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BY MAJOR DANIEL BOONE DUMONT,

AUTHOR OF “ SILVER SAM,” “ COLONEL DOUBLE-
EDGE,” “THE OLD RIVER SPORT,”
“ THE WIIITE CROOK,” ETC.

CHAPTER I.
TERRIFYING A TENDERFOOT.

TIMES were hard in Topnotch, and, the harder
the times grew, the tougher the citizens became.

It was no wonder that times were hard, as
everybody but the Topnotchers had declared
that it was the worst kind of folly to try to
start a town there, nearly halfvway up the
mountain side.

No railroad could possibly reach it, and the
camp was very difficult of access by any kind of
conveyance.

Tolbert, down in the valley, was on the line
of a projected mill-ow, and was consequently '
booming its expectations in the liveliest style. A BUSH THAT WAS ALMOST SOLEMN CAME OVER THAT ROUGH ASSEMBLAGE, WROUGHT NO

The Toibertites were of the opinion that the LESS BY THE WONDERFUL VOICE THAN BY THE THRILLING WORDS OF THE EYMN. .‘ 1

I

 

 

 

2 ' ,

‘Topnotch Tim, the Mad. Parson.

 

 

only hope of Topnotch lay in its annexation to
Tolbert by means of a land-slide or snow-slide

/ that should sweep it down into the valley.

- Some people were mean enough to say that
not a bit of harm would be done if the remain-
ing Topnotchers should be overwhelmed in that
sudden removal.

Yet Topnotch had its excuse, and there had
been a reason for its existence.

In the exciting events which are to form a
portion of this narrative, the reason for the
ori inal establishment of the camp may more
pla nl appear.

Sn ce it to say now that avery promising
lead had been developed up there, and a wealthy
company had been formed to work it out, and
To notch therefore promised well at the start.

he vein had “ petered out," and the wealthy
company had abandoned the works, and what

i was there left for Topnotchl

The only wonder was that anybody remained '

there, and it/ was agreed that none but the
toughest citizens could have “ stuck it out.”
But there was a day of regeneration at hand
for Topnotch, or at least the promise of one,
‘ though the Topnotchers knew it not.

The forerunner of that regeneration was a.
slim fining man who was seated one day in
Bart cGinley’s juicery, in the presence of a
few of the toughest citizens of Topnotch.

The truth was that a. new company had been
formed to develop the abandoned mine, with
better methods and improved machinery, and
that the slim young man, whose name was
I I Simon Marvel, and who was the son of a direc-
- ' tor of the company, had been sent to Topnotch

to establish an office, and act as a kind of finan-
cial agent in advance of the operations.

He was a sandy~haired young man, with weak
eyes, inoffensive-in his manner, and very neat
in his dress.

Another young man, Burch Blanton by name,
and a mining engineer by profession, had been
sent to Topnotch to select a site for the works,
ai‘iid lay out a practicable road up the mountain-

; s) o.
It happened that neither of those two youn
. men was aware of the errand of the other, an

., that they had never met.

These matteis, moreover, were entirely un-
known to the four tough citizens who were
then seated in McGinle ’s place, wishing that
they had the wherewit to drown their trou-
bles in drink.

As their credit was limited, they could only
induI in an occasional bath, and drowning was
r out o the question. I
' , The four tough ones were Sandy McGuckin,

Ben Staples, otherwise known as BadLands
Ben, a big ruiIlan who styled himself Deadwood
 , Dave, and Aaron Issues, a gentleman of the
,3 ‘ Jewish persuasion, who had never been known
"  will ‘ sfilkiiei"? "‘i’k’ rospecto ‘ a
,5 ’ ey s y emse ves rs, an
‘ ; professed to be engaged in thatpreputable avo-
» cation; tbut it was mgrggslgn suil-‘niised that ctheir
 rospec ‘ng was con 1: see out an ap-
x- , gropriatinflhegrogerty of othernpgeople.
‘,  =  Simon rv , aviug lately “struck the
_ - ' comp,” had in his simplicity uired for-a res
- tournnhandhadbeen direc byso other
7 gigous- and untruthful person to M inley’s
‘ < I, My. .‘
 It was for him to perceive when be en-
, toreditthat tdidnothave a bitof thelookot
v a restaurant; but he accosted the proprietor,
‘andwantod toknow if he could get a lunch

 i. _ ‘f Thor’s lunch fur them as drinks,” my “3‘

, “Give me the best you can, then, and I will

I' pay for that and my drink, too.” '
o doubt Simon Marvel behaved that this
was the liberal thing. though to the others who
were present it appeared to be the some of

meanness. i
That he should drink alone was bad‘ enough,
and that he should waste money on victuals was

worse.
I However, it was not to refuse,such a rea-
sonable requestgand Bart cGinley ungracious-
1y set out a. also by bit of lunch on a. dirty table,
at the same time directing the attention of his
» ~ estto themore importantmatterof something

Simon Marvel ordered some whisky which he
did not expect to use, and tackled his unch with
r, it not with enthusiasm. '
1. t was neither nice to look at nor to eat;
. but the ‘ oun man was hungix, an he felt that
. it wo not 0 to be too fasti bus in Topnotch.
> , As soon as he entered the saloon, the four
ton h citizens, who have been mentioned above,
' mar ed him as a tenderth and with one ac-
cord they determined to victimize him..
In this opinion they were justified, as Simon
 l was 11 uestronably a underfoot, being
quite gnomnt o the ways and manners 01 the
pegile of that region. ‘
e had heard and read much about them, but
had yet to form their acquaintance, and nothing
“ goes " among their sort but personal expen-

v i

 

 

   
   
   
  
    
     
  
    
  
 

once. »

_ Havin settled on him as a victim, the four

{hrgmedeg to “roast? him in a style with which
y were familiar. _

 

Speakin so that he could easily hear them,
they talk to each other as if continuing a pre-
vious conversation.

“What became of the tenderfoot, Dave that

on struck at Deadfall P’int?" inquired Sandy

cGuckin.

“ Became of him?” answered Deadwood Dave,
with a. hoarse laugh. “ Well, what do you
reckon?l The coyotes have cleaned him up be—
fore now. When the Deadfall boys had got
their fun out of him, they turne him over to
us, and we made short work of im. He sol—
emnly swore that he’d leave the "cnuntry, and
then we made a. sure thing of his keepin’ his
oath.” ‘ .

“ How did you do that, Dave?”

“Took him to the Deadfall, and jest pitched
him over. I reckon that drop settled it.”

“ It ought to,” observed Bad Lands Ben; “ but
that wasn’t as neat a scheme as a few of us
worked with a tenderfoot we met on the King-
pin Road.”

“Now we're goin’ to git somethin’ good,” ex-
claimed Sandy McGuckin. “ What was the
scheme, Ben?"

“ He was a tender-foot from Softville, as any-
body could see at a lance, and he was traVelin’
on a mule with sadd ebngs and a gngisack, and
seek odds and ends as hammers an picks and
pots and pans. ”

“ No wonder you dropped onto him.”

“ You oughter seen the outfit. Well, we
axed him what he had come here for, and he
said he was goin’ into the minin’ business. We
wanted to know how much money he had
brought in, and he said ’twas only a little. We

ulled him off his mule and searched him, and

he durned cuss had told the truth. He didn’t
have money enough to last a decent white man
a week.”

“Jest like those tenderfoots,” remarked big
Dave. “He had the presumptuousness to come
here, expectin’ to make a livin’ oh? the kentry.”

“ That’s what the matter was. Of course we
couldn’t stand that sort 0’ foolishness, and so we
strung him up.” . " .

“Jest strung him up?” scornfully observed
Dave. , “ Thar warn’t no sort o’fun in that.”

“ But we strung him up by the heels, and left
him danglin’ thar. The mule and the rest of the
outfit we confiscated.”

“ Served him right, the povert ~stricken coy-
ote!” put in Aaron Isaacs. “ I 0 hate a ten-
derfoot.”

“Not near as bad as -I hate ’em,” averted
Deadwood Dave. “I allers go fur the galoots
whenever I come across ’em.”

This sort of talk was not a bit inspiriting to
Simon Marvel; it was not calculated to improve
his appetite or aid his digestion.

There had been no such blood-cwdling trage-
dies as were described, and’the stories hehad
hoard were merely imaginary, intended to ter-
rify the presumed tenderfoot' but of course he
was not aware of th ' fraudulent and windy
character. ‘

He perceived that he had got into'the wrong
place, that he was in a. bad box, and it naturally
occurred to him that the best thing he could do

;Would be to get out of it as quietly as possible,

before the men who were so fond of going for
the tenderfooted ones should take it into their

heads to go for him.

Leaving his glass of liquor untouched, he got
up and stepped to the bar, with the intention of
settling his account and leaving the house.

This was a move which the four tough citizens
were by no means willing to permit, and they,
hastened to put a stop to it. >

When Simon Marvel looked around to learn
the cause of what seemed to be a. sudden com-

- motion in the saloon, he saw that two men had

blockaded the door at his left, while two others
were approaching him from the right.

There was a significant grin on the face of
Bart McGinley who hi hly approved ‘of the
pro rations of his frien s.
ow could he be expected to interfere in be-
half of an outsider, who was not only a tendon:
foot, but was mean enough to drink alone and
limit himself to one glass of whisky?

CHAPTER II.
Four. AGAINST on. r‘
SANDY MCGUOKIN and Ben Staples were the
two men who blocked up the doorway, while

 

, those who advanced from the rear of the saloon

were Deadwood Dave and Aaron Isaacs.

The big bully'pansed at the little table, where
the stra er’s untouched glass of liqgor pre-,.
sented a mptation that was not be re—’

sisted. v -

Ho drained the glass before Isaacs. could get
to it and lifted up his voice in tones that were
tough, it not tragic: ,

" “ trike, cut; shoot! I smell the blood of a.
ten crtoot. Dead or alive, 1’11 git the galootl”

This was not calculated to tranquilize the mind
of the only tenderfoot present, who showed vas—
ible .signs of uneasiness, and Deadwood Dave
continued his unpleasant remarks.

,“ He is mean enough to. drink alone, this ten-
derfoot is, and he don’t take but one drink, and
that he don‘t swaller.” '

“You helped him out' of that part of the
scraps, Dave,” remarked Aaron. \

 

 

“And on wanted to; but I got in ahead of
you. Fe ler-citizens. what’s to be done with a.
tenderfoot who hain’t got no more conscience
nor public sperret than that? Don’t he on ht
to he took holt of and taught his duty to is
kentr and his feller—manl”

“ ou’ve struck it right, Dave,” observed
Sandy McGuokin. '

This was decidedly personal to the one tender-
foot in the saloon, and was calculatedto rey
upon his feelings, especially in view of the ar-
rowing narratives to which he had listened'
yet it was possible that harm was not intended

m.

The only way to test the question was to at-
tempt to leave the place, and for that purpose he
moved toward the door.

There he was stopped by Bad Lands Ben
and Sandy McGuckin, and the heavy grip of
Deadwood Dave fell on his coat-collar.

“Not much. my cherub,” firmly declared
Dave. “ Not much, my tenderfooted darling.
You can't tear yourself away from us in that
heartless style. As citizens of Topnotch‘ who
never go back on ublic sperrits or private
liquor, we’ve got to investigate you."

“You had better leave me alone,” replied
Simon Marvel, trying to bristle up. “ You
don’t know who I am.’

“That’s true enough, sonny, and you don’t
know who we are, either; but we are goin’ to
interjuice ourselves to you, and you are goin’
to make our acquaintance in away you will
be likely to remember. Don‘t you reckon
that afore the circus begins, you had better
show your public sperrit by treatin’ this
party?’ I

It may be said for Simon Marvel that he
was strongly inclined to repudiate this propo-
sition. ‘

Though by no means belligerent, he was not a
coward, and it did not please him to feel that
he was being im osed on; but his enemies were
four to one, and e was helpless. It was barely
possible that he might conciliate them; so

9 itepped to the bar, and invited them to
drin .

They accepted this invitation with cheerful
alacrity, ranging themselves i0 that there was
no chance for him to escape.

He laid ,down a ld-piece to pay for the
round, and the man ehind the bar ' hived it”
with no ceremony.

“ Where is my changel”inqu’ired Simon.

“ That’s all right,” answered Bart. “ When
the rest of the drinks is paid for, you’ll git what’s
comin’ to you.”

“There are no more drinks to be paid
for, and you have no right to keep my money.”
‘ Can’t you understand, my dear?” urged
Deadwood Dave. “ Just look at the matter in
the light of ublic sperrlt, and what would

on expect! on axed us to drink, and we’ve
begun to drink, but we hain’t finished drinkin’.
Don’t r’lle us up by gittin‘ the thin wrong.”

“This is nothing 188 than rob cry,” boldly
protested the young man. .

“ Dear mel Hear him talk! If you don’t try
to git hold of a little public sp‘eri'it,tygung teller,
you are like] to have a ard e inthese

. Whar 3 your mother?”

“ Where is my mother?” innoceiglg replied
Simon, who was naturally surpri by the

uestion. “Where is my mother? She is at

necta, Kansas.”

“ Does she know that on are here?”

“I don’t suppose she cos.”  7

“It’s to be oped she don as it mi ht worry
her to think that you’d fiot to trou )9 for the
want of public sperrit. ow you’re goin’ to ax

' us to drink ag’in.”

“Now I am going to leave this lace!” de-
clared the young man, who had so his spunk
up, and was becoming des rate. . >

“ I reckon you won’t. remarked his tor-
mentor. , _

“ I will, thou b. You may kill me, but you
sha’n’t keep me ere.” .

It was quickly roved to him that they could
kill him or keep in, as suited their pleasure. ‘

As he turned to make a second attempt to
away, Deadwood, Dave clutched him,‘ .wlnr ed
him around, and held him With a. grip from
which there was no escaping. v

"‘ Not this time honey!” roared the big bully.
“ You have settled it now, you domed fool of a
tenderfoot, and we mean to skin you alive.
We’ll teach 'you better than totrifle with the
public-sperrited citizens of Topnotch.”

.uYou had better let me go," urged 
‘,‘ You will suffer for this yet." ,

“ Oh, no. not us. It is somebody else who is
goin‘ to suger. HflQW does itpsn‘ike‘you that we
canbema etosu er sonny

“ When my father hears of this, he will find
wa to settle with you.”

‘ Hilly? “1” E? m- “a

. s 00 mac or pu lo-spern
12.00318 to stand. Hold him up,§en,till I land
him one on his nose and sp’ile his beauty so tha
his will never know him ag’inJ’ _ I ,
e situation had become something more
than serious: it was actually temfying.

Simon Marvel, unable to help himself, con-
centrated all his energies upon a yell for
once.

threatens 'us with his

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I Topnotch Tim. the Mad Parson.

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“ Help 1” he shouted. “ Murder !“
' The four toughs were sure that no help could
come to him, or they might not have been so
cool and confident in their deliberate torture.

Yet there was help at hand, the presence of
which they would never have suspected.

Burch Blanton, the mining en ineer who had
been sent to Topnotch in the amp oy of the new
company, happened along; and had halted in
front of McGinley’s.

There was nothing of the look of the tender-
foot about Burch, who, though a young man,
was fully six feet high and splendidly propor-
tioned, with bronzed features and a general
up arance of being able to stand the weather.

file stout corduroy trowsers showrd signs of
wear; his high boots and his short coat with
many pockets were made for hard work and
rough usage.

The cartrid e—belt at his waist proved that he
was “ heeled, ’ and the keen gray e es that
flashed from under the rim of his wool at gave
token of a spirit that could back up the heeling.

He had looked in at the open doorway of the
saloon, and had heard enough to understand
what was going on there.

It will be perceived that the help at hand was
not extensive; but it was willing and efficient.

At Simon Marvel's yell the engineer dashed
into the saloon, and his action and words were
alike effective.

“ Let that man go!” be ordered, in clear and
ringing tones, that spoke of power as well as
pur ose.

“ is him go, I say, or I will make daylight
shine through on!"

Deadwood ave stared in amazement at the
intrepid stranger, and so did the others.

As he was only one man, his audacity in is-
Suing orders to those four was surprising to
them.

As big Dave did not instantly obey the order,
Blanton seized his wrist, and gave it a twist
that almost made him bowl with pain as he
drop ed his grip on Simon Marvel‘s coat-collar.

“ an out of this. my friend,” now ordered
the engineer; and Simon, quickly availing him-
self of the privilege, darted out of the doorway.

Burch Blanton backed out, after him, holding
the four tough citizens in check with a levels
revolver, which he had drawn and cooked.

The four were at first so astonished by his un-
expected and audacious action, that th y could
make no move, thus allowing him to eta de-
cided advantage.

CHAPTER III.
TOPNOTCH rut.

BURCH BLANTON backed out into the street,
but was followed by the four toughs, whose as-
tonishment was immediately succeeded by the
intensest anger.

It was a burning shame that one man should
have been permitted tooverawe them and rescue
their victim from their clutches.

He was also evidently a stranger, and as such
obnoxious to the Topnotchers.

Deadwood Dave turned himself loose to do
justice to the occasion.

“ Come on, boys!” he shouted. “ Let’s make
an, engl of that pup, so that he’ll never bark
ag in!

The four toughepoured out of the saloon, and
Bart McGinley, jum ing over his counter stood
in the doorway and ooked after them to behold
the “ circus.” v »

Simon Marvel, who Yhad awaited the exit of
his new friend, thought when he saw the sally
that the locality was a good one to get away

from.

“ Let’s run,” he suggested. .

“You may run if you want to, and
you had better ” answered Blanton. “
part, I can’t a 0rd to run.” '

Simon Marvel mi ht have thought that he
could afford to run; at he had too much man-
hood to do so, under the circumstances.

He drew his revolver, which had reviously
rested peacefully in his hip pocket, and) prepared
-to stand by his rescuer.

Anyhow, it would be better to be killed in an
open fight, than to be tortured to death by those
miscreants in McGiniey's bar-room.

There was one person in the Vicinity who could
aflord to run; but his running did not carry him
.away from dau er. '\

He came lop ng toward the scene of action
with great strides, reaching it 'ust as the four
toughs were starting for Burch lanton. '

There was nothing of the tenderfoot about the
new-comer. and in appearance and manner he
was a peculiar person.

Fully as tall as Burch Blanton he looked much
taller, being remarkabl gaunt and loan, but
with thaws and sinews t at might be compared
“to those of a race-horse.

His long black hair and abundant board were
thickly streaked with y, and his dark eyes
shone with a strange an unnatural fire.

In dress, also, he was peculiar.

His stout woolen trowsers and bi boots would
have well suited a. miner or cat eman and so
would his rough slouch hgt, tobesay nothing of

It that were
scarcely concealed.
The peculiar portion of his attire was a long

»

rhaps
or my

,cowa

 

black frock coat, single-breasted, such as is
worn by some clergymen, together with a white
nicktie under the collar of his coarse flannel
s irt.

In his right hand he carried a long and heavy
hickory stick, too long for a cane, but an excel‘
lent article for offensive or defensive purposes.

Blanton and Marvel stared in amazement at
this man as he came bounding to where they
stood, and the four toughs were evidently ex-
cited and apprehensive.

“ Look out, Davel" cried Sandy McGuckin.
“ Here comes Topnotch Tim 1" '

The man who was styled Topnotch Tim halted
in front of the two young men, and faced the
others. '

“ The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” he
cried in a loud voice as he brandished his stick
and shook it threatenineg at the toughs.

“ The sword of the Lord and of Gideon! Be-
ware its might! What do you mean, ye hell-
deserving pups of Satan? Are there no hen-
roosts or clothes—lines for you to rob, no new-
dropped calves or sick lambs to steal, that you
molest and maltreat two decent white strangers
who have come here to build up your gone-to-
seed, rum-soaked, God-forsaken town? If they
knew you as well as 1 do. they would put 11
their pistols and kick you out of Topnotch, as
hope they soon will do.”

“ Git away from here, parson,” replied Dead-

wood Dave. “ Stand out of the way, or you
may git hurt.”
“Get hurt! I get hurt? Who is to hurt me,

I would like to know?"

“ What is to hinder me from blowin’a hole
through you with this gun?”

“ Everything is to hinder you. You do not
dare to do it. The Lord God of Israel would
strike you dead, you big loafer !”

As the old man attend these im ressive
words, he seemedto grow taller, and is face
was lighted up as that of a prophet of old-time
might havo been.

He looked as if he really believed what he
said, and the four tougbs looked as if they be-
lieved it, too.

At all events, they stared at him in a hesitat-
ing way, as if they supposed him to be possess-
ed of some mysterious power.

“ Here I am i” he shouted again. “Shoot if
you dare! I have not near as much fear of you
as I would have of a skunk. You are a coward
of the meanest kind, and so are all the man
gang you run with, fit for nothin but to soa
whisky and sneak around to stea the re ti
of decent people. Unlesl you can don Its-fin
a. man, you would never dare to look at him.
A little while, now, and you will to the place
appointed for liars and drunka s and thieves,
and the world will be well rid of on.”

Stran e as it seemed to Euro Blanton, the
big bul y did not raise his revolver, nor did
either of the three others make any hostile de-
monstration.

Perhaps they real! feared the old fellow who
denounced them so aialy and bitterly, or per-
haps the truth of t e denunciation struck them
etc; forcibly that they were unable to object to

1
Whatever the cause, they looked like whipped
cure as they stood and listened to that vigorous
ob urgation.
opnotch Tim advanced toward them, brand-
ishing- his stick as if he needed no other weapon
to cg‘ge with such adversaries.

“ a sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” he
cried again. “ Scatter, e miscreants! Get to
your dens, ye wolves! at to your holes. you
rdly coyotes, whose elp is alwzys worse
than your bite! Sneak o . I say, and do your-
selves, and await the do. of doom i"

To the surprise of t o two young men, his
order was immediately obeyed.

Th four toughs did sneak on, silently and as
if asbkned of themselves, and re-entered Mc-
‘tGhinley s saloon and closed the door behind

em.

It was well enough for them that the did so,
as the loud voice of Topnotch Tim an the ap-
parently belligerent group had atttractcd to the
scene several men, amen whom was PerryV
Bumham, the pgoprietor o the T notch Hou-
wher: Burch B ntou had enga a room and

boar .

Soseldom did Bumham get hold of a. est
in those days. that be con] not allow me an
angel visitant to be killed or damaged; them-
fore, seein Blanton in what appeared to be a
difficulty, 3 had hastened to his assistance.

Topnotch Tim followed the ton he to their
hole in McGinley’s saloon, and t en walked
sw1ftly down the street, his lon strides, as well
as his general appearance, ma ing him a con-
spicuous figure.

"It was wonderful, the way the old man scat-
tered those scalawags,” remarked Simon Mar-
vel, who was then as bold as a lion.

He had stood by his rescuer when they two
were pitted against four, and had risen consid-
erabl in his own opinion. i -

“ are is another strange thing about it,”
added Blanton. “ He spoke of us as two men
who had come here to build up the town.
How could he know anything about that? I
have been sent here to. prepare the [way for the

 

new mining company; but you, my friend, may
I ask what brought you. here?"

“ I am here on business for the mining coni-
pan . too," answered Simon.

“ hen we are partners, and must work to-
gether.”

“ I will be glad to work with you, sir, and it is
a great pleasure to have met you. It is more
than a pleasure, because, if you had not come to
my help as you did, I am afraid that those
scoundrels would have robbed me, and perhaps
murdered me.”

“ We are both well out of that scrape thanks
to the old man. My name is Burch filanton.
What is yours?” _

“ Simon Marvel. and I am the son of one of
the directors of the company."

“ I know your father, or know of him. To keep
out of such scrapes in the future you had better

0 to the hotel with me, where I am putting up.

r. Bumham, here, is another victim for you.
We two will help the cause a little, and when
the mine gets started up again, you may expect
to do a land-office business.”

Perry Burnhuni accompanied his guests to
the hotel, glad to keep one and to get anr
other. 1

On the way Blanton asked him who and what
the old man was who had sol‘horougbly terrified
the toughs.

“ His name is Timothy Marlow,” answered
the landlord. “He used to be a preacher, and I
have no doubt that he was a good one. His wife

ran away with another man, and that is what I , ,

upset his mind. He quit preaching because he
said that Satan had got hold of him, and that he
had no right to meddle with the Gospel while he
was fully determined to kill that man if he
could ever discover him. Some people call him
Topnotch Tim, because he lives high u on To
notch Mountain with his dau hter. a sure y
knows where there is gold, an has some secret
diggings of his own, as he used to bring plenty
of dust and scales and nuggets to town, and
suppose he does yet, unless he has transferred his
trade to Tolbert.”

“ I will be bound that he is not lacking in

sense,” observed Blanton, “ though he maybe _, |‘
1m

crazy on one point. I would like format
and have a talk With him, as I believe he
could give me some good advice about laying
out a road.” ~
“Don’t you consider him e vs brave man,
Mr. Burnhami" inquired Simon arvel. »
“ Brave or reckless, it is hard to say which.
It may be because he is crazy and don’t know
any better, but it is certain that he fears nothing
in this world."

CHAPTER IV.
smon MARVEL AS A HUNTER.

WITHIN 3. week after the unpleasant occur-

rence that had signalized his advent in To notch

Simon Marvel, who had secured an 0 cc, but

had little or nothing to do, set forth on a hunt-
in excursion.

t may be said for Simon that be dressed

 

 

the character to perfection, and, though the I 

performance might not come up to the appear-

ance, he had the satisfaction of believing that -'

ho was highly attractive.
Though the wild beasts and birds might not
cheerful] come forward to be killed, female

eyes won (1 rest upon him with pleasure. and he . l ‘

might count on makin a conquest if he should
meet an of the marks ble sex.

Ind , he was “got up
seemed a pity that his sweetness should
wasted on the desert air, as it was not at all.
likely that he would meet any possible admirer:
after he got out of si ht of Topnotch.

The result rove
more beautifu than successful. u

He wandered far upthe mountain-side, and

roamed about until noon, without killing my "

thing or seeing a. chance to kill anything.

Then he found himself
as with a well-develo appoti
an ry with himself because be had not had suf-
flc ent forethought to put a lunch in his on)»,
mental game-bag.

He had entertained the delusivo idea of ‘kill- ’
nine, and cooking and eating it, tin-true

ing
w land style.

It was easy enough to cure the fatigue by,
sitting down and resting; but the appetite was
not so readily satisfied. ~
, He struck a trail that led up a steep ravine.
and final] brou ht him out on a broad and level.
plateau, mm W icb there was a most magnifi-

retty weary. as well "
to, and was a

I y

less,” and it "‘
he

that as a hunter he was E

cent view of the country below, mountain, » v

plain and valley, as far as the eye _could reach.
But the most delightful view to Simon Marvel
Est then was a substantial log house at the
ck of the plateau, about which were visible
various evidences of comfort and prosperity.
There was a kitchen garden, fenced and
thrifty, and there was a barn which hinted at
horses and cattle, and there were’flowers in
abundance around the house. -
Better than all was the sight of a yous? wo-
man who was seated near the door, bu yon-
gaged in sewing.
She was a. remarkably handsome young wo-

rman, in spite of the fact that her face was some-

what browned' by the sun and wind,and her

i i r
‘1

 

r v

.-'4(

!

 

,\ 1

4

' Tepnotoh Tom, the, Mad Parson.

 

age might be guessed at as about nineteen,
though. her hight, when she stood up, made her
look older.

She was neatly dressed in calico, with nothing

i . unusual about her apparel, and her head was
covered with a wide-brimmed straw hat.

It may be added that her dark eyes were
large and lustrous, and that her dark hair was
tastefully arranged.

She arose when she saw Simon Marvel, and

azed at him with a smile which he did not easily
interpret.

At first be supposed it to be a smile of ad-
miration, and was ready to plume himself upon
a conquest; but he was sharp enough to per-
ceive, on a nearer approach, that it was a smile

.' I of amusement which possibly might not be a bit

complimentary.

He did not allow a little thing like that to
bother him, as he was then very hungry, and he
thought he saw before him a tine chance to get

V something to eat, and at the same time to enjoy
" the society pf a pretty girl.
So be advanced toward her, raising his hat,
and carrying himself, as be believed, very
 V gracefully.
 “ Beg pardon, miss,” he said; “ but I’ve been
' hunting. '
4 A r “ You need not beg my pardon for that,” she
‘  ' answered promptly.
‘ “Excuse me; I merely wished to say that I
have been hunting.”

“ In your imagination?"

 . “ In these bills.”

.11 She looked him over from head to foot with

“ " an inq‘uisitive glance, and walked around him,
~~ ' to ma e her scouting more com lete.

‘ “ Beg pardon,” remarked t 6 young man;

but, isthere anything wrong about me?”

 , “Nothing Wrong that I can see,” she answer-

” f ‘ ‘ ed. “I was looking for your game. Is it os-
sible that you have a bear or a mountain

concealed anywhere about you i”

It was clear that she was making fun of him,
V . and Simon; smiled his best smile.

“ That’s a very good joke,” said he. “ The
; fact is, miss, that have not shot anything to-
, day. I was too much engaged, you see, in ad-
' miring the beauty of the scenery. ’

“ And our own beauty."

“ Than you. You flatter me.”

“ I did not intend to.”

. “AsI was trying tosay, miss, I have been

hunting, and the tramp up and about this moun-

tain has made me very hungry, and 'I hoped

flat "I might be able to get something to eat
re.

“ We don’t keep a hotel, sir.”

V “Of course you do not; but you will surely
w Iv take compassion one wea traveler. If you
 gait let”me havve a little milk, I would be glad

. ; e it.

-,  ,1 '_ “Milk? Well, we ma be able to get hold of
some milk. I Will see w at can be done.”

The girl whistled, and a beautiful black mare,
with a friskyr'little foal, came out from behind
-‘ .. the barn, and bounded toward her, neighing as
she came. and stopped, as if expecting sugar or
,;  some other ainty. , . , V' ‘
.y / “Dolly is giving the colt plenty of milk,”
. f / said she, “and I suppose she could re some

“ ' tea wear traveler in distress. I don t think I
. could mi kher; but perhaps you are more ca-
” pable than I am.”
. Simon Marvel opened his eyes wide at this
-. [proposition
‘ l “ No, thanks,” be answored “ I~never lmilked

: .
5,“ l

. ll“

ion

  
  
   
 
      
      
  
   
   
 
   
   
    
    
   
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
   
  
   

l

'formare’s milk.

now—"
’egfisbh, that is not impossible, though I am
afraid that it would be rather dimcult. Do you
see that tree under?" i /
‘ . She pain at a tall tree near the ed 0 of the

I could get avfew new-laid

’ - teen, which was bare of branches or fully
’ fty feeii from the and.

}{ l ‘ I think I perceive the tree that you mean,”

, answered Simon. “Is there anything peculiar
about it?” ’ .

V. “A bumrd has made its nest in the fog of

‘_ , that tree. It may be a hard tree to climb; ut,

_- - ‘if you could get up there, it is quite likely that

youwould find some ill/the nest."

V “I am afraid it won d be too much for me,

, miss. . I never cli anything, and I do not

believe that I would relish buzzards’ eggs.”

" “ The best thing you can do, then, will be to

step into the housp and take what you can get.

We have no milk dr eggs, but you are welcome

to what there is.” ‘

f‘ I will be thankful for what

Beg pardon, miss;

., ow I am. At present I am the only
man on the place.” i ,

“ Are you not afraid to stay here alone?’
“Not a bit of- it. Iain pretty well able to
take care of myself. Come on, sir.”

2 She led the way into the cabin, and set before
.the r young man some eatables which, though
cold. were quite appetiziug, and a hot cup of
f tagginpleted his gratification.

 left him there to enjoy his lunch at his
leisure, andnssumed her seat and her sewing

 ' has Simon naive! was satisfying his appe-

ou are willing
t are you all

anything but a jugifand I really would not care‘

tite, be inspected the interior of the cabin, and

was surprised at the evidences of comfort and

even of refinement that he found there.

There were books in plenty, With many taste-
ful articles and ornaments, such as he could
never have expected to see in such a house or in
such a locality.

Having finished a. hasty meal, he went out to
where the young woman was seated.

“ You have iven me a sumptuous repast,”
said he, “ and am greatly obliged to you. If I
knew 3f any way to repay you for your kind-
ness— '

“You can do that easily, Mr. Marvel,” she
answered promptly. “ You see that I know
you. You are the young man who got into a
scrape in Topnotch with Deadwood Dave and
his gang, and my father happened along in time
to get you out of the scrape.’

“Is your father, then, the man they call Top-
notch iml”

“ The very same man, and I am Topuotch
Tim’s Susie. My name is Susie Marlow, Mr.
Marvel. You may tell me, if you will, who
was that other young man who was with you,
the one who came to your help? I have seen
him since then with m father, who has never
brought him here, an does not seem to want
to tell me anything about him.”

“ That man, Miss Marlow, is Burch Blanton,
an engineer connected with the new mining
company. He is my particular friend, and one
of the finest fellows who ever lived.”

“ Thank you. Now you may go."

“ I am in no hurry,” rotested Simon.

“You ought to be. f you are gomg to shoot
pnything before night, you have no time to
ose.

“ I am not a bit anxious to shoot anything.”

“ But you have been here long enough, and I,
as the only man on the place, order you off the
premises. Good-by, Mr. Marvel.”

“ Good-by, Miss Marlow. You are very
cruel.”

The young man, loth to leave the place slowly
dpsggnded the trail by which he had reached the
p a an.

, Hardly had he got down, into the glen, when
he was seized from the rear by a. man.wbo
sprung out from behind a tree, and was quickly
bound and gagged.

Looking up from the ound as he lay there,
he saw the big form anc bloated face of Dead-
wood Dave, whose features were as expressive
as they could be of gratified malice.

“ I’ve got you now,” grunted the big ruifian.
“ I’ve got you now, you dandified tenderfoot
and you are goin’ to git sech a thrashin’ as will
make you Wish you had never crossed the path
of Deadwood Dave.” ‘

As Simon Marvel could not speak, he had no

mit to his fate

But somebody else had a word to say in the
matter.

“ 'Not this time, you big bully,” said a clear
voice, womanly, but full of firmness and deter-
mination. ,

Looking around, Deadwood Dave saw Susan
Marlow standing some ten paces from him, With
a leveled rifle aimed at his ead. .

“ You are out of our reckoning. again,” She
went on to say. “ Top‘notch Tim is not here;
but his daughter ison and, and is fully able to
attend to your case.” _

“ You had better go away from here and mind
your own business,” the big brute growled.

“ My business just now is to scatter you away
from herein short order, and I mean to attend
to it ri ht up to . the handle! 'Do you see this
gun? t shoots seven times without loading,
and nobody can shoot it straighter than I can.
Be off, now, before I turn it loose and bore you
full of holes.”

As the rufilan hesitated, she' ordered him
again, more Iperemptoril thhn before.

" Be off, say, and quick about i , or I
will shoot, as sure as there is a. God in Israel!"

It was clear that she meant what she said, and
Deadwood Dave sadly perceived that she had
the drop on him.

“ I’ll pay you for this yet,” he snarled as he
turned and walked down the glen.

Susan Marlow watched him until he was out
of sight; then she untied Simon, and removed
the gag from his month.

As soon as the young man could speak, he be-
gan to be voluble in his expressions of gratitude.

“ I don’t want any thanks,” she rotested.
“ It was only fun for me to bother that i loafer.
You had better not return to To note by the
way you came, as that. rascal mig t be lying in
wait for on at some other int. Come with
me and will show on not or trail.”

I When Susan Mar ow had taken the young
man to thetrail she spoke of, and had given him
directions . for finding his way toTopnotch, she
gave him angel-ting word of advice. ‘ .-

“You h better not go far away from Top-
notch, unless You are in company,” she advised.

“That rufllan seems to have a grudge against
you, and is sneak enough to work it outin a
mapper way than you could imagine.”

chance to argue the point, and could only snb- .

 

, Would like topome out here.

‘I\‘ ;

vs you are right about that Miss
Marlow. and label] follow y’our advice. 'But, I

 

“ Never mind that. By the way, Mr. Marvel,
of course you will not mention it to that friend
of yours that I asked you about him. That
would not be fair, you know."

Simon. who was just then inclined to he jeal-
ous of Burch Blanton, promised that willingly,
and safely found his way bulk to Topnotch.

CHAPTER V.
PLOTTING AT TOPNOTCH.
IN the course of time, and not a long time. the
' new mining company had begun active opera-
tions in the Vicinity of ’l‘opnotcb.

The new road up the mountain, which Burch-
B_lant0n had surVeyed and laid out with the ad-
vxce and assmtance of Timothy Marlow, had
been speedily constructed, and proved to he a
great success, rendering the town much easier
of approach from below then it had been by the-
former route.

The works had been fully established, the true
vein had been struck in the mine, and every~
thing indicated wealth for the company and a
great revival of prosperity for Tol'notcb.

Already there had been a considerable influx
of population to the town, and old buildings
were being repaired and occupied, and new
buildings were eing erected.

Business had started up briskly, and T opnotch
promised to again become alive y and go-ahead
cam .

Th}; old Topnotchers predicted that this ap—
parent prosperity was only temporary, that the
mine would soon peter out, and To notch would
go to seed again- but the others too no notice of
these prophets of evil, being content to enjoy the
boom while it was booming.

Amon the chronic grumblers was Bart Mc-r
Ginley, in whose establishment there was no
change.

The same dingy windows were there, the same
un leasant interior, the same disreputable array
of ttles and demijohns, and the same scowling
but cunning face behind the counter. _ .

He had the same customers, too, having alt--
tracted no new ones, but easil keepiu the old
ones, who could scarcely be ca led pro table.

Thus it happened that one day the same four
tough citizens, who have been prevmusly men-
tioned in this narrative, were seated around a
table in McGinley’s saloon, sourly and bitterly
discussing the boom that had come to Topnotch.

With them was seated the proprietor, _who he-
came so-deeply interested in the discusswn that
he was finite liberal in ansv enn the. orders of
his impecunious customers, as we 1 as in furnish-
in drinks on his own account.

' t was the unanimous opinion of the conclave
that the prosperity’of Topnotch could nct last;
et there was no question of the reality of the
Zoom while it did last. . _ l
'" “ What do we git outlof it’l”queried Dead—
wood Dave. “That’s the question.” i

The others looked as if the pI‘GSpect of getting
something out of anything was very faint Just
then. .

“That’s the question,” continued Dave, “for
us to consider as old Topnotchers and public—
5 errited citizens. What do we git out of it?
be greedy grabbers may git rich and git away ,
with the money; but whar do we come in? Jest
nowhar.”

“ Jest nowharl” echoed the others.

‘The money that’s floatin’ around Topnotch
about now ort to belong to us; but how are we
to gi. at it? If we try to lay our hands pnto'it,
what‘s likely to come 0’ that? Times ain’t like
what they used to was. , Too much of what they
call law and order has been piled up here in Top-
notch, and that means,tbe oppression of _the
poor and shettin’ down‘ on us public-sperrited
citizens. I! we start in to be a bit enterprisin’,
like as not we’ll be jammed into somehody’s Jail.
Talk, about ‘ a free rkentry! Roosha. can’t be
wuss n this is.” " f v

‘It was agreed that the speaker had faithfully .
pictured the sad state of affairs then prevalent,

at Topnotch., , ,

There could be no ,doubt that ings were as
‘bad as they could be; but wha remedy was.
there for the acknowledg d evils'l ' .

“What are we gain. to do altut it?” de-
manded Dave. “ What can we do about it? Iv
confess that I’m up a stamp. If anybody sees
light ahead, let him speak.” _

“It’sa nestiop that concerns our whisky,”
observed (Sandy McGnckin ,“'to say nothin' of
v'ctuals and clothes. I’ve een thinkin’ it oyer

ght hard, and it seems to me thatthe best thing
we can do'is to: forage on the enemy.” -

“J'est what we want do,” grunted Dave.
“ Everybody knows that. How are we gom’ to
do it? That’s the uestion.”

“That’s what set' out to tell on. The-
enemy is the! mine. That’s where t 9 money ,

What we’ve gotta oi: I
letter to the mine people. ,
telling them that they must send us a min of,"
money that we will agree on. or their machinery
and buildings will suffer. Of, course the letter
mustbe anonymous.”‘ ' ’ \ _ r .

x“ Must be what?" inquired (Dave, who was
willing to admit that he was puzzled.-

to get our share of it.
to write an anonymous

0 was

 

 

repeated
1  in lovq'with the word.

‘ . “ Anonymous,”. Sandth

comes from, and that’s where we must asply '


5 .

,1

1



 

/

 

I

 

| l

 

   
 
 
  
    
  

 

 

Topnotch Tim, the Mad Parson.

5

 

 

‘you understand, "that nobody need sign his name
to it. We can put a coflin, or the skull and
bones, at the bottom of the letter, and tell ’em
to send the answer to Bart McGinley’s place.”

. “ I wonder, now,” pondered Dave, “ whether

I' a jail niought be in any way mixed up with that

sort 0’ thing.”

“ No chance of it," answered McGuckin,
'“ when the letter is anonymous."

“ Well, Saudiy you had better work that
racket-you an 'Isaac—as you are both good
hands at usin’ pens. ,I've got a. scheme, too, and
will want you to help me."

"Give us your scheme, Dave,” put in Bad
Lands Ben.

“ That crazy old galoot—if he is crazy—of a
Topnotch Tim has Put us in the mud. He got

. .us skeered—for one, ’m willin’ to own it—and

then flung us down and walked over us. It
stands us in hand to git even with him, and we
can do it, easy as rollin’ off a log.”

V “ How?" in uired Ben.

“ By way 0 his gal. He leaves her at home
alone, as l’ve reason to know, and we can sli

,’ up thar when he is away and carry her off. i

I . aiiythin’ could rattle him wuss’n that, I’d like to
. know what it is.”

I “ It would tear him all to pieces," declared

McGuckin. “ But what would we do with the

girl when we got her?” .

“ I’d look out for that,” answered Dave.
’“ I’d take good keer of her, you may bet your
eye-teeth.” '

“That might be very well for you, Davey,
but where is there any mone in it or us?"

“ Money? Thar’s other things besides money.
Gittin’ even is one."

“That’s all well enough,” interrupted Aaron
Isaacs. “ Gettin’ even is a good thing; but
there’s more ways than one to get even. l’v
been thinkin’ this thing over, too, and I can tel
i you how to get even, and at the same time to
i get hold of a lot of money, or money’s worth.”

? , “ That sounds well,” observed Ben Staples.

g “ Give it to us as straight as you can, Aaron."

5 ~ ' “ I will give it to you as straight as a shingle.

We all know that Topnotch Tim has brought
,‘ lots of gold into town to sell, in the way of dust
and scales and nuggets. So we know that he
must have a diggiu’s somewhere, as nobody‘
gets gold out of nothin’. We must find his dig-
giii’s. ‘

“ That’s been tried,” said Sandy. “ I’ve hunt~
ed the place in elf. and so has Dave, and so
have lots of ‘ 0t er tellers; but nary find. No
amount of watchiu’ and waitin’ and creepin’
and sneakin’ has ever done any good. i If he
.' lever goes to that place, he goes like a spook or a

witch, and nobody has ever caught him at it."

“ That is because nobody has ever gone to
. ; , work the right way,” replied Isaacs. “I know
, 2, how to get onto the scheme and find the
? diggin’s; but I will want you tellers to help
me.
: ’ “ If we could do that, it would be a bi
 / thing," said Dave; “ but I don’t see mnc
' chance. I think my scheme is the'best.”

“And I think mine is the best,” put in Me-
Guckiu. i ,

“ I am sure that you would find‘mine to be
the best if you would tr it,” averted'Isaacs.
“How does it look to you, art?" ‘ \

Bart McGinley, in fact, was the umpire, the
general counselor of the gang that owned Dead-
wood Dave as its leader, and the arbiter in case
of disputes or differences of opinion. ‘

When his counsel was asked he had his own
'way of giving it and gettin at the question.

“ It’s my drinks this time, oys,” he said, and

’ he reduced the necessary exhilaration.
avin duly primed himself, he was as ready
as Jack unsby was to “give an opinion as is
an o inion.” .
1 , ‘ “ on are all right, boys.” decided he; “that
‘ is, the three otyouh Sandy’s plan is a good one,
 i and he ort to try it. If it don't work, we’ll know
i the reason why. Dave’s scheme is all right, too.
1 Thar’s no way you kin hit Top‘notch Timso hard
as by robbinl him of his gal, no matter what be-
comes of her arter he loses her. At the same
time, if it works as easy as Dave‘ says it will,
you might pick up somethin’ at his house that
, would pay for the trouble of gom’ thar, and
that's worth lookin’ arter. As for Aaron’s
scheme, that depends on whether he can do what
he says he can. If he can, it’s a big thing. Ti-
‘em all, boys. If one don’t work, another wrl .
Go in strong, and work ’em for all the ’re
worth, and I reckon it won’t be long atore m
able to wipe all your accounts of! the slate.”

CHAPTER VI. _

A VERY-FIGUle GAME. .
THE renewed prosperity of To notch natural-
ly brought to the camp many a venturers, who

 

 

WWI].
Among them \was a man whose arrival created
"no little stir in t e camp, especially on the part
of Deadwood Da e and his friends.

V This was no less a personage than Dan Lasher.
-'known by the sobriquet of “Handsome Dan,”

 

‘7 p - ealers and short-card players that could be
ltonnd'any " ..
5 " It must be said, however, that “Handsome

 

   

hoped to fatten, on the new wealth of the‘new-old'

. who was widely reputed'as one of the best taro:

 

 
 

Dan ” was not as young as he had been, and it
was one of the most strenuous struggles of his
life to prevent other people from dascovering
that mournful fact.

His black hair and long and heavy mustache
were assiduously dyed, and he had got into the
habit of using preparations to abolish or mollify
the crows’—feet and wrinkles that had begun to
disfigure his face.

As his two hands had not lost their cunning,
and his skill at cards was quite as pro—eminent
as it had ever been, he need not, as far as his
pecuniary interests were concerned, have given
so much attention to his personal appearance;
but the truth was that he was read of his con-
quests among the fair sex, an desired to con-
tinue them indefinitely.

A sta e was then running regularly over the
road w ich Burch Blanton had constructed
from the valley up to Topnotch, and Dan Lasher
was one of the passengers by the crowded con-
veyance. .

hough his journey had been a tedqu one,
when he stepped out of -the stage on its arrival
at Topnotch he looked as if he had just issued
from a band-box.

Preparations had been made for him in ad-
vance by trusted l'iiinds and agents; rooms
having been secured and furnished, in which he
was to open an extensivo gambling establish-
ment; but he did not visit it at once, as it was
night when he reached the camp.

He listened to the words of welcome and ad-
miring congratulations of those who had await-
ed him, like a king receiving the homage of his
suh'ects, and adjourned to the hotel, where he
hel a reception until a late hour.

The next day he supervised the finishing
touches that were being put to his apartments,
and at night opened his game in grand style.

He had made his rooms as attractive as pos-
sible, in order to allure his victims, and the
opening night was an occasion of special fes-
tivity, and of course there was a big crowd
present.

When his guests had been given a chance to
eat and drink and inspect the place Handsome
Dan opened his faro game, and the lay-out was
speedily confronted by an abundance of eag
bettors. ‘

Shortly afterward there was an arrival,
well as some consternation.

The tall form of Topnotch Tim was fiihle as
he pushed his wa through the crowd, and his
dark eyes were g aring‘vyith even a more lurid
fire than usual.

which' caused no little stir in the assemblage, as I

No person spoke to him or tried to, hinder his
progress; but all who knew him wondered what
had brought the Mad Parson to such a lace.

He pressed as near to the faro ta le as‘he
could get, and then began to sing, in clear and
musical tones, a camp-meeting hymn.

The strangeness of this performance com lled
the attention of all, and a bush that was a most
solemn came over that rough assemblage,
wrought no less b the wonderful voice than 3'
the thrillin wor s of the hymn.

When be ad finished the hymn he began to

, speak concerning the evils of gamblin , exhort-

ing his hearers to resist temptation an abandon
the accursed practice.

Hi: exhortation, though brief, was rarely elo-
quen . ' '

Every word was pointed, and every phrase
went straight to the mark. V

It was wonderful that so much meaning could
be compressed into so small a space.

l‘l’o erson attempted to stop him or interfere
With im in any way, and not a word was
spoken by anybody but himself.

Handsome Dan, who had just emptied his box
when the singing began. suspended further pro:
ceedings for a. while, and leaned his head on his
hand with a tired look. ,

Shortly he raised his eyes, and nzed intently
at Topnotch Tim until he had cone uded his per-
forman no, it. it may be socalled.

Having finished his exhortation, the Mad Par-
son crossed his hands upon his breast, closed his
eyes, and began to pray.

His prayer. like his speech, was brief but elo.
quent, full of burning words and earnest thoughts
most vividly ex ressed. - '

There could e no doubt that it produced a
strong]. though probably only a temporary effect
upon is mixed audienee.

Many heads were bowed, and a solemn silence
reigned until he had finished his prayer. '

Then Dan Lasher spoke up.

,“ Now that those interesting but rather fire-
some exercises are concluded, gentlemen, we
will resume the gains."

He shufl'led a pack of cards, calling on the
players to make their bets. ,

T.itluddenly a’ great change name over Topnotch

1m. ,

At first a look of disappointment cverspread
his face; but it was succeeded by an eager and
almost vindictive glare as he glanced at the
dealer and the layout; ,

“Is that all 1 have gained by it?” he cried.
“ Do the Word of God and the solemn warnings
vou have heard affect yep no‘more than that?
New, then. for the\sw'ord of, the Lord and of

H Gideon! If one way won’t work, another main”,

3 ,

r any

 

  
 

He pushed his way to the taro-table, pulled a
buckskin bag from an inside pocket, and handed
it to Dan Lasher.

“Weigh that dust,” he said, " and give me
chi s for it.”

hen the surprise of the crowd was greater
than ever, and the situation became yet more ,
interesting to them. ,,

What was the matter with the Mad Parson?

A moment ago he had been denouncing the
evil of gambling most bitter] , and now he was , _
rushing in to “buck against’ a taro game, hot- 1
ter and more eager for a conflict with the tiger
than any of the other players.

Those who had believed him to be crazy were
more than ever convinced that his head had
quite gone wrong.

Dan Lasher, who was accustomed to “dust” ' V.
transactions, and whose business it was to take
everything as a matter of course, produced a
pair of scales, very fine and delicately adjusted.

Into one side be poured a quantity of shining
scales from the buckskin bag, and in the other
he placed the weights, quickly determining the
value of the gold. ,

Then he passed a pile of chips over to Top-
notch Tim, who counted and arranged them
like an experienced hand. i _

It soon became apparent that if the Mad
Parson played a crazy game, there was a special
providence that favored crazy men with luck.

He appeared to be laying with a system—at
least, there seemed to a systematic method in
the way he placed his chips on the cards to which
he gave his reference. " .

Anyhow, he won from the start, and he kep
increasing his bets and winning almost con- - .
stantly, in such a brilliant and astonishing style '1‘ .
as compelled most of the other layers to drop 1
out of the game, that they mig t watch him
and stare at him. ' . i , ‘

Three or tour stayed in, endeavoring to avail 1‘
themselves of the Mad Parson’s luck by tollow- r ‘
ing his bets: but thislproceeding was viewed
with disfavor by the others, and they,‘,too,-
dro pod out. I

andsome Dan was evidently nervous, a most .'
unusual thing for him.

He kept his head down most of the time, and
handled his'cards with a strange appearance of ~ v
uncertainty and indecision.

Whenever he looked up, however he found,
the lurid and glitterin eyes of the Mad Parson I
fastened upon him wit such a gene as made un-
fair play on his part impossible. I r . ' .

So the queer game went on, and the crowd
pushed forward and stared in wonder as Top- « i.
notch Tim piled up his winnings; -

“That’s all,” called out Dan Lasher, at lasts;

“ The bank’s broke. Two thousand was ‘the
limit, and it is all gone.” _ ‘ - ,

The Mad Parson cashed in his chips like an 91"] v I

gambler, and stuffed the gold and notes into his

ket. ‘
p03 That two thousand,’., he said to the dealer, -' ,; '
“is your contribution to the new Baptist church ‘, . -
that is to be built here. I will call around he» 1 '
tore long to see if you are ready with another. }
contribution.” , - ‘

Nobody then present had ever seen ‘Dan Lasher
in‘ such a flurry before. 'He actually trembled ,
as he fidgeted in his chair, and his eyes turned {'5
this way and that, but never met the lurid and ' , ’
gleaming orbs of his late opponent. , .

“ You can’t play here any more,” he retorted. ‘
“ You, can’t either preach or gamble here
a ain. ’

“Wh not?" inquired Topnotch Tim. “ Are .
you wil ing to admit before these people that :5.
you are afraid of a messenger of salvation?” » ,. .r

“ You'inay be a messenger from the devil for .
all I care, and I am not afraid ,of any kind of a"
messen er. But, I don’t play with crazypeople
when know it, and you must not come herp ,’

more.” , v ‘, =
“This place is open to the public.” answered i
the Mad Parson “and I. think I will come here ‘
when I want to. _-

 

 
 
  
    
   
     

 

     
  
    
  
 
 
  
  
    
 
 
  
    
  
   
 
  

“ You may be able to get in; but you shall
lay here.” . , r

3 will see about that. I am much obliged . . u
to you for this contribution, and Will callon you ,
for another." '

When the Mad Parson had'left his place Dan. v
Lasher opened another game, and hetero the
night was over he won from ‘others into as _
much mom ,as he had lost to To notch in.

Deadw Dave was present uring’ the epi-
sode that has been narrated, and he stayed near ,
the taro game a long time afterward, though he
made no attempt to play, not baring the where- ,
withal for such indu gence. ,. ig

When the place was shut up, he sought a pri- .
vate interview with Dan Lasher, and~they seen . ;
tied down in a quiet place for what Dave called, '
a business talk. . ‘ '

“:That old man out into you r‘ght sharp,”
observed the big fellow. . : -

“Yes, curs; himd! hHe had the pawl; lion ,-
luck. I wish cou I it upon a an
him away from my place. I don’t ike hissteysfi
a bit. It would never do to allow such business -.
as reachin and praying. and then starting in
to uck age nst the game.” , . _ ‘ . .
my .u ’Specially when the preacher beats the some » ,
and breaks the bank. Seems tome,  
. ,' - , I I H A ,v«-'

y

not
H

A'\’

v

 

 

 
  

6

\

Topnotch Tim, the Mad Parson.

 

 

that you owe that old party a grudge, and that
the best way to get even with him will be, as
old Grant said, to move onto his works.”

“ How am I to do that?" ‘

“ You don't need to do it yourself. You can
hire it done, if you want to. The old cuss has
got a darter.”

“ I believe he has,” observed Handsome Dan,
musiggly. “ She must be quite a woman

ow.

“ One of the purtiest critters you ever laid
0 es onto—just as bright and sassy as you
Riease. He and she live ’way up on Topnotch

contain, and he often goes away and leaves
her'alone.”

“ What has that to do with me?”

“A heap, if you want it to. I‘ve got a grudge
afiinst Topuotch Tim, myself, and I and some
ot er tellers have made it up, to speak plain, to
carry off his gal. The only thing that puzzles
me is that I don’t know what to do With her
arter I git hold of her. Now, if you would keer
fur such a piece 0" property—”

“ What’s that you are sayin , Dave Steiner?”
sharply demanded Handsome an.

“ Ain’t it plain enou h? Don’t see how I can
make it any plainer. say that we are goin’ to
carry ofl.’ the gal, and that you can have her if
you want her. ’

Handsome Dan’s rather worn and faded face
was lighted up.

“ Is she very handsome?” he asked.

“ Handsome ain’t no name fur it. She is just

V the lgvgsllest thing, to my notion, that walks the
’ eart .
D“ She ought to be; she must be,” mused
an. _
“ And you can have her for the takin’, and
by so doin’ git even with the old cuss who broke
our bank.’ I
“ It will kee him awa from here, too. I
believe that wi suit me, ave. Put the girl
where I can get her, and you and your friends
shall have a big pile of money. But I must not
be known in the matter."
“ No reason why you should be. We are
pards,.then, Dan.”
“Pards? Nothing of the kind, and you need
, not call me Dan. I haven’t got that low, and 1
hope I never will. When I want a partner, I
choose one to suit myself. When I pay a man
to do 8 'ob for me, and it is done, that ends it.
When t is job is done. you had better make sure
that it is ended. as far as you are concerned.”
“ All right, Cap; I reckon I understand you,”
answered the big rufllan as he rose to go.”
“ Hold on, Dave. Here is some money to hel
on start the scheme and carry it through. f
t orks well, there will be plenty more for

you

Handsome Dan handed his confederate or
toolasum of money that made him open his
eyes—enough to supply himself and his friends

_ with an abundance of whisky for some time to
come.

“Yes, she must be beautiful.” mused the m-
bler when Deadwood Dave had left him. ‘ She
is sure to be a very handsome woman by this
time. She must be mine. The more I think of
it, the stronger I settle on that. When I get

1 her, I will keep her. and then I will be even, if
,not alittle more so.” ‘

CHAPTER VII.
i muons ON THE TRAIL.

It had been a sunny day on the plateau where
1‘ notch Tim had his dwelling-place.

nder the smiling warmth of the sun, the
Vegetables in the kitchen-garden and the flowers
 about the house seemed to have taken afresh

. ~ part, and could almost be seen togrow.

Near the hour of dusk, Susan Marlow was
seated in her favorite place in front of’ the
house, rather lazily engaged in sewing or mend-

gjazing at the

deed, she was occupied with
vast expanse of sky and the splendi prespect of
distant mountains, and in meditating with a
wistful look in her dark eyes, rather than with
the work that often lay idly in her lap.
From the cabin issued a man whose a pear-
anoe was a striking contrast to that of the ovely

 

He was a dwarf, seeming to be nearly as
as he wasrlong, and there was not so

much as a hint of 000 looks about him.
His breadth of c est and loins indicated great
strength, and, if he could have been stretched
out and given the hight of an ordinary man,
there would have been enough of him for the

3 face was entirely covered With hair, ex-
~ esp: the nose. a little space under the eyes, and
a w line of forehead, and its expression just
‘then, as far as it couldbeseen,appearedtobe
miable. ,
His only visible garments were a blue flannel
dirt, a pair of 'coarse trowsers, heavy boots
“at were proof against snake-bites, and a 1‘3
3 ' skull-cap, from under which his dark hair flow
‘down upon his shoulders.
' This man, who was the faithful and nnweary-
Jng Isrvitor of Timothy Marlow, answered to
' to name of Caisarpand was a deaf mate of
whom the exoclergyman had taken charge years
age. *‘

 

Susan’s face lighted up when she saw him, and
she §iestioned him with rapid fingers.

I; "ettle boils,” he answered. “All right in-
si e.

“ I wish father would come home.”

Caesar intimated by his expressive gestures
thatI he wished it, $100.dl , h

suppose it is ar y wort while to expect
him," Susan said to herself. “Of late days he
has been absent so much more than formerly,
and. I never know where to look for him, and
am always afraid that he will et into trouble.”

Caesar evidently understood er by watching
the motions of her lips, and he began to talk
fast with his fingers.

“He is all right. He can take care of him—
self, and I can take care of you. He will come
home safe when he gets ready. When he does
come, I will have a ne lot of gold for him."

The dwarf brought out from an inside pocket
of his heavy shirt, a small buckskin hag, pour-
ed out into his hand some yellow scales and
chips and small nuggets, and then returned
them to the bag. I

The bag must have held, at a rough guess,
five hundred dollars’ worth of gold.

“Better go and hide it,” telegraphed Susan.
“ We do not know what may ha pen.”

The dwarf went around bac of the house,
and soon returned without the .

“ It is safe now," he said in is manner of
speaking.

Suddenly his face assumed an alert look, and
he threw himself down, with his ear to the
ground.

“ Somebody coming?” asked Susan, as he
looked u .

He n ded.

“ It is father, of course.”

Caesar shook his head as if that might be a
matter of doubt.

“ Is there more than one?” she asked, im-
patiently.

“ Only one."

“ It must be father, then.
meet him."

They hastened to the western edge of the
plateau, but had not reached it when they were
(é‘eniflronted by a man who had just come up the

8.

He was not Timothy Marlow but a tall and
fine—looking young man, whom Susan, who had
previously seen him at a little distance, at once
rec ' as Burch Blanton, the mining en-
gineer, who had seemed to be well acquainted
with her father.

As Blanton courteously raised his hat Caesar
looked to his mistress for instructions, but got
none. '

Indeed, there was an evident blush on her
face, and she showed no disposition to order the
intruder of! the premises. ’

“ I an it was my father who was com-
ing up t e trail.” she explained. “ I would not
have thought of meeting a stranger here, es-
pecially at this hour.”

“I wish for your sake that it was your
father,” answered Blanton. “To explain my
presence here I must confess that I lost my way
and became completely bewildered. Seeing a
trail, I followed it, in the he that it might
lead me to a habitation. an it brought me
here. My name is Burch Blanton, and I am
connected with the new mining company at
Topnotch.” ”

" You are a friend of my father’s, I believe,”
observed Susan.

“If your father is Timothy Marlow, I am
proud to call myself his friend. He is a man
whom I admire greatly, and who has kindly
rendered me much service.”

“ And so you have lost your way. We could
easily tell you how to get to Topnotch; but, it is
nearly dark, and you might loss your way
again. We are every minute ex cting my
father to come home, and perha a would be
of more use to you than we could .”

“If I can stay here until your father comes
home I shall be glad to do so.” .

“You must be hungry, too, Mr. Blanton.
Perhaps you had better go to the house and
have supper with us. I am sure that my father
will be glad to see you here."

Susan Marlow was by no means sure of the
truth of the statement which she made so con-
fidently, as it was probable that if her father
had Wished to see his friend at his home he
would have brou ht him there.

She was 0in to admit to herself, however,
that she was g ad to see the young man, and a
poon'excuse was better than none.

The two young people walked back to the
cabin. Caesar following a little behind them.

He had never met Burch Blanton before,_ and
supposed him to he a stranger to Susan, but
whatever she chose to do was right in Caesar’s

e es.
y“ I should think your father would feel an-
easy at leaving you here alone,” said Blanton
after a little ta 1: concerning the beauty and
healthfulness of the location. .
“ Caesar and I believe, that we are well able
to‘ take care of ourselves,” answered
“ We have never yet been tried; but we are not

id. - ,
“He'looks as 3i! he might bea good guard; ‘

Let us go and

 

 

but he might not prove to besufilcient if any
real danger should come."

“I am not a bad fighter m self,” she remark
ed. “When your friend r. Marvel was up
here, he was attacked by Deadwood Dave, down
there in the glen, and I drove the big bully of]:
at the muzzle of my rifle.”

“Was Marvel up here? He never said a word
to me about it.”

“ I told him not~that is, I supposed that he
would not care to talk about such an adven-
ture, andI suggested to him that he need not
mention it to anybody.”

The engineer felt a twinge of the same sort of
jealous that had troubled Simon Marvel
when usan Marvel asked him about Burch
Blanton.

If'he had known that Simon had been sent
away, with an intimation that he need not
trouble .himself to call again, Blanton might
have felt easier.

“If father does not come soon,” Susan an-
nounced, “ we must have supper without him.”

Then she telegraphed to Cmsar that he
mi ht go inside and look after matters there.

nstead of doing so he threw himself down
again and laid his ear on the ground.

As his sense of hearing appeared to be quite
undeveloped, it was to be supposed that the
earth conveyed to him in some mysterious man—
ner the information which he surely derived
from it when he was in that position.

He started up with a look of alarm and anx—
iety on his hairy face.

“ Is it not father, then?” eagerly inquired
Susan.

“ No," answered Caasar‘s rapid fingers-
“ More than one. Maybe four or five men
coming.” '

“ That does look like danger, Mr. Blanton,
Caesar says that there are four or five
men coming up here. Get the rides, Caesar 2”

It was curious to see how she ke to herself
or to another, and then used th sign language
in addressin the dwarf.

“ If there is danger, I am glad that I am here
to help you,” declared Blanton. “ It is true that
I have only my revolver; but I can make good
use of that.”

Caesar brought out two rifles, but returned
into the cabin at an order from his mistress.

He reappeared with a third rifle, which she
handed to Blanton. ‘

In the prowess of this tall young man, and in
his willingness to fight in her defense, she had a
confidence which Simon Marvel could never
have begun to ins ire.

“ It isa seven tor,” said she.
understand it?”

“Thoroughly. We three with such weapons
ought to be an easy match for four or five men.”

“ Yes, in afair fight: but there are rascals
abou’l; Topnotch who are capable of any mean-
ness.

In spite of Blanton’s remonstrauces, she led
the way to the western edge of the plateau;
but their enemies, if they were enemies, had
already mounted the steep, and put in an ap-

rance.
136It was night then, but not a dark night, as
there was moonlight enough to make the entire
plateau distinctly visible.

Yes, they were surely enemies.

Burch B anton recognized the burly form and
coarse features of Deadwood Dave, and so did
Susan Marlow.

With him were three others, the chief mem-
bers of his gang and his almost constant com—
panions.

They had reasonably supposed that the four
of them would be sufilcient to easily overcome
and capture one girl; but “was another mat—
ter when they found themselves confronted by
three opponents. '

It was true that one of the three was a
woman, and another was a dwarf; but women
and dwarfs may be dangerous fees when they
have rifles and know how to use them.

“Halt, therel” ordered Blanton in his clear
and commanding tones. “Who are you, and
what do you want here?”

There was no answer; but the four toughe
huddled together, and seemed to be consulting.

“ That won’t do at all,” decided Susan. “ We
must order, them of! and drive them away, or-
1theyév’vill be playing some sneakingand cowardly

ric . ’

Blanton was quite of her opinion, and acted
on it at once.

“Clear out!” he shouted. “I know you for a ,
set of scoundrels, and you have no business
here. Clear out. or we will shoot'you down!”

He and usan leveled their rifles, and Caesar,
who was c osel watching every movement they
made, follow their example.

Instead of obeying the order, the tonghs
sidled about and separated, as if to divide the’
fire of the three. and possibly to flank them.’

As the engineer shouted another warn . a
shot was fired by one of them, and the b t.
whizzed by his ear.

He fired immediately and a howl from one of
the toughs told him that his shot had counted.

Just then. as Susan Marlow and Cesar were
about to open fire on the intruders, there was a
new and startling development. ,

“ Do you ‘

\

“'"'a!'.f—'L” .
9

 

 

 

   
  
 

... ,5. -—_-.I.._.,
w — - w

!

mi v”
m s N nun.

 

 

 

w,

 
 
 

 

 

' ' : 11’ up thar,

’-  strikeusjestwhenhegotread i”
;. ‘ Bah! A man with astickl
‘atraidvof your own shadow.” ,

. I \ ‘

Topnotch Tim, the Mad Parson.

'7]

 

 

A tall man suddenly appeared, as if he had
come up the trail, and savagely attacked the as-
sailants with a long stick.

His appearance and manner were sufficient,
without the sound of his peculiar and well—known
voice, to cause him to be recognized as Timothy
Marlow.

“ The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” he
shouted. “ Scatter, ye scoundrels! You did
not know that I was on your track; but I tell
you that nothing you do or think of doing is bid
from me. Scatter, ye Scoundrels! Hunt your
holes, ye coyotes! Begone, before Satan gets
hold of me and tempts me to murder you!”

They did scatter, running as if for their lives,
fairly tumbling over each other in their haste to
get down the trail, the wounded man half—limp-
ing and half-falling in the rear of the pack, and
leavin a. trail of blood behind him.

The ad Parson stepped quickly to where his
daughter and her friends were standing, and
looked in uisitively at Blanton, who hastened
to explain is presence there as he had explained
it to Susan.

Doubtless Mr. Marlow considered this expla—
nation rather “ thin,” as he glanced quizzically
at the explainer. ,

“ It is strange," he said, “ that such a. man as
you should become bewildered and lose his way.

would scarcely have believed it posmble. Have
you had supper, Susie?”

“ Not yet, father.”

“ Come and eat with us, Mr. Blanton, and
then I will put you on your way home, so that
’you cannot miss it.” .

Durin the meal, which the engineer enjoyed
greatly, r. Marlow made no allusion to the re—
cent invasion of the plateau, but spoke on] of
the new mining com any, the growth of op-
notch, and other indi erent matters.

After supper he led Blanton down the trail,
and accompanied him a' considerable distance.

Having gone as far as was necessary to enable
the young en ineer to find his way home, Mr.
Marlow hal and spoke to him seriously, fas-
tening his lurid eyes upon him with an earnest
and intent gaze. ‘

“ You are a fine young man,” said he. “ You
have plenty of brains and energy and industry,
and your habits seem to be good. I hope you
are also honest.” I ‘

“ I believe I am honest,” answered Blanton.
“ I have never been accused of being otherwise.”

“ I believe you are honest, too. and you may
come up here again if ou want to.”

“ Thank you, Mr. rlow.”

“ might. Keep to the ri ht when the
hall forks, and you will soon get ome.”

CHAPTER VIII.
. rwnmo roa GOLD.

Dnanwoop Davn’s plan for the capture of
Susan Marlow had been tried after the ap rent
failure of Sandy McGuckin’s scheme to timi-
date the mine-owners.

It is here called an apparent failure, because
the oficers of the mining compan had shown no

' sition to allow themselves to intimi ated.

he threatening and blackmailing latte ,had

been duly concocted and written by Sandy with

the assistance of his Hebrew confederate, had

been signed with an ominous skull and bones,

v had contained a direction that the answer should

be sent to the care of Bart McGinley, and had

been forwarded by mail to the superintendent of
the mine.

No answer had been received, and the con-

irators were left to infer that the mine-owners
either regarded them as beneath their notice, or
were secretly endeavoring to discover the writer
of the letter.

In view of these discouraging circumstances,

’ the next best thing was to try Deadwood Dave’s
plan, which seemed to be hot feasible and easy.

The unexpected resence of Burch Blanton,

' and the arrival of opnotch Tim, had caused the
attempt to end in disaster, all that any of them
ot out of it being a bad wound in the e , which
gaudy McGuckin had difficulty in carrying
ome. '

His wound would be likely to lay him up a. few
weeks, and during that time his comrades would
have to care for him, as well as to lack his aid.

The big fellow duly reported the failure of his
attempt to Dan Lasher, who was discouraged,
but not dishearteded.

 

He sneered at the account that was rendered. _

to him, and readily accused his /tool of incom-
petency. ‘ ’ 3
“ It seems to be a solemn and seriOus fact,"
said he; “ that you and your crowd are afraid of
the man you call Topnotoh Tim. This is not the
first time, as I have learned, that he has driven
a): before him like a flock of sheep. lfhe was
devil, or a ghost, he could not scare you any
more.” a x , a I -. "
-‘ “ Thor's somethin’ mighty queer about him,"
insisted Dave. ' '
“ There is something very queer about
that makes you scare so easily. and I am
that gou are a set of cowards.”
' “ ow could he ha’ found out _
Mr. Lasher, so’s‘to foller ourtrail

on,
raid

that wems

cu would be

l

“ But thar was others up thar—two men with
the irl."

“ here it is again!” exclaimed handsome
Jack. “That is worse, if anything, than your
cowardice. You are too careless to conduct
such an affair. You don’t seem to have a
bit of forethought. If you were going to steal
a horse, now—”

“ What! Me steal a. horse?”

“ You needn’t get angry, I was only sup-
osing a case. If you were going to steal a
orse, for instance, would you not carefully look

about, to make sure that nobody was guarding
or watching the horse?”

“ Reckon I would, if I was goin’ to steal a
boss.”

“Yes, you would spy out the, surroundings
closely, to make sure that you were safe. When
you want to steal a woman, ought you not to be
at least as careful as when you steal a horse?—
that is, I mean, if you were going to steal a
horse?" ‘

“ I reckon we orter been more keerful than
we was, Cap.”

“Indeed you ought. You roughed into that
business llkea fool. You should have made sure
that she was alone and unprotected. You have
lost a good chance by your carelessness and you
may never get such another.”

“ Thar’s another scheme we’re goin’ to try,
Cap. We‘ve been plannin’ it out fur some time,
and we mean to work it keerfully.”

“ To get the irll” ,

“ To worry opnotch Tim. He’s got a dig-
gin’s somewhar in the hills, and it must be mi hty
rich, as he has brought an abundance of go d to
town. Our scheme is to foller him when he
goes out thar, find the diggins, and chouse him
out of it."

“ That is a good scheme, Dave, if itcan be
made to work. But you may meet him and
then he will scare you out of your wits and drive
you back to town!”

“Not this time, I reckon.
of that.”

“Suppose, Dave, that you should fail to find
the diggin s, but should find the man you call
To notch» im, and suppose, then that instead
of etting him scare you‘ to death, you should
just knock him down and tie him well, and put
him in a safe place.”

“ What sort of a safe placel I’d be afeard to
kill him, and that’s a. fact."

“ Put him where I can get hold of him, and I
will attend to the rest of the business. I will
payiyou as much for that as if you got the

ir

g ,

“I ’89. go, Ca . Whether we find the dig-
in’s r not, we’ do that very thing. It’ll be a
timed good trick to git him out of the way,

anyhow. ‘ _

“You will need some help, as one of your
gang is laid up. Get two men who are'not
likely to be afraid of Topnotch Tim, and I will
furnish the money to vpay them.”

“ That’s correct. har’s the money?”

“ You are ready enough for that part of the
business. But you shall see that I mean to be
liberal.” l
, Handsome Jack handed his tool another sum
of money, and accompanied it with a parting
injunction:

“ I want you to earn this, Dave, as well as to
spend it. pay well for good work, but insist
upon getting what I pay for. I know your
style, and I 've you fair warning that I will
stand no tri 'ng.” .

I “ I ain’t artei' no triflin’, Cap. I’ll do tho best
can.

“ Go on and do it, then.” ,

Deadwood Dave left the pre nos of his some-
what imperious employer, fu 1y determined to
do the best he could in the matter'that had been
committed to his charge, as he was retty well
convinced that it would not be safe or him to
do anything else. v \

Aaron Isaacs had already been sneaking and
spying about Topnotch Tim s lace up the menu-
tain, carefully noting the ol man's outgoings
and incomings. and he was of the opinion that
he had “ ot itdownpretty fine.”

Since t e attempt to capture his daughter
Mr. Marlow had remained at home and abou
home much more closely than before, as be per-
ceived that it was really dangerous to leave
Susie there alone. i

He never went out at night any more, and
that was one point which Dan Lasher had gained

We’ve had enough

did not .visit is establishment to get contrib -
tilpns {Jrom the faro—bank for the new Baptist
0 urc -

When he had sneaked and spied as much as he
thought necessary, Isaacs informed his comrades
of the proper time to begin operations, and they
prfpared themselves as if for a. desperate enter-
pr se. ,

Deadwood Dave had found no dimculty in
Securing two available men, who were‘ glad of
the kchance to get good pay for doing crooked
wor .

\ The party of five reached Topnotch Tim’s
home. a few hours before noon, as they wished
to miss no chances. ‘

 

‘  habits, Aaron. Isms had noticed that  um:

I

        

/ t t-»

   

by the attem t that failed, as the Mad Parso ‘

 

Though the old man was rather irregular in'

ally left the lateau, and took the route that
was suppose to lead to his diggin’s, at either ‘
about ten o’clock in the morning, or shortly 
after noon.

Sometimes he went alone, and sometimes the
dwarf went alone; but they never went to-
gether an more; one of them always remaln- .
in at the ouse.

saacs would have followed one of them, and
would have endeavored to steal the discovery
from his comrades; but he had been inspired .~
with such a. dread of Topnotch Tim, that hewas - 
ufiwilling to run the risk of encountering him _.
a one. , 3; >

The five toughs concealed themselves carefully
where they could see any person who came ,,
down from the plateau, and waited as patiently g
as they could, but not without a certain (is rec ' -
of nervousness and uneasiness, as ’l‘opnotcb im 1 >1-
had declared that nothing they~did or thought ‘
of doing could be hid from him.  ‘

They were as determined as they could he, Ti};
however, that they would not al cw him to i '
scare them off the track this time. or to get the '
better of them in any way. ‘

Fortunately for their nerves and their peace  V v
of mind, they were not obliged to wait long for V
their quarry.

It was a little after ten o’clock, as they judged
by the sun, when the Mad .Parson came down
the trail that led from the plateau.

When he reached the bottom of the ravine, be
looked around, as if to make sure that nobody
was in sight or watching him.

Then he crossed a ridge, and turned his steps
northward and upward.

Aaron Isaacs, who was regarded as the best
trailer and the most accomplished sneak of the
party, had been detailed to follow the old man
as closely as he could,the others keeping at a lit-
tle distance behind the scout, but within signal-
ing reach. ‘

he Mad Parson led them a difficult chase.

At that locality the mountain was a series I
hills and hollows, ridges and! ravines, rug , .
but risin graduallljy, and beyond the tangle
towered o notch eak, which was supposed to
beinaccess le. ' ‘

Up and down went the leader, now lost to \
sight, and again visible on a hight, but always
pressing forward in one direction, as if he had
a known and definite point to reach.

It was fortunate for the toughs that he never
turned and looked backward, as he might have
caught sight of Aaron, who was at times in-
:iaiiltious in his eagerness to keep the quarry in

t. , ,.
saacs hurried on, sto ping only now and then .
tosignal to his comra es, until he reached the
crest of a steep and sharp ridge, when be halted “

and beckoned to his friends as if imploring them -
to make haste. ’

They did make haste, and all four were its
breathless when they reached the crest o the

rid . r \

When they got there, they found Isaacs look~ _
ing disappointed and perplexed, as if the aflair j '
had not turned out to please him.

“ It is the queerest thing,” said he. “ I don’t
know what to make of t. He came in the
ridge, and stopped a moment right here. n
he went down. He must have gone down, as I
would have seen him if he had gone either way
on the ridge. I hurried up here, and signaled
to on, and that is the last of him.”

t the foot of the rid e was a gully which
might well be called a gu ch, it was so _eep and!
narrow, and beyond it rose the rug ed moun-
tain-side that reached up to Topnotc eak. '

“ Mebbe he got out o’ sight afore you’d climbed  l,
the ridge,” suggested Deadwood Dave. , x" -

“How could he?" answered Itasca. “I’ve -
kept him in sight when the chances were worse ,
than this. If he had gone either up or down 1. '
the dgulch there, I must have seen him, unless
the evil shot him out of si ht.” v
“ I reckon that is ‘est w at‘s the mattera” oli-

 

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
   
   
  
 
   
   
     
   
   
 

served Bad Lands en. " If it ain’t the evi
itis somebody in the almighty line 0’ business ‘
who helps him.” ‘
“ That‘s all durued nonsense," said Isaau'
“ Let’s go down into the sulch and see if we can
get sight or trace of‘him?” ' ' '
They descended the steep side of the ledge ‘,
finding the. descent pretty di rult,.and 100
up and down the gulch and a l about them but
saw nothin of the Mad Person, and could not‘
find the 511:; test trail or trace to show that any
person had been there. ..

CHAPTER IX. ‘ I i
- STALKING BIG Gm. .'
THE five toughs were so badly discouraged Z
by their diseOVery, that the were obliged to‘ I .
treat the disap ance of onnotch Tim as. a. ‘l
conundrum, an give it up. ' ‘r
The son ht up and down the gulch and ,
look care lly amorg the rocks and balloon, _
but saw no sign of‘him. 1 ;
He had disappeared as suddenly andcom- 3
pleter as if the earth had opened and swallowed-Q.

3nd, ,.

 

, unquestionably disappeared,
as it was less to search for his alleged ‘ is
girl’s” without his leadership, the toughs A;
climbed back to the‘crest of the ridgo,‘whga

\ ‘ . 1 . . ' w

' l

in.

 

 

 

 

- \

l

 

w,’

   
  
    

.. -l

-: as they
‘7 wit

, .

8

.v'(

’ Topnbtchl Tim, the Mad Parson.

 

they sat down and considered the affair as calm-
ly as they could.

_ It was the opinion of most of them that there
must be something supernatural about the Mad
Parson, and they found their fear of him quite
as strong as ever.

These notions were strongly combated by one
of the new recruits, known as English Bill, who
declared that the Mad Parson did not differ from
ordinary men, except in being more “ cute,” and
in trading 0n the fears he had inspired.

“ That’s somethiu’v more that we can do,” said

, , Deadwood Dave, who thought it time to bring

out the idea which he had received from Dan
1Isaisher, and which he had not previously venti—

“That’s somethin’ more that we can do, and
somethin’ that’ll put a pile of money in our

pockets.”

“What’s that?" in uired lsaacs.

“ If we can ketc the old ones, and bundle
him up and ut him whar a friend of mine

‘ can git old 0 him, I can promise that every
man who has a hand in the job will be well paid
for it.” ,

As Dan had lately been furnishing the money
for the gang, and as it was understood that it
had come from that friend of his, his statement
commanded instant attention.

En lish Bill, who came to the front as the
stanc est and most fearless of the conspirators,
was greatly taken by this idea when it was fur-
ther explained, and enforced his views with such
vehemenoe and, earnestness that he compelled
the others to agree with him.

“ If you tellers are afeard of Topnotch Tim,”
said he, “jest put me forrud to nab him, and
yapfll soon see that thar haiu‘t nothin' to skeer

“ It looks as if it mought be an easy game to
play,” observed Deadwood Dave. “ He is bound
to go back by the way he came, and he can’t
get up that whar he lives, except as he came

. down. So all we’ve got to do is to hide as we

f ,hid store, and ketch him on the wing, as a feller

may say."

“And when we've caught him,“ suggested
: Isaacs, “ maybe we can force him to tell where

he gets his gold.”

“Thar‘s somethin’ in that, too. Leave you

alone, Ikey, to keep your head sot onto the
, gold. Well, fellers, it looks to be a good
scheme, and we must work it fur all It's
' worth.” ‘
In order to work it for all it was worth, they
took the back track to the ravine at the Western
end ,of the plateau, and concealed, themselves
there as they had before.
I There was a little diflerence, however, as it
had been tacitly agreed among them that
English Bill should be the nearest to the trail,
so t at he might be the first to make the dash at
this; expected (prey. .
a e scheme id not work near aswoll as they
had hoped it would, because they had to wait a
lo time for Topnotch Tim.

, unger did, not oppress them, but thirst did,
were unaccustomed to going so long
at their regular drinks. ,

had liquor, but it had been agreed that

ean end of their business, and

ave, who was the commissary of the
party, and who was very anxious to get hold of
more of Dan Lasher’s money, dealt out the fluid

.T e
.' r  gore to touch it very lightly until theiy
: m -
wood

ill in light rations, just enough to keep his com-
" .‘ ~ rades from rumblingtoo hard.

.Timothy arlow, in the meantime, had been
no means unaware of the fact that he

was followed, and had governed himself accprd-

ly.
file ‘had led his sneakingegiursuers not to the
' point which they had wish to reach, but in
, the direction in which he chose to take them,

' 32d, when he had fooled them enough, he had
.. up

I peered b concealing himself in ‘a hole in
the rock, wh ch was almost sure to be .over-
looked, even by the most careful searchers.

It was not until after he had gone to the place
toward which he originally4 started, and when

“1,116 believed that his enemies had entirely aban-

'. x:

 

 

In returning, he did not take the route b
’ which he had led his pursuers, and yet, as Dee -
wood Dave had'said, there was only one way by
,,..which he could reach the plateau, and that was

J by the trail which led up from the ravine.

" : It was twilight when he got there, and he was
. not suspecting any dan er. as he believed that
'thermcn who had been allowing him had long

j- iinco abandoned their attempt and returned

< Ollie. ‘ "

5 That, however, was just what they had not
done. ’

 

 

 Though the hours of waitingha’d been very .
-, and though some of them had dozed

, here he were hid, and others had fretted and
fw'orried, t ey were still there, ready and aux-
tous toes ‘ the money that DanLasher had
Tprzgiised in through Deadwood Dave.
~" ‘ the old man passed close to where English
(fill! wee concealed, that conspirator bade tine
opporgnity to “ Whm,” and used it most ef~
My 7.. ‘ . .
Jumping out from his concealment as

   
 
  

j i cloned the search for his trail and gone away,
' V. that he set out to return home. ‘

scones ;

 
  

his prey had passed him, he seized the Mad Par-v

son by the arms from behind, at the same time
jamming his knee into the victim's back, and
calling upon his comrades for assistance.

They came promptly, the energetic action of
English Bill having nei'ved them for the work,
and the five toughs had no difficulty in subdu-
ing the tall old man.

The sudden attack had surprised him so that
he lost control of himself for a moment, and
then his only chance was gone, though he tried
hard to free himself from the clutch of his
enemies.

It was the pressure of English Bill's knee
against the small of his back that did more than
anything else to subdue him, causing him to be
easily thrown to the ground.

As soon as possible his assailants gagged him,
to prevent him from uttering cries that mi ht
be heard at his home, and they also hastene to
tic him hand and foot.

I But, Timothy Marlow had no idea of uttering
an cries; for, who would they bring to his
half, if anybody?

is daughter, of course, and he wanted to
keep her c ear of the danger which she would
incur by rushing to his rescue.

She and Caesar might be able to take care of
themselves; but they need not be involved in
his difllculties.

So he ceased to struggle when resistance was
useless, and calmly awaited the further develop-
ment of the ontra e.

No doubt Dea wood Dave and his gang,
whom he had at once recognized, intended to
injure him, and he Well knew that he had given
them ample cause for enmity; but what did
they mean to do with him? '

Part of their purpose was speedily made ap
parent.

They were goin to take him to some place
where they can] operate upon him at their
leisure. without being molested.

Leaving him in charge of Ben Staples and
English ill’s partner, the others had a quiet
consultation concerning him. .

“ What are we goin’ to do with him now?" in-
quired the man who had led the attack.

“ That's all a-settin’,” answered Deadwood
Dave. “ I’ve studied this thin up, and have
got it all down fine. Thar’s a]: o d cabin a little
of! the trail, on the way down the mountain,
and we can shut him up thar, as tight as if he
was in the Topnotch jail, until I can let my man
know whar to find him.”

, “ But we want to squeeze the truth out of him
about his diggin’s,” suggested Isaac-s.

“ Well, I dunno about that. My man wants
him 'delivered‘ in good order. and I reckon he
won't pay for a damaged article. We’ll have to
be kinder keerful of him.”

Their carefulness 'ust then consisted in unty—
ing his legs, so that 0 could ,walk, and march-

ing him away, one at each elbowhone in front, .

and the other two bringing up t e rear of the
procession.

Thus they marched until they had got about
half-way down the trail to To notch, when they
turned to the right, land he ted at adeserted

cabin about a quarter of a mile from' the trail.

CHAPTER X.
' ran RESULT—ASHES.

THE cabin which Deadwood Dave had fixed
upon as a temporary prison for the Mad Parson
had been the home of a miner who had aban-
doned it after he had failed'to find a fortune in
the Topnotch Hills.

It was in a secluded, out-ot-the-way spot,
where nobody went any more, not even a pros-
pector or a hunter,- and was therefore well
adapted to the purpose for whichit was wanted.

It was solidly though rudely built, and still
had a stout door, and, there was, no window
opening by which a. prisoner might possibly es~

ca e. .

Topnotch Tim was escorted into the bare and
unfurnished room, and was informed that he
might seat himself on the floor it he wished to,
or might walk about if he chose, but could on
no account be permitted to get out. .

“ What have, you brought me here for?” he
calmly inquired when his gag had been removed.
“’What are you going to do with me?”

“We’ve got you foul now,” replied the big
ruiflan,, “ and we mean to work. you fur all
you’re worth, and make you pay, fur the new
and the old.” > , ‘
ée“ If I owe anything,'I am always ready to

ttle, and you may produce the bill as soon. as
you lease. ’

“ bar’s your diggin’s, then? That’s what we
want to “

 

know.” ‘ . ,

“My diggin’sl  do 't know what you mean
by me diggin’s.”

.“ on don’t,
innocent in your old age. ,
you do know jest what I mean. Your diggin’s
is the place what you git your gold; and We
mean to make on tell us whar it is, if we have
to squeeze the 'ayli ht out of you.’?, . r a

, The Mad Pai .4 smiled, as if, he considered
this statement ‘mildly humorous; but the light
' tgzt-flashedfrom his dark, eyes was more lurid

1: ever. '

 

é“ slivers surrosedvrofi- to he

,i.
,v as

n
9
I

 
 
  
 
 

 
  
   

)aibigfool

 

 \

hey? You’re gittin’ tobemightv'
I make no doubt that

said he; “ but you seem to be getting more silly
than-ever. If I had any such diggiu’s as you
speak of, you may be sure that no amount of
compulsion would persuade me to give it away
to you. You might kill me, but would still be
as i norant as you are now.”

“ e’ll see about that. If we don’t find a
Way to make you tell us what we want to know,
you may burn me for a fool, and waste no fire—
wood.”

“ I hope you are not going to starve me. You
would gain nothing by that. I should have had
my‘ supper before now.”

his was an important consideration, which
had 1:already impressed itself forcibly upon the
tong s.

They had brought nothing to eat, and the
amount of whisky they carried was not sufficient
for their needs. .

Deadwood Dave went outside 'with his com-
rades, shutting his prisoner up in the cabin,
and consulted with them concerning the situa-
tion. I .

He was very anxious to get back to Topnotch
as soon as poesible, mainly for the purpose of in-
forming Dan Lusher of the capture, and turning
the prisoner over to the man who was willing to
pay for him.

The others had various reasons, mostly connect—
ed with whisky, for wishing to return to town--
that is, all of them except English Bill, who de-
clared that he was both willing and able to hold
the fort and guard the prisoner, until they could
come back and relieve him.

This simplified matters at once, and gave the
four the chance for which they were longing.

After assuring the captive that something
to eat would be provided for him as soon as pos-
sible, Deadwood Dave and his three comrades
set out on their return to Topnotch, leavmg
English Bill to guard the cabin.

1n the course of time they reached the reju-
venated town, finding it lighted up as it always
was at night, and just then at t e hight of its
gayety and excitement.

Cautioning the others to go slow, to touch the
intoxicating fluid light] , and to be ready to re
turn with him to the hi is at a moment’s notice,
the big rufllan hastened to carry his important
news to Dan Lasher,

He found the gambler dealing torn, and made
'him e si nal, which was at once understood;

Inde , his excited manner and his air of im-
portance was enough to inform Handsome Dan
that he had something of interest to communi-
cate. .

Dan summoned an assistant to take his place
at the box, and led his tool toacorner where
they could 'confer privately.

“ I’ve got him,” excitedly whispered Dave.

“ Got your friend, Topnotch Tim? Is that
what you mean?” i .

“ That's jest it. We’ve got him.”

“ And how did on get him?” . r

“ Jest laid fur him, jumped on him, and gob-
bled him up.”

“ You did not hurt him, I hope.”

“Nor hurt." '

“ Where is he now ?”

“ Shut ti ht in a cabin up yonder and well
guarded. e is safe, you may
and he is yours, to do With as you please."

Dan Lasber was silent for a moment, looking
puzzled and abstracted, as if he had got an ele-
phant on his hands, and did not know what to
do with it. "-

while—perhaps for two or three days?" he in-
quired. ‘. 7

“He is safe enough thsr new,” answered
Davy, “and it ’11 be easy enough to keep him
safe. as you’re willin’ to pa well.”

“I am glad of that, as have been so bus
that Ihave not settled on any place where
could put him. Of course I pay well, and you
know that." -

“ That’s what I told the boys.”

“ Well, you need not be always reminding me
of it. You will get your money.”

“Say, Cap,"queried‘Dave, who was strug-
gling with a weighty problem. “ What eul‘li
of a” grudge have you got, against the old
cuss? .’

“ Don’t you know that he came into my place
on the Opening night, and sung and reached
and prayed against my business. and :t en beat
me out of two thousand dollars, and said
that it was my contribution to the Baptist
church?” - i

“ Yes, l know that; but I allowed that he jest
had a lucky streak fur that once.” ,,

“ Don’t you know thathe thr‘ ntenerl to keep
oncoming? He would have done it too, if. it
had notfheen that something of more import-
ance to himself kept him back.” ' ‘

“‘13 that all the
him Ca i” .

“ here. Dave What-you-call—him, you
are much too inltuisitive about my affairs. If
you don‘t drop’t at style of thi I will
to choke you off, and I know vjus _ w to do the
trick. If I have any other grudge ' against the
person” you speak of, that is my business, not
yours. ’ ‘

 

 
  

linought be p you—that's all.

 
 
  
 
   

 

 

bet your head, I

“Do you think he will be safe there fore. V

.,_,...V.-..i._:...

.-..;4,.x¢;;. .
v -w. ,

grudge you’ve got ag’inst  '

have '

\. ,. " i
“All ri ht, Cap. I allowed that mobile, I = 3

y ,
1
fl

 


3.

.___‘n

 

 

;
a
'l
l
i

 

  

Tepnotch Tim, the Mad Parson. ' I. I .

 

 

“When I want your help, I will let you
know. What I pay you for is to do my work
and hold your tongue.”

Dun Lasher should have knewn that such a
big worm as Deadwood Dave may turn when it
is ti'odden on.

That particular worm did not turn just then.
but looked as if the weather might become
somewhat sultry for Handsome Dan, if the
lworm should ever happen to get on top of

1m.

“ I won’t be likely to kee him there long, ob-
served the gambler. “ ndeed, I may get
through with him tonight.”

“ If you do, what then?” eagerly inquired

Dave.

‘.‘ What then? Why, that‘s all.”

“ Not quite all, Cap. When you git through
with him, suppose you turn him over to us
tellers."

“ What do you want him for?”

“ We’ve got a grud ag’inst him, too, and we
want to make him to us when the diggin’s is
that he gets his gold from.”

"If you ever make that man ueal, David,
mi will do something that I don’t elieve any-

y capable of doin . Well, you will be wel-
come to him when am through with him.
Come, now, we will go right up there. Where
are your partners?”

“ hgy‘re handy. I can git belt of them right
awav.’ ‘

“ Have them ready at McGinle 's, then, within
half an hour, and we will start rom there.”

Deadwood Dave hastened to obey the orders
of his employer, and Handsome Dan made some
pre )arations that were a little peculiar.

e opened a trunk and took out a packs e of
papers, from which be selected a few an put
them in his pocket. He also provided himself
with two revolvers and a belt of cartridges.

Then he went to McGinley‘s saloon, where
Deadwood Dave had with some difficulty got his
followers in working order, with the exception
of English Bill's partner, who was already too
drunk to be of any further service to the com-
bination.

Such as the gang was, it was acceptable to
Dan Lasher, who accom anied them up the
mountain trail, Deadwood ave taking the lead,
and looking as important as if he carried the en-
tire enterprise upon his shoulders.

It was a tedious tramp at night, and Dan was
not the only one of the party who felt that he
would be glad when it was ended.

When they reached the point where they left
the trail to go to the .cabin. b‘eu Staples sniffed
and declared that he smelt smoke, and others
smelt it too. - ‘

“ Somebody has been settin’, the woods aflre,”
remarked Dave; “ but that hain’t got nuthin’ to
do with us.”

It was not until they reached the place where

,1 they had left their prisoner that they discovered

that it had something to do with them.

They stopped suddenly,‘ with various ejacula-
tions of amazement and anger. mostly profane.

“ What’s the matter?” inquired the gambler.

“ It’s gone,” answered Dave, who seemed to be
quite stupefied.

“ What is gone?”

“ The cabin we shut
down. Come and see.”

Going on a little further, they came to the ite
of the cabin.

Nothing was to be seen there but a pile of
ashes and a few smoldering lo 5'.

“ It’s all burnt up.” said ave. “ and Top-

him up in. It is burnt

.notch Tim has been burnt up with it.” i

"‘I am not so sure of that,” remarked Dan
Lasher. " You know that he is very smart, and

, 1 have heard you say that the devil or something

else helps him.”

Making a light, they examined the ruins
carefully,’and soon‘discovered the bod of a
man near the edge, partly covered by as es and

. charred wood.

It was burned beyond the possibility of recog-
nition, and they gathered about it an wondered
whoit was. ,

“I don't think it is tall enough for the old
man,” said Lasher. “Perhaps it is the chap
you left in charge here.”

“How could .it be him?” demanded Dave.
“He was outside, and t’other was inside. En—

glish Bill could git away from the fire easy

enough, and Topnotch Tim couldn't.” .
Yet there was no means of identification re-

maining, and the truth was left to conjecture.
After puzzling themselves about it a while,

the party returned to Topnotch. \

_ CHAPTER XI. , , i
a scum AND A’smon".

Cessna. the dwarf, had remained, at the house
on the plateau with Susan Marlow when her
father went into the hills.

. Whatever the object of the Mad Parson’s expe-
dition may have been, he surely, knew he was
fouoned. and it was highly probable that he be-
lieved he had baflled his pursuers. ‘ v

, For once, at least, his calculations were made ‘
in yain and the result‘proved thhteven he could
he easin trapped. i .

When he was caught he might, by a

 

' , have

summoned his daughter‘a'nd CBSM‘, an there

can be no doubt that they would have worried
his adversaries to some purpose; b t he was lin-
willing to involve them in his difiic lties, always
believing that he could easily ektricate him-
himself.

Yet they were bound to miss him in the course
of time, and it may be supposed that they would
have preferred a little peril to a good deal of
anxiety.

Since the attack by Deadwood Dave and his
fellow-toughs, either Mr. Marlow or Caesar had
always remained at home with Susan, and her
father trusted the dwarf almost as fully as he
trusted himself.

At least. there could be no doubt of Cwsar’s
courage and fidelity.

His inability to hear and speak was of course
a drawback to his usefulness: but the sense of
hearing seemed to have been to a considerable
extent merged in the senses of seeing and feel-
ing, which had become so intensified that they
often seemed to take the place of the lost sense.

When Mr. Marlow was expected to return
from his expedition, Susan was Seated in front
of the cabin with her sewing, and the dwarf
was there also, both looking and listening for
the father and friend. .

Suddenly Caesar threw himself down in his
usual style, with his ear to the ground, as if he
could hear what was going on at a distance, and
'arose with a look of a arm and anxiety.

“ Is it not father?” she asked with her fingers.

Caesar shook his . head, and indicated that
there were, in his opinion, several people in the
ravine or thei'eabout.

"Are they going to try it again?” she de-
manded, as the circumstances broughf to her
mind the previous attack. ,

The dwarf thought that they were about to
try it again, and he so expressed himself in his

wa .

‘9’ Bring the rifles, then,” she ordered.

He brought two rifles. and they considered
themselves pre red for an emergency.‘

Before starting toward the west end of the
plateau to meet the expected attack, Caesar
threw himself down and laid his ear to the
ground again.

This time his hairy face expressed surprise
when he arose.

“ What is the matter?” she asked.

“ They are not there,” he telegraphed. “ They
must have gone away.”

“ Perhaps father has come along and scared
themoff.” j ‘

The dwarf shook his head sadly, as if he con-
sidered that an improbable supposition.

*If Mr. Marlow had really done what Susan
suggested he ought by that time to have been
there with them; but neither her listening, nor
Caesar’s more acute sense of feeling, could then
detect the presence of any poison near by.

“ At least there is no danger,” she said. “ We
will put the rifles away, and will wait for
father.” 1 *1 _

They did wait, and their apprehenswns in-
creased as the time passed by, and the expected
one did not return to them.

The hour for his return had been find when
he went away, and when it had long since pass
ed, but he had not come, the conviction was
forced upon them that something had happened
to him, and of course the something must in-
volve peril.

Though they knew that he was accounted
crazy, they also knew the limitations of his
mental disease, and were well aware of the fact
that as far as they were concerned, he had
never broken his word or failed to keep his ap-
pointments.

“ Are you sure that there were several men
down there?” Susan Marlow asked Caesar.

Yes, he was sure. , 

“ If they had meant to attack us again, and
father had come and driven them ofl‘, as he did
before, we would have seen him here long before
now. I am afraid, Ciesar, that they may have
been lying in wait for him knowing that there
was but one way by which he would be likely to
come up here, and may have done him some

at harm.” _ .

. The dwarf’s look showed that the same appre-
lhensions had taken hold of him.

i‘éLet us go and seek him,” his busy fingers
as .

‘. Susan Marlow was quite as eager to go as

Caesar was, and the start was speedily made.
'i The house was closed and locked as well as it
could be, and they took their rifles sallied
forth, descending at the west end of t 6 plateau
into the ravine below.  '

‘ No person was there, and no signJof a recent
encounter or disturbance of any kind was visi-

came into play-—one of those which helped to
atone to him for the lack of speech and hearing.
the 55mm: like a hunting-dog.

“ e was here,” he telegraphed to Susan.

> “ Then,they‘ have got him,” her fingers said
sadly. “ It was just about, the time when he
was to have come home that you felt those

The have capturedhim and

pie down here. ‘

 

carried him away»,
low them?” \

there any chance to fol~

F. .
\Then it was that another of'CBsar’s Bonus

0: down on all-fours, and snuffed about .\

Caesar, who had been listening intently with
his eyes, put down his head again, and smelt
about vigorously. apparently endeavoring to
distinguish and separate the various human > :
scents about there. ' ~

After a while he struck the trail of Deadwood I;
Dave’s party, and beckoned to Susan.

She took the two rifles, and left him free to
follow the scent as well as he could. “

There was much of the dog about him, but
more of the man—not enough of either for the
full attainment of the end he had in View.

He struck the trail pretty much as a dog ' 1
might strike it, but could not follow it as a dog '
might have followed it, his progress being slow I
and hesitating. ‘

The darkness would have revented the acut—
est trailer from tracking t e steps of even so . s.
large a party and the scent was evidently not
sufl'lcient for wsar. .

Susan Marlow was in d air. . ,

She stopped the dwarf, and asked him, hold-
ing her speaking fingers near his face, if he was
sure that her father had been down in the
iavine, and that he was there captured and car-
ried away. ' i .Q-

Cresar could not be certain of all that; but be ,3:
had no doubt, as be assured her, that there had ‘
been several men stirring in the ravine, and that
they bad 5 codin gone away.

If Mr. al'low had not fallen in with them
and been ca tured by them, he would have ‘
reached his ome long beforethat hour, ashe , i."
never failed to return when he promised to. '

This was reasonable enough, and Susan per
mitted the dwarf to continue the quest, though
she had no confidence in his success. ' ‘ ,

It took him into the trail that led to Topnotch
and there he soon became utterl bewildered, as _ .
his sense of smell would not slow him to dis- . 2‘
criminate amon the various people who had ~ ’
recently travel that route. - .  ‘

“This is of no use," said Susan. “ We will 353
have to go home and wait for daylight”. . ‘ '3

But Caesar was by no means ready to abandon
the effort, and he went on down the, trail

using now and then to sniff about, as if

e sus cted the men he was following of having
turn oil to the right or the left. . .
If Mr..Marlow had been captured, it was not
at all likely that he would be taken to Topnotch,
where he was well known. and it was rbaso able
to presume that his captors bad Some other esti-
nation. , ‘ ' '

Finally, however, the dwarf was compelled
to confess that he was completely at fault. . ,

He shook his head sadly, intimating that it ‘
would be useless to pursue the search any fur-

t r. . ,
‘ We must go home. then, and wait for day- .;
light,” said Susan. “To-morrow we will raise "
a party. and my father shall be hunted and
found, no matter where he ma be.” ,
Again Caesar threw himself own ‘with his ear
to the ground; but this time his face and man- _
her were full of joyous excitement when 119 ,v

arose.
“What is it?” eagerly demanded Susan. . . ,
f 3e gave the sign which he used to indicate her, '
3 er. , u '
“That is too good news to be true,”  she; ,
but it was true nevertheless. ‘ .
In a few moments the tall form of Timotillig
Marlow came striding u the trail, and<then .
daughter was claspe in is embrace. ‘

CHAPTER XII. . ,
THROUGH FIRE TO tampon. .

“ Wn were afraid that we had lost yo ;
father.” said Susan Marlow when her first tran , .
port of joy had subsided. ‘ i 

“We were terribly afraid that we had lost :,

on, as Cinsar was sure that on had been w y .

id down in the ravine, an carried off h Va 1-:
part ofmen.” -  _.
. “ ester was right,” answered the/old map as I _
he patted the ungainly dwarf on the head. 2 ’ . 3-

‘ He was quite right about that, as he always I
is when his wits are in ood working order. I,
have had a rough expe nce; but you see I atn
safe out of the scrape.” . , I . »  ,

“ But your clothes have been on fire, father“ ...~
and I can new age that your hair and beards . ' '
scorched. Who does it mean?” , \ -

“ We will go home, in clear, and get some— .
thing to eat, as I am fea ully hungry, and then; ,. ;
I will tell you all about it.” ' ' v ‘

Not until he was safe at home and had eaten
a heart supper, did Timothy Marlow begin to
explain is recent mysterious absence. ‘ ,. n ,
‘ hen heseated himself in a comfortable chair, 7 ‘ ' A;

,lighted an unclerical pipe, and gave a full aov'»
“count of his abductio and escalpie. ,- 1'
.Partof this the dwa got ho of b watch _ ,
inteptly the lips of his master and riend, an '
the rest was condensed into sign language for
him by Susan. _ ' M r
The old man could not tell the whole story.
however, as part of the occurrences that led/Io.
his escape were beyond his sight and hearing, ,
and he could onlydgnass at them from what he,
observedafterwa . , ;' ~ . r "j 1.
The truth was that he owed muéh. tone nes- -' ’ ;
ligence of English Bill. , r ' '

   
    
  
   

,,

 

 

' That tough. citizen was in high féatbdr‘whfl’lg '
is comrades re to Topnotch, and  ~

 

 

 

' were usuall

‘ . there was an way or him toturn

‘ wristsuptoit,an

.10

Topnotch Tim, the Mad Parson.

 

 

never had a better opinion of himself than at
that moment.

It was he who was responsible for the valu-g

able capture that had been made; he who had
come boldly to the front and borne the brunt of
the business; he who had subdued the man who
terrified the other touglis; he whose energetic
and resolute action had encouraged them to
come in and make the victory sure.

Therefore it was reasonable to presume that
he should and would receive the greater portion
of the reward that had been promised by the
capitalist who was backing the scheme.

As he was the lion, he ought to have the lion’s
share.

It pleased him eatly to perceive that his
comrades regarded im as the hero of the occa-
sion, as they surely did, for they would not
otherwme have been willing to leave him in solo
charge of such a valuable captive.

The proof was plain that they trusted him im—
Elicitly, and he had not the faintest doubt that
his was fully equal to the trust imposed upon

in.

The man who had caught Topnotch Tim could

keg) him.

aviug settled these points in his mind, he
was at leisure to consider his personal condition
and his creature comforts.

He felt the need of food, but rejoiced in the
belief that be had a good substitute for some-
thing to eat in the shape of somethin to drink,
possessing a flask of whisky of which e had not
informed his comrades, and which he had con-
:gquently not been compelled to share with

em.

This whisky would alleviate the pangs of hun-
ger, would put him on the best possible terms
with himself, and would be the best of company
for him during his lonely vigil. ‘

At least. that was the way he figured it up;
but whisky has its own style of transacting busi-
ness among those who feel with it. ' ,

Before touching the flask, English Bill attend-
ed to the door of the cabin, and made sure that
it was stoutly fastened from the outside, so that
his prisoner could not possibly escape.

Then he gave his attention to the whisky, and
:Efier:d the seductive fluid to gurgle down his

real . , '

It was some of Bart McGinley’s hottest and
fiercest man~killing compound, and its efiects
sudden and severe. ,

English ill had fully intended to touch it
lightly; but one taste of the fiery fluid called for
another, and it encroached upon him before he
was fully aware of what he was doing.

As the potent stuff surged up into his brain
and settled there, he soon became drowsy,rand
what was to hinder him from taking a nap
before his comrades came back? '

, His prisoner was safe, and he was sleepybiling3
e

' ass. matter of fact, he found himself una

kee awake anylonger. ‘
e seated himself on the ground with his

“back against the cabin door, and soon his

mores began to mingle loudly with the other
“ voices of the night.”

‘Timoth Marlow in the mean time had kept
wide awe e and had become pretty well aware
of the occurrences outside.

filistening at the crevices of the deserted
ca he had learned that all his captors but
one had returned to Topnotch, and had formed
a. reasonabl correct opinion of the thhat

 had takent em away. -

As soon as they had gone, the idea of escape
came into his head, though not for the first time,
and he went to work on it.

The first thing necessary was to free his limbs
solthat he could act effectively if he should find

' a chance for action.

“His feet had been freed, so that he might walk
tothecabin' but his hands were still tiedbe-
hind his back, and he needed them badly.

He was not goin to let them stay tiled, if
0056,
and he soon ound a way.
' Backing himself up against the wall, he thus
explored the room in the. darkness, and came

'_ across a three-cornered file that had been driven

into one of the logs, probably to serve as a
clothes peg. ’ _
'v It was a little high for his use; but he got his

by dint of re id work and
scraping the skin from his knock as against the
l , e succeeded in making the file bite through
1: e cord where it was knotted, and then be was
soon free to strata: his arms and rub his hands,
a: toh et them , y for the work that lay

ore .

.He soon‘ had it cut out, and beganato see

I‘- / , his way through the dificulty with some degree

of clearness. ,
Listening at the front of the cabin, he heard

5 ve  the snorcs of English Bill, and

guess w at was the matter with him.
At least, hewas sound asleep, and his slum-

' _.aber\wou1d give the prisoner a dgood chanceto

escape, if he could once got outsi e of the cabin.
The‘ guestion was, though, how was he to get

, o‘uiside

The logs were too heav and stout toofl’er
him any hope, and he not even a knife in
his pocket, that haw‘n been taken from him

with his revolver when 9 was captured.

1

 

Feelin of the door in the darkness, he er-
ceived t at it would be equally impractica le,
i311:1 :he absence of tools, to do anything with

a .

Yet he was not without resources.

He had a box of matches on his person, and
his final conclusion was that, with those little

ine sticks tipped with phosphorus, he must

orce his way to freedom.

Considered as weapons, they were not a bit
formidable; but they might be very effective if
judiciously used.

Timothy Marlow, in short, had decided upon
burning his way out of the log—cabin. ..

This, however, was a serious matter, and
:ne which demanded caution and circumspec-

ion.

It would be a very good thing to burn one’s
way out of a house, but quite another matter
to burn one’s self up in a house.

It would be useless to attack the logs, even in
a corner, where they could best be got at, as
the fire might be expected to Smolder for a
long time, and time was a point to be calculated
on, as the men who had gone to Topnotch might
be expected to return.

Moreover, it was to be presumed that the
smoke would suffocate the prisoner before a.
Wig! out could be opened for him.

6 turned his attention to the door as his best
chance.

It was passably solid, and of seasoned oak,
but nothing like as solid as the logs.

If there was any chance, the door offered it,
and that chance he was determined to try,
though he was well aware of the risks he ran in
attempting to burn his way out.

Using a few of his matches for lighting pur-
poses, he found variousi combustibles in the
empty room—a little straw from an old bed,
some drawing-knife shavings, and several splin-
ters and odds and ends of wood.

These he collected near the door, and dug a
little hole at its base, so that the fire might
catch it at the bottom, and then carefully placed
the stuff in the hole, and lighted it with one of
his matches. 7 ’

It blazed up all right, and careful tendence
soon made him sure that, it would catch the
door and do gond work there: but the effect of
the smoke and one other matter. were points
which were yet to be ascertained. * ‘ V

The prisoner was pleased to perceive that a
good deal of the smoke found its way out
through crevices in the roof and sides of the
cabin. /

No doubt there was enough to seriousl in-
commode him, and the inconvenience was ike-
1y to grow greater, and perhaps to become dan-
gerous; yet, if the worst came to the worst, he
could put his face to the floor, and thus escape
much of it.

The other point that troubled him was the
presence of the guard outside, who, though he
might then be asleep, would surely be awakened
by the smoke and the fire. , . ~

As‘the prisoner had no weapons, not even as
much use stick, how could be hope to strive
agfiinst an armed and alert adversary?

nglish Bill, however, was not who easily
awakened. r

A the fire caught the oaken door, and it be-
gan to burn upward from the bottom, the smoke
got into the nostrils of the man outside, and he
began to grunt and groan and grumble, but with-
out recovering possession of his senses.

It is not too much to say that Bart McGinley’s
whisky was “ a deadener.” i

When the smoke was followed by the heat of
the fire, English Bill became so uncomfortable
that he fell forward and rolled over to get out
of the wa of? it. i '

Yet he ‘ took the tumble” a' little too late,
as the flame had already fastened on his cloth-

in .

Timothy Marlow knew nothing of the trouble
outside. '

Though he knew the guard to, be there, he
merely wondered what had become of him, and
fu‘lév expected soon to encounter him. '

is thoughts were fully occupied with watch-
ing the chances for. his own escape, and with
preventing himself from being burned or
smothered to death. ‘

As the door ,burned u ward, the logs also,
caught; but the prisoner id not care what he-
came of the cabin, if he could. get out. ,.

He used his best efforts ‘to increase the con-
fiagration at that particular point, and, laid
the satisfaction of seeing an openin made,
though it was not yet sufficient toallow, 's exit.

Again and again he tried the crumbling door;
but the fastenings on the outside still held it,
and the smoke and heat were becoming terribly

op ve.

gt last he threw himself against it with all
the force of which he was capable—in fact, with
the energy of despair. ' i -

The charred and blazing wood gave way, and
fell outward with a rush of flame and s arks,
and Timothy Marlow. carried forward y the
force of his blow, tumbled out with it and upon
it. '
Feelingathe flame in his hair, and knowing
that his
tened , to extricate himself from his perilous

 

nds and face were scorched, he has-'

 

position, and discovered that the fire had caught
his clothing.

Throwing himself on the ground, he rolled
over and over until he smothered the flame upon
his person, and perceived that he was safe.

His first thought then was to look for the man
who had been left to guard him, of whom he
had not seen or heard anything since he was
saluted by the snores at the outside of the cabin.

A faint moaning and feeble stirring under
what looked like a pile of fire and Cinders, at-
tracted his attention, and he stepped forward to
gaze upon a seene of horror.

When the fire was started at his back English
Bill was as soggy and stupid as if he had been
drugged.

Indeed, the Bart McGinley whisky, when it
did not have its fighting spurs on, usually acted
as an opiate.

When he fell over, the fire that had caught
his clothing attacked his body instantly and in
such a manner that, although he felt t e flame
severely, he was incapable of fighting it.

He could not even roll over, or do anything
to prevent himself from being burnt to a crisp
as he lay there, speechless and helpless.

Then the burning door fell on him, and his
doom was quickly sealed, the faint moan and
stir that Topnotch Tim had noticed telling only
of his expiring agony.

With a stick the Mad Parson plucked away
the blazing wood, but perceived at once that the
man was beyond the reach of help. ,

There was nothing then for him to do but to
consider his own safety, which could be best
secured by getting away from the scene of his
imlprisonment.

y this time the logs had begun to burn free-
ly, and the destruction of the cabin promised to
be speedyand com lete.

The blazing bui ding lighted his way as his
long strides carried him swiftly toward the Top-
notch trail.

“ Do you know who has being doing this?" in-
quired Susan when her father had made an end
of narrating his experience.

“ Yes, I know the men who did the work, or
most of them; but I do not know who is backing
them.”

“ Backing them? What do you mean by
that?” ’

“ From some words they let drop, I concluded
that there was somebody behind them, who was
encouraging them to do what they did, and was
probably paying them for it.”

“ Who can he be?”

“That is what I must find out.”

CHAPTER XIII.
EL PASO PETE. '

Tim rejuvenation of Topnotch, as has been
noted; necessarily caused a large increase of
population, many of the new-comers being/people
who expected to profit by the needs or Vices of a
thriving camp.

ong the new-comer» as has also been
noted, was Dan Lasher, whose coming created
considerable excitement, and whose settlement
in Topnotch was one of the most prominent
facts connected with the town.

Later there was another arrival. and one that
was scarcely loss conspicuous and interestingée

This person was one whose comin had 11
heralded somewhat as that of Ban some Dan
had been like the approach of a theatrical star.

Therefore he was expected, and, when he
came into Topnotch by t e short line stage from
the valley, he was waited for by a large delega-
tion of citizens and transient people.

He proved to be worthy of their regard, abun-
dantly satisfying their curiosity.

A more picturesque person had never been
seen in Topnotch, or one who better answered
the popular conception of a hero. ,

In the first place, his name was El Paso Pete
—a name which had not only reached that 10-
cality, but which carried with it a strong sug-
gestion of Tenn and Mexican ossibilities.

He was dressed for that c aracter, and he
looked it in a manner to fully satisfy the expec-
tations of those who were awaiting him.

He had the calmeros, the jacket with bell
buttons, the broad-brimmed sombrero, and even
the lead or ' wter images of saints, that be-
tokened the exican. ‘

Only an escopete could be needed to complete
the character; but he evidently had too much
sense to incumber himself with SO antiquated
and useless a weapon being equipped with 3.
Winchester rifle, two andsome revolvers, and
a full complement of cartrid es in a double belt.

His attire was decidedly exican, but his ar-
senal was thorough] Texan, and he appeared to
be a pretty formi able compound of the two
nationalities. - '

He seemed to has young man— not over thirty
—with a long! and pointed mustache, a bland
smile, eyes that had a slee y expression, or the
lack of any, and a figure t at was near the per-
fection of “youthful manhood. .

Even if there had not been a dispositi n to-
lionize thispicturesqge personage from th mo-
ment of his arrival, 9 would speedily have be-
come one of the most popular characters in T01]:
notch, as he at once set in to“ make him
solid "' with the citizens. '

 

l

\

i

 

 

 

i ’ u ‘3‘.

 

 

 

 

l“

l.‘



 

Topnotch Tim, the Mad Parson.

..  .. .,. "an..."

11

 

 

In this effort he was speedily and eminently
successful.

He chucked a few dollars into the mouths of
the tigers at Dan Liisher's and other places, but
without committing himself to a combat with
either of the beasts.

At the various saloons he was free with his
money, treating frequently and liberally, but
himself sampling the liquors with caution and
moderation.

His modesty, though it might not have been
so considered elsewhere, was something marvel-
ous to the Topnotchers, in View of the reputation
that had preceded him, and his statements con-
cerning himself were not regarded as in the least
degree boastful.

“ I am El Paso Pete,” he was wont to say,
“ and I am a chief where I come from. The
Comanches hunt their holes when they hear of
me, and the Greasers give me plenty of room. I
own the field, and always out a wide swath. I
am not hunting any fights, and am as peaceable
as a young lamb on a May morning; but, if any
citizen about here wants to pick a quarrel with
me, he can be accommodated with all he wants
as soon as he can call for it.”

Such extreme modesty on the part of so great
a man was hi hly appreciated by the many ad-
mirers of El aso Pete.

The toughs swarmed about him, but treated
him deferentially, and the more substantial cit-
izens, though they regarded him as a possible
terror, were respectful and willing to be on
good terms with him.

In the course of his peregrinations he “ took
in "Bart McGinley’s juicery, and it must be ad-
mitted that he seemed to take unusual pains to
make himself solid there, greatly to the delight
of McGinley and his regular customers.

Deadwood Dave and his gang had been out of
a job since the disastrous failure of their last at—
tempt upon Topnotch Tim.

They were also out of money, the sums re-
ceived from Dan Lasher having lasted them but
a little while, and there being no more forth-
coming from that quarter.

Handsome Dan had positively assured them
that no further advance payments would be
made; that he must have something to show for
his money before he put it up.

As it had been clearly demonstrated to them,
by the presence of Topnotch Tim in the flesh,

and the continued absence of English Bill, that .

it was the latter individual who had been done
away with by the burning of the cabin, the fact
had discouraged them greatly.

As they could not understand how the un-
armed prisoner had escaped, while the free man
with weapons had perished, their belief in the

ssession of supernatural powers by the Mad

arson was strengthened, and their fear of him
had become so great that they hastened to get
out of sight if they happened to perceive him at
‘a distance. '

Sandy McGuckin had so far recovered from
the eflocts of his wound that he was able to sit
up in the bar-room with the others, and there
was no longer any‘medical interdiction to pre—
vent him from king his regular or irregular
drinks, if he could get them. '

If he could get them—that was the sore oint
with Sandy, as well as with the rest of ,t em,
and they were all more than ever convinced of
the truth of the old saying that “it takes money
to buy whisky.”

Censequently the advent of a stranger and
especially of such a personage as El Paso Pete,

' was regarded by them as a Windfall of the first

magnitude.

As he was the furthest possible remove from
a tenderfoot, they could not hope to take any-
thing from him, or to make anything out of
him, except what he chose to give them; but he
was surely a liberal chieftain, and it was very
kind of him to extend his patronage to the Mo-
Ginley juicery and contain e it there.

He was, indeed, very' liberal to the four

' toughs who were usually housed at McGinley’s

though Deadwood Dave had at first expressed
the opinion that he was a “ stuckup kind of a
cuss, and jest as like as not a fraud."

One evening, when he was there with the pro-
prietor and the four comrades—other customers
seldom sought that resort—he ventured to ask a
small favor of them or one of them. :

As he had “sugared them u ” to their satis-
faction, it was to be expec that they would
gladly do something for him in return, and
their willingness was only limited by their abil-

ty. .

“Is thar any of on fellers,” he inquired,
“ who is handy with t e pen? I can write my
name, and maybe can do a little more when I’m
pushed' but I make such a poor fist of it that

would be ashamed to have anybody see my
handwrite." . ‘

Aaron Isaacs could write, and admitted as
much; but it was agreed that Sandy McGuckin
was the chain ion penmau of the. arty, and
Sand was gla tabs of service to he gang’s
new mend, if he could get hold of proper tools

\ for the p

“What'do bu want done?’ he asked, when
the materials ad been rocured.
. “I want,” answered pie, “to write a letter

J, 4,: '-

 

to the superintendent of the Topnotch Mining
Company.”

Sandy started and hesitated.

He had been in that business once before, and
his previous experience made him wonder what
this men might intend to do.

“ What do you want to say to him?" he asked.

“ I want to apply for a posish.”

“That’s a scheme that ain’t a bit likely to
work," put in Deadwood Dave. “Those folks
are a pious crowd, the piousest you ever struck.
and I‘m al‘eard that your style wouldn’t suit ’em
much better’n ourn, and I know that they
wouldn‘t touch any of us with a ten-foot pole. ’

El Paso Pete ordered some more whisky for
the party, as the easiest argument available.

“I understand that, Dave,” said he, “and I
shouldn’t wonder if I know as much about the
people as you do; but I’ve auction that my style
is just what they need and are bound to have.
I want a posish as a sort of handy man—a
bouncer, a chap who can make big-headed
galoots stand around, who can keep order and do
what I may call the rough Work of managin’.
Thats the sort of man they need, and they’ve rat
to have him, if they haven’t struck one alrea y.
Just you write that out, Sandy, and put it in as
good shape as you can, and I’ll pay you well for
the job if it suits me."

Sandy addressed himself to the task, applied
to it all the resources of his stimulated intellect,
and produced an application that suited the ap-
plicant when it was read to him. I

It was inclosed in an enVelope directed to
“ Thomas R. Eagleson, Supgrintendent of the
Topnotch Mining Company, and Sandy Mc-
Guckin was well paid for writing it, and more
drinks were forthcoming at the expense of the
visitor.

 

CHAPTER XVI.
YOUR NECKS INTO noosus.

Dnmwoon DAVE was considerably perplexed
and'worried by the application which El Paso
Pete had concocted and Sandy McGuckin had
put in shape for him. V

He wanted to know whether this new and val-
uable friend, who could be of so much service to
the gang, was going over to the enemy.

It was of course an understood thing that the
new mining company was hostile to the old Top-
notchers and the tough interests generally.

“You seem to be a squar’ man,” said he
“ white all through, no sort of a tenderfoot, and
not pionscr than the law allows. I jest hope
that you ain’t goin’to sell out tothat mining
com any.” .

“ am not the kind of man who sells out to
anlybody," reBlied the gentleman from El Paso.
“ reckon, ave, that you don’t understand
this little game of mine.” ,_

“ Mebbe I don’t' but I’m sart’in that thar

can’t be much hold out to the new minin’ com-
pany. They’re a mean and despisable set too,
with not a hit of' public 3 rrit about t em.
The whole concern is on he make and they
don’t mean to let anybody but themselves make
anythin’ if they can help it. ; If they keep on as
they’ve been gom’, the public a rrlted citizens
pf this camp will rise up afore ong and smash
em.  , »
“ That is my opinion exactly," observed El
Paso Pete, with a sudden burst of confidence,
“and I reckon I may well let on into a lit-
tle secret, as we are all friends ore, and may
be partners.”

As friendship and, possible partnershi with
El Paso Pete was greatly to be desired _y the

gang they listened ea erly to his explanation.

s I told ou,” an d be, “I am not the man
to sell m'ysel , and I sometimes think that I’ve
got as much public spirit as anybody.‘ Do you
suppose for a minute that any measly, miserly
wages that those folk could pay me would be-
gin tohuy suchaman asI am? Chiefs ain’t
sold that cheap in my country. No, amty friends
gggdlpagtners, that’s not what I’m ter. It’s

6 .

The eyes odes hearers glistened.

Boodle was what they were after, too; but
they did not know how to get it, and hoped
that their new friend was going to tell them.

‘fHow are you goin’ to make the scheme
work?” inquired Deadwood Dave. .

“That is what I am not ready to tell. I
must wait and see how things shape themselves
before I can say just what I am going to do. I
wanted to let you into this thing a. bit, soithat
you might make no mistake about my inten-
tions. the flrfit thinghI wiant dis tilidgetia good
grip on hosec ape—a ar an co 3 p—and
then I will work them for all I am worth.”

“ That’ll be mighty fine, if it works as well as
it sounds.” ’

“ I mean to make it work. That’s the only
wayto et along. It is strange to me that you
tellers aven’t tried to play some such game.
I never had much to do with pious people, but
have thought that they are easy to scare.”

“Not allus, I reckon. We did trytoruna
skeer onto ’em a while ago; but it didn’t seem
to work. We mought have followed the thing
up, if we hadn’t had some other jobs on our
hands.” ‘ a ,

“ What other jobs?” inquiredtbe visitor, half
closmg his eyes, est their sparkle should sug-

 

 

 

gest the deep interest he was taking in this con-
versation.

“ Well, as you are a friend of ours, and sorter
hitched in the same harness, 1 ma as well tell
yogii though I don’t suppose it wil interest you
a i .

The big ruffian gave a tolerany true account
of the attempts of himself and his partners to
get possession of Susan Marlow, to find her

ather‘s “ diggin’s.” and finally to capture and
corral Topnotch Tim.

“ He did not, however, mention the name of
Dan Lasher in the matter.

“ Who put you up to those jobs?” the visitor
wanted to know. r'

“Why, we put ourselves up to ’em. We had
plenty o‘ grudges against the old cuss to work
out. Idon’t mind sayin’ that thar was some
body behind us with capital; but I can't be ex-
pected to give his name.”

From the liberality with which El Paso Pete
ordered more whisky for the party, it might
be supposed that he had received some interest—
ing information, and was possibly expecting to
get hold of more. I

“Since then,” observed Dave by way of
finish, “ we hain’t been doin’ much of any~
thin’.” ‘

“ It seems to me,” suggested the liberal visitor,

if you wop‘t take oflense at me for speaking

“ Not at all.” ‘ '

2" The plaiiier you speak, the better we like
it.

The glib answers were so encouraging to the
gentleman from El Paso, that his eyes flashed
as he continued his suggestion.

' “It seems to me, then. that you haven’t got
enough grit and get-up about you: that you give
up too easily. and generally lack nerve and en-
terprise. I have heard something of time per-
formances of yours, and have heard. too, that
you have more than once been frightened out
of your boots by the man you call Topnotch Tim.
W at’s the matter with you, anyhow?”

.».-..... A,” ....\c-.,,,.,,..~.~s‘..»s~,-,.... penis.“ .

/

‘-

'\

Deadwood Dave leaned over and spoke in a .

confidential whisper, with the air of a man who
is enunciating a great moral Sentiment.

“ I shouldn’t wonder, now, if Topnotch whisky ,
is kinder wearin’ on a man.” ,

“ As a steady thing,” remarked the visitor,
“I doubt if it is calculated to give a man nerve
and build up his brain. Suppose you quit it
for a while, and try to brace up. There will
be plenty of openings yet for public spirited
citizens.’ ’ ‘ '

“ When the 0

into ’om," Ben taples declared.

“Good-evening, then, and you had better '

grace up,” was the parting word of E1 Polo
etc.

There was an almost murderous look onhis
face when he had got out into the street. .

“You will jump your necks into nooses,” he
muttered. “ That is the biggest and best jump-
in you are likely to do." . _ _

ewent direct to themffice of the mining

company, as if he preferred to hand in person.

ally the a lication which had been so carefully.» ‘

prflred y Sandy McGuckin.

, ugh the hour was late, he found the an .
intendentltill at his desk, busy with the airs
of the new company, which he was working
hard to place on a sound and substantial foot-

in . .
fir. Eagleson was a man of about forty, but , '
a

nearly b d. pale and rather thin. and with
what might be styled an' ascetic expression on
his smoothly shaman/face. , _

He looked up with a surprised airas El Paso
Pete entered the room.

The visitor was picturesque, no doubt, but'
seemed to be out of place there. i

“What can I do for you, sir!" he‘coldly in-

quired. _

“ It is a little matter of business,” answered
the other. as he helped himself to a seat. '

“ Be quick about it, then, if you please, as I '
“3-?” 33:51». xpecti » '
sup at you were e ng me.

“ What do on mean by that?” demanded
Eagleson. “
expecting you?”

“ Because you sent for me." ' .

“ Sept for you? I? Come, that is a little too
Lnuclqi’; Who are you, and what is your business

ere _. .

“ Is it posaible, Mr. Eagleaon, that a all htx
change in a man’s got up can make such a i
diaerence in his a pearance? I perceive that

nings come, we’ll jump right \

xpecting you? Why should I he v '

\

, _

 

       
 

t i

shall have to ma 9 you acquainted with my- “ ‘

self.” \

El Paso Pete took of! his sombrero, and than ~ ’ V

removed from his head a wig of‘long and curl-

ing black hair that had fallen down on  ” '

shoulders. I

The difference was really astonishing. ‘,

His own hair, though lack, was out pretty
close, and he would, without the wig and dreeer
ed in a business suit, have appeared to,be a neat
young fellow. good-looking and bright, but not .
varying much from the ordinary run of neat
young men.

out.

er. Gannon!” exclaimed the Superintamrr _ ;

 

I,

r

‘\

 

./

.,i
- l

 
   
   
 
 
 
 
  
   
 
   
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
  

(I.

 / when her home is invaded by scoun

' '2 -“Nothing at all.

12

Topnotch Ti

/ , .
1

m, the Mad. ParSOn.

\4‘ ‘ (.

 

“ Peter Gannon, at your service—the man
you sent for, and who has been here several
da s.”

XBut‘why do you wear that wig and that out-
landish costume?"

“ Because both are necessary for business pur-
poses. There are poo la in the world who know
me, and I may not a ways wish to be known.
Permit me to inform you, Mr. Eaglesou, that
here I am El Paso Pete, and that you are not,
at least for the present, to know me by any
other name.”

“ Well, I suppose you know what you are
about; but ou cannot expect me to address
you as Mr. 1 Peso Pete.”

“ You need not address me at all, as I shall
probably not see much of you in the presence of
other pie.”

“ hat have you been doing, Mr. Gannon,
since you got herel”

“ Looking about, making ac uaintances, and
posting m self up generally. ore is one little
matter 0 business that I have attended to, ac-
cording to your instructions.”

“ What is that?”

“ I have discovered the author of the threat-
ening and ' blackmailing letter that was sent to
the company a while'ago.”

“ Sure?”

“ Quite sure, I will show you the proofs. Here
is the anonymous letter, and here is a letter
which a man wrote to-night at my request.
Though a poor attempt was made to disguise
the hand in your letter, the similarity of the two
is so evident that no expert would be needed to
decide that both were written by the same per-

son. -

“ That is true, Mr. Gannon. Was the person
one of those whose names I suggested to you!”

“ Yes. They were all concerned in it, no
doubt; but his guilt is plain, and you may take
steps to punish him assoon as you please.’ »

‘ I think I shall let him alone,” said the
sugrintendent after a brief consideration.
“ e have no fear of that gang, and his case
can, wait. As I hinted to you might happen,
we h’pve more important business to worry us
now.

“ The other matter that you spoke of? That
 is a Serious business, and it may prove to be
‘ more serious than you expect.”

" It may: but we are going through with it,
’ just as I told you we might, and we will expect

your help.” '

“ You shall have it. Dear me, Mr. Eagleson,
it is Very late. You ought not to be working
here at this hour, and I must hunt my roosting

A place. {Good-night.”

The next morning, as El Paso Pete was taking
an early morning walk away from Topnotch,
enjoying the balm mountain air, he met a man
who was coming. own toward the town—a tall
man, of peculiar a pearance, who walked with
long and rapid stri es. v
I This man looked curiously at the picturesque

,person as he approached him, but would have
no on without stopping or speaking, if Gannon
good not halted him, extending his hand.

“ Good—morning, Mr. Marlow. I am glad to
see Loin, and I wish I could hope that you were
as to see me.” .

' f’ _ he Mad Parson looked at the man intently,

and then a smile lighted up his face. .

“ Is it ble'i Can this ,be Pete Gannon?”

“ Just imself.’ You are much keenei- than
Mr. Eagleson at the mine oflce, who failed to

l ' recognize me, than h he knows me well.”

“ What are you oing here?"
“ I have business here with the Topnotch Min-
ing Company.”
"12,133 what is the meaning of that masque-
e.
“ It is a bit of a disguise, and it seems to be a
good one.” I - -
“ I see. I remember that you had got "the

‘ ' 'name of." being one of the smartest detective

oflcers in the employ of the Government. Have
,. you uit that job i”

“ as, I got tired of it and preferred to work
on In OWn account and be my own master. Do
you live near here, Mr. Marlow?" .

»“ A little way up the mountain.”

“ Higher up than this? I hope you enjoy it.
Is ASPusan—is Miss Marlow—living there with
you .

“ es, and enjoging herself, too.” '
“ I should thin it would be poor engoyment,

rels who

to carry her off, and capture her father and

put his life in peril. You perceive Mr. Marlow,

that I have not been idle since I came to Top-

notch. I know who the wretches are who com-
mitted both these on es. ” ,

“ So do I. I have h no doubt about that.”

“ What are you going to do to punish them?”
They will be likely to work
eutetheir punishment in their own way. They
have done me no, harm. but have given me a

' V warning that I have profited, by.’ They are

. nothing but vermin, anyhow, and I have no

L fear of them.” .

“ Very well, Mr. Marlow. I think they will

 Finn-k out their salvadon with slipmooses. The

. villainsl—to dare to to touch her! Hangin
, lixtoo good for them.wy ‘ g
, y “ Are you still fretting abOut the girl?”

;

, property, and continua

 

“You know that I can never forget her. I
wonder if she would be willing to see me?”

“ I would be glad to ask you to my house, as
I have alwa s liked you; ut I do not believe
that she won (1 ever care for you as you wish
her to. Young women have their own notions,
and my daughter is free to choose for herself.”

" Is there anybody else that she cares for?”

“ I do not know of anybody.”

“ While there is life there is hope. I may
still have a chance, then. See you later, Mr.
Marlow.”

The two men separated, and El Paso Pete
sighed as he went on his way.

CHAPTER XV.
A GREAT MORAL MOVE.

As Mr. Eagleson informed his secret agent,
the Topnotch Mining Compan had more im-

rtant business on hand 'ust t en than attend-
ing to the punishment 0 a few rascals whose
Bark was be ieved to be much worse than their

ite. .

The affairs of the company were controlled

by Jacob MarveI, the Presxdent—father of the
Simon Marvel who has been introduced to the
reader—and the superintendent, Thomas Eagle-
son. .
Burch Blantou was nominally the manager of
the mine; but he had no authority outside of
the works, and was therefore merely a superior
sort of foreman.

Above him was the superintendent, and above
Eagll‘eson was the presuient, who was residing
in opnotch and never absent from his busi~
ne

 

ss.
Beyond the president were the executive
committee, who merely registered his will, hav-
ing entire confidence in him, and allowing him
to run things to suit himself.
Beyond the executive committee were the

, stockholders; but they held but one meeting, at

which they delegated all authority to the ex-
ecutive committee, who had in their turn trans-
ferred it to the president and superintendent.

Thus those two controlled the company, and
through the company were virtually the owners
of To notch as it then existed. ,

Wi hout doubt the projectors of the enter?
prise had been crafty and foresighted.

Before taking any steps toward re-o ning
the old mine, or even allowing it to be nown
that such a plan was being considered, they
sent an agent up there, who purchased at very
low rates the greater portion of the town site.

The calculation was, of course, that when the
boom was started they would come into a con-
siderable fortuneby the sale of town lots, which
would be a good speculation in itself, outside of
the chances of the mine.

That was what happened, and they sold the

lots with such restrictions and regulations as
kept them under their control after they had
passed out of their ssession. -
, Jacob Marvel ha emigrated to Kansas from
an Eastern State, at the time of the anti-slavery
excitement, among those who hoped to save,
and succeeded in saving, that splendid territory
from the encroachments of the slave-owners.

Being a shrewd trader-some called him un-
sd'upulous—he had become wealthy. ‘

Subsequently he had gone further westward.
interesting himself largely in mining and landed

ly increasing his for-
tune. .

From his New England birthplace he had
brought some of the ideas and methods of the
Puritans, and had fixed upon Topnotch as a.
good place to put them in practice.

Thus there was a little morality mixed with
the main chance in his speculation in town lots,
as they were sold with restrictions against
gambling-houses, disreputable resorts, and even
the customar saloons. I

In these 9 outs the president was ‘ably and
eagerly aided by the superintendent, though
Eagleson. was a‘ man who preferred to look at
the practical side of such matters, rather than
be bound byya theory.

Small towhs or villages have been built and
controlled upon such princi les, with more or
less success, in older communi es, where law and
order have become thoroughly res cted; but it
was not to be supposed that Jacob arvel’s sys&
tem would suit opnotéh.

People generally object to being governed too
much, and the dwellers in mining camps are
notoriously impatient of restraint. . , .

Thus it came to pass that Topnotch was by no
means free from objectionable characters, who
were merely confined, as far as their business
was concerned, to those portions of the town
site of which the mining company had never

ired control. ' . A ,
ose portions easily-found an abundance of
urchasers ‘and renters at high rices, and en-
Joyed a “ boom” that was alias of anything
else in the camp. * ’

Jacob Marvel. who had determined to make a
model town of Topnotch, was greatly worried
by this state of affairs, but was not. a’ hit dis-
couraged. v

He persisted in his purpose of getting rid of ‘
ob' tionable places and ob actionable people.

,othing of the kind h leverbeen tried—at.

. least in nothing, like so extensive and thorough a

v .
. _ |

  

 

   

style—in an other mining-camp; but none had
ever offere such facilities as were enjoyed by
the Topnotch Mining Company,

Holding the control of the town organization,
which was a peculiar one, invented by Jacob
Marvel, they could do in the name of law pretty
much as they pleased, and they prOCeeded to do
so.

An ordinance or decree was adopted, rohib~
iting gambling houses, dance-halls, an other
disreputable resorts, within the legal limits of
Topnotch, and providing for their suppression
as ublic nuisances.

t is one thing, however, to make laws, and
quite another thing to enforce them.

When laws are found to be oppressive and
contraryto the general sense of communities,
insurrection is in order, and it ma happen that
attempts to enforce too exact or er lead to the
worst disorder.

When the Marvel decree was published b
means of placards, the excitement in Topnotc
was something that nobody could sneeze at.

At first the people at whom it was aimed
lau bed at it. '

boy had never heard of anything so uncalled
for, so preposterous, so utterly out of place.

It was soon made evident to them, however,
that Jacob Marvel and his followers were deter-
mined to enforce the law, and that they had
made careful and extensive preparations for
that purpose.

Fully believing that only a moral and model
town could be truly prosperous, and that the
interests of the miners, as well as the mining
company, would be fostered by the measures be
proposed, he felt that he would be justified in
can-yin out his intentions at any cost, even if
it shou d be necessary to baptize the model
town with blood.

Therefore he had ared no expense in pro—
curing such a formida 1e force of auxiliaries—
mercenaries, some other people styled them—as
be supposed would ‘be sufficient to squelch the
very idea of opposition. '

Part of them were enlisted in Topnotch, but
many were procured from Tolbert.

The. town in the valley had suffered by the
rise of its neighbor up the mountain, was en—
vious of its prosperity, and was willing that it
should enjoy as big a row as it was capable of.

Therefore plenty of men could be found down
yonder who were willing to take part in that
row, especially if they were paid for it.

Ben Eagleson, a younger brother of the super-
intendent, was made marshal of Topnotch and
commander of the forces.

He was a tall and stalwart man, active and
energetic, accustomed to the men and manners
of mining-camp’s, skilled in the use of weapons,
and reputed to e quite fearless.

Peter Gannon had been imported to aid this
great moral move; but it was believed that, his
services would be more effective if he should
work secret] , without being known as one of
Jacob Marve ’s partisans.

In plain words, he was to be employed as a

s .

pgurcléoBtléifton was :gld thatt he Wt;ng be ex-
pec e par in eopera ions 0 t e army
of germ; but he informed his superiors that
he had been engaged as a mining engineer, and
was not inclined to undertake any new duties.

Such independence was displeasing to them;
but he was needed where he was, and it was
thought best to overlook his insubordination fun
the present. ‘

It may seem strange that such extensive and
formidable preparations, whose efl'ects promised
to be more orless sanguine, should be made for
the furtherance of a purely moral purpose' but
it often happens that rest reformers will stop
at nothing in’ their e orts to force their ideas

upon other people. ,

CHAPTER ‘XVI.’ ‘
“sum APPEARED ALSO.”

IF the magnates ‘of the Topnotch Mining
Company supposed that the gamblers and others,
would be frightened by the preparations that
were being made for their subjugation, and
would incontinently pick up their gm ks and
skedaddle, they were greatly mista en in the.
men with whom they had to deal. ’

Those men, in the terse and ex ressive lan.
guage of the day, didn’t scare wort a cent.

0n the contrary, when they discovered—and

 

the discovery was quickly made—that a crusade .»

against them was being organized, they lost no
time in making their own preparations for resis-
tance. ' l » :

Alread they had opprobrious epithets for the
leaders 0 their adversaries, 'F'hom they stigmp-
tized as the Nahobs and the ycoons, names that
more by no means calculated to secure popular-

ity in Topnotch.

They had their spies in the enemy’s chmp, who i

gave them speedy and reliable information of
eve move that was meditated there. -

O thahinformation they availed themselves .'

promptly, for the purpose of defeating the plans.
that were laid against them. ‘ . ‘
Bein fully determined 11 to yield an inch of
a: without fighting for t, tlig‘believed that .
ti‘arriust win inwhat they sty gthe struggle
of people against ‘ monopoly. . a '

 

  

l .

   

  

 

 

“has”-..
< A w.

 m.._ ,. H

 

 

 
 
 

 

. -41.”-

 

 

i

' sion of Dan Lasher.

 

' ' C H V Topnotoh Tim. the Mad Parson.

.. ,«'-x».s 9— aa a r. ,— se.“ , . vs<s"min«v'ru,'s-& nut—s».

13

 

 

They first gave their attention to the saloon-
kee ers, urging them to make common cause
with those who were immediately threatened.
“You are in the same boat that we are in,”
they argued, “and must sink or swim with ‘us.
“ The Tycoons hate you as badly as they hate
us, and you ought to have sense enough to know

‘ that they mean to get rid of you as soon as they

can.

“ They have left you out of their despotic de-
cree, merely because they did not want to have
too heavy a contract on their hands at the start,
but preferred to separate us and pitch into us by
piecemeal. '

“ If they can get us out of the way, you may
be sure th t our turn will come next, and then
they will ma 9 short work of you.

“ Then you will be whirled out of this camp
so quick t at it will make your heads swim.

“ Your only chance to hold your property and
business. if not to keep your lives and liberties,
is to join us and give the Tycoons a lesson which
will never need to be re ated.”

These arguments ha their full weight with

the saloonists, the more so because they were
not subjected to any persuasion from the other
party.
Being unable to promise them protection, Ja-
cob Marvel and his followers cou d only leave
them to draw a favorable conclusion from the
fact that they were not named in the decree
which was issued against the others.

They gave that circumstance no’ more consid-
eration than it deserved, and promised their
natural allies that they would join them in the
event of a fight, and in the mean time would
maintain what might be termed an armed neu-
trality.

Thus there was a numerous and tolerany com-
pact organizations arrayed against the Tycoons,
and one strong point in connection With them
was the fact that most of them “ would rather
fight than eat.”

' As for drinking, that was another matter, but
they considered themselves fully as able to fight
as to drink.

Dan Lasher was the natural leader of the
anti-Tycoon party, and all the elements of the
Opposition gravitated to him and rested upon

1m.

That was the sort of thing that he rejoiced in,
and no person was more ready than he to wel-
come a collision with the Tycoons.

‘His place was the headquarters of the rebel-
lion, and was the grand rallying-point in the
event of a fight. '

The other threatened persons were prepared
to close their concerns at an instant’s notice, so
that they might hasten to the defense of what-
ever point should be first attacked.

Not a bit of timidity or hesitation could be
charged against the Tycoons.

Having determined what they meant todo,
they went at it in a straightforward manner,
with no parleying or dilly-denying, intending to

trike at once at the stronghold of the enemy,
and hoping to cmsh all OPPOSItiOD by a sharp
and vi orous campaign. .

Mars al Ben Eagleson, in accordance with the
terms of the ordinance, summoned a posse to
suppress the establishments declared to be nui-
sauces.

This amounted merely to calling his troops

> together and telling them what he expected to
d

0.
Dan Lasher’s place was the point of attack.
If the insurrection could be subdued there—if

opposuzion could be crushed out in that quarter

—the rest of the work was expected to be a mere

matter of detail, picking off the enemy by de-

tachments. .» , ,
Handsome Dan had early information of the

intended movement, and one of the first to bring

it to him was El Paso Pete.

There was no reason why Mr. Peter Gannon,
though an agent of the Tycoons, should not do
this as no special secret was made of their in—
tentions, nor was any pains taken to conceal
their purpose from the public.

In so doing he could not harm his employers,
but might, in his capacity of spy, make some-
thing of a point for himse . _

His news, however, had preceded him, as he
was only one of the first to bring it, and instant
action had been taken on it. “

The other threatened men, all natural and in-
evitable allies, were coming into Lasher’s place
when he got there, for consultation and mutual
aid, and they kept coming until a formidable
force was gathered there.

As yet the saloonists kept out; but they were
all on the alert, having a plan of their own for
taking part in the difficulty if it should become
necessary for them to show,their hand.

Handsome Dan’s' establishment Was not ad-
mirably adapted for defensive punposes, and
had been chosen as the rendezvous for two rea-

‘ sons. 1 ,
g In the first place, it was his, and in the second
place, it had been selected

by the Tycoons as the
point at which they were to strike. »

It was a two-story house, of course a frame
houseg and the first floor was occu ied as a
saloon which had lately‘ passed into 1: e ‘ posses-

His gamblingrooms were lip-stairs, and form-

n

‘what carefully, lest he might

 

ed the stronghold of the arrison, the lower
floor being not so easy of de ense, though it was
necessary to the existence of the rest of the es-
tablishment.

The saloon floor must be defended, however,
and it was closed and fortified ass ilyas
possible after the news of the attac was re-
ceived.

This house had the advantage of bein joined
ogefi'he right by a building quite as igh as
i .

On the left was a smaller house, a one-story
aflair; but that was also serviceable, if the
etigemyfcould be kept from taking possession of

roo .

Thus the front of the saloon was the weakest
point, and that was partly left open to admit
the friends of the proprietor, who were dropping
in to take part in the struggle.

The middle of the afternoon had been the time
set for the forward movement of the Tycoons;
but Marshal Eagleson had not got his forces
geadyegt the appointed hour, and the affair

ragg .

Below stairs in the building that was tobe
beleaguered, were armed men completing the
preparations for defense, and encouraging each
other to a. resolute resistance.

.Up—stairs were Dan Lasher and a number of
his friends and followers, who were similarly
employed.

Among them was El Paso Pete, and who was
so numerous as that picture no person?

Next to Dan Lasher, an on ider might have
considered him the most important man in the
party-one who was respected and trusted by
all the others, and whose advice and assistance
were in great demand.

He was, indeed, considerably more numerous
than Handsome Dan, speaking fifty words
where Dan 3 oke one.

He was he din forth to a group that sur-
rounded him un olding a famous plan which he
had invented for defeating the Tycoons and
bringing them to grief.

This plan was that a select party of the insur-
rectionists should stealthin leave thebuildi'ng,
and conceal themselves until the attack was

about to be made. '

_ Then they should hasten to the mine, capture
it by surprise, and hold it against all comers,
thus carrying the war into Africa, and striking
their adversaries at the most vulnerable
pomt.

Not a bad plan, perhaps, if it had not in-
ivo‘lvled a divmion of the force that might prove

a a . ‘

While he was explaining this plausible
scheme, Dan Lasher was gazing intently at
him from a little distance, and listening to the
whispered words of Deadwood Dave.

It might have been better for Pete if he had
used his tongue less and his ears more. .

“ Are you sure that you saw him go into
Eagleson’s oflice?" whisBered the ambler.

“ Sart’in," answered ave. “ e went thar
straight from Bart McGinley’s the night I
spoke of, and I’ve seen him come out of thar
sence.”

“ I wish you had told me of that sooner; but
it is not too late to settle his caSe. I‘have been
noticing him lately and have considered his
ways rathei: ueer. It seems to me, too that
there is somet ing about his looks that is not,
new to me. I am really inclined to believe that
the fellow is a fraud and a spy.”

“ How’re you goin’ to find it out?”

“ Let me alone for that. When I begin to
suspect a man, I am sure to find proof. pretty
quick.” '

“ What will you do to him when it is
proved?” ‘

“ I shall make an example of him.”

Handsome Dan stepped to the group that sur-
rounded El Paso Pete, and listened to his chin
music for a few moments. , ,

“ That is a fine plan of yours,” he said as he
pressed forward and faced the speaker. “ It is
a very good scheme, if it will work; but it will
need 8; brave and smart man for a leader.» Will
you take the lead l”,

_ Pete hesitated for an instant; while his ques-
tioner looked at him keenly. and the hesitation
did him no good. ' '
‘ “Of course I will,” he answered suddenly.
“,Glad of the chance. I know just what to do,
too, and nobody could work the scheme better
than I can.” i

“ i have no doubt of that, and we will work
you for all on are worth. Let me take a look
at that ha of yours, Pete. I would like to
know what it is made of.” ~ ‘

That was a queer request. especially in con-
sideration of the place and time and other cir-
cumstances;

o

\

but there was no reason why El.

Paso Pete should not comply with it, and a re-,

fusaltwouldbeyet more singular than the re-
use . .
He lifted his‘ sombrero from his head some-
. . , 'bly disar-
range his mg, and handed it to t e gambler.
Dan-lasher scarcely glanced at it as he held
:5” his s. - '
i is rig e reac out sudden] b-
bed. El.Paso Pete’swig of long anddslizigir,

I and snatched it from his head.

l‘

 

The spy with his short hair stood revealed,
hist appearance greatly changed by that simple
ac . i

“ Pete Gannon!” exclaimed the gambler,
struck by the sudden revelation.

The spy did not need a word to tell him what
was the matter.

He knew what he had to expect, unless he
could save himself, and had already made a dash
for liberty. ‘ ,

Two windows on the side adjoining the low
house were open to their fullest extent, partly I
for air, and partly for urposes of observation.

El Paso Pete jum recklessl through one
of the openings, followed by a bu et from Dan
Lasher’s ready revolver, which just grazed

him.
He alighted on the adjoinin roof, and the
next instant leaped to the groun . '
Anybody who supposed that he had injured
himself by this move was mistaken, as he was ,1
on his feet immediately, apparently sound in .
wind and limb. '
As he emerged from the shelter of the build,—
ing, and ran out into the street, he was followed
by a fusilade from the upper windows of the =
1house he had just left; but not a bullet touched ' t,
1m.
The next moment he ran into the arms of his
friends, who were advancing to the attack from
the opposite direction.

CHAPTER XVII. I l ,
I HOT AND HEAVY. » 

WHEN Marshal Ben Eagleson had ,got his , ‘ “5;

force into working order, he speedily made it ‘
lain, alike to friends and foes, that he meant .
usinesa \. ,, :.,

It was a truly formidable array that ,ad-‘ ' 
vanced a ainst Dan Lasher’s establishment, and , ,
El Paso ete, when he erceived their num- ' .1 \
hers, and noted the exce lent quality of their I
wea ons, their compact organization, and their
reso ute air, easily predicted for them a com— , ~ ,7;
plate victory. . _

Naturally he was rejoiced at the prospect of . ,v,‘
getting even with the man who had exposed , ‘v _ ;~.'
him and come so near putting an end to his ex. ‘ ‘
istence. :

It may be staid for the Tycoons that they had
the courage 0 their convictions. showing that
they would not be content with anycompromises
or half-way measures.

The contract which they had undertakeuwas

aserious and expensive one; but they were at 4 '
least sincere, believing that their success would ‘
in the end greatly benefit the good people of“
ToXnotch, as well as themselves. -
' s the news of the intended attack had '
spread until everybod wasaware of what was'
going on, there was 0 course great excitement
in the camp.

It was, however, at the beginning of the at-
fair, what may be styled suppresed excite-
ment. ' . ‘ , »

The citizens generally stood around, eagerly
watching the reliminaries ofvtbe contest, but "
without mani esting any special desire to take“
sides, as the struggle promised to he a serious,
and sanguinary one. . ‘ ; ,

Most of the stores were closed or closing, but’
the saloons were wide open and doing a rush~ ”
ing business, with the exception of those which
had gambling or dance-hall attachments, and
were consequently covered by the edict of" the ?
Tycoons. ' » ‘~

The saloonists, however, were to shut. up shop :
instantly and hasten to the assistance of their , ,
natural allies, and in such a movs they counted, ,
on the aid of many 'of their regular customers.

Marshal Eagleson deployed his force on the
street near Dan Lasher‘s establishment, stretch- . 
ing them out so as to ive them ,as formidable ,
an appearance as possi 1e, With the view of ever-
awing the opposition. - g 5 I

‘ Then he a vanced toward the building, and.%
summoned its inmates to surrender in the name
of the law. ‘ _, ,

Dan Lasher, who‘ was of course'the spokesman. ,
of the other side, wanted to know whathemeant v
by that kind of foolishness. - _ , '_ ‘ “t

The marshal produced his authority, read thé '
ordinance, or whatever it mi ht be called, and
declared that he was there or the purposeot‘
, enforcing that law by suppressing all the game ~-
‘_bling-honses and other disreputab e resorts. ' ; f ‘

He said that he had a sufficient force for the  '
purpose, that he meant to do what the law. of: .
rected him to do, and that all obnoxious, parties _.
would consult their safet as well as their in-
terest hv peaceable submission. . ' ~

Dan sher, from the upper floor of the strong ‘
hold of the opposition, answered him plainly and. -
\to the point. . . . r

“You and your crowdfi‘ repliedthe gambler,
“ had better go home and mind (your, own business. .
You are liable toget hurti you fool around‘,‘
here. What you call a. law is not worth the pa~
perit is written on. and your authority don’t,
amount to a row of pins. If you, suppose that. 1
the Topnotch Mining Company, or _ any two" = *
or three Tycoons, can’t run this cam , on me
as much mistaken as if on bad bu a math".
nest. We know our rig ts, and we mean to stair:

:

 

 

:3:

   
  
 
     
    
  
  
 
  
  
    

 

just here. So you had better call of! your crowd; a],
and so and take a nap.” ‘ , , V ,4

  

'14:

The marshal again asserted his authority,
and a sin summoned the fortress to surrender,
declaring that resistance to his summary pro-
ceedings might lead to bloodshed.

“ Go on with the funeral!” was . Handsome
Dan’s ultimatum. “ If any gets hurt in this
dimcult , it will be your fault, and the Top»
notch Myining Company will have to suffer the
consequences and settle the damages.”

Thus the issue was clearly presented, and the
representative ,of the Tycoons prepared for
action.

Putting most of his men under such cover as
was convenient and within easy range, he led
forward half a dozen men whom he had previ~
ously selected for desperate work.

. They were, indeed, a forlorn hope, and the in-
tention was to force an entrance at the front of
the saloon under Lasher’s gambling-rooms.

, The instrument with which this object was to
be effected was a beam which had been prepared
for use as a battering ram, and the half a dozen
;men were to rush forward with it and burst open
the door.

This enterprise was not as desperate as it ap-
peared to be, owing to the use that was made of
the rest of the force.

The men under cover in and about the street,

‘ who had been chosen for their ability as marks-
men, were to aid the onset of the storming party
by keeping up a constant fire on the front win-
dows of the building, with the view of prevent-
ing those inside from showing as much as a rifle-

el

'” At the same time another detachment, which
had procured ladders, was to mount to the roof
of the one—story house, and thus make a flank
attack upon the Lasher establishment.
These were good plans, and they promised to
be successful, though some very hard fighting
1 milglht be expected. -
,l v , 'rst in order was the battering-ram experi-
, ‘ - ‘ ment. '
v Ben Eagleson, who was loaded with courage,
was not going to order any men to go where he
.was not willing to lead them; therefore, he
headed the stormers, who trotted briskly across
7 l the street with the beam.
'r It was to be supposed that the sooner they
5 ‘I reach the bu‘ ding and begin their work,
.5‘ ’ the safer they would be.
 . Their advance was most emciently covered by
 . the riflemen, who executed the task assigned to
’ 1 ‘ them in a manner that was masterly and com-

n

plate.

The fire which they directed against the front
windows of the Lasber‘ establishment was so
rapid and continuousthat the rebels w unable
‘to re ly to it, from sheer inability to et at the
0 88- . ‘

 IJ'la'hey had the satisfaction of knowin that
.‘ their opponents had begun the bloody wor , but,
_ at the same time found themselves at a dis
’6 advantage because they had not themselves

,' n it.
 :gll‘l went well for the cause of the Tycoons at
. ‘ 2 start. "

reached the building

 'The storming part
 ‘ 'without a scratch, an

4am at work.
' in and again it struck the wood and at
the bird blow the door was driven from its

fastenings and fell in ward.
' The auxiliary storming party had hastened to

—plant its ladders and reach the roof of the
smaller building, but soon had cause to regret
the'rash endeavor.

3 Dan Lasher and his friends, unable just then

“ ~ ' to be of any use at the front of the house. could

turn their attention to the side windows, and

diets they put in some very effective work.

' , As fast as the stormers in that quarter showed
V themselves above the edge of the roof, the were

' had of! and tumbled over in a style I: t de-

. ‘ ted the souls of their adversaries.

- or their part, they were so completely disr
com-aged- by this reception, that the flanking
movement was immediately abandoned.

- First blood, therefore, was counted for the in-

, Inrrectionists, and they were of the opinion that

the first real success was theirs also.

It remained to be seen how the advanta e

’ which the other side had gained in front won (1

.- ppu out. I .

Assoon as the door was down, Maishal Eagle-
noh and his half dozen followers made a rush to
' 'flffll‘, and their friends across the street made a

rush to help them. .
 * They might better have been less eager and
'. hasty, as the entrance to that fortress, was by no
means as asthey had imagined it might be.
Just behin that bursted door was a fortifica-
. flan which they could not pass, and behind the
,fmiflcation were plenty of resolute men, well
* armed and sheltered, and determined even to
' » vindictiveneel in their defense of what they be-
 to be theirri hts. .
This battle was I: sit Bunker Hill, and they
 meant to fight it for all they were worth.
1 , The fortification had been made of the best
materials available, and was somethin more
, than a line extending crosswise of the sa con, as
 ends bent until thesifauched the front of the
room at each side of door, where the win-
dowswere practicany impassable. .
'Thus the defenders were able not only to com-

\

\

 

 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
  

\ .

instantly set the batter— ,
/ they had their adversaries shut up, the might

 

,l.

gletely command the one opening. but to cross- I

re from each side, so that it would be nearly as

diflicult to sneak~up as to approach the passage
uarely.

t was well for them that they had confined
their efforts to this ambush, as it may be called,
instead of wasting themselves on a costly de-
fense of the door.

This was clearly the opinion of Dan Lasher
and his followers, who, relieved from the duty
of guarding against a flank attack, hastened to
turn their attention to the foes at the front of
the house.

The latter got at the first rush such a strong
taste of the quality of the fortification and the
men behind it, that they were in no hurry to
take another bite.

Indeed, the affair began to look as if they had
hit ofl more than they could chew.

Not only were they cut down by the fire in
front of them, but their foes on the upper floor,
findin themselves able to get at the openings
there, gun to send _a shower of revolver-bullets
down among the daring fellows who were clusp'
tered about the door. 

This was too much for flesh and blood to
stand, and Ben Ea leson gave the order to re-
treat, which was s adly obeyed by those of his
followers who could get away.

They resumed the positions which they had
occupied before the attackwas made, and opened
a desultory fire upon the building, to which its
defenders leisurely replied when they could do
so without exposing them elves.

 

CHAPTER XVIII.
“on, To run MINEI”

h was “war to the knife, and knife to the
hilt,” in Topnotch. ‘~

The camp had in former times gone through
some severe experiences in the line of street
fights, rampant rowdyism, and conflicts between
law and lawlessness: but had never known any-
thing like this. .

Blood had already flowed freely. and the strug-
gle promised to continue until one side or the
other should surrender or be crushed. »

Neither side was likely to surrender, as the
Tycoons were more than ever determined to

ush their purpose. and their, op nents had

ome excited by the conflict unti it was diffi-

gult to restrain them within the limits of pru-
ence. ‘

Business was of courso suspended, and all who
were not engaged in the strdggle, were either
watching it or carefully keeping out of its way.

Some were, considering the advisability of
taking sides, and each of the contending fac-
tions was eager for recruits. '

Thus far the advantage was decidedly with
the insurrectitmists; but that was only because
of their fortified ition and the ambuscade
they had pre ared or their assailants.

hev coul not venture out from the building
that sheltered them, as Marshal Eagleson’s forces
were still the more numerous ou do, as well as
the better organized and armed.

It naturally occurred to the Tycoons that, as

 

keep them shut up, and starve them in a sur-
n er.

As they were supposed to have no provisions 3
inside, unless the liquors in the saloon mi ht be 1
considered as provisions, it was reasona le to I
suppose that before long they would be obliged
to come out and give up. .

It would only be necessa to establish and
maintain an efficient blocka e. .

Therefore Ben Eagleson, acting under the in- ’
structions of the Tycoons, disposed hi forces so
as to guard all possible exits from the Lasher ‘
building.

At the same time he strove to secure recruits
in and about Topnotch, and sent to Tolbert for I
more mercenaries. , .

Handsome Dan, however, had matured and
already put in operation a plan which threat- g
cued to shatter the machinations of his ene- ]
mies. '

As soon as they retreated from his front after 5
their disastrous attack, he sent out a couple of 4
emissaries, well-known men with persuasive ‘
tongues, who were to stir up the saloonists and ,
incite them to immediate action. x 1

“ Now is our chance,” was substantially th 1
argument 0 the emissaries. ‘ ,

‘ If you wa t to save your rights and keep 1
your property. ow is the time to strike a blow i
that will count. I

“ If you don’t want to be crushed out of ex-
istence and driven away from Topnotch, with l
your business destroyed and your hard earnings 1
exhausted, help us now, and help yourselves,
before “it is everlasting] too late. -

“We knocked the Tycoons cold in the first 5
round, and have got them on the run, and now
is the time to follow them up and make an end
of them. v '

' “ All you have to do is‘to shut up your places, 1
sally out,-and spank them smartly in the rear,
while we smash their faces in the front.

“Then e will run them clear out of the I
camp, an they .will have to submit to our

 

terms before theyiwill he allowed to come back. !
“,Do this, and ido it right now, and victOry
/,  g. g ',

/

   

 

Topnotch Tim, the Mad Parson.

is ours, and we can run the camp to suit our-
selves.”

This appeal was instantly effective with the
saloonists, who had only been awaiting a propi-
tious moment for pitching in.

Under the instructions of Dan Lasher’s emis-
saries they closed their saloons, sallied forth
smeg or in pairs, came together secretly at a.
spot agreed upon, and advanced against the
rear of the enemy.

Marshal Eagleson had not been successful in
gathering recruits in Topnotch, where the senti-
ment of the pee le was mainly opposed to the
measures of the ycoons, and the recent success
of the opposition was calculated to discourage
enlistinents.

Hours would be needed to get more mercena-
ries from Tolbcrt up into the mountains, and
in the mean time, the auxiliaries of the Lasher
faction were right at hand and ready for
business.

Night came upon the combatants, and found
them still engaged in dcsultory fighting; but
it was such a night as Topnotch had never be-
fore known.

There being no street lamps, the town was

usually lighted by the gayly illuminated saloons ,

and other establishments which the Tycoons
were endeavoring to do away with; but there
was no such cheerful radiance on this occa-

sion.

All those places were tightly closed, and dark-
ness prevailed.

The darkness was very dark, too, suggesting
the owl period that had come to Topnotch,
bringing sorrow and gloom.

Nothing could suit the insurrectionists better
than this, as their friends on the outside could
organize and advance without being perceived,
while they knew just where to find and strike
their foes. ,

Dan Lasher, watching eagerly for the onset of
the saloonists, had his followers ready to rush
out and take advantage of the confusion as soon
as the attack should be made.

At last he heard the welcome sound of firing
from the right direction, accompanied by yells
that were intended to strike terror to the souls
of the Tycoons. "

The ex cted confusion occurred just as Dan
Lasher w shed it to.

Ben Eagleson’s forces, scattered here and

there about the Lasher building. intent only
upon getting shots at its inmateS or prevent-
ing them f om esoaping. were more than sur-
prised by this attack from an unexpected quar-
ter.
. They were, indeed, if not threwn into a panic,
so upset and demoraliimd that they were beyond
control. and could not berrallied for any prompt
and concerted action.

Just at the right moment Dan Lasher and his
comrades sallied forth to complete the rout of
the enemy. , ' i '

The trouble then was, not to secure the defeat
of their foes, but to avoid the error of firing into
their friends in the darkness

In this their difficulty might have been
greater than it was had not their foes taken to

ig t.

The myrmidons of the Tycoons, separated
split into squads. and everywhere confron
2y enemies, were justified in supposing that all

opnotch had risen against them, and that there
was then nothing for them to do but to get out
of the way as speedily as possible.

So they did get out of the way. and their re-
treat speedily became a stampede which was
not likely to he stayed by any edorts of their
own or their leaders,” as the nature of the double
attack compelled them to scatter in various
directions. I .

The men who had been shut up in the Lasber
building met their friends the saloonists, and
congratulated each other upon their glorious
victory.

No time was wasted, however, in congratu-
lations or any other talk, as business was press-
ing. _
Handsome Dan. not being one of those who
believe in a olden bridge for a flying enemy,
was eagen to urry the flight of his toes and
push them to the utmost extremity. '

He wanted to seal the defeat of the Tycoons
Ry driving them and their allies so far out of

opnotch that they would find it no easy mat-
ter to get back. '

It had already been settled that, if they should '

be allowed to come back at all, it would only be
upon terms to be dictated by the victors, and it
was to Ibe expected that the terms would be

pretty severe.
He soon discovered. however, that he was not ,

the monarch of all \be surveyed in Topcggtch, as
some of his followers had views that flicted
seriously with his own.»
I The pursuit of the retreating myrmidons did
not result very successfully, as most of them
escaped under cover of the darkness, and found
various places of concealment. '

Dan Lasher was especially eager in the search
for Jacob Marvel and the Eaglesons, believing
that‘ if he could get them into his power he

i could‘ easily settle the difficulty to suit himself;

but the star rt 0 his
headed inggotherpdirectigon.

l

nds ‘were soon,

a“

:4, ,I "4"“; 1'} is}:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

' castle, he enjoined it u

Topnotch Tim, the Mad Parson.

 .1— r - Aer."  , .,...~.u.:,-~ swim”. WfieMsywfiaaswrg}; .1

15

 

 

‘_‘ On,  the mine!” way the cry that was

raised.

By this time the ori 'nal fighters, includiiéig
the saloon keepers an their dependents, h
been reinforced by a numerous crowd of roughs
and rounders, who were not only quick to join
the winning side, but believed that they saw in
the general disturbance opportunities for be]
ing themselves to other (people’s property whic
ou ht not to be neglects .

nflamed by victory, as well as by fighting
whisky, the mass of the insurrectionists had got
it into their heads that it would be an easy
thing to capture the works of the Topnotc
Mining Company, and take possession of the
mine. .

By so doing they believed that they would
place themselves in the best possible position for
dictating terms to the Tycoons.

They did not perceive, as Dan Lasher did,
that in this they would be abandoning the attiv
tude of defending themselves and their rights
and pressing forward to do a clearly unlawful
act.

“On, to the mine!” was the cry, and there
was no restraining them.

 

CHAPTER XIX.»
namwoon DAVE’S sraarmor.

AMONG those who might be counted in the
mob of insurrectionists, and whose ideas differed
somewhat from those of the sup sed leader of
the faction, were Deadwood ave and his

ang.

8 They had noted with intense satisfaction the
rogress of the storm that was brewing, believ-

ing that they would sooner or later find profit in

it for themselves.

The big fellow plumed himself upon the fact
that through him the true character of El Paso
Pete had been discovered.

He had followed the picturestiue stranger after
the interview at Bart McGin ey’s, not because
be suspected him of being anything but what he
claimed to be, but because he wanted to know
more about him, hoping to be able to use the
knowledge for his own purposes.

When Pete Gannon entered the omce of the
Topnotch Mining Company, and remainedtbere
quite a length of time, and the watcher after-
ward discovered that he had been closeted there
with Superintendent Eagleson, Deadwood

Dave's suspicions were aroused.

aken in connection with the revelations that
had been made to El Paso Pete at McGinley’s,
the visit really did have a suspicious look.

Yet it might have been, made merely for the
purpose of applying for the “ posish ” of which
the stranger had spoken. .

As Pete did not again put in an appearance at
McGinley’s, though expected to do so, the big
fellow continued to watch him, and the more he
watched, the strong? hi suspicions grew,

Eh made no men on _of them to Dan Lasher,
however, until the crisis of the storm arrived,
and then his whispered statements resulted in
the sudden ex sure of the spy.

Deadwood ave bad no doubt that by this per-
formance he had “ made himself solid” with
Handsome Dan, and would thenceforward oc-
cupy a foremost position among his supporters
and friends. ‘ -

Yet the big bully did not banker after a posi-
tion in the front rank of the fighters, nor did he
seek to occupy such a position.

He and his comrades had theretofore accom-
plished their iniquities with as little personal
risk as possible, and they hoped to continue to
get their chestnuts out of the fire Withouthurn-
in their fingers. _

fiefore Dave went to join Den Lasber at his
n his comrades that
they must remain at Me inley’s and keep quiet,
but must be ready for immediate action when
he should give the word. , .

“ Thar’s goin’ to be wild dein’s,” he assured
them. “ Topnotch is likely to be all tore up,
and thar’s no tellin’ who will be on top when the
scrimmage is over. But it’s sartain that we’ll
have a. gay old chance to skip about and (pick up
things, if we keep our heads leVel, an never
look out for nothin’ but Number One.”

His advice was so sound that thexrest of the
gun followed it implicitly. _

ter be bad carefully ept himself out of the
way of bullets in Lasher’s up-stairs rooms, it
was not to be supposed that he would frantically
rush out with the r‘st to seek a fight With the
myrmidons of the Tycoons, and he did no such
rash act. ‘ .
As soon as there was no danger to confront, and.

1 it was evident that the Tycoons were on the run,

he sneaked out and hurried,to McGinley’s. _
There he found his comrades awaiting him

anxiously and somewhat impatiently. _
“ What’s been keeping you, Dave?" angrily
demanded Sandy McGinley. “ There’s the big-
t kind of a row going on, and we could never
figspe for a better chance to do a little busi-

‘ ness.”

“Don’t I know more about that than on do?”
loftil replied the big fellow. “ Haiu’ I been
out among ’em, wbar the fire was flashin’.
and the smoke was rollihz. and the bullets was
flyin’, reskin’ my life for; you fellows? Have you‘

. e . = I ‘ r » .‘ ‘ \

 

 

got it into your fool beads that Deadwood Dave
don’t know what he’s about?”

“That’s all right; but we ought to be doing
something. It seems to me that we are wast-
ing a lot of time. Why didn’t you get here
sooner?”

“ Because the thin wasn’t ripe. Because the
time hadn’t come. t has come now. The Ty-
coons are whip l, and t’other tellers are chasin’
’em hot foot, a l as crazy as loons. Now is our
time to make the best strike we ever made.”

“ What sort of a strike?” inquired Bad Lands

en.

“While those cusses are drivin’ the Tycoons
out o’ the camp, and foolin’ away tha’r time with
flghtin’, we will pitch right out for the miniu’
com any’s office, and gobble up the cash that.”

“ apposin’ it’s uarded ?”

“ It won’t be. he Tycoons allowed that they
had a sure thing, and they didn’t have no notion
o’ gittin’ whipped. So they never thought 0’
guardin’ or hidin’ anythin . No, be 3, thar
won‘t be nobody thar. If any men had een left
thar. they’d soon be scared off.”

“ I hope you’re right about that, Dave. You
ought to know more about it than we do.”

. “ Come on, then] As public sperrgted citizens,
it stands us in hand to make hay w ile the sun
shines.”

As it happened, there was somebody in the
oflice of the opnotch Minin Company, though
not a. somebody who was cafi‘ulatej to interfere
With the plan of Deadwood Dave a d his friends.

Jacob Marvel, who had been in ormed of the
unpleasant adventure that was his son's first ex-
perience in Topnotch, and who had little confi-
dance in Simon s discretion and ability to take
care of himself, had exacted from the young
man a solemn promise that he would not stir
frctiirgd the oflice until the expected conflict was
en .

 

Therefore Simon, who was a man of his word,
stayed right there, though he was anxious toget:

out and see what was going on, and he had a
tedious and lonesome time.

He heard firing plainly enough, and plenty of
it; then it partly died away for a while, and
then it started in fiercely once more.

Simon's eager curiosity prompted him to wan»
der forth and see how the struggle was likely to
terminate; but his promise kept him in.

Though he could not doubt that the Tycoons
would succeed in their endeavor, as he had been
assured that the preparations were rfect and
the force was amply sufficient for 0 work, he
could not help feeling uneasy, in view of the
continued fightin that seemed to be going on.

It was certain t at his friends were not hav-
ing as easy a task as they had expected to find. I

As nobody came near him, and the vicinity of
the oflice was silent and deserted, be was unable
to satisfy his curiosity, and could only fret and
worry in his voluntary prison-house;

Again, as his hearing served him, the excite—
ment died away, and it was to be supposed that

no side or the other had gained the victory;
£1th he could only guess at the result of the con-
ct. ' r ‘
He wished that somebody would come along
to tell him some news and break the monotony
of his confinement.

When at last somebody did come, there was
plenty of news, with no monotony, and his time
arrived totake part in the exoitement.

DeadwoodDave and his gang made their way
to the mining company’s office quietly and
sneakingly, careful not to attract attention to
their movements. and keeping out of the way of
all crowds and groups.

When they reached their destination, they
perceived that there was a light in the office,
audit behooved them, in consideration of their
precious scalps, to learn whether there were any
man inside. ‘

" Dead wood Dave sneaked up to a window, and
looked in. ‘

When he returned to his friends, his ugly face
was_ lighted up by an expresswn of joyful
malice.

“ What is it, Dave?" inquired Ben Staples.
“ Anybody tbar?”

“ Yes. one teller, and that is right into our
hands.”

“ Who is he?” s '

“ The tenderfoot that we caught awhile ago,
and had to turn him loose—old man Marvel’s
son. We’ll git him, if we don’t git anythln’
else, and he will be wu’th a pile to us.” v.

Deadwood Dave led the way to the office door,
followed by his partners, in the sneaking way
that indicated their proclivit for thieving.

Trying the door. and flu ing it unlocked, he
gave the signal, and tbe‘gzgg rushed in. i ,

Simon Marvel was sei . and overpowered
before he knew what was the matter.

He instantlty recognized his captors, and was
fully aware o the fact that be had fallen into
bad hands. '

‘f What do you mean by this outrage?” he an-
grily demanded. " What are you here for?"

_“Jest attendin’ to business,” answered the
big bully. ,“ We’ve got you now, sweetness,
and we mean to git out of you all the valley
tbar is into you.” \

“ You had better get away if on want to

save your skins; My father an  nds will

.\ f, .» ,

 

 

 

be here soon, and they will string you séoun-
drels right up by the necks.”

“ Not much, sonny. It ain't them that’s doin’
the hangin’ jest now. The Tycoons and all that ‘ ,
tribe have been whipped out o’ tba’r boots, and
scattered over creation and part 0’ Topnotch.

It’s likely that your dad an them Eaglesons v
have been hung afore now." ‘.‘ r

“ Hung! My father hung!"

“Well, we didn't go to the hangin’; but Dun
Lasher and his pards was arter the Tycoons \‘
with blood in their eyes, and what can you ex:
pect? I tell you, bub, it don’t do to fool with
the Topnotchers. Them as tries to squelch ’em
is liable to git squelched.” , '

“ I cannot believe it.”

“ Don’t believe nothin’, if that’s any comfort
to you; but you know what becomes of onbe~
lievers. Come, boys, we can't waste time on
this youngster. Gobble up the vallybles, and _
we’ll pull out." ‘

This order was easier to give than to exe-
cute.

The money and other valuable; which the
company kept there had been hived away and
locked up in a safe, fire-proof and burglar-proof,
so strong and heavy that it had cost quite a pile
of money to 'get it up to Topnotch. ‘

Deadwood Dave and his partners eyed the
safe mournfully, recognizing the-fact that it was
beyond their burglarious ability.

They ordered Simon Marvel to give them the
key; but he had neither key nor combination,
andathorough search failed to discover any-
thing with which it could be opened. ~_

After ransacking the desks and finding noth- 
ing of value to reward their labor. they wreaked ,3»
their spite on the office by smashing the furni-
ture and destroying the papers they came

across.
Then the led forth Simon Marvel and piloted
him tow Bart McGinley’s.
“I wonder. Dave, what has become of Top-
notch Tim,” remarked Aaron Isaacs as they
sneaked homeward. “Did you see him any-
where to-dayl” .
“ No, and I don’t want to. I hope he won’t
turn up in Topnotcb very soon.” ‘ 3;

 

' CHAPTER xx ' 
A'l‘ was: man. 3'

Ir was true that Timothy Marlow had not
been in Topnotch that'day, and he had not in-
tended to visit the scene .of the struggle. ‘

From his conduct at the opening of Dan Lash-
er’s gambling rooms it might be su posed, that
he would favor the purposes of the coons; but
the Mad Parson was known to be an eccentric
character, whose opinions and actions were pre-
sumed to depend considerably upon the humor
of the moment. -

Yet he was in reality not a bit whimsical, and
might generally have ‘ven sound and substan- .
tial reasons for all be 'd or left undone. ’ '

Those who were best acquainted with him
knew that he did not believe in stumng religion
doyln the threats of peolee, or in enforcing
morality by means of a clu . - '

Instead of visiting Topnotcb. he went to thle 1.
mine. where he sought and easily found Burch
Blanton. I

It was a. singular but not unlikely friendship ‘
that had sprung up between the old man an '
the young one, and it was founded upon the
knowled which each had gained of the other’s
good po ta, producing that mutual strong as-
teem which is the basis of the best friendship. ,

On Blanton’s part, his respect for Timoth
Marlow was doubtless enhanced by his affection _ ,i

or the old man’s daughter, wbic he knew, h 'i ~
this time. was fully reciprocated, and wbic ‘ ‘
padttherefore become a clear case of happiness
or wo. . ‘

He would, however, have seen but little of
Susan Marlow, and would have bad scant op-;
portunities formressing his suit. had it not been
for the favor with which her father regarded , _

him 3 .
led to find you here.” said the Mad.

   
     
 
    
    
  
   
  
   
 

‘-

“ I am
Parson, as e met his young friend. »

“I can _~ generallybe found here,” answered.
Blantcn. I“ I seldom go anywhere, except to
your hou ” . J x

“I thought it quite possible that you might .
be in Topnotch to-dny. Of course you know as;
what is going on there.” ‘ ; ' ~ ‘

“ Yes, indeed. Mr. Eagleson invited me .to
go to town and take part in-that performance,
and the invitation amounted alth to an order.

“ Did you refuse?"

“I resppctfully declined. telling him that I l ,
was not red , for that sort of th ng, and/that ,. .
my work at the mine was as much as I cared to
attend to.” fl

“ No doubt you were right about that: but it: .
may make trouble. Jacob Marvel and the men j ‘
who are with him are determined to make a“
success of lwbat you call the performance. and"
you m”ay be discharged for your refusal to help ‘

a / . ‘
“Perha Ioould stand that. Iama : -.
independegz person. myself.” _  -
“Perhaps in the Iona run it might do you“
more good than harm. Tell me, Blanton, what '

r
\

’ l

 

 

 

 

,16

Topnotch Tim, the Mad Parson.

 

 

, do you think of the move the Tycoons are mak-

in l’

g‘ Do you call them the Tycoons, too, Mr. Mar-
low?” %

“ I have heard the name so often lately, that
it sticks to me.”

“ Well, sir, it is my private opinion, though I
would not want to publish it, that the perform-
ance is all wrong. No doubt the amblin
houses and other laces are wicked an immora ,
and you and l, w 0 don’t go in for that sort of
thing, might consider them public nuisances;
but there are many peo 1e to be thought of, be-
sides you and me an the Topnotch Minin
Company. The men who congregate in and
about a mining—camp, and those amon them
who are the hardest workers too, regar those
palaces as public necessities. They are bound to

ve their recreation in whatever shape they
choose to take it, and may be ex ted to resist
all attempts to deprive them of it. There is as
much feeling of personal liberty here to the
square inch as anywhere in the country, and it

'is not safe to jump on it too heavy.”

“ I am a. strong believer in pgrsonal liberty,
too. How do the miners feel a ut it?”

“ As they are the hardest workers we have,
and. the fondest of the recreations that Top-
notch supplies, the are opposed to the perform-

‘ance all through, it ough they are not likely to
mix in the disturbance. They would fight for
the mine, of course, but would never stir a foot
to hel the Topnotch Mining Company in this
crusa 6.”

“They w0uld fight for the mine, would they?
It might be well to be sure of that, Blanton.
The may have a chance to fight for the mine.”

“. you think so?”

“ Don’t you think so? How do you supposo

v the trouble in Topnotch is going to end?”

“ Well, sir, Mr. Eagleson was so confident of
success, having made such complete pre ara-
tions, and having, as he told me, plenty of ght-

‘ ing men, that it looks as if the Tycoons ought to
win: but I have my‘dout-ts about that.”

“- You may well have. If the other side once
get a bit of an advantage, a crowd will hasten

. to join them, and then it is good-by to the Ty-
coons. Topnotch W111 go crazy when that hap-
pens, and the Wildest guess at what the people
may do will be the nearest one. I should say
that they might naturally be expected to strike
at the mine not only to take revenge on the Ty-
coons, but for what they could get out of it.”

“ I have thought of that, Mr. Marlow, and

 Li have quietly made some preparations, so as to

be ready in .case of trouble.”
“’What have you done?”

, “I have got a good stock of provisions on
hand, so that the men need not leave the mine if
they are willing to stay until the trouble is
over. We have plenty of arms, have had them
,all along, asthere was supposed to be danger
that We might be attacked here by mine—
jnmpers and the hard cases who are so plentiful

- about Topnotch. Plenty of arms and ammuni-

, tion ought to enable us to hold our own against,
all enemies.” , ‘

J . 3 “How about the men?” ‘
, “I think they are all right, but will soon,

make sure of that point. The day shift is going
pl! directly, and the night ,shift is coming on.

Will'explain the matter to them, and you will

see how they stand." I .

“ That is right, my young friend. Of course
on will explain it to them fairly and honestly.
hough they may not be willing to fight for the

Tycoons, I think they maybe. depended on to
fight for their bread and butter.” ,

‘ _ The result proved that the old man was right
in his conjecture. ‘

When' the night shift arrived, Blanton
sthgptped them there, and called out the day
5
Having collected them near the mouth of the

 

'_ " mine, he made a little speech, which was brief,
"' plain and to the,p \

urpose.

“ .or my part, he said, “ I have nothing to
do with theflghting or any other trouble that
may be taking place in Topnotch today, and I

' don’t suppose that you care to mix in it any
more than I do. We have our own interests to

I look after, and our interests are connected just,

new with this mine and nothing else. I can’t
tend to say how things are going on in Top-

‘. pro
’ notch,/as I have not heard a word from there;

but I have reason to believe that there is danger
that some of the roughs and scalawags about
’here may take advantage of the disturbances to
capture the mine and drive us away. Would
- that, sort of thing suit you?”
‘ “The response in the. negative was unanimous.

v? N“ Well, then, there is only one thing for us to v
.9", do. We must stand together to guard the mine,

. and heat ' oft any people who may want to steal
‘11:. We have plenty of arms and ammunition,
as well as enou h to eat, and you can cook your
,( c0109 [or an t ing else you need to cook right
 Now want to know whether ou will
,Itay 1! re and stand by the mine. , I any are
. to stay, they will please step out and
go their way ' » '
Two or t
ruining to step out anthgo, bein influenced,
smotive; but they were easily persuaded»

-'/1 ~,

    

 

$7
./ . . , ,
ree of the rumors were more than.

. by curiosity rather than y any other '
by the

 

   

others to remain, and all declared their purpose
of standing by the mine and defending it if
necessary. ‘

Burch Blanton then made his arrangements
speedin and with excellent judgment—at least,
t s were highly approved by Timothy Marlow.

ending a art of the pig t shift in to work
with their oreman, he retained the remainder
and the day shift, for whom he found sufficient
employment.

Some of them he set at work to cook supper
for all who needed it, others he stationed as
pickets on the road that led to Topnotch, and
with the others he applied himself to the task of
strengthening the position and making the most
of its advantages.

The works, as the buildings that contained
the machinery were called, were located in an
open space or basin behind a narrow pass that
could easily be defended.

At the head of the pass Blanton caused to be
erected a fortification of rock and logs, and on the
hights at the sides he stationed riflemen to com—
mand the pass and the approach to it.

Supper was then had, and arms and ammuni-
tion were served to the men in active service, a
supply being reserved for those of the night
shift who were at work in the mine.

CHAPTER XXI.
A CRUSHING DEFEAT.

TEE cry of “ On, to the mine 1” which was
raised by the mass of the insurrectionists,
caused a serious disruption of their ranks and
a loss of their coherence as an army. ,

In fact, from the moment that cry was raised,
and the movement toward the mine was begun,
they were no. better than a mob.

Dan Lasher, who had vainly endeavored to
dissuade them from their wild purpose, (initted
them in disgust, and they were no longer ed by
the men who had shown them the way to vic-

 

tor .

There was another important desertion that
seriously affected the movement. ' ’

The saloonists, believing that they had gained
their int by the defeat of the Tycoons, con—
sidered)0 the hour of victory a propitious time
for a boom in their business.

It did not seem likely to them that the Tycoons
would be in any hurry to make another effort
to enforce their decree. and in the mean time
the prevailing excitement might be expected to
cause a strong demand for drinks“

Why should they not profit by it, and gather
in the ducats of both factions?

They let the enthusiastic, insurrectionists go
on to their destruction or otherwise, while they

hastened back to their establishments, opened v

them, lighted them up in the brightest style, and
attended to the rush of custon to the .best of
their ability. ‘

Thus Topnotch was speedily illuminated again,
and was in a fair way to resume its normal
condition.

As a matter of course, Deadwood Dave and
his gang did not go with the crowd that was
hurrying away to the mine.

The toughs were attending
business when those enterprising citizens had
started and had got well away from Topnotch,
and no persuasion would have induced them to
take part in that movement.

If there was anything of value to be got at
the mine, there would be too‘ many to share it,
and there was a chance of hard knocks in get—
ting it, which was not at all to the taste of the
gang.

They conveyed Simon Marvel as quietly and
secretly as possible to Bart McGinleys juicery,
where he was closely confined and well guarded.

Deadwood Dave then went out to seek Dan
Lasher, and found him at his own place, where
the.late leader of the insurrectionists was celee
bratin the victory in the saloon which had
lately sea a fort. .

Dave wés invited to help celebrate, partly in
consideration of his services in exposing the spy,
and he was not the man to refuse to oblige a
friend in that way.

Yet, before he had celebrated sufficiently to
satisfy him, he felt himself compelled to attend

to business,’ and thereby to establish a new claim '

upon the atitnde ofrHandsome Dave.

Accordingly, he tore himself away from the
festivities; took the gambler aside, and made an
important communication to him. .
I “ While you tellers was chasin’ the Tchons
out (5’ the camp,’/’lsaid he, “ me and my pardners
was attendin’ to business.” ‘

“ Picking up little things?” inquired Dan.

“ Pickin’ up a big thing, you’d better say.

e’ve been makin’ a big strike for you.”

“ What sort of a strike?”

“We’ve got that Marvel teller.”

“ What! Jacob ’Marvel? Have you really
captured him?" '

“got the Old man, but the young feller, his
son. . ‘- r

“ His‘sonl Well, that is better than nothing.”

“ Better’n nothin'? I should say it was a heap

better’n nothin’l Jest think how you can twist ,

the inwards out .o’ the old man
young teller for all he’s wulth‘.” , ,

“ You are right, Dave:2 It ’is’ agood catch,
and we must keephim. If they try to rough in

if, you work the

to, their private;

 

on us again, we will work him, as you say, tor
all he is worth. Where is he now?”

“Down to McGinley’s.”

“ Better bring him up here where he will be
safe, and where we can put our hands on him
whenever we want to use him.”

So Simon Marvel was conveyed to Dan
Lasher’s place, and Deadwood Dave and his
partners were made free of the bar there, of
which privilege they availed themselves fully,
as became pub ic-spirited citizens.

Thus Topnotch settled down to a condition of
comparative equanimity, though there was still
an abundance of excitement, and the citizens
generally really supposed that there was an
an end of the trouble that had lately torn up the
town.

The trouble, however, had been merely trans-
ferred to another quarter, soon to return in full
force and renew its former fury.

At the mine Burch Blanton and Timothy
Marlow waited and watched for possible foes
until they were weary.

They had come to the conclusion that no den-l
ger was to be apprehended there, and were
about to dispatch a messenger to Topnotch for
information of the rogress of events, when the
trouble began for t em.

The pickets who had been stationed down the
road came hurrying back to the mine with the
news that the enemy was at hand.

This warning, by the way. was not necessar ,
as the enemy announced their approach by ye Is
and other obstreperous noises that could be
heard at'a considerable distance.

So the defenders of the mine had plenty of
time to prepare for their reception, if any fur
ther preparations were required.

“ I am so lad that they have come at last,”
said Burch lanton, stretching himself until his
tall form looked taller than ever.

“ Are you really glad?” demanded the old
man. “I did not know that you were so fond
of a fight.”

“ Well, 1 am not fond of a fightwatv least, not
for the sake of fighting—though I am not likely
to run away from one. But it is a relief to
know that there is an end of waiting. It Seems
to me that when one has been expecting a con-
flict he feels easier when the conflict actually
begins.” '

" For, my part, I" should think that he would
feel easier when it ends, provided that he is not
laid out.” a

Very little further preparation was needed.
The defenders of the mine had only to occupy
the positions that had been assigned them, and
wait a. little longer for the onset of the enemy.

Blanton had taken the precaution to establish
a pile of materials for a bonfire a little way
down the road, and to station a man there to
light it if a mob should come in sight.

This was for the purpose of causing the enemy
to be clearly visible as Ithey approached, while
his men would be concealed and sheltered.

As yet nothing was known at the mine of
what had been taking place at Topnotch, and it
was only the advent of a mob from that direc-
tion which enabled Blanton to guess that dis-
aster had overtaken the Tycoons.

Yet the mob might be, as had been suggested,
merely a lot of mu he and rustlers who had
taken advantage of t e disturbances to strike at
the mine.

It was a mdb, and nothing but a mob—there
was no mistake about that. '

Though the men from Topnotch appeared to
be numerous enough to eat up the miners if
they could geta fair chance at them, they had
no organization, military or otherwise, nor any-
leaders, except such as could yell the loudest
and were the most ready to push themselves to
the front. , .

Their expectation was, no doubt, that they
would find the mine undefended, and could
surprise and capture it.

In this expectation they were disappointed as
socéfi as they caught sight of the bonfire in their

a _.
P The man who had been left in. charge there
waited until they were dangerously near before

,he set fire to the pile.

Then having made sure that it would burn,
he cudded back to his friends at the top of his
speed. ;

As soon as
flashed upon the minds of the mob.

It could mean nothing else than that they
weretexpeoted, that preparations had been made
to re eive them, that a surprise was cut of the
question. and that they would probably have a
hard fight before they’conld get possession of
the mine. 4 ' / :

This was discouraging to the men who had
put themselves forward as leaders, and disheart-
ening to some of their followers.

There were some in the mob wholhad been
brought thither merely by curiosity or the love

the fire flashed up, its. meaning i

of excitement, and others who had crime in the .

hog)“ plunder,\but without any expectation pf
fig ’ng for it. ‘ , I

These adherents might be expected to desert,
or at least remain in‘ the rear, if, the situation
should become serious. ‘ h

The men at /the fropt, however, excited their: 1 V

comrades by yells

   

other noisy

  

  

 

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' , the defeat of the Ty

v' and had narrowly esca

.  ‘ Tepnotch, ’Tim, the Mad: P5145511.

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17

l

 

tions, and not only rushed forward, but fired
freely at the brave picket who was running

in. v .

They failed to hit him, as he had chosen his
route so as to place trees and other obstructions
between him and the flying bullets.

“ I am so glad they fired at him,” said Blan-
ton.

“ Why so?" in uired the old man.

“Because it tel s us just what they mean, and
now we will not be obliged to order them to
halt, or to hold any sort of a arley with them.
It is business, now, Mr. arlow, from the
start."

The young engineer attended to it as business,
and proceeded to make thorough work of the job
he had undertaken.

From the hight at the right of the pass he
gave the order to fire, and the first shot from
that quarter was the signal to the miners on the
other side of the pass.

Having instructed the men on the hightsto
cease firing and join him if the mob should gain
shelter by getting inside of the pass, he hastened
with Marlow down to the fortification at the
rear, which was as yet out of reach of the
enemy.

The enemy were not without sense and discre-

tion when they saw the bad box which they»

were likely to get into.

Perceiving at once that the bonfire, by light-
ing up their forms, gave their concealed oppo-
nents a great advantage, they extinguished it as
soon as possible. -

It was also evident that if they could get in-
side of the pass, they would not be so easily
reached, if at all, by the fire from the hights,
which contained the only fees of whose presence
the had yet been made aware.

'lyherefore they made a rush toward the pass,
but a careful and considerate rush, sheltering
their advance as well as they could with trees
and rocks at the side of the road.

Thus the boldest and most active soon gained
the pass without serious loss or injury. '

Delighted with the discovery that they could
not then be reached from the'hights, they shout-
ed to their comrades to come on, and shortly a
considerable force was collected near the mouth
of the pass.

Knowing that the mine was but a little way
beyond them, they rushed for it, but shortly
they wished'that they had made no such rush.

The pass was so dark that they could not‘ see
the fortification beyond 'until they ,were close
11 on it. \

pBlunton’s men, in accordance with his orders,
reserved their fire in order to make it effective,
and then poured it in so rapidly that the
mob were swept away and flung back into the

.133.
P There was no chance for them to 'rally, as it
was impossible to withstand. that murderous
fire, especially as the men behind. the. fortifica-
tion were being reinforced by their friends who

- hurried down from the hights.

So they turned tail and ran away. , .

Blanton perceived the’necess1ty of keeping
them on the run, lest they should recover
their courage and make a stand at the foot of
the pass. _ . “

“Come on, boys!” he shouted. We must
drive them off. We must drive them clean
off.”

They jumped out from their shelter and fol-
lowed him, their shouts counting_as much as
their shots in the easy task of keeping their one-
mies on the run, as the mob Scattered toward
TOpnotch helter-skelter, each striving to be first
in the” race for safety. ‘ A _

Blanton and Timothy Marlow, who ‘Were in
the advance of the pursuers, halted when they
believed that the pursuit had gone far enough,
and consulted as to what they should do
next. _

The young engineer had hurriedly extracted
some information from a wounded man, to
the effect that the forces of the TyCOons had been
utterly routed, and the leaders were hiding from
the vengeance of the insurrectionists.

He concluded that the oflicers of the mining

' company were in danger, and that it ‘Was his ,
‘ was not there, and the scene of Wine]: and ruin

duty to go to their assistance. .

That task would of course be an easier one
after the crushing defeat of the mob that. had
Set out to capture the mine. ‘ _

'Seleoting a few good men who were Willing
to accompany him, and leaving the‘others to
go agiout their business, he set out toward Top-
noto . r ‘

Timothy Marlow insisted on making one of
the party, and they lie t w 11 in the rear of, the
disorganized mob whic they had defeated;

I

CHAPTER XXII. ’
ssunnmc'riim m TYOOO 5.

Burma GANNON—no more ‘to ma uerade in
Topnotch as El Paso Pete—was one _of those
who were the most enraged and humiliated by
coons. ,

In addition to. the. displeasure that affected

 

, him on general principles, he had special reason

of hisown for anger, as he had been exposed
with his life.

It grieved him, too, 't at he hadnotbeen able
to inspect the preparations for resistance on the

l

. surrectionis

 

 

floor below the room where he met with disaster

and had therefore been unable to inform his

giends of the danger that awaited them
ere. ‘

Consequently they rushed into the jaws of
Ellie tiger, which closed on them and crushed

em.

Pete Gannon felt that he had failed in his
main duty as a y, and that his failure, with its
accompanying umiliation and danger, were
due to Dan Lasher, against whom he cherished
a rudge which he was anxious to work out.

hpugh he was as brave as a man need to be,
he did not stay behind as a rear guard when his
comrades ran away, nor had he previously been
eager to expose himself to any peril that might
as well be avoided. '

He was firmly of the opinion that “he who
fights and runs away " may live to work out
his grudges at a more coniienient season, and
therefore he fled as soon and as swiftly as the
others when it was evident that the party of
the Tycoons had got the worst of the battle.

Wishing to keep himself posted as far as pos-
sible concerning the subsequent events, he found
a hiding-place from which, while he ran no risk
of discovery, he could see and hear at least a
part of what was going on.

He heard the cry of “ On, to the mine!” and
knew what it meant, and could make a
pgetéty good guess at what happened after

a .

As matters became quiet in the neighborhood
of his place of concealment, he sallied‘forth,
discoveringhthat the town had'been partially
lighte‘d again, and was resuming its ordinary
as ec . .
oing about carefully in search of his friends,
he came across Ben Eagles-on, the marshal, who
was on a similar quest.

Together they sought Jacob Marvel and the
superintendent, whom they succeeded in finding,
but advised them to remain where they were for
the present.

Then they sallied forth again, a little bolder
than before, to” try to get their friends to-
gether and inform themselves of the situation of
affairs.

Having got a pretty fair idea of the events
that had occurred since the defeat, and having
picked up a few of those who had fought and
run away, they returned to where they had left
the chief Tycoons.

Both were greatly depressed by the defeat
and by the intelligence that was brought to
them, and it was not long before their depres-
sion was increased.

“ If those rascals have got hold of the mine,"

. said the superintendent, “ that will make things
‘ very bad for us.”

“ What good will it do them,” inquired Gan-
non, “ if they can’t keep it and work it?” i

“ It may not do them much good, but may do
us much harm.”

"' Mr. Blanton is there,” observed Jacob Mar-
ve , “and there are plenty of arms and ammu-

'nition for the miners.”

f‘But they may not care to fight for thev
mine, and it is not at all likely that they ex~
pected any attack from Topnotch. It was
generally understood that we were going to
succeed in what we undertook to do, and I told
Blanton myself that we were sure tocarry it
through.”

“ We have made a great mistake somewhere,
and I suppose we overestimated our ability.
ButIam glad that Blanton did not come to
Topnotch tohelp us, as he is sure to be of more
use at the mine. I have great‘confidence in that
young man.”

“I hope he deserves it,”,remarked Eaglesop,
rather dequndently. r

“Well, we must do the best we can with
affairs as we,find them, and the first thing to do
is to etc" the office and see if that is all right.
I t_ol m sonto stay there and take charge of
things: ut of course he could not be expected
to stand off a mob. I hope he has kept out of
th'liimglt‘i'” t fl 6. h ' H

ey i no u teofilceallri‘h uite
the contrary. 2' g
Thadoor was wide open, and Simon’ Marvel

was decidedly discourag'ln .
r The safe In which the va uables were he twas
intact, Ibut it was evident that some of t e in-

. had been in possession, and that
they had vented their spite upon everything
they Could get at. .

Jacob Maryel was sadly troubled by his aux:
iety concerning the fate of his son, the only
certainty being that Simon had. not been killed
on tlIJBISPOt.th t th b ‘ r

“ - iope a , e oy was able to t awa
before they came here," he said, but wagSGObllged
to admit that his hope lacked much of being a
settled belief. ‘ “ ‘

. Ben Eagleson su gested that it was about time
for the arrival of he valley men who been
sent for, and that the best thing to do justthen
was to go and‘ meet their friends;

I With the aid of the recruits from Talbert,
and maths absence of a large body of the in-
surrectiouists, they ht be able to take the
town againandho i against their enemies.
I Bethe defeated-men w 0 had been collec

, .

   
  

 

V
ted , Theniost important measure,

there set out, leaving Topnotch quiet] and un-
obtrusively, as they did not consider t emselves
strong enough to risk a row. ,

Indeed, it must be admitted that their de- .,' ..
parture looked a good deal like sneakin away. . "

Fortune favored them, .and Ben leson’s
calculations proved to be correct. , .

They had gone not more than a mile down
the road that led to the valley, when they met
the friends they were looking for. . , :

The Tolbert contingent was even larger than ,_ ,
it had been expected to be, as the men down i
there were anxious to rescue or avenge their f,»
comrades who had met with disaster. ,; ,‘

Therefore the irits of the Tycoo rose fi
rapidly, as they an to believe that they 1-
would be able to rot eve their fallen fortunes. i “

Ben Eagleson put himself at the head of the ' ‘
combined forces, and marched them back to-
ward Topnotch.

On the way they struck a portion of the dir‘ ‘ . "
organized and demorallzed mob that had been . .,
driven back from the mine. ‘

Scarcer knowing who the
course not understanding the

were, and of , .
isaster that had \ '~

happened to them, but having no doubtrthat r."
they were enemies, the marshal ordered a 5 
charge, and the insurrectionists, surprised by  ,
the unexpected attack, were easily routed and ' , 3:
scattered. ' , 

Burch Blanton and his miners, with Timothy
Marlow, hearin the noise of firing, hurried to»
ward and joins their friends. - ’

‘Blanton related the occurrences at the mine,”
and was highly complimented by Jacob Mar- V
vel, who wts more than glad to learn that the
attempt of he insurrectionists in that quarter’ \ , 5.
had failed so completely. ' ‘

The Tycoons, again triumphant, and elated
by their easy Victory, chased their foes into the
town—those of them, at least, who had notes-
caped in other directions.

 

 

  
   
   
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
   
   
  
   
 
  
   
   
  
    
  
 

 

CHAPTER XXIII.
“ A FOUL GRIP.”

THE return of the remnant of the mob that
had gone out to capture the mine spread con- ‘-
sternation among the insurrectionists who had ‘ v
remained in Topnotch. . " ' «

Though Dan Lasher and the other cool -. .
heads had regarded the expedition to the mine
as a rash and hair-brained piece of business,
they had supposed that the fighting was over,
that they had gained their int, and that It
would be a long time, if ever efore the d feat-, .
ed Tycoons would make aim or serious efl to .
molest them. « ' '

Consequently their surprise was complete
when the broken mob came scampering into ‘N
town with the news not . only of severe punish- \
ment at the mine, but also of pursuit by a large 
force of their foes. ~ ‘i

‘No doubt they exaggerated the numbers of
those who were pursuing them, but the actual '
state of affairs was bad enough. ‘

Messengers were at once out to the saloon-H;
keepers, informing them of the change in the
situation; but it was scarcely to be supposéd
that they could get ready in time to meet the
expected onset, even if they should be willing to
close u and take part in the fight again. .

The eadquarters of the insurgents were sti
at Dan Lasher’s establishment, and many ofL
them were gathered there when the news of dis:
aster arrived. ’i “

Among them were Deadwood Dave and his
partners, who were still enjoying the festivities
of the occasion. - -

Handsome Dan’s whisky had worked’them up
to the fighting pitch, judging b their talk;.yet
it was notlikely that they con] be depended on
when the pinch came. . - . . ,

Dan Lasher was the man'for the emergency, i' 1’

He took in the necessities of the casegat a .
glgnce, and speedily determined upon a plan of 
ac ion. . , ' ;' ' '

If he and his friends should not heritable
whip the Tycoons again, and it seemed lik ' I
ilust then that they would not be, he couldat'
east bring them to a halt and worry them lutq
a coriip’romise, thanks to the fine work of Dead:
wciod ave in getting possession of Simon-Mar:
ve . - .
That young man could be used not only as a ,
hostage but in a more . a ive manner,
it was the intention of those who hold‘him to
work him for all he was worth. , vi.

Handsome Dan began this second campaign
by makingabold move. » "0y  ,

‘He was determined to let his enemi know at, 
once that be was not to be scared. an that“ v‘
held the whip hand. .' I . - ‘i . N ’

Therefore, instead of shutting his ‘men up fill
the house and fighting from that to g ‘
dared them all into the street, and arrow
them there in battle array. , ' < ‘ - .g ~

As fast as the defeated members of the mine
expedition came in be caused them to be rallied; ~
refreshed in the manner that was most salist
tory to them, and formed behind his freehand
nwrereliable forces. -  ,;

Thus the insurrectionists shewed quite a for»
mid-ibis front when the victorious Tycoons)?

Worsted

'4

i

 

 

 

  
     
  

18

Topnotoh Tim, the Mad Parson.

 

thcla disposition that was made of Simon Mar-
ve .

He was also brought out into the street, and a
noose was knotted in a sufficient ro , and he
was led under a tree that convenient y stood in
front of the next buildingviéo Lasher’s place.

“ What do you mean? but are you goin to
do with me?” demanded the young man w en
he erceived these ominous preparations, and
un erstood that they were made with reference
to him. '

“Likel as not we are going to hang you,”
replied an. “ If your father and his folds
don’t clear out and leave us alone, we are certain
to do that very thing.”

Simon turned pale when this dismal prospect
was disclosed to him; but he was b no means
so much of a coward as some of is captors
might have supposed him to be, and he braced
up with the determination of going through his
part of the performance like a man.

“I hope they will kill the last one of on,"
said he. “I don’t care what becomes 0 me,
and such scam s as you are too mean to live.”

“You talk ling for a. tenderfoot,” observed
Dan; “but I reckon you will be glad to climb
down a. peg or two when the rope begins to
draw.”

This matter was soon to be brought to a test,
asJacob Marvel and his aids, with their new
allies from Tolbert, and the remains of the

former force whom they had got together,.

edil a red on the scene.
spibouyt tgmst move made by the Tycoons on
their return to Topnotch was to Send emissaries
tothe saloon—keepers, warnin them to keep out
of the fight, and. promising t in protection if
they would stay at home and mind their own
business. V
‘ Between these emissaries and those of the
. other side, the puzzled saloonists hardly knew
how to act; but they were doing a big business
just then, which they were unwilling to drop,
, and the Lasher party might not win, and the
promise of protection was something better than
the had looked for.

I their ox was not to be gored, why need they
bother about other people’s cattle?

Jacob Marvel had been quite unwilling to
make this concession to the saloonists, and had
done so only when its absolute necessity was im-
pressed upon him; but, when he saw how for-
midable his foes yet appeared to be; he did not
regret the sacrifice." it would secure his forces
from an attack in the rear. .

Though the Tycoons believed that victory was
then Within their grasp their opponents were
evidently so strong and so confident of their
stren th, that it was deemed best not to rush
upon em too suddenly, thus running the risk

‘ 0 an ambush or some other unexpected stroke

of strings.

It we at least be advisable to summon them
to surrender and give the affair a chance to ter-
~minute peaceably.

So Ben Eagleson, acting under the instruc-
tions of his chiefs, hailed them, and, in effect,
read the riot act to them; but they did not dis—

rse. /
p6Dan Lasher’s full and rich tones rung out loud
and clear as he answored the hail.

“ Is Jacob Marvel there?”

, “ Yes," answered the marshal.

“Tell him that he had better go slow, or he
will put his foot in the fire, and will have, no
‘ , chance to at it out.”

“ What 0 you mean by that?”

“ Tell him that we have no notion of surren—
daring or backing down an inch. We know our
, ' hts, and mean to stick to ’em. We have
w 'glped your crowd once, and can whip them
'33:: if we want to: but we know an easier way
than htin to settle this difficulty. Tell Ja-
cob rve that we’ve got a foul grip on

" , him.”

“ What’s your foul grip?” demanded Ben
_ gleaon after a consultation with his chief.

‘ We‘ve got his son here, and we mean to kee

‘ him, dead or alive, until this thing is settl .

You must leave us alone, and agree to keep on
leaving us alone, or we will string him up to this
tree, and then we will fight you to the death \if
you want.” -

This was a serious statement, and/{t was clear

,enoug that Dan Lasber meant what he said.

The sort of a. “ foul grip” was the very thing
that Jacob Marvel bad feared.

Wheth r the statement was true was the only
question, nd it was one that could not be deter—
mined by the sense of sight.

_ If there was any doubt on that point in the
minds of Simon Marvel’s friends, it was speedily
, settled by the young man himself.
‘ He shouted at the top of his voice, as much
«i n “h ‘3‘? its...” if Wealth “ this”
i is , as or e e o n
~ ' , him-golf heard 3

“ Never mind me! Pitch [in and clean the
sconndrels out!”
i That was all he said, and it was to be inferred
' that summary measures had been taken to quiet
-.m’?acob Marvel was almost stunned by the real-
isation of his fears. *
'_; it must he admitted that Simon had
' preved ' bravery in declaring his willingness

honor

 

 
 

to sacrifice himself for the success of his friends,
yet no such sacrifice could be permitted.

Jacob Marvel admired his boy then as he had 1
never before admired him, but was not enough 1

of a Roman father to consent that he should be
slaughtered.

Simon could only be rescued by the defeat of
the insurgents, and it could not be doubted that
an attack would lead to his instant execution.

Before the attack could possibly succeed, he
would be dead.

The President of the Topnotch Mining Com-
pany was badly broken up by the situation as it
was presented to him.

To yield to the demands of the insur cuts, and
to abandon the cherished plans whic he had
prosecuted at such a cost in the interests of
morality would be a terrible thing; but to lose
his only son would be much worse.

Yet something must be done, or left undone,
and it was at all events necessary to delay
military operations until he could see what
sort of a. bargain might be struck with Dan
Lasher.

Consequently the leader of the insurrectionists
was informed that a truce would be declared, and
that the matters of difference between the two
parties would be fairly considered.

CHAPTER XXIV.
rim 'rvooons ON TOP.

THE truce was mainly for the pu seof gain-
ing time, thou h Jacob Marvel min t have con-
fessed that be ad no idea. of any special benefit
that was to be derived from gaining time.

Ben Eagleson, however, who had proposed the
arrangement, believed that it would be of use,
and he hastened to get his work in.

“ If I had two or three ood men. just such
men as I want,” said he, “ think that we could
get out of this scrape.” .

“ What’s the matter with me?” inquired Burch
Blantou. >

“ I am getting to be an old man, but am pretty
good at," observed Timothy Marlow.

“ I your idea. is what I guess it is,” remarked
Marvin Briggs, “ I want to be counted in the
game.

Marvin Briggs, as it happened, was the pro-
prietor of the store adjoinin Dan Lasher’s
place, in front of which Simon arvel was sta-
tioned under the tree.

Ben Eagleson turned to him quickly.

“ I reckon you have guessed it)? said the mar-
shal. “ As there isa risk to your property, I
was in no hurry to call on you. '

Briggs had joined the Tycoons, and had stuck
to them firmly, in spite of the danger that might
come to his business and his place of business
from the proximity of Lasher's establishment.

He was not going to draw back or shrink at
that crisis. ‘ ' -|

“ That is all right,” said he. “ I/am willing
to- risk my property, and you needn’t worry
about it.”

“ lHave you got your keys with your’inquired

eson. . .
“Both of them, front and back. I guessed
your idea, you see, because I had a notion of
trying to work the same scheme. What on
want to do, as I take it, is to circle aroun to
the back door of my place, go through, and rush
out at the front, taking t ose scamps by sur-
prise, and snatching the young teller away from
them. Is that the game?”

“ You have hit it exactly, Marvin, and we
must be uick about it, too, as those men may
not be qu at much longer.” 1 ‘

“ Come on, then. The sooner it is over, the
beth for all of us.”

But, before Ben Eagleson could make a move,
he was obliged to get the "consent of Jacob Mar-
vel, whose son was exposed to ‘ danger, and
might be brought into greater peril by the bold
sin that was contem lated. .

he chief of the ycoons turned pale when
this proposition was made to him; for be real-
ized the position of his only son.

At the same time he was bitterly opposed to
yielding an inch to the demands of the insur-
gents, and he hoped that the daring attempt
might prove successful. '

' fter a brief hesitation he gave his consent,
and Ben Eagleson set at work immediately with
the three men who had otfered themselves. ‘

They were all recognized as good and deter-
mined men, in spite of the advanced years of
the Mad Parson, and Marvin Briggs would be
specially useful on account of his familiarity
with his own place of business.

It was arranged that there should beacon-
ference ’ with the insur ants, and that the at-
tem is to rescue Simon arvel should be made
whi e the conference was being held.

The Tycoons in the street, ready for any
emergenc , were to watch closely the front of
Marvin‘
cuing party rushed forth, were to make a di-
versmn in their favor.

As a matter of course, this would be an utter-
] inexcusable breaking of the truce; but the

ycoons had suffered so severely. and had been
so dee 1y humiliated, that their ideas, of military

had been decidedly lowered.

Furthermore, they were inclined toconsider
the rescuing party as a “ side issue,” and were

 

riggs's store, and, as soon as the,res-‘

' not to renew the fight unless the rescuers were
; in need of help.

The real fact was, however, that they be-
lieved in the maxim, “ everything is fair in
war,” and had no doubt that their adversaries
would take a similar advantage of them if they
saw a chance to do so.

As soon as the conference had been arranged,
Ben Eagleson started off With his three men,
armed only with their revolvers, as the work
which they might have to do was expected to
be close and desperate.

As Briggs had suggested, they “ circled
around ” until they reached the rear of his store.

All was quiet there, and the darkness was in-
tense, as the night was nearly spent, leaving
only what is commonly known as “ the darkest
hour, just before dawn.”

Marvin Bri gs let his confederates in at the
back door, an led them through the establish-

ment.

Nothing had been disturbed there, as the in-
surgents had shown no disposition to destroy
property; but, if the attack that was about to

e made upon them should prove immediately
and thorough] successful, it might be expected
that Marvin riggs’s store would be quickly
and completely gutted.

No lamp or candle was lighted, and not even
a match was struck, as it was above all things
important that the desperate attempt should be
secretly made.

Noiselessly the four men felt their way through
(tihe thick darkness until they reached the front

oor.

They had carefully noted the location of the
tree and Simon Marvel with regard to the door,
as well as the position of the men they were to
attack, and each of the four understood the
work that he would be expected to do.

fiuietly Marvin Brig ss key turned in the
loc , the door we sud enly thrown open, and
the rescuing party rushed forth.

Briggs stopped an instanttoclose and lock
the door but immediately joined Blantou and
the Mad arson. who had opened a rapid fire
with their revolvers as soon as they emerged
from the building.

Ben Eagleson, who was a. tall and stalwart
man, of great strength and activity, knocking
down or throwing aside the few who stood in his
wa , ran to Simon Marvel. ,

,ith a shar knife he cut the rope, and gave
the bewilder young man a push in the direc-
tion of his friends, bidding him run for his life,
and following him up to protect him from re-
cs. ture.

course a complete surprise to the insurgents,
and for the moment it demoralired and scat-
tered them; but they quickly rallied, and pro-
ceeded to make it hot for the desperate few who
had ventured among them.

Their assailants, however, scarcely gave than
time to rally. .

Fully realizing the fact that their chances of
success and safety lay in the rush, they only
waited until Ben agleson had cut loose the cap
tive, and had scarcely a second to wait for

that. .

Then they burst through the ranks of their
op nents, and headed toward their friends.

t was every man for himself, accordingiothe
programme which they had agreed on and. each
struck out on hi own book, without waiting to
see what had become of his comrades.

As the insur nts had been quietly awaiting
the result of t 8 conference that had been
goin on between the lines, they were naturally
hi h y indignant at this treacherous attack.

hey quickly recovered from their moment-
ary panic, and pistol bullets began to fly about
in the liveliest manner possible; but they came
very near being too late.

Timothy Marlow’s lon strides carried him
swiftly out of the wayo the greatest danger;
but; the other three suffered more or less in the
me e.

Ben Efigleson, who was covering the escape of
Simon
left arm, and Ma Brigfis was shot dead,
pierced by more than one bu at. x

Burch Blantou was lucky enou h to escape
with a slight flesh wound. which e considered
nothing more than a scratch. '

It is probable that_ not one of them would
have got away plive, if it had not been for the
prompt action 0 their friends.

Utterly disregarding the truce, and not wait-
in for the response of the insur outs to the
suddenattack the myrmidons of t e Tycoons.
led by. Pete Gannon, started into the fight
as soon as the rescuing party issued from the
store. . .

1 Under these circumstances the fighting. as
might have been expected, speedily terminated
in favor of the Tycoons. ,

There was no tribunal to which their oppoe
neuts, could appeal for protection against that
atrocious violation of the laws of war, and their-
only chance was to strikes stout blow for re-
venge, and then get out of the scrape as well as
they could. , r '

The blow was not signally effective, as they
were badly disorganized and demoraliaed. '

For a little while there was some pretty sharp

\ .

 

his sudden and unexpected attack, was of ‘

 

arvel, received a. severe wound in his ,

 

 
 

 

 

’ «gum-g:

4

, / Topnotch Tim, the ‘Mad Parson.

:. ,a..-.  30444;“:

 

19

 

 

fighting; but it was only by squads or indi-
vid uals who had been cornered, as the insurgents
were split up and scattered.

Dan Lusher kept about him the only compact
body, a dozen or more of the best men on his
side, who followed him into the saloon in his
establishment, where several others had gath-
ered, including Deadwood Dave and his gang,
who were trying to keep out of the way of
bullets.

As the inside fortification was still there, it
was at once made available to keep back their

enemies; but the Tycoons had once before dis- 5

covered what it amounted to, and, though then
victorious, they were in no hurry to tackle it.

Dan Lasher, perceiving that he had at least a
brief respite, hurried up—stairs, stuffed his
money and valuables into a bag, and hastily
made his arrangements for retreating from the
field which was then clearly lost.

Those arrangements he communicated to a
few faithful friends, who were to be allowed to
accompany him if they chose to do so, and they
gladly availed themselves of the rivilege.

One by one they sneaked out o the back door,
and speedin put a safe distance between them-
selves and Topnotch.

Those who were not so deeply compromised
also sneaked out. but did not trouble themselves
to go so far, being content to keep out of the
way until the storm blew over.

When daylight came, and the Tycoons at-
tacked the headquarters of the rebellion, they
found nobody in the saloon but the barkeeper
and a few customers who were unable to carry
their loads of whisky.

CHAPTER XXV.
TRAITOROUS muons.

AMONG those who “ scattered out ” from Top-
notch, after the victory of the Tycoons, were
Deadwood Dave and his gang.

They Were not invited by Dan Lasher to ac-
company him in his flight, not being regarded
as faithful. or in any respect valuable allies,
and they did not, in fact, accompany him; but
they took the same direction, and ultimately
arrived at the same destination.

They fully realized the fact that Topnotch
was no longer—at least not for a considerable
length of time—a safe abiding-place for them.

I there had been nothing against them but
the quiet and inconspicuous part they played in
the insurrection. they would have had no need
to trouble themselves about the consequences, as
they might have slipped into obscurity, and the
chances were that they would not have been
noticed or thought of; but they had sense
enough to know that they had compromised
themselves pretty deeply;ee _

Though they had not 11 able to fulfill their
expectation of picking up unwatched bits of'
property durin the turmoil, they had eflected
the capture 0 Simon Marvel, the son of the
Chief of the T coons.

By turningt eir prisoner over to Dan Lasher‘s
party, they ad put his life in peril thereby in-
curring the enmity of his father and friends.

The act which they fancied would operate
many to their advantage had _ proved to be a

mere: .

Simon arvel would of course denounce
them as the scoundrels who had got him into
trouble, and they might expect immediate ven-
geance to be visited upon them.

Dan Lasher ought to be friendly to them, as
they had surely done him a good turn by put-
ting him in posscssion of young Marvel, and it
was no fault of theirs that the scheme had not
worked well.

In their opinion the gambler was bound to
take care 0 them, or to help them, and they

. meant to follow him up and stick to him as long
I

as he had a dollar. . ,

Handsome Dan had found a snug and reason-
ably secure retreat in the hills, at a little settle-
ment, if it might be so called, of unsettled men
who were not note! for obedience to the laws.

Among those re robates, yvho were glad
enough to get hol of him, he assumed the
leadership at once. by virtue of his superior in-
telligence and ability, as well as because of his
money. , ‘. .

Having thus established himself, he proceeded
to enlist recruits, and to meditate. schemes of,
revenge upon the Tycoons and all his enemies in
To notch.

hen Deadwood Dave and his three comrades

joined this society, they were not warme wel-
comed. ‘ i

It was known that they could not! be depended
on for such work as was wanted, and that they
represented merely an undesirable addition of
tour hungry and thirsty stomachs, thirst being
mainly what was the matter with them. -

Though Dan Lasher treated the i Topnot'h
toughs decently. feeling that he was in a man-

.ner responsible for their flight, there were

plenty of others who slighted and snubbed them,
giving them‘tc understand in many ways that
the were regarded as incumbrances.

mething more than slights and snubs was
needed to make existence 3. misery to them, and
the something more was furnished by a short
allowance of liquors. '

_ , .

I

With the aid of Dan Luther’s money, it was

no diflicult matter for the outlaw colony to et

, plenty of food and drink, and all who wants it
i were well supplied with whisky, except the Top-
? notch toughs, whose rations were much smaller
‘ than the wished them to be.

This estitution begot in them a spirit of re-
i bellion, and among themselves they grumbled
" at what they considered burl treatment, though
1 they made no loud complaint openly.
l “I don’t mean to stand this no longer” said
, Deadwood Dave to Bad Lands Ben. “ We got
ourselves into a scrape by tryin’ to help Dan
Lusher and the other tellers, and, instid o’ poin—
perin’ us up as they art to do, they treat us
wuss’u dogs.”

“ What can we do about it?” inquired Ben.

“ You an” I can jest light out 0’ here, and go
off on our own book."

“ Whar can we go to? Topnotch is shot up
ag’inst us.”

“ I ain’t sure that it is. It’s my notion that
the best thing we can do is to go back them, and
that we can make the move pa , too.” '

“ Thar’s some sort of a. so eme workin’ in
your head, Dave. What is it?”

“It's jest this: The Tycoons naterally want
to know whar Dan Lasher is hidin’, and what
kind of a game he is up to. We can give ’em
those ’ints, and that ain t all we can do. ”

“ but more?”

“ We can show ’em how to find and gobble up
Handsome Dan and as many of his pards as
they want. If that ain’t wu’th money, and
won’t fetch money, I'm foolin’ myself.”

“ Why, Dave, that would make us traitors to
our friends.”

“ Friends? Purty sort 0’ friends! It's they
that’s been traitors to us. The way we’ve been
treated is a Sin and a shame. I’d ruther be
killed than starved to death, anyhow. As pub—
lic-sperrited citizens, we’ve got a duty to do,
an’ we must pitch in an’ do it.” ,

“ I reckon .you’re right, Dave, and I reely
hope that we won’t be jumpin’ out o’ the fryin -
pan into the fire. I will be mighty glad to
git (siafs back to Bart McGinley’s, and so will our

8. .

“ Thar ain’t no pards in this but us, Ben. The
scheme Will float us two easy enough, I reckon;
but it mought not hold up any more. When we
git back to Topnotch, and make ourselves solid
With the Tycoons, then we’ll see what we can do
for the others; but jest now it stands us in hand
to look out for ourselves." .

“ That looks to be kinder rough on the boys;
but you’ve got a great head, Dave, and I reckon
it’s all for t e best."

That night Deadwood Dave and Bad Lands
Ben slipped out of the camp and started for
To notch.

hey might as well have gone openly and in
the daytime, as nobody wanted to keep them
there, and there was no regret at their depar-
ture, except on the part of the two comrades
whom they had left behind, deserted, but not
forsaken.

When they Q‘showed up ” in Topnotch the
next morning, they were introduced to the
Tycoons somewhat sooner than they had ex-

ted. -
$imon Marvel saw and recognized them, and
pomted them out to Ben Eagleson, who ar-
rested them, and they made no attempt at re-
sistance. .

The marshal conveyed them at ones to the
head uarters of the Tycoons. who had estab-
lish a sort of martial law in Topnotch since
their final victory. . i

“What does this mean?” grumpily demanded
Deadwood Dave, when bewas arraigned before
the magnates. “We are peaceable and public-
sperrited citizens, and we ain’t doin" no harm.
Id like to know What we’ve been jerked up
or.

“ Do ‘ you see that young gentleman?” replied
the marshal, pomting at Simon Marvel.

“Yes, I see him. I know him well. He‘s a.
nice young gentleman.”

“You are accused of having kidnapped him
during the recent disturbances here, and of
havin put him where he was in perillof his
life. e would have met his death by ban -
ing, if he had not been rescued by his friends. ’

“It ain’t really possible that you mean to
bring that ‘ up ag inst us!” protested Dave.
"That warn’t nothing but a joke. We didn’t
harm the young feller, and never meant to harm
him. He was took away from us,~and we ain‘t
to blame for what happened arter that. If thar
wasany harm in that little trick, we’ve got
no for you that’ll pay for it, and a heap
mnre’n pay for it.”

“ What is your news?” inquired gleson.

‘4‘ We are two public-spemted c tizens. mean-
in no harm, and wantin’ to do our dooty and
the fa’r thing, and we’ve come here, lookin‘ for
.no trouble. to bring you some news that ort to
be wu’th a heap to you."

“What is it, then? Don’t keep us waiting.”

“We can show you whar Handsome Dan
Lasher andhis pards are. hidin’ and tell you
what sort of a game they are up to, and put you
onto ’em 30’: you can gobble ’em all up, or as
many of ’em as you want, and that’s a deal that
we allow to be wu’th somethin’.”

 

l
I!
.‘.

. had entered the office of the minin

 

i? , , , V _ 1%

CHAPTER XXVI.
mum JUST REWARD.

HAVING announced his offer, Deadwood Dave
looked around upon the committee with an air
of triumph, as if he believed that he had them
just where he wanted them.

Ben Eagleson, however, who acted as spokes-
man of the committee, gave the Topnotch tough
a lance of contempt, and followed it up with a
co (1 reply that speedily reduced the temperature
of the big bully. ,

“If I understand you right,” said the mm
shal, “you propose to betray your friends, and
you want to be paid for it.”

“They ain‘t no friends 0‘ mine!” gruffly an-
swered ave.

“ How much do you think that job ought to
be worth?"

“ We allow, as Isaid, that it ort to be wu’th
a hen to on folks.” .

“ “yell, . Deadbeat Dave, the solemn fact
is that it is not worth a red cent to us.”

“ Not wu’th—”

“ Not worth an thing at all. We won’t have
it at any rice. on have brou ht your mangy
pigs to t e wrong market. on have given
yourself away, without the faintest chance jof
getting anything in return. We don’t want
those men.’

“ Don‘t want those men?” stammered Dave.
"' Don’t want Dan Lasher and his pards?”

He was so surprised and discomflted, thathe
could not do justice to the subject, or find any
suitable expression for his astonishment.

“We don’t want those men,” repeated Ben
Eagleson. “We have no use for them at all.
Having got them off our hands. we are glad to
be rid of them, and only hope that we may
never see them again.”

Deadwood Dave looked around at the rest\
of the persons present, with a sorrowful. all-
broke-up gaze, but saw no sign of any dissent
from the opinion expressed by the marshal.

“ That beats me,” he muttered. “ Well, Ben;
as these folks don’t seem to be such ublic--
sperrited citizens as we had allowe they

mought be, I reckon we’d better jog along.”

“ Don’t be in a hurry,” interposed Ben Eagle~
son, as the two toughs‘started to leave the room.
“ I think we can find a use for you.” I

“ As howl” inquired Dave, rather dubiously.

“ As an example and a warning to other pub-
lic-s irited citizens of your stripe.”

“ ms like I don’t ketch on to that kind of a.
scheme.”

“ I think you will ketch onto it before lon ,
or it will ketch onto you—that is, if Jack Ketc
is alive and able to‘ attend to business. We did
not want the men you proposed to sell to us.
We would not have gone ten steps out of our
way to take the whole batch of them. But we

did want you,and we have got you, and we

mean to keep you.” ,
“ What for?1

“There is a serious churgeyagainst you—a. 

char e of attempted mums .

“ eain‘t murdered nobody,” protested Ben
Staples, who had been viewing the position of
affairs with gradually increasing alarm.

“But you started in to murder him. You
did all you dared to do in that we y. , You gob-

bled him up and turned him over to those men

and it was no fault of yours that be seen
from being killed.” .
“Thatwarn’t nothin’ but a joke,” pitifully
declared Deadwood Dave. “We didnt harm
the, young feller, and he was took away from
us. .
“ That is what you told us a while. ago, and
we believe you now, just as much as we be-
lieved you then. Well, Mr. Deadbeat Dave,
you shall have a fair trial, with no reasonto
complain of being kept waiting.“ ‘

Deadwood Dave and Bad Lands Ben. in spite -,
of their protests and entreaties, were effectually v

prevented from leaving the room, and it became
evident to them that they had made a bad move
and were playing a losing game, With their
lives for the stakes.

Ben Stapies looked mournfully and reproach
fully at his partner, whose pigheaded stupidity
had got them both into that scra , and the biz
bully sat with eyes cast down.
the unexpected turn the affair had taken.

,A jury of the Lynch variety was speedily im-
pane ed, and no person was appointed to pre-

side in lieu of a Judge, as the Jury was sup- -

posed to furnish its own law. ' 1

Ben Eagleson prosecuted the prisonersf who “‘
en“: , -.

were expected to conduct 'their own do
and the summary trial roceeded.

Simon Marvel was 0 course the main wit—
ness, relating how Deadwood Dave and his gang

when he was there alone. had vein
open the safe, had searched for valuabl
wrathy because they found nothing, had ven

their anger on the furniture, and had forcibly '1'

taken him away. bound and helpless.
He went on to tell howrihey had'

prived him of his money and watch, besides sub-

‘ ting him to insult and injury, and had”
ilnally turned him over ,to Dan Lather, bgii '
’ whom he wasthreatened with death, and babe 1. >

umfounded by 

corn y .
“defianto f,

conveyed I '
him to Bart McGinley’s, where they had dew» .

u.ua.-;uzmvatzwusauwmm.~ - v-

:4,

 
 

   

 

 

A

A

20

 

  

‘ Topnotch Tim, the Mormon;

 

 

no doubt that he would have been hung if he
had not been rescued by his friends.
“ Did we hurt you?” demanded Deadwood

, . ‘ Dave when he crossvexamined the witness.

“ You did not kill me; but you did what I
have said you did.”

“ Warn’t you took away from from us by Dan
Lasher’s crowd?"

“ I was not," Simon answered positively.
“ You took me to them, and handed me over to
them, and I heard you so that you were going
to doythat very thing an make the move pay
you.

There was no getting over such evidence as
that, and Dave could on] protest that he and
his partners “didn’t k' 1 nobody, and didn’t
want to kill nobody.”

Ben Eagleson wanted to put in evidence the
grevious character of the accused, oflering to

ring plenty of witnesses to prove that they
were scalawags of the first whisky—and-water;
but the jury would have none of it, declaring
that they needed no further satisfaction on that
point. ,

Deadwood Davo, however, wanted to prove
the good character of himself and his partners,
and insisted that Bart McGinley should be

_ called to testify for them.

That juicy proprietor was not re arded by
the citizens there present as a value 19 witness
for anybody; but his attendance was procured,
after some delay, and he was asked what he
knew of the character of the two accused per‘

sons. .

If Deadwood Dave supposad, and he doubtless
did, that this side partner of his was going to
try‘to get him and Ben Staples out of their
scrape, he was then to learn that white men are
not always to be depended on—in fact, that they
are “migh onsart in.”

Bart Mc inley looked at the pair indiflerently‘

at first, as if he took no large amount of stock in

.them, and then his rugged countenance assumed
a decided expression of displeasure.

“ I won’t say nothin’ ag’inst ’em,” he answered,

“ and I can’t say that I’ve got any good to say

for ’em. They Owe me a pile 0’ money for

whisky, and I reckon the bill won’t never be no

smaller, whether they live or die. If they should

' live, it would stand a chance to grow. So it

dOn’t make no differ-to me how fast you go on

.. '.with the funeral."

This was a crushing blow to the accused.
That». their life or death should be a matter of
such little concern to one whom they had long
regarded as a partner, and that their whisky
should be so cold—bioodedly brought up against
them in that emergency, was enough to destroy
their confidence in human nature.
'A Worse was to come, as McGinley, when he
was pressed by the prosecution, admitted that
he had heard the gang talking about handing

’ . Simon Marvel over to Dan Lasher, and that he

knew that they had taken the young gentleman

 .away from his place ior that urpose.

This ended the evidence,_an the jury retired

 for consultation. '

Deadwood Dave was too badly stupefied to
make an further plea in his own behalf, and
Bad Lan 3 Ben. who was very stupid by nature,
was only able to reproach his partner for having
got, them into such a scrape.

»- The consultation was brief, and the, jury,

when they came in, bad the appearance of men

who had made up their minds to do a duty
 which was not altogether disagreeable.

“ We’ve got the thing settled, gentlemen,”
said the man who acted as foreman.

“ What is your verdict?" asked Ben Eagleson.
., “ We‘are agreed that those men are guilty of
'what has been charged against them.”

“ What is your sentence, then?” .

, “ On general princi lies, as well as for that
:job, We think they. eserve hangin’, and the
sooner they’re strung up, the better for them, as

,x well as for all the rest of us.” ' ‘ _
, , The accused did not see any sense in saying
’that hanging would be better for them.
Deadwood Dave’burst out in a howl, pleading

 ab ectly for his life, and Ben Staples was so

‘spectators, were duly hanged upo

.. ly broken up that he could not even utteran
entreaty. , - ‘
» Neither noise nor silence could then be of any

lav'ail, as sentence had been passed, and there,

was no appeal to delay its execution. ,

’ ” Thetwo toughs were taken about half a mile
.outside of the town, and there. in broad day-
light, in the presence of the jury and numerous

n sepa

trees with ropes that had been provided for the
PW‘ ' ‘ '
. ,, othy Marlow was the chaplain of the oc-
casion, and he prayed for them, as a bystander
.- remarked, “ for all it was worth.”

 

‘ ‘ “ 7“ [knew it must come to this,” said the Mad

Parson. “ I told them that Lwould live to see
them hanged.” - . l

, _ I V ,
'_ v v . CHAPTER XXVII.
x x a " susm PLAYS TEE SPY.
II the Tycoons did not soon begin to believe
that they had madea mistake in their violent
‘ efforts. to improve the morals of Topnotch, there
ere plenty of other people who easily arrived
 opinion. "

 

I

‘ \

The camp might have become  but was

  

 

surel a at deal duller, and the dullness se-
rious y a ected its customary business.

A large part of its attractiveness having been
done away with, there was less inducement than
previously for outsiders, as well as less icomfort
and consolation for the residents. ,

The gambling establishments and music and
dance halls, which, with big resources of kero-
sene and naphtha, had supplied so much of the
nightly illumination of To notch, were deserted
and dark, none of them aving been occupied
since their proprietors were driven awa .

A pervasive or permanent gleam wou d have
settled down upon the camp, if it had not been
for the whisky shops, which were enjoying an
un recedented rush of business.

t looked as if everybody, with the exception
of a few of the Tycoons, had taken to drink,
and tetibia was just what might have been ex-
pec .

Men who had been in the habit of dropping
into Dan.Lasher’s, for instance, to feed the tiger
with a few coins, or seating themselves in a
music hall where their potations were moderate.
had nothing but the whisky-shops to fall back
on when those means of relaxation and amuse-
ment were shut off. ~

The conse uence was that they drank deeply
and reckless y, and the saloonists, looking ahead
to a rainy day for themselves, economized in
the quality of t e liquor they sold, and were not
a bit liberal in their expenditures.

Another consequence was that drunkenness
and rowdyism thrived in To notch to an extent
that had never been known 1'. ere before.

At night the main street and the saloons were
filled with a bowling mob, excited by the worst
kind of fighting, whisky, and Citizens who were
intélined to be peaceable did not dare to venture
on .

Street fights and barwroom brawls had never
been half so frequent, nor anything like so
vicious. .

The utmost efl'orts of Marshal Eagleson and
the force at his disposal could not check the riot-
ing, and the rioters were so numerous that it
was idle even to think of punishing them.,

Ben Eagleson shrunk ap alled from the state of
affairs that had arisen in opnotch. feeling him-
self incapable of dealing with it, and the. Ty-
coons, whose well meant endeavors to benefit the
community against its will had produced the dis-
orders, leaned back in their” arm-chairs, and
wondered what had got into the people.

What must have troubled Jacob Marvel more
than anything else was the attitude of the miners.

As it was necessary to rely on them for work-
ing the mine whose destiny be controlled, what
they did or left undone was a matteref impor-
tance. «

What they did was to grumble, and most of
them grumbled loudly, at being shut 011‘: from
their accustomed recreation. ' v

They insisted upon their right to spend their
money as they chose, and to use their spare time
to lease. themselves.

hey uttered their sentiments freely in the
presence of Burch Blanton and the foreman, and
were only too glad to get a chance to speak plain-
ly where the. president and the superintendent
could hear them. 3

What they left undone, when it was apparent
that grumbling would avail them nothing, was
the work of the mine. .

All of them did not quit: but several threw up
their jobs in disgust, and others did their work,
to say the best of it. very irregularly, and thus
the mine was short-handed, and affairs preceed-
ed slowly just when they should have been mov-
ing briskly. . 4 '

t may be added that those who quit work he-
came the worst of the roisterers and rioters in
T notchJ I '

his condition of affairs was reported to Dan
Lasher, who had his spies and friends in the
camp, and it prompted him to take the aggressive
and renew the war.

Among those who reported to him were a few
of the disbanded miners, and from them he got
the idea which he went to work’on. '

As the mine was short-handed, it must be
poorly guarded. , i ’ ’ ’

As the men who were still at work were
known to be disaffected, it was to be presumed
that they would not‘take a lively interest in de-
fending the property of the company which had
so seriously interfered with their few pleasures.

This gave the outlaws a chance to strike a
blow at the Tycoons which would wound them
in the weakest part.

It seemed that by a sudden and secret attack

they might capture the mine, and they saw no

reason why they should not then hold it until
they could force Jacob Marvel and his associates
to make terms with hem.

Having discussed is plan among themselves,
and having determined to put it in operation at
once, they left their camp and started down the
mountain. , /

When they were not far from the mine, .th
stopped in a little glen tofortify themselves Wi
food, for which purpose they built a fire.

As they had plenty of time, not wishing to
reach their destination the soon, the dallied
over the meal,» and had'h comfortab e smoke
whfletiiey settled the detailsof the enterprise,

 _‘\ '1,

  

 

It happened that Susie Marlow was on her
way from Topnotch that day, as even she could
not exist without an occasional shopping excur-
Sion.

She was alone, and was riding an Indian pony
that had been trained for her by Caesar, the
dwarf.

Susie caught sight of wreaths of smoke rising
above the trees and the habits of her mountain
life, as well as her natural curiosity, caused her
to regard the smoke as something suspicious.

She dismounted, hitched her pony, and quietly
and cautiously made her way to the len.

Looking down, she was surpri to see a
number of armed men in the hollow, some of
whom she knew by sight, and she was sure that
thgg were there for no good.

bile some of them were eating, others were
smoking, and several were talking, and what
Susie heard of their talk induced her toendeavor
to approach them more closely, so that she
mi ht the better listen to it.

reepin down the side of the glen, at the
risk of dis edging a stone or otherwise betraying
her presence, she secured a location behind a
rock, where she could hear as well as see most
of what was going on below.

The talk was loud enough, in all conscience
as' even Dan Lasher, under the influence of
whisky or some other excitement, had raised his
veice.

Thus she became informed of the fact that

the party intended to capture the Topnotch ,

mine, and learned that t ey expected to ac~
complish that object before nightfall.

Having gained that knowledge, she wanted to ,

retire from her position, in order that she might
hurry back to the mine and carry the news to
Burch Blanton; but something happened that
bothered her just then.

Her potted pony, feeling the lack of his mis-
tress, and wondering why she did not come back
to him, whinnied for her, and that sound
raised an excitement at once.

The outlaws, fearful of the approach of some-
body, started to their feet, and looked in the di-
rection from which the sound came.

, Susie Marlow, at the same instant, anxious to
hurry away from there, missed her footing and
would have fallen down into the glen if she had
not caught at the rock that had sheltered

er.
b ’ll‘his action brought her into view of the party
e ow.

Perceiving that they had been spiel upon they
ran to catch her, and more than one shot at her
as she Scrambled up the steep, ‘

“ That’s Topnotch Tim’s girl!” shouted Dan
Lasher. “Catch ’her! Run her down! Shoot
her! Anything to stop her! She will go straight
to the mine it she gets away I”

That was just what. Susie Marlow’s purpose

~ was, and no little thing was likely to stop

her.

She got over the summit of the ridge without
being struck or scared, and almost flew across
the rough and stony ground as she made her
way to her pony, which was still whinnying
for her. 3

To throw the bridle loose and mount was but
the work of a secondu ‘ ~

The outlaws hastened ,to climb the slope,

reaching the top just in time to see her disap-’ .

peering from their view. -

Shot after shot was fired, though there was

not the faintest chance to touch her, and the

next moment she was out of sight.

Her pony, understanding at once what she
wanted, was only too glad of the chance to put
himself to his best speed, and his cluttering

hoofs fairly made the sparks fly when she got'

back into the trail, and headed him for the Top-
notch Mine. - ’ '

Dan Lasher and his party, though fully aware
of her object, were unable to prevent its accom.
plisbment, as not One of, them was mounted.

As it was absolutely certain that she would
carry the news of their intention to the mine,
their only chance was to hurry on and get there
as soon as possible, before her information could
be madeofl’ective by preparations for the de-
fense of the threatened point.

So they picked up their feet at a lively rate
urged on by Dan liasher, reached the trail, an
started, a font-rec in‘ the direction which the

'the-girl had taken.

CHAPTER XXVIII.
FIGHTING AT CLOSE. QUARTERB.

BURCH BLANTON was not having a very pleas
ant time at the mine, owing to the discontent of
the men and the consequent difficulty of manag-
ing matters there. r .

He did not give himself, however. much fun-
easi'ness about the affairs of the compfim ,
as he had his’own opinion of the recent
handed proceedings of the Ty

was cute ined by the miners.
The kn w where his sym
their riendshi
for him than t y’otberwise might have been.
Blanton contented himselti. therefore, with
overseeing the work at the mine, getting outrtho

 

ore slowly and without any special effort to in-
, crease the output . . ' , .

l.

\

 

i _
coons, and iis.
opinion did not difl’ers widely from that which, '

thies were, and.
Kemade things ees uncomfortable,

 

§
i
i
‘ l

 

S
l.
.
.
;

 

      

 

 

Topnotch I Tim, the M

 

 

m“; no;...-..xi;;.w~;ar~aasamw 

ad Parson.

  

1 i i i

 21

 

 

He had company there, as Simon Marvel had
been sent to the mine by his father, partly to
get him out of harm’s way, and partly to act as
a reporter and watch Blanton as well as the
miners.

In that capacity Simon was practically use-
less, as Burch Blanton had become his closest
friend, whom be regarded as little short of per—
fection.

If he made any re 113 to the To notch au-
thorities. they must ave been more y a reflec-
tion of the opinions of the engineer. ,

An occasional visitor to the mine, but a pretty
frequent one, was Timothy Marlow, whose re-
gard for Blanton had strengthened with better
acquaintance, and from whom the engineer ot
much useful advice and information, the ad
Parson being nothing like as mad as he was
re uted to be.

t was near the hour when the day-shift was
to go off and the night-shift was to come on, and
Burch Blanton and Simon Marvel were standing
near the mouth of the mine, conversing confl-
dentially, when the rapid hoof—beats of a gallop-
ing horse were heard coming down the mountain.

“ That must be a runaway horse,” said Blan-
ton, and he hastily climbed a ridge, followed by
Simon.

From that position they saw a woman on a.
pony coming toward them at the best speed the
pony could make.

The ground was rocky and dangerous; but the
fearless rider urged the little animal forward as
if with utter recklessness, though in reality she
was guiding and managing him with consum-
mate skill.

“ It is Miss Marlow i” cried Simon in amaze-
ment.

“ Yes, and her horse is not runninglaway with
her, but she is running him for all e is worth.
Something must have happened at her home;
but she is safe, thank God. ’

They ran down to meet her, and she gladly
reined in her panting and almost exhausted

P011337- 1 ,

Before either of them could assist her to‘ dis-
mount, she ali hted and stood before them
looking radiant y beautiful with her face flushed
by exercise and excitement.

“ What is the matter?” eagerly asked Blanton.
“ Is there any trouble at your house?" I

“ No—the trouble is here. Dan‘ VLasher 15
coming with a crowd to take the mine.”

Briefly she told the story of her spying, and
gave a description of the hostile party. ‘

Blauton did not need a moment for reflection,
but at once decided what he would do.

It is lucky for us that you have brought the
news,” he said. " Those men have probably
followed you down, and they will be here soon.
It would be too dangerous for you to try to go
backuand your pony is so badly used up that 6
can carry you no further. If you will stay With
us, I think you will be safe.” / _

“ That is what I meant to do,” she answered.
“ I will stay. and I want you to ive me a rifle.”

” I don’t think we will be so_ ard pressed as

to need your services as a fighter, though you.

can use a rifle so well. Go into the mine With
Mr. Marvel, and 1 will bring the going.”

The mine was likely to be more a 1y pressed,
though, than the engineer sup -—at least,
the danger was greater than his {words implied
—and Susie Mar ow proved to be ver useful to
him, not as a fighter, but by the act of her
presence there.

When he explained the situation to the men,
and begged them to stand by him and the mine,
several of them firmly declared that they would
do no fighting for the-high-headed Tycoons who
controlled the Topnotch Mining Company, and
the number of those who wanted to keep out of
the fight would have been greater, but for the
gallant girl who brought the news.

She must be defended, at all events, and the
best of the men rallied around her withc'iut the
least hesitation. \ ,

Others were prompted by pure 'loyalty to
stand by the mine, ahd in others the instinct of

fighting was so strong that they would welcome
' a

ively row, no matter who their adversaries
might be. ‘ '

The rifles were distributed among those w 0
were willing to use them, and preparations f r
defense were made as speedin as posmble, but
not a bit too soon. as the approach of the ‘outw
laws was reported before the arrangements
were complete.

It woud have been better for Dan Lasher
and his party if they had not got there so soon,
as they ad traveled so fast in their ursuit of
Susie Marlow that they were too t red to go
into action at once. ‘

They were absolutely obliged to belt and
rest: buttheir approach hadbeen discovered,
and the were notto be allowed to take their
ease an arrange the affair to suit themselves.

Burch lanton. who believed that war was in-
evitable, bought that it would be best to force

I the fighting, rather than give them a chance to
, rest and choom their point of attack.

So he led out a few trusty men to a ridge that

. overlooked the hollow in which the outlaws had

halted, and opened fire open them. ,
. gist set the ball rolling eta fastaiid furious
re. 1

themsele assailed when they had expected to
bei the assailants, started up and rushed for the
in no.

The scouting-party retreated in good order to
their defenses, and the battle was begun in
earnest.

So impetuous was the onset that the defenders
of the mine were nearly overwhelmed at the
opening of the engagement.

It was the presence and example of Dan
Lasher that aroused the enthusiasm of his fol-
lowers. and filled them with fight.

He proved himself to be a capable com-
mander, skillful as well as courageous, and led
his men right on, as if by instinct, against the
weakest point of the defenscs, going to the front
in a gallant style that compelled them to follow

im.

The miners rallied to their work splendidly;
but their line was broken, and soon they were
huddled together in such bad shape that all the
advantage was on the side of their adversaries.

Blanton did his best to straighten out matters
and form a new line of defense. and was
specially anxious to strike down Dan Lasher,
who was uite as eager to get at the engineer;
but each 0 them seemed to bear a charmed life
just then, and in the press and huddle they
could not come together.

Soon the fighting was at such close quarters
that the rifles could not be used, and revolvers
were brought into play.

It ‘was, in fact, a rough—and-tumble fight,
and in the darkness that had settled down, it
was difficult to distinguish friends from foes.

Simon Marvel, when his blood was up, fought
admirably, and won the respect of the miners as
well as the praise of his friend Blanton.

Susie Marlow, who had been placed, before
the engagement began, in what was behaved to
be a safeposxtion, soon emer ed from it with a
rifle in her hands, and play a man’s part in
the exciting performance.

Blanton caught sight of her when she had
started into the fight, but was not able to pre-
vent her Just then, as he had his hands full, and
could only hope that she would not get hurt.

It. was Simon Marvel who had the luck of
coming into collision with Dan Lasher, and it
was bad luck for him, too.

.A shot from the gambler’s pistol stretched
him on the ground, and Dan was about to rush
forward over the young fellow’s body, when he
was confronted by Susie Marlow“.

The sight of the girl more than astonished him
— it seemed to almost paral to him.

” You here?” he cried., ‘ You here?” ,

As he halted, powerless to advance or to raise
a weapon, the girl, who had exhausted every
charge of her magazine rifle, swung it as if to
bar his paSsage or strike him down. »

Burch Blanton, rceiving what he believed
to be her danger, ashed in between the girl and.
the gambler. ‘

Dan Lasher, recovering from his astonish-
ment, clinched the engineer in what promised to
be a death-grapple.

Instantly the followers of each pressed for-
ward to the help of their leaders. and Susie
Marlow would surely have been knocked down
and run over in the melee had not a new arrival
made a sudden change of scene.

The arrival was Timothy Marlow, who burst
in upon the combatants une ectedly, armed
only with his long and stout stixcgr.

" The sword of the rd and of Gideon!” he
shouted, ’as he rush ‘ among the outlaws, al-
most mowing them down with the staff which
he wielded with both hands. .

It was probably his wild looks and his frantic
yells, quite as much as his quick and vigorous
fiag'fression. that seared and stupefied them.

hey fell back before him like sheep before a
blizzard, and for a moment the cracking, of the
revolvers nearly ceased. *

Blanton_ hastened to take advantage of the
diversion in favor of his party, as he and Dan
Lafiher had been separated without damage to
sit er. ‘ » ~~ .

“Pitch in, boysl‘1 he shouted. “ Now’s‘ your
chance! ,Pltchdll and clean them out!” ‘

The miners did 1pitch in with a will, animated
by the example ‘0 the Mad Parson, whose ap-

nce might have been taken for a direct in-
te ition of Providence‘in their'behalf.

on they had got their adversaries on the
run. the’ rest was easy. ,

The outlaws, led in their retreat as in their
advance by Dan Lasher, broke and ran, and
again the revolvers cracked merrily.

They scattered as they ran, the growing dark-
ness and the broken ground giving them shelter
and escape, and the miners were too glad toga:
ricllgpf them to pufliiieetihem far. ‘

anton was 0 g , however, to chase and
stop the Mad Eamon, w 0 was absolutely
frantic with excitement. as he seem'ed for a
time‘to regard the entire afi'air as a plot against
his daughter. and wanted to push forward and
make an end of the outlaw. , \
/ When he had been» brought back and controll-
ed, the engineer and his friends were able to
“ take account of stock,” and they were glad to
find themselves as well of! as they were. ' ii
The casualties

r

 

/

 

Dan Lasher’s men. full of wrath at finding

' slight but trim and well-dressed figure of Simon

- of that sad event. He lost

 

had been heavyon’ both sidesl‘»
( ' m f ‘ ' ‘ '

  
    
    
  
   
   
  
    
  
   
   
    
  
   
  
  
   
   
 
    
    
  
    
 
  
  
  
    
  
   
    
  
   
     
   
  
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
    
 
  

and tho outlaws had been so panic-stricken that
they had scampered away without carryin ofl?
any of their dead and wounded, who had een
left to the care of their adversaries.

Simon Marvel, who had been stipposed to be
dead, was alive and nearl well, an Lashei"s
bullet having stunned him y grazing his skull,
but leavin only a scalp wound.

Susie arlow, unhurt, but pole with excite~
ment, was glad of the chance to soothe and
Bacify her father who soon quieted down when

e was assured 0 her safetg.

She told him how she ad happened to be
there, and he praised and blamed her by turns
for her courage and for what he chose to ca
her recklessness.

Then he started home with her in the night,
walking by the side of her pony.

CHAPTER XXIX.
PEACE ON ran PLATEAU.

ON the plateau where Timothy Marlow and
his daughter had their home it was peaceful and
pleasant enough one bright summer afternoon,
Shfl'tly after the desperate fight at the Topnotch
in no. . ‘

Whatever difficulties and contentions there
might be elsewhere, it looked as if trouble could
never invade thatlovely spot.

The flowers were blooming abundantly about,
the house, the vegetables in the kitchen garden
were yowing luxuriantlg. the mare was quietly
croppiu , the grass in er inclosure with the
colt iris ing at her side, and sweet Susie Marlow
was in her favorite seat in front of the c in,
busy with her sewing, and enjoying the ha y
air and the beautiful view. v) '

She was alone, too, as it was fully twenty- ,
four hours since her father had been home, and
Caesar had gone away to attend to some'neces—
sary business.

Consequently she was startled when she heard
a tread near by, and saw a man coming toward
her from the direction of the Topnotch trail.

The next moment it was clear that there was
no occasion for alarm, as the man was surely
harmless, at least as far as she was concerned.

She smiled when he became aware of the,

 

Marvel, who had more of the look of a dandy on
dress parade than of a minor or mountaineer.
Such as he was. he was welcome to Susie,
who rose and gave him a friendly resting. . .
“I am very glad to See you, r. Marvel,”l ';
she said, “especially as I was beginning to feel. a. -
reall lonesome.”
“ nesome? Is it possible that you are all ,
alone here?” anxiously impaired the young man.
“ I was quite alone unti you came; but your
arrival has made a pleasant difference. Take a
seat out here, Mr. Marvel, and tell me all the
Topnotch news.” ,
“ Thank you. I will light a cigar, if you have V
no obgection.” » , i '.
“ 0 course I have no objection. I like to see , .
you enjoy yourself." ’ _,
Simon lighted his cigar. but did not seem to , .
E: 1kenJoying himself, or to be in any hurry to“
“"Whatis the matter?" asked Susie. “You
look thoughtfuland troubled.” ' ‘ ~ ‘
“I am our used at finding you here. ‘alone,
and must con ess that I am worried about it. 3
That ought not to be so. It is dangerous.”
“ I don't fear any danger.” v _
“ You ma not fear it; but the danger exists.
You have trouble here before now, asL . ,
have ood reason to know, and you mayhave  j 3
troub again." ~ i ~ I _ "
“The scoundrels who attacked us then air-o ‘ ’
dead or the worst of them are." " 3 ' . i
“ t there are plenty of others alive an ,1
about. The men who were run out of Topnotch
are camped somewhere in the mountains, with,
more of the .same sort. and they are none too!
good to we on rotected people.” . . j .1.
“ I fancy t at t e knock-down blow the at,
at the mine has put them out of gear for aw i133“, '
“ It won’t do to trust ‘ too much to that fang ,.
and you know that they have a grudge against
you. Where is your father l”. ‘ ‘
“ go left. here yesterday mornin .”
“ oyou mean to so that he s not
here since then? That 5 bad. I am afraid:
he is crazy indeed.” ' ' '
“ He is crazy just now. That is why he has
gone away.” ' v  I -,
“ He is really crazy? He has gone away in a‘
crazy fit? And you can s k of such a mis'v
fortki‘ne so calmly? Miss arlow, you surprise}
me. . , w v ':
“I am so rised at myself sometimes: but I
am used toi , you see. The suffering: that we
have learned to beer losemuch of the pain. »
will tell on a secret, Mr. Marvel, though i is
not muc of). secret,“ I sup batman .
poo 9 about here understand it. ‘  V.
ycrazy once every year. The fit 
him on the anniversary of the loss of hi wife,
my mother. I need'not go into the particulars

her under very'dii- W“
Main cimumstances, and that is what turned“
his h On that anniversa he always goes
away, and l neither see nor, ear. an ‘
him for three or four days, sometimes gar. ,
“Do you not know what homes of mini” i r

5

v

i

 

\

I «1y.

4';

22

TopnOtch Tim, the Mad Parson;

 

 

“ I never have the faintest idea. I can only
guess that he wanders about in the mountains
until his mind comes back to him.”

“ Don’t he tell you, when he gets back, what
he has been doing?”

“ He knows nothing about it. The period of
his absence is a blank to him. But I know that
he has always been able to take care of himself,
and that he has always come home safe and well.
That is the only consolation I have. I cannot
stop him or restrain him, and can only wait pa-
tiently for his return.”

“ It needs something more than patience, I

a should say. What has become of your handy
man the dwarf?"

“ He had to go away this morningS but I ex-
pect him back soon. don’t think t ere is any
danger, Mr. Marvel. Tell me the Topnotch
news."

“ There is nothing new in Topnotch. Business
is dull, except with the whisky-she s, which are
doing more than they ought to. t has got to
be the rowdiest place I ever saw, and I guess
that my father and the rest of the Tycoons are
beginning to think that their style of running
thin s has been a mistake."

“ hat is what my father has thought all
along. Gambling is a bad thing, of course: but
there are other ways of etting rid of bad things
short of breaking peop e’s heads. Why, dear
me! speaking of heads, Mr. Marvel, you have
been here all this time, and I have not thought

‘ to ask about your head that was wounded
in the fight at the mine. How is your head?”

“My head is all right. How is your heart?”

“ My heart? What do you mean? I came out
of the fight all safe. I was not wounded in the
heart.” /

‘.‘ Not then. perhgps: but I thought you might
have been touch at some other time, and

that it was a tall young fellow who hadeounded ,

”

o .

“ What do you mean, Mr. Marvel?”

“ Burch Blanton is the tall young fellow I was
speaking of.”

The girl’s vivid blush told that the shot had
struck home,

“ Seriously, Miss Marlow,” said Simon, “are
you going to marry Blanton?”

“ I believe that he is expecting me to marry
him." she meekly answered.

‘980 it is settled. I thought so. Well, Burch
is my'best friend, and is a very fine man. I
don‘t know a finer man of his inches, and he
has lent of inches, too. Ienvy him immense
1y; ut knew all along that there was no
chance for me.”

“ No chance for you? You uzzle me again.
What do you mean, Mr. Marve i”

. “ You can guess that easy enou h. I mean
that I am very fond of you, myse , and have
been since I first saw you. I am still fond of
fiou, though I know that you’are going to marry

lanton. and always will be, I suppose. You
know, Miss Marlow, that a fellow can t help that

f sort of thing.”

“Can’t be? I hope he will make the best of
it,-then. I want you to like me, but am wilhng

’ , to admit to you that I love your friend Blan-

ton, and that he, or nobody, must be my bus-
ban ”

d. i

“That in all right Mi Marlow. I envy
Burch— hat’s all. 1’ should think it would
worry him to know that you are left here

alone.” .
- “I sup it would, if he knew it; but he
does not ppen to know that I was left alone
, to-dav.” i

“ He does not come here often, then?”

“ He was here day before yesterday. the hi ht
after the 11 ht, and he is to come here to-nig t.
He can sel om get away from the mine in the
da ’me, you know.”

' I am glad that he is coming to-night, as I

‘ want to feel that you are safe.”

CHAPTER XXX.
DEATH AND CAPTURE.
Sven: Minnow rose hastily, and stood in an
attitude of listening.
She did not lay her head to the ground in

 

- Cassar’s'style, asif the vibrations of the earth

' could give her the information she wanted; but
it was lain that her nervous nature was strained
intense y in the act of listening.

' “ There is somebody coming 1" she cried eager:

“Perhaps it is Mr. Blauton—no. it is too
early for him. Perhaps it is Caesar. Surely it

. cannot be father.” r

‘Suddenly she started back with: a cry of

rm.
“ My God! it is neither of them 1”

Simon Marvel, who had followed her game

\ with his eyes, saw several men who had ascended

the plateau and-were hurrying toward the house

through the trees.
It needed but a lance to assure him that
ne'ilsher Blanton nor msar was among them.
be same glance told him who and what they

I were.
“We are lost‘."h' exclaimed. “Miss Mar-
ldw,  manure anLasher and part of his
88118 \ '
She had seen them plainly enough, and she
knew was impomitla.

f thatescape
u. 'If her father or Blanton or Cm:- nad been than ever.

 

there, there might have been some hope of re-
sistance; but what could she and Simon Marvel
do against those men?

But resistance to the last extremity was what
she decided on immediately, and she hastened to
take the only course that was left to her.

“ Into the house!” she cried. “ We can fight
them off there, if we can do it at all.”

Into the house they went, and the door was
closed and barred eguickly, and each picked up
a rifle and prepar for desperate work.

But they were only two—a young woman who
was not supposed to be accustomed to the use of
weapons. and a young man who did not pretend
to be a fighter.

What could they be expected to do against a
dozen strong, well—armed and determined ruf-
fians, led by so resolute and implacable a man
as Dan Lasher?

Their only hope was that the cabin might
serve as a fortification until they could kill off
or drive away their assailants.

In that case, however, it would be necessary
that the door should oppose a firm resistance to
the assault, and for that resistance the raiders
had come Erepared.

They be. picked up the trunk of a young lree
as they came along, and that was to open the
way for them.

As soon as they saw Susie Marlow and Simon
Marvel run into the house, they hurried for ward,
with the view of giving them as little time as
possible for pre ration.

As they whee ed around in front of the cabin,
a couple of shots were fired from the window,
and one of the assailants tumbled over.

This would never do, and steps were at once
taken to put a stop to it, as Dan Lasher had
men enough for all the purposes of his expedi-
tion.

' More than half of them, in obedience to his
orders, leveled their rifles and opened fire on
the window and every other part of the build-
ing where a bullet could pssibly penetrate the
interior.

This fire was so rapid and heavy and effec—
tive, that the two forlorn defenders of thecabin
could not even think of endeavoring to tan-
swer it, but crouched below the flying missles,
expecting momentarily a struggle that could

n y and in one way.

In the mean time the men who carried the log
did not lose a minute.

They rushed at the door, and the first blow of
the“ battering-ram shattered it and made the
whole cabin shiver.

The second blow burst- the fastenings of the
door, and drove it inward, where it fell with a
crash among the furniture. ,

Susie Marlow and Simon Marvel, who ind
expected this event, started up instantly, and
fired desperately and eflectively at the rush of
the raiders; but they were as straws in a whirl-
wind, and were immediately overwhelmed.

Savager they were seized, their rifles were
taken from them, and the were dragged out-
side into the presence of an Lasher and his
rufiianly gun .

Handsome an looked at them with a cruel
expression of malignant satisfaction.

‘ You have been actin like a '_ of fools,”
he said, fiercely. “ You now we enough that
you had no chance to esca us or to fight us;
yet you have tried to do it, ike a brace of con.
damned idiots, and have done harm that you
will have to pay for. Do you know that you
have killed one man, and badly hurt two more?
Don’t you suppose that you have got to suffer
for that?” ‘

Neither Susan nor Simon made any answer,
but looked straight at him, expecting the worst,
and fearin it not.

Dan Les r, by the we. , did not at that time
deserve his name of Han some Dan.

fins been sai he had outgrown it, and the
a cial aids of vilization had been called in
to repair the ravages of time; but, since he had
been driven away from Topnotch. and had
taken refuge in the hills, he was without those
aids, and had been compelled to lead a rougher
existence than was agreeable to him.

Consequentl his hair and mustache showed
the lack of t eir accustomed dye, and in his
faces were the evidences of years and a hard

1 e.

“ So you won't talk,” he said, with a sneer.
“Very well; I reckon I can do the talking for

' the family, and I see before me the very ones I

have been wanting to get hold of. I have
caught them both together, and have killed two
fine birds with one stone. Here iathe young
Tycoon, son of the man who broke me up in
business, and drove me into the woods. I came
near hanging you once, young chap, and missed
it by a scratch. Do you think Iain likely to
miss it again?”

,"‘I was not afraid of you then,” stout] an-
swered Simon, “and I am not af‘raido you

now. You may do your worst, andmay be
sure that you will pay for it some time. But
have no grudge against this

you surely can
oung”la y, who had the right to defend her

ome. '
The gambler approached Susie Marlow, and
the expression of is face was more malevolent

“- '

/

 

l

“ No grudge a inst her?” he said, with a bit-
ter sneer. “ We 1, perhaps no, and perhaps yes.
Suppose she might help me to work out a grudge
against somebody else? I've been wanting her,
and now I’ve got her, and I mean to keep her.
You are prettier, too, my girl, than I had ex—
pected to find you, and that is no small thing to
say. Better looking than your mother was, I
do believe.”

Susan shuddered as she looked at him, and a
new terror drove the blood from her face; yet
she stood up boldly, and spoke firmly.

“ What do you know about my mother?” she
demanded.

“What do I know about her?” chuckled the
gambler. "‘ Well, my dear, what I don’t know
about her would scarcely be worth finding out.
You are her living image, except that you are
prettier, and I am glad that I have found you.

don’t doubt that we will get on together, and
you may give me a kiss to begin with."

He advanced toward her. and was about to
take the girl’s face between his two hands, when
Susan struck him with her open hand a blow
that made his cheeks tingle.

“ Curse you for a spitfirel” he angrily ex-
claimed, as he raised his clinched fist.

Simon Marvel, who had with difficulty re-
strained his indignation thus far, could hold in
his temper no longer.

J erkin himself loose from the man who care-
lessly be] him, he drew a revolver which had
not been discovered on his person, and fired at
the insolent gambler.

.Tlég hasty shot, unfortunately, was not well
aim .

The bullet struck Dan Lasher’s shoulder, and
the only effect was to make him jump and
swear.

Before Simon could pull trigger again, he was
shot down by one of Lasher’s friends—shot rip ht
lishrough the heart, and he never knew what hurt

1m.

Susie Marlow burst into tears when her rash
but faithful friend fell dead before her eyes.

“ It was a pity to waste him like that,” said
Handsome Dan. “ I had another use for the
young fool, and it Would have paid me better to
keep him alive a while longer. He ought to
have had better sense. Now, boys, if there is any
thing here that ‘you want, hurry up and get it,
as we must be c .”

The ,“ boys ” eagerly availed themselves of
their leader’s permission, and hastened topillage
the house.

Scarcely anything of,value was left when they
were throu h with it, and all but Dan Lasher
were load with miscellaneous plunder.

The dead man was left there with Simon
Marvel’s bodhy, and the wounded had to go on
after a fas on, without much help from their
comrades.

As for Handsome Dan, he was employed in
securing and leading away Susie Marlow, whom
he gave to understand that she was his ris-
oner. and that thenceforward she would be oug

to him.

She clinched her teeth and said uothin ,
strengthening herself for endurance, and so 3 9
left t 9 plateau with her captors.

 

CHAPTER XXXI.
m ransom AND ran DWARF.

THE sun set splendidly, bathing the plateau in
a golden glory. .

All was peace and met then, as no living
person was there by w_ om or about whom any
disturbance cauld be raised. -

The shattered door and the dismantled cabin
told of riot and rapine, and no words were need-
ed to corroborate the testimony of those mute
witnesses.

Other mute witnesses were outside—the ruf-
flan who had been shot from the house, and the
brave but unlucky Simon Marvel.

The outlaw la partly under the batteflngclog
near the cabin- oor, but Simon had fallen into
one of Susie Marlow’e flower-beds, and his pale
face was surrounded 'and beautified by bright
blooms. , |_ .

The mare and her colt came to the, edge’ of
their inclosure, and looked over the fence as if
they had some comprehension of the calamity.
They actually seemed to shudder at the eight of
the motionless men on the ground, and both
“ nickered” plaintivelg as they. turned away,
but they did not least eir appetite for $88.

«After the sunset and the twilight, knees
settled down upon the hills and the valleys,
sovgring the peaceful plateau and the quiet

ea .

Then a tall man, ith a long staff in his hand.

came up from the ail and hastened toward the

cabin. ,
It was Timoth Marlow, the Mad Parson, the
father of the 1 who had been captured and
carried away. ' .
He never came home without a certain feeling
of uneasiness, and on this occasion. owing to
his peculiar mental condition, the feeling was
intensified. .
But, was not Caesar at home, and was not hlS
daughter therefore safe? _ r
He had gone away, as Same informed Simon
Marvel, on the anniversary of the loss of his
wife. and nobody knew what had become ,of

r

- i

t

-Yd‘,

 

 

\

 

 

 

‘ ' " oo'm, th

V... In-.. fl- r. .:..............—.,...;....-.n... '

ad Parson.

 

 

him; but this time he had returned somewhat
earlier than usual.

Not that he was yet entirely in his right
mind, or that he had any clear :erception of
what he ought or ought not to 0; but some-
thing that he could not explain had sent him
home.

His uneasiness evidently increased when he
came in sight of the house and saw no light
there.

Susie always had a light burning for him
when he was away after dark; but there was
no light then, nor was there any sign of life on
the plateau. '

After pausing for a moment, and pressing his
forehead with his two hands, as if to collect
his scattered senses, he hastened toward the
house. '

Before he came in sight of the shattered door
he stumbled against something that was neither
a log nor a stone—something that had a
queer feeling which sent a shiver through
him '

Dropping to the ground he felt of it, and dis-
covered that it was a corpse, as it was surely a
man who was cold and did not stir, and who was
clearly inca able of motion.

The Mad arson struck a match and held it to
the face of the corpsc, recognizing at once the
features of Simon Marvel.

With an exclamation of horror and fear 'he
arose suddenly and started toward the dark and
de<olate house.

Hardly had he taken half a dozen steps, when
he stumbled against the battering log, and
at the same time discovered another corpse.

Pausing only to satisfy himself that it was the
body of a man, he arose again, and then the
nature and extent of the calamity began to
dawn upon him. V ,

The fallen log, the shattered door, the two
corpses outside. told a terrible story, and yet
they did not tell all that he wanted to know.

What had become of his child? Had she
been killed, or—perhaps worse—had she been
carried away?

What scoundrels had been guilty of this out-
rage?

The old man entered the cabin, struck a
match. and looked around.

Nothing was to be seen there but ruin and
desolation. There was not even a lamp that he
could light. Nearly everything that had not
been carried away was destroyed. .

Susan was surely not there, and Caesar was
not there.

What had become of the dwarf? Had he,
also, been captured and carried away by the
unknown maraudersi ‘

No—if he had been there, he would have per-
ished in defense of her whom he worshiped with
an almost slavish adoration. Nothing was more
certain than that Caesar would never have been
\taken alive.

Therefore the marauders must have come and
done their dastardly work when he was absent.
But wh had he not returned? What had be-
come 0 him?

Unable to straighten these matters out in his
perplexed and bewildered brain, the Mad Par-
son picked up a. blanket, carried it out, and
wrapped it around the corpse of. Simon Marvel,
as i for the purpose of protecting it from any
further harm.

Then he returned into the house, struck, some
more matches, gota rifle that had been over—
looked by the raiders, found some ammunition
and started out to search for his daughter, but
without the faintest idea of what direction he
should take, or what he should do. .

He premed his hands to his forehead again, in
an effort to recall his still -‘scattered senses, and
then descended the plateau, to_ attempt the im-
possible task of finding a trail in the darkness.

Again he was as he had been when he left his
home two days previously—his mind astray, his
wits wool-gathering, and apparent] incapable
of rendering any service to is dang ter or any-

hoe; else.

hat, then, had become of Caesar, the brave
and faithful Caesar who would never have left
his mistress in the urch if he had known her
danger and had been able to help-her?

In the deep and narrow gulch into which the
Topnotch toughs had vainly endeavored to fol-
low Timothy Marlow, a man was working,
about the middle of the afternoon, in a rather
peculiar fashion. , .

The worker was a dwarf, and that dwarf was
unquestionably Caesar; but, what was he do-

in f’

fin a niche or recess at the side of the gulch,
which was not deep enough to be called a cav-
ern, he was picking away at a yellow quartz
vein of rock with a hammer and a cold chisel,
and was striking off from the vein, or digging
out of it, lumps and splinters of a metal muc
follower than the quartz that inclosed or held

t. ,

As he chipped OR the bits of this yellow metal,
he picked them up carefully, and “ deposited
them in a canvas bag, which was then about
half filled. _ ' I

They were precise] similar, With the 'excep—
tion of a little min 5 manipulation, to the nug- ,
gets and splinters which Timothy Marlow had

\

 

been in the habit of disposing of at Topnotch
and Tolbert, and which had made people won-
der where his bonanza could be.

The bonanza was right there, in a gulch so
narrow and deep that the sun’s rays scarcely
penetrated it except at high noon.

It was so well hidden that it was sure to es
cape observation except in the event of a very
close and careful search, and yet it wasa verit-
able bonanza, the gold-bearing quartz being so
rich that the precious metal cropped out and
could be chipped of! with a cold chisel, as Caesar
was chipping it then.

In fact, the lode had never been worked in
any other way, though it promised to‘ yield an
abundant harvest of wealth under regular min-
ing operations, it any such should ever be an
dertaken.

As the dwarf carefully deposited the yellow
bits in his canvas bag, he chuckled and laughed,
and seemed to be talking merrily to himself
though of course he uttered nothing that could
be understood.

The truth was that Caesar had discovered that
there was a temporary scarcity of money at the
home on the plateau, and the fact was firmly
impressed upon his mind that there was no liv-
ing without money.

The Mad Parson having been afflicted with
one of his annual disappearances, Caesar natur-
ally supposed that it devolved upon him to fur-
nish the family supplies, and he knew where and
how to get the values which might procure
everything that was wanted. *

So he had easily gained permission from Susie
to take the hammer and the cold chisel and the
canvas bag, and make a draft on the rich bank
in the gulch.

He had already secdred enough value to last‘

the family on the plateau along time: but the
work pleased him, and down there out of sight
of the sun it was not easy to note the passage of
the hours.

So he Kept on, working busily, and chuckling
and laughing and talking to himself, as was his
mimon' gagged d th (1 1 d

ime , an e ay was near y one
when he gun to seem to comprehend the flight
of time and to realize the fact that he ought to
go home.

Then he secured the canvas bag upon his
body, bucklin it under his coat, put the cold-
chisel in a pee et, took the hammer in his right
hand. and started on his return to the plateau
and Susie, chuckling and laughing at his suc-
cess in getting gold for the use of herself and
her father.

Hardly had, he step out of the recess in
which opnotch Tim’s nk was looated, when
he heard something that startled him.

That is to say, he heard it in his peculiar
manner, every noise or movement in his vicin-
ity being conveyed to him through the muscles
and nerves of his body, which largely made up,
if not full , for his loss of the sense of hearin .

Instant y the dwarf threw himself down, wit
his ear to the ground, as if he could reall hear,
and for several minutes he lay there an seem-
ingl listened. .
hen h arose, there was no more chuckling
and, Ian h ng, but his face had assumed a very
serious oak, and he pressed both his hands to
his forehead, as if something had happened to
daze and bewilder him.

Then he moved up the gulch, dowg, can--

tiously, and evidentl with a desire at his
presence there shoul not be suspected by any
person who might possibly be about. i

Keeping close to the southern wall of the

lch, he not only did not desert the shadows of
filial: side, but also used for concealment every
rock, bowlder, or clump of bushes that came in
his way, covering himself all the while as care-
full and completely as any hunted “ Varmint ”
mig t have done.

Twice in the course of his concealed and tor-
tuous passage he dropped to the und as he
had done before, laid his ear to t e earth, and
listened with his muscles and nerves.

.Working his way in this fashion, he flnall ,
as darkness was comm on, arrived near t e
pass by which Topnotch im and himself usually
entered the gulch. .

It was not really what might be called a pass,
being merely a break or gap in the rocky for-
mation from which a steep and rather danger—
ous path led downward. _

The gap was difficult of discovery, and Ciesar
had su gsed that it was known to nobody but
the M arson and himself.

Yet there he saw, emerging from the go.
and starting down the steep and dificult pat ,
not only several men, but something more.

CHAPTER XXXII.‘
run nwnnr’s noon.

CATERING sight of that procession, Casar
suddenly sunk down behind a rock, and waited
to see all that there was to be seen. V

Darkness was coming on, as has been said,
and in that deep and narrow gulch darkness
came quicker than elsewhere; but the dwarfs

eyes, possiblyto make up for the lack of his '

other senses, were preternaturally keen.
Through a rift in the fallen masses of rock

\ that sheltered ~ him, he could easily see, in spite

 

 

of the grewing darkness, the procession that
started from the gap and began to defile down
the descent, and he used his eyes for all they
were worth. . .

This is what his eyes told him, aided by the
muscles and nerves which had their own way of
im arting information to him: \

at of the gap came, perhaps ten men,
though Caesar was so excited at the moment
that he did not attempt to count them, and had
but an indefinite idea of their number.

First of the procession was a man whom the
dwarf knew well, as he had visited To notch
during the recent excitement there, an that
man had been pointed out to him in a way to
cause him to he remembered. '

The man was Dan Lasher—Handsome Dan,
though his beauty was sadly worn and faded
just then—and he held by the arm, evidently
with a grip that was not intended to let go
easily, a young woman. v

The young woman was Susie Marlow.

As Caesar caught sight of her, he gave a great .
gasp, and his weazened face turned as red as
fire, and he shiVered as if a chill had struck
him, and be half raised himself, but then sunk.
down again, mumbling what, if they were ar-
ticulated, might have been curses.

The dusk could not interfere with his vision, .
as his eyes could see in the dark like those of a ‘
cat or any other wild animal. ._

He saw that Susan Marlow was not only
gripped by the arm :by the gambler, but was
also secured by a rope or cord, which was fast '3‘
ened about her waist, and held by one of the ;v
men who followed her. , .

As Caesar saw that, he titted his teeth, and
the blood rushed throng his veins, and his-
muscles swelled. ‘ 

Her face was pale and set, making her look ,
years beyond her a e; but it could be seen that '
she was fearless‘an ready to take advantage of
any chances of escape that mi ht offer. - “ »‘

s'Caisar caught sight of t at sad spectacle,
he crouched down behind his rocky shelter, as if 
to restrain himself from rushin forth to her , 
rescue, and groaned and writhed in the intensity .  ' 
of his passionate agony. '

He reached around to his hip-pocket and drew
out a revolver, which he examined greedily, 
but not hopefully. ‘ »,

It was onl a five‘shooter, and Susie’s cap- , 
tors were do Vle the number of its loaded cham— . f

rs. ' ‘

Some of those men, as well as their leader, he
knew by sight, if not by name, and he knew
them for during and desperate rascals, who were
qpick on the trigger, and before whose deadly
aim fiho could not expect to stand for a mo- .
men . «:3

If he should 0 n fire you them, he would ‘1
surely be dead he ore he co «3 shoot twice, and
that was not the way to help the young lady
whom he idolized.

If he was to help her at all, his only hope
would be to follow her captors and watch and
wait for his chances. ‘ ' ,'

So he halted behind his barrier of rock, t- " ‘i
tin hi teeth, and grunting and growling a x * .
wil beast. 

Dan Lasher descended the steep and diflcult
path slowly and carefully, never relaxing his

'p of Susie Mulow’s arm and the rope around

or waist was firmly held bye stalwart and ‘
sure-footed man above. ,

Thus they reached the base of the declivity,
where they halted a few moments, and then
went southward up the gulch, Handsome Dan in
the lead with his prisoner, and the others bringm _ ,
ingu the rearso solidly and formidany that , ‘
an I ck upon them by one man would have
been too foo hardy a thing to even think of. v . « , "

‘As they passed up the gulch, Caasa

 

 
   
  
     
  
   
  
     
     
 

remerged‘

from his 3 elter, and followed them cautiously ,‘

and silentl‘y, creeping along the side of the
1

rocky wal and covering himself behind thef ‘
rocks and bowlders and alum of shrubs and
stunted trees that intervened tween him and ' '~

the rty he was pursuing. .

Tl}; excessive caution did not a pear to he
necessa , as darkness had then set ed down in
the gulc , though there was still plenty of day-
11 ht out on therhills. - . ,

ilence was proper enough, considering the
style of men the dwarf was pursuing, but 0013- -
cealment was not 1' uired. " , ‘

I Yet Caesar kept himself concealed, much as a
panther might have done when following its 61- ,.
posted prey, but was no less swift and certain
in his pursuit than the panther would have

been. - , .
thDan Lasher angngisknmmdgshknew where ,

ey were oin , ew 'us ow to recap _
th’l‘hereir “timid; m ped terl d

e ore e in s u iy an st 6 I

up the gulch, tuyrning neither to the rigth
to theleft. , I , s N

They could not have turned aside if they had "‘
wished to. as the sides of the gulch were im - 7
hie, and there was no exit— nothing "to 0 but 
to go straight ahead until the gulch should  .
minute or open out somewhere. , V v "

So they trudged on, until the darknem grew ’
to be as thick and black as if it had been ballads

down. \
Still they trudged on, occasionally 

l.
in"

  

4 i

24.

J'ToplnotCh'Tiin, the Mad Parson. ,  

 

into the brook that ran down the middle of the
gulch, and frequent] barking their shins against
the broken rock an bowlders that blocked the
way, all of which involved a display of vocifer-
ous language that would not have been tolerated
in a Sunday school.

And still they trudged on, their course con—
tinnally leading upward, until the sides of the
gulch gradually lowered, and finally it opened
into the tangle of hills that formed the upper
portion of the Topnotch mountain range.

Caesar had never before followed the gulch so
far. and he did not know where he was; but he

ressed forward on the trail of Susie’s captors,

, caring as close to them as he dared.
is wish was, if pessible. to give her some
shadow of comfort by informing her of his pres-
ence, and then to watch for a. chance to rescue
her from the scoundrels who had possession of

her.

, When Dan Lasher and his band had fairly
got out of the gulch, they halted for rest and
refreshment, the refreshment being of the liquid
kind and carried in flasks that were passed
about freely.

,As the drinkers became hilarious, Caesar
” crept closer to them, and nearly forgot his cau-

1tipn in his eager desire to attac them then and
ere.

. possessed two revolvers, he would

probably have opened fireupon them; but, when

his five shots were exhausted, if not sooner, he
would surely be at their mercy, without accom-
plishing anything for Susie.
The senses of one of the men were acute
, , ‘ enough, notwithstanding the liquor he had
’ ‘ dran , to cause him to suspect that some
" strange or unfriendly presence was near, and
so pricked up his ears as a. wolf might have
one.
Suddenly he jerked out a revolver, and fired
’ - ’, in the direction of the presence he suspected.
"The bullet whizzed close to Caesar’s head,'and
the dwarf crouched d0wn, so quiet thereafter
that he could not have heard himself breathe.

“ What do you mean, Larry?" sharply de-
~ manded Dan Lasher. “ What did you fire at?”
' , .‘“Seemed to me that I heard or smelt some
. kind of a varmint over than”
in “ I reckon, Larry, it was whisky that was
doinfi your hearing and smellin just then."

, “ ebbe it was; but I ain t in the way of

'-'  , missin’ many chances.”

1/ ; “ Well, don’t give us any more such foolish-
ness, or you may have trouble with me. Come,
he 's: we are wastin time here.”

5. . " ' usan Marlow remained Seated during

this belt, her face pale, but watchful and deter-

 . mined.

‘ j. dlShe neither spoke nor moved, and by no sign

' she show that she was aware of Dan Lasher’s
. glittering and gloating gaze.

_. “ When the part set forward again, she arose
and accompani her captors quietly, Without a

, murmur. .

' Caesar also started up and followed them.

, It! was still dark, but soon there were si s of

» 3e coming dawn, and within an hour day gan

The man called Larry, who had not profited

blean Lasher’s reproof, still kept his nose and

; .ears actively employed, with special attention

" to the rear, suspecting that there was something
to be “ heard or, smelt” there.

' ‘ After awhile he fell back behind his comrades,

, but so quietly that the did not notice his deser-

Jtion, and it was not 1i ely to be perceived by

' the eager dwarf who was pursuing the party so

ly.

. 1 Then, as the day dawned, Dan Lasher And his
1 men were tax-tied by the sound of a struggle in
their rear—~a short and sharp struggle, with

r quick but few cries.

f, A pistol>shot ended it, and Larry sauntered
, back to the band.

I I, ‘ “So you have been doing it again. What do

' F, ‘_ you mean b that sort of thing?” sharply de—

“u, j manded Drin er.

3-7, V ' _ “ I mean that I’ve got my work in and made

) J it pay,” coolly answered Larry. “ I was sure

i 4 «that a. y was follerin’ us, and I caught him

.. ‘ ,and kil him.” i
_ . ‘x “ Did you know the man? Who was he?”

, “Topnotc'h Tim‘s dwarf teller. A tough sub-

‘ ject to handle, too; but I settled him.”

, I Susan Marlow shuddered, and a sin gath-

ered about her heart; but she checkedp her tears,

nd it ight be supposed that she had not heard
 hilaillhig and sad story of the death of her faith-

I 5

‘~. .‘.3‘ A.

   
   
    
  

I

      
  

 
 
  
 
   
 
 
 
   
    

 

_ , CHAPTER XXXIII.

, f — ran MAD ranson’s ouns'r. .

.=_, IT has been said that Tim0thy Marlow’s mind
{wasall  when he started out to aMem 1:
like impoimbe task of finding a trail in the

, ., t. ,
' -, “fie wits , were wiIdl wool-gathering, and he
-. was then indeed “ The Parson.” . >

1 Then was some method in hisrnadnes; but
it was an inadequate and useless method. '

v It would have been impomible for him in his
- best condition to pick up that trail, especially as
' itfollowed the main trail for acne, distance, and
501mm not have begun to determine where it
enlarged from that. ‘ ' ' _

orawi

tending to their

 

 

Besides, the outlaws, that they might the bet—
ter cover their tracks, had gone over into the
gulch that held the old man’s bonanza.

Of course he did not know that, and be pressed
forward blindly, having a vague idea of who
the men were who had killed young Marvel and
carried off his child, and of where those men
might be found, but without possessing wit
Enough to take the nearest route to their usual

aunt. .

If he had been able to follow them and ever-
take them, what could one crazy old man do
against so many well-armed and desperate
toughs?

Necessarily he had nothing like a clear and
definite idea of what he intended to do, except
tiliJaltd he must follow the raiders, and find his
c l .

If he had been in his normal, or even his half-
normal condition, Susie would have confided in
him thoroughly, and would have implicitly be-
lieved in his power to rescue her from any num-
ber of enemies, under any possible circum-
stances.

iBut she knew that he had gone 03 in an ut-
terly irresponsible condition; that he was on one
of his “ annuals,” that he was a crazy man when
he left his home, and that it might be several
days before he would return, as the Scripture
says, “ clothed, and in his right mind.”

Consequently she could not depend on her
father for aid in her present extremity, and had
no thought of depending on him.

The only person' to whom she could look. for
any help was Caesar, the dwarf, and she had
learned that the poor fellow had been ruthlessly
slain while he was endeavoring to aid her.

Perhaps there was one other person—he who
had declared himself her lover— from whom she
might hope something; but it was. surely a wish
rat er than a hope. \

How was he likely to learn what had really
happened to her? And what could he be ex-
pected to do, in his ignorance of the facts?

In the mean time Timothy Marlow blindly
and vaguely pursued his search in the darkness
of the night. .

The method of his madness shawed itself in the
perslistency with which he sought to find the
trai .

It was not by the sense of sight that he pur-
sued his search, but by those of feeling and
smelling groping and snifling about, as Caesar

d beast might have done.

All the time he gripped tightly the rifle
which he had taken from the i desolate cabin,
but without sense enough to load it, though
he had plentypf ammunition for the purpose.

The empty rifle did not. hel the old man to
find the trail, and finally he a ndoned the at-
tempt to discover it. ' ,

After that he wandered on more blindly than
ever, and apparently with less definiteness of

purpose. ' ,

Again and again be pressed his hands to his
head, and now and then he would seat himself
on a rock or ii log, looking for a time as if he
had for otten his child and everything else that
the wor d contained. .

Then he woul rise ’ and struggle forward
through the inten darkness,\keeping no steady
or certain direction. but wavering and meander-
ing, as if he did not know whither he was going,
or what he wanted to do.

What hope could there
so helplessl demented! ,

How con d he ever find her, and how could he
be]; her if helshould happen to find her?”

is route, if it could called a route, finall
brought him to the head of the gulch throng
which Dan Lasher’s band had passed with their
ca tive.

he point he reached might have been easily
gained by himmuch sooner, if he had been in
possession of his senses. I ,

Indeed, if he had gone thither directly, with-
out stopping or wandering from the true course,
he might have reached the head of the\gulch be-
fore the outlaws emerged from it, as they, in
their wish to cover their tracks, had “ gone
around Robin Hood’s barn ” to get home.

As it was, he was about an hour behind them,
and it was broad daylight when he reached the
place where the gulch opened out into the higher
ground of the mountain. ‘

'Daylight seemed to make no difference to the
Mad Parson. '

He staggered or wandered on as blindly and
uncertame as he had during the darkest part of
the night. ' »

Suddenly he stumbled over somethin that he
might easily havs steen if his eyes had 11 at-

u y. '

It was just such an object as he had stumbled
over before he entered s desolated home on the
plateau, and he would ve been even mende-
mented than he was. if he had not at once recog-
nized the unmistakable feel of a corpse.

He looked at it, as he was close to 'it on the
ground, and perceived that it was Closer, the

warf, who layldeaid there. , '

This revelation, so sudden and so startling;
fiickly made a decided change in Topnotc .
’ ,_ Though his mind did not at once became clear,
his wits were greatly revived and strengthened,

. . i  v I"  't I ’

r ,7;

be for Susie in a man

 

 

and he had a much better apprehension of his
surroundings and of the meaning of things.

It was evident that Cmsar had been shot to
death, and that told the story clearly enough for
the old man to understand it.

The dwarf had of course been killed by the
scoundrels who ravaged the home on the plateau
and carried off Susie Marlow, and he must have
been following; them with the view of helping
her or keeping track of her, when he met his
death at their hands. -

Therefore the Mad Parson knew that he was
on the right track, and, his mind having cleared
considerably, he also knew where he was and
whither he had intended to go.

His destination, as he had vaguely figured
it before he left the lateau, was the outlaw
settlement where Dan asher had taken refuge.

In the clearing up of things that followed the
discovery of Cwsar‘s body. and considering the
place where the body was found, in a direct line
from the Marlow house to the haunt of the out-
laws, it was plainly im ressed upon that old
man that he knew just w ere his daughter was
to be found.

 

CHAPTER XXXIV.
END 01" {ms QUEST.

Ir would never do to leave Caesar’s body
there to be devoured by foul beasts or birds.
and Topnotch Tim, though he then had a defio
nite purpose, and was in a hurry to execute it,
did not hesitate to stop and care for the remains
of his faithful friend and servant.

This he did by covering the body with stones
until there was a sufficient pile to secure it from
desecration.

Before he began this above round burial,
he tenderly and reverently searc ed the cor ,
a proceeding which the outlaws had omit as
something not worth their while. '

He found the bag of valuable chippin which
the dwarf had brought away from the nanza
in the gulch, and secured it upon his own per-
son. being fully aware of its nature and value.

Having rendered the last service to Caesar’s
remains, he pushed forward resolutely, knowing
well that he was near his destination.

And so he was, as half an hour’s rapid travel
brought him to the outlaws’ settlement.

It was located in a hollow in the hills, 5. sort
of basin which would have been a lovely lace
if it had been decently inhabited; but foul irds
have foul ways, and those which had nested in
that basin were not calculated to make a para—
dise of the locality.

The sunlight that beat down upon the lace

'showed a few rude cabins, such as miners uild

in lonely laces and there was no si n of culti-
vation, of orseilesh, or of any valuab e property.

Timothy Marlow stood for awhile behind a
point of rock, which sheltered him from the
possible view of any persons below, and looked
down upon the scene.

Though he could not yet be said to be fully
“clothed and in his right mind,” his senses had
to a considerable extent returned to him, and he
knew pretty well what he was about.

As a drunken man may be sobered by a and:
den shock, so the Mad Parson had been, it may
be, said, called back to life by his unexpected
discovery of Caesar’s dead body. -

He was still somewhat dazed, but was slow-
ly pulling himself together as he stood behind
t e point of rock and looked down into the basin.

Some of the outlaws were strolling about
there, engaged in no special occupation, but
mostly smoking and loafing.

Timoth Marlow wondered which of them it
was who ad killed poor Caesar, wishing that he
might single out that one and make an end of
him, whatever should happen to the others or to
himself. . ‘ i -

Susan wasnot visible an where, and it was
not to be expected that s 6 would be, as he
was probably a prisoner in one of the rude

cabins.

The Mad Parson gripped his rifle as he gazed
at the idle outlaws; but he had not yet be-
come aroused to the fact that his weapon was
corlupairaztively harmless, as he had not thought
to ca i.

What chance could there be for one old man .

with an empty rifle against 50 many stalwart

' fellows who were thoronghly‘armed?

Simply no chance at al
/ The aylight was against him, too. Inthe

darkness he might have crept about the cabins,
'and might possibly have found an o rtunity

to strike an effective blow; but in he broad
daylight he was he e’to be discovered at every
movement he made. .

Yet something must he done, and'he was full
determined to do something, in spite of all cd 8
and disadvantages. .‘ I ~ r l ,

What he had to do was to attempt in the day-‘

light a task that might be safely accomplished -

only in the darkness; but his mind was not yet

clear enough to, enable him to fully appreciate

the danger of the undertaking.

d Homng the tegifipty riflg in dhis left htznd, h:
to u n egmun,an  wor

hisgvay down the slope totvard the basin.» I _
The. slope, however, was a pretty steepde-

figvity, and was mostly covered with broken

 

 

i
l
0
z

\

» \

 

       
 

   
 
 
   

 

 

 

 

 

__ _.,. K... .  . . .

Tepnotch Tim. the Mad Parson.

 
 

 

. ‘7 . ,

 

There was no shelter, except a few shrubs and I

an occasional jutting rock, and the broken
stone was loose and liable to be dislodged and
to roll down at the steep places with a noise
that would inevitably attract the attention of
the outla ws.

Such was the task that Timothy Marlow was
to undertake, and he would not have had sense
rnough to shrink from it, even if he had been
less determined than he was to get down into the
basin.

He sullied forth from behind the rock, stretch-
ed himself on the ground, and began to crawl
down the slope.

It was literally a crawl, and not even a creep-—
the crawl of a snake or a worm—as he was com-
pelled to lie flat where there was no sort of
shelter to shield him from view, and he was
also compelled to move with the utmost care,
lest he should dislodge a stone and give warning
of his approach.

In spite of his care, he did dislodge a pretty
big,r stone, which went rattling down the slope,
and immediately attracted the attention of two
of the outlaws, who turned quickly, and looked
in the direction from which the sound had come.

Fortunately, the Mad Parson had just then
reached a clump of bushes, behind which he
squeezed himself into as small a compass as pos-
sible. .

The outlaws saw nothing to account for the
falling of the stone, which was by no means an
unusual incident, and they turned away and re-
sumed their smoking and loafing.

More careful than before, if possible, was
Timothy Marlow when he again began to crawl
down the slope.

The rifle was in his way; but he managed it
as well as he could; though, if he had known
how useless it was, he would probably have
dropped it in disgust.

He at last reached the basin without any
further accident, and there new diificulties and
perils confronted him.

There was an open space between him and
the cabins, and, if he could get to them safely,
it was hard to tell what would happen then, as
it was only certain that he would be in con-
tinual danger of discovery. .

Keeping the nearest cabin between him and
the men who were loitering about, he made a
quiet but quick rush, and succeeded in reaching
it safel . v .

Not flaring to circle around it, or to show
himself at either of the ends, he tried to peer
through the chinks of the logs at the rear, and
listened intently and patient] , but neither saw

- snor heard anything torewar his efforts.

Satisfied that he could learn nothin there, he
watched his chance, and succeeded in gaining
the roar of another cabin. _

There he looked and listened, until he heard a
slight sound of movement inside, and. fanned
that it was accompanied by the rustling of a
woman’s dress. .

If there was a woman there, it must be Susan
Marlow, and the old man believed that he had
followed the right trail and come to the right
spot

This discovery excited him to such an extent I
that he had to sink‘upou the ground and p ess :

his hands to his head. that he might alla he
fever in his blood and settle his brain for uture
action.

He was aroused from the partial stupor
into which he had fallen by the cracking of a
twig,r near by. I

Rising suddenly to his feet, he found himself
face to face with Dan Lasher, ’

There could scarcely be a doubt that the ,
gambler was at the head of the gang which had 3

carried off Susan Marlow, and the Mad Parson’s
blood boiled at the sight of him.

On the gambler’s face was a look between
a sneer and a smile, that was very exasperating.
' “ Where is, my child?” fiercely demanded
Timothy Marlow. V“ What have you done with
my daughter, you scoundrel?”

“ She is here,” quietly answered the gambler,
with a sneer that could not then be mistaken for
a smile. “ She is here, and is safe and sound,
so far. I have got her, and I mean to keep her,"

This atrocious statement, and the tone in

which it was uttered, drove the Mad Parson ‘

frantic. . v
His caution disappeared, the‘sense that 

lata—ly returned to him- suddenly deserted him,

and he was again “ as mad as alMarch hare.”
He quichlv leveled his rifle at the gambler

and pulled the trigger; but it snapped harm— I

lesslv. , ,-
D-iu L'leBI‘ laughed aloud, and blew a‘whistle
that hung from his neck. ~
The old man raised the rifle by the muzzle,
and was about to use it as a club, when he was

seized from behind by two strong men, and was ‘

immediately overpowered. .‘
“ Tie him 2” ordered the gambler, and Timothy

Marlow was helpless in the hands of his daugh— that, as one

ter’s captors. v

CHAPTER XXXV.
rm: GAMBLER’S swear.
' TEE Mad Parson’s spirit was .com lately
., ‘broken when he found himself bound up help-
less , . ._

 

\

.
.,/

process

 

 
 
 

He bowed his head, and the tears fell from his
eyes, and he suflered himself to be led away
without the slightest protest or attempt at re-
sistance.

He was taken into one of the cabins—not the
one at which he was captured—and was given a
seat there.

“I reckon you must be tired,” observed Dan
Lasher, “ after your long tramp and your hard
job of playing snake, and you will need rest.

‘here is a heap more before you, too.”

The exasperatiug sneer that accom nied the
geniark had no effect upon the 01 man this

me.

The little cabin room was nearly bare of fur-
niture, and the stuff that was there could hardl
be called furniture, it was sorude and wretche .

A seat was there, however, for Timothy Mar-
low, and it was placed in a corner where he
could be well prop d up, as he seemed to be
scarcely able to ho d himself upright.

He did not look then like the tall and athletic
individual who was known in those bills as Top-
notch Tim. nor did he have the forco and fire
that people always associated with the Mad
Pursou' but looked like a poor, weak, broken-
dowu old man, who had nothing to live for, and
but little life remaining in him.

After Dan Lasher had left him, he continued
to maintain the same demeanor and to present
the same broken~down appearance, though his
mind and body were both really stronger just
then than they had been for several days.

His second shock—that of his capture—bad
sobered and steadied him again, and he clearly
perceived that he had foolishly and uselessl
thrown himself into the hands of the scouhdre ,
who had carried oil his daughter.

Both he and she were in a bad scrape, and he
had surely made a hotch of his attempt to aid
her; but there is always hope while there is life,
and he was still determined, in spite of the odds
against him, to use his utmost efforts for his
own deliverance and his daughter’s.

Therefore it was that he kept up the weak,
listless, and broken-down style that had struck
in on him when he was seized and bound by the
outlaws. ‘

His hope was that they, perceiving his demor-
alized condition, would guardl him carelessly,
and that he might, by watching his chances, be
able to free himself and help Susie. ‘ , I

When he had full session of his senses, he
had good reason to elieve that he was equal
to almost any emergency, and, as he was utter-
ly fearless, the present disaster could not crush
his hopes.

He was guarded, however, by two of the out-
laws, who remained in the room with him, and
who were both well armed, while he was
wea onless and bound.

A ter a while food was brought in to him,
which might have been breakfast or dinner,
and in quality and quantity it was sufficient for
either, and the Mad Parson, whose hands were
loosed for the purpose, enjoyed it and satisfied

his hunger. .
It mi lit have seemed strange to his guards
that sue a broken and infirm old man should

have such an excellent appetite: but they'were
accustomed to seeing hungry people eat largely, '
and their wonder was not excite . / ‘

After the meal his hands were tied again, and
he was left alone until evening, when a good
supper was brought in to him, and the same
was re ted. , '

He noticed t at this time'his hands were tied
loosely and. carelessly, the guard who did the
job being then considerably inebriated, and it
occurred to him that he might manage the
cord so that he would be able to free himself if
“vilified-dim d 1 fl f i: I

s oug an supp e n ers
touch the kno , and he contrivedgto 10092
that he could easfly pull hishands out.

Then he waited and watched for chances.

His guards overlooked him too closely to 've
him the least opportunity for'escape, until an
Lasher came in and'ordt-red the two men' to fol-
low him with the prisoner. » \

TimothyMurlow was led to the cabin where
he had been ca tured. and where he had fancied
that he heard t e rustle of a woman’s dress.

It was quite dark when he entered the cabin:
but an oil-lamp, which was nothing buta li hted
wick floating in a pot of grease, gave ight
enought to enable him to see his daughter seated
in another of the room, and ,to ‘perceive that
she was sad, but defiant and determined. '

Susan recognized her father at once, and arose
and started toward him with an, exclamation

could
u it so

\ in which joy and sorrow were mingled; but Dan
I La‘sher turned upon her fiercely, and she shrunk

back into her place.

The gambler directed the guards to go out,
and they Went, leaving him alone in the cabin
with his two prisoners. v ‘ ‘ p

’ Surely there could be no danger for him in
as a woman, and the other was
an old man, bound and helpless, and both were

unarmed. , I
He seated himself where he had a good view
of hoth~—tbe Mad Person in one corner of the

little room, and his daughter in another—and
looked at themwith a smile of satisfaction the}:

5

‘ifIcould have married her.‘ She encouraged,

   
    
   
   
   
  
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
    
   
    
   
   
   
  
   
 
  
   
   
   
  
 
   
 
    
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
  
  
  
   
    
    
   
  
   
  
    
  
    
    
   
   
 
    

“ You perceive, Mr. Timothy Marlow,” said
he, “as I told you, that I have got your dau h-
ter here, safe and sound. She is mine, an I
mean to keep her. Perhaps I will marry her, -
and perhaps, to put it mildly, I will do the ,,
other thing.”

“ You Villain !” cried the old men; but Susie's
warning flngei' quieted him.

5‘ Go on, if you want to. Hard words break
no bones. They may please you. and can't hurt
me. As‘I said, it is al in the rbaps. It will
depend on how she behaves. ust now I am in-
clined to treat her well, if she don’t cut up
rusty. I suppose you would like to know wh
Iam such a villain, as you call me, though
am no villain, Timothy Marlow—only a man
who is going to get even."

“ To get event What do you mean by that?
demanded the old man.

,“ Is it possible, Timothy Marlow, that you
don’t know me? Have you never looked at me
closely?” ‘

A gleam of intelligence shot from the old
man’s eyes, but it was not sufficient to betray
the knowledge suggested.

“ Well, that beats me,” said the gambler. “ I
would never have supposed that you were so
stupid. I was almost sure that you would know
me the night you came into my place, when on
came to pray, and remained to play, and at
my bank so badly.” ’

“ Who are on then?” muttered the old man.

“ Timothy arlow, when you were preaching
the Gospel at Anoka, you knew a nice young
man there named Herve Varick.”

The gleam that shot ‘rom the old man’s eye
then was that of complete intelligence; but it
died out instantly, and be listened in the dazed
and feeble way that had lately stuck to him.

, “Yes, Timothy Marlow, you knew that
young man then, and you did him a deadly
,wrong.”

“ I did right; I did my duty.”

“ So you thought, I suppose, in your bigoted,
hard-headed way: but it was a deadly wrong to
him. I was Harvey Varick, though I have ,
changed so muchsince then that; on did not
know me when you saw me in opnotoh. I
was in love with a girl in that town, who. as
of a very good family, and belonged to y ur
church. I loved her with an intense and pas-
sionate love, such as I could, never give to any 1.
other woman. It seemed to me then that with:
out her my life would be worthless, and without
her it has been broken and ruined, I wao‘a
gambler then, but young in the profession, and
wouldliave quit it and followed better courses

I

my suit. and her parents knew of no ul‘. 'ection. W1
to me, and all was going sweetly and smoothly,
when on interfered.” \ " ' ‘
3‘1 id my duty as a Christian,” muttered the I
man. \ ’ . ,
“Confound such (int 1 You made‘an infer-r y
no] idiot of yourself, an destroyed all my hepes
of happiness. You learned that I wash gam-
bler, and on went to the girl and her parents,» 4
and told t em that I was a man of bad charlie-‘1 I
ter, with whom she could not be'trusted.‘ '1‘th " ‘
set them against me, and she wrote me a letter,
saying that she would never wish to seem- .
again. When I called at the house I 'wasre- .
fused admission, and when I met her on the:
street she would not speak to me. 0 we were
separated, and my hope of a new and better life 1,» 
was blasted. That was your doing, Timothy
Marlow.” ' i \ " “‘
“ ‘I only did my duty,” muttered the old man 
again. ' “ ‘ "
“ It was an omcious and inter-meddling kind,"
of duty. Then I had a duty to perform. 
and in duty was that of «revenge. I swore b ~  .~
my ruined hopes that I would get even wit I".
on, and more than even if 1 could. I could no
onger see the irl I loved; but there was an-
other woman W cm I could see, and 1 met her. .
often',’ and she, too. was taken with myhands
some face and dashin ways. That woman was
the wife of the Met. odist minister at Anoka.
She was your wife, Timoth Marlow.” v' .
‘The Mad Parson shive as if he had teen ,
seized by an ague, and Susw uttered a choking; 1‘

cry. , \ ,.
“When she left you,” continued the gambler; .
“ you could never find out when or how she left, '9
or With whom she had gone, as I hadmanaced ':
matters so well that I had neverlieen seen in ' ‘
company, and I was then far from Anglia. .. 1., ,
and nobody but I, knew what had become of *
ner, because she went .to meet me when she‘lefxlj
Anoka. and after that she was mine, todods
tpleascd with her.” ' '
‘~ f‘ What did you
the old man. . _ I. _ «
r “'I treated her well, ale I became very 
er,’aud surrounded her with plenty of comforu v
and In ries. She had no causa to
me, and she never did complain.” , V
i “ Where is she howl” , : 
 “In her gm‘ve.‘ She lived but about three
years after she left Anoka. Sheyhad no 
thatthe doctors could give a name to, but at
faded away. and died. calmly and '  '
ow /

I

 

 

  

   
   
      

  

     

do with her?" feebly inqui _

   
   

    

  
 

 

 
   

   
  

 
    
  

complailiwf

  
   
    
     

 

might easily have been mistaken fora‘sneegi, V q ‘

with every’atteution that could? _ _
u 11 her. I treated that woman we ' .'. Timothy;
law and‘ had the satisfaction of min; -.

t !

  

  

  

 

  

26

Topnotch Tim, the Mad Parson. ’

 

that I had got even with you that far. But I
was not satisfied. I had not even then fully got
even with you for the ruin of m life, and elt

a craving for more revenge. o I hunted you
up. You were hard to find; but I struck you
at last in Topnotch. and I think now that I
am in a fair way to get all the revenge I
want.”

As Dan Lasher spoke these words, he gave
Susan Marlow a look that made her face turn
pale with fear, while her father’s face' turned
red as the fierce anger boiled up in his breast.

“You don’t mean it,” gasped the old man.
“It is not possible, After the mother, you
sure] would not—”

“ ake , the daughter?” calml replied the
gambler. “Of course I will. but is whatI
want to do and mean to do. That is just what
Iam here for. The daughter is more tomy
taste than the mother was, and she will com-

! plete my revenge in aster that suits me.”

. “But that is too horrible. You surely can-
not mean it. Take my life. Torture me in any
way you please. Let my end he as miserable as
Satan may prompt you to make it. But spare
that innocent girl. he has never harmed

on.”
y “ Don‘t be silly, old man. I shall torture you
in my own way, and I know just where the
knife will cut the deepest. Perhaps 1 may
marr her. It will depend on how she behaves.
' But have got her, and I mean to kee her. "
“You brutal, cowardly scoundrell ’ shouted
the old man as he started up from his seat.
“D?” you know what i am going to do to
on.
y His‘arms were behind his back, just as when
he was first tied, and, except for the fire in his
V _ face, he looked as broken and helpless as he had
' ’ up redto be when he was brought into the
ea in.

“As on can do nothing at all," coldly an-
swored sher, “it is not worth while for me to
make a guess at what you are going to do.”

“ I am goin to kill you, you villain! Satan
has saved me or this.”

9‘ Be quiet, father 1” implored Susie. “Do
not anger him, or he may murder you.”

“Mu r me?” shrieked the mad prisoner.
, “Murder me P It is I who mean to murder
1’1 _ ' him!" ,

’ ' The gambler got up one of his best sneers for
 theoccasion.
,, " Sit down on old fool!” he said, a little
.f savagely. “ on are helpless, and you ought to
' ; know it. I could break you like a straw.”
" Here’s your chance, then. Break me 1”

 

 

 

CHAPTER XXXVI. I
BLANTON ON ran TRAIL.

Ir was but little more than an hour after
Timothy Marlow had left his ruined home on
the plateau, to begin the blind search for his

' - , daughter, when another man climbed the slope

’ from the trail. ,

r ' This was a youn er 'man than the Mad
’ Parson, who would g adly have recognized him,

had he come sooner, as Burch Blanton.

V / He had taken the earliest opportunity that his

‘2 duties allowed him'tovisit his betrothed, and

1“, alas expecting to pass a pleasant evening up
ere.

' When he had reached the level of the plateau,

« and was walking brisklyn toward the house, he

,- was surprised at perceiv g that there was no

_,igh ..

 

 

         
  
   
   
    
    
  
  
    
 

t Visible.
. ‘ At first be thought that he might be mistaken
orthat something hid the li bt from him; but a
3 nearer approach convinced im that the house
dark and apparently deserted.
What was the matter? What had become of
" Marlow and her people? Had they gone
. away and left the house locked?
‘ I There was nobod near enough for them to
,visit, and‘Susan at east, had never been known
tovabsent herself from the plateau after dark.
. 'It,must be, then, that some disaster had oc-

curred.

j Filled with fearful ap ehensions, the en-

gineer hurried toward the ouse, and stumbled,

V, as Timothy Marlow had done over the body of
young Marvel; but it was wrapped in a blanket,

and he did not stop to discover what it was.

' Reaching the house, he found his worst fears

1 confirmed.

The door was open, and a light that he made

showed him a picture of ruin ' and desolation
race was to be found, and thedestruction that

been raided, and that Susan Marlow had
1‘ ‘ would not have been likely to remove her body,
4 Batch Blanton' was wild with anger and ap—

_ within. , ~
. Neither Susan Marlow nor any other living
' visible told its own story. ,
.Thero could beno doubt that the place baa,
gkilled or can-led ofl‘. /

Not killed, it was probable, as the raiders
but taken away. it might be, to a fate that was
worse than death,

. prehensm' u; but he tried to calm himself and
consider the affair‘

lly. ,
Who had pe tr ted this outrage, and what
of- usan Marlowll r

We
_ r > ' ' ns atonce settledupon theoutlaws

with whom Dan Lasber and some of his friends
were known to have taken refuge.

Two of them had recently been hanged, and
as the Mad Parson had “assisted” at that er-
formance, the others might have wreaked t eir
vengeance by raiding his home; or it might be
that they had captured Susan with the in-
tention of making her pay for the part she had
taken in the defeat of their attack upon the
mine. ‘

Whatever the motive, thoselmountain toughs
were known to be a powerful and desperate
band, the more so sinco they had gained the aid
and leadership of Dan Lasher.

The were not only dangerous but were hard
tofin ,.and it would be useless for him to at-
tempt to seek them in the night or at any other
time.

Where was Susan‘s father at the time of the
raid? Where was Caesar, the dwarf?

Neither of them, if they had been there at the
time of the raid, could have been left alive, and
yet there was nothing to show that either of
them had met a violent death.

Was it possible that the scoundrels had found
the girl there alone and helpless?

It occurred to the engineer that he had
stumbled over something outside that had a
peculi r feeling, and that he ought to find out
what i was.

Perhaps it wasa bundle of clothing or bed-
ding. which the raiders had repare , but had
concluded to throw away, an yet it had not
felt like anything of that kind.

He took his ight—a bit of candle which
he had happened to bring away from the
mine-and went out to look at the “ some-
thing.”

Unrolling the blanket in which it was wrap-
ped, he was not really surprised by the discov-
ery that it was the dead body of a man; but he
was more than surprised when be perceived that
the body was that of Simon Marvell
~ A closer inspection showed that the young
man had been shot, and the conclusion was easy
that he had been at the house when it was at-
tacked, and had been slain in endeavoring to
defend Susan against her assailants.

But it was not to be supposed that the
raiders had en the trouble to cover his body
with a blank t, and who could have done that
for him?

This was a conundrum which Burch Blanton
could not guess; but one thing was clear to him,
and that was that he must give information of
the disaster as speedily as possible to those who
would be able and willing to help him search
for Susan Mai-10w, and to avenge the murder
of Simon Marvel.

The outlaws, if they had done the foul work,
had accomplished more than two objects by
their raid, and had got even with more than one
of their presumed nemies. . I

Even if the engineer should be able to find
them, it would useless for one man to
“ tackle" the band, especially on their own
ground. .

Therefore he must hasten to

. fit hel .
Coverin thebod of Simon arve as he had
found it, 9 ad something in the way of

weight to keep the blanket in its place, and hur—
ried away from the desolate house with a sorrow-
ful heart, full of the darkest fears, but animated
by a fierce desire to rescue Susie Marlow and
avenge her wrongs.

He almost tumbled down the slope in his
eagerness to get aggy from the plateau, and
narrowly esoaped rious injury that would

which he was heat.

As the night was intensely dark, and the trail
by no means a broad and easy one, Blanton’s re-
turn journey was not as rapid as the upward
trip had been, though be exerted himself to the
utmost to get forward as speede as possible.

He had come to the plateau on the wings of
love, full of pleasant thoughts and iioyful antici-

ations; he was returning with a eaden heart,
inwardldy cursing the obstacles which the dark-
en the rough trail placed in his way.

,When he reached the mine, the first business
connected with the search was there, and he at-
tended to it as uickly as possible.

He sent we to a few of the miners upon
whom he knew he could rely, and requested
them to join him in Topnotch at once. '

Then be mounted the only horse at the mine
and rode to town as fast as- the animal could
carry him. ‘ ,

‘ Th first person to be seen was Jacob Marvel,
ghoul be routed out of his bed at Burnbam’s
, otel, to inform him of the death of his son;

The old Tycoon was so completely broken
down by this terrible intelligence, that he was
at first quite incapable of action, and could not
even fix hiymind upon the subject sufficiently to
decide what should be done.

Then he was wild with rage, filled with an
almost insane desire for vengeance upon the
murderers of his son, but was still so excited by
grief aswell as by an r, that he was nearly

\

useless for the purpose in hand.
' Blanton, hOcher. attended to the most im-
nt part of the business, and did so with the .
east possible delay.
He sent word to

 

the two Eaglesons, who were

 

have spoiled his usefulness for the purpose on I

 

routed out of their beds as Jacob Marvel had
been, and who hurried to the hotel to get full
details of the sad news.

When these were furnished them by Blanton,
Ben Eagleson was at once up in arms and eager
for the fray.

Nothing, he declared, would please him better
than a chance to get at Dan Lasher and the men
in the mountains, whose presence there was a
continual menace to the peace of the Topnotcb
district.

If they could be in some way cleaned out,
killed or driven off, the labors of the Marshal of
Tripnotch would be lightened considerably.

ll he wanted was a decent pretext or excuse
for hunting them down and making a finish of
the band.

He was, also, more than anxious to settle with
them, if they should prove to be guilty, for the
murder of Simon Marvel, whose simple and
straightforward ways had endeared him to all
who had really become acquainted with him.

As soon as he had learned the particulars of
the disaster at the Mad Parson 5 home, Ben
Eagleson went in search of Pete Gannon, no
longer known as El Paso Pete whom be easily
found and brought to the hate .

Pete Gannon was also eager to go in pursuit
of the sooundrels up the mountain, his ardor
being increased by the remembrance of the ig-
nominious treatment he had received at the
hands of Dan Lasher, from whom he had barely
escaped with his life. ‘

He made an important contribution to the
necessary knowledge of the situation in the
statement that he had already sought and found
the camp or settlement of the outlaws, and that
he could easily lead a ty to it.

Jacob Marvel, who ad at first been helpless,
and then wildly excited, had fallen into a sort
of a stupor; but this statement of the detective’s
aroused him, and he took a lively interest in the
prfiparations for the pursuit of the outlaws.

is clear head, his first-rate executive ability,
and the money which be freely oflfered for the
equipment and reward of an expedition, speedil

straightened out all the tangles, and enabled his ~

lieutenants to get everything in proper trim and
am. .

Ben Eagleson and Pete Gannon hastened away
to get together a sumcient force of good fighting
men.

While they were absent, the miners upon
whom Burch Blanton had called for assistance
reached Topnotch, and came to the hotel, where
they were at once reco hired and accepted by
the old Tycoon as value 19 auxiliaries.

The night was then ended, as Blanton’s tri
from the plateau u the mountain, together wit
the subsequent exp anations and arrangements,
had taken a great deal of time. Q

When BenEagleson and Pete Gannon had re-
cruited their forces, and the superintendent had.
attended to procuring the equipments and sup-
plies for the expedition, the morning was so far
advanced that it was deemed best for all to get

‘ their breakfast before they left Topnotch.

Burch Blanton groansd inwardly and grum-
bled audibly at 'these delays; but he knew that
he had done all he could to start a speedy pur:
suit, and was compelled to curb his impatience
as far as he was able to.

As soon as breakfast was over, Jacob Marvel
set out with a party for Timothy Marlow’s
ruined home, to bring away the body of hisrson,
and the expedition of search and reven e started
for the upper mountain in a diflerent irection.

CHAPTER XXXVII.
COMING TO A CRISIS.

BY common consent it was settled that Dan
Lasher and his comrades, or at least the moun-
tain men with whom he had taken refuge, and
perhaps the entire band, were responsible for the
raid upon the plateau, for the death of Simon
Marve , and for the disappearance of_ Susan
Marlow.

As for the fate of the Mad Parson and the

dwarf, that Was a problem which nobody could- -

do more than guess at. 1

Therefore the. haunt of the outlaws was the
point at which the expedition must strike, and
thither it started to go, under the guidance and
direction of Pete Gannon.

Others in the party had a more or less distinct
idea of the location‘of the mountain camp and
the route by which it might be reached; but the
detective from the South was the only one who
had really been there, and who had noted the
most direct and accessible way to get to it.

It was useless to attempt to ride, as Gannon
declared that the greater part of ‘ the route was
entirely too rough for horses to travel, and so
they went on afoot. '

As fate would have it, Pete Gannon was not
so well acquained with the course as he had be-
lieved himself to be. though he Was-10th to con-
fess that fact, and did not confess it until the
confession was fairly forced from him.

Finally he could no longer doubt that he had
lost his way, and he found himself in such a

 

 

x

f;

tangle thathe was obliged to declare that he did .

no]:I know;h where he  - h d , ted
ore an oneo spar a suspec as
much, but allaccepted the ligation with re-
sonable equanimity, except Burch Blanton, who

 
 
 
 

_..._.. .. ......._........._ . ...

 

 

-w-

./.

/

.. “0......” v  .J. . 1.,

Topnotch Tim, the Mad Parson.

  

 

 

was so angry at the repeated interruptions and
delays that be fairly raved, and came near hav-
ing a personal difficulty with the detective who
had misled the party.

When this trouble was settled, scouts were
sent out to look for the trail, as it was certain
that there was a trail which led to the haunt of
the outlaws. ,

At last the trail was found by Pete Gannon,
who hurried back to the rendezvous, and Joy—
fully announced his discovery. . '

He was sure, too, that it was the right trail,
as he had seen landmarks which he had noted
on his previous journey. .

As soon as the other scouts were called in by
a signal that had been agreed upon, the party
set forward again; but their progress was. by no
means rapid, as the route was a very difficult
one.

So it happened that it was already night
when Gannon informed them that they were
Within gunshot distance of the outlaws" camp.

Then they moved more cautiously and quiet—
ly, sending two scouts in advance of the main

y, and finally, without any further misad—
venture, they reached a point _where they could
look down into the basin in which Timothy Mar—
low had been so ignominiously captured.

Though they could look down, there was
little they could see, as the darkness prevented
them from doing more than getting 'a glimpse
of the outlines of the cabins, which might have
been easily mistaken for chunks of rock or
clum of deeper blackness. '

A re had been burning in the middle of the
basin; but it was then merely a heap of embers,
and no sign of life was visible to the watchers
from above.

It was agreed that one of the party should go
down there as a scout, to reconneiter the
ground, to discover the location of the outlaws,
and toconsider what plan of attack would be
the most likely to put them at a disadvantage.

Pete Gannon volunteered for this duty, and
was acoepted, as being the fittest person in the
party for such an errand, and he slipped down
the slope so uietly that nothing was heard of
him after he eft his comrades. ' .

It was Burch Blanton’s opinion that they
ought at once to rush down into the basin and
begin aggressive operations: but ‘Ben Eagleson
reminded him that there was nothing to warrant
them in attacking a quiet and apparently peace-
able settlement or camp. I

As they had nothing but guesswork for the
sus icion that the men down there had been

u' ty of the outrage and murder at Timothy
rlow’s home, it would be necessary to wait
until some proof against them could be foundCi
or until by some act of lawlessness they shoul
invite a deadly assault. I _ _ _

Blantou, who was bailing over with im-
patience, was compelled to be satisfied With this,
though he was by no means content. .

Having ideas of his own, he soon slipped away
from his companions, and followed the detective
down the slope, making his way about as quiet-
1y as the other man had done.

Pete Gannon, who had been there before, and
had a. pretty good idea of the location of the
cabins, as well as of the general contour and
style of the basin, had instantly formed .a plan,
which he proceeded to carry out With his usual
coolness and very quietly. _

Nothing was stirring in the basm when .he
got down there, and t 9 reasonable conclusion
was that the occupants of the cabins were en-
joying sleep, though it might not be the sleep of
the 'ust. .

All? one cabin, however, he caught a glimpse
of a faint light that came through the chinks of
the 10 s. .

Thigher be bent his steps, as that was the only
sign of life which he had yet seen,

As he approached the rude building he heard
the sound of voices, or, at least, of one vows,
and he fancied that he recognized it.

’ Arrived in front of the cabin, his fancy be-i
came a fact, as he knew the voice to be that of
‘Dan Lasher.

Planting himself in front'of the door, he found
near it a pretty large chink, throughwhich he
could get a good view of what ,was gomg on in-
side.

The iirst thing he saw was Dan Lasher, seated
on a. rude stool in the middle of the little room,
about opp0site :o the door, and it was Hand-
some Dan who was doing the talking.

At his left, in a corner of/ the cabin, the Mad
Parson could be dimly seen by the uncertain
1i ht of a grease lamp. _

be old man had a seat somewhat Similar to
that of Lasherfs, and his hands were evxdently
tied behind his back, and he appeared ‘to be
complete] broken down, cowed and dispirited.

In anotEer corner was seated a young woman
whom th
low.‘

She seemed to be very pale, thou h her paler
Ines might have been caused by t e peculiar
/dim light, and imber face was an expresSion of

resolute defiance, mingled with extreme anxiety.

Dan Lasher, as has been said, was domg t e

talking, and the detective wa in time to hear a

(isonsiderable part of what he said to the Mad

arson. ,

detective recognized as Susan Mar-

He heard the ambler tell how he had per-
suaded Timothy arlow’s wife to quit her hus-
band aud meet him at a distant town.

He heard the old man ask what had become
of her, and heard Lasher tell of her death.

At this the detective gritted his teeth, and
looked as it" he might have something to say or
do concerning that matter.

Then the gambler announced his intentions
concerning Susan, and the old man implored
him to forego his purpose, and Lasher gave him
scorn in return for his entreaties.

At this juncture the detective examined his
revolver, to make sure that it wasin serviceable
condition.

Then he uoiselessly tried the door, to ascer-
tain whether it was locked, and discovered that
it would open easily.

He did not seem to be fulfilling the mission on
which his comrades had sent him down into the
basin, as his investigations were confined to one
point; but that pomt appeared to him to be of
more importance than anything else he could
take hold of, and he believed that in the circum-
stances he was doing the best he could.

He listened while the Mad Parson declared
that he meant to kill his persecutor, a threat
,which the gambler treated with contempt.

When the old man arose from his seat and
shouted his defiance, Pete Gannon admired his
pluck, but condemned his discretion.

What could he do, old and feeble, bound and
weaponless, against a stalwart adversary, who
had the full control of his movements, and who
was doubtless well “ heeled l” ‘

As Dan Lasher had said, he could break the
old man like a straw. and Gannon looked to see
him do it when the defiance was shouted at him.

Handsome Dan did not stir a hand or foot;
but the Mad Parson did.

He developed a suddenness and a power that
for an instant surprised and almost stunned the
detective. ,

His arms, which had seemed to be tied behind
his back, flew from that position long and sin—
ewy and capable, and his feeble and helpless
look disappeared, giving place to the furious as-
pect of a man who was thoroughly angry and
savagely in earnest.

Suddenly he leaped upon his adversary with
the spring of a panther, and clutched his throat
With those long and sinewy fingers. -

Dan Lasher was so 5 rised h this sudden
and vigorous attack, that e was t rown at his
balance, and was nearly strangled before he
could summon his senses to aid him.

Exerting all his stren th, he wrenched himself
loose from that frenzi grasp, and hurriedl
drew his revolver, thong it seemed that h 5
hands ought to be Sufficient for an encounter
with that feeble old man. "

But Susan Marlow, starting 11E with a short
erg,a had already rushed to her at er’s help.

izing the ambler’s hand, she diverted his
aim so that t e bullet from his pistol went
harmlessly u ward when he fired.

Just then ete Gannon threw open the door
and ran in, ‘making the odd decidedly against
Dan Lasher.

The Mad Parson needed no help.

Recovering himself as soon as he had been
thrown off, he returned to the attack, and again
clutched the gambler’s throat with his long and
sinewy fingers.

This time he got such a deadly grip that it
could not he s aken off, as his adversar ’s
btreath was stopped, and his strength went with
i .

The gambler turned black in the face, weak-
ened Visibly, and fell backward on the floor.
with the Mad Parson on top of him.

Thus far the contest was In" favor of Timothy
Marlow, and the only question was whether the
pistol-shot would arouse the men in the other
cabins and bringlthem to the aid of their chief.

To prevent t_ at as far as sible, Peter
Gannon drew his revolver, and aced the open
door.

 

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
THE MOUNTAIN WAR. .

As Burch Blanton had his own ideas of the
proper mode of attack by the expedition of
search and revenge, so he took his own view of
the situation as he found it in the basin.

He , quickly discovered that there Were four
cabins, which, were presumably occupied by
sleepers, as everything was quiet about them.

From one of them, however, came faint
glim sea of light, and at the door a man was
stan ing, who was doubtless Pete Gannon. ,

The detective ap red to be looking, or listen-
ing, and doing not ling else, and Blanton was of
the opinion that he had better not be interfered
with, as he might have some purpose which be
deemed of specuil importance. ,

Yet, thou h the other cabins were so quiet, it
occurred to lanton that any moment something
might happen to arouse their occupants, in
which case they might be expected to sally forth
and “ play the wil ;” .

At t eir own homes, and with their knowledge
of the locality, they would have such an advan-
tage as might make them hard to‘ handlcif their

 

fighting blood was up. i » ‘
If they could be confined to their quarts“,

_, .  .,_..i

' to pursue them, instead of meeting and stopping

 

rsto their adversaries from going to the asi
p 

cabin.

   
 
    
   
  
  
   
   
   
  
  
    
   
   
     
  
   
    
  
   
    
  
 
   
    
  
    
   
  
   
  
   
   
    
 
  
    
  
    
   
  
    
   
   
  
   
 
  
    
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
 
   
  
  
 
    
  
   
 
  
   
    

with the only way of egress well guarded, the
affair would be greatly simplified.

Up’on these ideas the engineer formed his plan,
and astened to put it in execution.

He decided that he must take upon himself the
mission which Pete Gannon appeared to be
no lecting.

e went back to his comrades as quickly and
quietly as possible, told them what he had seen,
and explained his simple plan, urging that it
should be adopted immediately, before the out--
laws could get out and put themselves in a posi»
tion of defense.

Ben Eagleson took kindly to this su gestion,
the more so as be perceived that-it wou not be
an aggressive act to station guards at the cabins,
and that the blame of the fight, if there was to
be a fight, might be put on the shoulders of the
mountain men.

As the other members of the expedition were
eager to get to work, no time was lost in adopt-
infi‘ Blanton’s plan.

hey hastened down into the basin, and the
marshal, with the aid of Blanton’s advice, at
once assigned the men to their positions.

Before they were fully in place, the report of'
a pistol~shot sounded from one of the cabins, '
and timmediately there was a stir in the settle-—
men . r

An outsider would not have supposed that
such a shot, fired inside of one o the cabins,
could have awakened sleeping men in another; V
but those mountaineers were Very quick of hear~ z, .
ing, and they usually slept, as the saying is, with
one eye open.

Ben Eagleson, with three of his party, had '
just stationed himself in front of a cabin, when
there was a bustle inside, and the door was
quickly opened. .

Three men started to rush out, looking as if
they had been suddenly aroused from slee , but;
also looking as if they had tumbled in o bed
with their clothes on, and had consequently not.
been compelled to waste any time in dressing.

“Halt, there!" ordered the marshal, as the /
first man made his appearance. ‘

“ What in blazes would we halt for, and who
air you. anyhow?" ~ '
“ Officers of the law) Stay where you are, or i:
we will shoot you downl” ' :

“Will you? Reckon two kin play at that!
Come on, boys l” V ~.

The three outlaws made a break but the
chances were against them, as they might have
known if they had not been the rudiment!
ton bs they were. .

at only did they have to face four wi e—
awake and well-armed men, but the narrow
doorway through which they must pass put.
them at a great disadvantage, as they could
easily be marked as they emerged from the

cabin.

So their bold break broke them up. = _

When two of them had been shot down. the '
third begged for quarter, and thus was ended.
the first conflict in the basin. '

The attention of the victors was immediately:
called to another quarter, where a , pretty hot
fight had been begun. v ‘

At the second cabin, which was nearer than:
the first to that from which the shot had come,
and further from Eagleson's men as they enter-i
ed the basin, the occupants had already at out-
sidg when ltheir itenentges cng in plslight 8 them, 
an were on ng war it e co w era the '
knew the shot bad been fired. y.

Thus the men from Topnotch were compelled

em. ’ .
They did not allow the firing at the first cabin , H
to distract their attention from the business“:. >“
hand; for it was evident that “the old man,”aa
they called Dan Lasher, was in danger, and that» _.
they mast hurry to help him.
At the door of his cabin they were metby - ‘
Pete non \ who resolutely opened fire a r
with his revolver, and bravely defended the ,.,
entrance. ‘ N ‘ ‘
Burch.Blanton, who hada sort of roving‘ .
commission in command of his men. from the 1
mine, had started toward the same cabin, and
he reached it in time to give the detective the
assistance that be sorely needed. - .

Then the others came up, and short work ‘i
was made of the“: detachment of outlaws; '
but not until Pete Gannon had. been badlyr
wounded. '

At the remaining cabin which maybe called
the fourth, the Topnotch men had not’had any-,p
thing like so easy a time. -  

In that cabin there were half a dozen men“
outnumbering by two the force that was 
against them, and they had the whip band of
their adversaries, 'as all had got outside
when the detachment of Topnotch men came at.
them. ' ’ -

They treated with derision the order to ball;
and surrender, and began business by imined,e
lately assuming the aggressive. I .V

The Topnotch men forced toretrca _ .,
their friendsfor help, and Ben Ea 680 ‘and‘ (
his party, having won their part the h
hurried to them, reaching them in, time to

   
   
    
   

 
 

sistsnce of their

   
  
  

own friends ‘at Don \

 
  

 
 

 

\

  

28

The outlaws, perceiving that the odds were
then against them, scattered, and began a guer-
rilla fight. _ _ .

Circling around the cabin, and availin them-

,eelves of such cover as they knew to be andy,
they were difiicult to get at, and their presence
was decidedly dan erous.

' Desirous of avoi ing bioodshed as far as was

1 possible, Ben Eagleson called off his men, and
started a. new scheme for the discomfiture

' of the enemy.

' As the darkness favored the outlaws, who
' , ware thoroughly ac uainted with every foot of

v I ground in the basin, edecided that there should

be no darkness;
w Therefore he set fire to one Of the cabins, and

\ soon had it burning briskly and brightly.

Thus he made a light by which the where-
abouts of the outlaws could be discovered,
‘and deprived them of one of their places of
refuge.

Another cabin was fired, and another, and
then all were in a blaze, except that which was
occupied by Dan Lasher.

' The rest of the work, owing to the light and

* the destruction, was easy enough.

l' ‘ Of the remaining outlaws, some were shot,
3 and a. few were captured, but the most of them

 I. escaped, glad to get off with whole skins, and
‘ 'l the mountain war was ended.

/ CHAPTER XXXIX.
"g , ‘ ran END or nannsom: DAN.
, - ' THE battle in the basin being ended, the at-
 ! tention of the victors was directed to the casu-

' alties of the campaign, which were not as light

‘ \ as the leader of the expedition had hoped they
‘,-' mi ht be.
I we of the Topnotch men had been killed out-
“ right; two, including Pete Gannon, Were had]
9‘ ' wounded, and there were a few slight woun s
' which were not counted.
The lasses of the outlaws were considerably
heavier; but there was no sympathy for any of
' them, as they had long been a nuisance and a
V ' terror to the To notch region.

" In front of Ban Lasher’s cabin, where the
' .«hottest fight was made, the mountain men had
suffered the most severely.

Susan Marlow, hearing the shots and the tu-

    
    
   
   
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
   
    
   
   
   
    
  
 
   
   
   
    
  
  
  
 
 
  

hnxieties; but Pete Gannon had tried to calm
and console her as soon as he could, assuring her
that it was “ all right.”

Following this assurance, Burch Blantcn
rushed‘into the cabin, and the next moment she
i was clasped in the arms of her lover.
“ You are safe 1” exclaimed Burch.
thankful! How is your father?”

Timothy Marlow was standing silent in the
‘middle of the room, looking down upon the
form of his late persecutor and antagonist, who
,fa insensible on the floor.
ete Gannon had intended to ull the old man
of! before he could crush the Ii 9 out of his ene-
" my, but had been com lled to give his undi-

vided attention to the etachment of outlaws
who attacked the cabin.

, When' he‘ had been wounded, he got into a
safe place. attempting to stop the flow of blood,
and saw the Mad Parson standing there, looking
down at Handsome Dan.

“ I wondhr if that man istdead,” he remarked.
' - “ I hope he is,” calmly answered the Mad
Parson. “ He ought to be. I meant to kill him,
' and he deserved death. after he told me of what
' he had done and expected to do.”
. ‘ dyes, I heard’that. or the most of it, and I
will have somethin to say about that after a.
while. But I hope t 9 man is not dead. There
, may be something to he got out of him. If ,I

was able—"l .

H , “ You are pretty badly ofi’, yourself, Mr.
, Gannon,” broke in Burch Blanton. “Let me
, see if I can straighten you up.”

L The young engineer was not‘a bad rough sur-
geon, and Ben Eagleson had wisely included in
the stores of the expedition a few appliances for
Mounds and other casualties. ,

;. Blauton’ called him in, and between them
~ ,‘tbey , dressed the 'detective’s wound in fairly'

“I am so

- vgood style. 1
r Then, at Gannon’s earnest West, they ap-
' \gplied themselves to an attem t to ring the in-

I sensible Dan Lasher back to 'fe..
,"Whisky was ’the principal remedy appliedin
that case. . ‘ ‘ ,
I _ Administering it liberally internally, and vig-
orously rubbing it on externally, they soon had
the satisfaction—if it was a satisfaction—of see
fling the! patient gasp and open his mouth and
.6 ,
aeneea'did not seem to return to im, and he sat
there silent and motionless, looking wait there
waa'no life in him worth speaking of.
f‘ You said that you might have something to
,y,'M€.g2nnon,” remarked Timothy Marlow,
gpou

 

story that man told me. What is,

 truth, u; ailie. Your wife,
’blei” 7. '
(( Is 

 

malt outside, had been filled with fears and‘

3,5. ‘ r
’110 was propped up against t e wall, but his,

it .
, “I'I‘have‘ to so that what he told you was,

 

“ She‘was alive 8. month or so ago, to my cer-
tain knowledge,” answered the detective. “That
man lied, too, when he said that she had been
living with him as his wife. She had never done
anything of the kind. I took pains to trace the
whole matter through a lon time ago."

“What became of her, t en?” demanded the
Mad Parson. I

“That is what I am going to tell you. It is
true that be enticed her away from Anoka; but,
when she reached the town where she was to
meet him, she repented, and refused to have
anything to do with him. He left her in anger,
and since then has often met and annoyed her,
but to no purposc.” .

“But, what became of her?” again demanded
the old man.

“ She was ashamed and afraid to return to
her home—ashamed to meet her child, and
afraid to face her husband.”

“ She would have been gladly welcomed. My
wife, the mother of my child, could never have
been turned away.”

Susie had gone to herfather’s side and taken
his hand, and just then she kissed him.

“ Do you know where she is now?" he asked.

“ I do not. She supported hersclf in one way
and another, but always honestly, and her work,
together with her desire to avoid that man,
kept her moving from place to place. A month
or so a o I knew where she was; but she was
then a ut to leave that place. Probably that
lying wretch knows where she is, and I wish he
could be made to tell.” .

“ You have been some timefin Topnotch. Why
did on not 've me this information sooner?”

“ ecause wanted first to find out how your
wife would be treated if she should return to
you. Besides she had made me promise to keep
her secret. I would not have told it yet, had
it not beenfor the meanness of that man’s lies
to you. I wish the truth could be ‘squeezed out
of him.” ,

Dan Lasher was seated as he had been left,
propped up against the log wall of the cabin,

coking as if his body had broken down and his
mind had deserted him. ,

Yet he was not without intelligence, and now
and then, when Pete Gannon was speaking, his
eyes glittered, and his lip curled with scorn.

When the detective wished that the truth
could be ueezed out of him, he almost laughed.

“ It sh be done,” declared the old man.
“ If he knows anything hewill have to tell it."

Ben Eagleson had come in with a few others,
and had listened to the greater part of this con-
versaticn.

He now went outside with Marlow and Burch
Blanton and the rest, leaving one man to watch
the gambler. '

Outside they held a consultation, at the close
of which they filed into the cabin, all looking
solemn, as if they had settled a. very Serious
question. . I .

“ Dan Lasher,” said the marshal, as he stood
and faced the prisoner, “it has been decided
,, by this committee that you desarve death, be-
cause you are responsible for the death of Simon
Marvel, and because you carried this young
lady away from her home with most villainous
intentions.” I " I

The prisoner sneered faintly. :

“1t has been decided that you must hang,”
continued the marshal: “ but we mean to ive
you a chance for your life. If you will tell his
old man where his wife can be found, and will
leave this part of the country never to return,
we will let you go.” «

‘ Tell me where she is, so that I can get her,”
implored the Mad Parson, “ and I will forgive
you all the wrong you have done and intended
to me and mine! ’ '

The gambler’s sneer, though evident, was a
very feeble one, and his voice could. hardly be
heard as he answered:

“ I don‘t know where she is.”

“ Get a rope !” ordered Ben Eagleson.

f WEED the rope was brought there was no use
or: . /

Dan Lasher’s face had turned ghastly, his
open eyes were, lazed, his jaw dropped, a shiVer
passed over his rame, and he died with a sneer
on his lip—mo longer Handsome Dan, but a
corpse which looked like the body of a (man at
least fittfi’gears old. ‘ . '

“Iki ‘ him,” said the Mad Parson, “and
meant-to. Satan saved me for that, and now
Satan will loose his grip on me.”

The few outlgws who were held as risoners
were allowed t go, after being warn that it
would not. be, safe for them toshow their faces
in t e Topnotch district again. , ,

The man who killed Caesar, ,the dwarf, would
surely have been hanged if he had been caught;
but he had made his escape, \

I Decent burial was given the two Topnotch
men who had fallen in the battle; but it was de-
cided that cremation would be the best way to
dis of the others. . I
herefore their bodies. after all had been duly
searched, were carried into the cabin ,where Dan
Lasher lay, and the\cahin was set on fire in sev-
eral, laces. ’ - ‘ V - V i
I, It urned brilliantly;'and by its light the ex-
’ iticn, left the basin with Timothy Marlow
-andhisdaughter- 

 

../

 

 

    

TopnOtch Tim, the Mad Parson;

CHAPTER XL.
susm’s DOWER.

TIMOTHY MARLOW did not return to his "

ruined home, but went to To notch with, the
others, where he left Susie at urnham’s hotel,
greatly to the satisfaction of Burch Blanton.

Accompanied by Pete Gannon, he went away
on a long journey, his purpose being well known
to his daughter and her betrothed.

With the aid of the detective, he finally dis«
covered his long-lost wife, and easily persuaded
her to return with him to Tcpnotch.

There was a joyful reunion of Susie and her
mother, and it was agreed that the past should
be buried in oblivion, and a new life should be-
gin for all three.

Matters being so pleasantly arranged, Blanton
pressed for an early marriage, and his request,
as it was favored by Susie, was readily granted.

The young people were married at the hotel,
and their marriage was the occasion of a
general jubilee at Topnotch, as well as at the
mine.

Shortly after the marriage the old couple
went to the yet desolate home on the plateau, to
restore the ruined furniture, and generally put
the place in order.

This task was soon completed to the satisfac-
tion of all. and the home looked brighter and
more beautiful than ever.

In the midst of this happiness it was evident
that something was preyin on the young hus-
band’s mind, and after a w ile he made known
the cause of his anxiety. '

“ I will be very sorry, Mr. Marlow,” said he,
‘,‘ to take Susie away rom you and from this
pleasant home, but I am afraid that I will be
forced to do so before long, as my business—”

“ Don’t worry about your business, my son,”
broke in the old man. “I can easily convince
you that there is more money for you right here
than you will be likely to find anywhere else.”

“  is that,er. Marlow? What do you
mean.

The father-in-law opened a trunk, from which '

he took a heavy canvas bag, and poured out on
the floor a mass of gold nuggets and chips and
splinters.

“ Are those worth anything?” he asked.

“ Worth anything?” replied the astonished

young man. " I should say that they are. I
ave scarcely1 ever Seen any such rich specimens.
Where did t ey come from?”

“That bag, my boy, was on poor Cesar’s
body when he was killed by these scoundrels,
and they ne lected to search him. I took it
from him, an fastened it upon my own rson,
and me, also, they failed to search, an so it
happened that I brought the bag safely to Top-
notch, and have it yet.”

“But I don’t understand. Where did Cesar
get the cimens?”

“ He 0 ipped them off from the outcroppings
of a little claim of mine near here.”

“A little claim? I should think that you
might well call it a big claim.”

‘ Come with me. I Will show it to you, and
then you can decide whether it is a bi claim.”

Burch Blanton accompanied the 0d man to

the narrow gulch where. Caesar was working at '

theitime of the raid on the plateau, and to the

bonanza that was so well hid in a niche of the I

rock.

When the young engineer saw what was

there, and examined the rock in the light of his

eological knowledge and mining experience
it astonished him even more than the bag of
specimens. 

He declared that it‘ was a, wonderfully rich
discoveryyhnd that a fortune could easily be
got out of it. . , ’

“That is my daughter’s dower,” said the
old man. “ The claim has been properly made
‘a drecorded, nd it shall belong to you and
Susie. You n easily et capital to work such
a bonanza as that, and venture to predict that
:he Tppnotch ’Mine will not be a circumstance

o it. - I
“ But what do you expect to do?”

‘f I shall go back to the ministry of the Gos- '

pel. Satan has at last let me loose, and I am
again fit to preach the Word. To that I shall
devote what is left of my life.” .

And so it was. Timothy Marvel soon nth-
cred a congregation in the rising town of op—r'
notch, to whom he ministered so acceptably
that a church was built for him, and he was no

longer known as Topnotch Tim or the Mad Par- ‘

son, but as Parson Marlow, who was univer-
sally respected and loved. ‘ ‘
Burch Blanton and his wife settled on ’the

beautiful plateau. and his expectations concern-f

ing‘ the bonanza in the gulch were more than‘
realized. .v , v

The body of Caesar was removed from under
the pile of stones, and was buried on the plateau,

where his grave was ‘ carefully tended by Susan

, Blauton. ' ..

After the tragicevents that followed the closé

I ing of the gaming-places and other resorts, Jacob

Marvelvand the rest of the Tycoons wax-editin-
clined to make any further efforts to regulate
the morals of qunotch. but alloIvyed-the town
to run itself, greatly to the satisfaction and
prosperity of the-people. . y-'
 m m.»- . v.

I .

\

 

 

   
   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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BEADLE’S*DIME*EBRARY.

Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

BY WILLIAM R. EYSTER.

145 Pistol Pards: or. The SileutSport from Cinnabar.

160 Soft Hand. Shar ; or, Thy» Man with the Sand.

182 Hands Up; or, T 6 Knights of the Canyon.

192 The Lightning Sport.

214 The Two 0001 Sports; or. Gertie of the Gulch.

229 Captain Cutsleeve; or, The Little Sport.

268 Magic Mike, the Man of Frills.

800 ABSport in Spectacles; or, The Bad Time at

unco.

333 Derringer Dick. the Man with the Drop.

344 Double Shot Dave of the Left Hand.

356 Tune Handsome Sports; or, The Double Com-
bination.

375 Royal Geo e, the Three in One.

396 The Piper etective.

40‘2 Snapshot Sam: or, The Angels‘ Flat Racket.

429 Hair Trigger Tom of Red Bend.

459 Major Sunshine. the Man of Three Lives.

478 Pinnacle Pete; or. The Fool from Way Back.

BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID.
8 The Headless Horseman; A Strange Story of

Texas.
12 The Death-Shot: or, Tracked to Death.
55 The Scalp Hunters. A Romance of the Plains.
66 The Specter Barque. A Tale of the Pacific.
74 Tl}? Captain of the Rifles; or, The Queen of the
8. es.
200 The Rifle Rangers; 01'. Adventures in Mexico
208 The White Chief. A Romance of Northern Mex-

100.
‘213 The War Trail: or, The Hunll of the Wild Horse.
218 The Wild Huntress; or, The Squatter's Ven-
eance.
228 Thge Maroon. A Tale of Voodoo and Obeah.
234 The Hunter’s Feast.
%7 The White Squaw.

BY CAPT. FRED. WHITTAKEB.

£31! The Russian Spy; or. The Starry Cross Brothers.
. 65 The Red Rajah; or. The See a of the Indies.
1 69 The Irish Captain. A Tale of Pontenoy.
:96 Double Death; or. The Spy oi! W oming.
98 The Rock Rider; or, The Spirit 0 the Sierra.
208 The Duke of Diamonds.
115 The Severed Head; or, The Secret of Castle

Coucy.
1112 Nemo. King of the Tramps.
159 Red Rudi r. the Archer.
174 The Phan in Kni hts.
187 The Death’s II Cuirassiers.
198 The Man in Bed.
206 One Eye. the Cannoneer.
211 Colonel Plunger; *or The Unknown Sport.
215 Parson Jim. King of the Cowboys.
£6 The Mad Bussars; or. The 0‘s and the Mac’s.
2-30 The Flvinz Dutchman of 1880.
242 The Fog Devil; or. The Skipper of the Flash.
247 Alligator Ike: or. The Secret of the Eve lade.
$3 A Yankee Cossack; or.The Queen of the hilists.
265 Old Double-Sword; or Pilots and Pirates.
2793 Seth Slocum. Railroad Surveyor.
2?? The Saucy Jane. Privateer. ‘
$4 The Three Frigates; or. Old Ironsides’ Revenge.
290 The Lost Corvette: or, Blakeley’s Last Cruise.
295 Old Cross-Eve. the Maverick-Hunter.
308 Top-Notch Tom. the Cowboy Outlaw.
'810 The Marshal of Satanstown; or. The Cattle-
Lii'ters' League.
3% The Whitest Man in the Mines.
378 John Armstron . Mechanic.
406 Old Po Hicks. howmnn.
41% Larry ke. the Man of Iron.
4.45 Journeyman John. the Champion.

BY onn coomns.

7 Death-Notch. the Destroyer. /
48 Dakota Dan. the Reckless Ran r. .
44. Old Dan Rsckbaok the Great rminntor.
46 Bowie~Knife Ben the Nor’west Hunter.
’ 48 idaho Tom. the Young Outlaw or Silverland.
51 Red Bob. the Boy Road-Agent.
99 The Giant Rifleman: or. Wild Camp Lite.
137 Long Beard. the Giant Spy.
148 One-Armed Alt. the Giant Hunter.

BY ANTHONY P. MORRIS.

5 The Fire Fiends; or. Hercules. Hunchbalo‘k.

33 Azhort. the Axman; or, The Palace Sec ta.
‘1 The French Spy' or. The Bride of Paris.
167 The Man oi! Steel. Tale of Love and Terror. v
185 Man S ider; or. The Beautiful Sphinx.
5338 Hank ound the Crescent Cit etective.
260 The Masked Mystery; or The Crescent.
ass Electra Pete. t a Man 0 him.

806 The Roughs of Richmond.
818 Mark M c, Detective.

334 The Cip er Detective; or, Mark; Magic‘s New r

Trail.
343 The Head Hunter; or, Mark Magic in the Min.
357 Jack Simona. Detective.

BY PROF. J. H. INGBAHAM.

113 The Sea Slipper; or, The Freebooters.
118 The Burglar Captain; or. The Fallen Star.
814 Lafitte' or. The Pirate of the Gulf.

 

am Lama’s lieutenant; or. Child or the See.
,J '

BY J. C. COWBRICK.

390 The Giant Cupid: or Cibuta John’s Jubilee.
422 Blue Grass Burt. the Gold Star Detective.
436 Kentucky J can, the S art from Yellow Pine.
45;! Rainbow Rob, the Tu ip from Texas.

473 Gilbert of Gotham, the Steel-arm Detective.
499 Twilight Charlie, the Road Sport.

BY CAPTAIN MARK WILTON.
176 Lady Jaguar. the Robber Queen.
194 Don Sombrero. the California Road Gent.
202 Cactus Jack, the Giant Guide.
219 The Scor ion Brothers; or. Mad Tom’s Mission.
223 Can on ave, the Man of the Mountain.
2‘27 Buc shot Ben, ihe Man-Hunter of Idaho.
237 Long-Haired Max; or, The Black League.
2%!) llarranca Bill, the Revolver Champion
258 Bullet Head, the Colorado Bravo.
26's Iron-Armed Abe the Hunchback Destroyer.
266 Leopard Luke the King of Horse-Thieves.
271 Stoneflst. of Big Nugget Bend. .
276 Texa : Chick. the Southwest Detective.
285 Lightning Bolt, the Canyon Terror.
291 Horseshoe Bank. the Man of Big Luck.
305 Silver-Plated So], the Montana Rover.
311 Heavy Hand; or, The Marked Men.
328 Hotspur Hugh; or, The Banded Brothers.

BY SAM S. 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 Trium h.
191 The Terrible Tonkaway; or, Old Rocky and is

Pards. .
195 Tliéllaifione Star Gambler; or, The Magnohas

199 Diamond Dick. the Dandy from Denver.

904 Big Foot Wallace. the King of the Lariat.

212 The Brazos Tigers; or. The Minute Men.

217 The Serpent of El Paso: or. Frontier Frank.

221 Desperate Duke, the Guadalou e “ Galoot.’

225 Rocky Mountain Al: or The alt of the Range.
289 The Terrible Trio; or. The Angel of the Army.
244 Merciless Mart. the Man Tiger of Missouri.

250 The Rough Riders: or. Sharp Eye the Scourge.
256 Double Dan‘ the Dastard; or, The Pirates.

264 The Crooked Three.

sea The Bayou Bravo; or. The Terrible Trail.

273 Mountain Mose. the Gorge Outlaw.

283 The Merciless Marauders; or Carl’s Revenge.
237 Dandy Dave and his Horse. White Stockin .

298 Stampede Steve: on The Doom of the oubie

ace.
801 Bowider Bill; or. The Man from Taos.
809 Raybold. the Battling Ran er.
3532 The Crimson Co ates: or its. the Nemesis.
’328 King Kent; or, he Bandits of the Boson. \
842 Blanco Bill. the Mustang Monarch.
858 The Prince of Pan Out.
871 Gold Buttons; or, The Up Range Pards.

BY DR. .7. H. ROBINSON.

 

is Pathaway; or, Nick Whiflles. the old Nor'west"

Trn r.
17 N ht: ads; or. The Robber Prince.
Q itelaw; or. Nattie oi the Lake Shore. ~
87 Hirl, the Hunchback; or. The Santos Sword-

m or.
58 Silver Knife: or. The Rocky Mountain Ranger.
70 H drsbad. the Strangler.
78 T on hts or the dCross; or, The Granada

Magic an. .
188 Ben rion; or, Redpath, the Avenger.

BY MAJOR DANGERFIELD BUB“.
92 Buflalo Bill. the Buckskin King.
117 Dashing Dandy; or. The Hot ur of the Hills.
142 Ca thin Crimson the Man or t 0 Iron Face.
158 Ve 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 tor.

BY MAJOR DANIEL BOON! DUMON'I‘.
388 Silver Sam. the Detective. .

889 Colonel DoubieEdge, the Cattle Baron‘s Pard.
411 The White Crook: or. Oid Hark‘s Fortress.

420 The Old River Sport; or. A Man of Honor.

4.89 Salamander Sam. 4 ‘

454 The Night Raider. -<

464 Sandycraw. the Man of Grit.

BY GEORGE C. JEN S.
898 Sleepless e. the Pacific Detective.
482 The Giant orseman.

, BY COLONEL BELLE SARA. '
58 Silver Sam; or, The Mystery of Deadwood City.

87 The Scarlet Captain; or. Prisoner of the Tower 1

106 Shamus O'Brien, the Bould Boy ‘of Gllngsl.

. BY GEO]! E ST. GEORGE.

296 Dun the Sea ver.
417 Tucson om; or, The Fine Trailers.

BY 1:. s. u. mox. '

471 The Heart of Oak Detective.
491 Zigzag and Cutt. we Invincible Detectives.

y

moat.
. 88 The Fighting Tr:

 

 

J

BY NEWTON M. CURTISS.

120 The Texan Spy; or. The Prairie Guide.
254 Giant Jake. the Patrol of the Mountain.

BY FRANCIS JOHNSON.

25 The Gold Guide- or. Steel Arm, Regulator.

26 The Death Track; or. The Mountain Outlaws.
123 Alapaha the Squaw; or, The Border Renegades.
124 Assowaum the Avenger; or, The Doom of tho

Destro er.

135 The Bus Ranger: or. The Half‘Breed Rajah.
136 The Outlaw Hunter; or. The Bush Ranger.

138 The Border Bandit: or. The Horse Thief‘s Trail.

1 BY C. BUNNING CLARK.

164 The Kin ’s Foal.
183 Gilbert e Guide.

BY COL. THOMAS ll. MONSTERY.
82 Iron Wrist. the Swordmaster.
126 The Demon Duelist; or. The Les e 01' Steel.
148 The Czar's Spy; or. The Nihilist eague.
150 El Ruble Bravo. King of the Swordsman.
157 Mourad, the Mameluke; or. The Three Sword.

masters.
169 Corporal Cannon. the Man of Forty Duels.
236 Champion Sam; or The Monarchsot the Show'
262 Fightin Tom. the error of the Toughs.
8873 Spring- eel Jack; or, The Masked Mystery.

BY ISAAC HAWKS. lax-Detective.

232 Orson Oxx; or, The River Mystery.
240 A Cool Head; or. Orson Oxx in Peril.

BY GUSTAV]! A IMARD.

15 The Tiger Slayer; or. Eagle Heart to the Rescue.

19 Red Cedar. the Prairie Outlaw.

20 The Bandit at Bay; or, The Prairie Pirates.

21 The Tranper's Daughter; or, The Outlaw‘s Fate.

24 Prairie lower. -

652 ‘Loyal Heart: or: The Trappers of Arkansas.
149 The Border Rifles. A Tale of the Texan War. 1
151 The Freebooters. A Story of the Texan War.
158 The White Soalper. r.

BY NED BU NTLINE.

14 m endan en the Scou ' or The War-Eagle.
18 TheNVinte Wizard; or, Th?3 ' hole Prophet.
18 The Sea Bandit; or. The Queen of the isle.

23 The Red Warrior; or. The Comanche Lover.
.11 he“... -. e...

e mugger a n- or. e rs e.

122 Saul Sabberday, e Idiot . me
270 Andros the Rover: or The rate's Daughter.
361 Tombstone Dick, the 1: Pilot.

MISCELLANEOUS. '
6 wgvci‘catl Bob. the Boss Bruiser. By Edam-an.
or

so .
9 Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover. '
10 Vidooq, the French Police Spy. Written by ,

himself.
11 Midshipman Easy. Ca Nil Enact. '
' 82 B‘hoys of Yale: or. The Soil-apes o llsgisns.

1'
80 Wide Awake, the Robber King. By Frank Du-

. Cs c. 3.1130. '
76 The een‘s Mus etesraByBy Geo MW
The ysterious Spy. By Arthur . Gninker.‘

78
‘ 102 The Masked Band tor, The Man withoutst .

By George L. Al on. .
110 The Silent Riflemnn. By K. W. Herbert. "
125 The Blacksmith Outlaw; or. Merrie England.
B Harrison Ainsworth. . '
138 %be Rover. By William Carleton.
140 The roe S n . By
144 Tune Bunch 01 Retro Dune. By
u ‘ , ,
146 The 53cm Detective. By George Lemuel. .
152 Captain Ironnerve. the Counterfeiter . ‘ . v' ~’
158 The Doomed Dozen. a; Dr. Frank Powell. ’
166 0&3 the Robber ace. By Sepflmns R.
n. 
179 Conmd the Convict. Prof. G .
190 The Three GuardsmenPyB Alexfiggmu
an Blfilgrssim, the Prairie Iliunderbolt. By. Col.
11. l :
975 The Smurgier Cutter: or. The Cavern in the '
. . D. Conroy. ‘
812 Kirili'kfoot ‘ l. the Mountain Scourge. By Mort
w ng. ‘ ’
880 Ct]? Colt, the Quaker City Detective. By'Ohu-lel ‘

0 S.
350 Flash Falcon. the Society Detective. By Weldon

Victor

J. Cobb.
858 Bart Brennan; or. The King or Straight min.
BvJoh Cuthbert. 1’ l

n . ,
868 T152 Telegraph Detective. By George Henry ‘

orse.
410 Sarah Bro“, Detective. . .
500 The True-Heart Pards;  lI‘ianglen
Vagabond. By Dr. Neel Dunbar. ' -- -
‘ A new lam m Wednesday. \
“3.33109- tgusset Library is for sale - all
.3... . .mresstmwisirsr “is
as William Street, New York.

‘ u

 

 

  

   

'/

I

,BEADLE’SrDIMErflBRARY.

Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

 

 

BY CQL. PREN'I‘ISS INGRAHAM.

2 The Dare Devil; or, The Winged Sea Witch.
85 The Cretan Rover; or, Zuieikah the Beautiful.
89 The Pirate Prince; or. The Queen of the Isle.
94 Freelance. the Buccaneer.
108 Merle, the Mutinevr; or. The Red Anchor Brand.
104 Montezuma. the Merciless. a.
109 Captain Kyd. the King of the Black Flag.
116 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.
131 Buckskin Sam. the Texas Trailer.
134 Darkey Dan. the Colored Detective. l
189 Fire E e; or. The Bride of a Buccaneer.
147 Gold pur. the Gentleman from Texas.
‘ 155 The Corsair Queen: or. The Gypsies of the Sea.
162 The Mad Mariner; or. Dishonored and Disowned
; 168 Wild Bill. the Pistol Dead Shot.
172 Black Pirate; or The Golden Fetter: Mystery.
177 Don Diablo. the Planter-Corsair.
181 The Scarlet Schooner; or. The Sea Nemesis.
1 The Ocean Vampire; or. The Castle Heiress.

. 189 Wild Bill‘s Gold Trail; or. The Desperate Dozen.
198 The Skeleton Schooner; or. The Skimmer.
9105 The Gambler Pirate; or. Lady of the Lagoon.
210 Buccaneer Bess. the Lioness of the Sea.
218’ The Corsair Planter; or. Driven to Doom.
2‘20 Tho Specter Yacht; or, A Brother‘s Crime.

, 234 Black Beard. the Buccaneer.
281 The Kid Glove Miner; or, The Magic Doctor.
285 Red Lightning the Man of Chance.
246 ueen Helen. the Amazon of the Overland.

, 255 , he Pirate Priest; or. The Gambler’s Dau hter.
259 Cutlass and Cross; or. the Ghouls of the ca.
231 TheSea Owl; or. The Lady Ca tain of the Gulf.
807 The Phantom Pirate; or. The later Wolves.
‘813 The Indian Buccaneer; or. The Red Rovers.

825 The-Gentleman Pirate; or. The Casco Hermlts.
829 The League of Three: or. Buffalo Bill’s Pledge.
836 The Magic Ship; or. Sandy Hook Freebooters.
841 The Sea DeSpe ado.

. 346 Ocean Gueml ; or. Phantom Midshi man.
362 Buffalo Bill‘s rip; or Oath Bound to uster.
864 The Sea Fugit ve; or, The Queen of the Coast.
869 The Coast Lorsatr; or, The Siren of the Sea.

373 Sailor of Fortune; or, The Barne at Buccaneer.
377 Afloat'and Ashore: or. The Corsa r. Cons irator.
888Whe Giant Buccaneer: or, The Wrecker itch.

. 893 The Convict Captian.

899 The New Monte Cristo. I
418 The Sea Siren; or. The Fugitive Privateer.
425 The Sea Sword; or. The Ocean Rivals.

i 480 The Fatal Frigate; or, Rivals in Love and War.
.435 The OneArmed Buccaneer.

446 Ocean 0 . the Outcast Corsair.
457 The Sea nsurgent. .

469 The Lieutenant Detective.

476 Bob Brent, the Buccaneer.

482 Ocean Tram s.

(489 The Pirate miter .
493 The Scouts of the Sea.

I

BY WILLIAM H. MANNINGA,
m Tito Golld~Dragoon, or. The California ‘kBlood-

oun .

397* Colorado Rube. the Strong Arm of Hotspur.

885 Will Dick Turpin. the Leadville Lion.

405 Oid'Baldy. the Brigadier of Buck Basin.

415 Hot Heart, the Detective S y.

427 The Rivals of Montana M

437 Dee‘pDuke: or, The Man of Two Lives.

, 442 Wil West Walt. the Mountain Veteran.
449 31qu Burke. Ki of the Rockies. 1
455 Yank Yellowbir . the Tail Hustler'of the Hills.
403 Gold Gauntlet. the Gulch Gladiator. -
470 The Duke of Dakota. r
470 Gladiator Gabe, the Samson of Sassajack
480 Kansas Kitten.’ the Northwest Detective.
492 Border Bullet, the Prairie Sharpshooter;
'498 Central Pacific Paul. the Mail Train Spy.

BY nnwsnn wrn'nn'r'r.

12! Mississippi Mose; or. a Strong Man‘s Sacrifice.
Buck Farley. the BonanzaPnnce.
Bill the Blizzard: or. Red Jack’s Crime.

' ~ 548 Montana Nat. the Lion of Last Chance Camp.

.2 7'

l,

* _‘~ 451 Grip! c
5 m The

974 Mush Fred; the Mississippi Sport.

80 Flush Fred s Full‘Hand.

as Log er Lem; or. Life in the Pine Woods.

nos Hem k Hank. Tough and True. ~

815.111th Fred’s Double; or, The Squatters’ League.
327 Terrapin Dick, the Wild wood Detective!

‘ , V 387 Old Gabe. the Mountain Tramp.

M8 Dan ion. King of Crosscut.
808 The nyon King: or. a Prlce on his Head. /
48$ Flush Fred. the Riv. Sharp.

r B! JACKSON KNOX-4‘ old Hawk.”

, 1180 Hawk Heron. the Falcon Detective.

Hawk Heron‘s Deputy. '
icDetective- or. The Hidden Hand.
. the Rocket DetectiVe.

s Detecti
(07 Main . the Salamander.
417 ndt. .
- 435 Rowlock. the Harbor Detective .
V 404 The Detectives Spy. _

-

 

BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. W. F. Cody).

52 Death-Trailer. the Chief of Scouts.

5’3 Gold Bullet Sport; or, Knights of the Overland.
243 Pin: Pilgrim Shar ; or, The Soldier‘s Sweetheart.
304 Texas Jack. the rairle Rattler.

319 Wild Bill, the Whirlwind of the West.

391 White Beaver. the Exile of the Platte.

397 The Wizard Brothers; or. White Bé-aver‘s Trail.
401 One-Anned Paul: or. Borderland Retribution.
414 Red Renard. the Indian Detective.

BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR.

28 Three-Fingeer Jack. the Road-Agent.
30 Gospel George; or, Fiery Fred. the Outlaw.
40 Lon -Hairod Pards; or, The Tarters of the Plains.
45 Old ull’s-Eye, the Lightning Shot.
- 47 Pacific Pete, the Prince of the Revolver.
50 Jack Rabbit, the Prairie S art.
64 Doublesight. the Death S lot.
67 The Boy Jockey: or, Honesty vs. Crookedness.
71 Captain Cool Blade; or. Mississip i Man Shark.
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.
165 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 Piacers; or. Joaquin’s Death unt.
233 The Old Boy of Tombstone.
241 S itflre Saul, Kin of the Rustlers.
249 eohant Tom. 0 Durango. '
257 Death Trap Diggngs; or, A Hard Man from
’Way Back.
283 Sleek Sam, the Devil of the Mines.
286 Pistol Johnny; or, One Man in a Thousand.
292 Moire Homer. the Boss Roustabout.
302 Faro Saul. the Handsome Hercules.
817 Frank Lightfoot. the Miner Detective.
324 Old Forked Lightnine. the Solitary.
331 Chispa Charla . the Gold Nu get Sport.
839 Spread Eagle am. the Heron es Hide Hunter.
845 Masked Mark. the Mounted Detective.
851 Nor‘ West Nick, the Border Detective.
355 Stormy Steve, the Mad Athlete.
360 Jumping Jerry, the Gamecock from Sundown.
307 A Royal Flush; or, Dan Brown’s Big Game. '
372 Captain Crisp. the Man with a Record. .
379 Howling Jonathan, the Terror from Headwaters.
387 Dark Durg. the Ishmael of the Hills. _
395 Deadly mm. the Duke of Derringers.
40:5 The Nameless Sport.
409 Rob Roy Ranch: or, The Imps of Pan Handle.
416 Monte .nm. the Black Sheefi oi' Bismarck.
426 The GhostDetective; or. T e Spy of the Secret

Service.
or. Sam’s Dandy Paid.

433 Laughing Leo‘

433 Oklahoma Niel:

443 A Cool- Hand: or. Pistol Johnny’s Picnic.

450 The Rustler Detective.

458 Dutch Dan. the’ Pilgrim from Spiizenherg.

466 Old Rough and Readfi, the Sage‘of Sundown.
474 Dadd Dead-Eye. the espotoi' Dew Drop.

488 TheT orc hbred Sport.
495 Rattlepate ; or. he Roundhead’s Reprisal.

BY CAPTAIN no'wann HOLMES.

278 Hercules Goldspur the Man of the Velvet Hand.
294 Broadcloth Burt. the Denver Dandy.

321 California Claude, the Lone Bandit.

835 Flash Dan. the Nabob; or, Blades of Bowie Bar.
340 Cool Conrad. the Dakota Detective.

347 Denver Duke. the Man With “ Sand." .
852 The Desperate Dozen.

805 Keen Kennard. the Shasta Shadow.

874 Major Blister. the Sport of Two Cities. 1

882 The Bonanza Band; or Dread Don of Cool Clan.
892 The Lost Bonanza: or. The Boot of Silent Hound.
400 Captain Co-dgrip: .or. The New York Spotter.
407 Captain Co dgrlp’s Nerve; or. Injun Nick.”

413 Cs tain Coin in New York.

421 Fa her Ferret. t e Frisco Shadow.

434 Lucifer Lynx. the Wonder Detective.

441 The California Sharg. ' ,

447 Volcano. the Frisco py. 4a

453 Captain'Coldgigps Long Trail.

400 Ca taln Coldg the Detective.

4*8 Co dgrip in De wood. ' ,
480 Hawkspear, the Man with a Secret. ’

487 Sunshine Sam, a Cbigot the Old Block.

496 Richard Redflre, the we Worlds' Detective.

 

'/ BY runny n. or. JouN. .

57 The Silent Hunter. . . ~
86, The Big‘Hunter: or. The Queen of the Woods.

In? anon LEWIS.

423 The Flying Glim; or, The Island Lure.

456 The Demon Steer. -

481 The Silent Detective; 'oil. The Bogus Nephew.
484 Captain Ready, the Red Ransomerp ,

y .

 

BY PHILIP S. \VARNE.

1 A Hard Crowd; or. Gentleman Sam’s Sister.

4 The Kidnap r; or The Northwest Shanghai.
29 Tiger Dick, aro King; or. The Cashier’s Crime.
54 Always on Hand; or. The Foot-Hills Sport.

80 A Man of Nerve; or. Caliban the Dwarf.

114 Tht‘ Gentleman from Pike. '

171 Tiger Dick. the Man of the Iron Heart.

20’? Old Hard Head; or. Whirlwind and his Mare.

251 Tiger Dick vs. Iron Drspard.

280 Tiger Dick‘s Lone Hand.

299 Three of a Kind; or, Tiger Dick. Iron Despard
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 ‘ Daisy " Blufl.

431 California Kit. the Always on Hand.

472 Six Foot Si; or, The Man to “ Tie To."

BY ALBERT W. AIKEN.

27 The Spotter Detective: or. Girls of New York.
31 The New York Sharp; or. The Flash of Lightning.
33 Overland Kit; or, The idyl of White Pine.
84 Rocky Mountain Rob. the California Outlaw.
85 Kentuck. the Sport: or. Dick Talbot of the Mines.
36 Injun Dick; or. The Denth~Shot of Shasta.
38 Velvet Hand; or. Injun Dick‘s Iron Grip.
41 Gold Dan: or, The White Savage of San Lake.
42 The California Detective: or. The Witches of N.Y.
49 The Wolf Demon; or. The Kanawha Queen.
56 The Indian Mazeppa; or. Madman of the Plains.
59 The Man from i‘exas; or. The Arkansas Outlaw.
63 The Winged Whale: or. The Red Rupert of Gulf.
2 The Phantom Hand; or The 5th Avenue Heiress-
75 Gentleman George: or. arior. Prison and Street.
77 The Fresh of Fnsco: or. The Heiress. ‘
79 Joe Phenix. the Police Spv._
81 The Human Tiger: or. A Heart of Fire.
84 Hunted Down: or. The League of Three.
91 The Winnin Car: or. The Innkeeper’s Daughter.
93 Captain Dic Talbot. King of the Road.
97 Bronze Jack. the California Thoroughbred.
101 The Man from New York.
107 Richard Talbot. 0! Cinnabar.
112 Joe Phenix. Private Detective. .
130 Captain Volcano: or. The Man of Red Revolvers.
161 The Wolves of New Y ork: or. Joe Phenix’s Hunt.
173 California John. the Pacific Thoroughbred.
196 La Marmoset. the De tecuve een.
203 The Double Detective; or.The idnighl Mystery.
252 The Wall Street Blood; or. The Tele raph Girl.
320 The Genteel Spotter or The N. Y. N ght Hawk.
849 Iron-Hearted Dir k. the Gentleman Road-Agent.
854 Red Richard: 01 The Crimson Cross Brand.
863 Crownin held; the Detective

‘370 The Dus v Detective; or. Pursued to the End. ..

376 Black Beards: or. The Rio Grande High Horse.

381 The Gyps Gentleman; or Nick Fox. Deiective.’
884 Injun ch Detective; or. Tracked to New York.

891 Kate Scott. the Decoy Detective.

408 Doc Grip. the Vendetta of Death.

419 The Bat 01' the Battery - or. Joe Phenix. Detective.

42‘s The Lone Hand; or, The Red River Recreants.
440 The High Hero of the Pacific.

461 The Fresh on the Rio Grande.

405 The Actor Detective. _

475 Chin Chin the Chinese Detective.

490 The Lone Hand in Texas.

497 The Fresh in Tens.

LATEST AND NEW ISSUES.

501 Sprln teel Steve. the Retired Detective By
Joe won Knox. ’ '
502 Bareback Buck, the Centaur or the Plains. By
P. S. Warns. . .
508 The Dude from Denver. By Wm. R. Eyster.
504 {Solemn Saul. the Sad Man from San Saba. By ‘
‘ J as. E. Badger, Jr. V
505 Phil Fog, the Genteei Spotter. By Capt. Howard
Holmes. ‘ ' ‘ .
1106 Uncle Honest the Peacemaker of Hornets' Nest. ,
By Wm. H. Manning. Ready July 4. ;
507 The Drummer Detective. By George C. Jenks.
, Ready J uiy 11. ’
508 Topnotch Tom, the Mad Person: By Maj. Daniel
» Boone Dumont. .Ready July 18. 1 ' V
509 Old Falcon. the Thunderbolt Detective. 3
Jackson Knox. Ready July 25. ’ .
510 El Moro. the" Corsair Commodore. By. 001. P.
w Inst-sham. Ready August 1. ,
511 Paint Pete. the Prairie Patrol. By‘Major Sam
, .Hali. ReadyAugust 8.
tain Velvet's Bi Stake. ‘ Ca 1:. Howarr‘
512' calgolmes. Ready Afiigust 15. By p
:4 new Issue every Wednesday.

Beadlé’b Dime Library is for sale by all'
Newsdoalers, ten cents per copy, or sent py mail on
receipt of twelve cents each. ‘ ,

_ BEADLE AND ADAMS. Punt.th ~ , y
‘ 98 William sheen; New York.