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  Junta Every QBeadZe 93- fldams, @ubh'shers, Ten Common. N O 454

W9dn°'d"¥- 9s WILLIAM STREET. N. Y., July 6. 1887. $5.00 8 Year-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The Mysterigfls Marauder.

A Tale of the Cattle Corrals.

BY MAJ. DANIEL BOONE DUMONT,
on THE U. s. A.

AUTHOR OF “ SALAMANDER SAM,” “THE OLD
RIVER SPORT,” “COLONEL DOUBLE-EDGE,”
“ SILVER SAM, THE DETECTIVE,”

ETO., ETC.

 
  

 

CHAPTER I.
A CATTLE RAID.

THE thunder Of hoofs as a bunch of cattle
swept forth from an openini in the hills of
’  , Southern Colorado, might ave startled a
.\   .. , V: ‘ ~   ‘ ‘ ‘  r I I stranger—supposing a stranger there to be
I ,, "X r ",1". V' ‘ Ii ‘ I I.“ g  *4 'h , ‘ ' startled—had it not been for the real thunder
I ‘ ‘  u M  ‘y I A V' ' .:  7; ,f 'j  that rolled and muttered in the cano‘pied vault
\ i A  I'  fig" fly}  “I 314  , « x \  . overhead.

\\*‘, ’ ’ _ ,   ' , I /  4 §  \ It wasn lurhild night;1 threatening to produce a.

A, >\\ \~ my 7- . l " ‘ ‘ 9 I  s F , v   ~ ‘ scene of tm'ri e gran eur, and that Wlld region

§\—\u~m ‘ ~~ »‘\\\T>:i;m-—~—»———————Mfib-{M\\W —*r— ' r rr-“7V——‘—~~i w—r ' which had not been favored with a drop of rah;

PABTLY TURNING m HER SADDLE, THE MYSTERIOUS RAIDER RAISED THE WINCHESTER in many weeks, had the promise Ofa down-pour
T0 mm SHOULDER, AND FIRED WITH A QUICK AIM. of unusual magnitude.

 

The Night Raider.

 

 

The night was dark, but by no means at its
darkest yet, though coming events were casting
their shadows before very rapidly.

Clouds were flying across the s y as if hurry-
ing to find a place of safety, and in the south-
west there was a great black bank of them; but
overhead and toward the north, the mass was as
yet Scattered, and the moon broke through them
at intervals, shining ver brilliantly when she
was allowed to shine at all.

Apparently there was a stiff breeze up above,
but not a breath of air near the surface of the
earth, where the atmosphere was so close as to
be almost stifling.

The thunder, which had been muttering and
growling in the distance for some time, was 'ust
beginning to be discharged in artillery volleys
»when the bunch of cattle broke forth from the
Opening in the hills.

It was not a big bunch—only six or eight
Steers, though it would have puzzled anybody
but an expert to count even that small number
as they swept through the shadows of the rocks,
 and under the shadows of the tall trees, gallo )—
- ' iiig madly with tails erect, hurrying as t e

clouds hurried, as if to seek a place of safety.
Like the clouds, the cattle were urged for-
ward with an apparently irresistible force; but,
unlike the clouds, they had not free scope for
 » their flight, their course bciii r controlled by the
" nature of the ground, as we] as guided by the
' force that impelled them.
As the last of the bunch emerged from the
'darkness of the hills, and began to gallop at
 headlong speed down the wooded slope, the ini-
/ ‘ pelling force made its appearance in the persons
‘2’,\ of two riders, a young man and a youii Wo-
” man—though it would have been difficu t to
 . distinguish the young woman from the young
i". ' man, but for the fact that the former rode a
' . side—saddle.
 When they had passed through the wooded
1" ground to the level and treeless plain beyond,
their personal characteristics became more plain-
ly visible in the occasional bursts of moonlight
as well as in the intermittent flashes of lightning.

The young man was a very young man—
 scarcely beyond his majority, to judge by his
-' ~ boyish and almost beardless face—but was tall
 for his age, well formed, well knit, evidently
sinewy and athletic, and he rode a splendid bay
horse as if he formed part of the beautiful
 - animal.

 I He was dressed in a mixture of the Mexican
and American garb, his short jacket with an
abundance of metal buttons being of the Mex-
’ ican style, as was also his heavy sombrero; but
his corduroy trowsers and the high boots that
partly covered them belonged to the fresher and
more aggressive race.
:.- . The young woman was a little older than her
; ! companion— haps two or three ears older—
 £, and was strikingly interesting, i not really
. 'hanilsome.
gig; ' People who admire the lucid and homelike
‘ '- ‘ style in woman might not ave been favorably
V impreSSed by her regular features, her some-
what sunburned face, and the hard, defiant ex-
pression that occasionally settled on her counte-
nance; but many others would have called her
beautiful as they gazed on her lithe and grace-
ful form and noted .the fire that shone, some-
times in lightning flashes, from her large dark

 

es.
0"She, too, rode her horse, a powerful black
mare,as if she had been ham to ride, sitting
erect, and holdin her bridle rein loosely with a
' , finger of her left and, as if she did not need to

’ useit in iding the animal.

It won (1 seem that, so far as her garb was
' . concerned, she was not compelled to the use of a

- side-saddle, but might have ridden man-fashion
~, as well as not.

Her principal visible garment was a short
frock of dark woolen stuff, so short that it
might have been styled a tunic, beneath which
VWere deerskin leggings, which terminated in
short boots, much like those of a man.

Her short and curling brown hair was cov-
- ered by a sombrero quite similar to that of her

' “companion, and altogether her appearance was
‘ so mannish that her side-saddle seemed to be out
of Dice.

ach of these had a Winchester rifle, carried
in slings, so that their right arms might be free
to use the long and heavy-handled whip with
which the cattle were managed, and each was
fully equip d for business With cartridge-belts
and a rave ver. _

What was the business for which they were so
amply prepared?

A hint of it might have been caught from the
manner in which they urged the cattle frantic
speed—a quite unnecessary proceeding in u.
peaceable and lawful business—and very sharp
ears might have can ht a further hint from the
clutter of horses" boo s ata little distance behind
them.

The .cattle were flying before those two, and
they were flying before a pursuing force which
the had good reason to believe was not far in

r rear.
.- i In the darkness of the night soon to grow
 deeper, and in the intricacies of the rough coun-
try ust ahead of them. they might with their
. ' , homes easily have got out of the way of

  
   

 

'earth, tokens of the coming delu e.

 

their pursuers; but the cattle were an incum-
brance.

However rapidly the steers might be urged
forward, they could not be expected to outstrip
well-mounted horsemen, and it seemed to beonly
a question of time that they should be overtaken
by those who were pushing the pursuit.

Yet the two drivers were so far from being
frightened that they did not appear to feel the
least uneasiness concerning that very probable

contingency. l

They might have let the cattle go and turned ‘
aside to save themselves; but apparently they 3
did not give head-room to such a thought. i

As they passed out from the shelter of the l
trees, the young woman slackened the speed of ;
her horse for an instant, and seemed to listen. l

Even amid the volleys of thunder and the ‘
noise of the mad hoofs of the cattle, her quick I
ears caught the sounds of the approaching pur- i
suit: but it did not even make her wince.

Her face grew harder, and her lips closed
tighter, and there was a steely litter in herl
dark eyes, as she swerved to the le t and ranged '
her horse by the side of her companion. ’

“Keep them going, Jack,” she ordered, “and
I will catch up with you directly.”

“ What are you going to do, icf’?

“ I am going to take a shot at those scala-
wags, and teach them that it’s bad manners to
crowd.”

“ Sha‘n’t I try it, Vic?”

“Of course not. My nerve is better than
yours, and so is my eyesight. "Keep the critters
going, J ack, and trust to me.”

She looked as if she might be trusted for any
deed of daring or skill as she slowed up her
horse, droppiu r at once behind her companion,
and let her backsnakc whip hang from her
wrist by its thon .

Lifting her ri e from its slings, she cast a
hasty glance backward.

She was then well out upon the plain, and
from the wooded slopebehind were emerging
the dark forms of several horsemen, coming into
plainer sight as the moon, for the last time that
night, burst through a mass of clouds and shone
brilliantly for an instant.

Of that instant she took a quick and deadly
advantage. ,

Partly turning in her saddle, the Mysterious
Raider raised the Winchester to her shoulder,
and fired with a quick aim. .

One of the pursuing horsemen fell from his
saddle with a cry, and the others halted in con-
fusion.

The girl ave the rein to her black mare,
which need no whip or spur, but dashed away
at full speed, as if to outrun the few ineflectual
shots that were fired from the edge of the
ti ber.

hen she overtook her comrade they had
crossed the narrow plain, and the cattle were
headed toward an opening in the hills and.

By this time the sky was covered with lack
masses of cloud, the thunder came in peels more
fr uent and more distinct, darkness of the
thic est covered the earth as with a pal], and
directly big drops of rain began to patter on the

“Reckon you made a coup, ic,” remarked
Jack. “ I am sure that I heard a squeal.”

“ Yes, I laid. out one of them, and for kee s,
I believe. If it was one of the Jonas tri ,
either the old man or Herman, I am glad.of
' n

“ That would count one in the score we have
to Settle, Vic.”

“I hope it has counted one. We must keep
on counting, Jack, until we wipe out the score. ’ ,

“ Give me a chance, and you shall see what I
will do.”

“ Keep the cattle goin , then. We are not yet
safe, though we soon wi be.”

The rain began to fall in torrents, and the
darkness was thick enough to cut with a knife,
and then the raiders knew that they were safe,
because the pursuers, stopped by the shot that
had slain one of their number, had halted until '
the fugitives were out of hearing, as well as out .
of sight, and in the storm and darkness it would ‘
be useless to attempt to follow them further. '

Jack and Vic were also beset by the storm i
and darkness, but regarded them as blessings 1
without any disguise.

They knew the country well, and, althou h
unable to see, they could feel their way or list
their horses find it for them.

So the irl covered herself with a rubber cloth
that had ii stra ped to her saddle, and the
went forward slow y, keeping just at the bee s
of the cattle, which traveled quietly enough
since the rain had begun to fall and they were
no longer pushed by their drivers.

 

l

 

CHAPTER II.
THE JONAS RANCH.

1511!: Jonas Ranch was by all odds the lar est ‘
as

ell as the most pretentious in the Oro ino

v

‘ founding a family who should be kings and
,' princes iu the new land. ‘

l Therefore he had brought from, a distant city
i the gains of a lucrative if none too honorable
! business, investing them in Uncle Sam’s land,
‘ and striving by every possible means to increase
l the value of his investment.

 Thus he had become an extensive owner of
‘ country and town property, mine interests and
; cattle, and what more could a man want?

‘ Only one thing more—the respect, if not the
friendship, of the people among whom he dwelt,
and it seemed to be impossible for him to secure
that, because he was a Jew.

This was not, perhaps, merely because he was
a Hebrew. as few people in that region troubled
themselves about a man’s religion or the lack of
it, but rather because, of the Jewishness of his
nature, partly inherited, and partly contracted
in a trade that was calculated to confirm and
increase it.

\Vhat did it profit him to be rich and power-
ful when any penniless vagabond could presume
to look down 11 on him, and when his splendid
estate and his ine house were generally known
as Shecnytown?

The ranchmen and miners and rough moun—
taineers held such a contemptuous opinion of
Simon Jonas, that he could not have been
chosen to the lowest office in the ift of the peo—
ple, and yet there could be no don t that he was
a good and useful citizen.

Thus it was that Simon Jonas, though he
probably did not regret having been born a
Jew, was greatly worried because he was known
and spoken f as a Jew in that latitude, and
would even have been willing to part with neon-
siilerable rtion of his wealth if the unpleasant
factcoul thereby have been obliterated.

As he had lived many years in America, and
as his German accent was not very pronounced,
he wanted to pass himself off as American born,
and disclaimed his Hebrew descent; but the
decidedly Jewish features of his wife and his
daughter Rebecca, together with the unmis-
takable pawnshop proclivities of the former,
“gave t e snap away,” as his son Isaac was in
the habit of saying.

His sons, however, differed from the others in
features as well as in disposition, and Simon
Jonas would have been entirely satisfied with
them, had it not been for the wildness of the
younger, who had become quite too much of a.

estern American to suit his thrifty father.

The elder son, Herman, was a Well grown
young man of twenty-six, industrious sober,
careful, and so fond of looking after the main
chance that the men about town in Cm Fino
used to say that he had got himself stoop-shoul-
dered in hunting dollars and dimes.

The younger son, Isaac. generally known as
Ike Jonas, was a shm fellow of twentyofour,
whose cadaverous face told of the late hours and
dissipation, who preferred to spend dollars rather
than to earn then, and whose time was mostly
passed greatly to the sorrow of his frugal father,
n the gaming-houses and possibly worse resorts
of Oro 'no.

Men in that town, the same who objected to
Herman’s penuriousness. were wont to say that
if Ike Jonas had not been the son of a wealthy
father, hemould be sure to have been hung or
jailed for stealing.

Yet the disreputable Ike was the darling of
his penny-Wise mother, who was always read
to supply his extrava ant wants when she coul ,‘
greatly as it griev her to part with the coins
of the Republic.

The morning after the cattle raid which has
been partially related, there was in Simon
J onas’s house a consultation that partook of the
qualities of a council of war.

Next to the pro rietor and his son Herman,
the chief person of t e (-onclave was the foreman
of the ranch, Ralph Harkness, a middle-aged

1 man of stem appearance, who had gained such
; a character. on the ranch as \Vest/arn river

steamboat mates usually receive from the deck-
hands under them.

Simon J onas’s wife and daughter were there,
too, also Ike, looking very seedy, as if he was
suffering from the 10 of sleep:

“As you say, Mr. J onus ” observed Harkness,

“ that cattle—stealing business is getting to be
too durued extensiVe, and something ought tobe
done to .stop it. 1 thought that the thieves
would kinder let up after you hung Tom Halsey,
as a sorter example, you know; but the let-up
was only foralittle while, and lately the thiev—
ing has an worse than ever.”
0 “ I don‘t see wh they need keep on pitching
into me,” answer the old man. “ It seems to
me that I am the mark for the greater part of
the stealing that is done, and I don’t know why
that should be, unless it’s because I have more
to lose than other men.”

“Maybe you have hurt somebody who is in.
the business,” suggested Harkness.

“ I havo done nothing, except when I helped
to bring Halsey to justice, and that was my

 

district.
The walls of the house were built solidi of
stone, as if meant to endure forever, an in
this they typified the (purpose of the pro motor,
Simon Jonas, who ha established himse f there
with the view of possessing a large estate and
/' , K i
t‘ . I,  r‘ 7,, "flak-vi,  .

duty as a citizen.”

I “ Perhaps some of his old pards, who didn’t
get caught. may think that you carried your

‘ uty as a citizen too far to suit them, and may

be trying to get even with you.”

" I wish I could find out who they are, and I

 

 
 

A‘

-._. ~W

  
 

!
i
i

 

l

I .The Night 

3

 

 

 

would do my share of getting even. Laht night
the scoundrels got away with several of my best
steers that Were worth a good bit of money, and
they killed one of my men, too.”

" No money loss in him, though,” remarked
Herman Jonas.

“ But I hate to lose him in that way. Tim
Flaoerty was a good man, though a_little too
hasty and hot-headed. And on might have
been the one to be shot down, erman, as you
ran the same risk that Flaherty did. If any-
thing of the kind happens again, my son, I want
you to stay at home and let somebody else chase
the thieves. I can’t afford to lose you, as Ike
is of no manner of use in business.”

“ Why didn’t they catch the thieves when
they had got within shooting distance of them?”
inquired the person last mentioned.

“ Because we had to stop to pick up poor
Flaherty,” replied the foreman, “ and because
the storm broke just then, and the rain came
down in torrents. and it was >0 dark that there
was no use in trying to hunt any .ning.”

“ Never mind what Ike says,” put in the r0
prietor. “ If he had been at home, instea of
getting himself skinned out of his dollars by the
card-sharps at Oro Fine, he wouldn’t need to ask
questions.

To give point to this remark, Ike’s father, who
had been at home, roceeded to ask questions.

“ Did you say, :dph, that there were only
two thieves with the bunch of cattle?”

“ Only two that we could see. I believe
that‘s all there were, and one of them was a
woman.”

“ There musu be some mistake about that.
How was she dressed f"

“ That was the one who fired on us and killed
Flaherty. The moon showed up just then, and
I had a retty good look at her. She had on a
sort 0‘ s ort frock and a big sombrero.”

“ The sombrero gives her awa , Ralph. She
must have been a man masquerading in woman‘s
clothes.”

“ She rode a side-saddle, anyhow, and rode it
as if she was used to it.”

“ A man might do that.”

“ But a man Wouldn’t. Come, now, boss, that
won’t do at all. No man is ing to ride a side-
saddle, if he can help it. Its bad enough for a
woman to have it to do.”

“ I believe it was a woman, too,” remarked
Herman. “ Whatever it was, though the point
is that we must do something to nd out who
the thieves are and bring them to justice. ”

“How are we to go to work to do that?” in-
quired the old man. .

Herman had no solution of this problem ready,
and Ralph Harkness undertook to answer it for

1m

“ Why don’t you get a detective?” demanded
the foreman.

“ That sort of thing is expensive, and I am
inclined to believe that the detectives are all
frauds."

“ Some of them may be, but all of them ain’t.
I know one—tho h I don’t like the man a bit-—
who has no frau about him, and he can hunt
dowp those thieves and catch them if any man
can ‘

“  will think about it, Ralph. I don’t know
but it may prove to be the best Ian. Detect-
ives come igh, but cattleare wo money, too,
and I don’t want Herman torun an more risks.
tSlince a tililmrder 1111118 beg: clommitted by the

levee ere oug t to p out of le to
take a hand in running them dowyn.” poop

 

 

\

CHAPTER III.
ma: non: m rm: 030m.

ONLY a log cabin and a hole in the ground.

Such was the home and such the estate, of
two men who, as astranger m' ht have thought,
should have been better ho and more pro!!-
tably employed.

Yet the hole in the ground re resented a pos-
sible fortune, and the little ru e cabin was as

goodahouse for those twoasa palace co (1
ave been. “I

The younger but taller one, with the blue eyes
and 'tawny heard, was the scion of an aristo—
cratic family in England, who had come to the
New World to carve out a f0 tune for himself,
and this was the style in which he was doing the
car mg. I

is name was Horace Exton. and near]
everybody Considered him a splendid fellow, ii
spite of an occasional bit of British brusque—
 h te b id
as or r at 9 er one black-baa
.tacled, was Carl Klein: a graduartgedofng
rman .univerSIty, and a man of standing
among seientillc people. who had drifted out to
fielorado :gd bald lthere joined hands with
oraoe .x nint e usiness f ' -
mi?! 0 seeking a for
or the fortune, that was still in the d
and they had been digfiilp‘g for it (11.111.51.11;
Erleary swaths; but itI not yet become visi-

e an xere. was out of r
whbther it ever would). y 00m to don!“

Both the proprietors of this estate of prob-
lematic value were attired in the regulation
working costume of flannel shirt, trowsers, high

 

.boots and felt hat, and they were seated in

front of the cabin, smoking their pipes after
breakfast. ,

“ I judge, Carl," Exton was saying, “by the
vigorous style in which you stowed away, the
grub this morning, that you are feeling better.”

“Physically I am quite well,” answered the
other.

“Physically, hay? Some kind of a proviso
back of that, I suppose. You are well enough
to go to work this morning, I hope!”

“I am not oin into that hole. again, Exton. ‘
I am tired of 1t. have had enough.”

Though the Englishman received this state- i
ment coolly and Without change of countenance,
his coolness was not due alone to British phlegm,
but mainly to the fact that he had been looking
for and expecting something of the kind, as his.
companion’s indications of weariness had been
for uite a while evident and increasing.

“ am sorry to hear you say that, Carl,” said
he. “ I supposed that on were off color yester-
day, but that you won d be ready to go on with i
the work when you were well.”

.“ I was sick yesterday, my friend; but it was i
the sickness of sorrow and disgust—sorrow for ‘
wasted time, and dis ust with the empty results
of so much labor. I at to the conclusion come,
my friendt ”—when Klein got excited he always
became rather Germanesque in his talk—" that
there is nottings in dot hole. Sefen mont’s we
haf vorked at him, and he is no goot!”

“ 1 saw good sign of color yesterda , Carl.”
suggested the Englishman, “and I thin we will
stri e the vein soon.”

“ So on haf before said many times, and yet
there is no vein. It is all time and labor
thrown away. I am tired, weary, full with
clisg‘OOBt. I gif him up. I let him go. I leaf ,
here.”

“ Where will you go to, Carl?”

“ I o to Denver. There I will look for work 
as civ1 engineer. Many such are wanted, and 4.
who can do better work than Carl Klein?” ‘

“Nobody, I am sure; but I am very sorry I
that on are going to leave me.”

“ hy should we part? You must 0 with 1
me, Exton? There is plenty for you to o where '
I am oing. Such men as you are always want ;
ed. by should you stay here and waste your j
days and your energies?” i

orace Exton was largely supplied with 
British pluck and perseverance. He was a man '
who di not know when he was beat, or he I
hated to own it if he did know it.

“ I still behave that there is a fortune in that ,
hole,” said be. “We have worked at it so long
that I can’t bear to give it up unless I am sure
that it is an absolute failure, and I am by no
means sure that it is a failure.”

“ Perhaps it is not that alone which keeps you
here ” suggested the German.

“ What else could it be?”

“ That can woman at the Small Hopes
Ranch- ctol .”

“ I admit that I am interested in her; but that
interest would not be strong enough of itself to
keep me here."

“ Are you sure of that—sure that you are not
in love with her?”

“ I am interested in her, as I said, but not so
deeply as you seem to think."

“ It would in England be considered a strange
thing, my friend, if the heir of the Extons
should fall in love with such a girl as Victoria
Halsey.”

“ I am only a younger son, and even if I were
the heir of the dignity and povert of the Ex-
tons I would not consider myse above any
good and honest girl.”

“ It is well to say and honest. You will
remember that her father was hanged for cattle-
stealing.”

“And I am stronglylinclined to believe that
tilt; deeitlit was Amft'tlirly dgne—d-ttlhat the man was
no . n ow is hter is not a
mug-limit." y " “g -

“I” hope she is not, or anything else thati

1‘ I prefer that you should not insinuate any-
thing against her, Carl.”

“I will not, as I know nothing against her.
except that she roams about alone, and at night,
rathsgn too much.”

‘ t is true and I mean to 8
about it.” ’ peak to her

“ You mean to stay here, then, Exton? If
you are really so obstinate, I will make you a
present of my share in that hole in the ground,
in the cabin, in the tools, and in all the unpleas-
ant reminders of seven lost months.” 

“ What will we do with Lemon Squeezer? ;
He belongs to us both. Will you give me your 2
share in him. too?” .

Limonado Schiezziera was an Italian who had '
been picked up by the partners when he was ’
starving, and he belonged to them, or considered
himself their property, officiating for them as I
house-servant and assistant miner. His ba tis-
mal ap Ilation being a hard one to get he] of,
he ha become known in Oro Fino and the
region thereabont as Lemon Squeezer, to which
name he always answered with alacrity.

“Here he comes,” said Klein. “Suppose we 5
ask him what be u ants to do."

Lemon Squeezer, who had been to fetch wood,

 

I
l

t, _, ,s
‘ . _ \ urn,“
. - .. v . . i  ) I i ,, - n» g i. « 31
f  «in ,. I: , . ; ' V' .?< :

they come from?”

came forward, smiling upon his padrom‘, and
the case was stated to him.

“ We are going to dissolve partnership,
Squeezer,” said Exton. “ Mr. Klein is going
to Denver. and I am going to stay here and dig
at that hole in the ground. Which would you
rather (1ng with Mr. Klein, or stay with
me?”

The Italian gazed at the partners mournfnlly,
shaking his head as if the problem was too tough
for him.

“ Betta go togedda—betta stay togedda,” was
all the answer he could muster.

“ That won‘t work, mmco. I am afraid that

‘ you will have to choose between us.”

“ Toss a cop .”

“I won’t worr you any more. Squeezer. Let
us hope for the st, 1 shall not accept your
offer, Car]. You won’t think of leaving here
before to-morrow morning, I suppose. Give me
this day for another pull at the hole, and to-
night we will talk the matter over. If by that
time I have nothing to show, I may go to Den-
ver with you.”

“ Thanks, my friend; I shall count on having
your company.”

Exton and the Italian went to work at the
hole in the ground, taking some food for their
uoonday lunch.

When the partners began work at that promo _

ising claim. some seven months ago, they had
called it a mine, and had even given it a name;
but since they had expended so much time and
labor there with no satisfaci'nry result, they had

' tacitly agreed to speak of it as the hole in the

ground.

During their absence Carl Klein employed
himself in preparing and packing such of his
belongings as he meant to take with him; but
there was little of that, and the task was soon
finished.

Then he read a little in a volume that be nearly
knew by heart, and managed to - the time
until noon, when be cooked a littte lunch for
himself; but there was no pleasure in eating
alone, and he lacked ap tite.

After lunch he smo ed his pipe and walked
about a little, but grew more restless all the
time.

He heard a faint e losion in the direction of
the hole in the groun , and it occurred to him
that his partner had said that he meant tomake
a small blast; but there could be nothing of in.
terest in that.

He would have
Squeezer, just for t e sake of companionshi ,
had he not contracted such a disgust for the ho
in the ground that he hated the sight of it.

It represented blasted hopes as well as lost In-
bor and he had seen enough of it. '

Thus he was much surprised as well as do] ht-
ed when the two workers returned to the ea in
before the close of the afternoon. '

He wondered what had brought them back so
soon, and noticed that Lemon Squeezer s
to be in a vastly better humor than when‘he
Went to work.

Nothi in the way of elation or d realm
was visib e in Exton’s countenance: but is shirt
bulged out rather suspiciously in front.

As Exton entered the cabin be cast a quick
glance about the little room, and noticed wint
ha‘d Ibeen (tone therlira bee d

‘ sect atyou ve ngettin rea to
Carl.” he observed. g y 

“Yes, and'I suppose that I shall have the
pleasure of your company, as I hope that you

one to Exton and Lemon. ‘

have had enough of that hole in the ground by ' I ’ '

this time.” .

“ I am not sure of that. I believe I will stay.
By the way, Carl, as you are going to Denver, I
wish that you would take something that I want
to send there.”

“Of course I will.
with me, their?”

“ I have thought the matter over, and I don‘t
believe I am, though it is hard for such com-
rades as you and I have been to part.”

“ Yes, it is very hard, and l have been feel
that since you went away this morning. Wha
is to become of Lemon Squeezer?”

“ He has decided upon sta ing here.”

“ Verv well.
take to Denver 3”
“ Here it is.”

In the middle of the room was a. small pine-
table. stained and scored and dented by use,
which had served the partners as a dining-table,
a writing—table. and for other pu

Exton approached the table, 0 ned his shirt,
and let fall a number of pieces 0 broken quartz.

“I want you.” he said, “if you are not above
fooling With a little thing like that, to take these
to Denver and have them assa ed.”

The German pounced upon e lumps with an
ejaculation of surprise and delight; and well he
might do so, as his educated eye told him at
once that they were remarkably rich and valu-
able specimens of ore.

He turned them over, held them 11 to the
light, and inspected them closely, an [air y
gloated over them.

“I can give a good enough guessat thevalne

o
be. “Where did

Are you really not 

 

What is it t at you wish me to

.“i
fthese without taking them toDenvor,” said ~ ,3 "
you get them? Where did 1 

  
  

 
    

‘r

'll

' sionall
- when he question of business was brought u ,

'to be good
speculating with enterprises of that bad char-

llmtes, who did his best to
gently, expressing the idea figuratively at first,

bed ,and

 

’4

The Night Raider.

 

 

“ The hole in the ground.”

Carl Klein droo upon a seat and stared at
the 3 her as if his eyes would burst his glasses.

“ mpossiblel” he exclaimed.

“ I know it is impossible; but it is a fact, all
the same. I told you that I was goin to make
a little blast to-day, and I have ma 6 it, and
that is what it opened up. My little blast was
the lancet that ta the vein.”

“ Wonderful! ho could have ex ted it?”

“ Nobody, of course; but I had a aint hope,
and went to work on the hope. Shall I help
you unpack your traps, Carl?”

“Why so i have nothing to do with your
discovery. You are now the owner of my share
in the hole in the ground.”

“ Not much. That don’t go, partner. I told
you that I couldn’t acce t your offer before
night, hoping that somet ing would happen to
keep you: and now it has happened, and you
have 0t to stay and help me get out what there
is in t ehole in the ground.”

“Extoné‘your faith and perseverance make'

me asham of myself.”

“ Betta stay togedda," remarked Lemon
Squeezer.

And they did stay.

CHAPTER 1V.
“ WE ARE ALL LIABLE.”

THE chief v131ble peculiarity of the Small
Hopes Ranch was the extreme neatness of the
house and its surroundings.

Such neatness was quite uncommon in that
region of hard work and hurry, where the
people were too bus or too careless to polish,

ne, and keep their establishments nice and
order.

The appearance of the place, too, did not in-
dicate a. high degree of prosperity, as the
energies of the occupants seemed to be ex nded

 

, rather upon the vines and flowers on an about

the house, than upon the profitable carrying on
of the business of the ranch.

As for the house, that was a cheap aflair,
built of rough boards, battened and whitewash-
ed; but it was peculiar in bein built with an L,
so that it occupied two sides 0 a small square.

It had been so erected b its builder and the
owner of the ranch, Tom alsey, with the view
of establishing there a house of call or tavern
in a small way; but the scheme had fallen
throu h for the sim is reason that a new and
more rect road to r0 Fino had been opened,
and travel ceased to take that direction.

After that disaster there was little ranchin
done at Small Hopes, and yet the family seem

, always to have plenty of money and to lack for

nothing.
Tom Halsey was given to frequent and occa-
long absences, and was in the habit,

of speaking of himself as a speculator, thong
nobody appeared to know what his speculations
were, or where or when or how they were
made.

At last the people of the Oro Fino district be-
came suspicious of his speculations—more than
suspicious, indeed, as cattle stealing had become
a great nuisance in the region, and there seemed
reason for connecting Tom Halsey’s

r.
A Vigilance Committee was formed by the
cattle-men, and one result of their labors was
the violent and ignominious end of Tom Halsey,

. as mentioned in the family circle of the J onases.

Great was the consternation, and deep was

the trouble at Small Ho Ranch when this sad
news was brought to om Halsey’s afflicted
family.

It was conveyed to them b one of the Vigi-
reak it to them

and gradually letting the terrible fact dawn
upon them that the head of the family was then

ling from a tree at the distance of gerhaps
a dozen miles from the ranch, as dea as an
E tian mummy.

e kind] gave them directions for finding the
om Halse ’8 daughter Victoria, with
her rother Jack an Dave Wiener, who held
the nominal position of foreman of the ranch,
went out with a team, and brought Tom Halsey
home and buried him without the intervention
of a coroner or a death certificate.

There was no gathering of the neighbors at
that funeral, no sermon, no ceremony, no fiOWers '
but many tears were shed, and some vows of
vengeancd were registered that night to be
heard from in the future.

The mother of the family, never a strong
woman physically, though considerably above
‘the average in acuteness of intellect and strength
of character, was for a considerable 'time com-
gletely prostrated by the shock of her husband's

oath.

- When she was at her worst, and not ex

to “pull through,” the burden of her wal was

that it was her fault, that her husband would

have been living at if she had let him alone.
Her children id not then know what she

meant by such ex ressions; but the time came

when the ersgood he

y and r.
. :1‘he death of a father under an circumstances

      
 

{4' -, Y
r M: .- -,‘  NW1,» w

 

greattrial; but when that ther has been

 

condemned to death under the law, or by the
practically unanimous voice of his fellow-citi-
zens, and has perished ignominiously, there is a
feeling connected with his sudden demise that
surpasses sorrow—indeed, there is a legacy of
desolation.

Victoria Halsey and her brother Jack had
that legacy, and they were by no means dis-
posed to kiss the rod that had smitten them.

They were anxious—especially Vic—to under-
stand the matter plainly and thoroughly, and to

know just why and how their father had r- '

ished, and for that information the appli to
Dave Wisner, who had been Tom alsey’s par—
ticular confidant, and who was sugposed to know
overwhing that went on everyw ere.

" by, you know how he died,” answered
Dave, when the girl shot a straight question at
him. “ He is dead now, and can‘tbe brought
back, and what’s the use of crying over spilt
milk or scraping an old sore?”

b"‘ But I want to know just why they killed
1m.
fl “”Because they accused him of stealing cat-

9.

“ And now everybody will despisemother
and Jack and me, and will hate us, because
father was hung for a cattle-thief.”

“ Not so bad as that, Miss Vic. It ain’t such
a terrible thing. We are all liable, you kn0w,
as the nigger said when he stole the overcoat.”

“ All liable to steal cattle?”

“I don’t mean that, though a good many of
us are—more than you’d be apt to think, I
reckon. I mean that we are all liable to be

icked up and strung up, without law or reason.
I) have known of at least a dozen men about
here who have been hung or shot for horse or
cattle thieving, and I would be willing to bet
high that not more than half of them were
guilty. Lynching is a good scheme sometimes,
when there’s a sure thing and the law can’t be
depended on; but as a steady business it don’t
work well.”

There was some consolation in this; but it
was not satisfactory to Vic Halsey, into whose
heart the sti had entered deeply.

“ I want to now,” said she, ‘ who those men
were who killed father, and so does Jack. We
want you to find out and give us their names."

Dave Wiener made it a business to learn the
names of the lynchers and he did learn them,
or most of them, and he told them to Victoria,
who put them on paper and memorized them.

Such wasa rtion of the sad history of the
family at Sma l Hopes Ranch.

There seemed to be no sadness, however, about
Victoria Halsey, as she sat one bri ht morning,
at a window that was shaded by climbing vines.

Very bright and ladylike, and almost hand-
some she looked as she sat there with her head
bent over her sewing—a picture of tranquil
domestic industry.

Quite handsome some would have called her
when she raised her large brown eyes and
smilingly greeted her mother as she entered the

room.

Mrs. Halsey had the appearance of a woman
who was old before her t' e. Her hair was
gray, “ but not with ears,’ and her worn/face
and fragile form spo e of an inward sorrow;
but her eyes were feverishly bright, and there
was a reso ute hardness in the nervous compres-
sion of her thin lips.

“ What is it, ma?” eagerly asked Victoria. “ I
saw you stop a man who was riding by and
speak to him, and you look as if you had got
some news.”

“Bad news from the Jonas place,” answered
Mrs. Halsey. “ It is true that a man from there
was killed the other night—one of a party that
were chasing some cattle—thieves; but it was not
the old wretch or either of his sons—nobody but
an Irishman named Flahe .”

‘“ That is too bad. I was oping that it might
have been that sneak, Herman J onas, who is
the apple of the old J ew’s eye, but there’s no
such luck. When a shot is fired into a bunch in
the dark, there is no telli who will be hit."

“ Herman Jonas will he ikely to get his dose
in time my dear. As for the ounger one, all
he needs is to be let alone and e will settle his
own case.” ‘

“ Well, we can wait, I su pose; but it is really
too bad that thin shoul turn out so meanly
when one does one s . It seems to me, ma,
that Jack gets all the luck. He has had it all so
far, anyhow.”

“ Jack has ggod chances. He goes out among
people more t n you do, and sees more of them,
and learns how totake them. He is uncommonly
smart and careful, too, for a boy of his years.”

‘ ‘ Careful? I should say careful. He knows
how to get the law on his side, or, at least, to
put himself in the right. Think how neatly he
got awa with that ig brute, Ceng Strang
one of t e worst of the wretchee w o murdered
his father. Strang was roaring drunk, and Jack
picked a (quarrel with him Without seemin to
do so an when the blind fool tried to wipe '
out, jack ulled on him once, and once was
enough. ow I envied him for that! I would
be satisfied if I could square accounts with
Simon Jonas; but I have tried hard, and found

no 0 nin for that.” '
  in which those two wo- i stealing.”

a,“ '

 

i

men, mother and daughter, spoke of the killin
of men was actually chilling to the blood; bu
the truth was that they had so long brooded over
one thought, aCcustomed themselves to one
idea, and trained themselves to one purpose,
that their natures had become warped.

“ Your chance will come yet, my dear,” said
Mrs. Halsey, in the same matter-of-fact tone.
" And even 1, old and useless as I am--1ny
chance may come. By the way, Vic, that was
Bill Wheatleigh who passed here, and he tells
me that Simon Jonas is going to hire a detective
to hunt and catch the thieves who have been
running off his cattle.”

Victoria huglhed, and her laugh was low and
musical, thong there was a metallic ring in it
that gave it a certain harshness of tone.

“I wish him joy of his job,” said she. “If
the men about here are not smart enough to find
out what becomes of their cattle, no outsider
will be likely to find it out for them.”

“It will go hard with the old wretch to have
to pay for such help. Here is somebody riding
up to’the house. I hope that it is not a detec-
tive.

“No, indeed,” said Victoria, as she arted the
vines and looked out. “ That is r. Exton,
and he is dressed as if he has come courting.”

Horace Exton was wearing the neat business
suit which he had reserved for special occasions

resenting quite a gentlemanly appearance, and
Ee looked bright and happy as he entered the
ouse.

Mrs. Halsey, who was not given to entertain—
ing company, said a few words to him, and went
out, leaving him with Victoria, who invited him
to take a seat, and greeted him like an old
friend.

“ I am glad to see you lookin
she. “ How is luck with you
news from the hole in the ground?”

“It is still there,” he answered, pleasantly.
“ Nobody has been bold enough yet to come
sion and carr it off.”

“ at woul be a ve stupid thi for any-
body to do, if all that I ear about t e hole is
true ”

so well,” said
What is the

Eston was so accustomed to bequ joked about
that unprofitable hole in the groun that he was
never fretted by anything that was said concern-

i it.

nfiI have no doubt that you have heard the
truth so far,” said he. “ That hole in the round
is the laughing-stink of the Qro Fmo district.
and I suppose it has. deschcd its bad reputation.

‘ I came near having a very serious loss there yes-

terda .”

u ow was thaw; h S bee d. ted b

“ M rtner w o a n wit
the buysiipiaess foliedqgite awhilfi, flnafi‘yliigtahvet ,1”,

esterda c is gri , an am a )e-
{vas going, t? Denver. I 51d him that I would
put in one more day at work in the hole, nnl
went in there with lemon Squeener. Then he

ed.” I

“yWhy did he stay?” . _ .

“It be ned that I_struck it rich Just then,
and I coumot anew him to go.”

“ Struck it rich. Mr. Extoni Really i”

“ Beall and truly; and very rich. I made a.
blast, an' struck t e vein at last, and that’s a
very ood rh e. I never saw anything richer
anyw ere. t is 'ust wonderful. The hole m
the round has r eemed itself.”

“ tter say that you have redeemed it by
sticking to it. You have lots of pluck.”

“ Yes, I have shown plenty o pluck—unless
it ought to be called obstinacy—and now I havs
the luck, and 1 am glad of it. ’

“Of course it would have been very hard to
go away and acknowledge that you had made a
waste of all that time and labor."

“ Oh, I would not have left here in any event.
If Klein had gone to Denver. and the hole in
the ground had been an utter failure, I would
have stuck to it.”

“ Wh so?”

“ Because I wanted to be near you.”

The girl must have ex ted somethin like
this, as it could not be or nothing that xton
had come there to tell her of his go. d fortune.

“It would not do you or anybody else any h

good to be near me,” she calmly replied.

“ It would be all the good in the world to me,
because I love on, Victoria, and I have come
here this morn ng» to ask you to ma me.
would not have dared to say as muc awhile
ago when I had sunk my last ollar in that hole
in t e ound, and there seemed to be no roso

t 0 ever getting any of it back; but am
ikely to become a rich man now, and I feel I
have a ri ht to ask you to marry me.”

The gg'l’s countenance changed. Her eyes
were cast down, and a sudden fiush‘ was soo-
ceeded by intense pallor. /

“ Take it back, Mr. Extonl” she pleaded.
“You Will have to take it back. I can never
marry, and I am the last person that you ought
to think of marrying.”

“ Why do you say that?”

“ Can you ask me why? Surely you know
well enough. One reason is—and no other
reason is needed—that my father was hung for
cattle-stealing.”

“ But you have not been hung for cattle-

 

- e-‘r. gt

 

The Night Raider.

.5

 

 

“ Not yet.”

“ And you are no cattle-thief.”

“ How do you knowf You must not be too
sure of that. As Dave Wisner has told me, We
.are all liable to be accused of something of
the sort, whether we are 'lty «- not.”

“ I must you not to Joke about this matter,
Victoria, as am thoroughly in earnest.”

“ And I am sorry to see that you are so much
in earnest, as I am compelled to say that it must
stop right here. If we are to continue to be
friends, as I hope we may, you must not speak
to me in that way again.”

“ Your wish is law to me, and I will wait. I
won’t bother you an more, Victoria, but you
may be sure that I on’t mean to give you up.
And now as we are the best of friends, I hope
{on will let me 've you a bit of advice, as a

rother might advrse a sister.”

“ I will thank you for it.”

“ I am afraid that you go roaming about the
country too much alone and at night. In fact,
I have seen you riding alone and at night when
you Were far from home.” .

“ What harm is there in that?”

“ It is dangerous, my dear.”

“ Not for me. You are not thoroughl
quainted with me yet. Do you know how
ride?”

“ You are a splendid rider.
better.”

“ Do you know how I can shoot?”

“ I don’t know anything about that.”

“ Some da 1 Will show you, and then you
will admit that you seldom saw a better shot.”

“ But you don’t want to shoot anybody, I
hope."

“ I might want to. “'e are all liable, as Dave
Wisncr  I as<ure you, Mr. Exton, that I
am well able t) take care of myself. I am
always careful, too‘ but, as your advice is well
meant, I will try to yet more careful.”

ac-
can

1 never saw a

CHAPTER V.
ANOTHER or THEM.

Oro Fino was ablaze. not with the light of a
conflagration, but with the usual “ strictly busi-
ness” illumination that made it so resplendent
and attractive at night to its residents and the
:cattered population of the surrounding coun.

’3’

Since the railroad had reached that point the
town had got an amazing growth, and had
sprung up like a mushroom.

Originally the center of a small mining dis-
trict. the mining interests ,ha.l not proved as
profitable as had been expected. and Oro Fino

ad experienced a season of depressxon from
which it had been artially relieved by the
extension of the ranch ng industry.

Then the railroad had come, and Oro Fino re-
joiced in a “ boom.”

With the boom had come bigger and more

. showy saloons, flner gambling establishments, a

\

 

music hall that 'was styled an opera house, with
other accessories that were alike expensive and
demoralizing, all of which were vastl attract-
ive to cattle-men and cowboys and ot ers.

Nick Markell’s place was not on] the showiest
saloon in Cm Fino, but combin the advant-
agaes of a bar-room, a small variety theater and
a ig gambling room, all of which were entered
by way of the bar-room.

On the ni ht which has been mentioned, or
should have n, the games u s were run-
ning, tho h not yet briskly, the variety per-
formance ad fairly be un, the space on the
main floor was rapidly ling up‘with a motley
collection of humanity, and the r was doing a
rushing business.

Among these who hung about the bar was a
neatly dressed youn man. almost beardless, but
who evidently con dered himself as much of a
man as any person in the establishment.

There was no blaster or swagger about him;
but he Spoke and acted with a quiet sort of as-
sumption, as if he wanted it to be understood
that he was standing on his dignity, and nobody
would be allowed to tread on is toes.

Thou h he had patronized the bar pretty
freelff. 6 did not seem to be at all affected by
the 1 nor be had drunk: as his face was not
flhsh , and he kept gl ncing warily about,
after themanner of a person who knew what
ge was domg, and meant tolook out for Number

ne.

Yet he had hoisted in enough of the fiery fluid
to beat his blood and to make him touch ,~ if
not quarrelsome, and this fact was made evi ent
when he had an altercation with the barkeeper
about his change.

The point being settled to his satisfaction he
expressed his opinion of the transaction in a
very forcible manner, and the barkeeper an-
swered him quite as hotly and in yet stronger
language. \

It seemed likely that the difficulty would lead
to something more violent and dangerous than

. Words, and the bystanders had begun to move

about to give the disputants room, when a per-
son who was l‘G'UglliZB'l as having authority
there stepped in to quell the disturbance.

This person was no other than Nick Markell,
the proprietor of the establishment.

He was a tall and large middle-aged man. of
powerful build, with a heavy grizzled beard,

 

and a countenance that was anything but pre-

possessin .

If he did not own the earth, one would have
thought thslt he wanted to rule as much of it as
cagie within his wh. f th 1 n

houg e step in or e purpose o que -
ing the disturbance, he did not proceed with the
least pretense of impartiality, but took the bar-
keeper’s part at once and sat down on his an.
ta onist quite severely).

e towered over t e belligerent young cus—
tomer, speakiizgato him in an abrupt and su r-
cilious style t was surely not intend to
conciliate.

“ Look here, Jack Halsey; you are too durned
fresh about here.”

" I am just fresh enough to suit myself,” an-
swered the youth, “ and it won’t be safe for any
man to try to salt me down.”

“ It won't, hey? I reckon it would be an
easy enough job to do, if anybody cared to do
it. I so. that you had better not make your-
self so urned fresh, considering who and what
you are.”

“ Who and what am I, then i”

“The son of a man who was hanged for cattle-
stealing, as everybody knows."

“He was murdered, and nobody ought ton

know that better than you, who were one of his
murderers!”

It seemed to the bystanders that this talk was 

becoming decidedly warlike, more so than the
previous altercation with the barkeeper.

The warlike aspect was visible not so much in
the words that had passed so far, as in the style
in which they were spoken, and the evident
animus of the opponents.

One of the parties appeared to be eager to

provoke a deadly controvers , and the other ’

was surely willing to meet him at least half-

wa .

'lyhat there was had blood between them was a
fact well known in Oro Fino; but what chance
had the slight youth against the big and power-
ful man? ~

Just the chance that the “ resources of civili-
zation ” give to the weakest of those who have
th i skill and courage to use them.

“ You talk like a fool from Sillyville!”
sneered Nick Markell. “ He was hanged for
cattle-stealing, and I know that he deserved
hanging!”

At this there were mutterin . and grumblings f

of protest, as it was natural y the opinion of
any fair-minded crowd that a father’s faults
or crimes ought not to be “ thrown up” to
his son.

Above all other sounds rose the voice of Jack
Halse , clear and shrill and wickedly emphatic.

“ on are a liar!”

This was the deadliest of _ insults. ln Oro
Fino just as in other towns, men would lie and
chea and even steal, and their offenses would
pass without special notice; but it was a matter
of common consent that when one man called
another a liar, blood was the only satisfaction
for the insult.

The spectators e ted the big man to fall
upon the other an crush him or, at least, to
knock him down and walk over im; but Mark-
ell made no such demonstration.

His red face turned livid in hue as he reached
for his revolver.

Jack Halsey, who had doubtless been antici-
pating such a movement, was quicker than his
antagonist in drawing his pistol, but was in no
hurry to use it. a

He waited until Markell’s intention was ap-
parent—until his finger was on the trigger—and
then he fired.

The big man stag erred as if the force of the
explosion had blown in backward, and dropped
in a hea on the floor, his right hand jerking u
as he fel , and discharging his pistol at the eel -

in .

go quickly was this catastrophe reached, that
scarce y more than two seconds elapsed between
the insult and the shot: but the course of action
did not escape the experienced efves of the spec-
tators, and the movements of he antagonists
were noted and accurately timed by more than

one.

This must have been calculated on by the
young man, who was much cooler than he
seemed to be and who had clearly put himself
in the attitude of defending his life against a

deadl a ession.
Nic arkell stru led to get up, and suc-
ceeded in partially ris , supporting himself on

his left arm.

Though the pallor of death had already set-
tled in is countenance, the desire for vengeance
was so strong in him that he cocked his revolver
with his right hand, and leveled it at his youn
antagonist, who stood there with his arms fold!E
ed, calmly gazing at his work.

‘ Don’t let him go i” hoarser murmured Mark-
ell. “ Give me a chance at him l”

He had his chance. but could not use it.

The pistol fell from his stiffened flugersnand
he rolled over, silent and motionless, as do as
Jack Halsev’s father, who had been hun for
cattle-stealing.

“ Another of them,” muttered the youn man
in‘ an undertone, as he walked away unmo.ested
and left the saloon.

 

Out on the street, at a little distance from
Nick Markell‘s place, he was met by a young
woman who had been looking or waiting for
him—his sister, Victoria Halse .

She had not only heard the 8 ct, and had seen
Jack come out of the saloon; but she perceived
immediately, from the expression of his face,
that somethin unusual had happened. and it
was easy for or to put the three points to-
gether.

“What is it, Jack?” she eagerly demanded.
“ What have on been doin ’I”

“ I have kil ed Nick Markell.”

Her big brown eyes fairly burned as she
smiled cruelly.

“ You have the luck of it, Jack. You struck
1 high and hard this time. Come, let us go home.
That is glory enough for one day. ”

CHAPTER VI.
SMART ALECK.

I'r happened, however, that Victoria Halsey ,.
and Jack were not going to get away from Oro .
Fino that night quite as soon or as easily as they
expected to.

he sudden death of Nick Markell had produc-
ed somewhat of a stunning effect in the crowded
saloon; but the effect was on] temporary and
the dead man’s friends quic began to blaze
up and insist upon doing somet ing. . \

He had plenty of friends, to say nothing of the
‘ rustlers and heelers who depended on him for .
free drinks, and who wore consequently ready to ‘
do his work, dirty and otherwise. I 

He also had a son, Dan Markell, about the ,
same age as Jack Halsey, who was not present it
when the shot was fired, but appeared there di-~
rectly after his father’s death, and immediately ' g i ‘
became clamorous for the execution of justice in '
the shape of vengeance upon the slayer. A , ,

It-was easy for him to collect for that purpose - " Q:
a party of Nick Markell’s friends and supporters, 
who followed him out into the street making , if:
more noise than was necessary, or perhaps ad~ ‘ ‘ 
visable, , *

Among those who went with them or followed .
them were several who had seen the shooting, 
and who were therefore inclined to watch the ‘ ,‘g'i‘

roceedings further and see that the young man
ad fair play]. ,

Jack and ictoria Halsey, as they were walk- . {3
ing slowly toward the place where their horses , 
were hitched, heard the noise of the party issu- '

. ing from the saloon, and, naturally s ' g
, that it. concerned them, turned to see what it was
‘ about. ,5

“ Kill him!” shouted Dan Markell, as he node é 
toward the pair and fired his pistol wildly. 
“ Kill the scoundrel who murdered my father!” ’  

“ Hold on there,” answered the clearand ring- _
ing voice of Victoria Halsey. “ There are two"

 

 

 

q

of us here, and we know how to take careot
ourselves.” . _
“ Kill him!” again shouted Dan Markell. “85

w

lg.
«i


   
   
 
 
  
 
  
    
  

“ Kill the son of a cattle-thief !” . _
As the Halseys stood and faced their enemihs 5
with cocked revolvers, two men hastily stepped , . ~
forward and stood between them and their ene- . ; 
mics, and the two men were recogn‘ as 
Horace Exton and Carl Klein. ' r

“ Here are two more,” said Exton in atone --.;:=.
that was plainly heard by all concerned. “ We ' . I].
saw the s coting, and we know that the lad was . '33
defending his ife, and we mean to stand by 
min; Nick Markell was the first to pull a piss '
to .

“That’s‘so,” observed another man, as he 
stepped forward and ranged himself at theido ‘ ’4
of the miners. and another folloch him.  ;

“He called my father a liar,” yelled Dan

Markell. . - "
“Your father bullied him and insulted  
first,” replied Extou, “and the lad had a rim -‘ 
to take his own Part. ‘ _. -

“ Stand out o the wa , there l” orderedoneof  
the Markell party. “ e've ot nothing f g ’
ou folks. and don‘t want to urt you; so you ,
tier not mix up in what don’t concern you.”
“ Fair play concerns us, and we mean to stand. 2,,
up for it. .  “
“We mean to havs that young scamp 
git satisfaction out of him. Stand out of the" '1
way, or you’ll have to take the consequences.” ‘ i,
‘ Stand out of the way, all of you. and keep: ,‘
the peace, or I’ll show you what the coup-I.“
quences will be!” ., V
This speaker was a person in authority; who ,
blag both the power and the will to enforce his
0 ers. .
He was Harvey Hobbs, Marshal of Oro  f
a tall, broad-shouldered, big-chested mamw’hmm
great physical strength was notorious, and
whose courage no person had ever thought!!!
questioning. a.
The two big] reVOlvers which he wore 
spicuouslv on is person were at once his 
nia of cc and his special deputies; but 
personal character was a better “persuada'”?
than a battery of artillery. ' ' - ,,
With him came grward a man who Wallis};
comparative stran r in Oro Fine, ‘ ‘ ‘
ev'irdfntly a ¥tiéijend (ate the marshal's.
ey step in tween the OppOsi.  parties
with the avowed intention of keepingt , .-
but stond With their backs to Jack Halsey 7
' his friends while they faced the Markell smith“ .‘

l
.24. ‘v

    
   

 

  
  
  

 

 
 

6

The Night Raider.

 

 

 

“Do you hear me ?” Hobbs demanded. “I
am the preserver of the peace in this town, and
on can’t have a skrimuiage on the street while
am here, and attending to business.”
“ You don’t understand this matter, major,”
rotested one of the Markell party. “Jack

Halsey, there. has murdered Nick Markell, shot

him down in his own house.”

“I know all about it," replied the marshal.

“I didn’t see the iiiss, but my friend, Aleck

Sander was there, and he tells me that the

young fellow acted in self-defense. That is not

a point for him or me to decade—nor for you,

either—but I don’t mean to allow the lad to be

shot down, dry so, in this street. Not this night.

If you believe that he has bucked against the

law, get out a warrant for him, and he shall

come and answer it if I am big enough to bring
him. Are you going to simmer down, now, or
shall I have to read the riot act to you?”
No doubt the Markell party were extremely
16th to abandon their expected prey~ but the
. attitude of Major Hobbs had taken t espunk
out of them, and they made no further warlike
demonstration.
The marshal turned to Jack Halsey, whom he
’- advised to go home at once, and to keep away

"'* from Oro Fino, unless he should be sent for.

F ‘ Jack and his sister walked to their horses, fol-
lowed by Horace Exton.

“ We are greatly obliged to you, Mr. Exton,
for your time help,” said Victoria as that gen-
tleman assiste her to mount.

“ You are quite welcome. I alwa 8 like to
see fair play. By the way. Jack, hope you
are not going to keep up the business of filing

ple. Remember that the pitcher that goes

Often to the well is sure to get broken at last ”

“I am safe so far,” answered Jack, with a
smile. “Thanks for your advice, Mr. Exton,
i552 - and I will tr to take care of myself.”

:' U The crow in the street gradually dispersed,
 and Dan Markell led his partisans back to the
'v' ', saloon, to moisten their throats as they discussed
' . their grievances and cared for the body of the
dead proprietor.
Horace Exton and his partner rode of! to-
gether toward their hole in the ground.
.. “ You will get yourself into ascrape about
~ . ‘ that girl yet,” observed Klein.

v “ Fair play is a. jewel,” sententiously answered

 the Englishman.

“And she is a bright jeWel, I suppose you
' think."

“ She is bright enough, anyhow.”
 . Major Hobbs and the friend whom he had
’7 mentioned as Aleck Sander walked up the street
" ” a little distance, and stepped into a saloon—not

 - - that which had been lately presided over by
2' , Nick Markel], but a smaller and less conspicu-
5, _' ous one—where they seated themselves in aquiet
 corner and called for cigars.

r  Aleck Sander did not seem to be as tall when
5‘ ‘ I he was seated as when he was standing, being
7-7, one ofthe long-legged breed, and he was yet a
 oung man, probably a year or two under
x]- Ol't .

7 ’ ', , HZ had dark hair and complexion, was neatly
  dressed, was ssably good-looking worealarge
1’3 " felt hat w hic was usually drawn down over his
' brows, and had the ap arance of a steady man
of business, saya ban cashier in a thriving

.( “

“ It seems to me, Aleck,” remarked Major
, ‘ Hobbs, “ that on are everywhere and  every-
' thin , and no hing esca syou. It is no won-
 der tint they name you t mart Aleck. For in
‘ ‘  I think I shall have to call you Alec
mist the Great.”

“It would not be the first time that I have
attack that nickname,” answered the other.
1“ Folks are fond of joking about my name. But
, ,Iit was no wonder that I was at that scene, Har-
 vey. I happened in there as a gpod many other
 '« peopledid and when the fass meagan I watched
 ' t c osely, because I wasinteres in that young
r  amen.” '

1.1-! j “ You were? What sort of an interest?”

 ' . '“ It seemed to me that there must bea story
i < mixed 1) in that business—a story that runs
' , L war and is likely to run forward—and
that I had got in somewhere about the middle of

. So I wanted to know the flrstpart and guess
at the ending, unless I may get a chance to read
"the whole.”

“ What did you catch onto, Smart Aleckl”

;  “ It was clear that there was a grudge between
 those two. The big one told the little one that
. i his father had n hun for cattle-stealing.”

'3" ' . “It was a m , tric , Aleck, to throw that
1- ' up to the young fellow.” . .
. “Of course it was, why if it was true
and the big fellow said It in a sneerihg, brutal
way which showed that he meant to rub it in
I;  all he could. The young fellow spoke up as
"-24.9 i, sharp as you please and said that his father had
1 been murdered and that the big one was one of
the murderers. ’,

k “ That was business talk,” observed the mar-

 

 

  
 
 

 

 

9‘ Strictly business, and so was the rest of it.
  I watched the young one so closely that
s‘-""_.“ could read him like a book, or thoughtI

 

 

  
         

,.

 could. I saw that he was itching forachance
1;; d, to his work in and that he was as coolas
 la and as hard as quartz, though he

/

 

seemed to be carrying the thing ofl.’ like a hot-
blooded fool. When he gave the big one the lie,
I was quite sure that he was playing his game as
fine as silk.”

“ What sort of a game did you take it to be?"

“Well, major, if he wanted to kill Nick Mar-
kell, and to have the law on his side, and to
make a pretty clear showing of actinor 'in self-
defense, he succeeded admirably, and I envy his
pluck and coolness.”

The Irarshal rubbed his stubby beard, and
bent his heavy brows, as if this statement had
given him food for thought.

“ I don’t know but you are right about that,
Aleck,” said he. “ This is the second time that
Jack Halsey has killed a man in pretty much
the same way. It isn’t three months since he
had a quarrel with (‘ephas Strang, and he pro-
voked Straiig, who was drunk, to pull a pistol
on him, and shot him just as he shot Markel].
As you say, he had the law on his side.”

“ Was Stran one of the murderers, ten?”

‘y‘ I suppose t e young chap would have said

9

“ Was Markell his second man, then?”
“ His second.”
' “ And Halsey is so young.”

“ Hardly more than twenty-one, I should
sa . v-

“ I suppose it is a fact, major, that his father
was hung for cattle~stealing‘?f’

“ Yes, he was hung by igilantes; but that
happened four or five (years ago, before my
time, and I don’t preten to know the rights of
the matter. Young Halsey says that it wasa

such was the opinion of the friends and partisans
of the dead man.

They made strenuous eflorts to induce the
coroner’s jury to frame a verdict condemnatory

.of Jack Halseyhbut found themselves harassed
and shut off at every turn, and this without the
least effort on the part of him who may be styled
the accused.

Among the witnesses of the encounter who
were willing to givo their testimony were sev-
eral reliable men, experienced in the difllculties
of that nature, whose statements were decidedly
favorable to young: Halsey.

They made it plain that the controversy had
been provoked by Nick Markel], who had not
only given the first insult, but had made the
first aggresaive movement. '

As the question was \\ hich of them had “ ull-
ed” first, and as it was made clear that ack
Halsey would have been shot down if he had not
chanced to be a trifle quicker than his antago-
nist. the verdict exonerated him from blame.

This, of course, did not settle the matter for

L Dan Markel] and his faction, who nursed their

grudge against the slayer, and endeavored to

1 make Nick Markell’s funeral a big affair, with

l

murder: but I never looked into it at all care- '

fully, as it was outside of my jurisdiction.”

“ The sequel to the story seems likely to come
within your jurisdiction, major. If this sort of
thing goes on, you may have to take a hand in
the ame.”

“ if this is really what Iyiou may call a ven—
detta, Aleck, and if Jack alsey really means
to kill all the men who took part in the hanging
of his father, he has a lon job before him, as
well use tough one. But‘l ho he ma draw
the line somewhere—sa at Nic Markel .”

“ He seems to be a angerous young man to
be going around loose, and he may be expected

the view of gaining popularity for their cause.

Anion those who did not attend the funeral
was Alec Sander, nor did he spend the day in
Oro Fino. -

He mounted a good horse and rode out to the
Small Hopes Ranch, arriving there a little be-
fore noon.

His arrival there was productive of no little
wonderment to Jack and Victoria, as well as a
good deal of consternation in the mind of their
mother, who was averse to receiving viSits from
strangers.

Smart Aleck, however. had a good supply of
both tact and cheek, and explained his visit
quite naturally, if not to the entire satisfaction
of all concerned.

“ I witnessed that difficulty of yours, Mn
Halsey, in the Oro Fino the other night ’ said
he—“ perha 5 you noticed me there With ajor

‘ Hobbs—an , as I believe that you were_in the
~ right of that, I thought I had better ride out

to come to a violent end. There was another L

pom’t in the business, Harvey, that interested
me.

“ What was that?”

“ The woman in the case, of course. I have

here this morning, to give on some informa-
tion together with a little friendly aoVice.”

“ e were thankful to you for the interest

on took in us at that time,” observed Victoria,
‘ and we will now be glad to get any informa-
tion you may choose to give us. ’

“ My name is Sander, Miss Halsey, and 1 may

made a guess about her; but there is no use in say that I have continued to take an interest in

guessing when you can easily tell me who and ; that affair.

what she is.”

“ You mean the girl who met him and stood ' for him was more than admirable.

l

I admired your brother’s pluck

and coolness and our conduct in standing u
’ y With thg

up with him there a ainst the crowd. That is i help of my friend, Major Hobbs, I have exerted

his sister, Victoria alsey. She is a trump
card, as you could well see, as bright as a new
dollar and as gritty as brook sand. That is

about all I know of her, except that she is 1

something wonderful as a rider and lam told
that few men can shoot straighter or quicker
than she can, either with a pistol or a rifle.”

“ There is a pair of them, then. Now, major,
I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if their father was
really guilty of cattle-stealing, and it is jutitafiqs-
sible that there may be a vein of cattle-s 'ng
running through the family.”

“ I don’t know anything about that. Cattle-
stealing is out of my jurisdiction. It is as much
as I can do to keep anything like order in this
little town of Oro Fino, and sometimes I am
very sick of the job. Come Aleck, it is getting
late, and I must be up bright and early in the
morning. Let us go and turn in.” ,

But Aleck Sander had some other matters to
look after, as well as some ints to turn
ovegtin his mind, and he bade '8 friend good-
ni .

be subject which he pondered, and which
stuck to him like a burr, was connected with
Jack Halsey’s shooting scrape, and led up from
that to “ the woman in the case.”

“ There is a pair of them,” was his muttered

conclusion, “ and there is a vein of cattle-steal- ,

ing running through the family, as well as a
vein of vengeance. They are capable of any-
thing that will help them or harm those they
hate. The cattle-thieves who are working this
circuit are said to be two, and one of them is a
woman. Decidedly I must keep my eye on the

pair.”

 

CHAPTER VII.
“ HE is A DETECTIVE.”

Tim funeral of Nick Markel] was a great oc-
casion in Cm Fino—not exactly a celebration,
as few people. if any, were really rejbiced at the
sudden taking off of the deceased—but some-
thing in the nature of a picnic, and a big boom
for the saloons and some other accessories of
civilization.

Nick Markel] had been one of the magnates
of the camp—not highly respected, but a solid
man in a moneyed way, and possessing power and
influence that had gained him plenty of follow-
ers. if not. plenty of friends. I

There had been a coroner’s inquest after his
violent death, the coroner being a new institu-
tion in Cm Fine, and one which, because of its
novelty, the citizens Were disposed to “ work for
all it was worth.”

In this case it was not worth much—at least,

‘.
‘.'.-~ fa

‘ 'p a w - A.  :,.,' "Vi-Le 3.1.

l
l

a little influence in getting the matter straight-

l ened up. My. information is that the coroner’s
i jury has cleared your brother, and he is not;

ikel to be troubled by the law. ”

“ We were alread aware of that, Mr. Sander.
Our friend Dave lVisner, was in Cm Fino
watching the proceedings, and he brought us
that information.” ' ’

“ Glad to know that you had got it. I suppose
he told you that Markell’s friends are greatly
excited over the matter, and are talking very
sav ely about your brother.”

“aWe had expected that, and we are not afraid
of them, as we believe that we are able to take
pretty ood care of ourselves.”

“ It g always best to be. on the safe side,
though and I wanted to adv1se your brother as
Nick Harkell’s funeral is gomg to make a big
stir, to stay at home to-day, or at least to keep
away from Oro Fino.”

“That is just what he meant to do. Mr. San-
der. He is not fond of funerals Since his father
was buried, and it will probabl be some time
before he visits Oro Fino again. '

“ If I had known all that, I might have saved
myself the journey out here. But I meant
well, and thought that I might do you a friend-

urn.

 

l “tvge thank you for your good intentions, at

r eas . I

l “ B the way, Miss Halse , as you have men-

! tione our father‘s death, hope I may be ex-
cused or alluding to the subject, though I am

aware that it is a delicate one.”

“Not to us Mr. Sander, though it may he
more than delicate to the men who murdered
him. The truth will never come out, perhaps;
but, if it should, I am sure that we need not be
ashamed of it.”

“ Is not that a point that is worth making?"
in nired Sander. “ As the truth does not seem
inc iued to come out of its own accord might
it not be possible to bring it out? Il so, it
might save your brother considerable trouble,
an atthesametim:=beusefultotherestofthe
family.”

“T e murderers,” answered Victoria, “are
interested in concealin their crime, or putting
it in” a false light, an that happened so long

“Only four or five years. That is a long
time in such a country as this, but not too long
to shut out the discovery of the truth, if the
proper measures were taken. I have talked of

 

hagpened before his time, and he has never
loo edinto it carefully; but he has hisdoubts.

his matter with Major Hobbs. He says that it '

 

 

:3
,1:
I.
ll
ll
l
l
i
l
I

 

 
 

The Night Raider.

‘7

 

 

 

it, perhaps I might be of some service to you.”
‘ Are you a detective?” inquired Victoria.
“ I have done some Work in that line.”
“ We are not able to employ a detective, Mr.
Sander.”
“ Don’t let that worry you.

I was not pr0~
posing to do it as a business job.

I

l have taken 3

such an interest in the matter, that I will be '

only too glad if I can be of any service to you,
and the service shall cost you nothing.”
Perhaps Victoria thought that this new and

eager friend would be entirely too glad to enter ;

her service as he proposed, and thatitwould not
be advisable for her to encourage him too ex.
tensively.

As dinner was ready just then, she parried his
offer by inviting him to stay and eat with the
family.

The invitation was quite a matter of course,
and he accepted it as a matter of course.

Mrs. Halsey was inclined to treat the stranger
with frigid politeness. but warmed to him at
once when he raised the cool and plucky con-
duct of her children at Oro Fino.

After dinner he got her cornered, and was
getting on with her remarkably well, when Vic-
toria put in a word that informed her that he
was a detective, and after that she became an
iceberg.

Jack was also more or less fascinated with
him, though inclined to be suspicious, and will-
ingly showed him about the place when he
evinced a disnosition to linger.

In a grass lot near the house were two horses,
a bay gelding and a black mare, in which San—
der took a live] interest, expressing a gread ad-
miration of bot .

“ That black mare is your sister‘s, I suppose,”
he remarked.

“ Yes,” answered Jack; “ she is Vic’s pet.”

“ I was sure that I had seen her in Oro Fino,
when you and our Sister rode away from there.
:heis a splendid animal, and I would like toown

er. ‘

When he at last started to leave the place,
Victoria followed him out to his horse, and
spoke to him more freclyaiid warmly than in the
house.

“ I have not thanke'l you as you deserve to be
thanked,” said she, “for our kind offer. I do
not know whether I shall )0 able to avail mySelf
of it or not; that will depend on circumstances.
You have perhaps noticed that my mother is
peculiar. and my brother is suspicious of every-
body. Therefore I must be careful what I sa
and do. But you may be sure your kindness is
appreciated.”

“ You will consider my offer, then?” he sug-
gestcd.

" Assuredly I will; but I must see you alone
some time and apart from my family. Then I
can talk to you as I choose to talk.”

“Nothin would please me better,” eager]
answered ander. “ But when and where can
meet you?”

“ Leave me alone to manage that.”

When Smart Aleck rode away from the Small
Hopes Ranch he had become a little further ad-
vanced in his conclusions.

“ One man and one woman,” he muttered.
“ A bay horse and a black mare. It really does
look as if there might be a vein of cattle-stealin
running through that family. “'hat a splendi
creature the girl is! I should hate mightily to
do anything that would set her against me. But
what must be must be.”

Victoria was taken to task by her mother for
her atfability toward the stranger.

“ What Were you saying to him I” demanded
Mrs. Halsey. ‘

“ Just giving him a little tafly, ma. It is well
to have two strings to a bow, and I may use
him for one."

“Iam sure that he came here for no good
DU 86, and you had better not fool with him.”

“ have no fear of him. If he can get ahead
of me, he is smarter than I think he is. ’

“ Remember that he is a detective.”

“That is just what I intend to remember.”

CHAPTER VIII.
ovna ran CLirr.

ALECK SANDER did not see Victoria HalScy
the next da , nor did he get any word from her.

He wom ered when and how she would
arrange the meeting that she had promised him,
and discovered that he was more anxious for
such a meeting than he could have imagined he
would be '

“ I must be careful,” he said to himself, “ or
I may fall in love with her, and that would
never do."

He waited about Oro Fino. as if be e ted
a passage from her, until afternoon, an then
rode out to the Jonas Ranch, where he was
warmly welcomed by Simon Jonas.

This welcome be appreciated at its true value,
as he knew that the Jew, who was paying for
the services of a detective, was anxxons to be
sure that he was getting the worth of his
money. ‘ '

Simon Jonas at once wanted to know the
new: in Cm Fine, especially with re card to the
events following the death of Nick arkell, and

 

If I could know all there is to be learned about ‘ whether any steps had been taken to punish the

youn man who had killed him.

“ othing has been done yet,” answered San-
der, “ and I doubt if anybody will attempt to
do anything legally. I have no doubt that the
young fellow meant to kill Nick Markell if he
could get a chance at him; but he was careful
to kech the law on his side, and what can be
done.

“I sometimes think,” observed Simon Jonas,
“ that there is getting to be a little too much law
in this country—the kind of law that aids the
escape of criminals, instead of securing their
punishment.” ‘

“ That wasn’t the sort of law that prevailed
when Toni Halsey was hung.”

“Indeed it wasn’t. We got away with him
in short order.”

“And now his son seems to be getting away
with on in short order.”

“ e is a murderous young scoundrel, and I
supp0se that we shall have to form a Vigilance
Committee to settle his case, if it is a fact'that
the law can’t touch him. Do you really believe
that he means to try to kill off the Vigilantes who
hun Tom Halsey?”

“ t looks very much, Mr. Jonas, as if that is
his intention. You know that he charged
Cephas Strang and Nick Markell with havmg
been his father’s murderers.”

“Then he may be expected to get after me,
and it is a wonder that he has let me off so
long, as I am really the chief of the Vigil-
antes.”

“ Perhaps he has not been able to get a fair
chance at you.”

“ I ho he never will; but I must be careful
of myse f, if such a wild beast as that is allowed
to go about the countH killing people.”

“It seems to me, r. Jonas, that you have
been taking good care of ourself, or he might
have had a chance at 'ou )efore now.”

Smart Aleck s kc lightly of this matter; but
it was evident t at it was no sort of a joke to
Simon Jonas, who had turned quite pale, and
was fldgetin0r uneasily in his chair. '

“ If it really seems t9 you to be a serious busi-
ness,” observed Sander, “ the best thing for you
to dowill be to sta at home and kee out of
danger. Nobody is ikely to try to mo est you
in your own house in the daytime, and at night
I expect to be hanging around the ranch to
watch for those cattle-thieves. That is what
brought me here this evening.”

“ Do you expect to watch these thieves alone?”
in uired Jonas.

‘ Yes, I don’t need any help; that is to say, I
don’t want anybody to bother me. I can alwa s
do my work more surely and more safe y
alone. ’

“ But you might find them.”

“ That is what I am here for.”

“If you should catch a ang in the act of
running off a bunch of catt e, would you chase
them?”

“Of course I would.”

“Why, Mr. Sander, you could never catch
them and take them in if you were alone?”

“ I might do something‘that would serve as
good a purpose, though.”

“ They shoot, you know. They killed
Flaherty.” ‘

“ I am not afraid of their shooting.”

“ Would you shoot them down as they ran 7”

“ No. I never like to 8 il a good subject for
the rope or anything in t at line! Just let me
alone to manage that business, Mr. Jonas, and 1
must ask you to let me manage it in my own

way.”

‘ All right. I wish you luck.”

Aleck Sander did watch that night, and his
sgyle of watching was most thorough and effec-
t ve.

Concealing his horse where it would be the
most handy for him in any event which he
might expect to transpire, he kept guard over a
gattlc corral at a consxderable diStance from the

ouse.

Near the corral wasa small and loose lot of!
specially fine steers, which could be depended on
not to stray, as the were fed and salted there,
and Sanderraasona l sup thatthey would
be the objective pomt- o the raiders, if any
should come along.

The night was somewhat similar to that
which had \\ itncssed the death of Flahertv.

Though no storm was brewing. and there was
no sign of any impending convulsion of the
elements, the sky was pretty thickly covered
with scattered clouds, through which now and
then the moon shone brightly.

It was not, indeed. a dark night, hardly one
that would be chosen by cattle-thieves for their
operations, unless they had become emboldened
by im unity: but their boldness was what the
detective calculated on.

If they did not come that night, they would
not long delay another attempt.

Everything hap wned justas Smart Aleck had
wished and expec it to happen.

If he had had the arrangement of the pm
gramme himself it could not have been more
satisfactory to . h m, or have iVen him a better
chance at the prey for whic he was lying in

 

wai »
At about the middle of the night, or,__some-/

 

A \ , ’3‘. ‘~
 r,“ .. 

 

what later, he noticed a movement among the
loose cattle which was, to say the least of it,
suspicious.

A portion of them gradually separated them-
selves from the rest, forming a bunch. and it
was clear to his experienced eyes that their
movements were directed by human skill and in-
telligence.

He could see no person who was responsible
for the performance, and doubtless the thieves
were working on foot, getting the cattle well to-
gether, starting them in the right direction, and
keeping themselves concealed until the time
came to mount and drive of! their booty.

Should he pounce down upon them and en-
deavor to take them in the act?

No——-that would be sure to bring on a colli-
sion in which he might be worsted. and he did
not want to engage in even a successful fight.

So he waited, iis only fear being that his
horse might make a noise, or its place of con~
cealment might be in some way discovered, and
the thieves would then take the alarm and
scatter.

Nothing of the kind occurred. and the schema
continued to work to his satisfaction.

As the cattle that had been bunched moved
slowly off, keeping well together, and evidently
guided in the way they shouli go, he kepias
close to them as e dared, and watched forian
“ overt act” on the part of their drivers.

It came as soon as he could have expected
it, and in a style that thoroughly satisfied him.

Suddenly—there was no telling where the
horses had come from—tWo persons appeared in
the rear of the bunch, mounted, and urging for-
ward their booty quietly biit energetica ly.

They were the persons for whom Smart Alec
had been looking, and whom he had so eagerly
longed to find.

One of them was a man, and the other was
apparentl a woman, and their horses, as well
as be con d judge in the uncertain moonlight,
were bay and black.

Directly the ' began to urge forward the cat-
tle more rapid y, and soon were galloping in the
rear of the Lunch.

Sandor hastened to get his horse, mounted in-
stantly, and started after them. his aim being
to keep them in sight, if possible, without dis-
covering his presence to them, and thus to fol-
low them until they finally halied at their home
or their haunt.

This plan of procedure, however, was easier
to decide upon than to execute.

As the moonlight was not to be depended on,
he was obliged to ride rapidly to keep them in
sight, and the clatter of his horse‘s hoofs as he
struck a piece of stony ground was borne to
their ears and instantly attracted their attention.

For a brief space he saw them riding close to-
gether as if in consultation; then one of them—
it was the woman—turned dartly around and
raised a rifle.

The pursuer slowed his horse and bent down
to avoid the shot; but. considerably to his sur-
prise, no shot was fired.

When he looked up they were both scamper-
ing away, and were nearly out of si ht.

There Could be no doubt that fiiey had de-
termined to make no fight against their single
pursuer. but to abandon the cattle and trust to
the speed of their horses and their knowledge
of the country for escape.

Sander could also trust to his horse, which

Was a good and game one. and he urged the  ’-

willin animal forward, his intention being to
keep he fagitivcs in sight without attempting
to overtake them.

The gave him a tough chase of it over hills
and t rough ravines seemin to select fontheir

\ "I
\

, I

flight the most difficu t groun thatwas passable . g

for horses.
Nothing was to be seen of the cattle by this
time, as they had scattered to the right and left

(and had been left far in the rear. 2
The fugitives tried various schemes tothibw . -

their pursuer off the track, but without success,

erratic course was enabling him to gain on them
sensibly. '

As he emerged from a little opening that might
be called a pas, there was a stretch of nearly
open ground before him, and be perceived that
the cattle-thieves had separated, the man turn-
ing to the right and galloping away at full speed
while the woman kept straight on acmss the
Open

th, and

into two parties and pursue them
upon his

he did not need a second to decid
course.

He would follow the woman.

He could al
who she wa _

d, as he had more than one

as he pushed his horse to its best work, and their ‘

t have sworn that he knew -

l

It 'was impossible for him to divide himself \

\f

 

reason for wis ing to make his pursuit amt-cess- ‘ 

ful one, he was determined to the her down and
overtake her, if it was in the power of horseflesh
to do so. '

She was dressed, as he was able to see by the
intermittent light when he had her in good view,
apparently as she had been described to him by
those who had wen her dprin the pursuit that

resulted. in the death of Fla erty, in a short '

frock and a man’s sombrero; but there wag

something about the figure and the style of In)!

  

I ‘-
i.
ii «1
1..
i';
.W
i

”
.|

, .

 

V and disconsolatel
. the found Simon onas up and waiting for him.

i a tive, when the fiery flui had be

 

8

riding that was very familiar‘ to him and in-
creased the ardor of his pursuit.

One backward glance she gave, as if to make
sure that the ursuer was not followin her
coin nion an then settled down to swi t and
stead); work.

On the further side of the stretch of compara-
tively open ound was a piece of timber, and
just beyond the timber was a high and steep
clilf—a precipice, in fact. '

Aleck Sander, who had occasionally studied
that country, was well aware of the location
and nature of the cliff, and it was to be presumed
that the fair fugitive knew it quite as well as he
did; et she kept straight on toward it, seeming-
ly With no idea of swerving to the right or to
the left.

It Would be, indeed, impossible for her then
to turn to the right or the left without allowing
him to cut across her course and overtake her,
and she must either be captured or go over the

cliff. .

What could she meanlz

She had increased her lead as she entered the
timber. and Sander spurred his horse, whose
stren h was beginning to fail, determined to
keep er in sight. '

He did keep her in sight; but what he saw
was enough to make him wish that he had never
begun the chase.

Ie saw that she ke t right on to the edge of

the cliff, and then—t ere was a sudden disap—
pearance—nothing more was seen of her.

There could be no doubt that the black mare
and her rider had gone over the cliff l

 

CHAPTER IX.
A MISTAKE SOMEWHERE.
ALECK SANDER was more than shocked by

I this unexpected and dreadful occurrence.

He was so completely stunned that he lost
control of himself, and pulled so wildly at his
horse’s bit that the animal stopped suddenly,
almost settling down upon its haunches.

After a little while the rider regained his com-

ire and went forward slowly, the truth being
hat he was actually afraid to approach the scene
of that catastrophe.

At the edge of the cliff be halted and satisfied
himself that there was no rson there, and he
knew that the fugitive co d not have ridden
either to the right or the left without his knowl-

l e.
‘ Therefore there was but one way to account

for her disa pearance. She had surely gone

’ v s
. . over the 011 .

Aleck Sander dismounted and examined the

ound carefull , finding plain traces of the

oofs of the blac mare just at the edge of the
cliff, where it seemed that the beautiful animal
had at first refused to take the fearful leap, but
had finally been forced to do so.

There was nothin else to be seen, and noth-

pi elseto be foun , except at the foot of the
' cli , the distance to which was so great that it

made the man shudder to think of it.
Of course there was a man led mass of min-
led horsefiesh and once fair uman flesh down
were; but it was impossible to descend the pre-
cipice in view that horrid sight, and the journey

'1 '-‘- around was such a long and difficult one that he

could not undertake it at night.

Therefore there was nothmglfor him to do but
to leave the fatal spot, and e returned sadly
to the Jonas Ranch, where

The Jew had either been on guard for the pro-
tection of his precious life a smart assassins. or
was anxious to know what been accomplish-
ed by the man for whose services he was pay-

t is certain that he had not gone to bed, and
as soon as Sander rode up he opened upon him a
lottery of questions.
“ Did you do anything?” he eagerly demanded.
l“ Did you see anything?”
“ I have both seen something and done some-

.th "’ answered the detective; “ but I must get
iniiif’

e before I can talk about it, and then you
must give me something to drink, as I am all
broke up.”

Simon Jonas hastened to satisfy his guest’s de-
mand for stimulus, and Sander seemed really
to needit, as he was pale and nervous and gener-
ally upset.

You look as if you had seen a ghost,” re-
marked the ranchman.

‘ It is worse than that " aESWered the detec-
n to course
thro h his veins. “ I told you t t I had seen
somet ing and done something, and I wish that
What I have done had never happened—that is,

‘l . . I wish that the enterprise had med out dfler-

mfl 'n .
" {Vhat has happened? What did you see?”

_‘ " I saw the two cattle-thieves—the same who
Were seen when your son was out with a party,
the night Flaherty was killed. I saw them
bunch a lot of cattle and run them off, and I

3. j followed them. Give me another bite of that
-' ' whisky, and 1 will tell you the whole business
' from start"

Sander told 'his story, winding it up with the
toment that the woman had surely gone over
pill and killed herself. ‘ "

. 4‘ I. _

 

l

l

 

The Night Raider.

“That is good news, as I take it,” observed
Jonas. “One of the rascals is gone, and I am
glad of it."

“ But it was the woman,” objected Sander.

“ All'the better. It was she, as I understand,
who killed the Irishman. Anyhow, the gang is
broken up.”

Of course the detective easily perceived that
he could gain nothing by expressin any sort of
sympathy for the woman before imon Jonas,
and he desisted from preSSin that point.

“ I wish it had turned out ifferently, though,”
he said. “ What I wanted was to catch the ras—
cals, or run them down so that I could identify
them and know where to put my hands on them
when I want them.”

“You know where to put your hands on the
woman,” said Jonas, wit a coarse laugh, “ and
I suppose you can identify her if you care to
look her up.”

“I shall surely do that, Mr. Jones but I am
not so sure of being able to identify er. It is
a fearful fall from the top to the bottom of’that
cliff,”and she may be mangled beyond recogni-
tion.

“Whoever she ma be, she won’t steal any
more of my cattle, an that is a comfort. When
are on going to look for the body?”

“ arly in the morning, and 1 will take with
me, if you have no objection, your son Herman
and. our foreman.”

“ would like to go, too. There is a chance
that I may know the party.”

“ It wil be safer for you to stay at home, Mr.
Jonas. We will bring the body to the house, and
you can see it here.’

“All right; and now you had better go and
turn in, for it’s not many hours to morning,
and you must be tired, and I am hungry for

slccg.”

T ourrh Aleck Sander was also weary, he
found Iiimself unable to improve the small
portion of the night that was left him for sleep.

The last scene of his exciting chase had im-
pressed itself upon him so deeply that he could
not shake it off, and when he dropped into a
doze his slumber was broken by a Vision of the
woman and her black man) as they went over
Fhe cliff, or lying in a mangled mass at its

oot.

Had she deliberately chosen that mode of de-
struction as an escape from a more dishonorable
death, or had she been unaware of the cliff until
it was too late to avoid the fatal leap?

In either event, he could not help considering
himself res nSible for the calamity.

If it ha been a man who had gone over the
cliff—or even, perhaps, if it had been some other
woman-his conscience might not have been
touched so acutely; but such a terrible death for
that woman hurt him more than he cared to
confess to himself.

At daylight he arose unrefreshed; but that
was a matter of little consequence, as he was
accustomed to fatiguing travel and sleepless

nifihts. ‘ l

e found the inmates of the house u and
astir, as all were earl risers. and Simon onas,
who was never one o the latest, had communi-
cated to his eldest son and his foreman the inter-
esting intelli nce brought in by the detective.

Herman ones and Ba] h Harkness were al-
ready prepared to go wit Sander to find the
body and bring it in, and it was only necessary,
to et their breakfast, which was soon on the
talfie and . iiy eaten.

They too an extra horse to carry the body, a
blanketto cover or hold the remains, a little
light rope and some lunch, and Set out before
the sun was fairly up.

Aleck Sander described the location of the
cliff at the int where the woman had disap-
peared, an Ralph Harkness, who was thor-
oughly vauainted with the country. thought
that he could lead them by a short cut to the
point which they desired to reach.

The route that he chose may have been a

.short cut, and probably was' but it was surely

a very difficult one to travo , and considerable
time was uired to get the party into the deep
valley that ay at the foot of the cliff.

Then it was no easy matter to discover where
the woman and horse had gone over. as the as-
pect of things below was quite different from
that above, and the only way to find the remains
was to skirt along the base of the cliff, examin-
in the ground carefully as they went.

t was near noon when ashnrp cry from Ralph
HarkneSS, who was in the lead, brought his
com nions uickly to his side.

A ock San er shuddered and turned le as~he
approached the spot. dreading the sig t of the
shattered form of that daring and graceful rider;
but he was destined to be surprised rather than
dismayed.

There la the black mare, as dead as a.horse
could be, rribly broken and mangled by the
fearful fall. ‘

But there was nothing more!

No body of a woman mangled or otherwise,
and no sign anywhere a wt of the. woman’s con-
nection with the catastrophe—not so much as
the slightest shred of ralment on any of the
bushes or racks, above or below.

Even the saddle and bridle which the black
isslng. .

 
 

 

CHAPTER X.
A nAirrLEn DETECTIVE.

SMART ALECK was again astounded, but this
time his senses were aroused by anger rather
than stupefled by another emotion.

He perceived that he had been duped; but
could not understand how or by whom the de-
frauding had been done, and the most careful
examination of the locality did not enable him
to decide that point with any degree of clear-
ness.

“ Her friends have come here and carried her
off,” declared Harkness.

“How could they know that she had fallen!

over the cliff?” demanded the detective. “‘ Can
on {And any signs to show that they have been
ere

There was nothing of the kind. If the body
had been carried away, it must have been taken
on a horse; but there were no horse-tracks any-
where about there, exce t those which they
knew to have been made their own horses.

Harkness fancied that e found some faint
footprints that might have been made by a
woman; but the ground was so hard, and the
signs were so very faint, that his companions
thought his fancy of no importance.

“ Perha )3 she was carried off by wild beasts,”
observed erman Jonas.

“ There ain’t any wild beasts about here that
could take off a human body,” re lied the fore-
man.
show for that. Then again, the y couldn’t have
swallowed the saddle and bridle. ’

“Perha 3 she came down all right, and was
not killed y the fall.”

“That is just nonsense. Perha s she didn’t
come down at all, but stayed up t ere when the
horse went over.”

" I was right at her heels,” objected Sander,
“and saw nothing of her up yonder. Do you
sup . that I would have missed seeing her if
she ad been there?”

“It is all a mystery, then,” observed Hark-

ness. .
“ It is a mystery that I mean to unravel, if it
takes a month of Sundays. There is nothing
here but the horse to show for the performance
of last night; but that is enough to vouch for
the truth of my story, if anybody doubts it.”

If either of the others doubted it, he kept his
doubt to himself.

“ I think I know where that black mare came
from,” continued the detective “and I am goin
to settle that point at once. f the woman an
the mare are both gone from where they ought
to be, I shall find out what has become of
them.” . _

“ Do you want us to go With you, or either of
us?" inquired Harkness.

“ No, thank you. You could not be] me, and
might be in my way. Go back an tell Mr.
Jonas what we found and missed finding, and
say to him that I hope to solve the mystery be.
fore night. ” ‘ _

Smart Aleck mounted and rode rapidly in the
direction of Small Hopes Ranch endeavoring to
take the shortest route that would enable him to
reach that oint. .

The trouble that had prevented him from
sleeping, together with the sorrow, if not
actual remorse, that had taken possession of
him after the cliff catastro he, had vanished,
and in the lace of those emo ons was a feeling
of hurt and) anger, as if he had been shamdully
im - u n, and it was necessary for him to
get even With somebody. _

He was almost as sure of the identity of the
Woman as he was of that of the black mare, and
it seemed to him that the evidence he could
fig-ling against them both would be quite irresist.
i e

Thus it was that when he reached the Halsey
ranch, at a late hour in the afternoon, he had
nearly worked himself into a passwn. -

He was prepared to carry the matter forward
with a high band, and to allow nothing to stand
g1) the way of probing the mystery to the bet-

in.

A surprise awaited him, of which he could not
even have dreamed.

As he hitched his horse in front of the house
who should come running out to meet him but
Victoria Halsey?

He had never seen her look more fresh and
chipper, and her face was radiant with smilesas
she greeted him.

Surely she was not dead, and it was uite
unreasonable to an pose that she had the

ater portion of 6 night in exciting and per-
ilous experiences. .

Smart Aleck was so badl upset by her pres-
ence and her appearance, t at for a moment he
forgot the story which he had carefully re-
pared as an excuse for coming there, an he
could not prevent his countenance from showing
surprise and something more.

“You look as if you had seen a ghost,”re—
marked Victoria.

“It is not a host that I see now, though.”

“ Indeed it is not, though I am nearly dead of
loneliness, and I am glad you have come. Step
right in, now, and tel me all the news, for I am
sure t« at you have some for us.” r ,
Sander followed her into the house, where he

I ‘ ; .‘I. {-  r . i .v
. A '. f . , f y. ~. n,
' *" l .' »‘. .1 I ’—~ ’1... .1...

A «~—

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“ If they’d eaten her, there d be plenty to ‘

  

.i  .'

\

 

The Night Raider.‘

9

 

=3 -
found Mrs. Halsey and Jack, who greeted him
coldly but politely.

Mainly for their benefit he hastened  repeat
the little yarn that was to account for his pres-
ence there.

There was not much of it—merely an unim-

ntant statement concerning the doings of Dan
fiarkell and his friends, and it did not happen
to be true, as Sander had not been in Oro ino
since his first Visit to Small Hopes Ranch; but
that point was not likely to be discovered by his
auditors.

Directly Mrs. Halsey went out to leok after
supper, and Jack folIOWed her, leaving the de-
tective alone with Victoria.

“I can‘t believe, Mr. Sander,” she said pleas—
antly, “ that the little story you told us was
your real reason for coming here to-day. Con-
fess, now, that you came to see me.”

" I do confess it, Miss Halsey. It already
seems to me an age since I last saw you, and
hoped to hear from you, but got no word. There
was another reason, too, though that is a matter
of pure selfishness on my part.”

‘ What is the other reason?”

“ I have fallen in love with that beautiful
black mare of ours, and I wanted to ask you if
By agiy possib' 'ty you could be induced to sell

er

"Sell Myra?” indi antly exclaimed the girl.
“ I would have to se i myself with her, then. Of
course I would not part with in beauty and my
pet. And that reminds me, 1'. Sander, of a
dreadful dream I had last night—a dream that
made me doleful all day.”

“ What was that terrible dream i” inquired the
detective, who felt that he might be on the eve
of a revelation.

“I dreamed that the darling was dead, that
she had at a terrible fall--I don’t know how—
and had n killed.”

If Smart Aleck had put his thought into words,
it would have been something like this:

“ Oho! she knows that I suspect her, or a
guilty conscience needs no accuser. Now I may
expect to hear a story that has been manufac-
tured to account for the absence of the black
mare. But it will not deceive me, and I shall
insist upon knowing how it is that she is not
also missing."

“What he did say was this:

“ I hope that when you awoke ou did not dis-
cover that your dream was true ’

“ I am happy to say that I did not, though the
very thought of it has bothered me all day. My-
ra was quite well, except that she had hurt her

nigh fore goot by getting it caught in the fence,

I suppose.

Hurt her nigh fore foot! Sander was certain
that somethi much worse than that was the
matter with t 0 black mare which hehadleft at
the foot of the chi.

If the girl was speaking the truth, the fabric
of his widens which were almost positive
proofs, tumbled down.

“ oor thing!” said the detective, though there

‘was ittle sympath in his tone just then. “ Sup-
pose we go out an e her.”

“ Just what I was going to ask you to do. Jack
has been making a warm mash for her, and I
want to 've it to her, if he will keep that brute
of a bay] orse ofl’ while she eats it.”

The t ree went out together—Jack with the
$881!, and Victoria and Smart Aleck following

in.

There in the grass lot were the two horses—

the fine bay gelding and the beautiful black

mare-placidly cropping the short grass, just as
he had seen them when he visited the ranch be-
ore.

As the detective was not capable of being
stunned any more, he accepted this astounding
fact as a fact, and stared stupidly at the tw0
animals, principally at the black mare.

Victoria called “ Myra!" and her pet prick-
ing up its ears, came trotting to her, and thrust
its nose through the rails, while she patted and
fondled it. y /

Then Jack caught the bay horse and hitched
him. and Victoria gave the mare the mash,
Watching her as she ate it, and pointing out the
sore on her foot, which proved to be nothing
but a scratch.

He had nothing more to say about purchasing
the mere, as the object of his visit had n ac—
complished, greatly to his dissatisfaction.

There was just one consolation for him, and
that was found in the fact that Victoria Halse
was not dead. Whoever had gone over the cli ,
it was surely not she. .

He accepted an invitation to stay tosupper,
which was extended to him as a matter of
course; but nobody asked him to stay over
night, and he left at an early hour, after secur-
ing a promise from Victoria that she would try
to see him before long and “ talk over matters.”

.“ .W hat did he come here to-day for, Victoria?”
inauired Mrs. Halsey,when he had left the place.

Don’t you know, ma? That is the man who
chased Jack and me last night, and I was ever
so glad that he did. us I had laid a lan to bother
him, and the lan worked admirab . Could it
have worked r, J acki”

“ It was too dangerous for you, dear,” an-
swered her brother.

Thedangerwe8nothing—onlyahitof fun. this

 

 

When I was sure that he had settled down to i
follow me, I had him just where I wanted him.
The mare came near shying at the edge of the i
cliff, and then I was troubled for just the least ,
little part of a second. But she took the jump, »
and I swung myself ofl’ just as she went over, ‘
catching the low branch of a tree, and before he
came near I was hid in a hole where he would
never have thought of looking for me. Then I :
got down into the valley by a slant I knew,
gobbled up my saddle and bridle, and was well
on the way home when Jack found me and help- .
ed me.”

“You must not run any more such risks,”
hesitated Mrs. Halsey.

“ I don’t mean to, maO—none of that sort, any-
h0w. The profitdon’t pay for the trouble and
risk. We must try some other way of .worry-
ing Simon Jonas—some way that will hurt him
worse though it does sting him terribly to get
woun ed in the pocket nerve.”

“ I would like to know what the detective
‘tIhought could have become of \you,” observed

ack.

“That is just what he came here to find out,
and if you had seen his face when I met him,
you would have known what his thought was.

hy, the sight of me nearly paralvwd him.
Of course he had been out there at the foot of
the cliff, and he had a sure thing on the black
mare; so I paralyzed him again by showing him :
the beauty in the lot.”

“ What will lie believe now?”

" What can he believe? It was easy to see
that he suspected me, and that he meant to trap ;
me if he could. Since he has become convinced ,
that I could not have had anything to do with -
the cattle raids, nobody wil be able to make
him believe anything against me.”

“Who is it, then, sis, that has been getting
away with the cattle?”

“ That is for him to find out. and I don’t envy
him the job. It seems to me that I must be out
of his black list now, and of course on are with
me, Jack. If he is sure that I ha nothing to
do with the business, he will have to look for
some other girl and some other black mare. ”

CHAPTER XI.
SIMON JONAS HAS DOUBTS.

“ SOME other girl and some other black
mare.”

It was just the thought that was in Smart
Aleck’s mind as he rode away from Small Hopes
Ranch, and the mystery which he had hoped to
solve so easily had proved to be too much for
him.

His theory had been so reasonable, and the
facts had come in to fit it so beautifully, that
he had been quite certain of discoverin the
criminals he was seeking; but sudden y he
found his theories and facts destroyed together
by the palpable presence of a girl and a black
mare v

Of course he was com lled to admit that it
could not have been Victoria Halsey and her
black mare whom he had chased the night be-
fore and yet he had been so stron 1y convinced
of t e identity of each of them hat he would
have sworn to it.

As it was not Victoria Halsey, who was it?

Had she a double, and had her black mare a '
double? If so. what had become of the female
person who went over the cliff? ‘

Was it all a figment of the brain , an illu-
sion of the senses, a dream that was as bad as a
ni htmare? '

e was all at sea, or, rather, was thrown out
into the darkness, and would be forced to gro
his own way from that time forward, with t e
additional disadvantage of knowing that the
false clew Would bother him in his efforts toflnd
the true one.

As far as he could see then, his only chance ,
would be to watch for the cattle-thieves again,
and pursue them to the bitter end;\but as he
could not persuade himself to doubt that one of
them had actually gone over the cliff, he was
stroneg inclined to believe that there would be
no more raids. ,

He was unwilling to go and confess his failure '
to Simwn Jonas just then, and he wanted to rest
and turn the puzzle in his mind; so he went di-
root to 0m Fine and settled down for the night
at the hotel. ; I

In the morning he rode out to the Jonas
Ranch, where he was eagerly and excitedly
greeted by the proprietor.

“ Come right in and tell me the news,” insisted
the old man. “ Why didn’t you show up here
last night? From the message you sent. I ex-

.ted you, sure. What’s the matter with you?
’33; don’t look this time unit you had seen a
host. Are you going to want some whisky be-
am you can tell?” I

“ I can speak plain enough when you give me
a chance to get my words in,” answered Sander.

 

have not seen a ghost this time. have struck i
something dead, though.” I
“ Something dead? What is dead now?"

The detective waited until he had sampled the
ranchman’s liquor before he remarked: ‘
“ The deadest thin that I know of is the
notion I had in my
van.”

a .

    

‘ give

a good view of them.

and about those cattle-I

Ralph Harkness and Herman J ona's came in,
shortly followed by Ike Jonas.

“ What do you mean f" demanded the old
man. “ You don’t men to say that the girl—"

“ Let me tell it, and then you will know what
I do mean. My idea was that Jack Halsey and
his sister were the cattle-thieves.”

“ Of course it was—mine too.”

“ When I saw them and chased them night
before last, I was sure of it, becauseI knew that
they owned a horse and black mare, such as

the thieves rode, and when the woman I was .

chasing went over the cliff, R supposed that
Victoria Halsey was dead.”

“She ought to be, Lord knewsl” interrupth
the old man. “ I hope you doh’t meant to say
that she is alive and well.”

“Of course Harkness and Herman told you
how we found the black mare at the foot of the
cliff, and nothing else. Then I hurried to the
Halsey Ranch to see what had becnme of the
Halsey girl and her black mare, and there I
found them both, not only alive and u ell, but as
gay and chipper as you please.”

“ And so you conclude,” observed Simon

do with stealing my cattle.”

“ What other conclusion can I come to? I
can’t believe that she and her black mare went
OVer the cliff, and therefore she and her brother
were not the parties I chased that night.”

The old man bent his brows and seemed to
think deeply before he spoke again.

“ She has fooled you, he said, at last.

“ And I am so easy to fool,” sneered the de-
tective.

“ That girl would fool the devil, Mr. Sander. ‘
I know somethin of her and her stock, and can
her credit or being as smart as a steel-
trap.”

“ Will you kindly inform me how you think
she can have fooled me?”

“ I don’t'know how it was done, but she did it.
That makes your job a tougher one, Mr. Sander;
but the lines you were working on are, in my
opinion, the same that you must continue

; work on, and you now know the sort of thiiig

you may ex -t.” _
“ What is to be done, then, in your opinion?” '

3.6! ~:, .

' Jonas, “ that she and her brother had nothing to \ ,' 

,4

. y

“ You will have to keep on watching for those ‘ ,  :

cattle-thieves and run them down, and catch
them or kill them. For that purpose you shall
have all the help you need. and I firmly believe
that the result will be the wiping out of Tom
Halsev’s rascally brood.”

“What you suggest, Mr. Jonas, is the Ian I

.. 9’29 ~
l‘ ‘.

had proposed to myself, thOugh I doubt w ether. “t;

there will be any more raids.” A

“ I think there will be. The scoundrels may
wait a while, expecting this fuss to die out. but
they are not likely to give up the business.”

“ There can be no harm in supposmg that some- '
body else may have been getting after your cat- I

tle. Is there no other young man and young
woman in this region for whom those two may
have been mistaken?”

“ Nobody who can have the same grudge that ’

I don’t know much about,
can

they claim to have.
the women in Cm Fino; but my son Isaa
probably give you all the information you
in that 'ne.”

Ikey onas, who had been following the con-
versation slowly, spoke up for himself, without
noticing his father’s evident sneer. ‘ ' ‘

“ There are plenty of
tough enough for such a j( , and some of them
may be smart enough, and of course they could,

get plenty of men to go in with them: but I“;

don’t know of any that I could put my finger on
as being more liable to suspicion than the rest.
If you folks will tell me all you know about
those tw0—what they look like and all that—I
may be able to give some sort of a guess.”

Aleck Sander, who had followed the raiders”
had observed. them keenly, i
gave as good a description as he could of their ' i“

pretty closely and

personal appearance, including their style of +'
dressing and of their horses. and in this was as- , '. 
a ,‘

sisted by Ralph Hai-kness, who had also got

I o

It was the opinion of those two tha the  -
y and his,
sister, were enough like them to be easily mis‘ ‘»_‘

thieves, if they were not Jack Ha

taken for them at a little distance. .

“ That’s who it must be,” was the o inion
Ikey. “I think the governor is rig 1: about
that, and that he is right in saying that they
ain’t likely to 've up the business. I don,
know of any
swer to that description: but of course 'most
anybody could dress in,that style, and dress goes
for a good deal. I shall keep my eyes Open, and

if any such gang of two goes out of Oro Fine, I \ 
' I

will be apt to know it.”

“ And that will give you a good exhuse,” sug- Ag.

ted the old man, “ for spending all your time‘

long time.”

 

CHAPTER XII. ‘ ,
NOT m an nwrnn. . " -

Home]: Exron and Carl Klein worked in-

 

      

l

   

irls there who are v 

1/.
M's-s!

’i
u.

 

I.’
i

y  patiently at their hole in tho‘a "

I .

ant, :‘

't

I ‘.

\l

.15?

V31

1 .' 0‘ ‘
.1 Ir .
1.5 ‘

y in Oro Fino who would an-' ' ;_ ‘ '-

.‘i

n
, l

I 1 in Cm Fine, instead of three-fourths of it. If ‘-
“and I Won't object to the w 'sky, though I I you m of any service to us in this busing, it“;
will he the first useful thing you have done has 'f

 

 

 

 

10

‘ The Night Raider.

 

 

 

 

ground, and soon began to receive such rich res
wards for their labor that they were highly
elated by the prospect before them.

The German was deeply repentant because of
his discouragement when his partner was so
plucky and determined, and proved his repent-
ance by putting into the joint enterprise the best
use of his brain and muscle.

Though they got the ore out slowly, its rich-
iicss surprised them, and when they sent a lot of
it away for milling, their opinion of its value
wm fully confirmet .

As a matter of icourse, the news of such a dis-
covery could not be ke t a secret, even if the
owners of Hole in the (zround Mine had wished
to keep it a secret, and they were not at all in~
clinsd to be reticent about it.

They wanted those who had been so ready to
laugh at them when their mine was only “the
'hole in the ground ” to confess themselves false
pro hots and acknowledve their stupidity. and
to t at end they boasted loudly enough of what
they were getting and expecte to get from that
hole in the ground.

Oro Fino was overjoyed by these develop-

. merits, because they proved that the region there-

about, which had been nearly abandoned as a
mining district, was still capable of producing
pay ore if rightly worked, and therefore the
town might reasonably expect another boom.
Prospectors started out in all directions, and

.' enterprises were easily floated that would not

have been touched a little while before.
Plenty of people, moved by interest or curi-
osity, came out there to look at the Hole in the

,' Ground and judge its value, and were permitted

to view just as much as the proprietors wished
them to see, and no more.

From these visits, and from reports about the
property that were 5 read far and wide, offers
came to the partners rom capitalists and specu-
lators, who wanted to buy the mine, or put
money in it for the pur ose of developing it.

The truth was that t e discovery at the Hole
in the Ground was so unexpected and general]
surprising, that some people lost their hea s
over it.

More than one of the offers was so liberal that
Carl Klein was seriously disposed to consider

the question of acceptance; but his partner ob-

of!

acted.

“ If it is worth so much to them,” he remark-
ed, “ it is worth quite as much to us, and we are
‘able to hold on if we want to. If the perfor-
mance hereafter proves to be as good as the
prospect is now, the mine will pay for its own
workiiig,and we will be able to run it without
giving a share to anybody.”

“ ii on are iight about that,” answered Klein;
“ but will the performance equal the promise?"

I ‘.‘ That‘s where you have got me, Carl. I hope

I it will, but must confess that I have my doubts

about it. It may be that what we are working

at now is only a pocket, and if so, it will soon

peter out, though it will probably pay us well
or the trouble of opening he hole.”

, “ If it should turn out to be a pocket, Exton

and we should have to face that fact, it would

be good time then for us to accept one of those

rs."
‘ I' hadn’t thought of that. Of course it would

i not be a fair thin to do, but, by J ovel it would

be a good tempta 'on."

'  - So the two partners continued to work at the
' Hole in the Ground steadily, getting)out the ore

 slowl' but surely, with no help

' . As the pocket, if it was a

” was hot, they were takin

at that of
faith 11] Lemon Squeezer.

If there were any secrets about that mine,
they intended to keep them to themselves.
pocket, showed no
sign of an intention to speedil peter out, they
began to believe that their tron 19 on that score
was only fanciful; but they soon had some real

I trouble that came in an unexpected way and

from an unexpected uarter.

It Was their noon ng hour and, as the day
1i 9 easy with their
pes in front of the cabin after eating, when
they noticed two horsemen coming toward

em.
’ t first they supposed them to be a couple of
men who had come to “ dickcr" about the mine,

‘ or casual visitors to take a look at it; but shortly

they recognized them as people they had met in
Oro Fino, and who had never before been seen

. about the Hole in the Ground.

 

 

“ One of them is Herman Jonas,” observed
Exton, “and the other is Ralph Harkness,
Simon Jonas’s foreman. What the deuce can
they be coming here for?”

:jIPerhaps Simon Jonas wants to buy the

amine,” an gested Carl.

“If he 098. it will be useless talk, as I know

.3 that he won’t be in to equal some of the offers

4 ' We have had.

but man is noted for wanting
nomething for nothing.”
The visitors rode up to the cabin, but were

i l ‘ evidentl in no hurry to dismount.

“Gla to see you, gentlemen,” was Exton’s

* cordial greeting. “ ’Light down and give us the

news.”
“It is not worth while,” coldly answered
Herman Jonas. “ We have no tinie to stop

I alien», and we can attend to our business just as

well a: we are.”
g, “If you happen to want to buy our mine, I

 

may as well tell you at the start that we have no
mine to sell.”

“That is a fact, if you refer to any mine on
this ground. I have a message to deliver to you
about your mine, as you call it.”

“Shoot it right off, then, and let me advise
you to use a proper degree of politeness, as We
rule the roost here, and we are not the most
patient men in the world.”

“ You won’t rule it long. My message is that
you will have to get away from here.”

“ Have to what i’”

“Have to get away from here, I sait .”

Asthe tall Englishman suddenly rose and
straightened himself u , Herman Jonas involun-
taril reined back his iorse.

“ goung man!” thundered Exton, “ you have
utterly and stupidly disro arded my injunction
concerning politeness, an I ought to tell you
right now to get away from here, under penalty
of having your head broken and your spoonful
of brains spilt out' but 1 don‘t Slipliosc that you
really know any etter, and I am curious to
2nd ’ont what rotten folly has brought you

ere.

“ That’s right, Mr. 13an,” put in Ralph
Harkness. “ Givo him a chance to tell his story,
and if he don't mix up a little more politeness
with it, I’ll break his head myself, and save you
the trouble.”

Thus advised by two persons who were well
able to en force this advice, Herman Jonas spoke
more mildly, and with robably as much polite-
ness as he was capa is of putting into his

.ech.

“ It is my father’s message, not mine.” said he.
“ He directs me to say to you, Mr. Exton, and
to your partner, that he owns this land, and you
are trespassers here, and therefore you will have
to leave.”

“ Does Mr. Simon Jonas labor under the im-

ression that he owns the earth?” inquired the

nglishman.

“ He is sure that he Owns this piece of it, any-
how as he has taken pains to see that his title is
good and he means to keep what is his.”

"‘ And as much more as he can lay his hands
on, I presume. As he is so sure of his title, and
we have been occupyin this ground for several
months, I would like to now why he has waited
so long before making his claim.’

“ I suppose he thought that you were doing no
harm here.”

“ No good, you mean. As long as he thought
that we were doing noiood here, he let us alone;
but, since our work as begun to count, he
wants to step in and take what we have been
workin for. Have the kindness to tell him, my
youiig riend, that he can’t at it.”

“ e Will take it when 9 wants it,” replied
Herman, “as he has the law on his side.”

He had better look over his hand before he
chips in. Whatever his title to the land may be
our claim has been properly made and duly re-
corded, and we can hold the mine. We mean to
hold it, too.”

“ Perhaps,” suggested Ralph Harkness, “ you
had better have a settlement—some sort of a
give and take arrangement. Simon Jonas is a
rich man you know, and money counts for a
good deal.”

“ I think you mean well, Harkness,” answered
the Englishman; “ but you may be a bit pre-
'udiced. We don’t mean to ive an inch, and

imon Jonas can’t take anyt ing from us that
don’t belong to him. If he ever gets this mine
without payin for it, it will be worth nothing
to us as we wi 1 both be dead than, and you can
put that in your diary.”

" Then I have to say-” broke in Herman
Jonas.

“ Not another word,” interrupted Exton.
“ The last word has been spoken, and your style
of talk doesn’t please me. The best thing you
can do now is to go where you belong.”

The two visitors rode way, Harkness being the
only one who had politeness enough to bid the
miners a respectful adieu. .

“ What do you think of that, Carl?” inquired
Exton.

The German replied, with a bit of profanity
to give em ihasis to the sentiment, that it was
the iciest piece of impudence that he had ever
heard of.

“ That is just what it is,” assented Exton.
“ We are safe enough as far as the law goes, and
it is likely that somebod will et hurt before
we give up any of our rig ts. hat Jew fancies
that because e has money he can run this dis-
trict and set himself up as a little king; but he
will discover his mistake before he gets through
with us.” '

The “ pocket ” trouble, also, soon became a real
affliction. The pa ore rapidly “ petered out,”
and it became cvi out to the partners that their
rich find was only a pocket which they had al-
ready neari exhausted.

At this arl Klein grew discouraged again
and . roposed to his partner that they should
abanr on the work and let Simon Jonas take
their leavin if he wanted them.

“Nota bit of it,” flrinl re lied Exton. “I
have faith in the mine, an ful ybelieve that We
shall yet strike a true fissure vein if we rse—
vere. Besides I am so internally obstinate,

Carl, that even if I believed that the work

 

would end in failure, I would keep at it, just to
spite Simon Jonas, and to give him to under-
stand that we are not to be blufl'ed off.”

CHAPTER XIII.
iKEY‘s LITTLE GAME.

IT was not for nothing that Isaac Jonas had
got from Aleck Sander and Hal h Harkiiess all
the information they could give ini concerning
the two cattle-thieves.

He meant to use it but not exactly in the
manner which he had declared to them.

As his father had predicted, his self-imposed
task‘ caused him to spend nearly all his time in
Oro Fine, or at least away from home; but he
did not give any part of it to a search for the
persons whose descriptions he had asked for, as
he was convinced that they would not be found
an where about any of his usual haunts.

here was not one of the tough girls of Oro
Fino whom he could suppose to be equal to such
an enterprise, and he believed, as his father did,
that both the des erndoes, as well as the bay
horse and the blue mare, were to be found at
Small Ho 5 Ranch.

His rea intention was developed a few nights
after that family meeting, in an interview uith
his most intimate friend and crony, Dave
Strung, son of that Cephas Strang who had
been fatally shot by Jack Halsey.

For the purpose of holding this interview,
and to avoid the possibility of listeners, the

 

«

two young men went quite beyond the limits ,

of Oro Fino, to a sequestered spot where no
person was likely to come ni h them.

It may also be mention , , as sng estive of
the importance of the interview, that key Jonas
had not patronized the saloons as free] as usual.
He was, therefore, passany sober, an the same
may be said of Dave Strang. ;

“ The fact is, Dave,” observed Ikey, “ that you
and I are both pretty darned hard u , and we
have at to do something to make a raise.”

“ I now that I am hard-up,” amwered Dave
“ as i am nearly down to my last dollar; but I
didn’t su pose that anything so bad was the
matter wit- you.”

“It is, thou h,” said Ike , and_ he :‘oceeded
to speak very isrespectful y of his fat er.

“That confounded Jew who runs our ranch
shut down on m supplies some time ago. He
told me that unless I would stay at home and
work on the ranch I should not get another dol-
lar from him. He kept his word, too. He
always does keep his word in anything of that
kind. Ma furnished me with funds for a while;
but I was too much for her, and she had to go
out of the business. If the head of the Jonas
family knew what I am owing-here in Oro Fino
it would make his eyes stick out so that we could
hang our hats on them.” .

“And what I owe, without the faintest pros-
pect of paying, scares me so that I am tempted

)skip he town.”

“ So here we are, Dave, over head and ears in
debt, with expensive habits, and Without a
chance to get hold of an honest dollar unless we
go to Wor .”

“ That’s just where we are.”

“ But there’s the other kind of dollars to be
had, Dave, and there’s no reason wh we
shouldn’t get hold of them as other people 0.”

“What do you mean. Ike? Give It to me
plain and straight. I am ready for anything
that’s got money in it.”

“I am going to put you up, Dave, to a dead
open and shut scheme of running of! cattle.”

“ There’s risk in that.”

“There‘s risk in eve thing that’s got money
in it, but precious little in this, the way I mean
toWork it. .

“ Give me the scheme, Ike. I am just perish-
ing for something that will put money in my
pocket.”

“ I suppose you know,” be an the schemer,
“ that a good many cattle have nrun of! from
the Jonas Ranch lately. The thieves don’t take
many at a time, but manage to get the best of
the lot. such as are the easiest marketed. It has
been found out that there are two of them. a
man and a woman, and the man rides a bay
horse, and the Woman rides a black mare, and I
know just how they are togged.”

“ 1.; it a reward that you are after?” inquired
Dave Strong.

“Of course it is not. What would a reward
be worth to us? We must 0 for somethin bi -
er and better than that. y scheme will etc

it, and will be nothing but fun to us.”

“ I can’t see what you are trying to get at.”

“ The identity of those two raiders is a bit
tangled just now. The governor is pretty sure

‘

that they are Jack Halsey and his sister, because ;

they have a strong grudge against him, and be-
cause nobod ’s cattle but his have been run of!
in a lon time and because they ride _a bay
horse an a black mare. and because he is just
that kind of a scalawag, and she is a dare-devil
of a rider.

“ Those reasons seem to be sound enough.”

“ But the governor has hired a detective, who
claims to have chased the raiders a few nights
a o, and to have driven the woman and her
b ack mare over a cliff where the fall was bound
to kill them. Sure enough, the horse was found
.at the foot of the cliff, as dead asa hammer; but

 

 

m

i}
.

.a

 

The Night Raider-

11

 

 

'7

there was no sign of the woman. Then the de-
tective went right on tothe Halsey Ranch, where
he found the Halsey girl and her black mare
alive and sound. So he jumped to the conclu-
sion that the raiders had not come from there.”

“ That looks like a safe jump,” observed Dave.
“ Don’t it upset your dad’s theory?”

“ He don't tllillk it does. It is his opinion that
some Very smart game has been played, though
he can‘t pretenzl to say what it is, and he be
lievos that the same raiders will keep on running
off cattle. though they may let up for a while.”

“ As you say, .lke, there is something of a tan-
gle in that; but I dont yet see what it has to do
with us, or what we are to get out of it.”

“ That’s where I am smarter than you; but I
have been studying the thing up, and you haven’t.
It is just as easy as rolling off a log to run off
cattle about here and get rid of them, and when
there is somebody to put the blame on I don’t
see what‘s to hinder you and me from goin into
the business. I will tog up as the girl, an you
will play the part of the man, and we will get a
bay horse and a bl:le mare, and nobody will
ever suspect us of havingr anything to do with
the raids.”

“ I believe you are right about that; but,
su pose we should get caught in the act?”

‘ Of course we will have to run some risk; but
there is precious little danger of that. It is not
a bit likely that an 'body will be able to catch
us, and I don’t believe that anybody will try
very hard, as suspicion will rest right away on
those other two, and the folks who lose the cat-
tle will know just where to find them and how
to go for them.”

‘ What will we do with the cattle?”

“That is all fixed. I know a gang—and you
know some of them—who will be glad to take
them off our hands, and they will give us shelter
and help, too, if we should be hard presed. All
we will have to do will be to pick out the cattle
and drive them to the place where they are
wanted.”

Dave Strung was almost satisfied, but still had

‘an objection to offer.

“As your father has employed a detective,”
said he, “it is likely that the cattle on the Jonas
Ranch will be watched so closely as to hurt our
chances.”

“ We needn’t interfere with his stock—at least
not yet. I would as soon take his as anybody’s
else, and we’ll know just how to work the scheme
when his turn comes; but at first we will make
a strike somewhere else, so as to bother him and
get his attention turned in another direction.
Then we will swoop down on him and teach him
tlliat there is more than one way of buying sup-
p 198.

“ It is a good scheme,” observed Dave Strang,
after a little further reflection, “ and there
seems to be nothing to hinder us from working
it, if the gang you speak of is all right. It prom-
ises to ut money in our pocket, and to give us a
good 0 nce to hurt Jack Halsey, which will
suit me way down to the ground.”

“ I was sure that you would see it in that
light, Dave, and all that remains is to arran
the details. The only trouble I perceive is in
getting used to a side-saddle.”

CHAPTER XIV.
DAN )uaKELL’s mun scamm.

IKE JONAS and Dave Stran were not by any
means the only enemies that Jgack Halsey had in
Oro Fino, nor the only persons who were plotting

ainst him.

an Markell, though the sudden death of his
father had put him in possession of a good bit

 

. of property, was not on that account any the

less disposed to visit vengeance upon his father’s
slayer, nor did he forgot what was due to the
memory of the old man.

He had registered a vow and had soaked it
in the best liquor his establishment afforded,
that the scalp of Jack Halsey should dangle at
his belt ere many moons; but, as he was by na-
ture cautious, with a respect for the law and a
due regard for his own person, he proposed to
keep on the safe side, so t at he might urt his
adversary without harming himself.

He was only hiding his time, waitin until he
could get a good chance to take Jack alsey un-
awares.

As Jack keg; awa from Oro Fino after the
death of Nick arke , and took very good care
of himself, there was no good chance to wavlay
him or “ double-bank ” him, and Dan began to
get tired of waiting.

So he determined to use his father’s money
and his own influence as the proprietor of a big
saloon to subsidize a band who should obey his
orders, and the main object of this organization
was to be the wiping out of Jack Halsey from
the face of the earth.

No ' person iii Oro Fino was better able than
he was to secure such assistance as he wanted
as Nick Markell had left him a legacv of roughs
and rustlers who were largely de indent upon
the saloon, and who could easily g persuaded
to an purpose but a decent one by the liberal
use 0 whisky and money.

This band. though few in number, was well
supplied With courage when .there was no lack
of tanglefoot. and was organized and partiallv

disciphned under the immediate control of Rat-

 

tlesnake Tom, a local celebrity who could show
the scars of several rattlesnake bites, and could
proudly int to whisky as the antidote for
that variety of poison.

For fear that the old virus might take hold
of. him again, he kept his flesh saturated with
the sovereign remedy.

Dan Markell and Rattlesnake Tom had a
consultation in the rear of a horse—shed near
the Markcll saloon, and it happened that Lemon
Squeezer, who had been sent to Oro F ino on an
errand by Horace Exton, had hitched his horse
in the shed.

It also happened that the Italian went there
for his horse just after the consultation was
begun.

A statement by one of the men outside at—
tracted his attention and he listened eagerly
to the remainder of the talk.

“There is one way to strike Jack Halsey,”
Dan was saying, “ that will hurt him more than
anything else we can do—more than killing
him.” i

“ \Vhat’s that?” inquired the hero of the rat-
tlesnakes.

“ We must strike him through his sister.”

“ She’s a sorter tough subject to handle, too, I
reckon.”

“ It wiil be queer if the five of us can’t handle
her when we catch her out alone.”

“ How’re you goin’ to ketch her out alone?”

“ I have got that down as fine as silk. I’ve
been sneakin about to get a chance at Jack Hal-
sey, and have dropped on her ways. There is a
Chinese settlement down near Pinyon Pass, and
old Sol Meek has been a sort of a boss of the
Chinese there. Old Sol has been laid up with
the rheumatiz for some time back. and Vic Hal-
sey rides down there twice every week to tote
him tlnngs and kind 0’ look after him. She is
as regular as clockwork about it, getting there
about four o’clock in the afternoon, and this is
one of her days. All we’ve got to do is to go
down there quietly and gobble her up.”

“Jest as easy as lyin’. What’ll you do with
her when you git her?”

“No matter what I'll do. You may bet
your life that Jack Halsey will never see her
again.

, “,It looks to be a good scheme and a safe
un.

“ And we will work it this very day. Let’s go
and wet it up, Tom, and get the boys to-

gether.”
Lemon Squeezer was well N ware of the fact
that Victoria Halse was one o Horace Exton’s

special friends, an he knew that the lot he
had just listened to was the mest impo nt in-
formation he could possibly convey to his pa-
tron.

Ho also knew that there was no time to be lost,
and the news must be carried with the utmost
possible speed. ,

He cou d hardly wait for the confederates to
withdraw before he led out his horse, mounted,
and rode of! at a headlong gallop.

Itis probable that the horse which the Italian
rode had never before been put to such speed,
and it is certain that Lemon Squeezer had never
before ridden so hard and so fast.

When he reached the Hole in the Ground the
horse was nearly wind-broken, panting, and in a
lather- of sweat, and the Italian was so com-
pletely exhausted that he nearly fell from his

863 .

Almost breathlesst he told his stor , or gave
such outlines as would enable his carers to
guess at the rest, and dropped in a swoon.

" Get our gun and come with me, Carl!”
shouted xton as he started 03.

“But here is Lemon ueezer in a bad flx.
What will we do with him ’

“ Leave your flask of whisky there by him.
He will come to direct] , and will be all right!”

In a few minutes the orses were saddled, and
the two partners Were mounted.

“ It is a long ride to the old mine at Pin on
Pass,” observed'theEnglishman as be con ted
his watch.
Carl, to get there in time.”

 

Dan Markell had indeed “ dropped onto ” one
of Victoria Halsey’s wa 8.

At the very time w en he and Rattlesnake
Toni were plotting behind the horse-shed in Oro
Fino, that young woman was reparing to go
and visit the invalid at Pinyon lgass.

Old 801 Meek had been a s ial friend of her
father’s, and when he was Sick and in troubie
the Halsey family did not forget or neglect him.

The old man had bonght'the right to work the
abandoned mine down there and get what he
could out of the “ tailings,” and for that pur-
pose had employed a gang of careful and indus-
trious Chinaman.

In this cute rise be contracted rheumatism
which afflict him so badly um for several
weeks he was unable to leave his cabin or
scarcely to stir from his bed, and there he lay
helpless, waited on by a Chinaman who was
attentive and useful as far as his ability allowed
him to be.

Jack Halsey had found him there, and had
represented ,t' a old man’s case at home, and

thereafter Victoria had been. as Dan Martel]
had discovered, a semi-weekly visitor at 801

“ We will have to bump ourselves.

 

 

Meek’s cabin, always cheering him with her
bright presence. as well as bringing him delicate
and nourishing food such as his Chinaman could
not prepare.

Hardly anything could be nlcaner than to re-
gard such an errand of mercy as a chance for
an outrageous attack; blit Dan Markcll and his
associates were not moved by any considerations
of delicacy or propriety.

On this occasion, for the first time. Mrs. Hal-
sey was strangely opposed to the visit. and en—
deavored to dissuade Victoria from leaving the
house.

“ You go out too much alone, my door,” said
she, “ and I am afraid that harm may come to
you. Suppose you stay at hon-e to—day, and let
Jack go in your place, or send Dave Wisner.”

“ W by, ms, the old man would be all broken
up if he should fail to see me, and you know
that he calculates on my visits. Besides, I have
often been there, and have seen no sign of
danger.”

“ But you know what is said about the {itcher
that goes often to the well.”

“ An body who tries to break me will dis-
cover t at 1 am no common crockery, but pretty
stout and solid ware. In fact, 1 am a pitcher-in.
You needn’t worry about me, ma, as Myra and
I are full able to take care of ourselves.”

lVith t is conviction she mounted her black
mare and set out, light-hearted and well-loaded.

When she entered Sol Meek’s cabin, at about
the hour named by Dan Markell, she and her
basket of dainties were joyfully received.

“*0 Sing. the Chinaman, grinned until he

showed all his ivories, and the face of the invalid . '

lighted up instantly. \

“It is so good of you, my child to come Eng
see the old man,” said he. “Wo Sing ail:
what mought be called the best of company
though he means well and does all he can, and I ,
have just been lookin’ and longin’ for you." '

“ But how is the rheumatism, Uncle So]? It

seems to me that you look brighter than when I « q ,5;

was here last, and I hope you are feeling bet-
ter.” v

“ A heap better, m dear. I reckon I’ll be a};
and out in a few ays, and then you needn
worry about me no more. It’s a
have you come; but I’m afraid it
bother to you.”

“No bother at all—only a pleasure; but my
mother has been a little troubled lately, and to-
day she tried to persuade me not to come, be-‘
cause she had got it in her head that some harm,
might happen to me.”

“She’s right about it, honey. I’d rather be
tied up in a knot with rheumatiz all the rest 0"»,-

my days than have any harm happen to m a,

Your olks have had trouble enough, and I
want any more to come along.”

“ I su pose you know ncle Sol“ that my
brother lack has killed N’lck Markell.

“ I heerd 0’ that; but ’twas in fa’r fight, and I
hope Jack ’11 keep out o’ the killin’ busines alter
this.” ‘

“He killed that man because he was one of
my father’s murderers.”

“So I reckoned; but the boss of the job is
goin’ around yet and doin’ well.”

Victoria drew her seat closer to the bedside, ‘
and s ke in a lower tone and more earnestly.

“ ncle 801, you were my father’s parti

a

x.'

i

eatjoyto‘ v
asbeena» 

I

friend, and you know more about him than any- 

body else except his own family. Doyoube—
lieve that he was guilty as he was charged?”
“Not a hit of it! Nary time! \
man who mought straighten that business a if
he. could be t ho d of, and that's
Streen; but be it out arter Tom Halsey was v:
killed, and hain’t been heerd of sence.

.1',‘
l

Thar’s‘ one ,1 
1.

He knew 

more about it than any other man, ’less it was '5'

Si Jonas.”

“ Then you think that Simon Jonas knows all" ,

about it.”

“In course he does. ’Twas he who
the job. He wanted mighty bad to git
some land that Tom Halsey owned, which Tome .

wasn’t willin’ to sell it, and had to git him out 

o’ the way. Poor Tom was got out o' the way,
and now 8i Jonas owns that land.” l
“ That is true.

had passed by

Hark! I thoughtlheard some ’ )

orses, . .
Sol Meek thought that he heard them, too; we
but directly the sounds ceased, as if the horses?“
or taken another direction, and "

Victoria began to take out the dainties which' ‘.
she had brought in her basket and give them in .

charge of the Chinaman.

Suddenly the cabin door flew open, and one
man after another began to push into the room, ~
and Vic Halsey at once recognized the first 
entered as Dan Markell. , '

“What do yo want here?” she demanded,
as she hacked m a corner and felt to; her re"
volver. '

“We want you!” shouted the young man

and he and Rattlesnake Tom threw themsele  :
seized her before she could draw‘ '

upon her
the istol.

“ on cowards!” was all she could utterss 

:hsg‘panted and struggled in vain wit her brutal ’ '
lants. ,1 .

l

. Sol Meek was able to pull a
his pillow, and he fired t at
mg one

3,» ‘  .s.

istol from under/i,
e raiders, strik- 
of them in the shoulder; but it 

a
'1

 

12

 

 

savage blow reduced him to quietness.

W0 Sing sent forth from his thin lips a pier-
cing scream, and was immediately knocked
, down and kicked into silence.

‘ , “Bring her out!” ordered Dan Markell, and
i he and Rattlesnake Tom dragged the girl, strug-
gling but not shrieking, through the door and

‘ out of the cabin.

There an unexpected and powerful foe await-

‘. ’ ed them.

Horace Exton, who had just reached the spot
and jumped from his horse, set to work in triie
.British fashion, delivering blow after blow
strai ht from the shoulder with his bare
r . knuc les.
; a The first blow sent Dan Markell sprawling on
 v the ground, the second made Rattlesnake Tom
'Ii- dizzy, and the British boxer followed up his ut-
 , tank as vigorously as if he had the entire burden
 “ of the fight to bear.
1? "' But he did not have it all on his shoulders, as
 ' C'arl Klein~ stood there with a cocked revolver,
',' watching for a hostile movement that needed
‘ ’7 [sudden repression, and Vic Halsey, freed by Ex-
 '_ton’s effective action, jerked out her pistol and
a“: ., was ready for work.
‘3, , Thus taken unawares with the “drop”
3 - against them, one of them Wounded and their
.1 leader down, three of the wretches fled, and the
:g‘,’ others would have followed their example if
 the had been allowed to. '
 .‘ ttlesnake Tom was held by the persuasive
,' force of Carl Klein’s revolver, while Exton
or ,fiicked Dan Markell up by the collar and shook
 . im like a dog.
‘, «  “ You infernal scoundrelsl” roared the angry
  Englishman, “if We gave you what ou de-
; ,‘,‘,seu‘ve, we would string you both up to t e near-
in}; out tree. To attack an unprotected woman as
“ ,3, your have attacked this lady is the meanest
' , hing that white men can do. But I will let you
{go with a warning. If on ever tr to play
such a game again, I wil hunt you own and
make d ’s meat of you, as sure as I am a living
finan.“ t out now, and be thankful that you
"fire gable to,parry your worthless carcasses away

 

   
    
   
  
  
   
   
  
  
  
    
   
     
      
    
   
  
    
    
   
  
  
    
   
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
   
     
   
   
       
   
   
   
   
  
    
   

- 'Without another word the baffled rascals
aneaked away, and Exton and Klein caught

their horses, which had been too tired to stray

(tom where they were left.

MW, When they had seen that no person in the

,{iiicabin was seriously hurt, the Englishman es-

 Victoria to her horse and assisted her to

mount.

“1 have told you, Miss Halsey,” said he,
‘that you were running risks in going about
lone, and”I hope that you will be more careful

t \

 .“ How did you happen to come here in time to
help me?” she inquired.

. It was an accident that ave us the chance.
A. friend of ours happen to overhear those
woundrels plotting to capture on, and hard
riding broughtus here in time. on must now
let us see you safe home.” .
~ “Part of the way, Mr. Exton. M mother
" st not know of this trouble, and beg that

on will say nothing about it to my brother
so]: if you should meet him.” ’

 I CHAPTER V.
K > " , A CHANGE or BASE.
Arm his exciting and demoralizing adven-
ture with the cattle-raiders, Aleck Sander s at
most of his time, at the Jonas Ranch, watc ' g
y night and resting in the daytime.
it His continued vigilance, as he had supposed
would be the case, was not rewarded by any dis-
“;iifimh te ti I tun'ti tr ed
* . oug mp ng oppor 1 es were 0 er
' tonne thieves, they were in no hurry to take
Manage of ,them, and the Jonas cattle that
ere in the ngghborhood of the house grazed
revundistur .
.«‘."This was a monotonous and tiresome business
Mot Smart Aleck,‘especially as he did not be-
ehive that there could be an useful outcome to
 ' and he was anxious to cul ivate the ac uaint—
' ' of Victoria HalSey, hoping to g :1 her
inter by aiding her in the object that was near-
Mto her 11 rt

ea .

~,~‘ .It'may be added that the rewards for this un-

Wn service were not largely attractive, as
on onus, who was a very Jew in driving a

r. , had made the detective’s pay depend

‘ Macrany upon the actual capture of the

attic—thin .

Thus Aleck Sander, who was neither able to

a,“ til?f business drop nor to attend to it to suit

9
fits.

 

was more or less worried and out of

' Ho endeavored to im his views Egon the
 mind of his employer, ut was remind of the
' ' of his ment, and was advised to con-
,mthe watc ' and waiting that had become

so obnoxious to him. .
‘ Herman Jonas was almost ready to agree with
Jim detective in his belief that one of the raiders
unit have perished, and that nothing more
.  mild be heard of them in that line of busi-
M. and Ral Harkness inclined to the same
, ion: but imon Jonas stubbornly maintain-

; 'L’J‘hqycgght voheonscarodoflmrawhile,

t

 
 

   

   

,-f_.
I...

it

   

 

  

The Night Raider.

 

quickly snatched from his feeble hand, and a. I he said; but nothing more serious than that had

happened to them: and they might be relied on
to attend strictly to business as soon as they
could get rid of their scare or might suppose
that the excitement had blown over.

It might not be his cattle on which they would
renew operations; but they would be sure to
“ go for ’ somebody’s cattle, and would not fail
to gay attention to him in due course of time.

fter a while the ranchman had a great tri-
umph over Herman and Harkness, as well as
over the incredulous detective.

One morning Sander was roused from hislate
slumber soincwhat earlier than usual, and was
hurried down-stairs to listen to an interesting
giece of news which had just arrived, and which

inion Jonas re' iced in repeating to him in the
“ I told you so’ st le.

Cattle-thieves had lately made a raid upon the
property of Pete Jackson, who lived about fif-
teen mi es from the Jonas Ranch.

They had, indeed, made two successful raids.
and n the second occasion they had been seen
by a cowboy, who had given a description of
them which accorded us exactly as could be
expected with that of the raiders at the Jonas
Ranch.

There were two of them, a man and a woman,
and they both wore broad mmbreros, and their
horses were a bay and a black. "

“Now you see that I was right about that,”
triumphantly exclaimed the old man. “Those
scamps have not quit the cattle-stealing busi-
ness, and I am convinced that they are the
Halsey rascals.”

“ You are clearly right on the first point,”
answered the detective, “‘ but I am not so sure
about the second.”

“ You are as obstinate as a mule, Sander.”

“Who was the woman that went over the
cliff?”

“Nobody.”

" Whose was the black mare that we found
dead at the foot of the cliff?"

"Can’t say. There’s more than one black
mare in the world, and one woman may own
two of them.”

“ I am a fool, then.”

“ 'l‘hat don’t follow. I know you to be a
smart man; but we areal} liable to be mis-
taken, and a smart woman can fool the devil
himself. I know those people better than you
do, you see, and it is certain that they come of
bad stock.”

“ If they are runnin off other men’s cattle
now, what becomes 0 the grudge that made
them stick to your stock so fondly?”

“ Oh, they are just laying off. waiting for a
good chance to tack e we again. It may be
that they have got so used to stealing cattle
that they can’t quit, and they are now picking
up a few to keep their hand in. Anyhow, they
are at it again, and the thing for you to do now
is to follow them up wherever they are to be

found, and catch them in the act if possible."

“ That is what I want to do, no matter who
they are, and I am tired enough of looking for
them where thev are not to be ound.” ‘

It was settler that the detective should ride
over to the Jackson Ranch that day, and should
make that quarter his field of operations for the
present.

“ He had better stay there several days,” said

Ike Jonas, who was present and taking a lively
interest in the news and the plan roposed. “ I
am a< sure as father is that the alsey Ranch
is the home of those rascals. I talked last night
with one of Pete Jackson’s men who had caught
sight of them, and he described them exactly to
fit the two who have been making trouble about
here. I have been looking into the business
right carefully, and am wi ling to bet high that
there is no girl in Cm Find or anywhere about,
egicept”the Halsey girl, who is up to that sort of
t n .
"fke is right about that” observed the old
man. “ Pete Jackson will glad to get your
hel , Mr. Sander, and you had better sta there
as ong as there is a chance to catch the t ieves.
If they should turn up in this neighborhood, we
will let you know quick eno h.’

It must be admitted that this intelligence had
a depressing effect upon Smart Aleck.

As Simon Jonas had been provedto be right
in one of his conjectures, it was more than likely
that he was right in the other.

f so it must have been Victoria Halsey
whom he had pursued and she had sent her
horse over the cliff while she clever] remained
behind, at the same time keeping a lack mare
at home to match the other in case of an emer-
gency; but she must be a person of remarkable
ability to plan and execute such a feat as that.

Not only had the detective been most egre-
giously fooled—jsupposing :that conjecture to be
correct—hut it hurt him sore] to have thebe-

lief forced u :1 him again tha the oung lady
Ehofm he admired! so highly was y a cattle—
ie . ' ‘

Though fresh doubts were raised, they had
not yet become convictions, and, supposing the
worst .to be true, excuses might be made for
Victoria, if her father had unjustly suffered,
and if Simon Jonas had been large] instrumen-
tal in causing the death of Tom sey.

Beforo/ he left the Jonas Ranch some other

 

 

 

matter came to his knowledge, which caused
him to incline more strongly than ever to
champion the Halseys.

He was conversing with Simon Jonas just be—
fore his departure, when a man rode up who
entered the house and pushed into the 'room
abruptly.

This visitor was a rough person to look at,
with an evil and unprepossessing countenaHCe,
and his dress and manner showed him to be
decidedly down in the world.

Evidently the arrival of this person was by no
means pleasing to Simon Jonas, who bent upon
him a frown that did not abash the viSitorin
the least.

“ What ill wind blows you here, Zeke Streen?”
gruflly demanded the ranchman.

“ Business, and I want to speak to you alone.”

Aleck Sander took this as a hint that he was
not wanted there just then. and went to an out-
house where there were seine saddlers’ tools,
with which he proceeded to mend his bridle.

While he was thus employed he heard voices
near by, and recognized them as those of Simon
Jonas and his visitor.

They not only came by the out-house, but
stopped within a few paces of it, so that the de-
tective could easily hear nearly every word they
said.

“ That’s all now, Zeke,” the ranchman was
sa ing. “ and you needn’t come to me again.”

‘ No?” inquired the other in a tone of increduv
lity. '

“No, I say, and I mean what I say. You
won’t get another dollar out of me unless you
work for it.”

“ It’ll be queer if I don‘t, migl ty queer.
Ketch me workin’ while I’ve got you to draw

w.”

“ I tell you, Zeke Streen, it can’t go on any
longer, and I won’t stand it. I have done” too
much for you already, and you must not expect
me to do an more.”

“And I te i you, Si Jonas, jest what I do ex»
poet and mean to have. You’ve got to pay me
from now on fifty dollars every month, reg’lar
as clock-work, and if you miss a payment, you’ll
be sorry for it.”

“ What will make me sorryf”.

“ I will u and tell about the job you put 11
on Tom Ha sey, to have him hung by the Vigi~
lantes and git his land.”

“ What’s the use of that, Zeke? It would
neither do you any good nor do me any harm.
Do you su pose that i could be- \Hd'i'iOil now by
an affair t int hug-{r imi so long ago! It is all
dead and ltl'golti n.” _

“ Thar’s those livin’ who hain't forgot it, and
who would be glad enough to know Just how the
game was played. They might worry you.
more‘n a little.”

“ I am not afraid of them.”

“ Talk’s cheap. I know you _are. Cephas
Strang and Nick Markell warn’t aieard of them,
neither. I’d do more’n that, Si Jonas. I’d have
the hull thing published. l’dxxput the tell-«
in’ whar it would do the most gM .” . I

“ How could that hurt me? y position here
is too solid to be shaken by any such jabber as
that.”

“ Reckon it would pull you down a peg or so,
anyhow. Take your choice pard. Its all the
same to me. Pay or peac —that’s my plat-
form.” 

“ l will tell you what I will do, Zeke. I will
keep on pa ing you for three IllODlLS more, and
then it wi have to nit.” -

“ All right. Jest eep on, and I‘ll tell yo
when to uit. So lon , old man.”
'Aleck gander loo through a crack of the-

outrhouse, and watched the visitor as be mounted
his horse and rode away, and v atched the
ranchman as he walked back to the house,
grumbling and muttering]. _

Then he got his own orse, and without an-
other word to Simon Jonas, rode away toward
the Jackson Ranch.

It is not too much to say that he was vastly
pleased with what he had heard-that is to say
pleased because he had hap ned to overhear it.
—as it enabled him to justi y himself in a meas-
ure for his unwillingness to push the pursuit of'
Jack Halsey and his sister to extremes. _

If they were running ofl? cattle, and in. so-
doiug they were working out a grudge against
Simon Jonas, there was sadly good ground for
the grudge though the manner of satisfying
it might well be considered reprehensible.

He was well enou h acquainted with the Jew
ranchman to know t at to touch his pocket was:
to strike him in the tenderest place.

As for the raids on the Jackson Ranch, per-
ha Pete Jackson might have been one of the
self-ionstituted Vigilantes. or there'existed some
other cause of enmity in that quarter.

In short, the detective had no trouble then in
findin excuses for Victoria Halsey, presuming
that s 9 had taken up lawlessness as a trade.

It was yet more a matter of reJOicmg to know
that he had 0t hold of a clew to ev1denee that
would probutfiy re-establish the dead Tom Halsey
and his living fam'i in the good opinion of
their fellow-men, an he might reasonably hope-
l‘y means of that clew to win the favor of

icmria.

He would endeavor to persuade her to aban- ,

  

 

      
     

    
         
 
   
   
 
 
     
 
 

    

 

{a

 

The Night Raider.

33

 

 

don her unlawful and dangerous pursuits, and 3

at the same time would be able to offer her a
better and safer means of visiting vengeance
upon Simon Jonas.

The only points to be considered were how to
locate Zeke Streen, and how to squeeze him so
asto make him squeal.

CHAPTER XVI.
BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE.

ANYBODY who supposed that Dan Markell
was going to abandon a cherished purpose be-
cause of such a slight rebuff as he had received
at Sol Meek’s cabin, was iiii itakeii iii the man.

In the first place, though one or" his comrades
had been wounded, he had got olI With a whole
skin.

The style in which he had been shaken and
abused and compelled to sneak oii‘, had not hurt
his body, but only his feelings, which were not
made of the tenderest imaginable material.

In the second place, he still believed that the
best way to strike Jack Halsey a killing blow was
through his sister, and he was convinced, in
spite of his failure at Pinyon Pass, that the blow
could be struck safely and surely.

The Pinyon Pu ss fiasco must surely have been
caused by an accident, as Exton and his partner
had merely happened there at an inconvenient
time, and the chances were a thousand to one
that nothing of the kind would happen again,
and all that was necessary was to get an oppor-
tunity to make another attempt.

As Rattlesnake Toni agreed heartily with his
employer in these feelings and conclusions,
being thereunto stimulated by an abundance of
whisky and a fair allowance of cash, and as
they both set at work earnestly to more fully
discover the habits of their proposed victim, it
was not long before they hit upon what they
deemed a suflicient opportunity.

They learned that she was in the habit of go-
ing out at night occasionally, and that, though
she never seemed to go far, she always went on
horseback.

On one of these Occasions Dan believed that
they might have f0110wed and captured her, had
it not been for the excessive caution of Battle-
snake Toiiiv-lurgely induced by his too strenuous
devotion to the whisk ~flask.

“ She’s a sarpint,” cclared the hero of the
rattlesnake bites. “ Not that I’m afcard . of
sarpiiits, but this ’un has got a double row 0’
fangs, and nobody kin tell when or how it‘s a-
goin’ to strike. She’s a tearer, Dan, for sart’in,
wuss’n her brother Jack, and we‘ll hev to be
keerful, as we want to make a sure thing of it
this time.”

So it was settled that the former gang should
be started out, with the exception of the man
who had been hurt at Pinyon Pass, and that they
should make a regular campaign against the fe-
male enemy, by camping secretl in the vicini
of the Halsey Ranch, and prow mg about until
they could find an opportunity to intercept
Victoria on one of her nocturnal ’aunts.

The commissariat of the expedition was liber-

' ally sup lied by Dan Markell, and of course it

includ an abundant allowance of whisky; but
the leader was determined to regulate its con-
sum tion so that his followers should not be
he? ess when they were needed for action.

t goes Without saying, however, that such
an attem i: was easier to make than to execute.

Everyt ing went fairly well the first day out,
and the young saloonist was able to keep his
company under reasonable control; but the first
night brought no fish to the net of the conspira-
tors, and the next day found them restless and
disposed to be insubordinate.

As the were not allowed to hunt, but were
compel]. to remain in hiding during the day,
existence became a burden to them, and they
Ion ed for the fleshpots of Oro Fine—a longing
wh ch could only be :Speased by a resort to the

whisky flasks that h been brought from that
land of lenty.
Dan arkell, being unable to help himself, re

laxed the reins of discipline, and the , being
also sulpplied with cards, succeeded in solacing
themse ves until they were fairly on the road to
inebriation.

When night came, and the business of the ex-
pedition had to be attended to, it was necessar
to call a halt of the whisky column, and the -
er conceived a plan that seemed to him to be an
admirable one.

As it was the intention of the to prowl
about in search of their Wm, and as
sober men would be a ed for that du and

the more serious service that might ensue, t was

ordered and agreed to that no whisk flasks
should be carried by the three men who zero go-
ing on patrol, but all the li uid subsistence
should be left at the camp in c of Rattle-
snake Tom, and if any man felt that he needed a
drink very badly he was to be permith to go
there and get it.

It was believed that this admirable arrange-
ment would tend to fix in the minds of the men

- the location of the camp, which was tobe the

rallying point in case of the sighting of the

1, it's here of the rattlesnake bites had proved
himself worthy of this honor and trust, because
hahad thus far been remarkably abstinent, set~

 

ting his comrades an example which they would
have done well to follow.

When the three had left him,“ however, he
seemed to deem it his duty to make up for lost
time, and proceeded to investigate the contents
of the flasks with alacrity and diligence.

He was not allowed to enjoy his picnic alone,
as first one and then another came in to get a
taste of the seductive fluid, Dan Markell being
the only one who was not suddenly seized by a
consuming thirst.

Rattlesnake Tom sustained the character of a
sober man by giving each a small allowance and
sending them back to their duties; but after a
little while they both came back together and
imitated the example of Oliver Twist by de-
manding more.

As the custodian of the liquor was by that
time in a pliable humor, the picnic became gen-
eral, and the fluid was disappearing rapidly
when Dan Markell came running into camp, ex-
cited by a discovery he had made.

“ I’ve seen her!” exclaimed the leader. “ She
is coming this way, and is almost here. What
do you fellers mean by sitting down and soaking
that whisky when you ought to be attending to
business?”

“ We’re all jest whar we are wanted, Cap "an-
swered Rattlesnake Tom, “and you don’t ave
to hunt up a man of us. What more do you
want?”

“ I want you to attend to business right now.
She is coming this way, I tell you, and we must
hide, two of us on each side of the trail, and
when I jump out and stop her horse you must
follow me and- grab her.”

Though three of the men were not just then
in first rate condition for active service. they
hastened to obey the instructions of their leader,
and the four promptly concealed themselves on
each side of the narrow and faint trail by which
their victim was expected to arrive.

Shortly she came in sight, and it was clear
that Dan’s discovery was all he had claimed it
to be.

She was mounted, and was riding her horse at
a walk, as if in no hurry to get ahead, or not
sure of her, way in the darkness.

Her face was covered by a vail, which seemed
to be an unnecessary precaution, as she was not
likely to meet any person at that place and hour,
and the use of the vail could not be justified by
the prevalence of mosquitoes.

Slowly, silentl and unsuspectingly she came
on, and the ru us could not have asked for a
better chance to seize their prey.

Suddenly Dan Markell jumped up and grabbed
her bridle-rein. and at the same moment Rattle-
snake Tom and the other two rushed forth from
their concealment and laid violent hands upon
the horse and its rider.

Greatly to the surpfise of those wh were
sober enough to be surprised, there was no at-
tempt at resistance.

It had been expected that the girl would at
once all out her ready pistol an proceed to
s rea devastation amon her assailants; but

e did nothing of the kin .

A piercing shriek burst from her lips, and
then she seemed to be ralyzed by fear.

“ Jerk her down an shut off her 'aw l” order-
ed Dan Markell, and she was ru ely drag ed
from her horse, and a coat was thrown over r
head, in g her completel .

But her scream was not without its effect, and
it seemed to be fated that somebody should al—
ways turn up, just at the most inopportune mo-
ment, to worry Dan Markell and spoil his best-
laid plans.

Hardly had the victim been secured when
rapid steps were heard close by, and the next
moment‘ ack Halsey burst out from the timber
and faced the gun . _

His sudden arrival was not near as demoral-
izing to the rufliansas the apparition that fol-
lowed him.

Close behind him, also on foot, and making
$uick time to the scene of action, was his sister,

ictoria Halse .

It was then he turn of Dan Markell and his
men to become paralyzed. ‘ .
The girl whom theg'obelieved they had captur-
ed and muflled and and, was standing before
them, free unharmed, and glaring at them bold-
ly and belligerently

Who, then was he captive?” ‘

So stunn were the radians by this devalop-
ment that they were incapable of any action be-
fore they found themselves at the mercy of the
new arrivals, Jack Halsey and his sister having
at once cooked and leveled their revolvers.

“ What are you doing here?” fiercely demand-
ed Jack. “ Release that woman, you sooun—
drelsl”

Dan Markell stood irresolute; but Rattlesnake
Tom, who was just muddled enough to make a
fool of himself, pulled out a weapon and attempt-
ed to use it.

Jack Halsev’s revolver cracked, and the
wretch’s istdl-hand dropped helplessly at his
sidp. and e uttered a bowl of in.

‘ Better cool dewn,” remar ed Halsey. “ I
will ghoot dead the next man who tries to use a

un.
A brief interval of silence and inaction was

I

 

 

l

man, who was at once recognized by both par-
ties as lke Jonas.

His amazement at the scene was such that at
first he was unable tospeak or not not knowing
whether to help thOSe who might be his friends,
or to side with those who ought to be his foes, or
to get out of the way and leave them to settle
their difficulties; but he quickly got the use of
his tongue.

Victoria Halsey had turned toward him at his
approach, as if expecting an attack from that
quarter; but his 5 'h assured her that he was
not connected wit Markell and his gang.

l

I

“ W‘hat‘s going on here?” he inquired. “ What i
are you doing, Dan? Who is that woman down _

there?”

The answer came in smothered tones from the \

captive on the ground:

“ Ikey, help me! Save me, Ikey l”

“ It is my sister!” he exclaimed, and he ran to
her, tore off the coat with which her head was
muffled, and raised her to a sitting sture. '

The others saw there a dark- aired, hooks

\.

- i

nosed and sallow-faced young, woman who bore '

not the least resemblance to ictoria Halsey.

“ What does it mean?” demanded Ike Jonas; .1

“ who has done this?”

"u‘.

“ I will tell you what I know about it,"an- ,

swered Jack Halsey, as the rufflans did not ap—-
pear to be inclined to make any explanations.

“ My sister and I were walking in the woods 

when we heard a scream; and we ran here as

*i.

fast as we could. We saw that these scoundrels 

had pulled a woman down from her horse, and I '

ordered them to release her.
ed a pistol on me, and I blocked his game by
smashing his head, and then you came.” ,

“ I am ever so much obliged to you ” mum-
bled Ike. “ But what does it mean Why was
this done?” ‘

“ I think I can tell you,” remarked Victoria.
“ It is more than likely that these scamps mint

took your sister for me, as I am sure that they; ‘

were looking and watching for me. It is luckyfi
for them that they made the mistake, as I knew
what they were after, and they would have.
fared much worse if they had tackled the person!
they wanted to get. Just look at them, if you

want to see a set of sheep-killing dcgs that 
caught in the act.”

They were, indeed, utterly disgusted with

themselves as they realized the mistake they had
made, and not one of them could be induced to,
utter a word. , .

“ I now give you notice, Dan Markell,” con-
tinued the young lady—“ you and your gang—a
that you had better keep out of my way here;
after, as I have a right to shoot you on sight;
and I am quite likely to use all the rights I 
sess ’ ' ’

“ Get out, now, you sneakin scoundmlsl” 01*,
dered Jack Halsey. “ Remem
the drop on you, and we mean to kee it. Hrs“?
Jonas, your sister is able to ride,-an you had:
better take her home.” ‘

The gang hastened to obey the order, and
young onas put his sister on her horse and 

er away while Jack Halsey and Victoria start—
ed toward their home. 2'

Ike’s inquiries brought from Rebecca the con-
fession that when she was attacked she was ,
her way to meet a young man who was a fore-g
man on a neighboring ranch. v ' ""

She begged her brother not to report he? '
home, and Ike promised to say nothing about“
matter, but seriously advised her not torisk an-
other such adventure. , ,

CHAPTER XVII.
CHASING THE RAIDERS Down. ,- ,
Annex SANDER made at the Jackson Randi!
what is frequently termed a water haul. ’ 9 if
He spread his net carefully, but caught 
flsh, nor did he see the sign of one. .
have could

The cattle—thieves appeared to
operations after his arrival, and, although
remained there three da 5, there was no renewal
of their attempts upon ackson’s Ranch. ', 

His dbgust at his dc lorable lack of m
was intensified when t 9 news was brought fi‘
him by a special messenger that the raiders 
again transferred the scene of their labms h-
the Jonas Ranch, and had min of! a nice 
of cattle there. i i . ' a.

He at once obeyed the order of his exhployli',
and hastened back to the scene of New
mg and inexplicable adventure. ' ‘ 
ert

 

imon Jonas’s an r at the loss of his ‘ .
was considerab y tempered by his trim

in 6 result of his predictions. ‘ :- ;

“ It has turned out 'ust as I told you it would;

Sander,” said he. “ e rascals have 

One of them pulls}, r

p

~

"t:
3

 

 

 

 

m.

i

r that we bay to

their scare, or believe that they have drawncfla

our attention, and so they have begun on 
stock again.” , _ . ;
Hennan Jonas and Ralph Harknecs 
the the ranchman had diagnosed tbscafifl‘cw“
y, and Ike expressed a yet more
opinion. ‘, 3.: i
“ I don’t believe that there is any use in
ing for them any more,” snidhe, “ and the,
we tocatch them isto , totheEI-hey ,
an arrest those two aware,” _
Ike was the only person, hr‘wovrr. who
lieved that it would be owner to take  ‘

broken by the, hasty arrival of another young step hithout further and charer pivot.

 

Q

14

' i ‘ \
The Night Raider.

 

 

 

;* Smart Aleck was puzzled by the manner in

3 which the cattle-thieves evaded and dodged him,

a and had some suspicions of his own concerning
their performances, at which he hint/ed to the
ranchman when he saw him alone.

“I don’t for a moment sup iosc, Mr. Jonas,”
said he, “that you would stea your own cattle
or hire anybody else to steal them.”

’ v “ \Vell, I should say thutl wouldn’t. What
do you mean by that sort of talk ’9'”
“ I mean to say that it is mighty queer how
those cattle-thieves manage to keep out of my
way. \Vheu I came here they Went to Work on
the Jackson Ranch, and when I got to J ackson‘s
they slipped back here. Itlooks to me as if
' there might be somebody about your place who
'- keeps them informed of our intentions and my
movements.”
“ You are ’way off, Sander. There is nothing
at all in that notion. Everybody about in '
lace is faithful and straight, and I can VOllCl
for every‘man here. You don’t want to admit
» 7 that I was ri ht about it; but that’s just what’s
‘ I. the matter.. hey went to Jackson’s to get our
 attention drawn ofl’ from my ranch, and now
 the have let into me again. All you have to
f' ""de stokeep on watching for them and trying
 ' to catch them. I have not the least doubt about
' ' who they are, and all we want is positive
 , proof."
 Sander was not satisfied and when he had
 j watched two nights at the onus Ranch without
“*5 discovering any further attempt there on the
x,  pigs; of the raiders, his suspicions were strength-
.59‘ ‘ G .
37; ' ' It was true that they had not been heard of
E . elsewhere; but there was something mysterious
 '; about the style in which they dodged him and
2' . " SuSpended operations when he was present, and
. ” the detective decided upon a change of tactics.
‘f  v- The morning after his second fruitless vigil he
. ormed Simon Jonas in the presence of his son
, ,, and the foreman that he was going to give up
:‘fthe job and make no further effort to capture
mg those cattle-thieves.
‘ The ranchman, who was su rised and dis-
pleased at this statement, beggc him to recon-
ider hisdctermination, and reminded him of
“the terms of his employment.
‘ “I mean to leave it alone for a while, any-
how,” replied Sander. “I am doing no good
here, and I have some Important business that
«requiresm attention. So I shall stay in Oro
' Fino to-nig t, and it may be three or four days
before I get back here.”
' "He rode away, but did not stay' in Oro Fino
,that night.
At the usual hour for beginning his watch on
he JonasRanch he was at his post, and he and
, is horse were as carefully concealed as ever,
“and he was, if possible, more Wide-awake than
ever.
What he wanted was to test the value of his
icions concerning the complicity with the
cattle-thieves of some person on Simon J onas’s

at“. -

  
  
    
    
  
   
  
   
  
    
  
    
  
   
  
 
 
   
  
 
     

a?
y
.r v

.If those suspicions were correct, the raiders
ight be ex ted to renew their operations
shortly after supposed absence was reported
tothem.

The result proved that he had been right in
‘ trusti to the old adage, “When the cat‘s
awn. , 0' mice will play.”

“It ' cked half an hour of midnight—very early
fbr‘that style of busmeL-s—when he discovered
that the cattle—thieves were at‘work.

They did not begin the task as secretly and
i quietly asbn the former occasion when he had
' flea h't them at it, but went about it more bung-
"V y and carelessly, as if they felt that they

4, sure of being left alone to pursue their
, we tions as they pleased.

heathey started off with the bunch they
had gathered up, and the detective got a clear
NW of them. he rceived that they were the
'flnm whom he h previously purSued—a man
Alida. woman, mounted on abay horse and a

a would have been justified, in view of
lrnotorious performances, in shooting them
 then and there, and he was near enough
wakiiihein to do so; but he felt an invincible re-
’. nce to that course.

.- ' the woman might be Victoria Halsey, it
‘- would of course be imposmble for him to kill her,
 it would be equa 1y out of the question to
ihoot her brother.

.‘ Besid he was not on duty for Simon Jonas
and night, and on a rivate scout of his own he
" ‘ a right to re ate his actions to suit him-

 »? so be determined to follow them, as he wanted
to "know posigvely and without a doubt who
,j the "were an where they| had come from, and
how” convinced that t ey would not be able
i fflplay the cliff game on him again, or to deceive
' , in an other way.
' I Natura y he wished to follow them quietkv, so
they would not be aware .of his pursuit; but

fl pro ble.

     
    
 
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
 
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
     
    
  
    
  
   
    
    
     
      
    

. ved to be im
 *3Tho" night was q to dark, and he was obli

‘- ‘9  within hearing distance I0 as not to 098
mot them. and before long he was both heard
1, W by them.

. as on the previous occasion, the gave
”  vammontroubleabouttbecattemut

 

t put spurs to their horses and galloped away, with

the detective in close pursuit.

In the darkness and amid the intricacies of the
hills which they shortly reached, be nearly lost
them more than once; but, by pushing his horse
hard, he managed to keep them in hearin , if
not in sight, and was convinced after a w lie
that they did not mean to separate.

At least, thay had no intention of trying the
cliff trick again, as they both turned to the
right where the woman and the man had
previously parted, and kept on steadily in that
dii'ccti :ii.

\thi tlicy got into better ground, the do-
tective found himself decidedly at a disad-
vantage, as they easily proved the superiority of
their mounts by drawing away from him So
rapidly that he began to fear that he Would be
distan. ed.

He was then, also, too far behind them to do
any successful shooting if he had desired to, and
nothing was left him but to follow out his origi-
nal plan and continue the pursuit to the best of
his ability.

He urged his horse to its best endeavors for
the sake of keeping them in sight, and got on
fairly until they struck a road, into which they
turned, and he followed them.

It was evident to him that they were going
direct to the Halsey Ranch, and he felt, if not
easier in his mind, more certain of the ultimate
result of the pursuit.

Though they were still increasing their dis-
tance, hey were then not far from the Halsey
Ranch and the road was so straight and clear
that the darkness did not prevent him from
ke’ifliling track of them.

e Halsey house came in sight dimly per-
ceivcd in the distance, and he saw the two fugi-
tives draw up in front of it.

The next moment his horse suddenly stumbled
and fell, and he fell with the horse.

When he rose and looked ahead, they had both
disappeared.

As it was not possible that they could have
got out of his sight by keeping straight on and
ollowiug the road, the natural supposition was
that they had sto ped at the Halsey house and
were to be found t ere.

He rode forward as rapidly as his horse could
carry him until he was near the house, and then
dismounted and hitched the tiied animal,‘ r0
mg to continue his explorations and inquisitions
on foot.

The house was dark and quiet—nothing to be
seen or heard there; but that was to be ex-

-ted, and it would not be worth while to

neck or to bail, as the two raiders would of
course take time to put themselves in proper
trim before permittin them to see him, and he
had g reason to be love that they were cap—
able 0 aking a “ lightning change.”

There was one other means of etting further
proof, and that was by looking or the horses
and noticing their condition, and with that view

I he approached the rass lot carefully.

There were the we horses—the bay and the
black, and no other—quiet enough, and showing
no evidence of excitement or weariness.

He tried to get close to them so that he mi ht
make a particular examination of them; at
they were unaccustomed to strangers, and kept
at such a respectful distance as to deprive him
of the chance he sought.

It would of course have been quite possible
for the fugitive by nick work to turn their
horses into the lot, h do the saddles and bridles
in some convenient lace, and conceal themselves
in the house before ecould get there.

As he could find no further evidence a ainst
them, he returned to his horses, moun , and
slowly rode away.

CHAPTER XVIII.
PROVING AN ALIBI.
Tnouon convinced that Simon Jonas would

even have paid mone for information of that
night’s adventure, A eck Sander did not seek

that gentleman, and was not a bit crazy to give

mints to anybody concerning the discovery he
d made.

Besides, therewas just the remotest possibility
that he mi ht be mistaken. -

He had 11 sure of the identity of the raid—
ers on the former occasion; but circumstances
had shown him that he could-not believe the
evidence of his senses, and even in this case
plain and direct evidence might be somehow
controvertcd.

There was one uzzlin fact which he could
not pretend to un erdtan ,and which must be
made the sub ’ect of future investigation.

Whoeva t e raiders might be, it was then
evident that the had a confederate in Simon
Jonas’s househol , who kept them informed of
the d tective’s movements and the plans that
were aid to capture them.

It was unlikely that the Halseys should have
such a confederate there, and yet that seemed to
be uite as likely as anything else in the tangled
ske n of affairs.

As the case stood, he could scarcely have the
slightest doubt that Jack Halsey and his sister
were the cattlethievm he had at first supposed
them to he. and the thought saddened him great

t.

 

 

ly, as his admiration of Victoria had been in-
creasing daily and hourly.

Supposing the worst to be proven against
them, he was resolved that it should not be he
who Would bring them to justice. and it should
not be he who would give Simon Jonasa chance
to boast of his better judgment and plume him-
self upon his predictions.

PI'()l('S.~1Uli:ll pl‘ido would prevent that, if there
Were no stronger motive.

So Sinan Alrch settled it in his mind that he

' woull viui.’ \‘icioriii llulsoy, and would have an

interview thh i-er. either alone or in the pres--
encn of her L-roi licr, \\ hen be u ould tell her
what he knew and had reason to suspect. and
would do his best to persuade her to quit the
nefarious pursuits in which she “as ingaged.

If this effort should prove a failure, it
would be no f: ult of his, as he would make it
fairly and faithfully.

This was what he did. He went on to Oro
Fino, where he got some needed rest, and the
next day rode out to the Halsey Ranch, get-
ting there in the afternoon.

He had to conchs as he approached the house
that he did not know how to open his subject
and express. gently but firmly what he wanted to
ear.

The style of remarks which he had been
in! (liffltlllg on the way appeared to be not at all
the right sort of thing w en he was confronted
by the bright and smiling face of Victoria
Halsey. _

Could he accuse that lady of being a. cattle-
thief?

She received him with an impressive cordial-
ity, and ushered him into a wow where her
mother and Jack were seated.

When Mrs Halsey rose to leave the room,
her daughter detained her.

“Don’t 0, ma,” entreated the young lady.
“ Mr. San cr is a iarticular friend of mine,
and I want you to know him better. He don’t
mean any harm to us. though he 15 a detective.
Quite the contrary, I assure you.”

This was a warm enough welcome, but the
niceness of that speech interfered seriously with
Smart Aleck’s object, making it more difficult
for him to say anything harsh. _

After a while, however, he found his opening,
and took advantage of it. .

“Where have you been for this ever so long,
Mr. Sander?” demanded Victoria. “It seems an
age since I have seen you, and I have really
wanted to meet you.” _

“I was quite near you last night,” answered
the detective—“ that is, supposing you to have
been at home—as I passed by this house.”

“ And you did not call in?_ That “as shock-
ingl mean of you. How did it happenf;7

“ followed two cattle-thieves to this place
last night.”

“Of course they went by, then, and you kept
on after them. Strange that we did not hear
the racket.” .

h “ That was not the way of it. They stopped
ere.’ ,

“ Stopped here? That  strange, indeed!
Who could they have been ?”

“One of them was a man, and the other was
a woman,” replied the detective, With as severe
a tone and look as he could assume. “ One rode
a bay’horse and the other a black,”

“ by, Jack, that sounds as if _the rascals
might have been you and me! Did we go out
cattle-stealing last night?”

The assurance of this young woman struck
Aleck Sander as being the most amazmg he had
eve witnessed. ,

“ don’t remember taking a hand in any such
diversion,” answered Jack. _

“Did ou miss us two last night, ma?”in-
quired Victoria. .

“ Of course I did not. This is some kind of a
joke, I su pose, and I am not fond of jokes,
partipular y that kind of jokes. So I Will leave
you. .
Mrs. Halsey got up and sailed out of the room,
apparently much ofl'ended. .

‘ So it can’t have been Jack and I who were
out stealing cattle,” observed Victoria. “unless
we did it in our sleep, and this nzornin there
was nothing the matter with our horses, t e bay
and the black.”

It seemed to the detective that those people
were brazening out the thing remark ably well;
but he would pin the fact upon them yet.

“ What became of your cattle-thieves, Mr.
Sander?” asked Victoria.

“ I tell you that they did not pass this house
and if you do not know what became of them, I.
do not.”

“ That settles it. then. It is a clear case of
ignorance all around.” ‘ -

“ Miss Halsey,” said the detective, who was
really getting ‘r’iled” by the coolness of the
pair, “this is no {airing matter. It is too seri-
one a business to treated lightly. I tell you
acain that I followed two cattle-thieves to this
place last night, that they were a man and a
woman, that one rode a bay horse and the other
a black, and that the exacth answered the de-
snription of you an your brother. I caught
them stealing cattle on Simon Jonas’s Ranch
chased them, made them leave the cattle. an
followed them here. As you told your mother,

 

I

 
   

i

   

 

y:
‘i
l
i

Ido

 

The (fight 

 

I do not mean you any harm, but-the contrary
and I have come here to-day to ask you to tell ‘
me the truth, and to give you some good ad- I
vice.”

Victoria braced herself up. physically as well
as mentally.

“\Ve are always glad to get good advice,”
said she, “ and you shall have the truth from us
—that is, if we are able to tell it. So it is your
belief, Mr. Sander, that Jack and I were the
cattiwtliieves you followed here last night.”

“ I—l did u t sa_‘.'—"

“You might as well say so now. as that is
what you mean. and it is best to KIM-8k plainly.
Let us look into the matter. (fan you tell me
at what hour on caught those persons stealing
cattle on the cans Ranch?”

“ About half-past eleven.”

“ Then we 1 easily prove what the lawyers
call a suflicien alibi. We had a visitor last
night—Mr. Horace Exton, of the Hole in the
Ground Mine. Perhaps you know him.”

“ I have met him.”

“He was with us here until about eleven
o’clock. Ma said that he had stayed very late,
and I looked at the clock. It was then ten min—
utes after eleven by our time. I don’t believe
that we could have got to the Jonas Ranch in
twanty minutes, to say nothing of getting ready
and saddling the horses."

“ Indeed you could not, and the. alibi seems to
be established.”

“ You ought not to take my word for it, Mr.
Sander, as I am an interested party, and you
need not. You can easily see Mr. Extoii if you
care to, and get his testimony. He is a gentle-
man, and I don’t believe he would lie."

“Nor do I believe that you would lie, Miss
Halsey. I will see Mr. Exton, but for your sat-
isfaction, rather than my own, and I want to
apolggize mou f0 my sus icions.”

“ on n not ( so. our suspicions were
just and correct. A )pearances were strongly
against us, and if I ad not had the alibi to
full back on, I would hardly have been able to
hold up my head.”

“Of course you will admit that there is a
mystery to solve. Who can the cattle-thieves
have been '1”

“ That is the question, and I believe that you
can be relied on to 8061 1e it in time. There is
no doubt that I have eneniiis about, here, and
you know that Jack has. Nothing would be too
mean for some of them to do to injure us. and
it is quite likely that the persons you i'ollowed
have been personating us, stealing cattle and
trying to ut the blame on Jack and me. If
you find t em again, I hope you will do some-
thing sharp and deCisive—catch them or kill
them.”

“ What can have become of them? Where did
theyrio to after they got here?”

‘ ey must have turned off into the timber
opposxte the house,” observed Jack. “ I will go
and look about for si n, though there are so
many horse-tracks in t 6 road and out of it,
that I don’t suppose I can find anything that
will tell the sto .”

'When Jack alsey had one out, the detec-
tive, whose mind was great y relieved, hastened
to o n the secopd branch of his subject.

“ hat cattle-stealing business,” he said, “ was
not the only thing that brought me here. 1

re been anmous to see you concerning the
matter of which We spoke some time ago. I
then offered you my services, and they were
not declined, though you were in no great hurry
to accept them.”

“I have wanted to meet you. Mr. Sander,”
answered Victoria: “ but one thing and another
has prevented me from even attemptin to do
so. I was truly thankful for your 0 er, and
have been trying to think how it might be made
available, but have seen no opening as yet.”

“ You may leave me to find the opening, and
I believe that with your assistance I maybe
able to do something. What you wish, as I
understand, is to clear your father’s memory.
I have, not forgotten that, and I have not been
idle. I lately struck a. clcw that may be of some
use: There s a man maned Zeke Streen—"

“ Zeke Streen?” eagerly interrupth Victoria.

There was a man named Zeke Streen, and‘if
he is living and can be made to talk, your clew
may be very valuable. He is the man of whom
801 Meek told me."

“ Who is So] Meek, and what did he tell you?m

tShhe regted hieil; conveliifiation with the invalid
a iscain wtoutte n ofthe m' 3
tbfi‘tlbad beiallleln her there.S “fortune

suppose t at was all the old man i ‘
tell you,” observed Sander, “and it wouldwiildi
he worth while for me to see him, as it is
probable that I know more about the matter
than he does. I know cnon h to lead me to be- I
lieve that Zeke Strcen woulif clear up the dim- i
cultyif he could be got hold of and made no
talk. I have seen him. but do not know where
he is to be found. I believe, however, that he i
is somewhere in the neighborhocd of 0m Fino,
and that I will ’light on him heforelong. When
I will find a way to make him talk.”

 

“ If you succeed in doing that,” said Victoria -
“ you will prove yourself a true friend to us, and
w i deserve more than our thanks.”

7 Jack Halsey came in and reported that he had

i

conclusion concerning them.

CHAPTER XIX.
TROUBLE IN ono FINO.

VICTORIA detailed to J uck and her mother the
latter part of her interview with Aleck Sander,
and they were greatly interested in the recital,
Mrs. Halsey agreeing that the detective was not,
after all, as bad as she had painted him, and Jack
becoming excited over the discovery of Zeke
Strcen.

There was no reason, he said, wh
not assist Sander in his search for eke Streen,
or start a search of his own for that much-desir-
ed individual. ,

He had ke )t at home long enough after the
shooting of ick Markell, and was in no further
danger of being molested by the law, and the ex—
citement over that event had entirely died
away.

He believed that there was no person whom he
had especial cause to fear, and that it was not
worth while for him to try to avoid his enemies,
as he would be as safe in any place which he
would be likely to visit as if he were on the
ranch. .

So one fine day Mr. Jack Halsey rodeinto Oro
Fino again.

Though peaceably inclined, he was prepared
for war, and two revolvm‘s plainly displayed,
with a knife and a belt of cartridges, showed
that it was his intention to preserve the peace,
even if it cost him a fight.

It may be said for Jack, though the fact may
not hitherto have been suspected, that he was
usually a quiet and unpretentious young fellow,
not hot—headed by nature, and by no means dis-
Bosed to provoke a difficulty or rush into one,

at on general principles as nice 8. young man as
the her ers of civilization might be expected to
produce. .

On this occasion it happened that almost the.
entire outfit of cowboys from the Jonas Ranch
Wore in town.

Simon Jonas, worried by his recent losses, an-
other raid occurring as SOOn as Aleck Sander
had gone on a furlou 'h, had sent away fully
three-fourths of his catt e—part of them being
sold find the remainder transferred to a distant
ranc .

Consequently he had giVen notice of discharge
to more than half of his herders, as he was not
the man to keep them on expense 8. day longer
than their services were needed.

In telling them of the dismissals, he had in-
formed them by implication. if not in plain
words, that the authors of his losses were Jack
Halsey and his sister.

This did not seem at all unreasonable to the.

men, as more than one of them had seen the two
raiders when Fiaherty was shot, and all had
heard the accounts of those who had been seen
on the Jackson Ranch. both descri )tions fitting
very closely to the persons whom Simon Jonas
accu .
Though the Jew rancbman was not beloved
by his employees, his money was as good as any
other man’s, and the cowboys not only grieved
at losses which deprived them of further pay,
but were bitterly opposed to proceedings that
tended to demoralize the important industry of
cattle-raising.

Therefore, when Jack Halsey entered Oro
'Fino that day, it was like coming into a hostile
community.

The Jonas contingent of cowboys had got into
town before he did, and had immediame begun
to distribute their money among the bar-rooms,
filling themselves up as a preliminary to the ex~
tensive orgies of the night.

By the time of Jack’s arrival several of them
had increased their inherent viciousness b liba-
tions of fighting whisky until they were ripe for

a row.

When it became known among them that one
of the gair of supposed cattle-thieves was in Cm
Fino, t ey began to s pathize more strongly
than ever with the wrongs of their employer,
and to meditate vengeance u n the rascal who
had helped to rob them, at east for a time, of '
their means of living and buying whisky.

It is charm-bristic of the average cowboy that
when he gets into a town andsecures a sufficient
supply of tarantula juice, he not onlv fancies
that be can “ run” that town, but believes that
it is his right and dut to do so. .

No matter how mil and peaceahle he may be
by_ nature, this sentiment is pretty sure to crop
out and find expression in some way.

If he is left alone he may “run the town”
without creating too much hard feeling; but if
he is interfered with in his harmless amusements,
his fighting bIOod may get up, and unpleasant
results are likely to ensue.

As whisky was made to he drank, so towns
are made to be “ run.”

i' Thus it was that when the dontingent from

the Jonas Ranch took it into their heads to exc-
cute justice upon Jack Halsey as a flagrant of-
fender. they had no thought of appealing to the
law for aid.

Their notion naturally was that they could
pick up the rascal and treat [him just as they

7 7 l
i found tracks leading into the timber across the 
5 road, but was unable to arrive at any definite i

 

 

 

 

might have done if they had caught him red-
handed on -“ the range.”

Herman Jonas was in town that day, though
he had not come with the cowboys, as e had an
idea that he was considerably above their level,
and he became aware of the intentions that
were springing up wantonly in their minds, but
made no attempt to check the growth, as he be-
lieved that sort of thing to be acceptable to his
father.

Ral h Harkness was not there. If he had
been, is influence mi ht have been efficiently
exerted in the other iiection, as he was a can-

tions and conservative man, reasonably fair-
he should I

minded as well as firm, and on that account v as
res ‘cted as well as feared by those who served
uni er him.

The only wonder was that he had remained so
long in the employment of Simon Jonas; but

3-5 

x

the Jew ranchman’s pay was always sure, and " '

‘9,
..

he had sense enough to want to keep a man Vi ho
managed Well for him. '

Ano er person who was aware of what was
goin r., and was glad of it, was Dan Maikell.

It is probable that he had been more in< eased
against Jack Halsey by his defeat on the occa-
sion of the Rebecca Jonas episode than by ihé
violent death of his father: but he had not btenl

able to see his way clear to get even with his, ‘

enem y.

A personal collision was not to be thought (1)11:i -.  .
a , u

as young Halsey was knoivn to be a quick
sure shot, and Dan, whOse nerves were en-
feebled by dissipation, was no match for him in
an sort of a fair fight.

‘he man who had “got away with” Nick
Markell, aftera pistol had been Sulled on him,
Would have no difficulty in iith ing to the case
of Dan.

Therefore, it was necessary to work some 1111- .
derhand scheme, or to overpower the obnoxious
young man by force of numbers.

When the feeling that existed among the
Jonas contingent of cowboys became known 'to
the young saloonist, be seized upon it at once as
a means of billing him to his vengeance. '

 

 

flh
I' ,
i v

-* x.»

,.
 ,w

He called his gang together; including Raitle- *2 ""15

snake Tom, who. though not then in fighting
condition, could be used with the others in
working up what may l.e styled a bar room
public sentiment against tue comparatively
friendless Jack Halsey.

They gave the cowboys to understand that f '

they would be well supported in whatever

measures they mi ht adopt to rid the country of . 

the alleged catt e-thief. and there was an :
abundance of free whisky in the Markell 5. icon",

for all who were opposed to him. “
There was another man who took notice of
these proceedings and of the feeling which had

 

been aroused, and which was so conspicuously" .

dis layed that it could not miss his attention.
hat man was Aleck Sander, who soon has
came convinced that the movement was a den-
gerous one, threatening death to Jack Halsey if
it should go on, and threatening

turbance in Oro Fino if it shoul be opposed.

a serious dis- :7

t

Accordin ly, he sought his friend, Marshal 
Hobbs, to w om he explained the situaticn- of},

ma

do his duty, which he believed to be the preserm
vation of order in Oro Fino at all hazards and
under all circumstances.

It 
ears,” remarked the marshal. “Fighting
whisky is getting its work in, and there are:
plenty of men e

eyes are open, Aleck, and so are my f

its. , _
Major Hobbs needed little explanation, as he ‘
also had noticed the feeling that was being ' V,
.worked up, and he needed not a bit of urging to], .

q".

r

9

re who are ripe for crow. ..

The trouble is that there is a durned sight mole.

of it than we see on the surface.”

“ What is under the surface?” ’

“The fact is, my friend, that I am not as
popular here as you sup I am. There is

 

considerable of a public sentiment against me in. 

Oro F‘ino and outside.” ‘ ,

“ You have made a splendid oflicer. major.”

“Thank you; but that’s just what’s the mat-
ter. I have run fthis townnstrictgydggdhw and
order rinciplos or some 'me— n , ma .1
be sailfto have ruled it with an iron band—mg?
the rou hs and rustlers are natural] down on.
me. T e only way I have been a le tokeep‘
things level has been by watching my chan
and siviking quick and hard. I am aseolid as
the everlasting hills with those who.call them!
selves the solid citizens; but you know what

 

 

 

 

 

they are when a pinch comes, and at the bed;  _

they are slow to get their fighting blood up. The
other crowd have been hungry to_ get a chance

at me. and if a general row begins they ' 
,Thatmakesmyig,‘

pitch in like a pack of wolves.
poifion uncertain and uneasy ’

‘ Of course you don’t mean f0 let Jack  ‘

be murdered by any pack of wolves.” ;, A,
“ Well. you are right about that. \ I don’t
mean to let him or any other man be lslang]:
teredhereincold bloodaslong aslamalive ,
vent it. But I may not be alive to prevent.
it. Ifa row begins, you while sure toflndmc“
in the front rank, and there are 
would be glad tomake a mark of me. \ ya:
see, for my own sake as well as for the cake}!
a town, I would greatly prefer that the.”
should not begin.” '

N

*.
s.

 

 

 

  

 
 

16

 

i

The Night Raider.

 

 

“So would I; but how is it to be hindered?” ‘ Halsey,” suggested Exton, “to take her word

“ There is one thing that can be done. If the
excuse for beginning a row which has now
cropped out could be taken away, that would
be something. It might not be enough tostop
the fuss that has been started: but we ought to
take all the chances for peace that can be got
hold of.”

“ And Jack Halsey is the excuse,” suggested
the detective.

“ Exactly so. If he could be quietly got out of
town, certain ple would be de rived of a
strong temptation, and it is just possmle that the
pot might bubble without boiling over.”

“ Very well. I will attend to that matter and
endeavor to get him safely and quietly out of the

way.

“ That will be a great favor to me, Aleck, and
while you are at it I will go about and see what
men I can depend on, and warn them to be
ready for trouble.

 

CHAPTER XX.
THE COMBAT DEEPENS.
SMART ALECK felt, in view of his recent ex-
‘plerience at the Small Hopes Ranch, that Jack
alsey might not object to taking advice from
him concerning the emergency that seemed
about to arise, and yet he was of the opinion
that his relations to imon Jonas placed him in

' rather a delicate position.

As he was considering the matter, a fortunate

.Circumstance occurred. '

He saw Horace Exten and his partner riding
into town, and hastened to meet them as they
dismounted.

He rapidly sketched an outline of the growing

excitement in Oro Fino, the basis of the disturb-

ance being the intention of the Jonas contingent
of cowboys to fasten upon Jack Halse and exe-
cute 'udgment on him as a cattle-thic .

“ hat’s that?” exclaimed the Englishman.
“ J ack Halsey a cattle-thief? They might as
Well say that is sister is a cattle-thief.”

“ That is what they do say,” suggested the de-

, tective.

' “Look here, Mr. Sander; I want you to be
careful what you say to me. I have been a
good deal worried lately, and am liable to get
excited.”

I “ I am careful what I say; but, if you have
heard nothing of this, I must tell it to you plain-
ly, as it is important that you should understand
it clearly and know how to act."

“ Tell it to me plainly, then.”
“I have no doubt that Simon Jonas is re-
nsible for the belief that some peo is have,
‘t at Jack Halse and his sister have 11 run-

' ning of! the catt e which he has lost lately, and I

‘- {closely fitted Jack Halsey and his sister.

 

‘ 9 facts?” ‘

I what

1%.

‘ i am obliged to sa that the charge he makes is

not without a litt e coloring of truth.”
“ Are ou going to tell me that those two are

V * cattle-thieves?”

“I am not, because I have looked into the
matter a little deeper than Jonas has; but I
must confess that at one time I came near to

, sharin his opinion, and the night before last I

mi ht ave been driven quite to that belief, if it
not been for you.”
> “What did I have to do with it?” demanded

. xton. .
“ The thieves who have been running 03 cattle
from the Jonas Ranch, as well as doing a little
work in the same line at Pete Jackson’s Ranch,
have had descriptions given of them that 'I‘rgry
93’
Were a man and a woman, and one rode a bay
horse, and the other a black, the woman being a

splendid rider.”

Mr. Sander, are you giving me thehbsolute

'ving you not only what I have board,
have seen. and you will soon know
on have to do wi h it. Night before
last I ound two rsons who answered to those

‘ ,‘flgs‘criptions driv ngoif some of the Jonas cattle,

I nearly killed myhorse in following them.
Where do you suppose I followed them to?”
‘ ,“ I am no guessor. Tell me at once, and put

» me out of my misery.”
“I followed them to the Halsey Ranch and to
tholfialsey house."
“ Great Cmsar’s ghost! That looks—”
, ,“ Of course it looks v suspicious; but ap-
 are often does tful. I did not say
t they went into the house, though I sup-

(. ,posed at the time thattheyhad done so, as Iwas

sure that they did not pass it. Having satisfied
myself on that int, and believin at the time
that they tnust ave gone in there, went :1ng

a but returned the next day to give the as

persons a chance to explain the matter, an they

did explain it.”
“ How?”
1 “ They proved an alibi by you. You were at
I the Halsey house that nigh At what hour did
_‘ you leave it?”

. “ About eleven o’clock. Yes, I remember that

.. I looked at mE watch, and it was just eleven.”

“60 Miss said, and that settled the
alibi, as it was hai -past eleven when I struck

‘ the cattle-thieves at the Jonas Ranch. The lady’s

trend was enough for me; but she asked me to
rsfer to you, I promised to do so., _.
.“Yeu'mus havohada high opinion of Miss

r ' l

 

 

  

against such a suspicious set of circumstances.”

“I surely did believe her; but that has noth-
ing to do with what I want to get at. I have
been tellin a long story here, and time is pre-
cious; but had to explain things, so that you
could understand that Simon Jonas had some
show of reason for his accusations. and conse-
quently the men to whom he has been repeating
them have a color of right in wanting to bound
down Jack HaISey. I have been talking over
the matter with Major Hobbs, and it is his opin«
ion that the trouble is real] very serious.”

“I Will stand by Jack alsey,” declared the
Englishman, “as long as there is breath in my
bed , and I am sure that my partner will be
wit me.”

Carl Klein asserted his intention of standing
by Exton as lon as he was able to stand.

“ And so will ,” said Aleck Sander, “and so
will the marshal; but his opinion is entitled to
be considered, and he says that the best thing to
do is to remove the provocation for a row by
getting Jack Halsey quietly out of the town. I
promised him that I would attend to that; but
you have come, and I will turn the job over to
you if you will take it, as I am in the employ of
. imon Jonas, and perhaps I had better not mix
in the business in that way.”

“ All right. I will hunt up Jack and try to

t him out of town; but he is a very stubborn
ellow, and if he takes it into his head that he
don’t want to go, a team of mules would not
start him.”

Jack Halsey had been quietly going about
town, making purchases am attending to other
matters of business for the Small Ho 5 Ranch.

He had not as yet entered any of t e salopns.
the headquarters of news and excitement, and
consequently was unaware of the talk that was
afloat concerning him, and the preparations
that were being made for his extermination.

As he sto out of a store he was met by
Exton and sin, who at once addressed them-
selves to the task which they had promised to
perform.

--The En lishman was quite correct when he
said that ack was a very stubborn fellow, and
hinted that it was going to be no easy matter to
get him out of town.

When the young ranchman was given to un-
derstand what was oing on in Oro Fino, and
was informed of the esire of his friends that he
should quietly slip out of town, he “ flared up”
instantly.

“Now, Exton, that won’t do at all,” be de-
clared. “ I know that you mean Well, and have
no doubt that Aleck Sander does, while Major
Hobbs of course wants to hold up his end with
as little labor as possible; but you really ought
not to ask me to pla the part of a coward—to
turn tail and run Ike 9. coyote just because a
lot of blatherskites are barking on m trail.”

“ I wish there were none but b therskites
mixed up in that barkin ,” answered Exton;
“ but the solemn truth is, ack, that those men
from J onas’s will soon be crazy drunk, and then
they will start in to play the wild. Of course
you will be singled out as the victim, and what
can you and your few friends do against such a
mob?”

“ I don’t want to get any friends into trouble'
but I am such a poor hand at running thatl’
should not know how to be in. I have few enou h
friends here, anyhow, an I think it would
best to let me go alone and take my chances.”

“ You have some good friends, Jack, though
they may be few. Here are two of them and
Aleck Sander is another, and Major Hob is
bound to stand by Byou, and of course he has
men to back him. ut we all want to avoid a
row if mible, and we have agreed that/it will
be the for all concerned if you will quietly
slip out of town and deprive the roughs f that
excuse. It is for the sake of your frien s that
we ask you to do so, quite as much as for your
own sake.”

J ack’s res use was sus nded by the arrival
of three of t e hostile cow ys. who were at the
sis of inebriation which is styled “pretty
ful ”——not drunk enough to be desperately
vicious, but sufficiently to be meanly malicious.

They came meanderin u the street, and
step and stared inso on y at the young
ranc man.

“Hello, young teller!” saluted the foremost
man, “ how’s the cattle-thievin’ business?”

Jack made no answer, but folded his arms and
returned the stare with interest. r

“ You’ve one to the is th 0’ your tether ”
continued t e cowboy. “ ou’ve stole catt e
from Si Jonas’s ranch until he’s had to ship off
his stock and git rid of his men, and now there’s
goin’ to be an end put to it, and to you, too."

“ If you want to pick a uarrel with me,"
calmly re lied the young ranc mun, “ you ma
have all t e quarrelingr to yourself, and I don t
mean toflght unibss am forced to it; but I
give you fair warnin that if you or any of
m crowd try to foo with me, there’li be cof-

for some ’

The man made a significant motion at his
throat with his hand.

“ We ain’t quite ready for you yet; but your
time’ll come quick enough,” he remarked, as he
walked away withhis comrades. ‘
‘ 3 ,~ : l , i ‘  '. ‘

' v (A, .

“i=3 ' “l "

  

 

 

“ You see how it is, Exton,” said Jack Halsey.
“ They’ve got it in for me, and have given me
notice. If I should sneak off now, it would be
nothing less than running away. Everybody
would call me a coward, and everybody would
want a kick at me.”

“ It is just because of what you have seen and
heard that we urge you to leave town. You now
understand how serious the matter is, and
Major Hobbs advises you to go.”

“I think it would be better for Major Hobbs
if I should stay. I believe that I see further
into this business than you do, Exton, and it
looks to me as if the roughs want to strike at
the marshal through me. If there has got to be
a ti ht for the control of this town, it might as
wel come now as later on, and I could be of
some use to him by stayingdiere, and at the
same time save my reputatio .

“ It is because he don’t want them to strike at
him that he advises you to leave. Your reputa-
tion is in no danger. You just go because gen
have no business that keeps you here. 8 I
said, it is for the sake of your friends that you
will slip off.”

“ For the sake of my friends, then, I will see
what I can do. But my horse is right here, and
when I ride down the street those men will be
sure to go for me.”

“ You need not bother about your horse.
Mine is at the other end of the towa. We will
quietly walk down there, and you can mount
my horse andlride awa .”

‘ Well, that is sneaking. Come on, then, and
we will see if we can make the connection.”

Fate had determined that they were not to
make the connection.

They had not got half-way to the spot where
Exton had left his horse, when the trouble came
to a head, and the row began. I

Fr m Dan Markell’s saloon ISSqu a number
of the Jonas cowboys, their blood fired with
fighting whisky, and they were speedly joined
by others who had been leitering about the
neighborhood.

Down the street they came, whooping and
yelling like madmen, and gathering speed as
they approached Jack Halsey and his friends.

If there could have bem any doubt about
their purpose, it was made apparent by their
leader, a stalwart and wild~eyed cOWboy, who ‘
carried a lariat.

“There he is! Come on, boys, and we’ll hang
the durned cattle-thief l”

 

CHAPTER XXI.
“WAR TO THE DEATH !"

THE cowboy’s hail proved that he and his fol-
lowers meant business, and it was necessary for
the Halsey rty to face the music.

However lab they may have been to do this,
their movements showed no indecision. ,

Indeed, there was nothing left for them to do
but to run, and to run would _not have been to
escape, even if they had felt disposed to make a
venture of that sort. . 3

At once, and as if instinctively, they backed
up against the blank wall of a building near by,
drew their revolvers, and prepared for sharp
and desperate work.

It was woful odds that they were then
and there called upon to face—-three men against
at least twenty, and the ranks of the twenty
were being continually enlarged, if not re- ,
cruited, by accessions from miscellaneous citi-
zens, none of whom joined the three who were
“ treed ” against the wall.

One person joined the three—a man who was
warmly welcomed, though _without a word,
as his value at such a crisis was fully appre-
ciated.

That man was Aleck Sander, who had been
watching from a little distance the negotiations
between Horace Exton and Jack Halsey, and
who hastened to them as soon as he perceived
that the trouble was about to come to a head.

His arrival had not the least effect upon the
Opposing party, who came forward as they had
started, wild with li nor, and inflamed by a
wolflsh desire for bl .

They were not to be allowed to continue their
course without objection.

“ Hold on there ” roared Exton. “ We know
what you are after, and if you mean business
so do we, and on had better amp and think of
what you are 0mg.”

“ Not while our eads are hot,” answered the
man with the lasso. “ The chap you have there
is a know cattle-thief, and we are here to see
that justice is done to him once for all. Come

on, boys!” r .
“ Holdl”-it was Smart Aleck who shouted
this time. “ Some of you may know

me and ‘
those who do may know that I mean usinen.
I tell you that this maniis not a cattle- ef. I
have looked into the matter and I tell oh what
I know to be the truth. If you wan to give
him a fair trial well and good; but you will
ru‘n into a wolf-trap if you try to work any

other scheme.”

“Will someng punch a hole in thatufias-
bag?” remarked be big cow . “We n’t
come here to listen to anybody s mouthman.
We know that cuss to be a cattle-thief, we
mean tonave him. Ifthosethmementryto

I

 

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I

 

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t D

’h

:3

.
‘1‘
.
.
.

.I
I
. “

   

_ 

        

' the throng as Jack Halsey and his

l Hobbs men to the leader of the cowboys.

'yan to haul in swiftly as the noose settled over

' nerve ess hands, and the young ranchman threw

The Night Raider;

1'7

 

 

 

stop us, so much the wuss fur them. Ain’t that V
so, boys ?” ‘

A general yell of approval testified to the dis-
position of the mob, and a sudden rush was
made, which was as suddenly stopped.

Throu h the crowd burst the burly form of 3
Major Hgobbs, followed by half a dozen armed ‘
and determined men, who at once ranged them- ,
selves in front of the threatened party, as if .
they had been organized and trained for that
special purpose, and the stentorian voice of the
marshal rung loud and clear above the noise of ,
the throng.

“ I command the peace, and I’ve got the law 7’
to back me. The first man who fires a shot will i
have me to deal with. Before you start a fuss here ;

on had better think of where it will end. I am ‘

ound to keep the peace, if half the town dies ,
with its boots on!”

The arrival of the law and order contingent .
.made a. decided difference in the situation.

Though few in number, they were so well
armed and disciplined that it would be danger-
ous to meddle with them, and when they were
added to the four resolute men who had faced
the mob, they were a truly formidable force.

But the cowboys who held the front of the
mob, feeling that they had plenty of backin ,
and being in no mood to bronk interference wit
their amusements, though they had been checked,
were not to be re )ulsed.

“ We’re arfer t tat cattle~thief, Jack Halsey,”
said the leader, “and we mean to git him if we
have to tear no your durned old town.”

“I arrest this man!” shouted Hobbs as he
laid his heavy hand on Jack Halsey’s shoulder.
“ He is my pi'i.-:oner.”

Not understanding this move, the young ranch-
man turned savagely upon the official. ,

“ That’s all right, my boy,” whispered Sander.’
“ It is the best and safest way.”

Jack cooled down, but did not change his grip
upon his cocked revolver.

“I am going to take him to jail,” said the
marshal, “and it won’t be safe for anybody to
interfere with me. Close up, meul”

He started away, his six men forming a body-
guard about the prisoner. and he and Exton
brougliit up the rear, while Aleck Sander and
Carl lein led the line of march.

They were not to be permitted to go of! as
easily as they might wish to.

Fortunately for them andthcir prisoner, the
jail was but a little distance from the spot ,
where the disturbance started, and that was a
strong point in their favor.

It was not overlooked, however, by the mob,
who perceived that they must secure their vic-
tim tbefore he reached a placa of comparative
on e y.

The parley with Exton, and the subsequent
parley with Major Hobbs, had not been time
entirely lost to the rou hs, as their force had
been strengthened and t ieir purpose intensified
by the arrival of a number of men who “meant
business ” fully as much as the 00wa s did.

Among them were Dan Markell an his party,
with a contingent of those who had been longing
for an opportunity to “ down ” Major Hobbs an
change the style of rule in Oro Educ.

he former circulated among the crowd, sup—
plying fightin fluid from their flasks, and prom-
risiug an abun ant supply of free whisky at the
Markell saloon when the deed should be done.

The latter, etger as» wolves, and anxious to
seize their opportunity, pressed forward to the
front, and seemed disposed to take the lead of
the disturbance out of the hands of the cowboys.

A howl of rage and execratiou burst from
ard started
06, and another rush was made, w ich was met
and repelled b the firm front shown by Hobbs
and Extou an the others.

“ Give me that rope l” shouted one of the grim;-

t s
no use with you. Give it to me, and we’llstring
the cuss, up in a jifi’y.”

“ Teach yer an mother to set hens l” growled
the other. “ tter not fool with me if you
don’t want to git hurt. Watch and seeme snake
the galoot out o’ thar quicker’n you could wring
a duck’s neck.” , ,

The speaker threw his lasso viciously and be-

 

J ack Halsey’s head.

This was the first belligerent act, and it
brought an immediate use.

Major Hobbs, who fies: keenly watchin
the man's” motions, at him instantly with

fatal effec
As the bi cowboy eta red k, shot
throu h the sad, the rope ropped rorn his

off the noose.
By this time the jail had been reached, and
Aleck Sander, who had the key, opened it quick-

ly.

Before‘ Jack Halsey could guess what was
aboutto ha pen. the detective seized him by the
shoulder, w irled him around, and closed and
locked the door,flputtiug the key in his packet.

’ He and the o are had no thought of follow-
ing the prisoner, but remained outside to face
the bowling mob, who were excited to the pitch

? Fino, and of late the inhabitants had been so

‘5 building, as the two small windows, set high in

‘ de. erate.

 

of frenzy by the shootin of their leader and the
sudden disappearance 0 their prey.

In point of fact, the jail was not defensible
except from the outside.

It was a primitive affair, only a stout log
building, erected in the earlier days of Oro

busily engaged in putting up saloons and other
places of business that they had no time to
think of the need of a better jail.

A garrison in such a place would be like a rat
in a hole, safe for a while, but with no opportu-
uit worth speaking of to resist the efforts of a
mob outside to batter down the door or burn the

the walls, were not available for firing purposes.
Though good enough to keep a prisoner from
getting out, it was not worth much to keepa
mob from getting in.
Thus it was that Jack Halsey’s guards were
obliged to defend him from the outside of the
prison, and their chance seemed to be rather

ey had succeeded in getting him out of the
way and into a place of at least temporary safe-
tV, but in so doing had not soothed or conciliated
t e mob.

The fall of the big cowboy had startled and
staggered them for a moment, and Major Hobbs l
too advantage of that brief opportunity toraise
his voice in warning again.

“In the name of the law I command. the
peace, and I give you fair warning that if
you make a fight here, it will be war to the
death I” '

1 His answer was a bullet that grared his cheek,
and the mob made a rush to overwhelm the
handful of men in front of the jail.

The odds were not as severe as they appeared
to be.

Though the crowd was a big one, all the men
who Composed it were not J onas’s cowboys, nor
were they all sympathizers with the anti-Hobbs
movement or with Dan Markell.

In fact, it contained many non-combatants,
who were necessarily in the way of those who
meant serious business, though they might
serve to stop bullets as well as any of the
others.

The men who really wanted to force the fight-
ing were numerous enough, but they labored~
under the further disadvantage of a lack of co-
hesion and compactness of organization, while
their opponents knew just what they had to do,
and were tprepared to act as one man.

None 0 these considerations had any weight
with the frenzied mob, who precipitated them- l
selves like an avalanche upon the resolute few. l

 

CHAPTER XXII.
ran REIGN or BLOOD.

THEN began the reign of blood in Oro Fino.

As soon as the shot was fired that grazed the
cheek of Major Hobbs, he and his six trained
men opened the game, and Aleck Sander, with
Exton and Klein, at once followed suit.

There were but one or two rifles in the'crowd,
in the bands of outsiders. and their opponents‘
did not hold one; so the fighting was bound to
be with revolvers at close range. ,

Since Harvey Hobbs had been Marshal of Oro ,
Fino, it had been his way to quell a disturbance
by instantaneous and merciless action. thus
“ knocking out ” the disturbers before they could
fairly get their work in, and impressing upon
them and others a wholesome fear of himself
and his methods.

On this occasion, therefore, when he gave the
order to fire, his followers knew that meant
quick and effective work, and they did not dis-
appoint his expectations.

As rapidly as those ten revolvers could be
cocked, they Were fired with deadly aim, so that
every shot counted.

The result was quite similar to that of the
discharge of a Gatling gun.

The small but resolute and disciplined band
“ had the dro )" on their adversaries, and used
it with fatal cot.

It had naturally been the desire of their leader
to pick out as his special victims the men who were
making war upon him personally; but the rush
was so tumultuous that there was little chance
for an discrimination.

Cow ya and citizens fell aside before the first
volley, and there was no pause in that murder-
ous fire—mo chance for the astonished and
stricken mob to recover.

As the front ranks dropped, those in the rear
par-eased forward to take heir places as in regu-

r battle, and plenty of shots were fired from‘
that side; but the firing was desaltory and with-
out recision.

T ere was plenty of viciousness, however, and
men who had been sorely wounded, struggled to
their feet, or raised themselves upon their arms
to send a revengeful shot at their toes, who Were
compelled to fire alike upon those who were up
and those who were down.

The steady, rapid and continuous firing had
the effect which Major Hobbs intended it should
have, and the mob began to break. ‘

When the weakening was apparent, he ordered

, for all he was worth.

‘ physician was rent for.

 

his men to cease firing. autLthe availed them.
selves of the opportunity to .fil their revolvers
from their Cartridge belts; but thernob,who'

\ l “ r .

    
   
 
   
   
  
  
   
  
   
   
  
  
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
   
   
  
  
  
   
   
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
   
   
  
  
   
   
    
   
   
  
   
   
   
     
   
  
   
  
  
     
   
   
    
  
    
     
 
   
    
  
 
    
   
    
  
   
  

still largely outnumbered their antagonists and
were constantly receiving accessions, were en-
couraged by this interval to fresh efforts.

They did not attempt another rush, but spread
out and sought to surround the defenders of the
jail as far as they could be surrounded, popping
at them at longer ranges.

Just then the marshal had a reinforcement
which arrived when it “as needed.

While he was getting his men together, in
preparation for the disturbance which was more
than probable, he had seen some of the "solid
citizens” who were chiefly interested in the
maintenance of law and order, and with a few
brief and forcible words had impressed upon
them the fact that if they desired to save their ,
property and prevent the rule of the town from 
passing into the hands of the worst elements, it ‘
would be necessary for them to act with him on
that occasion energetically and without delay.

In fact, it was well understood in Oro Fino
that Major Hobbs was obnoxious to the r< ugl.s
not so much on account of his personality, as
because he was the official representative of the
law and order party.

Accordingly several good and determined men _
had armed themselves, closed their places of . ’ \,
business, and hastened to the relief of the mar-
shal as soon as the firing be an. ' 

When this contingent ha joined him, Hobbs \ T
found himself in much better condition for set— 
tling the difficulty. and he at once perceived .,,
that he must again take the aggressive and fight ‘

So be instantly formed his party in militar
style, and ordered a charge, which was so lei ' ,
conducted and vigorously made, that the mob .25
Scattered and fled, the non-combatants setting -
an example in getting out of the way which was ,
speedily followed by the fighters. '

After driving them well and punishing them ..
severely, the marshal returned with his men to ‘ ._ :1 ..
the jail, where there was a sad and shocking A " __
si ht. '

gNothing like it had ever before been known in
Oro Fino. ‘, 

There had been from time to time plenty of ‘"
single fights and pretty extensive engagements:
but they had all been mere combats and skirg , ‘
mishes as compared with the pitched battle in'  . ‘
front of the ja l. 3.

This was really war, and the street in front .,
of the 10: building looked like a battle-field after
the battle.

It was actually sickening to look at the dead. , v
and dying and wounded men who had been left‘  .
there by the retreatin mob, and the victors .
had also suffered severe y. -  .‘

One of the marshal’s six had been killed, and J -.
another was mortally Wounded; Carl Klein had ..
been disabled by two bullets, Exton and Sander ‘  .
were more or less scarred: and the leader had ‘ if ,
received a had flesh wound in the left arm, ' 
which he had not noticed until then. i .

A consultation with the citizens resulted in I t.'.
the decision that the jail shoul be used as a hos/p  ‘

ital. ' r
p A couple of men who had been locked upv  I
there for some slight offenses were turned loose, ,1 ‘ .
and the wounded of both sides were carried in -.
and made as comfortable as possible, and a 5,.
Jack Halsey, who had of course heard the' *.
firing outside and knew that men Were killing
each other there, in efforts to'destroy and d942,. ‘
feud him, had been r g inside like acafid, " -;
ti r, wild to get out a take part in the fig t. 
en the wounded men were brought in. be,‘
“nailed Major Hobbs and Aleck Sander, and
demanded that he should be let out and allowed if"
to hear his share of the burden. p
“ It is not fair," he claimed, “ that you should .
be fightm for me, while I am safe and d '.
nothing. could be of some use out thete, , '
there is no sense in keeping me housed up.” w
“The fight is not about you, my boy, *
swered the marshal as Smart Aleckwns buik
dagin his wounded arm. “ It was your basic
ness t t started it,tebe sure. but there is
great deal more than that of it now, and the
truth is that von would do us more harm“ than

’3.

i ‘

good if you were out.” ,
“Howsof" . ,  ,,
“ You were the excuse that those ran and.

rustlers made for beginning the row.

can my that you are a prisoner, awaiting trio} 1

on any charges they may bring against you, , I. ,.

take that excuse away from them. If we shoal "' "
turn you loose, they would say thatwem
merely taking your rt, and what I ma 

the moral eflect of t at sort of thing w ‘ ' 1!

worth considerable to them. I know that you

are. a good fighter. Halsey, and I would be gm
to .have your help; but you are only one ’
and so you would do us more harm 

outside. ,
Greatly as he longed to getoutand help ,

friends, the young ranchman was compo ‘ ’-

remain where he was and make himself metal“

in takin care of the wounded. 7 l-  "

Than} the first battleof the campaign but

rcsul favorably to the law and ordeer

they had good reason to believe that them

"ism; Oven ht h thefi t tom m‘ f”

twasnearnig wen rs v ‘
won, and several important consideration

   

objective point of attack.

 * Whisky had

. arm

18

 

The Night Raider.

 

 

firessed themselves upon the attention of Major
obbs and his party.

As the hours of darkness would bring acces-
sions to the rough element, with a largely in—

creased consumption of whisky, and consequent- ,

lg a greater tendency to disorder, the first

t in necessary was to consolidate and organize

the flaw-abiding citizens, so as to guard the
town and present a firm front to the enemies of
order.

This duty was confided to some of the citizens
who had joined the marshal, and they hastened
to perform it, the jail being fixed upon as the

eneral rendezvous and headquarters of the
orces.

The next thing in order was the arrangement
of a commissary department, so that the men
on duty could be fed without leaving their
posts.

Men were found to put this machinery in
motion, as well as to attend to the supply of am-
munition and to add a number of rifles to the
revolvers that were carried.

As the jail had been, and probably would
be again, the objective point of the mob of
ronghs, it was deemed proper to fortify the ap-
proach to it, so that its defenders should not be
forced to fight entirely in the open.

This was accompanied by building a barri-
cade, or breastwork, of barrels and boxes and
odds and ends of timber.

These matters having been attended to with-

,out any further disturbance or interruption,
Major Hobbs felt himself at liberty and strong

 enough to take other measures connected with
the safety of the town and the preservation of
order.

The “solid citizens” came to his assistance
more largely and with greater alacrity than he
had expected them to, and he had geod reason
to hope that with the force then at his command
he would be able to “ down ” the rough element
quite effectually.

Again, as it was his nature to do, he proceed-
ed to take the aggressive.

One danger to be feared was that of partic-
ular or promiscuous attacks upon obnoxious
citizens, and the destruction of their prop—

Ihstead of flinging themselves against a. force
that was organized and prepared to meet them,
the mob might assail weak points here and
there, with a view to private grudges or gen-
eral plunder, or with the hope of dividing the
force of their foes and diverting them from the

0 meet this contingenc
the town must be watch and guarded, and a.
stron patrolling force was sent out after dark,

caller in case of need, and with orders to report
i mediame at headquarters any demonstra—
tion in any direction on the part of the enemy.

CHAPTER XXIII.
A FRIENDLY FIRE.

THE mob, in the mean time, leavin their
wounded friends to the care of their foes, (1 re-
tired to fill their ranks with men, and to fill
their skins with whisky.
been ,the controldng force that
began the war, and/whisky was to be the sus-
taining force to carry on the campaign.

Though Jack Halsey had not yet been
“ strun up,” Dan
of free rinks to th

7 I battle and were still able to drink.

:1 ‘1. realized the fact that the contest which they had ‘

I

, I

1‘

, He had no into the fi ht, as he expressed it,
red-eyed, and to “ma. 0 a spoon or spoil a.
horn, and, as he was himself pretty well mud‘

’ died, he issued orders for the distribution of
“red-eye ” that made his barkee rs stare.

Consequently his saloon was t 9 head uarters
of the mvolutionists, and thither fioc ed not

 only his own adherents, but the Jonas cowboys

their friends, with all who were interested
I in overturning the Harvey Hobbs d nasty.
These men, and especially those est named,

11 was a very serious matter: but they also
be iev that with the odds of numbers and
'enthus' m on their side they would be pretty

 lure to win if they should stick together and

fight for all they were worth.
. A final victory would not only give them con-
lti'ol of the town of Oro Fino, but would enable
them to defra the cost of the campaign at the
expense of t ose who had most bitterly op-

 " them—in other words, to gain unlimited
_ infiedt

Theme
n, and h

Contin out were of the same opin-
the a ditional incentive of de-

 rlng to avenge ,the death of their leader and

’ toexeoute their judgment upon Jack Halsey.

:- It was only necessary to secure a good organ-

. tuition and proper plans, and the anti-Hobbs
ion of the malcontents undertook to attend

that part of the business.

It may be stated as a general rule, however,

‘ that an organization which is mainly cemented

by whisky. is not likely to be an entire success.
Whisky is very effective as a stimulant, but as

a bond 0 union it is not thoroughly reliable.
The leaders of the mob found it useful as

,ncrnitingagent.
As the people canninfrumthemrrounding

 

 

it was decided that '

with rifles, near enough to support each ,

rkell made good his offer 1
who had taken part in the 3

country for a few hours of business or revelry—
especially the revelry—the emissaries of the mob
captured numerous cowboys and others, whom a
sufficient supply of whisky made ripe for a row,
and who were willing enough to worry the con-
! stituted authorities.

The other side secured a few ranchmen; but
i their recruits from the outside were not near as
I numerous as those of their adversaries.
i As the hours of night were on, and the effects
’ of free whisky became more manifest, a plan of
I campaign was agreed upon by the leaders of the
, three combim-d forces.

It was settled that a portion of the mob should
0 and “ clean out” Sam Bartoco’s “ Miner’s
o ,” which was the oldest saloon in town,
i antrewas obnoxious to the disorderly element as

being the favorite resort of Major Hobbs and

his adherents.
i Another section was to work its way around

 

l to the rear of the jail, and endeavor to burn the l

i building by making a bonfire against it, regard- *

less of the fact that their wounded friends as
well as their fees were in there.

While these movements were in operation the
main body was to attack the position in froutot'
the jail, with the expectation that the attention
of the enemy would be so distracted that a suc-
‘ ceszul assault might be made.

The first movement was made against the
i “ Miner‘s Hope,” and there the malcontents had

cause to rejoice in their achievements.
i The inmates, glad to escape with their lives,
‘ scattered out as quickly as they could, some of

them being severely hustled in getting away,
i and the mob proceeded to wreck the saloon.

As they hated to see good liquor wasted, they

! naturally endeavored to save as much of it as
v they could by pouring it down their throats, and

this portion of the campaign was somewhat de-
‘ moralizin r to the campaigners. -

News 0 this strike was immediately carried

to the headquarters of the other side, and Major
' Hobbs lost no time in meeting the attack.
j Rightly judging the intentions of his adversa-
ries, he sent only a small portion of his force to
that point, under the command of Aleck San-
der, with instructions to use no half-measures in
dealing with the insurrection, but to strike
quick and hard.

The detective and his command hastened up
the street, swelling their forces by picking up
the patrolmen on the we. , and dashed into the
“ Miner‘s Hope," where t e rioters, who had not
thought of placing a guard outside, were smash-
ing things at their own sweet will.

Obeying the instructions of the marshal, San-
, der and his men opened fire as they entered the
1 building, without any challenge or warning, and
the effect of this unex cted attack was to throw
: the wreckers into sue a state of consternation
that a. sudden stam e ensued.

He did not give t em time to rally or ather
head, but pursued them as soon as they roke,
drivin the most of them down the street to-
ward t e main body.

The movement of the second detachment of
the mob was made more quietly.

They sneaked around to the rear of the jail,
from which quarter no attack had been expect-
ed b its defenders, and some of them piled com-

 

} bust bles ainst the building, while their com-
, rades 5 ready to protect them from inter-
ference.

Though the men engaged in this diversion
were not more sober than the rest of the mob,
they realized the fact that owing to their weak-
ness in point of numbers, they must find safety
in prudence, and their work was done with so
little noise that it failed to attract the attention
of those in front of the jail, who were occupied
Est then by a serious movement on the part of

0 main body of the mob.

But the incendiaries were not to be allowed to
complete their task without interruption.

Hardly had the bonfire begun to blaze up,
when a bi man burst in among them with an
Indian yel that was loud and wild enough to
wake the dead.

With a vigorous kick he scattered the pile of
combustibles, and then, swinging a. heav rifle
 the muzzle, dashed at the men who had built
1

This energetic action was accompanied by a
series of ya] 3 which indicated the presence of a.
force to back him.

“Come on, boys! Here they are! Pitch into
the gallbu’sted sneaks! Burn the jail, will ye,
dodburn yet”

The force to which he was a peeling existed
only in his imagination, as he was entirely
alone; but there was help at hand for him.

Aleck Sander, coming that way with a por-
tion of his men in “fursui t of some fugitive riot-
ers. comprehend
and swooped down upon the scene of action.

Before the incendiaries had recovered from
their astonishment at the big man's demonstra-
tion, the detective and his band attacked them

in Ttlge rear.

. ey were then readily disposed of and the
fire which they ha styted was efi'ecthally ex-
tinguished. *

{1:11}: j1&th t21hr. mph that hag1 ggilgered in fit-put
o e on y organ Open '18
against the partisans of law we order, and the

 

the situation at a glance,“

 

task to which it had addressed itself proved to
be by no means an easy one.

Though the scattered roughs who had not be-
come too badly demoraliZed for further active
employment had gathered there. those who
favored the other side had collected at the mar-
shal‘s headquarters. prepared to carry on the
war to the bitter end.

The latter force, though still somewhat smaller
than the other, was soberer, more concentrated
and better led, and had the further advantage
of the fortification which Major Hobbs had
erected in true military style.

Hobbs and his friends, then fore, found them-
selves easily able to hold their position and pre~
vent their adversaries from doing them serious
damage; but that was unfortunately not the
opjly point which they were compelled to con-
sr er.

While they were cooped up there at the jail,
the rest of the town was practically at the
mercy of the mob, detachments from which
might go here and there and raid such establish-
ments as were obnoxious to them or ofl‘ereda
promise of plunder.

This was a danger which could not be over-
looked, und occasional shots and yells from the
upper end of the street told of rioting that must
be quelled at any cost.

It again became necessary to assume the ag-
gressive and force the fighting until the insur-
rection should be quite ended.

A hurried consultation of the leaders of the
force at the jail resulted in the decision that a
charge should’bc made upon the mob, who must
be scattered and driven until the friends of law
and order could obtain entire possession of the
town.

Just as the men were massed for that purpose,
and the order to charge was about to be given,
the startling cry of fire was raised.

It came from the upper end of the street and
was instantly emphasized by a bright me
that shot 11 in that direction, made fearfully
visible by the darkness of the night.

This caused an immediate stampede.

The crowd outside the barricade broke and
ran toward the fire, and the men whom they
had been assailing hastened to follow them.

Friends and foes speedily became inextrica-
bly mixed up, each man striving to be first at
the scene of the new excitement.

saving a few reliable men at the jail in
charge of Aleck Sander. Major Hobbs hurried
off to the fire with the rest.

The discovery was quickly made that the con-
fia ation threatened to be a serious one.

L ome half-drunken rioters, allured by the
prospect of easy plunder in the midst of the
general commotion, had entered a store to help
themselves to what they wanted, and had been
stoutly resisted by- the stubborn proprietor and
a con le of clerks.

In the struggle that ensued, a lamp was over-
turned upon a mass of inflammable material
which blazed up so quickly that it was beyon
the power of those present to extinguish the
flames, and the alarm was instantly given.

It was soon evident that the store in which
the fire had started was bound to go, and that
the utmost exertions would be required to; save
the adjoining buildings and the rest of the town.

There was not a man who refused to give his
aid to this object. ,

The roughs vied with- the “solid citizens” in
their efforts to conquer the conflagration, and
all other animosities were lost sight of in strenu-
ous endeavors inst the fiery fee.

It seemed to the general Verdict of good
men and bad that the right thing to do was
to five the town first, and fight for it after-
wa .

The struggle was severe and desperate: but
the united forces finally revailed a inst the
fire, and it was complete y extinguis ed after
much damage had been done.

By that time the population of Oro Fino, resi-
dent and transxent. was so utterly exhausted,
that nothing but peace and rest was possible.

CHAPTERXXIV.
AFTER THE STORM.

A LITTLE explanation will be in place con-
cerning the big man who had/ so opportuner
interrupted the incendiaries behind t e jail.

By the evening train, just at the close of the
first battle, there had arrived in Oro Fino a man
whose appearance and ways Were' calculated to
attract attention. '

He was a middle-aged man, tall and of large
frame, the greater art of his face covered with
a heavy black bee , and his brows shaded by a
broad slouched hat.

There was nothing peculiar about his attire
which was that of the average ranchman; but
he had an extensive armament for a aceful
traveler. carrying no less than two visib e revol‘
vers and a heavy repeating rifie.

In his air and his it was the style of a man
who considers himse f monarch of all he curve 5,
and who is not disposed to brook the inte er-
ence of any created being.

At the hotel be registered his name as:

“ T. Tms,
Texas.”

 

 

 

‘gév; ..
/

The Night Raider.

19

 

 

“What does the T. stand for?" inquired the
curious clcrk. 

“ Texas,” answered the stranger, and there-
after he was known to those who had occasion
to address him as Mr. Texas.

Mr. Texas quickly discovered that something
unusual was transpirng iii Oro Fiiio, which
was anything but a quiet town just then, and he
did not balk his inclination when it led him forth

, to investigate the disturbance.

The some of greatest excitcment within his
easy reach at that moment was Dan Markell’s
saloon, and thither he made his way, carrying
his armament.

Nothing could be easier than to make the iii-
vestigation he had proposed to himself, as he
found there plenty of men filled With whisky
and information which they were willing to un-
load—the information, not the w hisky—upon
anfi inquiring stranger.

e was also spc ily pounced upon by the re-
cruiting officers of the mob, who saw in him a
valuable fighting man whom they would be glad
to enlist on their side, and who were liberal with
liquor while presenting to him the merits of
their case.

He accepted the drinks with the placid assur-
ance of a man who confides in the absorbent
ability of his flesh, but was reticent concerning
his intentions, preferring to hear all that was
said and to gather in all the points that were
available.

Thus he soon got a history of the cause of the
troubles, with a description of the present si ua-
tion, according to the views of the insurrection-
. ists, and from these statements was able to form

his own ideas and draw his own conclusions.

He also became possessed of the plans of the
night campaign—indeed, no concealment was
made of them—and was s ially interested in
the roject of burning the Jail.

“ on’t that be a little rough?” he mildly
inquired. “ Is thar nobody in thar but that
young cattle-thief?”

“ 6 can’t help it if thar is,” answerel his
informant.

“ Seems to me that I heard that some wounded

' men had been carried in thar—some of your

friends among ’em.”

“ I reckon we can git them out. If not, they’ll
have to take the chances. Business is business.”

When the detachment started to burn the

, V jail, Mr. Texas was not far behind them.
1 ' When they were getting their work in to
 their satisfaction, he also got his work in, with
the useful result which has been detailed.

At the close of that skirmish he was accosted
, i by Aleck Sander, who had perceived and appre-
i elated the value of his interference.

f “I am glad to meet you and thank you for
i - What you have done,” said the detective. “ I
3 don’t remember seeing you about here before.

Are you a stranger in Oro Fino?”

“ ust came to town on the train awhile ago,”

answered Mr. Texas.

‘ “ You have not missed any points since you
got in, I should say. You have done some very
good work here, such as we could not have ex-
pe‘cted from a stranger.”

‘ Well, the fact is that I’ve
sonal interest in this busmess.

. :‘ Indeed! How is that?”
a 3 ‘ I “take it that you are a friend to the young
3 Chap 111 that who is accused of stealin’ cattle?”

“ I am a friend to him in this affair, at least.”

“That’s what I allowed. I happen to be an
. uncle of his~his father’s brother. My name is
. Abe Halsey, and I’m from Texas."
§ :‘ “ Glad to know you, Mr. Halsey. You could
2 * not have got in here at a better time. My name
, is Aleck Sander. And now, as things seem to be
i 8359 here, suppose we go around in front and see
Q what we can do to help our friends there.”

, Abe Halsey followed the detective to the front
of the jail, where he was made acquainted with
Mainr Hobbs and Horace Exton, and placed
: himself and his armament at the service of the

y _ marshal. r ‘
i. ‘ When the fire and the general stampede oc-
i 1 currell. he remained at the jail as one of the
guard under the command of Aleck Sander and
after a while, when the den er seemed to have
passed, the detective allowe him to go in and

ve an interview with his nephew.

“After the fire it became so evident that there
was to be no more fi hti that night, that Ma-

\ ‘ jor Hobbs notified a his riends they mi ht go

- ‘ to rest or employ themselves as they p eased,
andhe retained only a few men to patrol the
town until morning.

Abe Halsc , however, with Aleck Sander and
Horace Exton, preferred to transfer themselves
to the inside of the jail, where they took such

« rest as they could get on the board floor, and

5 ‘ held themselves in readiness for a possible
,, The morning found Oro Fino quiet; but the
quiet was hke that of death. .

q , ~ ~ If atornado had wrecked the town, the effect

 . could scarce] have been more stupefying.

l

1?

gota sort of a per-

«The frien 8 of law and order, as the result
raved, had ned a. signal victory, but at a
. rrible cost 11 the destruction of life and prop-

 

. or Hobbs showed excellent judgment as
 well as energy in making prompt endeavors to

\

secure the fruits of the victory that had been so
hardly won.

Early in the morning, when the just and un-
just alike were sleeping the sleep of exhaustion.
he went around town with his body-guard, and
ordered that all the saloons should be closed and
kept closed.

As he had sufficient strength at the time to
cause the enforcement of the order, it was obey—
ed, and the effect upon Oro Fino was marvelous,
nothing of the kind having ever before happen-
ed since the camp was located.

It was not at all like a Sabbath, Sunday be- I‘ b

ing always the busiest and liveliest day in the
saloons and other centers of excitement; but it
was as if a iall had been thrown over the towig
which had or the time ceased to exist.

When the wearied belligerents of the day and
night before awoke from their slumbers and
crawled out into the light of day, there was not
visible the least desire on the part of anybody to
renew the fight.

 

l

Both sides had learned a lesson from the con- '

fiagration which rifles and l‘eVUlVeI‘S had not
succeeded in teaching them; but that was not
Mr only thing or the main thing that kept them
quiet.

The supply of whisky had been suddenly and
severely shut off, and that, as Major Hobbs ob-
served, “ took the spunk out of them.”

It might have been more correct to say that
it prevented them from securing a fresh su ply
of spunk, as the roughs were nearly out o the
article when they awoke to the realities of ex-
istence, and depended on the saloons to revive
their drooping spirits and brace up their shat-
tered systems.

A few flasks and bottles were procured and
passed around; but these afforded only a very
slight relief to the thirsty, and drinking out-
side of the excitement of the salOons did not
be in to fill the measure of their rcquirements.

s the morning wore on, and it became evi-
dent that there was to be no more fighting, that
the situation had been accepted, and that the
vanquished were content to remain in subjec—
tion, the marshal gradually relaxed bis restric-
tion, and the saloons were allowed to open their
doors, with the proviso that those in which
order was not fully maintained would again be
promptly closed.

Ho arrested a'few of the men who had en
prominent in opposing his rule, and shut t em
up in the jail to await an inquiry into their
ads but to the rank and file of the roulhs,
resi ents and outsiders, he tacitly issu a
proclamation of amnesty by taking no notice of
them whatever.

It was decided that Jack Halsey, having been
arrested under an accusation of cattle-stealing,
should be held to meet that charge if any per-
son would come forward to press it, and that he
should have a trial or at least an examination,
to deprive those who had sought his life of any
excuse for another disturbance.

To this end a notice was sent to Simon Jonas,
req‘uesting him to appear and make the charge,
an to bring to Oro Fino any person by whose
evidence he might su port it.

It was not deem advisable to make any
further move in the matter during the day suc-
ceeding the great struggle, as it would be better
to wait unti the excitement should subside, and
Oro Fino should settle down to its regular bum-
ness, so that none of those interested should be
able to say that they had been made the victims
of a .“ brace game.’

As soon as the tide had turned in Oro Fino in
favor of the side of law and order, and there
seemed to be no reaSonable doubt of Jack Hal-‘
sey’s safety. Horace Exton had sent a messenger
to Small Hopes Ranch, to carry the news of
the recent excitement and danger.

In the morning, believing that his presence at
the ranch Would be reassuring to the family, if
not necessary, Abe Halsey procured a horse and
rode out there.

Lemon Squeezer, who had been left in charge
of the cabin at the Hole in the Ground, had got
news of the disturbance at Oro Fino, and, hoping
to be able to render some assistance to his
patrons, had hastened thither, arriving at an
early hour in the morning.

The Italian had a remarkable faculty for
happening to be about where matters of interest
were occurring, for Overhearing conversations,
and for picking u bits of news. ,

This faculty ha been of use quite recently,
and on this occasion it came into play again,
givin him an important piece of intelli ence:

As 6 had discovered t at Dan Mar ell and
Rattlesnake Tom were bitter enemies of Exton,
or of Exton‘s friends, he made it his business to
watch them closely, following them like a
sliidow, and cree ing up and listening to every
bit of their talk t t he could possible catch.

After a while he missed Markell. and there-
fore he paid assiduous attention to Rattlesnake
Tom, hoping that he would thus be able to learn
what had become of the other.

He did finally learn what had become of Dan.
and what he heard was so interacting that he
hastened to Exton to whom he repeated it
ea erly. ‘

he Englishman gleaned from Lemon
Squeezer’s excited and roken

l

 

talk the imporo .

.as he was the bearer of news frcm Jack, the

tant fact that Dan Markell, believin that it 
would be u~:eless for him to stay in ro Fino I
and lot for the destruction of his enemy, had

deci ed to take advantage of the presence there 3
of Jack Halsey and his friends, and make a ‘
short cut tohis revenge by a raid upon Small 1
Hopes Ranch. v, ‘

Accordingly he had increased his gang, and
had left Oro Fino for that purpose.

Exton immediately inforn ed Aleck Sander i
of this plot, and tliev took a few ii cn by per-
mission of Major Hobbs, and icde off in hot
aste.

 

CHAPTER XXV.
THE RAID ON THE RANCH.
ABE HALSEY’S unexpected arrival brought
him a warm welcome at Small Hrpes Ranch.
It was a long time since he had seen the wife
and children of his dead brother. and his pres- ,3
ence was doubly grateful to them at that time,

messenger sent by Exton not having succeeded
in quieting the apprehensions of the ladies.

Indeed, Victoria had been with difficulty re- .
strained by her mother from arming herself, ,
mounting her black mare, and Visiting the scene , 4‘
of action. .

Uncle Abe’s account was satisfactory, per-
suading them that Jack was at least in‘no im-
mediate danger, and they quieted do“ n with
the intention of awaiting events patiently.

The big man from Texas wanted an explana-
tion of the entire family affairs and got as full
9. history of recent events as Victoria and her
mother chose to give him. including the killing
of Nick Markell and the subsequent attempts to
ca iture Victoria.

iicle Abe did not talk much, except to put
questions, but proved himself a good listener 4,,
and it is to be presumed that he “ did a heap of - r ‘-.
thinking.” ‘ ' 

The conclusion which he finally expressed in 
words was quite pertinent and reasonable. ,}

“ it seems to me,” he observed, “ that as ‘ " l
those chaps are so durned bitter ag’inst ou "
folks, right now would be a good time for em
to strike 80’s to hurt.”

“ What do you mean i” inquired Victoria.

“ I mean that while your brother is away,
and they have got a partic’lar mad fit on,
some of them will be more than likely, seeing
that the other end of the game has been spoiled,
to run out here and strike at Jack Halsey)s
home. That’s just what I would do if I was as
mean as they seem to be.” .7 .

“ That may happen, Uncle Abe, and we ought -,
to have thought of it sooner. But we are gt n— .
erally retty well able to take care of ourselves.”

"Se f—confidence is well enough in its way,
my girl, but it needs backing. \ ‘hat have you
got to back it up? How many men are there on .
the ranch?”

This inquiry developed the fact that the
home force was very small—only Dave Wisner
and one other man.

“ Only three of us,” observed Abe Halsey.
“That’s a. small crowd to buck a ainst such a
gun as might come out here from 0 Fino.”

“ our of us, uncle,” suggested Victoria. -

“ Counting you as one, hey? Well, I make ,
no doubt that you‘ve got plenty of grit, and '
many a man wouldn’t bear counting as well as - 
you. But we are a small crowd, anyhow, and
we must get together and kee together, so as r
to make the most of ourselves trouble should
come here.” i

Dave Wisner and the other man, Jack Wilde , \-
were brought into the house, informed (if Unc
Abe’s apprehensions, and requested to prepare \
their artillery for use in case of an attack. L

Abe Halsey speedily made his arrangements
for defense, which were few and simple. »,

“ As I fought through the,wai'.”said he, “I 
ought to know something about this sort of l usi-
ness, and I will make the best lay-out I can.”

It was of course impossible to defend the ell ofi :
the building, which must be left at the mercy of
the expected assailants in case they should see
fit to attack it, and all the resources of the
establishment were devoted to the care of the
front part of the house. . _

All available piecesof furniture and bedding 
were used for barricading the windows and the "
back door, leaving suitable places for sight and
for firing, until tne officer in command was sure ' “
that he had done all that was possible in that ‘
line.

Then he sent out Dave \‘Visner as a picket in ‘ . ’
front of the house, and Jack Wildey as a picket
in the rear, while he took his station at a win-
(low, and Victoria uiegly assisted her matter
in re 'ng sup 1‘ or e party. . :

tth then ughr dark, and the defenders of
the ranch joined in the hope that if there was to»
be an attack, it might be made while there was.
a little daylight left.

As they Wished, so it hapfiieied. \

Hardlv had the pickets n sent out, when
Dave Wigner hastily returned to inform .
commander that behad heard the noise of hOrses _‘ ~,
coming up the road. ' ‘ -

Both the pick-Its were called into the house. and. , ‘
Abe Halsey took his lurid linn the opt]? front It
to await the approac o t e poesi enom .

Soon .theycame in sight, and aim-midrib? 

  

Ll

 

in,»

q

1‘.

i.’

 

 

.20

3 :f'" _—‘

party they were, as the man from Texas was

.able to count eight, and believed that there were

,1 ten of them. , I

As they came within yelling range the laten-

V! torian voice of Abe Halsey sounded a challenge.

k": “ Halt. there! Who are you i”

it There was a halt, but no answer.

' l The men in the road dismounted, hitched

92', their horses, and advanced somewhat leisurely.

“'1 “ Keep your distance i” yelled Abe Halsey.
“ If you come near this house, we’ll fire on
you!”

A shot was the answer, and the bullet struck
so close to the s aker’s head, that he retreated
and closed the cor.

“ Those folks mean business, whoever they
are,” he observed, as Victoria came in with her
rifle, and hastened to a window where she could
get a view of the road. I

“ They are the wretches we have been looking
for,” said the young lady. “ I recognize Dan
Markell among them.”

That they did mean business was made a par-
out by their movements; which, althoug not
hasty, were energetic enough.

Part of them remained in the front of the
house, sheltering themselves behind trees at the
other side of the road, gradually advancing to
nearer cover, and firing occasional shots at
openings in the windows.

The others made their way to the sides and

, the rear, as if looking for the most easily assail-
~ , able point of the building, the movements of all
bein characterized by caution rather than by

 

It was to be resumed that they had become
5 ,‘ aware of the fact that their arrival had been
1- ' . expected, and that preparations had been
1 made to meet them, and, as they could not
PM" judge what force was in the house, they

' deemed it best to go slow and feel their way.

.. . ' The rear of the house was the weak point of
i the defense, as there was nothing to revent the
r assailants from entering the ell, ant when they
' ' , Should be once established there, it would be

{5 ‘ comparatively an easy matter to work their
i “ ' wa into the main building.

' ‘ flint it would be impossible for the four men—
; - ' counting Victoria as one—to cover all the weak
 'j - points, and they could only use vigilance and
3 take their adversaries where they happened to
find them.

Mrs. Halsey was in the room adjoining the
l“ l: , , ell. and Victoria went in there, leaving the
£1” to L_ ; three men to guard the rest of the house and
' answer the occasional shots from the outside.

. . A scream from the old lady drew Uncle Abe’s
'i attention to that quarter, and the scream was

,-

5: . n followed by a shot.
' V 1 ,He hastened in there, drawing his revolver as
A, he went.
§a ' Some of the assailants, gaining access to the
 M ell, had burst in the door that had been fastened
 i  and partly barricaded.
H y ' ' Victoria had shot down one of them, and an-
"? . ‘ *” other Was forcing his way in.

l Abe Halse made short work of ,that man,
_ 7 -- 5. , grabbed anet er whom he found in the opening,
- - . and jerked him into the room.
 Just then a volley and a chorus of yells told
of an attack upon the front, and he rushed

é » thither, dra ging his captive, who was no other
' ' " that] Dan arkell.

5» “ Look to the rear!” he shouted to Dave Wis-
 ner, “ I will take care of the front.”

Pulling open the front door, the bi man jerk-
led up Dan Markell, who was near y senseless
from the rough treatment he had received, and
’ held the young saloonist in front of him with
I: V his stout left hand, while with the ri ht he fired
shot after shot from his revolver at t e advanc-

ing ang.
 ‘ are .he is!” shouted the Texan. “Shoot
s. ,. him as much as you want to! He is yours, dod-
: . burn you! , Do what you please with him!”
This novel style of defense cauSed a sudden
~ , cessation of the attack, and then a lively cheer
‘ wee heard, and Aleck Sander and his comrades

;  V  gall up and scattered the rest of the crew.
it ~' “ re you all right here?” demanded Exton,
as he rode up to the house.
“All right” answered Uncle Abe, “and no—
 , bod hurt, I when.” -
a, fi

“ hat have you got there?" r
" A cuss that captured inside, and I’ve been

' , ,ntinghim for breastwork. Let’s see who he
x is. ythun rl he’s dead!”

CHAPTER XXVI.

tr 1 our 01" BAIL.

  Tn disastrous failure of Dan Markell’s at-
‘ -’  tack upon Small Hopes Ranch left the Halseys

 ‘ ’ in complete security, as their friends believed,

 ,' and the latter were at liberty to turn their at-

 

 .   tention to Jack’s aflalrs.

, a. a,» , e 80 they spent the night succeedin that en-
'93 ’gagement at the Halsey house, a the next
  , : mornin returned to Oro Fine.

 ' j . It h been decided by the leaders of the law
- ‘ _' andorder rty there that thecharges so freely
made aga nst Jack Halsey, being serious in

,  themslalves. and also having been the starting
in, . x point of the terrible collision, should be legally

" " Ind fully investigated. .

a. . There ate it was settled that the youn man

'-‘ r  should that day be brought beforea 1 cc of
I, .- I

a 
,.

»

 

 

  
 

The Night Raider.

the peace in Oro Fino, 'all the evidence bearing
upon the case should be heard, and he should be
either discharged as innocent, or held to await
a regular trial, the machinery of law being then
well established in the district.

The investigation did not excite near as much
public interest as it might have done if it had
taken lace before the recent cataclysm.

In View of the distressing and tragical events
that had convulsed the town, a mere charge of
cattle-stealing, though ordinarily calculated to
arouse attention, was hardly worth speaking of.

Dan Markell was no longer there to incite his
gang of roughs to action, and the Jonas cow-
boys, havin failed so signally in their first at—
tem t, had {lost interest in the affair.

T ere were others, however, besides the ris-
oner and his immediate friends, who were cep-
ly interested in the investi ation, and foremost
among them was Simon onas, who came to
town with Ralph Harkness and the men on his
ranch who had seen the cattle-thieves.

He had also caused the attendanCe of the men
on Pete Jackson’s ranch who had had a some-
what similar ex rience, hoping to prove the
guilt of Jack Highey, and believing that he
would be able to do so.

Though the attendance at the investigation
was comparatively slim, it was large enough to
cause J u'ige Burt. as the justice of the peace
was name( , to adjourn the hearing from his
office to a larger room, and thither the prisoner
was brought, and there gathered his friends and
the witnesses.

Simon J onas’s testimony was of course
brushed aside as beingr only hearsay, except
with regard to the disup wan-m e of his stock.

Ralph Harkness and Herman Jonas, with the
men who had been present when the Irish cow-
boy was shot, oflered ‘more valuable evidence,
and what they said was listened to with atten-
tion.

The substance of it was that there_were two
of the cattle-thieves a man and a woman, who
rode a bay horse an a black, just, such as Jack
Halsey and his sister were in the habit of rid-
ing, and that their general appearance was

strikingly similar to that of Jack and Victoria.

Harkness gave his testimony in a fair and an
prejudiced manner, admittin that be had
formed his opinion of the identity of the cattle-

thieves by connecting the man and the woman‘

with the black horse and the bay.

Herman Jonas and the others showed a de-
cided bias against the prisoner, and the young
man declared his willingness to swear that Jack
Halsey was one of the cattle-thieves, and that
his sister was the other.

The men from the Jackson Ranch were not
so sitive, and show no such prejudice.

ose who had seen the cattle-thieves, stated
that there were two of them. a man and a wom-
an, riding a bay horse and a black, and that
they appeared to fit the description given by the
gevious witnesses; but they could not pretend
say who they were.

Aleck Sander then came forward as a wit-
ness, and his testimony at first bore hard against
the prisoner.

He gave a'full account of his first discovery
and pursuit of the raiders, freely admitting that
he then believed, from the statements of Simon
Jonas and his own observations, that they were
the two Halseys. -

He ‘told how he had, as he supposed at the
time, chased the woman ‘and her black horse
over a cliff where the fall must have killed them,
had found a black mare dead at the foot of the

lent! the next morning, and stripped of saddle
e

and bridle, and had t 11 gene direct to the Hal-
sey Ranch, where he found Miss Halsey alive
and well, and her black mare feeding in the
grass lot with the bay horse.

Then he describcx his second discovery and
pursuit of the miders, telling how he had fol-
owed them to the Small Hopes Ranch, and fully
believed at the time that they had stopped there;
but the next day the Halseys declare that they
had not left home the previous night, proving by
Horace Exton that they had both been there as
late as eleven o’clock, and it was manifestly im-
gssible that they should have reached the onas

a

nch by half-past eleven, at which hour he '

found the raiders there.

This occurrence was something new to Simon
Jonas, who scowled darkly when the detective
finished his testimony.

Horace Exton then gave his evidence, full
sustaining the statements concerning the alibi,
and the case was closed.

9' J udge," Burt scratched his head, took a drink
from a trio-ad's flask, and arrived at the conclu-
sion that the case was a ver queer one.

It had been fprovod, he as d, that the defend-
ant was one o the cattle-thieves, and it had been
quite as clearly proved that he could not have
been one of them.

In the opinion of the court, the evidence in his
favor was stronger than the evidence against
hi ; but it would be well to have it all consid-
er and u n bya ury, and therefore
he would id Jac Halsey or trial, but would
put the ball at a low figure.

. Jack easily furnished ‘tbe bail that was re-
quired, and went forth a free man.
, He was naturally much annoyed by his deten-

4x
7..

 

 

    

« -7“..- -7 -- fr»..— . -m~.~.__.._.___.-

tion in jail, and was not disposed to thank for
it the fl'lelldS who had put him more and kept
him there, as he was strongly of the opinion that
they had so acted to giard their own interests,
rather than his.

Uncle Abe, however, sat down upon him se-
verely, and told him plainly that he was an un-
grateful scamp.

“ They did the whole business jest right,” de-
clared the Texan. “and they worked for your
good as well as the gmd of all censarned. If
they hadn’t shut you up when these char es were
made, they ought to ba’ been hung. W y, con-
found it, man, it’s no wonder that folks accused
you of cattle-stealin’. When I heerd the evi-
dence to-Jay, I was e’ena’mtist sure that you
were guilty, until Mr. Sander and Mr. Exton
chipped in and told what they knowed. ’Tain’t
sartain yet that you ain’t guilty, and you must
have doubts about it, yourself.”

“Well, I don’t know but you are right about
that, Uncle Abe,” answered Jack. “ There were ,
some strong points against me, and, as you say,
the matter is not cleared up yet.”

“ The point is this, my boy—if you didn’t
steal the cattle, who did steal ’em?”

“That is what we must try to find out. As
Vic says, we have plea of enemies about here,
and some of them have n playing this game
to injure us, or have been helping themselves at
our expense.”

“ It looks that way,” observed Aleck Sander,
“and when those folks are caught, you will be
clear, and you can‘t be entirely clear until they
are caught. So I am going to do what I can to
catch them, and you must help me.”

“ Of course I will. I only hope that the fuss
here in Oro Fino may not cause them to quit the
business.”

“Me, too!” put in Abe Halsey. “ I’m goin’
to help you see this thing through, and if we
don’t straighten up the tangle it won’t be my
fault.”

“ You must count me in, also,” added the
Englishman. “I have plenty of time to spare
now, and you must cal on me whenever you
need me.”

“ That is just the right sort of talk, Mr. Ex-
ton.” observed the detective. “ You three are
the very men I need to help me; but I shall want
it understood that I am to boss the job, and that
you are to help me when I call on you, and not
otherwise. There is another matter to straighten
up, which must be attended to as we go along.
I believe that there is a chance about now\

 

%
l
i
l

“.4 fine...

i

to clear the memory of Jack Halsey’s father, - 1*

which has been- under a cloud here for a long
time, and in thatI shall want the hel of you
three. But the first thing in order Will be the
catching of the cattle-thieves, and I shall make
a business of that.”

it was soon settled that Smart Aleck was not
to get a chance at any cattle-thieves by remain-
in in the employment of Simon Jonas. .

file had a talk with that ranchman after Jack
Halsey’s examination, which was not a pleasant
interview for either rty.

“ I see now, Mr. ander,” said the old man,
“how it is that you have been going back on
me.”

“ Indeed,” answered the detective. “ I did
not know that I had been going back on you.”

“ You have, though. Instead of helping me
against those cattle-thieves; you have been help-
ing them against me.” '

“ I ave tried to catch them, or to find out
who they were. That is all. What fault have
you to find with what I did or lef t undone?”

“ When the people here wanted to give one of '
those cattle-thieves his deserts and hang him,

on interfered to save him, and to-day you have
sen smearing all you could in his favor, though
youl must know, as well as I do, that he was

i ty. ,
gu“ You come pretty near hinting, Mr. Jonas,
that I swore to a lie, and you may as well go
slow on that sort of talk, as I. can’t stand much
of it. Of course I hel Major Hobbs keep the
peace in Cm Fine, an of course I told the truth
when I was under oath to-day. I don’t believe
that Jack Halsey and his sister stole your cattle.”

“ Who did steal them, then?”

“ That is a vguestion which I am not prepared '
to answer. hoover it may be, I believe that
somebody on your place and in your house has
been connected with the thieves and givmg them .
information.”

“Pooh! it is out of the question. You give
me, that “nonsense before, and I Wouldn’t ve

“Since thenm suspicions have been stre —
ened. When I eat oft your house I m o it
known that I was going to give those cattle.-
thieves a rest, and that very night they made
another raid on your stock.” v

“And you traced them to the Halsey place, '
and there you lost them. That young scamp of
a Halsey and his smart Sister have pulled the
wool over your eyes straight along; but the
can’t fool me. There has not been a cattle-rs
anywhere since that rascal was shut up.”

“ Two n’ghts is not much for the thievesto
skip," replied the detective, “and they know
what they are about.” ‘

Now that be has ieen let out, 

/

that they will begin the business
' i

I

  
 

      

I

1,. sir-"I 
 1': VF“

,1: 

., .l.-,.- «~._- _.._4.

 

 

    
 

 

 

21‘

 

The Night Raider.

 

 

W--.”

“ Then I may have a chance to catch them.”

“ I don’t believe you will do it, though, and
you needn’t try to do it for me any more.
would rather have no help than such as you have
been giving me.”

“ All right, Mr. Jonas. I would rather work
for no pay than such as I have been getting
from you.’ _ .

The same da witnessed a little colliswn
betw'een Horace xton and Herman Jonas. '

“ You are as much to blame as aiiybody for
the loss of life and property in ()ro ino’ said
the Englishman.

‘ “ How so?” demanded Herman.

“You might have stopped the whole trouble
by speaking to those cowboys of yours when
they started it.”

“ They were no longer working for my father, ,

and I had nothing to do with them. I would
not lift ‘a finger, either, to save a rascal from
han 'ng who deserved hanging.”

“ on were careful enough to keep your own
skin out of the scrape, and so you stood back
and egged the others on. You will get into
trouble yet, if you don‘t drop that sort of thing.”

“ You are more likely to get into trouble than
I am, Horace Extoii. A man who is using land
that don’t belong to him is not doing much for
law and order. Your turn will come before
long.”

“ The sooner the better. If you try to fool
with the Hole in the Ground, you may get your-
self into a hole in the ground.

CHAPTER XXVII.
'ron- HALSEY’S FATE.

SIMON J oxas’s prediction concerning the
recurrence of the cattle- stealing in the Oro Fino
district had a  fulfillment.

The night of e ay succeeding Jack Halsey’s
release and returnto his ranch witnessed another
raid, but not upon the Jonas stock, Pete Jackson
being again the sufferer.

People mi ht naturally have supposed that
Halsey, hav ng been so lately put in dead]
peril, his character still resting under a clou ,
and his trial upon a serious charge impending,
would have been in no hurry to renew the cattle-
stealing business, or to excite any further
suspicions concerning himself; but that was not
the style of reasoning adopted by his enemies.

The said—and this was especially the reiter-
ated eclaration of the Jonas faction—that his
guilt was proved by the fact that the raids had
ceased while he was locked up, but had begun
agfiain as soon as he was relea
_ ews of the depredatiou on the Jackson

 

‘ Ranch reached Aleck Sander at Oro Fino

at a late hour of the morning after it oc-
curred.

_Intending to lose no chance that might help
him to a solution of the mystery, he rode out
there as soon as possible, but did not reach the
ranch until late in the afternoon. 3

As it was then too late to in any active
operations, he accepted a cordial invitation
to spend the night there and talk the matter
over.

Pete Jackson, a bi good-natured, easy-goi
old settler, had vievgs upon the subject wtigfi
gyrtmlly agreed in some respects with those of
V imon Jonas. but differed from them widely in
other respects. 7

As he and the detective sat together over their
whisky and pipes in the evengag, the ranchman
expressed his opinions in a g -humored style,
but rather guardedly.

“I pdon’t know who they may be who have
been irunnin of! cattle about here,” said he,
“an I dont even pretend to guess; but if
the should turn out to be Tom Halsey’s boy

an girl—fl

“ hey are not Tom Halsey’s boy and girl,”
broke in Smart Aleck.

“ I he so, I’m sure.”

“ Can t you believe me when I say that they
are not?” .
' “ nell, I’d heglad to; but it’s queer if they

. ain’t;

“ I believe you did not hear the evidence I
gave at the trial in Oro Eino.”

“ I didn’t hear it, as I wasn’t there,” answered
the ranchman; “but I heard about it. I ain’t
sure that I caught onto all the p’ints.”

“ Very likely you did not, and I want to give
them to you.”

“ Fire ahead, then, and I’ll be glad to get it at
first han .”

Smart Aleck told his companion the whole
story of his connection with the cattle raids,
considerably more fully than he had related it
at Oro Fino, with all his doubts and suspicions
and conclusions, and the effect was to uzzle the
honest ranchman. but without materi ly chang-
ing his previously-formed ideas.

“ It’s mighty ueor,” said Jackson. “ Simon
Jonas says that t ey have been playin’ a mighty
smargdgame but they must have been pla ’ a
darn sight smarter than I can get any notion
of. That Jew says that they foo ed on, and I
know that they would have fool me. The
p’int is- on see, that if they didn’t do the cat-
tle-s 11’ who did do it?”

“ I don’t know,” answa-red the detective, who
had often enou propounded that question to
himself; “but mean to try to find out.”

district ride a bay horse and a black?
other woman can ride like Vic Halsey, or has
got the pluck for that sort 0’ thing ?”, _

' Smart Aleck had been asked that question so
often of late days that he was tired of it, and it
worried him that he was not yet able to answer

 

it.

He had looked about among the female pop-
ulation of the Oro Fino district, and had care-
full inquired concerning them, but had been
una '1e to hit upon any person who could begin
to answer the description of the girl whom he
} chased to the cliff.

' “ I don’t know,” he answered; “but I say
l again that I mean to do my best to find out.”

I “If you do find ’em,” suggested the ranch-
: man, “ I hope you’il go kinder easy.”

1 “ What do you mean b that?”

l “Why, if they shout turn out tobeJack
l

i
i

I Halse and his sister, I’d rather that some way

j could

i

found to let them off ; as I’ve got no sort
of hard feelin’s against those two. 1911 ’em to
quit the business, and, if they want anytliin’, let
1 me know, and they’ll be welcome to it.”
J “ Well,” remarked Sander in a tone of dis-
' gust, “ I suppose I won’t be able to get the idea
i out of your head that those two may be the cat—
? tle-thieves.”
“ I hope they ain’t, you see: but, if they are,
 I would be glad to have the thingquieted down.
I knew their father Well, and would at any
time much rather help them than hurt them.”
This statement set Smart Aleck off on another

He had been for some time anxious to learn
the exact circumstances connected with the
death of Tom Halsey, and he thought that he
saw here a chance to get hold of what he
wanted.

“ You speak as if you had been a friend of
their father’s, he said.

“ So I was,” answered Jackson. “ I’ve never
been ashamed to say that I was a friend
of Tom Halsey’s. I liked him well.”

“Perhaps you can tell me, then, how he died,
and all about that business—what was the
charge against him, and what was the proof of
the char e.”

“ I rec on you know well enough how he died.
He was ban by a party of Vigilantes, or men
who called t emselves Vigilantes, because they
said he had been ca ht in the act of stealin’
cattle. The rest of the usiness seems to me to
be rather mixed.” '

“ That is ,just what I want to know about,
Mr. Jackson. ’ ,

“Well, I wasn’t thar, on see, and what I
know is only hearsay: on I inquired around at
the time pretty carefully, and I remember all
the ’ints picked up.

“ har war more or less cattle-thievin’ in
this district at that time, and a sort of or aniw
tion was started with Si Jonas at the ead of
it, to keteh the thieves.

“ One day he got ’em together—thar was eight
or ten men in the band—and at ni ht he led em
to a place in the hills, whar he tol ’em to hide

and wait.

“ he did hide and wait. and after a while
Tom alsey came along, drivin’ a bunch Vof
stolen cattle. .

“ Thar war no doubt that they’d been stole. as
the brand a ke for itself, and one of the Vi ril-
antes was t 9 owner of the steers, so it 100 ed
like a clear case. .

‘ “ Tom Halsey seemed to be sorta surprised
when they jumged out and nabbed him, and he
declared that e was all right, and the cattle
were all ri ht.

cattle, whose name was Zeke Streen, who said
that he had bou ht the bunch, and he begged
Tom Halsey to he p him drive ’em a while, and
Tom, bein’ a good natured fellow, turned in and
helped him. .

“ Zeke Streen, so Tom said had stopped for a
few minutes a little way back, but would ketch
up eEcon. and then the business would be straight:
en up.

“ They waited for Zeke Streen, but he didn’t
come and then some of ’em went back to look
for him, but couldn’t find hide nor hair of him.

“It stuck in tha’r craws that that wasn’t no
such man as Zeke Streen, and poor Tom’s story
was so darned ridiculous. anyhow, that they
said he was guilty, and strung him right hp.

“ That‘s the way Tom Halsey died. and those
are the p’inte that I icked up at the time.”

“The strangest th ng about the business,” ob-
served Sander, “ is the part that was ,taken by
Simon Jonas.”

“ Yes, that always looked mighty queer to me.
ta)nd'tI”ain’t the only man who has been puzzled

y i

“ The uestion is, how did he'know just where
to take t ose men to, and just when Tom Halsey
would be along with the cattle?”

“ Thar’s two ways to answer that. In the first
place, I might say that somebody must have

lowed the business to Si Jonas, and so he knew
just where and when to nab the thief. But thar's
another p’int that I’ve often considered, and
thar may be somethin’ in in”.

f‘ That’s what I want to get at, Mr. Jackson.
Give me that." - v

 

“ He sai that he had met a man driving the ,

i “ \Vhat other two folks of the kind invthis  “ I happen to know that Si Jonas had a mean
I hat ‘
‘l had a piece of land that Jonas wanted right bad-

and bitter grudge against Tom Halsey. Tom
ly; but they couldn‘t come anywhar near agree-
in‘ on the price, because Tom didn’t want to sell
it, and the Jew more that he would get that
land, anyhow.”

“ And he did get it, after Halsey’s death. I
have heard of that.”

“ So he did, and here’s the rest of the p’int.
Thar was a man named Zeke Streen hangin’
around this district for some time, and Si Jonas
had more or less to do with him. He left the
country after Toni Halsey‘s case was settled.
Jonas said that cattle-stealin’ was stopped after
Tom Halsey’s death. Maybe we might as well
say that it was stopped after Zeke Streen lit out.
Puttin’ this and that together, how does it look
to you?”

‘ There is another point to add to that,” an-
swered the detective. “ Zeke Streen has been
about here lately, and he has seen Simon Jonas,
and he has a hold upon him.”

Perceiving that the ranchman really sympa-
thized with the Halsey side of the case, Smart
Aleck detailed to him the conversation which he
had overheard between Simon Jonas and Zeke
Streen, and Pete Jackson was excited to fighting

pitch. . O
“ That’s it!” he exclaimed. “ That straightens ‘

out the notion that has stuck to me for a long
time. Si Jonas started that scheme to get Tom-
Halsey out of the wa , and Zeke Streen is the
man he hired to help im work it. We must get
.hold of that Zeke Streen.”

“ I’ve been looking for him,” said Sander,
“ and I mean to hunt closer. When I find him,
I will also have to hit upon some way to make
him tell what he knows.”

“ He has got to be found, and you may call on
me to meet all the expenses and any other help»
you want you will be we come to. When we
once get our grip on him. I’ll warrant that a.
way will be found to make him squ .”

CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE HOLE IN THE HILLS.

Ar an early hour the next morning Aleck
Sander was roused up and given his breakfast,
that he might begin the search which he pro--
posed to make at the Jackson Ranch.

No person on the place had seen the cattle~
thieves at the last raid, and the discovery of‘
the theft had been made by missing the stock
and noticing the manner in which they seemed
to have been taken away.

Therefore there was no ground for present

suspicions of the Halseys or anybody else in ;

particular.

Under these circumstances the detective be-
lieved thatthe best thing he could do would be
to endeavor to find the trail and follow it as far
as he could, though Pete Jackson assured him-
that he would only waste his time in doing so.

“If you find it,” said the ranchman, “you.
Will follow it until it strikes some road, and-
then you will be bound to lose it.”

However, Sm Aleck was there to take
chances, and he went with Pete Jackson and
one of his best herders to hunt the trail.

It was difficult at the start to discover it and
separate it from the vast number of cattle
tracks that were thickly scattered about, but
it was finally got hold of and was then care-
full traced until the tracks of the stolen bunch,
wit the horses of their drivers, formed a clear
and lain trail of their own.

A ter thanking his com ‘ons for their help,
Sander set out to follow t is trail alone.

He considered himself a good trailer, as he-
had done some very difficult work in that
line, and was sure that, he  one impor-
tant requisite for that occupation—the virtue
of tience.

or a considerable distance be had no dim-
culty in keeping the trail on horseback; dis.
mounting occasionally tolmake sure of it when
he crossed rocky ground. [

This was all very well as lon as the trail
stuck to the plains and the woods; but in the
course of time, as Pete Jackson had predictedi
it struck into a traveled road, where it was 0

course nottobe distinguished from the tracks 1

made by vehicles and other animals.

Aleck Sander was not the man to be. blamed.

such an obstacle as that.

b
y did not believe that any cattle-thieves

He
would travel a public road far with stolen

stock. and he was convinced that the particular~ .,
thieves he was hunting must have a rendezvous" . -'

or depot somewhere, to which they took the
cattle before butchefring them or sending them
of! to be disposed o . .
. Therefore. he dismounted and pursued his
search on foot. watching each side of the 
carefully to discover a trail branching of! from,
it, and it was not long before he found one.

A close examination of the tracks convinced

him that it was the trail he wanted. as it was. pi

about the same age as that with which he had
started, and apparent! about the same sizeé
with the tracks of two od horses in and abou '

it. ,
Satisfied that he was on the right course, he»

 

mounted and went forward cheerful! . .
Theta-ailledhiin intathehills. mdyhe follow;

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

22

 

 

__

The Night Raider.

 

ed it as rapidly as possible, wishing to get to the
end of it before night set in, as his search thus
far had consumed a good part of the day.

It was rather more difficult, however, than he
had found it to be before it struck the road.

The cattle and their drivers had necessarily
gone much more rapidly than the trailer was
able to go, and it seemed to him that the thieves
had not been at all sure of their route, or had
trouble in keeping it, as the trail wound about
strangely, and more than once nearly doubled
upon itself.

It was what might be styled an inebriated
trail.

The day was drawing toward its close when
Smart Aleck followed the trail down toward a
valley which seemed to him, from the view he
got of it at that hour and from that position,
to resemble the valle in which he had found the
dead black mare at t e foot of the cliff.

He went down to the head of the valley,
where the trail seemed to end in a hollow which
had but a small opening outward.

This hole in the hills in fact was a sort of sec-
ondary valley on a small scale. nearly sur-
rounded by rocky elevations, and shaded by tall
trees, but grassy and well watered, the little
stream which ran down the main valley tak-
in its rise. there.

hat interested Aleck Sander, however, more
than anything else was the appearance of human
occupation which the t presented.

Having made this iscovery he led his horse
up a little higher, hitched him where he could not
be seen from below, and descended into the hole
on foot.

In so doing he made sure that his revolver was
in its proper place and order, and was careful
to me. ’e as little noise as possible in going down.

He had undoubtedly reached the rendezvous
or depot of the cattle-thieves which he had been
seeking, as the grass had been eaten down and
signs of the recent presence and butchery of cat-
tle were abundant.

At that time there were no signs of the pres-
ence of the human occu ts of the spot; but
here was a dug-out in t a hillside, walled u
ith turf except an opening for the door, whic

told him where they were or had been.

They did not seem to be there just then.

The cattle had all been taken away, and the
thieves and their assistants—for the must have

,,assistants——had apparently depa
' Ap arances, however are often deceitful
and mart Aleck moved forward quietly and

: cautiously to examine the dug-out.

. After listening and hearing no sound, he push-
ed open the rude door, saw nobody within, and
entered.

The dug-out was close and ill-smelling, and the
furniture—if its belongings could be so styled—
was of the scantiest and of the poorest quality
possible.

There was a mu h couch spread upon poles, a
few battered and irty cooking utensils, a block
of wood for a seat, some dried or smoked beef
hanging in strips, and scarcely anything else
that was worth speaking of.

The establishment was evidently the habita-
tion of only one person, and the detective search-

 ed it thoroughly but in vain in the hope of find-

"; I ing‘ some clew to the identit of that person. »

I

here was not a scrap 0 writing of any kind
in the den, nor so much as a bit of newspaper.
It was a sure thing that the occupant was not
terary in his tastes. ‘
Smart Aleck stepped outside and considered
the matter for a few moments.
He had found the headquarters of the ang,

‘- '- i 'or at least their rendezvous and hiding-p ce;
' .. but none of them was there.

The occupant of the dugout might be expect«

';‘.1 "cd' to return before a great while, whether any

of the others should show up or not. and perhaps
it might be a good plan to wait there for him or
' them. But the detective had not come preprred
- for such a siege, and neither he nor is orse
would be able to I endure a long vigil at that

' place. ,
' Under the circumstances it seemed to be

enough that he had locat d the spot, that he

- could head for it when he should again hear of

; ' a cattle raid, and that he might have it watched

if he should deem that precaution necessa .
nsiderations of his own comfort dou tless

' :1 had their influence in deciding him to l'eave the

 

~. that which had brought him there.

hole in the hills alone for a while.

He led his horse down to the hollow; mounted,
and rode out into the valley.

It was then gettin dark, but he recognized
the valle as he rode own as one which he had
» reviousdy visited, and was sure that he would

ave o itflcultv in finding it again, or in reach-
in 12"; hiding-place of the cattle-thieves without
ta ' 3 such a rough and roundabout route as

Knowing well where he was, it was easy for
gifirgktln go on to Oro Fino, and thither he rode
It was very late at night—that is to say well
(911 toward morning—when he reached the wn
and he went at once to the stable where he kept
his horse, and attended to the wants of the

' faithful steed.

An even the saloon: and gamblingvhouses were

'  at that hour, andOro Fine was, for a

l v

 

wonder, nearly shrouded in darkness, the detec-
tive thought of nothing then but getting to the
hotel and going to bed.

As he was walking thither he noticed that the
last light in one of the saloons, which was also a
gambling-house, was just then extinguished. and
be perceived two men coming out of the door,
which was closed and locked behind them.

One of them was apparently pretty drunk,
and was partially supported by the other
with whom he was remonstrating audibly and
profanely.

Aleck Sander, who never forgot a face or a
voice, was sure that he heard the s :h of
Zeke Streen, and he turned quickly and looked
at the man.

The face told him, as the voice had suggested
to him, that the inebriated person was no other
than Zeke Streeu.

What should he do? He had found the man
he wanted; but it was not easy to decide how he
was to profit by the discovery.

He had no excuse for capturing the man,
and Streen had a companion who would be
likely to fight for him, and that would cause
a collision which the detective preferred to
avoid. -

Besides, there was no reason to suppose that
such a proceeding would result in inducing the
captive to tell what he knew, and it seemed to
Sander that it would be best to catch him alone
and in some way exert a pressure upon him that
would extort the truth from him.

So be determined to follow Streen and dis-

‘cover his abiding- lace, with the view of pick-

ing him up when 9 wanted him.

the had realized the extent of the task he
was to undertake in executing this determina-
tion, it is probable that he would ban: let it
alone; but that un leasantness was to dawn on
him gradual] , an he was not a. man to back
out when be ad started.

Streen’s companion led him to where two
horses were hitched, and they mounted.

There was some difllculty in getting the in-
ebriated man up; but when he was on horse-
back his drunkennem seemed to disappear, and
he rode of! as straight and solid as any sober

rson.
peIf Smart Aleck’s horse had not then been out
of his reach he would have doubted the feasi-
bilit of following them on horseback, as the
real y sober one mi ht be expected to discover
the pursuit and - c it.

He could follow them on foot silently and with-
out danger of being perceived, and that was
what he started in to do.

Having started, he had no thought of stop-
ping, though they led him a long and tedious

amp.

trMost of the time the detective’s task was com-
paratively easy, as they traveled at a walk ' but
occasional] they spurred up their horses or a
considerab e stretc , and he was forced to put
his legs to lively use to keep them in sight.

Just as day was breaking they turned into a
valley which Sander easily recognized in the
early morning light.

It was the val ey in which he had found the
black mare dead, and at the head of which he
had discovered the hiding-place of the cattle-
thieves.

At once the idea dawned upon him that he
was oingto learn who was the occupant of
the ug—out, and at the same time to fix the
abiding-place of Zeke Streen, and. weary and
footsore as he was he followed the horsemen at
a retty rapid gai up to the head of the valley.

hen they passed into the hollow there, he
kept close to them, and saw them dismount,
turn their horses loose, and enter the dug-out
to ether.

his satisfied him. He had learned what he
wanted to learn, and considerably more than he
could have expected.

Zeke Streen was the occupant of. the dug-
out. and of course he was connected with the
cattle-thieves.

Therefore the detectives knew where to Icok
for him when he wanted him, and it was highly
probable that he would be able to get such a
t:old upon him as might squeeze the truth out of

1m.

These points being settled, Sander had nothing
more to do there at the time, but had before him
the long journey back to Oro Fino on foot.

Though he was greatly cheéred on the way by
the thought of the valuable discoveries he had
made, it was a very painful journey to him in
his worn out condition, especially as he had had
scarcely anything to eat since the previous morn-
ing, and when he finally got back to town he was
so completely used up that he could not take
any food, but stumbled to his bed, where he
was immediately lost in a deep and refreshing
slumber.

 

CHAPTER XXIX.
FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH.
CARL KLEIN had been badly wounded in the
(1 ht at Oro Fino jail.

e had the best medical attendance the town
could give. and it was decided that his wounds
were not fatal, or even dangerous; but some
time must ela before he could recover tuli-
ciently to get a ut. ‘

 

 

“'hat he needed was good nursing, and that
he got from his friend and partner, who re\
mained with him and took the best possible care
of him.

The German, however, was made reckless by
his enforced stay at Oro Fine, and insisted upon
being removed to the cabin at the Hole in the
Ground.

He knew that Exton was anxious to be there,
and he also wished to be on hand to watch the
property, and he was sure that his partner, with
the help of Lemon Squeezer, could take quite as
good care of him out there as at Uro Fine.

He kept up this teasin until his physician,
perceiving that his unsatis ed desire was making
him nervous and hindering his recovery, con-
sented that he should be taken to the Hole in the
Ground.

Lemon Squeezer had been sent out there
directly after the disturbance in town was
ended, to take care of the cabin and watch the
mine, and of course everything out there would
be found in excellent order.

Horace Exton made the best arrangements he
could for conveying his partner to what he called
his home.

He got a twohorse spring wagon in which
Klein was placed on the most comfortable much
that could be arranged for him, and set out with
a driver for the wa on, and with two friends
who had volunteere< to go along for company
and to see that the invalid was safely deposited
in the cabin.

A pleasant day was taken for the removal,
and the start was at an early hour, and the
'ourney was made easily and nlcely, seeming to

elp the patient rather than to hurt him.

As the party came in sight of the cabin at the
Hole in the Ground, a little way beyond which
was the mine, they heard the sound of loud and
ang voices, and then a pistol-shot, followed by
8. ye] of agony.

“ Lemon Squeezer is in trouble,” shouted the
Englishman as he dashed forward, and his two
friends instantly followed him.

The Italian was, indeed, in serious trouble,
and through no fault of his own, but simply be-
cause of his faithfulness in guardin the inter-
ests of his em loyers who were also is friends.

Though not ng of value was visible in the
mine since the pocket had been exhausted,
Lemon Squeezer watched it close] during the
day, and at night slept in the ole in the
Ground; but there was no occurrence to excite
or annoy him until shortly before the arrival of
the party with Carl Klein.

A few men rode up to the cabin while the
Italian was out getting wood.

Looking in at the o n door, and seeing no-
body there, they pa on toward the mine.

Lemon Squeezer caught sight of them then,
and hurried to protect the Hole in the Ground.

Perceiving that the party was headed by Her-
man Jonas, and remembering the claim and
threat which that young man had previously
made in behalf of his ether, he anticipated
trouble, and was sorry that he was alone there
8) meet it. .

Yet there was not the least sign of a disposi-
ticn on his part to show the white feather, nor
did he once think of running away and desert-
in his trust.

e boldly took his stand at the mouth of the
mine hole, and faced the invaders as they rode
up to him. -

“ Clear out, you nigger!” ordered Herman
Jonas. “ Clear out, I say, before you at hurt l”

“ Nigga you’selh'f,” retorted Lemon ueezer
and he warned of! the intruders fiercely and
forcibly. .

“ This land is my father’s propert ,” declared
the young man, “ and I have his or ers to clear
off all uatters. I am going to 'hut up this
mine be e and tear down that c bin, and it
won’t be safe for anybody to meddle with me.
You had better get out of the way uietly as
you kpow that you can’t begin to ght this

rt .

Inyhis broken English, but plainly enough to
he understood, the Italian announced his deter-
mination of staying right there, and vowed that
no rson could touch the Hole in the Ground
whi e be lived.

“Get down, Pete, and lay that fellow by the
heels!” ordered the young ranchman.

The (on boy started to dismount. and Lemon

Squeezer, believing that he was about to be at- »

tacked, drew a TPVUIVGT.

This was just what the intruders wanted, and
one of them fired upon him instantly.

The poor Italian foully and brutal]
dered, uttered a yell of agony, and fell
to the ground.

“ We might have
grumbled Jonas.

“ The darned nigger mought ha’ made trouble,”
answered. Pete, “ and he is out of the way now.”

“ Look out! There come his friends!”

The sound of the galloping of horses near by
produced a sudden change in the situation. '

Herman Jonas set the example of flight, and
his companions were not slew to follow his
example. - ,

The had been brave enou h to shoot down the

r italian, but had not t e grit to stand and

me three men. ‘

mur-
elpless

got along without that,” '

 

J

46"..
i

I

 

 

 

 

The Night Raider. .

' 23

 

 

A few pistol-shots made their exit more speed ,
and directly Horace Exton and his two rich 5
rode down to the mine-hole.

As they were unwilling to get far away from
Carl Klein, they made no attempt to pursue the

1 man, that Simon Jonas was unwilling to pick a
‘ quarrel with him to the extent of parting with
.- him.

j and Ralph declared that for his part he was

marau'lers but dismounted and sought togive ,

succor to t e Italian.

Lemon Squeezer was beyond the reach of
succor.

He ha'l breath enough to tell his employer
that Herman Jonas had headed the gang of tres-
passers, and then he expired in Exton’s arms.

Sadly, but full of wrath and vengeful feelings,
the Englishman led his friends back to Carl
Klein, who was great] grieved when he was in-
formed of the death 0 Lemon Squeezcr.

The wagon was driven to the cabin, and Carl
was carefully lifted out and carried inside,
where Exton busiod himself, with the help of
his friends, in reparing something to eat.

They oflereL to stay and help him bury the
Italian: but he declared himself able to perform
that office alone, and they returned to Oro

Fluo.
Before the clOSe of the day the Englishman

. brought up the btxly and buried it near the

cabin.

The next day he busied himself with cutting
an inscription on a headstone for the grave.

The death of Lemon Siueezer made a change
in affairs at the Hole in t e Ground.

Though Exton was well able to take care of
his friend without an assistance. and thougn
Klein improvei rapi ly under his care, they
both grieved over the loss of the faithful Italian,
and were quite lonely without him.

There was the sorrowful fact, too, that he had
died in the defense of their property, and
lvivfas; that wretched Hole in the Ground worth a

e
, Thus far they had got from it little besides loss
and disappointment, and what was the use of
worrying about it any more?

Exton had stuck to it stoutly, if not stub-
bornly, adhering to his determination of con-
tinuin the work and endeavoring to strike
the vein as soon as circumstances would allow
him to do so; but the death of Lemon Squeezer
made a change in his views.

He was then willin to agree with his part-
ner’s opinion that t e Hole in the Ground
was not worth fl hting for, and that it would
be their best p n to leave it as soon as
Klein was able to get away, and seek fortune
elsewhere. as men of their caliber could easily
flndmprofltable employment in more thickly-
settl communities. ,

“ That is the best thing, In friend,” said
Carl, “and we will keep quie until we are
able to leave this place. The men who want
the land will not trouble me while I am] ing
sick here, and they will not trouble you i we
give up the rest to them, which we can well
afford to do.” _

. Exton agreed to this with his lips, but not en-
tirely with his heart.

It was one thing to abandon the Hole in the
Ground, and quite another thing to leave the
country and give up his hopes of Victoria
Halsey. As he did not consider the success of
the mine n to the success of his suit,
one failure need not be followed by another.

There_ rankled in his heart, also, a feeling
of enmity toward the Jonas tribe, and he
hated to go away without doing something to
make them suffer for the death of poor Lemon

ueezer.

h thoughts led him to some further work
in the me, which he did when he could be
spared from the bedside of his friend.

Carl asked him what he was doing there, and
his ex )lanation was not remarkably elm.

“I ve been trying to arrange the Hole in
the Ground,” said 6, ‘ so as to give the Jonases
a proper reception when they come to take pos-
“eii‘i’iif‘ “1;; had agreed a. h

oug we att ethin was
not Worth fighting for ’ observed Carl. g
am not thinkin

“ That’s so, and
fighting for it. I will just let' it flgh
itself.”

“ What do you mean by that?”

“ I mean that I have set a better guard over
the Hole in the Ground than poor Lemon
Squeezer was, though not a more faithful one,

and one that those wretches won’t be likely to
get the drop on.”

‘ of
for

. CHAPTER XXX.
FAIR WARNING.

ALECK SANDER was not the only person who
incurred the displeasure of Simon Jonas b
his conduct at what was called the trial of Jac
Halsey.

The Jew ranchman also seriously disapproved
of the performance of Ralph Harkness on that
occasion.

Harkness, as has been said, was a fair-minded
man, who was not dis . to favor even his
employer any further t an be believed he might
rig tfully do, and his evidence in the Halsey
case, given without any prejudice or bias, was
not soocinllv harmful to the prisoner.

This added one more to the various causes of
com ilaint that had occurred from time to time:
but rkness was so valuable as a ranch fore-

! for complaint that angered him beyond endur-
‘ once, and a rupture ensued.

' the crusade against the proprietors of the Hole

He showed his displeasure only by grumbling,

satisfied with lns own action.
Before long, however, the old man had a cause

This grievance, indeed, may be likened to the
last straw that broke the camel’s back.
Herman Jonas, as has been seen. started

in the Ground Mine, and the first movement re-

 

sulted in the brutal murder of Lemon Squeezer,

and the ignominious flight of the crusaders.
This failure angered the old man, and made

him more eager to gain speedy possession of '

> what he declared to be his property.

, party to take forcible possession of the mine.

; such an errand, be naturally applied to his fore-
‘ man, who was a man of decision and undoubted
, bravery, and invited him to command the ex-
‘ pedition.

» “I don’t see clearly what right you have to

 

 

r rifle. but is alone. and he has no grudge against
= us that I know of.”

The method which he proposed to employ was
that of violence; his intention being to send a

As he did not consider his son Herman an
altogether competent leader for such a party on

Ralph Harkness, instead of refusing absolute-
l y, sought to argue him out of his intention.

“ Seems to me that you may as well 0 sorter
slow in that busin ss," observed the oreman.

claim that mine. anyhow.”

“ The land belongs to me,” answered Jonas.
“My title is perfect, and I have a right to re-
move all squatters.”

“ Squatters and miners are two different
thin s, Mr. Jonas. As I understand it, Exton
and is partner have a claim that was properly
made out and recorded before you entered the
land. Even if you had owned 1t from the time
of Adam, their claim would ride over yours for
what it covers.”

“ Do you mean to tell me that any ople who
choose to do so can squat on my lan and hold
it against the owner, or sell what they call their
right to other people, and keep me out of what’s
my own? I won’t stand any such nonsense as
that.

The courts are in working order, Mr. Jonas,
and you can try the question there if you want
to. It looks to me as if you don’t believe that
the decision would be in our favor, and for that
reason you want to roug in and get hold of the
mine.”

“That is neither here nor there; but it is an
old saying that possession is nine points of the
law, and I mean to rough in, as you say,
and take ion of In own property, and
then those who want to flg t for it in the courts
may do so. The only question Is whether I can
depend on you to take charge of the men and go
dong: there and attend to that business for
me.

“ If it comes to that, Mr. Jonas, I must as '
that on can't depend on me to go an inch.
was ired to act as foreman'of your ranch here,
and I am always willing to attend to the ranch
business, but to nothin of that sort outside.”

“ In that case, Mr. arkness, you and I must

rt. You have worried me and thw me
in so many matters that I have lost patience at
last. I have no use for a man who argues
against my orders, and refuses to make my in-
terests his own.”

“ And I have no use for a man who thinks that
he can pay me to do a mean action. I am satis-
fied to go. ’

Ralph Harkness (lid go, and Simon Jonas be-
lieved that he could get along very well without

1m.

The stock and labor on the ranch had been
largely diminished, and the old man had received
information to the effect that Exton and Klein
were alone at the Hole in the Ground, one of
them laid u by his wounds, and the other
making no e ort for the defense of the mine.

Under those circumstances Herman could be
trusted to lead the exocdihion.

The day after his departure from the Jonas ‘

 

Ranch Ralph Harkness put in an appearance at 1
the Hole in the Ground.

Horace Exton had moved his partner’s couch 
near to the 0 en door, and was seated just out- i
side of the ca in, enjoying his pipe in the balmy e
air, which was just then neither too warm nor
ten cold for comfort.

The sight of a solitary horseman riding down
into the little valley was quite an event for them
and the Englishman mentioned it to his part-

ner.

“The man looks like Ralph Harkness,” he
added. “ Yes, I am sure it is he."

“I wonder what he comes here for?" remark-
ed Carl. “ No good, I am afraid.”

“I don’t know about that. He carries his

“ His employer has. as you know, and it was
Hflarliness who came here with J ones to order us
0 7

' out. .
“ Where have they gone to?” he inquired. ‘
- Kit,"

 

‘2 ch. but he did not seem to take much in-
terest
safe ”

Hiirkness was pleasantly greeted when he rode
l ‘ l , w ’

in that proceeding, and I think he is.

 

up, and it was soon made evident that his errand
was not an unfriendly one.

He was invited to alight, and did so, accepted
the hospitalities of the cabin as conveyed through
the medium of a jug, inquired kindly into the
progress of Klein’s recovery, lighted a pipe, and.
made himself generally at home.

“ How are things at the Jonas establishment?"
inquired Exton.

‘ i don‘t know much about them just now,"
“ I have left there.”

Why did

answered Harkness.
“ Indeed! That is hard on the Jew.
you leave, if it is a fair ii]ll(‘Stl0n?”
“ Discharged because wasn’t willing to take
a hand in stealing a mine. The fact is, Mr. Ex-

. ton. that I have come here to-day to give you a
; sort of a warning.”

“ Thank you. Warn ahead.”

“ Simon Jonas has been making up a party to
come here and jump your claim.”

“ He tried that a little while ago, and his party
succeeded in killing our Italian, and I don’t ex-
pect to forget that job.”

“ He is going to try it again. and this time he
intends to make sure work of it. You may look
for his party any day.”

“ Let them come. I am ready for them.”

“ But vou are not prepared to fight them. You
have no force to defend the mine. ’

“ I don’t mean todefend it, and they may come
whenever they want to. By J ovel isn’t that the
crowd, coming down the hill yonder?”

“ That is just what it is,” answered Harkness.
“ If you have no objection, I will step inside.
Not that I am afraid of them—I sup you
understand that—but because I would just a lit-
tle bit prefer that they should not see me here.
If ou need help, 1 will be on hand.”

he invalid’s couch was moved back, and
the door was closed. and the Englishman '
continued to smoke his pipe placidly outside.

It seemed rather suspicious to him—-—the ap-
pearance of Harkness, and his secreting himself
in the cabin, just as the invading force was
about to arrive.

This was, in fact, suggestive of a bio fire
in the rear; but Exton considered hat the sins
of the force Would render such an intervention
unnecessary, and he had no intention of offering
aux resistance.

II he cared for was the safety of his partner,
and surely no person could be mean enough to
attack a helpless man for no cause.

The a proaching party was Cow of five
men, abundantly armed, and by Herman
J onas—six men in all.

They rode down to the cabin, a formidable
array. and halted there, and young Jonas acted
as s kesman for the party.

“ e have come,” he said, “to takeposses—
sion of the mine-hole down there, whic is on
my father's property, and belor' to 
Have you anythizlgsto say about it

“ Only this,” wered the Englishman be-
tween the pufls of his pipe. “ The mine belongs
to my partner and myself, and our claim has
been recorded, and you have no right to meddle
with it. If you have come here to take it b
force and arms, I am unable to resist you.
only ask that you shall not interfere with‘my

partner, who is sick in here.” . v

“ We don’t want to trouble any side men,”

replied Herman—“ or any well men either, if thev "

let us alone. Come on, boys, and we will]
into that hole and see what is to be done about
it.

“Just one word more,” remarked Exton. ‘

“ As one of the owners of that roperty, I ad- i»:

vise you to let it alone, and you d better take

my advice, or you may get hurt.”

“ Don’ gave us any nonsense,” retorted young
Jonas. “
ing to attend to business.” -

‘Go on, then. I have given you fair warn-
ing, and if anything happens to you when you

fault of mine.”

CHAPTER XXXI.
DEATH AND DISCOVERY. ,
WITH an ex ression of contempt for the
Warning, the onus party ‘rode awe and

 

l Horace Exton continued to smoke his pipe ,

placid] y.
As the sodnd of their horses’ steps died away

“ Down to the mine to take ion 0
answered Exton! “I told them that the had
better leave it alone; but they were stub tn.
and may the Lord have mercy on their soulsi” ‘

" You speak as if you had sentenced them to
death,” observed the cit-foreman. iv ,

“If they die, it is their own doings. I gavel-

e are here on business, and are go- «.  '

\.

are trespassing on my property, it will beno ,«L

3.}
Ralph Harkness opened the door and looked

it

.r

x

them fair warning, and they will get nomore  

than they deserve, anyhow.
There was only one of the marauders

u i '
. , i e
whom the mlner’s words of warning seemed”; so.

have the least effect, and that was Pete Van ,
Vorst, who had been so active and willing, 

when p0or Lemon Squeezer was slaughtered.
“I’d like to know what he meant by that

warnin’ of his’n.” said Pete. Q '
“Just nothing at all,” answamd Herman

Jonas a little testily. “How could he 

 

 

 

24. ' 

she Night, Raids?-

 

 

anything by it? “ He has nobody here but
himself, and he can do nothing to sto us.”

“ But I don’t like his style. e was too
darned quiet and easy goin’, and that makes me
think that he means mischief.”

“ It seems to me that you are etting cranky, :
Pete. It can’t be that you are a raid.”

“ No, it ain’t that: but I don’t fancy walkin’
into tra is.”

The ole in the Ground was but a little dis-
tance from the cabin and in sight of it.

When the marauders got there they found
themselves confronted by more warnings.

' ' ’ In front of the mine—hole was a stake, on
’ which was a board with the inscription:
“KEEP AWAY FROM HERE!”

.' At the mouth of the mine was another board
with the word:

“ DANGER!”

“Seems to me that this must mean some-
thin’,” remarked Pete Van Vorst.

“ Of course it means something.” angrily re—
' plied Herman Jonas. “ It means an attempt at
, ~. ’ abig blufl, but as weak an attempt as I ever

A. r. saw. if we should allow ourselves to be backed
,, .mflbwn by such a bluff as that, we would deserve
if." ' to be kicked all over the district.”
l5;- , “It may be a bluff, but I don’t like the looks
.t-lji' 1 of it.”

'.,“‘,- ~ “Your likes or dislikes have nothing to do

‘ with the matter. As I told that fellow u at

the cabin, we are here for business, am we
mean to tend to it.”

Herman Jonas peered in at the mouth of
‘ the mine, and saw nothing to cause him un—
‘- easiness. .

“ There is nobody in there,” said he.

' “ If thar ain’t somebody, thar may be some-

7- '2“ ' 'thin’ ” objected Van Vorst.

" 7‘ ' “ Pete, you have turned out to be a crank and

' 2-3” "I am disappointed in you. Come, boys; all we

 , have to do is to go in there and decide whether

  . it will be worth while for us to guard the hole.

,’ fl, Ti Ross, you understand about mines, and I

7 . was told to depend on your judgment. You

and Nebraska Bob will go in there with me, and

= . Pete and the other two can stay outside to guard
 the entrance, thou b there is no danger that

' anybody will come own on us.”

' ' erman Jonas and the tWo men he had men-

tioned entered the tunnel, while Pete Van Vorst

'.stepped back and handled his rifle as if he ex-

pected a collision.

A ~, - Five minutes passed, and it appeared that the

,‘g/{btplorers had struck a light; but nothing had

' yet happened. ’

- A few minutes more, and there Was an ex lo-

sion that shook the earth, and a cloud of ust

and smoke ured out of the mouth of the mine.

Horacel xton and Ralph Harkness, who were

' g in that direction from the cabin door,
 the explosion and saw the cloud of smoke
and dust. \

.1 “ What has happened down there?” demanded

f m Harkness.

' , '“ It is quite likely that somebody has got

hurt,” anSWered Exton. “ As some of them ma

take it into their heads to come back at me,

, will get my rifle.”

' ,Harkness also got his rifle, and the two wea-
1,‘ poms were set against the cabin wall outside,
* .' and the Englishman resumed his seat and his
smoke. ‘

The development which they awaited came
iaftera while, but proved to be of a character
* that did not call for the use of rifles.

 J ' , One of the men who had been left outside at
 the mine cume gurrylng up to the cabin; but
 flag was alone, an his intentions were evidently

, unwarlike.

- This man was Pete Van Vorst, and his coun-

jdhance was considerably elongated, and his

was mild and pwceable enough to satisfy
er.

  

    
  
  
   
  
   
    
    
   
  
   
    
  
    
   
  
  
   
   
    
    

 

 

8

' “ Thar’s been an accident down yonder,” said
'he, “ and I‘m afeard that some of our men have
been killed.”

, V “I! was afraid that something of the kind
it would happ n,” remarked Exton; “ but I ave
. : folks fair warnin , and did allyI cou d to

  

  

v p you away from t ere. What seems to have
ibeen the matter?”
.. “An exglosion back in the tunnel.”
,  “‘Tba't what I thou ht it was. I had pre-
red' a. charge which was going to let off
- r a while, and it was left in such a con-
 in that it would be dangerous for any person
but myself to enter the mine. It is a pity that
‘peoplert meat to meddle with other people’s

  

  

   
  

»' I ,As a matter of fact, he had arranged a wire
 “so that the touch of a foot would explode the
1.»; drugs and had thus fulfilled his promise to
” the mine defend itself.

-, , fever Pete Van Vorst may have suspected,
he had not come there to argue the point, but to
I!!! for help. ,

, “We don’t know yet fbo is hurt, or how

  

  

.5n-

  

»bad,” said he “ my par ers are tryin’ to git
the rock out of the wa an go in, and I thought
I’dantter come up

us.
“‘1 will do so cheerfully, as ouare disposed
30 be friendly,” answered 1: e Englishman;
dire is' Mr. H

   

er and a‘sk you to help

 

arkness, too, who ppened

l

!

    

   
 

 

 

along here just before you came, and I have no
doubt that he will gladly lend a hand.”

Exton made a brief statement of the occur-
rence to his partner, closed the cabin door, and
went down to the mine with Harkness and Van
Vorst.

The smoke and dust had entirely subsided,
and the two remaining men Were working hard
to make a passage into the tunnel.

The explosion had oCcurred in the floor of the
drift, near its inner extremity, and it was no
easy task to carr or move aside the fragments
of rock that bloc 'ed the way; but the five men
worked with a will, and cries for help soon con—
vinced them that at least one of those who had
been caught by the explosion was alive.

Only one of them was alive, as the workers
discovered when they had succeeded in making
a )assagc.

ermau Jonas and Tip Ross were dead, and
Nebraska Bob was so badly hurt that he was
helpless.

The last named was carefully carried up to
the cabin to keep company with the invalid
there, and then the two bodies were brought out
and laid on the grass in the shale.

Pete Van Vorst sent one of his comrades to
Oro Fino for medical assistance, and he rode off
to carry the news to Simon Jonas, leaving the
third man to watch the bodies, as Exton
guaranteed that the best possible care should be
taken of Nebraska Bob. "

Ralph Harknoss remained at the request of
Exton, to whom he had taken a great liking,
and his presence, as well as his assistance, was a
real comfort to the Englishman.

“ Did you put up that job on them, Exton?”
inquired Ralph, as they smoked their pipes to-
gether outside after the evening meal.

“ Did I set that trap you mean? Yes, I set
that trap—not for them iikparticular, but for
all intruders. As I' told ein a while ago, I
meant to make the mine defend itself, and it got
in its work in good style.”

“ Indeed it did.”

“ Those men had no right there, and I gave
them fair warning to kee away. They got
what they deserved, and am not a bit Sorry
forit. It was right that some of them should
suffer for the murder of poor Lemon Squeezer.”

The next day Pcte‘Van Vorst returned with a
wa on to rcmovchis dead and wounded comrades.

0 reported Simon Jonas as being so badly
broken up by the death of his son, that he could
not think of coming with the wagon, or of tak-
ing active measures of an kind.

So the two bodies were oaded into the wagon,
and Nebraska Bob, by the permission of the
physicians who had come from Oro Fino was
packed u so that he could travel, and the onas
part lef , the Hole in the Ground, unregretted

y t ose who remained there.

The sang day Exton, leaving Ralph Harkness
to keep his partner company, went to the mine
to note more closely the damage that had been
done by the ex lesion. .

Nearly three ours elapsed before he returned
to the cabin, and when he came in, just at dusk,
there was so much suppressed excitement vis-
ible in his countenance, though he was outward-
ly calm and quiet, that Klein eagerly asked him
what was the matter.

“I will tell you in a minute.” answered the
Englishman, as be seated himself and lighted his

i e. “The matter is, oldI man, that it's an
ill wind that blows good to nobody. The blast
that brou ht sorrow to the Jonas family has
made our uture.”

“ Another pocket?” queried Carl.

“Something better than a pocket. I have
struck the true fissure vein, and no mistake
about it this time. That blast opened it just
where I would not havo thought of looking for
it. Here is some of the stuff, and I have no
doubt that you will agree with me that it has
come from t e vein.”

The German called for his microscope, and
cargfully examined the pieces that were handed
to im.

As a physician can easily distinguish venous
from arterial bl , so can an expert miner,
especially if he is a trained mineralogist, de-
cir e upon the quality and habitat of fresh ore.

Though the specimens were not near as rich
as those which Were forthcoming when the
“pocket " was opened, they were rich enough
to give splendid promise, and Carl had no hesi-
tation in saying hat the fissure vein had really
been struck.

“ We won’t give up the Hole in the Ground
now.” trium hantly exclaimed Exton.

“ You ha better not let Simon Jonas hear of
your luck, or he Will be likely to go for the mine
again,” suggested Harkness.

“ I mean to let everybody hear of it, and if he

goes for the mine again, he will get hurt worse
than ever."
r The next day, leavin Ralph Harkness in
charge of the invaltd, xton went to Oro Fino
to hire men to work the mine, and at the same
time to defend it.

CHAPTER XXXII.
“ONLY ONCE Moan.”
Tan unexpected and violent deathof Herman
Jonas was a terrible blow to his father. ,

l

  

I

 

    

At first the old man raved like a lunatic, sob--

bing and “ taking on ”after the passionate man—

her of his mac, and was so useless for any prac—A

tical purpose that Pete Van Vorst icok upon
himself the responsibility and the task of mak—
ing arrangements to bring home the dead and
the n ounded.

By the time they arrived at the ranch Simon
Jonas had calmed down and settled into a con-
dition of moping melancholy.

He (lid not lan any act of vengeance for the
calamity, nor ( id any of his speech point in that
direction, as he was well enough acquainted
with the legal aspects of the case to know that
he had sent his son on an unlawful errand.

Even if it could have been proved that the
deadly blast had been arran ed as a trap, pub--
lic opinion and the law won d uphold men who
used any means to protect their property against
claim-jumpers.

Indeed though he did not say as much to any
person but his wife, the old man blamed himself
for the loss of his son, and felt that if he had
kept Ral h Harkness and followed the foreman’s
advice, IIerman would still be alive to comfort
him.

After the burial of the young man Simon
Jonas was confrontml by a serious problem.

Herman had been not only his favorite, but
his counselor and main dependence, and per-
haps the fact of this favoritism may have ad
much to do with Isaac’s disposition to go wrong
and get into wild ways.

However that mi ht be. a determined effort
must be made to re orm the younger son and
fit him to fill the place of his brother.

It may be added that Ikey was quite willing
to be reformed by proper persuasion, as his dis—
position to 0 wrong had led him much further
than he h expected it to, and he was anxious
to get out of the tangle into which his wild ways
had brought him.

He had been fond of Herman, though he had
not respected him, re arding his elder brother
as 9. Jacob and himse f as an Esau, and when he
saw a chance to step into the birthright, he was
more than ready to drawn line between his past
and his future.

So Simon J onas,_when he called his remaining
son to a private an'i important conference,
found him entirely amenable to advice.

“ You are the only son 101‘ t to me now,” said
the old man, when he had sufficiently enlarged
upon the virtues of Herman and lamented his
death.

“ I had hogod that Herman would live lon to
be a stay an comfort to me in my old age; ut
he has been called away, and now I must depend
upon you or nobody.” ,

“ Just give me a fair trial,” pleaded Ike, “and
you will see that I will come out all right.”

“ You shall have a fair trial and more than a
fair chance. If you will stay at home, take
your brother’s place on the ranch, learn the bus»
iness, and attend to it properly. I Will allow you
a handsome sum as wages, and at my death,
after makin proper provisionlfor your mother
and sister, a 1 my property shall be yours.”

Ike ’8 eyes glistened. His father named a
sum t at was really a handsome one. It would
not .ay his debts r1 ht away, and he dared not
ask ibr money for t at purpose or disclose the
nature of his indebtedness; but the arrangement
promised to put him . uare with the world, and
Just then the death of erman seemed to be a
providential interposition in his favor. I

“ You can do what I re uire of you if you

an.

want to,” continued the 01 man, “and by so ‘

doing you will eatly benefit yourself as well as

our family. f you don’t do It, I will sell out
here and go back to the East, and will leave you
to take care of yourself.” -

,The choice between starvation and amuence
was an easy one to make, and Ike Jonas jumped
at the offer. '

“It is a fair offer,” said he, “ and I Will try
to do as well by you as you propose to do by
me. I will come right down to my fodder, and
will begin work on the ranch to-morrow.” .

Easy as premises may be, performance is
often difficult.

J] After the conference with his father Ike
onas also found himself confronted by a ser -
ous problem.

A man who has been going wrong may easfly
resolve that he will forsake his evxl ways and
make his crooked paths straight: but the re-
solve is not always easy of execution.

Not only has he formed habits that are likely
to stick to him, but he has got into entangle-
ments from which it seems impossible to free
himself.

This was the predicament in which Ikey
Jonas found himself, and his entanglements.
were so serious that it was going to be a difficult
matter to cut himself loose.

He mounted his horso and rode away, ponder.
ing the matter deep] and in great perplexity.

His sensible conchision was that t e boldest

and most straightforward way get: the 1'“
e e rmino: ,

apd that was the course which
ado )t. .
The route he followed took him.  the valet;
which had latel been twice Visited by Al
Sander, up to t 9 head of that valley, and to
the lone dug-out in the hollow. I ,

   

   

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. anybody

The Night Raider.

25

 

 

There he found Zeke Streen and two other

rsens.
One of the two was Dave Strung, and the
other was a rustler of ill-repute who was known
as Whisky Bill.
Ikey dismounted, hitched his horse, and ap-
proached them, looking gloomy and out of tem-

r.
p6” The vet; man we wanted to see!” exclaimed
Streen. “ e were jest talkin’ about you, Ikey.
“ We’ve got the best kind of a scheme fixed up
fur to-morrer night, and I was tellin’ it to Dave,
so’s he could give it to you at Ore Fine to-
night; but it’s a heap better to have you here
as you kin be sure to 't it straight and solid.’

‘ No more schemes or me,” moodin answered

e.

“ What‘s that? Don’t give us any gufll, now.
What do you mean by that?”

“ I mean that I am done with the sort of thin
that I suppose you have been talking about, an
that I have come here to tell you so.”

“ What’s up, Ike?” inquired Dave Strang.
“ Has the death of Prince Herman promoted

’ou?

“ Well, it has made a big difference. I want
to do the fair thing by you men, and so I have
come to tell you just how the case stands with
me. My governor has promised to pay me big
wages to stay home and work on the ranch, and
the offer is such a good one, taking it all to—
gether, that I‘ve got to accept it, and I have ac-
ce ted it." .

‘ When does your slavery begin?"

“ I have promised to begin work to-morrow
and keep it up. So, you see, that counts me out
of any more such schemes as you have been
talking about.”

“ Net jest yet ” replied Zeke Streen. “ We
will have somet 'n’ to say about that. VVe’ve
got a rip on you, my boy.”

“ hat sort of a gri f”

.“ You ought to know without askin’. Do you

allow that you kin useuswhen you want us,
and give us the shake whenever you git ready,
and all we have to do is jest to stand and take
it? Not quite. “Don’t you knew that we kin
hurt you right bad if you go back on us?”

“ I don't want to go back on 'ou,” protested
Ikey. “I came here to do the air and honor-
able thing by yoi, and ask you to let me off.”

“ That’s a decent enough way of talkin’, and
we want you to b. as good as your word—that’s
all. We will let ymi of! after this little turn,
and thus you’ll be free and clear to stay with
your pappy and be a good boy.” .

. lkey scowled and sulked at this talk; but
there was no help for it. He was in the scrape,
and it was not 1.1- him alone to say how he
should get out of it.

“ What is it to be?” he inquired. “ What
sort of a little turn do you mean?”

“ Si Jonas has got a lot of nice cattle on his

ranch yet, and we want a bunch of ’em, and we
must have ’em to-morrer night.”
“ That’s a little too hefty on the undersigned.
Sup se you try some ot er scheme, Zeke. It
woud be too much like running off my own
cattle.”

“ I reckon the ain’t no more yourn than
t’others were, an (you were glad enough to have
usbelp you git hol of them.

‘ “ But things have changed, and I shall have
to take care of those cattle now.”

“Things hain’t changed with us. You may
have plenty of mone ; but we are in about as
bad a fix as eVer. ow that you are to take
keer 0’ the cattle, that makes things dead sure
for us, and we kin work that little turn as easy
as rollm’ of! a log.” I

“ That's so, Ikey,” put in Dave Strang. “There
won’t be the slightest chance to get caught, or I
wouldn’t go in. I am getting tired of he busi—
ness, or the risk of it, and want to ui as well
as on do; but there can’t be any ris now, and
Ze e says that this once shall be the last time ”

, “ Only once more,” affirmed Zeke. “ That
winds up the business, and we will all be free
and clear. Jack Halsey is loose now, and if
should happen to see you, which ain’t
a bit likely, the run would be laid onto the
Halseys.”

“ I will go in mm more, then,” was Ike’s
final decision, “ with the distinct understandin
that this is to be the wind-up of the whole busi-
ness, and I will arrange matters at the ranch so
that the work can be done quietly and without
anv trouble.” . .

Having settled this pomt, the young man
mounted his horse, and with Dave Strung rode
off toward Oro Fine, to make the most of his
last day of liberty. .

He had' discovered that it was no easy matter
to clear himself from the tangle into which his
crooked ways had led him, and the discover
was not a pleasant one. and there was sti 1
another matter with which trouble might be
connected.

 

CHAPTER XXXIII.
A woman scomn.

. 03' the more or less respectable youn women

~---g'enei'ally less it must be admitted—w o aired
their husky voices and exhihitel their too Visi-
ble figures in the Emporia Music Hall at Ore

 

Fine, Kitty Delavergne (that was her profes-
sional name anyhow) was one of the brightest
and smartes , if not one of the prettiest.

She was smart enough to cause it to be believed
that the greater part of her good looks was not
due to artificial appliances, and the same could
not be said of all the others.

Therefore Kitty had mall-13y admirers, whom
she naturally regarded acco ing to their liber-
ality, and foremost in her transient affections
was Ikey Jonas, whose purse-strings she had
managed to unloose with the greatest ease.

Indeed, a large portion of the oung man’s
extravagance and conse uent inde tedness was
caused by her, and when 6 had sworn 03 from
gambling he perceived that the stoppage of that
outlet for his cash had only increased Kitty’s
demands upon him.

Solomon had truly described her kind as the
daughters of the horse»lee.ch, whose only cry is
“ Give!”

This young woman—generally spoken of as a

rl—was one of the ties binding him to his past
ife which Ike Jonas had determined to cut, and
he imagined that the cutting Would be an easy
operation.

All he had to do waste inform her that she
need no longer consider him as an acquaint-
ance, or merely to keep away from her without
giving her that information, and her ,mercenary
nature would at once aCCept the decision and
fasten itself 11 n some other victim.

This would e a vastly easier matter than cut-
 loeso from his associates at the hole in the

1 s. \
It is to be supposed that he had never read the
line which would have assured him that “hell
hath no fury like a woman scornet .”

At Oro Fine he and Dave Strang “ went
around” in the manner to which they were ac-
customed, fulfilling Ikey’s intention of having
“ a good time ” on the last da of his liberty.

At night he visited the mporia, where he
admired the antics of Kitty Delavergne, and was
duly smiled at by her from the stage.

After the performance he met her, and ac-
companied her, by her invitation, to her lodg-

in .

fly that time he had absorbed a sufficient
quantity of stimulating- fluids to Game him to
consider himself nervml up to speak his mind
plainly—in fact, enough to render him rather
reckless.

She opened the engagement immediately by a
demand that gave him a chance.

“ Ikey, I want you to give me fifty dollars.”

“ Fifty dollars!” he exclaimed. “ \Vhat do
you want to do with so much money?”

“ I am tired of thi“ hole, and I want to skip
out and go to Denver.”

“ Seems tq me that you ought to have enough
to go on.” ‘

“ But I hain’t got enough to go on, and you
must ‘ve me fifty dollars.’ v,

“ I ve not that much money about me, and
wouldn’t give it to you if I had it.”

h“Ypu will bring me fifty dollars to-morrow,
t en.

“ Indeed I will not, and you will never get an-
other dollar from me.”

The girl saw that there was something up,”
and looked at him as if she meant to find out
what it was.

“ What is the matter with you?” she de-
manded.

“ It is just this. ‘ I am done with you, and am
going to sta at home and goto work. After
this on and are two.”

“ on don’t mean it.
that.”

“I do mean it,” he declared “ and I have
dropped you for good and all. X on can just bet
your loVely life on that.” -

Perhaps it Would have been better for him
if he had tried to make his declaration some-
what pleasanter and less em hatic—if he had
pleaded povert or the bars cbmmand of a
cruel father—if 6 had beg ed off without bein
so bitter about it; but he id as his instinctl
him to do.

H

You can’t drop me like

His style was quite offensive to Miss Dela- -

vergne, who flew into a assion, and, to use an
expression which is often card in police courts,
“ called him out of his name.”

Whereupon Mr. Isaac Jonas fired up, and he
gave her cheek such a slap as brought genuine
color into it.

She stepped back, and her face turned as
pale as the rouge would allow it to become,
gndlshe spoke to him calmly but very vindic-

ive . -
“ You will be sorry for that. You shall 3*
for it, assure as i am a livin woman. qu
will be sorry enough, before am done with
you, that you ever struck me a blow. I am
glad that you are going, and the sooner the bet-
ter. Get out of here, nowl”

Ikey J ones did get out immediately. .

He went to the nearest saloon, provided him-
self with a flask of whisky, and rode home, feel-
ing much depressed in spirits, and wishing that
the Delavergnc episode had terminated more
pleasantly. ‘

_-—.

Zeke Streen also had a little matter of busi-
ness to which he wished to attend before the

.e ‘i,

. way, and it was

 

winding up which had been decided on at his
du -out.

soon as the two young men had left him,
he brought out his horse from its hiding-place,
and rode away to the J unas Ranch.

He found Simon Jonas in a very ill humor,
surly and disposed to be grufl and short of
speec ; but that was a matter of no consequence
tothe visitor, who demanded a private inter-
view, and it was instantly accorded him, as
his business with Jonas was never matter for
the eneral ear.

“ Vhat do you want now?” grufliy inquired
the ranchman.

“ Money,” was the short and plain reply.

“ It is only a little while since I gave you
some, and I ought not to have given on a dolv‘
lar then. There has been too much 0 that art
of thing, and 1 must end it.”

“ Give me fifty dollars now, and that will end
it. I am going to Denver and I don’t mean to
come back to this part of the country again.”

It may be stated as a coincidence that fifty
dollars was the exact sum which Kitty Dela-
vergne demanded from Simon J onas’s son, and
that she, also, was going to Denver; but that
may have been merely an accidental coinci-
deuce.

“You may mean that now, Zeke Streen; but,
as soon as you get short of money, you Will be
coming back here and drawing on me for more."

“ Not this time. This is a go. Give me fifty
dollars, and I Will 0 to Denver and sta away.”

“ You may go to enver or to the evil, for
all I care; but you won’t get a dollar more of
my money.”

“ You have said that before new, Si Jonas,
and it never counted.” -

“ It counts now. Once for all, you won’t get
another dollar of my money.”

“ You don‘t mean that,” insisted Streen.

“I do mean it. I am done with on.”

“I reckon ou-know what’s like y to happen
if you go bac on me.”

‘ If on mean the Tom Halsey business, I don’t
care w iat happens. You may blow as much as
you lease, and you can’t hurt me. Everybody
will lievemy word against the story of such a
vagabond as 'ou.”

‘7Go ahea and call names. Pile ’emaifl) as
big and nasty as you please. They’ll be
counted ag’inst you.”

“ I don’t care what is counted against me. I
have been bothered by you too long, and I won’t
have any more of it.”

“The Tom Halsey job ain’t the onl thing I,
can bring up to hurt you, Si Jonas. f on gel
back on me now. l’vc got somethin’ wai 'n’ for
you that'll jest knock you cold.” I -

“ Knock away, then. I don’t mind yourbark,
and am not afraid of your bite. I want you to
understand, once for all, now and forever, that
I am done with you.“

“ I ain’t done with you though, and you’ll be
sorry enough fur this a ore on re many days

older. When you git hurt rig t bad, remember
Zeke Streen.” .

“ Oh, get out!”

Zeke btreen did get out, and he ' red' a
final vow of vengeance as be mounted is horse '

and rode ofi’ toward Ore Fine.

He did not hap to meet Ike Jonas on the
be at night when he got into
town.

After attending to the important duty of irri- . ,

Ewing his interior, he sought an interView with

 

itty Delavergne, whom he met shortl after , .

the termination of her stormy set-to w th Ike
Jonas.

Aleck Sander saw the man come into town,
and noted where he went.

He did not want Zeke'Streen then, as he was
not yet ready for him, but‘wanted toknow what

he was about. I. 

 

The next morning, 'as Smart Aleck was walk- “

ingnear the lodging occupied by Kitty Deh-

vergne, that young lady stepped out and spoke . ., ‘

to him.

see,” said she. “Come in here; I’ve got some-
thin to say to you.” . ,
“ 0, thank you,” answered the detective. _
“ Not any in mine, if you lease ”

“ What do you take me
rejoined.
to you about.”

" Not my kind of business” ,

“Thu ’3 just what it is. Are you still hunt‘,
ing those, cattle-thieves?”

Smart Aleck immediately connected this qued- ; l i”

tion with the recent meeting of Zeke SW!) and
the young woman, and he changed his tone at i
once.
“ Of course I am. Can you tell meanything
about them i" _ “ ;
“ Yes, but you must come in here, out of the

I

“ You are the Very man I was wantiugto'l ’

P - '
for?” she indignant] .'
“It is business that I want speak 

.r

'1‘:

street. You maybe ashamed to be seen with '-
me; but I am afraid to be seen with on.” . >

They stepped inside, and she cl . the door. " ,'
“You came near missing it end thing by
making a fool of yourself,” said e, “as I came"

near letting you go."

“ I ask your pardon. I was thinking of a  

ter of basilica just then, and it made me

, 4 i , - .
. . . , .
~ ,

 

.314

.I'x

1/".\L

 

 

, in werking order, and there coul
I an doubt of the value of the mine.

' thep

26

 

 

 

“ If you want to ketch those cattle-thieves,
you must go to Simon Jonas’s Ranch to—night,
and keep your eyes open. I reckon you know
where to go and when to get there.”

“Are you sure that you are giving me the
strailght tip?”

“ am sure that they are going to run off
some of Simon J onas’s cattle to-night."

“ Who told you this—Zeke Streen?”

She started, and her eyes opened wide.

“Zeke hain’t got nothin’ to do with it,” she
answered. “He only happened to hear about

“ All right. How much do you want for the

ews, young lady?”

“ Nothin’ at a . I’ll pay myself.”

The detective would have been willing to pay
well for this valuable information and he nat-
urally wondered Why the girl had been willing
to in it to him for nothingi

f course she wanted to urt somebody; but
whom was she hitting?

Thou h she ractically admitted that her
knowledge of the fact had been derived from
Zeke Streen, it was ev1dent that she did not
wish or expect him to be included in the ca ture.

Well, whoever she might be striking at, ‘mart
Aleck had the satisfaction of holding the in-
formation, and he meant to use it.

CHAPTER XXXIV.
GONE A COURTING.

HORACE EXTON was more than elated b the
result of the blast which had proved so isas-
trous to some others, and which, while defend-
ing his title to the Hole in the Ground, had at
the same time largely increased the value of the

 

prpferty.

e was over 'oyed, and at once took vigorous
measures for t 6 development of the mine, and
2‘0 secure himself and his partner in its posses-

on.

The men, whom he at once engaged, were not
only more than enough for the mining work at
that time but were such as would be both will-

, ing and able to fight for their employers, if they

' should be called upon to do so.

When he had also engaged Ralph Harkness to
act as foreman, the young Englishman believed
that both the present and future of the Hole in
the Ground were assured.

This assurance became stronger and brighter
when the debris of the explosmn was cleared
out of the tunnel, and the real character of the
vein that had been struck was made Visible.

The ore was so rich, and the promise was so
good that the partners were already fairly en-
titled to consider themselves wealthy men.

If capital should be needed to work it, there
would be lenty to be had for the asking.-

Carl ein partook of his partner’s elation,
and the splendid luck of the Hole in the Ground
had a most beneficial effect upon him.

The sight of the specimens of ore that were
brought to him acted like a tonic, his ea er de—
sire to get out and go to work hastening s re-

I

- / covary, and be improved so rapidly that Exton

was not afraid to leave his partner to the care
of Ralph Harkness and the others, while he went

' away to look after a matter of personal interest.
That matter of rsonal interest was closely
00an with Victoria Halsey, and it was for
so of visiting her that he left the Hole
round, as soon as he had (got everything
no longer be

in the

hen he first made his declaration of love
to her, though a fortune had been in sight for

 ’ him, the prospect had vanished, and his disap-

tment was so great that he did not feel
tifled in pressing his suit again; but the re-
cent stroke of luck had brought new hope and
a fresh determination to succeed in that quar-
ter.
/ It was true that she had not admitted to him
that she loved him; but he believed that she

" ,had a strong leaning that way, and she had
i u

based her re sal of his offer upon her own con-

. dition, rather than upon any personal objection

 r to her suitor.

-_ looking bright and handsome

i‘

In Exton’s opinion she was entirely too sensi-
five concerning the stigma that was supposed

, to attach to her father’s death, and he ho to

lovercom‘e her sensitiveness and r.» e her
to make him happy and to share is good for-

time.

When he rode up to the house at Small Hopes
Ranch on this occasion, arrayed in his best, and
his arrival was
i witnesaed from the windows by Victoria and

her mother.

“ There is Mr. Exton,” said the old lady, “ and

' 1 it is a sure thing that he has come a-courting.”

, _“I hope not,” answered Victoria, with a

b.
s1q‘l don’t know why you should hope not,
when you ought to be glad of a chance toen-
courage him. He is a fine youn fellow, in in
opinion, and Jack says that he asnow struc
- it rich for sure, and I don’t see where you could
look for a better match.”

' , Victoria answered with another sigh.

 

mother had not touched the root of the
The question was not whether the

   
 

,’ V. ii

to be interrupted. What have you got to tell ‘
e?

 

mm...

The. Night Raider.

 

Englishman was a good match for her, but
whether she would be a suitable match for
him.

Mrs. Halsey, having fired her shot retired in
good order, and left a clear field for the be-
sie er.

hen Exton came in he found the lady of his
love looking rather sad and disconsolate, and he
at once endeavored to cheer her up by giving
her a glowing account of his ood luck and the
lgiright prospects of the Hoe in the Ground
me.

As he had begun in just that way when he 

pressed his smt before, she sought to guide his
talk so as to prevent it from touching the point
which it had reached on the previous occa-
8101].

After congratulating him upon his good for-
time, she compelled him to speak of the death of
Herman Jonas, to tell her of his partllel’s illness
and recovery, and to enter into details concern-
ing the quality of the ore and his arrangements
for working the mine.

Exton stood this very well for a while: but his
patience finally became exhausted, and he made
a bold break for the subject that was nearest his
heart.

“ That is all very well,” said he, “ and I hope
it is interesting to you; but it is not what I
came here to talk about, and I must sa what I
want to say now, as I suppose you will never
lezdnie have my own way at all after we are mar-
rl .

This astonishing statement crushed her, and
she could not utter a word.

“ We will have plenty of time hereafter to
talk about the mine and other matters,” be con-
tinued. “ I s ke about my good luck to-day
only because came here to ask you to share it
with me, and I give you fair warning that I
mega, to keep on asking you until I get your con-
sen .

Victoria braced herself up to repel this deter-
mined attack.

“ I thought we had made an end of that,” said
she. “I told you that you must never again
speak to me of marriage.”

“I remember that you said something of the

.sort, and you mmt admit that I have kept si-

lence for quite a long time; but never is too long
a da for me. I remember, too. that you made
an o jection which was really not a good one.”

“ I tell you plainly that you must not marry
the daughter of a man who was hung for cattle-
stealing.”

“ And I tell you plainly that nobody shall die—
tate to me whom I must or must not marry.
You were not hung for cattle—stealing.”

“ But I might be."

“ Not being a cattle-thief, I don’t see—”

“ I am a cattle—thief l”

“ Miss Halsey 1”

"You com 1 me to tell you the truth, and
Ilmiist bring ack in. We have both stolen cat‘
t e. ’

“Then Aleck Sander must be a bigger fool
than I had supposed him to be.”

“I do not mean to say that Jack and I are re-
sponsible for all the cattle-stealing that has been
done in this district, or for a large part of it;
but we have run off cattle from the Jonas Ranch
three times. We have vowed to even e the
wrongful death of our father upon his mur erers,
and we saw no way to strike at Simon Jonas but
through his pocket. I proposed to burn his
house, but Jack preferred to run off his cattle.
After three attempts we tired of it, and since
we quit the business some other thieves have
taken it up and are running it under the name
of our firm. Now, Mr. Exton, I have told you
the plain truth, and you will believe that I am
not fit to bathe wife of an honest man.”

She was contradicted by her lover’s smile, as
well as b his words.

“I wil tell you what I do believe,” said he.
“ I believe, V toria, that your father was inno-
cent, and the. his name will yet be cleared. I
belieVe that you and Jack were uite excusable,
though of course not justified, n the measures
you took alnst Simon Jonas, and that the
capture of t e Scoundrels who have been copy-
ing you for profit will wipe 011’ all suspicion
from on both. I believe, too, that I am going
to ma 0 you my wife.”

“Without my consent?”

“ With it. Don’t you love me?”

“ Now, Mr. Exton, is that fair?”

“Ali’s fair in love, and I assure you that I
love you with all my heart and strength. As
you are in a confessin mood you may as well
make a clean breast o it and confess that you
are fond of me. What do you say?"

“ Do not urge me to say anything now, I be

on. If my father’s name could be cleared, an
f that suspicion you speak of could be removed
from Jack and me—”

“ That make would matters easier for you, and
it shall be done, with the good help of Aleck
Sander. By J ovel there’s the man now, and
Jack is with him. Something must have hap-
pened. Wonder what it is.”

Exton’s curiosity was soon satisfied.

Aleck Sander came in with Jack, and they
both seemed glllad to meet him, though it may

at appearances looked somewhat
V detective.

 

“I am very glad to find on here, Mr.
Exton,” said Smart Aleck. “ on are 'ust the

man we were both wanting to see. Miss alse ,
you must excuse me if I am in a hurry and tail:
business.”

“ It is easy to excuse you, Mr. Sander, as you
have been so kind to us,” she anSWered. “Am
I in the way here?”

“ Not at all. I merely want to say to Exton
that we hope to catch those cattle-thieves to-
night, and will want his help."

“You shall have it, and I am glad that you
give me the chance,” said the Englishman.
“ Tell me what you want me to do, and I will
put in the best work I am capable of."

“ I am quite sure that they are going to make
a raid to-night, and I know where they are to
start from and where the are to bring up.
Jack and I will look after t e first point, and I
have engaged Pete Jackson and several good
men to attend to the other, and I want you to
take command of that arty.”

“ All right. When s all we start?”

“ There is plenty of time. Jack says that we
may have our supper here, and then we will get
off ’

 

CHAPTER XXXV.
WATCHING AND TRAILING.

CONSIDERABLY before the time when they
supposed it to be necessary for them to be there,
Aleck Sander and Jack Halsey were on the
Jonas Ranch, waiting for their pre .

Previous experience had made th well ac-
quainted with the ground, and they knew just
where to go and where to lie in wait.

The detective had deemed it'best to have Jack
as a companion, not only because of his knowl-
edge of t 9 country and for his valuable assis-
tance in case of a possible collison, but because
he would be wanted as a witness if an early cap-
ture should become necessary.

It was Sander’s intention, however, merely to
follow the raiders to their hidin -p1ace if, as he
believed, their destination shoul rove to be the
hollow in the hills which he had iscovered.

The night was pretty much such a night as
that which had witnessed Smart Aleck’s first
pursuit of the raiders, when he had, as he su

sed at the time, chased the woman over t e
edge of the cliff—a cloudy night, with frequent
glimpses of moonlight.

It seemed to be a favorable night both for the
purpose of the raiders and for those of their
would-be captors.

The latter were well-mounted on this occasion
the detective having secured a horse of 
and endurance, and Jack Halsey riding his ay,
so that if the still-hunt should be turned into a
pursuit, they would not find themselves at a dis-
advantage.

They had brought their rifles, too, as well as
their revolvers, and considered themselves pre-
pared for any emergency.

All that they then r uired was a chance at
the cattle-thieves, and t is time Aleck Sander
was certain. whoever they might prove to be,
that Jack Halsey would not be one of them.

After carefully concealing their horses near-

at hand, and covering their heads so that they
would not be likely to make a noise, they hid
in the brush and waited. 0

They both knew, as well as Zeke Streen knew,
that Sin: on Jonas had some fine cattle left—the
best of his stock, in fact—and it was reasonable
to suppose that the raid was to be made upon
that lot. .

So they stationed, themselves near the spot
where the cattle-thidves were expected to begin
their work, and at a little distance from each
other the understanding being that as soon as
one o txm made a discovery he should move
toward e other and make it known, so that
they could act to ther.

be business in which they were eng ed
could hardly have been conducted to their et‘
ter satisfaction if they had managed it all them-
selves.

At an unusually and unexpectedly early hour
the raiders put in an appearance.

The were discovered at nearly the same mo-

ment both the watchers, who movsd toward
each 0 her uickly and uietly, meetin at a
point where t ey happen to get a 0 view

of the subsequent proceedings, as we] asto over-
hear some interesting conversation.

They came riding up without any attempt at
secrecy, and their movements Were generally
characterized by an absence of precaution, as if
the considered themselves entirely free from
mo estatibn or observation.

The moon, shinin out as they rode near the
watchers, gave the atter a good view of them,
and it was seen that they were two in number,
a parently a man and a woman, one dressed as

ack Halsey had been on the occasion of the
first raid that is chronicled here, and the other
quite a close counterpart of his sister, so far, at
least, asap rel goes.

One of t em rode a fine bay horse, and the
other a black, making the resemblance sonearly
complete as to extort from Jack a low exclama-
tion of astonishment.

“ You see how it is now,” whispered the de-
tective. “ Is it any wonder that people accused
you and your sister?” ‘

 

  

 

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The Night Raider.

27

 

f

“ We could have accusel ourselver. I say,
Sander, this is the meanest trick that could
possibly be played. It is bad enough to steal
cattle, without taking so much pains to saddle
the job upon other people’s shoulders. I would
like to shoot those scanips down right now, With-
out another word.”

“That is not our game, my boy. You pro-
mised to be patient and obey my orders, and I
ex ct you to do so."

‘he two raiders dismounted from their horses,
and hitched them, going about their work very
leisurely, and evidently anticipating no sort of
interruption. .

“ Confound these tugs!” exclaimed the man
who was dressed as a female. “They are al-
ways in the way. I don't see the use of wearing
them to-night, anyhow."

“ We can’t always tell,” answered the other.

“ That’s so. If anybo ly should happen to see
us as we go alon , it would be a sure thing that
those scamps of alseys had been cattle-stealing
again.”

“ Did you know the voice of that she—fraud,
Jack?” whispered the detective.

“ I thought I did.”

“And I am sure that I did.”

“ He is just about the last man I would
havenexpected to find mixed up in this busi-
ness.

“It’s not so with me.
the suspicious I have had for some time.
ahl he is shooting of! his mouth again.”

“ Give me a pull at your whisky bottle
Dave,” said the person referred to, “ and We will
get through with this job as quick as we can.
There can t be any trouble about it, as the
critters we want are bunched together. I at-
tended to that today, and had them put in a
little corral by themselves. So we will have
nothing to do but drive them off and deliver
them to Zeke.”

As the flask was passed between the two raid-
ers, Jack Halsey fingered his rifle nervously.

“I’m half—crazy to shoot that dirty rascal!"
he muttered.

“ Don’t be so foolish,” whispered the detec-
tive. “We can do much better than to shoot
him, and he will be worth a great deal more to
us alive than dead. What we have to do is to
keep quiet, watch the whole business, and see it
through to the finish.”

The little corral which was spoken of in their
hearing had already been noticed by the watch-
ers, who had ex ted the cattle confined there
to be the ob ects of the raid, and the point at
which they ad met was so near to it that
they could easily ‘see eyerything that went on
there.

The remaining performance was simple
enough.

The raiders quietly and methodically geared
the corral, brou ht out the steers, moun , and
drove them slow y away

Aleck Sander and ack Halsey waited until
they had got a good start and then brought out
their horses, mounted, an took up the trail.

It was easy to follow it, especially as' they
knew, or believed they knew, the point for whic
the raiders would strike, and the route they
would probably take.

In this Jack Halsey took the lead, as be de-
clared that his bay horse could hold to a cattle-
trail through the darkest night.

The baylwas unshod, and Jack said that he
guided himself by the feel of the ground.

Thus the only thing necessar for the pur-
suers was to keep at a reasona le distance be-
hind the raiders, so that the latter should not
discover them and make a break that Would
disarrange the firms of both rt-ies.

Fortunately or them, an mainly owing to
the caution with which they continued the pur-
suit, nothing of the kind occurred.

The raiders kept moving forward leisurely,
through 0 n and wooded ground, and on into
the hi ls, riving the cattle without dimculty,
talking as they went, and occasionally taking a
drink, and their pursuers came warin behind
them, halting when they drew too near, but al-
wa s sticking close to the trail.

hen they had got fairly into the hills, and
were following the route which the detective
had gone over tw1ce before on somewhat simi-
lar errands something happened that surprised
him, though his companion did not seem to con-
sider it anything out of the way.

The bay horse, in pursuance of his duty as
trailer, suddean turned aside from the route
into a ravine at the left, an iJack Halsey made
no effort to stop him.

“ What docs this mean?” demanded Smart
Aleck. “ This is not the way to the valley. We
have to go three or four miles further before we
turn olf.’ I _

“ This is one wa , thou h it is a rather rough
one,” answered ack. ‘ It leads right down
into the Valley, and cuts off the distance you
s k of., Come on! They have gone down
t is way, or Bruno would never have struck in
he' o.

A leek Sander followed his leader, and soon
the trail of the cattle was evident to him.

“ You seem to be well posted in the ins and
outs of these hills,” he observed.

“1 oughtlto be," answered Jack. ‘fl’his is

This merely confirms
Hush!

the chute I took the night you drove Victoria
over the cliff.”

“The night I did what .9”

“ Didn't you know that it was Vic and me that
you chased that time?”

“ I had settled it in my mind that it could
not have been you.”

“ But it was. I supposed that Vic had ex-
plained the business to you. That made the
third time we had run oil? Simon J onas’s cattle,
or tried to—not because we wanted the cattle,
but because We wanted to hurt him, and that
was the only way we saw of gettin at him.
We quit it after then. Vic contrived that
scheme for throwing you off the track, and she
Worked it splendidly. ’

“You don’t mean to tell me that your sister
rode her ll' irse. owr that cliff.”

“ Not quite: but shakillcd a fine horse. She
jumped off just as the Il'lLl‘(‘ went over, and hid
in a hole at the edge until you cleared out.
Then she climbed down to the bottom. I went
down here, and met h r in the valley, and Vic
mounted behind me, and we rode away home.”

“What black mare was it that I found at
your place the next day?"

" That was Myra, Nettie’s mate Vic was all
broke up by the death of Nettie, and we agreed
that we wouldn’t try to worry Simon Jonas in
that way any more.”

“ I am glad that you nit the business, Jack,

and I am glad that you ave told me the truth
about, it. Well, this is a short cut, and no mis-
take

When they got down into the valley, they
perceived that they would have to proceed more
slowly and with more caution. as the cattle and
their drivers Were but a little. way ahead, and
the moon was then shining in a clear sky.

As there could then be no doubt of their des-
tination, they lagged behind, and when they
again started ahead they were careful to kee
in the timber and under the shadow of the cli
at their left.

Then they traveled on until they came, in
sight of the hollow at the head of the. valley,
and saw the men they had been following about
to disappear within the opening there.

The detective put a whistle to his mouth, and
sounded a shrill coil, which had been agreed
upon as the signal for his aids.

Instantly the two raiders turned and faced
their pursuers and Aleck Sander and Jack
Halsey spurred their horses forward.

CHAPTER XXXVI.
CLOSING IN. 1‘

BEFORE settin out for the Jonas Ranch, th
detective and ack Halsey had accompanied
Horace Exton to the rendezvous at which they
were to meet their allies, leavmg Abe Halsey to
take care of Small Hopes.

They were already there: big Pete Jackson
and half a dozen of his best men, quite enough
for the business in hand.

Indeed, it might have been objecte'l to the
force that it was lar er than was necessary for
the capture of a pair of cattle-thieves; but it
was deemed best to err on the safe side, and
have too many men rather than too few.

Zeke Streen, added to the pair of cattle-
thieves, would make three, and they mi ht
have other confederates. of whom the detective
and his friends knew nothing.

As it was the desire to capture the entire
party, if possible. without any fighting, it was
of course iroper to make an imposing show of
force, in t 6 hope of compelling a peaceful sur-
render.

Pete Jackson and his followers were found to
be ready and eager for the task, the big ranch-
man es ciall so, as he believed from what
Smart leck ad told him that he was likely
not only to capture the seoundrels who had been
stealing his cattle, but to clear the reputations
of Jack Halsey and his sister.

As Jack was there among them, and was
aboutto become one of the capturing force un-
der the eye of the leader, nothing was clearer
than the fact that he could not be a cattle-thief
on that occasion.

Sam Hickey, one of Pete Jackson’s herders,
professed to be well acquainted with the locality
which Alcck Sander described, and propOsed to
relieve him of any further responsibility in that
quarter; but the detective preferred to visit it
and post the party himself.

So the services of Sam Hickey were accepted
to guide the party to the spot by the“ nearest
route, and they all set off together.

Pete Jackson was articularly anxious to ef-
fect the capture of Ze e Streen without damag-
ing that handsome specimen of humanity, and

 

lowers.

“If that cuss shows fl ht, boys” said he—
“ and be is durned am to o it—don t shoot him
if you can be] it, causeI want to take him
alive. and I’m and to have him right side up
and in ood order.”

Sam
route to the hills at the head of the valley. and

 

there the soon struck into the trail which
Smart eck had followed from the Jackson
rancn.

The detective directed the partyto conceal

, be carefully impressed this desire upon his fol-'

ickey led the party by a tolerably easy ‘

themselves near that trail, so that they could
look down into the hollow, but to keep them-
selves carefully out of sight and hearing of the
dug-out there.

He and Jack Halsey would go and get on the
trail of the cattle thieves. following it up to the
head of the valley, and on their arrival he
Would sound a whistle, loud enough to be heard
by his friends, which should lo the signal for
them to pounce down and make the capture.

If he should discow-r that he had been de—
ceived about He raid that night, he and Jack
would return to the hollow, and there they
would pit-k up Zeke Streen and endeavor to
squeeze the truth out of him.

Having arranged these matters tol:is satisfac-
tion, he rode away with Jack, who was to take
him by the shortest rode to the Jonas Ranch.

The men \\ ho Were 1ch to watch the hoie in
the hills had a quiet and monotonous vigil.

As the suppl ' of whisky for the expedition
had been, by I’ete Jackson’s orders, strictly
limited, and as they could not make a light by

to do but sit around and “ swap lies.”

The. big ranchman beguiled a portion of the
time by repeating to Horace Exton the story
which he had told Aleck Sander. and he found
the Englishman more than willing to believe the
innocence of Victoria’s father.

It was agreed between them that Zeke Streen
had acted as the t0ol of Simon Jonas in com-
passing Jack Halsey’s death, and that the night’s
work, if it should prove to be successful, Would
be more uSeful in furnishinga hold upon him
than in the capture of the cattle-thieves.

After a while the moon came. out above the
mountain tops, and the em loyments of the party
were a little more diversi ed.

Pete Jackson got into a position which en-
abled him, witnout being observed from below,
to see what was going on in the holllm', if any.-
thing should ha )pen to be going on there.

There was no light in the dug-out. but that did
not argue the absence of Zeke Strecn, as he was
not a reading man, and he could not play cards
alone, and he could easily find the way to his
mouth with a bottle in the dark.

in the course of time there came forth from
the dug-out a man whom the ranchmau recog-
nizod as Zeke Streen, and be notified Exton of
that fact.

The man yawned and stretched as if he had
just awoke from sleep, looked about the hollow
and up at the hills, walked down to the little
pass that ogened into the valley, and looked out
there, and nally went back into the dug-out.

After a while he came out again, an again
walked down tothe opening, where he waited
until he was joined by two men who had come
riding up the valley, and he led them to the dug-
out where they dismounted, hitched their horses,
an followed him into the hovel.

As neither of the new-comers answered to the
description of the riders who had been seen, the
conclusion was that the party of cattlethieves
would number five men.

Another conclusion was that the work for
which they were waiting was surely expected to
be done that night, and therefore the mission of
the watchers was likely to be successful.

Patiently they waited until Streen and his
companions emerged from the dug-out, where
they had probably been refreshing themselves.

They went down to the opening, and busied
themselves there with some logs and poles, as if
they were preparing to close up the entrance
after the arrival of the cattle.

Pete Jackson, in 1118 eagerness to see what they
were at, dislodged a stone that went tumbling
down the hillside into the hollow.

Zeke Streen snatched up his rifle, and hastened
to the spot where the stone had fallen, followed
more slowly by the other two men.

He looked up at the hillside, but nothin
further occurred to arouse his suspicions, an
then held a brief consultation with his com-
panions. ‘

It was not at all likely that the stone. had
fallen of its Own accord; but it might have
been dislodged by some wild animal, and that -
Was ‘the conclusion at which the three men
doubtless arrived, as they went back to their
occupation at the opening. .

“ You will have to get away from there, Mr.
Jackson. or be a great deal more careful,” ob- '
served the English van. “ We can’t afford to
alarm those fellows.”

The ranchnmn was of the same opinion. and
he withdrew carefully from his point of obser-
vation.

Sam Hickey secured a Osition from which
he could look down into i evalley, and made
arrangements for informing' his companions of
what he should happen to see in that direction.

.In the course of time the patient waiting of
the part was rewarded. ' ,

Sam ickey from his lookout passed down

; up the valley. driven by two persmis.

A little later he sent the infO‘ mation that the
cattle and their drivers were followed at a little
distance by two men.

Horace

given by
- the party

 

Aleck Sander, then took command of i

which to play cards, there was nothing for them ‘

the news that a number of cattle were coming ’ \

Extou. acting under the instructions ~ '

 

 

 

«a "'4" “so saw»-

rness to rush down,and the foremost of them im- than Isaac Jonas could not easily have been Zeke Streeu, accordin to his own account,
proved the time by creeping forward to more found in all that section of country. being badly broken up pancially, and resting 1,
-.advanced positions, so as to get a good start. When he found himself captured in his dis- under the suspicion of being a cattle-thief, was -j
Soon the hat was waved in the moonlight, and guise, his purpose made plain, his friends caught taken hold of by Simon Jonas as a fit person to . 2
directly afterward the call of Smart Aleck‘s or killed. and himself exposed as a cattle-thief, and him in a plan he had formed for getting rid
, whistle rung out loud and shrill. liable to the pains and penalties of his crime, he of Tom Halsey.
t Exton and his men almost tumbled down the broke down and blubbered, and had not a word ‘ The plan, as explained to his confederate by
? steep trail in their eagerness to reach the bot- to say for himself. , the J e w ranchman, involved a game of cattle-
'. tom of the hollow. To add to his discomflture, he found himself stealing, and Halsey was to be “roped into”
i ” , When the detective and Jack Halsey saw the confronted by Jack Halsey, who had been an i it.
, cattle-thieves turn at the head of the valley, agent in his detection and capture. This plan, together with the price to be paid
. they char ed them at once, calling upon them “ Who is that man out there, Jack?” inquired for the job, suited Zeke Streen, and it was car-
l' to surren er. Sander, who had dismounted without relaxing ried out carefully and succes<fully.
" ’The one in female attire turned again, and his grasp upon his prisoner. Selecting a ni ht when it was known that l
1 fled into the hollow; but the other stood his “ It is Dave Strang,” answered the young Tom Halsey wo d be passing along a certain
j. ground, jumping from his horse, sheltering him- ranchman. road at a certain hour, Zeke was to pick up a r,
i, - self behind a rock, and opening fire upon his “ Is he dead?” bunch of cattle that did not belong to him, and .
! pursuers. “ As dead as Julius Caesar, and I am sorry for was to drive them along that road. ’
‘1; . ,, Jack Halsey made a half-circuit with his it, too.” When he met Halse , he was to represent the *7
 horse, Indian—fashion, so as to get the skulker “Perhaps he is better 03. We have got this cattle as a lot which e had purchased, pretend ;
'- within range, and a shot from his unerring rifle one alive anyhow and he has been caught in the to have difficulty, and ask for help. i
. quieted matters in that quarter. . act, and the proof is clear that he is on ‘ of the It was reasonablysupposed that Tom, being '
{ Aleck Sander rode on into the hollow after rascals who have been stealing cattle in this re- of an ohliging disposmon, would readily consent 3
r , . the fugitive, and was followed directly by his gion for a long time.” to help him. ,1
l I“ v companions. “ We didn’t begin it,"blubbered Ike. “Others SlillOD Jonas was to call out the Vigilantes L',‘
3'  had been at it before we started in, and we only whom he had helped to organize, for an expedi- i
i ,- i CHAPTER XXXVII. folloTvLed,iii lilhfiirl tracks”, ‘ l 1P J k tioq inh Search of cattle—thievcis, and wals1 ta 001111. ‘:
 , at s a i e y yarn, ( ec aret etc ac son, cea t em at a point agree upon, w ic t e ’
i i" ZEKE STREEN s CONFESSION' who had been gloating over the capture. “ Tell v cattle were ex fired to pass.
f» ZEKE STREEN and his comrades, by looking ittothe coyotes, as you Won’t find any men to Before real: ing that point, Streen was to
l . out at the opening which led into the valley, believe it. You have madeameanbusiness ever make a pretext for sto ping, and let Halsey g0 ,
‘, I had perceived the approach of the cattle and so much meancr by fixing yourselves up so as to on alone with the cat e and fall into the trap ‘;
'~“ '1 " their drivers, but had seen nothing of the two put the blame on two decent people, and one of 1 that had been set for him. i
3‘“ men who.followed stealthin in the rear. them a lady.” I The plan worked to perfection, and the death i
g _‘ When the cattle ware l’lO’tl‘ the opening, they “ Hadn’t you better have that arm of yours  of Tom Halsey occurred as Pete Jackson de— f
" ’ drew bapk into the hollow, to leave r0)m for tied up, Mr. Jackson?” inquired Sander. ‘ You scribed it to the detective. ;
Q a. the stolen stock to pass in. are bleeding like a stuck pig.” ’ Zeke Streeu received from Simon J ones the 5
,' .  Something seemed to be the matter with “I don’t care a cuss about that, since we've mice of his Villainy, and kept his promise of ‘3
1151;" ‘ Streeu who muttered to himself strangely: ’ got this thing straightened out, and there is one ' eaving that part of the country. but finally re- i
77 "‘ . “This is mighty queer—darned if I under- other piece of business that we must attend to." 1 turned to draw on his employer for more money, 3
;f - ' stand it a bit,” was the purport of his mutter- He allowed Exton, however, to remove his I greatly to the disgust of the latter. x
f: i‘ i , ings; but his comrades paid no attention to him, coat-sleeve. and tie up his arm so as to stop the Ike Jonas listened to this story in undisguised ;
3' doubtless supposing that he ha'l devoted himself bleeding, and was then ready for further ser- astonishment, and it was probably new to him. 
   too closely to the whisky bottle. ice. When Streeu had finished his narrative, he
L '; . They were not far wrong about that: but Aleck Sander secured Ike Jonas and the man turned to the young man, and addressed him in
 there was something else the matter with who had surrendered, by tying their hands he- a tone of spiteful triumph.
’ Zeke. hind their backs, and left them in charge of two “ I reckon you will see that father 0’ yourn .
He was wondering how it was that Ike Jonas of the cowboys. afore long, Ike,” said he, “ and when you do I Z
had escaped the trap which he laid for him. Then he prepared to attend to the“ other piece i want you to say to him that Zeke Streen’ has ‘ ,
Either Kitty Delavergne had repented of her of business” of which Pete Jackson had spoken, kept his word and settled that little account.” ,1
determination to “ smash ” the young Jew, or and which the ranchman was eager to proceed " You mu y as well drop that kind of talk,” - 'r. «

   

The Night Raider.

 

 

' He ordered all to assemble on the trail that
'led down from the hills, with the exception of
Sam Hickey, who was to wave his hat when the
cattle came near the hollow, and then come
down to join his comrades.

The men at the trail held themselves in readi-

 

Aleck Sander had refused to believe her story,
or he had failed to find the cattle-thieves.

That was the way Zeke Streeu figured it up;
but he was wrong all around. /

The first intimation that he and his comrades
had of the presence there of any ersons besides
their own cr0wd was given t em by Smart
Aleck’s whistle. '

They hastened toward the entrance, but it
was blocked up by the gang of cattle, and they
found it impossib e to get out then, or to under-
stand what was the matter.

Then came the rush down the steefir trail, fol-
lowed immediately by the noise of ing with-

“ -out.

' nature an

It was evident to them that they were in a
j‘trap, thou b they could not yet comprehend its
extent.

When Exton and his friends reached the foot
of the trail, they found themselves separated
from the men they desired to reach b the cat-
tle, which had been frightened by the ring and
'the presence of men, and were hurrying toward
the :Pper end of the hollow.

T 3 gave Streeu and his part a chance to
pre are for defense or retreat; bu their surprise
at t e unexpected attack was such that they did
not properly avail themselves of that chance.

Ike Jonas rode in after the cattle, and Aleck
Sander followed him closely, getting into the
hollow just as Exton and the others found an
opportunity to charge upon the men whom they
wished to capture.

Thus the four remaining cattle-thieves found

hemselves blocked in on all sides but one, and.

that side there was no chance for them to

esca .

“ Rn‘t kill Zeke Streeu!” was Pete Jackson’s
Order to his men. “Whoever goes, we must
take him alive. ”

. “Surrender!” shouted the Englishman as he
ran across the hollow. “ Surrender, and none
of on will be hurt!"

otwithstanding this peaceful summons. flr-
in began, and revolvers cracked several times
be ore the ophiosin parties fairly got together.

Whisky Bi , Ze e Streen’s side partner, was
shot down by one of Jackson’s cowboys, and the
bi ranchman was slightly wounded.

ke himself, whose shot had hit Pete Jack-
son. was about to fire again, with better aim,
when. he was seized from behind by Horace
Exton, who had executed a rapid and successful
movement to his rear. '

Aleck Sanrler’s object from the start had been
Ike Jonas, and he did not for a moment lose
sight of that object

‘ him by a strong grasp of his collar and a revol-

ver at his ear.

Zeke Streeu was easily subdued, and his re-
maining comrade was glad to be allowed to sur-
render at discretion.

A more crestfallen and disconsolate object

with.

No less eager were Jack Halsey and Horace
Exton; indeed, the anxiety of both of them just
then was intense.

It is easy, to infer that the busin in question
was connected with Zeke Streeu.

To him Smart Aleck advanced, carrying a
lasso, and the others gathered about them.

Zeke Streeu, who was seated on the ground,
with his hands tied, so that he could not escape
or resist, looked at them dog‘gedly.

“How do you like the loo s of this, old man?"
inquired the detective, as he held up the lasso
sugglestively. ,

‘ hat hain‘t ot nothin’ to do with me,” an-
swered the capt ve. “ You can’t prove that I
stole any cattle.”

“ You are as much mistaken there, in friend,
as if you had swallowed your head. 0 that we
have all the proof we want, enough to satisfy
every man in this party. Your partner over
there has confessed, and you know that Ike
Jonas will confess whenever we want him to.
What’s the use of talking?”

“ I ain’t talking.”

“That’s right. Let me do the talking. We
are going to make it as easy for you as we can,
and give you the choice of two thin as a
hard‘thing, and the other a soft thing.

“ Talk it right out then.”

“ Which would suit you the best, Ike Streeu,
to swing at the end of this rope from one of
these trees, or do Something else and be free to

o where on please?”

“ What s the somethin’ else?”

“ We want you to tell us the truth about the
death of Tom Halsey—how Simon Jonas hired
you to draw that man into a trap, and how the
scheme was worked. We know most of the
points, and I heard you talking to Simon Jonas
about it lately; but we want to at all the facts
from you, clear and square. ow you under-
stand me. What will you do?”

“Well, boas,” answered StreWn as his face
lighted up, “is it sart’iu that if I tell you all
about that thar bus ness straight, I‘ll be let to
go. and won’t be bothered no more?”

“ Yes, that is a sure thin .”

“ Sart’in as death and ju gment?”

“It is as sure as an thing can be in this
world. I tell you So, an Pete Jackson and the
restnof these men will back me up in what I

say.

" Then I’ll give it to you, and ’11 be dumed
lad ”o’ the chances. Jest you bring Ike Jonas
ere. ’

“ What do you want of Ike Jonas?”

l

Ike Jonas was added to the group, and Streeu
proceeded to tell the story of the betrayal and
death of Tom Halsey.

Part of it was already known, and the re-
mainder had been pretty well guessed out by the
detective and his friends.

 

observed Aleck Sunder. “ We will have to take
an to Oro Fino, where this story of yours will
' put in writing. and on will have to swear to
it. After that you wil be turned loose.”

The next thing on the programme was to put
all persons present, except the prisoners, under
an obli ation of secrecy until the objects of the
ex Nltlon should be fully accomplished.

eke Streeu was taken on to Oro Fino, and
Ike Jonas and the remaining caitive were left
at the du -out, guarded by Jack alsey and two
of Pete ackson 3 men.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
BREAKING IT GENTLY.

THERE was one person on the Jonas Ranch who
rejoiced greatly in the promised reformation of
Ikey and his restoration to his father’s favor,
and that was his mother.

He had always been her favorite, in spite of
his wildness, and she had secretly sup lied him
with money for his extravigance until t 9 source
of supply was discovered and cut off.

When her husband told her of the ofler he had
made the young man, and its acceptance by
him, she was effusive in her expressxons of
pleasure.

Simon Jonas was not so joyful as he was
by no means confident of the success of the
ex riment. .

6 had had too severe an experience of Ikey’s
promises to believe readily that the reformation
of his remaining son was to be counted on as a
permanent thing. '

It must be admitted that Ikey an well.

The first day of his assumption 0 du on the
ranch was devoted by him to business exc usively,
and with such assiduity as could not fail to please
his father.

At the same time he showed a surprising
quickness 1n mastering the details of what he
had to do, promising on that account to be of
more use than his steadier but stupid brother
had been. i i

The day was so full of promise, that the ranch-
man and his wife were both quite hopeful when
they retired at night. _

be next morning, however, the young man
did not “ show u l” at breakfast time, and his

severely. ,
“ He said last night that he might go out and
look after the cattle,” su gested Ikes mother.

 

I this morning.”
" He is used to that. Go and see.”
A visit to Ikey‘s room developed the fact that

father began to ook glum and speak of him

“Perhaps he did so, and as overslept himself '

v.
:1.
‘

 

in“

 

 

“I want him to know who is givin’ this thing

As the young Jew was about to dismount, the
.away’, and how it’s done.”

i the can man‘ had not sle t at home that
3"er ranged up at his side, and detained I night? g p '

 

4‘...—
~ ._‘._..._..~_u...~._._._..__~. ._..__.___...... .

    

\

j The Night Raider.

29'

 

' not
it

“ Just as Iexpected,” exclaimed Simon Jonas.
“ I might as well depend on the wind as that
scalawag. Oro Fine has can ht him. and Oro
Fino may keep him now, for al I care.”

“ It cannot be,” remonstrated Ikey’s mother.
“ He would not make such a promise and break
it so soon. Somethin has happened to him.”

“ The usual thing, suppose.”

Then the news was brought in that cattle-
thieves had made another raid upon the ranch
during the night, picking up and driving away
a bunch of choice stock.

Mrs. Jonas at once seized upon this as a confir-

‘ mation of her statements, and a justification of

her fears concerning her favorite.

“ That is just what I was afraid of,” said she.
“The poor boy has gone out to look after the
cattle, and has caught those thieves at their
work, and the have killed him, just as they
killed that Iris man.”

“ That scoundrel of a Jack Halsey would be
lad of a. chance to kill my son,” declared Simon
ouas: “ but it is hardly possible that Ike would

have interfered with the thieves alone. I will
go and see about it.”

He went with some of his men to the place
from which the cattle had been taken, and made
a carefifi investigation.

The ground near the corral was closely scruti-
nized, and the trail of the cattle-thieVes was ex-
amined for a considerable distance; but there
were no signs of a collision, bloody or other-

Wise.

Satisfied that Ikey had not met his death in
that way or any other way, the old man returned
to the house.

“ You were wrong, and I was right,” he said
to his wife. “ That young scamp did not go

near those cattle-thieves, and was nowhere

about the ranch last n' ht. He went off to Oro
Fino .ona spree, and t t's the last of his fine
promises.

It was then after the hour of noon, and Simon
Jonas was shortly surprised by a visit from
Aleck Sander.

The detective dismounted and came into the
house, where he was received rather coolly by
his late employer.

" You are Just the man that I wasn’t expect-
ing to see,” remarked the ranchman.

“ As my time is my own I thought I could
algorii to give you a little of it,” answered Smart

ec .

“ I don’t know that I was wanting any of it
very badly. What are you doing with yourself
these days!”

“ Lately I have been looking about for cattle-
thieves."

“ Not for me, I hope.”

“ Not for you, Mr. J onas.”

“I am glad of that. I told you that I didn’t
want any more such help as you had bem giv-

e

i m . .

“And I told you that I didn’t want any more
such payas you had been iving me. I also
remarked at that time that expected to do a

little work of the same sort on my own 8.6
count.”

“ You seem to have been making as r a
fist of it as ever. Some more of my catt e were
run 03 last night.” .

“ I know that, Mr. Jonas, and that is what I
have come to speak to you about. The cattle
are safe. I know where they are, and you can
get them by sending for them.”

“ So you found them?” granted the old man,
“and now you will want me to pay you for
that.” -

" Not a dollar. I have been Sud."

, “ How did you happen to fin them?”
9 “There was no happen about it. I wentfor
the purpose. I saw the thieves take the cattle
from our corral, and I followed them.”

“ as my son Ike, there?” eagerly asked the
rancrhman. “ Did he follow the rascals with
you

“ Your son Ike had nothing to do with follow-
ing them."

' Then he has gone oi! on a spree, confound
him! What became of the thieVesi”

“ I had plenty of help and we followed them
to their hiding- lace and caught them there, as
I wanted to in e a sure thing of this business
this time.”

“ That’s good l” exclaimed Simon Jonas. “ I
suppose they were a man and a woman, and
one of_,them rode a bay horse, and the other a

lack.‘

“ Just so—the same scoundrels who have been
stealing cattle from your ranch and Pete Jack-
son 3.

“ I was sure that those rascally Halseys would
be brought up with a round .turn some day, but
did not expect you todo the job. Did you catch

them both i”

“ Both of the thieves.”

“ What did you do with them?”

“One of them is dead.”

“ Hung?”

“ No. One of them resisted, and was shot.”

“ Which one was that? Not the girl?”

“ It was a oun man.”

“ Jack y, en. Well, he deserved no
better than shooting, and I can‘t say that I'm
lad he is gone."

ou are mistaken then, Mr. Jonas. The

 

 

' young man who was shot was not Jack Hill»
se

“ Who was he, then?”

“ Dave Strang, of Oro Fino.”

“Are you sure of that? Why, this is aston-
ishing. Perhaps you will want to tell me next
that the girl you caught was not Jack Halsey’s
sister.”

“ There was no girl.”

“ No girl? Why, you told me just now—”

“That they were the same couple who haVe
been stealing cattle about here. One of
them was dressed somewhat like a girl, and
he rode a black horse with a side-saddle.
The): were partners—Dave Strong and the other
one.’ .

Simon Jonas paused and stared until he could
take in and digest this information.

“ Who was the other one?” he inquired.

“ Your son, Isaac Jonas!"

The blow was a terrible one.

Simon Jonas sunk back in his chair. and his
arms dropped at his side, and his face turned
yellow like old parchment, as he stared fixedly
at the man before him, apparently not compre-
hending the full force of the words that had
been 5 ken.

“ hat sort of a lie is this you are giving
me?” he muttered, when he was able to use his
tongue.

“ It is no lie Mr. Jonas, and I can overlook
that sort of talk from you, under the circum-
stances. It is a sad and serious fact that your
son was one of that pair of cattle-thieves, and
Pete Jackson and several other men, who helped
me to catch them, will tell on the same thing.”

“ Do you mean to say 1'. Sander, that my
son has been such an in em] idiot as to steal
his own cattle—his father’s cattle ?”

“ That is just what I do mean to say.” u

“ Why should he do that?”

“ To get money to pay his debts, and to
spend in Oro Fino. He and Dave Strang ran
off the cattle, and Zeke Streen and two other
men begged to take care of the plunder and to
divide a spoil. One of those men was killed;
but we have got Zeke Streen and the other
one safe.”

‘ ‘9 Zeke Streen?” gasped the old man.

“ Your friend and partner, Zeke Streen.
That brings me, Mr. Jonas, to the most im-
portant part of my errand here. Of course
you will want to get your son out of that scra
and I propose to help you. All the men w 0
were concerned in the capture have promised to
keep the things secret, so as to give you a
chance.”

“ What sort of a chance?”

“If you want your son to go clear, you can
have our wish on one condition.”

“ hat is that?”

“ The condition is that on shall confess the

rt you took in hiring Ze e Streen to run Tom

lse into a trap an get him hung.” '

,“ by, 1—1 never—

. “Come, now, Mr. Jonas, don’t begin by t -

mg to make any sort of adenial. That won’txgo

at all. I know the facts of that business, and I

am not the on] person who knows them. Zeke
Streen has ma e a full confession.”

“ His word is worthless,” feebly protested the
ranchman.

“ It is enough for this, as we have other
proof to ck it. If you follow Zeke Streen’s
example, your son shall go free; if not, he will
be turned over to the authorities and prosecuted
to the full extent of the law.”

“ It will ruin me.”

“Yes, for this caimtry, and I would advise
you to leave here. You are better fitted for the
country you came from.”

“What do you want me to do? How shall I
do it?”

“Just as Zeke Streen has done. I shall want
you to go with me to Oro Fine, and there your
statement shall be put into writing, and you
must swear to it."

“If it could be kept quiet until I can sell out
and t away from here—” .

“ hat is what shall be done. I ive you
my word for that. As soon ,as t 9 state-
ment is signed and sworn to, 1 will take
you to the place where your son is, and
you may carry him home, and nothing
about the matter shall be made public until you
have left this part of the country.”

.tCome on, then. I want to get over with
i .

 

CHAPTER XXXIX.
Tin: HAN or an CROIC .

Ami! his interview with Al k Sander
Simon Jonas was obliged to fortify himself
with a stifl glass of grog; but be ofl'cred no such
refreshment to the bearer of bad news.

He then wentto speaklto his wife who had
been much excited by the’visit of the detective.

“ What did that man come here for, Simon?”
Elli: 9;";wa inquired. “Is it anything about

‘ Yes, it is just as I told you. He has gone
oi! on a spree. and has. t into a bit of a scrape,
and I am going to get im out and bring him
home.”

“ Is he hurt?”

“ No—thcre is nobody hurt but me.”

I

 

Then be mounted his horse, and rode to Oro
Fino with Sander.

On the way he was moody and silent, absorb-
ed in his own gloomy thoughts, and scarcely
opening his mouth to speak, and the detective,
who was by no means fond of his companion,
did not urge him to talk.

At Oro Fino he was shown the statement
which had been made and sworn to by Zeke
Streen, and he read it care y.

As it exactly detailed the whole of the villa in-
ous transaction which led to the death of Tom
Halsey, his part of the business was easily and
speedily finished.

He had only to append his affidavit to the
truth of the recital already certified to by his
tool, and the document was then delivered to
Aleck Sander for safe-keeping.

Though it was then ni ht, Simon Joras was
anxious to get his son an take him hon r, and
the tireless detective consented to go With him
to show him the place and make an end of the
affair.

In the dug—out they found Ike and his Cr m-
panion, still guarded by Jack Halsey and the
two cowboys.

He was given his horse to ride home, and was
turned loose to go away with his father, glad to
get out of the scrape so easily, though he was so
completely broken up that he had not a word to
say for himself.

The other captive was also turned loose, and
was advised to old his tongue and get out of
the country as soon as possible, advice which he
followed with the utmost diligence.

Leaving the stolen cattle to be brought away
by Simon Jonas‘s men, the detective and his
friends gladly left the hole in the hills.

In ite of his hard and wearisome work of the
prece'ding two days and nights, Aleck Sander
rode out to Small Hope Ranch the next da ,
having a scheme to work up there in which
hoped to enlist the sympathy of Victoria Hal-

.e su that he would be an early arrival
at the ranch, but Horace Exton was ahead of

m.
The Englishman had let no grass grow under ‘

his feet after assisting in the capture of the cat-
tle-thieves, and satisfying himself that the
memory of Tom Halsey was cleared, but had
hastened to Victoria as soon as he could get
away from Oro Fine.

He had no news to carry them, of course, as
Jack Halsey had preceded him. but he naturally
expected toflnd his profit in the good tidings
that had been received. \ '

Mrs. Halsey, who could easily as why he
had come, and who favored his suit, got out of
the way, and left him a clear field.

He began operations With a point-blank vol-

y.
“ Well, Victoria, I have come to marry you.”
“Indeed, sir?” was the young lady’s astonished

repl .
“Hot just this moment, perhaps; but I am

goiugtumarryyouassoonas you will set the,

ay, and I hope you will make it soon, which
you Will do as a matter of course if youare fond
of me, and I know you are.”
“ You had better sit down, Mr. Exton, and
to calm tyourself as you seem to be excited
about some in . Have vyou made another blast
and struck anot er vein '

“ I have struck it rich right here, and mean to
stick to my claim.”

“ Jack has brought us some good news, and I
hope it is all true.

‘ Every word of it. ~ Zeke Streen and Simon
Jonas have both confessed, and the confession is
in black and white and sworn to. The two
cattle~thieves have been caught, and all you
wanted to have done is done and settled, and
now I want to know when you are going to
ma me.”

“ or that, do you mean? If I should marry
anybody for that, it ought to be Mr. Sander,

who has done more than any of you to bring 

about that result."

“ That’s a fact. He is a splendid fellow,
and I am ever so much obliged to him for his
good work. But he has made no claim, you

now, and mine was put in some time ago.

You told me to wait until those matters were 
settled, and now they are settled, and I want to "

know when you are going to marry me.”

“ If I should marry you, Mr. Exton, it would
be for some other reason than because ybn
have helped us in that matter.”

“Of course it would. You mean to marry

me because you are fond of me. I know that. I

Whia'viiitiwbeqean be illi to marry
“ 0 you y w' 'ng a
cattle-thief? You know that I stole cattle.
“Your style of stealin cattle suits me ex-
actly, and it has been
life to marry a woman who could steal cattle.

So that matter is settled, and all is settled, ex- '
I want that fixed you -

cepti the wedding da .
see, because the Ho 3 in the Ground is doing
splendidly, and I must know where to builda
house for us.” ,

I was clear to Victoria that there was no use
in 'n to put of! this man or evadehis
tuni ; ut she made one more eflort.

“ All is not fully settled yet, Mr. Exton.

e one desire of my ,_,‘

i
i.
y,
3

. .. ....rr.. .
. ..

 

 

..—a

  

I 67 THE HIDDEN LODGE. By T. U.

rExton is the man of her choice.

1 DEADwoon DICK.

 

father’s name will not be cleared until Simon
Jonas leaves the country, and his confession is
made public.” '

“And then ou’ll marry me?”

‘: Then I wi l marry you, if you insist upon
it.‘

“ That is all right, and I will do my best to
hustle old Jonas out. have a great mind to
buy his 1:1'z‘pi‘l‘hy, so as to get rid of him.
shall buy inxpzirt that covers the Hole in the
Ground, anyhow”

The winlow was open, and the latter part of j

the conversaiion was overheard by Aleek San-
der, who was coming to the house just then,
accompanied by Jack Halsey.

He stopped suddenly. and turned pale.

“ What‘s the matter!” inquired Jack.

“Did you hear that?” whispered the detec-
tive as he drew his young friend aside. “ Ex-
ton is in there with your sister, and she says
that she is going to marry him.”

“That is nothing new. I have been expect-
ing it for some time. He has been on the trail
for uite a while."

“ did not know that. I thought I might
stand a chance there, and I hoped—but that is
no Inaitr. The game has gone against me,
and it can’t be hel )ed.”

“ I am so sorry, r. Sander.
have been you, and perhaps—”

“ Th": - is no perhaps about it. I came in too
late. That is just my luck. It is clear that
Let us go in

I wish it could

and congratulate them.”

They Went in, and Smart Aleck played his part
manfully. suil’ering no sign 01? his disappoint-
ment to escape him.

“ I am glad,” said he, “that Miss Halsey will
have a good husband to keep her out of trouble.
I wanted to apply for the position myself; but
Elton has got ahead of me, and I can only envy
him his good fortune.” ,

From his manner Of speaking it was hard to

 whether he was in jest or earnest. His eon-

gratulations were leasantly accepted. and he
was assured of the co and enduring gratitude
of his friends at Small Opes Ranch. ,

Horace Exton did not have to wait lon for
his wedding-day. as Simon Jonas soon sol out
his ropert in that region, and removed with
hiaFamily scenes for which, as Smart Aleck
told him he was better fitted.

He sold out at satisfactory figures, too, as the
Oro Fine district was “ booming ” just then, and
a 00d ranch was worth good money.

xton and his partner secured the tract in
which the Hole in the Ground was located, and
the yield of the mine exceeded their best antici-
pations.

Not until after the departure of the tribe of
Jonas was the double confession made ublic;
but the complicity of Ike Jonas and Dave tran
in cattle-stealing Operations had already leak

out.

Zeke Streen had slipped away from OrO Fina
as soon as he was “ turned loose,” and with him
wont Kitty Delayergne, and neither of them was
seen in that district again.

Aleck‘ Sander did not remain to witness Vic-
toria Halsey’s wedding, as his engagements call-
ed him northward.

After their marriage the young couple made
Oro Fino their home until Exton’s house could
be finished. and Jack Halsey and his mother
were left to manage the Small Hopes Ranch.

THE END.

 

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96 WATCH-EYE. By Edward L. Wheeler. . . . ..
97 THE OUTLAW BROTHERS. By J. J. Marshall. .
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99 THE TIGER or TAos. By George W. Browne...
100 DEADWOOD DICK IN LEADVILLE. By Wheeler.
101 JACK HARKAWAY IN NEW YORK. By Brace~
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102 DICK DEAD-EYE. B
103 THE LION or TEE EA. By Col. Dene Spa
104 DEADme DIUK‘E EVICE. By Ed. L. Wheeler.
105 OLD RUEE,THE HUNTER. B (lgpt. H. Holmes .
106 OLD FROETY. THE GUIDE y . C. Harbaugh..
107 ONE-EYED SIN. By J. L. Bowen . . . . . . . . . . 
108 DARING DAYY. By Barry St. George... . 
109 DEADwoon DICK AB DETECTIVE. B Wheeler
110 THE BLACK STEED or THE PRAIRIEs. y Bowen
111 THE SEA-DEVIL. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham..
112 THE MAD HUNTER. By Burton Saxe .. 
113 JACK BOYLE. By Edward L. Wheeler” .
114 THE BLACK SCEOONER. B Roger Siarbuck. ..
115 THE MAD MINER. By G. aldo Browne . . . . . .
116 THE HUSSAR CAPTAIN. B Col. P. In am.
117 GILT-EDGED DICK. By ward L. W eeler...
118 WILLSOIERS, THE BOY DETECTIVE. BfMorrisu
119 MUSTANG SAM. By Jos.'E. Badger.  
120 THE BRANDED HAND. By Frank Dumont 
121 CINNANON CHIP. By Edward L. Wlieeler......
122 PHIL HARDY. THE Boss BOY. By Chas. Morris.
123 KIOWA CHARLEY. By T. C. Harbaugh . 
124 TIPPY, TEE TIXfiN. By George Gleason . . . . ..
125 BONANzA BILL. INER. By E. L. eeler.. . ..
126 PIOAYUNE PETE. By Charles Morris.. ........ ..
127 WILD-FIRE. By Frank Dumom . . . . . . . .. .
128 THE YOUNG PRIVATEEP By Barry Cavendish.
129 DEADwoon DIOK‘s DOUBLE. ByE. L. Wheeler.
130 DETECTIVE DICK. By Charles Morris . .
By George W. Browne. .

Col. Prentiss Ingrahainl. .

131 THE GOLDEN HAND.
132 THE HIINTED HUNTER. By Edward S. Ellis...
183 Boss Ben. By Edward L. Wheeler ..  
134 SURE-SHOT Sm. By 011 Coomes. . . . . . . . . . . ..
135 CAPTAIN PAUL. By C. D. Clark
130 NIGHT-HAWK KIT. By JOE. E. Badger, Jr. .
137 THE HELPer BAND. By Capt. Ma ne Reid.
136 BLONDE BILL. By Edward L. Whee er . . . . ..
139 JUDGE LYNCH, JR. By T. (‘. Harbaugh
I40 BLUE BLAZES. By Frank Dumont
141 SOLID SAM. By Edward L. Wheeler . .
142 HANDsoME HARRY. By Charles Morris . . . . ..
143 SCAR-FACE SAUL. By 011 Coomcs. . 
144 DAINTY LANCE, THE BOY SPORT. By Badger.
145 CAPTAIN FERRET. By Edward L. Wheeler .

149 SILVER STAR. By 011 Coomes . . . , . . . . . . . . . ..
147 WILL WILDFIBE. By Charles Morris . . . . . . . . .

148 SHARP SAN. By J. Alexander Patten. .. .
119 A GAME OE GOLD. By Edward L. Wheeler...
130 LANCE AND LAssO. By Capt. F. Whittaker....
151 PANTHER PAUL. By Jose h E. Badger, Jr....
152 BLACK B By Charles orris   ..
15‘s EAGLE T. THE BOY DEMON. By 0!] (homes.
154 THE S RD-ilIINTE-Rs.
155 GOLD TRIGGER. By '1‘. C. Harbanzh.. ..

 

157 MIKE MERRY. By Charles Morris
15% FANCY FRANK or COLORADO.
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160 THE BLACK GIANT. By Jos. E. Badger. Jr...
161 NEW YORK NELL. By Edward L. Wheeler
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5c ; 168 Dmm DARE. BY Joseph E. Bad er. Jr. .
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l

SSSSS'S'S'G‘E'S'S'S'BS'S 8'888'8'8’8‘8’8‘5?

By 'fapt.F.Whittaker
156 DEADWOOD DICK or DEADwoon. By Wheeler.
Br BumiIo Bill..
Whittaker. . . ..

By C. Morris.

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89 lsLAND JIE. By Bruce ridge Hem ng . . . . . . . .. 5c
9') THE DREAD RIDER. By G. Waldo rowne.  5c

5c

S'S'S'S'

S'S'S'S'S'

88'

8'38'8'88'8’8'8‘8’

ssssses

searsassesssssssssssssssss

8'

 

 

171 EDONY DAN.

B Frank Dumont.... . . . . . . .. 5c
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77 NODIIY NICK or NI:V.\I..-.. ll)“ E. L. \\ heeler.. 50
179 OLD FOLI'I‘AIIY. By (ill (homes. . . 5(-
179 Ron ROCKETT, THE BANK BI'NNER. By Morris. 5c
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181 WILD FRANK or Me NTANA. By E. L. Wheelrr. 5c
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191 TM. BOY TRAILERS. By Jos. E. Badger. Jr. . be
1&3 EYILEYE. By Frank Dnniont .. . . . . .. 5e
181'» (‘OOL DEHMOND. By (‘71. Belle Sara...  .. 
197 FRED ll ALYARD. By i‘hns. Morris .. . 50
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189 Ben BoeKErr, IRE (‘nArRsIIAN By C. Morris 5c
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190i SHADOWED. By Charles Morris . . be
197 LITTLE GRIT. By Col. Prentiss lngraham. . .. 5c

198
ill!)
‘21 i0
‘20]

AnRANsAw. By T. C. Bari-nu 'h.

FICATlliZRWEIC-HT. By ltdwari Willeit
Tm: BOY BLDOI'INS. By Capt. F. Whittaker .
THE BLACK Hle Jrzran.. E. L. Wheele Be

202 PROSPECT PETE. By Oll Gnomes. . . . . to
903 THE BOY PARDs. Jos. E. Badger. Jr. . . .. .. . 5c
204 GOLD PLUEE. By Col. Prentiss Ingrn ham . 5c
2% DEADWOUD DICK‘s DOOM. By E. L. Wheeler. be.
206 DARK PAUL, THE TIGER. KING. By C. Morris. 50
207 NAYAJO NICK. By T. (‘. Harbaug _ ., so
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299 FRITZ. TIIE BOI'ND-BO Y DETI‘OI‘IVE. Wheeler. 5c
210 FARO FRANK OF HIGH i’IN By \\ . R. Eyster... 50
211 01:00ch CALE. By Jon. E. Badger. Jr... .. 5c
5312 WASHING DAVE. By Charles Morris . . hc
213 FRITZ To 'i‘Ill‘. FRONT. By E. 1.. Wheeler.. . .. Sc
211 WOIPGANO. By Ca t. Frederick Whittaker.. 50
215 CIP'FAIN BI’LL".T. y T. C. l’larbaugh  be
216 BisoN BILL. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham . . . . .. 50
217 CAPTAIN CRACK-SHOT. By E. L. Wheeler.. . be
218 TIGER TON. B OllCoomes 50

219 DESPARD, THE )UELIST. By Philip S. Warne. be
220 T0! TANNER. By Charles orris . . . . . . .. . 5c
221 Sl‘GAR-COATED SAN. By Edward L. Wheeler.
222 GRIT, TIIE BRAVO SPORT. By Col. Ingraham.
223 ()ZARK ALF. By Edward Willett . . . . . . . .. .
224 DAEHING DICK. By 011 Gnomes. ..  . ..
225 SAN CHARCOAL, TEE l’RElIUN DARKY. By
CharlesMorris... . ... . . . . . . . . ..
226 SNOOZEIL THE BOY SHARP. By .L. Wheeler.
222‘ DUEKY DARREL, TRAPPER. By Emerson...
228 LITTLE WILDPIRE. B 011 Coomes. . . . . . ..
Q9 CRIMSON KATE. By I. Prentiss Infiraham. 50
230 THE YANKEE RAJAR. C. D..Clar . . . . . . . .. ISO
231 PLIICKY PHIL. By T. C. arhangh .. 
212 GOLD-DUST DICK. By E. L. Wheeler.. 
2% JOE BUCK or ANGELS. By Albert W. Aiken.
234 BENITO. THE YOUNG HORSE-BREAKER. By
Buckskin Sam . . . . . . . .
235 SHADOW SAN. TEE MEssENGER BOY.
Charles Morris.... . .  . . . . . . . ..
236 APOLLO BILL. By Edward L. Wheeler. .. .. .
237 LONE STAR, TEE ComY CAPTAIN. By Col.
Prentiss Ingrnham. . .. . . . . . . . ..
238 T PAREON DETECTIVE BY 011 Coonws ..
239 GOLD-sEEKER GUIDE. By Mayne Reid.
210 CYCLONE KIT. w L. Wheeler.. ..
241 BILL BRAVO AND Is BEAR PARDE. By T. C.
Harbaugh .. . ... . . . . . . ..
242 THE Two ‘Bmons.’ By ( harles Morris” 
243 THE DIEGUIEED GUIDE. By Oil Coomes. ..
214 SIERRA SAN. THE FRONTIER FERRET. By Ed.
245 g; Whegler ..B .Pré .fl. .1  ..
ERLE. THE IDDY. y n ss n am.
216 GIANT GEORGE. By Buckskin Sam ..  ..
247 OLD GRIzzLY AND Hrs PETE. By Captain

“Bruin”AdamE .  .  ..
By E. L. Wheeler

S'S'S‘S‘ 88'

on
1‘.

as s as

8'8'8'8'

248 SIERRA SAN’E SECRET.
249 MILO ROIER. By Captain Fred.Whittaker. ..
250 MIDBEIPMAN MUTINEER. By Col. P.1ngraham.
251 LIGHT-HOUSE LIGE. By J. F. C. Adams... . . . .
252 DICK DAsHAWAY. By cries Morris  
253 SIERRA SAE’s PARD. B E. L. Wheeler . . . . ..
254 THE HALF BLOOD. By dward 8. Ellis. .. ..
255 CAPTAIN APOLLO. By T. C. Harhaugh.. .. .
256 YOUNG KENTUCK. By (‘ariain MarkWilton..
257 THE LosT HUNTEEE. By J. F. C. Adams... .
258 SIERRA SAII's SEVEN. By E. L. Wheeler...
259 THE GOLDEN HARPOON. B Roger Starbuck.
260 DARE-DEVIL DAN. By Oll ‘eomes . . . . . .. .
261 FERGUE FEARNAI'GET. By George L. Aiken.
262 THE YOUNG SLEUTBS. By Charles Moms. .
263 DEADwOOD DICK’s DIVIDE. By L. L. Wheeler.
264 THE FIOATINO FEATHER. By Col. Ingraham.
211") THE TIGER TANER. By Capt. F. Whittaker.
266 KILLE'AR. THE GrIDE. By Ensign Charles

Dudley Warren. (( f the Engineer orpa)... .
267 THE BUCKSKIN DETEOIIVE. By Harbaugh....
268 DEADWOOD DICK's DEATH TRAIL. By Ed-

ward L. Wheeler . .. . . . . . .
m9 TEE‘ GOLD SHIP. By Col. Prentiss In ham.
270 BLIZZARD BrN. By Cn .‘iain Mark W ton....
271 THE HmE HI'NTER. y Edward 8. Ellis. 
272 MXNKBKIN MIKE. By Oil (‘Oomes
273 JUMBO JOE. By Edward L. Wheeler
274 JOLLY JIM. By Charles Morris

8'8‘8'8'8‘8'8‘8‘ 8'8' 8'8'3‘3'8'8‘8‘8‘8'8‘8‘8’8'838'8'8‘8' 8'8'8' 8'8'8'

262 THE TYPO DETECTIVE. By Edward Willett.
293 lNDIAN JOE. By Major L. W. Carson. .
284 THE SEA MARAUDER. By Prentiss In am..
29.") DENVER DOLL’s DECOY. By Ed. L. heeler.
286 JOSH, TEE BOY TENDERPOOT. By Capt. Mark
Wilton . . . . . . . ..

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275 ARIZONA JM'K. By Buckskin Sam . 
276 MERLE MONT-11’s CRI'IsE. By Col. Prentiss
graham . . . . ..  . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 50
277 DENVER DrIL. By Edward L. Wheeler. .. 50
278 THE THREE TRAPPERs. By Maj. L. W. Carson. 50
279 OLD WINCH, THE RIFLE KING. By T. C. Har- 50
hangh ..    .. ' ..
290 MERLE MONTE‘s FATE. By Prentiss In am 50
2‘31 DENVER DOLL's VICTORY. By E. L. Wheeler. %
be
be
60

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'r" \‘ . . _. .¢ 

 

 

BEADLE’S*DIME*EBRARY.

Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and

Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. N0 Double Numbers.

 

 

 

BY \VILLIAM R. EYSTER.

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 Cutsleeve; or, The Little Sport.

268 Magic Mike, the Man of Frills.

300 A Sport in Spectacles; or, The Bad Time at
Bunoo.

833 Derringer Dick. the Man with the Drop.

344 Double Shot Dave of the Left Hand.

356 Thr -e Handsome Sports; or, The Double Com-
bination.

375 Royal George, the Three in One.

896 The Piper Detective.

40'2 Snapshot Sam; or. The Angels’ Flat 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 Thleagaptain of the Rifles; or, The Queen of the
es

300 The Rifle Rangers; or. Adventures in Mexico.

208 The White Chief. A Romance of Northern Mex-
co.

213 The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse.

218 The Wild Huntress; or, The Squstter‘s Ven-
geance.

228 The Maroon. A Tale of Voodoo and Obeah.

284 The Hunter’s Feast.

277 The White Squaw.

BY CAPT. FRED. WHIT'I‘AKEB.

39 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.
98 The Rock Rider; or. The Spirit of the Sierra.
108 The Duke of Diamonds.

115 The Severed Head; or. The Secret of Castle
Coucy.

132 Nemo, King of the Tramps.

159 Red Rudiger, the Archer.

174 The Phantom Knights.

187 The Death's Head Cuirassiers.

193 The Man in Red.

206 One Eye. the Cannoneer.

211 Colonel Plunger; or, The Unknown Sport.

215 Parson J im. King of the Cowboys.

226 The Mad Hussars; or. The 0’s and the Mac‘s.

230 The Evin: Dutchman of 18m.

242 The Fog Devil; or, The Skipper oi' the Flash.

247 Alligator Ike; or. The Secret of the Everglade.

253 A Yankee Cossack; or.The Queen of the Nihilists.

265 Old Double-Sword; or, Pilots and Pirates.

272 Seth Slocum, Railroad Surveyor.

277 The Saucy Jane, Privateer.

264 The Three Frigates; or, Old Irousides’ Revenge.

290 The Lost Corvette; or, Blakeley‘s Last Cruise.

295 Old Cross-Eye. the Maverick-Hunter.

303 Top-Notch Tom, the Cowboy Outlaw.

810 The Marshal of Satanstown; or, The Cattle-
Llftors‘ League.

326 The Whitest Man in the Mines.

378 John Armstrong, Mechanic.

406 Old Pop Hicks, Showman.

412 Larry Locke. the Man of Iron.

445 Journeyman John. the Champion.

,BY NEWTON M. CUBTISS.
120 The Texan Spy; or. The Prairie Guide.
254 Giant Jake, the Patrol of the Mountain.
BY JACKSON KNOX-p“ Old Hawk.”

336 Hawk Hercu. the. Falcon Detective.

424 Hawk Heron’s Deputy.

444 The Magic Detective; or. The Hidden Band.
451 anlock, the Rocket Leteclive. -

BY PERCY B. 81‘. JOHN.

57 The Silent Hunter.
66 The Big Hunter; or. The Queen of the Woods.

 

BY CAPTAIN MARK WILTON.

176 Lady Jaguar. the Robber Queen.

191 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.

227 Buckshot Ben, the Man-Hunter of Idaho.
237 Long-Haired Max; or, The Black League.
245 llarranca Bill, the Revolver Champion.

258 Bullet Head, the Colora'lo Bravo.

263 iron—Armed Abe, the Hunchback Destroyer.
266 Leopard Luke. the King of Horse-Thieves.
271 Stoneflst, of Big Nugget Bend.

276 Texas Chick. the Southwest Detective.

295 Lightning Bolt, the Canyon Terror.

291 Horseshoe Hank. the Man of Big Luck.

305 Silver-Plated Sol, the Montana Rover.

311 Heavy Hand; or. The Marked Men.

323 Hotspur Hugh; or. The Banded Brothers.

BY sun 8. HALL—“ Buckskin 81m.”

3 Kit Carson, J12, the Crack Shot.
90 Wild Will. the Mad Ranchero.
178 Dark Dashwood, the Desperate.
186 The Black Bravo; or, The Tonkaway’s Triumph.

191 The Terrible Tonkaway; or. Old Rocky and his
Pards.

195 T15; Iaoue Star Gambler; or, The Magnolias
a1 .

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.‘

225 Rocky Mountain Al: or, The Wait 01’ the Range.
239 The Terrible Trio; or. The Angel of the Army.
244 Merciless Mart. the Man Tiger of 

250 The Rough Riders: or. Sharp Eye the Scourge.
256 Double Dan the Dastard; or, The Pirates.

264 The Crooked Three.

#39 The Bayou Bravo; or, The Terrible Trail.

273 Mountain Mose. the Gorge Outlaw.

282 The Merciless Marauders; or. Carl’s Revenge.
287 Dandy Dave and his Horse, White Stocking.

293 ngpode Steve: or. The Doom of the Double
ace.

301 Bowlder Bill; or, The Man from Taos.

309 Raybold, the Rattling Ranger.

322 The Crimson Coyotes; or Nita the Nemesis.
828 King Kent; or. The Bandits of the Boson.
842 Blanco Bill. the Mustang Monarch.

358 The Prince of Pan Out.

871 Gold Buttons; or. The Up Range Pards.

BY nu. J. n. nonmson.
18 Pathaway; or, Nick Whitfles. the old Nor’west
Trapper.
17 Nightshade; or. The Robber Prince.
22 Whitelaw; or. Nattie of the Lake Shore.

37 Hirl, the Hunchback; or, The Santos Sword-
maker.

58 Silver Knife: or. The Rocky Mountain Ranger.
70 Hydrabad. the Strangler.

78 The Knights of the Red Cross; or, The Granada
Magician.

168 Ben Brion; or. Redpath, the Avenger.

BY FRANCIS JOHNSON.
25 The Gold Guide; or, Steel Arm, Regulator.
26 The Death Track; or. The Mountain Outlaws.
123 Alapaha‘the Squaw; or. The Border Renegades.

124 Assowaum the Avenger; or, The Doom of the
stroyer.

135 The ush Ranger: or. The Half-Breed Rajah.
136 The Outlaw Hunter; or. The Bush Ranger.
138 The Border Bandit; or. The Horse Thief‘s Trail.

BY GEORGE ST. GEORGE.

296 Duncan. the Sea Diver.
417 Tucson Tom; or, The Fire Trailers.

BY C. DUNNING CLARK.

164 The King’s Fool.
183 Gilbert the Guide.

 

 

BY COL. THOMAS II. MONSTERY.

82 Iron Wrist, the Swordmaster.
126 The Demon Duelist: or, The Leagu} of Steel.
143 The Czar’s Spy; or, The Nihilist League.
150 El Rubio Bravo. King of the Swordsmen.
157 Mourad, the Mameluke; or, The Three Sword-
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.
332 Spring-Heel Jack; or, The Masked Mystery.

BY ISAAC HA‘VKS, Bx-Detectlve.

232 Orson Oxx; or, The River Mystery.
240 A Cool Head; or, Orson Oxx in Peril.

BY PROF. J. H. INGRAIIAM.

113 The Sea Slipper; or, The Freebooters.

118 The Burglar Captain; or. The Fallen Star.
314 Lafitte; or. The Pirate of the Gulf.

316 Lafitte’s Lieutenant; or. Child of the Sea.

BY GUSTAVE AIMABD.

15 The Tiger Slayer; or. Eagle Heart to the Rescue.

19 Red Cedar. the Prairie Outlaw.

2) 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.
153 The White Scalper.

MISCELLANEOUS.
6 Wildcat Bob. the Boss Bruiser. By EdwardI.
Wheeler.

9 Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover.
10 Vid , the French Police S . Written
ooq u. or by

11 Midshipman Easy. By Captain Maryatt.
32 B‘hOys of Yale; or. The Scrapes of Collegian;

60 Wide Awake, the Robber King. By Frank Du-
mon .

68The Fightin Tra r. B CatalnlEC.
A . 8 PFC I P

76 The Queen’s Musketeers, By George Albany.
78 The Mysterious Spy. By Arthur M. Grainger.
102 The Mas
By George L. A1 11.
110 The Silent Rlflemsn. By 11. W. Herbert.

125 The Blacksmith Outlaw; or, Merrie Englhnd.
By Harrison Ainsworth. .

133 Body the Rover. By William Carleto

140 The Three Spaniards. By Geo. Walker.

144 ThHe Hunchback of Notre Dame. By Victor
“8‘0- '

146 The Doctor Detective. By George Lemuel.

152 Captain lronnerve. the Counterfeiter Chief.

158 The Doomed Dozen. By Dr. Frank Powell.

166 OEIetta the Robber Prince. By Septimus R
r n.

179 Conrad, the Convict. By Prof. Gildersloevs. ,
190 The Three Guardsmen. By Alexander Dumas,

231 Black Sam. the Prairie Thunderbolt. By Col.
J o Yards.

275 The Smuggler Cutter: or. The Cavern in tho
0116'. By ‘ .

J. D. Conroy.

312 Kinkfoot Karl. the Mountain Scourge. ByMorb
ris Redwing.

830 Coat!) Colt, the Quaker City Detective. By Charla
orris.
350 Flash Falcon. the Society Detective. By Weldon
J. Cobb.

353 Bart Brennan: or. The Ki of Stra ht Flu ‘
By John Cuthbert. ng is ab.

366 The Telegraph Detective. By George Hem-V
Morse.

410 Sarah Brown, Detective. By K. F. Hill.
428 Thleelfiiving Glim; or, The Island Lure. Byline.
s.

A new issue every Wednesday.

Beadle,- Dlmo Library is for sale by all .

Newsdealers, ten cents per copy, or sent by mail on
receipt of twelve cents each. BEADLE & ADA.“

Publishers. 98 William Street. New York. .

ked Band' or, The Man without a Name.

 

 

  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
    

 

 

 

 

O

' BEADLE’SrDIMEarILBR/XRY.

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 S *a Witch.

85 The Cretan Rover; or, Zuleikali the Beautiful.
89 The Pirate Prince; or. The Queen of the Isle.

94 Freelance. the l-;uccancer.

108 Merle, the Mutinercr; or. The Red Anchor Brand.
104 Montezuma. the Merciless.
109 Captain Kyd, the King of the Black Flag.
116 Black Plume; or. The Sorceress of Hell Gate.
181 The Sea Cadet; or, The Rover of the Rigoletts.
128 The Chevalier Corsair; or. The Heritage.

‘181 Buckskin Sam. the Texas Trailer.

134 Darkey Dan, the Colored Detective.

139 Fire E e; or, The Bride of a liucvaneer.

147 Gold pur. the Gentleman from Texas.

155 The Corsair Queen: or, The Gypsies of the Sea.
162 The Mad Mariner; or. Dishonored and Disowned
168 Wild Bill, the Pistol Dead Shot.

172 Black Pirate; or. The Golden Fetters Mystery.
177 Don Dialilo. the Planici‘~Corsnir.

181 The Scarlet Schooner; (.l‘. The Sea Nemesis.

184 The Ocean Vain ii‘o; or, The Castle Heiress.
189 Wild Bill’s Gold I‘rail; or. The Desperate Dozen.
198 The Skeleton Schooner; or, The Skimmer.

205 The Gambit-r Pirate; or, Lady of the Lagoon.
210 Buccaneer Bess. the Lioness of the Sea.

216 The Corsair Planter; or, Driven to Doom.

220 The Specter Yacht; or, A Brother‘s Crime.

224 Black Beard, lhe Buccaneer.

281 The Kid Glove Miner; or, The Magic Doctor.

285 Red htning the Man of Chance.

816 ueen elen, the Amazon of the Overland.

S5 he Pirate Priest; or, The Gambler‘s Da hter.
859 Cutlass and Cross' or. the Ghouls of the a.
81 TheSea Owl; or, The Lad Ca taluof the Gulf.
W The Phantom Pirate; or, T e V ater Wolves.

818 The Indian Buccaneer; or. The Red Rovers.

85 The Gentleman Pirate; or. The Casco Hermits.
829 The League of Three; or. Bufialo Bill’s Pledge.
836 ’l'hoMagic Ship; or, Sandy Hook Freehooters.
841 The Sea Desperado.
616 Ocean Gue llas; or. Phantom Midshi man.
862 Buffalo Bill's Grip; or Oath Bound to uster.
864 The Sea F tlve; or, The Queen of the Coast.
869 The Coast orsnir; or, The. Siren of the Sea.

873 Sailor of Fortune; or, The Barrie at Buccaneer.

. 877 Afloat and Ashore; or, The Coma r Cons iratcr.

888 The Giant Buccaneer; or, The Wrecker itch.

898 The Convict Captlan; or, The Battles of the
Buccaneers.

899 T 6 New Monte Cristo.

418 ’l‘ e Sea Siren' or, The Fugitive Privateer.

425 The Sea Sword; or. The Ocean Rivals.

480 The Fatal Frigate' or, Rivals in Love and War.

435 The One-Armed uccaneer.

446 Ocean Ogre, the Outcast Corsair.

BY OLL COOMES.

7 Death-Notch, the Destroyer.

48 Dakota Dan. the Reckless Ran er.

44 Old Dan Backhac the Great xtarmlnator.
46 B .wie-Knife Ben t e Nor‘West Hunter.

48 ldabo Tom the oung Outlaw of Silverland.
61 Red Ro the Boy Road-Agent.

99 The G t Rifleman; or. Wild Camp Life.
187 Long Beard. the Giant Spy.

148 One-Armed Alf, the Giant Hunter.

BY CAPTAIN HOWARD HOLMES.

278 Hercules Goldspur the Man of the Velvet Hand.
294 Broadcloth Burt, the Denver Dandy.

821 California Claude, the Lone Bandit.

885 Flash Dan. the Nabob; or, Blades of Bowie Bar.
840 Cool C.nrad, the Dakota Detective.

847 Denver Duke. the Man with " Sand.”

852 The Desperate Dozen.

866 Keen Kcnnard, the Shasta Shadow.

874 Major Blister, the Sport or Two Cities.

888 The Bonanza Band; or Dread Don of Cool Clan.
392 The Lost Bonanza; or, The Boot of Silent Hound.
«10 Captain Coldgrip; or, The New York Spotter.
40? Captain Coldgrlp s Nerve' or. Injun Nick.

413 Captain 001 i in New York.

481 Fatiwr Ferre , t e Frisco Shadow.

484 Lucifer Lynx. the Wonder Detective.

441 The California Sleuth.

447 Volcano, the Frisco Spy.

BY ANTHONY P. MORRIS. ‘

5 The Fine Fionds; or, Hercules. Hunchback.
. Aman; or, The Palace Secrets.
11! The French Spy° or. The Bride of Paris.
Tale of Love and Terror.

r; or. The Beautiful 8 hinx.
wmnd the Crescent Cit Detective.

History; or, The lack Crescent.
Elwro Pots Man of Fire.

The Roughs '0: Richmond.
1: Magic, Detective.
Cipher Detective; or, Mark Maglc‘s New

Trail.
648 The Thad Hunter; or, Mark Magic in the Mine.
17 Jack Simons. Detective.

r’BY MAJOR DANIEL BOONE DUMON'I‘.

888 Silver Sam, the Detective; or, The Butts City
Bustiers. .

888 Colonel Double-Edge, the Cattle Baron‘s Pard.

s
E
3
E

' 4.11 The Whito Crook; or, Old Hark's Fortress.

4% The Oil Iver Sport; or, A Man of Honor.
4" Salamander Sam.

x

 

BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. W. F. Cody).

52 Death-Trailer. the Chief of Scouts.

8'3 Gold Bullet S n; or, Knights of the Overland.
243 [he Pilgrim Shar ; or. The Soldier‘s Sweetheart.
304 Texas Jack. the rairie Rattler.

319 Wild Bill, the Whirlwind 01’ the West.

394 White Beaver. the Exile of the Platte.

397 The Wizard Brothers; or, White Bi-aver's Trail.
401 Our-Armed Pdl‘il; or, Borderland Retribution.
414 Red Renard. the Indian Detective.

BY I'LIJOB DANGERFIELD BURB.

92 Buffalo Bill, the Buckskin King.
117 Dashing Dandy; or. The Hoispur of the Hills.
142 Ca tain Crimson, the Man of the iron Face.
156 V.‘ vct Face, the Border Bravm
175 Wild Bill's 'l‘rnnip Card; or, The Indian Heiress.
188 The Phantom Mazo pa; or, The Hyena.
448 Hark Kenton, the raitor.

BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR.

528 Three-Fingered Jack the Road-Agent.
80 Gospel George; or, Fiery Fred. the Outlaw.
40 Lou -Hnired Pards; 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 DoubleSi ht, the Death ot.
67 The Boy ockev; or, Honest vs. Crookedness.
71 Captain Cool Blade; or, Miss ssip 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 Sol Scott, the Masked Miner.
141 Equinox Tom the linl'y of Red Rock.
154 Joaquin, the Saddle King.
165 Joaquin, the Terrible.
170 Sweet William, the Trapper Detective.
180 Old $49; or. The Amazon of Arizona.
197 Revhlver Rnb' or, The Belle of Nugget Cain .
201 Pirate of the Pincers; or, Joaquin‘s Death unt.
283 The Old lloy of Tombstone.
%1 S ltflre Saul, Kin of the Rustlers.
249 ephant Tom. 0 Durnngo.
257 Death Trap Digging..; or, A Hard Man from
’Way Back.
283 Sleek Sam, the Devil of the Mines.
2&5 Pistol Johnny; or, One Man in a Thousand.
292 Make Homer, the Boss Ronstabout.
$2 Faro Saul, the Handsome Hercules.
317 Frank Lightfoot. the Miner Detective.
324 Old Forked Lightnin -, the Solitarg .
331 Chispa Charle . the Gold N get port.
839 S read Eagle , the Hercu es Hide Hunter.
815 ad Mark, the Mounted Detective.
351 Nor‘ West N lck, the Border Detective.
855 Stormy Steve, the Mad Athlete.
360 Jum Jerry, the Gamecock from Sundown.
867 A Roy Flush; or, Dan Brown‘s Big Game.
872 Captain Crisp. the Man with a Record.
879 Howling Jonathan, the Terror from Headwaters.
887 Dark Durg, the Ishmael of the Hills.
896 Deadly Aim, the Duke of Derringers.
403 The Nameless Sport; or, The Kilkenny Cats of

’ ay-U . .

409 Rob R0 fianch' or, The Imps of Pan Handle.
416 Monte im the ack Sheep of Bismarck.
426 The Ghost Detective; or. T 6 Spy of the Secret

Service.
Laughing Leo; or, Sam's Dandy Pard.
438 Oklahoma Nick.
443 A Cool Hand; or, Pistol Johnny‘s Picnic.

BY EDWARD WILLETT.

129 Mimissippi Mose; or, a Stro Man’s Sacrifice.
209 Buck Farley. the Bonanza ace.

2% Bill the Blizzard; or. Red Jack‘s Crime.

m Montana Nat. the Lion of Last Chance Camp.
274 Flush Fredx the Mississippi Sport. .
289 Flush Fred s Full Hand.

all bigger Lem; or, Life in the Pine Woods.

308 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 Crosscut.

868 The Canyon King; or, a Price on his Head.

BY NED BUNTLJNE.
14 Thayendan es, the Scourge' or,'l‘he War-Eagle.
16 The White izard; or, The Seminole Prophet.
16 The Sea Bandit; or, T09 Queen of the Isle.
83 The Red Warrior; or, The Comanche lover.
61 Captain Seawalf, the Privateer.
111 The Sin gler Ca taln- or. The Skipper's Crime.
182 San] Sab rday, Id at Spy.
1170 Andros the Rover: or, The rate's Daughter.
861 Tombstone Dick, the Train Pilot.

BY WILLIAM H. nuisance.
279,Tl:e Gold Dragoon, or, The California Blood-

round.
87 Colorado Rube, the Strong Arm of Hotspur.
885 WM Dick Turpin the Imadville Lion.
405 Old Baldy. the Brl adier of Buck Basin.
415 Hot Heart, the De ctive S y.
427 The Rivals of Montana Mil
48? Dee Duke the Silent Sleuth.
442 Wil West sit. the Mountain Veteran.

449 Blufl Burke, King of the Rockies.
\

 

BY COLONEL BELLE SARA.

53 Silver Sam; or, The Mystery of De dwood City.
87 The Scarlet Captain; or. Prisoner of the Tower.
106 Shainus O’Brien, the Bould Boy of Glingal.

BY PHILIP S. \VARNE.

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-HHS Sport.

80 A Man of Nerve; or. Caliban the Dwarf.

114 The Gentleman from Pike.

171 Tiger Dick. the Man of the Iron Heart.

207 Old Hard Head; or. Whirlwind and his Mare.

251 Tiger Dics vs. iron D. s ard.

2a) Tiger Dick’s Lone Han .

299 Three of a Kind; or, Tiger Dick, Iron Despard
and the Sportivv Sport. '

388 Jack Sands the Boss of the Town.

359 Yellow J ack. the Mestizo.

380 Ti er Dick’s Pledge; or, The Golden Serpent.

404 Si ver Sid; or, A ‘ Daisy “ Blvd.

431 California Kit, the Always on Hand.

BY J. C. CO‘VDRICK.

390 The Giant Cupid; or (‘ibuta John’s Jubilee.

422 Blue Grass Burt, the Gold Star Detective.

436 Kentucky Jean the S ort from Yellow P122; or,
Blue-eyed Belle of ended Bow.

BY GEORGE C. JENKS.

398 Sleepless Eye the Pacific Detective.
432 The Giant Horseman; or, Tracking the Red.
Cross Gang.

BY ALBERT W. AIKEN.

27 The Spotter Detective; or. Girls of New York.

81 The New York Shar ; or, The Flash of Lightning.
83 OVx-rlanil Kit; or, he Idyi of Win e Pine.

34 Rocky Mountain Bob. the California Outlaw.

35 Kentuck the Sport: or. Dick Talbot of the Mines.
86 Injun Dick; or. The Death Shot of Shasta.

38 Velvet Hand; or, Injun Dick’s Iron Grip.

41 Gold Dan; or, The White Savage of Salt Lake.
42 The California Detective; or, The Witches of N.Y.
49 The Wolf Demon; or. The Kanawha Queen.

56 The Indian Mazeppa; or, Madman of the Plains.
59 The», Man from Texas; or, The Arkansas Outlaw.
63 The Winged Whale; or, The Red Rupert of Gulf.
72 The Phantom Band; or The 5th Avenue Hei: can.
75 Gentleman Geo ; or. arlnr. Prison and Street.
77 The Fresh of F -0; or: The Heiress.

79 Joe Plienix, the Police Spfi. ,
81 The Human Tiger; or. A 9811. of Fire.

84 Hunted Down: or, The League of Three.

91 The Winnin Oar; or, The Innkeeper's Daughter.
98 Captain Dic Talbot. King of the Road. ‘

97 Bronze Jack, the California Thoroughbred.

101 The Man from New York.

107 Richard Talbot. 01' Cinnabar.

112 Joe Phenix. Private Detective.

180 Captain Violcano: or. The Man of Red Revolt rs.
161 The Wolves of New York; or, Joe Phenix’s Hunt.
178 California John. the Pncn‘lc Thoroughbred.

196 La Marmoset. the De active Queen.
818 The Double Detective; or,The Midnight M stery.
252 The Wall Street Blood; ('r The Teli ray Girl.
82) The 99.089818 tter; or. e N. Y N ght Hawk.
849 Iron-Hearted it k, the Gentleman Road-Agent.
854 Red Richard; 01 The Crimson Cross Brand.
803 ,Crgwbnin held. the Sleuth; or. Piilli'SS as Death.
870 Th us y Detective; or. Pursued to the End.
876 Black Beards; or. The Rio Grunde Blah Horse;
381 The Gsps Gentleman; or Nick Fox, Detective.
884 Injun 10E, Detective; or. Tracked to New York.
391 Kate Scott. the Decoy Deteciive.
413 Doc Grip. the Vendetta of Death.
419 The Bat of the Battery ' or. Joe Phenix. Detective.
421 The Lone Hand; or, The Red River Recreants.
440 The High Hore of the Pacific.

LATEST AND NEW ISSUES.
450 The Rustler Detective: or. The Bounding Buck
from Buffalo Wallow. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

451 Gri lock, the Rocket Detective. By Jackson
nox.

4562 Rainbow Bob, the Tulip from Texas. ByJ. C. ‘

Cowdrlck.
468 Ca in Cold ’s 1.0 Trail. Ca tsin
oward Holgieg. Boggy June 29.13y p
454 The Night Raider. By Major Daniel Boone
Dumont. Ready July 6.

466 Yank Yellowbird, the Tall Hustler of the nuns.
By Wm. H. Manning. Ready July 18.

I466 The Demon Steer. By Leon Lewis.
Bead

y July 20.‘
A new issue ev’ery Wednesday.

Beadle’s Dime Library is for sale by d
Newsdealers, ten cents per copy, or sent by mail on
receipt of twelve cents each. ‘

BEADLE AND ADAMS. Pumas,
% Willia- Streot, New Yul.

 

--...»_~,.)~~.

.

. .

«,"t- l
.4