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Published Bury
Wednesday.

:8e.adle g’~ pea/dams, @ublishers,

93 WILLIAM STREET. N. Y.. September 7‘ 1887.

Ten Cent! 3 Copy.
$5.00 a. Year.

 

 

 

 

 

Yank Yeflnwhul’éflut Campaign.

BY \VM. H. MANNING,

AUTHOR or “awn- BURKE,” “WILD WEST
WALT," “DEEP DUKE,” “COLORADO
EUBE,” “THE GOLD DRAGON,”

ETCq ETC” ETC.

CHAPTER I.
Tm: MYSTERY or THE ROCKS.

Tm: feet of a horse rung on the rocky surface
of a gulch. and a horseman rode slowly along
between the precipitous cliffs. His manner was
at once fearless and war '. He looked like one
whom no danger could 3. arm, but nobody knew
better than he that; reckless exposure might cost
him his life.

He was where he could only suppose evcry
other man to be his deadly enemy, and from tsbe
bowlders and ra-ess‘es by the wu y men might at
uni moment appear.

ccustomed as he was to the West. from C1 )1—
orado to California, he found this particular
firm especially wild—a fit rvmrt for men he

ew were not far away. He was seeking them,

 

     
     

 

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GOLD UAUNTLET GAZED AT THE l’lPTI'REJIOCK IN WONDER. WHAT STRANGE SECRET

OF THE WEST WAS THUS IMPERFECTLY REVEALED?

    
    
   
     

 

 

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Gold Gauntlet.

 

 

yet he went as their enemy; they were many in
number, yet he was coolly going to their midst
without a friend to aid him.

Suddenly he reined in the large black horse
which he rode. His wary gaze, sweeping from
point to point, had detected something so strange
that his abrupt pause was not to be wondered

at.

At his right hand the cliff arose perpendicu-
larly, and ahnost as smooth as though chiseled
by human hands. Once this rocky wall' had
been plain and monotonous. It was so no
Ion er.

ld Gauntlet, as the horseman was called,
in amazement at what was then visible.

ild as the vicinity was, some artist had been

s there, for upon the rock was a picture as puz-
' as it was strange and striking.
chief part thereof was the picture of a
man who was restin upon one knee and the feet
of the other is , w ' e in one hand he held aloft
object whic looked like an anchor. Back of
him was another strange thin which the ob-
server at first thought was inten ed to represent
a loosely-coiled snake, but as he looked more
closely he saw an unmistakable noose, and de-
cided that it was a lasso.

This mysterious picture was done in deep red,

 ' and Gold Gauntlet at first thought that the

 color was produced by blood; but as he looked
closer he decided that it was some pigment.
Five words were printed in irregular letters be-
low the picture:

“ A DARK TRAGEDY HAS OCCURRED—”

The sentence ended abruptly, with nothing to
tell what had been the intention of the author in
I“ ' glaring that much, or what more he might have

 Gold Gauntlet gazed at the picture~rock in
wonder. What strange secret of the West was
thus imperfectly revealed?

He swept a keen suspicious glance around.
No livin thing was in sight, but something else
was; a uman skeleton lay only a few paces
from the spot. It was an unpleasant sight n his

. present mood, and seemed likely tohave connec-
«‘  ion with the work on the cliff. If those flesh-
lest? lips could speak, what story would they
to

The horseman felt oppressed and ill at ease,
+5!- 5 and, making an effort, turned his regard from
’4 " - the skeleton and again looked at the riddle of
v" - , the rocks.

He was convinced that no idle joke hovered
around it. He was apractical, world-wise man,
yet he felt sure that the history of the picture
was tragic and remarkable. The red letters be-
10w it we): strong hold upon him, too, and he
felt something akin to superstitious fear.

Here was a tragedy announced, and a secret
gartially revealed, yet so enveloped in peculiari-
. 'es as to tell next to nothing.

The lasso—if such the artist intended to re-
v re eat—was the sim lest part of it, and, circ-

ng toward the kneeling man, might represent
that he was caught in its noose.

. Yet, where had it come from? Who bad cast

it? ' . .

But why had the man been shown kneelin
and holding the anchor vpartly aloft? \Vhat dfii
the anchor represent? hy had it been pictured
there, hundreds of miles distant from any ocean?

' He tried in vain to convince himself that it
was a orbs, not an anchor but the work was
too good to admit of doub . The man’s hand
was c around the shank: the stock rested
across his wrist, with e ring dangling below;
and the arms and fiuk were plainly and cor-
rectiy drawn.

Beyond question, it was an anchor.

The figure of the kneeling man, too, was well
done. ’ x ression was, naturally, lacking on Che
face, but rom the fact that the coat was i ng
and the hair on the hatless head evidently in-
tended to be long and thin, the observer judged
' , that an old man, who wore garments suitable to

‘ the East, was intended.

This was merely a surmise, fortheartist might
not have been as particular as he seemed.

In fact, the whole had an air of incomplete-
nest. Why was there nothing to show from
whence the lasso came? Why, too, was the
printed revelation so brief?

“ A DARK rmoanr HAS OCCURRED—”

There was nothing to show whether he who
had printed these words had intended to add
more, but it had the mine incomplete appear-
ancdof the picture.

Another question occurred to Gold Gauntlet.
Why had not the unknown confined all hiawork
to Words? With the amount of time bestowed
on the picture he might have printed his revela-
tion in full, in plain terms; the space was cer-

y ample.

'There was a mystery about it which the ob-

server in no way understood. His

rat  . 

ltenti returned to the anchor. How such
\a th n ureso far from vessels, oceans or
mvi a vers?

“ seleesl” finally ejaculated the horseman.

“ I might study it for days and be none the

:inler. mo‘wer did the work intfinded to leg;
wra a mystery, or somet n reven

comple n of his work. I believe itgvgs the lat

ter. Perhaps he was wounded; perhaps he died

 

 

before it was finished. Anyway, the mystery is
im netrable.”
he appearance of the red letters and picture

showed that it was no very recent work., The‘

spot was in a strong measure protected from
storm, wind and sun; it might have been done
months before.

" Another mystery of Utah!” muttered Gold
Gauntlet. “ i shall have to call it that, and let
it go. I have work enough of my own, too
much to puzzle over this riddle. I’ll ride on.”

He resumed his journey, but, though well
aware that he ought to devote all his time and
attention to precautions for his own safety, the
mystery of t e picture rocks haunted his mind
persistently.

He felt sure that the strange work in red was
not the result of idle amusement, but that the
sto so imperfectly told was a tragic one.

T e rider of the mountains was a man worthy
of more than ssing notice, and one who was
himself a mys . Probably he had once had a
name like other men, but that name had not of
late passed his lips. He called himself Gold
Gauntlet— that, and nothing more.

In point of years he looked to be about twen-
ty-seven, and his form was one fit for a Her-
cules. Six feet in bi ht, he had a development
of form to match, wit broad shoulders and a
well rounded chest. and long, large arms like a
gladiator’s.

His face was broad regular, intelligent and
bold, and his 18.1 e black eyes were keen and
brilliant. Upon is head was a mass of jet-
black hair which a woman mi ht have envied,
and which fell over his shou ders in waves,
while his mouth was almost concealed bya heavy
mustache.

His dress was .rich in its way, and both jaunty
and striking. His hat was the broad-bummed
affair of the West, while over a red flannel shirt
of finest material, he wore a real velvet sack-
coat, the front of which was .well out awa and
ufiibuttoned, revealing the full glory of his red
3 irt.

As though to make the combination of- colors
more startling, he wore upon his hands yellmv
gauntlets, with two heavy golden chains, like
those seen on watches, upon the back of each,
crossing each other at right an ice.

Hence, no doubt, the name y which he pre-
ferred to be known—Gold Gauntlet.

Mounted upon his noble black horse, he made
a most striking appearance, and if any one at
first sight pronounced him a dandy, the opinion
would speedily vanish; that strong, almost stern
1fgce was thalli of a man of fixed purpose and de-

w .

Plain] , he was not one to devote valuable
time to rivial matters, or to be a fop intention-
ally Or by accident. If his appearance seemed
to savor of the vainglories of the peacock, it
was as much part of a settled resolution as was
his Digest in seeking this wild part of Utah.

An he was there for justice' to meet and de-
feat his enemies; Well aware that in so coming
he took his life in his own hands, and would have

to ard it carefully.

fter leaving t e picture rocks he rode
steadily for a mile. By that time he knew he
must be near his destination, butas he had never
been in the vicinity before, he did not know just
when it would dawn upon his vision.

Once more he came to a halt, checked by
something as significant, if not as strange, as
the picture rocks. Directly in the path he was
pursuing a post had been planted, and on this
a sign-board which bore this inscription:

“DAN CITY RESERVATION.
N o Tnnsrxssmo ALLOWED.
KEEP OFF 1"

A sarcastic smile appeared on Gold Ganntlet’s
face. on and Wild as the place was he
knew that he was near Dan City, and it was not
strange that the town had a “reservation.”
The warning, however, amused him, and after
a swift glance around he started his horse

a

e‘had gone onl a fewetepewhen a man
sadderin a red Hem among the rocks and,
rifle in han barred the way.

“Halt!” the stranger ordered terse] com-
mandingiy, but not with an especiallyy'hoatile

air.

“1H.3ppy to oblige you,” Gold Gauntlet coolly
re 1 .

R idn’t ye see that sign?” continued the rifle-
mania.»

“ Then wh didn’t ou obe it?”

“ Does it m’ean busiiiess?” y

“ It does, fur sure.”

“My friend, I am of an i ui turnof
mipcfiavahfit is the penalty of  obey?”

The answer was laconically made, and the

rifieman seemed to grow more in than ever.
“AmItoinfei-that on woudshoottheman
who , and in intru g?”
“ would.”

“ whose orders?”

“ onder," answered the guard, pointing to
the southwest, “isDan City. 1 am a humble
member 0’ the chosen band gathered thar; I git

 

my orders from the leaders, sale! you would
know who they he, go thar an’ see them.”

“ Plain as the nose on your face, in; good
man. But wh is this forbiddeuground

“ This,” rep ed the rifieman, impatiently “is
Dan City Reservation. None but the faithful
are allowed here, an’ precious few 0’ them. Out-
siders will not be let in.”

“Another mystery,” thought Gold Gauntlet,
allowing his aze to wander over the .
fore him. “ t’s a wild region, and it ooks to
be just as Nature made it, but it’s safe to wager
that there are important reasons for making it
forbidden ground. This mystery may, or may
not, concern me; I’ll see after a few days at
Dan City.” .

Then he said, aloud:

“Ver well, my man; I have no wish to in-
trude; was inclined to 0 on at first. but I see
that I was wrong. Kin y indicate the way to
Dan City.”

The man pointed, and Gold Gauntlet rode
away. He had, however, made a resolution.
He had come to the vicinity as an enemy of the
men of the town, and as he felt sure that it was
a matter worthy of attention, hewas determined
to invade the Reservation before many days and
discover the nature of the secret so jealously
guarded.

 

CHAPTER II.
'rnii: WOUNDED sraaxonn.

THREE men rode acrOSs a prairie which was
broken by timber into frequent glades and
mottes, where a long view ahead was never to
be obtained.

Of the three, two rode abreast and were'of
white skin and American blood. Behind them
followed a young Indian who, whether the
others talked or not, always seemed oblivious to
what they were doing.

“ How now, Yank,” finally said one of the
white men, “ is this thing never to end? Either
let us 've up trying to reach the hills. and
camp w ere we are, or let’s have a brief rest be-
fore we go further.”

“ Tired, be ye?” returned he who had been ad-
dressed“ I as Y?nk. I Will

certain y am. suppose on now say
that I have not yet reachedythe dignity of a
veteran borderman.”

“ I’ve see’d them who was sech who hadn’t
your narve an’ endurance. You’ve be’n with
me an’ Trail-Lifter now fur sev’ral weeks, an’
hev conducted yerself in a commenderble way,
by hurley. You’ve done wal; you’ve done very
wal; you’ve done most mighty wal, sir. But
no man ain’t a steam en ine, an’ you nor me
can’t endure ev’rything, consait. Can ye ride
half an hour?”

“Will that take us to camp?”

“ Yas, an’ ter the hills.”

“Then we will 0 on. I don’t want it said
that Bronx Henders ot is a ‘ weak sister,’as you
express it, though, as you just observed, I don’t
claim to be a steam engine.”

“ I’ve often wished I was one, fur the time
bein’,” observed Yank. “ A steam-engine is a
mi hty useful thing ter hev in a family. I’d
rufiier hev it than a watch, though it has got
an allconsumin’ appetite that ma es it an egre-
gious expensive luxury fur a r man ter bev.
But when it comes ter ittin’ over the ground-—
Land 0’ Goshenl how i 9 thing will git up an’
dust.”

“ Very true,” Hendershot answered.

“ ’Member distinctly one case that ’curred un-
der m pussonal observation. I was in Chicken
Bar w on the rou hs riz up an’ captered the
town. We iled a l the honist folks outer a
train, give t 0 engine its breakfast, an‘ then
away we went at sech speed that the suction 0'
air raised lumps 0’ coal as big as your hat right
up through the fine, or whatever they call the
c imney that lets of! the smoke.

“ All looked favor’ble, but we hadn’t been
long ’way when we seen another train in pur-
suit. The rioters had coaled up and was a-com-
in’ fur us so fast that at times their 'hull train
made jumps an’ didn’t te’ch a rail fur fifty foot.

“ I never seen a race so excitin as that be-
fore or sence. Our was see that we tore
up the ground egregiously. an’ sent bowlders
fiyin’ through the air incessant, but in spite 0’
that t‘other train gained on us. The women
an’ children in our cars was screechin’ pitiful,
an’ they shed so many tears, the weather beiu
cold enough ter freeze the tears, they filled the
’hull train with hail-stones, an’ we had ter keep
shovelin’ ’em out o’ the winders, so as ter carry
no 1111300,”? load.

“ Colonel iptrack an’ I stood on the platform
0’ the rear car.

“ ‘ They’re still a-gainin’,’ sez he.

“ ‘ They be that,’ sez I.

“ ‘ I’m afeerd we’re (gone up,’ sez he.

“ ‘ I’m ’feerd we wt go up later,’ sez I.

“ ‘ I ain’t prepared,’ sez be, mournfully.

“ ‘ Ez a starter, you might hand me back the
dollar on owe me ’ sez I. '-

“ ‘ 1 1 do it,’ sez he, an’ he did.

“ ‘ Next,’ sez I, ‘ smash yer whisky-bottle
ag’in’ the car.’

“ He started an’ grew pale ’round the mouth. '

“ ‘That’stoo sweepin‘ a reform,’sez be; ‘but O ‘ 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ann—n.

 

    
 

 

 

 

Gold Gauntlet.

3

 

—

 

terefise my conscience a bit, i’ll pour the whisky
out.
“ With that, he ti ped up the bottle an’
poured the hull hal -pint down his throat—
down the inside, mind ye—but jest as the last
on’t disappeared, he dropped the bottle, p’inted
back an’ give a yell.

“ ‘ I’ll be hanged ef I ever got the jim~jams so
quick aforel’ sez he, shakin’ like a leaf.

“ But it wa’n’t that, Bronx, fur as I looked I
seen that the steel rails o’ the road had ketched
flre behind our train, an’ was blazin’ like pitch.
Yes, sir, it’s a tack that we went so fast we’d
set the rails on fire, an’ they all burnt up before
our ursuers got thar, and their train was
wrec ed. We esca , an’ then the colonel
wanted ter borrer that dollar back ter treat the
crowd, but he didn’t git it. It was an egregious
ti ht squeeze, but our engine brung us through
a1? right.”

Just as this veracious story was concluded,
they emerged from a timber-belt, and saw the
hills only a short distance ahead.

“Git up, Remorse,” said Yank to his horse.
“Ef you ain’t lost the power 0’ hearin’, b’ar in
mind that our camp is yonder, an’ swing yer
le in ’arnist.”

heir pace was quickened; they soon reached
the base of the hills and went into camp. The
horses were given their liberty, and the men be-
gan to prepare supper.

Each one of the trio was well worthy of earn-
est attention, and from their cool, resolute air,
the appeared to be men capable of successfully
(lea ing with any danger.

He who seemed to be the leader was named
Yank Yellowbird. He was probably forty-five
or more years of age, but he bore his years well;
his flaxen hair and light hued beard being with-
cut a perceptible thread of gray. His face was
fearless, kind, honest and good-humored of ex-

ression, but no stretch of fancy could make it

andsome. His small eyes his prominent nose,
and his sparse beard were all against good—looks;
but it was a face which would at once create a
good impression, and when the man was thor-
oughly known, that face would grow attractive
to a beholder.

His dress, manner and wea us where those
of a veteran borderman, thong his rifle, which
was very long, was old-fashioned, and his gar-
ments hung on his slender et muscular frame
with sin ular looseness. e had not an ounce
of super uous flesh, but looked as hardy as some
particulagy rough knot.

Bronx endershot had not yet ‘seen his thirti-

eth year. He wasa man of medium size, but
very muscular. He had a bold, manly, intelli-
gent and engaging face, albeit it was grave of
expression, and seemed to be one accustomed to
Western life.
The Iyouiég Indian was probabl twenty years
old. is ender form was we proportioned,
and gave promise of strengih and suppleness
whic would make him a d o gnem in a
fight. He was of the Modoc tri and was
named Trail-Lifter, though sometimes called
Still Tongue, a name which, Yank explained,
had been given him because he was a mute.

For some time he had been Yank’s constant
companion. Why they went together no one
knew, for they seemed a stran pair, but they
were devoted to each other, an the mountaineer
never tired of sounding the mute Modoc’s raises.
They had a sign language, by means 0 which
the}' conversed, and seemed to have a perfect
un erstanding.

Trail-Lifter was a handsome Indian. He had
a singularly regular, alert face, and his black,
flashin eyes ad a wild beauty wholly their
own. e seemed born for a warrior, yet he
followed the fortunes of Yank Yellowbird, who
liked ace, and never darkened his record with
an dishonorable act.

he trio had ust finished their supper, when
Bronx saw Yan suddenly raise his head and
look fixedly through the gathering loom, while
at the same moment a low, pecu iar whistle
sounded from Trail-Lifter’s lips—a sound which
the Modoc’s affliction of speech did not prevent
his making, and which always served to call at-
tention.

The oung Indian was pointing toward the

higher d, and Bronx saw a human figure ap-
preaching. ‘ .
Yank fted his long rifle and laid it across his

hem-but did not seem impresed with the idea
tfihfit‘d unknown was tolbe t oi: as hostile.
vanes was so pecu iar t a suggested
tihoatl he was ingoxicated, 01") lworse. He walked

s wy an wit apereepti esta r.
Wagntgeboreached t3: 3;] (fine flrehllie
rov a man in e mi! 3'
and very pale. Bronx deci‘ife‘d at once

that his was not a bad face.

Reaching the fire the man dropped. rather

than not, upon a convenient bowlder. Then his
game wandered weakly, uncertainly to his new
companions.

Yank broke the silence.

“Mister,” said be “it stri ‘
omfl‘”. has me yours in
“Iamad n’man.”westhehoarsereply.
“Not so as that,1 hope. Wha's the
ruin us ’
“I’ve got a bulletinhyar,”andthestnnger

,fs’i’. ,

,w. . ,  ;. , ’ ~‘i~ ,s.
i .4   is.  , ’ ».,...s"i. I» 
. (v I “I. .u  .- _ .m‘ ,ih'. e L p

 

touched his side, “ an’ it’s eatin’ the life out 0’
me. ”
“ That so? Then you’ve come ter the right
shop. I ain’t no doctor, but gunshot wownds,
epidemics an’ sech triberlations an’ distresses
are right in my line. Whip of! yer coat an’ let
me see the hurt.” .
b Yliink arm, but the stranger motioned him
ac .

“ No,” he answered. in the same hoarse voice;
“ all the doctors in the world couldn’t save me.
I’ve seen ter the wound an’ done all that can be
done. From the time the bullet went in thar l
was a doomed man, an’ the eend is mighty near
now. Don’t trouble yerself about it, but— Be
you honist men i”

The question was abruptly asked, and a trace
of fire appeared in the man’s dull eyes.

“ I consait we be,” Yank replied.

“ Then thar is one thing you kin do.”

“ What’s that?"

“ Bevenge me, an’ save the wronged an’ help-

The mountaineer’s gaze dwelt gravely upon
the face of the stranger.

“ Who’s be’n wronged?” he asked.

“ Did ou ever hear 0‘ Dan City?”

“ 'i‘hin I hev. It’s a town some twenty mile
west, whar the Mormons rule as bosses o’ the
business, so ter sa .”

“ Do ye know more about it?” '

“Can’t say I do.”

“ I wish I could say as much. A week ago I
entered the em loy 0’ them men. My name is
Ike Green, an’ hev been a hunter an’ wan-
derer. One day I met Tobe Moss, an old friend
0’ mine, an’ a wal-known guide.”

“ To be sure; I’ve heerd on him,” Yank re-

plied.

“Tobe told me he had been hired ter guide a
party 0’ Mormon converts ter Dan City an’
that Levering an’ Hicks, the big men 0 an
City, wanted one more man, ter act as assistant
hunter. I took the job an’ went alon . Stran-
gers, I ain’t the strength ter talk, so ll cut the
story as short as I kin. Our party was attacked
an’ wrecked on the way. I was shot down out-
side the camp an’ didn’t see all, but thar was
more shootin’ an’ I s’pose Tobe Moss an’ many
others was ki led.”

“ The atrocious insex!” muttered Yank Yel-
lowbird, graspin his rifle tighter.

“ Them who id the massacreein’ was white
men, an‘ I heerd some talk nigh me when it was
all over that let me enter apart 0’ their motive.
Somebody in Dan City was afeerd ter hev them
emigrants reach thar, fur tbar was one 0’ them
who knowed too much. His name was Erik
Dahlgren, an’ be was a Swede, an’ a right flne
feller, too.”

The speaker paused to take a drink of water

'which Bronx handed him. Then he continued:

“ The attact was made ter kill Dahlgren, an’
steal his two pretty da’rters, Levis an’ Inza.
The poor, unfortinit s was wanted by some
0’ the dignitaries 0' an City-very likely by
Loverin an’ Hicks. The men I heerd sa al
this wal ed away. an’ I fainted fur loss 0‘ b 00d.
When I come to, everybody, dead an’ alive, was

one, an’ the we one an’ what was in ’em had

een burned. don’t know the fate 0’ any
member 0’ the emigrant party, an’ I sha’n’t live
ter learn it, but you see now why I asked ef you
was honest men. A great wrong has been done,
an’ of 1you are men you will see that jestice
overta es the guilty !’

CHAPTER III.
m MARSHAL or DAN CITY.

Tm: wounded man had spoken with an effort,
and with frequent pauses. His voice was low
and weak, and they were pre to behave
that he was near the end of life. His com-

nions had listened attentively, and Yank

ellowbird showed manifest disturbance.

As the narrator made the last pause, th
mountaineer smote the breech of his rifle. '

“ It’s a wonder,” he declared, “ that the good
Lord kin take any int’rest in a world that has
so many atrocious lnsex in it, by hurle l"

“Stranger,” asked Green, looking c osely at
the veteran “what’s ourname.” '-

“I’m pla Yank ellowbird.”

“I’ve heerd 0’ you i” returned Green, with
transient energy, while his dull e es lighted.

“Hope you never heerd no e on me. Ef
thar is any one thing the Yellowbirds pride
theirselves on, it's their records. Nothin' wu‘ss
than orchard-robbin’, or water~million erin’,
is known afg’in' an on ’em; an’ then on y when
the yooth ul Yel owbirds wa’n’t full- edgy.n
We trace our pedigreen cl’ar back tar A
Yellowbird, who married Eve Smith an” lived
at Eden City, an’ it would go furder on]
Adam’s father lost the fam’l; records whi
crossin’ the Red Sea in a canoe.

“ You are the man of all other ter undertake
this work," asserted Green.

“ What d’ye want me ter do?”

“Look up the case 0‘ them emigrants, an’
above D31], ter gave them two gals, Lovis an'

In
Yank stroked his ctines-ea beard meditatively.
“ I’ve a good min ter do it, by barley!” he

an d.
“ You coddn’t Work in a better cause."

 

Yank glanced at Bronx Hendershot.

“ I am with you, Nevermiss,” the young man
re lied.

‘Bear in mind,” added Green, “that great
peril will menace e at ev‘ry step. Dan City:
a hard place, an‘ icks an’ Levering rule t
absolutely.

“Give me my two good frien’s, hyar, an’ I
kin laugh at ’em. Bronx an’ Still Tongue are
lighters, they be: though I ain‘t no great at it
myself. I’m awfully a‘flicted with the new-

' rolg , an’ my left foot is a coward. I was cut

out ur a hero, I do b’lieve, but as I said afore
my left foot is a weak Sister, an’ it will git
skeered an’ run. I was once in a three days‘
fight with the Apaches, an’ the only way I kept
the weak sister anywhar nigh me was her tie it
ter a, tree. An egregious coward is my left
foot.

“Your eccentricities an' heroism are ekully
wal known,” asserted Green. “ Among the In-
jins you are knewn as ‘Nevermiss,’ an’ they
didn’t give ye the name ’thout cause. But pro-
mise me ter look arter this matter 1”

“We will,” Yank replied. “I’m ’specially
int‘rested in the case of them gals-Levis an’
Inza, I b’lieve ye called ‘em. I always was

rtial ter pooty females an’ I reckon Bronx
gender-shot has an eye in his head. Yes, we’ll
look inter it.”

“ Look out fur Levering an’ Hicks.”

“ To be sure, but we’re n(goin‘ right inter their
town, an’ we ewith fl in our eyes. Ef it
shoots out an knocks over a few ments 0’
the atrocious insex, they hev only t emselves
ter thank.”

Green ex ressed his thanks warmly, and, now
that the pomt was settled, seemed to lose almost
the last vestige of strength. He was made as
comfortable as possible on the blankets of the
other men and then he lay at the foot of the
hills while his life ebbed away.

Bronx Hendershot found the scene singularly
impremive. He had seen men die before, but
the story he had heard, the promise they had
given, and their peculiar] grim surroundings
made him grave and thougzt ui to an extreme.

The end came about mi night.

The remainder of the night the survivors slept
as much as pomible. In the morning they
hollowed as suitable a grave as their means
would admit, and Greens body was deposited
therein.

When it was done the trio gathered at the

cam .

“ We hev made a promise,” observed Yank.

“ Which, of course, we shall keep.” added
Bronx.

“ To be sure. Our way is toward Dan City.
From what Green said, we know what ter ex-
pect—a rough town, ruled over b two men who
are the big toads in the puddle. oreover, they
are Mormons, while we are cats 0’ a different
color, so her say. As a rule I pity Mormons, fur
their wives must make an regions amount 0’
triberlations fur them: but t is rtic’lar lot at
Dan City we must regard sim y as men who
are mean critters, and deal thu y with them.”

“ In- plain words, we go as their enemies, re-
gardless of odds.”

“Yes, es; we can’t pity their weakness, an’
ef we fin they hev them gals thar, we‘ll hev ter
waliop the atrocious insex.
Sech was the names of the pooty females. Fix
’em in yer mind, lad.”

At this moment Trail-Lifter called attention
with his whistle, and his fingers began to work
over and about each other rapid] . Each mo-
tion was a word-sign familiar to ank, and par-
tially understood by Bronx, and in this way the
mute Modoc alwa s communicated his ideas.

Nevermiss nod ed quickly at the close of the
silent communication.

“ The Injun mines that webeofl' an’ I reckon
he is ri ht. These mountains ain’t the safest
place in tab. Ef what we’ve previously heerd
about Dan City is true thar is a ng there 0’
the old, reg’lar Danite order, led y one Hurl-
forth—an egregious funny name. by hurle !—
who do what the head men tell 'em, an’ on’t
scroople ter take human life. We may meet ’em
in the hills, an’ the sooner “8 go. the less the
chance on’t. Ef we do meet ’em though, an’
they‘reon the tight, they’ll git licked out 0’ their
moccasins, b hurleyl”

Thisasse wasnotmadeinahoastingor
sanguinary way. indeed, Yank‘s manner was
nearly always mild, evan as it was quiet, unce-
tentatious and honest. Possessing a
sense of the humorous side of life, he so
all that he said and did with uaint conceit,
thathewonldhavebeenclaued ymanynsthe
most inofluisive of men.

80 he was, ordinarily, and no one loved
and harmony more than be, but be was ways
readyto aid the weak andpersecuted.andwhen-
decisive action ' were

‘Inbatfiehewuahunimnaundevil-minded
men, whether white or red, feared and hated
him;butatruer friend, or more honest man,
wasnottobefonnd.
The journey was renewed; they
steadilythrouggheday:andashortflmebo-
nighflall Citywasreached.

fore
Thetewuwashuiltpertlyonthefln‘alslopeot.

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the ridge, and partly on the prairie below,
which stretched away toward the southwest,
green, fertile and well-cultivated. Between
this prairie and the ridge the people had a
variety of scenery, tor the ridge was as wild as
the prairie was fair.

Dan City was a Mormon town, but rumor
said that it was not in the best of standing.
Home disagreement With those higher in au-
thority had led to a iartinl estrangement,
though Lovering and icks, “ho ruled Dan
City, were careful not to get wholly outside the
fol . The were covetous of power, and bead-
strong. bu the wanted to be so situated that
they could cal on their brethren for aid if it
was needed.

Yank, Bronx and Trail-Lifter rode into the
village, and when a sign told them of the pres-
ence of a hotel, they put up there. They would
have preferred a but beyond the limits of the
village itself, except for one thing.

The (were there to get trace of Louis and
Inza ahl ran, and it was believed that the gos-
siprof hote idlers might ive them a clew.

he house was one w ich outwardly resem-
bled other hotels in places of like size, and as
they did not seem to attract an attention, they
began to hope that they wont be able to enter
upon their career in the town in a very quiet
manner which was something they were anx-
ious to o.

This delusive calm lasted for some hours, and
the an to think that Dan City was not so
bad a p as it was represented, but they were
destined to be enlightened.

, The three were sitting together, about nine

o’clock, when a single man entered, and, without
any pause, walked toward them. He was an
im ressive—lookin person. Tall and pOWerfully
built, he had a of muscle which would
naturally comman t, but it was his face
which would attract an hold attention.

His hair and board, both of which were long,-
were of the deepest black imaginable, while his
complexion was singularly pale for one exposed
to wind and sun as he must be. It was a sin-

pallor, too, and did not seem to arise from
lack of health, but rather to a natural u-
liari . Its contrast to his hair and hear was
sin and almost startling. His eyes were
deep-set and large, while the ponderous brows
were tipped with a hirsute growth of remark-
able length.

This strange-looking man approached the
trio and sat down near them in silence, while
his expression was as fixed and grim as that of
a Sphinx. Once seated, he broke the silence in
an abrupt way:

' “ My name,” he said, “ is Hurlforth, and I am
the Marshal of Dan City. I have come to in-
quire who you are."

His manner was not particularly menacing,
but both Yank and Bronx saw that they were
marked as men who might not be wantedin Dan
City. The mountaineer, however, preserved his
usual calmness.

“ I haven’t no keerd with me,” he benignly re-
plied, “ but I don’t mind sayin’ that my name is
Yank Yellowbird. Don’t mix me with others

‘ . 0’ like name, Canari, Hawk, or Robin, for in-
! 0

stance. I’m one o’ ’riginal Yellowbirds, an’
1 try for uphold the honor o’ the fam’l pedi-
green. My partners hyar are Bronx ender—
shot a man with white skin an’ clean record
an‘ Trail-Lifter, a Modoc o’ oncommon morn
braver an’ genius.”

“ W t has brought you to Dan City?”
abruptl asked Hurlforth, whose gaze had rest-
ed on ank’s face with a cold, fixed survey.

“ We’re travelin’.” ‘

“ To where?”

“ Nowhar an! everywhar. We’re nomads an’
rovers, sight-seem an’ time-killers. We’re liable
ter pitch ourtent—or should be of we had a tent
-—'-.‘ive hundred miles away a fortnight hence.
The Yellowbirds always was egregious wau~
derers.”

“ Are you Mormons or Gentiles?”

“ We’re sorter settin’ on the fence. Can't say
.we’re Mormons, ’cause we ain’t walstocked up
with wives, though ef we’d taken all that has
proposed ter us, we’d have a regular swarm on

cm, by hurley! Nigh about ev'ry town we stop
at we are besought in matrimony. I s’ it is
on account 0’ our looks,” and Yank strok-
ed his sparse bear complacently.

“Gentiles,” pursued Hurlforth, “ are not
wanted in Dan City.”

°‘ Wal of we settle we’ll rescribe ter the mob:
an’ o’ the Mormon aith. It’s one pecoo-
iiarity o’ the Yellowbirds that they kin adapt
theirselves to any kind 0’ sarcumstances. ’Mem-
her distinctly when I attended a ball in St.

1113 once, an’ was so pestered by the pooty
ale ter dance that I had ter go in, than h
never shook a foot afore in m nat'ral‘li e—
uoneo' the Yellowbirds ever di seem tor be
made for jumpin’iacks. On this ’caaion I went
in, hows’ever, an’ did ri ht wal considerin’ I
was a new hand at it. hat s’prised me most
was tar see how awk’ard the feminines was with

their skirts. They kept swin ’ ’em a
under my fact, an’ y throwed me
down twqm- three times when I stopped on
lam; butI didn’t t all the

under my feet, an’ I could see by the way the
gals looked at me that the was mad as hurley
at their awkwardness. T 6 falls I got broosed
the skin off 0’ one knee an’ both elbows, an’ I’s
laid up fur repairs nigh a week, but I had piles
(LR fur. n- t’standin’, an’ I didn’t blame the gals a
it.’
A transient smile appeared on Bronx‘s face,
but rim Hurlforth d1 not change expression.

“ ' ‘his is not to the point,” he re lied. “ I
want to caution you toconductiyourse circum-
spectly while you are in Dan C tyr”

“ To be sure we shall,” serenely replied Yank.

“ You must not interfere with auybody’s af-
fairs.”

“ Not much, we won’t.” \

“ If you do, look out for me.” ‘

“ That’s all right, mister, but I can’t see why
you need ter preach a sermon on’t, by hurley!”

" \Ve tolerate no molestation of the faithful.”

“ Land 0’ Goshenl you needn‘t be afeerd 0’
me. I am a great victim o' newrolgy, which
hez so warped my j’ints that I ain‘t at all dan-
gerous when I try ter be.”

Hurlforth abruptly arose.

“ A word to the wise is sufficient,” be ob-
served. “ Mind your own business, and you
will have no trouble at Dan City; interfere with
the chosen people, and you will be dealt with in
a severe and permanent way 1”

With this suggestive remark the marshal
strode out of the room. He left them in an un-
comfortable mood. It was clear that they Were
already objects of suspicion, and danger would
hover over them every moment they remained
at Dan City.

 

CHAPTER IV.
sum in run saunas.

Non'rnwann from Dan City a canyon extend-
ed for at least three-quarters of a mile. It was
about one hundred feet wide, and the rocky
walls which hemmed it in were, on an average,
of a hight nearly equal to its width. The bot—
tom of the gulch was almost as smooth as a
road except where our the cliffs, a bowlder
had fallen'down at intervals.

A few minutes’ walk from the village, but
nestled against the side of the eastern cli . It
was the only human edifice ever built in Griffin
Gulch so far as was known in Dan City, and
even that had not been there over a week.

The tezant was a single man—a wild, hand-
some, dashin fellow who had suddenly appear-
ed and loca in this stran 6 way. urltorth
had duly interviewed him. e unknown talked
rapidly, pleasantly, and Seemed to be very com-
municative, while he really told almost nothing.

He gave his name as Go d Gauntlet, and seem-
ed to seriously consider the idea of casting his
fortunes wit the Mormons of Dan City. He
asked time for consideration, however, and
Hurlforth, who set him down as a, wild, reckless
adventurer, readily agreed to the proposal.

The stron er the town could make itself the
better and t e astute “ marshal ”saw that Gold
Gauntlet would be a most valuable man if it
ever came to a matter of war at the villa e.

Several days passed, but no more was nown
about the man. He never came to the village
and when Hurlforth went to the but, as he had
done twice—once in the company of his illustri-
ous superior, Joseph Levering—be found
no trace of Gold Gauntlet. The man had been
seen, however. Mounted on his black horse he
was often observed riding through the gulches
and over the prairie, and he had made a reputa-
tion as the wildest dare-devil ever seen in the
saddle at Dan City.

The black horse was very fleet-footed, and
Gold Gauntlet rode him at a tremendous pace.
His feats of horsemansz had madehim the talk
of the town. 1

Notwithstanding this, no more was known .of
him as the days went by, and the general drift
of opinion was against im. Sacha rattle-pated
fellow as he a red to be was not wanted there
unless be we make himself useful, and this he
could not do more] by galloping about the
count like Tam 0’ banter.

On t e day after the arrival of Yank and his

00 ans, a single rider went forward in the
gulc until 9. int was reached where the but
was visible. here she checked her horse—her

horse, because the'rider‘waa‘a youn lady.

More than this she wasa beautifu yeun lady.
Somewhat above the averagg other sex in ight,
she had a willo - , slender, ut. well-developed
form; 'and- only he most critical observer would
have suspected that her garments were made in
Dan'City. Certainly, they were of remarkable

taste for the remote region where she lived.

or face was one to attract and int at who-

ever saw it,'and'an abundance of go den hair

gave her a queenly air when‘taken in connection
with her form. I

This was IsabellLovering, and she was the sis-
ter of Joseph Lowering, so often mentioned as
one of the rulers of Dan City.

Isabel had seen Gold Gauntlet but once, though

she had often heard of hi . What sheheard
had amused 'all her c t{, and when by
rec lesst across the

chance she saw hinrri‘din in h karma
ruined aunting= .

 

dresses got egregio y torn ev'ry

 
 


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x'-:

, theman'pe
,‘hedid‘notevon'know‘thst-such 'a person

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as she existed, but he was in her mind almost

continually, nevertheless.

The girl Lad always been accustomed to have ‘

her own way since she joined her brother at
Dan City. She had done some wise, and some
willful things. She had declined the honor of
marrying several Mormons, who presented them-
selves as cundidates for her hand: had affiliated
with no sect, creed or clique; and had pursued
such an independent course that some of the
other women of Dan City Were shocked—at
least so they said.

Isabel, hearing of this, smiled calmly. They
were women who had surrendered their freedom
for the uncertain happiness of being one of sev-
eral wives.

She referred to remain her own mistress.

0n t is occasion she paused in the gulch only
a few seconds. Then she touched her home
lightly with the whip, and approached the but
at an easy gallop.

She saw no sign of life. until she had nearly
reached the place. Then a man came out—it
was Gold Gauntlet, himself.

He had lost no part of his dashing, manly
beauty since the day when he looked u n the
picture-rocks. Instead, he made himsel neater,
and looked the gallant cavalier to perfection.

Isabel had come to a halt only a few feet away,

and now sat looking at him closely. Her man— -

ner was not brazen if her course was bold, and

he read her expressron closed y enough to feel sure -

that he was being gazed at very much as though
he had been some museum curiosity.

As the girl said nothing he politely removed
his hat and bowed gracefully.

“ Good-morning, miss,” he said, easily.

“ Good-morning, sir.”

“I am happy to see you at my mansion, but
as it_is 3n un nished affair, I can’t very well ask
you in.

‘2 £123 not come to see your residence, sir.”

' o

“ No- I came to look at you.”

“ To look at me?”

“ Exactly.”

“ I am honored, really, but I can‘t see where
your share of the pleasure comes in.

" I have heard you spoken of a good deal in
Dan City, where you are re rded as a man con-a
siderably out of the rims order of men; and
while the of hers have been idly talking, I thought
I would go a step further, heard the lion in his
den, and  just what you are like!”

Isabel made this staiciiient with great frank-
ness, and though a slight smile of amusement
hovered over lzcr face, she also seemed to be in
earnest. Gle Gauntlet’s handsome eyes sud-
den] sparkled.

“ {thank the irigpulse that sent you here,” be-
promptly answe .

“ Really. are you so willing to be stared at?”

“ I am when the gazer is a beautiful girl, and
—[ can return her regard.”

“ Ahl but I didn’t come to be looked at.”

“True, but if you will allow me the privilege
I shall consider myself the most fortunate of
men!

Isabel’s face flushed a little; under this out-
ward] idle banter she detected a current of
somet ng more and she began to realize that
she had been ins and im lusive to an extreme.
Feeling her cheeks flush, s e grew angry at her-
self because it was so.

“You are easily made happy,” she retorted,
“ but then, I remember they say at the village
that you are a rattle-pate.”

“I know one person who does not think so,”
Gold Gauntlet coolly replied.

H 

“ Yourself!”

The flush in the girl’s face grew more ap-

ien .

“ You are talking nonsense,” she said, tryin
to be stern “ and no one in Dan City woul
dare to address me thus. I am inclined to for-

ive you, since on are a stranger, but please to

ar in mind w at you evidently don’t know—

that I am Miss Levering sister of Joseph Lover-
in . one of the iulers of an City.”

ghe had made the announcement ponderously
hoping to crush this presumptuous fellow, and
it certain] had as much eflect as she had antici-
pated. e started back, changed expression

centibly, and remained looking at her. blank-
ryer Surprise if not dismay, was orpressed on
his face.

Isabel enjoyed her triumph, but it was brief.
Gold Gauntlet recovered, smiled and bowed.

“ I shall soon call on Mr. Joseph Levering,"

he said.

“ For what reason?”

" Having met his sister,I deem it good to
know him. I am no longer indifferent to the at.
tractions of Dan City—or, at least to one of
them—and shall no longer turn a deaf ear to the
invitations I have received. Your brother has
asked me to his house—you will soon see me
there, Miss Lavering'.”

“Idon‘t know w ether I shall or notP’re-

torted Isa .
“ Oh! i shall certain] call.”
“Thatisnot saying tyou will seems.”
“ Wouldn’t cu appear to welcome me!”
Ithinkno Iamsurelshouldnot.”

 

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“Then I shall call for you. What! It"!

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will be to see you that I go. I don't care a pica-
une for your brother and all the rest of Dan
)ity; it is to you that I bow!”

“ Mr. Gold Gauntlet, or whatever your name
is,” answered Isabel. severely, “it seems to me
that you have passed the limits of idle flattery,
and are now insulting me. I can’t complain;
my unmaidenl recklessness in coming here in
this way is to lame for all: but I am sorry that
I have found you so little of a gentleman.”

She tightened the rein and was about to turn
her horse. but Gold Gauntlet laid one of his
masked hands upon that side of the rein nearest
him.

“ No, no, Miss Levering,” he said, earnestly.
“ You are mistaken; you wrong me. Far be it
from me to scoff at any lady: far be it from me
to cause you a moment’s pain. I have said
nothin that could be construed inti an insult to
you eaven forbid! I am a plain. matter-of-

act man, Miss Levering, prone to say just what
is in m mind, and this way have led me to say
.semethr indiscreet.”

“Pessi 1y it did.”

Isabel answered almost mechanically. She
was lookin down into the man‘s handsome
face, and almost for otten that she was
angry at him. She had ouad more of a. curi-
ostty than she had expected, but the effect upon
her was wholly unexpected.

“ Then I a logize,” Gold Gauntlet gravely
continued. “ would not offend you fora king 3
ransom. I have met you: I admire you. Don‘t
say; that you are my enemy!"

hose strangely attractive eyes looked up into
her Own, and the adventurer’s voice was gentle
and rsuasivo.

‘ feel that I am more to blame than you, so
I can hardly reprovo you in a very strong way.”

" Now I thank you,” exclaimed Gold Gaunt-
let, a swift change coming to his face; it was as
though he had, indeed, received great good
news. “ Let me ask, however, that you will
not reprove yourself for coming here. for I hold
this to be the happiest moment of my life.”

“ Now you are venturing on dangerous ground
again.” .

“ How can I help it?" he passionately asked.
“ How can any one look upon you without wor-
shiping you.”

“ lsabel released the rein from his light hold
‘by a quick, angry movement.

"Enough!" she exclaimed: “I see that you
are determined to insult me. I will not talk
with you longer; I will never speak with you

again.” 4

“ You forget that I am goingdtp call upon you,”

VGeld Gauntlet calmly return

“ You will not see me.”

-“ I shall ask for you.”

“ I will not come."

The girl had reined her horse half-way amund,
’but she now paused to look at him defiantly.
He smiled in a very self— wa .

” Pardon me, but you labor under a mistake,
Miss Levering. From the moment I first saw
you I felt that I had met the woman destined by
fateto be my wife. We can’t defy fate, Miss
Levering.”

“ How dare you say that!” cried Isabel, her
face flushed out anger. _

“ I 8 ml; like an oracle; behave me, this is no
idle ta k. You and I were created for each
other. Fate has brought us together; fate will
unite us, whether we will or not."

He made this remarkable declaration with an
air of the most apparent candor, but it stung
Isabel Levering to the quick. She felt that she
hated this presumptuous man of tho gulch, and
she longed to secure revenge. '

CHAPTER V.
scams-Km. . ‘
GOLD Gansrur saw the disdainful, angry
look on Isabel’s face, but his confident air did
not change.
“ When I

 

o to your brother’s house,” he
added, “ I sha 1 appear as your suitor. True, I
ma not say so to Joseph Levering, but you
wi understand when we meet.”

“You are at liberty to visit my brother as
seen as you choose,” she haughtin replied,
“ but you will not meet me. I will notsee you.”

“ Suppose that J osAuph sends for you?”

\ Isabe drew her patrician figure more erect.

“ Ask him to do so if you will; you will see
how I obey. Obey! I obe. no one, least of all
a madcap unknown who hii es his identity under
the sobriquet of Gold Gauntlet; who dresses
,likea dandy' who shows no regard for good
intangmrs, an is plainly a person of very low
1 e.

“ Rather a. severe arraignment,” replied he,
carelessly, “ but it only shows the necessity of
what I have proposed. You must know, me

r, see how you are in error, and learn to

me.
“ Enough l” exclaimed Isabel. in a voice which
was tremuleus with other emotion than anger.
“I will remain no longer to listen to you; I
wonder that I have stayed so long. More than
this, 1 have to-riay learned a lesson. Common
senseshonld have kept me from making this
‘vuit; it did not. but my experience will keep
me from repeating it.”
Once more she pulled at the rein, this time so

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sharply that her horse half-reared and then
swun around.
“ V ait one moment,” requested Gold Gaunt-

t.

Not a word did she answer, and in a moment
more her horse was in retreat, urged by a none-
too- entle blow.

" o-morrow !”

The words floated after her, and though she
did not turn her head, they brought another
flush to her face. Then she suddenly burst into

tears.

“ Vth—why was I so mad ?" she thought, bit-
terl . “ No wonder this reckless man was em-
bol ened to use insolent langua e to me; I out-
ra. ed ever sense of pro riety y going there
asfi did. {don‘t know w y I did it—but i know
the result. As for his threats, let him persecute
me if he dares!”

The flow of tears suddenly ceased; she threw
back her head. and her eyes sparkled in a way
impressive to behold.

‘ Let him annoy me if he dares I” she said,
aloud.

At that moment Geld Gauntlet was standing
by his but, his arms folded across his broad
chest, gazing after her. His face was no longer
careless; it had grewn dark and stern, with just
a suspicion of triumph in its expression. He
had devoted some little time to admiration as
she rode away, but other thoughts were crowd-
ing forward. for notice.

“ How strange that she is Joseph Levering‘s
sister!" he muttered
was a woman in the case, but this fact is a God-
send to me. My plans of revenge are all changed.
an I now I see a way which wi i be scientific and
overwhelming. I must strike Jose h Levering
through this girl; she must be sacrificed to ruin
and destroy him—to break his heart."

The significance of the last words made him
pause for a moment.

“-Yes,” he added. “ and her ewn will break, ’

too. It seems a trifle hard. but there is no other
way to get at Jeseph. I can prove nothin
against him, and it is folly to talk of law.
must repay him in his own coin, and I see the
way clear if he loves his sister.
By Heavens! it is impossible that he should
do otherwise. That girl is a queen among
women!"

He began topace back and forth before the
but, an uneasy look on his face.

" This is an admirable piece of rascality, and
I oughtto be shot for it. I, who uscd to talk
about the inestimable necessity of honor. am
contemplating the sacrifice of an innocent girl
to‘get my reven e on her brother. Villaineus!
But wait, wait;

beautiful and charming, but I am doomed to be
your [ein genius; I am doomed to break your

A peculiar look swept over his face but at
that moment his ever-watchful e detected

“ I never knew that there ‘

Loves her! .

can’t afford to be hypocrit- I
ical; the work must go on. Isabel. you are 5

“ What’s your name, my good man?”

“ Scalpin -Knife!”

Laconlca y enough the man answered. and
his hand disap ared in his ragged coat; he
fumbled about or a moment, and then brought
out a long-bladed knife.

“ Who can pick the lock?” he muttered, look-
ing at Gold Gauntlet wistful] .

“ What lock?” the latter as ed.

. “ The way is dark.”

l With this vague observation the man dropped
his head and began to draw lines and circles in

Y the sand with his knife.

:' him in mini; Silence. The man seemed only

{ half-wit and conversation with him would

,‘ be useless; he had ministered to his chief want

f by feeding him.

' The man’s helplessness aroused his pity how-
ever, and he fell into deep thought whic only

i ended when the stranger ceaSed work.

“ Scalping-Knife” was looking at him with
mournful and earnest attention, and when he
, saw that he was observed in return, he pointed
I with his knife to the ground and muttered:

“ The icture on the reek !”
Gold auntlet started. He had not forgotten

: the mysterious signs he had seen on his we to
; Dan City, and these words forcibly recalled it.
One moment he was attentive; then he shru -
j ged his shoulders as he remembered the s

evident mental state. Scalping-Knife still re-

garded him earnestly however. and still point-
! ed to the ground, so Gold Gauntlet changed his
position and looked at What he had thought the
l idle marking of the ound.
i No sooner had he one this than he became all
1 attention and interest.
I With the point of his knife the ragged vaga-
i bend had drawn in the sand a very fair copy
, of the strange picture of the rock. There was
i, the kneeling man, the flying lasso and the
‘ anchor.
Probably if Gold Gauntlet had never seen
i that other picture. he would have seen not
distinct in this one, but as it was, the likeness
was startling.

 

 

 

I manded.

I “ Scalaing-Knife!” was the listlessly reply. .

I Geld auntlet comprehended that when the

i stranger first used these words he had not in-
tended to claim them as his name, but the mas-

« ter of the but saw fit to clin to the idea.

j “Well. Mr. Scalping-Kni e, what about this '

1 picture of yours?” .
9 “ Who can pick the lock?” muttered the vaga.

bond. and his regard became more earnest and
1 mournful.

make that drawing? What does it mean?”
; Scalping—Knife started, looked frightened
‘ again. but said nothin . ,
“ What about thevpicture on the rocks?" re-
sumed Gold Gauntlet.
. “The water rolls deep!” the stranger uttered,

something which turned his thong tsaway from i in his mournful, half-frightened wav.

himself.

A man was coming down the gulch at a u-
liar gait. Geld Gauntlet at first though that
he was intoxicated. but abandoned the idea as
the man came nearer. He was an ill-dressed.
rough-looking person: his garments were in
rags, and only held together by meansof strings
which drew together, but did not mend the
rents: and his hair and heard were in a state of
disorder which couldhardly be excelled.

He did not seem to notice Gold Gauntlet until
quite near. When he did he came to a stop,
and looked at him as though afraid to advance
further.

“ Good-evenin , neighbor,” said the young
man, in a friend y way.

The stra-n er muttered something Gold Gaunt-
let did not istinctly hear.

“ Come this wa , the latter directed.

The unknown 0 yed, and Gold Gauntlet was
impressed by the appearance of his face. It .was
not one of great intelligence, and here an un-
certain, timid, half-stupid expression.

“ We shall all starve ”

This remarkable speech was made in a hearse
voice, and the speaker seemed inclined to take
to his heels and make off.

“ Not a bit of it," Gold Gauntlet answered.

“ The way is dark,” said the man, timidly.

“ Not so very dark.”

“ There is nethin’ to eat in these rocks.”

“ Bless you! if your stomach is in need, I can
help you out. You shall have all you want.
Wait a second.”

The young man went into the but, and. re-
turning, set before his new acquaintance a sup-
ply of food. The latter still ooked at him as
then h in doubt, but when blufiiy hidden to
“ al to,” be obeyed, and began to eat with the
relish of a starvin man. taking h bites,
angswallowing the cod when only he f-masti—
ca .

For awhile he was utter] oblivious to all else.
but after a. few minutes e began to steal fre-
quent glances at Gold Gauntlet, and his manner
was as timid as ever.

Gold Gauntlet took no great interest in him.
supposing him some vagabond of the town, but
:hhen the repast was finished, he again broke the

ence:

He arose. watching Gold Gauntlet closelv,

 

old of a solution of the mystery only to be
hafiled,as it seemed, grasped the man‘s arm
forcibly.

“ Come, gather your wits and speak out!" he
starnl ordered.

Sea ing-Knife uttered a startled cry. Gold

him afresh, and he trembled in
every limb. Not a word did he speak, however.

CHAPTER VI.
wares is run “ snanrsai”

Cosme“ that he could gain no iiul'mnation
by proceedin gently, Gold Gauntlet shook the
vagabond wi increased roughness.

“ Open your mouth and talk:” he ordered. “ I
want to learn what you knew about ti-a picture
‘ rocks. Don‘t force me to tear you i pieces to
‘ get the information. Speak out, I se i”

 

 

known like a leaf in the win
Scnl lug-Knife looked the picture of terror.
1 butit eiacked courage to resent such usage,

ment he broke Gold Gauntlet’s bold. and then,
turning, he dashed away up the gulch like a
frightened deer. If he had been racing for his
life he could not have gone faster.

Gold Gauntlet did not pursue. Seeing that
the man had evaded him, he shrugged his shoul-
ders philosophically.

“ Let him go! He’s only some crazy, or fonl~
ish, fellow, and not worth my time. And yet-
yet— He lain! knows something about the
picture roc . is work of his in the sand is a

that he became crazy thrmgzh events connected

with that m_ an unsa sfactorily hinted at

by the picture on the rock i”

‘ Scalping-Kmfe had disappeared. but for some

' moments the younger man stood in
thought. Then e an denly amused. , y'

I ‘.‘Bahl why do 1 waste time overthisalfairi

, I have matters of more importance to «copy

. my time. I am going to seeJoseph Love
and his‘ fair sister—yes, and his sister, for she
to

' J

 

be the means of m revenge. Little

i _ far/("V

r
3:33.

   r, . g .  .\_ I} ‘_"

Gold Gauntlet watched I

“What does that mean?” the young man de- .

“Just what I want to know. Why did you r

and the latter, annoyed at being on the thresh-

Gaunt et‘s severe grasp and imperious words"

And once more his strong.r grasp shook the an. 1

good copy, considering his means. Can it he 7, .

“ephsnspect what a isturblug element .

he had a way to avoid it. With a sudden ‘\. I l i '

 

 

 

 

_ with all his usual glow and in .

.- m ression that
abs

6

Gold Gauntlet.

 

 

hand when Icall upon him. I will talk very
fair and favorable—and then for revenge!”

Turning abruptly, he went inside the hut.
From Out of a corner he produced a violin, and,
sitting down, he an to play.

This man had other peculiarities than go'
under the strange name of “ Gold Gauntlet.”

A physiognomist, looking critically at his
face, would have said that he was a practical
man of very strong will. It seemed contrary
to all laws of nature for him to dress like a
dandy, ride about the countr like a madman,
and play the violin in this wi d gulch of Utah.

Two years before he had never Worn long
hair, dressed in other than sober garments, rid-
den recklessly or played a stroke on a violin.

Circumstances may make a millionaire beg
for a crust of bread; circumstances had made
Gold Gauntlet what he now was. He had no
taste for music, yet he had employed the best
teachers of New York city to make him a good
violinist.

When the work was done he came to Utah to

la .

p {Ive was certainly very skillful. He played
boldly, yet with excellent gaggment, and the
humble little hut became 11 with melody
which would have delighted fastidious ears.
Two pieces were layed; then he stopged short
in the midst of 6 third, and a trou led look
crossed his face.

“ Was that a flaw?” he asked, aloud. “I
feel almost sure that I did not wield the bow
Just right then!”

Considering that the only possible imperfec-
tion was an incorrect volume of sound on
some one note, if anything—and even that was
doubtful—his anxietyedseemed strange; but he
went over the suspec- poi'nt again and again.

“ That’s better, ’ he finally said. “ ’Twas the

I first slip I’ve made in several weeks; pray
t

Heaven may be the last!”

Strange Gold Gauntlet! Why was he so
anxiousto lay correct] —even with fastidious-
nicety—in that wildlan of Utah? It was no
idle desire, and it had the im rtance of a
strong, fixed purpose. He won] rather use the
bow to rfection than find the richest mine in
all the est.

M sterious Gold Gauntlet!

F nally he put the violin carefully away, and
then lay down, lighted his pipe and began
making.

The day were away. Minutes w into
hours; the sun went down, and ni h followed
on its heels; then, in due time, 0 d Sol in
a redonthescene and con ered the aid

Gold Gauntlet waited unti the middle of the

'_forenoon' then he secured his horse from the

‘little valle where he had been Erasin , and
rode into City. He went wit and
idle show; the thon htful look was gone from
his face, and he loo ed to be no more than the
idle dare-devil the villagers believed him to be. .

He drew up in front of Lovering’s house with

' a good deal of flourish sprung oi! and went to

the door. He rap , and a gray-haired old
roa .
‘ Yop man,” said Gold Gauntlet, airily, “is
Jose h at ome‘l"

“ r. Jose h Loverinfilam in, sah,” the aged
servant repl ed resentfu .

“ Then tell him I want see him.”

And the visitor walked unceremoniously past
the negro. entered the parlor and sat down with
his hat still on his head. This disregard of
form dumfounded the colored gentleman.

“ What shall I tell him our name is, sahi”
heasked, in a do a n-hea . way.

“ Tell him nothing except what I directed
and tell him that at once. Why do you stand
there staring like the man in the moon? My
business is with Joe, not with you. Get thee

‘ hence A. Jackson Berry!”
He kne

w the colored man’s name, it seemed,
and the old servitor went his way with a heavy
heart. Mr. Berry did not love the West. and he
never would while there was such a disre-
gard of etiquette on all hands.

Joseph Lovering soon entered.

He was a man of twenty-five years, tall and
very delicately built. His face was boyish and
smoothly shaven excopt for a straw-colored

‘mustache of insignificant Size. He was 1 pro-

nounced blonde, his hair being ver light of
color, and his eyes a light blue. no would
have said at first sight t mt he had a weak, ex-
ressionless face but a closer scrutiny gave the
e was obstinate, if not reason-
firm; and under all was something which
that he might not always be scrupu—

lo honest.

Go (1 Gauntlet had removed his hat, and he
now arose politely.

“Good-morning. Mr. Lovering," he said.
“Good-morning, sir; I am pleased to see
on.

Loverinfilgave the caller his hand, and seemed
to feel all at he professed.

“ I see that you know me.”

“Oh! yes; you are the Gulch Gladiator, as

‘, somebodyfhas ’named you—a tribute to your
0

amounts:- rm.
“1 have somede thank."
“ Pray sit down. .-”

 

“ Gold Gauntlet.”

“ A peculiar name.”

“ I am a peculiar man.”

“ We all have our individualities, as I may
express it. You are a good man for the West,
sir; so good that I hope weare to have the pleas-
ure of writing you down a permanent citizen of
Dan City.”

“ Then you’ll let me into the fold?”

“ With pleasure.”

“ Your city marshal, Hurlforth, called upon
me, and I have been thinking the matter over
ever since.”

“ I hope you have decided to remain.”

“ You shall hear my position. if Isettle down
I must become a enuine Mormon, I am told.”

“ A Dan City ormon,” Loverin amended.
“ We are not orthodox members 0 the great
brotherhood. Mr. Hicks and I don’t like to be
little toads in a big puddle, as it were, so we bare-
ly keep in the limits of the fold,and proceed almost
independently, as far as the Mormon church and
eve body else is concerned.”

“ see, and that suits me well,” Gold Gauntlet
replied. “ What are Dan City‘s chances of grow-
ing to be a large place?” ‘

‘ Very ood. ’

“ Why ask is this: I have some mane —
about fl ty thousand dollars—and when I se tie
down I want to place it where it will grow.”

Iovering’s eyes glittered with cupidity.

“ Dan Cit is “net the place. We can sell you
a la trac of and at a merely nominal price,
and it is sure to double in value in six months,
treble in a year, and—”

He was going on with this flatteringngicture,
but Gold Gauntlet interrupted in most
buo ant manner.

“ believe this is just the chance I want. I'm
not a business man, but I believe Western land
is the thing. You chuck in your money; the
value increases; you come out rich. I haven’t a
head for business, but a fool can get rich on a
rise in land."

Joseph Lovering was filled with exultation.
He was an unscrupulous man; he wanted Gold
Gauntlet’s money at Dan City—wanted it there
simply because wanted to pla a game of
wits with the Gla iator, and transfer the money
from that man’s pocket to his own. Apparently
Gold Gauntlet was both ignorant of business an

rudence ' he seemed to have child-like simplicity;
e would be a rare bird to luck.

80 thought Joseph, and e proceeded to draw

a very roseate picture of Dan City and its fu-

ture.

viGold Gauntlet listened, and seemed fully con-
11 .
“ I shall lack one thing when I settle,” he said,

anon.

“ What is that?”

“ I haven’t even one wife.”

“ There are fair young damsels in Dan City.”

" I know it, and there is one who fills my
heart and soul with admiration; one who is as
beautiful as an angel; one to whom an man
might be proud to how the head prince on h
he might be. miss me this woman, an I
cast my lot with Dan City from this hour.”

“ I romise—”

“ wait. You have not heard her name.”

“ It makes no diiference; if she is unmarried,
she shall be yours.”

“ Even if—”

“ Even if it were my own sister!” declared
Josegh, who plainly had no suspicion of the
trut .

Gold Gauntlet arose.
_“ It is your sister!” he quiet] said.
3211,} love and wishto marry is be!

H The
Lover-

CHAP’I‘ER VII.
rnn inn wno LIKED MUSIC.

Dssrrrs: his late confident assertion Joseph
Lovering was so rised. and for a few moments
he sat lookin at ld Gauntlet in silence.

“ You wis to marry my sister!” he finally
saidi gith a marked interrogative accent.

‘ o.‘

The Gulch Gladiator spoke quietly, and leaned
back in his chair in the most ’matter-of-fact way
possible.

” Why, you have never spoken to her.”

“ Excuse me: 1 chanced to meet her; we con-
versed; she made my heart captive.”

There was another silence. Joseph. despite
his rather insipid fare, had a nick mind. He
was now thinking d ply. He oved Isabel, and
that love was the on redeeming quality in his
nature. For a while the good and evil strug led
in his mind. Should he, to gratify his so fish

lans and ambition sacrifice heri—for he be-

ieved that it would be nothing less than sacri-
fice to give her to this reckless stranger.

Gold Gauntlet waited tiently for a repl .

“ You have su ri me,” said Josep , at
last, “but I am no inclined to recede from my

miss. Isabel shall marry you i”

“ She may object.”

Joseph shrugged his shoulders.

“ will is law in Dan City.”

“ T on I rely upon you to help me.”
“One word with you, though. Here in Dair-

",'- .  .v’ :25“; '

 

City woman does not have the liberty and.
power that she does in the East; she is kept in

er proper place, as an inferior. Man is the
ruler here; we overturn woman’s petty whims,
instead of humoring them. But Isabel is a fine
girl; she is my sister: I love her. Misfortune
to her would break my heart.”

Tlhem wasa tremor in Joseph’s voice as he

e.

“ Believe me, every act of mine toward her
shall be tempered by the knowledge of your love
for her,” replied Gold Gauntlet, with a depth of
meaning Joseph did not suspect.

“ I hope she will like you,” Joseph continued,
“ and as woman’s love is aroused merely b what
pleases her eye she ought to. I will call er!”

He rung the .

“ Pray don’t let her know that any visitor is
here ” said the Gladiator.

“ It shall be as you say.”

The colored man appeared; he was directed to-
request the presence of Miss Lovering in the
parlor; he bowed very low and withdrew.

Jose h had something1 more to say, but Gold
Gaunt et scarcely heard im; he was wondering
what the coming interview would bring forth.
Isabel had declared that she would not see him
under any circumstances; that she would never‘
speak to him again. Unless she had learned of
his presence in the house, she was about to be
entriipped into seeing him. What would be the
resu t

He expected a lively scene. He believed that
she would sweep indignantly from the room,
but if she did so he hoped to con uer her. He
had made J oseph his ally, and wit the glitter-
ing bait of fi ty thousand dollars before his
eyes, he would be a faithful one.

Isabel came. She entered the parlor in it

~ 4: "m: .;  

manner which at once proved that she did not- .

expect to find a caller there. A smile was on
her face, but the abruptness with which it van-
ished when she saw who was there was start-

lin .

guddenly she came to a full stop, and her
lovely face seemed to grow rigid.

“ My sister, Miss Lovering; Mr. Gold Gaunt-
let,” said Joseph, forgetting that the Gladiator
had spoken of a previous meeting.

The visitor bowed low.

“ Miss Lovering and I are not strangers,” he
observed.

Isabel said nothing but her e esflashed in-
dignation upon Gold Gauntlet. er face flush-
ed, and then turned pale. She turned toward

“ h didn’t you inform me you had com-
panyr’s e asked imperiously.

Jose h, surprised and confused, glanced at
Gold untlet.

“ Am I to infer from that glance that this
gentleman told you not to warn me?” she con-
tinued, quickly.

There was sarcasm in the way she uttered the
word :gentleman," but the Gladiator remained
 O

“ Such was the case, Miss Lovering,” he
replied; “ I wanted to give you a little surp "

is easy confident smile filled her with almost
overpowe n indi ation. If she had been a
man, feelingl ersel thus wronged and insulted,
she would ave taken prompt steps to gain
satisfaction.

Fortunately for her, situated as she was, here
was a nature which would not yield to ordinary
troubles. Her first impulse was to beat an un-
ceremonious retreat from the rooms, but the
smile on Gold Gauntlet’s face aroused all her
combativeness.

To her it seemed that it was the coward’s wa
to flee, and she felt a strong desire to meet th a
man with his own wee ns and defeat him.
How she hated him! His audacity seemed un—
paralleled.

Desperately she struggled to regain her calm-
ness; there was a choking sensation in her throat,
and it was no easy matter to conquer
herself, not to mention him.

The first part was done, however; she man-
aged to force a smile, and her voice was steady
as she replied:

“ BelieVe me, Mr. Gold Gauntlet, I am not in-
sensible to your kindness. I know its full value
and rise it accordingly.”

“ hank yen, Miss Lovering.”

“ I presume you have come to make us a long
visit.’

“ Well,” re lied the Gladiator, uneasily, for
he saw that s e was armed against him and. in
consequence, something disastrous might occur,
“ as to that—” _

“ Joseph can loan you money, if you need it."

Calmly, serenelys e spoke, but Gold Gaunt-
let felt tell-tale color stealing to his face. 'He
had no mean opponent—what would she say
next?

“ I have money in abundance,” he quickly re‘

lied.
p “ Then "you have improved your financial
standing. ,

Isabel turned to her brother and added:

“ You see, I knew Mr_. Gold Gauntlet of old—
Nonsensel why call him by such an absurd
name? Has he told you his real name! Gold
Gauntlet is very romantic, and it seems
to divulge the fact that he is, really, plain

l

g \

 

 

 

  
  
 

 tibia Gauntlet.

7

 

 

miah Jenkins, but such is the case. Mr. Jen-
kins won’t deny it. Yes, m dear Joseph, I
knew him before I came to tab, and in those
old da 8 he was ‘ dead broke,’ if I may use such
an u y-like expression. Do you remember
the time, Mr. Jenkins, that you took me out to
supper, and then had to borrow money of me to
pa for what we ate? Funny, wasn’t it?”

Miss Levering, poised as lightly on her feet as
though she were a bird about to fly, rattled 03
these sentences with the most attractive gayety
imaginable.

Her face had flushed alittle; her eyes spark-
led; her expression was as much one of gay can-
ixlgcil' as though all that she said had once occur-

Truly, she was playing her part well; she had
accepted the situation, turned the tables on the
Gulch Gladiator, and was making the battle
veg warm for him.

e was. dumfounded. He was not named
Jenkins, and never had been, and the way she
was givingihis history, she would soon utterly
ruin him. e had come to con uer; he was now
on the ver e of defeat. Alrea y he saw Joseph
looking at im suspiciously; the remarks about
his poverty had aroused a suspicion in that gen-
tleman’s mind that all was not as it should be.
1Ytt’itllia desperate effort Gold Gauntlet forced
a

“ I must amend your last three words,” he re-
plied. “ Make them, ‘ funny, isn’t it?’ and I am
with you. It was not ‘funny’ then .' I was so
confounded poor that only sharp skirmishing
kept me in food and clothing. Man is never
happy, and now that I am rich I am at a loss to
know how to take care of my money.”

“ If there is enough of it,” replied Isabel,
lightly, “ why not purchase another horse? You
could ride both at once, like a circus-rider.”

“ My own idea is to purchase a wife,” he re-
torted.

“ Can’t you t one any other way?”

“ I knew of ut one woman who would marry
for anythin but money—yourself.”

“ I shoul su ose any woman would marry
you for your pre ty clothes and good Icoks.”

Isabels manner was still vivacious, a d her
smile was the most sunny imaginable, bu even
Jose h detected a shade of venom under all.

“ me, come," he interrupted, “this is not
the kind of conversation I like' you are going
too far, Isabel. I dare say, Mr. Jenkins, on
are aware my sister is the most indepeu ent
woman living. She says what she pleases, and

it uently pleases her to he caustic.”
“ L0ve ’ and I understand each other.”
“ So we do, erry,” the girl pointedly an-
swered

“Well, let us tone down conversation any-
h’ow,” said Joseph, authoritatively. “ Sit down,
Isabel; you worry me by standi there. I am
considerably surprised, Mr. Jen us, to learn
that you and Isabel are old uaintances.”

There was some suspicion his voice and
manner, and Gold Gauntlet knew that doubts
had entered his mind in regard tothat fifty thou-
sand dollars which the Gladiator had promised
to add to the wealth of Dan Cit .

“It was a surprise for you,’ replied the pn-
tative Jenkins. “1 will explain to you later,
when we have our business talk. For the res-
ent, will 'you not favor us with music, iss
Levering ’

He motioned toward the piano, but Isabel

, shru  her shapely shoulders.
“ finlybyou don’t know Joseph as well as
you do me, erry ” she answered. " Know then

that he is the nest musician in the world—I
speak moderat‘gy, you see—and that he has such
a hi hly-criti_ ear that when a novice, like
in 9 plays. it tears his nerves all to pieces.”

‘ Isabel!” exclaimed her brother.

‘;»I am only stating facts. Joseph, play for

Gold Gauntlet added his request, and Ioveriug
went to the piano. His manner was extremely
quiet, but the moment he touched the he s the
instrument seemed to become a thi of li e, and
even Gold Gauntlet. prepared as e was for
something remarkable, was  J oseph’s
touch was perfect: he was, in be full sense of
the word, master of the instrument; and the
room became filled with melody which would
have ap ealed to the dullest perception and con-
quered t 6 most obdurate mind.

But what would Joseph have thought had
some one told him that the touch of his fingers
on the keys was the signal for the beginning of
a scheme to ruin him?

Gold Gauntlet, listening to that wonderful
melod , remembered his violin.

“ hat if I should make another flaw in play-
ing?” he thought.

here was a_ singular connection between the
violin and this piano. For two years Gold
Gauntlet had practiced almost constantly to be-
come an accomplished player of the violin.
Why! Not merely to win Jose h‘s good will as
an able fellow-musician. No; ck of that was
g.“ 1:12:10 point on which depended the Gladiator’s

He had come to Dan City to lay the violin
while Joseph played the piano. hen be hoped
a certainthing wouldoccur. It mi ht occur
within an hour; itmight not occur ayeai';

\
’1 i

but Gold Gauntlet was resolved to continue the
crusade until success or utter failure ted.

A strange drama had begun there in the little
town of remote Utah.

CHAPTER VIII.
a STRANGE STATE or arrams.

GOLD GAUNTLET had for the time utterly for-
gotten Isabel, but a touch on his arm caused
him to look around. The girl stood by his side,
looking at him with a defiant expression on her
fair face.

“ Are you satisfied with the way I received
you?” she asked, in anything but a friendly
vmce.

He glanced uickly at Joseph.

“ Have no car,” she added. “ While he is
playing he is oblivious to all other things. I
might shout the Words, and he would not hear
them; he is mad on the subject of music. He
plays grandly, does he not? His is the only
piano t ere is in Dan City, and I believe he
would resent the coming of another, for he would
surely fironounce whoever played it to be a bun-
glei'. ut let us s k of ourselves.”

“ What of curse ves ?” Gold Gauntlet asked.

“ We are enemies!”

“Pardon me; we are—”

“ Enemies,” she sternl persisted. “ Don‘t
make an mistake sir; hate you. When I
declared hat I would not see you here, 1 meant
it; and I would not have come to this room had
I suspected that you were here. Once here you
know how I conducted myself. All that ldid
was im romptu; it was the act of one at bay,

deceiv , attacked, rsecuted.”
“ Miss Lovering,’ the Gladiator exclaimed,
“ I protest—”

" Be silent!” she said, imperiously. “ You
shall talk when I am done.”

There was nothin hard or unwomanly in her
manner, and he ha never admired her so much
as at that moment. She was justly indignant,
and thou h, to further his scheme ' st her,
he would ave tried to pacify her—to lind her—
he felt that her cause was just.

“ A word now as to the future,” she contin-
ued. “ You insist upon formin my acquaint-
ance. Very well, it shall be so; t there are a
few things I must insist upon. We are old
acquaintances.”

‘ A u”

“ Your name is Jeremiah Jenkins.”

“ Agreed —-under protest.”

“ Outwardly, we are friends.

“ Agreed-with thanks.”

“ Really, we are bitter anemia.”

“ I can never agree to that—”

“Sir, do you he for one moment that it
can be otherwise?” e cried. “ I tell you that I
hate you. So much the better; you have forced
your presence upon me, and from this hour we
are in battle; it will be wit against wit, and if I
do not match you, it will not be because I don’t
hate on!”

Go (1 Gauntlet heard and admired. There was
still an utter absence of anything harsh or
hard in her manner; she was, he silently ad-
mitted, a glorious woman justly indignant; a
wo'man wronged, yet all alert to defend hen

sel .

“ It is a pity,” thought the Gladiator, “ that
this charming girl must be sacrificed to enable
me to crush Joseph Levering.”

Then he answered her last words:

“ I will not argue with you on a flint where
you seem determined, but I must lare that,

owever much you ma hate me, I am not your
I told you in

’ here.”
mg To annoy me !”
“Toma on!”
With an e ort he forced his old, confident

enemy: gulch why I was com-

air to the surface, as he spoke. Her face
flushed.

“I wish you joy!” she retorted. “Usually
men are too wise to play with a ther’s claws,

butitseems that you are resoved togoonto
year he?

“ Don’t blame me if you regret it.”

“ Despite your warnings, I am sure you will
make an affectionate wife,” he aflirmed, looking
full into her eyes.

- “ Sir ” she answered, firml returning his re
ard, ‘ I am only a woman, at I believe that
f 1 did not aspire to defeat on at your own
reckless, impudent game, I cou d strike you to
mv feet this moment i”

1‘ Pardon me, but you would interrupt the
music.”

“Sheer on. You are a man of courage and
self-control, and I rec ice in on a strong foe;
but, sir, in the end 1 all win ” '

“ Win whom? Why, your humble servant!”
l and he placed his hand over his
l “ Heaven forbid! But let us end this vain
talk; it is now clearly understood that we are
to be bitter enemies, but I will Ellay my part.
In public, Mr. Jerry Jenkins, I w be gracious

to you.’

‘ ‘ And in private, loving.”

l “ Yes; as loving as a tigress.”

l “ Bravo! you are a jewel. I like you more
and morerfair Isabel, and I long to see the day

 

 

when you will become my wife. Your spirit is
admirable; it pleaSes me to see it.”

“ You shall see all of it you desire,” Isabel re-
tohrted. ”“ Be silent, now; Joseph Will soon stop
p mg.

S e turned aside and sat down at a distance.
Gold Gauntlet watched her curiously, critically.
Theirs hits)? betlm at uliar coiviersatitliln, and
one possi e on wi a young y wit pecu-
liarities. Isabel had a good deal of his own
firm, combative nature, and in entering upon
this armed truce, as it might be called, she did
so only because she was confident of his ability
to defeat him in the end. She wished to bring
him to grief.

His heart smote him not a little. She was too
fine a irl to be deliberately sacrificed, but
Joseph vering was a scoundrel; he must suf-
fer as an atonement for a great wrong he had
done, and the surest way to strike ' was
through Isabel.

The music ceased, and Jose h turned around.

“ Mr. Levering,” said the G adiator, “ it would
be a waste of breath for me, or any other man
whom I know, to raise your playing. One
who hasadivine gi t to such an extent must
hiirself be aware of it full .”

Joseph smiled“ the pee 'ar terms of the com-
pliment pleased 

“ Music is my passion,” he answered.

“A worthy one.”

“ To a great extent. my skill comes from a
natural gift; I was considered a prodigy when
a mere c ild. The gift was born with me.”

“ I could tell that at once. This reminds me,
I suppose people think me a crank in regard to
muSic.”

Gold Gauntlet shielded his eyes as he spoke:
conversation was approaching a crisis, an
felt Sure that an eager, anxious look was visible
therein.

“ I don’t understand.”

“ Haven’t they heard my violin i”

“ I was not aware that you played.”

“ I assure you I do, and if you were u in the
gulch some evening, you would think e lace
was haunted by the spirits of the dead. ow-

ever, don’t read the news, or some one may
nrloin, or e my violin, and it cost me a
fabulous sum. It is a Cremona, and of wonder-

ful tone.” .

Joseph had become interested; this was to be
seen in his every feature.

“ I’d like to see that violin I” he exclaimed.

“ You shall.”

"' It is an instrument which I play, though
my preference is for the iano; it is the king of
musical instruments. owever, if your violin
is 3.11 that you say of it, I should like to—eee
it.

He was about to say “ hear you la ” but so
many indiflerent players had ofl'engedyliis sensi-
tive ear that he was cautious.

“ You shall,” Gold Gauntlet answered.

“ When?”

“ Whenever ou say.”

“ Can you bring it to-morrow evening! Ilball
be busy until then.” >

“ To-morrow evening suits me well.”

“ So be it, then.”

“ I trust that Miss Lovering will honorus with
her resence,” the Gladiator answe

“ ertainly Mr. Jenkins; I am curious to see
how you an Joseph harmonize in music.”

An amused smile swept over her face and
Gold Gauntlet knew how to into t it. When
he came he would he expec to play on the
violin. Isabel believed that his execution would
tear J oseph’s over-sensitive nerves to pieces, and
ruin his own cause.

It could not be said that the Gladiatorwas I

confident of success. For two years hehadheen
reparing for this ordeal, but though he had
Lft no stone unturned, he still had doubts.

After a little more conversation Joseph polite- -

I told Isabel that they would excuse her. Gold

nntlet suspected why this was done, and when
she had gone he proceeded to sto direct ques-
tions by observing that he won! hke Joseph’s
advice. He then produced a pack e of papers.
These documents seemed to prove t at c was
actually worth fifty thousand dollars, and over;
and the doubts which had arisen in the Mor-
mon’s mind were ut to rest.

Had he known at these papers were bogus,
he would not have part d With his caller in as
friendly a way as he did, half an hour later.

Gold Gauntlet rode back to the gulch in a
more sober frame of mind than usual.

“The first step is taken, and now I must ro-
ceed to crush that villain!” he thought. “ ho
would imagine that his heart is so black! He

looks mild—even weak—but he is a fiend at -

Few men would have the heartlem vil-
lainy necessary to do the dark deed that lays at
his door. Well, the avenger is on the track,
and I pra Heaven that success may crown my
efforts. f-only I can play the viohn to please
him, I shall have hope of gettinggw proof which
I desire—ay, that proof shall secured, even
though I sit by his side and lay daily until we
both grow old and gray. en, when once the
proofisinine—tbentostrikeforvengeaneei” .

The strange man rode into thegulch with ht
facesetandstern hut,afew minutes afta' he
enmmdthehuathesoundofaviolhwas to he,

. A gaff; <
. a.  .‘ii‘:

,4“
.35
,1.
. 1

 

8

I

, I _ , _ ,gm, . ~\,_L- -, 
I , lil, , -‘  . , .3 ', v (r. ,, I..:._,}‘!l{i,'* I; ,...
. , .. .

!

 

Gold Gauntlet.

 

heard therein, and the music floated out with
rare sweetness, filling the grim old gulch with
melody strange to it.

 

 I I Mysterious Gold Gauntlet!

‘ i. CHAPTER IX.

- ,- was MAN raou PINE-APPLE.

é Yank YELLOWBIRD, Bronx Hendershot and

Trail-Lifter had been near] twenty-four hours
at Dan City, but they ha gained no informa-
tion in regard to the matter which brought
them to the town.

The mountaineer reasoned that if the persons
who attacked and destroyed the wagon-train
h 'reall been the men of Dan City, as Ike

reen beieved, the missin girls, Lovis and
qua Dahlgren, must have n taken to the
town and held b some of the Mormon leaders.
In this theory, overing and Hicks naturally
came under cial suspicion. ,.

J / The hope hearing the girls mentioned at the
 ‘ hotel was not fulfilled. Not a word was said in
 ‘ their hearing about any captive girls. or any

wagon-train.

The long an’ short on’t,” said Yank, the fol—
lowin day, “either the common herd ain’t let
inter he confidence 0’ the big Mormons, or else

 they hev been mighty wal schooled ter keep

h their tongues uiet. '

 “ It may be th, answered Bronx.

 I or To be sure.»

" 1 "" It seems to me, Nevermiss, that our best
way is to find some one here not in sympathy
with the Mormons, and uestion him."

"‘I consait that woud be a greed idee, but
whar will you find sech a chap? he egregious

, insex who run this town keep onbelievers, as

.17  they call ’em, either outside the fold, or wal

 ' . These Mormons," the veteran added,

(I. shaking his long forefinger emphatically at

 . Bronx, “ are critters who doesn’t exhibit their

3 ' igreen ter the world. That’s what they be,

'“~ y hurleyl” ,.

{1‘77 “ Our business here is to learn their private

. '  aflairs, whether they are willing or not."

‘ “ To be sure."

.,c .- “ Levering, the leader of them all, hasa large

,M,‘ ‘ house in which he keeps his wives; he is said to

n - have three. There is room there for adozen.

w  The same remarks will apply to Hicks, his fat
" ~ ally, except that Hicks has more than three

wives already. The Dahl girls may be in

either house: in fact, if t ey are as profit as

Green said, I don’t believe Levering and icks

.~_ -v v4.4 .’

I~<A‘I A. €~.

 

« " would let them slip]?

 “ You speak rig t for the p’int, lad.”

;. _" “The next question is, how are We to learn if
‘  they are in these houses?"

Hev’you a scheme?”
‘6

“‘1 s ,” said Yank, meditatively,“ that we

mi ht break in, but of we found only the

‘ fa thful’ tharin, we would prob’l git our hair

pulled egre- 'ously: an’ I’d ruther ev the malig-
. nant newra gy an day than ter hev a woman

gra 1e with my a 211%. I had, by hurleyl”
ank removed his at and tenderly caressed
his fiaxen hair.
“ Women make a pile o’ tribarlation an’ dis-
tress fur mankind,” he added, “ an’ it would be
' a blemin’ fur married men ef they could be born
bald-headed.”

“ I judge that you were not,” said Bronx,
mailing;

“ Me? Land 0’ Goshen, no! I had sech a
head 0' hair when I made my entrance ter the
world that my parients dispensed with flannel

‘ ter roll me up in. an’ my only garment fur
the fimtyear was my hair. It kivered me all

V.

over, an some ter spare; an’ the balance on’t

th’niy hutfg over a chair.”
rail- fter touched the mountaineer’e arm
and, turning, they saw another man approach-

was a person of middle age; a long, lank,
nosed. ingly hornel man and the style of his
ants ndica that he was from the East.
‘ y did not, however, speak well for his tailor;
t'ihgy and their wearer were nowhere near of a

This man approached with a quick, energetic
step and business air, and it soon became ap-
t that Yank was the object of his atten-
mfi He walked up like a messenger come in
haste and seized the veteran’s hand.

“ mornin’, good-momin’, elder!” he ex-
claimed, in a short, sharp watt; yet with a pecu-
liar sound to each word. “ lad tew see yew.
' ,‘g Yew’vo been mentioned on one o’ the shmin‘

lights 0’ Dan City. an‘ I’m pleased tew see yew
lookin’so well. air an’ good conscience
does the business. Yew've got a pesky fine
town here, I vow elder! Permit me tew intro-
duce tew y’ew Mr. Phineas French; that’s me.
I’m from ine Apple, Massachusetts, though
,why the town was called that Ifium I don‘t
know. Ever in Pine A lo? I may not.
‘ I hev been, but like Uta the best. » How are
all  wives, elder? Wal. I he ”
‘ old up, hold up!” exclaim. Yank, who
had been gazing in stupefaction at the man,
whose tongue seemed to be as tireless as hi
, breath was inexhaustible; and he would have
 said more had not Phineas French broken in
,. " can more in his. brisk,“ilood-like way.
' “Yes, yes, older; I know, _I know. No harm

 

 

meant. I ain’t the man tew intrude on the
sacred privacy 0’ yewr home life. I’m from
Pine Apple, but I don’t keer ef yew hev fifty
wives, nur thar ain’t a soul in Pine Apple who
does, ef they would speak right owt in. meetin’,
by gosh. But see here, elder, I want tew call
yewr attention tow somethin’ o’ importance."

Yank had been making desperate, but vain,
attempts to stop the speaker, while Bronx, who
perceived that the mountaineerhad been mis—
taken for a Mormon, was laughing heartily.

Mr. French went on in his Whirlwind style:

“ I am agent for four articles indispensable
tew any level woman’s toilet, viz..~ The 011'-
cassio-Orient 1 air Tonic, the Elysian Eyebright
Optic-Bath—a great thing tew make the eyes
sparkle, elder—the Pearl of Great Price Tooth
Powder, and the Balm 0’ Beauty. The last is
fur the complexion, elder, an’ it will make the
plainest woman as beautiful as Hebe, or Diana,
or Cleopatra. Allow me, elder, tew introduce
these bon ton, ne plus ultra articles tow the in-
mates 0' Evl’our harem. Yew will find they are
the onet ing needful. They are vital] um
sary in ev’ry well-conducted home. f yew
hev any wives who are gittin’ passe. elder, t ese
onrivaied toilet articles will make t'.i \zn bloom
like gardin roses ag’in—they will, Ly gosh!
Now, elder, will sell these tew y .zir wives by
the gross at flggers that can‘t be—"

At this moment Yank grasped the Yankee by
the collar, and shook him as a cat would a
mouse.

“ Let up, ye egregious critter, let up!” shouted
the veteran. “This is wuss than the newroigy
by hurley! Ef I wa‘n‘t a man 0’ peace, anl
’ealous o’ the honor o’ the Yellowbird pedigrecn,

’d lick ye like hurley—I would, sure as you
live. How dare ye take me fur a Mormon
elder, an’ talk about my wives?"

And Nevermiss swung the vender of toilet
articles around until his long legs seemed to be
revolving like the spokes of a gi antic wheel.

French tried in vain tospea , but not until
Yank was out of breath with his violent exer—
cise did he manage to make himself heard.
Then the man from Pine—Apple came up in good
condition, if not smiling.

“ What! ain’t yew a ormon?" he asked.

“Not much, I ain’t!" Yank sturdin declared.
“Take me ter be a victim o’ matrimony, with
seventeen or twenty-five wives, do 9? Wal,
I lain’t, ye atrocious insex; not ef I now my.
38 f l”

“Why didn’t yew say so at once, an’ not
make me waste my time?” demanded Phineas,
in an aggrieved way.

“ Why didn't I!” retorted Yank. “Why
don’t we stop a blizzard by whistlin’, I’d like ter
know. I’d ike ter see the man who could stop
you when you sot out ter talk. You remind me
0’ rpetual motion, b hurleyl”

‘ Then yew ain’t go no wives?”

“Land 0’ Goshen! I hope not!” the veteran
fervently replied.

Mr. French turned slowly toward Bronx.

“Count me out. also,” said the latter, smiling.
“ We are not Mormons stranger, but idle wan-
derers of the West. No market here for toilet
articlea”

“ I’m sorry, I swan,” Phineas declared, “ fur I
was a-hopin’ I could sell suthin’; but ef yew
ain’t got no wives, it’s puifectly fit an’ proper
that yew should not bu . Wal, I’m glad tew
meeli‘i‘yew as feller Gent les, by hi”

“ ister,” returned Yank, ‘ o it ain’t a lead—
in’ question, how come you so fur from yer

“ Thereby ban a tale," explained Phineas,
who seemed to one of the happiest-natured
men alive. “ I come here tew drive a bargain.

I am agent fur the Balm 0’ Beauty, the Elysian
Eyebriggt Optic-Bath, the—”

“ To sure, to be sure; ye said that afore.”

“ An’ I’m here tew sell ’em. Yew see, money
is a bit sca’ce in the East, an’ as I argued that
Mormon women was as vain as other women-
beats all natur’ what a vain critter a Woman is,
I snum—I come tew Utah tew sell these ban ton,
no plus ultra articles 0’ the toilet. When I see
yew I thought yew was a Mormon elder, with
a lar e harem full 0’ wives, an’ as I am deter-
min tew push the Cireassio-Orient Hair
Tonic, an’ the other articles, intew ev'ry home
in Dan City, I sorter swoo dawn ontcr yeW.”

“ You did, by hurle i” ank grimly replied.
“It‘s the fu’st time was ever misto‘k fur a
Mormon, an’ the blot on the Yellowbird pedi-
green is serious, but I am inclined ter forgive ye
on one condition. ”

The mountaineer stroked his beard and looked
earnestly at the man from Pine-Apple.

“ What’s that?" Phineas asked.

“ You look like an honest man."

“ I be one.”

“ Goin' ter settle in Dan City!"

"Not much; the folks down tew hum would
be shocked had of I did: they’re easily shocked
in Pine-Apple.”

“ Mister, ' and Yank‘s voice w more earn-
est, “ do you a’ rove 0’ these cri ters gobblin‘up
gals not 0’ the r faith, an’ forcin’ them ter be

ike ’em?"

“Dow 1? Wu], I guess not. Has it been
done!”

Phineas had gn‘wvn sober, and both Yank and

,,  -\  H

‘ must be revenged.”

 

' ’Y

Bronx felt that under his volatile exterior exist-
ed an honest nature. The two men exchan
glances,and Roux noddedin reply to Ya ’s
questioning look.

“It has. been done,” the mountaineer an-
answered.

“ Here in Dan City?”

“ We consult it has."

“Then,” declared Phlneas, “ I’ll double my
price on the toilet articles. Sech goin‘s on

CHAPTER X.
rm: vorcns or ran sum.

Comucnn that the Yankee was to be trust-
ed, Nevermiss proceeded to explain to him that
there were two missing irls who, they believed,
were captives in some cues in Dan City. He
did not mention the we on-train, or Ike Green,
and confined his confi ence within as narrow
limits as possible, but as he went on he was
more than ever satisfied that he had made no
mistake.

nch’s honest face glowed with indigna-
t.

ion.

“ It‘s a burnin’ shame, by gosh i” he declared.
“Now, as a rule, I don’t care whether other
men has one wife or uinety-nine—providin’ the
wives is willin’—but this crowd at Dan City
don’t seem tew be good church-members, an -
how. Stole some prett gals. has they? y
gracious, of this don t ma e my blood boil, what s
the trouble with my blood, anyhow?"

“ Mister, you’re about right, I reckon,” Yank

“ It’s a pesky shame."

“ You ma chance ter see these gals ef you
go inter the ouses o’ the big guns 0’ the town."

“ Wal, I’m a-goin’, yew bet! declared Phineas,
his professional zeal at once amused. “ Pm
bound tew sell my Elysian E ebright Optic-
Bath Balm 0’ Beauty an‘ other hinge tow every
female woman here! ’

“To be sure. Wal, when ye go. jest keep an
eye open fur the tow a, Will ye?"

“ I will, sure, au’ e I git a clew, I’ll tell ye. I
ain’t goin tew see no women-folks trod on when
I’m around.” ,

“ Nor I!” and Nevermiss struck his hand
forcibly upon the breech of his rifle. “ Man
would be 0’ no use in this world onless it was ter

rotect helpless Woman; an’ when I see Beauty
in triberlation an’ distress ’cause 0‘ the schemin’
0’ some atrocious insex, I feel jest like risin’ up
in my wrath an’ devourin’ him, as Samson
Yellowbird did Joan 0’ the Ark when Nero
prosecuted her. He pulled down the temple, my
uncle Samson did, an’ he did ri ht, by hurleyl”

Phineas looked a little da at hearing this
Vel‘SlOn of history, but the mountaineer went on
placidly.

He talked with the Yankee for some time
longer, and then the separated and Nevermiss,
Bronx and Trail- ter walked away from the

town.

They felt that they had secured a valuable
ally in Phineas. He was resolved to go into the
houses of every Mormon in Dan Cit to sell his
toilet articles, and if “cheek” an wit could
take him there, he would accomplish his ob t.
Once there, he might nee LOVE and hue ahl~

ren.

g Conversing ho fully, Yank and Bronx
walked on be on the town, and were soon in
the rough regizm to the northeast.

Bronx had not lost his eye for the grand in
Nature, and as he saw one int from which a
fine view could undoubtedly obtained, he sug-
gested that they go there. Yank acquiesced
and they climbed up the rocks after a hard
struggle; indeed, the way was so hard and pre-
cipitous that few would have thought of attempt—
ing it, and the veteran only went because he
twould not admit that the others 'could excel

im.

All this seemed a trivial matter at the time,
but the future oved it to be anythin else.
Had they been isoouraged by the eutloo and
failed to climb the rocks, the future of all our
characters might have been very different.

Havin reached an elevated point they sat
down and looked of! upon the mde prairie, the
sandy desert far to the south. the hills around
them, and the town in the valley below.

“ A fine place,” commented Bronx.

“ To be sure,” Yank agreed.

“ it seems a pity that evil men should bring
their misdeeds to mar a region for which Nature
has done so much.”

“Thar ain’t no place so deserted but that the
misdeeds an’ triberlations 0’ life will cree in ”
Yank replied, seriously. “’Member dis incty
when I went ter the North Pole with a s’plorin’
party, an’ we did hev an or regions pile o’ trouble.
The climate was severe, an‘ we eat frozen food
all the time. Shoot an elk or bufiier, an’ he’d be
froze solid afore he had time ter drop ter the
snow. Pour b‘ilin‘ hot water from a dipper inter
yer mouth, an’ it_ froze inter an icicle afore it
got throulrh yer llPS- At times our breath
so solid ahead on us, as it come out u’ our mouthh
that the only way we could advance t

got sick 0' the job, an' I went tar
outfit an’ sea I: a

was ter take a tomahawk an’ chog‘ooubug. I
. w!

r., i.‘ . g“...

.v-wx w .\ «bananas...

v

 

  
  
  

 

 

 

's. i l:
4:}

   Gautiet.

 

“ ‘ Commodore, I think I’ll go back.’

“ ‘ Back whar?’ scz he, sharply.

“ ‘ Ter the States,’ sez I.

“ ‘ I think ye won’t, sez he. ‘ We come out
hyar ter find the North Pole, an’ no man can’t
back out. You’ll keep right on with us, sir,’ sez
he, savagelike.

“ ‘ But I ain‘t wal,’ sez I; ‘ m
are cold, an’ any doctor will to
bad sign.’

" ‘ Don‘t expect ‘em ter be warm, when the
mercury‘s ninety—two degrees below zelon, do
yci‘ sez he.

“ ‘ I’m sure I kin hear death’s hoofs rattlin’
on the ice, an’ he’s comin’ fur me,’ sez I.

“ ‘ He’ll back out arter he’s see’d ye,’ sez he.

“ ‘ I’d make yea powerful sight 0’ work ter dig
a grave fur me when the ground is froze thirty-
schn feet down,’ sea I. I

“ ‘ Don’t ye worry about cold weather,’ sez
he; ‘ I‘ve spoke for a thaw an’ I’ll give you yer
share on’t right away. i reckon I kin warm

1! l’
“With that he took his ramrod an’ fell u 11
me in a very oagentleman-like way, an’ I’ be

extremities
you that’s a

.shot ef he didn’t lick me ontil the welts stood

up all over my pusson like ribs on a skeleton.
I had ter submit, ’cause he was my super’or
ossil'er an’ discipline must be presarved; but
when got him back in the States I paid 03 the
score an satisfied my conscience.”

“You did quite right," Bronx observed.
“,And now, suppose we take a ramble amo
the rocks back of us. It is a wild place, an
nature seems to have done her best to ile in the
rocks to the exclusion of vegetation. t’s not a
pleasant lace, but it may be interesting.”

Yank 'd not object, and the went on with
the Modoc following close behin .

The place was all that Bronx had said of it.
Barren in the extreme, and a jumble of grim
rocks, it presented a marked contrast to the

tar partof the vicinity about Dan City.

here were no indications that it had been at

all frequented by the village people, nor was
this str e.

As Yan said, it seemed like a veyard.

They had one several yards w 11 their prog-
resswaasu only arrested. Trail-Lifter grasped
Yank’a arm, and when he had thus gained at-
tention, he held up one of his hands to enjoin
silence.

“ What is it, Still Tongue?” cautiously asked
the veteran.

The mute Modoc’s fingers flashed over and
across each other, spelling a single word:

“ Listen i”

Then he looked keenly about him and ended
by stretching himself at full length upon the
ground, his movements being of catrlike quick-
nos

Bronx looked and listened in vain; he neither
saw nor heard anythingI unusual. His gaze
sought Yank’s face, and e saw that the latter
looked perplexed.

“ Vmcesl” muttered the mountaineer, “ but
whar do they come from?”

Trail-Lifter made a motion, and Yank lay
down beside him. Bronx experienced a feeling
of chagrin.
audible to his less practiced ears; clearly, be still
had much to learn of border craft.

His eyes, however, finally served him better,
and he saw near the other two men a cleft
which extended dia onally, partly under the
massive bowlder, an partly into the earth.

Yank motioned to this p ace, and Bronx lay
('0 m, placing one ear near the cleft.

L‘hen he, too, heard something—an irregular
click! click! click ! like the contact of two
hard substances. It continued without inter-
mission for at least a minute, and then abrupt-

ly ceased. _ .
“ What- is it?” Bronx asked.
f‘Voices o’ the ’arth,” Nevermiss grimly re-

plied.

“ It sounded like the clicking of a pick.”

“ To be sure.”

“ Are we ovar a mine?”

“ Did ye ever hear 0’ a mine nigh Dan City!”

“No. On the contrary, the landlord of the
hotel told me there was no precious metal,
whatever, about here.”

“ Hark i”

The warning came from Yank and Bronx
again obeyed. The cleft was no longer noise-
less; sounds came to Bronx‘s ears but not the
same as before. What he heard this time was
more important, more convincin ; and when,
after a few moments, it ceased an the “ click-
ing” sound took its place, the young man
 his gaze upon the mountaineer in per-
p e v.

“ What did ye hear?” Yank asked.

“ I could almOst swear it was human voices.”

“ I consait you’re ri ht.”

Trail-Lifters nimbe fingers fleshed a mes
ea in his mute language:

.‘Men down there; they dig. We are over a
mine.”

“ To be sure,” said Yank, thoughtfully.

“ What does it mean?” inquired Bronx. “ If
thereisreallya mine here, the fact has been
kept very quiet. lt is not strange that the
Mo mons should lie to us, for if there is wealth
heretheyare are only wise to keep outsiders

These men lieird something not.

 

i
l

 

ignorant; but there isnot one sign in the vil-

la? to indicate that mining is going on.”
ank peered into the cleft.

In Bronx’s opinion, there was no other man
like him.
As the mountaineer disappeared, the younger

“It’s an e ious pity that this hole ain’t big i man looked at Trail-Lifter. The Indian la like
we

enough so we kin crawl in.”

“ It can’t be enlarged; the gigantic bowlder,
and the ledge below it, positively forbid that.”

“ Fact, by hurleyi”

There was a brief silence, and then Never-
miss added:

“ It stands ter reason that this means su’thin’.
The bosom o’ the ’arth is hable ter be rent
with emotion like that 0’ common man, an’
sighs an’ groans may come forth; but the
wu’ss case 0 triberlation an’ distress can’t make
Mother ’Arth talk in human voices—not much,
it can‘t. The idee is strong in my mind that
thar is some egregious myste about all this,
an’ I’m goin' ter solve it ef sec a thing is ter he
did. Come on, boys, an’ we’ll go on an investi-
gatin’ towerl”

 

CHAPTER XI.

THE MYSTERY or DAN CITY RESERVATION.

Yam: arose abru tly.

“I suppose you intend to look for the en-
trance te this subterranean place,” observed
Bronx.

“ To be sure.”

 prophesy that we shall not find it.”

a

ee.

“Or if we do, that it will be guarded by the
Mormons.” ,

“Your i lees do ye credit.- Yas, ef the atro-
cious insex hev any great secret hyar, you kin
rest assured that t ey hev got the clews hid an’
defended. That black an scowlin’ Hurlforth
looks as though he might be a pirate who sailed
the high seas once; very likely he’s got a gang 0’
cut-throats hyar ter guard their secret. est
kee yer eyes open fur the inemy.”

T e mountaineer went a few paces, and then
suddenly paused.

“ It’s a melancholy fact that m left foot

ives symptoms 0’ gittin’ egregious y scared—

t’s a weak sister. an no mistake. I wish of ye
see any sign 0’ it runnin’awa , you’d fling a
rock at it. Between the wee. sister an’ the

newrol’ , I am awfully beset. You can’t im-
agine w t a cross it is ter hev a left foot that
is a coward. No other Yellowbird was ever
thus 'fiicted; the ’re usual] a warrior race.
One 0’ my gran athers, oshua Yellowbird,
about whom ye may hev heerd, was so t a
gineral that he not only licked the inemy like

urley, but when he commanded the sun ter
stand still, it obeyed him. I’ve often told my
left foot ter stand still, but it will persist in bein’
a weak sister, an’ a blot on the Yellowbird

pedigreen!

Having thus freed his mind, Nevermiss walked
on. His manner was uiet and easy, and his
expressidn placidly sati ed, but his small, my
eyes were ever on the alert. His gaze flitted
from point to point, and nothing escaped his
notice. ‘

Trail-Lifter was equally alert, but Bronx, well
aware that he could not equal these two remark-
able men, confined his eflorts to looking for pos-
sible entrances to the underground place.

Nothing of the kind was found; not even the
mark of a spade. If they had been the first of
the human race to venture there. it could not
have been more deserted. desolate and quiet.

At the end of a hundred yards, however, the
mute Modoc suddenly sto ped them.

“ What now?” Yank asked.

Trail-Lifter pointed ahead.

“ Down!” exclaimed the mountaineer, quick-

yThe trio sunk to the earth.

“ Did e see?” continued Yank.

“I di ,” Bronx tersely replied.

“ A man, an’ a Mormon; leastwise, so it
seems. Don’t show more nor the top 0’ yer
head.”

He reconnoitered carefully.

A few yards away he saw a man walking
with a rifle across his shoulder. His course was
not direct; at a certain point he turned back,
only to go over the ground again. In brief, he
was acmg like a soldier on guard.

“ reckon you know what that means,” said
Nevermiss.

“ He is there as a picket.”

“ Ter protect what?”

i  The entrance to the cave—if that is what it
s.

“ I ain’t so sure 0’ that,” Yank answered,

stroking his beard thoughtfully. “ I begin ter
hev another idee, but I'may be wrong. You
two stay hyer; I’m goin’ ter reconnoiter.”
. Almost before he ceased speaking he was mov-
ing away. He went on his hands and knees,
and his progress was rapid, silent and skillful-—
so exceedingly skillful that Bronx was filled
with new surprise.

This wanderer of the West was an interestin
study to him. During the few weeks he he
been in his compan he had seen him in all
moods. and there he been enough of battle to
gave that when the whole West spoke of Yank

ellowbird as a great fighter, nothing was over-
drawn. The veteran preferred peace, however,
and then his quiet, unassuming, quaint nature
came to the surface.

I

 

a statue. but his handsome eyes were full 0 fire.
His wild nature would never be tamed.

While they watched the Mormon guard lighted
his pipe and lay down on the ground. Evident-
ly he was not required to be very alert.

In due time Yank returned as silently as he
had one. His quiet face told nothing.

“ 'ell?” questioned Bronx.

“ Thar ain’t no cave-entrance anywhar nigh
him.”

“ Are you sure.”

“ I am, that.”

“ Then why is be there?”

“ I hev an idee that we are on forbidden s’ile,
an’ that we only got inside the told by climbin’
ugéhem rocks as we did—an egregious steep
p , whar few would think 0’ climbin’, an’
whar no picket seemed necessary.”

“ N ow ion speak of it, I heard mention made
in the, vi] ge of Dan City Reservation, whatever
that may be; but I don’t know where it is.”

Yank crooked his long fore-finger and shook
it at the young man.

“ In my opinion, we're on that egregious Bes—
ervation this minute l” he declared.

“ But why should they ‘reserve’ this barren
place for— Wait! I had forgotten the voices
qt the cart .” -
’ “ To be sure.”

“ What is your theory, Nevermissf”

“ I oonsait that we hev stumbled onter a mys-
tery, an’ the future looms u big, by hurley.
What’s goin’ on under us? W o is thari How
do they git thar? Whar be Lovis an’ Inn.
Dahlgren

“ In the subterranean abode, perhaps.”

The mountaineer smote the breech of his rifle
with his hand.

“ The long an’ short on’t is, the town 0’ Dan
has got atrocious insex in it, an’ thar is surely
work fur uster do. You two stay hyar once
more; I want ter scout.”

Bronx was willin to give him this work, and
both he and the odoc remained quiet while
Yank glided away with his former caution.
This time he was gone longer, and Bronx really
began to fear that some mishap had occurred.

a consulted Trail-Lifter, but the latter first
made a disdainful gesture, and then be to
spell words slowl with his fingers. ronx
could follow him w en he did this, thou h not.
when those nimble fingers flashed a rap' mes-

sage to Yank.
' Nevermiss all right; have no fear,” spelled
the rBiiuteh.e 1 ti ”

‘ at is e a ong me.

“ He no fooIo”?

“ I am well aware of that, but the wisest and
bravest may meet with a mishap.”

“ Nevermiss all rifiliot.”

Trail-Lifter’s face re a dogged expression as
be repeated this amertion; he seemed to resent
the suggestion that harm might occur to the
mountaineer.

Hardly had the last sign been made when the
wild, dark e es of the youth lighted up trium~
phantl , an be stretched out one hand with the
index er extended.

Yank was returning. He came forward and
quickly sat down on a bowlder.

“ I never see’d anything ter beat this,” he ob- ‘

served, “though one o‘ my ancesto Martin
Luther Yellowbird, did see the Old ick an’
flung an ink-bottle at him. while another 0’ the
fam ly seen snakes in his boots.”

“ I sup
thin unusual.” Bronx answered.

“ ‘ve satisfied myself that we’re in Dan City

.1 33;“ 

h .I’
4.55 i

4 1'”; .

pm that you have discovered some,  I

Reservation, as the call it, but 0’ all the egre- " 

gens public parks ever seen this is the wu’st.

a'cely a bush, or blade 0’ grass, in the hull 

atrocious thing.”
“ But there is somethin else, eh?”

“I consait thar is. enyrate, hyar is the

park, a desolate extent 0’ some acres; an‘ sai- 
round it is a number 0‘ sign-boards warnin‘ of 
passers, an’ a row 0’ guards ter enforce that 5

tree
rule. What does it mean i”

“ A gold-mine, I should say.”

“ Posserbly, but not a sign kin I find 0’ any
entrance, or any sign that the ground has he’s:
worked.” '

“ It is strange.”

“ Egregious funny, by hurley !” ,

Yank suddenly arose, and going to the cleft
in the rocks, lay down with 
as sible.

lick! click ! click!

The sound still floated up to him, and when it
ceased for a moment, the murmur of voices was
to be heard, though not a distinct word. .

“ Thar is no gettin’ erround the fack that

somethin’ is goin’ on underground,” he said, ‘

partially rising. “ Thar is men down thar, an

they’re at work. What‘re they dom’l
nat ral. inf’rence is, they’re minin et ’tis said
at Dan City that thar ain’t no v erble metal ~

whatever nigh hyar. Thar’s an egregious mys- .
t is,

about y hurley!”
‘ If there is an underground place, maynot

the missing
Bronx.

ILA

ls ear as close to it

Dahlgren girls be there?” asked!

 

  
   
 

' wou d certame do

, ‘l ' couldn’t

' runners, au’ they

. . earth 0’ July.

10‘.. ..

“ To be sure, they may, but be they!"

“‘ I leave it to your say, Nevarmiss. '

Yank leveled his long forefinger at his
'friend.

“The atrocious insex who run the town hev

015 some mean thing for hide, you may be sure.
§Vh hev they_made a ‘ Reservation ’ o’ barren
Ian —or rocks, ruther—au’ sot guards ter pro-
tect it? Why do voices come up from the
bowels o’ ’arth like a voice cryiu’ in the wilder-
ness’l"

“ Proceed, Neverniiss."

“ That’s jest what I intend ter do, but not by
empty talk. “'e kin guess on this matter ontil
the crows o for roost, au’ never be no wiser.
What’s needed is action, by hurley!”

“ Right, mountaineer, right!”

“ We are three men a ’in’ a town, an’ our

ition is ticklish. Once et that black-brOWed
mlforth git the idee that we’re dangerous, an’
he’ll make a bad picnic fur us. The weak sister
wobbles at the mere idee. But we’ll goon Jest
the same an’ ef the critters fall outer us, We’ll
hit back like hurley. Ihev an idee that what-
ever step we take will be right in line 0’ findin’
Levis an’ Inza Dahlgren.” .

“ Your hand, Nevermiss; I am With you 2”.

They clasped hands, and Bronx, looking into
Yank 5 face, saw that it was full of resolution.
The veteran was determined to take up the
trail, and though danger might menace them at
ever step, carry the matter to‘a crisis.

“ 9 next thin ,” Yank continued, “ is fer
beat a retreat. V e may not be as lively in
gettiu’ out as when we came in.”

 

 

CHAPTER XII.
THE MAN WITH THE FEVER.

THE adventurers moved away, and soon came
to the place where they had reached the Reser—
vation by means of such a hard scramble. As
before, no guard was in si ht, but the descent
was by no means as simp e a matter as the
ascent had been. _

Dan City lay below them, with no intervening
object until they were nearly at the foot of the
rocks, and while going down they would be in a
situation similar to that of fruit upon a tree.

If any villa r chanced to look up he was
more than lia le to see them while if dark-
browed Hurlforth discovered them there,
secrecy would be at an end; they would be
arra ed as interlo rs, and the “ marshal”
is best to put them out of
the way.

At first there seemed to be no way except to
expose themselves thus, . but Yank glanced
thomahtfully at the settin sun.

“ ys, we now hev a c oice o’ evils,” he an-
nounced. “ In an hour it will be dark, an’ arter
that we kin go d0wn ’thout much danger 0’
beiu’ seen; but that will be an egregious heap o’
danger o’ fallin’ au’ breakin’ our necks. Which
danger shall we reek?”

_ Bronx looked uneasily down the steep ledge.

‘° It will be no easy task,” he observod.

“ It’ll be an atrocious hard ’uu, lad.” ..

“ But, we shall avoid the danger of being de-

“ To be sure.”
“ Then I say wait, and riska tumble.”
“All right. Lay down behind this bowlder

yan'wait fur the dark; I reckon we kin climb

down safe. I’ve be’n in a heap o’ triberlations
esses, an'" I never got into one at that I

't out on. ’Member distinct y when I
was in ussia I once went ter ride with the
czar in a sled drawed by antelopes, which is the

an’

' way all Russians trav l. in winter. The czar

was chatty and sociable, an’ we b“ ._ a right

good time at first, but bimeb“ ,ne wolves got
arter us—wolves is thick as fleas in Russia.

“The pack that chased us numbered a trifle

less than two million, which was agree ious fast

pressed us h . It was an

we raced over seventy mile on

. 0E0!) prairie, an
 t adead jump. Our antelope run wal, an’ I
. consait we should hev beat ’em, but one o‘ the

runners o’ the sled struck a stun’ an' throwed us
both out. in a minutezmore the wolves come a-
scootin’ up, mad fur our blood!

f‘ ‘ I’m a gone goosei" sez the czar, with a

c
“ ‘ Not much ye ain’t, ass I; ‘ keep cool au’ let
yer hair grow, Aleck!’
" Jest then up come the fu’st wolf, an’ I

' . grabbed him by the tail an’ handed :him ter the

cur. ~
“ ‘ Hang outer him, Aleck,’ sez I, an’ the czar

l,- 1 did it like a little man.

“ Then I ketched another, an’ passed him

0V“.

“ ‘Tie their tails tergether, Aleck!‘ sez I, an’
he did it.

“ I consait you see my idee. As fast as the

 'v atrocious wolves come up I ketched ’em, an’

passin’ them over ter the czar, he tied ’em ter-

ther by the tails like firecrackers on the
' We kept it up fur an hour, by
which time we had the all atrocious pack tied

.“They’re harmless now,’ sez I, ‘an’ we’ll
have ’em an’ git.’
“ No,’ sez the czar, ‘we’ll take ’em with us;

‘. (bar’s. a bounty on wolves’ heads, au’ as I’m

 

 .4 " - 'aun et." V

short 0’ pin-money, we’ll take the hull lot ter St.
Petersburg.’

“An’, by hurle , we slung ’em all over our
shoulders an’ to ’em in. look was ginerous,
an’ be divided the bount -money with me.
Thor’s nothiu’ mean erbout im.”

“You say,” observed Bronx
“ that there were two millions of

“ To be sure.”

“ It must have been a heavy load. ”

“ Wal, it did make our arms ache, but we
never let up. But see hyar; it's half-way be-
tween day an’ night—s’pose we scramble down
the rocks.”

The dangerous task was undertaken at once,
and for several minutes they swung abdut on the
cliff, oing from point to Saint, and often pass-
ing w erea misstep woul have lven them a
fatal fall. The base was reach at last, and
then they went on to the village.

They sought the hotel at once.

Their first care was to have supper, and then
they started 11 to their room. They had
reached the hal of the second floor, which was
usually deserted, when a strau 6 man emerged
from a door not far away. 0 was only par-
tially dressed, and Bronx at once noticed that
his eyes had an exceedingly Wild. expression.
They had no intention of even speaking to him,
but'he at once paused before them.

“ Don’t try to stop me!” he said, in a threat-
enin voice. “I am oing out.”

“ 'e have no deSire to prevent it,” Bronx
answered. ,

“ I want to. find a Gentile,” pursued the
stranger, with an excited gesture. “ You Mor-
mops are all cut-throats!"

“ We are not Mormons.”

“ I believe on are assassins sent to kill me.”

“ Nonsense we will not harm you.” .

The strau er grasped Bronx’s arm, and his
eyes glittere more than ever.

“ Listen!” he exclaimed. “ I am no common
man; I am a person of miraculous powers; I
am a magician. If you murder me, my ghost
will haunt you forever.”

And then he swung his arms more wildly
than ever.

“This ’ere,” remarked Yank, quietly, “is a
poor crazy creetur’. I heerd it said thar was a
man hyar sick with fever. This is him. See
hyar, mister, ou’d better git back ter bed right
away, or you’ 1 hev more egregious triberlation
than ye hev already.”

The stranger did not ap at all convinced,
but Yank took him by t e arm and, looking
into his eyes, talked soothiugly. The man grew
calmer; he yielded to argument, and allOWed
himself to be led back to his room and put
back to bed. By that time his mood changed
completely and he not only accepted the state-
men that his present companions were “ Gen-
tiles,” but, when Bronx sat down .beside the
bed, cluugytightly to his hand. After a con-
sultation ank and the Modoc went to their
room, leaving Bronx with the stranger.

“ Don’t desert me!” he said, anxiously, as the
others went out.

“ Have no fear; I’ll see to on. I take it
Eon are a stranger in Dan ity,” answered

roux.

“ I am, and it’s a terrible situation. If I was
well I would not. mind it; I am no coward.
Why, I came here all alone, knowing that they
would be my enemies, and I came to wage re-
lentlem war on them. Yes, it’s war to the
knife between us, but now that I am ill the odds
are all against me. I feel the delirium of fever
stealing over me; my mind wanders. A deliri-
ous man can’t cope with scores of crafty ene-
mies.”

The s eaker was much calmer than he had
been in he hall. and Bronx could not but feel
that there was something in his words. He
seemed very anxious—even frightened—but his
manner was that of a sane person.

His appearance was Very much in his favor.
He was a handsome young man, with abold,
honest face, and the look and speech of a gen-
tleman.

“ No harm shall come to you,” replied Bronx,
soothiugly.

“ Ah! you don’t know these men of Dan City.
I don’t believe all Mormons are villaia by any
means, but honesty is not represen in this
town. Murder isl’

The speaker shivered and looked apprehen-
sivel around.

“ ave you reason to fear them?”

“ I have reason to fear death at their hands!”

“ May I ask why?”,

“ Because my presence here is a menace and
a danger to one of the leading men of Dan City.
Another came—ah! heaven, what then?”

“ 1 don’t understand.”

“ It was my brother.”

“What of him?”

“ He was selected to do the work; he came; he
disa peared. I feel sure that he was murdered
by t ese infamous men. When I knew that he
had failed, I took the task upon myself. I came
with a double motive: to do the work he lost his
life in trying to do, and to avenge him.”

“ Are you sure he is dead?"

“I cannot believe otherwise. These men of
Dan City are mere assassins, and if he once sus-

I

with a smile,
the wolves?"

‘

 

pected why my poor brother was here, he would
set his Danites upon him.”

The speaker shivered again' clearly be was
beset with a t fear, or imaginary.
Bronx had gained strong interest in the unfor-
tunate man. He was very ill and feverish, but
Bronx believed that he knew what he was say-

iu .

E What is your name?”

“ Ral h Severn.”

“ I ta o it you are not a Western man.”

“ I am not; I am from Pennsylvania.”

“ And you are here to find a lost brother?”

“Yes; that and to bring that villain to jus-
tice—to accomplish the work my brother lost his
life in trying to do. Now I have fallen ill, and
am_ losing in mind, among men who will kill
me at once 1 they suspect who I am and what—”

The speaker broke off suddenly, and a startled
look appeared in his eyes. He trembled like a
child, and gasped:

“ Somebody is listening at the door!”

Bronx had heard nothing, and he was inclined
to think that Severn had imagined everything;
h ‘l‘lguickw the sick man added; “look into t e

a .

The order was obeyed as rom t] as ssible
but the ball was silent and 5cm:ng p0 ’

“ I think you were mistaken; I heard noth-
ing,” said Bronx.

“ Some one was surely in the hall, and I think
he was listening at this door. My hearing is
Very acute now. Oh! heavens, what pains shoot
through m head!” I

Severn c asped both hands 11 n his forehead.

:‘ gage you had a doctor?" roux asked.

‘ o

“ You must do so at once.”

“ I dare not; I should be liable to lose m wits
and babble at any moment, and the octor
would betray me.”

“ Bl’lt you may die without medical attend-
auce.’

“ What in heaven’s name am I to do?” Severn
asked, despairin 1y.

“Summon a octor, and trust to me to pro-
tect your secret. I’ll do my best to keep you
from talking to your peril."

“ You don’t know what danger you are dar-
ing. Once let Joseph Loveriug even an tmy
real name and I am a doomed man. My rather
came here first; he disap red; he was surely
murdered. Of course veriug learned the
truth and set his Danites upon him. Well, the
mere mention of my real name—I am known
here b an assumed one; I have forgotton what
—and veriug will know that I am here to do
the work my brother died in trying to do. That
would mean death to me 1”

The unfortunate man moaned and tossed u n
the bed. His nature was naturally bold, ut
illness had sapped his strength and his courage,

ahke.

“ All this may be true, but it is madness to let
on go without medical attendance,” re lied
ronx, firmly. “Stay! I have another dea.
My com 'on whom you just saw is well iu~
formed 11 r ard to the medical pro rties of
roots and her , and the oung In ian may
have similar knowled e. will consult them,
and then see you again. ’

He arose as he s ke.

“ Don’t be gone ong,” said Severn, nervously.
“ I am in constant dread of the Danites. I am
no coward, believe me but I am in deadly
peril, and not able to defend myself.”

“I won’t be gone five minutes. Wait pa-
tiently!”

Bronx hastened to his own room, which was
several doors away, and found Yank and Trail-
Lifter there.

“_Hellol” said the mountaineer, “how’s yer
patient? I’m through hyar an’ was jest oomin’
in ter see him ag’iu.”

Hendershot hastily explained the situation,
but Yank shook his ead.

“ He must hev a real doctor. Ef thar was no
other way I’d do m best. but a doctor may
break up the fever, he sets about it. I’ll see
the man, though, an’ then we’ll talk it over.
Come on!”

The passed throu h the hall, and Bronx
open the door of vern’s room. As he did
so he stopped in surprise. The was vacant,
and Severn was not in the room. Bronx un-
closed his lips to comment upon this fact, but
the Words were not spoken. Instead, he sud.
denl recoiled in dismay. Upon the white sheet
of the bed was a wide trail 0 fresh blood!

CHAPTER XIII.
GOLD GAUNTLET PLAYS THE VIOLIN.

Tan followiu day Isabel Loveriug was
seated alone in t e parlor of her home when the
door-bell run . She heard it answered by a
servant, but .ook no particular interest in the
matter until 11: became eVident that an alterca-
tion was progrewng between the servant and
some one else.

She opened the parlor door and sawa man
3-1;? wat; a manger *0 liter. hHe was evidently

n8 eservan , w 0 was as lainl
trying to gel him out, but as her attentign wag
diverted by sabel’s movements, he succeeded
in his ob ect. '

Isabel lieved the man to be intoxicated, and

 

 

 

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she retreated to the parlor, but before she could
close the door, he had followed her.

“ M dear oung lady,” he said, smiling so
broad y that is mouth seemed in danger of
runnin entirely around his head. “ I beg that
yew wi not be alarmed. If there is a owt—an’-
owt gentleman in Utah, I am the man, by gosh!
I come from the most religious hamlet in the
U. S.—which same is Pine-Apple, State 0’ Mas-
sachusetts. We‘re so good there that we never
sneeze on Sunday ’thout we go down-suller tow
dew it—fack, I snumi”

All this had been said at race-horse speed, but
if the man had an over-nimble tongue, he was
certainly mild enough of appearance.

Isabel had regained her composure.

“ What is all this to me?” she asked.

“ It’s a matter 0’ vital importance, fur I want
yewr good will. Yew hev mine a’ready, an’ I
tell yew Phineas French ain’t a man tow be
sneezed at ef he is freckled.”

“ Still, I am in the dark, sir.”

“ I will explain; thank yew fur the permis-
sion. I take it yew are the elder’s newest
bride.”

“ I, sir?” cried Isabel. indignantly. “ No, air;
1 am the bride of nobody. What in the world
are yiou trying to say, sir, an how i” ‘

“ iss, miss, hold on!” im ored Phineas. “I
feel as chea as a yarler o . an’ Iapologiae.
Any one con d see by yewr loo 3 that . ew ain’t
old enough tew be a wife; the rosy hue 0’
youthful beauty is still hoverin’ over yewr
cheeks like an April niomiu’——or words to that
effeck."

“ Mr. French, if that is your name, the ser-
vant is anxious to show you the door, and her
jud ment is excellent. You Will please——”

“ old on, hold on! Give me one minute,
please! Yew don’t know what depends on’t, by
gosh! I see now that yew must be Elder Lover-
ing‘s sister, not one 0’ his wives. It is with
them I hev business. I, Miss hovering, am in
the far West as a benefactor o’ the human race;
I am travelin’ agent fur a Bawston house which
makes them onrivaled articles 0’ the toilet—the
Circassio-Orient Hair Tonic, the Pearl 0’ Great
Price Tooth Powder, the Elysian E ebright
Optic-Bath an’ the Balm 0’ Beauty; 0 last 0’
w 'ch will make the face 0’ the homeliest
worna'n as pooty as that o’ a ten-year-old

1‘.—

“ But, sir__9!

“ Of course,” rattled on Phineas, as then h
his life was at stake, “ yew don’t need ’em; ur
if there ever was a. rose assweet an’ pooty as
YOU, I never seen it, I swan! But in yewr
brother’s harem there must be some wives who
are gittin’ iniew the sore an’ yeller leaf, or, as
they Would say in French, are passe. Now, my
magnum bonum, ne plus ultra, sure-ter- 't-thar
toilet articles will certainly restore their
olden beauty—”

“ But they are not—”

“ Oh, some of ’em must be passe I” persisted
French.

An angry sparkle in Isabel’s eyes warned the
glib-ton ed traveling-agent that he must let
her spea , and as he had duly extolled his wares
he 'did not again interrupt her.

“Sir,” she said, contemptuously, “ I am not
dispOsed to help you sell articles which, I dare
say, are utter humbugs, but in order to get rid
of you I will say that my brother’s wives are
not here.”

“ Not here!"

M No.”

“ Then where be they?”

“ At his other residence.”

:: alien hel hair; lager”

ruin , e as two. Do on In pose—”

Isabel di not finish the syentencg. It re-
mained a fact, however, that she had utterly
refused to Jom Joseph in Dan City until he had
provuled a separate house for her; she had de-
clined to live under the same roof with a multi-
plicity of wives.

All that she had said was a revelation to Phin-
eas, however. That honest person had entered
heartily into the scheme to help [get a trace of
Levis and Inza, and he had a ou le object in
his resent movements.

e now did some quick thinking, and, with a
politeness peculiarly his own, replied:

“ Gosh all hemlocksi mim, I’m awful sorry I
put my. foot in it  Hope you’ll overlook it."

“ ievmg that you meant no harm, I will.”

“ But ain’t there nobody I can sell my no plus
ultra toilet article tew, in this house?”

i; 15 think iligt."

iieas g need at the servant-gir' l.

“ I don’t want none 0’ yer quack lotions an’
’intmentsl” she contemptuousiy declared.

Phineas raised both hands in horror.

“ There is no other woman in the house, so you
see that you ma aswell go,” added Isabel, some-
what im tien y.

“ I 11,8113 8-Way. Thank yew fur yewr
kindness. an ewr favorable mention 0’ my me

1‘“ ““m 0188- I’ll call ag’in. thank yew-

plendid day miss. but nothin like what yew
might see in Pine-Apple ef—”
he voluble Yankee stopped
reached the doorste , and at that point the ser-
vant slammed the cor in his face. His expres-
‘ sion remained as serene as ever.

short. Hehad

 

 

“ Guess the wind blowed it tew,” he observed.
“ I was est goin’ tew ask fur a recommendation
0’ my E ysian Eyebright Optic Bath, but I kin
call ag’in. Now fur Loverin ’3 other house. Ef
they receive me in'as friend y way as the did
here, I’m in hopes I’ll git some trace 0’ the ahl-
gren gals. Gosh all hemlocks! of I kin eucher
em owt o‘ the gals, an’ then sell a few barrels o’
my toilet articles I guess the pesky Mormons
won’t soon forgit Phineas French 1”

 

That evening Gold Gauntlet rode out of the
gulch, down through the vill e, and to the first
of Joseph Lovering’s houses. 6 did not ride in
his usual reckless fashion; across his saddle he
bore a box of oblong shape. 

In this was his beloved violin, and he was care-
ful not to injure it.

Joseph met. .him at the door. Usually the
hypercritical musician had no confidence in any
other person until he, or she, had shown rare
ability in actual practice; but the Gulch Gladi-
fitor had unconsciously obtained a hold upon

im.

Jose h hoped much from the Gladiator and
his vio in.

Somewhat to his surprise Gold Gauntlet found
Isalbel in the parlor, and his face lighted at the
si t.

g‘ This is an unexpected pleasure,” he said to
her, in a low voice.

“ Why so?”

“ I hardly expected tosee {on here, I confess."

“ Do you know why I am ere?”

“ N-no,” was the hesitating reply.

Isabel’s eyes flashed.

“ It is to see you humiliated!” he declared.

“ Indeed!”

“ Yes. You have about one chance in two
hundred of pleasing my fastidious brother. He
will hear you; our execution will tear his
nerves to pieces; e will hold his hands over his
ears and order l{Ion to stop. From that time the
sight of on w be obnoxious to him. Jerry
ilenkins, am here to see you fail ignominious-

i

Brighter than ever flushed her eyes; her voice
rung out mockingly. Poised in the peculiar,
airy way characteristic of her, like a bird ready
to fly, and with her face flushed. she was as
beautiful and charming as woman could be.

Gold Gauntlet‘s face flushed; his armor of
confidence and assurance was not proof ainst
this plainly-expressed hope of his downfal .

One moment he was s -hless; then the old,
cool smile appeared on b face.

“ My dear sabel," he replied, “ I thank you a
million times. Did you ever read in an old
romance how bravely a steel-clad knight would .
battle if be but were a favor of his lady-love
upon his crest or arm! I go to battle similarly

equigpedo . .
“ our armor is of brass!” retorted the girL

“ True; and it is so well tempered that even
thg shaft of woman’s sarcasm cannot pierce
it.

“ You will fall through your own weakness.”

“ And leave you to break your heart for me?
Never 3”

The Gladiator glanced quickly at Joseph,
who was busy with sheet-music at the piano.
Lowering his voice still more, Gold Gauntlet
exclaimed:

“ Fair Isabel, I shall win I”

The girl tossed her head.

‘f‘leee  sfie!”lsh£ retorted.

e at s ingy ead untilhisri ' hair
almost touched her forehead. ppm

“ Charming Isabel ” he said, in a voice which
was like a caress, “ t is is a matter worthy of a
wager. I will stake my heart against yours
that I lease J osephl” v

“ I 0 not giVe such odds!” she quickly re-
plied, with fine sarcasm.

-“ Then I’ll make another proposal, and I dare
you to accept. If I fail to please him, I will go
away and never see you again; if I’vvin, you are
to be my wife l” -

His werful 6 es were .like a ma et; she
felt a racted to 'm, and hated he for it.
Her face flushed even more deeply.

“ I decline!”

“What!” he retorted, mockingly, “are on
such a. timid gamester? You have avowed t
I have but one chance in two hundred. Do you
fear to bet with the oddsone hundred and ninety-
nine to one in your favor?”

“Be silenti’ she returned, in a husky voice,
and he could see that she was almost panting for
breath. “ You talk folly; I will make no
wager.”

‘ As god will, Isabel, but remember this:
You an I were created for each other, and
hOWever I handle the bow, you will be mine in
the and. Mrs. Je Jenkins! Notabad-sound—
in name, my own ovel”

1 moved away from him with an angry
sweep. How she hated this man! This was the
thought that was in her mind, but she knew
there was something more. If he repelled. he
also attracted her. She wavered between two
extremes. He had a power she could not resist.
tr as she would.

_ is gaze followed her, and his eyes gleamed
with admiration. Hci'c was a woman of a
thousand! He had decided that he must sacri-

 

flce her—break her heart. Verily, it was a con-
quest worth making. She was unlike other
women. Skilled in sharp retorts, she was never
hard, unwomanly, or aught but charming.

“ Mr. Jenkins, are you read ?”

Jose h’s voice broke the spe l.

“ A ready,” Gold Gauntlet replied.

He proceeded to remove his violin from the
the box. He had never been calmer than then.
For two years he had been (pieparing for this
hour as though his life depen ed upon it; he had
satisfaction for a great wrong to win, or all to
lose, on his playing that evening.

From the first had felt grave doubts and fears.
These had never left him until he entered the
parlor; they would not have vanished even
then only for what Isabel had said.

That conversation had turned his nerves to

stee
He had (double victory to seek.
He drew the bow across the strings.

CHAPTER XIV.
Josnrn’s VERDICT.

GOLD Gans'rurr proceeded to brin the
violin to a point of sc1entific accuracy. hile
he was thus occupied Isabel’s eyes and mind
were busy. She was painfully anxious to see
him fail, and it was a ainst her that Joseph was
in an unusually comp cent mood.

Suddenly her eyes flashed.

She had a scheme for ruffling Joseph’s com-

. She was a pianist of no mean merit,
But she fell so far below Joseph’s ideal that she
always upset his ova-sensitive nerves when she

 

played. .

ith a quick movement she went to the piano
and swept her hands over the ke 8. She had
never tried less to play well, and r brother’s
voice at once arose.

“ Isabel 1”

She gave no heed. She had begun a nick,
loud piece of music, and the noise fill the
room. Joseph’s brows were contracted in a
frown, which seemed to be more of actual pain
than anger. He arose, strode forward and

one of her wrists.

“ or heaven’s sake sto
he exclaimed, like one ering intensely.

“ What! am I to have no part?" Isabel asked,
and her manner appeared to be as frank as it
was bright.

“ You know 1—”

“ If there is to be a musical entertainment, I
ought, at least, to be allowed to play the over-
ture ” ~

“ Pray allow her to roceed, Mr. Levering,"
requested Gold Gaun et in a pleasant veice.
I understand her motive} She seeks to put me
at ease. Believe me, Mia Isabel, I am deeply
grateful; I shall not forget your kindness!"

Isabel flashed a glance at the speaker.

She met the strong gaze of his dark eyes, and
knew as well as though the words had been
5 ken that he fully understood why she had
p ed.

“y I obi‘ect, decidedly l” curtly answered Lover~
ing. “ sabel, you will please resume your seat
yonder.”

“ What an old growler you are, Joseph!” re-
torted the girl, gayly, as she promptly obeyed
his direction.

Her mind was fillgd withJexulltation; shelhad
accom lished er 0 ject. osep was scow i -
he wag angry, nervous and ill at ease.  Ggld
Gauntlet played to suit him now, the Gladiator’s
execution would, indeed, be marvelous.

She glanced at the visitor. A calm, confident
smile was on his face.

“There is no danger,” she thought. “He is
too ignorant to appreciate the possibility of
failure.”

Gold Gauntlet was read . Once more he
drew the bow across the st ngs. Another mo-
ment and he began his work inearnest. His
selection was a waltz, and before the first bar
had been played, Isabel’s face clouded. She
might not be an ex rt in music, but she knew
itihat she had misju ged the playeramoment be-

ore.

He was not a bangler; he was an _

Isabel’s flrst esilnotionf one of di8h f his
surprise but it ow y awa . e orgot
what was at stake, and remem red only to
listen. Never before had she heard a Violin
played as Gold Gauntlet played it. Joseph was
remarkably skillful, but, as he had said, his
preference was for the piano. He seldom played
the violin.

Gold Gaimtlet little knew the unspoken com-
liment his execution was neceivi . Isabel
ad forgotten how much she wished him to fail;

she knew only that he was playing and that the
violin was rend ' melody for which she had
never before 'ven tcredit.

After awh memory returned tober. She
turned her game upon Joseph; he sat like a
statue, his lips parted, his game fixed intently
upon the player.

A feeling of resentment and wept over
Isabel: she knew that if the tor could
figutiiiue as he had begun, victory would surely

his.

The waltz finished, he glided into a second
tune without waitin for comments. It was
quite different from

11

that hideous racket i” .

first, but it only served ‘

 

 

 

 

a

‘12

Gold Gauntlet.

 

 

to emphasize the fact that he was a wonderful
player. Isabel had never before understood the
possibilities of a violin, but in Gold Gauntlet’s

ands it proved itself an instrument of melody,
indeed.

Unknown to any of the trio, there was a
fourth listener, a fourth observer. One of the
window-curtains had not been wholly lowered,
and an avenue of observation was left for any
one who might be outside. No one in the house
had thought that it would be, or was being,

Yet, such was the fact. Several times since
Gold Gauntlet’s arrival, a head had been cau-
tiously raised abOve the sill of the window; a
face had been pressed close to the glass; a ir
of glittering eyes had surveyed the mom an its
inmates; and in every case amuttordll curse had
{alien from the spy’s lips as he lowered his

end.

He was anxious to avoid discove .

This s y was the Hurlforth, the so-called Mar-
shal of an City. He had not been invited to
the musical entertainment, et he was at hand.
If he was not enough of a riend to be invited,
he was enough of an enemy to come without in-
vitation.

Never pleasant or inviting, the marshal’s face
on this occasion was darker and more sinister
than usual. His heart—his real nature—was
pictured on his face, and its expression was
murderous.

Once he half-drew a revolver from his pocket,
but thrust it back with a rim smile.

“ I can afford to wait!" 0 muttered.

Unconscious of this ominous observer the trio
in the room kept their places. Gold auntlet

layed on, and in every sweep of the bow showed

but he was an expert. The teaching of those
skillful men of the East had‘ not been thrown
away; he awoke melody which few players had
been able to extract from a violin, and the
room seemed a gathering-place for entrancing
sounds.

As he played, he watched his hearers keenly,
yet with a degree of secrecy.

From the first J oaeph was very favorably ini-
pressed, and as the laying went on, the impres-
sion dee . Go d Gauntlet knew from the
Mormon s e reasion that he was conquered.
H r-critica he might be, but victory was
w t the Gladiator.

Once the player smiled slightly as he noticed
Isabel’s expression. She, too, rec ' his
power, but she was not pleased. Dismay, disp
appointment and anger were plainly her ruling
emotions.

Gold Gauntlet’s victory was her defeat.
v1'I;liie Gladiator ceased playing and lowered the

o n.

Joseph started like one suddenly aroused from
slumber and then strode forward and gave
his hand to Gold Gauntlet.

“ By heavens!” he exclaimed, “ you are an
unrivaled player, Jenkins i”

“ Do you real] like my playing?”

“Like it! It sflgrand!”

“I’m glad you nd something in it."

“ I have heard fine violinists in my day, but
never one who could equal you.”

“ You flatter me, now.”

“ No, indeed!” declared Joseph enthusias-
tically. “ I only give you your ue. If you
knew how sensitive I am in regard to music,

~ you would not uestion my sincerity.”

If he knew! 0 one knew better than Gold
Gauntlet, and this knowledge had caused him to
devote years to learnin to play the violin. He
had worked with two 0 jects. The first seemed
accomplished, for he had won J mh’s warm
praise. But what of the secondl on would
that be accomplished? Perhaps within the hour.
Or perhaps he might keep Joseph’s company for
years, playing his violin daily, before t would
come to ss. Or the grave might close over
them bot , leaving the end unattaiued.

Mystery hovered deep over the Gulch Gla-
diator, and it seemed d that such a trivial
thing as violin-playing was associated with such
a cool, clear-headed, strong-minded man—with
such an intense, important, heart-felt, deter-
mined purpose.

“ Anyhow, I am glad that you like my
efforts he replied. ‘

“ l o, and unless you are a hard-hearted man
I have not heard the last of them. We met ina
rather strung? w, but such e specs are
common in t 6 eat; all things ppen here.
Who knows what will come next?”

Gold Gauntlet could hardly avoid a start.

“Who. indeed?” he muttered.

“ One thing I must say right here.”

“ And that?”

“ It has become a matter of vital im nce

that ‘yon remain at Dan City permanen y. ”

“ by so?”

i “ I should be inconsolahle to part from such a

musician as you. I don’t know another person

in Utah who can play except like a blacksmith.

If you remain there will be one congenial spirit

for us to associate with; You and , the Violin
and the piano, will make a wonderful quar-
totte. What do you say—will you stay?"

J he with unusual crueas. A look
of ca ion was barely visib e in the Gladi-
ator’s face. He glanced at Miss Levering.

 

    
 

“Isabel,” said her brother, “ask him to re-
main.”

The girl’s face flushed slightly; she made a
gesture of disdain.

“He is your guest,” 8' e answered.

“Can’t you extend a common civility?” he
asked, in an irritable voice.

“ You will remember." she deliberately re-
plied, “ that you and I have agreed to let each
manage his, or her, own affairs. This gentle—
man is your friend, not mine.”

“Isabel?”

It was more of a question than an exclama-
tion, yet; there was a good deal of emphatic sur-

in t.

“ Well?”

“ Have you spoken falsely to me?”

“ In what way?”

“You told me that Mr. Jenkins was an old
friend; you even addressed him familiarly as
u Jerry!”

Isabel’s face flushed; her reckless bravado was
coming home to her in a way not pleasant.

There was a momentary Silence, while the spy
at the window stared through the glass and
wondered what was occumng. Everything
they did served to make Hurlforth look more

angry.

 

CHAPTER XV.
run namaan’s DINING.

HURLFORTH had t curiosity to know what
was bein said insi , but he might just as Well
have wis ed for an impossibility. He could
not hear a word. Twice he had tried the win-
dow, but it was fastened, and while it was down
he could not overhear anything. He could only
watch, but this made him more angry, and he
muttered fresh curses.

“ One thing,” he added, “ my turn will come,
and then I Will have revenge !’

Gold Gauntlet enjoyed Isabel’s confusion for a
moment, but he was as anxious to prevent any
expgsure as she could be—it might interfere
wi his plot—and he came to her rescue.

“ Justice to Miss Loverin requires an expla-
natioa,”ulae bob-(3‘5 rvedgggeit y. “ We are well
acqu n u we pa n a way not exactly
friendly. Il‘rankly it was all my own fault,
but I was more hot-headed than than now.
You see, Joseph I was no stoic, and when I met
Miss Lovering I became very much inhrested.
I paid her attention, but she did not consider it
worth receiving. It was her wanan’s privil o
to rebuff me, ut I did not take it kindly. eIn
brief, when she refused to acce t me as an escort
I lost my tom 1' and acted Ii 0 an idiot. No
wonder she on’t care to call me friend, but I
am free to confess thathas all wrong, and
ho she will forgive me.”

sabel listened to this fiction with mixed emo-
tions. Into what a lhb rinth the first d ion
was leading her! Gol Gauntlet had e an
explanation so plausible that it was likely to
prove satisfactory unless Joseph was more in-
quisitive than usual, but every turn was
making her more and more the ally of this
stran man whom she hated.

Should she boldly free herself from the web,
and confess all, or let it go as he had said!“

“ What! confess and disgrace myself?” she
thought, quickly. “ No; I will let it pass; ’tis
but a stun laffair' and in the near future I will
teach this audacious fellow a lesson. if my
woman’s wit is not enough to cope successfully
with any man, then I ought to lose!”

“ Am I not right, Miss Levering?” the Gladi-
ator asked, in a low voice.

“ Certainly.”

“ Also, I trust that you will overlook my past
follies.”

“ I will; I do.”

“ I would be glad to be reinstated in your
fl“‘01?” h th' Will I be h ”

‘sucaing'easeou ay.

“ Thank you.” p y ’ pp

“Having settled this,” interpolated Joseph
who suspected nothing, “I beg that you will
favor us with more playing. It’s a rare treat, I
assure on.”

Gold Gauntlet played a in, while Hurlforth
scowled at them hrough t 0 window.

“ Whatin perdition have they been saying, I
wonder ” he muttered. “ There is more goin on-
there, than I can understand; the face 0 the
divine Isabel is a panorama. Joe Loverin is
as stu id as ever, which is sa ing a good eal,
but I lieve there is a secret tween that cus-
sed stranger and Isabel. Well. what of it!
To—ni ht sees the end of it all. He has Joe un-
der h s thumb, and this is a case where the
Marshal of Dan City should act on his own
juiifment. I will act!”

e glided awa , and at the distance 'of ten

rods came upon men who were seated in a

retired place, smoking and talking.
The were named reagectively teve Hi ins,
Len per, and Pete come, and were url-

forth’s most trusted instruments in carrying out
the will of the rulers of Dan City.

“ So you’re here,” said the marshal.

“ You see us, don’t yer?” surlily asked Hig-

‘I Yes.”
“We’re havin’ a lie 0’ fun, waitin’.”
“ What of iti our temperis upset, as usual,

\ r '

   

i‘

Steve. Never mind; there is active work
again, as I thought there would be. You know
that reckless dare-devil who lives in the gulch
upunortlig”

“ He will return home- sometime inside of two
hours. I want you three men to go to the gulch
and ambush yourselves by his on an When he
comes, drop on him. He is a muscular fellow,
and if he’s given a chance will be likely to make
it warm for you Don’t give him the chance.
Contrive to knock him senseless before he sus-
pccts any dan er.”

“ Correct,” iggins replied.

“ Can you manage him!”

“ Can we? That’s an

honor.”
“ Don’t think he is a child, and thereby t
left. I can see with half an e e that he g:
bold, desperate fellow; he will ma e it warm for
you if on give him a show.”

“ W y not shoot him down off-hand?”

“ I have other uses for him.”

“ Wal, you’re boss.”

“ Once you have him netted ” continued Hurl-
rorth, “ bring him to the sin cave.”

The men agreed—it was their duty to obey
whatever nefarious work Hurlforth planned—
and after some additional directions, the mar-
shal hastened back to his point of observation at
Lovering’s.

Gold Gauntlet was just putting his violin in
the box.

His additional playing had made complete
con nest of Joseph.

“ ereafter,” said the latter, “ I hope to see
you here often."

, “ Thank you; I shall be pleased to come.”

“ Whenever you can, bring your violin.”

(LI will."

“ Words fail to ad nater express how «your
playing pleases me," oseph earnestly add .

‘ Thank you, ain. After this, however
you must do our s are of the playing. 1 want
to hear you p y the piano, and, since you con-
fess tha you are a violinist, I must insist upon
your doing your share with that also."

‘0! am a bungler With the violin compared to
you, but I will not refuse. We want to see you
often; you will always be welcome.”

Gold Gauntlet turned his gaze upon Isabel,
and she believed that she saw not only a re—
quest but a menace there.

“ He dares threaten me !” she thought.
“ This man is almoat unbearable with his im u-
dence, but, once more, I will yield to him.
My turn Will come next, and then I will outwit,
humiliate and overthrow him.”

Aloud she said:

“ I echo my brother’s words, Mr. J enkins.”

“Then I shall certainly come.”

Five minutes later he left the house. Re—
mountggfi his horse, he rode homeward. He
took g care of his violin, but it was chiefly
instinctive; his mind was wholly wrapped up

in thought of other thin
“ One he was thinking- “ I

ste is taken,
have played before Joseph and leased 
n thrown

My Ion ,careful study has not
away. e step is taken, and now to go on to
the end. Will that for which I am working
ever occur! Hehven alone knows! I may k
Joseph’s company for months, and never :3:
vance another step. If ever he passes the line,
however, let him beware: I will crush him.
How I hate that oily-tongued wretch i”

He clinched his gauntleted hand and smote
himself on the thigh.

“Vengeance shall be mine! I believe that I
am almost a monomaniac on this sub -t, but
my cause is just. I will revenge t t foul
wrong—if I do not, I doubt if I can keep my
self within bounds; my blood runs in my veins
like molten lava. Patience! atiencel I feel
that I shall win in the end. at a blessing it
isthat Joseph has a sister; it leaves a weak

int open for my attack. Isabel is a fine girl,
hilt she must be sacrificed to break his heart!”

Unknown to Gold Gauntlet, his departure
from Lovering’s had been observed by one pair
of unfriendly eyes.

Hurlforth watched him go. and the marslnl
shook his clinched hand dramatically after

him.

“ It will be my inning next!” muttered the
man, and then he beat a rapid retreat.

Leaving the village, he moved quickly along
over the rough ground which.marked the be.
ginnin of the hills. In this way be soon
reach a lch about one-fourth of a mile from
Gold Gaun let’s but At one side of this was a
small cave; he entered this.

insult outer your

at one side. The place been occupied be-
fore, for boards and short lengths of logs served
to make a rude table, and equally rude benches,
while a few blankets were scattered about.

There was only one other thin of im
ance. Hurlforth hastened to a arrel w ch
stood in a remote corner, and from this he took
two articles. One was a cloak, which he threw
over his shoulders; the other was a mask, or,
more properly, a complete armor for the head,
with openingzlgir the eyes.

When he

 

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This waswhat he desired. He had work in
hand of a nature which made him anxious to
conceal his identity. He sat down and waited.

His patience was not severely tried. Voices
soon sounded outside, and when he went to the
entrance he saw several men and a horse. The
men were lifting something from the animal’s
back, and as he retreated they bore their burden
into the cave. It was a man; more than that, it
was Gold Gauntlet.

“ You haven’t killed him?” exclaimed Hurl-
forth,noticing that the Gladiator’s face was very

ale.
p “ No‘ he’s on] stunned. I gave him a hard
rap, an he is sti unconscious. I bound him, ye
see, but only fur caution. He’s as good as dead,

- jest now.”

“ Better, by far I”

The words suddenly fell from Gold Gauntlet’s
lips, and he 0 ned his eyes and sat erect on the
bench where e had been placed. - Struck down
at his but according to the plan formed by Hurl-
forth, he had recovered consciousness during the
subsequent journey, but had found his bonds too
strong to be broken. .

“ Good !” commented Hurlforth.

The Gladiator looked at him sharply.

“ Are you leader here?”

6‘ Yes. 1

“ I’ll thank you to release me,” returned Gold
Gauntlet, as coolly as though it was an everyday
affair.

“ gen were not brought here for that pur-

“ What then ?”

“ Because,” replied Hurlforth, in a hard voice,
“ you have made yourself offensive at Dan City.
You were brought here to die!”

 

CHAPTER XVI.
roux. PLAY.

IT was twenty-four bou rs revious to the scenes
last described that Bronx endershot made the
acquaintance of the strange young man at the
hotel, only to find him missing shortly after
under such startling Circumstances.

Severn’s disappearance might have been
simply explained, since be h: d alread once
wandered into the hall in his partial de irium,
but the blood upon the bed-clothing was a very
different matter.

Hendershot could only point to it silently, but
Yank Yellowbird stepped forward quickly, bent
down and examined the red stain more care-
fully.

U. B
bad!”

“ Yank, murder has been done!”

“ I hope not, lad.”

“ Then how do you account for the blood?”

“ The poor critter may hev wownded hisself.”

“ No, no; he was very anxious to live; he
would not attempt suicide.”

“Ef anybody’s done harm toa man sick as
him ’twas an atrocious mean trick, by hurleyl”

“He feared it; be suspected that it would be
so. He said that he harl the utmost reason to
fear the men of Dan City if his history-his
motive in coming here—was known. Yank, the
worst has come to pass; he has been murdered
by those scoundrels."

“ Softly, softly,” replied the mountaineer, for
the younger man’s voice had run out louder
than was safe. “ Keep cool ontil I look inter
this a bit. The young feller has met with some
triberlation, I consait, but it don’t foller that
he’s killed. Let me look!”

Yank took the light and made a careful sur-
vey of the room, and that part of the hall near
thgdoor.

ronx waited impatiently for his re rt.

“ What do you make of it ?” he aske‘d‘,3 anon.

Yank raised his hand and, as he answered
waved his long fore-finger at his companion. ’

“ The long an’ short on’t is, you’re right. The
sick man has come tcr grief most egregiously,
an’ thar ain’t no doubt but the atrocious insex
has murdered him.”

“ But where is the body?”

“ I consait that it has been took away in a
blanket, or some sech contrivancs. Thar ain’t
no blood in the hall, nor in this room, an’ it
nat’rally follers that they used means ter pre-
vent it. ’

“ And the murderers—who are they?”

algevermrss looked cautiously about.

M You’ve heerd o’ Danites, ain’t ye?"

Yes. but I was under the impression that
thfiy were creatures of the past. ”
‘ N otin Dan City. This hyar egregious town
is wu‘ss than Paris was when Herod inaugerat-
ed Storm 0’ Terror, or whatever they called

“I believe in your theory, for Severn men-

‘ ad t reason to fear the

rulers of Dan City. 9 mentioned Levering in
particular. He came here under some assumed

name, but Levering probably found him out—

as Severn feared he would—and sot Hurlforth
and his creatures u n him."

p0
“ That Hurlforth will git his neck wrun ef‘
he ain’t careful. l’m infully ’fiicted gith

pomsgkgut it kindly ets up when r git inter

“Wh“mwewdoaboudnmme

;

y hurley l” he then exclaimed, “this looks

 

    

“- Jest what I was tryin’ ter decide,” Yank
replied, gravely. “ How shall we proceed? We
can’t act as in an ord’nary case, fur it ain’t that
kind 0' a case, at all. S’pose we go to the land-
lord. He’ll scowl on us an’ say nothin’. S’pose
we go ter the ’lice. Hurlforth represents the
p’lice, sech as tis, an’ the atrocious insex will
tell us ter mind our own business.”

“ Or, learning that we know so much, try to
murder us, also,” Hendersbot added.

“I’d like ter see him try it, by hurleyl” de-
clared Yank, a transient fire in his gray
iaqyesY “ He’d come ter grief, l kin assure you!

0 e

lIOWbird would consent ter be wu'sted by.

him—why, in sech a case, even the weak sister
would rise up in arms ter defend the honor o’
the fam’ly pedigreen.”

The mountaineer suddenly turned away.

“ Come, lad,” he added, ‘ we’ll go down an’
see the landlord. I consait that we’ll only git
ourselves inter a heap o’ triberlation an’ distress,
but we can’t let this unfortinit young man go
unavenged. Not much, we can’t!”

Nevermiss spoke emphatically, and after one
more glance at the gory stain on the sheet,
Bronx followed him from the room.

A few words of explanation were given to
Trail-Lifter—an explanation which made the
Modoc's dark eyes flash wildly—and then the
two men descended to the lower floor. They
chanced to meet the landIOrd, who was a sleek,
oily old Mormon in a retired place.

“ Mister,” sai Yank, abruptly, “you’ve got
a ledger who’s down with fever, ain’t ye?”

The landlord looked at him with dull eyes, his
fat face telling no tales.

“ Yes,” he briefly replied. ‘

“ By the no me o’—what is it?”

“ Alfred Taber."

“ To be sure. Wal, whar is he now?”

“In his room.”

“ Not much, he ain’t.”

“ No? Can it be he has wandered away in his
state of mental aberration?”

“Such a thing is possible, an’ other things is
possible, too. In fack, I hev made a diskivery
which agitates me like hurley. Ye see, I went
ter my room, but the egregious newrolgv was
snappin’ mdy j’ints so oncommon bad that I
thought I' git suthin’ for it. I sat out. My

. way was past Mr. Taber’s door, an’ the door was

open. Naturally I sorter glanced in. What
d‘ye s’pose I seen?”

“ I don’t know. What?”

The landlord’s face remained impassive, but
Bronx believed that he could see a glitter in the
man’s eyes which meant no good.

“ The room was empty, an’ on the sheet 0’ the
bed was a big streak 0’ fresh blood.”

Yank made the statement very quietly, but
his gaze was upon the landlord’s face. The lat-
ter received the news phlegmatieally.

“I’ll send aservant up to see about it,” he
replied. “You need not trouble yourself any
more about it; we will properly attend to the
case.”

It was quietly said, but neither Yank nor
Bronx failed to discover an undercurrent. Un-
der the thin mask of courtesy was a suggestion
to them to interfere no more in the case of the
so-called Alfred Taber.

“ We'll set down hyar an’ hear the report,”
returned the mountaineer, coolly.

“ Very Well.”

The landlord answered like a machine, and at
once started an investigation, such as it was.
The servants'boon reported to him that Taber
was not to be found in the house.

“ He has probably left to swindle me out of
what he owes me,” said the landlord. “We‘ll,
let him go.”

“ Consid’rin’ he was out 0’ his head, you 've
him credit fur a good ’eal o’ sharpness,” ank
drylv observed.

* ‘ How do you know he was out of his head?”
the landlord sharply asked.

“ Didn’t you say so a few minutes ago?”

“ Did I?”

“ To be sure.”

“ Well, let_ him go, anyhow.”

“ What erbout the smooch 0’ blood on the bed-
clothes?”

“ Well, what about it?” was the sharp retort.

“ He left an egregious rle 0’ his blood fur a
man who jumped his boa -bill.”

“ What do you infer from that?"

“ Wal. I asked fur information, ye see.”

“You can have it. The information is that
you will accommodate me by going back to
your room and minding our own business;
I want no more of your nterference. More
than that, I won’t have it. Is that plain?”

“ Wal tolerany so,” the mountaineer re-
plied, with undisturbed serenity. “It was al-
ways a pecooliarity o’ the Yellowhlrds that they
could take a hint when it was oflered. I haven’t
a deubt but you’ll attend for the matter in a

prompt an‘ thorough way. We’ll bid ye good~ ’ r,
i it -
The two men ascended to their room once §

night now.”

more.
‘i‘rgell, what do you make of it?" Bronx .m-

qu .
“ Your fu’st idea was right.”

“There has been foul play.”
“ Thar ain’t a shudder o’ doubt on‘t.”

 

“Nevermiss, this is a terrible state of af-
fairs.”

“ To be sure.”

“ Little as I saw of Severn, alias Taber, I was
favorably impressed by him; he seemed to be a
fine young man. He came to Dan City to
avenge some wron done him, or some one else,
by one of these ormuns-Loverin I believe.
Before that, his brother had come. he brother
disappeared, and Severn believes that he was
murdered by the Danites. Now this man has
disa under circumstances which leave no
don t of foul play.” «
Yank caressed his beard in a perturbed way.

“ Thar ain’t a shadder o’ doubt but we are in
an egregious nest o’ cut-throats,” he replied.
“Dan Crty has a bad name. It has been said
that themas rools the town carry on with ahigh
hand, an’ them as ain’t in the clique do we] tar
keep away. ’Tain’t a noisy, b’isterous town,
like some Western places, Dan City ain’t; the
atrocious business is done hyar in a secret,
onderhand way. The murderers mark aman,
an’ his breath an’ life goes out like a candle."

“ You speak calmly, but I am sure you do
not feel that way, Nevermiss. As for me, I am
full of almost overpowering indignation.”

“ It’s right that ye should be lad.”

“ That, bewever, will not be p Severn.”

“ I doubt ef anything on ’arth kin help the
onfortunit oun fellow now. but I know 0’
three indivrdooe s erbout our size who kin try
most egregiously. Yas, we'll buckle on our
armor an’ see what we kin do.”

“ Your hand, old friend. I felt sure you
would not turn a deaf ear to this stranger’s
case.

“ It can’t be said 0’ the Yellowbirds that they
are onfeolin’; from the time when my n-
father’s uncle, David, went out an’ slew gleam
with 'a domick he ch ucked enter a sling, We’ve
be‘n tryin’ ter help the desarvin’ who was in
triberlation. We’ll sartainly look inter Severn’s
case, but afore we kick up any great dust I
want ter see ef that man o’ the lightnin’ tongue,
Phineas French, gits any ’ints. We mustn’t
forgit that we are hyar ter elp two gals by the
name 0’ Dahlgren.” __

CHAPTER XVII.
AN UNEXPECT'ED MEETING.

LATE in the afternOOn of the next day Yank
and Bronx were moving along the ridge ata
point east of Dan City. Their movements were
aimless; the had left the village chiefly because
they want to be wholly away from it fora
time. No light had been threwn upon Ralph
Severn’s disappearance, and it was clear that no
effort was bein made to find him.

It was equa ly clear that they had aroused
suspicion against themselves by speakin of the
matter. No one had since addressed themon
the subject, but they had not failed to see that
more than one pair of eyes rested upon them
suspiciously and threateningly.

“The powers that were” at Dan City had
marked them, and Neverrniss was free to say
that it would bestrange if Some step was not
taken to remove them,as Ralph Severn had
been removed.

Bronx and Yank, wandering on as before
mentioned, suddenly came upon a peculiarscene.
An abrupt turn in the gulch they Were follow-
ing brought them to a small recess. In this
blazed a still smaller fire, by the side of which
two men were sitting. They were eating with
sin r rapidity. <

t first glance this seemed onlya common
scene, but the more the observers looked, the
more the were inclined to think that it was out
of the o inary course of events.

The men by the fire were superlativer ragged:
in fact, one of them was so far advanced in this
condition that the covering of his person had
nearly lost all form. His coat and other gar-o
ments might have been such. or might have been
mere rags, collected and tied together. It was
hard to say which they were.

Besides this the men were wild of aspect as re.

garded hair and heard. Combs and brushes "‘

y had evidently abandoned. and they were in
a state of disorder striking to behold. :

Add the {act that they were eating with the
veracity of starving men, and it will be seen
that they were curiosities.

Yank and Bronx looked for some time in
silence, and then the latter turned to the moun-
taineer.

“ What have we here?” he asked.

“ Name ’em, an’ you kin have 'em,” Yank re-
plied.

“ Are they madman?"

“ I consult not.”

“ Surely, they are not Danites.”
H No 1’

The mountaineer answered absently and Bronx
saw that his face was grave and thoughtful. »
“ You have a theory, Nevermiss. What is

“ I was wonderin’.” was the slew reply, “6! 4
my idea was ri

f’rin’ fur war: 0’ food an’ raiment. fer put“

poetical; yet hyar they be only ashort ways"

rem Dan City. Why don’t they go tharl.
whyl—onless they’re afeerd for Why
they be afeerdi Jes’ so—whyi she

  

 

 

t. Them men seem ter be suf-- '

  
   

 
    

 

’V ' hands with both of them fervently.

 

,. , Europe

14

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Gold Gaunuet.

 

*victims 0’
" n in that
ey are

the Dan Ci system 0’ atrocityl’
“ By Julp ter! there may be so
theory. can think of no etlmr, if

sane.

“ We’ll speak ter them. Come on l”

Yank threw his rifle over his shoulder and
they advanced. The strangers were still eati
like half-famished dogs gnawing at bones, an
they remained unconscious of everything around
them. Yank and Bronx reached the fire before
they were seen; then one of the strangers gave
a ell, and both bounded to their feet.

t was clear that they were very much
frightened and in a mood to 0, but the pocket
in the clih hemmed them n and they could
only stand and stare with startled eyes.

‘ Hullo, comrades!” said Yank, genially;
“ how goes it! Been humorin’ the inside man,
I see. Wal that’s right; never neglect yer
stomachs. I don't, though mine is often so
egregioust gg'eed that it keeps me at it all the
time. Wal ow fie, anyhow?”

One of the men ad grown less frightened,
unless his looks belied him, and was looking at
Yank earnestly.

“Life of me!” he returned, “ you look not

bad men.”

“ Land 0’ Goshen! I hope not."

“ Yet it is from Dan City you are.”

“ Not much, we ain’t ; we’re free men an’ so-
journers o’ the hills 0 promise, an’ valleys o’

z “ Do you mean to me to tell that it is not you
who from Dan City are?” demanded the man,
with increased earnestness.

“ We— ain‘t— from—Dan—Cityi” Yank dis-
tinctly replied.
“ Truth that lives! am I this safe to believe?”
The stranger grew dramatically excited, and
to gesticulate freely. He spoke with a
all ht accent, yet the chief thing which pro-
cla med him a forei er was the . peculiar way
in which be arrang his words.
“ You’re safe as mice,” the mountaineer

make ’em afeerd ’ceptin’ that mm

answered. “We ain't Mormons, an’ I don’t
b’lieve you be.”
he man extended his hand thetically.

‘ Oh! gentlemen, that arek d, upon me have
mute exclaimed. “Sore trouble am Iin
m heart with grief is heavy. It is not
myself am for like a child am I weak in mind
andbedy. Oh! life of me I was but a minute
mgoa man that starved. Ihave now eaten but
I am a man alone and great peril am I in.
Gentlemen, I beg that on me you will have

pi -”

 tan to, course down his cheeks. be. hf

‘ e yourein some egregious tri r
tion ” observed Yank.

“Truth that lives! I am a man deceived; I
starve; I am of my life in peril, and of my
daughters robbed.”

“Robbed o’ yer da‘rtersl” repeated Never-
miss. with fresh interest.

“ words I speak truly. Alas! my chil-

“ Mister what might be yer name?"

“ I am k Da n, the unfortunate!”
“ Land 0‘ Goshen An’ yer da’rtersw—what be
I they named?”

“ It is Levis and Inza the are called. But,
gntlemen—good, kind gent emeni—I see that
your faces to name which I do not know
how. Life of me! do you my children know?”
He was growing more excited, and his hands
flew in strange gestures, but there was nothing
about him to in icate that he was mental] un-
balanced; he was a foreigner, and even ank
had seen enough of men from Continental
to expect wild esticulation in crises.
“ I consait I’ve beer on ’em,” was the reply.
“ And they—oh! to me tell that they are a ive
and well!” and the tears fiowed more rapidly

'5 ’ than ever down Dahlgren’s bearded face.

“ They are alive; we b’lieve they‘re wal.”
“Gentlemen, that are kind, I thank you: I
bleu you i” cried Dahlgren, and then he shook
“ But of
any children tell me at once!”
,, .‘Waita bit, Erik; wait a bit. Who’s this
with ye?”

The mountaineer directed his gaze to the
second man in rage, who had relapsed into a
stupid state.

‘ I know not; I was in the hills wandering
with starvation when I came upon this man,
froma dead mountain-sheep eating. I cannot
 uhderstand, and I think be H here not

t

. 1'lfi’hhlgren touched his forehead significantly
“ Mister, who be ye!“ continued Yank, look-

ing at the unknown.
‘1“ Scalping Knife!" muttered the man, list-

) .
A, “gkulpin'-Kni!’e, eh? Wal, that’s rayther a

- I

 

‘ queer name, but I don’t know why it ain’t jest
as good as Jones. or Brown, or Smith.” ,
‘ We shall all starve!" added the wanderer,

l .
“Noqu 0’ that. H ar’s half a sheep,
though I ledge it was k lied a good twenty-

eso-
“ The we is dark !" muttered Scalpin -Knife,
at ank with a timid, mo ul, wist-

ful expression. ,

 
 

“Iconsait it is dark fur someon us, who I
could name. Whar did ye come from, mister,
an‘yhowl”

‘Scalping—Knife!” was the absent reply and
then the speaker sat down on the and and
began to draw lines in the sand wi the blade
of a long knife.

“ Like that he is all the time,” explained
Dahlgren, with a heav sigh. “ I can from his
talk make nothing. 6 is in his head not right
and at it I do not wonder. The things I. t
around here occur may well the reason wreck.”

“ You’re r' ht. by hurley! An’ now, Dahl-
gren, of you on’t mind, I’d like ter hear ver
story; you needn’t be afeerd ter trust us. This
hyar is Bronx Hendershot, a man whose skin
an' heart is white so ter say; while as fur me,
I'm Yank Yellowbird, an‘ thar never has be‘n
any blots on the fam’ly pedi een.” .

‘ Life of me! are you ank Yellowbird?”
cried Dahlgren.

“ To be sure.”

“ Now, indeed, am I thankful. Of ou I have
heard as the honestest man of the est, and as
a lion brave; and to Heaven I give thanks that
with you I have met!” '

The Swede shook hands again with Yank, and
his sad face grew much brighter.

The mountaineer modestly stated that the
picture of himself was somewhat overdrawn
and then managed to get Dahlgren seated an
at work on his story.

“ My name, as you already know, it is Erik
Dahlgren,” he began, “ and in Sweden I was
born, but long ago to this country I came with
my bride. Here were my children born—Louis
and Inza—in Michigan. Would that there we
had stayedl But some months ago to us came
an agent of the Mormons of Dan City, and to
1ztne they told how rich I could get if to this place

came.

“ Life of me! why was I so foolish that I be-
lieve! But they said not all here were Mor-
mons and I need not one be, and that rich I
would surely grow. Came we on, and joined a
wagon-train to over the hills travel: but on the
way one night we were attack, by who I, know
not, for I early in the fight was stricken down
so heavy that my sense’s left me.

“ When to m self I came I in a gulch is on
top of two dea men; they had butchered n
with rifle—balls. .I find the place where the attack
was made, and as I learn the wagons were
rburned. But save me and the men who were
dead all have disappeared and knew I then
that a foul deed have been one.

“ I think me of my Levis and Inza, who to me
were more than in life dear and I vow to find
them or die while But I have not a rifle
or a revolver, and in he hills I near starve: and
when Dan City I see, oh! truth that lives! it is
a Mormon town of wickedness and dare I not
go there.

“ 80 around the place I han , and watch—
watch—watch for them, but a ways in vain-
and to me comes no friend, and hunger is har
upon me. You I meet with a heart that was
hm, for then I despair to my children find 1”

story was told with a broken voice, with
tears, and almost constant gesticulation. Once
Erik Dahlgren had been strong of mind and
body, but both had been weakened by the suf-
ferin he had undergone.

“ I ’s an atrocious shame!” declared Yank,
bringing) his broad hand forcibly wn upon his
knee, “ ut it’s jest about the we, things is gen-
erally done at Dan City. inds me o’ the
state 0’ affairs Shadrach Yellowbird found when
be cleaned out a Mormon named Bluebeard—
this was in old times-it does, by hurley, though
I never seen Bluebeard.” ‘

“ Life of me! my poor children!” murmured
Dahl ren. .

“ ecr u , mister, cheer up! I bring ye news
0’ yer gals,’ encoura 'ngly replied the veteran.

“ Ah! is it so? 0 i say it once more, kind
Mr. Yellowbird.”

“ Bronx, hyar, an’ I hev b’en lookin’ inter this
thing,au’ we b’lieve we hev located Lows an’
Inza. They’re at Dan City, an’ captyves, but
they’re safe up ter present time. ”

‘ Prisoners!"

“ I consait they be, an’ in the house 0’ one Joe
Levering, chief snake 0’ the repter brood.”

“ His name they used to make me come to this
place,” said Dahlgren. “ Truth that lives! this
proves all that I have feared.”

“Don’t be cast down. Bear up!
are oin’ tcr be rescued, by hurleyl”

“ h! gentlemen that are kind, sa you that
true this shall be? Say you my chil ren to me
shall be restored l”

“I say it. au’ what’s more ter the p’int I
mean it. This veifi' night we propose ter stri e
ter save ’em. Fac , by hurley!”

Them gals

CHAPTER XVIII.
rm: Box BY THE CLIFF.

DAHLGREN insisted upon shaking hands with
his” new friends for the third time, and then
they gave him some idea of the situation of af-
fairs at Dan City.

They believed that they had definite news of
Levis and Inza. Phineas French continuing
his econ- to you his unrivaled toilet articles—

 

" .. - . . ‘ , .
._» ,1 ., .v ~ .~. ,, ’7‘ ' , > A
r « 1- 4 f - ' l . - a V 3: ()3, .v ,

 

 
 

and also k in his e es open for other things—
had nedeegnfgrmatihn which convinced even
Yan that the girls were in Joseph Lovering’s
second house; the one where he kept his imme-
diate family; the one to which Isabel would not

0.

3 According to what Phineas had heard, one of
the sisters was intended for Levering, and the
other for the second great man of the town,
Aaron Hicks; but they had refused to accept
the fate marked out for them, and matters stood
exactly as they did when the girls were first im-
prisoued.

Having learned this, Yank and Bronx decided
to make a deeperate effort to rescue them.

It was clear that the two men could not lon
remain in Dan City. From the first the h
been objects of suspicion, and since Ralp Sev-
ern’s disappearance the black looks showered
upon them admitted of but one construction.

A storm was brewin . If the were wise they
would strike the first b ow, an try to get Levis
and Inza away.

All this they explained to Dahlgren, and he
was full of gratitude. Better than all, he grew
more resolute every minute, and it was clear
that he would prove no small factor in the

men I
g Of course “ Scalping—Knife " was not to be
thought of in this connection. Who he was none
of them knew and his mental condition was not
such as to make himself useful in the least.

While the talked he sat and drew lines in the
sand with his knife. At times he raised his
head, ceased work, and gazed fixedly at vacan-
c . Something like a gleam of reason would
tgen appear in his face, but it speedily van-
ished, and he resumed his singular occupation.

Bronx noticed that there was some regularity
about his work in the sand, and moved around
to where he could view it. Seal i -Knife
looked up with a mild, child-like sm' e; is for-
mer fear seemed all one.

Bronx saw that be ad drawn a picture in the
sand. There was a kneeling man who held
some singqu object in his hand, and just back
of him was something in coil. It was like a
snake, and the observer thought, represented
such a rep ' e about to strike.

All this was like boyish amusemen and
Bronx did not give it serious thought. pin -
Knife, however, looked up at him with the mi d
smile before noticed.

“ The picture on the rock!” he murmured.

“ I see,” replied Bronx, to humor him.

“ Who can pick the lock l”

“Who, indeed!”

“ The way is dark.” ‘

“ It is fatally dark for you, my poor fellow !”
re lied Bronx, pityingly.

‘ You will not forget?” added the man, a
sudden shade of anxiety on his face.

“ I will not forget w atI know, certainl .”

,“ We’d better leave hyar ” interrupted ank.
“The lace is rather ub 'c, an’ whar we’re
liable gar be he pen on, an’ I consait it
wouldn’t be wal ur Dahlgren terbesee’d. It
mi ht kick up an egregious muss.”

ey started toward the north, and Never-
miss added: .
“ Thar is one thing I don’t onnentan’, at all,

Dahlgren.”

“ nd that is what?”

“ Why yer train was attacked. You an’ the
rest was gathered furder east by the Mormon
agents, ter stock up Dan City. by, then, did

the atrocious insex fall enter ye, an wipe out

the hull emigrant party?”

“ Now I can answer not at all.”

“ Any treasure in the train?”

“ No. We all were poor.

“ It’s a good bit myster’us. You was as good
as members 0’ the town. an’ would ’a’ been a
welcome reinforcement, but they wiped ye out.

“I can only fear me it was to get my daugh-
ters ”

“ Not much, it wa’n’t. Ef you’d all settled
thar they would hev bed the onfortinit gals
fully in t heir wer, so why kick up a disturb-
ance? New, t em insex ain’t fools ernough ter
bite of! their own noses. at it does seem the We
did it, an’ thar is something back 0’ all this.
gious mysterious, by hurley! Looks as though
they was afraid tor let the train git thar safe.”

“I cannot at all explain it,” replied Dahl-
gren, shaking his head. . _

While they walked Side b side in conveh
sation, Bronx and Scalpmg- mfe brought up
the rear. The deranged man had taken a fancy
t.) Hendershot, and his former timidity had

'von place to a child-like confidence in his new

riend. He was inclined to follow him like an
humble dog, and his melancholy. wistful man
ner impressed Bronx deeply.

The stranger‘s condition was pitiful.

The quartette went on until, as they were
passin through a gulch, Yank suddenly came
to 8. ha t.

“ nd 0’ Goshen!” the veteran exclaimed,
“ what hfiv welbyltlu‘?l Dligln’t knew we was in
an art-gs ef)‘. 'y 111' 95’

He was looking at the cliff, and Bronx and
Dahlgren followed his example. What they

least, to them; it was the picture an _

 
 

\

saw was new and of temporary interest, at
dunfinishsd.

 
    
 

 

 

'4'". .
’3' ’
g.

.l

.

I

  
 
 

‘A song

Gold Gauntlet.

15

 

 

inscription which Gold Gauntlet saw on his way
to Dan City.

“ Life 0 me!” exclaimed Dahlgren, “ what
means this thing so strange?”

“It’s a paintin’ by some old master, I con-
sait,” replied Yank, “ an’ I declare it’s wal
done. I’m compertent ter jedge on sech a mat-
ter, fur I once worked fur an artist. He had
a gallery a hundu’d, or more, foot long, an’
’twas full 0’ pictures he had painted an’ wanted
ter sell. ’Twas ter be my 'ob ter show ’em,
s’plain ter customers what t ey was, an’ try
ter 't ’em interested so they would buy. I got
my esson down fine the fu st evenin’, an’ when
a rich millionaire called next mornin’ I was in
fine condition fur business. Smith, the artist,
was very busy, but he winked at me, an’ tol’
me ter take the rich feller in an’ give the pic-
tur’s a good send—01!. We went, an’ the cus-
tomer ’inted his cane at a paintin’, an’ sez he:

‘: :T hat’s thiit?’

hat, sez as prom t asa parrot ‘is a bit
0’ scenery sketched in ew Jarsey. ,It repre-
sents Adam an’ Eve in the Garding 0’ Eden, an’
was painted by Mr. Smith fur a man named
Mike Angelo.’

“The customer looked a bit dazed, but he
p’inted ter the next in order.

“ ‘ What’s that 1” sez he.

“ ‘ Another Jarsey scene,’ sez I; ‘it shows
Abraham sacrificin’ his son, Noah. Mr. Smith
did it fur a man named Raflerty—no; that ain’t
the name—Rapth’

“The customer looked hard at me, but made
no comments.

“ ‘ An’ that? sex he, p’intin’ ag’in.

“ ‘ That,’ sez I, as chipper as you lease ‘is
the lague o’ frogs. Smith did it Fur a Mr.
Mu lo. He got the scenery in Jersey, but I
dunno whar he did git the frogs. Thar is an
ogre ‘ous pile on ’em, ain’t thar?’ sez I.

“ ‘ oung man, this is amazin’,’ sez he.

“ ‘ So ’tis, by hurleyl’ sez I. ‘ Them frogs is
most atrocious funny critters.’

“ ‘ Are you sure thar ain’t no mistake? sez he.

‘Zi‘n'It‘hey may be toads,’ sea I, willin’ ter yield
a P

“ ‘ The next ictur’——what’s that? sez he.

“ ‘Smith di that fur a Mr. Firebrand—no, I
mean Rembrandt. It shows Noah comin’ out o’
the Ark, down in Jarse .’

“ ‘ Young man,’ sez t e customer in an awful
voice, ‘ your master tcl’ me all these pictur’s
was b the old masters.’

“ ‘ mith did paint ’em fur the old masters,’
sez I, though I had no idee who the old masters

was.

“ ‘ What, then, means this date on the ictur’
0' Noah an’ the Ark—I mean the 1 after
Rembrandt’s name?’

“ ‘ That,’ sex I, at a rough guess, ‘ is‘the num-
ber 0’ animals thar was in the Ark.’

“‘ I’ll see Smith,’ can he an’ be fiounced out
inter the other room, 100 ’ sorter worked-up
an’ flurried.

“ I didn’t hear the talk that follered, but
pooty soon Smith come in, lookin’ white as a

host, an’ carryin’ a can he had picked up fur
Ehe occasion.

“ ‘ You scoundrell’ sez he, in a voice like a
blizzard, ‘ you’ve ruined me; you’ve let on that
these pictur’s ain’t by the old masters. You’ve
give my racket away, but, by hurley, I’ll make
you sore fur it!’

“ An’ with that he fell enter me with his cane
an’ give me a most egregious thrashin’. I don’t
know ter today what he was mad about, but he
whaled me ’round the room ontil we knocked
down the pictur’ 0’ Adam an’ Eve in the Gard-

- ing 0’ Eden. By that time I was jest a little

wrathy myself, an’ I kicked ’Adam in the stum-
mick, uttin’ my foot right through his jacket
“whic was a cur‘us one, an’ didn’t begin ter
cover him up pro rly—an’ then I send out o’
the atrocious ga lery. Next day I concluded
that I knowed enough erbout that business, an’
never went back. I consait that Smith was
sorry ter part with me, when he’d thought it
OVer calmly.”

Toward he close of this reminiscence Bronx’s
attention became fixed upon Scalping—Kuife.

The deranged man heard nothing that Yank
fixed y at the pic-

was saying. He was gazin
ture on the rock, and the ol , frightened expres-
sion 118d reappeared on his face. His eyes Were

wild, and the fingers of his half-closed hands
worked nervous] on the dirt-covered palms.

Suddenly an i ea occurred to Bronx.

Allowmg for the rudeness of the means, the
picture which the man had made in the sand
with hisknife was exactly like this one u n the
rocks. He had studied it at the time. an ,cmde
as it was, the resemblance was marked.

He touched the unfortunate man’s arm. Scalp-
ing-Knife started, but grew calmer as he met
Bronx’s friendly gaze.

a “Zdou have seen this before?” the latter ques-

on
‘_‘ It is the one ” Seal in -Knif muttered.
“What do yOI’l knowpofgitl” e

“ The picture on the rocks?” was the vague

l.

"Ekomadie'itgr nlsted Bronx. t
way i” lied Seal in -Kni

withsfihermndhis eyrzsplooked lgrggr timed

 

“ Can on not tell us anything about it?"

“ The vsva is dark,” repeated the man.

" Useless! ’

Bronx turned away with a feeling of d ,
disappointment. The rock had aroused all
interest. The unfinished word-inscription, tell-
ing as it did that a dark tragedy had occurred,
was second in interest only to the picture. What
did that mean? The kneelin men; the anchor-
shaped object he held in his and; the lasso fly-
ing toward him—all these, Bronx felt sure, had
a istory.

What it was he could not surmise.

It was an additional mystery to the secrets of
Dan City and vicinity.

His interest in the matter did not abate, and
while Yank and Dahlgren dismissed the picture,
he used his eyes and reasonin faculties.

The human skeleton stil lay where Gold
Gauntlet had seen it, and seemed to have close
connection with the untold It was, it
seemed more than likely, what remained of the
victim of the tragedy. Bronx had at first
thou ht that the picture was done in blood, but
on c oser examination he decided that it was
paint used by an artist.

This suggested the idea that some wandering
painter h done all this in an idle moment, but
the possibili was soon discarded; life and
events aroun Dan City were too real, too 'c
and fraught with ril, to admit of his looking
upon this half-tel story as an idle jest.

Yank Yellowbird had not outwardly seemed
to take so much interest in the matter, but he
suddenly broke oil’ in the middle of a sentence
addressed to Dahlgren, and walked to the skele-
ton.

Stoo‘ping, he picked 11 something from the
groun . t was a smal , oblon tm-box, not
much larger than his thumb, but e gazed at it
very earnestly.

“ Is it a clew, Nevermissi" asked Bronx.

“ Lad, what was the name 0’ that fever-
struck ryoung teller who disappeared so mys-
ter‘us

“Ralph Severn.”

The mountaineer shook his head slowl .

“ He tol’ ye on a brother 0’ his who had dis-
appeared equally myster’us. What was his
name?”

“I don’t remember that it was mentioned.
But wh do you ask! Have you—”

“ at his!”

Yank passed over the box pointing to one
particular point, and as he did so Bronx saw a
name scratched upon the surface of the tin. It
was easily read:

“ Morgan Severn I”

Without tSlronouncing the name, Bronx looked
quiekl at e mountaineer.

“ t do you make of this, Nevermiss?”

I “ The sick man had a brother who come hyar
ahead 0’ him, an’ then vanished from sight,
didn’t he?"

“ So he said.”

“Wal, by hurle , ef the ictur’ on the rock,
an’ the name on h a box, an the skeleton. don’t
tell a tale, what does? I b’lieve Morgan Severn
131683;” b Seal K i ’

s rpcry rokefrom in - nfesli
and he ran toward the speaker a fine in 

 

CHAPTER XIX.
moss or a memoir.

_ Yam: Ya:mest seemed in danger of be-
ing overturned by this imlpetuons rush, but
Scalping-Knife came to a h t a few feet away.
The deranged man’s face was pale, and his eyes
were wilder than usual, but on his bronzed face
was an expression of actual intelli ce. The
mountaineer could see that he tremb ed violent-

ly.

“ WtfwMtfi he cried a distinct pause
between the two excitedly-spa en words.

No one hadan immediate reply ready, and the
look of intelli nee faded away. His facebe-
came more b ank and dull than ever, and he
passed his hand over'his head as though in pain.

“What in hurley does the creetur’ mean?”
asked Yank, in perplexity.

“It was the name, I think,” Bronx re lied.
“ My man, didiyou know Mo an Severn

l(iiScalping-Kmt'e looked at t 0 speaker in the
0 way.

1 “ Who can pick the lock?” he muttered, vague-

y.

“ You know something about this picture,
don’t you i—somethin g about Morgan Severn 1”

A wild, meaningless smile crossed the wan-
derer’s face.

“ You are my friend; I am your friend,” he
said slowly.

“  ht as wal try ter git infermation from a
rock, y hurley!” declared the mountaineer.
“ It’s egregious melancholy ter see a man in his
fix. I consait that I know what the trouble is;
he looks like a person who’s a victim o’ malig-
nant newrolgy, an’ he’s got it bad. It’s an
atrocious thing, newrolgy is, when it rages with
voylence. I’ve had it, man an’ boy, fur in’
on forty ear, an’ I know. Thar ain’t a no
in 1131  but has be’n broke five or six times,
8n’ by hat complaint. Luckil , the Yellow-
birds’ bones knit quick, an’ I n’t none the
was for’t’h .

,i . , -

 

Yank caressed his sparse beard contentedly,
but Bronx’s face was graver.

“ I believe, Neverm1ss, that if this fellow had
his senses he could throw light on one mystery.
I cannot but believe that we have found the re-
mains of Ralph Severn’s brother in this lonely
place. Scalping-knife, as we call him, knew of

his picture on the rocks before we came here.
What is more likel than that he knew Morgan
Severn, and that t ' cloud came upon his mind
afterward i”

“ Thar’s reason in that I consait.”

“ I will talk with him further.”

Bronx roceeded to do so, and by various arti-
flces tri to summon back that lost intelligence
which had flashed for a moment on Scalping-
Knife’s face. It was a vain attempt. The man
paid close attention, much as a faithful 2::
would have. done, but with less of reason

It was a hopeless task.

When Bronx abandoned it, Yank Yellowbird
led them along once more. They still had some
time 11 their hands, and he knew of a place
where e thought they would be safe from ob-
servatiom

It was near Dan Ci
place so wild that he be ieved no intruder would

a .

p t was at the end of a lch, which narrowed
to a tunnel, With alterna sectionsof roof
and blue s to meet the gaze of whoever ed
up ward. igantic eats of rock, nearly all
flat rather than roun , were scattered a
some lying flat, some standing on edge, and
others leaning diagonally against their neighbors
-—a wild scene, indeed, as though the mountain
had once been rent by a vast e lesion Grass
there was none, and the only t ing that was
green were the bushes, strong, but dwarfed and.
misshapen, that clung to crevices here and
there.

The mountaineer led them to a point where a
great rocky slab covered the now narrow gulch,
and they sat down on the rocks in the semi-
darkness.

Conversation turned to a subject of vital in--.

terest to Erik Dahlgren—the rescue of Levis
and Inza.

Yank had fully formed the Plan for their
rescue, and he and Bronx had on '3 been await-
has night to make the attempt. o Trail-Lifter
t e
barges, for there was a possibility that they
would be molested.

Dahlgren listened and talked and his heart
went out to his new I-Ie was gaining
new strength and new courage, and would be
no small factor in the case but he leaned upon
Yank. He had heard of this fearless man, and
he would be just the one to take ch in an

attem tto rescue the daughters the unforin- .

nate wede loved so well.

For an hour the matter was discussed in all
its bearings.

After awhile Hendershot noticed that Yank’s
attention often strayed for a moment, and he
seemed to listen carefully. As the veteran did
not explain, be final] spoke abruptly.

“ Is there danger, evermissi”

“ Dan r?”

H 

“ Why do ye ask?”

“ Something is on your mind; you hear m
thin .

“ consait that I do.”

“ What is it?”

“Jest what I want ter know, an’ at ye don’t, . :3

ob' t, I’ll move erlong inter this

boean’seeef I kin explain it. By ewa ,
lad, how close d’ye s’pose we be ter Dan City
Reservationi” v

“Very near, certainly, though this tunnel i

prevents accurate estimates. Can it be, Yank,
that you hear—”

He used, and the mountaineer replied:

“ E I ain’t mistooken, I hear the same sound

Reservation, but in a .

d given the task of caring for their.

 

we heerd once store. The atrocious newrol’gy’ 

has about ruined the drum an’ fife o’ my ear, as; J

a doctor would express it; but thar is some ac-
curacy left in the wings ter my head yet.” -

have a
nothing compar

ways thou ht my hearing acute, but it is
to yours.”

“Trainin’ an’ practice has did it, lad. Give f’

yerself twen year more on the plains an’
mountains, an you’d ekul—yes an’ beat me no
doubt; fur you’re clear grit all through, w
in left foot is a weak sister.”

ank had arisen, and after a use hetold
the whole party to follow him. ey went on
in the tunnel a few yards, while it grew darker
andunarrower, and then the avenue ended ab-
ru .

93mm bade them listen and no acute
hearing was necessa then. The same sound
Yank and Bronx ha heard when they were in
Dan 03 Reservation was home to their ears-—
the pee iar dink! clinic I—but no murmur d

voicea
“It’s the sound 0’ a pick, sure’s you‘re diver" ‘

declared the mountaineer, after a pause.
in main 9)

tseems

“Then we must decide that either the MG- »

'monshevgotamineintharmrelse them
o’the’arthisinhabited." V ‘

“ A good deal, if you hear anything now. I  '

 

o.

.-\)~a'[ g,- 1 a, )m’d\o~‘vl , .._, ‘_ .».. _ r

:1.

 

. troub 9 they wished to aid him;

“aver!

 

16

‘

Gold Gauntlet.

 

 

(l Ya.”
“ Has anybody a match?”
“ I have, ’ Bronx replied.

“Strike it, an’ le’s hev a look.”

Bronx obeyed, and by communicating the
blame to a piece of paper, they obtained as much
of a survey as was necessary. There was no

wide enough to admit of 9 beyond
t at point, though the rock was of sin like for-
mation, with numerous crevices between.

Through the crevices came the sound.

Clinic, clank/ Clinic, Clank!

“It is 1 who thinks this very strange,” said
Dahl en. m b h 1 ’ h

‘ gregious nny, y ur ey, an t o more

v know on’t the more you’ll naterally think so,”

ank repli . “ Now, of I hadn’t anything else

tor occup m time, I consait that I’d ita crow-

bar an’ tac these rocks. I b’lieve could git
inter the den that way.”

“ It is probably only a secret mine,”answered

roux.

“ I ain’t so sure 0’ that.”

“ What more would you expect to find i”

“ Somethin’ we don’t I don’t jest
know what, but the idee is strong in in mind
that this place ain’t knowed ter every y at

an City.’

“ You may be right.”

“To be sure. roux, of you feel that way,
we’ll come back arter we escort Dahlgren an’
his gals ter safety, an’ solve this riddle.’

.“ ’m with you, Nevermiss.”

“ Ah! truth that lives!” exclaimed Dahlgren,

’7 “ we ,have not yet to safety conducted my chil-

dren.
“Fack, by hurley, an’ we’ll attend ter that
first ”

They returned to the mouth of the tunnel, and

sat down to await the hour of action.
Ni ht soon came, falling with marked dark-
In the gulch, but they had longer to wait;

ness
they dared make no effort to rescue the girls unq.

til the at part of Dan City was asleep.

The ime came at last when Yank ed them
out and toward the village. Some distance
from it three of their number paused, while the
mountaineer went to see Trail-Lifter, and make

. sure that all was right there.

He returned with a favorable report.

. How to dispose of Scalpin -Knife now became
a question. They had trie to leave him be-
hind, but he kept at Bronx’s heels persistently—
stiil acting like a faithful (log—and would not
be left or sent away. His he plessness appealed
to Bronx’s ity; espoke in his behalf; and it
was finall «leaded that he and Dahlgren should
be left be ind with Trail~Lifter. Yank believed
that he and Bronx could do the work as well—
perha , better—than with a third party along.

‘Dahgsgren acquiesced somewhat unwxllingly;

1 due arrangements were made; and then Yank

and Bronx went on alone.

Little was said on the way, and silence reign-
ed all around until they had nearly reached the
village. They were among the last of the

chers when this silence was abruptly broken.
nly a few yards away sounded loud voices
and a confused din, as though men were fight-

hey paused. What were they to do in this
eme ency? If any deserving rson was in
it was only a
common broil, they were better wholly apart
from it.

Their indecision was ended by other events.
Suddenly a man came running toward them
pursued by other men. The fugitive ran well
at first, but suddenly gave a cry and dropped to
the ground. Then his enemies rapidly closed the

gagBy hurley! I can’t stan’ this, lad!” exclaim-
ed Yank Yellowbird. " Hyar’s at ’am, fur the
weaker ms sake. Wade in!”

They had forward at full speed, and just
as the strangers bent over their intended rey,

' the new-comers burst upon the scene 11 e a

whirlwind.

“ Let up thar, ye atrocious insex !" cried the
mountaineer. “ Leave that man alone, or we’ll
make a most egregious triberlation fur ye!”

CHAPTER XX.
son ran omLs’ sum.

Tins warning was plainly spoken, but it did
not prove effective. Instead, the nearest man

l v threw up his rifle and took aim at Yank Yellow—

ird.

Matters came to a crisis with rapidity then.
Yank had no intention of being shot, and he
knew how to prevent it. Like a ash his own
rifle was whirled through the air, and the
'would-be assassin's weapon was beaten down.

_ “ At ’em, lad!” the mountaineer cried again,
and then they sprung into the midst of the en-

? mid idea of Yank’s prowess was then
vouc ed. He wielded his rifle like a club
and seemed absolutely to mow a path ahead of

. Men fell right and left, as before a cy-
and in a remarkabl short space of time

it was all over. Not one o the enemy remained;
Y had not cared to do them great harm
as were in condition to flee. they won
y, carrying. sore heads with them.

-..~

,1,

 

Their legs, however, seemed to be in good condi-
tion.

Bronx had been able to do but little before it
was all over, but he now turned to the man they
had rescued.

That rson sat upright and spoke in a
prompt, ut very cool, vome:

“ Gents, I owe you one. You are trump
cards and I thank you heartily.”

“ What! is it you?” cried Bronx.

“ It is I surely; but who am I?”

“ Gold Gauntlet, the Gulch Gladiator.”

“Quiet the ‘ Gladiator ’ if you please. I have
sprained my ankle, and am like anything but
what you call me—an absurd name for me, any-
how. The villa 9 people thought I looked like a
glaldiator. R y, I am as meek and weak as a

r ‘

“ Land 0’ Goshen! you don’t seem ter know
much about the female kind of on call ’em
meek !” exclaimed the veteran. “ ut that ain’t
ter the p’int. What was goin’ on hyarl”

“Came very near bein a fight.”

“ To be sure. So Hur orth was arter you?”

“ Ah !——you recognized him?”

it Yes.” ,

“ Well, you thumped him soundly once, to my
knowledge. You did well; I thank you both.”

“ I take it, mister, that your standin" at Dan
Cit ain’t o’ the best."

ank was not oblivious to the fact that a
strong, bold young man was before him, and
he had an am ition to secure another ally.

“ Wrong !” replied Gold Gauntlet; “ my stand-
ing here is good—excellent.”

‘Was this a proof on’t?”

“ Oh! these were common ruflians."

“ Hurlforth is Marshal 0’ Dan City.”

“ A poor one.”

“ I consait so. But see hyar, mister, am I ter
ondcrstan’ that you’re a Mormon f"

“ Hardly that, for I am a late comer amon
these ople, but I am so favorably impr
that shall join them. I find them honest, in-
dustrious, noble persons, and, as I said, I intend
to 'oin.”

‘ J ’ine, an’ be hanged!” exclaimed Yank,
with unusual warmth. “ We’ll leave ye now.
Hope you’ll excuse our savin’ ye from yer noble,
honest friend Hurlforth l”

The disgusted mountaineer turned away, but
Gold Gauntlet called after him:

“ Wait, my friend; you’re leaving me with-
out a weapon. Loan me a revolver, will you?”

“ Should sca’cely s’pose you’d want one
amon sech oncommon cherubs as exist ’round
Dan ity.”

“Those men were scoundrels; I referred to
the leaders of the town when I spoke. Nobody
can deny thatJoseph Lovering is a worthy, up-
right man.”

“ A which I’”

“ An honest man and a gentleman.”

“ Nobody kin truthfully deny it,” grimly re-
plied Yank, “ but thar are some folks who are
sech egregious liars—I won’t name ’em—that
the would sw’ar night was day. Thar ain’t no
don t but Joe Levering is an angel. Reckon
he’s got wings sprouted: leastwise, I seen a
paomisin’ crOp o’ pin-feathers on his upper lip.

a1, hyar’s yer revolver—good-by!”

The mountaineer broke off abruptly, and as
abruptly turned swag. He was supremely dis—
gusted with Gold auntlet, and wanted no
more to do with him. He expressed his opinion
freely to Bronx as they walked away, but
other matters soon demanded attention.

They neared Jose h Lovering‘s house.

The ‘crisis was at and.

The information received from Phineas
French enabled them to have all planned, and
at a convenient point theg' a ladder.
Proceeding to the rear of t e house, they leaned
this a inst the wall so that the upper end
touch a certain second-stor window.

They then went u promp 

The had expec to find he window fast-
ened, ut such proved not to be the case. Con-
siderably surprised Yank, who was ahead,
raised it: all was dark and silent beyond.

He now saw that they had forgotten one
necessary thing—a light—was it too late to
procure it? He cautiously crawled through the
window, and Bronx followed. They were in-
side the house, but what was to be done next?

Matters were not as had Leon expected.

“ We must resk a match,” the mountaineer
whispered. “Light one!”

Bronx ot'i'eiyed, taking care not to strike it too
roughly. e 11 ht came, and both used their
eyes quickl . T ey were in a room, if such it
could be ca ed, ten feet wide but reaching back
only about four feet from the window. There
were two doors, one at the end and one at the
side; and as the match died out they saw a faint

low of ii ht beneath the latter. hey also saw

t this oor was secured with a stout bar.

Both caught the meaning of this narrow
room; it was a little space partitioned of! so
that, whenever the door was barred, the inmate
of the real room beyond cOuld not approach the
window. The second door was for the use of
a? who barred the door—their way of re-

t.
Es was thus made impossible without aid
from \ outside. '

"A 9'1,

 

Yank’s face cleared. Hope again animated
him; he felt almost sure that the captive girls
were beyond that barred door, and there was a
strong possibility of rescuing them unless the
rescuers were discovered.

There was the rub—one false step would ruin
all. Perhaps, too, there was a watchful guard.
Perha there was a female jailer in the room
with t e girls. Perhaps, frightened at their ap-
pearance, one of the girls would call out and de-
strogy the last hope.

A 1 thiroccurred to Yank, but he was never
cooler. A sleeping volcano was a place safe
enou h while it continued to sleep.

“ ow for it, Bronx!” he whispered.

He cautiously removed the bar.

“ Remember you’re ter do the fine talkin’,”
he added. ,

“ I am ready."

Bronx spoke terse] , and he tried to be calm.
It was no easy ta , but he succeeded better
than he dared hope.

The door was pushed open and they entered.

Bronx saw a well-furnished room, but at first
sight he discovered nothing more except that a
lamp, with the wick turned well down, stood
upon the table. He paused irresolutely, but at
that moment the scene suddenly changed.

Without the least warning the room was filled
with light, and as he looked in surprise he saw a
E121 standiu by the table. Clearly, she had

. u there w en they entered and had suddenly
turned the light on, but it almost seemed that
she had appeared miraculously.

He had intended to speak quickly, so as to
prevent any alarm from her lips, but words did
not come at his bidding. He was not only sur-
prised by her sudden appearance, but surprised
to find her so beautiful. She looked rarely
lovely as she stood there, and the crown of true,
pure womanhood seemed to rest 11 n her with
its indescribable presence. Her 8 ight grace
ful figure was erect, and there was much of the
hermc in her appearance.

Her expression was stern and lofty, and she
put out one hand slightly and said, in a low but
intense voice:

“'”You have not taken us by surprise, you
see. u

The truth flashed {ipon Bronx; she believed
that she saw, not rescuers, but enemies.

“ Young lady, be calm l” he said, quickly.
“If you are named Dahlgren, we come to you

as friends. We are here to take you to your
father.” |
She started perceptibly.

“ My father!” she echoed.

“Yes, to Erik Dahlgren.”

“ Where is he?”

“Beyond the village, waiting for us to bring
you to him.”

“ And who are you?"

“ One word, first. Are you really one whom
we seek? Speak your name!”

In“ I am Lovis Dahlgren, and this is my sister,

28 17'

Before this point of the dialogue a second 
had appeared not far away. She now li
forward, and the two stood side by side. on:
could not doubt that they were Sisters: they
were very much alike, except that Levis was
more of a brunette than her sister.

“ That settles the hull egregious business,” in-
terrupted Yank, who was too practical to ap-
prove of delay. “ Your father waits fur ye,

als, an’ the quicker we slide that way the bet-

r. The weak sister is gittin’ nervous.”

“ Here is a sign that we have come from Erik
Dahlgren, your father,” added Bronx.

He advanced and handed a ring to Levis. She
looked at it once, and then slipped it upon her
own finger.

“ It is m father’s!” she said, softly, and then,
arousing e added in a more practical tone:
“ I dou tyou no longer, and we are ready togo.
Ready to go! I cannot express the joy that is in
my heart. May God bless you, and— But lead
on. lead on E”

“ To be sure,” replied Yank. “ I don‘t want
ter stay hyar, either. I was born with antipa-
thies, an’ the will stick to me.”

There was at little to do in the way of pre-
paration, for the girls had nothing there except
their outer garments which were their own.
They were ready in a Ve short time.

The retreat was success ly made. The door
was rebarred behind them; the Window was
(timed and the ladder put aw ; and then they
hastened along through the lags.

Bronx had given‘his arm to Lovis, and he had
never been more zealous in a good purpose, He
felt that he had a real treasure to protect. Few
words were spoken as they went, for they ex-
pected at every step to be confronted by some
enemy.

.

 

CHAPTER XXI.
run wonn or WARNING.

Tan dreaded alarm did not come, and tho 1:
Yank Yellowbird. remembering that Hurlf h
and his men were abroad, kept constant watch,
he saw no living creature, human or otherw'
until the village was pissed. Both Lovis

Inza were exhibiting an amount of courage,
which aroused the admiration of their rescuers,

and the flight was well

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 Gold Gauntlet. a

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The mountaineer led the way to where Dahl-
gren, Trail-Lifter and Scalping-Knife waited,
and the girls Were soon in their father’s arms.

His emotional nature showed more strongly
than ever then, and he ap lied to them ever
tender term he could thin of—terms 'whic
Bronx Hendershot thought ve appropriate.

Yank stroked his beard and ooked onapprov-
ingly, but he did not forget their situation, and
gave them only a comparatively brief time to
talk

“Wal, good folks,”he said, interru tin the
Swede, “we will be of! now. You in nish
explanations arter we’re in the saddle, Dahlgren.
Little gals, h ar are two homes fur you which
we’ve pick up by the way. I hope you’re

cod riders. C imb up, all on yo. Skulpin’-

nife I hope e’ll behave like agentleman.
Now foller ine— ‘till-Tongue will bring up the
rear. Bronx, you’d better keep nigh the gals,
ef ’tain’t too much trouble.”

A humorous smile flitted over the mountain-
eer’s face at his last idea, but as the moved
away, he at once became the watch ul scout
again.

During the first mile of their flight they would
be liable to meet Hurlforth’s Danites at any
step. Such an encounter mi ht immediate]
result disastrously to them. f it did not, it
would serve to hasten the inevitable ursuit.

Thus the journey was 11 un er circum-
stances far from reassuring. The dark gulches
might hold enemies who would slaughter the
m e fugitives if they could.

All this the leaders recognized, but not even a
transient feeling of fear visited the minds of
Bronx, Yank or the oun Modoc; they were
accustomed to scenes like th s.

Yank‘s grim joke did not revent Bronx
from taking his place beside ovis. He had
grown doubly zealous since he had seen this fair
girl. Before, he had regarded her as being only
a woman in )cril; even Erik Dah en’s state.
ment that he had come to the Uni States be-
fore the girls were born had not dispelled the
vague idea that they were only emigrant girls
lately from Europe.

Former impressions had been swept away,
however, and he knew when he first saw them
that they were refined, intelligent girls who
having lived all their lives in America, had all
the ways of its *oplc, and to natural mental
ability had addei rood educations.

This was not the only impression Lovis pro-
duced upon him, and it was a real pleasure to
ride beside her, and see her look to him for pro-
teciion.

Yank once more showed his border-craft. He
kept somewhat ahead of the others, and was
always keenly on the alert. His mind was as
much at ease as ever, and had any one been riding
beside him, he Would probably have found some
remark to make about his alleged neuralgia, or
his coward] left foot.

Despite t is he never relaxed his vigilance.
His small gray eyes were never at rest, and no
audible sound escaped his acute hearing.

He knew that if they chanced upon the Danites
bloodshed would follow, and was prepared to do
his utmost for the girls they had thus far been
able to help.

Each yard that they advanced was cause for
new hopes. The gulches did not seem tohold
lurking foes. There was yet some hope of get-

tinfila aged start.

0 t mile was covered; a second was add-
ed; and then Yank fell back and joined his
companions.

“Ah! life of me!” exclaimed Dahlgren, “is It
with us all right, Mr. Yellowbird?”

“ I consait so.” "

“Sir, we have to thank you for much—very
much.”

“_Wait awhile, Dahlgren. We won’t crow
ontil we're beyond the reach 0’ the atrocious
insex.”

“Is it you that thinks they in pursuit are
 f I h h egregi

say, ur sure. ope t 0 one
critters won’t diskiver the facks ontil mornin’
n‘w%chh:m we slhalll havo stl’lamflnlg o’ a start."

‘_ e venot atc seen e n ian oucall
Trail-Lifter near us.” y y

“ Never mind him. Thar ain’t one on us more
capable o’ lookin’ out fur hisself than Still-
Tongue. I’ve come back ter see at the Is kin
tell me what’s become 0‘ the rest 0’ yer ill-fated
wagon-train."

‘Wo have just been talking abontit,” an-
swered ,Lovis. “ No; we know nothing.”

Ci ya n’t any other captyves taken for Dan

‘ Not to our knowledge. As soon as the train
was captured, Inza and I were given to a small
esan and taken quick! to the villas“),

“ An' you ain’t seen t e others 861100?”

No.’
“ Was the fightin’ over when you was taken
ova l”

.u h! yes.”

“An’ others was left alive?”

“ Yes. Only a few were killed, I think? but
1 dpn t km: what happened afterward.”

‘ 1 don‘t.bl Yank ,replied, “ but I kin give 8

u 
7 9001'  that were deluded l”

   
 

 

exclaimed Dahlgren. “ Where do you think
they now are?”

“ ’T wouldn’t s’prise me an artom ef they’re in
Dan City Reservation, or under it, ruther.
I’ve  an idee this might be the case for some
time.

“ Truth that lives! do you think they it was
we heard at mining, when in the tunnel we
were?"

“ I consait it may be so.”

“But why do they this thing?”

“ Mebbe they can’t help it. My idee is that
the atrocious insex has got ’em thar as slaves.”

It was an entirely new idea to Dahl en, and
he said as much, but it was the on y way in
which Yank could explain the disappearance of
the other members of the wagon-train party.
All the latest evidence went to show that there
had been no general massacre. or, if there had
been such, it was delayed until Lovis and Inza
were taken away.

“ Dahlgren,” pursued the mountaineer, with
more than usual earnestness, “ you say that you
was knocked sensible in the fracas, an’ when ye
come ter (yer senses you’d be’n dumped inter a
gulch for cad?”

“Life of me! this fact is true.”

“ Who knocked ye sensible?”

“ Really, I knOW this not, good sir.”

“ Did you—now pay strick attention—did you
see an sign ter show that you was expecially
singl out inthe flghtf—that they was oncom-
mon greedy to hit you, more than any other
man?’

This was an unexpected question, and Dahl-
gi'en wisely took time to consider.

“ Your words and meaning are to me strange,”
he finally replied, “ but I know only that around
me were men on all sides, and that to beat me
down they zealous seemed. Like acloud the
were, and fight all I could not at once, butl
know not but with the other emigrants it was
like this, the same.”

“ You sa that you don’t know of any enemy
of yours at an City '4” asked Bronx, whose mind
was evidently running in the same channel as
Yank’s.

“ I did not of any know.”

“ Hev ye an inemy anyhari" continued the
mountaineer. “ ls thar any one you kin think
on who hates ye bad 3’”

Duhlgreii shook his head.

“ I know not of such a man.”

“ W'al, we‘ll let it rest fur now, for we sar-
tainly hev enough else ter think on.”

Yank once more rode to the front. He had
marked but their line of flight before that night,
and it was now followed. Various landmarks
served as guides, and they were not obliged to
stop and study the route. Fair progress was
made, considering that the way was so wild and
rough, but the astute leader took good care not
to ask too much of the horses in such a
place.

Bronx Hendershot managed to enjoy that
ride, despite the fact that the future was full of
danger. He found both Lovis and Inza bri ht,
pleasant girls, and no better company coul be
desired.

Seal lug-Knife was always to be found at
Bronx 5 heels. His dog—like devotio" to the
young man never wavered; he hung to him per-
sistently. At the same time he was quiet and
unobtrusive, and, beyond muttering to himself
now and then. had nothing to say.

Hours passed; the night drew near its end.

A_n hour before daybreak they left the hills
behind fora time. A prairie, broken by occa-
sional roups of trees, lay before them. Here
Yank ( colded that they would rest for awhile,
besxde a small stream of water. Trail—Lifter
joined them, and as he had seen no suspicious
si s, they went into cam . Food for them-
se ves had been brought along, and there was
good grazing for the horses.

When do dawned the resumed their jour-
ney at inc speed. yond this point not
one of the had ever been, and they must liter-
ally explore as they went. They must trust to

, luck, and Yank Yellowbird’s sagacity, to take

them through safely.

For three hours the rode without adventure.
By that time they reac ed another range of hills.
To continue on the prairie they 'must deviate
from the course they had been following, and 0
north. Should this be done, or should they ta e
to the hills?

To settle the matter Yank called a halt, and
himself dismounted and began climbing to an
elevated point of the rid e. He soon reached it.
Pausing there. he look back over the course
they had just come.

He eercted to see something, and his fears ‘
ap

were an pily verified.

Other horsemen were on the prairie—one. two,
three parties. All were traveling northeast.
One was following the trail of the fugitives. Of

the others, one had directed its course a little I of silver and shaped
further north: the other a little further south. l singular, for ornaments and
In brief, the Danites were on the track, and I rare in

i

 

l
l
l
l
l
l
i
l

CHAPTER XXII.
THE SILVER ANCHOR.

GOLD GAUNTLET was seated in his but, placid-
ly smokincr a cigar. He looked none the worse
for his ventures of the previous night, and
was really little affected thereby, though a
slight lameness still remained in his ankle.

fter being kidnapped, as before related, he
was subjected to cross-examination at Hurl-
forth’s hands. The latter trusted to his mask,
and a change of voice, to hide his identity, but
before the interview was half over, Gold Gaunt-
let had discovered who he was.

This fact the Gladiator did not betray.

Hurlforth wanted information; he wanted to
know what “ ame ” Gold Gauntlet was “ play-
ing at Lovenng‘s.” The risoner denied that
there was any game, and t en he was accused
of being a spy; of havin come to Dan City
with some purpOSe in min hostile to the Mor-
mons.

All this was because crafty Hurlforth really
did have a suspicion that there was underhand
work somewhere. He loved Isabel, in his rude
way, and Joseph knew it. But he was not a
favored suitor, thou h J ose. h had made certain

romises. Possibly fiose h ud combined with

1d Gauntlet in some sc eme: at any rate, the
Gladiator must have a plot in mind.

Such was Hurlforth’s opinion, and he set out
to verify it. He aspired to get a confession from
his prisoner; he tried to tra him into an admis-
sion; he coaxed, threaten , flourished a revol-
ver in Gold Gauntlet’s face, and tried various
other means.

He failed; there was no confession.

Only one thing remained to be done, Hurl-
forth thought, and that was to dispose of the
Gladiator promptly, permanently.

Attemptin to conduct Gold Gauntlet to the
place where e was to be slain, the prisoner es-
caped; they ursued. and were overtaken and
beaten of! by ank Yellowbird and Bronx.

Gold Gauntlet had lim back to his hut,
and there he still was. is ankle gave him no
uneasiness, and he would have been as much at
ease as ever had not he been aware that he ha
a werful enemy in Dan City. '

urlforth stood next to Levering and Hicks
in the village.

Personally he had no fear of the dark-faced
marshal. and would have been only too glad to
settle their difference at once, but trouble with
Hurlforth bade fair to interfere with all his
plans for the future.

Once let LOVering turn against him, and the
hopes of years would perish. He had come to
Dan City with a great work to do, and it was
one which r ii‘ed careful, patient work.

if Hurlfort destroyed his chances, he would
be avenged upon the marshal, but that would
non undo the damn
ing Loverin ’s g -will. It was because of this
that the Glagiiator had refused the advances of
Yank Yellowbird the previous night. Nobody
knew better than he what a villain Lovering
was but he could not show his hand to the
wor d then.

For the present he would rather have Lover-
ing for a friend than any other man.

The Gladiator arose, and, finding his ankle in
better condition than he had expected, walked
slowly to where he found pasturage for his
horse. It was a little valley for which no one

else seemed to have any use, and the placing of’

a slight obstruction, at a certain point, kept the
animal from wanderin away. .
He had felt some oubt that the horse was
now safe, but it vanished when he reached the
vallc .
Th: black horse was grazing contentedly.
Between master and brute existed an im-

usual affection, and with this in mind, Gold'

ssed the obstruction and entered the
hen the horse saw him
to crave notice. He did not

Gauntlet
valley.
down at rapid speed

seek in vainzthe Gladiator potted him all that I

he could wish. -
Half an hour passed. The horse had wander-
ed away, and Gold Gauntlet, to rest his ankle,

was lying upon the round. At that point the _
black horse had evi ently found the grass ,par- '

ticularly palatable, for it was eaten down until

there was little more than a carpet of reen.
That there was anything else there 0 interest

Gold Gauntlet did not s

rise. ..
The second motion was not made then; his

gaze suddenly fell upon something which arrest-
ed his movements. He 10wered his hand to the
ground. pi-"ked up something—silver, yet not
silver in its crude state. To him it was even
more interesting, even if it did not promise a.
mine near at hand. '

He held in his hand an ornament.'toyor  ‘-

curiosity—whatever it was intended for—made
like an anchor. It was
curiosities were
Dan City, and when he had fully open

the had spread out like a fan to destroy the } what it was, his first emotions were those of
fu tives’ last hope. They were nearer than i surprise.

Yank had expected, and a shadow of uneasinem
appeared On his face. He and his rty must
meet great odds in a place where he w of no
refuge. The prospect was dark!

n‘.‘
i.

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The anchor was about four inches long, and
tly formal, ex 1: that the flakes seemed

c

not that of a novwe.

besomewhat dwar ed. The handiwork was 
mas

0070?

;all depended upon keep- '

and came “

t until. deciding to 
return to his but, he ma e the first motion to 

 

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glowed carequ .

' ,violin. This he continued to do for
’ hour, and then put it awa in the place of con-

18‘

 

Gold Gauntlet.

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W skill and proper tools, and had done
is work well.

“But how came it here in a rock-locked
Utah valley?” muttered Gold Gauntlet, puttin
his thoughts in words. “ This is too heav an
cumbersome for a woman’s trinket, an the
men of Dan Cit are not given to the wearing
of ornaments. t’s odd that this anchor—”

Ho suddenly ceased speaking; his expression
grew more thoughtful.

He had suddenly remembered the day that he
came to Dan City, and what he saw by the
way; he had remembered the 1picture rocks.
Had he found a coincidence? pen the rock
had been painted a man holding an anchor at
full length. At the time he had wondered at it,
but more important affairs had nearly driven
all recollectipn from his mind until this last
event.

Anchors people who had interest in them. or
who actually knew anything about them, were
not common so far from any ocean.

“ Surely this region can’t be full of anchors
and things associated with anchors,” Gold
Gauntlet thought, “and it would be likely,
rather than the reverse, that there was a connec-
tion between the two. But how did this thing
get here? Who lost it? What connection has it
with the affair hinted at in the rock- icture?”

He had begun his return to his ut, and he

. now at the anchor safely away in his pocket.

“ ll hold on to this concern; it ma yet prove
to be of t im ortance. According to the
legend 0 the roc s a tragedy has occurred to
some one, but who it was I haven’t an idea. It
would be hard to tell by means of w at was so
incompletely painted there, but this silver
anchor may yet prove a real clew. I‘ll hang to

His thou hts wandered on, and he remember-
ed the visi that the half-witted man had made
him in the gulch. This person’s talk had led

‘ it, surer 1”

Gold Gauntlet to believe that he knew some-'

thing about the pictures on the rock.

He had, however, completely disa peered
from the Gladiator’s knowledge, and as e knew
him by no name except the one So uniquely
given—“ Scalping-Knife ’— there was no way to

n uire for him.
1d Gauntlet decided to improve any chance
which might occur, but he knew that he must
Even in this matter the

ad of Jose h vering mightiaiflipear, and not

for a good eal would the G iator anger or
turn :Eainst him openly.
his great work was done he must be on

Un
good terms with the man.
‘ On reachin the gulch he found the place as
he had left i , and after a few minutes he sat
down outside the but and began to his
a f an

cealment he had made for t, and again fell into
thought.
His mind was far from easy.
While he My there something peculiar hap-
The gulch had always been quiet

l‘ enough, but on this occasion he sudde he-
s be

   
   

' not like a knockin

" “Strange!” he muttered, aloud.
 larly muffled and dull.

' something not to be

 

 

' a rule men do not live ln- the interior of the

I came conscious of a sound new to him.

’ first noticed it, arousing from thought as he did,
:3qu ht some one was rapping at the door,
. m

cally bade the supposed applicant
A inoment later he saw the absurdity of this

No one was at the door, and the sound was
of that kind.

What was it? s be aroused fully he grew
more interested, for he recognized the fact that
the sound was peculiar. He arose, left the but

u and looked all around.
v 0 living thin was in si ht, yet, when he
' to the oor, he coud still hear the

“It is like
the noise of a hand—drill, exce t that it is singu-
W at can it mean?
Surely, it does not come from beyond this
gulch.

He tried to locate the sound, and was impres-

‘ Iedwith the idea that it proceeded from the
~elif! which formed the rear of the hut. This

seemed impossible, however; the cliff at that
int was without even a crevice, while back of
the land steadily rose.

. ‘ i It was not likely the sound could proceed from
 the bowels of the earth.
. (He continued to listen, and the noise did not

cease. It still resembled the sound of a drill; it

7 still had a muffled tone; it still seemed to pro-

ceed from the cliff. _
Gold Gauntlet could not but be very much in-

 

 

' terested. There was a myster about the affair ‘

. which he could not understan , and he was not ;
situated so that he could well despise m steries. ‘
Any unexplained proceediiig izfiar his at was i

i

y Y-
An hour passed. y that time the noise had
grown more' distinct, and he had decided 'upon
two things. The first was that it came from a

point back of the visible cliff; the second, that '

some one was there, and using a drill, or some
circumstancei As

I . similar instrument.

A etrangeand

   

earth, or if they do, they never work  way

out. In this case however, a creature of some
sort was at work far underground, and the in-
creasing distinctness of the sounds he made
showed that he would soon be in the known
world.
“ Let him come i” thought the Gladiator. “ If
a new race of men is to be discovered, let him
come: I am the man to see him first. \Vhat-
ever he is, he will be welcome. I’ll try to re—
ceive’ him properly. Come on, man of mys-
1

teryl __.
CHAPTER XXIII.
“ ADAM.”

THE Gladiator sat down and proceeded to
wait patiently for the sequel to this singular
affair, and while he waited the clinic I—clink f—
clink! in the subterranean re ion continued
with occasional pauses, as thoug the mysteri-
ous Workman was resting.

The sound was less dull and muffled than be-
fore, and Gold Gauntlet knew that the unknown
was not only making some progress, but that
that part of the cliff which formed the eastern
wall of his but must be a mere shelL,, Once he
decided to commence work, himself, and meet
the toiler, but abandoned the idea.

Near as the unknown seemed, hours passed
before he made his a pearance. Noon came
and passed, and the a ternoon wore on slowly.
This delay only served to increase Gold Gaunt-
let’s interest; e knew that this was no ordinary
affair, and it was not without a sort of fascina-
tion.

Clearly, it was no mere mining operation, but
some sort of creature—man, monster, or what-
ever he was—was drilling and hammering his
way from the interior of the earth to the out-
side thereof.‘

At last there was a long lull, during which no
sound was to be heard. Gold Gauntlet sat
watching that part of the wall of rock where a
sign was to be e cted, if anywhere. He was
too practical-min ed to believe in things an r-
natural, but when a sign was shown it won] be
of interest, and he wanted to see it.

Suddenly the noise recommenced.

Clinic l—clink I

It was now so close at hand that he involun-
tarily started. Once, twice, three times the
hammer fell. At the third stroke there was
somethin to see as well as to hear.

The pomt of a drill protruded from the wall
into the room.

In a moment it was withdrawn; then followed
another blow, and a fragment of the rock, as
large as the crown of a hat, fell outward and
drop to the ground. An opening of corres-
pon ing size was left in the wall.

Gold Gauntlet secretly held his revolver and
watched; a face ap red at the openin .

If he had suspec anything uneart y, the
idea would have been abandoned then. The
face was that of a man, and of the variety
known to the observer but it was somewhat
ghostl , being pale and haggard, with a stubbly
growt of’beard, which did not make it more

pre mg.

The discovery was mutual, and Gold Gauntlet
found the unknown’s gaze turned full upon him.
There was something wild and startled about
those eyes, suggestin that the owner was de-
ranged, but the Glad ator remembered how sys-
tematically he had been working, and did not
adopt the theory.

Instead, he coolly addressed the man.

“ Hallo, stranger!” he said, in a matter-of-fact
wa .

'lhere was no answer, but those wild eyes did
not waver in their gaze on his face.

“ Walk in 1” Gold Gauntlet proceeded. '

Still no answer.

“I wasn’t expecting company but you are
welcome, I assure you. Don’t hesitate; come
ri ht in!” \

e stranger’s lips unclosed.

“ In Heaven’s name, who are you?” he asked
in a weak, tremblin voice.

“My name is Jen ins,” answered the Gladi-
ator rememberin the alias given him b, Isa-
bel Iiovering. “ ow, as to yourself. our
name is—” .

“ I have no name,” was the reply.

It did not require a very observm man to see
that this man was in a very bad sta of mind.
Despite Gold Gaun‘let’s cheerful manner, he
still lonked wild and startled. The Gladiator
did not think this anything strange for Dan
City or vicinity, so he passed it lightly by, and
laughingly answered:

“ Suc bcin the case, let me name you.
Coming from t e center of the earth as you do
we may safel assume that you are the first 0

our race. uch bein the case, you ought to

named Adam. G i Use your hammer a
little more, Adam, enlarge that opening, and
come in. I’m a hospitable fellow.”

“ I’m starvin l” uttered Adam.

“ Starving? y Jove, that must not be."

Gold Gauntlet sprung to his feet and, seizing a
supply of food he had put away, passed it
throggi the opening. It was eagerly taken,
and unknown drew back somewhat and be-
gan to eat ravenously. Gold Gauntlet could
see him lsinly, for a light was burning inside.
The Gladiator saw that the wok was a more

         

 

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shell at that point, and that it had been broken
further than the ogning by the previous work
of the stranger. e laid hold of it, pulled
strongly, and a section of the cliff large enou h
for the passage of a man fell outward, lai y
revealing the pamage beyond.

“ Adam ” was too much absorbed in eating
even to raise his eyes.

Gold Gauntlet saw that the passage led back
for some distance, further than he could trace
its windings. It was mainly the work of nature,
being a vast rent in the cliff. but in places it
narrowed greatly. It was at these late that
“ Adam ” had been obliged to mar his way
clipping of! the rock spurs: and the fact that
the crevice extended a ost to the Gladiator had
enabled him to overhear this labor.

His curiosit did not abate, but, having made
this opening, e sat down and waited patiently
for the unknown to finish eating.

The man ate voraciously, but even hun er
like his must be satisfied some time. He flua y
ceased eatin , uttered a sigh, looked at Gold
Gauntlet, an then started as though he had
actually forgotten his mace.

:: Feel,better?” the G tor cheerfully asked.

“ I’m lad of that.”

“ I ha n’t eaten anything for days.”

“ No? Where do you come from?"

“ Adam ” started, and looked more shargg at
his companion. The pangs of hunger ing

uieted, he began to use his mind once more.

oubt and suspicion showed in his gaze, and he
did not answer the last question. Instead, he
propounded one of his own.

“ Where am I?”

“ Don’t you know?”

H No.”

“It can’t be you’ve tunneled many miles from
where you started. Where was that?”

“ I don’t know. Are we near a town?”

H Yes-7,

“ What town?”

“Dan City.”

Gold Gauntlet, watching closely, saw that the
stranger shivered as he heard this information.
He glanced through the door of the hut, where
the stretch of sand, with the clifl beyond, was

to be seen.
“ Do you belon there?” he asked.
“ No,’ the Gla 'ator replied. “ I am only an

idle wanderer who has itched his tent here, so

to speak, for a little whi e. This is m but; the
village is some minutes’ walk away. am not a
resident thereof.”

This was said to reassure “Adam.” He saw

that the man had a terror of Dan City; lainly,
the way to win his confidence was to et him
see that he was not talking with one of the
Mormons.

“ I want to look out.”

The stranger cre t through the hole in the
cliff into the hut; t en, going to the door, stood
there several moments in Silence, shading his
eyes from a light that, after his experience un-
derground, almost blinded him. He was a man
of good figure, and muscularly built, hi: just
then, was superlatively ragged and w
by hardship.

What he saw seemed to reassure him; he saw
only rocks and sand and trees—no human habi-
tation save the hut. When he turned around
his face was calmer than before.

“ Have you lived here long?" he asked.

“ Only a few days.”

“ Have you been to Dan City!”

It Yes. 9,

“Do you like the people there?”

“ I am indifferent to them, one way or an-
other,” Gold Gauntlet replied, using his mind
and eyes, for he found occnsion for both just
then. “ I am on] arover, as I said; here, to-
da : somewhere e se, tomorrow.”

‘ Adam ” sat down and ran his hands over
his ra with wonder. The explanation the
Gladia r was seeking did not come.

“I am a terrible looking object,” he said.

“ Rags, like beauty, are only skin-deep. You
can wash; I’ll give you a su ply of new clothes;
and then you will be as g as new.”

“ Will you do this?”

“ Certainly. Why not?”

“ You don’t know me.”

“ You are a man, like in self; besides, it’s 'not
much to do. What is a suit of clothes, anywa 3
I’ll see you inside of them as soon as b a,
but there is at present. too much of Mother
Earth u n you; in plain words, you need a
bath. ere s a stream of water ten minutes’
walk away. Come with me 1”

Gold Gauntlet arose, but Adam put out one

hand uickly, the frightened look reappearing
in his ace.

” No, no !" he said, quickly, nervously.

“Why not?”

“ I can’t-I dam not stir out of this place
until after night falls.”

“As you will, but if you are in dan , re-
member that you now have a friend. on and
I have been oddly thrown together, and I want
to stand by on until I see you in better con-
dition than t is.”

The Gladiator looked sharply at the unknown
as he spoke.
from the passage he

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to be a familiar something about him, but
whether of look or motion he could not tell.
This impression grew upon him, but he had not
succeeded in settling anything in his mind.
Had he met this man some time in the past?
If so, where?

These were questions he could not solve.

“ Don’t pla with fire,” said Adam, answer-
ing the last 0 ervation.

‘ Meaning yourself?”

“Meaning that I may have enemies, and by
helping me, you. may bring their wrath down
upon our head.”

“ 1 here are your enemiesi—in where you
came from a moment a 0?”

Gold Gauntlet poin to the passage.

“ There is no one in there.”

“ Then where did you come from i”

“ If you were to follow that pas~age,” replied
the man, slowly, “ Eu would come to a sort of
natural dun'reon. yond that you could not
go—why, I don’t know. I was put there when
unconscious; I only know that the place is there,
that I was in it, and that I cut and drilled m
wa out. The dungeon was mainly artificial?
an the workmen had left the tools which I
found.

;: You ’yverc kept prisoner there, were you?”
s.

“ By whom?”

“ Adam” once more started and looked ill at
ease.

“ Don’t feel offended if I do not answer,” he
said, awkwardly.

“ Of course I don’t want to intrude upon your
secret, but it is sometimes well to have a friend.
He who lets his heart grow hard and thinks that
he is a power in himself is liable to come to
grief any day. No man is too strong to despise
friends.’

It was strong language to use to this cowering,
ragged wreteh, who started uneasily'at every
sound, and Gold Gauntlet knew it, but he was
proceeding with an object. The more he looked
at " Adam ” the more he was impressed by a
certain likeness to one he had met in the past,
and he had at last been able to place that per-

son.

Whether Adam was he, the Gladiator had not
fully settled in his mind, but if it was so, the
mystery grew more surprising and obscure.

“ Great heavens!” exclaimed Adam, replying
to the last word “ you mistake my meaning
entirely. Situa as I am, the friendship of a
dog would be a great blessinfiot: me; what,
then must be that of a maul ‘t blame me
sir, for I am a miserable, broken-down hunted
wretch just now. Give me time to think.”

“ Why not a ply for aid to the great man of
Dan City—to oseph Lovering?”

It was a test question, and as such it succeed-
ed well. Adam gave a violent start, and the
gathering shadows of twilight did not hide the
additional pailor of his face.

“ No, no!” he cried; “ Not to him. Of all
men, not to him I”

Thie last doubt was gone from the Gladiator’s
min .

“ Do you know him ?” he asked.

“ I know him only too well.”

“ You know him, yet he is not your friend?”
pursued Gold Gauntlet, assumin surprise.

“ He is my deadly enemy; e it was who
made me what I am. Were he to find me my
life would not be worth a breath of wind.”

And Adam looked around fearfully and shiv-
ered once more.

Gold Gauntlet was about to reply, but the
sound of footsteps outside caused him to pause.
These sounds came nearer, and then the door-
way _was darkened by the fl re of a man. The
Gladiator started nervous ; this man who
stood there gazing at him and Adam was Joseph
Levering!

 

CHAPTER XXIV.
THE namrns.

Yam: YnLnownmn needed only one sweep.
tag glance across the prairie to see the peril
w to menaced his part ; he knew what meant
those three parties of ri ers who were riding to-
ward. the east, and forming by their position an
imaginary fan.

The Danites were on the track, and they had
taken every possible precaution to prevent the
escape of the ittle party of “Gentiles.”

He did not pause a great While where he stood.
Prolonged survey was unnecessary: he might be
seen b the enemy; and every moment was of
value t en. Returned away and strode along
the ridge, thinking as he went, but had gone
only a short distance when he came upon Bronx
Hendershot.

“ Ah! so it’s you, led,” the mountaineer said
absently.

:Yes. I could not rest e -”

“ I m 813d you’ve come by urley.”

,Your face is grave, N’evermiss—there is dan-

“ Thar’s al’ays danger, but jest now the atro-

cious thin ' is treadin’ right on our heels so
081' 385'- is ain’t no time fur man woi'ds,
but the tack is, them ous varmintsy is armi-

us like ’skeeters, only a six 1; wu’ss. We’ve got
, tert 11111;, whether er n0. D'ye 30°

l

 

Yank had spoken rapidly; he now pointed to
a tree a hundred rods away.

“Yes,” Bronx terser replied.

“Go ter the (party an’ ead ’em thar, onless
Trail-Lifter fin s some s'fin by the way that
saysIdiflzi‘ent. Onderstan’

“ Don’t skeer the gals by tellin’ too much;
them two little women are as retty as roses. an’
I’d hate ter see ’em worry. ack is, thou h, the
Danites are arter us in an army, an’ t ey’re
spread out so’t a rabbit would find it hard tcr
git throu h. Keep this from all on ’em, an’ only
say that Ithink our best way is ter run in hyar
fur awhile. You might add that I’ve got a har-
rassin’ attact o’ newrolgy, which is snappin’ my
bones like the crack 0’ a whip. Now be ofif, an’
I’ll do the same.”

Bronx was willing to leavo all to the veteran,
and once more he answered briefly. Then they
so arated.

be younger man led the party to the bi

pine, taking care not to create any additions
alarm. Lovis and Inza were bearing up nobly;
Dahlgren thought only of his dagghters;
Scalping-Knife was tranquil and plea. with
trifles, like the song of a bird and the beauty of
a wild flower; but all this would be changed by
a word of alarm.

Once, when on high ground, Bronx saw Trail-
Lifter looking back earnestly; then the Modoc’s
gaze wandered to his own, the mute nodded
shortly and touched his rifle.

Bronx knew that he was not deceived.

They found Yank at the big tree, and
the mountaineer’s face was as placid as ever.

“ I’ve found Lust the place fur us,” he said, as
though everyt 'ng was progressing as he had
wished. “It’s an odd refuge, but I reckon it’s
about what we want.”

“ If it shall the Danites deceive, we may be
happy,” Dahlgren re lied.

“ o be sure. a1, 1 hope it will, though of
they hev got a good trailer among ’em, I ain’t so
sure on’t. Foller me, an' I’ll show it to ye right
away.”

A hundred yards they moved forward, goin
slowly because of the rou hness of the way, an
then they reached the go of a uliar place.
At first glance it seemed like an most level cap
of the hills, a place embracing over two hun-
dred acres. and covered with a growth of green-
foliaged saplings, so thickly that it amounted al-
most to a jung e.

Only at second glance did more appear.
Through all this place not one large, living tree
was to be seen, but at intervals the decapitated,
splintered trunk of a huge tree arose above the
sa lings, 'm and lifeless.

‘ It’s 0 ear,” explained Yank, “ that this ’ere
region was heavily timbered a few years ago, an’
that some tremenjus wind got at it an’ cut the
hull wood down as a sickle does grain. Now
that place ain’t nowhar nigh as level as it seems;
that is gulches an’ ravines all throu h it, but
the fallen trees hev bridged over the ollers so
they can’t be see’d at a distance.”

“ I think that I catch your idea, Nevermiss,”
said Bronx.

“ I consait your head is ekul to it, lad.”

“ These bridged-over ravines furnish many a
hidin -place.”

.“ o be sure, to be sure; an’ it is thar we will
hide. me on, once more, an’ we’ll see what
we kin find.”

. He led the way, and the assed into a place
like a tunnel. Once it a a miniature
anyon; it was now more. Upon the huge tim—

rs which is over the top, rank vines had
taken hold, an woven a carpet of their own
substance, until the light of day was almost
wholly shut out.

Yank had secured a staff, and with this in
hand he moved at the head of the rty, feeling
his way, to make sure that they di not fall into
an chasm.

rogress was slow of course; but haste was
no longer necessary; they had full decided to
stop somewhere in this peculiar re age, and no

human eye could trace their movements from a
distance.

Their course was not direct. Every few
yards Other Passages crossed the one they were

ollowing, now at right an les and then diag-
onal] ; and they only our to keep a course
whic would take them near the center of the
refuge.

At last Yank came to a stop. They had
reached a more open piac i, where the light and
sky were not shut out, and the ground was cov-
cred with grass which would be ver valuable
to the horses; but utthe same time t e charac-
ter of the surrounding region made discovery
almost impossible. it seemed.

Here, as elsewhere, the danger was from a
systematic search on their own'level.

Yank Eave the word, and all dismounted. It
was no time for inaction, and the men began to
explore the vicinity, to see what accommoda-
tions could he found for the party. It would
have pleased them to discover a cave, but no
such good fortune attended them. The nearest
approach to it was where a led pushed its top
forward of its base, at an ang e of about forty-

ve degrees.
There they decided to camp for a time. The

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recess was large enough for their use and ther
had a roof over their heads. The only troub e
was that it would not be an easy place to defend
in case of attack.

Yank and Bronx realized this, and the latter
suggested that a breastwork be thrown up on
two sides. There were enough loose stones for
this, and it might be of great value in the near
future. The idea was good, and all the men
went to work.

An hour sufliced to do what they wished.

The mountaineer was by no eans easy as to
the Danites. Spread out as they were when he
last saw them, they might go on and ride far
from their desired prey, but he gave them credit
for more shrewdness than that.

If the used common sense, and had a good
trailer on , danger might be expected at any
moment. buch being the case he would not rest
idly, and though no extended view could be ob-
tained from any part of the mountain-cap, he
decided to ascend as high as he could and look
about.

He went at once.

Bronx devoted his attention to Lovis and
Inza. They were behaving like heroines, and
he felt that dan er would be a pleasure if en-
countered for t eir sake. This matter was be-
coming of more interest to him than he had
thou ht possible when he went to Dan City With
no 0 ject exce t that duty seemed to require
him to aid two elpless girls.

When Yank reached the level of the saplings,
he was at once impressed by a' change which
had taken place in nature. he day had been

leasant, though sultry, and the sky unclouded.

ow, however, clouds of the blackest hue were
rolling up against the heavens, and though the
sun was not yet obscured, it bade fair to be ut-
terly shut out within the hour.

“ We’re goin’ ter hev a shower,” muttered the .

veteran, “ an’ it wouldn’t s’prise me ef it was a
most egregious lively one. Wal, let it come; it
will make our trail all the more hard to foller~
I hope the atrocious Danites ain’t in the hills
yet.’

Standing in the cover of the bushes he en-
deavored to look back but soon realized the
mom of the effort. his immediate vicinity
was 1i 9 an ocean of green, while the remoter
part of the hills was hidden by the higher

ground.

“ Might as wal try ter look throu h the ’arth,
by hurleyl” he observed. “ The on y way is for
go back along our trail an’ I ain’t sure I kin do
that. It’s too dark un er the fallen timber ter
see a track, an’ in that cobweb the wisest
man would git lost, I consait. What’s ter be
done 2”

The matter was more serious than might seem
to be the case at first thought. If the ursuers
were in any degree shrewd. they were iable to
enter the fallen timber area at any time, and
there was no way to see them until they were
at hand. If once they did enter the place, it all

became a matter cf chance; it was aremarkably ' - '
good place to hide, but luck might bring the

Danites upon them.

“ I must know what’s goin’ on,” added Yank,
more emphatical . “ It would be foolish hr
trust all ter luck.’

As he turned away the almost stifling air '

conveyed the heavy boom of thunder.
“ It’s got ter come,” the mountaineer than
with another glance at the black cloud.

kin
Dani , I consait.”

He descended and, passing near where Bronx
and the girls were tal ing light] , moved along
toward the west. Again boom the thunder at.
he went. He had gone fifty yards or more when,

reaching one of the few open spaces, his attentive 3
t e tall

noticed the wavering of grass ahead.
11 that place, protected as it was from the wind '\
this meant something; it meant the presence of
some living creature ; and Yank came to a
mdden halt.
A moment more and a brown hand was pare
tially raised above the grass. ‘
It moved with a uliar motion; the moun-
taineer stepped bac to the cover of a bowldsr
and dropped behind it. -
He had received a signal, and mute as it was
he knew who had made it, and what it meant.
The man in the
signal meant—-—“ Dangerl"

ank lay like a statue, but his rifle was  I

for use if it was needed. He did not know what

the danger was, but he bad faith in the Modoc. '

Suddenly, however, everything was explained.
A man walked out into the light, and then the
rattle of a stone behind him was followed by a'
curses] A second person appeared, limping pen-
ce ti y.
be mountaineer recognized both these men;

he had seen them at ,Dan City. The danger wal ,s

nearer than he~had thought.

“May the devil fly away with this place!" ’

growled the second man, stopping to caress his
00$. * '
“ Do you want a chance to bruise

your toes ,
when you get to the next world!” asked his

companion, with covert sarcasm.
“ certainly don’t want to
through this villainous place.

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they have hid here, and even if the have, how
, the blazes are we to find them in sue a hole?”
. “ That ain’t for us to say. Hurlforth leads.”

“ Hang Hurlforth l”

“Say it to his face.”

“Not I; that fellow would as soon kill friend
as foe, if his will was crossed. I say, Pete, I be-
lieve here’s a foot )rinf. Can it be we're on the
track, after all? gadl I‘d like to be the one to
nab ’em, and we’ll i'eller it up i"

 v CHAPTER XXV.
' - CLOSE QUARTERS.

THE Danito ibrgot his injured foot and spoke
with some enthusiasm, while Yank Yellowbird
frowned and advanced his rifle a little. He did
not know whether his party had passel over
that particular spot, but if they had it would
not be hard to find the horses’ tracks, now that

W.» sus icion was aroused.
1 " . h'e reply of the second Danite relieved his
' mind great y.
“Nonsense!” returned the man; “there is no
, track there.“
,'» “ Then what is it!”
“ A piece of wood lay there when I came, and

 

._, I kicked it aside. You haven’t found the run-
,‘ awa 3 yet.”

1 ~ “ I wish I had."

~ “ No doubt.”

r" -, “ I am tired of this dog’s life; tired of being

I, Hurlforth’s dog, to come and go at his so. -so.”
 “ There ain‘t any law to prevent you caving
f3 Dan Cit , if our heart has turned tender.”
' “ Dont ta e mo for a flat!” retorted the
Danite, as though his honor was assailed. “I
am no Weak chicken, and don’t you think I am.
I’m ambitious; I want to be a shining light, like
Hurlforth and Lovering. There’s on! one way
to t ahead at Dan Cit ', partner, (UK that is—
to merciless. Cut, 8 y; that’s what makes a
man at Dan City.”
“ Then why in blazes don’t you cut and slay?”
“I'm goin to. Once let me sight these run-.
awa s, and ’1! show you. One man in particu-
,- lar want a back at.
. “ Who is that?”
f . “ Yank Yellowbird, I want to get a whack
 i- at that man; I do, by Judas!”
 The mountaineer smiled grimly.
j‘l. “ It would be a favor to the whole West, if I
if should knock him over," added the Danite.
t" , “Nobody but the goody-goody crowd has any
a", , show a hen he’s around. He takes up for them,
‘. '  l and against men of enterprise. Go where you
» will this side the Mississippi and hear of a big
v-  scheme that’s failed and ask who killed it out,
. and the ’11 tell you it was Yank Yellowbird.”
Just t en an unusually heavy pea! of thunder
seemed to shake the ground.
“ Come on, Toke!” exclaimed the second
, Danite. “There’s going to be a mighty lively
134'. shower and we have Work to do before it be-
;  gins. "Hang this place! I don’t believe Yellow-
tfi; ird’s party is here.”
41.; ; , They went on, and as they disappeared in the
’ darker shadows, Yank arose. No need to go on
, l a scout then; he knew on] too well where the
'2 ears were. It seemed, OWcVOi‘, that they
were proceeding entirely bv chance.
Trail-Lifter glided to the veteran’s side and
. - , his nimble fingers flashed off a message. There
 't ‘ was an exchange of opinion, and then they re-
; ‘ 133 turned to their friends. The horses had finished
  grazing, and they were collected in a niche
. where they were leSS likelyto be discovered.
.  an ineautious word might ruin all, Yank
frankly explained the situation.
“ This is a time when caution is an egregious
 j sight better than courage,” he added ‘ an the
75"“ ourer we hide an’ say nothin’, the better we
“ : ~ ‘zahall come out.” ‘
 “They will never find us in this place that is
no dark,” re lied Dahlgren, confidently.
_ , “It’s har ter say. Ef the ’hull gang is in
 thin region. an’ gropin’ ’round among the
,._.. ehes, they may stumble on us by mistake so
‘- ‘ say. Luckily, they may come within a ew
yards on us an’ be none the wiser.”
 Just then bonds and bars of light shot down
lamb the crevices of the trees, like flery
Iw
nee

. .. . '
, .A_x:-4_’.

 

a.

 

 
     

   
  
     
  
  
 
 
 
   
 
   
  
   
  

7.”; s iercing the darkness, and the rocks
  . 3 mod tremble in terror as a tremendous
 ‘;~' ‘ j of thunder followed. Scalping-Knife

spoke" for the first time in hours.
_ . “ The way is dark!” he muttered, with mani-
v test uneasiness, and then he crept closer to

roux.
._ “ We are to have a storm that is hard,” added
” the Swede.

“ 'Pears like it by hurley."
Yank answered absently. and walked beyond
the sloping roof of rock. There was a patter of
. rain on the leaves above. The lightning flashed
aga% and he saw Bronx by his side.

‘ hat troubles you, Nevermissi” asked the

man.
, I show that I was upset?”
'-  “ Not particularly; I doubt if any one but
" f , me noticed it, but I am more accustomed to
1 your ways.”
' “Thar is a trifle o’ onsartainty in my mind,
 more than what ’rises from the atrocious hu—
 man latex. We are goin’ ter hev a harrycane.”
" It is probable.”
,' “ Water wit! ted by the bar‘i.”

 In

 

,’ _ x' :u p' .

“ Very likely.”

“ Has it ’curred for you that it in?’ be egre-
gious deep in these gulches ’foro long

Bronx started slightly.

“ By heavens! there 9 something in that.”

“ I consait thar is. The top 0’ this pecooliar
region is lower than the ridge beyond, while the
bottom 0’ the gulches is a good bit lower still.
Ef it rains as we expect, thar will be a river in
each' 0’ these gulches: an’ the bigger the rain,
the bigger the riv .”

“ In plain wo s, we may all be drowned
out.”

“ We may git most egre ious wet, I admit.”

“It wou d be very ris y to try and leave
when the gulches are full of Danites.”

“ To be sure. I don’t think I could make my
left foot go sprawlin’ eround in sech a crisis;
the weak sister had rather hide than run, an
time. I was in a flood once, lad, an’ though
didn’t en 'oy it overmuch that was a melancholy
pleasure in thinkin’ that I was followiu’ in the
steps 88’ my great-$10, Noah IYelIOWbirld. It’s
a cr it ter our i n t at we a ’ays go
through a flood in goomape.”

Yank suddenly ceased speaking, and laid his
hand upon Bronx’s shoulder. -

“ Hark! What was that?” he asked.

“ I confess that I only heard the patter of the
rain. and the distant rumble of thunder.”

“Stay hyar a hit, lad; I want ter investi-
gate.”

Without waiting for an answer the moun-
taineer stooped mid glided away. A flash of
lightning shewsd his bent figure to Bronx for a
moment; then the transient light faded and
nothing was to Le seen or heard except the
voice of the elements. The storm had not yet
fully broken upon them, but the rain was pat-
tering on the leaves above and the thunder
boomed heavily.

Bronx was ill at case; he remembered Yank’s
prophecy, and was troubled as he thought what
the rain might do if it flooded the gulches.

In the mean while Yank had gone a few yards
and come to a sto . He had found abundant
proof of his suspicmn.

There were other men close at hand: he heard
their voices plainly now, as he had heard them
dimly at first; and as the lightning flashed
again, he saw them shaking the water from
their garments.

“ It’s goin’ ter be a tearin’ old blow.” said one.

“An’ it’s liable ter rain a trifle,” added an-
other.

“ Lucky we’re in a safe place.”

“ All you think of is your precious skins !" ex-
claimed a harsh voice. “Wetting will do you
no harm, and I’d keep you at work if I had any
idea where they were ”

llflank nodded gravely; he knew that voice
we. .

“ I’ve done my duty, ain’t I, Hurlforth?”

“ Of course you have done it; I don’t allow
any less.”

Plainly, the marshal did not believe in being
prodigal with words of praise.

A pea! of thunder, heavier than an that had
gone before, made the mountain trem le.

“ It’s going to be a furious storm,” said one of
the Dnnites.

“ It’ll soon be over,” Hurlforth replied.
“ Camp down here, anywhere, and take it easy
until we are ready to start. We won’t give
those fools a minute of grace, but there is one
consolation, they’ll have to hide as well as us.
It’s going‘to be a perfect blizzard, if I am any
jud e. 'hen it lets up, we’ll take after them
wit out losing a minute. ’

There was a flash—a boom—a louder rattl ,
above; and then the rain came pouring down
torrents. It beat upon the leaves and logs
above, but man huge drops came shooting
throu h this ina equate cover, and as they beat
upon he mountaineer, he knew that the rain
would soon have everything its own way.

“ This is blamed poor cover,” growled a
Danite.

“ Perhaps there is better near,” suggested
Hurlfhrth; “you can look if you wish.”

Some of the men turned away, but Yank was
ahead of them. There was dan er in the last
an gestion. The refuge of his little party was
on y a few ards distant. and zealous search on
the part of t e Danites bade fair to reveal the
leaning cliff to them.

Bronx had returned to the other refugees, and
Yank rejoined them without excitement. The
storm was now raging with fury. Rain de-
scended in torrents; the roll of the thunder was
startlingly loud pea! following pea] in rapid
suectssion: the fiery swords shot down as though
pursuin each other: and the meaning of the
wind, dad to the thunder, made conversation
possible only by raising the voice.

“ I hate tar disturb ye in set-h a crisis.” ob:
served the mountaineer, “ but I a’prove o' mov-
in’ on. It ain‘t the best 0’ weather tur’a prome-
nade I consait, but thar is wu’ss than rain.”

“ iYou have seen the enemy!” exclaimed

Lov s.

“ I think they may be nigh.”

“ They are near.”

“ Hev you seen ’cm i”

“ No, but your new order proves it.‘ Speak
plainly, Nevermisc; we are not‘children.”

 

“You’re rosebud als, an’ oncommon pl“?
an’ heroic at that. e remind me o’ in aun
J oan Ark Yellowbird, by hurley! We], here is
a trifling bit 0’ danger—jest an artom. Bronx,
may I trouble you an’ Still Tongue ter bring the
bosses?”

“ Consider it done, mountaineer.”

Bronx answered briefly, and with the Modoc
by his side, glided away.

Yank looked keen] toward the uarter from
which dan er was to expected. I the Danites
searched or a refuge it would be a wonder if
they did not find the leaning clifl'. Dahlgren
began to speak, but the Veteran stopped him.

A human figure had appeared in the recess,
and the mountaineer knew it was none of their

party !

 

CHAPTER XXVI.
[it THE noon.

Yam: YicLLownmn moved forward a few
paces and crouched down only a few feet from
the unknown. Once more the lightning flashed.
and as the fiery swords cut the darkness he had
a glimpse of the man’s face. He was a total
stranger.

The latter had been using his eyes, too, and
though he did not detect his human neighbors,
he did see that there was a refuge. He turned
his head.

“ This way, men—”

He was not allowed to finish the sentence.
Yank sprung upon him like a panther, and in a
moment more the man was lying upon the
ground With the mountaineer’s iron grasp upon
him.

Taken entirely by surprise, he had no chance
to make an outcry until he was prestratcd. and
after that his last chance was gone. Yank
Yellowbird was not the man to make a sli .

Dahlgren came to his side, but as the prisoner
must be ,1 onnd. Nevermiss would have been
somewhat at fault had not Trail-Lifter also ap—
peared. Th3 Modoc needed no advice or expla
nation; from some pocket, or elsewhere, be pro-
duced cords, and. without a word or motion he-
tWi-en him and Yank, began to bind the
Danite.

It was soon done; a gag was added; and then
the mountaineer arose. He saw that the horses
were at hand, and all ready fora start. He
directed his companions to mount at once.

In this crisis only Yank. Bronx and the Modoc
fully retained their calmness, nor was it strange
that the others were ill at case. They were in
utter darkness except when the lightning flash-
ed, and the peculiar way in “hic the electric
fluid penetrnkd to the gulches—ccming down
through the roof of logs and vines in fiery
SWON s, as it did—was not reassuring.

Add to this that the sterm was raging above
with a wild discord of rain, wind and thunder,
and that the deadly Danitcs were near, and it
was not strange that those who had seen their
merciless way Were greatly disturbed.

Nevertheless Lov1s and Inza were calm. and
they obeyed Yank’s directions in a way that
pleased him.

He started the party as soon as possible. and
they moved away in a direction opposite to the
men last seen. The mountaineer led the way,
while Trail-Lifter, feeling that something of in-
terest might be seen, lingered behind for a few
moments.

He had not miscalculated. The last of the
fugitives had barely gone when voices again
sounded under the leaning cliff. The Modoc
strained his keen eyes, and as the li btnin
flashed, he saw men entering the a eltere

pace.

The fugitives had gone none too soon.

“ Here we are, in srme sort of cover,” said
Hurlforth’s heavy voice. “ I don’t know that I
am sorry. either: the storm is goin to be a
terror. Hustle around, men, and see i you can
find something to build a fire. There ought to
be dry wood scattered about, and a small blaze
will make matters more cheerful.”

Trail-Lifter nodded sharply; then turned and
glided awn . He knew the search for fuel would
soon ievea the bound Danite. and cause a great
commotion. Besides. if he let his party at far
away he was not liable to overtake t em; it
woluhd be easy to get lost in. that junble of

c es.

That ride was one the fugitives were not like-
ly to soon forget. Once clear of the sheltering
clifl they saw more plainly tow violently the
storm was ragin . The din above was startling
and rain poured own into the gulchesin streams.
the fallen trees abovo making a roof in plates
on]; to act as a spout at other points.

ank YelIOWbird and the Mcdoc were the
only members of the party who bore this hilo-
sophically. Bronx, ridin by the side of via.
was worried and troubledg that the girls should
be thus exposed.

The mountaineer went on foot, and in one
hand carried the staff with which he had before
felt the way. At any moment they [hit ht (cue
upon a chasm. and rash progress would be liable
to result in fatality.

Despite all his precautions he occasionally rol-
lided with a log or rock, but nothing could
dampen his confldencc and good-humor. I

/

wifng - w

 

 

..§‘r

 

 

m‘

 

 

 

 

,...-.._....;-_»-~.- 

‘

“ This ’ere is the most egregious place I ever
was in, by hurley!” he observed, as he used
for a moment. “ It’s wuss than a tomb, ur the
roof is poorer, an’ them Danites is an atrocious
sight more dangerous than the folks you usually
find in a tomb. I’ll bet my hat I’ll grt the new-
rolgy the wu'st way out 0’ this, but I’ll uphold
the honor o’ the Yellewbird pedigreen ef the
newrolgy snaps my j’ints cl’ar out 0’ their sock-
ets—I will, by hurleyl” . '

Having freed his mind he went on again in
the. old way, but he saw with some uneasiness

hat the gulches were fast becoming river-beds.
St times the water was ankle-deep, and the
su ply was increasing every minute.

his was decidedly ominous, and with the

respect of a deluge ahead of them he decided
that they ought to get clear of this peculiar

lace.
p To do this was another matter, for not only
did the passages cross and re—cress each other at
all possible angles, but no human being could
keep an accurate knowledge of the points of
compass.

There was great danger of wandering in an
irregular circle, and actually going back to the
Dauites.

Still he pushed on bravely, and the storm
raged furiously above. New and _theuLwhen
they reached an open space, the vivid ll tmn
showed that the saplings above were nt a
most to the level by the wind, and its roar-in ,
added to the almost deafening thunder, e
the night wild, indeed.

The force of the storm was lostto the fugi-
tiv but cne dangerous fact stared them con-
stant in the face; the water in the cbes
steadily deepened, and often touched ank’s
“ITO? aspect f d l ' sed

e r o a e uge increa .

Bronpx devoted much of his time to Levis, but
did not fail to observe Yank, and as they went
on he became aware that the mountaineeer was
troubled. He halted often, and though he talked
as cheerfully as ever, it was plain that his mind
was not at ease.

Finally he stopped in an open space.

“ ta back under kiver, the rest on ye,” he
directeiz “ I’m goin’ up the room hyar an’ get
a look around.”

“ I trust that of new danger there is none,”
returned Dahlgren uneasil .

“ 9 and 0’ en no! Not much,
thar ain t; but I want tor see of we’re erbout out
0" this ‘ous place. That’s all i”

Nofl' and after a hard struggle he
reached the top 0 the rocky wall. Here the
wind was sweeping along with tremendous
force, and he was obliged to cling to a rock to
keep his position. It was a scene of awful

randeur. Night had fallen, and it would have
been dark 'above, as well as below, had not
the lightning flashed almost incessantly. This
touched rock, and tree, and earth and air with
its own peculiar light, and seemed to dance ex-
ultantly around him.

He had improved its glare to take one good
look when his attention was diverted He
looked and saw Hendershot beside him.

“What is the prospect, Nevermissf” Bronx
asked, raising his voice to a shout.

The mountaineer pointed.

“ Look thari”

“ What is it?”

“ Be we any higher out 0’ this egregious place
than we was when we started?”

“ We don’t seem to have §rogreased much 1”

“ To be sure, we ain’t. ow hyar I’ve led ye
a trampin', an’ it wouldn’t s’prise me of we was
within fifty yards 0’ Hurlforth’s an’ his atro-
cious insex this minute. Fack is, I can’t keep a
direck course whar them gulches twists about
so like hurlcy, an’ no landmark ter go by.”

“ That is not strange.”

“ It’s egregious onlucky.”

“ Why not find a new refuge and come to a,

sto 1"

‘P Bronx, hev you noticed how deep the water
is under foot in the gulches?”

u Ypsin

“ An’ that it’s risin’ all the time?”

4‘  n

“ Wal, I’m mortally afeerd we’re goin’ ter
hev a bad time; I be, by_hurley. ,I Wish We’d
never come into this egregious hole!

“ There was no sign of a storm then.”

“True, it came u sudden. I wouldn’t keel-
ef we could git out, ut the minute We git down
inthem gulches no human can tell east from
north, gr south from east. How be we goin’ ter

git out

“ I am still in favor of seeka 5 m2" refuse
and stopping. This aimless wandering ‘8 110
only severe work for the 18. hilt "9 my at
any moment run upon the nites.”

‘ That's what troubles me.”

“If we otbat the girls will be recs tured,
and that, too, without hope of rescue; e men
of our party would prolnblybe killed in their
de‘f‘eggfii’

i tack ev’ n with
‘ ‘ dens; . ryword. Go 0 yer

‘ on want to influence on ainst your
11138316118. for I realise the fagt thtti‘tg you know.
more about this work than I do, but it seems to
.memwelhould make a choice of evils, take

 

. Gold Gauntlet.

the least, and get to the highest ground we can
find and settle down for the night.”

“ Thank ye, lad; your e inion jibes with
mine, an’ it shall he did. t’s a wild night,
Bronx!”

It was all of that. They had to shout to make
themselves heard: the wind swept furious]
across the hills; the thunder crashed and roll ;
and the lightning played luridly all around.

They descended to where their friends await-
ed them, and were troubled to find a small river
running through the gulch. The horses had
grown restless, while even Levis and Inza had
come to see the danger of this rapid increase of
water.

Yank spoke cheerfully, and started on again.
It was now his desire to find a place sufficiently
elevated to keep them safe from the flood, and it
must bedene without delay. The full force of
the rainfall was now making itself felt, and he
could almost feel it increase in depth around
him momentarily. Once he plunged into an
unusually dee pool, and was wet to his breast,
while the swi t current almost carried him off
his feet.

- He knew then that if they did not reach a
safe place inside of ten minutes they would have
to abandon the horses to their fate and, one and
all, climb the rocks as he and Bronx had lately
done for purpose of observation.

“ I never got inter a fix 0’ this kind afore,” he
muttered, as he waded on, “an‘ ef harm comes
tcr them pooty gals I’ll go of! som’ers an’ shave
my head like the philosopher did an’ never
ter face my feller-men ag’in. ellol what s
this! Higher ground I do b’lieve by hurleyl”

It was not so much high ground as rock; he
had reached a ledge, and each step he took made
their chances seem bri hter. No gleam of
lightning came to help im, and he could see
nothin , but as the horses struggled up the as-
cent t last of them was soon beyond the

water.
“Stay hyar!” directed Yank, halting his
part . “ I want ter investigate an’ see what we

hev.

He went on, and continued to ascend for
several yards; then he met solid rock which
came down at an angle and connected with the
ledge. At their 'unction was a recess, while the
overhanging roc furnished a roof. In fact, the
place was very much like tneir first refuge, ex.
cept that it was much higher, and the founda-
tion was of rock.

The he believed, they would be safe from
the fl t any rate, he dared not leave such a
shelter.

He went back, and, though he found that the
flood-water was still rising rapidly, led the way

to the recess in good spirits.

“Jump on yer bosses,” he directed, “an’
dance a war jg), or flow down on the l , as
you see fit. rry we ain’t got a wardro in

this hotel, but visitors was not ted, ye see.
Wet clothes is better than be 11’ drownded,
though. This is a most 'ous big shower,
by hurleyl Noah Ye110wb , one o’ my anew
tors, left a journal 0‘ his ad entur's in a flood—
an’ mighty wal writ it was tool—an’ I reckon
I’ll hev ter do the same. Don’t want the Yel-
lowbird pedigreen tor suffer fur want 0’ all the
stacks. I mean ter do my duty, an’ the only draw-

backs is the weak sister an the atrocious new-
rolgy, which has upset my p’ints a good 'eal. I
knowed a man once who had neWro so bad
that it peeled his skulp of! his head 1 ke an old
stockin’, an’—-”

The mountaineer suddenly ceased speaking.

1115 party had dismounted. and he was stand-
ing beside them, talking in his most genial way,
but the Modoc had glided to hisside, taken his
cram, and shown a desire to have him step to one
31 e.

Yank never refused to notice his sa ious
follower, and he allowed himself to be ed toa
point of rock which formed one side of the re-
cess. They passed the projection, the young In-
dian pointed, and then the mountaineer’ stood
silent wuth surprise and dismay.

Twenty-five yards awa burned a small fire,
and around were seated urlforth and his Dan—
ites. The two parties were im risoned by the
the flood on the same ledge wit no barrier‘be-
tween them, and not one hundred feet apart!

CHAPTER XXV IL
_ DANGER!

Tm: coming of Joseph Levering startled Geld
Gauntlet. Personall he had no fear of Dan
City’s greflt man, an he would under other cir-
cumstances have been rather pleased to see him
at the but, but the resence of the man who had
tunneled out of t e cliff—and whom he had
fancifully named Adam—put a very diflerent
aspect to the affair.

Adam had just announced that he had great
reason to fear Levering; had shown that he felt
the utmost.er in connection with him; and
if 'the susprcton which was in Gold Gauntlet’s
mind was well founded, there was, perhaps,
abundant reason for this fear and alarm.

Hence, the Gladiator’s dismay when he saw
that the new-comer was Levering.

 

Several thoughts flashed through his mind,
chief among w ch was the recollection that the
shades of evening made the survey of features

3

 

"

almost out of the question. Perhaps Levering
would not recognize Adam.

At the risk of injuring his own schemes the
Gladiator at once moved with an eye to Adam’s
safet , and his first step was to rise, call Lover-
ing istinctly by name, shake his hand and we]-
come him to the hut.

321m was thus plainly warned.

en Gold Gauntlet, with an appearance of
carelessness, set the rude table which he had
made back against the hole in the cliff, so as to
hide it. While doing this he had been  to
think of some satisfactory way to int uca
Adam, but in the way of an ordinary present-
ment was the fact that, in his present agitated
mood, Adam would not be able to talk without
betrayin himself.

Gold untlet could think of but one way to

i

l

l

dispose of him. 4
‘ is is a foolish fellow I have picked up, 
l

i

z

i

i

l

l

l

l

.. m‘mwu'm‘

«ca-st-

and made my servant,” he said, with a wave of
his hand. “ If you wish, I’ll send him outside.”

“ Oh! no; don’t do it,” Joseph answered.
“ I’ve only dropped in for a chat; let your man 5
remain.” '

“Just as you say. Is Miss Isabel well!"

“ Quite. thank ou.”

“ I need scarce y ask if you are.”

“ I am well in body.” '

“ But not in mind i” ‘ ‘

“ I did not say that.”

“ Pardon me; I had no right to infer it.”

“ You were right, nevertheless. I am
troubled, Mr. Jenkins, and I don’t mind saying
wh . Two girls, who had pledged themselves
to me my wives, but to whom I hadnot ,
been married—in fact, elder Hicks wanted one ' 
of them—have disappeared. The were either i
abdgcted, or lured away by evi -minded par. 5::
ties. . ' ‘=

“ That is unfortunate,” replied Geld Gaunt-
let, with a show of real sympathy.

i
“ Confoundedly so!” exclaimed Joseph. é
“ Can‘t you recover them!”

“ I have already sent Hurlforth.” l

“ Probably he will find them.” "
“ I h so.”  }
Jose hesitated He felt that he oughtnot . '
to tell the Gladiator too much, but the im lac , l
to be confidential was too stron to be e .1
“Itisnotsomuchthelosso the 'lsthatI x"
deplore,” he added, “ but it may 1 {to some- *
the unpleasant. A great many people are ep- 3
to us Mormons, and if they can a ;

point against us it is surprising how . ,1.-
tongues will wafihsNow I will say this about -
Dan City—there never been a single thing
done here which the most exacting could can-
 itlils a tgwntgerimmore it right fit! hon-
ora etantes '  wri-
tanical New En land’g’

“ I haven’t a oubt of it,” replied Gold Gaunt- ' ‘
let, sympathetically. '
“All this,” continued Joseph, “is due to a
lank meddler named, or called, Yank Yellow- ‘ 

bird. Who he is I don't know, except that he .5
has been hangin around for some time,and ._ “2—,
that he is op to the true faith.”  t
“ Then it was he who abducted the girls!" ‘ 
“ I think so; he and a certain Bronx Bender» 
shot, who is of the same ttern.” . . n35».
Gold Gauntlet was peased to see Joseph {5'
mind run in such a channel. While such was  '
thecasehe would pay no attention to Adam. ..,
The Gladiator frequently glanced at the man of ‘ ;
mystery, and though it had grown so dark that Tia
only his figure con 6 be seen, it was clear that “is.
he was in a state of great terror. \ ,, 
He had cowered back in one corner, and hereof,
he sat in silence, his gaze persistently directed 3,7,;
toward Joseph, but never stirring even third. 1 " 1"
Gold Gauntlet could imagine how he listuied  ‘
and trembled—if the mere mention of J caeph’a  "
name had frightened him so much, whatmnlt 
his presence do? » T ;
Joseph continued in a complaining tone for -’ 7
some minutes, reiterating his statement that 51' ’.

  

Dan Ci was a model, but much-abused place, jg.
airing Gel Gauntlet encouraged him totalk in ‘ i
t ve n. ,,

All the while the Gladiator was wondering
how he could end the interview. He would have
invited Jose h out for a walk, but he knew that
Adam woul seize the first chance to escape. and
he wanted to talk with him further. , - 

Levering, however, finally concluded that he "i
had said enough on this subject, and that it w 'r ’ 
dull business sitting there in the dark. .  ’

“Jenkins,” he said, abruptly changing file 
subject, “ wh can’t we have Hicksand amount «j
man here, an have a game of cards?" f f.

“ A good idea," re lied Gold Gauntlet. ' " ,‘ii

“ Suppose you sen our servant for them.” *3

He was looking ful at Adam new, and tbsp:
man moved uneasily, but the darkneu was in his ‘ ;
favor. Joseph co d not have told whether he 1
was white or black. .

“ He hasn’t the intelligence for it,” answued,
the Gladiator, something alarmed by the m
of affairs. “ You will remember that I mid he
was feeble-minded.” " 

“ He can carry a note, can’t bet”

“ I suppose so.” \ “ I

“ I'll write one then, and let him takeitb
Hicks " "

Thiswas even more disturbing. To 

 
 

 offmind, but what was ahead of
p  didnot know. Adam had
' ' bowels of the earth,”as the Gladiator at first

I: Ganntlet’s

 undo. n a andd en
7 ', —per ape an or ea
:9 {whewentoncodfil

 

 he e
" int wi only a small openin

_ , , ,
2 "

Gold” c auntleti' 2' *

 

. note a light must be had, and that would give

Joseph a chance to see the supposed servant.
This would never do. Gold Gauntlet now felt
sure Of Adam’s identity, and he knew that it
would be a miracle if Joseph did not recognize
him at first sight.

The Gladiator’s position was b no means
pleasant; he wanted to keep in Ose h’s good
graces, while, as for betraying Adam, e could
not and would not, think of it.

fie found himself placed between two fires, as
it were, and was trying to see his way out of
the dilemma when there was another and wel-
come interruption.

Avoice outside the hut called his name-a
voice he quickly recognized—and he hastened to
the door. A lady sat there on a restively-mov-
.ing horse.
zaihiked-evening, Miss' Isabel!” Gold Gauntlet
“ Good-evening, Mr. Jenkins. Is
here?”

“Yes, Isabel,” said her brother, answering
for himself.

“ Mr. Hicks is .at the house, and wishes to see
you. I thought you were here, so I rode this

way.”
‘ Goodl I’ll go to Hicks at once. You’ll
excuse me, won’t you, Jenkins?”

“ I can suggest a better way,” interru ted
Isabel. “ Have Jerry accom ny you. i hile

on talk with Mr. Hicks I’ll lk with J erry—
e is such good company. I am never so happy
as when in his company!”

Gold Gaimtlet smiled grimly. Despite the
mocking tone in which she spoke he was pleased.
He had found her an opponent worthy of atten-
tion and her sarcasm was uttered in such a
bright way that it was always deprived of its
sting in a great measure.

He did not blind himself to the fact that they
were enemies, but she was a most interesting
enemy—and it was a pity that, in order to be
avenged on Joseph, he must break her heart.

“ I will fly to your arms, Miss Lovoring,” he
declared, answering her last words.

“ Nonsense] Do you think that I never heard
of the man who wormed the viper, and how he
was stun as his reward?” she retor

“Lips ike yours would tempt any viper to
sting, fair Isabel. They also tempt honest men,
like me.”

“ It you are a sample of honest men, heaven
save me—m amiability will not allow me to

Goorinight, until I see you at the

Joseph

finish.
house!”

.; C Bhexwheeled her horse and galloped away.

“Great Scott! the girl rows crazier every
day!” lamented Joseph. “ t’s astonishing how
she diflers from me. Well, Jenkins, are you
read to go?”

“ bank you, but I must have half an hour

know that I go

' to for the event. ou
to g: Isabel’s est. I’ll follow very soon.”
' Loverin

g d not object, and as he walked
awe. , the Gladiator returned to the hut.
w “ dam!” he called.
There was no answer, nor could he see the
.form of that person anywhere in the hut.

 'Knowindg‘that he had not passed out of the door,

the Gla tor could see but one way to account
for his absence.
, He Went to the opening in the cliff; the table
which had l-nnnoo’ 3d it had been disarranged.
G010 Gauntlet promptlfv lighted his lamp on-
tered the Opening himsel , pulled the table hack

v so as to hide it and then went on with the '

mp in one hand and a revolVer in the other.
he he might encounter in this strange place
he did not know, so he went prepared for instant

~ work.
‘ Ifhehad been at all at a loss to know how
. Adam could make his way through solid rock,

 

the wonder vanished as he went on. It was not

_ all solid rock. A fissure extended throu h the

, new widening ten or twelve fee , then

narrowing so much that he could barel pass.
:, ,‘ It was at these points that Adam

ad been
touse his drill, chipping of! the sharp

: pro one of rock.

Gauntlet went forward in an ex t
im he
come ” out of the

«gonad it, but he must have had a starting-

t.
The secret of the place seemed almost in Gold
, but it might be one better left
Bometh ng strange and ominous lay be-
Whatever it
y to meet it.

CHAPTER XXV III.
A NAME Is sroxsx.

Tn passage led Gold Gauntlet further than
had , but it finally narrowed to a
beyond, which
. as more like the entrance to t e den of a wild
animal than anything else, except that it was
gsurrounded b stone.
He looked t ough and could see nothing; he

I advanced his lamp and beheld a small room,”

with Adam cowering in one corner of it.
“ SO it is you," he said.
“ I'll never be taken alive!” declared Adam,

 

“ Nonsense! Nobody wants to take you. Joe
Levering has gone home, while as for me, didn’t
I save you from him?”

Adam slowly rose to his feet.

“ Oh! it‘s you,” he said, in an easier voice;
“ I didn’t know you.”

“ Yes, it’s I, and we are once more b
selves; but what manner of place is this?’

“ It was my dungeon.”

“ It looks like one. So you were really im-
pris<§ned”herei”

H es

0111'-

Adam hesitated.

“ Don’t ask me ” he finally replied. “ I don’t
know, and though you have done me a favor, I
don’t care to hazard a. guess. Enough to say
that I was imprisoned here, and have been kept
like a dog, for weeks. My allowance of food
barely sufficient to keep life in my body, and I
nearl starved. This sup 13 was lowered at in-
terva s through the top of, his dungeon. You
will see that it is very h'iéh; I never saw those
who lowered it to me. he put me here I don’t
know, for I was unconscious when it was done,
but I lived for days—weeks—months, I think——
in this awful way. Finally I found the drill
and hammer with which I worked my way cut;
things left by accident, no doubt, bK'the men
who put the finishing touches to t is nearly-
natural cave.

“ And is there no passage beyond here?”

“ Not unless it is up there ”

Adam pointed toward the roof of the dun-

goon.

“Take this lamp,” Gold Gauntlet directed,
“ hold it as high as you can, and see if you can
discover any passage.”

Adam obeyed, but it was a useless ex ri-
ment; the dungeon was so high that the ight
was ineffectual.

“Did you evor hear of Dan City Reserva-
tion?” the Gladiator continued.

H No. )1
“ It is a place set a art by the rulers of the

town, and little or not ing, is known about it,

but I can’t help thinking that if we could pass on
beyond this dungeon we should be in the heart
of the Reservation, and among strange people.”

“ For heaven’s sake, don’t try it. Has Lover-
ing really gone?”

Yes.

“ I suppose you think me a weak coward, to
run away as I did.”

“ No; that was natural.”

“ It was natural for a man in my condition.
I am not naturally a coward, but I have lived
here in solitude until my reason nearly van-
ished; I am weak from want Of food; and I
stood in terror of that man. Have patience,
friend; I am growing stronger, and by and by
I shall be able to thank you as you deserve, and
myself show a bold front to the world.”

Adam leaning a 'nst the rock, stood almost
beside Gold Gaunt at. The light fell full upon
his pale face. It was a manly, intelli ent face
and his voice and manner gathered orce an
firmness every moment.

“ I am curious to know your story.”

“ Don’t ask it—at least, not at resent. I am

lacin confidence in you even t on h you are
venng’s friend, but I do not forgo the sins
you took to shield me when he called at the ut.”

“ I Can’t help wondering why you and he are
enemies."

“ No crime of mine led to it.”

“ Then it was a crime of his?”

“ I did not say so. Pardon me if it seems un-
grateful in me to withhold confidence, but I am
ficuliarl situated; I must have time to think.

y min is weakened by the long-continued
horrors of this dungeon.”

H 1 See.”

Gold Gauntlet answered absently. There
was silence for several minutes, during which
the gladiator was tryin to decide on one certain

poin He did this finaly and ke again.
“Do you think that I don"t0 know your
na‘l‘negd, ” started slight]
am .
“ My name!” be repeated.

“ Your name, Morgan Severn I ”

The man started again, and as he looked at
Gold Gauntlet, the startled expression crept
into his eyes once more. ~

“In heaven’s name who areyou?” be de-
mended.

“One not so ignorant as you think; you are
Inigrgan Severn, and you have a brother named

l .

“glave you seen-— But, no, no; £10 cannot be
in this accursed region at least, I 0 not.”

“ To the best of m knowledge an belief, he
is not here; at least, have not seen him.”

“Then how did you get your infOrmation?
How do you know hat am Morgan Severn?”

“Now we are even,” replied the Gladiator
withasmile. “Each of us has his secret. I
certainly don’t intend to tell how I know that
you are Mor an Sevorn, unless on make a
clean breast 0 {our object in coming to Utah.”

Severn took t e lamp and, holdin it forward,
studied Gold Gauntlet’s face c osely. The
scrutiny was composde borne, and when
Severn shook his head, h s companion smiled.

He had not feared recognition.

 

“ Useless l” muttered Severn.

“ Exactly.”

“ I am beset with mystery.”

“ So am I. Well, we will both keep our
secrets, but I think we can be friends just the
same.”

“ Heaven grant it! There is no one else here
that I can call friend, and I shall be glad to feel
that you are that. I do not understand how

on can also be on such good terms with
vering, but you took some trouble to protect
my secret at the hut, and I trust you.”

“ You can do so on one condition.”

“ What is that?”

“ That you swear never to betray me to
any ,one, by word or act, while I am faithful to

on

“ I swear!” was the quick reply.

“Good! And now come to the hut again,
and you shall wash and shave, and have decent
clothes.”

“ I dare not do it. My present condition is a
good dis uise but if I Were to follow your ad-
vice, I s ould court recognition. I am not here
to remain inactive, but until I recover my
strength it is imperativer necessary that I keep
out o sight.”

“ Everything shall be as you say, and with
common sense to aid us I feel sure we shall not
clash. If you are puzzled as to me, I am filled
with wonder at the idea of you and Joseph
Levering being foes—”

“ You don’t know what a scoundrel that
womanish-faced, smooth-spoken wretch isl”
cried Severn, his hands involuntarily clinch-

in .

i sudden fire leaped into Gold Gauntlet’s
eyes, his face grew hard and stem, and an im-
petuous re ly seemed trembling on his lips.
 an e ort he repressed it, and calmly re-
p l :

“ You can hate him all you choose, but I must
exact one more promise: Do him not bodily
harm without consulting me, and letting me
alk with you.”

“ Iypromise,” answered Severn, after a pause.

“ ou mentioned your brother, Ralph. He is
not in the West, is he?”

“ I think not; at least, I hope not; but I have
so long been like one dead that I have- at times
feared he wmld follow me here, to see what had
become of me, and fall into the same deadly
lfiands,that seized me. I hope Ralph is in the

ast.

The speaker did not know of the hotel tragedy,
nor-what the blood-stained bed had revealed to
Yank Yellowbird and Bronx Hendershot.

“ I have no means of knowing as to that. B
the way, do ggu think your escape from this
dun n will discovered?”

“ t is hardly probable. When food was low-
ered to me it was in a basket worked by two
strings, and the contents tip out. not remov-

by me. Besides, I never ad a light until I
found that one with the tools which enabled me
to dig out. I don’t believe that my unknown
captors are aware whether I am living or
dead.” ‘

H  l”

“ Why do you say that?”

“ Because I propose to investigate here. I
must have some means of getting to the to of
your dungeon, and if the Opening through w ich
they lower the food is la enough to admit Of
the passage of a man, am going on and dis-
COver just what is be 0nd.”

“ I wish you won] wait until I am stronger.”

“I will- reasons Of my Own make this desir-
able. ' This ‘ leads to another matter. As on
say, you need to recuperate physically be ore
ypu ufidertake any great work. hat are your

ans
P “ I must hide somewhere.”

“ There is a good hotel at Dan City. ”

SeVem .

“I dare not go there; it would cost me my
life. To my enemies 1 am now the same as
dead. but once let me be seen at liberty and I
should soon be dead in reality; they would show
me no more mercy than if I were a wild beast.”

“I will undertake to see you safe through. I
know of a small cave which will furnish a hid—
in -place, and I will supply you with food.”

vern put out his hand and grasped that of
his companion warml . He murmured a few
broken words of than , and then Gold Gaunt-
let suggested that they return to the hut. They
went, and the Gladiator made up a package of
food. This done he escorted his new acquaint-
ance to the cave he had mentioned.

He made him as comfortable there as ible,
and then returned to the hut in a very bought- 1
ful mood. The discoveries of the evening were
of vast importance to him. thong:i he could see
no we in which the resence of organ Severn
could a benefit ere was a in story about
the man, and though he had hel him for hu-
manit ’s sake, dangerous complications might
arise erefrom.

CHAPTER XXIX.
MORE ABOUT Tan: sILvna ANCHOR.
GOLD GAUN'rLl'r barely stopped for a minute
at his hut, and then went to Lovering’s, ac—
cording to a cement. The evening was not
eventful, and id Gauntlet returned home at

 

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an early hour on account of a threatenin

shower. The sky was black, and thunder an
ligh were busy, but the shower passed to
the nort of them.

The remainder of the ni ht without any
event of importance in t e ladiator’s career,
as did the followin day. He visited Morgan
Severn in the morning and found him greatly
refreshed by his night’s rest. He was still very
grateful to his protector, and promised to be
patient and do nothing rash.

Gold Gauntlet want away with the romise
to call again early in the evening, and ring a
supply of food, and this supply he made up Just
before dark.

He had ut it aside and sat down to wait un-
til it was ullfi dark when a man made his ap-
pearance at t e door. The Gladiator looked up
and r ized Phineas French, the vendor of
toilet articles.

The man was not a favorite with him. They
had met casually, but French’s volubility had
not pleased Gold Gauntlet, and on the present
occasion he favored the visitor with a short nod
and no verbal reply to the Yankee’s greetin .

“ So this is where yew kee haouse,” ded
Phineas, lookin around sharp y.

“ Yes,” the G adiator curtly replied.

“ Live alone?” '

“ Yes.”

“Dew tell! Should think yew would find it
pesky lonesome, I swan.”

No answer.

:‘ Lived here long‘l” continued Phineas-

( 0'7

“Settled for good?”

H No. ’7
“Yew mustn’t think it strange that I ask
uestions' I was brought u tew it. Down in
ine-App 0 there ain’t muc tew talk about ex-

cept what other folks dew, an’ we sorter keep

aourselves sted, yew see. But I dew declare

that Pine- ple is the daddy place; yew can’t
beat it in t e State 0’ Massachusetts. Fack,
stranger, by gosh 1”

No answer.

“ When I set aout tew peddle my toilet arti-
cles there was a most ’tarnal commotion in
town; they said I’d lose ev’ry cent I’d put intew
them. Land sakes, that wouldn't been much,
’tween yew an’ me, stran er. I’ve got this
town abowt canvassed, an’ don’t mind sayin’
that it needs a powerful sight 0’ faith tew make
my remedies take elfeck. The Pearl 0’ Great
Price Tooth P0wder is t 00d. but it’s ni h
abowt all chalk, an’ t e in 0’ Beauty w ll
hide the nat’ral com lexion if the women put
on enough—so woul flour, if ’twould stick wal.
The Elysian Eyebright Optic Bath may not
brighten up the eyes, but it’s harmless cause
it’s only scented spring-water. As fur the Cir-
cassio-Orient Hair Tonic, it won’t prevent the
hair from growin’, an’ I know it!” ,

Mr. French paused and looked at Gold Gaunt-
let in a plaintive way, as though implorin him
to confirm his opinion, but not a word (1 the
Gladiator.

‘.‘ Don’t yew git lonesome here i” continued the
map from Pine-Apple.

“ Have much company?”

it No.”

“ I can drop in any evenin’.”

4‘ Don’t I”

‘5 

{I Don’t I”

Phineas stared blankly. Gold Gauntlet’s mono-
syllables sugrised, but did not seem to anger
him or hu his feelings. He seemed a little
puzzled to understand a man who lay there al-
most like a statue and took no interest in mat-
ters relating to the su rior toilet articles he had
for sale. After a litt 0 while his gaze wandered
to the ifickage which Gold Gauntlet had made
up for organ Severn.

“ What yew got in that bundle?”

The Gladiator quietly rose to a sitting posi-
tion.

“ Mr. French,” he coolly replied, “ that is my
business, not yours. I Wish to suggest to you
that no man can attend to more than one busi-
ness at once. Suppose that you devote all of
your colessal brain-power to your chalk powders
and water tonics, and leave me and my affairs
alone. It will be a grateful change to both of
us no doubt.” _

Phineas looked considerably dazed by this
address, but as its full force dawned upon him,
he sourl answered: .

“Wa , by gosh yew needn’t be so techy; I
don’t care an thin abowt yew or yeerpi-op-
ertyl More t n t, I don’t believe care
tew associate with any one who ain’t got any
more manners than yew hev. I should blame
{03 Wong!“ 1313 wiay they brouglglyiglwtlépa

u see e m ht r ma W

ast wor were ken at the oor,
and then Phineas stalked :Pvgay in high indi a-
tigln. He went fifty yards, and then came a

t.

“ That feller was anxious tew t rid of me.
Why? Mebbe be ex other giompany. I’ll
wai alittle an’ see, vow!”

He settled down to wait, and thus it was that

he saw Gold Gauntlet when the lattler came out

 

i

of the hut half an hour later. Despite the dark-
ness, he could see that the Gladiator carried the
mysterious package, and the Yankee determined
to know what it meant.

Gold Gauntlet moved away and Phineas fol-
lowed with surprising skill and caution.

The former went at once to Severn’s refuge.
He found that man in a somewhat less satisfac-
tory state than in the morning. His mind had
been busy during the long, lonely day, and he
had grown nervous and timid again.

Plainly, he needed to recuperate both physi-
cally and mentally before he would be himself
again.

Gold Gauntlet remained with him for an hour,
and talked in as cheerful vein as was ‘ble.
Severn’s mind seemed to respond to eacE effort,
and when the visitor left, the refugee was once
more in a hopeful mood. The Gladiator, how-
ever would not have gone away in such a satis-
fied humor if he had seen the dark figure skulk-
ingv around the entrance to the little cave.

his was Phineas French, who Was carrying
out his resolution to know more about what was
taking Gold Gauntlet and the mysterious pack-
age away.

“ Another queer p’int about Dan City,”
thought the Yankee. “I never got intew sech
a lace afore. I b’lieve it’s bad as them old
Bi le towns in some respecks. An’ what a con-
trast it is tew Pine-Apple! I swan! it ’m0st
makes the tears come intew my eyes tew think
on’t. There ain’t no other place like Pine-Apple
by gosh! But what is in this cave? I’m goin’
tew know ef it takes a leg!”

Unconscious of the storm brewing behind him,
Gold Gauntlet went his way. He had an ap—
pointment with Isabel Lovering, and as-Joseph
would be away, he was all the more anxious to
keep it.

On this occasion he would make violin-playing
a secondary matter, and devote all his time to
Isabel.

For once she received him without her usual
exhibition of sarcasm, and they settled down
to make themselves agreeable after the conven—
tional manner. Their usual subjects of conver-
sation were not touched upon, and there was no
occasion to quarrel.

Unconsciously, however, they approached a
subject of more interest, when Isabel began to
banter him in regard to his home in the gulch.

“ Do you know,” she continued, “when I see
your habitation I am reminded of the castles
alon the Rhine. True I have never seen them,
but ere is a decideded resemblance. If your
residence was at the top of the cliff, instead of
its foot, and was somewhat lar , and there
was a river at hand, I think the 'keness would
be striking.” ‘

“ Thank you for your opinion ” he replied,
with mock gravit ; ‘ and now that my mag-
nificent but has n brightened once or twice
by your visits, I consider t superior to the casc
ties of the Rhine—despite the ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’
which you mention .’

“ I a ways did admire fine houses.”

“ Like all your sex.”

“ I wonder that you don’t give formal race
tions there,” continued Isabel in the same lig t
vein. .

“ The size of the hut forbids my receiving
more than two or three at a time and as you
have been there, I am content. My hut suits
me well, Miss Lovering, for all the wild country
about there is an adjunct to it. When I am in
the mood, I wander around, and I tell you that
I find rare wonders and curi0sities.” .

The chance remark recalled something to his
mind, and acting upon the impulse of the
moment, he drew from his pocket the silver
anchor.

“ Here is something I found during one of my
rambles,” he added.

He extended the anchor, and Isabel took it
carelessly, but the moment that she obtained a
filood view of it her ex ression suddenly changed.

'rst a look of won er appeared on her face——
then doubt—then almost a startled expression.

“ What?” shejcried, half-unconsciously.

“ A queer trinket, isn’t it?” Gold Gauntlet re-

lied.
p “ Who velyou this!" she uickl demanded.
“ No y. told you that fou it."
“ Wherel”
“ In the hills.”

“ Yes, yes; but where?” she repeated, impa-
tiently.
“ To be exact, in a little valley where I keep
my horse, about due east from my hut.”
J ¥ounfound this in the valley?"
es.

Gold Gauntlet began to wish that he had kept
the anchor to himself Appearances indicated
that Isabel knew something about it, and she
was excited and really seemed startled. She
turned the anchor over in her hands and exam-
ined it carefully.

“ When did you find it?” she continued.

fishes” .. fl...

1 ave e a arance of ha lain
lon where it was?” ppe
_ ‘ es. The grass under it had turned yellow
in places, which indicates that it had been there
a matter of Weeks, at least.”
.Was it his fancy, or did Isabel grow pale!

 

Surprised as he was, he could not but think that
it was more than fancy. Her hands certainly
trembled. He waited for her to speak, but she
seemed to have nothing more to say. She turn-
ed partly away, and pressed one hand over her
heart as though it was beating too heavily.

“ Have you ever seen the anchor before?” the '

Gladiator finally asked.
N No 1)

“ Orheard of it?”

(t No."

“ kth’ought that you recognized it.”
H 0

Unless he was mistaken she was makin an
effort to regain her composure, and she an den-
ly turned toward him. Her face was far more

comgised.
“ rabJenkins, is this anchor of especial value
to you ‘.

“ Not particularly so.”

“ Will you 've it to me?”

Gold Gaunt et did not answer at once; he sat
lOoking at her sharply. The nest satisfied
him that there was more about e affair than
he knew and he hardly knew how to rep]

As he looked a moving object back of  at-

tracted his attention. e shifted his gaze, and

then sat motionless with surprise and dismay.

A man stood outside the house, his face pressed

§ainst the window-pane, and that man was
organ Severn!

CHAPTER XXX.

SEEKING TO ESCAPE.

TBAIDLIFTER stood like a statue while Yank
Yellowbird made his survey of the scene thus
unexpectedly brought to his view upon the
ledge. It was a discovery which threatened to
bring calamity and destruction upon the fugi-
tives.

The led e was shaped like a crescent. with the
shorter sfiie next to the cliff and the longer
washed by the temporary fl . Near the cen-
ter the cliff pushed a pomt of its face forward
as though for support—it will be remembered
that it leaned forward, the base forminga recess
under the top—and this point was within ten
feet of the water.

Except for this point and the darkneskthe
two parties would have been visible to each
other, and if the Danites should start out to in-
vestigate, ruin bade fair to overtake the fugi-
tives.

They could retreat from the recess only by
taking to the water again.

Yank Yellowbird gazed at the Danites for sev-
eral seconds in silence, hi;an dwelling ion
on Hurlfortli’s somber, f idding face. At
he turned to the mute Modoc.

“ We’re in a most egregious fix, by hurley,”
he said, but his voice and manner were as quiet-
as over. “ I’m summut afeerd I’m in’ ter be
skeered, fur my left foot is trembhn’ now: a
reng thermom’ter o’ fright is the weak sister.
Still Tongue, this is an atrocious funny box ter
be placed in, an‘ ’tain’t so very funny arter all.
Even the members 0’ the fair sex who take sech
a delight in funerals couldn't be happy hyar.
I’ll thank ye, Modoc, ter go au’ git Bronx.
Thar ain’t no use 0’ tellin’ our hull crowd about

this new triberlation. I consait, but Bronx has - i
got a cool head an good nerves. Yas, you may i .

call him, but don’t skeer the gals; we won’t
one item 0’ oneasiness ter their (footy heads.”
Bronx was summoned, and ii]
the full knowledge of the casa That it was a-
rious no one coul deny or doubt.
The storm was still ragin z;
boomed almost constantly: the lightning glared
with startling vividness in their present situao
tion; and the rain poured down in sheets. 0!
course it was constantly growing deeper in the
gulches, and retreat was out of the question.
They were fairly hemmed in on the ledge with
Hurlforth’s men. .
“ But they may not have curiosity enough to
make any exploration ”

roux.
“Not ter-night, me be, Yank replied, “but

whatarter that?”
“ Sure enou h.”

“ The flood in the gulches won’t godown as I ‘

soon as it riz, an’ when them atrocious insex

looks fur a we out ter-morrer, they may not

find any, but t ey will find us.”

“ That is evident.”

“Can you see any help for it?” ’
We can only leave here by swimming,

' “ No.
and I am not sure that would work. The water
runs past the ledge at full speed.”

“ It’s out' o’ the question; we cnn’t go away ‘

by water 1”

“ Nor up this cliff, which leans the wrong way ~ 

for climbing.” ‘
“ To be sure.”

“ Then we are hopelessly caged. and can 

await the course of events and make a deapera
fight when the time comes.”

“ Wait a bit, lad. We hev taken it fur grant-
ed that the Danites’ end 0’ the led

lmowthat; tharma bea pamage
bywhéc’hitis easy rgitterthehigh country

“ True, but we can‘t pass their camp unseen.”|

“Not while their fire burns bright, like lil ,

 

 

vadmitted to ' 

the thunder , 9g

is like can ,.
—locked in by rock an’ water. ' ow we don’t I
heyend 'em,=

 

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\shoald ai

., 24

does now; but bimeby they’ll go ter rest fur the
night. Then I kin pass ’em an’ reconnoiter.”

“ Even if you find apath beyond, as you hope,
will it not be hard to get the young ladies, and
the horses, past the camp unheard i”

“ Egregious hard!” Yank acknowledged, “ but
we won’t borrer trouble erbout that now. It’s
a pecooliarity o’ the Yellowbirds that they
never look ahead when the view is onpleasant.
Come, lad, lc’s go back an’ cheer up our non-
combatnnts. Still Tongue will stay hyar ter
give us due warnin’ of danger should show u .
We kin trust him, fur he’s so proud 0’ his pedri-
green that he‘d rather die than let anybody git
0. ’int on him.”

ey returned to Duhlgren, Levis, Inza and
Scalping—Knife, the first three of whom were be-
ginning to be uneasy.

“Thar ain’t no trouble,” Yank declared, an-
swering a question from the Swede, “ but we’ve
been studym’ the weather closely. Thar’s a good
’ea'l 0’ weather ter study, jest now, by hurley!”

The last remark was true in the full sense of
the word. When they took refuge on the ledge
the gained position above the bridge gulches,
an there was nothing to hide the war of the
elements. The lightning was something grand
to behold, and it seemed at times as though one
girlish was actually pursuing another across the

l s.

“A right livel time,” continued'Yank, ge-
nially. “This de e reminds me 0’ the time
when I was gineral elpcr ter a temp’ranco lec—
turer; this bein’ when I's ounger, an’ not so
jealous o’ the honor o’ the ellowbird pedigreen
as I be now, or I wouldn’t been in bad comp’ny.

" I went ’long with the lecturer three weeks
from town tor town, an‘ we drawed pooty good
houses. It’s true the was mostly old women
an' small boys, but e they wa’n’t opposed ter
liquor they was liable ter be, the lecturer was so
egregious eloquent.

“ ne day my boss called me inter his private
roo

m.

“ ‘Boy,’ sez he, ‘hev you obsarved anything
pecooliar about the water 0’ this townl’

“ ‘ Can’t say I hev,’ sea I.

“ ‘ It’s too strong,’ sex he; ‘ It needs adulter-
atin’, an’ I’m goin ter adulterate it. I’m

reachin’ temp’rance, an’ it ain’t ri ht that
should drink anything as strong as t is atro-
cious water.’

“With that he brung a flat flask out 0’ his
trunk. It was full 0’ a yaller liquid, the flask
was, an’ I thought mebbe it was hot-drops. The
apostle o’ temperance drinked it, an’ I must sa
it did him good. He cheered up, joked wi
me, an’ actooally danced a jig rig t thar in the
room.

“ That evenin’ he was ter lectur’ a;g’in, an’
afore it come of! he tol’ me he was goin ter hev
some weak lemonade ter around ’mongst
the disciples—that’s what he called the old
women an’ small b0 s—an’ he sent me far the
lemons. Hemade t e mixtur’, an’ poured in a
lot 0’ the stufl I thought was hot-drops, laughin’
like hurley as he did so.

“ We had a ve tol’ble house that evenin’
thar bein’ a hund’u old women with specks anl
umbrellas, an’ a lot 0’ small boys the old women
had dragged thar ter hear about the horrors 0’
mm an sich. The boys looked a ood bit
melancholy, an’ kept squintin’ aroun at the
door, as though ter see ef the way was cl’ar tcr
run. of rum should attack ’em.

“ Wal now, that was a lively meetin’, by hur-
leyi The lecturer was on the wire-edge o’ elo-
quence, an’ his tongue flew like a farmer’s flail
in thrashin’ time. He stirred the old women 013)
powerful, an’ the more lemonade they drink ,

he more they was in favor o’ temperance.

They pounded the varnish all off the furnitoor
with their umbrellas, an’ scart the small he s
so egregious that three on ’em had flts, an’ t 9
balance had the mumps or the dumps.

“ Finally the lecturer stated that he wanted
his dearly b’loved sisters, as he called ’em,

j’iue in an’ say a word. Land 0
Goshenl you never seen the like 0’ what foliered.
Ev’ry woman jumped an’ began ter cheer fur
temp’raace, an’ screech, ‘ Down with ruml’ an’
sech a circus was never seen afore sence Noah
Yellowbird let his menagerie enter the Ark. I
reckon the lemonade had got inter their eyes,
fur each individooal woman began ter hammer
some other woman over the head with her um-
brella, an’ the small boys ’most all swoonded

away.

“ At this p’int the lecturer, who was la’flin’
like hurley, took me by the arm.

“‘I reckon,’ sez he, ‘it’s time fur us ter

:10 .’

‘PWe did slope, an’ got out o’ town ri ht
away. He had a flask along, an’ he drin ed
out o’ it all the timoty much. When we
got a chance tor the papers we seen that
all the old women had been ‘rested fur bein’
drunk, an’ then he laifed more than ever, an’
said be guessed it was time fur him ter quit the
business. He paid me off, an’ 1 never see’d him
arter, but I’ve always thought that he wa’n’t as
good a temp’rance man as he might be, an’ it’s
pomible that was too much water in that lem-

“ I b’lieve the tempest is lettin’ up a hit.”
Yank from his reminiscence to the

 

Gold (Gauntlet. 
last remark with only the slightest intervening

pause.

it was a fact that the rain had greatly de-
creased, and the lightnin was, rhaps, less
vivid, but the thunder cras ed wit out notico—
able abatement.

The mountaineer arose: and walked to the

int of rock. Trail-Lifter lay there as me-

ionless as the cliff, his gaze noting all that oc-
curred in the Danite camp. The situation had
not changed there; the men were trying to dry
their wet garments, and did not seem to be in
ve§y good humor.
ank returned to his own party. Louis and
Inza were ignorant of the fact that the Danites
were so near, and after some argument they
consented to lie down upon a couch made of the
blankets in the party.

The mountaineer, Brenx and Dahlgren then
consulted. Yank was firm in the opinion that
an effort ought to be made to pass the Danite
camp. If they were on the ledge in the mom-
ing, it would be a miracle if the enemy did not
discover them, and there was but one way to
go; plainly, the water in the gulches would not
subsnde so that the could leave in that way.

Time wore on. The rain ceased; the thunder
rolled less frequently, and the lightning flashed
from a greater distance.

The gulches, however, were river-beds throu h
which coursed erratic rivers, which would In
long in oing down.

Some ours passed, and there was a change at
the Danite camp. One by one the men lay
down, until the last was wrapped in his blanket;
there seemed to be no occasion for a guard.

Yank Yellowbird chuckled as he saw this.

It was midnight when he rose to his feet and
said in the most quiet way imaginable:

“ ’m goin’ now!”

Bronx shook his head.

“ I need say nothing to a man of your shrewd-
ness, but I shall await the result with great
anxiety.”

“ To be sure, to be sure; I onnerstan’ how you
feel, lad. I consult all will go wal, but ef,” and
here Yank waved his fore-finger gravely at the
youn r man, “ I should by any egregious ill-
uck ose the game, I wish, ef you ever meet any
0’ the Yellowbird tribe, youd tell ’em I went
under upholdin’ the fam’ly pedi u, an’ bear—
in’ the ravages 0’ the newrolgy li e a hero, or as
ni h so as was convenient.”

sayin , the mountaineer shook hands all
arcind, an then passed beyond the point of
roc

The venture was fair] begun.

Bronx Hendershot ost held his breath as
he watched.

The Danites’ tire was still burning, though not
so brightly as before' yet it cast more or less
light 11 n nearly all the ledge to the front and
rear. ank bent his tall figure, and kee ing
close to the cliff, where the shadows were k-
est, glided along with catlike caution.

Eve day Bronx had some new reason to ad-
mire t 's remarkable man, and his skill now
was even more marked than usual.

Would he succeed in safely passing he Danite
camp? Still as the men lay, some of t m mig
be awake; if he was discovered ruin would i -
evitably follow. It was a period of keen sus-
Pensev ._____..

CHAPTER XXXI.

AN ORDER DISOBEYED.

ALL depended upon Yank Yellowbird. Even
if he successfully seed the cam fire it might
not open a way 0 escape, but if e was discov-
ered the blow would speedin fall.

Every moment Bronx expected to see one of
the Danites start up and give the alarm, but
when his gaze wandered back to the moun-
taineer he saw him gliding along like a dark
shadow.

“ The Indians call him ‘ Nevermiss,’ ” thought
the yoggg man; “ pray Heaven he may now
make his right to the sobriquet 1”

Yan did not once tun his head. His own
gaze was always fixed upon the Danites with
hawk-like intensity; he reached the most dan-

eroius part of his journey; the crisis was at
an .

A moment of uncertainty—then he had passed
the camp and was recedin .

Bronx breathed a si h o relief as the veteran
disappeared in the dar ness, and then his hand
was rasped by Dahl ren.

“ ife of me i” the wcde exclaimed, “a won-
der that man is. My soul he fills with admira-
tion, and with he my heart. For him I shall
pray ever if my c ildren are rescued.”

“ What man can do, Nevermiss will do,"
Bronx confldentl answered.

“You are ri t, but, truth that lives! with
great fears my cart is yet filled.”

“ The way is dark 1’ muttered a voice by
their side.

It was Scalping-Knife. He had come forward.
and was gazing at the Danite camp with dull
curiosity. He, at least, was free from the anx-
ieties that beset the others, for realization of
their peril did not penetrate his darkened mind.

Bronx requested Dahl ren to take the de—
ranged man back out o sight. Conversation
was dangerous there. The young man looked

 

at Trail-Lifter and envied him his stoical com-
posure. The Modoc la flat upon the ledge, his
eyes fixed upon the suite camp, his slightly-
raised head remindin Bronx of a snake in coil
—a resemblance not essened by the fact that
the mute’s eyes were glittering brightly.

“ Worthy follower of a matchless man!”
thought Hendershot. “They make a ir hard
to excel, and are all the more remar able be-
cause their work is quiet.”

Half an hour ssed. Bronx had begun to be
uneasy when a ark form appeared beyond the
hostile camp: it as it had gone; and
Yank was with them once more.

“Life of me!” exclaimed Dahlgren, “it is
with impatience I am filled. What luck, moun-
taineer—what luck i”

“ It might be a heap wu’ss, I consait. I hev
found that ef we once git past them atrocious
insex the way is tolerabl clear fur us. It’s
egegions rough country al around, but nothin’
t t need worry us. har’s a very fair path
fur a hundred yards beyond the inemy’s camp,
an’ the bulk o’ the triberlation will be over when
we git past.”

“ Can we pass?” Bronx asked.

“We kin try. One thing I don’t like; soro
cumstances makes it nec’sary fur us ter leave
our bosses hyar, an’ help ourselves ter them 0’
the Danites over you. I hate ter do it, fur my
boss, Remorse, an’ I hev been together a lon
time. But, never mind. Ronse the gals, Dahl-
gren, sn’ le‘s hev it over as soon as we kin."

“ ye must really pass the camp, then?”

“ as.

“Ifear me for the result,” admitted Dahl—
gren, “ but to where you lead I follow.”

“Tobesure. Wal h up an’ 't ready.”

There was but little to do, and twas done
without further delay. Levis and Inza were
startled to learn the exact situation, but they
bore up in a manner which made Yank nod
with emphatic commendation. Whether they
could pass the cam , where the rattling of a
loose stone would ru n all, was another matter.

Nevermiss still had full charge, and his orders
were implicitly obeyed. Dahlgren was directed
to remain until the others were past, having
charge of Seal ingknife. Naturally, the latter
was the most on tful member of t e party; he
could not make reason aid his movements.

Yank once more alighted from cover. Bronx
followed, conductin Levis and just behind
them came Inza an Trail-Lifter. The young
Indian was a bulwark of stren h just then, an
though his wild, dark eyes flas ed as he looked
at the Danites, he was outward] calm, and
eVen Yank could not excel his cat- ike caution.

The next few moments would decide all.

Yank, moving in advance, did not once look:
back. All his attention was fixed upon the
sleepin men: every sense was on the alert to
catch e flrstsign of danger. Had a Danite-
discovered them then, the mountaineer would'
have leaped upon him and tried to prevent an
outcry.

The dreaded sign did not come: the adventur-
ers passed on in safety, and soon stood on the
other side of the camp.

Trail-Lifter lost no time, but glided back;
then he and Dahlgren each took an arm of the
deranged man, and Scalping-Knife was escorted
past. He went obediently, but showed marked
uneasiness until he was again near Bronx.
Then his former placid expression returned.

Every heart beat lighter, and Yank and the
Modoc proceeded to separate enough horses
from the main part to suffice for them. It was
successfully done; t ey mounted and rode away
toward the south.

Once more the mountaineer led, while Trail-
Lifter brought up the rear.

Yank had said well when he stated that the
way was wild. Haste was out of the question.
and the veteran was well satisfied to make
steady progress. It mi ht have been worse than
that except for the ightning, the flashes of
which were now of great value.

Dan rous chasms. or tempera torrents
Were o ten revealed by this friendly ight.

For hours they rode on, slowly but mfely.
At times Yank paused and encouraged his
charges in his own peculiar way, and such en—
couragement was needed. Levis and Inza were
almost ready to drop with fatigue; Scalplng-
Knife swayed on his horse and uttered com-

laints in amournful voice; and men Yank’s
Bard form was affected.

W en da dawned, and he saw the pallid
faces behin him, he knew that rest was im-

ratively necessary. He consulted with the
Efodoc, and when they came to ashallow stream,
rode through it for one-fourth of a mile to break
their trail. _

A cave would then have been a blessm , but
all were strangFrs there and it was useessto
look for one. boy left the stream ata point
where their horses would leave little evidence of
passage, and in a rough part of the hills found a
camp.

Yank prevailed upon all to eat something, and
then, wi h the exception of himself, they lay
down. They were asleep almost as soon as they
touched their blankets.

The mountaineer found it hard to keep his
eyes open, but his iron will had not deserted

 

 

 

 

 

 

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'rim. He Went a short distance away to a point

 here he could watch for danger, and then, re-
sistin all inclinations to sleep, remained at his
post or three weary hours.

At the end of that time he went back to camp.
All his friends were slee ing, but a light touch
served to brin Trail-L fter to his feet, alert,
bright-eyed an read for work.

They consulted an , agreeing that it was not
safe to resume the journe until night, Yank lay
down to sleep while the
of outlook.

The forenoon passed 'Fuietly, and the entire
party met at dinner. his was not a meal to
please an epicure; their supply of food was run-
ning low, and they dared not fire a rifle. No
sign of the Danites had been seen, but there was
no doubt that they were still active. All of the
fu itives agreed that it would be best to wait
unfiil night before moving on; by that time they
would be in much better condition, and the
darkness would cover their movements.

After dinner Nevermiss gave distinct direc-
tions to all. He and Trail-Lifter would pass the
afternoon in scouting and watching for danger,
but no one person was to leave camp without his
permisswn.

He was very emphatic in giving the latter di-
rection, and all said that they understood and
would obey.

He and the young Indian then Went away.

It was three hours later that Yank discovered
“‘ signs.” He investigated, and found that they
were favorable. He saw two men riding east;
be r nized them as old acquaintances; he
accostei them and, though they were in some
haste, secured their promise to join his arty.

They were old bordermen, named haw and
Price, and the prospect of havin their aid”
6 led them

cheered the mountaineer greatly.
t0ward camp in increases good spirits, but when
within a hundred yards of it he suddenly came
to a halt. He had almost run upon a man who
lay restrate and motionless by the side of a
bow der.

Yank sprung forward and turned him over,
and as the face was thus revealed he stood dazed
for amoment. The man was Etik Dahlgren;
he was unconscious' and a slight wound upon
his head told a startling story to the veteran.

“What’s up, Yank?’ demanded Shaw, upon
whom that expression was not lost.

“ Foller me! foller me!” Nevermiss replied,
in a voice very much unlike his usual one-
Some egregious mishap has happened, by
hurleyl”

He ran to camp, followed b the other men.
When the place was reached t ey saw only two
persons; Scal lug-Knife was idly watchin the
swayin sh ow of a tree-branch, while nza
sat doz ng by a rock. A few {ards away the
horses were razing, ‘nnd Yan believed that
Bronx would found there watching them, ac-
cording to the directions.

’ The mountaineer hurriedly spoke Inza’s name,
and she sprung up with a startled cry.

“ Whar's your sister?” demanded Yank;
whar’s Lovisl

“ She and father have gone to walk,” an-
swered the girl readil but with a frightened
expression. ‘Oh! Mr. ellowbird, is anything
wrong?”

“ Didn’t I say nobody was tcr leave camp!”

“ Yes; but father said they would only go a
few) ste ”

“I’m one afeerd they went too fur—I
be, by hurleyl Ilyar, Bronx, lad; come this
way. Never mind the bosses now, fur thar is
more than them ter call our attention. I con-
mit we’re in an atrocious triberlationi”

CHAPTER XXXII.
BACK AT DAN CITY.

BRONX came hurrying into camp at the
call.

“ Do ye know whar Lovis is?” Yank asked.

“ Lows?” echoed Hendershot, his face grow.
ing very grave. "No, I have not seen her.
You don’t mean that she has disappeared, do

out”

“ I’m egre ous afraid I do. Little woman,”
to Inza, " to us jest what you know, an‘ let it
be done quick. Tune is precious.”

“ I only know that Lovis was walking about
here, tired of remaining still, and father said
that the would go a few steps beyond the
camp. he reminded him of what you said
about not“ leav'ng, but he said they would go
onlyushort dis nce. They went, and then I
think that I must have fallen asleep.”

n, ’ Yank con-

 

“ Our wa is fer see Dahl
tinned, turn ng to Shaw. “ he rest on ye stay
hyar."

And before more questions could be asked he
had hurried away. They found Dahlgren al-
ready showing signs of return in conscnousness
and when Shaw had produceda sk and poured
some whisky down his throat, the Swede opened
his eymuickly.

no better command of his senses than
was to be expected, and after one look at
Yank’s face he flashed a lance around him.

“ Lovisi" he exclalmecf. “ Where is shef”,

“ Just What I want tor know,” the mountain-

eer. 1'9le “ What is shot"
 waft-1?? of me!" Mod the Swede, “ she. has

I

.‘A- 1.5.

odoc went to the place I

by Hurlforth been takai. He strikes me down
gensedees, and now if gone she is, Hurlforth has
erl

“ Did on ree’ly see Hurlforthf”

“ I di . We were here walkin when upon us
he sprung. Of him I barely catc a glance, and
then he struck me. I feel a severe pain, and no
more did I know. Life of me! the Danite has
carried off my child, and my heart it will
break 1”

And the speaker moaned like an animal in

in.

Not a word of reproof did Yank speak. All
this was the result of disobedience of his strict
orders, but he would not add to the unhappy
father’s sorrow by reminding him of the fact.
He biased Dahlgren to his feet, and then briefly
orde :

“ Back ter cam )l”

“ But my poor vis—”

“ Leave that ter me. Price, I’ll trouble ye ter
act as escort ter him; Shaw an’ I’ll stay hyar
an’ investi ate a bit— as, we may be gone an
hour, but eep ev‘ry y in camp; we don’t
want another egregious upset, by hokey !”

The two parties separated, and the camp be-
came a place of mournin . Inza and Dahlgren
were nearly overwhelm , and as Price bluntly
told the Swede that it was all his own fault, that z
unfortunate man saw his cup of bitterness filled i
to the brim.

It was nearl an hour later when Yank and
Shaw returne . Every gaze was fixed anxious-
ly upon the mountaineer 5 face, and he did not
keep them waiting.

“ Dahlgren’s right,” he announced; “ Levis is
in Hurlforth's hands.”

“ My poor child!” murmured the Swede.

“ But where are they?”

The last question came-from Bronx, who was
gtanding with contracted brows and a somber

acc.

“ Gone back ter Dan City."

“ The wa is dark i”'mutteref ScalpinggKnife,
looking at ronx with melancholy inten ess.

“ Have you a p‘an, Nevermiss?” asked Hen-
dershot, steadil .

“ I consait l ev. Terenight our party sepa-
rated an‘ Dahlgrcn, his remni‘nin’ darter nn’ j
Skulpin’-Knife will keep on East, escortrd by r
Shaw an’ Price, who hev got ter go that way.
Still Tongue an’ I go West-back ter Dan City.
You’ll observe, lad, that I’ve left your name ‘
out; I thought mebbe you’d like ter' make a pick ’
0’ which way you’d go.” ;

Bronx’s face brightened perceptibly. ‘

“Then I shall owith on and the Modec; I
cannrt rest until . iss-Dah is rescued. But
will the other party reac an honest town in
safet ? Will they not run uptin the Danites!”

“ 0. Shaw an’ I hev been'scoutin’ an' we ,
find that the Danites hev turned back. Jest I
why ’twas done I don’t know; the“ only reason-
able theor is that they got discoura . . lt !
seems that url forth an’two or three 0’ is men 1
were behind the others, an’ they came upon
Dahlgren an‘ Lovis by chance. Nat’rally, Hurl-
forth took her an’ scooted fur Dun City. No: I i
don’t think our frien’s need be afeerd 0' trouble
by the way: the pursuit seems given up.”

Yank had a vague ilea that perhaps Hurl- I
fortb’s abandonment of the pursuit was due to '
the fact that he was not so zealous a follower of
Joseph Loveringas he- Seemed, but he did not I
mention it.

Trail-Lifter had been notified of the new mis—
fortune, and as he came in the division was ,
fully determined upon.. At dark they left the ‘
camp. One rtv, composed of Inn-,Dahlgren, 5
Scalping-Kn fe, Shaw and Price. moved east, ;
while ank Bronx and Trail-Lifter set their ,
faces toward Dan City and rode awayto meet ,4
whatever new dangers were before them. i

Their lives wouldI not he worth-a breath of l
air if they fell into the hands of tin Danites,
but they were ready to risk everything for
Lovis Dahlgren’s sake. .

 

It was nooa of the following day, and Phineas
French was sauntering through a canyon not
far from Dan City. He‘ had closed his career
at the town. as a vendrr of unrivaled toilet
articles, and intendedtoleave the next day—he
thought it best to do so. for reasons which his
toilet articles could have explained had they
 strength enough—and he was now
abroad in the hills because he had a temporary
fancy for Solitude.

His communion with Nature was destined to
be interruptmi, however; he heard his name
pronounced as he was passing a rocky rt of
the w» ', and as be looked that way e saw
Yank ellowbird.

“ Bakes alive l” hee acnlated, “ is that aw!”

“To be sure.
quietly replied the mountaineer.

“ nsiderin’ haow yew left here, I didn’t ex-
pect tew see yew back "

“ How did I leave? of I may ask.”

“ I didn’t see yew, but report says yew rob-
bed ev’ry Mermon 0’ all his wives, an’ then
scootcd

I don’t want ’eml” h Nevermiss.

 

“ I’d rutber hev a n’ newrol all the time
by hurlsyl” M U ’

.
L --  .-', if

5 p’int.

I-d

y’re you so ’ston bed?” ,

“ Land 0’ Goshenl I ain‘t fit their wives. an' '

25

i “ Come ’round after they’ve used my Balm o’

; Beauty an' Elysian Eyebright Optic-Bath

j awhile, an’ you’ll see some Hobos. mister,”

I “Don’t want none 0’ yer Hebesl” retorted

! Yank, grufily. “ I do hope, though, that you’ve
chfiapted ’em like hurley on them things you

se .

i Phineas looked cautiously around.
! “Nei hbor, don’t gm it-away,” he replied,
i “but ve jest cheated ’cm owt 0’ their eye-
: teeth. Nobody can’t be brung up in New
England ’thout gittin'apooty fair idee haow
{ tew trade, an’ we at Pine-Apple don‘t take a
! back seat for nobody. We , it would 
! paralyze them ter hum trw see how I’ve soc ed
5 it tew these Mormcns: it would Iswan! The
(fircassio-Oricnt Hair-Tonic, the Pearl 0’ Gmt
Price Tooth-Powder, an’ the Balm "

“Never mind the list, mister. Pooty much
all water, an" sich, ain’t they?”

“ A good ’eal‘ 0’ water, an’ mighty little sick,
or anything but water,” Phineas admitted.
“Yew see, there’s allays a heap said about
Yankee interpoise, 111’ I’m showin the natives
a sample on’t.”

“ You’re about as curi’s a sort 0’ merchandise,
yerself, as you kin peddle, but that ain’t ter the
You did us a favor once, as you’ll re-
member, an’ now I want ter know ef your sym-
pathies are still in the same arter.”

“They ain’t with the ormons—now that
I’ve sold out my goods. What d’ye want? Is
there another in the case? Yewr an awful
teller, yew be, ellowbind i?" 7

“Land o’,Gosh¢;n! doln’tiygu fly ot‘l'Iinseehgd:
crazy wa !’ tartyrepie an . ‘ this
an’ it’s thz same one as before. The p’ints you
give us enabled us ter rescue her, but now the
atrocious insex hev got her back. Hev youseen
Hui-North bring in a pris’ner’i”

Phineas shook his head.
“Ain’t seen that piratical-lookin’ critter of

n ,

ate.

“ He’s back hyar, an’ be brung her with him;
We trailed the creelur’, an’ I enjoyed it, fur I’d‘:
got my favorite boss, Remorse, back ag’in.”

“ I’ve got an idee.”

“ Name it, mister.”

“ Do yew know Gold Gauntlet?”

“ I’ve seen him.”

“I advise ye tew consult him.” ‘

“ I cousait I shall do nothin‘ o’ the‘ kind}?
Yank promptly replied. “ I tried ter make

friends with him, for he didn’t appear ter" beat .

Mormon, but he snubbed me.

“ He wants tew see yew now.”

“ He does?”

6‘ Yes.”

“ What fur?”

“I dunno. I saw him an hour ago, an’h’e:
asked me ef I’d seen yew, an’ when I said I'.
hadn’t, he said he wanted tew see yew. He-
ain’t a bad fellow ef he does dress Iikeaf .
though he an’ me come nigh havin’ a row '
night, I swan. Yew see, he had a half-crazy
critter shut up in a cave; an’ I was socurions-
about him that I investigated, an‘ it scared the“
teller owt; an’ be run daown intew the vil ,.
an’ nigh kicked up a row where Gold Gaunt et:
was visitin’ Lovering’s sister: but I got him
awa without anybody bein’the. wiser, an’ then;
Gok Gauntlet an’ me made friends.”

Phineas rattled on as though his tongue bad
solved the mystery of perpetual motion, .but‘
Yank was not much the wiser for the explana»
tion. v

“What kin Gold Gauntlet want ter see me
fur?” he musing] asked. '

“As I said] on’t know; but I hev an idea
that it may be about the gal. It was right arias- '
he saw Invcring that he mentioned it.”

Yank looked Phineas straight in the face with
a sharp. analytical gaze. He had a d of
confidence in that person, and in Gold aunt-.
let, but it was not by any means perfect.

“Mister.” the mountaineer replied, after I.
pause, “ you may lead me ter the Gulch Glad!»
ator, ef you will.” __

CHAPTER XXXIII.
'rnn ALLIES.

indicated by Phineas. no harm resdlted from
the situation his curiosity had brought about
the previous evening. His efforts to learn the
' mystery of the little cave had frightened Mon
gan Severn out. and the latter had one straight
to the village, his desire to find e Gladiator
overcoming his fear of the Mormons.

When Gold Gauntlet saw his face at the win.
dow, as before related, he was considerablv
disturbed, and it brought his visit to Isabel to
an untimely end. Somewhat to her surprise he
suddenly claimed to have an enga ment which
be had before overlooked. and thout coming
g to any definite decision as to whether she shoal
i have the silver anchor. he left the bouseand took
I Severn hack to the cave.

He afterward came upon Phineas French, who ,- ~

' made such a humble apology that the Gladiator

decided to forgive him, and makes friend where .

friends were mm. '
Such was the situation when Phineas con-

ducted Yank Yellowbird to the but, and the

Gladiator quickly arose and approached M

l

GOLD Garrean was alone in his but. "As _'

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26

Gold Gauntlet.

 

 

“ My dear sir,” he said, extending one hand,
“ I am glad to see you, and I want to a lo ire
rigllilt at the start for my brusqueness t e ot er
ni t. 4

‘ Don’t do it,” Yank evenl replied; “it don’t
make an egregious bit 0’ di rence.”

“ l was influenced by motives of importance,
believe me; but I now see that I was wron .
Mr. Yellowbird, 1 am lad to take in friendship
the hand of such a cele rated man.”

“Never mind that part; I ain’t ter blame of
folks will talk about me, but it ain’t fur what
I’ve did In self. Fack is, the glory e’ the Yel-
lowbird igreen hangs over me like a bushel—
baskit over a baby’s head—it’s too big fur me.
My father—his name was Hezekiah—al’ays tol’
me I couldn’t properly uphold the fam’ly honor.
’Member distinctly one time when he reasoned
with me out back 0’ the barn. He had a stave
o’ a barrel, an’ fur fear I’d forgit what he
said, he hammered the facks inter me with the
stave.

“ ‘ You’re an ongenerate son!’ sez he, doublin’
me u with a blow o’ the board in the rear.

“ ‘ an’t help it,’ sez I, with a bowl; ‘ l was
badly brung up!’

"2 Don’t ye insult yer dad!’ sez he, hittin’ me
in.
as“ ‘ All right,’ sez I; ‘ le’s drop the argyment.’

“ ‘ You’re full 0’ original sin,’ sez he, doublin’
me u ag’in.

“ ‘ ’m sorry ’ sez I, ‘ but I inherited it, like
humors. newro y an’ beauty.’

“ ‘ The Yellowbird pedi u must be ke ’
sacred,’ sez he, hittin’ me t ree lusty licks wit
the stave.

“ ‘ Ef that’s yer ob 'ect.’ sez I, ‘ bring on an-
other stave an’ let me o my art.’

“ ‘I kin do it all,’ sez he, nockin’ me about
like a ball.

“ ‘ All right,’ sez I, gittin’ reckless; ‘ wade
ri ht in, but you’re wearin’ my pants all out,

,an the head 0’ the fam'ly will howl egregiously

when he has ter buy a new pair.’

“ ' That’s a fact,’ sez he, droppin’ the stave."

‘we’ll adjourn this council an’ the next time I
hev cause ter c’reck ye, I’ll use the stave on
more Yellowbird an’ lam pants. You kin go
an’ meditate new ’ sez he. .

“So ye see, Mr. Gold Gauntlet, it was sech
thingsas these that brought me inter promi-
nence; not any fault o’ mine. M ancestors
was awfully set on upholdin’ the am'ly pedi-
Ereen, an’ thrashin’ their offspring. But I

eerd that you wanted ter see me.”

“Such is the fact. I’ve been hearing some-
thin about on.”

“ hat so ’

H  1’

" “Nothin’ good, I consait, fur the people 0’

Dan City ain’t built that way.”

“ I have heard how you rescued the Dahlgren
girls, only to lose one of them directly after.”

Yank look earnestly at the Gladiator.

“ Who tol’ ye thisl’ he asked.

“ One word, Yank. I am convinced that you
and I may well be friends, and I will do my
part if you, in return, will promise to be
moderate and not iniure my chances.”

“ How moderate”

“ I will help you get Levis Dahlgren back, if
I can, but you must not do Joseph Levering
harm. He is my game.”

“ Thopght you’n ’he was great chums; you

so

“ Yank Yellowbird, I am about to trust you
in a wa that I would not dream of did not the
whole est ring with your fame asan honest
man. I am playing a part with Levering."

“Wal, I hope ou’ll make it egregious warm
fur himi by hur ey i”

“ Wil you leave him to me!”
“ To be sure—onless he gits in my way. But
I must hev Levis Dahlgren out o’ h s hands.”

“ I am heartin in favor of your doing this,
andI will aid you. Have you any idea where
she is?”

0‘ N0.”

“ I have i”

“ That a fact? I think ye tol' me you’d let

1 me know.”

“ And so I will, but I want to impress one
fact 11 n your mind. The peril of this helpless
girl oeeph Levering has confided in me—ap-

is to my heart as a man, but by tryin to
mp her I put my own plans in jeopardy—p ans
which are as dear to me as my own life. Such
being the case, I ask you to s mpathize with me

I while I am sympathizing wit on.”

The Gladiator spoke earnest y, and Yank put
out his hand suddenly.

“ Shake mister! I consait that we onner-
stand each other at last, an’ I don’t see no
reason why we shouldn’t work to other we].
I’ll regard your interests, as fur as know ’em,
an' try not ter do ye harm."

“T mountaineer; and now as to Levis
Da . ou know where Dan City Reserva-

‘ tion as"
“ To be sure. ”
“ [su that this so-called Reesrvation is

held sacred, not because of anything the surface
of the ad can show, but because there is a

habite place under ground—a place that $8
in ted . I
snk leaned his tall form heavilyuponhls

 

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rifle and, looking, into Gold Gauntlet’s eyes, the prisoner had not been discovered by his

slow] and distinctly replied:
“ ister, thar’s a heap o’ boss-sense in what
ye say, but the half ain’t tol’ yit. Whar thar’s

a house, that’s a door. Whar’s the door ter the

place you speak on?”

“ I think that I know.”

“ An’ I know that I want ter know."

The Gladiator removed the table from its po-
sition and revealed the opening in the cliff.

“ How’s that?” he tersely asked.

“ Do you mean—”

“ I mean that an investigation is in order.
Listen, and you shall bear the story of this hole
in the wall, and the passage which leads where
I believe Lovis Dahlgren new is.”

He gavs the full account, keeping back only
the name of the man who had so singularly tun-
neled his way to liberty, and Nevermiss nodded
emphaticall at various times. Taken in con-
nection wit the sounds he had heard coming
from under the Reservation, he felt that there
could be no further doubt.

The only question now was, would the open-
ing through which food had been lowered to the
prisoner in his dungeon prove to be one which
would lead them to the secret haunti-

The decided to settle this matter as soon as
mib e by a determined effort. Gold Gauntlet

alread taken one ste ; he had constructed

a. rude lad er which he be ieved would reach to

the top of the cell, and concealed it inside the

6. Both he and Yank were of the opin-

ion that the investigation could not be made too

soon so the mountaineer went for Bronx and
Trail-Lifter. They were seen all at the hut.

It was settled that Yank, Gold Gauntlet and
the Modoc should make the venture while
Bronx and Phineas should remain at the hut,
retreating to the pa sage if any one approached.

They were'all ready for the venture when a
shadow fell within the but and, looking up, the
Gladiator saw his protege, Morgan Severn. The

r fellow had once more become almost wild
cause of the solitude, and had ventured out.

He would have fled at sight of the other men,
but Gold Gauntlet spoke quick] .

“ Wait, wait, my man! on need not be
afraid of any one ere; the will all be your
friends. Gentlemen, this is t e man of whom I
told you, Morgan Severn.”

Bronx started back.

“ Who!” he exclaimed.

“ His name is Severn, Morgan Severn.”

Other words trembled upon Bronx’s lips, but
Yank Yellowbird plucked at his sleeve.

" Carefully, lad! In the feller’s egregious
ivze‘aliielzgopdition he mustn’t know that his brother

Severn’s attention had been attracted by
Bronx’s manner, and, forgetting his alarm, he
quickly advanced.

“ Is the name familiar to you? Have you
heard it elsewhere!"
8i Bronx was quick-witted enough for the m

on.

“Nevermiss,” he said, turning to the mean-
taineer " have you the box we found at the foot
of thec fl?”

“ I consait I hev, lad,” Yank lied, bringing
out of his pocket the article men oned.

“This has the name ‘ Morgan Severn’ upon

“ It is mine!" Severn exclaimed. “ Where did
you find it?”

‘ In the mountains, at the foot of a cliff: and
by the way, that cliff was curiously inscribed
with words and ictures.”

“ I know noth n_g about that, while as for this
box, I am not quite sure when I had it last: it
is a worthless article, anyway, as on can see.
My name I scratched upon it wh le idling in
cam one noon, on my way here. Possibly one
of t e men who accompanied me took the box,
and afterward lost it. ” '

“ Was one o' yer men named Skulpin’-Knifel”
asked the mountaineer, suddenly.

“ No,” returned Severn, lookin puzzled.

“ ‘ Scalping-Kuife!‘ ” repeated IGold Gauntlet.
“I have seen the unique ragamufiln who owns
that name, and the picture rocks also. There is
a mystery about that place, hinting as it docs at
a dark tragedy, that has interested me not a
little. It hovers persistently in mind, in fact.”

“ S’pose we talk 0’ that later,” sug ested Yank,
who was still fearful that Ralph vern's sup-
posed fate would be learned by this trembling-

imbed brother of his. “ I move that we go on
m Dan City Reservation right away!”

 

CHAPTER XXXIV.
EXPLORATIONS UNDERGROUND.

Bsonx Hannnnsno'r, Phineas and Severn
were left in the hut. Gold Gauntlet saw that
Severn was not in fit condition to be left alone,
and that he would never improve to any great
extent while thus situated, so he deemed that, if

ssible, he should be kept among friends from

hat time.

The Gladiator, Yank and Trail-Lifter entered
the ass and went forward on their venture.

hen reached the dungeon where SeVem
had so long been confined it was found vacant
while a quantity of food on the floor, which had
been newly lowered, showed that the escape of

. ' .; -«-
t l x. ’4‘ ._; ’3

 

enemies.

“ All seems well,” observed Gold Gauntlet,
“ and we can go on with a measure of he .”

“ Wait a bit, first,” Yank replied. “ want
ter ask a question. Has that man in rags o’
veurn, Severn, ever mentioned a brother 0’
his’n?”

“ Yes.”

“ Was his name Ralph?”

” It was.”

“Does Morgan Severn know that his brother
come ter Dan City awhile ago?”

“ Great heavens, no i" answered Gold Gauntlet,
with a start. “ Is that a fact?”

“ It sartainl is.”

“ Where is t e brother new?”

Yank allowed the breech of his rifle to fall
gently to the ground; he leaned his tail form
upon the barrel and then tersely replied:

“ Dead 1”

Gold Gauntlet started back, an expression on
his face ve much like dismay.

“ Dead!" e echoed.

“I consait he is.”

“ But how i—what? How do you know?”

“ Sence it seems ter affec ye snmmut I’ll
say that I didn’t see the body, an’ I don’t s’pose
I kin .itively say the man is dead. I hope he
ain’t, ut it looks egregioust like it, by hurley!
He put u at the hotel, but it seems that Joe
Levering 8 gang knew he was dan ’rous, an’
when the poor feller fell sick with a. ever, they
lit on him. He disappeared, an’ left a heap 0’
blood behind on the bed.”

“I don’t clearly understand. Will you give
details.”

The mountaineer told the story of his experi-
ence with Ral h Severn.

“ It does, in eed, seem that he was murdered,”
Gold Gauntlet thoughtfully commented.

“ To be sure.”

“ Yet there is a grain of hope.”

“ Jest about a grain; he was too much out 0"
his head ter hev sense ter go away hisself; he
hadn’t no friends in Dan City but us; an’ he al-
lowed that the Danites was arter him. I consait
they ot him.”

“ is will be a severe blow to—to Morgan
swag: h b h l ’

“ ions tong , y ur ey!’

The Gladiator was silent for several moments,
and busy with his thoughts; then he suddenly
aroused.

“ Let us 0 on with our work,” he said.
“ Hold the ght, Mr. Yellowbird, and Trail—
Lifter and I will raise the ladder. We don’t
want to lose any time here.”

The ladder was lifted, and they found that its
len h had been admirably calculated; the top

against the roof which they could but
diml see.

“ ow for the venture!” added the Gladiator.

With quick, firm steps he ascended the rungs,
and, when the top was reached, found that t e
end of the ladder rested against an irregular
hole in the roof. Everything was veifi dark
there, but he signaled to Yan and the odor,
and by the time they came up he had passed on
to a firm, fair] level surface.

Trail-Lifter ad carried the lamp somewhat

rotected, but its light was now allowed to shine
Iorth for a short time as far it would go.

Itdshowed that the cave was continued be-

on . .

y “ Now for the next step,” said Gold Gauntlet,
takin the lamp.

“ E you’ll allow me ter advise, we won’t
carry t at light openly,” replied Nevermiss.
“ Ef thar are spyin’ e es about they’ 't enter
it sure, an‘ then we’ be in an egreg ous fix.
Thar may be dan r ahead; I thin thar is, fur
the weak sister is t with an inclination ter
run- an’ the odds may be ’in’ us.”

“ Your advice is good. he only objection to
going in the dark is that we shall have to move
ve slowly, but safety is better than brilliancy.
will on lead?”

“ e mi ht go side by side.”

They di so, and felt out each foot of the way.
If this made Gold Gauntlet impatient, it was
quite the reverse with the mountaineer. As
usual he used his mind in the case, and was sat-
isfied that their journey would be short. Unless
the whole range was hollow, this cave would
not continue a eat distance.

They collid with solid rock several times as
the went on, but always found safe footing
an had no cause for complaint. The licy of
silence had been tacitly ado ted, and ey went
without an sound except hat of their move-
ments—an it seemed to the Gladiator that he
was making all the noise.

Yank and the Modoc were like two ghosts
glidin alon beside him.

Sud only 9 felt his arm l“grasped, and the
mountaineers uttered one we :

“ Hark 2”

Gold Gauntlet listened. He heard what had
before then been inaudible to his unpracticed
ears; a sound like the ringing of a pick on some
hard substance.

“ We’re about thar,” Yank added. “Go
egregious careful, an’ we’ll soon hev a view of
something I”

They advanced again, but only a few feet. v. V

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Passing a point of rock they saw a room of rock
dimly i hted with a rough roof of rock and
grim si es. But this was not all; there were
men there, too, some of whom held picks in their
grimy hands. Very like ordinary miners they
seemed, excegt that in most cases their faces
were pale an thin.

Yank Yellowhird needed but a brief survey
to find all his suspicions confirmed.

These men were captive miners.

Gold Gauntlet touched the mountaineer’s

arm.
“ Are they friends or fees?" he asked.

“ We’ll make ’em friends, right away,” Yank ‘

replied. “They’re pris’ners—captives o’ the
atrocious Danites—an’ the man who lib’rates
'em will find ’em friendly enough, I consait.
Hullo! who’s that?"

The speaker started, and then looked fixedly
at one of the miners who was approaching.
This man paused a few steps away, took a tin
dish and caught some of the water which fell
near him in a little stream.

“ I’ll tell ye what, men,” he said, addressing
his com nions, “ I wish this stuff was ’izon.
I’d driu it all the mvre willin’ly.

one o’ the guards, as Sam Trask did, an’ let him
shoot me 1' '

He spoke in a moody, hopeless tone, and there
was no response from his friends; one and all
seemed to feel in about the same mood as him-
self, and there was no attempt at consolation.

Yank Yellowbird; however, broke the silence.

“ Abe Partridge!’ he said, in a low voice.

“ Wal, what is it?” asked the man with the
dish in a most indiflerent way.

“ me this way.”

The direction was obeyed in a sullen manner,
which showed that the man believed it to be
given by acme enemy; he obeyed like a slave
who has nearly made up his mind to rebel.
Yank drew his companions partly back around
the rock, so there was no one to see them except
the man who came shumingl

“ Wal, what’s wanted?”
voice.

Nevermiss uncovered the lamp.

“ Don’t ye know me, Abel"

The man looked sharply; he started, and a
100k of recognition flashed over his face.

“ GOod heavens! have they got you too,
Yank?”

“ No, they ain’t got me!” grimly replied the
mountaineer. “ I’m bar as a free moral agent,
though I dunno what t t means. Butsee hyar,
Abe time ma be mighty precious, my fnen’s
an’ I hev craw in hyar on the sly ter see what
sort 0’ a place this is, an’ I must my I am most
egregious surprised ter see you hyar.”

Partri caught the veteran’s arm in a grasp
the inten ty of which was painful.

“Yank!” he exclaimed rapidly, vehemently,
“ of you come in hyar o' yer own will, an’ can
git out ag’in, go at once. You don’t know the
sort 0’ a place this is; it is a Blairgatnry among
men. Do you know what we hyar! Slaves,
ev’ry one on us; slaves who are ground down
an’ abused, an’ shot like dogs, an’ worked ter
death. If the way is open fur ye, back
store they hev you in their grip. ! go !

Go!”
itch, and his eyes

His voice rose to a high
biased with excitement, at ank did not lose
“ What we want

his calmness.

“Wait a bit,” he replied.
ain’t ter run away, but ter help you out.”

“ What kin you do ag’in‘ all them men?”

“ Are there a heap on ’emi”

“Wal, not so v many, but they are armed
ter the teeth. an’ hey’il shoot anybod that
rebels; They’ve done it before, an’ they’ do it

,in"

“ Ef I onnerstand it, they hev got you men
hyar as ris’ners. an’ make ye do something fur
them. what? ’

“ Work the mine—dig gold.”

“ To be sure. How many guards!”

“ About fifteen.”

“ How many pris’ners?”

“ Thirty-two. ’

“ Land 0’ Goshen! you ought tar clean ’em
out!”

“We haven’t a was. , while they’re armed
ter the teeth as I sai afore, an’ al’ays on the
lookout. EB one 0’ us kicks, he’s shot down like
a d .”

“ o’s at the head 0’ the atrocious insexr’

“ Joseph Lovering.”

Partridge spoke in a mood , hopeless wa ,
but his manner suddenly c aged, and e
gradeank’s arm:

“ heavens !” he exclaimed, “ the guard is
back at his post, an’ yyour retreat is cut off!
You are doomed men!

—

CHAPTER XXXV.
nor: roa m moans.

Yum Ylnmwnmn could not avoid a s)“ ht
m at this information, which was all he
“Wfimi‘tgmwamht “is” “we;

w 3 as ow
flaw of Partridga‘s plume finger he

up.
e asked in a surly

I‘m tired o’ 1
this life, an’ of it don’t change soon I’ll assault ‘

saw a li ht in the passage by which they had
entered,gand near it was a man who held a rifle
in his hands.
“The egregious varmint is in the way, sure
i enough,” the mountaineer coolly re lied, “ but
ef you’ll explain a bit, I shall know tter what
it means.”
“ He is stationed thar ” Partridge replied,
' “so that we can‘t pass. Wa’n’t he thar when
you come?”
to N0.”
“ He must ’a’ left his post ’thout leave.”
“ He’s back now,” Yank grimly replied.
“ Yes, an’ you’re doomed men; you never kin
pass him alive.”
“ Brother Partridge,” observed Nevermiss,
! shakin his bent forefinger at his companion,
, “the ellowhirds make its. p’int never to say
‘ die. I’ve been beset with newrolgy all In life
in a mali t form an’ I hev a left foot t t is
a weak Sister, but in spite 0’ all obstacles, I
won’t sta down, an’ I will rise ter the top like
a cork. riberlations an’ distresses will come
in the course 0’ nature, but they git egregiously
wu’sted in the end. That atrocious insex looks
ty formidable an’ mean with his sheetin’iron
eld up so pert, but I'll beat him yit—the fam’ly
pedi n must an‘ shall be presarved.”
“ on don’t know what you speak on so light,”

1

“ Run by Joe Lovering, eh i”

“ As nigh as we kin find, Lovering an’ a few
more 0’ the cr0wd at Dan City is layin’ a game
on the bulk 0’ the poperlation. Blessed few on
’em thar know 0’ this place at all, an’ Levering,
Hurlforth, an’ them that are in the secret are
gittin’ all the gold.”

“ I must so. that fur a villain, Joe Lovering
is a good ’un! ’ Yank declared. “ He’s got as in-
nercent a face as a baby, unless ye look sharp
an’ read deep, an’ he looks too dandyish and
womanish fur any good in this world, but that
head 0’ his is 9. Ion ’uu, by hurley !”

“ An’ his heart t at 0’ a tiger!”

“ Whar has he collected all his pris’nersi”

“ Wherever he could find us.”

“ Any women hyar?”

“ Yes—seven.”

“ Is thar a young gal named Levis Dahl-
gren i”

H No.”

“ Are you sure!”

“ Yes.

3 moodin replied Partridge.

f “ No; but I’m hyar ur p’ints. So this is a
! mine?”

I H Yes.”

|

“ We come in thinkin' she might be hyar.”

“She is not; I am positive of it. Dahlgren!
Strikes me I’ve heard that name; yes, thar was
each a fam’ly in Tobe Moss’s train. ,

Yank recognised the name of the old border-
man who had been the guide of the ill-fated

train of which he had ahead heard so much.
“ Tobe Moss! Is he hyar?’
“ Yes.” ‘

“ Wal, I know now what’s become 0’ them I”
the mountaineer observed. " Nobody hyar
named Ralph Severn, is thari”

(I No.”

“ I thought not.”

Yank spoke in a melancholgevoice, for the in-
terest he had taken in oung vern at the hotel
had never ceased. e was reluctant to believe
him dead, yet such seemed to be the only reason-
able decision. For A moment the mountaineer
was silent; then he suddenly aroused.

" Ter business, Partridge, ter business!” he
exclaimed. “ I consait ’tis time fur a ' ’ral
upheaval ’round hyar. You say ye hev irty-
two men hyar as ris’ners. Now of them men
was armed, an’ .s ould revolt, the ’d make
thin egregious lively, wouldn’t they

“ as, but We ain’t got a weapon.’

“ S’ I git ’em for you!"

“ you forgit you are now inside the cave,

“ I don’t forgit that I'm in’ ter it out!”
terted Nevermiss, uicklygo “ Wli‘y, mural-
could lead the hull ot on ye right out now; at
least, the guild on ye near b ; but that ain’t
prudent. he result would ou’d all be let
oose without a weapon an’ the lganites fall on
ye an’ massacree the hu 1 outfit, I consait. No,
we must go slow an’ careful. I know a place in
Dan City whar arms an’ ammunition is stored,
nu’ I hev the men ter git them. We will git
them; we’ll arm you pris’ners up; an’ then thar
will be a moat atrocious commotion in this hyar
no? o’ky'iiemi£;d

an stro his beard laeidl and seemed
to feel all the confidence imgginabl’d.

“ God bless you fur the promise!” exclaimed
Partridge, in a tremulous voice. “ I only hope
that on kin do it.”

“ 'e're goin’ ter try hard. An’ now, as I
Corlilsmt ltt anit {£01133 fur us ter stay hyar, we
Wi go on . ln’ r an wa fur us Yer pass
that ar'tll‘lonseenl” y y

‘ 0. mr is onl one passa ..”

“ I don’t like ter sat enter himfiean’ knock him
over, i'ur that would betray our hull game.
853w thar was a commotion ’mongst you
p hers—would he come ter see what was up,
or not?”

Partridge meditatod.

“ I reckon he would,” he finally replied.

 

 

fl ‘LThen you an’ one o' yer frien’s must hev a

t.’
gPartri ’s pale face flushed with hope.

“ It s i be done,” he declared.

“My comrades an’ I will hide as nigh the
guard as we kin go au’ when he comes ter see
what the fight is about, we’ll slip past and git
out 0’ this egregious hole on the run. See?”

Partridge did see, and after some further con—
versation—a part of which was to the eflect
that rescue might be expected about thirty-six
hours later——th(e}y;> (prepared for the t at-
tempt. Yank, l Gauntlet and Trail-Lifter
crept as close to the guard as was safe, and
then crouched down in a little niche to await
the result.

Presently there was a noise from the prison-
ers as of contention—angry words, threats and
the like—and then an increased commotion, as
ghough the men had become engaged in a.

ht.

he guard at first paid no attention, but as
the n01se increased, he muttered a fewangry
words and stalked away.

He soon reached the point of rock, turned it,
and saw two men apparently engaged in a bit-
ter fi ht.

“ ere! let up on that!” he cried. “ N03551:-
ing here. Break away, or 'I’ll put a t
through you!”

The men “broke away” with fear that was

not all assumed; they knew that the guard would ‘

shoot them if he took the notion.

“ Now, then what‘s the row?” he added.

“ Briggs called me a liar,” explained Par-
tridge, humbly.

“ And you took it up?"

it Yes.

“ Probably Briggs told the truth, but I don’t
care a picayune either way. Your ht can
end right now. If you go at it again, I shoot.
you both. Hear?”

“ Yes ” said Partridge, soberly.

“ An you, Briggs?”

u Yul

“ See that you remember it.”

The guard returned to his post, and the slaves
of the mine listened With pa uful attention for
at least a minute. Not an unusual sound reach—
ed their ears, and then Partridge and Briggs
shook hands.

“ Thank Heaven I” said the former, “ Yank

an’ his friends hev t clear!”
He spoke the tru ; the adventurers had pam-
ed theguard. and were at that moment in the

d eon where Morgan Severn had passed his
wiggry da When they left this the partially
blocked t e hole in the wall where he d drilled
his way out. and then went on to the hut.‘

Bronx, ' and Severn were anxiously
awaiting them.

There was now much in the case that was en.
con ' . Bronx and Gold Gauntlet agreed
with ank that they could probably secure.
arms and ammunition to suplpgy the prisoners
of the mine, and if this could done, the com~
bmeéforces would be a party not .to be de-
spi-

They were in number exactly forty men and
of these all except Severn were able to dobud
fighting if such a course me neoemary.

ank had noticed that a cloud had rested on
Bronx Hendershot’s face from the time they
announced that there was no news of Levis,
and the mountaineer hastened to return to the
s“Hj'I‘ch: great tion is ” h beerved,
- nes now , e o

“ whar is the missin' little woman?”

“I can only behave that she has been returned
to Joseph Love ‘ ’3 house, the place from which
we before rescued er.”

“I consait you’re right, lad; but of you be,
we won’t hev so easy a time gettin’ her 
Joe will take better care 0’ his stolen jewel.

“ Gentlemen,” quoth Phineas French, “I
have an idee.”

“ Le’s hear it, mister.”

“ In the rosecution o’ my 1 than basins.
o’ peddlin my onrivaled to: et articles, the
Elysian Eyebright Optic-Bath, the Circast-
Orient Hair Tonic, an’ other articles." laborious-
ly began the New Englander, “ I hev often
found it tew my advantage tew use diplomacy,
an’ the pleasantest part 0’ diplomacy is tew
mash the servantrgals so they will help me
cheat their mistresses. Wal. among my mashes
in Dan City is a servant at that house 0’ Lover.
ing's where he keeps his wines, an’ I’m certain
she will tell me all she knows about the matter.
Ef the Dahl
know it, an’ e’ll‘tell me, tew."

“ Mister, you‘re a brick!” declared Yank,
shaking French’s hand. “You’re jest the man
we want, an’ ef you kin learn what ye say it’ll

do us an egregious hea o’ goo .

“ I’ll go ' t off. It’s about eight o’clock,
an’ Susie wi he threw with her day’s labors.”

Phineas arose. and after a few directions
from Yank, went out into the darkness.

It was two hours later when he retu and
hob htthenews that Loviswasnot in -
ering’s Theaervant girl had been pod-—

tinonthisgoint. :
“That p' t is settled,” Yank though

"an‘Iamnowo’the

Levering's other house—his sin a house.”

girl is there, my Susie will ii 

 

 

 

 

‘ He was

 

28

CHAPTER XXXVI.
JOSEPH PLAYS THE VIOLIN.

Aim-man day had dawned.

Jose h Levering was passing slowly through
the vii age. He had just come from the house
which was most properly to be considered his
home and was on his way to that over which
Isabel presided.

He was not in a happy frame of mind, for
there were dark clouds on the horizon which
threatened to break forth into a storm and over.
whelm him. Hui'lforth had returned from his
last expedition and brought Lovis Dahlgren,
but. after all, his mission had iren a failure.

Inza had escaped, and so had Yank Yellow—
bird and his friends. The last fact was start-
ling. These men would in all probability carry
news of Dan City and its mcthods to laces not
in sym th With Dan City, and or a long
time it ad Keen J oscph’s haunting fear that he
would be exposed.

This fear at last bade fair to be realized.

Yank Yellovaird was a man to be feared bly
such as he, and he knew it very well. I e
dreaded to think what Yank might do, yet he
could not help dwelling persistently upon the
.sub ect.

e was nervous, excited and alarmed.

Moreover, he blamed Hurlforth. He felt that
the dark-faced marshal had too readily given
up the pursuit, and that his slip might be the
ruin of all.

An unhappy man was Josoph Lovering, and
he was oing to Isabel, to be cheered by the
sight of er noble, womanly face. She was the
one bright spot in his life, and he realized it,
but he could not, or would not, kec within the
light. Crime and he were old friends, yet he
wenttothe had rather because he was weak
than tecause he was brutal. Good and bad
Were strangely mixed in his nature, but the
gOod was choked and crushed almost out of
si ht by the rank weeds of sin.

‘nterin the house he was informed by a scr-,
vant that sabcl wished to see him in the parlor.
He entered.

“Good-mornin , Isabel,” he said, in a tone
kinder than usua .

“Good-morning, Joseph. Sit down; I want
to talk with you.’

She he very quietly, too quietly to please
him. here was something unnatural in her
voice and manner, and his gaze sought her face
in an eagerly uestioning way.

“ Do on? am glad," he managed to say.

“Wa t a moment before you say that,” she
gravel answered.

“ W at do on mean?”

“ Joseph, w 0 have you put in the cast room?”

.His face flushed, and a startled expression
appeared in his eyes. His gaze fell, and though
he tried to speak, no words passed his lips.

“Some one is there, and you have stationed
Jackson Berry at the door as aguard. You
thought, perha , that as that rtion of the
house was but ' ittle used, I shou d not discover
that the room was occupied. I have discovered
it; I have questioned Jackson.”

“ 'What—what did hesa T’stammered Joseph.

“What did he say? Vhat do you suppoaei
at there by you, and given distinct
orders. 0 says that he does not know who is
inside; that you have the key of the room; and
that he can give me no information.”

Joseph moved uneasily. Isabel looked at him
unwawringly, but though there was much of
indignation in her gaze, it was more one of sad-

nets.

“ You know,” she added “ that before I would
consent to come to Dan ity you promised me
a separate house where I should be entirely
agrt from-4mm your family. You know
t t I was, and am, stronglly o to the

pic here and the principeso Mormonism.

9 need not argue the question of who is ri'rht

, -or wrong—let it sufiice that l was op to

Mormonism, and only usented to come here

. when you promised that I should not be brought

into association with any of the followers of
our new faith. Now, what of the person in
‘ helocked room?"
Joseph had gr m'n sulk y while she spoke.
“ If you think it it one of my wives, you are
mistaken,” he pcevishly replied.
“Then who is it?"
He did not reply.
“A womani'
it Yes.”
“ A woman—and in a locked room. Am I to
understand by that that she is a prisoner?”
Again he moved uneasily. This close ques-
tioning had forced him into a corner, as it were.

i and however he might answer he would still be

in trouble.
He determined to tell the truth.
“ She is a prisoner,” he admitted.
“A prisoner, and in my house. Ohl Joseph,
.I did not think this of you i”
Tears came into her eyes, and Jose h’s brows
contracted into a savage scowl. I e was as
{much ashamed as angry, but the latter feelqu
is

‘ ~ was strengthened hya disposition to brave

th 1:. and he revealed only the worst side of
re. ‘
0‘
“ gall takgz’ her away," he growled.

 

 

Gold Gauntlet. M

I“ Eerhaps to my house—perhaps somewhere
e se.

“ You don’t sa that you will set her- free.”

“I don’t inten to set her free!”

“ Who is she, and how was she unfortunate
enou h to meet you?”

“ You are too inquisitive—and too sarcastic,”
Jose h irritany replied. “ We Will let the mat-
ter mp.”

“ Do you insist upon keeping her against her
will?”

“ Since you must knew—yes.”

Isabel rose. Her face was pale, and she press-
ed one hand over her heart as though in pain.

“ Then I shall lcave Dan City—and you.”

“ But I told you I would take her away from

 

this house,” he remonstrnted.

“ That is not enough: I cannot consent to re-
main with a brother who would stoop so low as
to do as you say you will. My heart bleeds for
that poor girl, Joseph! I do not know who she
is, but she is a sistcr woman—and you are my
brother! Joseph, is this in keeping with the
lessons of honor our dear mother taught us,
years ago?”

Isabel’s voice was tremulous with feeling, and
her eyes dimmed with tears, but she did not
touch Joseph’s heart asshe wished. Pale with l
anger, he arose and stood beside her.

“ You have said enou hi” he answered, ina
cold, hard, tense voice. ‘ I will hear no more.
I should be false to every instinct of my man-
hood if I allowed a sentimental girl to turn me
from a settled purpose. I will not hear you.
No, nol” he angrily cried, as she tried to speak,
“you shall not utter any more such nonsense;
you have said enough already. If you don’t

ike my way, you can leave Dan City as soon as
on, choose. or the present, leave this room!

0! ’

He pointed to the door as he spoke, and after
one long glance at his angry, implacable face,
she obeyed.

She went with tears flowing down h~r cheeks
and a sharp pain at her heart, et the fall oi
Joseph was not the fall of nni ol. Cruel asa
bo and vicious asa man, she had known him
bc ore only too well.

Try as she might in the past she had never
been able to give him lplaco in her sisteriy af-
fections as a herouthe ast revelation had only
been new proof of his depravity.

It was overwhelming, however, and from
that moment she nnvcr wavered in her determi-
nation to leave him and Dan City.

The door had harcly closed behind her when
the piano began to send forth wild, fierce
music. He had sat down to it and was pla 'ng
viciously. An ordinary musician would ave
made a discordant jumble in such a mood, but
not he: his playing, savage as it was, was
strangely attractive, in a weird sense.

“' It reminds me of Byron’s Manfred, some-
how,” thought a man who had paused at the
outer door with his hand upon the bell.

This man was Gold Gauntlet.

He rung the bell; a ster admitted him;
and he was ushered into Josep s presence. The
latter’s face was flushed, and he arose to receive
his visitor with an cf’fusivencss in keeping with
his excited mood.

“ My dear fellow, is it you?” he cried. “ I
am delighted to see you—you and your violin.
Drop our hat somewhere and get out the
viol n; I am just in a mood or playing, and we
will make the echoes ring. The devil is reign-
ing in my mind, to-day, and we'll fit our music
to the occasion. ’

There was a strange glitter in the Gladiator’s
eyes, but Joseph did not see it. He had re-
turned to the piano and was rattling of! some
wild tune.

“ I’m afraid you will have to count me out to-
day,” Gold Gauntlet answered; “ I had 41 fall
last night and sprained m wrist. and I can
scarcely wield a bow now. brought over the
violin,to see if you wouldn’t officiate at it for
once.’

“ Of course I will,” Joseph airily replied.
“ Pass it over. What shall I play? Music is
all very well, but there isn’t enough diablerie
in it for men of brain and muscle."

Despite this assertion, he began to la the
violin in the same fierce way that he ha p eyed
the piano. yet in the harmony of style soniuch a
part of his nature. -

He finished one time, and then, with only a
brief pause, glided into a second-mished into
it, more appropriately. It was :1 strange, weird
tune, which but few persons could have named,
but upon Gold Gauntlet it seemed to have a
strange influence.

At the beginning he had started. and then
became very quiet but it was well that he sat
where Joseph couid not see his face. He was
eagerly drinking in every sound, and his face
bore an expression which would have starth
the player had he Seen it.

If ever face expressed enmity, the Gladiator‘s
did at that moment.

Quiet as he was he was far from calm, and
his hands nervously closed and unclosed as he
listened. '

It was music to affect any one strangelybyf;

 

there was more tha'iigrdinary interest in
Gauntlet’s manner; t tune had ameaning to

.1 .
i, .

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w 'W '1. 3. 1‘ xii/Z v, mi".- ' t-i‘

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‘“ . 79,431: his "i ' .‘i‘ v V '

him which it would not have had. to any other
person.

He was struggling to be calm, for he did not
want to have Joseph see his agitation, but it
was no easy task.

He had spent mone . time and patience for
the sake of hearing t at tune played, and he
heard it at last!

CHAPTER XXXVII.
THE REVOLT.

THE door-bell rung, and in a few minutesa.
servant appeared and said Hurlforth had sent
word that he wished to see Levering at the.
marshal’s office. No ('iew to the business cm
band was conveyed, but Joseph was not reluc-~
tant to obey the summons.

He did, however, request Gold Gauntlet to
wait until he returned. With the tenaci with
which men will hope in the darkest hour, e now
hoped that Hurlforth had some good news to
communicate. Perhaps Yank Yellowbird. had
been captured.

If such was the case, he could return and
make merry with the Gladiator, anon, with some
interest.

Gold Gauntlet agreed to this arrangement very

uietlv, yet he was by no means sure that he
ghould await Joseph‘s return. He was ina mood
where he felt the need of meditation before he
made any action. As few words as had passed
between him and Joseph, he had made a dis-
covery Since he came.

Lovering went awa , but the Gladiator was
not long left to hiirscl . There was a knock at
the door and Isabel entered.

She had grown c-ilmor, but be detected signs
of agitation cvcn then. She greeted him
mechanically, and then abruptly said:

“ You are left alone, I see.

“ Yes; Joseph has just been called away.“

“ I have news for you, Mr. Jenkins.”

“ I shall be pleased to hear.” he replied, making
an effort to speak in the old manner.

“ I dare sa you will," Isabel significantly
answered. “ am going to leave Dan City.”

Gold Gauntlet started and looked at her
blankly.

“ Leave here!” he exclaimed.

“Yes.”

1

“Are you in earnest?”
H m H

“ May I ask the cause of this sudden step?”

“One reason is that I don’t like Dan City. I
leave here this afternoon, never to return i”

Her manner was very quiet n0w, but he knew
that no ordinary reasons were actuating hcr.
The da before she had said nothing about
leaving an City. u

“ I am great] puzzled to understand this,
Miss Lovering,” e admitted.

“ It is not worth Ipuzzling over; simply accept
the statement as have made it, and let the
matter rest as it is. It is of no consequence. I
knew you were alone now, and as we have said
a good many light things in our brief acquaint-
ance, I came to let you now that Dan City will
soon know me no more. I shall. however, re-
member that it was I who fixed upon you a
name which bids fair to remain with you a while
—that of Jerry Jenkins.”

Her manner had grown a trifle less grave, and
the last words were spoken with a very apparent
effort at bantering lightness. She dropped it,
however, and more slowly added:

“ I must ask you to excuse me now, It r I
have yet to make my preparations for dcrart-
are. but I thought be we were such old
friends—we played the comedy well. didn‘t we,
‘ Mr. J enkinsi'—-I ought to say good-by to you.
So. now, old friend, look your last on me l"

Again the assumption of gayety. which did
not seem very successful, but Gold Gauntlet
quickly arose again as she made one step back-
ward toward the door. -

“ Wait, Miss Lovaring!” he exclaimed; “ on
are not allowing mea chance to sayaw rd.
Pm, what have I done that you talk of saying
g ~hy forever to me?”

“ You have done nothing that I can in the
leastTobjéct to, but—have we not been playing a
part

“ Yes; and why shouldn’t we continue it?"

“ What do you mean?”

“You say that you are going to leave Dan
City. 80 am I. Why should we say farewell
forcvi’r'i”

“ i thought that you were very much inter-
ested in Dan City.”

“ Then you thought wrong. Like you, I shall
soon leave here, and when I go I should like to,
feel that I have made one friend worth keeping,
and kind enough to allow me to be her friend—
yourself."

“ 1 am going East,” suggested Isabel, hesi-
tatinzly.”

i‘ So am I.” avovw’d the Gladiator.

She looked at him and smiled in a half-
amused, half-sad way.

“Come,” he added, “may I continue to be
your friend?” '

“If you wish."

He saw the increase of color in her cheeks
with pleasure, and was astute enough to under-
stand what it meant. He had a certain "

  

 

 

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’29

 

over her and was glad of it. Just then he did
not remember that he had said in the past that
in order to be avenged upon Joseph, he mu
break Isabel's heart.

He took her hand and thanked her gravely.

“As a special favor to me I would like to
have you postpone your departure from Dan
City twenty-four houis,” he said presently.

“ I was just thinkin of it, and on the wholeI
don't know but I will u it."

“ Do so, by all means. And now may I ask
one question?” _

“ rtainly: but as to the answer—we W11]

1?

sec.

She smiled faintlyas she spoke; the shadow of
Dan City life was upon her, and she was afraid
to hear the question.

" Miss Levering," Gold Gauntlet gravely con-
tinued, “ is there a young lady hold prisoner in
this house?”

It was a. risky question, but he had decided to
dare it. Isabel started, and a startled expres-
sion appeared on her face.

“ \V by do you ask that!” she returned.

“ Not from any idle motive, believe me. If
there is such a young lady—the one I have in
mind is a total stranger to me—she is certainly
unfortunate, and deserving of the sympathy of
a sister woman. I do not believe that one as
noble as you will withhold such sympathy.”

“ I am afrairl you are flattering me with an ob-
ject,” Isabel answered, “ but I am [going to 
promptly to your question: I am oatin w .
the current, and have reached a point w ere it
don’t matter much what I say. I will not be a
part to any crime, if Jose h isnt the bottom of
it. There is such a girl he (1 prisoner here i”

The day had passed; midnight had come.

There was no thought of sleep among the
slavesof the mine; they were too nervous and
excited to sleep, when the next few hours might
settle their fate one way or another.

Yank Yellowbird had aesured them that on
this ni ht he would come to their rescue, and
those w o knew the mountaineer placed more
faith in that promise than they would had any
other man made it. Yet the cooler-headed of
the party could not but admit that the chances
seemed overwhelmingly against them.

They had made a pmtonse of oing to sleep as
usual, and then Partridge and obc Moss lay
down where they could see the guard, and be-
gan a painful watch.

Hour after hour they kept their gaze upon the

slowly-pacing guard.
Mi n ght arrived.

The two iron had exchan a few words, and
thus diverted their re, at as they looked
back the made a iscovery. The ard was
not visib e. What had become of him! Had
he left his post without leave, as he did when the
visitors came?

While they looked a man came in sight, carry-
ing a lon rifle over his shoulder, but it was not
the  Partrid e and Moss shook hands
with joy too great to ex ressed in words—the
man was Yank Yellowbi . '

After him came Trail-Lifter, Bronx Hender-
shot and Gold Gauntlet.

Partridge and Moss hastened to greet the res—

cuers.

“ Hallo!” saluted the mountaineer, in his
usual genial way. “So you’re hyar, be yet
We was eg 'ous afeerd we‘d find ye away
from home, an it would hev been vexatious tor
me, arter comin’ through the atrocious damp
passages with a ragin’ newrolgy which makes
my teeth rattle like marbles in a bag."

“ Yank Yellowbirgl, I was never so glad for
see any man aforel” declared Moss. “I’ve
heard 0’ you an’ yer imaginary neuralgia, an’ I
must say you’re a brick."

-‘ I 5’ 9 mean wal, mister, an’ we’ll let it
ass, but on’t cast any mud an’ sich on the
geilowbird pzdigreen by insinuatin' that my

newrolgy is suthin’ else. I know an epidemic or
a triberlation by name at sight, though I
knowod a doctor once who al’ays determined
what his patients was a’flicted with by writin’
the names 0’ eighteen or twenty diseases on slips
0’ paper, puttin’ ’em in a bat an’ drawin’ one at
random. Ef be drawed a slip that said ‘ room-
tiz ’ he doetored the patient fur roomatiz, even
of e‘s down with a ragin’ fever; an' ef the
per said ‘ dropsy,’ he doctored fur dropsy, ef the
man was lean as a rail.”

Nevermiss paused for a moment, and then,
pointing his longK finger at Moss, gravely added:

“ Ef you thin that doctor was weak-minded
you’re (“magically mistook. fur he could make

that was amazin’ ter see' an' it ree’l
made his patients sicker’n ever. But this ain
nig- it”he p‘int. Everything easy an’ quiet in-
s e

“ Yas. What about the us!”

“ We’ve got ’em; we "rm the Danitoa’
arsenal, an’ we kin now arm yer ’hull crowd.
Git ’em tel-gather, an’ we’ll make a horstile
army outer ’em in short order.”

The p of the mine were ready for their
Maud as soon upoaiblothearmsandam-
munlflon were brought into the. cave and pro-

'"‘I’lgen all was ready for
v Of

work.
ooursetheymlghthaveleftthemine

 

 

secretly, b the way the rescuers had come in,
but this id not suit the temper of the slavrs.
They had been held there a long time: they had
been made to labor hard every day to dig gold
for their captors; their immediate masters had
been iiihuuianly brutal. and some of the prison-
ers had been shot down without just prowica-
tion: and now that the tables were turned their
first thought was of getting square with such of
the Danites as were in the mine.

Yank did not offer any objections, and the
slaves collected at the roper point and swept
upon their enemies. A ert guards prevented a
total surprise; the foe sprung to arms to meet
them; and for a short time a fierce and sanguin-
ary struggle went on. When it was over the
late slaves were masters of the mine, and some
of the Danitos would never see the dawn of an-
other day. Smarting under the memory of
their wrongs, the rebels had struck hard.

A search of the cave was then made; a work
in which Yank and Bronx eagerly took part.

What they had hoped for, but hard y dared
ex ect, came to pass.

11 a part of the cave to which only the Dan-
itos had before had access they came upon a
man who lay upon a sick bed, delirious with
fever. Even when they arrived he took no
notice of them, but continued to mutter in a
broken disturbed way.

The man was Ralph Severn.

It was a welcome discovery, but'he was then
in a precarious state. The fever had reached a
point where it would soon chan e for better or
worse, and no one could say whic way it would

urn.

While they were standing b his side Trail-
Lifter entered the recess With ong, li ht sto
He called Yank’s attention, and then b nim le
fingers began to cross and recroes each other in
the old way, as he conveyed some message to
the mountaineer.

“ Land 0’ Goshenl” Nevermiss then exclaimed
“ thar is work fur us tor do som’ers else. Still
Tongue says thar is fightin' in the village; that
Hurlforth has led a rebellion ag’in' Joe Lover-
ing, an’ they're a-slashin’ like hurley. Men, we
want a hand in that—follow me!”

 

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
run sun or cams.

Honnroarn was master of Dan City. Se-
cretly and craftin he had worked up the rebel-
lion agaihst Joseph Lovering, and when he
struck the blow was resistless. A little handful
of men‘stoodrlg Joseph, but a merciless volley
from Hurlfo ’s men had finally prostratod
nearly all.

The fi hting was over and the marshal was
looking or Joseph, whom he had seen fall, but
a new diversion occurred.

Down upon the  swept the ex-slaves of
the mine, with Yan ellowhird Gold Gauntr
let and Bronx at their head. urlforth was
not the man to yield a point' he ordered his
followers to stun firm, and they it was who
fired the first volley.

Dan City had never seen another night as
wild as that, and for a few minutes the Women
trembled in their several places of hiding as the
report of rifles was mixed with the shouts and
cheers of fighting men. Then all that died
away and a silence fell upon the town which
was the more impressivo because few of the
non-combatants knew who had won.

Victory was not with the Danitcs; they had
been routed as completely as they had routed
the followers of Joseph, and the fate of the two
leaders was strikingly alike and tragicaL Hurl-
forth had been shot dead by Tobe Moss, and
Levering lay in front of his oWn house, so near
to death that they dared not move him.

In that hour Isabel forgot all except what
she and  h been to each other, and she
was by his si e, su porting his head and doing
all that she con to soothe his last moments.
He knew that he was dying, but there was a
firmness about his manner which was not
bravado and,.certainly, was not born of faith.

Then to his side came a man who folded his
arms and looked down at him in silence, until
J osefih caught his gaze and uttered a cry.
a; organ Severn !” gasped the fallen poten-

Isabel looked up with a start, and then it was
her turn to cry out.

“ M l” she exclaimed, and she put out
one ban the other bein clasped upon the dying
man’s. Ch! I am so gfad thatlyou have come.
See! Jomph is here!"

Severn smiled somewhat bitterly.

“ I know, Cousin Isabel,” he answered, “ but
if] you”will take my advice you will leave him

one.

“Leave him!” echoed the ' l reproachfu .
“ Ifenaveizny otwn brother!” gn- ’ fly

e no your brother 1" nick] lied
Severn. “When on cameWgst toy gphim
all our friends 0 acted, for he had a the
blac sheep of the amily. My brother, Ralph,
and I were your cousins, and your nearest rela-
tives; had we at home at the time I think
you would never have left, but our influence
was lost. hm wecame home we brought a
strange secret, but brought it too late to stop

 
 

 

{211. Joseph is not your brother; he is not a
vering at all. The old pers we examined
while away roved that e was a foundling,
adopted out o pity by your parents. Probably
this is news to him, but it can be proven.”

“ What difference does it make?“ Jose h ask-

ed, with an effort. “ I am dying, and don’t
care what blood is in my veins. at you Isabel
-you had better draw apart from me. I have

nothing mntimental to say, but I admit that I
have been unworthy of you. You don’t know
the story Mo Severn has to toll—it is little
fault of mine 1: t he is alive.”
“ We will not speak of it, Joseph,” replied
Severn, choking back his resentment against the
an

“ It makes no difierence to me,” Joseph re-
torted; “ I don‘t 'ask your forgiveness. Who
else is here who wants to accuse me?”

Gold Gauntlet, who stood near, took two hesi-
tating stops toward the dyin man, but paused
before his movements were 0 rved.

“Your brother, Ralph, is alive,” continued
Joseph, “ though he has to thank good luck for
it. Comin here to hunt you up, Mor and
to see Isabe , of course, he fell sick at the hotel.
My men abducted him, and in his feverish delir-
ium he stabbed one so severely that be nearly
died from it. I was in a mood more merciful
than usual, or I should have had him put out of
the way. By the way, Morgan, do you know
what became of the two servants who started to
Dan Ci with you?"

“ No. never saw them after your men seized
me. and took me to the mine.”

“ One of the servants is dead; the other lives,
half-crazy, and calls himself Scalping-Knife.
My man tried to seize both, but they escaped,
though one was mortally wounded. This man
died in the mountains. Be wished to leave a
statement of his trouble and yours, and, lack-
ing paper and ncil, actually began to print
m story a; n smootrlii face of bzl cliff with

arti pigments o ginall' y onging to
you, Morgan, but he fell dead before he had
done more than the first half-dozen words:

“‘Scalping-Knife' could not read or wri
but knowing what his fellow servant ha
wished to tell, he started to reveal the facts, as
best he oouldilpy means of pictures.

“He was f insane with fear at the time,

and his picture was vague. Rememberin that
at the time my men lassoed and capt you,
you were upon your knees and loo ing at the-

silver anchor which you carried as a curiosity,
he pictured the scene as well as he could, but,
being overcome b his fears before it was done,
he ran away and eft it unfinished.”

Isabel glanced at Gold Gauntlet. The silver
anchor, lost in the bills by the Danite who stole-
it from Severn, had been found by the Gladi~
ator, and she had seen it in his 'on.

A shiver on Joseph’s part brought her-gala
back to him. 1 n b

‘ t is near y over! e gasped.

“ Joseph,” she whispered, “ Lovis Dahlgren
has been released from our house by her friends.
Shall I ask her to forgive you?”

“ No,” he muttered “ I wan’t nobod 's for-
givoness. What will sentimentality do
now? I’ve got to go, and I’ll stand by the life
I’ve lived. It’s been a dark life, and t road
ahead is fittingly dark. I don’t know wh re the
road!” leads to, but I’ve got—to—go-that—
way
rogegave a slight start, and was on on the

Pfgrgan Severn mfihgglcpmb; said

‘ ome. my 1' v-

“and do not P?& Remember that 

g2: y’our brot er, and remember what he has.
n

Yank Yellowbird and Bronx Hendershot.

“ To you two men,” he said, “ I will briefly
tell a story which I have declded to relate to no;
one else. I came West to hunt Joseph Levering
down, Once I had a dear friend who was very
mar in worldly possessions but rich in musics?

eat. I was a sailor. and I came home from a
voyage to find my friend murdered. had
made the. acquaintance of anotherfine m ‘

As he led her away Gold Gauntlet turned tor ' .

they had been much together, and, buyinga lot: '

ter ' ticket, had together drawna rich rise; but
to ve all the money, the unknown mur-
dered my friend.

“ Such was the news I heard when I came
home. My friend was murdered; the alaliln
wafityunknown. ITneeolved tollearn who the

man was. 0 make a ong short,
I’ll say that the matter finally remind!

into this: If I could finda man who playcdono ,  "

the

certain tune—composed
tune -

by himself—
violin, I would have the

ilty man.

was taught me by one w o, lodging in the next /

room, heard the tune played, and had heard
myfriendspeak ofit. Asitwasthemurderer’s
own work, and not published, it was not likely
any but he would play it.

Investigation satisfied me that J Lover-
ing wastheman,but Iliad no rimming .

thathehadaverycriticalmusical
playtheviolinwell,andtben,
an Moameheneto wait forJ
tbatone time. He played it
know hewasthe murderer. 0

     

and

y - .
eciufletiiiswasi

to pin  l‘

   
  

'30

Cicflri’CiituuitLet.

5"

 

not irrefragable proof in law, but it satisfied me;
it was enough.

“Death overtook him before I could strike,
but, for various reasons, I am very well sa
fled, indeed, with the course aflairs have
taken.”

He lanced toward Isabel as he spoke.

“E you’re satisfied I be, by hurley,” Yank
replied, genially. “ This has b’en ruther a sav-
agerous night, but I consait only the atrocious
insex 0’ the case hev be’n hurt. Loverin an’
Hurlforth are dead, an’ thar won’t be mac 0‘ a
crowd o’ Danites left. The late slaves o’ the
mine will very properly take ssion o’ the
gold the dug. ’m afeerd, though, that I’ll lose
my frien’ Bronx. See how he's one over
fer console Lovis, an’ how her eyes brig ten up.
Young le naturally gravitate toward each
other: it’s e'n so ever since Adam Yellowblrd
married Eve Smith an’ settled down at Eden.
TheYellowbird pedigreen shows ane regiouslot
0’ sech cases, but I’ve escaped so 1'. Trail-
Lifter an' I sorter tread a d by ourselves.”

Yank and the oung ndian looked at each
other with very friendly eyes, Trail-Lifter made
a gesture. and then Nevermiss added:

“ To be sure, Modoc: to he sure. Yas when
thar is any honist folkses ter be protected from
atrocious insex we ginerally manage ter be
around—we do, by hurleyi”

/

 

What changes have the )assing years made!
It will be suspected that sabel married Gold
Gauntlet, and that Lovis became Mrs. Bronx
Hendershot, but it is well to add that Morgan
v Severn, when fully recovered, plreVailed upon
'v‘ , Inza to become his wife, and Ralp , also recover-
 ' ing, madela matrimonial bargain that pleased

. Wt 7' .

. B this it Will be seen that there was a good
{we dea of “ma ing and giving in marriage,”
1" but in each an every case happiness has fol-

 , 109786..
7‘ Erik Dahlgren is with his da hters in Wis-
consin. He learned that Hur forth was an'

, Eastern fugitive from justice whom he ought to
’1‘ have recognized; and this was why the emigrant
i: train was attacked. Hurltorth dared not see
f‘é.» Dahl n settle bly at Dan City.

S~ cping-Kai O has recovered his wits to a
great ee, but will never be what he was be-
ore his ri ht in the Utah hills.
rench has returned to Massachusetts
.- » and lives in a degree of luxury on the roiits of
l ,. . his “ unrivaled toilet articles,” but ough he
I, goodly exhibits to his friends what purport to
 ' letters of recommendation from the ladies of
3.". Utah relative to the Elysian Eyebright 0 ic-
g‘ ' . Bath, and other articles, it is doubtful ' he
i: _ would care to meet the alleged writers. ‘

.‘ ' Bronx mana to hear from Yank Yellow-
'1 bird occasions. y, and it is a pleasure to him to
I ‘ know that the mountaineer and Trail-Lifter
continued to be the friends of the ‘worthy and

0P

he singular ir parted with their friends of
this history wit regret, but to Yank and the
  young Modoc there was no other place equal to
v. "V the Wild, free West.

THE END.

3 > y, Phineas

 

 

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97 THE OUTLAw Bao'rnns. By J. J. Marshall... be 229 01111302! KA-rx. By 1. Prentiss In m, be
98 ROBIN HOOD. By Prof. Stewart Gildersleeve... be 230 THE YANKEE RAJAH. B C. D. Clar . . . . . . . .. 5c
99 Ten Tiesa or TAos. By George W. Browne... be 291 PLUCEY PHIL. By 'I‘. C. arbaugh . . . . . . . . . .. be
100 DEADwOOD DICE IN LEADVILLE. B Wheeler. be 232 GOLD-DUST DICE. By E. L. Wheeler.. ..  be
101 JACK HARKAWAY IN New Year. y Brace- 283 Jon Book or ANGELS. By Albert W. Aiken. 5c
bridgeHemfing...“   ..  be 234 BENITO. THE YOUNG HORSE-BREAKER. By
1012 DICE DEAD- YE. B Col. Prentiss In aham.. 5c Buckskin Sam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .
103 Tar. LION or THE EA. By Col. Del e Sara .. 5c 2'35 SHADOW SAM. TEE MEssENOEa BOY. By
104 DEADwoon DICE’s DEVICE. Bar Ed.L. Wheeler. 5c Charles Morris.. .. . .. . . . . . . . . .. be
105 OLD RUEE.TaE HUNTER. B apt. H. Holmes . be 236 APOLLO BILL. By Edward LWheeler... .. . 5c
106 OLD Fnos-rr. THE GUIDE. y T. C. Harhaugh.. be 237 LONE STAR, THE COWBOY CAPTAIN. By 00].
107 ONE-EYED Sin. By J. L. Bowen . . . . . . . . . .  5c Prentiss Ingraham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. be
108 DaaINO DAvY. By Harry 8t. Geo e. . . ..  5c 288 THE PAEaON DETECTIVE. B on Coomes .. 5c
109 DEADwoon DICK as DETECTIVE. Wheeler be 289 Tim GOLD-Slum GUIDE. y Mayne Reid... be
110 THE BLACK STEED or TnE Paamins. y Bowen be 240 CYCLONE KIT. BV Edward L. Wheeler.. .. .. be
111 THE SEA-DEVIL. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.. be 241 BILL BRAVO AND the BEAR PARDB. By'l'. C
112 THE MAD HUNTEa. By Burton Saxe . . . . . . . .. 5c Harbaugh .. . . . .. . . . . . . .. be
113 JACK HOYLE. By Edward L. Wheeler.. . . . be 242 Tn: Two ‘BLOODs.’ By(harles Morris..  be
114 THE BLACE SCEOONER. Bvaodger Starbuck... be 243 TEE DIsOUIsED GUIDE. By 011 Coomes. . .. be
115 THE MAD Minna. By G. a] e Browne . . . . .. be 244 Sam SAN. THE FRONTIER FERRET. By Ed-
116 TEE Hussaa CAPTAIN. B Col. P. In aham. 5c ward L. Wheeler .. .   .. 5c
11? GILT-EDGED DICE. By ward L. W eeler... be 245 Luau, was: anY. B Prentiss Ingraham. be
118 WILLSOIERSmn-E BOY DETECTIVE. B Morris.. be 246 GIANT GEORGE. By Buc skin Sam ..  .. be
119 MusTANe SAM. By Joe. E. Badger, r . . . . . . . .. 5c 217 OLD GRIZZLY AND His PETs. ByCaDtain
120 THE BRANDED HAND. Byka Dumont..... “ Bruin “ Adams   .  ,.  be
121 CINNAMON Cmr. By Edward L. Wheeler...... 248 Sun“ BAn’s SECRET. By E. L. Wheeler . 5c
129 PHIL HARDY- T33 3038 BOY- By Ch”- MOfl'ch 249 MILO Relics. By Captain Fred. Whittaker... be
123 Kiowa CHARLEY. By T. C. Harbaugh . .  950 mpsmnuu Min-nuns. By 001. P.1ngraham. be
124 TIPPY. TEE THAN By George Giulio“ . - - - -- 251 LIGHT-HOUSE LIOE. Bv J. F. C. Adams ..... .. 50
125 BONANZA BILL. MINER. By E. L.Wheeier.. . .. 252 DICK Dun‘w‘y, By arles Morris . . . . . . .. 5c
:25 PICAYUNE PETE. By Charles Morris..“...  253 slum sAu’s PaaD. B E. L. Wheeler . . . . ..
127 WILD-FIRE. By Frank Dumont . . . . . . . .. 254 THE HALE BLOOD. By dward S. Ellis. .. ..

128 THE YOUNG PRIVATEEP By Harry Cavendish.
129 DEADwoon Dicx's DOUBLE. By E. L. Wheeler.
180 DETECTIVE DICE. By Charles Morris . . .
131 THE GOLDEN HAND. By George W. Browne.
132 THE HUNTED HUN-rim. By Edward S. Ellis...
133 Boss Bos. By Edward L. Wheeler
134 Suns-Saar Sm. B 011 Coomes . . . . . . . . . . . ..
185 CAPTAIN PAUL. By .D. Clark . . . . . . . . . . . ..
136 Nianr-Haws KIT. By Joe. E. Bad er, Jr... . ..
137 TEE HELPLIIB HAND. By Capt. a ne Reid.
188 BLOIIDI BILL. By Edward L. Whee er.......
139 JUDGE LYNCH, Ja. By T. C. Harbaugh... 
140 BLUE BnazEs. B Frank Dumont . . . . . . . . ..
141 80an SAN. By dward L. Wheeler . . . . . ..

149 HANDOOIIE HAEaY. By Charles Morris . . . . . ..
146 SCAN-FACE SAUL. By Oll Coomes. . . . . . . ..
144 DAINTY LANCE. TEE Ber Spear. B Badger.
14b CAMAIJI FEEEET. B EdwardLW eeler....
146 SILYEE Sraa. By 01 Coomes. .......  .... ..
147 WILL WILDmE. By Charles Morris. ........ ..
148 Snaar SAM. By J. Alexander Patten. .. .
149 A Gun: or GOLD. B Edward L. Wheeler...
150 LANCE AND Lasso. Capt. F. Whittaker.. ..
151 PANTnEa PAUL. B ose h E. Badger, Jr....
159 BLAOE Bass. By C arlen orrls . . . . . . . . . . ..
158 EAOLE KIT. THE BOY DEMON. Bini Coomes.
154 THE SwoaD-Husnas. B 'iapt. F. Whittaker
155 GOLD TIuOOEa. By T. . Hawaiian... ..
156 DIAme DICK or DEADwOOD. By Wheeler.
157 MIEE MnaaY. By Charles Morris. .. . . 
158 FANCY FaANE or COLORADO. B 308.30 Bill..
159 THE LosT CAPTAIN. By Fred. hittaker.....
160 Tan BLADE GIANT. By Joe. E. Badger. Jr...
161 N“ You NELL. By Edward L. Wheeler 
162 WILL WILDr'IaE IN THE Woons. By C. Morris.
168 IAI’I'I'LITBAB. BinlCoomea.  . ..
164 DANDY Bean's PIE-nos. ByGeo. W. Browne.
165 BILLY BAOOAOE, TIIE RAILaeAD BOY. Morris..

. . . . . . . .-

1 A‘ Tam Cane”
1% m. D“ "‘1‘." am a. George
EasOLT on. . 
Riv yBy Geo. W. Browne..
174 Ben ROCKET-r. By Charles Morris

1715 Camus AniEONA. By Philip 8. Warne: : I . I :1

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255 CAPTAIN APOLLO. By T. C. Harbaugh. .. .

958 SIERRA Sau's SEVEN.
259 THE GOLDEN HaarOON.
260 DARE-DEVIL DAN. By Oll comes . . . . . .. .
261 Famous FEANNAUOIIT. By George L. Aiken.
262 THE YOUNG SLEUTns. By Charles Morris. ..
266 DEADweon Dicx‘s DIVIDE. By E. L. Wheeler.
264 Tin: FLOATING FEATHER. By 001. Ingraham.
265 THE Tiara TANER. By Capt. F. Whittaker..
266 KILLE‘AN, THE GUIDE. By Ensign Charles
Dudley Warren (of the Engineer orps.).... .
267 THE BUCEsEIN ETECTIVE. By Harbaugh...
268 DEADwoon Dion's DEATH Tram. By Ed-
ward L. Wheeler . . . . . . . . .
$9 TEE GOLD SKIP. By Col. Prentiss In raham.
270 Buzzaan BEN. By Ca ain MarkW ton....
271 Tin: HUOE HL'IITIR. v Edward 8. Ellis..
272 MmasaiN MIEE. B Oil Coomes . . . . . . . . ..
273 June JOE. By ward L. Wheeler . . . . . . ..
274 JOLLY JnI. By Charles Morris .. .. 
275 Aaizon JACE. Buckskin 8am . ...... ..
116 {than MONTE's man. By Col. Prent
graham....... . . . . . . . . . . 
277 Danan DOLL. By Edward L. Wheeler... ..
278 TEE TERI! Taurus. By Maj. L W. Carson.
229 gm EINCB, TEE Rm: Inca. By '1'. C. Har-
M' ‘LEMoNTE‘s FATE. By Prentiss In ham
DENVEE DOLL’s VicroaY. B E. L. eeler.
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2S TEE SOALr KING. By Capt. J. . C. Adams. be
289 JOLLY Jin’s Jon. By Charles Morris .... .. be
290 LITTLI Foxma. By 011 Coomes . . . . . . . . .. be

A m an“ every film.

The l lf-Dllne Library h for sale by al
Newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by Ind!
on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE a ADA“.
Pilblilhol'l, as William street. New York.

 

 

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BEADLE’SrDIMEié IBRARY.

Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

1

 

BY WILLIAM R. EYS'I‘ER.
145 Pistol Pards; or, The Silent Sport from Cinnabar.
160 Soft Hand, Sharp; or, The Man with the Sand.
182 Hands Up; or, The Knights of the Canyon.
192 The Lightning Sport.
214 The Two Cool Sports; or, Gertie of the Gulch.
229 Captain Cutsieeve; or, The Little Sport.
968 Magic Mike, the Man of Frills.
300 A Sport in Spectacles; or, The Bad Time at
Bunco.
888 Derringer Dick, the Man with the Drop.
844 Double Shot Dave of the Left Hand.

856 Three Handsome Sports; or, The Double Com-
bination.

875 Royal George, the Three in One.

896 The Piper Detective.

402 Snapshot Sam; or. The Angels‘ Fiat Racket.
429 Hair Trigger Tom of Red Bend.

BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID.
8 The Headless Horseman; A Strange Story of
Texas.

12 The Death-Shot; or, Tracked to Death.

55 The Scalp Hunters. A Romance of the Plains.

66 The Specter Barque. A Tale of the Pacific.

74 Tiagaptaln of the Rifles; or, The Queen of the
cs

:00 The Rifle Bangers; or, Adventures in Mexico.-

” Tilie White Chief. A Romance of Northern Mex-
co.

918 The War Trail: or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse.

218 The Wild Huntress; or, The Squatter's Ven-
geance.

228 The Maroon. A Tale of Voodoo and Obeah.

284 The Hunter‘s Feast.

267 The White Squaw.

BY CAPT. FRED. WHITTAKEB.

89 The Russian Spy; or, The Starry Cross Brothers.
65 The Red Rajah; or, The Scourge of the Indies.
69 The Irish Captain. A Tale of Fontenoy.
96 Double Death; or. The Spy of Wyoming.
as The Rock Rider; or, The Spirit of the Sierra.
we The Duke of Diamonds.
115 The Severed Head; or. The Secret of Castle
Coucy.
182 Nemo, King of the Tramps.
159 Bed Rudiger, the Archer.
1-74 The Phantom Knights.
187 The Death’s Head Cuirassiers.
198 The Man in Red.
$6 One Eye, the Cannoneer.
5311 Colonel Plunger; or, The Unknown Sport.
215 Parson Jim, King of the Cowboys.
226 The Mad Hussars; or, The 0's and the Mac's.
980 The Flving Dutchman of 18m.
242 The Fog Devil; or, The Skipper of the Flash.
247 Alligator Ike; or, The Secret of the Everglade.
258 A Yankee Cossack; or,The Queen of the Nihilists.
265 Old Double-Sword; or, Pilots and Pirates.
278 Seth Slocum. Railroad Surveyor.
277 The Saucy Jane, Privateer.
$4 The Three Frigates; or. Old Ironsides' Revenge.
290 The Lost Corvette; or, Blakeley’s Last Cruise.
295 Old Cross-Eye, the Maverick-Hunter.
808 Top—Notch Tom, the Cowboy Outlaw.
810 The Marshal of Satanstown; or, The Catch.
Lifters' League.
am The Whitest Man in the Mines.
678 John Armstrong. Mechanic.
406 Old Pop Hicks, Showman.
419 Larry Locke. the Man of Iron.
445 Journeyman John. the Champion.

BY NEWTON M. CUBTISS.
no The Texan Spy; or. The Prairie Guide.
954 Giant Jake, the Patrol of the Mountain.

BY JACKSON RNOX—“ Old Hawk.”
ass 113w: IBier-on. till): Fatloon Detective.
484 w eron‘s pu .
444 The is Detective; {in The Hidden Hand.
65! Griploc , the Rocket Detective.
BY PERCY B. ST. JOHN.

il tFl .
aggiggnfiunutgr?or.TheQuesnofthsWoods.

 

BY CAPTAIN MARK WILTON.

176 Lady Jaguar. the Robber Queen.

194 Don Sombrero. the California Road Gent.
202 Cactus Jack, the Giant Guide.

219 The Scorpion Brothers; or, Mad Tom's Mission.
223 Canyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain.

97 Buckshot Ben, the Man-Hunter of Idaho.
237 LongHaired Max; or, The Black League.
245 Barranca Bill, the Revolver Champion.

258 Bullet Head, the Colorado Bravo.

263 iron-Armed Abe, the Hunchback Destroyer.
m6 Leopard Luke. the King of Horse-Thieves.
271 Stoneflst, of Big Nugget Bend.

276 Texas Chick. the Southwest Detective.

285 Lightning Bolt, the Canyon Terror.

291 Horseshoe Hank, the Man of Big Luck.

805 Silver-Plated Sol, the Montana Rover.

811 Heavy Hand: or, The Marked Men.

828 Hotspur Hugh; or, The Banded Brothers.

BY SAM S. HALL—“ Buckskin Sam.”

8 Kit Carson, Jr.,- the Crack Shot.
90 Wild Will, the Mad Ranchero.
178 Dark Dashwood, the Desperate.
186 The Black Bravo; or, The Tonkaway's Triumph.
191 T133 chsrrible Tonkaway; or, Old Rocky and his
ar .

195 The Lone Star Gambler; or, The Magnolias
Maid.

199 Diamond Dick, the Dandy from Denver.

204 Big Foot Wallace, the King of the Lariat.

212 The Brazos Tigers; or. The Minute Men.

217 The Serpent of El Paso; or. Frontier Frank.
221 Desperate Duke, the Guadeloupe “ Galoot.’

215 Rocky Mountain Al; or, The Waif of the Range.
239 The Terrible Trio; or, The Angel of the Army.
244 Merciless Mart. the Man Tiger of Missouri.

250 The Rough Riders: or. Sharp Eye the Scourge.
256 Double Dan the bastard; or, The Pirates.

5164 The Crooked Three. ,

969 The Bayou Bravo; or, The Terrible Trail.

278 Mountain Mose. the Gorge Outlaw.

232 The Merciless Marauders; or. Carl‘s Revenge.
287 Dandy Dave and his Horse, White Stocking.

298 StEmpede Steve; or, The Doom of the Double
ace.

801 Bowlder Bill; or, The Man from Taos.

809 Raybold, the Battling Ranger;

822 The Crimson Coyotes; or Nita the Nemesis.
328 King Kent; or. The Bandits of the Bason.
849 Blanco Bill. the Mustang Monarch.

858 The Prince of Pan Out.

871 Gold Buttons; or, The Up Range Panda.

BY DR. J. II. ROBINSON.
18 Pathaway; or, Nick Whiflles. the old Nor'west
Trapper.
17 Nightshade; or. The Robber Prince.
2-3 Whitelaw; or. Nettie of the Lake Shore.

87 Hirl, the Hunchback; or, The Santee Sword-
maker.

58 Silver Knife: or. The Rocky Mountain Ranger.
70 Hydrabad. the Strangler.

78 The Kni htsof the Bed Cross° 0 Th Granada
main. ' r' °

168 Ben Brion; or, Redpath, the Avenger.

BY FRANCIS JOHNSON.
96 The Gold Guide; or. Steel Arm, Regulator.
as The Death Track; or, The Mountain Outlaws.
128 Alapaha the Squaw; or, The Border Renegades.

184 AssOwaum the Ave 1" or The Doom of
Destroyer. m ' ’ m

185 The Bush Ranger: or. The Half-Breed Rajah.
136 The Outlaw Hunter; or. The Bush Ranger.
13 The Border Bandit; or. The Horse Thief‘s Trail.

BY GEORGE ST. GEORGE.

896 Duncan. the Sea Diver.
417 Tucson Tom; or, The Fire Trailers.

I
BY C. BURNING CLARK.

164 The King's FooL
188 Gilbert the Guide.

 

BY COL. THOMAS H. MONSTBBYI

82 Iron Wrist, the Swordmaster.
126 The Demon Duelist; or, The League of Steel.
148 The Czar‘s Spy; or, The Nihilist League.

150 El Rubio Bravo. King of the Swordsman.

157 Mourad, the Mameluke; or, The Three Swot}
masters.

169 Corporal Cannon. the Man of Forty Duels.

236 Champion Sam; or. The Monarchs of the Show.
262 Fighting Tom. the Terror of the Touzhs.

888 Spring-Heel Jack; or, The Masked Mystery.

BY ISAAC HAWKS, Bx-Detectlve.

232 Orson On; or, The River Mystery.
840 A Cool Head; or, Orson Oxx in Peril.

BY PROF. J. II. INGBAIIAM.

118 The Sea Slipper; or, The Freebooters.

118 The Burglar Captain; ‘or. The Fallen Star. '
814 Lafitte; or. The Pirate of the Gulf.

816 Lantte's Lieutenant; or, Child of the Sea.

BY GUSTAV]! A IMABD.

15 The Tiger Slayer; or, Eagle Heart to theBescua

19 Bed Cedar. the Prairie Outlaw.

20 The Bandit at Bay; or, The Prairie Pirates.

21 The Trapper’s Daughter; or, The Outlaw‘s Fats.

24 Prairie Flower.

62 Loyal Heart: or. The Trappers of Arkansas.
149 The Border Rifles. A Tale of the Texan War.
151 The Freebooters. A Story of the Texan War.
156 The White Scalper.

MISCELLANEOUS.
6 Wildcat Bob, the Boss Bruiser. By EdwardI.
Wheeler.

9 Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover.
10 Vid , the French Police . Written
hm... 8” b’

11 Midshipman Easy. By Captain Maryatt.

82 B'hoys of Yale; or. The Scrapes of Collegians.

60 Wide Awake, the Robber King. By Frank Du-
mont.

68The htin Tra r. CatainJ.F. .
AFig s we By 9 0

76 The Queen's Musketeers. By George Albany.
78 The Mysterious Spy. By Arthur M. Grainger.
102 The Masked Band- or, The Man without a Name.
By George L. Aiken.
110 The Silent Rifleman. By E. W. Herbert.

125 The Blacksmith Outlaw; or, Merrie England.
By Harrison Ainsworth.

183 Body the Rover. By William Carleton.

140 The Three Spaniards. By Geo. Walker.

144 Th1; Hunchback of Notre Dame. By Victw
“80-

146 The Doctor Detective. By George Lemuel.

152 Captain lronnerve. the Counterfeiter Chief.

158 The Doomed Dozen. By Dr. Frank Powell.

166 ngeginthe Robber Prince. By Sepdnms 3.
r

179 Conrad, the Convict. By Prof. Gildersleeve.
190 The Three Guardsmen. By Alexander Dumu.

251 Black Sam. the Prairie Thunderbolt.
J o Yards. By 

875 The Smuggler Cutter; or, The Cavern in the
Clifl. By J. D. Conroy.

612 Kinkfoot Karl, the'Mountain Scourge. Melt-
ris Redwing. By

no Colt,th
argon eQuakerCityDetective. ByCharlss‘

850  the Society Detective. By Weldon
658  Brennan: or.TheKingof Straight! M
Bv John Cuthbert.
866 T3; Telegraph Detective. By George Henry
orse.

410 SanhBrown, Detective. ByK. P. Hill.
488Thfi¥£ngGlM§0nThs1slandLura By!”

.4me Wednesday.

Beadle’s Dine Library is for sale by all
Newsdealetatencentspercopymr ssntbymaflca
receipt of twelvecentsoach. BEADLERADAIS,
mammwa’u-k.

 

 

 

 

 

, 874 Major Blister, the Sport of TWO Cities.

’ , BY mason DANIEL BOON]! nnmon'r.

'mncWfleCrook

7~ BEADLE’S*DIME*EBRARY.

Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

BY COL. PREN'I‘ISS INGRAHAM.

2 The Dare Devil; or, The Winged Ss-a Witch.
85 The Cretan Rowr; or. Zuleikah the Beautiful.
89 The Pirate Prince; or. The Queen of the Isle.
94 Freelance. the Buccaneer.

1m. Merle, the Mutineer; or. The Red Anchor Brand. .

104 Montezuma. the Merciless.

100 Cap'ain Kyd. the King of the Black Fla .

116 Black Plume; or The Sorceress of He] Gate.

121 Tue Sea Cadet; or, The Rover of the Rigoletts.

128 The Chevaliu‘ Corsair; or. The Heritage.

131 Buckskin S un. the Texas Trailer.

184 Darkey Dan, the Colored Detective.

139 Fire E .3; or. The Bride of a liner-sneer.

147 Gold Spur. the Gentleman from Texas.

155 Tue Co'salr Queen: or. The Gypsies of the Sea.

162 The Mal Mariner; or. Dishonored and Disowned

168 Wild Bill, the Pistol Dead Shot.

172 Black Pirate; or. The Golden Fetters Mystery.

177 Don Diablo. tne Planter—Corsair.

181 The Scarlet Schooner; or The Sea Nemesis.

Hi The Occa i Vain ire; or. The Castle Heiress.

199 \ lld Bill‘s Gold rail; or, The Doc crate Dozen.

196 The Skeleton Schooner; or, The Sk mmer.

2:5 The G tuibl r Pirate; or. Lady of the Lagoon.

216 uccancer Bess the Lioness of the Sea.

216 he Corsair Hunter; or. Driven to Doom.

2:0 The Spect -r Yacht; or, A Brother‘s Crime.

2M Blick Beard, lhe Burcane-r.

23i The Kid Glove Miner; or, The Magic Doctor.

25 Red Li htuing the Man of Chance

216 gueen elen. the Amazon of the Overland.

255 he Pirate Priest; 01',Thé'. Gambler‘s Da htcr.

$9 Cutlass and Cross' or. the Ghouls of the .

an TheSea Owl; or, in... Lad Ca tain or the Gulf.

807 The Phantom Pirate; or, T e ater Wolves.

818 The lndi-‘m nuccaneer; or. The Red Rovers.

8:5 The Gentlem in Pirate; or The Casco Hermits.

829 The Langue --f Three; or. Buaalo Bill‘s Pledge.

8% The Magic Ship; or, Sandy Hook Freebmtem.

841 The S -a Desperado.

846 Ocean Guerrillas; or, Phantom Mldshi man.

862 Buffalo Bill's Grip; or Oath Bound to ster.

864 The Sea F itive; Or. The Quez-n of the Coast.

369 The Coast irsair; or, The Siren of the Sea.

873 Sailor of Fortune; or, The Sims at Buccaneer.

8’27 Afloat and Ashore; or. The Coma r Cons irator.

888 The Giant Buccaneer; or, The Wrecker itch.

893 The Convict Captian; or, The Battles of the
Buccaneers.

899 The New Monte Cristo.

418 the Sea. Siren; or, The Fugitive Privateer.

425 The Sea Sword; or. The Ocean Rivals.

480 The Fatal Frigate' or, Rivals in Love and War.

45 The One-Armed uccaneer.

446 Ocean Ogre, the Outcast Corsair.

BY OLL COOMES.

7 Death Notch. the Destroyer.
48 Dakota Dan the Reckless Ran or.
44 Old Dan Rackhack the Great xtarmlnator.
46 B wile-Knife Ben the Norma Hunter.
48 Ydaho Tom the Young Outlaw of Silverland.
51 Red Rob, the Boy Road-Agent.

99 The Giant Rifleman; or. Wild Camp Life.
187 Long Beard. the Giant Spy.
148 One-Armed Alt, the Giant Hunter.

BY CAPTAIN HO‘VARD HOLMES.

5m Hercules Goldspur the Man of the Velvet Hand.
89-1 Broadcloth Burt, the Denver Dandy.

891 California Claude, the Lone Bandit.

8% Flash Dan. the Nabob; or. Blades of Bowie Bar.
840 Cool Cmrad. the Dakota Detective.

847 Denv -r Duke. the Man With "Sand."

852 The esperate Dozen.

865 K99" Kennard, the Shasta Shadow.

 

882 The Bonanza Band; or Dread Don of Cool Clan.
892 The L ast llonanza; or. The Boot of Silent Hound.
400 Captain Colilgrip' or. The New York Spotter.
40? Captain Collgrlp s Nerve' or. InJun Nick.

413 Captain Coldgritg in New ork.

421 Fath' r Ferret, e Frisco Shadow.

4M Lucifer Lynx. the Wonder Detective.

411 The California Sleuth.

“44'? Yo cane. the Frisco Spy.

4511 Captain Coidgrip's Lmig Trail.

BY ANTHONY P. MORRIS.

5 The Fire Fiends; or. Hercules. Hunchback.
9'5 Azhort. the Axman; or. The Palace Secrets.
100 The French Spy' or. The Bride of Paris. ,
157 The Man of Steel. Tale of Love and Terror.
185 Man Snider; or The Beautiful Sgléinx.
‘S‘B Hank Round. the Crescent Cit tectivc.
£50 The Masked M story; or. The lack Crescent.
$8 Elem-o Pete. t e Man of Fire.
$6 The Roughs of Richmond.
818 Mark Magic. Detective.
884 The Clipher Detective; or, Mark Magic‘s New

848 The Head Hunter: or. Mark Magic in the Mine.
97 Jack Simona. Detective.

Silver Sam. the Detective.
' Colonel Double-Edge, the Catt'e Baron's Pad.
11 ' ; or, Old Hork‘s Fortreu.
m The Old RivoEoSpox-t; or. Alon of Honor.
4s: Salamander m.

 

I04 The'Nigllt Raider.

BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. W. F. Cody).

52 Death-Trailer. the Chief of Scouts.

S‘l Gold Bullet S rt; or, Knights of the Overland.
213 the Pilgrim her ;or. The Soldier's Sweetheart.
804 Texas Jack. the rairie Rattler.

319 Wild Bill, the Whirlwind of the West.

894 W Lite Beaver, the Exile of tho Platte.

8107 The Wizard Brothers; or, White B aver‘s Trail.
401 On: -Al' rod P.:rd: or, Borderland Retribution.
414 Red Renard, the Indian Detective.

BY MAJOR DANGERFIELD BUBR.

92 Buffalo Bill, the Buckskin King.
117 Dashing Dandy; or, Th - Hoispur of the Hills.
142 Cu tain Crimson, the. Man of the Iron Face.
156 Ve vet Face, the Border Bravo.
175 Wild Bill‘s i‘rump Card; or, The Indian Heiress.
1815 The Phantom Mime pa; or, The Hyena.
448 Hark Kenton, the raitor.

BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, J“.

28 Three-Fingered Jack the Road-Agent.
80 Gospel George; or. Hit-Iv Fred. the Outlaw.
40 Lo -Haired Pal ds; or, The Tarters of the Plains.
45 Old ull’s-Eye, the Lightning Shot.
47 Pacific Pete, the Prince of the Revolver.
50 Jack Rabbit, the Prairie S rt.
64 Double-Sight. the Death 0t.
67 The Boy JOCKey; or, Hone t vs. Crookedness.
71 Captain 0001 Blade; or, Mi ' lp iMan Shark.
88 Big George; or. The Five Outlaw rothers.
105 Dan Brown of Denver; or. The Detective.
119 Alabama Joe; or. The Yazoo Man-Hunters.
127 lScott the Masked Miner.
141 uinox Tom. the llul'y of Red Rock.
154 Joaquin, the Saddle King.

' 165 Joaquin, the Terrible.

170 Siveet William, the Trapper Detective.

180 Old ‘49; or. The Amazon of Arizona.

197 Revolver Rob° or, The Belle of Nugget Cam .

201 Pirate of the Pincers; or, Joaquin's Death unt.

233 The Old Boy of Tombstone.

241 Spitfire Saul. Kin of the Bustiers.

219 Elephant Tom. o Durungo.

257 Death 1ng Diggings; or, A Hard Man from
a

c .

293 Sleek Sam, the Devil of the Mines.

286 Pistol Johnny; or, One Man in a Thousand.

292 Moke Homer. the Boss Ronstabout.

802 Faro Saul, the Handsome Hercules.

817 Frank Lighti‘oot, the Miner Detective.

394 Old Forked Lightnin . the Sollta .

381 Chispa Cliarle . the Gold Nugget port.

839 S read Eagle m. the Hercules Hide Hunter.

815 asked Mark, the Mounted Detective.

851 Nor' West. Nick, the Border Detective.

855 Stormy Steve, the Mad Athlete.

360 Jumping Jerry, the Gamecock from Sundown.

867 A Royal Flush; or, Dan Brown‘s Mg Game.

372 Captain Crisp. the Man with a Record.

37'» Howlng Jonat 111, the Terror from Headwaters.

887 D rk Durg. the ishmael of the Hills.

895 Deadly Aim, the Duke of Dex-ringers.

408 The Nameless Sport.

409 Rob Ro Ranch: or, The Imps of Pan Handle.

416 Monte im the Black Shee oi' Bismarck.

426 The Ghost Detective; or. T e Spy of the Secret
Service.

488 Laughing Leo; or, Sam‘s Dandy Ford.

418 Oklahoma Nick.

44-3 A Cool Hand; or. Pistol Johnny‘s Picnic.

450 The Rustler Detective.

DY EDWARD WILLE'I‘T.

129 Mlsisslppi Mose; or, a Stro , Man’s Sacrifice.
209 Buck Farley. the Bonanza nce.

223 Bill the Blizzard; or. Red Jack‘s Crime.

848 Mo tana Nat the Lion of Last Chance Camp.
274 F1 h Fred. the Mississippi Sport.

289 Flu h Fred‘s Full Hand.

298 L gger Lem; or, Lit» in the Pine Woods.

KB Hemlock Hank. Tough and True.

815 Flush Fred‘s Double; or, The Squatters’ League.
827 Terrapin Dick, the Wild wood Detective.

887 Old Gabe, the Mountain Tramp.

848 Dan Dillon. King of Creel-cut.

868 The Canyon King; or. a Price on his Head.

BY NED BUN'I‘LINE.

14 Thayendanggea, the Scourgm or,'l‘he War-Eagle.
16 The White inard; or, The minole Prophet.
18 The Sea Bandit; or, Tue Queen of the Isle.
23 The Red Warrior; or. The Comanche Lover.
51 Captain Seawall. the Privateer.
111 The Smuggler Ca taim or. The Skipper's Crime.
122 Saul Sabberday, t e Idiot .
270 Andros the Rover; or, The rate's Daughter.
81 Tombstone Dick. the Train Pilot.

BY WILLIAM H. MANNING.

279 The Golid Dragoon, or. The California Blood-
oun .

297 Color-min Rube. the Strong Arm of Hotspur.

885 Will Dick Turpin, the Leadville Lion.

405 Old Baldy, the Brigadivr of Buck Ball.

415 Hot Heart. the Detective S y.

427 The Rivals of Montana Mil

487 Dee Duk. the Silent Sleuth.

442 W1] West Walt. the Mountain Veteran.

449 Blufl Burke, Kin of the Rockies.

455 Yank Yelloth the Tail Hustler of the Hills.

 

1‘

BY COLONEL BELLE SARA.

53 Silver Sam; or, The Mystery of De dwood City.
87 The Scarlet Captain; or. Prisoner of the Tower..
106 Shamus O'Brien, the Bould Boy of Glingal.

BY PlllLIP 8. WARNE.

1 A Hard Crowd; or. Gentleman Sam’s Sister.
4 The Kidnap r; or. The Northwest Shanghai.
29 Tiger Dick. aro King; or, The Cashier‘s Crime..
54 Always on Hand; or. The Foot-HiJs Sport.
80 A Man of Nerve; or, Caliban the Dwarf.
114 The Gentleman from Pike.
171 Tiger Dick. the Man of the Iron Heart.
20? Old Hard Head: or. Whirlwind and his Mare. l
251 Tiger Dick vs. iron D spard.
280 Tiger Dick‘s Lone Hand.
$9 Three of a Kind; or, Tiger Dick. Iron Despardt
and the Sportin Sport.
888 Jack Sands. the Boss of the Town.
359 Yellow Jack. the Mestizo.
880 Tiger Dick‘s Pledge; or, The Golden Serpent.
404 Silver Sid; or. A “ Daisy " Blufl.
431 California Kit. the Always on Hand.

BY J. C. CO‘VDRICK.
890 The Giant Cupid: or Cibnta John’s Jubilee.
422 Blue Grass Burt. the Gold Star Detective.
436 Kentucky Jean, the S ort from Yellow Pi e.
452 Rainbow Rob, the 'p from Texas.

BY GEORGE C. JENKS.

898 Sleepless e, the Pacific Detective.
482 The Giant orseman.

BY ALBERT ‘V. AIKEN.

27 The S tter Detective; or, Girls of New York.

81 The ew York Sher ;or, The Flash (.tLightning
88 Overland Kit: or, he ldyl of Whi-e Pine.

84 Rocky Mountain Bob. the California Outlaw.

85 Kentuck the Sport: or, Dick falbot of the Mines.
86 In an Dick; or. The Death Shot of Shasta.

88 Ve vet Hand; or, Inzun Dick‘s Iron Grip.

41 Gold Dan; or, The te Savage of Salt Lake.
42 The California Detective; or The Witches ot N.Y.
49 Thu Wolf Demon; or. The Kanawha Queen.

56 The Indian Mazeppa; or. Madmlsn ol! the Plains.
59 The Man from 'l‘exas; or, The Arkansas Outlaw.
68 The Winged Whale; or, The Red Rupert of Gulf.
72 The Phantom Band; or The 5th Avenue Hei. ess.
75 GentlemanGeo e; or. Parlor. Prison and Street.
77 The Fresh of sec; or. The Heiress.

79 Joe Phenix, the Police Spv.

81 The Human Tiger; or. A Heart of Fire.

84 Hunted Down: or. The League of Three.

91 The Winnin Car: or. The Innkeeper‘s Daughter.
93 Captain Dic Talbot. King of the Road.

97 Bronze Jack. the California Thoroughbred.

101 The Man from New York.

107 Richard Talbot. of Cinnabar.

112 Joe Phenix. Private Detective.

1330 Captain Volcano; or. The Man of Red Revolver.
161 The. Wolves of New York ' or. Joe Phenix's Hunt.
173 California John. the Pacific Thoroughbred.

196 La Marmoset. the Detective en.

$3 The Double Detective; cr.'l'he M16 night M story.
252 The Wall Street Blood; or The Tele rap Girl.
820 The Genteel S tter; or. e N. Y N ght Hawk.
849 Iron-Hearted l: k. the thtleman Road-Agent.
854 Red Richard; 01 The Crimson CrossBrami.

863 Crowuin held. the Sleuth; or. Pitiless as Death.
870 The Du y Detective; or. Pursued to the End.
870 Black Beards; 01. The Rio Grande High Horse.
881 The vas Gentleman; or Nick Fox, Detective.
884 injun Die . Detective; or. Tracked to New York-
891 Kate Scott. the Decoy Detec ive.

408 Doc Grip. the Vendetta of Death.

419 The Bat of the Battery ' or. Joe Phenlx. Detective.
421 The Lone Head; or, The Red River Recreants.
440 The High Hor e of the Pacific.

LATEST AND NEW ISSUES.

458 The Demon Steer. ? Leon Lewis.
457 The Sea Insurgent. y Col. P. in .
458 Dutch Dan. the Pilgrim tum Sp lzenbc-rg. By

Joe. E. Badger, Jr.
459 Mi‘ve'or Sunsh no, the Man of Three Lives. By

in. R. E‘yster. \
460 Ca taln Co dgrlp. the City Sleuth. By Captain
owurd Holmes.
461 The Fresh on the Rio Grande. By A. W. Aiken.
462 The Circus Detective. By Jackson Knox.
Remly August 81.
463 Gold Gauntlet. the Gulch Gladiator. By Wm. H-
Manning. Readmvnfleptemher 7.
464 Sandycraw, the n of Grit. BieMn). Daniel
Boon-Dumont. Ready Se tern r1 .
465 The Actor Detective. By Al rt W. Aiken.
Ready September 21.
406 old Bomb and Ready, the Sage of Sundown.
B Jos. E. Rad .r. Jr. Read September 38.
467 Maiimaring. the alamander. yJacksoa Knox.
Ready October 5.
. A new issue every Wednesday.

Beadle’s Dime Library is for sale by 9.!
Newsdealers. tencents per copy, or sent by mail on
receipt of twelve cents each.

BEADLE AND ADAMS. menu.
98 William Strum New York.