HI ///7/ 

\\\  yo, 3
11!; F 

1’

l;

;
,' {A /,/

 

ENTERED AT THE POST OFFICE AT New YORK. N. Y.. AT SECOND Cues MAIL RATES.

 

Published Every GBeadZe rj~ flCZCLn‘LS, CPublisher's, Tgcggtfgggy. N 0.  7
W°dn°5day- 93 WILLIAM STREET, N. 31.. May 2, 1888. ‘

 

 

 

‘i

 

 

The Escobélo Millions.

A Romance of the Great Ranch.

BY ALBERT W. AIKEN,

AUTHOR on “ THE FRESH OF FRISCO,” “nmen
JACK,” “ CAPTAIN VOLCANO,” “ CALI-
FOBNIA JOHN,” “ THE STRANGE‘R
SHARP,” ma, ETC.

CHAPTER I.
THE STRANGERS.

IN the alcalde‘s oflice in the old Mexican town
of El Paso sat the chief magistrate of the city
and the captain of police.

Own brothers were these two men, Farrel b
name. Mi e1l the elder, was the Alcalde of F};
Peso, and 096, the younger, held the position
of chief of the police.

Rather below the medium hight. but stout,
well-built men were the brothers: not young,
nor yet old, good-locking, although there was
imfigthjng about their faces which suggested the

u 0g.
They were dressed richly, as befitted men who

 

THE FRESH LIFTED BIS ASSAILANT FAIBLY FROM THE GROUND AND, TURNING Em
IN THE AIR, THBEW HIM OVER HIS SHOULDER.

 

2

The Fresh in Texas.

 

L

held important positions, and at the time we in-
troduce them to the reader’s notice had just be-
gun an important conversation. the captain of
police liaVing just entered the office.

“ Well, how goes it!” quolh the ulcalde.

“ Badly,” responded the other.

“ How much have you succeeded in getting?”

“ A little short of a hundred ounces.”

“ Ali, caramba! what is that when a man
needs a. thousand?” exclaimed the alculde.

“ Did you call upon our friends, the gum-
were?"

“ Yes, upon every man.” '

b“ And they were not willing to contribute,
c L?"

“ Only a trifle.”

“ Did you not tell them that I was sorely
pressed for money, and hint that if they dirl not

elp me in my need, I might be obliged in the
interest of morality to put a stop to their
gaiiii’s?”

" 3h, yes, I put it to them as stronglyas I
could."

“ And they were not inclined to come down?”

“ N 0, they all declared they had come down
pretty well already.”

The alcalde shrugged his shoulders like a.
Frenchman.

“ lVell, well, there is some truth in that,” he
admitted. “ But still the scamps ought not: to
grumble, for if I did not wink at their open
gambling dens they would not be able to make
any mone at all.

" N ow, goo Moses is rich—his faro-bank makes
a fortune. every week. Did you see him and ex-
plain how I was situated?”

“ Yes, Moses contributed fifty ounces, all he
said he could spare," the captain of police an-
swci‘ed.

“ Moses declares that his place has made very
little money during the past month, and when I
attempted to put the screws on, he replied,
promptly, that if you wanted to kill the goose
who was lying the golden eggs, you were
perfectly welcome to do it, as far as he was con-
corned.

“ He said: first I pay a tax to the town for a
license to carry on my business, and then I pay
:as much more to you and the alcalde‘. that is on
the quiet, but if I am going to be struck for a
stake every time either you or your brother run
short of cash, why I might as well give up, for
I cannot stand the press.”

“ True, very true, the man is right,” the al-
mide rmnarked. “ A free horse must not be
ri hlen to death.”

“ How long have you got before this demand
of the governor must be met?” the chief of po-
lici- naked.

"’ On. I have another month, but a thousand
ounces is no small sum, and so I have begun to
get it together. That is the price'of my position
here, you understand. A thousand ounces 9.
year is what Pedro Cosala, Governor of Chihu—
ahuu, considers the office of Alcalde of El Paso
to be worth, and if I do not pay the money I
will very quickly be removed.”

“ Oh, yes, undoubtedly, and it is richly worth
that sum.”

“ Certainly, but I have had bad luck, and that
is we y I am short of money. The infernal cards
have run against me constantly for the last
month, and if my luck does not change soon, I
shall have to stop playing.” ‘

“I can sympathize with you, for my luck has
been atrocious too for the last few days,” the
captain of police remarked with a. melancholy
shake of the head.

“ Yes, it is strange how luck will run some
times. By the way did you call upon the Jew
pawnbroker Hadad Solomons?”

“ Oh, yes; he was one of the first men I visi—
ted, because I thought he would be good for a
couple of hundred ounces at the least.

The alcalde shook his head. -

“ It is about as easy to get blood from a stone
as to get money from a. Jew,” he declared.

“ Well, it was so in this case. He declared

he had recently suflered such severe losses‘

through the rascality of some of his agents,
who had absconded with his funds that he had
hardly a cent to bless himself with, and had
been really obliged to borrow money so as to
be able to get along.”

“The old liarl”ex'claimed the alcalde, “and
after; all the money I have thrown in his way
too!

“He contributed twenty ounces, but it was
like arting withhis heart’s blood.”

- “ I’do not doubt that in the least,” the alcalde
remarked.

“ To a man like the Jew it is about as bad to
part with his gold as with his blood.”

“ Yes, yes, the old Jew fairly groaned as be
counted out the ounces.”

“Well, let me see," observed the alcalde, re-
flectively. “ The money must be raised in some
way. If my luck was running all right I could
takerthis sum which you have raised and easily
swell it into a thousand at the card-table—ay,
into two for that matter, but I do not dare to
risk it.”

“ True, it is a great risk,” remarked the cap-
taeiand of police with a doubtful shake of the
h

“ l‘low if that devil of an Escebedo was only

 

herds the money might be raised," the alcalde

sai .

“ Yes, he was a valuable fellow. With his
band of cut-throats he could be depended upon in
a pinch like this.”

“ You are right, he could always be depended
upon to gather wealth. It was an evil day for
us when this American—this Jackson Blake,
who calls himself the Fresh of Frisco. made his
appearance in this section!” the alcalde de-
Clai'ed.

“ Let me see; that” was nearly two years ago.”

“ Yes, and inside of twelve monthscf the time
he came here, he succeeded in breaking up Es-
cobedo’s band: if you remember, they called
themselves the Red Riders of Rayon.”

The chief of police nodded.

“ And Manuel Escobedo was fairly driven out
of the country by him.”

“ Yes, if my recollection serves me right, he
and his sister departed together; but where did
they go?”

“ To the island of Cuba, where Escobedo had
rich kindred. He called uyon me after this ras-
cal of a Fresh got his clamps upon him and said
that he had come to the determination to seek
for fortune elsewhere.

“ His hand was destroyed and this demon of a
North American had sworn to kill him if he ever
encountered him on Texan soil, and so, under
the circumstances, he had determined to go to
Cuba, but he swore to me that if fortune ever
smiled upon him he would return and make this
Jackson Blake pay dearly for his triumph.”

“ i do not doubt that he will keep his word,”
the chief observed.

“ Manuel Escobedo was a fine. daring fellow,
and until he had the ill—luck to meet this North
American, carried matters with a high band in
this region.

“ Many is the silver ounce that you and I have
fingered, Miguel, through Manuel Escobedo and
his Red Riders of Rayon.”

“ True, and I wish the band was in existence
now to help me out of my present scrape, for
where to get this thousaan ounces I know not.”

“ The governor will not be apt to grant more
time?”

“ Oh, no, he cannot, for he has to pay his as-
sessment to the party at the capital through
whose favor he holds the governorship. His tax
is ten thousand ounces, I believe.”

“It is a large sum; still, when you consider
what pretty pickings the governor of such a.
province as Chihuahua has, the position is richly
worth it.”

At this moment the door opened and two
strangers made their appearance.

They were well-dressed and were evidently
foreigners.

One was a tall, well-formed man .with long
jet-black hair which curled in ringlets almost
down to his shoulders; all the lower part of his
face was covered with a short, crispy-curling
heard, of the same ebon hue as his hair, and his
complexion was almost as dark as that of a.
negro.

As far as could be seen, for the beard covered
fully one-half of his face, his features were
strongly marked, and indicated that he was a
man of great determination.

The second stranger strongly resembled the
first, on] he was much younger, hardly more
than 3. 0y, but possessed a. well-built figure,
which gave promise of unusual strength.

His face was smooth, no trace of a beard, ex-
cepting a dark line upon his upper lip.

And upon his face too, like his companion’s,
were written the signs which, to an experienced
eye, told of dauntless courage and firm deter-
mination.

The complexion also of the young man was
extremely dark, but not the reddish, copper
color of the half-breed, and from the contour
of their faces it was plain that neither one of
the two had any Indian blood in his veins.

“ Have I the pleasure of addressin Don Mig—
uel Parral, Alcalde of El Paso?” the e der stran-
ger asked. bowing to the official.

“ That is my name, sir; what can I do for
you?” responded the alcalde. .

“ We are strangers here in El Paso, having
but lately arrived from the island of Cuba,"
ex lained the tall gentleman. _

The alcalde and the chief of police exchanged
glances at the mention of the “ ever-faithful
isle,” as the Spaniards delight to call it.

The coincidence seemed odd to them, as they
had gust been speaking of Cuba.

“ am delighted to welcome you to El Paco,
gentlemen,” the alcalde said.

“Have the kindness to be Seated, and make
yourselves perfectly at home. I have many ac-
quaintances in Cuba and am always pleased to
see any one from there.”

The strangers seated themselves.

 

CHAPTER II.
THE ram or MANUEL ESCOBEDO.

“ PERMIT me to introduce my brother, Jose,
captain of' police here in El Paso,” said the
alcalde.

The strangers expressed their pleasure at mak-
in the acquaintance of so important a person-
age, and the elder said:

n

 

“ Since introductions are in order, permit me
to make known to you who we are.”

The others bowed.

“ My name is Fernando Gomes, and this
gentleman is called Sebastian Esparto, and
though we are Cuban born and bred. yet we do
not feel as if we were entirely strangers to this
Sectio’n, for our mothers originally came from
here.

“ Ah, is that so?” the alcalde remarked.

“Yes, they were of the Escobedo line. cousins
to Estevan Escobedo, the once famous cattle
kin of the Rio Grande.” ’

“ es, yes, both my brother and myself were
wellacquainted with that gentleman,” the
alcalde remarked.

“ And you were also on familiar terms with
a relative of the old cattle kin who was at one
time an inmate of his househo d, Manuel Esco-
bedo,” said Fernando Gonies.

This was not entirely unexpected, for when

the stranger had ex )lained that he and his com- ,

panion claimed kin red with the Escobedos the
thought had come to both the brothers that
there was a probability they were about to hear
news of the man whose absence they had been
regretting when the strangers entered.

“ Oh, yes. my brother and I were just speak-
ing of him,” the alcalde remarked. “ He was a
man whom we thought a deal of, and we were
wishing he was back again with us here in El
Paso.”

“ Then you are not aware of Manuel Esco-
bedo’s fate?" said the Cuban in a tone of sur-
prise, and then he added: “ But that is not
strange though for the island of Cuba is a long
way from El Paso, and I suppose it is not a.
common thing for you to hear news of what
transpires in the island here.”

“ N o, it is but seldom that we are so favored,”
the alculde replied. “ But the way in which
you speak of Manuel Escobedo alarms me. Is
it possible that aught amiss has come to him?”

“ Here is the full account from one of the
Havana newspapers,” responded Fernando
Gomes, takingr a newspaper clipping from his
pocket-book and giving it into the hands of the
ofiic1al.

The alcalde read it aloud.

It was a brief account of the loss of a trading
schooner plying between Havana and the ports
on the south Side of thc island. In a storm it
had been forced ashore and all on board had
perished, with the exception of a. single sailor
who had escaped to tell the tale of the disaster.

The schooner carried two passengers in ad-
dition to her crew, a Mexican ntleman and his
sister, Manuel and Isabel Lscobedo, both of
whom had met a watery grave.

“ This is indeed bad news l” the captain of police
observed, with a grave shake of the head. “ Es-
cobedo was a man who would have made his
mark in the world if he had lived, I am sure of it.
He was a bold and daring fellow and could be
depended upon.”

“ That is true! every word of itl” the alcalde
exclaimed. “ He was a. man after my own
heart, and many is the good stake of business
we have done together.” '

" Yes, so he informed me; Manuel and I were
quite intimate,” the Cuban remarked.

The speech was simple enough but it made the
Parrals exchange wondering glances.

“ Manuel confided to me the reason which ob-
liged him to leave this section," Fernando Gomes
continued. “ And from the hour that he uitted
El Paso he looked forward to the time w on he
should return and take a bloody vengeance upon
the man who had been instrumental in driving
him awa .”

“Did a tell you the name of the man?” the
alcalde asked. ev1dently possemed with the
idle'amiihat the Cuban was possibly exaggerating
a 1 e.

“ Oh, yes, the Fresh of ’Frisco as he calls him-
self; the man whose right name is Jackson
Blake."

Again the brothers exchanged glances. The
Cuban evidently knew what he was talking
about.

“ The desire for vengeance upon this North
American desperado was an overpowering one,
and the sole pu ose of his exile from his native
land was that 3 might acquire wealth enough
to enable him to come back and crush the man
who had triumphed over him.”

“ Yes, that was like Escobedo,” the alcalde
observed. “ He wasa true Mexman, and never
forgot or forgave an mJul‘y. It is a pity that he
met his fate so soon, for I would have given
much to have seen 131.111 I'Etul‘n and take ven-
geance upon this boasting Fresh of ’Frisco, who,
although undoubtedly a man who can fight like
a demon, yet talks as carelessly as a scth

0y.

“ If he had lived he would have he a bloody
vengeance upon this interloperl” the uban de-
clared, impresswely.

“ He had friends in Cuba who asked him when
he arrived there, and his sister, Isabel, made'a
brilliant match, having wedded one of the
wealthiest planters on the island. He was an
old man and only survived the union a few
months, and when he died all of his vast estate
came to his widow, and as Isabel was devoted
to her brother, thanks to this fortune, he had

 

9i

 

The Fresh  Texas.

3

 

 

money enough to enable him to carry out his
plans of vengeance.”

“ What a misfortune that death should have
cut him off thus untimely l” the alcalde cried.

“ Yes, but this heritage of vengeance has de-
scended to my cousin Sebastian here and my-
self,” the Cuban explained. “ We are the heirs
0‘ Manuel and Isabel E<cobedo.

“ Manuel, before he set; out on this fatal trip
had a presuntimi-nt that some accident might
happcn to him and so he confided all his plans to
us, together with some of the secrets of his life
licre iii El Paso, and we agreed that if anything
occurred to him we would come to Mexico and
execute his vengeance.

“ Manuel did perish, as he feared, and we are
here to keep our pledge. We have plenty of
money and think we have the courage and
ability to pull down and crush this boaster who
calls himself the Fresh of ’Frisco.”

And the fierce light which shone in the eyes of
both the Cubans convinced the brothers that the
strangers would do all in their power to fulfill
the task which they had taken upon themselves.

“ You say that Manuel Escobedo confided his
secrets to you?” the alcalde remarked, with the
intention of ascertaining how much of the Mexi-
can s past life the stranger really knew.

" Yes, all that appertaincd to this quarrel or
could be of use to us in prosecuting it,” the Cu-
ban replied, without a moment’s hesitation.

“ And knowing these secrets is why we came
to you, for we felt sure we could count on your
assistance, for we could afford to make it worth
your while to act with us as you formerly acted
with Manuel Escobedo in this Red Riders of
Rayon business.”

“ I do not exactly understand,” said the al-
calde. endeavoring to assume an innocent air.

“ Oh, yes you do, alcalde,” the Cuban replied,
with a smile. “ You understaan well enough,
and so does your brother here, the chief of po-
lice.

“Come, it is no use for us to heat about the
hush. Let us come to an understanding at once.
We need your aid in this fight, and are prepared
to make it worth your while to go into it. You
shared the plunder gained by the Red Riders of
Rayon and winked at their deeds.

“ Now, in order to fi ht this Fresh of ’Frisco,
we are going to revive t e Red Rider band, and
we want you two for confederates as before. and
in order to show you that we are in earnest,
here is a draft for five hundred ounces on Ban-
ker \l'einholdt, which I will indorse to your
order.” .

And taking the draft from his pocket-ka he
wrote the indorscment upon it.

“ In another month there will be as much
more for you,” the Cuban continued. “And if
we strike any big game after the band is organ-
ized we will not forget your share.

“ Iy cousin and I understand this sort of,

work, for we have both led insurgent bands in
Cuba."

The alcalde took the draft with an eagerness
which he did not attempt to conceal.

“It is a pleasure to do business with gentle-
men like yourselves,” he declared.

“ All I require is that you manage the matter
so that I will not be implicated, no matter what
happens, and you can rely upon both Jose and
myself doing all in our power to aid you."

“ It is a bargain, and you can depend upon
our discretion.

“ And now, how stands matters? Has this
Fresh married the heiress, Margaret yet?"

“ N0, althou h it has been rumored for some
tilrdne that £4153, scobedo—who 1inherited all the
0 cat e ing 5 pr rt _ on 'now—

The others nodrlegfe y, y

“It has been rumored for over a year that
she and this Blake would marry, but they have
not.

“ Nor will they, now that we have come i”
exclaimed the younger Cuban, in a voice full of
menace.

“ How does El Paso and the Fresh get along?
There was a. timp when he Was hunted out Of
the town in a lively manner?” Gomes asked.

“ Oh, that is all blown over DOW,” the alcalde
replied. “ Neither my brother nor myself
thou ht that it was wise to keep up the quarrel.

“ hen you come down to the truth of the
matter, the American acted. m self—defense.
We 'um on him and he whipped us, and af-
ter t e ed Rider band was dispersed and Man-
uel Escobedo departed, we concluded that it
would be foolish forus toattemptto keep) up the
quarrel so we sent him word that we ore no
malice.”

“ And he comes and goes in El Paso freely?”
Fernando Gomes asked.

“ Oh, yes, as freely as any one. and as he is a '

great gambler, he spends considerable of his
time in the town.”

“ So much the better, for then we will be able
to get at him,” Games observed.

‘ Have you ever met the man?” the chief of
police asked.

“ Are we not strangers just arrived in El
Peso?” the Cuban replied.

I“ Well, then, take my advice and do not hold
him too chea 1y. He is as dangerous it man as
ever struck t e banks of the Rio Grands!" Jose
Parral observed, earnestly.

‘\

 

“ We will not underrate him and will not en-
gage in a. contest until all the advantage is on
our side,” Gonies declared. “ We stop at the
Hotel Mexico and shall be glad to have you call
when convenient.

“ I shall be charmed,” the alcalde replied,
and then the Cubans withdrew.

CHAPTER III.
AN HONEST C(iNrEssION.

ALONG the trail lr-ading from the Rio Grande
to the Escobedo Plantation rode two men,
mounted on most excellent steeds, not tho under-
sized smnll—limbed Texan mustangs, but two
horses whose size and appearance, to the prac-
ticed eye, would have denoted that they came
of Kentucky racing blood—the blue—grass strain,
famous for its four-milers, its bottom and en-
durance.

One horseman was young, the other a man
well in years.

The young man was a little above the medium
size, with a figure so well developed that he
might have passed as a model for one of the
ancient sculptors who desired to form a figure,
A 0110 and Hercules combined.

be frank, open face, the keen, gray-blue eyes,
and the yellow hair, curlin in little crispy ring-
lets close to his well»shape head, together with
a certain peculiar careless air, so difficult to de-
scribe, would reveal to any one who had ever
encountered the man, or heard a good descrip-
tion of him, that this was the famous Fresh of
’Frisco, who was really better known by that
title than by his own rightful appellation of
Jackson Blake.

It was plain from the way that the Fresh was
ilreslsed that the world had gone well with him
ate y.

His suit of buckskin—not cut after the Indian
fashion,'in hunting—shirt and leggings, but as
coat and pantaloons—was new, and showed no
Signs of hard wear.

The long riding-boots, coming to is knees,
were of antenna leather, after the Mexican
fashion, and fitted him like a glove.

The elaborately-frilled shirt, upon which
Jackson Blake prided himself, and which he was
never seen Without, unless he had had an un—
usual run of bad luck and was clean down to
the “ bed-rock,” so as to be absolutely unable to
afford the luxury, was composed of the finest of

 

. linen, and amid the frills blazed three costly

diamond studs.

His broad-brimmed, soft felt hat, cream-white
in color, was as handsome a head-covering as a
man would care to wear, and, to take him all
in all, the Fresh of ’Frisco was in splendid
feather.

The man who rode by the Fresh’s side was
a most decided contrast to him, being well on in
years, rather undersized, though extremely
stockily built: had a thin face, the chin covered
with a scrubby heard, but his small, gray eyes
were wonderfully keen.

He was dressed in a complete suit of buck—
skin, and a good judge of men, as they are
found on the frontiers of civilization, would
have at once pronounced him to be an old moun-
tain man. -

This was Old California Joe, 8. man who has
won a name which will never die while the his-
tog of the wild life of the West is told.

he Fresh had a ranch a. few miles down the
Rio Grande, and was on his way to pay a. visit
to the ranch of Margaret Escobedo, the heiress
of the old cattle king, Estevan Escobedo, and
reputed to be the richest landholder in that
part of Texas.

The two had ridden along at a brisk pace,
and now had pulled their horses into a walk, in
order to breathe the animals, and thus were
afforded an opportunity for conversation. I

“ We are bound for the Escobedo Ranch, I
reckon,” said California Joe.

“ Yes, that is our objective point.”

“But, you said when we started out that you
didn’t know ’zactly where you was going.”

- “No more did I: the fact is, I want to get
some young cows, and I had not determined
whether to try the Escobedo Ranch, or the one
above, for them.”

“ She! is that so? Wa-a], now I reckoned that
you were going to call on the heiress of Esco—

o,” the old man remarked, with a knowing
smile.

The Fresh laughed.

“Well, it is likely that I shall see Miss Mar-
garet before I quit the ranch,” he replied.

“ Yes, I reckon it wouldn’t be perlite to go to
the ranch without calling on the mistress.”

“ That is true, although all my business can
be transacted with the superintendent.”

“ You mean Houma?”

“ Yes, heis the man.”

“Say! w’ot do dyou think of that cuss, any-
way i” asked the ol mountain man. abruptly.

“Well, I don’t exactly know; I cannot say
that I have made much of a study of him,” the
Fresh replied, carelessly.

“ I don’t like the feller for a cent l” California
Joe declared. “ I think he is a rascal! And
jest see w’ot an outlandish handle the galoot has
got. Lycurgus Houmal Thar‘sa healthy name

or a. Christian to carry ’round !”

“ Oh, come now, California, you are too

 

severe!” exclaimed the Fresh, laughing at the
old man's conceit. “ The man is not to blame
for his name; he cannot help that, you know;
besides, the name is all right, although it is
rather an odd one. Lycurgus was one of the
wisest ot’ the Greeks, a man whom it was safe to
tie to every time, to use our modern vernacu-
lar; and it strikes me that Houma is a French
Creole name. In faCt, I'believe the man claims
to come from Louisiana.”

“ I reckon he does, but I don’t take any stock
in him, no matter what he comes froml” the old
mountain-man declared.

I‘f‘ ,Well, I can’t say that I admire the man my-
Sc .

“ I think he is a rascal!” California Joe de—
clared.

“ Oh. come now, ain‘t you a little harsh in
your judgment! Remember this Houma was
one of the old cattle king’s trusted men, and
when he died, and the estate came under Judge
Bullifant’s management, before Margaret Esco-
bedo arrived from her home in the East. the
lodge fully trusted Houma, and the old judge
'new human nature like a book and was not
likelv to make a mistake.”

” That’s so, but you ain’t calculating that
thar’s a heap of difference between doin busi-
ness with a man like old Estevan Escobm 0, who
was as keen as a rogue when it came to a trade,
or with Judge Bullifant another keen customer,
and with a gal like Miss Margaret, who ain’t
used7to figures and is not on the watch for ras-
cals. ’

“ Oh, yes, it would make a heap of difference,
of course. A man who was disposed to play the
rascal would be much more apt to try the game
when he only had an unsuspecting woman to
deal with than if he was acting with men," the
sport declared.

“ That is my say-so to a hair 1” California Joe
declared.

“ '1 hen thar’s that nefihew of Judge Bullifa'nt’s
who has succeeded to is business, Dick Bulli-
fant—I don’t take any stock in him. either.”

“Well, to tell the truth, I haven’t much ad-
miration to waste on that gentleman,” Jackson
Blake remarked.

"‘ Reports say that he led a pretty wild life
before the judge’s death, although he was shrewd
enough to keep it from the knowledge of the
judge, in whose ofllce he was, but I tancy the
Judge did not fully trust him, for when the old
man died he left all his property to Margaret
Escobedo, only bequeathing his business to his
nephew, although that was a fortune in itself.

“ As far as I know though, the man is all
right, and I incei'ely hope he is, for he has full
control of all Miss Margaret’s affairs, and if he
had the mind to play the Scoundrel he could rob
her of half her fortune, and perhaps be able to
get away with the plunder before his rascality
could be discovered."

“ Waal, I reckon that if anything of that kind
was going on you would be apt to have a finger
in the Pie, hey?” old California Joe observed,
shrewd y.

“Yes, I should want to. if I knew of it; but
there’s the trouble,” the Fresh obsorved, thought—

full .

“If this lawyer is up to any rascality, he will
be apt to cover his tracks, so it will not be pos-
sible for an outsider to discover there is any-
thing wrong until the mischief is done.”

“ It is the talk ’round, too, that he is trying to
shine up to Miss Margaret, and a good many
folks think he stands a mighty good chance to
git the gal, although everybody reckoned you
and she would hitch teams.”

“Yes, I know that was the talk,” the Fresh
remarked, a cloud upon his usually bright face.
“And I will admit to you, California, that I
had a. strong notion that way mysolf; circum-
stances brou lit the lady and mySclf together,
and I was ab e to be of service to her.

“She is a beautiful girl, one worthy the love
of any man. and just at this pt int is where
comes my difficulty.

“ From the way the lady acts, I am sure I am
not disagreeable to her, but whether‘ the feeling
which inspires her is love or gratitude is a ques—
tion.

“ Wa—al, ’pears to me it would be mighty easy
for you to find out. Ax the gall" the old moun-
tain-man suggested.

“Yes, the solution of the riddle is easil ar-
rived at, and then comes another trouble, ’ the
Fresh remarked, with a. doubtful shake of his
handsome head.

“ Is such a man as I am worthy the love of a
girl like Margaret Escobedo?

“ If you could look back over my past life as
I can, you would be dubious on this point, I am
sure. ~

“ There is an old adage, ‘ Lucky at cards, un-
lucky in love,’ and a more luc man than my-
self with the painted pasteboar 5 exists not on
'the earth, I verily believe; but I am a firm he—
liever in the truth of the saying, for in love
affairs I am not lucky. _

“ 1 have won some peerless women in my
time. and though for a while all went well. yet
some fell stroke has been sure to se rate me
from them. Death snatched some of 15 em from
my arms; in other cases, I have been to blame,
for I could not remain quiet, my roving dispu-

4.

sition leading me away in search of adven-
tures, like a knight errant of old, and while
I was gone the flower of love withered and died.

“And that is the reason why I hesitate to
press my suit with this beautiful heiress. I
really fear to succeed. Of course, as a man I
desire to win her, for she is a girl well worth
any one’s wooing, but the thought of what the
future may bring forth holds me back.

“ In fact, as the boys say, I think I had better
do the brother act; I will be a. brother to her,
fight her battles, protect her from her enemies,
but resolutely keep from loving her.”

“Darn me, if you ain’t the queerest coot I
ever struck l” the old mountain-man exclaimed.
“ Now, if I stood in your shoes, I would go for
thel_ al red—hot, and let the future take care of
itse .

“ Oh, no; if you were in my plaCe, and felt as
I do, you would not exactly as I intend to act
——but here is the ranch.”

It was true, the Escobedo estate was now in
sight.

 

CHAPTER IV.
A annex: or RASCALS.

THE first house on the Escobedo lace was
occupied by the superintendent, ycurgus
Houma, the man to whom Old California Joe
had taken such a dislike.

The superintendent was a notable fellow, and
one who, once seen, would not be apt to be
easily forgotten.

He was a big fellow, standing nearly six feet
high, broad-shouldered and muscular, a man of
forty or thereabouts, with a dark, stern face
and a forbidding look.

He had been on the ranch for over ten years,
having come as a cowboy and risen to the posi-
tion 0 superintendent.

The old cattle king had found him to be a val-
uable man.

From his size and resolute ways he had been
able to keep the cow-punchers in order, and
bore the reputation of being an ugly man in a.
skirmish.

And now, since the property had descended to
the old cattle king’s daughter, he had had abso—
lute control of the ranch, for, of course, Miss
Margaret was not able to direct the business.

In the principal room of his house the superin-
tendent sat, and with him was the young law-
yer, Judge Bullifant’s nephew, who had suc-
ceeded to the 'udge’s business.

Richard ing Bullifant, as the gentleman
was named, was a man of eight and twent , a
rather dashin docking fellow, who seem to
have considers le “ sporting blood ” about him,
as the saying is.

Really, he looked more like a card-sharp than
a lawyer.

And, in fact, all up and down the Rio Grande
Dick Bullifant was known and recognized as a
sport of the first water, althou h it was only
recently that he had taken up is residence in
the he: hborhood, for before the jud e’s death
he had on in charge of a. branch o co up in
New Mexico.

Since his advent in El Paso—his oflce and
residence was in the American town on the
Texan side of the Rio Grande—he had paid
more attention to amusing himself than he had
to attending to his business.

Old, long—headed citizens, friends of the late
judge, shook their heads, gravely, when the
doings of the young lawyer were iscussed, and
the prediction was made that if the young man
did not attend to matters a. little more carefully
the vast business the judge had built up would
soon vanish.

In fact, after making the acquaintance of
the heiress of Escobedo he had spent more time
on the Escobedo Ranch than in his office or in
attending to his business.

He had become infatuated with the beautiful
Margaret at the first glance, and, thanks to
having charge of her legal matters, was able
to enjoy her society a great deal, by pretending
to consult her on subjects connected with the
estate.

At the time that we introduce the two men
toour readers’ notice—the men who had more
to do with Margaret Escobedo’s fortune than
all the rest of the world put together—the law-
yer had just entered the ranch and taken a chair
at the superintendent’s invitation.

“ Well, how do you find yourself, Mr. Hon-
ma?” Dick Bullifant asked.

“ Oh, retty well, and how are you?”

“ Oh, no as silk 1” the other answered. “ By
the way, I have dropped in to see you on a lit-
tle matter of business as I have been examining
the accounts."

The lawyer made this remark in a careless
way, just as if it did not amount to anything,
but a dark look came over the face of the super-
intendent.

“ Ah, yes, is that so?" Houma observed.

“Yes, and I find some little things which I
cannot account for, and I thought I would see
it you could explain them, so I could straighten
the account out in the books.”

“ Well, I don’t know," Houma remarked,
slowly. “ I was not aware that there was any:
thin wrong in my department.”

“ es, it is in your department. The cattle

The Fresh in Texas.

' don’t agree with the number set down—there
is about a hundred short and the feed amount
seems to be unusually large. Altogether I reck-
on there is ov er a thousand dollars involved.”

“I don’t understand it,” the superintendent
remarked, apparently very much perplexed, yet
stealing an odd glance out of the corners of his
eyes at the other.

“ Of course I have kept this matter strictly
to myself,” the lawyer explained. “ I have not
said anything to Miss Margaret, or to any one
else, for that matter, in regard to it, for I
thought you and I could straighten the matter
out.

“ The fact is, Houma,” continued Dick Bulli-
fant dropping his voice a little, “ I didn’t know
but you needed a little cash and had used some
of the estate money.

“ It is all right, of course; I know you are
perfectly good for it, and I should not kick up
any row. I understand that on had been in-
vesting in town lots up at El aso, and there is
no question but what you are in for a big thing,
if you can only contrive to hold on until the rise

comes. And in re ard to using the money, I
know how that is; have been in the same boat
myself."

“ Mebbe on are there now, eh ?” observed the
superinten eat with a grin.

‘ Oh, no, Miss Margaret is quite a business
woman and keeps too strict a watch over me,”
the lawyer replied.

“ Ah, yes, of course! I believe that you
know,” and Houma shook his head. “Just as
if you couldn’t fix the books so as to conceal a
shortage of ten or fifteen thousand—ay, twenty
thousand, without any trouble.

“ Not that it makes any great amount of dif-
ference as long as you are going to marry the
girl ” the superintendent added reflectively.

“ es, but am I oing to marry her?’ Dick
Bullifant asked. “ hat is an important ques-
tion, you know, and I am not sure in regard to
the answer.”

“Well, you have the field almost entirely to
yourself, and the fact that you have the control
of all the legal affairs appertaining to the estate
gives you a chance to ave frequent consulta-
tions with the girl, and if you do not win her it
will not be for want of opportunities."

“ Yes. I know that, but I do not seem to
make much headway,” the lawyer observed with
a doubtful shake of the head.

“ The irl looks upon me in thelight of friend,
I know, at I sometimes fear I will never be
able to execute any dee r sentiment.”

“ Well. you oug t to able todo so, although
I think there is an obstacle in the wa .”

“I think I understand what you mean and I
was going to speak of that when on said I had
a clear field; but the field is not c car as long as
this Jackson Blake is in the neighborhood.”

“ Well, I don’t exactly know what to make of
the fellow,” Houma observed.

“ You are aware that there has been a report
that he and Miss Margaret were engaged to be
married?” the lawyer said.

“ Oh, yes, that has been floating around ever
since the time when this Blake succeeded in res-
cuin her from an outlaw gang who had cap-
tur her.”

“ Was it not whispered at the time that
Manuel Escobedo had something to do with the
matter?” Bullifant asked.

“ Yes, there was a rumor to that effect, but
how much truth there was in it I am unable to
say,” Houma re lied. “ One thing is certain
though; about t e time of that event Manuel
and his sister, Isabel, left the ranch and soon
after it was reported they had gone to Cuba.”

“Manuel was in love with the heiress, 1 be-
lieve?”

“ Yes, and he did hlsbestto win her. It was a
wonder that he did not succeed, too, for his sis-

and, being her constant companion, had fre-
quent opportunities to plead her brother’s
“3513'” 't be th ' 1

0 you suppose I was cause e gir was
in love with this Jackson Blake?” the lawyer
asked shrewdly.

“ Oh, no, I t ink not, yet it is a hard matter
to decide,” Houma replied.

“Does Blake come here frequently?”

“ Yes, entirely toooften to suit me," the super-
gntendent observed, with a frown upon his dark

ace.

“ Why, what difference does it make to you?"

“ I do not admire the w in which he looks
around him,” the superinten ent replied.

“ Ah, does it seem as if he was kind of keeping
a watch to see if everything was ing on
all right?” asked Bullifant, immediate y gum
 at the idea that had entered the mind of the
0 er.

“Yes, that is it, exactly; he is too infernal
inaluisitive. and one of these days I shall quietly
tel him that he better mind his own business
and confine his attention to his own ranch and
not come nosing around this one.

“ You will be apt to get yourself in trouble,
for this Blake has quite a. reputation as a war-
rior ” the lawyer warned.

“ es, I have heard that he got the best of

 

some fellows in a row in the Mexican town of
El Peso when he first made his appearance in

\

ter, Isabel, was the bosom friend of the heiress, .

 

this section, but I can understand how he worked
the game. He has six or eight desperadoes with.
him, and the probabilities are that they did the
fighting.”

“ Very likely. Well, I tell you what it is,
Houma, if you choose to aid me all you can to
win the heiress I will do my best to help you
along. If I see fit to wink, it will be money
in your pocket, you know,” Builifant remarked,
meaningly.

“Oh, yes, I comprehend that, and I suppose
when you spoke about there being some few-
errors that you wanted to come to an under»
standing with me.”

“ Exactly, that was my idea. You and I, b
pulling together, can be of a deal of help to eac
other.

“ Undoubtedly l”

“ Well I am willing to go into the thing if
you are.”

“ I am agreeable, and there is big money in it
for both of us, but the first point is to keep this-
Fresh of Frisco from pr ing around the ranch,
for he is hat the kind 0 man to interfere if he
thou ht t ere was an thing wrong.”

“ es, he is incline that way, and that I sup-
pose is where he ets his nickname; most cer-
tainly he is excee ingl y fresh.”

“ I will take some of the freshness out of him
at the first convenient opportunity 1” the super-
intendent exclaimed.

“ Well, on certainly ought to be a match for
him,” the awyer remarked, surveying the mus-
cular develo ments of the other with an admiro-
ing eye. “ ut he will be apt to go for his wea—
pons, for he will never dare to face you with-
out.”

“It will be my game to banter him into a
contest with fists, and then I will hammer him
so that he will not be able to show himself
around this ranch for some time.”

“Hello, there he comes now!” Bullifant ex—
claimed, catching sight of Blake through the
window.

 

CHAPTER V.

THE FRESH EXPLAINS.

THE superintendent jumped to his feet and a
dark frown gathered on his brow.

“ Sure enou h i” he exclaimed. “ You are
right; it is the esh and that lying old mrun-
tain—man, California Joe, is wit him.”

The two were quite a distance away, coming
on slowly, their horses walking, the riders en-
gaged in conversation and apparently discussing
the ap arance of things around them.

At a 1 events this was the concluston that the
superintendent arrived at, and he said as much
to the lawyer.

“ Well, it really does look like it,” Bullifant
remarked.

“ I reckon I shall have to put a sto to this
sort of thing,” Houma averted. “ think I
have stood this fellow nosing around this ranch
just about as long as I ought to, and I may as-
well give him a piece of my mind to-day as any
other time.” .

“Oh, yes, I do not see why you should put it
oi! so long as you have made u your mind to
go for him. I reckon you will ave a fight on.
your hands instanter; that is, if there IS an
truth in the stories they tell about this fellow s
claim to be a big chief. ’ ‘

“ I am not so sure that there is any truth in
the yarn,” the superintendent replied. “ One
thing is certain—since he has lived in this sec-
tion he has not had a difficulty with anybody.”

“Yes, so I understand; and I remember that
my uncle, the judge, before his death, was puz—
zled to account for it, for when the man settled
in this section it was his belief, from what he
had heard of the fellow’s going on in El Paso,
that he was a gambler an a esperadoof the
first water.” .

“ Most certainly such was his reputation.”

“Yes, I have heard the judge speak of the
matter, and it was his impression that this
Blake would be a ry undesirable neighbor,
but as time passed on and the fellow did not
mishehave himself, he was at a_loss to account
for it, for it did not seem pasmble that such a
man as he was reported to he should be satisfied
to settle down and be content with a rancher’s
quiet life.” _
~» “ It doesn‘t seem reasonable,” the superinten—
dent remarked. “ And that is tlie reason .why I
do not take any stock in these yarns which re-
late what a desperate fighter he is.” .

“ YeS' but there is no doubt that he did have
two or three fights in El Paso about two years
ago, when he first came to the banks of the Rio
Grande. and that he succeeded in whipping his
men.” Bullifant remarked.

“I know his re utation in that line is well-
established in El use, and there are not man
up there who would care to pick a quarrel w1t
him, but to in thinking it has I said; these
des radoes w om he enlisted in his service

y did the fighting, and he got the credit for

,V

“ Possibly your supposition is true, and if it
is, he will not be the first man on the frontier
who has acquired the reputation of being 3 dan-
gerous fellow without bein entitled to 115.”.

“ That is true enough," cum assented”

 

The Fresh in Texas.

' 5

 

 

“ M uncle, the judge, had an idea. that he
was p aying a well-planned game,” the lawyer
observed.

“A game, eh?”

“ Yes, he had got his eyes on Miss Margaret;
she was one of the richest heiresses along the
Rio Grande, and would be well worth the Win-
ning. The fellow knew that if shown out in
his true colors he stood no chance at all of get-
ting her, andso he sobered down into a quiet
rancher and proved himself to be one of the
best of neighbors.”

“ Well, maybe that is the game he has been
playing,” the superintendent observed.

“ My uncle thought so, and I, having a high
opinion of his shrewdness in uessing, reckoned
that he had hit on the truth, at I must confess
that since I have taken up my residence in this
section, I have grown a little doubtful about the
matter, for, as far as I can see, he is not a par—
ticularly ardent wooer.”

“ That is a fact i” Houma exclaimed. “ If he
was hot after the heiress he ought to be here
twice as much as he is, although I must say he
comes too often now to suit me. I should not
mind his visits, on! I don’t like the way he
looks around him. 8 is too infernal inquisi—
tive.”

“ He certainly is on his good behavior,” the
lawyer observed. “I have met him once in a
while both in my own town and in the Mexican
El Paso, and though he takes a flyer now and
then at the various games which are running,
yet no more than I do myself, or any of the
men who gamble a little just to pass the time
awa .

“ know it, and that is what makes me think
that these yarns about his being such a great
gambler and desperate fighter are all bosh!”
Houma declared. “ If he was any such man as
he has been represented to be, he would never
have been able to keep quiet all this time. ”

“ W'ell, here he is, and as he is pulling up his
horse it is evident he wants to speak to you.”

The Fresh and his companion upon arriv-
ing in front of the superintendent’s house had
ha ted.

“‘ I reckon that if I have any chance at all I
will speak to him in a way that he willnot like,”
the superintendent remarked, grimly, as he ad-
vanced to the door.

” Yes, since you have made up your mind to
it you might as well take the bull by the horns
now as at any other time," Bullii‘ant asserted.

The two passed through the door.

The Fresh had just dismounted and given his
rcius to Old Ca ifornia Joe, for the beast he
rode was a spirited animal who could not be
trusted to stand without restraint.

“ Good-morning, Mr. Houma,” said Blake in
his easy, pleasant way, and then, perceiving the
lawyer in the rear of the superintendent, be
greeted him also.

“ Morning,” replied Houma, shortly.

“ How are you off for cows—young ones—
have you any to spare, for if you have I would
like a bunch?”

“ Don’t think I have an that I care to sell,”
the superintendent repli .

“Is that so?” and an expression of astonish-
ment appeared on Blake’s face. “ Well, I don’t
comprehend that at all. for I understood that

.you offered to let Jim Cassidy, whose ranch is

just this side of El Paso on the river, have fifty
head at eight dollars a iece, all young ones too,
and as that is two ollars a head under the
market price I thought I would like to take
them, as Cassidy was not in a condition to make
the trade for lack of cash.”

The face of the superintendent grew dark; he
was both astonished and angry, for his talk
with CasSidy had been a confidential one—he
had pledged the man to keep the matter quiet,
and he could not understand how the thing be-

came known.

“ I reckon some one has been fooling you with

a host story!” Houma exclaimed.

‘Is that so?” the Fresh inquired with the
most innocent air imaginable.
“You bet it is!” the superintendent exclaim-

ed.

“ And then, if there had. been any truth in
the matter I reckon the thing would not have
fallen through on account 0f 1m Cassidy not
haying the cash; to my certain knowledge he
had over five hundred dollars when he was up to
El Paso yesterday for I was With him when he
received the money.” _

“ Yes, I understood you were With him in El
Paso yesterday; I was up there myself, and when
I heard about this cattle deal, I reckoned that it
was all straight, knowing that you had been
With Jim.”

“ It is not so, and, as I said, if Jim had wanted
the cows-if they had been offered to him—he
had the cash to pay for them, so the thing would
have gone through all right.” _

“ Oh, no," responded the Fresh, shaking his
head decidedly.

“ What do you mean?” demanded the superin-
tendent, his face dark and a touch of anger in
his tone. '

“ You don’t seem to understand, Mr. Houma,
that this is a mighty uncertain climate along
\the Rio Grande, and that because a man has
money on Monday it is not safe to bet that he

 

can show his roll on Tuesday,” the Fresh ex-
plained.

“ That Jim Cassidy had five hundred yester-
day in El Paso there is not any doubt, but he
couldn’t put up that five hundred to—day if his
ranch depended upon it. "

The superintendent and the lawyer looked at
egch other; the positive tone of the other amazed
t em.

“Well, Mr. Blake, I confess I don’t under-
stand how it is that you happen to be so well-
informed in regard to this matter,” Houma re-
marked.

“ The explanation is just as simple as can be,”
the Fresh answered.

“ When I got wind of this cow deal and heard
that Jim Cassid‘y had the stamps to put up, it
kinder set me to thinking, for I wanted the cows
myself, and I went to work to devise some plan
to eucher Jim out of them.”

“ The deuce you did!" exclaimed Houma, un-
able to refrain from uttering the exclamation,
so surprised and angry was he at the frank
avowa .

“ Yes, and the result of my cogitations was
that I got Jim into a little game of poker, and I
won all the money he had as easily as rolling off
a log,” and the Fresh laughed as if he thought
the matter a most excellent joke.

“ Yes, I got all the cash he had,” Blake
continued " and his note for a hundred more
besides, although, as a rule, I don’t care to
play for notes, you know,” the Fresh added
in a reflective sort of way. “ My principle is to
play until my cash is gone and then stop, unless
indeed I have got the fever very bad, then I
might put up whatever collateral could raise,
but I never gamble on notes. I wouldn‘t this
time if Cassidy had not been hot for me to give
him his revenge and insisted that I on ht to
allow him another show to get square, so yield-
ed and tackled hima sin, and the result was
that he went into the ole for a hundred more,
and that kinder cooled him off so he was willing
to stfip.

“ e gave me a message to brin to ou. He
said, ‘You will be apt to see‘ r. ouma to-
morrow l‘ I said, ‘ Yes; he said, ‘ Tell him I reckon
I will not be able to make that trade we were
talking about.’ I said ‘All right,’ not letting
on, you know, that I had any suspicion what
it was about, but I understood that it re-
ferred to the cow trades So I came up this
morning to tell you what Jim said, and to say
to you, on my own book, that I will take the
cows. You will at just the same money, on
know, only I wil pay it to you instea of
Cassidy.”

 

CHAPTER VI.
A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE 0F OPINION.

FOR a moment the lawyer and the superin-
tendent stared at the Fresh in amazement while
that gentleman smiled in a good-natured way,
just as if he considered the matter to be an
excellent joke.

Houma’s rage was none the less intense be-
cause he was trying to suppress it in order to imi—
tate the coolness of the other.

“This is a pretty good story of yours, Mr.
Blake,” he remarked in a decidedly sarcastic

way.

“Yes, I think it is pretty fair myself. It is
quite a joke to not onl eucher a man out of a
trade, but also get ho d of his money to carry
the deal through.

“ Of course, I wouldn’t like Jim to know it,
for he hasn’t any idea that I wanted any cows
and it might make him feel bad to find out that
he has been left so badly,” the Fresh remarked.

“ From this story I should reckon that you
play a pretty sharp game sometimes,” the super-
intendent observed.

“ Well, once in a while I tumble into a thing
of this sort," Blake replied in a modest way.

“ You will excuse the question, I know. when
I ask how can I be certain that you are not
playing some sharp game on me 7’” the superin-
tendent said with elaborate politeness.

“ Oh, yes. of course; there is nothing like be-
ing certain in a little matter of this kind,” the
Fresh replied.

“ Here is Jim’s I O U, which will show that
I stuck him for a hundred yesterday,” and as
Blake spoke he produced the note, and as both
the others were well ac uainted with Cassidy’s
writing and signature, t ey were able to decide
at a glance that the note was a genuine one.

“ Then for further proof,” remarked the Fresh
as he returned the note to his pocketbook,
“ when you were with Jim yesterday did you
notice his roll—five hundred and twenty-five
dollars exactly?”

“ Yes, that was the amount,” Houma remark-
ed. “I saw the sum paid to him.”

“ Did you take any notice of the particular
bills—would you be apt to know them if you
saw them again?” ’

“ Yes, I am certain I would,” the superintend—
ent replied. “ There were five one hundred-dol-
lar bills, two tens, and a five. The hundred-dol-
lar bills were almost bran new, one of the tens
was in good condition, but the other ten and the
flvg was torn and ragged, the five particularly

I“ I reckon you would makes. good detective,

 

Mr. Houma,” the Fresh remarked; then be pro-
duced a roll of bills from an inside pocket of his
coat, and separating some from the others
showed the su erintendent five hundred and
twenty-five dol are which Houma immediately
declared was the money he had seen Cassidy re-
ceive on the day before.

“ You see, I am giving it to you as straight as
a string,” the Fresh remarked, returning the
money to his pocket.

“ Of course I played it on Jim in a way which
no doubt he wil despise when he comes to find
out all about it,” Blake continued.

“ Still, no one can say that the game was not
a square one,” he went on. “ Jim had just as
good a chance to skin me as I had to skin him,
and there is an old sayin , you know, that all is
fair in love and war, an I reckon that can be
stretched to cover trade, too, so if you haven’t
any ob‘ection I will take the cows.”

“ Di n't I tell you right at the beginning that
I hadn’t any cows to sell?” exclaimed the super-
intendent. rather roughly.

“ Oh, yes: but I understand that, of course,”
the Fresh replied placidly. “ You were savin
them for Jim; but as im can't take them,
will. It is all the same, you know; Cassidy’s
monsezy page for them.”

“ on ave been misinformed,” the superin-
tendent replied, shortly. “I have no cows to
sell to either you, Cassidy, or any other man.”

A peculiar look came into the eyes of the
Fresh; but the smile did not depart from his
lips, and the others had no suspicion that the
dangerous mood of Jackson Blake was approach-
ing.
“ I don’t exactly understand this,” the Fresh
remarked, slowly. “ If you were willing to sell
the cows to Cassidy yesterday, why not to me
to—day?”

“ But you are barking up the wrong tree!"
the superintendent asserted. “ Whoever told
you that I made a bargain with Cassidy yester-
day. and agreed to let him have fifty cows, did
not know what they were talking about! And
then the price is absurd; young cows are worth
ten dollars a head.”

“Yes, I know that, and that was why I was
anxious to secure a bargain,” the Fresh re-
sponded.

“I am just as ready to pick upa hundred
dollars, when it comes in my way, as the next
man.”

“Well, you will not make any hundred dol-
lars out of me!” Houma asserted. “And I
would like to get hold of the man who told you
this cock»and-bull story.”

“ About the cows?"

H Yes.”

“You will be astonished when I tell you how
I came to knew about the matter,” the Fresh
remarked, with a peculiar, dry laugh.

“ Don’t I tell you that there isn’t any truth
in _tlhe yarn !” the superintendent exclaimed, an-
gri y.

" I wouldn’t say any more if I were you,” the
Fresh remarked. “ You will be over your head
pretty soon and will have to swim out.”

“ hat do you mean 1” cried Houma, rough] .

“The conversation between you and Cassi y
in regard to the cows took place-in the bar-room
of Big Jake’s United States Hotel in El Paso.
You were standing at the end of the counter
and talked loud enongh for me to hear every
word you said: I was in the back room reading
a newspaper. You were rather off your guard,
I suppose. thinking that as there were only Mexi-
cans in the place no one would understand what

on were so ing, but just by accident, as it

appened 1 card the whole of it, and as I
wanted‘some cows, I made up my mind to clean
out Jim Cassidy and get. in ahead.”

The face of the superintendent grew dark
with rage as he listened to the explanation.

It was as the Fresh had supposed: as there
were only Mexicans in the bar-room. Houma
had spoken more freely than he would other-
wise have done.

Now, too late, he saw his mistake.

“You played the spy upon me then 1” the
superintendent exclaimed in an extremely ugly

W8. .

I Yes, as it happened. I did, but without in—
tending so to do though,” the Fresh rejoined,
coolly. “ But if men will talk recklessly in
public places, they ought not to complain if their
conversation is overheard.

“ Maybe I should not have paid much atten-
tion to it if I hadn’t heard you pledge Cassidy
to be quiet about the matter, or you didn t
want any one to know of the deal.

“ Now, Jim, you know, don’t hear the best of
characters, and has been mixed up in some
rather crooked transactions, and there has been
talk in this neighborhood that if Jim did not
mind his eye, Judge Lynch would get after him
some day, and his neck and along rope would
become intimately acquainted.

“ So when I heard you tell Cassid that he
must keep the matter quiet, the thong t imme-
diately came up in my mind that if you were a
man who indulged in any crooked business. Jim
Cassidy would be just about the sort of a fellow
that on would be apt to pick out for a pard.”

“ b y, you infernal scoundrel !” cried Houma,
and he made a rush for the Fresh, his game

6

being to clasp him in his strong arms, hear
him to the earth and there, kneeling on his
prostrate body, pound him at his leisure.

But the Fresh was not taken by surprise by
the attack, for he had been watching the super-
intendent while he had been speaking, as the
trained swordsman watches his opponent, and
by the glitter of the eyes anticipates the thrust .
before it is made.

So when Houma rushed upon him he was
ready for him.

In an adroit manner he evaded the outstretch-
ed arms, and in place of Houma seizing him, be
seized the other.

And then, in some really marvelous way—the
superintendent was never able to understand or
explain how it was done—the sport got his right
arm around the brawny neck of his opponent,
forced his head under his arm, resting it on his
hip; then, with the aid of the other hand, and a
powerful swing, the Fresh lifted his assailant
fairly from the ground and, turning him in the
air, threw him over his shoulder, Houma landing
on the flat of his back on the ground with a force
that for a moment seemed to knock all the
breath out of him.

To use the language of the “Fancy,” the Fresh
had “ crOss-buttocked” the superintendent.

Bullifant beheld this performance, a prey to
unbounded amazement; being fully as much
astonished as the man upon whom the operation
had been performed.

Fora few moments Houma remained quiet;
the shock had been so great that he was unable
to rise, but when his breath returned to him he
rose slowly to his feet, terribly shaken by the
violence of his fall. I

The superintenlent was big and fat, in no con-
dition for a contest of this kind, and therefore
the shock had terribly rattled him.

He was game, though he now understood that
when he attacked the Fresh he had caught a
T rtar; still, though the idea had come to him
that the Fresh knew a thing or two about the
wrestler’s art which he had not learned, he had
liOpes that owing to his superior weight and
strength he might be able to whip his antago-
nist.

This time he did not attempt to close in with
tho Fresh, hut essziyed to hear him down with a
series of massive blows.

One, two! out went his muscular arms, but
Jackson Blake parried the blows with the great-
est ease, for he was an experienced boxer while
the other man was not, and then, With wonder-
ful quickness, he put in two blows, the first,
with the left, “steading his man,” to use the
sporting term, and the second, the powerful
right, catching Houma on the front of the jaw.

The superintendent threw up his hands, gasp-
ed. 'and down he went all in a heap.

To use the language of the “ ring,” he was
“ knocked out.”

CHAPTER VII.
THE FRESH MAKES THE TRADE.

BULLIFANT had been surprised at the result of
the superintendent’s first attack, but he was
still more surprised when he beheld the massive
superintendent disposed of thus easily.

‘ Great heaven I” he cried, “have you killed
the maul”

“Oh no bless you he is worth a dozen dead
men,” the Fresh replied. “He has only got a.
lesson in boxinor which will be apt to open his
eyes a little. When he gets over this little tap
he will understand that he is not so terrible a
fighter as he thought he was.

“ If you have got some water handy a dose
might do him good." '

Bullifant was quick to improve the hint and
the superintendent soon revived.

With the lawyer’s assistance he rose slowly to
his feet, and then, leaning on Bullifant’s arm
glared at Blake.

“ I Will have your heart’s blood for this!” the
superintendent exclaimed.

“Oh, no, you will not! nothing of the sort!”
the Fresh replied briskly. “ I have not got any
more blood than I want myself and, most de-
cidedly, hav’n’t any to spare. But if you are
not satisfied—and some men are very hard to
suit—we can settle the matter now for good and
all !" the Fresh exclaimed.

“ I reckon you are heeled—few men in this
region who are not. I am, and if you are eager
for blood, out with your revolver, and we will ‘
get to work as soon as you like.” l

Bullif'ant at this point felt called upon to in-
terfere, for he saw that the superintendent had
been so shaken up by the punishment which he
had received, that he was not in a fit state to go
into a revolver duel.

“ Of course it is none of my business,” he
said, “ but, really, I think that this affair had
better not proceed any further at present. Mr.
Houma has acted a little rashly, and, when he
comes to think the matter over, I am sure he
will see that he has been in the wrong.”

This speech gave the superintendent time for

 

 

reflection, and, despite the wrath Which in—

The Fresh in Texas.

thou h, " but I reckon that in the long run
I wil be able to turn the tables on you.”

“ All right, I am agreeable. and hold myself
in readiness to give you satisfaction in any way
that you may desire, and at any time,” Blake
remarked.

“ But, one thing I should like to know: how
do you propose to proceed in this matter?” he
asked. “ Is it understood that this fight is to be
renewed the next time we meet—is either one of
us at liberty to shoot on sight?”

“ Most certainly not, I should say l” the law—
yer declared. “Mr. Houma. I am sure, is no
desperado of that kind. Among gentlemen
such a thing is unknown. If, upon considera-
tion, Mr. Houma does not feel satisfied, he will
proceed to seek satisfaction as is usual among
gentlemen."

“ Yes, that is the way 1 like to do businessl”
the superintendent declared.

Houma was not particularly quick-witted,
but he had sense enough to see that the course
the lawyer had mapped out for him was the true
one for him to follow.

From the experience that he already had of
the Fresh’s quality, it was apparent that if open
war was declared, his opponent would be pretty
certain to wet the best of the fight; but, if he
bided his time, the opportunity might come for
him to catch his man in such a way as to give
him a decided advantage.

“Mr. Bullifant expresses my sentiments,” he
remarked. “ For the present we will consider
this thing settled.”

“ All right, that suits me,” the Fresh replied.
“ I am not going around kicking up rows. In
fact, since I have taken up my residence here on
the Rio Grande, 1 have tried to keep out of all
the difficulties I could, but if war comes, then,
of course, I do my level best.”

“ That is only natural,” Bullifant remarked in
his smooth way.

The lawyer had made up his mind that the
Fresh was a dangerous fellow, and that the best
way to get an advantage over him was by the
nae of craft and trickery.

“ These little misunderstandings will happen,”
he continued, “ rind aman cannot help getting
into a difficulty sometimes.”

“ Well, since this matter is settled, how about
the cows?” Blake remarked. “ As you were
willing to sell them to Cassidy, I do not see why
you should object to sell them to me.”

The superintendent comprehended that he was
in a corner, and there was no way for him to
crawl out, as far as he could see.

As the reader has probably suspected, Houma
had been indulcing in a little “ crookedness ”
when he made the bargain with Cassidy for the

cows,

The Fresh had spoken correctly in regard to
Jim Cassidy when he had asserted that the man
did not bear a good reputation.

Cassidy had been detected in some very ques-
tionable transactions since he had dwelt by the
Rio Grande, and if he had not begged off, and
succeeded in settling with the men whom he had
wronged, he undoubtedly would have been
driven out of the country.

And so, when Blake overheard the conversa-
tion between the two relative to the stock, be
suspected at once that there was something
wrong about the transaction, articularly when
the superintendent offered to et Cassidy have
the cows for two dollars a headless than the
going price, on condition that he kept the mat-
ter a profound secret and paid the cash at once.

It was Jackson Blake’s idea that Honma in~
tended to play the rascal. He thought the su-
perintendent purposed to keep the transaction a
secret and pocket the money, and that was the
reason why he had inveiglod Jim Cassidy into a
game and despoiled him of his wealth.

If the transaction was all open and above board,
of course it did not make any difference to
Houma who bought the cows, for one man’s
money was as good as another’s, but if the
superintendent intended to put the cash in his
own pocket, then he could not dispose of the
cows except to some one who would keep the
transaction 3. secret.

The manner in which Houma had acted,
showed the Fresh that his suspicion was correct.

The superintendent was a rascal.

Then, as Houma puzzled his brain for an ex-

:planation that would appear reasonable, a

bright idea came to him.

“ Well, Mr. Blake, 1 would like to oblige you
in this matter,” he said, “ but I don’t really
feel like standing the loss of a hundred dollars,
for you know the cows are worth ten dollars a
head.”

“ But you were going to sell them to Cassidy
for eight,” the Fresh urged.

. “ That was only a little taffy to lead Jim on,”
Houma explained. “ I don’t know as you have
ever had any dealings with Jim—”

“ No, I haven’t."

“Well, then, of course, you don’t understand
what a mighty peculiar man he is to do business
with. If I had asked him ten dollars a head,

flamed his blood, he was able to see that it i the regular going price, he wouldn’t have want-

“You have got the best of it,” be admitted,
the speech being spoken most unwillingly,

would not be wise for him to carry the quarrel 1
further at present. 1

ed to trade at all, but I led him on With the
offer of two dollars a head less than the cows
are worth; then, when he came to close thedeal,
I should have told him that I had made a-mis—

 

take, that the cows were worth ten dollars a.
head, and that I could not let them go under
that figure, and this is where Jim’s peculiarity
comes in. When he came with his money in his
fist to close the deal and found the price had ad-
vanced, he would stand the ante and close the
trade.”

“ Ah, yes, I see,” exclaimed the Fresh, with a
beaming smile. “ If you said ten at first, Jim
wouldn’t have had it, but after he got into the
thing he would give the figure!”

“ Yes, exactly.”

“ Well, it takes all sorts of men tomake a
world,” Blake observed, philosophically.

“That is so: as I said, a man must be well
acquainted with Jim Cassidy to know how to
take him.”

“Then the price is ten a head?”

“ That is the figure.”

“ I will go it, for I want the cows,” the Fresh
remarked. “ W here are they? I should like to
take a look at them.”

“ Certainly. I’ve got them shut up in the
corral in expectation of Cassidy’s coming, and
if you will walk over you can see them.”

“ All right. I am your man.”

The party proceeded to the corral, which was
not the regular one attached to the superintend—
eut’s house, but a rude affair on the edge of the
ranch next to the road.

Blake comprehended at once how the scheme
would have been worked had he not won Cassi-
dyls money and so prevented the deal.

The corral being on the road and remote from
the rest of the ranch, the cattle could be driven
away with very little probability of any one on
the place knowing anything about it.

The cows were good ones, well worth the
money, and the Fresh concluded the trade at

once.

“ I’ll send over for them this afternoon,” Blake
said, as be mounted his horse. “By the way, is
Miss Margaret at home?”

“ No, she is ofl" for a ride."

“It is no use for me to call then. Well, so
long!”

‘And then the Fresh and Old California Joe
de arted.

ouma and the lawyer watched the pair until
they disappeared around the bend of the road,
and then they took their way back to the super—
intendent’s quarters.

“ Well, the reports in regard to this fellow’s
skill as a fighter are correct," Bullifant re-
marked.

“Yes, curse the luckl‘ I stood no chance at
all, although I look to be more than a match
for him,” the superintendent replied gloomily.

“ Oh, he is a regular prize-fighter!” the laws
yer declared. “ Any one could see that from the
way he handled himself.”

‘ I don’t know whether he is as expert with
his firearms as he is with his fists, but I mean to
find out!” Houma declared.

“ Look out that you don’t give him a fair
chance,'or else he may lay you out,” Bullifant

warned.

“ Oh, I will hatch some scheme to catch him
at a. disadvantage. be sure of that!” the other
exclaimed. “ You may be satisflrd that I will
not rest until I have full measure of revenge,
and if I cannot wipe him out myself, then I will
call others to my aid.”

“That is the safest game, and I will do all I
can to help you l” the lawyer declared.

CHAPTER VIII.
THE FRIENDS.

ALONG by the bank of the yellow Rio Grande,
following what was known as the river trail,
rode two as fair maidens as the bright Texan
sun had ever shone on.

One was Margaret Escobedo, the heiress of
the old cattle king, the richest girl by far in
all that section of Country. and the other was
her bosom friend, Pauline Melville.

The two girls were a most decided contrast
to each other, for Margaret was tall and slender
and queenly in her carriage, with a wealth of
golden hair and the clearest, deepest blue eyes
that mortal woman ever possessod, while her“
friend was short in stature, extremely plump,
with dark-drown eyes and hair.

The position in life occupied by the two were
as different as their looks, although both were
orphans, but 'while Margaret was as wealthy
a girl as could be found all along the line of
the Rio Grandc, thanks to the old cattle king’s
money, Pauline was entirely dependent upon
her own exertions.

She and Mar aret had been chums at school
in the East, an at that time, owing to the fact
that Margaret’s mother had fled from the old
cattle king, carrying her child with tenths!
two not being able to agree, Margaret had no
more expectations than her friend.

Andwhen their school days were over, and
the two went out into the world to earn their
living—for although Margaret’s mother held a
good position, yet she preferred that her child
should be able to take care of herself, for at.
that time neither one ever expected to receive
a single penn from Estevan Escobedo—the two
secured positions together, and so the friendship
continued.

Then came the sudden death of the: old cattle

 

g. gar—g

l

 

 

 

The Fresh in Texas.

7

 

 

king and the news that Margaret was his heir:
the death of Mar aret’s mother followed shortly
afterward, and argaret’s journey to the West
to take possession of her inheritance separated
her from Pauline.

The two corresponded regularly though and
when owing to the misconduct of Manuel and
Isabel Escobcdo, her cousins, and who had been
her companions on the much, they were come
pelled to go away, and Margaret was left alone,
she sent for Pauline to come to her, and the girl
gladly obeyed the summons.

As Margaret said in her appeal to her friend:

“ Why should you toil as hard as you have to
for a bare living while I have everything that
the heart of a woman can desire? Come and
share my fortune with me!"

Miss Pauline had now been an inmate of the
Escobedo Ranch for some two months and had
become pretty well accustomed to the peculiar
life, so different to what she had been used to in
the East.

The two girls had been indulging in a brisk
gallop and had now pulled their steeds into a.
walk so as to breathe the animals, and this af-
forded an opportunity for conversation.

“ That is a nice ranch over yonder,” Pauline
remarked, as they rode pasl: a thrifty-looking

ace.

p “ Yes, it is a well-kept estate.”

“ Let me see; I do not remember to have ever
noticed that ranch before, although this is not
the first time I have been along this road,”
Pauline remarked, reflectively. “ Who lives
there?”

“ Mr. Blake.“

“ Oh, the Fresh, as they call him i” the other
exclaimed.

“ Yes, but I really think it is utterly absurd
to bestow such a title upon him!” Margaret re-
marked, spiriliedly, a tinge of color in her cheeks
and her eyes flashing.

“ So it seems to me, but then they have such a
strange habit in this country of bestowing all
sorts of nick-names upon people. Sometimes
they lit very snugly, but in this case, I confess,
I do not see anything fresh about Mr. Blako,
excepting that he has a cool, easy way with him,

uite a contrast to the rough boisterousness or
t 6 most of these Texans.”

“Mr. Blake is not a Texan, you know; he is
from California.”

“ Oh, yes, I kn0w that; his nick-name gives
that information—the Fresh of ’Frisco, you
know; isn’t it utterly ridiculous?”

_ “ Yes, so it seems to me, and I confess that
Since I have been acquainted with the gentle-
man I have not seen anything in his hearing, or
conduct, that would suggest such a name.

“ As you say he is cool and uiet, but not at
all forward, as this ridiculous nick-name would

imply.”

“ hat is true enough !” Pauline assented.
“ Now the majority of young men living in
close proximity to such a. pretty girl as you are
-—to say nothing of myself—would be sure to
have found some excuse to call in every day or
two, but since I havo been here I do not believe
he has called once a week.”

“ It was the same way before you came,”
Margaret remarked. “ About once a week, sel-
dom oftener.”

“ But he was welcome, wasn’t he, Margaret?”
Pauline asked, with a shy glance at the face of
her friend.

“ Welcome!” Margaret exclaimed, in deep,
earnest tones. “ Why, Pauline, Mr. Blake is as
welcome to my house as the sun!

“ That man saved me from a position of the
greatest perll. and while I live I will never for—
get the serVice be rendered mohrepay it I can
never hope to.”

“You might, by giving him your precious
self, eh?” Pauline exclaimed, mischievously.

The heiress of Escobedo criinsoned from her
neck to her temples, and her confusion was most
manifest.

“ 0h, forgive me, Margaret. I did not mean

to wound you!” the other exclaimed, deeply re-v

retting her careless speech, and then she passed
er arm, caressingly, around the waist of Mar-
garet.

“ I only said it to tease you, and 1 did not
think you would care.”

“ Oh, it does not matter,” the heiress replied,
forcing a smile, although there were tears in
her eyes.

“ I am foolish to allow you to tease me, but
then I know that Mr. Blake’s name and mine
have been coupled together, and I am sensitive
in regard to the matter.”

“ That is true, for during my brief stay here
I have heard many a sly hint that the Fresh, as
they all call him, would, probably, one day be
the master of the Escobedo Rnnch.”

“ Yes, the gossip has come to my cars.”

“ Well, I really wonder at the talk, for, as
far as I can see, the gentleman does not act 'at
all like a lover.”

.“ Oh, no, no one could with justice accuse
him of paying me any particular attention.”

“He seemed to me like a devoted friend—a
brother as it were, whom you might depend up

,on in the hour of need."

“And such he has been to me ever since we

first met i” Margaret exclaimed.

 

“ I came to this far southwestern land alone
and friendless and fell immediately into the
power of enemies whom I firmly believed to be
my friends; in m) trusting innocenco I was an
easy dupe.”

“ That I can readily believe," Pauline re-
marked, “ for you are unsuspicious by nature
and would not be apt to think evil of any one.”

“ I inherited the fortune which others covet-
ed,” Margaret explained. “ But my death was
not deSired, for in that case there were a bun—
dred heirs and even my father’s vast estate
would be divided into so many parts that none
of the heirs would be satisfied With their share,
so these pretended friends arranged a plot of
which I was to be the victim.

“ The scheme was to place me in a position of
peril from which 1 could only escape by marry-
ing one of these pretended friends, and it would,
probably, have succeeded too, for in my inno-
cence I did not dream of the trap into which I
had fallen, had it not been for Mr. Blake who
came to my rescue in the very nick of time.”

“ How extremely romantic!”

“It was extremely fortunate for me, for his
timely arrival saved me from becoming the.
prey of as base a. Villain as there is in all this
wide world."

“ And how was it that Mr. Blake happened to
know of the matter?” Pauline asked with all the
natural curiosity of her sex.

“ Just by accident he got a hint that there
was something wrong, and With the persever-
ance of a bloodhound he followed on the track
until he succeeded in baffling the plans of the
conspirators and saved me from becoming their
victim.”

“ That is where his freshness comes in, I sup-
pose,” remarked Pauline with a laugh.

“ Yes, I presume so, for I was a stranger to
him, and he braved the enmity of a powerful
band of despcradoes by interfering, but he did
not count the cost and in the end succeeded in
defeating the plans of the villains.”

“ I have heard a little gos~ip in regu rd to this
matter since I have been here,” Pauline ob-
served.

“ The princi al actors in the affair were your
cousin, Mamie , and Isabel Escobedo?”

“ Yes, the two whom I believed to be my firm
friends."

“It must have been a dreadful blow to you
when you discovered their treachery?”

“ It was, for I never suspected it.”

“Did you have any little tender feeling for
Manuel?”

“ Oh, no, although he professed to be my
deVUtf‘d admirer, but as a lover I never cared
for him.”

“ And the other, Mr. Blake, he has never
sought to woo you? You see I am awfully
anxious! You don’t mind my asking, do you,
dear?”

“ No; in our school—girl days we had no
secrets from each other, and I will be as frank
with you now,” Margaret replied.

“ Mr. Blake likes me, I know; his eyes have
told me so many a time—his 1i 3 never! He is
always just the same as you ave seen him,
pleasant, perfectly polite and respectful, but
nevef attempts to woo me in a lover-like fash-
ion.

“Oh, Margaret, confess now, if he did you
would not be angry!” Pauline exclaimed, arcbly.

“Well, I must wait until that happens, you
know, before I shall be sure,” Margaret replied,
demurcly.

“ One thing is certain," she added, “ I am not
likel to woo him.”

“ erhaps he hasn’t curage to try to win such
a great heiress as you are,” Pauline suggested.

“ Of course I don’t know about that, but as
far as regular courage goes I believe from what
I have seen of him that he would not hesitate to
fight a lien, for he does not seem to know what
fear is."

“ Yes, I have heard people say too that he is
a gambler and a desperado, and all that, but I
don‘t believe it!”

“Neither do I: he may not be any better, but
he certainly is no worse than the other gentle-
men of the neighborhood as far as I am able to
discover.”

And after this the conversation passed to
other subjects, but the lively Pauline, with all a
woman‘s shrewdness, made up her mind to have
a talk with the Fresh and see what he really
thought about the matter.

 

CHAPTER IX.
A WOMAle wrr.

PAULINE pondered over the conversation all
the way home, and the more she thought upon
the subject the greater became her determina-
tion to seek an interview with Jackson Blake
and see what he had to say about the matter.

In the solitude of her apartment, after her
arrival at the ranch, she discussed the question
with herself, for there was not a soul in the
house to whom she dared to speak on the sub-
ject.

“ It is a shame, so it is!" she declared. “ Mar-
garet loves the man, although she is not willing
to acknowledge it; but 1 do not blame her for

l

 

that, for it is not maidenly for a girl to admit
she cares for a man who does not take the
trouble to woo her.

“ And what is the reason that he doesn’t?”
Pauline asked, abruptly.

“ There is some reason for it, of course. Mar-
garet admits that he, with his eyes, has betrayed
that he likes her; and if that is true, and there
is no cause to doubt it, for a girl like Margaret
is too sensible to be deceived, then it is very
strange he does not strive to secure the iriZc till
the rest of the gentlemen in the neigh JOI‘hOQd
are so anxious to win.

“ AsI said before, there must be some good
reason for it, and I am no true Yankee girl if I
don’t find out what it is.

“ Margaret is unhappy over the matter; I can
see that clearly; and if I can discover what
obstacle there is in the way, perhaps I maybe
able to remove it.

“ Anyway, as Margaret’s friend, I ought to
do all in my power to promote her happiness,
and I feel sure from what she has said—or not
so much from what she said as the way in which
she said it—thut she would gladly be wooed and
won by the Fresh of ’Frisco.”

The chapter of accidents favored Miss Pauline
in her design, for, a short time after she formed
this resolution. she overheard a couple of the
herdsmen speaking in regard to the Fresh com-
ing for the cows that afternoon which he had
purchased.

“ Ahal” exclaimed the girl, delighted at the
opportunity; “ now I will have a chance to meet
Mr. Blake, just by accident, and if I don’t find
out ju .t what he thinks about the matter, then
I am not as smart as 1 think I am.”

So, Miss Pauline found it convenient to take a
walk down by tho corral that afternoon at
about the time that Jackson Blake and his men
were expected to come for the cows.

She arrived just in season to see the cattle de-
part, and when the operation wnscomplctcd and
the cows were on the road, Pauline said, with
her sweetest smile:

“ Are you not coming up to the house, Mr.
Blake? It is quite a time since you favored us
with a call and I rather guess you think we are
not good company or else you would come
oftencr.”

Of course the Fresh could not refuse such an
invitation and so he accompanied Miss Melville
to the house.

But upon arriving there, after Pauline bad es—
corted the gentleman into the parlor. and sum-
moned a servant to announce Mr. Blake‘s ar—
rival, to Miss Escohedo, the discovery was made
that the ladies of the next ranch above on the
river had carried the heiress off for a visit.

Of course the sly young woman knew that
Margaret was absent when she invited the gen:
tleman to the house, for otherwise she could not
have secured the o portunity of enjoying a pri-
vate interview wit him.

" Well, now, 1 am so sorry you are disappoint-
ed," she said, “ for of course I cannot enter-
tain on as well as Miss Escobedo!”

h, I don‘t know about that!” the Fresh
replied, gallantly. “ I am afraid you are not
domg justice to yourself, for I am sure that
you can be fully as entertaining as Miss Es-
cebedo.” ’

“Yes, that may be, but if she was here there
would be two to entertain you instead of one——
double attraction on see.”

“ Ah, but you 0 not consider that I may be
like the gentleman who declared, how happy he
could be with either, if the other dear charmer
were away i” Blake rejoined.

“I do not doubt that that is true, but I think
you are real mean to say so, for of course 1 un-
derstand thnt you would a great deal rather
that Miss Escobedo were here to entertain you
than poor me,” Pauline declared, with an affect—
ed pout. r

" Qh, now you have got it all wrong,” the
Fresh answered. “ It is your charming self who
is the attractive one. am positive that any
gentleman who has the good luck to spend an
hour in your agreeable company Will not have
cause to complain that he has not been pleasant-
ly entertained."

“ I am afraid that you are a sad flntterer, Mr.
Blake!” Pauline exclaimed, shaking her finger
at him, wai'niiigly.

“ Oh, no, nothing but the tmth comes from me
I assure you.” _

“ Well, one thing is certain, my bank account
is not so attractive as Miss Escobeilo‘sl” Pauline
exclaimed, with a laugh.

“ Yes, there isn‘t any mistake about that, and,
I presume a good many men in this world
would really prefera handsome hunk-account
to a handsome woman,” the Fresh remarked.

“ I don’t believe that your tastes run in that
way.” the girl observed.

“ You are right there; there isn’t anything of
the fortune-hunter about me.” '

“ Yes, I feel sure of that!” -

“ Really you compliment me!” and the Fresh
bowed politely. ,

“ Oh, your actions show that you are not mer-
cenary.”

“ How do you make that out?"

“ Why, the way in which you act toward Min
Escobedo.”

 

8

 

I .

“ I don’t {think I get your meaning exactly.”

“ Miss Escobedo is the richest girl in all this
section—«that is true, isn’t it?”

"She has that reputation.”

“And as a consequence almost every gentle-
man for miles around is a suitor for her hand.”

“ Yes, but I do not think it is hardly fair for
you to assume that all her suitors are attracted

y the fact that she is the wealthiest girl in the
district,” the Fresh observed. "For you must
remember that Miss Escobcdo is a very beauti-
ful woman, and then being a blonde too, her
style of beauty is in direct contrast to the type
usually seen along the Rio Grande, and that
 ‘ renders her more attractive.

" “ So I think it is hardly fair to assume that all
her admirers are attracted by her Wealth and
none by her beauty.”

“ Well, I uess my statement isn’t exactly
correct,” Pau ine admitted, “ but youare leading
me away from the point which I desired to
make, and that is that neither Miss Escobedo’s
wealth nor beauty Seemed to be potent enough
to attract you.”

“ Ah, now on are putting a leading question
to me, as a awyer would say,” the Fresh re-

: . «33 .v v
m ‘

‘ I

“was”

  
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
    
    
  
   
   
   
 
   
   
    
  
   
   
   
  
    
  
    
 
  
   
 
  
   
  
  
   
   
 
  
     
   
   
   

plied laughing. _
v “Well, am not a Judge to compel on to an-
swer it if on do not want to, you now,” the

girl replie , archly.

“ But you are anxious to learn, though?”

“ Am I not a woman?”

“ And therefore curious, eh?”

“ I will have to admit the fact, I suppose."

“ \Vell, it is a subject about which I should
not care to converse in Public," Blake observed,
slowly. “ But I think can afford to make an
exception in your favor, for I feel sure on are
a. devoted friend to’ Miss Escobedo, an .would
do all in your pewer to insure her happiness."

' “ Yes, indeed I would,” Pauline exclaimed,
rom tly. “ Why, Mr. Blake. we have been
rich 5 ever since We were children, and if we

were sisters I do not believe we could love each
other any better than we do.”

“ Oh. I have noticed that you seem to be de-
votedly attached.”

“Yes, I would do almost anything for Mar-
garet, and I am sure she would do as much for
me,” Pauline declared. “ And I will admit,
without heating around the bush, that I am puz-
ZIed to account for your indifference, particular-
ly as I understand that you have a most decided

claim to Margaret’s atitude.”

“ l‘ presume she s informed you, then, of
the rather strange way in which we became ac-
quainted.”

“ Yes, she told me the really romantic story,”
Pauline replied. “ Why, Mr. Blake, it is just
like a chapter out of a novel.”

“ It was rather odd, there is no mistake about
it; but this is a wild country along the Rio
r .Grande, and events happen here that could not
' ibly occur in a more civilized community.”

. “You acted like a hero, Mr. Blake, and if

" i there is any man in the world who deserves to

win Margaret Escobedo you are the man,"

Pauline declared, in her em hatic way.

“‘1 am very much ’oblig to you for the com-
pliment,” the Fresh remarked.

-- “ Ah, but it is not an empty com liment,”
the girl rejoined. “ It is the truth. on saved

'her from a dreadful fate, for what can be worse

for a woman than to be forced into a marriage

’with a man whom she cannot love?"

“ That is ver true, and I suppose to carry out
the romance, ought to lay vigorous siege to
‘Miss Margaret.”

“ Yes, most decidedly, and I confess my,curi-
osityis excited. There is some good reason for
it, of course. Possibly you are already in love,
" ’ and so are not heart-free.”

,  “Oh, no, there isn’t anything of that kind to

interfere,” the Fresh rep ied. ,

“ Of course I will not attempt to deny that I
.' have met girls whom I have fancied. and they
, in return have looked with favorable eyes upon

,me, but all these are in the long ago; none of
them recent enough to interfere with my pay-
E’g’yit to Miss Escobedo if I was disposed so to

f‘A‘nd why don‘t your’askedrauune with
7; true feminine bluntness.
ti“Blake laughed at the directness of the ques»

It
“You must really forgive me l” Pauline has-
tened to exclaim. “ I know that it is perfectly
:viifuiltfgr me to be so inquisitive, but I cannot

e p .

, “Oh. no, of course you are not to blame, you
were born that we .” 1
“ Yes, I suppose was.”

1 “ Well, as am always glad to gratify a lady,
I am disposed to satisfy your curiosit ," the
< mesh remarked.

, ,“Of courseI should not care to go around
:zgdefroclaim this from the house-tops,” he

  

  
 

d .
’ “Certaieg not, but you can rely upon my

re a.
“ Of that I feel assured, or else I should not
-converse at all With you in regard to the mat—
;a ter," Blake remarked gravely. .
l a 1 “Now then, I will (rely admit to you that l
> am not at all blind to Miss Esoobedo s charms.
I think she is as lovely a girl as l. have ever had

‘i'.

   
   

  

 

  

the pleasure of encountering, and fully believe
that she is as good as she is beautiful.”

“ Oh, yes, thene isn’t a doubt of that !” Pauline
exclaimed.

“And any man, no matter what may be his
station in life, peasant or prince, might esteem
himsalf1 fortunate to Win the love of such a peer-
less gir .

“ You are certainly right in that statement!
Margaret is worthy the love of any man, no
matter who or what he is!” Pauline declared.

“ And that is one of the reasons why I hesi-
tate to enter the lists with the rest of her suit-
ors,” the Fresh remarked.

“ Now, Miss Melville, I am going to be honest
with you, and honest with myself,” he added.
“ I presume you have been long enough in this
secgipn to have heard plenty of stories about
me

“ Oh, yes; and I have been here long enough,
too, to understand that gossip here is just like
gossip everywhere else; one must not believe all
they hear.”

“ That is true enough; there is an old saying
that a good story never loses anything in the
telling, and I think it is a very true one. I sup-
pose you know that though Jackson Blake is my
name, yet another appellation has been affixed
to me by which I am as often called as by my
baptismal name."

“ Oh, yes, the Fresh of ’Frisco,” Pauline re-
plied, smiling at the odd conceit. ,

“ And I suppose you have heard, too, that
my character is none of the best?”

“ Yes, but I do not pay any attention to these
idle stories, nor does Miss Escobedo,” the girl re-
plied immediately.

“ Margaret and myself were conversing about
the matter recently, and she said that during all
the time you have lived here you had conducted
yourself in the most proper manner, and no one
could, u ith truth, say a word against you.”

“ I am very glad indeed to learn that Miss
Escobedo has such a‘ good opinion of me,” the
Fresh remarked.

“ Then she does not believe that I am a des-
perado and a card-sharp going about like a
raging lion seeking whom I may devour?”

“ No, indeed l” Pauline declared, em hatically.
“ Your life during the time that you have lived
here is a complete answer to that accusation.”

“ Yes, that is true enough. I have behaved
myself pretty well since I settled here by the
banks /of the Rio Grande, but I will make the
honest confession that I have led a pretty wild
life. A desperado, in the true sense of the word
I have never been, although I have never besi-
tated to defend myself when attacked, and, to
speak the exact truth, have been involved in
quarrels which I cculd have kept out of if I had
so chosen: that is where the Fresh comes in, you
know. My peculiar disposition causes me to
interfere in matters which do not concern me,
like this one of the conspiring against Miss Es»
cobedo; if it had not been for my freshness I
should never have been mixed u in that.”

” It was a most fortunate th ng for her that
you did take an interest in the matter though,”

auline observed. ‘

“ Yes, as it happened it was, and now another

oint. I am accused of being a gambler, and

must acknowledge that I have seen the time
when I depended upon cards for a living. or
course I can come the old game and swear that
1 always played fairly and all that, but that
doesn’t wipe out the fact that I depended» on
cards for my bread and butter.”

“ Of course, to look at the matter {:3 the light
in which it would be regarded in the East, it
seems to be a dreadful thing,” the girl observed.

“ But out in this country everybody seems to
play cards/and although it maybe that I am
not a Competent judge, yet to me there does not
seem to be such a great difference between the
man who plays cards for amusement, as long as
he ventures money on the result of the game,
and the one who makes a living by card—play-
ing. One thing to my-mind is certain: if the

gentlemen who only play for- amusement would ,

stop amusing) themselves in that way, the
regular gam lers would be apt to starve to
death.” , ' .

The Fresh laughed, for to his mind the girl’s
words were not only true but amusing.

“ Well, I think you are right, although the
world at large will not be apt to agree with you,
but that is a mere matter of opinion, of course.
But now, just look at the matter: my past life
has not been a particularly creditable one; the
woman who marries me will he apt to bear some
ugly stories once in a while, and a good many

pie will be apt to hold up their hands in holy
error at the union. ‘ ' '

“Then, as 1 am odd and peculiar by nature, it
may be possible that I will not be content to
settle down into a, quiet, bum-drum life. I am
not certain of myself, maybe; and now then,
don’t you think there are good reasons why I do‘
not strive with the rest of fine gentlemen of this
neighborhood to win'the he rose of Espobedol”

Pauline smiled and shook her head.

“ These reasons of yours would be swe 15 away
like chafl before the wind if you re y loved
Margaret!” she, declared ’ ' '

“ And there is another point stronger than all. .

the rest!” the Fresh resumed.
,. ‘.l .V“_ V/f

   

  
 

 

was"

 

“ What is that. prey?”

“ I may be so doubtful in regard to my chance
otfnwinning the heiress that am afraid to risk
1

“ If you are troubled about that, then de~
cidedl y you haven’t any right to your nick-name l”
the girl exclaimed.

Blake laughed, and after a few more words
took his departure. ‘\

“ Fortune is pushing me along whether I will
or no,” he soliloquized, as he rode away from
the ranch.

“ Is it fated then that I am to win this peer-
less beauty?”

 

CHAPTER X.
SEEKING THE OLD mw.

Tan two Cubans sat together in the oflice of
the Hotel Mexico, in El Paso.

They were in a corner remote from the rest,
and so were able to converse without danger of
being overheard.

“ Now, then. what should be our first move in
this game?” the elder, Gomes, asked of the
youn er, Es arto.

“ T iat is ilficult to say at present, for We are
not yet thoroughly posted in regard to the
ground,” the other re lied.

“We have secur the alcalde and the chief
of police, and they will aid as to the extent of
their power; but, according to the tall' of the
landlord, and the loungers in the hotel with

'whom I have conversed, the Freshhas become

an extremely popular man in 1211 Paso during
the last year, and we must be careful how we
attack him.”

“ I suppose he is popular because the bullies of
the town are afraid of him,” observed Gomes
with a sneer.

“ That‘s about the truth, I think, and yet, as
far as I can learn, he has not been concerned in
any uarrels for a long time.”

“ he town made the discovery that he was a
dangerous man ri ht after his arrival in this
section, and he has een given a wide berth ever
since.

“That is probably the truth, and any attack

which we make on him must be planned in the V

most careful manner; and now before we be 'n
to scheme, I would suggest a Visit to old Ha ad
Solomons,” Esparto remarked.

“That is not a bad idea,” Gomes observed,
approvingly. “ The old Jew is a shrewd fellow,
and is usua 1y able to give good counsel.”

“ He will know exactly how the land lays, and
undoubtedly his advice will be valuable."

“ Let us go at once, then,” Gomes suggested.

So the two left the hotel and made their way
to the Jew’s house, which was on a side street,
runnin from the plaza, as the readers who
made t e acquaintance of the Hebrew pawn—
broker in the tale entitled “The Fresh on the
Rio Grande,” will remember.

Gomes rapped on the J ew’s door when he
reached it, and after a brief interval asliding
panel in the upper 15 of the door opened and
the yellow, weasel- ' 8 face of the eminent He-
brew appeared. ,

This was the regular custom of the pawn-
broker.

No one gained admission to his premieres until
he had made a careful examination of them by
means of the small window in the door.

“ This is Mr. Solomons?” said Games.

“Yesh, yesh, dot ish mine n hie.” -

“ This gentlemen and mySelf would like to see
you on a little matter of business,” Gomes ex-
plained. “We are strangers here in El ~Peso,
and come from the Island of Cuba.”

“We bring you news of an old friend of
yours,” Esparto added, “ Manuel Escobedo.”

“ Ah, yeah—mine gootnessl” exclaimed the
old Jew. “ I hafe not heard from mine fr’en’,
Escobedo, for many a long day.

“Shust wait a moment, mine fr’en’s, and I
will let you in.” '

The pawnbroker then closed the panel, and
the sound of moving bolts and bars was heard.

“ The man has his house guarded like a fort," ~

Esparto remarked.
“ Yes, the old fellow. is rolling in Wealth and

he is afraid of being robbed 'b some desperate

fellow, and so he has fortified is mansion in a
manner fit to resist anything but artillery,”
Gomes answered. ‘ >

Then the door Opened, and the tall, lean figure
of the Jew waned. , “,

He was cl in a rusty suit of black so shabby
that it is doubtful if he, or ’anyo his tribe,
would‘have been willing to advance a‘dollar
on it. I

He cast a pie
the eyes of he ‘
in his head, were as keen as
will? th tin h in ' u been

en 3 scru av g apparen
satisfaétory, he opezied the door wider and
bade them enter; and after the were within
the house he closed the door an carefully adv
justed the fastenings again.

This, operation performed, he turned to the
Cubans and inquired: , "

‘. Mine fr’en's, do you vant to raineany

man, although d sunken
he or ‘ of an

money
, on anyt’ing?” and he rubbed his skinny, talen-

like hands togezeher, and showed his yellow teeth
inwhatwasin nde‘d to be anagreeableimilet

V ,3. ,'

   

 

      
 

in glarioe at the Cubans, and _

 

(4,... .» . A. A, a

   

 

   

 

 
  
       
      
 
 
 

-.,_...~..__‘ _.- ._.......

 

 

 

  

  

  

  

 

   

 

 

. .1: "., 
a .

The Fro/shin Texas.

 

 
   

9

 

“No, we do not desire a loan,” Gomes an-
swcred.

“ All we seek is advice,” Esparto added.

“ Advice, eh?” and the old Jew favored his
visitors with another scorching glance as though
he wished to read their very sou s.

“ Yes, and we have an idea, too, that it may
be possible we can put some money in your
way.”

‘* Aha (lat ish goot—monish ish gout; he, hel”
chuckled the old man.

“ Times are hard now—I cannot much make,
and I shall be glad if you gifes me a. chance to
do somet’ings."

And then the pawnbroker produced chairs
and invited his visitors to be seated.

“ How may I call your names, mine fr’en’s, if
you please,” be asked, as be seated himself, fac-
ing the Cubans. .

‘ My name is Gomes,” said the elder.

“ And mine is Esparto,” added the other.

“ And you said you brought me news of Man-
uel Escobedo,” mused the old man. “ Veil, veil,
I am glad, for he was a goot fr‘en’ of mine. Is
he veil?"

“ Be is dead,” was the reply.

CHAPTER XI.
SOLOMONS ADVICE.

“ DEAD, eh, Manuel Escobedo ish dead, oh!"
the old man murmured In a reflective way, rub-
bing his hands softly together, but he did not
seem to be particularly astonished.

“ Yes,” and then Gomes related how the Es-
cobedos, brother and sister, had perished when
the trading schooner went down.

“ Veil, vell, dot ish bad,” the Jew remarked,
and all the time that Games had been speaking
he had been closely studying the faces of his
visitors.

“Yes, the account of Manuel Escobedo was
abruptly closed,” Gomes remarked. “ And just
at a time too when he was preparing to return
to El Paso and strike it 'blow at the foe who had
driven him from his native land.”

And then the Cuban told the story of Isabel
Escabedo‘s wealth marriage, and the death of
heii1 husband, whic had brought all the money
to er. ,

“Owing to this fortunate circumstance, you
see, Manuel Escobedo was in a condition income
back to El Paso and wage. effective war against
the man who drove him away."

“ Yesh, yesh, I see; you speak of dis Jackson
Blake, der Fresh of ’Frisco?” said the old pawn-
broker. “ Ho ish a bold fellow, dot Fresbl’,’

“ That is the man," the Cuban replied.
“Manuel Escobedo bore him a deadly hatred
and swore when he was driven away from El
Paso that he would never rest until he was
aven ed.

“ anuel is dead, this gentlemen and myself
were his bosom friends, and to us has come the
fortune that Isabel acquired by her marriage,
and to us too has descended this legacy of van-
geance, and we have come to El Paso express]
to uare the account of Manuel Escobedo wit
this resh of ’Frisco.” '

“ Yeah, yesh, I see,” and all the while the old
Hebrew was studying the faces of hisvisitors
with the utmost attention.

“Manuel had com leted all his arran outs
for returning to El aso when he met h 3 death
on this ill-fated voyage,” Gomes explained.
“‘ Myself and cousin here,” and be nodded to
LSPM‘PO. ‘ were to accompany him and aid in
carryin out his scheme of vengeance, so we
knew his plans, having fully discussed and
arranged the matter; and when the news of his
untimely death reached us, we determined that
as soon as We could settle affairs we would
come and carry out» the plans as originally ar-
ranged.” .

“ Ah. yesb, Isee,” the Jew observed, with an
approving nod. -

“ I have gone into this explanation so you
will understand how matetrl stand,” Games
continued.

“ Manuel Escobedo had no secrets from us:
we know all the particulars regarding his past
life here in El Paso, and understand who were
his friends and confederates 1n the old time.
We haveralread seen the alcelde and his bro-
ther, the chief 0 police, and arranged with them
for their assistance, so we Will have strong back-
ing here in El Peso.”

"‘ Yesh, yesb, dot ish goot!” the J ow exclaimed.
“ Tho Pan-a]: are fine men and they always
stick to their frien’.”

" And now we have come to enlist you in our
enterprise," Comes remarked. I

-‘ Mine gootness, v’ot can I do?” cried the

 

‘ pa‘wnbroker, apparentlyI much surprised.

Whfiy‘, you are to elp as exactly as you
a

helped nuel Escobedo in the old time,” the
Cuban rcplied.
“ About the first thin we intend to do is to

revive the band of the Riders of Rayon,
for .we will needan organized force to cope with
the Fresh of ’Fnsco and the d ‘ radoes whom
i? ha? atthis back: and when tlkie d ishformed
l ,w' pu money in our et net 1: e some
asituoedtodo.” y‘ poo 5

“Oh, well, I am always ready for a trade, of

v course, mine fr’en? ” the Jew remarked.
d earnest in this matter and

,_ “Waste in den

 

 

 

are determined to compass the death of this

.1 accursed Fresh_oi ’Frisco!” Gomes said, With
1 firm determination.

“ Oh, it will be a difficult job!” the old pawn-
broker declared. “ That man is a devill Yesh,
mine lr’en‘s, dat ish it exactly! Dot Fresh of
’Fri co ish u devil, and dere ish not money
enough in dis world to hire me to fight mit him.

“ by, mine fi"en’s, v’ot you t’inkl When he
first to El Paso did come, he raised monish
from me on a loan—then be cleaned out some of
der gamblers, and der next day when be’come
back to pay up, so help me, Moses! if he did not
rope me into a game and beat me out of three
hundred tollars!”

“ Is it possible?” Gomes exclaimed.

“It is,’ the old man replied, with a doe sigh.
“ He fixed der thing so (lot it looked asif could
skin him out of three hundred dollars, and I vas

fool enough to t’ink dot I could beat a' sport like .

he ish at his own game.”

“ And be beat you, eh?” Gomes observed.

“ Yesh, mine gootnessl as slick as der whistle!
I tell you, mine fr"cn’, I want no more to do mit
dot mans!”

“He has had a good run of luck since he
struck El Peso, but it is about time for it to
change,” Esparto observed. ‘

“ I for one do not care to buck against him ”
the Jew replied, decidedly. “ And, if you wi 1
take my advice, when you go for him you will
have der t'ing fixed sodot he will have no chance
at all, or else he will beat you.”

“Oh, we will make the trap so strong that
when he is once in, there wil not be much
chance to get out,” Gomes declared.

The old pawnbroker shook his head in an
extremely doubtful way. ‘~

“ Ah. mine fr’en’, you will find that to be a.
very diflicult matter, I t’ink. The Fresh has
gout men with him, and unless you hafe a big
band, of Red Riders he will be certain to beat

ou.‘

y “ We are in no hurry, but can afford to wait
until a. favdrable opportunity arrives,” the Cuban
remarked.

“ We have not allowed the grass to grow
under our feet,” Esparto obServed. “ Although
we have not been long in E1 Paso'we have al-
ready commenced to enlist men for our band.
Thanks to Manuel Escobedo’s instructions we
have been able to put our hands right on the
men we need—good, trusty fellows who were in
the old band, and a couple of them are the
men who used to attend to the business with

you.”

“Dot ish gootl I do not new men like. for
until they are tried you cannot tell anything
about them.”

“ That is our idea, and we are securing all the
old men we can t at.”

“ 80, Manuel scobedo is dead,” the old He-
brew remarked, gazing at the Cubans in a curi-
ous way as he spoke. ‘ Veil, I am sorry for dot.
I liked Manuel; be vas a goot teller; and don,
too, dere vas a leetle balance of a. hundred tol-
lars due 1119—” . ,

“Oh, that is all right!” Games exclaimed,

immediately. “I will settle that. Brin me
n and ink, and I will give you an or on
anker Weinholdt for the .

The Jew hastened to comply with the re-
uest, and was greatly delighted upon receiving
t e money.

And t on the Cubans departed, the old
Hebrew escorting them out with,many profes-
sions of how lad he would be to serve them.

But after e were one, and Solomons had

secure] lock bol and barred his castle
triglain, e shook his head in’ an extremely doubt-
u we.

“When the game was played der last time.
der Fresh won mitout any troubles,” the old
Jew muttered. “ Mebbe he vill not be able to do
der trick dis time, but I vould not be villing to
bet much monish on dot, for he ish a devil,
and der mans dot fights mit der devil must get
up! in der morning early. All der same, I am
g d dot der Red Rider band is to go again.

‘“ A goot bit of monish did dot ban bring to
me, but if. de go for der Fresh dey must keep
their, eyes pee ed, or dot mans will clean dam
on .

The Cubans retraced their steps toward the
Hotel Mexico. ’

“ The old Jew is as cautious as ever,” Gomes
remarked. ‘

“Yes: he was never willing to take any
risks,” Esparto observed. “ It‘was always his
game to get all the money he could without put-
ting himself in a position so he could possibly be
implicated." . ‘

‘ Well, I suppose the old fellow is not to
blame for wanting to play a. safe game,” Comes
replied. “ That is characteristic of his lace the
world over.” . .

“ That is true enough.”

At this point the two turned from the side-
street into the loan, and, as they did so. they
came face to ace with a rather shabbily-
dressed man, alittle under the medium higbt,
 a dark, olive face, and a decidedly foreign

oo .

A single glance at his countenance, though, t_o

a judge of nationalities would have revealed his

* with my sto .”

. voke the Fresh of ’Frisco into acquarrel. and if

The high cheek—bones, peculiar thin face,
pointed mustache and imperial, jet-black in hue,
as was the hair which curled almost as tight as
a negro's wool to his head, told that he was a ,
Frenchman.
dlUnder his arm he carried a long, slender bun-
c. ' ,
Upon meeting so abruptly with the Cubans ‘3‘
the renchman lifted his hat with all the polite- g
ness of his race. 3&3

“ I beg your pardon, gentlemen," he said, _‘i
5 king English uite fluently, and with only a ,
s ight accent, “ bu I am a stranger here in zis
city, and crave information.”

“ Certainly, sir, we will be happy to accom-
modate you it‘ it is in our power,” Gomes re-
plied, ns be and his companion returned the
man’s sanitation.

" ] am in search of a Hebrew gentleman—«me
Solomons—although for the life of me I cannot
I think of his first name, which is an odd, bur-

, barons one, I was told to take the Second street,
V and this I think is me one."

‘gfladad Solomons, the pawnbrokeri" Games
sai .

“The same! Alas, gentlemen, you behold an
unhappy adventurer, reduced by dire misfor-
tune to the necessity of pawning the tools by

.means of which he lives.

“ I am e fencing—master, by name, Louis do '
Charny; by reputation, second to no man in , . '
Europe, stranded in this accursed wilderness on
account of a little trouble in the City of Mexico,
where 1 had the misfortune to severely wound a.
relativo of the President who presumed to doubt
my skill as a swordsman. ‘ 2

‘I was compelled to fly, on' the road was
robbed of. my purse, and am now reduced to
seeking a miserable Jew in order to raise a loan I
on a pair of rapiers which have not their equal ‘
in America.” 

The Cubans looked at each other, for the same .
brilliant idea had occurred to both. |

v “ Here was a man to fight the Fresh of

’Friscol” ’

  
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
    
   
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
   
  
    
  
  
   
    
   
  
   
    
     
   
  

 

CHAPTER XII.

THE ADVENTURER. ‘
“YES, my dear sirs.” continued the French-
man, “by a most unfortunate combination of
circumstances 1 was forced to fly from the City
of Mexico, where, thanks to my skill as a.
swordsman, I had established myself in first- ,

class style. '~
“I have led a life of adventure, gentlemen,
and in my time have met with many misfor—
tunes. but this last was the crowning blow. You .
are true gentlemen, I can see that with half air
6 e, and therefore you can appreciate my posi-
on, otherwise I should not have troubled you v

'7

As we have said, the same idea. had occurred .
to both the Cubans the moment . they made the .
discovery as to who and what the stranger '
was.

It had not taken them long after the French— .
man had told his etc ,to arrive at a true under. ,
standing of the fellow 3 character. ‘ >

In the island of Cuba the had encounte ,
just such another man. only 9 Was an Italian
master of the sword instead of a Gaul. . ‘

He was a quarrelsome wretcb who took ad-
vantage of the fact that he was a. superb fencer .
to treat all with whom he came in contact—that»
he did not hope to make a profit from—with '
annoyance and disdain. »,

If any gentleman took oflense at his conduct ;.
this polite cut-throat was quick to declare that if f
be had given offense he was ready to receive a
challenge and give the challenger full satisface

 

Before the man’s true character became we
known. some few hot-headed young men were
fools enough to allowtbemselves to e dru wn in—
to a. quarrel with the bull . and this was exact ‘
what the fellow wanted, or it afforded him an ‘
ogportunity to advertise himself in the most,“ ,
e ective way; . , '

The man .ing an expert fencer easily suc-
ceeded in getting the best of his opponents, and '
after his victories was able to carry m “
with a high he (l. - ‘

In two or t ree cases it was suspected too
that the swordsman had allowed himself to’ be-
come the tool of another and had taken Insists“

fight the battles of men who did not po '
courage enough to fnce in open fight the men,"
they hated. ‘
or a. good round sum in money the adv
espoused the quarrels of these men. took
occasion to insult the fees whom they dared not";i
face, and so provoked them to an encounter in
which his skill enabled him to achieve a victory.
And the idea had come to the Cubans tba
with the Frenchman some arrangement might"
be made whereby he could be induced to pro-

  
      
         

        
 

   
       

     
 
 

   
   
     
 

 
   
         
  

   
  
 

     
    
  

  
      

sncl's a scheme could be carried out- -and it 599
ed feasible, for the Fresh was not the kind 0 V _.
i man to stand any nonsense from any one—ther
was very little doubt that the adventurer would
not have much dimculty in disposing of the Call
fornian, for zalthough Blake might be an aged:
with revolver and rifle, it was not likely th V he

was a master of the sword. , ,
_ The only difilculty that appeared in the. 

        
  

  
      
   

        
  

 
    

 

   
   

      

The Fresh in Texas.

 

 

3:0

bans was to get the stranger to consent to play
the role of a bravo.

The first point was to prevent the man from
obtaining any money from the pawnbroker
and so force him to rely upon them for assist-
ance.

This idea likewise came to the minds of both 

of llli‘ Cubans, and immediately Slir'cecilcd the
inspiration of using the stronger as u bravo.
ESIIFH‘CO was the first to speak.
“ My dear Mr. De Cunriiy, I can assure you
MILLS I fully appreciate your position!" be ex-

given us great pleasure to assure him that you
will do as well by him as any man he can find in
' the town.” .

“ Oh, yesh. yesh l” the old Jew exclaimed. “ I
am always glad to be able to accommodate the
‘ fr’cn’ of my l'r’cn’sl

“ Shust vait a moment, gentlemen, and I vill
dei‘ door open for you."

of the moving bolts and bars were heard.”
“ He speaks fairly enough,” observed the

i Then the Jew closed the panel and the sounds
l

clninu-d, “and I feel sure that this gentleman, ‘

my cousin, Fernando Goines, has the some
thought as myself—my name, by the way, is
Sebastian Espai'to."

" I am charmed to meet you. gentlemen," and
the Frenchman shook hands with the pair in the
warmest manner. “ Of course, as I said before,
it “as easy for me to see that you are men
whom any gentleman might be proud to know."

“ Now, in regard to this Hndad Solomons, the
old ch pawnbroker,” the youngest Cuban re-
nmrkcd, “let me warn you not to place much
confidence in getting any assistance from him,
for he is the greatest miscr in business that was
ever seen.” _

“Yes, I was informed that I would not find
him an easy man to do business with, but what
can ii man do under such circumstances?” the
adventurer asked, shrugging his shoulders like a.
true Frenchman.

“ I want money, and I know no one in this
place' who can I go to but to some wretch like
this old Jew, who thrives upon the distress of his
fellow men?”

“ Very true!” exrlaimed Gomes, and his com-
panion nodded assent.

” And I presume as it is, that I will only be
able to raise a trifle upon as elegant a pair of
swords as the cunning hands of the artisan ever
forged."

“ I doubt if the Jew will be willing to nego-
tiate at all,” Esparto remarked With a doubtful
shake of the head. “ As a rule he will not ad-
vance more than the tenth of the value of any-
thing, and then the article must be one that he
can readily dispose of if it is not redeemed.”

“ And you understand, of course, that there is
not much of a market for dueling-swords in a
town like El Paso ” Gomes added.

“ Very little indeed,” Esparto remarked. “I
presume you have been long enough in this
country to understand that the favorite weapon
lu-re is the revolver.”

“ Yes, es, I understand that," the French—
mun rcplied. “ Why, not one man out of a bun-
dred knows anything of the use of the sword l”

“' It would be nearer the mark, I think, to say
one out of a thousand!” Esparto exclaimed.

‘ Most decidedly that comes nearer to the
tro'h," Gomes added.

“ Ah. yes gentlemen, I have no doubt you are
right. and Ifeel that I am in a most unhappy
situu'ion,” the Frenchman observed. '

“The sword is the only tool of which I am
the master, and how in the world I am ever 0'
ing to get out of this miserable plight in whic I
find myself is more than I can tell, as I am with-
out money and without friends.”

“ You are wrong there, My dear Mr. De
Churiiy, you are not without friends as long as
my cousin and myself are in El Paso!” Esparto
declared.

“Sebastian voices my sentimentsi” Gomes
hastened to add.

“ Ah, entlemen, it was a fortunate thing

. which led me to accost you.” and the French.
man, with true Gallic impulsiveness again shook
hands with the others.

“But come! let us hasten to this old Jew and
see if he will do anything for youl” Esparto ex—
claimed.

“ We will go with you. Although we have
never had occasion to do much business with the
old Hebrew, yet we are well acquainted with
him, and he has always professed a great desire
to oblige us, and now there will be a good op-
portunity to put his words to the test," the
young Cuban continued. “ By aiding you he
will be serving us.”

“ Yes, we will talk strongly to the old skin-
flint,” Gomes added. “ But I assure you that I
place little reliance upon what he says. For all
that he has ever professed a desire to be able to
serve us, I have an idea that he would drive just
als hprd a bargain With us as with anybody
e se.

“ Well, well, we can put his professions to the
test!” Esparto exclaimed. “ Our intercession
can do our friend here no harm, if it be not pro-
ductive of good.”

“And I assure you, gentlemen, I shall appre—
ciate it all the same!” the adventurer declared.

“ Come, then, let us hasten!” Gomes said.

In company then with the Frenchman, the
Cubans retraced their way to the abode of the
Jew pawnbroker.

As before, they rapped on the door and the
Jew surveyed them through the little sliding
panel in the portal, and the moment that his

ace appeared, Gomes said:

“ My dear Mr. Solomons. we have come to
introduce a gentleman who desires to transact a
little business with you. He is a stranger in El
Paso and has been directed to you, and it has

 

Frenchman
friends, “ but that is wherc the craft of these
cunning Jews comes in. They are always smooth
and soft in speech, even when they have made
up their mind to strike you a deadly blow.”

“Yes, that is true," Gomes remarked. “A
man is never safe in building upon their
words. ”

“ And this old rascal is the biggest fox of his
race," Esparto added.

The opening of the door at this point ended
the conVersation.

With the greatest civility the old Jew escort-
ed the three into his house, taking care as usual,
to securely fasten the door after the visitors
entered. '

“ This gentleman is a friend of ours,” Gomes
explained, “ and as you have often said that
you would be glad of a chance to oblige us if we
ever needed any accommodation in your line,
we hope you will treat this gentleman well and
we wi 1 consider it a. favor done to us.”

“Yesh, yesh, I shall be delighted l” Solomons
declared. “ I will be sure to do all I can for the
gentlemans.”

“Mr. De Charny, Mr. Solomons,” and as the
Cuban introduced the Frenchmen he fell a. little
in his rear and by so doing was able to warn
the Jew of the game that was to be played by
shaking his head in a decided manner.

“ Yesh, yefh. glad to meet you mine fr’en’l”
exclaimed the Jew, rubbing his hands and duck-
ing his head in the most servile manner.

“ I find myself a little short of money, unex~
pectedly,” the Frenchman explained, and I de-
sire to raise a loan on a elegant pair of French
dueling swords which i have here.”

And the adventurer made a movement as if
to remove the wrappings around the swords,
but the pawnbroker sto ped him.

“ My tear sir, I won] be glad to let you hate
some monish, but swords are worth not’ing to
me, I could not on der best of them afford to ad-
vance a single t‘ollarl”

 

CHAPTER XIII.
HIRING THE BRAVO.

THE Frenchman looked disgusted.

“ But you have not seen the swords!” he said,
in protest. “ Will you not take a look at
them?”

“ Oh, no, it is no use!”

“ But they are beautiful tools, and you may
change your mind when you see how good they
are. I assure you that no duke, prince or king
in the whole of Euroye possesses a finer pair!”

“My tear sir, I do not doubt dot,” the old
Jew replied. “But be they goot or bad it is all
the same; no one in El Paso vants any such
t’ings. If de vas pistols or guns now, we could
do business; ut swords,” and the old man shook
his head in an extremely emphatic way—“ my
gootness, nol Dere is no chance for me to get
mine monish out of such things.
these gentlemen,” and the pawnbroker appealed
to the Cubans.

“They will tell you that nobody in this part
of the country has any use for swords.”

“ I am afraid that Mr. Solomons is right
about that,” Gomes observed.

“Yes, when men quarrel in this region they
always settle the matter with knives, pistols, or,
in rare cases, rifles,” Esparto remarked.

“ Ah, gentlemen, it is a barbarous land, and
my evil star was in the ascendant when I set
foot on these shores l” the Frenchman declared,
in a melo—dramatic way.

“ Of course we are on the very frontier of
civilization,” Gomes remarked.

“ Yes. yes. that is true enough, and it was an
unlucky hour for me when I was persuaded to
come to Mexico.” De Chamy remarked.

“But the tale which was told to me wasa
glowing one; it was ze land of flowers and of
gold, they said, and a man like myself, with
‘ carte and tierce' at his flngers’ ends. could not
fail to win a fortune in a wonderfully short
time.

“ True, for a while I did fairly, but not as
well as I would have done in any European
capital. and then, when misfortune came, there
was no escape." -

. “ In Europe, no doubt. it would have been
different,” Esparto remarked.

“Oh, yes!” the Frenchman exclaimed, “for
in the old country there is not a city of any size
without fencin -masters; and, if a gentleman in
my line finds himself short of funds, all he has
to do is to seek out the principal swordsman
and challenge him to an encounter.”

“ Yes, yes, I see! A capital idea!” Gomes ex-
claimed, and Esparto nodded assent.

“ A man with a reputation, like myself, can
always find plenty of backing,” De Charny do—

You shust ask .

in n 10w tone to his new—made ‘

 

 

clared. “ And then by betting judiciously, a
man can always ut money in his pocket
whether he wins or Ewes.”

“Yeah, yesh, the scheme is a. good one!” the
pawnbroker declared.

“ By Jovel I have a splendid ideal” Esparto
declared.

“ Let us hear it!” Gomcs exclaimed.

“ Why could not our friend play such a game
right here in El Paso with our help?” the young
Cuban asked.

The others shook their heads.

“Butl think it can be done!” Esparto pro-
tested.

“ Oh, no; where in such a town as this—a
miserable hole—will you find a man who could
encounter a swordsman like myself?” the
Frenchman asked.

“ It is not possible!” Gomes exclaimed.

J “ He exists not in the town!” cried the old
ew.

“ I see you do not catch my idea,” Esparto
remarked.

“Explain it then, my dear sir, and you can
rest assured I will jump gladly at any chance to
get out of ze scrape in which I now find my-
self,” De Charny declared.

“ There is no swordsman here, of coursa, for
this is not a country favorable to the develop-
ment of sword fighters, but we have men here
who pose as bullies—men who are expert with
weapons, and so are quick to give and take
offense. trusting to their reputation and skill to
bring them out victors,” Esparto explained.

“ Yes, that is the very truth—this Jackson
Blake, the Fresh of ’Frisco as he is called, is just
such a man,” Gomes observed.

“ Dot ish so i” exclaimed the old Jew. “ Dot
man would mid der lion fight, if der beast wag-
ged his cars mit him.” ~

“A fire—eater, eh!” and the Frenchman rub-
bed his hands, gleefully, together while his face
lighted up as though he was anxious to en-
counter just such a man.

“Yes, such is the reputation he bears,” Es-
pai'to replied.

“ He has managed to come out the victor in
several encounters in which he has been en-
ga ed since he. made his appearance in El Paso
anrgi these affairs have given him such a good
opinion of himself that it would not be a diffi-
cult matter to draw him into a quarrel.”

“ Oh, no, I know the breed well, and it is the
same in all lands!” De Charin declared.

“ A man of that kind is always on the lookout
for a chance to show the kind of metal that is in

him.”
“ Exactl 1 Well now my idea is for you to
meet this esh of ’Frisco and contrive to quar-

rel with him. As I have said, that will not be
a difficult matter.”

“ Not at all 3” the Frenchman exclaimed.

“ The Fresh has always been ready enough'to

uarrel with any one who came in his way,"

omes remarked. V

“ Mine gootnessl dot mans is as quick to fight
as t’e sparks to fly up mit demselves!” the old
Jew declared.

“Arrange the affair in such a way that he
will be compelled to challenge you,’Esparto
sai .

“Of course—that is the game, always,” the
Frenchman replied.

“ Then you can say that in all such afl’airs of
honor in which you have been engaged the
challenged party has the choice of weapons,"
Esparto contin ued.

“ Undoubtedly, that is the code in all lands
where the duello is known,” the swordsman re-
marked. “ And as the challenged part , hav-
ing the right to a choice of weapons, shall
ch00se 5 words.”

“ Alia, but de Fresh of ’Frisco ishl no man’s
fool!” the old Jew exclaimed. “When you say
swords will he not smell der mouse and refuse
to fight?”

“Oh, he will not dare to do that if he sets
himself up for a cock of the walk, for if he did,
I should make no bones of accusing him of show-
ing the white feather!” declared the French-
man. arro antly.

“ Oh, I 0 not think there is any danger of
the Fresh declining to fight with swords!" Es—

arto exclaimed. “ He has such an overween—
mg confidence in his own abilities that he will
be likelytoagree to fight with any kind of a
weapon, no matter how strange or unaccus-
tomed."

“That is also my idea,” Gomes remarked.
“ He is a man with a wonderfully good opinion
of his own talent, and in the blindness of his
conceit he will be apt to think he will be able to
handle a sword, although he is not accustomed
to the weapon, at: well as though it was a revol-
ver or rifle.”

“Oh, since I have come to this country I
have met hundreds of such men l” the Frenchman
declared.

“The fools had no idea that there was any
art in sword—play,” he continued. “ According
to their notion all that a man has to do isto
take the sword in his hand and poke away at
his opponent.

“I’ve had little affairs with a dozen or two
such idiots in my time, and have succeeded in
teaching the most of them a. lesson which they

 

 

The Fresh in Texas. ‘

 

   

11,

 

 

will not be apt to forget while life remains,” the

Frenchman added with great complacency. ‘

“ There is no need to worry ourselves in re-

gard to whether the Fresh will fight or not in

my opinion, for from what I know of the man I

‘ do not think there is the slightest doubt about

the matterl” Esparto remarked in an extremely
positive way. \ .

“He will fight upon slight provocation and
will not be apt to grumble in regard to the
weapons; and as it is hardly possible that he
can be an expert swordsman, our friend here
ought not to have any trouble in overcoming
him.’

“ Rest easy in regard to thatl” the French-
man exclaimed in a tone full of confidence.
“ Be the man an expert, or the greatest ig-
noramus who ever took a blade. 1n hand, I will
engage to give him his quietus in a workman-
like manner.

‘* You must not think I am boasting, gentle-
men, when I tell you there are but three swords-
men in the known world Whom I will admit
to be my masters, and before those three men
all Europe bows in admiration of their genius.”

" There is no doubt in my mind that you will

be able to finish this Fresh of ’Frisco without
any trouble!” Esparto asserted. “That is, if he
is foolish enough to dare to face you, sword in
a hand.”
‘ " He will do it," Gomes declared. "' The man
is rash and foolhardy in the extreme, and in a
case like this his overweenin faith in his
prowess will be certain to lea him into the
trap.” '

“ Yesh, he ish a devils, and I believe would
rather fight dan eat,” the Jew exclaimed.

“ If I can only get him to confront me, sword
to sword, I will engage to take a little of the
devil out of him,’ the Frenchman observed,
boastfullfi. r

“ All t e sporting men of El Paso have a high
0 inion of this Fresh of ’Frisco as a fighter, sim-
p y because he has been lucky enough to be suc-
cessful in the few encounters in which he has
been engaged,” Gomes explained. “ And after
you arrange the details of the fight, and the
news spreads that a stranger had dared to en—
.gage to fight the Fresh of ’Frisco, all these cun-
ning sporting'men will be certain to be eager to
bet all the money they can raise upon the Cali~

fornian. My cousin and myself will riot hesitate

meet, and as we, luckily, happen to be flush just
at this time, we will be able to back you toa
larg t amount. .

" Then, too, as you are a stranger, and no one
here ans any idea of what kind of a. fighter you
are, the chances are great that about all the
betting men will be anxious to back the Fresh
of ’Frisco, and so we will be able to get good
odds, for there will not be likely to be many be—
sides us two who will dare to venture their
money on you; so if yousucceed in beating your
antagonist we will make a small fortune, and of
all our bets you will receive half.” .

“ That is a bargain,” the Frenchman .ex-
claimed; “ and within ten minutes after I cross
swords with the Fresh of ’Frisco I will cage 6

to lay him out as still! as a red herring, for I <
W?“ fight to kill 1” -

‘ We Will provide you with what money you
require, lincl. to-night you will be apt to meet
“if. ‘iim” it]... andth a

e 9‘” was to secrec on e
rest departed. p ' y '

 

CHAPTER XIV.
SPRINGING m TRAP.

- Tar. two Cubans and the Frenchman pro-
" ceeded directly to the HotelMoxico,

~ 0n the Way, Gomea counted out fifty dollars
and ve them to the Frenchman. ‘

.r ' “ hanksl” exclaimed the adventurer, all his

5 good spirits returning now that he saw a chance

, to get out of the hole, as he_ termed it, into

' ~  which evil fortune had cast him. “ You may

rest assured, entlemen. I Will ‘not long remain

our debtorl’ he declared. fThat is, if the

h of ’Frisco has blood in his veins and not

 

 

water. i

“ If the fellow will ' uarrel, and dares to meet
me with swords, and t e gamblers of El Paso
have suiflcient sand—as , you say 111 this-country
—'to back their man I will engage to win a sum
amcplly sufficient to carry me back _
. I an can assure you, gentlemen, that1 if I once

again cross the seas and set foot on the Conti-i

nent of Europe no inducement W111 ever tempt
me to this New World again.” . .
The Cubans replied that the did not think
there was any doubt about the scheme succeed-
" ing to a charm. .1 \ «
And after they arrived, at the hotel. and De
Charay secured a room, he unpacked his swords
and proceeded to show the Cuban how expert he
was in their use. . . -
_~ ‘ Games had taken lessons and so knew some-
‘ 'thing about the matter, but Esparto was com-
 leter ignorant. so the elder Cpban and, the
r nchman had a. fencing-match while the
 £11138? man looked, on, displaying, greatdnter-
, , . .

   
    

    

bout of ten minutes he touched his oppo-

E i to take all the bets that we can raise money to.

atom-arms indeed a master a: the sword;

‘ France, ,

the row takes place,” Gomes observed.

 

nent a dozen times, and each one of the thrusts
would have been a deadly one it the encounter
had been in earnest, while Gomes was not able
to gain a single point, although the Frenchman
was pleased to remark, in a patronizing way,
that he did not handle the sword badly, and
that withgflenty of practice under the direction
of a goo teacher there was little doubt that
in time he would make more than an average
fencer. .

“ I do not believe this American can be as
expert with the sword as I am,” Gomes re-
marked, after the bout was ended, ‘ for men of
his race are not much given to sword exercise,
their tastes running to knives, pistols and guns,
and I am unable to see that the fellow hasa
ghaiglog for his life if he once tacos you, sword in

an .

“ Oh, I will force him to that when I once get
a chance at him!" the Frenchman exclaimed,
with a fiendish grin.

“He will be apt to be in the hotel tonight,
for the landlord told me this morning that
he was expected by some party whom c has
to see on cattle business,” Games remarked.
“ The Fresh has a ranch a short distance down
the Rio Grande.” '

“ I wonder if he will have a resentiment,
when he quits his place for his vis1t to El Paso
this evening, that he has taken his final leave of
it?” the Frenchman remarked, with his demon-
like smile.

“ I fancy not,”Esparto replied. “ The chances
are that Dame Fortune will not trouble herself
to warn him that he is coming to his fate when
he rides u the river trail this evening.”

“ And t as it is in life—how many men walk
blindly on to their graves 1” De Uharny observed
with the air of a philosopher.

“ How do dyou propose to bring on a. quarrel?”
Gomes aske . ,

“ Ah, my dear friend, do not ask me, for I do
not know,” the Frenchman replied. ’

“ In all such matters I trust to the impulse of
the moment. But do not fear; if the opportu—
nity does not come, then I will make one. Be
satisfied that if this Fresh of ’Frisco enters
the walls of the Hotel Mexico tonight, he
will_not leave them until I have fastened such
an insult upon him that, if he has any blood
1!; his, veins, he will be obliged to take notice
0 1 . .

“ If the Fresh of ’Frisco has not altered won-
derfully since I saw him, you will not find it a
difficult matter to provoke him toaquarrel,”
Esparto remarked. i .

f‘Well, that is what I like,” De Chamy re-
plied. “ I am quick myself, and I like men
who are prompt in action. A slow fellow is my
aversion.” ,

“ By the way. I should think that it would be
a good idea for Sebastian and myself to conceal
the tact that we are friends of yours until after
“ For if
the Californian gets the impression that you are
a stranger, and entirely without friends. he will
beapt to quarrel and ght with you according
to your ideas.”

a“ The thought is a good one!” the adventurer
declared. . V - -.

“, es, soit seems to me.” Esparto remarked. ,

“ ectdedly 50‘!” De Chamy exclaimed. “ By
working the mgame in that way no one can possu-
bly sus ct at we three arran ed a nice little
trap w ereinto catch this bold rash of ’Frisco
and all the amblers of the town. It will be an
excellent jo e to beat these wolves at their own
game, ha, ha, ha!” and the Frenchman laughed

ong and merrily, and the others joined in the
glee, for ‘they thought \ that this cunningly-

eVised plan would surely compass the death of
the man whom they hated, and so feared that
they were lofh to expose their own precious per—
son in an open contest with him. ' ' , v

“ The way we must work the trick is, at r
the row taklace—if every thing goes on we 1,
and I succ in arranging the. duel—#1 will
appeal to the crowd: ‘ I am a stranger: are there

any gentlemen preSeut Who will oblige me by,

acting as my seconds?” ‘

“I see; and that will be our one to step for-‘
ward and odor our services,” said Gomes.

“ It is well planned," remarked Esparto,
thoughtfully. “No one will be atpt to suspect
that the Fresh is the victim. o a carefully-
devised plot.” , v i

.“ And the betting men i” cried the French-
man; “ think how we will fleece them of their
gold! No one here knows aught of me but you
two; no one knows but, what I may be the

reatest blunders!" that ever took a sword in

and!” ' And again the adventurer laughed
loud and long. , . ‘

The plan being all arranged, the three judged
it wise to separate so that no suspicion might be
exci . ' v 2

' Time passed on—slowly enough to the conspi-

' rotors, ,who ,were anxious for the shades of

nigggto descend, so that theplot might be exe-
cu . -  _ 'v r ,
‘Night came at last. and the plaza of El Paso

began to'be brilliant,“ ith lights. I

By nine o’clorklnli the places of public resort
were well filled, and at five minutes est nine
the Fresh of ’Friscn, accompanied by hi Cali;
fornia Joe and Dave Ringwood,,Blakels ranch

\

 

  

 

' two, and than, in his blind exdspera’tion, fo elk

 

  
  
 
 
   
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
    
  
  
  
    
 
   
  
   
   
  
  
  
  
    
  
 
   
  
 
   
  
 
    
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
   
 
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
 
  
  
  
   
  
    
  
 
   
   
  
   
 
   
    
  
 
  
  
  
  

superintendent, entered the bar-room of the ,
Hotel Mexico.

The Frenchman occupied a seat near the door,
and a few paces from him sat the two Cubans,
and the moment that Jackson Blake made
his appearance Gomes quietly made a. sign to
De Charny.

The Frenchman rose to his feet and sauntered
across the room. ‘ ’

He was not quite sure which was the Fresh,
for Dave Ringwood was a dashing-looking fel-
low, the once shabby gambler havmg improved
wonderfully in his personal appearance since he
took service with Jacksnn Blake, so in order to
be sure, the Frenchman said to one of the loung—
ers, whom he chanced to meet as be approached
fihfitelaar, before which the Fresh’s party, had

a :

“ Isn’t one of those gentlemen named Blake?"

“ Yes, the tallest one on this side- most folks
call him the Fresh of ’Frisco, though"

“ Ah, yes, I thought I had seen t e gentleman,
somewhere.” ' ‘ ‘

Then De~ Charny sauntered up to the bar and
took a position by the side of Jackson Blake.

All of the Fresh’s party had ordered ale and
the glasses of the foaming beverage were being
placed on the counter when the Frenchman took
up a position by it.

De Charny stood at Jackson Blake’s right
side, the Fresh was standing half sideways
to the counter, so that his back was to the ad- \
venturer. ‘ » ,

“ Well, gentlemen, here we go,” he said, and '
he took up his glass as he 5 he.

Then the Frenchman deliberately joggled his ‘
elbow so as to spill some of the liquor in the
tumbler. , . _

The action was performed in such a way, ,
there could not be a doubt that it was no acci- ’ 1

ant.

Blake turned and surveyed the adventurer.

“ Hello, what did you do that for?" he asked, _
a slight trace of surprise in his tone, but no trace ~
of excitement. , .r

“ What is the matter with on?” demanded .
the Frenchman, in a loud an arrogant tone, _
which immediately attracted the attention of ~
ever one in the room to the sport. :
‘ “ id I tread on you?” he continued. ,

“Oh, no, not to my knowledge, but you jog~ ,
gled my elbow and so caused me to 5 ill my J
ale ” the Fresh said. in his quiet Way, an as he 
spoke he was attentively studyin the face of
the other, for be understood we enough that .
the strangex had touched his elbow on purpose .
to draw him into a quarrel, and he was wonder-
ing why the man had taken the notion into his
head, for at the first glance he 'recogfiiaed~ that
the other was a foreigner, and one w om he had
never met before. ‘ -“ r ' -

The ‘question of course immediame arose [in H
his mind as to why the man wished to have a v
difficulty with him. . , ' 1

He was no common fellow, filled up with
chea Whisky, and anxious to make a name as a ,
chie by “ climbing” onset the “ good men ” of ‘ ,
the district.” . ' y  v.

The stranger was not one pt this kind, but a  ‘,
manwho had evidently-been used to good so-_ ,
ciet , although his attire showed \that at prose ‘
git e and good fortune were not on the best of. '

rms. ' ’

No drunken rumaumo frontier desperadmm
what then was this man, and what was the, mos ..
tive that inspired his action! , v ,
“ You cannot efpect to occupy the whole of
the bar i” cried the Frenchman, and he made a ‘
movement as if to shove rudely against the.
Fresh, but the, movement was not made, for“
Blake concluded there had been talking enough,
so, promptly, he dashed the ale in the tacoof
the Frenchman, a movement which took that

entleman completely by surprise, for the liquor
or a moment almost took his ath away and ,
half-blinded him, and before 9 could recover ~§
from the eflect the Fresh oi {Frisco caught him _
by the nose and run it until the other yelled .
wlitthgpain, dancing at out like a turkey on “a hot

a .
p The Cubans were right—the Fresh of Trisco~,,
was not a difficult man to quarrel with, as the
adventurer had discovered to his cost. , .,
CHAPTER xv. . ‘ - »~

rain CHALLENGE. 
with rage;
Such

 

Tim Frenchman was almost crazy
in all his life he had never been treated in
an outrageous manner, and the assault had been.
committed so quickly that he was powerlessgto

resist. _ ' . ,
When he was released he fell back a step or

  
  
 

 

 
 
 
 

 
  
 
 

ting all about his carefully arranged p my,
thinking only of taking immediate vengeance
on the man who had insulted him so grossly; be
rushed upon the Fresh of "Frisco. , V

But the Frenchman, for all his expertness r
|with the sword, was as innocent as a child of
any knowledge ,of' v the gboxer’s art, and as he
rushed at JacksonVBlake he struck “ round arm ’1
blow":1 that the other ,pai'ried without the least
trdu e. g _ »

The Fresh gave ground before the attcck. rev
treatin slowly, and, much to the asmnisbnmat
of the gaystaa ers, he made no attests to return g;

    
     
    

 
     
    
 
 

   
   
 
  
  

  
  
 
  
  
    

  
 

   
   
 

   

 
   

  
  

12

the blows which the other was showering upon
him so liberally.

it was plain to all the bystanders that it was
not because he did not know how. for from the
easy way in which he was “ handling ” himself,
it was plain, even to the lookers~on who were
not posted in regard to the boxer’s art. that ho
was an an expert in that science.

The reason for his forbearance was soon made 5
manifest though. l

To defend himself from the attacks of such a. l
com lete tyro in the manly art of self-defense as
the renchman was but child’s play, and with a i
single blow of his iron—like fists he could have ,
routed his attacker right in the beginning, but
the Fresh of Frisco was annoyed at the unpro-
voked insult, and had determined to give this
bold and arrogant foreigner a lesson which ,
would be apt to teach him caution in the future.
So he retreated before the assault, contenting
himself with parrying the blows without at-
tempting to return any until the Frenchman
was fomd to use for sheer want of breath.

Striking we eat blows which fell only on the
empty air is about as fatiguing an exercise as
can be found. '

Then when De Charny halted, completely tired
out, Jackson Blake, with wonderful quickness,
began an attack, but he used only the palms of
his hands as weapons, slapping the Frenchman
in the face, but with such force that the slaps ;
resounded through the room like pistol-cracks, ,‘
and the ain fairly brought the tears to the eyes '
of the a venturer. .

Infuriated by this treatment, with a last des-

rate effort Do Chamy assayed to close in with
his tormentor, but with a single blow, delivered
right between the eyes, Jackson Blake stretched
his anta onist on the floor, and the man Went
over as i he had been shot.

The moment he struck the floor it was plain
to all in the room'that the contest was ended,
for the Frenchman had had all the light in the
fisticufl.‘ line knocked out of him.

Blake took a single look at the prostrate man,
saw that he had got his till, then he turned to
the harkeeper and said: ’ '

“ Will you have the kindness to give me an-
other glass of ale? mine got s ilt, but theso little
accidents will happen, you now, in the best
regulated families.”

The spectators looked at each other in amaze-
ment, for the Fresh was as cool and uncon-
cerned as though " knocking out” an arrogant
stranger was a common. every-day occurrence.

The bartx‘nder hastened to draw the ale, and
as he placed the glass upon the counter, he could
not help paying a sligh tribute to the hero of
the hour. ‘

“Thirty years have I juggled tumblers behind
a counter!‘  {exclaime file was a middle;
‘v aged man W1 ran-gray a , e .as spry an

active as any can fellow. ZYes, sir, thirty
years have 1 h isted nzine over a bar, and in
that time I have seen some pretty lively skir-
mishes, but I never saw a man laid out .in a
nicer we in my life.

“Gen emen, I wantggu totakoa ‘ball' with
me on the strength of t .” .

i This was something remarkable, for the bar-
keeper was known to be a close-flsted fellow
bearing the nickname of Stingy Jake, and had
never been known to stand treat durin all the
time he had been behind the bar of t e Hotel
Mexico so the eflect of his tribute to the genius

of the Fresh produced a t impression.
By this time the two Cu 8, who were terribij
disgusted at the miserable display that the a - .

venturer had made, thought it worth while to
come to his aid.

“ I hope the man isn’t killed 1” Games exclaim-

“ It looks like it ” Esparto remarked.

“ on no he will not'mind a. little thing like
that,” the Fresh re lied, in his ass way, but
as he spoke had his keen eyes in a searching
glance upon the two strangers.

“ I only put himto sleep for a while; he will
soon recover, and although he may not as
ficoddooking as he was before he got into this

ttle scrape yet he will know a deal more.

“ Is he a riend, of yours?”

“ Oh, no i” Gomes hastened to exclaim. \ “ I
only spoke in the interest of humanity.”

“ If the man is badly hurt he ought to receive
attention,” Esparto remarked. s

“ Get a little water, sprinkle it in his face
and that will be apt to fetch him to his senses

, a ‘n,” Blake adVised.
he barkeeper filled out the water, Gomes
took it and hastened to the side of the prostrate
Frenchman, E rto following, while the rest
gathered aroun , the only ones in the room who
retained their poutidns being the Fresh’s party
at the bar. i
, “What will you take gentlemen this round,
 is on me, you understand!” the barkeeper

ask
', All called for ale as before, and while theman
wasde the liquor, Blake said to his com-

pamona:
“ Did either of on ever see those two foreign-
looking clasp: be ore!”
“ Nary lime,” replied Old Californiafloo.

 

“ Never run, across them to the best of ’my re-
membrance,” Ringwood remarked.

“ Well, their faces are not familiar to me,”
the Fresh observed, “ but their voices are,
and I would be willing to bet all I have
in the world. or ever expect to get, that I
have met the two, although for the moment I
cannot place them. I have a pretty good mem-
ory for faces, and a really wonderful one for
voices. A face though may ass out of my re-
collection, for time often ma es great changes,
but when I once become familiar with a man’s
voice I am certain never to forget it, although
as in this case I cannot always decide where
encountered the man to whom the voice belongs,
or identify him by name.”

“That is a mighty valuable gift. sure as you
ar’ born l" the old plainsman remarked.

“ No doubt ’bout that,” Ringwood assented.
“Another odd thing about this matter is that
the impression has come to me that these voices
belonged to people who were no friends of
mine. ’

“ Is that so?” exclaimed Old California Joe in
wonder.

“ Well, that really goes a leetle ahead of my
time,” Ringwood decl .

“ It is rather odd, but that is my impression,”
Jackson Blake remarked.

The placing of the ale upon the counter put an
end to the conversation.

“ Here’s luck, gentlemen,” remarked the bar-
keeper, who had also filled out a glass for him-
self. “ And the next time, Mr. Blake, that you
knock a man out in this really wonderful way
mfil be there to See.”

e Flesh bowed his acknowledgments, the
ale was drank, and then all turned to see how
the Frenchman was getting along.

He had fallen in such a clumsy way and hit
his head with so much violence against the floor
that the shock, even more than the blow he had
received, stunned him.

But when Esparto knelt by his side and
sprinkled the water upon his face, at the same
time loosening his neck-tie, his senses soon re
turned to him.

Esparto had treated the stunned man with all
the deft tenderness of a woman, and more than
one of the bystanders remarked that the
stranger was as good as a doctor.

The Frenchman rose to a sitting posture, and
as he did so the Fresh observed to his compan-
ions:

“ I knew the fellow was all right. A little
clip like that never killed a man, or was even
good for along fit of sickness.”

“Great Scott! I reckon it wasn’t,” the old
mountain-man declared. “A leetle tap like
that don't amount to nothing. If he had been
laid out with a club, or knocked down with the
butt-end of a gun, as I have been half a donen
times in my life, than he might talk.”

“ Yes, I was laid out myself with a heav oak
chair,” Ringwood remarked. “ And w en a
man gets a lick of that sort it is worth remem-
bering." ‘

gided by the Cuban, De Chamy rose to his

as .
He had not suffered any material injur , al-
though his head felt a ittle queer, an the
bruises on his face, disfigured by the Fresh of
grisco's iron-like knuckles, gave him considera~

e palm,

As the adventurer assumed a standing pos-
ture, and glared in sullen rage upon the man
who had won such an easy triumph over him,
the bystanders, who had crowded around, eager
to watch the return of the Frenchman’s senses,
discreetly fell back, getting close to the walls so
as to leave the center of the room open.

According to the usual custom in all such
casesas this, now that the adventurer was on
his feet again, it was his place to “ go” for a
weapon, and the crowd fell back, none of them
being anxious to stop a bullet. »

But the Frenchman had no intention of doing
an hing of the kind. ,

e could not have done so if he had wished,
{gr he was not ‘ heeled,” to use the frontier par-
nce.

The Fresh was on the watch for such a move-
ment, and fully prepared for it. but when the
adventurer faced him be guessed that his oppo-
nent had all the fight he wanted at present.

“ I am no fisti‘cufl man,” De Charny declared.
“ No English John Bull to fightlike a ruflianl I
am a gentleman, and if you are one you will not
refuse to give me full satisfaction.”

“ Now you hit me where I live,” the Fresh
remarked. “ I am a gentleman from Gentle-
manville, and‘I hold myself, in readiness to give
you all the satisfaction you can possibly desire."

CHAPTER XVI.
m 'ADVENTUREB’S plum.

Tim crowd listened with eagar attention,
for they saw there was a good chance for some

‘ fun.” \

The Cubans looked at each other, and there
was a decided e 'on of satisfaction in their
dark eyes, but they were careful to school their
faces so that no one could perceive that they
were delighted with the way! that matters were

u . i r
p “Tat igs what I want, as satisfaction due
from one gentleman to another!"the French-
manexclainled.  i ‘

 

l

    

 

“I am your man," the Fresh of ’Friscore-

plied. "And if you are not satisfied, I am i
readytogo on with you until you think you
have at your money’s worth.”

“ on will give me satisfaction, then?”

“ That is what I said, and when you come to 1
get well acquainted with me you will find that 1

am a man of my word.”

“ What weapons do you desire?” De Charny

ed.

“ It doesn’t make a bit of diflerence to me,”
the Fresh replied.

“ Do you dare to meet me with small-swords?”
the Frenchman inquired, with an eagerness
which could not be concealed.

“ Small-swords, eh? and Jackson Blake sur- ;
veyed the other, a peculiar smile upon his lips. ;

“ That is what I' said-small~swor gen-
tleman’s weapon 1” exclaimed the adventurer in
a lofty way.

“ I reckon you will not find many men in this ~
region who are posted in that line." said the 
Fresh. T

“Here, when we go into a little picnic of this
kind, we usually choose fire-arms, revolvers or
rifles, and once in a while, if the parties are
ver desperate, they go in to carve each other
wit howie—knives.’

“To my thinking, these are barbarous wea-
pens!” the adventurer exclaimed in disgust.

“ I am not a native of this land. I am a
European.”

" So I suspected,” Jackson Blake observed.
“ You are a renchman, if I mistake not.”

“ You are right. I am a son of the Repub-
lic!” the other declared in a grandiloquent way.

“ You are a long way from home, and if you .
should have the ill-luck to get ‘planted’ here,
your folks would never be apt to know what be-
came of you,” the Fresh remarked.

“ I am a soldier of fortune, and all lands are
alike to me,” the adventurer ‘re lied. “ I am
the last of my race, and whether meet my fate
here or elsewhere, it matters not.”

“ Well, that is a good thing,” Jackson Blake
remarked in a reflective sort of way, “for it
kinder takes a weight from a fellow’s mind. If
you had a large family, now, and anumerous
circle of relatives, who would be apt arm in-.
consolable at your loss, then a man like myself,
who is apt to he a little tender—hearted, might
feel rather queer about going for you in a regu» ‘
lar red-hot manner.”

This bantering speech, although uttered in a
perfect] sober and serious manner, excited the
smiles o the listeners, and angered the French- a

man. .
' “Bah! I ask no mercy from you!” he ex-
claimed. “ Neither will I give any. and if you
have the courage to meet me, sword in hand.
I have no doubt you will have all you can do to
defend yourself, although I do not profess to be
an expert swordsman; but it is a gentleman’s
Weapon, and as I am a gentleman, I am sure I
will be able to give a good account of myself :
that’is, if you dare to meet me with the sword; ,
but it me. be that you are only a flsiicufi'
fighter, an that you will be afraid to ex ose
your precious person to the naked steel,” ded
the adventurer with a sneer. ,
“Oho!” ~cried the Fresh of ’Frisco, “ I reckon

you are tryin tobanter me into this fight! I. ’

su pose on t ink on have struck a soft thin !
I lgi’ackony ou must he a great chief in tho sond "
line, or e se you would ‘not be so anxious for an
encounter of this kind.” , ' r
“ In France every gentleman learns the use of
the sword: it is part of a polite education,” ,re-
plied De Charn‘y, proudly. , ‘ -
“I am afra that my education has been
rather neglected in that line; but I am willing
to go on, all the same, for that is the kind of.
man am!” , i , i
“ You will meet me with swords, then?" De I
Chamy asked? ,:
“ You bet I”

“ Remember! it will be a duel to as death?” , ’

“ That suits me, and justkeep the fact in mind i
too, so that if Ifiet you in a tight place you will ;
not trgeto beg o ." . i.

“ I g!” cried the adventurer in mingled oon- :
tem is and rage. ,

“Il‘hat is what I said,” replied the 'Fresh, in
his cool, serious way. “ And I give you fair
warning that it will not do you any good, for
since you have got me into this sword business I
shall 0 for you in an extremely lively way. I '

do my best to make it interesting.” 5

“ You are far more likely to be the one to be
for mercy than I!” exclaimed the adventure
“ But 1,warn you in advance that I have mad
up my mind to kill you."
i “ You will let me know when you perform th .
operatiOn, of course?” the Fresh suggested.
would be .
killed without knowmg it.” _

This banter inflamed the Frenohman’s ra : i
still more, particularly as he saw that the by '
standers were grinning at the pleasant-n.

   

   

 

  
 

   
 
 
  
   
  
  
 

«“ Wait until you see the s _
together like two silver snakes, and you ~ l4
not feel then in a jesting mood!” De» .; -

  
   
 
 

 
 

  

  
 
 
  

u Itl ,
awfully awkward for a man tube?

hlmng blades -~:-r ‘

 

   

med. , _ i V
, “ Maybe not, but we can tell better when i
come to that,” Jackson Blake replied. “ ‘
only thing that worries me now though, has i

  

     
  

 

5m
'0“:

nat-
“Y
e, )h

s ?”
ess

ur-

his
ihe
his
ire
ier

356

on
I
ig!

lrd
an

nd
rill

an-
air
for
is I

I
reg
‘ei'.
ide
the
‘ It

ige
by-
vist
vill=
11V

Wfl

The Fresh in Texas.

13

 

 

where we are going to get the aforesaid shining
blades of which you speak, for I reckon that
small-swords are a scarce article in these dig-
gin ;’

“ Do not let that trouble you. I will under-
take to find a pair,” De Chamy replied.

“ All right, I am satisfied; and now, how
about the time?” '

“ To-morrow."

“ The place?”

“ Any convenient one will suit me. I am a
stranger and so not informed in regard to the
neighborhood.”

The landlord of the Hotel Mexico hastened to
put in a word at this point.

“There is the bull-rin , where the bull-fights
take lace,” he said. “Iain the manager and
shall pleased to arran s with you entlemen
for the use of it. This a air is so pub ic that it
Will not be possible for you to have your fight
come oil? without a crowd being in attendance,
and the rabble will be sure to be there of course,
and some annoyance may be can by them.
l‘l ow, by having your duel take place in the bull-
ring, a small sum for admittance may be charg-
ed, and I would be willing to make a 00d
arrangement with tyou gentlemen, say, 510w
you fifty per cent. 0 the receipts."

“ A capital ideal” exclaimed the Fresh.
“ Turn the whole thing into a show, and fight
for the gate-inoney—fight in an arena like the
gladiators of ancient Rome, and let the victor
pocket the gate-money after the fashion of the
modern gladiators.”

This scheme at once appealed to the merce-
nary instincts of the Frenchman, and as he was
in great need of money, being certain that his
opponent stood no chance, opposed to a master-
of-arms like himself in a. sword fight, he gave
his approval to the scheme.

“ I think it is an excellent idea, gentlemen!”
the landlord declared.

The proprietor of the Hotel Mexico was a
thrifty German J ew, Moses Goldberg by name,
who had contrived to feather his nest pretty
well since his advent in El Paso, for the hotel
and bull-ring—where at regular intervals bull-
fights took p ace—were both paying institutions.

“ You could not find a better spot for a con-
text of this kind if you were to search all through
Mexico.” the landlord continued. “ The spec-
tators will be confined to the galleries and you
will have all the arena for the fight, and you
can both rest assured that there can be no in-
terference with the contest, for our police ar-
rungements for the purpose of keeping order are
excellent.”

“It will answer admirably, I am sure!” the
adventurer declared. “ And I for one am quite
satisfied.”

“I have no fault to find with the arrange-
ment,” the Fresh remarked. “ And since the en-
counter has been arranged I suppose one might
as well give the citizens of El Paso a treat as to
allow the thing to waste its sweetness an the
desert air.”

“ By the way " observed the Frenchman, ab-
ruptly. “ I had forgotten one thing. We have
not proceeded in this matter according to rule
at a l. for the principals, we have made the ar-
I‘flnzements, when it should have been left to
our seconds.”

“ Well. we have got there. all the same, so
what difference does it make?” Jackson Blake
inquired in his eminently practical way.

“ Yes. but we must have seconds for the
fight," the adventurer observed. “ It is ab-
solutely necessary, and as I am an entire
stranger in El Paso, I shall have to ask two of
you gentlemen to favor me by acting as my
seconds.”

The bystanderslooked at each other. the two
Cubans, in particular, exchanging inquiring
glances and then, Gomes said:

“ I for one am happy to place myself at your
service, sir, if you care to avail yourself of my
poor assistance.”

“ I shall be delighted,” the Frenchman replied
with a courtly bow.

“ I will be glad to serve you also,” said Es-
parto, “ although I cannot boast of much ex-
perience in this line."

“ I am charmed, I assure you, sir,” and the
adventurer made another bow.

“ How about your seconds, Mr. Blake?” the
landlord inquired.

“ I reckon that I shall have to call upon Mr.
Ringwood here, and California Joe to look after
me," the Fresh replied.

Both men immediately expressed their willing-
ness to take part in the matter.

And then, at the landlord’s suggestion». the
time for the contest was fixed for three in the
afternoon; that being the hour when the people
were accustomod to visit the bull-ring to see the
bull—fight.

Moses Goldberg, with true Jewish thrift was
looking after the gate-mone

“ To-morrow then I will  you.” the French-‘

man remarked, and then he withdrew.

“_He’s gone for ammo. and court-plaster." 01d
California Joe suggested. as he with the Fresh
and Ringwood also tOOk their departure.

Within an hour the news of the coming fight
.Was widely known and El Paso was excited as
It had not been for many a day.

 

CHAPTER XVII.
GETTING AT THE TRUTH.

JACKSON BLAKE and his pards mounted their
steeds and set out for home.

The moon was shining brightly, and the ride
down along the bank of the yellow Rio Grunde
was an extremely pleasant one.

After the three crossed the river and got well
along on their homeward road, they fell into
conversation regarding the events of the night.

Dave Ringwood was the first to refer to the
subject.

“ I say, pards, I have been thinking over this
little matter to-night, and am considerably puz-
zled about it,” he observed.

“ What puzzles on?” the Fresh asked.

“Why, you an this Frenchman acted as if
you were strangers to each other.”

“ That is correct; we were.”

“ And you never ran across him before?”

“ Never !”

“What the deuce made him pick a quarrel
with you then in such an outrageous way?"
Rin wood exclaimed.

“ hat is a mystery.”

“Durned if it ain't!” the old mountain-man
exclaimed. “ When the teller joggled yer elbow
I reckoned he was some galoot that you had
had trouble with somewhar, and was trying to
pick a fuss with you so as to git squar’; I reck-
oned, you see, that you had kinder upset his
apple-cart onto the furst heat.”

“ That was my idea, too,” Ringwood ob-
served. “ For the affront he ut upon you was
so deliberame executeu that it looked as if the
man had planned the thing beforehand.”

“Oh, you kin bet yer gizzard on that!” Old
California J be declared.

“ The whole affair is a mighty odd one,”
Jackson Blake remarked, reflectively. “ And
the more I think about the matter the eater
becomes the difficulty in deciding why t e man
acted as he did.

“ Of course, the moment my elbow was jog-

led, I jumped at once to the conclusion that it
fiad been purposely done, for there was plant
of room at the bar. If there had been a crow ,
then there might have been some excuse for the
fellow. but not as it was; and when I turned, I
expected to see some stranger—possibly with
more Ii uor on board than was good for him—
who ha come to El Paso with the idea of run—
ning the town, and pitched upon me as a good
man with whom to commence operations.”

“ Oh, no, this fellow was not on that game,"
said Bingwood.

“ So I discovered the moment I got a look at
him, but he was eager for a fight all the same
though."

“ An’ I reckon he got it, too, red-hot!” chuckled
the old scout.

“ Yes, I do not think he anticipated bein
climbed quite so quickly,” the Fresh remarke .
“ And most certainly be was astonished at the
way the job was performed."

“He hadn’t any reason to complain that he
did not get his money’s worth,” Dave Ringwood
observed, dryly.

“ Yes, yes. he get full measure. heaped full
an’ aci'unnin’ over, and you would be safe in
betting a heap of money on it tOo,” old California
Joe declared.

“ As you say, Ringwood, it looked as if it
was a putup job, and as the man was a stran-
ger, the inference seems plain that somebody
set him on to attack me.”

“ Yes, that seems probable, for the man was
not drunk, neither was he one of the gay and
festive roosters who delight to pick a quarrel
with any stranger they run across for the pur-
pose of proving that they are big chiefs. but if
he was set on to attack you who is the party en-
gineering the job?”

“Now you are eskima.r a question which is not
easily an5wered,” the Fresh rejoined.

“ In my mind there is no doubt thet the fel-
low was instigated to attack me by some one,
but as to who that party is I am completely in
the dark.”

“You hain’t had a mite of trouble for some
time, ’cept with that superintendent, Hounia,”
the old scout remarked.

“ That is true, and the moment I saw that
this Frenchman was bent upon making an at-
tack upon me I thought of him, but now that
I come to think of the matter I can hardly bring
myself to believe that he can be at the bottom of
the affair.”

“ No. it seems to me that it is a cut above
him." Dave Ringwood remarked.

H Oh, yes, decidedly,” the Fresh asssented
“If he had hired a man to attack me, he would
have been apt to pick out some common ruflian.
who would have gone in to lay me out in the
regular way.” _

“ How ’bout theSe Parrals?” inquired Old Cali-
fornia Joe shrewdly. .“ Do you s’pose they had
any finger in the pie? You kinder worried
them when you fu'st came to El Paso, and,
mebbe, they have been laying the thing up ag’in'

er?”

“ No, I do not think that either the alcalde or

 

ago that they bore no malice, and were willing
to call the thing square.”

“The fact is, you got so much the best of the
fight when they attacked you, they were not
anxious to have another taste of your quality,”
Dave Ringwood remarked.

“That is about the size of it," the Fresh re—
plied. “ Now then, who is the party at the back
of the Frenchman? If I had not heard to-da
that Manuel ESCobedo and his sister were dea ,
I should immediame jump_ to the conclusion
that one of them had something to do with the
attack.”

“ I heard that they were dead too—died in
Cuba,” Ringwood remarked.

“Yes, so the story goes.”

“ Mebbe it is all a garn got qu to throw you
03 yer guard,” Old alifornia oe suggested.

“ I thought of that," the Fresh answered.
“Such a game has been played many a time.
The report of their deaths would be apt to ren-
der me careless, so they would reason, and then
they, would have a better chance to get at
me ’

“It looks as if there might be something in
that idea,” Dave Ringwood obscrved thoughtr
full .

“)éure as you’re born l" declared the old scout.

“Well as far as I can see, whoever planned
the job as used considerable headwork," the
Fresh remarked. “ That is, if I am correct in
my assumption that there is a scheme on foot to
damage me.”

“ It certainly looks like it,” Ringwood ob—
served.

‘f No mistake ’bout that!” exclaimed Old Cali-
fornia Joe, “ ’cos that French galoot went clear
out of his way to pick a fuss with you."

“ That is certain,” Jackson Blake assented.

“Now to figure the thing right out. The man

icked a quarrel with me Without any rrason.

e was not a bully spoiling for a fight, and I do
not think he contemplated having a personal
encounter With me, but the prompt way in which
I resented his affront provoked him into an
attack. But that was not his game, though.
The point for which he was working was to get
me to meet him in a duel with swords."

“Yes, that seems likely, for that is what he
came to as soon as he could,” Ringwood ob—
served.

“ And that is where the headwork of the
scheme comes in,” the Fresh remarked.

“ Whoever put up the job knew that I was a
handy man with ordinary weapons, such as are
in use along the Rio Grande, and that they
would have to look a long time before they would
be apt to find a man who could get the best of
me with either knives, revolvers or fifles, but
with an odd weapon like a sword the chances
were big that I might be taken at a disad-
vantage.”

The others nodded.

“ I have met men like this Frenchman be-
fore,” the Fresh continued, “so the breed is not
unknown to me. I remember just such a fellow
comin to a mining-campin Southern California,
where% hung out for a while. It was a mystery
to everybody how such a man ever happened to
come up in the foot-hills, for he was about the
last man in the world who would be apt to get
along, being a little. slender fellow, not fit for
hard work. and all he could do was to teach
French and dancing."

“ I should reckon that there was not many
men in the average mining-camp who would
care to go in for either of those things." Dave
Ringwood remarked.

“ Well. it must be a very small ramp indeed,
not to hold some eccentric individuals,” the
Fresh replied. And even in this place of which
I speak. the Professor, as we all called him,
managed to get enough pupils to enable him to
keep body and soul together. In fact. I myself
went three dollars a. week on him for quitea
time, for a man mixing in the society that I did
needed the polish that a knowledge of the French
tongue and the art of dancing gave.”

“ Oh, yes, thar must have been a heap of
good society in sich a mining-camp as you tell
us!" the old mountain-man exclaimed.

“ Well, the people there were all blue—blooded
ducks if you could believed their yarns of how
well fixed they had once been. Anyhow, there
were three of us that chipped and kept the
Frenchman alive, and after a while we found out
what had brought him down that way: it was
the old story of the secret mine; but. as it usual-
ly pans out, the mine was so durned secret that
nobody was ever able to find it.

“The Frenchman was half-starved when he
struck the camp, and so was uite weak and
humble, but after he began to pick up, he grew
quarrelsome. He had a pair of swords with
him and said he was a terror as a swordsman,
so one of the smart Alecks of the camp took
him up one night, and the result was that when
the fight took place next day the Frenchman
played with his man for a while and then laid
him out without any trouble.

“Now this gave me an idea; I was a card-
sharp, just then, and time used to bang heavy
on my hands during the day. as there was no

his brother, the Captain of police, are interested 1 business until night, so I got the Frenchman to

in this matter." Jackson Blake replied.

give me fencing lessons, and as both of us had

“ They took pains to send me word some time nothing to do, we used to practice two or this

    

 

v

 

 

  
     
  
   
   
  
   
  
   
    
   
   
  
   
   
    
  
   
 
   
    
 
    
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
  
    
   
   
   
    
 
   
     
 
   
   
  
  
   
   
  
   
  
   
    
     
       
   
    
  
   
   
    
  
   
    
    
   
    
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
  
   
  
     

hours a
very we .
“ Aha, you will be able to beat this fellow at
his own game then 1” Dave Ringwood exclaimed.
“ Oh, no, that was some fifteen years ago and
I am all out of practice—regularly rusty, ou
know, and it I should ati erupt to put to - ill

sure; but thanks to the lessons I received I

know enough to understand that I cannot hope

to get the best of the fight unless I come some
ame upon my man, and that is just the ripple
am 0mg to try.”

“ ow about those two foreign-looking chaps

who are to second the Frenchman?” Raymond
inquired.
’ " I reckon that both of them will bear watch-
ing, for I think they are in league with the fel-
low,” Blake answered. “ But deep as the game
is I think I can beat it!”

The Fresh was confident as usual.

CHAPTER XVIII.
IN THE BULL-RING.

THE announcement of the duel between the
stranger and the Fresh of ’Frisco created more
talk‘than an thing which had happened in the
old town of l Peso for many a day, and, as the

Cubans had anticipated, the sports of the city

were decidedly inclined to favor Jackson Blake

in the betting.

They knew what the Fresh could do, and
though they had never seen him encounter a fee
with the sword, yet they felt sure he was a mas-
ter-hand with the weapon or else he would not
have consented to fight with it.

"‘ There are no flies on the Fresh of ’Frisco,
you bet I" was the emphatic declaration of one
of the leading sharps of the town.

So, when it came to betting upon the result
the Fresh was the favorite at the odds of two to
one. '

. A The Cubans called upon the alcalde and found

, him busily engaged in discussing with the chief
- of police the chances of the coming duel.

, ‘ Aha!” exclaimed. the alcalde,.as the visitors
3 entered. “ you are :just the men we wanted to
see. We have been talking about this fight, and
since you are mixed up, in it, you can post us in
, regard to the chances. '

. ' ‘ Oh, yes, the Frenchman is our tool and this

v , I is our first blow at Jackson Blake,” Gomes re-
marked, as he and his companion helped them—
Selves'to seats.

The Mexicans were amazed at this intel-
, 1i ence, and so expressed themselves.

' . hen Games explained how they had hap-
' pened to meet with the adventurerprelated all
the particiilars of their/interview with him and

theagreement to which they had come. ,

l The alcalde and the captain of police listened
with the utmost attention, and at the close of
p the recital e ressed their satisfaction.

- “ From sue a trap it does not appear pos-

 sible that the American can escape,” the alcalde

' remarked. '

V ‘-‘ And the best of the matter is that neither he

nor his friends seemed to have any suspicion

I that ,he has been tricked into a foolish agree~
meat.” the chief of police observed.

- “The man’s overweening confidence will be
, his ruin,” Games declared.

“Most certain] he does not seem to know '
what he is doing,’ the alcalde remarked. “ But
these! Americans are a foolhardy race. 0!
course he knows nothing of the sword, although
undoubtedly expert with the weapons in com-
' moo use in this section, but he has no' fears in
regard to the result; that is because he knows
nothing about it, and, in fact, there are few
Americans who are skilled swordsmen. It is a
' , weapon with which the are not familiar. and
that is the reason why t is madman of 3. Blake
is ready to rush so heedlessl ' into this contest.
If he had any knowledge of he subject it would
teach him that it is a dangerous thing to face a
p Frenchman in a sword encounter, for it is a
well~known fact that the French arearace of
swordsmen.” . ' ,
~ “ My brother and myself are posted in regard
. to this matter,” the captain of police ex lained.
“At one time we were officers in the exican
army, and of course learned howto use a sword,
although neither one of us can boast of being
illl’ul enough to meet a regular professional
I fencer like this Frenchman. and, meet certain-
«.ly, for in part, I would in t hold a man to be a
‘ coward i be avoided such contest. foritwould

simply be throwing one’s life away.” '

'marked. “ A man would be a fool to en ge in
a. contest where all the advantage is on his oppo-
“as???” V b t ’ Go bserv

I a goesyvit on saying,’ mes 0 ed.
 “This mauhlake is undoubtedly a shrewd fel-
and prided/ himself upon his sharpness, but

 

   

  

  

undoubtedly cost him his life.”
i" “There is a chance for a speculatiom’l the

Rube,
.11

“Yes; it is the common belief that heis invin-
cible.” the chief 0! police added.

 I  understand that be has been remarkably
Win in all the encounters in which he has

 
   
 

   

e remarked; “for about all the sports ,
town are betting. heavily upon the Ameri— '

(1118.3, and I got so I could handle asword l

against the Frenchman’s, he would sette me ,

“ That is my opinion also,” the alcalde re- .

not possess. she
in this case be has fallen into a trap which  i

been engaged since he came to El Paso,” Esparto
remarked.

"That is undoubtedly a fact and that is the
reason why the sports have made him a favorite
in the betting,” the alcalde observed. “ You
see, the majorit of them know nothing at all
about a sword- g‘ut, and so are not competent
to calculate the chances. Now we, being well-

i posted, have the inside track, so to speak, and if
1 we invest our money carefully we ought to be
: able to make a good thing out of this ii ht.”

The rest agreed to this, and after a ew more
unimportant words were exchanged, the party
sallied forth, intent upon picking up a good
round sum by betting upon the coming fight.

The four had no difficulty, whatever, in bet-
ting all the money that they caredto wager.
for the sporting men of El Paso, having perfect
faith that the Fresh would prove the victor in
the sword-light, were eager and anxious to back
their opinions with the “ solid stuff,” as a M'es-
terner would say.

The old town of El Paso could boast of as
many sports as any other in Mexico, in propor-
tion to its population, the people generally de-
lighted in amusements, and t e bull-ring was
always well—patronized whenever it was opened,
but on this particular afternoon of which we
write the place was crowded. '

A bull-fight, when it was known that the bulls
were Wild, savage beasts, and there was a chance
that some of the performers might come to
grief, was sure to attract a crowd, and what
bull’flght could compare with a duel to the death
between humans?

The attraction appealed powerfully to the
citizens of the old Mexican town, and when the
hour for the contest, arrived, the auditorium of
the bull-ring was crowded.

El Paso had turned out en masse to witness
the rare show. I

And not only the inhabitants of the town
were present, but people had come in from the
surrounding country, twenty or thirty miles
away even, to witness the fight for the news of
the encounter spread like wild- re. 4

It had been carried down the Rio Grande to
the neighborhood where the Fresh had his ranch,
and a large delegation of his. neighbors had
come 11 to see the contest.

In exico, as in Spain, it is considered per-
fectly proper for ladies tograce the bull-ring
with their presence, and in the party who came
up the Rio Grande were half a dozen ladies, and
among them were the heiress of Escobedo, Mar-
garet. and her companion, the lively Pauline.

Mar aret had been persuaded to take the trip
by the adies who resided on the next ranch.

These being members of one of the old fami-
lies, who prided themsslves upon their pure
Spanish descent, were in the habit of goin to
the bull-fights. just as their ancestors he al-
ways done, and did not think there was any-
thing out of the way'in their attending this
modern ladiatorial encounter. '

But rgaret Escohedo had not been brought'
up to look at the matter in this light, and most
certainly she would not have yielded to the
pressing solicitation of her Mexican friends if

aclizon Blake had .not been. interested in th
in r. , ‘
hen she learned, though, that theFresh was
to be one of the principals in the aflair, she felt
as if she could not stay away, and so she ac-
ce ted the invitation. ;

n this course she was encouraged by her
friend, for though Miss Melville, when she first
heard of the affair, had protested that it was
“ perfectly horrid ” tothink of going'to see two
men try to kill each other, yet her morbid curi-
osity was soon excited an she really became
eager to make one of the party. '

Of course. had/ it not been for the interest
which the girls took in the Fresh of ’Frisco,
neither one would have dreamed of going.

The two bans were standing near the en«
trance when the‘party from down the river en-
tered the ‘ inclosure, and they immediately
noticed the presence of Margaret Escobedo. '

The heiress was pale, and seemed ill at ease,
and as she entered Gomes called ‘thesattention.
of his companions to her, saying: I

“There is Margaret Esmbedo: I‘am rather
astonished at it, for she has a horror of bull-
fights and kindred sports, which she considers
to be barbarous and bloody.” ,

“The Fresh of ’Frisco is the attraction which
draws her here,” Esparto answered. “Other-
wise you may he sure she would not come.” '

“ Is she in love with the, fellow. then?” Gomes
asked. a scowl darkening his face- I

“No doubt of it! Do you not see that she
looks pale and anniousi’.’ the other replied. I

“That is tr
is a hraggart, and. boasts a. skill which he does
comes to see the American die l”
Gomes exclaimed with a fierce accent.

“ There is little doubt in regard to the result.
Itbink,” the other remarked. “ Although all
El Paso appears to consider that the/Frenchman
stands no chance at all, but that is because they
know what Blake, can do while the other man is

 

  

a gen , .‘ ~ ' . v
‘ “ Yes, butthey will probably be considerably

astonished  five minutes after. theaflair?

7‘ n , s ‘

 

‘ an expert in regard to swords: yet, as far as he
,could see, no one of the weapons was

ue.’ Well, unless the Frenchman ' outraged in so gross a manner'that the death of *-

, can satisfy him.” r,

 

Then Gomes consulted his watch and finding
that it was near the appointed time be, with his
companion, repaired to one of the dressing- 
rooms, _where they found the Frenchman enjoy-
ing a cigar.

" Aha, my friends, is it near the hour?” he
asked.

“It wants but ten minutes to the time,”
Gomes replied.

“ I am glad of it for I am getting tired of
waiting. am anxious to get at my man and
finish as soon as possible.” ~

“ You feel- certain that you will be able to
conquer him?” Esparto asked.

The adventurer smiled disdainfully and
shru ged his shoulders like a true Gaul.

“ is would be very strange indeed if a man
like myself, one of the first swordsmen in Europe,
should come to an obscure hole like El Paso, in
the wilds of the New World, and there meet a
master,” he remarked.

“ Well, this Blake is a good man and it
would be well not to hold him too cheaply,”
Gomes continued.

"Best content, my brave, I shall not throw
any opportunities away.” ,

At this point the lan 10rd of the Hotel Mexico,
Moses Goldberg, who acted as master of cere-
monies entered the room.

“ 1t acks but a few minutes of the appointed
time,” he said, “ and the seconds of the Ameri—
can are already in the ring."

CHAPTER XIX.
SWORD IN HAND.

“ WE are all ready and will not kee them
waiting!” the adventurer exclaimed. ‘ There»
are the weapons,” and the Frenchman pointed r,
to a table upon which were two pair of swords.
They were; the regulation “ small—swords,” such
as are used by the duelists of the Old World.

“ As you will perceive, gentlemen, they are
all as alike as two peas, and a man would be
safe in choosing one of them with his eyes
blinded,” De Charny continued.

This was true enough, for the sw'ords were
exactly alike, as far as any one could see.

“ Let us get on with the business as soon as
possible,” said Goldberg, “for the audience is
growing impatient.” , ,

The party then proceeded to the ring, the
Cubans bearing the swords. and the adventurer
strutted along with the air of a man who
thought himself to be of great in: ortance.

Ringwood and old California 0e stood in the
center of the bull-ring, and the Fresh was seated
in a chair on one side .near the entrance where
the bulls were wont to make their entree into
the ring. .1

0n the other side of the ring near the door of
the dressing-room from which the Frenchman
and his party came, was another chair, and this
De Charny took, while his seconds advanced to
the middle of the ring to confer with the Amer-
icans, the master of ceremonies keeping them
company. - ‘ , ,
The audiencehad been busily engaged in dis-
cussing the chances of the coming fight; many
of them wondering why the Frenchman was .
not visible, and quite a number had openly exv. ‘
pressed the apprehension that it might be pos-
sible the adventurer had shown the white feather
at the last moment and they were to be cheated
out of their amusement. herefore, when the
Frenchman made his appearance. a loud hum of
satisfaction rose on the air, and then' the_audi-
torium became still, eachspentator anxious not
to allow any of the exhibition to escape notice,

net as in a theater the audience settle down in
heir seats and become quiet upon the rising of
the curtain.

The Cubans-saluted the Americans politely,
and Dave Ringwood and Old California oe were
particular to return the saldtation With equal
ceremony. r

“ Here are the swords,” said Gomes. “ As you
will obserw. they are all alike: there is not a
particle of difference between them as far, as 1
can see." , -

And he held out the swords for inspection.

Dave Ringwood, was a suspicious man by
nature and his experience, too, had taught him
that it was not safe to put trust in the avera
man in‘a case of this kind, so he examined to
swords in the most careful manner. He was‘not.

 

 

 

 

better than
the others. ‘
“ This will answer, I reckon," he said, select-
ing one of the swords. “ And now in regard to
the terms of the fight?” '
“It is to be a due] to the death.” Gomesre—
plied. “ My principal has been insulted and '-

         
       
   
       
      

theman who has been

guilty of the offense alone . l

“ That is, all right,” Ringvvood rejoiiied. “ I
t'rfickop that our side is satisfied ‘to let it go at
at. " ‘ ‘ .
“Oh, yes, you kin beigyer bottom dollar that].
we are not k'ckingl” 01 California Joe cried.~ ‘.
“ The ban is «to continue until blood is drawn, , x
then a wait of five minutes {will be allowed” “ 1 »
“ Kinder divided up into heats, mite speaks?
the old mountain-man remarked. , v I  '
l “ More like the rounds. of a padres-fight,” Ringo ;
. , . v _ \ i :‘u

 
 

 

 

         
     
  

  
   
 
 

  

 

‘ I

The Fresh in Texas.

15

 

 

 

wood suggested. “ Well, that is all right. Fig}:
until blood is drawn, then five minutes’ rest -

fore the contest is renewed. That is understood. v hardly restrain himself.

n thin else?"

A“yThatgis all,” the Cuban replied.

“ I suppose I had better make known the con-
ditions of the fight to the audience,” the hotel-
keeper remarked. _

The seconds nodded assent to this.

“ If I did not there might be some dissatisfac-
tiou,’7 Goldberg added.

“ How ’bout the gate-money?” asked Old Cali-
fornia Joe, with a keen eye to business.

“ Fifty per cent. of that I take for the use of 

the building. and the rest goes to the Victor in
Lh‘ fight," the landlord answered.
" That is all squar’ !” the old scout exclaimed.
“ Go ahead With your explanation, so we can

get down to business, Goldberg,” said Ring~ ! man asked.

wood.

The hotel-keeper faced the audience, held up I money I can spare," Gomes replied.

his hand to attract their attention—which was
needless, for every eye was fixed upon him—
thcn made known the terms of the fight.

There was a hum of applause when the ex— ;
plaiiation was concluded, not that the amuse—
ment-seekers cared a jot about the rules of the ,
contest, but they were eager for the fight to be- .

gin, and understood that their appetite would
soon be gratified.

As scan as the applause died away, a stalwart
man, with along, brown beard, who occupied
a front seat in the center of the semicircle n rose.
Being of a commanding figure, and occupying a
prominent position, all eyes were attracted to
him.

The gentleman was as well known as any '

citizen who dwelt in El Paso, being the owner of
the largest gaming establishment that the town
had ever known.

The readers of the romance relating the ad-
ventures of Jackson Blake in the neighborhood
of the old Mexican city, entitled, “The Fresh
on the Rio Grunde,” will probably remember
Doc Moses, the Euro king, and it was this promi-
nent sharp who, by risin in his place, had at-
tracted the attention of a the audience. _

“ Gentlemen, I rise to remark that I believe
Jackson Blake, the Fresh of ’Frisco, is going to
win this game!" he exclaimed. “ And as money
talks in a case of this kind a heap si ht louder
than words, I will announce that am pre-
pared to back my Opinions with the solid stuff!”

At this point Doc Moses drew a big roll of

bills from his pocket, and flourished them in the

air.

“ Now then, gentlemen, any of you that are
anxious to bet against the Fresh of ’Frisco, Will
have a chance. '

“ Just step up to the captain’s office as soon
as possible, please!” the sport_ continued. “ I
am repared to give odds—I Will go two to one
on Jackson Blake!”

The members of the audience looked at each
other, but no one stirred to accept the banter.

The brown-bearded sport waited for a. few
moments, looking around him in an inquiring
way, and then said:

“ I have made a few small bets on this con—
test, but I have not invested anything like the
money that I should like to have on it, and so
I take this public method of making known my
wants.”

Then the sport glanced around again, but not
a man in the audience evinced any idea of tak-
ing up the defiance.

“ Oh. come. fellow-citizens l” cried Doc Moses;
“ don’t be so backward in coming forward!
Hyer I am, and hyer’s my mono —and money
talks every tlme. you bet! And i two to one is
not a big enough inducement for you, hang me
if I don’t raise the ante! I will make it three to
one, and go any man in hundreds, too. Three
hundred to one hundred that Jackson Blake, the
Fresh of ’Frisco. Wlns this game! Now, don’t
all speak at once!”

But though many of the men present nodded
their heads as much as to say that they con-
sidered the offer a tempting one, yet no one
accepted it. I

There had been conSiderable betting on the
result of the contest, for when such large odds
as two to one were offered there were uite a
number of reckless sports who were wil ing to
risk small sums, for even th0ugh they believed
that the Fresh was the best man, yet they
argued that the chapter of acc1dents might
give the victory to the stranger, and so they in—
vested.

But these men had bet all the money that they
cared to risk, and Doc Moses’s offer met With no
response.

“ Well, well, I am sorry that none of the gen-
tlemen present have the sand to accept my chal—
lenge," the old sport remarked. And yet,
since this match was on, I have heard some
pretty loud talk, but evidently. the men who
were so free with their chin-muSic are not dis-

sed to be equally so with their cash.”

And with this sarcastic remark, Doc Moses
took his seat.

The episode excited the Frenchman’s anger;
the idea that the cool sport should _think so
meanly of his abilities as to be willing tobet
two to one upon his antagonist was extremely
galling, and when the sport, finding that there

I
l was no response to his first offer, expressed his
I willingness to bet three to one, De Charny could

“ Is the man a fool?" he exclaimed, to the
two Cubans who at the moment were helping
him to prepare for the encounter.

“ What does he take me for?” he continued.

l full of wrath. “ Am I a boy who has never had
i a sword in his hand that he is so certain I will
i be vanquished in the fight?"

I “ Oh, he is trying the favorite game of these
, Americans,” Gomes remarked. “ He is only
‘ bluiflng, as they call it, and if any one should be
bold enough to take him up the' chances are
great that he would not be inclined to risk much
money, if he did not find some way to creep out
[ of the wager altogether.”

l “ Why do you not take him up?” the French-

“ Because I have already invested all the
“ Botn Es-
parto and myself have put out every dollar that
we could rake together on you."

“ Three to one!” exclaimed the adventurer,
red with rage. “ Aha! wait until we cross
swords and I will soon show this sport who is so
free with his money that he never made a big—
ger mistake in his life than when he dared to
lay odds against me!”

By this time the duelists were prepared for the
encounter.

They had removed their outer garments, their
breasts only being covered by their shirts. .

Each had rolled up the right-hand shirt-
sleeve and knotted a handkerchief tightly around
their waists.

Sword in hand the pair advanced to the center
of the ring and confronted each other.

The audience became as still as death.

 

CHAPTER XX.
run CONTEST.

ALTHOUGH the Frenchman was a well-made
fellow, yet he was not to be com ared in mus-
cular development with Jackson lake, and he
was evidently astonished by the appearance
(fill? Elge sport when he saw him stripped for the

g .

But in a sword contest muscular develop-
ment and superior strength are not so impor—
tant as in a boxing match, and therefore, though
the adventurer was amazed by the discovery
that his opponent was as well-made a man as
his eyes had ever looked upon, yet he was not
impressed with the slightest fear in regard to
the result of the duel.

He was nettled by the contemptuous manner
in which the sports of El Paso had treated him.

The idea that he, one of the first swordsman
in Europe, opposed to a dull brute of an Ameri-
can, who in all probability never had a sword in
his hand before, should go a-begging in the bet-
ting, no one being willing to venture one dollar
against three on him was, in his opinion, simply
outrageous.

Confident then in his own skill—feeling sure
that his adversary stood no chance whatever, he
resolved to show these men of El Paso, who had
so poor an o inion of him, a display of swordsc
Enanship suc as they had never witnessed be~

ore.

.He determined to play with his antagonist for
a while as a cat plays with a mouse.

Under ordinary circumstances it was his cus-
tom in an affair of this kind to “ finish” his
man as soon as possible—a “parade” and then
a fatal thrust as quickly as the opportunity
came.

 

If his opponent had been a man with a fair
knowledge of the fencer's art the Frenchman 1
would have hesitated about trying any nonsense
with him, but as it was, De Charny did not have i
any fear of the “brute American.” as he con- I
temptuously termed the Fresh of ’Frisco. l

The adventurer had his plan of operations all 
formed as he advanced to cross swords with his
op orient.

Vith a brilliant “ flourish” he intended to con— '
fuse his antagonist, then he proposed to “ pink ”
him in the shoulder, just enough to draw blood, 1
but not so severely as to disable the American. 9

After this he would wound him in the sword- E
arm—just scratch the skin with the oint of his 1
blade, as though it was the clawo a gigantic !
cat. .

By this time be calculated that his antagonist i
would either be wrought up to a state of fury, !
or else plunged into despair, realizing that he 
stood no chance to win, then he would bring the j
affair to an end with a thrust, which would 1
send the American to his long home without I
ceremony.

“ These savages, who are afraid to bet on me, I
have paid their money to witness the exhibition 5
and I will see that they get the worth of their
cash,” the Frenchman muttered between his ,
teeth as be advanced to the center of the bull- [
ring. i

The pair paused when they were within six
feet of each Other and bowed ceremoniously. l

“ Sir American. you have insulted me in the

 

 

grossest manner I" exclaimed the adventurer in i
tones so loud that every word could be distinct- l
1y heard by all the audience.

“ Never in all my life have I suffered so gross

an outrage, and I give you fair warning that I
intend to have your heart’s blood to wipe out
the disgrace!”

“ That is your say-so but it is not mine!” the
Fresh of ’Frisco retorted. “ Now, as you are a
stranger to this section I don‘t want you to
make any mistake about this matter. You
may think you are going to have n walk-over,
but in such a picnic as this “ it is never safe to
count your chickens until they are liutclwd.“
That is an old saying, and u migth trm- imp.
Before we get through with this little affair y! u
may discover that ‘ Jack is as good as his mus—
ter,‘ and I want you to distinctly understand
that you have not got so sure a thing as you
seem to think."

This bold doflance angered the Frenchman
still more.

“ Be warned!" De Chnrny cried in a voice
full of rage, “ I do not intend to show you any
mercy!”

“ Oh, come down to business and talk no
more!” Jackson Blake exrliiimed. “ You are
not going to win this fight with words, and you
are just wasting your breath.

“ En guide I” cried the adventurer, throwing
himself into position.

The shining blades crossed, twinod around
each other like a pair of silver serpents, and
every eye in the audience was fixed upon the

air.
p Just for a moment the steels twined around
each other, and then, before the Frenchman had
a chance to make the movement which he had.
in anticipation, the Californian played a trick
upon him, the like of which no fencer was ever
taught.

The Fresh, with a powerful movement, closed
with his antagonist, and pressing his blade firin-
ly against the adventurer’s steel, forced the
other’s sword against his body, and with the
point of his own blade ripped open the cheek
of the Frenchman, then jumped back out of dis—
tance, laughing in the face of his antagonist.

“First blood!" sung out Old California Joe,
delighted at the successful accomplishment of
the trick.

“Five minutes’ breathing time, gentlemen!”
proclaimed the master of ceremonies.

The Frenchman was furious—he fairly turned
white with rage as he put his hand to his cheek
and pressed it u on the ugly scratch which the
blade of the Cali 'ornian had made, while a long-
drawn “Ah!” ascended on the air from the lips
of the audience.

“ What kind of sword-play do you call that?"
the adventurer cried, really trembling with
re. as he spoke.

‘ That is called the‘Git thar stroke,’ ” the
Fresh replied in his cool wa .

“Ilt is barbarous!” cried, De Charny indig-
nant y.

“Exactly, considerable of the barber about
it, if it cannot lay claim to the one,” rejoined
the other.

“Such a way to fight was never heard of l"
the Frenchman declared.

“ What do you know about it, an yway?” J ack-
scn Blake uestioned.

“ What 0 I know about it? Am I not one of
the first swordsman in Europe 3"

“You are?”

“Yes, there are not three men in the world
whom I am willing to acknowledge as my mas-
tars!"

“ The deuce you say i”

“ It is the truth!”

“Well, you have roped me into anice trap
then!” the Fresh declared. “What sort of a
chance then do I stand against you,l should
like to know?”

“ None at all!" hissed the Frenchman savage-
ly. “And I am going to kill you with as little
mercy as though you were a snake crawling in
the grass at my feet!”

“ If you can i" cried the Fresh of ’Frisco.
“Don’t forget to put that in, always! If you
can, because sometimes it is not as easy to do
these tricks as it is at others.

“Now, then, gentle stranger, it strikes me
that you have put up the worst kind of a job on
me. You are, according to your own state-
ment, 3. master of the sword while it is a wea-
pon which I know but little about, and so, un-
der the circumstances, I think I am Justified in
going at you any way 1 can; so just koe on
the lookout and you have no right to grow it I
don’t fight according to the rules of a fencing-
school.”

“Time!” exclaimed the master of ceremonies
at this point.

Again the antagonists advanced, sword in

and.

This time the Frenchman. furious with rage
at the advantage which his opponent had
gained in the first bout, made up'his mind to
bring the affair to an end as soon as possible.

He would kill the American at the flrstop-
portunity.

The adventurer thought no more. of “ showing
ofl’L—no longer was be anxious to display his

. skill as a swordsman, all he cared for now was to

slay his antagonist.

Again the shining blades crossed, but hardly
had they turned when the Fresh 'um d back,
and then rushed at his opponent, s iking at his

 

in Texas.

' Tire hFresh

 

 

 

head, using the small-sword as though it was a
saber.

With the cavalry weapons the Californian
\\ as familiar, although he could not boast of
much skillwith the foil, and in this he possessed
a decided advantage over his antagonist, who
knew nothing at all about the saber.

.5.) fierce was the attack, that De Chamy had
all he could do to parry the blows, and found no
opp'll‘tunity to thrust.

 
  
   
  
   
   
  
  
 
   
   
   
  
  
  
     
  
    
 
  
  
    
   
   
   
   
   
  
  
    
   
  
 
    
  
   
  
 
    
 
 
    
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
 
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
 
  
    
   
  
 
  
  
  
   
    
   
  
   
  
  
    
  

’ Fresh of ’Frisco pressed him.

Twice the agile-footed Californian broke
through the ‘guard of the Frenchman, and his
steel wounds the adventurer.

h I); Charny‘s breath began to come quick and
ar .

never been so fiercely attacked, or had his
strength and endurance put to so rude a test.

him, and, in desperation, endeavored to get a
chance to thrust at his foe.
The attempt cost him dear, for Jackson Blake

tu‘rer’s blade was beaten to one side-the muscle
of his sword—arm bein tired from the unusual
efforts which they
the Fresh saw his opportunity, and uickly
longing, s’ent his blade through the shou der of
the renchmaii. .

By this time, about all the audience was on
their feet wildly excited over the conteyt, and
a tremendous shout went up when the Fresh
made his SUCCQ‘SSIUI thrust.

arms and then sunk to the ground. .

The fight was ended.

Again the audience yelled, and. to add to the
excitement. some half a dozen ladies in the au-
dience fainted, the heiress of Escobedo being
among them, thus making a scene of wild con—
fusion. '

The ladies were removed by their friends, the
wounded man carried to one of the dressing-
roolns. and the audience dispersed, satisfied that
r they had got their money’s worth.

Ir was equal to a first-class bull-fight, all de-
clared.

 

CHAPTER XXI.
AFTER THE BATTLE.
. IT was the two Cubans and the master of cere-
monies who bore the wounded Frenchman- to the
dressingiroom, and the doctor that was usually
employed to care for the bull-fighters who hap-
pened to be injured in the games, hastened to
see what he could do for the discomflted duelist.

After an examination the medical gentleman
announced that though the wound was a severe
one. yet it was not mortal, and in his 0 inion
there was no doubt the Frenchman we (1 re-
cover. ,

And then, having a'keen e e for business, the
doctor inquired who won d . be responsible
for the bill in case he took charge of the case.

. /“ Well, the gentleman is an entire stranger to
me,” the land ord remarked. “ He is sto ping
at mg hotel, but I know very little about im.”

“ e is a stranger to us also,” Gomes remarked
, as the landlord and the doctor turned an inquir-
ing eye upon him and his companion. “ I should
imagine though, from what little I know of him
that he is not over-flush with wealth, but as far
as your bill goes doctor, do not allow that to
trouble you, for will attend to it,’and, land-
lord. see that he wants for nothing and I will
stand the expense. .

V , “‘ Upon my word, sir, you are extremely lib-
eral!” the doctor exclaimed, with a low bow,
profoundly im ressed by the generous ofler. .
V ~ “ I will see t t he has everything he wants!”
' Goldberg declared.
The wounded man had been laced upon a
rude couch in the room which h been express-
ly provided for use in cases of this kind, and he
was a parently in a arrow; in reality, though.
he had come out of the stupor into which he had
fallen immediately after receiving his wound. '
and so was able to overhear the conversation.
. ,Now, the adventurer was a man of the world
—‘hdd traveled much in his time, and seen a deal
of life, and the generosity of the Cuban, instead
of arousing his gratitude, awakened his sus-
ion.
‘ “ Too generous—too generous by half,” he
muttered between his teeth. “ What game is
‘ the man up to—what service does he desire at
my. hands after I get ‘ over this cursed sword-
thrust?"
By this‘speech it will be seen that the French:
man was an extreme] suspicious gentleman.
As the doctor and t e landlord now felt easy
regard to their bills they hastened to get the

  

than he now enjoyed.
“Four of the bull-ring attendants were sum-I
moped, and the Frenchman, couch and all was
transported to the Hotel Mexico. ’
There the landlord had a comfortable room
prepared for him, and after the wounded man
wasput to bed in it, the doctor proceeded to
was his wound. the Cubans and the landlord
‘ g by and watching the operation with
great interest ' ‘
r» (“ Upon my life, my friend, you have had an

  

  

  

   

  

 

First on one side and then on the other the ‘

In all his experience as a swordsman, he had'

He felt that his strength was beginning to fail I

parried the stroke so vigorously that the adven- ‘

ha been forced to make—- ;

The Frenchman staggered back, threw up his .

wounded man to more comfortable quarters.

! extremely narrow escape!” the doctor ex-
claimed, nfter he had made a careful examina—
tion of the Frenchman’s hurt.

“ Oh, yes. I know that as well as you,”
growled the adventurer, evidently in an ex-

‘ tremer bad humor.

“ If his blade had gone two inches more to the

- left and an inch lower down, all the doctors in

i this world would not have been able to do you

any good,” the medical man observed, with a.

solemn wag of the head.

“ Yes, yes! You must tell me something that
I don’t know, if you want to astonish me," the
wounded man exclaimed, testily.

“ You must not make the mistake of taking
me for a novice,” he continued. “This is not
the first time that I have stood, sword in hand,
before an (ipponent, and not the first time,
, either, that have been stretched on my back by
A a dextrous sword~thrust, so I am about as good
a judge in regard to such matters as any doctor
in Christendom.” _ _

“ Now, my dear sir, you must be patient and
restrain yourself from giving we to any fits of
temper, or I will not be answera le for the con—
sequences,” the doctor protested.

“ Oh. that is all right,” returned the wounded
man. “Don’t fear that I will hurt myself by
growling. That is all I can do—the only conso-r
lation left 'me after my miserable display to-
day.” And the tone in which the adventurer
spoke showed how deeply his defeat had sunk
into his heart.

! “ Well, well, my dear sir on are not the first

i man that in this city of El aso has attempted
to cut the comb of this American fighting—cock

l and lived to regret the. trial,” the doctor re-

marked.

“ That is true enough,” the landlord added.
“ It is no disgrace for any man to be conquered
by this American, for since he came to the banks
of the Rio Grande he has met some of the best
men in this section, and has succeeded in getting
away with all of them.” ' r

“ on, he is a re ular North American devil!
There is no dou 1: about thati” the doctor ex-

imed.

“ Yes, I understood that he was looked upon
as being an extra good man,” the Frenchman
remarked. “ But I had no fears in re ard to
meeting him for I knew that it could not pos-
sible that he was any such swordsman as I am
and therefore I anticipated an easy victory.”

“ Ah, my dear sir, experience has taught me

1 that a man never knows how to take these wild

North Americans!” the doctor exclaimed. “ Why
I have had them under my care when there was
not one chance in a hundred that they would re-
cover, and yet they have managed to pull
through. One case in particular I remember;
this cld mountain-man~—old California Joe as he
is called—he was sick with the break-bone fever
—not a hope for his life to my thinking, but I
prescribed for him— he recovered; I told him
that I knew my medicines would save him if
anything would; then the North American
brute laughed in my face and said that he hadn’t
taken a drop of my nasty stuff, but had dosed
himself with whisky in which pine burrs had
been steeped: abarbarous decoction which would
have killed anybody but one of these savages.” '

“It is true; I have known of just such cases,"
the landlord assented.

During the conversation the doctor had been
attendin to the wound, and it did not take him
long to 0 all that could be done under the cir-

I cumntances; then, when the task was completed,

the doctor and landlord withdrew.

“ Well. our carefully-planned scheme came to
naught,” Gomes remarked. He had taken a
seat by the side _of the bed upon which the
Frenchman reclined, ESparto being seated a
yard or so away. ‘

“Yes, the fellow beat me. but such a duel
was never seen before in this world!” the ad-
venturer exclaimed. “ I
laughing-stock of—the butt for the crowd! If
such a thing had happened in Europe I would
never have dared to show my head again.
Like the ancient Roman. I should have been
tempted to have fallen on my own sword!”

“Undoubtedly the peculiar manner in which
this American fought perplexed you,” Esparto
remarked. ‘ '

“Undoubtedl it did!” cried the Frenchman.
“ y my soul! never saw anything like it be-
fore, and I doubt if anybody else ever did. The
fellow by his mode of attack set at defiance all
the rules of fence." '

i “ But now'that you are acquainted with the
peculiar way in which he fights, do you not
think that in a second encounter you would be
able to get the best of him?” Gomes asked.

“I should surely think that you would suc-
ceed in turning the tables, and us secure am-
ple revenge for your defeat to-day,” Etiparto

ur

The Frenchman half-closed his eyes, a device
on his part to conceal the . uliar look Which
he knew was coming in t em. “ Well, well,
it is hard to tell.” he so d, slowly, speaking as
though he was affected by the pain of V 's wound.
“ Now that ,I am acguainted with the man, and
understand how he ghts, there is no doubt that
I could do better than I did:to-day4' but whether
I could conquer bimor not is equestion.” V

 

was made a complete '

“By all the fiends!” cried Gomes, “if I were
you and had been triumphed over to-da'y as
you have been by this American, I could find it
in my heart to compass his death by foul means
if I could not do 0 fairly. ” ,

I“ That is my mind too!” Esparto declared.
“ We Cubans are hot-blooded about such mat.
ters, and when we are wronged we care not how
we gist revenge so long as we obtain it!” -

“ hat is right; I a ree with you there,” the
Frenchman replied. ‘ This scoundrel has tri—
umphed over and disgraced me before a multi-
tude and I should not be worthy the name of
man if I did not hunger for revenge.” ,

“ Exactly! that is the way I should feel about
tléelmatter,” Gomes declared with an approving
n .
“ It is the way that every man should feel if
he has blood and not water in his veins!”
Esparto exclaimed.

‘ Oh, I will call him to an account, he sure of
that,” the adventurer remarked. “But I will
own to you that he achieved so easy a victory
over me that it has rendered me timid of meet-
ing him with the sword again.”

‘You would be on your guard now against
his tricks,” Gomes suggested.

“ And being on your guard, possibly, you
would be able to give him a thrust which would
close his account with this world,” Esparto ob-
served. .

“ I fear that with the sword I cannot hope to
cope with him,” the wounded man replied with
a doubtful shake of the head.

“ Select some other weapon then!” Gomes ex—
claimed. “ And if you do not think you can
secure revenge by a fair and open fight why
then make a secret attack upon him. e are

on injured and we are anxious ‘to see you
avegge yourself.”

“ es, count on us to the death!” Esparto de-
clared.

The Frenchman thanked the Cubans, and as
he seemed to be growing tired, after a few more
words, they withdrew.

The Frenchman looked after them with a
peculiar expression upon'his face.

“ Oho!” he exclaimed, “am I selected for the
role of the‘cat then to pull the chestnuts out of
the. fire? Uponmy word I think I have burnt
my fingers once already.”

 

CHAPTER XXII.
AN unnxmoran MOVEMENT.

FOR quite a time the wounded adventurer re-
mained silent, busy in meditation.

Now that his wound was dressed he felt de—
cidedly better; in reality his hurt was not as,
severe as the doctor imagined, and as the French—
man was a man with a fine constitution and
one who had always taken care of himself. the
shock had not prostrated him as completely as
it otherwise might have done.

“Yes, yes ” he said at last, “ I think I see the
game now. I was a fool to allow these sharpers
to deceive me so cleverly. It is odd too that I
should have fallen into the trap in such a blind,
stupid way. a man like myself, who has met
cunning rogues of all degrees. These fellows
though deceived me completely. They planned
the matter so cleverly that I ad no suspicion
they were making a cat’spaw out of me, and
that I was being used as a tool to wreak private
vengeance. They have a grudge
American, and not daring to face im them-
selves got me into this scheme. hoping that I

' would be able to do the work which they dared,

not attempt themselves.

“ These Cubans are extremely generous en-
tlemen!” the Frenchman exclaimed, wit a
sneer. “ They will y my bills, although I am
a stranger to them; ut though I have not been
of service to them in the past they hope I will
be in the future. In fine, they desire me to play
the art of a bravo—a hired assassin—and they
thin I will be base enough to murder the man
whom I was not able to master in a fair and
open fight. , ’ ,

“ But they have/made a mistake! I am no
such man as that. I am bad enou h, Heaven
knows! but I have never yet descen ed so low
as to play the role of an assassin. ‘ No. moner
than disgrace m self in that way I would beg
my bread from our to door! '

“ I hate these men of Spanish descent!" he
exclaimed, with a sudden outbreak. “The are
.like the Italians, prone to strike at a manis ck

when they dare not face him! ‘  I

“ Another thought comes in here; 'will not
this precious pair seek.to take veu eance' upon
me when they find that I am not w in to act
the part which they have assigned me

“Yes, yes. not a doubt of it,” the wounded
gnan declared, after a few moments of meditav

ion ‘

probably seek to deal me some terrible blow.
must leek out for myself." ‘ > ‘

itation, which continued until interrupted by
the entrance of one of’ the hotel servants, who

 

 

wounded man every now and then for the

1 1

our friends and will stand by you. , You have ‘

ainst this .-

 

“ They will turn against me in a moment, and y
Again the Frenchman fell into profound med- 7

had been instructed to look in upon the , 
poseofseeingifhewishedanything. i V. ’ '

 

 

 

,,‘._.‘.w-.M'.fi:n

      
    
     
      
     
     
     
    
     
    
    

   

wank

 nus is» A “

 

 

 

 

1—.

 

h.

The. Fresh in. Texa

a,”

L
I

 

 

The man was a negro with a sly, cunning
face, and after the Frenchman took a good look
at him he decided that he was just the kind of
fellow who could he depended upon to do on
job where craft and keenness were require ,
provided he was well paid for it.

“Is dar anything you want, ssh?” the negro

in uired.

%Vith the forethought which is so necessary to
the man who leads the life of an adventurer, the
Frenchman had taken care to have his wallet
placed under his pillow, so that he was not with«
out funds, for the sum which he had received
from the Cuban had not been all expended; in
fact he had barely touched it, although he had
been strongly tempted to risk it in betting on
the result of the fight.

“ Well, let me see,” replied De Chnrny, fixing
his keen eyes full on the face of the black.
“ What is your name?" he asked, abruptly.

“ Domingo, ‘sah‘R’

“ Are you a man who can be trusted, provided
you are paid enough?” ' .

The negro displayed his worms in a prodigious

rin.

g “ Yes, sah, I reckon I is!” he replied. “When
lyguwsay dat, sah, I reckon you hit me whar I
i l

“Well, I want a. little service performed, and
if you will undertake the task, I will give you a
couple of ounces.”

": All right. ssh; I reckon I will be glad to do
it. '

“ You know this Mr. Blake—the gentleman
with whom I fought to-dayl” .

“ Yes, sah; I was dar and seen de skirmish.”

“ I want to see Mr. Blake, and I don’t want to
have anybody know anything about it. Do you
think you could contrive to see Mr. Blake and
get him to come to my room here and arrange
it so that his visit will not be known?”

“ Oh. yes, ssh!” the black declared, full of
confidi'nce. “ I kin work dat trick jest as easy
as rolling off a lo !"

“ If you succee in arranging the matter I
will give you a couple of ounces.”

" All right, sah, I will be glad todo it. Do
geuiman is down-stairs now and I reckon I kin
git him up hyer "fore long.”

“ Very well, proceed. I want to have a talk
with Mr. Blake, and I have reasons for wanting
the matter kept quiet.” ‘

“ Oh, you kin trust me, sah; I won’t say.
nothing to nobody ’bout it.”

And with this asstn‘ance the negro withdrew.

It was true, as the black said, that the Fresh
of ’Frisco was in the saloon of the Hotel Mexico.

After his triumph over the Frenchman: the
enthusiastic citizens of El Paso insisted upon
tendering him a reception, which he felt con-
strained to acce t for it appeared ungracious to
refuse the comp iment.

Of course it was the ; Americans of El Paso
who thus designed to honor the Fresh of ’Frisco,
for the Mexican residents of the town had no
love for Jackson Blake, and all the sports of
that nationality who had courage enough to
back their opinions that the Frenchman would
win, being, at the end of the contest, cleaned
but and disgusted, felt much more like giving
the victor a ducldng in the Rio Grande than a
reception at the Hotel Mexico.

The “levee” had just ended when the negro
entered the saloon.

The Fresh had succeeded in tearing himself
away from his joyous friends when the servant
entered. , _

Watching his opportunity the black followed
Blake and on the way to the corral, whither the
Fresh and his pards were goingbiu quest of their
horses, succeeded in gettinia c ance to speak to-
Blake without being seen y any one connected
with the hotel. I. , , '

He delivered his message, not for ettlng to
state that the Frenchman desired t e matter
should be managed so that no one would know
of it, and adding that. by means of the rear en-
trance to the hotel, he could undoubtedly con-
duct the visitor to the room Where the wounded
man was, without any one in the house being
the wiser.

The Fresh reflected over the matter for a mo-
ment, and then said to his two pards:

“ Well, I don’t see any reason why I should
not oblige the man by complying With his re-

ueet.” '
q Both Ringwood and Old California Joe re.
marked that they knew of no objection, so
while they proceeded to the corral to attend
to their horses, Jackson Blake was conducted
hv the negro to the room occupied by the
Frenchman. ~ ‘ I ,

“ Aha, my brave friend, you have succeeded,
I see 1” De Charny exclaimed in a tone of satis-
faction, bowing politely to the Fresh, who re-
turned the salutation..

“ Here are your ounces.” '

And .he chinked the two pieces of silver into
the hands of the black, who grinned with satis—
faction. - '

“ Now then.” continued the adventurer, “just
you keep watch outside in the~eutry. so as to
give me timely warning of the a reach of any
one likely toenter myroom, an . there will be
smother ounce for you.” .

“All right, sah; I W111 do dat job right

_ .
,y.

' Fresh answered.

 

up to de handle!" the black remarked, as he
departed.

“ Be seated, Mr. Blake,” requested the French-
man, waving his hand to a chair by the side
of the bed, when the door closed behind the
negro.

The Fresh sat down.

“ Probably you are at a loss to know why I
wished to have an interview with you,” the ad-
venturer remarked.

“ Yes, I confess I cannot guess the reason.”

“ Well, I wanted to set myself right, in the
first place,” De Chamy said. “ I do not claim
to be any better than I ought to be, but I have
always tried to act like a gentleman although
in this uarrel with you I was tricked into act-
ing a m e which, now that I look back upon the
Eerformance, seems tome more like that of a

ired bravo than anythin else. I am going to
make a full confession, t ough, of all the cir-
cumstances connected with the affair, and allow
you to judge.”

And then, briefly, the Frenchman detailed the
unfortunate circumstances which had led his
wandering footsteps to El Paso, and related all
the articulars of his meeting with the Cubans.

“ can see now that they madeacat’s-paw
out of me, although I had no suspicion of it at
the time. I presume they are enemies of ours,
anxious for vengeance upon you,” De C y
said, in conclusion. _

“ Upon my word, the whole aflair is the big-
gest kind of a mystery 1” the Fresh declared.

” I do not know either one of the Cubans,
and so, consequently, never had any trouble
with them.” '

“ It is a mystery, indeed!” and then the
wounded man related the particulars of his last
interview with the pair.

" Well, well, they are anxious to have me
wiped out I” the Fresh commented.

“ If they are not acting for themselves—if
they have no grudge against you, possibly they
are acting for some pne who has—some bitter
foe of yours,” the advonturer su gested.

“ So it would seem,” the rash remarked.
“ But the joke of the thing is that I am not
aware of havmg any foe who feels bitter enough
toward me togo to such trouble.”

“The foe ex1sts though. evidently.”

_ “ Yes, so it seems, and I must make it my bus-
iness to discover him as soon as possible."

“ That is a good idea, or otherwise he may
get in a blow w ich will be a t to hurt.” .

“ Well, I am much oblig to you for your
warning, and I say, as you do not intend to act
as the tool of this pair of precious villains, they
will be apt to cut ofi‘ the supplies the moment
they discover the truth.”-

‘ Yes, and then I shall be helpless, but it is the
fortune of war,” the adventurer remarked,
shfiulgg‘igfi his shoulders like a true Frenchman.

raise a subscription for you,” Blake.

exclaimed. “There are plent of sports in El
Paso whose ocketbooks are ways 0 n in a
case of this ind. Just you wait! InSide of an
hour I’ll have you on your legs again 1”

And then the Fresh departed.

CHAPTER XXIII.

, CEIPPING m.

chxson BLAKE hurried at once to his pards
in the corral.

“ Put the horses up, boys,” he said. “ I have
struck a little business which I must attend to
before I go.” '

Thenhe related the particulars of his inter-
view With the wounded Frenchman.

“Wa-al, I reckon that this ar’ is a. mi l2?
mixed-up affair,” Old California Joe remari .

“As sure as you are born!” Dave Ringwood
exclaimed.

“You know it was my opinion, boys, that
neither one of these two Cubans bore me anv
love, though why a. couple of strangers, whom I
never run across before, should be anxious to do
me harm was a mystery to me,” the Fresh re-
m

 

arked.
“ ’Turnel strange!" the old mountain-man ex-
claimed. -

f‘ As queer a case. I reckon, as I ever struck,”
Eingwood observed, with a wise shake of the

ea .'

“ Of course there is a reason for it,” Jackson
Blake remarked. “ Men do not go into a game
of this kind without a motive.” ‘ I

“ You kin bet all you are worth on that!” Old
California Joe declared.

“ Oh, yes, that would be a safe bet; these two
Cubans put up a job on you, and they to the
Frenchman into the trick in an extrem neat
manner. but what are they driving at—w at is
the motive?” Ringwood sexed.

"I reckon it is the old war re-opened,” the
“ These fellowa come from
Cuba; in Cuba Manuel Escobedo and his sister,
Isabel, found refu e when I made the neighbor-
hood of the Rio rande too hot to hold them.
Rumor says that both of them are dead. but I
reckon that is a cute device to throw me of! the
track.” l

~“ To kinder throw dust in yer eyes so as to be
able to git a good lick at yer without you being
on the lookout for it,” the ld scout suggested.

“Yes, I reckon that is about the size of it,”
said the Fresh. , “ As you Will probably remem-

 

ber, boys, I have not taken any stock in these
Cubans and got the idea, right at the be innin
that they were no friends of mine. alt ough
really had no ood reason for the belief. but now
that I know t e game they are playing I shall
try to give them an opportunity to show their
hand as soon as possible. ’

“That is the right idea!” Old California Joe
declared. ' i

“ You bet it is !" Ringwood exclaimed. “It is
not pleasant to be subject to attacks from secret
enemies. If a man has got anything against me
I want him to square the account as soon as pos-
sible. If there is anything in the world that I
despise it is a sneak who skulks about waiting
for a chance to stab a man in the back.“

“ Oh, you can bet your life that now I have
got hold of the tail of the rat I will force him
toacggie out of his hole!” the Fresh of ’Frisco de-
c r .

“ No one ever at accused me of being back-
ward in coming orward when there was any
chance for a row, no matter whether I had any
business in the skirmish or not, and I can assure
you that I will give these Cubans achanceto
walk up to the ca tain‘s office and settle before
they are a day 0] er. . ,

‘ In in mind there is ve little doubt now
in rage to the game. The obedos are alive
-—or at any rate one of them iii—and since the
attempt to beat me in a fair and open fight was
not successful, the tactics are changed, and the
trial is to be made of Secret cunning.”

“ You are right for a thousand dollars!” Old
California Joe cried. “ And such a game just
suits the Greasers to death. They are a pesky
mean 101:, and their best bolt is trickery. 0h, ‘
hate ’em like p’ison!"

“ Joe puts the case pretty strongly,” Dave
Ringwood observed, “but from my experience
with these Mexicans, I am not prepared to de-
cide that he is far out of the we . There are
good Mexicans of course, men w o are gentler
men, and who would scorn to do a mean action,
but for eve one such man that you run across,
you will fin a dozen who cannot be trusth as
far as you can see them, particularl such men
as hang ’round a frontier town like 1 Paso.”

“I will make them show their hand and de-
clare their ame the very first chance I et at
them!” the rash declared. “And I rec on I '
will get an opportunity soon, for I am goinE‘to'
raiso a subscription for this Frenchman. he
man is helpless here without either money or ' '
friends, but I reckon when I let the boys know,
how the fellow is fixed, enough of them will chip ’
in to raise a good-sized stake so he will he inde- ,
pendent of thigdpair of sharpers.”

“ They play a very fine game,” Dave Rings
wood observed, with an ap 'oving shake of the
head. “ They calculated t at ' the Frenchman
would be just crazy to avenge his defeat, and
since he could not hope to get the best of you ‘
in a fair fight he would be glad to assassinate . ’

you. _

“That was the amel” the Fresh asserted:
“ But the Frenchm is nobody’s fool. althougl;
he was rather rash in pitching on me, but
relied upon the fact that he was an expert
swordsman. and never suspected that he Would
run across anybody in this far-OE corner of the
world who would be able to get away with him
in a sword-fight. ’

“ But we are wasting time, boys, chinnin
here!” the Fresh exclaimed, abru tly. “ If
am going to do anything for the nchman I
must get at it before the sharps get out of _ '
town.’ ' ,

The others agreed that this was true and the
three started for the plaza. .

" Dave, see if you can’t hunt up a barrel or a
box—something can stand on. while I vs the .
crowd a bit of a speech,” the Fresh , as the.
party entered the square. _

There was an empty barrel—standing in front 1
of an adjoining store and when Dave Ringwm i- ,
proceeded to roll this into the middle of ' 
street the attention of the men who happened to
be in the neighborhood was at once attracted.

And when Jackson Blake got on the ba‘rrel ,
all within sight of him came hurrying to the ‘

s t. ,
I)Then an idea occurred to the Fresh.
“ I say, Ringwood, it wouldn’t be a bad idea ' -
to get the gang from the hotel,” he said. “ With '
the aid of that instrument of torture I will he  "
able to attract a crowd in no time.” "
d “ That is jest a bully idea!” Old California Joe

eclared.

“You bet it is,” Rio wood assented. “I’ll
h’ist it out instanter.” he started for the .
hotel forth with. -. ' i

“ W’ot’s up, hey?” inquired a curious hy-
stander. acting as ' kesman for the rest.

“Well, fellow-citizens, I am going to t
hand at a little stum /
plied. “And I won ii 6 to have you gentle- ‘.
men just scatter yourselves around ‘town and- ,
drum up asxmanv as you can to attend the meet: , .
ing. Go into all the shebangs and tell the boys
that the Fresh of ’Frisco is going to make 8‘3
stump ch to the public on the plaza in front '
of the flute} Mexico, and by so doing you will
greatly, oblige your humble servant to com-

mand. . r
, “ Sart‘in, sart’in‘s-you bet wewill!” exhumed

!

 

   
 
    
  
 

i
F.

m . I
och.” the Free r;

 

 

The" Fresh ' in. Teias.

 

 

 
 
 
  
   
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
   
   
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
    
   
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
 

one of the crowd, and the rest echoed the
words.
A dozen or so hastened to comply with the re-
nest.
q And then came Dave Ringwood from the ho‘
tel, bearing the ong, followed by all the men
:- ' . who had been in t e hotel saloon, including the
r 5‘ ’ two Cubans. - . '
vi ' “ Say, i’n me the ong, and I Will Jest march
up and own the puza from one end to the
v '. other, and play town-crier,” Old California Joe
:.‘ exclaimed. “ hat will! draw the crowd, you
5 bet.”

The Fresh thought the idea was a good one,
so the orig was given to the old scout, and he
proceeded to wake the echoes of the town with
It, stopping whenever he came to any place of
common resort to proclaim that the Fresh off

"Frisco was oingMo make astump speech in
front of the otel exico.

, And the result of this performance was that
. within ten minutes a goodly number of eople
collected around the barrel upon whic the
Fresh stood, all curious to know what he was
going to say. .

To the Americans in the assemblage there was
nothing novel about a man delivering an ad—
dress from the top of a barrel in apublic uare,
but the Mexicans were greatly amaze , for
the were not accustomed to such a proceeding.

r When the Fresh saw that his audience had
1 become as large as ‘it was likely to be, he waved
his hand to command their attention, and be-

 

an:

g “ Fellow-citizens of El Paso, I am not much

accustomed to public speaking, and I do not

doubt that there are many men within the

' sound of my voice Who would be able to give me

/ points in regard to a game of this kind, but,
under the circumstances, I have been forced to
take a hand.

“ I do not think I will be far out of the way
-if I jump to the conclusion that the majority of
you gentlemen here were present in the bull—

! ring to-day, and witnessed the performance

that took place there."

At this point a dozen or‘: so of the listeners
took it upon themselves to nod in the affirma-
tive and cry, “ Yes, yes!”

“ ’Well, fellow-citizen“, it is on behalf of my
late opponent that I new address you," Jackson
Blake continued.

This announcement caused the majority of
the crowd to look amazed, and the two Cubans,
who formed a group with the alcalde and the
chief of police, exchanged glances, and a dark

. " look came over their faces.

“ The Frenchman is in a pretty tight place,
fellow-citizens!” Blake exclaimed. “.He is a
long way from home. badly wounded, and with-
Out either friends or money. r
. “ Now, my dear pards, Just put yourselves in

‘ the place of this unfortunate fellow, and see
' how on would like it!”

~- A arge number of the crowd shook their
- .heads in an extremely decided way, as much as
' to say that they old not enjoy the prospect.

“I propose to raise a subscription, so that this
Frenchman will have money to pay his bills,
. . and be able to go to his own home across the
sea, and I am willing to chip in to the tune of
fifty dollars, and that is the kind of man I aml”

 

CHAPTER XXIV.
m was scones A suconss.

THE ‘spectators looked at each other for they
. were not accustomed to such liberality.
' “ Yes, fellow-citizens, I will Chlp in fifty dol-

that you think that you can spare,” the Fresh
continued. , .

“ As I said before, put yourself in this man’s
place. Here he is many miles away from his
’ native land, so far that it will cost him a small
fortune to et home. In this country he is help-
less, but w en he strikes his own land again he
' will beale right, and I propose to help him'to
'V get home again, and I hope that all of you will

put flour shoulder to the wheel too. ,

“ y pard here, Dave Ringwood. will go
round With the hat. New show what you are
made of, on men of El Paso. Chip in and chip
', iniliberal yl
., “ I do not expect that any of you are going to
see my bluff of flft dollars and ante up as
. much, but don’t let t at scare you out of the
game. If you can’t go that, give what you can;
the smallest favors will be thankfully received
and large ones in proportion. Don’t be scared
‘even if you have nothing better than a twoebit
. _ piece, put that in and thank Heaven that you
have got that much to give l”

.. Ringwood took of! his hat and began to move
'3 around amid the crowd.

Nearly all the Americans contributed. the few
that did not expressing their regret that they
were not flush just :at that time, but the Mexi-
cans, as a rule, allowed the hat to pass them
without -, putting anything in it, only a few of
the sports contributing. , ,

* The Fresh kept his eyes upon Ringwood and

hen he ' a. preached the Vest of the Hotel
Bla e exolaimed:

. -“ Now then, Goldberg! look alive!

into'your pocket and bring up, the solid ms:

  

 
  
 
  
 
   
  
 

 

lars, and I want you all to give every cent.

What kind of stufl are you made of, anyway,
Moses?"

“ Oh my goodness! I am not a sport like you,
Mr. Blake!’ the landlord declared, decidedly
put out at having the attention, of the public
thus drawn to him.

“ Oh, come nOW. you can afford to shell out
right handsomely!” the Fresh declared. “You
made a good thing out of the show and you
ought to be willing to help the man along, par-
ticularly since you will profit by his sickness,
for by the time he gets well you will have a big
bill against him.”

The hotel-keeper made a grimace.

“ Oh, I made very little out of the show!” he
protested. “ My expenses are very heavy and I
shall make my bill to him very light too, but I
will 0 a dollar—”

“ h, only a dollar!” exclaimed Blake pre-
tending to be deeply disgusted.

And the Americans in the crowd took up the

cr .

x A dollar, oh!”

Goldberg became red in the face; he did not
relish being jeered at and so he exclaimed:

“ Well, well, I will make it five!” and he hast-
ined to drop a five-dollar gold-piece into the

at.

“Goldberg, old boy, it on ht to be ten at the
least 1” the Fresh declared. ‘ But I sugipose this
time I will have to let you ofl? with ve, but I
want you to understand that you are not com—
ing up to the scratch in the way that you ought
to do. What is five dollars to a man like you
who has just been coining money in this town of
El Paso for the last year or two?"

spotdwhere the two Parrals and the Cubans
stoo .

The Fresh had his eye upon the party, for it
was his intention to utter a few pointed remarks
in case the Cubans refused to contribute.

But the opportunity was not afforded him,
for while the alcalde and the chief of police only
dropped a dollar into the hat, each of the
Cubans put in a five-dollar gold-piece.

“ Half a saw-buck apiece!” exclaimed the
Fresh, as his quick e es caught the flash of the
gold. "That is ri tl Much obliged to you,
gentlemen: that is t e right way to chip into a
game of this kind l"

“ Oh, I say, Goldberg, these entlemen are
making you look awful small! T ey have come
right up to your ante, yet you have made money
igut 13f the man while they are strangers to

1m ‘ l

. The hotel-keeper was shamed by this declare.-
tion, and so he made haste to produce another
five-dollar piece.

“ There, that makes ten for me!” he exclaimed
as be tossed it into Jhe hat. “You ought to be
satisfied with that. ‘

“Yes, that will do pretty well. although,
really, Goldberg considering that you made a
good thing out o the show you: on ht to have
sand enough to pony up fifty as I di .”

“ Oh, my goodness!” cried the wily host,
“ ou want to ride a free horse to death!”

hen the collection was completed Ring-
wood returned to the Fresh and he counted the
money.
“Two hundred and six dollars!” Jackson
Blake announced. “ Fellow-citizens, this is some-
thing like, and I really feel proud of El Paso.
This sum will put the Frenchman on his feet
again and he will be able to get back tohis
home. Mr. Weinholdt!” the Fresh continued,
addressing the banker, who stood ashort dis—
tance away. “Will you have the kindness to
take charge of this money and hold it subject to
Mr. De Chnrny’s orders" -

“Certainly said the banker, coming for-
ward. . “ An although I have already con-
tributed. yet in order to make the sum an even
one I will go four dollars more.”

exclaimed, with a polite bow' to the banker.
“ You are a white man all the way through—all
wool and a yard wide. .Here’s the cash.” ,

Then after delivering the money to the banker
Blake again addressed the crowd:

" Gentlemen, I am very'much obliged to you
all for the liberal. manner in which: you have re-
sponded to my call,” be said.
book sharps once wrote something about one
touch of» kindness making the whole world akin,
and I reckon there is a good deal of truth in the
sayin . You have helped an unfortunate man
out o ,a hole. Now. while I am not hoping that
any of you will be so unlucky as to get into a
similar scrape, yet if such a thing shou d happen,
I trust you will be fortunate enough to strike men
who Wln be willing to help you along as you
have helped this stranger.” '

“ Three cheers for the
the Americans in the crowd. .

The cheers were given with a will, Blake
bowed his acknowledgments, got down from
the 1 barrel, and the crowd began to disperse.
With his two pards the Fresh proceeded to the
. :partment of the wounded man and related to
r

   
   
  

in how successful the endeavor had been to
, aisea . - . .
De my was extremely grateful.

I:

 

Go down =

   

      

" 'Ivs'hall nettarry here longs’me said. “ This
wound, although.  is not diethat will

 

By this time Dave Ringwood had reached the -

“Much obliged, Mr. Weinholdtl” the Fresh , '

“ One of the old ‘ ing s rtin .
“ £2110, lake! I wantto have'a little private r

Fresh 1” criedone of -

' the sport began.

 

prevent me from traveling soon. Within a
week, at the latest, 1 shall be able to set out. I ‘

, shall go straight from here to New Orleans and

there take a steamer for France. and I assure
on I shall not be sorry to shake the dust of this
ew World from my feet.”

“ The Cubans will be rather astonished at this
move, I-think, ’ the Fresh remarked.

“ Yes, undoubtedly. but though the will not
be able to use me fora tool, they wil not be
apt to give up their design to injure you, so you
must be on your guard.”

“ Oh, I shall. rest assured of that.”

Then, after wishing the Frenchman a pleas-
ant 'ourney to his own land, the Fresh and his
par withdrew.

The Cubans were on the watch and, after the
Americans had gone, they entered the room.

De Charny, a complete master of the art of
dissimulation, received them as then h he be—
lieved them to be the dearest friends e had in
the world. .

“ Ah, I am glad you have come!” be ex-
claimed. “ You are just in time to congratu-
late me. You have heard of my windfall of
fortune, I presume?”

“ Oh, yes,” Gomes re lied “ both myself and
my friend here C'ontri ute . Of course, this
American was not aware that you had fri‘mds,
like in self and Esparto here, who would see
that al your wants were supplied.”

“ Yes. yes, you have been friends indeed!”
the adventurer exclaimed. “ Never while I live
will I forget your kindness; I was not at all
worried about the future, knowing I could de—
pend upon you. At the same time 1 am glad
to get this cash, for now I will be able to return
to France.” 4 .

“ Do you not think that the raising of this sub-
scription was a cunning trick on the part of the
American to get you out! of the way?” Gomes
suggested. ‘

‘ Perhaps—it may be,” the Frenchman re—
sponded, with a wise shake of the head.

“ He feared that when you recovered from
your wound you might endeavor to revenge
yourself u on him,” Gomes remarked.

“ Possib y so; but it is hard to tell; these
Americans are a strange ple,” the adventurer
replied, thoughtfully. “ he more I see of them
the more I am amazed. They are like their kin-
dred, the EnglishiJohn Bulls. A man can never
tell what they will do. They commit the wild-
est and most incomprehensible acts.

“ But as these Americans say, a man would be
a fool to look a gift horse in the mouth, and so I
take the money without troubling myself to ask
why it was given me." .

‘ 0h. undoubtedly the American fears your
vengeance, and has raised this money so as to
enable you to depart, and thus he hopes to es—
cape meeting you again,” Esparto observed with
a sneer.

“ f that is his. game, the man has calculated
admirably,” the Frenchman replied. “ For,
most assuredly. now that I have the money to
leave this country. where I have met with noth—
ing but misfortune, I shall get away as soon as I‘

can.

“Without attempting to seek” for revenge
upon the man who humbled you?” Gomes ob-
served. '

"' I am satisfied; I.was beaten in a fair fight,
and so badly beatm that I am not anxious for,
another trial.” De Charny rejoined.

The Cubans saw that it was useless for them
to attempt to change the Frenchman’s resolu—
tion, and so after a few more words they took
their departure. ‘

“We must try some. new device," Genres re-
marked, as the pair proceeded along .the‘ entry.

“Yes; open force seems to be useless with t is
American demon, so we must try secret cun—
ning,” the other rejoined. ‘

b— .
CHAPTER XXV.
DOC MOSES suoons'rs A GAME.
“Now we will go for our horses again; and
make another attempt to get home,” the .Fresh
remarked, as he and his pards quitted the hotel.

But he was destined to he a nin interrupted,
for as the party came to, the ane which led to
the corral they encountered Doc Moses, the lead-
man of the town.

conversation with you, if you can spare the
time,” the veteran sport remarked. !

“Certainly; yours to command,” replied the
Fresh. “ Get out the horses, boys, so as to be
all ready to start after I get through.” i

“ We will turn up the lane. then we'will have
enhance to talk without interruption,” said the
veteran sport. I V

“ All 11 ht.” I .

so, whi e Dave Ringwood and Old California
Joe proceeded to the corral, the Fresh and Doc.
Moses went slowly up the lane. ' _ I

“ Blake. I don’t know but what I am gomg to
take a little bit of liberty with ‘you. but, as an
old acquaintance, I hope you w] not mind it,"

“ Oh, no; I, reckon not. You are too old;
a, band, I take it, to do anything out of the.
, V , _ V

we )3 v , !
JDid you ever watch a game of chess 
checkers, w . if.» m.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 
        
     
     
    
     
      
      

 

 
     
    
  
    

vi“.

The Fresh in Texas.

19

 

 

Can’t you see my fifty and go me ten better?

“ Of course.”

“ And did you ever remark that the lockers-
on generally see lots of good moves that the
players don’t?”

“ Oh, es."

“Well, sometimes in this game of life which
we are playing, it is that way. Men who are
not concerned sec moves which the men who are
interested do not.”

“ I reckon I understand what you are driving
at,” the Fresh remarked. “ You see some
move which you think I ought to make, and
you have a suspicion that I am not aware of it.”

“ That is the idea to a hair!”

“ Well, I am not generally very short-sighted,
and, as a rule, I manage to see about all the
good moves on the board; still, it is possible
that some such move may have escaped me,”
the Fresh replied, in a reflective sort of way.

“ It is none of my business, of course, ’ the
sport admitted. “ But as the move is aright
good one I thought you ought to be posted in re-
gard to it, for I kinder have an idea that you
don’t see it.”

“ Go ahead! you are too solid and square a
man to go into a thing without there was some-
thing in it,” Blake remarked.

"‘ Did you notice to-day that at the end of your
ngbt with the Frenchman—just as you laid him
out, one of the ladies in the circle fainted?"

“ I knew there was a commotion in front, but
I didn’t know what caused it.”

“ The lady sat only a few seats from me so I
had a chance to see what the trouble was. It
was Miss Margaret Escobedo who fainted.”

A slight shade came over the face of the Fresh
of Frisco.

“ l was not aware that she was present, and I
wonder at her being there too, for I know she
does not believe in attending any of these bar-
barous affairs, as Eastern people would be apt
to term such a SIIOW.”

“ Yes, I have heard that she objected to at-
tending bullfights and sports of a like nature,
but she was there to—day, and I can tell you,
Blake, she did not enjoy it a bit: she was as pale
as death and trembled like a leaf; she had a
friend with her— that Eastern girl who is paying
a visit to her ranch, but though she too was ill
at ease, yet she did not betray the emotion that
the heiress of Escobedo did.”

“ And I suppose you jumped to the conclusion
that the girl was anxious about mel”

“ That was what I thought. She was afraid
you would get hurt in the fight, and yet, with
that morbidness which seems to be so strong in
some natures, she could not resist the impulse
which bade her come and see the fight, but when
it ended with your triumph, the strained nerves
could stand it no lon er and she fainted. ”

“ I reckon, Doc, t at you have got this thing
down as fine as any medical sharp in the coun-
try could bring it.”

“ Yes, I rather pride myself on the fact that I
am a pretty good judge of human nature,” the
sport replied.

“ Well, from these facts what do you reckon?”

“To put it plainly, I reckon that the girl is
dead in love with you, and if on choose to
enter for the race, Margaret soobedo, the
richest girl in all this part of the country, and
finest and handsomest one that I know of all
along the line of the Rio Grande, can be won by

on With very little trouble.”

“ Kind of a walk-over for me. eh?”

“That is about the size of it.”

“ That is a mighty fine prospect.”

“ I never run across a finer!” Doc Moses de-
clared emphatically

“ The girl _is We! Worth the winningif she did
not have a Single ducat at her back.”

“ True, every word of it!” Blake admitted.

“ But when you consider that she is jest roll-
ing in wealth—can put up the dollars with any
man or woman in a hundred square miles—why,
she is a prize worth any man’s while. And she
is yours, Blake, if you want her !” Doc Moses
declared. “ I feel as certain of it as though the
girl had told me so with her own lips. All you
have to do is to enter the game and the stake is

ours. ‘

“ That is a remarkably flue outlook, eh?”

“ You bet!" cried the old sport.

“ \Vell, as I told you, I am generally far-
sighted enough. and this move has not escaped
me. I have felt sure for quite a while now that
I stood a good chance to win the lady if I chose
to enter the lists, but there are two or three
reasons which have prevented me from going
into the game,” the Fresh remarked slowly.

“ Of Course it is not possible for me to look at
the matter from your standpoint,” the veteran
sport remarked, “ and therefore I am complete-
ly in the dark as to your reasons, but as far as I
can see, you are just the man to go into the
scheme.”

“ Doc, as a rule I am not in the habit of show-
ing my hand to any one,” the Fresh observed.
“ Nearly all my life I have been so situated that
I have had to play a lone hand, but in this case,
as I feel sure you are a friend of mine, and as
you have taken the trouble to put me on the
scent of a good thing, I will explain why I have
held back.”

“ Now, Blake, I don’t want you to think that

 

I spoke about this matter with any idea of pry—
ing into our affairs!” the shar exclaimed.

“ Oh, understand that. on are not the
kind of man to worry yourself about what does
not concern you," the Fresh remarked. “And
I have perfect confidence, too, that anything I
say to you will be strictly confidential.’

“ I will give you my word as to that,” the
other replied. ,

“Well, then, to come down to business, just
put ourself in my place—”

“ wish I could!” Doc Moses exclaimed.
“ You can bet all the ducats you can raise that
I would go for that girl so quick that it would
make my head swim!”

“ Oh, no! Just think of the difference that
there is between a man such as I am, and a wo—
man such as she is.”

“Well, you are not as well-fixed, of course,
but for that matter, there isn’t any other man
round here that is, either, and simply because
the girl is worth a few millions ought not to
make any difference.”

“ That is true enough, but I am not referring
to money.”

“ W hat are you driving at, then i"

“ The wide difference that there is in our
social positions,” the Fresh replied.

“This girl, you must remember, is a well—
educated Easterner; one brought up where civi-
lizatiou reigns; not a child of the wild and
woolly West."

“On, I understand that, of course,” the old
sport observed. ” She is a first-class lady, nary
discount on that—as fine a one as ever struck
the Rio Grande.”

“ Well, now, do you think I could pass muster
as :1 first-class gentleman?” Blake asked.

“ Why not?” the veteran demanded. “ I
reckon you Will fill the bill as well as any man
that can be scared up in this region, and I am
not fluttering you a bit, either, when I say it. I
reckon I am a judge of the article, too, seeing
as how I have run a fare-game in almost every
big city clear from New York to the Golden
Gate.”

“ Yes, you ought to know what you are talk—
ing about,” the Fresh observed.

“ I think myself that if I chose to brace up,
and have some style about me, to use our West-
ern saying, that I would be able to pass muster
in pretty decent society, but that don’t alter the
fact that in my time I have been a sharp of the
first water; in fact, at one period in my career,
on the Pacific Slope. I was so successful in win-
ning the cash of the men who dared to wager
their ducats against mine that I have been
waited u n by deputations of the leading citi-
zens am. politely requested to make it con-
venient to honor some other camp with my pre-
sence.”

“ Oh, that is nothing.” Doc Moses rejoined.
“ I have been run out of a dozen camps by the
VigilanteS myself, and I am sure I am none the
worse for it. Might few lucky sports will a
man strike in this estern country who can
boast that they haven’t run afoul of the Vigi-
lantes at some time in their careers. It is a.
penalty that a man is obliged to pay for being
an expert in his business. If you look at it in
the right light it is really a compliment.”

“ No doubt, no doubt, ut the world at large
hardly considers it so,” the Fresh observed.

“ But to come back to our muttrn. One rea-
son why I do not go in for the heiress of Esco-
bedo is because of the bad record that I have,
and another—which may seem absurd to you——
is that I am not sure whether I can content my-
self to settle down to a quiet, hum-drum life. I
have been quiet for two years now, and once in
a while the fever in my blood is so strong that
it seems as if I must resume my old life of ad-
venture again.”

“ I know how that is; I was like you when
I was your age, but time will alter that,” Doc
Moses observed, with the air of a sage.

“ Now, if you take my advice, you will not al-
low these things to trouble you, but go in and
win the heiress. There isn’t any society along
the Rio Grande that you can’t hold your own in,
particularly when you have the Escobedo wealth
at your back.”

“ I believe you are right, and I will try the
rifliel” the Fresh exclaimed.

“ Good luck go with your game!” Dock Moses
cried, and they shook hands and parted.

 

CHAPTER XXVI.
THE muss TELLS ms sor'r TALE.

JUST as the two men parted, Dave Ringwood
and Old California Joe came down the alley
with the horses. ‘

“ Par-(ls, I am a little puzzled about one thing,”
the Fresh observed when the others came up to
him.

“ What is it?” Ringwood asked.

“ Spit her out, Cap!” Old California Joe ex-
claimed.

“ It is in regard to these two Cubans."

“ What of then?" Ringwood questioned.

“ I am rather bothered in regard to how I
ought to act toward them,” the Fresh re-
marked. “ From what the Frenchman told
rue—and there is no doubt in my mind that he
did not speak a word outside of the truth—the

 

inference seems stronfi that these two fellows
sought tohave me k1 ed. and after their first
attempt resulted in a failure, they did their level
best to work the Frenchman up so that he
would be led to assassinate me when he get well
enough to attend to a job of that kind.”

“ I reckon there isn’t any mistake about that,"
Rin wood remarked.

“ istake about it—narv time!” the 01d moun—
tain-man exclaimed. “Why, it is as plain as
the nose on your face!”

“ As far as I know there is no reason why they
should want to go for me. for I have not trod~
den on the toes of either one of them to my
knowledge,” the Fresh remarked. “But, as I
told you, I have a suspicion that they are the
agents of my old-time enemies, the brother and
sister whom I drove away.”

“ That seems to be the only reasonable ex-
planation,” Dave Ringwood observed.

“It is jest like these ’tarnel Greasers!" Old
California Joe exclaimed. “ I never met one of
’em yit that wasn’t u to all sorts of tricks.
They are as mean as a1 git out! The most of
’em would a heap sight rather strike a man in
the buck, or give him a lick in the dark, than
go in for a fair fight.”

“Joe, you are putting it a little strong, yet
there is no doubt that a great number of the-
Mexicans are both treacherous and cowardly,”
Blake remarked.

That is my experience with them,” Dave
Ringwood observed. “Of course you will find
good and had men in every race, but as far as
my acquaintance with the Mexicans goes, I have
been unlucky enough to meet a dcuced sight
more bad men than good.”

“ To my notion the Greascrs are a heap sight
like the Injuns,” Old California Joe declared.
“ The only good Injun is a dead Injun, and the
only good Mexican is a dead one.”

“ Ah, Joe, you are putting it a little too»
strongly now,” the Fresh objected.

“ Not a mite!” the old mountain—man re lied-
“ I reckon you don’t know the tribe as we] as I
do. Oh, you bet I know the Greasers from
’way-bnck!”

‘ Well, to return to what I was saying,” ob~
served the Fresh. “ I do not relish the idea
that there are a couple of fellows in this town of
El Paso who are ready to take a crack at me
whenever they _et a chance, without being
obliged to show their hands.”

“ It is not lcasunt,” Ringwood remarked.
“You kin llet yer bottom dollar it ain’t!" Old‘

California Joe declared.

“ If the pair would come out openly, so as to
ive me a chance at them, I would not mind,”
lake observed. “It is this work in the dark

that I object to. Of course, the only roof I
have that the pair did strike at me is the rench-
man’s statement, so that I am rather in a quan—
dury. If I should attempt to bring them too
reckoning by openly charging them with at-
tacking me, ringing forward the Frenchman’s
statement as proof, they undoubtedly would do—
clare that it was not true. and they would crawl
out of the matter by pretending that the only
reason they backed the Frenchman was because
they were anxious to see some sport.”

" Well, the statement would appear probable,
for they would back it up by saying, ‘ Why
should we attack you? You are a stranger to
us, and we hav’n’t anything against you,’ ” Dave
Ringwood remarked.

“ Exactly, that would be their ame beyond a
doubt, and I could not prove t at they were
actuated by any malice against me,” the Fresh
responded.

“ Wn-al. I dunno,” said the old mountriu-
man, slowly: “ but it seems to me that if I had
a thing of this kind to work, that l woulng
right at it and take the ball by the horns, so to
speak, you know. If I s’picioned that this hyer
pair of Cubans were a-trying to play roots on
me, I would jest make it my business to pick a
fuss with them—g’in ’em a chance, you know,
to come up to the captain’s office to settle.”

"' Yes, that idea occurred to me. and if I were
differently situated from the way I am I should
lose no time in forcing a quarrel upon them,” the
Fresh rejoined. thoughtfully.

“ But there are good reasons for my not going
ahead in that way,” he continued. “ In the
first place, I am on my good behavior now, and
I do not want to have it said that I forced a
quarrel upon any one. Then again there is the
chance that these Cubans would not he forced
into a fight, no matter how much I provoked
them.”

“That is true!” Dave Ringwood exclaimed. ;

“ I thought of that.”

“ That is so. sure as ye’r’ horn !” the old scout
admitted. “They might let on that you wasso
big a chief that they Wouldn’t stand no show
with you, nohow, and allow that they would bea
couple of fools for to go into a skirmish when it
wash dead certainty that they would come out
10scrs."

“Joe has figured it up about right, I reckon,”
the Fresh said. “ At present I don’t see as there
is a chance for me to do anything. If the
Cubans don’t want to fight I cannot very well
make them come up to the scratch, and any at-
tempt on my part to gore them into a fight
would make me seem like a despermlo, and‘I

 

“gm

, . ,3 .m it
TheFresh in Texa .

 

 

have mighty good reasons just now for wanting
to appear at my best.”

“As far as I can see, the only thin you can
do is to keep on the watch, and if t e Cubans
try any more games you may be able to catch
‘ them in such a way that they cannot get Out of;
it, and then you will be able either to make
them give you satisfaction or else force them to
dust out of El Paso,” Dave Ringwood remark—

       
   
  
     
   
   
   
 
   
     
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
      
     
 
  
   
   
 
    
     
   
   
   
  
  
   
    
     
   
     
  
    
   
  
    
    
   
  
    
 
 
   
   
    
  
  
    
   

A‘". 1

.73" “ Yes, I must ride a waiting race this time,”
‘ the Fresh coincided. “ And now let us be off
for home." '

Five minutes later the arty were across the
Rio Grande, and well on t eir way.

There were few words spoken durin the
bomeward trip, for the Fresh was strange y re-
served, seemin ly involved in meditation.

He contemp ted taking a step which would
materially change the current of his life.

HIS mind was almost made up in regard to

‘ the matter, but he resolved to take no step until
the marrow.

“I will sleep on it to—nigbt, and then, if my
mind is still the same, in the morning I will try
my luck with the heiress of Escobedo,” he mur-
mured.

When the morning came‘ the Fresh was up
bright and early.

is mind had not changed during the night,
excepting that the resolution to woo, and if pos-
sible, win the beautiful heirem was stronger
than when he retired to rest.

After breakfast there were some matters ap-
pertaining to the ranch which required his at-
tention, and then he mounted his horse and rode

' over to the Escobedo Ranch.

. Fortune favored the Fresh, for he was lucky
enough to find Margaret alone; as arule, the
heiress and her friend, Miss Melville, were sel-
dom apart.

That the heiress of Escobedo was pleased to
see her visitor, was apparent from the glad
light which shone in her eyes, and the bright
co or coming 11 in her cheeks.

The Fresh 0 ’Frisco was as abrupt and pe-

, culiar in his love-making as he was in many

other respects.

He came at once to the errand upon which he

had'ridden forth. .

“ Miss Escobedo, I have come over this morn-

ing to ask your opinion of me," he said.

A look of amazement appeared on that face of

the girl. ‘

“ M y o inion of you?” she asked.

' “ Yes, want to know what kind of a fellow

,you think I am, anyway?”

“ What an odd question!”

“ It is a very important one to me, I assure
on, or else I would not trouble you with it.
min the way you have always treated me, I

’ have been led to believe that when I'come to

your ranch I am not an unwelcome guest.”

“ Indeed you are not unwelcome! Are on
not the man who once saved me from a afle

. which to me would have been worse than

eath 2” Margaret exclaimed, with a sudden out-

, urst. 1“ And while I live I shall never be able
to/pay you for that service!”

i, ' .‘ Oh, yes, you Will; you can settle that ac-

' count very easdv if you wish so to do.”

‘_ » “ How? ’ exclaimed Margaret, her face full of

 astonishment.

 “By giving me the right to protect you for

the rest of your life.” '

Up came the red blushes into the girl’s face

, and down swept the lids oyer the lorious e es.

She understood now what the esh of ’ risco

“ a garet, I love you, will you be my wife?”

: the suitor asked. r‘ '
His strong arm was around her slender waist
and he clasped her hand in his.
“ Yes ” came the whispered reply. \
And then, Blake drew the not unwilling mai-
‘ den to his breast and imprinted upon her ripe,
- red lips the seal of love. I

*It was not the first time that Jackson Blake
had won the aflection of. a young girl’s heart
and been. made happ by her soft confession,
but this girl was so di erent from the rest that
he felt as he had never felt before.
“ You will be mine then?” he said.
,“Yes. but do not let us stay here,” she re-
plied. “! cannotbear this wild Western land;

carryr me back to the quiet East where I can
x ve n peace.” ' .»
,“ All right, I will do so,” the Fresh declared,
theédea striking him as being an exceedingly

or one.

  

  

, d played so prominent a part, he could carve

i out a newlife; there would lie bathing in the
East to remind him of the turbulent past.

v And now we will leave the lovers to whisper

,, thosesoft nothings which are so much to them

and so little to others, and turn our attention
elsewhere. . .

 

CHAPTER XXVII.
Joan rmnme.
 Two more disgusted and disc pointed men

than the Cubans, as they made 1: eir way from

the Frenchman’s room to the saloon of the Hotel

  

v
/

  

 

Mexico, could hardly have been found in the’

town of El Peso.

After entering the saloon they made their
way to a couple of chairs at the extreme end of
the room, remote from the door, and sat down.

in this position they could converse freely,
for they Were some distance from the bar, near
whi'ich the loungers in the saloon usually gath-
ere . 1

“Well, what do you think of the outlook
now?” Gomes asked, after they were seated.

“ Very bad, indeed,” Esparto replied, with a.
shake of the head.

“ Yes, no doubt about that. We need not ex-
pect anything more from the Frenchman.”

“ That is true," Esparto coincided. “ Thanks
to the money that this American has raised for
him he is independent. He would be a fool in-
deed to remain here for the purpose of killing
the man who has provided him with the money
to pay his bills and take him to his home.”

“ And this Frenchman is no fool, although
we did succeed in getting him to do our work,”
Gomes remarked, with a wise shake of the

end.
“ Ah, but that was because he had no idea he
could find an man in an out of-the-way corner
of the world ike this who would be able to stand

against him in a. sword-fight.
“ It was a very natural mistake for a man to
make,” Es continued. “ And I do not

wonder that the Frenchman jumped to the con-
clusion that he had an easy task before him,
particularly as he knew nothing about the man
whom he was to encounter.

“ Pray take into consideration that you, who
knew what the Fresh of 'Frisco is, thought the
Frenchman would succeed in killing him.

“ Very true,” Gomes admitted. “ But it was
because I thou ht that in a sword fight he would
be taken at a ecided disadvantage, although I g
knew he was skillful enough with ordinary
wee. one.” '

“ ome of these Americans are regular de-
mons!” Es arto declared. '

“ This . resh of ’Frisco certame seems to
have more luck than usually falls to the lot of a
human,” Gomes remarked. r

“ He is both shrewd and daring and that has
as much to do with his success as uck, I think,”
Esparto answered.

‘ Possibly, but he is lucky, too ” the other
persisted. “ Now see in this case: 1’: he had not
taken it into his head to collect this money, the
Frenchman would have been forced torer upon
us, and there is no doubt that when he recov-
ered from his wound, we could have persuaded
him to play the brave and assassinate the
Fresh.” .

“ Yes, I think myself there was a. chance that
we could have worked the game in that way,”
Esparto observed, reflectively. “ But that is all
knocked in the head now.”

“ Oh, yes, we cannpt calculate upon the
Frenchman to do anything more,” Gomes re-
marked.

“ What do you think about this matter?” ex-
claimed Esparto, abruptly. “ What induced
Blake to bother, himself about raising the
money?” '

frown darkening

- smile.

 

“Satan knows!” .Gomes declared, with a
shake of the head. “ It was merely one of thoso .
wild ideas that these Americans are apt to get.
They are a nation of maniacs, and it is almost
impossible for any one to guess in advance what
mad things they will do next.”

“ I do not agree with you there—not inregard
to this case.” Esparto observed, slowly. .

‘ “ No? You do not?” ‘

E. shook his head.

“ but do you think, then?”

“The suspicion has come into my head that it
is no wild freak—no act done on the spur of the
moment” r ,

“ What then?”

“ It was carefully calculated."

“ But I do not understand."

“ I think that Blake has a suspicion that we
are interested in the matter,” Esparto, replied.

“Well, we certainly volunteered to second the
Frenchman, but there wasn’t anything out of
the way in that,” Games urged. .

" Certainly not! If we were in truth total
strangers to the man, as we were supposed to
be, we might, under the circumstances, have
volunteered to [assist him, he being a stranger
to El Paso like our-Selves, but from the manner
in which Blake watched us when the man went
around with the hat the idea came to me that be
suspected us.”

‘ 0f what—suspected of what—that we set the
Frenéhm:n on' him?” Games inquired.

 

“ But I do not see how he could suspect us!” '
the other exclaimed. “'I am sure we planned
the scheme with wonderful skill. Even the !
Frenchman himself could at say that we urged
him or hired him to make' t 6 attack: we merely, .
suggested that as the h was a man with a I
great reputation as a fighter there was a chance =
for him to make some money by engaging in a _
contest with Blake.” 3

“Ah, yes, that *is all true enough!” Esparto ;
exclaimed, impatiently, "but new you are not 4
giving Blake credit for possessing the shrewd- =
lies: with which undoubtedly be is gifted.

 

some way—how, of course, I know not—he has
sme t out the trap, and his collecting the money
for the Frenchman was a cunning device to get
him out of the way, so that we would not be able
to use him for a tool any more.”

Gomes pondered over the matter for a mo-
ment.

“Upon my word! I don't know but what you
are right,” he said* at last.
always keener than mine and I should not be
surprised if you have hit upon the truth."

“I am satisfied of it; although beyond the

fact of the Fresh interesting himself in collect-
ing this money, and the peculiar way in which
he kept his eyes upon us when his pard came
around with the hat, I have not anything to go
upon.
“ In some way the suspicion came to the Fresh
that we were the instigators of the attack, and
he reasoned that when the Frenchman recover-
ed he would be here without friends or money,
entirely de ndent upon us, and in such a con-
dition wou d be apt to be ready to go into any
desperate scheme, and so be guietly said to him—
self, ‘ I will act upon the o d Spanish proverb
and build a bridge of silver for a flying enemy,’
therefore he raised the money so the French—
man could depart.”

“ Yes, yes, think you are right !” Gomes ex—
claimed. “ And now we must be on our guard.”

“ ainst an attack from the Fresh?”

“ es, you know him of old; he is not the
man to keep quiet if he thinks any one is trying
to injure him. He is one of the kind who be-
lieves in carrying the war into an enemy’s ter-
ritoily.” .

“ but used to be true of him, but, according
to the reports, he has been remarkably quiet
during this last year,” Esparto remark .

“ From what the say it would seem that he
has taken particu ar care to_keep out of all
quarrels in place of rushing into them as he
used to o.”

“ Degenerated down into a respectable citi-
zen!” exclaimed Gomes, with a sneer.

“And can you not comprehend the reason?”
Esparto remarked. .

“ Oh, yes, it is a part of his game to Win the
heiress of Escobedo!” Games replied, an angry
his face. “ But I swear he
shall never do that while I live!
kill the girl with my own hand!”

“ It may come to that yet,” Esparto remark-
ed. “ But time will tell.”

“Yes; it is our game, of course, to remove
the Fresh, but sooner than see him in possession
of the Escobedo property I would kill the heir-
ess herself.”

“ I hope it will not he as bad as that; but now
let us look ahead a little. Suppose my 5115 icion
is correct that/Blake looks u 11 us as t e in—
stigators or the attack upon 'm and endeavors
to callus to an account?” .

“ Oh, we Will not allow ourselves to be drawn
into a quarrel!” Games replied, with a crafty
“ And even a wild and reckless fellow
like the Fresh will find it hard to have a difli—
cult with men who will not resent afi'ronts.”

“ es. that is our game,” Esparto observed,
after reflecting about the matter for a few mo-
ments. “ It is useless for us to think of getting
the best of a dare devil like this Fresh of ’Frisco
in an open fight. He would conquer us beyond
a doubt. Our only hope is to encompass his
death by some secret means.”

“ There.is an old so 'ing that when a man has
evil work on hand. atan always sends . some
tool to do the job,” Gomez observed. “But in
this matter, his sable Highness is not favoring
us, for though we have murder in our hearts,
yet no proper instrument appears.” .

“ 0b, he will come in time,” Es rto assented.

“In such a town as El Paso tber mustbe plenty,

of men who would be glad to do our work, if we
could only find them.”

Hardly had the words been uttered when the
door of the saloon was thrown open with a bang,
and into the lace came a big, brawny fellow,
with long, black; hair and a matted heard of the
same hue. .

He was dressed like a cowbo , and carried a'
fine array of weapons in his be t.

Stalking up to the bar, he threw a gold-
piece on the counter, following it up1w1th a hang
of his bet on the board which made the glasses
rattle. .  '

“ Thar's a gold sawbuck for you, an’ I want a
pint of blood!”

This astonishing announcement drew the at-
tention of everybodyin the place. I _

“Ten good solid dollars in this byer bit of
gold,” the stranger continued, “ and I don’t set
no more value onto ’em than if they were so
many hits of copper!" _

And after this declaration the speaker glared
around him, as if for the .purpose of Seeing if

.there was anybody in the room who had' any

idea of disputing this statement.

“I’m the king of the cowboys, and youkin *
.bet all your solid wealth on it, too! ' I '

ride on
the lightning. turn my cows with a thunder.
clap. and drink fire! » . -

“ Set ’em up now,.harkeep’- a pint. of blood
for Jim Bull—Wild Bull of t e Pecos, the bag-

est man thar is to—day in ,this hyer Stated: '

ens, bar none 1”

i

   

“ Your wits were ,

I would sooner ‘

/

 

 

 

      
           
        
   

  
   
      
        
     
  

   
    
   

     
     
     
          
  

 
 
 

 

f

     
        
     

 

t
,

  

  

     
  
 

 

,' "i ,.

     

“431...; 3‘ -v 3,

 

.« -;‘ :7:

     

 w. .

 Fresh

,3

in Texas.

 

 
 

 

 

 

“Satan has answered your prayer!" Esparto
exclaimed, in the ear of mines. “Here is the
man who can be got to fight the Fresh of
’Friscol”

 

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE WILD BULL OF THE PECOS.

“ I AM very sorry, but we are out of gore
'ust now,” remarked Billy Long, the affable
artender of the Hotel Mexico Saloon, betray-
ing no more surprise at the odd demand than
if it was a common thing for Strangers to stalk
into the saloon and call fora. drink of the human
life—current.

“ What do you mean by gore?" the burly
fellow demanded, with a scowl. “ It was a pint
of blood that I axed you for.” .

“ Oh, yes, exactly; we have Jest run out of
that too, although in a first—class bar-room like
this hyer We generally calculate to keep on hand
about everything that a. customer is likely to
ask for.”

“ Do you call this a firstrclass bar?" exclaimed
the stranger, with a snarl like a wild beast.

The experienced bartender saw the fellow was
inclined to be ugly and that it was necessary to
handle him with caution.

“ Well, what I mean, is first class for this sec-
tion of country, you know,” Billy Long hastened
to explain. “ Along the Rio Grande, of course,
we can’t hold a. candle to the saloons in the big
cities.”

’ “ Wa-al, I reckon you kin not, and that is
the sort of thing that I have been used to, you
bet yer boots 1” the stranger exclaimed.

“ Of course, anybody could see that with half
an eye 1” the barkeeper replied. “ Now, if you
wanted whisky, or brandy or gin, or any of the
commondrinks, I reckon we can accommodate
you to the queen’s taste.” -

“ How’s yer whisky?” growled the big fellow.

“ It is jest bigl” ejaculated the bartender. “ I
will back it ag'i'n’ any bug-juice that kin be
soared up along the hull line of the Rio Grande l”

“ Will it burn all the way down?” the cow-
boy demanded, with a fearful scowl. .

“ Well, now, you kin bet it Will I” the genial
Billy replied. “ It is the kind of stuff war-
ranted to warm up the cookies of a man’s heart.

" Why, I have known a man to get drunk in
hyer on Monday and not git sobered up for
tnree days l” . _ '

“ That is it,” the stranger exclaimed. t “ That
is the kind of stuff I am looking for. Give me
about a quart of it."

With a flourish, the bartender set a bottle and
glass on the counter. .

The cowboy filled the glass to the_very brim
With the whisky, then drank it at a single swal-

low.

“Ahal” he exclaimed. smacking his lips,
“that is pretty fair stufl, but I have drank a
heap sight better. It don’t take hold and twist
a man’s innards the way it on ht to. Hain’tyou
got something with a heap sig t more liquid fire
into it than this weak stud?”

“ I see, I See! I understand what you want,”
the barkoeper exclaimed, aflecting to be. very
much interested in the matter. You want a
drink which will kinder give you the idea
that it‘is a torchdight procession goin down.”

“That’s it! that’s it!” the big ellow ex-
claimed. “ Now you hit me where I live when
you say that!”

“ Well, stranger, I am jest the man that kin
fix up a drink of that kind for you,” the bar-
keeper exclaimed. “ Jest lemme mix you a. red-
hot cocktail, and if it don’t suit, then I’ll stand
treat for the hull gang,”

“We-a1, I don‘t go much on mixed drinks,”
the cowboy said. “ But seeing as how on seem
to know what you are talking about, will let
you wade in.” - _

The barkeeper was an old hand at the busi-
ness- years-of experience on the frontier had

tang t him how to deal with customers of this

kind.

He proceeded to compound a drink, using all
the liquors at his command first fputting at the
bottom of the glass a good dash o cayenne pep-

r.

palt was a dose Well calculated to blister the
throat. of an ordinary man, .and although it .was
the cowboy’s boast that his throat was lined
with copper, yet the fiery mixture made him
wince, and caused the tears tocome into his eyes
as be swallowed it.

In a bravado spirit he had downed the glass at
one gulp.

“ How is that. pardl Does that .go to the
right spot!” inquired the bartender With a grin,
3.: he gzficed the effect produced by the potent

an i

“ ou kin bet EP!‘ life that ar' cocktail is red
hot, and no mists e!” the stranger declared.

“ But I am the man who kin get away
with sich stu as that and don’t {on furget it!
I am a. chief, I am! The biggest c ief that ever
struck this town of El Pasol I chew meat and
live on b’ar! If you have got  fighting men
around this burg I would jest li e to have you
‘trot ’em out, sol kin have a. chance to size
them up!” ‘ A

And as he made the declaration the bi fellow
turned his back to the bar, threw out mas-

 

  

sive chest, stretched his long arms, and cast a
look of defiance around him.

“ Do you hear me, you El Paso men, it is my
horn w’at is a-blowin’l” he continued.

“ I am a warrior and a bad man from way—
back, and I am jest hungry for a chance to
chew some one upl It don t matter the wag of
a goat’s tail to me who it is, white or black, red
or yaller; I am anybody’s antelope w’at wants
to o inter this hyer cowtillion!"

t was a bold defiance—41s bold a. one as had
been given in the old town of El Paso for manya
dav, and yet, although there were in the room a
half-a-dozen men who were renowned as fighters
none of them manifested any idea of coming
forward, and taking up the stran er’s challenge
and thus maintaining the honor o tho town.

It was not strange though, for the cowboy
had all the appearances of being an extremely
uglliy customer.

e was an unusually big fellow, and, not
withstanding his size, seemed to be as active
and quick as an ordinary man.

Then, too, although this was his first appear-
ance in the town of El Paso, yet he was not un-
known, for his reputation had preceded him,
and there wasn‘t a man in the room who did
not understand that a. challenge from such a
warrior as this meant a combat to the death.

It would be no ordinai boxing match, but a.
blood contest where the ivas of both the actors
woul be put in peril. . '

Therefore the bullies of El Paso shrunk from
the encounter.

Perceiving that no one moved to accept his
challenge the cowho proceeded to express his
opinion in regard to t is El Paso men.

“ Wa-al, wa-al, durn me if this don’t beat my
timel” he exclaimed. “ Why, what sort of a
town have you got hyer anyway? Is this El
Paso or ain't it? I never was hyer before, but

.Ihave allers heard that El Paso was a right

smart town and that if aman wanted fun he
could findasmuch of it to the square inch as
in any other town along the Rio Grande!

“Sa‘ , pard, w'ot has got inter yer burg?”
he ad ressed the question directly to the bar-

keeper.

f‘Well, El Paso is pretty lively as a‘ rule,”
Billy Long replied. “ And men who come hyer
arter fun generally succeed in getting all they
want, but, really, the town seems to be kinder
quiet just now.’

“Hope I ain’t scared them clean out of thar
boots!” the cowboy exclaimed with aggrin.

“I reckon on have kinder bluff the town
thou h,” the arkeeper admitted.

“ 11-81, I am orry for it,” the strap er re-
marked with a solemn wag of theh , “ for
blufing is not my best halt. Thar ain’t any brag
abontme. I am the good, old, solid holdfast,
and you won’t find any better man than me
totieto clear from the Mexican Gulf to the
Rocky Mountains. I am the clear white article
and no mistake]

“ Sorr I ain’t able ,to skeer up a. little. fun in
er ranc , but I.will be in to see you ag’in afore
leave town; sodongl”

Then the cowboy gathered up the change
which the bartender had placed upon the counter
and stalked from the saloon, all within the place
gazing after him. ‘

The Cubans approached the bar.

“ That fellow is a decided character,” comes
remarked:

“Gentlemen, you would be safe in betting
all gain are worth onto it!” Billy Long de-
c a . -

“I rather think he would be atroublesome
customer in a fight,” Esparto observed.

“Oh, yes, you bet he would 1” the barkeeper
declared, emphatically. “Thar is not a man
that I know of along the Rio Grande whom I
would not rather see come into any place that
I was running than that same cowboy, for when
he i?”ou a tear he is jest as ugly as they make
em \. .

‘_‘ Ah, you know the man then?” Games in-

quired.

~ “ 0h, es. Ihave heorn tell on him a hundred
times, atho h I never saw him beforel” the
barkeeper rep ied.

“ Why, gents, do you s’posd I would have stood
any sich chin music as hegave me from any or-
dinary man? Well, now, you had better believe
I wouldn’t! No. sires, boss-fly, nohow!
would have pulled my gun on him and made
him slip away from this hyer bar !”

And in order to give due emphasis to the
declaration the barkeeper reduced a big re-
volver which was on a sma l shelf, underneath
the bar, convenient to his hand.

“You were all ready for war, I see,” Games
remarked. ‘

“ Yes, sir, you bet your sweet life I am! . And
this is the way I am fixed all the time too!”
Bil‘liy Long declared. “ I haven’t joggled glasses
be in] a counter for twenty gears for nothing!
I knew the man the moment 0 showed his nose

.in the doorway, and a worse 'galoot than he is

when he goes in to paint a town red don’t exist.
And thatis the reason 'why I was mild and easy
Withhim.‘ He is a terrorl I heard of a fuss he

at who downat Laredo once and he laid out
51inc- men. single-handed.

 

‘ bad

     
  
  
  
  
    
  
   
  
    
  
   
 
  
   
   
   
  
  
  
  
  
   

and when he gits into a dimculty allers goes in
for to kill his maul", »

“ A dangerous customer I” Gomes remarked. .

“ Yes, he is jest the man to keep clear of when
he is on the rampage l” the barkeeper declared.

“ I supp so as the man is eager for a fight
that he will0 be able to find some one to accom»
modate him in El Paso.”

“ I dunno,” Billy Lon responded with a due
bious shake of the he . “ Unless he strikes a
stranger w’ot never heerd onto him I reckon he
won‘t.”

“ I must take a look and see how he fits on,”
Gomes remarked and then the two CI as fol-
lowed the big cowboy.

 

CHAPTER XXIX.
amnomo m riuir.

WHAT do on think of this fellow!” Gomec
asked, after e and his companion had reached
the street.

“.Just the man, I should imagine, to do the -
work which We want done,” Espnrto replied.

“ So it appears to me: he is a bully and a dose
perado of the first water." ,

“ Oh, yes, undoubtedly; an entirely different
man from the Frenchman.”

“ This follow will not be apt to be troubled
with any foolish notions in. regard to fair play.
If we approach him in the right way and make
it an object for him to attack the Fresh, he will
do his best in the matter without troubling his
head as to whether he gives his man a fair 1
chance for his life or not.”

“ Yes. and that is the kind of fellow we want.
With such aman as the Fresh, it is not wise to
stand upon ceremony,” Esparto remarked. *-
“ Decidedly not.”

The pair were proceeding down the plaza in ,
the direction of the United States Hotel, the-
cowboy having gone in that direction, and in
the saloon of the hotel they found the stranger.

He'had gone through the same rformance as
at the Hotel Mexico, and Big Ja e, the proprie-
tor of the saloon, who happened to he presiding ~
over the bar. had been perfectly astounded when i
the rough fellow called for blood with as little
ceremony as though the crimson fluid was on
ta at every bar in El Paso. ‘

The jolly Dutch man soon comprehended,
though. what kind of a customer he had, and so; ‘
(exerted himself to be agreeable, as he did not...

want any trouble in his 1) ace. "
, But the cowbo was heat on war, and speedily t;
expressed his op nion that there was not a man
in ltlheh town of El Paso with “ sand” enough to

t im.

at it was as the enial Billy Long of the
Hotel Mexico had sai , the cowboy was known.
and if few of the “rounders” in the town had
met him. nearly all knew by reputation of the
Wild Ball of the Pecos, and the men who had
neither met or heard of him, and who in h :,
have felt disposed to 9.006 1: his challenge for ‘
honor of the town, were starred by the appear-
ance of the boasting stranger. '

Therefore the cowboy was no more successful
in getti a man to quarrel with him in the
second con than he had been in therfirst. i

His disgust‘was great, and he did not hesitate
to express it in the most emphatic tones. ‘A

The Cubans remained in the background, lis-
tening intently to the cowboy’s bluhtering,
when he left the saloon y followed him into
the street, being ri ht on’ his heels.

After gaining t 9 street, the cowboy heat-
tated for a moment, as though uncertain when
to o, and Gomes improved the opportunity to
ad ress him. ’

. “ I think, strsn er, that you are going to blufl
the town,” the Cu an remarked. ‘

The cowboy took a good look at the two,
and theEé‘Ferceiving that they were gentlemen.
and 100 like foreigners, indulged in a M
natured rin. . '_ , ,
“ Wa-a now, durn my catsl ef it don’t look:
that way!” he exclaimed. »

“’It certainly appears so," Gomes remarked.
“ And I must con ass I am rather astonished at
it, too, forl had an idea that El Paso boasted)-
about its flghtin men, but you certainly have-
backed them all own tic-night”

" Wa-al, I reckon 1 did chip in pretty stron
and it is sart’in that I hain‘t run across any

yet with sand emit! to take up my blufi'. and
am mighty sorry ’bout it too, for I am _
yearning for a little fun. I ain’t had a skim

for ’bout a week and I am afeard I will git rusty
if I don‘t scare up a fight with some one soon.“ 3'
“I do. not believe that you are like} to
accommodated," Esparto remarked. “ e‘ r. i
is the people of this town know you, and the
are not anxious to run up against a cyclone.“ '
Again the cowboy grinned, his vanity tick,
by t e compliment. 

“ I don’t see how that kin be,” he said. “Eons
kin the sports of El Paso know me, seeing! I. ,
how this is the fu’st time I ever struck W
wr‘m'l‘: k b put ti w' ll I

ey nowyou yre a on e anon

Glydguphim dth t1 1-. is”

, as, see,an emomen spi on my
handle, {he hull town dr pad onto me. ’11: V

   
 

  
    
      
      
  
    
  
  
   
    
  
  
  
    
    
      
   
   
    

    
     
   
  
   
  
    
 

  

  
   
       
 

  
    
      
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
    
    
 
  

  
  
    
        
     
     

   
       
 

       
      

   

     
    
   
     

‘(

    

    

  
 
 

  
   
   
  
    
 
  

    
 
   
   
  

    
     

 
    
  

  
  
  
 

  
   

  

 

“He'is a bloodthirsty rooster, don’t you see,

all heered of the Wild all of the Pecos,
were a leetle skeet-ed to tackle him.” .

 
 
  

  
 
  
  
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
   
    
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
   
    
  
  
   
   
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
   
 
    
   
    
   
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
     
  
   
   
  
 
  
  
  
     
 
  
  

"122

“ Yes, that is almost the idea of it,” Games re-
marked. .
“ Wa-al, r'ally, pards, I feel kinder sad "bout
this hyer matter,” the big fellow remarked in a
reflective sort of way. “ If things ' got to ,
sich a pass that the moment I strike I. strange :
town and spit out my handle all the boyees are
i ‘1‘ going to fight shy of me, I won‘t be able to

amuse myself at all.”

“ I think that is about the way the matter
stands,” Gomes observed. I
“ No doubt about it!“ Esparto exclaimed. 1

“ Your reputation as a warrior is so great that

all the fl hting men in El l’aso are afraid to ,

meet you. ,i

" Too badl too bad!” the cowboy cried, with ‘

a melancholy shake of the bead. “ And do you

i-’ally reckon, sports, that thar isn’t a man in El

Paso with sand enough for to stand up for his

town?” .

“ Well, now I come to think of it, there is one ;

man who would be apt to give you afight if 5

you happened to run across him,” Gomes replied

after having apparently reflected over the mat—
ter for a few moments.
“ Shol you don’t say sol" cried the cowboy, I

deli hted at the information. i

" es, there is a man who would begretty l
certain to take up your challenge,” omes ;

continued. “ He is the big chief of El Paso, j

and no one has ever yet made him take water.”

“ That is jest the kind of a galoot that I am 9

looking for l” exclaimed the big fellow. “I 2

would not give two cents to ,back up ag’in’ any 
, common cuss; it is a big chief that I am a-
hunting arter.”

.“ Well, this man will certainly fill the bill,
for so far he has got awaywith every fighter
who has dared to face him.”

: “ You are speaking of Blake, I suppose?” Es-
arto remarked at this point, speakingas though
-. fie had been puzzling over the identity of the

art . v
 “ {{es, he had a sword-fight with a French-
5man to~day and succeeded in laying out his man
‘ -' without any trouble,” Gomes obserVed. And 3

 «then he related the particulars of the light, not 1
 forgetting to state that a good many of the El ,

,Pasoites expected that the Frenchman would .
,prove the Victor on account of his being an ex—
pert swordsman.

, r The cowboy shook his head.
' “ Durned if I would like any sword fight in
mine!” he exclaimed. ‘

“ I reckon that this hyer Blake, as you call
him, made a better show than I should, and
from w’ot you say it ’pears to me that he must
be a furst-class man.”

” So El Paso thinks,” Gomes replied.

" Perhaps it was just as well that, you did not
.run across him to-day,” Esparto suggested, shy-

] .
- ~_ >y“0h, come, none .of that!” the big cowboy
vs - exclaimed. “ Don’t you try to poke any fun at
me, ’cos I won‘t have it.”

' “ I meant no‘oflense I am sure,” Esparto has-
toned to say. .

. “That is all right, pard, I ain’t thin-skinned
and kin take a joke as well as any man, as 1 ng
'as it ain’t at on too thick. I ain’t no f -
- enter and ain’t got no idee‘ of fooling with to -
stickers; revolvers and bewie-knives- are my
we’pons and with them I don’t fear no man
w’ot walks on top of the airth. .I am good for
this hyer Blake, and I am jest hungry for to git
at him. Whar does he hang out?”

"‘ Oh he does not live in El Paso, but on a
ranch down the Rio Grande,” Gomes re lied.

- V “ But you say he fit hyer in the b -ring to-

a
’ ‘yYes, that is true, but he is not in town now,
having one home,” said the Cuban.

“ The I can’t get at him?”

A '~ “Not until tomorrow.” I

J “ I will wait: you kin bet yer boots on that!
"But is he sart’in to be hyer to-morrowl”

:“ Oh, yes," Gaines replied, promptly, having
made a his mind to devise some tr ck by means
+01 whic Blake could be lured to El Paso.

“ Whar does he ginerally hang out when he is

town?” ,
‘“ Well, the Hotel Mexmo is usually his head-
, P quarters.”
,r W. “ That’s the shebang
glller fixed up that dun y. drink for me, I reckon,
‘1 a cowboy observed. “ You kin bet yer boots
iit was hot, and it took hold all the way down."
“ That is the Hotel Mexico,” Games answered.
V,“ We were in there when you came in.” '
s “ And on think that it will be, sart‘in sure
rthat this lake will come to El Paso to-morrow?”
who cowboy asked. -
“,Oh. yes, hardly a doubt about it.”
‘ And he is counted the best man in El Peso?”
_ ‘ Well, he has succeeded in getting away with
every man who has tackled him so far; every
one in the town will tell you thit,” Comes re-

lied. ,
' A“ Oh, by long odds be is the biggest chief that
[El Paso can bcast l” Esparto declared. “Ask
anybody you like and they will tell you so; the
hampion of the town is this same Jackson
Blake, the Fresh of 'Frisco. as he is called.”
“Slim is that his handle?” r ~

  

 
 

  

 
 

  

  

  

   

' and the bi

‘ the ancient Hebrew. with a Wink.

whar the’tumbler-ju - .

 

{This Cubans nodded.
2“”Wa-al, I must say it is a right smart name

    

claimed. .“

  

“The Freeh'm, Texas.

—a darned funny one too, the Fresh of ’Frisco.”
cowboy repeated the name over,
slowly. “ id on say this cuss had a ranch
down the riverl‘ ‘ ,

H Yes.”

“ But that ’ar handle sounds a mighty sight
more like a sport than a rancher.”

“ That is what this man used to be,‘ a regular
gambling sharp, but now he is running a
ranch.”

“ ’Tain’t a good outlook, pards,” the big fellow
exclaimed, With a solemn shake of his big head.
“ Some of these gambler sports are the hardest
kind of nuts to crack, but he is my mutton when
I run across him.

“ I reckon I will hang out at the Hotel Mexico
myself and then I will be sure to meet him;
’sides I am kinder hankering for another one of
those dandy drinks. So—long. I’ll see you ag’inl”
And the cowboy started up the plaza, toward
the Hotel Mexico.

CHAPTER XXX.
I run JEW’S WARNING.

THE Cubans strolled slowly along up the
plaza, following in the footsteps of the cowboy“
and watched him until he entered the saloon of
the, Hotel Mexico.

“ So far so good I” exclaimed Gomes, exultiug-
ly. “ He has taken the bait, and now his soul
will know no peace until he has tested the prow~
ass of the Fresh of ’Frisco.”

“ Yes; the train is laid, and all that is needed
to fire it is the appearance of Jackson Blake in
El Peso.” Esparto observed; “ But how is that
matter to be arranged? The Fresh may not
come to town for a week.”

“ I have thought of a plan; it came to me
while I was talking with the cowboy, and that
was why I assure him that Blake would be
pretty certain to come to El Paso to-morrow.”

“ I see; you havea scheme in your mind to.
brin him here."

“ es; and it will work, too, undoubtedly,
if we can only get the old Jew pawnbroker to
aid us." "

“ You can arrange that all right, if there
isn’trany risk and you ay the old rascal a good
price for his trouble,” sparto remarked.

“ We will see him at once and arrange the
matterl" Games exclaimed. I

Then the two proceeded to the abode of the
old Jew. .

They gained an entrance, after Solomons
went through the usual ceremony of ascertain-
ing tvavlho it was that applied for admission at his

or .

“ Ah, my tear fr’ents, I am glad to see you,”
the pawnbroker remarked, as he ushered the
visitors into his reception—room. .

“ I say, dot leetle job did not work 90-day,
eh?” he continued, wagging his head in a knpw—

ing way.
“ What job?” Gomes asked.
“ Dot one you put up on der-Fresh,” replied
“ Ah, it was
a nice job, but it did not,work. Oh, my tears,
did I pot tell you dot dot.“ Fresh‘ish a devil of a.

man?’ i
“ Wh should you thin that we had anything
to do w th the matter?” part0 asked.

“ Oho. mine goot fr’ents, ou must not think v

I have lived mid der worl all this time for
notlflngl” the old Jew exclaimed. “Oh, no; ’I
can smell der rat as far as the next'man. Der
moment I heard dot dot Fresh was to fl ht mit
swords in der building mit a stranger. said to
mineself: ‘Aha, mine Cuban fr'ents are at der

bottom of dot !’ ”

“You [are good at guessing,” Gomes re-

marked.

“ 0h, yesh; I am nobod ls fool; all der boys
will tetlll you dot,” old So omens replied, com-
p cen y. » . I '

“ The Fresh certainly proved the ,vlctor,”
Comes admitted. .

“ I tell you it ish no use for you to try to hurt
dot man?” exclaimed the pawnbroker, shaking
his head in a decided manner. “ He ish a lucky
mans; everythin goes well mit him, and many
years ago I foun out that it ish not wise to at-
tack one of dose luck men: a man cannot make
anything by a game ike dot."

“ Some so-called luck men meet with terrible
agate] rs once in a w ile,” Esparto observed,

in .

The old Jew took a good look from under his
bushy eyebrows at the speaker, and then shook
his head: ' l l

“Yeah, yeah, dot ish so,” he replied. “Dot
ish true, every word of it, but when dose lucky
men meet mit a fall it is because their time has
come; the men who hate them have nothingto
do mit it.” ' - g

“ Then on think that this J acksou Blake is
such a la y man that we cannot possibly harm
him, no matter how carefully we arrange the
scheme?” Games said. . r i

The old Jew shrugged his shoulders. ,

" Oh. well, perhaps I ought not to put der case
as stron as that, ’ the pawnbroker. replied.
“ But if was a betting m , mv t fr‘en’s—-
which I am‘not—I. would bet all mine monish
033% 'fi ‘ t' ' th 1” Espart '
on are overt-a mg omen oex—

He certainly has

1

 

       

his appearance is such the

 

been quite necess-

ful since he has taken up his quarters in this
section, but circumstances have favored him: it
is the chance of fortune more than his own
abilities he has to thank.” '

“ Yesh, yesh, maybe,” replied the Jew, again
shrugging his shoulders as much as to say that

he did not believe it. “ It is hard work in such
a matter to decide shust how der trick is done,
but there is no mistake dot der Fresh has come
out on der top of der heap, every time! Maybe
it was all In k, maybe not, but I can tell you
one thing, mine good fr’en’s, I Will not buck
agltfiipst der Fresh of ’Frisco if I know mine-
se .

Gomes laughed outright at this declaration.

“ Why you laugh?" inquired the old Jew.
“ You vant to make game of me, eh?”

“ Oh, no, but the idea came into my mind
that, if reports do not do you injustice, you are
not the kind of man who bucks against any-
body,” the Cuban replied. “You always play
a sate game; you remain in the background,
and allow some one else to do the bucking.”

The pawnbroker gave utterance to a low, cun—
ning laugh.

"Vell, vell, my tear, I guess dot is (let safest
kind of game to lay l" he exclaimed.

“You evident y believe so, for that is’ your
rule always,” Gomes remarked. “ But now to
come to business: there is a little service which
we want you to do for us.”

“ Of course. mine goot fr’en’s, I shall be glad
to accommodate you.” ‘

“ It is necessary for a certain purpose of ours
to have the Fresh of 'Frisco come to El Paso to-
morrow.”

“ 'l‘o-morrowl”

“ Yes, and as there is no prospect that he will
come of his own acccrd, he must be brought
here in some way.”

“ You got some nice leetle trap to spring on

him when he does come, eh l” inquired the old

J ew, in an extremely suspicious manner.

“ There isn’t any lra , as far as we are con-
cerned,” Gomes .re lie . “ We have never
taken any open stan against the Fresh, and we
do not propose to begin now. The fact is, my
dear Solomons, we are playing your game. We
keep in the background, and allow some one
else to do the work. r r

“ If the Fresh comes to El Paso to-inorrow,
he will be apt to meet a man who thinks he can
get away With him; it will all.be just by acci-
dent, you understand.” L -

The. old Jew nodded sagely, and then chuckled,
for a trick of this kind was exactly to his hu-
mor.

“Yesh, yesh, _I see, and neither of you two
will have anything to do mit it?”

“ Certainly not 1" Games declared. “ We will
probably be in the neighborhood, though, when
the thing occurs, as to see the fun.”

“Ah, yesh, yes , if der Fresh is in it there
will be fun, you mag7 shust bet your life on dot!”

the old Jew declare

“The n of whom I speak is a stranger to
El Paso and has taken up his quarters at the
Hotel exico; he is a cowboy, and flutters him-
self that he is a big chief; he has been informed
that Jackson Blake is the best fighting men that
this Section «can boast—the acknowledged cham-

ion of all this countr adjacent to the Rio
randHnd he is eager See if the Fresh is as
good a man as rumor reports.”

“ Ah, esh. dot is a pica scheme, and you have
worked it beautifully,’ and the old Jew wagged
his head in an approving manner.

“It ish all by accident, of course, dot this
mans has heard ob der Fresh, but, my out
f’ren’s, you mark m words, dot devil of a 13 aka
will t away mit h in.” :

“ 9 may and he may not, for his stranger is
a ton h customer,” Games replied.
. “ a has been trying to have a fight ever since
he struck the town,” Esparto observed; “ but
no one is willing to
face 1m.” ’

“ Oho, dot was strange ” the pawnbroker com-
mented. “Who vas he r ,

-“ He is a cowboy, and he calls himself the
Wild Bull, of the Pecos,” ,Gomes replied.

“0h, yesh, yesh, I have heard of dot mans!”
Solomons exclaimed. “_You are right; he vas
a tough customer but It I was a betting man I
w0uld bet on der Fresh.” v

“ You are like the rest of the town,” Comes
remarked, “ because the Fresh has succeeded in

coming out ahead two or three times, you have .

ot’the idea into yopr head that he is invinci-
Ie. , '
“De proof of der pudding is  der eating,”

old Solomons replied with the air of a saga!

“Der Fresh has. not been whipped et."
“ True, but that does not prove t at he never
will be,” Comes urged. ' , ’ -
The pawnbroker was obliged to admit that
this was true. v I

~ “ But we are only wasting time in discussing.

the matter," Comes continued. “ The point we

want to get at is this; Jackson Blake must be

induced to come to El' Paso to—morrow so that ‘y

this cowboy will have a chance to get at him,

and the affair must be soarranged that Blake 'i
will not suspect he has been led into a trap.” , .

“ Yesh, esh, I see

     

‘fNow,’ you can'think of someplantoze 

 

 

to.

u" - WW4. Atoms»? "dv

 

 

 

         
  
   
     
   
      
    

       
   
     
        

 

  

 

 

the Fresh here I will give you fifty dollars for
the service." .

The eyes of the old Jew sparkled, for it was
not often that he had a chance to make fifty
dollars so easil .

“Oh, yesh, think I can do it—not so much
for de monish as to oblige you, mine fr’eu’s,” he
i'emui'ked, rubbing lllS hands gleefully together
no.1 u‘i'iiiiiiiig at his visitors.

“ You understand, mine goot sii's, (lot in a
ousiness like this, I must be careful,” be con-
tiiiued.

“ Not for ten times fifty dollars would I have
the Fresh know dot I had gone into any game
against him—oh, mine V gootness, no! He is
shust der kind of fellow dot would lay a thing
like dot up against a man.”

“Yes, no doubt about that, but can’t you fix
the matter so it will seem to be all right?”
Gomes inquired.

" Let me see!" and the ancient Hebrew cogi—
tated for a few moments.

Then his face lit u with a cunning smile.

“ Ah, yesh, fish, have itl" he exclaimed.

“ There is a fr’en’ of mine that has some cat-
tle to sell sheap; I will send word to der Fresh
to come rivht away to-morrow and meet me at
the Hotel Mexico on important business.”

“ That will do if you select a good messenger,
one who will make Blake believe that the busi-
ness is important.”

“on, leave me alone f r dot; I will fix der
trick right up to der hand 6?” the Jew declared.

And so the trap was laid which the cons ira-
tors confidently expected would catch Jac son
Blake, the Fresh of Frisco.

CHAPTER XXXI.
ran ransn WALKS INTO THE SNARE.

IT was about eight o’clOck in the morning; the

Fresh had had his breakfast and had just returned

’ from the corral where he had been to look at
some new horses which had just come in, a
recent purchase, when a youth whose features
plainly betrayed that he was of the race of Jacob
and Abraham, rode up.

Blake recognized the new-comer at a glance;
it was the young Jew who acted as clerk to
Hadad Solomons, and whom he had treated to
such a fight on the occasion of his first visit to
the pawnhroker’s establishment as detailed in
the story entitled “ The. Fresh on the Rio
Grande.’ . _

“ Hallo, what brings you down this way?”
Blake asked.

The youth assumed a mysterious air and
Erravgd the favor of a private interview with the
res . .

This being granted he proceeded to unfold his
business, which was that his uncle, the pawn?
broker, desired to see Mr. Blake in El Paso at
the Hotel Mexico that morning, if possible, up-
on im rtant business.

“ hat is the nature of the business?” the
Fresh inquired.

The youth answered that he did not know,
his unc e had not told him that, but he had been
instructed to say it was most im rtant, and
that his uncle hoped Mr. Blake wo d be able t6
make it convenient to come. ’

The Fresh thought over the matter for a
moment;, he had not had any business dealings

 

 

‘ncrx -

. «xi-gr?

‘ W

ijust after his arrival in El Paso, and he was a
ittle puzzled by the message, for he could not
ess why the Jew wished to see him.

He concluded to go though and so informed
the messenger. ; \ _

“ You can tell Mr. Solomons that I will be at
the Hotel Memo? about noon,” he said. ’

“ Yes, sir,” said the youth, “I will tell him,”
and then he rode away. ‘

Old California J 09 and Dave Ringwood
happened to come up Just at that moment and so
overheard the speech. ,

“ Did you hear what he wanted?” the Fresh
asked of the pair, after the messenger took his
departure. _ - ‘

‘ Yes, the old Jew is
Ringwood replied.
_ “ And w’ot do you s’pose the dumed old galoot
is arter?” California Joe exclaimed.

“ That is just what 1 am puzzling my brains
about,” Blake replied. i

“ It is mighty queer now. on hot,” the old
mountain man observed. “ reckon the J ew
ain’t no great ifrieud of yourn,” the scout re-

marked. .
“lie, I reckon not. I succeeded iii-getting
him. into a trap, and skinned him one “in a we
be despised, and I fancy Solomons is a
an extremely good memo ,
a good chance at me he wodl’d
» toget hare.”
: “ 0b, reckon on are kinder barking up the

wrpng tree thar,’ Old California Joe obsorved,
« with a wise shake of the head. “ You ain’t so
well no uainted wi lithe old was asl am. I
- ain’t a isputing. ind- you, that if he bada

chance to git squar’ with you, without showing

 

 

anxious to see you,”

an wit
and if he ever got
be apt to endeavor

    
   
  

  
  

  
 

 

 

  
 

    
  

r was inter the thing at all, I don’t doubt he would
“Sail in for to skin yer as quick as a wink. but he
' too, darned sheared to go for you openly. He
. mnlgmbe ”afraid you would- git: back at him
8693 e. , , A

 

\

with the old J ew since his transaction’with him '

his hand—without letting on, you know, that he i

sense ” Dave Ringwood remarked.
“ es, he is about right, I think,” the Fresh
“ I do not believe the Jew has pluck

t. "‘I reckon California is talking good sound

coincided.

chance to give me a dig without my being able'
to tell where it came from, the odds arebig that
he would be quick to im move the opportunity.”

“On, yes, you bet!" ' ld California Joe ex-
claimed.

“ The old Jew is the worst kind of a fraud,"
Dave Ringwood remarked. “ Any one that
knows him understands that. He hates you, of
course, for you got the best of him, and in the
deal succeeded in carrying oil some of his
Shekels, and from what I know of the old scoun-
(ire-l, he would as soon part with his flesh and
blood as with his cash.”

“ Yes, yes, thar ain’t no mistake ’bout that!”
Old California Joe assented.

“ It would only be natural under the circum—
stances for the Jew to want to get square with
you and so the moment I heard what was want-
ed, the idea immediately'canie to_me that there
might be some truth‘ about the thing,” Ring-
wood remarked. '

“Yes, that notion came to me,” the Fresh
said. “And that was why I hesitated for a mo-
ment before I told the messenger that I would
come. But, really, when you come to think
over the matter it up rs a little absurd to
jump to such a conclus on, just because I know
that the old Jew is no friend of mine.

“ If Solomons had Sent me a. message that he
wanted to so me in some lonely and out-ofthe-
way lace the suspicion might be reasonable
that e was acting as the agent of some other
party, and there was 8. ion on foot to get me at
a. disadvantage so that mi ht be attacked but
as the meeting-place is in t e town of El Faso,
that theor is not reasonable.” '

“ The ew is up to some game now, you kin
bet your life l” Old California J ce declared, em:
phatically. “ He is a prison galoot and I
wouldn‘t trust him for a cent!”

The others laughed, for it was plain that the
aged scout was decidedly prejudiced.

“ Well, as far 113'! can see it does not matter
much whether there is a game‘back of it or not,”
Blake remarked. “If there is one I reckon I
will be strong enough to beat it. But I hardly
think it is probable. We allow our suspicions to
run away with us because we havent a good
opinion of the pawnbroker. To my mind .the
most probable solution of the mystery is that
Solomons has struck some speculation which he
15 unable to handle for some reason, and he
reckons that he might. be able to rope me into

.“I guess that is it,” Dave Ringwood re-

marked. 

But Old California Joe shook his head.

“I will allo that 1 am.pre,judiced as thun-
der ag’in’ the measlay cussl’ he exclaimed.
“And I kin jest tell you, bo s, I have got, a
heap of reason for being in t at ar’ way; and,
feeling as I do ’bout the ornery galoot, I can’t
get it out of my mind that thar ain’t some gum
game into the business."

_ “ Well, speculation .is idle,” the Fresh re~
marked. “At noon I will know all about it.
I hardly think the Jew would dare to do any-
thing openly agamst me, but for fear there may
be some ame. afoot, you two had better come
with me. , ,

The others thought this was a good idea, and
so, in due time, the [three started for the old
Mexican city.

It lacked about ten minutes of noon when the
party rode into the corral of the .Hotel Mexico,
and dismounted from their steeds.

 

  

Hadad Solomon's was standin ‘ in front of the
hotel as he rode by, and he nod ed in the most
friendl manner.

“ Di you seethe old galoot grin and rub his
hands?” the old mountain-man asked. “Now
I tell you w’ot it is—when that ar’ old son of a
gun goes on in that way it means that thar is
mischief afoot.” ,

“Oh, come new,
it on a little too thick!” Blake exclaimed, laugh-
in . “ You are going on the old saying of‘give
a 5 ahad name and hangl him.” . i

‘ urned if I wouldn’t iketo hang this old
rogue of a J cw,” the plainsman exclaimed.

. ‘ I will go on ahead, boys, and after I enter
the hotel, you can saunter in,” the Fresh re-
marked. '

h Talia others nodded,,and Blake proceededto the

o . , ‘ .

d Solomons was inside, and met him at the
cor; , .,

“Ah, my fear fr’en’, I vas delighted to see

on,” the Jew exclaimed, shaking hands with

lakeras though he had not seen him for an
age. .‘ ,

“ Come, in a uiet corner we vill have some
leetle business tal together,” the old Jew con-
tinued, leading the way to the end of the saloon,
{emote from the bar,. where there were no

on . V , . -

‘fi down, mine tr’en’. sit down, and we vill
see if we cannot some leetle trade make.”

“Angsfiou arefull-oii-business, eh. as usual?”
{ the Fr remarked, as
chair. 1 ‘ ' 3 , 2 , 7

 
   
 

enough to go for me Openly, but if he gets .

California, you are putting '

he accepted the predated ' '

    
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
    
  
  
    
  
  
   
   
    
  
   
    
  
  
   
  
  
 
    
  
      
   
    
  
  
  
   
 
   
   
  
   
  
  
   
      
     
    
    
  
      
   
 
   
  
     
    
    
  
   
    
      
 

l “ Ali, yesh, mine goot air, I must work all der
1 vhile or else I vould not be able to live, for
" times ish very hard,” and the old Jew heaved
. a doe sigh, doing his best to look discoiisolate.

“ onsense! the times don’t trouble you much i”
the Fresh retortod. “ The harder the times,
the more money a man makes in a business like
yours.”

“ No, no no, dot ish not so i” the old Jew de-
clared. “ know dot ish what peoples think
and say, but my tear fr’en’, they knows nothing
about it at all.’ s

“ Yes, of course you will swear to that. Men
of your race are never willing to ackn0wledge »
that they make anything. But what do you
want to see me about?”

“ You have a ranch l” and as he put the ques-
5 tion the old Jew looked around him in a mys-

terious way as though he was afraid that there
Enight be some one near, playing the spy upon
nem.

“ Yes I have' a ranch,” the Fresh replied,
“ but what are you lookin around you in that
queer way'for? Eve that knows an -
thing about me knows that I have a ranc .
There isn’t any secret about it.” '«

“ Yesh, yesh. of course, but I likes to lice
mine business to mineself,” theold man remark .
i 0n dot ranch you hate cattle!" and Solomons
drop his voice almost to a whisper as he
put 1: e question. ,

“ Of course, that is what ranches are for."

“How would you like to buy some nice
, cows, sheap’l inquired the pawnbrokor in the
most cautious manner. _.

“Where are they?” ‘

“ 0n der Mexican side of the Rio Grands.”

“ Do they belong to you i”

f ,“Oli, no, I am shust offering them for a
r en. ‘

V y didn’t you have them brought up to
the town and oflered at open sale!” 
“ N o, no, my fr’en’ would rather sell them to

some rancher down der river.”

“ Something crooked about the matter, eh?”

“ Oh, I guess not, my fr’en’ is an honest man,
but when der beeves are on der American side
of der Rio Grande it will be all right, and you,
can buy them for about half what they are »
really worth.”

CHAPTER XXXII. ,
rnn’cownor AGAIN. »

BY this time the Fresh fancied 'that he fully ,
understood the game. 5 i ‘ .

The cows were stolen ones, they had been
“lifted ’7 from the Mexican ranches in the in- v
terior and driven to the bank of the Rio, Grande
with the idea of selling them to the ranchers on . ‘
the American side. an once the beevea were on .‘
Texan soil, it‘would be a difficult matter for the ‘
ri htful owners to trace them. ' ’ “

how, although Jackson ,Blake, the Fresh of ’
’Frisco, was by no means a saint, et he was not, ,
the man to allow himself to be in ed up in any
affair of this kind, and he lost no time in letting 
the old Jew understand as much. . .

“ My dear Mr. Solbmons,” he said; '“thls . f
speculation which you propose is not one that I T ,
care to go into.” _ ‘

“Why not?" exclaimed tho pawnbroker, pne- , ‘
tending to be’much astonishe . “ You can much ; ‘ :"
monish make out of der tra These cows can .\ ‘
be bought for cash for one-half of' what, they",
are worth. You see my fr’en‘ is in a hurry to;
sell, and he wants his monish right doWn so he' '
can go away, and I thought of cu, for I knew ‘. ‘
dot Sou would he likely to hate or hard cash.” , ‘

“ b, no, I‘don’t care to trade,” Blake replied v".
decidedly; " There is somethingrroolied about
this transaction, of course, or else your man ’
would not be stagger to get rid of the cows at a
sacrifice. I rec on your man did not comebyi, ,
them honestly.” ' '

“ Oh, I think he ish a gootmnnl” the Jew per-
sisted. “ Many years have I known him, and»
never did I hear dot he was in tron 19'." i
r “Yes, I suppose he has always been smart
enough to keep in the background . and get ’ ,
others to do the work for him: but be that as it
may, I do not care to trade.” and the Fresh rose ;
to his feet in order to signify that the interview ‘:

 

    
    

      
      
     
       
  
   

  
 

 

wasatanend.

Tklkvmnwr ‘ .1“...

“ e ve.m 00 ran. 'am ',
' ’5 ' inhin,

      
       
  
 
    

          
   
 
 
  

you vill not tra e. and then he continued
smooth, insinuating way: ‘r‘ I bags, Mister Mesa
‘ dot you vill keep this matter q t—dot you: V
not ak about it?” ' ~ . . j
“ ii, that is all right; don’t trouble murhead
about that. I am not lathe habit of tn g
any confidenca‘that is reposed in’me,” the nah

answered. -. ,.
so much obliged,” bowed the—Jo

    
 
  

   
   
   
  

     
   

 

“ I am . '
“ Be sure, Mister Blake, dot I Vill do as much ‘
for on some time. . Vill you hafe a drink mils h
me. istar Blake?’ . .. .,
“13:11, I don’t mind a glass of ale,” the Fresh
rep . . ’ , ’ _.
The two advanced toithe bar; the Jew called
for tWoeglasaes of ale, and 92s the order Was 
, the door of the saloon was thrown
open and into the saloon a ked the cowboy
who called himself the Wild 0110! the Pecos,
 manner-jot the man’s entrance, a1:th
the attention of every one in the mainland?

    
    
  

      
     
      
     
     

      
   

 

   
   

3..

  
 

 

 

 

 

 

s"

 

 

the Jew and Blake tured to see who it was they

encountered the gaze of the new-comer, who

find halted half-way between the door and the
ar.

The moment the cowboy saw that he had at-
tracted the attention of the Fresh, he cried out
in a loud voice:

“ flyer am I, the king of the cowboys, the
etarnal, lightning terror of the airth, the c'avort—
iug, snorting Wild Bull of the Pecos, the best
man to-day that thar is in this town of El Paso,
bar none 1’

As the reader who has followed the fortunes of
the Fresh of ’Frisco knows, Jackson Blake was
remarkably quick -witted; he was no man’s fool,
and when he heard the boasting words of the
stranger—saw the fellow glare at him, and com-
prehended that the speech was addressed more
to him than to any one else in the room, the
thought instantly came to him that it was for
the purpose of giving this big stran er a. chance
at him that he had been brought to l Paso.

“ Aha, you have put up a job on me, eh?” he
said in an undertone'to the Jew, much to the
latter’s astonishment and disgust.

“ So help me Moses, I did not,” the pawn"
broker protested, with trembling accents. “I
assure you, Mister Blake, 1 know nothing, about

“ I'm the best man in, this town, I say l” re—
peated the cowboy, finding that the Fresh did
not take any notice of his speech.

" The best man in El Paso, you bet! and the
man who says I am not will have to peel and
wade in! I am the cowboy fighter and I kin
chew up and drag out every thing from a griz~
zly b’ar downwards, and if thar is any man in

" this shebang who thinks he is a chief, you kin
jest bet all you air worth that I will take his
scalp in mighty quick order.

“ Say, mebbe you would like to have a leetle

, fun with me?” he continued addressing his con-
versation directly to Blake.

“ Well, maybe I would,” the Fresh replied.
“ Perhaps I am the man you are looking for.”

“ I reckon you ar’ if you are game for a
fight 1” the big fellow replied. , “ I am arter the

' best man in this hyer town of El Paso, and I
calculate to take his hide l”

“ If you can, stranger; always put that in,
because sometimes these leetle things don’t
always work as smoothly as they might.”

9‘ I reckon I kin take the shine out of you and
not half try !” cried the cowboy in coutempr, for
he, like many another who had been led to at-
tack the sport, made the mistake of thinking
that the Fresh of ’Frisco was not up to the
champion form,‘ Blake being one of those de-
ceptive men who did not look when dressed in
the garb of civilization to be anywhere near as
bi as he really was.

9 was so well—proportioned that his real size
was disguised.

At this point Goldberg, the landlord of the
Hotel Memco, mine rushing into the room; he
had been warned by one of the hotel attendants
that the big cowboy was in the saloon on the

- rampage and there was a. prospect of a row.

The moment he heard this intelligence the
hotel-keeper immediately became alarmed for
the safety of his property and at once hurried

' to the scene of action. ,

“ What is the matter, my friends? don't have
anv trouble in here!” he cried.

H Bitter experience had taught the proprietor
of the Hotel exico that a personal quarrel in a
saloon usua y wound up in a free fight, and
generally resulted in much damage to the per-
sonal property of the saloon-keeper. ,

 

“ Oh, no. we ain’t going to have the least bit
of trouble!” the cowboy res nded. “ I am just
gels to smash this hyer rash of ’Frisco duck

or a l I am worth 1”

“ Oho! you know who I am, and yet I don’t
remember ever being introduced to you !” Blake
exclaimed. .

“ Gentlemen, I beegi hat you' will not fight
here i” Goldber cri . ‘,‘ Go out into the street
«there you wil have plenty of room, while here
you will not.”

,“ Don‘t you worry now!” the cowboy replied.
. “ I don‘t need much room to finish up sich a

‘whipper-snapper as this gslootl” And the big
fellow brandished his huge arms in the air as he
spoke. ,

He was such a big, overgrown piece of hu-
manity that it did not really seem as if the
Fresh stood much chance in a contest with him.

“ You don’t understand this rifile, Goldberg,”
the Fresh remarked. “ This fight is all over
now excepting the shouting—that iswhat this
- big chief thinks.” .

L “Wa-al, now, you kin bet 'bout all you ar’

worth that that is about the size of it!” the

cowboy cried.

now, have ye, to reckon that you kin stand u
, ‘ag’in’ me more’n a minit? Shol one good crac

will settle you, and I don’t believe I will ,have

to more than half-try either." ,

’ “ Oh, my dear friends, letme beg of you not to

fight here!” Goldberg criedr And then a bril-

‘- liant idea came to him.
“ I tell
, long as you are going to fight why not have the
- contest take place in the bull-ring? There you

“You hain’t got conceit enufl.

you what it is!” he continued. “.As.

  

"The Freshih Tex

' will have plenty of room while here there is not.
. You can have the bull-ring and welcome! I will
not charge you anything for it.”

This idea struck the cowboy favorably.

“ Fight into the bull—ring, hey i” he cried.
“ Wa-z-il, I reckon that is a mighty good notion,
although arter we git at it you kin jest be safe
in betting yer bottom dollar that thar won’t be

man of my size. a re ’Iar, ranting, snorting big
chief, to lay out any ack-a-dandy chap!”

blow now!” Blake remarked, “ for after the
fighle‘you may not feel like it.”

“ by, I won’t make more’n ,a mouthful of
you!” the cowboy declared. /

“Come along. if you mean business, ’cos I
am  a hurry to hammers leetle sense into

on!

“ Go ahead, Godlberg, and open the bull—ring!”
the Fresh exclaimed. “I am a little anxious
myself to come to the hammering part so as to
understand how it feels.”

“ Yes, yes, come on, I am glad to be able to
oblige you, gentlemen,” Goldberg declared.

the street with the exception of the barkeeper,
genial Bill Long, who was obliged to stay,
in order to ook after the place, much to his dis-

gust.

“ I would give a fivcvdollar gold—piece to see
the fight 2” he declared.

“That big galoot thinks he has got a soft
thing, but if was betting ducats on the fight,
I would back the Fresh of ’F‘risco every time!”

Goldberg led the way to the bull—ring, the big
cowboy marching by his side as proudly as
though he owned the whole town,

Behind him came the Fresh and his pards,
Dave Ringwood and Old California Joe, then
the Jew, and the men who had happened to be
in the saloon at the time when the cowboy made

‘ his entrance.

At the tail end of the procession were the, two
Cubans.

They had been on the street, gazing through
one of the side windows into. the saloon, watch-
ing the progress of the affair. and though they
were rather disappointed because the cowboy
had not brought on the conflict immediately, yet
they consoled themselves with the thought that
in the bull-ring no one was likely to interfere
with the fight. ' ,

The people who chanced to be on the street
were attracted by the procession, and upon
learning what was going on, immediately fol-
lowed, so by the time the bqu—ring was reached
there was quite a crowd.

 

CHAPTER. XXXIII.
A Burns: ROYAL.

GOLDBERG unlocked the small door which led
into the bull-rip , admitted the crowd, and then
securely fasten it again for as he remarked,
it was not necessary that the whole town should
be present to witness the performance.

It really grieved the soul of the thrifty hotel-
keeper when be reflected that uite a nice little
um of money could be _ ga ered from the
crowd if he could char e them for going; into
the bull-ring, and he ha half a‘mind to declare
that he could not afford to allow the crowd to
come in without pa ing; but when he came to
take a look at the‘ gang,” the conclusion was
forced upon him that they would not stand it;
some of the toughest customers in El Paso were
present, and as they never were known to have
any more monethhan they knew what to do,
with, any attempt to make them pay for the
privilege of seeing the fight would undoubtedly
raise the biggest ind of a row.

The landlord was determined, though. that no
more should get in, and so he was careful to
lock the door.

The cowboy strode out to the middle of the
bull-ring. and, wheeling around, threw himself
in a'figbting position. a

“ Hyer I am, all of me!” he exclaimed, defi-
antly. “ The best man that you kin scare up
to—day in this hyer old town, or. for that matter,
I will throw in up and down the Rio Grande,
all along for a hundred ~miles; yes, and the hull
durued State of Texas! rain the best man in
the Southwest, and I don’t hear who knovis it I”

“ Stranger, you blow the loudest born that
has been heard for many a.day in El Paso, and
I really hope you do amount to something as a.
fighter, for it would be a dreadful disappointment
to all of us if you should turn out to be only a
gas-bag,” the Fresh observed.

‘f Come up to the scratchand I will soon show
you what kind of a gas-bag I am,” the cowboy
exclaimed, brandishing his long arms and be-
ginning to prance around.

“ What sort of a fight do
square fisticul! match?”

“ Yes. sir-ee, that is w’ot I am arterl”, ex-
claimed the cowboy, and he dashed the big,
fawn-colored slouch hat which he wore to the
ground. , _ i

“ Thar’s my tile into the ring,” he continued,
and than be commenced to roll up his shlrt-
sleeves. . “ Come, now, don’t waste- any more
time in talk; peel and wade in l”

, ~ As the cowboy were no coat, all he had to do

you want—fa good

 

 

much of alight, for it won't take long for a .

“ It is a good idea for you to go ahead and '

And then all within the saloon flied out into,

to prepare for the contest was to remove his hat
and roll up his sleeves.

The Fresh was obliged to remove his coat,
which he immediately proceeded to do, and
:then he took off his hat and rolled up his sleeves.

The cowboy wns watching him, and an ex—
pression of astonishment appeared on his face
when he saw the unusual muscular development
of his antagonist.

During the furenoou he had made worm: in—
quiries about the Fresh, and all with u how he
had spoken had assured him that J acksou Blake
was as good a man as had ever struck E] Past);
but when he came face to face with the Fresh,
because he did not find him to be a great, over»
grown fellow, he fell into the error of thinking
El Paso overrated the man.

Then the idea occurred to him that the quiet-
looking, gentlemanly—appearing fellow was a
sharp who had won his renown by his skill with
fvivelzipons, andpthis was why he desired a fist-

g t.

But now;’ that the Frelsh had “ peelehd” off his
coat, to t e surprise of is opponent e a r-
ed to be bigger than when he had it bu. ppea

“ He is a better man than I reckoned-he was,”
the big fellow muttered to himself, “ but I will
smash him into bits thou b, all the same.”

“Now then, stranger, am ready for you!”
the Fresh observed, as he finished his prepara-
tions and advanced toward his opponent. “ Sail
in as soon as you like!”

“ Look out for yourself, for thar’s a cyclone
coming!” the cowboy howled, and then he made
a ferocious rush at the Fresh, striking wickedly
with both right and left.

The blows were ferocious ones, and most sure-
ly would have‘damaged the handsome face of
t e Fresh of ’Frisco materially if they had
fallen where the cowboy intended, but Jackson
Blake was too good a boxer to be made a chop-

ing-block by any such clumsy fellow as the

ild Bull of the Pecos.

He gave way as the other advanced—dodged
some blows, parried others, and then, watching-
his opportunity, slipped under the right arm of
his opponent.

The cowboy wheeled about to renew 'the at~
tack, and as he did so the Fresh caught him
under the ear with a terrific blow, which sent-
him reeling to the ground. .

The big fellow came down heavily, but al—
though he was dazed b the shock he was on his
feet again in a secon , and made another rush
at his nimble fee.

The Fresh of ’Frisco did not give an inch this
time, but met the onset with a straight right~
hander, which landed between the cowboy’s eyes
and brought him to a dead halt.

Then, almost before the cowboy could realize
what; had happened, the Fresh “measured ” his
,man and sent in a left—hander, which caught the
cowboy on the throat, full on the jugular vein,
and over again went the big fellow. '

A shout went up on the air from the lips of‘
the crowd; it was impossible for them to keep
quiet, for it was not once a year that such a
,rare show as this could be seen in the town of
El Peso.
The cowboy was completely exhausted, as
much by the exertion w ich e had made as
b the punishment he had received, while the
f rein showed few signs of the eflorts he had put

ort .
“ I reckon that this may be called the end of
round number one ” he remarked. “.We kinder
rushed into this thing without making the usual
arrangements; but we ought to have seconds to
attend to us, and if a couple of you gentlemen
will look after this stranger, my penis, Dave
Ringwgod and Old California Joe, will attend

0 ‘me.

Although the stranger had made no friends
by his actions, yet a couple of the lockers-on
volunteered to act as his seconds in the interest:
of fair play. ' i I.

The two were new men in El Paso. being a
couple of cowboys who hadicome up from the
Rio Grande, Tom Bunker and Ben Rockford by

name. _

“ Me and my pard b er will look artcr him,
seeing that he is in be same line of business,

elder of the two explained.

“ Yes, we are cow-punchers, and we will do.
what we kin for him,” the other added. ~

‘-‘ Yes, and I reckon, Goldberg. you had bet.
ter act as referee, for we need some one to en-
gineer the picnic,” the Fresh suggested. ,

“ Certainly, I shall be glad to assist,” respond—-
ed the landlord. whose “ sporting blood 7 had
been heated by the contest.‘

their Erincipals. -
Bla e seated himself and the two cowboys as—
sisted the big fellow into his chair. .' 7
Tom Bunker had acted as a second before,
‘and so he took it upon himself to give the Wild
Ball of the Pecos some advice.
' ,“ You have got a tough" customer to handle
in this hyer jig,” he remarked, “and you don’t
want to go to work to throw no chances away.
You want to kinder spar and keep awayc—r—atzi‘
‘and counter him, for if you once getafair

you ought to be able to dam e him.” '

 

 

“ I have been in a heap of ghts in .my time,

that we foller for a living!” Tom Bunker, the

Then the seconds hurried to bring chairs for .

   

.v— Mu-.. n.7,,“

:2 game-symng can». m z ,r ,~‘..:,

 

 

fawmgrggm-mr,“   

 

 
 
 

   

p The Fresh in Texas:

 

 

 

but I never ran across sich a galoot as this hyer
before,” the cowboy complained. “The cuss
dodges ’round like a dancing Jack and I don’t
git no chance at him. If he would only stand
up, fair and square, so I could smash him, I

his hash.”

“Yes, but he is a reg’lar scientific boxer,”
the other remarked. “ And though I have seen
a mighty big heap of good men in mfi time, I
reckon this fellow is top of them a . You
mustn’t expose yourself by rushing at him, ’cos
that gives him a chance to get in his fine work.
You want tokinder hold off and not give no
points away.”

kick," the cowboy rowled. “Durn me if I

ever runu ag’in snc afighter afore!”
During: e wait the Fresh improved the op-

portunity to exchange a. few words With his

na .

“ The Cubans are here, I see,” Blake re-
marked. ,

lfnges, I spotted them,” Dave Ringwood re-
p i .
1’ “ You kin bet all your ducats that them two
; p’isoned aller cusses ar’ at the bottom of this
,' hyer busmess,” the old mountain-man asserted.

“ California we: right about the J ew’s re-
quest,” the Fresh observed. “ It was a trick to
lure me to El Paso so that this big ruffian could
pick a quarrel with me.”

“ Yes, there isn’t any doubt in my mind about
that,” _Dave Ringwood observed. “ And we
must give 01d Joe credit for being sharper than
we were.” ’

“ Wa—al boyees, I have lived in this hyer
world a few years longer than either of you,
and I have dealt so much with these Greasers
that’I have got- to know ’em like a book,” the

, old fellow replied. “ Trickery is their best bolt,
l and I reckon it they hated a man and had a
chance to wipe him out, and could strike him
either in the back or front, that they would go
for his back every time!”

“ The little scheme will not work though,"
Dave Ringwood remarked. “ You are going to
punish this fellow without any trouble.”

“ Yes, but I fancy that after I hammer him a
little more he will get sick of it and go for his
shooting-irons.”

“ Wa-al, if he does, I reckon he won’t ketch
you flipping,” the old scout observed with a dry
chuc e.

".7 ~,

. “Nymw’ ..

 

“ l fanc not,” Blake replied.
-. The Cu ans had also seized upon this oppor-
; tunitv to hold a. brief conversation.
,' . "That fellow is making a fine show of him-
,,r , self!” Gomes exclaimed, his face dark and his

, voice hoarse with suppressed rage.

. “ He is about'as fit to contend with this Fresh
of ’Frisco as a hawk would be to wage war
with an eagle,” E arto replied, contemptuously.

“Yes, that is t e truth, but when this cow-

' boy finds that he stands no chance to fight
Blakgwith his fists he may resort to his wea-

; - pens.

,’ “ And in that case I fancy he will find that
J ack.is as good as his master!” Esparto rejoined.
“Ah. my dear fellow, we are wasting time
and the quicker we organize the Red Riders of
I you again the better.’ ' _ ‘
‘ Time, gentlemen I” exclaimed the hotel-
keeper at this point.

—— ,

CHAPTER XXXIV.
. THE mm or ran STRUGGLE.

the rules of a contest of this sort and was not
sure as to how long a time should be allowed
between the rounds, and when he appealed to
,: some of the bystanders in re ard to t is point
i? he found that there was a doc ed difference of
~«‘ . opinion about it. _. ' ,

. Some thought five minutes _was the proper
time. others maintained. that it was only two,
and a few declared that it was neither two nor
live. but three; and then there was as great a
difference of opinion in regard to whose rules
should regulate the fight. the “ London rise
ring” or the_ “ Marquis of Queensbegry,’ and
the discussion became so heated that it pretty
nearly resulted in a free fight. '

Goldberg settled the matter though, by declar-
ing that in his opinion five minutes was a short
enough time for men to be allowed to recover
from such vigorous exercise; at the ‘same time
remarking that he did not pretend to settle the
 ,. dispute by assuming that it was correct and ac.
3 cording to the rules. ‘

' ” ' The rising of the men to renew the battle put
1 an end to the dispute. ’

Althou h owing to the wrangle the wait had
been near y seven minutes,,yet the bi cowboy
had not recovered from the effects 0 the last
round but was still decidedly short of breath

’ when he faced his op neut.

The Wild Bull of e Pecos could not be sift
down for a good-looking man at an time. and
now that his features were discolo and bruis-
ed, the result of the awful “facer” he had re-

 

 

 

flnt had ever trodden thestreets of

a ‘f say, why don’t you stand still and fight like

 

reckon that two or three good hits would settle'

“The galoot hits ’bout as hard as a mule kin ,

' GOLDBERG was not well posted in regard to

caved, he was about as ugly~lookin$li¥ny men,
use.

 

4

a man?” the big fellow growled, as he squared
ofl’ at his opponent.

“ Oh, you don’t like my style of fighting?” the
Fresh in uired, with a sarcastic suiile.

“ No, don’t!"

“ Well, that isn’t anything remarkable. I
never fought a man yet who did.”

“ I don’t believe in no hopping ’round like a
New with a sore ear.”

“ You want me to stand quietly, eh?”

“Yes, that is the way to fight—no dancing-
Jack business.”

“ I am quiet now-go for me!”

The cowboy accepted the invitation and aimed
a. terrific blow at the head of the Fresh.

Blake parried the stroke without any trouble,
Eben “ fainted ” with his left at the cowboy’s

ace.

Upl went the arms of the bi fellow to ward
off t e blow, thus leaving his c est unguarded,
which was exactly what the Fresh of ’Frisco
was after, for out shot his powerful right arm,
landing on the breast of the cowboy directly
over his heart, and down to the ground again
tumbled the Wild Bull of the Pecos.

Again the bystanders yelled, but one disgusted
citizen, who had been foolish enough before the
fight to bet five dollars on the cowboy, pinning
his faith on the stranger being so much the

bigger man'of the two, and who, after the first ‘

round, had been vainly endeavoring to save his
money by offering to bet heavy odds on the
Fresh, now could not help roaring the discon-
tent which filled his soul. ,,

“ Oh, take thatbig stuff awa and plant him
somewhar! He is only fit for £5 meat I"

This exclamation was follow by a about of
Ian hter, which gelled the cowboy to the soul. ,

is seconds had run to  assistance and
he] ed him to his feet. '

e was now thoroughly enraged and perfectly
satisfied that in a boxing contest he stood no
chance at all with his opponent.

“ I don’t want no more of this infernal box-
in 'l” he roared at the to of his lungs. “ I am
a ghter, Lam, a man w o ain’t afeard to wade
in,blsood! gal

ay, you ornery cot, do on dare to ull
out yer revolver and fight me ii 6 a man?” p

And as he spoke the cowboy clapped his hand
on his weapon.

“I am your man, sir, in any way you choose
to take me!” the Fresh replied. '

“ Hold on, gentlemen, give us a chance to get
out of the way!” the lan lord cried. “ I want

on to. understand that there is no one here who
is anxmus to etc a bullet!”

“ We will.bac to the edge of the ring so as
to have a fair field and you entlemen can get
into the seats where you w be out of harm’s
way ” the Fresh suggested.

“That’s the ticket!” cried the cowboy. “All
I ask is a fair show for my money i” _

“ Oh, you will get that, stranger!” Goldberg
declared. “ We men of El Paso pride ourselves
upon giving a fair shake to everybody, and it
don’t make a bit of difference whether they be-
lon to the town or not.”

‘_- es, yes, that’s so!” cried half a dozen
vaices.

.“ Back to your laces, gentlemen, and I will

vs the word for t e thing to begin 1” the lands

0rd exclaimed. »

“ All right! that suits me i" the cowboy cried.
“And I want you to understand, you Mister
Fresh of ’Frisco, that I am go for your scalp
this time, red-hot! and you ha better believe
that I am going to get it, too!”

“ If you can, don’t forget that l” responded
Jackson Blake. “ Alivays put that in, and then
you will be sure not to make a bed‘ break.”

_“ You may be a dand boxer, but you will
find that I am the champion revolver shot!” the
cowboy boasted. ’

“You will be able to give me a few points,
then, in the shooting line,” Blake remarked.

“ You won’t need any ints arter this fight
is ended, for you will be sad!” the big cowboy
snarled.

“ Say! don’t bug me alive, you know,” the
Fresh retorted. “ e quite sure that 1 am dead

,before you go to plant me.” .‘n

“ Oh, don’t ou worry ’bout that!" the other
exclaimed. on will be dead enough when I
get throu h with you. dead for kee . tool You

ad the on it in this hyer st fight, but
when it comes to guns, on kin jest bet all the
rocks you, kin scare up t at I am the boss, and
no mistake !” ‘

“ The boss blower, and no mistake about
that!” the Fresh exclaimed. “ There has been
some big braggarts in El Paso before you struck
the town, but you in over all of them—you take
the cake, beyond a. oubtl” _

“ You won't talk so big arter we git through
with this skirmish!” the c0wboy declared.

“And most assuredly you will not!” Jackson,

Blake replied, his voice deepening and a stern
00k appearing on his face.

' “As a rule, when I get Into an aflair of this
sort I do not care to badly hurt my man, be-
cause I am not naturally-bloodthirsty, hutin
your case I reckon I shall have to give you a
. esson that will beapt tolast youfor some time,"
the Fresh continued. v V v

_ “Oh, yes, I reckon yon ’will if you kin!”

  

 

     
  
  
  
  
    
   
  
  
   
   
 
 
   
  
     
   
   
  
    
   
     
    
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
   
  
  
   
  
    
  
  
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
  
   
   
   
  
  
  
    
       
   
   
   
   
  
  
  
   
    
   
  
   
  
   

’bac

 

enacted the cowboy; “ You oughter think of
w’ot you saida spel 50, if you km, you know!”

“ That question w l soon be settled,” Blake
replied. ‘ And I reckon that you will not
adm're the settlement either. But there is one
pain that I want to touch on. You are a.
stranger here, and yet you have picked a nar—
rel with me without any reason whatever, or I
neVer had any trouble with you in any wa —"

“'Wa-al, I’m a bi chief, I am, and w an I
struck El Paso, I co. culated to run the town!”
exclaimed the cowboy, “ but I heered that you
wore the biggest warrior in the burg, and as I
didn't think the town was big enou h to hold
both on us, I made ugegitny mind to nd out to
onc’t which was the man of us two.”

“Oh, yes, I understand all about that!" the
Fresh exclaimed. “ I know the game that is
being played just as well as though I had a
hand in forming the scheme myself. You were
put up toattack me, and the men behind you
are cowardly curs who do not dare to come out
and face me 0 nl , but as I am getting sick of
this sort of thing, will hunt them out of their
holes before long and make them show their
colors.”

This speech made the bystanders cast inquir-
infi glances at each other.

y this time all the people in the inclosure,
with the exception of the duelists bad at out
of the bull-ring, and were bunched toge or on
the seats at one side of the circle.

The Cubans were in the background, rather
keeping behind the others so as to esca obser-
vation, and when this speech of the ssh so
unexpectedly delivered, reached their ears, they
exchanged meaning glances.

“ The fellow has smelt out the trap,” Gomes
whiseered in Esparto’s ear. “
“ es; I am not surprised at it, either, for he

is wonderfully quick-witted.” ‘

“ We must look out for ourselves, for now
that his suspicions are aroused he will be apt to
try to find the principals whose agents are at-
tackin him—that is, if the cowboy does not
She in la 'ng him out.”

“It is a undred ounces to one that he will
get the best - of this big bragfirt as easil , with
the weapons as with his fist,’ part0 rep led in
a tone of conviction. ,-

“Now, gentlemen, are you all ready?” Gold- :
berg asks .

The duelists were at the extreme edge oftha
rin , on opposite sides facin each other, their
bein against the rai ing which was in-
tended to so the bulls from leavin the ring.

“All ready,’ replied the Fresh of ’ isco. ,.

“ Oh, yes, you bet I” cried the cowboy.~

“ How are you going to run this thing?” the
landlord asked. .

“ Why, I am goin to kill this ornery galoot
as dead as a door-na' l” the cowboy exclaimed.

“ The gentleman means, I presume, that it is
to be a duel to the death,” Blake remarked. ,

“That is it! Now you hit me whar I live!”
cried the other. .

“ All right; Ilwill count three and then you
go it!” said the landlord. ‘ ' r '

The duelists nodded.

Their revolvers were out—their eyes intently
fixed upon each other. ' .

“ One, two, three, go!” cried Goldbe .

Hardly had the last word escaped is lips
when up came the revolvers, but the Fresh
being the quicker shot anticipated ,the fire of ‘
the other. ‘

With a howl of pain the cowboy dropped his

wealpon. ;
B aka had put a ball through his right
shoulder. I . ‘ r
l “ I kin shoot with my left hand!” the cowboy,
yelled, and he plucked out another pistol. 3
gain the Fresh’s revolver spoke and another
yell of pain came from the rough fellow. ‘- ~ ‘~
Jackson Blake had shot him through theta/t ,-
Sbi) “123i? ui t bl body I‘
, r ,onyou w' not ron can w
for some time!” the Fresh remarked. y _ w .

CHAPTER XXXV.

. AN msuocussrun QUEST. I ‘
Tm: fight was over, and as nearly all the
spectators had anticipated, the Fresh of Moo I
had proven an easy winner. v .
One of the doctors of the town happened to be!’
among the spectatorsand be burned to the
assistance of the cowboy. ‘
The Wild Bull of the Pecos was completely,~
disgusted; the fight was taken out of him,.and‘
all edfiired was togetoutof El Pasoas com ‘

as e. ' ' .
nd, as it ha paced, there was a teauzstor- ’

present who was bound down the river and, he
volunteered to give, the c0wboy Museum and’ 1 r
so the Wild Bull of the Pecos took do»! ‘
parture. , v . v _ ' . “ ‘
He had come for wool and returned sham. I

After the duel, Dave Ringwood and Old Cali
3min Joe hastened tooongratnlate Blake on
“ is second trap did not succeed in catchin 
you any better than the first,” Dave Bingw :,

remarked. - ,
not as dangerous attire

x

  

  

      
        
  

  
 
  
  

  

 
 
   

 

      
       

    
 

      

 

“ 'I'his fellow was
other ” the Fresh replied. - . ,
“ cu didn't g‘i’n the galoot much chum in,

   
    
 

       

    

   

26

‘ 623$.-

The rfesh m-

 

 

this hyer fight to show whether he could do any-
‘thing with a pistol or not,” the old mountain-
 r man observed With a chuckle.

“ I did not intend to take any chances,” Blake
replied. “ Of course I had no knowledge of
whether he was a dead-shot or not, but from the

. ‘ ' way he carried himself I got the idea that he
might be a pretty fair marksman. -'I‘he cowboys
*. pri e themselves upon their shooting abilities,

and the most of them are good shots, but my ex- .

perieuce with all these big men is that they are
slow on the trigger-apt to putter over their
aim-

“ That is so, sure as ye’r’ born l” cried Old Cali—
fornia Joe, “ I have noticed it a hundred
times!"

“ Yes it is true,” Dave Ringwood assented.

“ So madePup my mind not to give him any

,, chance to show whether he could shoot or not,
but to lug him before he could fire. "

By t 's time the Fresh had attired himself for
the street a ain, and the conversation was inter-
rupted by t e spectators who came to congratu-
late the sh upon his victory.

Blake was on the watch for the Cubans and

 

   
   
  
 
   
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
    
  
  
  
   
 
   
  
 
  
  
 
  
    
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
   
  
 
   
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
 
   
    
     
 
  
    

visible.

In company with the others the Fresh return—

; ed to the Hotel Mexico, but under pretense of
having some business to which he must give his
attention, Blake and his pards got away from
the enthusiastic crowd.

,“Where now?” asked Dave Ringwood, when
the three were on the plaza.

“ To the old Jew’s," was Blake’s reply. “The
old rascal was a part to this scheme and I in-
tend to bring him to ok for it.”

“'Yes, and it will Serve him right too,.the
measley galoot!” Old California Joe declared.

, “ Old Solomons is as tough a cuss as ever walk-

ed in shoe‘leather. I have met with many a

Jew in my time, and when they get inter the

frontiers of civilization and go inter the pawn-

broker business they are wolves, all of them,
but this aged cuss is the boss wolf of the

' . crowd I” /

“Well, I am going to find out who was at the

> back of this business today i” the Fresh de-
clared. “ For. in my mind thereisn’t any doubt
that Solomons was hired to get me to come to

El Paso so this cowboy would have a chance to

attack me. I sue ct the Cubans are at the

bottom of it, and ' so I intend to call them to a.

speed reckoning.” ,

“Spose the old‘ Jew will not give the snap
away ‘3” Dave Ringwood asked. _

“ Oh,.I shall adopt such a persuasive way
that I do not think he will be able to refuse,”
Blake replied with a smile. '

The old mountain-man grinned.

“ I reckon that if I had the working of the
trick I would make the old galoot spit out w’ot
he rknows ’bout the affair, or I would ut him
through acourse of sprouts w’ot woul beapt
‘to take the curl'out of his hoir!” Old California.
Joedeclared.

“ Well, it is about time that you found out
v something about it,” Dave Ringwood remarked.
,,“It is not pleasant foraman to reflect that

he has some secret foe who is ready to strike

him at any convenient opportunity.”

“ I will wring the truth out of the old Jew as
sure as my name is J ackmn Blake 1” the Fresh
declared. “I think that the Cubans are at the
bottom of the mischief, as I said before, and if.
the Jew implicates them as I believe he will,
'this town of El Paso will not be big enough to
. hold the pair and a man about my size.”

« By this time the three had arrived at the dom-

icile of Hada’d Solomons.

, The house was tightly closed as usual, but in

answer to Blake’s loud ran the panel in the door,
opened, but instead of the Jew, the taco of his‘
assistant in peered.

‘f Open ocksl I want to see Mr. Solomons!”
Blake declared. ' -
“ He is not here,” the youth answered.

“ Not in the house?"

9 No, sir.” ,.

v- “ When will e be in?” '

v“ I' do not it ow; he has been called outof

’town on business." I

’- a “ Oh, well, you will do.

_ I suppose you can fix
I  business all right.”

,. ‘,I do no business until Mister Solomons re-
turns. Good-by!” and then the youth shut the

t. ' . .

“ nchered, y thunder!” cried the old moun—
tain-man. ' I ' '
1'“ I 58.3.3011 didn’t get much satisfaction out
of him! ave Ringwood exclaimed.
4,.“0h.but I am not goin to be put off in
i “thisway!” the sport rejoin . And then with
? theknocker he awoke the echoes of the street.

' No answer was made to the summons though.

  

didkl no more talk with you,” Old California Joe

remarked. , . l

' ’ “Oh, I tell yer it is'just as I said—this hyer
Jewisap’isongaloot!” ' . 0“
“.Whether he is in or not, he is determined
not to see you,” Dave Ringwood observed.‘
MConscious guilt. pards, that is what‘ it isl”
Blake declared. “‘If he hadn’t something on his
mind he would‘not hesitate to see me, but I am
going toget in if I canl” ,

      

  

    
 
 

       

f

the»Jew, but neither one of the three was

“ He kuOWS who it is, and he don"t calculate to v '

   

And ' again the Fresh banged away at the
knocker, and this time he raised such a racket
that be alarmed all the neighborhood.

Men, women and children appeared at various
doors and windows, peering cautiously out into
the street, and man of them were armed with
various things in t e shape of weapons, in the
alarm of fear caught up, more or less offensive,
ranging from fire-arms down to brooms, pokers,
and big sticks.

“ Kinder looks from this display as ifthe in-
habitants of this hyer street ima ined the wild
Injuus had made a raid on El aso,” the old
mountain—man remarked.

“ Yes, and I huge that these good people will
not take into their ends to sally out and attack
us,” Dave Ringwood observed. “ I will be
him ed if I want to fight a Mexican mob l”

“ ell, it would be rather ugly,” Blake re-
joined.

But the ferocious attack on the knocker pro-
duced the desired result.

Again the panel opened, and the face of the
boy appeared, this time pale with fright.

“ My good sir, do you want to tear the house
down?" the youth exclaimed.

“ Oh, no! no idea of doing anythingof that
i kind,” the Fresh answered. “ But 1 do not like
I to be treated in a. shabby manner. Here we are
‘ come to do business with you. and you will not
i let us in.” .

“ Did I not tell you that Mister Solomons was
; not at home?” the youth exclaimed. “ It would
i not be of any use to let you in; I could not do
] any business with you.”

“_ Have you not made some mistake about the

matter?” Blake asked, in his softest and most in-

! sinuating way.
I “ No, no; no mistake !” *

“Oh, but it may be possible, you know, that
your master is in the house somewhere and you
not 'know it.” the Fresh persisted.

“ My good Sir, I assure you he is not in,” the
youth answered.

“ But it would not do any harm if you were to
go and take another look,” Blake said, persua—
sively. “ And just tell him, on know, that his
very good friend, Jackson lake, the Fresh of
’Frisco, is here, and is anxious to transact a lit-
tle business with him. And if he is in the house
I feel sure he will see me; he might as well, you
know, first as last, for he will have to see me
some time, for if I make up my mind to that,
there is no corner of this earth, far enough off.
or so obscure. in which he can hide, that I will
not find him,” and the 'tone of the Fresh deep-
ened.» while his eyes flashed in such a way that
the Jewish youth fairly shook in his shoes.

“ You just hunt him up, and tell him this.
and I am sure he will see me—just now,”
continued Jackson Blake, with an abrup change
in his tone to the soft, wheedling manner again.

“ 0h,‘ my good .,sir, I am telling you the
truth I” the youth retested. “ Mister Solomons
is not here; he 18 t the house about a uarter of
an hour a o, and he will'not be back or two or
three wee s.” i

“ Ah, indeed?" the Fresh exclaimed.

“Yes, yes. it is the truth. He has gone on a
journey.” i \

“ Not on foot?" ,

“ Oh, no, sir, on horseback. He has business
at -——- and some other towns in that direction
and he expected when he left to be aWay for
some time.” '

“ Has be taken the direct road to -—?” Blake
asked, carelessly. ‘ . .

“Indeed, sir, I ‘do not know. He has busi-
ness up therriver and down the river, and whe-
ther he intends to go up or down the Rio Grande
before he goes to -— or after he comes back is
more than I can tell.” ' '

 

l

the three directions?” the Fresh remarked, mus-

inglv.= ,

“ Yes, sir, but for the life of me I couldn’t
tell you which one of the three is the most likely
one. .

Blake appeared to be buried in meditation for
a moment just as though he was debating the
{hatter over in his mind, then observed,’abrupt—
y," The odds are big that he has gone straight
to —‘—- for he would be apt to attend to his
businessin the river towns on his return, and as
he has only a few minntes’ start, if we set out at
once we may overtake him. Muchcbligedfor
the information; so-long!” : ‘/

And then the Americans took their departure,
greatly to the relief of the inhabitants of the
street, the most of whom had‘ recognised the
Fresh of ’Frisco, whom in their ‘heart' of hearts
they believed to be alunatic.. ‘ v

. CHAPTER XXXVI.

" memo m .mw so an ACCOUNT. ,
NOT a word was said by any of the three until
they turned into the plaza; than Old California

 

Joe put the question:
“ Wharlare we bound?" ' I

“To the corral,” Blake answered. _

“ Arter our bosses!" ' '
Mummy. . ‘ i ‘. .i

\ “And do ye .reck'on tomaker‘an attempt to
overtakethispgzen'galoot of a Jew?" the old
 asked, evidently  " - '
,1 . , .. . .

 

     

    

“ So, he islikely to have gone in any onevof'

V Blake observed. ‘

,horses, inquire anxiously if any one has seen

‘J'OUFD

 

“ Of course! As he only has fifteen minutes"
start, we can do it easily enough, if we only
have the luck to strike the right road."

“ But I say, Blake, you don’t take any stock
in this boy’s yarn, do you?” Dave Ringwood
inquired.

“ Don’t on?”

“ No, I on’t believe a Word of it i”

“ Neither do I l" Old California Joe declared.

“ Well, well, if you are not two of the big-
gest doubting Thomases that I ever ran across!"
Ehegresh exclaimed, with a grave shake of the

ea . « ‘

“ You don’t really think that that guileless
youth would lie?”

“ Lie i” cried the old plainsman. “ Consarn his
ictur’! I don’t believe he could tell the truth if
e wanted to ever so bad 1”

“ Oh, no, he wouldn’t do such a thing—the r
old Jew wouldn’t attempt to throw me off the
track in such a way !” Blake declared. “ No,
pards; we will go to the corral and get our

the aged Hebrew take the road leading to ,
Chihuahua, and then we will set out to over- '
take him—” i

“ Oh, yes; I see your game now!” Dave Ring—
wood exalaimed. “You will apparently start
in pursuit, so as to deceive .he old Jew and ,5
make him think you believe this yarn about his "
haviEg left El Paso on a journey.”

“ inder throw the old galoot off his guard,”
California Joe suggested. V

“ Yes; and then to-night I will be back in
El Peso. and if I don‘t find a way to get into
the Jew’s castle, thenI am not so smart as I
think I am.” _ 

“ Wa-al, now, it will jest do me good to‘see ;
you play roots on that ’ar— Jew!” the plainsman ‘ :;
declared. a, .

“I will try the rifi‘le to—night; I may not be fir
able to make it, but I recli on I will, unless the
gld. man is a mighty sight smarter than I think

e is.

“ He is in the house, I feel sure of that!” the
Fresh continued. "He is not the kind of man 'l
to start off on a journey at a moment’s warn- ' \
ing. And then, if he was going to Chihuahua,
he would be sure to take the stage; a man of his
years and character would never make the
ey on horseback. I feel quite sure that the
old fellow would never be able to ride so far. ”‘

“Sure as ye’r’ born l” Old California Joe de- '
clared. ‘ y

“ No it is a trick to throw me of! the track 1”
Blake declared. “ He fears that an interview
with me will not be pleasant. and so has made
up his mind not to see me. Of course he is too .
shrewd not to kfiow that in time I will surely see
him, but he reckons that if he can push- the in-
terview ofi I may not be so hot after him; and
then there is the chance, too,.that these parties
who are going ,for me may succeed in laying me
out before I can get a chance at him.” ‘ l

“ Like as not the-old fellow has calculated just
that way,” Dave Ringwood remarked.

“ Oh, didn’t I allers tell yer, pards,'that he
was a p’ison galoot?” Old California Joe- ex-
claimed. “ I kin jest tell you what it is, hoyees,
you kin s’arch all this country through, cl’ar ‘,
from the Gulf 'of Mexico up to the big pine Q
woods of the North, and nowhai’ will on find
a bi ger rascal than this same measley ew.

‘* har~ ar’ good Jews and bad Jews. and
when you come to bad Jews, this here old Hadad
Solomons is the king~pin, and no mistake.”

By this time the three were at the entrance of
the lane which led to the corral, and as there ,
were loungers around, the conversation ended. 4

The pards got their horses, spoke about tryin
to overtake old Solomons, whom they believ
tabs on the road to Chihuahua, and then de-

 

 

 . w

parted. .

“ Ten to one that the old Jew has put spies on
us, so keep your eyes about you, pards, and see
if you can‘ spot the men,” the/Fresh observed to
his companions as they rode out of the corral.

The pards rode at a slow cahtsr through the ‘ '
town, and then struck into the road which led . ~
to the old Mexican city. I

As they passed the last group of houses,
Blake’s attention was attracted by a peon—as
the tonic Indians who act as servants to the
Mexicans are called. . ' ’ i

The man was sitting by the side of the last . l i
one of the houses, with is ragged scrape drawn ;.
over his shoulders, pulling away at one of the - .i i
home-made cigars so common to his race. . ’

A ragged '

. u Emmanzg-cgu :
.\\ .,

4

peon, smoking a cigar by the road—
side, is such a common sight in Mexico. that the-
circumstance would not have excited the .
Americaa’s,attention, had not Blake noticeda
peculiar gleam in the fellow’s eyes as the three . '
rode  ‘ ‘ ,

, “ T era’s a sBy for a thousand ouncesl’bBlake
exclaimed to is com nions, when they were , ,
well out of ear-shot of man. a . ‘ , -, .

“Yes, I noticed that'he regarded; us intently .' - 

aswe. rode past, Ringwood remarked.” ' ' ‘ ‘* , H

”‘ One of those darnedtame Injunsl” Old Cali~ . ‘ '
fornia Joe exclaimed. “The meanest critter 

’bout that kin be scared n ,. with the exce 
"of a Digger Injun; theygar as cunning as axes
and as sneakyas snakes!” "  ‘ ' >

“ California, you

@1173. 

 

 

   
   
     
     
  
 
  

P ,

an 3‘3“

 

.‘-

I‘,_,__I.cm,.x-

~ - s

The Fresh in Texas.

27.

 

 

just take a look back and see what the fellow is

up to. Manage, if you can, so the peon will not

Re able to detect that you are taking a. look at
no.

“ All right, I kin do the trick slick as kin be,
by jest bending for’d, as if 1 were a—flxing my
saddle, and so git a squint at him under my
arm,” the old scout replied.

Soon he performed the maneuver, and then,
when he assumed an upright position again, an-
nounced:

“ The galoot is a spy, sure enuff!
his feet now, watching us.”

“ Well, that is all right,” the Fresh responded.
“ He will carry the intelligence to the old Jew
that we are on the road to Chihuahua, which is
exactly what I want him to do.”

“ How far do you calculate to ride?”

“ Only to the first cross—road, then we will
turn off,” Blake replied. “ There is a ranch
about half a mile down the road Where we can
get something to eat, and remain quiet until
nightfall; then we w1!l return to ElPaso, and on
the outskirts of the town—which, by the way,
we will approach from the open country for fear
that the old Jew may have spies on the different
roads. Well, as I was saying, on the edge of
the town we will dismount and leave our horses
in charge of California, while you and I, Dave,
go to interview the Jew. I have thought of a
scheme which I think will gain us admission to
the house.”

This plan was carried out without any trouble,
and at eight o’clock in the evening, Jackson
Blake and Dave Ringwood were again in the
streets of El Paso.

They avoided the main thoroughfares, partic-
ularly the Plaza, and kept in the by-streets.

“ I want to run across a smart, lower-class
Mexican,” Blake explained. “One of the kind
that hang around the Mexican gambling-
houses.”

The wish of the Fresh was soon granted. and
luckily the man was one with whom the Fresh
was slightly acquainted.

The fellow was called Sancho Peralt and bore
the reputation of being one of the most unlucky
gamesters in the town. Mexican Mike’s shebnng
was his headquarters.

The man was slouching along with his head
droo d upon his breast, and the moment Blake
caug t sight of him he exclaimed to his com-
panion:

“ Here is the very man I want, and from his
appearance I would be willing to bet a fortune
that he has just been cleaned out in some of the
Mexican dives. If so, I can undoubtedly drive
a. bargain with him.”

The man came up and Blake accosted him.

The culations of the Fresh were true; the
fellow ad just lost his last coin in Mexican
Mike’s place, and so he readily agreed to per-
form the service which Blake required for ten
silver ounces.

Then, too, the man had a grudge against the
old pawnbroker, for on several occasions the
Jew had driven a hard bargain with him.

The plan being all arranged, the three set out,
the Mexican going on ahead and the Americans
following about a hundred feet behind.

When, they came to the J ew’s abode, the Mex—
ican went to the door and the Americans stole
along the shadow of the wall and concealed
themselves behind the corner of the house about
a ard from the door.

he Mexican knocked gently, like a. man who
was not desirous of attracting attention, and
soon the panel opened, the face of the Jewish
youth appearing. .

“ Who is it?” he inquired.

“Sancho Peralt and I have a valuable dia-
mond ring which I want to raise a loan upon;
see, it is a sparkler,” and the Mexican flashed
the light of the ring in the boy’s eyes.

“ You have been lucky. eh?” exclaimed the
youth, with a shrewd chuckle.

“ Oh, yes, but I would rather have money than
the ring, and I am willing to give a good bar-
gain on i t," the Mexican remarked. “ I can
feel that I am in luck to—night, and. if I have a
little money to back me, I am sure I can break
the bank at Mexican Mike’s.”

“ Well, I don’t know whether you can get any
money or not, but I will see,” and then the youth
closed the anel. .

“The 01 fellow is cautious, but I think the
bait is so attractive that he will not be able to
resist the temptation to bite,” Blake whispered
to his companions.

Dave Ringwood nodded, for he thought so,

He is on

0.

Soon the panel reopened, and this time it was
the face of the old Jew that appeared.

“ Is dot you, mine goot Mister Peralt?”

“ Yes,” replied the Mexican.

“ Are you all alone, mine goot fr’en‘?” and old
Hadad Solomons peered anxiously up and down
the street as he put the question. .

“ Oh, yes; I have a little bit of busmefis to
transact which I do not want to make public.”

“ Mine boy said it vas about a. diamond,”

“ Yes, see i” and the Mexican displayed the
ring.

“ Ah, yesh, I will let you in, for I am always
glad to oblige a fr’en’.”
. The Jew closed the panel—there was the sound

i

 

of moving bolts and bars, and then the door
opened.
The trick had succeeded.

CHAPTER XXXVII.
OLD SOLOMONS WEAKENS.

Tum amazement of the Jew can better be
imagined than described when he opened the
door and the Fresh of ’Frisco, closely followed
by Dave Ringwood, appeared on the threshold.

The Mexican had disappeared.

The Jew gave a cry of alarm and made a
movement to shut the door, but the Fresh was
over the threshold, and it was not possible to
accomplish the feat without ejecting him, and
the pawnbi‘oker knew he was not equal to the
task.

“ Come! take it easy! no nonsense now! You
have no cause to be alarmed!” the Fresh ex-
claimed.

“ I do not want to see you !” cried the old Jew.

“ No, but I want to see you, and I intend to
do it too!” the Fresh re'oined.

“ I will not see you —- Will call for der police.”

“ Solomons, if you utter a yelp I will lay you
out fit for planting!” Blake threatened.

The Jew co wered under the threat.

“ Oh, mine gootness! do not be violent—dot
vill be bad!" the old man protested.

“ Usher us into your sanctum then, so we can
haVe a nice quiet talk together.”

“ But I hafe nothing to say to you 1”

“ Yes, but I have got a heap to say to you!”
the Fresh retortcd. “ Come! trot along, and
don’t make me ugly, because if you do, it will
be the worse for you i”

“ All right, my tear fr’en’, I vill do anything
for the sake of peace.”

And then, with a heavy sigh, the Jew closed
the door, adjusted the fastenings, and then led
the way into the large room where he usually
received his visitors.

A candle burning on the counter, behind
which the Jew enerally took his stand, shed a
dim light over t 0 room.

There were some chairs scattered about the
apartment; Blake helped himself to one. Dave
Ringwood sat in another, but the Jew stood in
the center of the room, softly rubbing his hands
together, evidently in a state of great agitation.

“ Now, right at the beginning I want to set
your mind at rest.” the Fresh of ’Frisco remark-
ed. “ You are all right—not in the least bit of
danger so long as you are agreeable, and don’t
try to play any ugly trick upon me.”

“ Ah, my tear fr‘en’, I would not do dot for
the world !" the pawnbroker protested.

“ Well, it would not be wise for you to do so,
for, most undoubtedly, you would get hurt,”
Blake observed, significantly. “ Now, sit down
and make yourself comfortable.”

The Jew sunk into a chair, but he was evi—
dently anything butsomfortable.

“ To begin, let me tell you, as a friend, that
you acted unwisnly in going into this game
against me,” the Fresh remarked.

“ Oh. my tear sir. let me assure you—”

“ Assure nothing!” exclaimed Blake, abruptly
cutting the Jew short.

“ Don’t try to humbug me about this matter,
for the thing can’t be done,” he continued
sternly. “ I know how the trick was worked
just as well as though I had planned it myself 1

“You were employed by some one to lure me
to El Paso so that this big cowboy would be
able to at a chance toattack me.”

“ Oh, ister Blake—"‘

“ Shut up now! keep quiet! It will not do
you any good to deny it for I know that it is so.
Whether there is a man with cattle to sell, or
not, it doesn’t matter—’7

“ Oh, I assure you, upon my word of honor-
as I am a living mans, it ish no lie !” the Jew
protested.

" Well, as I said, it matters not. You knew
very well when on sent for me that I would
not buy the catt e—you know I wouldn’t touch
any stolen cows if I could buy them for a dollar
a head, for I do not do business in that way. I
do not care to be mixed up in any crooked
work. .

“ Now then I want to know who put up the
job? I think I know the parties. I fancy it is
the same ones that set the Frenchman after me,
but I want to be sure.”

“ 0h, Mister Blake, if you will only believe
me when I say—”

“ Yes, but I don’t and I don’t want to hear
you say anything except to disclose the names of
the men who put up this job on me!” the Fresh
replied, shortly.

“ Just think the matter Over, now,” Blake
continued. “ Can’t you do better by making a
clean breast of it, than by keeping the matter
a secret? I don’t want to bring you into the
affair at all, you know. If you will tell me
what I want to know, I will keep the matter
quiet; I will not betray to any one that you
have revealed the secret to me. but if you are
obstinate, then it will be war to the knife be-
tween us, and if I don’t find a way to get square
with you before you are a month older, then
my name is not- Jackson Blake!”

Again the Jew trembled, for the threat set
all his nerves ajar.

Of the many men that he hadever met during

 

 

his long experience on the border he esteemed
the Fresh of ‘Frisco to he the most dangerous of
them all.

And so it did not take him long to come to a
conclusion, but, with the craft of his race, he
endeavored to make an honest penny out of the
matter.

“My tear fr’en", if I tells you vat you vants
to know, vat vill you gifes me?” he inquired, in
his soft, insinuating way.

Blake burst intoa laugh, while Dave Ring-
wood indulged in a low whistle, by which he
intended to show his profound amazement at
the impudence of the Jew.

“ Oh, no, ancient of the tribe of Abraham!
you cannot play any racket of that kind on me!”
the Fresh declared.

“ If there is going to be any money in this-
transaction it will be from you to me. to keep
me from seeking the vengeance which a man
such as I am naturally desires when he discovers
a satellite of his foes!"

By the words and tone the apprehensions of
the Jew were again excited, and he made haste
to a ologize.

“ esh, yesh, you are right: I ought not to
ask monish!” he exclaimed. “ Dot ish all right:
I tells you for nothing. I has hired to get you
to come to El Paso.”

“ And who arranged the trick?”

“ You know these two strangers—the Cubans?”

“Yes.”

“ It was these two.”

That is exactly what I thought!” the Fmsh
exclaimed. “ They set the Frenchman on me,
and now, Hadad, my boy, can you tell me why
th’ery are after me?”

he old J ew’s face assumed a blank expression
and he shook his head, slowly.

“ I cannot,” he replied, “ nor did 1 know why
they wanted you to come to E1 Puso. They
only paid me to get you here. I thought it was
for some fake until dot big cowboy went for
you.

“ I see.” Blake did not place much credit in
this statement, but as it mattered little to him
whether it was true or false, he allowed it to
pass unchallenged.

“ Who are these Cubans and what are they
doing here?” Blake asked.

The old Jew shook his head.

“ Have you any idea why they have a grudge
against me i"

“Mine gootness, no !” Solomons exclaimed.
“ How should I know?”

“ Let me see," observed the Fresh, reflective-
ly. “ There is a reason for all things. of course,
and these men are not attacking me without
good cause. Was it not in Cuba that Manuel
and Isabel Escobedo sought refuge when I made
this country too hot to hold them?”

Despite the wonderful self-control that the
old Jew had . over his features he could not pre-
vent a peculiar expression from appearing in his-

yes.

“ Yesh, oh yesh,” he said, after a moment’s

Eause, as though he had been obliged to ransack

is memory in regard to the question. “ I be-
lieve it was to der island of Cuba dot they went
-—but they are dead, on know.”

“ So I heard, an I suppose it was these
Cubans who brought the report,” the Fresh re-
marked, carelessly.

The Jew fell into the trap.

“ Yesh, yesh, I believe it was.”

“ Aha! I see the game then !” Blake exclaim-
ed with such a sudden change in his manner
that old Solomons was startled.

“ Game—mine gootness, mine frien’, what
game do you see?"

“ Why, that report is a lie—a lie gotten up on
purpose to deceive me and throw me off my
guard!” the Fresh replied. “ The Escohedos are
not dead—or one of them at any rate is living;
these Cubans are Esmbedo agents, and that ac-
counts for the attempts to damage me."

“ Maybe so,” the old Jew exclaimed with an
extremely Wise shake of the head. It ish a. very
strange affair, so helps me gracious!”

“ Well, I am through with you now,” and.
the Fresh rose to his feet, Dave Ringwood folv
lowing his example.

The Jew also rose.

“ I hope, Mister Blake, dot you will remember
your promise and not mix me up mid der af-
fairs.” he said, cringingly.

“ Oh, that is all right,” the Fresh replied. “ I
am a man of in word and never betray a con-
fidence. But, adad, my venerable tulip, let
me give you a bit of advice. Don’t try this sort
of thing on again—don’t go into any scheme
against me, for, as a rule, I am not of a forgiv-
ing nature, and when I discover that a man is
giving aid and comfort to my enemies I usually
try to make it warm for him.”

“ Ah, my tear fr’en’, there ish an old saying.
once caught, twice shy!” the Jew replied. ‘
have a fool make of mineself this time, but
will not try it on again, so help me, Moses!”

* “ If you act that way it will show that your
head is level!”the Fresh exclaimed, and then,
with Ringwood, departed.

When they were in the street, progressing to-
ward the plaza, Dave Ringwood put the ques-

on: -
“ What is the next move?”

SJ; 4 W: 1 "

  
    
 
    
    
  
   
   
  
   
  
   
   
    
  
  
  
  
    
  
   
    
 
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
   
  
  
  
   
   
   
 
 
   
  
  
  
   
 
   
   
    
   
  
   
   
    
  
  
   
     
 
  
  
   
   
   

   

 

   

’heiress, and if he had

' h of one day w
' Like many another dull-witted man he had .

i and as she always trea

 

r’

" To call these Cubans to an account l" the

Fresh replied. “ I am going to hunt them up
and ut the screws on them in a way they wi 1
not ike.” \

“ Suppose they will not fight?”

“They will have to, or else come down and
make a full confession. I mean business, and
they will find that I do the moment I get hold
of them.”

But the Fresh of ’Frisco was not destined to
“ et hold ” of either of the Cubans.

he had settled their bill at the hotel, de-
partel , and the closest search failed to discover
a clew to their whereabouts.
The Fresh of ’Frisco was completely baffled.

 

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
A BOLD DEFIANCE.

FOB fully a week Jackson Blake and his pards
kept up the search for the Cubans, for the Fresh
could not get rid of the idea that they were in
the neighborhood somewhere.

N o trace of them was discovered, though, and
the search was at last given up.

The Fresh was annoyed by his want of success.

“ I do not admire this at all,” he remarked, in
confidence to Dave Ringwood, in whose judg-
ment he had great faith. “ From the fact that
we are not able to get on their trail I am in—
clined to think they are hiding right in El Paso,
and if that is so, just as soon as they think I an;
off my guard, they will be hatching some new
scheme. .

“ Yes, that seems probable, and the only way
for you to beat the game is to be on the watch
until you are satisfied that the Cubans are not
in this part of the country,” Dave Ringwood re-

ed.

“ Oh, you can rest assured that I will not be
caught nappin ,” the Fresh declared.

And from t at time forth, Blake and all his
men were as watchful as though they were in-
truders in an enemy’s country.

A month went by without any discovery be-
ing made to show that the Cubans had not given
up their designs against the Fresh, and about all
the rds had made up their minds that they
had eard the last of the pair.

The only two who had not come to this con-
clusion were the Fresh of ’Frisco and Old Cali—
fornia Joe.

“ Oh, no, not a bit of it,” the wily old plains-
man declared. “Them galoots haven’t given
the thing up! It is the natur’ of cusses of their
kind to hang on until the last man is strung up.

“ They are jest a-laying low—jest waiting for
a good chance to give you a lick that will be apt
to hurt. you betl"

The Fresh was also of the opinion that the Cu-

' bans would yet be heard from, and so did not

relax his precautions.
The fact of his engagement to the heiress of

'Escobedo was made public, and for a time

created considerable talk all along the Rio
Grande, and great was the envy the news excit-
ed in the breasts of the men who had hoped to
win, not only the handsomest, but the richest
girl for a hundred square miles around.

The young lawyer, Richard Bullifant, was
furious, for he had set his heart on winning the
been a man of war, un-
doubtedly he would have challenged the success-
ful suitor to mortal combat. ‘

In his rage he had an idea of doing something
of this kind, and he began to practice with a re-
volver, but, in a short time, he saw that nature
never intended him for a crack-shot and that
to encounter such a man as the Fresh of ’Frisco
upon the battle-field would bethe hight of folly,
for he would surel be killed.

The superinte nt of the Escobedo Ranch,
Houma, who, as the reader will remember, was
handled so roughly once by Jackson Blake, when

' the man rashly forced a quarrel upon him,-was
. fully as angry as any man along the Rio

Grande. .
In; secret, the anglerinfendent had cherished
ning‘ the heiress of Esco-

oliteness for interest
him well, he fancied
he had made an impression upon her. V

' Therefore, when the news of the engagement
was made public, Houma’s rage new no

nds.
He hated the Fresh, anyway, for the lesson

,mistaken the girl’s kind

"which Jackson Blake had given him was a

severe one. \
Many a mighty oath had Houma sworn that
[he would never rest satisfied until he had secured
ample revenge.
‘ nd now, to add insult to injury, the Fresh of
’Frisco had won the peerless Margaret and was

A soon to become his master.

Houma registered a mighty oath that the
wedding should never take place and imme-

diately began to practice with rifle and re-,

volver. a .
The superintendent was a good shot with both
weapons, and after steady practice for a

' coupleof weeks he felt safe inchallengm‘ g t e
Fresh. 1’

'. The hung lawyer bore the
Bulhyfan

  
 

' i 1. V a ,
The_'Fres'h‘ in Texas. ‘

bitterly incensed against Jackson Blake, did all
in his power to urge the superintendent to defy
the sharp to mortal combat.

f course, the young law or had no idea that
Houma aspired to the ban of the heiress, but
thought the superintendent hated Blake because
the Fresh had thrashed him.

Bullifant waited upon the sport and made
known his errand in t ecourteous manner usual
in such cases. .

“ Mr. Houma desires satisfaction, eh?” the
Fresh remarked, with a quizzical glance at
Dave Ringwood who chanced to be present.

“ Yes, sir, the satisfaction due from one gen-
tleman to another.”

“ And is it on account of that little misunder-
standing that we had?"

“Yes, sir: of course, you are aware that you
handled my friend, pretty roughly.”

“ Well, come to t ‘nk of it, I reckon that he
was not treated as if he was made of glass,” the
Fresh remarked. '

“ Egadl when you flung him to the ground I
was afraid you had broken every hone in his
body!" the lawyer exclaimed.

“ Oh, no, a little tumble like that does not
{imrlmnt to anything,” Blake observed, care-
ess v.

“ But I say, your man has waited quite a
time; how is it that he did not attend to this
matter sooner?”

swered, a trifle confused, for he was knowing to
the fact that the superintendent had been busily
engaged in rifle and pistol practice.”

“ I have been expectin something of this
kind from Houma,” the resh remarked, in a
reflective sort-of—way.

“ 0h, have you?” Bullifant asked, not know-
ing exactly what to say. '

“ Yes, 1 have been expecting a challenge ever
since I heard that the superintendent was wast-
ing a deal of powder‘ and lead in endeavoring to
make himself a dead-shot.“ '

false young lawyer coughed, decidedly con-

u .

“ Well, really, I was not aware——” ’

“ Oh, that is all right! I don’t lav it up
against him'!” Blake exclaimed. “ There is
nothin like being on the safe side, if a man
can 0 y manage to get there.”

“ You have the choice of wea us, of course,
as the challenged party,” Bullifant remarked,
eager to change the subJect.,

“ I am aware of that.”

“ What do you prefer?”

“ Bowie-knives!” the sport replied, in his cool

wa . .
fine lawyer was aghast at the answer.

“ Bowie-knives?" he cried.

“ That is what I said.”

“But such a weapon is usual 1”

“Exactly, and that is the reason I choose it.”

“Such a duel "would result in the death of
both rtiesl” Bullifan‘t exclaimed.

“ ot a bit of it! I am so expert with a knife
that I will engage to carve your friend into
mincemeat before he can get a chande to carve
me," the Fresh replied.

The lawyer was in v a quandary; he did not
know what to say, for he felt sure that Houma
would stand no chance toxwin in such a fight.

“.You do not seem to be eager to go in on this
riflle,” Blake observed.

“ The weapon is such an unusual one,” Bulli-
fant explained. “ I am sure Mr. Houma knows
nothingwhatever about it.” / .

“ That is the reason I selected it,” the Fresh
rejoined. “ As he has been practicing with
both rifles and revolvers, I presume he has got
to be a dead—shot by this ti , or else he would
not challenge me: but, as am a dead-shot
with a bowie-knife, I will have the deadwood
on him.” .

“ I ess we will have to call the thi off,
then,’ the young lawyer remarked. ‘ For
there isn’t an‘ sense in mv lettin my man go
1:11:03 fight w on he doesd’t eta any show to

n.

“ Then you object to.bowle~knivesl’”

“ Oh, yes; it would be madness for me to agree
to such wea us.” ,

“Well, I I tell on what it is; I hate to balk
any man when he s anxious for me to give him
satisfaction. so I will say repeating-rifles at five
hundred yards, each man at liberty to advance
after the word is given, and fire as many shots
as he likes.” ’

The distance did not suit Bullifant at all, for
three hundred yards was the greatest distance
that Houma had tried; but as the Fresh was
firm, he was obliged to accept, and nsoled
himself with the thought that aftert e word
was given. his principal, by advancing, could
~s ' y reduce the distance. -

The hour for the duel was fixed at six on the
following morning and the location a t mid-
way between the Fresh’s ranch and the bedo
place by the Rio Grande.

hen, after the arrangements, were completed,
the lawyer took his departure. ‘

When he made,
tions. the superintendent did not like the dis~
tunes, but set out immediately to practice, so as
t used to it: '

 

 

memage. to
t, whenhefonnd that Houmawuso‘ ‘

Five hundred yards is'h'pretty long shot,”
 .’ '\V ..

, f,

“I—really—I do not know,” Bullifant an- '

known to Emma the condi--

   

, .

4 Dave Ringwood remarked, after Bullifant had
1 departed.

“Yes, but I am used to it and the chances are

I that my opponent is not,” the Fresh replied.

“ You see in view of the fact that I am soon to

become a married man, I am beginning to take

want as sure a thing as I can get,”

 

CHAPTER XXXIX.‘
a SURPRISE.

ON the following morning the Fresh and his
men were up bright and early.

All of the army were aware that there was
going to be a fight, for Blake had not thought it
necessary to keep them in the dark in regard to
the aflfair, although the had been cautioned not
to allow‘ the servants o the ranch to know any-
thing about it, for, as Blake remarked, there
was no need of having any more talk about the
affair than was absolutely necessary.

“ If he plugs me or I plug him, there will be
plenty of chances for chin-music,” the Fresh ob-
served.

Breakfast was served at five, and at half-past
the party expected to be in the saddle, although
fifteen minutes at the outside, would take them
to the meeting-place.

All of the men were eager to be present at the

fight and Blake declared:
“ Considering that the boys don’t have many
chances for fun, it seems a shame to ask any of
them not to go; yet, on the other hand, I don’t
want it to look as if I had come with a crowd
for the purpose of intimidating the gentleman
who has done me the honor to ask me to stand
up and be shot at.”

“ Yes, but is it not likely that he will have a
gang of his friends along too?" Dave Ringwood
asked. “There are he] -a—dozen fellows up the
river who are his churns."

“ I hardly think he will have them there,” the
Fresh remarked. “ There wasn’t anythin said
about our having any witnesses. But I wi i tell

on how to fix the thin , boys,” he continued.

‘ It is a broken, undu sting country, with
plenty of small timber for cover. Dave and I
wilPstart, and you follow about half a mile in
the rear. and when you get near the ground tie
your homes in some grove and scout in on foot,
near enough to be able to get a view of. the

rmish.

“ You will be able to work the trick so that if
the superintendent has any friend with him,
neither he nor they will have any notion that
there is anybody in the neighborhood.”

They all thought the idea was a capital one,
and Old California Joe, the crafty, long-headed
scout remarked:

“ I reckon that is about as good a deal as on
kin scare u l I have kinder been p ing
the inside 0 my old‘ figure-head over this b er
matter, and the idee has kinder come to me t at
mebbe thar is some traps inter the duel.”

This ,announcement interested the others at
once, for none of them—not even the Fresh of
’Frisco himself—bad thought of sucha thing.

I: VéVhat put that idea into your head?” Blake
as e

“ I couldn’t answer
life!

mountain-man declared.
that nestion to save in

“ T e idee is thar,
how it ot thar is more than I kno .

“ I s pose the explanation is that I am a
kinder of a suspicious old cuss, anyway, and
somehow, the notion came to me that, mebbe,,
this war a trap to git you out whar a gang
could git at yer.”

“ Eden are thinking of the Cubansl” Blake ob-
serv .

“I reckon my mind is a kinder running on
‘them tanned galoots,” the old mountain-man
admitted. ' ‘ '

“ This hyer is what bothers me. Why has
the superintendent gone for you all of a sudden?”

“Oh, there are good reasons for that ” theFresh
replied. “ 1n the first place, I thrashed him, in
the second I know he is a rogue, and he feels

rfectly sure that when I take command of the

cobedo Ranch he will gethis walking papers.
And then the third and strongest reason of all
is that he has an idea he could win the heiress, "
for he has been paying especial attention to the
lady for quite a whil . ‘

' Is that so?” exclaimed the old mountain-man
in wonder. , a

“ Yes, my information came from one of the
herdsmen on the place a smart fellow, with a
pair of sharp eyes in in head. and who had
sense to detect the game that Houma was try-
ing to play. The man wanted to stand well
with me. and so put me on my guard. Now
you see the superintendent has reasons enough
for wishing to lay-me out,” the Fresh said, in
conclusion. _ ‘

f‘ Yes. yes, it is as plain as the nose on a man’s,
face." Old California Joe observed. '

" “ Wa—al, .it won’t do any

see the skirmish an we .” v , .
The Fresh aggreedy to this, and the programme.

wascarried ou . . .
ood started ahead,

  

  

  
 

 

 
 
 

      

, Blake and Dave Ringw I Lori"
andtherestfollovmd some ten, in tea, W

care of myself and in apicnie of this kind I v

 

“ Wa—al, now, you have got me foul!” the old ‘

will swar’ to that, but _

 

   

   
      

 

harm .forlthe "53.
boyees to be around handy, and they want to, ,

 

  
 

      
   
 

      
       
    

   

A .wn n.

,# er.

      
     
           
      
    
  

 

H;

.—.....«- w

 

 

 

 

ii

4.. w.

 

i

  

   
 

n  viva"

The Fre

   

s'h‘ in Texas. '

 

 

dismounting when they came near the battle-
ground, tying their horses in a clump of timber,
then cautiously approaching the scene of action
on foot.

When Blake and Dave Ringwood arrived on
the field they found the others on the ground.

With houma and the young lawyer was the
doctor from El Paso and a friend of his.

The Fresh and. Houma exchanged bows and
then withdrew in opposite directions, while the
seconds arranged the details.

“ There wasn’t anything said about a sur-
geon,” Bullifant observed, “ but as I knew you
would not be likely to get one in this section, I
took the liberty of bringing one from El Paso,
and this gentleman is one of the doctor’s stu-
dents, and I presume you will not obJect to his
presence?” ; _

“ Oh, no, that is all right,” Dave Ringwood
replied. “ Now, suppose we get right to work
and 06 off the ground—about two hundred
and fty paces will be near enough.”

The lawyer assented to this. and the distance
was soon measured. . _

“ Now, how about the pos1tlons? If you think
there is any choice, we will toss a coin to decide
the matter,” Dave Ringwood remarked.

But as it was a cloudy day, the rising sun
being hidden by. heavy banks of dark vapor,
there really was not the slightest difference be.
tween the two ends of the line.

“ No, I do not think that is necessary,” Bulli-
fant replied. “Let my principal take the
position nearest to him and yours can do the
same.” '

“How about the signal for the fight to begin?
I suppose the doctor had better give that?” Dave
Ringwood suggested.

This was apgroved by the lawyer, and so it
was arranged t at the signal was to be a shot
from the doctor’s revolver, preceded by a warn-
ing from him to be ready.

The duelists got into position; the seconds re-
treated to one side, and the doctor and his
friend took their station midway the two points
occupied by the fighters—well to one side, of
course, so as to be out of the range of fire.

“ Now, then. gentlemen, look out for your-
Selves—prepare!" exclaimed the doctor in a
loud voice.

The rifles came up to the shoulders of the
duelists and their eyes glanced along the shining
tubes of death. .

The dOctor counted, one, two, three, to him-
self, and then discharged his revolver in the air.

Like an echo came the report of the Fresh of
’Frisco's rifle.

With a gasp the sufierintendent dropped his
weapon, and as it struc the ground the iece
was discharged. the ball whistling harmless y up
toward the clouds.

Houma’s right arm hung helplessly by his side.

The doctor and his assistant, also the lawyer,
hurried to him.

“ A most wonderful shot, if it was not an ac-
cident!” the surgeon declared, as he examined
the wound.

The ball had entered the right arm at the
wrist and shattered the bone of the forearm.

“ By Jove!” Bullifant exclaimed, “ you have
had a lucky escage; that man is evidently .a
dead shot and cool just as well have put his
ball through your heart instead of shooting to
disable you.”

'The superintendent was deadly ale. His
wound was a severe one, but, as Bul ifant»had
remarked, he felt that he owed his‘life'to the
mercy of his antagonist, and the knowledge
took from him all destre to brave the power of
the Fresh of ’Fnsco. .

Dave Ringwood approached; Blake had drop-
ped the butt of his rifle upon the ground and
stood leaning upon it. .

“Are you sati ed—ls another shot desired?”
Rin wood aske . I

_“ o, 1 gm disabled,” Houma reigied, before
his second could ak. “Tell Mr. lake I am
content, and that feel I was a fool to attempt

4:0 measure strength with him."

Rin wood bowed, expressed the hope that the
woun was not a severe one, and as the doctor
began to dress the hurt, returned to report to
Blake that the afl'air was ended.

“I didn’t want to kill the fellow;”l31ake re-
marked as he and his pard mounted the" horses:
“ and I had to give¢him a lesson.”

Away rode the two at a slow cantor. and by
the time they got a thougnd yards away 3 ml"
prise was sprun u n t m. '

Out from a $111!: of timber rode 8 down
horseman._all brandishing revolvers, and they
charged directly for the pair. . .

The red pan and masks, the red bull“ and
beards showed that the strangers were the Red
Riders of Rayon, the famous bri
whrig: thid Fresh ofrgrifseo hag ontfet is“ m the

sprepa or t, u 0
Red 'ders got withinflgran tbs? '9’?
trfid to a surprise which they little antici-
pa

Avolley of revolver shots was ured into
them, at point-blank ran , from on of a clump
Of timber which em ti six saddles and then.
Witho yell, Old ornia Joe and a rest of
the-Fresh of ’Frisco’s men sprung from their
hiding-places. ,

nd band,

 

The Red Riders wheeled toward the right, and
fled to the river in wild confusion.

The pards chased them, blazing away as they
ran.

Three of the riders only gained the opposite
bank of the Rio Grande, the rest were carried
iiWZly by the river, now quite high and turbu-

en .

The victors gathered the dead and wounded
bri ands.

be red mask. false hair and heard had
fallen from the face of one of the wounded men.
and the features of the Cuban, Games, were
revealed.

“ Aha, caught at last in your own trap?”
Blake exclaimed. “ But why have you, a stran-
ger, attacked me?"

“ Do you not know me, you accursed Ameri-
can ?” cried the dying man. “I am Manuel
Escobedol You have succeeded in killing me,
but my sister, Isabel, who has escaped on, will
avenge me!” And then the death-rat e sound—
ed in his throat.

At last Blake “comprehended: the two Cubans
were the brother and the sister, in male attire.

An eager search was made for the disguised
Isabel, but as she could not be found—she was
not one of the three who gained the bank, as
was afterward discovered—it was concluded she
had found a watery grave in the Rio Grande’s
yellow flood.

Our tale is told; a few more words only.

' Jackson Blake, the Fresh of ’Frisco, wedded
the lpeerless Margaret Escobedo, and after the
wed ing, in obedience to Margaret’s wish, the
ranch was sold, all the Western property turned
into ready cash, and the pair departed to seek a
home in the far East, amid the civilization
where the heiress of Escobcdo had been reared.

And there in their palace—like home, on the
noble Hudson’s banks, we will leave the happy
pair, but at some future time we may again
take the n in hand to relate the adventures

which in t e “effete East” befell the restless,,

irre ressible son of the Orient, Jackson Blake,
the resh of ’Frisco.
THE END.

 

Beadle’s Half-Dime library.

BY PHILIP S. WARNE.

61' Patent-Leather Joe: on Old Rattlesnake, the Chamoi-
115 Captain Arizona: or. hunt-Luther Joe's Big Game.
198 Captain Mask; or r-meunmer Joe’s Defeat.

919 liei‘pnrd, the Iluellat: or, The Mountain Vampires.
388 A all 11 Boy; or, The Dwnrl’l Revenge.
888 thtle ornado‘ or, The Gum-u of the Glen.
873 Jule Jlnno; or, the Queer Fund.
383 Lntle lIh-myls nr, Caught in His Own Trap.
401 Little Shoo- lyl‘ or, A Race for n Ranch.
8 mile Lcnthcr- reaches! or, Old Jumbo’l Corn.
481 Little All Sin; or, The Cum of Blood.
451 Jolorodo Rate. A Tale of the alien.
480 Three Jolly Purdl.
51’? .lllm Gladden’n De Mtg.
53‘? The Jolly Purdo t e Rescue.

 

BY GEORGE “'ALDO BBOWNE.

Hindi Rock the Man from Tex-I.

rend thlor; or, The Texan Dnelht.

‘he ’l'lcer of'I‘aoa; or, Dandy Rock’s Angel.

‘ o . Miner: or, Dandy Rock's Doom.

he Golden Ilamh or, Dnndv Rock \o the Rescue.
Dandy Rock’s l’le ; or. untod to Death.
Dandy Rock's Riva : or, The ilaunud Maid of’l'ooo.

 

BY BUCKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8. Hall.)
‘284 (Blldk‘Ilocky‘a “Buyout” or, Bonito, the Young Horu-

I’BI I.

346 Giant George or, The Ang’l on)" Run a.
276 Arizona Jack: or. Giant Georg“ PIN.- I
991 The Tarantula of Tani or, GlnntGaorge's Revenge.
80? The Strange Pal-d or. lttle Ben‘s Death Hunt.
818 Ker-whoos. Ker-w & or, The Tarantula of Thu.
8%? Cree In. at, the Cad 0; on“. Red mdwhlu Pads.
883 F‘rlo rodx‘ or, The Tonhway's Trim.
844 The Fl t n. Trio: or. Rattlesnake, the Tank-way.
849 WIld 011’; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front.
85'! The Iganoh Raiders or. Thu Slugs of Fan Purgatory.
BM. Snap- hot, the Boy anger.
M to, the Creek or. The Three Thunderbolts.
88! Ban era Bllli or. via Funk to the Front.
mono and the Reds; or, The Bolamsnd Roach.
404 Little Lariat: or Pecan Pete’s Big Ramp-go.
39? ll? lid." “19".. “venom R ky uh n

e no ru erll 0"; 00 on 0 I!“ -
44D Blufl In“: or Tho Lynx of the Loom. pm
455 mm. Lone 6m. or. on non» emu owe.

BY CAPT. MARK WILTON.

556 Young Kentucki or, The Rod Ludo.
970 fills-3rd Ben; or. The Riot at Kano Camp.
886 Josh, the Boy Tenderfoot.

BY J. W. OSBON.

469 The Rival Claim- ofNowhar’. ' ,
498 Cactus Burr. tho‘Mnn from Hard Luck. '
58? Old Buckeye, the Slmu Shadow.

BY MAJOR HENRY B. STODDARD. Ex-lmt.

 N - Th D t P rd .
I“ del‘e'! or 31:11"... Thougfalldmlonlofm
in his" Kr   
I of C 0 u
m The in“ Muffin-finial“. My-uvy'o! sou.-

Gulch.
505 Powell’s Paul: or, The Ono-Amino Giant.

as not: unnaonr.

815 N ti o bl Bo .
800 Talk: l:ro:rou:’or. The Boy Shipper.

BY COL. A. F. HOLT.

.99 I“ k .Th Masked)! “Mlle-Dy“.
419 xeTnfil'fifi'il‘iiiii‘i’hs . u I
‘85 Little Lkhtfoot, the Pilot of the Woods.

BY JAMES L. BOWEN ‘

ior one-Ema Sim or, 11.. Abandon-cl Forest um. ‘
no rum k Mood oftho Prairloo. A sum of Tuna.

r

.135 Evil

 

BY BRACEBRIDGE IIEMYNG.

89 Inland Jlm: or. The Pot of the Family.
91 The Captain ol‘the Club! "r- “W Rm“ MN“..-
101 Jack llnrkaway In New York.

BY "Artur HAZARD.

.898 Arkansas! Jack; or. The Scoumw of tho Minn.
839 Red-Skin 'I‘om or, The Damon’n Tull.
842 The Mom-tall: cvlli or. Yellow Jack, the Ouilaw.

BY WILLIAM If. EYSTER.

190 Dandv Burke] or. The Tigers of High Pine.
DIO Faro Franky or, Dandy Duke's Gen-Down Pardl. l

BY COLONEL BELLE SARA.

108 The Lion oftlle Sen; 0'. The anlod Indy.
136 Cool Desmond” or, The Gumblu’n Bl; Gomfl

BY MAJOR LEWIS W. CARSON.

978 The Three Tr-Ren‘ or, The Mountain Monaur-
‘83 Imus)! Joe: or, I Whiufiplrll. of tho Hills.

BY JOIIN J. HARBIIALL.

40 Roving Ben. A Story ofa Young America.
‘7 The Outlaw Brothers; or, The Captive of tho Herpes.

BY WM. 9. PATTEN.

4719 The Diamond Sport or,Tbo Double Fill. a! Bed Rock.
519 (In tuln Mylwr tor. In in One.
581 Dal-y Dare, the gym. from Denver.

BY FREDERICK DEWEY.

818 Clmarron Jack, the Klu -l’ln of Elna-Show
478 Tungemund, III-s Dela". otectlvu.
542 The Canyon Panic.

BY LIEUT. II. D. PERRY. U. 8. N.

176 The Boy Runaway; or. The liner-near of \lu Bay.
130 The Son 'l‘l’lllleri‘or, A Vow Wall KIpL .
199 Captain Kit; or, he Mystery of Mont-uh Point.

BY GEORGE C. JENKS.

  glim- I‘D’wncy,’ thfi'errgnown.
or wn a e.
518 The Demon Doecytor. I

BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR, II. S. A.
191 Bu‘fltalo Billy. the Boy Bullwboelm; or. The Doomed
l' .6“.
194 Buffalo Bill’s Bet: or, The Gambler Guido.

BY W. J. HAMILTON.

68 The Red Brotherhood: or. The Twelve Avenggn.
66 Slnsle “and; or, A Life {or a Life.
73 Ma Tom Western, the Trian Ranger.

88? Ben Blrd. the Cave Kine; or, Bl; rew- Scoop.

BY ROGER STAR BUCK.

25 The Boy Captuhu or, The Pirate‘- Daughter.
“4 The Black Schooner; or, J“: Junk. the old Tn.
259 The Golden “BITE!!!” or, Lon Among it. rim.
FlPe-Ilellli‘or, 0 ll Sklnflm. the Death‘shndow.
Bl: Horn I e. the lllll Tramp; or, The Odd Pub.
The Phantom Lightubouu.
Breaker Ben. the Roof-Runner.

BY BARRY ST. GEORGE.
80 Roaring Ralgll Bockwood, 1):. Run or.
44 Rnttllni Ru a; or, The thllthawh oh‘uatucky.
59 old “In ory; or, Pandv Ellll’s Seal .
108 Din-In. Davy; or, Tin
106 lekory lion 3 or, The Tn
173 hunderbolt om: or, thI

BY CAPTAIN FRED. WIII'I‘TAKEB.

15 The 523- mi; or. The Witch ofDnrion.

89 The Dumb a e$on The Dogo’s Daughter. ‘

48 Dlek Darling. t o ony Expnu Rider.
150 Lnan and Lanai or, The Chlldnn of the Ohm.
154 The Sword lluuten: or. The Land on». Ila hunt Eldon.
150 'ghe I{AritSCuptalnl or Sklppfl J-hu Codin’u min to the

n 0 It OR. r
I00 a Boy Bedouin" or. 'l'li- Brothers of the Plumd Luca.
914 Wolf mm. the Rubber of the Rhine.
840 Viv“: lower, the Aulmal K113901511» Round the World
an I'D?-

Trall of the rdor Wolf.
r-Brlgulo’l Spy.
all-Harder.

us The 'rirr Tainan or The La... om. mu. ,
I l! . v ,

"1 Block ck. iha Demon Her.
.95 California Joe’s War Troll.

BY J O PIERCE.

89? B b o’ the Bowe ; or. The Prince of Mulberry am“.
415 T e Vagabond De active; or. Bowery Bob" noon.
459 "on- ur Bob the Strut-Boy Detective.

460 The lawyer" allow; or Luke’s Legacy.

412 Jaunt Joe. the YoungHoM-lfiur.

494 Surly film. the Young onyman Detective.

504 Five Point-Phil.

509 Jack J on, the Butcher Boy Dclectlvo.

In; or. Five Points Phil’s Menagerie.

ortli River Nat. the PM Detective.

588 Wreutllnf Rex. th- Prldo onha Sixth Word.

541 Jefl’ File or, the Stable Boy Detective.

BY FRANK DUMONT. ‘

ho ho Branded "and i or, n. u... «in .
II? and-Fire, the Boss of the Road. m"
140 Blue Blues; or. The Break 0’ Day Boys «Ruby Bar.
In Eben Dan; or 'l'hl Rival Lentil".
m or, rt. Vuimm of an Rio Grando. »

1w ham. .1. r. c. nuns.

Oregon Sol; or Nick whllllu’l Bay Spy.
dim-Eye. the rut Shot at cli.‘ Wm.
"ed lluol the 30 Tripper. \
Nick Wk en's at: or. in The Valle oi Death. '
60 The White Indian; or. The Scout on u Valle!st .
10 Old Z! ’I Cabin; or, The Gmmholn In the Woods. ,
81 Llfllta I: Jo. tho Tum of tho Pyulrlm . .
8 “IICI Basin-am: or, Ben, the Female on. v
on Girlslly and Ill- Petn or. Th- WII Hum-n.
“1 LI u-hOfl” 143.3,", Osceola. the 17mm“.
'I‘go Loot “lantern 01.1m- Uldormund Coup. ’
0 “only King; «r, The Hum Thuduooh.

BY EDWARD S. ELLIS.
6 Bill Bllldon, Tum

c llvu oltho hood".
" Jonu‘ "In. of tho Sioux Captln.

gageéffiyml.
Baotou or, The sum!” Hun-u.
. .11. mo. a. pa
39.4mm: li':::'.'.:’.., audits”:
‘ , A Mu: (mu awry Tommy. J.
The Half-nine Library is for sale by all

Newsdealers, V ave cents per copy, or sent by man.
unoeiptofsix canto each. READ“ a A‘Dm.»

 

 

. -v,

I Publishers. as William meet. New York. _

 

 

 

    
 

\

BEADLE’SaieHALF-DIMEarLIBRARY.

Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

 

 

 
 
  
  
    
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
 
 
 
    
 
 
   
   
  
   
 
 
  
 
   
   
   
   
   
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
 
   
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
  
    
  
  
  
   
 
  
 
  
   
     
 

BY EDWARD L. WHEELER.
Deadwood Dick Noveln.

l Deadwood Dli-k. tho Prince of the Road.
‘ 1.30 Double Daggers; or, l)r:fldwflud Dick’s Defiance.
‘28 lluil’ulo "an; or. Deadwood Dick in Dinzuixe.
35 “ Iltl Ivan, the Boy Claude Dul'lll.
42 Phantom Minor: or, Deadwood Dick'a Bonanza.
49 Omaha Oil: or lie-dwoo-l Dick in Hanger.
{:6 Deadwood Diek’n Eugloa; or, 'l'ho l'nrdn oiFlnod Bar.
s8 Deadwood Dick on Deck: or. 'Jnlainitv June, the Heroine.
Tl" Corduroy Charlie: nr, llendwood Dick'n Lut Act.
100 Deadwood Dick in Leadi‘lllc. ,
104 Deadwood Dlek‘u Device: or, The Double Crou Sign.
109 Deadwood Dlvk an Detective.
199 Deadwood Dlek‘u Double 3 or, The Ghost of Gorgon’l

Guluh.
188 lllvinde lilll: or, Deadwood Dick‘l Home Bale.
IMO A (lame oi’ Gold; orV Deadwood Dick’n Big Strike.
[156 Deadwood Dick oi’ Deadwoodt or. This Picked Party.
lib!» Deadwood Dick’u Dream: 0". '1 '18 RiV'ih OHM Rond-
201 The Black llllln Jezebel; or, Dradwnod Dick’n Ward.
205 Deadwood Dick‘u Doom; or, Calamity Jnnu'n La“ Ad-
Vditllll'w.
21? Captain Crack-Eliot, the Girl Brlgund.
2H Sugar-Cooled Earn: or, The Black Gown.
233 Gold-Dani. Dlt'k. A Romance of Rough i and Toughs.
263 Deadwood lilek'l Divide: nr, Tlui Spirit of Swamp Luh.
“ii! Deadwood Dick’s Death Troll.
809 {geadu‘ood Diuk’u Big Deal; or, The Gold Brick oi
I'uguli. .
. 821 Deadwood Diek’l Dozen: or, The Fnlrlr ofPhniitom Flntu.
3 '3 Deadwood Diek’il Ducutu; or, Rainy Day: in the Dig-

KIHKI.
851 Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or, The Teniblo Vendettn.
367a Deadwood Dick’ii Claim; ur, The Fnlry Fun of Euro
/ ' “II.
405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City.
410 Deadwood Dick’s Dian-undo; or. The Myrtery of Joan

Porrer.
4421 Deadwood Dick in New Yorkg or, A “ Cuia Case.”
480 Deadwood Dick’a lhmt; or, The Chained Hand.
448 Deadwood Dlek. Jr. .
443 Nickel-Plate bed; or, Dandwoon Dick Jr’s Defiance.
453 flunilower 5am. in Shanta; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Full

Hand.
45!) Flth Fan, the PM or, Dudwood Dick Jr’s Blg Round-
‘ 465 gillo oFly. of Phenix; or, Deadwood. Dick Jr’l Rocket at

min I .
4?] Bozemun Bill; or. Deadwood Dick 11": Con-iii. '
476 lluuiboldt Harry, the Hurricane: or. Deadwood “Dick Jr’-
Dog Deloctive.
4R] Moll .‘lyntury; or, Deadwood Dick Jr. in Deadwood.
491 Prince l’lutol, the King of the West; or, Deadwood Dick
.ir': Coiiixmct.
“onte Criuto, J15: or, Dendwood Dick Jr’s lnharitnnce.
Deadwood Dick’u Di Inga 5 or. Dr. Death-deh Swoop.
Deadwood .Dlok’ti De verance.
)eadwood Diek’ii Protegee. * .
Deadwood Dick‘s ’l‘lu-ee.
Deadwood Dick's Dormer Ducks.
Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt.
Deadwood Dink Jr., in Texan. »
Deadwood Dick, Jr., the Wild Wm. Vidotq.

 

Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler.

#6 Clove“ IIoof, the Bufl'nlo Demon. '
83 Bob Woolf: or, The Girl Dead-Shot. ‘ i
89 Death-Face, Detectire: or, Life in Nut York. ’
45 Did Avalanehex or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brig-nil.
58 J in Bladi-oe. r., this Boy Phat-ix.
61 lluekliorn Bill: or, TDD R-d km. Team.
69 Gold Riilc, ilin Shufilhootcr: or. Thu Bo Dtuctivo.
80 Rolebud Rob: M. uzgrt Nod, thv Kn ght.
84 ldyl, the Girl Miner: or, Roubnd Rah on End.
» 88 Photo rap): Phil; nr, Rnuhud Rom Reap n".
‘ 93 Conn a Chet: or, Old Anaconda In Sitting nll’l Camp.
 98 \Vatoh-Eve: or. Ant»: and Angela oil Grout City.
218 Jack lioy e the Young Snennlntor. ,
. 117 Gilt-Edged Dick. the Sport Damtivu
1’1 Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport.
195 Bonanza Bill. Minor.
1:“ Hi I Hob tho Klngoi Bambi-ch.
l 1 Solid fluin iha Boy Road-Agent!
I45 mint“ Ferret, the New York Detecting; or, Bog. 39w.

Jn .
‘. " Ill! New YorkNell tin Boy-Girl Damon.
Nick offievadat or. The Sierra. Scamp.
rank, the Bucklliin Brno.
209 Fr"... tho Bound-Boy Detective. .
Q18 Fritz to the Front: or, The Vontril nlut Hunt-r.

.-

 

 
   

$28 Snooler the Buy Sharp: or, The Arnh fictive. i
one Apollo am, the Trail Tornado.

‘40 0 clone Kit, the Young Gladiator.

.944 E rra Sam, thtfronther Farm.

048 Sierra Salm- Secret; or The Bloody Footeran
258 Sierra Ball‘- Ford: or, Th 1.1.. I

0 Angel at Bl
’ 158 sierra Sain‘n Seven 5 or. Th: Stolen Briga. I
2 nmbo so the lit- Pntrol; or, The Bird HIllI.
‘ Denver oil. th eucan Queen. '
-onver Doll's Victory. .
Denver Doll‘s Decoy ; or. Littln Bill’s Bonus:-
‘urk, the Boy Ferret.
I 300 Denvor Doll'l Drift; or. The Bond Quoln.
v, 209 A No. 1. the Dashing Toll-Tan.
i v 803 'lel Jane. the Girl Mlnnr; or. the IronvNurud Snort.
8935 Kelley, Hickey a; 0.... u». Detactlvu ofPhlhd‘lphin.
880 Little Quick-Shot :v or, The David Folio “Donor-villa.
, 8M. Kangaroo Kit; or. Th. Myntulou Miner.
'89 Kangaroo Klt’ii Racket. 1’
In Manhattan Mike, tin Bowery Blood. >
858 First-Ola» Fred, iho Gent from Gopher.
“8 Brain Jlni. the Gold-Gatherer; or, Tin loony of
. u a.-

M-Ynka Jhn’l Prize.

‘818 Kabob Nod : or, Th9 Seubt oi' Slab City.

382 Dooquit, the Kinz of Kids or. A Vlllnln’l Vaguu.
' 886 Yreka Illn’l Joker; or. Thov‘Riul- of Bad Na...
1889’Bicycle Ben; or. The Lion of Lightning Lode. , ’
894 Yreka III: of ana Darn. ,

6:00 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Mai.
' g4" nigh flat Harry, the a... Blllnlbcfivo.
, - 498 San Blabuidu. the BaggurBoy Dnuctlva.

' ' ‘84 Jim ‘Beok'nnd Pal, Print: Dom

‘ 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slush-r. ‘

V 480 Sealan- Dan. the Sp‘rkinr. »- It

1" I,

 

    
    
     
 
     
      
    
       
    
 
        

 

. BY COLONEL PRESTIGE INGRAIIAM.

7 The Flying Yankee: or, The Ocean Cute
11 Ralph
24 Diamond Dirk ‘ or, The )lystrry nfthe Yul
(2 The Shadow 1‘ I

102 DlL-k Dead-Eve, the Boy Swimmer.

not.

{on the lioy But-can er; on. The Fugitive Yacht.

Ion atoms.

In; or. The Rival Liuutuiiaiiil.
The Boy Duelist; or, The Cruise oi‘ the Sen-Wolf.

“I The Hen-Ilev l; or. The dlld‘llllllllnllyfl Legacy.
116 The "Iii-mar Cit taint or. The lie-iiiit ul'llell Gate.
197 Little Grit: or, le-‘sie, iho Stork-Toniler'l Daughter.

20-1 Gold l'lumex or. The Ki.l.(.'luve Sport.
2|“ ill-non lllll the Prince 0! the Reina.

222 Grit. the ilravo Sport: or, The Woman Trailer.
229 Crimuon Kate or, The Cowhoy’a T‘l'lumpll.

$3? Lone Star, thi- owboy Captain.
245 Merle the Mlddyhor, ’
250 The Midshipman
264 The Floating Feather-z 0r. Merle

he Freelance Heir.
utlneerg or. Brandt the Bucclneer.
M’onto’l Treuure

to am.
289 The Gold Ship; or, Merle, the Condemned.

276 Merle Monte’u Cruise; or, The China of "The Gold

Shi p.”

9:0 Merle Monte’u Fate; or. Pearl, the Plrate’n Bride.

4 The Sea Marauder: or, Marla Monk’s Pl

edge.

9
35? Billy BlueJ‘lyeu, the Boy Rover oi the Rio Gran-lo.

804 The Dead Shot Dandy

308 Reno Kn; M, Dond Shot undy’n Double.

or. Benito. the Boy Bugler.
' 814 The Mysterioul Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’n long

lruil.
87'! Bonodel, the Boy Rover; an“? Flnzlm Schooner.
Bflfi The Indian .Pilot; or, The Search for Pinto Inland.

887 Warpath “'ill. the Boy Phantom.

898 Seawall; the llny Lieutenant. .

40E lI-idor, the Young Connyirator;
0? The Rev Insurgent; or, The Cuhnn

or; The Fatal League.
V endetto.

4
4|! The Wild Yaohtmnanr or, The War-Clouu‘ii Crullo.

429 Duncan Dora, the B0 Refugee.
488 A Cabin Bo "Ii Lac 3 or. The Corsair.
48? The Sea Ra tier.

441 The Ocean Firefly; or, A Middy’s Vengeance.

446 lluphazard Harri";
450 \l'izard “'ill; or, h
454 “'izard Will’u Street Scouts.

or. The Scapegrace ofthe Sol.
2 Boy Ferret of New York.

462 The Horn Guide; on The Sailor Boy Wanderer.

4.68 Neptune Ned, the Buy Counter.

474 Flora; or, Wizard Will’n Vnguhond Pa d.
483 Ferret. Afloat; or. W
4K1" Nevada Ned, the Rev“ 'nrfiiuizer.

495 Arlzona Joe tho Boy.’Piiril of'l'exno Jock.
 Buck Taylor, King M uh.- Cowbovl

502' The Ilunted Mldubi man.

5“ The plltlawed Mid y. '
520 iluoknkln Bill. the Comanche Shndow.
trotlieru in Bu ‘l-UI in. ‘

‘he Bucknkiu oweru. ‘

535 "he Brio akin Rovers.

540
545

   

 

 

Lieutenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte.

I BY CHARLES MORRIS.

118 Will Seniors, the Boy Dehctlvo.
1273 Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy.

126 Picayune
130 Detective Dick: or, Tho Hero In Rags

142 llpriiluoiiienllarry, the Boothlni-k Detehtivo. ‘

147 W ill W 1d re, the Thoroughbred.
158 Black Bonn, Will Wildfire] Racer.
Mike Merry, the Harbnr Police Boy.
Will Wildfire in the Woods.
Billy Bag: go. the Railroad Ba

A Train]

Bob Roe kettg or, Mysteries of Lew York.
Bob Roe Ketti the Bank Runner

3 The llldi an I
Fred H yard, tho
Bob R rte“; or. Driven to the Wall.
litil Sludowed - or, Bob Rndlutt’i Fight for Life.
200 Dark Pan . the Tiger King. .

819 Duan Dave, the Dund Detecth

920 Torn—Tanner
:95

id
0'

HHHHF‘HF‘

 

SI

Barn Char-eon the Prrinium Duly.

b rlhadow S m. the Mruungor Boy. ‘

' he Two ‘ Bloods ”; or Shenandoah Bill
25: ' flak lluhaway: or, A I5

oll Jim tho Dutoctlvo/A'p rentioe.
9 . oil; .iimh. Job; . ,ri.
r'li‘lle W

can: Detectiu.

 

ity.
8.4 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective.
841 Tony Thor-no, the thnndnemtivn.

ttuptaln Ku—Klux, tho Marnuderyol the Rio. I

aim!» Boy in Chic
‘lie Young Sharps; or. Rollickhig Mlkn’l ot Trail.

in iviu'. 1... Cone.

The. Royal Middy : or. The sllfllkolnd the Son Cut.

"etc; or, Nicodemul, the Dog Dahctlvo.

n .
Card; or, Will Wild ra Win: and Long.

and- or. Will Wildfirr’u Raven”.
his Boat Boy: or. iii. Smmian.

a.
or, The B lick Sheep oi the Flock,

and Hi: Goon. ‘

o.

ater-lloun ; or. The Young Thoroughbred. .
805 Buhaway. oi' Dakota; or, A Wutern hid in the Qukor

]

858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyn’a Bliunrd.

86? Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy ot'tha Tim“.
8’9 Lorri. tho Leveier; or. The Month at the
408 Fire y Jack. the River-Rat Dot-rtlva.
498 The

488 Fred FIVer.
480 Invhoilt e
458 Billy Brhkyt

a Rnporter Dmtlva.
n. the Plnkartim Ferret.
e Jolly Vagabond. \

Soul-rut]:

r; or, The Entvnppod Cashier.

466 Wlde.Awake Jerry, Dutoctlva; or, Entombed Alive.
4?" Detective Dodge: or, Th. Mystery oi Frail-loam.

488 Wild Dink Racket. .

501 Book, the Boy Fireman t or, Too Sharp for the Slim.

{ .

BY .rosErn E. Banana, JR.

9 Yellowstone Jack: lUl',lTli. Tru'yper.

48 Black John, tho Rood-Mont; or. Tho Outinw’l Retreat.
65 Hurricane Bill 3 or. Miami: Sam and Hi»  .

119 Mustang Ann 3 or. The King at the Plain.

18¢ Nightqnnwk Kit: or, The Dough ter of the‘

144 Dainty Lance the Bay Sport.

I

Ranch.

15! 'Panthor Poul : or. Dainty Lance to the Reno.

188 Deadly Duh; or, Fighting Fir. with Fire.

184. The Boy Trailer»; or, Duinly‘Lunco on tho War-Path.
m The Boy Para" or. Dainty hue: Unmdilu. ' ‘

Ill Crooked Cole, 'Ilu Culth of Colonial City.

‘ « I“ The Black Giant; or, Dointy Lane. in Juopudy.

310 The Barr-non Wolf; ‘or, The Beautiful Decoy.

819 Thai Black nu..- ; 'or, The Horn-“Md
886 Old Double Platter, Tho Strum Guide.

My

855 The King om. Woods: or. Daniel Boone- Iii-Wyn."

‘4. Kit Fox. the Border BoyDet-etln.

‘ 50‘? Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Pldladolphia.
Whaler. Ready Jun 6. , -

‘ 13h: [lair-Dine Library a Mai. byull Wan

llY BUFFALO BILL (llon. Wm. F. Cody).

3 Kantian King; or. The Rail nght Hand.
19 The Phantom S y: or, The Pilot ul‘ tho Prairie.
55 DealIL icy-0. n... Elana... Smut.
68 Border Rollin Ilood: or. The Prairie Rev-r.
158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper‘n Trunk.

   

BY OLL COOMES.

5 Vagabond Joe. the Young Wandering Jaw.
13 The Dumb Spy.
2? Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. . i
81 keen-knife, the Prime of the l’rniriel. -
4| Lunao Jlll‘k, ihr Young Mustaiixer.
58 The Border King: onTlie Secrnt Fan.
71 Delaware "ll-k. the Young limiter say.
74 llnwheve llarr iliu Young ’l'iuppur Bangor.
88 Rollo, the Ru l anger.
184 Sui-1:. Hhot got i, lllr lioy [{lilaliilln.
Soar-Face h'uul. the Silent Hunter.
146 l~'ll\'er Shir. Lila lio)‘ Knight. ‘
153 Eagle Kit. the Mo)- Drum".
168 Little 'l‘exnu, thu Young lilurtnngor.
1714 Old Hoiltnry, lilo Hermit 'l‘rn iper.
132 Little llurrIL-nno, th» Bo ' nptain.
202 l’ron rot Pete: or, The hum: Unille Hum
209‘ The oy Hercules: or, The Prnil’ir Tramps.
318 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror.
231 "uniting-y "It-k: or, 'I rapper 'l‘riiii’n (fuiitlo.
228 Little \ Ildilre, the Young l’i‘nirip Nomad.
238 The l’nruon De tut-tire; or, The Little Ranger.
243 Thu Dig-unlined Guide; or, \i iiil anan,tha Ranger.
260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young l‘iuirie Ranger. ‘
272 Minknkln Mike, the Boy Shari-moot".
290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy.
1100 The Sky Deluan : or. Ruliibolt, the Ranger.
884 “'lin-klng Joe, tho BO“ Rnncheru.
409 Hercule-i or. Dn-li, the Boy Ranger.
41’? Wobi‘oot i one. the 'l‘i-uinp Detet'tivd. i,
422 Bub Sam. the lloy Glam. ol lhi- Yellowstone. l
444 Litt e lhlckfl III. the You)“: l’rnirie Centaur. .
4t")? “’lnzedi'not red; or. old PolarSuul.
8 'l‘alnnriie 'l‘oin, lilo Islg ‘l‘rn t'iiil' Boy.
73 Old Toni Rattler, Ihn Red Iver Epidemic.
432 Stonewall Bob, llie Buy 'l‘roiuu.

 

' BY '1‘. c. llAllBAUGll.

28 Nick 0’ the Nipfllt; 0r, Th» Boy Spy oi ’76.
87 The llldden Lodge; or The Littli‘ Hunter.
4’? Nimhtla ale hat: in, The Forest Ca taint.
64 Blind tick g or, The ()ulluws ol‘ the razor: Troll.
, 8E Kit nrol'oot. the Wood-Hawk.

94 Midnight Junk ; or. The Boy Trapper.
06 Old Fruity, the Gi ide: or, Tlu- White Queen.
28 Klown Charley t e White Muuiu er. i
89 Judge Lynch, a... or. The Buy ' .
65 Gold Trix er, the S nrt; or, Thu Girl Avanglr.
69 Tornado ’1 om; or, njun Jack From Red Core.
38 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. ‘
98 Arkaru-uw : or, The Qu-wn ol li'nle’s Revengo.
0‘? Navajo Nlnk. the Boy Gold Hunter.
15 Captain Bullet; or, Little Topkuot’n Crusade.
31 l’lueky Philt on Run, the Roi Jet-ital. \'
41 Bill llrnvo: or, The Rough: oi the Rodd... _ ,
55 Captain Aliollv, the King-Pin of Bottle. ‘
6‘! The liaekn ‘ln Deteotlve. ‘ i
79 Old Winoll or, The Buck-kin Dunerndon. .
94 D nnmlie tan: nr. The Bowie Blade of 00!:le ‘ '
02 ’l‘ e Mountain Detective: or, Thr'l‘riggor Bar Bully. ‘
16 Old Erllple. Trumn Curd of Arluonii. ‘
26 The Ten I’nrdiq ur. The Torror 0t TnkrNotlu.
36 Big Kenning or, The Queen rifthe Lit-Io.
45 Pltlleu Matt: 0", Rod Thunderholl’l Secret.
5“ (loni Mini uml Par-1': o" The Terrible Six.
66 Velvet Foot, tha lndliin Detectlve. -
3/6 Cantnin Outlaw: or, ‘I he Bx-ccanesr’n Girl Fan.
96 Ron h Rob: nr.’l‘lio I'win Champion! of Blue Blunt.
11 The. fillken Lanna: or. The Rose of Ranch Robin.
13 Felix Fox. the tiny 55mm.
25 Texan Tram , the order Rattler.
.86 Phil Flanh tie New York Fox.
45 The City Vampire-g or, Red new. Pine...
61 One Again-i. Fifly; or, The Last Man ol‘ Kano Bur. '
70 The Boy Shadow; or. Felix Fox’u Hunt.

7 The Excelsior Sport: or, The Washington Spelt".
fl lit. the One-Eyed Sport.

Elan, tho Night Ferret.
Diol ,, the Wharf-Spy Detective. .
go 1 tie K a Belt Dodge.
Fox and Fa .9013, the Bowery Shadows. '
lodger- Dle k: the or Ferret. i v .
Dodger Dick I Double; or, Thu Rival Boy Detectlrn '

l .

LATEST‘AND NEW ISSUES. , ‘ ‘

46 Ca lain Cantu the ChaparraPC h. Bytlant. LR. Slim. .
' .47 Solid: Andyg :3. A Good M... II. 3y 1». s.w , .
48 Mai- , the Mn t Expreiin Detective. By J. C. Cor/drink»- I
49 Dear-wood Dick on llll Nettle. ByELWheelor.
50 {mugged Legacy; or. The Areas:an Son. 3; Col. Pym!- , i
‘ '12": um. ' i . . ~
551 3 lck Nettle, tho Bo Shadow. By Jo Flores. ‘ . .
riel. the Athlete. y David Druid. -
568 Lodger D'ekll Delperote Gale. [3 T. C. flourish. ~
54 "mm-u. Dick. Jr., in Go barn. I E. L. W soar. 1
'l‘he~Creo e Oar-air. By Co . Prentlu Inmhnin. . . '
Lat-lat Lily «r. The Cut for ii me. By Phil! 8. Worm. * 1
Broadway Billy's Delth'Raeket. By .C.Cowdrlok. ,
558 The flure-flbot’Pa ti. By Arthur C. Grin-on. \
559 Harlem Jack, the co Boy Detective. By Jo Pia-en. ‘
660 Pawnee Bill, the Prairie shallower. By Gal. 2. inmhun.

561 Deadwood Dick In Boston. By Edward L. Wheel".
56% Blunderlng Bani], tlia Hermit Bay 'l'nppar. By 01! Coons.
598 Dodcer Pick. the Boy Vidocq. By T. 0. through.

Randy May 8. , r / . ‘
i564 Powderrini, the Boy mm. By John w. on...

Randy May l6. . . > I I
6 K t Ki the Card Kl .‘ ‘ .001. Proud. I ,

Q5 a“ Magdvfifli "8 By nrnhnin.

soo The Secret Service Boy Detoetlva. ii, chm-m
. Randy May 99.2 . . ‘ V ‘2 ~ ‘ ‘
By Edy-rd L. . I

 

 

 

 

ukusaaausn-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

55
558
55‘?

1 ‘A Howls-up Every Tuesday. u ‘ !

mwoopymruntt'ypoflonmlptoldlunttmh. ' "’

l

 

' ‘ 3mm m‘xnmanhn ‘ 
7 4 ' ‘aswnum‘sm,mj

I u

.

 

u ’ V 1"

 

 

 

r

‘ BEADLE’SrDIMEi‘flBRARY.

Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 
    

 

#4:

 

 

BY WILLIAM R. EYSTER.

145 Pistol Pards; or, The SilentSport from Cinnabar.

160 Soft Hand, Sham; 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.

929 Captain Cutsleeve: or. The'thtle Sport.

268 Ma 10 Mike, the Man of Frills. .

300 AB port in Spectacles; or. The Bad Time at
unco.

833 Derringer Dick. the Man with the Drop.

844 Double Shot Dave of the Left Hand.

356 Tigh‘e Handsome Sports; or, The Double Com-
mation.

875 Royal George. the Three in One.

896 The Piper emotive. .

402 Snapshot Sam: or. The Angels‘ Flat Racket.

129 Hair Trigger Tom of Red Bend. -

459 Major Sunshine. the Man of Three Lives,

‘78 Pinnacle Pete; or. The Fool from Way Back.

BY CAPTAIN MAYNE BE").
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 Tlfifiaptain of the Rifles; or, The Queen of the

es.
200 The Rifle Rangers; or. Adventures in Mexico.
208 The White Chief. A Romance of Northern Mex-

loo.
'213 The War Trail: or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse.
3218 The Wild Huntress; or, The Squatter’s Ven-
geance.
228 The Maroon. A Tale of Voodoo and Obea '
284 The Hunter’s Feast. h.
267 The White Squaw.

BY CAPT. FRED. WHITTAKEB.

30 The Russian Spy; or. The Starry Cross Brothers)
65 The Red. Rajah' or. The Scourge of the Indies.
69 The Irish Capta n. A Tale of ontenoy.
33 399359195“  Tbihsps" ii W “m” '
, er' or. e ‘ t th
ms The Duke of Diamonds. 1” 0 es em‘

115 Tiae Severed Head: or, The Secret of Castle

oucy.
132 Nemo. King or the Tram
1-39 Red Rudiger. the ArcherPs'
1.4 The Phantom Knights.
187 The Death’s Head Cuirassiers.
198 The Man in Red.
206 One Eye. the Cannoneer.
:211 Colonel Plunger; or The Unknown Sport.
9%: ggrsfiiglfii. King of th'lehCogboys.
e ussars; or. e 's and the Mac
230 The Flvinz Dutchman of 1880 1

t 242 The Fog Devil; or, The Skipper ol' the Flash.

247 Alli tor Ike~ or. The Secret of the lode.

r. as“.  we: in“
- wo ' or ' ots an ates.

272 Seth Slocum. Rani-cad Surveyor.

97? The Saucy Jane, Privateer. -
Three anates; or. Old Ironsides‘ Revenge.
e Lost Corvette: or, Blakeley’s Last Cruise.
0'0“- 0. the Maverick-Hunter.
cm, the Cowboy Outlaw.
of Scranton: or. The Cattle-

! e.
826 The Whitest Man in
878 ohn Armstrong, 1135,1333"
HICKS. howman.
419 Larry e. the Man of Iron.
‘45 Journeyman John, the Champion.

\ BY 01:]: 000M198.

7 Death-Notch. the Destroyer.

43 Dakota Dan. the Reckless Ran
an on Dan Rackback the Great fie“ 1.
g ¥£e§nifetfiel¥ the Ngr'west Hunter. '
o om, e mung tlaw or ‘
~51 Red Rob. the Boy Roed- nt. saved?“
99 The Giant Rifleman: or. lid Camp Life.
In: the Giant Spy. ,
148 One-Armed All. the Giant Hunter.

BY ANTHONY P. MORRIS.‘

5 The Fire Fiends; or. Hercules. Hunchback.
the Axman; or, The Palace Secrets.

100 The French Spy" or. The Bride of Paris. ‘

a? is“. . b  “and TW-

, - or. -

988 Bank E3 1'. e utlfn gbinx.

m0

288

306

and the Crescent Cit etectiva. '
Masked taste ; or, The Queen
e Min of Fire. t.

.‘R
on

BY GEonGE s'r. chosen,
' theSea ' /

Di . ..
 ' mom'rlifmnam.

-217 The Serpent of El Peso: or. Frontier Frank.

I 298 Stiaémpede Steve; or. The Doom of the Double
v ace.
801 Bowlder Bill: or, The Man from Taos.

" 118 The Sea Slipper: or,'The Freebooters.

 

BY J. C. COWDRICK.

390 The Giant. Cupid: or Cibuta John’s Jubilee.
422 Blue Grass Burt. the Gold Star Detective.
436 Kentucky Jean. the S ort from Yellow Pine.
452 Rainbow Rob, the ip from Texas.

473 Gilbert of Gotham, the Steel-arm Detective.

BY CAPTAIN MARK WILTON.

176 Lady Jaguar. the Robber Queen.

194 Don Sombrero. the California Road Gent.
202 Cactus J ack. the Giant Guide.

219 The Sco ion Brothers; or. Mud Tom's Mission.
223 Can on ave, the Man of the Mountain.

227 Buc shot Ben, the Man-Hunter of Idaho.
237 Long-Haired Max; or, The Black League.
245 Barranca Bill. the Revolver Champion.

258 Bullet Head, the Colorado Bravo.

963 Iron-Armed Abe. the Hunchback Destroyer.
266 Leopard Luke the King of Horse-Thieves.
971 Stoneflst, of Big Nugget Bowl.

276 Texa . Chick. the Southwest Detective.

285 Lightning Br‘lt. the Canyon Terror.

291 Horseshoe Plank. 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 sm 9. HALL—“Buckskin Sam.”

3 Kit Carson. J r.. the Crack Shot.
90 Wild Will. the Mad Ranchero.
178 Dark Dashwood, the Desperate.
186 The Black Bravo: or. The Tonkaway‘s Trim 1}.
191 The Terrible Tonkaway; or. 01d Rocky and is

Pards.
195 Tlfiafione Star Gamblerg' or, The Magnolias

199 Diamond Dick. the Dandy from Denver.
204 Big Foot Wallace, the King of the Lariat.
21:! The Brazos Tigers: or. The Minute Men.

221 Desperate Duke, the Guadeloupe “Galoot.’

225 Rocky Mountain Al: or The Wait of the Range.
239 The Terribla’Trio: or. The. Angel ofthe Army.
244 Merciless Mart. the Man- Tiger of Missouri. ,
250 The Rough Riders: or. Sharp Eye the Scourge.
256 Double Dan the Bastard; or, The Pirates.

264 The Crooked Three.

269 The Bayou Bravo; or The Terrible Trail.

278 Moun'aln Mose. the dome Outlaw. ‘

282 The merciless Marauders; or Carl's Revenge.
287 Dandy Dave and his Horse. White Stocking.

809 R hold, the Battling Ran er.

922 The Crimson Co otes: or its. the Nemesis.
828 King Kent; or. he Bandits ol' the Bason.
842 Blanco Bill. the Mustang Monarch:

858 The Prince of Pan Out.

871 Gold Buttons: or, The UpRange Bards.

BY nn. .1. n. nonmsoN.

18 Pa'i‘tlhaway; or, Nick Whimes. the old Nor‘west
“ e r. \ .

17 N‘ 11.35:“; or. The Robber Prince.“

22 W ltelaw: or. Nettie of the Lake Shore.

‘8? Hirl, the Hunchback: or. TheSautee Sword-

maker. ‘ ~
58 Silver Knife: or. The Rocky Mountain Rang .
70 H drabad. the Stran ler. 
78 T e Kn hts of the. Cross: or. The Granada

an. , .
163 Ben rlon: or. Redpath’, the Avenger. '

BY mason DANGEnniEnn Burns.

'92 Buffalo Billr t‘hersuckskin King. ‘ t ‘
117 Dashing Dandy; or. The Hot ur of theHllil. . .
142 Ca tain Crimson the Man or elron Face.
156 Vb vet Face the Border Bravo. '
175 Wild Bill’s Trump Card; or. The Indian Heiress.
188 The Phantom Maze pa; or. The Hyena.

448 Hark Kenton. the tar. ‘

BY HAJOR DA NIEL BOONE DUMONT.

883 Silver Sam, the Detective,

889 Colonel Doublefmge. the Cattle Baron's Para.

411 The White Crook; or, Old Hark’s Fortress.

490 The Old River Sport". or. A Man of Honor.

fl it"? $33“- ‘ » ' ‘
3 1;: or.

464 Sandycraw the Man or Grit. ‘ ‘

Int GEORGE c. JENKS. ' 5

ate Sleepless n’ e, the Pacific Detective.
489 The Giant orseman. _

in conoNEL manna sane.
53 Silver Sam' or, The Mystery_ of Deadwood City.
87 The Scarlet Captain; or. Prisoner cube To
108 Shamus O‘Brien, the Bould Boy of Glingal. ‘

'ny PROF. J. n. mGnAnam.

118 The Burglar Captain: or. The Fallen Star.

'102'1‘he

. ris Redwing. V - ,
880  Colt, the Quaker-Ciwa Byfliharh

 

814. fitte‘ or. The Pirate of the Gum».
m IISfltte’s Lieutenantg‘or, cannot the Sea.

 
  
  
  
  
   
    
     
 
    
   
   
   
   
   
  
  
    
   
    
    
  
     
  
   
   
    
   
   
       
    
   
 
 
  
    
 
  
   
   
  
    
    
   
    
   
  

BY NEWTON M. CURTISS.

120 The Texan Spy; or. The Prairie Guide. ‘
254 Giant Jake, the Patrol 0! the Mountain. '

BY FRANCIS JOHNSON.

25 The Gold Guide: or. Steel Arm, Regulator.

96 The Death Track; or. The Mountain Outlav'a
mi Alapaha the Squaw ;- or, The Border Renegades.
124 Assowaum the Avenger; or, The Doom 0! the

Destroyer.
135 The Bush Ranger: or. The Half-Breed Rajah.
136 The Outlaw Hunter; or, The Bush Ranger.
133 The Border Bandit; or, The Horse Thiet‘s Tran.

BY 0. DUNNING CLARK.

164 The Kin ‘s Fool. .‘
183 Gilbertt 8 Guide. .\ _ I.

BY COL. THOMAS H. MONSTEBY.

82 Iron Wrist, the Swordmaster. . 1 , ‘ ‘
126 The Demon Duelist: or. The Lea e of Steel. / .
143 The Czar’s Spy; or, The Nihilist acne. \

150 E1 Rubio Bravo. King of the Swordsman.
157 Mourad, the Mameluke; or, The Three Sword-

masters.
169 Corporal Cannon. the Man of F‘an Duels. ‘
2336 Champion Sam; or The Monnrchsof the Shotr
969 Fighting Tom. the Terror of the Touche.
832 Spring-Heel Jack; or, The Masked Mystery.

av ISAAC HAWKS, Ear-Detective;

932 Orson Oxx; or, The River Mystery.
240 A Cool Head: or. Orson Oxx in Peril.

BY GUSTAVE AIMARD. ‘

15 The Tiger Slayer: or. Eagle Heart mum
19 Red Cedar. the Prairie Outlaw.

20 The Bandit at Bay; or, The Prairie  > '
21 The Tranper’s Daughter: or, The On We Feta

24 Prairie Flower. _ ,
6'2 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. ~ 3
158 The White Scalper. . . . 1»

111" NED an'ruNE.

14 Thayendane ea, the Scourge' or,'l'he War-F?

16 The White izard: or, The Seminole Prop]: , -

18 The Sea Bandit; or, Tue Queen of the Isle.

93‘ The Red Warrior: or. The Comanche Lover.

3% it”? seimc" ‘iémvmr‘iifsn ~ on...
e mugger a n: or. e s '

122 Sam Sabberday, t e Idiot . pp” ' l

870 Andros the Rover: or. The rate'aDaughter.

861 Tombstone Dick, the Train Pilot. ~ ‘

MiscEnnaivE-ovs. ’  
o Waging. Bob. the Boss Bruiser. By min-dz.
. . eeer. , ,
9 Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover. , - ‘- .
10 Vidocq, the FrenchtPolice Spy. Written ..

se .

11 Midshipman Easy. Ca taluv tt. ' ‘
- 82 B’hoys at Yale: or. Re Segapes of alleging. i, ‘
60 Wide Awake,tthe Robber King. By Frank Do-

mont. .
08 T1236 Fighting Trapper. By .Captain' 3- I“. Q.

76 The een‘s Musketeers. By Gear 9 Albany. t '
7S,The steriouss y. Arthur Grain :_
ed Ba - or, eManwlthouta one.
.By GeorgeL. en. \ ‘ - s
110 The Silent .Riflemsn. By‘B. W. Herbert. '. -
1%, The Blacksmith Outlaw; or. Merrie England.

B Harrison/Alumni“. _ A
189R the Rover. By William Carleton.
140 The ree S nlards. By Geo. Walker.
144 The Bunch at Notre Dame.

0. C
146 The tor Detective. Owe Lemuel.
1502 Captain Ironnerve. the nut cite:- Chief.
158 The Doomed Do 511.

l

zen. ByDr. w " ’ i
166 Owlet, the Robber Prince. By ‘Septimnl. E

Ur n.

179 Conrad, the Convict. By Prof. Gildeuleevo;
190 The Three Guardsmen. Alexander 
an BlgckYSaam. the Prairie rfilmeerlmlt. By v
' 0 er I. ‘ ' l
m The Smurgler Cutter: or, The Cavern in the
.B J. .Conro. '  an.

81.9 Kinkroot finchthe Mountain Scourge. 13me

  
  
  
 

arm. , -

850 [18.51103th the squarbemnve. 31de
are safe B - 6r. emu: minimum mm

Bv ngfilber? - ~ ’ ‘ '. 3
ate T1530 Telegraph Detective. 'By George am,
a m \ I _ r I V‘ H ‘
410 Sarah Brown, Detective. .ByB‘. l'. mu.- / .
471 TheHeartoank Detective. EVE-LIL“

‘ x 4‘nmmuaem. WM“ :‘
2'Ileulleu tgigcmmibnryol: for 

We", Woolly 903* 0-
noel or twelve mach.  mam
humus. 98 WilliamStx-eet. “Turk. ‘ ’ 1

   
 

    
   
   
   
    
   
   

  

  
 
 

/

l " 449 Blufl Burke. Kin of the

BEADLE’S*DIME*EBRARY.

J Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

[—

BY COL. PBENTISS INGRAHAM.

2 The Dare Devil; or, The Winged Sea Witch.

3 The Cretan Rover; or, Zuleikah the Beautiful.
The Pirate Prince; 01'. The Queen of the Isle.

M Freelance. the Buccaneer.

Ki Merle, the Mutineer; or, The Red Anchor Brand.

Montezuma. the Merciless.
09 Captain Kyd, the King of the Black Flag.

6 Black Plume; or. The Sorceress of Hell Gate.
121 The Sea Cadet; or, The Rover of the Rigoletts.
128 The Chevalier Corsair; or. The Heritage.

181 Buckskin Sam. the Texas Trailer.

134 Darke Dan, the Colored Detective.

139 Fire e; or, The Bride of a Buccaneer.

147 Gold pur. the Gentleman from Texas.

155 The Corsair Queen: or, The Gypsies of the Sea.

m The Mad Mariner; or, Dishonored and Disowned

168 Wild Bill. the Pistol Dead Shot.

172 Black Pirate; or The Golden Fetters Mystery.

177 Don Diablo, the Planter-Corsair.

181 The Scarlet Schooner; or. The Sea Nemesis.

184 The Ocean Vam ire- or, The Castle Heiress.

189 Wild Bill‘s Gold rail; or, The Desperate Dozen.

198 The Skeleton Schooner; or. The Skim ier.

205 The Gambler Pirate; or, Lady of the goon.

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, the Buccaneer.

$1 The Kid Glove Miner; or, The Magic Doctor.

285 Red Digitning the Man of Chance.

246 ueen elen, the Amazon of the Overland.

255 he Pirate Priest; or, The Gem bler’s Dan hter.
259 Cutlass and Cross; or. the Ghouls of the ea.
281 The Sea Owl; or. The Lady Ca tain of the Gulf.
307 The Phantom Pirate; or, The star Wolves.

318 The Indian Buccaneer; or. The Red Rovers.

825 The Gentleman Pirate; or. The Casco Hermite.

329 The League of Three: or, But!an Bill’s Pledge.

316 The Magic Ship; or. Sandy Hook Freebooters.

341 The Sea Des rado.

346 Ocean Guer line; or. Phantom Midshi man.

362 Buflalo Bill‘s Grip; or Oath Bound to uster.

384 The Sea Fu tive; or, The Queen of the Coast.

369 The Coast rsair; or, The Siren of the Sea.

373 Sailor, of Fortune; or, The Borne at‘Buccaneer.

877 Afloat and Ashore; or, The Corsa Cons irator.

888 The Giant Buccaneer; or, The Wrecker itch.

893 The Convict Ca t.‘an.

899 The New Monte risto. _

418 The Sea Siren; or, The Fugitive Privateer.

425 The Sea Sword; or. The Ocean Rivals.

480 The Fatal Frigate- or, Rivals in Love and War.
435 The One-Armed Buccaneer.

446 Ocean . the Outcad Corsair.

457 The Sea nsurgent.

469 The Lieutenant Detective,

476 Bob Brent, the Buccaneer.
' 482 Ocean Tramps.

BY WILLIAM H. MANNING.
V279 The Gold Dragoon, or. the California Blood-

. ‘ hound.
297 Colorado Rube. the Strong Arm of Hotspur.
885 Will Dick Turpin, tne Leadville Lion.
405 Old Baldy. the B adier of Buck Basin.
. 415 Hot Heart. the De ctive S y.
'427 The Rivals of Montana Mil
487 Dada; Duke: or, The Man of Two Lives.
442 W West Walt. the Mountain Veteran.

es.
455 Yank Yellowbir the Tall Hustler of the Hills.
463 Gold Gauntlet. the Gulch Gladiator.
470 The Duke ‘01 Dakota. ‘ ,
479 Gladiator Gabe, the Samson of Sassajack.
486, Kansas Kitten. the Northwest Detective.

‘ BY EDWARD WILLETT.

129 Mississippi Mose; or. a Strong Man's Sacrifice.
1209 Buck Farley, the Bonanza Prince.
292 Bill the Blizzard; or, Red Jack's Crime.

, £48 Montana Nat, the Lion of Last Chance Camp.

, 274 Flush Fred. the Mississippi Sport.

4E9 Flush Fred's Full Hand.
ans L'gger Lem; or, Life in the Pine Woods.
608 Hemlock Hank. Tough and True.
815 Flush Fred‘s Double; or, The Squatters’ League.
897 Terrapin Dick. the Wild wood Detective.
337 Old Gabe, the Mountain Tramp.
348 Dan Dillon. King of Crosscut.
was The Canyon King; or. a Price onbls 
488 Flush Fred. the River Sharp. '

BY JACKSON KNOX-I“ 01d Hawk.”

886 Hawk Heron. ‘the Falcon Detective.

4S4 Hawk Heron’s Deputy.

’444 TheMagchetectivc; or. The Hidden Band.
451 debck, the Rocket Detective.

400 The Circus Detective.

497 Mainwaring. the Salamander.

477 Dead-arm Brandt.

485 Bowlock, the Harbor Detective.

 

BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. W. F. Cody).

59 Death-Trailer. the Chief of Scouts.

83 Gold Bullet S mm; or, Knights of the Overland.
243 The Pilgrim bar ;or The Soldier's Sweetheart.
304 Texas Jack. the ralri’e Rattler.

819 Wild Bill; the Whirlwind of the West.

394 White Beaver, the Exile of the Platte.

897 The Wizard Brothers; or, White Beaver’s Trail.
401 One-Armed Pard; or, Borderland Retribution.
414 Red Renard, the Indian Detective.

BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR.

m Three-Fingered Jack the Road-Agent.
30 Gospel George; or, lerv Fred. the Outlaw
40 Lon -Haired Pards; or, The Tarters o! the Plains.
45 Old ull’s—Eye, the Lightning Shot. .
47 Pacific Pete, the Prince of the Revolver.
50 Jack Rabbit, the Prairie S ort.‘ ,
64 Double-Si lit, the Death 0t.
67 The Boy ockey: or, Honesty ys. Crookedness.
71 Captain Cool Blade; or. Mississip 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 Bully of Red Rock.
154 Joaquin, the Saddle King.
155 Joaquin. the Terrible.
170 Sweet William, the Trapper Detective.
180 Old ‘49; or. The Amazon of Arizona.
197 Revolver Rob' or, The Belle of Nugget Cam .
201 Pirate of the Pincers; or, J oaquin’s Death unt.
233 The Old Boy of Tombstone.
241 S itflre Saul, Kin of the Bustiers.
249 ephant Tom. 0 Durango.
257 Death Trap Diggings; or, A Hard Man from
’Wa Back. > V
283 Sleek Sam. the Devil of the Mines.
286 Pistol Johnny; or, One Man in a Thousand.
292 Moke Homer. the Boss Roustabout.
802 Faro Saul, the Handsome Hercules.
317 Frank Lightfoot, the Miner Detective.
394 Old Forked Lightning. the Solitary.
331 Chispa Charis . the Gold Nugget Sport. ‘
339 S read Eagle Sam, the Hercules Hide Hunter.
845 asked Mark, the Mounted Detective;
351 Nor‘ West Nick, the Border Detective.
355 Stormy Steve, the Mad Athlete.
360 Jumping Jerry, the Gamecock from Sundown.
367 A Royal Flush; or, Dan Brown’s Big Game.
872 Captain Crisp, the Man with a RecOrd.
879 Bowling Jonathan, the Terror from Headwaters.
887 Dark Durg. the Ishmael of the Hills.
895 Deadly Aim, the Duke of Derringers.
408 ‘The N aineless Sport.
409 Rob Bo Ranch- or, The Imps, 01' Pan Handle.
416 Monte im the Black Shes of Bismarck.
426 TngGliiost Detective; or. T Spy of the Secret
rv ce. v
483 Laughing Leo; or, Sam‘s Dandy Ford.
438 Oklahoma Nick. ‘ ,
443 A Cool. Hand - or, Pistol Johnny‘s Picnic.
450 The Rustler Detective.

' 458 Dutch Dan. the Pilgrim from Spitzenberfi.
of Sun own.

466 Old Rough and ReadB the Sage
474 Dadd Dead-Eye, the espot 01! Dew Drop.
488 The oraughbred Sport.

BY CAPTAIN nowann nomin.

278 Hercules Goldspur the Man of the Velvet Hand."
294 Broadcloth Burt. the Denver Dandy. ,

821 California Claude, the Lone Bandit.

335 Flash Dan. the Nabob; or. Blades of Bowie Bar.
840 Cool Conrad. the Dakota_Detective.

847 Denver Duke. the Man With “ Sand.”

852 The Desperate Dozen.

865 Keen Kennard. the Shasta Shadow.

874 Major Blister. the Sport of Two Cities.

382 The Bonanza Ba
892 The Lost Bonanza: or. The Boot of Silent Hound.

400 Captain Coldgrip: or. The New York Spotter.
407 Captain Coldgrlp’s Nerve; or, Injun Nick.
413 Captain Coldgrlp in New York.

421 Father Ferret. the Frisco Shadow.

494 Lucifer Lynx. the Wonder Detective.

441 The California Sharp

447Wolcano, the Frisco Spy. _

453 Caan Coldgrip’s Long Trail.

460 Captain Coldgrip. the Detective.

468 Coldng in Deadwood.

480 Hawkspear, the Man with a Secret.

487 Sunshine Sam. a Chip of the Oldfilock.

BY LEON LEWIS.

428 The Flying Glim; or, The Island Lure.

456 The DemonSteer. ’

481 The Silent Detective; or.‘Tbe Bogus Nephew.
484 Captain Ready, the Red Ransomer.

BY PERCY B. 81‘. JOHN.

57 The Silent Hunter. «, .
H The Big Hunter: or; The Queen of the Woods.

ml; or. Dread Don of Cool Clan. »

 

BY PHILIP S. WARNE.

1 A Hard Crowd; or. Gentleman Sam’s Sister.

4 The Kidnap .r; or The Northwest Shanghai.
29 Tiger Dick. nro ng; or. The Cashier’s Crime.
5: Always on Hand; or. The Foot-Hills 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 Dick vs. Iron Despard.

280 Tiger Dick’s Lone Hand.

299 Three of a Kind; or, Tiger Dick. Iron Desparcl
and the Sportive Sport.

338 Jack Sands. the Boss of the Town.

359 Yellow Jack. the Mestizo.

380 Tiger Dick‘s Pledge; or. The Golden Serpent.

404 Silver Sid; or, A ‘ Dais “ Bluif.

431 Cal‘ ornia Kit. the Always on Hand.

472 Six oot Si: or, The Man to " Tie To."

BY ALBERT W. AIKEN.

27 The Spotter Det ctive: or. Girls at New York.
81 The New York S sip; or. The Flash of Lightning.
83 Overland Kit: 01', he ldyl of Whiie Pine.
. 84 Rocky Mountain Rob.‘ the California Outlaw.
85 Kentuck. the Sport: or, Dick Talbot of the Mines.
86 Injun Dick; or. The Death-Shot ot Shasta.
88 Velvet Hand; or. In, no Dick’s Iron Grip.
41 Gold Dan: or. The hite 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 ol the Plains.
59 The Man from Texas; or. The Arkansas Outlaw.
63 The Winged Whale: or. The Red Rupert of Gulf.
:3 The Phantom Hand : or, The 5th Avenue Heiress.
75 GentlemanGeorge: or, Parlor. Prison and Street.
77 The Fresh of Frisco: or. The Heiress.
79 Joe Phenix. the Police Spy.
81 The Human Tiger: or. A Heart of Fire.
84 Hunted Down: or, The League of Three.
91 The Winnin Car: or. The Innkeepers Daughter.
93 Captain Dic Talbot. King of the Road.
97 Bronze Jack. the California Thoroughbred.
101 The Man from New York.
107 Richard Talbot. ot Cinnabar.
112 Joe Phenix. Private Detective.
180 Captain Volcano: or. The Man 01! Red Revolvers.
161 The Wolves of New York' or. Joe Phenix’s Hunt.
173 California John. the Pacific Thoroughbred.
196 La Marmoset. the De tective een. I
203 The Double Detective; or.The idnight Mystery.
252 The Wall Street Blood; or. The Telegraph Girl.
820 The Genteel Spotter or. The N. Y. Night Hawk.
349 Iron-Hearted Dink. t e Gentleman Road-Agent.
854 Red Richard; 01 The Crimson Cross Brand.
863 Crownin ield, the Detective
870 The Dus y Detective: or. Pursued to the End.
376 Black Beards: or. The Rio Grande High Horse.
381 The Gyps Gentleman; or Nick Fox, Detective.
884 Injun Dic . Detective; or, Tracked to New York.
891 Kate Scott. the Decoy Detective.

408 Doc Grip. the Vendetta of Death.

4'19 The Bat of the Battery; or. Joe Phenix. Detective.
423 The Lone Hand; or, The Red River Recreants.
440 The High Horse of the Pacific.

461 The Fresh on the Rio Grande.

465 The Actor Detective.

475 Chin Chin, the Chinese Detective.

LATEST AND NEW ISSUES.

489 The Pirate Hunter. By Col.» Prentiss Ingraham.
490 The Lone Hand in Texas. Bv Albert W. Aiken.

491 Zigzag and Cutt. the Invincible Detectivet. By
E. A. St. Mox.

492 Border Bullet, the Prairie Sharpshooter. By
Wm. H. Manning.

498 The Scouts of the Sea. By Col. P.1ngrsham.

494 The Detective‘s Spy. By JacksOn Knox.

495 RattleIpate Rob‘ or. The Roundhead‘s Reprisai.
By os.E. Badger, Jr.

496 Richard Redflre, the Two Worlds’Detectivo. By‘
‘ Capt. Howard Holmes.

497 The Fresh in Texas. By A. W. Aiken.
. Ready Maya. » g s B
498 Central Pacific Paul. the Ma Train py. y-
Wm. H. Manning. ReadyMay9. J G
“Twilight Charlie the'Road Sport. By . .
Cowdrick. Roddy May16.
Tb True~Heart Pardo- or. The Gentleman
50" .lfigabond. By Dr. No.31 Dunbar.
wymym' ‘ tired Detecti B ‘
501 8 do too] Steve the Re ve. y
gaclgtgon Knox. ’neody May as.
.4 WW: mm Wednesday.

’ Beadle,- nlme Library is to: sale by all
Newsdealers, ten cents per copy, or sent by mail on
receipt cg twelve cents each. /

BEADLE AND ADAMS, Pom.

’ i ‘ as William Street. New tori. _