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ENTERED AT THE POST OFFICE AT NEW YOHK. N. Y.. AT SECOND CLASH MAIL RATES.

 

 

 

Published Every QBeadZ 6 9°: fldarns, 9011722 fishers, Ten Cents a Copy.
NO‘  7 ’ Wanna" 98 WILLIAM STREET. N. Y., November 13 1889. $500 ’3 Ye“  

 

The Actress Detective’s.
Shadow Act.

BY ALBERT W. AIKEN,
ACTHOB or “THE ACTRESS DETECTIVE,” “THE
ACTOR DETECTIVE,” “JOE PHENIX, THE
POLICE SPY,” ETC., ETC.

 

CHAPTER I.
THE MYSTERIOUS BOXES.

THE hour of nine had sounded from the big
clock which adorns the Cit Hall of the metrop-
olis;the business streets 0wn~town were well
nigh deserted, while the up-town avenues were
full oflife.

Down the great, cosmopolitan thoroughfare
of the big cit , the Bowery, came a. light Ex-
press wagon, riven by a rather rough-looking
man, and by his side sat a tall, thin, middle-
aged gentleman, whose pale face and general
ap earance betokened the student and man of
thought. 7‘ L:

In the wagon were two long boxes, rude]

     
 

 

 

, _ “I SWEAR BY ALL I HOLD SACRED To BRING To JUSTICE EACH AND EVERY MEHBEB 0F
Constructed out Of common P1118 boards. Whlc THE INVISIBLE HAND BAND!” SAID TOM OF CALIFORNIA SOLEMNLY.

 

 

2

{were about two feet wide and deep by six feet
ong. ‘

Down the Bowery to Chathani Square went
the wagon, and then turned oil? into the New
Bowery, through which the wagon proceeded
until it came to the point where Pearl street and
three or four minor thoroughfares seemed to get
all tangled up.

This peculiar condition of affairs comes be-
cause. in the old time there was no New Bowery,
nor New Chambers street, only the little narrow
lanes, hardly worthy to be called streets.

The cutting through of the broad avenues
played havoc with these little streets.

Into one of them—a vile, unsavory lane run-
ning frOm the waterside to Pearl street, and
filled with low sailor saloons, boardin -houses
and a few disreputable-looking stores— he Ex-
press wagon turned.

It came to a halt before the door of one of the
dingiest shops in the street, and that was saying
a deal, for there was not a decent-looking store
or house in the block.

The she was an old one, and would have at-
tracted at ention in any locality.

The panes of glass of its small show window
apparently had not been washed for an age, and
were so begrimed with dust that it was a diffi-
cult matter for any one to look through them
and see what was within.

There wasn’t anything in the show-window
though, to excite attention or curiosity, an
few people ever took the trouble to cast aseo-
0nd glance at it, the window being arrayed with
big bunches of dried herbs and a few dilapidated
speCimens of the taxidermist’s art.

A sign over the door, the letters of which had
become so blurred that they could scarcely be
distinguished, bore the inscription:

“ LENICAS Zmuna,
Botanical Doctor.”

And a small tin si n in the window bore the
announcement that t e doctor was also a taxi-
dermist, and was prepared to “ mount and pre-
pare” all sorts of specimens upon reasonable
terms and in a first-class manner.

In person, Doctor Zimmer was a tall, lean,
German Jew with a hatchet-like face, high cheek-
bones, across which his yellow, parchment-like
skin was tightly drawn. A .

He was a man well in years, and altogether in
his rusty suit of black, wearing a frock coat
with tails so long that they came nearly to the
ground, presented a weird and uncanny appear-
once.

He was not a pular man with his neighbo
although his ski l as a doctor was ackno‘wledg
to be great, and the police of the district kept
their eyes upon him, for they had a suspimon
that the doctor would not hesitate to turn a
penny in an unlawful wageief he had a chance.

No “copper” had yet n smart enough to
catch the doctor in any illegal act though, and
he was as bland and soft to the licemen and
detectives as though he conside them to bethe
greatest friends he had in the world.

Before the door of Doctor Zimmer’s shop the
Exlpress wagon stopped. _

here was no lig t in the place nor any signs
of life about the establishment, but the wa on

Was evidently ex ted, for the moment it ha ted
the doctor made is appearance in the doorway
of the shop.

There was a as—light some ten houses away,
and although, 11 e everything else in the street,
it seemed to be dull and discouraged, yet it afford-
ed light enough for the doctor and the men in
the Express wagon to see what they were about.

“ Ish it all right, my tears?” the old Jew asked
in his soft, insinuating way.

“ Oh, yes, as ri ht as ninapence, do ye mind !”
replied the tall, t in man, speaking with a de-
ci: ed burr, and a man versed in nationalities
would have at once set him down for a Scotch-
man. ' ‘

And'this 'udgment would have been correct,
for the spea. er was named Rodney MacNabh.

He was a lawyer, and had a fair practice,
chiefly criminal cases, and was looked upon as a
sharp, unscrupulous man.

As the pair descended to the street and began
to haul out one of the long boxes, a policeman
made his appearance. He had been standing in
a doorway down the street, and now came loung-
ing along, curious to ascertain what ,was going

on.

“ Hello! phat is up!” asked the policeman, his
decided brogue showin that he was a transplant
from the sWeet Emera d Isle.

“ Ah, is dot you, my tear Mister O’Skilligan?”
quoth the doctor as the red-whiskered policeman
sauntered up to the we n and cast a curious
glance at the long box w ich .MacNabb and the

’ver were hauling out.

“Yis, sur, it is me, mewlf, as large as life and
twice as natural,” responded the officer.
do yees be afther having in this box? Upon me
wonrd! it looks like a coffin. Phat have yees
got in it?” '

“ A stiff,” responded MscNabb in such a deep,
guttural tone, a regular ghost-like voice, that the
oflcer fairly started.

‘f Phat is it that ye’re afther givin’ me?” he ex-
claimed. And then, taking a good look at the
speaker he recognized the lawyer. ‘

“Phat ,

 

Tom of California.

“Ohol is it there ye are, Mister MacNabb?”
he cried. “ Divd burn ye! but I might have
known that it was yees, for yees are alway up to
some fool joke; an’ so it is a stiff that we have
in the box?”

“ Yes, and there is a pair of them; there is an-
other hox in the wagon. Better rap for assist-
ance, man; two stiifs will be more than a match
for one Irishman i” the lawyer remarkedn

“ Aisy now wid yer jokin’!” the policeman
cried. “ Upon me wourd though it does look as
if you had a stiff in the box.” ‘

“ Yesh, yesh; dey ish stiifs, sure enou h!” the
doctor chuckled. " Mine tear frient, ey was
two alligators from Florida, dot hafe been
brou ht to me to be stuffed.”

“ on’t you believe him i” the lawyer exclaim-
ed. “ He is trying to stuff you and not the alli-
gators, O’Skilligan. Better call for assistance
and have the boxes opened.”

“ Go ’long wid your foolin’!” the officer re-
sponded.

By this time the pair had got the box half-
way out of the wagon so that one and rested on
the pavement.

There was an inscription on the box and by
the aid of the dim light of the gas-lamp the po-
liceman was able to make it out.

“ ‘Judge Conrad Blitzenheimer, New York,

r steamer, City of Charleston. Handle care-

ully,’” said the policeman reading aloud the in-
scription inscribed upon the bbx.

“ Oho! it’s the judge’s alligators!” he exclaim-
ed. “ Shure! I was afther readin’ in the mom-
in’ paper that the big DU‘ch f'udge was down in
Flori a shootin’ lashin’s of al igators!”

“ Don’t you believe it, mon!” cried the sharp
voice of the Scotcliman. “It is a plant they are
putting up on ye!” .

“ Ah! %0 ’long wid ye!” exclaimed the Irish-
man. “ hure, you’re the divil’s Own boy for a
joke!" And the policeman went on his way.

The three men by the wagon exchanged
glances and a quiet smile was on each face.

“I was afraid we were in for it,” MacNabb
remarked. “ The fellow was evidently hiding
in some doorway down the street, or else I woul
have noticed him, for I took a careful glance
around before we halted.”

“ Dot Irishman ish a fool policeman und does
not know enough to go in when it rains!” the
doctor remarked in a tone full of contempt.
“ But come, let us hurry up and get der boxes in-
ter der house before some odder coplper comes
dis way. We might not be able to pu l der wool
over der eyes of annodder man so easily -”

“ That is true enough,” the lawyer assented.

Into the house then the boxes were hurried
with all ible dispatch, and then the two re-
sumed t eir places in the Express W380“ and
drove away.

After the wagon departed the Jew secured his
door with locks and bars, which were stron
enough to resist a severe attack, and then call
up his assistant, who was enjoying a MP1“ a
rude sort of bunk under the counter. , .

The assistant was as great a character in his
Wig as the doctor was in his.

e was a mulatto, a re ular “ cream-colored
negro,” undersized and m hapen, for he was a
hunchback, but pessessed of wonderful strength.

His face was surl and animal-like, the under
jaw as massivs as t at of a baboon; in fact, his
whole face here such a resemblance to that of an
ape that he had acquired the title of Monke Bill,
and no one who knew him ever thought 0 call-
inihim by any other name.

nd it did not displease the mulatto either,
for by one of those odd fancies uliar to the
human mind he was proud of ,h s resemblance
to an ape, and rather gloried in the fact that his
arms were so long that he was able to scratch
his ankles without stoopin . '

After closin and seem-fag the door the doc-
tor carefully rew the curtain down so as to
keep the rays 0! the dim coal oil lamp, that was
burning upon the counter, from penetrating to
the street.

“ Now Monkey, fe me a hand wid de boxes,”
the old J’ew said, w his brute-like assistant
made his appearance from under the counter
rubbing his eyes.

The mulatto hastened to comply.

 

CHAPTER II.
BACK TO Lira.

Tan store was a small one, not over twelve
feet uare, and in the rear was a room where
the ol J ew had his office.

The house was a small two-storied one and
the doctor rented the entire building.

The rooms above the store were plain] fur-
nished and there" the doctor and his taut
lived, and, once in a while, a patient wasre-
ceived as a boarder.

There were no servants in the ease, the
mulatto, whose ori inal occupation had been
that of a cook on rd ship, attending to all
domestic duties.

“Mine gootnessl when dot Irishman came
Sneaking around it brought my heart in mine
mouth.” the doctor announced.

“ W’at Irishman i” asked the mulatto.

“ Oh, I forgot dot you vas not dere,” and then
the doctor related the policeman episode.

"w

 

Monkey Bill scowled and showed his teeth in ,

an animal-like fashion.

“ Dat red-headed Irisher is too fresh,” he re-
marked. “Somebody will have to hit him in
de head wid a brick one ob dese nights, jes’ for
to teach him to mind his own business ”

“ Yesh, yesh, he t’inks he knows a lot, but he
ish not one-half as smart as he believes,” the
doctor observed. “ Gife me a hand wid der
boxes and we will get them into der cellar.”

“ Which one—de furst or second?”

“ Der second, for these are specimens, Monkey,
and I hafe work to do mit them.”

“ Oh, yes, and dat was de reason you didn’t
want de co to catch on,” the mulatto remark-
ed, with a nowing grin.

“ Yesh, all de fat would hate been in de fire
then for certain.”

On the side of the room opposite to where the
counter stood was an old-fashioned fireplace.

The boxes were placed within this fireplace,
and then the doctor touched a secret spring in
the woodwork, under the mantel-piece; a sec-
tion of the flooring upon which the boxes stood,
about two feet wide by Six long, sunk out of
sight carrying the boxes down to the under-
ground regions with it.

It was a tra oor arranged elevator fashion
and worked With the noiseless precision of well-
oiied machinery.

Then the doctor took the lamp from the
counter and, followed by the mulatto, proceeded
to the cellar.

It was a. plain, ordinary underground apart-
ment in which the two found themselves, and
in it was no trace of the elevator which had
taken away the boxes.

There was a chimney though, built of old-
style brick which had plainlv never been made
in this country, so quaint an odd were they.

This chimney was a massive affair, but evi-
dently hollow, the elevator working within it.

The doctor approached the side of the chimney,
pressed his thumb upon a certain spot and a
small door opened, and this relic of the ancient
days, when very old castles boosted of such
contrivances, was so cunningly arranged that
the most careful examination of the brick:
when the door was closed, would not have re-
vealed that anything was wrong.

The door being open, a. narrow stairway,lead-
ing downward, was revealed.

The doctor descended, the mulatto followed,
and when the doctor was half-way down the
narrow iron staircase, tlgdpressure of his wei ht
upon a certain stair can the door in the ch -
ney to close again. >

This was a tra designed to catch any in-
truder that shou d manage to discover the
secret of the door, and attem t to solve the
m tory of the hidden a rtmen

gay descending the sta rs the spy would cause
the door to close, and if he was not able to dis-
covar the secret sprigs, by means of which the

rtal could be open , a lingering death would
E: his doom.

The secret Cellar was directly under the real
one; a damp unwholesome place with the smell
of a charne house.

There were a con le of rude tables and some
stools, the tables ing merely four boards,
cleated together and laid on benches formed like

carpenter’s saw-horses. .

B the side of the wall was the elevator With‘
the xes on it. , '

The first thing that the doctor did was to light
a lantern which was suspended from the ceiling

of the cellar direct] over the tables, which were ‘

side b side n the center of the room.
plaTcheglanterg was arranged with a reflector so
as to cast a strong light upon the tables.

“Now, Monke , help me to put der boxes on
der tables,” the octor said. '

This was soon accomplished, and then the doc.
tor touched a. spring in the wall which caused the
elevator to ascend again.

“ Now it ish all right up—stairs_ if anybody
should force a way into der store,” the doctor
observed with a s] chuckle. “It is not likely
dot such a t’ing wi 1 ha 0, but it let: best to be
always on der safe side.

The mulatto nodded assent. ” ‘

“ Let us open der boxes now, said the doctor,

There were tools for such purpose upon one
of the tables, and the two men set to work.

“ Be careful how you handle de tools, Monkey,
so as not to injure der goods in the boxes,” the
dector continued with a dry chuckle.

The mulatto grinned; he had an idea of what
the “ goods” consisted.

The covers of the boxes being removed the
contents were exposed to view, and both the
German Jew and his assistant peered curiously
at the sight.

No alligators were in the boxes but a couple
of human bodies, a man and a woman.

The mulatto nodded his head in approval after
taking a good look.

“ I done tell you w’at it is, Massa Doctor, them
two is as fine specimens as you hab had for a
10m: time!” he exclaimed. _

“ Mine gootness, Monkey, you are right dare,”
the doctor replied. .

It was plain from these observations that the
were no strangers to the “ body-snatching
business.

 

 

' a handsome lad

“.4. ...........W...-x—au.ru.wmuu .- .-. ... ._

. » us, ._,', ..i o - V1,..nw ,\ ~_
v ‘& *»w‘..r~‘3,. ' “ .

‘ Tom of California.

3

 

 

“ Who is you gwine to sell dam to?

The doctor gave vent to one of his dry chuckles.

“ Aha, Monkey, you are out dis time," he re—
marked. “ These two are not for sale.”

“ Dat’s a p’ty, for dey would be sure to fetch
a good price.”

“ Ah, yesh, but de operation dot I am goingto
perform on dem will bring more money ino mine

ket.’

“ You don’t say so!” the mulatto exclaimed in
wonder. “ Why, Massa Doctor, w’ot is you
gwine to do?” .

“ S’pose you vait awhile und you will see.’ ”
the doctor replied in a mysterious way. “ You
t’ink dot day are fine subjects. eh?”

“ By oily! yes, Massa Doctor!” the mulatto
(18013.93. ‘ Day are as good ones as I ebber
see’d.”

” Now, Monkey, see v‘at a mistake you hafe
made i” the doctor exclaimed. “ Dey are not
subjects—dey are not dead!”

“ W’at’s, dat?” cried the assistant in vast aston-
ishment. “Not deat."

“ Dot ish v’at I said.”

The mulatto peered into the box and made a
searching examination, even going so far as to
touch the faces with his fingers.

“ Well Massa Doctor, you ought to know, oh
course, but if dis yere gemman and lady ain’t
done gone and kicked de bucket, den I don’t
know nothing ’tall bout dead ple, dat’s all i"

“ Monkey, my son, it ish p sin to me dot you
do not know as much about dead people as you
t’ink you do,” the old Jew remarked with a wise
shake of the head.

“ Mebbe not but if dey ain’t dead w’at is de
matter wid ’em?”

“They are in a trance, but I do not wonder
dot you was deceived. Nine out of every ten
doctors would be sure dot the two were dead,
und if I did not know dot de pair were subject
to dis sort of t’ing, mebbe, I would say dot dcy
was only fit to be buried too.”

“I reckon dat you would, boss 1” the mulatto
exelaimed in a tone of conviction.

“ Help me to lift dein out of de boxes,” said
the doctor.

The assistant complied.

The first that they removed was the woman,
in the prime of life and array-
ed in a costly b k silk dress, but after she was
deposited on the table and the box removed, the
mulatto shook his head doubtfully asif he could
not make up his mind that the breath of life
was still in the apparently pulseless body.

And the man, a good-looking gentleman, at-
tired in complete black, showed no signs of life.

“ Hain‘t you made some mistake ’bout dis
t’ing! Massa Doctor?" Monkey Bill asked.

“ Oh, no!” the doctor asserted, positively.
“ Both are still alive. But if the continued
ten hours more in dis state, all er medicine
and science in der world wouldn’t do dem no

ood. It is not too late for me though to bring

em back to life.”

Then the doctor took a vial of medicine from
his pocket, also a syringe, and forced asmall
guantity of the liquid down the throats of the

we.

Then, after waitin for about ten minutes, he
applied a small ga vanic battery to the man,
the mulatto watching him Open-mouthed.

Monke Bill had seen his master perform
some skillful operations before and had an idea
that there wasn't much about the science of
medicine which the dootor did not know, but
this operation of literally “ raising the dead,”
was something perfectly astounding to him.

The operation was a successful one.

_ In a few minutes the man showed signs of
life, more natural color came into his face and
he began to breathe heavily.

“Send down the elevator, take him up on it
and put him in der front bedroom,” the doctor
commanded. '

The mulatto obeyed.

When he returned the d0ctor, b means of
the galvanic battery, had succeeded restoring
the woman.

I “ Take her to der back bedroom l” the doctor
commanded. “ Did I not tell you I would do
der trick?”

” BY 89")” Massa Doctor, I reckon you kin
do anything arter this!” the mulatto declared.

A most desperate expedient had succeeded
and the law had been bullied in a most wonder-
ful manner.

 

CHAPTER III.
BIRDS or rnnY.

Just a month after the time when the " Big
Dutch J udge’s alligators” were delivered to the
German Jew doctor, a guest made his appear-
ance at the Fifth Avenue Hotel who excited the
curiosity of some parties who made it their
business to closely scrutinize all well-dressed
strangers.

This stranger was a young man, live and
twent or thereabouts, rather under the medium
size. ut apparently well-built, although his
beardless face—he was smoothly shaven—gave
hi m an efl’eminatel k.

He was a good- king youn fellow, with
regular features, light hair, whic curled in lit—
tle crispy ringleta ever his well-shapen head;

1 rather peculiar gray eyes and a careless, easy

{ I

 

way which seemed to say that he was on good
terms with himself and all the world.

He had re istered as Thomas Mackay, San
Francisco, alifornia; told the dc: k that he
wanted a gbood room and ‘ no sky parlor, for he
had been ‘orn tir and hated the trouble of
going up-stairs, even in an elevator, and as the

oung man came accompanied by a bi sole-
eather trunk, which the ex rienced hote clerk
“ sized up” to be worth at east fifty dollars of
anybody's money, he was accommodated with a
really excellent apartment.

That the stranger was no penniless adventurer
was soon apparent, for having occasion to buy
some postagestamps he _ displayed a big roll of
hills, which he carried, carelessly, in his upper
vest-pocket in the good old, happy-go-lucky Cali-
fornian style.

As we have said, there were a couple of loung-
ers in the office of the hotel who took a decided
interest in the stran er.

All the big New ork hotels employ detectives
whose business it is to watch the office, and th
entrance thereto, in order to keep out disrepai-
table characters.

These detectives are well acquainted with the
class who lurk around hotels, and other places of
public resort, for the purpose of praying upon
innocent strangers. _

The detectives are shrewd judges of human
nature and often “ pick up ” a “crook, ’ even
when the man is unknown to them, from som
thing peculiar in his manner. ‘

But the detectives are only men, not magicians,
and when they come in Contact with a first-class
man in the crooked line, they are no more able
to discover his real character than a mere man
of the world, who makes no lpretensions to the
possession of any detective ski .

And in the case of these two parties to whom
we have referred, the hotel detective had no sus-
picion that there was anything wrong about
them.

Both were forei ners, and strangers.

One was a tall, ark fellow with a distinguish-
ed bearin ,, a Louis Napoleon-like face, orna-
mented With a carefully waxed mustache and
imperial; few who knew anything about nation-
alities would make the mistake of thinking he
was anything but a Frenchman.

He answered to the name of Victor De Nev-
ville, and although he pi ofessed to be traveling
“ inco .” in this country, yet it was well under-
stood y those who had happened to make the
acquaintance of the gentleman that in Frame
he bore the title of marquis.

De Nevville had only been in New York for
about a month and had taken up his abode at a
restaurant in the French quarter, kept by a.

entleman who had once been a prominent man
in Paris, but politics—he was a red republican—
a communist—had caused him to flee from his
native land.

His restaurant was a popular place with the
French residents of the city, and was much fre-
quented too by the young men about town, who
were anxious to ape foreign manners; and from
becoming acquainted with some of these New
York bloods in the billiard-room the marquis
owed his introduction into swell New York
society.

His companion, who accompanied the marquis
on this particular night when we introduce the
pair to our reader’s notice was a decided con-
trast to the Frenchman. I

He was a typical Englishman, ruddy-faced,
blonde—haired w1th mutton—chop whiskers, short
in stature and thick-set.

He was a new addition to New York society.

Adolphus Fitzherbert he called himself, and
althou h be made no pretensions to being of
noble lood yet it was whispered he was the
younger son of an earl, a little under a cloud on
account of a difference with his noble sire now
and being of an inde ndent nature he had
sought refuge in the ew World rather than
submit to rental tyranny. .

This litt romance had made him quite popu-
lar with the Angloananiacs of the city, and gave
him the entree into a good set.

Both these adventurers—for we will not at-
tempt todeceive the reader in re ard to their
true characters—were capital b lliard-players
and expert gamblers, but as they were cunning
enough to conceal their real expertness in these
lines, only joining in a game when pressed to do
so, and never offering to play for money openly.

although artfully leading up to that point when

they fancied there was a chance to victimize
some one—nobody suspected that they were only'
a couple of sharpers, and so they had no. dim-
culty in winning enough money of their associ-
at'cs to Leep them going in flue style.

It was early in the evening when the stranger
from San Francisco arrived, and the adventur-
ers had just made their appearance—it was their
custom to make the round of the up-town hotels
until they met some of the bloods who were
likely to prove fair game—and as they were in
the neighborth of the hotel omce they ever-
heard what passed between the stranger and
the clerk.

The breezy, independent manner of the Pa-
cnficSloper, as well as the sight of his big roll of
bills, made a decided impression upon the two
adventurers. '

 

They exchanged glances, and the marquis res
marked:

“ y dear fellow, it seems to me that this
young entleman’s acquaintance could be profit-
ably cu tivated.”

“ Exactly my Own idea, don’t you know,” the
Englishman replied.

“ Will you try your luck and see what you
can make of him?”

“ Yes, I don’t mind.”

“ I will stroll into the bar-room and after you
have pumped him you can join me there.”

Then the marquis sauntered away, and Fitz-
herbert, watching his opportunity, soon man-
aged to get into conversation with the young

man.
The Californian, after arranging about his
room, helped himself to a chair and lit a
Cl arette.
he Englishman soon sauntered up, begged
for a light, also producing a cigarette, and took
a chair by the side of the other.

With such a frank, hearty young man as the.

Californian, it was the easiest thing in the world
to get into conversation, and in the course of
half an hour, Fitzherbert succeeded in learning
all he cared to know, then he pretended that he
had an appointment to “ meet a fellow, don’t
you know,’ in the bar—room, and departed.

The marquis was waiting anxiously for the

report.

‘ By Jove! old follow, I think we have struck
it rich, as these Americans say!” the English-
man exclaimed, when he encountered the Gaul.

“ I am glad to hear it!” the other replied.

Then the two withdrew into a corner where
they could converse without danger of their con-
versation beingl owrheard.

“ It really t ough seems a pity for two such

old hawksas we are to take advantage of the I

charming innocence of this young man,” Fitz-
herbert remarked in a reflective wa .”

“Oh, never mind moralizingl” t e other re-
torted. “ It is what we hawks are for, to prey
on pi eons of this kind.”

“ ell, his name is Thomas Mackay), he comes
from San Francisco, which is the ig city of
California, you know, and is interested, heavily,
in mines; althou h he isn’t anything more than
a boy yet he is eep in speculation. I fancy
from what he said that he is some relative of
that Macks , whose wife cuts such a figure in
England an on the Continent.”

‘ Ah, yes, I know the man; he is a modern
Croesus l” the Frenchman exclaimed. “ They say
his income is a thousand dollars a day.”

“I judge from this youn feIIOw’s talk that'
he has plent of money. is business here is to
sell shares 0 some mines in which he is interest-
ed, and he speaks as carelessly of transactions
amounting to thousands of dollars as we would
of so many cents.”

“But is it not a characteristic of these far
Western men to 11 big stories even when they
have but little to ack them up?” the marquis
asked, shrewdly. A

“ The have that reputation, I believe,” the
other a mitted. “ But in this case I do- not be-
lieve that the young man is boasting, or talking
for the sake of merely hearing his own words.
I do not think there is any doubt that he has
plenty of money 0 his own and also represents
a large sum belon rig to others.”

“ If this is truth be on ht to be a pigeon worth
the plucking,” the Frenc man commented.

“ Oh, es, my dear boy, and 1 do not think
we will ave any trouble in doing the job, the
dear child is so innocent i”

“He will know more when we get through
with him,” the marquis remarked with a fine
touch of sarcasm.

“ Oh, yes, undoubtedly,” the Englishman
rejoined. “ now, we go to
work?”

“ That requires deliberation,” said the marquis.
“ If the pigeon is anywhere near as rich as you
an ,, we mus proc wx can on, or

ppoee t eed 'th ti f t is
our me to make a haul worth having.” l

“ es,,yes, undoubtedly."

“ Being a big fish, we must play him until we
have him safely in the net and can land a grand

' stake.”

“ That is my idea, my dear fellow.”

“The first thing is to introduce him tothe
home of the Red Princess,” the marquis re-
marked after reflecting our the matter/for a
few moments.

“ Yes, the noveltyfof the female gambler will
be apt to appeal to is curiosit .”

“ hen we can lead him ually on to play,
and when we in how the ground lies we
can make arrangements for a big strike.”

“ All right; the programme seems td me
to be an excellent one, the Englishman re-
marked. ' .

“If‘ we play cautiously we may be able to
seize u n a large sum, and I must remark that
it is a t time that something of the kind 0c-
curred, for I have noticed that the majority of
our pigeons are beginning to be tired of be

luck ° of course it is not superior. skill, bu
5h» luck-the chance of accident which causes
us to win so constantly,”and the Frenchman
winked knowingly at theother. “ Butour birds
are beginning to take the alarm. The most of
them have lost more than they can well added,

\

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
   
  

4 ,

and unless we hunt up fresh game we will soon
be in the hole.”

“ True, and it seems to me that Dame For-
tune, who always looks with a partial eye upon
gentlemen in our line of business, has sent his

aliforniah infant on purpose to give us a
chance at him—to give us a chance, don’t you
know, to relieve him of some of his surplus
wealth.”

“Yes, it certainly does look that way,” the
marquis replied. ‘ Well, shall we begin opera-
tions right away?”

“ Oh, yes, dear hey, there is a world of truth
in that saying in re and to strikin when the
iron is hot. Come a ong and I wil introduce
you, and in a while we can bring up the subject
of the Red Princess, and see i we cannot get
him interested.”

The two roceeded to the office. .

The Cali ornian had just finished his cigarette
and was yawning in a manner which suggested
that he was terribly bored, when the two ap—
proached.

“ I was just speaking to my friend here about
you, don’t you know,” the Englishman re-
marked, as the pair came up to the Californian.
“He is a stranger in the city, like us, and I
think you ought to know him.”

The Pacific—Sloper immediately said that it
would give him great pleasure to make the
acquaintaintance of any friend of Mr. Fitzher-

rt.

The introduction followed, and the pair sat
down by the young man.

“ We l, what shall we do to kill time to-
night?" the Englishman asked. “ What do you
say to a call upon the Red Princess?”

CHAPTER IV.
'rnit aim PRINCESS.

THE oddness of the name at once attracted the
attention of the Californian.

“ The Red Princess!” he exclaimed. “ That is
a strange appellation for an one in New York
to bear. W 10 is the Red P ucessi”

“My dear air, on have ven me a riddle
which is not easi y solved,” he Frenchman re-
plied. “ The question which e(you have just
asked is one that has perplex the brain of a
great many men in New York, and none of
them have been able to answer it, as far as I
know. In fact, the Red Princess is a decided
m story.”

‘ But you can enlighten our friend in regard
to her, even if you cannot tell who she is, the
Englishman remarked.

“Oh, yes, Ican do that easily enough,” the
marquis replied. “ The woman who bears the
strange name of the Red Princess is a lady of
thirty or thereabouts, handsome and distin-
guished-looking, a foreigner—some say a Russ
sian-in fact, it is generally believed that she is
a native of that country, but no one knows for
certain, for she speaks half a dozen langu es
with equal fluency. She resides in a charm ng
little house on one of the cross streets leading
from upper Broadwa, ; the place is elegantly
furnish , and she be ds a salon in true Euro-
pean style in the evssning. n her parlors you
will find from ten o’clork until two or three in
thelmorning all the male notabilities of the town.
She usually has some musicians, singer, elocu-
tionist, or something of that kind to entertain
her guests, and one can always be sure of spend—
ing a pleasant evening, and a collation is served
punctually at midnight.

“The parlors are on the first floor, on the
second are another pair, devoted to the Goddeu
of Chance, and men who seek an easier road to
fertune than comes from diligent toil can try
their luck atia variety of ames.”

“Ah, yes, I see!” excla med the Californian.
“ We have plenty of places of that kind in San
Francisco, but none run by a woman.”

“That is where the attractiveness of the Red
Princess’s establishment comes in l” the Eu lish-
man remarked.
cisco in the respect that a man who is anxious to
get rid of his money cdn find lplenty of places
ready toatford him a chance, ut. as you say,
none run bya woman and then as there is a
mystery about the lady it provokes curiosity.”

“ As far as can be discovered she is a litical
refugee,” the Frenchman added. “ e was
hunted out of E and creased the sessto
avoid her enemies. ere, friendless in a strange
land, she knew not which way to turn, and then
she got the idea of setting up a salon after the

 

Eumpean style- all the Russians are born gum.
hlg‘i'sl, you know‘, the womenas bad as the men.”

he thing was a great success and she is
$3157 coming money,” the Englishman de-

“ I do not wonder at it,” the youn man re-
marked. “ The idea is a novel one: at how
comes it that she is called the Red Princess?”

“ It is on account of her hair, which rows in
such profusion that it reaches almos to her
knees, and bein of a most beautiful red gold in
color iv her t e namo.”

“ ell, I must admit that on have strangely
exeited my curiosity by th description,” the
Californian remarked. “ And if you haven’t
any objections I should like to go with you and
inspect this gorgeous ti er’s den.”

, ‘ Certainly! we will

i .

“ New York is like San rang

 

delighted to have you,

n , l n I. 'I '
. I ' . t "  I“ .
i‘ hip, ,. 11y _ Jiw W huh: _i: .,i  ,. ,1.

Tom of California.

accompany us!” the Frenchman exclaimed with
great cordiality. “ And if you ever risk money
on the turn of a. card, and feel inclined to
gamble a little, you can do so in the house of the
Red Princess With the assurance that no unfair
advantage will be taken of you.”

“ Oh, yes, there is no doubt about that!” the
Englishman asserted. “ And it is one of the
secrets of the pepularity of the house; the game
is a perfectly square one.”

“ And entrance to the Red Princess’s domains
is not open to every one,” the marquis added.
“ No Tom, Dick and Harry can go there at their
own sweet Will. The entrance is carefully
guarded, and all strangers have to be introduced
by some regular guest of the house.”

“ A wise precaution, and I presume the watch
is also kept to prevent the intrusion of the
police,” Mackay remarked.

The others laughed.

“ There is no danger of anything of that kind
ha pening,” the marquis asserted. “ The Red
Princess has friends at court. High officials of
the city are sometimes seen in her salon; they
go out of mere curiosity, of course and they
never suspect that there is a gambling hell in
full blast on the second floor.”

“ You know the old adage: ‘ there are none
so blind as those who will not see,’ ” added Fitz-
herbert.

“ This Red Princess is evidently worth a visit:
lwill be glad to go with you, and although I
am not much of a sport in a gambling way, yet
I don‘t mind risking a couple of hundred to see
how ’Frisco luck goes in New York.”

The adventurers exchanged glances.

The Californian spoke as carelessly of hun-
dreds as ordinary men do of tens.

“ It is not et nine: suppose we while away
an hour or so in one of the theaters, and then
go,” suggested the marquis, and the rest agreed.

CHAPTER V.
THE riosn‘s DEN.

Tin: three set out.

They went to one of the Broadway theaters
and staid until a little after ten, and as the
came out, Fitzherbert, a true Englishman, sai :

“ I think we had better take a cab, don’t you
know!"

“ What is the use of that?” exclaimed the mar-
quis. “It is only five or six blocks. We can
walk there inside of ten minutes.” ,.

“Let us walk then, by all means!” said the
Californian.

And so they proceeded up Broadway until
they came to a certain cross-street, into which
the turned. 1

alt-way through the block, the three came
{:10 a halt before a small, three-storied brick
one».

All the curtains were tightly drawn, and
there was no sign of life about the place.

“ A nice, equiet neighborhood,” the Califor-
nian remark , as he looked around him. “ No
one would be apt to suspect that there was any-
thing out of the we with this house.”

“ That is true,” t e marquis coincided.

The 0 ning of the door in answer to the rin
which t e Englishman had given, interrup
the conversation.

A gigantic negro in a plain, dark livery, made
his a pearance.

“ he Marquis De Nevville, Mr. Ado! hus
Fitzherbert and a friend, Mr. Thomas Mac ay,
of San Francisco, for whom they vouch,” an-
swered the Frenchman. ' '

" Walk in, sahs,” ejaculated the negro, with a
profound how.

He ushered them into an inner entry, where
there was a sofa. .

“Have de kindness to be seated. gemmen, if
you please,” continued the ardian of the door.

The entlemen seated emselves upon the
sofa, an the negro disappeared through a heavy
door at the end of the entry.

' “ I have been informed by men who profes to

know, that the preparations against a surprise in
this house are wonderfully complete,” the mar-
quis remarked. “ Although it cannot be de—
tected from the outside, there is a p-hole in
the front door, by means of which a l applicants
for admission are examined before the door is
opened. Then, if by any trick, the police suc-
ceeded in gaining entrance, that door there "-—
pointing to the one through which the negro had
disappeared—“ is mm of solid iron, and
won offer a stout resistance for fifteen or
twenty minutes to a dgang of men armed with
sled e-hammers an crowbars, so that there
wou d’be lenty of time to remove all evidence
that gain ling had been going on before the
police could get in.

The reappearance of the negro brought the

speech to an end.

“ Walk right in sahs,” said the servitor.

The three through the doorway, there
was another entry, another door and t e men
entered a parlor fitted up in regal oriental style.

The pile of the carpet was so thick and, soft
that the foot sunk into it. The walls were cov-
ered with velvet hangings, remindin one of
the tapestryof 0 en times; the turn ture was
quaint and old-fashioned, but each and every
piece was of the costliest description.

There were a dozen wellodressed gentlemen in

I! a ' -
~.i ‘il'.'«1v

i i

 

the room, the most of them congregated at one
end where a bearded foreigner sat at the piano
playing in a manner which showed he was a
master of the instrument.

In the front apartment—the parlors were dou-
hie—sat the mistress of the house, and as the
Californian looked upon her, seated on a luxu-
rious easy-chair, like some queen upon her
throne, he thou ht that she well deserved the
title of the Red rincess. .

She was a woman of thirty or thirty-five, a
little above the medium height, and possessing a
splendid figure.

She could not be called beautiful, for her com-
plexion was too swarthy and her features too
rregular, but there was a deal of character and
expression in the face and it was one that im-
proved upon acquaintance.

Her great charm Ouas the magnificent red-
fiold hair, which, crimped into wavy U‘CSSGS,

oated around her shoulders like the halo of the
saints of old.

A couple of gentlemen Were conversing with
the lady, but as the three approached they sa-
luted, and joined the throng at the piano.

The Red Princess received the new-comers
with a gracious smile, and she fixed her keen
dark eyes, inquiringly upon the face of the Cali-
fornian.

“ I am glad to see you, gentlemen,” she said,
in a musical, well-modulated voice. “ It is some
time since you have honored my poor saloon
with your presence.”

“Ah, Madam La Princess, your attractions
are so powerful that it is dangerous for one to
expose themselves to the influence too often,”
the Frenchman replied, with a gallant bow.

_ “ The god of flattery was surely a Frenchman
since the art comes so natural to your race,”
the Red Princess responded, shaking her fan at
the marquis.”

“ Oh no, no flattery! It is the truth, believe
me i” the marquis responded, with another bow.

“ Well, I am glad to see you, gentlemen, and
I hope you will not desert me for so long a time
again. It seems as if it was nearlyamonth
since you were here.”

“ Barely two weeks!” Fitzherbert asserted.

” Possibly so,” the Red Princess said, with a
true French shrug of her well-shaped shoulders.
“ I suppose it is as your great poet says, ‘ Sad
hours seem long.’ ” And she turned her lyril-
liant eyes with a bewitching smile upon the face
of the Californian.

The marquis seized upon the opportunity to
introduce the young man.

“ Madam La Princess, we have taken the lib-
erty of bringin a friend with us,” the French-
man said. “ T is gentleman chanced to hear us
speak of the Red Princess, and his curiosity
being excited, he desired to enroll himself among
your admirers.”

“I am very] glad indeed to make your ac-
quaintance,” t e lady said, with a particularly
gracious smile, and she frankly extended her
hand, which was adorned with rings wortha
kin ’s ransom.

“ ot more so than I, madam, for you are like
Cleo atra of old, the account does but faint jus-
tice the subject,” the Californian replied and
then, taking the extended hand, he bowed and
imprinted a respectful kiss upon it, asthough
it was the hand of a ueen.

The lips of the R Princess wlere wreathed
in smiles as she. listened to the complimentary
speech, but when the Californian pressed her
hand within his own strong lm and touched
his lips to it, the smile sud only faded from
her face and a sli ht cry of alarm escaped her.

“ 0h, your ban and lips are so cold l” she ex-
claimed, perceiving that the gentlemen re arded
her with amazement. “ They seem to ch‘ill me
to the ve heart.”

“You s ould take that for a good sign!” the
Californian exclaimed. “ Have you neVer heard
of the old saying thata cold hand betokens a
warm heart!”

“Oh, es,” and, with’an effort. she shook off
the sad en fear that had seized upon her, and
smiled again. " I hope that It is true. too, for
I like people with warm hearts, and I will con-
fess that I am very anXious to like you i”

“I am sure I will strive todo my best tode-
serve your liking,” the Californian replied, with
a gallant bow. -

‘ Pardon me-h0w ma I call your name?”

“ Mackay—Thomas ackay, of San Fran-
cisco ” the other re lied. “ I am a stranger here
in New York, an I count it a fortunate cir-
cumstance that the first lady acquaintance that
I chance to make in this great city should be
one so desirable as ourself. ’

“ Upon my wo , I believe you are a greater
flatterer than this Frenchman!” the lady de—
clared, with a charming smile.

The Californian denied the soft impeachment,

f‘ But I am so glad to make our acquain-
tance,” the Red Princess cont nued. “You
must not think that this is mere idle com 11.
ment, for it is not. I have heard a great ea]
of California, but you are the first native of
that far-oi! land that I have ever met, and, be-
lieve me, it comes from my very heart when I
say that I hope we will alwa s be-good friends.”

‘ I trust so madam,” the lifornian replied,
evidently rather astonished at the earnestne.

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with which the other spoke, as were his com-
panions also, whose brows slightly contracted as
they exchanged lances.

“ My doors w1ll alwaygbe o n to you, and
the oftener you come the tter will be pleased,”
the Red Princess declared.

The young man bowed his acknowledgment
of this flattering compliment, and at this mo-
ment one of the gentlemen in the back parlor
commenced to sing," accompanied by the pianist
on the instrument. _

“ What a fine voice!” exclaimed the Call-
foruian.

“ Yes, he is a professional singer,” the hostess
explained. Herr Von Bishoif of the German
Opera, and he is said to be the finest tenor that
we have ever had in this country. My dear
marquis, can’t you find a seat in the other room
for your friend, so that he will be able to enjoy
the music?”

“ Yes, I think so,” the Frenchman replied,
and then the pair bowed to the lady and pro-
ceeded to where the German tenor was pouring
forth the silver notes which brought him in
such a harvest of golden dollars.

As the gentleman turned away from the Red
Princess she had made a rapid Sign to the
Frenchman which he understood to be a Signal
that she wished to speak with him, so, after lis-
tening to the singer for a few minutes he whis-
pered to the Californian that he would be back
in a moment and repaired to the lady of the
mansion again. .

The Englishman had seated himself, and the
Red Princess motioned the marquis to a chair
as he approached.

The three had the front parlor to themselves
as the silver-voiced tenor had drawn all the rest
into the rear apartment.

There wasa grave look upon the face of the
Red Princess and her gaze was fixed searching~
ly upon the youn Californian, who sat so that
the ady had a Si( e view of him.

The stranger was, apparently, fond of music
for he listened to the singer with the utmost at-
tention.

“You have something to 33 to me?” the
Frenchman inquired as he seate himself.

“ Yes; where did you meet this young man!”
she asked, abruptly.

“ At the Fifth Avenue Hotel,” and then he
related how it bagpened that he and the Eug-
lishman had had t eir attention attracted to the
Californian, and from ‘the open manner in
which he spoke it was plain that he did not fear
to trust the Red Princess with his plans.

“You have selected this man fora victim?”
she demanded.

“Yes, both Fitzherbert and myself think that
he is a pigeon who will be worth the plucking,”
the Frenchman replied.

“ You have made a mistake!” the Red Princess
declared.

“ Do you think so?” the Frenchman asked,
rather astonished by the decided declaration.

“ Yes, I do not think there is adoubt in regard
to the matter," answered the lady.

“ You are inclined to think then that the
youn man is not what he represents himself
to be Fitzherbert questioned, thoughtfully.

“ Oh, no, I have not troubled my mind in re—
gard to that,” the Red Princess replied. “ In
fact, I could but express an opinion upon the
matter which would only be based upon con—

'ecture, and 1 am not egotistical enough to be-
ieve that my judgment about any such thin
would be in any way superior to that of two 01
and experienced men of the world like your-
selves.”

“ What do you mean then?" asked the French-
man. “ If the man is all right if he is what
he re resents himself to be—a rich Californian
-—an it is a fair presumption, I think, to con-
clude that he cannot as wise in worldly
knowledge as two old stagers like Fitzherbert
and myself—why should he not prove to bea
pi eon well worth the pluckin ‘

The R ‘d Princess shook her . cad. '

, “ I do not think that such wdl prove to be the

,case,” she said. “ I am a woman, and, like the
majority of my sex, am a firm believer in in-
stinct. .

“ Now, my instinct warns me.that this Young
man is dan rous.

“ Both 0 you know me well enough to under-
stand that I am not at'all weak by nature.”

“ Oh, no!” exclaimed the two men in a breath.

“ And in an emerging I can ,be trustei to do
whatever part may assigned to me as well as
any man that ever existed.

“ Yes. yes, you have proved that on a half a
dozen occasions,” the marquis remarked.

“ No one who knows you will doubt either
your discretion or courage,” Fitzherbert de-

cl .

,“ You mav be sure then that it is no idle
whim whiohleads me to think that this man is
one who is likely to prove robs,” the Red
Princess remarked, earnestly.

“ You must remember thet I too am an old
and experienced singer—and I have seen as
much of life as usually falls to the lot of an wo-
man,” she continued. “ But, in a matter this
kind I would rather trust my instinct than rely
upon the wisdom gained b years of ex once.
I am of Gypsy blood,,gent omen; that on the

 

mother’s side; although my father was a Russian
prince my mother was a Gypsy girl—the queen
of a band of Roumanian ohemians, and re-
ported to be the greatest prophtess and reader of
the future that had ever been known in all the
Gypsy world. ’

“ From that mother I have the gift of instinct
which invariably warns me when danger
threatens. You may think I am foolish, gentle-
men to attach any importance to presentiments,
but I can assure you that on many occasions by
ignoring the warnings I have suffered, and on
others by heeding the feeling which told me
that danger was near, I escaped serious peril.”

“ Oh, don’t ive way for a moment to the im-
pression that am no believer in resentiments!”
the Frenchman exclaimed. “ have seen too
much of life not to understand that there is
something in them.”

“Yes, yes, the man who does not believe in

resentiments, or in luck, is an idiot l” Fitzher‘
rt declared. “ I have seen too many cases in
my own experience not to know that there is a
great deal in both. Of course, there is a great
difference in people. The man who never has
any presentiments is not apt to believe that an
weight should be attached to them, and the fe -
low who leads a dull, humdrum life, is not apt
to take much stock, as these Americans say, in
luck, but to a man like myself, who depends
upon his wits for his bread, I know that luck is
everything. 1 have met with too many illustra-
tions of the fact in the course of my own ex-
perie’nce to have any doubt at all about the sub-
'ect. '

“That is my opinion, too,” the marquis re-
marked. “ And am sure that it is the belief
of nine out of every ten men who lead an ac‘
tivo life; I am not speaking only of adventurers
and men who live by their wits, but of cool,
long-headed business men.

‘ Take the Rothschilds, the great kings of the
money world, for instance,” he added. “ It is a
well-known fact that the founder of the family
owed his rise to great wealth entirely to the
chance of accident, and pie who know state
that the Rothschilds are such firm believers in
lucky and unlucky men, that they will not give
employment to men who have made failures in
conducting their own business.”

“ Oh. I have no doubt that it is the truth,”
the Red Princess observed. “ But. whether it is
so ‘or not with anybody else, I am a true he-
liever in luck, and also believe in the strongest
possible manner in presentiments.”

“ You haVe formed an unfavorable opinion in
regard to this stranger?" the marquis asked, re-
fiectively.

“ Yes, the very moment I looked upon his
face, something within seemed to whisper,“ Be-
warel this man is dargerousl’ And then when
he touched my hand a cold chill ran over me; it
was as if I had been suddenly exposed to the
icy blasts of winter.”

“ That is ve stran e!” was the marquis‘s
comment, and is dar brow was knitted in
thou ht.

“ es, it is very odd, indeed,” the English-
man added.

“ It certainly is remarkable that the man
should have produced such an impression upon
you when both Fitzherbert and myself, after
carefully examining the fellow, had come to the
conclusion that we could make a good thing out
of him,” the Frenchman continued.

“ Well, gentlemen, it is be ond my power to
explain how it is,” the Red rincess observed.
“ But it is certainly the truth that I have a re-
sentiment that this Californian is the most an-
gerous man that I have ever encountered, and
not for the world would I. enter into any game
agai’pst him, for I should look for an utter fail-
ure.
“ Oh, we did not calculate to ask you to take
a gsrt in‘ the affair.” the marquis explained.
“ e merely brought him up here to show him
your ’house as one of the notable sights of the
town.

“ I am glad you did it, for it has’ given me an
op rtun ty to warn you,” the lady remarked.
“ nd a t ough, of course I am not vain
enough to expect that two old birds of ray like
yourselves Will give up a project by wlfich you

ope to make a rich haul merely because a wo-
man has a preeentiment that it will not prove to
be successful, yet my words may serve to make
you proceed carefully, and such a course may
save you from serious consequences in case
there is any truth in the warning which has
come to me.” ' '

“ You may rest assured that we will pay due
attention to it,” the marquis declared. ' Both
Fitzherbert and myself have a deal of faith in
your judgment, but it is possible, you know,
that the man may be dangerous to you and yet
not dangerous to us.”

“ 0h, es, that may be so,” the Red Princess
admit . “ My presentimenti of danger com-
ing from this man may have reference to my-
self alone.”

. “ There «is something in that,” the Englishman
remarked.

It was lain that neither of the two advent-

urers felt nclined togive up the game on account
of the woman’s presentiments.
They thought that the Californian would prove

 

to be a rich prey and they were eager to get him
in their toils.

“ It is possibly true that you may succeed in
your designs, but I can assure you, gentlemen,
that there isn’t any inducement which would be
likely to get me to try to measure strength with
this man!” the Red Princess declared with an
earnestness which showed that she meant every
word she said. ,

“ Study his countenance, my dear friends,
as he sits there now, listening to the music,
and all unconscious that he is watched.

“ Look at the peculiar massive jaw—it is well-
formed—in fact rather small for a man, yet is
there not a suggestion of the bull- dog in it? None
of his features are large—really, for a man they
are so small as to seem efleminate, yet if he was
a woman they would appear to be enormously
strong; and then his eyes! Did either of you
ever See such a ir of eyes in the face of a
human before? hey are more like the eyes of
an animal than the orbs of a human.”

“ Well, it is rather odd,” the marquis remarked,
“ but I must admit that I never noticed his eyes;
it is as you say, though. His eyes are most cer-
tainly strange."

“ Yes, they appear to be Chan cable in color,”
the Englishman remarked. “ thought that
they were gray, but now they appear to be
black.”

“ And when he was talking to me there was a
greenish shade to them,” the Princess declared.
“ And I fancied, too, that the pupils could dilate
or diminish in size according to the mood of the
owner, and all the time I was curve ing them I
could not get rid of the impression t at the eyes
were far more like the eyes of a cat than those
of a man.”

“ Well, we will be on our guard and will
tryd not to be caught napping,” the marquis

1

sa .
And then the two rejoined the Californian.

CHAPTER VI.
rm: CALIFORNIAN nuns ms LUCK.

Tm: tenor came to the end of his song 'ust as
the two adventurers came up to the alifor-
man. *

There was oud applause and, being pressed
by his admi rs, the gentleman consented to
favor the company with another air.

“ Are you fond of music i” the marquis
asked.

1:310, not particularly,” the Californian re-
1 .

“The gentleman is a magnificent singer, no
doubt, but I confess I do not care much for this
grand opera business. M education in that lin
has been a little neglect 1 am afraid." ‘

“ Suppose we go upstairs and see how the
game is going on,” Fitzherbert suggested. “I
must admit thatlam not a great admirerof
this style of music either; I prefer something
more slm le.”

“Yes, t is operatic music needs the accessories
of the stage to make it effective,” the marquis
remarked.

Then the three proceeded to the second floor,
but in the entry, at the head of the stairs, they
came to a locked door, which was not opened in
obedience to the Frenchman’s knock until the
guardian of the portal, a stout, middle—aged
negro, t00k a careful survey of theparty through
a —hole in the door.” I .

‘ n my word this place is well guarded l”
the lifornian exclaimed, as the negro closed
the peep-hole and ed to shove back the
massive bolts which protected the door.

“ Yes, own if any intruders managed to gain
admittance to the first floor they would be put
to considerable trouble to get' to the second
where the game is run,” the Frenchman remark-

“ That is certain l" the Englishman exclaimed.
“ And men who are in regard to the prem-
ises say that if the fellows who run the place can
secure five minutes’ warning they have thin aeo
arranged that all evidence that there has been
any gambling. going on can be removed, and the
smartest detective in the city would not be able
to find any proof to warrant an arrest.”

The door opened at this moment, and the no.-
gro bade them enter with the politenca of a
dancingomaster.

 

The rooms on the second floor were a counter— .

part of those on the first and furnished equally
as luXuriantly.

There was a rouletteotable in the front ‘room
andaiaro gamewas inqu blast in the rear
apartment.

A massive sideboard stood against the wall
:lhicl; rated1 tlliie two mawgh a final; ap-

yo wnesan n yanea r—
ate cold lunch, an not;th refreshments the
sheets

A co cred servant was in charge of the aid,-
board, and he waited u the gentlemen with'a
dexterlt and grace w ich showed that he had
been tra in a school.

The three around for a minute, noneof

the guests taking any notice of the new-comers i

—-it is contrary to the rules of etiquette which
prevail in such places forthegnests to
any curioth to each other.

Well, w
asked. ,

id their attention every now and then. _

 

u I
t doyou think of iti” the marquh

 

 

6

Tom .01“ California. v'

 

 

“ It is a fine outfit,” the Californian replied.

“ I doubt if you have anything superior to it
.' on the Pacific Slo , although I have heard that

on have some he places in San Francisco,”

: itzherbert remarked.
‘ “ Oh, yes, but nothingany better than this,
although we have some shebangs big enough to
make six of this one, but I will admit that for
style this is a little ahead of anything we have,”
the young man remarked.

“ Will you try a. glass of wine. or something
stronger, and a mouthful to eat?” the French-
man inquired. “ All is as free as air, you know,
and you are not under any obligation to play,
even if you should be hungry and thirsty enough
to clear the sideboard.”

, “ Oh, I understand that, of course ” the Cali-
: fornian replied. “ That is the rule in houses of
' this kind all over the world, I believe. But I

don’t mind a glass of wine, but as I am going to

play a little I don’t care to drink anything
, stronger, for I want to have my wits about me. ’
s “ That is wise, certainly l” the marquis de-
3 clared.
! The three approached the side-board and in-
. dulgerl in a glass of sherry wine and they went
{I up to the faro table where they watched the
game for a few minutes. '

Then the Californian drew out his “ roll” and
stripping off five twenty-dollar bills with the
. dexterity of a bank cashier, bought a hundred
. dollars’ worth of chips.

Both the adventurers also invested only they
, did not proceed on so great a scale, the French—
 man getting twenty dollars’ worth and Fitzher—
' ' bert fifteen.

- After the game had gone on for about twenty
minutes and the three had made several bets
they came to the conclusion from the way in

> , which the Californian played that lie was an old
,-:_ hand at the game.
- Both the marquis and Fitzherbert were good

.‘w

 gamesters and played a “system,” not at ran-
. dom as the unexperienced faro gambler usually
1‘ v does, and after they had watched their compan-

ion’s game for a while thew say that he was
playing a s stem too, and were soon convinced
that he ha a fine knowledge of the game, for
he made his bets in a skillful mannergmd seemed
tocomprehend when the odds were in favor of
the “ bank,” and when the cards were running
the pla er’s way.

The alifornian was no “ plunger ” but made
his bets with shrewd caution and as luck seemed
to favor him in an hour he had quite alittle
stack of chips in front of him.

His companions. were not so fortunate, for
although they were both good players luck was
not “ runnin their way” on this occasion and
by the end 0% the hour their chips had vanished.

“ Well, are you all through, gentlemen?” the
Californian asked, as he noticed that they did
not evince any idea of investing in any more
, chips when the cashier drew away their last
*5 - pieces of ivory.

_ V “ Yes, I think so,” the marquis replied. “ I
"w; am evident] not in luck to-night, and there is
little use 0 a man’s playing when fortune re-
.. fuses to smile u on him."
2,. “(Very true,’ the young man observed.
"*3 “By Jove] I haven’t hadabit of luck,” the
 En lishman declared. '
. a Californian looked at his watch. .

“ Half-past twelve,” he‘ said. “ Well, as you
.1, ;- gentlemen have had enough I will stop.”

2-,, So he cashed in his chips, stuck the money in
" ' his et, in the most careless way, and rose
from t e table.

Another glam of wine was indulged in by all
three and t on they departed.

The adventurers al owod the Californian to
get a little way ahead of them as the party de-
scended the stairs so that they could exchange
a few words without his knowled e. .

“ Shall we attempt to do any t ing to-nighti”
thoEnglishman asked.

“ No, I do not think that it would be advisa-
ble,” the marquis re lied. “ I don’t know
whether the warnin o the Red Princess is to
blame for the peculiar feeling which has come
over me in regard to this man or not, but one
thing is certain and that is, I do not want to try
-'  ‘ any game until I have everything so fixed that
5." there will not be any doubt about ‘our making a
sucoou of it. I do not want to take an, chances.”
 ' “ My own idea exactly ” the nglishmsn

remar ed. “ I think the lied Princess over-

rates this man, but we want to fix the thing so
that we cannot possibly make a failure, no
matter how good he is. It is my impression
that we can make a ri haul, if we onl play
our game well, but w ust not be in a urry,
for we cannot gain anything by attempting to
force matters ahead.”

, , ' “ No; it will be wise for us to play a waiting

 _ game.”

5‘ 1 ‘ By this time the party were at the street door,

" “ ,  and the conversation came to an end.

The three walked toward Broadway, and
When they arrived at the main thoroughfare,
came too halt on the corner, and there con-
wrsed for a few moments.

The 'adventurors were bound down-town for
the French quarter, below Union Square, and
’ so were going to take a car, while the Call-

fornian preferred to walk back to his hotel.

 

4s" ‘

 

 

 

 

 

 

l

 

An appointment was made for a meeting on
the following evening; the adventurers, being
well posted in regarc to all the sights of the
gay metropolis had volunteered to pilot the
stranger BTOUIK -—show him the ro s, to use the
old saying, an offer which the Ca ifornian had
gladly accepted.

“ You will find that I am a thoroughbred
from Thoroughbredvillel” Mackay declared, as
he'lpai‘bcd from the pair.

he adventurers boarded their car and away
they went, while the Californian walked leisure.L
1y down the street.

Upper Broadway is by no means deserted un~
til the small hours of the morning, and there
were plenty of people on the street to keep the
stranger company.

The Californian sauntered along, keepin his
keen, gray eyes well open, seeing everyt ing
without appearing to take any particular notice
of his surroundings. ’

When he came to Thirty-fourth street, he had
to wait for a few moments on the curbstone, as
a car was passing.

Just by accident he he pcned to glance be-
hind him, and his eyes felFupon the figure of a
stout, thick-set, rough-looking fellow, slouching
slowly along the pavement, and the moment the
man saw that the Californian had caught sight
of him, he went to the curbstone, halted there,
and gazed up Broadway as if he was looking for
a car.

This maneuver immediately attracted Mac-
kay’s attention to the man.

“Hello, hello!” he muttered, “ what are you
‘up to? Playing the spy upon me? 'Upon my
word it looks like it!

“Well, it is lucky that I tumbled to your
little ame. But what is the object? What are
you after, anyway? I think I will have to make
you show your hand I”

The car assed, and the Californian resumed
his walk. e had been careful not to pay any
particular attention to the man, after havin
caught sight of him, for it was his wish to le
him on.

Half-way down the neat block was a saloon,
with a window full of theatrical advertise-
ments, and the Californian stopped for a minute
and surveyed the pictures in the easement.

Thus he was enabled to cast a hasty sideways
glance backward, and so discoverer that t e
rough-looking fellow was still steadily following
him.

Mackay performed this movement so adroitly
that the man had no suspicion that the Cali-
fornian had caught sight of him.

Again the young man went on—he had only
halted for a moment, but when he came to the
next saloon he entered and got a glass of ale.

The object of this was to satisfy himself he-
yontlita doubt that the man was really on his
true .

“If he is shadowing me he will be loitering
somewhere in. the neighborhood when I come
out,” the stranger mused. “ If I am wrong in
m conjecture he will have passed on.”

but when the Californian came out of the
saloon, about the first thing he saw was the fel-
low, some fifty feet up the street, standing half-
concealed in a doorway.

“ He is after me, sure enough!” Mackay mut-
tered. "And as that is the case, it behooves
me to find out just what kind of a game he is up
to, an] in order to do that I must get him away
to some solitary place, where I will have a
chance to interview him, without danger of in—
terruption. It may be that this is only some
common ni ht-hawk who has picked me out as
bein a like y prey; but as the man's face seems
fam iar to me, there is a. chance that there is
homething more to the affair. An way, I will

etkiit t 0 true inwardness of iti I havs any

uc .

Havin come to this determination the Cali-
fornian eft Broadway, and went through one
of the cross streets to Eighth avenue, the man
following steadil on his track, and twice the
fellow quickened is (pace when a lonely part of
the street was reoche , as though he intended to
make an assault; but on these occasions other
wayfarers had come up, so that the fellow was
not able to carry out his intention.

At Eighth avenue Macks took a car,and,
as he expected, his tracker rded the same
vehicle, getting: on the front platform, and at
this point the ulifornian fancied he had’mado
a discovery which amazed him considerably.

He was certain now that the man was shad-
owing him; there was no doubt in his mind in
regard to the matter, and there were a con la
of ill—looking fellows who were shadowing is
shadow.

He had noticed the pair before, and his first
thought had been that they were pals of the
man who was following him, a conclusion which
mad? him shake his head and look raven

“ hree against one is pretty lg odds,” he
had murmured. ‘i But since I have got into the
affair I will try and see it through.” ,

The two men Ilso got on the car the were
able to do this without trouble, althoug they
had been some distance in the rear, or the
vehicle halted for fully a minute, to give time
for some ladies and children to get off.

After the car started the Californian kept a

\

 

diligent watch, in order to see if he could detect
any communication between the one man on
the front platform and the two slender, boyish-
looking, typical New York toughs on the rear
end of the car.

Before the vehicle had gone adozen blocks,
Mackay became satisfied that the three were
not pals.

The two men were shadowing the one, just as
the fellow was shadowing him, and, what was
more, the Californian soon became satisfied that
the pair had no idea that the first man was in
chase of him.

“Here is a game within a game!" Mackay
muttered, after he came to this conclusion.
“ How is it going to end? That is the question
that is now before the meeting; events alone, I
suppose, only can settle that: and as it, appa-
rently, devolves upon me to select the locality
where the game must be pla ed out, I will take
care to pick out one where t ere will not be any
danger of interference.”

Acting on this idea, the Californian remained
in the car until the upper part of the cit was
reached, where the houses were few and ar be-
tween, a wild, lonely region, u n which the
now rising morn shed a flood of si very light.

The Californian left the car and struck off
down one of the half-built—up streets toward the,
North River.

 

CHAPTER VII.
THE ASSAULT.

As he expected, the man on the front of the
car followed in his footsteps. He made this dis--
covery b casting a rapid glance over his shoul—
der, but e could not see the two young] fellows
who had been on the rear platform of t e car.

“ Could I have been mistaken in regard to the
matterif’ he muttered as he strolled leisurely
along, like a man who had all the night before
him, and was not at all in a hurry.

The moment he gained the sidewalk the Cali-
fornian had thrust his hand in between his vest
and pantaloons and drawn forth a revolver—not
a little weapon, barely more than a toy, such as
are commonl carried—but a good-sized tool,
ca able of do ng excellent work.

t was a doubleacting pistol, one of the latest
patterns; a weapon suc as would have delight-
ed the eyes of an expert.

On went the Californian, and the tracker
followed with almost noiseless steps.

That is, he attempted to tread as softly as pos—
sible, but in spite of his efforts in this direction,
the keen cars of the Californian could distinctly
hear his footfalls.

Three minutes’ walk brought Mackay into an
extremely desolate region.

Huge rocks rose out of the ground, and the
street became merely an irregular road, not
haying been cut through.

The Californian took to the middle of the
pathway; the road wound around a mass of
rocks, by the further side of which was a tum-
ble-down, deserted shanty.

As he passed the old house, the Californian
gave it a wide berth; this was merely a natural
precaution for he had no suspicion that any
dan er lur ed in or near the old house: but after
getting beyond the shanty, a sli ht noise came
to his ears, which Convmced im that there
1were humans lurking in the shadows of the old

ouse.

“ Probably tramps, who have sought shelter ‘

for the night in the ruins," the Californian mut—
tered as be cast a' rapid lance back over his
shoulder, after getting we 1 by the old shanty.

It was his idea that he might be able to dis—
cover who it was that lurked in the shadow of
the shanty, but the man, or men—Mackay
jud d that there were more than one—were so
wel concealed that he was not able to discover
anfi traces of them.

0 caught sight of his shadow, though, who
was about a hundred yards in the rear, and
keeping well in by the rocks so as to take ad
vantage of their shade to escape observation.

A hundred yards more the Californian cov—
ered, and then his attention was suddenly at-
tracted by the rush of feet followed by the cry
of a man in agony. -

The sound came from his rear.

He quickly turned, and beheld his shadow
prostrate on the ground, and the,two’ youn
toughs, who had been on the reaf platform 0
the car, running up the street toward Eighth
avenue as fast as their legs could carry them.

It was the first impulse Qf the Cal fornian to
Open fire upon them, but as they were hardly
within range he refrained.

He had guessed what had occurred, though.
The pair, b a sudden detour, had gamed the
shelter of t e shanty; there had lain in wait,
and when the thick-set fellow came along, skulk-
ing in the shadow of the rocks, had sprung‘out

upon h m.

" It looks as if my man was badly hurt!”
Macks exclaimed, as he hurried tothe spot.
“The ellows must have used either knives or
a club, for a pistol would have made a noise.”

When he reached the side of the prostrate
man the Californian knelt by him.

The man was lying face downward and a.
low moon of pain escaped from him as Mackay
bent his knee.

13‘,-

 

 

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,.. . A. ,...,
s

. .u...w..»....-.uw_~u.m v‘ _  . , . .. 

..!
we}... .

' Tom ; of California.

u. ‘~Ml‘wm—_. .

7

 

 

” Are you badly hurt?” the Californian asked.

A groan came from the man’s lips, he turned
upon his side and stared up in the face of the
other.

A moment the man stared and then he ex-
claimed:

“ Is it possible that it is you—are you fated
to be my evil genius?”

CHAPTER VIII.
AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.

THE Californian cast a searching glance at
the face of the prostrate man.

The chin—in fact about all the lower part of
the face was covered with a scrubby beard, but
in spite of the change which this made in the
ap stance of the man the Californian had no

giant: in recognizing him, although, for a
reason, e pretended not to be certain, and re-
marked:

“ Well, it seems to me that I have seen
you somewhere before. And from the way in
which you speak you don’t appear to have any
doubt about the matter.”

“ Why do you attempt to make out that you
don’t know me?” the man asked. “ I am just as
certain as can be that on know who I am well
enough, and I wish to eaven that I had guessed
who you were when I started in on your track,
but your disguise was so rfect that it deceived
me, and I had not the slightest notion who you
really were when I picked on out for a like]
prey. It is fate, I suppose,’ he continued wit
a groan. “ I have never had a bit of luck since
I first met you, and now you have led me to my
death.”

“ Upon my word I had no hand in this as-
sault upon you i” the Californian exclaimed.

“ Oh, I know that—I know well enough who
it was that dealt me the blow, but you are re.
sponsibie for it all the same.”

“ How do you make that out?” cried the other,
in astonishment. “ I give you my word that l
neither know the men nor the reason why they
attacked you.”

“ Yes, yes, I know that, but it is through you
that I come to m death.”

“ You mean, suppose, that if you had not
followed me to-night you would not have fallen
into this trap.”

“ Yes, that is it: as I said, you are my evil
genius and you have led me to my death.”

“ Are you badly hurt!”

“ Oh, yes, I am done for,” the wounded man
replied, with another groan. “Those two fel.
lows know how to use their knives and they
gave me a couple of slashes a piece.”

“I will hasten to procure assistance for you !”

“ No use, no use!” the man protested with a
mournful shake of the head. ‘ I am done for, I
tell you, and all the doctors in the world will
not do me any good. The fellows had it in for
me, and I knew it too.”

“ Ah, they were your enemies?”

“Oh, no, I never saw either one of them be-
fore, hut they were told to put me out of the
way and they have managed to do the job up in
first-class style.”

“ Do you mean to say that these two fellows
were hired to murder you?" the Californian de-
manded, in amazement.

“ No, not exact] hired, but they were told
to do the job, an , of course, they Were bound
to do as they were bid.”

“ You are esipeaking in riddles!” the Califor-
nian exclaim . “ Do you mean to say that
these two men were utter stran rs who as-
saulted you because they were tol to do so by
some one else!”

“ Yea/that is what I said. and that is the
truth,” the wounded man replied. “ I am going
to make a clean breast of it to you—I am going
to legion see exactly how the game has been
play . Of course you did not mean to do it
this time but if it had not been for you I would
not now be lying here. waiting for death to
come. I don’t doubt that I would have been
killed 'in the long run if ' I had staid in New
York, and it was my when to tout of the
city as quickly as I could, but I d . n’t have the
money, and I struck after you to-nlght with the
idea of making a raise.”

“ Go ahead! anything I can do for you I will
not shrink from.”

“ It was fate itself that fixed this thing the way
it is,” the man declared. ” Of all the people in
this bi city there is no one who can handle
this better than you can, and that is the rea-
son, s’pose, why you assist in for a share in
it. Fate has picked you out to be the destro er
of the hi and moat dangerous gang t at
New Yor has ever known.”

“ A gan , eh?” the Californian exclaimed, a
peculiar lig t shining in the strange gray e es,

“ Yes; it is an English tra uncut“ Band
of the Invisible Hand, and one and every mem-
ber of the ang hasa bright red hand tattooed
on the fies , and in such a place that it can’t be
seen without a careful examination, and that is
why it is called the Invisible Hand.

“ My mark is on the. side of the second finger
of my left hand, the side next to the first flu or,
close to the knuckle, and as itjs not bigger t an
a grain of corn. there is not much danger of any-
body discovering it; but now that you know
where it is, if you look carefully you will see it.”

 

 

The Californian made an examination.

” Yes, here is the mark, sure enough.”

“ Every one of the band wears the brand of
the Invisible Hand, but some of the members
have the hand disguised with other tattooing in
such a way that it cannot be distinguished until
it is inted out.”

“ es, I see; a wise precaution it seems to me.”

“ It is the Invisible Hand men who have struck
me down. They believe that I have betrayed
the secrets of the band to the police, because when
I got in a hole I managed to slip out; the chief
too wanted me to lay you out and I begged to
have another man put on the job.”

“ Ohol the Invisible Hand fellows had it in for
me then i”

“ Yes, you were responsible for the arrest of
the two principal members of the band and they
wanted to get square.”

“ But as both the man and woman took ison
and died I should have thou ht that won] have
broken up the hand,” the Ca ifornian remarked.

“ There was some gum game about that thing!”
the man asserted.

“ HOW so.”

“ Both of ’em are alive 1”

A look of amazement came came over the face
of the other.

“ It is not possible!” he exclaimed.

" It is the truth!” the man persisted. “ And
it was because I believed them to be dead that I
got in trouble. Although I was out on bail and
the programme was for me to cut and run, I
reckoned I would rather-stay in New York, so I
tried to square the thing with the chief of police,
but I did not give away anything concerning
the Invisible Hand people.”

CHAPTER IX.
THE OATH.

“ BUT as you succeeded in getting out of the
scrape, “ your associates believed that you owed
your escape to the fact that you had betrayed
them,” the Californian said.

“ Yes; they argued that I had come to the
conclusion that as the captain was dead the band
would bu'st up, and I had made up my mind to
make what I could out of the affair.”

“ That was a natural conclusion,” the other
remarked. “ I suppose they reasoned that they
would have tried a game of that kind if they
had been situated as you were.”

“ Ah, but nobody ever said that Tom Finn
wasn’t a square man !” the wounded fellow ex-
claimed. ‘ I havo always borne that reputation.
I have been inched by the police afore now and
I never tri to et out of the hole by giving
away my pals; t at is, not when my ls were
true blue, and in this case I got out o the hole
by splitting on a pal who was mixed up in a big
bank robbery. l knowed the chief was anxious
to find out who was the man that did the job,
and as the cove that cracked the crib was doing
time in 'a Western jail, I did not hesitate to give
the snap away, particularly as the cove had a
growl with me once, and I had been warned
that he had threatened to put a knife in me the
first chance he got.”

"Under those circumstances you could hardly
be blamed for givi the man away if by so do—
ing vou got yoursel out of a scrape.”

‘ It has cast me my life though, the wounded
man said with _a groan. “ For I couldn‘t make
the captain believe that I did not betray the

 

an .’
g “lay the captain do you mean Leander
Brakespgarf” the Californian asked.

it

x

“ And he is alive?”

‘6 Oh, fa.”

“ But do not understand it,” the other re-
marked with a puzzled air.

“ No more do I, but it is a fact. all the same.”

“Brakespear and this Fifth avenue woman,
Mrs Darlington, when attested, char ed with
an attempt to commit murder, mans in some
we to take poison; they were rought to
P0 ice Head narters in an insensible state and
soon died. here was no doubt about the mat-
ter for the coroner held an inques upon the
bodies and rendered a verdict accordingly.”

“ Yes, I know that, but the captain s alive, I
am sure of that for I saw him; the woman I
don‘t know an t lug ab ut.”

“ Well, this one of the strangest stories that
I ever heard.” .

“ The captain was in bed, a prett sick man
1 should jud from the way beloo , for he
was thin an as pale as a ghost, and he could
hardly speak, too, above a w leper. He ch
me w th giving the gang away and said be ad
me lured to the house on pu to square the
thing with me. I swore that it wasn‘t so, of
course. If I had been guiltRI wouldn’t have
owned up to it. anyway. 0 captain said I
would have a fair trial and had me put in the
cellar for safe-keeping.” ‘

“Weiiéayou were in aboie then,” the other
common .

“ You bet! and when I come to think about
the thing I concluded to get out of it if I could,
for I saw that I would have a good deal, of
trouble in proving thatl was innocent.

“ I am a pretty old jail-bird and it must be a
strong cage to hold me. I had my tools with me,
concealed in the heels of my shoes, which were

 

I

 

made hollow for that purpose, and it did not
take me long to get out; then I made 11 my
mind to emigrate from New York, but as was
short of cash it was necessary for me to make a
raise somewhere, and so I picked you out for a
victim, and that is where my cursed ill-luck
came in. As I said, right in the beginning, you
have been my evil genius: ever since I met you
not a bit of luck have I had.”

“ It was not my fault though that these
toughs struck you down.” 1

“ No, but if I had not followed you, maybe,
they would not have been able to get a chance
at me.”

“ Possibly not.”

“ It was fate!” the man groaned, evidently
getting weaker. “I am coming rapidly to the
end of my rope, and I have a last favor to ask
of you.” '

“ All right! I will grant it if I can."

“ Will you avenge my death?”

“ Avenge it?”

“ Yes, break up'this Invisible Hand band: you
will find that it is a tough job, but you can do it
if anybody can, for you are a natural—horn blood-
hound.”

“ I will try my best to accomplish the task:
your death shall be avenged and the gang de-
stroyed if it is possible for me to do the job.”

“ Swear it!” ejaculated the wounded man
whose strength was rapidly failing.

“ I do—I swear by a l I hold sacred to bring to
'ustice each and every member of the Invisible

and band!” said Tom of California solemnly.
“ And now give me some points to aid me.
Where is the headquarters of the gang?”

“ In an old house on South street, near—” and
at this point aJchoking fit interrupted the man’s

peech.

“ On Siuth street, near— i” and the Californian
bent eagerly to catch the words.

“ Near—near—” sped the wounded man,
trying hard to speak, but the effort was too much
for him; he choked, then gave vent to a low
groan and rolled over on his face, dead,
carrying the secret of the Invisible Hand band’s
headquarters to the grave with him.

 

CHAPTER X.
A CONFEREN CE.

CHANGE we the scene now from the lonely up-
town street to a email English ale and chop-
house on Houston street, a short distance from
Police Headquarters, and the time is some seven
hours later, making it almost eight in the mom—

in ,.

The chief of police had just entered the chop-
house, called for a glass of ale and passed into a
small private room in the rear of the bar.

This place was kept by a retired detective, a
man who in his day had been reputed to be one
of the best ofilcers on the force, and it was a
regular house of call for detectives and police
ofi‘icrals when of! duty.

It was nothing out of the way then for the
chief of police to drop into the saloon once in a
while for a glass of ale, and no comment was ex—
cited thereby.

But if any spy had been put upon the chief’s
track to watch his movements, the sleuth-hound
would have noted that the chief, after ordering -
his ale, always passed into the private room an
the door was closed, so that no one in the main .
saloon could see what went on in the small apart-
ment. .
If the spy had been allowed to push his re-'
searches further he would have discovered that:
there was a rear door to the apartment iesdin
into the entry of the chop-house, so it was po -
bio for any one to u an entrance into the small
room without pass ng through the saloon, or be- .
in seen by any one who mi ht be there.

is the reader has probe. ly conjectured the
chief visited the saloon for another purpose than
to enjoy his ale.

The calling for the liqu’r was only a blind to
deceive any prying eyes that might watch his
movements.

In the apartment the chief of police held inter-
views with spies whom he did not wish to beseen
entering or coming from Police Headquarters.

It was his idea to he their identity a secret
from every one—even mm the detectives for
whom the spies cut out work.

On this occasion when the chief entered the
private mom it was occupied b the young man
who had claimed tobeThomas ackay, the Call.
fornian. -

As the reader has probably suspected long era
this, the party was not a Californian—his name
w not Thomas Mackay, but he was a sleuth-
hou who was makin a name secondto none
that the annals of the ew York detectives had ‘
ever. known.

There was a “lahone connecting the ele—
house with the chic once, so that he could be
speedily summoned when his presence was de-
sired

After the ofiicial entered the room and closed
the door he hesitated for a moment, carefully
surve ing the young man, who sat by the round
table u the center of the apartment, smoking a

rette.
a?“ chief was evidently nied.

“Don‘tyouknow’ met a myget-upasgood'

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A

 

 
 

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smile.

The perplexed look disappeared from the face
of the official and a laugh came in its place.
“ Upon my word! your disguise bothered me:”

he exclaimed, as he approached the table and 1

took a seat.

“ It must be agood One then.”

“ It certainly is; I did not know you until
you spoke.”

“ I took the liberty of summoning you this
morning, for I think I got on the track of an
im ortant matter last night.”

‘ That was right. By the way, do you know
that the crook to whom you owe your intro—
duction into the detective force of New York,
Thomas Finn, died last night?”

“ Earl this morning. to be exact,” the other
said. “ es, I was aware of it. I was with the
man when he breathed his last "

“ It is not sible that you had a hand in his
death?” the c ief exclaimed.

“Oh, no; but that is the matter that I come
to speak about,” and then the speaker proceeded
to gelate his adventures during the preceding
nig t.

The official listened with the utmost attention,
and when the tale was finished drew a long
breath.

“ Well, I must declare that you are about the
luckiest party that I ever nietll’vhe explaimzed.
“ You have managed to make a discovery
which will, unless I am greatly mistaken, turn
out to be of the utmost importance.

“1 have heard of this Invisible Hand band
before, but the clews which reached me were so
slight and unsubstantiul that I was inclined to
believe that it was only a fairy story.”

“ I would have been inclined too not to take
much stock in it had I not seen the brand on the
man with my own eyes.”

“ And then this yarn that Brakespear is still
alive—it does not seem possible.”

“ That is true.”

\“ Are you sure that the man was not delirious
when he male the statement? Was he in pos-
session of his senses?”

" Oh, yes, he knew what he was saying.”

“ There is some dark mystery about this
affair and we must endeavor to get at the bot-
tom of it as soon as possible,” the ofiicial re-
marked after reflecting a on the matter for a
moment. “ It seems incr ible that there could
be any mistake about the matter, for I saw the
man after he was dead, and most certainly
there was no life in his body then.”

“ But you did not make any examination?”

“ No, of course not; I never thought of such a
thing. The man was dead; the doctors said so,
and the coroner held an in nest. There was no
doubt in regard to cause 0 the death, for both
the man and woman confessed before they be-
came insensible, that they had taken poison.
New, under such circumstances, why should I
have had any doubts?”

“Very true; there wasn’t anything to arouse
suspicion.” ,

“ Not a thing, and it seems to me that there
must be some mistake about the matter. This
man, Finn, either lied to you when he declared
that he had had an interview with Brakespear,
or else he was tricked in some way and made to
believe that another was Brakespear.”

“ Well, I do not see any good reasons to so
~ port eithersupposition,”t JtCalifornianremal‘I:

v ed. “ The man could a gain anything 1:
speaking false-l , and he certainly was too We 1
acquainted Wit the leader of the gang to be de-
ceivad in regard to his identit .

’ ‘t It really appears as if bot these statements.

of years were correct,” the chief of police ob-
served. “ The myster is a deep one, and if
you succeed in solving t you can take high rank
:in the detective force.”
“ I can try, at all events,” the other remarked
.With a quiet smile.
“ It was an unfortunate thing that death
stepped in and sto ped Finn’s breath before he
, revealed to you t is secret of the gang’s head-
quarters.”
“ Yes, it is in South street somewhere.”
“ South streej/isa long street,” the chief ob-
served. “ And there are half a dozen places in
a it which the police keep their eyes upon ; saloons,
you know, which are noted for being the resorts
of bad characters."
“ Suppose you'have a list of these places made
'- out for me, and I will examine them one by one,
and so, perhaps, will be able to discover the
head uarters of the gang,” the Californian sug-

rv e. . .
' , _  “ Yes, that is a good idea, and I will have the
5  list made out as soon as I return to Headquar-
tars.”
 “And assoon all getithill begin to in-
v zvestizate.”
. “ You will not go in this rig, though.” the
. Ichief remarked, with a glance at the handsome
:auit of the Californian
- “Oh, no,” the other replied, with a laugh.
.‘, i“! do not knew much about the South street
. ~ deal, but from what little Ido know, I fancy
that an well-dressed fellow would meet with a
, portion arly warm reception in some of them."
“ By the way. I cannot help thinking of this

 ltatement that Finn made in mgardtoBmko- ,

 

as all that?” the young man asked with a quiet I

your company.

 

spear,” the official remarked, abruptly. “The
doctor and the coroner both have an appomt-
ment with me at half-past eight-—” be consulted
his watch. “ It is a couple of minutes after
time. The chances are that they are at Head-
quarters now. I will ask them to step around,
and then we will see what they think about the
matter.”

The telephone was called into play, and in ten
minutes’ time the police surgeon and the coroner
made their appearance.

The chief of police recalled the poison cases to
their minds, and then stated that he had heard
a rumor that the man was alive.

Both of the gentlemen laughed at the idea.

“ There was no doubt then that the man was
dead i” the chief asked.

“ Not the slightest!” replied the police sur-
geon, and the coroner confirmed the statement.

“ Is there any possibility that the man could
have taken some drug which Would produce the
appearance of death, and the effects of which
would after a time pass away i” the Californian
asked.

“ Now you are getting into the realms of
romance,” the doctor observed dryly. “ I have
read of such things, and have been amused by
the art which the author displayed in making
the circumstance appear proba 1e, but when
on come down to solid facts, the trick cannot

done.”

“ Justice could not be cheated in that way,
oh?” the chief remarked.

“No, sir!” the doctor declared decidedly, and
the coroner echoed the opinion.

This brought the conference to a close.

CHAPTER XI.
A NIGHT INCIDENT.

FOR a cou 16 of weeks after the death of the
murdered inn, the police authorities of the
metropolis made every possible effort to appre-
hend the two young tough}; who had committed
the murder. ‘

From the Californian a good description of
the pair was obtained, and there was not a de-
tective nor a policeman in the city who did not
do his best to apprehend the murderers.

1t was asource of wonderment to the “ force ”
why the chief of police made such strenuous
efforts to catch the rascals, fer, as far as they
could see, the affair was nothing more than a
quarrel he: Ween acme scoundrels, and if all three
had perished in the fight, it would have been
better for the community at large.

The official did not think that it was necessary
to confide to his men that he was anxious to
catch the murderers of Finn, because by so
doing he hoped to get a clew to the mysterious
gang which had set his power at defiance.

The search though was a fruitless one; no
trace of the murderers could be discovered; they
had either succeeded in escaping from the city,
or else had found a hidin place so secret, that
the sleuth-hounds were no able to, ferret it out.

It is just fifteen nights from the one on which
the Invisible Hand men wreaked their ven-
geance upon a supposed traitor. and along South
street, in the neighborhood of Peck Slip, a young,
good-looking woman was hurrying.

The hour was late, nearly midnight, and the
locality a lonely one.

The girl was hastening along as though anx-
ious to get to her destination; she was well-
dressed, a decided contrast to the poor outcasts
who are usually to be met with in the locality
at such an hour. - -

As the woman came to one of the crass-streets
a man came around the corner abru tlyand
Confronted her, barring the way so could
not pass.

He was a medium-sized, rough-looking fellow,
poorly dressed, and evidently under the influ-
ence of ii nor.

“Hello where are ye
with a leer, and then he an

girl.

“ Hello, hello i” he continued. “ If it isn’t
Cuban Kate! Well, now, you are jest the girl I
want to see. I was in your place tonight and
spent every rod that I had, and now I reckon it
will be about the fair thing for you to tip me a
small loan, so I kin git along.”

“ Out of my way, you drunken rufiilan !” cried
the girl, steme her dark eyes flashing fire.
“ You were not 0 liged to come into my lace if
you did not want to, and as to your spen ing all
your money there, I have to (1 you a ha f a
dozen times tigat your room was better than

“ Oho, you are talking mighty loud now,
but you a n’t got any of your ang here to back
ye}: u'pl” the man declared, a ark look upon his
ug y ace. .

“ I do not need any gun . I am able to take
care of myself, as you wil speedil discover if
you do not take yourself out of t 9 way!” the
girl retorted. '

“ Aha! now you are trying to scare me, but
that sine won’t work! Come! hand over a
trifle keep me going, or it will be the worse
for you,” and he made a threatening suture.

Then out from the shelter of a door ay came
:hzoung man who had been a silent witnen of

 

oin ?” he exclaimed,
Eden y recognized the

scene.
The new-comer was a smooth-faced, boyish-

 

looking fellow, but possessed a well-knit, muscu-
lar figure.

He was poorly dressed in a dark suit, very
much the worse for wear, regularly shabby in
fact, although his face was a prepOssessing one.
From his dark olive" complexion and black hair,
which curled in little short, crispy i'inglets over
his well-shaped head, a judge of nationalities
would have taken him to be a foreigner, a
Frenchman or an Italian, although tlre cast of
his features was like an Anglo-Saxon’s.

“ You had better take yourself off i” the new-
comer said, speaking English as fluently as a
native despite his foreign appearance.

“ W’ot’s that?” cried the wfiian, indignantly.
“ Do you know who you are a-talking to? I am
a bad man. I am, and you had better run away,
sonny, or I’ll chew you all up."

The new—comer had advanced so that be inter-
posed between the rough and the girl.

“Oh, you cannot frighten me with your big
words!” the youth. exclaimed. contemptuously.
“ Get out or you will get hurt.”

“ I will have to smash you jest to git some of
the greenness out!” the ully exclaimed. And,
with the words, he made a rush at the other.

But the violent blow fell only on the empt
air, for the youth dodged as the other a -
vanced, tripped him with his foot, d then, as
the man stumbled, hit him a terriblanblow under
the ear which sent the rufiian headl ng into the
gutter.

This was performed so quickly that for a mo-
ment it completely dazed the rough.

But he was game, although an ignorant brute
as far as any boxing or wrestling skill went,
despite that he set up a claim to be a bad man.

As soon as he could pick himst up, he
squared off again at his youthful antagonist.

“ You thin you are mighty smart, I s’pose,”
he growled. ‘fYou kin dodge ’round as lively
as a jumpingfiapk, hut jest wait until I get hold
of you and see if I don’t break you in two!"

‘ Bah! you can neither wrestle nor fight,”
the other replied in supreme contempt. “ If I
close in with you I will make as great a show of
you as I did before.”

“ Jest you try that game on once and see where
y0u will come out!”

“ I will!” the youth declared, and, to the
amazement, not only of the rufilan but the girl
as well, he was as good as his Word.

In the most dexterous manner possible he
closed in with the other, easily evading the
lilOWB which the mfllan sought to bestow upon
him as be advanced.

Ha secured a peculiar grip, the man strug-
gled with all his might, but the young fellow
seemed to have legs of iron and arms of steel.

For a moment there was a fierce struggle a
then, with a sudden twist, the rough was taken
of! his feet and slammed to the pavement so rude-
] that the concussion made him see more stars
tian he ever beheld in the skies.

He lay prostrate for fully a minute. totally
exhausted b the fall, and then began to slowly
pick himsel up. ,

“ Come, hurry up; time!”exclaimed the young
fellow

“Aha! you are one of those prize-fighters, I
s’pose,” the rough remarked when he got on his
feet. “ I reckon that I have got allI want. I’m
a good man, but I ain’t no prizefighter, and it
ain’t to be expected that I kin hold m own
a ’in’ a reg’lar professional. I made a m stake
Wilma 1 run up ag’in’ you, but I am satisfied new,
Iam: so long!” and t on the man slouched away.

“ I am very much obliged to you. sir,” the
young woman said survey ng the strain er With
curious eyes and he in turn took a g look at
her.

She wasa well-formed, rather handsome wo-
man of five and twenty or thereabouts, a brunette
with jet-black hair and eyes, and in appearance
answered well to the name that the rough had
given her, Cuban Kate.

“ Oh, don't mention it,” the vonng map re-
plied, carelessly. “ I interferedhecauue it is not
in igjy’iiature to stand by and see a woman in-

ur .

“ I was able to protect myself. 809!” and the
woman drew her hand from the pocket of the
loose. light coat into which it was thrust, and the
blade of an ugly-100k}!!! little: dagger flashed in
the rays of the electric light. ‘ 1f you had not in-
terfered I would have upon shown the rascal that
I was not helpless at his mercy as he supposed,”
she continued.

“ No‘ doubt he would have been very much
astonished if you had flashed the sine in his
eyes ’9' the young man remarked.

“ am just as much obliged to you all the
same though,” she replied.

“ That is all right; I am glad that I was able
to be of servic'e to you.”

“ Do you live in this neigborhood ?" the woman
asked a riiptly.

“ Well, live here as much as I live anywhere
he replied with a li ht laugh. “ The fact is I
am a sort of a va a and I‘don’t live any-
where in particu ar. I am a stranger in t e
city—have only been here three days» '

“ Do not fear to confide in me, for I may be
able to be of service to you,” Cuban Kate said.

“Oh, I am not afraid to trust you; in fa
I have nothing in particular to tell. any Way.”

. 2‘5 X  ‘r."‘<'ei"3€'2s-’Wfi+‘ '1'”?

 

 

.«+...

 

 

- e. - v ., . ,
. , 1,7», . .


Tom of California.  ‘  “ ~   .

\

 

 

ther found out what was going on. and at- .
mpted to put a stop to it. I was amazed, for

8:»

an Italian, and yet from the skill you displayed gol en braCelet. .
in boxing and wrestling it is safe to say that “ Place your hand upon the lower side of the I had never even dreamed that he would object
you are not, for no son of either one of those bracelet,” she said, turning her wrist so that he to my marriage with a gentleman so far above
nations would be able to do what you have could do as she wished. i me in social station, and when I attempted to
done.” He complied with the request. I reason with my father, and told him this, he re-

“ You look like a foreigner, a Frenchman, or U n the wrist of the hand was a flexible I f
l

 

 

 

.b. x. -.._
u..-

.-,._.._._., .. . ._ .0;

v "vumwa

 

 

 

" I think you are right there,” the other re-
lied with one of his careless laughs. “ I am
uglish by birth, but my mother was of Italian

descent, and there is where I get my tawny skin
and dark eyes and hair.

“ Both m father and mother died when I was
a child, ant Iwas brought up by a cousin of my
father, who kept a public house in Bristol, Eng-
land. He was a retired boxer, and his place was
a house of call for sporting men, and so it hap-
pened that I was taught to box and wrestle at
an early age; but when my master died, a few
months ago, I was thrown upon my own re-
sources, nnd I have had a hard time of it. I
haven’t any trade, you know; to serve behind a
bar is about the only thing I can do. I was ad-
vised to come to this country, and was lucky
enou h to get a chance to go to California, but
coul n’t do anything there, and so drifted to
New York, and I am fully as badly Off as I was
at home; to-night I am completely down on my
luck. I have not a coin in my pocket, and know
not which way to turn.” _

The woman had listened attentively to the
young man’s story.

“ Perhaps it will be a lucky thing for you that
you chanced to meet me tonight,” she observed.
“ As you have doubtless gqu from what that
ruflian said, I keep a saloon in this neighbor-
hood; it is on the next block, a saloon and lodg-
ing-house combined; I can give you shelter
there, and can find you employment if you are
not too rticular.’

“Oh, am not at all particular!” the young
man asserted. “ Beggars shouldn’t be chOOsers,
you know. You just give me achance and I am
willing to do almost anything.”

“ Even to braving the power of the law?” the
woman asked, dropping her voice 111th to a
whis r.

“ es, if the pay is big enough to warrant
the risk,” he answered in the same cautious
tcne.

“ Come with me then and we will talk the
matter over, for this is no place for a private

, consultation.”

Then she led the way down the street.

CHAPTER XII.
A SURPRISE.

A FEW minutes’ walk brought the pair to the
house over which Cuban Kate (presided.

It bore the rather loud-soun ing title of the
White House Hotel.

On the ground floor was a saloon and small
restaurant, in the rear an apartment fitted up
for the accommodation of card- layers; friendly
games “ for the drinks ” were a 1 that the game—
sters were supposed to indulge in, but men who
knew said that, gambling went on constantly.

On the second and third floors were rooms
which were rented out to lodgers; it was an old-
fashioned house, two stories and a garret.

Cuban Kate led the way to her private
parlor, which was in the rear of the second

story.

She bade her guest be seated, and remarked:

“ Now we can speak without danger of being
either overheard or interrupted.”

“ Yes, it would seem so.”

“ Did I understand you to say that you were
hungry 1” Cuban Kate asked, abruptly.

“ It is the truth. whether I said so or not,” he
re lied in his easy, careless way.

I [lie brought bread and meat and a small jug
o a o.

“ Now you can eat while I talk,” she said.

“ Yes, and do not fear but what I shall be an
attentive listener,” he remarked, and then he

roceeded to attack the eatables like a man who
find fasted for some time, washing the viands
down with hearty draughts of ale.

“ What is our name?’ Cuban Kate asked.

“ Norvel— illiam Norvel.”

“ Mme is Kata Sanches, and 1: I am from the
island of Cuba, I have got the ame of Cuban
Kate.” "

“ Yon might have a far worse nickname,” he
observed.

“ Oh, yes; I don’t object to it.”

And then there was silence for a few min-
utes; the young man bus with his meal and
Cuban Kate studying his ace with great inter-
est.

“You are a perfect stranger to me and yet,
somehow, I seem to see something in 'our face
which tells me that I can trust you!” t e woman
exclaimed, abruptly.

“ Well, it is not proper for me to boast in
regard to that, of course " the young man ob—
served. “ But I don’t think that anybody that
trusted me yet ever had reason to regret it.”

“ I am going to trust on, but are you willing
to swear not to betray t econfidenoo I am about
to repose in you i” . .

“ Oh, yes, I will take any oath you like.”

he woman hesitated for a moment and then
she extended her right hand and laid it upon
the table. The young man by this time had fin-
ished his repafit.

 

“Now then, you most solemnly swear that torted that he did not believe a word of the

you will keep faith with me and not betray the 

confidence I repose in you.”

man’s story: it was all a lie; he was an adven-
turer, who depended upon his wits for a living;

“ Yes, I swear it!” the young man exclaimed I and as for his being a Cuban, he did not believe

with firm accents,

“ You may not be superstitious but I can as-
sure ou that if you break this oath the most
terri le consequences will befall you I” the wo-
man asserted. “ For you have sworn upon a
sacred, token—you have taken the oath upon the
Invisible Hand!”

A look of amazement appeared upon the face
of the young man.

“ The Invisible Hand 2” he exclaimed.

“Yes, see!”

She pushed the bracelet up on the wrist and
on her flesh appeared a tiny crimson hand.

“ What a strange mark!” Norvel observed.

“ Yes, it is a mystic sign; you will notice
that it is blood-red in color, and whoever swears
on the Invisible Hand and then proves false
to the oath will surely be overtaken by a bloody
retribution.”

“ I will be faithful to the oath, never fear!”
the young man protested.

Cuban Kate adjusted the bracelet again so as
to cover the mark, then said:

“I don’t know why I yielded to this whim
in regard to you; you are a perfect stranger
and yet I am about to intrust you with a secret
which I ought not to tell except to a friend
whom I know I can rely upon.”

“ Why do you trust me then i” was the young
man’s natural exclamation. “ Why do you not
select some one with whom you are well ac-
quainted—whom you are sure can be trusted?”

“Because something tells me that you will
serve me better than any one else whom I can

et,” the woman replied.

“ If that is the case then—if you are willing to
trust to this belief, go ahead.”

“ I am, as I told you, a Cuban by birth but
left the island when I was a child and was
brought up in New Orleans. I received a good
education, although my father was a sporting
man—a gambler, and led an extremely irregular
life. M mother I never knew, as she died when
I was a by."

“ Something like my own case,” Norvel re-
marked.

“ My father was interested in a gambling-
house, and as I displayed remarkable talent for
a child in playigg upon the piano and singing, I
often entertain my father’s guests and so I
grew used to a public life.

“It- was not the sort of bringing up that a
young girl should have, but my father kept a
good lookout for me, and although I had no

emale friends at all, and my constant asso-
ciates Were the reckless men who frequented my
father’s gambling den, yet I was always treated
with the utmost respect.

“ When I was about eighteen I met my fate in
the shape of a young man who became a fre-
quenter of my father’s place. He was a Cuban
hke myself, and was supposed to be extremely
wealthy, for he always had plenty of money and
spent it in the most lavish manner.

“ He was a terrible mbler and an extremely
successful one too. y father, who had been
for years in the business, said that this Cuban
undersde the science of the different games as
well as any man he had ever met, and played
entirely by calculation.

“It was a strange coincidence that the Cuban’s
name was the same as my own, Sanches. Pedro
Sanches he was called.”

“ That was rather odd,” Norvel remarked.
lie was f0110wing the story with decided in-
terest.

“Yes, but he was no relative, nor was he a
kin of any of the Sanches’s in Cuba with whom
my father was acquainted, and, although a
Cuban by birt , he knew nothing at all of the
island, for he ad quitted Cuba when a child
and had never returned there.

“His story was that his father was a very
wealthy man, but had bec me involVed in the

triot struggle for the f om of the ‘ever

aitbful 1316 mm the Spanish yoke, and so had

been forced to fly from the country. He had
been prudent enough though before joining the
revolutionists to transfer all his property to
friends so that the Spanish Government was not
able to confiscate it.’

“ Well, that was wise,” Norvel commented.

“ When the rebellion failed he was one of the
few who succeeded in escaping from Cuba, and
he spent the rest of his life in traveling around,

;enjoying life, and so it happened that this

entleman had been all over the world as he had
en his father’s constant companion.

“ Was it a wonder that this dashing, goods
leoking young man, far superior toany gentle-
man that I had ever encountered, should make
a strong impression upon me?”

" Oh. no, it was the most natural thing in the
world.”

“ He soon fell desperately in love with me,
and wooed me with the utmost ardor. My

 

1 that he ever saw Cuba in his life.”

“ Well, it is rather odd,” Norvel observed,
“ but that is just the opinion I formed, and. of
course, all I know of the man is what you have
told me.”

“ I know that you are a good judge of human
nature,” Cuban Kate remarked.

“ I assume, from what I know of young girls,
that you did not believe that your father was
correst in this statement?”

" You are right; I did not. I thought that he
spoke from blind. unreasoning anger, and he
had a bitter quarrel. for I stoutly defended my
lover. I was dazzled by his words, and al
though I was really fascinated by him, yet, pos-
sessing some. of my father’s shrewdness, I
thought what a fine thing it would be for a
girl, situated as I was, to marry a man who
was not only a gentleman of standing and posi-
tion, but independently wealthy.”

“ Yes, the prospect was enough to turn your
head.”

“ But, blindly as I was in love with the man,
and dazzled by the brilliant position he offered,
I was not self-willed enough to run awa from
my father and marry him, as he wish me to

o.

“It was a terrible struggle between love and
dut , and as i wavered between my desire to
yiefii to my lover‘s request and fly mth him,
and the affection and obedience I owed to my
father, who sternly commanded me to give the
Cuban up and think no more of him, a dread-
ful event happened, which settled my fate.

“ My father became involved in a quarrel one
night, weapons were drawn, and in the fight my
parent was killed.

“Thus I was suddenly thrown unprotected
upon the world.”

“ And this was the Cuban’s opportunity, of
course.” .

“ Yes, I had some money, for I had always
acted as In father’s banker; but I did not 1i '8
any of my ather’s associates, and had no desire
to keep on in the life which I was leading, al-
though some of them were anxious I should do
so, and after waiting a few months I yielded to
m lover’s wish, and we were married. ‘

‘And now a strange thing happened. The
marriage seemed to bring bad luck to my hus-
band, for his luck at play deserted him, he lost
heavily, and within one month from the date of
our union he was complete] pennilcss. Then
he confessed that he had eceived me. My
father had been correct in his judgment: he
was not wealthy, but only an adventurer, de-
pending upon his wits for a living.”

 

CHAPTER XIII.
THE COMPACT.

THE young man was not surprised by this
disclosure, for he had expected as much from
the beginning. ,

“I presume the blow was not such a heavy
one as it would have been if it ,had taken you
completely by surprise," he remarked. “For,
in ’2’: measure, you must have been prepared for

“ Oh, yes, I was; my father’; words haunted
me, and I was no young, unsophisticated girl,
so ignorant of the world as to be readily dc-
ceived, and before my husband made the con-
fession, I suspected that my father’s judgment
had been correct. And now in this extremity
the money that I had inherited from my father
came in play)-ii but I was wise enou h notto
allow my bus nd to know how much had."

- “ That was prudent, for when, a gambler gets
upon” the down-grade, he never knows when to
stop.

“ You are right in regard to that; the money
that I gave my husband quickly followed the
other, and then, becoming reckless, he joined in
with some desperadoes, whose acquaintance he
had made, in a bank—robbery scheme.

“The attempt failed, and my husband was
captured; I smuggled tools in to him and he
managed to escape: then we came to New York.

“I met an old friend of my father, who was
then running this place. He wanted to sell out,
and as he made Easy terms, I bought it, know-
ing that I could make a good thing of it; but
since I have been here—I have been in posses-
sion over two years now—I have noticed that

my husband is not the same as he used to be, p

and I begin to fear his love for me  failing.” '

“ Gamesters are usually fickle-minded,” Nt rv
vel remarked.

“ Since coming to New York I have seen but a
little of my husband; he has become the asso- I
ciate of men who live by crooked work. and I' 1
fear that some day he will desert me. Not that I
I care so much for that, but I have determined ,
that while I live, he shall not marry another a '
woman.” ‘

 

0

Tom of California.

. , twang»: fr- 

 

 

./_\w_{‘

’

 

The black eyes gleamed fiercely, and there
Were hard lines about the mouth as she spoke.

“ Ohol do you think that there is any danger
of his committing bigam l"

“ Yes, I do!" she rep ied, firmly. “ I know
that he has tired of me, although I have done
reverythin in the world for him that a woman
could do or a man; but he is a highflyer—-—a
man who cannot content himself with settling
down, and if he 01: a chance to Win a woman
with a fortune, feel sure he would forsake me
in a moment.”

“Such chances, though, are rare,” the other
observed, with a smile.

“ Ah, but to an adventurer like my husband,
who is always on the watch, such chances do
come sometimes ” Cuban Kate replied.

“Now, then, I come to the service which I
require at your hands ” she continued. “My
house is much fr ueiizted by a set of crooks
with whom my bus and is very intimate. A
week ago I overheard art of a conversation
between two of them. he mention of m hus-
band’s name attracted my attention, and took
pains to listen.

“ It seems that there is in New York a young
girl named Katherine Green, who has lately
come into a fortune of over a million dollars.”

“ Oh, I think I read something about that
case in a New York newspaper that I happened
to see in San Francisco,” the young man re-
marked.

“ Yes, the particulars of the affair were pub-
lished in thenewspa rs. This girl was a sales-
lady in one of the big drygoods stores, and this
fortune was a perfect windfall to her. She is
all alone in the world, no relatives but one—a
cousin, an actor, who also inherited a million.

“ Now I gathered from the conversation of
the pair that a lot has been formed to intro-
duce my husban to thi girl at a watering place
where she has gone for the summer, and he is
to marry her and so get hold of her money.”

“ A nice little so eme,” Norvel remarked.
“ But such a plot cannot always be carried out.
The girl may not have known much when she
was only a saleslady on a few dollars a week,
but it is safe to say that since she has come in
for a million her wits have been sharpened, and
a girl with so much money as that will be cer-
tain to have plenty of admirers around her.”'

“ You do not know my husband,” Cuban
Kate replied with a. shake of the head. “ He
was able to deCeive and fascinate me, although
I had more knowledge of the world than falls to
the lot of the great ma 'orit of womanhood.

“ My first impulse w en heard of this scheme
was to seek my husband and tell him that I
knew wuat was in contemplation, but then I re-
flected how easy it would be for him to deceive
me in regard to the matter. .

“ He would swear that it was all a scheme to
fleece the irl out of her money, if be judged
that it won d not be wise to deny that there was
any truth in the matter.

“His explanation would be, ‘ I will ma
the girl is hold of her wealth and then, wit
you, I wil take wing‘to Europe and thereenjoy
all the luxury that t e possession of a million of
dollars can give.’

“ But I am no fool. He is beginning to tire of
me, and if he could win this rich, young girl, he
would be more apt flo‘take her to Europe with
him than me.”

“Yes it seems to me that it is likely,” Norvel
assente , after moment’s reflection.

“ Now then, want you to go to this waterin
place, and play the spy for me, I will furnis
you with ample means to bear yourself like a
prince. I can see from you manner that if you

ave pro r baékin your will be able to hold
up your end with t e best of them.”

“ Oh, yes, I think I can as master,” the
young man re lied, confiden ly. “ But I sa
there is one po at that excites my curiosity—th 5
Invisible Hand--what does it mean, and how

did you come to have such a strange mark on‘

you? Is it from your husband or your father?”
“ From my husband; it is not a birth-mark

. but tattooed on the flesh; but you must not ques~

tion me further about it, for it is something in
regard to which I cannot offer an explanation;

' but what I said was true, that an oath sworn on
i the blood-red hand was sacred, and he who breaks

the vow must suffer!”

,‘ “Oh, that is all right! You can rely upon

my bein faithful to my word. Now for a dis-
uiae, ow would it do to ma. uerade asa

" goalthy Californian? I was there ong encugh
. to get posted '”
A

The idea' is a good one!” Cuban Kate as-
“ Serve me ,faithfully‘vand ou shall be

as .
‘  well paid. Betray me and you sha lnot escape
’1!) Ivan sauce.”

' orva protested that he would be faithful,

I . and so the compact was made.

 

CHAPTER XIV.
v AT LONG BRANCH.
As the reader has‘doubtlees suspected are this,

, William NorVel, the English-Italian, and the

"- 'dashlngflalifornian, Thomas

   

I  ‘Kate.

Mackay were one
and the same, but so well did the Californian

yplafi his part that he was able todeceive even
sue

a keen-eyed woman of the world as Cuban

 

She had no suspicions that he was anything
but what he pretended to be, and after she ha
furnished him with money to enable him to pro-
cure a disguise, and he made his appearance be
fore her dressed as he was when we first intro—
duced him to the reader, she was both amazed
at the change in his appearance and delighted
at the completeness of his disguise, as she
thought it.

She expressed her satisfaction, and declared
that she had no doubt he would succeed in his
undertakin .

Off for iong Branch then went he—New
Jersey’s famous watering-place, the old-time
Summer Capital, as it was commonly termed
when Grant was President, and he and his
friends had houses there by the side of the
sounding sea.

Having been informed that the man, whose
acquaintance he sought, had quarters at the
West End Hotel, one of the most fashionable of
all the hotels in the place, he went straight
there and registered as a guest upon reaching
the town.

It was in the height of the season, and all the
hotels and boarding-houses were well filled with
visitors, but the Californian, with his off-hand,
careless way-~haug-the—expense stylel—had no
difficulty in getting a good room.

He had gone by the morning train, and ar-
rived just in time for dinner, and after the
meal was dispatched he went to the piazza,
took possession of an arm-chair and lit a cigar-

ette.

Hardly had he ot comfortably seated when a
short, fat man w 0 had occupied a seat at the
same table with him at dinner, came along and
took a chair by his side.

The entleman wanted a light for his cigar,
the Ca ifornian supplied it, and then the two
fell into conversation.

The new-comer was a great talker, and as the
Californian was a good listener, the two got on
well together.

The other was an old frequenter of the
“ Branch.”

“ I have been coming here evei'y summer for
the last ten years!” he declared. ‘ And so I am
well posted in regard to the place.”

The Californian explained that he was a
stranger from the Pacific Slope, and so the
other volunteered to point out to him all the
notables.

“ You see I combine business and pleasure by
taking a month or two at the ‘Branch,’” the
gentleman explained. “ I am with one of the big
New York dry—goods houses, and here I pick up
some valuable customers.”

“ Ah, yes, I see,” the Californian responded,
glad to have had the -luck to fall in with a
man who would be ab 6 to afford him informa-
tion.

In the course of ten minutes the gentleman
showed that he had not given utterance to an
idle boast,when be had said he was well posted,
for he was acquainted with almost all the
prominent people who were summering at Long

ranch, and as they drove by he told the Cali-
fornian who they wore, enlivening the descrip-
tion with many a choice bit of gossip.

While the ir were chatting together, a well-
dressed gent eman, about the medium size, with
the swarthy face, and dark hair and whiskers
of a foreigner, sauntered by, nodding to the fat
man as he passed, and bestowing a searching
glance upon the Californian.

There was something about the man that at-
tracted the attention of the Pacific-Sloper at

once.
“Hallool hallool it seems to me that I have
seen you somewhere before,” Mackay murmured
under his breath. And then he said aloud to his
com mon:
“ ho is that gentleman—he looks like a

foreigner. ”

“ he is—a Cuban, Don Pedro Sanches, a
wealthy planter, who has come to this country
to invest in some improved sugar machinery.
He has only been here a couple of days. I got
ac uainted with him last night.“ He is ‘a fine
fel ow, and splendid] educated, speaks three or
four languages, an has been all over the
world.”

The Californian was decidedly surprised by
the appearance of the man. This was the party
whom he had come to watch, and though he had
expected to see a man like the Cuban in appear-
ance yet there was something about Sanches
which puzzled him.

“ I am certain that this man is no stranger to
me, but where did I ever meet him? One thing
is sure, I never know any man by the name of
Sanches. Of course the chances are a hundred
to one that it is an mumed appellation; Cuban
Kate hinted as much, althoug she did not say
so outright, and from her story it is plain that
she has never known him by an other name.
Another point too, the man loo ed at me as
though he ted that he had seen me before,
and yet I flatter myself that this get-up is good
enough to uzzle the most intimate acquaint-
ance that have ever had, but from the fact
that this fellow evidently has the idea that I am
no stranger to him. I argue that he is a pretty
sharp customer, and I must keep my eyes open,
or he will get the best of me.

.me at all.

 

“ He is a good-looking fellow, and I should
like to make his acquaintance,” the Californian
remarked.

“That matter can be easily arranged,” his
companion returned. “ I will introduce on.
You will find him well worth knowmg. e is
very much of a gentleman, and decidedly good
company. No airs about him at all although
he is said to be independently wealt y, a mill—
ionaire two or three times over, I believe.”

“Well, it has been my experience that the
men who really possess great wealth, are not, as
a rule, half so inclined to put on airs as the fel-
lows who only have a little.”

“Yes, yes, that is true; no doubt about it,”
the other replied.

Just at this moment a retty little village
cart, containing two young adies, passed by.

The girls smiled and nodded to the dry-good
man, and he removed his hat and made an
elaborate salutation in return.

The Californian fancied that he recognized
the ladies, and so he remarked:

“ Those girls are about as handsome a pair as
I have seen since I came here.”

“Oh, yes, neither one of them was behind
the door when g looks were given out,” the
gentleman answered. “ The story of ‘ one of
those ladies is quite romantic, another illustra—
tion of the correctness of the old sayin that
‘ truth is stranger than fiction.’ The girl is now
worth a million of dollars, and on y a little
while a 0 she was a saleslady in one of the big
dryg s houses, working for six dollars a week,
and mighty glad to get it too.”

“ That is the story of our American life.
Thi. is the country of rapid rises to fortune, and
equally rapid descents from wealth to verty.”

“ I have known the girl ever since 8 e was a
child," the other explained. “ In fact, I was an
old beau of her mother, and came within an
ace of marrying her; but we quarreled, as young
people are apt to do, another fellow came along,
and so the lady became Mrs. Green instead of
Mrs. Thompson.”

it Yes, I see.” .

“I su pose it was about as well thou h, for I
don’t th nk I was cut out for a fami y man,”
the gentleman observed, in a nvflective way.
“ l was always rather peculiar and I don’t think
the lif of a married man would have suited
Still I always had a sneaking fond-
ness for the lady who came so near becoming
my wife and so kept up my acquaintance with
her. After her husband died she had a hard
time to get along and I was able to be of con-
siderable assistance to her. 1 got the daughter
aposition at Ridley’s—one of our rominent
dryfoods houses—a concern that I ave done
bus uess with for years—and I can assure you
that there was no one who was more rejoiced
than a entleman about my size when, by the
death of er uncle, a wealthy Texan, this girl,
Katherine Green, came in for over a million of
dollars.

“She came to me for advice, when notified
of this windfall, and I had my own lawyer take
charge of the affair.”

“ That was extreme] friendly on your part,”
the Californian rem .

“A friend in need is a friend indeed,”ob-
served the fat entleman, sententiously. ‘ And
thatisthe kin of a friend that I am. After
the money was secured I had it safely invested,
and, in fact, have acted as a sort of a guardian
to her.”

" And that is the reason why she is down here
I sugpose, under our wing as it were?"

“ es, that is a out the idea.”

“ Well, it seems to me that it is an extremely
lucky thing for the girl to have the advice and
assistance of a clear-headed, ex enced man
of business like ourself,” the a ifornian re-
marked. “ A gir situated as this one is, raised
by a sudden revolution of fortune’s wheel from

verty to wealth, without experience of the

ricks and traps of the world, would be apt
to fare badly without wise counsel to guide her
actions.”

“That is very' true, and I think I may say,
without being thought egotistical, that my ad-
vice has been of great value To the lady.
must however do her the justice to admit that
this sudden rise to fortune has not turned her
head in the least, for she is still just the same as
when she was on] a sho girl. .

“That is not a ways be case,” the other ob-
served. “Sudden rcsperity is apt to make a
decided change an usually for the worse.”

“ Very true, but in this instance it is not so.
You noticed that there were two girls in the
cart?”

“ Yes.“

“The taller one, who was driving, is Miss
Green. The shor rather plump one is named
Mathews. She we in the same department at
Ridley’s as Miss Green, and was her room-mate
at the boarding-house, great friends, you under-
stand, aud when Katherine’s fortune came she
insisted upon Miss Mathews-who is an orphan,

all alone in the world—giviugmup her position .

in the store. and comi with r; she had been
her companion in the ays of verty and she
did not mean to be separa from her now
that she was basking in the smiles of fortune.” ‘

“That showed that the young lady’s heart

\

i

 i £4.41

“MA—.M‘e cw“ .._._.n I...»—

 

  

_A._._.~AA___.._....

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H.‘M A

 

 

 

  

Tom of California.

11

 

 

was in the right place,” the Californian re-
marked, approvingly.

" Oh, yes.”

And then the conversation turned into an-
other channel, and we will not detail it, as it is
of no interest to our readers.

 

CHAPTER XV.
0 N 'i' ii iii B n a C H .

THE fortunate meeting with the talkative Mr.
Thompson put the Californian in ion of
the facts which it was so important he should
ascertain. ‘

Now he knew exactly how matters stood.

“ I believe I was born under a lucky star,” he

' soliloquized, as he made his way to the beach on

the morning after his arrival, with the idea of
taking a look at the bathers.

Eleven o’clock was the fashionable bathing
hour, and the Californian was rather early, as
it was but a few minutes after ten when he ar-
rived on the strand.

“Yes, yes, a lucky star was in the ascendant
when my eyes first saw the light!” he declared.

“Just one man was there in this crowded
hotel who could igive me all the rticulars in
regard to the he ress, and Who eld such an
intimate relationship with her thatI can rely
upon getting early information of her move-
ments, and that man was the first whose ac-
quaintance I made, and then, right at the be-
ggiuuing, I ran across the man whom Cuban

aie has hired me to watch, and, unless I am
greatly mistaken, this Don Pedro Sanches is an
old acquaintance of mine, but I cannot place
him for the life of mo.

“It is more than probable that he is disguised,
and the disguise is a good one, too, to be so com-
Blete that I am not able to recognize the feIIOW,

ut the recognition will come in time, though:
there is no doubt about that; sooner or later i
will discover who my gentleman is, and the
chances are that I shall be obliged to make
things unpleasant for him, for such is life.”

By this time the Californian had reached a
position where a good view of the bathing beach
could be bad.

There was only a half a dozen ple in the
water, but as the Californian rvoyed the
scene, from one of the bsthin -houses came
the two girls who had attrac his attention
in the village cart on the previbus evening.

“ Aha! there is the heiress and her friend,” the
Californian remarked, as the pair advanced
toward the water.

They were attired in bathing suits and looked
asodd and uncomfortable as the majority of
ladies do when dressed for an invasion of old
Ne tune’s dominions.

t was an almost rfect day for bathing, for
there wasn’t any Wind and the surf which rolled
in on the silver-sanded beach was particularly
mild and gentle.

Life-lines were stretched from the shore to
:gakgis dirllzmhdowq in the water and to these

e m at erscun um i u and down
as the breakers came rgllin  p

The particular line to which the young ladies
proceeded was unoccupied, and, grasping it,
they proceeded to enter the water, indulging in
the usual amount of little, feminine shrieks, as
the waves dashed around them.

At this point the Cuban, Benches, made his
appearance from one of the bathing-houses,
dressed for the water, and he entered the surf
some twenty feet from where the girls were
clingin to the reps.

The uban struck out boldly with the air of a
practiced swimmer, and his scanty bathing dress
revealed that he was blessed with a muscular,
well-proportioned form.

“.Now then, what is his little game?” the
Californian questioned with the air of a c ic.
“ Does be hope by the display of his abili es as
a swim: or to make an impression ufiin the girl,
for tha he has some object of the mi in view
is certain.”

Then the attention of the spy was attracted
bya welldressed individual who came saun-
“fing along the beach and sat down on the sand
by the side of the stake to which the life-line
was tied—the line to which the two girls clung.

Hallool it seems to me that 1 know that
gentleman i” the Californian exclaimed. “.If
m eyes do not deceive me that is my English
I end, Fitzherbert. Is he a pal of this Cuban!
And if so what little ame is he up to now i”

_It was indeed the n lishmun. He was pro-
vxded witha light-c010 sun umbrella and as
he sat on the sand he tilted it over his shoulder
so that he was completely screened from the
merit; of those in his rear.

ere wasn’t an thing particular] su icious
in this, although the Californian shogk hi; head
in a peculiar way as much as to s ify that he
considered there was. He was si n buck near
the bluff in the shade of one of tge bathing-
housss, so the Englishman did not notice him as
1:; game along, his attention being directed sea-

Fitzherbert only remained seated for a few
agiuteahthen he rose and continued on down

Then the attention of the Californian wasat-
tractedby a boat, containing a single oarsman,
- — i

which was pursuin a course parallel with the
fhore, just outside he water-stake of the life-
ines.

Just one good look the sp took at the carer
man in the boat, who was pul ing in a lazy way,
as though he was not in any particular hurry,
and then he exclaimed:

“ Well, well! it seems that I am fated to meet
old acquaintances to-day. That is the French
marquis. Birds of a feather flock together!
That is an old saying, and an extremely true
one. The chances are big now to my thinking
that these two fellows, the Englishman and the
marquis, are pals of this pretended Cuban, for
it does not seem likely that it is just by accident
that the three are here together.

“ There is some game on foot and if I keep
my eyes open I shall. undoubtedly, be able to
discover what it is. These gentlemen have lit-
tle idea that there is a shadow on their track,
keeping a diligent watch upon their move-
ments."

The boat came to a halt about a hundred feet
below the stake of the life-line to which the
girls clung, but as the tide was setting down
the coast, the oarsman was forced to kee his
oars in constant motion so as to hold the t
steady.

The marquis had apparently paused, attracted
by the sight of the two girls, splashing away in
the water like a couple of mermaidS.

Growing bolder upon ‘making the discovery
that the waves were not anywhere near as
strong in action as usual, the girls ventured into
.the water until it came well above their waists,
and there they frolicked with all the reckless
abandonment of youth.

They were about half-way between the tw0
stakes of the life—line, and the Cuban was only
some fifty feet from them, swimming in a line
with the outer stake.

“Now what is be up to?” the Californian
muttered. “ What game is he going to lay now?
Can it be possible that he thinks t ere is a
chance that one of the girls will let go of the
life-line so as to give him an opportunity to play
the hero and rescue her!

"It is most unlikely that such an accident
should happen, yet from the position that the
Cuban has assumed, and the fact that the mar-
quis is waiting beyond him in a host, it would
seemasif theyhad calculated‘that some such
thing might occur.”

Hardly had the Californian finished the s h
when shrill screams from the girlsrose the

air.

The lifeline to which they clung had given
way at the shore end and the current swept
them off their feet.

They were wise enough though to cling with
all their might to the re , crying at the top of
their lun s for helpas t ey were carried away
by the t' e.

The Cuban was quick to come to their as-
sistance. '

He was in such a position that the rope floated
right into his grasp and be seized it, calling out
to the ladies to keep ti ht hold, he being only a
couple of yards from t em. ‘

At the same time the marquis bent lustily to
his cars and pulled for the three.

This event created a commotion on the shore,
all the bathers and loungers on the sand flock-
in to the spot.

The Californian followed_ the exam is of the
rest, but while the others were bests ng their
attention on the pie in the water, Mackay
examined the bre in the rope.

The life-line had parted right at the stake,
and a moment’s inspection convinced the Call-
fornian that the line had been cut.

“ Ohol” Macks exclaimed with a chuckle of
satisfaction. “ ow I understand the game as
well as though I had planned it myself! It is
as I suspected: these two gentlemen, whose ac-
quaintance I made at the Fifth Avenue Hotel,
are confederates of the Cuban.

“ The Englishman cut through the life-line so
that a few pulls would cause it to part then the
gilrs' lives would be endangered, and the Cuban
could rform a hero’s part by rescuing them,
aided iy the marquis in the boat. Oh it is a
very nice scheme and it is going to work to 'per—
fectionl”

The Californian was correct in his surmise.

The Cuban swam along the rope until he came
to the girls; the boat rowed by the marquis
reached the spot almost at the same mo nt,
and amid the shouts of the crowd on the ore
the pair were. lifted into the craft, where the
heiress immediately fainted, but her companion,
rho was made of stouter stuff, bore up brave-

Y - .

The boat was rowed to the shore and a landing
effected. '

A barouche driven by a coachman happened
to be passing along the beach and this was im-
mediately seized upon toconvey the ladies to the
hotel where every attention was id them, and
under the ministering care of t e ladies, who
flocked to her assistance, Miss Green soon recov-
ered from the shock.

The Cuban was the lion 0! the hour, the
magqnis also coming in for a goodly amount of

 

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“  i ‘ "  ’ . w” ’t‘;)4.'.?«

 

pra se. . ,
Both of the men. bore themselves in a  ,

and becoming manner, affecting to make light
of the circumstances.

The dry man, Thompson, was in his
glory, and e was never so happy as when there
was something going on. He wrung the hands
of the Cuban and Frenchman, declared that
they were a pair of noble fellows and insisted up-
on ordering champagne for all present, and if
he had had his way would have rewarded the
service they had rendered by getting them as
drunk as lords.

The Californian kept in the background, but
there was not anything that escaped his vigilant
eyes. He had taken the measures or the
marquis and Englishman at his first meetin
with them and was now satisfied that they ha
come to Long Branch to assist the Cuban in his
scheme to entrap the heirem.

 

CHAPTER XVI.
THE consrma'roBS.
THE shades of darknehs had fallen upon the
famous Jersey village, and three men strolling

leisurely along, smoking their cigars, on the
edge of the bluff which overlooked the beach,

entered one of the funny little summer-houses I

which commanded a View of the surf.

It was the night of the day on which the in-

cidents described in our last chapter had taken
lace.

p The three gentlemen are no strangers to our

readers, for the trio consisted of Don Pedro San-

ches, the Marquis De Nevville and the English-

man, Fitzherbert.

It was a lovely night, the moon was rising,
and being almost full cast such a flood of silver
li ht that almost all objects were as plainly visi~
bfia as in the glare of the sunlight.

“There, I think this will answer nicely,” the
Cuban remarked after the three were seated.
“ We can hold a conference here and speak free—
ly without danger of being overheard.”

“ Yes, it is not possible or any one to play the
spy upon us,” the Frenchman remark

“ That is certain,” Fitzherbert asserted.
“ There is no place for any one to conceal them-
selves in the neighborhood, and no one can ap-
proach without our being aware of it.”

“ That is the reason that 1 selected the spot,” ‘

the Cuban remarked. “ And there is nothing
odd or sus icious either in the fact of our com-
ing here. f we were noticed, no wonder would
be excited.”
' “ Oh, no, there isn’t any reason why we three
should not sit here for a while and enjoy our
cigars," the marquis observed.

“ It is the most natural thing in the world i"
Fitzherbert declared. . ,

“ Well, so far our little scheme has worked
splendidly,” Sanches said. “ The lady looks
upon me in the li ht of a hero, and I feel cer-
tain that she has t e best possible opinion of
me.”

“The coup was well-planned,” the marquis (

observed, approvingly. .

“ Yes, and the best thing about the matter is
that no one has any suspicion that it was not
an accident,” Fiizherbert remarked. “ The old
salt .who has cha of the bathing had wit
enough to see that rope had been cut, but he
lays the blame upon some children who were
playing in the neighborhood of the stake this
morni and whom he drove away. He thinks
one Ofni’ie youngsters. boylike. tried the edge of
his knifau n the re ,andso whens strain
came upon it it broke.

“ A very reasonable explanation,” the Cuban
observed with a smile. “ And now, my dear
fellows, I will come to the point. As you have
probably gassed, I did not summon you here
to exchange congratulations upon the mecca
which has attended our snort.”

The others nodded.

“ Nor to make any new plans, for there is not '

anything to warrant ananchange inour pro-

me, it I noticed t you were incon-
versation with a tleman just after dinner to- ,
day, a young, ashy-looking fellow, a new-’

comer, about whom there is something thatI
do not like.”

The marquis and the Englishman exchanged
glances. .

“ I suppose you mean the Californian, Mac-
kay.” the marquis mid.

“ Yes, that is the man.

Thompson had made his acquaintance, and as I
f it a curiosity in ard to the party, I inquir-
es concerninghim, Sanchez replied. “But I

noticed that on two were chatting with him as
if you were 0 d acquaintances.“

“ This is not the first time that we have met
him.” the marquis remarked.

'“ No we ran across him at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel in the citv,” the Englishman observed.

“ And both De Nevvills and myself took him to - ‘
{hue a”pigeon who would be well worth the pluckf' ,
I

\ The Cuban shook his head.

“ You are not of that opinion, eh!" the Frenche - i

man asked. _ i .
“ No, decidedly not.” '

“ ut asfaraswecan findout.the fellowis 
'B ’ ins tyofmoney.andisfall~

rich—certainly
of sportinz blood.”
“That maybe true, butto

. I

my


I noticed that‘

   
 
  
   
  
  
   
  
 
     
  
  
   
  
   
   
    
 
  
  
  
  
    
  
 
  
  
   
  
   
  
   
    
  
  
  
  
   
    
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
   
     
  
    
   
  
   
   
    
  
  
  
   
   
 
     
 
  
  
    
   
   
 
   
  
  
  
     
   
    
   
      
     
    
        

 

.‘a "2i I .V .

12

Tom of California.

 

 

man is much more likely to turn out to be a
hawk than a igeon l” the Cuban declared.

The others ooked astonished at this announce-

ment.
“ know that there isn’t anything of the
greenhorn about the man,” the marquis observed.
“ In fact I feel sure that he has an extremely
good opinion of himself, and my experience is
that when on can succeed in catching a man of
that” kind or a stake it is certain to be a large
one.

“ I agree with the marquis in that opinion i”
the Englishman declared. “ And it was our in-
tention to work the game in the most scientific
manner possible.”

“ If you will take my advice you will not at-
tempt to fleece this man for it is my idea that
you will catch a Tartar if you try anything of
the kind l” the Cuban exclaimed in a most de-
cided way. “ To in thinking the man is
dangerous,” he contin d. “ There is a peculiar
look in his eyes—something about them which
reminds me of a snake—something cold, un-
natural and not human.”

“ Well yes, the man has ather a uliar pair
of eyesgi the marquis ad itted. ‘ And as you
an y there is something snake-like about them,
but I must confess that the fellow did not im-
press me as being at all dangerous.”

“But the Red Princess got that ideal” Fitz-
herbert exclaimed, and then he explained how
upon making the acquaintance of the Califor-
nian they had taken him to the house of the Red
Princess and related how unfavorably impressed
the lady had been with him.

“ Well, it is rather odd that the lady and my-
self should come to the same conclusion in regard
to the matter,” the Cuban observed. “ And the
Red Princess too is a woman for whose judg-
ment I have a rest respect.”

“ It maybe t at both Fitzherbert and myself
are rather dull of comprehension,” the marquis
remarked, a trace of sarcasm in his tone, “ but,
most certainly, neither one of us was impressed
with the belief that this Californian was at all
dangerous. After making his acquaintance,
and pumping him as scientificallyas possible, We

‘ came to the conclusion that he was one of those

self-confident, smart young fellows who then ht.
that he knew a great deal more than he rea ly
did, and it was our calculation that if we played
our cards carefully we would be able to strike
him for a large sum.”

“ We talked the matter over and carefully
considered all the points before we came to this
conclusion ” Fitzherbert added. '

“ Well, I do not set myself up for a rophet,”
the Cuban remarked. ‘ And I must a mit that
you two ought to know a great deal more about
the man than I do. I have merely jumped to a
conclusion that the man is dangerous because
there is something about him that I do not like,
and now that on have told me that the Red
Princess was a so unfavorany impressed I am
strengthened in my belief.

“ A dozen times or more I have had presenti-
ments of danger since I began to-lead a life of
adventure, an I never disregard a preeentiment
of this sort without being sorry for it,” he
added. ‘

The others were impressed by this announce-
ment, particularly as they knew that their com-
panion was not the kind of man to give heed to
any vague or idle fearS.

‘ What is our idea about the fellow?” the
mar uis ask , slowly. “ Do you think that he
is sai ing under false colors?”

“ Yes, that is my suspicion.”

“ You think that he is not a Californian?” the
Englishman asked.

“ That part of his story may be true enough;
he may e a Californian, and yet be a blood-
hound. ’

The others gave a slight start, and an anxious
look a red it their faces. I

“ Ah ou thi k be isa detective? the French-
man exc aimed.

“ l have a presentiment that he is somethin
of the kind, Sanches replied. “ Mind you,
have nothing tan ible to go upon,” he hastened
to remark. “ I ave never spoken to the man.
and know nothing about him, excepting that he
claims his name to be Themes Mackay, and that
he comes from California. ' He has assumed this
disguise, so that his real business will not be sus-

The others pondered over the matter for'a
few moments, and then the marquis observed:

“If our sus ieion is correct this fellow is
about t e most angerous one that we have ever
encountered. And the joke of the matter is
that he id not seek us out, but we made his

. acquaintance.”
t

Exactly! he assumed this character, posing
as a rich and verdant Califo.nian, for the ex-
press purpose of attracting the attention of men

11 your fine of business. You take him fora
prey, make all your arrangements to pluck him
and then, all of a sudden, you will find yourself
in a trap, and realize what a mistake you have
made.” '

The faces of the adventurers grew dark, and
an n ly,look came into their 9 es. ‘

“ y the eternal powers l’ the Frenchman
cried, "if I discovered that this was true, I
' . measures to o t this

 

9- in suchaj...

condition that he would dog no more men to
destruction 1”

“ Yes, that would be the proper course to
pursue,” the Englishman declared.

“Why not arrange a scheme so as to be able
to satisiy our minds in regard to him?” Sanches
ohserv . “ We are fplaying for a big stake
here, and we cannot a 0rd to have any mousing
detective interfere at the eleventh hour, an
bring all our plans to naught.”

“ b, no, rather give the fellow to a dog's
death l’ the marquis exclaimed, savagely.

“ That is the ideal” Fitzherbert declared.
“ We must protect ourselves, and if the man is
a bloodhound in disguise, there is no question
but that it will be necessary to silence him.”

“Oh, yes, no doubt about that at all,” the
Cuban assented. “The only question is whether
the fellow is a police spy or not. We must sat-
isfy ourselves on that point before we strike at
his life. It may be possible, you know, that I
am wrong in my sus icion; if the man is not a
bloodhound, it won (1 be a blunder for us to
attack him.”

“That is true enough,” the Frenchman as-
serted. “ But how will we beable to discover
the truth?”

“That is a question in regard to which we
must set our wits to work,” the Cuban replied.
“ Think the matter over and see if any scheme
will suggest itself to either of you.”

The faces of the others became rave as, in
their minds, they wrestled with t e difficult
problem.

They pondered over the matter fora few min-
utes, while Sanches smoked his cigar with the
air of a man who was extracting a deal of en-
joyment from it, and gazed out to sea, watch-
ing the play of the moonbeams upon the rippling
water as placidly as though there was not the
slightest weight of care upon his mind.

“ Well, the only this I can suggest,” the
marquis remarked, “ wou d be to place a watch
upon the man and see if he communicates with
the police authorities in New York. If he is a
police spy, he must of course report to the Con-
tral Oflice.”

“ Have you an thing to suggest?” Benches
asked, addressing itzherbert.

“ No, my ideas about the matter are the same
as De Nevville’s,” the Englishman answered.

“ I should say put a watch u n the man.”

“Well, the trouble in regar to car ing out
that scheme is, that it will be a diflicu t matter
to put a spy upon his track without the man
being aware of it,” the Cuban remarked. “If
he is a good detective he will quickly discover
that he is being watched, and then, if he isa
really first-class man in his business, he will
have this matter so arran ed that it is not
necessary for him to visit olice Head uartere
to make his reports; the business wil be ar-
ranged throu h third rties, so that even if we
were able to s iadow h in so closely as not to miss
one of his movements we would not be able to
gain any information connecting him with the
police authorities.”

The others looked at each other for a moment
and then the nodded their heads in token that
they did not ave anything tooffer in opposition
to the Cuban’s argument. '

" Well, entlemen, what do you think?”
Sanches as ed after a moment’s pause, “ am I
correct or not?” '

“ It seems to me that you are right,” the
Frenchman responded.

“Oh, es, if this man is an extra good one he
will be s rewd enough to keep us from following

m so closely as to be able to discover anything

f importance,” the Englishman observed. “ But
What is your idea about the matter? I will
bet a trifle that you have some scheme in your
head i” \

“Yes, you are right about that,” the Cuban
admitted with a quiet smile. “ I feel a strong
conviction that this man is a bloodhound, and
think the chances are great that he is here on
our track, although how the fellow managed to
discover that we are up to any scheme is a com-
plete uzzle to me.”

“ es, for there are on] a few of us who
know the game,” De Nevvi is observed.

“ Truel so few that there is hardly a chance
that any one, either by accident or design, could
have betrayed the secret. ‘

“ Probably it was just by luck that the man
ran across us; and he ma not be after us at all
but on another scent a together,” Fitzherbert
suggested.

' Yes, that may be so but the man’s resence
here annoys me, and as long as he rema us upon
the ground there is danger that by some acci-
dent he may discover our game,” Benches re-
marked. ' ~

“ Oh, it would be a great deal better if he was
out of the way i” the Frenchman declared.

“ Decidedly sol” Fitzherbert asserted.

“ It must be our ame to silence him if he is
really a bloochoun ,” the Cuban observed, a
dark look upon his swarthy face.

“ How is the trick to be worked?” the marquis
inquired.

“ Well, in the first place, before a decisive
blow is struck, we must be sure of our game,"

0 Cuban remarked. “ We must be certain
thatthe man v: a bloodhound.”

 

“ But how can we ascertain the fact?” Fitz—
herbert asked.

“ We must use strategy,” Sanches replied.
“ By means of a decoy letter we must lure our
man to a lonely spot, where we will have a
couple of good men in waiting to sand—ha him.
After he is knocked insensible he must he put
into a carnage and conve ed to the old house
whichl have secured back in the pines. Under
the house is a cellar—a regular sort of pit—ac-
cess to which is bad by a trap-door in the
kitchen, and a better place to put a man would
be hard to find.”

The others nodded their approval of the
scheme.

“After we get him into the cellar, and sub.
ject him tothe pangs of thirst and hunger, it
will be strange indeed if I do not succeed in get-
ting the truth out of him.”

‘ Yes, when you come to put the screws on
him in that way he will be apt to speak,” the
Frenchman remarked.

“ Then, too, after we get him into our power,
a search of his person may furnish some clews
in ligand to his business,’ the Englishman sug-
ges .

“ It is very likely that in that way we will be
able to obtain some information,” the Cuban
observed. “ But if we do not, I am satisfied
that when I get the fellow in my power I will
be”abh to force him to tell me who and what he

“Now, let me see—about this decoy letter
business; I will need a woman to help me carry
out the scheme: I suppose your wife could play
the part, Fitzherbert, as well as any one I could

et

H.Oh, yes, t old woman is a rare hand at
any ame of t is kind. You can de nd upon
her taging the job up prime!” the Engl man as-
ser

“ Send for her to come down, and I will sum—
mon a couple of men who can do the sand-bag
act to the queen’s taste,” Sanches remarked.
“ We have acted so promptly in this matter
that there is little doubt about our nabbing this
bloodhound.”

“ The fellow will be amazed when he finds
that he is in the tails,” the marquis remarked,
with a grim smile.

“ Yes, it will be the old story of the biter bit,”
Sanches rejoined, rising as he spoke.

The others followed his example.

“ We must et back to the hotel,” the Cuban
continued. “ here is going to be a hop to-
night, and this pretty million-dollar heiress has
pro to give me some dances, and it is my
game now to cultivate her acquaintance all
that I possibly can. I am after the million, and
I am going to have it too if the wit of man can
win it!”

The others hastened to assure Sanches that it
was their opinion that he would win, and the
three passed up the avenue to the hotel, where
they found the “ hop” in full operation when
they arrived. .

 

CHAPTER XVII.
a'r 'rnn nor. ,

TH! three did not enter the ball-room to-
gether, for they wished to conceal the fact that
they were on intimate terms, but sauntered in
one by one.

All three were excellent dancers, and as they
had completely deceived their acquaintances in
regard to their characters, no (no susficting
that they were mere adventurers, they d no
difficulty in procuring partners.

Sanches made his way to where the heiress
Miss Green, eat, and, to his annoyance, foun
her busily engaged in conversation with the
youn Californian, who had just been intro-
du by the affable Mr. Thompson, who stood
close by, joining in the conversation every now
and then.

The Cuban would have retreated when be
perceived the Californian for he felt a stran e
repugnance toward him, ut Thompson caug t
sight of and beckoned him to approach, at the
same time calling Miss Green’s attention to his
presence. ’ '

So, with a smilin face, making a Virtue of
necessity, he approac ed the, group. .

Miss Green received him in the kindest man-
ner, for the girl felt extremely grateful, believ-
ing that she cwed her life to the Cuban, and her
companion, the lively Miss Poll Mathews, who
sat by the side of the heiress, a so bestowed her
sweetest smiles on the gentleman, being fully as
grateful as her friend. ,

Then Thom . n, in his fussy, pompous way in-
troduced the uhan to the Cali ornian.

The young man did not seem to pay any par«
ticular attention to the Cuban, merely acknowl-
edging the introduction with a formal bow, and
Sanches, perceiving this, took advantage ,of the
fact to make a careful examination of the other.

There was a familiar look to the Californian
which gave the Cuban the impressmn that he
had encountered the man before. and yet he
could not remember where, orlunder what Cir-
cumstances. '

This both puzzled and annoyed the Cuban.
The only exp
inability to place the stranger, was that the
Californian was disguised so that he 5;}:

anation that he could give for his I W :-

  

'.-.__.--. In . .

 

 

 

 
  
 

A‘F‘w“ “" '

... ,9 ,- I» .4  .75“; a {an ,. .  n , ,."‘” I .
ferently from what he had when Benches en-
countered him in the past.

If this supposition was correct, it showed be-
yond a doubt that the man was either a detect-
ive or an adventurer.

“It is a puzzle, and it angers me that I can-
not solve it,” Sanches muttered, under his
breath. “But I will discover the truth before
the world is a week older, or else I am not so
shrewd a fellow as I think I am.”

The Cuban had arrived too late to secure the
heiress‘s hand for the next dance, she having
promised it to the Californian, and so he was
obliged to look on and watch her glide through
the mazes of the waltz with the man whom he
felt that he hated, and for no more cause than a
vague suspicion.

Afterward the Cuban managed to secure his
share of dances, though, to his disgust, the
heiress seemed to be fully as much impressed by
the attentions of the Californian as by those
which he tendered.

This was as gall and worrnwood to the Cuban,
but he consoled himself With the thought that
in a very short time he would have the other in
a position where he would not be able to trouble
any one. .

After the hop ended the two girls retired to
their apartments. The heiress had a parlor with
two bedrooms adjoining, but the habits of their
early days clung to them, and the tWO girls oc-
cupied one room, giving the other to Miss Green’s
maid, instead of packing her off to the servants‘
quarters at the top of the house.

The maid was soon dismissed, and the girls
sat down for a quiet, confidential chat.

“ Isn’t it really lovely this kind of life i” Polly
exclaimed. “So different from being obliged
to stand behind a counter from eight o’clock in
the morning to six at night and wait on a lot of
people, half of whom didn’t really want any-
thingnbut came shopping just to pass away the
time.

“Oh, yes, this is a change indeed, and I have
no doubt that we appreciate the life we are now
leading much better than if we had always been
used to it. Having once been poor we are able
to a reciate riches. "

“ es, yes, that is undoubtedly true, and do
you know it sometimes seems all like a dream to
me, and the thought comes that I will suddenly
wake up and find that it is not real at all.”

Katherine laughed at her friend’s conceit.

“ Oh, it is all real enough, and there isn’t any
dan er of such a thing as that happening.”

“ know that, of course, but the thought will
come, all the same; I always was a goose, you
know, always having all sorts of day-dreams,”-
Poll remarked, in the most candid manner.

“ es, on are about as full of romance as
any one ever met.”

“I cannot help it; I was born that wa ; but,
I say, what a perfectly splendid time we to-
ni ht. I don’t think I ever enjoyed myself as
we before.”

“ Yes, it was very enjoyable.”

“And to think too that we cameso near to
leavin this bright and beautiful world to-day-
it fair y makes me shudder when I think of it!
and a shiver shook the plump form of the girl as
she spoke.

“Yes, we were extremely near to death,” the
heiress remarked, slowly, her face grave and
thoughtful.

“ And how brave and noble it was of this
Cuban gentleman to come so promptly to our
rescue!”

“ Oh. yes, we owe him a debt of
which we can hardly ever hope to pay.

“ Well, I guess that if you asked him about
the matter he could sng est a way in which you
could cancel the debt? the other exclaimed,
wit: 7 rggiéilsh lsmile.

s ig t as rose on Katherine’s 1e ch
:: ggwtyoghtatk 1’; babe exclaimed. pa Oaks.
,1 is e ru , and I guem you know it
too!” Polly retorted. “Any one with half an
eye can see that the gentleman has fallen over
head and ears in love with you,"

“Nonsense!” cried the heirem, blushing still
deeper.

. “Oh, no it is not nonsense!” the other per-
sisted. “ Why, you were the only girl in the
room that he seemed to care to dance with, and
he did not like it at all either when you danced
with that Mr. Mackay. I watched him and
000“ P18"!!! lee that he was 'ealous.”

“He had no can-etc be am sure, for Mr.
Envy d“ “03 my many particular atten-
ion.

“ Y“. I know that. but when a man falls in
love with a girl you know he doesn’t like to see
any other gentleman may her the slightest atten-
tion. I don‘t wonder ther that he is jealous,
for I think Mr. Mackay is perfectly splendid.
but then I have always heard that the cantor.
nians were real nice, and I really think of the
two that I should prefer Hr. key to the
Cub“. although they say that Mr. Bunches is
awfully rich, but that does not matter to on. of
course, for you have plenty of money 0 your
own and could aflord to marry a pom-m [f
you took a fancy to him."

“ Yes, that is true, and there comes in one of
the disadvantages attendin the Mn of
wealth,” the heiress remar “ How can I tell

gratitude

 

V' -m ,. <:'

 i.,_ " 2-2 - .._,~  3:: Mum- " an  ~  , W . .—-,.

l I
whether my miter is attracted by me or by the
mone that I possess?”

“ ell, I don’t know,” Polly replied with a
shake of the head. “ I suppose that it is a hard
matter to decide—that is if the gentleman is not
wealthy. If he had plenty of money he would
not be a t to be a fortune-hunter, although I
don’t really know that that is so, for I have
heard it said that with some men the more money
they have the more money they want.”

“ Yes, I presume that is often the case, but,
really, I have a better opinion of both Mr. Mac—
kay and the Cuban than to suppose that either
one of them is a fortune-hunter. ’

“ Oh, so have I!" the other exclaimed. “ I be-
lieve both of them are attracted by yourself and
not by your money, and now, honestly, Kate
which one of the two do you like best?”

“Oh, I don’t know; it is too soon yet to put
that question; you must ive me time to make
up‘ my mind. Mr. Sane es is evidently a pol-
ished and cultivated gentleman, while the Cali-
fornian has an odd, off-hand way with him that
is strangely attractive, and then too, there is
something about him which is extremely familiar
to me, so much so. that I sometimes wonder if I
have not met him before.”

“ That certainly is very strange l" the other
exclaimed.

“ Yes it is, and I cannot account for it.”

“ Do you really think that you have met Mr.
Mackay before?’

“ Well, no, I cannot say that I feet at all cer-
tain about it, for I can not recall the circum-
stance, it seems vague and unsubstantial like a
dream.”

“ But the fact leads you to take a greater inter-
est in him than you would otherwise,” Polly ob-
served, shrewdly. ‘

" Yes, I suiipose it does,” the heiress admitted.

“ I confess think that if I were in your place
I should prefer the Californian,” Polly observed,
after meditating over the matter for a few mo-
ments. “ Mr. Sanches is a foreigner, and it
doesn’t really seem right for us American girls
to marry men who come from other countries,
for there is no telling but they may have wives
at home.”

The heiress laughed at this notion and then the
two repared to retire for the night.

“ a be your dreams will tell you which one
is the . t man,” Polly suggested as the pair
sought their pillows.

“Perhaps so,” Katherine replied, and then si-
lence reigned. .

 

CHAPTER XVIII.
'rin: LITTER.

THREE days passed away since the one on
which the Cuban played the part of a guardian
angel, and nothing of any moment concerning
the characters in our story happened.

Life at Long Branch went cu in the usual
fashion common to all watering places.

The gossips noted that Mr. Sancbes paid par-
ticular attention to the young heiress, whose life
he had the credit of saving, and the report soon
got around that it was likely there would be an
engagement between them; it was also noted
that Miss Green seemed to be partial to the
society of the young Californian, but as he
seemed to pay fully as much attention to Miss
Mathews as to the heiress, the scandal-mongers
did not think that he would prove a dangerous
rival to the Cuban.

Mackay had visited the city once during the
three days, and had taken particular care to
ascertain if he was followed or watched, but, as
far asJie could see; no one was on his track.

“That is good,’he solilcquized. “It shows
that my mission has not been suspected. I did
not think that it would be, forIarn satisfied
that my disguise is perfect; still from the pooh.
liar way in which t is sup Cuban acts to-
ward me, I got the idea that his su icions were
excited, and, of course, I jumped a once to the
conclusion that he believed me to be apolice
spy. It is much more probable though, that he
is alarmed for fear I will interfere with his de-
signs up0n the heiress. Being a rascal himself
he ma have ot the notion into his head that I
am a ortune- outer, and hope to make a prey
of the girl. That is the most likely solution of
the mystery."

Notwithstanding that he had come to this
Opinion. the spy did not fail to keep on the
watch, ready to detect the slightest suspicious
circumstance.

Dinner was over, and the Californian passed
through the office on his way tothe iamto
enjoy a smoke, when the hotel clerk bec oned to
him and held up ii letter.

“ For me?" asked the Californian, as be ap-
proached, rather surmised, for he knew of IO
one who would be apt to write to him.

“ Yes, sir. Thomas Macks y, E hire, and in a
lady’s hand," the clerk replied, w th a knowing
smi e.

“ Ah, es, I reckon it is for me then,” the
Californ an replied, smiling in response to the
clerk’s grin. ‘

Turning away he opened the note, which was
a dainty aflair, elaborately scented.

It was written in a pretty, feminine hand, and
ran as follows;

i .a. .;;_... ‘4 .w. .njvw

 

 

“ Tnomis Manny, Esoumnz-

“ DEAR Sim—Please forgive the liberty which I
have taken in thus addressing you. a stranger. but I
wish to see you on a business matter of importance
both to you and myself. If you will kindly come to
Cedar avenue to-night at nine o’clock, I Will be wait-
ing in a carriage on tnv corner of the second street
from Ocean avenue on the left hand side.

“1 will not detain you more than ten minutes, and
I ray you to come. for I have a disclosure to make
which, I feel sure, is of great importance

“ (Signed), Vsarras."

The Californian read the letter over twice,
then folded it up, put it in his pocket, and saun-
tered to the piazza, where be procured a chair
in a quiet nook, and, after lig ting a cigarette,
fell to meditating in regard to the mysterious
communication.

“Now then, what does this mean?” he mused.
“ Is it a trick—does it conceal a tra l” And for
a good five minutes he smoked in si ence, debatr
ing the question in his mind.

‘ At the first lance it appears as if it did,” he
mused. “ But en comes the question—if it is
a trap, who set it, and for what purpose? Is my
errand here suspected—is the Cuban, or his pals,
at the bottom of this? i

“ No, no,” he continued, after a long pause,
“it does not seem possible that it can be so.
have not left a single point unguarded; not a
thing has taken place which would be apt to
rouse suspicion in the breast of any one. It is

hardly possible that this gang have intuitively -

hit upon the truth.

“ Is it not more probable that this is some out-
side matter? Perhaps some woman here sua-
pects that the Cuban and I are rivals and wishes
to give me some warning c 'ncerning him. Yes,
that seems to me to be more like the truth.

“ I will risk it and go, anyway!

“ Cedar avenue, at the corner of the second
street, at nine o’clock,” he mused. “ That is not
a very lonely situation. I will have my revolver
in my hand. and if there is any trap about the
matter the fellows will have to be pretty smart
to catch me in it.”

Having come to this determination, after
finishing his cigarette, the Californian went
up to his room and made preparations for the
adventure.

First he examined his revolvers and made sure
that they were in perfect working order, and
then ' ted each cartridge, taking care to
recharge the pistols, so as to be sure that they
Were none of them defective.

“ A clogging cylinder and a bad cartridge
has cost many a good man his life,” the Califor~
nian muttered.

After satisfying himself that his was in were
in perfect order, he put on a plain, ark suit,
stowad one revolver away in the pocket on the
ri htahand side—it was a sack coat—and put the
ot er down in a pocket suspended from the
waistband of his pantaloous, so arranged that
by thrusting his hand in between his vest and
pantaloons e could the butt of the pistol
with his left hand. here was a similar pocket
on the right-hand side, but on this occasion he
preierred to carry the revolver in his coat
poc et.

It was in the gloom of the twilight that these
preparations were made, and it was almost dark
as the Californian came out of his room and de-
scended to the piazza. ‘

Looking at the clock as he passed through
the office, he saw that it lacked a few minutegof

ei ht.

5‘ If I start away from here about twenty
minutes before nine I shall have ample time,
he soliloquized. “ I don't exactly remember
how far u the second street is, although I drove
through r avenue only yesterday, but it
cannot be over half a mile or so, and it will not
take me long to walk it.

“ And now, it seems to me that I ought to
find out what the Cuban and his pals are doin .
If this is a trap, and the are concerned in 
the chancel are great t at they will be some-
where in the neighborhood of the meeting-place,
waiting for my coming.”

But when the Californian stepped out on the
piazza he saw the Cuban and the marquis in a
group which surrounded Miss Green and three
other ladies, who were holding a sort of a levee
at the extreme and of the balcony. r

“Well, there are two of them at all events,"
the y muttered, when he made this discovery.

A ew minutes later he saw the En lishman
chatting with a group of gentlemen in t saloon
of the hotel. 

“There is the third one, and up ntly none
of the three hasauy idea of ta ng
I reckon it is all right—no trap after all.”

The Californian sauntered around the hotel
until the hands of the clock pointed to twenty
minutes of nine, and then he started to keep the
appzintment made by his unknown correspon-

en

 

CHAPTER XIX.
m

ID.
Tin: night was not dark, for the moon
riain , so the Californian had
Ibo vfiiere he was going.

He walked on without hurrying for he knew '
he had ample time.
There were plenty of people, walking and I

awalk,» I

was .
plenty ’of light to

' (an.

 

 

 

~.,,lfl~.,

 

driving, on the main avenues, but after he got
well up the side street not many did he encoun-
ter.

It took him about fifteen minutes he reach the
lace of appointment, for he had walked slowly,
eeping a good watch on his surroundings as be

pro ressed.

6 had an idea that he might be followed
from the hotel, but although he took particular
pains to ascertain whether this was so or not, no
spy could he discovered.

As he came near the meeting-place he saw an
old-fashioned carryall standing on the corner;
the horSe’s head was toward him and he could
make out that a female figure sat on the front
seat and held the reins.

“Well, this seems to be all right,” he solilo—
quized as he approached. “ I do not see any—
thing wrong about this. I reckon that my sus-
picions were at fault and that it is not a trap
after all.”

The Californian had his revolver drawn and
he held it in his right hand, but pressed a ainst
his side in such a way that the weapon con (1 not
be distinguished; when he saw that there was
only a woman in the carriage he stowed the
pistol away in his pocket.

“ I am ever so much obliged to you for com-
ingl” the womm exclaimed, in a voice the ac-
cent of which plainly betray that she was En-
glish as the Californian came n to the carriage.
' “ Don’t mention it, madam, am glad to be
able to oblige you,” the Californian replied,
with a olite bow.

“ Wi you have the kindness to get in and
ride a little ways with me?” the woman asked.
,“ I will drive slowly and we will be able to con-
verse without danger of any one overbearing
what we say. I have something of the utmost
importance to communicate to you.”

‘ Oh, yes, anything to oblige.”

The woman was rather good-looking, and evi-
dentlya lady; was dressed nicely, and though
she seemed nervous and agitated, that was only
natural under the circumstances.

The Californian approached the carriage and
placed his foot upon the step to enter.

Then from a clump of bushes, right at his
back, came two men.

They advanced with a rush. The Californian,
warned by the sound of the fobtsteps that dan-
ger was near, turned in alarm and endeavored
to draw his revolver, but his assailants were too
near and came on too quickly.

Before he could get the weapon out the fore-
most man of the two dealt the Californian a.
violent blow upon the head with a short club
which he carried.

The assailed man rceived the movement
and threw up his le t hand to ward off the
stroke, while he tried to get his revolver out
with the other.

He was not quick enough to parry the blow,
and the force of the stroke beat him down in~
sensible to the earth.

“ That was a dandy lick, Rod Murphy!” the
second man of the two cried in a sharp, shrill
voice, the tone of which plainly betrayed that
he was not an American.

“ Oh, you can jest bet yer boots that I know

_my little biz!” the man with the club replied.

“ When I sail in to lay a feller out, I lay him
out for keeps, and don’t you forget itl”
“Do not waste any time in idle boasting!”

i the woman cried in a tone of authority. “ Some

carriage is liable to come along at any moment

’ and then an inquir into this matter mightbe

made which would awkward for us.”

“ Oh, no,” the short, thick-set fellow with the
club answered.

“ I kn0w a leetledgamc which can be played in
acase of that kin . This in. pal of ours who
got so drunk down at the shore that he is com-

‘ Eleme paralyzed and we are trying to get him

ome. That is a good enough yarn, you know,
to stuff almost anybody, and mighty few folks
[are anxious to interfere in what don’t concern

3 ~ them.”

 

3 min

 

 

“ That istrue, but there is no sense in run-
any risk when it can be avoided just as
we! as not,” the woman declared.

“Right you are!” exclaimed the tall, thin
man with the harsh voice. “Always try to
keepon the safe side, that is mv motto! Give
me a hand, Murphy, and we wrll put our man
in the hack of the carriage.”

“All ri ht,” the other answered. Then he

,1  put his c ch in his pocket—this club, by the
- way

was a curious article, for it was not a

w n weapon, but made out of cloth, lookiu

,more like a big sausage than anythiugbelse'

n which the ruflan of a West
from the heathen scoundrel of the

was the was
has borrow

» for East, the sand-club, which does both noise-

less and eflective work.
The two men took hold of the insensible Cali-
Oruian and put him in the back of the carriage;

the tall, thin man got in by his side, and the '
simrt, thick-set fellow took a seat by the driver. ,
The woman started the horse. turned the car- ; into his pocketl and discovered that his revolver
flags around and drove up Cedar avenue until ' was gone. '

she came to a small cross-read. on the left, at ’

thengppor end of the street; into this road she
tar and forced the horse onstagood pace
southward.

 

om O W 1 orma.

which the houses were few and far between, the
woman spoke. There had been no word ex-
chanved between the three on the avenue.

" I'Iow is the man, Rodney?” she asked.

“ All right!”

“ Is there any sign of his recovering his
senses?"

“ Not yet i”

“ Oh, he is all right for a good half-hour!” the
short, thick-set man, who had been addressed as
Red Murph . observed.

This Red hinrphy was an old New York jail-
bird, and bore the reputation among the police
of being one of the most desperate and danger-
ous of all the criminals of the cit .

“ You can bet yer sweet li e that when I
crack a feller over the noddle with my little
joker that he will not trouble anybody for a
while,” he continued. “I allers prides mvself
upon doing my work up to the handle. When
Rid Murphy does a job you can bet all you are
worth that it is going to be done to the queen’s
taste, and don’t you forget it!”

“ Are you all prepared in case he does re-
cover?" the woman asked.

“ 0h, ycs; I have the chloroform and nge
reaxly and the moment he stirs I will give im a
dose which will be apt to set him off again so
you need not be afraid of his making any
trouble.”

“Better let me give him another rap on the
head with my little jokerl” Red Murphy ex-
claimed with a grin. “ I will back my club
ug‘in’ chloroform to put a man to sleep any day
in the week i"

” One of these days you will hit a man harder
than you intend, and then you will be apt to get
into trouble,” the woman warned.

” Oh, I am not afraid!" Red Murphy exclaim-
ed, cmtemptuously. “ The prison is not built
that can hold me!‘ he continued, boastfully.

“ That may be, but if you will take my advice
you will not take any chances,” the thin man
with the harsh voice continued. “ The smartest
man sli up sometimes, and the best way is to
avoid a l the scrapes that you possibly can.”

By this time the curria e had turned off the
main road into a small Sl( e one running to the
west and was now in the heart of the lonely re-
gion locally known as “ The Pines,” on account
of the vast number of pine trees amid which the
road ran twisting around, first to the right and
then to the left, as though it was following a
seil'pent’s irre lar trail.

ere and t ere, at long distances apart, were
clearings where some settler—general] y a negro
—was attempting to wring a living from the
sterile soil.

At last the carriage left the road and turn-
ing to the left, followed a narrow path
just big enough to allow the vehicle to pass, an
then came to a halt before a small house which
istoodd in the center of a half-acre of cleared

an .

The woman and men do ended from the car-
riage, and while the fema e unlocked the door
the men took the helpless Californian from the
vehicle, and when the portal was open, carried
him into the house and down tothe cellar, where
in utter darkness he was left.

 

CHAPTER XX.
Ix run cnnma.

Tim senses of the Californian had been slowly
coming back to him, and the cool, damp air of
the underground apartment aided his recovery;
within ten minutes after being laced in the cel-
lar he had recovered sufllcien ly to sit up and
look around him. r

0! little avail, though, were his eyes, for the
darkness was so. intense that he could not distin-
guish a single object, but the damp atmosphere
and the closeness of the air made him suspect
that he was in a cell..r.

“ Well, I have got a lesson this time which
ought to take some of the conceit out of me,” he
muttered, after his mind got in good working
order again, and he fell to reflecting upon the
situation.

“I suspected, right at the beginniu , that it
was a trap, and then I was fool enoug to allow
myself to be caught in it, walking into the snare
as blindly as any unsu ting greenhorn could
have done. ‘ There is a fall to proud ambition 1’
he exclaimed, sarcasticall . ‘ It is plain now
that I am not half so sm as I thou ht I was.
But now the question comes up: what sthe little
game, anyway!”

And for a ood ten minutes the prisoner medi-
tated over th s matter: then he shook his head,
and again solil nixed:

“ I am afraid shall have to give it up. I am
in a trap. sure enoughzthere is not any doubt
about that, ,but why I have been entrapped-
who are my entrepren, and what object the
parggs had in put ng up this job on me is a
m ry.

hen the Californian chanced to put his hand

“Hello! somebody has been through me, I
reckon !” he exclaimed. '
An examination disclosed that the suspicion

was correct.
After getting into the narrow road, upon His watch, wallet, even his penknife had been
y 4 I

 

T   “‘5‘ “Ag?
,. r  _

taken, nor had the searches failed to find the
second revolver concealed in the secret pocket.

“W'ell, I must say that they have made a
clean sweep of itl” he muttered. “Can it be
that I have been assailed merely so that I might
be robbed?”

But the Californian dismisSed this conjecture
as being unworthy of belief almost immediately.

“ Oh, no, if I had been assaulted merely for
the purpose of robbery, the scoundrels would
have stripped me of my valuables after I was
stricken down, and they would not have taken
the trouble to bring me here and imprison me in
a cellar.

“It seems more likely that this party, upon
whose track I am, has in some way got a sus-
picion that I was playing the spy upon him, and
this little move has been made by him, but if be
calculated upon discovering any documents up-
on my person which would give the snap away,
to use the vulgate, he must have been woefully
disappointed.”

By this time the dazed feeling had passed
away, and the Californian was like himself
again.

He rose to his feet, and began a careful sur-
vey of his prison house, feeling his way through
the darkness.

As nearly as he could make out he was in a
common cellar with stone walls, almost twelve
feet square, with a door at cne end.

The door was stoutly constructed, for al-
though the Californian tried his utmost strength
upon it he was not able to move it in the least.

“ Well, I am in for it, and no mistake!” the
prisoner muttered, when he completed his in-
vestigation. “And all I can do is tosit down
and wait patiently until my captors scefit to
make an explanation.”

In the course of his investigation the Cali-
fornian had found a small box, and this he took
for a seat.

Placing it in an angle of the wall so he could
have a rest for his back, he sat down and pro-
ceeded to make himself as comfortable as pos-
sible.

That the prisoner was a rather uncommon
sort of fellow was soon apparent, for, despite
his position, and the anxiet which ,it on lit to
have caused him, be close his eyes on ina
short time was fast asleep, slumbering away as
calmly as though he was in his comfortable bed
at the hotel.

He sle t as sleeps the just for some thirtymin-
utes, an then he suddenly awakened; ike a
cat he seemed to possess the faculty of falling to
sleep and waking up at a moment’s noticg.

It was a slight noise at the door which had
awakened the sleeper, and just as he opened his
eyes and sat upright, the door opened and the
ra of a. lantern ashed into the cellar.

The Californian sat at the opposite end of
the cellar to where the door was situated, so
that the length of the apartment intervened be-
tween him and the door.

In the doorway stood a man clad in acom-
lete suit of blue overalls, jacket and panta-
oons, so that he looked like a workingman, but
over his head was drawn a hood of the same
material, with eye and mouth holes in it
forming a complete disguise for the head an
face.

In one hand this man held a common tubular
lantern and in the other a bowie-knife gleamed.

Behind him, in the entrance, stood two more
men dressed in a similar disguise, and both
armed with revolvers, which they flourished,
menacingly, in the air.

The first man, advanced into the room and
hung the lantern upon a hook in the ceiling so
that it lighted up the apartment.

The Californian did not rise from his box
but remained seated and gazed at the disguised
men with as calm a face, and as much uncon-
ceru, as though all this was a mere every-day
occurrence. ~
“ ell, how do you find yourself?” the leader
of the masked men asked when he ained the
center of the apartment where he alted and
surveyed the risouer, his eyes shining darkly
through the ho es in the hood.

The man spoke in a hoarse voice, evidently
assumed to d iso his real tones, but the Cali-
fornian, listen ng intently came to the con-
clusion that the owner of the voice was no

stran r to him.
“ , I am tty well thank you; nothing to
com lain of net now, a though the rap on the

b that I got bothered me a little :1 while
ago,” the prisoner answered, in a brisk, busi—
nesslike tone. “ Still, under the circumstances,
I don’t Ill I ought to complain,” be con-
tinned. “ All things considered, i reckon I got
off tty easily.”

“ on are a cool hand, I must say!” the
masked leader exclaimed considerably aston-
ished by the way in which the prisoner was

in himmlf. \

“ ale 1 alwa reckon totake things as easy
as I can, no mazt'er what turns 11 ,” the Cal o
foruian replied. “ This is not the 'rst time that
I have been ;in a snap of this kind,” be con-
tinued. “I havo been ‘held up’ by road-
agents in the Pacific Slope a half a dozen times,
but I must admit that the scientific manner in
which you fellows worked this job is a little

 

 

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15

 

 

 

ahead of anything that I ever struck, and I
have been held up by some good men, too, fel-
lows who thought they were away at the top of
the heap,” the Californian added in a reflective

wa .

‘y We are much obliged to you for the com-
pliment,” the other replied. “ “'e Eastern men
generally do our work up in good shape.”

“You bet 1” the prisoner cried, emphatically.
“I can bear witness to that.”

“ But we are wasting timel” the masked man
exclaimed, abruptly. “ We did not come here
to be complimented by you upon the excellence
of our work. “'0 have other business on hand.”

“Fire away i” the Californian exclaimed. “ I
am in a condition just now to listen to anything
that you have got to say; but I can tell you one
thing, and that right at the beginning: if you
calculate to make anything more out of me, the
trick will not work i” .

“ Is that so?” inquired the masked man, in a
decidedly sarcastic tone. ,

“ Just as sure as that you are standing there,
my friend,” the risoner declared in the most
positive way. “ on have strip me Clean—
got away with all my wealth, an I reckon you
ought to be satisfied.”

‘ That is your opinion, eh!” the masked man
inquired.

“ Yes, sir, that is my platform

“ We cannot play any little game with you?"

“ No, sir, not by a jugfull”

“ What do you sup so our game is?”

“ Well, I hav’n’t thered my head much
about that—hav’n’t really had time, you know,”
the prisoner remarked. “ Then too, I am a
stranger here in the East, and am not ted as
to how you gentlemen in this line 0 business
inn.ygi‘ii;]ga.iti)iles.t If we were in California now,

mig eanivea rett ood ease
your little scheme.’g p y g g“ t

“ Imagine that we are in California and go
ahead 1” exclaimed the disguised rufiian.

" Well, when our road-agents go through a
man—take all his Wealth away, and then take
the man himself, they do it so as to be able to
get a ransom for him, the prisoner explained.
“ The lug the game off to some secure s and
then ave him send word to his friends that he
is in a tight place, and that they must pony up
so much wealth before they will be gladdened by
a sight of his countenance again.”

“ And you have jumped tothe conclusion that
that is the game we think of playing!" the
masked man asked.

“I don’t see what other scheme you can have
in view; but I can tell you, right plainly, that
it will not work, for I have no friends who will
put up any wealth to get me out of this, if you

eep me here until doomsday.”

“ Wh , I thought you were a rich man?”

“ So am—in expectation, but my wealth has
not panned out yet.” the Californian answered,
With the true, reckless bravado of the adven-
turer. “ You must give me time to breathe;

I”

j strike me some ten or fifteen years from now,

and the chances are big that I will pan out in
the richest kind of way— laid a tremendous
dividend, you know—but a present I am N. G.
Excuse my dipping into slang, but the occasion
«finds i ” mm 1
on are an one smart oun ”
the other declared in a vei¥y sarcach gut“!
“ Much obliged for the compliment, and since
the game is running that way allow me to ob-
serve that the manner in w ich you managed
this trick shows that on are away a at the to
at the hawk on thfilthe engroth n replie ,
pparsu y words 0 other
the utmost goodnfaith. with
“ But, smart as you are, you cannot deceive
me,” the masked man dec .
A look of surprise appeared on the face of the
Californian.
“ Oh, come now, who is trying to do thati” he
exclaimed.
“ Youarel”
to nor,
2: Oh, yes!”
Honor bright, now! I am acting in the
unrest ‘1‘!!an toward you,” the prisoner do-
clarcd And under the circumstances, how on

 

earth could I deceive on even if I wanted to!
It is the truth that Iyam’tonin you that I am
not well fixed e to be .15. to pay a ran-
som, and true, too hat I hav'n’t any wealthy.
friends who would he wil to at up for me.
“How about the chief po cef” asked the
dixuised man, abruptly.
pnaalod look appeared on the face of the

prisoner. , .

“The chief of police?” he cried, ln'atone of
3”“ '

“ Yes, that is what I said,” the other ex-

lclaimed, harshly. “He 1| ‘ 8006 friend of
-1"’«‘3’t:i£""°"m im led in I

,a- no no m 0" t ‘
lwhst onsarthare ou rlvin atge‘ uy'
., ‘Don’t you understand t we are. on“,
w“ it. 9" "th r ed

0 a
jhewildcrsd “:53”. his ce,“buti?itiss6;

will be hanged it you don’t knvow more

' ,‘forllmnotontoit mycelf

Y0“ m sarcasm l” '
,

 

 

“No more than I am i”

“ \Vell, as I haven’t had the pleasure of being
introduced to you, I cannot say in regard to
that.”

“ You are a police spy.”

“ Is that so?” And now the tone of the young
man was jeering in the extreme.

“ Yes, you are here in disguise, and have been
sent to play a certain game. ’

“I see that you know all about it!” the other
exclaimed, sarcastically. “ You and the chief
of the New York police are old pards, I sup-
pose?”

" Now, while I have a pretty clear idea in re-
gard to what the game is, yetl desire to hear all
the particulars from your lips.”

“ Oh, yes, pf course,” and the Californian
laughed sarcastically. “I am in a tight place
now, and I will be glad to tell you all I know.
All you have to do is to question, and I will an-
swer."

The eyes of the disguised man flashed fire
through the holes of his mask.

There was no mistaking the tone of defiance
in which the Californian spoke.

“ Oho, you are going to brave my power then i”
he exclaimed, angrily, “ Perhaps you think I
will knot be able to find a way to make you
spea ?

“ Well, I am certain that you will not be able
to make me tell you what 1 do not know,” the
prisoner replied. '

“Ah, you think that you' do not know now,
but after a while vou may come to the conclu~
sion that you do,” the masked man'said, sneer-

inglii
‘ aybe I will, but I doubt it.”

“ Hunger and thirst are sometimes powerful
assistants to a man’s memory,” the other re-
marked slowly, and placing strong emphasis on
the words.

“Possibly, but I doubt if either hunger or
thirst will work in this case,” the Californian
replied in a decided tone.

‘ Well, it will not do ang harm to try. You
see it is my impression t at you are playing
’possum. I believe that you are a police spy
and that you have cometo Long Branch on a
secret mission; I am a. perfect slave to curiosity
and thereforeI have made up my mind _to find
gut j’i’ist what business has brought you down

ere. - .

“ And so you laid this trap for mel” the pris-
oner exclaimed.

“ Yes, and now that you are in in power I
shall try to make'you speak! As I said, hunger
and thirst are powerful agents, and on will
soon be introduced to bot of them, or until
you make up your mind to make a clean breast
pf it, neither food nor drink shall pass your
, ..

“Oh, and you think that sort of treatment
will be apt to make me speak?” the Californian
exclaimed with scornful accent.

“ If it does not you must be more than man,”
was the re ly.

“ Well, reckon that you will find that I am
about as tough as they make them!” the pris-
oner asserted.

“ Yes, but I doubt if vou are tough enough to
endure the torture to w 'ch I am going to sub-
ject- you ” the masked man replied. “ From
now until to-morrow noon neither bite nor sup
shall you have. Then I will come sin and
give you another chance. Perhaps by t t time
you may have come to {he conclusion to give
me the information I desire.”

“ My reply then will be just the same as it is
now. You are barking up the wrong tree; I
cannot tell you what I don’t know!” the Cali-
fornian exclaimed.

“If you stick tothat story after you have
been here without food or drink for three or
four days I shall begin to believe that I am
wrung in my conjecture.”

Than the speaker took the lantern and retreat-
ed to the door.

“ You will have some time to reflect before
you see me again," he sai . “You had best
submit with a good grace or if youare obsti-
mit'll youliare fimfi'n th portal. doo

an e pa rough e the r
closed and the Californian was left amid the
gloom to meditate upon the situation.

CHAPTER XXI.
F ~y m cm
on a good fifteen minutes the ‘fqrnisn
neither stirred nor spoke; he was reflec upon
what had , then his meditation flowed
into words.

Like all people of a‘ soil nature the Call-
fornian was accustomed to hate aloud in re-
gard to the situation, talkin to himself, just as
an ordinary man talks to a risnd. i
h "if? in a tight p‘liwe‘hiere 813d no mistakes;

e i nixed spec ng n a w and rd
tone fofiear tho there mi ht besome‘gntri.
Vance by means of which t e rumans who had
captured him could overhear his words if he
spoke in his ordinary tone of Voice. -

“ I have been successful in my uest though. I
unsure: there is hardly a doubt t I have fal-
lea into the wer of the gang who wear the
brand of the vbible Rand. ' ‘-

 

1 .

 

“ All the circumstances go to show that this
band is a powerful and well organized one. The
Cuban, Sanches—or he who passes as such, for I
have a suspicion that he is no more a Cuban than
I am—is one of the band. I am certain of that,
for Cuban Kate gave me the information, little
thinking how important was the revelation that
she was making or how great the secret she was
betraying.

“ These adventurers, the Frenchman and the
Englishman, are pals of the Cuban undoubtedly,
and they too are members of the band.

“ The gang is led with amazing skill. too; the
best proof of that is the fact that suspicion has
been excited in regard to myself, and when I
come to think it over I am decidedly puzzled to
account for it.

“ Can it be possible that he is an old acquaint-
ance, and is so skillfully disguised that I can not
recognize him, and so has a suspicion that I am
not what I appear to be?”

After meditating over the matter for a few
moments the prisoner shook his head.

“ It is certain that if the man is an old ac-

uaintance he has not fully recognized me, or
e so I would meet with different treatment. And
I, on my part, although he seems familiar to me,
am not able to place him.

“As nearly as I can make out he more resem—
bles the chief of the Invisible Hand band, the
En lishman, Brakespear, whom I hunted down,
am? who escaped from justice by committing
suicide, than anybody else.

“ If the statement that the murdered ruflian
made to me that Brakespear was alive—that his
supposed death was only a clever trick to escape
from the hands of the law—if that statement was
true—and the man certainly made it as though
be firmly believed that it was—then this Cuban,
Sanches, is the Englishman, Brakespear, and if
I succeed in escapin from this trap I stand a
good chance of nabbing him. If I get the brace-
lets on him again I will take good care that there
will be no poimn busine$ worked. '

“ Before 1 boast though of what I will do, I
had better set my wits to work to get out of this
or my career as a police spy will Come to an un-
timely end.”

By this time the Californian’s eyes had become
so accustomed to the darkness that he was able
to distinguish the outlines o the walls.

Rising to his feet be mad a complete circuit
of the cellar, tapping carefully on each stone,
hoping to find some one that was loose sothat
he could remove it and tunnel out, but con-

sidering that he had absolutely nothing what- '

ever in the way of a tool to aid him, even if he
had found a loose‘ stone, he would have had con-
siderable of a job to dig the tunnel.

“ I am caught here and caged like a rat in a
trap!" the Californian exclaimed, as be renewed
his seat upon the box, for the first time betray-
ing signs of annoyance.

“ It r y appears as if there wasn’t any
chance for me to escape, and so I suppose I
am in for a taste of how hunger and thirst feels.

“ The fellow is to come at noon to-morrow ”
he mused. “ B that time I reckon I will be in
such a state 0 mind that I will not care very
much whether I live or die.

“ I will try a bit of strategy—I will go down
on my knees, pretending to behalf-crazed by
the terrors of my solitary confinement, be in the
most pitiful manner to be released, an then.
just as soon as my man is of! his guard I
sprin at his thrOit like a wildcat, at the same
time Sinocking down the lantern. and as itis
likely to be extin ished by the fall. in the dark-
ness the men wi the revolvers will not be able
to do much damage.

“ The will hardly dare to fire anyway for
fear of ill , their leader, for if they blaze awa
they willbc nstas likely to hithimasto won

me.
‘ “Itis a rate chance butitisallthatis'

left to me and will risk it i”
Having come to this conclusion theprisoner
leaned back against the wall and m redto

gotosleep,disposedtomakethe of tho-

swfiamlowdm his ryes d just begi in to
e c . an was u

get drowsy when he became conscious glint
there wasacurrcnt of cold air streaming into

, the cellar.

“Somebody has left the gate open and I will
catch cold,” the Californian muttered, the old
joke about the man who slept_ in the park and
complained of the draftof air from an open
gate coming to his mind.

The risoner straigth up and looked
around im.

At first hcwas inclined to believe that his
imagination had deceived him. but aftcr a
few; moments he became satisfied that it was
no so. ,

There was a current of cold air coining into
the cellar and the place where it entered was in
“fiends: “:8 MW mm,» .

‘ , s e s e mur-
mured, and while he pondered over e circum-
stance he was surprised by a question addressed
tohimbyavoicswhich tooomoontof
the Wall. '

“Boy, boss, how is yer!"

The voice was low audacious. and

Spike 1!, Tr"
ashrill Wand fromthc peculiar tom   "

i . '
a , \ r L " l

 

 

 

 

_ de house, dere’s no signs dat dere's any cellar at,

16

 Tom of California.

 

 

)alifornian conjectured that it was a negro boy

who spoke.

New hope sprung up in the heart of the pris-
oner, for he immediately jumped to the con-
clusion that the speaker would be much more
like to turn out to be a friend than an enemy.

“ ell, I am all right now, although I am in
a pretty tight place here,” he replied.

“ Yes, sah, you done bet yer life dat you is!”
the voice asserted in a tone of conviction.

“ 1 say, where are you?"

“ l’se hyer, sah, close to de corner, dar’s one
of de stones which am flat, an’ fixed so it kin be
used as a door.”

“ Oh, there is?” exclaimed the prisoner, feel-
ing as if the information had bestowod new life
upon him.

“ Yes, sah, dat’s so!”

“ Well, I am very glad to hear it, for I sup-
Eose it will give me a chance to get out of this

ole that I am in.”

“ You kin jes‘ hot on dat, boss!” the voice de-
clared. “ I’se been done keeping in eyes on do
men w’ot hab taken de ole house eb rsince dey
come hyer.”

“ Who are you, anyway?" the Californian
asked.

“ I’se de Spider.”

“The Spider?”

“ Yes, sah, dat’s my name.”

“ ‘Vhat else besides the Spider?”

“ ’Deed. sah, dat’s nll—dat’s all (10 name dat I
ever hab.”

“ How comes it that you are lurking around
this old house?”

“ I was born hyer, sahl” .

“ Oh, you were?”

“ Yes, sah, my fadder used for to own it, an’
dat’s do reason why I know ’bout dis yere way
into (is cellar, an’ a heap of odder t’ings ’bout
de ole place.”

“ Ah, yes, I see; and who was your father?”

“ He was a colored man, sah, named Jackson,
Brazil Jackson. He use for to be a big man
down hyer in de Pines once.”

“ Big in what way?”

“ Why, he was de capt’in ob do big est gang
ob thieves dat dere was in de country%’ the boy
exclaimed, with a great deal of pride. .

“ Ah, yes, I see.’

“ You kin bet yer life, massa, dat he was a
bummer, an’ no mistake. All do way from
Farniingdale up to Freehold and Keyport he
used for to make de grand razoos! I tell on,
sah, de ole man got away wid a heap ob p un-
der in his time!” ’

“ And where is he now?”

“He is done gone dead, sah; he was shot one
night by de Jailer when he was tryin’ to break
out ch” e jail at Freehold, where dey had him

ed.
5 IWell, that ought to have been a warning to
you

“'Deed it was, uh I ain’t done no crooked
work since, ’cept to help myself to a few ’taters
or some odder garden truck, or to a chicken
when I was short on de grub question,” the boy
replied.

' I suppose your father used this place for a
head uarters?” '-

“ es, sah, dit is de truth. his ’way in do
middle ob de Pines; ’bout t'ree miles from hyer
to Lon Branch, sah, an’ nobody cber comes by
de r through (16 Pines but de colored folks,
who hab houses up dis way, or people dat done
10% dere. way.” ~ '

“ It seems to me that the house was well situ-
ated to afford protection to a gang such as your
father was at the head of,” the Californian ob
sewed.

“ Yes, sah, do thing use for to work fu’st rate,”
the boy asserted. ‘ De ole man an’ (is gen
would run de plunder in hyer an’ hide it in dis
cellar. When you are up- stairs, or outside ob

all; an’ den dis hyer ssageway, which leads
from de cellar to de 0 barn at do back ob de
house was fixed so dat if de officers come, do
men at was in de house could scoot down inter
do cellar, an’ den if de peelers found out ’boutde
cellar, an’ went for to break a wayinto it, dc
gain? could git out by way oh dis h or sea 9

e ole barn, an’ den make a rea for e
Pixies.” '

“ Yes, I see; our father had the matter nice-
] arranged. at, I say, how comes it that
t we fellowis who have put me here do not know
about this secret passage as long as they are
posted in regard to the cellar?”

“’00s in (adder nebber let anybody kn0w
’bout dis lyer passage; dat was a trick dat he
kept to himself,” the other replied. “ I was
the only one dat knew an t’ing ’bout it, an’ dat
was ’cos I helged him to d a it.”.

“ Ah, yes; at how is it that this gang who
entrapped me have taken possession of the place,
and how does it happen that the know of the
existence of the cellar?" th Cali ornian asked,
eager tqgain all is in ormation.

Dat thrOug my uncle, Monkey Bill,” the
ho explained. .
‘ And who is Monkey Bill!”

“ He’s in fadder’s brudder. He used tobelong
tode gang at my fadder ran,but when do silicon

do gang up, Monks Bill went to New
York an' got a situation . a doctor dens dat

\

I

 

he use to help dig roots down hyer in de
swamps.

“De doctor is a Jew, an’ he ain’t no better
dan he ought to be, either!” the boy asserted.
“Monkey Bill got me a place wid him, but I
didn’t like do job an’ cle’i'ed out. De ole Jew
and Monkey thought I was pokiu’ my nose into
dei'e business, an’ (ley give me a couple of awful
hidings, au’ you kin jes’ bet, boss, I didn’t wait
for to git any more, but jes’ cut my lucky.”

“You had this old house to come toso you
were not without shelter.”

“ Dat’s so, an’ I knew I could pick up a living,
'00:; I’se handy ’bout bosses, an’ dere’s allers a
job ’round Long Branch in de season.”

“ Did you find this gang in possession of the
housn when you came?”

“ No, sah, dey only put in an appearance
three days ago. I hap ned to behyer at de
time. I had same trou le with a colored man
char in Eatontown datI was workin’ for; de
ole coon swore dat I had been stealin’ out ob his
house, but it wasn’t SO, it was his own brack
moke what had swiped de t’ings, but he laid it
on me ’case I was Brazil J ackson‘s son, an’
when I up an’ tole him dat it was his bo dat
had collared de ducats he started for do 0 cers
an’ allowed dat he would send up to Freehold,
so I 'est made tracks for de Pines. ’

“ uite natural under the circumstances,” the
Californian observed.

“I was in de barn when I heered dis yere
gang comin’, an‘ you jes' bet yer life, boss, I
t ought it was de officers arter me, so I scooted
assage, but I kept

down intendis yere secret
eer w’ot day were

near de opening so I could
as. in’.”

‘ You wanted to see what was up?”

“Yes sah, bet yer lifel”

“ And you speedily made the discovery that
the party was not after you?”

“ Yes, sah, ri ht off! But do furst t’ing day
did was to of Monkey Bill, and say how
he had sent dem dowu to de Pines to de ole
house, an’ den dey spoke of aleetle game dat
they was going to play, an’ I reckoned to myself
(lat I was gwine to git a chance to it squar’
wid”Monkey Bill for de lickin’ he one give
me

“ And so you made up your mind to have a
finger in the pie?”

“ Yes, sah, yes, indeedyl dat was jes’ w’ot I
was a-gwine to do i”

“ How many men were there?”

“ Two, sah.”

“ Did they call each other by name?”

“ Yes, sah.”

“ Do you remember what the names were?”

“ You kin jes’ bet yer life I does!” the boy ex-
claimed triumpbantl .

“ What were they ’

“Dere was a tall long-legged rooster dat de
odder feller called Rodney, an’ de short man dat
looked like a fighter, was called Red Murphy.”

The Californ an pondered over thewmatter for
a few moments; both names were strange to
gim,.and neither one of them did he expect to

car.

A solution of the mystery soon came to his
mind though.

“ These are only the tools,” he murmured,
conimuuing with himself. “ The princi ls
have been careful to keep in the backgro nd.
But although I do not know the two men. the
chances are great that the parties in New York
will know them, and so 1 will get a clew to the

an .

g “ElNho else besides these two men have you

seen i” the Californian asked aloud. ‘

“ Deg was a woman in do house.”

“ l or oungi”

“ Well, , she’s done got ray ha’r, an’

her face looks a little ole, cos tis almost as

dark as de face of a colored lady, but’ she is

mighty spy on. her feet for a woman wid sich
ar.

“ It is probably some woman who has amumed
a disguise so that she cannot be recognized,” the
prisoner remarked.

“ Yes, sah, dat iajes' about what I was t’ink-
ing, for she’s too spry for sich an old—looking
woman.”

Now that the wa of escape was open to him
the Californian fel to debating as to what had
better be done.

Should be, after getting out of the trap, go
before the nearest magistrate and at out a
warrant and have the men in the ones ar-

rested? -

"‘ Do you khow who is in the house now?” he
asked 0 the boy, with this purpose in his mind.

“ Only de two men, Rodney an’ Red Murphy ”
was the reply. “Dere was two more, an’ do
woman, but day went away.

The woman with the gray hair and the dark
face was the one who had been in the on
and decoyed the Californian into his present
alight, and the two men who had departed were

e principals, undoubtedly, who had planned
the aflair.

“Under the circumstances, then, it would be
of little use to arrest the two men in the house.”
the spy mused. “Until I stand a chance to
secure the principals, there is nothin to be
gained by making any arrests. It will bet-

r for me to wait, and in timeI will get a

\

 

chance at the principals, if they do not take the
alarm at my escape and give up their plans.”
Then he said aloud to the boy:
“It was a fortunate chance that placed you
here so that you could come to my assistance,
otherwise I should undoubtedly have fared bad-

“ I say, boss, is dat straight w’at dem fellers
said—are you a detective?” asked the boy, in
eager tone.

‘ Well, I reckon I will be a detective after
this,” the Californian replied, evasively, “ for I
most certainly will not rest content until I get

uare with the fellows for~this trick they have
p ayed upon me.”

“ My uncle, Monkey Bill an’ de ole Jew doctor
is in wid dem men, you kin bet on dat, bossl”
the b0 declared. “ I know dat dey is up to
crooket work in de city, an‘ dat is de reason
why I didn’t want for to stay wid dem, but I
would like for to get 8 uar‘ for dem hidin’s dat
de ir on ’em giVe me.’

‘ If your sus icion is correct that Monkey Bill
and the Jew octor are not on the square—if
they are concerned in any crooked business in
connection with the gang who got me into this
trap, I can assure you that they will be brought
up with a round turn, and that pretty soon too.”

“ Dat is w’at I want, boss!” the boy ex-
claimed, in hu 0 deli ht. “ Dat’s do talk!
Jest you fetch onkey ill and de ole Jew doc-
tor inter jail an’ I will do anything I kin for
you!

“ I suppose there will be no dimculty in my
getting out of this hole?”

“ No, sah, no trouble at all; you kin come
t’rough do passagewa into de burn, an’ den I
kin take you t’rough e Pines to anywhar you
want for to go.”

“Is there any danger of the two fellows keep-
ing a watch outside the house?"

‘ No, sah, for day hab got it all laid out for to
go on a big drunk to-night,” the other replied“
‘ One ob dem brought two bottles of whisky an“
hid dem in do barn an’ he allowed dat he an’ de
odder teller would go on de biggest kind oh a
time to-night arter do capt’in got away.”

“ Ah, they spoke of one of the others as the
captain, eh?” '

“ Yes, sah, dat is w’at dey called him. ‘Ar-
ter de capt’in goes we kin git full,’ dat’a w’at
Red Murphy sed to de odder man."

“And they probably have commenced opera-
tions by this time.”

“ Yes, sah, I reckon dey hub, for jes’ as soon
as do capt’in an’ de woman went away in de
carriage, do men got de whisky out oh (la barn
an‘ carried it into de house.”

“ They were in a hurry and they are probably
pretty well under the weather now, so I ought
to be able to get .away without their knowing
anything about it.”

" ’Deed you had, sah; dere won’t beno trouble
’bout dat! the boy asserted.

“ The chances are that my escape will not be
discovered until the captain comes to call on
me tomorrow noon,” the Californian remarked,
meditating upon the situation, the observation
addressed more to himself than to the boy.

“ Lot mesee!” he continued, musingly. “ The
best course for me to pursue will be to take a
train for New York and consult with the au-
thorities there in rd to this matter, for the
quicker I put the etectives on the track the
better.”

“ An’ boss, don’t forget Monkey Bill an’ de
ole Jew doctor!" the boy exclaimed. “ 'Ihoy is
powerful had, both on ’em, I tell yer!”

“ They shall receive attention—be sure of
that!” the Californian replied. “ I want to
catch the first train in the morning. You can
guide me to the station, I suppose?”

“ Yes, indeedy l”

“I can get lodgings at some hotel near the

depot.”

‘ Yes, sah, plenty ob dem l”

“An when my captors come tolook after
me tc—morrow, they will be astonished to find
that the bird has down, and, no doubt, will be
puzzled to guess how I got out of \the trap."

The negro indulged in a hearty chuck e as he
reflected upon how astonished the radians would

be.
Ten minutes later the Californian was free
and on his way to the railway station.

 

CHAPTER XXII.
a Discount.

THE Californian found no dimculty in getting
a room atasmall hotel near the station, an
there parted with the negro. first making ar-
rangements so that he could keep in communi-
cation with him.

The first train to New York in the morning
carried the police y.

0n arriving in t ecity he proceeded .to the
English ale-house and sent a communication to
the chief of police. '

The ofllcial came at once, for he antici ted
that the report of the spy would he wort lis-
tening to and he waf not disa inted.

The Californian related all t at had occurred, ‘

and the chief of police listened with the greatest
interest.

 

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~ ‘ff‘oelifia 

 

“ Upon my word! I think you are the luckiest
party that I have ever met!” the official de-
clared, after the recital was finished.

“ Well, I think myself that I have no reason
to complain as f ar as luck is concerned.”

“ This escape of yours was really marwlous!"

“ It was rather stupid, though, to fall into
the trap; I ought to have had better sense,” the
Californian observed, with a shake of tie head.

“ Well, I don’t know about that. Th. scheme
was certainly arranged in the: most ingenious
manner, and as you had no reason to suppose
that your mis.~ ion to Long Branch was suspect-
ed by any one, it was not strange you should be
trapped, for, under the circumstances, it was
not to be supposed you would be on your guard,
as you would have been, if you had an idea. that
your men suspected you.”

“ Of course, I am only a greenhorn as yet,
but I can promise you that I will not be caught
so easily again i" the spy exclaimed in a tone of
firm determination.

“ Well, it is true that you have not had much
experience in the detective line, but for all that
you have succeeded in doing work which ranks
you with the best and oldest men on the force.”

The Californian bowed and expressed his
pleasure at the compliment.

“ Ah. but it is the truth and no flattery!” the
chief of police declared. “ NOW this case is an
extremely difficult one, and yet you have suc-
ceeded in getting a clew, and from the progress
that you have already made. I should not be
surprised if you succoeded 1n nabbing the whole

an .” ‘

“ gWell, I sincerely hope so,” the spy declared.

“This discovery that you have made in re-
gard to Red Murpgg and the man called Rod-
ney being connect With the ang, also that
he Jew doctor—whose name, y the way, is
Znnmer, Lenicas Zimmer—is in league with the
rascals, is extremely important.”

“ You are acquainted, then, with Red Murphy
an'l his pal Rodney?”

“ Yes; Murphy is as desperate a criminal as
the city of New 'ork has ever known, and has
been mixed up in some big ames, but the fellow
is extremely shrewd, and as always managed
to avoid conviction.” the chief explained. “ It
has been my opinion fora long time that the
fellow had a. poxverful gang at his back, for
when he has been in trouble money has flowed
as freely as water to get him out; he always has
the best of counsel and a swarm of witneSses
who are ready to swear to anything to get
him off.”

“That is where the advantage of being a
member of a gang comes in,” the detective ob-
served. . '

“ Oh, yes; if the fellow had been workm sm-

le-handed, or with a pal or two, I would ave
find him in Sing Sing a long time ago, but as it
has been thanks to his able counsel and multi-
tude of false witnesses, he has always managed
to escape by the skin of his teeth.”

“ And do you know this Rodney?”

“ Oh, yes; he is a Scotchman, Rodney
McNabb, ’ the official answered. “ Be used to be
a lawyer, and a good one, too, but he is one of
those men who cannot let liquor alone, and as
he was a sharp, unscrupulous fellow, extremely
fond of money, who would do almost anything
to make a. dollar, he got into scrape after scrape,
until his professions. brethren got after him.
He was ‘ thrown over the bars,’ as the saying is
-that is, expelled from the ranks of the 1 al
fraternity and since that time has one rapi 1y
to the bad. I knew that he and Murphy

~ were traveling around together, and it has been

my idpa that sooner or later he would come to

of.
gr” If things go on all right I think I will be
able to at him behind the bars this time,” the
Californ an remarked.

“ It certainly looks as if. you would.”

“ How about this Doctor Zimmer and his
man, Monke Bill i”

“A ir 0 bad eggs, both of them,” the chief
of ice declared. “The Jew is an able man
an erstauds his business, and could have a good

ractice if he Would attend to it; but he is an
nveterate gambler and a hard drinker; a man,
I thin who prefers to make his money In a
cropk way. I have been on his track for 'a
good five years now; ever since he settled in in.
present, quarters, in fact, but I have never been
able to catch him., although I_have come pretty
near it two or three times.

“ If I succeed in my little game the doctor
will robably be caught in the net too.”

“ ell, I confess it would give me adeal of
satisfaction to were the old Jew,” the chief of

lice admitted. “ It is not pleasant for a man

a my position to know that a fellow is crooked,
and yet not be able to bring him up with a
round turn. ‘

“Now, in regard to the statement that the
murdered croo made to me, have you taken
any measures about the matter?!

' You refer to the “10 thatvtho man, Brake-

spear a d the woman Albert. Darlingto , the
. sup ‘ n heads of the Infisiblo Hand band:1 who
too 'nand diedw under onshore

both] vin , their supposed deaths bu more)
a 93?" 55a; to escape punishment!“ "3 y
es.

 

“ Well, it is a pretty tough yarn, you know,”
the chief of police observed with a. shake of the
head

“ That is very true, but strange things hap-
pen in this world, sometimes,” the spy urged.

“ Under ordinary circumstances I do not
think I would have taken any stock in the story,
or, in fact, paid any attention to it, but as it
seemed to make such an impression upon you, I
ordered an investigation to be made in the
matter.”

“I am very much obliged,” the Californian
responded. “ I would not have paid any atten—
tion to the story had it come to my knowledge
under ordinary circumstances, but you mast re-
member that the man was dying and knew that
he had been killed by the order of the leader of
the Invisible Hand band; he craved vengeance
upon his slayer and so betrayed the secret to
me. There was every reason why the man
should tell the truth and none for speaking
talenl .”

“ No, excepting that he himself had been de-
ceived about the matter, and what he supposed
to be the truth was not so.”

“ My man was too old a rascal to be fooled!”
the detective asserted.

“ I had a thorough examination made. You
know that both the police surgeon and the
coroner who held the inquest had no doubts on
the subject; they asserted that both the man
and woman were dead beyond a question.”

“ Yes, I am aware of their opinion on the sub-
ject, but at the time the examination was made
neither one of the two had any suspicion that
there was anything wrong, and the chances are
a thousand to one, it seems to me, that both
would be like] to take it for granted that the
pair were den and to content themselves with
a common, careless examination.”

“That is true,” the chief of police admitted.
“No question in regard to the matter was
raised, and under the circumstances the exam—
ination would not be a searching one.”

“You know there are plenty of cases where
there has been a doubt in regard to the death of
the party, and doctors, after taking considerable
trouble, have decided that death had come,
when, in reality, it was not so, and the patient
afterward recovered and lived many years."

“ Yes, I am aware of that; doctors are men,
not angels, and very often make mista kes.”

“But, I had the investigation made on the
lines you laid down.

“ After the coroner got throu h with the
bodies they were handed ovor to t 0 friends of
the parties, the law‘s demands being satisfied.
The undertakers who took charge of the bodies,
were interviewed. Everything seemed to be all
square and above-board. The bodies Were pre-
pared for burial in the usual way.”

“And where were they buried?” ’

“Not in this country; both were shipped to
their friends in Edgland.”

“ The bodies must have been emhalmed then?”
the Californian observed, thou htfully.

“Yes, of course, or else i: 8 ocean voyage
could not have been made."

“ Did the undertaker: prerform the embalm-
in 7!”

he chief pondered for a moment over the
question.

“Upon my word!” he exclaimed, “ I don’t
believe my man covered that int. When I
gave the case to him I said, ‘ here have been
some doubts raised in regard to the deaths of
the two, and I wish you to look into the matter,’
and I presume that when he cametotae em-
balming business he thought that settled the
thin and went no further.

“ 1: looks to me like a plant,” the Californian
observed: “ The bodies were shipped to Eng-
land, so that if a question arose in regard to the
deaths the remains could not be followed toe.
graveyard, and the question speedily settled by
exhuming the bodil s.’

“ By Jove! I believe on are right i” the chief
of police exclaimed. “ ‘he thing seemed so im-
probable that I allowed myself to besatisfied
with an insufficient examination. But it is not
too late to remedy the error. I will use the
telephone and leok into the affair at once.”

Going to the instrument, with which, as the
reader will remember, the room was provided,
the chief opened communication with Police
Headquarters, and, as it happened, the par-
ticular detective who had been employed on this
most peculiar case was on hand.

When the detective announced that he was
ready for business the chief commanded:

“ Put yourself in communication with the
undertaker: who icok charge of the bodies of
Brakespear and Mrs. Burlington. Ascertain if
they embalmed the bodies themselves, or if they
did not, who did.”

“All right! I will ring them up at once,”
was the reply.

“ Great nvention this telephone,” the chief of

lice remarked, as he sat down to wait for the
nformation. “ Without it, it would take hours
to get the news which we will receive now in as
man minutes.

“ lthough I am a green hand, and therefore
not 0 to be a pro bet, yet I will venture
to that the un ertekeni did not do the

su
ct
«timing, for if they did it would‘cleariy show

f

 

that the pair were dead, and I do not believe
that to be the truth.

“\Vell, your guesses have come so near the
truth heretofore that I am beginning to have a.
deal of faith in your predictions,” the other re-
marked.

Within ten minutes the “hello!” of the de-
tective at Police Headquarters came over the
“‘ll‘e.

“ All right! go ahead!” the chief answered.

“ The undertakcrs did not do the em balming.
It was done by the doctor who had always at-
tended the two,” the detective reported.

“ The name of the doctor—the name?” cried
the Californian, impulsively.

The chief ut the question.

“ Doctor dimmer! was the reply.

“ The old Jew, by all that is wonderful i” the
chief of police exclaimed, amazed by this un-
ex ted development.

he spy laughed.

“ You see your man halted on the threshold,
as it were; another step and he would have
gained a clew to the mystery i"

“ \Vell, we have got it, so that is one conso-
lation l” the official replied.

Then he signaled “ all right,” over the instruo
ment and resumed is seat.

“Now then, I think we have something to
work on,” the spy remarked.

“ Yes, I think so. and having got a clew it
will be our own fault if we do not succeed in
getting at the heart of the mystery.”

“ The game which was played is plain to me
now,” the Californian remarked. “ Did I not
understand ryou to say that this old Jew is an
able doctor

 

“Yes, he hears the reputation of being a '

learned and scientific man. He has only been
in this country for Seven or eight years, but I
have heard from people who knew him in
Europe that he is a graduate of one of the best
medical colleges there and was regarded as one
of the rising men of the day when he was youn ,
but his gambling and drinking interfered wit

his getting on, and finally he had to run away
to this country having got into some ugly

scragas.”

“ 9 would be just the kind of man then to
suggest a scheme of this sort—not only to sug-
gest it, but also to furnish the means by which
it could be carried out.”

“ That is tru ” the official assented.

“ His medica knowledge would enable him
to compose a draught which, when taken, would
produce the appearance of death.”

“ Throw the taker into a sort of trance,” the
chief of police remarked.

“ Yes, a case of suspended animation and
from which the patients could only be roused by
the administering of an antidote.”

“ Mighty big 1 isk to run,” the other observed
with a doubtful shake of the head.

“ Desperate cases require desperate remedies,
you know,” the Californian argued. “ The pair
were in the toils and a long term of imprisonc
ment almost surely awaited them. I judge that
both of them were old hands and they had just
about as lief die as to go to prison for ten or
twenty years, so they took the risk and the
scheme was successful.”

“ But now that we are on the right track we .

will make it lively for theml’l-the chief declared.
“ Yes, and this time the trap will be so secure
that not one shall escape!” the spy exclaimed.

 

CHAPTER XXIII.
A shaman.

TEE sun was high in the heavens, showing that
the noon hour was near at hand, when alight
buggy drove rapidly along the lonely road
through the Pines which led to the house of the
once notorious negro, Brazil Jackson.

In the carnage sat the Cuban, Pedro Benches,
and the Englishman, Fitzherhert.

As the reader has doubtless surmised it was
the Cuban who had questioned the Californian
in the cellar. .

“ By this time I fancyour man will beinclined
to talk,” the Cuban remarked. “ He must be

 

pretty thirsty and hungry, and when he finds ‘

that we have kept our word about putting the
scrr we on him he will be apt to conclude that
we mean business

1?
“ Yes, he certainly ought to get that impress "

sion ”

“ .And if he does not yield and make a clean 7

breast of it then he is a tougher customer than
I give him credit for being."

“ But, I say, it seems to me that
an ugly one any way you take it,” itzherbert

is affair in -

remarked after reflecting over the miter for a

few moments.

“ How so?”

“ Why it is like the man who got hold of the.
hour's tail in the cave: he did not dare to low
and yet he was afraid to hold on,” the Eng
man lained. {‘gou want this man to make
stof t -

the distinguish?) or: track, although it is I
com 0 me ow on earth ,
armpit...» W v

4

o
i

H...‘

i.
.

 

18'

Tom of California.

 

“ My dear fellow, it is my impression that you
are 3. together wrong!” Fitzherbert exclaimed.
“ That, as
up the wrong tree.
fellow is a detective at all.
weaken under the pressure that you
him-suppose he reveals to you all

what are you going to do with him?”

“Well, your simile of the man and the bear
does fit pretty well, doesn’t it?"

“ So it seems to me.” .

“If he is a detective I will not dare to release
him, for, of course, the moment he is free he will
do his best to get square with us, althou h we
might bind him with forty oaths not to ta 0 ac—
tion against us.”

“ Oh, that is sure enough.”

“ And if he will not speak—or rather, persists
in so ing that he is not a detective and knows
nothing about the business, we must keep him a
close prisoner.”

“ It is just as I said—it is an extremely por-
plexing afl’air.”

“ Well, we will not cross the bridge—nor do-
bate how we will cross it, until we come to the
structure,” the Cuban remarked. “ Upon the
wayit’he man acts our future movements will de-
I‘: pen .

' I ‘ Their arrival at the old house put a step to the
’ conversation at this point.

The pair alighted from the vehicle and entered
the house, bein received at the door by Rodney
MacNabb and Murphy who had been play-
ing cards to pass the time away.

A single look the Cuban tdok of the faces of
the two, and then a dark and angry frown
wrinkled his brows.

‘ ., “ Hello! you have both of you been drinking!”
4 he exclaimed.

' “Oh, no!” MacNabb replied, confused by the.
V unexpected accusation.

" But Red Murphy who knew the captain too
i, , well to think he could deceive him, proceeded to
 I explain.

‘ We only had a pint between us,” he said.
“ You see, captain, it was awful dull work, and
as I knew it would be I fetched along a flask so
, as to liven us up a bit.”

A [i l “ Only a pint, eh?" the other exclaimed, sharp-

the Americans say, you are barking
I do not believe this young
Butif he is, and does
ut upon
e knows,

y.
,“ That is all; wish I may die if it‘ wasn’t!” the
ruflian protested. “ Ain’t that so, Rodney?”
“ Oh, yes,” assented the other.
A}, ‘ “ I think it must have been a pretty big pint!”
f-. g the Cuban declared, angrily.- “From the looks
 i' i of your faces I should think that you had got
_. s away with about a gallon. Both of you look as
 if you had been on an all night spree.”
' ‘ Oh, ’tain’t so, honor bright!” Red Murphy
exclaimed, and his pal was ually emphatic.

“ I suppose you thought t at as the prisoner
was safe y locked in the cellar you could
indulge in a spree but I tell you, bo s, it isrisky

' work when there is business on han .”
“ Oh, we have kep- a good watch—you kin
bet your life on that! Red Murphy asserted.
- “ 0 yes, there couldn’t a mouse have stirred
. arOun here without we would have been onto
’ him !7’ MacNabb declared.
*3 The Cuban shook his head, for he felt ext eme-
. 1y doubtful as to the truth of this assertion.

As far as he could judge from the looks of the
men both of them had been on a regular spree,
and e was too well uainted with what the
could stand in that line to believe that a slug e

t flask would produce any im resslon npOn

. we such hard and well-seasoned rinkers.
I “ The prisoner is all right, I supposef" he said.

“Yes. I s’ so; we ain‘t neither one of us
been near h :11,” Red Murphy replied. “ You

» said that there wasn’t an need of our troubling
our heads about him, an so we didn‘t.”

“ That is all right.”

, ' Then the Cuban, Fitsherbertand Red Murphy
mumed their disguises; after which the pro-
‘, oesded to the cellar, Benches carrying the ht-
, . ed lantern.
'1’ ,1 The cellar was reached by strap-door which
was situated in the floor of a small closet by the
. side of the massive, old-fashioned chimney which
formed part of the side wall of the house.
, Under the trap was a steep flight of steps
which led to the door of the cellar. The door
was guarded by a massive lock, the key of
' ‘whioh hungion a nail driven in the wall by the
i» . side of the cor. «
- “Get your weapons rmdy.” the Cuban con-
‘u' tinned, as be inserted the key in the lock. “ By
this time he ma have become desperate and he
_ it. In ht try a r for liberty.”
, ' We are to let him have it then without
mtg: if he tries any funny business!” Bed
M

.2

y inquired.
I fancy he ’is a pretty]' plucky
118

rate t if we
don‘t show him right at the ning that he
doesn‘t stand any chance.”
: ‘ Bothe three stood all ready with their wea-
ypons drawn as the Cuban opened the door but
:whsn titty and into the cellar, Benches hold-
0 Elton

Ling tap so that the light illuminated
the irkneu, a cry of amssement broke from

ThsoEler wasempty—no signoftheprlsOner
seen.
.ihrsmomentthe three stood and stared,"

 

 

if they were not willing to believe the evidence
of theire es, then Sanches advanced into the
cellar an flashed the light of the lantern into
all the corners as though he expected to behold
the prisoner crouching in some nook, but as the
apartment was perfect] square, without even a
place where a cat coul take shelter from ob-
servation, it was absurd to suppose a man could
find a place of concealment.

“ What the deuce does this mean?” cried the
Englishman, the first to speak.

“ It means that we have had all our trouble

for nothin I” the Cuban cried, in a voice full of
anger. “The prisoner has succeeded in escap-
inc.”
‘3 Yes, but how in blazes did he git out?” Red
Mur by exclaimed, advancing into the cellar
and *ginning to examine the walls as though be
suspected that the Californian had succeeded in
digging a hole through one of them.

“ Oh, you need not trouble yourself to look
for a break in the walls for you will not find
one!” the Cuban exc‘aimed.

“ How did he get out then?” Red Murphy de—
manded in wonder. “ The door was locked on
the outside as you saw.”

“There is only one explanation to the mys—
ter y. Either you or MacNabb have allowed the
man to escape.”

“ Captain, ’tain’t so! I swear it ain’t so!” the
ruiflan declared. “I wish I may die if either
Rodney or myself have been anywhere near the
cellar since you left.”

“ Murphy, 1 don’t doubt that you think you
are telling the truth,” the Cuban remarked.
“ But I can understand the way the thing hap-
pened just as well as though I had been here
and witnessed it. Both you and Rodney have
been on the biggest kind of a spree. Instead of
a pint of liquor you probably had a couple of
quarts. Ican tell by your faces that you have
been on an all-night drunk. Then, when you
got so full that you were not conscious of what
you were about, one of those whims which
drunken men have sometimes, impelled one of
you to take a look at the prisoner. He was
smart enough to see how you were fixed and
managed to slip out, and then the door was
locked again in lissful unconsciousness that the
bird had flown. '

fRed Murphy shook his head in a dogged sort
0 wa .

“ V ell I s'pose we did git a leetle full ” he ad-
mitted, ‘2 but I will swear that neither MacNabb
or m;self went near the cellar.”

“ on were both so drunk that you did not
know what on did, that is the secret of it, I
think,” the uban remarked.

Then he led the way from the cellar, locked
the door and the party repaired to the main
floor of the house.

MacNabb was astonished to see them come up

so soon, and was still more astonished when he
learned that the priwner was not in the cellar,
but when Sanches told him plainly what his
ideas were about the matter, the man protested.
even more vigorously t n his companion had
doine, that the Cuban as wrong in his sur-
m so.
He admitted that he and his pal had enjoined
a carouse, but scouted the idea that they d
been so much overcome by the liquor as not to
know what they were about.

“ No, sir!” he exclaimed, “ both Red and :2;-
self are too old soakers to get so full as to m e
any mistake of that kind.’

‘How do you account for the escape of the
prisoner then!" Benches asked.

“ You are too much for me now,” MacNabb
replied with a shake of the head. “But one
thin is certain, he did, not escape through any
foul of ours.”

“Well, there is no use of crying over spilled
milk,” the Cuban remarked with the air of a

ilosopher.

“The mischief has been done, and the ques-
tion, for us now to consideris what we had better

“ The man probably got off durinf the night,”
the Englishman observed, reflective .

‘f Yes. and a livol time he must have had
of it getting out of t ese Pines,” the Cuban re-
marked.

“That is, unless he was lucky enough to
head in the right direction. If he turned in-
land when he came to the main track he
would go~a good ten miles into the Pines be-
fore he came to a house, and in the dark-
ness he would not be likely to see the clearings.”

“As far as. I can see the soint is this,” Fitz-
berbert remarked: “Woul the man be likely
to to a magistate as soon as be possibly
cou d, and get out a warrant for us?”

“ Yes, it seems to me that he would be apt to
take an action of that kind, and as he knew we
tmore comlgg to see him at noon, he would try

swoo own n us as near noon as pos-
siblo.” p 9pc ‘

“ Then the quicker we get out of this the bet-
ter!” the Eu lishman exclaimed, beginning to

strip of! his d .

The others I wed his example.

“ One pelint is in our favor,” the Cuban ob-
served. ‘ hose country . istrstes and em-
oers are not quick to take so on. They are not

like the city men, who understand that when

r _ , 3 .
5" L x".

 

they are dealing with first-class fellows in our
line, it is necessary to act promptly.

“ It will not do to depend upon that, though,”
Fitzherbei-t obserVed, “ for this Californian is a
wide-awake chap, and he may get the authori-
ties to act promptly.”

“ We will be 06!” the Cuban exclaimed.
“ But as it is absolutely necessary that we
should be posted in regard to whether there is
any attempt made to capture us or not, Mur-
phy, you and MacNabb must conceal yourselves
in the Pines, near enough to keep watch on the

use.

“All right,” Murphy responded.

“ It is my impression that there is not much
danger of any such thing happening, for as the
Californian is a stranger to this region and
must have made his way through the I’ines
in the darkness, it seems to me that the chances
are fully ten to one that he would never be able
to find his way back to this spot, nor would the
local officers be able to find it from any descrip-
tion he would be able to give, for there are flft
old cabins in this desolate tract of woods whic
would answer to the description of this one.”

“ We will kee our eyes open, anyway,” Red
Murphy assertc .

Then the Cuban and Fitzherbert got into the
bugg and drove off, and as soon as they were
onto sight, Red Murphy and McNabb took to the
woods, ambushing themselves so that they could
command a view of the little clearing in which
the old cabin stood.

CHAPTER XXIV.
ms: CALIFORNIAN’S STORY.

THE pair rode on for awhile in silence, and
then the Englishman, who had been meditating
Wear the matter, and who was evidently uneasy
in his mind, remarked:

“ Suppose that you have made a mistake
about this Califoriiiaii—siiplmsc that he is not a
detective, what course do you think he would
pursue under the circumstances?”

“()h, I do not know—it is hard to say,” the
Cuban replied.

“It is my opinion that he would not apply

immediate] to ‘the authorities: 1 think he
would be likely to seek advice before making
_an move.”

anches reflected over the matter fora few
moments.

“Yes, I think on are right,” he replied,
after a pause. “ e would not be a t to be in a

hurry until he had taken counsel; )ut I feel so
certain that the fellow is a detective that I

have not troubled myself to calculate what he I

would do if he were not.” v

“Of course it may be that he is,” the Eng-
lishman admitted. “ One thing is pretty cer-
tain: this little episode will he apt to make the
man show his true colors. If he is a detective
he will be sure to get the officers after us as
soon as ible.”

“Wel , I am not so certain about that,” the
Cuban exclaimed decided] .

“ Why not? If he gets t e officers and makes
a prompt descent upon the old house in the Pines
does he not stand a chance of capturing some of
the men who nailed him—will he argue in this

way?”
~ ‘ I think not—if he is a first-class man, and I

am doing the fellow the honor to believe that he
is,” Sanches replied. _

“ He knows that we will take the alarm the
moment his escape is discovered, and he is too
shrewd to on that we will remain in the
neighborhood of the old house to be captured
when he chooses to come after us.”

“ U my word! I believe you are right!”
the nglishman exclaimed, a ter meditating
over the matter for a few moments. “But if he
is a detective what game do you think he will
try to play now?" /'

‘ Ah, now you are too much for me!” the
other replied. “I am no prophet, nor the son
of a prophet, and it is far easier to make a guess
at what a man will not do under certain circum-
stances than to predict what action he will take.

“ Wait until I see how the fellow carries sail
and then I may be able to give a guess in regard
to his future movements.”

By this time the pair had reached Cedar ave-
nue, and as the turned into it they , were
amazed to behold the subject of their contem-
tion—the Californian—trod ng on ahead, walk-
ing with the air of a man w was footsore and

wear . _

“ 13’} Jove !” cried Fitsherbert, “there is our
mg‘nsnom” h I”

ure enou

“ And just Igmaking his way back to Long
Branch !"

“ So it e rs.”

“ And he ooks as if he hadbeqn some time on
the road too for he is covered With dust."

“ Yes, a walks as if he was tired.”

“ Where do you suppose he has been!”

“ Oh, he robably lost his way in the Pines,
and despot ng of getting out in the darkness,

camped down atthe foot of some  for the V

ni ht.”

g“ What do you think now in regard to his
being a detective in dimmed“

The Cuban shook
look appeared upon his face.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

. N.’ w . -- . > In.“

19

 

 

“I don‘t really know—I must admit that I
am uzzled now.

" f be was a detective he wouldn’t be here,
for he would be apt to seek the nearest magis-
trate.” \

“Yes, unless this man is an extra deep one,
and is scheming to catch us in a trap from which
it will not be possible for us to escape," the
Cuban remarked, his face grave and dark with
the lines of care.

“ Well, I thought I was cautious and inclined
to see an officer in each bush," the Englishman
observed, with a laugh. “ But you are, by far,
more suspicious than 1 ever dreamed of being.”

“ Yes, it is my nature, and two years of a life
of peril and adventure have taught me to be
always on my guard.”

“Suppose we pick him up, then We will hear
what he has to say about the affair. and maybe
able to come to some decision as to Whether he
is likely to prove dangerous or not,” Fitzherbert
remarked.

“ The idea is a good one,” the Cuban observed.

“ It is not possible that he can suspect that we
had aught to do with the affair, even if he be
the smartest detective that ever followed on a
trail, so he will not hesitate to tell us his story
and the deuce will be in it if we do not succeed
in gaining some information.” _

‘ Oh, we will be sure to get some pomts,” the
Englishman asserted in the most confident man-

ner.

The Cuban, who was driving, had pulled his
horse intoa walk upon rceiving the Califor-
nian, and now he star him into a trot again.

The sound of the carriage-wheels attracted
the attention of the Californian, and he halted
and turned to see who was coming.

The carriage was close at his heels as he did
so, and the two in the vehicle uttered well-
simulated cries of surprise as they pretended to
teen uize the young man.

“ 9110! you lock as if you had been taking a
long walk 1” the Cuban exclaimed.

“ Are you in training for a ‘Go as you
please ’ l” Fitzherbert inquired, facetiousl .

"Well I have walked a deuced si ht urther
than is pleasant,” the Calfornian rep ied with a
grimace.

“ Jum in and trv a little riding by wa of a
change, said the Cuban. “The seat isa road
one, and we can manage to make room for

on.

“ Much obligled, and I can tell you gentle-
men, I am mig ty glad of the chance, for I am
about beat out," the Californian remarked as he
climbed into the buggy.

“ How does it happen that you are so?” the
Englishman inquired. “ I thought you were
joking, but you really do look as if you had had
a hard time of it.”

“ I have and no mistake!" the Californian ex-
claimed. decidedly. “ Are either of you posted
in regg’rd to the country back of these main
roads

“ Yes I am in a measure—that is, I know
that it is a pine wilderness . I attempted to
drive through it once, seeking a short cut to
Freehold, the county seat, but lost my way, and
had such a deuce of a time in getting out that I
never tried it again," the Cuban remarked.

“ Well, gentlemen, I suppose it will appear
almost incredible to you, but I have been wan-
dering around in this pine forest all night,” the
Californian declared.

His companions expressed their utter amaze
nlient, and then the Cuban premed him to ex-

ain.

“ It isa rough joke on me, gentlemen and I
want you to give me your words that If I tell
you, you will not let the aflair get out.”

The pair, of course, readily gave the required

promise.

“I have alwa s flattered myself that there
was not much 0 the greenborn about me," the
other remarked, “ but it is my notion now that
the biggest tenderfoot that ever struck the West
could not have been more easily taken in and
done for.”

“Is thtetpossiblef" cried the Cuban. With
well-assum astonishment

“I would not have believed it!” Fibberbort

rotes . V

“ Listen, gentlemen, and judge for you!“
selves.” .

Then the Californian related how‘be had re-
ceived the letter asking for an interview, and,
just for a lark, kept the a ntment.

“ I knew that it was a comb thing to do,” he
added, “ for I was aware that there might be 8
tra of some kind connected with the aflair
an I took the precaution to conceal a pair of
revolvers in m clothes so as to be read for
emergencies. ut in spite of the fact that IV was
on my guard, I got a 01101! On the head which
laid me out, and I didn’t 89* any Chance to pull
my‘ guns either.”

hen be related how, when he boomed con.
sciousness. he found himself in the con“- and
the interview that he had the“! with the masked
man who accused him of being I detective.

“ Of course the thing 00°k “’9 comm, by
myriad it was so an rode fid‘w'mfl.” he ox-

-pi ned. “ But the eiiow would not .
word I said, and left me with “’9 "In": that I
ahauidnotMvemyzhingmamdflnk mini

 

made a clean breast of it, as he termed it, that
is owned up that I was a detective and told him
what my little game was down here at Long
Branch. ‘

“ Upon my word your adventure is as excit-
ing as any chapter of a novel that I have read
for a dog’s age!” the Cuban declared.

“ Oh, yes, it beats the average novel all to
pieces!" the Englishman asserted. “ But then
truth is always stranger than fiction, you know.”

“ But, I say, how on earth did you succeed in
getting out of your extremely unpleasant, pre-
dicament?" Sanches asked.

“ Well, the way I escaped is as strange as any
other part of the story i” the Californian de-
clared. “After I was left alone in the dark-
ness I made a careful examination of my sur-
roundings, and the result was that I could not
find a hole big enough to allow a rat to escape,
and the door was so solid that it would have re—
quired an ax to force a way through it.”

“ Of all the delightful situations!” the Eng-
lishman exclaimed.

“ Yes, pleasant, wasn’t it?” the Californian
said with a grimace. \Vell, I had found a box
in my researches, and putting it in a corner, so
I could rest my back a uinst the wall. I settled
down to pass the night as comfortably as
possible.”

“ Well, on certainly took it coolly l” the
Cuban exc aimed in accents of admiration. '

“ How else could he take it, dear boy? It was
Hobson’s choice, you know!” Fitzherbert de-
clared.

“ Notwithstanding the novelty of my position
and the peril which surrounded me I went
sound asleep.” -

“ It is possible?” Sanches cried. “I think that
I am about as merry a fellow as can be found,
and yet, under such circumstances, I do not be-
lieve I should have been able to close my eyes.”

i “ Andi know deuccd well that I wouldn’t!”
the Englishman declared.

“Well, I reckon that I was born tired, an -
way,” the Californian rejoined with a laugh.
“ I don’t know how long I slept, but I should
jud that it was for some hours when I was sud-
den yawakened by a noise which seemed like

the slammin of a door.

“ I junzlpedgat once to the conclusion that my
jailer he come again, but the apartment was
dark, and when listened I could not detect
that there was anybody in the room. But the
banging of the door seemed to be so real that I
got up and went to it so as to sealf it was open,
and it was!”

“ Well, of‘ all the lucky chanclsl” the Cuban
«Flip? u d rful, d bo "

‘ er ec y won e ear rfectlv
wonderful!” the Englishman asserted. p8

But in the e es of both the speakers there was
a peculiar loo which had nothing todo with
their words.

“I o ned the door; there was a flight of
steps w thout, which led upward, and upon one
of the steps was a lighted lantern.

“ Upon examining the door I found that the
ks was in the lock, and then the sound of
vo ces in the room above came to me.

“I crept up the steps and listened. In the
room above a couple of ruflians were carousing;
both of them were stee in liquor, so that
tbeyehardly knew what t ey were doin , and I
gat red from their conversation that t ey had

id a visit to the cellar to see how I was t-

ng on; then I saw how it was that the cor
came to be left open. The fellows were so
drunk as not to be capable of knowing what
they were about, and when theyhad takena
100 into the cellar they had neglected tolock
the door.

“ Well, that was a fortunate thing for you i”
Sanchez exclaimed. ‘

“ Yes, really about as reat a piece of luck as
I ever heard of,” the Eu shman remarked.‘

“I could see from t way the fellows were
goin on that they would soon be overcome by
the nor and I calculated that if I kept uiet
for a while I would be able to com. wit out
their knowledge, and in order to eep them
from knowing that I was not in the cellar, I
looked the door and hung the key up on a nail
i the wall, which 1 con ured had been placed

for that purpose.

“ Now, b Jove that was an extremer cun-
3138 thing or you to do!” Fitzherbert exclaim-
ed. II n l . “That is a trick which I am
sure never fldwhave thought of, and it was

a cagi i ea,
“ “ es, an excellent one!” Benches assorted.
I so your idea was that if the ruflans
took i into their headsto taken lookat the
collar in the morning the fact that the door was
locked and the key hung up would lead them to
suppose that everything was all ht, and so
keep them from makln an examine on.”
“ Yes, that was my and after fixing the
door I took a seat a the of the stops and

waited.

“ Fig-$6 mmansto fall asleep, ehf’theCnbsn
femur o ‘ '

«Encfly! Well, I In pass it was a good

bourbeforeldaredtoma eamove; you no.1
wuso near liberty thatldid notwanttorld

rob boin inahu .” ,
. Wamynotl"  warm

 

“ Then I opened the trap-door and came up.
Both of the ruffians were sound asleep on the
floor, evidently completely overcome by the
liquor, so I had no difficulty in getting out of
the house; but it was after I got out that my
troubles began. The night was quite dark, and
I found myself in the midst of a pine forest.
There was a road which led to and ended at the
old house, where I had been held captive. I
took this road and kept it until I came to an-
other one, from which the first branched ofl‘.
Of course when I came to the second road I
hadn’t the least idea which way I should turn.
It was my idea that I ought to go to the west,
and I tried to tell from the stars which way the
west was, but being extremely rusty in my as-
tronomy, I could not gain any information.
So, final] , at a venture, I turned to the right.
This I a terward discovered was a mistake: I
ought to have gone to the left.”

“ It is a strange thing, you kn0w, but I have
always observed that in a case of this kind the
odds are about two to one that a man usually
takes the wrong turning," the Englishman ob-
servi‘d.

“ Yes, I reckon it is so. I went on fora while
and then I came to another road, and as this
seemed to be more traveled than the one I was
on, I turned into it; in idea was that I would
come to a house where might inqmre the way,
but, gentlemen, as I am a living man, I swear
to you, I believe I walked for over three hours
in that dense pine forest, before I came to a
house, and then it was only a deserted cabin,
with the roof off.”

“ I don’t doubt it at all,” the Cuban ex-
claimed, “ for I remember the day I attempted
to drive through the Pines, and got lost in them”
the houses were few and far between, and I got
the impression that it was the most lonesome
bit of country that I had ever seen.”

“I reckon you are about right,” the Califor-
nian remarked. “ When I came to the old
house, 1 was completely tired out, and as there
was a little shed at the back of the house where
I could get shelter, I made up my mind to stay
there until morning. I lay down in a corner
upon a pile of litter, and I (flin’t think I ever
slept as soundly in in life.”

“ No doubt—no oubt,” Fitzherbert cried.
“ You were completely fa ed out.”

“ Yes, and I did not wa e until the sun was
highgin the heavens. Then I started on my
‘riurney again, and as I had no notion of where

was going, whenever I came to a road which
seemed to be better traveled than the one on
which I was on I took it. -

“Finally I came to a house occupied b an
old negro and upon telling him that I he lost
my way, 'I was astonished to discover that I was
ten miles from Long Branch, and was traveling
directly away from it.”

“ Well, that was a discovery,”
claimed. -

“ Oh, yes. Well, the old negro was a trump;
gave me a cup of coffee and some corn-bread,
and then started me in the right direction, and
here I am.”

“ About the strangest adventure that I think
I ever heard 0 ,” the Cuban remarked. “But
now you wiil have a chance for revenge. By
making a complaint to a magistrate you can t
a warrant, and, if you are prompt, you may
able to catch some of the rascals.

“Oh, no, what is the use of botherin about
the matter. I have escaped with a who e skin,
and am uite mutant to cry qui ” the Califor-
nian reqhed. “ Besides, I never should be able
to find t house :1 where I was taken. To
'iook for it in the would be like the tradi-
tional searching for a needle in a bundle of ha .
I am well out of the scrape, and you would
safe in betting a amount that I never will
be caught in any suc trap a in.”

“ And how strange, my our boy, that these
fellows should take eyou to be a detective,” the
Englishman exclaim .

‘ Oh, I do not take any stock inthatbnli-
noon at all,” the Californian answered. “That
was only a blind. When the fellows found that
I wouldn’t own up that I was a detective,
they would have p to let me go on corn

‘Sanches ex—

dition of my forking over a certain amount of .

money. That is an old game up in theRock
Mountain region, but I never expected to see t
worked right here in the heart of civilization.”
“Then you are not going to do anything
about it!” the Cuban asked. . _
“No, what is the use? I should only malt
myself a laughing stock if I made the aflair
ublic, and I am not anxious to lot everybody
Eno'v just what a fool I was.” ‘

sfiitpmf‘ii‘ii‘rmmhgffi
0°13: mag-me were a the hotel, and the
  W M

“ Well, what do you thinkl'g‘Itzberbert asked.

“He is nodoOsctive, andyoucansklnhimu
soonasyouliks!” .

Ion-we. ,' -
mauslnucomo and gone since moons,

\

. ..-.. -......—.....—..._. .. can»?

 

 

 

 

 

on which occurred the events detailed in our
last chapwrs.

On the veranda of the hotel sat the three con—
spirators, enjoying their ci ars.

It was after dinner, the usk of the evening
had come, and the three were in a secluded cor
ner, remote from the other guests, so that they
were able to converse freely.

The Frenchman and Fitzherbert had been
seated for some ten minutes in the corner, and
the Cuban had just joined them at the time we
introduce the three to the notice of the reader.

“ What is the matter—you seem to be out of
sorts?” De Nevville inquired, as Sanches helped
himself to a chair.

There was a dark look on the swarthy face of
the Cuban which prompted the inquiry.

“Well, things are not going as they ought to
go,” Sanches replied.

“ How so?” Fitzherbert asked.

“ Miss Green has just gone out for a drive
with this infernal Californian,” the Cuban an-
swered. .

“ They are going to Ocean Grove, and, of
course, will not be back until nine or ten to—
night.”

“ This really looks as if the fellow was mak—
ing an impression upon the girl," and the French-
man shook his head, gravely. “ It is a bad
Sign.

“ I do not understand it, for during the past
ten days you have, apparently, been gaining
ra idly in her favor.”

‘It is the infernal coquetry of women 1” the
Cuban exclaimed. “ ' here is no doubt that the
Californian has entered for the prize. I don’t
know whether the fellow has any money or not,
but I am inclined to the belief that he is nothing
but an adventurer, and he seeks the girl because
she is an heiress. In a uiet way I endeavored
to insinuate as much to hompson, but I found
that he had an extremely good opinion of the
fellow, and so I did not dare to say much, for I
fear he would suspect I was trying to prejudice
him against the man.”

“You would think, considering that she be-
lieves she is indebted to you for her life, that no
other man would stand any chance against you,”
the Frenchman o rved, thoughtfully.

“ That has made me a prime favorite, of
course,” the Cuban replied. “ And I do not
think there is much doubt that she esteems me
much more than she does him, but these other
women with w om she associates here have put
the deuce into her with their tales of how lovers
should be treated. About the whole talk of
these idle dames by the sea is how nice it is to
have a 1011 flirtation with this fellow or that,
and the gir thinks she must be in the fashion."

“Do you think this Mackay has any serious
defii I'l’ Fitzherhert asked.

“ YES), the girl?

“ Well it looks like it,” the Cuban re lied.
“ And i he is a fortune-hunter, as I thin , he
will do all in his power to win her.”

“ He is interfering in our game then and
some way must be dovi to put a stop to it,”
the French man remarked.

“ Yes, it" he was out of the way I do not doubt
but that I would be able to win the girl’s con-
sent to a union,” Sanches remarked. “ You
would hardly think that this girl. fresh from the
counter of a dry-goods store, would be able so
guickly to assume the airs of a grand lady, and

ndul e in all sorts of caprices just as if she had
been rn with a golden spoon in her mouth.”

,“ Women are apt imitators, more so than
men ” Fitz‘ierbert remarked. .

“ ell, one thing is certain, I do not intend to
allow the girl to make a fool of me!” Sanches
exclaimed.

“ Certainly not i” the Frenchman assented.
“ You are not the kind of man to stand anything
of the sort.”

“ The first thing to be done is to at this Cali-
fornian out of the way so I will ave a clear
field,” the Cuban remarked. “ What progress
have you made toward developing a plot by
means of which you can yourselves of
the fellow’s wealth? If you could succeed in
cleaning him out he would, probably, be obliged
to go away, and then I might be able toen-
tan‘ls the heiress into an engagement.”

“ ell, dear hey, we have not been able as yet
to get a chance at him," the Englishman re-
plied. “ He professes to be quite a gamester
and De Nevvil e and myself have been maneuv—
ering to get him to join us in a quiet game when
we will have things so arranged that we will be
able to get all the money he possesses, no matter
h0w€ood a pla er he is."

" es, that s the way the affair must be
arran . You must have matters no fixed that
after enters the trap he cannot get out until
he has been thorough y stripped,’ the Cuban

observed.

“ We have the thin fixed now,” the French-
man said. “ The Princess has taken a little
cottage at Pleasure Bay and has agreed to join
us in our scheme.”

“ She will be a valuable assistant,” Sanches
commented. “ But I wonder that you were able
to get her to go into the plot, for the get the im-
pression that the Californian was a dangerous

ellow the first time she saw him.”

 

“Yes, I know that is true, but we have
talked her out of that notion,” Fitzherbert ex-
plained. “And then we have agreed, too,
to give her a good share of the plunder,
and that wasa great inducement, for the Red
Princes<, you know, is always in want of

mongy.”

" es, that is because she is the most extrava-
gant jade that ever lived I” the Cuban declared.
“ When she has money she literally flings it
away. She has made enough out of her New
York place to be able to retire with a small for-
tune, although she has only been running it a
little while, but money seems to burn a hole in
her ket, to use the old saying.”

“ ‘es, with her it is ‘easy got, easy gone,’”
the Frenchman remarked.

“ How soon do you calculate to put the scheme
agagst the Californian in execution?” the Cuban
ask .

“ In a few nights,” Fitzherbert replied. “ I
made a casual remark to—day that the Red
Princess had taken a cottage at Pleasure Bay,
and that we must drive over and visit her some
evening. I uttered this in the Californian’s
presence, you know, intendin to lead him on,
and he jumped at the bait immediately—in-
quired if she was going to run a game there; I
told him that I thought not—that it was m ' im-
pression she had come down for rest but I had
no doubt that we could get up a little ame
among ourselves, for quite a number 0 her
friends were in her immediate neighborhood,
and it was almost certain that we would find a
party there, so we could have all the amusement
we wanted.”

“ You seemed to have planned this scheme
very carefully,” Sanches observed. “ And now,
supposing that the Californian discovers that he
is in a trafi, either before or after he loses his
money, w at are you going to do? Of course it
may be that no such incident will happen,” the
Cuban hastened to add, “but it is always pru-
dent to be prepared for all contingencies. ’

“We have thought of that,” the Englishman
replied. “ In case the fellow becomes ugly De
Novville will take him in hand.”

“ Yes, if he wishes to uarrel he will find me
ready for him,” the F renc man remarked, com-
placently.

“ I am a gentleman, and a soldier, and in case
of a hostile meeting with this young fellow I
have no doubt I will be able to teach him a les-
son which he will not be apt to forget for some
time.”

“Be careful in regard to meeting him with
revolvers in case a quarrel should arise between
you,” the Cuban cautioned. “ These Califor-
nians are generally expert revolver-shots, and it
will not be policy for you to attempt to beat the
man at his own game. ’

“ Ah, trust me to look out for that,” the mar-
quis replied with a wise look. “I am a gentle-
man, and when it comes to an affair of honor
the sword is the gentleman’s weapon; I shall ar-
range the matter, too, so that the choice of wea-
pons will rest with me.”

“ And sup losing that we succeed in getting
the Californ an out of the way and then the
heiress fights shy of your suit?” Fitzherbert
asked.

“ In that case we will have to adopt violent
measures,” the Cuban replied, a stern leek on
his swarthy face. “ The girl and her fortune
must be mine, and if I cannot win her by fair
means then I will by foul.”

“ Of course!” the Frenchman cried, in a tone
of approval. “A girl’s silly whims must not be
allowed to stand between you and a prize of a
million of dollars l” .

“ It is not the girl I care for, but the money
and if I could et the cash without the girl I
Would prefer it, at as I cannot I take the in-
cumbrance with the money, and trust to be able
to get rid of it by some lucky stroke in the
future,” Sanche- remarked.

“ But if the giri will not agree to marry you
how do you propose to arrange the matter?” the
Eu lishman asked.

‘ hen the old house in the Pines comes again
in lay,” the Cuban answered. "‘ Luckily the
Ca iforuian was not dis d to kick ii any
row bout his little adventure in the w s and
so th secret of the old house was reserved.

“ ow if I find that the girl is disposed toplay
the coquette with me and she refuses to give me
a favorable answer, I shall watch my opportu-
nity to get her to drive out with me some day
take her to a house like the cottage of the Red
Princess, where she can be induced todrink a
harmless glass of lemonade. The drink will be
drugged, of course, then, under cover of the
darkness, I will carry her to the old house in the
Pines, and there you two can be in waiting with
a minister, a black sheep you understand, but a
genuine person for all that, and fully compe-
tent to perform the marriage ceremonv.”’

“Slippery Jack Heatherwood would be the
very man i” Fl‘zherbert exclaimed. “ He is a

rson all right. although he did run awa from

ngland with all the money he could ay his
hands on.”

“ He is the man I have in view,” Sanches
remarked. “ He has been crooked for years,
but had skill enough to keep from being dis-
covered until he took to drink and then the

 

\

truth came out. I have him safe under cover
in New York, all in readiness for action.

“ Heatherwood will perform the marriage
service, and when the girl recovers from her
stupor and finds that she is my wife, and that
the fact that she has run away with me to get
married has been publically proclaimed to all
the world, for I shall take pains to have a full
account sent to all the newspapers, what can she
do?”

“ Oh, the scheme will work beyond a douhti”
the Frenchman exclaimed. “If she (hclares
that she was drugged no one will belic'u her,
and, in fact, how 18 she going to tell what was
the matter with her? She Will know that she
was out of sorts, but the chances are a hundred
to one that she will not suspect that she was
drugged.”

“ Oh, I do not think there will be any tren-
ble after the affair is over,” the Cuban re-
marked. “I shall play the role of the desper-
ate lover—tell her that I noticed she seemed to
act strangelly and m passion for her was so
great that hasten to improve the opportu-
nity to get her to become my wife.”

“ Oh, the scheme will work undoubted] !”
the Frenchman exclaimed. “ If I am any ju ge
of human nature the girl is not particularly
strong—minded—not the stuff of which heroines
are made, and when she finds that she is mar-
ried to you, and all the particulars have been
given to the world, she would not dare to make
any trouble about the matter.”

“That is my opinion too,” Fitzherbert re-
marked. “ If the affair is managed skillfully
she will be sure to fall into the trap.”

“ Yes, and once she is in it no power on earth
can rescue for!” the Cuban declared.

CHAPTER XXVI.
' A LITTLE GAME.

Tau three sat on the piazza and chatted and
smoked until the clock struck ten, and at that
hour the Cali forninn and MissGreen returned.

The Cuban scowled as he watched Mackay
escort the heiress into the hotel and heard her
thank him for the extremely pleasant evening
which she had enjoyed.

“ If it were not for the fact that you two had
a trap arranged to catch this intruding rascal
I would speedin find a way to pick a quarrel
with him and then, unless he is a farbetter man
than I think he is I would soon drive him
awa l” Sanches declared.

“ ave him to us,” the marquis observed.
“We will attend to his case."

“ And the sooner you set about it the better i”
the Cuban declared.

“ Why not this very night?” questioned Fitz-
herbert.

“ To-night?" asked Sanchee, glancing at the

EV“. _

“ ell, there isn’t any reason why we should
not tr the scheme tonight,” the Frenchman ob-
serv .

“But is the Red Princess prepared?” the Cu-
ban asked.

“ Oh, yes,” the Englishman answered. “Two
of her princi 1 men are with her and that will
be enough w th us three, the marquis, the Cali-
fornian and myself, to make u a party. In
fact the fewer witnesses to the a air the better,
particularly if any trouble occurs, and it is
more than likely that there will be trouble.”

“ Yes, unless the fellow turns out to be a lamb
instead of a lion and submits to be fleeced with-
out making any disturbance," the marquis ob-
served.

“ Very well, 0 ahead as soon as you like,” the
Cuban said. ‘ Of course the quicker the fellow
is 0t out of the way the better.”

‘ We will attend to ,his case at once!" Fitz-
herbert declared.

And then the Englishman and the uis
left the Cuban and went in search of the Cali or-
man.

They found him chatting with the clerk in the
office, and when he saw the two come into the
apartment he came up and greeted them.

“Well. gentlemen, any fun on the carpet for
to-night?” the Californian inquired, in his frank,
ofl-hand way.

The pair exchanged glances.

Was this man a prophet, that he seemed to
know by instinct that they were seeking him for
some especial purpose? . _

“ Oh, no, nothing particular,” Fitzherbert an-

swered, carelessly. “But I suppose we could
scare up a little fun if you fe disposed for
amusement.”

" Oh, yes; undoubtedly we could find some if
we choose to go in search of it,” the marquis re-

marked.
“ Let us , then, by all means, for I feel not
in the m for a little amusement to-nig t,”

the Californian declared. I

“ We might pay a visit to the Red Princes
and see if we couldn’t get up a little game," the
Englishman sug ested.

“The very th ng,” cried Mackay. “Let us
go at once. Shall we call a carriage?”

“No; I will go to the stables and gets two-
seated carriage, theEngliahman replied. “ Then
we can drive over ourselves, and without any.
bod knowing anythingbout it. If we take a,
hack it will be all over town tomorrow.”

 

 

  

,, claim .
' home, but you must excuse me, as I have some

 

 

Tom of California.

21

 

“That is very true; these country hackmen
have no discretion,” the marquis observed.

“ I will be back in ten minutes; walk slowly
up the avenue and I will overtake you; then no
one at the hotel will see us depart, and there
can be no gossip.” .

The others thought this was a good idea, and
said as much.

So while Fitzherbert hurried off to the stables,
the marquis and the Californian proceeded up
the avenue.

Within ten minutes they were overtaken by
the Englishman, who was in a light two-seated
carriage.

The pair got in and away they went.

It was not far from Long Branch to that part
of Pleasure Bay where the Red Princess had
taken a cottage. '

The house was in rather a lonely s t, it being
fully a thousand yards from any at er, and the
grounds ran to the water’s edge.

The Red Princess was sitting on the veranda,
chatting with a couple of bearded, foreigndook-
in gentlemen, as the carriage drove up.

ghe expressed her delight at seeing the three
gentlemen, and introduced her assocmtes as her
Cousin, Nicholas Golitzin, and his particular
friend, Alexander Sirogoff.

The Englishman ex lained that they were on
a time-killing exped tion, and had driven over
from Long Branch in hopes to be able to enjoy a
social game. _

“ My house is at your disposal, gentlemen,”
the Red Princess declared, With her sweetest
smile. “Entfl and enJoy yourselves just as if
it were your own.” _ .

Then she led the way into the cottagq .

“ The dinin -room being at the rear of the
house, will pro bly answer your purpose better
than any other room," she said as she conducted
them to it.

It was nicely furnished, and there was an ex-

nsive sideboard, which the Red Princess un-

ocked and opened, exposing to view a fine assort-
ment of wines and li uors.

“ This is liberty all, gentlemen!” she ex-
“Do not fail to make yourselves at

letters to write. I will see that you have a little
lunch in an hour or so. Adieu l” and with a
graceful courtesy the lady departed.

The bearded gentlemen accompanied the three
into the room, and the Californian who, by the
light afforded by the massive hanging-lamp, had
a good opportunity to examine their faces, soon
came to the conclusion that -'the only Russian
there was about them was their names, although
their short, dark beards at the first glance gave
them a foreign appearance.

“What shall we play, gentlemen?” Fitz-
herbert asked, as they took seats around the
table, first patronizing the wines of the side—
board, though, and procuring a pack of cards
from a pile of a half a dozen or so that were in
one of the nooks of the sideboard.

“Do you understand our great American
game of poker?” the Californian asked.

“Oh, yes, that is my favorite game!" the
Englishman declared.

“ And mine, too!” asserted the marquis. .

“ And you, gentlemen, what do you say?"
Mackay asked of the supposed Russians.

Both begged to be excused from playing.
Luck had not been running their way lately,
and the had rather not play.

“ We , the three of us ought tobe able to
have a nice little game," the Californian re-
marked.

“ Oh, yes,” aneuted Fitzherbert, and the mar-
quis also agreed.

“What will we make the ante—a dollar?”
Mackay asked.

The others exchanged glances; it was plain
the Californian was in for usiness.

“ Yes, a dollar will suit me,” the Englishman
remarked. ,

“ And me also,” the marquis said.

“ We will -p!ay the gentleman’s game—no
freeze-out! A man must haveasight for his
money,” the Californian announced.

“ Certainly, of course; we are not gamblers,”
the Englishman declared. “ IVs are merely
playing for amusement, and put a little money

in) make the game interesting.” _

“ Exactly ; We la just to pass the time
away," the marqu s 0 served. _

Then they cut for dual and the Californian
won.

He was sittin at the end of the table, the
Englishman on his right and the marquis on his

left. .

Back of the Californian was the wall in which
were two windows, now closely curtained, look-
in into the garden.

f Mackay had suspected that the roam was
one where the walls had eyes. to look into a
player’s hand, and cunninimachinery b means.
of which a knowledge of t 6 band can] be tele-
graphed to the other players, he could not have
selected a position more calculated to set at de.
fiance any such swindllng device.

From :the mention in which he sat it was not

. ible for any one either in the room or out, of
it to look into his hand, and if there were p-
holes in the walls his puecauticns set them at
naught.

".. W’-

 

After the game commenced, though, the two
Russians, who had been sitting at the upper end
of the table, got up, sauntered to the sideboard,
helped themselves to a glass of wine and then
slowly edged down so as to take up a position in
the rear of the Californian.

But Mackay had his eyes on them and im-
mediately objected.

“ Now, gentlemen, if you stand there I will
not be able to play a bit. It always makes me
nervous when anybody is near me, and when
a man loses his nerve at poker he might as well
lay‘ right down and give up the game.”

he Californian made the speech in such an
e‘asy, good-natured way, that it was hardly s~
sible to take offense at it, and although the us-
sians looked annoyed, yet they nodded, said
they would not do anything to disturb him for
the world, and then resumed their former posi-
tion.

The Englishman and the marquis also looked
troubled for a moment, and they took advan-
tage of the Californian being cecupied with an
examination of his hand to exchange meaning
glances.

It was plain that they Were disap inted.
The Californian was no man’s fool, an it was
not going to be so easy a matter to fleece him as
they had calculated upon when they had started
in on the affair. -

The game proceeded, and before they had
been at it long the adventurers made the dis-
covery that the Californian was as good a poker
player as they had ever-encountered.

He thoroughly understood the science of the
game, was a bold and reckless better, and as
he had plenty of money, and was not afraid to
risk it, the advantages were most decidedly on
his side.

Then, too, fortune seemed to favor him, and
he was a stead winner.

In truth, neither of his adversaries were a
match for him. for although they had protested
that poker was their favorite game, yet it was
plain that they Were far from being good play-

rs

e .

Both the marquis and Fitzherbert were old
card-sharpen, though, men who, as the French
say, “aid Fortune holding good hands,” and
w en they came to t e conclusion that it would
not be ssible for them to win the Californian’s
mofueyl y fair means they immediately resorted
to on . I

And the Frenchman, who prided himself upon
the deftness of his fingers and the skill with
which. he could cheat, when it came his turn to
deal, prOCeeded to manipulate the cards and in
the most skillful manner possible got three aces
up his sleeve.

Then the hands were dealt, but the Califor-
nian did not oflei‘totake up the cards which
had been given him, but, looking at the mar-
quis, his peculiar eyes suddenly ap, caring to be
more green than gray, he said:

“ I suppose you believe in the old uggler’s
asertion thata man’s hands are quic er than
his e es?”

“ hf” exclaimed the Frenchman in decided
uneasiness, not knowin whattomakc of this
strange observation, wh le Fitzherbert changed
color from nervousness.

The Englishman gnomed what his companion
had done, although he had not watched him
closely, refraining from doinglsoles't the Cali-
fornian should perceive what e was up to, and
take it into his head to do likewise.

“ The saying may be true when the man who
tries the trick is extra good at his business,” the
Californian remarked, or if the people who are
watching him are greenhorns who are not up to
snuff, but when a man like you does the funny
business, and a cha like myself looks on, why
it is utter folly to ink that the mrds can be
manipulated so the business cannot be detect—

The marquis got red in the face for this lan-
guage was entirely too plain to he misunder-
stood, while the brow of the Englishman grew
dark with rage. .

To his thinking it was monstrous that his
partner should be detected the very moment he
tried to do a little “ fine work.”

“What do on mean? I do not undemtand
you, sir!" the nchman exclaimed, indignant-
yz Pretending to fly into a great rage.

Oh, yes, you understand me well enough !”
the Californian retorted. “ What is the use of
beating about the bush? And I say what an
idiot you_were to tr any game of the kind with
a man like mysel . It isn’t possible that you
made the mistake of thinking that I was a
Eigeon who could be lucked without any trou-

lef If you did, all have to say is that your
judgment is exceedingly r.”

“ am amazed at your anguage and am at a
complete loss to know what you mean i” the
Frenchman cried, grandiloquently.

“ Oh. nonsense! why not own up now that you
are fairly caught?” the Californ an exclaimed.
“ I am an old stadger and you cannot play any
game of this kin on me. You have managed
in the shuffle to get some cards up your sleeve—-
good ones of course!”

And then, rising uuddenl y, the speaker reached
over the table, grabbed the marquis by the wrist
and, as the Frenchman sprung to his feet with a

 

   

violent oath, the three cards which he had so-
creted dropped out on the table.

“ Aces, by the Lord Harry!” cried Mackay.
“ Well, there isn’t anything mean about you, I
must say! Still, I suppose that when a man goes
in to steal cards out of the pack the bigger the
cards he takes the better!”

All within the room were now on their feet
and the excitement was intense.

The adventurers had anticipated a quarrel but
it had come sooner they expected. ‘

 

CHAPTER XXVII.
ran MARQUIS suns SATISFACTION.

“You infamous scoundrel, I will have your
life for this insult!” fairly hawled the marquis,
and he made a rush at Mackay.

The Californian straightened himself up and
let the Frenchman have a good “ left-hander ” as
be advanced.

The blow struck the marquis at the junction of
the right arm with the body and knocked him
off his feet.

Down upon the floor the Frenchman went, all
in a heap.

The Russians made a movement as if they
meditated comin to the assistance of the down-
fallen man, but t e Californian promptly shoved
his hand into his pocket and allowed tLe butt of
a pistol to appear; the Englishman too stepped
forward to play the part of a peacemater.

“ Gentlemen, for heaven’s sake I entreat you
do not let us enter into a brawl like a lot of comr
mon, vulgar rufiians!” he exelaimed. “If you
must quarrel, quarrel like gentlemen and settle
the dispute in a gentlemanly manner. Remember
too that you are in the house of a lady X”

By this time the Frenchman had regained his

feet; he was fairly white with rage but he showed -

no disposition to attack the Californian; the

rompt and easy manner in which the other had
knocked him down was a warning, not to belight-
ly disregarded, that in a personal encounter he
was no match for the Californian.

“ You have insulted me, sir, in the grossest
manner and I must have satisfaction !” the mar-
quis cried.

“ Oh es, of course, bein a gentleman of hi 1:
degree t is extremely 11:? easant for you to?»
detected cheating atca s just likea common
sharper,” Mackay exclaimed in s. voice full of

sarcasm.

“ It is a mistake—I am a gentleman and would
not dream of doing such a thing i” the French-
man protested.

“ Oh, come now! that is altogether too thin l”
the Californian rejoined. “ You were caught,
dead to rights, and there isn’t any possible way
for on to get out of it!”

“ on have dishonored me with a blow and
you must give me satisfaction!" the marquis

lustered. ~

“ Well, sir, ybu have come to the right shop
as far as that is concerned, and you will not
have any better success in attempting to blufl
me than you have had in playin poker. I am
ready to give you all the satis action you do-
sire.

“ It is well,” responded the Frenchman with
great dignity. By this time he had succeeded
n recoverin his composure, realizing that in
order to dea with suéb a man as his antagonist
he needed all his wits. “ I am no fisticu

fighter, but a gentleman, and it is my custom to '

settle all such matters as this with the sword,
butI resume you will not dare to meet me
with t at weapon,” he added, with a sneer.
“Oh, will I not?” exclaimed the Californian
immediately, in lofty scorn. “ What kind of a

man do on think I am that you imagine you \

can bill me out of my boots at the first trial?”

“Then you do not object to swords?” the ’

ma uis inquired, hardly able to conceal the
satis action which he felt.

“ N0, of course not! Swords will suit me all
ri ht, and it would be all the same if you had
sa i harpoons or crowbars!” the young man ex-

claimed, with the true recklessness of the sons

of the Pacific Slope.
“I am your man at any kind of game that
you choose toname, and if I don’t succeed in

coming out first-best, then 1 will have no one to 

blame but myself.”

“ I am in the mood to have this matter settled 

immediately!” the Frenchman declared.

“So am I,” the Californian replied at once.
“The quicker we get at it the better, is my
opinion!” -

I

 

 

 

 

 

“ There is a bright moon, and there must be 1 "

plenty of quiet spots in the nei hborhood where
we can meet without da er 0 being disturbed
by an one if we only h a ir of swords.”

“ I ave a couple of pairs 11 the house which ‘
I shall be pleased to lend you,” the cousin of the’

Red Princem, Golitzin, observed.
“ Well, now, that is really providential!” the
Californian exclaimed. “ If this thing had been,

all arranged beforehand, it could not have hep-V r

pened better.”

The others stole rapid glances at each omen, . ‘

ad the young man been shrewd enough to

guess that he was the victim of a plot, or was 

only a careless remarki- ' .

 

22

\

Tom of California.

 

 

There was an awkward silence for a moment,
broken by Golitzin’s exclaiming:

“ I will fetch the swords!” and then he hur—
ried from the room.

“This proceedin is entirely irregular,” the
Englishman remar ed. “But if you are both
desirous of going on, I presume it is as well not
to delay."

“ My wounded honor cries aloud for satisfac-
tion!” the marquis declared, with a great deal
of dignity. “ And the quicker the affair is
settled the better I will be pleased.”

“ If the picnic is going to come off there isn’t
any sense in postponing it,” the Californian ob-
served.

At this moment the Russian returned with the
swfhds' 1 ped i 1 h

ey were neat wra up n green c ot .
Opening the parcel? he dlhplayed the weapons,
w ich were the usual “small swords,” used by
Euro )ean duelists.

“These are good weapons,” the Frenchman
remarked, taking one and examining it with the
air of a man who was a judge of that sort of
t in .

Thge Russian offered one to the Californian,
saying as he did so:

_ ‘nPerhaps you would like to examine one,
811‘.

“ Oh, no, that is all right,” Macks replied, in
his careless way, waving the swor aside. “ I
will take your word for it that these toad-
stickers are the proper things for gentlemen to
use.

The adventurers exchanged lances; they did
not know what to make of the alifornian.

Was this the bravado of a man who was not
conscious of the danger that confronted him,
or was the other so familiar with swords that
he was able to deteCt at a glance that the wea-
pons were extra good ones.

“ if you are agreeable, gentlemen, w'e will go
forth and seek for some uiet s t where this
difference can be settled,” itzher rt remarked.

“P , sir, I am ready,” responded the
Frenchman.

“ So am ll” Mackay exclaimed.

The party filed into the entry, procured their
hats and Fitzherbert o ned the door to allow

_ the others to pass; a ter they had crossed the

portal he started to follow, but was detained by
a, hand laid upon his arm.

It was the Red Princess, who, liding noise-
lessl thro h the entry, shelte herself be-
hin the h f-opened door, so as to be able to
speak to the Englishman without attracting the
attention of the others.

“ Did I not tell you that this man was danger-
ous and warn you not to interfere with himl'"
she exclaimed, in hurried, anxious accents.

“Oh, De Nevville will settle him now,” Fitzr
herbert replied.

“ Do not count upon that!” she retorted.
“ From my post of observation I both saw and
heard all that passed. I tell you this man is a
regular demon and when the marquis executed
his coup with the cards his eyes fairly turned

sen. He detected the maneuver the moment
t was performed, and then,,when De Nevville

' attacked him be stretched him upon the floor

withas little troubleas though he had been a
Riley”? 31d boy instead of a full grown, power—

“ He took De Nevville by surprise,” the Eu-
lishman exclaimed. “And then the marquis
' aFrenchmantoo and few men of his race

‘ a know anything about boxing, but now the

. .marquis will speedily settle him.
- cellent swordsman, and when be

He is an ex-
the Call-
fornian before him sword in ha he will soon
stretch him upon his back.”
' “ Do not believe it!” the woman declared,
Vehemently. “ The marquis will be lucky if he
, escapes from this affair with his life. I am sat-
isfied that while you think you have been lay—
ing a trap for this man you are mistaken and
have fallen into one that he has laid for you.”
“ Oh, no, you will see that the ma uis will

) , pink him in such a manner that the Cal fornian

 will curse the hour that he ever dared to face

him sword in hand,” and then the Englishman
hurried after the rest, while the Red Princess,
with an angry gesture, closed the door.

: “Oh, how these blind and willful men pull
down destruction upon their heads!” she cried,

 as she turned to retrace her s

The rest of the party had hm at the gate to
,wait for Fitzherbert, having missed him. and as
the Englishman hurried down the walk, two

-' strangers came along the road, and when the
V  party came out of the gate they confronted the

new-comers.
“ Hello, Mackay, old boy, is that you?” cried

I one of the strain rs

“ Well, if it sn’t,” cried the other. “Who
would have thought of meetin you here?”
; The new-comers were well reused, muscular-
looking men, with a certain air of firmness
about them that impresed the conspirators ex-
‘iu'einely unfavorably.

“ Yes, I am at the Branch, and have ust run

 

;‘ ’. over here for for a little fun. but am in or more

   
 

In;

‘ than I bargained for when I started,” the Cali—

fornian answered. “But I am deuced glad to
meet you, boys, for I need friends just now.
Gentlemen,” and he turned to the party he was

l

 

 
   

with, “allow me to introduce some friends of
mine, Mr. Ben Smith, Amos Brown,” and then
he resented the others one by one.
he marquis and Fitzherbert exchanged
lances. To their thinking this was a most un—
ortunate meeting.

“ These gentlemen have come in the nick of
time,” the Californian remarked. “ It is hardly
right that I should have to ask any of you, who
are all strangers to me, to act as my seconds in
an affair of this sort, but these gentlemen, who
are old pards of mine, can second me as well as
any men that I could pick out in the wide, wide
world.”

And then the Californian briefly explained th
situation to the new-comers. ’

“ Certainl of course; I shall be deli hted to
serve you," r. Smith exclaimed. “ is is old
business for me, and I shall feel right at home.”

“ Oh, yes, Tom, you can depend upon us,”
Mr. Brown declared. “ You know us of old;
we understand how to run an affair of this
kind right up to the handle I” ,

“ Let us go on; we are losing time,” the mar-
quis remarked, stifliy.

Then he and Fitzherbert linked arms and
started; the two Russians, carrying the swords,
came next, and the Californian, with his friends,
brought up the rear.

CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE FIGHT.

Tin two adventurers conversed in a low tone
as they walked on. Being some fifteen or
twenty feet in advance of the others, they Were
able to speak without danger of their conversa-
tion being overheard, so long as they Were can-
tious how they spoke.

“ What do you think of this accidental meet-
in with these two strangers?" the Englishman

as ed.

“ Ah, but'that is the point—is it accidental f”
the marquis ueried.

“ It certain y seems to be, and yet the circum-
stance is extremely suspicious.”

“It is very odd that these 'two men should
happen to Come along at this time—just when
the Californian most needs the services of
friends,” the Frenchman remarked.

“ Yes, it is extremely unfortunate, for it
would be far better that there should be no wit-
nesses to this affair.”
es, no doubt about that.”
say, although this meeting with these
two men does have a decidedly suspicious look,
yet it does not seem possible that it is not acci-
dental.”

“ Well, I am not so sure about that,” the other
replied, with a doubtful shake of the head.

‘ My dear fellow, carefully examine the cir-
cumstances of the Icase,” the Eu lishmau said.
“ If the meeting was not accidents then it must
have been arranged beforehand.”

“ Very true!”

“But could that be possible? This man did
not know that we were goi to bring him ovor
here to-nighi; he did not now that the Red
Princess had taken a house at Pleasure Bay
until we informed him, and then he knew noth-
ing in regard to the locaticn, for Pleasure Bey
covers considerable territory.”

“ That is true too.”

“Now if this meeting was arranged before-
hand it follows that the Californian must have
known all about the Red Princess being here,
and the exact location of her house, so as to be
able to post his friends.”

“Yes, that is so,” the marquis admitted, after
reflecting for a few moments.

“Then too he must have been awarein ad-
vance that he was coming here or else he would
not have warned them to be on hand.”

“ Well, he could not possibl have known
that, for the trip was arrang on the spur of
the moment and after you went for the car-
riage we walked up the avenue together, and I
will near .tbat he did not communicate with a
soul, either openly or by any secret sign, for I
had my eyes upon him and he could not have

'done so Without my knowledge,”

“ Don’t you see now how improbable it is that
this meeting is not accidental?” Fitzherbert
asked. “ He must have known about this house
—must have foreseen that he would be brought
here by us—must have coniectured that a quar-
rel would arise, which won d result in a hostile
meeting, when he would need the assistance of
friends.’ .

“ Oh, yes, the way you are figuring it out you
make it clearly improbable.”

“ But I cannot arrange the thing otherwise,”
the Englishman remarked. \

“Yes, you cog! Now listen to my surmise,”
the marquis marked, his face dark with

thought.

“ This Californian is a far shrewder fellow
than we imagine. He has detected that we
intend to fleece him and made arrangements to
beat us at ourown ame. He understood that
we were desperate. etermined men, and that if
we did not succeed in our design we would be
apt to damage him, so he made arrangements
with these two‘ men to follow on his track
wherever he went, so when we brought him
here to-night the pair shadowed in.”

“Oh, but this is so extremely improbable!”

 
  

t ' * 1- I
' -. 1 , I » ., ,a f . g ./
I "lei! e first, it in LH‘ '5 r v v. ' .r .

 

the Englishman exclaimed. “ You are making
the fellow out to be a regular Vidocq, when, in
reality, he is a reckless, headless young man, full
of egotism in regard to his own smartness.”

The Frenchman meditaied for a few moments
over the matter.

“ I believe you are right,” he said, after a
pause. “ I am giving the man credit for being
a great deal shrewder than be possibly can be;
but that is the way with me: I am always dis-
counting the future, as it were. Because this
fellow had wit enough to detect that I was going
to cheat I have made a great man out of him.”

“So it seems to me, and when I come to com
sider all the circumstances of the 0859 I cannot
help coming to the conclusion that this Califor-
nian’s meeting with his friends is accidental.
But now the point for us to discuss is what
effect ,the presence of these two will have on our

ans.

“ Well, that is well worth considering.”

“ It is your intention to give this fellow a
pretty severe lesson I resume?”

“ Yes, I would kill t e scoundrel, were 1 not
afraid of the consequences.”

“ True, that must be thought of.”

“This is not France, or even the Continent,

ou know,” the marquis remarked. “ These

infernal, cold-blooded Americans do not recog- V

nice the duello.”

“Not in the Northern States,” the English-
man added. “In the South, and far West,
though, two gentlemen can settle a quarrel by a
personal encounter without danger of being
called to an account if death happens to follow
the hostile meeting.”

“ If there were only our friends present, I

rcould kill the scoundrcl and the matter would

not get out,” the marquis remarked. ‘ But as
these two strangers will be on hand, I suppose I
will have to content myself with wounding the
fellow so as to lay him up for awhile.”

“ But it is not alwa 3 possible to arrange such
a matter as one cou d wish,” Fiizherbert re-
marked.

“That is true; with the best intention in the
world only to wound the man, I may kill him,”
the marquis observed, speaking in the’ most
flippant manner, as though the death of the
Californian by his hands would sit lightly on his

soul.
“,’And in that case you will probably have to

“Oh, yes, but that matter can be easily ar-
ranged. The captain is so anxious for the Cali-
fornian to be put out of the way, that he will
not rndge me a good, round sum to put me on
m eet again in some foreign count , and, as
I Kevaac uired a taste for new lands, think I
will try razil, or some other of the South
American countries, which, I believe, will afford
a fine field to men of genius, like myself.”

By this time the party had reached a secluded
spot near the water.

They had turned aside from the main road,
and followed a little by-path—a cow-track to
the meadows.

There was no house near, and it was plain
that the fight could take place without danger
of any one interfering to prevent it.

“ Well. gentlemen, I think this will answer,”
the Englishman remarked, as the party came to
a bait, and the members of it gazed around

them.

“ Oh, yes, this will do first-rate!” the Cali-
fornian exclaimed.

“ It is a beautiful spot for a little efi’airof
this kind,” the marquis remarked, with an ap-
proving nod.

“Now, gentlemen, althou h these preceedings
are a little irregular, accor in to the strict let-
ter of the code, I presume nei her one of you
obiect, as you are anxious to settle the matter as
qu ckl as possible i” said Fitzherbert.

“I {or one am quite satisfied 1” the marquis
hastened to exclaim. “l have been insulted—
my person degraded by a blow—and only blood
can wipe out the disgrace of such a stain, but I
seek no favors: all I ask is a fair field.”

“That is all I want!” the Californian cried.
“ A fair field and may the best man win!"

“ You'understand, gentlemen, that this meet.
ing, although sanctioned by the rules which
govern gentlemen in their intercourse with each
other, is against the law and, consequently, all
here must pledge themselves to keep the aflair
perfectly secret, no matter how it may end.”

“Certainly, of course, that is understood,”
Golitzin remarked. “ You can depend upon the
discretion of myself and friend.”

“I can answer for m pards here!” the Call-
fornian answered. “ ey are from the far
West, like myself, where little aflairs of this
sort are common, and the understand that
when men go on a picnic of t is kind here in the
East.” they are obliged to keep their mouths
shut.

“I spoke about the matter so that it would be
perfectly understood,” Fitzherbert explained.

“ Of course, that was all right,” but we are u
to the wrinkle, and whether I come out of t
thing alive or dead you can depend upon the
secrecy of my friends here,” the Californian de-
clared.

“ Now, in regard to the rules of the fight,” the
Englishman observed, R,

 

 

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23

 

“I must have blood to wipe away the stain
upon my honor l” the Frenchman declared in an
extremely theatrical way.

“I am ready to give the gentleman all the
blood he wants—that is if he is skillful] enough
to be able to et it,” the Californian remarked
in an extreme y sarcastic way.

This remark made the marquis swear under
his breath, but he consoled himself with the
thought that he would soon be facing the scotfer
sword in hand, and he promised himself that he
would give him a lesson he would not be apt to
forget to his dying day.

“ What I was trying to get at, gentlemen,
was, is this fight to be to the death, or is it to
stop upon the drawing of blood?” Fitzherbert
remarked.

“ It.is a matter of perfect indifference to me,”
Mackay res nded. “ I am willing to fight un-
til this gent eman’s Wounded honor is satisfied,”
and he nodded to the Frenchman, while a sar-
castic smile played upon his face.

“ And I, too, am equally agreeable,” returned
the marquis with stately politeness. ‘_‘ I am
willing that the contest shall go on while this
gentleman is able to stand up. When he is
stretched helpless upon the ground I Will be
content that t e duel shall end. ’ _

“ It is understood then that the fight is to con-
tinue until both of you are satisfied,” the
Englishman remarked. I

“ Yes,” replied the marquis With a bow.

“ That is the game we are to play,” the Cali-
fornian observed. “And if we keep on until
both are satisfied neither one of us will complain
after the thing is over that we didn’t get
enough.” .

“ repare then, gentlemen l” Fitzherbert ex-
claimed.

The marquis removed his coat and vest and
bound his handkerchief tightly around his waist,
the Englishman assisting him, and then the pair,
happening to glance at the Californian, saw that
he had pre ared himself in a similar manner.

“ The is low knows how to get ready for a
contest,” the Eu lishman observed.

“Yes, but 8 l he may not know anything
about handling a sword,” the marquis replied.

Then Golitzin, perceiving that the Iduelists
were ready, advanced and tendered the Cali-
fornian his choice of the four swords.

“ They appear to be all alike,” Mackay re-
marked as he selected one of the wee ns.

“ The are as alike as two peas!” t e Russian
“ I would def the most expert jud e
of swords that eVer liv to pick out one of tEe

weapons which differs in the slightest manner
from its fellows.”

“ So I should judge,” the Californian re-
marked, examiniug the sword with as much cu-
‘riOSity as if he had never seen such a weapon
before.

Then Golitzin advanced to the marquis and
tendered the swords to him.

The Frenchman selected one.

“ I think you will have an easy task,” the
rquis in a low tone.
“From the way the man acts with the sword I
do not think he ever had one in his hand he-

ore.

“ Oh. there isn‘t any doubt in ard to the
result,” the Frenchman declared w th an arro-
gant smile. “It is not to be expected that a.
man of my ability with the sword will be apt to

eet an antagonist who will give me any
gouble in a countr like this where not one man
out of a thousan ever takes a sword in his
hand. You may rest assured that the moment
I cross swords with the scoundrel I will make
shortwork of him.” And then the Frenchman
executed a “ parade” in the air with the steel,
the effect of which was to cause an oath to es-
ca from his lips.

‘Ah, Mon Dwu ! " he cried.

“ What is the matter?” asked Fitzherbert.

“ That infernal rascall”_ the marquis oxclaim-
ed making a frightful grimace.

(‘ The Californian i” asked the Russian.
“ Yes; you know when he struck and knocked
me down?" _

“YGS. yes!” exclaimed the Englishman and
the Rumian in a breath. . , ,

“ He hit me here in the shoulder With his iron-
like fist, and now my shoulder is lame. I did
not notice it until I attempted to use the sword,
but now I can feel it.” *

The EDKIiShman W93 aghast at this discovery
and all sorts of Wild dens crossed rapidly
through his brain.

“Great heavens!” he cried “ can it bepos-
sible that the man struck you in that particular
spot on purpose—could he conjecture that in
case there was a hostile meeting that you would
demand that the fight should be with swords,
and his design in striking you in that particular

t was to lame you so that you would be
p‘ aced at a disadvantage and could not wield
your weapon?”

The marquis laughed sarcastically.

“Upon my word. Fitzherbert, you are al10w.
in? your imagination to comlpletely run away
w th you!” the Frenchman dec ared.

“ I thought I was bad enough awhile
when I was investing this bragging rascal t1:
all the attributes of a Vidooq. but you have

gone far beyond'inel”

 

  

“ Yes, yes, I suppose the idea was a nonsensi—
cal one, but it came to me, and on the spur of
the moment I put it into words.” '

“My arm is not lame enough to make any
difference!” the marquis declared. “If I were
about to meet a first—class swordsman—a fellow
with a wrist of willow and an arm of steel, it
would be different, but with this untutored bar-
barian, bah! I will run him through the body
in ten seconds after we cross swords!”

“I am all ready whenever you are!” the
Californian exclaimed at this pornt.

“ You see the rascal is eager to feel the point
of my steel, and it is not right to kee him wait-
ing in suspense,” the marquis remar ed with a
sardonic smile.

“ Keep your eyes upon me and see how easily
I will make an end of him!” was the French-
man’s vaunt as be advanced to meet his an-
tagonist. , \

As the two came together in the center of the
open space the Frenchman towered over his ad-
versary, being fully a head taller, but the Cali-
fornian was far better built, and a sporting
prophet, used to judging of the men fitted for
muscular feats, would have said that the Cali-
fornian was a far better man in every respect
than his opponent.

The Frenchman could not resist the old trick
of the adventurer when he feels that he has his
antagonist at his mercy—could not resist the
temptation to utter a few taunts.

“ Now then I give you fair warning that I
do not intend to have any mercy upon you,”
the marquis declared. “I am gomg to teach
you a lesson which you should never forget.”

“ Are you quite certain that you will not get
a lesson yourself before you get through?” the
Californian inquired.

The shining blades were now opposed, glanc-
ing against each other like two silver snakes en-
twined.

“I will soon convince you as to who will
receive the lesson and who will not,” the mar-
quis declared with a scovsl and then he “dis-
engaged ” preparatory to a thrust.

This was the opportunity for which the Cali-
fornian waited.

Exerting all the stren h of his powerful arm
he delivered a glancin low, strikin down the
Frenchman’s steel w h his own. It was the
famous disarming stroke of the German school.

Although taken completely b surprise yet
the marquis was too good a swo sman to suffer
his weapon to be stricken from his hand in this
manner, and if it had not been that the power-
ful blow which the Californian had giVen him
in the house—had lamed his arm much more
than be imagined, the stroke would not have
succeeded, for the marquis was really an extra
good swordsman; but as it was, owing to his
lame arm his guard was beaten down and
then, with a single thrust, the Californian
drove his blade into the body of the French-

an.

The marquis gave a convulsive a, threw
up his arms, and then, as the Cali ornian with-
drew his sword, fell forward on his face.

It was lain that the fight was ended.

Fitzher rt and the Russians ran to the assist-
ance of the fallen man.

“You have killed him, I fear!” the English-
man cried. f
“ Oh, no, I think not,” the Californian replied,
as cool as a cucumber. “ The sword has gone
through his side, just under the arm. It was
my ame to wound him so that all the fight
wou d be taken out of him, and yet not to en-
danger his life, and I think, when you come to
examine him, that you will find I have succeed-
ed in my design.”

It was soon ap at that Mackay had spoken
the truth; the wound was severe, and would
certainly lay the Frenchman up for a month or
so, but was not likely to be dangerous if proper
care was given the man.

“ Well. gentlemen the performance is OVer, I
presume?” the Californian remarked, with a
polite bow to Fitzherbert and the Russian, who
stood grouped about the fallen man gazing with
wonder at the victor who had won such an easy
trium h. I and my friends will walk back to
Long ranch. as we don’t mind a tramp in the
moonli ht. And when your friend recovers, if
he wan more‘ satisfaction, he knows where to
come for it.” '

Then Macks and his companions departed,
leaving the ot ers astounded at the ease with
which the dyoung man had triumphed over the
veteran a venturer, who in his time had con-
quered some of the lust swordsman in Europe;
but in this uncertain world, the race is not
always to the swift, nor the 'battle to the strong.

 

CHAPTER XXIX.
ran nun ramcnss sum.

Frrzaaaenar and the Russians gazed after
the three until their figures were swallowed up
in the gloom of the dusky night.

The Englishman was the first to break the
silence.

“ This man is a very demon !” he declared.

“ Yes. as dangerous a fellow as I ever.'encoun-
teredl” Golitzin assented. “ The idea that he
should be able to finish the marquis so easily—a

 

 

man who has faced some of the best fighters in
EurOpe and lived to boast of it.”

“ Yes and conquer him too, by a shallow
trick of the fencing-school; but you could see
from the way he broke d0wn the guard of De
Nevville by the single powerful blow, that the
fellow had a wrist of iron as otherwise he could
not have accomplished it.

“ Yes, yes!” exclaimed the Russians in a
breath, and then a groan from the wounded
man attracted their attention.

“ We must get him up to the house some wa ,
and send for a doctor as soon as possible. 9
can account for the wound by saying that he
was in liquor, and tried to commit suicide, at-
tem tin to die by his own sword, like an
anc ent man,” the Englishman remarked.

“Hadn’t we better go to the house and con-
struct a litter upon which to carry him?” Go-
litziu suggested.

“ Yes, that is a good idea, but hurry up, for
we must get him to bed and ate the flow of
blood as soon as pomible,” 'tzherbert re-
marked.

The Russians hurried away, and the English-
man sat down by the side of the wounded man.

The marquis had fainted after receiving his
wound, but now his senses were returning, as
the Englishman perceived.

He opened his e es and zed, vacantly, for a
moment into th face 0 the En lishman, as
though he did not comprehend w at had oc-
curred; then, all of a sudden, the truth flashed
upon him.

" The scoundrel has wounded me—where is
he?” De Nevville cried, making an effort to rise,
and the movement gave him such a twinge of
pain that he groaned aloud.

Be quiet. ma uis, and do not try to exert
yourse f. The fe low managed to ive you a
pretty severe wound and you must e matters
calmly, or else the con uences may be serious.
I have sent to the house or a litter, and as soon
as it comes we will cart you tothe dWelling
and summon a doctor to ress our wound.”

“ The scoundrel! I will kill im for this!" the
Frenchman muttered, faintly.

“ We will have a bloody reven e; you can de-
pend u n that,” Fitzherbert dec ared.

The ussians soon returned with a hastily-
constructed litter, upon which the wounded man
was placed, and then he was conveyed to the
cotta of the Red Princess, where he was put
to and his wound dressed.

“ Now I will drive OVer to Long Branch for a
doctor; Golitzin had better accompany me and
then I shall not havetoreturn,” the English-
man remarked.

“ Very well,” the Red Princess replied. “ But
was I not right in regard to this man? Would
it not have been better if you had heeded my
warning?” she asked.

“ Yes, you were certainly right, but the way
the" matter was situated we were obliged to go

on.

“ I tell you that this man is more than a
man I” the Red Princess exclaimed, excitedly.
“ I cannot understand it at all. I never felt so
in regard to anybody before, but from the first
moment I set eyes upon his face, with the cruel,

\

pitiless gray-green eyes—the eyes of an animal, .

not of a human—l felt that he was danger-
ous.” '

“ You were certainly right in the opinion, no
matter whether you came by it through your
judgment or jumped at it instinctively.”

“ It “as my instinct not my judgment that
gave the warning,” the woman declared. “ But
now I hope you are satisfied, and that you will
not attempt to trouble this man again.”

“ You will have to talk to the marquis in re-
gard to that, and I do not think you Will find it
an easy task to convince him that he on ht not
to seek to be revenged upon the man wan has
wounded both his pride and person,” the Eng-
lish man remarked. ,

“ Oh, I shall not trouble myself to waste
words upon him if I find that he is inclined to
be obstinate about the matter l” the Red Princess
exclaimed, disIlainfully.

“ De- Nevville has never been celebrated for
his wisdom.” she continued. “ Look over his

career in life and see what a failure he has made , ‘

of It.
“He has ‘always been rash and headstrong,
full of overweening vanit , and it will be a
wonder if it d0es not lead him to his death.”

“ It is truth that he has not made ,much of a‘

success considering the opportunity he has had -

and if it is true that this Californian is a sort of
a demon, as you think, then I fear the marquis
is doomed. for most certainly, just as soon as

is able, will he seek to be revenged.”

‘

“ He must go to his doom. then. if he won’t

be warned l” exclaimed the Red Princess with
the air of a tragedy queen. “ But one thing is
surel He shall not drag me down With him! I
will not take any part in any attack upon this
man, nor will I be used as a lure, or decoy, to
bring him into danger.”

“ You will get in trouble with the captain!” u d

the Englishman warned. , ,
“Do you thinkhe willbefoolishenough their

tempt to measure with the man after

he hears of this :mht’t work?" she demanded.
“Oh, yes, he '

i

v, .

argue that one swallow  

 

3 k...”

   

 

 

 

24

Tom of California.

 

!
not make a summer, and because a single attack

has failed, it does not follow that a second or a
third attempt may not be successful.”

“ Yes, the argument is a good one but when
such a man as this comes into the question all the
specious pleading in the world will not make
him any the less dangerous,” the woman persis-

“ The captain is a pretty lucky fellow himself,
on know," Fitzherbert remarked. “And he
as a good 0 inion of his luck too, and I think

you Will find it difficult to make him believe that
this Californian can be any more lucky than he
is.

“ Of course a willful man must have his own
way,” the Red Princess observed. “ It is an old
saying and a true one, but I am as certain as
that I am under this roof to-night that if the
captain attemps to measure strength with this
stranger he will most bitterly regret it in the

l

The Englishman had an excellent opinion of
the woman’s judgment and the emphatic man-
ner in which she spoke made him doubtful in his
mind.

“ Well, of course, it will be as the captain
says,” he remarked. “ If he considers it wise
to attack the man, why, it Will be done.”

“ I will have no part in it though!” the Red
Princess declared, firmly. \

A look of surprise appealed on the face of the
other.

“ But if the ca tain commands it?” he urged.

 

“ No matter w ether the captain commands it i

or not i” the woman replied, firmly.

“ If you stick to that you ma get into trouble,
for the captain is very strict a ut exacting obe—
dience.”

“ Trouble! what do I care for trouble!” cried
the Red Princess with a mild laugh. “Have I
not now had trouble enough to drive me into a
madhouse? And suppose I disobey the captain’s
firdgrs—what can he do—can he do more than

i!

“No, I should say not," Fitzherbert replied,
amazed at the manner of the other.

“ And to the woman who cares not whether
she lives or dies do you suppose death has any
terrors?" she asked, her veice full of cold con-
tempt.

“Of course not.”

“Such a woman am I! I have come to that
stage when life is beginning to be a burden to
me, and yet, do you know, I think from encoun-
tering the power of this green-eyed demon just
as if was in love with l! e and desired to c ing
to it with all my power. That is a. strange con-
tradiction now, isn’t it?”

The Englishman admitted that it was.

“I am a riddle even to myself,” the Red Prin-
cess remarked, musing! y.

“One thing though is certain 1" she declared,
abruptly rousing herself from the dream stu r
into which she was fallin . “I won! rat or
brave the captain’s a r t an risk the displeas-
ure of this stran er w 0 has terrified me as no
man in this wor! ever terrified me before.”

“ It is very strange,” the Eu lishman remark-
ed, and it was no wonder that a thought so for
he had never known the Woman to shrink rom
any danger before. I

You can tell the captain what I have maid
in 13am to the matter,” the Red Princess
add ..

“Oh, no, I do not want to do that—I do not
want to make any trouble.”
“ But it is better that he should know, for if

I he is not satisfied with the failure of this plot to

entrap this Californian he will set to work to
plan others, and it is more than likely that he
may count upon my aid, and that, under the
circumstances I cannot give.”

“ Well, I suppose then that it would be better
that the captain should know how you feel
about the matter.”

“Oh, yes, then he will understand that he
cannot count upon me. Tell him that I am
ready to obey his commands and carry out
his orders to the best of my abilit in any-
thing which does not concorn this s ranger
but when it comes to him, the man has plung
my soul in mortal terror, and I dare not make
a move against him.”

“Very well, I will explain the matter, and
now I will be off.”

The Russian was ready, so the two got into
the carriage and drove away. ,

0n the road to Long Branch the air dis-
cussed the stran e and unexpected efeat of
the marquis, and t e Englishman mentioned how
the Red Princes felt in regard to the Califor-

nian.
“ I do not blame her,” Golitzin remarked. “ I
a ree with her, the man is a human devil—if
ere can be such a thing. And she is right too
about his gray eyes which sometimes change to
reen.
g “ I was watching the man when he made his
successful coup, broke down De Nevville’s
uard and ran him through the body, and as he
tinged with the steel, and the marquis’s blood
spurted forth, his eyes were green, and seemed
tcio 139 with fire just as the eyes of a cat do at
n .
g‘ I have seen a great many sword encounters
in my time‘but I never saw an expert swords-

 

man, as the marquis undoubtedly is, so easily
defeated.”

“ And mark you, Fitzherbert, the mu really
spared the life of the marquis, for the moment
he broke De Nevviile’s guard down he held the
Frenchman’s life at his mercy, and he could just
as well run him directly through the body, in-
flicting a mortal Wound, as to prick him under
the shoulder as he did."

“ Yes, that is true, for the fellow was perfect
ly cool and collected—knew what he was about
and told where he had wounded his man before
any examination was made.” ,

“ It is certainly a strange afi’air!” the Russian
declared. “And I can tell you that it is not
wonderful that the Red Princess does not want
to have anythin to do with the fellow. I feel
that way myse f, and I hope the captain will
not hatch up any scheme against him which
will press me into service. I am not like the Red
Princess, desperate and reckless whether I live
or die, so I would have to obey orders, but I tell
you, Fitzherbert, I should go into the affair
most unwilling] .”

“ Well, I must admit that after what I have
seen of him I, myself am not anxiousto measure
vsiitsegr strength with him,” the Englishman de-
c ar .

——

CHAPTER XXX.
TELLING THE TALE.

IT was a little after midnight when the pair
arrived at the hotel, but Sanchcs had not gone
to rest, for he was anxious to learn how the
scheme had progressed, and so had decided to
remain up until one or two o’clock, expecting
that he would hear some news b that time.

And the moment that the nglishman and
the Russian entered his apartment he knew by
the look on their faces, as well as by the fact
that the marquis was absent, that something
had gone wrong.

He listened attentively while Fitzherbert re-
lated what had occurred, and his brow grew
dark when he heard how completely the plot
had failed.

“ By all the fiends!” he cried when the Eng-
lishman finished his story. “ This man is even
more dan erous than I thought him!”

“ Yes, i you could have witnessed the scene
—witnessed his breaking through De Nevville’s
guard, as thou h the Frenchman was a novice
who never be asword in his hand before in
his life, you would be more astounded than you
can possibly be by the bare recital!" Fitzherbert
declared.

“ It was the finest and quickest iece of sword
playathat my eyes ever witnessed ” the Russian
dec red.

“ He detected the marquis the moment he at-
tempted tearrange the cards?” Sanches ques-
tioned, musingly.

“On the instant.”

, “ And then struck him down?”

“ Foiled him as the ox falls before the
butcher !” the Englishman declared. “ And
when the mar uis came to take his sword in
hand he found t at his arm was lame from the
blow, and, no doubt it was because his arm
was lame that the Californian was able to break
through his guard so easily.”

“ No doubt, no doubt!” the Cuban declared.

“ And the thought came to me that the blow
was given in that particular spot for the pur-
pose of laming the arm, the fellow being shrewd
enough to anticipate thata sword flg t would
follow, but DeNevville thought the dea was
absurd.”

“It was not; you were right and he was
wrong. The duel with swords was anticipated,
and the blow was given for the express purpose
of laming the arm of the marquis!” the Cuban
declared.

“ Well, that was my idea. although I am
aware that it seems to be far-fetched.”

“Oh, no, this man isa dangerous one; he is

d of rare cunning, and I do not believe
the man knows what fear is; then, too, he is
perfectly cool and collected no matter how great
the danger. Where 1 have’erred is in underrat~
ing the man.”

‘He certain! is the coolest hand I ever en-
countered, and a ree with you that he isas
brave as it is possi le for a man to be,” Fitzher-
bert remark .

“I think I am something 40f a swordsman
myself,” the Russian observed, “but I would
not be willing toface that man withasword
for a fortune! He had the mar uis at his
mercy. He could just as well kil ed him as
not.” ‘

“ And as you came out of the house, on your
way to the fighting place, the Californian acci-
dentally encountered two friends,” the Cuban
observed, with a peculiar smile.

“ He certainly met the men, but whether the
meeting was accidental or not is aquestion,”
the Englishman replied.

“ Oh, in my mind there is no doubt whatever
about the‘ matter!” Sanches exclaimed. “ The
meeting was not accidental. The two men had
been warned to be on hand there, and to make
their appearance when they saw the Californian
come from the house in year company.”

“ Yes, but how was it possible for the fellow
to make all these arrangements beforehand?”

 

j

Fitzherbert asked, with a puzzled air. “ How
was it possible for him to guess that we would
try any game where the assistance of his friends
would be desirable?”

“ Because the man is a genius—a really won-
derful fellow, possessed of uncommon shrewd-
ness, and he had wit enough to detect that you
and the marquis intended to make him a vic-
tim, and so he made such arrangements that it
was not ssible for you to catch him in a trap.
He antiCipated that, sooner or later you would
attempt to put him in a hole, and
com anions shadow him.”

“ hat is the on! possible explanation of the
mystery,” the Englishman remarked.

“ But if these men were shadowing the Cali
fornian, how comes it that lie was caught in the
first trap?” the Russian asked.

“ I can only explain that by inferring that at
that time the men were not on guard,” Sanches
replied. “ It was, probably, his being caught
in that trap which suggested the idea of putting
shadows on his track to him.”

“ Yes, that is a reasonable explanation,” the
Englishman observed, thoughtfully.

And the Russian nodded, as much as to say he
agreed also.

Then Fitzherbert related the particulars of
the conversation that he had had with the Red
Princess about the matter.

The Cuban listened, a dark frown upon his

row.

“ Bah! the woman is getting childish!” be ex—
claimed, contemptuously, when the recital was
ended. “This is not the age of su rstition—
human demons no longer exist, and iecause the
man happens to possess a pair of ugly gray-
green eyes, that is no reason for supposing that
he is more than mortal.

“He is simply an uncommonly shrewd fel-
low, and, so far, he has beaten us in this strug-
gle because he has not on] shown more talent
than we have, but has also en favored by for-
tune.”

“ Well, that is a more reasonable explanation
than to give way to a superstitious belief that
the man is more than mortal,” the Englishman
observed.

“Oh, yes, in the old time when a man had
extra good luck, it was the fashion to believe
that he had made a compact with the devil, and
when he succeeded in his undertakings, it was
the common report that it was through the aid
which Satan gave him.

“ We know better in this enlightened age, and
now when a man succeeds in forging ahead of
his fellows, the world throws up its cap and
cries out in admiration of the man’s extra-
ordinary ability, when, half the time, it is
simglry dumb luck which has made the man.”

“ es, yes, that is true enough!” the Englisht
man assented. “ Some people retend to think
that there is no such thing as uck, but Ihave
seen too many cases where luck, and luck alone,
made a man either rich or poor, to doubt that
luck has a deal more to do with a man’s success
in this world than the ability that be may pos-

ss.

“ No doubt of it,” the Cuban declared. “Now
in this case this Californian has, unquestiona-
bly, been lucky, but that is no reason wh he
should always continue to be so, and if we eep
on attacking him, and are careful to plan to the
best of our ability, recognizing that we are con-
tending with a man of uncommon smartness,
and who seems to be extremely lucky, there is
no doubt in my mind that we will succeed in
tri ping him up sooner or later.”

be others nodded; this statement appeared
to be reasonable to them.

“ In regard to the Red Princess, she is a ner-
vous, flighty woman, who cannot be depended
upon in an emergency,” the Cuban remarked.
“She was not always so. There was a time
when she combined the cunning of a fox with
the Courage of a lion, but that da has gone by.
A severe illness,,which brought er so near to
the gates of death that it seabed almost certain
that she would enter, sapped her strep th of
mind, and though when she recovered in odily
health she was as well as ever her mihd has
never been the same, so her wild ideas on the
subject of this Californian do not have the
slightest weight with nae. I shall not call on
her to takea part in any attack I may make
upon him. In her present state of mind she
would not be in a condition to render much as-
sistance.”

“ Have you thought over an plan of attack 1”
the Englishman asked. now that your
mind usually works quickly, and it does not take
you long to come to a conclusion.”

“ Oh, yes, I have thought of a scheme,” the
Cuban replied. _

His hearers were all attention immediately.

“This man is uncommonly able and uncom-
monly lucky,” Ranches remark , reflectively.
“It was m belief at first that he was a lice
spy, and although I did not believe the ellow
was after me, or had any idea of the game I
was ing to play down here, yet gomg on
genera principles, considered that I on ht 30
attack and get him Out of the way if poss le.

“ That was advisable, of course,” the English-
man commented.

“ I failed in my attack, as you did in your lit-i

he had his .

 

 

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- and when he

 

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tle scheme, both of which were carefully
planned and ought to have succeeded.”

“ Yes dyes,” the Russian cried, while Fitzher-
bert n ed.

“Now I am beginning to doubt if I was cor-
rect in my suspicion that he was a police spy,"
the Cuban observed. “ From what has tran-
spired I am beginning to believe that the fellow
is nothing but an adventurer, and that his busi—
ni-ss here at Long Branch is the same as that we
ca e upon—to secure all the plunder he can lay
his hands upon, and these two friends of his, who
made their appearance so unexgectedly, are
coufederates who are keeping in the ackground,
but are ready to lend him aid whenever it is de—
sirahle.”

“Yes, I believe you are right,” the English-
man observed. “ There does not seem to

anything of the detective or police spy about I
him.” ‘ mans, Mister Irving, and since I got oudt of dot

“ Oh, yes, he is an adventurer,” the Russian
declared.
about that, but of a different type to the ones
we are accustomed to. We know the adven-
turers, of the Old World; this man is of the

ew.

“You have hit upon the truth, I think,”
Sanches observed. _-

“ Now we have tried two ingenious and com-
plex schemes and both have been most utter
and complete failures,” he . continued. “ M
new plan has the merit of snnplimty althoug
it is as old as the hills. I am gomg to put a
couple of our thugs on the track of the man and
have him assaulted and killed on the first con-
venient opportunity.” ' .

“ Well, I should not be surprised if the scheme
succeeded,” Fitzherbert remarked, after reflect-
ing upon the matter for a moment.

" Simple means often succeed where complex
ones fail,” the Russian said.

“We can try it at all events; if it does not
Succeed We can tr something else,” Batches ob-
sci-Ved. “ One thing is certain, we must get rid
of the man somehow, for I have a presentiment
that if we do not, all our schemes will come to
naught.”

The others agreed with this declaration and
the interview came to an end.

Although Sanches affected to treat the mat-
ter lightly yet he was much angered at the es-
cape of the Californian and lay awake half the
night reflecting upon the matter.

 

CHAPTER XXXI.
THE DETECTIVE.

THE old Jew doctor, Lenicas Zimmer, and his
misshapen servant, the hunchback mulatto,
Monkey Bill, sat in the dingy shop of the former.

The shades of night had fallen u n the great
city; all without was gloom, for t e street was
badly li hted and the old shop was but little
better 0 as far as lights were concerned than
the street, for only a small coal-oil lamp burned
upon the counter.

The doctor had just come in and seated him-
self. in his old arm-chair.

“ Anybody been in, Monkey?” he asked.

“Detective Irving!”

The old Jew started in alarm. ‘

“ W’at is dat you say—Detective Irving?’

“ Yes sahl” ,

“ He has been der house in l”

“ You’re right, sah l”

“He vants to see me?”

“ Dat's w’at he sed.”

“ Mine gootness! v’at ish der matter!” and
the old Jew took out his handkerchief and be-
gun to wipe away the perspiration which the
unexpected announcement had caused to start
forth on his brow.

“ V’at did der detective vant wit me?
not doing any crooked work.” i

“I don’t know sah, he didn’t say,”the hunch-
back replied. “ e only axed whar you were,
an’ When I tole him dat you was out, be sad he
would drop in ag’in.”

“V’at can der matter be?" the old Jew ex-
claimed, his wrinkled face more wrinkled than
ever now the lines of care. “ I like not dat
Detective rvingi He is one of der quiet men,

mes after a mans he means busi-
ness. every time !'-’

“ Dat is so!” the mulatto declared. “I would
rather hab any man on de force arter me dan
Irvin .” '

“ I cannot understand v’at he can vant. All
tier crooked work dot has been done latchv has
been so well covered up dat it ish not possible
dat anybody could have smelt it oudt.”

b "111°" he 0011105110". 9813.” warned the hunch-
ac . .

The stalwart form of the detective darkened
the doorway.

Detective frying the reader has encountered
before. for he is one of the gentlemen who acci-
dentally met the Californian at Pleasure Bay and
gas‘tiéitroduced by him to the others as Mr. Ben

m I

“ Good-evening: doctor, how do you find your-
self tonight!” t edetective asked in the most
cheerful and friendly manner as heentered.

“ h, I am pretty well for an old man; I can.
not complain,” the doctor answered. rising and
greeting the new-comer with as much cordi-

I am

)

ality as though he was the dearest friend he had
in the world.

“ Well, 1 am glad to hear that.”

“ Monkey, fetch a chair for Mister Irving!”

The mulatto hastened to comply.

“ Vill you hafe a glass of vine, Mister Irving?
I hafe some goot stuff—German vine dot vill
varm der cookies of der heart!” and'the doctor,
rubbin his withered palms briskly together,
grinn in the face of the detective.

“ Well, I will take a chair for I want to talk
to you on a little matter of business, but no wine
thank you; I am just as much obliged to you all
the same though,” and the detective took a seat
as he Spoke.

The old Jew also sat down, glancing at the
other in a nervous way as he did so

 

“ I do not think there is any doubt ;

“Dere ish nothing wrong, Mister Irving, I
hope?" the doctor remarked. “ I am an honest

:r’luble five years ago I hate been very care-
u .’
“ To cover up your tracks so securely that you
could not get caught again, eh?” and then the
detective laughed at his joke.

“ He, he, he!” laughed the old Jew, “ you ish
a funny man, Mister Irving, und you vill hafe
vour joke! But, so help me Moses! I hate been
keeping as straight ash a string ever since!” the
old man protested.

“Yes, you just got off by the skin of your
teeth tha time, and I suppose it has been a
lesson to you,” the detective observed.

“ Yesh, yesh, it vas a. lesson.

“ You had a mighty narr0w shave!” the other
remarked with a weighty shake of the head. “ If
the evidence had been a ittle stronger you would
haVe gone up to Sing Sing 'for five or ten years
as sure as you're born!”

“ Yesh, yesh, appearances were against me
but I vas innocent!” the Jew protested. “ I vas
in bad Company—dot vas all. I had nothing to
.do mit der affair!” -

“0‘30! tell that to somebody that don‘t know
you as well as I do!” the detective exclaimed.
“ You must not attempt to pull the wool over
my eyes, for I know you too well."

be old Jew chuck ed. pretending to be great-
ly amused at the declaration of the other, al-
though in his heart he was angry enough to kill
the lain-spoken officer.
“ file, he, he !” laughed the Jew. “ Dot ish goot;
yesh, you vill always hafe your leetle joke,
Mister Irvin l”

“ 0:), yes, am one of the greatest jckers'that
you ever saw,” the detective observed, sarcas-
tically.

“ Yesh, yeah, everybody dot knows you knows
that dot ish a fact."

“ So you are keeping all straight now?"

“ Yesh, yeah, it is ash I shust told you ~as
straight as der string.”

“ Well, I am glad of that, and if 1 were you I
would be mighty careful what I did, for the old
man at Headquarters has got it in for you on
account of your slip ing through his fingers
the last time, and I 0 not believe that there
is a man ' this city whom he would rather
snap" the b acelets on than a party about your
Size.

. “Oh, esh, dot ish right! I understand you,
Mister rvin , now you ish jokin again; you
vant to ,frig 'teu der wits out of me; but, so
help me Moses! I am valking shust like a
chalk line noW.”

“That is good! The scare you got is strong
enough to last you a lifetime, eh?”

“ O‘a, yesh, you can shust bet on dot!”

“ Do you have much practice now i” the detec-
tive asked in a careless way, but the acute old
Jew immediately suspected that the officer was
preparing some trap for him.

“ Oh, well. not mooch ” he answered. “ I am
an old mans, I am not vlmt I used to be. I can-
not expect to hold. mine practice mid so many
young doctors trying to get mine patients away

from me.”

“ Let me see! You k four or five
languages, don’t you?! the etective asked in a
rege‘crtililrelway. t h I ,

e canno say t at k dem ve
good.” t e Jew answered, disparaging”. ry

" But you can understand what is said to you,
and you can make yourself understood,” persist-
ed the ofllv'cer. !

“ Vell, I don’t know; it ish so long since I
hafe ke anyt’ing but English and German
dot I on’t know about it,” the old man replied,
still on the lookout for a trap. o

“ Oh, what is the matter with you novV?
What are you trying to give me?” the detective
demanded. “You know very well that you
speak quite a number of languages as fluehtly
as a nativa. What do you want to deny the
truth for?"

“ 0h. vol]. I s'pose I hafe v’ot you might call a
smattering.” the old man admitted.

“On that account you manage to pick up a
good many foreign patients—men who cannot
speak the Engine language, and who are glad to
find a doctor who can talk to them in their own
tongue.”

 

“ Oh, yeah. yeah, I s’nose I do hate a few,” the
Jew admitted, secretly wondering what on
‘ earth the detectiVe was t ying to get at. for
that the officer had some eep purpose in view

 

 

in this questioning he was certain, for Irving
was not a man to waste his time in idle talk.

“ Let me see, you speak Mexican, don’t you?"

“ Oh, no, dere is no such thing as a Mexican
language, you know,” the old Jew replied in an
evaswe way.

“ Oh, yes, I understand all about that! Don’t
you try to play any game on me, you know,”
the detective exclaimed with a laugh. “I un-
derstand that in Mexico they speak Spanish. but
I have been told by Spaniards that the Mexi—
cans don’t really speak pure Spanish, for the
lan uage has become corrupted with a lot of
Indian words, so that the Mexican-Spanish is a
sort of dialect, and a Spaniard not accustomed
to it would be bothered to com rehend a great
many words, just as a well-e ucated man in
this country, who had never heard any slan
wouldn’t know what was meant if some rasca
using 'the thieves’ argot told him to ‘ sherry his
nibs.‘

“Oh, vell, I do not know,” replied the Jew

shrugging his shoulders.

0a general principles it was a rule with the
Jew to always deny everything.

“ I say, Zimmer, you old fox, you are the
champion liar!" the detective declared, with
blunt, straightforwardness.

“ Oh, mine gootness, no!” cried the Jew, lift-
ing both hands high in the air in protest.

“Yes, es, you are, but you cannot fool me
for a cent!” the detective exclaimed. “Here
you are trying to make out that you don’t know
anything about Mexican-Spanish, when I know
very well that you do, for you lived in the City
of Mexico for two years, and practiced med -
cine there.”

Upon the face of the old man appeared an ex-
pression of profound amazement, and again he
threw up his hands in astonishment.

“ Oh, mine gootness, Mister Irving, v’at a man
you are!” he declared. “It ish my belief dot
you know everyt’ing!

“ Yesh, yesh, now dot you recall it to my
memory, I t’ink I did live in der City of Mex-
ico, but it was so long ago dot I had forgotten
all about it.”

“ I reckon. then, that if a man came in and
talked Mexican-Spanish, you would be able to
make out what he said?”

“ Vell, I don’t know,” the Jew replied, shak-
ing his head with an air of profound regret. “ I
am getting old—mine head ish not v’at it used to
be, and it vas so long ago when I vas in der
City of Mexico, dot I don’t know as I could re-
member dot language.”

“ But ou get along all right with this young
fellow that you have got here, don’t you?” the
detective observed. “ You don’t have any
trouble to understand him, and to make him
understand you?”

The old man gave a start and looked at the
officer as if he thought the other had suddenly
taken leave of his senses.

“ Youn mans dotI get here?” he cried.

“Yes, t is Mexican. '

“ V’at Mexican!”

“ Why, you know, the young fellow who
can’t speak a word of English, and who came to
on to have a bullet taken out of his shoulder."

“ A bullet out of der shoulder?”

“ Oh, yes, it is all right; you see that I know
all about it.” the detective remarked in an ex-
tremely friendly way. “ Where have you got
him—up-stairs?

“ Mine comes! Mista‘ Irving, somebody
has been p aying a joke on you if dey told you
dot I hafe a young mans here. Dere is not a
soul in der house but mineself and Monkey
Bill! D‘ot ish der truth, so help me Moses l”

An incredulous look appeared on the face of
the detective.

“Oh, come now, I reckon you are tryingto
play a game upon me i”

‘ As am a living man, it is der truth!” the
old Jew protested. “ If you do not believe me
come along mid me and search der house!
fiou find any man here, young cr old, Mexican,

uglish. or any odder countryman. I will a on
to eat him. and gootness knows I am no
nibnl!”

“ Oh,”a,s to searching the house, I understand
all about that,” the detective remarked, slowly.

\.“ You cannot fool me with an steer of that
kind. I understand that a sly ox like yourself
must have plenty of hiding-places in an old
rooker like this—where a man could be easily
stow away,‘and to make a pro r search of
the house, would re ulre about a omen men.”

“ Send for dem, ister Irvin l" the old man
exclaimed. “ You hafe plenty 0 men! All
hate to do is to hold up your hand' und y
men vill come! Make all der search you like
and with as many men as you ease, you
grin! no mansuhpre, young or o , but Monkey

ii and m .‘

The octagon surveyed the face of the old

‘man with his keen eyes forafew momentous

though he would read is very soul.

The Jew was extremely nervous under the
scrutiny, but bore it pro well, for he w“ a
man ofsh ways.w one om looked anybody .
in the face i he could help it. . r

“ Well, old man. I believe that you are givln ;
ittomestraight this time,”the detective .5 .
at hmquteahigpause.

 

 

 

 

 

 

II

26‘

Tom of California.

 

“ If I am not speaking der truth, I vish I may
diel” the old Jew declared, elevating both hands
toward Heaven in a very dramatic manner.

“ Well, the little trap I laid for you didn’t
work!” and the detective laid back in his chair
and laughed as if he considered the matter to be
an extremely good joke.

“Ah, my dear Mister Irving, do you think
dot- ish vas shust right to lay a trap for an old
friend like mineself’i" exclaimed the Jew in a
wheedling way.

“ Oh, well, all is fair in war, you know?” the
detective replied.

“Yesh, yesh, dot ish true enou h, but it ish
not war between you und me, 15 istcr Irving!”
the Jew exclaimed, rubbing his hands together
and smiling blandly u n the officer.

“ Gootness knows, would do anyt’ing in der
vorld for a mans like yourself,” he rotested.

“Is that so?” the officer exclaime , in a mock-
ing tone.

“Yesh, yesh, shust you try me once, und see
if it ish not shust as I say 3” the old Jew declared.
“ If I knew dot dere vas a mans about dot you
vanted, l vould run fit to break my neck for to
catch him for you 2”

“ Well, I am glad to hear it, and maybe
you will run across this party that I am after,
although I hardly think that it is possible now.
But I will post you so you will know him.”

 

CHAPTER XXXII.
THE MAN WHO IS WANTED.

“ YESH, yesh, dot ish right!” the old Jew dc-
clared immediately. “ You shust tell me all
about der t’ing, and I vill keep my eyes 0 n."

“ There is a man wanted for murder!” t e de-
tective explained.

“ For murder!
big one, then ’1!”

“Yes, it isn’t any common, petty rascal, but
a bi gun."

“ h, yeah, a murder ish a big crime.”

“ The affair happened in an Italian restaurant
up—town, which is also much frequented by
Spanish;speaking people, and all the parties
connected with the tragedy are, as far as we can
find out, Mexicans.” '

“ Yesh, yesh, those Mexicans are a hard lot of
men,” the old Jew declared. “ They are as

ead touse der knife as any men in the vide
vorl . When they quarrel, they do not hit each
other mit dere flsts, but cut mit der knives and
slash away."

“ There was a party of Mexicans drinking and
playing cards in the back room of the restau-
rant; they had been there tho better part of the
evening, and about twelve o’clock the most of
the party were well under the influence of liquor;
then a quarrel arose.”

“ Ah yeah, dot ish natural,” and the old Jew
wagged his head. “ When der vine is in, de vits
are oudt.”

“One of the party had been a heavy winner
in fact, he had managed to get hold of about all
the money that there was in the party, and this
run of luck led the others to suspect that he
had been cheating them, particularly as he was
a stran er whom none of the rest knew, al-
thou h e was a Mexican like themselves.”

“ h, yeah, I see, a black sheep who had rung
himself in on der gang shustso as to get avay
mit der monish.” '-

" That is the view that some of the gamblers

Mine gootnessl dcr game is a

‘ took of the matter, and they accused him openly

of being a hlackleg and a c eat.”

“ Dem ish pretty bad names,” Zimmer ob-
served.

“ Yes, and the man resented the accusation; a
ti ht immediately took place, the supposed gam-
b or got a bullet in his shoulder, but with his
knife he laid out four of the party; one man is
lalrea'dy dead, and two more are not expected to

We.

“ Mine tness! dot mans vas a regular
devil!” exc imed the old doctor in horror.

“'Yes, he was evidently a terror,” the detec-
tive remarked. “ After laying out his men he

s his escape by a rear door, and after he got
out into the street disa peered about as utterly
as though he had sunk. ato the earth.”

“ Dot vas strange!” ‘

“ Yes, all the best detectives in the town have
been on the case, and not the slightest clew n
regard to the fellow have they been able to g .”

‘Ah, yeah, but it ish only a question of t me;

our detectives are splendid men, and you will

sure to hunt him down,” the old Jew re-
marked, fawningly.

“ Now ou are iving me a little tafly, eh?”
the detect ve remar ed, with a grin.

“Oh, no so help me Moses! I believe that
a ish so!” the other declared.

“ Of course it looks as if the fellow was not so
much to blame for usi his knife, for as there
was five to one against i:n, if the sailed in to

do him up. he would he 1 protecting
himself.” .

“ Mine ! yeah, dot vas so!”

“But t others swear that when they ac-

cused him of being a fusions] gambler, and
31; fits) his teethf t  had forced himasl:

compan or express urpoae o
winnin their y , he drew his ‘knife and
aware e would hi! the .whole party, and, as

 

only one of them happened to be armed, he had
things his own way, for after the man with the
istol got one shot at him putting a bullet in
is left shoulder, not wounding him sufficient]
to stop him, he laid him out with a single slas l
of the knife, and then went in to clean out the
rest of the party.”

“ Mine gracious! v’at a desperado!”

“There is a reward of a thousand dollars of-
fered for his capture by the brother of one of
the killed men, and the oys from Headquarters
are hustling around retty lively, anxious, you
know, to collar that t ousand.”

“ Mister Irving,rdo you know dot I would be
willing to bet ash mooch as ten t’ollars dot on
will be der mans to gets der money!” the ew
declared.

“ lVell, I don't know about that, but one
thing is sure, I am going to make a lively try
for it, and don’t you forget it i”

“ I vill not und you can bet yer boots on
dot!” the old Jew declared, gravely.

“ Here is the man’s description,” and the de—
tective drew a written paper from the large
pocketbook, which he carried in the breast
pocket of his coat.

“ This description is not accurate, you know,
but it is the best we could get,” the detective
remarked. “It is a funny thing that in all
cases of this kind after the man has disappeared
the people who saw him differ materially as to
how he looked.” ~

“ Yesh, ycsh, many men, many mines!”

The detective read the description aloud.

“ About the medium size, more under than
over it, and rather slightly built, a little cfl’em—
inate looking in the face, swarthy skin, eyes
supposed to be dark but there is a doubt on this
point. may be light. Slight mustache and im-
perial, hair long and curly, black in color, worn
down over the ears. 'Well dressed in a light
suit: is not able to speak any English."

“ Mine gootness! dot mans ought to be recog-
nized anyvhere!" the old Jew declared after the
detective finished the description.

“ Yes, but you must remember that if you
were togo around looking for a man who an-
swers exactly to this description the chances are
big that you would get had] left,” the detec-
tive observed, as he folded t 9 paper and re
turned it to his rxmketbook.”

“ How ish dot?” demanded the Jew.

“\Vhy the very first thing the man would do
would be to make some alteration in his personal
appearance, so that he would be unlike the de-
Ecrilgtion which he knows would be given of

im.

“ Yesh, yesh, dot ish so. Ah, mine gootness,
Mister lrving, you are up to all der tricks!”

“ That is our own little biz!” the other replied.
“ Now then, the question comes up what changes
in his personal appearance will the fellow be apt
to ma e?"

The doctor shook his head as though the co-
nundrum was too much for him.

“ In the first place he would be apt to take of!
his mustache and imperial so as to ap or with
a clean face: then he would cut his air short
and ton a different suit of clothes. He had
a lig t suit on at the time the trouble occurred:
he would be apt to put on dark, so, you see, the
man I am looking for don’t resemble this de-
scri tion in some important particulars.” \

“ esh, yesh, dat sh true.

“ But the scent I am on is all outside of the de-
scription "the officer; explained. “ The man had
a bullet in his shoulder; how serious the wound
is no one knows but the chances are that he is
not very bad] hurt; still it will not be very

leasant for im to go around witha piece of
end in his flesh and, of course, he will have it
taken out as soon as possible.”

“Yeah, yeah, for until he has a doctor ex-
amine der wound he cannot tell but what it may
turn out to be a had one.”

“ Exactly! well, every hospital in the city
has been notified in regard to the case, and no
man with a. bullet in his shoulder can show his
nose in any of these institutions without the
news being at once sent to Headquarters.

“ Then ever doctor in the city has been
warned, and , personally, took upon myself
the task of coming to see you about the matter.
You see I happened to remember that you had

racticed in Mexico, and was familiar with the
anguage so I had a notion that it might be
possible that the man might be directed to com!
to you if he needed anything in your line by
some mutual acquaintance of his and yoursin
the City of Mexico.”

“Oh, no it ish years since I vas there,” the
old Jew declared, with a shake of the head.
“ It ish not likely that any one there remembers
me now."

“ Well, it was a forlorn hope. of course.” the
detective. admitted. “I hardly expected to
have the good luck to nab him, but than once in
a while a man turns up trumps in just such a
queer way.”

“ Oh, yeah, dot vas true.”

“ The chances are big to in thinking that the
fellow has got out of the c ty, although word
was sent to guard every point as soon as Head-
quarters got hold of the affair: still he had time
to escape before that if he acted promptly.”

“ If he vas smart he vent at once.”

 

“ Yes. but as a rule they ain’t smart!” the de-
tective declared as he rose to his feet. ‘

“ Well, just you keep your eyes open, and if
you should happen to meet the fellow send me
word as quickly as possible, and if I nab him
through your aid I will give you a hundred for
your trouble.”

“ Oh, dot vas all right! I vould do it any-
way und not charge you acent!” the old Jew
declared.

“The hundred will not be bad for you to‘

take, though; ta, ta!” and the detective went
forth into the night.

“Mine gootness! mine heart vas in mine
mouth vhen he comes in l” the old doctor ex-
claimed, with a si h of relief. “I am more
afraid of dot mans, rving, than all der rest put
together.”

 

CHAPTER XXXIII.
A STRANGER.

MONKEY BILL discreetly retired after placing
a chair for the detective, but now, hearing the
door close behind the officer, he reentered the
apartment.

“ W’at do he want, boss—did he come for to

make any trubble?” inquired the mulatto, aux.
iousl . ‘
“ gh, no, it ish not possible for any of der
detective rascals to make troubles for me!” the
old Jew declared. “ I am too careful now how
I carries on m business.”

“By golly, am glad of it!” Monkey Bill de-
clared. “ But I tell yer, boss, I am afeard of
dat man, Irving, I am!”

“ Yesh, he is der smartest man of der gang
but I vill take care dot none of dems gets a ho d
on me.’

At this point a couple of patients came in to,

consult the doctor. and they were followed by
three more, which took up his time for an hour,
and then the old Jew was left alone, Monkey
Bill having received permission to go out.

Ten minutes after the last patient de rted,
another visitor entered,a stranger to the octor,
who surVeyed him closely.

The new comer was a young man of twenty-
three or four with a rather peculiar face.

His complexion was swnrthy, being as dark as
that of an Italian; and yet he had rather light-
ish eyes, they being gray in color.

He was smoothly shaven, not a trace of hair
on his face, and this tended to give him an effem—
inate look.

His hair was black, curly and cut quite short,
and the young man was attired in a dark suit
rather the weise for wear.

No sooner had the old Jew made a careful in-‘

spection of the stranger than the thought flashed
upon him that the man in many respects agreed
with the description that the detective had read;
that is agreed with the amended description
which Irvmg had given when he had sug ested
the chan es which the fugitive would pro‘bably
make to brow the bloodhounds off the track.

“ Is this Doctor Zimmer?” asked the stranger
in Spanish, but speaking with such an accent
that the old Jew at once jumped to the conclu-
sion that he was a Mexican. ,

“ Aha, I vill bet ten tollars dot dis ish der man!”
he muttered, and then he nodded to the stranger
and said aloud in Spanish:

“ Yesh, yesh, Doctor Zimmer, dot ish my
name, but mine frient vill you not speak English?
for I do not speak der Spanish as“ veil as I
mi ht. .

he young man shook his head. _

“I cannot speak— English,” he replied.

The old Jew chuckled in his sleeve.

“ It is der man sure enough i” he murmured.
“ Now then v’at s all I do? If I send for der de-
tective I vill make a hundred tollars, but can I
not make as much as dot, if not more, out of dis
mans, and I hates to at monish in der pocket of
an of dem rascal de tives too.”

hen, assuming a welcoming smile, he beamed
on the stranger.

“ Ah, vell, if you cannot speak def En lish we
must get along in Spanish, and! hope Vlll be
able to make you campnehend v’at I‘say.”

“Oh, yes, you speak correctly enough. I can
understand evergelword you say :' no one to hear

on talk would have that you had not spoken
gpanish all your life.”

“ Ah, mine gootneSSl you flatter me now i” and
the doctor rose and made an elaborate bow.

“Excuse me! I hafe not offered on a chair;
pray be seated!” And then he pin a chair for
the young man, and, as he was about to sit, the
old doctor, in an extremely awkward manner,
stumbled against him, striking the stranger on
the left shoii der.

“ Ah, caramba.’ take care! you murder me!”
exclaimed the young man, wincing with pain,
and as he leaned back in the chair his breath
came hard and thick as though he was about to

faint.

“ Ah, ten thousand pardons!” cried the old J ew.
“ Let me fetch you a glass of water i”

There was a pi er and a glass on the counter
so the water was oon procured.
l The young man drained the glass at a swal-
ow.
“ I feel better now,” he remarked. “ It is
nothing; 1 am used to these sudden turns.” ’

“ Ah, yeah, it is bad!” the doctor remarked

. c4“ I.
.. 43‘

 

 

 

 

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sympathetically, but, in reality, he was chuck-
ling in his sleeve, for he knew now that his
guess was correct; this was the man who was
“wanted” b the police, for he was suffering
from a woun in the left shoulder.

“ NOW, my dear sir, v’at can I do for you ?”

My name is Juan Las Cruses; I am a Mexican
by birth and have been recommended to your
kind offices by some friends of yours who are
also friends of mine.”

An expression of astonishment appeared on
the face of the doctor.

“Ah, mine goot sir, is there not some mis-
take?” he exclaimed. “I hafe no friends in
Mexico dot I know of!”

“ I did not say that these friends who recom-
mended me to you were in Mexico.”

“Ah, yesh, I see!” exclaimed the doctor,
now com letelly puzzled. “I believe dot you

did not, at took it for granted dot they
were.”
“Oh no.”

“ Where are dey den?”

“ Some uv them are in New York, or were. a
few weeks ago. I have not seen the parties
for a month, so I cannot locate them exactly
nOW.”

“ Yesh, yesh, I see, but I must confess I do
not understand it at all,” the old Jew Said, un-
able to see into this strange affair.

“I bear a message to you, and the parties
from whom I come said that when you re-
ceived it you would aid me by every means in
your wer.”

“ esh, yesh, this is all very strange!” the old
Jew exclaimed. “You had better gife inc der
message.” . _

The stranger extended his right hand to the
Jew, the palm downward. The Jew had taken
a chair and was within reach of his visitor.

“Have the kindness to separate the little
finger from the next one to it—look on the in-
side of the little finger and tell me what you see
there.”

Wondering at this strange injunction the old '

doctor obeyed, and then a cry of amazement cs-
caped from his lips.

“ Der brand of der Invisible Hand!” be ex-
claimed.

And it was true: on the inside of the little
finger, just beyond its junction with the palm, a
spot where it would not be a t to be noticed un-
less some one was in searc of it, was a tiny
vermilion-colored hand. »

“ Is the message satisfactory?” the Mexican
asked, with a smile. .

“Oh, yesh, yesh; but I am so astonished! It
was der last thing I expected to see!” the old
Jew declared.

“ This is a world of surprises, and our brother-
hood are so scattered around that one never
knows when the brand of the Iuvis1ble Hand
may be brought to sight.”

“ Yesh, dot ish true.”

“ This sign entitles me to all the aid and pro-
tection that you are able to give f” the Mex1can
in*%iied' h t’i I d f I llbe

, es ,any ng can 0 oryou wi
glad to do.”

“ I am very thankful to hear it, for I am in a
sad light now.” ,

“ esh, dot ish true.”

“ Why, how can ecyou possibly know i” the
young man exclaim in surprise.

The old Jew laughed.

“ Ah, my tear young fr’ent, I know a great
dfii’l more about you than you hate any iuea
o ‘ ,I

“ You astonish me.” _

“ I can tell on almost everyt’ing dot has hap-
pened to you n der last four-und-twenty hours!”

“ You can?”

" Yeah; but first, had I not better take dot
ball out of your shoulder, for it must be very
uncomfortab e?”

“I see that you do know something about
me,” the other remarked. “ But I cannot for
the life of me understand how you gained the
knowledge.

“ Never mind dot now; shall I not take oudt
der ball?”

“It is out,”’the young man replied. ‘fI ex-
tracted it myself with my penknife. for_it was
not in doe ; but I made an ugly Job of It, and
the wound s very painful.”

“ Ah, yesh, of course."

“ If you know about my wound, I say
you also kagew that I am in trouble, an Ido
not exactly how I am going to get out.”

The old Je shook his head.

“ Mine goo nets! you are in a peek of troubles,
and I do not see either how you are going to
out. Der police are on our track; two of er
men dot you hurt in er fight last night are
dead, and there is a reward of at’ousand dollars
offered for you.”

The face of the young man grew dark.

“ Well, I am in for it and no mistake!“ be ex-
claimed. “ I can guess how you got your in-
formation now thoi’i'gh; the police have been
he}? in search of me

Yeah, dot- ish true, one of der bestdotectiVes
an der force: be was here not an hour ago, and
sat there in dot chair shust where you sit now.”

“ I am done for then, I an i” the Mexican
exclaimed, moodily. “ But, say, how on earth

 

did the detective come to suspect that I would
come here to on f”

“ Oh, he di not suspect; it was shust chance.
Every hospital—every doctor in der city vas
visited. They thought you vould go to some
one to have the ball extracted, und so they
would be able to nab you.”

“ Did the detective give you my description?”

“ ()h, ycsh.”

;; And you recognized me immediately from
it

“ Yesh, my tear fr’ent!”

“Little good has it done me then to shave and
cut my hair!” the Mexican exclaimed, in deep
disgust. “ I thought I had made such a change
in my personal appearance that it would not be
possible for any one to recognize me.”

“Ah, it is a hard matter for a mans to so
alter himself dot he vill not be known,” the old
doctor declared, with a shake of the head.

“ I suppose every avenue of escape is guarded?”

“ I t’ink s0.”

“ It is possible even that I may have been
tracked by spies as I came to this house!”

“Yesh, dot ish so, these rascal detectives are
ever where!"

“ f I am taken the rope is my doom, certain!
How can I escape?”

The old Jew shook his grizzled noddle.

The Mexican’s head sunk upon his breast, and
it was plain that he felt as if the shadows of
death Were already on his brows, and yet he was
young to die. '

CHAPTER XXXIV.
ran JEW IS asromsnnn.

FOR fully five minutes the Mexican remained
motionless with his head bowed upon his breast,
the old Jew watching him.

Tnen, abruptly, he looked up, and hope spark-
led again in his eyes.

“ I have a plan 1", he exclaimed.

“ Of escape?”

H Yes 1”

“Mine gootness! I cannot see a chance for
you i" the doctor declared.

“ With our help I can work it!”

“Vell, vill do v’st I can for you, but {you
must not bring me into danger if you can ielp
it!” the doctor said, anxiously.

“ Oh, no; it will get both of us out of the
scrape, for if I am tracked here and arrested
the police may try to make trouble for you.”

“ As like as not—these rascal detectives!”

“You are a doctor and reports say that you
possess great skill l”

“ Oh, I know a thing or two!” the old Jew
declared, nodding his head, sagely.

" Can you not give me a dose that will pro-
dnce the appearance of death?”

" Eh? v’at ish dot?”

“Something that will lay me out, stark and
still. Then you can arrange to have my body
placed somewhere where the detectives can find
it. ,I will write a note, statin that rather than
face death upon the scaffold have chosen to
die by my own hand, and in my pocket, along
with the note, I will have a vial with some poi-
son in the bottom of it.” ‘

“Yesh, yesh; I seal” the old man exclaimed,
with a cunning laugh.

“ When I am found, apparently dead, the note
and the bottle of poison will convince all that I
have put an end to my existence rather than
face a trial for murder.’

“ Ah, yesh, of course.”

“ Then after the coroner’s verdict is given,
you can claim my body, take it to some secure
place and bring me back to life again.”

“ esh,yesh, dot might be done, but it will
coat much monish,” the old Jew declared.

“ I have a thousand dollars here; will that be
enon hi” and the Mexican drew a big roll of
bills roin his pocket.

The eyes of the old Jew listened at the sight
of the mone , and then 0 cast an anxious
glance at the cor.

“ Ah, mine gootness! we hafe been very fool-
ish to sit here and talk right by der side of der
door.”

“ But the curtains are down.”

“Yesh, yesh, but day are old, they may be
holes in‘ them, and some of der detectives may
pop in at any moment.

‘ Come mit me!” and the old man jumped to
his feet. “ I will take you to a lacs where all
der detectives in der country w not find you.
and then we will talk der matter over mitout
danger of being disturbed.”

The doctor turned the key in the lock, and
then, by means of the secret passage construct-
ed in the old-fashioned chimney, as described in
one of the early chapters of our tale, be con-
ducted the Mexican to the second cellar, where
the boxes with their previous contents had been
carried.

The doctor had rovided himself with a
li hted lantern, whic he hung to a hook in the
caling when the pair arrived in the cellar.

“There, n0w, sit down and we can talk der
matter over,” the doctor said, pushing a chair
to the other.

“ The thing can be aningedf”

(I  fl

“ And .1: thousand dollars will pay you for
your trouble!” .

 

 

“ Vell, it ish worth a goot deal of money.”

“ A thousand is all I have at present, but if it
is not enough I will pay you more after I come
out of the trance.”

“ Ah, well, you are one of der Invisible Hand
band, und I vill not drive a hard bargain mit
you,” the doctor announced. “ Der thousand
will do.”

“ I have heard that this thing has been done,
and the idea flashed upon me that as there did
not seem to be any way for me to escape from
this trap that I am in, I might try the dosing
business”

“ There ish not two men in der vorld who can
fix der drugs to do der business besides mine-
self,” the doctor declared.

“ But how about the danger?” .

“ Oh, there is none to speak of.”

“ No danger that, after the drugs are taken
and the trance comes on, it may not be possible
to restore animation again?”

“No, no!” declared the old Jew in the most
positive manner. “ My tear young frieut, let
me tell you somet’ings!” and the old doctor
waved his skinny fore-finger, impressively, in
the air. “ In this very room I worked der t’ing
—I brought back to life two peoples, a man and
a woman, both of whom I helped to cheat der
law mid my drugs.”

“ Yes, I have heard whispers in regard to
that job, but I hardly believed it. Two mem—
bers of the Invisible Hand hand, I believe?”

“ Yesh, yesh !”

“They were caught so that there was no es-
cape for; them apparently, but your drugs found
a way.

“Dot ish der truth, and der captain of der

hand was one of der men.” \ .

hf‘GAnd the woman was a great friend of
is.

“ Yesh, yeah, she was one of der big-bugs!”
the old Jew assented with a chuckle.

“ All the world t'inks dot both of dam are
dead—dcr bodies were shipped to their frients
in England, you understands, but there was
some little hocus-pocus played nnd the bodies
came down here where I soon put der life back
into them again.”

“ By all the saints, doctor, you are a wonder-
ful man i” the Mexican exclaimed in tones that
expressed deep admiration.

‘ If I had not been so fond of der rum there
is no doctor in the world who could compare
with me!” the old man boasted.

“ And you managed these affairs so nicely too
that the police never got on your track."

“ Police! bah! I care not a swap of my fingers
for der police!” the old Jew declared. " There
is only one man I fear, dot Irving; some time
ago he came within an ace of catching me.

“ I tell you what it is, my good fr’ent, if I do
this job for you, and pulls you safe out of your
trouble, you on ht to do something for me.”

“ All right! I will!”

“ You are handy mit der knife ”—and the old
Jew sunk his voice almost to a whisper.

“ Oh, yes, few men can wield a knife better
than myself!” the Mexican b .

“Can you not find a chance to gife dot Irv-
ing a taste of der steel?” the doctor asked.

‘ Oh, yes, it can be done.”

“ I will count out to you a hundred tollers if
you will do dot job for me.”

“ That is a bargain; give us your hands upon
it!" And the Mexican extended both hands to
ward the old Jew.

Eagerly the doctor put out his hands to satisfy
the compact, and then, all of a sudden, there
were two sharp snaps, and the old Jew, to his
utter amazement, found his wrists adorned with
a ir of handcuffs.

he adroit manner in which the Mexican had
slipped the “ bracelets ” on was as pretty 9.
piece of work as any trick of the sleight-of-hand
men.

In utter astonishment the old Jew stared at
the “ ornaments” upon his wrists, and then at
the voung man.

“V’at does this mean? w’at foolishness is this?”
he cried.

“ It means, my dear Doctor Zimmer, that you
have been trapped in the most complete and
scxentifl'c manner 1” the other replied, in English,
which he spoke without the slightest bit of an
accent.

For a moment the old Jew seemed like one

_ alyned, then hesprung to his feet, and raised

is manacled hands on high as though he medi-
tated springing upon the man who had thus an-
swered him.

“Don’t try anything of that kind !” warned
the young man, who, as the reader has doubtless

uessed ong erothis, wasour old friend,the

lifornian. .

“ Don’t try any foolidmess of that kind or it
will cost you dearly i” '

And as he to give emphasis as it were
to his words, t Californian drew a little load-
ed club from his pOcket, (ne of the ugly little
weapons which our English cousins call a “ life-
preserver.”

“ If you try any nonsense, you know. I shall
be obliged to give you a few ta with this,
which will heapt to knock a li 9 sense into
y‘opr head, if any instrument of the kind can do
i

27'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

. , . could re
, , tions in regard to what they should do when a.

Tom of California.

 

The old Jew sunk down again in his chair,
cowed and trembiing.

“V’at ish der meaning of this, and who are
youll’ he cried.

“ I am a detective—too new a hand at the
business to have won a name as yet, but I think
that if you call me The Wolf, that appellation
will fit me as well as any that can be coined,”
the other replied.

“ Like the wolf I am tireless on a trail when
once I scent blood; like the wolf I don’t know
the meaning of the word mercy, but pull my
prey down the moment I get a chance.”

“Und I am in a trap dat you hate laid for
me?”

“ You are. I take a wonderful amount of in-
terest in these two cases that you speak of—this
man and woman who by your aid managed to
escape from the grasp of the law. I think I
know the parties to whom you referred. The
man was called Leander Brakespear—not his
right name, of course, for the captain of the In-
visible Hand band doubtless has a dozen differ-
ent aliases. The woman was Alberta Darling-
ton, and now I want you to tell me all you know
in regard to the two.”

“I will not speak l” the doctor shouted. “No
court can compel me to speak l”

“ Oh, I am not going to take you before any
other court than the one you are now in. You
are on trial here and I am both judge and jury.
Don’t think for a moment that there is the
slightest chance for you to escape. Monkey Bill
is arrested, and by this time Irving and his men
are in possession of your premises up—stairs.
But that has nothing to do with you; you will
stay here with me until you speak or else ‘ uptil
famine stings you.’ Don’t make any mistake.
I’m The Wolh, and as merciless as any wild
beast that you can find on the face of the globe!”

“If I speak—if I tells you ever t’in , will
you let me go?" cried the Jew, wil wit ter-

or.
“ Yes, that is a bargain!”

CHAPTER XXXV.
THE ASSAULT.

AFTER the night when the Californian won
such an easy triumph over the Marquis De
Nevville, the Cuban, Sanches, was careful not
to be seen conversing with the Englishman.

It was his game not to allow the “ Man-from-
’Frisco ” to suspectnthat he was on intimate terms
with Fitzherbert, for he felt sure that the Call-
fornian was satisfied as to the character of the
two, and he was anxious that his suspicions
should not be roused in regard to himself.

It was necessary, for the success of the lot
that he had formed, that he should be pee in
re ard to the Californian’s movements. 1

0 had summoned MacNabb and Red Murphy,
two desperate ruflians upon whom he knew he
, and these worthies had their instruc-

 

pro r opportunity arrived.

6 Cuban did not make the mistake of hav-
ing the rumans attempt to “shadow” the Call-
fornian, for he was satisfied that the man would
discover that he was being watched if any such
thing was tried, and if his suspicions were once
roused then he would be on his guard, and if the
Californian had an idea that danger threatened,
Sgnches was satisfied that he could not be got

The two rufiians were ordered to frequent a
low saloon at the upper end of the town, where

v a tough gang were usually to be found, and they

 

/, clared.
‘ opportunit

 

,were instructed to assume the appearance of
’ stablemen out of a job and looking for one.

In this uise they could lounge in the saloon

. and neigh orhood without exciting any fills i-

cion, as the place was much frequented by t e

stablemen of the Monmouth Racing Park.
Havin the mains thus within cell the Cuban

was rea y to take advantage of any occasion

 a that might arise.

Six do it passed without anything occurring,
but on t e afternoon of the seventh the Cuban
made a sign to the Eu lishman that he wished
to speak with him, an , in a convenient retired

leer, an interview took place betwaen them

‘ At last I think I will be able to get a chance

 at‘l‘aim,” the Cuban announced.

Well, 1 am glad of that,” Fitzherbert do-
“I was beginning to think that the
would never arrive.”

After unch today, while I was smoking a
cigar in the office, I overheard a conversation
between the Californian and old Thompson.
Thompson you know, has a high opinion of the
fellow, an I am satisfied that the Californian
hasdone'his best tocultivate the acquaintance

 ‘of Thompson, thinking, no doubt that a good
3 word from

him would come in handy some day
to help along his suit with the heiress.”

“ 0 , yes, the fellow is smart enough to seize
upon every advanta e,” the Englishman ob-
served. “ Any one w half an eye can see that
he is after the girl, and if ou ,do not at him out

; ,of the way I think I shou d be more nclined to

bet upon him than you, for I have noticed

 during the last few duty: that Miss Green seems
,- to beanxious to have

9 fellow dangling around
her about all the time.”
i “ Yes, I have noticed that,” the Cuban said,

 

a frown appearing upon his swarthy face.
“ While I have no reason to complain in regard
to her treatment of myself, yet she certainly has
changed in her behavior toward him, and, as
you say, she seems to take pleasure in being
with him and they are almost constantly to-
gether.”

“ Yes, I have caught them conversing in re—
tired nooks, just like a couple of engaged
lovers,” Fitzherbert.

“ Well, I do not think that it has gone as far
as that, but I am afraid that an engagement is
likely to take place at any moment. But to this
conversation that I overheard. Thompson and
the Californian are going to the city together
this afternoon as both have business there this
evening, and they have arranged to meet at
Thompson‘s house on Ninth street near Wash-
ington Park where they are to pass the night.

“ Thompson. it seems, has a house there which
he rents out, reserving a couple of rooms for
himself, where he keeps bachelor’s hall, when he
is in the city. The family who hired the house
are now in the country for the summer, so the
two men will have the house to themselves.”

“ Yes, I see.”

“I have the number, and as the talkative
old fool took the trouble to give the Califor-
nian a full description of the house—the loca-
tion of the rooms and all particulars, I am as
familiar with the premises as if I had been an
inmate.”

“It is a good thing for men in our line to
rim across these talkative fellows sometimes,”
Fitzherbert observed with a chuckle.

“ Yes, they certainiy help business along,” the
Cuban rejoined. “ Now the two are to meet at
the Metropolitan Hotel on Broadway at eleven
o’clock—both of them having business to at-
tend to which they think will keep them until
that hour—a then they are to go to the house,
where they will ass the night.”

“ Just like old hompson: he saves a hotel bill
by this maneuVer.”

“ Yes, that is his idea, of course. Now it will
not be a difficult thing for our men to get into
that house at some time in the night, prior to
the arrival of the two.”

“Oh, yes, that job will be easy enough, un-
less the fastenings are extra good. ’

“They are not, for Thompson spoke about
the family who now occupy the house com-
plainin in re ard to the locks, which they
declar are 01 ~fashioned, and he has promised
to provide new ones.

‘ Then, too, there is a basement door under
the front stoop—it is a high-stoop house—so
that our men will have cover while they are
en raged in forcing the lock.”

‘ Why, to use the slang, it will be a regu-
lar ‘pudding’ for our men to
house as that l" the Englishman ( eclared.

“Yes, our fellows can get in easily enough;
then they can secrete themselves somewhere in
the house, and when the Californian is wrapped
in slumber’s chain they can put him in such a
condition that he will not trouble anybody
hereafter.” '

And dark was the look upon the face of the
Cuban as he uttered the words.

“The thing! is just beautiful, my dearboy!”
Fitzherbert eciared. “And I do notsee how
it can possibl fail to work.”

“ Well, it ooks. to me as'if we have got a

sufie thing this time,” Sanches observed, thought-
in y.
“ Oh, we have, undoubtedly! There is not a
thing about the matter to excite the suspicious
of the most timid man, and our fellows will
have a clear field for their wor .”

“ And the beauty of the thing too is that no
suspicions will be excited that there is anything
out of the common about the matter,” the
Cuban remarked.

“ That is true.”

“ It will a pear as if some burglars, knowing
the house to unoccupied, broke into it for the
purpose of lunder. They encountered the Cali-
fornian an be was killed to prevant him from
giving an alarm.”

“ Yes, yes, of course, quite a natural proceed-
ing under the circumstances.

‘ Our men will have am 1e time to get awa ,
and note. trace will they eave behind for e
police to work upon.” ‘ '

“ Ah. yes, it will be another one of those
mysterious crimes which make the big city
tremble to its very Center.”

“ It will not be possible for the shrewdest de-
tective to guess that the Californian has fallen a
Victim to'private vengeance.”

“Of course! What is there about the affair
to suggest such a thing?”

“ Nothing whatever!” the Cuban declared,
confidently.

“,How about old Thom . n?”

“ He will not he troub ed. He is to sleep in a
bdck room up-stairs, while the Californian oc-
cuplee the front one. There is a large closet
between the two, with a {passageway from one
room into thh other. wo doors, you see,
which can be closed. so it will notbepossible
for the killing of the Cali‘ornian to be heard by
Thompson in the back room.”

“ Not unless he is allowed to make a fight for
his life,” Fitsherbert observad, thoughtfully.

et into such a'

 

\

“ And I presume, you will take measures so
that there will not be any danger of anything of
that kind occurring.”

“ Oh, the job will be done in a workman-
like style of course,” the Cuban replied, discuss-
ing the matter with the utmost coolness as
though it was a mere every-day affair. “ I do
not think that two better workmen than Red
Murphy and Rodney MacNabb are to be found
in the world. They have both been abroad
you know, and neither in England, France or
on the Continent did they find men who Could
crack a crib in a more scientific manner. You
can depend upon it that they will not make any
mistakes.”

The conversation ended at this point.

That afternoon the Californian and the jolly
old drygoods man, Thompson, took the train for
New York.

At the ferry on the New York side they sep-
arated, each one going about his business.

At ten minutes past eleven that night the two
met in the Metropolitan Hotel on Broadway,
took a glass of ale together and then departed
for the house of Thompson which they entered
some ten or fifteen minutes later.

Everything was just as Thompson had left
it, and there wasn’t anything about the house
to excite the suspicion that aught was wrong.

 

Now turn we the wheels of _Old Father Time’s
chariot around.

The time is five in the afternoon, on the day
following the night when Thompson and the
Californian had entered the house of the former.

The Cuban and Fitzherbert are sitting on the
piazza of the hotel in company.

As the Californian was absent, it matters not
if they were Seen together.

“ It is about time for the afternoon papers to
get here,” Sanches observed.

“ Yes, and do you know that I am deuced
anxious about this matter,” the Englishman re-
marked.

“ 0h, everything is all right!”

“ Yes, but we haven’t heard a word.”

“ Well, no news is good news, you know.”

“I am not so sure of that; it is not always

7,

“ Neither Thompson nor the Californian have
returned i”

“No.” I

“ And they were to have been back this after-
noon. Doesn’t that look as if our scheme had
worked all right?”

“Yes, but there wasn’t a. word about the
affair in any of the morning papers,” the Eng-
lishman urged. ‘

“ I did not expect to see anything: there was
not time. In all probability the killing would
not be discovered until this morning when
Thompson came to get up.”

“ Yes, that is true.”

At this moment the newsboys came yelling
down the avenue.

“ Hyer ye ar’—New York papers-extra—
awful murder!” was the burden of the cries.

“ What did I tell you?” the Cuban exclaimed,
with a quiet smile.

Calling one of the boys, they bought a copy of
each journal that he had, and then fell to work
to read the account of the awful tragedy.

To condense the account—news of this kind
the average reporter always makes the most of
—the statement ran that on Line precedin even-
ing Mr. George P. Thompson, “the well- nown
dry-goods man,” had invited a California gen-
tleman, one. Thomas Mackay, of San Francisco,
to spend the night with him at his bachelor
quarters, and in the morning Mr. Thompson
was horrified to discover that the house had
been entered by burglars durin the night, who
had undoubtedl disturbed Mr. ackay in their
search for plun er, and, upon his attempting to
interfere with them, he had been stabbed to the
heart, and was dead, weltering in his blood,
when Mr. Thompson went to call him in the
morning. '

Then followed a lot of rigmarole about sup-
positions and theories, closin with the state-
ment that although no suspic on attached itself
to Mr. Thompson, yet under the circumstances,
the superintendent of police had asked him to
remain at Headquarters for a few days until
the police investigated certain clews upon which
thay were workin .

he Cuban laug ed. - . .

"It is the same old story—the authorities
have clews and they expect to make important
discoveries in a few hours,” Sanches remarked.

“ Yes, but do you notice that they are goin
to hold on to Thompson 1" the Englishman aske .
“No suspicion is attached to him, but the po-
lice are not going to let him out of their eight
for a while.”

“That is where they are wise, for if they
don’t discover the burglars, the chances are big
that they will wind up by charging that he
committed the murder himself.”

“ I should not be at all surprised!” the Cuban .

declared. “They have made blunders just as
big as that before. But now we can breathe

freely, fork is good-b to the Californian.”

“ Yes, this aim le so eme succeeded where the
com lex ones fai ed.” .

“ at very often happens.”

 

 

 

fig... (an... .2

 

 

 

 

 

A--““. l

a.

.Lahgdi~

 

' for her, and when the

y”

'2' ' .l ‘ r‘r,.;,;

T0... of California.

29

 

 

“ Now you stand a chance to win the heiress.”

“ More than a chance—a certainty! I will
have her, and that speedily. All the arrange-
ments are made, and I will take advantage of
Thom on’s absence to push the matter through.”

“ A i, you are taking time by the forelock !”

“ Yes, I made up my mind to settle the mat-
ter with a grand coup," the Cuban‘ remarked.
“ I managed to bring the Red Princess and Miss
Katherine together to-diiy, and the heiress. has
gone riding With the Red Princess. She is to
dine at her house; I am also invited, and I am
to bring her back to the hotel this evening.”

“ A very prett arrangement.”

“Yes, it affor s me an Opportunit tocarry
out my plot. I did intend to carry t e girl oil.’
to the old house in the Pines, but I have con-
cluded that it Will be better to have the mar-
riage take place at the house of the Red Princess,
where we can have plenty of witnesses, who, if
the girl declares hereafter that there was foul
play, can swear that there was not.”

“ Yes, yes, that is wise.”

“At the dinner there will be you. I, the Red
Princess, the heiress, the Russians, and the par-
son. I have Slippery Jack now at the house.”

“Be careful to keep him sober until the knot
is tied,” Fitzherhert cautioned. .

“That will be attended to. During the din-
ner the girl can be easily drugged, and the wed-
ding can take place immediate , and after the

' knot is tied I will have Satan’s Own luck if I do

not succeed in getting hold of the money.”

“ My dear boy, as far as I can see, you are as
sure of it as if you had the money in your fist
now i” the Englishman declared.

“ No, not quite so sure as that, but if the
thing goes through all right, and there is noth.
ing that can stop it as far as I can see, I will get
the ducatsl”

These worldlyominded plotters provided care-
fully against man’s interference, but the
thought not of the Hand of Heaven, which se -
dom forsakes the orphan.

CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE BLOW Ls srlwcx.

IT was a gay dinner-party that sat down to
the. luxuriously furnished table at the Red
Princess's cottage a little after six that evening,
and a magnificent repast had been provided.

There was the Red Princess herself at the head
of the table, Miss Katherine on her ri ht hand,
the post of honor, by her side the Cu n, who
had conducted her to the table.

On the left of the Red Princess, a tall, rather
portly man, with a young-old face, who wore
the sober black of the minister.

This was Slippery Jack Heatherwood, an En-
glish divine of unquestioned talents, but addict-
ed to such vices that it was impossible for him
to keep a pulpit.

_ But no one to look at the man would have be-
lieved that he was one of the bi est scamps
that had ever left his country for is country’s
good, for he had such a plaus1ble way with him
that he often gulled sharp, shrewd business
men.

Further down the table sat Fitzherbert and
the two Ruians.

It was a merry party. for these adventurers,
men who live by their wits, are obli ed to be ac-
complished and agreeable peo le; i they were
not, the wouldn’t get on at a

And t e deference they paid to Katherine, to-
gether with their delicate flattery, fairly
turned the girl’s head.

She was treated as though she was a very
queen, and the rest only her subjects and slaves.

Her beauty was toasted, her wit and learning
praised; the moment she opened her mouth to
speak, every one bent forward to listen.

If she had been a very paragon of woman-
lfiind, the guests could not have made more of

er.

Was it a wonder that the girl should become
fairly intoxicated with delight?

And then, too, to add to her excitement, it

 

.1 was an elaborate course dinner, and a different

wine served with each course.

The girl was not used to drinking much wine,
and she begged to be excused, but the rest were
:0 kind, so anxious to take a glass of wine with

er.

“ You need on! take a thimbleful dear " the
Bag Pirincéss gecilzred. ’ ’

n so at er ne, persuaded b these specious
flatterers, drank far more wine ythan was good
coffee was brought on,
which was not until the dusky mantle of night
had begun to fall over land and sea, she was in
such a state, that it only needed a few drops of
the potent drug which the Red Princess secretly
poured into the coffee of the heiress to make her
sleepy and upglectful of what was going on.

B e leaned over toward the Cuban, almost
unconscious of what she did, and he imme-

‘diately put his arm around her waist and kissed

“air...

9‘. f-consci endeavored to d

but .he held ber annwi'y. r" "m
‘ _h you are lovers!” the Red Prince- cried

in Wild gayet . “ Well, why not be married?

There is no t me like the present. Come, par-
50%. go on with the wedding ”

~Yes.ye-.u

l. ~I

i
eddingl" cried the rest in glee.

 

“ All right, an thing to oblige!” and Slippery
Jack rose to his eet.

The Cuban follmved his example, pulling the
girl 11 with him, and resting her head on his
shoul er. But for his strong arm around her
waist, she could not have ke t on her feet.

“ Proceed'.” commanded nches, a mild note
of triumph ringing out in his voice.

“ Will you take this woman to be your wed-
ded wife?’ the minister began.

“ I will!” the Cuban answered, firmly.

And as he spoke the rest of the adventurers
rubbed their hands and chuckled gleefully. .

Their leader was about to rab a stake worth
a million of dollars, and they new a good share
of the s ils would come to them.

“ Wil on take this man to be your wedded
husband ' the minister continued, a little un-
certain in his speech on account of the wine he
had drank.

“ Oh i” muttered the unconscious girl; the Cu—
ban had given her a violent pinch, which pro-
duced the exclamation.

“ Hold on! I forbid the banns!” cried a clear
voice, which rung through the room like the
note of a trumpet.

A cry of amazement went up from all.

There, in the doorway, stood the man whom
the adventurers supposed to be dead, Thomas
Mackay, the Californian, and behind him in the
passage was a group of men who displayed re-
volvers in their hands, and it needed no prophet
to tell the adventurers that these strangers were
detectives.

The Cuban released his grasp of the irl, and
she sunk to the floor, and then he ma e a mo-
tion as though to draw a weapon, but the Cali-
fornian had his revolver out, and “ covered”
the other in an instant.

“Don’t tr that, or I will have to cheat the
hangman o a job I" he cautioned, sternly.
“ You are in a trap, no chance of escape, for
the house is surrounded l”

“ Of what am I accused?” cried Sanches, de-
fiantly. :
“ Of half a dozen crimes; first and foremost
you are an escaped prisoner, for you are Lean-
der Brakespear, and this Red Princess here is
Alberta Darlington. You cheated justice once
by the aid of a drug, but ou will not et a
second chance. I have unted you own
through all the devious windings of the lanes of
crime, and as I have told you who you are, per-
haps it is only fair that you should know who I
am. It was I that brought ou to the bar of
Justice before: Hilda Serene, t e actrem detec-
tive, as you Were once pleased to term me.”

It was indeed the famous lice spy, the wo-
man who was about as ‘muchoman as she was
woman, for when she was in masculine garb no
one would ever dream that she was not what
she appeared.

Our tale is told.

The ruffians who had one to murder the
Californian had been nicgy trapped, and then
the false report of the murder had enabled an-
other trap to secure the leaders.

Not one of the rascals escaped conviction,
and one and all were sent to the State Prison.

It was anarrow escape for the heiress, and
she declares she will never more put faith in
man. The discovery that the dashing Cali-
fornian was a woman was fully as reat a blow
to her as the revelation that the ban was a
rascal.

And now, reader, farewell—no! not farewell,
adieu, as the French any, which means we shall
soon meet again, for I ave as strange a tale to
tell as ever yet haVe I told. It is of the adven-
tures of the daring Hilda Serene amid the wild
scenes of W oniing Territory, the land of the
rustlin cow ys not one of whom can boast a
more auntiess heart than that which beats
within the breast of the Actrem Detective

Tan IND.

‘ Beadle's Half-Dime libiiiiy.

IY PHILIP l. WARNE.

 

 

 

 

6 Patent-Mather Joe; or, Old Rnttloonoho iii Chm.
17: capo-In Anson-i or, aunbbathor Joo'o'Bl .GIIIIOo
'10. Gunman-II“ or Patent-Leather Joo’o Defoe
.19 Do?- the nollot; cr,1'ho Mounuin Veinle
“6 ll 01h Boy| or, Tho Dwuri’o Revenge.

I“ Little ornadot or, Tho Ontcnotooltho also.
.73 lulttle Jlngot or. the Queer Paid.
388 lslttlo (ill-my" or. Caught in His Own Trap.
401 Little tlhop- ly or, A Raeo for n Ranch.
408 Little ]..odther- roaches; or. Old Jumbo'ocauo.
l lJttle Ah Sin; or, The CursoofBlood.
I gohlornd'o IIlinte. A Tolo of tho dines.
~ o
511 J in Gladdew'o Do at .
:2; ’Jhed oIAy ran-do giggi‘alooene.
on y n y or an Down.
as: {giggly mafia-riqu aILlfo.
oaoe- . o anwihui Dogs.
‘98 K 016.. thaTloiich Imp. .
9 Dandy tho Nil-Nome Sport.

III
618 Billy Blues; onThc Skeleton’s 14m.

BY WM. 0. PATTEN.
9 The Diamond Sport or, The Doublo l'oeo oflod loch
Cn tnln Kyoto 301. vein Ono.
I Dn nfi Dnl'e the port from Donor.
5 1’ Old omhohcll. the Ranger Detective.
004 Iron Fern the Man of Fire.
619 The Boy ramp Detective; or, Tho Donhio Grip Witness.

BY CAPT. HARK WILTON.
on Icon; Kontnskt or. The Red blo-
l o linsnrdBeni .Th kit “(on Cam .
Jo POOL. the Boy that; ° '

   

4.5.,

 

BY ALBERT “'. AIKEN.

H The Two Detectlven; or, The Fortunes 01 n Bowery Girl.
76 Abe Colt. the Crow-Killer.
79 Sol Gin r, the Giant Tra per.
288 Joe Bue ‘ of Angels on Illi- Boy Pnrd.
44? New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Trnpo in Gotham.
458 New En lnnd Nick: or, The Fortunes ofa Foundling.
464 Nllnble . ‘lck, the Circus Prince.
98 'l‘uon Ted, tne Arizona Sport.
510 Cool Colorado, the Hair-Breed Detective.
518 Cool Colorado in New York.

BY CAPTAIN FRED. “'BITTAKEB.

15 The Sen-Cat; or, The Witch of Dorian.
29 The Dumb [’3 e' or, The Doge’s Daughter.
4; Dick Darling, . .i’
150 Lance 5nd Lat-no; or, The (‘hildren of the Chaeo.
154 The fiw-ird Hunters; or, The Land oftho Ele hoot Riders.
159 The Lost Cnptlln; or, Skipper anel Coflln’s loo to tho
0 n Polar Sea.
.00 The Boy Bedoulna; or, The Broil era of the Plumod Lance.
814 Wo l, the Robber of the Rhine.
049 hills:l Homer, the Animal King; or, The Round tho Worch
In On!-
.65 The Tiger Taller; or, Tho League of tho Junglo.
“1 Black left. the Demon Rider.
895 California Joe’s War Troll.

BY BCCKSKIN SA! (Mnlor Snm. 3. null.)

284 gidkkocky'o "Boyce" or, Bonita, the Young Hono-
YQI er.

m Glnnt George; or, The Anz’l of the Range.

275 Arlnonn Jock : or, Giant Goorgo's Ford.

.97 The Tarantula of' Tami or, GlaIItGoorgo'o Revenge.

80‘! The Strange Para Lon lule Ben’s Donth Hunt.

818 Ker-whoo Ker-w 00: or, The ’I‘urontuln nf'f‘ooo.

82? Cree In: at. the Cnddo; or,Tho Rod andWhito Pads

“32 Frlo red or, The Tonlinwny’o Trust.

844 The Fight n; Trio: or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway.

.49 “'Ild “ 01f; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front.

35? The Ranch llnldero on The 5‘01! 0f 70" Pill”?!-

804 Snap-Shot, the Boy anger. -

375 Chlotn, the Creek at The Three Thunderbolts.

881 llnndern Bill: or. rio Prank to the Front.

89 Romeo and the Reds: or, The Belongnerod Ranch.

404 Little Lnrlntt or Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage.

414 The Dnloy frol- enver.

“1' The Three T-rnllent or, Old Bothy on tho lamps”.

m Blufl' Bill; or The Lynx oi' the hens.

455 Little Lone éiuri or, The inn. ofthoClholo.

BY IAJOR E. L. ST. VRAIN.

I9. Sancho Pedro tho Boy Bandit.

801 Lendvllle Niel: the a... Sport.

on lledtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince.

8158 Brimstone Bob, and His Lightning Hone anrtott;
85. Tombstone T... the Ariwns Boy oi “ Sand."

.59 I’Ill’lnt’o Ilnvo, the Young Chanunn-n Wrestler.
.71 Kln bolt Chrln, the Yiung Hard-Shell Dotoctlvo.
830 Avn nnche Alf, the Foothills Guide.

.90 Jul" Joe. of the Mountain Mall-Lino.

BY EDWARD “'ILLETT.

107 A“ Scott, tho Steamboat Boy.

199. Featherweight the Boy Champion of the Muskin¢nn_
"8 0nnr K Alf nr, Featherweight Among the Outlaws.

IRS The ’1wa elective; or, Wowl, the Boy TrnmP.
.95 Furl“ PM” or, Tho Klng of Quarisvllle.

811 The llovln Sport: or, The Pride of (‘huckolucli Camp;
8.3 Noun. the elective; or, Kit Ken‘yon‘l Vendetta.
“0 Cl]. the r ‘ ““ ‘ ‘t or, Tho ‘ ‘ V’_“ ‘

 

 

BY HMO]! HENRY B. STODDARD. fix-Scout.

306 Neck-Tie N“; or, Tho Du -Out Fords.

8“ En ler Rn had; or, Tho word-linen of human.

‘91 Kl -Glove It, tho Dandy of the Rockies.

398 Kid-Glove Kit and Pull; or, Tho Gold King.

406 The lad Mon-Hunter; or, ,The Myotory of Golden

Gulch.
505 Powell’s Pard: or,  Ono-Armed Giant.

BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLDR U. S. A.
191 Bnlnlo Billy, tho Boy Bullwhnekor; or, The Doomed
irtoon. .
I“ Bulalo Blu’o Bot! or, The Gambia Guide.

BY COIADN ISL DELLE SARA.

108 The Lion ofthe Sen; or, The Valled Lady.
186 Cool Desmond; or, The Gambler's Big Game.

IISCELLAN EOUS AUTHCRS.

4 The Wild-"one "Intern. By Capt. Moyno Bold and
Frederick Whittaker.
9 Adventures of Baron Honcho-sen.
‘IC Gnlllver'o Travels. B ' Dean sum.
14: Aladdin; or. The Wonder 1 Lamp.
10 Robinson Crnooe. (91 lllmiminm.)
18 Blndbnd the Bnllor. H seven Voyages.
2. Thei Sen Serpent; or, o Boy Robinson Cruooo. By Juan

Low I.
II The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Plrntoo of tho
arrith g S. W. Pioreo.
86 {he Boy lowni or, The Quoon of the Areas. By Frank

. nn.
8! Ned “'ylde. the Boy Scout. 8 Texns Inch.
51‘ The Boy lure... or, The Un "ground cunp. By gnu.

C. real.
95 The Rival Rovers; 07, Tho Froehouien oftho Mississippi.
y [JonL’CoL Honoltlne.
’8 Kohl- “.“o the Doll-wed Earl: or,1’hp Merry Mon effluen-
wood. B Prof. Gildovolaovo.
105 Old In tho Hunter; or, Tho Crow Captive. By Captain
"familial: Ho moo.
Ill The Ind llnntert or. The Cave ofDuth. By hemlono.
I“ 19,3201. the Texan; or, The Young Champion. .Iy Goa-go
n

138 The Yon-l: Privateer; or, The Pluto's Stronghold. By
my Caro loh. ,
148 flhnrp sum: or, The Advon tures of o Friendlom Boy. By J.
loxandor Patton. ,
II? Dnohy Dnrrgll. . or. The Green Ranger oftho Yol-
lowotoao. By word .
.01 F I Fe VII-flit tho New Y vrk Boy. I .0. l. Alh‘.
MC Kll 'nr. t e (in e; ur,Dovy Crockett] ad Tran.
By In C. D. Warren.
ooo Into: (I‘d-w tho Ooo-lyod Trapper; or, Tho In“ of tho Gill.
1 or u
.11 Peacock Pete. the Livon Lad from Loodvillo. Dy Lion-
Ionont Aliroil Homo.

 

one {he Shy motee'flvet or. A Boy'- Fight for Uh ondllonu. -

Ialor I oy no.

Dolph. the River Rove" or,Tho Miller'- a.
' "on. By Nod Ban tllao.
.68 Baltimore Ben the Boothlnck Detective. By A. P. Noah.

.14 Gold-Dans Tomi or. Ben's MM. Mulch. 3y 0.... n, '
(I...

816 gllhrnln Joe's Flrot Troll. By Colonel Thom.

or Monday.
to girl, nous-sen. a. ClilClim‘or. By I. s WM
‘ ho B S“ By John 8 Warner.
Can a Dior
Hoary J. no.

not What-l u Dand ‘ Ann-r F.3d.
s Thom»! mi... #3:... il'mn PM
I aye! the A lots. By David Droid.
Ill Wntero, tho Boy tenet. 51 H. Eaton.

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Beadle’s Dime Library.

 

 

140 The Three Spaniards. By Geo. Wslker.

141 Equine Tom. the Bully of Bed Rock; or, Dan
Brown”: Masterstroke. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

143 Captain Crimson. the Man of the Iron Face; or
The Nemesis of the Plains. By Mad. Dangerfield

143 The Czar's Spy; or. The Nihilist League. By
Col. T. H. Monstery.

I 144 The Hunchback :01 NotrefiDame. By Victor
0.

Hus

145 Pistol Pards; or. Soft Hand. the Silent Sport
from Cinnabar. By Wm. R. Eyster.

146 The Doctor Detective; or, The Mystery of the
Golden Como. By George Lemuel.

147 Gold Spur. the Gentleman from Texas; or, The
Child of the,‘.'Regiment. By Colonel Prentiss
Ingraham.

148 One-Armed Alf, the Giant Hunteroi tint. Grea
Lakes By 011 Coomes. .

149 The Border Rifles. By Gustave Aimard.

150 nil ttublo Bravo. King of the Swordsman; or.
The Terrible Brothers of Tabasco. By Col.
Thomas Hoyer Monstery.

151 The Freebooters. By Gustave Almard.

1152 Captain Ironnerve. the Counterfeiter Chief' or.
'Iijlio Gypsy Queen 3 Legacy. By Marmaduke
.oy.

15‘} The White Scalper. By Gustave Aimard.
154 Joaquin, the Saddle King. By Jos. E. Badger.

155 The Corsair Queen; or. The Gypsies of the Sea.
By 001. Prentiss Ingraham.

156 Velvet Face the Border Bravo; or Muriel, the
Danite‘s Bride. By Maj. Dangerfield Burr.

157 Mourad, the Mameluke; or. The Three Sword-
masters. By Col. Thomas H. Monstery.

158 The Doomed Dozen; or, Dolores, the Danite’s
Daughter. By Dr. Frank Powell.

159 Red Rudiger. the Archer" or, The Lady Bertha’s
Treachery. By Capt. F. Whittaker.

"1) Soft Hand Sharp; or, The Man With the Sand.
By Wm. B. Eyster.

Q. The Wolves of New York; or, Joe Phenix‘
Great Man Hunt. By A. W. Aiken.

162 The Mad Mariner; or, Dishonored and Disowned.
By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

163 Ben Brion, the Trapper Ca tain; or, Redpath,
the Avenger. By Dr. J. H. binson.

134 The King‘s Fool; or The Kinghts of the Clasped
Hands and Red Brahch. By C. D. Clark.

185 Joaquin, the Terrible. By J. E. Badger, Jr.

166 Owlet, the Robber Prince; or The Unknown
Highwayman. By Septimus R. 'Urban.

167 The Man of Steel; or, ThfiiMasked Knight of the
White Plume. By A. P. orris.

168 Wild Bill, the Pistol Dead Shot' or, Dagger Don‘s
Double. By Colonel Prentiss lugraham.

109 Corporal Cannon. the Man of Forty Duels. By
Colonel Thomas Hoyer Monstery.

170 Sweet William, the Trapper Detective; or The
Chief of the Crimson Clan. By Joseph r.
Badger, Jr.

171 Tiger Dick. the Man of the Iron Heart; or, The
Dumb Bandit. By Philip S. Warne.

172 The Black Pirate; or. The Mystery of the Golden
Fetters. By Colonel P. Ingraham. \

in California John, the Pacific Thoroughbred. By
Albert W. Aiken. ~

174 The Phantom Knights. By Capt. F. Whittaker.

‘ In Wild Eli’s Trump Card; or. The ladies Heiress.
~ By MsJor Dangerfield Eur.

NLad J r, the Robber een. Ca tain
Mar Wfiton. .Qu  p

177 Don Diablo, theé’lsntor‘Cor-sair; or, The Rivals
of the Sea. By 0]. Prentiss Ingraham.

178 Dark Dashwood. the Desperate° or. The Child of
the Sun. By Major Sam 8. Hall.

179 Conrad, the Convict; or, Was He Guilty! By
Prof. Stewart Gildersleeve, LL.D..

no Old '49; or, The Amazon of Arizona. By Jos. E.
Badger, Jr.

181 The Scarlet Schooner; or, The Nemesis of the
Sea. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

[82 Hands U - or, The Kni ts of the Can on. B
Wm. B.  sh y y

18 Gilbert the Guide; or, Lost in the Wilderness.

By C. Dunning Clark.

184 The Ocean Vam ire; or, The Heiress of Castle
Curse. By Col. entiss Ingrahsm. ‘

185 The Man Spider; or, The Beautiful Sphinx. By
Anthony P. Morris]

188 The Black Bravo; or, The Tonksway‘s Triumph.
By Buckskin Sam.

18? The Death's Head Cuirasslers; or, Brhve of All
Braves. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.

as The Phantom Mass ;or. The H ens of the
Chaparrals. By Ms or Dangerfield rr.

IN Wild Bill’s Gold Trail- or. The Desperado Boson.
By Col. Prentiss Ingra'ham. ’

,TheThsesGusrdsmon. ByAlexsndreDumss.

 

191 The Terrible Tonkawa ; or, Old Rocky and His
Pards. By Buckskin m.

192 The LightningvSport' or. The Bad Man at Slaugh-
ter Bar. By . R. Eyster.

193 The Man in Red; or The Ghost of the Old Guard.
By Capt. F. Whitta er.

194 Don Sombrero. the California Road Gent' or.
Twhitla Three Men of Mount Tabor. By Capt. Mark
ton.

195 The Lone Star Gambler; or, The Maid of the
Magnolias. By Buckskin Sam.

196 Marmoset the Detective Queen; or. The Lost
eir of Mor . By Albert W. Aiken.

197 Revolver Rob. the Rod-Handed; or, The Belle of
Nugget Camp. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

198 The Skeleton Schooner or. The Skimmer of the
Sea By Col. Prentiss ngraham.

13'? Diamond Dick, the Dandy from Denver. By
Buckskin Sam.

200 The Rifle Rangers' or, Adventures in Southern
Mexico. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

201 The Pirate of the Placers; or. Joaquin's Death
Hunt. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

202 Cactus Jack. the Giant Guide: or, The Masked
Robbers of Black Bend. By Capt. Mark Wilton.

203 The Double Detective; or, The Midnight Mys-
tery. By Albert W. Aiken.

204 Bi ~Foot Wallace. the Kin of the Lariat; or,
W d Wolf, the Waco. By uckskin Sam.

205 The Gambler Pirate; or, Bessie, the Lady of the
Lagoon. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

206 One Eye. the Cannoneer; or, Marshal Ney‘s Last
Legacy. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.

207 Old Hard Head; or, Whirlwind and His Milk~
White Mare. By Philip S. Warne.

208 The White Chef. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

209 Buck Farley. the Bonanza Prince; or. The Ro~
mance of Death Gulch. By Edward Willett.

Buccaneer Bess. the Lioness of the Sea; or, The
‘- Red Sea Trail. By Col. P. ingraham.

211 Colonel Plun er: or, The Unknown Sport. By
Capt. Frede ck Whittaker.

212 The Brazos Tigers; or, The Minute-Men of
Fort Belknap. By Buckskin Sam.

213 The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse.
By Capt. Mayne Reid.

214 The Two Cool Sports; or, Gertie of the Gulch.
By Wm. B. Eyster.

215 Parson Jim King of the Cowboys; or, The
Gentle She erd’s Big “Clean-Out. ’ By Capt.
Frederick hittaker.

216 The Corsair Planter; or. Driven to Doom. By
Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

217 The Se nt of El Paso; or Frontier Frank. the
Scout 0 the Rio Grande. By Buckskin Sam.

218 The Wild Huntress; or, The Big Squatter‘s Ven-
geance. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

219 The See ion Brothers; or. Mad Tom‘s Mission.
By Capta n Mark Wilton.

220 The Specter Yacht; or. A Brother’s Crime. By
Col. P. lngraham. ,

221 D erate Duke. the Guadaloupe “ Galoot." By
Buc skin Sam.

an Bill. the Blizzard' or Red Jacket’s Double
Crime. By Edward Willett.

2‘23 Canyon Dave. the Man of the Mountain' or.
Twhtlagoughs of Silver Spur. By Captain Mark
1 n.

54 Black Beard the Buccaneer; or, The Curse of
the Coast. By Col. P. lngraham.

25 Rocky Mountain Al' or N t Nell, the Walt
of the Range. By Buckskiur‘irgeam.

2% The Mad Hussars; or. The 0's and the Mac’s.
By Capt. F. Whittaker.

227 Buckshot Ben. the Man-Hunter of Idaho' or,
glngSctuS Creek Tragedy. By Capt. Mark
no ,

as The Maroon. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

229 Captain Cutsleeve; or. Touch-Me-Not. the Little
Sport. By Wm. R. Eyster.

280 The Fly Dutchman of 183); or, Who was
Vanderdec en. By Capt. Whittaker.

231 The Kid Glove Miner; or. The Magic Doctor of
Golden Gulch. By Col. P. IngrahAm.

232 Orson Oxx, the Man of Iron; or, The River Mys-
tery. By lsaac Hawks.

288 The Old Boy of Tombstone- or. W e a
Life onaCard. By J. E. Badger, Jr. u m '

234 The Hunters’ Feast. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

285 Red nghtnin , the Man of ‘Chance; or Flush
Ti es in Go den Gulch. By Colonel Prentiss
Ingraham.

2811 Champion Sam; or, The Monarchs of the Show.
By  . T. H. Monstery.

287 Long-Haired Max' or The Black League of th
Coast. By Capt.  Wilton. o

288 Hank Hound the Crescent City Detective; or.
The Owls of New Orleans. By A. P. Morrb.

MTheTerrlbleTrio; or TheAngeloith Ann.
' ByBuckskinSam. ’ ° "

240 A 0001 Head; or, Orson On in Peril. By Issss
Hawks.

241 Spitfire Saul. Ki
Dixie‘s Grand “
Badger, Jr.

242 The Fog Devil' or. The Skipper of the Flash.
By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.

243 The Pilgrim Sharp; or, The Soldier's Sweetheart.
By Bu alo Bill.

244 Merciless Mart the Man-Tiger of Missouri; or;
The Waif of the Flood. By “Buckskin stun:
Maj. Sam S. Hall.

245 Barranca Bill. the Revolver Champion; or, The
Witch of the Weeping Willows. By Captain
Mark Wilton.

246 gueen Helen. the Amazon of the Overland; or,
he Ghouls of the Gold Mines. By Col. Prentiss
lngraham.

247 Alligator lke; or The Secret of the Everglade.
By Capt. Fred w‘hittaker.

248 Montana Nat the Lion of Last Chance Camp.
B" Edward Willett.

249 Elephant Tom. of Durango; Or, {our Gold Dust
or Your Life. By J os. E. Badger, Jr.

250 The Rough Riders; or. Sharp-Eye, the Seminole
Scourge. By Buckskin Sam.

251 Tiger Dick vs. Iron De rd; or, Every Man Has
His Match. By P. S. arne.

262 The Wall Street Blood; or. Tick, Tick. the Tele-
graph Girl. By Albert W. Aiken.

253 A Yankee Cossack; or, The Queen of the Nihil-
ists. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker.

254 Giant Jake. the Patrol of the Mountain. By
Newton M. Curtis.

265 The Pirate Priest; or. The Planter Gambler‘s
Daughter. By Col. P. Ingraham.

256 Double Dan. the Bastard; or. The Pirates of the
Pecos.- By Buckskin Sam. .

$7 Death-Trap Diggings; or. A Hard Man from
'Way Back. By Joseph E. Badger. Jr.

258 Bullet Head, the Colorado Brav0° or The Pris-
(wars of the Death Vault. By Captain Mark
iton. -

259 Cutlass and Cross; or. The Ghouls of the Sea
By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

260 The Masked Mystery; or, The Black Crescent.
By A. P. Morris.

261 Black Sam. the Prairie Thunderbolt; or, The
Bandit-Hunters. By Col. Jo Yards.

262 Fighting Tom the Terror of the Toughs. By
Col. Thomas Hoyer Monstery.

of the Bustiers: or, ueen
ound-Up.” By Josep E.

263 Iron-Armed Abe, the Hunchback Destro er: or.

The Black Riders' Terror. Capt. Mark ilton.

264 The Crooked Three' or The BlaCk Hearts of
the Guadalupe. By Buckskin Sam.

265 Old Double-Sword; or. Pilots and Pirates. By
Captain Frederick Whittaker.

see Leopard Luke. the King of Horse-Thieves; or,
ahitlatoSwamp Squatter's Doom. By Capt. Mark
n.

267 The White Squaw. By Cap. Mayne Reid.

268 M cMike, the Man of Frills; or, Bad Ben‘s
Brigade. By William R. Eyster.

$9 The Bayou Bravo; or, The Terrible Trail. By
Buckskin Sam.

270 Andros, the Free Rover; or, The Pirate‘s
Daughter. By Ned Buntllne.

271 Stonetlst, of Big N get Bend; or Old Ket-
chum’s Tug of War. y Capt. Mark Wilton. ‘

272 Seth Slocum. Railroad Surveyor- or The Secret
of Sitting Bull. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.

273 Mountain Mose. the Gorge Outlaw; or. Light
chiirseSanon’s Five Fights for Life. By Buck-
s n in. '

274 Flush Fred the Mississi l 8 it or Tough
Times in Tehnessee. By pws.rpd’Vi”illett.

275 The Smuggler Cutter; or, The Cavern in the,

0111!. By J. D. Conroy.

.276 Texas Chick the Southwest Detective; or.
Tiger Lily, The Vulture Queen. By Captain
Mark Wilton.

277 The Saucy Jane Privateer: or, The Hunting of
Old lrousides. By Capt. Fred Whittaker.

278 Hercules Golds ur. the Man of the Velvet Hand:
or, The Poker een‘s Drop Game. By Captain
Howard Holmes.

m The Gold Dragon; or. The California Blood-
hound. By William H. Manning.

8) Black-Hoes Ben; or. Tiger Dick's Lone Hand.
By Philip S. Warns.

281 The Sea Owl; or. The Lady Captain of the Gulf.
By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

282 The Merciless Marauders: or. Chaparral Carlin
IteVenge. By Buckskin Sam.

283 Sleek Sam. the Devil of the Mines' or, The Sons
of the Fiery'Cross. By Jos. E. Badger. Jr.

284 The Three Frigates; or, Old Ironsldes‘ Revenge.
By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.

285 Lightning Bolt. the Can on Terror; or. The
Mountain Cat’s Grudge. y Capt. MarkWilton.

 

fl Pistol Johnny; or. One Man in a Thousand. By
Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

\

 

 

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  Library.

 

a Band Dave. and His Horse White Stocking-
or. Dgcats or Death. By Buckskin Sam. .

E Electro Pete. the Man of Fire; or. The Wharf
Eats 01 Locust Point. By A. P. Morris.

289 Flush Fred’s Iiull Band: or. Life and Strife in
Louisiana. By Edward Willett.

290 The Lost Corvette: or, Blakeley's Last Cruise.
By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.

5291 Horseshoe Hank, the Man of Big Luck; or. The
Gold Brick of Idaho. By Capt. Mark Wilton.

892 Moke Homer the Boss Roustabout; or. The
Fresh-Water Sharks of the Overflow. By J. E.
Badger, Jr.

93 Stampede Steve; or, The Doom of the Double
Face. By Buckskin Sam.

M Broadcloth Burt the Denver Dandy: or. The
Thirty Pards 0t eadwood. By Capt. H. Holmes.

lb Old Cross-Eye. the Maverick-Hunter; or. The
1%} Bkiders D! Satanta County. By 039‘- F.
er.

a Duncan. the Sea-Diver; or, The Coast Vultures.
By George St. George.

at Colorado Rube. the Strong Arm of Hotspur
City' or, The Giant Brothers of Buzzard Boost.
By  H. Manning.

a Dog or Lem' or. Life and Peril in the Pine
Woogds. By Edward Willett.

U Three of a Kind. Tug]- Dick, iron Despard, and
the Sportive Sport. y P. S. Warne.

I!) ASport in Spectacles: or. The Bad Time at
Bunco. By \ illiam B. Eyster.

Ill Bowlder Bill; or. The Man from Taos. By
Buckskin Sam.

II Faro Saul, the Handsome Hercules' or, The
Grip of Steel. By Joseph E. Badger. r.

we Top-Notch Tom. the Cowboy Outlaw: or The
Satanstown Election. By Capt. Whittaker.

Ill Texas Jack, the Prairie Rattler- or, The Queen
of the Wild Riders. By Buflalo ill.

I! Silver-Plated Sol the Montana Rover; or, Giant
Dvlfile’s Fight w th Himself. By Capt. Mark
ton.

Ill The Ronghs of Richmond- or The Mystery of
the Golden Beetle. By A. 15. Morris. .

am The Phantom Pirate; or The Water Wolvesol
the Bahamas. By Col. H. Ingraham.

ans Hemlock Hank. Tough and True' or, The
Shadow of Mount Kathadin. By E. Willett.

m Ra hold. the Rattllug Ranger; or. Old Bocky‘
Toggh Campaign. By Buckskin Sam.

810 The Marshal of Satanstown; or. The League of
the Cattle-Llfters. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.

311 Heavy Hand, the Relentless' or, The Marked
Men of Paradlse Gulch. By Capt. M. Wilton.

818 Kinktoot Karl. the Mountain Scourge; or. Wip-
ing out the Score. By Morris Redwmg.

818 Mark Magic. Detective. By A. P. Morris.

814 Lafitte; or, The Pirate of the Gulf. By Plot. J.
H. Ingraham.

lib Flush Fred's Double' or. Th tte ' league
at Six. ByEdwand ivulette sq“ "

no Laflttes Lieutenant' or Theod Child
the Sea. By Prof. J.'H. ‘lngrahggf the at

817 Frank htfoo the Miller Detect . .
Bagel-yin k I" B” t

818 The Indian Buccaneer or Red Rm rs mu.
Waters. By Col. Prentiss m.e on

319 Wild Bill. the Whierind of the West. Bug.
lalo Bill. Br
DThe Genteel Spotte entire Right Ha
New York. By A.  w“ d

Ill California Claude. the Lone Bandit. aspen
Howard Holmes. By

The Crimson COyOtes: or Ni the item
By Buckskin Sam. . m.

. Hot ur Hu h' or The Banded Brother-dug.
Gunstqs Arm? By Captain Mark Wilton

It Old Forked Li htnin .the Solitary° or Eva,
InchaMan. B? Jos. Badger. Jr. ' '

as The Gentleman Pirate' or. The Hermit o! Csseo
Bay. By 001. P. Ingra m.

3% The Whitest Man in the Mines.
Whittaker.

837 Terrapin Dick. the Wild Woods Detective; or.
Trailing a Traltor. By Edward Willett.

as Kin Kent: or. The Bandits oi the Bason. By
Buc kin Sam.

82!) T 0 League of Three’ or. Bum Pledge.
Col. Prentiss Ingra am. 0 Bu“

00 Col Th karat De
Kohl» 0Q“ 3 tective. Bymlas.

Bi Chis Char! the Gold it The
Roof; Mounetaylinlissks. By name: r.
. ring-Heel Jack' or The Masked lysto
:89 Tower. By Col Mounts-y. ’7 0‘

*M'ememwm-m

By Captain F.

 

ass Flash Dan. the Nabob° or. The Blades of Bowie
Bar. By Captain H. Holmes.

836 The Magic Ship: or, The Freeboote'rs of Sandy
Hook. By Col. P. lngraham.

857 Old Gabe, the Mountain Tramp~ or. The Tragedy
of the Deserted Camp. By Ed.’ Willett.

338 Jack Sand, the Boss of the Town: or, The Fool
01' Fiddler's Folly. By Philip S. Warne.

an Spread Eagle Sam, the Hercules HideHunta.
By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

840 Cool Conrad, the Dakota Detective: cv. L‘TOII.
Lair to Lair. By Captain H. Holmes.

841 The Sea Desperado. By Colonel P. Ingraham.

m Blanco Bill, the Mustang Monarch. By Buck-
skin Sam.

843 The Head Hunter; or, Mark Magic in the Mines.
By A. P. MOrris.

844 Double Shot Dave of the Left Hand; or. A Gold
Wave at Black Dam. By Wm. R. Eyster.

845 £38de Mark. the Mounted Detective. By Joe.
er, r.

846 Ocean Guerrillas- Or, The Planter Midshipman.
By 001. Prentiss raham.

347 Denver Duke the Man With Sand; or. Centio
[in Sam’s ne Hand. By Captain Howard
0 es.

848 Dan Dillon, Xingu? Crosscut- or. A Woman's
Wild Work. By ward Willeit.

849 Lion-Hearted Dick. the Gentleman Road-Agent.
By Albert W. Aiken.

850 Flash Falcon the Society tective. ByWeldon
J. Cobb. ' pe

851 Nor'west Nick. the Border Detective- or, Dan
Brown's Fight for Life. By J 03. E. Badger. Jr.

852 The Desperate Dozen; or. The Fair Fiend of the
C(Bur d'Alene. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

853 Barb Brennan. the Train Wrecker" or, The King
of Straight Flush. By John Cuth rt.

854 Red Richard° or, The Brand of the Crimson
Cross. By Al'bert w. Aiken.

855 The Mad Athlete: or. The Worst Pill in the 802.
By Joe. E. Badger, Jr.

as Three Handsome s rts; or. The Double Com-
bination. By Wm. Eyster.

as Jack Simons. Detective; or, The Wolves (1
Washington. By A. P. Morris.

358 The Prince of Pan Out: or, The Beautiful Ha-
vajo’s Mission. By Buckskin Sam.

an Yellow Jack. the Mestizo: or, Tiger Dick h ths
Rescue. By Philip S. Warne.

sao Jumping Jerry the Gamecock from Sundown:
or, A Craw Full of Sand. By J. n Badger. Jr.

m Tombstone Dick. the Train Pilot; or. The Tri-
tor’s Trail. By Ned Buntline.

an Buffalo Bill‘s Grip: or, Oath-Bound to castes.
By Col. Prentiss lngrnham. \ .

hield. the Detective: or, Pitt“ 8
y Albert W. Aiken.

an The Sea Fugitive: or. The Queen at tho“
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

ass Keen Kenn the Shasta Shadow or The
Branded Fagin By Capt. HOward Holmes:

“The Telegra h Detective: or The Dynamite
league. By‘GeOrge Henry Moi-so.

” A Royal Flush ;. or. Dan Brown's Big Game 0!
Freeze-Out. By Jon. E. Badger, Jr.

an Theoan onKing: or,APriceonHisHesd. By
Edward illett.

II The Coast Corsair: or. Madca Madge. the Siren
of the Sea. By Col. Prentiss graham.

mrbe Du comma. or Plsrsued to the End.
By ma. ' '

m Crownin
Death.

A. W. e
an Gold Buttons or The Ran Pards. B
Buckskin Sam‘. ' Up 8° y

as Captain Crisp, the Man with a Record.
Joe. E. Badger, Jr. By

an The Sailor of Fortune: or. The Buccaneersol
Baruegat Bay. By 001. Prentiss Ingraham.

as Major Blister. theSport of Two Cities or The
Broad way Batter in the Black Hills. y Capt.
Howard Ho es.

\
at Royal George. the Three in One: or. The (bid
Deck on Blazers. By Wm. B. Eyster.

m The Black Beards: or. The High Horse on the
Rio Grande. By Albert W. Aiken.

m Afloat and Ashore: or. The Corsair Conspirator.
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

as John Armstrong. Mechanic: or, From the Bottom
to the Top of the Ladder. By Capt. l'. Whit-

 

:3 .

N9 Howling Jonathan; or. The Terror from Hesi-
waters. By Joe. E. Badger. Jr.

3&1 The Golden Serpent; or, Tiger Dick's Pledge
By P. S. Warne.

$1 The Gypsy Gentleman; or. Nick Fox. the Danes
Detective. By Albert W. Aiken.

w The Bonanza Band; or, Dread Don, of the (be!
Clan. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

88 Silver Sam, the Detective; or The Burner! of
IB'utst.'e‘LCity. By Major Daniel Beene Dumont

-34 Injun Dick. Detective; or. Tracked from the
Rockies to New York. By Albert W. Aiken

 Wild Dick Turpini the Lion o? marivxlh' or
u The Lone Hand. y Wm L-i Manning. ' .

83 Hawk Heron, the Falcon Detective' or. The
gothzm Flats Mystery. By Jacksoanoz. (Oil
aw .,~

887 um: him. the Ishmael of the Hills: «.1130
Gold Phantom. By Joe. E. Badger. Jr.

83 The Giant Buccaneer" or. The Wrecker Witd
oi Death Island. By Colonel P. Ingraham.

$39 Colonel Doubieed . the Cattle Baron’s Part!
or. The Marshal o Sandstone. By Major DandJ
Boone Dumont.‘U. S. A.

I!) The Giant CUpid° or. Clbuta John‘s m
Jubilee. By J. C. Cowdrlck.

89! Kate Scott. the Deco Detective; or. Joe “3’
nix‘s Still Hunt. By W. Aiken.

89! The Lost Bonanza: or. The Boot 1 Silent
Hound. By Captain Howard Holmes.

893 The Convict Captain; or. Til mines of the
Buccaneers. By 00101181 Prel: .ngraham.

894 White Beaver. the Exile of the Platte- or, a
Wronged Man's Red Trail. By Buffalo Bill.

895 Deadly Aim. the Duke of Del-ringers; or. a Fight
for Five Millions. By Joe. E. Badger, Jr.

390 The Piper Detective' or The Gilt Edge Gang.
By Wm. H Eyster. , '

M The Wizard Brothers; or. White Beaver‘sBed
Trail. By Buflalo Bill.

use Sleepless Eye, the Pacific Detective; or, Run-
ning Down a Double. By Geo. C. J enks.

an The New Monte Cristo; or. The Wandering Jew
of the Sea. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

no Captain Coldgrip, the S rt Detective: or, The
New York Spotter in lorado. By Captain
Howard Holmes.

a The One-Arm Pard: or Red Retribution in 301*
derland. By Buii'alo Bill.

II Snapshot Sam. the Pistol Sharp; or, The W
at Angels‘ Flat. By Wm. B. Eyster.

a The Nameies Sport; or. The Kilkenny Cats 0!
Way Up. By Joe. E. Badger. Jr. '

a Silver aisle Sid; "or. A Daisy Bluil. By Philip s.
Warne.

as Old  the Brigadier of Buck Basin: or
fired wn by a Woman. By William K

as Old Po Hicks. Showman: or Lion W
Luck. 'By Capt. F. Whittaker. '

ll? Ca tain Cold ‘3 Nerve: or [nine Nick -
Degk. By  oward Holmes.

m Dec Gri . the Spam-ting Detective: or. theV.
detta of th. y Albert W. Aiken.

409 Rob Roy Ranch-
dle. By Joseph ‘B. Badger. Jr.

410 Sarah Brown. Detective° or The M steryof the
Pavilion. By K. F. Hill.’ ' y

411 The White Greek; or Old Hark‘s Fortren. 3.7
Major Daniel Boone Dumont.

(12 Larry Locke, the Man of Iron: or. A fight“
By Capt. Fred. Whittakd.

Fortune.
418 Captain Coldgrlp in New York or The Drum
League. By Capt. H. Holmes. . '

414 Red Renard, the indlan Detective: or. The W
Buzzards of Colored By Buflaio Bill.

415 Hot Heart. the Detective - or The Bed
Jagsa 's Mission. By Win. 183.}, Manning

41!) Monte Jim. the Black Sheep of Bismarck. By
Joe. E. Badger, Jr.

427 Tueson Tom. the Bowie Brave; or. the It!
Trailers. By GeorgeSLGeom

418 Sibyi. theses Siren: or. The Fugitive Print-I.

By 001. P. Inzmham.
419 The Bat of the Bette ° or. Joe Plasma,“
of Detectives. By Albg't W. Aiken.

MT!) GdeerSport or.Alanot Boom.
Mag. Daniel BooneDhmont. ~

Shadow
'1  mu "Bel-.-

;

or. The lmpe of the Pan Han- .

 

 

 

 

"l

BEADLE’SrDIMEruBRARY. ’

Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform. Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

~

(22 Blue Grass Burt, the Gold Star Detectiv ' r
ToDuty Bound. to Vengeance Sworn.
Comflck.
The ne Hand;
RiVer. By Albert

or The Recreants of the Red

423
W’. Aiken

424 Hawk Heron’s Deputy: or, Nixey‘s Nip. By

Jackson Knox. (Old Hawk.)

425 The Sea Sword; or, The Ocean Rivals. By Col.
P. Inkraham.

426 The Ghost Detective: or. The Sp of the Secret
Service. By Joseph E. Badger. r.

427 The Rivals of Montana Mills; 01'. Redgrave, the
Renegade. By Wm H. Mannin .

4:8 The Flying Ghm; or. The Islan Lure. By Leon

Lewis.

429 Hair T or Tom of Red Bend; or. All Wool
and a Yarr Wide. By William R. Eyster.

4.30 The Fatal Frigate: or. Rivals in Love and War.
By Colonel Prentiss Ingrahaln.

431 California Kit, the Alwa s on Hand; or, The
Mountain Rivals. By Phi lp . Warrio.

432 The Giant Horseman; or, Tracking the Red

.. - Cross Ga . By George C. Jenks.

j. 433 Laughing so; or Spread Eagle Sam’s Dandy

 Pard. liyJOSe h . Badger. Jr.

434 Lucifer ynx. t le Wondl-l Detective; or A Cool
Hand Among Hot Heads. By Ca t. H. Holmes.

435 The One Armed Buccaneer; or. he Havenless
Cruiser. By Col. Prentiss lllgraham.

'. ‘ 436 Kentucky ean, the Sport From Yellow Fine; or,

.1 gluiEyed Belle of Bended Bow. By J. C. Cow-

.‘.'u d

v- c .

5%" «B7 Deep Duke. the Silent Sharp; or. The Man of

 Two Lives. By Wm. H. Manning

4338 Oklahoma Nick; or. Boomer olt’s Surprise
Party. By Joseph E. Badger. Jr.

 439 Salamander Sam; or, The Swamp Island Rene—

ades. By Major D. B. Dumont.
440 he High Horse of the Pacific. By Albert W.

Aiken.
441 The California Sharp' or. The Trail of the Gold-
en Grandee. Ca . Howard Holmes.
2-, 442 Wild West Wal the Mountain Veteran; or. The
 Gunmakers of World‘s End. By W. H. Manning.
a} . 443 A Cool Hand; or, Pistol Johan ’s Picnic at Top
‘ Notch. By Joseph E. Bad er. r. ‘
444 The Magic Detective; or. T e Hidden Hand. By
Jackson Knox.
1 445 Journeyman John. the Cham ion; or. The Win-
‘ _‘.‘ nlng Hand. By Capt. Fred. hittaker.
i. 446 Ocean Ogre. the Outcast Corsair; or. The Good

2 Ship of Ill-Omen. By Col. P. Ingraham.

~3- ) a 447 Volcano, the 'Frisco Spy' or. The Secret of the

 Secret Seven. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

‘1 ;‘ 448 Hark Kenton. the Traitor; or, The Hunted Life.

 B Ma or D. Burr.

'  ' 449 i at! urke, King of the Rockies: or. The Black

. Stake Rivals. By Wm. H. Manning. i
5‘- 450 The Rustler Detective; or. The Bounding Buck

.j . . from Buffalo Wallow. By J. E. Badger. r. .
 451 Grlplock. the Rocket Detective; or, The Han-

a shaw Mystery. By Jackson Knox.

452 Rainbow Rob. the Tulip from Texas; or, The
Spot Saint’s Mission. By J. C. Cowdrick.

453 Captain Coldgrip's Long Trail; or. The Rivals of
Silverchck. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

454 The N ifht Raider: or. The Mysterious Marauder.

 

 

By Ms or D. B. Dumont.
455 Yank ellowbird. the Tail Hustler of the Hills;
or The Conspirators of Medicine Springs. By
m. H. nning.
;. \g 456 The Demon Steer; or, The Outlaws on the Abl-
; f lane Cattle Trail. By Leon .
457 The Sea Insurgent: or, The Conspirator‘s Son.
"-" By Col. Prentiss In rsham.
. 458 D itch Dan the Pl rim from Sp‘i‘tzenbe ; or.
The Rocky Racket at Rough Rob . By oseph
E. Bad er, Jr.
_, 459 Major nnshine. the Man of Three Lives; or. The
Waiting Waifs at Git Thar. By Wm. R. Eyster.
 r 460 Captain Coldgrip. the City Detective; or. The
. ’ goolest Woman in New York. By Capt. Howard
,, ‘ o mes. -
’ ’ 451 The Fresh outhe Rio Grande: or, TheRedRiders
of Ra on. B Albert W. Aiken.
‘ m The rcus etective; or. Grlplock in a New
1‘ . Role. By Jackson Knox.
, 468 Gold Gauntlet the Gulch Gladiator; or. Yank
k. , Y'oliowbird's Hot Campaign. By Wm. H. Man-
-‘ 11 ng.
454 San craw, the Man of Grlt' or. The River
Ego 's enge. By Major D. . Dumont.
‘ 455 T 9 Actor Detective. B Albert W. Aiken.
455 Old Rough and Read . t o Sage of Sundown; or,
" 4 Not for Life but for onor. By J. E. Badger. Jr.
-' ' 167 Mainwaring the Salamander; or. file Detectives’
. By Jackson Knox.
in Deadwood; or. The Great Detective’s
e rail. B Captain H. Holmes.
The IAeuteuant etective; or, The Fugitive Sail-
Col. P. I ham ,
uke of D ota; or, Yank Yellowbird's
. ‘ if ‘ Fiery Gantlet. By Wm. H. Msnnin .
m The Heart of Oak Detective; or, agzag‘s Full
Han . BY E. A. St. Mox.
472 Six-Foot Si; or. The Man to “,Tie To." By P. S.

Warns.
A 478 anert of Gotham. the Steel Arm Detective: or.
“ Fighting the Powers of Air. By J. . Cowdrlc ,
474 Daddg Dead-Eye. the Despot of Dew-Drop' or.
The amsel from Desoret. By Jos. E. l; at.
475 Chin Chm. the Chinesr- Detective or. The Dari:
Work of the Black Han By A. W. Aiken.
‘ 476 Bob Brent. Buccaneer: or. The Red Sea-Raider.
By Col. P. lngraham.
477 Dead-Arm Brandt; or The Lon Ve canoe.
‘ By Jackson Knox. ‘ 8 M
f” , ((8 Pinnacle Pate: or. The Fool From 'Way Back.
‘ By W. R. Eyster.
,1 479 Gladiator Gabe, the Samson of Susan Jack-
» Y Yellowbird’s Castle Crusade. By Wm.

' - hing.
= e I In mwkslsiealz, the. Man with a Secret;
1‘ ._ York cksSplrltTrail. mCsptnln
l j W

 

 

 

.

or

H3

or New
Howard

 

ByeJ.oC: i

481 The Silent Detectives; or, The Bogus Nephew.
By Leon Lewis.

i 482 Ocean Tramps; or. The Desperadoes of the Deep.

I By Col. P. Ingraham.

‘483 Flush Fred. the River Sharp; or, Hearts for
Stakes. By Ed. Willett.

484 ngtain Ready, the Red Ransomer; or Nick
P die‘s Wild West Inheritance. By Leon ewis.

t 485 Rowlock. the Harbor Detrctive: or The Terrible

‘ Twins. By Jackson Knox.

[486 Kansas Kitten. the Northwest Detective; or,

I Yank Ycllowbird‘s Search-Brigade. By Wm. H.

I Manning.

‘ 487 Sunshine Sam, Chi of the Old Block; or, The
Silent Trail of the S lent Six. By Capt. Howard
Holmes.

' 488 The Thoroughbred S rt; or, The Big Bracer's

Bequest. By Jos. E. iadger, Jr.

The Pirate Hunter; or. The Ocean Rivals. By

Col. P. lngraham. '

I 490 The Lone Hand in Texas; or. The Red-Gloved

Raiders of the Rio Grande. Bv A. W. Aiken.

‘ 491 Zigzag and Cutt. the Invincible Detectives; or,

i A rccious Set of Scoundrels. By E. A. St. Mox.

492 Border Bulls-t. the Prairie Sharpshooter: or.

Yank Yellowbird's Black Hills Colony. By Wm.
H. Manning.

[ 498 The Scouts of the Sea; or. The Avenging Buc
cancer. By Col. P. Ingraham.

494 The Dctective’s Spy; or. The Invisible Rock.

| By Jackson Knox.

l 495 Raitlvpate Rob; or The Roundhead's Reprisal.
By J0s. E. Badger. r.

}496 Richard Redtire. the Two Worlds Detective;

I or. To the Bitter End. By Capt. H. Holmes.

I 497 The Fresh in Texas; or. The Escobedo Millions.
By A. W. Aiken.

498 Central Pacific Paul, The 1Mall~Train Spy: or,
Yank Yellowbird’s Iron TraiL By William ii.
Manning.

499 Twilight C'arlie. the Road Sport; or, Sulphur
Sam‘s Double. By J. C. Cowdrick.

i 500 The True Heart Pards; or. The Gentleman

‘ Vagabond. By Dr. N. Dunbar.

501 Springsteel Steve. the Retired Detective; or,
The Relentless Shadower. By Jackson Knox.

502 Bareback Buck. the Centaur of the Plains; or,
The Trail of Six. By P. S. Warne.

‘ 503 The Dude from Denver; or, The Game at Ground
Hog. By Wm. R. Eyster.

I 504 Solemn Saul the Sad Man from an Saba; or,

The Big Shell-Out. By Jos. E. Ba ger. Jr.

505 Phil Fox. the Genteel Spotter' or the Private
Secretary’s Oath. By Captain H. Holmes.

506 Uncle Honest. the Peacemaker of Hornet’s
Nest; or. Yank Yellowhlrd versus the Leather
Jackets. By Wm. H. Manning.

50? The Drummer Detective; or, The Dead Straight
Trail. By Geo. C. Jenks.

5m Topnotch Tim. the Mad Parson: or. The Bad
Men of the Basin. By Major D. B. Dumont.

5% Old Falcon. the Thunderbolt Detective. or, The
Fatefui Legacy. By Jackson Knox.

510 El Moro. the Corsair Commodore: or. The Lion
of the Lagoon. By Col. P. Ingraham.

511 Paint Pete. the Praire Patrol° or, The Rival
Rancheros. By Major 8. S. Hall.

489

of o Man's Ground. By Capt. H. Holmes.

518 Texas Tartar, the Man with Nine Lives: or,
Yank Yellowbirli’s Best Yank. By William H.
Manning.

514 Gabe Gunn. the Grizzly from Ginseng; or,
Solemn Soul‘s Seraph. By Jos E. Badger, Jr.

515 Short Stop Maje. the Diamond Field Detective;
or. Old Ealcon‘s Master Guns. By J. Knox.

516 Chatard. the Dead-Shot Duelist; or. The Fate-
ful Heritage. By Col. P. Ingraham.

517 Buflalo Bill’s First Trail; or. Will Cody. the

- Pony Express Rider. By Ned Buntllne.

518 Royal Richard the Thoroughbred: or. Long
Pete Jenklns’s Convoy. By John W. Osbon.

519 Old Riddles. the Rocky Ranger; or. The Reser-
vation Castaways. By J. C. Cowdrick.

520 The Lone Hand on the Caddo; or. The Bad
Man of the BigBayou By A. W. Aiken.

521 Paradise Sam. the Nor’West Pilot: or. Yank
Yellowbird‘s GreatDlskivery. By W. H. Manning.

59% The Champion Three; or. Six-Foot Sl‘s Clean
Sweep. By P: S. Warns.

ass Reynard of Red Jack: or. The Lost Detective.
By Captain H. Holmes.

594 The Sea Chaser; or. The Pirate Noble. By 001.

. P. lngraham.

525 Fresh Frank, the, Derringer Daisy; or. Millions
on the Turn. By Wm. B. Eyst r.

am Death Grip the Tenderfoot Detective' or. A
Still Hunt for Old Secrecy. By Geo. c. enks.

5S7 Dandy Andy. the Diamond Detective; or. The
Twinsof Tlptop. By Joe. E. Badger. Jr.

588 Huckioborg, the Foot-Hills Detective; or. The
Rival Ranc men. By Lieut. A. K. Sims.

as The Fresh in New York; or. The Vendetta of

Hate. By A. W. Aiken.
5w The Sara of Sea; or. The Avenglng
Cruiser. Col. P. graham.

581 Saddle-Chief Kit. the Prairie Centaur; or. The
Border Blacksmith’s Terrible Temptation. By
Wm. H. Manning.

 

\

512 Ca taln Velvet‘s Big Stake; or, The Gold Goths ~

 

I 532 Javert, the Independent Detective: or. Captain

Cinnabar in New York. By Capt. H. Holmes.

533 Oregon. the Sport with a Scar: tr. The B st
Man of Brace Box. By Will. R. Eyster.

534 Greennlountain Joe; or. The Counterfeiter'~‘
Cave. By Marmaduke Dry.

535 Dandy Dutch, the Decora'or from Dead-Lift ; or.
Saul Sunday’s Search for Glory. By J. E. Badger.

5'36 Old Falcon’s Foe; or. The Matchless Detectives
Swell Job. By Jackson Knox.

5'37 Blake. the Mountain Lion; or. The Fresh Against
the Field. By Albert W. Aiken.

538 Rube Rocket. the Tent Detective; or, The
Treacherous Two. By Geo. C. Jcnks.

539 Old Doublrdark, the Wily Detective: or. The In-
visible Foe‘s Masquerade. By Wm. H. Manning.

510 The Fleet Scourge; or. Thc'Sea Wing of Salem.
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

541 Mn'nr Magnet. the Man of Nerve' or The Muck-
a-.\ ucks of Animas. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

542 The Ocean Drift; or, The Fight for Two Lives.
By A. F. Holt.

548 The M nate Detective; or. Mnjor Million‘s
Joust wit the Witch. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

544 The Back to Back Pards: or. The Right Man in
the Wrong Place. By Philip S. Warne.

545 Hustler Harry. the Cowboy Sport; or. Daring
Dan Shark's General Delivery. By W. G. Patten.

546 The Doomed Whaler; or, The Life Wreck. By
Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

547 The Buried Detective; or. Saul Sunday’s Six
Sensations. By Jos. E. Badger. Jr.

548 Falconbridge. the S hlnx Detective; or. The
Siren of the Baleful ye. By Jackson Knox.

549 Belshazzar Brick. the Bailiff of Blue Blazes' or.
Four Horse Frank's Frolic at Bad Luck 1'.
By Wm. B. Eyster.

550 Silk Hand the Mohave Ferret; or. The Marked
Man of Arizona. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

551 Garry Kean, the Man with Backbone: or. The
Gladiators of Jack‘s Delight. By William H.
Manning.

55% Prince Primrose. the F10wer of the Flock' or,
The Grand Camp at Paradise Gulch. By L cm.
A. K. Sims.

553 Monte the Mutincer; or, The Branded Brig.
By Col. P. Ingraham.

554 Mad Sharp. the Rustler; or. The Drummer De-
tective‘s Big Lay-out. By Geo. C Jenks.

555 Grip-Sack Sid. the Sam le Sport; or. the Rivals
of Rock-about Range. y Joseph E Badger Jr.

556 Fresh. the Sgort-Chevalier; or, A Big Racket at
Slide Out. y A. W. Aiken.

557 The Mountain Graybeards: or. Old Riddle’l
Greatest Riddle. By J. C. Cowdrick.

558 Hurrah Ha .the High Horse from Hal on;
or. High Old' imes at Hard Pan. By W . R.
Eyster.

559 Danton. the Shadow Sharp: or. The Queen of the

. Hidden Hands. By Capt. Howard Lolmes.

560 The Man from Mexico; or. The Idol of Last
Chance. By Col. P. Ingraham.

561 The Thug King; or. The Falcon .Detective’s in-
visible Foe. By Jackson Knox.

552 Lone Hand. the Shadow; or. The Master of the
Triangle Ranch. By Albert W. Aiken.

as W oming Zeke the Hots or of Honeysuckle;
any Old Humility's Hard Road to Travel. By
Wm. H. Manning. 

564 The Grip-Sack Shar ; or, The Seraphs of Sodom.
By Jos. E. Badger, r. .

565 Prince Paul. the Postman Detective; or. Crush
ing a Serpent‘s Head. By J. C. Cowdrick.

566 The Dsuntless Detective; or. The DaughteiI

Avenger. By Tom W. King. ,
557 Captain Ml ht. the Man of Craft; or, The
Road-Knight’s‘ 0t. By P. S. Warne.

558The Dude Detective' or Phrlin McGallagln's
Hard Luck Hustle. By Wm. R. Eyster.

569 Captain Cobra. the Hooded M ry; or The
Quickened Dead. By Captain award Holmes.

570 The Actress Detective; or. The Invisible Hand.
By Albert W. Aiken. id.

571 Old Dismal. the Range Detective: or. ThoH
den Cabin of Wind Canyon. By Wm. G. Patten

572 gaull‘lty Joe. the Jockey Detective. By 060. C.

on s.

578 The Witch of Shasta; or. The Man of Check.
Ry MaJor Daniel Boone Dumont.
574 Old Falcon‘s Double. By Jackson Knot.
575 Steady Hand the Napoleon of Detectives.
By William H nlng.
m Silver-To ued Sld- or. The Grip-Sack Sharp's
Clean Snvgeep. By'. Joseph E. Badger. Jr.
on Tomof California; or the Actress Del ive's
ow Act. By Albc’rt W. Aiken. m
Ready November 18.
m Seven Shot Steve the it with a Stone. By
William B. Eyster.‘ MaggoNovember so.
an Old Cormorant. the Bowerv Shadow. By Capt.
Howard Holmes. Ready ovom '7.
5w Lightningoll'lash Pacific Slono Detective.
By J. C. d

w rick. y December 4.

A new lam every Wednesday.

Beadlo’s Dime Library is ,for sale by all
New-dealers. ten cents per copy, or sent by mail on
receipt of twelve cents each.

BEADLE AND sows. rumm' ‘

 

flwmthtmaNowYa-t.