ing to Chico City—\vaacoming to his death; for ‘

Nugzct Nell became mire and more eager to
kill her batrayer, as sh! thought of his being so
near, and, perhaps, col eng nearer that Very

.ni ht. . .

{WWII he did arrive, sheidecided that no stone

should remain unturned to prevent any harm

befalling Nellie Belzer: but she was undecidpd

I asto the polio of seeking a meeting with Hep

' bert Ives out she had first communicamd with
Nellie.

. However, when the terribly frightened Tar.

antula rushed frantically up the wash-out, Nug-

get Nell determined to follow him, and ascertain

the whereaboutso the cam of the young men .

who had conveye Rocky ountain Al toward
the range; for she was anxious to know if the
scout had recovered. '

She was curious, also, t ) know what would be
the rece tion of the Tarantula, should he, in his
fright, ash into the camp.

With this object, Nugget Nell descended from
the cedar, and secreting her horse, hastened
after the Tarantula, reaching the gulch, where,
having traversed it for some distance, she dis-
cOVered the burly rufilan peering around a spur

of rock.

She felt positive that he wdb viewing the
camp, and she decided herself to inspect it, and
also to drive the Tarantula forward.

Tints resolved, she gave out a series of groans
and unearthly howls, that caused the cownrdlv
bully to rush in terror up the gulch, leaving
Nell oonvulsed with laughter. '

The strange girl at once ran to the position
thatiiad been Occupied by the huge bordercr,
and steeping low to the earth, she gazed round
the rocks. just as the man whom a 6 had
frightened spnmg into the cedars alongside the
cam ). ‘-

Til her great relief, Nell now saw Rocky
"Mountain Al standing erect near the thicket:
but she was greatly Surprised to see that one of
the young men lay upon the ground, and an.
other sat gazing upward. as did also the scout.

Casting her eyes in the same direction, N91
was appalled by the Sight of theUApache holding
a yOuth out over the dizzvhight. Thus she
stood, a witness of the horrible death of the In-
dian. and the rescue of Charla Ives.

When she perceived that t 3 boy had been
saved. Nugget Nell hastened down the gulch and

lwash-out, mounted her horse, and dashed at
full speed for Chico City; discovering, on her
Wavythe black horse .
which she email can ht, the animal running up
to her side as s e spo e kindly to him.

Lariating the steed in a thicket,,secure,fr0m
observation, Nell hurried. on, soon reaching the

street of Chico City, which was deserted, al- ,

though bright lights shone from the doorIaof
Pilgrim's Palace and other bars. the Bug J nice

B . ‘ l ded.
“litigate her horse to the rear of the shan-

ties, and down to the outside stairway. which ,
There secur‘ -

the animal, she passed up the stairs, and '

led to the room of Nellie Bauer.

‘i
tggppod in a peculiar manner—a we arqu

thus .
placing him in the power of Rocky Mountain E
Al - '

of Rocky Mountain Al, ‘

"Ida 'c.
.

» UH Won.“

...~..4...._... - ._..... .

 

«0-... . ,. __...-. ._.-

 

.\

l signal between her newfound friend and her-
self.

Nellie Belzer slipped the bolt and smiled with
‘ relief and pleasure as Nugget Nell grasped her
. hand, and then closcd and bolted the door.
! Her first words caused Nellie to be almost
overcome with nervous excitement.

“ Nellie Belzer, prepare yourself for the moet
glorion-, news that you could possibly dream of
receiving."

f  {he spoke, she threw her arms around her
l‘lttlll .

“ in the first place, I have had. or came near
having, a knife-duel with the ‘Tcrrantaler o’
Taos,’ who is on your track. You see, 1 give
5 3 on the bad news first. Then, I was forced to
g allOOl two bandits. to preserve the. life of a fine-
looking scout, who had previously saved me
l from being wiped out by the giant from Santa Fe.
’ “ L i-lly, l have been within ten feet of—well,
l whom do you suppose!"

f “I have not the least idea," said Nellie Belzer
l
|

‘ shuddering as the strange girl spoke so coolly of
having shot two men. ‘

“ You have been riding out on the plain in
v the night, for your clothimr is damp with dew."

There was a strange “'lli mess in poor Nellie’s
‘ eyes. She seemed to dread any further dis-
; (-IOsures of the wanderings of her friend having
suspicions that Lucretia Cole might be on her
i track.
. These suspicions cansed her to be doubly af-
fected as Nell again spoke:

“ I have been within ten feet of our lover,
Nellie Belzer—the dashing Herbert vest"

The young irl clutched her companion by
the arms, trem ling in every limb; then, when
she fully comprehended the lorious newa, she
exclaimed, in devout thankfu ness: '

“Thank HeaVeni At last—at last!
where is he—where is Herbert ?”

“ Not two miles from here,” was the answer:
“ encamped at the head of a gulch in the range.
There is another young gentleman with him,
, and a boy who, but a short time since, was cap-
tured by an Apache brave, but was rescued by
a scout. .

“Rocky Mountain Al, another noted scout, is
with them. It was he who saved me from the
Tarantula, at Pilgrim’s Palace.”

“ What a strange, but dear and noble girl you
are. Nell! You have gone through terrors this
night, that would have killed me.

“The young man, who is with Herbert, is
my cousin, George Belzer, and the ho is Charley
IVes, Herbert’s brother, who insist on accom-

panying them.
to Herbert this ver

“01:, Nell! I must
night. 1 cannot rest. shall become insane, f
Oh,

. I am forced to remain here another hour.
“I am nearly insane with joy now.
. Nell, if we can only find my father next. we
, will all return to the Hudson together! Ican
l never rt with on again Nell—never!”
! The ips of the aif of the Mountains quiver-
: ed and a tear fell, as she spoke:
I ‘Nellie Belzer, I thank on for what you
i say, for I know you are sincere. What the
i future ma have in s to for me,I do not know;
l but I fee that I shal never leave the‘ range.
v This man, whom you know as Carl Cole. must
die by m hand. have vowed this and I feel
assured t t I will keep my oath.
. “But, ellie. on lnust not leave this house
‘ to-night. I wnl see that you meet Herbert
lves to-morrow. There is danger abroad. Th:
Pumas, a bandit band, are out; for, as I. have
, told you l was forced to shoot two of them to
1 save {\hle life of that brave scout, Rocky Moun-
htilll ; .

“(Huey me now, Nellie, and go to bed. I
mun now return the horse of the scout; but I
shall not unless I change my mind, go near the
cam . éo-long, Nellie!”

\ ith these words, Nugget Nell darted from
the room without waiting to hear the earnest
pleadings of Miss Belzer to aCcompany her.

Springing upon her horse, Nell dashed off, on
her return up the range, leading the black steed
of the scout; being observed. as has been shown
by Doubloon Dan and the Tarantula, as she gal-
loped up the wash-out.

.Upon reaching the spur of the cliff, she
dashed at great speed around it, and released
the black horse, which galloped up the gulch to
the camp. -

The attention of the young men was drawn
down the gulch by the chattering hoofs, wea-
pons bein grasped and held ready: but as the
. steed ful cqni ped. darted toward his master.

and the “y
and waved her sombrero over her head, a rous-
in cheer rung from the throat of Rock Moun—
ta n Al. George Belzer rushed forwa , crying

out:
“ Nellie! Cousin Nellie l” h b N7 '
c less: at u t
p” 3“;

Tell me,

Herbert Ives stood 3
Neil Whirled her horse about. and dashe
headlmr speed from view down the gulch.

, No! te minutes elapsed after the departure
_ of Neil from the room in the attic of the Bug
Juice Bazaar, when Nellie Bel-or caught up her
hat and ran down‘ the- stairs, and out into the
street. She pmceodql in the directionot Pil-
grim‘s Palace by the rear of the shanties, where
there were a number of horses.

)

air 0 the Range arose in her stirrupst

_ . ‘ _._.. .-. _._-A-.. _‘- .m- V_ _-v_. ._..__ _-._.-...‘ -_.~ .

‘ .

Her face was pale, but filled with determina-
tion, as she sprung‘upon one of these animals,
and rode ofi! past the ghastly co of the men
who had been killed in Pilgrim’s alace.

Galloping up the range, knowing not where
to go, except to seek a gorge in the mountains
some two miles north, she spedon, entering the
tent-hills: and, eventually, the near vicinity of
the cedars, that grew thick along the base of
the mountains. ,

While thus dashing ahead. her eyes eagerly
scanning the range to discover a break in the
same, a score of mounted men spurred their
snorting steeds out from the wood; and, the
next moment Nellie Belzer was surrounded.

She sat on her saddle like one suddenly
stricken with death. Horror and dread seemed
pictured and frozen upon her face. There was
now no hope!

 

CHAPTER XIX.
NVGUET NELL INTERVIEW.

“ PAnns, l‘m after her! I’ll gene into the
eyes of that brave and daring girl before she
clears the washout!”

It was Rocky Mountain Al who spoke. Nug~
get Nell had just waved her sombrero. and
dashed from the view of those in the camp. Al
sprung upon his horse.

Nell had n' t the remotest idea that she would
be pursued; but she went, at a fast gallop down
the gulch nevertheless, for she wished to rejoin

A Nellie Belzer, fearing that she would start out

 

in spite of everything, in search of Herbert
ves. -

Her abscnce of mind, she ndering and'
lanning to bring matters to a avorablo issue
For her friend, and also to consummate her re-
venge upon the so-called Carl Cole. to other
with the sound made by her horse’s hoo 3, pm
ventel her from hearing the galloping of one in
pursuit, until the scout had nearly overtaken

her. .

She was then within a short distance of the
place where Al had been shot by the bandits.

No sooner did NuggetNell hear the sound of
boots behind her than she turn'ed in her saddle
and immediately recognized the black stead of
the scout.

Knowing that it was useless for he; to at-
tempt escaping, the Waif of the Mountains k t
on at the same gait, and in a moment ‘after e
pursue: was a ongside, and Roe y mountain
Al, grasping her bridle~rein. sai , as be bent
towl'ard and gamed into the eyes of the disguised
gIr : ~ , .

“ Pardon my rudeness, MissNellie Belzer: but. .
it is a pressing necessity that causes me to act
thus ungentlemanly toward you. Not only do
I wish to thank you ten thousand times for.
saving my life, as well as for returning my
horse just now, but I wish to givo you import-
anlt; information, that directly concern's your;
se . ’ 1‘

“ Your pardon is granted, sir,” returned Nell,
“ but I warn you, never attempt to at? me
again. M revolvers go oi! easiltRan you
might get urt. Go on with your nkg. and I
will count; but you will find it will be tedious
and tiresome before you have gotten through
with the number you have mentioned.

Wight how do you kn0w that I saved your

9 . .

“ I know that you, and none other, shot the
bandit who fired at and struck me, when‘ I was ,
riding in pursuit of yourself. I rolled down

I file bank, and two outlaws came to rob and

“Wh were on ursuin
. girl, dogny implycssedf now

 

finish me. You rent them both ‘ over the range,’
for no one else could have known that I was in
such danger.

“ You might as well admit the fact. It mpkes
little difference, though, whet r you do it. or
not, for it isalready recorded y Rocky Moun-

tain Al.”

me?" asked t of
pit she was face '
face with the scout, his fascinating eyes fixed!
upon hers.

“ I wished to see you—to speak with you‘— I

for very good reas0ns, and not. as you. mag '
have supposed, from mere curiosity or ac, -
interest. “ '

“The glan
Palace, prov you to be the original "of a
photograph, that was placed in my hands by“
elder] gentleman, to whom I made a 0min
that would find you, and take on to m.

“ It was none other, Miss Ne ie Belmr. than
your poor old father. who now lies ill. and
token in mind, from his long and fruition-
search for you.”

“ Should you judge me to be the sort of, 7
without showing  “:1' -

son whom he represented his daughter .to'
asked the strange girl,
etnotion he had expected. .
Al hesitated He was cornered, as it were,
and unable to shape words for a
soon recovered himself saying:

to me by your father
nothi very strange in your having mounted,
union “that what you have reference
Ruler. youcould better pursue your search in .
. ‘ . l a 4r
“ I think it is ponihle yen

that I had at you in Pilgrim's - ,

matha‘waraofthefact, [will now say that ,

r

I. . l..j 

. \.~‘

/ .

I
O

«I

4
I

reply; but? . y .
"Takin eve hing into co’nsiderati ’ ti ‘  ‘2
has been confidedg m  ; E. 

. . ,

 

 

 g ' ‘- - '.,

.___._- .... ......—.. ...   ... . .. :. .... u...

 

your lover is encamped at the head of the gulch;
as well as his little brother, and your cousin,
George lzer. ~

“I trust that you will return with me, and
that I shall have the extreme pleasure of also

.idinlg’you to your father, who is now in San

igue .

“Does Mr. Ives believe that I am his be—
trothed wife! un:., if so. is he not offended at
my masqirieradinr in this way, and shooting
Mndit o ~handf”

“ It is useless for me to deceive you in that

t,” was the reply. “ Indeed you ought to
know that he is a gentleman, by birth and edu-
cation, and that he has been cut to the heart to
find th t you are—but, never mind.

“ Be as into consideration that the perse-
cution you have endured, at your home, the
mysterious disappearance of your father, and

.your being obliged to start out into this far

western wilderness in search of himself, the
only one to whom you could appeal—all this, he
knows. must have warped your mind, and un-
nattled your jidgment. But he is only eager to
meetyyou.

“ our cousin, too, is nearly frantic on your
account. You wi.l return with me will you
not?” _

" Thou you all think me insane, do you!"

As Nell asked this question. she broke out into
amorry peal of laughter, which after the rew-
lotions he had made, convinced Al that she was
mad as a March hare. he was perfectly speech~

s.

Unable to rep] , the scout. as he gazed at the
Waif of the Roe ies, had such a sad look, that
the Wild girl laughed the more, thus settling in
his mind the question of her insanity.

Placing one of her small hands upon Al's
shoulder, and gazing into his face fora moment,
in said:

“ Rocky Mountain Al, you are a brave man,
and I respect on! I thank you for coming to
my rescue, w an the ‘Terrantaler o’ Taos ’ as
Mullahigiself, was about to make an end of

an ——

“Hold! EXcuse me," interrupted the scout.
“Tue Tarantula ran up the ulch, and fell
pro-trite, in an assumed drun en slumber, in
the cedars near our cam . Broncho Jim, a
pas-d of mine. knew him to a bad citizen, as
,_ did ’myself, and we intended to make him
levant from this vicinity in the morning. But
be lit out before we ex ted, havin p obably
overheard as talking ove your fami y aifairs.
He‘is a or? and may do us mischief. I shall go
in hunt 0 him tomorrow.

“ But proceed. and excuse my interru tion.”

“Well.” resumed Nell, "I had an o ject in
picking a Quarrel with the scoundrel, which
will be made plain to you before two day: pass.

“Let me say now, there is a deep mystery
in this affair, to all except myself; and I do not
think it policy to reveal matters tonight. I

‘ wish you, however, to say to Herbert Ives, that

~ the Hudson.

‘Nellie Beer loves him most devotedl , had

that she is the same innocent girl that s e was
when he bade her farewell on the Palisades of
Also, say to George Belzer. that
Nellie will join them, and accompany them to
San Miguel. within two days. ‘ -

,"Trust me in thin. my friend, and all that
a ium strange and unaccountable will be made

a n. ‘

"Lcaunot see them at present. for I have a
allusion tofulflll. But you must capture the
Tarantula: for he is a den erous man, and is
mixed upin this affair. I avea certain end

i , to accomplish, and I must keep that uppermost

in in mind for the present. -

“ uturn to your camp. and allow me to go
my own way for to n ght an '1 tomorrow.
You will trust me, 1 know; for you believe in
me, and you believe that I have the happiness
of all in view.”

“Nellie. I’ll stake my life on you!" said Al,
edly. “Go your way then. and I will re-
to the camp. for I need rest and sleep.

But, when ’s’hall we have the great pleasure of
u

min 0
a “If I am not greatly mistaken, the clouds
will break away tomorrow night.

But my da-
eiro is for you all to remain in the gulch, until
you see or hear again from Nugget ell.”
"‘ n on must go without seeing Ives. or.
your ecu f” . ‘ '
"‘ Rocky Mountain Al."said the girl. “ Imusf
1 Seek your blankets. and gut some sleep.
sure an capture the Tarantula to-morrovv.
ifhoshows up anywhere near the gulch. So

ion !" -
All released his hold on the reins of Nugget
Neil's horse. and she darted off at terrific speed,

. in the direction of Chico City.

The scout turned about. and proceeded up
“awash-out to the camp bit strange appear-
ance puzzling all: Berber Ives being in a most
wretched state of mind. from the fact that Nel-
lie Bolzer had again avoided meeting him.

Gegge Belaar, also, was most painfully per-

: .

Broncho Jim sat on a blanket. wi as out his

,. ta: the present state of aflairs be at; evident-

13 an enigma which was far beyond his compre-
ion.
The actions oi‘his old pard, Al, seemed to

 

.41.»

i him remarkably strange; Jim bein extremely ‘

jealous at seeing the “ tenderfeet’ monopoliz~
ing the attention of 'his fellow scout, while he
was, so to speak, a mere cipher inlthe lay-out.
although he had taken the most active part in
the recent tragic proceedings.

“ Gentleine...” said Rocky Mountain Al, as he
alighted from his horse; “ask me no questions,
but let us all seek the repose we stand :0 much
in need of. Itis enough for me to say that we
are at present enveloped in mystery; but, With
in fort —cight hours. I am usurred that all will
be mu 0 clear, and happiness will be a drug in
the m-irkct.

“ You will take my word. Mr. Ives, and you,

Mr. Bclzor, that what I say I mean, and that l ‘

can fulfill what I promise.

“There. are good reasons why Miss Nellie ‘

Belzer should not meet her friends at prc~
sent, or she would do so; reasons that will
serve, when explained. to raise her in your esti-
mation. Of this I am satisfied. and will stake
my honor on it. Are you satisfied, pards?"

“I am willing to stake m happinesgmy
very life itself. upon your wor ,” said Herbert;
“and, although I am strangely bewildered by
all this. I know you woull not hold out false
hopes in re ard to everything being ultimately
cleared up, in a manner satisfactor to all of us.

“You are sure that Major Bz-zer will not

leaVe San Miguel, and, in his Weak state of3

mind and body, get bet, or be captured by In-
dians, or outlaws!” .

"I am quite sure that be is safe," said the
scout; “and that those I left with him will
watch over him.”

“Al,” asked George. “if I eee through this
business in the least, there is some hidden work
going ou—is it not 90? Carl Cole and Lucretia
most have agents, or spies, who have followed
my uncle, and who know the whereabouts of
Nellie. It is the suspicion that the have fol-
lowed her,‘ that has caused my cousin to adopt
male attire."

" I presume you are correct,” was the reply:
“ but we shall know more of the case to-morrow,
I reckon.

“ Pard Jim, we must corral that ‘Terran-
taler’to-morrow, if he comes in our vicinity.

He is in this business, and he threw himself in _

the thicket pretending to be asleep, for the pur-
pose of hearing what we had to say.

“ He knows too much, and we must cut his
spur:l and clip his win 3.

ail'o towasto more t me in talk. If you’ll

keep a lookout down the gulch for a couple of ,
hours, Jim, I‘ll kei-p guard for the remainder of i

the night.” ,

“ Pitch in, an’ snatch all ther sleep y want.
pards,” directed Broncho Jim. “I aint tired
at all, though Ididn’t jump saddle all 'ester-

day. I'm a-playin’ miss, which air er net biz :

o’ ther kind I ever ’members a doin , ’cept ten—
din’ ter some n’-ther boyees what war cut er
shot. I looks arter Leetle Pard jist now.”_

All now rolled themselves in their blankets;
Al, revious to lying down, having given his
hlac horse a feed of corn, which be had in his
saddle~ba s. In a few moments, they were
sound a eep. being weary and worn, from
travel, and the exciting scenes through which
they had passed. .

Broncho J lm sat in the same position. Char-
ley’s bead upon his knee; and no sound was
heard in the gulch, as the moon rolled westward
into 'the darkness, save the crunching of the
scout‘s steed at his corn.

—._—.

CHAPTER. XX.
THE anon” RETREAT.

WHEN Nugget Nell parted from Rock
Mountain Al she put her horse to full is ;
and, b the same route she had before traveled,
brou t up at the foot of the outside stairway
that ed to the womb! Nellie Belzer.

Securing her horse, and running rapidly up
the steps, she tried the latch and found the door
unfastened.

Filled withopprehension, she pasaed into the 

worn.
Nellie Belmxr was not to be seen! -
Nugget Nell darted into the other room. but

no one was there; she then threw herself a n ~
a lounge. covered her face, and burst into, .
_ 1 power. I can, thrdpgh him. force her to marry

ten rs.

She felt that, as she had act met her friend .

on the trail. that the poor girl had been lost in
bar mad attempt to reach Herbert Ives, or been
captured by outla ws.

. n this react'on. after the excitement through

which she had passed. the poor. Weary girl cried ‘

herselfto sleep. and knew nothing more until

the following noon. it having been in the small I

hours of the morning when she arriwd.

 

When Nellie Bolzer found herself surrounded
b the masked night-riders. she was so ternfled
t at she sunk forward upon her horse. being
only prevented from falling by two bandits.
who rode up on either side and supported her.

Then came the order from Doublonn Dan:

“ Bv twine—forwarle '

At the .wnrd the outlaw bend entered the
dark shades of the cedars, going toward the
mountains.

But, boys, we can’t I

-... .... .. .-......... m.“

 

There, they priesedinto a narrow gorge, that
wound, snake—like, toward the heart of the
range.

Following this for some distance, they turned
around a rocky spur. and entered an arched
passage. Going along this, for some fifty
yards. at an abrupt turn to ihe right. two
lamps Were. seen, suspended from iron spikes in
the w'nll, and illuminating the entrance to an
extensive cavern

Passing'inlo this, the hoofs of the horses clat-
tering over the stone floor, all came to a halt.

“ Leave your captive in the lli .mond Chan.»
her." ordered the chief, addnssing the tVN,
men who supported Miss Belzer. Then, inning
to the band. he added:

" Remove equipments! Fwd your nags: and.
after a lunch, all rctiie, vat‘pl the guard, for
io—morrow night we have “eigmy business on
hand." '

l in the black, glittering eyes of" the bandit

'chlci' flashed a reckless. nlt‘H'lI-ISh look, that,

, proved him a dangerous inan: althvugh, a:
l times, he was as mild and polite in speech as a
‘ theological student.

Doublosn Dan dismountui. and delivered his
horse to one of Us band. He then walked to an
arched passage, near the place where his two
followers had, through a like archway, borin-
Miss Belzer.

Opening an oakcn door at the end of the pass
3 age, he entered a cave chamber that wasril-hly
l furnished; the flow being covered with bull’an-
i robes and panther skins, and smaller skins dcco~
rated artistically with beadwork.

The walls and arched roof of this apartment
glittered and glinted in the light of the wax
candles that stood upon a .table, as if set witl-
thousands of diamon s. '

Food wine and liquors of all kinds were upon
the. table, and Doubloon Dan. throwing aside bis-z
weapons. filled a glass with brandy, tossed the
fiery liquor (if as if it had been water, and then
sat down to supper. ~

“ Well, Doubloon Dan.” he solilcquizcd. u her.
he had finished his repast, “ you haveso faz’glono
‘ well since arriving in the vicinity of Chico (.‘ity.
l The boys. it is true, think otherwise. That ex-
, press safe didn’t pan out extra well, but the
mail was worth tearing paper. It was lucky I
i didn’t open the letters in the presence of the»
a band, or I shouldn‘t have made such a big haul
3 for myself.

“Fifty thousand in greenbacks ain‘t to be
picked up every day. and the boys had no idea
there was such an amOunt in the bags; in fact,
there seldom is.
| “Not onl this good luck. but fortune has fa-
i vored me y placing in my pouer one “ho
! would be taken for a to in sister of Nugget Nell.
! "When I saw her at the wreck of that com ‘n
on the creek, 1 was positive it was Nell herself :'
i but now I see my mistake. She is asunlike 2?: H
i in dispodtion and temperament (is she is likr her
' in form and face.

i “All that lever disliked about Na get N l
4 was her fie temper and unmaidenl , oldm»;
i and since I ave seen this Nellie Be zer, as tho
, Tarantula calls her, I realize the her son~itivo
; nature has more charms forme than ever that
' handsome tom-boy had.

“ I would have married Nell. quit this risky
business, and made a (lady of her; but her
chances are slim now, since this Miss'Belaer has
come upon the scene.

“ What’s more, if I have the run of the cards.
she isan heiress, and of excellent family.

“ The rties in Santa Fe, who are so anxious
to have er and her father put out of the way.
must be captured, and pumped by force. That
is settled. They know nothing about Nugget
Nell, and, by Jove! it wouldn’t he a bad idea to
ran her in on them, after I get them corruled.
and 've them a rise party.

“ ell could asion sh them amazingly. an i it
would be as good as a circus to Witness the in
2 terview. They would be apt to think the girl
. they were after had changed some since she
I struck the range, and they might become con-
vinced that she wasn’t one who could be very
1 easily ‘removed.’ ,

' “ I’ll bleed them of every dollar, keep them on
i :fiort grab, and force the whole story from
em. .
“Then. by getting this girl’s father in my

 

me. I am getting disgusted with this rough life,
and I have enough to keep me in case and lux-
' ury the remainder of my day 3. Besides. I have
, had a kind of presentiment of late that 'my ca-
' reer will be cut short in some way.
_ “ Tomorrow night will, I think. be an eveni—
: fill one for me, and I need sleep and rest. I shall
dream of that girl. to a certainty. She’s as
i lovely as an angel. and I feel like an insignifi-
i cant pusillanimous wretch, butalittle above the
i tweets, when I look at her.
3 “ But luck always did perch within mv grasp,
and I’ll not worry about imaginary on era.
1 I'll to my couch. and recupe to. for the usi-
! ners Ihavedshead of ,me need strong nerves.”
Thus on ing his soliloquy. Doubloon Dan

I, threw himself upon his coach of skins and was

i soon flee in soundlywand quiet! , notwith~
’ minding heIact that wasa m» bandit,
‘ whole bands had often been stained with the

l

:

 

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‘ _ .._s.‘.:~,na..v.=_

(
5
i
I
v
i

 

 

 

 

 

, ,_ _-* -—v\~——"v.‘ m

'9

\

 

 

 

 

 

\

' 'warn

 

 

Rocky 'Moun. 

 M19

 

blood of helpless, unarmed men, whom he had l they were but whispers, from almost colorless,

robbed of life and money at the same time.

When the two outlaws conveyed Nellie Belzer
into the passa e, as ord-‘red by their chief, they
passed throng a dom- similar to that. which had
admitted Doubloon Dun. and entered a cave
chamber, richly furnivlu- i. There they laid the
senseless girl 11;) n :1 (much, and sprinkled some
water noon hrr fat".

I

A tab». "yin which wum some wines and

foo i, was plucvd lw her side. within easy reach;
then the lnl'itli‘s left. the apartment. feeling sure
that the fair mptive would soon re‘C-fi’l‘l‘ her
senses.

' Thcv W're correct in this opinion.
sound of the clung of her prison door, which
made a terrific. noise in the arched chamber, she
sprung in n sitting mature on_tho couch. and
op‘nv-d her limped lue eyes in bewilderment
and perplexity, not, for some little time, realiz-
ing lwr position, locati m, or the num- past,

Slowly, however, the events of tlw night
fl am! in panoramic style before her mind’s We;
tvie fucts that were mos-t, glarinuly promimmt

At the ,

being exactly opposite in charuclcr and ilupres— '

siveness.

Nugget Nellhad caused her to feel happier
than ‘she had been for months, by informing her
that Herbert Ives, for whom she had so long
mugh , and who was neVer absent from her
thoughts, was within two short miles of her;
and that in his company was her cousin, George,
Belzer. as noble and during a young man as ever
lived, and who had, before accompanying ller-

the Texan frontiers with “ Reckless Joe.”

When Nellie had realized that these friends .

wereso near, she determined that she would

see them before the morning. She could not, .,
sleep. She could not sit nor stand still a moment, .
so great was her excitement, so intense her hap— A

piness.

Then she had, regardless of the warning of
Nugget Nell and her positiw orders, gone out
into th night, stolen a horse, anl sped up the
ran e ward the spot where, as she understood,
Ne , Herbert, George and Charley were en-
camped. '

This ended that picture. ' Then came a view
of dark woods and towering mountains, illumin-

' I‘ll do

ated by a silvery moon; these, the lnckground l

to a view that was appalling in the extreme.

and fiendish eyes shooting glances from out the
soul.

masked night-riders, the blood congealing in
. her vein; with horror, as the. silent, terrible,
death an gestive horde encircled her. She had
felt an e ectric—like darting and flashln in her
brain, and then all was darkness and ob ivion.

But now—where was she?

While striving to recall the near past she had
geesed both palmsover her aching brows and

rning eyes; but she removed them as the
at??? media] question formed itself in her
in it

She uickly around noon her surround—
ings'a v be ow, everywhere, and .was bewil-
dered and orrifled by what she saw.

Adamantine walls, and arched roof and floor,
all as if hewn from solii rock, glittering in a
blinding manner, refi acting the light of numer-
ous wax l‘t‘lp’fl‘s.

By her side Were food and drink.

Beneath her was a C‘)UCll of skins.

She perceivwi, at length, that she was in a
cavern—a rock chamber of the mountains; she
knew that she was a prisoner—u risoner
m the hands of those fearful mask night-
riders. , . ‘ _

hN0 sooner did Nellie realize this clearly than
3 9
floor, El‘ arms Wildly beating the nip. her beau—
tiful blue eyes glassy and glaring with hopeless
«lpspair. her fair face contorted 'with a terri-
bio dread, as She cried out, from her inmost
soul! A

Oh. Father in Heaven, look down on me and
pity me! Oh, mother mine! why didnt thou not
thy weak child! My cross is greater than
_I can bearl .

’ ‘.‘.Lostl Iostl lost! Plungcd from happiness to
the very depths of miserr, just as the rewari
for all the privations and anguish I have on
dured was within my grasp; then to be buried
into suclhgloom and despair!

u 

10 «Keri Nellie—neverwncvermorel
Mod a worse than death, when within
rhaps a rifle-shot of those I have sought so

“ ed to be the victim of a bandit, whose
crimes forbid him to show his face even in the
nighttime!

'Oh, my heart, my brain! I mail die!

“ Yes, I shall die: but welcuum death. for
with death comes rectand no And I shall
at ither then. She waits fer her mush.

m .tm
to?“ tile Golden Gate. Yes. Ibo will meet me.
Hotber—wm—meet—Nolliel"

Gradually the words of the poor gig-L .t a,“
loud and half-shrieked. died down, until at in:

-

0

She remembered being surrounded by these 1

quivering lips; her 9 es seeming to gaze beyond,
through the rock are way of her prison, heavens
ward.

Then, as the last word was whispered her,

eyes became expressionless, her angelic

orm ’

swayed back and forth, and she sunk. limp and ?

nameless, upon the stone floor of the cavern!

CHAPTER XXII
THE TARANTL'LA lN'HIRVlEWED.
Tun: “ ’l‘errantnlero‘ Tans," after having been
“ corraled " by Doubloon Dun, had, much to his

 

sutisfuction, been lnckv enough to have the op— ‘
portnnity of showing Nugget Nell to the bandit -

chinf, as she rode up the wash—out, with the
llOl'rm of Rocky Mountain Al in the lead.

The giant was ignorant of the fact that the
outlaw knew her. The latter quickly discov-

. lost a leg, uu’ my sting air death.

ered that, if he wished any information from ,

l

the burly ruillan, he would he {creed to “ pump‘

him very shortly, or the Tarantula would be ‘

speechless; for the latter had drunk lunch
through the previous evening, and had only
been kept from sleep, in the cedar thicket. at.
the gulch, by the extreme and deadly danger.
which he knew threatened him, through Al
and Broncho Jim.

The unreasonably big drink he had taken from

the canteen had imparted, or instilled him with -

new life; but Dan knew that this would not last

long, therefore he decided not. to return to his :
secret retreat until he had first heard the story i
‘ of his captive.
bert on this expedition. braved the dangers of .

Giving a peculiar whistle that brought his
band to a halt, a rifle-shot from him, Dan or-
dered the giant to follow him info the Cedars,
dismount, and sécure his horse. He then called
upon him to rewal his luns, with as little
extra “ chin " as he could ispense with, and do
himself justice.

“Do -gone my cast iron heart, Ca Dan!
it in ther flicker o’ a big-born’s '1,”

So said the border “hero,” with an air and
magnet of extreme satisfaction and importance,
as 9
dark 3 hides.

When the animals had been secured, Doub-
loon Dan seated himself on the ound, while
the giant threw himself at lengt , placing his
elbows on the ground, and supporting his head

I by resting his chin and face upon his outspread
For out from the dark dashed a horde of ,
horsemen, black masks covering their faces, 5

hands.

“Rec’lec‘, Cap," said he, “that I’m a rin’

, rager, an' I b mtg ther univarse on gittin’ nfer-
holes of these masks that burned into her very 1

t

l

l

ring from the couch out upon the stone I

mashe, an’ I its out flier solid hum-spun fac’s
without varnish, when I slings ’Nited States
ter a pilgrim what I condcrscends ter pard
With t rough a job thet I can’t whoop-er-up
easy myself, with a show fer rakin' ther pot!”

like form. They tole me et Santa Fe th tshw
wnr do-sile an’ innercent es a suckin‘ pappoose.
“She must ha’ slung herself permisc‘us-like
’roun’ ther ran e, fer some moons ter pan out
80 brash, cmn y, an’ peart wi her” slasher.
’sides w’arin’ men’s togs; \
“Ef Rocky Mountain Al hadn’t made a
break fcr me I‘d ’a’ snatched her sticker, tuck

bcr under my arm spite if her squirmin‘ an’ ~

l .

squnllin’, an‘ e-lrute for flier ceslul‘e' on ther
hum, yer kin jist gamble.

“Howsomever, we’ll kerml her. Cap. itc ’o’
Broncho Jim an’ Al, an‘ thrr tender-bu s, fer
l’m high-fly on thcr scoop in, i am!

“D0e.~n‘t ycr hear ther dingdong o“ my iron
heart! I‘m therTerrantaler o' Tans. what. never
l'm p'ison
from ha‘r to huffs!"

The voice of the giant. had gradually become
lower and lower, his head sinking, and his last
words were but a murmur, barely intelligible.

When he Ceused speaking, his head fell upon
the dead Ravel-1,11 series of siasmoviic shorts
sounded in the ears of Douh oon Dan, soon
changing to a regular beast like snore.

The bandit chief arose to his feet, and mount—
ing his horse, proceeded out from the cedars
with the intention of following the margin of
the same until near his men; know ing that the
Tarantula would sleep far into the following
dnv.

No sooner had Doubloon Dan gone out into
the moonlight, than. to his sunprise uud exulta

‘ lion, he discovered a female coups-trim) dashing

‘an

ided his horse after the chief into the .

“What sort of people are these Santa Fe :

tenderfeet, who are so anxious to corral Nug- :
et Nell?" asked Doubloon Dan, without paying -

he slightest attention to the introductory of
the gin

“ Ther caliker critter air chain iightnin’,” said -

the Tarantula; “ an’ her eyes snaps fire every
time she winks. She’s game; she’s gut sand, she
hes, an’ ther cuss what's with her hes tor wilt,
when she gives ther word. Though I reckon
hit’s more on ’count 0’ her holdin’ ther ‘dust,’
then fer want 0‘ grit in him. '

“He’s not so very high fly: but I’m bettin’
he‘s sent his man ter grass more’n onc‘t, though
he mought ha’ shot ’em in ther back.

“He’s purt crooked, I‘m amblin’, an’ of he
gut a show ‘ r git. ther cali er critter’s wealth
I’m dead sure he’d p’ison her an’ plant her in a
corn-sack ter save ’spences, tradin’ her off ter
ther first J law he run ag’in’.”

“ You think they’ll come in tomorrow night’s-
hearse. do on!” asked the bandit chief.

“ l’d sta e my critter on hitl Ther high-fly
caliker war anxious ter flicker this-a-ways
sOOn’s I tole her ’bout Chico bein’ 08 their
rog’lar trail, an’ thet it war a burg jist slapped

Coz wh i Yer see ther young feller w at

u .
: Ngll’s a bun in’ air a boss miner, an’ air thcr
, chap, Mister Cole said, ter strike fer a new

erbert. never more will you see your '

1 an’ he’ll show up in Chico in a few fleetin’ pe- l top, while, stretched along the ground at its ,

‘ “fl d.” wr 'tashow es in 'nee o’ amine, a ,
"Oh, God! hast Thou fox-men m. at 1.8”; n in gt r n

ther gal, know‘n’ this: would he might apt to
reasin theta-way, un’ glide for Chico C tv.
“Howsomevar, hit an ter me thet Nell air
brash an’ cussed enoug ter take both on ’em in
outep ther wet, ef she air so inclemated. an’
pervldin’ we—‘uns doesn’t kerral her afore ther
shemale an’ hemnle ’rovee in Chico on her trail.

 

“But I’m n-asserwatin’ thet we must git her 3

inter ther rocks, an’ keep her outen ther
0" VIP-Mus loses a big stake, fer I’md sure
ther Santa Fe pair hes gpt wealth." _
” HOW about. Major Belmr, the girl’s father!
Have you spotted him yeti" \
“ Hain‘t sot my pee in outer him comin’ up
tber range. I optnes 0’s north 0’ Rsytou Pass,

nods.

" Howeomever, I don’t reckon he'll pan out
much wealth. though Lgits a thousan’ dollars
for kerrahn’ him. We‘ll sooop ther gal fuel; 08,
air then ther Santa Fe follow. We- uns’ ll then
M thcr game in our 0 i 'v lion‘s. 'Tbet’s ther
hull thing chm thr ‘n h. Cap: but _l warmest
cussedly bamboozle . PM 'rlm’s Palace. when
the:- gal slapped my beauti ul nictur’,an’ 'arked
her sticker ter carve an” purferatc my Folk»

0

me, E

l

l
l

l

u

up the range. a long. black vaii flying behini
her from her hat. I A

Even at some distance, as lw waited in the
shadows of the cedars, he l‘ct‘ugnfzcvl‘bd r as the-
maiden he had seen at the “H’l'klliy of the
stu e, who had been protected by J inx Harding,
whom he had mistaken for Nugget Nell:

She was, in form and feature. the v. r) (‘( tin--
terpart- pf the latter, the only dffl'ereuce being
in dress and complexion.

Doubloon Dan now knew that Nugget Nell
was not the party Who was wanted by the pair
of conspirators at Santa Fe, but the girl be are
him, who might reasonably be supposed to be
her twin sister.

It was not. Nugget Nell who had lxen in.
the stage. No wonder she had laughed at him
when he questioned her in legend to it.

All was clear to him non, and be deter—
mined to act immediately.

This girl had probably been infonmd that her-
lover was encumped in the gulch. .

She had been long seeking him, ard IIOV‘,
fearing he would not inter Chico City, she l'! d
Lnouuted a horse, and was endeavoring to find

1m.

Doubloon Dan’s. mind was much relic Wd; '0)"
he had taken a fancy to Nugget. Nell, and to;
feared, from this late report, that she was In
love with this young mining engineer. Now,
however. his jealous- was banished.

Giving a shrill whistle, followed,'after an in-‘ '

terval, by three more, he galloped along in the
shade of the cedars: his band, in obedicna- to

his 2' ml. spurring from the wood, and um '

rounding Nellie Be zer. us has been detailed.

 

The sun had reached the meridian on the do ‘

following the evmtfu] night, during wide
those who have had our sympathy were so filled
with anxiety from varieus causes.

The Tarnntula‘s eyes opened—eyes that were-
wild and blood-shot, and framed in'bniised,
swollen flesh and smaggy blows, above which
was a shock of wild, tangled Lair, filled with
dry leaves. '

For a mcmqni the giant gazed about, and
show- him. amazement and perplexity hat ' '
against the insane thirst that tortured him, a
the darting of an electric-like agony th 1:
his fevered brain. '

it was onl for an instant.
rifle bound, e lprnng to his feet, with diced
and horror in his brutal countenance, as he
whirled about, and tore up into the bunches;
of a cedar, as though fiends from Hades wrote
at his heels. ,

Gaining a safe distance. as high 'up in fact as:
the dimensions of the tree promised to sustain.
him; the giant trcniblingtin every limb, hastly

[Jullor showtrg even through tan and (l t, and
load—strains. Wu‘ud himself between limb and
trunk, clutching them with desperation and
terror.

Thence he gamed downward, - through the
sparse fol with bulging eyes: ‘

At the po 1: upon which his vision was now
find, was a curiously shaped. fire-blackened
stump, reaching wine
mund; two arm-like clubs of limbs prcjec

m it, some eighteen inc-hes from the splinter!!!
base. was a huge dead grape-vine. the larger
endI elevated about six inches from them

vex. . .

For full five minutes, the “ Terminal-c ,0' T»
on” gonad open mouthed: his fmiluf‘AFLng
the expressions we have before menti . . -

At times he rubbed his

winked and blinked can any: When, Ila..—
Lyobis face beg-n Show for ailment .0-
us.

I

Then, with a hr! .

five feet. aboVe the .
M .

9

39s vigorously. end  . g

a R
5 t
~ .

..- ,..«..,z$-_s..,e.ll~. ..... ' 4 43m"?

V *halt near

 

 

-fi...- ..-.. .

Relief. blended with shame and mirth. in a [
comical manner were plainly manifest, as he a

burst out in his peculiar soliloquy.
" Wa-ai. condemn my mseriianmcus. no-
‘count. bamboozled brainl f thar wam’t-con-

alder’ble extry ding-dong inter my iron heart, i
when I stompcded’y this hyer cedar, I’m t‘her l
9

boss -rvaricator o w Mex‘i

“ [fit I sw’ar of that ain‘t a sight ter make a
mixedup human hump hisself! I hopes ter bc
nibbled or death by red ants ef hit ain’t!

" l-thonght. dead sure an' sartin, thet a black
b’nr un‘ ther boss snake 0‘ ther range had paid
ed tergether ter squeeze my breath out. an’
hash me up fer feed. Dang’d ef hit didn‘t take
ther snarls an’ leaves outen my sculp, an’ I c’u’d
hear in ha’r ‘sn like a rrnrer on fire!
Whar in thundcration air I? ow corned I tel-
be in this hyer dang’d cedar-brake?

“Dang’d ef hit hain’t past noon. an’ I’m es
weak es a cat-fish what’s been left high an’ dry

, arter a rise.
an’ lettin’ loose my tongue on Santa Fe biz.

“I reckon now he’ll leave me in ther lurch, i

In' cabbidge ther Wealth, ef I doesn’t keep my

aspen peeled. Hit‘s dangerous ter glide inter !
i

co, but of I knewed the ’d plug me es full 0’
holes es a perforated plas r, I’d hev ter skute
in for some bug- uice. Thar’s snakes a~hatchin'
in m butes, ead sure: an’ my iron heart
doesn t ding-dong wo’th a picayune.
check her throng er bu‘sti

“ I'm as high-fly es ther ’Merikin Eagle!

er4e-e-e-e!”
Down clambered the giant, reachin the
and with difficulty, when. to his relie and
£0, hediwovered his horse.

osening the lariat, he climbed into the

saddle. nearly failing upon the ground on the ;

te side. He then walked the animal

wly toward Chico City. he presenting a truly

miserable and horrid appearance, as he hast

glances cf apprehension up the range, fearing

to discover the scouts. whom he had so cun-
nineg evaded the previous night.

As he approacned the rear of Pilgrim‘s
Palace, he saw a crowd of boisterous men. and
would at once have turned his horse another
way. had he not been aware that they had ob
served him.

Jerking their revolvers, and aiming at the .

giant. one of them yelled:

“firm up thar. er we’ll bore er! Yer
’ ’nanermously ter be stilt-p actor for
Chico City !"

 

("HAPTER XXII.
norauoos can is anal) race.

Tar. “ Tel-rantaler o‘ Taos " knew well the charac-
ter of the men who hailed him. and he dared not dis-

malthough he felt that he was putting his head 1

and?“ Tomi: 5mm :
u ccser. er ascoreormoneo

the hangei’s-on at Pil m s Palace, among whom
were in led a few of the better class of miners the
man who hailed him being Hank Hall. the sheriff

of the bu .
A roar o laughter burst. from the crowd as the

giant approached and his condition became up. -

parent. ,
The Tarantula saw that a large hole had been ex-
cavated. and that several of the men had spades and
Eek-axes. The corpses of those who had been killed
Pilgrim’s Palace ay side by side near at hand. and
i a most ghastly s tacle they Were. the sun having
blackened their aces. and the bodies being swollen
-to nearly twice their natural size.

“Hump erself this-a‘ways lively.“called out the
charm. ‘ or started ther row what sent some. 0‘
these stiffs over ther divide. an‘ yer hes gut ter flnish
phntin‘ 'em. er we'll sling yer in with 'em an‘ kiver

‘  In
' “ e ‘ are ter be 'bout ripe enough ter plant—~dog~
' he doesn‘t f"’said a miner.

“Dang'd ef he hain‘t bin chaired u an‘ spit out by v

agrb' b arl"asserted another. whic I caused a per-
fect roar of laughter.

t” Boyeee " said the. gent. as his horse came to a

the crowd. t a rider grasping the saddle-

horn for an port and trembling in every limb. his

idly: “ho see. I war fool ’nough ias‘ ‘

es glari
fight. when I war chuck ullnca)‘ p‘isoa, lei; halimb ting;
.an'repoaem se on erpea.au - on
e! a: horn didn‘tybutt me of! l 08 g
“I re clean down. knockin‘some bowldersoff‘n
_ the rough places. an’ comc a-flyin'. strikin‘ bottom in

atbick matte 0' cedars. which has sp‘iled my show .

' ‘fa'r gittin‘ my fortygraph tooken fer some moons, 1

“Wm. I doesn‘t keer 'bout bein’ scarifled. -

mashedan‘ scratched halfes much es ‘bout m in-
- ‘ards. Boyeee, I‘m fist dead one fer some ug-
‘M. Therding-dong o‘ my in heart hes sim-
mered down ter ther flicker of a hummin’ bird's
wing. Ef that's 'hion in Chico. lef' arter- las’ n ht.
slide her out. an “I hes ther ‘dust ‘ ter treat er
aoYd‘ontll ye‘re all a—b’ilin' cvcr.
. “ ’ sw‘ar. I'm so stiff I can't git on my critter. an'
rafiute pappoose c’u'd skin my head without my
i rhdn'nble ter wink at hit. I'm on ther skute over
ther divide, an’ yer‘ll hevaextra stiff ter plant of yer
doesn't show some whisk‘."

Gabriela: miserable, weak and helpless was the
tale. that the crowd—any of whom could un-
d his condition. having “ been there " them—
avfifrained from rid culling him further.
h men though they were. his a under-

fllled them with sympathy and pi y.

one knew anything about him. except that‘he '

v arrived in Chico (.‘ih’ Ille irevious night;th

‘ 'blind' fighting drunk, and i on slapped Ulthfl

by Nugget Nell; and that when rmting this '

I ’members seein’ Doubloon Dan,

But I’ll I

I’m i
ther'l‘errantaier o’Tacs! Whoop—er’up! Whoop- I

" wash ther

. expeditiously as pomible. filled the,tin cup as

i more the preparations for the burial mic-ceded;

am ..

a. 'i

. . ___..... M-

 

 

«or “can

insult he had been knocked senseless by Rocky
Mountain Al. and tram led upon.

It was only natural t int he should have resented
the insult. the sex of his assailant being unknown
to him; and - the difference in their size and ‘
strength bein . in the excitement of the moment. ;
not con der. . I

Neither was it strange that be imagined he had =
rolled from the peak of the mountain; he having
probably dreamed that this had occurred.

Thus the. crowd reasoned. knowing also that he
was not responsible for the fight oocnsioned by line .
Scramble for the dollars, and the deaths that ensued. :

Perhaps the offer to furnish free whisky favored
such liberal rem-timings on the purt of (he crowd.
Indeed. taking their general character into con- i

l
l

‘ RIdi'I‘fltiOU, it seemed more than probable.

However. therc was some hesitation in the matter
of producing the liquor; iho wretched appearance
of the gigantic stranger favoring the sup iosi' ion
that he was not in 1x)sscs'~'i0n of suiileient " dust" to
pay for it.

his suspicion was. llowwvi-I', soon banished by the
pleading victim of border bug juice. who said. in u. ‘
still weaker voice.

“ Sheriff Hall. I hes hoerd 0' yer down ther range
es a squar‘ man. Como an‘ snatch some m-allh
outen miy pouch. an’ fotch out a gallon 0‘ whisk‘.
feel as t loug'h I c‘u’d pour down a bar‘l 3“ i

The comp iment, to other Willi the mention of his
name. by a man who e. knew had been in ihe burg
but a few hours—mud during that time had, as Hank I
thought. been too drunk to know his own name——
flattered the sherifl' exceedingly; and the iant rose ‘
a peg higher in his estimation. as the wort 1y oiiiciul
complied with his request. Hank did not recall the, .
fact that his name and rank had been mentioned in
the hearing of the badly used up man.

Much to the surprise of everybody present. Hank
drew from the pouch a roll of coin. which. upon
0 ning proved to bcdouble ea rice; and ex sin r
t e shining gold to the audience, t e sheriff re urue<
the money. retainin but one of the gold pieces. 3

“ Boyees.“ said ank. “lift ther poor cuss off. |
He ans out Well—Simon pure hard ore ontil yer i
can' rest. We‘ll rime him up. an’ fix him straight,
afore laquartz mil c‘u‘d chaw up a hu’iderd poun'
0‘ rec .‘

It was no easy matter to get the Tarantula off
his horse. Four men strained their muscles to ac- «‘
complish the feat. for he had become stiff and rigid; r
in fact he was in a terrible. condition.

They laid him on the award. and placed a piece of i
dead wood under him: Hank soon appearing with a ‘
demijohn of whisky and a tin cup, and Tom 3
Mathews. the barkeeper, following him, in wonder
and curiosity. to the rear door. '

The latter refrained from givi§ the sheriff his 1
opinion of the burly rufflan. real ng now that he ]
was likely to be a payi custcmez. ;

The Tarantula was sed' to a si ting posture. and 

i a half- int' of whisky held to his trembling lips.
‘ which edrauk'with insane avidit . He then sunk :

back to his fomler position. and c osed his eyes. I
“Some on yer hump yet-selves fer some water. an‘ I
poor cuss s heath” ordered Hank; “nn’

then we‘ll hev a bi drink all ‘roun’."
The water was rought, and one of the range.
bummers produced an old comb. which he had pro-
bably stolen from some stage station. as it was of .

the kind used in combing out the tails and manea of I.»

horses. ,
With this the hair of the giant was. in a manner. I
disentangled, and made more resentable. Hank ’
then bat led his face with whis y. amid the ind -
nant protests of the crowd; he replying. as he dd

so: -
“ Don‘t grumble. boyees. He paid fer this whisk‘,
an' he needs hit. both outside an‘ inside. Hist him

g. some on er. an‘ 1'" pour some down his neck. i h
e war pu

gikippin‘ over ther range. an‘
ole. an‘ a heap o' diggin' ter

ant was laid
now calling

y h
bit 'u'd take a b 5;
plant himi"

After Hank’s generous libation. the
back again on the ground; the sheri
out:

“Coo—oh, yes! O-o-o-c-nh, yes! Come up.boyees.
an’ errigale yer in’ards! Thar's only one cup but
Idon‘t reckon we’ll fight es long es thar is such a
hefty supply 0‘ chain lightnin‘ on hand. iner’s
'tler ther speedy recocperate o‘ ther Terrantaier 0'

seal“

All eagerly crowded around the sheriff. who? a:

an
as it was em tied. each drinking .at least double
the quantity hey would have gotten at a single
drink at the bar.

When this was done. all turned toward the man
through whom the liquor had been obtained. and to
their surprise. saw ti t be was sitting upright; ap-
pearing after his toi et. like another man, and the
whisky having started his blood in rapid circula—
tion. '

"Boyees." said the Tarantula. “I‘m dog-goned
‘bieeged ter yer all. I‘m beginnin‘ ter come roun‘
hunk. Slide ’long some umre o' thet p‘ison. Ther
ha‘r o‘ ther dog air good fer ther blte._.. l kin hear
ther ding-dong o‘ my iron heart ag‘m. but she
flickered down feeble a while ago."

After taking another drink. the ant arose to his
feet. and began to walk back an forth: gl'icing
at times tOWard the crowd, who were making ready
the large wave for the reception of the six corpses.

“Thet ra ob," said he. at length. "what needs
vim and musc 6. Better take a drink wi‘ ther Ter-
rantaler 0‘ Tune. an‘ I reckon arler thet I‘ll hev
stren’th ‘nough te ' pass ther si iffs down."

This speech was ailed with up rohation. and once

which Were interrupted. hcwe er. by he a pear-
ance of Tom Mathews. with a brass-boun box.
which all recognized as belonging to the twodead
montc ihlalers. ‘

*“ Boys," said Mathews. as he placed the box on
the around. and all collected around him. while he
fumbled in the pockets of the dead for akey: " the
owe me a month's rent for the table. and abou
twenty debate for drinks. So I think I have
best clallswgirkwhatevcr bin their box. What do

w 4 ’V'

y “ wt": fa'r an' sqnar'. sure an' sart'lnl Ther
hull outfit an' layout b'lqus tor Pilgrim's Palace.

i of packs of cards. both new and old.

‘ trail to rake in the dust.

‘ in ther biz till yit.

 

’cordin’ for law. Bud. l TNT-k0“. he ther keym'.
“ Hm i'. let" ‘lill-‘I‘iillf'd the bar Lerner. " Row.

Eitfiess me displdy‘the contents of the box. Sheriff.
5 1' -

Hank stooped beside Tom. who turned the'key, _
and threw up the lid of the box. display anumber
ese. with
several rolls of ivoiI-y checks—red, white. and blue-—
were removed. hen. lo the amazement of all.
Mathews held up two black masks. such as areworn
by road-agents or bandits.

“ Great grasshoprxzrs! ( line at them things " said
Tom. " I knew the boys were crooked at but
this gets me. It knocks me blind f“

“ Dog my cars, of hit doesn't sot me back, tool"
said lhe sheriff. " Dullg’d of I doesn't b’lieve they

5 war spies o‘ ther l’lunus. what‘s glided up the range

latcl '. nn' what wrecked Jim lianlin‘s hearse."

“ think you've bit the nail on the head. Hank!"
agreed Mathews who was reading a letter which
he had found under the masks.

“ Just listen to this. boys

“61:17.sz Grncn.

“ ‘ PART) Bum—I shall strike up the range in a day
or two, and locate near Chico (ity. Hope you have
kept your eye peeled. and can put us on the right
I hear that the mills are
running, and paying well. Kce on flipping paste:
boa: ds. and mark Well who carries the nuggets; for

I . We are low in funds, not having made a. stake in

some time. Find out what days the dust is shipped
on the licunw. You will see me soon
“ ‘ Ever, on the make,
“ 'Dorsmos Dan! "

“Ilang'd of I doesn‘t b‘lieve Rocky Mountain Al
know‘d who be war buckin‘ ag‘in; an' Bill s‘pected
he know‘d. when he kelp‘ his eye on him while‘ther
keerds war bein‘ flippc .‘ - ‘

“ Al hev bu‘sted u l a heap 0‘ rich stock, an‘ he‘s
not air. boyees. we-‘uns has got
ter make a move. un' hunt Doubioon Dan er he'll
{0 through ther bur some night. Dang ed el’ I
lain‘t gettin‘ mad! ve ‘em in. an‘ kiver ’em up
out o‘ m Iii—ther cussed, or‘nary iratesl"

“ Er an shakes hisself ‘roun ‘ hyer. hit‘ll hurl
ther burg n'gllt smart."

Thus spoke the sheriff, and the dead bandits were
hurled into one end of the big grave, and earth thrown

. upon them; the other dead men being separated

from the outlaws by a partition of stones. when all
were covered from sight forever. .

The Tarantula had stood. pale as death. when the
box had been open and he trembled in his boots as
the letter was b'» ng read. thinking that perha
Doubloon Dan bad referred to him in it, which. if e
had. would have caused him to be dra ed to the
nearest tree and banged like a dog. All t is was, of
course. only his whisky-born imagination; for the
letter had evidently been written previous to his in-
terview with the bandit chief.

A heavy sigh of relief was breathed. as the. inves-

' tigation ended. and the giant whose emotion had not

been noticed. assisted at the burial. .

Some awn-lee had been manifested in Chico at
the non«a val of the stage from the station on the
main line; but. as the same delay had occurred be
fore from the down country coaches hind
time. no one had ridden out on the trail to ascertain
the cause.

The burial new ball over. and Tom Mathews
having returned to the some time previous. all,
were amazed b' Seeing the barkee r rush fran‘
ariain to the (nor an yelling at top of his
vo ce: '

“ Here. sheriff! Here all of you! Run live! i The
‘ hearse‘ has been robbed. and Job Jason in the
bar, shot to iecesi He can‘t live five minutes."

A mad me I was made into and through the gam-
bli -room." ' ~

Jo Jason is . stretched out n n the barcounter.
0(l)V9r8d with b 00d and dirt. Ma ews bending over
in.

“ He‘s crawled on his hands and knees clear from
belyond the turn in the trail. on the other side of the
hi ." asserted the lmrkeeper. deep grief and solici-
tude in his voice and manner. ~

“Air yer had shot. Jobf" asked Hank Hall. “ah’
how come hit?"

“Three insides—mail—cut traces—stock gone—
Doubloon Uan—good-by. bo eel—over ther range!"

With these words. a com. ive tremor shook the
stage-driver's frame. Job Jason was dead.

CHAPTER XXIII.
rm: mus or ran cone.

Doramos DAN 31. not soundl . Such men but I
seldom do. He w arassed by ad dreams. and
the .sun was but ust above the horizon. when he

rung from his couch of skins. although. for all
t at he. could tell. in his cave. chamber. without con-
sulting his watch. it might have been sunset. The
wax candle had near] burned down; and. lilting
othm. be p need a wh stie. that was attach in his
neck by a gold chain to his lips. and blew a shrill
call. It sounded startlingly strange and weird in the
arched cavern.

The bandit chief then walked io'the door. and
turned the. key; stridi back. when he had done
so to the table. and drin ing a stiff horn of brandy.

His face was now $2 sily pale and haggard. indi—
cating that his dreams ad not been pleasant.

An ahru t lap sounded at the door. '

“ (‘ome n!" cried Captain Dan. in a husky voice.

The door opened. and a rufflaniy-looking bandit
ste pea inside a ce or two and remained silent.

e chief whi about. facing him. and said:

“ Jim. come and take a drink: Then go and as- '
certain if our fair captive hi asleep."

“All right. Cap."tretnr ed the man. as he walked
to the table. drank the proffered glass, and then
strode from the apartment. shutting the door after

him.

“If I was at ng inclined to be superstitious."
said Dcubloon  soiiloquy “I should feel that
my end was near. 1 never had such a dream
before in my life. in fact. I believe I should hava‘
died had Inot spru from my bed. forI was .
for breath. and con feel the ro , about my neck.

“I can. even now. see clear y the faces .of the
mob; and the strangest rt of the business Is. that
I have seen the some aces about Chico City. I
coal-get to have drunk that brandy before retiring
-—— fixed me: put me in a nervous condition.
trigl'tmdshed sleep of’ a natural and "fl-'V‘flhinf;

a
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Rocky Mountain A1.

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Again came a tap at the door.
“Come in, Jim!"

The door opened, and the chief turned, saying:
" Well, how is 'i“

. e floor, Caphln a strangowsy. .‘

Stretched
locker: she‘s laid thar all n

“The devil. you say: B ,a bottle of brandy,
and a glass—quick I"

With these words the bandit chief rushed from the
chamber. and into the one sdjoini lg.

Nellie a elner lay as she had fallen, shortly after
havingibeen planed in her rock-bound prison.

She ad more the appearance of a corpse than a
living being. Her beautiful hair lay loose on the
floor, her eyes were but half open. the llds seeming
rigid. and her arms, Lalf bare and white asalabas-
tor, were th n over her head. .

Doubloonm, outlaw though bewas, stopped in
his tracks, hfi'eycsfllled with torturing regret; then

i
i
l
i

i ul-kl ' laced his hand upon her breast, the
dWm’h face showing that he felt a faint pul- ‘
Ration.

At this moment Jim entered with the brandy; he
evidently h. stopped a moment on the way to
take anotherd k. _ .

Dan lifted Nellie in hit! arms and placed her again
upon the couch of skins. Then, grasping the brandy
bottle, he ured out a glass. and, rinsing the seem-
ingly den .
the goblet to her lips, allowing but a slight quantity
of the liquor to enter her mouth at a time.

The poor girl swallowed feeny several times;
then the bandit laid her again gently upon the skins
and bathed her head and face with the brandy, cov-
ering her with a thick robe. She sonn began to
show, by her easy breath , that she had fallen
into a deep and natural slum r: and that, without
awakening to a realisation of her whereabouts or
condition.

As the bandit chief bent over her, his face showing
the relief he felt, he said to his follower:

"I wouldn’t have that girl die on ourhands for
fifty thousand dollars. Jim! Did on ever see a
more beautiful face? She is like w at we imagine
angels to be; tho h. I reckon, you sndIare not
likel ever to know ow they do look.“

“ ‘s tooskim-mllky for this world, Cap, ‘speshly
fer this part of it " was the reply. “Astoseein'
angels, dang'd of I h’lleve thar is any sich cattle!

‘ Hit‘s all m ation, an' I‘m gamblin' on hit."

Had Dan or im looked Iiggwsrd, at the point
where the arched roof joi the ndicular
wall. they would have seen what migh have caused
them to think the were soon to settle the vexed

uestion in. to the future state; for two

eadly tubes were leveled u them—two Colt’s
navykgfivolvers, clutched in t 0 little hands of Nug-
get
But they saw her not; indeed they dreamed not of
gazing upward to the adamantine walls, where, in
heir opinion, no human being could netrate.

Lucky was it for Doubloon Dan t his actions
weretender and sympathetic toward his captive;
gjthe least rude act or word toward the be less

'den would have been the signal of death to th
the, outlaws

As it was, the waif of the nnfiimw knew that
Nellie Belrcr was alive; and she not wish to be
discovered by the bandits, as that would ruin her

"Jim," said Doubloon Dan, “ make your ws u
the rocks and take a look over the lain towardythg
station We must g? through the earse this morn-
ing. in broad daviig t, or lose thousands.

‘ No one will dream of the branch line being at
tacked; and a bold dash from the cedaraat the
turn of the trail around
up brown. Job Jason, the driver, is a Yan-
kee, and won‘t buck us—lf he does we‘ll
have to send him 'over t e divide.‘

“Tell Bob to have breakfast ready for the boys,
and give each a half pint of whisk , as an appetizer.
Look out over the prairiel‘

«All right‘ p!“

With these words Jim departed hastily.

Doubloon Dan stood by the couch, speaking as
though the sleeping girl could hear and understand

him.

“ Were it not that I have taken a fancy to Nugget
Nell. you, my beauty, should share my cavern home
with me. 'I‘ohave met you, and known you to be
otherthandle, has sung relieved my mind; for I
an that it wasN who wassearc for
“1 young 1' were lovers. ad it
been so, I wo at night. 3‘“ the
facts of the case are now clear. You are thebe-
tmthed 0f lvefi. and Nugget Nell is merelya wander-

ing slum th better r

‘ in e or me- for I v
that is more than I could say 0? an wlgminhfirfig
im‘i  if “r "l: he“?  m «1»
ng e.w ony me,’qutthism.u
we‘ll live like lord and lad l" ” d

Nugget Neil's li curl with scorn, for she heard
every word. An yet, there was a pride. a trium.
phant exultatlon in the glance of her eye: for Net]
was but a woman after all.

“ But," continued the bandit chief, “I can linger
here no longer, my sleeping beaut '! Igo to capture
those who seek our liberty and e.

“I do not un erstand this business, but I intend
to sift the plot to the bottom. They shall not harm
you at all events. This Herbert Ives is a lucklv dog.
and if he does not buck against me too hard, ’1! de-
liver you intohis arms.“

Willi: “.133 “3.”er $3523”?
e le (-2 e men c n a n e
door behind him. 8 g

No sooner did the k grate in the lock, than Nug-
get Nell crawled fwd-rider mtg), alonga dark and
Inflow en y m e end of the cave
Chamber, in wile

‘ wall

t «truck girl to a sitting posture, he placed ‘

V arms about him, and his spurs on

This keyhe placed in a mailbox on the table.
Then taking a drink of b , biz):ng his

At this moment, Jim entered, saying hastily:

“ Ther hearse is comin‘ 1“

“How far awa , Jimt‘

"About five. mi es, I reckon. She looks no bigger
nor a lack-rabbit at any rate."

“ Al right. Tell the b0 8 to mount and strike out
the lch to the cedars. ‘ll be there about as soon
a“ t06 "3'" said Ji d rtlng

“ . , )a l" m, epa onarun.

In the cell’rse of five minutes Doubloon Dan left
his chamber, locked the door, and s ringing upon
his horse, followed the arched trail to t e go , and
thence on down to the cedars and the b t sun-
light. A black mask now covered a face tha , before
it had been bloated from drink and stamped with
the impress of crime, had hoen handsome—ay, no-
ble, and matching well his symmetrical frame.

“men the bandit chief turned the key in his door,
and his heavy tread sounded and echoed in the cav-
erns, Nugget Nell fastened a lariat to aro

l
i
l
i

, can‘t afford to make a misedeal.

willsee him on the plain. and Will drive back after
him. When he gets down to lift him into the coach
I will shoot the driver. Then you can drive into
Chico City, and we will affirm that we were attaclzvd
by handi who killed the old man and the driver,
and rob us.“

" That would be too thin,” amerted Carl. “ T: e
bandits would slash the marl-bags, rob the mails a.;d
burst open the express-box."

“All of which we can do very easily,"de t' e
gentle L'ucretia; “ besides, in thatway adding to our

ca ital.
Rfluppose we are searched? Then we would be
strung up to a limb without the formality of n triaL"
“ l' the plunder myself. They do not search
or hang in Bison the frontier.”
h(a‘l‘KIidon‘t like the business," said Carl, shaking his

“ I‘don‘t care whether you like it or not! It has
got to be done We are playing for-ladi girlie, and
( n

on
1 were man enough to carry this thing through lvi’ l

h, rocky ‘

spur, cast the slack through the wide open ng in the .

Dan‘s apartment, sprung the table, opened the

box, an secured the key which she had seen hiln
lllfli‘t‘ there, thrustin it into her belt.
This done. she in it her w v caudally through the

A opaque gloom to her former eokont.

‘ sleeping the last sleep ill this very cavern, hassworn ‘

I
l
l
I

Once there, she hast ily wrote a few lines with a
pencil on a piece of paper, wound it about the key,

and quickly descendin to the floor of Doubloon ‘

and then thww it down lllto the chamberof Nellie 3

llelzer, who was still ill a death-like slumber.

Having accomplished this much, Nugget Nell said
in soliloqu :

“ How ortunate it was for all concemed that
Doubloon Dan located in the caverns that I know so
well.

“Bloc on, Nellie Belnerl Slee peacefully, for the
Waif o the Mountains is at wo —working for your
freedom and ha piness.

“Nugget Ne , whose little baby is buried here,

to save and avenge you!

“Yes, and while so doing, she will be in art
avenging her own terrible wrongs. Doubloon an
goes now to capture your enemies, and one of them
is the dastard who b hted my life. Were it not
that I know this I wo d dash over the plain and
warn Job Jason. . '

“ He who calls himself Carl Cole shall die in the
bowels of this rocky range in a bandit‘s cave, but by
the hand of the gir whom he wron . and banished
from a hap y home. Good-by, Ne ie Belzer, beau-
tiful Nellie I go to lead your lover hither—your
poor Herbert, who has been so shocked at an
posing he had found you in me. I will keep him 11
that. condition for a little longer, and then bring

m toyou."

With these words Nugget Nell ignited a torch and
darted into the dark, narrow passage by which she
had gained her position, soon after eme ng in a
clump of cedars on the mountain side, in e broad
glare of the glorious sunlight.

CHAPTER XXIV.
normm n: cnlco.

'l‘n same morning that Doubloon Dan ordered a
mount, and then followed his band to the cedars,
and but a half-hour previous, Job Jason started
from the station, at the creek on the main line, for
Chico City with three “ insides.“

His attention was attracted and held by the pecu-
liar sctions of these three passen .

He ngticed tllrlat two of them—a fman otf bmidtglye
age, an a muc younger woman 0 grea an ,
but whose presence occasioned in him feelings of
aversion which he couli not understand—rushed to

 

, his coach in great haste, past the third passenger,

. whom they seemed anxious to avoid.

g
|
3

They then took the back seat, the woman vailin
her face, and the man pulling his slouch hat overhg

V brows. ,

However, Job did not. think these precautions st

, all necessary, for the remaining [manager was old

: and infirm, walking with difficulty.

Indeed. he seemed but Just. recovered from severe

3 illness; and not only this. but he had the appearance

‘ Lucretia
l latter and most im

in Miss Belser was confined; reach- !

“18. at length. 3 Point, Where a l and wide tis-
lmre in the walls allowed a view mafia. cavern oc-
Cu’m‘l b the bandit ca tain.
r entered, at he moment that Neil gained

her position; but, from where the n.
she could not be detected from be ow, as he us.
of the tapers did not the semi-darkne- of
‘P r portion of the lo chamber. .

rlfv did N t Ne 1 watch the niovemalts of
the lie,who,to rjoy,heldalargekeyin his
hand: the same she knew with which she had just
baked the door of Nellie fielser‘s apartment.

of being what Job termed “off his cabase,“ for he
gazed fixedly downward as he walked, not noticing
anything or anybody.

Job had assisted t to old man into the coach. and
as he “snap up,“ and the "hearse " rolled over
the prairie, e speculated much in regard towhat
connection his passengers might be to each other,
but withoutmrrlling at any very definite conclu-
men.

He did, indeed, decide that the man and woman
on the back seat were not friends of the old > y;
in fact, it was uite evident from the g
that the woman ad shot toward him, previous
tg hi; angering the stage. that she was his enemy to
t e eat . -

When the old man—who was none other than
his Bauer-sat down upon the forward seat, he
leaned upon his cane in:l half-dazedtstate. manages
express ng great men by; even 3 ng
toward those in the backlcgeat. 0 were as the
gager has probably surmised, Carl and Lucretia
. o .

Had Job Jason known the st of the whispered
conversation between the r of co irawrs, he
would have stopped the coach, and en the old

man with him on the outside.
gelled over since
is time Carl and

Perhaps four miles had been
leaving the station, and durin
had engaged in a w ispered debate the
nt of which we will re-

ports
count. It explains their hopes and fears at the same

time.

“I tell you Carl, it must be done," said Lucretia,
in a decided tone, although not. loud enough to be
overheard by or Belaer. “ I am almost positive
that Nellie is in t is town ahead. All our reason

int to such a decision; and if the old major mee

er. I fear it will defeat all our-plans. Quinton must
law's", and throw his body out of e coach
w ow

“ We can so. he was insane, and that be stabbed
himself and t en sprung out. But, hold! I have a
better plan still.

“ We will kill the old man and throw him Then
lwillshrlek until the driver halts the case. He

‘ Blotter.

 

planned it all out.“

i‘l‘llglhurl the ‘old chodgeis r out of thii ooacsh “half. ttl’rat.
W 0 you, am y up 0 Ju c
the shock will finish him; fie has probably been fill
for a long time at San Miguel. where he crawled into
the stage on the main line. I swear I was never. so
dumfounded in my life as when I saw him. It
seem the devil himself is playing into yourhands.”

As e spoke Carl Cole took a flask of brandy from.
his kct, and drank several swallows.

“ ow you begin to talk sense," said the female
“ i believe you are right. The fall will kill

im; and in the event of matters going wrong. we
will not be in such asus icious fix as we should if
he were 3 . linger for it is on] ten
miles to the range. The town is in the foot- ills,
they say,which will prevent an ing connected with
this affair from being 0 ."

“I reckon we‘re in for it," said Carl, “so here

oesl“ And pulling his hat still lower over his face,

e sprung over the black belts of the middle seats,
grasped. the emaciated form of Major Belzer, and

lurled the old man, head-foremost, out of the win»
dow of the coach.

Not an outcry, not a word of remonstrsnce, not a
struggle for life did the invalid make.

The stage rolled on for a moment, and then
Lucretia filled the air with her shrieks.

Job Jason pulled u instantly, amazed at the
sounds behind him. on, back, he saw'
the form of the old man stretched on the plain.

At once he recalled the fact that his aged passen-
mhad sp to be demented, and concluded he

mnglfrom the coach window: the :Rgsrent

enmi of e otherpartiestoward the luv slip-
pigg t e driver's mind.

rciing his team around. Job drove n ar to where

the old man by, and pulled up, sprl ng to the

ground, at the same time (mng'out.

‘Q’thtwss thematter th lmt Did he jump
ou H

As the driver asked this question, Car-i sprung
from the coach. murderous passion in his handy
inflamed face, and bounded toward Job, knife art
lifted. Fortunately the latter had retained his wb p
in his hand; and, not having time to draw weapOn,
he struck, with the butt of it, his would-be mull-'-
derer to the earth!

No sooner, however, had Carl sunk to the ground,
than Lucretia, her eyes flashing fury, leveled a re-
volver at Job, and commenced firing; the first ball
panting through the fleshy part of his arm.

This so maddened Job Jason, that hi‘ grasped the
senseless body of Carl, hurling him through the
coach window, full upon the furious female 69nd,.
knocking her to the bottom of the coach: then
catching up Major Bclzer, and placing him on his.
own seat outside, Job sprung up, and dashed over
the plain toward Chico , knowing that the man-
he had knocked down wou not recover for some
time, and that this would probably prevent the
woman from jum ing out of t e stage. »

But Job cared l tile whether the sprung out or
not: for knew they could be eas ly caught on the
plain by any (pursuing party, starting out after be

ad reached hico.

On rattled the mach. Job plying his whip without
mercy and glancing back, now and then, to make
surcdthat these desperate character-s had not es-
cs we .

it before reaching the turn in the trail, that
would brin the burg into view, Job Jason saw a
sight he never dreamed of seeing on the branch
line—a sight that stupened him for the moment.

It was nothi more nor less than the masked
riders of Don oon Dan who spurred from the
cedars and surrounded the "hearse." Two of the
number grasped the bridlea of the leaders, and
brought e team to a halt; at the same time, loud, >
clear and commanding, m the order:

“Ugwith your hrmds, J Jason, or die in your

80 infuriated had Job been made by the recent
tragic occurrence. he believing his ssenger
to be dead, and havin concluded tha he would be
made famous by ing the two murderers into
Chico, that his judgment was for once we .

Instead of obeying the order of the ’out aw chief,
he attempted to jerk his revolver. next instant
he fell to the foot-board. and rolled under the seat,
with halts-dozen bullet wounds in his body.

It was nick work now with the bandits. '

The In l-bags and express-box were taken by two
men, who ; alloped instantly into the cedars. '

The first who looked into the coach got abuilet
throu his brain: which so frightened the othe
that doors were jerked o n on each side, aha
Carl, who was senseless. an Lucretia, who again
attempted to use her revolver, were dragged out, ’
disarrned, bound, and hurried aws . Lucretia, by
her fierce outcries, forced the bandia to gag her. ‘

MameBelner they found, was still alive.

A r in his pocket proved to Doubloon Dan
thsthewssaman whom hewsnted; sohealeowss
hurried toward the caverns.

Thehcuweremwcnturdthehorsesdrlven
into the thicket and second; and, in ten minutes
not a bandit was anywhere to be seen on the trail.

Poor Job Jason, nearer dead alive, crawt d
out from under the seat. lowered himself to the
earth. and on hands and knees along the trail ;
to Chico; there arriving, to die among his friends,

v

(.3

" “I'll  take this adventurous y

. cavern of Dolhloon Dan and his am: of outlaws.

some.
 ~ “luvs your horses and follow moi" she cried.

. a cket on the side of the gulch. which wound up-

on! of the front door to join their chief. eifih‘trhaving

~ t
x been billed.

.ua'tn

2"“, . .

 ._......._..

.‘.
t

.\t. out.“ there was the gt‘i‘nivst excitement. in the ;'
bur . ‘
Hick Hall called a public meeting in Pilgrim‘s ‘
Pal to o anize the (tints-115.“! order luat they
m¥rht oliow trail and “ clean out. " the band.

t is perhn newness to mention that the “Ter-
rantaler o' ans " was not included in the assem-

bin

Upon hearing the dying words of Job Jason. this
worth sneaked out the back door of the “ Pnbwe.”
cough up the half-emptied demijohn.‘ mounted his
horse and gallopod toward the rum-re; prudently
procuxiing in such a manner as I» keep some .
clumps of cedars betww-n himself and l".'~ town.

Be well know that it was his Santa Fe anlnvew
who had been captured by Doubloen Dan: and he,
felt that be was being defrauded of his rights.

The bandit chief was as on .ninz ns :1 fox.

He felt sure that the citizens would i'll'iftllllil.“ at
once and trace him 11 ; consequently he delm‘mim-d

upon a bold and rock can move.

forming his plans. when he nrrivml at the
he ordered (‘srl and Lu ‘retia to he taken to
own apartment. and left there bound; directing
that .80le should be laid upon the
couch in the same room and tenderly cared for.
Carl having by this time ru-over-d was cumin: 7
tile I rate. and berating Lucretia; who, fol-once
inher fe. was unable to make a reply. ' ‘
Leaving half-a-dozen of his men to guard the en- u
trance to the caverns. the arched passage and the i
.he collected the remainder. a score in uum< ;
I'. and yelled: ;
“Come on. boys! We go to avenge Bud and Bill! -
We'll show the bummer; of i‘hieo (‘ity what we're ,
modeof. ("omel Follow Doubloon Dan. the Devil
of the Dividei"
A loud (nicer rung out. and all dashed at himdlun
toward Chico. But when near the rear 0
m‘s Palace they pron e led with caution.
«2 rear doorman on. and a crowd was in the bar.
Hall was all i't‘sriillg the citizens in a luliti

. b0 . and draw sixes!" ordered the
hunditohie. “‘ oliow me right through Pil rim'a
Palace. ii: the back and out the front door; p citing
Wars lively all the time! All readfyi'" .
set. 0a ." came in a chorus 0 voices.‘
“Git up an git!“
his head to his horse‘s mane. the outlaw
and hiss . flew throu h the, rear door. followed
close after by his hand a line. On they went.
the mess of terrified men beneath the
the screen to the floor, flow like

shrieks, mad baths and moans filled Pl!-
Rriln‘s Palace. though but faintly heard amid the
led steals and the rattling fusilnda of

Twelve of the masked riders bounded one by one

been left dead or dying on the floor of the -room.
cedars toward the wash-‘
of their stronghold.

a disastrous due for Doubioon Dan; but
be for the loss of a few men. when he
that wice t t number of the citizens of Chico
burg would now be demoral-
ead he would have time to escape down the

inning as he was. hOWever Doubloon Dan was
to be as dumfoundecl with disaster and
as he had caused Chico City to be.

fpctthat two noted scouts and outlaw hunters

encafledatthehcadof theguich hadentire-
slipped mind.

CHAPTER XXVI

_ _ CARL rs CORR-ALEX).

Boar Morn-um AL and BronchoJim. as they
awakened in the early hours of the morning. after
t other. concluded to remain in their
campd lg 0 day.

Their companions agreed with them for various

reasons. ,

First. Charla?! Ives was not yet in a lit condition to

travel; secon y Herbert was in a statoof mind that

urns to ng. e paced k and forth with folded
to

Rumfiommlng to realise village he manila:-
see w as George Boiler a wiring .
all mgr would turn on well. p

A] not wish to act contrary to the advice of
l Hell. in whom he had great confidence. He
f methat the "Terrantelor" was in some way
mkedup‘ln Major Belzer‘sand lelile's affairs. and
not for t‘ ‘

ein benefit.
‘ Don mu fret. Mr. Ives.“ said the scoutto Horb°

2
«5"
3E

in.

8

§

:1.

9.

a

g-
i

igigsgi

q-

 

i

y o
s. and be the proudest manin ewMexioo
may the word.

“You needn‘t laugh. Jim-J mean biz. I‘ll own
up that girl makes me wilt into my boots. She‘s
Jun w ascout's wife should be~brave use lion.
more as a fawn. end daring as a Comanche onbls

wsr- ‘
now occupied his time in utti their arms in

, . able moncho Jim mule immway'down the

no

wand otyisseesi. ' on of his horse, mvin the
Wises“ having been in the vicinity o the 5'

Thu the time untilsu only all sprung
foriet‘l‘ieir m D yell reaching their can from upthe

gu

, Galina upward. theadlsotwered Nuz ct Nell upon

thaw tob' inaccessiblecii :butwavilnr i

her.th in salutatio she stepped back. and was

loetto view. Soon 3&3, however the strange rirl
; this time wn the gulch. at the bend of

A‘ no questions. but follow me. and be silent as the

on.“m" said Al. “There's fun ahead.
hrI‘m alisr. Jim.kee aneye‘on Little l’ard.‘

“Don‘t fear for me." 88“ Charley; “ l‘m able to
Integer! of myself. l'li not be caught asleep this '

ti .
fie nun now buckled their belts a hole tighter.
and Iflwod their revolvers and knives around, y
for‘use. Rook‘llionntain Al was dread speeding
after Nugget 3% andall.in a n. oliowed in
file. The aif of the es led them into

Rocky Mountain 'Al. ' ' -
. ular line. on the rocky Wall

v w!

. higher shelf. went the girl along the side of the j

1 a number of which lay nt her feet.

‘ one who has braved every danger on the border to

‘ im-atly. while his heart was wrung with l

= bandit we meet. from here to the arch

 

 

Al. bring the old gentleman. Jim, you fetch the

woman!"

The scouts obeyed. 'et Neil opened the door
to the next apartment. an Major» Better was soon
placed by the side of his daughter.

Nell had a sin to break the silence, that ensued.

“ Rocky ll untein Al, will you have the goodness-
to coan the miscreant from the other cavern into
v this? Win-nlf'uu luwe done ‘50. throws. robe over
‘ him. or I shn mar this happy scene, by a tragedy i"

it was done as the irl mini-steed.

As Al passai’lier. ‘ it»: closed the door with a clung.
and towed the kev. saying:

“ Now. i may call myse happy. i have my dear—
est- friends. and my deadliest enemy cor

“ The mustard whom you have laid in that corner,
homid and helpless. is t 9. one who blighted my life,
took me from a happy home. and left me a waif
. upon the world!

“ in this very cavern only child is buried. For
twelw month I manned this range. a maniac.

ward' but which. from below. seemed but an irreg-
and upon which no one
would suppose that a foot-hold could he maintained. 3
Not a word ke Nu .t No] but on and up she ;
tnpped. A] wa king in on: am rapid strides, but .
bout being able to overtake her. 3
(in and on. at t‘mes bounding or tilmbintz to a

 

range; at last travemingu more easy rout», amid
cminrx‘.dwarf-plne and cacti. At len-.:th she sur-
mounted a huge projecting spur of the mountain,
and then glided downward into a ninding crevice.
Thu wont found himself able to place at hand against
ei her wall, as he, walked along.

This crevice came to an end nbrnptlv. and a clump
of cedars grew at the wrminuanto “bu-h Neil
quickly [Hist-led. Here all soongat ered around her, i
in wonder and curiosity, as she ignited a pine knot.

“Herb.” said the straluregirl. familiarly. but with- 
out looking at the young engineer. " follow close. .

after-me. .\l will take charge of Charley'if Broncho ‘ Then. my reason returned, and I began to live for
Jim is not sufllcient gunrd. Be careful of the rough ; n-vcn 'e.
rocks; there are some places where we shall have to  ‘-‘ I ound gold in abundance. and I have used it in

ion or my search for the coward and
! villain who. by a muck marri e, darkened my life.
“ But my time has come, obert Rogers! You
who have traveled since under the name of Carl
(hole, and who nulfl‘il‘ti that female liend with whom
' you OOHlei-l‘ali‘d to ll.lll‘(ll'l‘ Major Brim-r and his
daughternyon. my lwtrnyer. shall never leave the ‘
cavern of llouhloon Dan. once the retreat of myself
and my child!

“He dies-dies bv the hand of Nugget Sell. the
Wolf of the lit-mind"

crawl. the pmsecu
“ ll -rh," she said again, “ why do you look an
strange? Why hnve your feelings so chmle toward

come up with you? Why is this timely Y“

There WM 11 most tantalizing and comical look in
the eyes of Nugget Nell mt she thus spoke, which
perplexed Herbert beyond belief. torturinf him

i s con-
flicting fears and fancies.

Throwing 08 these strnnze feelings, born of the
fact. that the innocentand childlike maiden wlnm he 5
hzid loved so devotedl' had become so cimnm-dwa i
change for which he e1. that he was nmponsiblxw-
he msped the. hand of th‘, Wait of the Range. and
cried out in a honmo nnil unnatural Villi't‘t

“ Forgive me. Nellie; fot'rive me! i am true and
loyal. but I fair that than: dangers and horrors have ;
demoraliz-‘d us all and ma 1e ll-i strange even to our-
selves. I am for from being unmlnd’ul. however.
of the mat wariflces you have made for mew“

Nugget Noll snatched her hand from Herbert‘s
grns .

“ pll will yet be Well." she said with a laugh.
“ The curtain is about to rise: and then. a heavy
load will be lifted from your mind and heart. Ex-
cuse my mirth. I know it is unseemly. Follow, all!
Follow Nugget Nell. the nnigiolnn of the Mountains.
whose warm-y is "Presto. change!"

Herbert. UHUI‘K“ and Umriey. who had known
Nellie Bolivar so well. nod who :upposed that she
and Nugget Nell were mie an i th - s'une. were now
fully convinced that. she was iti:~.'lllfl. George grasped
Herbert‘s hand. in deep slnnrmthy. as they set out

(‘HAPI ER XXVI.
wnosos alon'rsn.

N nam- Nau. was terrible in herrfrantlc rage. and
her thirst for revenge. All realized how strong must
have been her control over herself. when she congai
fur a moment. leave the man who had so wron
her. to aid others. And this st tb of will was
again exercised; for. the girl now so her teeth and
leaning against the wall of the cavern.  her
eyes and remained silent. Thus she tried tosmothcr
her intense longing for vengeance. in order that she
might not mar the. hap incl-s of those who bar so
strangely and rovldcn 1y been br _ht toget er.

While she sized thus. Roe Mon Al stole
silently to her side. and takn one of her little
hands in his. said. in gentle and ovingtones:

“Little Nell.-ail this wriugn my heart. It is tor»
ture in me to witness your axon . Nellie.I love
you! Let me avenge you. Bay hat vou will be
mine. and i will turn over every bowiiier on the
range to make you happy -»-to drive from your mind
every thought of the past. Spam: to me—"

tofollow thisstrangeguide intotne bowels of the Alwas l'ere interrupted hi»; on outc - from the
mountain. * dimly lighted comer. in whic he had is t (Earl Cole.
Rocky Mountain A! know well that the rirl was “ho-Hie Nolan.“ called out the man whom we

must now-mil Rebort Rogers; “(me here! [wish
to say in word tlmr will muse ou‘to am your
mind. and at the sonn- time. re have you from much
shawls-lb and slmme, that you have wrongfully suf-
erod. ‘ i -

Al led the unreslstinz girl toward the filter.

She was now trembling from head to f

As the‘ pair advanced. Robert Rogers ‘hgain

'e:

“ Nellie anfin, I have been a very bad man. but
not as bad as vou think. I was not, when I married
you. what 1 ye become sinco—o thief. a forger
and a murderer! 01n- marriige was legal, an
I deceived you only when 1 represented that it was
not. '

“l mold not support on. and It the some time
live in the style that I w ed: so, know you had
a good home to which you migh return. deserted
you. and deceived you in reg to correlations
with o-sith other.

pin In: a part, and he full believed that she was .
md eront to the, love or lsiike of Herbert IVes: !
although there was a mystcrv about it all. that. leA- ‘
zled even the scout. with his deep knowledge of
men and things. .

Soon Nell reached the cleft in the wall of the cave-
chnmber. in which Nellie Beizer was confined.

Herbert was now close tober side, and she pressed
him to a sitting ture. Then. casting a (nick s
glance below. she saw that Nollie still sic pt. an she
spoke. in a ow voice.

“Range fouraelves aloof in a line. pal-vie. and
Input. Don't gaze over. um. LI give the word. .

‘chs. the mystery is about to be solved! See: I
attaich my latiat to this spur of rock. The slat-k
r -sohes to the floor of the cavern. and by it we can
descend. Herbert. you shall go first; you. Gnome
Belzer next; and then. Little Pard.

“We are. about to enter the secret retreat of
Donbloon Dan. Now bend forward. and gaze at
one of his prisoners. resto. change!

“Herbert lVes. below there is one who. weak and
unprotected. has braved the wilds of the West in

1

hind boot of the coach. upon which mywif and
that she-demon. Lucretia Lane. came from the
hersearch for you. Penis. lmkdownn-artls'i“ main line. lnstigated by her. I did what I have

All bent forward, halfsmothered ejaculations of done. Then the bandits attacked us. and we are

deepest wonder brealdng from their lips. here.

Below. in the cavern, upon a couch of skins lay “She Lucretia lane.who,l am thankfuitobeable
Nellie BelzPr sslee : her pale fare. and long golden to say, is no wife of mine. induced me to come u est.
hair forming a at king contth to her sin-mund- in march of Major Heller. her ate father and his
“1?. , daughter. for the purpose of mu ring then: and

erbert Ives grasped a hand of Nugget Nell. and seaming the roperty. She had previously forced
then fell upon his knees. the old mau— mvin . weakened his brain by drug-s—

The scene wassounex . mastoundlng. in fact to make a will in or favor. thus (ii-inheriting his-
so lncom rehensible to all. except Nugget Neil. who
with; it. that they gazed in silence.

" Come on. Innis!" ordered the Waif of th- Ra
breaking the 3 ~11: " von George and Charley. («--
scend llvrly; or. if i mistake not. we shall men
have our hands in“. Al and lironclio Jim. the time
has come for work. The Pumas are drsimed. and the: Nellie had come here in search of him. She
Doubioon Dan has rmne through the last ‘henruef : also the t it probable that. the undo .upon escap-
l assert itl—I. Nugget Nell !" I ins. had oiiowed his dsuarbter.

All now descendul: and. as the last one reached 1 “ At Santa Fe a burly rufflan. who called himzwlf
the rock floor. Nellie Belzer run: to a sitting pt-s- the Tarantula of Taco was h to capture or kill
ture. and stared wildly aroun her. both the major and NE lie. '

“ Nellie!" exclaimed the Walt of the Mountains; “ The resemblance of the latter to you. Nellie Rm!-
“ look around you—your trials are over!“ era. was what brought about myeoqulinmnce in the

“ N4 llie! my darli Nellie. don‘t you now me?" first place. with my evil genius. Dietetic. Lane. who.
cried Herbert. sp ng forward. it she be allowed to live. will scorer or later mv'rdcr

Ablsst the lovers were united. you all: for she will commit any mine. without

Even lil‘oncho Jim brushed a tear h-om his eyes ‘

compunction. to carry out her ends.
on his buckskin til-eve; but Nugget Nell was still “i make this confession. not to influence you,
bent on business. Quick vsbe climbed the leriat. Nellie. toward favoring me, t because I feel sure
and calling upon Aland J m to follow her. soon all

that my end is near. For t misery l have mused
thme disappeared. without explanation. taking the. run I am truly peniiem; and had i any dalm‘upoa

an insane asylum.
“ lie escaped: but previous to this. Nellie disap-

p-ared.
“Knowing thnt Herbert lves. to whom shows.
betrothed. was in the mountains. Morena decided

 

key of the apartment. Five minutes later thong it. i would ask your to 'veness.

stood in the chamber of the bandit chief, viewing h “ find i remained wit on I should not now be

momma, the guilty, hopeless wrote i that I rm. But I can It
“ No time for meditation or contemplation. least mlieve you. Nfimfi 0' the "1‘"?! IN Shim

you had never been a wife. '

Our marriage was duly recorded at the lttle vn-
lm outside of St. Louis where we were on
that stormy night when you were so
iand terrified that you did not notice your surro .
nits.

As Rogers ceased speakimr. Non sunk to her knees.
and an crunched by her side. feelingutlerly bewilo
( 0W . .

Hold Sell. “Drew sixes. and lug every so

cards.“
entrance.

(‘ome on. boys! Follow me!“

“ For mv sake. Nell. stay where you m3" said Al.
‘1‘ Jim and I will attend to the folloWers of Doubioon
inn." . ‘

With those words/ out rushed the scouts. past .the
daring girl. Then followed some scattering shots.
and the men soon returned. Nell stood pale and .
trembling her eyes fixed upon the prostrate and =
fast-hm form of the man who was known as Carl , althou h it had removedm maintain
Cole. , Nun: , Nail. had plunged him into the dopthsof da-

"Take them up and follow me." she said. “I spoude hopelessnesa
have the key of the cavern where welcft our ’ Dining time. Charley and George sat on the

I

D s i.

l
" Our marriage-certim'ate is in my wallse, in the

own daughter. She then had him incarcerated in

Hefclt that this confession of the man homo. 
of from

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.. Mn 2“: :
w‘%‘

,s ..—<

hr“. 1"

 

-u...

. ~—.- v n... . ..
m..- . . .. ..‘

foot of the couch. while “Mimi and Nellie suppofl- '

ed M r Belzer and strove to revive him.

To escribe their feelings would be impossible.
We must leave it to the imagination of the reader.
who ,is conversant with their relations, and can

Judge what their emotions must have been. thus .

‘ strongly re-united in a bandit cave in the Rocky
Moun ns.

Broncho Jim was the “most mixed-up pilgrim "

in New Mexico.

Mutterin
flustercatln doiu'si" e stole
couch. and fispi r the brandy-mule. from which
George had it administering a. stimulant to-the
old major. he took a generous “pull " at it. saying.
in soliloqu ': ,

“ Dan 'tl of I doesn‘t git es drunk es a fresh
ration‘d Pluto. of that’ ain’t a change in ther ro-
zramme. an‘ some his soon
sod far from my  trails! . .

“ '3 too muc soft sodder mixed In for Brou-
nho Jim." he continued—" too much angel-ness an”
 tryin‘ ter scmuge each other at! ther
ledge. The can‘t mix: and Al needn‘t m-
try an‘ hitc outer canker. leavm‘ me ter suck mar-
rer-bones alone. "

And " 'lar biz " was started soon.

Before 11: had swallowed a second drink, there

arosea series of Vengeful yells at the arched eu- '

trance of the ca ern.
“ Pards." cri out Nugget Nell. as she. s rung to

her feet “ prepare for a desperate fl ht. l nubloon 1

Dan an his band have returned.
like fiends; but we are secure, a
the door unless we chaose.

“ However. We shall be obliged to climb the lariat.
and traverse those narrow. da erous shelves. or
else make a dash through the on law horde. Both
moves are at resent impossible. through the condi‘
tion of Nellie lzer and her father.

“ But hark! I really think the citizens have fol-
lowed them.“ .

“ You are right. Nell." said Al; “and we must as-
sist in breaking ug; this band of demons."

" Now ye're git in’ nat‘ral ag‘in, pard."said Brou-
cho Jim. “ Daug‘d ef I didn‘t thin yer'd gone iuuy
er smouey. an‘ war spec'latin‘ on whar er‘d find a
faver’ble section to start saber ranch.’

Al rounded not to hfle card this. but to he
lists tag to the din outside.

Wild yells. pistol. and ride-shots now sounded
from t e arched entrance of the cavern, and the
scouts elt sure that the citizenshad now out the
outlaws com

hey will battle
need not open

all engag tin preventing their toes from gaining
an entrance to the cave. the two scouts cried out:
“Com. Herb and George! lf.you want a little
practiceeln a lively kind of circus. follow us. We
must help the “ cit: " of Chico. and clean out Doub-

‘» loon Dan. We‘ve got the dead-wood on them-a

shuffles in their rear. Nell. i beg of you. stay here
an protect these helpless ones. Charley. ramaht.
too; and unlock the door when either of us yells."

"Charley can attend to the door." said Nugget
Nell; “l with the Crowd. i want a chance at the
'Terran er 0‘ Taosi‘ “ -

Knowing that it was useless for him to reason
with Neil. Al erkod his revolver. as did also Jim.
Herbert. and fits; and all five darted out of the
door. Charley 100 ng it. and listening at the key-
lljtg‘lfihas if the moment was pregnant with life and

A thundering report soon sounded, and (‘harley
decided that his friends had discharged all ten of
lt)heiElr.-.:e‘:'!(::vere}tgtla givlein signs} 'rii'l'i‘is was'foilowed

y ra'ngCes.an sekso n.
minde with scatterigfi volleys from sixehofiaeri;
,but he attention of arley. fixed as it had been
it outside sounds. was drawn by a shriek within
t e cave-chamber. followed by an outcry of horror.

Tut-alga quickly Little Pard behold a sight that
caused WTO to cleave to the roof of his mouth,
and his cum: lood to congeal in his veins.

Lucre , the bound and gagged captive. had freed
herself. and was now bent over the man whom she
had sup d to be her husband: who had married
her. un er the name of Carl Cole.

A {littering knife was in her hand, upralsed over
the reast of the helpless man: she. gazing with
murderous hatred and triumph into the e as of her
victim. As ley looked on. in speec less bor-
ror. the dead blade descended. ting throng
bones with a mad. the blood spurtl
u over the H1- face of the ward '
p and down again. shot the knife, a

i of r
:58 Shemallwasova‘rd'l‘hs in

dash! .asahelooksdnowattheomieh '-
mttnfi Major Belaer and some. "m “h”

‘ carried a
“ Dang my cats! This hyer‘s ormighty .
h to the side of the b

that ain‘t so - '

z

 R9°k$r Messiah 

Just then a loud knocking at the. door aroused 

seat inveth

Little Pard, and turning. be unlocked the. same. and
swung it open. He recognized the faces of his
friends; but his hen t ceased beating. nearlv chok-

him, as he belie d George Belz‘er and Nunct
Ne] supporting the bleeding form of Rocky Moun-
tain Al, his face pale as that of a corpse.

Bronoho Jim was brought in by Herbert: and two
strangers apparently very seriously wounded. were

fterward into the cave'chamber
Charley wins sick and faint with horror; but he
raced him elf. and ran to bripg robes. which he
procreded to spread for~the wounded to be laid
ufon the cavern soon being filled with a crowd of
t e citizens of (lhico. ' ‘ '

Great was the horror and amazement of all when
the tragic scene Deluge them was explained by
Charley Ives. Nuggo‘ Nell was the most dum-
founded of all: yet she felt relieved when she knew
that the matrwho had been the curse of her life was
no more.

The citizens went to work with a will. and con» -

strut-ting litters. removed the wounded. many of
whom were in the gulch outside. to Chico City.

There. a surgeon had fortunately arrived on a
traveling tour. ll(' day previous to the robbin of
the coach. so the poor fellows received all pro r
attention.

Major Belzer and his da hter, with the assistance
of George and Herbert. we. lied to the burg. when:
all needed care and attendance awaited them. '

The gambling-room of Pi im's Palace was ap-
propriated for a ho tal. on everything dOne that
con (1 be done to re eve the wounded. and restore

. them to their normal state of health.

'u anddown t e

. estimation—than ever. before. In fact. it was full. ‘

CHAPTER XXV".
raon incur. LIGHT.

Dun readers. a general “ round up " of the events '

that transpired when Major Belzer and Nellie Were
sufficiently strong to travel. and Rockv Mountain
Al. together with his pard Broncho in, re-
covet from their wounds, is now in order. and
must. with a “staking out. “ of characters. close our

sto '.

A'llhough Chico City received a hard blow through
the Pumas of Doubloon Dan, the burg was not lo
in recuperating. as the very fact tha the town h
been the scene of the liveliest “ circus “ of any burg
on the range. and boasted of the most extensive

y from escape. \ “ laut of stiffs " in one day. was the best kind of an
thesounds that thahandits were ;

Ragtislntmt. Old a f.
rew man “ lira-tins,“ or “ mers." rom
goo lee; in fact double the number
0 those who proved "solid cit: “ than had been
killed in the des rate dash of Doubloon Dan and
his followers rough P ‘1: since. and the
fight that ensued.were. in a tile time. looated there.
The _“Tanantaler of Tans.“ by the way. was not
seen in the chmely-‘contested “shootin~ match " at
the cavern eut rance. nor in the burg .1. i-rward ; and
whether he struck deep into the cedars. and deeper
still into the dentilohn of whisky.- resulting in
“snakes in his boots" making .a. " hatch of it.‘ and
culminating in his demise by rolling do“ n the range
in reality—or. whether his “ iron heart " is still on
the “ ding~dong." the writer is unable to state.
Much to the joy and relief of Nugget Nell lhv terti-
flcate of her marriage was found in the ong-
me of Robert.Rogers. as the unhappy man had us-
Berta] it could be. .

A driver was obtained to replace poor Job Jason; f

and. one b

in; morning. the old “hearse " rolled
out of Chico

ty with more precious freight~in our

inside and out.

Inside sat Mnjor Belmr, Nellie. (loom. Herbert
agd Chsmtgey; while outtaidf, where Wham" shin
t e p ' e air more reey. Were rc 'ugget
Ne Broncho Jim, and Rock Moun‘l‘ziin Al.

W on they reached the ma line; all alighted at
the station. to await the stage from down country;
the two scouts int-endln to re sin in New Mexico
while our oung frie s. wit the old major and
Nugget Ne «from whom Nellie Belzer woul not
cons-rd to be parted—Were to journey north. and
then east. to the old mansion. at the. es on
the noble Hudson.

The agreement. entered into bt-tn'm the various
member! of our party, was that at the end of a
year all were to meet at the home of Major Belzer.
Al and Jim to leave their mountain and prairie
haunts for the purpose. That then. the grand re

‘ union should be celebrated by the marriage of

The oldmanseemed suddeniyto nhissenses,‘
ht of the infamous '

. and iii eat. as he caught
womjarl 53:0 had so terribly wrgisnged

him —who hadi

usurped his dat hter‘s place. causing that doughy

ter.aswellas ii tobeawanden-rinthm
can? wilds; having drst incarcerated him

',out to the very letter; the

in a , hei illuminated in grand style. and many distin- -

- ouse. ~
Tremblingat the flmt. his half-palsied hand 2...... f
bled in his breast-pocket; then he became firmns'

I rock. hiseyes blazing. as he sat unsupported on
the couch. Nellie Beinsr. with closed eyes and

hands. murmured prayers for protection a

c
from this new and due

~ed danger.
y a moment did th terrible tableau last.
Lucretia ungtowand the couch. lmlfein hand.
l and murder her eyes.

Charity Ives uttered a

Eleni . and darted
torwantrevolverln baud; ut glow

e could in

a. position between the couch and the woul ~be ‘

murderess. he saw the arm 0! Mn or Beuer thrust
forward. holdi a filtering weeptjm.
A blinding fo owed. and than a sounding re-

port.
Lucretia threw u bolh her mm. th blood-
ed knife full on {he stone floor: then th: woman

.1 de ti sunk downward. a gurgling , terrible to the
earsu of the horror-stricken girl you‘b. w
ps.

The dread sight caust ('hsriey to cover his eyes
with his hands, and when-he again looked toward
the couch. the nnirderess is . mutt-etched and
.uotionlew, a ghastly mrpee. or black. sightlees
eyes glaring .glassily in the timer light.

-
‘ o

; New Mexico, as Well as a frontier correspondent for .

Rocky Mountain Al and Nugge
union of George Halter with the fair Kim Ah John-
son. to whom we have. heard bin} refer.

The marriage of Miss Nellie Bolster to lir. Herbert
Howard ives was. as a matter of course. unde

' to have a prominent place assigmvi it among the

anticipated festivities.
w.- will just any that this mgr-amine wascarrled
mansion and gromw

“‘x “‘ 'ii‘é“ “fifties "'"‘ “" b t t
r up younger. ‘ wen y years.
than when he rode through the gt h. inahalfim
mutate. into the Apache camp, and by strange
warmth-e was the means of saving t life of
Icy Mountain Al.

After the Wedding. the mansion was left in the
care of the old and faithful servam. who had assis—
ted ftis master, when the latter escaped from the
insane asylum and. so ht to follow his missing
daufhter into the mate wilds. '

Al then went on an extended tour to
the Rocky Mounhdus—not forgetting to ' t Chico
Cit ——-theuce they went to Santa Fe. and from that
to .asVe’ . -

Here Rocky Mountain Al establ‘shed his home,
with his bride. one» known as “Nugget Nell. the
Walf of the Range.“ and there. at the pmsent writ-
ing, he remains-a scout und hunter. well known in

the Las Vegas D4:th Gaza/g,
There we bury thi-
Noian Rogers. and hail the dawn of a long

nd and counterpart. Neils Ives.

day of
be which We doubt not is to shine for er ,
mm . -

THE “D.

.t Nell: also the '

trials and wrangs of Nelle :

23

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34 Tim and soother Songs.
lknJrs'rumsntoksand-‘Rotherm. ,
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muxomtmemmmmdmmhgrw

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41 Para-v Wammxnu and mother-80"
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Writbn b
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dam or ran ROCKIER.

m TAa'rAns or run PLAINS.

iii

'63TheW dWhale.

v 80 A Han of Nerve.

 

-4 .._ ..............._......_. ...

 

 

ALI!

 

1 A Hard Crowd. By P. Pl Warne.
9The Dare-Devil. ByCol. Ingraham.
8"Kit Carson. Jr. By Buckskin Sam.
4 The Kidna per. By P. S. Warne.
5 The Fire-F ends. By A. P. Morris.
6 Wildcat 391). By F. L. Wheeler.

7 Death-Notch. By ’Al Coomes.

8 TheHeadless Homman. Astrange

story 01' Texas. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

9 Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover.

10 Vidocq, THE Fanxcu Poucs SPY.
himself. ~

Capt. Marryat.

lfThe Death-Shot. By Mayne Reid.

13 Pathawayx By Dr. J. H. Robinson.

. 14 Thayendavegea. By Ned Buntlme.

15 The Ti I’m-Slayer. By G. Aimard.
18 The ite Wizard. Ned Buntline.
17 Nightshade. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.
18 The Sea Bandit. By Ned Buntline.
19 Red Cedar. By Gustave Aimard.

20 e Bandit at Bay. By Aimard.
l 21 rapper’s Daughter. By Aimard.
22 Whitelaw. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.

83 The Red Warrior. By Ned Buntlhie
24 Prairie Flower. By G. Aimard.

25 The Gold-Guide. By F. Johnson. ,
88 The Death-Track. By F. Johnson.
27 The Spotter-Detective. By Aiken.
28 Three-Fingered Jack, Tm: ROAD-
By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

29 Tiger Dick. THE FARO KINO; or,

V Tin Canaan‘s Carma. By Philip S. Warns.

30 ospel Geor . By J. E. Badger.
81 New Yor Sharp. By Aiken.
82 B’hoys of Yale. By J. D. Vose.
33 Overland Hit. By A. W. Aiken.
34 Rocky Mountain Rob. By Aiken.
35 Kentuck, the Sport. By Aiken.
88 1 1111 Dick. By Albert W. Aiken.
37 H rl. the Hunchback; on, Tan

Swonnmm or rm: SAms. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.

g8 Velvet Hand. By A. W. A‘iken.

9 The Russian Spy. By Whittaker.
40 The Long Ha ‘Pards;’ on,
By Joe. E. Badger. Jr.
41 Gold Dan. By Albert W. Aiken.
42 California Detective. By Aiken.
43 DakotaDan. By Oil (homes.

44 Old Dan Rackth 01] Coomes.
45 Old Bull's Bye. Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
46’ Bowie-Knife Ben. By 011 Coomes.
47 Pacific Pete. By Joe. E. Badger, Jr.
By Oil Coomes.

49 TheWolf Demon. By A. W. Aiken.
50 Jack Rabbit. By J. E. Badger, J r.
Red Rob. By 011 Coomes.

Death Trailer. By Buffalo Bill.
58 Silver Sam. By Col. Delle Sara.
M Alw onHand. By P. S. Warne.
‘55 The alp Hunters. Mayne Reid.
56 l1'he Indian Maseppa. By Aiken.
57 The Silent Hunter. P. B. St. John.
58 ver Knife. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.
59 Man From Texas. By Aiken.
‘99 Wide Awake. By Frank Dumont.

: 81 Captain Seawaif. By Ned Buntline.

62 Heart. By Gustave Aimard.

By Aiken.

ht. By J. E. Badger, Jr.
ah. By 1“. Whittaker.
r ue. Mayne Reid.

:ock .‘ By J. . Badger.
ting‘ ra r: or, Kl'l‘
sscns. By Car; . J. F. (‘. Adams
’99 The Irish Ca tain. By Whittaker.
7° Hydrabad. y Dr. J. H. Robinson.
71 C Cool-Blade. J. E. Badger.
72 The Phantom Hand. By Aiken.

78 The t of the Red Cross:

67 The
98 The

‘ or. Tun MAGICIAN o GRANADA. Dr. J: H. Robinson.

Captainofthe Rifles. Mayne Reid.
,75 Gentleman Geor e. By Aiken.
76 The Queen's usketeer: or,

run mecnss PAuus'r. By George Albony.
77 he Fresh ni'Frisco. By Aiken.
78 Mysterious Spy. By Grainger
79 Joe Phenix. POLICE SPY. By Aiken.
,By P. S. Warns.
81 The Human Tiger. By Aiken.
82 Iron Wrist. By Col. '1‘. H. Monster-y.

:88 Gold Bullet Sport. By Buflaio Bill. -‘

84 Hunted Down. By A. W. Aiken.

85 The Cretan Rover. By Ingram.-

..

 

 

 

'l

86 The B Hunter; or, THE QUEEN
or m WOODS. y the author of “ Silent Hunter."
87 The Scarlet Captain. Dells Sara.
88 Big George. By Joe. E. Badger, Jr.
89 The Pirate Prince. By In graham.
90 Wild Will. By Buckskin Sam.
91 The Winning Oar. By Aiken.
92 Buffalo Bill. By Dangerfield Burr.
93 Captain Dick Talbot. By Aiken.
94 Freelance, By Col. P. Ingraham.
95 Azhort. THE AXMAN. By A. P. Morris.
90 Double-Death. By F. Whittaker.
97 Bronze Jack. By A. 1V. Aiken.
98 The Rock Rider. By Whittaker.
99 The Giant Rifleman.
1 00 The French Spy. By A. P. Mon-is.
101 The Man from New York: or,
Tm: Bonner: or A RICH Yorxo WOMAN. By Aiken.
102 The Masked Band. Gee. L. Aiken
103 Merle, the Mutineer. lngruluun.
104 Montezuma, the Merciless: or,
Tm: EAGLE AND THE Snarnnr. By Col. 1‘. Ingraham.
105 Dan Brown of Denver, THE
Roe-xv MOUNTAIN Dmmrrrvs. By Joe. E. Badger, Jr.
106 Shamus O’Brien. Col. Delle Sara.
107 Richard Talbot of Cinnabar;
or. Tm: ermms or run Ran HAM). B ' A.W. :Aiken.
8 The Duke ofDiamon s; or, ’l‘nn
FLOWER Or CAwurrA. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.
109 Captain K $ By Col. Ingraham.
110 The Silentfi eman. By Herbert.
1 1 1 The Smn ler Captain; or, Tau
Ssmrsn’s CRIME. By . ed Buntline.
E 112 Joe Phenix. By A. W. Aiken.
1 13 The Sea Slipper. J. H. Ingraham.
1 14 The Gentleman from Pike: or,
Tax 0303? or rat: Caron. By Philip S. Warne.
115 The Severed Head. Whittaker..
116 Black Plume. By Col. Ingraham.
1 17 Dashing Dandy. By Major Burr.
118 The Burglar Captain; or, Tm:
Fm Sun. ByPro . J. H.1ngraham.
119 Alabama Joe. By J. E. Badger.
120 The‘TexanS y. By N. M. Curtis.
121 The Sea ‘ t. By Ingraham.
122 Saul Sabberday. Ned Euntline.
128 Ala the Squaw. F. Johnson.
124 Assowaum, the Ave er; or,
Tns D00! or m Dm'aornns. By Fran Johnson.
125 The Blacksmith Outlaw;
Mmr ENGLAND. By Harrison Ainsworth.
126 The Demon Duelist. By Monstery.
127 Sol Scott. By Joe. E. Badger, Jr.
128 The Chevalier Corsair; or, Tnn
Hammer. or HA'msn. B the author of “ Merle."
129 gississip i ose. By. Ed.Wii1ett.
130 aptain olcano. By Aiken. p
131 ' Buckskin Sam. By Col. Ingraham.
182 N emo, King of the Tram s: or,
Tm: Bonn Gina’s Vr. omen. By Whi er.
.the over. By W. Carleton.
e Dan. By Col. Ingraham.
185 The Bush Ran r. By Johnson.
136 The Outlaw- unter. Johnson.
187 Long Beard. By Oil Coomes.
138 The Border Bandits. Johnson.
189 Fire-E e. By C 1. P. Ingmham.
140 The hree Spaniards. By
George Walker. ‘ -
141 Equinox Tom. By J. E. Badger.
142 Captain Crimson. By Major Burr.
143 The Czar’s Sp . By Moustery.
1 44 The Hunchbacz of Notre-Dame.
By Victor Hugo.
145 Pistol Pards. By W. R. Eyster.
146 The Doctor Detective; or, Tan:
Mrs-ram? or THE GOLDEN Com. By Geo. Lemuel.
147 Gold Spur. By Col. P. Ingraham.
148 One-Armed Alf. By 011 Coomes.
149 The Border Rifles. By Aimard.
150 El Rubio Bravo. By Col. Monstery.
151. The Freebooters. By Aimard.
152 Captain Ironnerve. THE YOUN-
rimnn'rnn Carer. By Marmaduke Dey.
153 The White Scalper. By Almard.

154 Joaquin, ran SADDLE KING. By
Josegh E. Badger, Jr.

1 5 The Corsair Queen. Ingraham.

156 Velvet Face. By Major Burr.

157 Mourad. run MAmuxs. By
001. Thomas Ho er Monster .

158 The oomed sen. Dr. Powell.

159 Red‘ Rudiger. By F. Whittaker.
160 Soft Hand. Sill-1;. By Eyster.
161 Wolves of New or . By Aiken.

 *HEJRWR

Oil Coomes '

or, "

 

162 The lad Mariner. By Ingrahun.

YO"

163 Ben Brion. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.
164 The s Fool. By C. D; Clark.
165 Joaquin, the Terrible. Badger.
166 Owlet. the Robber Prince: or,
THE Usuown HiGiiWAYXAN. By Septimus RUI‘ban.
167 The Man of Steel. A. P. MorI'ix-i.
168 Wild Bill. By Col. Pr Ingraham.
169 Corporal Cannon. THE MAN or
FORT! Dunne. By Colonel Thomas Hoyer Monetary
170 Sweet Wilham' ' . By Jus. 13- Bad?!”-
1 7 1 Tiger
IRON HEART. Bv l’hili ) S. Wame.
172 The Blacllr Pirate. By lngraham.
173 California John. By A.W. Aiken.
174 Phantom Kni hts. B Whittaker.
175 Wild Bill's rump ard. By

Dangerfield Burr.
By Capt. M.Wilton.

M1056 Lady J ,.
aglo. By Col. P. Ingruhhm.

 

 

 

 

 

177 Don D'
178 Dark Dashwood. By Major Hall.
179 Conrad. the Convict: or. WAS
HE GUILTY? By l’roi'. Stewait (iildeljsleeve, L111).
180 Old '49. By Joe. E. Badger, Jr.
181 Scarlet Schooner. By Inamham.
182 Hands U ! By Wm. B. Eyster. '
183 Gilbert. 8 Guide. C. D. Clark.
184 Ocean Vampire. By P. lngraham.
185 Man Spider. By A. P. Morris.
186 The Black Bravo. Butkskin Sam.
187 The Death’s Head Cuirassiers:
or. Buy: or ALI. BnAvns. By (fin. Fred.Whittaker.

188 The Phantom aseppa. By
Ma or Dan rfleld Bun.
89 ild Bill’s Gold Trail 3 or, T

Dasrsmno Dozen. By Col. Prentiss ingraham.

190 The Three Guar ' By
Alexandre Dumas.
191 The Terrible Tonkaway: 0?,

°“i9“§°‘1¥h§”nig"’i§$“' s n B E
po . y ysier.
193 The Man in Reed. By F.Whittaker.
194 Don Sombrero. By Capt. Wilton.
195 The Lone Star Gambler; or,
Tm: MAID or run museum. By Buckskin Sam.
196 La Marmoset. rm: DETECTIVE
QUEEN. B Albert. W. Aiken.
By J. E. Badger.

197 volver Rob.

198 The Skeleton Schooner. By
Col. Prentiss lngraham.

199 Diamond Dick. By Buckskin Sam.

200 The Ride Rangers. , By Capt.
Mayne Reid.

By Buckskin Sam.

01 The Pirate of the Pincers: or. ‘

JOAQUIN’s Burn-HUNT. By Jose hE. Bad 91,31'
202 Cactus Jack. By apt. M. ilton.
208 The Double Detective. By Aiken.
204 Big Foot Wallace, THE KING or

flu: LAIuA'r. By Buckskin Sam.

205 The ambler Pirate. Ingraham.
206 One Eye, the Cannoneer: or.

MAnsnAu. Nsv’s LAST mer. By Cs t. Whittaker.
207 Old Hard Head. By
208 The White Chief. By Mayne Reid.
209 Buck Farle . By Edward Willett.
210 Buccaneer ss. By P. Ingraham.

1 1 The Unknown Sport. Whittaker.
12 The Brasos Tigers; or. THE.

MINUTE Max or'F‘onr Bmsu. By Buckskin Sam.
2 13 The War Trail. Capt. Mayne Reid.
214 The Two Cool 8 s; or, Guam:

or rm: Guwn. By William R- yster.

215 Parson Jim. By Capt. Whittaker.

216 The Corsair Planter; or, DRIVEN
r0 Doox. By Colonel Prentiss Infiham.

217 The Serpent of Paso. By

Buckskin Sam.

‘ 18 The Wild Huntress; or. Tth BIG
SQUA-I-rsa’s stonxcs. By Captain Mayne Reid.
219 The Scogpion Brothers; or, MAD
Tox’s MIssIos. By aptein Mark Wilton. I

220 The Specter Yacht. By Ingraham.
221 Despera'e Duke. Buckskin Sam.
222 Bill, the Blizzard. By E. Willett.
223 CanyonDave. By Capt. M.Wilton.
324 Black Beard, rns BUCCANEEB; or,

Tun (‘vnsa or run COAST. By Prentiss am.
225 Rocky Mountain Al; or. Nuoom

Nam, me WAnr or m RAsos. By Buckskin Sam.

226 Mad Hussars. By Captain Fred. ‘

Whittaker. .
227 Buckshot Ben. By Capt. M.Wilton.
228 The Maroon. By Capt. Mayne Rem.

A new ism mry weak. .
3333’s Dimelebrary is to;  
New rs. ten cen pet or so y
reeei t of twelve cents Mme ADAMS.
Pu 98 wmnmsmet New York.

Dick. THE MAN or ran:

. S. Warne.‘

. "in-3:. .