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Week 98 WILLIAM STREET. N. Y., January 31,1883. 35-00 3- Year-

Vol  Published Every cBeadZe g. fldams, @1blishe7's, “Noumea”, NO. 

 

GANYON DAVE, THE MAN [IF THE MOUNTAIN;}°r’ $§§E§°§§§i °F

BY CAPTAIN MARK WILTON,

AUTHOR OF “ CAC’I‘US JACK,” “ DON somnmmo.” “ LADY JAGUAR,” no , mo.

 

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GREATLY ASTONISIIED, CANYON DAVE ADVANCED AND SAW THE BUBBLING “'ATER, AND, AS THOUGH “DATING ON T“
SURFACE, THREE HUMAN HEADS.

  

. Canyon Dave,
THE MAN of the MOUNTAIN;

03,
The Toughs of Silver Spur.

BY CAPTAIN MARK WILTON,

aumoa or “cac'rus JACK,” “THE scoarrox
Baorrmas,” “DON sonnanao,” “LADY
JAGUAR," mo, 1:10., no.

CHAPTER I.
FACING DEATH.

It was a dangerous experiment, but the man
wasnotone to hesitate on that account. The goat
lay near the edge of ashelf of rock, a little down
theface of the recipice, stone dead from the
mat the b let had touched him, and the
hunter did not like to give up his prize.

He placed his rifle on the ground, and, lying
down at the edge of the precipice, held fast to
some cropping vines with one hand and reached
over for' goat with the other.

He did not touch it, but he could get just
near enough to tantalize him, and he grew more
in earnest.

“The critter is mine, and, b the Lord, I‘m
going to have him!” he declare< aloud.

It was a dangerous thin to attem t, for if he

once lost his balance and ell he won (1 go whirl-

down for a hundred feet, to meet sure death

at the bottom of the lch ° but Otis Sprague

had seen life in the 8 arm evadas too many

years in succession to care for the danger. ,
He did not intend to lose the spoils of his

Bendiu still further over the edge of the rock,
he reach for the mountain cat: and then he
felt a thrill of triumph as is fingers closed
around one leg.

Just at that moment, however, his flannel
shirt slip on the rocks, Sprague started in ,
alarm, a ittle piece of the verge gave way, and ‘
then, after several wild nnavailing efforts to
save himself, the miner went down.

Certain death seemed to await him; but by
one of those curious chances which often occur,
but which we scarcely realize in actual experi-
. once and look upon as impossibilities when read \

of in a work of fiction, he did not make all of l
' that terrible journey to the rocky bottom far .
below. '

Instead, he struck upon the shelf where lay
the oat, disledging that quadruped, and then,
bare y checked by the circumstance, began slid-
ing over himself.

Wildly he flung out his hands ho ing tcgrasp
something which would yet save im, but the
projection of rock be seized crumbled in his
hand and he slipped steadily on, his agony pro-
longed by the support he managed to secure by
his elbows u on the shelf of stone.

Suddenly ebecame stationary though great-
ly to his surprise. He had no hold with his
hands—what had stopped himl

A downward glance answered the question.
The belt which encircled his waist had can ht
, one point ol’ rock, and there he hung by tiat
slender thing. poised between life and death.

He had met adventures before in his five
years’ experience as hunter and miner, and as

e realized that a little period of race was
vouchs ifed him, he. tried. to think coo ly. ,

He was in a. bad fix, and he did not exactly
see how he was to get out of it alive. He was
only a few feet below the to of the cliff, but
there was not a thing to which he could hold
while climbing upward. With the exception
of a few very small and brittle pro jot-tions, the
wall in front of him was perfectly smooth.

Clearly, he could not am the top without
aid, and the chancss of a ‘iuman being appear-
ingV just then were very few.

hree miles away was the mining town of
Silver S r, but every inhabitant thereof, ex-
ce ting iimself, was at that moment digging
d near the village, and stran ers were not in ,

a habit of re iming about the filght’l‘ hills. 4
Still, something must be done. He could not
hang there permanentl , for two reasons, the.
int-st impressive of whic was the fact that his !
belt, though doing good service up to the 'pres- I
out time, must sooner or latengive way and let I
him down. ' 1

Ay. even then he could see little brown‘
streaks along the blackened surface which told i
that it was slowly tearing apart under the|
pressure.

He had been reprieved by a lucky chance,
but thedan er was still imminent.

Once. he ooked downward, but the sight of
the pomted rock a hundred feet below caused
him to change his gaze quickly. A fall meant
certain deat .

[Hopeless as it appeared, he began to call for

Aid.

“Help! help! help?“

Strange ant hollow his voice sounded in the
canyon, and the echo which comeback seemed
to mock his distress, but Otis Hprague was not
an imaginative man.

He continued to about, all the while wntch-

 

 

 

 

” "Canyon D

ing the rock’s edge abova, hopingto see a hu- l
man face, but none appeared.

Here he looked down to his belt again. Mer-
ciful heaven! the brown lines along the surface
were growing wider—the belt was tearing
apart.

Even his cool heart began to throb loudly.
Death in such a form was somethin unusual y :
dreadful, and he put all his power 0 lung into ,
the oft-repeated cry for help. I

It was a wild scene, and though not sove
strange for that part of Iallfornia, one whic
seemed destined to end in a tragedy: but fate
willed it that Otis Spraguo was not to die that

day.

A lump of dirt suddenly fell upon the little

shelf of rock in front of him, and he looked up
quickly, wildly, but scarcely hopefully.
What he saw brought a sudden g ow. to his i
face. At the ver verge stood a young man 1
who, holding a ri in one hand, was looking ‘
dewn at him in a surprised way.

“Hel l he] l” repeated Bprague, this time,
almost 11 a w isper, for he began to realize that 1
he was growing weak.

“ Hallo! what the dickens are you doing
there?” asked the stranger, coolly. “Ain t
climbing the clifl en a wager, are you!”

“ For Heaven’s sake, give me help!” said
Sprague, who was not in a mood to relish a
joke. “I am slipping from this rock, and a
fall means certain death I”

“ In that case I had better chip in,” admitted
the nvw-comer. “What can I do, though! I
haVeu‘t a rope, or an thing of that kind.

“ Hold down the b ggest end of your gun. If
you can hold it steady, i will go up it al right"

“ You can rely on the connecting link, so far
as I am concerned. Here goes i"

The stranger thrust down the breech of his
rifle, and holding fast to it with one hand,
gripped a bush which grew near the edge as te-
naciously with the other.

Sprague moved at once. He grasped the gun
and then with great care raised himself upon
the ledge. His belt and the int of rock lmd
readily separated, and with h s feeton the ledge
be grasped the rescuer’s hand and was drawn to ‘
flrm land.

Once there he found himself as weak as n no '
man. He lay down flat on the ground, and cov- l
ering his face, remained for several moments 1
still and silent. i

The stran r saw that he was trembling like 
a leaf, and p ainly perceivin that he was a vet- l
eran mountaineer, did not t ink of smiling at
his actions. Instead, he finally remembered
that he had a flask of whisky in is pocket. and i
he roduced it just as Sprague raised his head. i

he invitation to drink was not refused. Then 1
the latter rose and held out his hand. -

“Pard,” he said, “I owe you a life. Five I
minutes more and I‘d been at the bottom ‘
of that canyon, a shapelcss mass of flesh. What—
ever good luck in life I have after this I owe to r
you, and if I ever have a chance to help you, j

’11 risk all in the cause.”

“I know how you feel, but wv'll slide over it
lightly. Many words are not needed among
white men, and now we‘ve cro 24ml hands it is
all square. But how did you get. in that fix!"

“ 1 nm aminor of Silver Spur, and it was ho—
cause I cumcout on a hunt today that i got.
into trouble. I shot it goat, wl ich fell partly
over the precipice, and in trying to get. him I
went too. As I said, you SHVNi my life; but if i
you will accompany me to Silver Spur you
shall find I know how to use a man white. My
name is Otis Spra e.” '

“ Mine is David Canton.”

“David Canyon? Well, that's an appropri- ‘
ate name for the work you home just done. I ,
owe you one, Dave Canyon, for pulling me out i
of the canyon.”

“ You misunderstand me. I did not say Can-
yon. but Canton," explained the owner of the
name, smiling. “Call me what you please,
though. Make it CanVou Dave, if you wish.” .

“ That’s what I’ll call you, by Jupiter. The
word means something big, and I take it you ,
can shoulder it well. But, what say, are you :
OH to Silver Spur with me’l” ‘

“Yes. I intended to bring up there, sooner
or later so I’ll go along with you."

By at time Spraguc lmd recovered his .
strength and usual calmness, and they left the
scene of his peril behind them and started for
SilverSpur. ,

it was a mining town packed in among the
Sierra Nevada mountains, and quite an enter-
prising one at the date of our story. though but
a year old, but it has never gained anational ,
reputation. ,

A: the young men passed along the mountain .
side Sprngne grew quite communicative. Ho ,
was an Ohio man. had sought Californin to act ,
as clerk in San Francisco, but had caught the
mining fever, and for five years had been trying
to make a fortune in that way.

“Canyon Dave.” us him-acne took pains to
call his companion. Was not so communicative,
but from fragmentary explanations hemadc,
his companion lil§(""""l’i'(i that he had been a
wanderer in the \Vvfif. prinr-i:.allv among the ‘
mountains, for several venrs and Somalia wm
not long in deciding that, despite his youth—he

 

ave, the ~ of the Mountain.__

was about twenty-twe—he was a cool. I:l{".'«9
man, who had seen a good deal of wild life, and
knew pretty well how to take care of himself.

CHAPTER Ii. .

CANYON DAVE MAKES NEW ACQUAINTANCES.

CONVERSING pleasantly, the young men
went on for two miles, and then Sprague
paused on the crest of a ridge and stretched out
one hand.

“ Il‘ye see that peak over yonder?" he asked.

“Yes,” answered Canton. “Rough-looking
place. isn’t it?” '

“ Rough! That’s no name for it. It’s all one
tumbled-up mass of rocks and canyons and
caves are thick as mice. Nobody has ever fully

I explored it yet, but I reckon we will haveto
' soon.”

-‘ Why r’

“ Well, Silver Spur has always been an or.
derly place until of late, panning out white cit-
izens, and no roughs or road-agents: but the
other day two of our boys were stc ped while
taking away their dam. and gone t rough by
masked men. Worse than that, a reckless sort
of a note was given one of them which said that
in future no pl! :11 could pass through the
Camel’s Hump— ’s the name of the peak—
without paying tell to Captain Nevada.” .

“Judging by which, I should say you are in
for a regular road-agent reign."

“It won’t work at Silver Spur; there’s too
much pluck among the natives. Once let those
fellows take toll of Judge Parmenter or Bar-
clay Brothers and ou'll see the fur fly. The
partiesl just lam run the biggest mints at
the Spur, and they don’t stand any foolishing
either.”

“Good for them," said Canyon Dave, who
was really interested, use he was about to
become a citizen of this mountain fawn.

" Right. at the foot of the (‘amel’s Bump lies
Silwr Spur. We can’t see it. from here, but
we‘ll go on and find it.”

Spraguo had taken one step in advance when
a mountain goat suddenly darted into view at
a point within easy rifle-shot. He remembered
the animal he had lost when he so nearly lost

, his own life, and his rifle darted to his shoulder.

The oat had paused, and with so good a
chance eforo him, the miner paused for a sure
head: but, before he could press the trigger, the
target suddenly went off the rock and fell in a
heap, while a rifle- crack rung out at a point
among the rocks in front of them. A
Spra us paused in surprise and annoyance.
for e did not relish being robbed of his genre:
but. just then, amerry laugh sounded from the
same vicinity as the shot, and another person
ap ared on the scene. .
ave Canton had been surprised at the laugh,
for one so musical could only have been uttered
by a woman; but he was more sun rist when
the marksman leaped upon a roe and stood
facing them, a bright smile on her face and a
Confused mixture of black and red floating back

; of her as her flowing hair and brilliant: colored

shawl were caught by the wind. .

“ ’Gus Hackett, by thunder!”
Sprngue.

“ Ha! ha! where is your game. Otis. the
Soul" the girl dcmunrled. u ith another laugh.

The mlucr’s melancholy look vanislud. and
he first laughed and then shook his list at the girl.

“ Oh! you look out, This Hackett l” he shouts d,
in assumed anger. “ I’ll be even with you lor
this. You ought to be ashamed to take bread—
I mean meat—from a poor bachelor‘s mouth;
but you’ll see stars one of these days to pay for
it, now you mind l” ,

Before he finished she had leaped oil“ the rock,
and was running toward them, trailing a small
rifle.
Dave. Canton looked at her closely. Wag.» she
a child or a woman? He scarcely knew; [m

muttered

‘ she had ‘the physical development of one with
j the manners of the other. '
of an age and appearance to be admired. and

At any mte, she was

he was not at
homage. _

“ Dld “you think you could shoot!” she asked.
in her ormer vein. addressing Bprauue. and
never beading David in the least. “ Why, if I
hadn‘t come to the name, that sheep would
have been a mile from here by this tune. and
your bullet would have been a dead loss to the
community.” '

“You’re a wicked wretch to make fun of me
before stran .rs: but I’ll have my revenge
some day. ow, then, do stop your nonsense
and come down to solid facts. Miss ’69.
Beckett, this is Canyon Dave."

Her smile faded somewhat as she turned to
Canton, but she put out her hand frankly.

" I am glad to meet you. Mr. Canyon Dave,
though I am scrry to say the company you are

a] backward in paying mute

‘ in don’t recommmd you very highly. Therel

there! rdon me: poor Mr. Spragae is looking
shock. and you will think me a sava c. '
hope l am that entirely, but! have the abit
of helm! very good friends with some of the
men of SilVor Spur, Otis is one of them.”

“ Huppy om!" remarked Mr. Canton.

Hhe put our her hand quickly. _

‘ Don’t! 1’” return. your compliment far
enough to say I like your looks we! enough, so

 

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may». in;

 

 

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that I don’t want to he at enmity with you,
which will certainlv be the caste if we try
pretty speeches. Otis knows that won’t be
allowed.” '

“I can swear it by my ears. You’ve boxed
‘em often enough." said that individual, with a
grimaoe.

David was almost carried off his feet by the
looks and ways of Miss Hackett. He had seen
a good many varieties of the female sex between
Lower California and Puget’s Sound, but she
impressmi him more than any of them.

Somehow, after ten minutes’ further delay,
the)’ managed to get in motion toward Silver
Spur, and D ivld, walking beside the girl. found
the intervening distance incredle short.

Silver Spur loomed up ahead 0 them all too
:mon, they had emerged from a gal. h, and
before them lay the town.

A humble one it wcs, evarywhere showing
evidence of hasty workmanship, though it had
some buildings of considerable size, surrounded
on three sides by a curving bluff so steep as to
be in man places a cliff, and with a wooded
hillside on {he fourth.

Fair and peaceful. if not grand, :ooked the
mountain town, and Canyon Dave was well
pleased. _

Soragne had paused and stretched out his
hand to deliver a little oration, when a crashin
among the aforementioned bushes was follow
by the appearance of a man who was a typical
miner in every way. ,

Broad of shoulder and strong of limb, he was
tanned to a brown almost Indian-like, and his
rough but honest-imiking face, taken together
with his dress, left no doubt of his business.

” The senior member of the firm of Beckett,"
explained Sp ue.

’Gus forced a wn to her face.

“ My father, you mean. Gray hairs must be
respected; mustn’t they, father?”

The clasing question was addressed to the
new—comer.

“ Ef it warn’t an old joke, I’d say et depends
3n what you find 'em ; nobody wants ’em in the’r
butter,” waseiahe gsood-natured answer, as the
speaker nodd to prague.

“ You are all against me." said the girl.
“Here, you wicked man, see if you can speak
politely to Mr. David banyon." .

The big band of the miner closed over that of
the mis named man.

“Stranger,” said he. “thar’s f0od an’ drink
up in our cabin, an’ of we kin git thar ahead o’
my darter, We kin have a squar’ meal. Ef
she get’s thar flrst—” ,

’Gus held up a warning hand.

“Brad Hackctt, beware!” she solemnly said.
“A little more such abuse, and you don't get
cooked food for a week!’

The man burst into a laugh in which Sprague
joined, and though David could hardly keep
pace with the current of events, he managed to
smile in concert.

After that all talked more soberly. 0n be-
ing questioned Dave explained that he intended
to make Silver Spur his home for awhile. and
thought of taking quarters with Otis in his
cabin - ereupon Hackett cordially invited him
to call 0 ten at their own home, and when ’Uus
echoed the words, the young man did not hesi-
tate to promise that they should see him there.

Tne Han-kett house was a little out of the Vll-
loge, and after awhile they said good by to the
others, and went away throth the trees.

Canyon Dave looked after them earnestly, but
his attention was all on Kim.

A handsome and brilliant girl she was, with
her line face and form and her dashing ways,
and as there was at all times a certain refine-
me‘ut mixed with her words, they did not sound
rm 9.

I For the meat part, her dress was appropriate
tor the_ mountains; a wide hat, a. dark-brown
/ (11‘ 58 With 81101“ Skirts. and Indian moccasins, be
ing the chief features; but the fleecy scarlet shew
thrown over her shoulders was not in keeping
and betrayed her feminine love for fine":

though Dave was free to confess to himself this»; g f “wand;

it made her look still more handsouw.

“ Better than hunting grizzlies, eh i"

Otis Sprague whis red the words in his ear
and then laughed as e. started.

“Don’t apologize,” he mntinucd. “ for nobody
could help admiring ’(lus Hackett, but she isn’t
the only attraction in Silvtxr Spur. J "due Par-
mfmter has three daughters, Edna. Helen. an '
Mlnoent. and I tell you they are not slew.”

“Miss Hackett is very well educan for a '
iommon miner’s daughter,” said Dave, alisently. l 3031:: lecturer or teacher on the aubietb.

“0h! Brad hasn't soared any expense. SIN

has been to school in ’Frisco. and she can be {‘i 1

demure as the stateliest woman of fashion if 8b..
tries, but her heart is large and warm, and she
loves the mountains and their freedom. Brad
just warships her. and van know what that
means with a man like him. He has a heart
like an ox, in pomt of size. But I‘ll give you
further statistics later. For now let’s go on to
my cabin."

 

CHAPTER Ill.
A PAIR OF‘ PIRTTERS.
DAVID Canon‘s first week at Silver Spur
does not require detailed notice here, as he met

Canyon Dave, the Man of th

 

 

with no startling; adventures, but it was one of
considerable l iportance in its way.

He made his home with Sprague and setfiled
down to nit lug with him {or a. partner, and he
soon showed that he was no novice a; the bum-
nees. W1 a). the people of the village learned
this fad; an} found out besides that .he was a
fine shot. “he gained a. firm hold on their regarfi
and was generally liked. ,

Even we adopted the name Otis Sprague had
given it under the impulse of the moment,
and as .,:.nyon Dave he was known to all in
Silver {431132 .

Duiin;-, the week. he had twice callco on the.
Hacketts, and as they received him with their
former kindness, be regarded them as among
the best friends he had in the vicinity.

He had made one discovery since his arrival
which the reader will plainly see to be a fact
further (hr-Otis Sprague had a strong fancy
for Edi-a, one of the da. “liters of Judge Par-
uienter, whom we havebe ore heard mentioned.

Sprague, however, labored under one disad-
vantage. He was not well supplied with world-
ly 001'... while the judge was a wealthy man,
audio; that reason there had been a marked
COIdDe-n‘, thou b no- open
them. We believe such caees ,
ed before, but this does not interfere with our
reliabiiity as a historian when we usm'rt that a
stern parent did exist in Silver Spur at that
time, and 'u liable to spring up now and then
while the world lasts.

As ior Edna, herself, she had never said that
Spray. ua's povorty was against him, nor, lacking
propel on meat on his bad she ever
confessed that e e cared for him.

One afternoon, a week subfiuent to Spraglue's
adventure in the mountain, us was ramb ing
about the hills to the south of the village. She
had a mate for geological research, in a quiet
way, and such was the object, if any existed,
of the present ramble.

8b; was a pretty rl, as all Silver Spur had
acknowledged, and, eed, all the daughters of
J e Parmenter were considered a- credit to
Cali ornia. There was a strong resemblance
between them. of which. more hereafter, all
being of a brunette type which was coman
pronounced brilliant.

son, none of the three was like ‘Gus Beckett.
The-r were more inclined to quiet livas, had a
strong taste for household duties, and on the
whole were girls such as any man could safely

take to himself for life if he was lucky enough to '

get one of them. _
Fina, on this partivular occasion, seated her-
sel on a b0wlder, after a bug ramble. and began

to examine the geol cal specimens she had j
o{lat she was herself uu- :

col seated, unconscious t
(Le: scrutiny at the llllll'. -

lilittle before a man had been wandering
along the hillside, but he had paused at sight of
he' and stood behind a large rock, furtively
 iii-hing her as she looked over her measures.

‘i'ir man was rather goal-looking toa certain

dt gree. He had a good form, a regularly-
founed face, a. handsome black mu tnche and
hair and eyes of color 10 match. One thing
mine was just as easily seen; the dress and iam-
o” the man betrayed the fact that he was a
l-“:::dca.n.

her a long time he stood behind the. rock and
,  the spy, but at length he resumed his
\ r’yand apprimched Edna with all the grace
! a could muster.
‘ Dhe saw him, and a troubled look passed over
her face. She did not like Mexicans, and,
though she had seen this man at Silver Spur on
the previous day. she wanted no more intimate
zi'yuaintauce with him and hoped he would
gees on; so, to encourage him to that end, she
mama suddenly very busy over her collection.

But the man calmly pansed in front of her.

"Pardon. senorita,” he politely said; “but
‘is' I admire with you the curiosities you
as? They are fine—mmrnijficu I”

Edna. was anno ed, and resolved to discour-
age him. She di

“ They axe only rocks, sir.”
“True. true. senorita; but if they had not

.Ai- to your lila'mg, you Would not have gath- ‘
lerec. them. am I not right:

(4

l admire such
sings myself. Can you tell me the name of
his particular stone!"

He had selected the rarest of the lot and cool-
v' taken it from her possession. but his assur-
mce be] him but little.

“ on me,” said Edna, coolly; “but I am
You

. have to consult some other authority."

He could not misunderstand so plain a rebufl,
.11; “.vs taco BDO'N’c-i no sign of (-Onfnsion.

Gamma: ; must ask pardon in turn,” be
said, removing his hat. “ I fear I was too care-
less in addressing you as 1 did-too familiar, I
think you mllit. Let me introduce mvself. I
am Miguel Perez, and am at present making my
home at the Alexis Hotel. I had seen you in
the village, Miss Parmenter. and l addressed
you before I remembered that we were stran-
gers. I hope you will pardon me.”

“ It is nothing." Edna calmly answered.
"Did you sav‘von admired the specimen you
hold in your handf‘

a Mountain.

rel, betWeen :
ave been record- 3

not raise her eyes, and cold- i

3

._.._-...._-. J'r—m-VW‘ -
“It is splendid 2" Perez declared. '
“Then I will make you a present 01  

have more at home. iiood~day, sir.”

And then Miss Parmenter ouietly  gave
Senor Perez a short, unsatisfactory nod, step-
 past him and went on her way to the val--
loge leaving Miguel pullin at his mustache
and looking decidedly dissat sfied.

In a little while, howerer, he shrugged hi.“
shoulders and smiled.

“ The bird is timid,” he said, alou “hm .
will tame it yet. A woman likes to s ow 113:.
power by making a man run after her.”

“ Judged by a man’s wisdom,” commenter;
sarcastic voice behind him.

He wheeled quickly. Another woman had
appeared on the scene, and one worthy of 
second ance. She was of good form 
comely eatures; some might even have “DEV
her brilliant; but she lacked the youth, in
accence and attractivenes of Edna. Her ,fw‘
did not show that she was really wickec
but it was that of a woman of the world an..
would not invite confidence. She had robably
, seen thirty years of life, but, though claim
3 to youth had gone from her face, she was wha "

is commonly called well ed.

‘ h A smile passed ovar Miguel’s face as he 2:“?

1 er.

I “You herei'” he slowly said.

“I judge that I am. What of it? Did you.

, ex t me to stay coo up at that miserable

1 ho lall day? it wasn’t in the bargain when I

i came to Silver Spur. Bahl I detest the place

i The life is not ual to the mountain cave and

l tain Nevada s wine.”

 

 

‘ Bush!” he said, with a quick glance around
I them. "Why do on speak that word here-j
I, These poor devils o gold-diggers have no love-
for Ca itain Nevada, and if they knew we were
_ of his nd they would give us tLe rope."
l “Bah! what of it? Would it be our first.
l How many camps have we bled and fled? Gr.
1 to the miners of California from the Gulf toth:
' extreme north: go ask the bones of tbei:
‘ legions that fertilize the California plains. If.)
l them bring their ro I told you, ten years
lago, that if you inked your fortunes with
I mine no harm would ever come to you. The
‘ devil rotects his own. Am I not right, sens:
, -—-Ah. what is your present name? Perez; I
think, and I am Persis Somebody~0r-otbe;..
Excellent, we make--"

“ In the flend‘s name. cease your babblingi"
Miguel momsely in'errupted. "Do you wan:
all California to know our business?”

5 “ No, but I must get rid of some of my ugli-

‘ noes before I lay iii-gel at Silwr Spur. Fancy
me playing r e innocent to the gold k' s of

the camp—Parmenter, the Barclay 31385168.

and so on. Won’t it be rich."

l ‘ It will if We can make ten thousand out a:
.t .

“ Now, you touch the tuneful chord. Don
Miguel. Well, amigo min, we will try. Near
while, I see you have taken a fancy to Eda»
l’arn'. enter as a side show.” i
"' Carambu ! why do you think 5c? You. 
wrong—”

“Bah! Drop your innocence. Don’t look
surprised. See here, Miguel. a proposition for
you. Allow me to engineer a private game of
my own at the Spur, and you may smile ale
you choose on Edna; ay, I’ll even help you.”

“.00 you mean it, Persis?‘ he asked, looking;
at her fixedly.

“ 1 do, honestly."

“ I agree; but whai is your own game?”

“ Bah! you are too curious. Men always are,
women never would he, had they poorer tutors.
As for the fair Edna, let me ofl'er a suggestion.”

“ What is it?”

“ Call on Captain Nevada for aid. Ask him,
toattempt an abduction, with the understand-
ing that you appear on the scene as a gallant;
rescuer right at the crisis. Result, the flit
Edna is grateful, then tender, lastl , dead in
love. Shela young andunworldly', s ‘6 must he
romantic.”

“There is something in it," said Miguel,

in.

l thoughtfully, “ the trio: '3 an old one.

I Won’t she sus

A‘ No, why s ould she? The case is dear and
the coast without a rock. Maybe I can help
you, or, at the least, drive into her mind the fact;
that you are a hero and an angel. And
really are, Miguel. You can face lead bo ,.
while as an angel you rankas a second Lucifer.“

“ Another sneer,” the Mexican grumbled.
I “ [all for love!” she declared, with a reckless
aug .
_. _“ Well, I’ll see Captain Nevada and. askfos:
ad. ~TS‘o: the present, let us goheuk U0 the
_O  .

CHAPTER IV.
CAPTAIN NEVADA

Tnav returned to the village but not together
Old partners in crime, they had come to Silver
Soar on a secret mission, which was to aid Cap- ‘
tain Nevada. the robber of (‘amel’s Hump, to
secure more gold from the people of the cdmp;

 

but. though both stopped at the same hotel,

they were outwardly only new acquaintances.
Persis rem-bed the Alexis H Mel first and wont.

to her room; which was on the second floor. ,

 

l

c

4

CanyonlDave. the Man of the Mountain. .

 

 

The village had but one regularly ahead street,
and this, near the center, expanded in a space
which was like a half moon.

Her room looked out upon this place. and she
at once hastened to the window and sat down
where she could watch the passers by. They
were few in number. but, anon, came Canyon
Dave and Otis Sprague.

The eyes of the woman sparkled, and, from
her cover, she threw a kiss at the former. He

,saw nothing of it; he did not know that the
world held a Persis Ripley; but she watched him
from sight, as the partners went to their work,
and then laughed mockin 1y.

“ What a fool 1 am! I lave not been so much
aflected for five years; I am worse than a school-
girl. I even believe I could call this handsome
Canyon Dave, my ‘hero,’ if he would give me
proper inducements. Bah! he would sneer if he

new of my passion, but l’ll w er a gold mine
under the Pacific that I hringafiiim to my feet
inside of a month. Done l”

And then this woman, herself the chief of
sneerers, cast hersclf on the lounge preparatory
to an afternoon nap.

Mean while in the bar room below, Miguel

, Perez smoked and drank as be reflected deeply
and laid plans for the future. He had expected
Persis to object most decidedly to his paying
court to Edna Parmenter, but ince she did not
he was resolved to make the mOst of it.

An hour later he left the hotel and the village
and climbed up the steep side of Camel’s Hump
until he was near the top.

He was still goin when a voice bailed him,
and, lookin aroun , he perceived a man sitting
on a rook u an indolent way. His own face

htened and he went forward.

‘ Taking an airing, captain?” he asked, with
a little de erence in his manner.

“I am lookin over my kingdom,” was the
calm mly “ here is a spendid view from
here. guel. Straight down lies the village,
and I can see men as they go and come from
the Alexis Hotel to get their fire-water. More
than that. I can see where are located the mines
of Judge Parmenter and Barclay Brothers, and
I mentally figure, as I sit here, what will be my
share of their routs.”

" PM do all can for you,” said Miguel.

“ Of course you will; it’s to your own interest,
and old is the lever that moves the world. I’m
not aptain Nevada because I love the life, but

use [want to get rich. If that day ever
comes, you’ll see me in ’Frisco, or further east,
playing the sport.”

“ You don’t look very rusty now,” said
Miguel, who had an ax to grind, and was using
flattery for a purpose.

Captain Nevada, for the man was indeed be,
stretched out his hand and laughed. He was a
rather handsome feIIOw, with his blonde hair
and mustache, his blue eyes and good form; but'
though his voice was soft and his smile actually
pleasant, those who knew him best feared his
deadly revolvers and the hot temper which was
terrible when aroused.

He was dressed in a suit of velveteen, with a
red sash about his waist, a yellow-corded som-
brero on his head, and'on the small hand be ex-
tended was a genuine diamond ring.

Such was the robber of Camel’s lump.

“ How is everything down below?" he ab-
ruptly asked, after a pause.

‘ All well and lOVely,” Miguel answered.

" No danger of that woman of yours getting
stubborn. is there?”

“Persia is all right,” said the Mexican, with
a sli ht show of annoyance.

“ on’t let her get indolent. I want to push
business and make money fast. SiIVer Spur is
going to be a lively village unless I get tripped
up before I get the whee s of my chariot well in
motion. I’m a- new-comer at Camel’s Hump,
but I’ve come to feed my ravens.”

 

On the following day, Edna Parmenter was
alone at her father’s house, her sisters. Milicent
and Helen, having gone out some time\ before;
so it fell to her ot to answer the knock which
sounded at the door.

She went and found a very sleek-faced China-
man outside, and at sight of her his face grew
more good-natured and happy than ever.

“ You her, all names?” he asked, holding out
a letter. .

Edna locked and saw her name written on the
envelope, but the handwriting was strange,
thou h evidently that of a woman. .

“ es, it is for me. Where did you get it?”

“ Gib to me, all names, welly little while ago
over there. Givee me dollar takes it here. You
say it for ou—all welly good. So longl”

he Ch naman walked away unnoticed by
Edna, who was readin the letter. It was signed
b the name of “ ’Gus kett," and stated that
age had been taken suddenly ill, and asked Edna
to call u n her at once.

Miss armenter did not for one moment sus-
pect that there was fraud in the note. She had

‘ never become acquainted with ’Gus, but she
knew her well by sight, and knowing that she
had deither sister nor mother of her own, did
not think it strange that she should send for her
in such a case. Without a particle of hesitation

' she decided to go.

 

’Her preparations were soon made, and leav-
ing the house, she left the village proper and
started for Brad Hackett’s cabin.

As we have before said, this little dwelling
stood outside of the village and at the side of a
ridge which was a sort of foothill for the Cnmel’s
Hump. Between the cabin and the village was
a wood which covered the space of two acres,
in a belt form, and was the only sign of‘ trees to
be found near Silve ' Spur unti the pines of the
upper peak were reached. .

Through this timber belt ran Edna's road, but
she had often crossed the ground before and
now approached it without a sign of fear.

Hence it was with mingled sur rise and alarm
that she saw four men sudden y emerge from
cover and block her way—all of whom were
strangers to her, while their garments were wild
and by far too gaudy for honest miners.

At their head was a dashing-looking fellow in
a velveteen suit, a red sash and a brigand~like
hat, and Edna did not feel particularly drawn
toward him even when he politely removed the
sombrero.

“ Good-morning my dear,” this man gallantly
said; “I see you have promptly answered my
letter.” ‘

“ Your letter, sir?” said the girl, pausing most
unwillingly. ‘ You are mistaken: I have not
receiyed any letter from you and I do not know

on.

y “Pardon me, but it is you who are mistaken.
You did receive my letter, or you would not be
here. I sent it by a John Chinaman; and, to
make the lever more effective, I signed the name
of our mutual friend, ’Gus Hackett.”

“ Then that letter was a forgery f"

Edna’s eyes were sparkling with sudden an~
ger and she gave the man the full benefit of her
opinion in her glance, but his smiling face did
not change. ‘

“ I suppose that is what you call it,” behind-
ly answered, “ I regard itas a little stratagem.”

“ But I consider it a contemptible trick, ’ she
boldly declared. disregarding the fact that she
was confronted by four strange men.

“ All is fair in love and war, my dear, as you
will acknowledge when leXplain. You see, I
have seen you and fallen in love with your
pnfistty face. I want you for my wife, but I

ow your stately parent would ob act to me,
so lusealittle strateg instead of icing him.
Why! Because I am ptain Nevada, at your
service.”

He bowed politely, but, for the first time, an
uneas look came to Edna‘s face. Captain Ne-
vada ad only recently appeared in the Silver
Spur country, but since his coming he had made
an unenviahle repu ation. He was a road-rob-
ber. and he might be worse.

“ Don’t be frightened,” he continued, as she
did not speak. “ Captain Nevada is only dread-
ful to his enemies. In your «use, he is your
most devoted and humble servant. I am goin
to take you to my palace in tho heart of Camel s
Hump, and once t. el'u we will live and reign
like a rinca and print-was of old.”

Du ng this address Edna had been thinking
busily. It was plain that the road-agent was
fully in earnest, but she had no taste for the life
he pictured. S m must and would escape, if such
a thing was )ossible.

He conclm ed his spncch with another mock-
ing bow, and she seiz -rl the opportunity to wheel
and attempt flight, but she had miscalculated
his own agility.

He ave one quick, light bound, and was by
her six o with his strong grasp on her arm.

“ Not so fast, my prett l” he said, still laugh~
ing. “ I can’t allow suc jokes at my expense,
and as a sign of your repentance you must here
and now give me a kiss rom our rosy lips.”

Edna was struggling in is grasp. but she
might as wall have fought against the moun-
tain. His muscles were of steel, and never
losing his temper. he drew her toward him to
carry out his threat.

An unlocked for interru tion came; a man
sprung from the bushes an sent Ca tain Ne-
vada tothe earth with one blow; an then. as
the girl’s champion, who was none other than
Otis Sprague, stepped in front of her, Canyon
Dave appeared close behind and both stood with
leveled revolvers.

" Hands up!" cried Dave, sharply. “ Wehold
the fort just at present, and the man who draws
lIiis weapons invites lead. Up with your hands,

as I

Tile were not fools, those knights of the road,
and t ey knew that before they could draw
their revolvers the new-comers could riddle
them, so up went their hands V83 gromptly.

Captain Nevada slowly regain 5 feet, his
unusual moderation causiu Canyon Dave to
sun t that he was maturing some plan. He
h received a heavy blow, but one which
would do him no permanent injury, and it was
rather surprising that he did not at once draw
and are.

Just then another man emerged from cover
and recanted a revolver at Nevada’s head.

“ ands up, you do !” he shouted. “ Give one
sign of resistance an out go vour brains l”

The last corner was Miguel Peres.

Plainly the game was in the hands of Edna’s
defenders. but all were surprised when Captain

 

Nevada sat down on a rock and began to laugh
as though
his life.

Very few would have acted thus when men-
aced with cocked revolvers, but there was a
vein of humor in the affair. As the reader has
suspected, the affair was all a plot devised by
the Mexican. The road-agent did not desire
Edna, but he had agreed to do his part to oblige
Perez, and that individual was to appear at the
crisis and act the part of a champion and hero.

Unluckily for erez, Sprague and Canyon
Dave had chancod to be near, and they had
usurped his cultivated honors; and when Perez
emerged from the bushes to take the crumbs
which fell from the real champions’ table, as we
me say, the gay road-robber was so struck
wit the ludicrous feature of the case that he
sat down and did justice to his feelings.

“ Carnju!” cried Miguel. fiercely, “this is no
laughing matter. The ladies of Silver Spur are
not to be thus insulted. Curse you! lam tempted
to put a bullet through your head.”

‘ Don’t do it,” answered Nevada, suddenly
arising. “It destroys the beauty of a corpse. to
have his head all banged to pieces. However. I
am disposed to let on have your own way in
this case to a certain extent. With your per-
mission I will retire.”

“ Don’t be so fast,” interrupted Sprague.
“Who are you, and why have you molested
this lady?” i

“ He says he is Captain Nevada,” explained
Edna, with a coolness which might in a con~
siderahle degree have been due to Sprague’s pro—
tecting arm.

 

CHAPTER V.
mum. mans ANOTHER run.

Enlu’s reVelation fell with considerable force
on each one of the men, thou h the eflect was
not alike on all. Nevada, EMiguel and the
minor robbers were wondering how they were
goin to get out of their dilemma, while Can-
yon ave and Sprague, who had suspected the
eader’s identity from the first, grew more bel-
ligerent than ever.

“ We are glad to meet you, Captain Nevada,”
said Dave, “and I believe you are wanted at
Silver Spur.”

The smile on the robber’s face gave place to a
more serious and, at the same time, hostile look.

“See here, you young idioti” he said, “ let
me give you a word of advice. Don’t step on
the tail of a rattlesnake unless you have his
head in limbo. I don’t aspire to a quarrel with
you, and I’ll go uietly about my business if
you don’t object, ut if you ~ush me. to the
wall, look out for the claws of ‘aptain Nevada.
I‘Ve blowed my bugle and now you can try

ours.”

“We hold the drop here and we mean busi~
ness in dead earnest,’ said Canyon Dava. “You
are wanted at the village and we propose to
take you in.” .

“I advise you not to try,” said the road-
agent: and then he removed his hat and began
fanning himself with remarkable coolness.

Meanwhile, Miguel Perez had been frantically
trying to think of some way to end the scene in
Captain Nevada’s favor. At the best, it was:
clear that Canyon Dave nnd Spragne had
wrested the honors from him, and be resolved
that the road-agents should escape even though
he injured himself in aiding them.

He knew their courage and that all that was
necessary was to free them for one moment
3mm the miners revolvers, and be resolved to

o it.

Consequently, he suddenly pushed forward
and thrust his revolver almost into the face of
the robber capt in.

“ Caraja I" he cried, “ you shall go and you
shall hang, you dog!”

All this was aim is enough, but in thus push—
ing to the front, .eres he walked between the
outlaws and the revolvers which covared them.
and the result was startling unu so quick as to
be . bewildering.

Nevada prom tly knocked Peres down. 0"
seemed to and n another instant all the. rob~
bars were in the bushes and making and their
retreat. followed onl by a few wild 5 lots. ‘

Canyon Dave might ave pursued more rem--
lately, but Peres lay flat on the ground and
Sprague could not leave Edna; and as it would
hard y be policy for him to ursue four men
alone, the mountaineer kept h 3 place.

“ Confound the luck l" he muttered, “ we have
lost our game after neatly bagging it!”

“Allbecause of that fellow on the ground.”
said Sprague. looking sourly at Perez. ‘° Play a
measure of Yankee Dood e on his ribs with
your boot and see if he is alive.”

“ No. no i” interposed na. “ He aided you
at the first, and it was thoughtlessuess on his
part that he passed in front of your revolvers.”

“Bless you, we won’t harm him,”
Sprague, laughing. “ I don’t love his race, but
I never kick a man when he isdown. Benet
lOok after him, Can on Dave.” '

But just then M guel, who had merely been
feigning insonsibility saw fit to roll over, and,
after looking about im as thou h dazed, to
loudly lament the amazed Cantu fl Nevada-

Shortly after, ’Gns kett appeared, going

be had met with the greatest joke of

u. .

 

l
I
i
i

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

c

. . 31- .

9

Canyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain,

4.;

 

toward her home, and when fully convinced
that the letter had been a forgery, Edna de-
cided to return to the village.

Preparations for departure were made by
Dive pairing with ’Gus and Sprague with Edna
and Perel, thus left out in the cold first walked
on until alone and then swore in Spanish until
his. troubled mind was a little relieved.

Realflly, his plan had been a lamentable fail-
‘ use. 8 had failed to figure as the hero of his

.ntle plot, and, worse than all the rest another
man had ap ared and so conducted himself
that he had allethe credit of beating off the rob-
burs, after which of course- he Would be consid-
ered a hero by Edna.

“ 0b, curse the luck!” the thwarted Mexican
exclaimed, as be ground his heel into the earth.
" Why did i Wait so long? Five seconds more
and it would have been me, not these infernal
miners, who would haVe Come to her rescue."

iiis anger had turned l otly against the two
partners, especially Otis Sprague, in whom he
saw a dangerous rival. He was a man still on
the bright side of thirty, good-looking, as Perez
was frank enough to confess, and it would be
the most natural thing in the world if th - thread
of romance thus begun should go on to an ac-
tual low- affair.

“ Oar-njo ! I will kill him if he dares think of
it 3" Miguel hissed. .

Suddenly a new expression shot across his
face and he put his hand in his pocket and drew
out a small tin box. He opened it and looked
with a dark smile at the gray powder it con-
tniucd.

-“Onc pinch of that ends the life of the man
vi ho takes it,” he muttered. “ Why should I
not take a stitch in time, as the Yankees say,
and stop the mischief of this accursed miner?
By my life, I will. Aha! we will see who
wins!”

He star‘th through the bushes at a trot and
Soon reached a point opposite the eas:ern end of
the village. So far, for very good reasons, Le
had kept under cover, but as he neared a small
cabin near the end of the main street, he first
looked carefully about to make sure that as was
not observed and then strode to the building.

lt was simple, like that of most miners, only
a place to sleep and eat, but it was all that he
desired. The sight of half of a. mountain sheep
hanging from {peg caused his eyes to sparkle,
but as he starte toward it, he suddenly used.

Upon the rude table was a black bott e. He
lifted it, smelt of the contents and found it to
be wuisky. ‘

“ Good! good!” he commented, “ this is better
still. i will add that to their drink which shall
make them sleep forever.”

Then he a aiu drew the box of gray powder
from his poo at and poured n tablespoonful of
the stuff into the bottle, after which he shook it
thoroughly.

“ It is done!” he then muttered; “ when they
drink of that stuff they are dead men. and no
one will stand between me and Edna Parmen-
tcr. Aha! it is not safe to meddle with Miguel
Perez.”

He smiled as though greatly pleased at some-
thing and th u left the cabin and returned to
the wood, aking his way in a roundabout
course back to the Alexis Hotel, where he found
Persia Ripley awaiting him.

“ Well, what luck?” she asked.

“The worst," he growled, as he flung himself
into a chair. “ Your plan worked just like all
women’s schemes, just as I knew it would.”

” Why, you told me this morning that it was
sure to succeed.”

“I was trying to keep my courage up,” he
muttered, unwilling to confess that he was find-
ing fault because he knew he was safe in venting
his finger on his partner in villainy.

“ Te l the about it ” she quietly said.

_Hengnve full part culars of everything exccpt
his Vlfiit to the cabin, and Persis, in her way,
f‘xlm’SE“d her Bym thy and encouraged him to
ho )e for the gifts 0 the future.

ecretly, he did have a good deal of hope, but
it was because he had mixed the y wder
in the liquor at the cabin. When 53‘s fimgue

and Can on Dave had swallowed a little of

that at , their lives would not be' Worth a
pica une.

“ begin my work tomorrow,” said Persis,
.abm tly.

“ hl—and how?”

“Well, I shall visit Barclay Brothers, and,
also, Judge Parmcnt r, and then we will see if
1 have lost my old powers of fiscin diou.”

‘D3 your best, Persia, for Captain Nevada
r‘xpects it,”

“ Th" bold brigand shall .be satisfied, but, at
t‘c same time. it is possible that we may gain
more than he.” '

“ In what way?”

“WP”. Mlg'leli‘ynu know it is our creed to
look out for ourselves first of all. Suppose,
then, while seeking to fascinate these inin
owners so as to transfer their gold from thcir
own pockets to those of Noycda and the band—-
suppose that, in doin this. I so fascinate one
of them that he ma es an ofler of marriage.
Hadn’t I better accept and leave Captain Nevada
to shift for himself! ‘ x

“ He would betray you."

/

 

“ I believe, Mi 01, that we know how to use
our knives. Let evada prove ugly and I will
put him of! the stage forever.”

“ So far, very good," said Miguel slowly, “ but
your proposed plan leaves me out in the cold,
and robs me of you." -

Persis laughed quiet] .

“ Bah! do you think would settle down to a
humdrum life with any of these drudging fools?
No; once let me get my hands on their money-
bags and then we will clear out and leave my
lovmg husband disconsolate.”

Miguel showed his white teeth in an appreci-
ative smile.

“Bravo, 'da mia,” he said. “ With all
these plans we ought to fill our empty arses,
and then, hurrah! for another season in t 6 gay
capital of Mexico!”

CHAPTER VI.
A mssmo HEIRESS.

A FEW weeks before the events of our last
chapter, on a pleasant afternoon, a man was
walking along one of the finest streets of San
Francisco. He came at length to a house which
be scanned with close attention and then ascend-
ed Ihe steps and rung the bell.

The summons was ausWercd by a gray-haired
negro, to whom the applicant nodded familiarly
as he entered without ormaiity.

“ How do you do, Cleon? How is Mr. Brown-
ing?” he asked.

“ 1‘s well, Massa Harper, but-l’s afeered de ole
massa is about gone, sah,” replied Oleon, with a
profound sigh.

“ Is be worse?”

“ He's growin’ weaker, sah, an’ de doctor
lopkg mighty anxious. Go right up and see him,
sa 1.

Thomas Harper went up the wide stairway,
but when his back was turned toward Cleon his
look of grave conCern gav place to a smile.

“ Almost gone!” he thought, exultantly. “ He
can’t lastlong, and when he is once out of the
way I shall knOW just where I stand. What
will be my reward for years of plotting, fawn-
ing and waiting? it can’t be any trifle, for old
Sile h sno heirs except that girl who disappear-
ed fifteen years ago, so mysteriously, an am
sure she will never 'be found. Perhaps I will
get twent -flve or even fifty thousand dollars; I
ought to, at we will see. Well, now to play
the sympathizing friend.”

He entered a room which had two occupants.

One was a tall, impressive—looking man, a
physician, if appearances went for anything;
but the second, wholay upon a b (I, seemed like
one near his earthly joumey’s end. His face
was very pale, and he scemed to breathe with
difficulty.

He raised his hand with an effort and Harper,
taking it between his own, anxiously spoke.

“HOW are you, today, Brownngi I do be-
lieve you have more c wlor; and I think Doctor
Moore will pull you through yet.”

“Uselcss, Thomas, useless,’ was the faint re-
lv. “ I know your goodness of heart, your
riendship, but it cannot mend my body. Tell

him the situation, Doctor Moore, as plainly as
you have me.”

The eyes of the Ebysician and the visitor met.

" Before a. wee ,’ said the former, steadily,
“all will be over. Medicine cannot save what
is so surely destined for the grave.”

“ Oh! doctor, is it possible? Is there no hope?
You say there is no positive disease.”

Thomas Harper had grasped at the back of a
chair, and Moore quickly arose, offered him a
glass of water and forced him gently into a
seat.

“ You are faint,” said the man of medicine;
“You must not excite yourself. Be calm, for
death is the inheritance of mankind. There is
none so poor, and noneso rich as to lose their
heritage. in the case of Mr. Browning, it is a
gradual sundering of the strands of life. Our
existence hire is, if I may use the comparison,
like that of a boat tied by arope to a wok in the
ocean. The storms beat upon the boat, just as
they do on mankind, and, little by little, the
rope is worn and weakened. When the last
strand is severed the boat drifts away.” ‘

A brief silence followed this long speech, and
the solemn manner of the physician threw a
gloom over Harper’s feelings which enabled him
to easily act the sorrowful friend while he re-
mained, and which speedily sent him to a liquor
saloon when he was outside.

“ Confound that doctor!” he muttered. “I
am actually afraid of him. He ought to be a
gravo digger,and then he could solilcqnize abt of.
such things all he wishes. I hope he will hurry
up his killing of old Browning !'

Evidentlv. fate intended to be kind to him,
for on the following day came news that Silas
Browning had finished the battle of life, where—

upon, Harper, forgetful of the fact that he was ,
‘ heiress.

fifty years of age, executed a dance of joy.

he had desired this occurrence for sixteen
years, ever since his sister, Martha, married the
rich man.

It had been a union upon which Heaven sure-

 

iy never smiled, for on the part of Martha Har- '

r it had been one of sordid interest and dc-
ibbrate plotting. Browning was rich, while
she and her worthless brothu', Thomas, were as

l

poor ...I they were unscrupulous; but Martha’s
arts won the day and she became the second
Mrs. Browning.

The second, because the rich man had once
before been married; and Martha became a
step-mother when she became a. wife. Brown--
ing bad one child, a daughter, which had sur-
vived his first union, and he believed he was
s. curing some one who would care tenderly for
the orphaned babe. _

Perhaps it would have been so, but, a year
later, when little Miriam was three years of
age, she had been stolen and no clew to her
whereabouts ever obtained.

Two children were born of Browning’s second
marriage. but neither of them long survived,
and, twelve years later, the rich man found
himself again a widower.

We may here say that the death of Martha
was the bitterest blow Thomas Harper had ever
received. Not that he cared so very much for
her, though she was his sister, but she had all
along helped him a good deal and he was hoping
she would some day be the sole possessor of
Silas Browning’s wealth.

His emotion at ht r death found vent in curses
both loud and deep, strange mourning for a
sister’s loss; but when he had recovered his
mental equilibrium he set himself to the task
of being the ,id0wcr‘s best friend, and as he had
never been rebuffed, he hoped for a good deal
now the man was dead.

Ilar r knew he had left no relatives to in—
her“ is roper y. except that one baby girl
who had ecu stolen fiitcen- years before, and
Thomas lad good reasons for believing she
would not appear to claim the inheritance.

Mr. Browning’s funeral occurred, Harper
managed to sque-ze out a few tears over the
coffin. and then only the reading of the will re-
mained to be done as the closing act in the
drama of sixteen years’ duration.

It was read in the parlor of the family house,
in the resence of a doz~n friends, amt ng whom
were octor Moore, Harper, and Clean, the
black servant.

First of all, small legacies were devised to
certain parties, including one to Clean, and
then came a clause which created some surprise
around the room and especially afiected Thomas
Harper.

“ The residue of my estate shall be held in trust ‘

for the space of one year by the executors, to be
disposed of at the end of that time as follows: ,1:
my daughter, Miriam Agnes Browning, stolen by
antes unknown, in the year 18—, shall within that
ime return to claim her own, or shall in an man.
her be discm'ered, all this property shall came

here on hcr twentv-first birthday, and during her -

minorilv Thomas I nrper shall be her disc and
have full management of the estate, w th ten thou»
sand dollars at the end of that time as recompense
for his labor: but if the said Miriam Agnes Brown-
ing be not found, all the residue of the estate shall
go to the --— Hospital."

And Harper, Moore and Lawyer Oakes were
named as executors. - -

That ni ht, in the solitude of his chamber,
Thomas arper again indulged in a flood tide
of profanity. He had been baffled after sixteen
years of plotting; and to him the bulk of Silas

rowning’s wealth would never come.

“ It’s nothing if the irl isn't found, and it’s Q,

about the same if she s,” be thought, savage] .

“Ten thousand if I find her while she will
get a hundred ti:ou.~aud. By ove- .' half be-
lieve Brownirg suspecttd that I knew of her
present whereabouts; else why did he make
such a will? If she is not found 1 remain a beg-
gar: if she is I get ten thousand dollars. By
my life, Ibelieve that was a bid for my cfloris
to find the fair Miriam; but 1 won’t do it.‘

What! take ten thourand and get her all the '

rest of the property for whichIhavesolong
schcmcd? I guess not. I’ll see the whole
business— But wait' there is one thing more."

An eager look he come ulpon his face, and
his eyes sparkled as he looked xedly at the fire
in the grate.

“ if she is found,” he slowly muttered. “ I am
to'have entire charge of the estate for the space
of two years. Aha! that changes the aspect of
affairs.”

It certainly did, in the days when men pur-
loin, pilfer, embtzzle and absorb other people's
pro rty as thcy did then and still do.

I isims of wealth one: more began to roll
across Plum r’s vision, and after a careful sur-
vry of the whoic field he suddenly sat upright
and rub! (d his hands together.

,“I gucss Miriam Agnes Browning ,will be , I

found within n year,"l‘.e said, laughing. "‘ 1m
advertise for her, and I’ll bet my ten thousand
against a fox-skin thatit will result mr-re sno—

Cessfullv than old Browni "s efforts of long!
After I‘ve advertise for about three‘.
months or so i dare say a letternwiilprrive ,
which will give some infcrmation of the leaf: "

9530.

Mr dear Harper, I see a golden {unite
for you, after all.” ' I

CHAPTER VII.
COYO'KE mm.

ANY intelligent. man who looked on Coyote
Cliff, California, in the your of NW “NV. would
law.- liu in winix‘g to vi 3291‘ hi~ hut dollar” that
it v..u‘.2 llCVcl‘ be deemed a; {Cl 3:; r;

t

5,.

\

, palled to live there for five years.

,trust those Coyote people—they were either
8

6.; 

._ Cg’IIYQn Dave. the

 

and the miner who swung pick there for a

while would be just as willing to stake his carn- .

ings against a blind mule that nobody would
evor make a decent livin there.

Yet, it had seen its gold
saken looking mountain bowl, :1 score of people
still eked out a living, too lifeless and indolent
to strike for better soil.

Once, a stage had rattled through Zephyr
Pass, three times a week, but its rattle was no
longer heard, and those who c'nme and went
bad to do so through means of their own inVen-
tion.

One afternoon, some weeks subsequent to the
death of $1th Browning, two horsemen rode .nto

flurry, and in the for- :

Zephyr Pass with their faces toward Coyote ‘

Cliff,
These men were Thomas Harper and (‘leon,
the negro, and the latter shivered as he looked

up at the black rocks which towered above.

them.

" ‘Fore de Lord! sah, I’s’ most afccrd ter ride
fru here,” said he.

“ Why so?” Harper demanded. “ You don’t ,
suppose that road-agent or red—skin would take ,
rout in such a place, do you .3"

“ No, sah, but it am dre’ful gIOomy.”

Harper did not answer, but he silently agreed
with the negro and he was thinking busily.

“ Old Huldah is a jewel. I told her to hide in
the remotest place of the Sierra Nevada, and,
surely, no-place Could be more out of the world
than this. I wonder what sort of a girl my
ward will be? She is a woman now, in years,
but I doubt if she can even tell oneVletter from
another. Old Huldah would not teach her, and
in Coyote Cliff there are no pedagogues.”

“ [ s'pose we’ll see (16 young missy in ’bout an
hour,” said Cleon, who had no fancy for the
darkness.

“Yes; at last, the heiress is near her fortune.”

“It was dre'ful lucky your ad’tisement suc-
ceeded so wal.”

“Yes, and it was providential. too. What a
strange fortune has been Miriam’s. As near as
1 can judge, she was stolen by persons who took
her to sea, the veSs-el was lost. some kind soul
tied the child to a box and gave it to the waves;
it was found by the rude fishermen and carried
to Portland, on the Columbia riVer, and there
it has lived, cared for by a rough but kind
hearted woman, until five years ago, she came
to Co ote Clifl’. None of poor Miriam’s protec-

 

Tors were reading persons. so they did not see
Browning’s advertisements, but, luckily, one
Tom Trueaxe, a miner of Covote Cliff, saw m
own advertisement, and our Miriam was, or wi 1
be, restored to us by means of the garments she
wore when she was a babe. That is the whole
story in brief.”

“You‘s done mighty wul to find her, Massa
Hal er!”

“ t was Providence, Cleon, an overruling
Providence. I was but an instrument thereof."

Mr. Harper looked upward with a fur-away
sort of expression on is face that made him
l'mfinble'fi country preacher among a small
iloc .

A little later, however. they emerged from
Z iphyr Pass and Coyote Cliff lay before them.
A bleak, dismaldooking lace, with dull brown
rocks everywhere. with ittle water and not a.
sign of vegetation, but, still, the place they
sought. .

As they rode along a few miserable lookin
beings stared at them from wretched huts, an
even Thomas Harper shuddered at the thought
of a person, naturally intelligent, being com~

He in uired of one for the cabin of Tom True-
axe, an then, bidding Cleon remain with the
horses and watch them closely for he did not

thieves or ange , that was certain—he went to
the hut in question.

Entering without ceremony, he saw by a
stone slab which answered for a table a man of
middle age, and, by far, the m0st prepossessing
looking person he had yet seen at the camp.
He seemed to have been Well-fed, and his fea-
tures were not only keen but intelligent.

“ You are Tom Trueaxe, I take it,” said
Harper.

“ Ri ht,” admitted the man, tersely.

“ W are is Huldah?"

be man suddenly sat erect and his sha

 

nize a blooded hm se.
“0h!” he ejaculated.
Tom Harper.”
“,1 am,” answered the visitor, disregarding
the familiarity of the other.
“ al, set down.
I’ll tell ye all about Huldah.”
“ Isn’t she here?”

“I take it you are1

Make yourself easy and 
: rence Parmenter, who then lived in a town near
i the coast.”

“ No, an’, ter ther best 0’ my knowledge, she i

never was. When last I see’d her, Coyote Cliff
wasn’t born; I ain’t set eyes on her for sixteen
year. mister.”

“Then why was I directed to inquire for you camp fifty miles south of here.

when I arrived at Covote Cliff!"
“ Because I am Hulrlah’s business agent.”

im Jatiently. " if you know where the woman is, :

tel me at once; if not, I will seek further for
what 1 wish to know.

“ You’ll look a long way store. you find Hul— .

dah. Wait; don’t get mad. Waita hit.”
Truenxe arose, went to a small trunk which
stood at one side of the room and brought out

paper, pens and ink—strange articles for Coyote ‘
Cliil’. '1'hen,up<_)n the paper, he wrote a few .

words and handed the paper to his visitor.

“Thomas H. Harpcr. San Francisco.”

Such were the words he had written, but it
was at the pcnmunship which Harper stared in
surprise.

“What does this mean 1" he asked, a sudden
change passing OVer his face.

Man of the .Mountain.

..__ i”, ‘12,”:1”. " ‘5'

 

“Because 1 reckoned you might some day
come around, an’ I wanted her put ye on the.

5 track as a reward fur takin’ ) our money fur all

thes» years.” '
“ Beware!” and Harper, sharply; “there is a.

 ti ick here.”

“Thar is not. l‘ll swear to all I say!"de--
clared Truenxe, earnestly.

“ \Vcll, tell your story.” '

“Hynr goes, straight nn’ true. Old Huldeh
put the lmbv on Parmenter's doorstun the night
nrter it was stole, on when they beerd it you]
they took it in. They had two babieSo’ ihcir
own, gals nn’ twins, an‘ jest the size 0’ t'other
one, an’ their hearts warmed to the little

1 stranger, an’ the upshot on’t was they resolved

“Simply that l have been the Huldah of your ‘

later years; that it was me who writ you all
them letters—yes, every one you ever had.”
A hot f‘urv

did not yet see where exactly.

“ Where, then, is the genuine Huldah?" he
demanded.

“I have not seen or heard from her for over

j fifteen years,” Trueaxe coolly said.

“ And the—the girl—where is she!”

to adopt it. ’Bouta week nrter that they movei‘
som’ers else, an" when they got there tl.cy ink

; folks the children was all theirs, triplets. and M»

amed in Harper’s face and eyes. i
‘ He knew there was a plot somewhere, but he

Harper had started to his feet. trembling with '

rage, fear and impatience, but the answer of
the miner came as steadily as ever:

“I never saw the gal.”

“Then. in Satan’s name, what does all this
mean!
acknowledging the receipt of money i sent to
huldah, and yet you say you have not seen the
old woman or the child for sixteen years. Ex
plain.”

“ I will,” said Trueaxe, lacidly. “Sixteen
year ago you hired old Hu dah to steal a child
0’ two or three years, agreein’ to give her a
certain sum for the act and then to pay her so
much per year fur takin’ care. of the child. the
only restriction on her bein’ that she should
keep away from San Francisco and live in the
ion -licst places she could find. Am 1 right!”

Harper had once glnnc (1 out of the. window,
but, seeing (‘leon where he bud left him, he al<
lOWed the man to go on.

“Yes,” he terser said.

“Wal, now I’ll show you how old Huldah
kept her art of the compact. She come for
me an’ said) that she wasn‘t goin’ fer be bothered
with no child, an’ that she was goin’ for put it
out o’ the way; after which i could keep up a.
correspondence with you an’ work the claim fur
all it was worth.”

“Trucaxe, was that child killed?” demanded
Har r, his eves blazing.

“ ait.
Wal, she did get rid of the child, an’ then she
went on one of her wanderin’ journeys an' I
ain’t seen nor hcerd 0’ her sence. I, however.

You have written the letters to me;

!

You shall hear about that. bimeby. ‘

made up my mind ter work the claim as she .

said. I went to the north 0’ the State an’ from
there wrote you, signin’ the name of Huldah
Jackson, an’ you sent me money ’cordin‘ ter
agreement: an’ ther business thus be un has
been kept up fur sixteen year. To b’ile t down,
Huldah an’ the baby ain’t received one penny 0’

your money. but you have kept a lazy cusSl

purged Tom Trueaxe in bread an’ butter like a
or . ’

The fellow smiled into Harper’s face, but the
latter sat overwhelmed by a realization of the
gigantic fraud which had been carried on
against him for a whole generation.

r A little while thus, and then a murderous
light shot into his eyes.

.“ You dog! You vile Scoundrel l” he shouted.
“I’ll have your blood for this! I’ll shoot—J’

He had drawn a revolver from his pocket, re-
solved to carry out his threat. but he suddenly

 

paused as Trueaxe thrust a like weapon against ;

is very face.

“ I’m one ahead 0’ ye, squire!” he grimly
said. “ Jest keep your shooter whar it is. fur I
mean biz, an’ cf you try to play rusty I’ll drop
you to stay. I’ve worked my mine until the
gold has gi’n out. an’I don’t care a continental."

Harper sunk back into his chair and cursed
and foamed for awhile, but he had found that
Truoaxe was his master with revolvers, or any
other warlike weapons requiring quickness and
experience. _

“Now that you begin .) cool off,” said the

‘ latter, anOn, “ I don’t mind givin’ you a bit of
' eyes looked his visitor over as one would scrut - i
I

a cleW.”

“ What is it?" Harper surlin asked, suspect-
ing another trick or trap.

“When Huldah put the baby away she tole
me what she did with it.”

" Ha! \Vhat did she say?”

“ That she put it on the doorstep of one Law-

“ Well. is be there now?"

(1 No. 7’

“ Do you know where he is?"

“Yes. He lives at Silver Spur, a mining-
He has been a
judge since the old days, an’ that’s what they
call him now, but he is at present runnin’ a

“How? Did you not say you had not seen » gold-mine at ther place I said.”

her for sixteen years?”
“Yes,” admitted 'l'ruenxe. with a grin.
“" here, I want to l’.oling,”said Harper,

no":

“You seem to have kept track of him Well."
“ So i, have.”
“ Whv ’f"

 

Ascoundrel !

while Harper looked at him in sullen fury.

they growed up tergcther, nn’ to this day in»
body knows which is which, an‘ which ain‘t n
Parinontcr, except the jedgc. His wife, )r-r
see, died five year ago."

“I don’t believe your story,” said Harper,
hotly.

“ “'al, it‘s all one to me, but I kin sw’nr Io ii.
I tell ye l’ve kcpt my eye on the Huldah tally
in a ginercal sort 0’ a Way.”

“You say she has been brought up as P..r-
menter’s own daughter!”

“ Yiis.”

“ And, of course, believes licrsclf to he s' f"

" Yas. ag’in.”

“And that no one exec pt Parmentcr input:
which of the three girls are his daughters and
which one is not?" _

" Exactly.”

“Prove your statement.” said Harper. irri-
tably, as he lit a cigar to soothe his nerves.

CHAPTER VIII.
ON Tm: ROAD TO SILVER sruu.

ToM 'l‘ltUEAXI-I (‘id not hesitate, but gave an
account of how, through one means urd an—
other, he had kept the Parmenter family in
hand for all these years. At the time the ( hild
was taken in by t 1c judge, one Sarah Carr had
been a servant. in the family: she formed the-
iirst link; and a miner who had lately come
from Silver Spur furnished the last.

Judge Parnienter still lived, as did the ti rec
girls, and as Sarah Carr had long been out of
the family, and Mrs. Parmcnter was dead, it
was plain that only the judge himself could
tell which one of the three was the doorstep
wuil’. .

While Trucuxe talked, Harper studied i.l>‘
face closely, and he ended by believing that the
man was speaking with sincerity. Strange and
improbable as the story might appear, Trueuxe
unquestionably believed it. .

“ Wcll, this is a devil of a sore ” Harper
growled, as his companion put in his last Lit of
cvidcnce. .

“ It is av» k’ard ,"' Trucaxe acknowledged.

“How in Tophet am 1 to discover which of
the children is the one I want?” '

” Maybe, ther judge will tell you.”

“More likely he will not. If he cares.
enough for the girl to have kept her all liltSH
years, he will probably prefer to keep her still."

“ I’m sorry fur you,” said Trucaxe. soberly.

Harper turned on him in a sudden fur .

“Don’t talk to me of pity you infernal

If I had my way. I would string
you and old Huldah up to the nearest tree. She
proved as treacherous as a snake, and you—
vou— Curse you! when 1 think how you have
lived off of me all these years I feel like shoot~
ing vou l”

"I wouldn’t, mister, of I was you,” said
TrueuXe, Carelesst cocking his revolver as
though through curiosity. “Shootin’ is like
courtin’; it takes tWO parties ter make et a suc—
cess. 0‘ course it r’iles you a bit, but I have a
sorrer let bear, too—my pension are cut off in
my old age.”

Trueaxe brushed away an imaginarytteifiir,

‘9
would have tried to shoot the fellow where he
sat, but, luckily. he had sized him and knew
that he was quicker on the trigger than himself.

“You orter be thankful,” cominued the cx-
pensioner, “that I didn’t take any unfair ad—
vantage 0’ you. 1 might have hunted you up
an’ bled you by thousands instead of hundreds.”

Harper started to his feet. '

“Enough!” he said, sharply. “I am done
with you, and, I hope, with Covote Cliff. The
air stifles me here; the place is like a tomb. 1
will go.”

He strode from the but without a word of
farewell, but Tom Trueaxe looked after him
with a smile.

“ Mehbe you’re done with me, an’ mebbe you
ain’t. Et wouldn't be quar cf 1 should show UV
at Silva Spur to share in the spoils. We will
see.

And Tom went back to his seat, took a drink
of whisky, and. lighting his pipe, settled down
to calmly consider the matter.

Meanwhile Cleon had been impatiently await
ing Harper’s return. The gloom of Coyote Cliff
inade him nervous and oppressed. The wretched
huts, with their, more wretched occu ants af-
fected him so much that he turned asi e to look

 

 

 

(

"u‘.

,____._.-—-——-— .. w—M

.— _...,,.._-_. M..,._._.-._.._..._

at the face of Nature.
fashioned the place? The bold, black hills of
stone, canyon-cut and cliff worked, seemed like
the desolation following an earthquake,

0n the top of a high rock a buzmrd sat and
rested from his flight; it was the only sign of
life visible beyond the huts.

Harper strode out and leaped into the saddle.

“ The girl is not here,” he shortly said. " We
have another journey before us.”

His manner prevented Clcon from asking
questions and they rode away in silence, but
half-way through Zephyr Pass, his ton e un-
loosed and he told a story to suit bimse f. He
had to blind even the negro, for Cleon had been
devoted to Browning, and it would never do to
let him suspect- all that had occurred in the
put.

They 'ourneyed as fast as convenient toward.

Silver pur, and when Ruggles’s Bar was
reached, Harper was glad to hear that he could
tnke a stage to finish his journey. He was tired
of saddle riding, and horses would be an incum-
brance at the miningcnmp to which they were
'0!!! .

E Acgcordingly, when Pete Hardy drove out of
the Bar that day, Harper and Cleon went as
passengers. They had two companions inside
the sta e, a pair of fl'lShllY—dl‘eSSOd young men
whom arper had no difficulty in analyzing.
Hi: had seen others of the kind in days of yore,
and if they were not gamblers or swindlers of
some kind, their looks were against them.

From. the first they looked curiously at Har-
per, but it was some time before they broke in
on his grim silence.

Their names soon appeared in their conversa-
tion, and were, if not aliases, Edward Ball and
James Carter. They talked learnedly of min—
ing matters, and might have caused an innocent
person to think they were gold kings of Cali-
fornia. ‘

Finally one of them turned to Harper.

“ Pardon, sir,” he politely said, “but are you
acquainted at Silver S uri”.

“ I was never there,’ said Harper, tersely.

“ Then I suppose you do not know much about
the accommodations of the town i"

“ Nothing,” he was kind enough to answer.
“,Do you think of investing in mining proper-

tyi’No.”

Harper looked straight at vacancy and tried
to make his manner as forbidding as possible,
but Ball was not a man to be easily batfl-d,
though he did get somewhat angry and resolve
to be revengerl.

“ It’s a wild place there, I hear,” he carelessly
continued, “ With a smart sprinkling of roughs,
shooters and cut—throats in general. I Slippose
you go prepared for emergencies?”

" I suppose so.”

The reply was vague, but Ball went on per-
severingly:

“ All you have to do is to drop your man, and
the roughs will let on alone.”

Harper changed is gaze so as to look square-
1 y into Ball’s face.

“Rest assured,” he said, “that I shall drop
my man if any one interferes with my busi-
ness.

It was a Very plain hint, and the glare which
accompanied it disconcerted the young man,
and he relapsed into silence; but Carter took
up the thread of conversation and began to
boast of his skill with revolver and knife, throw-
ing in abit of autobio raphical reminiscence,
which seemed to establish his reputation as a
remarkably dangerous man.

Ball oined in the chorus, and they were in
the ml at of a panorama of bloody victories
when the stage suddenly halted, nearly throw-
102 all from their feet.

‘The flashy young men began to swear, but

Moon. looking from the window, started visibly.
, “F?” de Lord, dar’s a lot ob men out dar

wid istols a-p’intin’ at de driver!” he said.

Ba 1 and Carter started in turn.

“ Road agents 1” uttered the former, ner-
vously.

Harper took a look for himself, and any the
same sight that had disturbed Cleon.

, “You are right,” he quietly said. “ We m
w beset by armed men, and now that I think of it,
I remember that I was told that One Captain
Nevada lords it over this trail. Come, gentle-
man. out with your revolvors.”

The speaker resolutely drew his own wea-

us.

“Don’t do it!” cried Ball hastil .

“ Why not?” ’ y

“They will kill us if we resist.”

“If we resist? Why, do you intend to let
those infernal thieves go throu h you!”

“ I tell you it is death to res st. Put up your
revolver and take it coolly, and all will be well,
but if we resist them, the Lord only knows
what they will do.”

Harper looked at the shaking pair with un-
disguised scorn.

. ‘9 And you are the two who Were boasting of
your courage and invincibility but a moment
ago?" he cried with sarcasm. ‘ You are coyotes
in lions’ skins; confound it, you are cowards!
Do on beer me’l”

ey heard, but neither had the backbone to

Was it Nature that had i resent the charge. '1

 

nyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain.

v

when plucking a stranger in the depraved Ii an:-
of their trade, or in working against men with
the odds in their favor; but to oppose a gang of
road-agents was not to their liking.

The stage-door was jerked open, and Captain
Nevada, handsome of feature and gay of dress:
as usual, appeared at the opening, a careless
smile on his face.

Harper eyed him as a caged tiger looks from
his bars; but in this case the fighting men of
the stage had his reVolver read ’ for use.

“Give you good-.vening am a warm greet-
in'r, sir pilgrims,” said the robber, cheerfully.
“ ’ve dropped around for toll. Just chuck out
your purses, jewels, and dead-head railroad-
tickets, per order Captain Nevada."

Before any one could answer, there was. a
shout outside, the report of a revolver, followed
by others in rapid succession, and Nevada
sprung away from the door.

Harper thrust out his head and saw a burly
man on a small horse charging through the
road~agents, firing a revolver with each hand,
and yelling like mad.

The sight thrilled the heiress‘seeker, and he
Enlist open the stage—door with a vigorous

to r.

“ A diversion in our favor. gentsi” he
shout-ed. " Follow me, and we will yet win the
match!” __

CHAPTER 1X.
SAWTOOTH SAM.

HARPER. leaped out of the stage, followed by
Cleon, who still retained a belligerent nature,
des )ite his gray hairs.

he unknown man was dealing death and
destruction as he rode, as was shown by several
hard-hit men on the ground, and his revolvers
worked with machine-like regularity: but just
as Ha r became failly ready for work, one of
the out aws shot the horse, and the rider only
saved himself by an agile leap. ‘

His chances looked poor then, but Harper and
Cleon sprung into the melee and began firing
rapidly. Both of them knew how to use their
weapons, and the affair waxed warm.

Suddenly a whistle rung out on the air, and
at the sound the robbers scattered. None of
their opponents exactly understood the order in
which they had gone, but they Went with quick-
ness and certainty, and the people of the stage
were. left masters of the situation.

The driver, lying flat on the seat to make him-
self as inconspicuous as possible, hnd aided in
the good work; and when the last enemy had
gone. Ball and Carter were‘seen on the ground,
flourishing their revolvers and howling for more
warfare; but it is a significant fact that their
weapons required no reloading.

What was mortal of two robbers lay on the
ground, and the hero of the fight, the stranger,
was trying to coax a little life back into his
fallen steed—a useless undertaking.

“ Durn their skins!” he suddenly exclaimed,
standing erect, “ they’ve bu'sted my boss right
in ther brain. an’ he is down ter stay. A hun-
dred good dollars gone canterin’ ter ther happy
huntin’-grounds an’ no equivalent ter fill ther
gap. Sampson was a good boss, an’ ther silent

ardner in ther firm 0’ Sawtooth Sam & Co.

her firm is hyarby dissolVed without our mu-
tual consent. Sampson can’t vote in ther case.
one way er nuther. Why can’t Sampson vote?
‘Canse he is gone whar good hosscs go.”

The speaker sat down on a rock, muffled his
head in a blanket and Seemed to give himself up
to mourning.

Harper looked sharply around to make sure
that the road-agents were really gone, and then
looked at the mourner with interest. He Was a
stout, rugged man, with nothing to distinguish
him from the average miner. His garments
were old and none too clean, his hair and beard
ample and bushy, while over his shoulders he
wore a dingy blanket which now serVed to hide
his face.

The stage driver had lighted his pipe, and,
lying lazily on the box. was calmly smoking.

He now raised his musical voice.

“ I opine we had better move on, of ther cir—
cus is over,”he said, “an’ of that pilgrim is
bound fur ther Spur, he had better unkiver his
eyes nn’ pile on somewhar.”

“ You are right, my friend,” said Harper,
starting.

He then approached Sawtooth Sam, as the
man had called himself, and touched him on the
shoulder.

“Get into the stage andI will make it all
right, my man,”he said. kindly.

The miner cast off his blanket but did not
arise.

“ Sad is my heart an’ black ther sky,” he said,
mournfully. “Sampson is gone an’ I am left
nlOue. a Widow an’ an orphan. But I alleys
knowed Sampson would not live ter be old.
\Vh y would he? Beca’se ther gifted are always
cut off in their youth.”

“ Never mind, my friend. I will myself pur-
chasc you a new horse.”

“ Don’t s’pose you. could give me a drink,
could ye?" _

Harper promptly produced a flask and the
“widowed ” man drank long and steadily.

hey were bray:- onnuzh  _ '
' ‘ fer stoppin’ ther mill till ther grist is ground,

 

l7

 

“ I say,” called out the driver, “ I am opposed

an‘ I would like ter land ye all in Silver Spur
as soon as possible; but of ther court is boulzi
ter take a session, s'posin’ you give me a nail
for my coffin.”

“Finish it,”
flask, “ and then let us all go on

He 5 oke impatiently and half pulled Saw-
tooth Sam within the coach, after which Pe‘e
Hardy gathered up the reins, cracked Li. whip
and they resumed their way. ‘

Evidently the whisky had had a cheering
effect upon Sawtooth Sam. He mourned no
longer, but talked so much that the others could
find place for but few remarks.

He, too, was going to Silver Spur as a.
stranger, but he was loud in his asm-rtions that
a golden future awaited hiln. There was gold
to be had for the digging, and he intended to

said Harper. paSsing up the

I

di .

liarper was not particularly pleased with him,
for the reason that he talked too much and
boasted too loudly, but over his mouth of brag—
gadocio run a bright thread of good—humor
which relieved its unpleasantness; and none of
them could fail to understand that lzis fighting.
had saved them from Captain Nevada.

\Vhen near the village. Pete paused to allow
his horses to drink, and Ba 1' improved the
chance to climb to a seat on t e box.

Thus it was that, as they passed two young
ladies at the edge of the line of houses, Harper
had a good look and at once grew interested.

Pete waved his whip in greeting, and his pas~
senger hastened to speak. ' ’

“Who are they?”

“ Dorters 0’ J edge Parmenter,” answered the
driwr, who had not forgotten his drink from
the flask. “ Helen an’ Milicent are their names,
an’ they hev got a mate 0’ the same kind. Ther
old 'edge has got what I call a consolidated
fam ly—only three ’sides hissclf, an’ they are ~
gals an' triplets at that.”

It was a very favorable opening and Harper
improved it by asking numerous uestions, all
of which Pete answered, but witlout placing
his passen er any nearer to the great object
which had rought him to Silver Spur.

“ Ther three are as much alike as three peas,”
said Pete, “an' I doubt ’f ther jedge knows
which is Helen, or which is t’other one till they
tell him."

Unlurkily for the peace of the young ladies.
the men on the box were not the only ones who
saw them.

Ball and Carter had not been blind. They
had Seen the girls and not ed their beauty, or d
with the freedom of their lawless natures, had
removed their hats in what they meant for gal-
lantry; but Helen and Milicent moved sercnl 1y .
on w1thout returning the greeting.

“ By George! here's a find,” said Ball. “ Two
as pretty girls as mountain air ever produced.
Shoot me if I don’t have some fun before I
leave the town.”

Carter was of the same way of thinking, and,
not considering Cleon or Sawto 1th Sam worthv
of notice, they allowed thei tongues full

sway.

The stage halted in front of t ' e Alexis Hole!
and the face of the landlord llamed with ('9-
light as the travelers unloaded. Such a win i-
fall had not come to his plalebefore since 't
was opened.

Harper soon took him=elf to] i. private room,
for he wanted a chance to rest a) .d reflect. He
had entered upon what might piove adiflicult
work, if Judge Parmenter did not see fit to
make a confession, and then, too, Cleon must be
hoodwinked.

He had thus far told a multitude of lies to
hide his crime of the past and his crooked deal—
ing of the present, for though the negro had ap-'
parentl y ncce ted all he said as strictly true. he
had for the Brownings a devotion which did
not extend to Thomas Harper.

d Their kindness of feeling was only surface

eep. .

Lighting a cigar, Harper sat down. by the
window where he could look out on the one
street of the village. and, soon after, the en~
trance of a Mexican-looking man to the hotel
was followed by the sound of voices in the ad-
joining room.

This was the interview between Miguel Pam
and Persis Ripley, after the former had put gn-
son in the liquor at Otis Sprague’s cabin; ut
Harper was not sufficiently interested to play
the eavesdropper.

His own affairs were too important for him to
meddle with those of others.

The conversation soon ceased, but, just as it
was growing dusk, Harper saw a woman closely
vailed, leave the hotel and walk toward theeut.

CHAPTER X.
A MYSTEMOL‘S sno'r.

CANYON DAVE and Otis Sprague werercturn-
ing from their day’s work in a contented mood.
Their luck had been good and gold had [been
found, while Otis, at least, had another cause
for joy. He had been able to render valuable
assistance to the woman he loved, and he would
have been more than human had he no‘ hoped
that he would win fresh favor by his in" Film of

 

8

 

Edna Parmenter from the hands of Captain
Nevada.

They reached their Cabin. sat down and made
a. hearty supper of! their plain food.

“lreckon we will be able to livn in better !

sot.er after a few months at SilVer Spur,” said
tis.

“ I hope so,” replied Dave, “ for, to be frank,
I am getting tired of wild life. I began it at
fifteen, and I’ve kept it up ever since. I have
been about everything thata man can be in the
West, and I
when I was hunting grizzlirs up in the moun-
tains: but now I feel as though I Would like to
get rich and plant my picket-pin in a more
civilized pluce.’

“ Shall I tell you why?” Otis asked, smiling:

“ Go on.”

“ You have seen ’Gus Hackctt.”

Sprague seemed to think his words sufficient,

was never more contented than ;

‘

 

l “Then ho has taken to flight,” said the wo~
. man, arising, and revealing the face of Persia
' Ripley. “ He pursued me until I ran into your
i cabin, and—and I was dreadfully frightened.”

, She leaned heavily upon the mountaineer,
‘ but he was not visibly affected. He had not
seen life all the way from Puget’s Sound to the
Gulf of California without learning to read hu-
man nature; and one glance was enough to
brand the woman an adventuress. She might
have been frightened as she said, but the possi-
bility that she told the truth failed to arouse his
chivalry.

“You’re safe now, at any rate.” he coolly
said. “My friend is a bad man in a fight, and
if your enemy reappears, I venture to say he
will get his teeth knocked out.”

“I think he was one of Captain Nevada’s
men,” I’ersis faintly added. .

 

but the mountaineer did not answer at once. 1
Reset with his hand shading his face. ldtlklllg :

steadily at vacancy, but. at last, he looked with
a gram; but friendly expression.

“And you haVe set-n Edna Pnimentcr.” he
replied, slowly. “ We understand each other,
Spragne. but it's a long step ahead. I hava

always despiSed the weakness which acknowl- :

edges presentiments. but, somehow, I feel as

“Confound those fellows! they ought to be
exiled from Silver Spur!” said Canyon Dayc,
frowning, and, releasing himself from Persis,
he raised and lowered the hammer of his revol~
ver sevPral ti nus in succession. “ Do you see a
cloud of dust, pard ?”

The last inquiry was addressed to Spruguc,
who was plainly shocked at this show of levity.

“There is no onein sight,” he said, “and your

‘ persecutor probably hastened to get into his

thoulgh there was trouble ahead for me, at least." ,

” onsense!
You love a girl comparatively poor, like your~

Your case is better than mine. ‘

Celt“; while I, beggar that I am, worship a rich .

man‘s daughter. The case demands medical
treatment, therefore let us imbibe.”

Upon the table stood a disk of whisky,an
article always necessan in a wild Country.

They kept it for emergencies, but Sprugue be- r
; I’ersis to the Alexis Hotel, with Dave for n

lievi-d the present case of that nature.

Had he known, however, that Miguel Perez 3

had been in the cabin and poisoned the stuff, he
would have been less eager to drink.

He li: led the flask and held it above his head
between them.

"Lacking glasses. we will use the stuff with-
out recourse to form. Take it, Canyon Dave,
and drink to our suCCess."

He extended the flls‘k. but at that moment
there was a dull report and a crash of gins<, and

the flask fell to pieces in his hand and went in ;

fragment-S to the table, over which the Whisky
had already run.

Both men started to their feet, and stood gaz-
ing in amazement at the ruin, but they know well

- enough that it had been caused by a bullet fired

through the door; and Canyon ave suddenly
snatched a revolver from his belt and darted
from the cabin.

Not a person was visible.

He made a circuit of the cabin, and then re-
turned to the door, laughing as he saw Sprague.

“ Did you get him ?" the latter asked.

“'Didn’t see a sign.”

“ Then, what are you laughing at?”

“The Joke, my dear fellow. Of course that
bullet was not intended for us—which would be
a serious affair—but for just the purpose it ac—
complished. Some fellow ofa playful turn of
mind played a trick on us.”

" We lest a half a pint of whisky by it,” said
Sprague. struggling betWeen anger and amuse»
merit. “Suppose you break your leg to-mor—
row?”

“ Ohl confound the whisky! Cold water is
just as good l"

They turned tore-enter the cabin. when D1 vo’s
sharp eyes saw something new. A bit of white
paper fluttered from the wall beside the door,
and when he saw‘ that it was pinned by a knife,
it began to assume bounces-like pro ortions.

He carried it to the. light and saw t ese words,
evidently hastily written, for they Were but a
scrawl:

“Are you mad? Do not drink that stuff unless
you want to die. It is poisoned. and one draught
would kill you. Take heed to your going and com-
‘ing, and kee) your cabin locked, or your lives will
be taken by t c )owerful enemies you have at Silver
Slur. I am oh] ged to make this letter anonymous,
but you shall some day know me, and m:l:lr<‘>wl(xl'.:e
that I am, Youa FRIEND."

The men finished reading together, and then
looked at each other questionin '| y.

“ Comments are in order,” said Canyon Dave.

“Well, part of it is plain enough, providing
that it was poisoned. We have an unknmvn

fiend who has saved our lives, but I don’t
new who that friend is. Again, it may be all
a “eke upon us from first to last, and—”

t nrugue paused suddenly, for a woman had
darted through the door, flung herself at Dave’s
feet. and caught his hand.

“ SaVe me! save me!" she cried, wildly.

Dow dr w a revolver, while his friend, with
a air ready for use, strode to the door.

‘Whn‘t’s the riot, miss?” asks-d the mountain-
eer, Somewhat amused at the dramatic feature
of the case.

“ A man! a dreadful man l" shivered the lady,
nerVousl y caressing his hand.

“ l’m another. miss: but if you think the
other the Worse of the two, I’ll try to keep him
off my c'aim.”

At this moment Sprague turned his head.

“ There ain’t nun nor woman, chick nor
child, in sight,” he said. .

- will give him one more chance.
make him care for me as [care for him—I swear v
itl”

 

den as soon as he saw you seek our cabin.”
“ At the same time,” said Dave, With a sudden
idea in his head, “ he may be lurking near.

Let me unfold a plan and we may catch him j

yet. You, Sprncuc. shall walk home with this ‘

lady, while 1 will rklllk along in the rear, and if

any (listurbcr appears, out goes his headlight.”
This plan was executed, thouch no one seemed

to feel much zeal iu the case. Sprague escorted

rear guard, but no enemy appeared and the
trip was quite monotonous.

I’luinly, all three were busy thinking, how-
evr-r.

One-3 in her room, Persis sunk into a chair
and her free assumed a look of iury.

“ He laughed at me!” she hissed; “he dared
to laugh at incl"

There was something in her speech which was
like the play of a deadly serpeut‘s tongue, and
her face was pale from anger which almost
choked her. As she sat there, shivering us from
cold. her 11 die cutting,r her white hands. she gave

the impression that Canyon ,Dave might yet be ‘

sorr that ho had laughed.

“ Could have kilch him when he so coolly
put me on that thick-headed Spragir , and on
my revolver was still the smoke of the shot
which had saved his life. 1 almost wish now
that I had al10wed Miguel Perez to have his
way, and poison them both. But A10, riol I
- y,

Meanwhile Otis had been lecturing his friend
at the door, and even Dave‘s positive (assertion
that the woman was an adventuress failed to
wholly quiet his partner’s conscience.

They returned to the discussion of the mys-
terious shot and equally mysterious letter.

Sprague was inclined to think the Whole af-
fair a. practical joke, but Dave took the matter
up more vigorously.

“I believe that. it is somebody’s scheme to
gain our favor. At any rate, that note was de-
liberately written. The scran was a disguise.
Is it likely any one would stand outside the door
in the darkness and write so lengthy an epistlc?
No it was written in advance.”

‘1 Which goes to show that it was all a prac-
tical joke,” interrupted Sprague.

“It can be used as a strong argument in that
direction, but i incline to m expressed theory.
Some one is playing a eep game, and tho
cloven-hoof Will show sooner or later. Just
keep your eyes open and see. All things have
a meaning, and so ha our adventure of to-
night.”

 

CHAPTER XI.
A SURPRISE FOR CANYON DAVE.

CANYON DAVE had argued with considerable
force and correctness, but eyen philosophers fre—
iguently fall short in their intellectual flights.

cginning well, the mountaineer failed to con-
nect Pvrsis Ripley with the events which had
preceded her arrival, while toward her he felt
an indifference which was hardly to his credit.

He had shrewdly suspected that her alarm
over the mysterious man who had ursucd hcl'
.was'not wholly sincere, and he s ould have
kn0wn and remembered that when a woman of
the world docs that which is not natural to her
she usually has a scheme of some sort in mind.

Being so near to the bur-room of the Alexis,
Otis pl‘()p')§0(l that they enter, and they passe i
within. found seats and dropped into them to
watch the crowd.

Business was good that night, and the red-
faced and stalwart miners threw away their
dust in mutual “treats” with the recklessness
of men who are doing well financially.

There was gold about the village, and the sa-
loons received the principal benefit.

Besides the Common patrons, there were some
men who were good clothes strangers and oth-

 

erwise. At one table Ball and Carter were

will 1‘

 

 

 

l

Canyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain. I - i ,

l

 

playing cards with two men of Mexican ap-

pearance; Thomas Harper leaned against the

Wall and curiously surveyed the scene, while he

was in turn closely observed by Miguel Pere

330 had thus far failed to perceive Dave an
is.

Finally the Mexican ap roached the man
from San Francisco and n ded pleasantly.

“You do not play, senor," he said, waving
his hand at the various tables.

“Not for small stakes,” said Harper, care--
lessly.

“Ah!” murmured Miguel, softly. “What do
you consider one worth playing for?”

“ Life!” said his companion, calmly. “It isa
game we all play, even from our cradles, and
the moves are numerous. ‘We should play care
fully, too, for our opponent, Death, never sleeps
and never misses a chance. It’s a grand battle,
 for the man who wins does so against great
0 ds.’

“Ah—h!” breathed Miguel. “You are a—
what do you call il?-feclosopl“91‘, I think You
look l‘encm h the surface and see the blood under
the cuticle.”

“ I wish I could,” muttered Harper.

“ Pardon, senor.”

“I was only thinking nloud.”

“ And you never plm i"

“Not with cards. Miniature battles are not
to my liking. What will you take!”

It. was a question which has bridged over
many a difference of opinion, and the two stood
up at the bar to drink and be merry.

Sawtooth Sum entercd the room, glanced
around, and iinallv sat down beside the table
where Ball and Carter WH‘O throwing paste-
boards, with varying fortune.

It was the old saloon some, but one destined
to become of Western liveliness before the
evening was through.

Neither Canyon Dave nor Sprncueindulyed
in gambling, but they watched so closely that
anon the former disCow-red that some one had
(ll'Oppi‘tl u folded note into his lap while he set
so still, and then gone his why unseen.

He unfolded it curiously and read as follows:
“ DAV! - Orrzrosz~

“So far all is well. You have kept your pan
of the compact and I will keep mine. I did not call

on from the mountains on an aimless errand;

here is better pane in Silver Spur than grizzlim—
but I must huvo time. If you want to see me, come
to the rear of the hotel at once. Incoonrro."

The mountaineer seemed far more interested
than surprised, and as the last word was read,
glanced at Sprague almost guiltily; but the lat-
tcr was lookin away and had not seen the note.

Dave thrust it in his pocket and then touched
his friend on the arm.

“I am going out for a minute; wait for me
here,” he said.

Sprague answered carelessly, and the moun-
taineer passed from the so oon and strode
around toward the rear. The night was dark.

‘ but as he reached the designated spot he saw a

tall man in a cloak and wide hat.

Dave paused, and they looked at each other
close] . .
“ horn do you want?” asked the tall nun, in
deliberate but harsh voice.

“ Incognito,” was the answer.

“ I am he.”

“ Then, in heaven’s name—” I

Canyon Dave had begun impetuously, but the
unknown put out on~ hand to interrupt him.

“ Wait,” he said, in the same deliberate way.
“Let us talk calmly. I am the some person
who once before addressul you, who drew you
from the land where you lmntcd grizzlles and
was as gallant, I dare say. as any Veteran th re;
I am the person who bade you come to Silver
Sp“;- if you would learn one thing regarding
the past. I am Incognito.” '

“ Yes, yes, that much is plain: but now I
want light on the subject. I am not a child to
be kept in the dark. Deal with me as man to
man. L°ud me to—”

“ Not yet,” Incognito interrupted.

“ And n by not?’ David fiercely demanded.

“Because I cannot. I do not now know where
she is, but am sure she is concealed in or about
this place, and I swear that you shall yet see
her, provided you do as I tolt you and not let
even your best friend know why you are in Sil-
Vcr Spur.”

“This secrecy is childish l” the mountaineer
said. instinctively fingering his revolver.

“ Be calm l"

“Don’t talk to me of calmness. You know
how much is at stake, and you can’t expect me
to be a clod. Come, sir, e manly. Tell me
all you know about this matter.”

“1 decline.”

“ When shall I know?”

“ Perhaps never.”

“ Bv heaven. l may speedily succeed in un-
closinzr your lips!" the young man cried, hotly.

u no“, r!" I

H  P9

Canyon Drwe snatched his revolver from his
belt and presented it at the breast of the un—
known, but the latter calmly folded his arms
across his breast.

“I’Ve can die but once,” he coolly said, “ and
life is only the bridge between- the cradle and

:fl

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canyon Dave, the

 

the grave. Fire if on will, but remember one
thing, to which I so emnly swear—the shot that
ends my eXistenCe forever cuts off the hopes in
your mind.” . '

The mountaineer dropped his hand.

“ Why do you 'orture me!” he asked.

“I have not intended it. I came here to-
night so that you mirht see me and know that
Incognito was sculething more than a shadow.
I Came and found you hot-blooded, like all of
your years. I trifled with you to teach you
gtience. Now, in young fire-eater, now I will

rture you before am ihrough l”

“ Sueering devil!" cried David, scarcely able
to keep his hands from his companion.

“Excellent! excellent: go on—what more?"

The young man did not answer at once_
Instead, he struggled with his temper, and when
he s oke it was With calmness.

“ am in your power; do with me as you
will,“ he said. " f you are human, you can

not Won hr at my emotions, but from to-night'

I await your will as stoically as I have done in
the past. Y- u can win my blessing, if you
will—provided you are as powerful as you say,
which I do not doubt—and that must be some
satisfadion.”

Thu strange man laughed harshly.

“ No'. a particle,” he declared. “ Blessings
and curses are alike of no consequence to me.
I scorn the world; I love only myself; I do not
waste any thou hts on a life to come; and I dare
say on woul be amazed to see what a long
list 0 crimes Ic-ould recall.”

Dave was not a carpet-knight and ten years
of wild life had made him nearly invulnerable
to useless emotions, but he actually shuddered
at the stranger's words and his mind Went back
to Mephlstogheles.

“ Well, w at are my orders for the future?”

“You are to wait, as before.”

“ For how long?"

“ As ion as I see fit.”

you ve hit his lip flercely. He would
have ven much to throttle this insolent and
sneer n stran r, but the deed wOuld imbitrer
all his ture l fe.

“ Very well." he calmly said.

“ Ifow, will you go with me?” continued In-

to.

" Wherei”

“Where I lead.”

“ Yea” said the mountaineer, sharply. “ Lead
on, even though it be to the den 0 Captain
Nevada.”

“ Why do you mention him?”

“ We 1, he is supposed to have an itching after
human hide and hair in a general sort of a way,
and, to-da , I had a little encounter with him
which wil naturally make him pant to perfo-
rate me in particular.”

“ Did you quarrel? Tell me about it.”

By this time the two stran ly assorted com-

nons were walking rapi iy along between

he street and the southern cliffs: and as they
went Dave told of the rescue of Edna Parmen-
ter from the outlaw's hands.

Dead silence followed his conclusion, for In~ ,
of comment, i

cognito said not a word by way
an in this unsociable way they left the village
behind them.

CHAPTER XII.
wna'r ran monr saouour roam.

Tm: strange guide did not 0 further east
than the line of cabins stretche , but turned to
the left and strode on as before.

Canyon Dave, however grew interested. Their
faces were toward Camel's Hump and the lair of
Captain Nevada, and he almost suspected In-
cognito was taking him at his word and leading
him to the rodd-agenis’ cave.

They crossed the open space and entered the
small wood. There all was dark, and Dave held
his revolvers ready, but the guide went on in ut-
ter silence, and they soon stood on open ground

again.

At this point the guide turned and looked
back toward the village. Silver 8 or lay below
them, silent, and, except for the l ghte {mm the
few saloons, dark. Little was there about the
town to attract one seeking for amusement, and
it had never yet had a genuine Western feud

and battle.
stood thus, Dave thou ht of Sprague

 

As the!
and won ered what he would bbfilk of his ab-
00000. What passedin Inc ito’s mind is less
9'3“! field. H a hat was pu led low OVer his
eyes. his cloak crept up to meet it, and the
mountaineer had long before given up the at-
tempt to see his features.

80 fl? II he knew the guide’s color might be
either white, black or red. on mixture of all.

At last the guide turned away.

“ Come!” he briefl said.

They went on. an in a few minutes Canyon
Dave grew freshly interested for they were
nearing the cabin of Brad Beckett. Hedid not
imagine they were olng to call there, but he
always thought of ’ us with interest.

He found he had been mistaken, however,
when the paused a few yards from the door.

The on in stood in the shadow of three tall
trees which arose just behind it. and bushes and

were everywhere abundant. It was a

i
l

 

 

placo of unusual beauty, for the vicinity, but it
was ‘Gus who had selected it with tnejudgment
of a Clever woman.

“ Now,” continued Incognito,“ you will secrete
your-selfin this thicket and remain until I re
turn. This is a land of strange occurrences, and
by watching sharply you ma see something of
interest. Do not fall asleep, but use your eyes,
see what is worth seeing and hear all you can.
Keep your gun for the most part on t e door,
but watch the bushes and the rocks.”

This plan irritated the mountaineer afresh,
but, remembering his resolve to be patient, he
only asked if mystery was absolutely necessary
in this case.

“ Mystery is always necessary,” was the

sharp reply. “Even the world and thespace
about it is a mystery. Do you agree i”

“ Certainl . Here I rest, as directed.”

“ Very we l. Wait patiently.”

There was a rustling of the bushes and the
strange man was gone.

Canyon Dave watched until all sounds made
by his departure had died away, and then sat
down with his back to a rock and hislrifle be-
tween his knees. He was screened by the
bushes, but they were of a nature which gave
him a chance to watch well while himself con-
cealed from view.

The night was dark and silent—to him it
seemed unnatural] quiet. He was most pecu-
liarly placed. He a strong, self-reliant na-
ture, but because he had a t purpose to ac-
complish he was obeying the mysterious Incogni-
to in a manner most cutting to one of his ways.

Who and what was the unknown? It was a
question the miner could not answsr; but it was
certain that he held, or claimed to hold, a secret
worth more than gold to Canyon Dave.

Perhaps he was but an impostor, perhaps he
had lured him there for purposes of assassina-
tion. But no, the suspicion was not plausible:
no one except the unknown knew why he had
come to Silver Spur, and it was he who had
called him there.

David throw of! his reflective mood and looked
more keenly about him. The rocks and bushes
were silent and dark, but a light showed through
the windows of Brad's house. curtains pre-
vented a clear view, for ’Gus had introduced
that feature of civilization, but he knew Brad
and his daughter were there.

He looked wistfully at the cabin. It would
have been far mo. e to his taste to have been be-
hind tbe curtains, with ’Gus, than crouching
like a dog on guard at the door.

The last fancy, however, pleased him. It
would be pleasant to act as the protector of the
girl, and he was not sure but what a dog, blessed
with her favor, would be an enviable o ject.

There is something very pleasant about being
the protector of a pretty ggrl.

At last the mountaineer turned his eyes away.
His thoughts were running riot; they must be
curbed.

He flxed his gaze intently on a rock a dozen

ards away, but he had not looked long when
It seemed to him that the rock was in motion.

He rubbed his eyes, but the suspil-imi grew
into a certainty, and as he had never witnessed
such a geological henomenon about Silver
Spur before, be part 2y arose.

Then the truth flash upon him; the rock had
not moved, but something had interVened be-
tween it and himself, and that something was
still creeping along, his course toward the cabin.

Dave flashed a nick lance around, and as he
did so he saw 0t er 0 jects moving, and one,
which was near him, assumed the shape of a
man.

He had seen enough to bring him out of his
indolent attitude, and enough to arouse his live-
liest apprehensions.

Whv were these men thus creeping toward
Brad Beckett’s cabin!

“ There’s mischief afoot, but I will foil them.”
he grimiv thought. “ Once put Brad on his

d an they will find him a hard customer,
and I'll do what I can in the rear."

He waited further developments. The men,
who seemed to be a down in number. gathered
near the cabin-door. and seemed toconeult: but
Can on Dave smiled as he thought how he
won d foil their plans of secrecy.

In the midst of it all, however, there was a
thunderin crash against the door. followed by
a dull thu , and then dead silence for a moment;
but the mountaineer understood that a stone
had been buried against the door, and. believ-
ing it a trick tocall Brad out, he concluded that
it was time tomake himself heard.

Raising his revolver, he fired four shots into
the air in succession, every one ringing out with
startling cleernees. Had he been certain that
the prOwlers were real] there with evil inten-
tions, they would have been the target.

His movement removed the last doubt. A
bitter curse arose from the group of men, and
they hurled themselves net the door with a
force which made the cab n shake.

Canyon Dave waited for no more, but. bring
ing up his rifle, he sent a bullet hurtling into the
coan mass of human beings, and then began
to use his revolvers.

He was afraid that Brad would open the
door, but the miner did nothing of the kind.

Man of the Mountain.

9

1 Instead, his voice speedily arose from some
unknown quarter like a youn cyclone.

I
“ What in thunder has bro e loose? Git out

o’ my door—yard !‘

The command was not needed. The men
whoever lliey were, had had enough of war, and
already they were in retreat, carrying of! one
or two men who seemed to be killed or despe-
rately vo ounded.

Then the door was flung open, and Brad ap
peared, rifle in hand. David ran forward,
showing his name.

“ Eternal thunder! what is ther riot?” the
miner demanded. “ Has Cap’n Nevada tuk ter
ther war-path, or is thar an ’arth uake?"

“ I only know you have enem es about, air.
You had better close and bolt the door,”
edgised Dave, who gained the interior of the
on in.

“ Nary close. I’m goin’ out ter shoot an’-kill
promisc’us— Hello!”

The veteran broke 03 short as ’Gus caught
him b the arm, whirled him toone side, and
secur the door.

Brad was looking at her as then b amazed at
her audacity, but she only lau h in his race.

“ Stand right where you are. ’she said lightly.
“Curfew must not ring tonight.”

“ It would be ringin’ with a rattle that would
raise King Solomon ef you hadn’t countermand-
ed ther order. How dar‘d you sling me round
so premiscnous—how dar‘d ye. I say?”

“ Now just behave while you‘re before stran—
gers. Don’t force me to explain that your life
is not insured. But, Mr. Dave, what u the
trou‘vle outside?”

Daughter and father both dropped their air of
pleasantry and seemed somewhat anxiou _

“ I am a good deal in the dark myself, .said
the mountaineer. “I was—I was—I chanced.
to be passing when I saw them stealing on the
cabin in a mischievous way, and so helped to beat
them off.”

Dave had barely saved himself from accident-
ally confeeaing that be had been hiding in the
bushhe, and his narrow escape caused a little
shimmering; but somequestioning brought out
a clearer version.

“ That domick bus’nees beats me,” said Brad,
careesi his beard. “ I don’t b’iieve oneou ’em
critters it. Why should they! Alla man
has got ter do is ter rap on ther door, an’ I‘m
ther right loco: an’ then ag’in, ther door is
never barred till I go ter bed. Et rather seems
ter me that ther stun was chucked by an out-
sider. Didn’t see no other two-legged critter
’round, did yer?”

/ CHAPTER XIIL
canyon nave on com. ‘

THE mountaineer did not answer at once, for
the remarks of Brad Hacket had started afresh
train of thought. Was it Incognito who had
sounded the first alarm? If so, it was not in
keeping with his avowed nature; but the suspi-
cion once started, David felt almost sure it
was so.

Otherwise, why bad he led him to the cabin—
wh had he placed him in such a position and
be e him watch the vicinity closely!

“ By George!” he thought, " l believ it was
he who bur ed the warning stone aganst the
door. I reckon he is not so bad as he pre-
tends.”

Iiis wandering thoughts ware recalled as
Brad rtpeated his question; butas he had prom-
ised to say nothing in regard to the unknown,
he was obliged to declare that he had seen no
one ex it the assailants.

“ I rec on they was Cep‘n Nevada's men. but
I hev never trod on their toes,” said the miner,
as though he failed to see why they should make
an attack; but he turned his guns toward ’Gus
gs hegeased speaking, and thought more than

e sai . ,

The r1 was pretty enough to attract an man;
it won d not be strange if the lord of 211s
Hump had seen and admired her. .

Brad reflected a little, and then took hisrlfle
and went out to make sure that the assailants
had really deserted the vicinity.

Canyon Dave turned to ’Gus. He would have

as cool as himself.

daieontheroad.”besai_. ,

“We are not afraid cf him," she aid with
the even calmness of one naturally ve.
“Our cabin is not an g-shell. Locket the
door. It is very thick a strong, and with the
bars in place can not be fo from its hinges.
The same may be mid of the windows, with
their stout blinds on the inside. I la bed at
father when he built our castle, was
pleased to say that he was going to defend his
one ewo lamb. It was an infringement on
Ezetry which alarmed me, and I lnsisted on

thing his head at once, but the mental de-
rangement soon passed.”

During this long addreu, the mountaineer
had been watching his companion's fair ha
and he, too, began to show symptoms of men
excitement. Her large, aparklin eyes seemed
to him like stars, her rosy cheeks ike a glorious

 

spoken words of cheer, but he saw that she wes-

“ I am afraid your cabin will hardly beats
in such an exposed localit , now Captain Neva--

p.-

.-

~,

10

Canyon Dave, the Man of the

 

 

sunset,’her teeth like bars of sunshine through
the clouds.

He knew he was wandering, but the hallucin-
ation was a pleasant one.

, “I admire Brad’s taste,” he said, removing
his hat. “He couldn’t worship at a fairer
shrine.” -

“ You wicked wretch 1” said ’Gus, severely.

“ ‘ To err is human, to for ive is——”

“ Folly,” she interrupted, aughing. “ Come,
my gal ant soldier, you forget that your re-
volvers are not loaded. Better attend tosuch
every-day afl’aim first of all. Were you so for-
getful when with the grizzliesl”

“ When I did forget, they reminded me of
the fact with the same cruelty you have just
shown,” he answered, with assumed sorrow.

They were still talkin when Brad returned.

“ Gone. all one," sai the minerédplacing his
rifle against t e wall. “The wick flee when
nobody chases them.”

,“ More Scripture,” said ’Gus, elevating her
brows. “Reall , something is wrong in the
atmosphere. I t ink thereis an opening for a
physician at Silver Spur.”

Jedgin’ b ther pool 0’ blood them varmints
left by ther oor, I should say a surgeon mi ht
get one niob, at least. Kenyon Dave, you it
gm ha . Yer eye is stiddy an’ yer hand

rm.

Two hours passed on, but the assailants came
no more. Brad had a loophole at. each side of
the cabin, and from these he took frequent
looks, but all remained quiet.

The hour for retiring had come. but none of
them felt like trusting all to chance. Accus-
tomed as they were to wild life, the could not
prevent a feeling that danger sti menaccd
them, There was a v e uneasinem on their
faces even while they ked lightly.

Canyon Dave had fallen into thought, deep,
and at first troubled. After all that time he
had suddenly remembered Inc ito and the
inhiunction he had given when he eft him in the

t

c .

He had been directed to remain until the un-
known returned, but he had forgotten and dis-
obe ed the order. What would be the result?
If ncognito really intended to return, he would
doubtle- vent his temper in some wa ; but
remembering his theo that it was be w 0 had

you the alarm, Davi was inclined to think be

ad reviousl known of the intended attack,
, had rought 'm there to thwart it, and that
. their ni t’s companionshi then terminated.

“I be ieve that is it; I lieve Incognito is
not so had as he seems.”

“ Go on,” said ’Gus; “let us hear the rest.”

The mountaineer started.

“ Did I speak aloud?" he asked.

' “Hardly, but you muttered to yourself."
“gs relic of grizzly hunting. Don’t mind

“ I have an idee,” said 'Brad.

“ Let us hear it.”

“ I’m not oin’ ter slee ther sleep 0’ ther fool,
tor-night. bar’s that n my bones that tells
me ther danger ain’t over, but we’ll hide our
light under a bushel an’ bait ther inemy. When
they see ther castle grow dark they’ll think we
are in bed an’ come out 0’ their holes. See?"

“I do, and to help you, let me go out and
make atour of the vicinity. I may see some-
thing ofi'nterest.”

They talked further, and then the deor and
windows Were secured, and the li ht ex-
tinguished. Brad and ’Gus sat and tal ed but
they were alone; David had been barred out
instead of in. -

Fora long time he lay beneath the window
through which he had gone, and then he arose
and crept to the shadow of the rocks.

The night was not so dark as before. In
great!» clouds were wing thin, and though

re was no moon, t was necessary to use
some caution.

Days went up the mountain side for several
routes, and then paused where he was well
concealed by the rocks, and looked down.
Peace and uiet seemed over the whole vicinity,
, and the lig t of the Alexis Hotel twinkled as

though coaxing him to return.

He thought of Spra e, but soon put the sub-
ject away and seatet on a bowlder, be u to
think of the matter which had brought im to
Silver, Spur.

While thus engaged a fragment of earth fell
at his feet. Moving only his head, he looked
:gward quickly." A rock twenty feet high was

his back. on he sat down it he
bare-and deserted, but life had suddenly made
itself manifest. ,
At the rock’s edge stood a man who was lean-
ing on his rifle an looking flxsdly toward the
lay. He looked burly and muscular, but
noth n more could be discovered then.
' Hav ngno desire to encounter him Dave re-
mained motionless, and, at the end 03 live min~
ntes, the man turned away and disappeared.
Silence follow»d his departure and the moun-
taineer, believing he had left the vicinity, soon
forgot the circumstance.

'It was recalled, however, in a most vivid
f hion.

e was still seated on the bowlder where,
without the least warning, a heavy weight was

been

 

recipitated upon him and he fell to the earth
ike a log, his rifle falling from his p.

It was an awkward mishap, but ave tho ht
clearly while falling. The weight was not t at
of a rock; he had experienced no actual harm
from its first attack; and it followed that it
must be either a man ora wild beast.

He struck on his right side and at once flung
up his hands. They encountered the arments
o a man, and though the latter seeme to make
a desperate attempt to keep him at the bottom,
he succeeded in turning him partially and then
it was anybody’s fight.

Man to man, with muscle against muscle, they
rolled over on the ground like battling panthers.

Dave had no idea who he was fighting, but
the fact that the man had attacke was suf-
ficient proof that he was an enemy; and he
soon proved himself a most disagreeable one.

The mountaineer was overmatched in brute
strength, for though his own muscles were like
steel, the stranger bad arms and shoulders of
astonishing development; but what the former
lacked in strength he made up in quickness.

Several times the assailant ained an advan-

e, but each time Canyon ave glided eat-
like from his hold. He noticed, too, that the
big man was breathing heavily, and he was
wholly at his case in regard to the final issue.

The contest soon assumed a new phase, and
one which might have proved fatal to Dave but
for his watchfulness. He saw his adversary
gray; a knife and knew that the crisis was at

an .

Again the mountaineer relied on his quick-
ness. He drew a revolver with a jerk and
might have ended all with one shot but dared
not risk the report. Instead, he struck out with
the weapon straight and heavily, and as it en-
countered the head of the stranger he fell back
with a groan.

Canyon Dave sat up and paused to recover
his breath. It had been a hard battle and his
breath did not come and go as easily as usual.

When he had recOVered a little, he looked at
his late adversary, who remained insensible.
He was the same person who had stood on the
rock; a strong, broad-shouldered fellow with a
bushy beard, evidently a man of wild life and
ignorance, even as his conduct had proved him
one of lawless habits.

CHAPTER XIV.
a “may ma rm: noumnnna

Canvon DAVE naturally connected his assail-
ant with the late besiegers of the cabin, for his
face was a new one to Silver Spur. The popu-
lation of that town was not sufficiently dense
for neighbors to be stran ers, after the fashion
of great cities, and, as s ort a time as he had
been at the camp, he knew every inhabitant by

si ht.

g‘ Undoubtedl one of the gang that attacked
Brad’s house. oubtless one of Captain Ne-
vada’s men,” decided the mountaineer. “ Shall
I leave him here, or try to learn more? I would
like his biography.”

Pockets sometimes reveal something, and
Dave did not scruple to search his man. He
found a goodly sum of coined money, a few
worthless articles, and in one pocket a folded

pa r. .

'Fleie letter he unfolded. He could dimly see
writing upon it, and he struck a match to earn
more. A little nursing of the flame enabled

.him to read as follows:

“ Ennomno Era:—

“What I have tolc you afore is straight. Ther
gal is at Silver Spur mm, an’ t'other party went thar
today. I reckon thar is fun afoo , an’ it ma be
thar will be money in it. You had better rop
around, an‘ cf I see a chance l'll chip in an‘ help
you work ther claim. Bio SIERRA."

Dave's light died out, but he remained for
some moments staring straight ahead. What
meant this letter? Who were Eldorado E h
and BFg Sierra. and who were “ the girl at il-
ver 8 ur” and the “other party ” who had
gone t ere?

Some of these uestions baffled the mountain-
eer but others e helieVed he could answer,
and he turned in an pressed fury toward the
unconscious man. 9, unless Dave reasoned
incorrectly, was Eldorado Eph, and he should
yet be made to talk.

From Dave’s point of view the man held a se-
cret which deep] concerned him, and he meant
to force it from is lips. ,

“ If he can talk straight. the Incognito may
go to destruction,” was his comment.

Luckily he had in his pocket a small piece of
cord, and with this be tightly bound his vic-
tim‘s hands behind him.

This done, be dragged him to the depths of
the recem, propped him against the rock and
brought water in his hat for a head-bath.

Under this treatment the man soon recovered.
winked ra idly sevornl times, tried to use his
hands, an then stared surlin at Dave. who
had lighted a small torch and was calmly re-
garding him.

“ Well?" said the mountaineer.

“ Wal,” grewled the prisoner.

“Your experiment has got you into a bad
scrape, hasn’t itl" .

“Et looks internally like it," was the frank .
admission

“ Why did you attack me?”

This time there was hesitation, but the an~
swer came at last.

“ I reckon I was spontaneously insane.”

“ Ah! Who are you?"

“Name is Eldorado E h.”

“ Do you belong at Si ver Spur?”

“ No; never see d ther place until fer-night.”

“ Why did you come?”

“ Ter dig gold, like all ther rest."

“Permit me to say, you are a liar, Eldorado
/Eph. You came because Big Sierra told you
gielrg was a chance to make money of! of the

I‘ .
Thte prisoner stared at Dave in blank amaze-
men .

“How did you know that?” he asked.

“Never mind; let it suflice that I do know it;
and now I want a clean breast of the matter.
Tell me all you know about it.”

A stubborn look settled over Eph’s face.

“ I’ll be durned of I do,” he growled.

" You forget that you are in my ower.
That’s right: try your bonds. You Will find
them firm. Now, my man, let us understand
each other. You are just the person I desired
to meet, and I’ll make it to your advantage to
speak straight to me. All I ask at present is to
know what you and Bi Sierra know about the
girl, with some wa si e information which is
easily given. For t is information, I will pay
you well.”

“ What do you know about it l—what do you
car’ about it!” demanded Eph, in real or as-
sumed surprise. .

“ Never mind that. Can we trade!”

“ No, 1'“ be durned of we kin.”

" You will not tell?”

M No.”

“ ls money no object?”

“ So much so that you an’ me can‘t trade.”

“ I will use another argument. You are my
prisoner and wholly at my mercy. You had
secrets which are dangerous to certain parties,
and unless you can be persuaded to share them
with me, you are safer dead than living.”

Canyon Dave spoke with utter calmne and
drawing his knife, felt of the edge as cozsll as
tgough he was about to butcher a mean in
s cc . .

“ I) reckon I fiet yourxmeani'c ,but at don’t
move me. Stri e at on wan ter. What’s
life, anyhow? Oniy a g 0st. It goes an’ comes
mysteriously, an' our ’artth existunce is only
a s’arch fur ther pertic’ler spot 0’ ground whsr
we will finally be laid. Them that is sharp-
sighted find it ’arl , an’ I pity ther stupidity 0’
them that take eifi ty ear on ther fob.

The fellow’s ph osop y was plain y thrust to
the front for eflect and came from his head
rather than from his heart. He looked at Can-
yon Dave with a mixture of defiance and dog-
gedness, but his as wavered at times.

Dave advance and laid his knife across the
bronsed neck.

“Don’t be a feel?” he sternly said. “Ohe
me and all will be Well; refuse, and you she l
sufl’er what you des rve. You attacked me, and
your life is forfeited. Will you speak?”

“ Soc yer!” mumbled Eph, “ I don’t know
nothin’.”

“ It is false. You came to Silver Spur to
make money out of your knowledge of that girl.
Tell me what on know, or I will put you where
your secret Wlll be forchr lost 2”

A hollow gurgle came from the man’s threat.
The pressure on it from the knife interfered
with is breathin , and a terrible fear assailed
him, but he still 0 ung to his secret.

Dave changed the ition of his knife and
presented the int to h's throat. He p cked

he skin, and he fellow owled in terror.

“ Will you speak?” the captor demanded. .

Whether there was an answer Canyon Dave
never knew. Just then something heavy and
hard seemed to fall on his head and a brief

norama of colors floated before his eyes, and

e became unconscious. When he recovered he
was in utter darkness and rofound silence.
Naturally, he was at first con d, but the pain
in his head recalled his wanderin senses; he
remembered all that had occu up to the
time when he was stricken senseless, and knew
that that misfortune was due to a blow from
some person who had secretly approached him.

What had happened since? ‘

no ally arose, and his hand encountered
his ri e. His revolvers were in his belt, which
was most surprising.

He struck a match, saw his half-consumed
torch lying near him in a way which showed it
had been ground under somebody’s heel, again
lighted it and saw his knife on the ground; but
Eldorado Eph had gone.

After a littie delay the mountaineer went to
the fountain and bathed his aching head, after
which be nearly descended to Brad Hackett‘s
cabin, saw that all was well, and sat down on a
rock to reflect.

He had come to Silver Spur in search of a lost
girl, who had disppeared some time before in the
city of New Orleans. He had searched for her

 

long and earnestly and'flnally given up: but,
while he was in t e grizzly mountains, anote

 

 

.a—g

A
A V',

 

Cany n

I

 

from “ Incognito ” had caused him to hasten to
Silver Spur, where he met ihe man of mystery,
as we have seen.

Then came Eldorado Eph. He, too, was in
Oearch of a girl. and Silver Spur was said to be
her abiding-place. There Were several young
ladies about the town, but Dave had no doubt
but what they were on the same trail. He had
tried to wrest the secret from Eph, but just as
“.e fell0w had begun to yield he was thwarted.

Who had dealt the mischievous blow?

Canyon Dave would have iven much for an
answer to thatquestion. W oever it was had
not been a robber—they had left his Weapons
and his money—and it seemed as though they
had not been more friendly to Eph than to him.

Eph had once viciously attacked him; he had
attempted to stab him; and it stood to reason
that, once at liberty, he would have finished his
work had he not been prevented.

Who, then, had been hostile enough to bathe
Dave’s pursuit of knowledge, friendly enou h
to save him from Eph afterward, but at t 8
same time so indifferent to his safet as to leave
him where he was liable to be kill by human
or animal foes?

It was a question too profound for the moun-
taineer’s solving, and, suddenly arising. be en-
tered Brad's cabin. was quiet there, and
Dave saw fit to report the same state of aflairs
outside,

The night passed without further adventure;
and at dawn Canyon Dave returned to Sprague,
who was worryin himself into afever; but in his
explanation his riend told only that part re-
lat ng to the Hacketts.

CHAPTER XV.
ma JUDGE Has VIsrroas.

Lawnmcn Pmsxraa, mine-owner of Silver
Spur, and commonly called “the judge,” be-
cause he at one time held that omcial position,
was alone in his office and enga in writing.

He was a man upon whom ertune had al-
ways smiled, and wrth a handsome fortune at
his back he might lo‘ng before have retired
from business, but he was a man who, while
wholly free tom miserly qualities, keenly en—
joyed battling a world he had always beaten.

0 make money was
rationally, his pleasure.

We introduce him the afternoon following
the events last related.

He was still busy with his writing when the
door opened, but the indolent air with which
he turned around suddenly vanished. A lady
had entered—at least, a woman whose gar-
ments, manner and beaut seemed to entitle
her to that term in its worl ly sense-and Judge
Parmenter, at fifty-five, was not indifferent to
beauty or without natural foliteness.

He arose, placed a chair or her, made a few
agipro ate remarks, spoke of his rude office, of
t e vi lage, and of the weather; and then, by a
clever pause, gave his visitor a chance to state
her business.

“ My name is Ripley.” she said, with a smile.
“ Miss Persia Ripley, of San Francisco. I am a
str r in Silver Spur, but I am learning rap-
idly, or I came here on business. Perhaps you
do not believe in ladies engaging in business,
but I have done so in the past and intend to
continue as before.”

“ It is well that we have some business ladies
to fill the places of the men who lack brains and
ambition ” the judge said encouragingly.

With the matter thus favorably opened, Miss
Ripley found no difliculty in stating her posi-
tion. She wished to purchase a mine or a por-
tion of one, in Silver Spur, and for that reason
she wished for a good many points and, perhaps,
a little advice. .

 

ganglia e Plarmenfir Iaid her? h
n y con at t was ardl in
his line ofb He was a mine-owner,’but

be neither wished to buy no.- sen, Ag 3 _
tical man, he could advise Miss Bi '
he did to the best of his abilit . p1” ’ an this

Miss Ripley was very athful. She smiled
on him in or most fascina inglway, and gained
encouragement from his p0 te manner; she
thanked him warmly and believed he was duly
afiemd' respect, least, b has

a one at s e was 0 rvin

and she took her departure just as the judggé
was feeling the first symptoms of weariness.

Behowed her politely out, lighted a cigar,
and wit his feet on the to of his desk, leaned
link in is chair to five hfr’uaelf up to the lux-
ury of his ci and think.

Thank ‘ veal she’s gone l” was the way

his mind “0- “ What the dickens did she come
here and vion-y me in this fashion for? Do i
suspend B 81811 which as that I keep an intelli-
gence office or a schoo of elecution? I think
not. Then why did she nail me for a two hours’
interview? If she is going to become a bonanza
queen, why don’t she have a business agent? I
cantalk business with a man, but not with a
woman. If there is anything which makes my
flesh creep, it is a woman with business inclina-
tions!” .

Alas for the well-laid plans of Miss Per-sis
Riple —she had failed to make a favorable im-

pr on.
‘ For about five minutes, Judge Parmenter was

his ia'ade' to spend it, .

 

Deraillefiansf theMeuniaina

in a grizzly bear mood, but his cigar calmed his
troubled spirits and he became contented and

hafipy.
e wrote a letter, whistled a fragment of
the Star Spangled Banner and—

The door a sin opened.

This time t was a man who entered, a well-
dressed, distinguished-looking, sharp-eyed man,
in whom Parmenter at once recognized the
evenly-balanced man of the world who is at
home in all situations.

“Judge Parmenter, I believe?” said the gen-
tit-man.

“ Yes, sir,” was the polite reply.

“ l am Thomas Harper, of San Francisco. I
have called to see you on a matter of business;
but, first, let us smoke.”

This preliminary havin been attended to,
the gentleman from San rancisco plunged at
once into business.

“ My errand, judge, is a most peculiar one.
It concerns that one of your daughters who is
not your daughter.”

Mr. Harper was not sure that it was wise to
begin so abru tly, but he was satisfied that Par-
menter woul‘ den everything, and he wanted
to try the effect 0 a surprise.

He plainly saw the effect.

As the words fell upon the judge’s ears the
color retreated from his face with startling ra-
pidity: his eyes assumed a wild expremion, and

is under-jaw dro (1.

He sat before arper, pale, weak and fri ht-
ened. If he had been charged with mur er,
and proof given in a flood, he could not have
looked more startled and ashen.

liar r calmly waited for him to recover,
but no an expression escaped his keen e as.

Final] Parmenter's color return some-
what, he helped himself to a draught of water
with a hand which shook perceptibly, and then
hisi visitor thought it time to say, in an oily
vo ce:

“1 real] beg our pardon, my dear judge; it
was thoug tless or me to speak so abruptly. I
should have remembered the fact that you ave
for long can regarded my niece as your
dangleister; t my manners are too brusque, at
the. t.”

“ I should say you are afflicted that way, and
there is a chanceto draw other inferences; but,
first of allkl would like to have you make your-
seis mm k i posedl d

armenter e u to corn y, an ,
though his facespvgas still paler than usual, Har-
per saw a light in his eyes which warned him of

a struggle to come.

He ad, however, satisfied himself on one
point—one of the three girls known as Parmeno
ter’s daughters was Miriam Browning.
lt remained for the judge to open his lips and

which of the three was she.

' Certainly, judge ” Harper replied careful
now to be very pol to and easy. “You see, I
have just discovered that my niece, so long lost
to her friends, was left on your doorstep six-
teen years age the 20th of last September, and
I new hastened here to see her and thank on
for long kindness and care. May all bl ngs
be yours, sir.”

Ha r allowed his voice to tremblealittle
towar the close of his remarks, but Parmen-
ter’s face grew stern instead of softening.

“ I do not understand what you mean, sir. I
know nothing of your niece, no one has been
left on my door-stone, and I have not cared for
anv one except myself and family.”

arper assumed a look of surprise.

“ Do you mean to say that alllof the girls
you call your daughters are reall so?”

m‘.‘ Certainly, sir,” replied the judge, haugh-

v. 7

“Ah! I see—by adoption. Very good joke,
judge l”

The visitor laughed unmusically.

“ See here, sir, exclaimed Parmenter, “ what
do you mean by such extraordinary language?
I have three daughters, Helen, Edna an li-
cent. Do you mean to say that one of them is
but an adopted child?"

“ by, certainly, sir—v” .

“ Wh ch one?” the judge interrupted.

Harper took the one chance in three and ham-
arded a guess.
“ Milicentl”
. “ Ha! ha i" lau hed Par-mentor. “ And why
do you think she not mg daughter?"
‘ I ask you fairly, sir, she'

“ She is, air," was the haug’llity answer. I
b y. So far all ' the Alexis Hotel and thenreturned to his seat.

Harper swallowed feve

had gone as he expected, and though he had 5
’ in utter amasemen .
without means of judging whether he had '

ventured on the name of Milicent, he was

gueSSed correctly.
Clearly, he must take another course.
Consequently, after a pro preamble, he
give such an account of he abduction of
iriam Br0wning as he saw fit, clinging close
to the truth when there was no dan r of soilin

 

Judge Parmenter, however, perfectly cool at
last laughed at the story. -

“ our agents have humbngged you Mr. Har-
per; that’s all there is to this story. i. for the
part which relatesto me and m daughte it
is wholly without foundation. ilicent, He n
and Edna are each and all my daughters; they
are sisters, and, what is more, were all born on
the same day. Is that plain, air?”

The assertion was plain enough, but, with
what he had previously been told, stren thened
by the recent confusion of Parmenter, rper
would then have almost risked his life on the
stake that one of the three was not a Par-
menter.

“ I am amazed,” he said.

“And I am amazed that you should believe
such a. ridiculous story.”

“I can not help believing it.”

“Even after I have denied it!”

“Judge Parmenter, understand me. I can
see what your feelings must be. The girl has
been in {Sour charge for sixteen years—wait, air,
wait. t me finish. She has been like a
daughter to you, and it is natural that you
should hesitate to give her up. But, sir, re—
member that if she secures her rights, a fortune
of a hundred thousand dollars awaits her in
San Francisco. She is its sole possessor.”

 

CHAPTER XVI.
HARPER as A Human.

Pannxm listened patiently until his vis-
itor was through, but the argument did not
affect him, and his manner was calm and a
trifle sarcastic when be next spoke.
had confessed that he did not know which one
of the three girls was the missing Miriam and
it was pretty evident that the judge had the
game in his own hands.

“I suppose,” he said, “that when men sell
their dau hters, money will tip the scale algood
deal quic er than any other article; but am
not in that business. I have three daughters,
and I shall keep them, while any interference
with their pleasure will be punished.”

“My dear sir,” said Harper, “do you take
me for a brigandl I shall never rate a hand
against you or the ladies—never, sir, never!”

“1 hope you will not.”

“On the contrary, I shall depend on your
conscience, Judge Parmenter."
stTIE: jug did not out oncle reply. He sat

no ng sbeardan sharp regardingh'l
visitor. He had gained lsudtfen idea, and he
determined to try it. He would show this im-
pertinent straniger that claws Were a natural
gift of maukin .

“In what way," he calmly asked, “ are you
to bee gainer by the recovery of Miriam Brown-
in ‘1

“Not at all,” Harper declared; but he be-
trayed some confusion in spite of his usual com-
mand over his features ,

“ You are not related to Miriam Browni ,”
the judge mercilessly continued. “ Your sis r
was the child’s sup-mother. She is, or was,
nothing to you. My experience leads me to be-
lieve that if the girl was to be found, Mr.
Browning would have done that part himself“
A father’s eyes and zeal are keener than those
of a stranger can be." .

“Strange things “(fluently occur," said Han , .
per, with assumed care essness

“Yes, and there is an old saying that those
who hide can find.”

It was Harper’s turn to look startled, and the
eyes of the judge. cold and penetrati now. as
when he was in official life, seemed to 00k him
through.

“ What do you meant” Harper blustered.

“ Does the shoe fit you?”

“This is folly,” said Harper. suddenly forc-
ing himself into calmness. “I did not come
here as an enemy, but as a friend. However, I
am going to leave you now for I want you to
reflect on the subject. I will see you again." \

He ahmg‘tiy arose.

“ Don’t hie yourself to call,” said Par-men-
ter, with sarcasm; “but if you do come, please
bringa copy of the will. I wish tease to what
extent. on are toheagainerif youiind your
missing eiress.”

Harper turned with his hand on the door.

“ Your suspicions are cruelly ugj‘lut.” he mid,
“ but for the sake of m niece I orgive them.
Good-day!” he said, an was fine. \ .

Parmenter watched until saw him enter

“ Jove! this is a ttvvvflxl”hethen muttelui,

“ he would rave thought
of this after all these years! It is like the com-
ing of some one fmm the grave, and I was
knocked all to (places at first. Thank Heaven.
however, I hol the winning-cards. This Har-

per is a rascal; I causes it in his eyes and face:
and if he gets troublesome I thinkl can prevent
it. At any rate no human being except myself

his own garments, and then ad ng a we ~ knows the secret hesee‘ks; my dearchild will,

colored account of his final efforts to find her.
Circumstantial evidence sustained him pretty
well all the way through, and when he found a
weak place he bolstered it up ingeniousl , so
that the whole looked like an unassai able
structure. ’

 

never be torn from 'my love andcare. ldefy
any man to select one of the, three andsay,

‘ This is Miriam Browning‘l”
Meanwhile Harper was going to his room in a

hot fury. He had been baffled, defeated. read
like an open book and openly accused. There

 

was murder in his thoughts as he remembered
Parmenter.

He locked himself in his room and swore and
tried to lay plans for the future, but he saw that
he had run his case into a precarious spot. At
the first he had f'x-lt so sure of finding the heir-
ess at Coyote Cliif that he had taken Cleon
along in a burst of sentimentality; but now the
black was decidedly in his way.

On! if he had only left him at home, and, in-
stead of running about in search of the real
heiress, had palmed oil! a counterfeit one upon
the trustees, how much trouble it would have
saved him.

“ By Jupiterl I’m not sure but we may have
to do it yet. Parmenter evidently means to
keep a close mouth. Confound it! if it wasn’t
for Olson and the claw l have foolishly given
him, I would hunt up a. new girl, of brunette
type, and let Miriam go. An impostor in the
place would obey me; the real heiress wouldn’t.”

There WIS truth in what he said, but he had
started a busy train of thought. If Clean was
out of the way, his path would be one of

roses.

“,I believe there isa light in the east after
all,” he muttered. “ l’ll let this case move slow
and if old fermenter don't divulge, I’ll see to it
that Cleon don’t baffle my plans. A. knife or
bullet will effectually dispose of him.”

Harper laid his plans with coolness known
onlv to the man past the clingin hands of mercy,

then, to dispel the lastsh ow on hia'fnind,
decided to go out for a ramble.

He picked up his rifle, left the hotel, and was
soon among the southern hills.

There was much to be seen that was of inter-
cat, and he soon forgot all his plottings and cares
in the enjoyment o mountain life.

He was, however, destined to meet with an
adventure before the afternoon was ended; and

net as be rounded a corner of rock, at a bend

the gulch throuzh which he was passing, the
rattling of a quantity of earth and small stones
down almost in his path caused him to look up.
ward quickly.

There, at the edge of the cliff—which was
forty feet high—he saw a‘ bear standing ina
fimposed way, and looking down directly at

m.
In an instant his sportsman’s instincts arose.
Although a fine revolver shot, he had never
hunted wild game to any great extent, and to
shoot a bear would be a decided novelty and
something of which he might be proud.

Accordingly, he brought up his rifle and took
sure aim.

The bear kept his place, looking directly at
his would-be slayer, but appearing neither
alarmed nor inclined to be aggressive.

Harper pressed the trigger, but at that very
'moment a sharp blow on the barrel caused the
muzzle todro several inches, and he had the
satisfaction 0 knowing he had wasted lead on
the cliff.

.He wheeled angrily, and saw a young lady
standing before im. In her own han s she
held a rifle, and Harper knew it was with this
she had destroyed his aim.

The fact that he saw a girl instead of a man
confused and silenced him for the time. He
had turned with his fighting blood in a fevar,
expecting to see the latter, but he felt ashamed
at being thus caught with a corsair look on his

“ I—l—beg your pardon l" he stammered.

“ Did you know that it was mine!” she de-'
manded, with sudden anger.

“ 'I‘nat—a—that what was yours!”

“Why the hear, of course. ’

“ No; I didn’t know that bears were parceled
,0! like mines in a paying locality,” he said re-
covering his self-possession under her curt lau-

“ Well,” she replied more amiably, “ you are
a stranger in Silvar 8 ur and somewhat excus-
able, I suppose. The act is, however. that bear
is tame, and my especial property. That’s why
I reve on from shooting in m.”

‘ I bag a t ousand pardons, he said, speaking
' ’ with sincerity, for her beaut had not failed to
attract his attention. “ If I ad done him dam-
age I would never have for van myself."

‘9 Neither would lie—had lived toargue the
matter with you. Here he comes now. I
thought he would be down when he saw us
“mi” ed nd a. a. m

urn a saw e rapproac ng.
He seemed to be in a very vicious mood, and as

Harper heard his wl and saw his teeth omin-
ously exposed be it a strong desire to evacu-
ate the grou .

There was dan in flight, however, and he
cemented himsel with loosening his revolver.

“ Bruno. old fellow, why do on scold!” cried
the girl. “ Come here to me, a l”

The bear slowly obeyed, but though he went
“the girl his eyes were turned taward Hafiz
and he still growled and showed his teeth. is
mistrem boxed his ears, but his manner did not

“1.-
“Rather a dangerous Kit, I should say.” oh-
tserved Harper, d viding glances between the
we.
“ Not to me. Bruno is as obedient as a dog
anally, but he knows you are a stranger. Be-

 

Canvdecmvea$11914?er .FhsMeuntain-

sides, I give him credit for knowing you in-
tended to shoot him.”

“He looks it; and now I have abandoned the
war-path, he has taken it up.”

“ Oh! I will see to him.”

Harper shifted his position, and the bear
growled again, but his hostility culled forth so
sharpa rebuke from his mistress that he was
forced to lie down, from which position he still
watched the man he regarded as his enemy.

Harper, however, was looking at the girl.
She was remarkably pretty, and seemed ill-
suited to such a wild region, but he had seen
J udge Parmenter’s girls and was not surprised
at anything.

The girl with the hear was no stranger to the
reader, being ’Gus Hackett, and we have al-
ready seen that Harper was not the only man
who could admire her.

She had, however, that day made an acquaint-
ance which might cause her trouble before the
man left the village.

 

CHAPTER XVII.
CAPTAIN NEVADA APPEARS.

Ir was Harper who broke the silence which
fonoiwed' u t 8'1 8 i u h

“ suppose you vs a 1 var pur, m ss, e
blandly said.

“ Yes, sir, I do.” '

“ I have not seen you in the village.”

“ Very likely," was the unpromising com-
ment.

“ Is your father a miner?”

“ He is, air; but he has nothing to sell. He is
not a speculator, and receives few visitors.
Judge Parmenter is the minih authority of the
place, if you wish for informs. on. Come, Bru-
no, let us go.”

The rebnfl' was too plain to bemisunderstood,
but Harper was not to be so easily thwarted.
The natural rascality of his nature, which in
San Franci 'co had worked out its lans secretly,
was affected by the wildness of t e mountains.
He felt lawless and full of mischief, and was in-
clined to swagger and boast like a villain of

baser clay.

“ Wait!” he said, sharply, as ’Gus turned
awe. .

Sh}; usedandlooked at him icily.

“ Di you speak?" she asked, in the same man-
ner.

Her speech and glance confused him for a mo-
ment, in spite of his inclinations to be a bravo,
for he had not expected such dignity in a moun-

tainéirl.

“ as, 1—1 did. Pardon me, but why should
you be in a hurr l”

“ Why should delay?” she retorted.
because my business calls me elsewhere.”

“ But—pardon me if I am too bold—I should
like to form your acq uintance. So pretty a
girl as you—”

“ Enough l” said ’Gus, with surprising bauteur
and he could see her eves sparkle ominously. “I
do not care for com limcnts, and I do not think
either of us would benefited by such an ac-
quaintance.”

" I can only answer for myself, but so far as
my knowledge goes, it Would be a very pleasant
afi'air.”

’Gus allowed the butt of her rifle to drop to the
ground. and then she squarely confronted him.
while Bruno hovered at her side and lmlked
Sandy for war whenever the gauntlet was thrown

own.

A smile gradually crept over the girl’s face,
but it was not one which foretold satisfaction to

Harper.

“ fl hear of an one who is about to start a
menagerie ’round ere, I shall recommend you,"
she remarked. “ When I see an old man play-
ing the part of an ape, I like to see him situated
where he will do the most good. You are old
enou h to be my father, but you are still in-
clin to act the gallant. I have seen such
men before. when in San Francisco, but I do
not admire them. I must decline your acquaint-
ance.’

Harper listened to this merciless address with
visible confusion for he was not an ade t in the
part he had tried to pin . but he was filled
with The idea 0 Thomas Harper being
repel and ridiculed bv a mountain girl!

'By Jupiterl” he exclaimed, as she finished
“ our tongue runs too fast, girl. Be carefu
w at you say, or I may do something ras .”

“Don’t hesitateon my account. f you feel
helligeren open the ball at once.”

She care 1y raised her ride. and then, as
thou h be undersde her words. Bruno growled
and s owed his teeth menacing! .

Harper was at a loss for war ii, for be had no
desire to break in on the pair, but the awkward
pause was broken h a mocking laugh which
came from neither 0 them.

They turned and saw before them a July-
dressed, handsome young man—in bri , p-
tain Nevada.

He advanced a few , unheeding Bruno’s
yowls, and than, lean ng on his rifle. laughed
Tin, and in a manner as buoyaut’as though the
w ole world was a garden of roses.

“ Pardon me for appearing at this sociable,”
he good-naturedly said, “ but it struck me some

“I go

 

 

one was needed to pour oil on the troubled
waters.”

f‘ Don’t trouble yourself, my young buntnm.”
said Harper. sourly, looking with disdain at the
Velveteen suit and red sash. "

.“ So I am a bantaml Very good for a begin-
ning. If you have any more remarks, please
present them at this term of the court."

“ I will inform you that your presence is not
desired here. You are too much dandy and too
little man.”

“Have seen those who did not agree with
you,” said Nevada, calmly. " Don’t judge the
horse by his color or you will get taken in. Now
to maintain the position I have taken, I agree
to convince you that I am a manly man, as I
may term it, before you slee again.”

The robber paused and loolzed at ’Gus.

“ What have you to say, my dear young lady l”
he politely asked.

“Nothing, sir.”

The boldness of the rl had vanished. She
knew the newcomer, i Her 1' did not, and she
was filled with alarm. She d heard stories of
his deeds which branded him with infamy, and
she remembered the su icion that it was he
who had attacked the cu in.

Nevada raised one hand, and from the niches
of the gulch other men stepped out until a
dozen were visible. They wore less gaudily
dressed than the captain, but had the same wild
lawless air.

“ Here are the sceneshifters of our company,”
said the leader. “Now, you man, there, who
think me a mere dandy, let me introduce my-
self. I am Captain Nevada!”

The words were spoken with conscious pride,
for he knew every man within flft miles had
heard of him; and the effect on arper was
easily seen.

He started, changed color, and stared as
though he had seen a ghost.

Stranger though he was about Silvers or, he
had heard of Captain Nevada, and he id not
forget the fight around the stage.

The outlaw laughed as he saw his trepida-

on.

“ A mere dandy, but still—Ca tain Nevada l”

“I’ll take it all back,” said arper, t ing
gokact as though he believed the affair on y a

o e.

“ You cry remarkabl ick,” sneer-ed Neva-
da, “but on have on thlegun your stan'ing
tour on th s stage. I know on well. Itried to
get at your purse once he ore, when you were
en route to this camp, but that beggar on horse-
back used lead too lively for our good."

The robber paused and looked reflectiver at
Bruno. He had definite plans in view, but the
hear was an impediment. He disliked to kill
him. but it was plain he must in some way be

disposed of.

‘ Send your dog away, young lady,” he said,
addressing ‘Gus.

“ Bruno, come herei” said she. starting away.

“ Hold on 1” said Nevada, hastily; “ you don‘t
undegstand. The bear may go, but you are to

“an0 and I are inseparable, sir,” she said,
with reviving firmness.

“The best of friends must part. With this
preface, let me say that you two are to go to
my cave in the mountains. In lain words, you
are my prisoners. Now, as I dis ike useless talk,
I will make believe that both of you have put
in an earnest argument and plea against my
Course, and that I have refused to vield an inch.
All this I shall certainly do. You must go
with us.”

“ I shall not submit!” declared Harper.

“ I don’t care whether you do or not—you
will go, just the same. Hal none of that! Let
that revolver alone. U with your hands or I
will put a bullet throng yonl Up, I say l”

Harper had tried to secretly draw arevolver,
but the kecnsighted outlaw had thwarted him.
and his own weapon had forced the other to

obe .

Then Nevada motioned to one of his men who
moved around and covered Harper, while the,
captain turned to Tina

‘ Once more,” he said, “I tell you to send the
bear away.”

“I refuse,” she replied, firmly, “and if you
molest us we shall both resist. Go your way,
Ca tain Nevada. and let us alone."

0 locked at her for a moment as though ad-
miring her courage and then slowly raised his
revolver and covered Bruno.

She threw up her rifle guicklg:

“Beware, sir!” she sai , as mly as before.
3153,91: harm the bear your life shall pay the

c

It was a brave declaration, but Nevada had
provided for such an emergency. While ’Gus
spoke, afellew in the dress of a Mexican had /
crept around behind her, and at the distance of
thirty feet flung out a lasso.

It fell fairl over her shoulder. and then a
quick jerk p nioned her arms to her sides,
wrenched the rifle from .her grasp and nearly
caused her to lose her footing. .

Then others sprung forward and seiaed her,
there was some confusion and a rifle-shot; and
when the outlaws rted a little, the girl’s
hands had been boun behind her.

 

 

. .av"

If anyon Dae, the Man of the; Mountain.

'13

 

It was not of herself she thought at that mo-
ment, however, she had heard the shot and at
once looked for the cause and effect.

Ten feet away. Bruno lay motionless. Nevada
hfill shot him with an aim so deadly that he had
so ircel y stirred.

’Gns looked at him with flashing eyes, but if
she intended to speak the chance was lost when
a gag was inserted in her mouth.

Harper had been similarly served, and the
two stood side by side, subject to the same for-
tune djust then, but with an unknown future
ahea of them.

The outlaw chief had relapsed into a silent
and almost gloomy mood. unusual to him, and
he made no more talk except to give a few
necessary orders.

And thus they began their march to the lair
on the steep side of the Camei’s Hump.

CHAPTER XVIII.
TROUBLE FOR CANYON nave.

DAVID CANTON and Otis Sprague were slowly
returning from their day’s work. The former
had secured but little sleep the previous night,
and, consequently, did not feel in a very ener—
getic mood.

The time was twilight.

The friends were conversing carelessly asthey
passed along near the timber belt at the foot of
the C iniel’s Hump, but they were a little stirred
out of their languor as they heard a crashing in
the bushes.

“A bear,” sug esterl Spra e.

“Or Captain - evada,” sa d Dave, laughing.

Just then a man burst from cover at a rapid
run, but seeing them, came forward as though
greatly pleased. I

Neither of the miners remembered having
seen him before, but to us he is no stranger—it
was Cleon, the negro.

H e ran excitedly toward the two friends.

“ Olil hress de Lord! 1’s so glad tosee you.
.I’s hun.in’ for somebod , an’ [’3 found you. Bey
hub carried dem oil, as l dey hab, for sure!”

“ Carried who om” Dave asked.

“Ole Massa Harper an’ de al, sah. Ohl land
ob Goshenl day will be kill an’ burnt at de
Stil’ke’.’ Dey hab fallen among de Philistines,
an -— ‘

“Hold on. right there, old man,” said Dave,
catching him by the arm. “ IVhat girl are you
talking about, and who has carried her off!”

“I s‘pect it am de road-agents (lat hab got
her. but i nehber see’d her store. She hab got
O'l a red shawl an’ big black hat—”

“ What 2"

Canyon Dave's voice rung out sharply, and
his hold on Cleon's arm grew painful.

The negro was thrown completely of! the
track by this unexpected fierccness, but after
some stammering he managed to make it clear
that while wanderin about the gulches of the
Camel‘s Hump, be ad seen a body of men
bearing away Thomas Harper and a young lady
he did not know. ‘

His description, howsver, conclusively proved
that it had been ’Gus Hackett.

“Sprague,” cried the mountaineer, “ there is
work for us. Miss Hackett must be rescued.”

“I am with ou' what’s the plan?”

“You and will take. to the trail at once.
while the negro shall go to the village and 've
the warning. He has only to say that Gus
Hackett is missing, and rescuers will be thick
euou h.”

This plan was acted u

 

n, and Dave and

Sprague began the ascent ,o the mountain. The
former showed a feverish ingtience, but
had doubts

Sprague was calm and grave.
0 their ability to find the captives, for no out-
sider knew where was the lair of Captain Neva-
da, and the mountain side was cut by gulches in
which were hundreds of places of concealment.

There seemed about one chance. in a hundred
that they would succeed.

The timber-belt was soon left behind and the
mountain side vigorously attacked. barkness
fell while the climbed, and far below twinkled
the lights 0 the village._ The we became
rougher, and progress difficult, an at last

. can on Dave paused and dropped down on a

. chase?” e abruptly asked.
“Beca

bow der.
“ Wh have you followed me on such a wild
use I wouldn’t see you go alone. But
why do you say it is a wild chase!”

I am convmced that nothing can be done
until tomorrow. W hat onevof us can find a
Cfil‘emlly-hidden cave in utter darkness? I
511:!ng 131‘? thougiit of these things at first, but
'- l S on now ri
of ,Gus.” 9  I was upset by the pe

Sprague tried to talk consolingly, and as Dave
recovered somGWhat from his exhaustion, his
courage came back. It might be folly to
search by night, but he would not let an idle
moment pass.

They went on, and, as the gulches g'rew deep-
er, walked where rocky walls towered far
above them, and the mountain side was cut as
though by strokes of a giant’s sword.

And in this wild place Captain Nevada had
his home.

 

Half way up the mountain side, and in this
network 0 confusing passages, a fire was blaz-
ing in a cave, its file ering light falling on three
or four forms near at hand.

It was the camp of Captain Nevada, though
not that stronghold be occupied as a home.
The ascent of the mountain had been so hard
upon ’Gus that even his hard heart was touched,
and he concluded to give her a chance to rest.

For Harper he had no such mercy. so all the
party went on excepting ’Gus, himself, and two
men. These four had taken to the cave, there
to eat supper from their supplies, and to rest
until after midnight.

There was some danger in the delay. but
Nevada felt a scornful disregard for the miners.

Having eaten his supper, he lay down before
the blaze, and smoked thoughtfully and gravely.
Then he moved to the girl’s side.

“Miss Hackett,” he said, “ your heart is bit-
ter against me, and you think me the greatest
villain unhung. I am sorry for that, for I love
you. That is why I have taken you away, and
if that be a crime, I have erred. All of us are
human, however. and I trust you will not think
badly of me. If you can smile on one whose
oplg ,fault is in loving you so much, I would be
g a . -

He spoke in a. mood strangely meek for one
pé his awless trade, but his audacity amazed
us.

“ You do not speak reasonably,” she said, with
spirit. “Are you not Captain Nevada, whose
crimes are the talk of all this neighlxirhood?
And when we refer to personal affairs, it seems
to me that an honest suitor would use diff- rent
methods from what you. have today practiced.”

The outlaw sighed heavily.

“ it is the fate of my sex to be misjudged by
yours," he gravely said. “Our mOst gallant
devotion wins us no applause. We work for
you and you reward us not. Ah! Miss Hackett,
you do not know what warm hearts beat under
our rough coats.” ‘

“ I have had a good sample of yours.”

“ Cruel as everl"

“ Sir, your impudence astonishes me.”

“I feared it would,” he said, looking very

sad.

“Is this treatment manly?” she asked, her
voice less steady than usual. “ Is it not enough
that I should be our captive? Why do you
add to my burden1x

His face changed a little.

“I suppose I am an infernal villain,” he ac-
knowledged, “butl am a victim of fate. All
my evil ways have been driven into me by—the
law! But we will speak of this anon. We have
just about four hours to stay here, and I, for
one, propose to sleep. I advise you to do the
same. This cave has two places of exit; the
one by which We entered, and one at the rear
which 0 us out on a shelf of rock. At the
former, shall place a guard, but as the latter
is bordered by a precipice a hundred feet high,
I do not think you will escape. I mention this
because I shall leave you unbound, and wish to
show you how useless it would be to try to get
away.

He turned away and she did not attempt to
detain him. He spoke to his men and one went
awa as a guard, while Nevada and the other
la own and seemed to soon fall aslee .

Gus, however, had no such intention. She
sat where the outlaw had left her, and, despite
his last words, allowed her mind to run on a
possible escape. '

Was such a thing possible? The cave was
narrow, scarcely more than twenty feet wide;
and the passage b which they had entered was
guarded by one o the men.

The further and was invisible in the darkness,
and, though Nevada had soconfidently said that
it ended in a precipice, she resolved to see for
herself.

She softly arose, lifted a brand from the fire,
and walked toward the rear of the cave.

The outlaws remained motionless.

Very soon her torch began to waver, and she
felt fresh air on her face: and then she reached
a small opening in the solid rock—a place which
was like a door.

She stepped through and found firm footing
still, but she was not long in finding that she
was on the shelf of which Nevada had spoken.
It was a nearly lchl ledge. forty feet long, but
in no place more than half as wide, and taper-
ing to a point at both ends. A few dwarfed
trees arose from occasional crevices.

She walked to the edge and held the torch
out as far as she could reach, but only daikness
and vacancy were before her. She listened, but
no sound arose to ive her information. .

Having found t at thelcliff above the ledge
was too steep to he climbed, she was at a point
where the majority of people would have de-
spaired, but she had yet one experiment to
trv.

She re entered the cave. The outlaws still
slept, and with great care she glided past them
and secured a lasso which had been cast on the
floor. it was the same weapon with which she
had been subdued, near the village, but now
she hoped to put it to better use.

Returning to the ledge, she tied the end of
the lasso to the torch, and then, standing near

 

the edge of the rock, slowly dropped her fiery
pathfinder down the chasm.

Really, she expected nothing of the venture,
but as ,the lasso was of unusual length, she‘
would at least have the satisl action of knowing
that she could not escape by ti is way.

She allowed the lasso to slip slow y through
her hands, and the torch, turning about 'as it
descended, showed a wall of rock on one side
and darkness and vacancy on the other until it
abruptly ceased to hang as a weight upon the
sensitive wrists of the girl.

Had she really “ struck bottom!”

CHAPTER XIX.
ON THE LEDGE.

’Gus felt a sudden thrill of joy and then
grew calmer. It could not be that the lasso had
reached the foot of the cliff—such luck would
be too gorJd for belief and would speak ill for
Captain Nevada’s sagacity.

if it had, however, the way of escape was
open, for three or four dwarfed trees grew on
the ledge and she did not doubt her ability to
descend by means of the lasso.

\Prostrating herself on the rocks, she looked
eagerly over to see what the light would reveal.
The torch was plainly visible, and as ’Gus looked
something suddenly appeared within the lighted
circle and a human face looked up into her
Own.

Conflicting emotions then emailed her. She
knew not whether she had seen a friend or a
foe. and for a moment she hesitated.

Then a Voice arose from the chasm.

“ ’Gusl ’Gusl” ‘

Joy flashed through her heart. She had heard
her name; there could be no dcubt of it; and
she felt sure that rescue was at hand.

“‘Gus! ’Gusl"

The cry startled her this time. She feared it
would be heard by her enemies inside the cave,
and that meant sure destruction.

She waved her hand, forgetting that she must
be now invisible to whoever was below, and
hurried a little aside to where one of the dwarfed
trees before mentioned arose from the thin soil
which in places covered the ledge. She tried
the tree, found it firm and tied the end of the
lasso with sailor—like skill.

Next, she prepared to descend, but at that
moment the tree began to sway in a way which
at first perplexed her; but as she saw that. the
lasso was drawn tightly she realised that who-
ever was below was climhing upward.

This was not to her liking, but she once more
looked over the ledge.

Between her and the torch she saw a man as-
cending hand over hand, catching with. his feet
at such crevices as were to be found. ’

While she looked he turned his face upward
and she recognized Canyon Dave. ‘

A thrill of pleasure made her heart throb
faster. She was not forgotten in her trouble;
one person, at least, was working in her behalf.

In the midst of her exultation a hand was
suddenly placed over her mouth and a strong
arm drew her back from the verge. She looked
up and saw one of the outlaws, aburlfrufiian
with an evil face. She struggled in his grasp,
but he flung her backward with a force which
left her stunned and bruised upon the rock.

 

Then he hastened to the edge of the led e and , I»

looked over. He saw the climbing man low,
and with a smile which was almost fiendish, he
iirew his knife and leaned forward to cut the
asso.

Canyon Dave was within ten feet of the top.
but one stroke of the knife would send him to
certain death at the foot of the clifl.

It was higher than we have yet shown.

Dave and Sprague, wanderin through a can-
yon, had seen a light far above sin-at least a

aindred and fifty feet. They were puzzled and
uncertain, but, resolving to investigate if pos-
sible, they attacked the rough face of the c id
and. by chance, the mountaineer, accustomed
to just such work, made his way far up by lad-
ders of N ature’s own manufacture.

He had reached what seemed an impassable
point when, to his great surprise, a torch
came steadily down the face of. the rock, but a
keeper glance showed him- a female form and
he was sure it was ’Gus. ,

When the light reached his feet, he called to
her, but no answer came and, of course, she
was not visible in the darkness.

He discovered, however, that the lasso had
been made fast and at once he began to climb.

It was no easy work, even for his hardened
muscles, but he found many rests for his foot
and went on steadily, unconscious of the smiling
wretch above who would thus send him to eter-
nitv.

To all appearances, there was no one to see
the deed, no one to prevent it. 'Gns lay sense-
less on the ledge and the ruman’s heart was

without pity. ,

Still, the lasso did not part. Canyon Dave
drew nea‘rer the to , pulled himself upward
caught at the dw‘ar ed tree and then lay tired
and panting on the ledge. ‘ ‘

But, where was ’Gusl She did not appear,
and he called her name softly. There wssm
answer; dead silence reigned all around him. i

Perplexed and uneasy, he reached down and.

{Ari in. _.

14

' Canyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain. “

(

 

'..__.____x__-- .._ .. ._._.

drew the torch upward. That, at least, would
give him 1i ht.

As it at ved at the top he caught it in one
hand and looked keenly around.

The first object which met his gene was a man
of muscular frame who lay flat on his back,
almost at Dave’s feet, a red stream flowing out
over his clothes and his eyes fixed in a glare
\ which seemed intended for the mountaineer’s

Yet. mischief had gone from his body with
his life, and the clay which remained could do

no harm.
All this Canyon Dave saw, but it was some-
thing more which caused him to start in fresh
rise. In the dead man he recognized the
fellow he had fou ht the previous night near
gradnflackett's cab n, the mysterious “ Eldorado
ph.

How had he come on that ledge, stabbed to
the heart as he was? Close beside him lay a
knife, but it was bloodless; another than that
had sped his life.

The mountaineer had not yet moved when
’61:: came forward from the darkness. Her in-
sensibility had been at brief, and she now ad-

vanced and cl he hand of Canyon Dave.
“ Ohl Dave, ave! I am so glad to see you 1”
she exclaimed.
“ The pleasure i mutual, I do assure you, but

I do not understand this of my reception.”
He had both her ban 5 in his, but found it
liar}? to take his gaze from the face of Eldorado

I:‘Ahi he is dead. Did you kill him?"

“Did I? No; I found him there when I came
up the clifl.”

’Gus looked amazed.

“ How in the world did he die, then?”

“ Who was he?”

“ One of my captors. He was sleeping in the
cave yonder a moment ago, but he came out
and attacked me while you were climbing up.
He hurled me to one side so violently, that fell
shameless, and I came back to life to find you

ere.

Canyon Dave heard the explanation but did
not answer. He was looking down at the death-
marked face of Eldorado Eph. The man had
held a secret which migh' have done him much
good, but he had died with it untold.

’Gus crept closer to her protector. The dark-
ness, the awning lf, her living enemies and
, this dea man, al combined, terrified her in

spite of her brave nature.

“Dave! Dave!” she whispered. “Let us go
from here. I can bear it no longer.”

The mountaineer aroused. He was once more
the bold man of adventure. and questioned her
until he learned the exact situation of affairs.

“Only two men against us,” he lowly said.
“ Very good. In that case, our way lies through
the cave. I had rather fight two men than to
risk in life on that clifl. It has many shelves
of me and b them I came up, but one mis-
step would sen a man to destruction.”

£210” of those men is Captain Nevada,” she
a d

“ So much the better. This re ion will never
be at peace until that fellow is d sposed of and
I ma as well take the duty. I know he rs
a be. reputation as a fighter, but seriously, I
am not afraid of him.”

“Then let us go while he sleeps.”

Dave looked wistfully at the clay before
them. He would hava given all his worldly
wealth to have known how Eldorado Eph died
and the secret he held, but the matter was
shrouded in mystery.

They went cautiously to the entrance to the
cave and then ’Gus caught Dave’s arm.

“ Captain Nevada is not where I left him' he

' has left the light of the fire and hid in a place
of ambush.”

“If that’s his game, we must go slow. Per-
haps I can draw ' fire.”

ey had retreated from range, but he now
exposed the top of his cap. Useless attempt!
theflludlanl fighter’s trick was in this caso of no

‘7 .

For some time the young couple remained
listenin . but the impression grew upon the
noun user that no one was in the cave. That
the road-agents had actually retired and aban-
doned their prisoner seemed im robable, but
mystery an with the death of ldorado Eph,
and, was lia le to continue.

At last, Dave resolved to act in the case, and
invaded the cave, his revolvers ready for use.
’Gus was full of fear, but no shot came from the
shadows, and he walked 'on to the other
entrance.

There lay another man, the owner of the
lasso, a fellow called Leon. At first Dave
thought that he, too, was dead, but investiga-
tion showed that he was only unconscious;
while a suspicious odor led the mountaineer to
believe he had been drug ed.

’ He called to ’Gus. an they safely left the
vicinity. C tain Nevada had disappeared in a
most myste ous way. There was chance to
suspect that it was he who had disposed of his
followers. but the idea was so wild that neither
of our friends entertained it.

The reasonable supposition was that some
stranger had killed Eph, drugged Leon, and

‘\

 

made way with Nevada, but even that theory
left one great question unsolved—who had done
all this?

Canyon Dave felt himself surrounded by
mystery. Eldorado Eph had come and gone in
a strange fashion, but he had died with his
secret untold, and remained only as a proof of
some power working behind the scenes.

CHAPTER XX.
A DARK PLOT.

CANYON DAVE and ’Gus werenot long in find-
ing Sprague, and then the journey down the
mountain was begun. All were in good spirits,
for the fact that 'Gus had been found and res-
cued before she was immured in the depths
of the outlaws’ retreat was indeed most fortun-

 

ate.

A little later they encountered the searching
party aroused by Cleon. Brad Hackett led the
company and their greeting was hearty; after
which all turned back toward Silver Spur.
Cleon put in a word for Harper, but the man
was a stranger at the village and the miners
had no intention of breaking their necks over
precipices by risking a search by night.

The party went directly to the village, and
Brad was prevailed upon to place ’Gus in a
securer place than his cabin for the time. It
was evident that Nevada had resolved to possess
her. and in some way he must be foiled.

Consequently, ’Gus, Brad, Canyon Dave and
Sprague followed Judge Parmenter to his house.

The latter heard of the captiviftrv of Harper
with a joy be but ill concealed. e was not a
vindictive man but it would aflord him great
pleasure if the heiress-hunter never reappeared
at Silver Spur.

Leaving this friendly little company for
awhile, let us go back toa scene which occurred
outside the village just after dark.

Half an hour before, two men had left the
Alexis Hotel and wandered away like people
who have no definite object in view. They
were Ball and Carter, the gamblers before men-
tioned, but for this evening they had given up
their usual work to followed another trail.

Once outside the village their indolent air
vanished and they went with more rapid ste
along the gulches until half a mile from t e
hote .

“I reckon this is the place,” said Ball, at

length. .
“Yes, so it seems. There is the rock, just as
she described it. Let us sit down and wait.”

“ What do you suppose is wanted of us?”

“ Ob! some villainy; it don’t make any differ-
ence what.”

" It makes a good deal of difference to me,”
said Ball, firmly. “ I’m in for anything where
there is money, if the danger don’t overtop it,
but I‘m not going to put my precious neck in a
noose.”

“Rest easy: it ain’t likely the woman has
anything of that kind in view. The plots of wo-
men are ike thunder. They make a good deal
of noise, and the women think they are killing
lots of game, but, really, they amount to noth-

“ Pm not so sure of that. Women overrate
their plots, it’s true, but the weave ten webs
where a man weavas one, an their schemes are
as spiteful as a home’s sting.”

The amateur philosophers continued their dis-
cussion until the approach of a third person in-
terrupted them.

1 “It is she,” said Ball, straightening his col-
ar.

The new-comer advanced and proved to be
Persia Ripley. She gave each one of them a
hand and smiled with all possible grace.

“ You are prompt,” s e said. in her most
mellow voice, ‘and I am very glad it is so.
should, be dreadfully afraid alone here in the
dark.

“We will protect you." said Ball, valiantly.

“Even from Captain Nevada?”

Ball answered affirmatively, though less

romptly than before. He wondered if any one
Bad dared to say that they had not behaved like
heroes when Nevada attacked the stage.

“ Well, I feel perfectly safe. I assure you, and
now I will come to business. I told on I
wanted to speak with you on a matter 0 busi-
ness and asked you to meet me here. Do you
know more about the matter?"

“ Not a thing,” said Ball.

“ We are willing to learn, Miss Ripley,”
added Carter.

“Very well. Now, I want two agents in an
important work; men who will not be afraid to
act boldly and run a little risk if there is money
visible at the end of the race.”

" I see,” said Ball. cautiously.

“You hesitate. Why? Do you fear to trust
mel’

Miss Ripley laid her hand on the gambler’s
arm, and even in thedarkness he saw a charm-
ing smile on her face.

"The whole matter is right here,” he said,
frankly. “ Gentlemen of our, trade have to be
very careful to obey the law, and if we do
break any of its forms, we must be sure we
are acting safely. You area stran er to us,
gait your guarantee that all is right w l he suf-

c em.

I

 

. “ My dear sir, I will swear to it. I never go
back on apard. There is danger in my plan,
but no more for you than for me. ” .

“ Let me hear It,” interrupted Carter.

“I have an enemy in Silven Spur.”

“ Is it the dagger or quick poison?"

Persis looked keenly at the speaker.

“Dare you use them?” she asked.

“ For money, I would even serve as a Sunday
school superintendent,” Carter declared.

“ Well, I do not care to have blood shed,
though, if there should be, I will not com lain.
In fact, that will be more to m liking, ut I
will not urge you to proceed to t is extremity.”

“Who is the man?’ .

“ The person is a woman!”

It  II

There was a world of significance in the one
word. When one woman hates another suf—
ficiently to wish her dead, there is usually a
men between them. Carter tried to think who
stood in Persia Ripley’s light, but he was not suf—
ficgeilitly acquainted at Silver Spur to solve the
ri d e.

“In brief,” said Persis, “Iwish this woman
to disappear completely, perhaps forever; and
under such circumstances that people will say
she was murdered.”

“ I don’t like the last idea,”said Ball. “ W'hen
murder is done, the law wants another victim,
and st’i’spicion sometimes falls on the right

rtv.

“ Wait,” said the woman; “ my plan is more
wide and comprehensive than you think. Sus-
picion in this case will not pomt at the guilty
parties, but everything will go to show that an-
oigryerson—an innocent man—performed the

“ Oh! I think you have two enemies in Silver
Spur.” observed Ball.

“ No; only one. The person I last mentioned
will be menaced because I want him in my
power. The idea is to take away the Woman,
and either confine her in a cave or—or put her
forever out of the way, while the traces left he-
hind will show that s e was killed by the man,
and that he had a motive. These proofs I shall
myself manipulate, and they will put the man
in m power.”

“ nd what is our part?”

“ To make way with the girl and attend to
some triflin details. That is all. You may do
as you see t with the girl, only don’t let her re-
turn.”

“In plain words, you prefer that we should
kill her,” said Carter, bluntly.

“You can act your own pleasure,” Persia
blandl said.

“ Who are these persons?”

“ You have not yet said that you will per-
form the work.”

“ What is the pay?”

“ One thousand dollars in ready money.”

“In that case, you can count us in. Give us
the details and the names.”

 

It was half an hour later when Miss Ripley
left the men and started on her return to Silver
Spur. She had not gone far when Miguel Perez
came out of a niche in the rooks, joined her and
walked on at her side.

“ Well, what luck?” he asked.

“ Can you ask? Do I ever fail to succeed?
Our luck is not going to desert us 'et. Ball and
Carter were like clay in my han s. They will
do the work, and We will at the same time be in
sogoo? com any that no one will suspect us. In a
week will ve Judge Parmenter at my feet,
and, through him, the fair Edna shall fall into
your hands.”

“I regret the necessityr which takes the other
girl out of the world. tayl why could we not
make Sprague the victim—”

“Bah! on are insane. It would not answer

at all. 0; let well enough alone and trust to
nliy plap. Believe me, it will place us all in
C UVOI‘.

“ We will go on then,” said Miguel; “but I
havo an uneasy feeling about the matter. Some
of these days, my friend, we will run our heads
into a noose.’

“ Bah! what do you fear? I tell you the
world is like a drum. Beat it softly and slow]
and it will last forever. Ah, Miguel, with 8.5
yourncunning, you lack a woman’s skill at plan.
mug.

She struck him lightly on the arm, and as he
demurred no further, it is to be presumed that
her arguments were successful.

0n reaching the Alexis they separated, and
Miguel went to the bar-room. Its singular
loneliness at once struck him. Two men sat
sleeping in their chairs, and the har-kee r was
idl smoking at one side. All the gay (E‘votees
of acchus usually seen there were invisible.

Perez indulged in a drink of whisky and
asked for an explanation, and then he heard for
the first time of ’Gus Hackett’s abduction, the
searchers not having then returned.

“ Everybody has gone out arter ther var-
mints,” said the bar-keeper, “ an’ that’s why
trade isso poor. Them two galoots over thar
was too drunk ter 0, and they have sence filled
up until they are 0 can gone. Luckily for ther
financial standin’ o’ ther house, they have been
too drunk to count their change.”

 

 

Canyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain.

J

The man seemed in a rather jovial mood, but
his words fell on unheeding ears. Perez was
thinking of ’Gus Hackett; for very good reasons
her disappearance was of interest to him.

CHAPTER XXI.
SYMPTOMS or A mor.

ans the rescue-party returned there was a

neral rush for the Alexis saloon, and the
trade at the bar kept the presiding genius flying
about constantly for an hour.

The miners were very thirsty after their
tramp, and from what they said, Joe Ruger,
the bar-tender, decided that Captain Nevada’s
army must be pretty nearly annihilated.

He asked some questions, and learned that
twelve outlaws had been killed, and in the face
of this cheering announcement. coupled with
speeches from some of the bold warriors, he
became so overjoyed that he “ treated the
house.”

When he learned that, of all the party, only
Canyon Dave d seen a road-agent, e was
bitterl disap inted. Nevada still lived, but
his thy b gone, forever gone.

It was well toward morning when the miners
sought their homes, but otherwise all was peace-
ful at the village.

Joe Ruger was just stirringhimself after a
short sleep when a pounding at the door has-
tened his movements. He opened, and then in
walked Thomas Harper, his face pale in places
and blood-streaked in others. _ _

Joe stared, but Harper considered it a time
for rompt action.

“ t out our whisky bottle 1” he commanded.

It was a irection Joe did not feel like refus.
ing to obey. He placed the article as directed,
and Harper took a most powerful drink.

“Bless the man that invented this villainous
compound,” he muttered. “ It is sure death in
the long run, but for the time being it can set a
man’s blood in motion. Now, give me soap and
water.”

He washed away the blood and the bar-tender
applied a little ointment to the bruise on his
seal which had produced it, and then Harper
fel'ItEike a man raised from the grave.

0 etc

of his escape from the road-agents
stamped him as a man of nerve

He was new

to the mountains, but he had the natural gifts ‘

of a brave man, and this had helped him
through.

All the way up the mountain he had been 
working at his bonds, and, at last, they gave ‘

wav. Then he snatched a revolver from the
belt of the nearest man, knocked its owner

down, shot another man, and made a dash for l

liberty.

The crowd closed around him. He fired right ,

and left and struck out manfully. He had one
advantage—born of the darkness—being alone,

he could hit every head that appeared, while the l

outlaws were obliged to use care or they would
kill one another.

Once, one of them struck with painful ac-
curacy;he received the blow on his head and

was near! stunned; but b des rate exertion
he su ed in breakin t roug them, and, in
the darkness, made g his escape.

His timely return removed the necessity of a
search for him, but the camp was so excited
over the double abduction that a meeting was
called and measures considered for a grand ex-
pedition against Captain Nevada.

The busy miners could afford to let the robber
have a little rope, but when he tried to gather
in all that hun around Silver Spur, it was time
to stop his unp easant freedom.

Brad Hackett was so affected by his daughter’s
adventure that he consented to have her remain
at Parmenter’s as Edna’s guest; a change in the
situation which materially affected several
parties, and none more than Persis Ripley and
the gamblers.

_Thel‘e Was a deal of letting and plan-
ning in Silver l pur just at that time, but cir.
cumstances compelled each person who had a
work to accomplish to go slow, and a week
passed without an event of great importance.

Harper and Olson saw the three refuted daugh.
ters of armenter,but could not dec do which one
was iriam Browning. The resemblance be«
tween them lay chiefly in their black hair and
eyes, but one looked as much like the Br0wning
family as another. Harper had made another
stron but usaless appeal to the judge, and there
he to let the matter rest.

Persia Ripley and Peres were not sleeping,
Enddthe hour for them to strike was near at

an .

Canyon Dave labored steadily and tried to be
patient; but he saw Incognito no more and
feared the worst. His friendship continued
with ’Gus, and S rague believed he was making
headway with E na Parmenter.

Since the last night of adventure, Captain
Nevada’s band had kept wholly out. of sight,
and there were some w o believed he had been
killed, or had fled from the vicinity.

One evening, Dave and Sprague sauntered
into the Alexis saloon. The scene was as
- usual. Men were drinking. smoking, gambling

and talking in loud voices, and mirt of the
kind they courted ruled the hour.

At one table, the two friends saw Ball, Saw-

 

 

 

tooth Sam and two unknown men playing
poker. Within the last two weeks there had
been several new arrivals at the village and
strangers were no longer a novelty.

Of the quartette just mentioned all were very
quiet except Sawtooth Sam. e possessed a
nature entirely hostile to quietness, and it was
his boasting that had drawn the miners’ atten-
tion.

Since his arrival in town, Sam had worked in
Barclay Brothers’ mine by day and played cards
at night until he was pretty well situated flnan-
cially, and there were few in Silver Spur who
did not know him well.

Luck was on this occasion going against Sam
and his partner though both played with skill
and courage. Ball, having devoted so many
years to the occupation, always did his work in
acool, steady and shrewd fashion; and Sun,
though very uneven and at times careless,
stoned for all by an occasional spurt of bril-
liancy which was admirable, if the word can be
ap lied to gambling.

nyon Dave however, being a shrewd ob-
server, was not long in suspecting that at least
two of the players were deliberately cheating.
He saw movements which seemed suspicious to
him, but they were so careful that he was not
sure.

He arose and went near them; but, just as he
did so, something was suddenl thrust into his
left hand which, half—closed, ad been behind
him while passinglthrough the crowd.

He raised his and and found a folded note
inside. He looked for whoever had handed it,
but saw him not. Some one, wishing to re-
main unknown, had thrust the paper into his
hand and then assumed an innocent look.

It might be either one of four men near him,
but all were plain miners, all were closely
lvvaiiching the game, and not one had a conscious

oo .
The mountaineer remembered how another
note had come to him in that very saloon, and,
hoping he was again to hear from Incognito, he
went aside and unfolded his letter.

 

Delicate and shapely writing was that which
met his gaze, but the words were few and un-
satisfactory:

“Cam'ox DAVE: —A friend would like to tell :
you of a danger which hovers ovor you, and will ‘
cause your death unless well guarded against. At '
the southeast corner of the hotel on will find a. boy I
who will guide you to one who will risk all for you. i
be not fail! TRUTH." I

The mountaineer was considerably surprised, !

l
I for the writing was clearly that of a lady, while ,

her solicitutle for his safety, and the vail of
mystery she saw fit to throw around herself
seemed wholly unnecessary.

A ain, the expression, “one who will risk ;
all or you,” sounded a trifle too warm for an
ordinary correspondent, and be mentally de-
cided that there was something behind it which
might be worth knowing.

“ I’ll see the matter t irough,” he at once de—
cided. “ I’ve struck a peculiar line of adventure
since I dropped on Silver Spur, but I reckon I
can keep my head above the current. I’ll fol-
ow this matter through; but first I’ll speak to i
Otis Sprague. Maybe, this is all a plot toclose 1
up my earthly account, in which case I want -
some one to overhaul my trunk.” 1

He smiled at the idea and re-entered the sa- 3
icon, but as he went in he was struck by the
change that had taken place in the scene.

When he left, the patrons of the Alexis had
been in groups here and there, and all was,
serene from floor to ceiling. \Vhen he re-enter-
ed a deeper hush had fallen, but it looked like 1
the hush before a storm. I

Every man was on his feet, and all eyes:
were fixed on a common point, where Sawtooth 1
Sam stood towering above all others, one foot in 5
his chair and the other on the table.

He looked excited and angry, and as Dave
entered he suddenly brought one hand down
upon the other with a resounding crack.

“I’ve said et onc’t, an’ I an it a ’in gents;
them durned galoots was a-c eatin ” he said
after the fashion of a young hurricane.

Plainl , his remarks referred to the two men
who hady played against Ball and himself, but in

s ite of the accusation they had thus far kept -

t eir seats.

Now one of them slowly arose.

“ I reckon there is a blunder somewhere,” he
said, and there was an evident struggle for
calmness. “My name is Barney Moore, and I
always play a square game.”

“ It’s a lie!" shouted Sawtooth Sam, who
seemed in a at tumult. “ You’re a liar and
acheat, an’ kin swa’r I think you are some-
thin’ more.”

At the last word he suddenly moved forward
on the table, and caught at the full brown beard
worn by the gentleman named Moore and then

1 the beard fell completely away and revoaled

the features of Captain Nevada!

CHAPTER XXII.
CANYON DAVE PERPLEXED.
Sawroo'ra Sam’s movement had been so sud-
den that the road-agent had no chance to guard

 

against it, and before any one except the miner
comprehended that war was inevitable, the re-

15

doubtable Captain Nevada stood unmasked be-
fore them.

He, however, was not inclined to lay the
baby' he might not win the game, but e would
pla it for a it was worth.

Oyne upward movement he made with his fist,
and Sam turned heels over head and disappear-
ed in the crowd, and then out came a pair of
flashing revolvers.

“ Nevertheless, I’m still here,” he said, “and
the man who stand in my way—”

He paused suddenly, for the affair had taken
on another interesting turn. Ball encouraged
b the luck of his partner, had made a spring at
tg’e beard of Nevada’s mate, and the two were
engaged in a regular grizzly bear contest.

Ball had secured a good hold and he held on
like a burr: but he had picked out a bad adver-
sary and did not seem to make much rogress. .

“ Let me , curse you !” hissed his enemy.
“Carajo! I’l kill on if you don’t!”

Thus far no one ad stirred to touch Nevada.
There w re many present who recognized him,
but they ad not recovered from their amaze-
ment at his boldness in venturing into their
midst, and all their attention was on the light-
in men.

but might have been e cted suddenly
came to pass. Ball succeeded n tearing a false
beard away from the face of his companion,
but the movement was instantly followed b
the straight, heavy thrust of a knife, and homi-
cidal blood spurted out over the floor of the
Alexis.

That moment was fraught with developments
in the plan of fate. The tearing away of the
beard revealed the face of Migue Perez, while
his avenging arm had driven home to Ball’s
heart a ready knife.

Captain Nevada uttered a curseand hisre-
volvers s ke almost simultaneously. and almost
total dar ness followed the shots. He had ex-
tin uished the principal lights of the room b
We directed bullets, and t en he made a dash
for the crowd.

The scene that ensued can only be understood
by one who has been in such affairs, but any
reader can understand that it is not pleasant to
be among a lot of enraged, shouting men who
are swaying to and fro to the music of revol~
vers, an many there are who prefer the shelter
of chairs and tables in such emergencies.

lead is always detrimental to health.

Confusion reigned in the Alexis for several
minutes, during which time nobody knew ex-
actly whether e stood on his heels or head—and
some had been compelled to try both ways—but
they grew calmer as fighting ceased and some
one called for lights.

Then out from behind the bar crawled its
presiding genius, and in a short time the old
flow of illumination had been revived.

A survey of the field at once followed.

Captain Nevada was not resent. He had
gone from their sight and h ng, though two or
three men walked up to the bar, a little later,
and testifi d that he had left his cards behind——
Leaden afl'z rs that made their n ark where they '

it.

By some itrange chance, not .fatall we and-
ed man we , to be found to tell of his aspirate
dash for liberty.

The evening had had its t= aged , how: ever,
for over by the table first men tione young Ball
lay dead in the midst of his di honorable career,
but the man who had stabbed him was not far
away. '

Miguel Perez lay on the floor, firme held by
Sawtooth Sam, Carter and another man, and a
bowl arose from the miners.

“String him up! Hang ther murderer!"

Some one interfered for Miguel, and pleaded
self-defense; but the s ctators were not in a
mood to listen to such lk.

Ball had not attempted personal violence to
the Mexican, and there was no excuse for his
untimely taking off; while the fact that Perez,

/

1 disguised, was there as Captain Nevada’s part-

ner told very heavily against him.
I he was not of the road-agent hand, then
a pearances Were disastroust against him, ar-
gued the rough but honest miners. ,
Miguel, for his art, lay on the floor and
glared defiance. e had not yet had time to
reflect sufliciently to see what he had lost.
Despite the interestin state of affairs,‘Canyon
Dave did not forget t e note hehad received.
The vague hope that it might have come from
incognito, and that he might obtain light on the
subject which had brought him to Silver Spur,
would have called him from almost any so-

Ciet .

Hz went outside and, at the corner of the
2333], found a boy in waiting as he hadbeen

He nodded slightly.

“ You were waiting for me?" he questioned.

“ I was. Follow me," was the terse reply. s

“ Whither?”

“Not beyond the village. Do not fear.”

The boy showed an inclination to avoidan-
necessary words, and Dave lookcd in vain to
discover his identity. In the darkness, discov-
eries were not easy, while the drooping hat of
the youth was almost like a mask.

Canyon Dave shut his teeth, and prepared a '

 

 
 

\

16

 

, Canyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain.

 

follow where the boy led. Within the last month

his previously matter-of—fact life had been full ,
1 ‘ if, then, she was so friendly with him, it did

of mystery. but he was
terms with it and cared litt

If this affair was but of the ordinary kind he
was willing to humor his unknown correspond-
ent, while if it referred to Incognito, he would
follow to the end.

His guide passed several cabins at the rear
and then paused before one which was dark and
silent. He pushed the door open.

“ Enter!” he quietly said.

“ What is there?” Dave suspiciously asked.
“The caboose is as dark as a tomb. I hope you
won’t think me bashful, but an era of lead and
saltpeter has.dawned on Silver Spur, and I hold
my life sacred.”

The boy brushed past him and stepped inside
the door.

“I am going to light the room and then go
for the one who sent for you,” he said, explana-
toril . “If you discover an enemy, turn your
revo ver on me.”

Somewhat reassured, David entered. The
boy struck alight, keeping his back to tho vis-
itor, and then glided through a. door which
plainly led to another room.

The mountaineer found himself the only occu-
pant of the apartme ,t he had entered, and nfter
a deliberate survey he helped himself to a chair
and sat pla ing with the hilt of his knife.

He smile and seemed at case, but was really
yids awake and watching for treachery.

Five minutes passed, and then the door opened .
and a lady came out. Canyon Dave looked,
recognized her, and gracefully removed his hat.

The new—comer Was Persis Ripley.

“Good-evening, Mr. Canton,” she said, with
a gracious smile. '

“ Good-evening, Miss Ripley.”

“ I see you remember me.”

“ Oh, yes! I have not forgotten your adven-
ture.”

“Then I need not go through the formality of
an introduction. You receiVed my note, as
your presence proves. I trust my messenger
performed his part satisfactorily?”

"‘Qui 0. Yes, the boy was all right.”

A pause ensued. Persis looked down at her
bands, which were toying with a ribbon, knot- 2
tied, which ornamented her dress. The ar-
ment was neat and very fashionable for Si ver 2
Spur; her whole attire was becoming; and by

getting on familiar
e.

_ some feminine artifice she had made herself look 1

I called you here.”

I ,. Wither while she talked.

. was coming.

iall for him,” it is time for him to be on the

den] lifting her head.

. lion letter.

strangely voung.

[Canyon DaVe was perplexed to know what
Why had this woman, whom he
had so s‘rangely met before, called him to a re-
mote cabin when an interview in the hotel
would have been far easier? He remembered
the peculiar wording of the note and preferred
not to surmise.

When a member of the female sex assures a
man. verbally or by letter, that she “ will risk

alert. Unceasing vigilance is the price of lib-

ert .
‘y I suppose you"are filled with wonder at m
singular course, Mr. Canton,” Persis said, an -

“ little madam, I confess.”

“ Well, then, I wish to say to you that I have
become scssed of a most im ortant secret,
one whic concerns your very it e.”

Can on Dave thought of Incognito, and his
heart unded, but he managed to keep an out-
ward calmness.

“In that case I shall be pleased to hear it,”
"he confessed, with a smile.

., “In order to divulge what I know, I must
throw myself on our chivalry and nobility.”

' “ The last wor sare rather weiglh y. madam,
but I reckon I can stag er throng . Proceed l”

(“I-have a. brother w o is a member of the
band of Captain Nevada.”

“Indeed ”

“Yes. Oh! poor, poor Larr l how my heart
bleeds for him! Listen, sir, fore you think
him ilty. He was on tnred by them six
moot 8 ago and threaten with death if he did
not swear fidelity to their infamous league. He
took the oath to save his life, and all this while,
until recently. has been a menial in their lair.
'Of late. they have sent him outside. but always
with one companion, who watches him nar-
r0wly. I came to Silvar Spur to be near him—
his but a boy—and last ni ht he wrote me 11
There was muc in it not of inter-
est you: but among other things be divulged
the fact that you were menaced by danger
from a most merciless foe. This is w y I have

CHAPTER XXIII.
MIGUEL ass A cross: CALL.

THE mountaineer bad listened calmly to this
address, but he had thought busier than Persis
know. If she had known of the scene at the
Alexis, she might have preferred to postpone
her revelation until a later time.

’ - Canyon Dave put several into of evidence
9 had often seen

her with Miguel Perez, and they had seemed to

 

 

be very good friends, but now Perez had been
discomfited at the Alexis under circumstances

which seemed to prove him a member of Cap-
tain Nevada’s band.

not look as though she had any great dislike for
the band in general; and he took the liberty of
deeming her brother a myth.

He would listen further and watch develop-
ments.

“ I sympathize most heartin with your
brother," he said, earnestly, “ and I trust he
will be able to effect his escape. But—excuse
me from rushing from your sorrow to my peril
-—what is the danger that monaces me?”

“ It comes from Captain Nevada.”

“Ah! I have met the man. lVell, why does
he desire my dissolution?”

“It would make along story, in detail, but I
can give it briefly,” said Miss Ripley, sweetly.
“ Do you know a young lady named Augusta
Huckett'i" '

Her eyes were fiXed upon his face, search-
ingly, despite the mild expression she main-
tnioed; but if she looked for a telltale change of
expression, it did not come. His face remained
perfectly calm.

“ ’Gus Hacketl? Yes, I have met her.”

“Then, I need only say that, before your
coming to Silver S ur, she was the betrothed of
Captain Nevada. beg that you will not let
this destroy your good opinion of her—I am a
woman, like herself, and I feel for her. I can
imagine how the brilliancy and good looks of
this outlaw won her girlish fancy and blinded
her tothe fact that he was an outlaw. Tr en,
too, her'visits to his CBVP naturally influenced
one so addicted to a lii'e of freedom. ’

l’ersis paused to let the last sentence have due
effect.

“ Of course,” snid‘Drivid, blandly.

“Nevada, however, has Seen fit to be jealous
of yop, and he swears that he will kill you on
sight. ’

L“ Bloodthirsty, isn’t he?” quoth the moun-
taineer, coolly.

“He is a perfect demon. My broiher has
seen him shoot down members of his own band
in cold blood just because they murmured at
his orders.”

“In that, at least, be is right. He deserves a
monument for it. But, pr-r contra, I can’t
agree to furnish my body as a target for his
skill."

“ I beg that you will be careful,” said Miss
Ripley, anxiously.

“Rrst assured, Iwill. Some day, this road-

, agent will receive a blue pill which will inter-

fere with his digestion. He needs rigid medical
treatment.”

The speaker tapped his revolvers.

“You are very brave,” said Persis, admir-
inglv.

 

“ U in the grizzly mountains, they called me ‘

Thum erbolt Dave,” he added, with a very
serious face.

“ Ah !” murmured Pcrsis, clasping her hand in
ra turous appreciation of the fact.

chind his grave face, Canyon Dave was‘

laughing at her. He read her marvelously
well an was boasting as he would not have done
before another woman in Silver Spur.

What would have come next is uncertain.
,Just then a long-drawn bowl, as of many voices,
penetrated toltheirheariug, and the mountaineer
started. He had heard such howls before when
ungr men united their voices, and, remember-
ing t a late scene at the Alexis, he betrayed un-
usual intere<t.

“ What is it?” asked Persia, as another note
floated to their ears.

“ I have a suspicion, but I may be wrong.
Permit me to open the door.”

He did so, and saw a confused mass of men
rushing toward the upper end of the street,
while their yells arose with greater distinct-

ness. .
“There is a riot—what can it mean?” Persia ,

asked, and it was plain she suspected nothing.

Canyon Dave looked at her sharply.
reasons for believing she ought to know that
something unusual was afoot, but if she did. she
gave no sign. Sus cting what he (lid, there
was some ity in his face, adventuress though
he believed) her to be.

“I have reason to think Judge Lynch is On
the movo. That sounds like his war-whoop,
and I know a reason why he should be out.
There was a broil at the Alexis. to-m‘ght, and
two masked men were roved ~to be road-
agents. One was Captain evada, but he went
free by musclebail. The other, I reckon, is the
attraction of this show.”

He pointed to the yelling men, who were now
almost at hand.

“Who was he?” Persis abruptly asked.

" Miguel Perez was his name.”

_ She ut one hand out against the side of the
door, at Dave could see no emotion on her
face save that natural to any woman in like
circumstances. If she cared anything for
Miguel Perez her face betrayed nothing.

He turned rom her to look at the mob, which
had halted less than thirty yards away.
object in seeking that part of the village was
soon made clear. Several men ran inside one
of the houses and a joist like piece of timber
was run a few feet out of an upper window.

He had i

!

 

Their .

Then, underneath, a table was placed and the
prisoner was hustled forward. '

Means for an exacution were not plentiful in
Silver Spur.

Canyon Dave and Persis gazed as though fas-
cinated. They saw a sruggling man hurried
forward and mounted on the table, but even
then he did not quail. He sprung into the air
and dashed both feet, tied together as they
fvivere, against one of the miners, and both fell

at

The prisoner was again raised, and a sudden-
ly started torch cast its light on the face of
Miguel Perez. All his hot Mexican blood was at
the front, but that he lacked the cowardice of
many of his race was fully proved.

He stood bolt upright, without a tremor, but
oglyf furious because he could do no more mis-
c ie .

A rope was brought, one end was nooeed over
his head, and then, as the loose part was flung
owr the projecting timber, the further and
fell among the crowd and only one strong pull
was needed to send him to eternity.

But a bush fell upon the crOv'd as one of their
number moved to the front—doubtless the
Judge Lynch of the occasion.

Canyon Dave started: the lawless judge was
Ofis Sprague!

The young miner looked at the prisoner with
manifest emotion.

“ Miguel Perez.” he solemnly said, “you are
in a grave and terrible situation; you are fear-
i'ully near the great divide, and your eternal
Judge stands on the other side. I don’t want to
preach to you, for every man is his own mastu-
for all of me, except wherein he violates law
and honor. You are here charged with being
a confederate of Captain Nevada, but I hope
youwcan clear yourself. What have you 10
say ,

“ I come of a race that talks with the knife—3'

“In the back!”

It was an honest but untimely voice which
interrupted Migm‘l. Sprague ordered silence,
and the prisoner glared at his accuser.

“ Dog of a Yank! e!” be hissrd, “ I spit on you
as on 9. our. W ho accuses Miguel Perez of stab-
bing men in the back? Let each and every one
step forward, and I will fight tbt in all. First,
let him who has already howled like a sneaking
coyote, come forward. Dog! I’ll fight you
knife to knife, or revolver against revolver!”

“Peace!” said Sprague. “ Let us have no
more talk like this. Miners, I command silence.
And you, prisoner, speak only to me. Tell me
of Captain Nevada and his band if you would
live. Who is he, rcallv, where is his cave and
what are his numbers?”

“Ha! ha! I will tell nothin l” declared

erez. “ You say I am of - his nd. Well,
appearances are vgainst me; I deny nothing.
Be happy ovar what you suspect; it is seldom
that if eas percolate into your thick heads.”

“Miguel Perez, if you die here it is your own
fault,” said Sprague, sternly. “ Lend us to
Captain Nevada’s lair, and you are saved. but if
you play the fool your fate is sealed. It is talk
or die! Which do you choose?”

Canyon Dave turned and touched Persia on
the arm. Her face was in shadow. and he
believed her stillness the horror of sorrow and
despair.

“ Come away i” he said; “ this is no place for

She looked at him calmly.

“ I am .a woman of the border—of the mines,”
she steadily said.

“ But, madam, you don’t understand. That
doomed wrench—that is—Perez ‘will be hanged
unless he tells them what they wish.”

“What of it?” she coldly asked.

Deep down in her heart was a hope that it
would be so. She had too many men to lease
in Silver Spur. She aspired to beguile udge
Parmenter and win his gold, to use Miguel as
long as he was useful, and to marry David
Canton at the end. -

If Judge Lynch hanged Perez, one millstone
would be removed.

Before the mountaineer could answer, another
man rushed forward from somewhere, stagger-
ing toward the door like one intoxicated. He
caught at the side of the doorway: and his
breath came in great sobs, as though 6 had run
until barely able to stand or repire.

Canyon Dave started; the new-comer was
Incognito.

Then the long fingers of the mysterious man
closed upon the mountaineer’a arm in a crush-
ing grasp.

‘Suve that man!" he cried, pointing to the
inpromfitu gallows. “ Save him; I command
it. Ma 9 haste—awayi away!”

CHAPTER XXIV.
'mn WARNING-HARPER‘S PROPOSAL.
THAT same evenins'. but previous to the fight
at the Alexis, ’Gus Huckett was returning to
Judge Parmenter’s, after a visit to her father’s
cabin. All arguments to revail on Brad to
change his quarters had fallen on barren soil;
stand by his home he would even though Cap-

‘ tain Nevada knocked out “he Corner-stone.

’Gus had a good deal of his firm nature, and
only for Edna Parmenter, for whom the had

 

 

1“..

 

O

' commonly called Canyon Dave.

. him why he came to Silver Spur. He will pro
' in the face and say:

, still calmly.
' your name as a guarantee of g0od faith ‘2'”

 

come to feel a stron friendShi , she would her
self have been foun at the ol place, but Edna
ruled the day and ’Gus still lived with the judge’s
family.

house when her name was pronounced and she
turned to see a man strieing after ler. I

He was a stranger, but with her rifle in her '
hand, it was not her nature to be alarmed, even .
though the new-comer, a tall, slenderlyubuilt
man, was so wrap d up in a cloak and hat as
to raise the sus icmn that he was disguised.

“Did you ll" she calmly asked.

“Yes, young lady. I would like to speak
with on for a short time.”

“ I ell, I am listening.”

“Let us step a little from the street,” sug-
gested the unknown. .

For a moment ’Gus hesltated,but with her
rifle in her hands she felt Capable of caring for
herself and went as requested.

To her, this mysterious man Seemed an utter
stranger but had Canyon Dave been present,
he woul have reocgmzod “ Incognito.”

The latter did not go far enough to awaken
suspicion, but just beyond the sight of the or-
dinary travolers of the street.

“I suppose,” he then be an, abruptly, “ that
you are puzzled to know w at I can want with

on. I am not here to ask a ersonal favor, for
{am well supplied with wor dly goods; but to
do you a kindness brought about by the friendly
feelin I entertain for you.”

“ ell. ldon’t know in what way you can
benefit me, for I do not feel in need of help, but
I shall be Justas grateful if it is as you say,”
the irl replied, guardedly.

” ome people are inneed of food and money,
others of kind words, and still others of mus-
cular defense," said Incognito, quietly. “ There
are few who don’t have some pitfalls in their
life paths. Poverty, neglect. and persecution
make a hideous trio that cause much damage
and sorrow.”

’Gus did not feel inclined to deny this philo-
so hical assertion, so she murmured a simple
agrmative.

“You are young and innocent,” continued
the man of mystery, “and your worst dan er
is from those who hide an evil heart behin a
fair face.”

“ Sir!” said she, coldly. I

“Be calm, young lady; I mean you well.
Let me now explain. You know a young man
Circumstances
threw you two together, and you have seen
each other often, since. I would bid you be-
ware of him. I know him better than you, and
I say that he hides a fiend’s heart behind his
smile. I have known him for years.”

“Why do you tell me this?” asked ’Gus, with
an unbelieving smile.

“ Because,” answered Inco nito, with sudden
energy. “I would save the ird from the ser-
pent. Miss Hackett, I am not blind. I can see
what will be the end of vour acquaintance,
though you ma be blind. You are earning to
love this smoot -tongued— Stop! hear me pa-
tiently, for I swear I mean only your good 1”

Incognito spoke with great solemnity.

“Go on!” said ’Gus, recovering her calm-

On'this occasion she had nearly reached the I

 

 

ess. v

“ I will be brief. There are two reasons why

on should not think seriously of Canyon Days.
The first is because he is base at heart, a gam-
bler, a thief—ay, there is innocent blood on his
hands. Such men are not for you, Miss Hackett.
The second reason is that another women has a
claim u n him.”

“ We 1?”

’Gus was listening patiently, but she was not
very strongly impressed. In her opinion, such
a secret revelation did not amount to much.

anydoin Dav: might havflel eutehmiea—wgo hats not?
".‘ n sue a wa as is w
strike him. y 8" °ul pm er w

“There is a wa‘yto test the truth of what I
have tOId you. hen you see the m ask

be.ny say, to dig gold; Then, look him sharply
Did you not come here to
find a young woman?’ As him this, and, my
word for it, he will be confused. He did come
for that purpose; I swear it; but he has not
yet found his runaway, so he seeks to play the
gallant to you.”
Incognito folded his arms and looked steadily
into the darkness.
“You make a singular statement,” said Tim,
“ I suppose you are willing to give

“ On the contrar . I must remain unknOWn.
1 0m “Slang somet ing to tell you what I have,
but I Would save you from a villain. Fare-
well 1”

He turned aside, after this dramatic address,
but ’6 us spoke sharply.

“ Stop!” she said.

“ Weill” he questioned, pausing,

“You must not leave me now. Thus far,
you have done your work ver unsatisfactorily.

do not believe in stabs in be dark, nor do I
see any use for them-3’

“Enough!” he said. curtly. “I do not ask
you to believe, nor do I care but little any-
way. I did think it my duty to warn you, but

 

youth is rash and unbelieving. Have your own
wad; girl. Farewell l" .

no more he turned and strode away, and,
though she again called to him, be kept the pace
until darkness concealed him from view.

He left 'Gus confused, angry and uncertain.
She was disposed to distrust and disbeli are the
unknown, and to see in his warning the work of
an enemy to Canyon Dave; but‘ where is the

arson who is so loyal that a shadow of doubt

oes not enter their minds before an earnest as-
scrticn?

They may struggle against the feeling, as
against the nightmare, but we are born prone to
believe what is derogatory rather than that
which ennobles.

And Canyon Dave and 'Gus Hackett had not
yet talked of the future.

She turned slowly toward Parm'entor’s, but
had gone only a few yards when she met Thomas
Harpeir face to face, and so that both necessarily

user .
paThe encounter was annoying to Miss Hackett.
She had not Seen Harper, except at a distance,
since trey were prisoners of Captain Nevada,
while the memory of their meeting among the
hills, previous to their capture, did not serve to
make him a desirable acquaintance.

Now she would have passed on without a word,
but he spoke quickly: '

“ One moment miss, I be'g of you. I am going
to my hotel and will detain you only a short
time. Have you entirely recovered from your
adventure?"

“ Yes, sir,” she answered, coldly.

Her manner was not encouraging. but he did
not expect it. He said a few words about their
mutual captivity, taking care not to overdo the
matter, and then wound around to the subject
nearest his heart.

“ Miss Hackett,” he earnestly said, “I have a
proposition to make to you. Stop! it is not what

. anyofi Dave}; {11 Man of Mountain.

: forever.

 

you ,think. I am not going to make a fool of "

myself. lam aware that I am thirty years
your senior. and I do not aspire to matrimonial

onors. I have, b0weverila plan in my mind 3

which will make you the eiress of a hundred
thousand dollars. and at. the same time fill my
own pockets. What do you think of that?”

He spoke with confidence, for, judgin by his
own nature, he believed that or peopfie were
read to sell their own souls or worldly gain,
and e had settled on ’Gus to fill an important
niche in life.

“I think it a ‘salted claim,’ ” she promptly
replied.

‘ It is not—I swear to it. Listen, Miss Hack-
ett: In a Certain part of the world there is a
real. fox tune awaiting an owner. The only
ieiress is a young woman who has been sought
for but will never be found. Now, it is within
my power to produce any girl of a brunette
type and put her forward as the genuine heiress;
whereupon she becmnes the sole possessor of the
hundred thousand.”

“ And how much do you gain?" was the quick
in uiry.

‘ The girl I select shall sign a pa er agreeing
togive me ten thousand dollars w on the for-
tune is within her grasp.”

“You arefrank.

“ Do you suppose I would brin
wealth to any person for nothing? Thank on,
no; I am not a Iphilanthropist. n this ma ter.
the only claim make to fairness is that I will
deal With my substitute heiress in an upright
manner. 1 have come to you, first of all.”

The alluring bait had been skillfully presented,
but ’Gus was not for a moment tempted. Dis-
honesty and fraud were not ingredients of her
nature, and neVer could be. Consequently she
did not give the matter a thought in that direc-
tion, but another idea entered her mind. ~

She disliked Harper, and, now that she foun
him contemplating such a crime, she became
ambitions to defeat and expose him. If she at
once, declined, and expressed her scorn, she
would hear no more from ,him, and his scheme
would go on with a less scrupulous woman as
the central figure.

Realizing all this, she quickly laid her plans.

She outwardly showed hesitation, questioned
him at some length concerning the fortune, the
dangers to be encountered in securing it, and in
every way acted as she believed a gras ing, un-
scrupulous woman would do under suc circum-
stances.

Harper, already exultant, an3wered as he saw
fit, but wisely kept hack all that could possibly
betray him. He even led her to believe the
fortune east of the Mississippi.

CHAPTER XXV.
Ton TRUE-axes OPINION.

’Gos hesitated, looked tlioughtlul, and ground
her little heel into the-earth.“ Har r watched
her, anxious for the success of his p an, and with
no small amount of admiration behind his busi-
ness exterior. The idea was working in his
mind that he might some day be able to say
whom the girl should marry.

While they talked, neither suspected that a
third party was listening to their words, but
such was a fact» They stood near a cabin, and
in its shadow a burly man lay and heard all.

“I must hays time to think of this,” said

so much

 

 

1'7

 

’Gus, at last, in an abrupt way. “ It is amomen.
tous decision to make. I am well enough off
here, but—but it would be nice to be my own
mistress.”

“ With a hundred thousand at your back, eh?”
reminded Harper. pleasantly. _

“True, true! The prize is worth having, and
it may be I—Will throw (ff the dust of this town
It " Give me a day, two days, to think of
i 'f '

“ A week, if you wish,” said Harper, delight

y.

“ Very Well. I will think earnestly, and
when my decision is made, you shall have a note
to that effect. Is that satisfactory f”

It was; so much so that Harper could scarcely
conceal his joy; but he managed to answer
calmly, parting words were said and they
separated.

As Harper turned toward his hotel, the eaves-
droplper quietly arose and followed him.

“ he scheme begins to work,” thought Har-
per, as he walked slowly on. “I am lvaflied in
my attempt to discover the real heiress; Par-
menter alone knows who she is. and he will
keep his secret: so I must bring this ‘Gus Hack-
ett to the fron‘. She looks as much like the
Brownings as the Parmenter girls do, though
all the resemblance any of the lot c in claim. is
in their brunette type of beauty. The Hackett
will pass muster tolerany well, so far as locks
are concerned, and she has the wit to keep up
the imposition. I will turn my back on the real
heiress forever."

He paused and looked thoughtfully at ya-

canc . .

“ 'IYhere will be quicksands in mv path," he
muttered. “ but I must risk them First of all,
Cleon must be forever silenced. He would not
agree to this cheat; he must die. Again, I have ‘
been fool enough to unbosom [1) self to Pur-
menter. Suppose, when I have . in fairly
fixed under the new regime, that he should ap-

raud denounce my queen as an impostor?
t would be bad—~bnd for both of us: for I
swear that I would stab him to the heart if
necesaarv.”

Just then a heavy hand fell upon Harper’s
shoulder, and he gave a yell and a bound.
Coming at such a moment, the interruption was
most startling.

When he wheeled, however, it was with a re-
volverin his band; but the men who had thus
saluted lrim was standing with his arms akimbo,
looking innocent enough. . _

“Hello. old stock! How’s your general
health! Drapped down on yer sorter euddint,

, didn’t I? It is a way I hey, an’ can‘t be cured.

Hope you‘ll s’cuse me on ther strength o’ 010
friendship.”

“Who the devil are you?” Harper angrily
demanded.

“ Wal. now that is scurious. I’d ’a’ knowed '
you ef I’d see’d you in prison or church. Onst
at me fix a man’s jaw in my head an’ it is that
figuratively speakin‘, 0’ course; not in a letteral
sorter way.”

“ Be silent, or common sense. Whoara
you?” Harper sai , impatiently.

“ Tommy Trueaxe is my name.”

Harper started and growled a curse. He had
not forgotten the man whom he had inter-
viewed at Coyote Cliff, and who had then so
calmly revealed the cheat of sixteen years.

“I remember you,” he growled, wondering
what evil wind had blown the fellow to Silver
Spur, and if in him he must encounter a new
enemy. ‘

“ I reckoned yer would,” said Tmeaxe, laugh- '

in .

a You have left Coyote Cliff, I see."

“ Yas. Et’s an ole sayin’ that while the?
lam holds out for flicker ther vilist sinner may
tra e an’ dicker, an’ I concluded for toilet that
axyom, now that my bank was bu‘sted."

“ Yes,” said Harper, abaently.

“How goes ther battle, ole pardf"

“ Bad.” '

“ How so?” .

“ I am just where I was when I left Coyote
Cliff. Parmenter refuses to divulge, and I
don’t know which one of his putative daughters
is really Miriam Browning.” »

“ I jedged ther brook was flowin‘ that way by
what yer said for 'Gus Hackett,” coolly 'ob-
served Trueaxe.

Harper started, changed color, and then
broke out in hot anger:

“Curse youl you have been listoningto our
words; on have acted the spy.”

"‘ So ‘ hev, but it was out o devotion to you.
Thort you needed a witness. Lord love yerl
women are like Californy whisk ; ther best OI
’em are so mchd in with irreligious drugs that
you can’t depend on ’em.”

“ Enou h. Don’t waste words. You have
come to t is town. and I presume your object
is to liVe on me. I have expected itfromntho
first. You have come, and you know my pres-
ent plan."

“ Ter palm OR a false heiress far that Simon)
Pure article. Yas,” said Trneaxo.

“ Well, granting it, do you want to lab
yourself useful?" .

H Yas.7l

“Are you Scrupulousl"

d

118

Canyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain. ‘

 

“ Not a bit.”

“ Very well. I will 've you a hundred do;-

lars to kill the ne w om ou saw at Coyote
Cliff with me. the wor scientifically, so
that no ugly suspicions will be amused. Pick a

Can you

guang with him, and shoot to kill.
0 it

“ Well, I guess I can jest as easy. Scrooplesi
Nary‘, boss, nar . What’s a human life? No
more nor a peb le. S’pose I chuck a stun ther
size 0’ a walnut inter ther sea. Dees it leave
any perceptible vacancy in ther world! Nary.
Does it fill any perceptible gap in ther ocean?
Nar . Squire, it are my opinion that we need
a King Nero, or Herod, or Hannibowl. I for-
git which it was—ter kill ofl ther babies an’
s’purfiuons men. Ther’fore—”

“ Never mind the oration. If the bargain is
formed, we will now separate.”

Some parting words were said, and Harper
once more started for the Alexis. He was in
a fresh rage and panic over the arrival of Tom
Trueaxe. The man had the power to ruin him.
“ He has sealed his own fate by coming here,”
the lotter grimly muttered. ‘ He knows too
much. Still, it may be just as well. He will
remove Cleon, and when the work is done, my
own. hand shall remove him. Better by far
that he had remained at Coyote Cliff, unless his
opinion of human life is sweeping enough to in-
c ude himself.”

At that moment the lynchers came forth from
the Alexis, bearing Miguel Perez. He had been
hastily tried and condemned. Suspiciongointed
to him strongly as an accomplice of a tain
Nevada, and, besides, the death of Edwar Ball
lay at his door. True, this last deed could not
in law be deemed any more than manslaughter,
but form and ceremony count for but little in
wild places.

Harper paid no attention to what he regarded
merelyas a drunken brawl, but just as he was
entering the hotel- a hand was laid upon his
arm.

He turned and saw a tall man, strangely
wrapped up in a cloak and big hat.

. “ beg your pardon,” said the latter, “but
what means this disturbanCe? It looks like a
lynching affair.”

“Very likely it is, but Iydon’t trouble myself
about such affairs. If people want their necks
broken, let them dabble in villainy, that’s all.”

With these words he abruptly opened the door
and sed through, leaving the inquirer alone.
The latter, whom the reader has probably re
cognized as Incognito, stared after him blankly.

‘ Where have I heard that voice?” he mut-
‘ tered. “It is strangely familiar, but it dates
back a long time. and I cannot place it now.
Never mind; I will see him again, and maybe
something of interest will come of it.”

He turned from the donr and went to that
opening into the saloon. For reasons of his own
he desired to know what trouble had occurred
~ inside and who had been borne away by the

mo . ‘

Pushing the door a little (Eon, he saw upon a
table all that remained of dward Ball. Two
men were seated beside the body, like watchers,
but the room had no other occupant excepting
Joe, the bar—tender.

ito softly entered, (purchased a drink
of whisky and then addresse Joe.

“There has been is fight here, I see.”
ed“ Yas, a serious skrimmage,” Joe acknowl-

ed.
gMore than one man harmed?”

“ Not at, but I reckon another one will soon
toot his born on t’other side 0’ ther divide. It’s
a mighty bad deal, too.”

“Did you know the other man?"

Incognito was talking carelessly, for though
be suspected he might know the man who had
accompanied Judge L nch to the gallows, he
did not suppose be real y cared in particular.

“ I did that; he was one 0’ our reg’lar board-
ers.” said Joe in an injured tone.

Jucognito s arted. .

“Ha! is that so? What was his name?” he
shar ly asked.

“ ignel Perez.”

“ What i”

The single word was like a cry of pain, and
Joe, greatly astonished, mechanically repeated
what he had said. '

“And that man is—is——”

“ Gone to be hung,” said Joe, obligingly.

Incognito uttered another cry. sharper and
fiercer than the first, and rushed from the sa-
loon like a madman.

CHAPTER XXVI.
A CHAMPION son MIGUEL.

CANYON DAVE had been startled by the ap-
pearance of Incognito, but when the latter ut—
tered his unexpected command all also gave

lace to astonishment. Why was he called upon

save the Mexican?

For once the face of the unknown was par-
tially visible, and from under his sombrero his
eyes gleamed like those of a madman and his
face was wrinkled as though from anguish.

The mountaineer stood mutely, his arm al-
most crushed in that sinewy hand, and Incog-
nito stamped his foot angrily.

 

 

“ I tell you, save himl save him!” he shrilly

re , ated, pointing to Miguel.

he Mexican had not yet felt the pressure of
the noose about his neck, for Spra e was urg-
ing him to lead them to Captain evada’s lair,
but each one of the trio by the cabin knew the
deed was liable‘to be executed at any time.

Persis Ripley heard the unknown's order and
spoke quickly.

“ Do nothing of the kind!” she said. “Let
the wretcb die as he has lived—by violence !”

Incognito turned on her like a tiger, and one
mad push sent her reeling backward, to fall
senseless to the floor.

Then the man of mystery turned to Canyon
Dave, his eyes wilder than ever.

“ I tell you to save that man l” he said.

“ Why should I?” Dave asked, somewhat stub-
bornly.

“ Because I command it! Because it is your
only hope of ever learning the secret I alone
possess. Will you do it?”

Would he? The unknown had touched the
one chord in his nature which would vibrate for
Miguel’s sake. To learn that secret he would
have saved even Captain Nevada, if he could.

But he hesitated now.

“ I do not know as I can conquer the mob,”
he truthfully said.

“You must! you shall! Go! and remember
it is your only hope for the future. Go!”

“One word!” said the mountaineer, turning
on him with a warlike glow in his eyes; “ rom-
isc me that you will tell the secret when have
saved Perez!”

“ I promise,” was the quick reply.

“At once?” .

“ Yes, yes!”

“ Swear itl"

“I swear! But hasten, hasten! Holy Vir-
gin! they pull him up! Madre d». Dias !”

For the first time in these pages the. incognito
had broken into fragmentary Spanish.

He had spoken truly. The enraged miners,
angry at Miguel’s stubbornness, had pulled on
the robe and he was dangling in the air.

Canyon Dave sprung forward. He reached
the crowd and dashed the men right and left.
He was in a fever equal to that of Incognito.
His whole future was at stake. All depended
on the succor of that miserable, villainous,
crime-hardened Mexican.

It was a strange turn in the tide.

In his anxiety the mountaineer did not see
that, after a taste of strangulation, Miguel had
been lowered to the table for a fresh catechism,
but as be pushed through the inner circle he
sprung upon the table and faced the lynchers
with a cocked revolver in each hand.

“ Back!” he shouted, “ back, you fiends! The
man who pulls on that rope dies by my hand!”

A hush fell upon the mob. Miguel and Can-
yon Dave stood side by side, the one a man with
the life blood of a fellow creature on his hands,
bound, death-menaced, but sullenly defiant; the
other, a miner of good repute, his eyes flashing
and his cocked revolvers turned, full upon his
friends. i‘

Back beyond the crowd were women who
were looking on this wild scene—we might al-
most say, all the women of Silver Spur. We
will not try to excuse them for being there, but
Western women are less sensitive than those of
the East, and few there Were who had not
come out to see Silver Spur’s first attempt at
lynching.

There were some who shivered with horror,
even while they looked as though fascinated,
and one fair girl thrilled with admiration as
Can on Dave t us came to the front.

“ t is he, Edna, it is he!” she murmured, to
another girl, whose arms were about her. ” It
is Dave, and he will save him. How brave
he is!”

The speaker was ’G‘rus Hackett.

Soon the lynchers recovered from their amaze-
ment, and those who sknew little of Canyon
Dave. or did not like him, began to bowl
angrily.

“Down with him i”

“Shoot hi'n, ef he tries ter steal our game!”

“ Hang ’ciii together!”

Otis S rague quieted all these loud-mouthed
fellows y a stern command.

“Silence!” he commanded. “There is no
reason why we should quarrel. Canyon Dave
is my purdner and we pull together every time.
Dave, old fellow, you don’t understand the
game. This man is one of Captain Nevada’s
gang, and he that stabbed Ed Ball in the Alexis
saloon. \Ve don‘t banker for his life, but he
must swing or lead us to the outlaws’ cave.”

It was an address which went straight to
Canyon Dave’s heart. Miner as he himself was,
the words seemed to Come from his Own brain;
they were but just: but the figure of Incognito
seemed to arise before his eyes and urge him on
to his pledged work.

Torn by conflicting emotions, he hit upon a
hap v compromise.

“ o! no!” he shouted. “ This course will
lose to you all you hope to gain. See! this man
defies the rope. He will die with his secret un~
told. Fellow-citizens, there is' a surer way—
hunger will bend the stoutest will. Reprieve
yom' prisoner, give him over to a sentence that

 

fl

is a mi hty conqueror, and at the same time
save 8' var Spur from the name of illegal
lynchers.”

“ Hooray! that’s the ticket!” shouted a voice,
and Sawtooth Sam leaped upon the table beside
the mountaineer.

His voice was the only one thus raised, how-
ever.

“ Come, Otis Sprague,” continued his partner,
“let moderation prevail. Sure justice is often
better than swift retribution.”

“That’s ther truth in a bombshell,” added
Sawtooth Sam. “ Ther lean boss wins ther
race; ther’fore, lean towards marcy.”

With those words he attempted to execute a
species of dance upon the table, but that struc-
ture, which had been moaning complainingly
ever since he added his weight to that of the
other man, suddenly gave way with a crash and
Sam went headlong into the crowd.

A quick leap enabled Canyon Dave to keep
his footing, but as the lynchers did not have the
grace to ease up on the rope, Miguel Perez was
once more left swinging in the air.

Only for a moment howeVer. From the out-
skirts of the crowd a knife flashed forward with
uprecision which bore it straight to the rope,
and us the latter felt the touch of the keen steel,
it -rted, and Miguel fell to the ground.

nly one rson saw wholanched that wea-

n. PersisIfiipley, having recovered from her

rief unconsciousness, had astin donned an old

suit of miner’s clothes she had found in the cab»

in, and emerged, to all appearances, at man, to
view the scene.

She it was who saw_the mysterious Incognito
hurl the knife.

The bad passions of the lynchers were a ain
brought to the front by the occurrence, but t eir
bowl for vengeance died away on their lips as a
cheer arose from beyond the cabin and a
of men dashed forward, surrounded by a sheet
of flame as they fired at the mob.

“ The road-agents!”

“ Captain Nevadal”

These cries arose from the miners, and they
wavered perceptiny as several of their number
fall, but once more Canyon Dave pressed to the

ront.

“Stand firm 1” he shouted. “ Defend your
homes, men of Silver S ur. Give shot for shot!”

Before his last wor s were uttered, he was
himself firing briskly, a revolvar in each hand,
but there was no time to stay that wild rush.

Another moment and the outlaws were among
them, knives, as well as revolvers, were busy,
and a wild drama of destruction was com-
menced. r

In the midst of it all a characteristic thou ht
came to Persis Ripley. She had Scan ’ us
Hackett beyond the crowd—the girl she hated
—and it seemed to her a rare chance for remov~
ing one who had won the love of Canyon Dave.

Should she be found lifeless at the end of
the affray, all blame would be laid upon road—
agents.

Full of this idea she started toward the girls,
her revolver ready for use, but a sudden recoil-
ing of the miners enveloped her in their midst,
and she could not at first extricate herself.

Vi‘hen she did. she 80 w ’Gus and Edna some
distance away, fleeing toward I’arnieuter’s.

She pursued, and by superior fiectness soon
cut down the lead they ad obtained. She neared
them, triumph flashing from her eyes; and, at
last, raised her hand to kill without warning.

The girls had not seen her.

A mere accident prevented the shot. Just as
her finger was on the trigger a man turned the
corner of the cabin at in 1 speed, and before he
could stop collided with Persia, and both fell to
the ground.

The former was u first, revealing the black
face of Clcon, lut ersis lay stunned several
feet away. Cleoii was plainly in a state of tro-
pidation; be. glanced at her, and then, without
suspecting that she was a woman, continued his
headlong flight.

At almost the same time, a loud, triumphant
cheer arose from the miners, an outburst which.
told of victory.

CHAPTER XXVII.
srnAGUE SEEKS rim sums PARENT.

ANOTHER morning dawned on Silver Spur,
and the sun, climbing up the Sierras, found the
village to all appearances as peaceful as ever.
Yet there was mourning in nearly every heart.
for in some of the cabins were men who would
know life no more on earth—relics of the road-
agcnts’ desperate charge. .

That charge had resulted in their defeat, and
they had gone back in confusion to the fast—
nesses of Camel's Hump, minus several of their
men, but as has before been said, they left their
sting behind.

Still, the miners tried to rest easy under the
knowledge that they had inflicted more punish-
ment than they had received, and to bear as
philosophically as possible the loss of Perez—he
tiafl been carried off by the men of the moun-
am.

The remainder of our characters were about
the lace as usual, though some of them were
look ng rather out of their usual good condition.

 

 

 

 

 

Persia Ripley kept her room all day, and was
1., lerr than usual; and Clean, as he moved
about his orbit, like a dusky planet, seemed
worried and nervous.

Neither he nor Persia knew they had met the
previous night.

Canyon Dave and Otis Sprague had both es-
ca serious injury in the fight with the out-
laws, and the former had smoothed over his in-
terference in behalf of Miguel Perez. On his
own part he had searched eyerywhere for In-
cognito after the aflray, and had at_last con-
cluded that that person had violated his pledge,
and run away when once Perez was sav

The night’s work had added more than ever
to the mystery surrounding the unknown.

Only one thing troubled Otis Sprague, as
they loitered around the Village — nobody
thought of working that day—and that was, the
fact that no tidings came from Parmenter’s
house.

None of the inmates had yet been seen. and he
began to fear that Captain Nevada had struck
dee r than was et known. -

e mentioned is suspicion to Canyon Dave,
startlin that young man a good deal, and as a
result pra e was deputized to go to the house
on an expegition of investi ation.

He approached the build rig, which was very

'01s for that region, with a variety of emo-
tions. His election to the officecf Judge Lynch,
the previous night. gave him a shadow of offi-
cial excuse for calling, but at the same time, it
would be his first appearance under that roof
and he knew Judge Parmenter had never looked
on him with favor since he dared to be seen
more than casually in the company of the fair

Edna.

The judge did not think he was himself any
better than a poor man, but he wanted that
luckleas class of human beings to keep their dis-
tance from his daughters.

He did not believe in equalizing the good
things of life. .

Sprague rapped timidly, but luck was on his
side. The door was opened by a Chinese ssr-
vant who had not learned the first duties of his
position; and as a result, our wielder of _the
pick found himself conducted to the sitting-
room without the formality of an announce-
meat.

Then Hop Ching Willie promptly retired, leav-
in Sprague looking on a singular scene.

Judge Parmentor was in the room with his
three daughters, but though the ship seemed
prett firm under their feet, figuratively speak-
ing, the flag of distress cast a very broad shadow
over them all.

Helen and Milicent sat side by side, their eyes
suspiciously red, Edna was on her knees, her
face buried in her hands, and above her towered
Judge Parmenter, red-faced, heated, angry and
sorrowful.

It was a scene which brought Sprague to a
sudden stop, while Parmenter, who had been
gesticulating with a folded pa 1', turned his
eyes on the intruder and seem actually petri-
fied by astonishment.

Worse than all the rest, the frozen look on
his-face did not herald peace on earth and good
will to men.

His terrible glare startled and confused
Sprague, who stood twirling his hat like an awk-
Ward school-boy.

“ I—I beg your pardon!” he began, stammer-
ingl .

Ju’dge Parmenter helped him out.

“ You infernal villain!” he roared, “ how
dared you come here '1”

Sprague was sensitive, and even the glare of
the “ stern parient” could not make him silently
bow to the accusation of being an infernal vi -
lain; ache coaxed up a good deal of courage,
and tersely demanded:

" Do you think I am after your silver?”

“ I suppose you are after a beggar’s daughter 1”
shouted the judge.

“ Not that I am‘aware of. I came to inquire
after your health, ’ said Spragne, pacifically.

“ My health? .Oh, you infernal villain! How
dare ' you add insult .to injury? Sir, repeat
those words, and I Will throw you from the
house!” 0 .

“ If they are offensive Iwrll Withdraw them,”
said Sprague, again nettled. “ Permit me to
i uire after your daughters.”

e laid a marked emphasis on the last word,
but to his surprise Parmenter began catching at
his collar as though choking.

“ Heavens! what is the matter?" Sprague
demanded. “ Have you receiwd bad news
here? if so, I will hasten to withdraw. I 5??
you holld a letter—it may not be one pleasant to
you. f so—"

He paused. ,

,Parmeuter sunk into a chair, while Edna,
arising from her kneeling position, took three
ste only to fall on her knees again—this time
at 88 rague’s feet.

“ orbear—forbear!” she brokenly murmured.
“ Be generous in your victory I"

If the building in which he was standing had
suddenly been gifted with life. and had arisen
and walked on legs, poor 8 rogue could not
have been more astonished. T at all this family
should be in sorrow was one of the possibilities

 

_ Canyonlgave, the Man of the  

19

 

of life, but why they should blame him for it he
could not see.

His “ victory i” In the name of Christopher
Columbus, who or what had he conquered?

Perhaps there was something infectious in the
air; at any rate, he, too, dropped into a chair,
and seemed as weak as though just out of a
hospital.

“ I suggest a new deal, with all hands above
the board,” he meekly said.

The judge and Edna being practically out of
the raCe (if we may speak so dismapectfufly),
Miss Helen took up the gauntlet.

“ You great brute! you ought to be ashamed
of yourself 1” she cried warmly.

“ It is a ity Judge Lynch idn’t get you, last
night,” ad ed Milicent.

Poor Sprague mopped his perspiring forehead
on his sleeve, in lieu of a handkerchief but his
coura e was coming back. He could bear a
go \d eal from the woman he loved, and it was
policy to keep a clear channel for the “stern
parent” when be ground his tomahawk and
took to the war-path; but Sprague could not
recollect any law that compelled him to submit
to such soul-harrowing language from the fe-
male relatives of the future Mrs. Spra ue.

“ There may be a reason for all this. be said
arising. and speaking in a ringing voice, “ but
swear by my life that I do not know what it is.
I come here on a very simple errand, but I am
most stranzely greeted. Permit me to ask what
is the trouble?”

His honest indignation was not without ef-
fect. All seemed impressed by it Edna looked
at him in a startled way, and than lifted the
paper which had fallen from her father’s hands
and brought it to him.

With one hand resting on his shoulder, she
eagerly asked:

“Did you write that?”

Sprague read before answering, and this is
what he saw, boldly written:

“Jnmn Pam:—

“ You have in the past shown me very clearly that
you do not want me near your house; that you do
not want me to s k to our daughter Edna.
Your daughter? Wfor I ave learned that not
one drop of your blood flows in her veins; that she
is a foundling, picked up from the street by you; in
fact, abeggar‘s dau hter. Having learned this, I
laugh in your face, orI am certainly as good as
she, and hereafter, l defy you!

“O'ns Seamus.“

The miner read this remarkable letter through
in silence, but the keen eyes of love were on his
face, and as he raised his head, Edna threw her-
self upon his breast.

“Forgive me! forgive me for doubting you
one moment!" she murmured.

“Where did that letter come from?” be de-
manded, in amazement.

“ It was left here half an hour ago by a
strange Chiuaman, who said that it was from
you. There was another. Read!”

From her pocket she produced another docu-
ment in the same writing. It was addressed to
her, but need not be repeated here. It notified
her that the writer had learned that she was
not Parmenter’s daughter, but a “ beggar’s
brat,” and exalted over the fact and the discom-
fiture of “ old Parmenter.”

The entire tone of the letter was coarse, un-
feeling and vicious, and as Sprague read he
could not wonder at the way in which he had
been gree .

Indignation had been at the front, and his
polite speeches had been looked upon as smooth
and elaborate insults.

Encouraged by the course pursued by Edna,
Sprague made a clear and emphatic denial of
any and all connection with the letters, re ard-
ing the origin of which he had not the slig) test
idea, and even the judge, who was not lind,
soon came to the front and begged his pardon.

CHAPTER XXVIII.
Tin: JUDGn‘s TROUBLES 00m. -

IT having been decided that Sprague was i
no way connected with the writing of the mys.
terious letters, and peace having been firmly es-
tablished, Edna’s lover sat down with the rest of
the family to consider the matter.

Parmenter was thoroughly ashamed of the
part he had acted, and for the. time, at least, he
saw Sprague look lovingly at Edna withouta
word or look of reproof.

Still, it was not a. thoroughly happy circle.

Edna, on reading her Own letter. had gone to
her putative father with rapidly-fallin tearsto
ask if it was true that she was not his aughter.
He had romptly declared that it was an infa-
mous faIsehood, but the suspicion, once started,
was not so easily ut at rest.

The judge, on b a part, was troubled beyond
the power of concealment. He now believed
that the letters had come from Thomas Harper,
and though he had resolved to seek him and
force a quarrel, which should end the matter, he
did not know how far the man had gone in his
revelation role, and feared that the charge would
become common property.

Edna watched him, rioting his perturbation,
and the shadow reflech from her own face in;
creased his uneasiness, until he acted wholly un-
like himself.

Without mentioning Harper, he said the let-

 

L

 

 

ters had emanated from either a malicious per-

son or one who desired to practice blackmail.

g the latter, he intended to give back blow for
ow.

Spra e was wise enough not too tarry too
long. he judge might undergo another mental
change if time was allowed him; so the young
miner said good-day and left the house.‘

He did not go in a very unhep y mood. for,
though he sincerely syn pathiz with Edna,

he could not but see that that little comedy .
which greeted his arrival had resulted to his 5

good.

He only hoped the judge’s humble mood would
continue. .

The latter, however, was only beginnings
day of singular experience. Spra e had not
been gone an hour when another ca ier was an-

nounced. Hop Ching Willie had received a few '

instructions since Sprague’s abrupt entrance,
and though Parmenter was surprised at learning
that a negro was seeking audience, he bade
Ho admit him.

e came, and proved to be Cleon, who, judg-
ing from his expression, had struck a vein of ill
luck somewhere. ‘

“ Well, my man, what can I do for you?” the
judge kindly inquired.

“l’s done come on a peooolior errant, ssh,”
said the gray-headed negro. dismally. ,

“Never mind that, uncle; I’m used to pecu-~
liarlties and earthguakes just at present.
Spread, your sail an use your trumpet right
awa .

“ assa, I’s a lost an’ undone niggah.”

“ Lost? Some mistake at the-express ofilce, 1'
so pose,” quoth Parmenter, facetiously.

‘ I don’know how to ’proach you, ssh.”

“In that case, don’t approach at all; keep
your seat. But, uncle, time is
your business at once, if on lease.”

The judge was strange y p easant and polite,

but he was sure there was no harm in this gray-e .

haired negro, and he intended to use him well
to make amends for what he had said to-
Sprague.

“ Wal, den, sah, it am all about dat one ob .

your dorters dat ain’t your dorter. I trotted

er on in knee when she wasn’t bigger’n a.
squash, sa , an’ dis ole nig h don’ forget. Bless;
de good Lord! no, sah; dat 9 don’t. I was Massa.
Browning; slabs, sah, onc’t, but he freed me, an’
I tlrott;d iss Miriam on my knee. She was tie
on y—

Thus far the judge had sat and heard in si—
lence, but his fist suddenly came down on the
table in a way which made that structure groan.

“ What in the fiend’s name do you mean?” he
thundered, glaring furiously at Cleon.

“It am a fact, sah,” chattered the negro. “ I

trotted her on my knee, sah, an’ it was my right I

as an ole family sarbant an’—”
“ Hold on! hold on 3” said Parmenter. “ Let
us begin anew.” '
He viciously pulled open a drawer and made
a grasp for his whisky flask.

h “Y'SS, sah,” said Cleon, meekly. “I 
er—

“Silencel Wait until 1 give you leave to
speak.”

Cleon sighed and relapsed into utter quiet,
but after a view of the ceiling through the botr
tom of the flask, the judge need him with an
ominous frown. -

“ Who sent you here?” he demanded.

“ Nobody, sah. I came—”

“ Don’t lie. Was it Tom Harper?”

“ Bressed Israel! no sah. I wouldn’t hsb him
know dat I was here fur all de worl‘, sah."

“ You wouldn’ti—why not?”

“ He would kill me, sah.” ,

It  l”

Parmenfer stared at the negro for a Ion time
in silence. He studied his face intently. 0 all
appearances, it was an honest, sober, faithful
nature there stem
alarmed at something.

“My friend,” said the judge, suddenly, but.
mildly, “will you oblige me y explaining all
you know about this singular affair?"

Cleon explained. He told of the abduction of
Miriam Browning, sixteen years before, of the
death of Silas, and of the efforts made by Har—
per to find the missing heiress. It was a long
story. but he told it tolerably well, and among
the other historical points, one arose to positive
certainty. Cleon had “ trotted ” the lost girl
on his knee.

Parmenter listened and studied the negro,
with the astuteness born of his le
and at the end he was sure he ha heard nothing
but the truth. Two facts he grasped with is
positive feeling—Ha r was a rasca , and Clean
was merely unlucky n being in such compan .

“ Harper is working solely for his own g ,”
he thought. “ As I look at it, he stole the girl,
sixteen years ago, and now he seeks to giveto
her what is hers simply because the will of
Browning makes it an object. Sol—perhaps I
will take a hand in this game, after al .”

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by
Cleon, who flung himself down on his knees,
clasped his arms about those of the jud and,
with great tears rolling down his chee% he»
sought him to make known the identity
young mistress.

his.

precious. State ,

, and Clean was plainly“ ‘

I experience, .

\ .

I

‘ .

f

i of her inheritance.

: the latter’s endurance.
, sudden rush forward. and in a mement more

20

Canyon, pave,   Of the 1‘.1‘JOl.l.I.I.lS2til1. L ' v /,

 

 

“She is one Oh dem free.” he said, patheti-
cally, " an’ dis ole nig ah will break him heart
. ef he don’ know whic . Neber mind Tom Har-

r, but tell ole Cleon, fur he trotted her on his

nee when she was a chilel” ‘ .

The judge was visibly moved, but, before he
could answer, Hop Ching Willie announced an‘
other visitor—Thomas Harper.

Parmenter became at once the keen man of
the world. He raised Cleon to his feet. led him
forward and. opening asmall door, showed a
closet inside.”

“ Get in there and keep as silent as death.”
he ordered. “We will see what we can make
Thomas Harper say. Do you hear?"

“ Yes, sah but or de lub ob goodness. don’
tell Massa Tom which is my young missis. I
trotted—”

The balance of the sentence was inaudible as
the judge closed the door upon him.

Harper entered. nodded stiifly and helped him-
self to a chair. Permenter looked at him bel-
ligerently, and the look was returned in kind.

“ Well ?” questioned the gludge, as an opening.

“ I have come,” said arper, slowly, “ to
give you a last chance. I cannot believe that a

man of your wealth and social position would
commit such an enormity as to rob an or han
Why, sir, the spirit of ilas
Browning will never rest in its grave until his
daughter has her own.”

“ I was not aware that spirits are ever buried,
but we will let that part pass. What, sir, do

on expect to accomplish by dogging me in this
ashion!” v

“All I can hope for is to touch your man-
hood.”

“Umi Do you know what I think of you?"

“That is not the question. Let usspcak of
Miriam Browning.”

“Harper, you are an infernal rascal,” said
the udge, explosively. “ As near as I can fig-
ure t, you stole this girl, sixteen years ago, be-
cause you expected to benefit from her disap-

arance. NOw, you wish to hunt her up for
flhg game motive. You are unpardonably sel-
s .

“ What do you mean by saying that I stole
her?” Harper angrily aske . ‘

“ Didn’t you?”

“No, you infernal old rascal.”

“ Carefully,-sir, carefully!” warned the judge,

orgetting what he had said to Cleon, in just
wrath at bein thus insulted.

“ 0h! care .ul your grandfatherl” returned
’Thomas, irreverently. “ if I had your head, I
would sell it for a football.”

“Sir!” cried Parmenter, with the same frown

‘ with :which he had overawed mutineers in the

old days of law and court room el uence.
“ Madam!” returned Harper, pus ing his hat

’ on one side.

The poor judge sat stupeiied. He was a man
who believed in dignity and its proper respect,
and the audacity of a man who would insinu-
ate that he was a woman was something simply

, awful.

if he had looked closer, he would have seen
that Harper had been drinking heavily. It was,
an old habit of his, and, having decided that
Clean 'would soon be. at the bittom of Silver
Spur's upper crust, and ’Gus Hackett at the
front as his specimen of an heiress, he had ex-
ultad a little too much liquidly; and in his folly
he had visited Parmenter to exult over and
worry him. ,

The last insult, howaver, was too much for
He arose and made a

the two men were locked in a frantic struiggle.
Cleon, looking out of his closet with wil eyes,
Saw a confused mass of arms and legs, but loyal
Hop Ching Willie came to his master's assist-
ance. and Harper was forcibly ejected, after
which he was ad to go home.
And a little ater Parmenter bowed the negro

, out, telling him to call again the following day.

 

CHAPTER XXIX.
CANYON DAVE IN A CORNER.
0n the afternoon of that same day. David
Canton rapped at the door of Persis Ripley‘s
room. She opened promptly, and her face
flushed with real pleasure as she recognized,

' hi .
3‘Is it possible?” she said, giving her hand. “ I

am very much pleased to see you, Mr. Canton.
Please walk in and accept what hospitality my
surroundings will afford.” ‘
“We dont ex t a lay-out of black walnut
, or Brussels at ilver Spur.” he calmly said, as
he passed inside and took the chair she indi-
cated. "My own quarters are humbl fur-
niahed, but the table and the two three- egged
stools suit me just as well as’Frisco style and
magnificence.”
1 e had laid aside his hat and his brown hair
showed in careless little rings over his broad,
white forehead. His face was a handsome one,
‘ and Persia thrilled with joy at seeing him at
last her-guest. ,
. She might plan and execute reat schemes
with Niguel Perez, and smile on nd 0 Parmen-
ter in hopes of winning a share 0 his great
wealth; but for this young miner, who was at

 

once handsome, manly and intelli out, she felt
areal affection, something new to er. . -

She had arrived at that period which occurs
in the life of many a woman of theworld, of
sin—that point when she feels as though she
Would gladly leave the old existence and its
waywardness behind her, and, with the man of
her choice, try to tread a path free from crime
and plotting.

Her heart beat rapidly. its pulsations quick-
ened by hope, and she felt as though she was
standing in a line where darkness and light
met. Oh! that she could turn her back forever
(lin the former and walk in that marvelous

ight.

The path Of sin had at last grown bitter; she
saw the thorns and thistles she had long disre-
garded.

Canyon Dave, however, had come on a prac-
tical and cruel, though really friendly errand,
and he soon came to the point.

“I have called,” he bluntly said. “to tell you
that's storm is brewing in Silver Spur. There
has been trouble here ever since Captain Ne-
vada drove his picket—pin on Camels Hump,
and the first moral earthquake came last night.
You remember who stood under the ban of
Judge Lvnch.”

“ Yes,” said Persia, uneasily.

“Well, the miners have not been blind,
though their eyesight has been mighty poor.
Until last night, they did not suspect that
Miguel Perez was one of Nevada’s black sheep,
but, now that they know it, they remember
that you have been much in the company of
Perez.”

Persis changed color somewhat and astartled
look crept over her face. Canyon Dave had
not yet spoken plainly. but she was quick to
surmise what was coming. More than once in
the past had she been forwd to leave camps and
moms because she was Miguel’s friend.

The ground trembled beneath her feet; she
must save herself if she could.

" We were both lodgers here at the Alexis—
that was all,” she began; but he calmly inter-
rupted.

‘It may be so, but they suspect you knew
him better than that; they believe you came
here with him to work the town.”

“I swear that it is not so!” she cried, clasp- ’

ing her hands.

“ For your sake, I am glad to hear it, but I
really fear it will be hard to convince the min-
ers. Now, let me tell you just why I come to
see you, There are dark mutierings among the
men. They are full of fury toward Captain
Nevada, and Perez will get the rope if he re-
turns to the Spur. As I have said, they suspect
you. They are not brutes, and you need car
no personal violence. l-ut it would not be strange
if you receive a note n arning you not to tarry
at this camp.”

“ Ohl merciful Heaven i” cried the woman,
and her face worked convulsively, “ why is this
so? I tell you, sir, I have done no wrong.
Mlguel Perez was a stranger to me when [came
to Silver 8 ur. Am I to b‘ame for speaking to
him in a fr endly way? Did not these very men
who are so hot to judge me, did not they trust
him, too?"

The vehemence of her manner affected Can-
yon Dave unpleasantly. He saw that she
wavered on the verge ofvtcars. and he had all
of a man's horror for a “ scene.”

“They was took in,” he said, falling into
wretched grammar in his confusion, “and we
are all liab e to be. I don’t judge you—oh, Lord,
no~l—-hut I merely drop in to tell you how
the gale was blowing. f there is a blizzard, I
sbal hide in a hole, and never put my mouth to
the bellows.”

The mountaineer, in his masculine ignorance,
believed he was acting a very generous part in
thus proclaiming his stand, but Persis at once
cried out, in the bitter sorrow of her heart:

“And will you lift no hand for a helpless wo-
man? Will you not put out your strong arm to
save an unfortunate creature in the hour of her
persecution a d misfortune? Will you stand
aloof and see the tigers of Silver Spur rend me
like wild beasts tear their prey ?”

Canvon Dave partially started from his seat,
dumb with amazement and most thoroughly
uncomfortable.

Another moment and she flung herself at his
feet and clasped his hand wildly.

“Oh, Dave, Dave! save me! save me!” she
cried.

There was real agony and pleading in her
voice, feelings which came straight from her
heart, but under all was a determination to
aonch the heart of this man—to make him love

er.

“ Save you?” he echoed. “ Why, Heaven
bless you. you are in no danger 1”

“Ah. you do not understand! Physical dan-
ger is not the Only peril in this world. I am
sensitive, Mr. Canton. and to be driven from
this town would kill me. Think of the disgrace!
To be driven away like a thief. Ah, just Heav-
en! is there no one to arisein this supreme hour,
remembering the mother that smiled upon him
when he was a child, and say, ‘ She is a woman.
Let us use our strength to guard rather than to
persecute her.’ ” /

 

Canyon Dave stood confused and alarmed.
Such emotion in a woman frightened him, and
he felt ashamed, as though he had committed
some crime and was the greatest villain unhung;
but back of all was a distrust of Persia and a
belief that she was really all that the miners
suspected.

He was a man, and consequently wholly
wrecked mentally by this scene; but he would
no-t.desert his common sense even in such a
crime.

“ You do not answer. You look at me coldly.
Oh, Dave. Davel and I would die for you!”

With this passionate outburst she reared his
hand repeatedly to her lips, and he fe t hot tears
fell upon it.

The. occurrence cleared his eyesight and he
saiw clearly at last. He could not Well do other—
w se. .

Persis Ripley, whatever might be in herheart,
was confessing her love for him.

The diSCUVPI'y c1 arcd his mind at once. He
raised her to her feet, with hands as firm, yet
gentle, as his will.

“Miss Ripley, I think we are making this
affair too serious. As I have before said, no
bodily harm will be (flered you. and if you are
warned to leave, it will be politely done. When
the chosen arties appear. you can lay your
czse before t em. As for me. I am but a bum-
ble member of the camp, almost a stranger. I
will, however, go out now and see how matters
stand. I will see you again soon.”

He had commenced speakin with the inten-
tion of being very frank an blunt, but his
courage failed him and he sought refuge in a
compromise ndelay.

Anything, so long as he escaped from her
presence. .

The concluding words of their interview he
could never recall, but he rememberld that
Persis tear-fully thanked him as she bade him
adieu at the door.

Somewhat later, he found himself in a retired
place, mopping the perspiration from his heated
face.

“ Well, durn my boots,” be muttered, “ifthis
hasn’t been the worst day of my life! I wouldn't
go through it again for a kingdom. And I
won’t! No, sir, you don’t catch this chicken
Fla ing the guardian angel to a woman of Rip-
ey s caliber again. I trust that I’m not heart-
less, lut I’m no hog and 1 bad just as soon wield
the pick and leave such delicate matters to men
less diflident.”

he wandered on, thinking of the reVelation
of the interview, but had not gone a great dis-
tance when he encountered ’Gus Hockett.

holiday in his opinion, could have been more
timely Her fresh. innocent young iace was a
great Improvement on that of Miss Ripley, and

9 did not hesitate to seek consolation for the
afiliction he had just endured.

’Gus was in her usual mood; gay, brilliant,
shrewd but innocent. atd charming; and under
the shelter of a cliff they sat down where the
affirnoon sun shed golden glory on the bleak
roc s. -

We now approach a critical period in their.
lives, a time far easier and far more pleasant to
live than to relate. Some readers would like it
described in full, but, strong in the belief that
no living writer can do it justico, and that no
writer has done it justice in the past, we dare
not risk our pen on such a subject.

David Canton told the story of his love, earn-
estly and manfully, while the dark cliff spread
out its broad breast protectineg and the golden
sunshine lighted both young faces as though
radiated from a smile beyond the region of
clouds and storms.

Young Love is a strange but pleamnt fellow.
He turns night into day. tears into smiles,
shadow into sunshine. He sits on the rich man‘s
sofa and in the poor man's uncarpeted room.
He is as erratic as he is ccmpanionahle, and
often appears when least expected. He is a
creature, of smiles, of joy, and of he piness,
and if well used, continues his frien while
life lasts.

 

CHAPTER XXX.
srnanr CLOUDS-WARNED ro Luvs.

’Gus Hacxm was not a coquette, and she did
not a tempt to play with the heart of her lover.
He madn his avowal maniully; her response
was thoroughly womanly. .

At the foot of the cliff their vows were said.
and then time glided on unheeded by either, and
twilight drew near.

’Gus, however. had one matter on her mind
which she wished solved. She had turned her
back upon it and given her heart full play, but
she did not forget. ,

She approached the subject boldly after a
time.

“A certain person,” said she. “ has told me to
ask you a certain question, at the “no time
looking you in the face.”

“ Excellent.” said David. laughing.
we have a full-fledged mystery.

“The question is this: ‘ Did vriu ’come to Silo
ver Spur to seek for a woman?’ ” '

The mountaineer started and a new expremion

“ Here
7?

 

 

 

 

 

 

—————-

 

_..-9an_v°n Pave Fhelian of t

crossed his face. ’Gus, watching closely, saw all  the others had discovered him, but he was there

this, but the look was not one of guilt; it had
more of eagerness. l

“ What!” he cried, grasping her arm. “Who
has asked you? What do you know of this
matter!”

“ Nothing whatever,” she answered.

" But some one has told you-you have heard
--’Gus, who bade you ask that question?”

The eagerness was still in his voice, but the 3
girl felt no jealousy, and was sure all would be 3

right at the end. _ _

“A tall man I one evening met in the Village.
He was muffled in a cloak and hat, and I know
no more about him."

“ Incognito!” muttered Dave. “ But, surely,
’Gus, he said more than that. Tell me all.”

“You will not blame me!”

“Blame you? Why. ’Gus, how can I? No, I
solemnly promise. But tell me all you can.”

'Gus complied. She told of her encounter
with Inc ito, his warning—even to his words,
so far as s e could remember them.

The mountaineer listened and saw clearly at
the end. Whatever Incognito knew of his past
life, he was no friend. He had been erratic and
tantalizing from the first; he had broken the
promise made when the noose was around the
neck of Miguel Peres; and now it appeared that
he had tried to come between him and ’Gus.

Dave looked at the girl keenly.

“ He has given you a warning; he has tried to
make you believe that I came here as_ the lover
of another woman. Do you believe himr’

He Was standing before her; she arose and
placed both her hands in his.

“ Let what has between us to-night be
my hnswer,” she earnestly said. “ I have prom-
ised to become our wife in the face of this
warning—does at look like doubti"

Canyon Dave was never more forcibly im-
ressed than then, and in the hour he learned a
esson he would never for et.

A true woman loves an trusts through the
crooked pathsof doubt and the broad highways
of‘man’s misfortunes.

The mountaineer caught her to his heart, and
for a few minutes there was a silence betwaen
them.

In the meantime, as they stood in the gather-
ing shadows, two men came down the gulch.
The first moved toward the lovers with a de-
liberate but cautious step, his gaze iixad keenly
upon them;and in the tall form we recognize
Inco ito.

W at he then ht of the scene could not be
told, for his som ero seemed to droop lower
over his face than usual, and his hands held his
cloak to his chin.

Behind him came another man, who flitted
from niche to niche of the clifl', plainly desirous
of escaping discovery, but at the same time evi-
dentl'y dogging Incognito.

Th s rson was Sawtooth Sam.

“ ’Gus," said Canyon Dava, anon, “I have
made a pled e which forbids me revealing why
I came to Si ver Spur, but-one thing [do swear,
it was not as a lover. I came to seek a woman,
it is true, but it is one I have not seen for many
a long year—ay, not for sixteen years—”

“ Ahem ’

The sound rolled out sonorously behind them,
and both wheeled abruptly.

Incognito stood before them.

An utter silence of several seconds followed.
The man of mystery muffled his face more than
ever and they could barely see his two eyes blaz-
ing under the brim of his sombrero. On their
own part, both ware starled, and the moun-
taineer felta strange mingling of feelings, chief
men which were an r and hostility.

“ ell,” he said, at t. “ what do you want
here?"

“ Merely to see the most interesting sight of
my life," was the sneerin response.

‘ The sight is one w ch does not concern
you." said David, angrily. " Pass on i”

“ Easily, young man.

“ Fine words are not for apt..."

“ Do you call me a spy!”

“I do, sir.”

“ Beware!" said the unknown, warnin ly.

“ 0f you! Perhaps you est, but] tel you 1
have no ther fear nor love or on. You have

your falsity and treac ery. Only last
night on swore to at once reveal the secret I
won! know. I performed the work you mark-
ed out for me, but you had run away like a-"

“ kplainlv, ycuu man.”

“ ever mind," said ave, coldly. “ Bodies
it to my I resent this intrusion."

i sneered the malevolent
his shoulders. “ Is it pos-

" Is i iblei"
stran r, s ruglgin
siblet at the aw is inclined to ‘resent’the
chance that threatens torch him of his preyi
Young woman, I have gent! warned you be-
fore: now I will speak pl nor. You shall
knlow thiis man is has: I

uoogutospo e t somber energy which
was not counteracted in the least by the frown-
ing rocks and the glomny twilight hour. ‘Gus
shuddered and cluulr closer to Dave’s arm; her
faith was still unshaken.

~ And a few feet back of Incognito, Sawtooth

Sam crouched behind a boulder. a revolver in
Blind. and listened and "WM None of

\

l to play whateVer part fate miglit‘allot him.

| “Speak on,” said Canyon Dave, smiling
f coldlv.

3 “Well, I will, for I know you well. Your
name is not David Canton, but Oliver Peters.
. You have served time for the States of Keu~
 tucky, Arkansas, Louisiana and California.
1 You have been a gambler, horse-thief, confi-
dence man and assassin. You have a legal
wife in Kentucky and several, less legal, in
, other States. Such, Miss Hackett, is the man
you now so fondly cling to and admire”

During this long accusation, the mountaineer
had gone from one degree of wrath to another,
and at the end he could no longer restrain his
indignation.

“ Liar and scoundrel!” he shouted, “ you
have gone too far. By my life I will cram the
falsehonds down our throat. Your malifnity
has followed me ong enough, and now wil
cast the future to the winds and pay you blow
for blow.”

With these words the angry mountaineer took
a step forward, but Incognito‘s hand at once
arose, holding a learning revolver.

" Sto !” he co dly said. “One step more and
I will re. 1 am master here!”

“ I reckon that ther is a piece 0’ ther is on
my plate, an’ hyer’s ther dinner-checks. hrow
up yer hands, yer black critter, an’ let thar be a
squar’ deal!”

The voice came from the base of the cliff and.
looking thence, the trio saw Sawtooth Sam. He
had artially arisen and was lying over the
bowl er, his elbows resting on the rock and each
hand holding a revolver, the muzzles of which
were turned upon Incognito.

They stared at him in silence for a moment,
and then he spoke again.

“ I reckon, mister that you don’t hear. Your
shootin’ iron keeps its level an’ might go off,
You will observe that I hold ther wheel to
kin run ther skiff aground of I thinks best. Up
with your hands!”

The unknown sullenly obeyed, and then Saw-
tooth Sam emerged fi om his ambush.

“ Mebbe I ain‘t welcome ter ther ball 0’ ther
feast,” be placidly said, “ but I never see ther
sixes a-fllshin’ ’thout wantiu’ ter take a lift
ov ther lever. Shall I go or stay, Canyon
Dave?”

“ Stay, by all means,” said the mountaineer.
“ I am glad you came, and I could say the
some had the situation been reversed when you
chipped in. I let my temper run away with
me, for which I am truly sorry.” ‘

"I thought my revolver would cool your
blend,” sneered the unknown.

“Silence on ther right,” said Sam. “Don‘t
you put in your idea until ther court sees good
an’ ready ter hear it. I’m a man 0’ peac’hle in-
clinations, an’ I’m a-goin’ ter have halcyon
calm hyer of I gouge au’ slay ter secure it.
You hear me?"

“We all desire peace,” said Canyon Dave,
hastily. .“and as such elements as we have
here can never mix, perhaps we may as well
adjourn. "

“One word first,” said Incognito, with sur—
prising calmness. “I wish to know if this
young woman intends to disregard what I have
told her.”

“I do,” said ’Gus, firmly. “You may be
speaking maliciously, or under a false impres—
sion: but. in any case I shall not believe with-
out roof asclear as ay."

“ 'ayward girl!” exclaimed the unknown,
with impatience. “Can nothing arrest your
course's”

“When she’s right, nothiu’ kin, an’ hvar’s
ther hand that backs her,” said Sawtooth Sam,
tapping his revolvers.

‘ Are you, too, leagued against her?”

“ I’m lea ed on ther side 0’ right an’ reason,
an’ I wish was as sure 0’ you. I mistrust a
man that gallopin’ around with his face
muffled up ike a villyun in a play. Why do yer
do it?

“A very pertinent‘ uestion,” said Canyon

Dave, wit energy. ‘ on will oblige us. sir
b allowing your face. Remove your hat and
c M ’9

For the first time, the unknown showed signs
of uneasiness. Belgianced about as though
seeking for a way of escape, and, for once,
probably considered himself in a corner.

“Canyon Dava,” he suddenly said, “beware
what you do. I hold a secret you want to
know, and I swear that one act of hoetilit to-
ward me will forever seal my lips. Thin of
this before you strikel”

The mountaineer stood perplexed and uncer-
tain. He would have ven much at that mo-
ment to h Ive known his proper course of pro-
cedure, but his wisdom was only human. He
felt that the unknown would keep his word.
Butdt’vould it be any different if he held his

an .

“That don’t count me in," said Sawtooth

Sam, “au’ I’m goin' fur ther grand prise. Ef
you’vo' got tau I’ll fight ye, ut unmask you
mustl‘

He had taken a step forward when Incog—
nito's hand came up with marvelous quickness:
there was a flash and report, and Sam fell to

 

9 Mountain.

..,._..__—+.‘._. 4...- A‘s-”

 

the ground; while in a second more the un-
know was speeding away up ihe gulch.

Canyon Dave started in pursuit, but Sam was
on his feet in a moment, and then as he tore
away afaer the i'ugitiVe, the mountaineer turned
back to ‘Gus. The other men soon disappeared,
and after vainly u ailing half an. hour for Sam’s
return, the young people went back to the vi]-
lage. _
CHAPTER XXXI.

'ron TRUEAXE RECEIVES a LETTER—AND PEB-
sxs ACTS BOLDLY. ‘

CANYON DAVE left ’Gus without any cloud
on his mind so far as she was concerned, for she
had announced her confidence in him in a man-
ner which left To doubt of her sincerity. She
had said that she would believe in him despite
a score of accusers who dared not show their
faces, and between them was perfect peace.

 

Once by himself, however, the mountaineer ,

had time to think more coollv and a dull pain
fell on his heart as he thought of the quarrel
between Incognito and himself.

“I have cast away my last hope,” he mut-
tered. gloomily, “ but I am not so sure that I
ever had 'a reason to hope for anything from
Incognito. He summoned me from the pleasures
of grizzly killing. and when I arrived here, re-
fused to divulge anything. Whyi Thereis a
mystery somewhere. Am I laying the cat’s-
paw for an one! I can’t see u what we , and
yet it is pain that there is a plot in t eair.
lLet ’i’ne study on the matter and see where it
lee. '

He reached the Alexis and entered the an»
icon, and, an hour later, Sawtooth Sam came
in Iquietly.

e shook his head on catching Dave‘s lance,
and then came over and sat down besidefiiim.

“ No use,” he gloomin said. " Ther- ’tarnal

tter run like a streak o’ devastatin’ lightnin’,
an’ store I made ther first quarter, bolted ther
track an’ hid in some hole. Durn ther luck i”

“ Are you wounded?”

“Me? No.”

“ But you fell when he fired."

“ Sartin. ‘Twasn’t policy tor stan' u an' be

rforated. He was amazin‘ quick an had no
ime ter drawr, but I t myself up on ther
jump an ther lead wen wild. Kenyon Dave,
who is that critterl”

“ I really don’t know.”

“ But you knew somethin’ about him."

“ Merely that he holds a secret I would likn
to learn. He has proved this much, but where

he gained his information, or who he is, I can’t "

tell you.”

Sam drummed on the table and looked
thoughtful, but just then Tom Trueaxe, late of
Coyote Clitl', entered the saloon and called for
some whisky. ‘

“ There is another man I an ." said Dave.
"I have no reason, but I believe he is in Silver
Spur for no good.”

“ HIS frontispiece is ag’in’ him,” Sam careless»
ly acknowledged.

Trueaxe drank his whisky and went his way
to the cabin he had bought since coming to
Silver Spur. He soon had a light going, and
sitti lg down on a stool, proceeded to mind
star his pipe.

The fragrnnt smoke had just begun curling
upward when Tom saw a sheet of white pa r
lying on the table. He picked it up and t n
grew surprised and interested as he read what
was written upon it.

This is what he saw:

“Ton Tamxs:——You have made a mistab in
coming to Silver Spur for men of your versatility
can do better elaew ere. You have to
murder Olson, the colored man, but you are advbed
n t to attempt it We give you just twenty-four
hours to get out of town. Depart or die!

" Tin Vienna-res.”

The man from Coyote Clii! remained staring
at the missive until his pipe went out. Its eccen-
tric wabbling betWeen his teeth recalled his wen-

dering wits.
" J udss ’Ristocratl" he muttered. “ I reckon
I’ve at it now. Infamy don‘t pay. I lived a

more life fur sixteen year an‘
Tom Harper’s rodigal calf, but t erminute I‘

begin ter padd a my own canoe. luck goes dead

hack on me. ‘Depart or die. Thor V‘ tea.‘
I can’tsee rhyme about them words t they
hum in my ears like a jigger-saw. burn their
ole epistlei”

He looked at the letter as though to reproach
it for being a party to such an outrage on a
pil rim from Coyote Clifl, but, anon, brightened
an picked up his pipe.

“ ve got. twenty-four hours 0’ grace, an' I
may as wal live in luxury an’ clover while I
hang on ter ther ragged edge. Winsome
body'll flip oyer ther kards an’ necessitate a
new deal sfore then.”

He smoked steadily for half an hour and then
came to a conclusion. He t on his hat, arose
and weft over to the
Harper The chances of success were net
numerous for the San Francisco man was not
a bird of the n' ht as a usual thin , and True-
axe would not re to let himself seen with
him; but, as luck would have it, they met out

side the hotel.

rew fat on -

exis to see Thomas -

.—.._—_‘

 

'_,._._... .-. . . .._.—.._.....
r... _ _....... _......_

Going to one side, they were soon en aged in
conversation, and Trueaxe told all t at had
bap ened.

“ ow, what’s my best bolt?” he asked.

Harper, however, was more alarmed than his
man.

“Good heavens!” he said. “ I’m afraid the fat
is in fire, so to speak. Clearly some one over-
heard us when I hired you to kill the nigger.
How much did we say then, anyhow?"

Both men throw their minds backward to the
meeting in question.

“You hired me ter kill ther darky,” was the
wonderful discovery of Mr. Trueaxe.

“ Yes, and curse the luck! you asked me how
I was getting alo , and I told you I did not
know which of old armenter’s utative daugh-
ters was the female I wished to ad.”

“ So you did, squar’, so yer did. I remember
it now. ’

“ Then, whoever overheard our conversation
is liable to make trouble for either of us. So
the letter was signed “The Vigilantes.’ I do
not believe there is such an organization in
Silver Spur. If so, it isof new birth. More
likely, some private individual has an ax to grind,
and took this way to make his argument more
binding.”

“ Wal, I reckon I’ll slope, anyhow,” said
Trueaxe, somewhat nervously. “Ther air 0’
Silver 8 ur don’t seem so s‘lubrious as I s’ ted
it won , an’ I think I’ll start fur ther Hot
Springs of Arkansaw.”

“ {)0 as you think best,” said Harper, ab-
sent y.

“ Then we part hyer, an’ forever. Thar is a
tenderspotin my heart when I think 0’ yer
kindnem in ther past, for I remember that yer
ministered for my declining years fur sixteen
summers. You couldn’t ’a’ done better ef I
gas”Huldah, an’ I ’preciate it all. Hyar’s my

'5.

They shook hands and Ear rsaw him go,
hoping he would break his neck fere morning;
but once beyond the cabin, Tom turned his face
toward Camel’s Hump.

“U thar, whar ther eagle builds his nest in
ther d air an’ Ca ’n Nevada whets his bowie-
knife on onset men s skulls—ther is my prom~
ised land. Inhospitable Silver Spur, so long!”

He shook his fist tragically at the camp, and
strode on rapidly.

, At about the same time, Mr. James Carter
was entering the room of Persia Ripley.

The gamb er had been in a gloomy mood all
day, for the sudden taking 03 of his partner in
Ways that are dark had affected him consider-
ably, but he had readin obeyed Miss Ripley’s
summons.

Their interview lasted for an hour; and when

Carter had retired, Pei-sis spent another hour in
pacing her room.

“A few days will make or break me,” she
muttered dar ly. “ Miguel and Carter will
kill ’Gus Haekett, and then I will go to J udge
Parmenter with the forged letters, and say:
‘ Poor Miss Hackett is dead, and all the people
are wonderin who assassinated her. It was my

- fortmne to flu certain papers belonging to her—
letters written by you, and which acknowledge
that you had been her lover, and contain
threats of violence unless she withdraw all claim
to on. Can it be, judge, that you know who
kil ed poor ’Gusi’ ”

She had gone through the proposed speech
with dramatic nicety, pausing before a small
looking-glass to note the expression of her feat-

res.
“ Thus I will accomplish a double object,” she
said, continuing, “This odious Hackett will be
out of the way, giving me one small, weak
chance of winnin Canyon Dave; while by my
forged papers I’l have five thousand dollars
out of armenter. Excellent! The stream is
flowiu !”
Tru y she had worked out a most diabolical
n. It was the same she had once before laid
fore Carter, when Ball was alive, but had
Canyon Dave smiled on the female plotter that
day, her great crime would have been aban-

 

CHAPTER XXXII.
a noon Ion HARPER.

is sometimes happens that villains overreach
themselves, and Thomas Harper, in his anxiety
to get some young woman to assume the role of
the Browning heiress, and permit him to finger

, the Browning Wealth, had recklessly laid him~
self liable to future trouble.

The day following the events last related ‘Gus
Hackett walked into the private room of Judge

, Parmenter.

:11 want your advice on one point, sir,” she
'sa .

“A retaining fee of twentyfivs dollars will
secure my distinguished and earnest co-opera—
tion. Miss Hackett,” he playfully said.

“Is that all? Why, expected that a mem-
ber of the Silver Spur her would charge at least

flft .”
‘yCaptain Nevada has knocked prices way off
their uprights,” he said, lugubriously remem-

g how the road-agent was really injur-
ing his business.
‘ Well, to be serious, I hurl a singular encoun-

 

Qanyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain.

ter the other day. and I want you to advise me.
A certain man of this place met me in the street
and offered me a fortune of a hundred thousand
dollars.”

“ Did you take it?” he asked, smiling.

“ I asked for time to consider the matter.”

“You were foolish. Never procrastinate in
such matters. Large fortunes are seldom of-
fered so freely.”

“ The price of the wealth was deception and
fraud on my part.”

“In that case you did well to refuse it,” Par-
menter heartily said.

“ A man came to me on the street,” contin-
ued ’Gus, “and told me that somewhere in the
country a fortune was waiting for an owner,
in the person of a young lady. It was not at
all particular who she was, so long as she was
of the brunette t pe. The real heiress disap-

red when a ha y, and has never been found.
ow, this kind—hearted gentleman offered me
the chance to step in and claim the identity
and fortune of the missin heiress, provided I
would si n a paper agreeing to give him ten
thousan dollars for his share of the wages of
fraud.”

’Gus had expected Parmenter to be interested.
but she was scarcely “freiger for the de cc of
earnestness he show . esat bolt uprig t and
stared at her in a strange way.

“ Who is this man ?” he abruptly demanded.

“ His name is Thomas Harper.’

The judge sat like one dumfonnded. He
had from the first believed Harper to be the vil-
lain, but he was astonished at his persistent and
open audacity.

“ Is this a fact?” he slowly asked, after a

pause.

“ All true, judge.”

l‘g'ghen, by Jupiter! he has overreached him-
se i

“ What do you mean, sir?” ,

Parmenter arose, paced the room for several
minutes in silence, and then came to the side of
’Gus and sat down.

“ Edna has, of course, told you of the remark—
able letters received by her and in self, pur—
porting to be from Otis Sprague, an inserting
that she is ngt my daughter?

“ Y sir.

“Well, that charge is all a fabrication; an
emanation from a malevolent mind. Edna I
need scarcely say. is my daughter, and so, for
that matter, are Helen and Milicent my daugh-
ters. There is, however, more to this matter
than appears on the surface, and I will tell it to
you in confidence. You are not to say a word
to any one, not even Edna.”

’Gus promised, and then the 'udge gave a ve-
racious account of the visit of homes Harper,
and his claim that one of the young ladies hear-
ing the name of Parmenter, was really another
person, and t e heiress of a large fortune.

“Harper is playingadeep ame,” said Par-
menter, in conclusion. “thong what it is Ican—
not et clearly see. It may be there is a miss-
ing eiress in the case, but more likely there is
a trick in the case not yet visible on the sur-
face.” .

“ But why did he lay claim to one of your
daughters so 0 nlyi”

The judge s owed some confusion, but soon
rallied.

“Oh! I suppose he wanted a brunette, and
thought one of them would about fill the role.”

“ But,” continued ’Gus, with a logic which
again confused the judge, “ if he merely desired
a girl of brunette complexion, why did he not
se ect some child of poverty rather than one of
wealth. like your daughter?”

“ He probably thought me as mercenary as
himself, and believed would sell one of my
children for the paltry hundred thousand,” Par-
menter managed to answer.

’Gus looked at him keenly.

“ Judge,” she said, “ you are not dealing with
me fairly. You know more of this matter than
you say. Shall I speak plainly ’1?"

“Yes, yes; go on.”

“Then, let me say that I sincerely believe
one of your nominal daughters is this missing
heiress! ’

Parmenter looked really startled, but he ral-
lied again after a little time, and laughed at the

idea uite naturally, but be avoided Miss Hack-
ett’s een eyes. He had not looked for such
penetration.

Having given her opinion she allowed him to
have his say, but when he finished returned to
the old subject.

“ What am I to say to Harper!l What am I
to do?”

He looked at her almost angrily.

“Do?” he re ated. “Woul you rob that
wronged girl 0 her own '9”

’Gus drew herself up proudly.

“You mistake, Judge Parmenter,” she icily
said, and her eyes told how deeply his insinua-
tion had gone. “I am not a thief, and I would
rob no one. I trust, sir, that though poor. I
shall never forget that I am Brad Hackott’s

daughter. No; I‘have no desire to handle the
wealth of the heiress, but when Har r s he to
me. it flashed upon me that I might at im at

his-own game. This idea I now abandon, since
even you think I am—” -.

 

 

Parmenter sprung forward £,ypnt out his hands
and stopped her. He was fill with sorrow and
remorso, and the apology he made established
good feeling between them.

“ I, too, have an idea,” he said. anon. “ Har-
per told a straight story at first, but has since so
crossed himself that I am all at sea. I do not
know whether the fortune of which he talks is
in California, Maine, or some intermediate lo-
cality. Now. why can you not pretend to fall
in with his views and accompany him to his
home! To insure your own safetv, Brad Hack-
ett, Mr. Canton and in self would follow close-
ly, and thus we would able to track him to
his lair and expose his guilty scheme.”

“That is my idea, exactly.”

“ But, if he knows you are stepping here, he
will be shy.”

“ He does not know it. I have been here but
little except at night, you know.”

A decision having been thus made, Brad
Hackett and Can on Dave Were called into the
conference. Bot objected a good deal at first
but as they were to follow so closely, it seemed
as though harm to ’Gus could be prevented, if
Harper had evil intentions. One other int
was seized by the active mind of Canyon ave,
as will be seen further on.

As a result of this conference, Harper that
night received a letter, through the hands of
Cleon. who had been encountered on the street

by ‘Gus.
Harper read the note-it was ver brief—in
the privacy of his room. and it fills him with

delight. It ~aid that the writer had nearly de-
cided to accept his ofler, but desired him to meet
her at a designated point that night that they
mi ht discuss the matter further.

be plotter was filled with triumph, and in-
wardly decided that another night would prob—
ably see him and his counterfeit heiress on the
road to San Francisco.

“ There is but one stumbling-block,” he
thought, staring hard at the wall. ‘ What shall
be done with Clean?” ‘

Just then he heard a brawl outside the win—
dow. He hastened to look for the cause, and
saw Sawtooth Sam engaged in a wordy war
with a stranger. The quarrel ended in smoke,
but it had given an idea to Harper. He went
down-stairs, found Sawtooth Sam, seated him
at a table and began to furnish him with liquor
and to encourage him to talk.

As the fiery stuff went down, Sam w talk-
ative and communicative, and, as led
him on, told of fiendish crimes among the mines,
on the road, and between decks.

He talked to greedy ears, and Harper was
not long in going further. He spoke of Cleon
and asked if Sawtooth Sam would remove him,
and the fellow at once agreed.

“ Ter-night,” he said, with a hideous grin,

“ ther nigger goes ter sleep tar wake up t’other
side 0’ ther divide.”
‘ Even Harper shivered at the want of feeling
in his voice, but it made his black heart leap
for joy. Sawtooth Sam was bold and brave, as
he had amply shown in the fight with Ca tain
Nevada in the pass: he would be worth a u
like Tom Trueaxe.

“ I have anoi her icce of work for you,” con-
tinued Harper. “ wenty-four hours hence I
wish to leave Silver Spur, secretly, accompanied
by a young lady. She will go willingly, but
our road Wlll be through don ers. I would like
you and another man, if you now of a trust-
worthy fellow without a conscience, to act as
our "guard, and to cut and shoot whoever I

“ Wal, ole pard. I should smile ef you ain’t
struck ther pay-dirt now. I’m yer man, to-day,
some other day, all ther time, es long es you
pa s ther money. Ef you want a bank robbed,
ca lon Sawtooth Sam. Ef you want a claim
jumped or a threat cut, call on ther same il-
grim. An’as fur a rd, I reckon Ben’I‘u
will more when I ta 9 snuff!” '

Harper was delighted, and gave Sam a good
sized retainer, directed him to bring Ben Tubbs
around the following day, and then the com-
panions in projected crime parted with mutual
good wishes.

 

CHAPTER XXXIII.
PERSIS mruur’s TIAP. AND WHAT IT CAUGHT.

Sawmorn Sass stepped outside the» saloon.
after parting from Harper, and stood breathing
the fresh air. He had imbibed more whisky
than wasrgood for him and knew it well, but he
had a ha head and knew how tohanish the ef-
fects of his lndiscretion. '

He had not been ion at his post when a sud-
den gleam came into is eyes. He had seen a
mandcrossing the street whom he at once recog-
nize .

“ Durned ef ’tain’t ther nigger,” he muttered.
“Wal, now. this ’ere is what I call a stream 0’
ther heaviest luck. I’ll hitch enter him ter onc’t
an’ beguile him off among ther hills, an’ then
we’ll see of he eyer comes back. I say Cleon,
hole on, thar.”

He went out to meet the unsuspecting n ,
giving no outward signs of his conflict with the
saloon liquor, and the two were soon engaged in
conversation.

A little later, they went ofi’ toward the south

 

 

 

 

 

t
. clotth and led him to a cabin to have an n4
achem ‘ et
‘ ilrst.”°’ y» I

' the girl's blood and then go to the prou

 

of the town together, and when Sawtooth Sam
returned he came alone.

The evening saw another important inter-
view, for ’Gus Hackett met Hal-(per according
to agreement, and hear at ban , listenin to
ever word, were Canyon Dave and Judge ar-
men r.

Harper was led on to say all he Would, and he
told al except the place where the fortune in
guestion was awaiting -a claimant, and the
amin name. In all other articulars he was
frank. though, of course, he id not confess that
he had stolen the lost heiress.

’Gus seemed to talk wholly from a worldly
point of view, and when Harper solemnly de-
clared that the fortune was as he said, promptl
declared that she would agree to his proposa .
He was to receive ten thousand dollars at the
start and continue as her guardian for two
years.

Arrangements were made for flight on the
following night, and Harper carelessly men-
tioned that he had made preparations for a pos-
sible pursuit by engaging two men who were to
act as guards and gui ies.

Harper went home in high spirits.

“ Ishail succeed in getting out of Silver S ur
nice and easy,” he thought “and once in
Francisco, the fun begins. f I don’t succeed in
getting awa with four-fifths of the Browning
lvivgalflth within two years you may call me a

r.

And the schamer’s ho went up another de-
gree when, on the follow ng day, Sawtooth Sam
came to tell him that Cleon had crossed the di-
vide. Later in the day some miners came u
several birds of prey picking the bones o a
human being. but poor Cleon had been but a
negro. and no one took the trouble to investi-
gate when be came no more to Silver Spur.

Ben Tubbs presented himself before his new
patron and when he had said that he knew
eve oot of the mountain trail Harper de-
cid that he had secured a ir oi valuable al-
lies who were as unscrupu one as they were
competent.

Half an hour before dark of that afternoon
three persons met in the wood which has be-
fore been mentioned as lyinfg north of the town,
at the foot of the Camels map.

The last of the three to arrive was a woman,
and then Persia Riple , Miguel Perez and
James Carter stood toget er in the cover of the
bushes.

Several days before Persia had hired Carter
and Ball to commit a crime, but by a chance
all regretted, the latter had lost his life at the
hands of Perez, which had made a new part-
ner necessary. Carter had at first been very
bitter against the Mexican, but sober thought
convinced him that Perez had on! acted na-
turally, and be had consented to me his
all; in this new work.

ersis nodded to her followers as she came up.

“ The rl is up in thecabin,” she calmly said,
“but twdight is near at hand, and We had bet-
ter get in position. Follow me.”

She led the way to where a faint path inter—
sected the timber.

“Along this way she will soon come,” said
Persis,’ in a business-like tone. “ it is the road
she invariabl travels. You will hide one on
each side oft e path, and when she appears,
leap up and seize her. You know what e se to
do ’

“That is Carter’s work,” said Miguel, shrug-
ng his shoulders. “I’m a devil in my way,
utI don’t care to speed the blow that kills

’Gus Hackett. She is prett and innocent, and
her only crime is in lovin ave Canton.”

“ Carefully,” warned ersis. “You and I
should not preach such a doctrine. Who put
poison in Ii nor meant for Otis Sp e’!"

“I,” the exican boldly said. “ hat of it?
Heisnothing but slow miner. I’ll dno him
yet. But, since you have touched the su ject,
who fired the shot that shivered the bottle con-
taining that liquor? Ah! you waver. I know
you better than you think. You came bean
me and m reven e then.”

“Why d Ido t?” Persia demanded. “Not
to save Spragne, nor to home you—”

“ No, it was for Canyon Dave. Iknow that

code in your life pretty well. I know too,

on one evening dremed yourself in ’s
terview with— ourself. A very pretty little
gelleve he knew you fromthe
“FOIHeaVen’s sake, cease your bickering."
said Carter. ,“ Let‘s settle down. The Hackett
may come at moment.”
' Is your ar steady, Jim Carter?” Persia

I askd

e .
" 'er :1 rock.”

“ hen _ oyour duty well. Let there be no
cry. Strike home, and then I will appear. I
want to touch these forged papers I candy with

ndge
and say, ‘Silence is golden. Purchase jthese
papers and you are safe: refuse. and I will pro-
claim you the assassin of ’Gns Hackett. “ 0h!
then you willsee the Parmenter money-bags
open!

Persis spoke without a trace of feeling, but
Miguel Perez turned away with a shudder. An

 

icy chill was upon him: a feeling such as he
had never before experienced. t seemed to
weigh down his heart. The wood and the sky
were strangely gloomy, and the gathering tw1~
light made him nervous. He would gladly
have been back in the lair of Ca tain Nevada.

Minutes passed on, but ’Gus id not appear.
Twilight had given place to darkness, and the
assaszms grew impatient.

Persia arose.

“ I will go and look for her,” she said.

She went away toward Brad Hackett’s cabin,
and the men arose and stretched their weary
limbs. Anon they again sought cover, this
time unconsciously nearer the northern side of
the wood.

By and by, Miguel Perez heard some one
coming alon the path. His hearing had been

reternatura ly keen; he had heard even the
alling of the ripening leaves. Now, he heard
footfalls and spoke to Carter.

“ It’s the female Hackettl” said the gambler.
“ Stand ready now, make sure of your grip and
I will soon do the rest. Be still!”

They waited. Nearer came the doomed girl.
Miguel Perez was terribl excited. A cold
sweat was on his forehea , and his heartbeat
like a muffled drum. He was like a man just
plungin into crime, and et he and sin had
shaken nds many a time fore.

Their victim came quickly along the path.
and then they sprung up together and seized
her. Each man caught an arm, while Perez

ressed his broad band over her mouth. She

unded like a frightened deer, but no cry could

escape her, and her puny strength was nothing
compared with theirs.

Carter’s hand went up, holding his knife: it
descended, and the weapon went hilt-home in
her breast.

One more struggle she made and then lay a
limrg, lifeless burden in their arms.

ey laid her down, awed into stillness b
the awful majesty of death. Miguel felt was
about the knees and knelt by her side. Then
from his li arose a hoarse cry.

He had ked, not on the face of ’Gus Hack-
ett, but on that o Perm Ri' ey! The woman
who la dead at is feet ha been she who had
been h ally for many a long year.

Dully timmgh his clouded mind crept the re-
alization that their charge of position had
wrought all this evil, and at Porsis had thus
walked into the trap she set for another; but in
a moment more the frenzy of madness coursed
through his veins, and all his fury turned
against the man who had dealt the fatal blow.

He sprung upon Carter, who had stood like
one paral zed when he knew what he had done,
and bear?
again and again into his heart.

Let us draw the curtain around the scene, for
it was too awful to bedescribed at length.

CHAPTER XXXIV.
m moans or run: mom.

Tana]: was a very good reason why ’Gus
Hackett did not tread her usual path and so
meet the fate laid out for her in the timber; she
had gone to keep her appointment with Thomas

Harper.

That‘ individual had made all necessary pre-
parations for de rture from Silver S ur, and
at dusk was waiting at the western lim t of the
village. Sawtooth Sam and Ben Tubbs were
with him, each man had a horse, and close at
hand stood a fourth.

Harper had begun to grow uneasy when ’Gus :I

apfieared, all prepared for the journey.

e greeted her cordially, and then the quar-
tette mounted and rode away on the western
trail. They had a rough and wild road to travel
for seva miles, as the trail wound around
among the passes of the mountain, but Tubbs
was an old resident and eXpressed ample confi-

deuce.
Their de rture had been observed b, another
party, an as soon as they were fair v out of

sight, Canyon Dave. Brad Hackett and Parmen-
ter rode slowly after them.

The gentleman from San Francisco might yet
find that be had started on a crooked and per-
plexing trail.

He saw only success in the future. however

as he rode by the side of ’Gus, with 'l‘ubbs an:
Sawtooth Sam in advance, and no one had
yet mentioned that along their route Captain
Nezada often appeared with his knights of the
res .
As they entered the gloomy pass. Harper was
somewhat affected by the darkness and the
frowning rocks. and asked Sawtooth Sam to
fall back to his side.

“What do you think of the prospect?” he

s .

“ Wa-al, that or a question not easily answer-
ed. Thar are times when a man can’t tell what
he does think, because ev’rything is so mighty
onsartin,” was the deliberate reply.

“ Do you apprehend danger?”

“ Danger is ’most alleys ’ronnd. It takes
ter our heels when we git our first fall from
ther cradle, an’ it follers us ter ther grave.
Whether thar is danger beyend thar, you must
ax the preachers. They kin give you an answer
quicker’n a mule kin kick. ut, ter be explicit,

ng him to the earth, plunged his knife '

Canyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain._

 

 

thar ain’t no partiv’lnr danger of we don’t run

afoul 0’ Cap‘n Nevada.”

“ But we may be rsued.”

“ Let ’em pussue,’ retorted Sam. “ I reckon
We kin shake oil at our heels all ther trouble we
pick up.”

His confidence served to give Harper fresh
courage and he directed his conversation to
’Gus. On her part, she maintained a calmness
which won his admiration.

“ Once let me get her in San Francisco and
she has the wit and assurance to carry her tri-

? umphantly through the ordeal. I defy my fel-

low trustees tobreak down either my chain of
evidence or my heim”

His thoughts were rudel disturbed. Tm
wereinapartofthepassw ere the twow
were but a few yards a and each arose
abruptly for a hundred eet—a narrow, dark
and gloomy place.

Suddenly, from the darkness, sounded akeen,
commandin voice.

“Halt! ands u and stand where you are.
If you move, lead Will fly 1”

The guides prompt] obeyed the first com-
mand,-and Har r an ’Gus necessarily paused
at their heels, t ough Harper was far from be-
ing reconciled to the idea. He was ready for a
dash, with liberty staked against life.

But out from the niches of the pass, rode
several men who ranged themselves in front of
the quartette, and the time for escape seemed to

-have

seed.
“ hatisall this exodus aboutV’demanded
one of the newcomers.

“ We are on our way to glue 'Cap’n Nevada,”
re lied Sawtooth Sam, coo ly.

‘ The devil you are!

“Wa-al, we are ambitious. We wanter be
men in ther busy world instead 0’ clods. » We
wanter be noted, we pant fur fame, an’ hunger
fur riches.”

“ Bah! Do on know who I aml"

“ No,” said m.

“ I am Captain Nevada!”

The miner uttered a subdued whistle. He
had recognized the outlaw’s voice at the very
firstbuthehadnotcaredtocoufessit.
What would come of the meeting he did not,
know, but he sincerely hoped he would not
be recogl-l’iined in turn. Nevada had no reason
tolove i . They had mettwice before; once
in that same pass, when Sam saved the stage
from Nevada’s hands, and again in the Alexis
saloon when he called the road-agent a liar, and ’
tore his heard from his face.

Plainly there was no hope that they could
tie to each other.

“Don’t on believe it?” asked Nevada, inter-
preting t e whistle as an expzemion of in-
credulity. -

“Don t see no reason ter doubt ye, mister, but
I didn’t s’pect ter find ye so soon. How's ther
folks?”

“Never mind. First. tell me who yru are,
and also, give the pedigree of your train.”

“ Wal, my name is Sile Bragg. an hyer is an
ole man an’ his darter who has be’n to ther Spur
ter look ata salted mine. He! be! they found
it wouldn’t pan out five cents for ther ton, an’
they’re goin back 6 .”

‘ I’ll look at them.’

It was a decision which did not please the
guartette. ’Gus had recognised the outlaw as

am had done, and be was the only person she
really feared on earth: while Harper had no
sooner heard the name announced than he saw
a formidable rival for the possession of his
heiress.

Sam and Tubbs, however, were not so docile
as the appeared. Neither came of thin blood,
and uring the conversation before recorded,
they had carried on a systemof telegraphy
among themselves which was very well under-

s .

It meant fight.

Before them were half a doeen men. There
might be more in,advnnce, but no others were
visible. To surrender to this handful of outlaws
would, in the opinion of the guides, be a dis-
grace. They must cut their wa through.

“ Come right on, cap’n,” said Sawtooth Sam.
“Ther show is free from ther nd up."

Nevada, however. had no tention of com~
mitting an indiscretion. He knew small parties
were often worse to handle than

in ones, >
end he turned to his men to give dgctiom
which the guides saw would result to their in-

JUPV.

They must fight at once or never.

Sam turned to Tubbs and nodded, and then
their hands came down holding each a revolver.
When they put them up so obediently, as di- ‘
rooted by the road-agent, the revolvers had‘

gone along with the crowd.
Then the excitement begah. The two fired

together, and once the fusilade was n, they
kept it up briskly. Thomas Harper in,
and the dull cracks and spiteful his lead ap-

proached machine-like regularity.

Still, it was not a long skirmish. Ca in
Nevada had gone down at the first fire, an Ben
Tubbs could almost have sworn he had puts.
bullet through his heart: while the remainder
of the robbers were scattered with scarcely a
return shot.

r

24

Canyon “Dave, the Manet“ the Mountain.

 

“ Spur and hoof l” shouted Sawtooth Sam, in
high exultation, and then the quartette swept
along the pass at full speed.

Har r relieved his mind by expressing a de-
ree ofixultation, but the guides said nothing.
hey had an unpleasant suspicion that the way

before them was not soclear as they could wish.

If Nevada had really been out to ply his
trade, there was a chance that other men might
benear. '

The ncmrncy of their reasoning was soon
show”. They reached a place where a gulch
joined the main pass, and Where former rains
had left a deposit of earth on the hard ground.

They struck this spot and the sand muffled
the sound of their horses feet—a most fortunate
fact; for. from in advance came a well-known
noise which even Thomas Harper knew tobe
‘the ponn'ling of boots on fimty soil.

Ban Tubbs pulled in his horse abruptly, and
the others were not slow to follow suit.

“ Well!” questioned Harper, trying to be as
matra-r-nf-rnct as his guides.

“ It’s jast as I expected,” said Tubbs, “ Thar’s
Ion romin’ this way, an’ hycr’s bettin’ an tor
one they are Cap’n Nevada’s gang.”

“ What shall we do?"

The minor pointed to the smaller gulch.

“ In thar au’ let them go past.”

It was the only thing thely could do and
seemed a very good plan. he rode in as
Tubbs had suggested, and in the arkness were
safe from casual observation. They paused
near the foot of the right hand cliff, where
their horses had sand under their feet and
Would betray nothing by stamping.

The strangers came nearer, rid ng at a rapid
we, and were soon abreast the gulch. Saw-

th Sam chuckled, feeling sure they would go
on, but the quartetto was not to so easily escape
from their danger.

Opposite the mouth of the gulch the riders
and only paused, and then a voice hailed them
from the eastern trail.

‘“ Hanoi—pull up, there! Have you met any
one on the trail?"

rprisc and mnsternation fell a n the fugi~
tives' it was the voice of Captain evada.

“ Not a meet.” was the answer.

“Then, by Jupiter, we have work to do.
There has been shooting back here, and Sykes
and Hasen have got their last pills. lshould
have fared as badly but for my breast—plate.
' The gang got clear and rode this wa on the
jump; and, since on did not meet t em any-
where, it follows t at the must have concealed
themselves somewhere. his gulch looks sus-
picious. Here. Benito. slide 03 your horse,
strike a light, and see if you can find footprints
in the sand.”

CHAPTER XXXV.
IN A rue.

CAPTAIN Nnvana’s words were of especial
interest to the q iar ette in the gulch, for even
Harper and ’Gus knew that an examination of
the ground would serve to bring the road-agents
straight to where they stood.

“ I reckon we had better go,” said Sawtooth
Barn. cnody. “Ther air seems for be a leetle
sultia’round hyer."

“ ad on, for Heaven’s sake!” said Harper.
“ It is ruin to remain here. Nevada leads those

" docs. and has a score of men at his back.”

Without any further words Ben Tubbs placed

, himself at the front, and the fugitiVea moved on
up the gulch.

‘ For some di-tance they had the friendly sand
to deaden their movements, and in a short time

thew had left the outlaws behind.

Tubbs however, was not in a very satisfied
frame of mind. They had entered a place from
which he did not believe escape wou d be easy.
He had passed through the gulch when hunting,
but never on horseback before.

He commun catcd his fears tohis companions.

“Ef we go on. we shall him out outer ther
side 0’ ther mountain whar chasms an’ precipioes
are thicker’a fleas. an’ no boss kin tread thar
‘thout breakin’ his neck. That’s squar’. Now,
what be we goin’ for dot”

“ Turn au’ fight our way through,” suggested

In.

_“ Better hide and let them so, provided they
have followed this far.” said srpor.

“Hole on, Edge. You kin bet your pile on
two thing. rat, they ain’t gin up the chase.
Second, t ey ain’t oin’ her make any one-boss
" s’arch. It’s dark, allow, but Cap‘n Nevada is
a kosher.”

“ Ben is right,” said Sawtooth Sam. an’ yit I
reckon your idea is about ther correct one.
squar'. We might git hurt in afight. What’s
this lrouyou up var, Bent” .

“Never was a thar,” said Tubbs, dubiouslv.

“Listoni” su denly intorru ted ’Gus. “I
bear the sound of hoof-strokes own the gulch.”

"Bi ht you are!” added Sam. “ We must go
somcw in right away. Inter this keuyon an’
trust tor luck.”

. It was a small gulch, which joined the one
the had been following, and they rode into the
dar with a hope that it would prove a
place of refuge

Boa Tubbs, however, seemed doubtful and

may, and he lagged behind until Sam re-

\

 

 

quested his presence at the front. In truth, the
man was very much afraid they were Ventur-
ing intoatrap, and desired to avoid the re-
sponsibility of leading the way.

Once at the front, however, e showed resolu-
tion and earnestnesa and a. niche was soon found
in one wall where they could remain secreted
until the result was seen.

Harper looked at ’Gus. She had been very
silent since their trouble began, and he feared
she was breaking down.

“ I am sorry to have brought you into trou-
ble,” he said, more gently than usual.

“ Oh] I can stand the pressure,” she coolly re-
turned. “ I‘ve seen Captain Nevada before.
He is only a man, and, if he can be outwitted, I
shall en by this affair very much.”

“ By upiteri you are atreasure, my girl,” he
admiringly said.

“Oh! no; I am after the treasure,” was her
vefiy appropriate reply.

6 laughed, but just then their joy turned to
sorrow as the old sounds of pursuit were heard
at the mouth of the gulch.

“ Still on the track," Harper muttered.

“Boss,” said Tubbs, touching his arm, “it’s
touch an’ 20 now, fur our chances ain’t big
enough ter flgger.”

“ Are on ready to 6 ht if need be?”

“1 rec on. Ben Tub ain’t bashful.”

They stood in the recess, which was broad and
deep, each person by his or her horse, and ready
to mount hurriedly and take to flight if neces-
sary. The scene was impressive-the dark,
frowning rocks, the horses and men in the re-
cess, the girl, and, beyond in the gulch, the
road. euts creeping slowl along.

Ben ubbs frequent] ganced behind them.
The recess had not yet n fully explored, and
he had so much faith in Captain Nevada’s.saga-
city that he was ambitions to have a way of re-
treat ready for a critical moment.

He spoke to Sawtooth Sam and glided away.

Five minutes later he returned.

“ That‘s a thunderiu’ big hole in thar. I dun-
no whar it leads, for I didn’t hev time ter ex-
plore. but—”

“ Easy," said Sam. “ Hyer’s ther critters l"

The road-agents were indeed at hand, and it
did not require much wisdom to perceive that
the were likely to carefully investigate the
ni 9. They were making a thorough search,
and the place of refuge would not 0 unnoticed.

As they came nearer, this robs ility became
so nearly a certainty that, a ter a brief consul-
tation, the fugitives retired into the deeper
shadows.

“ We’ve cut of! all hope of sneakin’ t ’em,”
said Sawtooth Sam, mournfully. “ hinge is
all oin’ wrong from eend ter eend. Now we
sha i be bottled up here an’ kept ter dr .”

His complaint passed unanswered. he had
entered a place which was like a. tunne , and
where they could see nothing in advance. The
darkness was intense, but while Ben Tubbs led
the way, Sam and Harper each took a side and
they knew the were in a place of uniform
wid'tb with a d stance of iorty feet from wall to
wa .

They had not gone far when a shout arose
from the entrance, but they could not well ex-
pect anything better. At times, despite all
care, their horses’ feet rung on the rocks, and
outlaws could not very well have been deaf
enough to fail to hear the sounds.

-H spoke in a somewhat startled voice,
but no one noticed him. Ben Tubbs had at that
moment run against solid rock, and a little in
vestigatiou showed him that a huge bowlder
blocked half of the passage.

“ Haiti” he at once sai . “We are now jest
as good as diskivered, an' hyar’s as don’t run
any furdcr. We kin stand at bay byar, an’
l’m durned of we don’t show some surprisin’.
teeth. Cap'n Nevada must stay back or git
lead in chunks.”

“ That’s ther size on’t,” added Sawtooth Sam.
“ Right hyar we pitch our tent an’ shout for
ekul rights."

“ It may as well be so," said Harper, address-
ing ’Gus, ‘but I am very sorry that I have
brought you into this dan er."

“Don’t shed a tear,” s e answered, calmly.
“ l’m no child and I’ve seen trouble before to—
day. We will make this our fort and show
Nevada that he is not king of the mountain.”

“Your bravery is sublime.”

“Words are cheap; the real test comes by
and b ."

While they talked, Tubbs and Sam led the
horses behind the bowlder. It made an ad-
mirable shelter, being twenty feet across its
face. and would serve as cover for the whole
party. it might yet prove to be lacking in some
essential features, but, just then, Harper, at
least, did not look so far as that.

Meanwhile, a number of flashes of light near
the entrance were follode b a steady light,
and it was plain that the out aws were about
to grotecnte a search with torches.

aving put all also in order, Sam and Tubbs
drew near a common point for consultation.
They ran their hands over their weapons to see
that all was right and surveyed the dan rous
signs at the front with evident disa prova .

Experienced as they were in suc matters, it

 

 

needed no practical opening to show them that
the affair would (probably assume an ugly as-
pect. Nevada ha plenty of men at his back.
and he was one to presa an enemy to the wall.
Des its this. there was no wavering in the
little hand. All were armed, revolvers being
abundant, and all excepting ’Gus had rifles.

The road-agents came nearer. The party now
visible numbered a. dczen men, and the light
from their torches fell upon their n uscnlnr
forms with marked effect. No mas neradirs
Were, they, but outlaws of courage, an little or
no conscience.

Ben Tubbs had gone to the front as the leader,
and he did not give them a great deal of rope.
His voice rung out suddenly and distinctly.

“Halt! Hold up thar, Cap’n Nevada, an’
take your b’arin’s. This claim is defended an’
can’t he jumped. Keep back or take lead. We
shoot ter kill!“

The road agents had paused, but for a while
no one seemed to be anxious to talk. Then a
man pushed forward from the rear and the
light of the torches fell upon the fair face and
gaudy dress of Ca tain Nevada.

“ Who is there ' he asked.

“Wal, I reckon we are hyar,” said Tubbs,
cooll . “Jest who we be you orter know, es
you Kev been chasin’ us fur some lime. Dcru
your ole hide you are too neighbor] .”

“Aha! so I have you caged. on are in
Gabriel's Horn, and mighty near the little end.
You have chosen a fine hiding-place, 8181 will
soon show you. There ain’t sand enou h in
your crowd to get out, but I’ll show you can
get in.” '

“ Don’t you worr about this outfit,” retorted
Ben, viciously. " c drive our own kerriage,
an’ ef we see fit ter shove on ther brake, that‘s
our funeral. As fur sand, we don’t. use ourn her
run, butter fl ht. Now, ef ther inaugural is
over, hear me owl. Ef cu move a step this
way, out goes yer eyes. 0 are hyer fer stay
au’—ter shoot.

“Words are cheap. I am coming for you
at once,” said Nevada, coolly.

“That’s right an’ proper. Sail in whenever
you feel ther speerit move yer; but, mind you,
phgr first bullet fired takes your life. I swear

t

“ I‘ll bet my last ounce it don’t.”

With these words, the roadagent turned to
his men and spoke a few words in a low er voice
after which the party spread out and .repuri-(l
{gr adrush on the brave little band he ‘ind the.

w er.

 

CHAPTER XXXVI.
CANYON DAVE on 'rnn TRAIL.

11‘ will be remembered that Canyon Dave,
Brad IIackett and J uoge Parmenter left Silver
Spur shortly after the departure of Harper’s
parts, with the intention of following wherever
the San Francisco plotter led. They intended
to make their following a chine one. too, in
order to protect ’Gus from possible harm.

Harper they knew to be a villain, and though
Canyon Dave had some faith in Sawtooth Sam,
all felt that he was not a man to be trusted.

Their plans went wrong almost at the begin-
ning, however, thev had not gone far on the
trail when Canyon ave’s horse fell suddeul
lame, and after some consultation all rode bac
to the village to obtain another.

fl By the time ti}? frefh start :as gods, the
rst rt was we on is way. ut e r0-
posed)a to gut down the lead by fast riding.y p

Consequently, they were soon moving over
the road at a rapid pace, Brad Hackett at the
head and the others close behind.

The former had relapsed into silence and rods
with his eyes always strained to catch sight of
any one at the front. He blamed himself al-
ready for having permitted ’Gus to go on so
Quixotic an expod tion. What to him was the
future of the Browning fortune compared with
that of his only child?

Can on Dave was less loomy, but it was be-
cause had more faith. 0 loved "Gus Beckett
as well as brave old Brad could do, but his na-
ture was more buoyant.

They went tbrou h the fewering clifls of the
pass like a trio 0 wild buntsmen, speeding
along in a fashion which would have been
ghost-like had not their horses’ feet raised a tre-
mendous clatter on the rocks underfoot.

Once Brad paused Where a quantit of sand
had collected on a level, and there, flu in hoof-
mtfi‘h as ho had hoped, they contin
ga op.

A mile beyond. another accumulation of sand
was reached. and a sin Hack tt sprung down.

Canyon Dave and armcnter waited while be
searched, with his face almost touching the
sand. Anon, he raised his head abruptly.

“ Who has matched” be asktd.

“ I,” answered Davatprodncing them.

Brad used several of e brimstones, and then
stood erect.

“Thar is summut hyar that I don‘t under-
stand.”be said slowly. “Thar has been trau-
ble, 1’" sw’ar. but what it is I don’t know.
Other riders hev be’n hyar. an’ I suspect mis-
chief are afoot. Do #0 s’pose they hev run
onter Captain Nevada

The question was enough to bring Canyon

their -

" '2' a" has.“

 

 

 

 

w .3.

 

 

 

 

G

-¢

’ Canyon Dave, the Mati‘ofwthe Mountain.

25

 

 

 

Dave out of his saddle, and he added his eye-
sight to Brad’s. Truly, the little area of sand
was peculiarly marked, and gave evidence of
something unusual.

While they looked Parmenter kept his place
on his horse. but it was ause he was not
skilled in the mysteries of the trail. He was
anxious for the safety of ’Gus, and ready to do
all in his pOWer for her.

He was watching the other men when some-
thing caused him to turn his head, and then he
grew amazed at seeing that a new-comer had
appeared on the scene. Not five feet away, a
tall man in a cloak and sombrero sat on a black
horse, and seemed to be calmly watching the
result of the trailers’ search.

Parmenter uttered an instinctive exclama-
tion, and his friends looked up. Both saw the
last arrival. and one of the two recognized him
at first glance.

The Incognito had again appeared.

Canyon Dave made two long strides. and then
caught the unknown’s horse by the hit, his in:-

tuous haste and fierce grasp betraying the

award emotions which moved him, and then he
hotly cried:

“ Halt. Sll'l You are my prisoner!”

lncoanito looked down at him without lifting
a hand, and his face was covered by hat and
cloak, as in the past, but the sneer which must
have been on that face crept into his voice.

“ I look like a man u ho meditates on flight,
don’t ll” he asked, with the utmost coolneSs.
“I have ridden deliberately 'into your midst,
unseen bv any of you, and now you pi'ate about
fli ht. You are the modern Solomon.”

is sneer confused and disturbed the moun-
taineer not a little. but the feeling soon passed
as he remembered who and what was the man
he nmv had in his power.

“ Such words H re empty,” he said, “ but one
thing is sure. You are my irisriier, and I am
going to fool with you no onger, You have
chosen to act the role of a man of mystery, l at
it is time to unmask. Down 01! your horse and
show your tacel” .

“ Are y’pu in earnest?”
It

“ Very well. 1 decline to obey."

“ Then, by heaven.” cried Canyon Dave, “I
will use the strength I possess to force obe-
dience. For the last time, down from your
saddle!”

“ And you insist on seeing my face?”

“ I do.” ‘

“Mountaineer, in the moment when you un-
mask nie. as you term it, you destroy the last;
hope of learning that secret, to know which you
come to Silver Spur." .

incognito spoke in a thrilling voice, but Dave
had lost all confidence in him.

“ Bah! you can no lotiger use that lever.
You do not know what you pretend; on are
but a croaker. If I was an assassin, would
give you a bullet and throw you to the crows.”

Dave spoke contemptucusly, but the hiss
which accompanied the retort almost startled

im.

“Insolent dog, you have sealed your own
fate. I will have your life for those words.”

Brad Hackett now strode to the front.

“That’ll do.” he sharply said. “We’ve had
enough cacklin’. Now, come down from whar
you set or I’ll give you a help that won’t please

er!

y “ Brute number two,” said Incognito, sarcas-
tically, “you have a Very gentle way with
guests, but in the midst of it all I have you at
my mercy. I defy you, because I hold your
hearts in the hollow of my hand. Wait. Lay
1m: ll’i’and upon me and ’Gus Hackett is forever
as

The last words were spoken sharply, for
Canyon Dave had raised his hand again, but
they were efficacious. The mountaineer paused,
while Brad Hackett suddenly pushed further
forward.

“’Gus! ’Gus‘l” he uttered.
tell us of her?”

“I can tell you where she is, and by what
danger she is menaced, but if you are to tear
me in ieces, I might as Well die with my armor
on 'an my secret untold.”

“Empty talk!” said Canyon Dave. “ ’Gus is
on her way to Itugglcs‘s Bar.”

,“l’ll swear to you that we are nearer there
than she is,” said Incognito, more earnestly.

hidotlgtirget that Captain Nevada rides along

“What can you

I n . . a V
‘ Man.” said Dave, anxiously, “is has Heck-

I

‘ etlz‘h l8 prisoner?”

Ayvfiood master, and, mayhap. he will tear
her 1" Pieces as you are about to tear me!”

'The unknown wrapped his cloak 01060? around
his fort". and his votce had a sneer in keeping
with his exaggerated language. He was master
of the situation and intended they should know
I . '

Canyon Da‘ve, however di .
fawn as he had he d. ‘ d net bend and

“ Sir Incognito,’ he quietly said, “ there is no
love between us two. I will not here remind Von
how you have goaded me since I came to Silver
Spur, but I think you can remember well enough
to acknowledge that my recent words were
natural. Be that as it may, you see here the

 

father of ’Gus Beckett, and for his sake, I ask
you to tell us of the girl.”

" Sol No claim for yourself?"

“None. For the sake of Brad Hackett and
his daughter I could almost knee] to you' but
for myself, I shall never ask a favor. our
hold over me is broken, and whatever you may
or may not know, you can keep to yourself.”

Canyon Dave folded his arms, and his eyes
blazed wrathfully. He longed tothrow himself
upon the mockin wretch before him, but pru-
dence forbade. e believed it no idle boast
when the unknown claimed to know something
of ’Gus.

Brad Hackett hastened to make another plea,
and Incognito suddenly stretched his arm out
toward the north.

“The girl has gone from the trail, and if you
would find her, you must search there. Haste,
too, will do no harm, for Captain Nevada covets
the. same prize.”

“Speak plainly, mister,” urged Brad.
she a prisoner?"

“ She was not when I last saw her; butI can-
not answer for the present. Her party encoun-
tered the mountain robbers here, and Were
obliged to lake to the hills. They showed a bold
front, and may yet make Nevada. trouble; but
he had driven them to a hole in the rocks when
I last looked on the scene.”

“Fur ther Lord’s sake, lead us thart” said
Brad, in a husky voice.

“ Do this,” said Parmenter, speaking for the
first time, “and you shall be Well paid.” .

The strange man laughed mockingly.

“Bali! Your money is like the sand under
our feet, Lawrence Parmenter. I do not care a
fig for it. Keep your pocket closed and your

brain unlocked. Well, are you going to
follow i"

He turned his horse‘s head toward the smaller
gu ch.

“ Lead on,” said Brad, quickly.

He leaped into his saddle, quickly imitated
by Canyon Dave, and then all started at Incog—
nito’s heels. ,

The latter turned into the gulch and rode on
steadily, his manner indicating that he was
[X‘l‘f(~1(_3t1y familiar with the ground they Were
trea mg.-

“ Kiu he be trusted?” Brad asked, whispering
to the mountaireer.

“ For once I have a feeling that he can. Per-
haps he has one soft spot in his villainous heart
and will help 'Gus.”

\Vith these words Dave fell into the rear
somewhat, where he rode with a cooked revol~
ver in his hand, looking sharply to the right
and left. If Incognito led them into any am-
bush, he intended to make his mark before cross-
ing the divide. .

And at the front the unknown rode on with—
out once turning his head.

CHAPTER XXXVII.
THE FIGHT IN oABquL's BORN.

THE little band of fugitives who had turned
at bay in Gabriel’s Horn. could not very well
avoid the fight that Captain Nevada was deter-
mined to force upon them. It must come sooner
or later, and if they retreated further they
were liable to,meet the danger in a place not
so well adapted to defense. .

Consequently, they prepared to fight where
they were.

" Get out your six, au’see that ther cartridges
are all in persish.” Sawtooth Sam said to Har-
pcr. “ Et is goin’ ter be war to ther knife, an’
bashfulness is a sin. When ther Philistines
make their rush, hold up ther iron an’ shoot
earlv an’ often.”

“We have no light for aiming,” said Harper,
but his manner was cool and firm.

“ Aim at ther crowd, an’ trust ter luck. What
are you goin’ ter do, gal i”

’Gus had come out from behind the bowlder.

“Flghtl” she said, terscly.

“ Lord! you mustn’t!” Sam declared. “ Wh ,
a hit o’ wild lead might hit you onliealthy.”

“ Do I risk more than you?”

“ We], I reckon you do. You are young an’
—an’ innercent: while I‘m a hard rooster 0’ a
bad name. \Vliy, ther is them in Californy
who would be glad to see Siwtooth Sam turn
up his toes. I am tough. from heel tcr scalp,
but I‘ve got a soft spot fur sech as you. Go be-
hind ther rocks, gal.”

“ No.” she said. firmly: “I am not a child, and

 

I can use a revolver as Well as any of you. Say.

no mete!”

He said no more, but it was because Ben Tuth
at that moment called to him. There were
Signs of a speedy charge on the. part of the out-
lflWS. and each one of the defenders sought a
place to make the fight. .

Ben Tubhs climbed high on the bowlder and
lay flat on the sloping side, his arms hanging
over the highest part, and each hand grasping
a revolver: Sum crouched on the floor at the
bowlder's edge. and Harper found a niche. half
wav between them. ‘

There was a sudden nattering of feet, and the
road-agents sprung forward. They left their
torches behind. not caring to increase the mor-
tality retty sure to ensue. but each man had a
pair 0 revolvers and a knife.

|

“Is'

 

It was Ben Tnbbs who gave the word, 'and
then Gabriel’s Horn became filled with minia~
ture thunder as six ravolvers cracked again and
a in. -

ggix? A , six and more; for Sawtooth Sam
suddenly me aware that ’Gus was beside
him, and firing with machine-like steadiness.

The sight so startled him, that the knife be
held between his teeth, ready for use, dropped
to the ground: but this made little diflerenee as
matters resulted. ’

Captain Nevada’s men were brave in cow-
ing a stage party when money was to be won,
but their reception in Gabriel‘s Born was al-
together too sultry for their courage. Some
fell severely shot, and others. unhurt, stumbled

over them; and almost before the defenders ‘

could hope for such a thing they saw the sur-
vivors in retreat.

They had won the first move in the game.

Sawtooth Sam sprung up and seized ’Gus
Hackett by the hand.

“ Shoutin’ sinners! how we fit!” be ex‘
claimed, breaking into a El izifling dance.
“ You‘ve got ther grit o’ a Mcdoc chief. Har-
per, ole man, I'm proud 0’ ther outfit. We‘re
pluck from ther heel, up.”

He slapped his employer on the lack and the.
whole party rejoiced, but Ben Tul-hs soon took
a practical turn of mind. He spoke to his com-
panions and glided away UNUlld the rear. .

He was the most thoughtful man of the
party, and he remembered that though one

move in the game had been handsome] won >

it required hard work to her at the hen .

While he was gone the the by the bowldrr
watched the entrance. They could see the lip-lit
of the outlaws’ toxches, which proved them still
there, but they seemed in no haste to renew
hostilities.

Thus, nearly half an hour drifted away.

Finally. Ben Tubhs returned moving hastily,
and at once made his repot t. He had exploud
the cave and discovered very clearly why it
was called Gabriel’s Horn.

Tunnel—shaped from mouth to rear, it gradu-
ally narrowed until it ended in solid rock; and
in no place had he been able to find a place of
exit.

“ What shall we (’0?” Eat r asked.

“Wal, [reckon we nnzst far it,” said Saw-
tooth Sam, philosophically. “ Always thcrt I
wasn’t horned ter run. We will fightl"

“They will beat us in the em," said Ben
Tubbs, whose disposition seemed less sanguine.
“We lack hoth water-Ven’focd. an’ I reckon
they kin take ther fort sooner or later on a
squar’ charge.”

No one answered. The firebal ility could not
be very well disputed—t e only wonder was
that the first attack had failed—and something
like gloom assailed each one.

Still, none of them felt like giiing up in de-
spair. Each one had plans and hopes for the
future, and they were not made of igneble

clay.
h Itdwas Ben Tubbs who suddenly raised his
an .
“ Ears up,” he said, quietly. “Take it in.”
“ What?” Harper asked.
“Another charge, or I’m a sinner.”
There could not be much doubt but what the

redoubtable Ben was all that he insinuated, but ' '

even Harper could see that there was a stir
among the road agents. -

The defenders err-pt to their former stations
and prelparcd for work, nor had they long to
wait. heie was a pattering of feet and the
outlaws were again on the move.

Unlikethe former charge, they did not come
in silence.
dians, growled like grizz'y bears and ‘screauwd
like panthers. making a medley so grotcrque
and, withal, so ridiculous on the face, that the
defenders were astonished.

It seemed more like a stage burlesque than an
attack with the Worst of human passions as an
incentive.

All this served to make the quartette more on
the alert, however. They were puzzled in d
somewhat suspicions, but even that gave them
no reason for neglt‘ctilig self— reservation.

Again Ben Tubbs gave t e word and once
more their revolvers began to play; but in the
midst of all thev had an unpleasant 

The apparently absurd demonstration in tron
had an ol lj- ct—it was to cover another and more
dangerous movement.

While the human menagerie played bufl'oon,
other men were stealing, cat-like. on the brave

defenders from the rear. their bare feet making . L

no sound on the earth and rocks, their game flxe
on the quartette by the bowlder, their hands
full of bristling we' as. \

Thus it was that. Just as active work began,
each one of Harper’s party was suddenly at-
tacked from the rear, and as they bounded with
a sudden realization of dancer. in shrill Whilllle
called the second party to the rescue.

At the end of ten minutes the roads nts-
stcod in a, group and an abundant supp y of
tlorches fell on a changed scene beside the bowl-
( er.

‘Gus Hackett and her three masculine  '

pniiions were prisoners. The girl heise'lf had
suffered nolinj'iry, for Captain Nevada had been

They whooped and yelled like In- ’ ’

26

Cafiyqn Dave, 1.3113353” 

 

at hand to protect her, but the men had played
hard at the game of give and take: and while
the angry road-agents hound their wounds,
Harper and his'friends bled in silence and un-
noticed, their limbs tightly bound together by
cords.

Harper was full of hot anger, Sawtooth Sam
rather inclined to jest, and Ben Tubbs quiet al-
m )st to sullenness.

Ben had made the hardest fight of all, slash-
ing about in a dangerous way with his keen
knife, but it had been a Useless effort, and he lay

' with the rest, his face coVered with blood and
dust.

Captain Nevada, as bland and nent of appear-
ance as ever, went to the side of ’Gus.

1' You see, my dear, that fate is on my side,”
he observed. “ I marked you down as my
property long ago, but some cussed chance baf-
flrd me' I do: ’t lmow how it was done to this
day. l-Iowever, when Icmicluded to lay low,
you ran into my hands like an innocent little
bird into the jaws of a great, hideous serpent.
Ah! do you see how frank 1 am, and how origi-
,ml is my comparison! Answer. fair Augusta.”

" I dare say you are more skilled at decoying
birds than warring against more dangerous
creatures,” she answered.

" Indeed! Do you See your friends bleed?”

"Yes; but 1 did not see you fighting them.
I am under the impression that you kept out of
the tight.”

“ Rest assured that I did, Augusta. My head
has beCome too precious since I met you to risk
it me brawl. Ah! what now, Trueaxe?”

“Ther bosses are all ready fur departur’,
cap’n,” the man returned.

‘Then we will get up and dust. This has
been a good night’s work, ani we won't lie
longer in the pass. Hello!"

He had been looking at the prisoners, and his
game suddenly lighted up at sight of Sawtooth

:m.

"Hello yourself!" returned that individual,
coolly.

“ Think I’ve seen you before, my good man.”

“ Well, I reckon I don’t owe you anything.”

“No; the shoe is on the other foot. “'u played
poker in the Alexis saloon, and you was so im-
polite as to pull my beard from my face. Never
mind; we’ll soon square the account. Pick up
these lumps of clay and tie them on their
horses.”

“ Never mind ther last part,” said Sam. “ I

, ain’t proud an" kin ride like common folks.”

“You will go as I say,” Nevada grimly an-
nounced; “and once at our quarters, I’ll give
youa taste of judgment. Up among the eagle
nests we will hold the liveliest picnic on record.”

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
CAMEL’S nemr.

NONE of the men who followed Incognito had
a teat amount of faith in his good intentions.

ho or what he was none of them knew, but
they were willing to take some risk for the

. sake of ’Gus, while if he led them into an am-
bush at least two of the three would be quick to
take revenge.

The unknown, however, seemed wholly at his
case and led on quietly for some time. At last
,he paused and seemed to listen.

“Do you hear anything unusual?” he asked,
addressin Brad Hackett.

“ Not a ear,” replied the miner.

“ I expected to find them near here. Just be-
Vond us, on the left, is a place called Gabriel's

( .a tunnel-shaped cave. In there Captain
Ne ada had the fugitives at bay, but I sue ct
- be has captured them. This silence is too eep
for a favorable interpretation. Now, we are
fear—who goes to explore the Horn?”

_ “ I do.” replied Brad, unwilling to trust their
guide where they could not keep him rcvolwr
covered.
He asked for a description of the place and
then went away. He returned at the end of
fiftien minutes and his face bore an anxious
loo .
"Thor place is empty now, but thar has been
flghtin’ thar. I see'd blood on ther rocks, an’ it
is fresh.” _

“Good heavens! the demons have accom-
plshed their work!” said I’armcntcr, in a tone
of horror.

“’Gus may yet be safe,” said Canyon Dave,
catching at a straw.

“ She would be safer dead,” said Brad, huski-

 

l .
y“ And you,” said the mountaineer, turning to
Incognito; “ what have you to say!”

'Fhe man started, as though aroused from
deepthonght.

“I believe ’Gus Haekett is ia‘the hands of
Captain Nevada. and on her way to his lair
amid the crags of Cnmel’s Hump,” he answered.
“She would be safer in the lair of a wolf. The
road-agent has long coveted her, as you well
know.”

” Can you lead us to this lair?” Canyon Dave
demanded.

, It I an.”

“And will you?”
' ,“I will.”

The mountaineer want forward and laid his
hand on the undue wn’s Ld‘lli. '

 

“ Sir," he said, " I told you a little while ago
that, for the sake of This Hackctt, I would kneel
to you. Now, bearing in mihd what she is and
from whom we would save her, I ask you to
tell me frankly, truthfully, if your offer is sin-
cere or only the bait that leads to a trap.”

Incognito hesitated before replying, and when
he Spoke his voice lacked the old, sneering in-
flection.

“ It goes against me to aid one I hate as cor-
dially as I do you, but 'Gus Hackett has won
more hearts than she knows. For her sake,I
will lead you straight and true.”

His manner more than his Words affected
each one of the trio; for once they believed in
what he said.

“ Lead on,” said (‘anyon Dave, simply.

He did lead the way—along the ridge to the
base of Camel’s Hump, and then upward where
no horse could go. The left their animals in a
ravine and )ushcd on. a ways up, up; and over
chasms an rocks where a single false step
would cause a fatal fall.

Judge Parmenter was weary before that
tramp was ended, but Incognito seemed tireless
and Brad and Dave Were accustomed to such
wild life.

The night was two-thirds gone when the
guide paused in a gulch.

“ Here we rest,” he said.

“ There must be no rest until ’Gus is found,”
Canyon Dave declaiwl. “I dare not leave her
through the coming day in the hands of Captain
Nevada.”

“ Nor me,” added Brad.

” Be calm,” said the unknown. “You are al—
together too hasty. You would not have me
lead you boldly into the cave to face the thirty
road-agents and die like bullocks in a pen, Would
you?”

“Not that, but my heart cries out fur my
darter,” said Brad, sighing. “Poor ’(lus! poor
Gus!"

“ Be calm l” repeated Incognito. “It falls to
the lot of the lowly and despised to save her.”

" How does ithappen you so well know where
their cave is?” Parmenter suspiciously asked.

“How do you know where your own house
is?” was the quick retort. “L}t the answer——
because you have been there before. Enough
of useless talk. The cave is not far away, and
1 will at once go to reconnoiter. Hope for suc-
cess, but be prepared for failure. In this gulch,
you have an excellent chance to secrete your-
selves, and if you are wise you need not be dis-
eovvred.” ‘

He waved his hand around him, and all silent-
ly admitted what he said. The center of the
gulch was rough and rocky, but both slopes
were covered with thick, short ines and, in
many places. near the rocks which in places
made low cliffs, with climbing vines.

Surely, there was room enough for hiding.

“Secrets yourselves in some place when I
am gone,” resumed the unknown, “and there
await my return. “’hen you hear the bark of
a wolf, thrice sounded, answer, and I will soon
be with you.”

So v 9 further words were said. and then 1n-
cognito climbed the bank and vanished from
their sight in the darkness. Once, Canyon
Dave t0ok a step to secretly follow him, but be
resisted the impulse and went with the others
to the shadow of the pines.

There they lay and awaited the return of their
ally, but the hours were on and Incognito came
not. They waited until the darkness shrunk
snllenly away before the coming of the sun;
and then daylight crept into the gulch and Old
Sol kissed the highest peaks of Camel’s Hump,
but the unknown was still absent.

And then the conviction settled upon the trio
that they had been deceived-perhaps. that the
expedition to the Hump had been all a farce
originated by Incognito to g in his liberty.

In thus thinking. however, they were mis-
taken, for Captain Nevada had home his pris-
ouers to a cave not half a mile away.

A wonderful retreat was this lair of tho
road-agent, spacious and convenient, and once
there he consigned each captive to a proper
place.

Soon after, one of his men came to him as he
was striding toward his private room.

" “'ell, Trueaxa, what is it!”

“ Beg yer parding t'ur interruptin’, cap’n, but
I kin put yer on track 0’ a lively secret of you
wdl listen ter me.”

“ Come to my room, then.”

Trueaxe went—the runder has already recog-
nized the man from Coyote Clitf~and in a little
niche of the cave which Nevada had iiicely fitted
up for his own use, he sat down to tell what
had been working in his brain all the way up
the mountain. '

“Ca ’n, one 0’ them critters orter knowed
me wal), but, somehow, he didn’t. He has see’d
me afore, an’ 1 kin tell you summut about
him.

“ Which one is it?”

“ Harper, is his name, Tom Harper, 0’ ’Frisco.
That’s whar he belongs. I’ll tell you ther
racket. Sixteen year ago, he stole a gal ter
make a big stake in ther money line, but luck
went dead ag’in’ him, an’ a few Weeks ago he
found his only he“ fur Thor fortune was ter pro-

Mountain.

 

 

 

duce ther heiress. Did he do if! Wal, he tried
ter, but the' heiress had swung around ther
planet 9. bit, an’ ther only g-lew Harper could get
was that she was at Silva- Spur. He. found cut
dead sure that she was really ohe o’ ther gals
knowed as Jedge l’armenter‘s daughters, but
which one he couldn’t l'urn. He come ter SilVer
Spur ter find out.”

“ We!!!”

“ Wal, I reckon he has gi’n up ther game an"
slung ther grappin’-irons at another craft. fur
hyar we see him towin”(1'us Hackett to“ uni
’F‘risco on ther jump.”

” Very true, but what is all this to me?”

“ Ain’t thcr a chance ter make a raise?”

“ How 3"

“ Why, this hyar Harper gets plenty o’plums
when he trots in his heiress; why can’t you put
yourself to ther fore, and take. ther prize-i"

“ By Jupiter! there is something in this,”
Nevada acknowledged. “ I think—”

He paused as another man suddenly strode
into the apartment. This man presented a
singular appearance. The fact that he was
blood-stained was nothing new, but his blood
shot eyes and white face rather startled ,
Nevada.

“ Hallo. Miguel," he said, startin u ,“ what’s.
the trouble! Haven’t had an attae o -—of any—
thing fatal, have you t”

“ l’m all right,” sullenly answered the man.
who was none other than Miguel Perez. “ I
have come to explain something.”

“ Blaze away. ’

“I have trought a

“ Aha! W'ho is be.

“It isn’t a man, at all. lt’sn woman, and
one of Judge Parmenter's daughters.”

" What 4”

Miguel repeated what he had said.

“ Well, I’ll be hanged!” mutterul Nevada.
“ \Vhy did you bring her?“

Perez glanced at Tom Trueaxe.

“Send him away and I will tell you.”

Tom was (lismiSsed, to return at some future
)eriod, and then Nevada went to one side and

rought a flisk of whisky to the Mexican. The
latter had, howwer, dropped into a chair, and
with his face buried in his bands, was shivering
like a leaf in a gale.

“ Come, man, brace up!” said Nevada,slapping
him on the. back. “ You are sick, or something
of the kind, but this stuff will put new life into
you. Drink and be merry.”

“Merer I shall never be merry!” groaned
Perez, flinging 11 his hands despairing! '.
“How can I thin , or slee ,br eat, or drin .
after this? I can see her sti l, the blood on her
white hands. her face set and still, her life for-
ever gone! But, I avenged her. Yes, I sprung
upon the demon, bore him to the ground, and
struck him so! and so! and so!”

The wretched man had arisen to his feet, and
with his bloodshot eyes fixed on vacancy, saw
again that fearful tragedy in the timber, and at
the 01038 of his wild address, he made a motion
as though driving home a knife.

His disordered clothing, his disheveled hair
and his wild eyes clearly revealed the truth to
Captain Nevada. He gently patted his mad
follower on the shoulder.

“There, there!” he soothingly said. “ think
no more about it. Vengeance has been your».
and now all is well."

“ l stabbed him five thoasand times!” Perez
asserted.

“You did right,
Nevada.

“ But she is gone, forever gone!” and with
these words the Mexican again sunk into a
chair, and began to sob and moan.

Considerany perplexed, the captain went
outside to question his men who had remained
at the cave. They said that, an hour before,
Perez had arrived at the placo bearing a girl in
his arms, she having fainted at the cave door. He
had at the time seemed sane enough, butsince
then had half of the time been muttering and
acting very strangely.

Nevada perceived that some terrible occur-
rence had unsettled his follower’s mind. He
went back to him and found him still sitting in
the chair, but all his efforts to arouse him from
his wandering mend proved unavailing.

Consequently. he administered a sleeping—
powder which soon put his troubles temporari v
aside, after which he was conveyed toa couch
and comfortably arranged.

Returning from his really kind work, the
outlaw chief encountered an old woman who
acted as housekee )er for his wild band.

“Well. Judit,” 6 said, “what is this I hear
about a girl brought into the cave?” ‘

“ I have seenno girl,” she nnswvred, “nor do ‘
I care to see one. I hate women l”

“I know your charming disposition, Judit,
but, to abandon the previous subject, since
you say on know nothing about her, let me
add that have also brought a girl here.”

“Are you mad 2*" she asked, harshly.

“Not yet. Judit. There, we will argue this
case of whether ’tis best to love or hate. anon.
All I care to say now is that the girl I have
brought is to be my wife and the queen rf the
hand. You must treat her with respect, to
please me, Judit. Will you t”

 

prisoner to the cave.”
'I

perfectly right,” said

 

 

Canyon
“ I suppose I can," was the surly reply.

ing, and he passed on.
g (fl-IAI’Tl'll’. XXXIX.
Tun CAI’TIVES OF THE CAVE.
’(li‘s I‘IAi‘KETT had been treated with unex—

pectin) geiitleil/css during the journey up thoj

mountain, but had she known that it was all
dome by the running Captain Nevada With a
definite object in View. she would have been

less grateful for his kindness in keeping away I

from her side.

Once in the cave, she was taken to a. little ‘

chamber of rock which had been so well formed
by nature that the addition of a. door of pine

had served to make a prison of passable sin.

curity.

Left alone, she proceeded  make the host of
her situation, and sat down in a rude (Eiluh‘ to
reflect.

In the first lace. she was the (‘nptch of Ne-

vada, and the act that he had before attempted ‘

to abduct her was proof that he would hold fast

to her; while‘ Harper, Siwtooth Sam and Ben ‘
Tubbs, who, if not her friends. were, at least, .

her defenders. were in an cquall y bad plight.

There was, however, some hope of rescue. It
had been arranged that Canyon Dave and her
father should follow her from Silver Spur. and
she. had a good deal of faith in their skill and
sagacity. _ _ I

She would not despair while this hope rc—
maiued. '

In the midst of her reflections, the door
opened. and a. woman entered. She was old
Judit, but as ’Gus had not before seen her, she
now looked with interest. .

All t e bright days of the woman’slifc .had
gone past, but, though to all appearance sixty
years of age, she was still erect and muscular

of figure, while her face had a power, savage i

will and unfeeling expression which would have
discouraged one who had less at stake.

’Gus, howwer, only remembered that she
was a woman, and that, on her Own part, it
was imperativer necessary that she escape at
once.

J udit looked at her as though she was a horse
on exhibition, and uttereda sound which was
more of a grunt than anything else.

But ’Gus arose quickly and went to her side.

“ Have you Come to take me away ?” she
asked, with the mast affecting smile she could
summon.

“Um!” muttered the woman. staring at her
as though astonished at the audacity of the
question. _ .

"Won’t you be my friend?" continued ‘Gas,
determined not to be discouraged. " You are a
Woman, and you must feel for one of your Six
who is in trouble.” ,

“ I don’t care that for their troubles!" qiioth
Judit, snapping her fingers. “I hate Women.
It was a woman who made me an outcast and

a beggar. Bah! I wish they Were all in iron—
ble, the deceitful wretches! I hate ’em, I hate
’ein!”

And the speaker shut her teeth—they were as
well reserved as her body—with a. snap.

“ at, if you have suffered wrong, you know
how to pity others. I am a helpless girl, here
through no fault of my own, and where you
were when your enemy began to strike at you.
Think of it! Surely, you will not see me
wron ed?”

"I ou’t I? Hal ha! you don’t know old
Jiidit. I tell you I hate all Women. 1 think
you are the worst of all. You have a handsome
face, and that is a sin. IVouldn’t We make a.
bean pairi—you so young and pretty, and I,
so 0] and ugl .”

With the last word the bag wrinkled her face
until one feature seemed to roll over upon the
other and only her eyes retained their cold, un-
feeling glitter. -

“Time marks the face, Judit, but the heart
may still be young and-:-”

“Bah! you preach, and I hate preichers. I
hate all women and I hate you; and 1 would
tear out your eyes only good Captain Nevada
says you are to be his bride. Ha! ha! ha i”

“ Heaven forbid l” exclaimed ’(ius.

“Preach! preachl preach!” sheared Judit.
“Oh! I hate you royally. But, I remember—I
came to see that you were comfortable. lt‘s
little I care whether you are or no, but good Cap-
tain Nevada would have it  He is a man,
and a nobleman, too; though he would never
have brought you here if he had been in his
right mind. But you are comfortable—0h! yes,
too comfortable to please me.”

The last words were ut’cred from the door-
way. for Judit was in retreat, and amid her
muttering she closed the door and ’Gus was
again alone.

I She was disappointed at the result of her of-
forts, but it was not in. her nature to be discour-
aged. If only time was given her, she felt sure
that she could make an imprcsshn on Jndit. Evi~
(lonely, the woman was slightly deranged. and

some wrong of her earlier years still rankled in :

her heart, but this Very knowledge must, be
bro ht into use to snf‘v-ll her. i
In e midst of such thoughts, the door again

made a change of garments since his return to

some.

“ I bet: your pardon for intruding, Miss Hack—
ett,” he said, with a profound b0w, “ but when
I say that I came for your own good, you will
find it easy to forgive me, I think."

“Are you so anxious as that to oblige mes"
‘Gus asked, quickly.

“I really am, Miss Hackett.”

Dave, the Man of the Mountain.
1 opened and Captain Nevada entered. He had i
“Enough said, then,” added Nevnia, laugh-J _
the cave and certainly looked remarkably hand- ;

" You can accomplish all by returning me to ‘ _ .
‘ could they climb from the pit; and when the

my home, sir.”
" Ha! ha! You are quite facetious. IVell,
I‘m not going to be mean about a small matter,

27

 

“I’m afraid we are doomed,” said Harper,
uneasily.

“ Wal, ther outlook is durned jubo‘lis; I’m
free ter admit that,” said Sawtooth Sam.

Ben ’i‘ubbs said nothing, but wrestled wifh'his‘
bonds in a fiei'Ce fashion. There could be no
doubt of Nevada‘s earnestness in this case, ard
B-n was not yet ready to die.

Still the water ured in, arising to their .
ankles, and they he (I an earnest consultation. :
it was wasted breath, for they were helpless as
children. Their bonds could not he moved, nor

water reached their months they must die, for

> they had no means of swimming.

and some day, after our Wedding, we will run i .
,tiiicliud their breasts. They siood Close to-

down to the Spur and see Brad and the boys.”

. been a favored bridegroom-elect.

He smiled as brightly as though he had really ‘

" If We wait for that time, We shall never go,” ,

said, ’Gus, defiant”.

“ A mistaken notion of yours, my dear.
of your age frequently make mistakes.”

“ I ,would rather die than to become your
1 wife.‘

“Can’t we compromise the matter?” ques-
tioned the outlaw. thoughtfully. “I want to
marry you, and you want to die.
you what I’ll do.
love always dies young. you knew. Conse-
quently, it you’ll be my wife, and the queen of
tne mountain eagles, for one year, you may
then take poison and go home to Abraham in
orthodox style. Is ita bargain?"

Girls

Now. I'll tell =
I’m desperately in love, but ’

“ No, sir; I will kill you before I will become ,

your wife.”
“ Go away; you don’t mean it."

or to drive the smile from his face; but ’(ius, re-
membering the stories she had heard of his
cruelty, knew that that smile was like Mcphis-
to )helrs’s. and shuddered even while he smiled.

c went away at last, and walked to where,
in a sort of pit in the ground, partly natural

and foot.

bottom of the lace. but Nevada did not intend
that they sbou d suffer from its effects.

down at the edge of the pit, looked down at
them with his old, careless smile.

" Hallo, my Christian friends,” he said, “ how
does the world move, down there?"

"Tears for stand still jest at present,” said
Sawtooth Sam, promptly. “ but We are waitin’
fer it ter turn our an’ spill us out.”

be disappointed. T in Har r, tell me why

you were carrying oil‘ that girl, will you?”

“Not a Word,” answered Harper, defiantly.
“1am in your power and I suppose you will
use it without mercy, but you cannot make me
divulge."

“I wouldn’t give a snap of my fingers for
your ante-morwm statement, you old idiot. I
su pose you let your throbbing heart get the
bu go on your gray head and hankered fora.
youn wife, while the chink of your gold made
Cupi pop up before her like a jack from a. box.
So at it be. 1‘“ send you waltzing over the di-
vide. and the fair ’Gus shall find consolation in
the strong arms and tender heart of Captain
Nevada.”

“0h! dry up!” interru ted Sawtooth Sam.
“ I'd rather hear a coyote owl than a man talk
that way. Come down to solid facts.”

“I will, my amiable Siiwmoth, I will. Do
you know what sort of a place you are in? That
islwhgt I call Death’s wash-bowl. I’ll show you
w iy.

The outlaw went to one side, fumbled about
the wall for a moment, and then, to the ears of
the captives, came a sound like running water.

“ Now,” continued Nevada, "perhaps you see
my little game. I have let on a stream of water
which. in just one hour, will fill the pit to the
top. It is ten feet de-p, and though you stand
on your toes, your heads will still lack four feet
of being above water when it fills. You are
bound hand and foot so that on cannot help
yourselves, and the result will be that, at the
end of the stated time, three drowned ra is will
float o i the top of Death‘s wash-bowl. Do you
Catch the idea i”

“ You are a fiend!" exclaimed Harper, whose
feet Were already dampened by the incoming
water.

:‘That’s about the size of it. Thomas. Well,
this is an old way of mine, and as I know just
how it works, I‘ll bid you good-day and call on
the fair ’Gus. So long!”

Saw ooth Sam hurled a. bold defiance after
, the receding outlaw; but the words brought no
I reply. and the trio foundlthemselves alone.

‘ “Great Peter!" said Saw, “this ’artb is get-
tin’ moist. I reckon I will assume ther perpen~
dickeler ” .

All were of the same opinion, and after

! some twisting and squirming, they managed to

stand erect.

At lbe further side of the pit the water was

 

, i still ruinier Hfundilv. and the depth of an inch

‘ hire; 3 (bit i ed the bottom of the pit.

It was iiiiposnble to disturb his even spirits, l

and partly the work of the outlaws, Harper, ‘
Sawtooth Sam and Ben Tubbs lay bound hand ‘

A' the end of half an hour the incoming flood

gi-llier. almost in despair, but still outwardly
calm. The water as it fell into the pit was
plainly heard, and its mellow music almost mad-
dened them. It was dreadful to be so helpless
in the midst of their strength.

Ben Tubhs called Sawtooth Sam aside.

“ Sam,” he said, “ there may be such a thing
as escape for you, even though I die. If it
should happen so, will you do me a favor?"

“Yes—yes,” muttered the other. '

“Then go to Edna Parmenter and tell her
how I died, and say my last thought was of
her."

“ I’ll do it.”

“And you, Sam?”

" Wal, what of me?”

“ Is there no word you would leave-one one
to whom I could go if the order is reVersed!”

The miner swallowed once or twice before he
answered.

“No,” he finally said, “ their is nobody fer
shed tears fur Sawtooth Sam. Thar might have
been light fur me, but thar w a’t. I hope you’ll
live though.”

0‘ I,

on know my real name, Sam? , I

“Oh, yes; Otis Spra no is it. Boyce, this
move was powerful un ucky for us all. Harm
per loses ther gal, you an’ me loses our lives,
nn’ ther gal— Ah! bovee, I’m a tough ole.

1 rooster, but I shiver fur her.”

The air was damp and unwholesome, at the 3

He thrust a. torch into a crevice, and sitting i

“Your idea is bright and according to the .
laws of nature and art, but it may be you will I

“For her, I have some hope. Canydn Dave
will not rest while she is in trouble.”

Back to Silver Spur went the thoughts of the
speaker, whom we now know to be Otis-
Sprague. He had disguised himself as Ben
Tubbs and gone with Harper to watch over and
guard ’Giis. He had done his best, but now,
with death so near, he thought of that bright.‘
part. of his own life. ,

“Edna! Edna!"

He breathed the words in one great sigh, but ~
it was not cowardly fear which moved him N'-
A hero is not less noble because of a tcniar

: emotion in his life.

 

He was suddenly aroused as the water lappu)
his neck, while Harper, the shortest man in tin
Egrty, broke out in wild cries. Thus far he l'ad‘

me up bravelv, but as the flood touched his
under lip he could bear no more. '

Only one small inch of life!

And the water dashed merrily down into the
death-pit, the music mocking the helpless pris-
oners, and each moment bringing the death lino
nearer. __

CHAPTER XL
CANYON DAVE WALKS IN.

NEAR the southern side of the on laws’ cave a
torch had been all the night thrust in a (-i‘evire.
but it had burned low until only the stump and
a glimmering coal remained. It no longer
lighted the passage plainly, though a dull
gleam was shed for a few feet around.

The place seemed deserted. No sound arose
near at hand, and nearly all of the road-agents
were sleeping in another part of the cave.

Suddenly, hmvcver, '3 dark form appeared in _
the dim light. flitied past, and then dropped
flat on the floor where the shadows were
deeper, all of which went to show that some one
drsvred to escape observation.

This person was Canyon Dave. He had at
last grown tired of waiting in the gulch where
Incognito had left him, and so he had push. d
on and, by chance. discovered the entrance to
the cave; though the only proof he had yet re—
ceived of the fact was embraced in the dying
torch.

Where torches burn, people must surely be,'
and it was not likely there were other dwelleis
on Camel’s Hump than the Nevada outlaws.

Beyond the light he paused to listen. and
then. arising, went slowly forward, knife and .
revolver ready for use.

Not far bad be gone, however, when a man
crossed the passage just in front of him, in. ving,‘
fibrough one running at right angles with the

rst.

Canyon Dave remained unseen, and then;
after a pause, he himself turned and followed
at the heels of the unknown, keeping at are~
spectful distance.

By and by the pursued paused before some-
sort of a door and began removing the bars;
that secured it. The movement brought his
face into plain view and the mountaineer
started.

The man-was Miguel Perez.

The discovery itsle did not surprise Dave,

t

l

28

Canyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain.

\r.» -

 

 

for he had an d his connection with the
band before that night, but a eat change
seemed to have taken lace in the ficxican.

His clothin was in isorder, his hair stood but
like bristlesfiiis face was deathly ale, and in
his eyes was a wild gleam which t e observer
could not understand.

The view was but brief, however, for Miguel
threw open the door and assed inside.

A suspicion had crosse Dave’s mind and he
strode forward, resolved to know what was in

a that room. Luckily, Miguel left the door ajar,
and looking through, the mountaineer saw, not
’Gus, but Edna Parmenter.

The girl had arisen from a chair, in sudden
alarm, and as she looked at Miguel’s wild face,
the color adu'illy receded from her cheeks
until her pa lor rivaled his own.

She was l‘) dangerous company, for since the
hour when Miguel saw Persi: Riple lying dead
at his feet, he had been a veritable madman.
At times he became calm of manner and showed
his con‘dition only in his personalappearunce;
but the madness was always there, eating away
his brain and life.

It‘ had been a mad freak when, after Persis
had been so avenged bv the death of Carter, he
resolved to abduct Edna, but the work had
been performed with great skill and cunning.

Now, once more face to face with his captive,
he burst into a wild laugh.

“ H ,! ha! my bonny bride, we meet now to
.part no more. that fate has created for each
other shall be one in life and death. Ha! ha!

‘ We will make a brave air, you and 1! I am
the king of the air, air you shall he queen of
the clouds. We will sail away from the top of
a high ak-away, away, iko a mountain
eagle. 9 will bask in the kiss of the sun and
catch the lightning bolt in our naked hands.
The rolling thunder shall be our drum, and we
grill, march, march, from planet to planet. Ha!
ial '

He flung up his arms in imitation of the flap-
ping of Wings, but E ina Could only stand, pale
and silent, and stare at the ominous appearance
beypresented. N 0 one could doubt hisinsanity.

Come,” he continued, “let us no longer de~

‘ lay. The nymphs of the air await our coming
and we will join them without delay. From
this peak we start, and we will sail away
through the blue skies as frm as the birds of the

at.
'k He started forward, but Elna sunk upon her

nees. .
“Oh! mercy! mercvi” she gasped. “In
Heaven’s name, spare me!” t.
The madman answered with a wild laugh,
and extended his arms to Seize her, but at that
r moment Canyon Dave sprung upon him. The
mountaineer had heard and seed all, and at the
critical moment he made the attack.

He skillfully tripped the Mexican and bore
him to the floor, but the victory was not yet
won. The maniac ut forth all is pOWer and
nearly escaped the old, and in a moment more

"- . thgfi were rolling over and over on the floor.

I

i

i

na remained with clasped hands, watching
them fora moment. but she was not of the order

' of human beings who believe in the efficacy of ‘
_ mere Words; she believed that deeds counted

more than anything else, and she caught up
Canyon DaVe’s revolver, which had fallen from
his oelt, and watched for a chance to put it in
his hand. I

The chance soon came; he seized and used it
as a club, and after a few blows Miguel rolled
0 er insensible.

he mountaineer, panting from his exercise,
looked about and saw some cords, and at his ro-
guest E'ina brou, ht them and they were speed-
y used on the imbs of the unconscious mad-
man. -

Canyon Dave stood erect, and Edna caught his
handsand uttered her thanks.

i “ Have you seen ’Gusl" was Dave’s first ques-
:on;

“ No. Is she here?”

“ She should be, but all is uncertain. Nothing
surprises me more than to see you. How does
it happen you are here?"

Edna told how she had been captured—a story

‘ which need not be given here in detail. Suffice
it teeny that Mi uel, flying from the scene of
Persis Ripley’s euth, had chanced upon Miss
Parmenter outside her father’s house and had
borne her to the cave.

During the )journey she had been well treated,
though he bar at times talk (1 wild! , but only
the mountaineer’s timely coming ha saved her
at the end.

“ ’Gus is here,” said Dave, as she concluded,

z “and I must find her; but I will first had you
to the Cave entrance and direct on to Judge
Parmenter and Brad Hackett. They will pro-
tect you.” -

The speaker hastened to retrace his steps; and,
once outside the outla'ws’ den, he showed Edna
where her other friends were concealed in the
pines; then, as she went away, he turned and
went back into the cave.

He must find ’Gus if she was alive.

'This time he took the passage through which
Ml%el had come when on his way to the prison
of ina‘ Parmenter. feeling confident that it
would lead to the interior 0 the place.

 

He had not gone far, however, before a
strange sound was home to his ears. It was
much like the low-drawn twin] of a bound, but
after listening for a while Dave made allowance
for the nature of the subterranean abode, and
pushed on.

The sound increased in volume as be ad-
vanced, and he was not long in deciding that
some human being was crying for help.

One moment he hesitated, but he remembered
that, according to his theory, Otis Bprugue,
alias Ben Tubbs, and his companions, suould be
in the cave if alive, and be increased his pace to
8%?le trot.

urning a point of a rock, a strange scene lay
before him. A brightly-burning torch threw
out its light on a square pit in the ground—the
“ Death’s wash-bowl ” of Captain Nevada—from
which came these cries.

Greatly astonished, Canyon Dave advanced
and saw the bubbling water, and, as though
floating on the surface, three human heads.

These heads, however, gave signs of life, and
from one of the three lusty cries were proceed-
inn.

Poor Harper, however, dipped water every
time he opened his mouth, and nothing but his
fearful danger kept his voice in anything like
decent condition.

One of the silent men was using his eyes more
than his lungs, however, and his face suddenly
brightened.

“Dave! Dave!” he cried, “for God’s sake
save u~ !"

The incantainecr started. His name had been
called, but in an unnatural voice, whilethe light
was not sufficient for him to recognize any of
the three. .

While be advanced to the edge of the pit he
was in turn observed by a man in the back.
ground, who had for some time been watching
the men in the water.

This person was Tom Trueaxe, and he had
laughed iminoderately over Harper‘s distress.
Those frantic cries were music to his depraved
ears.

Now, however, the appearance of Canyon
Dave on the scene put a. now face upon the
matter, and he looked with fresh interest. His
stay at Silver Spur had been so brief that he
now failed to recognize the mountaineer, but be
suspected that he was not of the band.

“What sort of a performance is this, and who
are you?” asked Dave, as he looked down on the
gasping three.

“Don’t you know me? I am O‘is Sprague.”

Dave uttered an exclamation of surprise, and
prostrated himself to act the rescuer, while at
the same moment, unseen by any one, Tom
Trueexe glided toward him.

“ Quick! nick!” gurgled Harper.

Canyon ave seized Sprague by the collar
and beganlifting him from the pit, but at that
moment the creeping outlaw hurled himself
squarely upon the mountaineer’s back.

- CHAPTER XLl.
IN WHICH CAPTAIN NEVADA PLAYS 818 BEST
CARDS.

THE attack of the outlaw was wholly unex-
pected, but Canyon Dave was not a man to be
easily subdued. He realized his danger, won
before he turned his head, but his first effort
was a still stronger pull at Sprague’s collar.
One great effort, and his partner lay high upon
the rock, but, unluckily, still bound.

. “Hold up, right thari” said Tom Trueaxe.
“ My revolver is at your head—”

His words were thrown away, for Canyon
Dave felt the touch of the weapon, but even
that did not alarm him. Quick as a flash he
reached over his shoulder and seized the danger-
ous toy, and then somehow—Trueaxe did not
exactly recognize how it was done—he wlm‘led
over upon his back and faced his enemy.

The outlaw was confused by all th s, for he
had not thought such a thing possible. and he-
fore he could recover his wits he was fairly in
Dave’s grasp and overturned.

Then began the real struggle, for Tom was
strong and resolute, and though Dave clung to
his throat and prcvented any outcry, he found
his work so difficult that he determined to end

It.

Out from his belt he drew his knife, and then,
as he made a quick, sure lunge, Trucaxu’s grasp
suddenly loosened, and he my motionless, and
to all appearances. lifeless on the floor.

As the mountaineer staggered to his feet,
Sprague spoke quickly.

“ The other men-save them, Dave; they are
drowning!”

There was indeed a tr 'mendrns thrashing
from the pit, for Harper was in the grasp of the
flood; but one strong pull landed him on the
rock, and Sawtooth Sam was soon placed beside

im. '

Canyon Dew cut the bonds of the threo, and '

Sprague and Sam sat erect, but Harper lay
pres! rate and breathed stertorously.

“ Et’s mighty good ter git ashore,” said Sam,
:vho seemed proof against all gloomy inclina-

ions.

“ Sprague, old fellow, how is it!” the rescuer
anxiuosly asked.

“ All right, now, but it was a close call. Five

 

inilnu’tes more and we would have been beyond
e p.

“ Ef our legs had b’en longer, our pluckwonld
hev been stronger,” observed Sawtooth 8am,
poetically. '

“ But how came you in such a predicament?"

“All through Captain Nevada’s way of doing
business. He sends his victims over the divide
in a fashion more romantic than pleasant.”

While Sprague spoke, Sam moved to Harper’s
side and shook him soundly.

“ Wake up old man, Wake up i” he said; but
Harper failed to respond to the call, and Sam
looked at Dave and anxiously added: “By ther
Eternal, I’m afeared he has got his last drink.”

“Let be so; he is not worth much trouble,”
was the indifferent reply.

“He must be saved!” Sam declared. “We
don’t want our family circle broke up this way.
Get a stomach—pump or a ’inelic.”

Before any one could answer, footsteps sound-
ed and Edna, Brad Hackctt and Parmenter up
warm].

I “‘Gus! ’Gus!” multered the miner, after a
glance at the group before him. “ Whar is my
leellc gulf”

“ True, true,” said Canyon Da\ 9. “I am
letting valuable time slip past unheeded. ’Gn.
Hacketr must now be saved, and as we are strong
in numbers, we can work more boldly.”

Tom ’l‘rueaxe suddenly opened his eyes.

“ Promise ter spar‘ my life,” he faintly said,
“an’ [‘11 tell you wharsho is.”

Canyon Dave turned on him in surprise. He
had belie,le the man past earthly troubii s. but
the voice was still ting d with earthly strength
and fears. In his face, however, the mountaineer
saw the signs of speedy diesolution.

“I promise,” he quickly said. “No man here
shall harm you.”

Tom gaVe the necessary directions, and then
Dave called on his company to follow him.
Brad, Sprague. Parmcnter and Edna obeyed,
but Sawtooth Sam still hovered over Harper.

When the others were gone he began to roll
him over and over, and his efforts were soon
rewarded by a rush of water from Harper’s
mouth.

Convinced that he would speedily recover,

Sam began to wring the water from his own ,
and he was soon so busily engagi d '

clothing
that he did not see Tom Trueaxe draw a revol-
ver from his belt and level it at the man from
San Francisco.

Deadly aim he took, and Harper’s life seemed
bow-ring on the Verge lctwcen the known and
unknown shores. He pressed the trigger. but
no sound followed. He had forgotten to raise
the hammer. ‘

T is, however; he proceeded ‘to do, but the
click aroused Sawtooth Sam, who sprung for-
nerd and seized his arm.

“ 'Wretoh!" lie crird, “ what Would yer do?”

“ Kill him i” was the sullen reply. “ Oh! let
me have one shot at him! I hate him so, and
he is as big a villain as breathes free air.”

“What do you know about him?"

“ Enough ter send him ter prison. Is child-
stealin’ a crime? Wal, I reckon ’tis, an’ I could
bottle Tom Harper up.”

Sam looked at him earnestly. ’

“See yer,” he said, quickly. “Thar is ill! in
that want a secret o’ child'stealin’ from Hur-

r‘s lips. W hat kin you tell?”

“i kin tell how he stole a child sixteen year
ago ter make a money raise, an’ how fur all
this time he has paid me for keep ther sci-wt.
0h! 1 know Tom Harper, from hoof ter scafp,
an’ I say he is a bad one.”

Before anytling more could be said, Car-yon
Dave and his part y returned, vith ‘Gus Hi-Ckrlt
in their midst. Spragne and Edna walked arm
in arm, and Pnrmenter uttered no reproach,
while Brad Hackett hovered over his daughter.

There was a settled purpose visible on the face
of the mountaineer, and he at area Went to
Her er’s side. I

“ t only remains to make this man speak.
rnd then our work is done,” he said, looking at
Sawtooth Sam’s patient. . , .

“ Let me speak for him!”

The words arese at one side, but when the
startled party looked for the speaker, he “as
invisible. A little beyond. however, was a
startling sight. A dozch of the outlaws stood
in a line, each man viiih a rifle at his shoulder
and the muzzles covering.r our friends.

“You perceive ih t I have the drop.” con-
tinued the Same voice, “and now I will show
myself. If one of you raise a Weapon, in men
wdl tire. Bear this in mind and be vu'se.

Captain Nevada stepped from a niche and
botw-(i mockingly.

“It ines me great pleasure to meet so many
old friends on this joy ( us oceasion,” he said, in
his usual manner. “ I did not expect to be
called upon to trick» a speech, but I want to say
in good, square English. that you are all ml-
coino to my home among the craps, and if I
don‘t make matters hot for you, I am a liar!”

While the outlaw us+d his tongue. Canyon
Dow was otherwise busy. He saw tl al Nowada
bad lhcin completely at his mercy. and that he
Would not show any of that divine article in his
management of the situation. ,

He, however, saw one faint hope of relief.

.._ m 13.“

 

he

Canyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain.

29

I

 

,3 7*

The scene was lighted by two torches which
were thrust into crevices at a point half-way
between the rival ‘Earties. If these torches

ere would be a small hope

were extinguished, tried to win his love, but be turned from new voice; and Sawtooth m stepped to the ' ,
of escape. ’ me 'and married Ruth E-bridge. That blow front. '
Buthow was ittobedonei ruined my life, and made me a wanderer “You!”

The mountaineer resolved to try an experi—
ment. He was a skillful revolver shot, and
had often snuffed candles with bullets: and
it occurred to him that if the torches were not
too firmly secured in the crevices, he might
now plunge the place into almost total darkness.

It was worth trying.

Up went his weapon suddenly and two shots
were fired in quick succession, and in both cases
the torches lea _ from the crevices, but no one
was prepared or what followed.

As one of them touched the rock, a bright
flash leaped up and around, and then followed a
roar and a crash which shook the whole cave
and prostrated the little party by the pit.

Canyon Dave was nearly stunned, but he re-
taioed his mind snficiently to understand that
an explosion of powder had taken place. The
air was full of smoke and dust and total dark-
ness reigned all around.

It was not a time for inaction, however. and
he crept to the nearest torch, which faintly

lowing, and hastened to fan it into a blaze.
filo one appeared to molest him.

He loo ed first of all‘at the quarter where

“Ay, and why not? Listen to me, David
Canton! Twenty years ago I was a widow with
one child, Migue. I met your father and

on the face of the earth, but I had my
revenge. I stole the baby girl born of that
marria e—your half-sister, for you were the
child of Morris Canton’s first marriage—and no
trace of it could be found. A few weeks ago I
called you from the pleasures of the hunt say-
ing that you could find your sister at Silver
Spur, but 1 did not intend to tell you. Instead
I had a sweet revenge in mind—I hoped to w
you to Edna Parmenter, your own sister. My

lans, however, failed, for I cou (1 direct the
ove of neither of on. Oh! I have bated you
both, but when t 0 girl lifted her voice for
Miguel, my son, just now, I resolved to tell all;
Edna is your sister!”

“ What proof can you give of this?" Canyon
Dave asked, in bewilderment.

“ Ask Parmenter if he did not find her on his
doorstone, sixteen years ago, and look for your‘
self to see if there is not a star-shaped mark on
her arm, the brand I out there so long ago.”

“ It is there!” said Edna, faintly. -

“I say it is all a lie!" faintly uttered Tom
Trueaxe. who had not failed to listen. "Then

al is a ’F‘risco heiress, an’ her name is Miriam

I bid ’Gus Hackett, whose real name is Miriam
Brewning, lO beware of Thomas Harper.”
"I’ll look out for her, if on please,” said a

“Yes, I. You see. Gas is a little related to
me. for I am Silas Broumingl”

With these words he cast (3 a wig, and when
he had washed in the water of the pit, a false
beard and a good deal of tan followed suit.

3 .wtooth Sam was really metamorphosed
into Silas Browning.

“i am a man commonly considered as dead.
and I have an elegant tombstone near San Fran-
cisco, but i still live. My daughter, Miriam, was
stolen when a babe, but it took many long years
for me to suspect Thomas Harper. When did.
aided by my femi‘liye‘Physidan, I laid a tra for
Harper. I preten to die, and the will left
was an incentive to Harper to find the child.
As I sue ted, it was he who caused her hbdnc-
tion. ell, I followed him, dis lead as Sew-
tooth Sam, and often in consultation with Cleon,
my faithful negro servant. Both he and I have
hnd some narrow escapes. Once he heard
Harper hire Tom Trueaine to kill him—Clean
—-and only that I wrote Trueaxe a letter warn-
ing him out of town, he would have tried it.”

‘So I would," acknowledged that man, “ but
ply yillainy is about ever. My life is going
ast.

‘

avin

‘ératy

rowning. I kin prove it, too. Why, I‘ve
knowed this woman fur ears. Call her what
you will, she was onc’t knowed as Huldah, an’ .
she stole ther darter o’ Silas Brownin , o’ motioned Browning; “butlwas drawn to'Gus'
’Frisco, ter please Tom Harper. That she Hackett. I helped her now and then, and I
He turned stole is that same Edna Parmenterl” was glad when Canyon Dave showed enwgh
thing: he looked down and saw the lifeless and “80 von have chipped in, my bold Tom,” confidence in me to ask me to be one of her pro—
mangied form of Captain Nevada. He had lost quoth Judit, serenely. “You mean well, but tectors to Ruggles’s Bar. Thomas Harper
the battle in what seemed to be the movement you don't know. I’Ve fooled Iyou, the same as I thought he was putting a false heiress in the
of victor . ave everybody else. Stll , I am Huldah, field then, but, by a strange chance, be selected
Then t e mountaineer turned to his friends. J udit, Incognito, and Manuela Perez. all in om. the real 0116.". _
They were all on their feet, and though badly As for you. you are a cur who stood h and “Well,” said Huldah, alias Jutlt, “if all
« shaken up, were one and all without serious knowed the bones which fell from T omss this explanation and whiningis done,‘Ireckon
injury. Ha r‘s table." I will Circumstances have made me tell
At this moment, however. a woman came run- “ say you stole Miriam Browning,” persisted secrets intendedtn carry to my grave; but it
ning toward them, unconscious that they were eaxe. , may] be as well.” '
not road agents, and a suddeno pairing and clos- ” So i did, but I didn’t give her to Parmenter. 6y released Miguel Perez, Who had grown
ing of their ranks, made old Judit a close pris- No, that babe was left in the care of Brad quiet. and he Deemed willius ‘0 80, b“ I“! eye“
oner. Hackett, sixteen years ago. Do you deny it, lacked the light of reason. . '
She stand at them, dumb with surprise, but, old maul" “Come, mother, come,” he said, as Jndit
suddenly, Tom Trueaxe lifted himself_ou his Brad wiped his forehead,and his voice was paused at the door and looked back. “We will
elbow and pointed at her with one quiverin husk as he answered: go to the top of the highest clifl and sail away,
hand while strange mutterings and excit away, in the air, where the thunder rattles be-

the outlaws had stood, but they were no longer
visible. In their place la a mighty bowlder
which completely‘fllled t e passage, and he
knew they were either crushed beneath it or
walled away on the other side.

away and stumbled over some-

“ Ha r was ofl the trail when I arrived at

Silver pur, so, of course, I obtained no claw,”

 

looks announced some unexpected discovery.

 

CHAPTER XLlI.
a snares ornnvnnanom

Biron] Tom Trueaxe could explain the cause
of his emotion there was a wild bowl on the
other side of the group, and Miguel Peres
bounded toward them with a terrible look on
his face.

Canyon Dave comprehended that his mad
companion in a former battle had in some man-
ner broken his bonds and prepared to meet him.
He stepped forward and tripped him and in a
moment more, aided by Spragne, had him un-
der control.

The mountaineer held his knife at his throat.

“ Be still or l.strike!” he warned.

But Edna sprung forward.

“Spare him 2" she said. “ He is mad and does
not know what he is doing. Tie him, if you
will, but do not harm him.”

“ He is the biggest villain unhung,” Sprague
protested.

“ But you will spare him for my sake?”

“ Brin on the strings and tie him up,” said I
Otis.”his see brightening. “We will not harm
him.

During this time Canyon Dave had not been
blind to other matters. He saw Brad and Saw-
tooth Sam holding J udit, who wildly struggled ‘
to reach Mi uel’s side, and he stepped forward ;
and touch her arm. ‘
“At last,” he said “I know you as you are,
and I rceive that Incognito is a woman I"

Jud s had grown calm as soon as she saw that
Perez was not to be harmed. She now looked
calm] at the mountaineer.

“ our eyesight comes to you very late in the
game,” she sneered.

“I have been blind, but you will remember
that you always concealed your face. You do
not deny that you are Incognito?”

“Even. now you are doubtful. Well,,let it
 a 1m

ver
sister.”

“ Tell me! tell me!” uttered Canyon Dave,
his voice shaking.

“ I Wm. if you will swear that I shall go free
wgh iongler mIsn."

u t, id: ncognito inted to Perer.

“What is hate your” 

“M son."

“A al—”

. “Yes, my son. Come David Canton, do you
angina pledge! I will be as faithful as your-

“ You and Perez shall go free; I swear it.”
“ Then look on your sister!" »

inted to Edna Parmenter.
echoed the whines.

 

ito, the person who summoned
pur, and who can name your

‘ e old woman
fie, my sister

 

‘ partner.

“ reckon it may be as you say. Somebody,
an’ I guess it war you, presented me with a
babby at ther time you say; butlneverknowed
whar it sprung from."

m"; Have you still the clothes which were upon

“ Ev’ry rag,” sighed Hackett.

“ Then there is ample proof there.
all that this irl, known as ’Gus Hackett, is
really Miriam rowning, of clan Francisco. I
stole her sixteen years ago, to oblige Thomas
Harper, who hoped to make money out of the
art. He has been steadily bled all these years
by Tom Trueaxe, so on the whole I think the
bold Tom had better subside!"

And Tom subsided accordingly.

Meanwhile, Harper still lay insensible, and
’Gus and Edna shed tears in each other’s arms.
Neither seemed to take the revelations kindlv,
though it was not hard to guess, from the looks
Canyon Dave and Otis Sprague occasionally
cast their way that they would manage to find
consolation.

“ As for you, young man,” continued Judit,
turning to the mountaineer, “a few more words
of explanation may be necessary. In my inter-
course with you at SiIVer Spur, I have been
actuated by two emotions—hatred for you and
your sister, and actual regard for the girl called
’Gus Hackett. The last was the one bright
s ot in my later life. I hoped to marry you to

Ann, and was as anxious to keep ’Gus away

I tell you

from you. That is wh I tried to make her
think you came to the pur in search of an old
lady-love.”

“ I see.”

“You have some cause to thank me, young
man. I led you to Brad Hackett’s door one
night when I knew Nevada was about to at-
tack. and I eounded the warning by hurlinga
stone against the door. You will remember it.
As for Eldorado E , he never knew a ht of
your sister; the 'r he knew about was firism

rowning, for h d been Tom Trueaxe’s
th 'oined evada’s men, and that
was why I sav him from your handsone night,
and then saved you from him after I had struck
you senseless.” '

“Perha you can tell who killed Eldorado
Eph. on t e ledge," said Dave, in bewilderment.

“ at was my work. pr became danger-
ous; and, to save ’Gus, I killed him and drugged
Lasso Leon and Captain Nevada. When you
looked for the latter, I had dragged him away

‘out of sight.”

“ Is there anything more?” muttered the
mountaineer.

" Well, yes; it was I who wrote the letters to
Judge Parmenter and Edna. reVealing the fact
that the latter was not Parmenfer’s daughter,
and signing Sprague’s name. It was a plot to
leparafe them. so that I could marrv Edna to
you. Now, I’ve told the whole and I’ll go, but

 

neath us, and the forked li min is swith
the clouds. Comel" 8h 8 p y

The strange pair went out, but their journey“
itt e

was short. Going down the mountain a l
later, our friends came upon two bodies which
lay mangled at the foot of a cliff. They were
those of Huldah and Miguel Perez, and it was
not hard to comprehend how they had met
their fate. The madman had tested his theory
of sailing away in the air, and had taken his
mother with him in the deathdeap.

Let us pass over the work of welding the re-~
united links, and, with a glance at the result,
end our story.

Tom Trueaxe died in the cave. and Harper
follovVed him to the dark river in a few days.
though not until he had fullytonfessed. His
exnerience in the pit proved a fatal one.

When Silas BroWning returned to San Fran-
cisco he was accompanied by ’Gus. Edna.
Canyon Dave and Sprague. and a double wed-
ding: soon folloe‘ed. Cleon was among those
present, for of course “Sawtooth Sam” had
sent him home when he made Harper believe he
had murdered him.

Browning was always proud of his success in
playing the part of the rough miner. but he had
been greatly helped by his experience in early
life, which had beenrough and adventurous,
and he had deceived all.

On the whole, his scheme had been a
success. and he liberally rewarded his ph
and Cleoo.

Parmenter missed Edna, but found consola-
tion in Helen and Millicent; but Brad Hacker:
abandoned minin and settled in San Francisco,
where he could a ways be near ’Gus.

The Cantons and the Spra nesstill reside in
the metropolis of the Pacié, end their lives

rest
I ciao

have been peaceful and happy ever since the ‘

day when they bade farewel
m IND.

toSilves-Spur.

 

“Av

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l Deadwood Dick, Tm: PRINCE or ran Rom
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7 The Flying ankec. By (‘0 . P.1ngraham.
8 Seth Jonea. B Edward S. Ellis.
9 Adventures 0 Daron Munchauaen.
)0 Nat Todd. By E. 8. Ellis.
ii The Two Detectives. B AW. Aiken.
.i'l Gulliver’s Travels. B' an Swift.
13 The Dumb S '. By Oi Coomes.
‘14 Aladdin; or, HE Woxmcmrl'l. LAMP.
15 The Sea-(lat. By Captain Fred. Whittaker.
16 Robinson Crusoe. (27 Illustrations.)
'11 Ila! h Roy. By Col. Prentiss Inyaham.
i8 Sin bad the Sailor. His Seven Voyages.
19 The Phantom Spy. By Buffalo Bill.
20 The Double Daggera. By E. L. Wheeler.
"11 The Frontier Angel. By Edward S. Ellis.
22 The Sea Serge.» . By Juan Lewis.
.23 Nick 0’ the lg c By '1'. C. Harbauzh.
2-! Diamond Dirk. By Colonel P. Ingraham.
2.“ The Do ' (Ya itaiu. By Roger Starbuck.
26 ('loven oo . By Edward L. Wheeler.
27 Antelope A be, Tm: BOY Gum Oil Coomes.
28 ufl‘alo Ben. By Edward L'. hecler.

29 he Dumb Page. B Capt. F. Whittaker.

30 Roaring Ralph Roe vvood, ma RICK-
uss Banana. By Barry 8t. Georg;

3i Keen-Knife, PRINCE or run nun. By
Oli Coomes.

32 Bob Woolf. By Edward L. Wheeler.

3.3 The Ocean BIOodhound. H. W. Pierce.

3-i Ore on ‘Sol. By Capt. J. F. 0. Adams.

35 WI 4] Ivan. By Edward L. eeler.

36 The Do Clown . By Frank S. Firm.

3"] The Hi den Lodge. By'l‘. C. Harbangh.

138 Ned Wyldc, rm: Boll Scour. By Texas Jack.

39 Death-Face. 'I'I-uc DETECTIVE. By Wheeler.

40 llovin Ben. By J. J. Marshall.

41 Laauo aek. Bv Oil Coomes.

42 The Phantom Miner. By E. L. Wheeler.

43 Dick Darling. By Ca t. Fred. Whittaker.

44 Battling Rube. By i arry St. George.

45 Old Avalanche. By Edward L. Wheeler.

46 Gianna Bye, m (lawn Sno'r or Tflh‘. Wlwr.
By Capt. J. F'. C. Adams.

47 . i tin ale Nat. By '1‘. C. Harhau h.

48 B ack ohn, 'rur. Rvo-Am-zrrr. By adger.

49 Onlaha 0|]. By Edward L. Wheeler.

60 Burt Bunker, 'rnlc Tuner-m. (1. E. Lasalle.

51 The Do Rifles. By Archie (‘. irons.

52 The Wh te Duil‘alo. By C. E. Lasalie.

.63 Jim Bludsoe Jr. B’yl‘ldward LWheeler.

54 m1 Hazel. B’y Ca t. .F. C. Adannl.

55 Deadly - Eye. TllE 'NKNowN Scour; or, Tm:
BRANDED Bao'rmnooo. By Buffalo Bill.

56 Nick “'hitiien’ Pet. Capt. J. l“. ('. Adams.

57 Deadwood Dick’u Eagles. By Wheeler.

58 The Border King. By Oil Gnomes.

59 (lid Hickory. By Harry St. George.

80 The “'hite udian. Capt. J. F. C. Adams.
'1 Buckhorn Bill. By Edward L. Wheeler.
The Shadow Ship . By Col. P. ingrnham.
The Red Brotherhood. W. J. Hamilton.

Druid? Jack. By T. C. Harbaugh.

H urr cunc. lilll. By Jon. E. Badger. Jr
Single Hand. By W. J. Hamilton.
Patent-leather Joe. Byl‘hili S. \Vnrne.
Border Robin Hood. By uiYnlo Bill.
Gold Rifle. B Edward L. VVlleeh-r.

old le’n (‘ab n.
Delaware Dick.
Mad Tom Western.
DeadWood Dick on ill-ck. By Wheeler.
Hawk-eye Hurry. lly Ull (.‘oomcn.
The Boy Duelist. Hy (‘ol. 1‘. lngrnhmn.
Abe Colt, I'm: CROW-KILLI-m. ii‘y A. W. Aiken.
Corduroy t‘hurlic. By E. .. Wheeler.
“I u»- Illck. liy Cll llllill Mayne Reid.

Sol Gingerfidur lurid-2R. By A.W. Aiken.
Boarbud Roi». By Edward L. Wheeler.
Lightning Jo.
Kit Hart-loot.
Rollo, the Boy Ranger.
ldyi the. Girl Miner. By L. L. Whlwler.
Buck
Dand

easier
Out-we'd

5:556:
m4:

4::
~¢¢

By ()1! (.‘oonles.

ily 'l'. C. Harbaugh.

Hock. By ti. Waldo Brown»,
The and I’irntea. By (not. Mayne. Reid.
PhottKgrarh Phil. B ' E. L.Wheeler.
laiall J In. By Brace ring-llcnnyng.
The Dread Hider. ii ' (i. Waldo Browne.

seamen: 1 a x: 144444-1444
~a:wu:awwo-¢exoauawa

RIVAL Amman.
9‘1 Canada Chet. By Edward L. l‘eelvr.
r 93 The Boy Miners. Bv Edward 8. Ellis.
94 Midn ht Jack. By‘ T. (‘. Harhamzh.
95 The ivalllovera. LieutCol. Haze-Mine.
, 96 Watch-Eye. no: Smnow. lip-E. L. “'heeler.
97 The Outlaw Brothera. By J. J. Marshall.
98 Robin Ilood. By Prof. (Hillel-sleeve.
99 The Tiger ot' Taoa. By (3. Waldo Browne.
100 Deadwood chk in 'lumdvllh-g or. A
Brewer: $1“qu FOR LIBERTY. By Wheeler.
till Jack Hnrkauay In New \ork.
Brlwvhridge llelnynz.
202 Dick Dead-Eye.
108 The Lion ol the Sea. By Col. lit‘IItESfli‘ll.
104 Dead\\'ood Dick’a Device. -‘.theo:l!*l‘.
“)5 01d Rube. 1m: Bum-Ira. (‘apt ll. Holmes.
i08 Old .Frouty. Tm: (llvlnlc. By '1‘. (‘. Harlmngh.
107 One-Eyed Sim. By James L. ikmen.
i08 Daring Davy. By Harry St.(lcorge.
309 Deadwood Dick as Detective.
Edqu 1.. “'lltN-lt-l'.

By Col. Iugrnlmln.

By

B ' Jos. E. Badger, .ir. ‘
By Captain '

By (knit. J. F. (J. Adams. ,
Hy \V. J. llmllilton. .

By Captain J. l". C. Adams. i
By 011 (‘omnt-S. _
Buckram. By (‘spt.'J. F. C. Adams. 3

 

The (.‘aptaln ot‘the (' uh: or. 'i‘m: Yornn ‘
By Brurwhrld e lie-myng.

By 1

—————-——-—-——~———~ -——-———————~H~——a—h——— —

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0 The Black Steed ol’ the Prairies.
Thrilling Story of Texan Adventure. By Bowen.

1 The Sea- evil. By Col. P.1ngraham.

2 The Mad Hunter. By Burton Saxe.

Jack Ho 'le. By Edward L. Wheeler.

The Blue Schooner. Roger Starbuck.

The Mad llliucr. By G. Waldo Browne.

Gilt-Edged Dic . By E. L. Wilt elcr.
Will Somers. THE Boy Dn'rmrrxvn. Morris.
1! III-tang Sam. By Jos. E. Badger. Jr.
The. Branded Hand. By Frank Duinont.
i‘innalnon Chip.
Phil Ho rdy, 'rnr: Boss Boy.
Kiowa (‘hnrlcy . By T. C. Harhaugh.
Tippy, THE Tums. By George Gleason.

5 Bonanza Hill, MINER. By Ed. L. Wheeler.
6 Pica une Pete. By Charles Morris.

7 WII -Fire. Boss or'rmt Row. B Dumont.
The Youn Privateer. By H. ‘ vendlsh.
Deadwoo Dick’s Double. By Wheeler.
Detective Dick. By Charles Morris.
The Golden' "and. By Geo. W. Browne.
The Hunted Hunter. By Ed. 8. Ellis.
Boas Bob, rm: Knm or THE Bom‘nmcxn:
or. Tall: Pswxmmxsn‘s Pm'r. Ed. L. Wheeler.

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The Huaaar (‘a itain. Col. P. Ingmhani. :

b'y r dwurd L. Vi'heelor. .
By C. Morris. ‘

222
223

224
225
I 226
I 227
f 228
r 229

230
23!
232
233
234
235
236

237
238

l
l

-i Sh re Shot Seth. By Oll Coomes. ‘

5 (‘aptain Paul. By (‘. Dunning Clark. 139

ii Night-Hawk Kit. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

7 The Helpless Hand. Capt. Mayne Reid. 240
38 Blonde Bill. By Edward L. Wheeler. l 241
39 Judge Lynch, Jr. B ' 'l‘. C. llarhaugh. I
40 Blue Hinze-a. B ' Fran ’ Dumont. ’ .

«ll Solid Sum.  ward L Wheeler. ' ‘42
42 Handaonle arr . By Charles Morris. ' 243
43 Scar-Face Salli. OllCoomes. i 244
~14 Dainty Lance, mic or Brown By Badger. : ,
45 (‘aptu n Ferret. B' Edward L. Wheeler. ' 245
46 Silver Star, 'rmc Buy mun-r. By (Women. f 246
47 “fill Wildfire. By Charles Morris. 1 247
48 Sharp Sam. By J. Alexanderl’atten. [
-l!l .\ Game of Gold. By Ed. L. Wheeler. . 48
50 Lance and Laaam Bv Ca t. F.Whittaker. . 2
5| l’nuther Paul. ByJos. .. Bad er. Jr. ; 249
.‘.2 "lack Beau, WILL WILDI-‘nuc‘s can; or. i 250
‘VlNNiNO AnAlns'r 0mm. By Charles Morris. . 26'
3'l I'Ingir Kit, THE Boy DEMON. B *0" Conmes. ‘
5! The Stamrd Hunters.  ‘.Whittako-r. ' 252
5.”. Gold Trigger THE SI-on'r. .(‘.llarbaugh. l 253
56 Deadwood [lick of Deadwood; or, L .254

Tm; l'll‘KED PARTY. B Edward L. Wheeler.
.lluke Merry. By (‘ urleu Morris.
Fancy Frank oi Colorado. Buffalo Bill.
The Lost ('aptain. By Whittaker.
The Black Giant.  J. E. Badger, Jr.
New York Nell. By .. L. Wheeler.
Will Wildfire ill the “'ooda. Morris.
Little Texan. By Oll(‘oomes.

Dandy Rock’a Pledge. B (LW. Browne.
Billy Baggage. By ('har es Morris.
Hickory Harry. By Barry St. Ut'Ol‘E’I'.
A an Scott. Tun S'rmunm'r Boy. By Willett.
Deadly Dash. By Jos. E. Badger. Jr.
Tornado Tom. By 'l‘. C. Hnrbnugh.

.i Trump 1‘" rd. By Charles Morris.
lihony Dun. By Frank humont.
Thunderbolt Tom.
Dandy Rock’s Rival.
Bob llockett, THE Boy ilonmfn. By Morris.
(‘uptnln .\ rlzona. lly l‘hilifl: S.\Variw.
The Boy Runaway. By .ient. Perry.
Nohby Nick of Nevada. E. L. Wheeler.
Old Solitary. ByUlll‘mnm-s.

$14$€lbfli€~$$1~l

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The Sen Trailer. By Lie-Ht. ii. ii. .l’o-rry.
\Vild Frank. By l'Jdlvlu-d L. “'Ircrlcr.
Little Hurricane. By ()ll ('r-olnvs.
The Hidden Hand. By ( has: Morris.
The Boy Trnllcru. ilyl‘.m!v_-o-r..ir.
Evil Eye. KIM; or i'i'i'l‘ldi'rllll'l'ljsi or. Twin
Vl‘l/l‘l‘m-ir. or Tim Rlo (iluNIIF. By 1". i"llll(llll.
(‘ool Deatnond. By (fol. Della- Sara.
Fred llalyurd. By ('hnrhs Mtil‘lifi.

9:5!-

Iloh Hoe ett. 'rm: (‘ilAl'KSMA5. By Morris.
Dandy Du rkc. By Wm. B. Hyytcr.
Huii'nlo Billy. By (':Il)t.'l':ly!or. Us. 
(‘aptaln Kit. By Limit. il. l). Perv-yd Sh.
(‘uptaln Mill-1k. By Philip S. \Vul'ne.
Buil'nlo Hill’s Bet. By (‘aplnin Taylor.

HDRIiO‘VI'ii. By Chin'ch Morris.

Little Grit. THE WILD RIDER. By Inumhnln.
.\ rknnuuu'. By '1‘. (‘. llnrlmngh.
Featherweight. By Edward Wine".
The Boy Bedotlilm. By Whittaker.
The Black Hills Jezebel. By \Vlieeler.
Proapect l'cte. By ()ll Cotonou,

The Boy Purds. By Jos. it. Badger. .lr.
Gold Plnlne. Tm: llov BANDIT. Ingmhum.
Deadwood Dick's Doom.
Dark Paul, THE 'l‘Imrn Klyn. By C. Morris
Navajo Nick. Bv'l‘. (‘. ilnrhnugh.

The Boy Hercules. By Olllfooines.
Fritz. rm: Bousn-Bov llmlwrlylc. \\ heeler.
Faro Frank of High Pine. By Ey<tol‘.
(‘rooked ('alc. By Jot-l. E. Budge-r, .lr.

max.
3::
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By Harry St. George. 
Bv (LW. Browne. ‘

Hob Itockctt, THE BANK llruxnn. Morris. .

Ned Tenn lii', Tm-zBonnI-tnlhw. llmhnugh. ‘

DeudWood Dick’a Dream. By Wheeler. ‘

255
258
257
‘25“
 259
1 260
i 261
' 262

263
i 264
| 265
266

267
268

269
270
271
272
273
27-!
g 275
276

277
278

‘ 279
230
231
282
 283

By Wheeler ,

‘ 284
286

286

‘ll2 Dashing DnVc. Byl'hnrles Morris.
2“ Frill ‘0 the Front. By E. L. \\ lwl-ler. .

\i’oll‘gnng, 'rnr. RUBBER or 'l'lii'. Roma.
By ('zlptllin Frederick Wldttnker.
By T. (‘. llnrhnnx‘h.

‘287

‘

By Ingraham.
KING or m Moumun. By

Grit, the Bravo Sport.

Ozark Alf
Edward Wille t.

Dashing Dick. By 011 Coomes.

Sam Charcoal. By Charles Morris.
Snoozer, 'I'Iul: Boy Sam. By E. LWheeler.
Dusky Darrell. 'PRAPPIR. By E. Emerson.
Little Wildfire. By 01] (loomea.

Crimson Kate. in: Gnu. Truman.
Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

The Yankee Rajah. By C. D. Clark.
Pl ucky Phil. By'i‘. C. Harbaugh“.
Gold-Duet Dirk. By E. L. Wheeler.
Joe Buck, ofAugela. By. A'W. Aiken.
old Rocky’s ‘ Boyeea.’ Buckskinfialn.
Shadow 8am. ByC-harles Morris.

A polio Bill, 'rm'. 'i‘luII. Tonamo. By lid-
wand L. Wheeler.

0 e . ‘ ' 77 ‘
in"..:::;..::§.:.:.:.2?t;-. a...“ .2:
The Parson Detectivn ByOll Coomes.
The Gold-seeker Guide; or Ta: Loo-r
Mot'N'I'AIN. By Captain Mayne Reid. _
(‘ycloue Kit. By Edward L. Wheeler.
Bill Bravo and Hill Bear Portia.
By T. (I. Harbaugh.

The Two ‘ Blooda’. By Charles Maria.
The Diagniaed Guide. By Oil Coonea.
sierra Sam. By Edward L. Wheeler.
Merle. the Middy. By ('ol. P.1ngraham.
Giant George. By Buckskin Sam.

Old Grizzly and His Peta. By Captain
“ Bruin" Adams.

Sierra Sam’s Secret. By E. L. Wheeler. .
IVliIo Homer. By ("apt. Fred. Whittaker.
Midshipman Mutineer. By huraham.
Light-house nge. By J. F. 0. Adams.
Dick Dashaway. By Chas. Morris.
Sierra Sam’s Pard. By E. LWheeler.
The Half Blood. By Edward S. Ellis.
(‘aptain Apollo. By T. C. Harbaugh.
Young Kcntuck. By Capt. Mark Wilton.
The Lost Hunters. By Capt. Adams.
Sierra Sam’s Seven. By E. L. Wheeler.
The Golden Harpoon. llyR.Starbuck.
Dare-Devil Dan. By 011 Coomes. ,
Fergus Fearnauuht. By Geo. L. Aiken.
The Young Sleutha. By Charles Morris.
DeadWood Dick’s Divide. By Wheeler.
The. Floating Feather. By ingraham.
The Tiger Tamer. By Capt. Whittaker.
Killb’nr, the Guide. By Ensign Chariot
Dudley Warren, (of the Engineer’s Corps.)
The Bucknkin Detective. By T. t'.
Iiarhaugh.

Deadwood Dick’u Death Trail.
Edward L. Wheeler.

The Gold Ship; or. MERLE. Tm: Cox.
Iilzrlxrn. By (‘olom-l Prentiss lngrahnm.
Blizzard Hen. By Captain Mnrlr Wilton
The Huge Hunter. By Edward S. Ellis.
Nllnknkin Mike. By Oil (homes.
Jumbo Joe. By Edward L. Wheeler.
Jolly Jim. By Charles )iorn‘s.

\rlzonu Jack. By Buckskin Sam, (Major
Still] 5 Hull.)

Merle Moor-’1! (Tulsa; or. THE CHAN!
or Tm: Gm." Slur By (‘ol. Prentiss lngraham.
Detn er Doll. By Edward L. \Vheeler.
The Th rce Trap H‘rfl; or, 'l‘nr: MoUNTAlll
Mi Karina. By Major .. W. (mason.
0ld “'inch, rm: RiFidi.‘ leo.
Harliaugh.

Merle Montc’s Fate: or, PEARL. 'rnr.
l’mns's PRIDE. By ('01. Prentiss Ingraham.
Denver Doll's Victory' or. Sll'u. AND
CROSH-BONBB. By Edward L. Wheeler.
The Typo Detective ' 0r. Winn. m
Boy TllAlP. By Edward illett.

l ndian Joe or. Tn: Wan-a Sun." or ran
HlLLB. By Maior L. W. Carson.

The Sea Marauder. or.MlnLl Mom‘s
imam: By Colonel Preniisa lngraham.
Denver Doll’s Decoy. By Edward 1..
Wheeler.

Joah the Boy 'l‘endemot or. Tn
WILD an or Bumlu) Baa. Captain
Mark Wilton.

Bill Blue-Eye-
Rlo mot. By 

Ily

B!

By T. C.

Y

m BOY hovaa or n-
Prentiss Ingraham.

A new tum every track.

The Half-Dime Library is for sale by al

1 Newsdealers, live cents per copy. or sent by mfll ea

2l.'. t‘nptnln Hullo-t.

216 Rimle Bill. 'mr. Plus”: or my. Brim-l. v
By ('01. l'l’t‘liiirlh ingrnhnnl. 3

2I7 ('uptnin (‘rack-Shot. By E. L. Wheeler.

‘2l8 Tiger Tom. Tun Texan Tnmum. (‘omm-s.

219 Dcnpnrd, the Duelial. Byi’. S.Wame.

220 Toln Tn n ncr. By Charles Morris.
22! Sugar (‘oatcd Sam. By E. i.. “'ln‘clgtr.

lrecelpt of six cents each.

BEADLB & ADAIB,

[ Publishers, ” William StreetI New York.

 

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OOIOIIOI Prentice lngraham, Charla Mon-in, Major Dangerfield Burr,

Alb." W. Aiken, 0“ 0001119», 1‘. C. Harbauzh.

Capt. l'red. Whittaker, (‘. Dunning Clark, Philip h “'arne,

Capt. Mayne Reid, Bnfl‘hlo Bill, “'illiam R. Eyater,

Joseph E. Badger, In, White Beaver, . Anthony P. Morris,

Edward L. “'heeler, Burk-kin Sam, Lannce Pom

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98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. .

 

 

Lfiiswi Pi.  iiilzjinuyl i

 

'1 A Hard Crowd. By P. S. VVarne.

2 The Dare-Devil. By Col. Ingrubam.
3xKit Carson, Jr. By Buckskin Sam.
4 The Kidnapper. By P. S. Warue.

5 w Fire-Fiends. By A. P. Morris.
6 d ' '

V gut Hob'. By E. L. Wheeler.

7 . tin-Notch. T“: By Oil Coornes.

8 I meanss 

story 0 ans. ,Uapt. me Reid.
‘ 9 Han ' ‘ y. B)? Samuel Lover.

10 , has Fulton Ponies Sn.

. dshipman Easy. Capt. Marryat.

_ .‘ oath-51101.. By Mayne Reid.
"- ' By'Dr. 11.81. Robinson:
a. By Ned Buntline.
r-S ayer. By G. Aimard.
te Wizard. Ned Buntline.
By Dr. J. H. Robinson.

  
 
 

16 Th
17 Nightshad’ewts B Ned B “
1’ Sea a , untli'

eon-tr ye Aim
:9 TheThe Hande at 33y. 3y Aimard.
’ a ter° 0
III Ouruw‘s FArngr Gustaveuglmard.’ 3’
22 Whitelaw. y Dr. J. H. Robinson.
23 The Red Warrior. By Ned Buntline
.24 Prairie Flower. By G. Aimard.
25 The Gold~Guide. By F. Johnson.
28 The Death-Track. By F. Johnson.
27 The Spotter-Detective. By Aiken.
28 Three-Fingered Jack. Tar: ROAD-
AomorrnrRowns. B JosephE. Badger. Jr.
29 Dick. an FARO KING; or,
hm Cmn‘s Cam. By Philip S. Warne.
BOGospelGeo . ByJ.E.Badger.
81 The New Yor Sharp. By Aiken.
82 B’hoys of Yale. By J. D. Vase.
33 Overland Kit. By A. W. Aiken.
84 Mountain Rob. By Aiken.
35 Kentuck. the Sport. By Aiken.
36 un Dick. By Albert w. Aiken.
37 H rl. the Hunchback; on, Tm:
 or Sm By Dr. J. H. Robinson:
3 Velvet (1. By A. W. Aiken.
89 The Russian Spy. By Whittaker.
kg? The L0 HairedB J‘Plgardsg' OR,
. ARTARS or ran: a. on. Badger. Jr.
41 Gold Dan. By Amym w. Adam.
42 California Detective. By Aiken.
43 DakotaDan. By Oll Coomes.
44 Old Dan Rackback. Oll Coomes.
45 Old Bull’s Bye. Joe. E. Badger, Jr.
46 Bowie-Knife Ben. By Oil Coomes.
47 Pacific Pete. By Joe. E. Badger, Jr.
48 Idaho Tom. By Oll Coomes.
49 TheWolfDemon. By A. W. Aiken.
50 Jack Rabbit. By J. E. Badger, Jr.
51 Red Rob. By Oil Coomes.
52 Death Trailer. By Buffalo Bill.
58 Silver Sam. By Col. Bella Sum.
54 Always on Hand. By P. S. Warne.
55 The Scalp Hunters. Mayne Reid.
56 The Indian Mazeppa. By Aiken.
57 The Silent Hunter. P. B. St. John.
58 Silver Knife. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.
59 The Man From Texas. By Aiken.
60.Wide Awake. By Frank Dumont.
61 Captain Seawaii'. By Ned Buntllne.
62 Loyal Heart. By Gustave Aimard.
63 The W Whale. By Aiken.
84 - ht. By J. E. Badger, Jr.
85 The Red ah. By F. Whittaker.
66 The Mayne Reid.
87 The doc . By J. E. Badger.
68 The hting pper: or, Kn
unam- r0 m recur. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams
89 The Irish Cagtain. By Whittaker.
70 Hydrabad. y Dr. J. H. Robinson.
71 Captain Cool-Blade. J. E. Badger.
72 The Phantom Hand. By Aiken.
78 The Knight, of the Red Cross:
at. Tun MAorchN or GRANADA. Dr. J. H. Robinson.
74 Captain ofthe Rifles. Mayne Reid.
W'Oentleman Geor By Aiken.
76 The Queeg’s :yskageer 3"”
m. m Puma Ainas'r. rge A .
z; ghhe Fresh lei! Frisco. By Aiken.”
e Myste ous Spy. By Gralnger
79 Joe Phenix. Ponies SPY. By Aiken.
80 A Man of Nerve. By P. S. Warne.
81 The Human Tiger. By Aiken.

or,

82 Iran Wrist. By COL T. H. Monetary.
83 Gold Bullet Sport. By Buffalo Bill.
84 Hunted Down. By A. W. Aiken.

Astrange '

 

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IlPl B! All! LY-l-___._.

 

 

85 The Cretan Rover.

86 The B'

or m Woons.

87 The Scarlet Captain.

88 ‘B

By Ingraham.
Hunter ; or. THE QUEEN

y the author of “ Silent Hunter.“

Dolle Sara.

ig George. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
89 The Pirate Prince. By Ingruham.
90 Wild Will.
91 The Winning Oar.
‘ 923113an Bill.

By Bm-kskin 83111.
By Aiken.
By Dangorflold Burr.

98 Captain Dick Talbot. By Aiken._

94 Fredahce,
95 Azhort.

By Col. P. Ingraham.
THE AXMAN. By A. P. Morris.

‘96 Double-Death. By F. Whittaker.

9'7 Brome

98 The Rock Rider.

Jack. By A. W. Aiken.
By Whittaker.

99 The Giant Rifleman. Oil Coomos
l 00 The French Spy. By A. P. Morris.
101 The Man from New York: or,
Tm: ROMANCE or A Rica YoONo WOMAN. By Aiken.

102 The Masked Band. Goo. L Aiken

103 Merle. the Mutineer.

lngraham.

104 Montezuma. the Merciless: or.

Tun Emu: AND THE SERPKNT.

By Col. 1‘. Ingraham.

105 Dan Brown of Denver, Tm:

ROCKY MOUNTAIN Dirrncrxvn. By

Joe. E. Badger, Jr.

108 Shamus O'Brien. Col. Dolls Sum.
107 Richard Talbot of Cinnabar;

or,Tanaornnns
108 The Duke ofDiamon

ormRmnHAm. B AW.Aiken.
; or, 1m:

Fromm or CAiicu'rrA. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.

109 Captain K d.

1 1 0 The Silent

1 1 1 The Sm
Sxmm‘s Cantu. By
Joe Phenix, PRIVATE Dmc'nvr;

112

or, Tm: Luann or run SumON Kins.

By Col. lngralmm.

eman. By Herbert.

ler Captain; or, THE
ed Buntline.

By Aiken.

113 The Sea Slipper. J. H. lngraham.

1
Tan
1
1
1

6 Black Plume.
hingDandy.

4 The Gentleman from Pike: or,
3031' or m CANYON. By Philip S. Warne.

1
(i
:5 The Severed Head. Whittaker.
1

By Col. Ingraham.
By Major Burr.

118 The Bur lar Captain; or, Tm:
FailingSIrAn. Byho . J. H. Ingraham.

ama Joe.

By J. E. Badger.

120 The Texans y. ByN M.Curtis.

121 The Sea Ca at.
122 Saul Sabberday.

By lugrabam.
Nell Euntlint'.

123 Alapaha, the Squaw. F. Johnson.

124 Assowaum. the Ave
THE Doom or ran: Daemornas. By li‘mnc
125 The Blacksmith Outlaw;

MERRY ENGLAND. By Harrison Ainsworth.

r: or,
J ohnsonq
or,

1

1 2 6 The Demon Dueist. By Monsiery.

127 Sol Scott.

By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

128 The Chevalier Corsair: or. Tun

Hammer: or HA'mnn. B
129 Mississip i
130 Captain it
131 Buckskin Sam.
132 Nemo, King

Tm: ROMANY (imL'a VIZNGEANUE.

the author of “ Merle.“
ose. By Ed.Wi.lett.
olcano. By Aiken.
By (301. lngralmm.
of the Tramps: or,
By Whittaker.

133 Body. the Rover. By W. Carleton.

134 Darkie Dan.
135 The Bush Ran er.
186 The Outlaw-
137 Long Beard.
138 The Border Bandits.
139 Fire-E e.

140 The
George Walker.

By Col. Ingraham.
By Johnson.
unter. Johnson.
By 01! Coomes.
Johnson.
By C l. P. Ingraham.

hree Spaniards. By

Equinox Tom. By J. E. Badger.
142 Captain Crimson. By Major Burr.

143 The Csar's S .

By Moustery.

1 44 The Hunch of NotroDame.

By Victor Hugo.

145 Pistol Pards.

By W. R. Eyster.

146 The Doctor Detective; or, Tm:

Mrs-mar or rm: 00me Corr-m. By Geo. Lemuel.

147 Gold Spur.

By Col. P. Ingraham.

148 One-Armed Alf. By Oll Coomes.
149 The Border Rifles. By Aimard.
150 BlRubio Bravo. By Col. Monste y.

151 The Freebooters.

By Almard.

152 Captain Ironnerve. 'rmc COUN-
rmnmn Omar. By Mannaiiuke Dey.

153 The White Scalper.
154 Joaquin. rm: SADDLE KING.

By Almard.
By

Jose 11 E. Badger Jr.

15The

Corsair Queen. Ingraham.

156 Velvet Face. By Major Burr.

1 6 7 Konrad.

um MAmUKr. By

CoL Thomas £10 or Monste

158 The

159 Red Rudiger.
160 Soft Hand. Share.

oomed‘Bosen. Dr. Powell.
By F. Whittaker.

By ave-r.

 

161 Wolves of New York. By Aiken.
162 The Mad Mariner. By lugrabam.
163 Ben Brion. By Dr. J. H. Ri-binson.
164 The King’s Fool. By C. D. Clark.
165 J oaquin. the Terrible. Badger.
166 Owlet, the Robber Prince: or,
Tun UNKNOWN HIGHWAYMAN. By Septjmus ltUrbau.
167 The Man of Steel.‘ A. P. Morris.
168 Wild Bill. By Col. P Ingralntn.
189 Corporal Cannon. THE MAN or
Fonrv Dunne. By Colonel Thomas Boyer Monetary
1'70 Sweet William. By Jus. E. Badger.
171 Tiger Dick. nu: MAN or quit:
mom Hum. By 1mm. s. Wame.
172 The Blac Pirate. By'lngraham.
173 California John. By A.W. Aiken.
174 Phantom Kni hts. By Whittaker.
1’75 Wild Bill’s rump Card. By

mailid) “13ml?” B C M W lto
y apt. . l n.
. 177 Don Dim-"By Col. P. ingmnain.
178 Dark Dashwood. By Major Hall.
179 Conrad. the Convict; or. Wm;
H! GUILTY? By Prof. Stewart Glide-mime, LLI).
180 Old '49. By Joe. E. Badger, Jr.
181 Scarlet Schooner. By Ingmham.
182 Hands Up! By Wm. R. Eyster.
183 Gilbert. the Guide. C. D. Clark.
184 Ocean Vampire. By P. lngrahaui.
185 Man Spider. By A. P. Mom's.
186 The Black Bravo. Buckskin Sam.
187 The Death’s Head Culrassiers:
or, BRAVE or Au. Bmvrs. By Ce. t. FredWhittalrer.
188 The Phantom aseppa. By

Mnior Dan arfleld an.
so vitae B 's Gold Trail: or, T
DaspImApo DozaN. By 001. Prentiss lugrehan.
190 The Three Guardsmen. By
Alexandre Dumas.
191 The Terrible Tonkaway:
OLD ROCKY AND Hrs Puma. By Buckskin Hum.
192 The Lightning Sport. By Eysier-
193 The Man in Red. B) F.Wbittaker.
194 Don Sombrero. By Capt. Wilton.
195 The Lone Star Gambler; cr,
Tm: MAID or was MAoNouAs. By Buckskin Sam.
196 La Marmoset, THE DE'I‘EUHVE
QUEEN. By Albert. W. Aiken.
197 Revolver Hob. By J E. Badger.
198 The Skeleton Schooner. l; y
COL Fri-HUN} lngmhnui. -
1 9 Diamond Dick. By Buckskin Sam.
200 The Rifle Rangers. By Capt.
Mayne Roid.
201 The Pirate of the Placers: or,
JOAQUlNlH DEATH-HUNT. By Jose h E. Badger, Jr,
202 Cactus Jack. By a] t. M.\Vilt0n.
203 The Double Detective. By Aiken.
204 Big Foot Wallace, THE KING OF"
THE IAAlUAT. Bv Buckskin Sam.
205 The Gambler Pirate. Irprulam.
206 One Eye, the Cannoner r: or.
MARSHALL Nnr's LAST LEGACY. By Capt. Whittakrr.
207 Old Hard Head. By P. S. Warne
208 The Whitc Chief. By Mayne Rtld.
209 Buck k'arle . By Edward “'illett.
210 Buccnnrer ss. By P. Inm‘ahnm.
21 1 The Unknown Sport. Whittaker.’
212 The Brazos Tigers 3 or. Tm:
MINUTE MEN or Boar Burn“). By Buckskin Sam.
2 13 The War Trail. Capt. Mayne Reid.
214 The Two Cool S rts; or, GEBTLB
or run Gown. By William R. ystor.
215 Parson Jim. By Capt. Whittaker.
218 The Corsair Planter; or, Drum
70 Doou. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.
217 The Serpent ofnl Pale. By
Bnckskin 8am.
218 The Wild Huntress: or, Tm: BIG
SQUAn'rn‘e VaNonANcs. By Captain Mayne Reid.
219 The ion Brothers: or, MAI)
Tom‘s MissioN. By ptaln Mark Wilton.
220 TheSpecte. Yacht. By Ingrabam.

221 Despera‘e Duke. Buckskin Sam.

222 Bill. the Blizzard. By E. Willett.

223 Canyon Dave. rm: MAN or THE
MOUNTAIN. By Captain Mark Wilton.

224 Black Beard. ran BUCOAma; or,
Tun Cums; or ran CoAs'r. By Prentiss lngrshsm.

Anewiammrywoek.

Boadle’s Dlme‘ Library is for sale by all
Newalealors. ten cents per (gt-my},3 or sent bymail on

meal t of twelve cents ear, EADLE a ADAMS,
taught“. 93 William Street. New York.

or,

_——..